Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-30

Again, this narrative teaches us tht
power of an i'll disposed woman. In tn,
portrait gallery of Bible queens we fnC
Abigail and Ruth and Miriam and WASN'T
and Deborah, but in the rogues' gallery o
police station you find the pictures O.
women as well as men. Delilah's picture
belongs to the rogues' gallery, but she haC
more power than all Philistia armed will
sword and spear. She could carry off the iror
gates of Samson's resolution as easily
| as he shouldered the gates of GAIA
one day plunged out fierce from the thicke
utterly succumbs to the silken net which
Deiilah weaves for the giant He who hac
driven an army in riotous retreat with the
bleached jswbone, shifting them hip and
thigh with great slaughter, falls captive a.
the feet of an unworthy woman. Delilah II
the Bible stands In the memorable company
of Adah and Zillah and Bathsheba and
Jezebel and Athaliah and Herodias.
How deplorable the influence of such in
contrast with Rebecca and Phoebe and
Huldah and Tryphona and Jephtha's daugh-
ter and Mary, the mother of Jesus. While
the latter glitter in the armament of Gods
word like consultations with steady, cheer
full, holy light, the former shoot like baleful
meteors across the terrified heavens, ,ominous
of war, disaster and death.
THE INFLUENCE OF A MOTHER.
If there is a divine power in the good
mother, her face bright with purity, an un-
selfish love beaming from her eye, gentle
ness that by pangs and sufferings and holy
auxieties has been mellowing and softening
for many year, uttering itself in every syl-
liable, dignity that cannot be dethroned,
- =, -E,1r r6ot trriI ,o4h ha
checked, her hand the charm that will in
stantly take pain out of the child's worst
wound, her presence a perpetual benedic-
ton, her name our defense when we are
tempted, her memory an outgushing well of
tears and congratulation and thanksgiving.
her heaven a palm waving and coronal;
then there is just as great an influence In
the opposite direction in the bad mother, her
brow beclouded with ungoverned passion,
her eve flashing with unsanctified fire,
her lips the fountain of fretfulness
and depravity, her example a mildew
and blasting. her name disgrace to COM
ing generations. her memory a signal for
bitterest anathema, her eternity whirl-
wind and suffocation and darkness. One
wrong headed, wrong hearted mother may
ruin one child, and that one child, grown
up, may destroy hundred people, and the
hundred blast thousand, and the thou
sand million. The wife's sphere is realm
of honor and power almost unlimited.
What blessing was Sarah to Abraham,
was Deborah to Lapidoth, was Zipporah to
Moses, was Huldah to Shallum.
There are multiludes of men in the msrts
Of trade whose fortunes have been the result
Of wife's frugality. Four hands have
been achieving that estate, two at the store,
two at the home. The burdens of life are
light when there are other
hands to help us lift them. The greatest
difficulties have often skunk away because
here were four eyes to look them out of
What care you fer the hard
Knocks in the world as long as you
nave bright domestic circle for harbor!
HOMES PLEASANT CONTRAST.
One cheerful word in the evening tide as
you come in has silenced the clamor of un-
paid notes and the disappointment of poor
investments. Your table NAV be quite
rugally spread, but it seems more beautiful
% you than many tables that smoke with
7enison and blush with Burgundy. Peace
meets you at the door, sits beside you at the
able, lights up the evening stand, and
sings in the nursery. You have seen an
aged couple who for scores of years have
helped each other on in life's pilgrimage
going down the steep of years. Long associ-
alton has made them much alike. They re-
ioiced at the same advent, they bent over
the same cradle, they wept at the same
grave. In the evening they sit quietly
the stand, father in his arm chair at the fire.
Now and then a grandchild comes and
they look at him with affection untold and
come well nigh spelling HIM with kindness.
The life currents beat teebly in their pulses
and their work will soon be done and the
Master will call. A few short days may
separate them, but, not far apart in time of
departure, they join each other on the
other side of the food. Side by side let
Jacob and Rachel be buried. Let one
willow overarch their graves. Let their
tombstones stand alike marked with the
same Scripture. Children and grandchil-
dren will come in the spring time to bring
flowers. The patriarchs of the town will
come and drop tear over departed worth.
Side by side at the marriage altar. Side by
side in the long journey. Side by side in
their graves. After life's ftful fever they
slept well.
But there are, as my subject suggests domes-
tic scenes not so tranquil. What a curse to
Job and Potiphar were their companions, to
Ahab was Jezeoel. to Jehoram was Athaliah,
TO John Wesley was Mrs. Wesley, to Samson
was Delilah. While the most excellent and
triumphant exhibitions Of character we find
thrills with the names of Marie Antoinette and
Josephine, and Joan of Arc and Maria Theresa
md hundreds of others. who have ruled in the
brightest homes and sung the sweetest cantos,
md enchanted the nations with their art and
'wayed the mightest of scepters,
ON THE OTHER HAND
he names of Mary the First of England. Mar.
.aret of France. Julia of Rome and Elizabeth
'etrowna of Russia have scorched the eye of
history with their denominations, and their
lames, like banished spirits, have gone Shrek
ng and cursing through the world. In female
we find the two extremes of excel |
ence and crime Woman stands nearest the |
.ate of heaven or nearest the door of hell. |
When adorned by grace she reaches point of
christian elevation Which man cannot attain,
md when blasted of crime she sinks deeper
han man can plunge. Yet am glad that the |
instances in which woman makes utter ship |
wreck of character are comparatively rare.
But says some cynical spirit. what do you do |
With those words in Ecclesiastes where Solo, |
non says: Behold, this have found saith the |
preacher, counting one by one to find out the |
account: which yet my soul seeketh, but 1 |
ind not: one man among a thousand have 1 /
iound; but a woman among all those have l |
rot found?' My answer is that if Solomon |
lad behaved himself with common decency |
md kept out of infamous circles he would not |
lave had so much difficulty In finding integrity |
If character among women, and never would |
lave uttered such a TRADE. Ever since my |
have heard speakers admiring Di- /
'genes, the cynical philosopher who lived in a |
u D. for going through the streets of Athens in |
broad daylight with a lantern, and when asked |
What he did that for. said: 81 am looking for |
IN honest man" Now / warrant that that /
philosopher who had such hard work to find an |
lonest man
WAS HIMSELF DISHONEST.
think he stole both the lantern and the tub. 1
TO- when / hear a man expatiating on the /
II