The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1891-01-07
THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT.

An Address Delivered Before the Alame
da COUNTY Convention of W. c. T. U. nj
East Oakland, California, by Mrs. 7. C.
Sanford, Former Resident of yelling
ton.
When word reached me that was ex.
pecied to talk 10 the young ladies on Edu.
cation was nonplussed. | address the
Ysl |, who studied geography so long
ago that when think Of large tract OF
land lying between Oregon TN the west and
Minnesota on the east, think Of II as
Nebraska and when the island of Tasmania
was mentioned in my presence not long
since, / could not imagine where 1t could
possibly be, until GOOD Samaritan in.
formed me that that portion OF the earth's
surface was called Van Dirman's Land
when | was young. | talk to these bright
American girls, who have all the ologies
and sciences AT their tongues ends, and
who talk 81 glibly OF differentiation and
molecules, those girls who think in Ger
man, speak in French and make love in
Spanish, they who understand the learn
ed astronomer as he discourses on the
transit oil Venus and who by tapping a
piece Of rock with tiny mallet can tell 20
what age 1t belongs. They know all
about the chemical properties Of bread.
making, although their pretty fingers
never mixed single loaf AndAho with
II all have time to attend to charities and
get up charming entertainments and plan
the most artistic gowns and wear them
with the grace Of nymphs. What do
know that can posslbly interest such
bright, apt creatures?
/ took an introspective view of my
knowledge and experience, and hidden in
the labyrinths OF my mind | found this
message for you:
think Of yOur body, not as yourself.
but as an environment Yourself cannot
be seen-it is divine invisible reality.
You know this body must decay. II
is good and beautiful thing that God has
given you for time; but il feeds on the
perishable and must perish like tina,
which sustains it. The senses of The body
early reach the climax OF their strength.
The zest of food is keenest In childhood
Your eye is clearer now than IL will be In
ten or twenty years. Your ear can detect
sounds now that will escape II twenty
years hence.
Nature writes the doom of the senses.
Cherish them ever so carefully, refine
them 10 ever 50 exquisite drlicacy, by
and by lethLrgy and numbness comes over
them. The eye grows dim, the ear dull
and no dainty can tempt the palate into
zesi.
So a world Of pleasures wear out. They
are Of that lie OF hature which must die.
standing here on the threshold Of
The old age of youth, realize the truth of
these words utter by an eminent divine.
You know how Il is. Just turn back
page of your memory to the time when
your dolls made up the sum Of your days
happiness. Now, how is it' Not that
you regret single hour spent in that in.
nocent manner, but you have grown be-
yond them and reach for larger. fuller
oys. Thus 1t is with all pleasures that
pertain TO the senses.
But we know there is life of the
Ipirit, which only increases IN the keen.
,ess Of Us sensIbilIly and relish for Its oh.
ect as the years grow into old age. 1t
nay fail to be quickened; II may be
mothered under an excess of worldliness;
lut il is life 10 which every heart may