The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1908-05-01
A Little Lay Sermon

ne OtneT Qay unnn VIM was
many times millionaire droppe d
everything connected with his busi-
ness. closed his office and took the
first steamer he could catch for
Europe. Wealth and social pleas
ure, all the rich rewards for which
countless thousands Of people are
madly striving every day of their
lives-these thirgs were rothing
him any more. He had strlven as
madly as the rest of US and he sue =
ceeded beyond the degree OF the
vast majority. But almost In
n oment his millions were the mere
baubles of a ch'ld's play hour, save
for their ability to procure the DeS'
treatment which the famous ocullsts
of the Old World could give him.
For the mere boon of SIGHT, the in
estimaple heritage of humanity, ht
announced that he would gladly give
every dollar he had. He no longe'
wanted 10 pile up dollars or sweeI
fashionable thoroughfares in al
automobile or sail the sea in yachts
or loll in the delights of a mansion
He just wanted to see,
A few weeks ago a.maR in Phila-
delphia offered 81, 900, 900 for the
life of his friend. Aay physician
who could cure man ofpneumoni'
could have that service, perform e.
for a trifing fee every hour in tn.
day somewhere in the world, wealth
beyond the dreams of his greedies
hour. But the mans friend diet
and the other millionaire is goini
blind.
A few years ago the richest mai
in the world offered 1000, 900 TO
the man who could make him rfall
enjoy an ordinary msal, such as tn
homblest Of his countless workme
eat with a relish every day. Jus
the other day ysung millionair
blamed his millions because they di
not bring him domestic pleasure
And ii goos-the vast majorlt
thoughtlessly playing with the dia
monds of blessings which they d
not appreciate; like the Kaftrs c
the Transvasl in the early days, re
veFing in the luxuriance of capac
ties for enjoyment which the mi
lions of the rich cannot buy.
II If these melancholy exsmple
4 serve any useful purpose, it is t
show that contentment does not dc
pend upon riches or position; tha
there 10 no material success whic
can procure blessings which tn
moneysess man may not have with
out moaey and without price; ant
that these so-called "every da.
blessings" Of simply seeing an'
hearing and being healthy and rea
sonably happy In our various rela
tons should be appreciated fal
more kesnly than they are.
The very possession Of the bless
ings, which are really powers, in
wolves the responsibility of their
~Isest use. How many of us who
can see put our syes to the best use
and always see the best things that
are to be seen1 We take mere ply
sical existence as a matter of course,
while there are men in the world
with millions in their outstretched
hands eagerly offering gold for the
power to eat a square meal and en-
joy it. No golden key can unlock
the sterehouse of health or happi-
ness, but the world is full Of people
who having eyes see not and hav-
ing ears hear not. HELEN Keller
can neither see, hear nor speak and
yet she has surpassed the great ma.
jOrity Of girls with all the advantages
of speech, sight and hearing, even
those who are given the best train
ing possible.
In the physical world organs
which not are used or are improperly
used atrophy and become rudimen-
tarly, but unfortunately-or merei
fully-there is no corresponding