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HomeMy WebLinkAboutExeter Times, 1896-8-20, Page 7Amoolotooloollisootomolioitiotok THE EXETER TIMES CURRENT NOTES n is notorious that men and women, a the Caucasian stock at all events, need °bangs of air, but about the rea- son why they need it there is no agree- ment of opinion, A new tneory upon the subject is advanced by Dr. Louis Robinson in the Nationel Review. From the assumption, which in itself is plausible enough, that the original progenitors of the Indo-Germanie peo- ples were nomads or wanderers, is drosvn the inference that an occasional removal from place to plac,e is carved by a deep-seated hereditary instinct. There is no doubt about the fact that a change of air is beneficial not only when the change is from bad to good, but from bali to bad of another kind. • A resident in Rome, for instance, will often find his health improved by re- moval from the finest quarter of the city to the Ghetto, where, malodorous as the district is, the Roman fever seldom penetrates. Dr. Robinson cites the case of an English sufferer from, asthraa and bronchitis, whose home was in a bealthy part of the suburban coma- tY, Surrey, but who obtained very great relief from a sojouxn. among the slums of Seven Diets. Many other examples might be given to show that mere change, irrespeaively of the qualities of the atmospheres exchanged, gives a to the system and increases its recuperative power. Equally established by experienes is the effect of frequent removal from place to place on captur- ed animals which are nomadic in their wild state. It has been observed in Eng- land that the wild beasts in travelling • menageries notwithstanding the rough and cramped accommodations to which they are oondemned, are more healthy and live longer than those which have the advantage of scientifio care in the Zoological Gardens. Especially signifi- cant is the fact that almost the first ele- phants to breed in captivity were those le Barnum's travelling show. There uld be no stronger evidence that the circumstances under which these ani- mals lived wens more conducive to their general health than those amid 'Which el- ephants are kept in Regent's Park, or even in the Government establishments in India. It is likewise alleged that race horn.* are more likely to become " stale or to deteriorate in condition when they are kept on one track than when they travel about to different race meetings. On all these data Dr. Louis Robinson bases his explanation of the hygienio re- sults cif a change of place in the ease of human. beings. He points out that the epoch (Wing which our progenitors were savage 'punters, with no fixed abode, was so incalculably longer than • the most exten.ded estimate of historic time that it is impossible to ignore the influence of such a state of things on the constitution of Caucasian man as we find it to -day. That the primitive inhabitant of Europe was a wanderer on the face of the earth, like the red men of this continent, who got a pre- carious existence by bunting, is abund- • antly proved. With the change of the seasons, or as game became scarce in the neighborhood of his cave dwelling, he was compelled to migrate from place to place in search of bare subsistence. That such habits, prevaleait through so long a period, would be likely to leave a lasting impress on every cell and fi- bre of the human trams is pronounced more than probable. Moreover, if these were the prevailing conditions of en- vironment during the manufacture of the human constitution, it would seem reasonable to infer a priori that some- what similar conditions would be .fav- orable to the smooth working of the eneysical machinery in modern times. It la certain that if a race of nomads, to whom vagrant habits have become a second nature, are compelled to remain permanently in one spot, evil conse- quences ensue, and these are especially likely to show themselves when the gen- eral vitality has been lowered by dis- ease. Is it not a fair deduction that a renewal of the conditions to which the constitution of man originally was adapted would contribute to the recov- ery of a normal state of health? Su.ole is Dr. Robinson's attempt to ac- count.= theoretical grounas for the in- stinctiee 'desire, periodically experienc- ed, for a change of scene and air, and for the beneficial results which are found in practice to follow a gratifica- tion of the instinct. In his remarkable speech before the South African Association the Marquis of Lorne, the Queen's son-in-law, de- clares it to lie the purpose of England to control 'nab the Nile and the Zam- besi Rivers. This means practically the whole of Africa. It is certainly a magnificent purpose, and one in the way of which there are enormous dif- ficulties. They are no greater, how- ever, than those England met in colon- izing North; America and occupying India. The probabilities are all in fav- or of English' success in the mastery of Africa. It may have to make large concessions to Russia in other direc- tion % but it seems prepare(' to do this as soon as it becomes unavoidable. The prospect is that in another ten years or so it will be possible to travel across Africa in a, palace ear and to go by team from tiee month of. the Nile to the English colonies in South Africa. Such a change, with all it involves, will •bave no precedent in the history of any 'century before th'e present, but it is only one of the many unpancedent- ed changes walch are now occurring so imperceptibly that they almost escape tee imitico of the generation whose activite is Riede* then?. VIE AND ETERNITY. REV. DR. TALMAGE TELLS WHEN THEY BEGIN AND END. The Gospel of Good Cheer For the Sorrow- ing at the close of Gue's nay—Word rletures of the Lengthening Shadows. Washington, .Aug. 9. --Dr. Talmage's subject to -day lights u.p the sorrows of this life and sounds the gospel of good eheer for all who will receive it. His text was Luke xxiv, 29, "Abide with us, for it is toward. evening." Two villagers, having concluded their errand in Jerusalem, have started out at the city gate and. are on their way to Emmaus, the place of their resi- dence. They go with a sad heart. Jesus, who bad been their admiration and their joy, had been basely massa- cred and entombed. As with sad face and broken heart they pass on their way, a stranger accosts therm They tell him their anxieties and bitterness of soul. He in turn talks to them, mightily expounding the Scriptures. He throwa over them the fascination of intelligent couversation. They for- get the tinae a� notice not the ob- jects they pass and before they are aware they have come up in front of their house. They pause before the entrance and attempt to persuade the stranger to tarry with tliem. They peess upon him their hospitalities. Night is coming on and he may meet a prowlin,e wild beast or be obliged to lie unsheltered from the dew. Ile can- not go much farther now. Wily not stop there and continue their pleasant conversation? They take him by the arm and. insist upon his coming in, addressing him in the words, "Abide with u.s, for it is toward. evening." The candles are lighted, the table is spread, pleasant sodalities are en- kindled. They rejoice in the presence of the stranger guese. He asks a blese- ing upon the bread. they eat, and he hands a piece of it to each. Suddenly and. with overwhelming power the thought flushes upon the astoniehed people—it is the Lord.1 And as they sit in breathless wonder, looking upon the resurrected body of ;Tesus, he van- ished. The interview ended. Ile was gone. With many of us it is a bright, sun- shiny day ot prosperity. There is not a cloud in the sky. not a, leaf rustling in the forest, no chill m the air. But we cannot expect all this to last. He is not an inteeeigent man who ex- pects perpetual daylight of joy. The sun will set after awhile near the hori- zon. Tile shadows will lengthen. While I speak, many of us stand m the very hour described in the text, "for it is toward. evening." The request of the text is eepropriate for some be- fore me. .b or with them it is toward the evening of old. age. They have passed the meridian of life. They are sometimes startled. to think how old they are. They do not, however, like to have others remark upon it. If oth- ers suggest their approximation toward. venerable appearance they say, "Why, I'm not so old after all." They do, indeed, notice that they cannot lift quite so much as once. The # cannot walk quite so fast. They cannot read quite so well without spectacles. They cannot so easily recover from a cough or any occasional ailment. They have lost their taste for raerriment. They are surprised at the quick passage of the year. They say that it only seems a little while ago that they were boys. They are going a little down hill. There is somethingni their health, something in their vision, something in their walk, something in their changing as- sociations, something above, something beneath, something within, to remind them that it is toward evening.. The great want of all such is to have Jesus abide • with them. It is a dis- mal thingto be getting old without the reju.venating influ.ence of religion. When we step on the dow.0 grade of life and see that it dips to the verge of the cold river, we want to behold some one near who will help us across it. When the sight loses its power to glance and gather up, we need the faith that can illumine. When we feel the failure of the ear,we need the clear tones of that voice which in that olden time broke up the silence of the deaf with cadence of mercy. When the axmen of death hew down whole forests of strength and beauty around us and we are left in solitude, we need the dove of divire. mercy to sing in our branches. When the shadows beginto fall and we feel that the • day is far spent, we need most of all to supplicate the strong, beneficent Jesus m the prayer of the villagers, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening." The request of the text is an appro- priate exclamation for all those who are approeched 15 the gloomy hour of tem- ptation. There is nothing easier than to be good natured when every- thing pleases, or to be humble when i there s nothing. to oppose us, forgiving when we have no inducement to fraud. But you have felt the grapple of some temptation. Your nature at some time quaked and groaned under the infernal force. You felt that the devil was after you. You saw your Chris- tian graces retreating. You feared that you would fall in the awful wres- tle with sin and be thrown into the dust. The gloom thickened. The first indications of the night were seen in all the trembling of your soul. In all the infernal suggestions of satan, in all the surging up of tumultuous pas- sions and excitements, you felt with awful emphases that it was toward evening. In the tempted hour you need to ask jeans to abide with you. You can beat back the monster that would devour you. You can unhorse the sin that would ride you down. You can sharpen the battleax with which you split the head of helmeted abomina- tion. Who helped Paul shake the brazen gated heart of Felix? Who act- ed like a. good sailor when all the crew howled 15 the Mediterranean ship- wreck? Who helped the martyrs to be firm when one word of -recantation would have unfastened the withes of the stake and put out the kindling fire? When the night of the soul came on and all the denizens of darkness came riding upon the winds of per- dition, who gave strength to the soul?Who gave, earliness to the heart? Who broke the spell of infer- nal enchantment? He who heard the request of the villagers,"Abide with us, for it is toward evening." One of the fortsof France was at- tacked, and the outworks were taken before night. Tne besieging army lay down, thinking there was but little to do in the morning, and that the sold- iery in the fort could be easily made to surrender. But (hiring the night, through a back stairs, they escaped in- to tie country. In the morning the besieging army sprang upon tbe bat- tlements, but found that their prey was gone. So when we are assaulted in temptation, there is always some secret stair by which we might get elf. God will not allow us to oe tempted above what we are able, but with every temptation will bring a way of escape that we may be able to bear it. The prayer of the text is appropriate for all who are anticipating sorrow. The greatest folly that ever grew on this planet is the tendency to borrow trouble. But there are times when approaching sorrow is so evident that we needed to be making special prep- aration for its coming. One of your children has lately be- come a favorite. The cry of that child strikes deeper into the heart than the cry of all the others. You think more cry of all the others. You think more of it. You give it more attention, not because it is any more of a treasure than the others, but because it is becoming frail. There is something in the cheek, in the eye and in the walk that makes you quite sure that the leaves of the flower are going to be Scattered. The utmost nursing and medical attendance are ineffectual. The pules becorae,s feeble. the complex- ion lighter, the step yveaker, thelaugh fainter. No more romping for that one through hall and parlor. The nurs- ery is darkened by an approaching calamity.. The heart feels with mourn- ful antimpation that the sun is going down. blight speeds on. It is toward evening. You have long rejoiced in the care of a mother. You have done everything to make her last clays. happy. You have run with quick feet to wait upon her every want. Her presence bus been a perpetual blessing m the house- hold. But the fruit gatherers are look- ing wistfully at that tree. Her soul is ripe for heaven. The gates are ready to flash open for her entrance* .But your soul sinks at the thought of a separation. You cannot bear to think that soon you will be called to take the last look at that face which from the first hour hoe looked upon you with affection unchangeable. But you see that life is ebbing and. the grave will soon hide her f ram your sight. You sit quiet. You feel heavy hearted. The light is fading from the sky. The air is cidU. It is toward. evening. You hada considerable estate and felt independent. In five minutes on one fair balance sheet you could. see just how you stood in the world. But there came complications. Something that you imagined impossible happen- ed. The best friend you had proved traitor to your interests. .A. sudden crash of national misfortunes pros- trated your credit. You may to -day be going on in business, but you feel anxious about where you are standing, and fear that the next turning of the wheel will bring you. prostrate. You foresee what you consider certain de- falcation. You think of the anguish of telling your friends you are not worth a dollar. You know not how you will ever ' bring._ your children home from school. You wonder how you will stand the selling of your library or the moving into a Ricrac house. The misfortunes of lite have accumulated. You wonder what makes the sky so dark. It is toward evening. Trouble is an apothecary that mixes a great many drafts, bitter and. sour and nauseous, and you must drink some one of them., Trouble puts up a great many packs, and you must carry some one of them. There is no scandal so thick and. well adjusted but some thorn will strike through it. There is no sound so sweet but the under- taker's screwdriver grates through it. In this swift shuttle of the human heart some of the threads must break. The journey from Jerusalem to Ern. - main will soon be ended. Our Bible, our common sense, our observation, reiterates in tones that we cannot mis- take and ought not to disregard.. It is toward evening. Oh, then, for Jesus to abide with us. He sweetens the cape He extracts the thorn. He wipes the tear. He hushes the tempest. He soothes the soul that flies to Him for shelter. Let the night swoop and the euroclydon cross the sea. Let the thunders roar. Soon all will be well. Christ in the ship to soothe His friends. Christ on the sea to stop its tumult. Christ in the grave to scatter the darkness. Christ in the heavens to lead the way) Blessed all such.. His arms will inclose them, His grace comfort them, His light cheer them, His sacrifice free them, His glory enchant them. If earthly estate take wings, He will be an incorruptible treasure. If friends die, He will be their resurrection. Standing with us in the morning of, our joy and in the noonday of our prosperity, he will not forsake us when the luster has faded and it is toward evening. Listen to Paul's battle shout with misfortune. Hark to mounting Lati- mer's fire song. Look at the glory that has reft the dungeon and. filled the earth and heavens with the crash of the falling manacles of despotism. And then look at those who have tried to cure themselves by human prescrip- tions attempting to heal gangrene with a patch of court plaster and to stop the plague of dying empires with the euackery of earthly wisdom., Nothing cen speak peace to the soul, nothing can unstrap our crushing burdens, nothing can overcome spiritual foes, nothing can open our eyes to see the surrounding horses and. chariots of sal- vation that fill all the mountains, but the voice and command of Him who stopped. one night at Emmaus. The words of the text are penitent to us all, from the fact that we are nearing the evening of death. I have heard it said. that we ought to live as though each moment were to be our last. I do not believe that theory. As far as preparation is concerned we ought always to be ready, but we can- not always be thinking of death, for we have duties in life that demand our attention. When a man is selling goods, it is his business to think of the bargain he is making. When a man is pleading in the courts, it is his duty to think of the interests of his clients, When a clerk is adding up his accounts, it is his duty to keep Ins mind upon the columns of figures. He who fills up his life with thoughts of death is far from being the highest style of Christian. Iknew a man who used often to say at night, "I wish I might die before mornmel" He became an infidel. • But there are times when we can and ought to give ourselves to the con- templation of that solemn moment when to the soul time ends and eternity begins. We must go through that one pass. There is no roundabout way, no bypath, no circuitous roulese Die we must, and it will be to us a shameful occiurence or a time of admirable be- havior. Our friends may stretch out their hands to keep us back, but no iniploration on their- part can hinder us. They might offer large retainers but death would not take the fear The breath will fail and the eyes will close, and the heart will stop. You may hang the couch with gorgeous tapes- try but what does death care for beau- tiful curtains? You may hang the room, with the finest work of art, but what does death care for pictures? You may fill the house with the wain. ings of widowhood and orphanage— does deatii muid weeping? ,This ought not to be a depressing theme. Who wants to live here for- ever ? The world has always treated me well, and every day I feel less and less like scolding and complaining. But yet I would not want to make this my eternal residence, I love to watch the clouds and bathe my soul in the blue sea of heaven. But expect when the firmament is rolled away as a scroll to see a new heaven, grander higher and more glorious. You ought to be willing to exchange your body that has headaebes and sideaches and weaknesses innumerable, that limps with the stone bruise, or festers with the thorn, or flames on the funeral pyre of fevers, for an incorruptible body and an eye that blinks not before the jasper gates and the great white throne. But between that and this there is an hour about which no man should be reokless or foolhardy. I doubt not your courage, but I tell you that you will want something better a trusty sword when you come to your than a strong arm, and a good aixa and last battle. You will need a better robe than any you have in your ward- robe to keep you warm in that place. Circumstances do not make se mueth dlIference. It may be a bright day when you push off from the planet, or it may be a dark night and while the owl is hooting from the forest. It may be spring. and your soul may go out among the blossoms. apple orchards swinging their camera in the wax. It may be winter and the earth in a snow shroud. It may be autumn, and the forests set on dire by the retreating year, dead nature laid out in state. It may be with your wife's hand in your hand or you may be in a strange hotel. with a servant faithful to the last. It may be io the rail train, shot off the switch and tumbling in long rever- beration down the embankreent—erash, crash! I know not the time. I know not the mode. But the days of our life are being subtracted away and we shall come -down to the time when we have but ten days, tb.en nine days, then eight days, then seven days, then six days, then five days, then four days, then three days, then two days, then one day. Then bours—three hours, two hours, one hour. Then only minutes left—five minutes, four min- utes, three minutes, two minutes. One minute. Then only seconds left—four seconds, three secoude, t,wo seconds, one second. Gone 1 The chapter of life ended! The book closed! The pulse at rest! The feet through with the jour- ney! The hands closed from all work. No word on the lips. No breath in the nostrils. Hair combed back to lie undisbeveled by any human bands. The muscles still. The nerves still. The lungs still. Tbe tongue still. All still. You mighc loot the stethoscope to the breast and hear no sound. You might put a speaking trumpet to the ear, but you could not wake the deaf- ness. No motion. No throb. No life. Still, still! So death conies to the disciple. What if the sun of life is about to set? Jesus is the dayspring from on high; the perpetual morning of every ran- somed spirit. What if the darkness comes? Jesus is the light of the world and of heaven. What though this earthly house does crumble? Jesus has prepared a house of many mansions. Jesus is the anchor that always holds. Jesus is the light that is never eclips- ed, Jesus is the fountain that is never exhausted. Jesus is the evening star, hung .up araid the gloom of the gather- ing night 1 You are almost through with the abuse and backbiting of enemies. They will call you no more by evil names. Your good deeds will no longer be mis- interpreted nor your honor filched. The troubles of earth will end in the felici- ties! Toward evening! The bereave- ments of earth will soon be lifted. You will not much longer stand pouring your grief in the tomb, like Rachel weeping for her children or David mourning for Absalom. Tears wiped away. Sorrows terminated. No more sounding of the dead' march. Toward evening I Death will come sweet as slumber to the eyelids of the babe, as full rations to a starving soldier, as evening hour to the exhausted work- man. The sky weil take on its sunset glow, every cloud' a fire psalm, every lake a glassy mirror, the forests trans- figured, delicate mists climbing the air. Your friends will announce it ; your pulses will beat it; your joys will ring it; your lips will whisper it, "Toward evening 1" ANTI -FINERY L:EAGUE. Fashionable women in London are ag- itating a new league, which has the worthy motive of liraiting the number of dresses a. woman shall buy in one year, providing, of course, she becomes a member. So many women dress be- yond their means to keep pace with their more favored associates that this "anti -dress league" is proposed as a sort of mantle of charity to cover a small dress allowance with fashionable respect, and bring about an average rule for poorer members of the society. The success of this enterprise is yet to be seen, but the amusing side of it is that the women who are the most en- thusiastic workers in the cause do not care to join. FRENCH WOMEN. The statistics of crime in France are several years itt arrears; those relating to the year 1893 were published. about a month ago. They are complete, and special attention has been paid to the offences against the established rules of society by French women. Criminologists may be interested to know that of 4,269 accused persons bi 1893, in France, 3,673 were males and 596 were females, a proportion of six to one. In other words, women were re- sponsible for 14 per cent. of the crimas committed, which according. to the statistics, is a crfminution erne° the period. of 1871-76, when the percentage was 17. NO MILK IN JAPAN. In Japan they do not have this article of food. The natives never use it— no lowing herd is seen with the bare- foot boy driving them to the milkyard. There are no pastures, and even the barnyard fowl. is practically unknown. Most of the animals on the island are left wild in preserves. Milk is an an- imal product, and animal food is pro- hibited by their religion. Curiously enough, fish is not considered animal food and is used considerably. HOPING TO FIND SOMETHING .IN THE POCKETS. Never mind brushing me off, porter, said the careful passenger on the sleep- er, you couldn't find a, ,speck of dust on my clothes. Dat am so, boss, but if you ain't no objections.Ill jeet go through the mo- tions with my brusla, kase 1 must feel dal 1 earned dat quarter you** goin' to give me. TEE SUNDAY SCHOOL. INTERNATIONAL LESSON,AUGUST 23. "Absalom's Rebelllion." 2 Sam. 15, 1-12, Gotden Text, Exod. 20, 12. GENERAL STATRMRNT. Eleven or twelve eventfa years lie between our last lesson and that of to- day, These years Witnessed Amnon's crime and death, Absalom% exile, and joab's artifice to seeure his recall. Dr. Geikie also places here the numbering of Israel and the pestilence which fol- lowed it. While David's own life had proied that his fall was but a passing lapse from which he soon recovered himself, the seed of his sin, under God's great law, gradually yielded its sad harvest. A glance at the circumstan- ces will suffice to show bow this re- bellion stood related to David's own sin. As a' parent he failed to punish Am- non for bis dastardly crime. It is said "he was very wroth." But the anger was only the sbeet-lightning of passion, and then only a solitary flash. This led Absalom to murder Amnon. Again punishment is omitted. But through Lear Absalom sought refuge at the court of his maternal grandfather, Tale mai, King of Geshur. Here he remain- ed. three years. It is probable that he regarded himself as unjustly blamed for having done what his father should have done. This exile, with its enforc- ed idleness, gave him opportunity to Purse his fancied wrongs, and plan for redress. He regarded. himself as right- ful heir to the throne. But Bathshe- ba's influence would be exerted in favor, of Solomon. Psalms 41, 55, 38, and 39 are by some referred to this period. If properly so they show that the king must have been too sick to administer justice. Absalom was a imperious mien ancl beautiful presence. Rising early to meet the "cases" needing judg- ment, by an appeal to the scenic appe- tite of the Eastern, appearing in splen- did equipage he set off his personal claims. By flattering the people, and speaking evil. of hi s father, he made some believe that a change was nec- essary. When his plans were fully formed, on pretense of wishing to offer a sacrifice to God, he obtained perrais- sion to go to Hebron, wbere, by his appointment, other conspirators met him and proclaimed bira king. "Sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child." To have those whom we have nursed, fed, clothed, and Pray- ed for, turn against us, is the last dreg in life's cup of bitterness. This was now David's doom. PRACTICAL NOTES. Verse 1. It came to pass. As the fulfillment of Nathan's prophecy (2 Sam. 12. 10, 11). After this. The re- call of Absalom and his readmittance to favor. This was done without re- pentance on his part. Chariots and horses. He imitated the magnificence or foreign monarchs ia order to make an impremion on the people. To run before him. In oriental fashion. Dr. Trumbull says when his little party started. from Cairo for the pyramols a handsome young "sais" clad in blue, scarlet, green and gold, ran before them at the top of his speed, calling out for a dear path among the camels, don- keys, and foot passengers. Horses were a novelty among the Hebrews, having only been recently introduced from Eg- ypt. (1) True greatness is not depend- ent on outward show. 2. Rose up ea.rly. To show his zeal and be on hand before the king, who would probably sit in the gate during part of the day. Way of the gate. On one side of the street which led to the door of the king's palae,e, in which door David administered justice. Here he intercepted such persons as came to Jerusalem with complaints of wrong, and by flattering arts sought to in- gratiate himself in their good will. Had a controversy. A suit, as in verse 4. Foreign wars, extensive building en- terprises, the love of pleasure,and pro- bably the weakness of advancing years, led .David to neglect his duty as the only "court of appeal" in all Urea. Absalom called. Thus showing friendly familiarity and affecting a particular interest in each newcomer. Such gene- rosity .and civility would make him a favorite. (2)Flattery beguiles the un- wary in their ruin. 3. Thy matters are good. "Thy cause is just." This the citizen already believed. He would contrast Absalom's interest with David's unconcern. No man deputed. There is no official hearer appointed. The king takes no inter- est in the wrongs of the people. 4. 0 that I were made judge. Many imagine because they see some details which they could improve. that there- fore they could do the whole work bet- ter. Absalom was too wily to express a wish to the king. (3) Pride and envy often underlie hostile criticism. 5. To do him obeisance. His princely bearing and retinue would lead all of lower rank who came near him to show their deference. Took him, and kiss- ed him. Instead of allowing them to do him homage as the king's son, he feigned humility and condescension. By such means politicians court power m all lands. 6. Stole the hearts. Robbed his father of the people's affection, and transfer- red it to himself. The multitude fail- ed. to penetrate his motives, or foresee the tendency of his consent. (4) All success depends upon winning men's hearts. 7. Forty years. A transcriber's error for four. The Arabic and. Syriac ver- sions read "four years." so does Jose- phus. These would be, reckoned from Absalom's return to Jerusalem and be- ginning to plot for the throne. Pay my vow. It is uncertain whether he had ever made any such vow cie he here pretends. In Hebron. This was his birthplace, the capital of Jadea, a famous high place, and far enough dis- tant for his purpose. It was here that David had first been anointed king. (5) Religion is too often used as a cloak for serious evils. 8. Geshur was northeast of Bashan, and midway between Damascus and the Sea of Galilee. Absalom was the grandson of the King of Ge.shur. 11 the Lord. It is probable that all this talk was pretext and lies. Serve the Lord. By offering a sacrifice. 9. Go en peace. .1)avid seems to have no suspicion of the black conspiracy veiled under this pious proposal. He was probably at this time a laic mon- arch. Had he not been so engrossed in luxurious self-indulgence he 'would not have been so deaf to the com- plaints of his subjects and blind to the treachery.of his son. (6) Lack of self- re,straint is the door through which fa- tal influences creep. 10. Sent spies. These were to ascer- tain the feelings of the people, and to fan the flame of discontent, but were wily to sound the rallying cry in places where they could reckon upon sup - pert. The sound of the trumpet. The signal for revolt, like the hoisting of a standard itt modern times. He was to be proclaimed king simultaneously all over the country. lie Hebron For henpurpose the place was well chosen. It is probable that the tribe of Judah resented its absorption into the nation at large, and the city of Hebron con- tained many persons who were aggriev- ed. by the removal of the court to Je- rusalem. 11. Two hundred neat These were men of distinction, and went as invit- ed. guests to a feast like Samuel's in 1 Sam. 9. 22. Their bigh standing would. create an impression that the king patronized the movement. 12. Sent for Ahithephel the Gilon- ite. So called. from Ins native city Gi- lob, a. few miles south or southwest of Hebron. He was one of David's chief counselors and a man of great sagacity (2 Sam. 16. 23). Offered sacri- fices. This was no holy service, but a means to blind the king and. people, and help to inaugurate sedition. The people increased. Those whom he had complimented and caressed not only joined Inc cause, but used their influ- ence to win others. A general dissat- isfaction must have existed against the person and government of David. (7). Success founded upon tricks and wrong can never be permanent. PAINTING ON GLASS. Painting on glass in imitation of pie- tra dura or mosaic is a pretty pastime. The results, too, are, as a. rule, most sat- isfactory, the appearance of inlaying being imparted to the surface. The painting is in flat tints, and crude, bright colors must be avoided. Tbe materials required. are ordinary oil colors, mirrorine medium, seine art- ists' enamels, sable brushes and. a, good black for grounding. Japanese black lacquer covers better than most lel them, and a tube of ecailline brown black for outlining. The glass must be thoroughly cleaned with soap and. hot water and free from smears. Place the glass face down ward over the design to be copied, and put in the outlines with eeailline brown and mirrorine medium; a fine sable brush is used, and the lines must be solid and very equal in thickness. They will take some time to dry—perhaps Iwo days; they must be dry and hard before the next painting is started, otherwise their sbarpness and decision will be entirely marred, and cannot be restored. without great trouble. The tone for coloring must be chos- en frora among those that are found ill stone and marble, of which there is an infinite variety; gray, red, yellow, green and blue, abound, and can be blended in every conceivable manner In arranging the scheme of color to he carried out, it will., be found that a combination of tbree or four tints well arranged and balanced will prove easier to manage, and more satisfactory in result, than a kaleidoscopic arrange- ment of a, number of colors, which is apt to impart a bewildering effect to the design. Each different tint of the oil colors mutat be mixed up ready for use in sufficient quantity to cover all the parts required; it does not answer to mix with the brush as the work progresses; the color would be certain to vary and look like paint, not stone. Mix mirrorine with the color and cov- er solidly, taking care to keep within the outlines. The enamel can be used. instead of oil -color and thinned. with rairrorine answers very well; if the tints are not exactly what is required, they can be xnodified with oil colors. The whole of the design being filled in with the various tints selected, the ground has to ba well covered with the bla,ek varnish. It does not matter if this looks somewhat rough and. lumpy at the back. The face will appear, nev- ertheless, perfectly smooth; the only precaution to be observed is to fill up all thin places, as the varnish dries very quickly:, it can be retouched again and again without much delay. If any accidents occur, either in the painting or varnishing, paraffin applied. with a cloth will remove everything and en- able corrections to be made on the clean glass. White, dull red, and stone color on a black ground make a good combin- ation; dull buff and yellow against black; dark blue, light blue, Indian red, yellowish green, against an ivory white ground are suggested as suitable combinations of color for pietra dura. Glass painted in this fashion is used Lor table tops, for small wall panels, for cache sots, and various articles of this description. OPERA BY 'TELEPHONE. Airs Sung in Paris Enjoyed in London. An experiment was recently made to transmit by telephone to London Mr. Duverney's new opera, Helle, performed at the Grand Opera House in Paris, says an exchange. By means of the telephone cable connecting Calais and Dover, through telephone communica- tion was established to the Pelican House London, where, by means of the eleetrophone, a form of loud -speaking telephone, it was possible to' listen to an opera rendered in Paris. The first trial was unsuccessful, ow - int to the state of the weather, which seriously disturbed the line. A sec- ond attempt was made, however, on an- other evening, when it is claimed that the sounds, though faint, were heard with delightful clearness, particularly M. Deimos and M. Avarez, the tenor. The female voices were not so distinct. The violin accompaniment of the or- chestra was faint, while the bass and oboe selections were very much in evi- dence. PICKLED TEA. Infusing tea, leaves and drinking the infusion is only one (way of "taking tea?' In Upper Siam little tea is drunk; most of it is prepated for chew- ing, and the laboring classes there use it largely. In Thibet and Western China brick tea is stewed with milk, salt and fat, and is eaten as a veget- able. and in Burmah they make what is called pickled tea, which is eaten as a preserve with other articles of food. THIS CAT HAD REASON. A writer in the London Spectator tells of a cat which found a pet white mouse that had escaped from the cage. The cat carried the mo -use into the house, placed it on the floor and march- ed out. Common mice had never been treated that way by the cat, and it seems that the feline knew that the Albiao mousse was entitled to consid- eration. There are many tImes and circum- stances in life when Our strength is, to sit still."—Tryon Edwards, TO GO UP IN A ROCKET. areneven, or Jeannie, Illechisalts WIU Mimic the setwining Experiment. There is a raan a aerial rsuits fl Mga,n for wbora balkoning has be- come chill, e eaves a new sensation, arid so he is going to turn hireeelf into a human firework and take a trip to the elonds on a akyrocket. This man is eiNV;IsWeli Ma?plivoenneerof inja°a"°eroneaulitiese calls he actually goes up into the sky on a rocket the world will leave to aam,it that be .merits his title. He will be the first to .make such an ascent. Prof. McEwen's plan (all aeronauts are professors) is startling ehiefly for the reason that we associate the come ing clown of the stick as the inevitable sequel a the going up of the rocket, and the possibilities suggested by the descent of the stiek are not such as give MeEweres friends 'itemize to Con- sider. But this aeronaut has no intention of going on one magnificent skyward burst and then paying the law of grav- itation for it. bicEwen has devised a rocket which in the first place, has no stick, and, in the second has a parachute attach- ment which he expects will bring bine dba.eseeek. ntano egartdhovine. gentle circles like the The idea of a manebearina rocket yearsedmaeaeytagiouothase intetrwepasid coPurtoefmesspoiartinsegvetrhael impatience of a crowd at the tedious INFLATING A BALLOON. And after the great bag wa.s* full it soared iv in such a null, stately way as to rob it of all sensational interest. Even a wet fuse would. not delay a rocket more than a few minutes. McEwen at once went to work to per- fect his idea and, best its feasibility. After znany experiments he contrived a model that would project the per- son riding on it from the train of sparks that it must of necessity throw oute It was also a model balanced without a stick, and. would carry a parachute.' After three highly satisfactory trials, in which the small scale device more than fulfilled his highest expectations, he decided to go ahead with the mane. m,oth firework an which he proposes to risk his life. This is now in process of construction in Chicago. It is being made of alumi- num and phosphor bronze and stands 60 feet tall.. Save for the absence of the stick the general shape of the rock- et is the conventional one, with dad - like point and. long, slim body. The charge of powder necessary to ehoot a mares weight two miles into the air is enormous especially as it cannot be packed. tight on the principle of a gun cha,rge. Rockete depend. for their ixtotive power on the kick or recoil at.. tendant on the generation of gases caused by powder that is burning co,ml- paratively slowly. If it burned rapid- ly the paper tube would explode. After the completion of the rocket and the paraohute case all that will be needed for the ascent is a tube big en- ough to start the projectile on a proper angle. If, as sometimes happens with smaller fireworks, the 60 -footer should topple over and begin shooting along trahaettgmer.and it would be a very serious A NOVEL SENSATION. There can be no doubt that the sense - tion which Prof. MeEwen will get from his ride will be absolutely novele To coast through the air as he proposes to do will carry him swifter than the birds. It will be like a toboggan slide upside down. If the first ascent is successful there promises to be considerable scientific value to the attempt, If a an can go two miles in air in less than two min- utes and regardless of the courses of the wind it will mean that various ob- servations of sudden high atmospheric changes can be takenz It will be pos- sible too, to test finally Gen. Dyren- forth's theory that rain maybe precipi- tated by firing high explosives in raid air. Prof. McEwen could speed along through the clouds, and throw out tre- mendous firecrackers loaded with dyna- mite and be a raile higher tip before they exploded. IM6 DEADLY FOE TO GERMS. Savant 5 Make Successful Experiments Willi the lioentgen Ray in Treating Ordinarily fatal Diseases. Interesting and successful experi- ments have recently been conducted under the direction of Dr. William Shrader, head of the department of electrical engineering in the Missotun State University, testing the value of the Roentgen rays in destroying di- sease germs. These have been successful and prove conclusively that the rays kill the diph- thane bacilli, and thus far the experi- ments go to show that they are effica- cious in the treatment of consumption. The first experiments were made with the diphtheria bacilli. Two pies were inoculated with the diphtheria toxin, the poison thrown off in the sys- tem which kills the patient, each pig receiving one-tenth of a cubic; centi- meter. Three hours passed before either of the pigs were exposed. to the rays; in this time theepoison had per- meated the entire system and the first was nearly dead. Notwithstanding the condition he seemed to quicken af- ter the three hours' exposure to the rays and lived for twenty-three hours. The other pig not exposed, died within SEVENTEEN HOURS. In order to make the test conclusive the experiment was repeated. The pig to be placed under the rays, receiving as before, one-tenth of it au.bie centi- meter of the diphtheria toxine, whUe the other received only one 100th of a cubic centimeter, or one-tenth as much. Immediately after the injec- tion the pig was placed under the tube. He is alive and healthy to -day, after . six weeks have passed. The pig not ex- posed died within nineteen hours. In all these cases a post mortem was held upon the pig that died, which showed that death was due to the diph- theria poison. Experiments with anthrax, a disease fatal to stook and men alike, have been fairly successful, but the results have not been officially announeed. The greatest interest centers in the experiments made with consumption. Early in ,Tuly a prtizninent citizen of this place, entered upon the treatment by means of the Roentgen rays. His pulse was feeble, his chest could not be expanded and he could not take a long breath. The greatest length of England and Se.otland, north to south, it. atitntt 008 mil ,;;!'