Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-08-25

scopes through the sky ana have found
out that there have been - worlds, in
the last.two centuries. that have disap-
pearcd. At first they looked just like
other worlds Then they got deeply
red they were on fire. Then they got
ashen. showing they were burned
down Then they disappeared, show
ing that even the ashes were scattered.
And. If the gcologst be right In his
prophecy. then our world Is TO go In the
same way. And yet you want me 70
exchange my soul for II. All. no; II Is
world that is burning now. Suppose
YOU brought an Insurance agent 10 look
at your property for the purpose of
giving you Il policy upon II and while
he stood In front Of. the house he
should say, THAT house is on fire now
In the basement you could not get
any insurance upon II. Yet you talk
about this world as though II were Il
safe Investment. as though you could
get some insurance upon II, when down
in the basement 1t is on fire
remark. also, that this world Is 4
property, with which everybody who
has taken II as a possession has had
trouble. Now. between my house and
my church in Brooklyn there was Il
reach of land which was not built ON.
| asked what was the matter, and they
replied that everybody who had any
thing to do with that property got Into
trouble about It. II Is just so with this
world everybody that has had any
thing to do with 1t as possession has
been In perpleXity How was II With
Lord Byron? Did he not sell his i'm
mortal soul for the purpose Of getting
the world? Was he satisfied with the
possession? Alas! alas! the poem
graphically describes his case when II
says;
Drank every cup Of Joy,
Heard every trump Of fame;
Drank early. deeply drank.
Drank drafts which common millions might have
quenched
Then died of thirst. because there was no more to
drink.
Oh. yes, he had trouble with It. and
so did Napoleon. After conQuering ma
tlons by the force of the sword. the
victor lies down to die, his entire pos
session the military boots that he IN.
sisted on having upon his feet while he
was dying. So it has been with men
who had better ambition. Thackeray.
one Of the most genial and lovablc
souls, after he had won the applause of
all intelligent lands through his Won
derful genius. sits down In restau'
rant in Paris, looks TO the other end or
the room and wonders whose Is that
forlorn and wretched face. Rising IN
after awhile, he finds that Ii Is Thack-
cray In the mirror. On, yes. this world
is a cheat. Talk about man gaining
the world! Who ever gained half OF
The world? Who ever owned hemls-
phere? Who ever gained a continent?
Who ever owned Asia? Who ever
gained city? Talk about gaining the
world, No man ever gained it. or the
thousandth part of ii. You are de-
handing that sell my SOUL not for the
world, but for a fragment of ii.
Easy to Measure.
Here is a man who has had large
estate for 40 or so years. He lies down
to die. You say: THAT man is worth
millions and millions of dollars" Is
he? You call up surveyor. with his
compass and chains. and you say:
''There Is a property extending three
miles in one direction and three miles
in another direction" Is that the way
TO measure that mans property? No.
You do not want any surveyor with
compass and chains. That is not the
way to measure that mans property
now. 1t is an undertaken you need,
who will come and put his snger In his
vest pocket and take ont Il tapeline. ana
he will measure five feet nine Inches
ore way and two feet and half the
other way. That is the mans property
Oh, no. | forgot. Not so much as
that, for he does not own even the
place in which he lies in the cemetery.
The deed to that belongs TO the exec
utors and heirs. Oh, what a property
YOU propose to give me for my soul
If you sell a bill Of goods. you 90 into
the counting room and say 10 your
partner: DO you think that man is
good for this bill? Can he give proper
security? viii he meet this pay.
ment?' Now. when You are offered
this world e.; possession | want you
to test the matter | do not want you
to 60 into this bargain hllndly. | want
you to ask about the title. about the
insurance. about whether men have
ever had any trouble with 1t. about
whether you can keep II. about whether
you can get all or the ten th)usandth
or one hundred thousanith part of it
There Is the world now shall say
no more about il. Make up your mind
for yourself ~ shall before God.
have to make up my mind for myself.
about the value OF this world. l can
not afford 10 make a mistake for my
soul, and you cannot afford to make
a mistake for your soul.
Beyond Estimation.
Now, let us look at the other proper
ty-the soul. We cannot make bar
gain without seeing the comparative
value. The soul! How shall estimate
the value Of it? Well, by its exquisite
organization. 1t is the most wonderful
piece Of mechanism ever put together.
Machinery IS of value in proportion as
1t is mighty and silent at the same
time. You look at the engine and the
machinery In the Philadelphia mint.
and as you zee it performing its Won
derful work you will be surprised to
find how silently 1t goes Machinery
that rOarS and tears soon destroys IL
self, but silent machinery Is often most
effective. Now, so 1t Is with the soul
of man, with all It's tremendous facul-
ties; 1t moves in silence. Judgment,
without any racket, lifting Its scales;
memory, without any noise, bringing
dou-n all itS treasures. conscience. TAX