The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-09-14

dren of France, promised separation of
Church and State-promised in a mo-
ment of fattery of the crowd, non aymaee,
no army. Impossible they exclaim with
tremendous shrug And so Gambetta
is impaled, as many great politician be-
fore him, by his own promises which,
when the opportunity of power has come,
have been found too large by far to be
carried out. The bulletins announce his
moral defeat, that is, his election by so
small majority as to impair surely his
prestige. "Gambetta est Perdal !" Gam
BETA is lost, his enemies cry. In fine,
just as many popular preacher lives to
preach to empty benches, as many
statesman is thrust headlong down from
the pinnacle of his power, Gambetta is
swiftly approaching the hour when the
crowd that cheered him to the echo, will
greet him with, "nier Vave La Pre-
naiere CtoyenF" He is reaping what he
has sown. He has built his power on
the popular applause rather than popular
conscience. A government which orders
its elections on the Lords day cannot
have the Lords blessing.
Somewhat saddened by the results of
the days observations we cogitated how
we should spend the evening Were we
in an American city we mi light join the
throngs which in few hours will crowd
the churches and prayer-meetings but
we are. in France. Theatres, concerts
there are Sabbath night, but no church
services. We elect to go down to the
seaside. We walk along the coast and
listen to the measured rhythm-the plain
tive music of the waves. We wander on,
musing upon the awful solemnity of the
infinite God and an endless eternity as
symbolized by that mighty deep, until
we happen upon a grand hotel bril-
llantly lighted-the rendezvous of the
elite-with rich saloons, and gallery
overlooking the sea. We rest for a
moment on seat, and look out upon
the waves, all rippled and painted
with silverine beauty by the brilliant
moon that rides over head We watch
the white sails and the Redeemed spars
that float against the distant horizon,
fitting like aerial phantoms of the night.
In our revery we dream of the awful Yoy-
age of immortal souls across the sea of
eternity which flows round each one Of
us and round all the world. We think
we can hear the sound Of the breakers as
they roar on that other shore Insensi-
bly, we pray that we may be prepared for
the 9roaade Uoyage! when the hour shall
come. We are awaked from our revery
by the sound of loud music The strain
of fine quao7a1lle falls upon our ears.
1t is the night of the ball Already the
waltz has begun, and men and women
are whirling in the dreamy gyrations of
the dance. Pricipitately we abandon the
scene murmuring, "Alas life in France
is a gallopade of pleasure which no
thought of God or eternity ever inter-
rupts. No Sabbath among the distin-
guished people-none among the Bour-
geoise None on the quays or in the
shops or at the government offices None
in the gardens-none apparently in the
churches. No seriousness anywhere on
the Lords day-only more unbridled
amusement, and the rein which has been
flung for six days on the neck of license,
upon the seventh is cast clean over its
head.
The regeneration Of France must begin
with the restoration of her Sabbath day.
Without 1T, the masses are unaccustomed
to serious thoughts, and in this very fact
lies the philosophy of the well-known in
ability OF the French to endure reverses
calmly and maintain a grand patience.
Without a Sabbath the nation suffers
physiologically, and the men of France
are VIGOROUSLY no match physically, for
the Germans or Anglo-Saxons. Without
Sabbath the government of France rests
upon a quicksand, and must forever be a
prey to the class who crave revolutions.
Conscience in the last analysis is the sub
structure of free government. But how
can conscience be developed or educated
under government which negates and
tramples on the fact of the existence of a
Sabbath. France wants Luther in 1881,
as much as Europe wanted one in the
10th century. The Reformation wrought
many worthy things for Europe, but
France, moral and religious, is as if the
Reformation had never for a. moment
been dreamt of. Would that reformer
might come to the La Belle nation. and
be instrumental in speedily changing her
Sabbath Of mere utility and pleasure into
a Sabbath of the Lord. For were I to
answer the author Of the motto prefxed
to this sketch, l might Justly say, "Cheve-
her, you have in France wonderful
prosperity, a Louvre thronged with i'm
mortal works, learned Sorbonne. and
famous scientific and mod;oa1 ;ns+;+rt;oxo