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r pi: "RKV l)K TAI.HAftR. I AIJU r JL/ ill X^JiUUXAJkVi M~mw rilK BROOKLYN DIVINE'S SUNDAY SERMON. Subject: "The Truth About Russia." Text: "Presumptuous are they, selftrilled; they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities."?II Peter iL. 10. Among: a most reprehensible crew Pefcer here paints by one stroke the portrait of those who delight to slash at peoule in authority. Now we all have a right to criti ?- in hicrh nlafiM Or low, but the fact that one is high up is no proof that he ought to be brought down It is a bad streak or human nature now, as it was in the time of the text a bad atretic , of human nature, that succ *ss of any kind excites the jealous antipathy of those woo cannot ciimb the same steep. There never was a David on the throne that there was not some Absalom who wanted to get it. i There never was a Christ but the world hai j ww and hammer ready to fashion a cross j n which to assassinate Him. Out of this evil spirit grow not only individual but national and international def- ! amation. To no country has more injustice \ been done than to our own in days that are ] ?'* Kof.ira ''Martin f!huszlewitt" WAS , printed the literature of the world scoffed at , everything American. Victor Hugo, as , honest as ,he was unequaled in literary j power, was so misinformed concerning America that he wrote.* "the most singular thing , is the need of whittling:, with which all Americans are possessed, it is such that on J Sunday they give tue sailors little bits of J wood, because it they did not they woo^ld , whittle tue ship. In court, at the most ( critical moment, the ju >ze, whittling, says-. . 'Prisoner, are you guilty? and the accused t tranquilly responds, wnittling, 4X am not t guilty.'n j. Lord John Russell called us "a bubble f bursting nationality." But our country has j at last recovered from such caricature, and . ther e is not a street in any city of Europe c ? *"; tno war ( "America" will not VI ASiCk " ? . ? win deference. But there is a sister nation J on the other pice ot -the sea now goiug a through the process of international do am- t ation. There is no country on earth so mis- f understood as Russia, and no monarch more j. misrepresented than its emperor. IVill it t not be in the cause of jmtica if I try to set v right the minds of th >se who comp ?e tils j august assemblage and the minds of those to whom, on both sides of the ocean, these , words shall come? If the slander of one person is wicked, then the slander of on? ? hundred and twelve million people is one 3 hundred and twelve million times more | wiekedIn the name of righteousness, anl in b&- 5 "half of civilization, and for the encouragement of all those good people who have ' been disheartened by the soaudfclization of Russia, I now speak. But Russia is so vast 1 a subject that to treat it in ona discourse is > like attempting to run Niagara Falls over one mili waeei. Do not thiutc th it the very ' naked courtesies ezteuaeu iuo uy iud om- . peror and empress of Russia have ooaipli- ! aented ms into the advoc icy of that em- ' pire. for I shall present you authenticated j Facts that will reverse your opinion*, if they have been antagonistic, as mine were re- ' versed. I went last summer to Russia with as 1 many baleful prejudices as would make an ; avalanche from the mountain of fabric it ioa which has for years been heaped up against that emoire. You ask how is it possible * that such appalling misrepresentation* of 1 Russia could stand? X account for it by th? 1 fact that the Russian language is to mo <t ; au impassable wall. Malign the Unitdd States or malien Great Britain or Germany ! or France, and' by the next cablegram ttte fabehood is exposed, for we alt understand English, and many of our peoDle are familiar ' with German and French. 6ut the Ratsian 1 language, beautiful and easy to those bora to speaic it, is to most vocal organs an un- 1 Eronouncablo tongue, and if at St. Peters' ' urg or Moscow any anti-Rassian calumny ' were denied the m>stof the world outside of ' Russia would never see or hear the denial. What are the motives for misreprssenta- 1 tion? Commercial interests and interna- 1 tional jealously. Russia is as largo as all the rest o Europe put together. Remember 1 that a nation is only a man or a woman on j a big scale. Go into any neighborhood of America and ask the piysician who has a ' small practice what he tbinks of the physi-v 1 cian who has a large practice. Ask a lawyer : who bas no briefs what he thinks of the law- 1 yer who has three rooms filled with clerks 1 trying in vavo to transact ^superabundant business that comes to him. Ask the minis- [ ter who bas a very limited au lienoe what he thinks of the minster who bas orerdnwinc audiences. Why does not Europe like Russia? Becaufee sha has enough acrea?* to shallow aH Europe and feel sbe Daa only hair a meal. Russia is as long as North and South America , put togetaer. "But," says some one, "do . you meau to charge the author and the leoturers who have written or spoken against Russia with falsehoo .y By no means. You can find in any city or nation evils innu nerable if you wish to discourse about them. I sail at St. P^tereoursj to the most eminent lady or Russia outside of the imperial family, "Are tao<e stories of cruelty and outrage tnut 1 bave heard and read about true?" She replied: "No doubt some of them aro tru?, but do you not in America ever have officers of the law cruel ant outrageous in their treatment of offenders? Do vounot bave instances where the police liave ciubbed innocent persons? H*ve you no instances where people in brief authority act arrogantly*' I rauiied, "Yes, we do." Tnen she said; "Why-iioas the world hold oar government responsible for exceptional outrages? As soon as an official is found to be cruel he immediately losea his place." , Then I bethought myself. Do the pe ople in America hold the Government of Wwajngton responsible for the Homestead riots or for railroad insurrections, or for the torch of the villiao that consu-nes a block of houses, or for t le ruffi im> who arrest a rail train, making the passengers hold up their until fha nrtrt 'nfj ora WhV CI1UU UU14I ?UO w*w u?www.. .. J , then hoM the emperor of Russia, who is as impressive and genial a man aa 1 hive ever looked at or talked with, responsible for the wrongs enacted in a nation with a population twice as large ia numbers as the millions of America? Suppose one montrch in Europe ruled over England, tJcatlani, Ireland, Prai.c?, Germany, Spain, Italy, Austria. Norway and 8wedeo. Would it be fair to hold the monarch responsible for all that occurred in that mighty dominion? Now vou must ramem* ber that Alexander the Tnird reigns over wider dominion thm al. taose empires put together. As a nation is only a man or a i_:_ 1_ 1.4. woman on t% Olg SUtUC, iCU lUO aaa, nvuiu you individually prefer to be juiged by your iaultsor your vircu^s? AH paople except ourselves have faults. The pessimist attempting to write your biography would take you in your weaker moods, and the picture of you on the first page of vour biography would be as you looked after some meanness had been practiced on you and you were tearing mal. Now, as I am an optimist, 1 give you fair warning that if 1 ever write your biography I will take you as you looked the day your dividend cane tn twenty per cent, larger than you ever anticipated, or the morning on your way to business after your first child was born, or the morning after your conversion, when heaven had rolled in on pai*1 TViq mnof oAAiiroA/1 kAmitn/ttilS JTVUl OV/UI* fc uv Uivew avvut ow uv/iuuuvuuvfc all the earth are the pessimists, who, whether they ju ige Individual or national character, and whether they wield tongue or pen, are Ailed with anathematization, and who have more to say about the freckles on the cheek of beauty than of the sunrises and sunset3 that flush it. It is most important that this country hnvn rirtat ideas concerning Russia, for among all the nations this side of heaven Russia is America's best friend. Toere has not been an hour in the last seventy-five years that the shipwreck of ir?e institutions in America would not have called forth from all t>ie despotisms of Europe and Asia a shout of gladness wide as earth ani deep as perdition. But whoever else faile i us. Russia never did, and whoever else was ??? P??ia than ?? old government, smiled on the cradle of our government while yet in its earliest infancy. Empress Catherine of Russia in 1776 or thereabouts offered kindly interference that our thirteen colonies might not go down under the cruelties of war. Again, in 1813, Russia stretche 1 forth toward us a merciful band. "When our dreadful civil war was raging and the two thunder clonds of northern and southern valor clashed. Russia practically said to the nations of Europe, ''Keep your hands off and k let the brave men of the north and the south ^ settle their own troubles." I rehearsed some of those semes to the emperor last IL off through a magnifying glass upon a fleet Ot KUSSian snips. "?? uai arts tut/ uuiui; there?' I asked, and so every one asked. "What busings have the Russian warships in our New York harbor?" Word came that another fleet of Russian warships was in San Francisco harbor. "What doe3 this mean?" our rulers asked, but did not get immediate answer. In tbese two American harbors the Russian fleets seemed sound asieeo. Their javat mouths of iron mmlM not a word, and the Russian flag, whether floating in the air or drooping ny the flagstaff, made no answer to our inquisitive* ness. William H. Seward, secretary of state, asked the Russian minister at Washington tbe meaning of those Rusji&a ships in American waters and got no satisfactory re " w l ?;j I spooso. Admiral rarragutsmu uj a uu3?au officer after dining in the home of the eminent politician, Tnttrlow Weed, that maker and unmaker of presidents, "What are you doins here with thoae Russian vessels of war?" Not until the war was over was it found out tnat in case of foreign intervention all the guns an 1 the last gun of thesj two fleets in New York and San Francisca ; harbors were to open in full diapason upon any foreign ship that should dare to interfere with the right of Americans nortti and south, to settle their own controversy. July, sayin?, "You were probably too pouog to remember the position your father took at that time," but with radiant smile lie responded. "Oh, yes, I remember, I remember," and there was an accentuation of the words which demonstrated to me that * ? 4.n||.A4 those occurrences naa oitea uoou m in the imperial Household. I stood on New Yorfc Bittery during the war, as I suppose many of you did, looking but for those 11 ;ets and their presence in \merican waters there can ba no doubt ;hat two of the mightiest nations of Europe, yould have miauled in our fight. But for ;hose two fleets the American go vera meat rould have been to-day only a na-ne in history. I declare before Go I an! the nation >hat I believe Russia saved the United States of-America. Last July I stood beorea great throng of Eu-sians in the embarrassing position of speaking to an audi* mce three-fourths of which could not unlerstand ray language any more than I :ould unierstinl theirs. But there were iwo names that they thoroughly under* tood as well as you uuc'erstaud them, and he utterance of those two names brought orth an acclamation that made the city tall of St. Petersburg quake from foundaion stone to tosv"-s, and those two names rera "George Washington and Abraham jncoln." Wow is It not important that we should 'eel right toward that raigaty, that God jiven friend o? more tnau one Duuarei rears? Yea. because it is a nation of more possibilities than any othe , except oar own, ihould we cultivate its frien Iship. Th?re is t vast reilm of Russia as yet uaoccunied. [f the population o; the rest of Europe ware >oure 1 into Russia it would be oniy parti illy >ccupieJ. After awnile America will bs so *ell populated taat the tiles of emigration Till go the other way, aud by railroads !rom Russia at Behrin^ straits?where Asia $omes within thirty six miles of joining America?millions of people will pour down ;hrou?h Russia and Siberia, and on down ihrough all the regions waiting for the avilization of the next cencury to come, lod culture great harvests an i build mighty cities. What the Unite! States now are on the irestern hemisphere Russia will be on the jastern hemispaera. not oniy uecsuseui irhat Russia has been to oar republic, but because of wnat she vrill be, let us caase the defamation of all that pertains to that great imp re. If Russia can affijrd to be the friend [>f America, America can aff >rd to be the friend of Russia. And now I proceed to do what 1 told the emperor and the en press and all tbe imperial family at thn palace of PeterhoC I would do if I ever got back to America, an i that is to answer some of the calumnies which have been announced and reiterated an<l stereotyped against Russia. Calumny the First?fne emperor and all the imperial family are in perpetual dread jf assassination. They are practically prisoners in the winter palace, and trenches with iynamite have been found du; around the winter palace. They dare not venture forth, ?xcept preci led and followed and surrounded by a most elaborate military guard. * My answer to this is that I never saw a face more free rrom worri nent than the emperor's face. Tae wi.iter Dilace, around which the trencher are said to have been charged with dynamite, ani in whioh the imperial family are said i o be prisoners, has never been the residence of the imperial family one moment fines the present emperor has oeen on the throne. The winter palace has b;en changed into a museum and a picture gallery an 1 a place great levees. He spends his summer in the palace at Pacer no f, fifteen or twenty miles from St. Petersburg; his autumns at the palace at Gratschna, and his winters in a palace at St. Petersburg, but in quite a different nart of the citv to that occupied by the winter palace, fie rides through the treets unattended; except by the empress at bis side and the driver oa the box. There is not a person in this audience more free from fear of harm than he is. His subjects not ouly admire him but almost worship him. There are cranks in Russia, but have we not bad our Charles Guiteau anl John Wilkes Booth? ,lBuV says some one, "did not the Russians kill the father oi the present emperor?" Yes, but in the time that Russia has had one assassination of emperor America has had two presidents assassinated. _ "But is not the emperor an auto crai?" By which you m3an, has he noc power without restriction!' Yes, but it all depen Is upon what u?e a man makes. 9t his power. Are you at. autocrat In your factory, or an autocrat in your store, or an autocrat in your style of business? It all depends on waat use you make of your power, whether to bless or to oppress, and from the time of Peter the Great?that Russian who was the wonder of all time, theemoeror who became incognite a ship carpeutor that he might help ship carpenters, and a mechanic that he might help mechanic*, and put on Door men's garb that he m ght sympathize with poir men, and who in his last words siid: "Mv Lord, I am dying. Oh, help my unbelief!"?I say from that time the throne of r> u? *? ??4 ??*. XtU&bU* uas, JLUl Lliu LLIUoL UCCUWl'U^iOa I by ralers as beneficent and kind and sympathetic as they were powerful. To go no further back than Nicholas, the crandfather of the present emperor. Nicholas had for the dominant idea of his administration the emancipation of the serfs. When It was found tHat he premeditated che freedom of the serfs he received the following letter of threat from a deputation of noblemen: "Your Imperial Majestv ?We learn that the council and senate of the empire have before them for deliberation, with your sanction, the plan to abolish serfdom throuehout the Russian empire. We are perfectly willing to abide by your majesty's decision in this matter an-i to loyally support your will, but there are in Russia a large number of small owners of serfs who are dependent for actual subsistence on the labor of those serfs, and who consequently will be left wholly pennilesa ?.nd witnmif, nnv rosnnrnft hv thn nnpratinn of emancipation. They will thenundoubtedlj resort to desperate measures, and in the extremity of their de3piir wilt put the life of your majesty in jeopardy." The emperor replied in words that will last as ion< as history. "Gentleman, if I should die because of my devotion to such a cause, I am willingto meat my fate."' When, under an attaci of pneumonia from exposure to S3 vera weather in th e service ol his people, that emperor put down his heat on the pillow of dust, Russia lo3t as good o monarch as was ever crowaed. Then caraJ A Invnn^ai* fKo S3oAAnH fofhai* rvP tha rvfo-onI xlirAUUUCU vug V? WUU pi uiuii? emperor. Amid the mightiest opposition ana innumerable protests, he, with on4 stroke ot his pen, emancipated twenty million serfs, practically saying, *'G-o free. B i your own masters, and this Is for you and your children forever." On the day he was basely assassinate! (and 1 will parenthetically say that I saw his carriage in splinter*, as it loosed when he stepped trom it, not to save himself, but to look after some poor people of the street who had been hurt, and I saw the bed on which he died, the mattress yet crimson with his life's blood) ?on the day he was assassinated he hai on his table, found afterward, a free constitution that proposed to give th? ri?ht of suffrage to the people of Russia. If it had not been for the assassination he would bave soon signed tbat constitution, but that horrible violence put thiajjj back, as violence always does. What a marvelous character of kin Inesj was Alexander the Second, the fathsr of the preseut emperor, so that the present emperor, Alexander the Third, inherits his benignity. Alexander the Second, hearing tUat a nobleman had formal a conspiracy against his life, had him arrested. Taen the eyes of the criminal were bandaged, and he waa put in a carriage, ani for sometime travolert on, only stopping for fool. After awhile the bandage was removed, and supposing that he must by that time have been almost in Siberia, be fouul that he was at the door of his own homo. But this punishment was sufficient. The same emperor, having heard tha", a poet had written a poem defamatory of his empress, ordered the uoat into his presencs. Expecting great severity, the poet entered the palace and found the emperor and empress and dukes and ducheses gathered to* gether. "Good m >rning," said the emperor to the offender. "I hear you have written a most beautiful poem, and I have sent for vou that you may read it Jto us and we miy j have the pleasure of hearing it." The maD | cried out, "dend ma to Sioeria op do au7thing with me, but do not make me read thispoem in your presence." He was compelled to read the defamatory pos-n, ani thsa the empress, against whom it was aimed, siid: "I d) not think he will write any more verses about U3 again. Lit him go." And so he was freed And now comes iu Alexander the Third, doing the best things possible for the nation whicn he loves and which as ardently loves him. Bnt what an undertaking to rule one hundred and twelve million people, made up of one hundred tribes and races and speaking forty different languages I But, notwithstanding all this, things there move on marvelously well, and 1 do not beliove that out of five hundrel thousand Russians you would find more than one person who dislikes the emperor, and so that calumny of dread of assassination drops so Bat it oan fall no flatter. Calumny the Seconal?It you go to Russia you are under severest espionage, stopped . here and questioned there, and in danger of arrest bug my ODlmon is that if a man is disturbed in Russia it is because ha ought to be disturbed. Russia is the only country in Europe in which my baggage was not examindl. I carried in my hand, tied together with a chord so that their I titles could be seeu, a pile of eight or ten books, all of them from lid to lid cursing Russia, but I had no trouble in taking with me the books. Thore is ten times more diffi' cnlty in getting your luggage through the American custom house than through the Russian. I speak not of myself, for friends intercede for me on American wharves, and I am not detained. I was several days in Russia before I was asked if I hai any passport at all. Depend upon it, if hereafter a man be' lieves he is unc >mfortably watched by the! police of St. Petersburg or Moscow it is because there is something suspicious about him, and you yourself had better, when hej {n awamm 1 1/*a r ofhar rrnt^i* eilvai* onnnno I AO Ml UUUJ, JWit niwvi jva 4 oiuet upv/v/tMi * promise you, aa honest man or an honest woman, that when you go thare, as many of you will?for European travel ia deitinei to change its course from southern Europe td those northern regions?you will have no more molestation or supervisal than in Brooklyn or New York or the quietest Long Island Village. Calu-nny the Third?Russia and it3 ruler are so opposed to any other religion exoept the Greek religion that they will not alio# any other religion; that nothing but persecution and imprisonment aui outrage intolerable await the disciples of any ottisr religion. But what are the facts!' I had ft long ride in St. Pater jburg audits suburbs witb the prefect, a brilliaat, efficient and lovely maa, who is the highest official in tha city of St. Pdtei-a jurg, and wnosa chief I : i.i ll?I a. T ..!J UIUUUC&9 bu attuu i tu) ciuuorur. x saiu w hitn, "I suppasd your religion Is that of the Greek church?' *\ifo," said he; "I am a Lutheran." "What is your religion?" Isaid to one of the highest and most influential officials at tit. Petersburg. He said, "I am of the Church of England." Myself, an American, of still another denomination of Christians, an! never having been insi >e a Greet; church in my life uatU I went to Russia, could not have received more consideration had I been baptised in in the Greek church and all my life worshiped at her alters. I had it demonstrated to me very plainly that a man's religion la Russia has nothing to do with his preferment for either office or social position. TIm omy questions taken ioto consideration am honesty, fidelity, morality and adaptation. I had.not been in St. Petersburg an hour before I received an invitation to preach the Gospel of Christ as I believed it. Besides all this, have you forgotton that the Crimean war, which shook the earth, grew out of Russia's interference in behalf of the prosecuted Christians of all nations in ruriroy? "But," says 3ome one, "have there not been persecutions of other religions in Russia?" No doubt, just as in other times in New England we burnel witches, anl a-; qre ; killed Quakers, and as the J>w* in America ' have been outrageously treated ever Bines I can reinemoer, and the Chinese in oar land have been pelted, and their stores torn down, and their way from the steamer wharf to their destined quarters tracked with their own blooi. The devil of persecution is in every land and in all ages. Some of us in the different denominations of Christians in America have felt the thrust of persecution because we thought differently or diJ things differently from tho3e who w mid, it they had the < ower, put us in a furnace eight times heated, one more decree of caloric than Nebuchadnezzar's. Persecutions in all lands, but the emperor of Russia sanctions none of them. I nad a most satisfactory talk with th* emperor about the religions of the world, and he thinks and feels as you and f do,' that religion is something between a man and his God, and no one has a right to interfere with it. You may go right up to St. A&arsburg and Moscow with your Episcopal liturgy, or your Presbyterian catecaism. or your Congregationalisms liberalism, or your lmmersionist's Baptistry, or any other religion, and if you mind your own affairs an0 let others mind theirs you will not be molested. Calumny the Fourth?Russia is so very grasping of territory, and she seems to want the world. But what are the facts!* During the last century and a quarter the i United States have taken possesion of everything between the thirteen colonies' and the facinc ocean, aad i^nglaai, during the same length of time, has taken possasion of nearly three million square mile?, and by the extent of her domain has added two hundred and fifty million population, while Russia has added during that time only onehalf the nu nber of square miles anl about eighteen million of population?England's advance of domain by two hundred and fifty million against Russia's advance of do? main by eighteen mi'lion. What a paltry Russian advance of domuin by eighteen million as compared with the English advance of domain by two hundred an I fifty million! The United Staces ani England hal' better keep still about extravagant and extortionate enlargement of domain. Calumny the Fifth?Siberia w a den of horrors, and to-iay people are driven like dumb cattle; no trial is affor led to the suspected ones; they are put into quicksilver | mines, w.iere they are whipped an 1 starved, and some day find themselves going around without any head. Some of them do not get so far as Siberia. Women, after being tied to stakes in the streets, ara disrobel and whipped to death in the presence of UVlTltUj^ IUUU9. V/LLCUUOiS IIW1 tuou urru flesh siss under the hot irons. But what are the facts? There are m kinder people on earth than th9 Russians, and to most of them cruelty is an impossibility. I hold in my ban J a card. Yotisee on it that red circle. Taat is the government's seal on a card giving me permission to visit all the orison* of St. Petersburg, as I had expressed a wlsb in taat JirecDton." As the messenger handed this card to ma he told me that a carriage was &t the door for my disposal in visiting the prisons It so happened, however, that I was crowded with engagements and I could not make tbe visitation. But do you suppose such cheerful permission and a carriage to boot would cava LWjeu txiLvvia t iuo n uin prisuus ul Russia are such bells on earth as they have been described to be? I askei au eminent ani distin^uUhel American, "Have you vi?itel thj prisons of St. Petersburg, ani howdo ttuy <Ulf jr from American prisons?" He renlie I, "I have visited them, and thay are as well ventilate! and as well conditioned in every respect as the majority of the prisoas in America." Are women whipped in the street? No; that statement comes from the manufactory of fabrication, a manufactory th.it ruus day and ni?ht, so that the supply may maet the demand. Buc how about Siberia? My answer is, Siberia is tne prison of Ru wia. a prison mora than twice the sizj of tae United States. John Howard, who did more for the improvement of prisoners and the reformation of crim nals than any min tint ever lived, his name a synonym for mercy ttirou^hout Caristen lom, declared by voice and psn that the system of transpirtation of criminals from Russia to Siberia was an admiraole |Siau, auvvA/aviu^ vp.u ?u k?.?ww? than endungeonmeat, aad als> oeciusa ic wa3 taking all offender* huadrsd* ot miles a way from their e?i> companions. John Howard, after witnessing the plan of do portation of criminals from Kussia to Siberia, commended it to Eaglan 1. xi a luau tjimimios umiam iu i\u3^ia uo i"5 not electrocuted as w# electr.>cutj dim, or chokai to death, by a halter as wj chikj him to death. Russia is the only country on earth from which the death penalty has been driven, except in case ot hi<h treason. Murderers and desperate villains are sent to the hardest parts of Siberia, but no man is sent to Siberia or ordered to any kind ot punishment in Russia until he has a "fair trial. So far as their being hustled off in the night and not knowing why they are exiled or punished is concerned, all the criminals in Russia have an open trial before a jury just as we.have in America, except in revolutionary and riotous times, and you know la America at such times the writ of habeas carpus is suspended. There are in Russia grand juries and petit juries, and the right to challenge the jurors, and the prisoner confronts his accuser. and. mark this, as in no other coun try, after the prisoaer has baan condemned by juries and juiges he may app?alto the minister of the interior, an i attar that to the senate, an 1 after that to the e.noeror, who is constantly pardoning. As I said, the violent ani murderous are seat to the hardest part otSiberia, buttha more moderate criminals to propitious p irfcs of Sioeria, and those who have only a little criminality to parts of Siberia positively genial for climate, for you ou^ht to know, if you do not know, that Siberia is so Urge and wide and long taat it reaches from frigidity to torridity, from almost arctic blast, to climate as mild as that of Italy. Run your finger along the map of the wnrlrt Anri vnu evil! fin/1 t.haf. fcha lnnroah part of Siberia is on the forty-fifth degree | t of latitude, and the richest part of Italy is a oq the same forty-fifth degree of latitude, r so that Siberia reaches from the furs at tbe r north to the palm leaf fang at the south. It has been demonstrated that ninety1 per cent, of the Russian criminals colonizsd into Siberia go into a climate milder than New Yoric?a land songful with birds and em- t broidered with flora enough manifoli to confound the botanists. Much oi the soil is a rich loam, and harvests wait for a plow to ( liberate them. When a criminal is sent to Siberia, in th& ' vast majority of cases it gives him an op- < portunity to make a new start under tbe best possible circumstances. The criminal is allowed to take his or her family along, j and that is a mercy so other country grants. In the quicksilver mines of Siberia?toe hardest place of expatriation?only on?, j 1 fourth of the miners are criminals. Th< I other three-fourths go there because they choose it as a place to earn their living. After being in Siberia awhile the condemned go to earning a livelihood, an 1 they come to own their own farms and orchards and vineyards, many of these people coming to wealth, am thousan Is of them under no inducement would leave those parts of Siberia woich are paradises for stluority and luxuriance. Now which do you think is the best style of a prison?Siberia or many of our American prisons* When u man commits a big crime in our country, the ju ige looks into the frighted face of the culprit and says,1 Yon have been fonnd guilty; J I sentence vou to tne penmrentiary ior vou years." He goes to prison. He is shut in between tout-walls. No sunlight. No fresh f air. No bathroom. Before be has served 1 his ten years he dies of consumption or is so enervated tbat for the rest of his life he siti 1 with folded hands?a wheesmg invalid. In preference to the shut in life of the 1 average American prisoner, give me Siberia. Besides that, when offenders come out of prison in America, what chance have tjey> Ask the poorly supported societies formed vo get these peoole pl&css for wor*. < Ask me, to whom the newly liberated come y from all the prisons imploring what they | snail do. No 009 will common Sf them. The j pallor of incarceration is on their oheek. , W ho want? to employ in factory or store a , man or woman who, in answer to the ques , Hon: "Where did you lire laser- aaouia make for reply: "State's prison at,Auburn or Moyamensing?" Now in Siberia they bare a better chance. They are never spoken of as criminals, but as unfortunates, and they are allowed every opportunity of re trieving tneir lost reputation and lost for* tunes. . ? I talked with the President of the National Society of Rusia for the E location and Moralizationof the Children oc Siberian Convicts. The president of that society, appointed.by tbe emperor, is a lady ot great accomplishments 'and much sympathy, which ilia-nines her face and makes tearful hereree' and tremulous her voice. The evening I passed at her hoaje in St. Petersbare was on9 of the memorable events of my lifetime. I will not attempt to pro ounce the name of that noble womtn appointed by the emperor as the President of the National Society of Russia for the ? lu? *' j *' i? CAMoaauu nxuraizAuiuu ui buo vuuui cu ui Couvicts. Please to name aaj such national E society in our country, supported by govern- .J meat, for taking care of the children of j] convicts. jj You know. if yon know anything, that ' cherd is no ch?nce in this country for a man ! who has been imprisoaei. or for hii chtl- j dren. Gol pity them and hasten the time * when we shall by 9ome national institution f established by the congress of the United j States, imitate the mercy of the Russian 1 government toward the innoont children of ] imprisoned offenders. He who charges cruelty on the imparial fami y an 1 the no- J P Dt? iflia hallaa m in art 1 nrtm in a a i gracious aad banignant as ever Dreattied ] oxygen. ' Thb raercifal character of the present era- I peror was well illustratsi in the following occurrence: The man who suparvisai the assassination of the father of the present emperor, standing in the snow that aw.ul day when the dynamite shattered to pieces t the legs of Alexander the Second?I say t ne j man who supervised all this fled from St. > Petersburg and quit Kussia. But after i awhile the man repented of his crime, and 1 wrote to the emperor asking for forgiven ?ss e for the murder of his father, ani pro nising 1 to be a good citizen, an I asking if he raigat I D ? -? ? AMnanAn noi?^nnar1 WIUO UBU& \AJ 1VU39IQ* J. UD D.U|/Ul ?/* pMtMwavw the murderer of his father, and the forgiven assasssn is now living in Rosjia, ualesj recently deceased. When I talked to the empress concerning the sympathy felt in America for th* sufferings of ttfedrou2;ht-3tru3K raglonS o'Russia, she eviaced an aosoroin; interest an i a compassion and an emotion of manner and speech such as we men can hardly realize, because it seems that Groi has reserved tor woman as her gjreat adornment the coronet, the tear jewellel coronet of tenderness anl commiseration. If you say that it was a man, a divine man that came to sava the wjrid, I say yes; buc it was a wo nan that ^ave the man. Witness all the Miioanas? Italian. German, Ea?listt and Russian?taat bloo n in the picture galleries of Christen(Join. 8on of Mary, have meruy on m! But how about the knout, the cruel Russian knout, that cjmss down on tae oare back o( ajonizei criminals? Way. Russia abolished the koout before it was aboii-shad 8 from our American navy. But how about the political prisoners hustled off to Siberia? t Accjrdin^ to the testimony of tne most eel- t et>rated literary enemy of Russia, only four hundred and forty-three po.itical prisoners I were sent to Siberia in twenty years. How a many political prisoners did we put in prison pens during our four years of civil war? ,1 Well, I will guess at least one hundred thou- I sand. America's one hundred thousand politicil prisoners versus iXussia's four nundred h and forty-three political prisoners. Nearly oiithauH fnnr hiimiml and fortv-three of twenty years were noblemen or people des- c perately oppossd to the emancipation of the y serfs. And none of the politic*! prisoners is t s-mt to tbe famous Kara mines. For the most part you are dependent for t ?nrormatlon uoon tna testimonv ot prison- J ers who are sent to Siberia. They all say they were innocsnt. Prisonars always are *j innocent. As'< all tlie prisoners of Aonrica f to-lay, "Gruilty or not guilty?" an J uine- 1 teen out of twenty will pliai ".'lot guilty." a Ask taen how they like tueir prison, and e how taey like sheriffs, an 1 how they like ' 1 the government of the United State*, an 1 you will fin 1 th isa priso/iers admire tie au- j tuoricy tnac arr^sie-i me n an i puunusa thein just about as much as the po.itical v prisoairs of Russia like Stojrii. J But you,ask how will this Kjssophobia, with wnicS so many hav\J bien bittei and ^ poisaneil, be cure i? By the Uj I of Justica 0 olessia; suc'a books an I pamphlets as are now coming out from Professor do Aruaui, of Washington; Mr. Hor ice Cuttsr, of San 8 Francisco; Mr. Morrill, of Englan I, an i by 1 the opening of our American gates to the writings of some tweaty*four ot th9 Russitn * authors and authoresses, in some respect as ? brilliant as the turee or tour Russian autaors .! olruoHtr lrnnwn?f.h? fcrjinsiAfcinn of fchosft tweaty-four authors, wbica 1 am authoriz9.1 J3 iro 11 Russia to offer free of charge to aoy fJ responsible American publishing house that | will do them justice. _ Lit thes* ttussians tell their own kVory, ? for they are the only onas fully competent ^ I co ao me worn, as none Due \rnarleans can fully tell the story of America, aod as none but Germans can fully tell the story of Germany. and none but Englishmen can fully tell the story of England, and none but Frenchmen can fully tell the story of France. Meanwhile lot the international defamation come to an end. Cease to speak evil of dieaitie3 merelv b&eauaa thtrv ara dignities, and of presidents merely bacausn they are presidents, and of emperors merely beacuse they are emperors. And may the blessing of God the Father, and God th9 Son ani God the Holy Ghost be upon all the members of the imperial household of Russia, from the illustrious head of that family down to the princess, seven years of age, who came skipping into my presence in the palace of Peterhof last summer 1 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men! RELIGIOUS READING. L [ KK I?f EARNEST. God takes it for srautedthat all Lis people ire engaged in work and tas provided a iulogy suitable, not for one ortwo of them, >ut for all of them, when their work on sarth is ended. The Apostle John brings it )efore our minds in the words, "Ana I ieard a voice from heaven saying nnto me, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the uord from henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit, hat they mny rest from their labors; and heir works do follow them." All His people lie in the Lord and all have works to follow hem to the ht avenly kingdom. But it is lot enougn to nave works; we ouscnt to ibound in works, both for the good they nay do and for the brightness of the crown liey may secure. Pi;A YER-MKETING RESOLUTIONS. 1. I will make it a matter of conscience o attend. "Not forsaking the assembling of ;ourselves together." 2. I will "endeavor to bring others. 'Come thou with us, and we will do thee ;ood." 3. As I enter the room I will osk tbe\ Saviour's presence. "We would see Jesus." 4. I will not choose a back seat. "How feasant it is for brethren to dwell together n unity." * 5. I will not so seat myself ns to keep jthers from the same pew." "Be courteous." *}. I will hx my intention upon worsnip md the Word. ''This people draweth nigh into Me with their mouth, bat their heart is ar from Me." 7. 1 will lead in prayer. "Ye also helping ogetber by praying for us." 8. I will otherwise take part. "Teaching ind admonishing one another." "Confess four faults one to another." 9. My prayers and my remarks Rball be ?ief. "For God Is in Heaven and tbouupon iarth; therefore let tby words be few." 10. I will avoid critical thoughts of others if ho take part. "Judge not." 11. After meeting I will Meet as many w* [ courteously can. "Salute one another." 'Be kindly afft Qtioned." 1.. As I return home I will maintain a levout mind. ' Continuing instant in Jrnyer." 13. By Christ's crace dwelling in me, I ivill dolly live nslpry. "Not every one batsaith unto Me. Lord, but be that doeth be will of My Father."?[Golden Censor. CHRISTIAN' AMBITION. A few evenings since I was reading tbe jreek Testament, when my son asked wbetber any word in the Greek encouraged be exercise of ambition and the seekli.g of lonor. I have found such a word, its neaning being ambition, the love of bonor, be love of distinction. It is three times ised. I believe we have come so much to regard humility the cardinal virtue of Christianity :hat we may have forgotten the Cbrictian ibould be au bitious. I think he should, be ;ne most amoiuous person uii runu. iu whom Is tbe promise of eternal life r^poben Dur to tho?e wbo in patient endurance in well-doing seek glory, honor and immortality, than wblch tbcre cannot be a much ligber ambition ? We sometimes fall into :be peril of being proud of our humility. Bumiitv is sometimes only pride turned wrong side out, just as you turn a garment ind dye it and refit It A person says: "If L can gat into heaven at last. I am -willing to >ccupy a back seat." But Scripture very certainly indicates that you are to seek not >nly baralv to get into heaven, but "and so iq abundant entrance shall be given you nto the kingdom of God." The back seats ire all spoken tor, and God wants as to get is near the throne as pos>ible. Romans xv., 20, is a most extraordinary itatement. You roiuht ttiink a man who wanted to build a house would prefer to iave a lot where the foundation baa already >een laid for him. But tbe apostle wants a ot to build a bouse where tbe sod has not >een broken. That is not our idea, for when [ was choosing my field of labor I thought he opposite. "If I am to win tbe most louls, let me get where there is a good founlation of hereditary piety and orthodox ? ? T J- UA?i.,flA T ?rv_ aim." I liiuue mat iuisuuc ucvaun i i*yirehendcd preaching the Gospel lor success. >ut not preaching it lor a witness. I don't iny that we should not prea<-h the Gospel 'or success, but our first duty is to preach it 'or a witness. Our first business is, not to juild a house, but to huild a highway.? Rev. A. J. Gorden, D. D. A PRAYING MOTHER. The first thing to notice in the life of 8aiulel is this, that like most good men he had a jraylng mother. JVhen I was h boy there van" a lavorite story of mine about a negro vho 8 t one day on the deck of a steamer vailing to be sold. He was very wretched littlnv there with bis face buried in bis lands, when a stranger came up and asked lim wbat was the matter. "We pwlne to be sold, massa." said the xior negro. "What for?" naked the stranger. "Well, you s$e, me disobey orders. Me >ray too long and too loud, and my massa twine to se 1 roe. He let mc pray easy, but vben me gets happy me-be^ln to holler, and hen me know nothing about orders or anybing e se." The stranger was struck with the negro's tpp&ranee, and as the master came up just hen, he said, "'What will you take lor your legro?" The price was a hundred and fifty pounds, le was bealtln', the m-.ster said, and the iMt Vinml on ffie estate. But he cot relitri >us, ami u^ccl to pray so loui! ibat the master iad resolved to net rid of him. Now, the stranger thought it would be a rcry good thing if lie could get a good negro o pray for him arid for his family, so he ought him. "Has he a wife and family?" the stranger iski?l. ' Yes," said the old master, "a wife anil hree children, and 1 will sell them for a Kindred and fifty more." The stranger paid the three hundred tounds. and then going up to the negro, aid, -'Well. Moses, I've bought you." "O. hab you. inasj-a?"' and the poor Negro ooketl very, very sad. He was thinking of lis wi e and children. 1 ^ maiih Tvtfa ro?i (aa i ' IK8, nuu jvm "I?t ui.u VUIIUIEU, 1UU, aid I lie stranger. "Ooil beswyou for that."'cried Moses ' Anil look here." said the gentl- man, "you an nray as much and as long and as loud as ou like, only whenever you pray you must >rav for me and for my wife and chi dren." "Why. bless the Lord." cried Most*, "me lab all kinds o' 'commodation, like Joseph n Egypt." Tweive months had pone by, when one lay his old master had come into see to him. le found Moses measuring corn, and lookup very happv. ' ! want to buy Moses back urain," he said: "I can't pet on without him; very-thing is going wrong, and I've been a niseraile man.' "No." sa:d his master; '"I'm not going to ell Moses to an*body; but I shall give him ?is liberty and let him work for me. if he vill as a free man; for since he has been lere, I and mv wife and my children have bund the Saviour, and everything has proslered wonderfully. I owe more than I ever an tell to praying Moses." 'Oh. massa!" cried Moses, with tears in n his eyes, "me always prays for you, too, ure. Me put the old massa and the new jne both together.'' Now, if a man would give three hundred ounds lor a praying slave, who can tell the i-orth of a praving mother? Next 10 the ' i- 1 ?kA kn..i :? r>ve OI Jesus 111 ??ur ue#iu. iuc ucoi miim in bewor-i i* this?a mother who prays for is. 1 have heard people say sometimes of a iov who whs horn heir to a large estate, or o very much money, "Al?. he's a lucky felow; he is born with n silver spoon in his nouth." But very often it was the most inlucky tiling that could happen. This is 1 be best fortune any child can have?the leritPgc ot a mother's prayers, ,.f_T... .. . y... % SABBATH SCHOOL. INTERNATIONAL LF8SON FOB DECEMBER 11. Lesson Text: "The Apostolic Council," Acts xv., 12-29?Golden Text: Acts xr., 11? Commentary. 12. This verse introduces u? to a gatheriog of the church at Jerusalem with the apostles and elders. Paul and Barnabas also being present and declaring before them all tbe wonders which God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. The first pari of the chapter tells why the apostles had left Antoch and the cause of I this oonncil at Jerusalem. The principal j point ot dispute was: Cm Gantiles be saved pj ibhq in unrist, or must they also be circumcised before they can be saved? Peter told what he had seen of the gift of God upon. tL is uncircumcised, and now Paul and Barnab > tell what they have seen of the same g. <xze. , 18. James now sums up the evidence and gives his decision. James, the brother of John, had been slaiu (xii., 2), so this must be James, the son of Alpheus (Math, x., 3), the author of the epistle of James. 14. In verses 14 to 18 we have a complete and concise summary'of the purpose ot God with the church, the Jews and the Gentiles. The purpose of the present dispensation is | inn. tae conversion or the worl\ but, as it is written here, to take oat of the nations a people for His name. lo. "And to this agree tho words of the prophets." While the gathering of one nody out of Jews and Gentiles on eqaat terms is not clearly revealed in the Old Testament-, as Paul testifies in Rom. xvi., 35, 26; Eph. iii., 5, 6, tae purpose of God to bless all nations through the nation of Israel is very clearly revealed; and it is also written in this connection, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing but He revealeth His secret unto His servants, the prophets" (Amos iii., 7). 16. "After this I will return, and will build again the tabernac>e of David." The restoration here spoken of has never vet taken place, for the prophet says that when it does take place Israel shall be planted in their lana and never be pulled up any more (Amos ix., 11-15). Before this regathering of Israel ai a nation the elect church must be completed 17. Alter the conversion of Israel as a nation, then shall all nations be converted, for tho time will come when all kin?s shall fall down before Him, all nations shall serve Him (Pe. lxxiL, 11). As oao has said, it is now some Jews and some Gentiles (the e*-eot church), then it will be all tne Jews (Isa. Ix., 19-22: Jer. xxxi., 38, 34), and after that all theGenti'e* (Isa. Ix., 1-3, 11, 12). 18. There is no surprise to God in anything that co nes to pasa, and lie does notn* ing that from all eternity Me did not see that Ho would do. 19. Understanding the purpose of God James saw that the present election was not to be by any special connection with Jewish, rites, but by simple faith in Jesus, and by His grace whosoever will, without respect to p?r?ons. may be saved iverses 7-11) 20. He advised writing to the Gentile con* verts toat having received Jesus, and therefore being satfed, they should a stain from all defilements ot ido.atry and uncleanness, and observe in tbeir eatinjj such portion} of the ceremonial law as would be for their health and prove them to be separate from the heathen about them (li Cor. vi., 16: vii., 1.) St. It was customary to read from Mows ?nr? fho nrnnhofi in t.iA svnaorwmA AtTArV Sabbath day frili., 15, 27,) and Jesus Himself bad testified that Modes wrote of Him that ail Scripture referred to Him, and that He had come not to destroy, but to fulfill (John v., 46; Lake xxiv., 27, 44; Math, r., 17) . . 22. Having come to this decision it pleated the apostles and elders of the church of Jerusalem to send to .Autioch with Paul and Barnabas such chiec men as Baraaoas and Silas, that not only might the Cnristians at Autioch learn the decision ot the council br letter, but oIsd by the testimony of these brethren. 23. Listen now to the letter and hear leading Jews at Jerusalem addressing Gentile belierrers as brethren B?hold the grace of God and the love of the Holy Spirit. What a contrast to the old saying that the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans! I myself have heard a minister of the Gospel object to the term "brethren," saying that he felt like knocking a man down who called him brother. Snch was not the spirit of the apostles. 24. Bach troablers and subverters still live, and pervert the word of God and mystify the grace of God, going so far as to say that nntoss we believe as they do or join their companion we cannot be saved;others saying that even thoogh we believe we have something to do before we can be saved, and nr.hoi-n insint that we cannot know whether we are saved till we die. 25. The letter testiflos to the love of the church toward Barnabas and Paul, to the unity of the'church at Jerusalem in this matter, and to their great interest in the Gentile brethren at Annoch. Ail true believers are members of the one body. 36. Barnabas and Paul are honorably mentioned because of th9ir sufferings for Christ's sake. Some of these were mentioned in last lesson. See a full list in II Cor. xi.. 28-38. And yet hoar Paul say, "None of these things move mo," and "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the giory w hich shall be re* veated in us" (Acts zz., 34; Rom. viii.. 18). 27. Written termous ai e ?ood sometimes and letters are often very helpful, but a hu wnrr) nf mouth ri?ht from the UCOUUiUty vj ?? v. w _ heart is best of all. In this case they have botl the. written and the spoken testimony. 38. Observe the partnership of the Holy (Spirit and the church and compare chapter xiii., 2. Every oae who receives Jesus receives also the Holy Spirit, and ttye body becomes His temple, every whit of which He jealously desiroth for the glory of God (I Cor. vl." Is), 30: Jas. iv., 5, R. V., margin). Jesus said to His apostles when He sent them forth, "it is not ye that speak, bat the Spirit of your Father whica s;>eaketh in you" (Math, x., 20). See also Acts xvi., 6, 7, and let us covet earnestly to be completely under the control of our Blessed Comforter anrl Guide. 2!). The body being ltept wholly for God and fully yielded to Him. the Spirit would take full possession and God be glorified. There is nothing burdensome in the service of Christ. "His command ments are not grievous" (I John v., S). His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Math, xi.; 30). The Christians at Antioch were made glad by this letter and these words from the brethren (verses 31, 33). Words from God are always intended to make us glad and give us peace if we are honestly desirous of walking I with Him. See Jer. xxix., 11; Ps. xxxv.9 8; I John i., 4.?Lesson Helper. WHERE THE MONET WE.VT. A rather curious experiment was made in Belgium the other day. Tae manufacturer, before paying his workmen, marked TOO tfve-franc pieces with a punch, and distributed the coins ia equal number among his bands. At the same time he requested the keepers of the gro;-saops adjacent to his works to hand over to him the five-franc pieces marked in the way described. Two days after the washes were paid more tyjan three hundred of his silver coins wer0"f received by the employer. The statisticians I have wortced out the result, showing that in laoo fVmn two rlavs each workman had SDent more than half his salary at tna publia house.?L3 Matin. Rumor has it that King Charles of Roumania will abdicate June 1 in | favor of Prince Ferdinand, who is soon to be married to Princess Marie. King Charles and Carmen Sylva will j have a combined civil list of $180,000 j annually and the King's private In com? is S350,000. What a poetess and a book collcctor, with a Joint incomo of $530,000, want of a kingdom Is, indeed, hard to see. James Talbert, a colored fakir, is exciting the citizens of Fayette County, Alabama, by swallowing four gallons of cold spring water ra as many minutes. In certain parts of Ken tucky the quality of Mr. J. T.'s beverage would astonish the natives even more than its quantity. ? ' TRMPtfRAWri? . lijuii juuan vju> who's afraid? "Who ia afraid V' the youaf? man said. And he laughed and tossed his handsome head. And the ruby wine from the cup ha drained. And with many an oath his young lips stained. "Who isafraidr Not If he said, And laughed, and tossed his thoughtless head. "Give me a draught that is stronger yet, ? There are fearful thoughts that I must : >A rorget There is death in the cup, I know full well. 1'tro t-aatar? ?lppftHV t.hf\ flfftfl nf hall Yet give me a draught th-tt is stronger yet," He said, "I have thoughts that I must . r'ig forget." , . "I am afraid!" the young man said. . ... "Visions of horror are round my bed! Mercy's hour I have sinned away. Death is coming to claim his pray. I am afraid! afraid!" he cri <*,. .... With the pitiful words on his Hps be died. ?Joy Allison. "vffij THE PIRNTCIOUS HABljT O* "K1PFIWG." Whatever may be the opinion or judgment, based on experience or rcience, as to the value or the reverse of talcing some ' form of alcohol with the mealc. there is no doubt that the custom of taking wine or Hpinte m uooi yqowccu uioaia auu uu au empty stomach?In one word the pernicious habit of "nipping"?is highly injurious. The morning nip, between breakfast and the midday meal, which is frequently takes by domestic servants, nurses, work people and "City men," ren ters the taker les3 fit .' for his daily work than he would otherwise be, and is often the first fatal steD toward ' dram drinking, and the shameful life of the - - , woman drunkard, of wt?ch we are hearing so much at ths present time. The flushing of the face, caused by the dilatation of the small blood vessels, usually induced by alcohol when taken alone, u symptomatic of what tikes place m the stomach. The direct action of aicohol on the mucous membrane is to produce temporary congestion or blushing of the internal sur- * Tlift itlM. - xawo ui nuo owiiUMUi v/uu^coviuu urn* . , mately becomes chronic if nips or dra-ns of > spirits are frequently indulzad in, with the result that the mucous membrane becomes , thickened and ininratii, a quantity oC * ' ;'i'| tenacious mucus is secreted, the digestive '* ferment is paraiyzei or deetroyei, an laico* holic dyspepsia is established.?Hospital. . QEHKEAL HOWARD OK THE CAJTTEEJf. Qeneral Howard, in his official report to i, the Secretary of War, gives the folio iriog ; ,;-?g important testimony concerning toe "post '!E exchange," or canteen: ' ' /5-SS "The post exchange presents the appearance of a small ooantry store or refreshment room in ail the premises except in the : room where beer is served. Tile impression >* is irresistable that be?r is easily and caeaoiy procured, so that It is constantly forced upon the attention of the enlist 3d man. Hie is always tenanted to indulge in its use. Commandinpf officers have generally agreed with '' M me that it woold be well to abolish the sale of beer entirely and to substitute for it othar Averages. There seems a lac* of propriety in having a sOldier in the uniform of the United (States behind a counter dealing out / ^ beer like a barkeeper in a common resort. :)iM The commanding: officers without exception object to this. If there must be bar keepers in the service they should be hired tor tha purpose. "Under the present svstem soldiers appearv V to be more generally fed to drink and to offences that go with drinking than under .yjrjg the old sutler and post trade system. I am*. strongly convinced by actual experiment , ' ?? that while a few drunks are moderated in their application by strong beer the remaining soldiers who fall under the temptatfos are worse off and that military offences an ' ,1 rather increased in number." 3 In view of this significant testimony, from the diatinguisned head of the United (Hates Army, that beer selling is injurious to th? men under his command, it is to be hoped .V that the reauisite steps mar be taken for its : 'I. abolition an early day.?National Tern perance Advocate. blood xoxcr. . yNot long ago, in the beautiful city of T' iit Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, a doe university hall was built entirely oat of the profits from tin sale of a certaia kin i of ale. Dou tleas it was % gonarooa thin 5 for the v-':' maker of the ale to <ierote a share of his profits to a useful public purpose; but the temperance people of Scotland oriag the-ixh; peachment against the hall that it ia a mono* meat to Edinburgh's drancennen. Terrible pictures of the degra tation of the lower classes of E ilnborgh, due to the use , ' . H.lnlr if. nn?n iinvn hr nuidmiti nf ' that city. 1 rov; "On a recent Saturdav night," one such resident writes to a Scott&s nawspaoer, "I had occasion to pass through Caw/ate, Canongate and tliga street) The scene I vtak compelled to witness made me aaiver. "Drunken women, many of thim with bairns in their arms, jostled mj every few steps. Gray-haired old m*a filled the air with drnnken yells and vulgar lan^ua^e. It grieved me oeyond description to im a bonny, fair-haired lassie standing hopelessly drunk at a close monto, tne bntt of tae rude jesters wno passed Her by.' ^ Such scenes may be se*n in many another Scotch and Britisa city, 2a i to so n? extent in American cities as well. Wnile they are to be seen, saould moaey be accaptei, evan for oenedcint public purposes, waich is d?* rived from a traffic waich brings sued disgrace to ourcivdixitioa? There are many private "monuments to drumcenne?" scattered througa ihalaad. The time will comt, beyonl a doubt, when there will be scarce one to waora tad sight of them does not bring a pang of sorrow, ] and very few indeed to whom they will ever cause a thrill of pride.?Xoutn's Companion. ? DRINK A!TI> DBIIfK 8KLLBBS. The War Cry, organ of the Balvation Armv nrinte the foliowinz: I have heard all the arguments which are brought against res oectable men for manufacturing and selling rum; I hare heard them violently denounced trotp tne pulpit, and warmly defended elsewhere; bat scene to which I was once a witnes* decided my opinion as to my own duty on this point ?and that is about as far, in a matter of opinion, as any man can wisely press his j arguments?i. e., to ois own conscience. During an occasional stroll in an obscure part of the town, my attention was once attracted by the preparations for a funeral in a small house by the roadside. Wnat induced me to enter a house of mourning, where I was alike unknowing and unknown, is not at present material. The room that I entered betrayed at a clAnea the abiect poverty of its occupants. There was neither car.?t nor fire; the b*i was a heap of straw, four or five old oroken chairs constituted all the furniture, and the windows were stuffed with rajs. A plain board coffin?whfbh, from its size, must be that of a caild?lay on two chairs in the center of the room; a woman, sobbing aloud, was bending over it; ten or twelve men stood around in silence, and by a corner of the d replace. seated on the floor, was a man in a beastly state of intoxication. This man, as I afterward learned, was the father of the child, whom, on the preceding day, in another fit of drunk* enness, he had accidentally pushed against a teakettle over the fire, and the little creature was so scalded by the water that it died during the nwht. After a few minutes' silencei, broken only by the sobs of the heart-broken mother, ope of the men, apparently with the intention of offering to the poor woman the consolation of sympathy, approached and said to her: "Mrs. , this is a great affliction." said the woman, raising lier streaming eyes from the coffin and fixing them on the speaker with all the sternness she could command at the moment, "it is a great affliction?a - raadul affliction, buc it is not for you, who give him (pointing to her drunken husband) his daily liquor, and take from him the ?meaus of buyiu? our daily bread; you who knew his weakness and our poverty, you who yesterday sold him a dram Whica ma le him murder our darling child, an 1 to-day, knowing what he had done, tempted him to drink what makes him sit there liKe a brute beast, aud the baoy dead by the side of him. It is not for you to offer me consolation?that can came ?~ "V\/>>r , n*nA un'll #\na rla cr only irum <tuu uuuir, ....v ..... w..*, judge between the ricn man woo sells tha licjuor and th? poor man wao drinks it." Motiier? "Why aren't you and Georgie as good boys as your little brother?" Young Hopeful?"I guesa it's cause you'd had more experience bringin' up boys w'en you commenced .? M rt 3 "xr OQ mm. ?uuou c vi a. si-.awisw* ' ' i ' iirii initial