Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-06-16

of potencies. We have keys to all
doors. The world is all gates, all OPP
portunities.
Ii this is the case, one might suppose
that through curiosity, ii from no other
motive, we would try in succession to tit
our keys to many locks, that we might
see and enjoy what lies beyond. But
while we are efficient, we are not suti.
cient. While we may have all the pow
ers that are, we may not ntil 20 them.
Our influence may be Intellectual and our
author ty avail us nothing
The bunch OF keys often jingle
through a whole life time, ever trying
By the tinkle to remind us Of the oppor-
tunities we are wasting by not trying to
unlock one or more of the gateways that
are only waiting to be opened.
Blue Beard thought his secret was
safely hidden within the walls of the
Blue chamber. The lifeless bodies of
the victims with whose young blood he
had practiced the alchemist's art, could
not be imagined, reveal his penetrating
forbidden realms IN quest OF the philos-
opher's stone. His beautiful wife, Fa-
tina, left with the keys of Blue Boards
palace, did not hesitate to explore
every apartment to which they gave ac'
cess. The strict commands OF her
husband, the entreaties of her sister,
even her own fears did not
prevent her opening the last door, that
OF the Blue chamber. Hayward Fati-
ma the tell-tale blood stain could not
by any effort be removed from the key,
and she barely escaped paying for her
timerity with her life.
We like the hapless Fatima. are in
Possession of the keys to the doors OF
the palace of life, and we are entrusted
epen with the key OF the Blue chamber
Of sin and death. Into it we are forbid
den to look, but like her, we yield to
temptation. Our consciences plead with
us, but we turn deaf ear, open the
door, and the stain is ever upon the
character. In vain do we try to eftace
it e'er the time comes when the master
shall call us to account.
Fatima was true enough to herself
and the Blue Beard to leave the forbid
den door till the last, but how often we
see the forbidden one unlocked first and
the Others passed by.
If the Blue chamber is opened first,
there are some who close it at once, de-
termined never to look therein again,
and if possible to forget the spectacle
which there met their gaze, by unlock.
ing other gates which open upon broad
fields of usefulness.
If we observe the lives of noted men
we see that many of them began their
careers by a downward course. John
Bunyan, for instance, was most immoral
in his youth and early manhood. He
took peep into this Blue chamber, and
despite all his usefulness in after life the
stain was still left upon his conscience.
Dark forebodings concerning his future
haunted him during his lonely hours.
In the experience of John b. Cough
we have another illustration of this
truth: Those who knew him in his old
age, never could have imagined that be
had raised himself from the very depth
of dissipation. In his early life he spent
his entire earnings for liquor-telling
stories for drink when his money failed.
When he became reformed man the
acts of his younger days were always {
source of grief to him. His mind con
stantly returned to the days of his sin
fulness, making him the victim OF bitter
remorse.
In history we are frequently reminded
of men who led Infamous lives and died
of remorse. William the Norman ant
the Duke of Alva died in tortures from
their own consciences. The Stain
SEEMINGLY etfaced reappeared at the last
bringing back the memory of the fol-
hidden blue chamber.
"Yet some there be who by due steps 6spir
To lay their just hands on the key
| That opes the palace OF eternity.
Though some have used the key
falsely to penetrate forbidden mysteries
yet others there are who by a wise use 0
the magic implements have gained &C
cess to the hidden galleries ana laboratc
ries of the universe, bringing forth fror
these a knowledge OF truths which
where applied to material things hav
blessed and elevated mankind. With
knowledge of these great truths gail
cred from nature by such giants a
Calico, Bacon, Humboldt and Franklin
others have applied the omnipot 81
KEYS and have brought from their e>
plorations the results of applied scienc,
Fulton, Morse and Edison represent tn
peculiar developments of the nineteent
century. The discoverer and he VIII
applies the discovery verify the familia
lines:
"a dwarf on a dead giants shoulders SEE
more
Than the eyes of the giant avalled to el
plore.
BY the combined efforts of giants an
dwarfs we are enjoying the benefits pre-
cured by them,
As the receiver is, so is the gift. On
who is willing to receive never hi
empty heart or hand.
"Persistent purposes bring their ow
fulfllment in this life. No one ma
dare to set limit to their power to il
vite and conquer destiny"
But keys have a double office,
they unlock they also secure the door
and that which we wish kept safe ii
our return we lock from protane hand
When the Moors were expelled from the
beautiful homes and palaces in GranaC
each man remembered to lock his do
and take with him the key, cxpectir
TO return. In vain he watched an
waited for the time to come whe
he should once more enjoy the houi
hold gods.
Like the Moors we sll have dwellings
Wher. We vanly long 10 be,
But we are happier than they in tht
we are yet to enter and possess the be a.
tiful Andalusian lands. They lie in
beyond the threshold on which we star
tonight holding in our hands the mag
keys. Our next duty is TO apply theI
The lock may be rusty and the lifting
the wards difficult to our inexperienc
hands, but the lubricating oil of per.
, verance will remove the corrosion, al
! once within, though we may not 10