St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-03-29
COnwell's Lecture.

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The Y. M. c. A. lecture course closed
last Friday evening with lecture by
Rev. Russell II. Conwell of Philadelphia.
The entertainment was the best and
received the largest attendance of any in
the course.
The speaker was presented by Rev.
Thomas lyric, who gracefully character
lied him as one who never fails to inter
est, to instruct, and to inspire.
1.-THE Angels Lily" was the subject of
the lecture; and Mr.. Conwell said he
could not select spot in the whole
United States more appropriate to
deliver it in than St. Johnsbury."
The old Eastern legend of the angels
Lily" tells OF caliph who lived in the
palace at Bagdad. His eyes were per-
mitted to look upon only beautiful
things, only the rarest music and most
melodious sounds were allowed to reach
his ear. The choicest foods were always
served at his table, and the sweetest
perfume of flowers filled the palace at all
times. But the caliph grew weary Of
all, for he found that he lived alone and
he longed for ompanionship; he longed
for discordant sounds and the harsher
things of life that other men endured.
One night he prayed that he might be
carried away to some vast wilderness
and never see kingdom again; and as
he prayed he fell asleep. That same
night beggar lay in his rags at Basra
and prayed he might die before the sun
had risen again if he never could live in a
palace; for all his life he had longed in
vain to live in palace; and as the
beggar prayed he too fell asleep. That
night two angels were sent from heaven
to take the bulb of lily from the garden
of Mahomet and on the banks of the
Euphrates to plant it, midway betw cen
Bagdad and Basra. The caliph and
beggar were then awakened and directed
to make their way at once, the one
towards Basra, the other towards
Bagdad. The two men met on the river
bank, and as they paused together, a
fash OF light came from the sands and a
lily burst forth, leaped towards the
heavens, its foliage surrounded and shut
them in. There in a beautiful room
within the growth of the lily, in delight
full companionship, the life of the beggar
and king were spent. Bagdad and Basra
were made to typify the extremes of life
Excessive wealth, wretched poverty
insane desire, lack Of ambition; oppres-
sion, anarchy; overwork, idleness ex-
tremes Of religious, social, political and
private life. The purpose Of the lecture
was to show that the angels Lily
grows between; that the happiest man
has Just enough OF what he seeks to make
good use of it, and not enough to be
burdensome; who Lives aud let's live;'
who is just particular enough and not
too much so; who lives half way between
the city and the country; is not too funny
nor yet too sad-in a word who is con-
tent to stop when he has gone far
enough and uses what he has to uplift
and help others.
Mr.. Conwell advocates many business,
social and political reforms. He would
have a succession-tax law, that upon
the death of man. a certain per cent oil
his property should go to the state for
education or charity. He would have a
system of profit sharing among TIE
employees of corporations. He would
do away with the absurdities of civil
service reform :" of tariff extremes; would
let women have whatever rights" they
really want would have people marry
for love; and live to love mankind.
The lecture was adorned with such q
wealth OF incidents and figures so strik
ing and apt, and was filled with
humor and pathos, such that the
audience was held in almost breathles:
attention to the close.
!, Conwell's lectures are popular because
they are practical and not only entertain
for an evening, but give us something to