The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-08
FROM OTHER PENS
A LITTLE LAY SERMON.

A distressing occurrence which has
engaged local public attention during
the past week illustrates very forcibly
the truth of the inexorable Scriptures
which declare that "as a man soweth
SO shall he reap" In all the sorrow-
full tangle of tears, passion and anbi-
the homely solace of hope, the com
pensating condolences of duty done
But while death hides all blots be-
meath the green mantle of the grave
1t Is neither necessary nor good that
we should shut our eyes to the lesson
of it all.
In a new grave out in EImwood
cemetery sleeps a woman, and speed
ing on its way to an eastern cemetery
is the body of a man. Two grave
stones will point like fingers to the in
escapable verify that Whatsoever We
SOW that shall We also reap" It is not
necessary to believe that the woman
was the more to blame: she probably
was not. But 1T is very certain that
she reaped very much as she chose to
sow. She sowed ambition and she
reaped disappointment; she sowed pas
sion and she reaped tears; and VIII eth
er she died at the hand of another or
by her own hand. death has ended
prematurely a life that might have
been put to higher and nobler uses.
If from her life and her death and
from the whole sad story the right
lesson is learned by others. then per-
haps the unhappy sacrifice is not in
vain. 1t is not a new lesson; it is be-
ing taught every day. but not always
learned.
In our superior way, in these days
of higher criticism we smile at the
simplicity of Eugene Wares wash
erwoman, Singing of friend who
will keep her to the end" But
simple" faith like that is wiser than
all the lore of worldliness; its music
has saving grace and rings true with
the eternal verities while the song
a nj fnT- 0Ff h To
sound empty with hollowness and ends
so sadly. often in the sob of despair
or the requiem of dishonor.
All is not vanity, solomon to the
contrary. There are ambitions that
are worthy. The stage is not neces-
sarily the door whereat those who en-
ter must leave hope and virtue. for 1t
is adorned by many blameless wives
and mothers. Social distinction and
the desire for personal adornment are
not sinful. but woman's soul is too
heavy a price to pay for them.
Station is largely matter of
that we are to a great extent
masters of our own environment 1t
would be we'll If no woman had to be
a washerwoman, perhaps, but to be an
hopeless or undesirable lot in life. Bet
ter the washerwoman with her faith
from which she reaps hope, with her
nope from which she reaps happiness,
with her virtue from which she reaps
the rewards of conscience. with her
busy industry from which she reaps |
northumberland this and these |
than the sad harvest of heartache. de- |
spair. dishonor and death. For it lies
with ourselves. AS we SOW, that shall |
we also reap.-Kansas City Journal.
THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY.
The king of Sweden is asking why |
his wandering children and granGchil- |
dren do not return from America. He |
might ask the question of Governor
johnson of Minnesota. who is one of
them-and also one of the most prom |
inent Democratic Candidates for the |
next presidential nomination.-The