Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-05-03

| met young woman this winter in the
South who told me that she was the pos
SCISSOR OF $1,000 violin, and with a shin
ing face she said. You should hear the
mu,ic OF that instrument" and yet in the
hands OF very many people il would have
been Just producer of uDharmonious
sounds. while il the hands of this gifted
young woman it was truly marvellous. and
all because the music was in her. and the
violin was the best movement of the ex
preston of that music.
When Ole Bull, the great violinist. played
in Princeton, one of the professors asked
him If the secret OF his success was in the
violin or in the bow or in himself. and he
said, The violin and the bow amount to
but little. / never play until / feel that
there Is music IN me that must be ex.
pressed, and then any instrument | touch
becomes remarkable" Many of us are un.
fitted for life because we have become toe
artificial. have had wrong ideals and have
tried to be what we never can be.
A friend recently sent me that wonder.
full little book, THE Simple Life" by
Charles Wagner, which every one would
do well to read. To the author of this
book / am indebted for some of the ex.
pressions used above, but in one of the
chapters he tells us in speaking of the
home life, I'm the time of the Second En-.
pire. in one of our pleasantest sub-prefec.
lures of the provinces. little way from
there was mayor, a very worthy man,
and intelligent, too, whose head was sud
denly turned by the thought that his SOW
ereign might one day descend upon his
home. Up to this time he had lived in
the house OF his fathers, a son respectful
OF the slightest family traditions But
when once the all-absorbng idea of receiv-
ing the Emperor had taken possession of
his brain he became another man. In this
new light what had before seemed suffi-
cient for his needs, even enjoyable, all this
simplicity that his ancestors had loved. APP
peared poor, ugly, ridiculous. Out of the
question to ask an Emperor to climb this
wooden staircase, sit in these old arm
chairs, walk over such superanuated car
pets. So the mayor called architect and
masons, pickaxes attacked walls and de.
molished partitions, and a drawing-room
was made out of all proportion to
the rest of the house in size and splrn-
dor. He and his family retired into close
quarters, where people and furniture in
commoded each other generally. Then,
having emptied his purse and upset his
household by this stroke of genius he
awaited the royal guest. Alas. he soon
saw the end of the empire arrive but the
Emperor never. The folly of this poor
man Is not so rare. As scottish as he are
all those who sacrifice their home life to
the demands OF the world
What was the difficulty with Elijah:
First his physical strength had been over
taxed. He had been iaborng under the
highest tension, his nerves were unstrung
and he was just in the position where
Satan could tempt him the worst There
are many like him to-day. They are in
despair and they need not so much a spir-
ltual physician as the presence OF doctor
who can tell them that their bodies must
have rrSt their ha bull
and they themselves must remember that
their bodies are the TEMPLES of the Holy
Ghost. and that they may sin against God
Just as truly when they break commands
touching the body as when they commit
sins touching the soul Elijah needed rest.
and instead of taking it he prayed that he
might die.
Second. he looked away from God to his
circumstances. Up to that time he en-.
dured as seeing Him who was invisible.
then like Peter when he saw the wind that
was boisterous he began to sink. l do no.
think that any minister could preach to-
day II he realized the iniquity that sur.
rounded him, the hypocrisy in many
hearts, the awful sins in many lives; he
would grow faint and sick at heart. and
all because ne looked down. while it Is
possible. on the other hand. for ANYBODY
to preach in the midst OF all this desola.
ton il ne keeps his eyes turned up. and
tAAS Win you IL HOT tudL NOut
power is dead, but that Your eyes are fast.
sned upon the ground instead of turned
upward to heaven, ard the cause OF Your
distress Is not that your mother has gone
away from your home. but that YOU arc
standing like Mary looking in at the tomb
when you ought to be standing with up
turned face looking by faith into the yer,
midst of the angel company in heaven
What if the difficulties are great, let u.
look 10 God in it all
The other day in my mail came little
piece of poetry from friend in England
which has been singing its way like a hire
Of paradise through my soul all the week
When the way seems dark and dreary,
Think OF Him.
Lest thy heart grow faint and weary,
Think of Him.
For He knoweth all the way,
And His strength will be thy stay;
He can cheer the darkest day,
Think OF Him.
When some sorrow sorely presses,
Think of Him.
For through trials oft He blesses,
Think of Him.
He alone can understand
Leave it all in His dear hand:
In His love for thee He Planned,
Think of Him.
When some anxious care perplexes,
Think of Him.
Lest thy Utmost soul it vexes,
Think OF Him.
Bring thy care and thou shalt see,
Ee will bear it all for thee:
He would have thee peaceful be.
Think OF Him"
But there was still another difficulty
with Elijah. First, he was alone In
verse we read that he left his servant
At Beersheba, and he himself went into
the wilderness. 1t is great mistake tc
be alone when trouble comes. Bear We
one ano.her's burdens, and so fulfill the
law OF God gives US a picture of human
fellowship, while the verse, Take my
yoke upon you and learn of Me-" gives us
an idea of that fellowship which we may
nave with Him.
John Mcneil, the great Scotch preacher
has fine illustration of this point in his
sermon based upon l Samuel, the 9th
chapter and the first verse, And David
said in his heart, shall now perish one
Jay by the hand of Saul; there is nothing
better for me than that | should speedily
escape into the land OF the Philistines.
and Saul shall despair OF me, to seek me
any more IN any coast of Israel; SO shall
escape out of his hand" David said in
his heart" and John Mcneil says II
would have been well If instead OF saying
- IN his heart he would have said II out