The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-26
THE MURMUR
OF THE WORLD

loved, that have reminded you of the fool
who went out to pray. The kings jester
had amused the court and created laughter,
merriment, hilarity. When his MONDAY
task was done he retired to the seclusion
of the kings garden, the fool intent upon
his own meditation. He was wiser than
the king, wiser than all that court that did
gather about his majesty as the Amounted
of God. The jester walked in the garden
with cap and bell amongst the flowers, the
birds, the bees, and the drowsy beetles
wheeling their droning flight. In a secluded
spot of the kings garden the jester knelt
upon the green grass and uttered prayer
that must have been heard by God: Lord,
have mercy upon me- fool!'
The king had gone into the garden, and
unwittingly approached his jester, and he
heard the TESTERS prayer. Instantly the
king fell to his knees and cried to the I'm
seen. Lord, have mercy upon me- kingl"
The lesson is fruitful for you and me,
my beloved. The jester and the king APP
pealed to God, and neither was fool. The
cap and bells were as bright to Him who
loves US ali as the diamonds that clustered
In the royal crown. Out in that garden I'M
der the wide arch of blue, jester and king
were equal in the view of the Father.
At the confessional of faith, king and jes-
ter, man and woman. are equal in the su-
preme law of Truth. There can be no
sovereignty there. Tsar and moujik
stand side by side, and the maiden knows
that the bedraggled skirts of her who has
sinned are cleansed and that the sinner is
pardoned by all save those who are Chris
tians. God gives his blessing, but His
creatures. refuse to condone or to pardon
and those frail souls who have transgressed
the laws are damned souls awaiting the
last summons. Purity gathers its skirts
about itself and turns its face to the altar.
Sin slips away into the darkness to sin the
more
1t is well for all of us to consider
these things in this time of Lent Mercy
and Truth kiss each other now, or they
never kiss. 1t is time for ntrospection
1t Is time for the searching OF our own
hearts. Retrospection belongs to the mo-
ment. 1t is of small concern, since 1t deals
with thoughts that we are not permitted
to cancel. We may regret, but all our
regrets are unavailing That which Is
done we cannot undo; and so we fare for
ward. If there be no searching of hearts,
no introspection, there can be no progress
towards righteousness. II the voice of the
man within the breast be not heard there
can be no hope for any one of us who treads
the path of disappointment and pain. Con-
science Is the bastard offspring of pride.
Remorse is the DEVILS incarnation of I'M
worthy deeds. What we need to cultivate
Is sense of right and wrong. Conscience
and remorse are mere incidents In disor-
dered minds. They are of no real moral
value. Men and women who violate the
proprieties or the ordinary amenities of
life are not likely to be brought to realize
their danger by any sense of regret. We
sin with intent or in ignorance. In either
event we must do works meet for repent
ance; and in some instances we must break
hAnr nyxyva foil Vat
pensating grace for every loss is given.
The Colosseum is loved of flower and vine,
and through the rents the peaceful planets
shine.
1t would be blessed if it were always even
ing and the world in evening dress. Fair
women robed for dinner or ball are fairer
than when "gowned" for breakfast. The
bravest man in the world Is he who
caresses his wife before monday, or who,
not being welded can love his lover at
da wn. 1t Is all right to rave about the
early morning; but morning was not meant
for women sentiment. The wisest wo-
man / have known did not permit her hus-
band or her children to see her before noon.
The daily life of beautiful woman must
begin with the westering sun; and her day
ends whenever 1t may be convenient. When
the dew is on the grass Is not time for
love-making or loving. 1t is in the gloam-
ing that love finds the way At twilight,
when the shadows are falling, swain and
sweetheart come together In the purple
dawn, they go forth to tread the unsenti-
mental walks of life and give no heed to
sleeping Cupid. That same Cupid, who is
a god at sunset, is a little swineherd when
the sun kisses the dawn.
So 1t is we'll in social intercourse and in
the matters of love to beware Of the morn
ing. No person whose eyes have just
opened from sleep can love, for the mo-
ment any other person upon this planet.
The thing Is impossible. Every awakening
to the light of day is a shock to the soul,
and in such a condition love can have no
part. In the ideal life no word is spoken
before the day is half-spent. So 1t would
be beautiful If 1t were always evening
and the world in full dress. This cannot
be; but all men and women may act at all
times as IL they were In evening dress,
and in that way make the world 70 seem
more beautiful than it seems now. fustian
and fine linen may play the same part in
Frightening the daily round Of life. and
the world be made the better
THE MURMURER.