The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-11-28
For the VALLEY VIRGINIAN.
One Of NV Friends.

OuC Va Any AAVANc
One of my friends in Paris during the Ex-
position days exhibited a most commenda-
bic interest in my moral condition, my re-
lisious status. For on three different occa.
sions when was crossing the pont d'Ieno
did this friend Of mine approach me in q
kindly, deferential manner, and each time
present me with neat, plain copy Of the
New Testament Gospel by St. Matthew.
printed in the French language. l always
accepted them very graciously, and rendered
my thanks as sincerely as possible. Iregard'
ed him as part and parcel of the Exposi-
ton, helping to fill up the measure of its
general completeness he was evidently act
ing as local colporter or missionary. He
was most unquestionably the oldest looking
man had ever seen engaged in this partic-
ular line Of business in Christian land. He
was nothing more or less than an Arab Sheik
dressed in the flowing picturesque costume
of his native country the same he had worn,
like Abraham of old, when sitting at his tent
door, or perhaps when he bestrode the I'm.
calmly looking camel in crossing the sandy
deserts of Arabia. Those parched and bar.
rem lands of distant Asia had representatives
at Paris variously employed, advancing thei r
own interest, and, with the exception of my
friend, these sons of the desert were trading
In perfumed trinkets in the shape OF bead
necklaces, charms, &c. am not able to say
whether or not my friend was in sympathy
with his work do not know if his heart
was in it, or even If he understood it at all;
the precious little books he distributed so in
dustriously (and so aptly, as in my case) may
have been sealed books to him the glorious
beauty Of their inspired contents possibly
had never dazzled his untutored sight. He
may have been employed by the religious
agents of the Exhibition to perform this
work with some sensational view in the way
of an advertisement to attract attention to
the object in which he was engaged; and it
is very probable that he performed his duty
in purely mechanical manner, not being in
any wise conversant with the nature of it. [
came to this uncharitable conclusion at the
time this gentleman (whom I have seen
proper to mention as tone of my friends')
handed me the third copy Of the "Gospez By
st. MQtthew.'' 1 then availed myself of the
opportunity to ask him something about the
character of the volume he was distributing.
Not one word of reply did he make: he was
almost dumb as an oyster he did not know
half.dozen words of French, and of course
could not converse with him in Arabic; so
we parted, knowing very little about each
other, and 1 was forced to conclude he knew
more of the Koran than Of the Bible.
was impressed at the time to an extent
not perfectly defiuable by this incident, and
I am now disposed to believe that apart from
the novelty ofthe scene, some real and last
ing good must have been effected by the in
strument employed, coming in contact. as
our Arab friend did, with such variety of
human nature as crossed over that famous
and much frequented '.pont dJena," con-
Meeting, as it did, the palace of the Trocade-
70 and the main Exposition buildings. There
are healthy, truthful lessons taught us in a
variety OF ways, all intended to reach and i'm
press our hearts and minds. Have we the
right to refuse them, to close onr eyes to
thems Does 1t matter with you if an
Arab. or Turk, OF Hottentot offers you
the Word of Life, whether he knows any
thing about it, are you to regard the source
of the offering before you will accept it:
This is something of the thought that came
into my mind each and every time my dark
skinned desert friend handed me the books
l have named, and accepted, them, partly
because did not feel at liberty to refuse
Civilization and the hearts of civilized men
cannot refuse and ignore the Holy Bible.
certainly not the New Testament part of it.
How often do we refuse to take business
| circulars, play bills, and other papers of q
secular kind, when they are either politely
| handed to us, or thrust at us on the streets
| We all do this at times, because we do no.
care for them and their contents, do moi
\ want to read them, and have no special ust
| for them. There are very few of u:
possessing an amount of Indifference and
| hardihood sufficient to cause us to decline
accepting the records of DivineTruths; when
where and by whom they are..spresented tt
| us, is a matter of no Importance, and neith-
er is the spirit of the act questionable one
whatever may be the peculiar features at.
tending, the time and circumstances sur.
| rounding the transaction. II Bashi- Ba
zoak, Mamaluke Tartar or an Arab should
make such an offer to me again, I would &C
ccpt 1t and not the less appreciate the gift.
If have said anything or presented al
idea, however humble, in this little sketch
sufficient to interest you, and even awaken
any serious thoughts beyond the novelty o.
| the simple incident here related, why, yor
! need not thank me for such, but rather
LONE OF MY FRIENDS
Paris, 1878. G. A. X.