Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1904-02-10
as GRATIFYING As NOVEL.


follow the sturdy trials OF life, indeed
ls 1t often manifest that the real lie
more attractive than the imaginary.
AS the bursting rose on lie slender
stem in the front yard here it's germ
has been exposed to the chilly blasts,
holds its distinctive grandeur over art,
80 the real experiences of life stand
forth in vivid impressiveness more
charming than any fiction the most
cunning pen a paint. In the con-
hicts Of mind and aggrsgations Of men,
oftimes the most simple differences
lead to the most trsgical encounters,
In wars which dsvastate whole
countries aud overthrow nations.
From the hour the toddling child
dehes bis indulgent mother whose
loving touch fails to lead in the paths
be should walk until his bones are left
to bleach upon the field of Garage, Il
seems impossible to dispsl the craving
of war. Are men bloOdthirsty beasts9
And, yet, there are little streaks OF
sunshine, little glimpses OF peace and
harmony, evidences of brotherly love
and symbols of something higher,
something grander and more to be
coveted than gold or the conquests Of
the battle field. Now and then the
people rise in their might, inspired to
do the right, thing by themselves and
by the posterity which succeed them,
and the lesson IL one which should
make even a str niger impression than
1t usually does. Perhaps the fault lies
in the infrequency of the exception,
in the long lapse of time between lucid
intervals, and we are calloused so that
tn malady cannot be entirely reduced.
Oh, that grasping disposition, that
hunger for power, that unbridled de-
sire to rule, followed by the deter
mination to ruin il thwarted in the
grapple for the goal.
And when we trace the human
family from the earliest days we have
anything like accurate history of it's
movements, there is q striking SINH
larity to all It's movements. Before
men had conceived the creation Of
anything like modern weapons indi-
viduals and powers managed to find
the mean to justify the demands Of
the hour. Great civilizations have
risen and fallen, and throughout ell
the ages in which man has been play
ing a part, those ready to resort to
force, satisfied to bow to the baser
rather than consult the higher and
more noble side of the question, have
been in a most beastly majority. By
this 1t may not be inferred that the
hearts of the people have been vicious
ana desperate, for the contrary is true,
but that those urging the vicious course
have been able to ride over, 81 a rule,
the more conservative, more humane
members of society, of church and
State istrue.
A minister of a prominent local
church said to as this week: "What's
the mstter9 We are maintaining 3
splendid Sunday-school.o There lie not
. young man IN the city old enough to
really understand the difference be-
tween right and wrong, who is a regu-
lar attendant. We try earnestly to in
duence their attendance, but to no
avail. But organize q militia company
in the city and I see 1t is the easiest
matter in the world to enroll fifty
young men, all of the proper age to
profit by the influences of q good
8unday-school."
The minister was right. While 9
large number of the young men are
ready to bind themselves as the SER
wants of the State or nation, when
there is a hope Of donnlng shoulder
straps or gold braid, the thought Of
enlisting to serve under the banner Of
3 higher life, on the principle OF love
and brotherly Affection, Is passed by
unworthy Of consideration. They
would much rather learn the manual
of arm and shoot It out. And still,
the discipline in the ranks of the SOL
der lie far morer rigid than In the army
OF the Cross.
Revivals come and the revivalist
goes, after weeks Of earnest pleading,
but the mind Is attracted by the gansy
hues Of the illustrated newspaper and
Christian work in the community runs
along in the old rut, with two.or three
polite spirits managing the affair, and
the minister preaching along the lines
approved by these few leading spirits,
Now and then may be found an ex-
ception 10 the rule, in minister IS well
as in congregation. but It Is certainly
the exception.
In politics the few generally rule The
many. and the maniDuIations witness
ed, especially since We have seen the
dawn Of what Is known as tsbusineaG
nolfAfoa - varffv kha aaaa~kfon that khf.