The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-10-11
RELIGIOUS NOTES AND CHURCH
CHIMES.

The practice of setting apart one Oh
more hens, with the view to give the
proceeds to the mission fund, has be.
come very common in Europe, and
has begun to prevail in Africa. One
missionary writes that at a place about
| ten miles from Cape Town, knowing
that many were poor, he suggested
each family should set apart a hen for
missions. The first year the proceeds
of the missionary hens amounted to
| over S2o. One lady always calls the
eggs laid at her home on Sunday,
missionary eggs" and The proceeds
always go to missions.
This is what Baltimore Methodist
divine says of theatre: "a defense of
the theatre from the pulpit now
would occasion as much surprise as if
an actor were to ascend the pulpit and
attempt to preach. Sweeping denun-
citation of any kind, hover, is a blum
der. There is no wrong in the mere
form of dramatic writing. The abili-
ty to write is the gift of God, given to
be exercised. The dramatic poem is a
dialogue. There is nothing wrong in
a number of people reading the poem
thus written if it is pure in sentiment.
or in looking at it being thus read or
acted. 1t would be a better occupa-
ton for children, though, than for
grown-up men and women. But this
is not all of the theatre. 1t involves
a costly building, scenery, dresses and
a large number of people to please.
Large receipts are essential to carry
on such an establishment, and per
formances must be so varied as to
bring money into the treasury. There
is not in existence such a stock of
pure players for a company of virtu-
Gus performers as to provide for these
variations. If any company attempted
to perform only VirtuouS plays they
would starve. So the plays presented
are sDiced with Vulgarity, folly and
sacrilege. Many players are estimable
and chaste in social life, but if ques-
tionable beauty is coming the theatre
will be crowded, and her doubtful
character will be rather a benefit than
a hindrance.
Spectator says: "a remarkable in
stance of the effect that can be pro-
ductd upon dog by the human voice
was related to me yesterday. Some
of your correspondents would con-
that dogs have mind enough to I'M
derstand words; but l, myself, rather
believe that the sound of the voice
acts upon the feelings of dumb ami
mails just as instrumental music acts
upon us. The story is as follows: A
clergyman had for a long time a dog,
and no other domestic animal. He
and his servant made great pet of
the dog. AT last, however, the cler-
gyman took to keeping a few fowls
and the servant fed them. The dog
showed himself very jealous, and out
of humOr at this, and when Sunday
came round and he was left alone, he
took the opportunity to kill and
bury two hens. A claw half I'M
covered betrayed what he had done.
His master did not beat him, but took
hold of him and talked to him most
bitterly, most severely. you've been
guilty of the sin of murder, strand
on the Sabbath day, too; and you,
clergeman's dog, taking mean adj
vantage of my absence ~ etc. He
talked on and on for a long time, in
the same serious and reproachful
strain. Early the next morning the
master had to leave home for day or
so, and he did so without speaking
word of kindness to the dog, because
he said he wished him to feel himself
in disgrace. On his return the first !
thing he was told was "The dog is
dead. He never ate nor drank after
you had spoken to him he just lay
and pinned away, and he died an hour |
ago.