Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-09
Incidcntals.


of Ours.)
There's not a thing in the world that
is absolutely isolated that can be ami
hlated. go out OF existence without. to
greater or less extent. affecting some
thing else. We may wipo out the least
gnat. What becomes OF the life that
animated II we don't know Its body
has been scattered in its neighborhood.
divided out to environing atoms. We
can annihilate nothing. We can only re-
distribute elements and apparently put
an end to identity. But things are so
adjusted to ono another that II rs not
possible even to change form or locality
without affecting other things more or
less. Nothing can be done In this world
as an absolute and complete and dis
| connected fact.
| All this is I'm keeping with the divine
| word that the hairs OF our heads are all
numbered The divine mathematics
| weighs inhnitesimals and estimates all
Influences. The greatest OF philosophers
says We are all members one OF another
| and that we suner or rejoice all to-
gether.
These considerations suggest profound
and far-reaching responsibilities, and very
practical thoughts. We cannot AFFORD TO
throw away words or moves. We must
regard incidentals and near and remote
| consequences. We are in the system
of things held Accountants for every
word. effort, and thought
But the next thought Is the dignity
and relations OF things and OF indivi-
duals 1t is wonderful how insensible
we are In this respect. How far a mat
| 70 affa aur H.
terests, our stomachs, purses. good name.
| or our friends, Is all that We care for.
| Outside of that, We count II no con-
Germ Of ours. Our very Indifference and
insensibility TO things around US is a
positive offence against the general good,
and Is punished by Imprisonment and
close confinement within our own narrow
| shells.
The best part OF our education and
breeding is the waking up Of our sensi-
bilities. OF our sympathies. to the APP
probation OF the feelings and interests
of others. A great authority says OF
learning: 1T softens our manners and
does not allow US to be- savage" Savages
eat one another. Barbarsns continually
fight with one another Tor what they
want to get or keep. In barbsrous
Christendom people bite and deVolH
one another in many ways. Even the
fair sex In their conflicts all run deiis
and fades together " To the common.
untaught, and british man. and to what
we accept as the mere wording. har-
dened, petrified, and enameiled. all man
and womankind are not much better
than cattle. Nay, hear them talk OF
one another. and you viii see that they
merely play with their fellow beings
as with chess-men or chequers-in the
game OF life. Chess and whist are, IN
fact. their Gospel and wsy OF life. In
their eyes, tho multtudes are but as
droyes OF cattle, lots of turtles, or she'll
fish. They read of a thousand killed
and ten thousand wounded. and II J;
10 them only the result OF the battle
And they read OF panics and financia
and social disaster and their only feel
ing Is that OF satisfaction that 1t hal
not reached them. Ard this very habi
OF hearing or reading OF sorrows anS
; disasters hardens the heart and drte
I'D what Is left OF sensibilty or sym
patty. Supplng on horrors feeds and In
; durates the devil that is In US.
: Humanity Is sympathy. And learnin
/. that does not enlarge. enlighten. and soft
: ten the heart IL not OF the manly or q
!. vine kind The most beautiful picture {
man, more than once presented In ScriI
> ture, is the tree planted by the waters
I, whose leaves are spread out toward
I, the heavens. green and fresh and tende
: Planted by the waters its roots are IA:
: tened In the everlasting rocks OF trut
: and spread themselves out 10 drink In III
. and freshness from the flowing rivers {
) lie. And It's leaves I'm the light and a
of Heaven absorb lfe-giying element
. from the divine hand. from all their en-,
= ronments. The tree is the emblem
: strength. and establishment and life 81
u sensibilty. In it Is fruit for ALL
branches are the homes OF the bird
% It's shade is hoApitable defence and r
II freshment what frightful contrast
;, this Is the leafiess tree--hard. wor
q dried, insensble mani n believer
: everything human or divine.
= Careless and fearless OF either Heav'
- or hell,
= Estsemlng and deemIng It all an ID
a tale"
r These things are worth thin
"A ing about. Every man has his incident:
e: that make him an object OF tend
ly though wise. sympathy and profound I
4 spect. Every man is a nerve-centre;
"A son, a brother, father. dear friei
,a A blow there thrills a human beirg wi
H. pain and sorrow: aud that same TIN
or passes to tho soul OF mother, sister. b
A. Their, family and friends. No human
n. ing Is Off and disconnected. The high'
"a condition OF being Is that most int
IN gently sensible OF everything and
a. that Is about II, most alive. wide AVA
70. and sympathetic. The highest gen,iem
~ "a he that is most keenly aware and
:" spectful OF the feelings and rights OF J
and high OF everything that has u
An OF the Divine Man II was said:
~ bruised reed shall He not break. and
Of smoking fax shall he not quencn'