Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-16

from the most unpromising sources.
What we have known and despised as
jamestown weed is now giving US a most
valuable salve-strymonium. Witch
hazel has made many fortune and rem
dered inestimable relief Nay, there IS
hardly an herb. tree. plant, or flower that
has not been made to disclose a virtue for
the relief OF our aches or pains, or for
our comfort and welfare. The world was
made Tor man. and there IS nothing In It
that does not contemplate his convent
ence; the commonest things often for
the greatest and widest usefulness, like
air and water.
This democracy, impartlality, radical
ism, and motherly honor OF nature for
her plainest and apparently least favored
children. for all that comes from her
womb, is very interesting. She seems 70
be playing a game of egg-hidlng with
mankind. Her eggs are her secret active
principles. ana her laws. the forces and
virtues Of things, that she has hidden
above, about. and underneath the earth's
surface. Man seems at times, with the
open sesame Of his study and energy, to
have opened caves Of untold wealth. Wit
ness the wholesome medicines, the beauu-
full eolors the countless chemicals that
have come OF coal tar. a modern phar-
macopoeia is veritable robbers cave
! The lesson Of all this is that man must
look respectfully. thoughifully, intelh-
gently on everything about him. IL the
heavens declare the glory of God, the
commonest things Of earth do also praise
HIM. The inhnitesmal as well as the
infinite give Him glory.
on every herb on which we tread
Are written words. which, rightly read,
Would lead US from earth's fagrant sod
To hope and holiness and God.
But if this is SO Of the common things
on. in, under. and above the earth, how
much more important in regard TO the
race for whose comfort and honor all
was created
The history Of mankind is fun Of the
great good that has come from the low
Hest and humblest sources. Tho father
OF tbs faithful was sheik wandering
from home iu a Gtrang land. Moses was
founding. All the heroes and fathers
Of Biblical history were what we Wouid
call plain people. The founder OF Rome
was an outcast. The Author and Found
or OF our Faith was "as a root out a dried
ground" without form or comellness'
The noble army Of martyrs wandered
about In sheepsllins and gOatsklns. ana
dwelt IN Gems and caves OF the earth-ot
whom tha world was not worthy. All
modern history tells Of human weeds
that have developed great virtue ana Wis
dom and power for the good Of mankind.
The great growths OF literature have
grown I'D as weeds and borne wonderful
fruits; their height rising heayenward,
their branches OYerspreadng the earth'
and IN them food Tor all Homer was 4
wandering minstrel; Terence slave,
Eplctetus no better, &c. &c.
Down IN modern times, the greatest OF
all uninspired writer's. Shakespeare, was a
veritabls weed, ashamed OF his calling. X
anything, nOuyeau richie; Ceryantes
was nc better; Burns an III weed. indeed;
John Bunyan a poor tinker and prison.
bird. no better than q weed And how
many are there 20 be added 10 these most
honorable dishOnored. And hardly one OF
these dreamed OF the wonderful works
that he was accomplishments .egacles
each was preparing for mankind As far
as they could see, each one was little bet
ter than u weed; sad failure, laborinS
in vain and spending their strength for
naught.
"DMs alter visumest." God has forever
chosen the weak things Of this world TO
confound the strong-things that are not
TO bring to naught things that are.