Connecticut western news., 1900-11-08
EVERYDAY RELIGION
DR. TALMAaE SAYS IT IS GOOD IN
 BUSINESS AND POLITICS.

N6teo Inc hKomple ot DAnteI, who
 Was Never Too Busy to Worship
 God-wholssome Advice to "sun-
 day" Christtans-Be Honest In All
 Things.
 of Dr. Talmage Is appropriate for all seasons, but especially in these times of great political agitation. The text Is Daniel vi, 16, Then the king con- manded, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions."
 Darius was king of Babylon, and the young man Daniel was so much a fayorits with him that he made him prime minister, or secretary of state. But no man could gain such a high position without exciting the envy and jealousy of the people. There were demagogues in Babylon who were so appreciative of their own abilities that they were affronted at the elevation of this young man. Old Babylon was afraid of young Babylon. The taller the cedar the more apt 1t is to be rlven of the lightning. These demagogues asked the king to make a decree that one except the king during period of 30 days should be put to death. King Darius, not sVspecting any foul play, makes that decree. The demagogues have accomplished all they want, be- cause they know that no one can keep Daniel from sending petitions before God for 30 days.
 So far from being afraid, Daniel goes on with his applications three times day and Is found on his house top mak- ing prayer. He Is caught in the act. He Is condemned to be devoured by the lioNs. Rough executioners of the law seize him and hasten him to the cav ern. I hear the growl of the wild beasts, and I see them paving the dust, and as they put their mouths to the ground the solid earth quakes with thsAr believing. I see their eyes roll and I almost hear the fiery eyeballs snap in the darkness. These monsters approach Daniel. They have an appe- tito keen with hunger. With one stroke of their paw or one snatch of their teeth, they may leave him dead at the bottom of the cavern. But what strange welcome Daniel receives from these hungry monsters. They lawn around him, they lick his hand, they bury his feet In their long names. That night he>has calm sleep with his head pillowed on the warm necks of the tanned lions.
 The Crime of Success.
 But not so we'll does Darius, the king, sleep. He has m attack of ter rife insomnia He loves Daniel, and hates this stratagem by which he has been condemned. All night long the king walks the floor. He cannot sleep. At the least sound he starts and his flesh creeps with horror. He is i'm patient for the drawing of the morn ing. At the first streak of the daylight Darius hastens forth to see the fate of Daniel. The heavy palace doors open and clang shut long before the people of the city waken. Darius goes to the den of the lions; he looks in. All Is silent. His heart stops. He feels that the very worst has hap pened. but gathering all his strength, he shouts through the rifts of the rock, "Oh, Daniel, Is thy God whom thou seryest continually able to de- liver thee?" There comes rolling up from the deep darkness voice which says: "Oh, king, live forever. My God has sent his angel to shut the lions mouths that they have not hurt me-" Then Daniel is brought out from the den The demagogues are hurled into 1t, and no sooner have they struck the bottom of the den than their flesh was rent, and their bones cracked and their blood spurted through the rifts of the rock, and, as the lions make the rocks tremble with their roar, they announce to all ages that while God will defend his people, the way of the ungodly shall perish.
 Learn first from this subject that the greatest crime that you commit in the eyes of many Is the crime of success. What had Daniel done that he should be flung to the lions? He had become prime minister. They could not for give him for that, and behold in that a touch of unsanctified human nature as seen in all ages of the world. So long as you are pinched in poverty, so long as you are running the gantlet between landlord and taxgatherer, so long as you find 1t hard work to edu- cate your children, there are people who will say, Poor man, I am sorry for him; he ought to succeed, poor man." But after awhile the tide turns In your favor. That was a profitable invest ment you made. / You bought Just at the right time. Fortune becomes good 'humored and smiles upon you. Now you are In some department success full and your success chills some one. Those men who used to sympathize with you stand along the street, and they scowl at you from under the rim of their hats. You have more money or more influence than they have, and you ought to be scowled at from under the rim of their hats. You catch a word or two as you pass by them. "Stuck up" says one. "Got 1t dis honestly" says another, twill burst soon," says third. Every stone in your new house Is laid on their hearts. Your horses hoofs went over their nerves. Every item of your success has been to them an item of discomfit- ure and despair. Just as soon as in any respect you rise above your fellows, if you are more virtuous, If you are more wise, if you are more influential, you cast shadow on the prospect of others. The road to honor and success is within reach of the enemy's guns. Jealousy says, "Stay down or I'll knock you down." II do not like you," says the snowflake to the snow bird "Why don't you like meT' said the snowbird. "Oh," said the snow- flake, you are going up and am com ing down." Young merchants, young lawyers, young doctors, young me chanics, young artists, young farmers, at certain times there are those to sympathize with you, but now that you are becoming a master of your particular occupation or profession, hny iu h