Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-04-15

Anything which can be shown to ac-
complish results is eagerly sought.
The roar and clash of machinery is
in the air, and the earth trembles with
the jar and concussion OF the giant
works. Society has its sleeves rolled
up and everybody is toiling with head
or hand. with pen or pick. with foot
or implement all over the earth. THE
strenuous life" is the model, every
thing is run on high pressure. and he
who cannot produce is out of the race.
Anything that sayors of softness.
of meditation, of the culture of the
finer sensibilities is frowned down in
many circles. What has he done?
What can he do?" That is the only
question. The dreamer. the visionary,
the seer, the meditative student and
speculative philosopher are secuted
as contributing nothing TO the general
effort to make the wheels go round"
Yet there is a place for estheties in
the world, and the time will come
when men will learn its Importance
To be always bearing the yoke is good
neither for man nor beast. The high
er faculties of the soul need provision
and development, as much as the phys
ical being. The. soul has eyes. whose
vision should be satisfied The soul
has ears made for the reception OF
ravishing sounds The heart needs
cultivation as certainly as the biceps.
The emotions are as necessary to
man as bread.
The Son of Man recognized this
need, provided for ii, and accepted 1t
through all his earthly life. A few
days before his crucifixion. knowing
perfectly what was coming. within the
very shadow of the cross, he accept
ed an invitation to a banquet in his
honor, and while enjoying the feast
I'm all its plentitude. was made the
recipient of distinguished favor. Mary
the sister of Lazarus, took an alabas-
tor box of spikenaTd perfume. broke
the box that Il might never more be
put to baser use, and poured the fra
grant ointment over his head and feet
Straightway there arose the criticism
of the onlookers. "The ointment was
wasted Forty dollars worth of good
perfume recklessly thrown away!
Why was it not sold and given TO the
poor? But Christ rebuked the critics
and enjoved. for once in his life. this
tribute of love and its prophetic an
nointing.
That spirit yet lives in the hearts
of men, Multitudes can see no value
in anything but material things.
What you can put in cart and carry
to a poor mans house appeals to
them. But they do not realize that a
bouquet of flowers on an invalid's ia
Bile has any value. Anything that can
not be eaten. or drunk or worn they
do not see any use for. It is hard
for them to understand that smile,
or a kind word, or n hearty hand
shake that has real interest behind It,
is often what men need more than
a dollar tossed to the hungry only
to get rid of them.
There is a great cutlery every year
against church decorations at Easter
Thousands and thousands of dollars
are expended in the cities of the land,
making beautiful with Easter lilies
the affairs Of the church. And the
critics, smelling the sweet perfume
stand aloof and say, "Why all this
waste? These flowers might have
been sold and the money given to the
poor!" They do not realize that the
flowers speak a universal language,
that thousands are inspired, and up
lifted and purified by their presence.
in the sanctuary. Neither do they
reflect that in the vast majority OF
cases after the day is done. they go
to the wards of the hospitals, carry
ing their message of love to the pale
faced invalids there. And they will
ingly forget that the men and women
who provide that floral splendor are
those who give most bountifully Of
their substance to help the poor in
most substantial ways.
This rule holds good in all the re-
lations of life. A man starts out to
build a home for himself. He goes
into a community where architecture
is at a low ebb. He does not criti-
else existing conditions, but he erects
an intellectually beautiful home.
And the critics sheer, "a waste OF
money! Why all that expense for
paint and filagree?" Nevertheless the
neighbors begin to make improve
ments on their property. and the next
house that is built shows that the
owner has been taking lessons in
demonstration. The whole town
feels the influence of architectural
beauty.
There is nothing homogeneous in
the appearance of pious man at the
banquet table. joining in the mirth
and the merriment of the festive &C.
casion. To be phiIanthropic and be-
nevolent it is not necessary to pinch
every penny spent upon personal in
diligence as if it were pain TO let go.
lest it should be robbing some widow
or orphan of the very bread of exist
ence. Refreshed and satisfied with
your full meal and comfortable con-
dition, you will be more likely to re-
spond to the real calls for assistance
which will meet you at the door than
If you keep yourselves starved In
spirit. soul and body. that you may
bava 70 oiva IN those in want