The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-14


The unquesuonable proof Of the good
man and gentleman is his delicate ana
instructive consideration for the feelings
OF others. He knows how 1t II himself;
and his own sensitiveness 10 reprOach
and roughness makes him the ready and
vatchful guardian of others, the last
man to inhict pain. Gentle thousntlul-
ness makes the outworks. the down, the
influence. the graces. the halo OF chsr-
acter When the Spirit is wounded VINO
can bear IL? When the waters enter INTO
the soul, life is near going out. The OIL
fee OF the vestal virgins was 10 Keep
alive the fire and light for the people:
The divine business Of those Priests ana
priestesses that we call thoroughbred
ladies and gentlemen, or a still better
good Christian peoples 10 cherish and
keep alive the best and hottest princi-
pies OF life within us.
Ihe Divine Gentleman avowed himself
as the champion and yindicator Of the
little ones, the little children. And these
were not only the young and tender IN
years, but all those who shared their
beautiful natures, children or anciehis'
capties or conquerOrs, Judges or crlinl-
Eals, on whose bosom survived sensitive,
gentle, loving, cOniiding, simplc-hearted,
and true feeling, whatever their place,
whatever their garb. whatever their
age. He regarded the sanctuary of every
soul, with its ark and saved treasures,
and pronounced the wrath Of God against
all who should violate it, The little ones
young or old-were the children OF the
Kingdom. honest-hearted, conscientious
people; and whosOever should do them
harm, 1t were better for him that mill
stone were hanged about his neck ana
be drowned in the depths of the sea.
Strange the pity that arose in the divine
heart towards he first murderer and poor
out-Cast. Therefore. whosOcver STAY
eth cain, vengeance shall be taken on
him sevenfold" And the character Of
the Father is reflected from the Son
four thousand years afterward: \ bruis-
ed reed shall He not break. and the
smoking flax shall lie not quench."
Go and sin no more lest a worse
thing come unto thee" To such a gem
tleman the heart offers its noblest .afiec-
lions And how, when lifted up. could
He fail To draw all men unto 1t?
What we know as our sensbihues are
the rich treasures of childhood. just fresh
from Heaven. that honor our manhood
most. and are the marks ana essentials
OF Heavenly citizenship. When they are
lest we are lost. When they are wound
ed. we are most profoundly hurt The
little ones, IN whom these show them
selves most beautifully, We're the spe-
cial care Of our Lord. And in them he
championed the soul Of divineress within
rs.
IL is the business OF the world the
flesh. and the devil to kin out gentleness.
to harden all within, and petrify the
feeling. And one Of the tricks 10 this
end is TO caricature. burlesque. and dis
honor sensibility. Certainly IL was not
made for show. II suffers with exposure.
And when IL comes 10 the front rhym-
ing or set 10 music or spectacular, or
too smilingiy. IL is worse than under
suspicion. 1t Is offensive TO every hon
orable nature; and has only its own re-
ward from its own people wildcat cur
rency. irredeemable. demoralizing. These
tender feelings shrink from notice. In
our bodies they are fenced with bones
and sinews as our vitals; In our souls
they are guarded by sturdy. honest char
acter. by aversion 10 fraud and mean
ness. by the instincts of the gentleman.
At the approach of danger or violence
the warnings are given, and the de-
fences established; or they hide them
selves, like their Lord, and get away
from the dangerous presence. And, on
the other hand, how ready is the recog-
milton Of like souls! How prompt is the
Acknowledgement of the genuine, a glance
OF the eye. a fitting expression of the
countenance, an unconscious movement
Of the body, n tone, a smile a touch of
honest nature, removes all doubt and es-
tablishes the true, guarantees congenial-
ify. And the same. OF another kind.
chills the soul and is the signal Of re.
pulsion.
1t became the Lord our Righteousness,
the Champion OF humanity, TO be unob-
trusive unselfish lowly. meek. and con-
siderate. The soul rests confidently with
that nature. And in IT'S EXTREMIST aban-
comment and desolation Is sustained by
those beautiful words that come from
the distant past: And yet / am not
alone, for the Father Is with me-"
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