Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1885-06-20
CIRCUMSTANCES.
An Abstract of John B. Baugh's Fa-
nous Lecture.

as to be on most mems lips every
day. The word is never a hermit,
and is always dependent on others.
1t is always an adjunct, and never a
principal. Let us see what there is
of interest and value in this well
trodden path. Sometimes a trifling
circumstance may give new turn to
ones whole life. l well remember
one night while in Glasgow, Scot
land, | was the guest of one of the
merchant princes of the city. l spoke
that evening to $500 people. 1t was
my last night but one in Scotland.
When the lecture was over my friend
babe me take my seat in his carriage,
while waiting for theladies. Several
men and women gathered round to
shake my hand. One of the men
who approached me was covered
with rags and dirt. His face was al
most CHASTITY. His white lips parted
showed the whittier tongue. Holding
out his dirty trembling hand he
asked me, "Do you know me" /
placed my hand in his and looked
into that miserable face. called
him by name. In 1912 he and |
worked together in a book bindery
at Worcester. / remembered him
well, for he was a better workman
than l. AS | sat there in that gor.
geous carriage, drawn by silver ca
parisoned horses, surrounded by lux.
ury on every hand, with the applause
of the people still ringing in my ears
and my hand still warm
with the grasp Of friends, could but
think of our changed condition, of the
gulf that separated us; my mind
went back sixteen years to a single
circumstance that made the difference
it was the dart of pen on a temper
ance pledge. That changed my DIES
tiny for time and eternity. Circum
stances change our relations to eacl
other. / remembered what an ole
cOlored man once told me. Said he
"Three years ago l subscribed S. t,
the church and everybody took OF
their hats when they met me ant
called me Brother Dixon The mex
year 1 subscribed 50, and they said
How do you do Dixon" The mex
year 1 had sickness in the family ant
l was unable to give cent aud whel
they came around 1 put do moth
ing. Now they say, There goes oil
niger Dixon"
Circumstances often change quick
ly. A learned professor met sailo
on boat and fell into conversatio
with him. "Have you ever studio
the Natural Sciences" "No," II
piled the sailor. "Then half you
life is lost" In a few minutes tn
boat began to sink and the sailor ask
ed the professor, "Can you swim
"No," said he. "Then all your lii
will be lost" retorted the sailor.
Facts can never be altered by eli
cumstances. 1t is an advantage
be able to make the best of circun
stances. Sometimes it is hard to
this. / am reminded of the oil
negro woman who was asked no
she could live in such a smoke. ST
answered that she was thankful
have something to make a smOl
with. Perhaps you have heard
the young man who was to be ma
ried by the Episcopal service ar
learned the responses. Unluckily ]
learned the responses in the bapti
NAL service, and when the parse
asked "Do you take this woman
be your welded wife?" the bashf
youth responded: CT renounce the
ALL" "You are a fool" interruptt
the minister. "All this | do believe
was the young mans response.
thoughtless word has often stained
reputation and parted friends. Fai
has been changed to doubt through
word of scandal and the miserat
mutterings of gossip. The meant
thing on earth is a scandalizing, &C
siping man or woman. Don't tou
a pure reputation. Character G.
never be touched. A man is VIII
he is, not what men say he is. Rep
tation is for time, but character is
eternity. Young men, it is impC
tant to keep a clean record. If v
have a spot on it your enemies W
go to it and magnify it. l am
years of age. l have lived sixty yea
l lost seven years and more tn
wasted it in strong drink. One C
never wholly recover from such
thing. A stained reputation W