Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-08-24
A Literary
Sermon

Auburn was toe small to support its
own pastor, but united with that Of
another village TO secure man to
preach In each place haif OF the time.
Although few in numbers and short in
nnances it was great in intellectu-
allty. There was reading circle, a
mothers club, and a sociological So
ciety, besides the regular Christian
Endeayor society and the Sunday
school
Consequently when the new pastor,
young man just out Of college, sent
word that the subject of his first ser
mon would be Reading and Chris
tlanlty, ever member was present
and attentive.
Like most young men he was radi.
cal in his views and very emphatic in
expressing them. He declared that
the craze to read the popular book
S the curse Of the times It educates
people to read without thinking. and
20 neglect reading thar requires
thought FLA sail, I can measure
he depth and sincerity of your Chris
tianity by the new books that 90a
read and the place that they hold IN
your social Intercourse. # s75# r
ask who Of yoH bave raa1# #}7ta - S.
would expect half ot zez re.
spond. II asked ao4 nam - seen
Jacobs Ladder, woaG4 It axesct
one Of you to answer. Via ErHsis
is mere trash, Horthi 45r NOR. t.4au
. pastime while E]se05.s I.a1s..6r IS a
book 20 be f09e a.ad rerea4 BE every
thinking Christiaa@ oil. hat beautiful
and true
His congregation was serious. All
felt that there was some truth in his
condemnation; yet as Letitia Smith
said, 1T seemed such a slaughter Of
the innoceats. fer mos Of or books
are at least not bad"
Dick Jones, the young school super
intendent, had an idea He scrawled
note on the back Of his hymn book.
and as soon as the service was over
hired small boy TO carry it to MS
roommate. This was his message:
"Chum-I'm to entertain the preach
er this cfternoon. He's cracked on
Jacobs Ladder : you have such
book in your old store tre { it ort; do
something to make it look read mars
some passages that you think he'll
IKE, and leave 1t On my study table
BE sure it's there before | come in
from dinner and send word to me by
the boy. Dick"
He went back smiling to meet the
minister and take him to dinner. He
felt sure OF having the book. In
short time he received this note:
Book all hunky. Only one in the
shop; secondhand copy. Read
enough to suit any person. Wasn't
marked hadn't time to read Mary's
waiting for me to come to dinner
with her. Scratched anywhere Just
as it happened. iIoce it suits. Guy"
The pastor picked up the book with
pleased surprise So We have
mutual friend here You're fond OF
marking, | see Marks Indicate so
much of a persons mental attitude
toward book. For instance, what
feeling prompted you to mark THIS
second paragraph on the twenty fifth
page?"
Il don't quite recall it now. am
such an erratie marker that my marks
often mean nothing TO ne afterwards
Now, this Autocrat. and he took uD
his real favorte. did you ever see
book so mutiiated? Yet keep on
marking every time l look at It.
But I'm anxious for advice about
charlie Rogers. What would you do
to help boy that is good hearted ana
Wel-meaning, but SO Weak-willad that
his comrades are always getting him
into trouble? is there any way to de
felop the manly independence that he
needs! -
The minister. like most unmarried
people. considered himself very skill.
l'li in boy training. and he mentioned
Jacob s Ladder nc more that day.
After supper he went to talk with
one OF the deaconS and Dick walked
70 church with Letitia as usual Of
course he told of his new book.
He comes to our place next I
!, ,ish | might borrow it. Via Crusis
IS in my bookcase and I'd like Jacobs
Ladder there, too"
or course you are welcome to IT,"
said Dick. Wont it be Joke m
him to find it twice in one week after
such scataing remarks"
I'll make it better yet. Mrs. Rich.
ards she called to the sprieht,y
young woman walking little ahead
OF them; then as the lady turned
Don't You entertain the minister afta,
we do?"
81 suppose so. Why?"'
oh, It's such joke! Dick here