i *\ POIN
o jT
\ BY ^v ^
3 ANNIE \>
J EDWARDS. \^
JWW^WtVWVWIOfOl
CHAPTER III. 3 '
Continued.
It is difficult to say how much further
Gifford was goiug to commit himself?
for Jaues was blushing uow, and her
face was .extraordinarily uear his lips
?but, jtist at this minute, twoufigures
RteDDO(T out from the little nartaivwin
dow to the lawn, and Miss Lynch's
voice made Gifford start so that lie
nearly deposited the basin of raspberries,
as well as his own heart, at Miss
Grand's feet.
"My dear Jane, standing without
your hat in this hot sun! And Mr.
Mohuu, too?and, dear Mr. Mobun, that
you should be holding that common
basin! Jane, child, why did you not
bring out one of the cliina bowls, as
Mr. Mohun was so good-natured as to
offer to help you?"
"Because this is the one you always
tell me to use myself, auntie," said
Miss Grand, with that composed little
air that did not become her ill. "I did
aiot know a special license was to be
given to Mr. Mohun for breaking our
solitary china bowi. And Mr. Mohun
is not very expert in this kind of employment,"
she added, demurely, as she
took the fruit from Gifrord's hand. "He
has more than once very nearly spoiled
my whole morning's work, as it is."
"Mohun has thoroughly the air of a
victim," said the vicar, who had come
up by Miss Lynch's side. "I never
in my life saw two people look so absolutely
miserable as you both do!
* However, the morning air has given
you roses. Miss Grand," he added, as
he looked closely at the girl's glowing
face. "You have a different complexion
now to what you had fourteen years
ago. when I first say you?has she not,
Miss Lynch?"
"Time prints his traces on us all, Mr.
Follett," said Miss Lynch. This admirable
woman always aimed at the
sentimental in common conversation, I
but especially felt it incumbent upon
her to be high-flown and elegant before
the master of Yattou. "And yet,
really, it does seem but a day since
those happy hours when Mr. Mohun
used to appear before us every vacation
at our morning worship, so grown
and improved "
"And trying so hard to make me
laugh whenever I looked at him." interrupted
Jane, in her hearty way.
'Mr. Follett, do you remember that day
when you stopped short in your sermon
And looked full?not at GifTord?not at
Mr. Mohun. which would have been
Justice?but at poor innocent me? who
had done nothing the whole service but
try to keep my eyes on my prayer
book."
"And so exasperate me into doing
something desperate to arouse your attention
forcibly." said Gifford. "Boys
are like men, Miss Grand. Demure,
averted looks don't always repel them
to the exact degree that they ought."
Miss Lynch thought the conversation
"bordered on the improper, and screened
her own face quite in an ostentatious
flurry of innocence with her parasol.
"I have got something to tell you,
jiuutie," cried Jane, coming over to
Miss Lynch, and with delight mantling
all over her face. "Such news! You
would never guess it in all your life!
Mr. Mohuu is going to give a grand
ball at Yatton, and I am to be at it."
t *rr\r>b% on/1 fhci ripar lnnkprl nt
* 1*1 ICO li; UVU ClliU iUW ?
each other quickly. The vicar was tlie
first to speak.
"You have not been brought up to so
to balls, my clear Jane;" but he spoke
very gently, very kindly; Gifford need
not have given him such a terribly
fierce look of suppressed malediction.
"You have lived happily without anything
of the sort, hitherto "
"Although greatly obliged to Mr. MoJiun
for doing you the honor," Miss
Lynch interpolated.
"I am not to go, then, you mean!"
Jane exclaimed, and tears of bitter disappointment
rushed up to her eyes.
"Mr. Mohun, you hear! I am not to
go!"'
"Then there will be no ball at Yatton,"
said Gifford, quickly. "The point
3s not ivorth discussion. I had thought
I. should like to give something of the
kind on first settling at Yattou?but it
does not matter. We can be perfectly
contented wtthout it!"
And he loooked with a most unmistakable
expression?or so Mr. Follett
considered it to be?at Jane's tearful
face.
The vicar felt himself relenting. He
bad good reasons for shielding the
poor girl from the petty slights to
.which her forced entrance into society
might cost her; or from the lasting
misery to which light attentions from
*i man so superior to her in position as
Mohun would, most assuredly, lead.
But were they light attentions? With
all his calm, prosaic exterior, with all
the sobering influences of his most unromantic
life, enough of his own youth
yet Jay?buried, but not dead in the
vicar's heart to enable him to estimate
a look of genuine honest passion at its
real worth. And such a look he believed
that he had now seen in Gifford
Mohun's eyes!
' If Miss Lynch would really not object
to your going, Jane." he began.
rather basely, shining ino responsiuiiily
as quickly as possible from his own
shoulders: "I suppose it would be more
? general county festivity than an
actual ball?and "
"And Jane Grand might mix in the
crowd, without too much shocking the
feelings of the great county ladies!"
cried poor Jane, smiling through her
tears. "Oh, auntie, do relent and be
good-natured! If Mr. Mohun would not
uiind asking one or two very humble
people to keep me in countenance, say
you would let me go?"
But rhe subject evidently awakened
thoughts that were neither trivial nor
leasing ones in Miss Lynch. She forgot
to be either sentimental or proper;
aud a dim fiusii bad risen upon her
OK, C
V FOR HER k
\ FATHER'S \
IT X. SIN. k
>F \?l
HONOR.X^!
jo>f^>r?r^iofrirwT<fK
pale, faded face. "Mr. Follett knows
all that I know, Jane; if he thinks it
right you should join Mr. Mohun's com
pany, it is not for me to forbid it. You
have been happy?you have been very
happy?all these years without anything
but your own home."
"But the time comes that must end all
things," said the vicar. "Jane's childhood
is over?she will not be happy always
with the same things that have
pleased her till now."
Jane felt that she could almost have
kissed Mr. Follett for this speech.
"Only think, it is to be next Monday
week, auntie, and I am going to help
Mr. Mohun to write the invitations."
"And I was going to ask you, Miss
Lynch, if you would be so very good
as to superintend my housekeeper in
her preparations," said Giffo'-d, with
an impromptu insight into Miss Lynch's
character that really did him credit. "1
don't myself know anything about such
matters, of course, and it would be
such a kindness if you wouid consider
yourself the lady of the housfc for the
occasion."
After which master-stroke Miss
Lynch never gave another struggle.
She felt in her heart that Jane had far
1 -fllio hnll nf
ut-'lltu jiecp anuj iivm ....... ...
Yatton. She knew what danger there
must be for the girl parading before
the world any mere unmeaning attentions
of a man like Mohun; that the
moment the dead peace of her life was
stirred the greatest safeguard to her
happiness would be irrevocably overthrown.
And she loved Jane; and she
would (in proverbial speech) have laid
down her life to shield the poor girl
from ill. But to refuse to wield the
scepter of dominion for ten consecutive
days iu a house like Yatton; to
refuse to take upoir herself the government
of men-servants* and womenservants,
and a housekeeper?a grand,
fine lady, no doubt, in a black silk'and
a gold chain?these were temptations
utterly beyond the Lynch nature to" resist.
She hesitated; she wavered; she
looked at GiCford's handsome, pleading
i pvps?and save in. Jane might accept
| the invitation, and she, Miss Lynch,
would be very glad to do anything in
her power that, could be of service to
Mohun.
CHAPTER IV.
In these later days of earnestness
one seldom meets in real life?never, I
think,in fiction?a clergyman so stoically
indifferent to all parties and to all
party opinions as was Mr. Follett.
Very early in life he had married,
and lost his wife in less than a year;
and, never having had any womanly
presence in his house since, all his habits
and ways of thought were those of
a lonely, unloved man. He was neither
morose nor unkindly?only indifferent
to whatever affairs of other people
were not actually thrust upon him;
and a good deal taken up in the farming
of his own glebe?and in his own
garden?and in his own books.
If he had attained to all be hoped
for when he was a lad, would he, at
eight-and-thirly, rise, and walk, and
dine, and go to sleep again, with any
| very greater zest than he did now, as
the lonely curate of souls in Chesterford
St. Mary? This, if it had been
put into words, would have pretty justly
summed up the semi-consolatory,
semi-bitter view with which Mr. Follett
had brought himself to think of his
own moral state and of his life.
But the world in general saw in the
Vicar of Chesterford an excellent, quiet
parson, of no particular views, charitable
to his poor, on terms of good
will witli his richer neighbors?all that
a country clergyman o\ight to be. Especially
did single ladies of a certain
age?inasmuch as he was a widower,
and possessed of a fair competencygive
Mr. Follett the palm over all his
fellows, whether vicars or curates, in
the neighborhood.
And of all this band of virgin confessors
Miss Lynch was the head and
chief. Long ago, when she first came
to Chesterford, Mr. Follett had been
sensible that this elderly woman persecuted
hiin, and had striven to avoid
her: but his constitution was too essentially
averse to trouble for him to
sustain any very lengthened conflict on
such a point: and for many years now
he had received all Miss Lynch's attentions
without a struggle. They
wearied him, certainly; but would it
not have wearied him a vast deal more
to resist? And if lie was obliged to
see much of Jane Grand's governess,
was be not also obliged to see mucb of
Jane Grand herself?- Not a shade of
sentiment whicb men of bis age occasionally
feel for very young girls,
and call love?not tbe remotest approach
to personal admiration, even to
paternal tenderness?bad ever yet entered
into his feeling for her. Indeed,
if I had not just a horror of using an
affected term, I would say that (up to
the time when Gifford began to fall
in love with Jane Grand) Mr. Follett's
regard for ber was simply and purely
an aesthetic one; her fresh and graceful
? fA fi!c* innota concc
,>UtllU UllIilSlCllUQ lu liio IU..UVV ?vu>?
of refinement, as a fine painting or exquisite
'music might have done, could
sucli gifts have miraculously come tc
him in his unlovely and prosaic life
among the Devonshire marshes.
However this may have been, Mis?
Lynch, with the one instinct that re
mains true even to the most foolish ci
women?Miss Lynch had early seen the
superior hold she maintained over the
vicar through little Jane's agency; and
seeing, had improved her position tc
the uttermost.
Mr. l ollett was the only person tc
whom she felt it her duty to confide the
past history of her charge. In Jane's
? childhood, Mr. Follett must direct hei
education; as she grew older, would ii
be asking too much of Mr. Follett to gc
through a little course of English read
ing with the poor girl himself? All ol
which Machiavellian strokes led gradually
on to a Btate of intimacy, very
sweet indeed to Miss Lynch's heart,
and which awakened many dire and
vengeful feelings in the bosoms of other
maiden women in the parish.
"And now to think he should consent
to go to this ball, Jane!" Miss Lynch
spoke as she thought, and frequently
burst out into little spasmodic praises
of the vicar, without designating him
more closely than by personal pronoun.
"After not being at a ball for nearly
twenty years, to think he should consent
to go because I asked him! It is
really most kind?I think without exaggeration,
I might add, most particular!"
They were on their way to Yatton:
Miss Lynch occupied with thoughts of
jellies, footmen, Mr. Follett, and her
own black moire?Jane wondering, with
ice-cold hands and flushing cheeks,
whether the first dance would have begun
when they reached Yatton?
whether Gifford would have delayed it
for her?whether he would' dance with
her?whether (but she blushed in the
dark as she wondered) this longlooked-for
night was te bring her any
greater certainty of Mohun's feelings
than all his pretty speeches, and vague
questionings, and lingering nnna-pressares
of the preceding three weeks had
done. i
Her heart seemed to stop when, for the
first time in her life, she found herself
on the threshold of Gifford's house.
She had entertained a chi.dish hope
that he would be waiting somewhere
near to bid her welcome, and all her
courage sank before the sight of the
grand gentleman in livery who merely
condescended to thunder out "Half past
three" in the direction of tlje stupefied
village driver, and then ushe/ them on
to another and grander gentleman in
black, who deigned, by a gracious inflection
of his finger, to show into what
chamber they might retire lo take off
their cloaks.
"All so beautifully managed," whisI
r.amd vfisB T/vnnh. who. from having
assisted in the previous arrangements,
took quite a vicarious pride in the 11
splendor that chilled poor Jane. "The
cloakroom is in the late Mr. Mohun's
study?I settled it so myself?not back
to the house-door again, child!?how
shy and foolish you are! here to the
right.
And. in another minute, Jane's nervousness
was further increased by
finding herself in the full blaze of wax
candles, and the presence of the stately
housekeeper, and of a half dozen or so
great country young ladies, who were
arranging their silks and tarletons, before
the glasses, and accorded only
the scantiest and most distant notice
to herself and Miss Lynch as they entered.
"My dress is very plain, auntie," she
whispered, as she glanced at the brilliant
toilets of some young girls who
were standing near tbem. "We needn't
have been so desperately afraid I
should be overdressed."
And with a very meek sense of her
own deficiencies, Jane Grand stood-.
3 +S11 a/ima hrAflk in the
UI1U WU11VU wn DVU.V _ ,
ample waves of silk and lace should
allow her to see her plain white muslin
and wreath of natural flowers reflected
back (as no dress or hers had
ever before been reflected) from a
cheval glass.
"I wish it was all over, auntie," she
whispered nervously, when, after a
very hasty survey on her part, and a
very lengthy and critical one upon that
of MisB Lynch, they were at length
proceeding to the ballroom. "We shall
not have a creature to speak to except
Mr. Mohun, and he will be a great
deal too much taken up with other
people to attend to us."
"We shall have the vicar, Jane," answered
Miss Lynch, who was herself
not without trepidation at the prospect
of being ushered into a room containing
all the "best people" of the county.
"No one can feel at ease with a member
of one of the recognized professions?above
all, with the clergyman
of their own parish, to support them."
But at the moment when Miss Lynch
and Jane Grand were first, formally,
ushered into the presence of good society,
Mr. Follett happened to be drinking
his coffee in of the other rooms
and Jane speedily realized to the full
*? ^4* e?f r? n/l? n
tOG peculiar seii&auuu ui muiiuiue
and not so much unnoticed as unnoticeable
in an immense room full of
strangers.
(To be continued.)
Chicago's Kecord-Breaking: Firemen,
Chicago has to-day one of the fastest
and most effective fire departments in
the large cities of the world. The city
has the record for the smallest percentage
of loss of property involved, in
comparison with the number of fires
extinguished. The records for 1904
show the actual loss on property involved
to be less than 2.i>0 per cent.
The department worked on nearly 8000
fires during the year. In 1903 there
was a 2.73 per cent, loss, the value of
property involved being $111,743,441.
and the actual loss $3,002,931, which is
a record seldom equalled by metropolitan
departments. In a display where
splendor was considered, the department
of the "windy city" would not
head the list, but the records made, un
dcr the leadership of the gray-haired
chiefs, stand out in bold relief. Fire
Marshal John Campion, the present
chief, and W. H. Musham, lately retired,
ar<? both veterans of the great
fire of 1871. To them and the sturdy
men who followed their stentorian
commands is due the credit of driving
i the fire-fiend to his den.?Leslie's
Weekly.
Chlldren'R Saying;!.
In Mr. E. H. Cooper's new book, "The
t Twentieth Century Child," there
are some really amusing sayings
I and epigrams. A little girl who was
> traveling in Italy wrote in her diary
? that "it may be the 'home of music,' I
but the family are out of town."
i "1 Q1U.I1 X. lllUtln IU uui mj iuvc
slipped," is a really funur saying, the
! best in the book.
Another little girl, aged four, stoutly
> refuses to repeat the same prayers
, every night?"God must think me so
> stupid to say the same thiiig again and
again."
t Two little boys were watching their
? mother sticking together a broken or;
uament, when the elder inquired,'
* "Mother, when an angel's wings get
t broken, what does God stick them '
> with?"
"Seccotine, of course," came like
? lightning from the younger
!
BANK ROBBERY CLEARED
Janitor Confesses to Stealing $18,000 1
From Vault
Former Bank Official Gare Him 8afe
. Combination and Locked Him
In Vault.
Lima, Ohio ?TLe mystery surroun<5>
Ing the robbery seven years ago of the
American National Bank here of $18,000
was cleared by the confession to
Prosecutor William Kllnger, of Elijah
Bowsher, formerly janitor of the Faurot
Opera House Block, in which the
institution was located.
Bowsher and Thomas Wilkins, a real
estate agent, were indicted by the
Grand Jury last week for the robbery,
and Bowsher exonerated Wilkins, but
implicated Benjamin C, Faurot, formerly
a millionaire and president of
the old National Bank. Faurot died in
Sandusky a year ago, practically penniless.
The robbery of the American Bank
defied the work of the Pinkertons and
a dozen other detective bureaus. None
of the vault doors, locks or time locks
was damaged, and the theory'was that
Cashier Kalb and Vice-President
Michael had committed the crime.
Michael was indicted two years later,
^ut believing he could gain stronger
evidence against him. Prosecutor
Klinger nolled the indictment to gaiii
time.
Later Mrs. Wilkins told Klinger in
idle conversation that Kaib and Michael
were not guilty. The prosecutor
finally got Mrs. Wilkins' assistance a
month ago, a meeting being arranged
where the conversation between Wilkins
and Bowsher was overheard and
taken down by the court stenographer.
Bowsher and Wilkins were then arrested.
Bowsher claimed that Faurot
cave him the combination of the inner
safe, which had never been changed
since the failure of the Lima National.
Bowsher says he gave Faurot 812,000
and hid the rest in the gas pipe in the
basement of the block. He further
adds that he wanted to confess when
Faurot was living, as Mrs. Wilkins
was persistent in her demands, to
whom, he had confessed the crime
when she once cornered him '^bout it
in her husband's office. He said he
would plead guilty. . :
With Prosecutor Klinger, Bowsher
was locked in the vault after his confession.
He got out in just eight minutes
and forty seconds.
PEACE ENVOYS* CHARITY FUND.
Governor McLane to Invest It in Japanese
and Russian War Bonds.
Concord, N. H.?Governor John McLane
has decided to make a permanent
trust of the $20,000 given to the
charities of the State of New Hampshire
by the Japanese and Russian
peace envoys in equal amounts of $10,000.
He will ask the next Legislature
to recognize and accept the plan by the
passage of a suitable act.
The Governor invited the Secretary
of State and State Treasurer to act
with him as trustees of the fund.
According to the Governor's plan the
income will be divided by the board
among suitable charities on the fifth of
September of every year in recognition
of the date of the signing of the treaty
of Portsmouth.
TOGO'S PIETY STIRRING JAPAN.
Visits Temple and Pays Homage to
Imperial Ancestors.
Tokio, Japan.?The news that ViceAdmiral
Togo worshiped at Ize Temple
is creating a profound impression.
It is believed that his act will furnish
a lasting example in national religious
education and that ancestral worship
will be given fresh stimulation, especially
in the army and navy. Admiral
Togo has shown his implicit faith in
what he said/in his report of the great
naval battle when he attributed the
Japanese victory to the protection of
the spirits of imperial ancestors.
SHOT AND KILLED HIS WIFE.
Adirondack Guide Commits Murder
and Then Attempts Suicide.
Saranac Lake, N. Y.?Herbert Miller,
a well known guide of Saranac Inn,
while under the influence of drink, shot
and killed his wife and then cut his
own throat. Miller is known throughout
the Adirondacks, as he has been a
guide since his boyhood. His father
and many of Ills relatives are resiaenis
of this village, where his wife, formerly
a Miss Boyle, is also well known.
Miller*had been employed by the
Saranac Inn Company for several years
as keeper of the guide house, and in
that capacity was a familiar character
to the thousnds of visitors from all
parts of the country who spend their
summers at the inn.
BODY TO LIE BESIDE GARRICK'S.
Spot Selected For Sir Henry Irving's
Burial at Westminster Abbey.
London.?A spot alongside Garrick's
grave in Poets' Corner, Westminster
Abbey, has been selected for the burial
of Sir Henry Irving, whose body
will therefore lie directly beneath the
statue of Shakespeare. The bodies of
Dr. Johnson and Charles Dickens are
near by.
Death of Aged Indian Chief.
Watonga. the chief of the Haw Indians,
died at his home near Bartiesville,
I. T., aged ninety years.
Rioting Throughout Russia.
Rioting was reported from numerous
points throughout Russia.
Fear of Robbery Causes His Death.
From worry over frequent attempts
to rob him, Dr. J. W. Ordway, a
wealthy banker and farmer, of Onawa,
Iowa, is dead.
War Supplies Cut Off.
Exportation of arms, ammunition
and munitions of war of every kind
from any port of the United States and
Porto Rico to any part of the Dominican
republic is prohibited by a Presidential
proclamation issued from the
State Department.
Finger Prints For Rogues' Gallery.
Commissioner McAdoo, of New York
City, on Inspector O'Brien's recommentation,
may add to the Rogues' Gallery
impressions of the tiuger-tips of noted
criminals.
Standard Oil Trust Arrest.
Charles M. Adams, of the WatersPierce
Oil Company, was arrested in
St. Louis, Mo., for contempt of court.
French Warships Assembled.
Ft vp Frpnr-h warshins w?re as
sembled preparatory to a demonstraI,
tion agaiust Venezuela.
t
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
r,
1% ___________
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR NOVEMBER 12.
Subject: Xtra'i Journey to Jerusalem,
Ein YlH., 21-32?Golden Text, Eira
111., 22?Memory Veraei, 21-23?Commentary
on the Daj's Leaioo.
I. A fast proclaimed (vs. 21-23). 21.
"Proclaimed a fast." Ezra entered
op on bis work with fasting and prayer.
The journey "was a dangerous one, especially
with all the treasure he carried.
Ezra realized the danger, but he
went forward in faith. His chief concern
was to have God with him. He
had procured Levites to go with him
(vh. 15-20), but even that would be of
no avail if Jehovah did not direct their
steps. "Afflict ourselves." "Humble
ourselves." (R. V.) and repent of our
sins. "To seek Him." Era wanted the
people to commit themselves to the
guidance and protection of divine prov.
idence and implore God to give them
a prosperous journey. Their journey
lay chiefly through the desert, and the
Arabians and Samaritans were likely
4-V>
lu aiuiln lucjlu.
22. "I was ashamed," etc. Ezra Lad
preached trust In God before the
heathen rulers and he would not dishonor
God by asking the usual military
escort. He had represented God, the
object of his worship, as ?upremely
powerful, and as having the strongest
affection for His true followers. Thus
we see that this good man bad more
anxiety for the glory of God than for
his own personal safety.
23. "So we fasted." The people did
as Ezra commanded. God heard and
answered their prayers, and they were
kept in safety during the difficult and
dangerous journey.
II. Ezra's charge to the priests (vs.
24-30). 24. "I separated twelve." There
is a difference of opinion here as to the
number of persons Ezra selected as
custodians of the treasure and sacred
vessels. There were probably twelve
priests and twelve Levites; but some
think there were twelve priests and
only ten Levites. Sherebiah and Hashabiah
were two of the Levites. 25.
""Weighed." We may gather from this
that the gold and silver were in bars or
Ingots, and not in coined money. 26.
"Unto their hand." We have here the
particular care Ezra took of the treasure
of God's sanctuary. Having committed
the keeping of it to God, he committed
the care of it to proper men,
though -without God they would have
watched in vain. Our prayers should
always be seconded with our endeavors.
Do we expect God should by His
providence keep that which belongs to
us? Then ought we by His grace to
care for that which belongs to Him; let
God's honor and interest be our care.
The prophet in foretelling the return of
God's people and ministers out of Babylon
gave the solemn charge (Isa. 52.11),
"Be ye clean that bear the vessels of
the Lord." In Zerubbabel's time the
vessels were delivered by number;
here by weight, that it might easily
appear if any were missing. This intimates
that such as are intrusted with
holy things are concerned to remember,
hnth in rpr^fvinir their trust and In dls- I
charging it, that they must shortly give
a very particular account of it, that
they may be faithful to it and so give
up their account with Joy. "Silver
gold."' The whole treasure has been estimated
at from four to six million
dollars. A talent of silver was about
$1600; gold is usually worth sixteen
times as much aa silver.
27. "Basons drams." The word
translated "dram" appears to be in the
Hebrew representative of the Persian
word which the Greek rendered by
"daric." This was a gold coin, stamped
With the figure of the Persian king,
wearing his crown and armed with a
bow and arrow. According to the most
exact computation each such coin contained
somewhat more pure gold than
an English guinea, and was worth five
dollars of our money. The "basins"
would be worth about two hundred and
seventy-five dollars each. "Vessels of
fine copper." Probably some fictitious
metal made there that took the polish
and assumed the brightness of gold,
1 l * 44-n Unw/Tnaco TT700 mni'O
ana UCCHUiU HI HO iiaiuuuoo nuo iuvi.v
durable. There Is still a metal of this
kind made among the Asiatics. 28.
"Freewill offering." The silver and
gold were a present to the house of God
that the king and his counselors had
set apart.
III. The journey to Jerusalem (vs.
31, 32). 31. "We departed on the
twelfth day." The company began to
form and arrange for the journey upon
the first day of the month Nisan. Upon
a review of his company Ezra observed
the lack of Levites, and the time used
in securing their union with the returning
exiles, and in weighing the treasure,
etc., took up the time until the
twelfth day. Ahava is the name both
of a small town and stream, not far
from the river Euphrates. This wpuld
be a natural course to pursue from
Shushan. Thi? account of Ezra's preparation
and jotnrney is a beautiful example
of metbe-d and thoroughness
which is of great value in the work of
God. Ezra sought first the prosperity
of God's cause, but he did not count it
lost time to spend twelve days in preparation
for the journey. Time used
for prayer is never lost time. Time
consumed in perfecting plans for God's
work is not misspent time. Always
take time to do n thing right. Things
done by half are never done well.
1? >? Thrt
"ue came iu dauouiciiit jlmv. i
dangerous journey was completed with
safety at the end of four months.
"Abode three days.' That is, they
rested that long. On the fourth day
the treasures were weighed and handed
over to the custody of the officiating
priests of the temple. The returned
exiles offered burnt offerings, and Ezra
delivered the royal commission to the
magistrates, while the Levitical portion
of th? company assisted in performing
the additional work which the arrival
Df so many new worshipers occas/oned.
Carried Bullet Eighteen Yearj.
A .22-caiibre bullet, which for eighteen
years had been in the arm of Albert
Gilbert, of Ansonia, Conn., was
extracted the other afternoon. When a
lad of eight Mr. Gilbert was accidentally
shot in the arm. The bullet could
not be located. During the eighteen
years Mr. Gilbert suffered severe pains
at times and many times vain attempts
to find the lead were made. The other
day the bullet appeared near the surface
of the skin, and he lost no time
in having it removed.
Whale* Scarce In Bering Sea.
'A report has been received at San
Francisco, Cal., that the whaling bark
Gay Head was at Bering Sea on August
1, with two right whales aud 21S
barrels of sperm oil. Whales were reported
at that time to be very ecarce.
No reports have been received from
the Alice Knowles or the other whalers
following in the path of the Gay Head.
New York's Millions.
The Health Department's census
gives New York City 4,342,010 population.
-:!*? \.\l ~ -v.*-*..
/
THE GBEAT DESTEOYER
SOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT
THE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE."
St. louU Wllh the On-Proof Th?
the Bar-Room U the Cause of f3rvnk<
eiiness, Disorder and Crime?Why Me?
of the Got. Folk Tjpe Are Needed.
Thp "lid" is on in St. Louis, or, in
other words, the executive authorities
have enforced and are enforcing the '
S'?.dny closing of saloons.
There has been a tremendous out- cry
and bitter opposition, but Gover-. .
nor Folk has never flinched. The '
"lid" is on.
Some interesting figures are given in
a recent issue of the St. Louis Despatch,
these figures being illustrated
by diagrams which forcibly present
the facts brought out in the statistics. .
The Despatch says:
"Four months have passed sine? ;
Gov. Folk clapped the lid upon the
saloons of St. Louis. In those four
months of the Sunday closing law. the
Governor's determination to enforce 1
it, the sentiment of the people for
and against the Sunday saloon, and
the lid in its various phases?ethical,
moral, financial and sociological?
have been a burning entity in St. I
Louis, stirring the community to such
feeling of resentment and indorsement
that it lias overshadowed all other locally
public questions.
"The lid's argument Is the record
of police arrests in St. Louis through
the period that the lid has been on, 1
compared with the arrests made in
this same period through three prior j
years. The figures are those of the
police. They are unprejudiced.
"They show that during the period
that the lid has been on the Sunday
behavior of the city has greatly Improved.
Drunkenness on Sunday has
decreased thirty-eight per cent. Disturbances
of the peace on Sunday
have decreased thirteen per cent. Assaults
with intent to kill have decreased
fifty per cent. That is. there
have been fifty per cent, less arrests
for assault ivith intent to kill, thirtyeight
per cent, less arrests for drunkenness
and thirteen per cent, less
arrests for disturbance of the peace in
the time that the lid has been on than
there were in these same four months
of the three years previous to this,
with the lid off.
"This is the arithmetical side of the
lid. It could not be presented before
because the time has been insufficient
to furnish a fair comparison. Four !
months is time enough to make pos- ;
sible' a very important and comprehensive
test. The Sunday Post-Dispatch
has gathered these statistics
from the police, and now publish them !
for the first time."
In commenting upon this the Mis
souri Issue observes:
"That these figures cover a period of
four years, so that the test Is very
ample. They cover three distinct lines J
of poUce court T7ork, drunkenness, disturbing
the peace, and assault with in
tent to kill. In some Instances
three charges may be Involved in a
single arrest, but in most cases the !
most serious charge is the one lodged
against the individual arrested. But 1
the lowest percentage of arrests con-: '
nected more or less with the saloon, ]
that of disturbing the peace, is thirteen.
which speaks volumes for the '
Sunday closing law." |
The Texas Advance makes a prnctl- ]
cal application of this lesson of law ;
cforcement, and says:
"The'question arises, if such an immense
improvement can be- shown in '
a city like St. Louis, and in so brief n
space of time, by the mere closing of 1
saloons on Sunday?, what would be
the result if closed on every day of !
tba week, with officers behind the clos- 1
in,7 low who would enforce it to the
letter?
"There is a growing sentiment all
over the country in 'favor of a '
stricter enforcement of law, and we j
hail with delight the time when a man '
who violates any law will be looked J
npon as he really is?an Anarchist. 1
The country is in deep need of more
such meu as Governor Folk has shown 1
I himself to be in this matter." . ]
j If such tremendous improvement
' results from Sunday closing, which is
but a partial prohibition, how much '
| greater Would be the benefit were barrooms
to be abolished? j
There is nothing in the St. Louis
law to hinder men "loading up" as late (
4ns they please on Saturday night and
taking their liquor home to continue
their debauch on Sunday, therefore,
the decrease shown in the figures
tiven only represents a part of the
crime for which the bar-room is directly
responsible.
One of the most distinct effects
brought out in these statistics is that
the bar-room itself is the cause of !
drunkenness, disorder and crime, for
the simple closing of the bar-rooms
prevents a great proportion of these
offences against law and order. ,
Close the bar-rooms for seven days
In the week and the result would be
even more striking.?The Pioneer.
Temperance Notes.
Iowa has one town controlled by the
Prohibition party. It is Prescott, near
Creston. The three Prohibition party
candidates for trustee were elected
over their Democratic and Republican
opponents.
Eight ministers of Freer art, HI., recently
raided twenty-five saloons and
gambling places in that citj-, and later
swore out warrants for the arrest of
twenty-five men, who wero fined $150
and costs."
Drink is the general cause of the unhappy
lives of most wives. It is the
underlying factor that causes most of
the desertions. When in his cups the
man frequently abuses bis wife, and
she does not forget.?Statement by
Magistrate Moss in the Essex Market
Court, New York.
The duty of the army is to defend
the country and protect its interests.
Can drunken soldiers or officers with
maudlin brains be depended on for
this? How emphatic the answer which ,
History aua me veruivi yi mv ucai
ablest observers give to tliis question.
Father T. J. Coffey, of the Roman 1
Otholic Churcli, declares: "The
church that is not up in arms against 1
tiie liquor traffic is not true to the interests
of the Saviour of mankind.
I'lierc can he no compromise here."
Beer and whisky are great primary
causes of sunstroke.
Associate Justice Charles C. Hagorty,
of Massachusetts, said recently: "1
ould prove to you by th? county and
* ? J 1? * . 1 : t- nAOf /\f
-srate rc-corus xuai im? imai woi
(lie liquor traffic is about five times as !
much as the /4<?euse fees received." ,
The whole manufacture and sale of
whisky is based upon the lie that it
will be a benefit to those who use it.
The English Congregational Total
Abstinence Association passed a resolution
condemning the municipalization
of the sale of alcohol. ,
Leave alcoholic drinks alone. A resolution
to that effect admits of no pos- :
.silile qualification ?' exception. <
y, i
TWILIGHT BELLS. "
_ _
There hae come to my mind a legend,
A thing I had half forgot;
And whether I read it or dreamed it*
Ah, well it mattered not:
It is said that in Heaven at twilight,
A great bell softly swings,
And man may listen and hearken,
To the wonderful music that rings.
If he puts from his heart's inner chaml
All the passion, pain and strife,
Heartache and weary longing.
That fhrob in the pulses of life?
If he thrusts from his soul all hatred.
All thoughts of wicked thirigs,
Ee can hear in the holy twilight
How the bell of the angels rings.
And I think there is in this legend,
If we open our eyes to see,
Somewhat of an inner meaning,
My friend, to yon and me.
Let us look in oar hearts and question,
Can pure thoughts enter in
To a soul if it be already
The dwelling of thoughts of sin?
So. then, let us ponder a little;
T^f wo IaaIt in nnp Vionrfa ?r>/1 am
If the twilight belle of the angels
Could ring for u??you and me.
Beauty of a Lift of Serrloc.
No, Indeed, there is no wonder tb
God loved the world. There Is no wo
der that Christ, the Son of God, at ai
sacrifice, undertook to save the worl
The wonder would have been if G<
sitting in His heaven?the wonij
would have been if Jesus, ready
come here to the earth, and seeing he
it was possible to save man from s
by suffering, had not suffered. Dp y
wonder at-the mother when she gfr
her life without hesitation or a cry, i
her child, counting it her privilege? ,
There is one word of Jeans which i
ways comes back to me aa about t
noblest thing that human lips ha
ever said upon our earth. When I
was sitting with His disciples at t
last supper, how He lifted up His voi
and prayed, and in the midst of E
prayer there came the wondro
words: "For their sakes I sancti
Myself, that they also might be sane
fled." The whole of a human life^
there. Shall a man cultivate himsej
No, not primarily. Shall a man ser
the world; strive to increase the kin
dom of God in the world? Yes, indee
he shall. How shall he do it? By ct
tivating himself, and instantly be
thrown back upon his b^n life. MF
their sakes I sanctify Myself, that th
also mignt oe sancunea. i am n
best not simply for myself, but for tl
world. That Is the law of my exli
ence."
You can help your fellow-men; y<
must help your fellow-men; but tl
only way yon can help them la by b
lug the noblest and the best man th
It is possible for you to be. I wat<
the workman build upon the bnildfe
which, by and by, is to soar into fl
skies, to toss its pinnacle up to tl
beavens, and I lan see him looking-1
and wondering where those plnnacf
are to be, thinking how high they &
to be, measuring the feet, wonderii
how they are to be built, and all tl
time he Is cramming a rotten stoi
Into the building just where he ha* a
to work. Let him forget the plnnacl
If he will, or hold only the floatfi
Image of them in his imagination f
bis inspiration, but the thing he mu
do is to put a brave, string soul, i
honest and substantial lire, into ta
building just where lie is now at wor
Let yourselves free Into your religfa
and be unselfish. Claim your freed.*)
In service.?Phillips Brooks.
Silent Suffering.
This grace of silence under trial
one of the most rare and dlfflcu
graces; but It Is one of the most plea
Lng to God, and most conducive '
strength.and beauty of Christian cha
acter.
None of us loves to suffer, and
all shudder at the sight of the prot
or the amputating knlfej But' whe
the infinite Love is engaged in cutta
out a selfish lust or cutting off a di
eased limb, our duty is to submit
"Keep still; my friend," says the su
peon to the patient in the hospita
"for restlessness may produce fall
cuts, and aggravate the process."
If the brave fellow is wise, hfe wi
say: "Doctor, go as deep as yc
choose; only be sure to fetch out ti
bullet"
Ah, the battlefield often requires lei
courage than the hospital! The onsi
of service, with drums beating an
bugles sounding, does not so test tl
mettle of our graces as to be throw
down Wounded, or to be commanded 1
lie still and suffer. To shont a battl
cry at the mouth of a cannon is edsii
than to put our hands on our moutl
and be silent because God did it i
He is silent as to explanations of tr;
lng providences, let us be silent ill 01
filial submission. God knows what
best for us?that is euough.?Theodoi
T, Ptirlor TV D
The Prlc^,of Power. %
Power is never a free grift. The po
sibillties of power are about us on t
sides, and within us; but harness*
power, power in a form to accompli*
something at our bidding, must, I
bought, earned, won. Neither tl
power in a mill stream nor the pow
in Niagara works for man until ma
has worked. for it. And when ma
would use the Niagara of God powi
that is at hand, there is one fixed pri<
to pay. It has been well defined in tl
sentence: "Power to its last particle
duty." We should not be surprised i
find ourselves lacking in the spiritu
power that we long for if we hai
been shirking duty. Disobedience'ai
power cannot live together. But G<
alo: .an give us the power to w
power.?Sunday-School Times.
It ia the Soul.
God is known and seen and trust*
by thousands of souls who need J
T-Ti? Iminnr 'CJta -rwTl
Uiutri eviviciii'e ui 1110 uciu/, ui uio n
than what is directly revealed to the
hearts. There is that within us mo
sacred than cathedral altar or stain<
window or sacred writin . It is tl
soul itself.?Henry W. Bellows.
Faith Keep* You Safe.
If your life is dark, then walk I
faith, and God is pledged (o keep y<
as safe as if you coulj uuderstai
everything.?Bushnell.
A Coillf WrecV.
A dispatcn ironi cieveiunu, uua
says that Lake Shore Railroad official
are figuring out the approximate col
of the wreck of the Twentieth Cel
tury Limited at Mentor, in which ninfl
teen persons were killed, and estima*
that the total will be close to $500,OOfl
Double-Tolked Eg;c?. I
'A hen raised by William Sapp, y
Tarentum, Pa.?a White Plymou?
Rock?lays double-yolked eggs at til
rate oil two, and sometimes^threel
im