Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-05
ro,,ov Ground and Dead wood.


observations Of a Philosophical Friend
OF Ours)
"son Of man. can these dry bones live"
Ezekiel
The Central Park. Of New York, and
the White City. OF Chicago, are great OBJ
tect-lessons COR this country. They are
Illustrations Of that wonderful prophecy:
The wilderness and the 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 Of the best and
fttost and their substitution for the in
different or bad Brass IS TO take the
ulacs Of gold. silver OK iron. brass OF
wood. and iron OF stones. Moreover in
stead OF the thorn is to come up the fir
tree. instead Of the briar the myrtle-tree
The White City showed what American
skill and energy and power and means
could accomplish In overcoming natural
difficulties. I'm turning ugliness into beau
ties. defects into conveniences, obstacles
into helps. and showing the possibilities
OF human effort for a mere passing occa-
sion. for mere amusement. The Central
Park has made a permanent conversion
Of a waste into a watered garden, and
the substitution OF the highest and best
and most beautiful for things common
and offensive Both the city and the park
show US advancing civilization. the lite
raj fulflment OF prophecy. and CLEAN
with the light OF the coming Kingdom.
And, in very deed, those great achieve
ments are but instances of thousands OF
works and achievements in every depart
ment Of human science art. industry
and interest. Our day calls for the best
things everywhere. And only the best
will DO accepted, succeed. and hold its
place. There IS nothing mean about this
day and generation. IL is demanding and
providing the best. 1t is remarkable how
in the cOmmOnest things and the planest
Offices OF life excellence is being required.
The pots are becoming az the vessels be-
fore the altar. Things torn, muulated,
defOrmed, or inapt will not be- allowed
just to save trouble. Good. easy, careless
Fellows are not the men for this day.
Such Is the general trend and tendency
OF things. We are gathering up frag-
mind and body and famiiarizing our
selves with perfection in everything. And
all this is Identified with the spirit Of
Christianity that promises lie and life
more abundautly: life 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 our advancing and expanding
civilization. Still We are only IN "A tran
sition stage. and things are nightly
mixed. And II may be long time yet
before things are as they should be. But
they are working and the Word OF God
Will accomplish that for which 1t was
sent.
In common life and high and low and
common society and conditions there Is
fallow-ground and dead wood enough TO
be reclaimed and substituted. There IS
time spent In mere and utter or elaborate
ldleness that have neither duty nor man
IN enjoyment neither sense nor reason
i'm them. There are the formalities. CON
ventionalitles, and deliberate receptions:
the accepted inslncerities and nonsense.
the dead wood OF social intercourse-the
gangrene OF humanity. There are the
assumptions and dignites that are
thought by silly men and women 10 be