The San Francisco call., 1898-02-13

seized of the notion to send out to the world syndicate letter. Several years ago came my turn to be infected by this idea, and I wrote to a number of editors about it. Their responses were not notable for enthusiasm, yet among them were enough acceptances to show the scheme to be feasible. However, change in regular work deprived me of the time I had expected to devote to the letters, and the plan was dropped.
 With the exception of one, the replies received were courteous. That one came on a postal card, a distinct gain to the sender of 1 cent, over which I doubt not he chortles to this day. Thinking the yahoo needed a lesson in manners, l returned his own card to him accompanied by little advice, and then forgot the incident. Had it been vaguely recalled memory would still have failed on the point that the cor respondence had been with Dune Me- Pherson. I often noticed that he was spoken of as a clown, dense, uncouth, and in after years, that his paper was the essence of stupidity, and yet the incident was not brought back Not long ago wrote bit of doggerel about Dune, and 10, he comes to the front with our brief correspondence, explain ing by 1t the "animus." There was no aninus. I look upon Dune. as upon any other simpleton. It was easy to realize that he was dullard, but confess to surprise that he should glory in the fact that my discovery was not recent. Having neatly been branded an ass, man with a grain of sense would have resented it, but here is the inn mortal Dune. proudly proclafming that he received the brand long ago, and bringing forth exhibits to support the allegation and esta blish the Justice of the branding.
 The clergyman who the other day said that prayer as an institution was dying out, may have spoken hastily. At any rate, people continue to pray. In instances the act seems to do them good. I have never been able to ob- serve that prayer had any effect be- yond this. It does not stay the flood, nor turn aside the cyclone The blis- tering drought def1es it. Pestilence and famine lay waste the land, nor pause as the victims voice their fervent wish es. Christian nations go panoplied for war against each other, each side for tif1ed by the prayers of millions, and each calling with confidence upon the God of Battles. It Is not logical to claim that the right always wins, for it doesn't, and frequently both sides are wrong, so it couldn't. Political con- ventions are opened with an invocation, and from the first word to the amen every listener Is planning how to break the slate of his neighbor In fact, prayer is a fixed habit, and is so gen. eral as often to lose its sacred charac- ter and its dignity. From my boyhood, and I speak not with irreyerence, it has | always seemed to me presumption to ask the Interchangeable to change, to suggest to the Almighty how this little world ought to be run. That the sea- sons come and go undisturbed, that the sick die, the hungry starve and the seed of the righteous beg bread, seems an evidence that events are not direct ed by human petition. There is another side to the matter which tends to detract from the re- spect naturally due. It Is that so many whose wickedness is fragrant pray with peculiar unction. George Clark, fresh from the murder of his brother, Topped abjectly by his bed and prayed, not for forgiveness, but that the peo- pie might turn to Christ and be saved. The street evangelists who knee the cobbles and try to raise their voices above the clamor of traffic bring in+o o4 iarity. They mean well, but they over- estimate their influence. The tendency to pray is natural. The cornered rogue sees in it a possible chance of escape, the hypocrite finds in it cloak, the good think it brings them in touch with the divine, and the careless may still cling to the pretty custom learned at a mothers feet. I believe the reverend gentleman to be unduly alarmed. Peo- pie are bound to pray; they couldn't help 1t if they would. AS to results, there will, of course, be differences of honest opinion.
 It Is refreshing to see that Charles Coghlan Is engaged in portraying the immortality of the stage. He does not speak as one uncertain of his subject. Some traces of immortality have here tofore been detected making their head quarters about the theater, and in the midst of them it was not unusual to find Coghlan. He has been star actor in number of episodes which had no angels in the caste. His present lament may be in token of penitence, or, per- haps, the old sinner has merely got tired of familiar roles.
 There is a lawyer in this town who is an endless source of joy to every body but his clients. .'efrain from mentioning his name because 1t would be regarded by him as an advertise ment, and costing him nothing, add to his happiness. Not long ago this law yer did business for a woman and got his hands on some of her money. Nat urally she had to sue, and received judgment. But the lawyer introduced during the trial of the cause a paper purporting to be receipt showing that hod vNo{1