Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-19
TOPICAL TALKS.


 Rev. pr. Morris-On my return from Europe I made the acquaintance on
 board ship of Minister Denby, who was coming home on a visit. Minister Denby was appointed by President Cleveland in his first administration, and when Presi- dent Harrison was elected it was sup
 posed, of course, that he would be re-
 moved. But MT. Denby had shown so
 many favors to the missionaries in China
 that they united in a petition to Presi- dent Harrison to have him retained, and
 he granted their request. Mr Denby told me something about affairs in China,
 which is of interest now that the Chinese
 are attacking the missionaries. He said that China was governed by the royal council at Pekin, which ruled through
 viceroys appointed over the different
 provinces. Right here is the trouble.
 When injury is done our missionaries our
 government must appeal for reprisal to
 the royal council at Pekin, which
 puts off the burden on the vIceroy of the
 province where the crime occurred. It is
 hard to get at these viceroyS, although it
 must be done before the outrages will
 cease. However, in spite of obtacles,
 Minister Denby has proved valuable
 protector to the missionaries, and has
 demanded and obtained reparation in
 several instances where injury was done
 them. The trouble is not at the ports,
 where our gunboats can shell the town,
 but in the interior provinces. It is inn
 possible to follow up the missionaries
 with an armed escort, and all that can
 be done is to punish the offenders after
 the offenSe has been committed. num-
 Der of women missionaries have penetra-
 ted the interior alone, and they are in
 danger. The Chinese do not seem to feel
 any animoSity toward Americans be-
 cause of the exclusion of Chinese from
 this country-in fact they rather like
 this law, because they don't wish to see
 their people leave China, but they have
 a feeling of hatred for all foreigners.
 This animosity arises from variety of
 causes. The center of the Methodist
 missionary work in China is Shanghai,
 and many of the missionaries from the
 interior are looking to Shanghai for pro-
 lection. J. Young Allen, who is at the
 head of our work in China, cables the Christian Advocate that the danger has
 not yet passed and further atrocities are expected.
 Prof. Charles Lane-I started out in Georgia as a preacher, and was also elected county surveyor l had to sur vey a tract of land where there was devils lane. A devils lane is caused by falling out between two farmers whose land adjoihs. They refuse to unite in building cross fence, and each one builds his own fence. This leaves about a foot between the two fences, and it is
 
 devils lane on the tract had to survey. The space between the two fences had grown up in briers. This lane was disgrace to the community, and a sad commentary on neighborly love. When I started to run the line between these two farms both farmers came out to see me do it. Both were stalwart men, and I dreaded provoking them. My rod boy run the line but it didn't please the bel ligerents. The one whose farm lay on the right called to him to run the line more to the left, and the one whose farm lay on the left told him to run the line to the right The dispute waxed warm. One farmer picked up a rock and the other stick. Both came at me. l said: ''Let us pray' and fell on my knees. I prayed the Lord to soften the hearts of these two men, to remove all bitterness and envy and fill their hearts with broth- erly love. I prayed for the community that it might be spared such a disgrace. After a few minutes one of the farmers dropped his rock and began to weep, and then the other dropped his stick, and both shook hands. I arose and we had a hand-shaking all. around. I could have taken ten acres off the farm of either of those men without a word of resistance. MT. w. T.-About a year ago favored silver but since then l have given the matter some study. I have arrived at the conclusion that we must accept gold as a measure of value. I don't believe in any frolicking with the financial system. If the leading nations of the world would get together and agree to uphold silver that would suit me exactly; but pending an international agreement I be-