The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-11-01


not speak of him as a writer-there
he is over-ornate) his vocabulary and
his range of language is perfectly Won
derful, and his faculty of word-painting
almost unequalled. His description Of
the natural scenery of Palestine, and Of
the birds "a number of which he de-
scribed) (which have neither store-house
nor barn, was as elegant and delicate
as anything ever heard. can only
compare his imagery to the pictures
which one sees through kaleidoscope
so brilliant, so varying, and so surprising
were the colors. The fact that he held
his whole audience breathless (many Of
them without seats) for thirty-fve min
utes, attested the spell which he laid
upon them. The service, too, at st. Mar
garet's pleased me very much-it was
perfectly simple, and although there was
a company of some fifty choristers (half
men, half of them boys) the congrega-
ton Qed by the choir) joined in the sing
ing, which was, l think, the best 1 ever
heard in a church. There were no re-
Spo'aSeS in the rendering of the service,
as in our low-church American Episco-
pal churches, but the psalms for the day,
and other parts of the prayer-b book, were
all chanted. The matter of the sermon
was excellent, and characterised by
sound, practical sense, and thoroughly
scriptural sentiments. All in all came
away greatly pleased with the Westmin-
ster canon and with the services at St.
Margaret's.
This is the third time I have been in
Europe, and my matured observation,
despite many unhappy things which sad
den in these recent days our Southern
society, causes me to return with the con-
yiction that, after all, our own country is
good land to live in, and enjoys, per-
haps, superior advantages for comfort and
healthy educational and religious inhu-
ences to even Great Britain, which love
and admire above all the countries of the
European world. France is not to be
mentioned; humanity there (and it is
little better, in some respects, in Ger
many is in state of chaos. 1t is super
stition on the one hand, and absolute
want of faith in everything on the other.
Society is hard, sensual, selfsh-pleasure,
money, and science constitute the objects
Of pursuit. In Germany, I am told, there
IS strong religious sentiment governing
limited circle, but n general they are
given over to an ill-regulated and insati-
able spirit of speculation, which seems
never to learn anything from ever-re-
peated failures.
Although Europe cherishes the feeling
that she is far advanced beyond America
in the refnements of civilization, and al
though it is true that there is still great
deal of vul garity in American life, have
been led to modify very much my former
opinions on this subject There is, in the
first place, far more general refinement,
among the masses Of the population, in
America than in Europe. The middle
class Briton does not compare in this re-
spect with the same class in America.
and is by no means so we'll educated.
For true politeness, proceeding from good
breeding and kindness of feeling. the
best Americans, also, are equal to the
best Of the upper classes in Europe. In
many of the comforts and elegancies
which have so much to do in the process
OF clvilising a community, we are de-
cldedly in advance Of Europe. The vir-
tue of cleanliness is little respected
as rule, in the provincial towns of
France-and l am afraid that the remark
is equally true Of the bulk of the popu-
lation OF their splendid metropolis. The
bathroom is almost an American institu-
tion-even in London most of the better
class of houses do not enjoy this luxury
Tor, while they are now introduced into
the new houses, most of the houses are
old, and remain without them. Ice is not
only not employed to cool the tepid and
unpleasant water of Paris and London,
but the Refrigerator seems to be entirely
unknown in ordinary life. There is no
variety of breads for the breakfost tobIa