Jasper Weekly Courier, Volume 32, Number 43, Jasper, Dubois County, 11 July 1890 — Page 7

WEEKLY COCBIER.

O. 3XJA.XMU Publieber. 1VDUXA. IV SON'S STORY. StrMMf Visitor and How Ha Vhen 1 received any .ton's letter reuntlng tbe narrow escape be hud bad in, horrible death, it made me sbudr, and I thanked God fervently for , ncewrvntlou. At Hrt I thought I .old lraply repeat bis story In bis ,n word, but somehow I dislike too ueh personal narrative. It sounds con itt d, sod lbs perpetually recurring 1, l," the in tormina bio "nuM," and my" gow tiresome, and k a if the narrator wa trying to ti:himslf outa bore, and was say- ; "Wbt a flno follow I am! and you t we that I aril by what 1 am going WW you." Ho 1 bnl only use a few i Job's sentences when ibey fit In bobHi, -mi any other. U-a lummer ,ho went to play tn a t ket nulch in tho neighborhood of nicy. nd some friends 11 Tine in a arming riverside villa invited bim to i j a few day with them. The house, we ver, wa full of guests, and bo was nrl if be would mind sleeping in a jm over a largo ommer-houe at the d of tb lawn. It wai often used for chelors undor similar circumstances, wui plainly, but comfortaUy, fur hod, and of course Dob bad not the litest objection; in fact lie preferred ho said, for the weather was Uaxing t. and be would be abl to do more as jilted, and get his early swim of a miiij:. etc, without disturbing any,iy. lie seems to have had a fine, ly Umo of It sll sorts of fun were ln on beside the cricket, boating, nni and danoiag or an evening. A e fair, too, was being held at Headand this afforded the youngters anher form of en tertain men t tbe htudy mankind," as llob grandiloquently pressed it Well, lbe last night of hie visit arwL The lays were at their longest, eveatlier was hotter than ever, and hen he retired to his solitary nest he nrratulated himself more than usual i k-ivinff cool an apartment. 1 t was tproarbed by a long; flight of wooden airs: and as be entered it by the halftea toor t their top, snd was about to ;)t hi candle be was struck by a rare. unpleasant smell that be bad irr noticed before. The window, a rrl rVnch one, on the opposite side 'the neat liftle iron bedstead, was if ' the floor, snd he lingered w haleony, while slowly on- . t along while, enjoying the ntry scents of tho summer As he withdrew from it at in contrast with the odor inrootn struck him a rain as igt- be was very tired and flung l?VJiKbdttl tbU flanrteeniHJs. he felt a sort SiSJukl pVteeland of njecertainty be was) Quite a .Tiger, tsm wwavaien prevented 'ossplehaly- usntsng and tumbling iH'd In the usual i, anil also from trtg hit candle i. ratlgued h. one might jo expected he 1 imvc fallen an directlr, but I ! . . ked snd klon starting up I i l ugain, alwi with the odd, N ng eensaUoiu-owittg stronger at f unOn hi At one of hia I at lie heard distant clock I w, but orwlso not the d broke (e deep silence or aigbU Ma?'-. Mt i , . -e been taming," writes U. ' lag I wass for I hare " ttllecaoa foOlinr ihm lift t mm fell on the wtfk iatraaabed out t wMsHusteatlr botaa llie i ,c teioii?litly f.be amv.t i .psml saVmsst tb bed was hearlnsr. MM the ves. I or a moment or two ere I was "roughly awake I could not believe - wanes and even when I became roughly master of them, I appeared te incapable of exertion. I remem'lying there, glaring in wonderment Hth gloaming of tbe room, and with loft arm supine across the bed, my d just banging orer the edge. I can k-li you how long I remained like but at last I was induced to draw my hand, from feeling' something (land wet touching it. Still fully ither minute or two elped before I Upright on the bed. and beheld, 7 dimly, of course what? Why, a S dark forrn, gliding, as it seemed, vr-l tho window. A huge, long, low, Mhy shape, impossible at first to ' whether that of a crawling human H or some mighty animal. A Stablct horror overcame me; I fell and shrank Into a heap, larolunj'y lyinff perfectly still, and It was 1 did so; keeping my eyes cver, riveted on this dreadful St'nee, whatever It might 1. for 'ned incapable of coherent thought ut 11, so great and overwhelming my dbtress. Keeping my eyes upon 1 y I watched it go toward the 7 stretch isrUy forward through Hum raise its bead, m if snlMng the 'hes, turning aside, it passed 'dbytbadoor (now closed), which It Mtiffed at and lingered by, and again m toward the l)d from out of the "P gloom of the room. As it ap--ht'd, my terror I am ashamed to l word, but it h tbe only one mtner, for I beheld, then, two Pt wyes, like red lights in tbe dark8d these told me that I was withT,U leugtb of some fierce wild anlrt truth came to me In a flash, ' were, and, 1 am happy to say, with tf'Mctreoognltloii of what to do. 'y chance of safety lay In remain'absolutely still, and with closed ..''""y aroused. Imagine then my 0n as I felt the huge beast put its my wtlfitng takt ssuntlng breaths, as yea knew

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a strangdog aill againsiyourli'jrwh n be wanu to dix-.-v.-r whebor von ar friend or fos. and at if pn-icring to tak.i a pifi-e out of your t alf. '1 i.n ihe ause P upward to mv knees und body, thence to one exposed band, which was lit ked licked, mark you, by a tongue like tbe roughest file, coarse enough to scarify tho tttb! ltut taU was not th

worst--tbe muszle, cold and wet, yet iw " uv uresui rusajng out from tbe nostrils as from a foubsmelllag fu usee, eama next upon my face, cn May forehead and cloned eyelids, to my mouth, and here with another rasping eourge of that horrible tongue. "I ran not dwell upon tho situation. By God's mercy the resolute determination to lie perfectly motionlens did not desert me. I never so much as quivered, far less breathed; and this saved my life. One more lick, one more lonsr, deep inhalation close to my noes, a sniff or two at the pillow, nd tbe creature crept slowly beneath the bed. Again the mattrnm heaved, from tbe upward pressure benesth, and then a heavy thud and a bowling yawn told me that tbe beast bad stretched itself out upon the floof. exactly under me.'" Toor llob does not attempt to describe tbe agony of mind bo thenceforward endured, for he does not know bow long. Afraid to move a muscle, lest b should again arouse the animal, afraid at first to even open hi eye, he only remembf-rs, poor chap, tiiat by degrees the slowly increasing dawn of day gave bim courage to think and to cogitate on what it were best to do. It would not be wise to give the beast time to take his nap aud then fro for another prowl round the room. Whatever be did be knew must be done at a bound and s rush, and that soon, Siuwld be make a dash at tbe window standing invitingly open, scale the balcony and drop? Xo: beside being high' above ground, be remembered that the window looked out upon the kitchen garden, and just below it were some cucumber frames, and be dreaded tbe damage be would inflict upon himself and tbe glass in tbe Inevitable smssh which must ensue, Yet tbe window was a little nearer than tbe door-be could almost reach It In two strides; and the door would bare to be opened and closed after him. a process which he imagined might give hi visitor an opportunity of springing upon him, for, unluckily, he bad, contrary to his custom turned tbe key In his senso of strange depression. .Still, clearly the door was the fittest means of escape, and after a little more due eonidetat!on he determined to adopt thil course. Quick and agile as a eat, be thought he could manage to slip out ere be could be pounced upon. Just, however, as he was preparing for the atUtpt another yawning bowl signified that the repote of tbe intruder bad been disturbed. fbe heavy breathing which bad continued during my boy's deliberation was not resumed, but instead there enucd a licking, gnawing, crunching sound, such as one bears at tbe Zoological gardens when tbe beasts of prey have been fed and are laxllr enjoying the remnant 'flavor left on some bare bone. Once more llob hesitated. Vet would not matters grow worse if be longer delayed an attenspt? Me bad already lOM a chance wails tbe ertatose slept, lie might anon sea it emerge from its hiding place. Yes. be most run the risk at once be could not endure tbe suspense longer. It was now broad daylight, the cool morning breexe was Sweeping refreshingly into tbe room. As it came across bis fevered brow be felt refreshed. Hit courage rose, and, although be had never stirred from his crouching posture, he now prepared for a spring. lie made one bound into the middle of tbe room, a second, brought hint to the door, bis band was on tbe lock, it was opened tn a moment, and, as in sliding out be turned to close it after bim, be caught one glimpse of a huge tiger emerging from beneath tbe bed. Te fly down tbe step snd cross tbe lawn to the h table J, and to arouse tbe grooms, were the acta, you may be. sure, of a very few minutes. One of tbe men oon appeared at a window, and almost lwfore be had time to huddle on some niethea, after bearing front llob of the aaligency. there was a knocking, hamWilling and hallooing at tbe outer gate mt Ure stable yard, which opened on to the high road. When it was thrown back, llob and the groom encountered three sturdy, short-necked, broad-shouldered, thick-set men, and a little behind tbeat stood a small, one-horsed closed sort of van, with its driver in front. Their nresence was soon accounted for. "Sorry to disturb ye, mister," said their spokesman, "but we reckon we've chased some of our property onto year grounds. Our Koyal llengal tiger managed to slip out of his den last night, after the performance, and got sway, and at last we reckon we've come upon him. He managed to make a good meal of one your' lambs in tbe field over a'gln them glaee houe t'other side of your summer house. We come upon the hide and part of the earkls, which gave us a clew, and we was able to follow up his lordship's footstep through your hedge on the lawn. There was a lot o' the Wool and some of tbe witals hanrinr to the thorns, show ing as he was minded to finish bis meal In luxury, don't you see? He carried off a tit-bit along with him, no doubt, so as just to enjoy a finish like.1 'Yes," cried Molt, interruptinr this long harangue, "and be selected my bedroom as the nicest place for hts sapper he could find. I left hint up there not ten minutes ago.1 "The mischief yen did!" exclaimed the man, in astonishment. "Thk 'ore's lack, and no mistake! He's there now, do you say, sir? J toll nodded, and then went on to explain what halt happened, as tbe whole party were making their way back to the summer bouse. My son now ob served that the men carried heavy crow-bar, some ropes, a chain and a large, stout net, while, protruding from one of their coat pock eta, he saw the butt end of a large pistol. "You had a narrow squeak for It, sirf said the spokesman, when he had listened to what Hob had. done. "If my lord hadn't satisfied bin craving with that there young lambkin, and you bada't shammed betnf dead like, ten te

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You did .juit.' right, sir. It int every gem at would buyo bn so knowing. tM-ea tn the Indie, perhaps, sir. eh? nd knows the way of the bt? Hut 're, you two bad better stand aside now, cant my lord gives as the slip again. But you are never going te face bim loose In tbe iw.mr nald Unfa, as tbe men were about to useead the stairs; ""or, if yon do, you'll have to snoot him, I suppose?" "bbee him W Mens yer, net a bit oi it Why, a animal like that's worth two hundred pounds aterllng-ean't af fnrd te kill bim. May he we'll fust blew off a bit of gunpowder in bis face, to give bim a bit of a scare likenothing "What will yon do then? Hsw wUl ja oateb himr was tbe natural inquiry. "Oh! you leave that to us. We knows all about that. We'll soon bring bim to reason, lie knows us. We tames 'em. don't ycr see, by tbe heye, Lor bless yer! hw'll be In a anrful fuak when be sees ua; and tea to one he'll oome out as quiet as thn lambkin be swallowed. If be won't we'll soon hamper bim so as be won't have no choice," B t very savage, then, I supposT said Hob. "Ain't he, though r cried the man. "I reckon he'd soon show you the different. Xot savage! 1 do like that." And up tbe stairs went tbe three keepers. Hob and the groom watched them from a respectful distance. They boldly entered the room, closing tbe door after them, and for some time nothing happened within Sight. There wast loud growliag at flrat, followed by a deep, xavage roar, and then tbe report of a pistol. After s considerable time, however, tbe men emerged slowly, half dragging, half carrying the mighty monster, smothered with the net and bound with the ropes and chain. When tbe two spectators of this sensational scene turned their eyes for a minute to the lawn, they saw that the vSn had been driven right in through the stable yard, across the grass, and was now being backed by its attendant to the foot of the stairs. In another two or three minutes the unwelcome intruder was dragged and lifted down the stairs. lis did not seem to offer much resistance indeed, he could not but be continued to growl fiercely, and when a whack from one of tbe crowbars fell upon him bis rear seemed to shake tbe earth. The backboard, or fiap of tbe van was lowered on to one of tbe steps, and p.ently tbe beast was thrust (land huddled into a great iron cage which tbe vehicle contained, and which was tben closed. llob nays he hardly knows how the awkward business was managed, so exciting was the spectacle, ltut it seemed to bim that tbe beast was completely cowed and terrified, making little or none of tbe resistance one w ould have expected. Fear is the potent agent by which alone those accustomed to tbe work manage tbe deniseas of menageries. The captors in this case, however, did. not escape without some ugly seratcbes, to use the mildest tmnu, and tbe wrist of one of tbe men was tern and bleeding and seemed to be severely injured. And no wonder. Hew the capture was elected at all fat tbe real wonder. Tbe whole household was astir by this time. The keepers were given some refreshment, tbe injured man's arm bound np, and, though he seemed to make light of tbe hurt, it evidently caused bim great pain, ltut be declared that they were used to that sort of thing, and merely condescended to explain that it was done by a smart pat from tbe tiger's paw. Shortly after tbe party departed, and the unwelcome guest was driven to tbe wild-beast snow at Heading fair, the proximity of which festivity accounted, of course, for his presence in Itob's room. It was a strange and awkward experience, you will admit; and as my son's story ends here 1 need only add that an examination of tbe apartment proved that the capture had not been effected very easily. The furniture was greatly disarranged and tbe signs of a tremendous scrimmage were apparent everywhere, while bones of the luckless lamb were found under the bed. As to that strange sense of depression Hob referred to. 1 hardly know what to think. Some people would say it was due to a mysterious kind of electric influence produced by tbe presence of tbe beast; precisely as certain sensitive temperament declare they can always tell when a strange eat Is in a room, even without seeing it Hob a mother, for instance, I knew from experience, is so constituted, and has astonished me more than once by discovering pucs hidden in a corner when nobody else bad the slightest idea that any such intruder had entered tbe bouse. If this be the true solution of tbe lad's state of mind, be has probably inherited his sensibility from his moth er, and in that case we must suppose the feeling to be a vague sort of warning given by nature ef tbe presence of dancer. Throughout the animal creation we find some such Instinct con stantly aroused, and naturalists will tell yon they are part of the defenses with which the weaker creatures are armed against tbe strong in order, in fact, that they may give their enemies a wide berth. For my own part I am Inclined to believe that the odd, clote, wild -beast -like smell pervading the apartment produced adegreeof faintnees in the young fellow. Perhaps what he felt arose from both these causes; I do not pretend to decide. It was further discovered that another lamb bad been ncri flood in tbe fieldmost likely before the animal made his. way through the hedge with part of the second. Tbe owner ef the menagerie handsomely offered te make compensation for the damage, but, as Itob's friends were wealthy, evnereus people, tney would not accept it. He went over to Reading, however, again, and had a look at bis friend through the bars; and, though tbe beast was but little injured, be appeared very subdued, only muttering bis objections by a low growl every new and then. W. W. Fean, in Boston Marat.

THk TARIFF AS A BRIBE.

War tH mitalMMw lrw and at tMttH Vmntrrmam Mayae 1lwi)il Mew i be lana IHvMm JMwAsiMra InU ! kwr IW-A ttvr-cwMt HeiW t t -p I'Mrutt-r, Republican always reseat the char that the grand old party is subservient to th manufacturing interest ef tbe sountry and hi dependent upon them for flnsnciul and moral support In return for tariff laws made for tbeir benefit. When these laws are put through Congress the manufacturers are expected to show their gratitude by supporting the high tariff makers for re-elmion and to contribute a liberal supply of fat for campaign expenses. This Is tbe theory of tbe celebrated "fry-tbe-fat circular, in which a prominent lte publican Senator from Kansas or Vermont claimed that tbe manufacturers got practically tbe sole benefit of protection and that they should therefore come down liberally with tbebr cash. An interesting practical illustration of all this is found in tbe case of Congressman Hayne, of Pitteburgh, Pa The other day he declined to run fur Congress again, after baring been renominated by the convention of his district Colonel Bayne gmve as a reason for nis declination tie fact that be had grown weary of public life and be had intended for some time to quit it for lr vato life. ltut why is he tired of polities? One reason given is tbe ingratitude of tbe rich manufacturers of his district Colonel llayne is the author of the metal schedule In the McKinley bill, and for years be has done the tariff work for tbe iron and steel men of his district, many of whom are now millionaires. He succeeded in getting the metal duties through the House without amendment tin-plate duty and all. Notwithstanding all this the iron and. steel men of his district were seeking the defeat of the very 'man who had looked after their interests so carefully, ltut the Tariff bill bad in tbe meantime irone over to the Senate, and the news bad gone forth that the Senators were going to butcher the metal schedule to such an extent that It would not be recognized when it got back into the House. Under the fear of such a calamity tbe Pittsburgh iron and steel men decided four days before the primaries that .they would rally to the support of llayne and have him renominated. TbU was done and tbe maker of cast-iron tariffs was again honored with a nomination, but be declined, and tbe high protectionist thick-and-thfh party organ of Pittsburgh speaks of "a base conspiracy, " of "the whole disreputable business,' and acetates Kaync "of a most wanton and indefensible act of bad faith.' ' Hut "the whole disreputable business" is very instructive in one way; It furnUhes a proof If proof were needed of what tariff reformers have all along been saying of tbe evil efleqt of clans legislation. n Tbe protective tariff is the best example wo have of this legislation. It is enacted into law for the benefit of a elans, as was confessed by tbe prominent Republican Senator referred to, and legislation for tbe benefit of any class ef men clearly acta as a bribe lor the support ef these men. To buy a -vote la everywhere among honest men looked upon as corrupt and criminal. Is it any less corrupt and criminal for a great party to pass laws Tor the enrichment of a elass ef elt.zcns in order that they may gain their votes and also fry tbe fat from tbem for use in "blocks-of-five' campaigns of direct bribery? Furthermore, we usually look upon the poor devils who are out of a job and to whom a few dollars mean bread and butter for a week or two, as the men who are most susceptible to a bribe. Everybody who uses money in elections approaches the poor fellow who is hard up; nobody will make an attempt on tbe rich, well-fed man who drives up to the polls in his carriajre. But is It certain thathe is above taking a bribe? Is it certain that Congress has not put him Into a "block of five" for election day? Look below tbe surface and both these men have sold themselves and are therefore equally base. Kut with the bribe-givers tbe case, is different AVben a Dudley writes a letter from bis party's headquarters directing that the floaters be divided into "blocks of five that is a case of very grave corruption but it is the corrup tion in tbe management of a particular party only what on the other hand, shall be said of this party when it uses tbe law-making power of tbe Government in such a way as to divide the manufacturers into "blocks of five for the support of that party? Is not this a prostitution of the Government to the basest party uses; and is it not a corrupting of tbe people in tbe most insidious and dangerous manner? What shall le thought of men who are elected to guard tbe interest of tbe whole people and to establish justice between man and man throughout the whole land what shall be thought of them when they use their legislative functions for party purposes by corrupting a large elass of voters through special laws in their private interests? Tbe party that does such things knows only too well tbe meaning of its actions. Accordingly it glosses over with glib word of patriotism the shameful policy that it pursues steals the livery of the patriot to serve the party in. Like the cuttle-fish it blackens the water around it so that Its crooked course can not be followed. After buying up the manufacturers with hlgfe protective duties which make tbe conditions of life harder for the great farming population, they turn around and put higher duties on corn and wheat a ew bushels of which are Imported by etr farmers for seed ami then have the bttueu Impudence to call tbe high tariff ! fabric which they have retrod "the farmer's tariff." I)o these McKlnleys and iXngleys snd Ilaynes take the farmers to be tbe very ; blankest of all the blank fools In creation? Do they think they can parade these tart ft absurdities before tbe farmera forever and that the farmers will not see through them? Last year we Imported t,4li bushels ef com and let),1 ' bushels of wheat McKinley pre tends to see a dsncer in this te

ntraners; and accordingly as cnsassW the duty on corn from tea to fifteen seats a bushel, and on wheat front ton to twenty-five cents a bushel. Governor Hear, of Iowa, is reported as saying that this will do tho farmers a great deal of good. Hut tbe farmers know that these little five-ceat and fifteen-cent duties are worth to tbesa simply noshing at all. and that even a duty of five dollars a bushel on wheat and com could not help tbem one pennyworth. Such a duty might prevent them irom importing a few bushels of seed wheat, whiek we now get from abroad, and thus barn tbem instead of helping tbem. In reply to all this attempted deception let the farmers tell these would-be bribe-givers that we exported last year tliU.ooa.000 worth of corn and wheat and flour, and that we have no reason whatever to fear tbe few thousand bush els brought Into tbe country by some body wbo wants seed wheat A LETTER TO MERCHANTS. FnMtfclie XtM-VMti.OM wf Chleweo's roMIwrMt WhlMl Urer, Kvptaim War CwNMtrr Well a City XwsHenf ShooM 1br rW TwrM Keform. The following letter from Franklin MacVeagh, for twenty-five years one of tbe leading wholesale grocers of Chleago will be read with Interest by merchants throughout tbe West, Inasmuch as he has never been In politics, never held an office and never was a candidate for one, but discusses tbe tariff question from the standpoint of a business man: The time has at last come when tbe Western merchant whether a wholesale inreh nt or a retail merchant Is pecuniarily Involved In the tariff question. Until now he has felt no pecuniary Interest In It; bnt henceforth he must recogniss himself as an important sufferer from the burdens of ttw tariff and as one of th victims of Itt oppressions. He has considered himself an outsider. H hss thonitht that h could afford to tk any View of trl reform that raited his fancy, snd to subordinate this view. If h pleased, to any other politic. I fancy and espeela'ly to his partisan prejudices. H has felt at full llbsrtr to prfr political associations to tho vxclMfttoR of tariff nform notions; snd If h ehoM to no back and raV- np the Issues of the civil war and rest his vols upon these, and to be perfectly lodlffereat to the cruel exactions of our excesslv tariff. All this he felt thathe could afford to do. notwlthfttsndlnx many other pockets were Involved, hut the Inevitable has overtaken him. The hour Is at hand when be inuat rank himaelf with tbe farmer and the workiogmaa, making a third in a tilo of tribute boar rs. That he has had little suspicion of this Is but a part of that public blindness which has so kn delayed the emancipation of the people. II lab protection has Itself been protected by this blindness of the people while larft reform has been handicapped by It from (he xtart. It has jrrown up because the burdens of the protective vs em are Ind rect and dMKUlsed. and, therefore, lr the country Is rapidly developing and unrversally prosperous, pain unfelt, and consequcnt.y urflented. Only those who study political questions apart from personal considerations, see burden that are not personally fi'lt. Meanwhile the protected eUsse reee.re directly and constantly the benefits whieh correspond with these burdens, and have aceordlng-.y a lively sense ot pecuniary Interests to defend. Thee Intfiet they have defended persistently and earxetica!ly. Tbe defense hss been oraaaiaed.powetful and sleepless, as becomes the defensn t pecuniary privileges a great and so vhr.dly realised. Tnts until now has made the eoesest between high protection und tariff reform an unequal one. The situation Is, however, raa4ety ehenarha The but dewtid elsas are bag mamaTa realise their burdens. The tribute-pare t are beg renin to feel the payment of their tribute. They will sooner or later feel alee tbe personal humiliation of tr bute.paylng. The laboring men are g. King their attention fixed upon tbe sums they are paying for pomebody else's protection, and are already h?Ing counted for t. r tf reform. Tbe farmers, too, at last are being forced to see tbnt their prosperity hi diminishing, and consequently are beg'nnlng to ask why. Whoa they shall ask why with the, earnestnem which l fast growing out of their diminishing prosperity, and perceive, as they surely will, thstamt one reply Is possible, farewell to the privileges of our protected class. The protected classes will no longer huve mere quiet reformers to deal with then, but an aroused force, about which they eaa profitably ask th railroad of the West. They will be sorry then that they did not i listen to the mild protests of the dbdntvreet-

ed period, since, instead of politic! persnssion. they wilt have to face political force, and, p rhaps. pol It ical fury. For to take the place of the disinterested per.od when tar. If reform is urged upon purely scientific grounds, there is coming in an Interested period, when oppressed communities will hotly e.tntend for their rights, Tbe battle Is to be between two panie,both pecuniarily interested, xite advantage will be with the greater number, tad the protected classes are the few. Ah a result of tbe new il ght tht to breaking on thn victims of high and higher pro, teetlou, I believe an awakening of tin wholesale merchants and retail merchawta Is at bsnd. The merchant! have to psy the regu'ai bounties on ail tluy Individually eonciimi like the other consumers; and as they ure not all superfluously rich, a great many of them wtlt get tired of doing this, as everybody erte Is getting tired, lint this Is not where feefr shoe will really pinch. The serious trouble at hand for the Western merchant lies in. the diminishing ability of tht farmer te buy tbe merchant's wares, Tin farmer H the chief customer of the merchant; and the prosperity ot tbe merchant H hound up with the prosperity of the farmer. When the farmer's surplus Is cut dowa his buying power goes with It. Kow, the farmer's profits have been 41, miniahlag for some time, and they have nt !at reached the point where In average communities he is running behind. He has but one thing to do, and that l to mlutn his acaie of living. This result ha-, long been inevitable. The farmer's prices hare been going down because he has to meet tbe competition of the world, and caw not possibly avoid dotng so, while on the other hand be must buy of our protected classes, or at their dictation, snd pay Immensely more for all he consumes than he would pay if the Government would let him buy an he sells undet the competition of the world. As long as tbe farmers were making money freely it dkl not matter to the mer. ehants, nor for some time after, because the brmeraat nrst too to tunning into debt and mortgaging their farms, or to Moving further Wet, thinking that the bad weather would pass over, as is shown by the abandoned nuntsot the Kast and the Increased farm mongagesef the West, ltut that could not go on forever, and the time is now upon us when tbe farmer Is compelled to reduce Ms expenses and hl scale of living. Me must cut his coat according to bis cloth. This would be very unfortunate for our civ il! nation and would erioufy tell upon It, If Itbould last Hut it Is immediately unfortunate for tbe Western merchants wholeKale and retail, all in whom depend either directly or Indirectly upon the purchasing power of the farmer. Therefore I ay that the merchant has be come n Interested party In the tariff ques tion, and muet take his part in the movement tor ref rm lie meet give hts time and money to reform, as the prateetes !!" give theirs to rerist reform, for ha hss certainty and somewhat nddenly beewne a party to the light. Very truly,

THE GREAT SOffCfL

St MM al July IS. IdMSOM Taxr -Luks 14: IS Ss. bread la the kbaadom of Ood. Lake M:UV Tims December. A. D. at. Pt-uraPeree, beyond Jordan, hi the vtsunar bsesbisst ef neftfeAfttteL waeee JMia hh bad ay jeaa tjeaa w:w; i usn. Ooainseronssso Aococnt The feast ef Matt M:l-K spoke three or InTUSVxxixo Htaroar. nooa after the Met lessen Jeans went up to Jem sal am to the ef Dedication (Joha WtSt). On the stopped at Betaaay at the house ef Mary Martha, and spoke hts mamorabls words aeeav tne 'good part wnish shell not be take away (Luke WM-m.) At ate feast Jesus Himself as the Messiah, snd the Jews te stone Bun (Joha 10 -). After that retired from Judea sad west to Betaabara, beyond Jordan (Joha MrSMO; oomp. 1 M). CiacvMaTAncas Jesus was dialog with a Pharisee on the Sabbath. The same question sbout healing on the Sabbath, whieh we seaaldered hut Sunday, eaaM up again. Then Jesus, taking the react before nun as a text, spoke a parable about looking the beat pis sear at a feast, gave soma Instruction about mabtaat feeets for the poor sad tben followed tbe para' We of to-day's lesson. ExptAXATonr I. The Kingdom of Heaven represented by a great toasters against God. Thehelpful way Vers, 13, is. Adhtn 9H4 of tkm fAei of mt nuaL Rather, reclined at tbe table of tbe leading Pharisee wbo gave tbe feast (14:1). Hmrd Ue fJksap. Tbe table talk of Jesus reported in verses 9-14, and especially the promise with which it closed of a recompense at the resurrection of the just for those who hsd made their feasts for tho poor. Hhmd at Ac Mef thatt tat breuL To eat bread, according to a Hebrew Idiom, means te partake of a repast whether at an ordinary meal or at a sumptuous banquet. Jn Uu kingdom of Ood. Either In tbe future life, or the' temporal kingdom of the Messiah, the millennial days, whieh many hoped soon to see. 18. Tk mm! ht nnfs Arm. Jesus replies: "Yes, blessed; and therefore beware of rejectling the blessedness at tbe very moment when thou art extolling its greatness." Such is tbe application of the following parable. A etriain man. Corresponding to the king in the parable of tbe wedding feast . (Matt ftl). Mode s greet seppsr. Tbe people of tbe East take but two regular meals a day: 1." a hearty breakfast early In the morning, 'and tbe principal meal at night after Ithey oome home. .-lnf fade (invited) 'swag. This also shows tbe greatness of the feast IT. Tbe Invitation sent Ver. 17. And ttnt hit mtvhhI. It is still customary in tbe East not only to give an invitation sometime beforehand, but to send round servants at the proper time to Inform the invited guests that all 'things are ready. At tmpptr iinu. At the hour appointed for tbe feast This undoubtedly represents the "fulness of time (Gal. 4:4) when the Messiah came. Sag to them tht Mere eooVa. Who had been previously ' invited to the feast, and bad abundant opportunity to be ready. CVmc; for mil thing mrt note rtttdg. The Jews bad had a long preparation and training for this very time, and there was a widespread expectation that tbe time of deliverance was at band. III. Tbe Invitation rejected. ExVers, lsdtt. 18. And fsey mU udwt i. a., from the sense motive, la the spirit. Tbe Greek word fat tbe exact equivalent of our to beg off." 1 Am bought mt a ptoot ground (a farm), ad meet nerds go (out) avuf it. He lived, as do all in that country, in a village, and had to go out into the country to see his farm. Ho was a man of property, of capital. Just as the invitation reached him he was on the point of "going to see to its being put under cultivation. prog tkt Asm secsseHMs'. He was very polite about his refusal. He would come another time, but not now. But "tbe courtesy of tbe rejection does not make it less decided. 19. And mnothor sees', I hot bought fiot goko of ootn. Here was the business man's excuse. And 1 go to prcse tkm. He bad bis plans all laid "to try his new oxen in his own work, and get them accustomed to the new waster, and new set of drivers, snd new work." 90. Ihtn mmrriml mfs, end thertfort I ran nof cosm. lie of all feels that his excuse is valid. IV. The New Invitation. Vers. Sl-tt. Si. So that sertmnl oome, mnd thmtodh H lord thm thing. Declared tbe ill suoossa whieh he bad met, reported to htm the excuses which all had Then the mmokr of tho angry. Angry in tbe sense of unreasoning wrath. Go out quickig into thi MrtmU and hmtt of tht eitg. Tbe "streets" are the larger streets, whieh widen into squares; tho "bines the c roes -streets, the by-ways, hardly wide enough for a man to ride through. Tho four, the mmimtd, the hmit end tht Hind. The picture is one Impossible for us to realise In our Und. In the East, risk in iMhrgars, opulent in misery, without poor-bouses or hospitals, or other organised means of oaring for and lessening misery. 98. And got fAert at rssst. What a glorious declaration is this in regard to tbe Gospel! There yet Is room. Millions have been saved, but there yet is room. Millions have been invited, and have oome, and have gone to Heaven, but Heaven is not yet full. 98. Go out into tkt Mghwmg and htdgot. These are without the city walls, and refer to the calling of. Gentiles. And tompot them to oomo in. Not by fores, Gospel,, but by arguments, by persuasion, by the force of love and entreaty. V. The Fate of those who refuse. Ver. 94. Xoiu of tho mon vhich mr Mditn. And refused to accept the invitation. Short tartt of mg tapper. No matMr how rich or respectable they are la other-respects. With a thunder-storm there may be a torrent whieh shall sweep away every thing in its path; but a spring from tits mountain-side as it flows toward tbe valley will gather site and strength and diffuse beauty and fertility wherever its streams reach, bo It will be found that quiet earnest ministry for Christ will be mors useful and permanent in its results than any speemodie outburst of sea".. Christian Inquirer. WtstKM attains Its full growth, bears all Its flowers and yiekts all Its fruits only through Christian love wall sneer steed and well prtkes Jneux.

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