The Globe-republican., 1897-12-16


devote our sermon. This giant no
doubt in early life gave evidences of
what he was to be. It is almost al
ways so. There were two Napoleons
the boy Napoleon and the man Ma
poleon-but both alike; two Towards
the boy Howard and the man How
ard-but both alike: two Samsons-
Inc boy Samson and the man Samson
but both alike. This giant was no
doubt the hero of the playground. and
nothing could stand before his exhi-
bitfons Of youthful proves. AT
eighteen years of age he was betrothed
to the daughter of a Philistine. Going
down toward Timnath. lion came
upon him, and. although this Young
giant was weaponless, he seized the
monster by the long name and shook
him as hungry hound shakes
March hare. and made his bones crack.
and left him by the wayside bleeding
under the shifting of his fist ana the
grinding heft of his heel
There he stands, looming up above
other men, a mountain of flesh. his
arms punched with muscle that can
lift the gate of city. taking an atti-
tude defiant of everything. His hair
has never been cut. and it rolled down
in seven great plaits over his should
ers. adding to his bulk. fierceness and
terror. The Philistines want to con-
quer him. and therefore they must
IND out where the secret Of his
strength lies.
There Is a dissolute woman living
in the valley of Sorek by the name Of
Del:lah. They appoint her the agent
in the case. The Philistines are secret
ed in the same building, and then Del
ilah goes to work and coaxes Samson
to tell what is the secret Of his
strength. WELL" he says. If you
should take seven green withes, such
as they fasten wild beasts with. and
put them around me l should be per-
fectly powerless." So she binds him
with the seven green withes. Then
she claps her hands and says: They
come-the Philistines" and he walks
out as though they were no impede
ment. She coaxes him again, and
says: Now, tell me the secret Of this
great strength" and he replies: If
you should take some ropes that
have never been used and tie me with
them should be just like other men"
She ties him with the ropes. claps her
hands and shouts: They ccme-the
Philistinesv' He walks out as easily
as he did befOre-nOt single Obstruc-
ton. She coaxes him again. and he
says: Now. if you should take these
seven long plaits Of hair. and by this
weave them into a web.
I could not get away" So the house
loom is rolled up. and the shuttle flies
backward and forward and the long
plaits of hair are woven into a web.
Then she claps her hands. and says:
They come-the Philistinesw He
walks out as easily as he did before,
dragging a part Of the loom with him. !
But after a while she persuaded him |
to tell the truth. He says: III you
off this long hair. should be power
less, and in the hands of my enemies"
Samson sleeps. and that she may not !
wake him up during the process of |
shearing. help Is called in. You know
that the BARRIERS of the East have such |
! skilful way Of manipulating the head |
10 this very day that instead of wax
ing up sleeping man. they will put |
4 man wide awake sound asleep.
hear the blades of the shears grinding
against each other. and see the long
0cks falling OF. The shears or razor
what green withes and
,ew ropes and house-loom could not
TO- Suddenly she claps her hands. and
says: The Philistines be upon thee.
Samson" He rouses up with a strug-
lie. but his strength is all gone. He
n the hands Of his enemies.
hear the groan OF the giant as they
AXE his eyes cut. and then l see him
taggerfng on In his blindness. feeling
lis way as he gees on toward GAIA.
The prison door is open. and the gian.
8 thrust in. He sits down and puts
IFS hand on the mill-crank. which.
nth exhausting horizontal motion.
,oes day after dag. week after week,
month after month--work. work. work.
The CONSERVATION of the world in cap
ivity, his locks shorn. his eyes pune
ured, grinding corn in GAIA.
First Of all. behold in this giant OF
he text that physical power is not al
rays an index of moral power. He
'as huge mantle lion found it out.
nd the three thousand men whom he
lew found it out; yet he was the sub
ect Of petty revenges and out-giantei
y low passion. am far from throw
1s any discredit upon physical stam-
IA. There are those who seem to have
reat admiration for delicacy and
Icklfness ct constitution never
Duld rec any glory In weak nerves
: sick headache. Whatever effort In
ur day Is made to make the men and
omen more robust should have the
lvor Of every good citizen as we'll ~
every Christian Gymnastics may 1