The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-11-10

of the smoke in the Arabian story, as to
loll out in a thick cloud, and there bang
and hover"
tits so sad to think of the many words
used without any regard to their mean
ing How few of those who fippantly
cry, "Good-bye," remember that it is an
abbreviation of the old parting salute,
"God be with you" What an image
OF the powerlessness of human love to
protect and bless, and what an image of
Gods omniprescnt goodness, must have
arisen in the mind of that man or
woman who first, on the eve of part
ing with beloved one, invoked that bcne
diction, God be with you" The word
hmt-irom ken-teaches us an instruc-
tive lesson. 1t recognizes the kinshfp of
mankind, as the descendants of one COM
mon father, and implies that it is debt
We owe, kindness to all. Thus Shak-
speare makes Hamlet play upon the word
In speaking Of the marriage of his uncle
with his mother, Hamlet says:
"a little more than kin and less than kind"
A celebrated historian says: "There
has never been great civil war, in
which there has not been an alteration
in the received value of words, the fitting
OF false names to every thiug-names of
honor to the base, and of baseness to the
honorable The word 'Pluuder" was
first used in England in the period imme.
diately preceding the civil wars OF 1880
and 1910. 1t did not mean then, as it
now does, open violence but, "the ran
sacking and robbing, under legal pretence,
OF the effects of socalled malgnants."
"Mob' and "sham' owed their birth to the
most shameful periods of English history.
The French Revolution made its contri
button to language-among them the
word "guillotiuc," Qrom DIR. Guillotine,
its inventory ntains history of woe.
1t recalls to our mind the frightful exc
cutions Of those men who were elevated by
the ignorant populace to authority So,
in the civil war, which for four years
spent It's fury upon this unhappy country,
words assumed new meaning "Loyal'
in its original application meant man
who supported his king under all circuw.
stances. The United Sta,es, being re-
publican in its Constitution, the word
"loyaP has been given a Republican
meaning. 1t is now given to those men
who, shifting as the Administration may
shift, always go with the party in power.
The word "contraband" now signifies a
man OF woman of African descent. "Ske.
daddle" is given, also, notable place in
American history.
But we cannot close this article without
recalling to mind Him who was "the
Word" We can never forget the gra-
cious purpose for which "Thc Word was
manifested to men," 1t was, "To speak
word in season to the weary" as He
did, when He said, "Come unto me, all ye
that are weary and heavy laden, and l
will give you rest" How different the
end of human learning! We study our
words that we may aggraudize ourselves.
0, let us seek to copy His great example
of charity, and speak only words of "good
will to mau.' When we enter that dark
valley which leads to that boundless ocean
into which we must plunge forever, it
will be a sweet reflection that we have
ever spoken kind words and VIC do not
doubt the gracious Saviour will say to
such an one, aye have done it unite Me.'
Holy Scripture says, "By thy words thou
shalt be justified by thy words thou
shalt be condemned"
NJ.