Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1905-04-14
BY f. f. DAWSON


49,
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 conclusion 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 savors of s~oftness,
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 esthetics in
the world, and the time will come
when men will learn it's 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 he 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 a
man as bread.
The Son of Man recognized this
need. provided for it, and accepted it
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
In all its plentitude, was made the
recipient of disting uished favor. Mary
the sister of Lazarus, took an alabas.
tor box of spikenard perfume, broke
tho box that it 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. 1.-THE ointment was
wasted! Forty dollars worth Of good
perfume recklessIy thrown away!
Why was it not sold and given to the
poor? But Christ rebuked the critics
and enjoyed, 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 a 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.
bic has any value. Anything that can
not be eaten, or drunk or worn they
do not see any use Cor. It is hard
for them to understand that a smile,
or a kind word. or a 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 asst 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 architecturally beautiful home.
And the critics sheer, "a waste of
money! Why all that @ for
paint and flagree?" 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 in%congruous In
the appearance of a pious man at the
banquet table, joining in the mirth
and the merriment of the festive oc.
casion. To be philanthropic and be.
%nevOlent 1t is not necessary to pinch
every penny spent upon personal in.
diligence as If it were a pain to let go.
lest it should be robbing some widow
or orphan of the very bread of exist.