The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-11-28
The Gospel of Travelling.

1t can hot De TOO 0iten remarked that
kindness is one of the virtues which
hardly ever fails to produce an effect;
kindness "in season and out of sea-
son;' kindness which is in every ones
power. How very much the wheels of
life would be smoothed, how very
much everyone would add to the sum
total of human happiness, if every one
were to take hold OF any of the many
opportunities which every situation
offers to be kind, courteous, easy and
agreeable toward the chance travellers
that he meets in his journeys-toward
the chance sufferer that he comes
across 1t is never forgotten. The
Coy at school never forgets the kind
ness of an elder school fellow. The
poor, solitary and wayworn man or
woman never forgets the pressure of
kind, feeling hand, the glance of a low
ing, sympathetic eye. "a cup Of cold
water" given unexpectedly at the
right moment, will indeed not close
its reward" Think of this, all those
who are concerned in the movements
backward and forward which make
England, and we may almost say the
whole civilized world, at this season
of the year, a world of travellers, de-
scent and ascent from Jerusalem to
Jericho, from Jericho to Jerusalem.
Railway officials, how very much yon
can ease the burden and Ioften the diff
ficulties of some helpless solitary crea-
ture, by speaking kind word to him,
by showing him the way, by telling
him what he ought to do in the hurry
and confusion OF multitudinous rail-
way stations Policemen in our great
cities. how very much you can do and
ennoble your excellent vocation by
readiness to guide, by a willingness to
give information by the friendly hand
or encouraging word in the crossing of
the streets, by the unceasing vigilance
to avert every kind of roughness or
disorder in the vast area of your null
tiplied callings Cabmen, in taking
up or setting down some suffering wo-
man or child, how much in the course
of the day you may add to their COM
fort your own happiness by gentleness
instead of rudeness, by courtesy in.
stead of harshness. Servants, officials,
passers-by in our great public build
ings, what pleasure you can give to
all who come through this or any like
resort, by making them feel that they
are welcome and at home; what de-
light you can impart by word of in
struction, or warning, or advice p
Travellers, whoever you may being
lishmen, Americans, here or abroad
how far and wide You may make your
own good influence and the fame of
your country extend by an agreeable
turn to give to some travelling disaster,
by not pressing hard on your neigh
bors in crowded vehicle, by giving
place to those who are weaker or less
befriended than yourselves, by extern
ding to those around you, or who come
within the reach Of your notice, any
protection which your superior wealth,
or strength, or health may put in your
possession -! The "presence of mind"
to catch these opportunities of diffus-
ing Christian kindness is one of the
most valuable Of Gods gifts, which
we should endeavor to strengthen by
prayer, by habit, by remembering that
God, in whose presence we are, is ever
requiring of us the special frame of
mind which makes US ever "present"
with Him, and ever "present" to the
call of our fellow Creatures Dean
Stanley.