The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-10-01
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
T-THE most serious defect in
81 American life is to use the
parable of the wise and TOOL
ish virgins, lack of oil: our
l young people face the future
unprepared. Germany ana
Japan NAV both be taken as examples
of unpreparedness The latter Won d
great war almost, as Mr.. KEENAN,
happy phrase puts it, ''by prearrange-
ment" Japan was ready. Russia was
not. Germany is today the bogle man
of Europe because her neighborS, ana
especially England, see her prepared
to a degree which they nave not pc
gun to attain. In the case Of the IN
dividual. as well as of the nation, this
holds true; the individual German
looking forward to a business career
undergeOS a preparatory ITAlIiIlS a.
most incredible to American youth.
They learn foreign languages, IN any
store of even moderate pretenslohs III
Berlin some one speaks English ana
probably also French and Italian.
America has given the world daz-
zline. instances of success by haphaZ-
ard: chance and luck are the god
desses oftenest invoked. The thorough
training and equipment which are as
reservoirs of oil for the lights or tne
IonL night are not esteemed as hlghIy
as they ought to be. The business man
who WaICneS WOIlQ llCA4OES eAAANN
looks to the inevitable tomorrow FOR
his greatest rewards, is the exception
rather than the rule. The mechanic
who is master of the poSluon next
above him, as well as OF MS own, 10
4he execution, rather than the rule.
rTha reDorter who can write an edi-
forial or make up the days issue OF
his paper is not the average man. me
teacher who knows his branch thor-
oughly and the art of handing STU
dents, is not to be found IN every
school The preacher who, disda1nlng
commentaries, conventionality and
clap-trap, has pursued his calling TO
mastery of the ripest religious thought.
and a personal, present experience OF
vital religion is not in every pulpit
The housewife to whom home making
is a science carefully conned is not the
treasured possession of every husband:
In a word, lack of oil-failure OF
nreparation-is a real blight upon the
life of today
The Familiar Story.
The Wise Teacher, whose counsels
always outran their immediate app1-
cation. Incorporated this philosophy IN
a story that was well within the ex-
perience of his hearers. 1t was OF a
wedding and of the festal procession
70 meet the bridegroom. Ten young
women to bear the lamps before the
bridegroom, whose coming they await
ed All had oil enough for immediate
use; had the bridegroom come at
once there would have been no at
tendants shut out of the feast. But
only five of the ten took oil for a. pos
sfbie long wait. SO while the BRIDE
groom tarried, all slept-and we may
be sure that those who were prepared
for emergency slumbered most sound
~ and peacefully.
At midnight arose the cry, Behold,
the bridegroom" LIES opportunities
come at most unexpected times. only,
the ready can accept them. Five of
the waiting virgins had reservoirs or
extra oil; five had only burned out
lamps. Fcolishly, they wanted the
wise to give up their supply, which
would have left all in darkness and
the bridegroom unhonored. One per-
son may not impart his preparation to
another. In life's eXtremities we can
not share our fitness. Character is not
transferable. One cannot pass anoth-
er,s examinations or give him prof.
cheney in his work or transfer health
to him. In the judgement days that
are ever confronting us each must
stand alone. The unready must en-
-f5uYe their own defeats; although, alas,
the unf1tness of one affects many; for
the bridegroom was robbed of honor
by the failure of the foolish virgins
oil. They were shut out but the loss
was his as well as theirs.
OF course, the foolish virgins meant
we'll They made very plausible ex-
cuses to their friends, along with their
com plants; who ever knew the fail
ures Of life to lack for excuses? Is
there any spectacle in life more
TIe who are unfit-who have all the
good intentions in the world, but no
practical s--lse of how to do the right
thing? The maidens really wanted to
honor the bridegroom just as the
shfftless Christians really want to give
money to Gods work and to do SER
vice for him, but they have only futile
regrets to offer, instead of foresighted
readiness.
Every Day Judgment Day.
The point of the whole lesson is that
Of preparedness. BE ye also ready, -
IS the best counsel that can be given
10 youth. For the ready reign. Prep
aration prevails. Training triumphs.
IThe At survive. Opportunity is only
opportunity for those who are ready
for It; there is no work in life so i'm
portant as that of preparation. For
several decades the international
Young Mems Christian Association
leaders concentrated their energies up
on the college men, to win them to
Christianity and leadership: now they
say that the religious character of
Young men is not determined in the
college but in the preparatory and
high schools. We cannot begin too
early to make ready for life's highest
mission.
Oberammergau has been the worlds
greatest mecca during the past sum-
mer. Hundreds of thousands of trav-
eIers have gone to it from every cor
ner of civilization. All have departed
amazed and awe-filled at the marvel
Gus skill and beauty and artistic abil-
ity of this representation of the great
est of dramas by company of simple
Bavarian villagers. The explanation is
simple, and to be given in one word:
Preparation. The whole village lives
under the dominance of the thought of
this decennial representation. To
make ready for it, to become worthy
of a part in the play. is the supreme
ambition of every inhabitant of the
place. Thus the Christus grows into
his part by a life Of lowly goodness.
Because they are under the mastery
- o crreat Heal they hecnrna great.