Loading...
The Brussels Post, 1902-6-5, Page 3FIRST YIELDINGS SIN. Me first Wrong Step May Be the Step Over the I3rinlc of Eternal Death. tanpl eec9rdef to AoR' of tbo 1'aniamem "eso q,') dip y"8r 080 1tguewd Ninn thio iod ao4 1'00, b wluloio Halle, 4t Toronto, pt .47.1 rptnnaat 4t 1ltrri4ulInes, QA4�wl A despatch from Chicago seem ;— Rev, Pewit. De Witt Talmage preach- ed from the following text :—Pro- verbs 1, 10, "Aly son, if shiner' en- tice thee, consent thou not." No cathedral, it matters not how lofty the spirts or how wonderful the etututtry ur how mazy and be- wildering, the architecture, awes the tourist into rest•,". • 00lrs4 In" hos hallowed it: Then the conturhs have covered up the crumbling walls with /moss and crcoping ivy;. than Westminster abbey, with lie deck, dripping vaults, has become the sepulcher of dead kings and queens. In the Salol way Ito man has , a right to .gi)e Otj' ine 'or tell us %what to do unless gray hubs begin to fringe the forehead or he can speak out his own ,bitter experience. It is ab"surd for the ruddy faced lad to write an essay upon sorrow, when the only sorrow he ovor felt was (ho fright from the dentist pulling his first baby teeth, and what audience does not 9111110 when listening io the schoolboy' i1 bombastic gradual' on upon "l low to Win Sec - cern ?" No reformer enn halo great iniluence. in attacking a clubroom when hb himself is so unsociable that the hearers dislike the reformer worse than they desplee his toach- I11go. .ling Solomon wrote with author- ity. 1 had drunk from the chalices of pleasure. Ile had quaffed to the bitter dregs every cup of woe. Ile had seen tile ups as well as the downs of life. He was -no fanatic or adventurer, He was the king who sat upon the richest ,throne of the then known world. His pillared halls were lined with statuary. The fountains which played in his . gar- dens moistened the throats of birds whose ancestors once cleansed their plumage or sang their young to sleep in foreign lands. His collars were filled with wine of choicest vint- age. Tho throneroom and judgment hall were circled by rooms above rooms. Near by were his harems, in wbich the king gathered a thousand wlves and. concubines. As the wit ' once wrote of Brigham Young, 'King Solo- mon was the most married Inas that ever lived. Not only was he great and increased mote than all that were before him in Jerusalem, but his wisdom remained with him. When two women claimed a little child, Solomon ordered his executioner to- cut ocut thebaby in twain and give half to 'each. The real mother fell on her knees and begged him to save the child and if necessary to give it to -her enemy. Then said Solo- mon : "She is the true mother. Give her the child." As a gardener, 'he knew all' about flowers; as an eques- trian, all about horses; as an archi- tect; all about buildings. Re made the ant our teacher. As a merchant he lingered in the busy malts to tell us how to trade. To -day, amid wealth and power, within sound of clinking tankards' of gold and rumbl- ing chariot wheels, the ,old cage writes an eternal protest against sing "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not." START RIGHT. Young men' dislike to be patroniz- ed. Although willing to accost each other in terms of familiarity, we dis- like older people to pat us condes- cendingly upon the back. So to- day, as a young man, 1 thought you young people would let me try to erpret - those words of the Bible: 1 would ,especially interpret them now, because many of you who have Como from far away are for the first time living in a great city. You are away from home, away from father and mother. Unless your start right you will never. end right. glory of young men is their strength." The way tie keep that strength is to refuse to allow the sinful dissipations to sap the virility of youth. Ding Solomon warns the young people against sin, because young folks are apt to he thoughtlessly reckless. They do not want to be bad ; they hese no intention of throwing overboard all the pest teachings of probity and right; they are naturally religious; they 8µy their prayers when they arise in the morning, they say their prayers again before going to bed nt night. But they are full of JUL and animal spirits. They laugh and sing and frolic just as a colt capers, a kitten plays with her tail and a bird flies hither and thither for the mere pleasure of flying. A. full blooded lad cannot keep still. He squirms anis twists and whispers and passes notes in the schoolroom. s'i'c dogs about everything that the teacher tells him not to do. If you ask hint why he does thus, he could not. answer. What schoolboy when out in the country has not tried to sec how near be could skate to the air. hole in the ice ? What boy has not fished when standing upon a rolling log or has' not tried to walk across a dangerous trestle or has not climbed a steep precipice until his brain was dizzy with vertigo ? What boy has not tried to swim across a river merely because the other boys said he could not ? King Solomon warns against sin because young people aro apt to be - conn despondent. Perhaps this dis- couragement will be caused by home- sickness. The loneliest place on earth is a, great city. In the coun- try town you knew everyi ody, and everybody knew you, While the village minister was preaching you would be watching i.he neighbor's daughter, whom you expected scone day to make your wife. When you truclged away to school, every farm waggon which weft by rens ready to give you a lift. when the .poor wo- num flack among the hills was sick, ,your moths' alalia tip a package and bade you carry it to the ileus°. That poor woinanndways' greets you new with a smile. But here in this great city you do not oven know the man who lives across the hall. Perhaps you say "Good morning" to him, but that is all, When you come hone at night, there is nothing but the cold, uninviting bedroom. You long again for the farm, for the thatched t'oof of the old homestead, for the smell of the new mown hay tied the sight of the cider presses ' vehemently tit work squeezing the orchard's blood into barrels and casks. St. John's wilderness of rock is a lit mono for a great city, It is a wilaerness, and there are no wilder beasts of passion roaming among forests than some of the human monsters which live here. Perhaps:your discouragement comes front injustice, You may have been living in the great city now for two years, You worked,, and work- ed hard. Then came a vacancy in the store. Of course you expecte the promotion, but another clerk under you who was not as 1 ro nor as faithful as you had influence and he was pushed ahead. Then you protested—and Vehemently protest - cd. All that the manager did was to laugh and -say, Well, if you don't like it get out." You could not get out. You had no place to go. You sullenly went back to the desk saving: "What is the use of trying ? Honesty is not the best policy," "1F SINNERS ENTICE THEE." Perhaps your discouragement came in a cruel way. You had your foot upon the lowest rung and were be- ginning to climb the ladder of 'ex- cess, when suddenly the hard times came. The firm dissolved and you were discharged. You are now not only looking for a new place, but you have to commence all over again. Now comes the warning against temptations. Now the old sage tells me to put the hand of lover upon your shoulder and say : "rtfy song if sinners entice thee, con sent thou not." 1 give you this warning, gladly and willingly,my brother, because these are the troubles which are fit- ting you for' the mighty successes which are to come. Remember this great lesson—anything which de- velops quickly dies quickly, The in- sects aro generated and grow to maturity in, a few hours, but they also die of old age by night. The gourd which spread itself as all um- brella over the head of the prophet Jonah withered as soon as it was touched,of the east wind. The flow - or which blossoms in the spring goes to seed before the fall. It takes years and years to develop o cedar of Lebanon. It takes centur- ies upon centuries to bury a coal mine. It takes at least one score years to make a man, and the more obstacles you CAP overcome the more of a giant you will be. Only the gods can reach the stars. Man can become like unto a god if God is with him and he keeps on stretch- ing. Icing Solomon warns the young folks against sin because evil com- panions are always the ilrst to ex- tend the right hand of welcome. The good young man says: "I cannot afford to associate with every one. I cannot go with every stray ac- quaintance whom 1 meet upon the street. I should live in the city as 1 live at home. I ought not to con- sort with any companion whom I would be ashamed to introduce to my mother or sisters." When you enter the store as a fellow clerk, he watches you. By conversation he finds out whether or no you are 0church memberf He is too busy to gossip during business hours, and so it will take some time for him and you to become fast friends. After awhile he will invite you to attend a night school or go to some lecture or meeting. He asks you what books you read and then offers to lend you' one of the classics. By and by you arrange to telco your vaca- tions together. Then the good young man gives to you the highest compliment of his life—be asks you to come home with him and visit his mother. That clear old lady wel- comes you as only his mother can. She knows your own home is so far away that it is impossible for you to go there andget back to the store when the two holidays aro over. SOME P'AiSE FRIENDS. But' the bad young man is neve' hard to become a"quainted with. Ile will slap you upon, the back as soon as you enter the store. He offers you a cigarette or invites you later to take a drink. Ho stoke you in the hall and wants to have a long talk, He is always loafing when the dead of the der artment is atvay, Af- ter a little while he begins to shake fun of your Bible. He ridicules you as stingy because you send most of your money home to support a widowed mother . and five fatherless children, end -then, if you have money to spend, lie and his evil companions will gather around you to help you sl•oid it if you will let them, as a field of clover tops will empty all the bee -hives from far 01111 near, But after your money is gone and pot- ition gone and health gime and hon- or gone they will care no more for you than for a dead cur in the street. The night youthe the sa- loons will be as crowded, the glasses will click fust as merrily as ever. At that bar which you now frequent there will not be a tear shed over you. The day your body: is buried the very friends who aro now entic- ing you away will gamble just as recklessly 011(1 litugh just as loud with others ail they now do with yyo11, and if necessary and they could SIM 7E0 01.1)10' 4)1010 they would be willing to gamble tit your grave. One day a gentlemen was tnik- ing to my uncle, and one said, "is it not strange how Willing tho World le to Jflok a mall when he is down?" "No," Answered my uncle, "X do not think the world kicks a man so much when 00 15 down as when he is trying to stand rip." "My son, if sinners entice time, consent t11o11 not," LINO S10LOMON'5 WARNING. i Icing Solomon warns the young 1)eelde not to consent to sin boeaus0 after wo have once yielded we 10111 never be the same again, It would be pleasant it 100 could .go' on eine fling and diem after awhile say, "I guess I will stop and start over again." Blit we cannot Say or do that. Whatsoever a man sowetlh, that shall 110 also reap. If a man make a bed of r05e3, he sleeps in a cloud of incense. If he gatheroth only the thorns, he must bo lacerat- ed by the thorns. After you have once robbed the firm will never fully trust you. After you have once wrecked your health you can never be anything but a suffering invalid. After you have once led an immor- tal soul astray and that soul 'has departed from earth to meet its judgment at the bar of God you can- never annever change its eternal destiny. Many a man to -day would willingly cut oft his right arm if ho could on- ly change the past, He cannot. 'rhe past is forever dead unless that past can bo cheinged in a heavenly sense through the mercy and the pardon of God. Idako not the mistake which so many older risen have maclo of leaving a bad record during the per- iod of their youth and then having that record curse all the nhidnoot end the twilight of your existence and corse you down to the grave. YOUNG MAN'S BEST FRIEND, But the greatest lesson of this text is yet to be spoken. Solomon tells us not to let evil companions entice 11s away, But loan is a so- cial being. LTo Longs for friends. He inust have friends who will associ- ate with him when he weeps its well its laughs, when he is dying as well 1)8 when he is strong and well. As Solomon bids you to beware at evil companions, I will introduce to you one who will be the best Friend a young mein ever had. 'Young man, you cannot afford to fano tho.tempt- ations of a great city alone. • Per- haps you know about this loving Friend to whom I want to introduce you. He was with your sister when she died. Well, you remember how she smiled up into this face. Ile was with your mother during all her troubles in life. The last words your father spoke on earth was his name. That name—shall I speak it? Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! That is tho Friend who will see you all the Way through if you will only trust hire. You must now make a cfbice —a choice between this dear Friend and evil companions. ,This is a very anxious moment for many of us. It is an anxious moment for Christ as well as for you. One dark night a watchman fell asleep nt his post and failed to sig- nal the lightning express. Leaping to his feet when the flying engine, as a shrieking monster, shot by, he saw the train disappear and realized that the draw -bridge was open and all the passengers were lost. It was too much for human brain. The plan went stark mad. Friends found him shivering and cowering in the cor- ner of : his room a raving maniac, puttering to himself, "00, if I only had; it I only hadl" Here comes thundering along the limited ex- press full of gosfel invitation. The train is flying with the speed of the lightning. What are you going to do in. reference to Christ before it is too late? Over the dark abyss of sin will you throw the strong, straight beam of the cross, or will you let evil companions crush your hopes into ruins? Shall you bo smiled at by the angel of hope or hissed at by the voice of despair? Will you accept tlhisJ0sus as your Friend? Your Ioved ones, your Heavenly Father, your Saviour and the Holy Spirit await the answer. "My son, if sinners entice thee, con- sent thou not," PLUS AND MINUS, Two men were discussing tho fin- ancial affairs of some of their ac- quaintances. "Now . there's Brown,!" said ono. "Ho's boon speculating heavily. How has he come out?" "Well to the good." "And there's Williams, IIe has dabbled extensively, Has he made anything?" 'Be Hasn't done so well as Brown has, But Thompson—you know Thom: son?" "Yes, I know him." "Well, he's worth as much as Brown and Williams put together." "There you're wrong. I know Tllonlpaon's circumstances exactly. Ile isn't worth a penny." "Just so. Brown is worth fifty thousand and Williams is fifty thou- sand pounds' worth worse off than nothing. If you combine the wealth of the two it: amounts to nothing, the same ns Tliomrsoh's. Have you forgotten your mathematics?" SCOTTIE SCORED, An American, general was i11 com- pany where 1101110 Scotch gentlemen were present. After supper, when the Wine was on the table, the gen- eral Igse, and addressed the com- pany 111 the following words: "Gen- tlemen, I must inform your that when I got a little too much to crime I have an absurd custom of railing ugainst tho Scotch. I hope no gentlemen in the company will take it 111111as." A. Scotch gentle- man immediately arose, and with- out seeming the least displeased, said; "Gentlemen, 1, when ,1 Itavo drunk rather freely, and hear any person railing ogatnst the Scotch, have an n.bsus'd custom of kicking him out of the company. i hope no gentleman will take it amiss," It is said that on that occasion the Scotallman had no opportunity for the exercise of Ills ,'talents, Bystander: "Should you say that picture was taken 11011) life?" Critics "I don't know; lett the world wouldn't suffer if the artist was," THE i ,gi. 4 S m S. LESSON'. A INTFrRNA.TrYT�'�p� L.1 SSON, MVl,II8. Text of the Lesson, Acts xv,1 112- 38, Golden Text, Gill, v., 1, 23. Theo pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole' church, to send 0000011 lien of their' own compruly to Antioch with I?.nai'• and Ital•nabus• Paul and Ilarnabas, having retun- ed to Antioch, after their first mis- sionary tour, continued there a long time with the disciples, teaching the word (xiv, 28). While there tcaeh- crs c1xh10 from Judaea, who said that the gentiles could not bo staved by ftiith In Cliriet unless they were also circumcised. There VMS so much 'dissension and disputation about it that the ch inch at Antioch sent Paul and llarnabas apd others to Jerusalem to the apostles and eld- ers to lay the matter before them. Tho council, having heard the whole story and, discussed'it, came toa decision which they now send to An- tioch with these brethren. 22, 24, Forasmuch 115 wo have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls. Behold the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Spirit in this greeting from the believing Jews at Jerusalem, the apostles, the rulers In the church, to the geuiulo believers, the uncircumcised at Antioch. Notice that the Jewish brethren send greeting unto the gentile brethren. They aro all brethren in Christ and aoknowledge it. 25, 26. Mon that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Thus honorably do they mention "our beloved Barnabas and Paul" because of their sufferings for Christ's sake, some of which were mentioned in last lesson, but for a fuller list of Paul's suffering' see Cor. xi, 23-28, And ,yet liter Paul say, "None of these things move me," and "tile sufferings of this present time aro not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us,' and "our light affliction which ie but for a moment," etc. (Acts xx, 24; Rom, 18; II Cor, iv, 17), 1.ocause he believed God. 27. 28. It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us. Observe the partnership of the Holy Spirit and the church trod compare chapter xiii, 2. Every one who receives Jesus Christ receives also the Holy Spirit, and the body becomes Hie temple, every whit of which He jealously desireth for the glory of God (1 Cor. vi, 19, 20 ; Jas. iv, 5, R. V., margin). The Lord Jesus said to His apostles when He sent them forth, ';It is not ye ,that speak, but the Spirit of your I'ather which speaketh in you" (Matt. x, 20). See also Acts v, 82; xvi, 6, 7. 29. Abstain from meats offered to idols and from blood and from things strangled and keep from fornication, from which if ye keep yourselves yo shall do well. Fare yo well, - These the council considered neces- sary things, but did not say neces- sary for salvation, rather necessary se an evidence of salvation. There is no salvation by works revealed in the word of God, but only salvation by the groat and finished work of the Lord Jesus, which the sinner must receive as God's free gift, pur- chased for hila by the precious blood of Christ (Acts iv, 12; xiii, 88, 89; Rom, iv, 5; v, 1; Eph. ii, 8, 9; Tit, 5), but being saved by faith in Christ—that is, by accepting Christ, receiving Rim (John 1, 12; I John v, 11, 12)—then the good works are necessary a9 an evidence to men that we are new creatures in Christ (Eph. ii, 10; Tit, ill, 8; Matt, v, 16; Gal. vi, 15). The believer is expected to be an epistle known and read of all men to the glory of God (II Cor. 111, 2, 8). There is nothing burdensome in the service of Christ. Itis commandments are not griev- ous. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light (I John v, 8; Matt. xi, 80). 30, 131. They delivered the epistle which when they had read, they re— joiced for the consolation. These words of comfort instead of the words which had troubled them (verse 24). The Holy Spirit is a Comforter, and when He speaks He brings comfort to the people of God. "Comfort yo, comfort ye, My peo- ple, smith your Got." "0 thou that tellest good tidings to Zion. " * * 0 thou that tollest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with streiugth; lift it up. Be not afraid. Say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!" (Isa. xl, 1, 9, margin). All God's thoughts to His people are thoughts of peace and He does not want His obedient people troubled or sad. Ills words are intended to make 115 glad and give us peace (Jer. xxix, 11; John xiv, 1, 27; Ps. Ixxxv, 8). Judas and Silas, being pro- phets also themselves. exhorted the brethren withh many words and con- firmed them, A true prophet is one who is it spokesman for God. i Compare Ex. vii, 1, and iv, 16. God is the Ea- ting of Mercies and the God of all comfort, and Ire comforts us in till our tribulation that two may com- fort others in their troubles by the comfort wherewith we ourselvos are comforted of (sod (TT Cur. i, 11, 4), 88, And after they bed tarried 11)01,' a sin170 they were 1171go in peace from the becalm unto the cocci les, Itis our privilege to live in pence, the peace of (lode to conte and go in peace; to have pence airways by til 1110(1115, evoll perfert peace (Phil. iv, 6, 7; 11 'Theses iii, 10; Ism. xxvi, 3), Our God and bellhop is the (led of pence, the Lo'd Jesus is elle Prints) of lienee, 1)11(1 if we 11 1'0 not enjoying the peace:, of God it mutt be because we ere mat in fellowship Or 10 sor110 001180 unbelieving, for the God of hope loves to. 1111 1110 child- ren with all joy nand peace in believ- ing (Born. xv, 18), • SQiJA'I"I'fl;'S ItIGFITS, Two young women entered a crowded street cur. They were obliged to stand with other pas- sengers. finally, a seat 0.40)0 rib to 1 l;0111 tylia %mewed, ivhun 1.1n4 eauve'aa tion followed:--. "You take the seat, dear" "No; I would prefer that you should take it." "1 would quite as soon stand," "So would I, 1 Itseure you." "Do talo it, dear, I aur sure—" Just at this point, a low•browed, eel lour-souled man, who had been listen trig to the conversation, slipped past the courteous two and into the seat in eon- troversy, where he took It paper fron, his pocket and began to read. 1f glances could have frozen that man, lie would have turned to ice where he sat, 1301 he did not mind the glances; lie morwlqs read on and on, while the holies stood. Of course, 11e was 110 gentleman, but it appears probable that lie possessed tut embryonic sense of humor. FINDING SMALLPDX. A curious test for smallpox was tried in Portsmouth, England, dur- ing an outbreak which took place there many years ago. 11t a' certain street in the town there was a death in almost every house, while in tin adjoining street there were no cases at all. The theory was propounded that the ,Jr of the former street was infected, and the authoiit,os resorted to this test : They erected a tall pole at tho end of each street and at the top of each pole was fastened a piece of fresh meat. At the end of two hours the meat in the infected street was rotten, while in the other street it remaind sweet and good for twenty-four hours. It would be interesting to learn if there are other cases of the successful ap- plication of this test. IMPERIAL TRAVELLING COW. The travelling eow of the hm- poror and Empress of Russia has just diets. This beneficent animal was taken to Denmark and Leith in 1896 and then round to Portsmouth whence she crossed to, France. She travelled from Cherbourg to Mont- parnasse in the Imperial train, and from the latter terminus was driven to the Russian Embassy, whore she supplied milk to their Imperial Ma- jesties and the baby Olga, A French paper states : "This cow always travelled about with the Emperor and Empress," She was of English race, and highly prized by her exalt- ed owners. When at the Russian Embassy she was kept all day in the grassy part of the garden and taken out towalkon the Esplanade des Invalides. 4 • KING. EDWARD LOVES POMP. No ruler in the world can surpass the splendor of Edward VII'.'e public appearances. By this time London- ers are familiar with the magnifi- cence of the state opening of parlia- ment and the brilliance of the levees held by the King. Twice IIis Maj- esty bas opened parliament in per- son and twice he has hold levees at St. Janes' Palace. These latter functions afford a spectacle the bril- liance and attraction of which could scarcely be excelled. A BIRD TIIIEF. Having been the victim of a pro- tracted series of thefts from her home, Mlle. Varvay, a variety actress in Paris, started to investi- gate before causing the arrest of her servants. Leaving a diamond brace- let on her bureau, she kept it in view through the keyhole of a door leading to an adjoining room. Sud- denly she saw it lifted." The thief proved to be a starling, who had deposited up the chimney all the actress' lost jewellery. F - ACCORDING TO SIZE. In order to obviate the frequent disputes as to the ages of children, the steamboat authorities in Swit- zerland witzerlttnd have decided that. 01 every cense where doubt arises the .hind must be nneasured. A11 children under two feet are to have free pass- age and those between 2 feet and 4 feet are to pay half fare, Of the 196,500,000 Mohammedans in the world, only 18 million live in Turkey. Mrs. Wnybaak—"Such men ns you don't deserve to have a wife 1" Si Wayback—"Exactly, Maria ! I've wondered for years what I have ever done to deserve this 1 Daughter—"Papa went of 01 great humor this morning." Mother—"My goodness 1 That reminds me I for- got to ask Rini for any money." The most expensive hospital ever built is the Parisian Hotel Dieu, which cost 38,000,000, about 515,- 000 15;000 per bed, In Africa, Franco has only 800,000 Arabs under civil rule, 2,000,000 under military government. ... "I hear your papa has been 111, Miss D'nyslo," "Yes, Miss Le•oy, ho has," "Anything serious ?" "Oh, yes, indeed I Why, for two whole weeks he was usable to sign a cheque." The Duc de ETo•ny's definition of n polite mal is herd to realize, "A polite man," said he, "is one who listens with interest to things he 111101.5 all about when they are told by a person who knows nothing about them," It seems to be the ambition of all young WINOS to look well when any- one calls. A young bride heard a ring at the front, door. The maid wee cut, and she ru8(1e1 upstairs to tidy herself before admitting the railer, (Snicker than it tales to tell it a ribbon was fn5toi:0(1 to her throat, n flown' stabbed into 110r heir, a Ilasll of powder 011 lice fete. end site was at the door all smiles, affil Muslin , The "gentleluan>." sold he hn(1 tiro cheapest clothes -props to sell that money could buy. Monster Speaking Tube, In the grand canyon Of eolo1'11dp !A infin's vele° 1018 been heard over a dIs• lance el eighteen tulles. A ilonaparte Plate. A. gold plate wl)if'h Ciumigg Bonn. puff, pawned in order to pay ,.,e fr11v eliag expenses of els son, Napoleon, to the Jnilitiuy snhoul ut itrinn110 bee been pllteed in the loon 1111seuu at Ajueelo. 8l.i11 ri Rorst+radtslt. The little WWII o1 mane, Ju Bobemlt, prude:Ts Ute finest llurst•rsdlstl In the world. Alallu horseradish Is known 011 over Europe, •An Odd Notloe. P1111 ebnrch 111 13ueekou, a German whinge of about 1,01111 11111nbithlnts, bus a nutlet. board which hears 1110 follow Mg legend in 1trge letters; "Cyclists rind hens are forbidden to wander around the chut'eIi'1u'd," Better Tbnn Slapping it, Japanese brides during the marriage ceremony wadi the face of the bride- groom, A Baby Superstition. Some pt'bple say that 1t 1s very bad luck Indeed for a baby to see itself in a mirror before it Is a year old, though why this should be so considered it would be difficult to tell, flim Rubber Overcoat. The people of Portland, Ate., call the poet's mantle that falls In heavy folds over their statue of Longfellow "that rubber overcoat" Darkest New York. The center of the criminal population in New York—the police precinct yield- ing the largest number of arrests—va- ries each year. 1t has followed the line of Broadway, steadily moving up town, siueo" the time when the Sixth ward was by common consent the wicked- est precinct in town. IJaropean Pines. The yelloty and red Spanish flag is il'e oldest now in use by.nny European power, yet it was not flown till 1785. The French tricolor came Into use ten years later and England's red ensign In 1801. Buddha's Tooth. In a temple in Iudin there is preserv- ed and worshiped a tooth claimed to have once been In the jaw of Buddha. Cape Colony Earthworms. Cape Colony Is the natural habitat 01 the largest known species of earth- worm. It 1s a soft. scaleless thing between six and seven feet long and much resembles our common angle- worm. Porson. Porson, the great Latinist, was the son of a weaver. His taste for learn- ing was kindled by the accidental dis- covery of a book of Latin proverbs. A. City of Marble. Modern Athens Is a city of marble. Many of the dwellings and business houses and nearly all the public edi- fices are of that material, and even the sidewalks on some of the streets are paved with it. The Tallest Tree. At Dur'enong, Australia, there is a blue gum tree winch has an estimated height of 450 feet, It is believed to be the tallest tree in the world. Attar of Roses. One can make attar of roses very simply. Take the flowers of the hun- dred leaved rose, put in a large jar or cask and just enough water to cover them and stand In the sun. In about a week there will form a scum which can be removed with a piece of cotton. African Baboons. In some parts of South Africa mach damage is done by baboons, which go In large marauding parties to rob gar- dens. Elasticity of Blass. Glass Is the most perfectly elastic substance in existence. A glass plate kept under pressure In a bent condition for twenty-five years will return to its exact original form. Steel comes next in elasticity. The Biggest Aerolate. The biggest aerolite ever found was discovered In Greenland in 1870. 1t weighed twenty-three tons. Old Peruvian Pipe.. Some curious pipes helm been found in the vast guano depesits.of Peru, the date of which Is fixed by scientists to whom they have been submitted as eo- ellual with the famous Peruvian pot- tery, the eleventh and twelfth ceutury. Bonsai* Without Nails. Most of the Japanese houses are of one general shape and two stories high. They are put together by a curious method of mortising, at which these people are adepts, not one nail being used throughout the construction of the whole building. Socrates' Wife. Socrates once said of his wife, Nan- tippe, who, if history is to be believed, ems 11 person by n0 01011)15 0118y t0 live 11, that he marled and lived with r self dlacipilue. Mud In Water. It 10 claimed that mud In drinking water may be more of benefit than (let, riment, Tim mud oeereomes offensive Odors and destroys many of the impuri- ties of bad water. Paris•.Itin Cnboies, In PAP'S the cab driver is pr- d by the autuol•itles from smoking when delving through the streets, 1 F4O'I" AND GTJr4014.1. We used to sing the old thee 14yein, "I Would Not Idea Alwap"1 i.t'e now, 110wever, hard to die In thiy pr0greesive days We long to see the outcome from the brain of restiesa elan, The many great inventions eoming frena Ids skilful hand— The telegraph, the telephone, Afarconis wireless feat 1100,0 nmrvclous In action and very hard to beat. What will the future bring us? Will wonders multiply Unheard of in the ages past by thee° who prophesy? , Yes; ships on hidden rollers hung will plough the briny sew; Beneath the wav05, do Holland. boat, •you're safe to drink your tea` �iireluls made frons aluminum, upheld -by buoyant gas Made simply from the atmosphere through which they swiftly pass; The lightnings flash, harnessed by Man. through instrumento of skill, (lives up its power submissively, to do its master's will; Electric ears, on guarded traok, will shortly show their power Be, hauling trains, on schedule time, three hundred miles an hour; Medical art and enrgeon's akill are do- ing each their part Tu stay the march of dread disease, or mend a pierced heart; Motor machines of complex make will go into your field And cut and thresh and bag,your grain, 710 matter what the yield; will soon come to the fore And give you tour, made from your wheat, while waiting at your door. And now we read of chemists who through learning's stress and strife Are on the verge, they tell us, of new - creating life. And some there are whose study is the mystery of stars Foretell the titne not distant when we'll hold commune with Mars. I think that I was born too soon to witness that display. Perhaps it's best to sing the hymn, "I 'Would Not Live Alway." One fact remains—few get a prize, in vain hug Luck's caresses, Promoters are the men who get the money with the guesses. TT -T8' RAINY DAYS. The time that hints the coming leaf, When buds are dropping chaff and scale, And, wafted from the greening vale, Are pungent odors, keen as. grief. Now shad bush wears a robe of white, And orchard hint a leafy sereen; While willows drop their veils of green Above the limpid waters bright. New songsters Dome with every morn, And whip, poor -will is overdue, While spice -bush gold is coined anew, Before her tardy leaves are born. The cowslip now with radiant face Makes mimic sunsbine in the shade, Anemone is not afraid, Although she trembles in her place. Now adder's tongue new gilds the mould, The ferns unroll their woolly coils, And honey bee begins Iter toils Where maple trees their fringe unfold. The goldfinch dons his summer coat, The wild bee drones her mellow bass, And butterflies of hardy race In genial sunshine bask and float. The artist now is sketching in The outlines of his broad design So fast to deepen line on line, Till June and summer days begin. Soon will shadow pitch her tent Beneath the trees in grove and field, And all the wounds of life be healed By orchard bloom and lilac scent. —John Burroughs, in the May Serib- ner's. THE JUDGMENT OF SOLOMON. "Solomon plight have dome better, but I doubt it," laughed the attorney at law. "I was out in the 000007 the other day on a matter of business, and while there my attention was attract- ed to a, peculiar situation that existed amcng three old farmers, whloh promis- ed to become serious, as they were all stubborn, not one of them being willing to admit that he was in the wrong. It was like this: One of then) had planted a hill of watermelons near his line and the vine had grown over upon his neighbor's land, where it had spent its energies in developing a single huge melon. The farmer who had planted the seed claimed it, but the man upon whose ground it had grown said that it belonged to him. There had been some line fence trouble between them for years, and the melon episode only increased the bitter leafing. The old man who owned the land where the melon was threatened to sue bis neigh- bor for trespass if he picked it, and the other swore that he would have the farmer arrested if he took the melon. Here matters rested till a hog belonging to another neighbor came along and ate the melon. At this stage of the pro- ceedings the local minister stepped in and tried to smooth the matter over. He finally got them to agree to leave the matter to me, and I accepted the responsibility. "'Now,' said I to the man whose hog had eaten the melon, 'you are clearly liable for what your hog destroyed, and 1 think ten cents would cover all the damage done.' "Fle thought this was reasonable and promptly handed the amount over to me "As I put the money in my pocket I said: 'Seeing that this is exactly the amount of my fee for acting as referee, I can see no need of going any forth• er"The contestants. stared blankly at one another for moment and then one of tlleni said that he was mighty sorry that the'uther hog ate the melon before I cane along. To tell the truth, I was sorry myself, for, according to all ae- ecunts, that melon was a buster." 0 Mrs. Fashion—"John I T'lu sure there's it burglar in the house. Mr. F'. (calmly)—"1 +don't wonder tit it. tle's heard of the raol'mons price you gate for that Inst n1,w bonnet And lea's come after it I"