Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-06-19

mentS with which 10 grind gram, Nessels
for holding water and other domestic
uses, modelled of clay, and showing
great skill III execution evidences OF
decorative art; implements OF warfare
and the chase evidences OF woven cloth
which would Indicate high degree OF
civilization. The scientist is thus
given a foundation upon which TO work
in trying TO discover the characteristics,
civilization, religion and government OF
this interesting people, Keeling
Of sadness passes over us Us we speculate
upon the fate of this vast nation. What
became of them? Why did they leave
this fertile valley in every way adapted
to their mode of living, and TO which
they must have become attached by
their long residence Then 10 Central
America, with evidence carved III stone
of prehistoric man, and i'll conclusion
said: Another interesting fact brought
TO the notice of the thoughtful observer
is the vast gulf which separates the
lowest specimens Of the human family
that we can find, from the lower am
mails wherever we find traces OF man
we find evidences that he believed III Il
future, by the case with which he burles
his dead, surrounding them with such
articles rs he thinks they Will need upon
! their Journey, and TO make present
able appearance in the other world.
| He cVeryWhere shows Il belief III
Higher being; he is Il moral being, ana
recognizes obligations TO Him who Is
supreme.
"Christianity and Ancient Philoso-
ply was the subject of the essay by
| Miss Winifred +. HeSton, She said /:
| PHILOSOPHY had its origin III desire
not only to satisfy the cravings of mems
minds, but TO quiet the longing of men :
hearts: in Il desire not only TO find IA
reason for all things, but TO solve the
problem of the soul-Of existence.
| With this purpose in view the ancients
conceived the idea of a Being infinite
and supreme; they displayed desire to
get above their own selfthought into
the thought of the Eternal; TO attain to
| Il knowledge by which they would solve
all problems; they would settle all ques-
tions OF the soul, investigate the laws OF
nature. determine the constitution OF
man, and learn how to reconcile his
! happiness with his surroundings, ana to
/ this end the discussion OF existence was
divided into two classes one, the idea Oh
/ the matcrialist, that matter Is the con
crete essence Of being, and that matter
! is eternal the other, that ratOnalty Is
! the essence 20 which all things must be
referred, and that essence ever striving
after pure and perfect state, but none
| ever attaining TO 1t. The anclents con
cpivcd of God as the breath of nature,
/ the artistic fire which begOt the universe,
| the divine life which vitalized the world;
! obey thought of Him rs the Providence
winch set all things in harmony with
] L. q f..,l fl1.rtn xNffl ne n
maintained the order of the Universe {;
the Dispenser Of justice IN reWardlng
the good and punishilg the evil. They
! felt longing after the ideal; 50 do we.
/ But their ideal was vague and indefinite,
while ours Is real and present with uS. a
man. human, vet divine, the Son of
! cod. vet tempted as we are only with
out sin-JeSus Christ, Their God
was force an energy, great unseen
! heart. whose thundcrouS pulses the
mind heard far away, while ours is Il
soul. breathing through all created
things like the wind across the Tyre,
thrilling its strings INTO celestial har-
mony."
William Howe, in his Grafton, The
Dignity OF Science said that the rank
that Natural Science is entitled TO hold.
as an clement or factor, in education, is
Il question over which there has been
much bitter controversy, and at times
actual strife. The strife has been
characterized by victorious progress
and defeat has always attended the
opposition. At the present time
in commerce, in the trades, and IN the
professions. Natural Science, intelligent
ly Investigated by the laws, forces ano
phenomena of Nature, and inventive
genius taking advantage Of these laws
forces and phenomena, make the nlnc
tceuth century the most progressive
and the graudest period OF the world !
history. The prominence thai
Natural Science holds rs one of the
leading activities in the social system. Is
= at once the result Of its own triumphS II
the past In closing, Mr.. Howe said
Natural Science, a. an agent OF human
process. as an essential AID 10 full devel
opmcnt. and Is department of higher
learning. has reached the highest posi-
ton of dignity and power
In Dewy Grass (B0hm) afforded Nj =
Whiting opportunity for display of n 81
/ truly rich vocal powers.
. The Ideal Fiction the subject o
the essay by Miss Elizabeth Jones, wa
{ most excellent contrast OF Realism
and "IdCaliSm Miss Jones said: i
/ is easy to urge the degenercy of tn,
S modern novel. and TO contrast thu
masterpieces Of such literary giants a
b. George Elliot, Dickens and Thackeray
e with the pigmIes OF today, whose taient
/, are fritteTcd away III the production o
, such cncrvating, ephemeral stuff Il
/. 'Trlby,' The Heavenly Twins, Dodo,
a or Ships That Pass in the Night, 4
r. That there Is much to deplore in th
= present day httion, none will question
+ 1t is fact which every right
f minded person must deplore, that ;,
much of our fiction, instead Of being
/ pure and ennobling, is tainted witt
moral leprosy, and that so many Of on
e writers are constantly, and perhap
/ heedlcssly, causing its spread, SOWING
4 the germs of moral ruin and death il
the minds of the pure and innocent
And why: Simply that thus comes t.
= them readers and gain. Miss Jone
. offset the names of such time serving
f creatures rs Ibsen, Hardy, Haggard an,
I lola, by names like Howells, Barrie
: Mrs. Humphrey Ward and Stevenson