Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1907-01-22

luarieS AQWu3 aus iys AYoJ.
SpfRfr or JEFFERSON Sometimes We
fail to realize how many things we have
and deem indispensable that our ances-
tors did not enjoy. ! submit for your
consideration the following statement as
an illustration of what say. and to call
attention to the fact that when we are
passing judgment on the men and women
of the old times we should try to put
ourselves in their point of view.
An eminent person writes as follows: =
"Our forefathers may have been. and
doubtless were, more addicted to the
coarser pleasures of the table than IS
this generation; but the huge modern
development OF material qualification is
brought home to US in the information
that our ancestors lived without sugar till
the thirteenth century; without coal till
the fourteenth: without butter till the
fifteenth; without tea. coffee and soap
till the seventeenth; without umbrellas.
lamps and buildings till the eighteenth;
without trains. kilograms. gas. matches
and chloroform till the nineteenth; of the
1000 cooks of Richard II none could
make a plum-pudding nor mince pies.
Chaucer never saw printed book.
Science has not improved human
nature
One OF the profoundest thinkers OF the
world. treating of the progress of science
AMI art. says that :" in spite of the adj
vances of knowledge and the conquered
provinces of resource that lie at orr feet
we are not personally any nobler for this
homage. Quicker voyages. more abun-
dant jewelry. larger surfaces of silver.
and unlimited square feet of glass. will
not make one temper sweeter. nor open
transparent way through the heart OF
sel6shness and guile,
IF you could bridge theOcean it would
give path to knaves as well as to honest
men; and did you roof the world with
crystal. it would make winter garden
| for weeds as we'll as flowers. 1t is a
fatal delusion to imagine that the arts,
of life. which only enlarge its resources,
have any necessary tendency to improve
its spirit; or that the completest acquain-
lance with science affords any guarantee
of higher goodness. Meanwhile the tale
of Nazareth lives and spreads. perforat-
| ing with its sweet melodies the shout OF
battles and the storm of time; refreshing
still the heart of poverty and the down
cast penitence of sin. floating over the
mutable tide of civilization as it passes
from shore to shore. and bearing faith
| full spirits to His own abode of rest.
A great preacher spoke as follows
Without the force that came with the
great birth at Bethlehem the world would
be without note of hope. When YOU
look back over the progress of the veal
you are not much impressed with wha
has been accomplished, but suppose yor
go back couple of thousand years ant
compare the state of the world then with
what it is to-day. You will note grea
changes along the line of progress fol
the good OF humanity. During the las
quarter of centuary the greatest pro
gress along certain lines hassbeen mad.
that the world has ever seen. Take the
existence of the Hague Tribunal. TIL.
point is that the world has accepted The
belief that there is wiser way to settl,
nations differences than by the arbitra
ment of war"
I May God hasten tho day when wa,
with all its horrors and demoralizlns
influences upon men and nations may bs
no more seen.
4 VIM. P, CRAIGHILL.