Connecticut western news., 1899-08-10
TWO KINDS OF PEOPLE.
By Rev 0. D. Milliken.


 Peter and John once ran together to the sepulchre. John, arriving first, stopped reverently and looked in. Peter. coming up. entered boldly. saw the lin- en clothes lylng here, an1 the napkin folded there. Here are types of two ki.ds of people. Some are more thoughtful than others. These realize the existence of sacred element in themselves, and also recognize this in others. For it they have instinotive re- spect, fine ssnse of it's exclusive na- ture, and feeling that in each life it belongs to that life and to no other.
 Others are not thoughtful in this They do not realize any sacred element either in themselves or othors They may be excellent persons. may mean well in all that they do, but they have not a delicate appreciation of things, unconsciously border on the bold, and unintentially offend.
 John, stepping at the entrsnce and reverently looking ih, suggests . charao- ter having appreciation for the sanctity of the place. Its quiet inulosure was not to suffer intrusion from his noisy stop. Peter stops not until he has entered the sepulchre. and there his eyes, com reservedly around upon the situation in detail. It suggests a character without feeling for the sacredness of things. that cannot understand how . boisierous foot and staring eye are sometimes out of place.
 One arrives at your door; there is . little hesitancy, not affected. which means that he recognizes this 10 be your home. His manner, therefore. as he en- ters at your greeting, is reserved. Con- versation is cordial. but does not on his part become interrogative. Your inter- ests become his through your voluntari- ness to communicate. He knows that he is in territory not his own, but the sacred possession of mother. You have respect for him, which has good ground for becoming friendship, for he will know with good discrimination where even in intimate friendship proper lines are drawn. And you incline to disclose what you would not to others, because you know that his interest Is true and that your disclosures will be kept in confidence.
 Another comes; it may be he is in the house before you have time to greet him, for he does not think of the lines, real. though invisible, which separate Q public from e private place This means no intrusion, but sometimes is, for the hand handles. the eye wsnders and the tongue inquires You are given unsolicited information of the affairs and homes of others, and find yourself courteously evsding interrogations con- corning your own. A caller like John, noticing this, would govern himself &C., cordingly, but this is not John. The inclosure is subtly attacked along many avenues, and you politely close many gates.
 It requires skill to do this successful ly, and alas, something ungusrdedly slips, and the next day you are aware that the escape has become common possession. Your visitor has little ap- precistion of individual privacy or sanc- tity; therefore, your regard for him can never ripen into friendship. But Peter was a real good man. He had a warm heart. We are to exercise Christian kindness towards all, cordial greet and ever be willing to help, keeping at the same time gentle yet firm guards out in self-defsnse.
 A certain reserve bespeaks not only the thoughtful person, but one of fine instincts and discrimination, but there is reserve born of timidity, it may be of thoughtlessness, that should be put away for it iDIures cordislity and checks necessary social life, that are nowhere more helpful and essential than in the church. It is too conspicuous in alleg- ed social meetings, mak .ng satire of so- cial. This applies to all regular attend ants who never take part.
 A certain seclusion and degree of sanctity belong by divine intent to every house. Its outward walls are the sign of the inward fact. The same se- clusion attaches to every person. It has DO better right to assert itself and be reverently recognized than when death enters . household. It is a custom at funerals for all who wish to look upon the face of the dead. Some like this, others do not. The custom is SO con- mon that families who feel aversion ac- cede to it rather than incur unpleasant comment. But unless the deceased is one on whom the public has had special claim, whenever the writer sees pro- misouous concourse in procession around cssket, some admiring the flowers, others reading the plate, all gazing on the one who sleeps, he pie tn es Peter running without suggestion of hesitation into the middle of the sep- ulohre, seeing the ''linen clothes lie and the napkin that was about his head not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapt together in . place by itself. He likes to relieve this, picture with another John reverently stepping, looking, "yet went he not in"
 There is a rightfully exclusive atmos- phere in every home, belonging to that home and to no other It Is no affecta- ticn on the part of home to maintain that exclusion against those who thoughtlessly attempt to invade it. There is a rightfully exclusive and therefore, sacred place in every life be. longing to that life and to no other. It cannot be called sepulchre-a word too closely allied to death; though we must remember that the sepulchre of Jesus was the place where the soul had con- quered death and proved its immortali ty. Chapel is better word-the sa- cred and secluded place in each life. If l we enter another's. it should be at his invitation. It is the most valuable pos session g man has. and should be rever- ed by it's owner. In it there may be grove of palms and we'll of living water where the deep and best things of life grow; quiet inclosure not exposed to the brazen world, nor contaminated with common publicity.
 If we recognize our own retreat we shall learn to know it's meaning and value in others, and when we are privi- legged to visit one not our own our de- meanor will be not that of Peter, but of Jobn.
 We should go often into our own chapels, and let them become our cathe- drals. Hope and love will be there, kindling us with noble ambition. And as angels in the sepulchre at Jndea tes- tified that death was not tue end, so in