Marble Hill press., 1897-07-29
The Grocerynan.

perfect creation physically, but could be i'm
proved on in many particulars-for instance,
the calf Of the leg should have been in front
and there should have been one eye in the
back of the head and the elbow joint should
have had back action, so that man could
scratch his back and a women button her
dress or fasten her skirt more conveniently.
They declare that perfect man should be
built to run like horse and swim like fish
and fly like bird. Shakespeare. they say,
was only indulging in little taffy when he
wrote 'what piece of work is man. How
noble in season how infinite in faculties; in
form and moving; how express and admira-
bic, in acticn how like an angel; in appre-
hension how like god!'
Some of these writers talk about sacred and
divine things with the most shocking con-
tempt and intimate that nobody but towards
and lunatics believe in them. They would
make Voltarire and Tom Payne ashamed of
themselves. Now, if man has doubts about
the miracles or the divinity of Christ and is
really seeking after the truth and expresses
himself in language that shows respect for
the faith of his fellowmen, it is all right; but
we are too helpless to be vain or copceited.
If I knew where came from or where was
going or what would be my future state, orlf
| could prolong my existence or could fore
cea the ~ II p,it;ac of |; fa and ,rayant tbaro
could afford to strut around and play Sir Or
ace. But | feel my helplessness more and
more every day, and like child in trouble
want to go 10 my father. Whether there be
a God or not, all the good people have ever
known or read about believed there is, and
it is disrespect to them 10 take His name in
vain. Addison says that Sir Robert Boyle,
who was the greatest naturalist that England
ever produced, had the most profound vener.
alton for the Supreme Being and never men,
toned the name Of God without a pause-a
visible stop in his discourse No wellbred
man is ever profane or speaks the name of
God rreverently. cannot understand now
medical men who have studied the anatomy
of the human body-this complex and won
derful machine--should ever be skeptical
about Gods existence. II I knew how my
will, whichlls immaterial, controls my mus
ces, whichiare material, and make me extend
my hand Of my foot Or close my eyes and
open my mouth, l might boast'of little
knowledge; but as ii is, the raising Of my arm
or the writing with this pen is greater mir
acle than Jonah living three days in the
whales belly. Every seed that terminates
and makes a flower is miracle to me.
Sometimes wonder If had glass that
would magnify million times could I see
the embryo oak in a little acorn; could see
the orange tree in the seed of the fruit. All
nature is full of miracles Winding up the
canes in front of my veranda are madeira
vines that climb one way and mop vines that
climb both ways. Every plant has its own
laws, and they are Interchangeable. Just so
with the beasts and birds and insects, and l
almost envy them in their happy ignorance
Of death and future state. Hundreds OF
katydids are singing in the grove while
write. The males are making music for their
unmusical mates. They will sing on and be
happy for three months and die. The form
and structure of their little bodies is mira
Gle, for the utmost ingenuity Of man could
not make one. The two little drums that
every cicada carries for sounding boards and
the tiny frets on their wings that scrape each
other with inconceivable rapidty makes a
musical note that can be heard half a mile
on still and quiet night. And then their
sense OF hearing is so wonderfully acute. For
what child has not tiptoed to the tree and
touched it ever So gently and closed the Or
chestra. Dl. Holmes calls the katydids "this
testy little dogmatst," for they never tire ol
saying "katy did" anu "katy didn't"
But about this improved man and woman
that these skeptics would make if they could,
Som etimes man does fall over wheelbar.
row in the night and bruise his shns, and
remember well how many hard licks we boys
got when we played shiny at the old school.
house on top of the hill, but the sores go
| well and no bones were broken. If the cal
was in front the bruise would be as bad anc
1t would make mans pants bag at the. call
instead of the knee, and woman's calf wher
riding bike would look awful! About tha
third eye in the back Of the head, it woult
very much interfere with our sleeping posi-
ton and give no room for woman's bacl
hair and utterly paralyze her devotions ii
church. five are TO have third eye til,
optical nerves and muscles should be SO ar.
ranged that when the two in front are oper
the one in the rear should be shut, and vic,
versa. But this third eye would Of cours,
necessitate larger cerebellum to hold tn,
machinery, and that would give man tn,
big head. AS to double-jointed elbow fo
scratching purposes, I've no particular objec
tions, though on pinch man can do lik
Sidney Smiths pigs: He can rub up agains
a post or the edge Of door and get relief
AS to that Munchausen business Of sunninl
and swimming and flying, It Is folly to dis
cuss. Man has no need Of such powers
and II he had four legs like horse, an,
fms like fish and wings like bird h
wouldn't be a man, but sort Of quadruple
amphibious aerollte, too smart for this worl
and not good enough for the next
Good graciousl what a world OF new lheo
ries about man and The creation these mod
ern thinkers have got up, They can't foe
The old folks, but fear they do demoraliz
some uf the young. Young man, stop an
think before you desert the faith Of the lall
ers. II Is safe 10 say that such great an
good men aH Calvin and Luther aud Kno
and Wesley and Whitfield and sIr laaa
Newton and Addison and Pope and huBd, cd
OF oihers who lived and died ii the faith wer
not mistaken. Wait until these AgnoilIs
and akepllra Al agree on q religion that WI
give comfort IN adversely and peace n N
houf AGd article oi death, Ne. don't wal
Tor they have had time enough and siIsfs
a0ih'eg' lIii4. AaN