Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-08-01

llglous side of our natures is last con-
sidered. On the mesa just back Of
us In cemetery in which l am told
graves are filled by those who die vio-
lent deaths. Among the number is
the noted Bob Ford once a member
of the James gang. Ford to save him
self revealed the location of Jesse
James which resulted in This death. Some
months later Ford was sitting in
gambling house here when stranger
walked in, shot him through the heart
and escaped. As l passed through the
cemetery few days ago little cir
cumstance touched my heart. Most
of the graves are nameless mound
of bare sand indicating that they had
died among strangers who soon forgot
them. Among the number found one
that was bare and some neglected.
Upon it lay in time-worn wreath Of
artificial flowers that once We're beau
tiful and bearing this inscription al
most oDliterated by time Sacred 10
the Memory of Clarence Jones' At
ter all somebody mother, wife, a
sister, sweetheart, perhaps, had low
ed him and had perchance made pill
grimage of many miles to pay this
| tribute of love. After all there is a
religious side to these people as there
is to everyone though its manifesto
lions are sometimes imperfect and
while less formal the worship is often
as real as elsewhere. We have Or
ganized Sunday school in a camp aG-
| jacent to this and as we have gone in
to thehomesan talked with the people
about it We have found disappointed
hearts, blasted hopes, crushed amDi-
tons and sometimes soured natures
but not often do we find the people IN
| different to the religious future IF
their children. Yesterday I met IN
old man, 70 years, once millionaire
and aman of education, but now he was,
he said, pauper, and soured on NIL
manity. Once an earnest Christian
| but now without hope. An hours
conversation and he gave me his life
story as the tears fell like rain upon
his snow white beard and while rough
in his eXteriorhe longed most ofall tor
the hope he once enjoyed. This morn
ing l started to walk to camp three
miles away and 1900 feet above us, a
most beautiful climb over mountain
| whose sides as far as the eye could
reach were dotted thickly with pros
pect holes" as they are called where
| gold seekers have entered claims and
failed to find gold. Here they stand
monuments of blasted hopes. Half
way up the mountain side [ met a
young man. An hour of conversation,
and with tears and promises of a bet
ter life he tells the story of his life, ev-
en- taking me within the sacred pre-
cinct of his mothers dying chamber.
A young man of 25 years, college
graduate, and business experience and
ability, but now handling shovel for
daily bread, honorable enough in llseF,
but so narrow a life to compare with
his possibilities. After all dear, young
people l am confirming my opinion
that the thing humanity most needs
is not sermons but sympathy and that
the most glorious life to live. is to live
with heart open to others who need
sympathy. In short, the life our Mast
err lived.
We are having most delightful va
cation in temperature ranging from
:. 40 to IS degrees and feel that we will
soon be ready for vigorous worl,
. where ever the Master may send us
{ Our message to you at this time is thai
:. it abundantly pays to be faithful Il
, your Christian Endeavor pledge
| Yours in the Masters service,
] J. r. Beard.