The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-19
But Few Human Vices Eradicated.

Tn the reign Of Louis XIV there was pris-
Oner confined in the island OF SAINT Margaret,
who was required 90 wear constantly mask
of velvet with steel springs and never allowed
under any circumstances TO remove It.
Guards were stationed with orders 10 shoot
him at once if he removed the mask. He WAS
finally removed to the Bastlle. IN Paris, and
died there IN 1904.
No one knows certainly 10 this day who the
prisoner was. and this secret Of state has re-
manned profound mystery never TO be
disclosed Monsieur Chamillard Is SAID
10 have been the last minister in
Trusted with this secret. and when
asked on his death bed 10 disclose the
mystery. replied he could not do so. a. it was
a secret Of state and he had sworn never to re-
veal It,.
Thus it is that we all. in one way oranOther,
wear a mask before our fellow men. Some 10
conceal dishonesty. some 10 conceal hatred.
envy, malice and ali uncharitabieuess. This
need not be So, and bv strict conformity %
the divine law one might be able TO put aside
his mask and allow his fellow man to behold
him as lie really is. The greater the wicked
ness of the individual the greater the desire
and need for the mask II would add much
TO the happiness OF hte. and, IN large measure,
make the rough ways smooth. TO be able. 10y
life of conformity with the laws of GOd, To lay
aside our masks and have no vices 10 conceal
from the public at large.
Ialleyrand, the astue politician, considered
language useful 10 the degree one could. by
it. conceal his thoughts and sentiments. Ma
chaVelh. whose name Is the synonym OF all
trickery and dishonesty, held the same view
and acted upon II when at all necessary 20 Tor
ward his ends.
1t il q sad reflection when we see how nu-
man vices have been eradicated by moral
teachers in the ], 800 years cxpOunding of the
divine law, and one may well believe that If
the Millennium was postponed until all men,
by high civilization and moral instruction,
became good, then 1t would never occur 1t
Is a sad reflection that human nature. that
human evil nature, should be so hard to over
come. The inherited tendency TO vice IS SD
potent that IL seems TO be man means TO be
evil
Though it may seem extraordinary to Us
that man should wear mask for 50 long
time AS did the mysterious prisoner of the
Bastlle, yet when We remember the guile. the
deceitlulncss the double dealing. the general
iniquity of the human heart we must CON
fesS that to find "a man who did not wear
mask would be still more extraordinary
II we could see how weak those apparently
strong, and how little 10 be trusted those who
seem entirely honest, then we would con-
clude that Il IS not surprising that a mask
should he so generally worn We all
conceal a great deal more than we dis
play. But. Disguise our actions and SEN
iiments with mask or how we may.
God sees through them all and knows
us rs We really are. The Lord seeth not as
man seeth, for man lOoketh ON the outward
appearance, but God looketh on the heart"
1t must be a source of wonder to all that God,
even In his character of mercitul creator
should yet allow such "A monster of deprayity
as man to exist upon the earth.
Then let our masks be laid aside,
And the laws of God our guide;
Let MS stand before Our fellow men
With naug ht - conceal, and then.
With masks aside. face the shining day
Remembering that virtues ways are ever the
safest way;
In paths of virtue let our footsteps ever roam.
Along with faith. the road TO the heavenly
home