The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-16


liability, students and phiiosoph' RS, wise
and dignified, to whom every aspect of
humanity Is interesting, the contest and
the whole occasion was most full of
meaning.
Our day calls for all the possibilities
of our natures, with divine supplement,
and future of promise for markind
beyond conception Is opening. More
than the light of dawn is on us. The
loins girded and the lights burning tof
body and mind are an order of the
Master. And the fullest physical deve-
lopment, a strong stomach, good muscle
and a healthy brain must sustain and
help the intense intellectual effort that
is going on. Wise and discreet athletics
and physical training are n necessity of
our schools and colleges, including diete-
tics to back their mental strain, to avert
exhaustion Of heat and head and body
Cultivation and economy of all the force
and power and endurance we can COM
nand are wanted for what is before us.
We don't know what it is, but no man
that can see and think but must feel
that our race and the whole surface of
the earth are getting ready for some grand
climax or high estate. And the actors
in it are under training to do full duty.
A distinguished physician who wit
messed the contest tells us that Corbett
was beautiful. With him mind and mat
ter worked together to a splendid result
and achievement, and the triumph was
over almost unenlightened muscle. Cor
bett showed what intellect could accom-
plish with flesh and blood and bone. He
achieved his triumph, and his reserved
and supertluous power was ample. lie
was fresh and bright at the close. He
had accomplished a maximum of effect,
with q minimum of expenditure. He
threw away no moves. He lost only
three pounds in the fight. The slugger
lost five pounds and his head. His
triumph was a practical lecture on tenn
perancc. He that strove for the mastery
had been temperate in all things. And
his example will help the age. We do
not mean to approve prize-hghts or
brutality anywhere, or gambling in any
connection-the pitiful recreation of the
idle and vicious. But there is nothing
that goes on nowadays, good or bad,
that does not tell of the character of the
age-so full OF skill and energy. For
proper ends they advance the world; for
low ends they degrade, but skill and
energy are still the same. And every
man must have them or be beaten every
where and run over.
The powers and energies and light and
activity that are all around necessitate
character and high manhood, or they
will hurry everything headlong to de-
struction. With great intellectual power
in strong bodies, with full knowledge of
natures laws and command of her secret
forces, what may not be accomplished?
The boast of the old philosopher was idle.
Our chemist says: Give me electricity
enough and / will turn the seas and
oceans into one vast furnace.
The possibilities of the giant powers
that now fill the earth call for character
and loyalty to the Almighty rs the only
hope of safety from hre-brands, arrows
and deaths.
But, on IA lower plane. the necessities
of finance, the requirements of business,
the multitudinous trusts and condolences
that abound eveTywhere-the works that
cannot 90 on without both skill and high
character. the duties that cannot be per-
formed without courage and calm deter
mination and vigilance and skill, the null
tifarious and innumerabe conditions and
cases in which our lives and fortunes are
in each others keeping-all these be-
speak an age in which character and re-
liability are absolute requirements. Nor
that only, but responsibilities are put on
every one. There's no escaping them
And ready punishment and reward are
at hand. Their work is before them:
their reward with them. 1t is an intense
a devOuring age. The Divine Poet had
it before him when he wrote Who is he
that shall dwell with the devouring fire?
Who is he that shall dwell with ever
lasting burnings? He that waketh I'D
rightly and speaketh righteousIy; he that
despiseth the gain Of expressions; that
shaketh his hands from taking bribes
that stoppeth his ears from hearing of
blood and shutteth his eyes from seeing
evil. He shall dwell on high; his place
of defense shall be munitions of rocks.
Bread shall be given him; his waters
shall be sure. The "Pou Sto" of gigantic
modern civilization is the fear of God.