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The halcyon flutters in winter's track,
And night makes way for the morrow.

And ever a strain, of joys the sum,

Sings on in the heart of the lover-
In death sings on—that days to come

Are sweet as the days that are over!

And from these songs, whose refrain will ring in our ears, we turn to a sonnet which is more seriously suggestive :

DIDST THOU REJOICE?

Didst thou rejoice because the day was fair,
Because, in Orient splendor newly dressed,

On flowering glebe and bloomless mountain-crest
The sun complacent smiled? Ah! didst thou dare
The careless rapture of that bird to share,

Which, soaring toward the dawn from dewy nest, Hailed it with song? From Ocean's treacherous breast Didst borrow the repose mild-mirrored there? Thou foolish heart! Behold! the light is spent ;

Rude thunders shake the crags; songs timorous cease; Lo! with what moan and mutinous lament Ocean his pent-up passions doth release!

O thou who seekest sure and fixed content,

Search in thy soul! there find some source of peace. And finally, to complete a quartette which we are sure will give to our readers the pleasure we have in presenting it, let us select this beautiful and impressive hymn of three stanzas:

BE THOU MY GUIDE.

Be Thou my guide, and I will walk in darkness
As one who treads the beamy heights of day,
Feeling a gladness amidst desert sadness,

And breathing vernal fragrance all the way.

Be Thou my wealth, and, reft of all besides Thee,
I will forget the strife for meaner things,
Blest in the sweetness of thy rare completeness,
And opulent beyond the dream of kings.

Be Thou my strength, O lowly One and saintly!
And, though unvisioned ills about me throng,
Though danger woo me and deceit pursue me,

Yet in the thought of Thee I will be strong!

We need say no more to assure those who may make themselves owners of this little volume that they have increased their valuable possessions. It is an addition, indeed, not merely to the company of books, but to the world of poetic thought and refined literary expression. H. M. J.

THE Exposition Mills of Atlanta, Ga., which are located in the building in which the Cotton Exposition of 1881 was held, and in costly structures since erected, are selling a large part of their product in China. The mills find this trade so profitable that they are kept running on full time the year round. The principal output is sheeting and drills.

THE question of Anglo-American relations is the subject of constant discussion. Thoughtful Englishmen appreciate the fact that international affairs throughout the world are driving the two branches of the Anglo-Saxon race into a closer union, both of interest and of policy. England and the United States are now virtually the only efficient representatives of liberty and law against militarism and despotic government. -Harper's Weekly.

THE Illinois Steel Company, Chicago, has nearly completed its order from Japan for 50,000 tons of steel rails, secured over three months ago. Since First month I over 100 solid train

loads of rails, have been shipped from their mills. These have been chiefly designed for export. They have gone to nearly all the Eastern, Southern and Western coast ports, to be loaded on ocean steamers, according as the most reasonable rates of freight could be secured.

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Our meetings have been more fully attended the past year, and at no time has there been a more general interest manifested than at present. Since the beginning of the year the First-day evening meetings have been held in the First-day school-room, as we sometimes found it difficult for the number in attendance to be comfortably accommodated in the homes. Our program has been varied, and we have found it profitable to spend one evening out of each month in studying the character of some of the founders of, or prominent workers in, our Society. Our subject next First-day evening is "Resurrection." It will also be our anniversary meeting, and a portion of the time will be spent in reviewing the work of the year.

We hope to gain much from the coming of the Conference in Eighth month and are looking forward with interest to that event. Many of our members have expressed great pleasure at the prospect of learning more of the manner of work, and of becoming personally acquainted with the members of other Associations, and the wish is often expressed that there may be a full attendance. ELLA GIBSON, Cor. Sec.

RISING SUN, MD.-At West Nottingham, on the 3d of Fourth month, the Young Friends' Association met immediately after the close of meeting, and was opened by the president reading the seventh chapter of " Matthew," the ending of the Sermon on the Mount. Some beautiful thoughts were expressed in the senitments at roll-call, after which the minutes of last meeting were read and approved.

There being no deferred business, the regular exercises were considered. Albert Buffington gave a synopsis of the sixth chapter of Janney's History of Friends, showing the difficulties under which they labored, that a higher conception of spirituality might be attained.

The question, What is meant by that passage of Scripture, "Hide not your light under a bushel"? was answered very satisfactorily by Charles Buffington, who thought we should each be willing to perform our part; no matter how insignificant the task might appear to us, we would thus be letting Our light shine, illuminating, as it were, some greater task, which we would in turn be given strength to perform.

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Current Topics, as given by Mary Richards, proved both interesting and instructive. The subject for discussion, Do interesting and instructive. modern conditions of civilization favor the growth of spirituality"? was opened by Janette Reynolds, her thought being that the advantages offered by modern civilization for higher education are far superior to the past, and there seems to be nothing that leads to a better understanding of our spiritual relationship to the universe than developed mental capacity, coupled with that spiritual influence which is the growing tendency of religious teaching of to-day.

It

That part of the Discipline which speaks of the duties of the Representative Committee was read by John Coale. was followed by Elizabeth Lincoln, giving her views as to how Peace principles can be best advanced, and whether they can be maintained by nations now claiming to be Christians. Peace is the offspring of justice; war of injustice; in the former is life and growth, in the latter death and decay. And when we have learned to settle our difficulties through arbitration we will wonder how war was ever tolerated. We need to employ men who are interested in maintaining peace rather than advancing the schemes of war. The military drill in the schools, and the "boys' brigades "' in the church, seem to invite attack, and appear as two ominous clouds, marring the sky of cerulean peace.

The program being completed, and no voluntaries offered, we then listened to the report of the Executive Committee. Under new business, a portion of the constitution was read, regarding the election of officers, a committee of five being

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appointed to nominate officers, to be acted upon at the next annual meeting.

Adjournment followed, which was preceded by the usual brief silence. ELLA F. HUNT, Corresponding Secretary.

FLEMING, PA. On the 27th of Third month, the regular meeting of our Association was opened by the Superintendent reading the 11th chapter of Isaiah.

Whose birth occurred in 1996 B. C.?" was a question given to Eva W. Cleaver, which was postponed for further research. Chapman Underwood answered the question, Who wrote many of the Psalms?"

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A paper was read by Edith W. Cleaver on the subject of "The Scriptures of the Old Testament, which abounded with interest. She said that owing to the large collection of books in the Old Testament, she had merely taken a glimpse of it; then gave interesting historical facts concerning it. She spoke of its promises, trials of faith, etc., etc., and of the necessity of becoming acquainted with the history of the manners and customs of the people of the age in which the Bible was written, as it would enable us to better understand much that is now but dimly seen.

"Who is like unto Jehovah?" was answered by Sue Underwood.

Nancy M. Fisher gave an interesting. version of the Lord's Prayer.

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What is meant by, “So shall the King greatly desire thy beauty?" was the question given to Mary J. Fisher, who answered it by reading an excellent selection entitled, Let the beauty of the Lord be upon thee," describing how goodness, cheerfulness, etc., beam from the countenance, making those who were considered plain-looking, beautiful.

Who was the youngest of Jesus's disciples?" was referred to Florence N. Cleaver, who answered it by giving a brief biography of John.

Anna M. Underwood answered the question, "What is taught us by the study of the history of early Friends?" by saying that she thought we were greatly benefited by the study of them, as they were both encouraging and elevating.

General Question: "Should not we adopt some systematic plan for the study of early Friends?' was discussed with lively interest, the summary being that one or two at each meeting have a prepared paper or talk on the most important parts of some Friend's life, and if the subject be too large for one meeting have it continued for future ones. The program for next meeting was read. After a brief silence the Association closed to meet again in two weeks.

F. N. CLEAVER, Sec.

PHILADELPHIA FIRST-DAY SCHOOL UNION.-This Union met in Race Street meeting-house, on the evening of Fourth month 8. A large company of Friends were in attendance.

The Clerk announced that he had received reports from the seven schools constituting the Union, and read a summary of these reports, showing satisfactory progress.

After the routine business had been transacted, the speaker of the evening, Rufus M. Jones, editor of the American Friend, proceeded to read his lecture: The Modern Christian's Attitude Towards the Bible." This occupied an hour, and was listened to with the closest attention by all present. The lecture was an excellent presentation of the position which the Bible does and should hold in the minds of intelligent Christians of all denominations. After some commendatory remarks by Friends present, the meeting closed with an impressive prayer by R. M. Jones.

R. P.

HUNTINGTON, IND.-The Young Friends' Association met on Sixth-day evening, Fourth month 1, at the home of John and Alice Brown. The chairman called the meeting to order, after which a short silence was observed. The paper for the evening was written and read by Samuel Nichols, the subject being "Golden Deeds."

"A golden deed is something more than fearlessness and self-exposure. It must have a grave and resolute fulfilment of duty behind it. The most remarkable characteristic is that the doer is certain to feel it merely as a duty, and not

even once think of himself or his reward. It is seldom valor that carries the soldier forward on the battle-field, but often greed of fame or gain, or fear of shame. The spirit that gives. itself for others, the temper, that for sake of religion, country, duty, kindred, or even stranger, will meet death, or wear its. life away in silence, is the one which accomplishes the golden deeds of the universe.'

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A few noted instances were given, commencing with the: story of Damon and Pythias, and including Sir Philip Sidney; Joan of Arc; George Washington, in refusing "to become: king, and thus make a monarchy out of this fair land of ours. A short sketch of the work of Florence Nightingale, also one of Clara Barton, were given, showing that their lives were filled with "Golden Deeds. Elizabeth Fry and Frances Willard were mentioned as great examples whose lives were indeed "Golden." The last examples mentioned were those of George Ainsworth and his companions of the disabled steamer La Champagne. The writer concluded with the verse : "Howe'er it be,

It seems to me,

'Tis only golden to be good,

Kind hearts are more than coronets,

And simple faith than Norman blood."

The reading of the paper was followed by a general discussion, in which a variety of views were presented. The usual business was then transacted, followed by a period of social enjoyment.

Adjourned to meet Fifth month 6, at the home of Benjamin and Loretta Nichols.

Clotilde D. EDMONDSON, Cor. Sec.

Educational Department.

SOMERVILLE REUNION AT SWARTHMORE. ONE of the important events of the college year, the annual Reunion of the Somerville Literary Society—the main literary and social organization of the women students—occurred on Seventh-day last, the 9th inst., and brought back to the College many of her most loyal alumni.

The meeting was held in Somerville Hall. The attendance was good, fully as large as in previous years. Many old students were present. Eva E. Foster, of the Senior Class, president of the Society, presided. The usual business. was transacted in the morning, and the afternoon session was. devoted to various interesting exercises.

An interesting letter from Sarah Bancroft, '97, who is pursuing an advanced course of study at Cambridge University, England, as holder of the Lucretia Mott Fellowship, was read. The committee to award this Fellowship for the coming year announced that it had been awarded to Edna H. Richards, a member of this year's class. She is from Salem, Ohio. Her essay, prepared in the competition for the Fellowship, was read.

"The Princess" of Tennyson was rendered by girls of the Society, and highly appreciated.

YEARLY MEETING COMMITTEE TEACHERS' CLASS.

The following report of the Teachers' Class, at 15th and Race streets, Philadelphia, under care of the Yearly Meeting's Committee is for the period ending Fourth month 14:

The following is a summary of class-work, etc., since Third month 1. Three lectures by Dr. Spencer Trotter, illustrating methods in botany, zoology, and geography. Elementary science, Jos. E. Haines; Arithmetic methods and practice, A. B. Ivins; Pollard system in teaching and reading, Frances Haines; Word method and advanced reading, Anna W. Speakman. A talk by Annie Shoemaker on Forest Trees. Talks by William W. Birdsall, Departmental Teaching. School Incentives. Nine laws of Pestalozzi. Method work and practice in class by members. Nature studies, geography, general history, zoology, drawing and modeling.

White's Elements of Pedagogy, Herbartian Psychology, and Brook's Mental Science are in use as text-books.

Papers have been prepared and discussed by the class on general subjects pertaining to methods and school manage

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Number of days taught and substituted by members since Tenth month, 461. Schools taught in Girard Avenue, Rancocas, Moorestown, Mickleton, Camden, Woodstown, Salem, Darby, West Philadelphia, Germantown; Girls' Intermediate, Primary and Kindergarten, 15th and Race streets, Philad'a ; Horsham, Warminster, Media, West Chester, London Grove, Martin Academy, Kennett Square; Wilmington, Abington, Langhorne, Plymouth Meeting, Special Department Friends' Central, Newtown Square, and private schools.

The class was divided Third month 1, to be recalled at time fixed by the Committee. Six members entered George School and six Friends' School, Wilmington, to pursue a course of study and observe methods. At George School three reviewed mathematics with special reference to methods, three history, with the same object in view. All reviewed pedagogy, rhetoric, and composition, and devoted two periods each day to manual training.

In the Wilmington School, courses of lectures have been arranged for in psychology, history of Education, English literature and composition. Several periods during the week are devoted to observation of class-work, followed by discussion and suggestions by Principal Isaac T. Johnson.

Two members of the class have been reserved for general teaching, and three for the following lines of work in outlying schools: Drawing, painting, modeling; a course in history, to supplement regular class teaching; course in biology.

All teachers not in permanent or temporary positions are now in the Wilmington Friends' School, taking the prescribed course for study as prearranged. Reports from the Wilmington and George schools show that the work has been very satisfactory to the teachers and I believe to those in charge of these schools.

Sixteen, all of whom are in membership with Friends, have been entered for the class for next year. If limited to the same number as this year (20) but few more entries can be made.

The substitute work, attendance in class, interest, and professional spirit, with few exceptions, has been very satisfactory the present year.

BELLE H. MOONEY, Principal.

SWARTHMORE COLLEGE NOTES. The students returned, after the spring vacation, on Second-day, the 4th instant, and work was resumed with fresh vigor and interest.

An interesting and instructive lecture was recently delivered in College Hall, by Prof. George Gunton, of New York, on "The Labor of Children in Factories." Prof. Gunton will deliver another lecture Fourth month 15, on "The Missing Link in the Wages System."

The regular April meeting of the Joseph Leidy Scientific Society was held on Fifth-day night, the 7th. Papers were read by William M. Maule, 'oo, on "The Development of the Digestive Organs," and by Annie Lodge, '99, on "Some Theories of Sight."

The Delphic Literary Society held its Twenty-fifth Annual Reunion and Banquet on Seventh-day evening, the 9th inst. About sixty of the old members were present. Wm. G. Underwood, '89, acted as leader. Prof. Wm. W. Birdsall, President-elect of the College, was present, as the guest of the evening, and spoke acceptably. It was one of the most successful Reunions in the history of the Society.

'99.

THE COLLEGE PRESIDENCY.-An esteemed Western Friend writes to the INTELLIGENCER : "We feel that you have done well in your choice of a President for Swarthmore. I hope he will grow into the work, and be a sure promoter of its best welfare. What far-reaching influence one may exert in such a responsible position!"

ABINGTON FRIENDS' SCHOOL.-The corps of instructors for the ensuing school year as finally arranged by the school committee at its meeting, Fourth month 11, is as follows: Louis B. Ambler, Principal; Carrie B. Way, B. L., Bertha L. Broomell, B. S., Anna M. Ambler, Arthur C. Smedley, B. S., and Jenny F. Peuckert, assistants in the High School; Rachel S. Martin, Principal of Primary Department, and Alice P. Thomson, assistant in the Primary School. Emma L. Penniman is appointed instructor in art work. Jessie Kent Gourley will continue as Matron. The condition of the School is very encouraging and the prospects for the next year are good.

LITERARY NOTES.

HENRY C. CONRAD, of Wilmington, Delaware, who has made a number of valuable contributions to the local history of that city and State, read some time ago before the Historical Society of Delaware an interesting paper on "Old Delaware Clock-Makers,' which is now handsomely reprinted as No. 20 of the Society's publications.

"There is something about the old-fashioned high clock that commands respect," he says. Whether it is the primness of the tall case, or the imperative tone of the resounding gong as it suddenly strikes the ear, may not readily be determined. We, somehow, cannot get rid of the idea that the generation of a century ago, who not only respected but venerated this ancient style of time-piece, had a sense of quiet dignity that is most sadly lacking in the bustling activity of these later times.'

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The old clock-makers whom the paper treats of include some Friends well-known in their day: John Chandlee, of the Nottingham family of that name; Benjamin and Ziba Ferris, and Charles Canby. Ziba Ferris was perhaps the most notable clock- and watch-maker in Wilmington's history. He was born in 1786 and died 1875. 'Many are still living," says H. C. Conard, who bear witness to the cheerfulness and geniality of his disposition, and of his delightful companionship. In many regards he was an unusual man.'' He was a consistent, life-long Friend, a valuable member of Wilmington Meeting. Charles Canby was his apprentice, and practically everything said of Ziba Ferris might be repeated as to him. He died in 1883, in his 91st year, having passed a little beyond the age of Ziba Ferris, who did not quite reach 90. Charles was lame from his youth, and a delicate looking man, but he had a resolute spirit; he courageously supported Thomas Garrett, when the latter was put to hard trial and heavy expense for his sympathy with the escaping slaves.

'Awakened Russia," the first of a series of articles treating Russia as a militant power in the fore-front of modern political and territorial movements, will appear in the next number of Harper's Magazine. The author is Julian Ralph, and the article will be freely illustrated.

The great power of Russia is coming more and more to be recognized. There is little doubt that it will ultimately absorb a large part of China, and perhaps this will be "for the best,'' though Russia's governmental system and state religion are both oppressive and repressive.

Harper & Bros., New York, send out their List of Spring Books. It contains a number of illustrations. Among the announcements are the new edition of Thackeray, edited by his surviving daughter, Mrs. Ritchie, in thirteen volumes, at $1.50 a volume; "A Constitutional History of the American People," by Prof. F. N. Thorpe, of the University of Pennsylvania; and a "' condensed students' edition of Motley's "Rise of the Dutch Republic." The condensation has been done by Wm. Elliot Griffis, of Ithaca, and is effected by omitting certain paragraphs, and leaving the rest intact. A historical sketch of the Dutch people from 1584 to 1897 has been added.

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PERSONAL NOTES.

ALICE AND AMY BROCKBANK, who had been visiting in and near Philadelphia for nearly three months, sailed for Liverpool on the steamship Belgenland, from this city, on the 9th instant. They are the daughters of Richard Brockbank, a prominent English Friend, and sisters to Margaret Graham, the wife of our friend John William Graham, of Dalton Hall, Manchester.

Several of our Philadelphia Friends leave in a few days for a trip of about two months to the Pacific Coast, with one of "the Raymond and Whitcomb parties. Those going include Ezra Lippincott and wife, and S. Robinson Coale and wife, of Riverton, N. J., Annie Shoemaker, of Swarthmore, and Naomi Walter, of Philadelphia. They expect to return by Sixth month 22.

Hannah A. Plummer, who had been spending some time in Colorado Springs, Col., left there on the 10th of last month and reached home on the 15th, having spent a few days at Lincoln, Neb. She found herself unable, on account of unfavorable weather and a cold, to attend the meeting there, as she desired to do.

William J. Hall, Superintendent of Swarthmore College, has been for some time at Watrous, New Mexico, and writes encouragingly concerning his health. He expects to return East some time in Sixth month. He says (7th inst.): "We are having a late spring,—cold and windy, not a bud started, and quite dry ever since my coming here.

Third month 23, a number of invited friends and relatives met at the home of George and Sarah G. Wood, of Norristown, Pa., to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage. After a pleasant social period, the original certificate was read, also one prepared for the occasion. This, with readings appropriate, made the occasion one of interest and satisfaction.

A note from John William Graham, of recent date, speaks of his enjoying his vacation, usual in the English schools at this time. “I am just off to the Italian lakes for a holiday of three weeks," he says.

COMMUNICATIONS.

A LINE OMITTED.

Editors FRIENDS' INTELLIGENCER :

I DESIRE to call your attention to a slip of the types in my article printed in your issue of Fourth month 9. On page 264, column 1, the last word is "fortunes," the next word at the top of the next column is " labor." If you will kindly look at my manuscript, you will find that the sentence should read, "Fortunes, very large ones, made out of it by means of slave labor.” A line has been omitted. As this was one of the important points that I wanted brought out in the article, I would ask you to make the correction in your next issue. HOWARD WILLIAMS LLOYD.

Germantown, Philadelphia.

NEBRASKA HALF-YEAR MEETING. Editors FRIENDS' INTELLIGENCER :

Nebraska Half-Year's Meeting will be held in the G. A. R. Hall, Lincoln, Neb., on the 23d, 24th, and 25th of Fourth month, 1898. All will be welcome. Friends coming from a distance, or any one wanting further information regarding distance, or any one wanting further information regarding

the meeting, please address either of the undersigned. MARIA A. BAILEY, 1335 G street. ADALINE A. GARLOCK, University Place.

Lincoln, Nebraska.

In an appeal for financial assistance the New York Kindergarten Association says: "New York has the most overcrowded population in the civilized world; many thousands of children in its streets are unprovided with school accommodations of any kind, and it is more poorly supplied with kindergartens than other of our great American cities. The need is pressing for sufficient money even to support the fifteen free kindergartens under the charge of the New York Kindergarten Association. Nearly $27,000 must be expended annually to keep the present schools open.

COSMOPOLITAN LIFE AND INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLINESS.

From an article by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, in American Monthly Review of Reviews for April.

In my

In order to understand a country it is not enough to see it live; its present state must be compared with its recent past. A nation is an eternal invalid; there is not one which is not ill, which has not some ulcer of a more or less dangerous nature. But that which it is most important of all to know is, what is the course of its malady. One must decide whether the disease is inclined to increase or whether, on the contrary, it is on the way to a cure. Do not hope to know this until you yourself have compared yesterday and today. For this history is indispensable, and especially the political history of the present century. opinion it is almost impossible to understand a modern country if one is not acquainted with its political history for a period of the past eighty years; and I would like to say that it is regrettable that one should visit a country before he has made such a study The English. are sometimes great travelers and sometimes very sedentary. I have known some who were admirably well acquainted with France, and that almost without having seen it, and others who had traversed it repeatedly and knew almost nothing about it. The former were not always intellectually superior to the latter, but they had acquired the habit when they read their newspapers of never passing over anything which concerned France without pausing, without meditating upon it, and especially without finding out what the French themselves thought about it. This is the proper manner of judging things. One cannot understand, for example, the movement which is about to thrust Norway out of her union with Sweden if he does not study this movement from its origin, and if he knows nothing of the phases through which it has passed since the Swedish-Norwegian kingdom was constituted. For my part I have searched the point where I always try to get outside of myself, in a way, when I have to judge an international question I say to myself : "What would I think about Cecil Rhodes if I were an Englishman? What would be my opinion on India if I were a Russian? What would I desire in the East if I were a Hungarian? What would be my colonial ideas if I were a German ?" And I think that in our modern world this manner of forming one's

judgment is the only one which affords any chance of arrriving at the truth and consequently of doing any good.

A HEAVY, wet snow fell in Colorado on the 3d inst., which was followed by a misty rain, which will insure plenty of grass on the ranges for stockmen.

'LONDONERS are more grateful to those who make them laugh than to those who make them think," a newspaper paragraph says. This is not peculiar to Londoners, by any

means.

THERE are twenty-six steamers now engaged in the trade between Alaska and Portland, Ore., and Puget Sound points, and thirteen new vessels are now on the way to the Pacific coast to engage in this traffic.

IS SELF-GOVERNMENT A FAILURE? The Commonwealth, (Dr. Swallow's Paper, Harrisburg, Pa. MR. HILAIRE BELLOC, the French-Englishman who has been lecturing in various Pennsylvania towns under the auspices of the Society for the Extension of University teaching, upon a recent occasion remarked incidentally, in the course of his lecture, that he did not expect our present civilization to last for any prolonged period. Upon being questioned by one of his hearers, after the lecture had been delivered, he is reported to have said that he expects a collision between labor and capital which will result in the spoliation of the rich by the poor, who will combine for that purpose. He added that this is likewise a grossly materialistic age, and expressed the conviction that a civilization, the root of which consists of selfishness, must inevitably perish. He did not attempt to specify the particular manner in which the change would come, whether peacefully or amid scenes of horror like those which accompanied the French revolution in the closing days of the eighteenth century, but he is confident it is going to come and that the end will be a despotism in which the few will be rich and powerful while the many will be slaves. In a word, while this is the age of man, the era of ever-widening freedom and equality, the next century, perhaps, will see the pendulum swing to the other extreme. The days of old will appear, the dream of self-government will vanish.

How reasonable are these speculations? Is Mr. Belloc a dreamer or a prophet? It is well that all English-speaking people should seriously consider the present state of our civilization and the state of the popular mind. One thing is clear-both in this country and in England there is great and growing unrest among the plain people. In periods of industrial

activity this impatience is suppressed and all things move along smoothly. But when commercial uncertainty prevails and wages are low, and employment uncertain, it rapidly comes to the front, manifesting itself in Coxey armies and various other eccentric forms. There is a deep conviction among the people that the rich are in the saddle; that they control legislatures, coerce courts, and, in spite of manhood suffrage, manipulate all things to the advantage of their class and to the increasing disadvantage of the poor. They believe there is one kind of law for the poor and another for the rich. The liberal gifts of men like Andrew Carnegie enrage rather than please them. They say if he did not rob the poor he would not have millions to give away. They say it is their money upon which he builds his great reputation for philanthropy. They declare that if only they could get justice, they would be under no necessity of accepting charity from the rich. And they feel all they say.

We are not to be understood as admitting the situation to be as bad as the average workingman believes it to be. We are merely quoting his sentiments. And yet it is useless to disguise the fact that there is much. truth in what he says. Here is another ugly truththe workingman in America could remedy the wrongs that exist here, because he has the ballot and is in an

overwhelming majority, but thus far he has signally failed to embrace the opportunity. On the contrary, he has fallen into the hands of the very men for whose methods he professes such an abhorrence, too many times permitting them to use him for the accomplishment of their sinister purposes. They do not buy him directly they are wise enough to know that he is not in the market—but too often they do buy his leaders. The latter have his confidence and it is not a difficult matter for them to lead him to his own undoing. "The Commonwealth," while realizing the deplorable state of modern politics, is not willing to admit that the mass of the people have the spirit of slaves. It does not believe they are venal. It is of the opinion that the failures of our free government are largely due to their confidenec in others. Honest themselves, they are unwilling to believe that their chosen leaders are in the market and thus they are betrayed. After awhile, when experience has taught them the wisdom of personal investigation and personal action, they will refuse to permit others to do the thinking, and the result will be just laws and good government.

"The Commonwealth " has heard much about the materialism of this age, and is willing to admit that in some respects the trend is materialistic. Nevertheless it insists that the most potent force of the century just closing has been the gospel of Jesus Christ, and it is persuaded that there never was a period in the history of mankind when there was so much genuine, unpretentious, self-sacrificing religion in the world as there is at the present moment. There are selfish persons among the rich and among the poor. There are many hideous wrongs that need righting.

There

is suffering that needs assistance. And yet it is a fact that the dominant note of the age is sympathetic interest in the distressed. If war should come between the United States and Spain-which God forbid—it will not be because the Maine was wrecked in Havana harbor, but on account of the hideous state of affairs existing in the island of Cuba. Not an insult to our flag, but the suffering of women and children, the result of Spanish brutality, will bring on the war. And this incident simply illustrates the temper of the people of all English-speaking lands. The age is in sympathy with all that is good; its spirit is that of the Carpenter of Nazareth. But it has not always been able to utilize its best sentiment at the proper time, and, thus, in spite of itself has been made to appear worse than it is, seemingly delighting to pander to all the worse passions of the human heart. But the dawn will come.

It has been announced on the authority of the chief architects of the Trans-Mississippi Exposition, at Omaha, Neb., that all construction work will be finished in ample time for the installation of exhibits and the perfection of concessions by the opening day, Sixth month 1. The large buildings are nearly ready for the artistic decorations, save the Fine Arts Building, and the United States Government Building.

THE Chicago Kitchen Garden Association has obtained permission from the board of education to give lessons to girls in cookery and housekeeping in two rooms in one of the new city school-buildings. The experiment has proved so suc cessful in the Greenwood Avenue School that all Chicago now wants cooking scientifically taught.

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