The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-27
BY WILLIAM t. ELLIS.

Like a page out of modern society
novel-though a more perfect story
than any novels the old Genesis in
cident of the Hebrew slave who, risen
to power in his masters house, became
the victim of the plot of that masters
wife. whose shameful advances he had
spurned.
From the cistern into which he had
been cast by his inhuman brothers, to
the post of chief steward in Potiphar'S
house was a great rise for Joseph; now
he was to experience a greater fall
through no demerit of his own. But
diamond is a diamond, whether repos-
ing in a kings diadem or hidden in the
nlire; and a noble character is a noble
character, and itself a priceless possess
sion, no matter in what lot it be cast
Joseph in prison was really as great as
Joseph in power.
The dreamer who forgets not his
golden dreams of youth may master
circumstances; pity those in a hard lot
who have not this spring of sustenance
within themselves. Joseph was always
true to his CLEAN. Even when his flesh
quivered beneath the Midianite lash, or
when he stood bound in the public slave
market of Egypt, the high blood of
sensitive princeliness mantling his
cheek, he was still Joseph the dreamer.
Through all the subsequent years or
drudgery, dishonor and degradation, as
we'll as through his years of RESPONSE
boyhood visions of Canaan. He had.
saws Marcus Dodds, this characteristic
of a steadfast soul. that he reverenced
as a man the dreams of his youth"
A TemptresS and Her Hate.
Many young men have to learn, in
the shock of undreamed-of temptation,
that all women are not like their own
mothers. Joseph, the Ingenious, I'M
sophisticated youth, found himself con-
fronted by the subtle and powerful
OLE
and far shrewder. Wherewith could he
meet her guile and passion? He was
face to face with what Geilxie calls the
sorest temptation that can befan any
one-to sin and prosper, rather than to
resist and suffer-" His masters wife
could make or break him, worldly wis
dom would declare. Yet he fearlessly
confronted the lust that dwells hard by
hate; for therein lust differs from love;
love- denied, still loves on, and seeks
only the welfare of it's object; but lust,
thwarted, turns to bitter and unscrup-
ulous vengeance.
Against the power of Potiphar's wife
Joseph reposed a simple faith in his
fathers God. He had a clear moral in
tegrity and a vision of essential princi-
pies which neither passion nor sophiS-
try could cloud. Behind all other con-
eiderations lay this one dominant fac
tor: How can do this great wicked
ness and sin against God?" As a later
Hebrew than Joseph who knew the
ways of the world and Of high society"
keenly wrote, ''Wherewithal shall a
young man cleanse his way?' BY TAX
ing heed thereto according to Thy
word"
This wonderful Book is not blind to
the actualities of life; it sets no pre-
cedent for shutting ones eyes, in the
modern fashion, to whatever is unlove-
" in human nature, and tacitly en-
coura ging its secret development. A
ecandalous criminal trial. like the one
which recently fouled the record of
the New Yorw courts seems necessary
to bring home to the world, in all its
outward responsibility, the depths of
wickedness and the strength of tempta-
ton to which young men and women of
our own time are subject. These hide
teachers of. morality and religion to
sense of their responsibility for incul-
Getting the Joseph virtues in the youth
of the twentieth century.
Bettering a Bad Lot.
A woman's hate threw Joseph, who
had risen to be the responsible head of
Potiphar's house, back into prison.
overthrow a man, but they cannot keep
him down. A good man may live down
any Ill report Not by moping and
whining, however; Joseph did not con-
cause he had twice been badly used.
He kept his optimism. FURNISHED up his
dreams, and set about getting the most
possible out of his prison life by put
ting his utmost into 1t.
Thomas Jefferson said that the best
vvav to get out of an uncongenial situa-
ton in life is to be conspfcuously effec-
tive in it. A similar idea was express
I'd by the late DR.. Maltbie d. Babcock
IN the acrostic
Go
Right