Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-08
Pcar1-Divers.

(The Observations OF a Philosophical
Friend OF Ours)
The merchantmen, seeking goodly
pearls, is the type OF the best OF our
race. The greater part Of mankind
spend their time looking for the gratif-
cations Of their common appetites and
passions-of the earth earthly. Their only
discrimination and judgment is in their
palates, in the capacity OF their paunches,
and the sensual pleasure they derive
from things. The man who knows what
Is beautiful and valuable, and earnestly
seeks it, refusing the worthless and In
different and ugly. and at any cost OBJ
tanning the best, is Of a high style.
Pearls are very beautiful and valuable,
and, like gold, they are made to stand
for all things that are most desirable.
Merchants pay great prices for them,
and divers hazard their lives and dive
down into the lowest depths OF the ocean
to get them. Both show how and on
what conditions things pure, lovely, and
of great account are TO be had. And
men are constantly seen giving up their
health and strength, their time and Ia
Dor. body and soul and spirit in their
struggle to obtain their pearls Of great
price, such as fortune. reputation, the
object OF any all-controlling appetite or
passion; the higher the more honorable
IL is these pearl-divers that go down
In the dark and unknown deeps, the
lowest levels, that are particularly inter-
osting. 1t is down there In the waters
that the pearls are found. 1t IS down in
the depths OF tho earth that the price
less gems are found. 1t is down there,
covered up with clay. locked up In quartz
that gold is found. Those depths, cour-
ageous. devoted, intelligent manhood,
that knows excellent things and dares
TO acknowledge them and contend for
them, explores. The judgment that has
been enlightened by a familiarity with
the best readily recognizes goodness any
where.
There are pearl-divers in the world OF
a higher dignity than those that seek
the gems In the Eastern seas. The great
ocean of the world has Its gems Of purest
ray serene hid down on its bottom.
And the noblest heroes and heroines OF
humanity are those that brave all dam
gers to find and bring to the light those
valuables. They seek and save that
which is counted as lost No pearl Is
comparable to a human soul. And the
immediate jewel Of the human soul is its
self-respect and conscious diyineness.
What a pearl-diver is he who can recog-
nize brighten, and bring to light these
human gems!
Not only are there pearl-divers in thu
bottom strata OF society, but there are
beautiful pearl-divers in the depths OF
human hearts. There are those who Will
not take men and women as mere SEN
sualists, as only commonplace. mere
animals They believe that there are
divine gems in the depths OF every hui
man heart, OF which so many are
vaguely conscious, but whose light at
times makes itself known through the
toughest and most forbidding outside.
Honest kindness reaches those depths;
and the great God goes down there.
What invaluable pearls are found hid in
human bosoms; high and low. rich and
poor, one with another, IL only we will
kindly go down there. And what an
honorable Office is 1t TO bring these brill
nants up for common use! The gold Of
humanity pays for the mining. From
the chaff and ruin OF the time, how much
true honor may be picked!
Our age is mining not only for gold
and silver but for everything. 1t Is
exploring the darkest recesses, the
closest, deepest depths of nature, to ind
and unfold her secrets. Our pearl-divers
know no depths too profound, and the
lifo of our day glitters with revealed
natural law. Gems and pure ore OF
truth are dived for and mined for by the
pearl-divers and miners in all pursuits.
Alchemists in the physical world are
almost relegated to lunatic asylums; and
vet men are found TO claim TO make
gold. The intellectual world Is full OF
alchemists who are not content to mine
for the gold OF truth where God has
stored IL for them, and dig for Ii in His
ouarries. These will make golden ore
NJ truth out OF air, OF idle words. OF
vain philosophy, OF human inventions
and discoveries. They are twin brothers
OF those who would reduce air to solid
and turn the solid into gold. What a
multitude OF ologies they give US 10 pass
for divine truth
The hope OF humanity Is in the prayer
OF the Saviour: "Sanctify them through
Thy trutl. Thy Word is truth" HUI
manity is being turned into gold by the
spirit of Heaven. as Is written by the
prophet: Il will make a man more pre-
cious than gold, even man than the
golden wedge OF Ophir."
-.O.-
r,s. Elastic Starch In your laundry.