The Indianapolis journal., 1899-02-26
TRuTH In SYMBOLS.

There is a truth at the heart of the SYM
Dol in it's creation. We learn from the mas
ters of our modern time that the primal
reasons for the wonder may be traced to a
grain of flint which has invaded the close
incrusting shell and stabbed the delicate
creature down there in the deeps, so that
from its own life the ichor flows for help
and protection against the hurt, covering
the flint slowly but surely and rounding to
the pearl Or they say it is a parasite with
which the creature must do battle by meas
ing the invader fold on fold and then dying
but there is the jewel born of the battle
And again, that it comes from the frus-
trated promise of another life-a promise
which can never be made good; but the
Illustration finally grows 10 the pearl And
the poet Sings
so the poor shell fish of the Indian sea
Lies seven years sick of its sore malady;
It's pearl elaborates in the unresting main,
In worth proportioned to the creatures pain,
Until in rosy luSter, perfect grown,
1t comes to hight as worthy OF a. crown"
May we not blend the imaginations of the
old time with the revelation of the new d?
For the the trufh would touch in some poor
fashion is Of the mysteries which we can
never fathom, yet must ever ponder, while
we also have 10 suffer the impact of the
flints, to fight the parasites and TO meet the
Illustrations of life, the great and beautiful
mystery to me OF the way some noble treas
ures may be won Tor the worlds life and
our own through the tints of circumstance,
the shaving of some dear hope and JOY, and
the angels tear falling athWart the bolt in
the old imagination; the shining treasure
which may not and cannot be won through
ease and pIeasantness and the wealth of
good which knows of no hearts bruiSe, no
sore invasion of our life in the shell of this
human tabernacle, no blighted hope and no
sore burden; but by these, rather, than
through them the jewel brought forth in
your life and mine, and in the worlds life
through all the ages, and always true to the
proverb Where pain ends gain ends
FORTUNATE NATIONS.
Glance first toward the nations which have
won the priceless pearl of the freedom to
be men and not mere serfs or pawns for the
chessboard of kings. Search their story
down to the deeps and you will always ind
the flint and the parasite in the advent of
the pearl.
1t is the story Of my motherland through
a thousand years. The reason for the great
charter lies there and for the great rebel
lion when the manhood of England set its
foot on the neck of her King. The finest
ichor of that manhood is the secret Of the
PEARL and the splendOr of the jewel marks
the burden of the pain through which the
manhood must pass TO its purpose.
Ii is the story of that long, stern strife in
the mountains OF Switzerland when one
humble hero was only an instance Of the
grand manhood which won the treasure, the
hero who gathered all the spears he could
clutch to his breast that so he might clear
the way to freedom and create the pearl.
II is the story of the mighty passion OF the
Ho8ander to be frse from the bitter and
bitter he ii within the sea walls of Hol-
land or yonder until so recently on the fair
island to the south--when he broke down
those great sea walls he had buht as bar