The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-26


invented him. And down below us
somewhere again--is their hell. and
their bad god. whom they invented
themselves. And they give us our
choice-heaven or hell. 1t is not 80
mot so. The great mystery 10 not
solved--the human heart Is not help
ed in this way. No good, merciful
God created this world or its condi-
tions. Whatever may be the nature
OF the causes at work beyond our
mental vision, one fact Is individually
proven--that the quantities OF mercy.
goodness. Justice, play no part In the
governing scheme. And yet. they say
the core Of all religions on earth Ia
the belief in this. Is it1 Or Is II
the cowardly, human fear of the un-
known--that impels the savage
mother to throw her babe to Il croco-
fiie--that 1rnpels the civilized man TO
endow churches--that has kept In
existence from the beginning n class
of soothsayegs, medicine men, priests
and clergymen, all living on the
hopes and fears excited by them
selves.
'Andpeople pray-millions Of them
and claim they are answered. Are
they? Was ever supplication sent
into that sky by troubled humanity.
answered, or even heard? Who
knows? They pray for rain and sun
shine. and both come in time. They
pray for health and success and both
are but natural in the marching of
events. This is not evidence. But
they say that they know. by spiritual
uplifting, that they are heard. and
comforted. and answered. at the mo-
ment. Is not this a physiological ex-
pertinent? Would they not feel
equally tranquil If they repeated the
multiplication table, or boxed the
compass?
Millions have believed this-that
prayers are answered--and these mil
ions have prayed to different gods
Were they all wrong or all right?
Would tentative prayer be listened
to? Admitting that the Bibles. and
Korans, and Vedas. are misleading
and unreliable. may there not be an
unseen. unknown Being, who knows
my hea.t-who is watching me now?
RI so, this Being gave ME my reason,
which doubts Him, and on Him Is the
responsibility. And would this being,
II he exists, overlook defect for
which am not to blame. and listen
to a prayer from me, based on the
mere chance that / might be mis-
taken? Can an unbeliever. in the
full strength OF his reasoning powers.
come 70 such trouble that he can no
longer stand alone. but must cry for
help to an ina gined power? Can such
time come to sane man--to me ,"
He looked at the dark line of vacant
horizon 1t was seven miles away;
New York was nine hundred: the
moon in the east over two hundred
thousand, and the stars above, any
kxs.r f,f t,H Ia Sryna al
with sleeping child. dead bear
and the Unknown. He walked softly
to the boat and looked at the little
one for a moment. then. raising his
head. he whispered: For you. Myra.'
Sinking to his knees the atheist
lifted his eyes to the heavens, and
with his feeble voice and the fervor
born of helplessness. prayed to the
God that he denied. He begged for
the life of the waif in his care--for
the safety of the mother. 30 needfui
80 the little one-and for cour age
and strength to do his part and bring
them together. But beyond the APP
peal for help in the service Of others,
not one word or expressed thought
of his prayer included himself as a
beneficiary. So much for pride. As
he rose to his feet. tho fiyingii Of
a bark appeared around the corner
of ice to the right of the beach. and
moment later the whole moon-lit
fabric came into view, waited along
by the faint westerly air. not half a
mile away.
He sprang to the fire, forgetting his
pain. and throwing on wood. made a
blaze. He hailed, in frenzy OF ex-
element; Bark ahoy. Bark ahoy!
Take us off. and deep-toned an
swer came across the water.
Wake up. Myra.' ne cried as he
lifted the child: wake up. We're
going away"
We goin TO Mamma p she asked.
with no symptoms of crying.
Yes. were going to Mamma, now
that is he added to himself, III that
clause in the prayer Is considered"
Fifteen minutes later as he watch
ED the approach of white quarter
boat. he muttered. That bark was
there--ha!f Il mile back in this wind
that prayer anhwered' Is she safe %
Chapter X.
on the first floor OF the London
Royal Exchange Is large apartment
studded with desks, around and be-
tween which surges n hurrying, shout
ing crowd Of brokers. clerks and mes
sengers. bringing this apartment are
doors and Railways leading to ada
cent rooms and ofices and scattered
through it are bulletin boards. on
which are daily written in duplicate
the marine casualties Of the world.
At one end Is raised platform.
cred to the presence Of an tmpor-
tant functionary. In the technical
language Of the city" the apartment
IA known as the ROOM" and the
func tionary as the Caller" whose
business II IL to call out In mighty
sing Kong. voice the names OF mem
bers wanted at the door. and tho bare
particulars OF bulletin news prior to
its being chalked out for reading.
1t liz the headquarters Of Lloyds-
the immense association OF under
writer's, brokers and shipping men,
which, beginning with the customers
at Edward Lloyd's coffee house In the
latter part Of the seventeenth CEN
fury, has, retaining his name for q
title, developed into u corporation so
4s.,cR equipped. SO, snlendtdlX organ
iced, and powerful, that kinEs and
ministers of State appeal to 1t at
times for foreign news
Not master or mate sails under
the English flag but whose record,
even to forecastie fights. Is tabulated
at Lloyds for the inspection of pros
pective employers. Not ship u cast
away on any inhabitable coast OF the
world, during underwriters business
hours, but what that mighty sing
,orO cry annotInrea the event at