The Portland daily press., 1879-05-03

=
erner. Perhaps he didn't use exactly these
words he certainly didn't wait for the
Southerner to close with his extremely lib
eral offer, but fell upon him and smote him
as Gideon smote the Midiani-but why re-
Vive old issues by recalling that long-ago-
fought battle on the plains of Esdraelon !
Suffice 1t to say the church militant was the
church triumphant. 1t was not the last
field on which Northern sturdiness and cour-
age proved more than match for Southerf,
and valor.
Perhaps the coming American, the voter
and warrior of the future, will combine In
one harmonious whole the qualities that
mark men in different sections Of our coun-
try. The slow and stubborn spirit and calcu-
lating purpose of the North may be mellowed
and quickened by Southern heat and impetu-
osity, and the rash impulse and hasty action
of the South tempered by Northern caution
and hardened by Northern endurance and
tenacty. Just now the two sections suggest
the lines:
The young mans wrath is like straw aflre,
But like hot steel Is the old mans ire.
This same strong armed preacher is
Yankee Of the Yankees, and proved his blood
ia what he had to say concerning poorly
constructed meeting house lately burned
down, and belonging to society under his
charge. ''It was not" he slowly and
thoughtfully said, ga fitting edifce for public
worship, and regard its destruction as
providential-for it was fully insured, and as
labor and building materials are now the
sorey.smitten people can take the insurance
money and build new meeting house for
half the cost of the old one." Very likely
the insurance company took different view
of the matter; but, as it is we'll known, cor
porations have no souls, and so perhaps are
not considered in the matter Of special provi-
dences.
This preacher had the wisdom of the
serpent as we'll as the harmlessIess of the
dove. He was far seeing man. During
his stay at the conference he made some in
quiries concerning Mrs. Yorick, and on find
ing that that estimable woman was as yet
but a beautiful dream, said: ''If you ever
do get married, and If your wife wants any
millinery, and if you happen to be in Boston,
I advise you to call at Mo- street.
My son has well-stocked store there, and
sells as low as any man in Boston," Yorick,
who felt immensely 1attered at the delicious
possibilities held out to him, said he would
certainly call.
Here is communication from one who
signs himself "Anti- Tobacco" :"
Yorick seems to think it right to follow
Huxley and other scientists on certain sub
jects, and gives as reason, 'because they
have investigated 10 scientific manner"
But may it not be that man often believes
some things without much proof when he
wants to have it so? Does Yorick want
Huxley's views true? On the subject o
Tobacco, Yorick talks of its use among the
young in very flippant manner. And as
though it is something desirable to become 9
proficient in smoking.
Have we not the highest scientific author
ity among medical men that the use of to
bacco is great injury to the human system
As an evil habit it is probably only second t.
the use of alcoholic drinks.
d,
Europe, sent recently to the Gospel Banner
an article, "On the use of Tobacco" from
one OF the most distinguished physicians in
England deploring the use of Tobacco, and
showing some OF the great evils, especially
among the young. Now this is only ont
among many that can be brought forward
Does Yorick lope the lueed? Shall we 90
have the truth to impress the many reader:
of the PRESS?
This quick-witted correspondent hs
guessed Yorick's secret, so long and so Gun
ningly kept. One may as well make clea
breast of 1t, for an endeavor to conceal tn
evidences Of guilt from the sharp eyes G
"Anti-Tobacco" would be folly. Yes, Yor
ick does love the weed. Let "the truth i'm
press the many readers of the PRESS.
Aud he praises tobacco not because of an,
medicinal properties the plant possesses, bu
because he enjoys the smoking of it. 1t Is
love-affair purely. He loves it in spite of it
faults, or perhaps because of them, an
though it slay him yet will he trust in 1t.
But Yorick is surprised that Anti Tobacco
should resort to an old and contemplate al
gument and impute bad motives to those
with whom he disagrees. Anti Tobacco ma
believe that yellow fever will rage in tn
South next summer. Would he not thin
| those unjust who accused him of holdin,
| this belief because he wanted to see the feve
rage? He believes the use of tobacco an il
! jury. Does he believe that, because b
wants all tObacco-users to impair the
health? Yorick believes that if he handle
| fire he will be burned, if he touches pitch b
will be defiled. He certainly doesn't want I
believe these things. He would like to b
able to walk through fire unscathed, to pas
through unclean things without pollution
Perhaps Anti-Tobacco believes in He'll. Is
because he wants to see somebody damned
Huxey's doctrines may be true or they ma
be false. IT they are true they will prevai
If they are untrue they will 60 the way of a
false things. But it is no more than Chri
tian charity to believe that they are honest
held by those who preach them.
sMay 1t not be-" asks Anti Tobacco, ''th;
a man often believes some things withol
much proof when he wants to have it so
Perhaps Anti-Tobacco may be himself q
instance in point. What does lie know abol
the injurious effects OF tobacco? Has b
ever used it? Has it done him harm? Do,
he know of his own personal knowledge
its bad effects? Or does he speak evil of j
"without much proof" because he wants
to be evil? His opinions of tobacco are no
so far as appears, dictated by experience
its ill effects, If it has any, but are based q
the "highest scientific authority among me
ical men," Why then should he complai
if Yorick bases his views of the origin
species, or of paleontology, or of protoplasu
or of comparative mythology, on the highe
scientific authority among students of natul
and of Antiquities? We both of us probabl
Anti-Tobacco and Yorick, hold theoretical
to the good old Protestant dogma of the rigl
of private Judgment. Why cannot we eac
exercise that right without impugning Il
motives of the other? Why can we not pra
tice what we preach?
"Does Yorick want Huxley's views true
No, he doesn't. The old belief is far plea
anter and more comforting. Yorick doesn
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