Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-11-16

whether a person who is in public
dirty in person or slovenly
or immodest in apparel can offer ac-
ceptable worship.
Hidden Talents.
Yet TO hear some Stevens talk one
might suppose II was a sign Of mental
degeneracy for men and women to be
careful of their personal appearance.
They pretend to believe that a well
groomed and neat man is essentially
weak man. Therefore they practical
ly say that one of the signs Of genius is
a disregard of the decencies of life.
They cite the example of the Greek
mathematician whose appearance in
dishabille on the streets shocked all the
people who saw him, and the example
of Napoleon and Samuel Johnson and
Horace Greeley, all notorious for their
Indifference to ordinary neatness of at
tire, but such examples are not proofs
of genius. but only of the power of
genius to win its way in life in spite
of disgusting habits. The genius of
Alexandra Dumas triumphed in spite
of the degradation of his birth and
Henry Fawcett became a statesman
and successful administrator in spite
of his blindness; so, personal unclean-
illness and slovenliness may fail to de-
feat the true genius, but they can
never help him to victory. And yet,
deluded by this idea that slovenliness
and uncleanliness are signs of true
greatness, many a lawyer, a doctor, a
merchant, has ruined his financial
chances in life because he would not
dress as gentleman should dress.
There are more ways than one of in
terpreting that passage of Scripture
which says in reference to the one tai
ent man, "And l was afraid and went
and hid thy talent in the earth" Some
of 1.-The earth" in which many men hide
their talents of life is to be found in
the filthiness and in the unkempt con-
ditions of their wardrobes.
If it is necessary to be clean and neat
in personal appearance in temporal
work, how much more is this neatness
essential when we are consecrating our
lives to the service of Jesus Christ?
The dear Saviour wants us to go out
and labor in his name in the same way
as he used to work. He was tainted
with many reproaches during his earth
ly life, but those who hated him most
never charged him with uncleanliness
or slovenliness, and we may be sure
that the Pharisee who invited him
to his house and the other hosts
who entertained him would new
er have welcomed him as guest
If he had been careless about his
person or his dress. The quality of his
robe may have been poor, but we may
be sure that there were no impurities
upon it or upon him. So, Christian
workers, if we go forth in Christ's
name, some of us must be more care
full about our personal appearance.
Remember, o minister, when you as
cend the pulpit. that your clothes may
not be expensive, but they should be
neat. Remember. o Sunday school
teacher, that when you eXpOund the
Bible lesson your scholars are learn
ing from you what it is to be Chris
tan. They are learning with their
eyes as we'll as with their ears. Re
member, o man of God, that wherever
you go your clean skin and pure linen
as well as your lips preach in Christ's
name.
Character Development.
Small essential the next: The little
kindnesses and courtesies which we
| should extend to those with whom we
come in daily contact. The little acts
of Difference which we should show to
ladies, such as taking off the hat when
we stand with them in an elevator or
allowing them to precede US through
an opened door. The Thank you, SIR -
with which lady should acknowledge
q gentleman's action when he rises in
a street car to offer her a seat. The lit
tie social calls by which we should
welcome a new neighbor or her friends
into our community. The little gifts OF
delicacies which should be sent to the
invalid's room of our neighbours house
All these little attentions and cour
tesies may not seem to be of much
value at the time, but they are mighty
|
human character. They are mighty ii
deciding whether a man is to live 6
selfish or an unselfish life.
How a selfish life? Simply enough
Here, for instance, is a man who enters
railroad car. He places his satche
in one seat and his overcoat by his side
Then he stretches out his long legs
puts his feet upon the opposite seat ant
begins to read newspaper. Afte
awhile the train fills up, but he doe
not remove his membranes. Th'
man is an incarnation of selfishness
He cares only for his own comfort ant
is oblivious of the rights of others. H
has paid for bat one sitting. He has
right to occupy only half seat. Ye
he is monopolizing four sittings. Whel
the poor old woman with a heavy bun
die comes down the aisle, timidly look
ing for a place to rest and to deposi
her load, he buries his face yet farthe
| i'm the npvSnaDer and DrptendS not +