The Abbeville press and banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, March 16, 1904, Image 6
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I By Anna Katharine Green, f
COPYRIGHT, 1B80, BY ?C
CHAPTER XXXIV. '
NEW FEARS.
'As Mr. Dograw rushed from Miss
Hogers' presence a woman was passing
through the hnll against whom he inadvertently
ran. Shocked at his discourtesy
lie drew hack, surveyed with
a startled air the woman he had jostled
and mechanically stretched forth his
arm to detain her. But she. without
noticing this gesture or his muttered
words of apology hastened up stairs,
and as he had no excuse for following
her lie could only vent his doubts and
fears in the exclamation:
"It is the Portuguese! I am sure it
Is the Portuguese! She is disguised;
she is well disguised, and looks like a
respectable "working woman, but 1
lenow her walk and cannot be deceived
In the stoop of her shoulders."
She was going up 10 Miss Rogers'
rooms. She had evidently come from
the street for she wore a bonnet and
a long cloak, but she went up with aD
assured and accustomed step like one
la mi liar with tbn way.
"My darling!" thought he; "is my
darling already under the paws of this
wolf, without knowing it?"
A servant girl coming along at this
moment he stopped her.
"Who is that woman who is just
going up?" he asked.
"That Is Miss Rogers' hairdresser,"
the girl returned in evident surprise-.
"She comes every day to arrange Miss
Rogers' hair for the evening." ^
T-T? e+nnrl nwhnct mnrtifiPil and Tier
plexed. Could he liave been mistaken?
He was not ready to Jhink that.
"Is this woman a foreigner?" he inquired
again.
"She speaks English." was the rather '
unsatisfactory answer.
The Portuguese did not, or rather
pretended that she could not. Was he
mistaken? He looked toward the parlor
door and hesitated. Never in his
life before had he known what it really
was to struggle with an overmastering
Jmpulse. To leave the signorina with
this doubt in his mind seemed impossible,
but. to go back! He dared not do
that, for it would/ ^certainly bring defeat
to his purpose. No, he must trust
Ibis matter to the police; be could not
meddle "with It himself, but?
He tore himself away, he rushed out
of the front door, and went immediately
in search of Mr. Byrd.
That gentleman received this intelligence
with on expression of mingled
surprise and satisfaction.
"We have been searching for the Portuguese,"
said he, "but never thought
of looking for her in Miss Rogers'
house. She is disguised, you say?"
"Admirably, if the woman I saw is
ehe. Her very complexion is changed,
: and in her present, dress she looks quite
respectable. If 1 had not been in a
very sensitive condition I do not think
I should have felt a doubt concerning
her. It was the sudden shrinking of
my nerves that made mc look at her."
"And you saw traits that assured (
you that it is she?"
"Yes and no. I thought I saw a like
- 1 A.nnMi, 1,,,+ 1 am '
lltrbS ill Alex iu /vuiiri.(4i, imh wimi *
sure .of is that I felt a gre.it physical
revulsion at the sight of her, just the .
revulsion I experienced "when I first
beheld the Portuguese's old ugliness j
Jn conjunclion with my?with ]Miss
Rogers' youthful innocence and
beauty."
"And is this all?"
*" "Ali? But it is enough, Byrd, to
make you look into 1 lie matter. Remember
I shall not sleep till 1 hear
whether this creature, who evidently
fcas daily access to Miss Rogers, is aD |
honest woman or not."
"I will go up immediately to the
bouse."
"And if it is the Portuguese?"
f "She shall be looked after." ' 1
r "Byrd, I trust you. You know how
much I have at stake and how reasonable
I consider my fears. Yon have
yourself said that you thought it possi
ble that the Portuguese "would be lively
to carry out the schemes of Montelll.
If she has lost all hope of making
anything out of the heiress she can. at
least, show her hatred ami "wreak her
revenge. These foreigners are so vindictive.
"We will -watch her."
"And 1 may sleep?"
"Soundly."
"You are a good fellow, Byrd. 1
never thought the day would come
when it would be a matter of satisfaction
to me to have a friend among the
police.
Byrd smiled, but somewhat constrainedly.
He was evidently not in
as candid a mood as usual. But Degraw
did not perceive this; his mind
was relieved and he was almost angry.
"Shall I hear from you to night?" lie
asked.
"Yes, if there is anything to disturb
yon; otherwise not."
"Then I will go."
"All right, but tell me one thing first.
IW.is this woman so different in appearance
from the Portuguese as to be
likely to Impose upon Miss Rogers?"
"I think she was, if she showed as
much skill in altering her conduct and
manners as she did her dress and expression."
"I do not think it is the Portuguese,"
asserted the detective. "She would not
run 60 great a risk for mere vengeance.
But we will see. She can't deceive the
police even if she can the bright eyes
of her old mistress."
And the twu parted.
Mr. Degraw did not. hear from the
police that night nor the next, nor in
all the days that elapsed before Miss
Aspinwall's reception.
CHAPTER XXXY.
BEFORE THE RECEPTION.
It was li o'ciock anci time Tor Miss
Rogers to dress for Miss Aspinwall's
reception. Sh6'was in her room alone,
and before lier lay spread upon a couch
two dresses, one of phiin brown cloth
vbich we well know, and the other of
Richest velvet tluu bad been hurriedly
'ER * M
LIONS.!
Author of "Tlie Forsaken ^
i Inn," Etc.
IBERT BONNER'S SONS. J&
made during the post "weefe. She is
gazing at these dresses and deciding
the most momentous question of her
life. That it is momentous you can
discern from the absorbed expression
of her face, and that she hesitates is
equally evident from the anxiety with
which ber eye passes l'rom cloth to
velvet and from velvet to cloth, as 6be
listens alternately to the suggestions of
her heart and the promptings of her
ambition.
And not her eyes alone but her hands
ut'iruy me cuuuiri mat jc? vn
within her. For they rest by instants
with a loving: touch on the humble
material, only to fly again to the richer.
Where will they finally rest? The
question is between love and wealth.
Which will she choose, which, which?
She must soon determine; Ibe clock
tells of the passage of time. Not much
longer can she stand thus, weighing :it
her ease these two heavy alternatives.
Pear, fascination, awe, tenderness, all
expressions and all emotions show
themselves in turn upon her face.
That she loves him 6he knows; that
she will never feel such a wild and ecstatic
throb for any other man is equally
certain, but shall she sacrifice everything
for him? Is it right 1o do so?
Is it wise to do so? Is it safe 1o do 60?
She grasps the velvet and holds it up
against her throat. How warm it
feels, how natural and how suitable to
her face, her style and her ambition.
But the plain cloth wooes her glances
nKi.lp and before she knows it the vel
vet Las dropped in a heap on the floor
nnd she has the eloth dress strained to
her heart and her decision is made.
But just at this moment a knock If
fieard at the door and she flings the
dress on the bed and stands palpitating
like one caught in a guilty act. It is
only the hairdresser who comes every
day, but her presence is an interruption,
and Ibe young heiress shows it by
the loss of her beautiful color which
had but a moment before tinted her
cheek with roses. Turning her back
upon both dresses she bids the intruder
come in, and tries to hide her agitation
by bending over her dressing table and
unloosening the locks of her long hair.
But the nest moment she looks up
in surprise and drops the curling
tresses from her hand. The woman
she sees advancing toward her is a
stranger, a pleasant faced French looking
girl, who, upon meeting Mies Rogers'
eye drops a courtesy and says:
"I hope mademoiselle will pardon me,
but my employer is not well to-day
and begged that I would do the hair of
mademoiselle. Is it for reception or
dinner? And does mademoiselle like
it high or low?"
Miss Rogers drew a long breath and
sat. down with a smile. The fresh
voice and lively manner were wel- *'
come: they chimed in so with her
thoughts.
"Dress it low," said she. "I am
going to a reception, and I wish to be
ilressed simply, but becomingly."
She flushed so brightly, looked so
lovely, that the young hairdresser
could not restrain her admiration.
"Ah! what beautiful hair! so black,
so wavy, so long. I shall take delight 1
in making mademoiselle- look like an
angel." And her deft fingers passed
caressingly among the great curls
flowing over her hands ami wrists.
Miss Rogers ' continued to smile.
Suddenly she asked:
"Is your employer, as you call her. 1
very sick? What is the matter with
bcr?"
"I cannot tell, mademoiselle. Eut
she is bad, very had. Something sinl- :
den; there were doctors with her last
night!"
"And she sent you here to-dny?"
''Yes, mademoiselle. She did not forget
that you would expcct Her. She
has much thought, has madame."
"Anil Kf? ill?"
"All, oui; she may not live til! night.
I fool very l)ad for madame."
The young lady made a sudden move.
"It is distressing," said she, but her '
bright eyes lost none of their brilliance.
Indeed, they seemed to seinlillate
afresh? Had she her secret doubts of
this same hairdresser, antl could she
in any way have shared the fears of
Degraw?
When her hair "was dressed she dismissed
the girl and prepared to complete
the rest of her toilet alone. The
velvet dress was before her on the bed,
but she passed it by without a glance
and took up the plain brown cloth.
"I will be the artist's bride." said she,
and vapidly, joyously, donned the garment
which conveyed this decision,
murmuring as she did so: "His delight
will compensate me for all. 1 could
not meet his look of disappointment.
t 1-1 x * it,. 41>a
J I'UUIU LlUl, iUL" Jill iJLie ncitliu 1U luv
universe, see scorn take the plnce of
1he loving trust that has always
beamed in his face. I love him,, and
would risk more than wealth to have
him always near me."
If 6he did not say these words she
thought them, and her fingers flew and
the dress was on, and she stood, clad
and in her right mind, beamiug at her
own image in the glass.
"Ah! this is better!" she now cried,
sinking on her knees, almost in the attitude
of prayer. "I will not regret
this; 1 cannot; whereas " She
threw a mocking glance at the velvet,
and, rising, hung it up in the closet
and brought forth her bonnet and
gloves. Suddenly her hand flew to her
throat. "I have forgotten my talis
man," said she.
She -went to her drawer and took out
a simple locket. It was the only article
of jewelry which hpr admirer had ever
seen her wear, and she prepared to
clasp it about her neck with an air of
satisfaction, when she bethought herself
to take a peep at the faded forget-me-not
which she kept shut within
it.
But when she opened the locket she
did not find the memorial flower which
she had once placed there, but a faded
paper. Surprised she drew it out and
unfolding it read these wordB Jjefore
she realized what their presence meant:
"I am net-to intrude myself. 1 am '
to forget I have wishes or hopes- I am
to remember that he loves her and ,
that it is for her happiness to love him.
1 am to encourage this love and to lend
all my influence toward the preservation
in her of those charming qualities i
which in adversity made her lovely,
and which, if added to her wealth, will
make her a mate for the nobles. This
is my future task. May God give me
strength to acquit myself of it chcer- i
lully?" <
Hilary's handwriting! Hilary's 1
words! Jenny Rogers held in her liand
Hilary's locket, which had in some t
way become interchanged with her '
own, for they had them just alike, and j
by this chance had she stumbled upon ]
that dear friend's secret at a moment ;
when her own fate hung trembling in 1
the balance. Jenny Rogers sank, over- 5
com-e, upon a chair and read the words i
again, and uttered a cry as she read i
them, then sobbed with 6udden, wild '
and passionate grief, then bid her face j
with her hands and sat thus for many j
minutes, though the clock spoke, with !
every tick it made, of the rapidiy pass- '
ing time. I
What were her thoughts? What ,
could they be but of past hours and i
past occurrences in which she had '
shared her companionship with Mr. '
Degraw! She understood now as she j
never had before "what certain looks I
and changes upon her dear friend's '
countenance had meant. She perceived (
that she herself had not been the only ,
one to love, and that with the selfish- I
ness of a suddenly enriched "woman
she had trodden on the heart to whose (
clinging affection and lofty sympathy i
she owed much of her prosperity and I
a great deal of her distinction. And J
she saw more; she saw to what heights (
a generous and self forgetful nature
can go, and felt humiliated in her own i
estimation as she contrasted the mer- 1
cenary struggle sbe had just been (
through with the firm putting by of
every selfish consideration conveyed (
by the words she had just read. {
"Hilary would not have hesitated
seven days," exclaimed ,Jenny, WTitbing
in bitter remorse over the memory 1
of her own weakness. "She would
have seen the right way at once and ,
taken it. She loves him more than I *
do. She is worthier of him than I am. '
Sbe would make him a better wife."
Then her thoughts flew to the time, 1
when she and Hilary had bought these! 1
lockets. They were in a jeweler's) ;
store together, and the whim had si-'
multaneotisly seized them to have some i
one thing alike, which they could wear'
as a symbol of their mutual affection.
They decided upon two lockets, identi- \
cal in make and size, and Hilary i
bought one-and clasped it about Jen- 1
ny'9 neck, and Jenny had bought the :'
other and clasped it about Hilary's,, ,
and thus had they sealed the bond be-! i
tween them with a gift and a smile. ! ^
When the second exchange between, ,
these trinkets had been made she couldl i
not tell, but she thought it mu6t havej i
been done when she and Hilary last' *
bathed at the beach. They had both. ,
worn their lockets that day, and as; ]
they had used one table for their; '
things the possibility of one of them: j
having taken up the wrong locket was1 \
easy. 1
But the. "when" and the "how" of 1
.?: rpK/i 1
mitt Luisume were iiuiuij;ui uiui. au<~
exchange bad been made in some wayv
and a revelation had followed which
had shaken her to Ihe core of her'
being:. Hilary loved Mr. Dcgraw, and
be would love Hilary if he.r own unworthy
beauty were not ever before
him. How could she let all the sacrifice
be on one side. How could she
c-njo.v her happiness if she knew that
her friend was suffering from a despair,
the depth and poignancy of
which she could faintly measure by
the emotions gnawing at her own
heart? She could not; though she was J
far from perfect she had advanced
(line foi- it 1 nficf imr>n tho tn lin
selfishness that her friend's ease now
occupied her more tlian her own. She
could not ignore it; she would not.
She had her wealth and a score of unlisted
pleasures before her, while Hilary
liad tasted of every pleasure save
that of which she was about to rob
her. Hilary thus left to herself would
s-ee no joy in the empty space before
her. while 6he could imagine many, I
l hough none so sweet, none so satisfy- I
ing asithis of bis love. Ah, is the end- |
less struggle about to recommence? j
No, for in a few minutes, with a deftness
and celerity marvelous undor the I
circumstances, Jenny Rogers has
doffed the cloth suit ber lover was hungering
to see and has put on the rich
velvet, which means repulse to blm,
disappointment to herself and possible
happiness to Hilary.
To be continued.
"Lunuon" Liken It "'ot."
It may be that the quality of imagination
was lacking in the Boston and
Salem merchants who attempted. In <
1842, to introduce American ico into
London. One of them tried to attain
this end by demonstrating the merits
of American iced drinks. He hired
a hall?as the story goes?and trained
a number of men to mix tbe cool beverages
of his native laud. The members
of the Fishmongers' Association?presumably
as fond of turtle as aldermen
themselves?were the guests. The waiters
made an imposing entry?but alas!
the first sound that met the ear of the
American "promoter," expecting a
chorus of approval, was that of an
English voice calling for hot water,
and saying, "I prefer it, all In all."
The American completes the story: "I
made a dead rush for the door, nest
day settled my bills in London, took
train for Liverpool and the steamer for
Boston, arid counted up a clear loss of
$1200."?Atlantic Monthly.
Lord Alvnnlcy'* Arivire.
A great deal of varied advice has
been given to the subalterns in the
guards as to what they might have
done when their senior comrades subjected
them to indignities. From fists
to teeth, from canes to pistols, have
ranged the weapons "with which they !
are told they should wage war upon
"ragging." In the midst of 60 many
bellicose enjoinings, one recalls with
something like gratitude the quiet
counsel given by Lord Alvaney (the
present Earl Russell's father) to a
young friend who came to him for advice,
saying, "Somebody has threat- ,
ened to kick me?what am I to do if i
he comes into the room?" "Sit down," '
said Lord Alvaniey curtly.?London :
Chronicle. ;
A SEEMON FOR SUNDAY {
i
1
SUBJECT : " WHAT ARE THE PERMA t
NENT ELEMENTS OF RELICION?" j
' * c
t
In Eloquent and Forcefnl Discourse toy j
1 he itev. oonu jn. unviunuii-jiiau ? ?
lerest the Iucarnation?A Striking
Thought About the "Divinity of Man.'
Brooklyn, N. Y.?In the Fourth Uni:arian
Church. Flatbush, Sunday morning,
he pastor, the Rev. John M. Davidson,
sreached on "What Are the Permanent
Elements of Religion?" He said:
In this period of questioning, when old
structures of religious faith are being torn
iown and new ones are taking their places,
,vhen what seems the very foundation of
aith is being removed here and there to
nake way for new material, it is well
worth our while to ask the question that
6 consequent upon such a condition, What
jlements of our religious faith are permalent
and are likely to resist the tendency
;o change? It is a question that is agitating
more people than ever before in history.
We have been told that there is a
growing indifference to religion, that men
ire abandoning the churches, that paganism
has re-absorbed large sections of the
country. even Puritan New England ehar?
/ficcAlnfinn.
;ug iu tiic j^cu^joi u<i?ov/.?.*.vM.
No one can deny that the influence of i
the church is not as great as it was when I
almost the only educated men were min- i
isters. We who occupy the pulpits to- '
iay frankly recognize the fact that the <
occupants of the pews are not only our 3
?quals in intellect, but are capable of giv- j
ing us instruction in many departments of '
thought wherein the minister of old time I
was held to be supreme. The minister of 1
to-day must recognize his relatively 1
changed condition. He addressee minds I
ait least as well informed and as bright as i
bis own?and on many subjects more so. ?
And he is woefully mistaken and unalert 1
if he does not welcome the change as an i
advantage to himself and his work rather <
than a detriment. Nevertheless, for the 1
time being, this condition tends to bring i
down the church attendance figures and ]
to lessen the church's influence. It will J
continue to do so until the church finds
men who are leaders (if not in intellect) <
in the efi'ort for social amelioration. They 1
must be specialists and authorities in 1
their field, as the physicians and lawyers 1
sire in medicine ana jurisprudence. 1
That the temporary falling off in the in- '
fluence of the church as an institution ar- ]
gues for an indifference to religion I do
not believe. The church has not yet
learned its work. It is still delving in
theologies and philosophies, when men
nre no more interested in the one than
the other. Both theology and philosophy
Fire vital matters, but the old manner of
discussing these subjects cannot now interest
men who are touched by the spirit
of the scientific age. Until science and the
whole new method of thought that follows
upon recent scientific discovery have
entered into and vivified-theology and philosophy,
they will cease to interest or influence
man. They have no point of contact
with his interest?. But men are interested
in religion. This very questioning
and unrest proves it. Even the return
to paganism, as it has been called, that
trend, particularly noticeable in rural New
England, away from the formalism of the
church and back to nature, it not so
alarming as appears at first glance. We
are learnine to 6ce that, although for centuries
we have called certain peoples "pagans,"
thinking to give them a bad name
and so to avoia more tedious investigation
into the character of these same pagans,
we have much to learn about religioh, and
we may not seldom sit with pront at the
Feet of many a pagan prophet.. Men are
asking whether, after all, a comparatively
small Beet is right and all the rest wrong,
or whether there is not a bit of truth in 1
them all. They go further. They ask 1
qow whether that truth may not make ail
peoples free; they are wondering whether,
ifter all, salvation is to be found with one
md universal destruction with the other,
whether the Creator of all nations is likely
to make one of them His favorite, to
jive that one a true and final revelation
md to withhold it from all others. Men
ire going even further than this in their
juestioning. They are putting the religions
side oy side for comparison. They
ire inquiring whether or not the truth
that is in one may not be found occasionilly
in another, and they are finding
through this comparative etudfv of religions
that, at bottom, all are alike. Great
ireas of parallel beliefs and aspirations are
Found making the claim of exclusive revelation
ridiculous. Jn fact, when it is
found that every single form of religion
on the face of the earth lays claim to an
exclusive revelation of some sort, and we
find that the term '"heretic" is merely an
, f rnnn'e np errmin of men's.
:Aj.fiCQOiV;U ' X VI1V Q r ,
point of view, we begin to open our eyes i
to the fact that our own past claims in the j
natter may not carry so much weight as j
ive had thought. j
The discoveries that we have made dur; *
ing the last century about the habits of
life and the character of thought of the
3ther half of the world, the scientific methods
of investigation into the subject of re- ]
iigion, it origin, rise and?often?its delay,
into religious literatures, and among i
them our own Bible, are broadening in )
new, even while, and perhaps because,
they disturb our complacency. Religion is j
riven a new interest. We find that we i
Christians are not the only members of
Sod's family, and that there are others (
ivho care for Him as much as we do ?nd |
whom He loves as greatly as He loves us. j
I say that this is the tendency of men's j
minds to day. Hardly do the most of us
ldmit the changed point of view as an .
iccomplisned fact, even to ourselves, and
n many localities the old exc'usiveness is j
is impenetrable as ever it was in the dark !
ages. Universally, where religious cxclu- j
siveness is found it is accompanied, bred J
ind safeguarded by some form of claims to .
5nal revelation or final authority for truth 1
?some artificial guarantee that the doc- 5
trinp nreaehed in that church in the be- *
jinning is now and ever shall be preached '
without change, world without end. That '
such claim is manifestly impossible to sub- J
stantiate has never deterred the church
from making it. It is one recognition? J
though a weak one?that absoiute truth j
s unchangeable, and every religion and '
jvery church that claims to have a final '
ind true revelation must, of course, claim J
;o possess a knowledge of that "absolute" ?
ivhich Spencer calls "unknowable." Not f
jne such body could step forth boldly and 1
ay hold on the great affirmation of to-day. 1
that the faith of to-day is but the stepping c
stone to the faith of to-morrow: that revelation
is not sealed; that truth is a living
thing, growing as we grow; that mankind
is saved through perpetual evolu- c
tion from lower to higher, or, in other s
ivords, by fulfilling one meted destiny of t
becoming perfect as the Father in Heaven (
is perfect. Our business to-day is frankly I
to admit that the final revelation is ytt a
Far ofif and that we have by no means s
Found the "absolute" truth. The kn'-wl- e
fdge of to-day is but a little section of that t
absolute. The thing for us to remember, t
ind to take courage from remembering, is t
that we are here to enlarge, ;.nd that we t
ire enlarging, that section of knowledge. t
I have said that whatever religious ex- 1:
[ilusiver.ess is found it is accompanied by r
some kind of authority purporting to guar- i
intee the permanency and integrity of its 1
Faith. The creed has been changed from j
its original meaning?"credo, I believe"? \
to an imperative "thou shalt believe." 1
b'rom being a simple statement of an indi- i
ridual faitn it has become a formal state- J<
rnent of a system of dogma to which all t
who would bp saved must subscribe. No t
latitude is allowed for individual inter- c
pretations or for the Krowth of religions j
and theological conceptions. The aim is
simply to lay down a body of dogma that
embodies iinal truth, and a confession to j
which tne whole world must subscribe re- | (
gardlcss of individual reason and unaf- t
fected by the- growth of knowledge and i
moral consciousness. The attempt nas ai- \
ways failed. There is no erecd that holds
the same meaning for us to-day which it s
he'd for mankind a century ago. If it is I
not now actually changed in form, as iri t
the case of a notable number, it is changed t
in content to the minds of its adherents. a
If we are but willing to open our eyes we s
Bhall find that there are hundreds of means
of salvation, and each me hod breeds a
sect. But what does the method signify
beside the tremendous ultimate fact that j
all the world is looking for salvation': <
Here is the universal and permaneut thing, i
U tome wa.v the truth has percolated <
hrough every mind that -we are put into
hie world m order to grow.1 we *ie uvb
iniversallv interested in speculations about
Nirvana, or about atonements, or about
he "survival of the fittest." nor in the
liscussion as to the proper aim, whether
or happiness or virtue. Perhaps every
>ne is interested in one or another of
hese means to the end. but we are all inerested
in the outcome?salvation for the
luman race. It is a universal longing. It
s one of the permanent things of religion.
Then mankind has been universally invested
in another thing?the incarnation.
Ever since man became man and learned
:hat there was a power outside of himself
.0 which he was bound, he has thougftt of
:his power as in some way entering into
ind becoming the guiding power of some
object of the visible worla. At first it
ivas a mere stick or stone, a tree or river
)r wild beast'that was the chosen dwelling
place of deity. Then in good time the feeing
grew that none but man would make a
suitable habitation for the Creator; so we
rjear of the Greek heroes, "descendants of
L~ J? ? Tlmii/lin an si TVlnhir Oracles
LUC gUUJ, -..v. -ind
of prophets in all lands whose speech
was controlled in an especial way by Deity.
We hear of a perfect incarnation of Deily
in Buddha, born of a virgin, with his divine
parentage attested by miracles of various
kinds, and teaching that there are
many incarnations similar to his own;
that whenever the world has advanced to
i condition in which its needs are different
From the old, God incarnates Himself in a
mortal who thereupon becomes a great
leader and prophet. Our minds, of course,
low revert to another incarnation, that of
Sod in Jesus, who also taught that there
ire many incarnations; who prayed that
His disciples might be one with God as He
Himself was one with Him. And again we
see the tendency of men to obscure the
jreat truth by the particular example. The
truth which has most obviously appealed
to men is the incarnation of God in a single
man, or, formerly, in' a class of men,
is prophets or priests. The truth of that
snaures, and that has been pointed out
by Jesus and all the greatest leaders of
men is that of perpetual and universal incarnation.
God has breathed the breath of
life and has lit the spark of divinity in
mankind, for we are His children, made in
His moral image, inheritors of His divinity
because we are natural eons and heirs.
This is the tremendous fact toward which
the world is groping. It explains the now
proven fact that mankind's trend is upward
rather .than downward. It gives us
the courage for going on, for keeping up
the struggle when to our restricted view
the obstacles seem insuperable. It compels
us to believe that this world is found?d
upon good, that the good is "hastening
jn toward immortality, while evil is self
destruction. If "God's in His heaven,"
Sod's in His world as well, the guarantor
?f its fundamental integrity, the inspirer
jf every good thing in the heart of man.
Do you not see how intimately connected
ire the two ideas, the incarnation of God
md the divinity of man? Both ideas are
jverywhere recurrent in the theologies of
the world, thouch their particular expression
in one faith is utterly different from
that in another, and it is the difference in
the isolated expressions of the truth that
keeps men apart. The permanent thing,
the larger truth must wait upon our further
enlightenment and broadening of view
before it can bring i^s together. We are
learning, it is true. The existence of an
unwonted spirit of toleration and unity in
religion, the modern armation of the
iniversality of spirit shows that we are
matching some glimpses of the larger truth
that lies behind our incarnations and
itonements, our theophanie/s and oracles,
aur Buddhas and Jesus of past time. If
ive had heard the real message of Jesus and
the prophets and poets we should long ago
b.ave discovered this truth. To be a man
is to be a descendant of God, to be a descendant
of God is to be His prophet, His
ncamation, the inheritor of His divinity;
this is the larger permanent truth, one
which is prepared for by every religion
that the world has ever known.
After having agreed that to do right is
the end of conduct, can we not take each
Dther by the hand in the fellowship of that
profession, even though we may differ as
to the adoption of means to that end? If
ive all recognize the fact that the salvation
)f humanity is the permanent object of all
religious effort, then our various methods
)f attaining salvation will soon take their
jroper places as subordinate elements of
* ^ J *? - xL?
laitn ana vanaDje according as me ueeua
jf men vary. The creed then will be not
i Shibboleth by which to save one and to
:xclude another, but a covenant of kindred
ninda bent upon a common object and
Irawn together by the natural sympathy
)f similar beliefs. Religion will be no
onger made up of religions?some false,
some true?but will be recognized as fundamentally
a unit wherever man has lifted
jp his head and called on the power that
s above him. We shall see that the essen:ial
elements of religion are not the differences
that divide, they are the permanent
ind fundamental things upon which all
rorm8 of religion are founded, and which,
? ? ^ will imifA mon in tho
1 >VC UUV iCb UlClli, ytju uiiut. uivij < > win.
ympathy of common aspirations and inspirations.
Seeds Tliat "Will Grow.
True culture ie simply soul growth.?
Ram's Horn.
It is impossible for that man to despair
,vho remembers that his Helper is omr.ipo;ent.?Jeremy
Taylor.
Your daily* duties are part of vour re'igous
life as much as your devotions.?H4
IV. Beecher.
There is no self-complacency in feeling
mrselves in harmony with the divine, for
;he more you feel so the more yon .'eel that
t is God that worketh in you to will and
;o do of His good pleasure.?Gail Hamilton.
When I found that it was Christ's nature
;o lift men out of weakness to strength,
mt of impurity to goodness, out of everyj;
;hing low and debasing to superiority, I
elt that I had found a God.?Henry Ward
Beecher.
A commanding love has made a homely
ace beautiful with aspiration and self-sac ifirp
Wh.it mav we exnect when the
spirit of God, without measure, breaks
hrough a physical nature molded to the
perfection of grace and harmony??S. S.
-Ielker.
If one carefully notices the course, of the
vorld, every man. be he religious or irreigious,
will come, at the middle or-end of
ife, to the same conclusion as David: "I
me been young and now am old; yet have
[ not seen the righteous forsaken nor his
leed begging bread." Not that all is
smooth or easy or fortunate; on the conrary,
"Many are the afflictions of the
ighteous, but the Lord delivereth him out
>f them all."?Dinah M. Craik.
Good Out of Bluuderp.
What we intend to do is an indication
if our spirit and purpose. We are responsible
lor our words and acts as we endeavor
o have them effective for good or ill. But
Sod is ever working in love. He often
jrings good out of ill, or out of thought
ind speech beyond the best motive of a
peaker or doer. A co-worker in Christ's
ervice in Cuba notes the statement in
hese columns that Emerson's search for
ruth made discoveries which are helpful
o those who think far more of Christ j
han he did. Then she wiselv a<ld&:*MHow
- ? n? j?? iu;. ...xtr.j
IIilL JH I'UJlUUU&iujr uuitc 111 into vvuxiu iiao
>een illustrated to me for years. One who
nakes a true picture of anything in the
iniverse?a leaf or a flower, a shell, a
andseape, a cloud or a star, an agony, a
oy. or any such thing?may and must repeal
to some others more than he himself
ias seen. A child describing in a childsh
way some new flower might, without
mowing it, give valuable information to a
>otanist." How good is Hod. to use for
he welfare of others not only our best
ndeavors. but our very blunders and our
loorest efforts!
The Alloy of Self.
Achievement fused with relf js too brittle
0 stand the test of time. The secret of
he success of one who hail accomplished
nuch in many fields was well expressed
vhen it was .said that lie had learned to
oncentrate his powers 011 the result, irrespective
of how ihat result would affect
limself. Every atom of force deflected
oward self becomes friction. Introspecion,
self-consciousness and egotism are
ill synonyms for wasted energy. Are you
triviug to rid yourself of this waste?
Example*.
The world, lying in sin and sorrow, with
1 thousand desires to he better, simply
alls to the church for examples of those
vho rise above evil and walk and talk with
jlod.?The Rev. Ray Palmer. 1
THE' SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MARCH 20.
Subjeirt: lenne Feed* th? Five Thousand.
Matt, xiv., 13-'43 ? Golden Text, John
vi., 3i?? Memory Verges, '-40, '41 ? lom,
luentary on the Day's Lesson.
I. The multitude and its great need (vs.
13-15.1. 13. "Heard of it." The death of
John the Baptist. "Departed thence."
Left Capernaum. He crossed to the northeastern
shore of the Lake of Gennesaret.
Across the lake Jesus was out of the dominion
of the murderer of John, and within
the tetrarchy of Herod Philip. "The
people." Prom John 6: 4 we see that the
i'assover was just at hand, and there were
throngs of people going up to Jerusalem.
"On foot."' The people, watching the sailing
of Jesus across the northern enif of
the lake, ran around the northern shore
so rapidly that, according to Mark. Jhey
"outwent" the boat and "came unto Him'
as He landed. "The cities." At this time
the western and northern shore* were populous
with cities and villages. 14. "Went
forth." From the boat. "Compassion."
Jesus walked among the pepole. teaching
them many things and healing their sick.
15. "Evening." This was in the afternoon.
"when tne day began to wear away"
(Luke 9: 12). The Jews had two evenings.
The first began at 3 o'clock, the sec?
J ? a ?i. j? iu:.. ?
UIJU ilL U U I'lUCA. ill tins vex DC Hit uiov
evening is meant; in verge 23, the second.
"Disciples came." By combining the accounts
of the evangelists the conversation
may be supposed to have been about a9
follows: Jesus said to' Philip: "Whence
shall we buy bread, that these may eat?'<
(John.) Philip replied that "two hundred
pennyworth of bread" would not be sufficient
for them (John). Then the disciples
urged Him to "send the multitude
away" that they might purchase food.
Jesus said, "Give ye them to eat," where-,
upon the disciples in dismay asked if they
should go an a buy this great amount of
bread (Mark). Jesus replied, "How many
loaves have you? Go and see" (Mark).
They replied that there was a lad there
(John) who had "five barley loaves and
two small fishes."
II. The miracle wrought (vs. 16-21). 16.
"Need not depart." Christ had fed their
eouls and healed their bodies, and now He
proposes to feed their bodies, and thus
show that He is able to provide for all
their necessities. John says that the question
He asked Philip was for the purpose
of proving or testing him, for Jesus knew
what He would do. 'Give ye them." Phillip's
reply to Christ's question, that 200
pennyworth (about $32 worth) of bread
Would not be sufficient, has caused many
to believe that this amount represented'
the total resources of Christ and His dis-i
ciples; and would certainly seem unwise
for them to use their last penny for this1
purpose.
17. "We have here." The multitude had
not thought of their temporal necessities,!
eo anxious were they to see and hear
Jesus, and a lad had all that could be'
found. "Loaves, fishes." The loaves were
round, flat cakes like large crackers. Barley
was their poorest fooa. The fish were
email, dried or pickled, and were eaten
.with bread, like our sardines. Andrewi
said, "But what are they among so many?"
Hardly enough; "five crackers and two,
sardines for 5000 hungry men, besides women
and children!" 18. "Bring to Me."
Here was the secret. Christ was able. All
must centre in Him. We may have but
little, but if we ,will give the little we have
to Jesus. He will multiply it a thousand
fold and pass it back to us, and grant us
,the privilege of/passing it out to the starving,
sin-burdened multitudes.
: 19. "To sit down." In orderly ranks for
the convenient distribution oi the food.
Mark says they sat by hundreds and fifties.
"Grass." The grass was ready for
mowing at this time of the year. "And
jtook, etc." Thus, acting like the master
of a family among the Jews, who took
.the bread into His hands to give thanks
to God befose any at the table were permitted
to eat. Jesus had one loaf for 1000
men, besides the women and children.
."Blessed." Jesus thus sets us an example;
.we should never eat without first thanking
God for our food, and asking His
blessing upon it. "To His disciples."
There has oeen much discussion as to just
bow the miracle was performed. Did the
bread multiply in the hands of Jesus, or
in the hands of the disciples, or, as some
think, did the disciples nut a piece' of
bread and fish in the hands.of those who
Bat at the ends of the ranks- with orders
to give it to their companions? Ther^ is
no doubt but that the food multiplied all
along the line. Jesus handed out to His
disciples; it increased in their hands as
they handed out to the multitude.
20. "Were filled." Here is one miracle,
of our Lord attested by at least 5000 men. nrnhnhlv
10 000 nersnns. No one need ever!
leave Christ's table hungry. He is able to-'
satisfy every need of soul and body. He!
is the bread of life. Whether we demand)
"little or much," it is an easy matter for
Christ to fill us. There is a fullness in His
mercy and love that only those who partake
of can understand. "Fragments."
Broken pieces which remained over. According
to John, Jesus directed them to
gather up the fragments, "that nothing be
Tost." "Twelve baskets." The word
translated "baskets" means pockets or
wallets. The twelve baskets were probably
the twelve wallets of the twelve
apostles, which they carried on their journeys.
Jesus evidently intended that He
and the apostles wou'd eat the pieces as
their needs demanded them. 21. "Five
thousand men." There must have been
10,000 to feed. Jesus had arranged theiri so
thev could easily be counted.
III. Events following the miracle (vs. 22,
23). 22. "Constrained. Commanded. The
disciples seemed unwilling to go and leave
Him alone. By the exercise of direct authority
He compelled them to embark.
They went toward Capernaum and Be-thsaida.
"While He sent, etc." The multitude
would not leave while the disciples
were present. 23. "Apart to pray." Jesus
was conscious that a solemn and awful
crisis had come. He perceived that the
people would take Him by force and make
Him a king (John 6: 15), and that the
disciples were drinking in the same spirit.
Where elde would they find a king who
could feed his army without expense or
/ nnlr) rtivf his wm>nr)ed sol
1: UUU1C, tniw -
diere by .1 word, who had wisdom and
power divine? .Such a kinz could easily
overcome the Roman power. But Jesus
iesisted them and spent the night in
prayer. "Alone.'' Jesus frequently went,
alone to pray. If He needed such seasons,
much more do we. He remained in the
mountain, alone with His God, far into the
might. Some time between 3 and 6 o'clock
Jin the morning He waiked on the sea to
His disciples who were hindered by the
wind and the waves in reaching Capernaum.
Fasted Forty-nine Days. '
J. G. Myers, a farmer at Joplin, Mo.. ha8
just completed a fast of forty-nine days,
and during that time he did not take a
bite of food at any time. He says he deaired
to starve to death. _
Grows Ncw 1'eeth.
George Krause, sixty-eight, years old, of
Tamaqua, Pa., suffered from a recent at
tack of neuralgia, causing several of his
teeth to become loose. They were all ex
tracted and new teeth are growing in the
cavities.
Seven Hundred I/iitmie Let Loose.
Seven hundred inmates of the insane asylum
at Cienpozuelos. Spain, will be set at
liberty, as the General Consulta has refused
to vote funds necessary for their mainI
tenance.
Sicnai Service Makes ix?cord.'
The United States Signal Service made
the world's record by flashing sun-ray
messages between mountain peaks 180 ,
milea apart.
Slept Outdoors Two Year?. ~~
Eussell Leonard, of Warsaw, Ind., has
completed his second year of sleeping in
the^pen air in all kinds of weather. (
Our Coal Imports. " u (
Tn 1903 the United States imported 2,- i
887,000 tons of coal; 1,532,000 tone in 1902. i
''f:
i
^
akufrfos :
Gracious Words.
We cannot tell how sweet must be ;
The heavenly speech they use above;
What cadences deep as the sea, J
.What holiest phrase or tone of love. j
Yet human speech has many a word x<
More sweet than angel-lips can sound J
Forgiveness, grace in Christ the Lord,
Mercy, with loving kindness crowned*'
They breathe upon our hearts like songs 1
That swell around, below, above; fl
Immortal words on mortal tongues, . )
The words that tell God's wondrous love^ ->
We cannot want for words to men,
While still we strike the mercy chord; i
God grant us power to speak again \ \
The words of life in Christ the Lord! \ V
?Mrs. Merrill E. Gates, in New York Oft T
server. J \
What if Christ Came to Oar Town? ;
Suppose, one of these-bright mornings* /
as you are going about your work and j
preparing to go out for the morning er- J
rands, a neighbor comes to your^door with 1
face all alight with news and tells yon 5 ffl
"TV; J 1 9 t.on.4 (I
JLSJV1 JSJll A11U >V i uavc JUU UCCUU wu??
Christ has come to our town? I met Him
quite early as I went to the store for something
for breakfast. He told me He would
come to my house to-day, and I must burr*
home to make ready. I thought you would
like to know, for He may be here, too. He
is to speak over at the cnurch to-night."
And with her wonderful news ?ne hurries
onward. And you stand there startled.
Can it be true! Cnrist come to tho earth
again? And how did your neighbor know
Him? Yet she must have, for she is one of
His veryown. v i
And He may come here, to your, owaj
bouse, "iou look quickly around. There
lies the book you were reading last night/
You hastily put it out of sight and the
color rises in your cheeks. It is not abook
you would like Christ to find you reading^'
And He is to speak at the church tonight.
YeSj this is the regular church
nrnvpr Tiippfmff nitrhi. Ah! Yfill hnd fnr*
gotten. For it is also the night of you?
euchre club, and you were to nave enter*
tained it. And now? What can you dp?
The salad is already made, the cxeam an<J
oysters are ordered. Your guests will think
it strange. But what will Christ think?
You could explain, of course, that you do
not approve of having euchres on Wedneat .;
day evening, but this was an unusual thing
because?but you d? not Kke to think ol\
facing Christ with excuses. \
The invitafiAna mnat. )m> rppatM. tut 1
couree. Yon hasten to "the train to stop YH
your husband before he goes to the city to (H
his business if possible, and all the -way
you say to yourself: "Christ is here; Christ
has come to our town! There is opportu- H
nity now for men to be saved! That poor
drunkard who has tried 60 hard to reform fl
and cannot, that sorrow-stricken woman
who can find no comfort anywhere may
find it in Him. That tick child who w
doomed to a life of suffering may be
healed!" " >' V...f
Then, as .the thought grows upon you,
what it means to have Christ come to your
town',* you forget your honor over vojir
owri'position and how meatfly you * will ap- pear
as His follower when He look?-upon
you as you really are, and go to eagerly,
planning how others may be told of the
wonderful news. Your heart sinks at tbe
thought that He has come <m a week-day
night, and because every one is so gives
over to his own plans and pleasures yon '
feel very certain there' Will be but a poor '
showing at the church to-night, not more '
than the usual handful who attend tbe
prayer meeting where Christ is always ? >
pected of course in spirit. H is a pity He '
could nothavecome on a Sabbath and bad
it announced long beforehand. You would
have then done your best to ma^e jk knowu
and urge such and such a one to come to
the meeting, and you would have prayed
for a pleasant night that a large audience
migtit tie out, ana?wouia yon; Are yon.
eure? Has He not been expected at every
meeting for prayer that has.been held in
His house all these years? Has He not
promised to meet there? Have you ever by
so -much as a word invited those people, to
come and see Him and learn what manner
of person He be? Have you ever put off
an evening gathering to go to hear Hinfc
unless it was more than convenient to dot
so? Have you hid away the books yoav
have been reading and resolved to read
them no more because you would be.
ashamed to have Him see you at such
books? Have you spread abroad the ne^s
of His presence with you and of the wonders
He has done for you, even so much as
the poor Samaritan woman, who testified,
"Come, see a man who toll me all that
ever I did!"
Marcus Dods says: "The disdplce were
good men. but they went into Svchar judcing
the Samaritans good enough-. 'to- trade Bffl
with, but never dreaming of telling them HK
the Messiah was outside their town. Thejr
must have been ashamed' to find how much H
more capable an apostle the woman was
than they. I think tht.v would not wonder BB
another time that their Lord ?hould condescend
to talk with a woman. The simpie,
unthinking, untroubled directness of a Hn
woman will often have a matter finished
while a man is meditating some ponderous >
contrivance for bringing it to pass. Let ua HWi
not fall into the mistake of the disciples, H|
and judge men good enough to buy and sell |jf|j
with, but quite alien to the matters of the HS
kingdom. * * * The woman's testimony
was enough to excite curiosity. The men, 19
on her word, came out to judge for themselves.
What they saw and heard completed
their conviction. And they said to
the woman, 'Now we believe, not" because MH
cf thy speaking, for we have heard for our- KB
selves, and know that this is indeed the |H
Saviour of the world.' " ?H
It is not a fairy tale, nor a parable, r.or. Hfl
nil impossibility, tnis supposition oi our
topic. "What if Christ should ccroe to BH
our town?" He may come. He dee*- come ^B
every day. He came to you last week io a HB
special answer to prayer and saved a loved HB
one from death. He came to you in the BdC
silent watches of the nijrht when you communed
with Him, and He spoke peace to M
your soul. You know He is the Christ. mH
And yet, have you told others to come and BIH
see? And if Christ should come in real HB
bodily presence to-morr-w, would you and BBC
1 be ready or be ashamed to meet Him?? H
Grace Livingston Hill, in the New York
Mail and Express. BH
Progress Means Effort. nB
iTou cannot expect to pain without effort BH
that which cost Christ all His life?Ram's
Horn. HI
Realizing God'a Nearness. t fio9|
How can the sense that the living God
i*8 near to our life, that He is interested in
it and v/illing to help it, survive in us, if
our life be lull of pretty things? Absorption
in trifles, attention only to the mean- HB&
er aspects of life, is killing more faith than HB
is killed by aggressive unbelief. For if all Bh
a man sees of life be his own interest*, if
all he sees of home be its comforts, if all
lie sees of religion be tho outlines of his H|
own denomination, the complexion of his
preacher's doctrine, the agreeablencss and ^B|
taste of b-3 fellow-worshipers?to such a HMj
man God must always seem far away, for BBS
in those tHngs there is no call upon cither HQj
nund or beart to feel God near. jSfl
~~ Exports or uar Adopted islands."^
vnlno nf rorrriandise brousrhfi ^^B
[nto the country during the year 1903 frpm EH
blands which have recently come under; HQ
the American flag was: Porto Rico, $11,- H
551,195; Philippines, $11,372,584; Hawaii, ^BE
$$242,860, a total of $48,666,648, againet EH
f20.252.5a3 in 1897. ., Q
nvc cnnaren iti on? rear," - EH
Mrs. Tracy Lineweaver, wife of a farmer, Hj
)f Shenandoah County, about two and a Kl
lalf miles east of Edinburg, Pa., ba? pre* H|
tented her husband with five children dur- Bfl
Dg the past year. Twins were born early
n the year 1903 and these were followed ^E|
ay triplets a jhs?ltjtime aao, U DH
I