Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times, 1895-2-14, Page 2XE1'E13, TIMES 'IT 'NEVER CONES BACK. •AN •OPPORTUNITY MISSED NEVER COMES A SECOND TIME. Illee Value of Seizing Advantages "In the !Kick orTimet cuts of Celan:tort:del, Literary and Political fineness—The Greatest of All Opportunities. Mew Youn, Feb. 6.—Rev, Dr. Talmage Wee' took for his subject "Opportunity," eke text selected being Galatians ye 10, "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good." At Denver years ago an audience had as- senabled for divine worship. The paator of the church for whom I Was to preach that night, interested in the floating of the people stood in the pulpit leaking from side tO side, and when no neee receognize that conemeroial aud literary and political successes depend upon, taking advantage a opportunity, The great surgeons of Eriglaud feared to touch tlie tumor of King Geerge IV. Sir .A.stley Cooper looleed at it and said to the king, "I will cat your majesty as though you were a plowman." That was Sir Rua ne lungs alio queens IWO aloe torever. "Well," you say, "1 ant not l'Oady." You are ready. "Are you, a sinner?" "Yes." "Do you want to be saved now ann. for- ever?" "Yes." "Do you believe that Christ is able and willing to do the work?" "Yes." Then you are saved. You are inside the pelaoe door of God's merey Astley's opportnetity. Lord Clive was his already. You looked changed. You are ' father's dismay climbing ()Inv& steeples changed. "Hallelujah, 'tis ddiel" Did and doing reckless things, His father you ever see anything done so quickly? sent him to Madras, India, as .a clerk in levitation offered and acceptedin less than the service of an English officer., Clive a minute by my watch or that clock. Sir watclaed his time and when war broke out Edward Creasy wrote a book called 'rho came to be the chief of the host that saved Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World, India for England. That was Lord Clive a From Marathon to Waterloo. But the opportunity. most decisive battle that you will ever William H. Seward was given by his fa- fight, and the greatest victory you. will ther a thousand dollars to get a collegiate ever gain, is this moment when you con - education. That motley soon gone, his fa -1 quer first yourself and then all the hinder- ther said, eNow you must fight your own I lag myrmidons of perdition by saying way," and he did, -until gubernatorial I "Lord. Jesus, here I am, undone and help - chair and. United. States senatorial ohair I less, to be saved by thee and thee alone." were his with a right to the presidential i That makes a panic in hell. That makes chair, if the meanness of American poll - more people could be crowded within the ' celebration in heaven. Opportunityl tics had not swindled him out of it. The I On the llth of January, 1866, a welter walis he turaed to me and said wlth star: day when his father told him to fight his brig ran into the rocks near Widmer beach, own way was William H. Seward's oppor-, England. Simort Pritchard, standing .011 Utility. John Henry Newman, becalmed 1 the beach, threw off his coat and saad, a whole week in an orange. boat m the . i "Who will help me save that crew?" strait of Bouifacio, wrote his immortal hymn, "Lead, Kindly Light." That was , Twenty men shouted, "I will!" though Newman's opportunity, You know :Kirk only seven were needed. the Through the White's immortal hymn, "When Mar- `, awfel surf e boat dashed, and in fifteen shaled on the Nightly Plain," He wrote minutes from the time Pritchard threw off his coat all the shipwrecked crew were It in. a boat by a lantern on a stormy night 1 safe on the laud. Quicker work to -day. as he was sailing along a rooky coast, 1 Half that time more than necessary to get That was Kirk White's opportuuity. ' all this assemblage into the lifeboat of the The importance of making the most of gospel and ashore, standing both feet on. opportunities as they present themselves the rock of ages. By the two strong oars Is acknowledged in all other direetwas. of faith and prayer first pull for thawreck Why not in the matter of usefulness? The and then pull for the shore. Opportunityt difference of usefulness of good men and women is not so much the difference mi brain or social position or wealth, but n equipment a Christian common sense, to cVENGEANOE OF THE CZAR, eing emphasis, "What an opportunity! Pentediately that word began to enlarge, and while a hymn was being sung at every etenza the word "opportunitynawiftly and Mightily unfolded. and wbele the opeuing eirayer was being made the word piled up Into Alps and Himalayas of meaning and epreed out into other latitudes and longi- tudes of significance until it became hem- ispheric, and it still grew in altitude and circumference until it encircled other worlds, and swept out and on and around until it was as big as eternity. Never since have I read or heard that word with- out being thrilled with its magnitude and momentum. Opportmeityl Although in the text; to some it may seem a mild and quiet note, in the great gospel barmony it is a etaocato passage. It is one of the love- liest and awfulest words in our language know just the time when to say the right of more than 100,000 words of English vword or do the right thing. Thera are good ocabulary, "As we have opportunity, let people who can always be depended on to Undo good." say the right thing at the wrong time. A What is an opportunity? The you it is a con- lexicog- eapher would coolly tell merchant selling goods over the counter to a wily customer who would like to get 3nuction of favorable eiromnstances for ac - the complishing a purpose, but words cannot m at less than cost, a railroad condue- ' tell what it is. Take a thousand years to tor while taking up the tickets from pas - manufacture a definition, and you could sengers who want to work off a last year's not sueeessfully describe it. Opportunityt free pass or get through at half rate a The measuring rod with which the angel child fully grown, a housekeeper trying to get the table ready in time for guests, Ell- a the Apocalypse measured heaven could though the oven leas failed to do its work, pot measure this pivotal word of my text. and th.e grocer had neglected to fulfill the Otand on the edge of the predpice of all order given him—those are not opportuna time and let down, the fathoming line ties for religious address. Do not rush up hand under hand and lower down and to a man in the busiest part of the day, lower down and for a quintillion of years and when a half dozen of people are wait - let it sink, and the lead will not strike hag for him, and ask, "How is your soul?" bottom. Opportunity! But while I do But there are plenty of ilt occasions. It pot attempt to measure or define the word is interesting to see the sportsman, gun in ' will, God helping me, take the responsi- hand and poueh at side and accompanied bility of telling you something about 0P by the hounds yelping down tbe road, off pertunity. on hunting expedition, but the best hunt - First, 15 15 very swift in. its motions. ars in the world are those who hunt for noreetlines within one minute it starts opportunities to do good, and the game is from the throne of God, sweeps around something to gladden earth and heaven. the earth and reascends the throne from I will poiat out some of the opportunities. which it started. Within less than sixty When a soul is in bereavement is the best seconds it fulalled its mission. time to talk of gostiel cenaaliteete 'Mice - In the second place opportunity never , COMOS back. Perhaps an opportun.idaneerag---e• nezeweeleataniiion. When a man has lost the best time to talk to much like it may arrive, Vette that one his property is never. Nx:gene insects which him of heavenly inheritances that can aturalists tele are born neal.tte eienete• never be levied on. When one is sick is mission and expire the best time to talk to him about the in an hour, but -many opportunities die so supernatural latitude in which nnhealth soon after they are born that their brevity is an impossibility. When the Holy Spirit of life is in oalculable. What most amazes is moving on a community is the best time me is that opportunities do such over- to tell a man he ought to be saved. shadowing, far-reaching and tremendous A city naissiouary in the lower parts of work in such short earthly allowance. the city found a young woman in wretch - You are a business num of large experi- edness and sin. He said, "Why do you once. The past eighteen months have not go home?" She said, "They would been hard on business men. A young not receive me at home." He said, "What merchant at his wits' end came into your is your father's name and where does he office or your house, and you said: "Times live?" Having obtained the address and are hard now, but better days will come. written to the father, the city missionary I have seen things as bad or worse, but we got a reply, on the outside of the letter got out, and we will get out of this. The the word "immediate" underscored. It brightest days that this country over saw was the heartiest possible invitation for are yet to come." The young man to the wanderer to come horae. That was whom yo tt said that was ready for suicide the city missionary's opportunity. And to something worse—namely a fraudulent there are opportunities all about you, and aatn to get out of his despairful position. on them is written by the hand ot the God Tour hopefulness inspired him for all who will bless you and bless those whom time, and thirty years after you are dead you help, in capitals of light, the word ,e will be reaping the advantage of your "immediate.), ptimistn. Your opportunity to 'do that one thing for that yourne man. was not half as long as the time I have taken to tele earn it. The day I left our country home to look suer myself we rode across the country, ad my father was driving. Of course I fieId nothing that implied how I felt. But letere are hundrede of men here who from nalair own experience know how I felt. At each a lime a young man may be hopeful iteaa even impatient to get into the battle sit life for bimeelf, but to leave the home- stead 'Where everything has been done for yeti, your father or older brothers taking kozkr part when you were imposed on by larger boys, and your mother always *roman when yea got the cold, with taus - am applications for the chest, or herb tea in make you sweat off the fever, and sweet Fixtures in the cup by the bed to stop the tifough, taking sometimes too much of it necause it wgra pleasant to take, and then, 6 go out, with no one to stand between you and the world, gives one a choking eansation at the throat and a homesick - Melt before you have got three miles away Vero the old folks, There was on the day X ode° off & silence tor a long while, and horny father began tb tell how good he Lord had bean to him in sickness and ilea health, and when times of hardship °Anse how Providence heel always provided eke Meatus of livelihoocl for the large household, and he wound up by saying, "lee Wtet, I have always found it safe tO evust the Lord," My father has been dead ene years, but in all the etises of ma ife—end there awn been mane of ebem-- have felt the firiglity boost of that lesson ft Wet/arm wagon, "De 'Witt, 1 bays al, *eye found itege te trutit the Lord." The feet r se toy fatlint ESINP* that was his Op- itOrtiplity and he imetoved lt. Thai oat) teams, why 1 pm an enthuse - c friend dell' Yining Metae Christian, ciatione. They fi3e hold of so many 01.10 Men pt ri eet ving hi the ciby and bile they are very impressionable, And. it 1 e the best opportunity. Why, how big he heliseS Reeked to us as we first entered he great) city, and so many peoplet It teethed aome metingmust have just alosed to flli the streets in that way, and hen the brik placardeannotincing all styIee (if aninsemehts awl so Mane of them cite alai llama night find every night after our boybood had been spent in regions where anly (Mee or tweeetin a, whole goat there Bad beeh an etitettaitimerit in 8°11.001/amen 411' eburch. That is the opportunity. Start enat innocent young man iti the right di- neetien. Six weeke after will be teci late. ten Me What each a young man doee tith, niii rieet ene weeke in the grime city, kid X Will tell yeti Whathe Will be throtight elet his life on eastb, (Ma Whelee lee Wile thilarl the ages. a eterniter. Opnottunitel Piero4 wide eneite 0 it Sit (Iowa i THE STORY OF A SOLDIER IN THE RUSSIAN ARMY. Experience That 'Would Shatter Nerves of Iron --,A, Thrilling Narrative or a Ills- torical Episode From the ren of Alex, under pumas. I was 28 years old. For two years I had been an Resign in the Paulovelry Regiment. My regiment was etationed in the great stone barracks that still exist on the other side of the Champ de Mars, opposite the Sununer Garden. Emperor Paul I. was in the third year of his reigu, and he lived at the Red One nieht when, after some youthful eacapade, I had been refused permission to make (me of a party of my comrades going into the city for the night's enjoyment, I had retired to my room and fallen into the semi -unconsciousness of my first sleep, I was aroused by the rough voice of a man whops face was close to mine, and who whispered in my ear:, "Dmitri Alexaudrovitoh awake and foe- low mel" I opened my eyes. A man stood before me whom I did not know, and who had so suddenly broughb me back to the world. "Follow you, and wherel" I erolaimed. "I cannot tell yen. Suffident for you to know that it is by the order of the Emper- or." My blood froze! By order of the Emperor! What could he wish from me, a poor Ensigu—of good family, it is true, but too far removed from the throne for my name ever to have reached the ear of the Emper- or? Through my mind there ran the awful Russian proverb born in the time of Ivan the terrible : "Near to the Czar, near to death." There was no time to hesitate. I spreng from my bed and dressed myself. I looked with keen attention at the man who had summoned me. He was wrapped in a great fur pelisse, but I believed I could recog- nize in him the Turkish slave, the favorite servant of the Emperor. "1 am ready," I said at the end of five minutes, clapping my hand with with some confidence on the sword that hung at my side. My fears redoubled when my guide, In- stead of taking the corridor that led from the barracks to the open air descended by a little circular staircase into the lower vaults of this somber building. He lighted the way- with a smokey lantern. After many turns we found ourselves be- fore a door that 1 had not seen before. Thus far in our route we had seen no one —it was as though the building were de- serted. I believed that I saw one or two shadows, but as I approached them they disappeared, or melted inbo obscurity. The door which we stood before was closed. My guide struck upon it in a pe - puller way. At his signal it swung open evidentleet thee touee ct a man waiting on the other side. When 'We hied peened through, I saw distinctly, notwithstanding the gleom, a man close the door and fol- low us. Over the city went the en*, Jesus of Nazareth passeth by! Let the world go. It has abused you enough, and cheated you enough, and slandered you enough, and damaged you enough. Even those from whom you ex- peoted better things turned out your as- sailants as when Napoleon in his last will end testAment left 5,000 francs to the man who shot at Wellington in the streets of Paris. Oh, it is a mean world! Take the glorious Lord for your companionship. I Like what the good man said to one who !lad everything but religion. The affluent man boasted of what he owned and of his splendors of surroundings, putting into insignificance, as he thought, the Chris- tian's possessions. "Ah," said the Chris- tian, "man I have something you have not!" "What is that?" said the worldling. The answer was, "Peace!" And you may all have it—peace with God, peace with the past, peace with the future, a peace that all the assaults of the world. and all the bombardments satanic cannot inter- fere with. Opportunity! Under the arch of that splended word let this multitude of my hearers pass into the pardon and hope and triumph of the gospel. Go by companies of a hundred each. Go by reghnents of a thousand .eeeh--the e,„- ea eleeeeeee ea the staralhe middle e -ed throwing off their burdens as tlaey pass and, the young to have their present joys augmented by more glorious satisfactions. Forward into. the kingdoml As soon as you pass the dividing line there will be shouting all up and down the heavens. The crowned im- mortals will look down and cheer. Jesus of the many scars will rejoice at the result of his earthly sacrifices. Departed saints will be gladdened that their prayers are answered. An order will be given for the spreading of a banquet at which you will be the honored guest. From the imperial gardens the wreaths will be twisted for your brow, and from the halls of eternal music the harpers will bring their harps and the trumpeters their trumpets, and all up and down the amethystine stairways of the castles and in all the rooms of the house of many mansions it be will talked over with holy glee that this day, while one plain man stood on the platforta of this vast building giving the gospel call, an assemblage made up from all parts of the earth and piled up in these galleries chose Christ as their portion aucl started for heaven as their everlasting home. , Ring all the bells of heaven at the tidiugel A military officer very profane in his habits was going down into a mine at th Strike all the cymbals at the joy! Wave , all the palm branches at e triumph! Cornwall, England, with a Christian Victoryl Victoryl miner, for many of those miners are Christians. The officer used profane lan- guage while in the cage going down. As Clever Remarks in Court. they were coming up out of the mine the Legal retorts are very namerous and. often very good. Sometimes they take the profane officer said, "15 15 be safer down to form of a spar between opposing counsel your work, how much farther would it be to the bottomless pit?" The Christian and sometimes that of a facetious remark addressed to the judge, as in the case, miner responded, "I do not know how far " it is to that place, but if this rope should Woodcock vs. Bird," when the chief jus- 1518 tiee, happening to remark that birds should break you would be there in a minute." live together in harmony, the counsel for It was the Christian miner's opportunity. Mr. Bird replied, "Yes, my lord, they Maiay years ago a clergyman was on a should, but my client complains of the sloop on our Hudson river, and hearing a man utter a blasphemy the clergyman length of the plaintiff's bill I" Most frequently, however, the repartee said, "You have spoken against my best takes the form of a pointed remark by a friend, Jesus Christ." Seven years after witness to a bullying lawyer. "How do this same clergyman was on his way to you like your bacon and beans?" Mr. the general assembly of the Presbyterian Cockle once asked a witness. "Boiled, but church at Philadelphia, when a young without cockle sauce," was the satisfac- minister addressed him and asked him if tory reply. he was not on a sloop on the Hudson river In fact, it is rather the fashion among a seven years before. The reply was in the certain class of witnesses to decry the legal affirmative. "Well," said the young min- ' profession on all possible occasions. Of ister, "I was the man whom you corrected course such persons betray a very poor ap- for uttering that oath. It led me to think preciation of the immense benefits the and repent, and 15.111 trying to atone some- profession confers upon and receives from what for my early behavior. I am a society, but sonae men are never satisfied preacher of the gospel and a delegate to unless they are disparaging something of the general assembly." Seven years be- alleged utility. These are the men who fore on that Fludsob river sloop was thewould second the prayer uttered by the clergyman's opportunity. 'deaf Dean of Ely when, following a speak - I stand this minute in the presence of er who had commented upon an extraorde many beads of families. I wonder if they beery epidemic of mortality among ber- ate realize that the Opportunity of intim- Asters, and whom he had imperfectly eneing the household for Christ and heaven heard, he said: "For this and every other is very brief and will soon be gone? For mercy may the Lord make us devoutly awhile the house is full of the voices andthankful." footsteps of. children. You sometimes feel , that you can. hardly stand the racket. You i VI "- — say, "Do be quiet! It seems as if my head STII-E§ BET'W—E-ENSE-R-M—ONS., would split with all this noise!" And The stutterer's words frequently have things get broken and ruined, and it is: great wait.—Buffalo Courier. "Where's my hat?" "Who took my . Billing and cooing flourish during the books?" "Who heti been busy with my honeymoon. Afterwards the bill -Ing some - playthings?" And 15 15 aerushing this way times stops the cooing.—Lowell Courier,. and a -rushing that until rather and illoth- I Stern Father—He who sows the wind er are well nigh beside themselves. , reaps the whirlwind. Prodigal Sen—Well, But there is Ong opportunity so much he raises the wind, anyway.—Detroit Tri - brighter than any other, so much more bane. inviting and. so superior to all others that The Count—Ze young lady laugbed when there eine ineuraerable &igen pointing to I told her zat joke. leliss M.—She must it, ated it is haIoed with e. glory all its own. have thought she hen nice teetia—New 1515 yours! It is mine! It is the present York Ledger. 'Our. It is the now, We shall never have it again. Wale I speak and you Largest Lone in the wore. Het= the opportunity is testless as if to be A lens, whicit vrin be when finished the gone. You canna chain it down. You largest fa the nvorld, is now being cast at cannot impeison it. Von cannot make it Jetitt, Geernany. n is an objective for an stay. An, Its bulses are tbrobbitsg with a astronornicel telescope, and will be 401-8 haste thee cannot be hirideted or eon- inches iti cliaraetee, about five legates trolled. It Is the opportunity of invitee greater than that at. tec Lick observatory. don on my part seed Acceptance oft your in its you& state, before grinding, it part. The doer of thg palace of Godel wigs ittee one ten, atal will cote, it is estimated, about e7e,000, 741144 ate Emperor seenied to realize I was present, and he came closely to me. Hie face was distorted with ra,ge,he showed that he was in a furious temper, every moveineue indicated nervouti anger. "Dirt." said he, "dirt, you know thee you're nothing more than dirt, is it not oot And am I no all that there is'?" • 1 de not know hew I had the etrength to reply ; " You are the elect of God, the arbiter of the destinies of lama" " Umph 1" said he. ' And, turning his bads upon me he re- sumed his nervous peeing of the room, opened the window again, a second time took a pinch of snuff and then advanced toward me. "You know, then, that when I give an order I am obeyed without hesitation, with- out remerk, without thought 1" "As one would obey God, yes, Sire, I know that." He looked at me fixedly. There was in his eyes an expression so strange that I could not withstand it, r dropped my eyes. He went to the desk, took the docu- ment lying there, folded it, placed it in an envelope, olosed the envelope, not with his Imperial seal, but with a ring upon his finger. Ile returned to me. I wish you to know that I have chosen you froin a thousand to carry out my orders," he said, "because I think you will execute them properly." "1 shall always have before me the consciousness of the obedience I owe my Emperor," I replied. "Good, gobd ; and remember that you are no more than dirt, and that I am every- thing, 1! I 1" "I await the orders of Your Majesty." "Take this letter to the Governor of the fortress, go with him where he will direct you, assist him in what he will do, return to me and say : '1 have seen.'" I took the paper and bowed. "1 have seen, you understand ? seen. ' "Yes Sire." "Go 1" The Emperor dosed the door behind me and I herd him repeat to himself: "Dirt, dirt, dirt." I hestitated outside the door. "Come 1" said my guide. We resumed our route, but by another passage. This one conducted me to the exterior of the fortress. A trate ot cav- alry was stationed in the court. We mounted horses, my guide and myself. The door of the fortress on the Frontanka bridge was opened, and the troops passed out at a trot, followed by a sleigh. We all galloped aoross the square and reached the banks of the Neva. Our horses slipped upon the ice, and, guided by the lighted clock on the Peter -and -Paul, we crossed She frozen flood, The night was obscure, the wind blew in a manner that was awe- inspiring and terrible. When we climbed up the bank of the river and found our- selves again on firm earth, we were at the gates of the fortress. The sentinel took the password and ad- mitted us. We entered the fortress, the cavalry stopping attthe door of the Gover- nor's Apartments: The password was given the second time, and we entered into the presence of the Governor. The Governor had retired, but he quickly appeared in response to the all-powerful summons : "By order ot the Emperor 1" The Governor questioned us with his eyes my guide made a sign to him signifying that I was intrueted with the affair. Then he looked at me with more attention; he hesitated to address me ; doubtless my youth aroused his suspicion. Without a word 1 handed him the order of the Emper- or. He stepped aside beneath the light of the candle that stood upon the table, he examined the seal, he bowed, made a sign of the cross and opened the letter. He read the order once, he looked at me again; and then he said: "You have come here to see ?" "I have come to see," I responded. "What have you come to sec?" "That which you know." "But you; do you know?" The Governor remained silent for a mo - Melee "You are accompanied by a squad of cavalry ?" he demanded. "Yes." "How many are there ?" "Three." "Will this man go with us?" he continu- ed, indicating -my guide. I hesitated, not knowing what to say. "No," the guide responded. "I will await." "Where 1" "Here." "What shall you wait for ?" "For that which you shall do." "Very well. Order another squad of cavalry, take four more soldiers, and let them be armed with a crowbar, a hammer and two axes." The man whohad been thus addressed by the Governor left us. Then the Governor, approaching me, said: "Come and e ou snail see." He walked down the corridor and I fol- lowed him ; a doorkeeper came behind us. We continued thus until we reached the outer walls of the prison. There the Gov- ernor stopped and pointed to a door. The jailor opened it, passed in ahead of us, lighting the way with a lantern and we The passage in which we had entered was evidently subterranean and some 7 or 8 feet in height. The dampness was such that it penetrated the bricks over which we walked and made them slippery with moist. tare. At the end of 500 paces our progress was stopped by an iron gate. My guide drew a key from his pocket, opened the grill and closed it behind us. We continued on one way. Then occurred to Inc the tradition that told of a sunken gallery communicating between the Red Palace and the barracks of the Paulovsky Grenadiers. I understood that we were in this gallery, and thee when we had lett the barracks we had started for the palace. Presently we reached another door, similar in every respect to that through which we had firsb passed. • Here my guide rapped in the same manner . he had upon the other; it was opened as was the other by the motion of a man who waited on the other side. And we passed' through. We found ourselves at the foot of the small staircase which we wended. It brought us into one of a number of small apartments where the atmosphere was such that I realized I was in a building intended for human habitation. Then all my doubts were set at rest, I was being conducted to the Emperor, who had sent for me humble me, a, member of the rear rank in hls guard. I recalled the instance of the young Ensign whom the Emperor had noticed in the street, whom he had called to his carriage, whom he had named successively in less than a guar ter of an hour Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Colonel, and General. But I could not hope he had sent for me with the same purpose. We had reached the last door, and before it stood a sentinel. My guide placing his hand on my shoulder, said: "Be quiet; you are now to see the Emperor!" He whispered a word to the sentinel. The soldier opened the door, not by placing O key in the lock, but by means of a secret spring. I stepped into the room. A man, short of eteture, dressed ie a Prussfen uniform, his high boots of the softest leather, a long coat falling below his knees, was in the chamber. I recog- nize& the Emperor. It was not difficult. I had passed in review before him every day, 1 recalled how at the last inepection his eyes had rested on me for a moment; he had ordered me to step out of the ranks beside my Captaih • he had looked at me for a moment, and then in a low tone asked some questions of one of the officers of his seite. All thie increased my un. easiness. "Sire," said. my guide, bowing low, "here is the young Ensign with w hom you wished to speak. The Emperor approached me, and as he was much shorter than I, he raised hitaself on his toes and looked at tee intently. No doubt he iecognized in me the one he had noticed at the review, beeause he made a sign as though he were feetisfied, and turn- ing op his heel, he said 'eelo 1" My guide, bowing again, withdrew, and left me alone with the Emperor. I assure you I would quite as willingly be left alone with a lion. The EMperor took no further notice of trie,15 strode np and. down the room, and finally stopped before a window, where he opened mac of the little eiglares of glue and seemed to drink in the dittitig thee, swept over the iey plains, Then he mann- ea to a table which stood in the ceittee of the room and took a pinch cof Snuff from a box that rested there. This wee the mem too he was murdered later, and Which, they say, has Boer eliised ode einee. I had time to examine °Very detail of the apartment, every piece of furniture, every ohlatr, Near to the WiedoW wee it desk. On tho deck WAS as Open docilment. I have since dropped off him, pieoe by piece, and he now shivered in the cold, protected only by a ragged quilt. Beneath the lighb of the lantern his almost naked body looked shrunken and bony. Possibly he had been clothed iu splendid robes, possibly the in - dotes of the mese noble miters had ()cover- ed his breast. To -day he existed withoub rank, his dignity, even his name were lost; he was known merely as No. 11. At the order of the Governor the man arose, covering his nakedness as well as he could with the tattered garment, and with- out uttering a word. His body was bent, weakened by confinement, by the dampness,' by age, by the gloom, perhaps by hunger. But his eye was fiery and defiant, almost rimming. "It is well," said the Governor, The Governoe stepped into the gallery first. The prisoner looked for the last time about his cell, on his stone pillow, on his cram of water, on his straw mattress. He sighed. It was impossible that he should regret anything here. He followed the Governor and passed before me, and I shall never forget the look he gave me, so full of reproach Wall it. "80 young," he seemed to say to me, "and already at the orders of a tyrant !" I turned away my eyes, his look had penetrated My heart like a dagger. He looked steadfastly at the door of his cell. How long had it been since he had entered through it? Perhaps he himself was ignorant of the time. He had, no doubt, long since ceased measuring the days and the nights at the bottom ot that tomb., I came out behind him. The jailer followed us all and closed the door, followed. We descended 10 steps and found our- selves in a long gallery, but we did not stop '• we descended 10 steps further and reached another gallery, then five more steps and there we stopped. Along this lower gallery were many doors, all of them numbered. The Governor walked directly to that which bore the figure 11. He made a sign. There was not a word add. In the silence of the tomb, among,the dead resting there, one loses the faculty of speech. The temperature was far below freezing,but the cold was mingled with a dampness whica penetrated to the bone. The door opened and we descended six steps, riteep and slippery. We found our- selves in a cell eight feet square. There seemed to me by the dim light of the lan. tern that I could distinguish a human form at the further end of the cell. I looked intently about mo and saw a long slit in the opposite wall a foot in length and four indica in width. The wind, cold and cutting, came through this window, an3 with the open door, made a killing draught. A ventilator ran up from this. window to She air far above, for the cell was beneath She bed of the Neve,whose waters splashed against the walla " Get up arid dress yourself." I was curious to know to whom he ad- dressed these word. " The light," he said to the jailer. The jailer directed theellame from his lantern into the corner of the ode Then / Mew, crouched upon a pile of rage 1). thin, pale and aged meta with long, vshite hair and beard, Doubtlete he had entered. tide dell dressed ii the elethee he Wore when 15 had been arrested, but they haa ioug At the entrance to the Governor's apart- ments we found the two squads of cavalry. They placed the prisoner in the sleigh, the Governor at his side. I rode in advance. The second squad of four soldiers follow- ed behind. Where were we going? Of that I was ignorant. What Were we to do? Of that I was also ignorant. My orders were merely to see, that was all. I was merely to say : "I have seen." We went from the fortress at a rapid pace. Sitting, as I was, on the forward seat of the sleigh, the knees of the prisoner were between mine, and I could feel them tremble. The Governor was wrapped in his furs. My military heavy coat was buttoned up about my ears, and yet I shivered with the cold. The old rnan was naked, or nearly so, and the Governor offered him nothing to protect him from the freezing wind. I involuntarily started to take off my coat mid throw it about him, but the Governor, divining my inten- tion, said: "It is not permitted." sere recrossed the Neva, and when we had reached the further side we turned in the direoton of Cronstadt, keeping along on the ice of She river. The wind came down from the'Baltic with awful violence. Splin- ters of ice out our face. One of those terrible snowstorms that exist only in the Gulf of Finland was approaching. Habit- uated as were our eyes to the obscurity, we could not see more than ten paces before THE SUNDAY SCHOOL, INTERNATIONAL LESSON FEB. "The Good Samaritan." Lithe 10. 25-3( Golden Text, LOY, 19.18. GENERAL SWAT/MUT. Jesus is ROW in Jerusalem attending the Feast of Tabernacles. He had 09Gie ip secrecy, yet) was soon recognized and fel* lowed by vast throngs, in which were a, few friends, but many enemies. For a fortnight he remained in and around the city, calmly meeting his foes in the oohs nades of the temple, and retiring at even- ing to the ahelter of the home at Bethany. In one of these discussions at the temple a man learned in -both the written and tra- ditional laws of Israel, and possessing a deeper penetration into the truth than most) of his order, offered to dispute with Jesus, and asked the old question, how immortal- • ity might be won. Ilia aim was not to obtain light, but to entrap the Master into oath statement which inigh t expose him to criticism or leed to controversy. Christ referred hint back to his om n law, and asked what were its teaehings. He re- sponded with the summary of love to God and the neighbor, which Jesus himself had declared embodied all the commandment% "Do this," said Christ, "and thou shalt live." Still intent on discussion, the scribe added another question, "Bub who is my neighbor, that t may love him ?" The great Teacher gave no direot answer, but told the story of a wayfarer, robbed by enemies, neglected by paesers-by of his own race and religion, but succored by an alien stranger, and then bade the questioner follow his example, and count as his neighbor every fellow -man in need. EXPLANATORY AND PRACTICAL NOTES. --- Finally we stopped. We had reaohed the spot a very short distance below the city of St. Petersburg. The Governor stepped from the sleigh and went back to the four cavalrymen that were right behind ue. They had already dismounted, and each man was holding in his hand the ax or crowbar with which he had armed himself before leaving the fortress. "Cut a hole in the ice," the Governor said to them. I gave a cry of terror. I began to under- stand. "Ahl" murmured the old mate with a chilling laugh. "The Empress has remem- bered me, then? I feared she had forgotten me." Of what Empress did he speak? Three Empresses had succeeded each other— Anne'Elizabeth, Catherine. It was evident that he etill believed that he Was living under one of them, and he was ignorant even of the name of him to whom he owed his death. The four soldiers began their work, They crushed the ice with their hammers, they cut it with their axes, they lifted out the blocks with their crowbars. At each blow the icy water spurted into the air. "Get out," said the Governor to the old man, as he turned toward him. It was a needless order—the old man had already left the sleigh. He was upon his knees on the ice, in prayer. The Governor whispered an order to the four soldiers, and then he came back and took his place beside me. I had not left the sleigh. At the end of %minute the old man arose. "I am ready," he said. The four soldiers threw themselves upon hitn. I turned my eyes away, but, if I could not see, I heard. I heard the sound of a body plunged into the water. In spite of myself, I looked back again. The old man had disappeared. I forgot that it did not rest with me to give orders, and i shouted to the driver: "Pachol ! Paohol 1" "Stoi I" cried the Governor. The sleigh, that had begun to move, in- stantly stopped. "It is not finished," the Governor said to me in French. "What more have we to do?" I asked. "To wait," he responded. We waited half an hour. "The 106 has formed again, Excellency." said one of the soldiers. "Solid?" demanded the Governor. The man struck upon the ice with his ax; the water had become firm. "Go," said the Governor. The horsee started at a gallop. They flew as though the demon of tormenb pur. sued them. In less than 10 minutee we were within the walls of the fortress. My guide was waiting. "To the Red Palace 1" he said to the driver. Five minutes later the door of the Em- peror's apartmenta opened and I passed within. He was dressed as I had seen him a short three before. He came forward and looked me in the eyes. "Well ?" he said. "1 have seem" I answered. "Von have seen, seen, seen ?" "Leek at me, sire, and you will nob doubt I said. I stood before a gloss. I Saw myselt, I was pale • my features were drawn and haggard; fhardly knew meself, The Emperor looked et me intently, and without a word he went to his deek and took from it a paper. "I have given you," he said, "between Troitze, and Pereslof an estate upon which dwells 500 peasants. Leave for there to- night, end never return to St. Petersburg. 1f you epeak you know how [can punish. Go 1" I left. I have never returned to Sh Petersburg, and this ie the firat tithe t heVe told any living toui that which I have Oat reeminted 50 you. Verses 25, 26. Lawyer. A professed interpreter of the Mosme law and of the rabbinical comments upon it, which were San more extensive than the law itself. Stood up. To indicate a desire for discus- sion with Jesus. Tempted him. Rather, "tested him," to ascertain the measure of his knowledge and wisdom. Master. The word means teacher." What shall I do It was not the question of a convicted sinner, but of a self-conscious theorist, who sought not for light, but for the opportun- ity of airing his own learning. To inherit eternal life. The question so closely press- ed upon Christ as upon every religious teacher. (1) The deepest hunger of the human soul is for immortality. What is written. instead of giving detailed pre- cepts Christ sends him back to the law of which he was a teicher. (2) God's word contains an answer for every question of the soul. How readest thou? (3) How we read is of more importance then what we read. Ten persons may read the same book, yet no two of them may bring out of it the same results. 27. He answering said. He presented the very summary of the law which Oheiet himself gave on another occasion, showing either that he had already heard it from Christ, or that he had penetrated much deeper than meet of his eines into the spiritual meaning of the word. Love the Lord. Love involvea communion, fellow- ship, and the relation of amity with God. No mau who neglects God or fails to ober- his law oan be trulyaaid to love him. All thy heart. With sincerity and earnest. noes, as opposed to a formal or divided affection. All thy soul. With the emo- ttonal nature, having feeling and warmth. All thy strength. With intensity and de- votedness, as the one great purpose. All thy mind. An intelligent affec- tion, the tribute of reason rather than blind passion. Thy neighbor. Not more not less,but to the same measure with ourselves, in absolute justice of dealing as between man and nien,end with true bene. volence of heart. 28, 29. Answered right. Christ was ever ready to recognize and commend whatever was worthy, even in an enemy. This do. A personal apelicatiou of the areat prin- ciple. (4) Christ's words are always ad- dressed to the individual, and definite in their directions. To justify himself. The burden of the argument had already been thrown from the questioned to the clues. .tioner, and the lawyer felt that he must somehow extricate himself from his own dilenuna. Who is my neighbor? He would. start a new discussion on =Abstract question: "To whom is the obligation of neighborliness due ?" Whether to kinsmen or tribesmeen 30. ' Jesus answering. Instead of a de- finition the lawyer finds pointed at himself another application in the shape of a story. A certain man. Who, by the terms of the parable, is supposed to be a jew. Went down. The journey of eighteen miles from Jerusalem to Jericho is a continuous de- scent, through thb wildest ravinee, which in all ages have been haunted by robbers. To Jericho. In the early days a royal city of the Canaanites, destroyed by Joshua . (Josh. 6. 24), but afterward rebuilt (1 Kings 16. 34), at one time the home of the prophet Elisha, and just before Christ's day adorned by King Herod. Felt among thieves. More correctly, "highway rob- bers." Jerome says that iu this time the road was called "the bloody way." Strip- ped him. The word "raiment" is not in the original. They probably robbed hira gat of both money and clothing. Half dead. e Unable to help himself, yet with a chanee of life if assisted. (5) See how far dime will lead from the paths of right. (6) There are robbers who plunder in business and under forme of law who are guilty as these in God's sight. 31, 32. By chance. "By a coincidence" Not by accident, hut by divine order the sufferer was met that day. (7) What men call chance is often a, divine plan. (8) Seem- ing chance reveals real character. A cer- tain priest. Many priests had homes in Jericho, from which they went up to the temple for their fortnight of service each year. 110 sa* him. So that his pasting by wet not an oversight through ignorance. (9) Every man is responsible for whetever of wrong he sees and oan remedy. Pommel by. Doubtless he °mild find abendant ouses in the danger of the way, the impos- sibility of saving the wound.ed mutt life, She haste of his journey. (10) Men huta shape the excusee, but God maga the neglect. On the other side. La cheap come:tauten, he would not look oh the (lea fering which he did not think to Oure ; just as many hate n out of the gay Of tte needy and stay at hem° horn ohdrtili when contributions are to be takenA Levikee, One from the priestly tribe, though not 61 the tribe of Aaron ; employed in eabordin. ate duties at the temple, and in relikloue instruction. Came alba looked. Pautinl to glance et the sufferer, perhaps to drop a sentimental tear, and thee) pesellag eh hie Way uawilleng tot itiour legal pi:Outten bY tenoning the Weedy fern). (IA) Tete sympethg illeinde itself not 14 action&