The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-02-21
PAUL AND sHAKEspRARR.
How the Preacher Trsgedian Enjoyed
 Himself at the House of Brother.

Himself at the House Of Brother.
 Mir. Miln, the preacher-tragedian, re- gently filled an engagement in Little Rock. Several of the local clergymen gave Miln the unenviable joint known as the cold. shoulder, but MT. Mulkittle, more generous than the rest, insisted upon the actor going home to dinner with him. MT. Miln gracefully accepted the invitation. Although a student of Shakespeare, and a nightly associate of persons whose souls are in danger, Mir. Miln still wears the grave and retiring expression of countensnce, and still em- ploys the theological smile-a smile from which all the juice has been squeezed.
 "Why should 1 not invite him ?" unused Mr. Mulkittle as he and the reverend ac- tor walked along the street. "ME. Beecher has great faith in him and thinks that he will elevate the stage instead of allowing the stage to degrade him"
 Brother Miln," said the stationed preacher to the travelling evangelist, when they were seated in the library, do you not sometimes find it difficult to pray after having spent half the night in theatre ?"
 "Oh, no. Although my work is a great strain, yet 1 am never too tired to pray"
 "You do not find the stage so difficult as the pulpit, do you7"
 ooh, yes, much more so. It involves much more study"
 "I do not see why it should, Brother Miln, for he who would study the gospel must devote himself to the task"
 "Yes, but the gospel, as we are told, is simple, while the histrionic art, like all art, is difficult"
 "The stage" said Mr. MulkittIe, draw ing himself back until his double e-chin was perceptible, is not more histrionic than the pulpit neither do its votaries possess such high order of talent"
 "l think that you are wrong, Brother Mullins"
 "Mulkittle, sir"
 "Yes, excuse me. think that ycu are wrong. Some of the most eminent men have been writers for the stage, and the literature of the drama, must say, is the grandest the world has ever known.''
 "My dear sir" replisd Mir. Mulki,tIe. arising, and standing with his back to the fire, "do you mean to compare with Paul2 P
 "ln literary way, yes in the matter of inspirational production, perhaps not"
 "Perhaps not" emphasized Mir. Mul- kittle. "Why, sir, should not think that man who has elucidated the truths of the blessed book, would for moment hesitate to pronounce Paul superior, even as a producer of literature, to any man who ever wrote. Read his letters, medi- tate upon his glorious and immortal defense before King Agrippa."
 "His defense before Agrippa, as you truly say, is immortal. It was not the work of man alone; it was inspired. In- spiration is not what we call the literature of man. After all, however, how much greater is Paul's speech-I ask now," arising and making stage gesture, how much greater is it than Hamlet's solilo- quyT
 claimed MT. Mulkittie, waving his arm in a pulpit sweep. "No comparison whatever. Haznlet's soliloqsy teaches nothing; it illustrates no great truth--it points not to the glorious power of God and shows not that the holy mission of Jesus was the salvation of a sinful world"
 @Brother Mullins-"
 My name is not Mullins, tell you.1
 4 Beg pardon. Sscs disczss;oas are unpleasant to me, very much % indeed, however well know that 1 am right You certainly did not ses me in Hamlet"
 "Yes, 1 did"
 @Did not the soliloqsy impress yeu7'
 @Yes, Iiks . man voald be impressed by piece of Pagan statuasy." Brother Mullins, l may"
 aSir, my name is not MsIlias, asd your persistency in calling me such is 
 You needn't gss md, i" thing pp his hat 3I came hifheg upos youT invita- ton, and althcugh to fosret the host's