Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-11-30

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&N as you've gone. you VII.
answer: 1.-THE best way
to spell Thanksgiving is Thanks.
Living"
Josh Billings says: Many peopl;
use their religion about as they would
a life-preserver, putting 1t on only IN
time Of danger, and they generally
wrong side before"
Part Of our religion Is supposed to
be cherishlng a spirit Of thankful
ness. The president of the United
States calls on US annually to give
thanks. A thousand other voices call
us daily to the same experience.
Dc We respond?
Some do, after the style of a certain
expression too common among
class Of young people. Hand girl
on the car the handkerchief she has
dropped, and she answers: Thanks,
awfully." Give a waiter a tip, and
he responds: Thanks, awfully." Show
another the way to some office which
he Is looking for, and he touches his
hat, saying: Thanks, awfully." Now,
isn't that absurd? Certainly 1t is un-
refined, undlgnlfied and utterly inap-
propTlate slang.
Yet to me 1t expresses too force
fully the manner of much professedly
Christian thought. For example: A
man thinks a growl, because his baby
has had the whooplng cough, though
he's nearly we'll Why does he not give
thanks because the baby lived. HIS
nelghbor's died.
"Rained for four days steady" says
another man, How about the II days
Of continuous sunshine and balmy, air
preceding? WELL" he says, II for
got that. suppose l ought to he
thankful" Now isn't that Thanks,
awfully?" '"
ppm getting so gray I'm startled"
says some Beau BrummeI Way
aren't you thankful you've got hair
enough to turn gray? Your partner
is bald as quartlcup. ~ y
Be thankful, but live It. The nation
is learning this duty fast. Neighbor-
hood is no longer geographical term
but means human need and ability TO
help.
Christ for the world" we sing IL IN
the hymn book. But so is the next
line! 1.-THE world to Christ we bring"
Here's some more:
1.-THE poor and those that mourn.
The weak and overborne,
Slnslck and sorrow worm
Whom Christ can heal"
But He will be pretty apt to do It
through your word, your touch, your
pocketbook--yourself. .t .s-s.
Poor little waif," was said to a little
ragemufin by tender-hearted wom-
an. why doesn't God tell somebody
about your needs?" "He did," said the
child, pitifully "but Somebody forgot
about it." N.
To forget-that is "Thanks-aw-
July" If the nation is grateful to-day, |
Il means her citizens are. We've |
had the sword, our across-the-ssa-
leighbors have had 1t long enough. |
But seel The sabre that cleft foe
mans skull set wide open the door of
human responsibility before the eyes
II Christian men and women.
Thankful were we for our own
'eace. But Thanksgiving means ma
ional and individual Thanks Living!
10, awhile ago, with a sublime altru-
sm, wealthy nation Of 100000 laid
tself at the feet Of enslaved Cuba and
aid: Here are we! Our best youth,
ur ablest generals, our guns, our mu-
ition and fortunes, to set you Free"
cost blood, even a quarter Of q mil
lon men; It cost treasure; but In 100
avs the foe was conquered, and H.
90 900 people set free.
Are we thankful for the still more
ecent treaty Of peace? Yes! But
re are not worthy to stand as Amer
can citizens II we do not prove our
ratltude by meeting the tax assessor
onorably, the laboring man fairly, the
apitallst as fairly, and the needy as
GENEROUSLY.
Let us go to autumn's shrine and lay
here our garland of Thanksgiving.
urple, and crimson, and gold. Leave
there, thankfully, holly.
Then let us so to put crimson glorles
nd new tints Of happiness in poor.
tarved, helpless lives. Maybe some
ody is hungry for a CLINT Of gladness
! your ONCE. Maybe In your homa.
ook about II the people do thus
GU and are the people--the nstioa
I'll, and the earth will laugh out In
or gladness to hail a true Thanks