South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1891-04-24

n n
my books. But the beat books are.
fthe people whom l know more or lee
intim. ely.
/ MY church people, for Instance,
are my best books. Soms Of these
tones are heavy and pouderuus, and /,
soma light aud trivial; some are
poems OF beauty and some fiction,
with just enough truth to give them
a saving aavor; some are artistic and
some arc scientific: some are like
bound volumes of Logical, argue
ment-snd some are all heart ADD !
ssntiment-sweat, lovely, beautiful,
The variety ia splendid. When am
tired 1 know just where {, GO; when
! am rested aud ready for work I.
know where to cali for inspiration;
when need toning up I know Just
the men who have the tonic. know
where every vsrying mood. can gsti
the touch OF needed sympathy. r
know yon sil ike book. But my
library Of living books 10 much lsrg.
e, than my congregation. and OF all
these books with whom L, have had
acquaintance u. T. Barnum stands
among the most valued. -
Il me-, him frst In the field cf tens
parance work, over forty years ago.
Al hough he was then engaged Ia
one al tho greatest bu~iness eater.
priscs of his life. he found time to do
a.yeoman's service fertile temperance
reform. He was member of Rev.
DR.. Chapin's Uaiversa!ist Church, ~
the city OF Ne York, and from his
young and eloquent pastorrhe caught
the divine glow that ever character&
lied his werki for temperance. Al
bis Own expSuse he took shIs pasfor
IN some OF the most mem arLet, cams
paisrs against the rum traffi y. lie
~as always on the side of reform in.
SOCIAL. political and religious life.
His reform work makes some of the:
brightest pages In his history.
He was in business stypical yam.
kee, always ready for a trade or TO
push foriorn, enterprises to financial
success. Tho1gh he diel leaving an
estate estimated at So 100000, I do
not believe there. was dishonest hair
in his head. He ide aud lost IN ag--
uIficent fortunes. But defeat did not
cast him down, nor prosperity spoil
him. he stood before every one who
knew him "a an obj set lesion OF what
an energetic. wide awake, daring man
can accomplish In bn~ines, life withs
out bringing STAN upon his ciiarac-
ter. He shou d be held up before
all our grumbling, apathctic young
men as al example Of what poor
boy who has his way to make in the
world can do, and do honestly, as a
reformer and as christian.
His life says TO all--bc a'ive, IA we
your Wis about you, keep going. and
with y5ur eyes wide open; doa't
lie nor cheat, nor wait to get soma-
thing for nothing give dollar for dol-
lar every time; don't drink. do s,s
fgamblc keep out of the hell-boleS
OF the city 90 TO church on Sunday,
reld your Bible. bs charitable and
hep your fellow -msn-lhfs vas L. L.
BarBum.
"A, rule indus rious, temperate.
energetic young men can rise Ia the
world. Even here in this city OF
g-umbIers there are as fair opportu-
mites for such young M as cad be-
, found any where. II You can't d.
one thing, do an )t:er. Dir. Barnum
had bis ups and downs. lie msds
money ard lost money. hut never
repined; was always up and doing,
wi b heart for any fate It's the
loss If heart Il d int mean this in q
matIim )niil sense--th1t troubles so
may Of our young men. Mr. Bar.
mum never lost heart. lie was On ale
round nan, and could pitch mo any.
thing Tat Off rcd itself. He knew
il was bet er 10 do something, even
If it dill not pTonise'the best resuts.
than TO be idle and wait, like Micaw-
Der, FOR some hing to turn up |
hav, helpel many a yonng man who
has sough, ms Tor advice by giving
hIm the p i:.s' 10 Mr. Barnam.s ca.
rser.
'One leading feature in bis ctrone
character Was his absolute indepehd-
enc9. While he sought popularity
for bi' bu'ineas ventures aud nevee
spared printers ink, Advertising ex-
tensiyely and o. times With reckless
extravaganza. be naver bowed % ma
iori les. either in religion OF reform !.
! wish every wong mn would real
his tract on fwhy am q Universal.
it, not so much To- be bvi.ced OF
that form OF religion as TO feel tho
absolnte AMI ftai~Art feArlcssness Of
the man. II shows ihe man At eighty
years OF age vilh Mad u1impairsd
and spiti. 1hd mined. Ills 'reasoo.
have alt the cear1e3s AMI force
which gave hn the splendid sucscss
he achieved. His lrse ical religion
and temperance purity preserved him
TO the honorable crown Of gray hairs.
He fought life's battle v u and died
calmly, peaceiully, 80 q faithful, true
man may die. Being deal, be yeti
a. "a