Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-03-28
CHRISTIAN FRAME OF MIND.

There was a colonial bishop, whose
see was on the coast of Africa.
He was an energetic bishop, who la
bored nobly, according to his views, and
no man gainsaid him. a.,
In his Immediate neighborhood resided
a barborous tribe-Tbe Tribe of the
Canoodle Dummers. You have heard Of
them. They were idolaters They were
simple race, with primitive religion.
They we're a mild and peaceable people,
and lived in perfect harmony with one
another
The bishop said land very properly,
II will convert these poor, benighted
heathens."
He entered among them, and they re-
ceivel him Hospitality. He is indebted
to them for teaching him the flavor OF
ape, which, to this day, is always served
in various forms at the Episcopal ban
ouets. There are few pleasanter dishes
than ape stewed with oysters and port
wine. But on the other hand he found
them but little prepared to listen to the
beauties of the religion he was about to
unfold to them.
He began by entering into conversa-
ton with their Chum, or High Priest.
The bishop learned from the Chum, or
High Priest, the heads of the Canoodle
Drummers faith. He found that at sun
rise they were summoned for prayer by
the beating of tom-tom, or the blowing
of the horn.
ut does not matter which said the
Chum.
How is this2" said the bishop. 1t
does not matter which,
1T does not, in the least, matter wheth'
er it is a tom.tom or u horn, said the
Chum. why should it2'
"Oh," said the bishop, this is terri
Bile state of things" And he thought to
himself-"I is useless, just at present,
to eaaeayor to iuculcate the beauties OF
Christianity among this ignorant and
unsophisticated people. In their pres
ent state of mind they will not appre-
ciate what l have to tell them. | will
begin by endeavoring to instlll a health
Ter moral tone, so they will the more
readily apprehend the doctrine that |
shall then lay before them.
With the perm,ss.op OF their chief, he
summoned the tribe. They game like
lambs.
ooh. noodle-Dummers," said he, ii
au aained to find that you are indiffer-
ent as to whether tom-ton or horn IS
used to summOR yGr to your devotlons.
1--WE are quite Indifferent, said they,
with enc voice, so that We ave sam
poned. =,
BAT" said the bishop, Observe; if a
horn is right, tom-tom must be wrong
So likewise, il 2 tom.tom is right, a
horn is out Of tue question.
But, why2' SAID the Gago9dle-Dum-
"Why?" echoed the bisbop, indignant
ly, why, of courseH
"I see, said each Canoodle-D e-Dummer,
thoughtfully. And the members of the
tgi5e looked askance at each other, and
each edged away from his neighbor.
And the next aaS th,s tribe was divided
into two mighty religious iaStons those
who stood up for the horn. and t-9o9e
who stood up for tom-tom. The Chum,
az uieh Priest endeavored, but in vain,
TO Fessaeile them. "Why," said the
Chum, shogia you quarrel on such a
uoint? You are ak seed men. You
sra all amiable, sufficiently yI-tpous,
tolers;;iir sober, charitable and generally
seg conducted. You agree on ali the
vital polats of your religion. Why ,ddil,, di,
vide On matter of unimportant detail?
"Why, indeedT sad the TRIBE Ana
the two factions embracea.
"Stopl" said the bishop. -" s@
NAMED beyond measure to see thus.
Nhat ere the ingredients OF a plumpud-
ding to tha ebape OF the mould IN whicp
it is boiled7' :,
Nothing at all, f" SAID tke tribe. And
thew we're again finally divided. The
5;s6op persevered. He addressed the
horn party, and said, g notice with
main that sosls Of your horns are long,
and some are snort. Tbs should not
be-"
(Which is right," said the Horn party.
81 am not of your religion, said the
bishop, so ] cannot undertake to oher
an opinion. But one thing is certain
if o ne is right, the otheT ls wrong.
So the Horn party was diVideA 'pto
two sects-the Long Horns and the
Short Horns. And the Long Horns
hated the Short Horns even more than
the Horn psEsy hated the Tom-tom
marty. Aud the Shsrt Rorps returned
the compliment The bishop then "a
dressed the Tom-tom party and said, l
am grieved to see that some Of your tom
toss are long and narrow, while others
are short aa5 stout IL It is right that q
tam-tom should be io1g and narrow, It Is
a sin TO use those that are Of diRmetri-
cally opposite form" And The Iom-ton
party we're accordingly divided into two
sects. the Long and Narrow lom-tom,
and the Short and Stout Iomtom.
Aud the fsud that existed between