The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-12-13
NO EXEMPTIONS.

The game that mon play with natures laws,
or the rule Of the Most High, in their affairs
and doings. is grimly ridiculous No wonder
that the wise man talks as he does: Because
ye would none Of my counsel and despised my
reproof. therefore will laugh at your cslami
ties and mock when your fear cometh. y
Laugh and mock are human words TO express
mans ideas of how Deity should regard
folly and its consequences. And these words
are many times used in Holy Scripture. The
great mind-mirror and reflector Of human
nature talks OF the angels weeping or almost
laughing themselves into mortality at the fan
tastic tricks down here.
The ignus fatuus, the wrecking fire that
is set before us. that has come down to US
from the father of lies, is the glorious
privilege of being independent Who Of
mortals ever has been or ever will be indie
pendent To achieve fortune, place and
independence is taken as the end
and business of life. And to reach
level above the shafts Of for
tune. to lay a foundation that can
not De moved by the changes of life, to make
ton above disease, and an environment Of
friends and wide margin of influence, by
friendships. by largesses. by intermariases,
by absolute powerful these make up the
splendid mirage that rises before US IS We
pass into the wilderness of life.
The great idea s that of Caesar, to leave
nothing to fortune that we can do ourselves;
or Napoleon. TO mass such a park Of the
heaviest artillery, that Providence must
necessarily be on our side; or. like our late
fnancier, to have such sure investments and
established connections that We may afford
to Damn the public"
The great machine of Providence did not
halt in grinding up this erist. Under the de-
fusion that money answers all things" and
Is the representative and storage battery of
power, we pile it up. And 50 we build our
strong city, and an unlucky scratch of pen
or an unguarded word sweeps the city and its
foundations out OF existence. We make
name and reputation and little weakness
or inadyertence withers all in a night.
But suppose the great fortune to be es-
tablished and the income beyond the pos
sibility of a doubt and suppose the reputa-
ton and fame 70 be as sure as WelIington's.
at last where is the poor mortality that holds
the purse strings and bears the honored namey
From all Lis bank accounts and out OF all his
possessions he can not command an appetite.
Nor can he pay surgeons enough to keep off
an attack of the grip. Nature and Providence
know him only es a poor. weak mortal.
King or pauper, he Is subject TO all
laws and influences. aud under Heaven, he
is with all others more equal than free:
bound to obey law. and happy in his obedi-
ence. No power. no wealth will relieve him
from the obligations Of simple diet, of tenn
perance. Of labor and of virtue in
the conduct Of his body. and Of
justice. of fidelity, OF moderation, Of good
manners and plain admirability in bis walks
and conversation. And death has DO favor
ties. There is no ransom in that war.
II is 20 the man alone who obeys law that
freedom and safety are promised and to him
that walketh uprightly and speaketh right
eously. his place Of defence shall be the
munitions of rocks Bread shall be given him.
his waters shall be- sure"