Indiana State Sentinel, Volume 34, Number 17, Indianapolis, Marion County, 30 May 1888 — Page 2

TIIE 1X1)1 ANA STATE SENTINEL, WEDNESDAY, MAY tfO, 1883.

LESSON OF TIIE GLEANER

"ROUBLE THE GREAT EDUCATOR. ßr. Talmas Dieonre on the Story of XLuth and Naomi An F.xaniple I'op Erery "Woman of To-day "Oh, loa Cleaners, to the Field." I &D., took the text: "And she went, ana came, ana gieanea in the field nfter the reapers ; and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Eoaz, who was of the kindred of Klimelcch." Ruth ii., 3. He preached from these words the following sermon : The time that Ruth and Naomi arrive at rthlehem is harvest time. It was the c ustom when a sheaf fell from a load in a liarvest-field for the reapers to refuse to gather it up; that was to be left for the poor who might happen to come that way. Iftherwere handfuls of grain scattered tcrc&s the field after the main harvest had teen reaped, instead of raking it, as farmers do now, it was, by the custom of tho JUnd, left in its place bo that the poor coming along that way might glean it and get their bread. But you say: "What is the use of all these harvest-fields to Ruth and Naomi ? Naomi is too old and feeble to 0 out and toil in the sun ; and can you expect that Ruth, the young and the beautiful, should tan her cheeks and blister her hands in the harvest-field V" Eoaz owns a large farm, and he goes out to seethe reapers gather in the grain. Coining there, right behind the swarthy, sunbrowned reapers, he beholds a beautiful woman gleaning a woman more lit to bend to a harp or sit upon a throne than to stoop among the sheeves. Ah, that was an eventful day ! It was love at first sight. Boaz forms an attachment for the womanly gleanor an attachment full of undoing interest to the church of God in all ages; while liuth, with an erdiah, or nearly a bushel of barley, goe3 home to Naomi to tell her the Fuecces and adventures of the day. That liuth, who left her native land of ?.Ioab in darkness, and traveled through on undying affection for her mother-in-law, in the harvest-iield of Boaz, is ahianced to oneof the best families in Jndah, and becomes in after-time the ancestress cf Jesus Christ, the Lord of tllory. Out of so dark a ni.-ht did there ever dawn so bright a morning? 1 iearn in the lir?t place from this subject how trouble develops character. It was bereavament, povexty, and exile that developed, illustrated, and announced to Ii ages the sublimity of Ruth's character. That is a very unfortunate man who hus r trouble. It was sorrow that made John lUinyan the better dreamer, and Dr. Young the better poet, and O'Conneil the better orator, and R-ishop 1L;11 the better preacher, aix--i Havelock the better soldier, end Kitto the better en yt lopedist, and Huth the letter daughter-in-law. I once asked an aged man in regard to hi? pastor, who was d A ery brilliant man : " Why is it that your pa?tor, so very brilliant, sec-nis to have so little heart and tenderness in his sermons?'' '"Well," he replied, "the reason is our pastor has never had any trouble. When misfortune comes upon h'm his style will be different." Alter a while the Lord took a child out of that pastor's house, and though the preacher was just as brilliant as he was before, oh, the warmth, the tenderness of his discourses. The fact is that trouble is a great educator. You see sometimes a musician sit down at an instrument, and his execution is cold and formal and unfeeling. The reason is that all his Jie he has been prospered. Jiut let misfortune or bert-averuciit come to that man, and he sits down at that instrument, and you discover the pathos in the first sweep of the keys. Misfortune ana trials are great educators. A young ductor comes into the sickroom where there is a dring child. PerLaps he is verv rough in" his prescription, and very rough in his manner, and rough in the feeling of the pulse, and rough in Lis answer to the motht-r's anxious question; but years roll on, and there has been one dead in his own house; and now he comes into the sick-room, and with tearful eyes he looks at the dying child, and he says: "Oh, how this "reminds me of 'my Charlie!" Trouble, the great educator. .Sjirow, I see its touch in the grandest painting; I hear its tremor in the sweetest ßonj; I feel its power in the mightiest argument. Orecian mythology said that the foundation cf Ilippocrone was ttruck out bv the foot of the winged horse, Regasus. 1 Lave often noticed in life that the. brightest and most beautiful fountains of Christian comf,.! and spiritual life have been struck out by the iron-shod hoof of disaster am I ca'anitv. I h e Daniel's courage best by the dash of Nebuchadnezzar's furnace. I fee Raul's prowess lat when I find him on the foundering ship under the glare of the lightning in the breakers of Melita. God crowns iiischildren amid the howling cf wild beasts, and the chopping of bloodeplashed guillotine, and the crackling fires of martyrdom. It took the persecutions of Marcus Aurelius t" develop Polyearp and Justin Martyr. It took the world's anathema to develop Martin Luther. It took all the hostilities against the Scotch covenanters and the fury of Lord ClaverLousc to develop James Renwiek and Andrew Melville and Hugh McKail, the glorious martyrs of Scotch hi-dory. it took the stormy sea end tho December blast, and the desolate New England coast, and tho war-whoop of the savages to show forth the prowess of the pifgrira father?. When amid the storms they anj, And tht star heard, and the.M-3; Ani the sounding aik-s of the dim wood ilanjj to the anthems of the ii&t. It took all our past national distress to Lit 'up our nation on that high career where it will march along after the foreign aristocracies that have mocked and the tyrannies that have "Jeered shall havo been swept down under the omnipotent wrath of God, who hat despotism, and w ho, by the strength of His own red right turn, Tviil make ah incu free. And, too, it is

AKIXG a running commentary t I 1 on some passagc3 of scripture I I the Kev. T. DeWitt Talrnage, D.

J t

j

n-t, . ."w " :.. w7

individually, and in the family, and in the church, and in the world, that through darkness and storm and trouble, men, women, churches, nations are developed. 2. Again I sco in my text the beauty of unfaltering friendship. I suppose there wero plenty oi friends for Naomi while shewaäin prosperity; but of all her acquaintances how many were willing to trudge off with her toward Judah when she had to make, tho lonely journey? One the heroine of my text. One absolutely one. I suppose when Naomi's husband was living and they had plenty of money and all things went well, they had a great many callers; but 1 suppose that after her huaband died and her property went and she had got old and poor she was not troubled very much with callers. All the birds that sung in tho bower while the sun shown have gone to their nests now the night has fallen. Oh, these beautiful sunflowers, that spread out their colors in the morning hour, but are always aslfen when the sun is going down ! Job had plenty of friends when he was the richest man in Uz; but when his property went and the trials came then the-its were none eo much that pestered as Eliphaz the Temanite, and Rildad the Shuhite, and Zophar, the Is aamathite. Life often seems to be a mere game, where the successful player pulls down all other men into his own lap. Iet suspicions ariso about a man's character and he becomes like a bank in a panic, and all the imputations rush on him and break down in a dav that character which in due time would nave had strength to defend itself. There are reputations that have been a half a century in building, which go down under some moral exposure, as a vast temple is consumed by the touch of a sulphurous match. A hog can uproot a century plant. In this world, so full of heartlessness and hypocrisy, how thrilling it is to find some friend as faithful in days of adversity as in the days of prosperity! David had such a friend in Hushai; the Jews had such a friend in Mordecai, who never forgot their cause; Raul had such a friend in Onesiphorus, who visited him in jail; Christ had such in the Marys, who adhered to him on the cross ; Naomi had such a one in Ruth, who cried out: "Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee; for whither thou goest, I -will go: and where thou lodgest, I will lodge ; thy people shall be my peop'c, and thv God mvGod; whero thou diest will I die, and there will I bo buried; the Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me." r. Acain, I learn from this subject that paths which open in hardship and darkness often come tut in places of joy. When Ruth started from Moab toward Jerusalem to go along with her mother-in-law I suppose the people said: "Oh, what a foolish creature to go away from her father's house to go off with "a poor old woman toward the land of Judah! They will be drowned in the 6ea of the jackals or the wilderness will destroy them." It was a very dark morning when Ruth started off with Naomi; but behold her in my text in the harvest-rield of Boaz tobe atlianced to one of the lords of the land and become oneof the grandmothers of Jesus Christ, the lord of glory. And so it often is that a path which starts very darkly ends very brightly. When you started out for heaven, oh, how dark Mas the hoar of conviction how Sinai thundered and devils tormented and the darkness thickened! All the sins of your life pounced upon you, and it was the darkest hoar you ever saw when vou first found out your sins. After awhile you went into the harvest field of God's mercy; you began to glean in the fields of divine promise, and you had more sheaves than you could carry as the voice of God addressed you, saying: "RIessed is the mau whose transgressions are forgiven and whose sins are covered." A very dark starting in conviction, very bright ending in the pardon and the hope and the triumph of the gospel. So, very often in our worldly business or in our spiritual career, we start off on a very dark path. We must go. The flesh may shrink back, but there is a voice within, or a voice from above, saying: "You must go;" and we have to drink tin gall, and we have to carry the cross, and we have to traveio the desert, and we are pounded and nailed of misrepresentation and abuse, and wo have to urge our way through 10,000 obstacles that must be slain by our own right arm. We have to ford the river, w have to climb the mountain, we have to storm the cattle ; but, ble.-sed be God, the day of rest and reward will come. On the tiptop of the captured battlements we will shout the victory; if not in this world, then in that world where there is no srall to drink, no burdens to carry, no battles to fight. IIow do I know it? Know it! I know it -because God says so: "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat, for the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall load them to living fountains of water, and God shall wipe all tears from their eyes." It was very hard for Noah to endure the scoffing of the people in his day, while he was trying to build the ark, and was every morning quizzed about his old boat that would never be of any practical use; but when the deluge came and the tops of the mountains disappeared like the backs of sea monsters, and the elements, lashed up in fury, clapped their hands over a

drowned world, then .Noah in the ark rejoiced in his own safety and in the safety of his family and looked out on the wreck of a ruined earth. Christ, hounded of persecutors, denied a pillow, worse maltreated than the thieves on either side of the cross, human bate smacking its lips in satisfaction after it had been draining His last drop of blood, the sheeted dead bursting from the sepulchres at His crucifixion. Tell me, O Gethsemane and Golgotha, were there ever darker times than those? lake the booming of the mid-night sea against the rock, the surges of Christ's anguish beat against the gates of eternity, to be echoed back by all the thrones of heaven and all the dungeons of hell. Rut the day of reward comes for Christ; all the pomp am: dominion of this world are to be hung or on His throne, uncrowned heads are to bow before Him, on whose head are many crowns, and all the celestial vorship is to come np at His feet, like the humming of the forest, like the rushing ff tho waters, like the thundering oi the seas, while all heaven, rising on their thrones, beat time with their sceptres: "Hallelujah, for tho Lord God omnipotent reigneth! Hallelujah, the kingdoms of this world have become tho kingdoms of our Lord Jesus Christ!" "That on? of lore, now low and far, YWe long hhitll swell from l:tr t star; That üuht, the breaking day which tips TIi-j gniden-spired aijocalyiijc." 4. Again: I barn from my subject that events wldcb r-cm u be most insilicant may be momentous. Can you imagine anything more unimportant than tho cominsr of a or woman from Moab to Judah? Can you imagine anything more trivial than the fact that this Ruth just happened to alight as they say just happened to alight on that f.cld of Boaz? Yet all apes, all generations, have an" interest in tho fact that she was to become an ancestor of the Lord Jesus Christ, and all nations and kingdoms munt look at that one little incident with a thrill of unspeakable and eternal satisfaction. So it is in your history and in mine ; events that you thought of no importance at all have been of very great moment That casual conversation, that accidental meeting you did not think of it again for a lo,

while; but how it changed "all the phases of your life. It seemed to be of no importance that Jubal invented rude instruments of music, calling them harp and organ ; but they were the introduction of all the world s ministrelsy; and as you hear the vibration of a stringed insti anient, even after tho fingers have been taken array from it, so all music now of lute and drum and cornet is only the long continued strains of Jubal's harp and J ubal's organ. It seemed to be a matter of very little importance that Tubal Cain learned the uses of copper and iron; but that rude foundry of ancient days has its echo in the rattle of Birmingham machinery, and the roar and bang of factories on the Merrimac. It seemed to be a matter of no importance that Luther found a bible in a monastery, but as he opened that bible and the brass-bound lids tell back, they jarred everything from the Vatican to the furthest convent in Germany, and the rustling of the wormed leaves was the sound of the angel of the reformation. It seemed to bo a matter of no importance that a woman, whose name has been forgotten, dropped a tract in the way of a very bad man by the name of Ricllard Baxter. He picked up the tract and read it, and it was tho means of his salvation. ! ' In after davs that man wrote a book called "The Call to the Unconverted" that was the means of bringing a multitude to God, among others Rhilip Doddridge. Philip Doddridge wrote a book called "The Rise and Progress of Religion," which has brought thousands and tens of thousands into the kingdom of Clod, and among others the great Wilbcrfdrce. Wilberforce wrote a book called "A Practical Viewed Christianity," which was the means of bringing a great multitude to Christ, among others Legh Richmond. Legh Richmond wrote a tract called "The Dairyman's Daughter," which has been the means of the salvation of unconverted multitudes. And that tide of intluence started from the fact that one Christian woman dropped a Christian tract in the way of Richard Baxter the tide of influence rolling ou through Richard Baxter, through Philip Doddridge, through the great Wilberlorce, through Legii Richmond, on, on, on, forever, forever. So the insignificant events of this world seem, alter all, to bo most momentous. The fact that you came up that street or this street seemed to be of no importance to you, and the fact that you went inside of some church mav seenf to be a matter of very great insignificance to you, but vou will find it the turning point in your history. 5. Again, I see in my subject an illustration of the beauty of female industry. Behold Ruth toiling in the harvest field under the hot sun, or at noon taking plain bread with the reapers, or eating the parched corn which IJoaz handed to her. The customs of society, of course, have changed, and without "the hardships and exposure to which Ruth was subjected, every intelligent woman will find something to do. I know there is a sickly sentimentality on this subject. In some families there arc persons of no practical service to the household or community; and, though there are so many woes äll around about them in the world, they spend their time languishing over a new pattern, or bursting into tears at midnight over the story of some lover who shot himself. They would not deign to look at Ruth carrying back the barley on her way liome to" her mother-in-law, Naomi. All this fastidiousness may seem to do verv well while they are under the shelter of their father's house; but when the sharp winter of misfortune comes, what of these butterflies? Persons tmder indulgent parentage may get upon themselves habits of indolence; but when they come out into practical life their soul will recoil with disgust and chargin. They will feel in their hearts what the pott so severely satirized when he said: Folks are so awkward, thic so Impolite, They're clogantly pained from luoruiug until night. Through that gate of indolence how many men and women have inarched, useless "on earth, to . a destroyed eternity! Spinola said to Sir Horace Vere: "Of what did your brother die?" "Of having nothing to do," was the answer. "Ah," said Spinola, "that's enough to kill any general of us." Oh. can it be possible in this world, where there is so much suffering to be alleviated, so much barkness to be enlightened, and so many burdens to be caniep, that there is any person who can not lind anything to do. Mine, de Stael did a world of work in her time, and one day, while she was seated amid instruments of music, all of which she vad mastered, and amid manascript books which she had written, some one said to her: "How do vou find time to attend to all these things?" "Oh," she replied, "these are not the things I am proud of. My chief boast is in the fact that I have seventeen trades, by any one of which I could make a livelihood if necessary." And if in secular spheres there is so much to be done, in spiritual work how vast the field! We want more Abigals, more Hannahs, more Rebeccas, more Marys, more Deborahs consecrated body, mind, soul to the Lord who bought them. G. Once more : I learn from my subject the value of gleaning. Ruth going into the harvest field might have said : "There is a straw, and there is a straw, but what is a straw? I can't get any barley for myself or my mother-in-law out of these separate straws." Not so, said beautiful Ruth. She gathered two straws, and she nut them together.

and more straws until she got enough to make a sheaf. Putting that down she went and gathered more straws, until she had another sheaf, and another, and another, and another, and then she brought them all together, and 6he threshed them out, and she had an epaph of barlev, nigh a bushel. Oh, that we might all be" gleaners! Elihu Bnrritt learned many things while toiling in a blacksmith shop. Abercrombie, the world-renowned philosopher, was a philosopher in Scotland, and ' he got his philosophy, or the chief part of it, while as a physician he was waiting for the door of the sick room to open. Yet how many there are in this day wlio say they are so busy they have no time for mental or spiritual, improvement; th$ great duties of life cross the field like strong reapers and carry oil all the hours, and there is only here and there a fragment left that is not worth gleaning. Ali, my friends, you could go into the busiest day and busiest week of your life and find golden opportunities, which, gathered, might at least make a whole sheaf for the 1mi's garner. It is the stray opportunities and the stray privileges which, taken up and bound together and beaten out, will at last fill you with abundant joy. There are a few moments left worth tho gleaning. Now, Ruth, to the field! May each one have a measure full and running over. Oh, you gleaners, to the field! And if there be in your household an aged one or a sick relative that is not strong enough to come forth and toil in this field, then let Ruth take home to feeble Naomi this sheaf of gleaning 'lie that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." May tho Iiord God of Ruth and Naomi be our portion forever 1 Long or Short Sermona. f British Weekly.l "We do not think thero is any need to orcupv a specified time. Sali h ss should preachers talk against time. If they have nothing to say let them sav it and be done. Hut, if they have solid biblical instruction to impart, and are bent on applying tho fcr.jti.ittupie3 of the gospel to all quest- ,

tions that affect the present and eternal interests of men, it is absurd to expect that their sermons shall be warranted not to exceed twenty minutes in length. Men should go to service not for amusement, but for stimulus and instruction; not for self-gratitication, but for the worship of God. And.this primary end must never be made secondary. Fart and Faith. ITÜ. Interior pregbterlan. Wc ought to bless God for giving to few men and fewer women a genius for speculation and dispute alout the hidden things of this lifo and the life to come. There would be a woeful waste of power in this world if anj' considerable portion of its inhabitants were given to polemics. It is the fortune of the vast majority to be doers rather than thinkers pnd talkers. And wisely so, for it is by doing that man makes himself useful to his fellows and at the ,same time acquires development of self. The starting point of a happy and a helpful life is where the human servant reverently asks the Lord, "What wilt thou have me todo !" Then. let the few busy their brains with queries and philo:ophizings. Let them dispute among themselves over probabilities and differ about interpretations. It is enough for the great company of disciples to' march humbly and yet grandly on, always facing Zionward, keeping step together because of the important trusts and precious promises which they hold in common, helping to bear one another's burdens on the way, and utterly silencing all murmurs, cavils and complaints, come they from what source they will, by the trustful and triumphant shout, "God reigns!" The prayerful disciple is the powerful discinle. Holding fast to the fact that God hears and answers prayer, and having and unshakable faith in the rightfulness and justice of the answer when it comes, the believer has a joy of assured possession which tho world cannot take away a"d an equipment for service which all hell cannot impair. Making Krligion Attractive. Catholic World. All the popular meaures adopted by our non-catholic brethren in making religion attractive, might well be used by ourselves with much benefit to religion and to congregations. It is certainly not un-catholic or irreligious to utilize the pleasant and beautiful in religious nun tc rs. One feature that might be added to some of our churches with propriety and benefit is an attractive sermon by a compe tent preacher. All of us are not so eager to be enlightened that we can listen with profit to a mere formal sermon delivered by a pcor speaker. Sinners and converts must be attracted to the churches, not by side-shows or sensations, bqt by a proper improvement in what is essentially proper and regular. A careful study in elocution ami an intelligent study of English literature would help very much in making tho regular sermons delivered in some churches a source of pleasure and spiritual profit. Useless Wealth. Christian Register. The time will come, we trust, when it will be considered positively wicked for a man or woman with several millions cf dollars to die without leaving large benefactions for public uses. It mav be said that the right to accumulate a large fortune carries with it the r'ght to dispose of it according to individual preferences. But there are just limitations to the truth of such statements. No man has a right to live selfishly or to perpetuate his selri.-h-ness in his will. The law recognizes the importance of the family life and provides for its stability, and the man who makes

no provision for his tamily is as culpable as he who, though abundantly capable, makes no provision beyond it. But the perpetuation of vast fortunes as family monuments is the vulgarity of selfishness. Confirmation. Jewüh Mess'.nger. If confirmation signifies that the child shall merely afiirm certain doctrines and texts, without the determination in alter years, at whatever sacrifice, to be true to the spirit and practice of Judaism, it has no meaning for the Israelite. It is a precious waste of time and effort. The home, not the synagogue, must confirm the child in Judaism. It is the quiet, fervent current of tho truly Jewish household, alive with reverent influences, with its almosphere of elaily religion and Sabbath peace, that is the best confirmation manual for the young. Without it Judaism is but skeleton, whose hideousness flowers and rhetoric can conceal only for a time, as many of us are beginning sadly but forcibly to realize. Elinor Iielliou Notes. The Greek ChrNtians of Chicago are to erect a church edifice, the third in the country. The Ulm cathedral, bc2;un in 1-577, will he finished next year. It will hold 2S,U00 people. The police force of Kansas City to a man are members of church. Two are elders aud several are deacons. An anti-Sunday traveling union lias existed in this country for about four years. It has about b'.OOO members. Sir Andrew Barclay Walker, formerly mayor of Liverpool, hasoüercd to give $2jQ,iK)Ö toward buiidinq; a cathedral in that city. Mr. (joorge II. Stuart, the well known Christian philanthropist of Philadelphia, has retired from active Lusiness life owing to ill health. Kin:j Cetewayo's nrphew has spent six years studying theology in Sweden He will now return as a Christian missionary to his native land. ' The great missionary conference to be held in Exeter hall, Ixwidon. June 1) to lit, will, it is said, be a council second in importance to iioue since the day of Pentecost. The English church missionary society lias just issued a provisional agreement for the purchase of central premises in Home at a cost of $.O;0U0. A Lancashire lady has promised $10,0o0 of the amount. Cardinal Gibbon? and thirteen archbishops meet in IJ;dtimore early in June to decide what the attitude of the church shall be toward the Knights of Iabor, the American Federation of Labor and the Auti-Poverty society. The sinnuai report of the American tract poeicty show s that the receipts for the year M ere $41'.,v)S, and the expenses sUS,5(il. One hundred and ninety-four colporteurrs have been employed iu the United States during the past year. A church newspaper may be useful. Only it should confine itself to its mission. It should not he wadded with extracts from sermons and ''selected articles." Its editor should have the motto: 'This one thing 1 do, namely, I give church news." The lire. John (J. Uoddard. There are now more presbyterian congregations in France than in Ireland, aud more in "Wales than in either. There are l,.V'xi in the "Netherlands, 2,CU0 in Hungary, while the church is well represented in IJelgium, I)ohemia, Moravia, Jpain, Italy and Switzerland. The principal Jut'-h church at the Cape of Good Hope is presbyterian, and in Australia and New Zealand, in Persia, India, China, Japan and the New Hebrides there arc either growing presbyterian churches or flourishing presbyterian missions, whiie in the United States and Canada there are 13,000 congregations connected with the church. Christian at Work. It is 230 years since the first bnptist church was formed in New England. The order in which the six states came to have euch churches was: llbode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire. Maine, Vermont, the latter c Dining into line i;$0 years later than 1&3. Then, in i7is, there were" 01 churches in those states, with 7,011? members and 51 ministers. Since the last-named year, d;i ring the succeeding 120 years until now, there has been preat progress made. I a l.W there v. ere in the six t;tes IU4 churches with 124,StS members and tMJl miuisters, as follows: llbode Island, tii) cbiirchea, ll,7i mcmlx-rs and 7- ministers; Massachusetts, 302 churches, members and 3-S ministers; Connecticut, lit! churches, Ul.Ott'J members and 144 ministers; Now llaniishire 80 churches, O members and M ministers; Maine, 218 churches, i:013iueinbcrs and 149 ministers; Vermont, llt churches, P,1G8 members and 95 ministers. During the year endin? October, 1Ö87, there was a pin of 15 churches, l,t'!( members and 11 milliliters. Christian at Yt'vrk.

THE OPAL'S DEADLY SPELL

A COMMON SUPERSTITION'S PROOF. IIow a Thief Restored a Family's Ilappiness by Purloining an Ante- iptlal Ring A Jeweler Who Will ot Handle . the Pretty Stones. HE proprietor of a prominent Chi cago jewelry houee, says the Chicago Globe, pushed aside a small tablet of soft white wax in which he had arranged in a graceful design oriental rubies and diamonds, as jewelers are wont to place gem3 that their customers may judge of their effect w hen set, and of the form of the ornament, and in response to a question which had been asked him, said: "Yes, although I don't wear them nor allow any of ray family to do so, I keep theni in stock for those who want them. I believe I can assert, without fear of contradiction, that this is the finest stone of its kind in Chicago.'' As he spoke bo held up a magnilicent opal, which from its tender, translucent surface Hashed forth the red flame of the carbuncle, the soft refulgence of the purple amethyst, the golden slow of the topaz and the rare green ray of tho emerald, al mingling and gleaming in such a changeful way as to forma most fascinating combination. "It ir h:'nu;-ome," said the merchant, in respotisL' tu an o:;chuution of adm:rstiii. "It i.s really a very line gem. It is one of the precious opals fron the Czcrwenitz mines in Hunviry. This particular t-toae v;..s tnke;i iio-n Mt. Simouka. The finest opals in the world come from the two im 'i-'ta,ns Simonka and Limbanka. "Have I any superstition in regard to them? o, I don't know that I have," and he turned the gem so as to catch the light. By the way, it is a curious fact in life that, no one could by his own showing be convictv'd of being superstitious, notwithstanding that it would be quite impossible to lind anyone who has not a strain somewhere in his composition of this quality, reason it often happens that opals are ruined in being cut and polished, which is, of course, decidedly unlucky. It is almot-t impossible to engrave an opal, and there are very few which are engraved. I believe the finest and most valuable engraved opal in the world is in the Hope collection. This opal is an inch in width and an inch and three-quarters in length. The engraving upon it is an alto relievo representation of the head cf Apollo, surrounded by rays of tin. "It often happens that simply wearing an opal will ruin it, but aside from the fact that the gem is so easily injured, I believe that the bad repute into wdiich it has fallen is, at least in part, due to Sir "Walter Scott's novel, 'Anne of Gerstein." IIow ever, in my time I have personally known some strange things about opals. I have been in business now twenty-eight years, and I never knew much prosperity and happiness to be mixed up with them." It needed only an air of interested attention and a lew leading questions to elicit some of these incidents. "The first time," said he, "that I ever sold an opal was a few months after I became a salesman. And the first time I sold one I sold two ; there is a bull for you. A young couple w ho had about as bright an'outlook in life as any two people could have became engaged. They were great admirers of opals, and they exchanged very handsome opal rings, which they purchased of me. There was some discussion in regard to opals being unlucky, but theso two persons were young and strong and happy, and they did not care a rush for any myth under the sun. So they exchanged their rings and were soon married, and were the envy of all who knew them. However, no sooner were they married than one misfortune followed another as swiftly, as unavoidably, as did the reported misfortunes of Antonio, the 'Merchant of Venice.' Not only did misfortune, sickness and death seem to take up their abode with this couple, but as if there could be no gleam left to brighten the gloom of their lot, it was quite generally known that serious domestic inlelicitv existed, which was of such a nature that it threatened the integrity of their home. "After they had been married about five years, among the the numerous misfortunes a recital of which would read like some doleful, over-extravagant tale which had overtaken this couple, the opal ring belonging to the gentleman, together with a few other valuables which he still possessed, was stolen. He came to me and requested me to 'keep an eye out' for the opal. "ow, both the opals had been peculiar and could be recognized by an expert. The one which had been stolen was not on of an ugusual shape but the most reflected rays were, green and yellow, dashed in ä peculiar way and mingled with deep blue and bright red. The one belonging to the lady had a small mark on the under surface, the shape of a heart. "A short time after the gentleman's ringand other valuables were stolen, the aliairsof the couple began to mend. The strained domestic relations were adjusted and happiness came to them with apparently as little cause as had misfortune and distress. Let me see that was twenty years ago. Now comes the strange part of the storv. About "live years ago I was here in the store attending to the usual round of business, w hen a ragged little bov came in and handed me a bit of soiled paper, upon w hich was scrawled an earnest request to come at once to a room not far di.-tant. The note closed with, 'This request is made by a dying man,' and bore the signature of a man whom I had know n well, and whose name hail been coupled with the lady of w;horn I have already told you, and whose life, together w ith her husband's, had been so miserable and was then so happy. "The man was in a dying condition when I leached him and gave me no greeting, but merely said, 'I know you will not refuse a "favor to a man who at mot can live but a few hours.' Handing me a small parcel he continued: 'I think you w ill recognize it. I will tell you at once, while I have strength, what I want and how I came by the ring.' "I opened the parcel and recognized the opal engagement ring wdiich I had sold lii'teon years before. It was not the one w hich had been stolen, but the one which had belonged to the lady, and, to put it very mildly, I was amazed. He saw my astonished", doubtful look and said, 'I do not wonder you are surprised. I met the woman w ho once wore that ring about ten months alter her marriage. "We happened to be thrown together a great deal, and soon became so fond of each other that life was a burden to us both. She was a good woman, and at last she told me that we must meet no more. It was pne morning when we had been walking in the garden ; we were standing by a little shaded pocd, and she talked to me as I never heard a woman talk before or since. She took the ring I just gave you from her finger and declaring, with "heartfelt bitterness, that she hated it, she threw it from her into the pool. Then, touching her marriage ring, she said that it should be sacred to her as long as she lived, and then left me, and I have never seen her since. I recovered the ring, and while I lived nothing could separate me from it. The years I have carried it have been crowded with distress, but through hunger and cold and utter destitution I did not part with it.' "Ho lived but a few hours, I disposed

of the ring as lie directed, and did all for the poor fellow that a living man could do for one who had passed beyond life's wants. The stolen opal was never recovered. The couple who exchanged opal engagement rings are well-known people and are living on the soutli side, prosperous and happy. Of course they never knew what I have told you. So much for those two opals. "Upon another occasion a young man ordered the most beautiful set of opals I ever saw for his bride. The set included a necklace, and the opals wero magnificent, and each one of them was set about with diamonds. Financial misfortune and marital infelicity were the lot of thi3 couple also. At last there came a divorce suit, and the owner of the magnificent opal set went to work in an ollice not six blocks from this very spot. At last the ftressure of poverty was such that she wrought her jew els to me and asked me to dispose of them for her. When she made the request she wept like a child. There is one thing about opals : they seem always to have had, time out of rniiid, a peculiar fascination for those to whom they belong, l'liny, I believe it is, relates that the Koman Senator Xovirus was proscribed by Marc Antony on account of an opal about the size of a hazel-nut, which was valued at $100,000. Novirus rryide his escape from Rome with his gem, preferring exile with hi3 opal to living in Koine without it. "Well, no sooner had the lady disposed of her opals than her fortune changed. Within six months she married a gentleman of wealth, and I don't know a happier woman in Chicago than she is at the present time. "Of cotlrse," continued the gentleman, "it is absurd to attribute any power either for good or ill to a piece of iridescent stone. I have no foolish scruples about them. If I do not wear them, I sell them ; but," he continued, as he turned to serve a customer, "one of the largest jewelry houses in Chicago does not handle opals at all. They have never had one in the house, and do not even order them for customers." Further inquiry confirmed the fact as stated; one oi the leading jewelry firms of Chicago will have nothing whatever to do with opal3. And this is a prac tical age, an age of material accomplishment; an age ol reason and superstition is a thing of the past. GRANT'S OLD HOME.

Put on Wheels and Taken Aro.inj as an Attraction at Centennial Shows. The house in which Gen. U. S. Grant was born, nothing extraordinary of itself, and nowise different from manv humble homes of its period, has been leased by Col. Morton L. Hawkins, ex-sheriff of Hamilton county, and will be on exhibition for 100 daj"s at the approaching centennial exposition in Cincinnati. It is to be lifted from its present foundation, a beautiful site near the Ohio at Point Pleasant, Clermont county, put on a flat, and floated dow n the river to Cincinnati. Then it will be put on wheels and taken to the exposition grounds, w here it may be seen at so much a peep. Its lessees hope to preserve the historic old building intact and in its present excellent condition of repair as nearly as possible. They have secured a good many Grant mementoes, and will make a first-class curiosity shop out of it. No doubt it will be one of the features of the centennial aggregation, and give thousands an opportunity to boast of having stood in the very room where the great general was born. But it can hardly be called a shrine, nor ean the old walls or clothes or military trappings recall the spirit of the modest old warrior who so greatly despised ail such display. Michael Hirsch, the owner of the property, is supposed to be a partner in the enterprise. The people of Point Pleasant dislike the idea of removing the old house, as many fear it will never come back. .Since it is to go on wheels and be carried around the country they naturally expect to hear of it being hauled to Columbus, where there is to be another "Ohio centennial" in September. How it can add anything to Washington park or mean anything there is something these simple villagers cannot understand. The Private Pension Abuse. Philadelphia Times. The custom of passing private pension bills has imposed a new and certainly unnecessary duty upon the president that of investigating each ease to rind out whether the applicant has not already been pensioned, or whether there is any substantial claim upon which a pension could be justified. More than one instance has oecured on which private pension bills have been duplicated, and still others in which it eonld not have been possible that a majority of both houses would have voted lor the bills if they had known the facts. The present rule in the ease of private pension bills appears to be that they are prepared by professional pension agents and placed in the hands of complaisant members, who introduce them without knowing anything of their merits or demerits. They are ground through the committees in batches without consideration of any kind iu many cases, and placed upon their passage at a time set apart for the consideration of private bids. S arcely a score of members are present on such occasions, and the bills are called oft' by their titles and recorded as passed, though no quorum be present aud no vote taken. War Keminiscences. KewYork Sun. "IIow well I remember," said Pumley, as he proudly brandished the sword, "the first tirae that I ever drew that once shining Made?" "Where did you draw it, Uumlcy?" inquired Featherly;"ataraffle?" Hemorrhages. Blcodinij fron tha Lang, Stomach, Kos, or from any caoso Is speedily con. irouoa ana Bioppea. Sores, Ulcers, Wounds, Sprains and Bruises. It ia cooliug, cleansing and Healing. pnt ahmU I h most ffficaoious for thisdis Irftllai 1 II ense. Cold in tho Head. &c. Our "Catarrli Cure," la spoct-Cly prepared to meet serious cases. Our J al Syringe ia elmplo and inoxpcuäiv) Rheumatism, Neuralgia. No other preparation T:as cured mora cases of theso distressing complaints thaa the Extract. Our l'latter is invaluable in these diseases, Lumbago, Tains in aclt or Sido, &c Diphli leria & Sore Throat Use tho Kxiract promptly. Delay is dan gerous Piles Blind, deeding or Itclalnr. It Ui8 greatest known remeJj 'rapidly curing when other medicines Law faiied. Our Ointment is of greit service where tiie removal of clothing is Inconvenient. For Broken Breast and Soro Hippies. SÄÄS Tisod The Kxtrkci will never bo without it. Our Ointment is the best emollient that can bo spplicd. Female Complaints. Ia the majority of female diseases the Extract ean be nsed. M in wen Known. Uli tne greatest benoXiU Full directions accompany each kolUo. CAUTION. Pond's Extract Has been imitated. The cenuir.e has tue words J'on4' .atraei' blown ia the glass, and our picture trade-mark on urrouiidioe buff wrupjwr. None other ia genuine. Always insist ou baring food'. i:x tract Take no other preparation, if it never told in bulk, or by measure. Sold rjrwhere, Prices, SOc, $1, $l.?3t Prepared only by POND'S EXTRACT C0.

mm is ram Health of Bodyisffcai of Mini DR. RADWAY'S SARSAPARILLIAN RESOLVENT, Great Elood Purifier.

OIAXr.ES AS SEEN AND FELT AS TT1ET DAILY OCCUR AI 1 Eli UMXti A i'EW DOtLS. 1. Giwl fpirits, disaiiaranT of reatness, lanpuor. melancholy, iacrcnae and hardness of fieh, muscles, etc. Z. Mrcnpth increases, appetite improves, relish for f'K'd, no more sour en-.-tatiorn or watcr-hrash, pood diestiun, calm and undisturiicd bleep, awaken lreh ami Timorous. LMapicarance of fools, blotches, pimples, the stin looks clear and healthy; the urine changes from its torpid and cloudy appearance t a clear cherry or ainbor color; water paes cli'ar from the Madder through the urethra without pain or scalding; little or no MHlimcnt ; no pr.in or weakness. 4. Marked diminution of quantity and frequency of involuntary weakenins discharges (if atliicted ia that way, with cortaiuiy of Vermanont cure, increased strength exhibited ia the eet re! ing plands, and functional harnuny restored to the several organ. 5. Yellow tinjrc on the white of the eyes and the Fwurthr appearance of the skin changed to a clear, lively und healthy color. C. Thosg sutie'rinsr from weak or unhealthT lunsrs or tulnTclc will realize t;reat benefit iu expectorating freely the tomh phlegm and nun us from the Inns:-, air cells, bronchi or windpipe, throat or head j diminishing the frequency of the coughs; general increase in t.tren;;h tliroiichout the kyjteiu: stoppage of flight sweats and pains, and feeling of weakne.-s nround the ankles, lep, Shoulder, etc. ; costtion 'of oi ls and chills, sense of suf.ocation, bard breathing and paroxy-.ni of cold on lyinp down or nri-ons; iu the morniu. Ail these distressing sympt mis cradoallv aud urcl v disappear. V. As day alter 'day the S- A 1 ts A 1 A KI LL1 AN is taken new sins of returning health fill appear; as the blood improves in purity and strength disease will diminish, and all lorcign deposits, nodes, tumors, cancers, hard lumps, etc., will be rc-solved nway, and unsound made umdand healthy; ulcers, fever sores, chronic skia diseases gradually disappear. J. In cars where the systeia has been salivated, and Mercury, Quicksilver, Corrosive Sublimate have accumulated and become d posit cd in the bone?, joints, etc., causing caries of the bone, rickets, spinal curvatures contortions, white swelling, varicose veins, etc, the SAHSAI'ARILLIAX will resolve away these deposits and exterminale the virus of the disease from the steiu. 9. If those who are t.ikir.g these medicines for the cure of Chronic Scrofulous I'isease, however slow mav be the cure, "lVt 1 belter," and find their general h 'allh improving, tht ir flesh and weight increasing, or even keeping its own, it is a sure sign that the cure is j.r',;''c:..-inc:. in these diseases the patient eitner pets Letter or worse the virus of the disease is not inactive; if not nrrested and driven, from the blood, it will spread and continue to undermine the constitution. As soon as the SARSAPAltlLLlAN makes the patient "feel better," every hour you will prow better, aud iucreae in health, strength and flesh. The great power of this remedy is In diseases that threaten death, as in CONSUMPTION of the I.ungs and TuIktcuIous Ththisis, Scrofula, Syphiloid Diseases, wasting degeneration and ulceration of the kidneys, Pialictes, Stoppage of Water (instantaneous relief afforded where catheters h3ve been used, thus doing away with the painful operation of using these instruments, dissolving stone ia the bladder, and iu ail cases of Mamicaiion of the ElaiMcr and Kidcevs, In chronic cases of Leucorrhea and Uterine "Disease. One little contains more of the active principles of Medicine tlian any other preparation. 'Taken in teaspoonful doses, w hile others require five or six times as much. ONE DOLLAR PER BOTTLE. R. i V. RADWAY'S Ready Relief The Cheape?t and Best Medicine for Family Use la the AVorll. Pore Throat, Colds, Coughs, rneumonia. Bronchitis. Intiammations, Congestions, Intlucnza, Difficult Breathing, cured and prevented by RADTTAY'S HEADY RELIEF. Inflammation cf the kidneys, inflammation of the bladder, inflammation of the bowels, congestion of the lungs, palpitation of the heart, hysterics, croup, diphtheria, catarrh, influenza, cold childs, ague chills, chilblains, frot biies, nervousness, sleeplessness. The application of the HEADY RELIEF to the part or parts where the tiiflkulty or pain exists will afiord ea-e ami comfort. KADWAY'S READY RELIEF is the only remedial agent in vogue that will instantly stop paia. It instantly relieves and soon cures. RHEUMATISM, NEURALGIA. Sciatica, 11 es lache, Toothache, Infianimaiion, Ast ln,;;i, i:t"uciiz,!, lhhcult Hrealliin?, Lumbago, Sveliincr cf the Joints, Tains in Ilack, Chest or Limbs, LadVay's Rea-ly Relief is a Cure for Every Pain, Sprains, I'.ruisos. It was the i irst and is the Only P A I X R E M E D T tumbler of wat.T will, in a f minutes, cure Cramps, Spasms, Niur Stomal h, Nausea, otmting. Heartburn, Nervousness, slecpicssnesa. Sick Headache, 1'iarrhjpa, Colic, Flatulency and all internal 11 11 people 1 - posca 10 .tiaianai poison win cverr moruing take Jo to .".0 drops ot Iteauy Relief in vztrt and cat, say a cracker, bdore going out, they will pro vert attacks. Travelers 'should nlwavs etirrv a bottle of RADYVAY'S READY RELIEF with them. A few drop in water wiil prevent si( kn-s or pains from clian? of water. It is better than French l!:andy or bitten as a stimulant. Fifty Cents per Bottle. Sold by Druggists. DIw EAWAPS Regulating Pills, The Great Liver and Stomach Remedy. - Tcrfect Rurpttivo?, Sxithins Aperients, Acts YV ithout I'iiin, Always Reliable, anl Natural ia their Operation. Perfectly tasteless elegantly coated with sweet pem, piirpo, regulate, punly, cleanse and strengthen. Railway's' l':Hs n r the cute ol all disorders of th stomai ii, liver, liowcls, kidneys, Madder, nervoiia diseases, headache, constipation, costiveness, indigestion, !y:'eps,a. biliousness, lever, ii.liammation oi the bowels, piks anJ a!i dc-Mijr.'Mi'nt of the iutcrtial viscera. Furciy TcjrMa'-Ie, -outaiuin no niercurv, niiuer ilsor deleterious drills. Observe the following symptom resiiltino; from diseases of the digestive organs: 'Constipation, inward piles, fullness of blood iu the head, acidity of the stomach, uausea, hc:'.rbtirn.di:;vst to food, fullness or weight n the stomach, sour eructations, kinking or 11 uttering i'i ;ne pit of me . 1 ooacli, swiiuliiiaj ol ll:C n',-:d. mrii d -r liil'cult h-cathins, tiiittorinc at the heart, choking "r ufloeatinc; sensations when in a lyina posture, dots or wehs In'for the night, fever and dull pc.in iuthe head, deficiency til' perspiration, yellowness of the skin and eye, pain in tli1 side, . limbs, andsudden flushes ol heat, burning in the fle'i. A few doses of i: AUW AY'S TILLS will Ire lha fysteni of all the abuve-nuincJ disorders. I'i ice, Ccuis per 1 Oi. feiid stamp for postaeo to Itadwny Jb Co., New York, I jr our book of .lv c..

R

That instantly Mops the excruciating pains, allay! inflammation and tiircs Congestions, whetherof the Lungs, stonuc h, Bowels nr other glands or organs. ivrri'V u I V . hilf ir. ri.itf,,i ;n l-.Tf

-1 a, a ri ill I IS .1 1 ions 11,1 111-, v ui ' uvt a nuu i . There is not a remedial azfiit in the world that will cure l ever and Ague and all other Malarious. l;ilious and other Fevers, ai-lcd bv ÜAIAVAY'S PILLS, so quickly as IIA DV AY'S l.KAl'Y lit' LILT. lt. K. 1;. not only nies the patient seized with

nil

.Malaria, it

TO THi: 1'1'HLIO. iBetuircfnd sk for F.adwav's, and seo that tb tauo "HAD WAV L oa v let jou luj.

4 I

4