The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-13
(BY WILLIAM T. ELLIs.)

(BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.)
There is always a way out. NO hu-
man soul is ever utterly hemmeo ~
by troubles. Deliverance is Gods pro
gram for his distraught friends he
is pledged to make a way of escape.
Sometimes the way to Rome-or any
other goals devious and beset by
difficulties. 1t may lead through
Jerusa. Il mobs, corrupt Caesarea
courts, shipwrecks on the Mediterran-
can and three months on Malta Inc
tourney may be personally conducted
by the military power or Imperial
Rome; and a chain may link the traV-
eler to a soldier of the legion. But
the arrival at Rome is CERTAIN Ano
goal is sure.
A terrific Northeaster had landed
Paul and the other two hundred ana
seVenty-five members of the snip
company on Malta's shores: what a
storm that was! How helpless was
the arm of all-conquering Rome when
Jehovah opened his fist and let loose
his winds! 1t must have seemed 10
the sailors as if all the other wlnds OF
heaven had gone out of business TOT
themselves, and had been merged into
the deadly Northeaster. Their per-
sonal experience had made them pes
simists, even as some people think tnal
the whole world is encircled only by
the Northeast winds of trouble. But
the gentle South winds arose in due
IL.
ors away from the island where they
had spent three months. There is al
ways a South wind. While the North
east winds are bowling most fiercely,
it is we'll to remember that Goa S
good South wind is on the way
9There's a guide time coming" Here
was the optimistic PauPs interpreta-
ton of his experiences, as he wrote TO
his friends in Philippi. Now 1 would
have you know, brethren, that the
things which happened unto me have
fallen out rather unto the progress OF
the Gospel That is another way of
expressing this lessons deepest life
message: "All things work together
for good to them that love God"
Over Stored Waters.
Let us stand at the PROV of the
"Twin Brothers. above the images OF
Castor and Pollux, and perhaps with
the little missionary, whose slight
frame makes us think he is all soul,
standing beside us, sheltered from the
Mediterranean winds by a cloak given
him by a grateful Maltese, we shall
see much to stir our imagination Over
sapphire seas. sparkling in the sun
light with the salt air blowing in our
faces, we come to Syracuse. Here we
have three days to traverse the his
toric city with its memories of De-
mosthenes, i. whom our orator com
panion Paul is especially interested.
A short journey away, reached, how
ever, only after good seamanship, we
come to the city of Rhegium. at the
entrance to the storied strait where
Scylla and Charybdis lie in wait for
the unwary ship. Paul had his own
thoughts of the famous events con-
nected with this region; he could not
know that twenty centuries later
standardization unsupported by him
would be anguiShed by the overthrow
by earthquake of this same Rhegium.
o. 4 20 he 1o6 n
the city of Messina. across the narrow
neck of water. A day in Rhegium,
and then we attempt the hazardous
journey through the strait. AS we
pass successfully, we see in magma
ton many famous wrecks along the
rocks.
Toward the beautiful blue of the
Bay of Naples (although Paul knew
it as the Bay of PuteolD the Twin
Brothers" drew a steady course. We
suvius waved his sulphurous plume
above the horizon, beautiful but om-
nous. Here we see Pompeii, in all
its Roman righteousness, idl1ng away
in voluptuous wickedness the beaut1-
full days, unwarned of the disaster
which was to overtake it within ten
years burying beneath the ashes of
Vesuvius a record of its life that
should lie hidden for seventeen cen
turtles. Even Luke's statement of the
presence of Christians in the vicinity
is confirmed by inscriptions dug up
here. Seven days of sweet fellowship
with the disciples of Puteoli we're
spent by Paul before proceeding to
Rome by land
The Legion Without Uniforms.
The present-day traveller along the
Appian Way will have his imagination
tremendously stirred. Everywhere
are relics of a glorious past. Cen
turtles long dead rise up to whisper in
49, 10 &c CrnC
the eye of his quickened mind he Will
see the ancient highway once more
filled with swinging Roman leg1ons.
Here they come, bronzed with many
suns, with the confident stride of vic
tors. from conQuests over the whole
known world. Triumphal process
sions, too, with chained captives at
the conouerorS' cars furnishing the
contrast to the splendor of the legions
come rolling along amidst the huzzas
of the holiday-making populace. An,
what a pageant is this which the very
name "Appian Way" conjures up!
Chiefly, though, your present-day
traveller will muse upon the greatest
leader that ever traversed this fam
Gus road-and he wore a chain. I
found myself saying. as myriads OF
others have done, "This ruin was a
building when Paul passed here. The
apostle saw this monument Just as I
see it today" So the imagination runs
to a vision of the little company OF
Christians that journeyed from the
city out to the market of Appius, and
to the Three Taverns, to welcome the
great teacher, who was coming to
them a prisoner. Then we see those
other legions of Christians. wearing
no armor save of the spirit, whose
tread grows louder on the road to
Rome as the tramp of the legions
grows fainter. Paul saw the van
p1ard of this arInV of conquest and
he thanked God and took courage"
Rome at Last.
Rome was a long time in being at
tanned, but at last Paul found 1t, and
his hearts desire. He had a peculiar
ambition to see Rome, and a joy in its
prison. He seems to roll the word
under his tongue, as it were, paul,
a prisoner of Jesus Christ" He wears
1t as a nobleman wears royal dec
grafton. He comes near to boasting
over 1t. Whether he ever appeared
before Caesar or not we do not know;
h. Y