The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-28
OUR SUNDAY COLUMN.
Original and Otherwise, Pre-
pared by Mark.
NO. VIII.


Sunday column about the sin of profan
ity, and this request comes from young
man. will comply with this requcs
in duo time-perhaps next Sunday.
To-day have an additional word 70,
the goddess old man. l must admonish
tho aged sinner, first, because the old
man must very soon die and meet God
want to ask the old man to get Bible
and read the 18th chapter Of Eccles-
tastes. This is ono of tho most beauti-
full allegories ever penned.
Tho image is that of decaying and
unprotected house, which represents the
body in old age. 1t is said that the
value of an Eastern house consisted in
being built in sunny place, with bright
skies overhead and beautiful scenery
around.
1t should DO guarded by bold and
watchful keepers, having strong labor
ers to obtain provisions. Itshould have
its latticed windows, and its folding
doors. Trees should grow around
the dwelling, in whose branch hes the
birds should sing melodiously. Music
should resound through the halls. It's
apartments should be lighted up at
night with golden lamps suspended with
silver cords.
A cooling fountain, standing in it's
outer court, with costly pitcher by
which to draw the water, Should com
plete its comforts. Such house rep
resents the vigor of the human body
in youth, or in manhood's prime.
In perfect contrast to this is the house
in which Solomon introduces us in his
allegory.
Remember now thy Creator in the
a n "h hn OWL n
come not, nor the years draw nigh,
when thou shalt say, l have no pleasure
in them.
"While the sun, or the light, or the
moon, or the stars be not darkened. >"
That is, when all outward comfort and
prosperity, whether by day or by night,
will be eclipsed and withdrawn
And the clouds will return a fter the
rain" That is, when ono bodily all
ment and trouble will follow another,
in quick succession. like cloud follows
cloud and rain succeeds rain.
I'm the day when the keepers of tho
house shall tremble and the strong men
shall bow themselves, aud the grinders
cease because they are few, and those
that look out of the windows DO dark
ened." How expressive this verse OF
the change which old age brings to four
Eot 70 VI VIC oouy -IHc arms, legs, Tue
teeth and the eyes. The keepers of
the house shall tremble." The arms
and hands which defened and work
and provide for or keep tho house in
old age often treuble with Lalsy. The
strong men," the legs which support
and serve the body in old age. become
weak and need the support OF the staff
to assist them.
"And the grinders will cease because
they are few" That IS the teeth which
masticate the food will break, decay,
wear away and fall out and be useless
as the old worn out mill stones "And
those that look out of the windows be
darkened." That is sight will fail the
eyes through which, as through
window, the soul looks out, being dimmed
and weakened by age.
And the doors shall be shut
in the Streets" meaning the
lips and ears, the doors of
speech and hearing, by which commu-
nication is made with the outer world.
Age retires and silences the activities
of life. "When the sound of the grind
ing is low that is, digestion, which is
assisted by chewing, will be weak and
imperfect, so that the system will be i'll
supplied with nourishment.
'lie shall rise up at the voice of the
bird" an allusion to the sleeplcssncss
of old age. The voice OF tho ca rly COG k
Growing will awaken him, and he will
rise from his bed in the early morning.
''All the daughters of music shall be
brought low" He shall have neither
voice nor ear for music.
'And they shall be afraid of that
which is high" indicating the timidity
and dizziness Of old age in ascending
high places. And fear shall be in the
way" that is. the old man must walk
slowly and carefully to avoid the many
dangers in the crowded thoroughfares
of life.
"And the almond tree shall flourish. !"
The almond tree is the type of old age
whose hair is white. The white bios
SONS of the almond tree completely
cover the whole tree as the age of
the tree increases. "And the erass.
hopper shall be burden" An express
sion Of feebleness. lie cannot bear the
least weight.
And desires shall fall That Is,
our bodily appetites will cool and cease
because man goeth to his long home"
Not the grave, simply, but the other
world-the long home THE sill ver
cord will be loosed and the golden bowl
be broken at the fountain, and the
wheel broken at the cistern" This is
death dissolving the franc of nature
and taking down the earthly taberna-
Gle. Tho silver cord denotes the
thread of life; the golden bowl has
reference to the vessel containing the
life blood. The failing heart is the
pitcher broken at the fountain; the
wheel broken at tho cistern is the sys-
tenn of veins and arteries which carry
the blood round and round like wheel
Then shall the dust return to the
earth as it was and the spirit shall re-
turn to God who gave it," This is a
graphic description Of dilapidated old