The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-07-15
LIES MARGINS.


& IS certainly q very graceful way she
has, that she adds margins to all her
works Bounty liberalty. free-hearted-
ness. more than enough. and grace and
beauty added declare the handiwork OK
the great Creator. and commend His
divine character to the inhabitants or
earth We find something to spare
little thrown In. Just for good manners
and grace. and kindness sake, fringe,
a shading tapering off in all things
everywhere, an easy letting down, a
mechanical farewell. the contribution
and benediction Of love and beauty
These ways OF nature dignity and honor
social Intercourse: these more or less
are the guarantees of gentle natures.
Abrupt conclusions, sharp edges close
exact. and scant measures are not In the
way Of creation. Things grow, shade
off. melt and blend into one another
as IN the rainbow. The Spirit OF Heaven
is not given by measure unto us. Scant
measure is abominable. In the course of
things. Just as in the spectrum colors.
conditions. events and things pass into
one another These come TO life as
others pass away IN harmony. Margins
are pretty things to think about. The
book maker knows the secret. And many
a book is commended 10 the public by
It's large and handsome margin-almost
regardless OF its contents. And broad
margin IS q fit accompaniment TO the
good, The true. and the beautiful.
II Is a very deplorablc thing 20 think
of q man without a margin. We pity or
dlsdain what we call a mere trader
mere lawyer or doctor. or mechanic or
official NJ any sort, who Is accepted rs
"0nly That and nothing more Men can
hardly get 30 that condition Of dryness
and crop; bat they approach IT painfully
near So that only business possesses
item and they can't think or feel or
talk outside Of business. They are TO
everything else dried up and wlthered.
They lose their seuGlbilty. they are IN
capable OF love; they are blind to grace
and beauty in anything around them;
they are not men but things. And There
are thos. who brag OF reaching that
state Of thinesm. they mean business:
Damn sentiment; they are omp.icd of
true manhood and an tenderness, ANA
treat all mankind ooiy as things as them
selves. They are identified rs dry straw.
and are described as Ike the heath IN
the desert. that shall not see when good
cometh: but shall inhabit the parchoi
places IN tie wilderness IA q salt land
and uniuhabited. cold. hard dry. unsym-
pathetic. fruitless. barren trees. What %
desert ~ dry sticks SIS world made up
Of these!
The sentimental the ideal, the relig-
ious. is the margin that makes life en-
durable and glonnes mankind Can a
reasonable being conceive Of the human
race as only a profanium vulgar, a herd
of mindless. heartlcss cattle. roaming
over the face of the earth for food and
pleasure only? Are they bound and
wound into mortal coils. with n purpose
only Of business and pleasure; days Of
trade and toll and nights of feeding and
smoking and pleasuring only? Has the
race no margin but the fumes Of tobacco?
is there no supernatural towards which
their natures expand. and aspire. and
long? Are there not mlnistering spirits?
is there not a Father above, typihed. ex-
cmpihed, and necessitated by the loving
protector and head Of the family? Does
all the rest Of nature pass upward and
onward into greater and greater glory;
and does manhood abruptly stop with
the business practical man OF affairs?
Is that his be all and his end all here?
To get money 10 achieve place. TO make
q name and die and rot and be lied
about? Is that all? Is there no margin
to our being here; none extending into
the world above and beyond? our at
mOsphere attenuates and extends It's
margin till it passes into ether; and is
the soul hide-bound, shut into a hard
crusted tabernacle OF clay? Who knows?
'Tis pretty, pleasant thinking. Nature in
The pious soul says: our conversation Is
in Heaven. from whence We look for the |
Lord Jesus Christ, Who shall change our |
vile bodies that they may be made like |
unto His glorious body, according to The |
effectual working whereby ne is able 10 /
subdue all things to Himself. Resist Il |
as we may the great testimony stands |
The Spirit itself beareth witness with
our spirits. that we are the Sons Of God
who IS not FAR from any one OF US.