The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], February 09, 1913, EDITORIAL SECTION, Page 29, Image 29

About The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950

Image provided by: University of Alabama Libraries, Tuscaloosa, AL

                
MEN WHO HAVE MADE ALABAMA—JONATHAN HARALSON—By B. F. Riley, D. D.
JUDGE JONATHAN HARALSON
was an eminent type of that
generation of southern gentlemen
who were a connecting link between the
old and the new south. He had Just
reached the threshold of cultured man
hood when the crash of war cams. lie
was of the flnshed mold of the young
southerners of that period. He de
scended from a noble stock that was
pre-eminent In southern society and In
the affairs of his native section. His
father belonged to that wealthy class
of typical planters that gave prestige
to the south on two continents. His
uncle, Gen. Hugh A Haralson, was one
ot the most distinguished congressmen
from Georgia, and for many years to
gether was one of the most learned
jurists of that state.
Graduating from the University of
Alabama In 1851, Judge Jonathan Har
alson studied law, and was admitted to
the bar a year later, but In order to
equip himself thoroughly, ho went to
the law school of the University *of
Louisiana, where ho spoilt a year, and
obtained his degree of LL. B. He im
mediately entered on the practice in
Selma, where he became eminent as a
citizen, barrister, and an active Chris
tian.
When, In 1876, the legislature of Ala
bama organized the city court of Selma,
a court of common law, with civil,
criminal and equity jurisdiction, the
bar of Dallas county recommended
Judge Haralson to Governor Houston
for the Judgship of this court. For 16
years he presided over the court with
signal ability. At the end of that
time he was elected to the supreme
bench of the state, where he served
for 12 years.
One of the gifts so varied and prom
inent as Judge Haralson had, could not
escape that which brings distinction.
His unusual culture, affableness of I
disposition, cheerfulness, varied ability,
and prominence In Christian work,
found for him unsought niches of high
honor In Christian work. Purely In
recognition of his worth, he was chosen
the president of the Baptist state con
vention of Alabama In 1874, which po
sition he held for 18 years, and was
the most distinguished layman in the
denomination of the state during that
time. In 1888 he v as chosen the pres
ident of the Southern Baptist conven
tion, which embraces the largest
Baptist constituency in the world, and
for 10 succeaslve years presided over
that great b^fly. He was a nfodel par
liamentarian, and came to rank as ohe
of the foremost laymen of his denomi
nation in the union. His retirement
from that position v. as voluntary, for
no one ever enjoyed more universal
confidence and popularity than he.
Other honors still were his. He was for
many years a member of the board of
trustees of the Polytechnic institute at
Auburn, chairman of the board of trus
tees of Howard college, and a member of
the American Baptist Education society.
An index to the character of Judge Haral
son is afforded in the remark which he
has been heard to make that, he suffered
nothing to interfere with his religious ob
ligations. His conception of life through
out was Ideal. Himself a model of gen
uine manliness, he sought to stimulate It
in others. In all things his method was
that of exactness. There was a scrupu
lous care In his bearing, his speech, h!s
conduct toward others, and to the close
of his life, the little amenities that make
up so much of life, were not lacking in
his character. While hts high sense of
manliness begot firmness, It was of that
type which always bore the stamp of
gentleness.
His suavity won him friends by the
multitude, and his character and ability
gained for him unlimited confidence. Pre
sidingover bodies sometimes rent by agita
tion, where skill and firmness were put
to the severest test, such was hts per
sonal Influence, and such the confidence
reposed In him. that no appeals from his
decision as a parliamentary officer were
ever taken.
Judge Haralson has but recently passed
away, leaving behind him a record of
publio life of more than 60 years, with not
a dent In his shield or a tarnish on nls
armor. He labored as long as he was
able, and under the weight of years
voluntarily retired from publio life, His
death occurred In his eighty-second year.
Tn the quietude of his own homo clrclo
In Montgomery, aftar hie retirement from
the supreme bench, he serenely awaited
the call of death.
Among the public men produced by Ala
bama, none ever excelled Judge Jonathan
Haralson In loftiness of character, lneor
ruptlblcness of Ilfs, gentleness of dlspost
lion, and fidelity to duty. He was never
the least ostentatious. His manner was
quiet and cordial, and never the least
reserved. While his conclusions were al
ways positive and firm, they were so
tempered by gentleness as to leave never
a shadow behind. He was as cautious
of the feelings of others, as he was for
those of his own.
No man was freer of self-seeking. It
was purely in recognition of his worth
that he was called forth by others to
the varied functions which he performed.
His companlonableness bound to him the
best of men who loved him because of
the loftiness of his life.
lie lived throughout the life of a typical
southern gentleman—easy and quiet of
manner, pleasing always In his address,
nnsttlted, yet possessed of all the graces
of the highest expression of culture. He
was never profuse of praise or of com
pliment, but Indulged in a sort of pleas
In* raillery and Jest In which was couched
an estimate which he entertained, and
which meant Immensely more from him,
than would the extravagance of many an
other. In a circle of friends'he was in
variably charming. His appreciation of
a Joke was delightful, and In this he
indulged to the close. Jocular without
yielding to unseemly levity, easy with
out undue freedom or familiarity, some
times slightly stinging In his Jovial criti
cisms of those for whom he had the
highest regard, he always recognised the
boundary of propriety, and never suf
fered himself to be hetrayed beyond.
There was no assumption either In hie
speech or manner. Ho was simple, while
at the same time great in very many
respects. Invariably respectful, and duti
ful to every trust, as a friend and as
an official—these were the dominant
traits in the character and life of Judge
Jonathan Haralson.
A MILLIONAIRE’S MAIL—By Lillian Laser
4rir A MERICAN Mendicancy" is the
name applied by a recent nem
*■ A paper writer to the begging
which besieges American millionaires. He
deplores Its existence and sees something
un-American In Its unashamed directness.
The Brahmin caste of India, he says, with
its red thread worn as token of superiori
ty and Its alms bowl that may not be de
nied, Is duplicated in the United States
by the college presidents and bishops and
all those who beg for religious, educa
tional, civic and similar purposes—they
demand reverence from all other castes,
but they present the alms bowl always.
And It Is right that they should, de
clares William H. Allen of the New York
Bureau of Municipal Research In his re
cent book, "Modern Philanthropy." This
seems at first a surprising statement, for
one would naturally suppose that his
study of 6000 letters of appeal would ex
pose an unpreeedtned story of pauperism
and Indigence. It Is most amazing to
learn that among those 6000 average
"begging" letters the Illegitimate letters.
those from cranks and Imposters, should
bo an almost negative quantity. May all
these letters, whether from college pres
ident. helpless widow or begging pauper,
Justly be called legitimate?
If the letters are actually worth read
ing for something more than the amuse
ment afforded by curious, freak messages
and absurd requests, if they do not rep
resent mendicancy but are the necessaiy
expression of human need, how Is Amer
ican philanthropy going to meat the ob
ligations presented by them?
The 8000 letters reviewed hi "Modern
Philanthropy" chance to liavo been ad
dressed to Mrs. Harriman, but they might
have been addressed to any one of a hun
dred great philanthropists, or divided
among 1000 less well known givers, or
they might have been the mail of only
two weeks in Mr. Carnegie's office. The
point Is that this undeveloped means of
learning the truth about the nation’s
needs Is right at hand, and Is lying Inert
In a thousand waste baskets. What are
we going to do about it? Are we going
to keep on sopping up the torrent of need
with the tiny sponge of fruitless giving,
are we going to let It rage unmolested, or
are we going to seek Its source? "It
stimulates a man’s Imagination," as one
reader wrote after having the case put
before him.
If one mall brings ten letters from as
many states, each pleading for money to
pay physicians who claim that they can
cure tuberculosis, cancer, Infantile paraly
sis. or what not, provided their hands are
sufficiently and previously "crossed with
silver," is not the need for concentrated
action against quacks shown to be an Im
mediate one? Not ten persons are to be
saved from chicanery, but as many mil
lions whose danger is revealed by the In
voluntary and corroborating testimony of
thoso ten unconscious witnesses.
The possibilities that may result from
such disclosures are evident In the study
of only one millionaire's "begging" mail.
Ten college presidents prove as strong a
case for the need of Industrial institutions
for the negro as that already made out
against -the malpractice of unscrupulous
doctors. And the farmers whose crops
have gone to pay the exorbitant demands
of Illegal rates of Interest, emphasise the
need of action against loan sharks.
These evidences of nation wide needs
suggest the value of a clearing house for
the use of both appealers and giverB, a
single dynamo which will generate the
power of both need hnd philanthhropy Into
working currents for the entire country.
Need should not have to go farther to
seek philanthropy than philanthropy must
go to seek rthod. One Is as ever present
as the other, and a common meeting
ground where the two may stand as peers
is no longer a visionary Ideal, but a ne
cessity.
The clearing houso plnn Is logical and
feasible. Its work should Involve a two
fold activity—with and for both appeal
er and giver. All lettera of appeal sent
directly to It by the appealer himself, or
by the receiver of many appeals, who
does not want their usefulness to be lost,
would be studied as the letters of Mrs.
Ilarrlman were studied. The effort would
be, first, to discover the nation wide needs
disclosed by parallel evidence; and. sec
ond. by means of a million tiny wires of
contact with receiving stations connected
with th« central dynamo, to relieve Indi
vidual needs at their sources. .
In the service of glvars the collected In
formation, definite, accurate, and com
plete, would be offered as the basis for
a new kind of giving, a giving dependent
not upon whim, nor accident, nor sudden
emotion, but on actual and proven needs,
the vitality of which has been gauged.
Philanthropy would be given an oppor
tunity to view all of a city's or a state's
relief problem, to view society Instead of
societies, education instead of educational
Institutions.
Conditions themselves could be attackej
Instead of the hydra relief problem which
Is but a symptom of these same condi
tions. “After all, this gigantic problem
must be a governmental one," writes Dr.
Charles McCarthy of the Wisconsin leg
islative reference library. Private phi
lanthropy cannot alTnct the whole social
organisation. The force, the organization
Itself, the government that controls socie
ty must meet society's problems Instead
of helping to create them.
“Efficient government Is potentially the
greatest of all philanthropy. What la the
use of giving millions for education If
lneffclont public officers by wasting mil
lions crcato Ignorance?" says Mr. Allen.
"Why gifts for scientific research If In
efficient government prevents the appli
cation of truth? Why hope for cleanliness
and vlrtuo If Inefficient government tol
erates tilth and rewards vice? Whether
government Is creating or correcting atrlls,
a clearing house is bound to reflect."
I-4ke the seismograph which delicately
charts every tremor of the earth's crust,
so the clearing house, adjusted to the life
of the nation, would register every accom
plishment of government and Its every de
flection in meeting the needs of the people.
“The only agency whose business It 1h
to be on the constant lookout for unequal
opportunity, for unnecessary suffering,
preventable and curable disease, Is gov
ernment. For It Is the only agency which
In a city, a county, a state or a nation,
represents 100 per cent of the people with
in its bounds. Millions of dollars are ex
pended annually In the United States by
private philanthropists who attempt t®
do on a very small scale remedial and
educational work which government
should be taught to do by wholesale. To
equalise opportunity for education, for
health, for earning power, private philan
thropy requires the active a‘nd efficient
co-operation of government Itself."
College presidents and bishops, yea.
and the veriest beggar in the street, have
a right to present their needs where they
can. under present conditions, but It is
wrong that the presentation of the alms
bowl should be their necessary recourse.
The voices of thousands raised In the only
means of expression within thotr reach,
offers a mine <f Invaluable fact regarding
the Inefficiency of government In coping
with tho needs of the people governed.
I.ettere of appeal represent American free
speech and not American "Mendicancy."
ts the. voice of the people to be heard
hereafter? Were tho voices of the flOno
worth a hearing, and are complaint* sim
ilarly registered In the future worth di
agnosing?
(Exclusive Service the Survey Press Bu«
reau.)
MMnUMMMMMHIIIIMHIMHNIIMttllllMIIHMHIHIIMftlHIIli"'"'""*------------ --
THE NEW “BAPTIST BIBLE”-—By George Eaves, D. D.
IN the current, number of that excel
lent but unwieldy magazine, “Cur
rent Opinion,” are clippings from
many criticisms of what It styles “the
so-called ‘Baptist Bible.’ ” The Judgments
editorially offered by the magazine Itself
are somewhat vague and misty, but those
it quotes from the New York Times, the
hiving Church, organ of the Episcopal
church, and the Cleveland Cathollo Uni
verse can hardly be convicted of Incon
clusiveness. Methodist writers in Zion's
Herald and the New York Christian Ad
vocate are more sympathetic and appre
ciative, but the Cleveland critic says that
the whole proceeding is “blasphemous,”
a very curious word, by the way.
The work appears to have been begun
upward of 60 years ago. and has been
carried through under the auspices of
the American Baptist Publication society,
and the American Bible Union. One can
not help wondering why it was finished,
seeing that in the meantime the West
minster revision has long been completed;
another edition embodying the "preferred
leadings” and renderings of the Ameri
can revisers has also been issued by the
University Press; stiil later, the American
Standard Revised Version has been pub
lished in splendid variety by Thomas Nel
son & Sons, and several modernized trans
lations of the New Testament have been
added to the material available for the
English speaking student or reader.
Sixty tears ago the King James Bible
held the field. Many scholars were fretted
by the chasm between that splendid ren
dering and modern scholarship which had
access to such treasure trove as the
Tisohendorf discoveries, the Slnaitlc un
cial manuscript and which was changing
Us viewpoint In the presence of certain
ancient versions. The English language it
self had changed, and some revision wan
necessary in order to clarify what once
had been clear, the meaning of certain
English words, grown archaic or modi
fied In significance. Hence, It speaks well
for the wideawake Baptist scholars of «0
years ago that they should courageously
undertake the stupendous task of pro
ducing an English version to compete with
that of 1611. „
But within those 60 years all this has
changed, the* Ideas that justified tho
Philadelphia gentlemen in their under
taking have been Imbibed and applied by
all sorts of persons, and have been au
thoritatively exhibited In the versions
already named. Even the Sunday school
literature'cf today prints the new version
in preference to the old. And Professor
Moulton hus Issued tho whole Bible, ar
ranged In literary form, while the Btblo
as literature has been the burden of un
numbered lectures, sermons, tracts and
books. Why was this venture insisted on
when the reason for It had practically
disappeared?
Dr. A. J- Howland, secretary of the
Baptist Publication society, disclaims the
supposition that this translation is pri
marily intended to be a “Baptist Bible'*
In any sectarian sense. And yet the im
pression is not easily evaded, in view of
the bracketed word (“immerse”) wherever
the Greek word “baptize” occurs. For
surely there were English versions
enoughl What justification is there for
adding of another? Are we to bo told
that everyone who thinks he can correct
something or explain something in the
recognized version has a right to pro
mote a new version? And must the or
thodoxy of Baptist churches begin to be
measured by the zeal with which they
distribute this denominational version and
sustain this denominational enterprise? In
the presence of considerations like these
the publishers may find It very good busi
ness policy to eliminate that Irritating
bracketed word, that the book may go to
Presbyterians and Episcopalians and
Catholics on its merits as competitor with
the other and recognized versions.
Whatever our view of the meaning
of a scriptural expression, we must
all agree that* the dispute will never
be settled by a group on one side of
the debate issuing their explanation as
part and parcel of the Inspired writings
oven in brackets. Personally J am
sure that “baptize'* and “immense” nre
excellent synonyms. Indeed the schol
arship of the world today is practically
, a unit or that subject. But so far is
•
that from making the Episcopalian
scholar a Baptist that he blandly an
swer* that the one question has noth
ing to do with the other, and It settles
nothing to make a special edition of the
Bible to prove the case. It only proves
that these people could afford to pro
duce a special revision or translation.
Newspaper comment has been more
eager to And something startling than
to discover sober faots. One writer
repeats that “Adam and Eve have been
eliminated,” another that “hell Is abol
ished," a third Jonah's “whale” has
been buried never to spout again. I
remember that similar charges greeted |
the appearance of the great revised '
version and super eloquent Dr. T. De- j
Witt Talmage of Brooklyn Tabernacle
fame, deplored the attempt to “amend
the word of God.” It Is astonishing that
today there are people to he found who
do not know that the Bible was not
originally written in the Etiglish lan
guage or that now knowledge some
times requires that a new translation
shall be made, or that a translator or
reviser has only to faithfully represent
► the original and exact text.
The writer in the Milwaukee Living
Church, (Protestant Episcopal), does
I less than justice to his own intelligence
i when he accuses the Baptist scholars
of “rewriting the Bible.” Ho knows
they have done no such thing. IJJs
suggestion that they might ns well
change a well known passage to read
"the disciples were called Baptists first
at Aritloch,” says he Is open to the
charge of bearing false witness against
his netghbor. Thst they have not
changed the original text Is perfectly
certain. But that they havo honestly
tried to give an exact English and
modern equivalent 1b surely guaranteed
by tho very names of the scholars
themselves.
In the same way the chargo of pro
ducing a “blasphemous" work, pre
ferred against these Baptist scholars by
the Cleveland Catholic editor Is due to
singular misapprehension on the part
of so representative a man. Why
should It become "blasphemy" to put
the truth In modern Bpoech? Is the
archaic form the essence or Is the es
sence Independent of the form? t have
frequently read that highly modern
version know as the "Twentieth Cen
tury New Testament." It Is not strictly
speaking a translation, hut a para
phrase. Instead of being "blasphe
mous,” however. It netuallv assists the
reader to understand the Word. Indeed
this conception of "blasphemy" Is quite
hard for the modern mind to appre
hend.
What Is blasphemy? We cannot forget
that the Lord Himself was accused of
It. and the Rama charge has not Infrc
quently served to stir a superstitious mob
to deeds of blood. I suspect that when
we come to the root of tho matter the
only blasphemy that counts Is a speaking
acalnst the spirit of love anil kindly
brotherhood. The God of the New Testa
ment Is not especially susceptible of at
tack upon the phrases and forms and
usages In which mankind Is wont to map
Its religious mummy aristocracy.
Take the Beatitudes, as these revisers
present them. Instead of "Blessed are
the poor In spirit, for theirs is the king
dom of heaven," you read, "Happy the
poor iu spirit for theirs Is the kingdom of
heaven." This Is a good example of the
revisers’ aim. They reason that the word
"happy" Is more Intelligible than the
word "blessed," and that It Is an exact
equivalent of the Greek word "niaka
rlol." They also recognize that the whole
passage Is less dogmatic than Interac
tional, asplratlonal and they leave out
the verb because It is not present In tne
Greek. If there Is blasphemy anywhere
It must be sought tn the addition of
words, In the changing of the sense of
the original, of which tiie old version was
guilty so long as It claimed to be the
very words of Ood.
Or take the familiar Twenty-third
Psalm: The Baptists give It thus:
“Jehovah Is my shepherd, I shall not
want; He makes me lie down In green
pastures; He leads me beside the still
waters, etc."
That shows how (he old familiar verbal
ending "cth" Is changed for the modern
ending In "s." Most moderns. I find, are
very shaky In the use of the old end
Ings. They confuse the verbal seeont
person singular with the third "est" with
"eth." Aro these old forms consecrated to
religious use so that when dropped the
religion evaporates? I trow not. Indeed
religious men everywhere are today re
joicing that the old "pulpit tones" ami
prayer meeting phraseology have so large
ly been displaced by modern, ordinary
speech. Hence, I would humbly protest
against the accusation of these Baptist
revisers as enemies of any good or godly
thing. Their work is well done, honest,
and conscientious and valuable In Its way.
But will It "end controversy”? Most
certainly It will do nothing of the kind.
Putting your distinctive "ism" on show
In the text of the Blhle. underscoring It.
making It a sort of eyesore to ofher
folks, does not end but provokes con
troversy. and may, alas, lead somebody
else to make another version. I shudder
to think of the Bible that Pastor Russell
or the Christian Science people or ths
Plymouth Brethren could get up. War
there not a “Woman’s Bible" produced t*
little while ago?
The power of the Baptists has alway-t
appeared In their witness to spiritual
freedom, to the dignity of the Individual
eoul, Its Inalienable rights, baptised lntu
tho spirit of eternul Justice. As surji they
put the whole church In debt to them,
but not by writing their private lnterpre
I tatlons Into the Book that belongs tq
I us all.
HEART TO HEART TALKS—By James A. Edgerton
THE enthusiasm of one simple minded
peasant girl made a new France.
Some historians say that she
could neither read nor write. This is not
certain. But it is true that she had no
natural advantages.
Joan of Arc belongs to more than
France. Hers was about the whitest and
most Inspiring figure seen in the last 500
years.
In the near future there is to be erected
n statue to her in New York city. In a
few years she is to be made a saint by
the church. In all parts of the world
kindly and beautiful things are said of
her.
Yet she was burned at the stake by a
-section of thw very French people who
now make her their national heroinec-hy
the English who today laud her as one
of the purest characters in history and by
officials of the church that soon will can
onize her. . J
Not only so. but it was nearly four cen
turies after her tragic and pitiful death
before there came any real appreciation
of tho character of the Maid of Orleans.
Even Shakespeare said unseemly things
of her, and Voltaire as late as the eight
eenth century sneered at the memory of
the peasant girl of Domremy.
Now, In the year of our Lord 1913, there
is not one voice in the whole world that
has other than good to speak of the young
girl who gave her life to save her coun
try.
In all this is there not infinite hope for
the triumph of truth?
Everything was against her. Church
and state, literature, practically all the
voices of weight and authority, had, in
part at least, condemned her. Over her
graVe lay four centuries of calumny.
There was nothing on her side hut her
stainless character and her work.
Yet the truLh came uppermost, and tne
name of Jeanne d’Arc, daughter of peas
ants. executed as a criminal at the age
of 19. is now jfar shining and one of the
brightest amqfig earth’s immortals.
Why? Because she was true to her
"voices." I-lke Paul, she did not disobey
the heavenly vision. She fought a good
fight. Sho kept the faith.
As pure as one of the lilies inscribed on
her own banner, as brave as truth, as
simple and direct as light, as unworldly
as a child, this warrior maid heard the
message of angels and translated it into
service for men.
There are a few ascetics, pessimists
and dyspeptics that rail at ambition.
Twaddle!
Ambition is a great engine that
makes the world move.
Rightly used and directed it is a
righteous and beneficent force.
It is only preverted ambition that Is
blame worthy—the mistaken sort that
endeavors to benefit self by Injuring
others.
That is brutish.
The animal seeks to kill his compet
I Itor. From this fact and others evolu
tionists have deduced the law of tthe
survival of the fittest.
We have emerged from the plane of
the bull and the tiger. In the human
world a higher principle is at work.
We are snot through the divine.
The true law in this human divine
realm is to elevate self without in
juring, or. better still, to elevate self
bv helping others.
Perhaps a fitter name than ambition
In our world is aspiration.
We realize our aspiration through
service.
Action and reaction are equal. The
bull that gores another is in turn gored
by a stronger bull.
When "■» injure others we receive
| Injury. “He who tokes the sword shall
I perish with the sword.”
When we help and serve others we
lie helped and served as our reward.
tVe are **pai<l in our own coin.”
1 would paint a great picture, write
i great poem, serve a great cause, ad
vance a great work. This is asplra
tlon. In helping myself it helps others.
But if I seek to amass great wealth
created by others, hold high position
without rendering service or clixb by
trampling other fellows down, I vk eat
my own ends. I bring condemnation
on my head and win not fame, but In
famy.
In the long run only those are count
ed great who have greatly served man
kind.
These are truisms, but each genera
tion must learn them anew and prac
tice them.
Aspiration Is the motor power that
drl\®s the car of progress.
God’s in his heaven;
All's right with the world.
—Robert Browning.
Did you ever see a great building In
course of construction?
Immense cranes swung the giant steel
beams and girders Into place. The
rivets, like Titan woodpeckers, beat
a tattoo as they linked joint to joint.
Day by day the upwrlghta climbed sky
ward until the men on the mammoth
framework looked little larger than
nnts.
Did you ever have the feeling as the
work progressed that some particular
thing was not being done th^ right
way?
Then have you not reflected that the
architects, contractors and workmen
knew better than you? They could
see the end from the beginning. They
were working on a plan In which every
single piece In the structure was as
signed to Its place.
These builders knew. Tou could rest
In perfect faith. All w-as right with
the building. Has not that been a
comforting thought to you?
Well, It is somewhat so with the
world.
There are times when wo think the
whole thing is going wrong. That Is
because we do not see the end from
the begnning.
Wo can'take comfort in the thought
that God is on the job and—
"He knows about it all. He knows;
he knows.”
There is one important difference,
however, between the big building and
the world. With the one we are but
spectators; with the other we are
workmen.
On the skyscraper, If one of the la
borers malfes a mistake, the work Is
halted. The blunder must bo rectified
or the work done over.
In the work of the world the same
condition exists. It is therefore Im
portant for us that we keep In tune
with God’s plans.
As we look out on this large process of
which we are a part we are filled with a
sudden faith and optimism. We could
laugh aloud with a big joy. We catch a
glimpse of the great work of the world
and begin to realize how It moves "to
ward better, best.’’
We seo that all the worries, sickness,
need, quarreling, crime and hurt are per
sonal. They are caused by individuals.
afTect Individuals, belong to individuals.
Despite them all the great work goes on.
One man, through his own fault or an
other’s. falls o(T the building.
Another loses his leg.
A third smashes his thumb and makes
more fuss than the other two.
But the building goes right ahead.
Rook out some day from the rabbit bur
row of self and see the big work. Then
thank God that you are a part of It.
That view vill prove a tonic to your
soul.
Every few days some dry as dust gives
forth the solemn pronouncement that all
the great poetry has been written.
The only fitting word to use for that
sort of stuff is piffle!
We might as well say that the pendu
lum will stop swinging.
Throughout the past there have been
alternating poetical and prosaic ages.
Great poetry comes In waves. Another
la about due.
America has had one great school of
poets, but has lacked an adequate voice
to litter her distinctive message to the
world. Some lime in the future, possibly
In the near future, some singer wilt arise
to speak this new word.
There are also those who ridicule all at
tempts to wrlto in verse. What of it?
Kvery great man has been scoffed at
since time began.
It must bs admitted that second or third
rate verse Is dreary stuff, but so Is second
or third rate productlpn of any kind.
Those who aspire to sing should be en
couraged, even though they are frogs ami
not nightingales. .
The Flow of the River
By DR. W.E. EVANS •
I
I have followed the flow of the river.
From tho springs and the rills, where at first,
Through the grasses and ferns all entagled,
As a stream into sunlight it burst;
I have followed its devious windings,
’Neath the bending of boughs interlaced,
And have marked how it deepened and widened,
As its course to the ocean wt\s traced;
And so wide and so deep is the river,
As it surges and flows to the sea,
That the springs and the rills are forgotten—
E'en the place where it first came to he.
I had often o’erbounded tho river,
With a sportive and boyishlike pride,
But today only line as of shadow,
Marks the far away opposite side.
II
We were children, and stood by the river,
Then a narrow and silvery band—
I suggested we follow the water,
While we held one another by hand;
Through the tall tangled grasses we wandered
By the banks of the musical stream,
As it tinkled, and murmured, and cadenced,
Like the mystical tones in a dream:
Ah, the day was so fairl I remember
It was early in blossoming June,
And the soft vernal zephyrs were fragrant—
All the world with its God was in tune!
And I loved her—as man loves a woman—
Not as boys often love and forget;
I was old for my years and was thoughtful,
And I fancied she loved me, and yet—
III
Through the tall tangled grasses we wandered,
As we each kept an opposite side—
Loosing hands just a little-by-little,
Where the water was swifter and wide;
Till at last only tips of the fingers
Could be touched—then the hands idly fell,
And she merrily said as we parted—
“We shall meet nevermore,” and “Farewell!”
O, the long, lonesome walk by the margin!
O, the piteous cal^ to return
To the spot where the stream had beginning
’Mid the grass, and the vine, and the fern!
But away in the distance she faded—
Where the river drops into the sea,
And dividing us rolled the wide waters,
Leaving mem’ry and heartache to me.
L’ENVOI
At my desk? I was dozing and dreaming!
As you entered I ’woke, little Floss—
’Twas a sad, sad parable, darlinn-,
Of a man, and his love, and his loss:
Eastwood, Doswell, Virginia.
Somewhere among them may b« the
future great poet.
Their versifying will do them no harm.
If nothing else. It may teach them to
write good prose..
What If they Bond these rimes to the
magazines and the editor returns them
with printed slips? Nothing Is lost but
the postage.
Let them try again.
What If their verses are halt, crippled
or maimed 7 Washington and Lincoln
wrote bad verse In youth. .
What If their poetry brings no money
return? Wordsworth was more than 60
before he had a money return for his Im
mortal work. Robert Rums took sub
scriptions for Ids book among squires and
farmers. and Tennyson's publisher
thought that liard's first thin volume had
"made a sensation” when 600 copies were
sold.
Yet these names belong to the ages.
If there Is poetry In your soul, give
It voire. Never mind the critics and vil
lage cutups. One real song will outlive
them all.
And even If you do not slug the real
song you will he helped by the effort.
You will gain In power of expression.
Every aspiration Is a seed that grows
some time, some place.
Likewise—
Out of (h« million who try may come
forth the one voice to charm the world
and delight the ages.
During one of the storms that raged
on the Atluntlo coast this winter the
clews of th« Tatham and Avalon life
saving stations, near Atlantic City,
heard the slt-en calls of a vessel In dis
tress. Hurrying through the fog and
rain to an inlet about four miles away,
they mails out tile lines of an ocean
going tug beached on the shoals a con
siderable distance from shore.
Then began a battle involving all
the dangers of real v/ar, the only dif
ference, being that this was a fight to
preserve life, not to take It.
fllant waves were breaking over th
tug, and It was only a question of
hours, perhaps of minutes, before tin
sailors aboard would be drowned.
Again and again each life saving
crew tried to launch lts boat, only to
be dashed back on the beach, exhaust
ed with the struggle and half choked
with spray.
In the midst of these efforts the
dead body of a man was washed on
the beach with a bit of rope around
his waist. He had tried to swim
ashore and carry a line. Not only had
tho waves whipped out his life, but
had broken the rope-.
At last both bo its were launched
between two big waves. When within
23 feet of tho tug one capsized and
Its crew wus thrown Into the sea. Re
lng, of course, good swimmers, they
reached the tug and were drawn
aboard.
The other boat labored through the
terrific seas until at last It Von the
long fight, took all the men off and had
almost regained shore when It, too,
was wrecked. All aboard however,
managed to save thomselves. The
only one of all throe crews lost wus
the man who tried to swim and whose
body was swept on the beach with the
fragment of rope about It.
Things like this ore constantly hap
pening In the life caving service.
Courage Is the least of the qualities
required. Bonn breaking labor, daunt
less perseverance, generalship, re
sourcefulness and great skill are also
Involved. The life savers risk their
llve3 as a matter of course. It Is all a
part of the day's work.
Heroism Is the last thing talked of
among them. They resent the use of
tho term. Real heroes always do.
Often these life savers are rough, after
the manner of seafaring men. They
profess no religion. Yet their life
business Is to exemplify one of the
Master's teachings:
‘'Greater love hath no man than this.
that a man lay down hi* life for hid
friends."
It Is said of Samuel Woodworth, au
thor of "The Old Oaken Bucket,” that
ho was one day taking a drink with u
friend, who said:
"I tell you, Sam, there Is no beverage
like that from the old oaken bucket
that hangs In the well.”
The phrase stuck In Woodworth’3
mind, and, going borne, he wrote the
Immortal song.
In like manner "Woodman, Spare
That Tree," was suggested to Georgo
P. Morris by a little story narrated by
an acquaintance.
In these two Incidents Is found the
secret ol' good writing
With every one of us there Is fine
“copy” going to waste each hour of
tho day.
The trouble Is that wo do not tako
tho material at hand. We are seeking
some far off big thing Instead of the
j l hlng we know that Is overlooked be
cause so common and humble. Yet
' It Is these common things that make
universal appeal, because they enter
Into tho lives of all.
If you would touch the hearts of peo
ple you must reach them where they
live, use the language they understand
and talk of their Intimate experiences
of every day.
You must shed a new light oil these
things, showing their beauty, their les
son, their pathos or their humor.
The sayings of Jesus abound with
references to objects common to the
lives of all his hearers—the sower, tho
fisherman, the fig tree, the Illy of the
field, the little child.
The greatest poems have been writ
ten on commonplace theme*—love,
laughter and death, u blowing rose,
sea, sky, bird, rivulet end field. These
belong to us all. but only u few look
at them with 'the eye of quick under
standing and talk of them with the
tongue of genius.
It you would write tell of tho things
you know. The better you know them
the more worth while will ho your
product. Tell of them simply and nat
111 illy, ii" the bird sings or the stream
flows, using such Infinite pains as to
coneecl the fact ‘hst pains have been
taken and such consummate art that
the art Is hidden and seems pur* na
ture.
Hubert Burns sang of the Held daisy,
s mouse, even a loose, but saw anch
boauty In the one, showed such ten
derness to the other and read such a
I lesson from the third that the songs for
a century hnve bee i on the lips and In
the hearts of the world.
If you write let It be in such a way
that you reveal a man's own thought*
to himself.
Japanese Make Prices High
From the Los Angeles Tribune.
Japanese farmers produce more than
SO per cent of the bunch vegetables
brought Into Los Angeles. These farm
ers are practically In control of the
prices of this green truck, and It Is said
that they Intend to hold the price up all
through the coming season by bringing
to market only what they can sell at
high prices and destroying the rest.
A ti ir or two ago practically all the
bancii vegetables that came Into this
market were grown by the Chinese. A
few Japanese started and It soon was
found that they could work so much
faster with this kind of vegetable that
they could produce more with less men
than the Chinese. They began to under
sell the Chinese and forced them to quit
handling this kind of goods.
At present the Japanese are bringing
In Just enough bunch goods to supply
the market at present prices. If the de
mand grows stronger they bring In more
and if the demand falls off and the price
shows a tendency to weaken they bring
In only email lots and hold the prioe up.