p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 38. (9/27/1910)

Contrasting Conditions

A WRITER in The Ladies' Home Journal for August sets forth some contrasting conditions between the dress of women now and a generation ago. She rejoices over the things which have made for comfort, of the putting away of the vast weights in dress which were carried by women in the days of her youth, when, for instance, she speaks of a younger sister wearing four stiffly starched white petticoats. She refers also to the difference between the manner of dress then and to-day. Among other things equally striking she says:

"I look at the girls of to-day, swinging along bareheaded, their corset-covers strung on pink or blue ribbons shining boldly through thin 'peek-a-boo' waists, their thin skirts outlining their figures, and their feet clad in frivolous pumps, and I do wonder sometimes where it is going to stop. . . .

"People are putting their heads together a good deal in late years over the immorality of young men at college. It is admitted that conditions are awful, yet what are we to do? Does it never occur to girls and women that they are very largely responsible for the morals of the men in their world? I am convinced that the general appearance of girls and women on the streets, at places of amusement, and even at home, has, in late years, an immoral effect upon young men. . . .

"I went with a wealthy friend of mine to look at a gown she had thought of purchasing. The saleswoman told her she had sold it that very morning to one of the most notorious women in the city. In my eyes the gown had been from the start a wretched rag of tawdry finery, unfit for a lady to wear; but I knew many ladies who were wearing such gowns, and who thought them 'dead swell,' and the price of the 'little gown,' as they called it, was one hundred fifty dollars. Now the fact that a lovely lady and the mistress of a house of ill fame should take a fancy to the same gown, and that the latter should get it, to the chagrin of the former, is in my mind significant of my argument that there is something wrong with the fashions, and that they are based on lines of immorality.

"Among other things which I think bear the patent stamp of pure immorality may be mentioned the 'peek-a-boo' waist. Its name certainly should convey to us its manifest impropriety. Yet I have heard girls speak of these waists by this name in the presence of young men. Have you thought, mother, of the sheer bad taste exhibited here, to say nothing of the impropriety? What can be the object of a hole in a waist, save to show what is under it? You say the girl's corset-cover and the dainty ribbon that ties it 'look so pretty.' Doubtless your daughter looks pretty in her night-dress, but you do not wish her to sit on the front veranda in it. Yet would not this be almost as proper a proceeding as her going down-town with her underwear plainly displayed through the open pattern of her 'peek-a-boo' waist?

"If you ask me plainly if I believe that such dressing on the part of nice girls has an immoral effect upon the young men they associate with, I answer frankly, 'Yes.' It is a breaking down of safeguards we once set up for young folks, and I believe the breaking down of these safeguards leaves the transition from youthful passion to plain immorality a much simpler step than it was in the old days of greater modesty and a more severe moral code. The girl herself may not, indeed, suffer from this exposure of her charms, because she does it unconsciously. Woman's vanity blinds her to the impropriety of the thing she is doing and she forgets that she may thus harm others without actually suffering herself."

A Description of the "Falling Stars" of 1833

As an interesting item we take the following from Harper's Weekly for July 16. The whole is a silly little love story of the Negroes during the year 1833, the climax of which was reached at the falling of the stars, November 13. The young colored man's name was Lish; the girl that he was courting was Dicey; and Aunt Silvey, an aged colored woman, tells the story, which Mrs. Virginia Frayer Boyle has so beautifully limned. The description of the meteoric shower, however, is true to life, and just what was seen in many places at that time. We give it as follows:

'Then, for the first time, said Aunt Silvey, Lish turned and looked into the face of the heavens instead of into Dicey's face, and, lo and behold! the air, the skies, the roads, the fields, were full of falling fire as thick as snowflakes in the winter and as bright as fireflies in the boggy woods in summer, and there was no way to turn where the falling fire was not.

'The world's on fire!' cried the terror-stricken Lish. 'But I gotter save you, Dicey! Come!' And hand in hand, shrinking and dodging like frightened rabbits, they ran back into the quarters.

'Bedlam met them there. From every cabin a dusky stream had poured regardless of age, sex, or condition, roused from slumber and warm beds, wrapped in 'kivers' as varied as Joseph's coat, or clothed only in that with which nature had provided them.

'Every creature that had lungs had opened them lustily, and everything with a voice added fullness to the sound. Some wept, some shouted, some cried, some prayed, and some confessed to sins that their little world had never known were committed.

'Now in the deep basses and contraltos were chanted the fright and misery of their souls, while above these at intervals the high soprano and tenor voices soared in their oratorio of terror: 'My Gord! The world's on fire! The world's on fire!''

'Some threw themselves with their faces on the ground that they might not see the terror of the heavens; while others, dazed by the awful splendor, could not draw their eyes from the blinding spectacle. But the parson and the good hoodoos, said Aunt Silvey, prayed without ceasing, with their faces toward the east.

'One, two hours passed, and the whole world seemed full, with wailing and with fire.

'Le's go up ter de big house, whar we be safe!' sobbed Dicey, who all this time had kept her face hidden on Lish's trembling shoulder.

'Dey hain't no safer'n we is,' said Unc' Pliny, the parson. 'De day er jedgment done fotch us all low, de white an' de black, de quality, de po' buckra, an' de nigger! Have mercy on our souls!'

'In the third hour, tho it was the middle of the night, the sheep, terror-stricken, began to bleat, the horses to neigh, the mules to run, the cows to low, and every fowl for miles and miles to add its quota to the general confusion.

'Old Unc' Pliny's flesh had reached the limit of its endurance, his knees were knocking together, and his hands were trembling like the others'; but his voice kept up bravely, for, tho Unc' Pliny's flesh was weak, his spirit was willing to strive.

'Behold, my people,' he cried, 'de milenium is come! De ox in de stall done lif' up his voice an' kneel down ter pray! De ass by de manger an' all the brutes what goes on four feet is bowed de knee an' cried out, "De 'struction er de worl' is done come. Have mercy on us po' sinnin' creeters!"'

'And again the wail of the multitude arose in answer and died away in a moan.

'The third hour had nearly passed, in an unceasing, spectacular display, when the fiery sleet in the heavens gradually abated. But the terror-stricken people still lay upon the ground and clung shivering with their faces in the damp earth. Now the grandeur of the illumination was over. Only a fitful meteor sped across the sky. Then a faint streak flushed gently in the east and another day was born.'

Wearing Wrong Sign

A VERY pretty girl stepped into a car the other day, says Annie Laurie in the Examiner. She was dressed in pink, pink hat, pink frock, pink parasol. And her cheeks were as pink as her frock and a whole lot sweeter.

At her throat the pretty girl wore a little white enamel brooch, and on the white enamel stood out in bold, bright letters these words: "If you love me, grin."

And every one grinned.

Now, I happen to know that particular girl, and I know that she is as good as gold and as sweet as a peach. But I wonder what her mother is thinking of when she lets her wear a pin like that.

Funny? O, yes, it really is funny. You couldn't have helped smiling yourself if you saw it. But somehow there is something behind the smile, and it isn't quite pleasant.

I wonder who will be the first man to answer the silly little girl's little invitation, and insult her openly.

I suppose she will be very cross when he does it. I wonder why.

I saw two giggling girls on the street the other day. They smiled and smirked and giggled every time they passed a good-looking man; and one of the good-looking men, attracted by the giggles and the looks, turned around and followed the girls, and presently he sidled up to them and said something, and both of those girls looked as if some one had struck them full in their silly little faces.

I wonder if they blamed that man for what he said.

The only way you can tell an ice-cream shop is to read the sign or look and see what is displayed in the window.

If you don't want people to ring the bell and ask you for a quart of chocolate and peach mixed, with some pineapple ice on the side, you mustn't put a sign in the window which reads, "Ice-cream sold here."

It may be very wrong to judge by appearances.

But, after all, that is about the only thing we really have to judge by, isn't it?

When I go out into the orchard looking for apples I hunt for a tree with leaves that look like apple leaves.

Sometimes I am mistaken. But, strange as it may seem, I usually find apples on an apple-tree, and not on the pear-tree, or even on the blackberry bushes.

If you don't want to be taken for something you are not, girls, be sure you don't wear in your dress, your expression, or your manner the wrong sign.

The Key-Note

By Madie E. Barnitz

By Madie E. Barnitz

As ALTER all the endless sounds, The single impulse free, Uninfluenced by what controls The leading harmony,

Until amid the mingled sounds, Is struck some leading tone, Whose touch restores the key, and holds The harmony alone;

So through the efforts which we make But for ourselves alone, 'Tis in some wider interest reached We first attain our own —

So through the effort after self, And that which we would be, Our lives but broken chords which find Their full intent in Thee.

Cleveland, Ohio.

Reliable People

THERE is doubtless a great deal of worldly success won by men who are not reliable as far as righteousness goes. But such success has its drawbacks. It works for a while, but is apt to break down like an unreliable engine. The unscrupulous man gains power or position, but not the respect of the better elements of the community; and in the long run, his life breaks down. Every town, every city, every nation rests on the shoulders of the reliable people in its borders. They may not be its most prominent or most wealthy citizens, but they are its absolutely necessary ones. The individual who determines to be reliable, determines thereby to be valuable to all around him.

"How did he come to be the head of the concern?" was asked about a peculiarly quiet man who forged to the front in a growing business. "Why, it was this way," was the reply: "all anybody had to do, in case of things going wrong, was to refer matters to him. He was always attentive, always cleared up the tangles, always could answer questions, always was ready to do more than he was expected to do. He was not ambitious; he did not want the head place especially; but what was the use of making anybody else the head when we had him?" His reliability made every one depend upon him, and he became head in title because he was first the head in fact.

As one follows up reliability one finds how it includes and accompanies other fine traits of character. In its best form it is always unselfish, usually humble, and allied with a true sense of honor. Reliable people are apt to be harder on themselves than on others, and given to bearing other folks' burdens for them. Patience becomes second nature to the reliable soul, and so do sincerity and neighborly kindness. On the other hand, to be unreliable is never a fault of character that exists alone. It means self-indulgence or disloyalty or shirking or insincerity. The unreliable fall to the rear of life, and deserve it. The "blessed company of faithful people" are the ranks of the advance, and to march among them is to find life worth living.—Great Thoughts,

The Harvest Number

By Editor

THE Harvest (October) number of the Signs of the Times Monthly is not a record of achievement nor a compilation of facts regarding the farm, as some might think, but in a number of articles tells of the world's harvest of war, of greed, of crime, of health and disease. To offset, in a measure, the dark picture thus held before the reader, are other articles, brighter, more cheerful, telling of the harvest of righteousness, etc.

If space permitted we would quote some of the paragraphs found in this most excellent number. Some are helpful, others are interesting and helpful, and still others are startling, interesting, and helpful.

One may think he is well posted on present-day conditions in the social, political, religious, and industrial world, but the chances are he would find much in this number that is altogether new to him. Friends, the things dealt with in this October number of the Signs Monthly are significant. The world should be informed of the Bible meaning of these things.

Get a copy at once; read it yourself, then get a supply by ordering through your tract society, and sell or give them to your neighbors. The appearance of the magazine makes it very acceptable to unbelievers, who are almost sure to read it and be benefited thereby.

More workers are wanted. Some of those now doing regular work are doing very well indeed. One lady has sold 35,617 copies since starting. Another sold 981 copies in 122 hours, and thereby earned, clear of all expenses, 48¼ cents per hour. Here then is a chance to do well-paying missionary work.

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

Mountain View, Cal.

Wheat Flour

By Leslie Littell

THE following appeared in a recent issue of the Mammoth Springs, Arkansas, Democrat:

"WHEAT FLOUR

"Cheapest and Best Food

"United States Government Tests Prove It

Articles	Energy 10c will buy

Eggs . . . . . . . . . 385— Beef, surloin . . . 410— Mutton, leg . . . . 445— Milk . . . . . . . . . 1030— Pork, loin . . . . . 1035— Cheese . . . . . . . 1085— Butter . . . . . . . 1365— Wheat Breakfast Foods . . . 1485— Rice . . . . . . . . . 2020— Potatoes . . . . . . 2950— Beans, dried . . . . 3045— Wheat Flour . . . . 6540—

(U. S. Department of Agriculture, Farmers' Bulletin No. 142.)

"Energy, muscle, and strength giving qualities: One pound of flour costing 2½ or 3 cents, will go as far as two pounds of meat costing 15 to 20 cents per pound."

A glance at this table shows that the vegetarian has the advantage over the meat-eater. His money buys more energy, muscle, and strength. Therefore with equal wages he ought to have more money, energy, muscle, and strength.

Hardy, Arkansas. LESLIE LITTELL.

Life and Health

By Editor

A PRACTICAL health journal, published with a view of meeting hygienic needs in every home; teaching how to care for the health and how to preserve life; prescribing simple home treatments to assist nature in throwing off diseases rather than adding more poison by using drugs or unnatural stimulants as remedies; teaching how to avoid disease as far as possible, how to manage in the home when sickness does come, and how to combat the disease by simple remedies which nature provides.

Send for sample copy and special rates to agents. Price 10 cents per copy or $1.00 per year.

Address, LIFE & HEALTH, Takoma Park, D.C.

Washing Is Easy

Take your clothes from cold water, put them in boiler to which has been added E-Z Washing Tablet and soap as directed; let boil twenty minutes. Rinse, blue, and washing is done WITHOUT RUBBING. All dirt disappears. Positively will not hurt the finest fabrics. Costs little. Nine washings 25c, post-paid. Alfred Mallett, 721 H St., Sacramento, Cal.

Our Cooperation Corner

By Editor

There are many great public libraries in the United States which contain many useful books, and also plenty of books and periodicals teaching error and effecting the ruin of moral fiber. There is room in these libraries for antidotes, and one of the most effective is the "Signs of the Times," fresh every week with its messages of light and truth and salvation. We want help: (1) From those who would like to contribute to such a fund; and (2) For addresses of libraries which will keep the paper on file. Let us hear from you. Editor "Signs of the Times," Mountain View, California.

"Food and Cookery"

Its relation to health, lessons in practical work. Compiled by H. S. Anderson. College Press Print, Loma Linda, California.

The object of the little book is to set forth the values of various kinds of foods, their constituent elements, the best food values, how this food should be cooked, proper combinations, etc., etc. A large number of recipes are given, showing how to prepare the best foods in the best way. It is a neatly printed and helpful pamphlet to every housewife, in fact every one who eats. Can be obtained by addressing the publisher. Price 25 cents. Send postage stamps. Address College Press, Loma Linda, California.

Our Little Friend

By Editor

An Illustrated Paper for the Smaller Men and Women, for the Children and Little Ones

Instructive and entertaining, clean, wholesome, sensible. It is a character builder, a helper to father and mother. Our Little Friend would plant seed in the joyous life of the children in the Present, that it may bear blessed fruitage in the Harvest of the Future. Respect your child's individuality. Take the paper for him or her. Only 60 cents a year.

Address, OUR LITTLE FRIEND Mountain View, Cal.

Matthew Twenty-four

An exposition, verse by verse, of one of the most striking chapters in the New Testament; covering

Matthew Twenty-four

Second Coming of Christ

our Lord's great discourse on the destruction of Jerusalem, the end of the world, and the special signs of His second coming to reward His children. The facts of fulfillment given make this pamphlet worth many times its price. 94 pages, price 10c.

PACIFIC PRESS Mountain View, Cal.

World’s Federation

By Editor

We have received from the Foreign Mission Seminary, Washington, D. C., one of our training colleges for missionaries, an appeal for recruits. It points out the great need there is in the world for missionaries to give the last great threefold message. One hundred and twenty are called for. If those who respond to this call are not ready, the Foreign Mission Seminary stands ready to help. The great need ought to appeal to every consecrated young man and woman whom the Lord has not called to other work. Any one interested in the training school for foreign missionary work should address the president of the Foreign Mission Seminary, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C.

World's Federation.—A joint resolution proposed by Mr. Bennett in the last Congress was favorably reported in behalf of the committee June 4. Its number is House Joint Resolution 223. Its purpose was to authorize the appointment of a commission in relation to universal peace. It had for one of its objects the limiting of the armaments of the nations of the world by international agreement, and the constituting of the combined navies of the world an international force for the preservation of universal peace. Mr. Hamilton Holt, managing editor of the Independent, declares that the measure is a ways-and-means measure to bring about a world federation. While all this would be desirable—"the parliament of man, the federation of the world"—we may safely say, in the light of prophecy, it will never be brought about. The dominant spirit in the nations is not for peace, but war.

A New Kingdom.—

With the loss of the kingdom of Korea from the map comes the little new kingdom of Montenegro, elevated from a princedom. King Nicholas I, formerly prince of Montenegro, assumed his throne and crown Sunday, August 21. The Te Deum was sung by the parliament, and proclamations were sent throughout the country announcing the event. The little kingdom is situate on the Adriatic Sea north of Albania; its area is 3,630 square miles (half way between Delaware and Connecticut); its population, 228,000, a little less than that of Vermont. The Montenegrins are Servians of the purest blood, and mostly belong to the Greek Church. When Austria annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908 Montenegro gave notice that the Berlin treaty would no longer restrict her. Hence the kingdom. The capital city is Cettinjé, population 4,000.

Special Privileges.—

In his recent speech in Kansas City Colonel Roosevelt said:

"I believe that the great issue before the people is the doing away of special privilege in all its forms."

It is at least one of the great issues, and the principle is even more far-reaching than Mr. Roosevelt contemplates. His present application is to the great trusts, combines, "interests," railways, etc. But the worst trust and usurping overlord the world has ever known has been religio-civil in character. We have in this country to-day the church trust, or Church Federation, which is demanding special legislation for some of its tenets, among which is a sabbath established by civil law. They are demanding "special privileges." Will they be denied or granted?

Red Cross Christmas Seals

By Editor

The Red Cross people have combined with the Anti-Tuberculosis Association in the sale of Red Cross stamps in 1911. These stamps are to be placed on the back of letters instead of on the front. It is thought that many, in order to help on these organizations whose object is to help the sick get well, will purchase many stamps the next year and so help to sustain the work.

In this issue is finished the series "Out of Babylon to Zion," which has dealt especially with the books of Haggai and Zechariah and the times of those prophets. This series has also shown in the marvelous workings of God's providence then, what we may confidently expect now; for that work of reformation, as clearly proved, is a type of God's reformation now; and that feeble restoration of Israel is a type of the complete restoration of all the true Israel of God in the New Jerusalem.

Contained in This Issue

By Editor

General

Man's Sin and Saviour.—XII. Court Week in Heaven . . . . . . . 3 The Strong Weak Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 "Out of Babylon to Zion."—XXV. Power of Jerusalem Restored . . 6 The Perfect Law of God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Convinced Too Late . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Editorial

A Talk with Our Readers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Question Corner

Questions Nos. 3250 to 3252 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Our Bible Band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Our Bible Reading

The Gospel Grain Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

The Outlook

Korea Is No More . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Cause of Spain's Trouble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

The Story

Shiloh: the Man of Sorrows.—XXX. Iscariot of Kerioth . . . . . 12

The Home

A Description of the "Falling Stars" of 1833 . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Wearing Wrong Sign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Contrasting Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Poetry

The Greatest of These Is Charity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 There Is a Blessed Hope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 The House of Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 The Key-Note . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

A Special Series on Truth

By Editor

We call attention to our announcement on pages 8 and 9. The SIGNS OF THE TIMES, according to the testimonies of many of its readers, has always done better than it promised. This shall be our purpose in this special series dealing emphatically with truth needed to-day.

The Glory of God’s Law

Referring to the third chapter of Second Corinthians we should not be surprised that those who have not experienced the glory and majesty of God's law in the condemnation of sin do not see its exceeding glory in the Gospel which justifies.

Man's Sin and Saviour Series Concludes

By Editor

The interesting and instructive series of articles on "Man's Sin and Saviour" closes in our next issue with "Christ's Coming and Kingdom."

Missionary Letter From Spain

By Editor

Next week we print an interesting letter from a missionary in Spain.

Mormons Expelled From Germany

The German authorities have expelled from their country a group of 21 Mormons, on the ground that their teaching is subversive of morality.

Gems of Truth: Man's Reward

By Editor

A little pamphlet entitled "Gems of Truth: Man's Reward," has come to us from Mr. M. C. Israel, Oakland, California, which answers many Biblical facts regarding man's nature, his reward, his punishment, and when these will be received. The price is not given. Address the author.

Courageous Act Saves an Old Man

Miss Ghirardelli, daughter of the late Joseph Ghirardelli, founder of the noted chocolate concern which bears his name, sustained severe bruises by being thrown from an automobile. Seeing that an old man was in danger of being run down by her car, she unhesitatingly drove into a telegraph-pole to avert an injury to him. It was a noble deed of self-sacrificing courage.

Cause for Gratitude

Cause for Gratitude.—People in California have cause for gratitude, according to the California Bulletin published by the California Development Board. Industrial conditions are pronounced generally good, and also crops and prices. The output will be about normal with the rising market. Deciduous fruit and grape shipments are two hundred cars more than at this time last year. Other fruits are pronounced generally about normal.

The Vatican and France

The Vatican and France.—The French government arrested a priest at Grenoble the other day for his presumably incendiary teaching. The magistrate fined him. The priest refused to pay his fine. His bishop upheld him. Pius X wrote to the bishop and praised his attitude. As a Catholic paper, the Western Watchman puts it: "The Holy See threw diplomacy to the dogs, and spoke right out, counselling open rebellion." The incident may open the whole controversy between France and the Vatican again.

California Funds San Francisco World's Fair

The California legislature has voted an additional $10,000,000 to the fund appropriated by San Francisco for the world's fair she expects to hold in 1915. Two constitutional amendments were adopted by both houses, one providing for a state tax levy of $1,250,000 annually for a term of four years, the other permitting San Francisco to amend her charter so as to call a municipal bond issue of $5,000,000. It now remains for the electors of the state at large to approve these measures at the forthcoming polls.

A World's Conference — Important

By Editor

There will be held in the city of Philadelphia, Nov. 16-20, 1910, a meeting of world-wide interest, called the WORLD'S CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP CONFERENCE. For three years this meeting has been planned for at home and abroad. There will be more than 3,000 delegates, representing all the countries of the world both "Christian and pagan." It will be a potent element in world molding affairs in the future. The "Signs of the Times" in its next issue will present an article by one of its chief promoters on the objects and purposes of that conference, and also an article by the editor on "What It Means." We ought to have orders for an extra 100,000. All friends of liberty and lovers of country ought to study our next number.

Education and the Gospel

A note in the Detroit "News Tribune" says: "Fifteen young men who felt called of God to the Christian ministry went to a certain state university that was regarded most highly of any for being pervaded with Christian influence; its president a minister of the Gospel. When these men came out only five had any inclination to enter the ministry. And some of these were befogged with serious and enfeebling doubts." This instance shows the general tendency toward which our institutions of learning, especially the universities, are drifting. The effect is easily traced to the cause: departure from the simple truths of the Gospel as illuminated by faith in the infallible Word.