Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-05-30
TALsnfAGE
SERMON
by Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMAGE. DID,,
Pastor OF Jefferson Park Preeby-
terrain Church, Chicago

heV. FRANK De Witt Talmage presents
In q picturesque and forcible way the
duty or Christian fellowship. The text
Is Matthew V, Al, "Whosoever shall
compel thee to so a mile, so with him
twain"
A keen, shreSvd lawyer was one day
listening TO John Wesley preaching.
The founder of Methodism had three
different headings for his sermon:
First. "Get all you can without hurting
your soul, your body or your neigh
bors." 'That is sensible thought the
lawyer; unless man is continually
reaching out for something he will new
er have anything. Industry is the foun-
dalton of all success" Second heading.
"Save all you can, cutting of any need
less expense" Fright again." muttered
the listener. at is not so much what
man earns that makes him wealthy
os what he saves" Third heading
"Giye all you cam" There" exclaim-
ed the hard headed lawyer, "the minis
ter has foolishly gone and spoiled ev-
erything he has said. He ought to have
had for his third heading. Give as lit
tie as you cam You cannot save I'M
less you keep what you have earned"
SO some of Christ's auditors felt that
he was preaching the most foolish Of
doctrines when he used the illustration
OF the twain mile. They were ready to
obey the Mosaic law of justice. They
would assent to an eye for an eye, a
tooth for n tooth. hand for hand.
They would travel the first mile will
fngly and pay every penny that they
legitimately owed, but they were not
r,ra Go
after that enemy had deliberately
struck them a singing blow upon the
right cheek. They protested against
communistic gospel, which allowed
thief to run away with their whole
wardrobe, with their cloak as well as
their coat. They would not enslave
themselves to any merciless taskmas-
ter. For every days labor they must
have a full days pay. Yet Christ's
statement is strikngly true. 1t is right
In reference TO the temporal life as well
as the spiritual. The willingness to
travel the twain mile is the forerunner
of all true success. The unwillingness
10 travel the twain mile is the cause OF
almost certain failure.
The twain mile is the place OF test
Eng. 1t is where the powers that be
choose the men who are to be honored
in life's service. There the human race
Is sifted. There the faithful are sep
nrated from the irresponsible, the ener-
getic from the slothful, the true man
from the false, the self sacrificing from
the selfish, the one purpose man from
the indolent, lazy, shiftless individual
who lives without definite aim. Tue
twain mile is the thrashing floor cs q l.
man life, where the wheat is separc ted
from the chat, the rich grain from the
useless tares.
The Crowded First Mile.
Most or the human race are huddled
together and jostling each other dur
ing the first mile, where they only do
what they have TO do. But in the Sec
pnd or the twain mile Of life's journey,
where n man does more than he is ask
ed to do, he always has plenty OF ell
bow room. AS the great statesman
once said, ''rhere is plenty of room at
the top OF the ladder OF success, al
though thousands OF hands may be
reaching for the lowest rung."
Every merchant knows OF the sep
arating or testing influence OF the
twain mile. When a position in the
store became vacant, whom, in all prob
ability. did you promote to the va
cancy-the clerk who has been in the
store for ten or fifteen years, the young
man who has never been willing to do
any more than he was compelled to do ?
Did you select the employee who was
generally ten minutes late in the morn
ing, the clerk who has his hat in his
hand ready TO run for home as soon as
the hour hand points TO the mineral
20? Did you promote one who seemed
TO be Indifferent to his work and had &c
be watched day by day 70 be kept busy
as mother has to watch little child
No. The young man who received tho
promotion was the poor country boy
who entered your store with no recon
mendation except the willingness e
travel the twain mile, the willingness e
do more than he was told or paid TO do
For years the twain mile young mar
was the first employee at work in the
morning. For years he was the last
person to leave the store at night
When the work piled up upon his desk
unbidden by the head of his depart
ment he always stayed many hours
overtime until the work was done. He
was the young man who threw himself
into his allotted tasks with such in
density that he made his employers IN
terests his interests.
Who Is the leading member today oil
the New York bar-the lawyer who
when he graduated and could not fine
clients spent most his time in the
neighboring billiard hall? The young
man who became an expert In card
nj yfp In l,,d
He was the young lawyer who studied
might and day and kept on studying
he was the young man who put hil
whole heart and soul into the smalles
cases which came to him. He did no
fritter away his energies, waiting fol
the big cases to command his services
he Is the twain mile lawyer. He does
more than he is compelled to do.
Row Daniel Webster Worked.
"a noted case was to be decided IL
New York city. The chief counsel FOL
the defense was suddenly taken sick
Within twenty-four hours the plea hal
TO be made before the jury. Daniel
webster at that time happened to be
stopping at one OF the hotels. He was
sent Tor to come to the rescue. The
next day he came into the courtroom
, and made one OF the clearest interpre-
tatons of the most abstruse facts OF
the law ever delivered before judge.
He won his case. and was paid fee
amounting to thousands of dollars.
When the friends crowded around to
congratulate, declaring that he had per-
formed legal miracle, Mr.. Webster
answered: SMy effort was no miracle.
did prepare that address in few
hours. 1t took me months and months
10 master these facts of the law. The
history OF my plea is this: Many years
ago, when young man. was engaged
TO defend a poor farmer. His case
financially represented only few dol
lars. think fifty dollar bill was my fee.
1t wasa small ease, but the points of the
law invoked then vnre ox q ntl,r Lo 80 -. q