National Baptist world., 1894-08-31
BETTER THAN RUBlES.

Illustrations of the Two Estimates Placed
on the Value of Life.
Anyone who could have followed the
exciting international yacht race for
the Americas cup would have been in
terested in the variety of character
and comment which the struggle be-
tween the Valkyrie and the Vigilant
brought out. Isaiah speaks somewhere
about the ''Chaldeans in the ships OF
their rejoicing" and when the Vigi-
liant, in her last race, in the teeth OF
gale, came in barely victor, the Amer
leans waiting for her at the starting
line were veritably in the ships of their
cxaltatIOn.
Especially noticeable were two young
men on fashiona bic yacht-club steam
er. They were evidently men who had
never worked for their living, and
whose highest ideal of life was pleasure
of some exciting character. They were
dressed in the most expensive fashion,
and were gentlemen" of that brittle
texture which only a moneyed aristoc-
fAcy can produce.
''This is the grandest moment OF my
lifer' screamed the younger man
through the gale. The other nodded
approvingly. Presently he answered,
81 never knew what was born for un-
til now"
When the Vigilant dashed across the
line, the two friends shouted perhaps a
little louder than the rest of the COM
pany on the yacht. Soon, amid the
tootings Of whistle and the roars of
applause this speech was overheard:
Il say, Tom, I'd rather have won
that race than had all the diamonds in
the world"
"You're rightW exclaimed his friend.
sTf T had won it, should have been
quite willing to die at the moment of
victory"
This incident, by sheer force of con-
ttras6. has reminded us of another. It
was in the parIor of lady who was
trying to influence rough, drinking
meg se reform eforrmn their lives. This she
as doing in thebgentle spirit OF Christ;
and in this work, SO varied with many
sdisappointments and a few successes,
she was aided by a very poor man,
whose life was above reproach, and
whom we will call John Stone.
The lady had been pleading with a
drunkard. who seemed to be on the
verge Of making up his mind to lead a
new life, when John Stone came into
she room.
ssN'hat can you say to him. Mr.
.Stone?" asked the lady.
John was fifty years old, and some
what bashful. He hesitated, and ther
he said
Il can't say much. I've known hin
these thirty years, an he knows me
I've been up and down, an inquired
an I haven't found any of family tha
drank, or stole, or went wrong. All
can say is that the Stones have alway:
been poor. None of us hev ever beer
rich. An we haven't had any position
an we haint been dedicated. Blu
there's one thing we have had"-an'
here his voice broke-'that's char
aeter. An it's more precious than ru
bies'
Tho drunkard, a man advanced il
years, with wasted natural gifts ia
above those of John Stone, and with
rnincd reputation, listened to hi
pnrer. stronger neighbor with quivel
ing lip, then bowed his head in hi
hands and sobbed aloud. Touche
with unspeakable emotion the lad
knelt beside him, and prayed that Go
would move him to better life. 1t
pleasant to know that the man ult
mately overcame the habit that ha
enslaved him.
It does not take very high order c
Intellect to decide which of the tw
put the right value on life; the ric
young men at the yacht race, or poo
John Stone.-Youth's Companion.