The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-03-16
Fallow Ground and Dead Wood.

A Philosophical Friend in Richm ond Dispatch.
=, "Son OF man, can these dry bone
live ?"-Ezekiel.
The Central Park, of New York. an
the White City, of Chicago, are grea
object lessons for this country. The
are illustrations of that wonderful
prophecy: The wilderness and tn
solitary place shall be glad for them
and the desert shall rejoice and blossom
as the rose. The prophets are all full
OF redemption, renewal, the selection O
the best and fttest, and their substitu
ton for the Indifferent or bad. Bras;
is to take the place OF gold, silver OF
iron, brass of wood, and iron of stones
Moreover, instead of the thorn is tc
come up fir-trees instead of the tria1
the myrtle-tree. The White CITY
showed what American skill and ener-
gy and power and means could accom-
pl1sh In overcoming natural difficulties.
IN turning ugliness into beauties, de-
1ects INTO convenlences, obstacles into
helps, and showing possibilities Of hui
man effort for a mere passing occasion.
tor mere amusement. The Central
Park has made a permanent conversion
Of waste into a watered garden, and
| the substitution OF the highest and best
and most beautiful for things common
and otfenslye. Both the city and the
park show us advancing civilization.
the literal fulfilment of prophecy. and
CLEAN with the light OF the com
Ing Kingdom. And, in very deed.
those great achievements are but in
stances of thousands OF works and
achievements in every department of
human science, art; industry, and in
terest. Our day calls for the best
things everywhere. And only the best
Will be accepted, succeed, and hold it.
place. There is nothing mean about
this day and generation. It is de-
handing aud proving the best. It Is
remarkable how in the commonest
things and the plainest Offices of life |
excellence is being required. The pots |
are becoming as the vessels before the
altar. Things torn, mutilated, de-
formed, or inapt will not be allowed |
just to save trouble. Good, easy, care
less fellows are not the men for this
day.
Such is the general trend and ten
dency CT things. We are gathering up
fragments; we are girdlng up the loins
OF mind and body, and fa,niIiarlzing
ourselves with perfection in everything.
And all this is identified with the
spirit OF Christianity that promises life
and life more abundantly lite of the
very best kind. The very language Of
christian teaching is the language of
our progress, and its principles are
Identified with the methods of orr ad-
'ancing and expanding civilization.
still we are only in a transition stage.
md things are nightly mixed. And
may be a long time yet before :
,lngs are as they should be. Rut
hey are working, and the Word of God q
I'LL accomplish that for which it was
ent.
In common lite and high and low
nd common society and conditions
here is fallow ground and dead wood
aough to be reclaimed and substitu- e
ed. There is time spent in mere and
tier or elaborate idleness that have
either duty nor manly enjoyment
either sense nor reason in then, E,
here are the formalities, convention. e.
[lties, and deliberate receptions the ia
,cepted insincerities and interconrso O.
the gangrene of humanity. There
q the assumptions and dignities that %
e thought by silly men and women %
be necessary to be maintained. often Sc
'alnst all feeling and sense. which ~
rench awe from fools. and achieve = 40
mporary special sort OF consequences TT