Arizona republican., 1908-01-20

concentrated. He sacrifices every me- ment of his life. He gives up all en- Joyment, all relaxation in this life. He sacrifices even his friendships, and he resolutely puts away all duties and claims that may be made by his fami- ly upon him. He becomes richer than he ever dreamed of, in the most daring moment of his youthful vision. God gives him his request, but leanness of soul is his portion.
 He has become money making ma chine. He can find no rational enjoy ment in any thing else. He takes a vacation but he finds himself bored and restless amid the most wonderful beauties of nature. = There is no love or beauty in his soul. He can hardly respond to human friendship and af- fec1on. but longs once more to be in his 'hot and stuffy office at the old job of making money. Perhaps he once thought that if he had money. he would buy books and pictures and fill his house with works of art. He would travel and acquire Knowledge and information. Perhaps nobler am- bitions once filled his mind and he in- tended in earlier days to bring hope and cheer in the barren lives of others through wealth, to administer to good and poor and unfortunate children through the establishment of homes and hospitals: to contribute largely to the church or to Christian charities and missions; to endow libraries and galleries of art or educational institu- tiOns. But all these visions have pass al l,fe hopeful days and the end comes with extreme old age while he is still count ing his money and adding to it and hugging it in his swrivelled arms. blind to the fact that naked he came into this world and naked he must go out of it. Perhaps the newspapers call this life successful one and some poor specimens of our weak humanity may envy such a life. But the man to whom .has come any vision of the rich ness of lifes meaning knows how poor and contemptible is the leanness of that mans soul.
 Here is another person who Is ann bilious for other things. He wants to be conspicuous in the affairs of the city or nation. Power and influence are what he craves not in order to be useful to other men, but to satify his own pride and selfish aims. He too gains through toll and endeavor the object of his pursuit. He stands upon the heights of the mountain of political success of professional success, of con- trolling power where no one else can stand to share the preeminence with him. God grants his request but loo os ie,
 The things that are really worth while. the things that bring fullness into life he knows not of and dies like a beast in spite of the shallow applause and admiration that may follow him as he descends into the grave from an un- thinking world which he has never served and which has no real affec- tions for him.
 Here comes a woman and her hearts desire is social success. If she can be leader of fashion and if her poor vulgar ambitions can be so far satis- fed. that every one will own her all legience in the small or large circles in which she mingles. if her dress is admired and copied and her entertain ments are acknowledged to be hand somer than her neighbors, and she is socially a great success the end of her being is achieved. Possibly the poor creature thinks that fame has come to her if she fame has come to her if the newspapers in these days of personal journalism, chronicle her doings and print the details Of her private life.
 l have presented :n extreme form three illustrations of desires granted
 the prayer answered for material wealth, for public influence and posi- ton. for social popularity and success which are three tremendous ambitions that assail our modern life today and therefore indicate its trend. From an cient and modern history I could bring innumerable examples to verify the truth of the psalmist words that God granting the request has also sent leanness of soul into the lives of those who longed after material things and have not sought after the best things in this world which alone can satisfy