The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-09-22

law that all would respect. closing every place where intoxicating drink is sold from sundown of Saturday till high noon of Monday. Oh, the good that would follow; the misery that would be spared l; the hope and com- fort that would be given to wives; the better conditions that would be given to children; the strength that would remain with man: the great ness that would ensue to a people and to public decency. To-day we saw a carload of children as they came into the city from the country-poor children of the city who had been so kindly sent into the country tor a month or so of fresh air and romping with the works of nature; poor child ren picked up from the abodes of poverty, where their bare young lives were exposed to sin, crime, cru city and the terrible eft cts of drunk enness and mans beastly cruelty to all his family, from the mother he is slowly murdering, to the children he is forcing to hate him or to look upon him with loathing and contempt.
 These little ones, boys and girls from six to twelve years of age, had been out in the country, sent out by men and women who, in thus using money, are doing Gods good work, which can be done in thousands of ways. They had been taken out and cared for in the families of farmers and villagers, on the line of & great and far-reaching railway. They mad, for the first time in their lives, scen the green banks, the gardens and or chards that bear fruit. They had seen the hay and the grain growing. Had drank milk that came from cows, and had seen so much that was new to them.
 They were laden with trophies bouquets of flowers as large as their heads; cat. tails, cut from marshes little chickens given them by the God blessed farmers of liberal hearts; loaves of fresh country bread and cake; jars of jam and cold roast chicken to take home to some sick father, mother, or invalid brother or sister. And how sorry they were to be called in to the city, and how quickly they will go again into the country when comes the time for them to go.
 Were we the president of the United States, how quickly would WIG veto the measures that are SO rapidly adding to the lines of the poverty laden, and publicly ask God, man and congress, to direct and bring forth legislation that would stop making paupers of American children, and dc something to divert crowded populations from the fostering cen ters to the better air of villages and the country. Were we the governor and legislature of state, how quickly would we ensmall tenement houses and prevent the piling in of ten to thirty families into the hell-holes of this city of New York, SO dominated by democracy, drunkenness, and dis regard for infantile humanity. We would open the pipes and bring pure water, and open the sewers that carry away disease in the lading of filth. Would knock half-dozen rooms into one, and cut windows where now are walls that never saw the light since they were closed in. Would prohibit the tenement house usurer from con- verting property into hog pens and then opening the same to the poor.
 Then we could use our surplus wealth ill giving fresh air excursions to the poor and the sick. Our pleasure yachts should never be idle, but each day would carry widows and orphans out to the fresh air of the sea and bring them back the better for the trip. We would take down the tall, useless steeples, and build them into cottages for persons fighting the bat tie of life. Would invest our money with God and humanity rather than hoard it in the banks for those who flee the country. Would stand be- tween the poor and the robbers till every home was an oasis in the desert of life, and every life was a credit to man, an honor to the country, and a glory to Our Father who art in heaven.
 If those who now and in the years to come read this chapter that Is fin- ished as the night slips away, with a smile to reward us, thousands of per- sons will think and will do a little more to gladden. he hearts of the poor and to find or make good homes in the country for Christ's children the poor-and thus will there come one more oasis in our thoughts and life, SO we can the easier step back from heaven to help the children of earth after we have passed on.
 Some persons wonder why more persons do not return from the land of the Leai, to talk with those who nave not yet passed on. It is because so few of them have made and left step- Din0- afnnee hy which tn coma hack