The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-05-10
5 7 ;N[E M a i

entire charge of the administration OF
famine relief. He put IN ms MAJ
the kings seal; and in the east to tn
day it is a PERSONS seal and not h.
signature which is legally binding. II
arrayed him in fine raiment, and CAV
him authority second only to that
the throne. When he should go forth
the runners were to precede him cry
in, Bow the knee" A foreigner go
ing into Bagdad today with a gooC
servant will be preceded by the ser
want. who cries, Belak, belak,
"Makeway, make way"
The Prisoners Chance.
The day that had seemed SO Ions
in dawning had at last come for Jo-
seph. only in the throne will l be
greater than thou" Pharoah said to
him. His opportunity to rise was now
before him. Could he prove himself
fit? Vision is not always accompan-
led by executive ability. Two of the
greatest religious organizations in
America tOda-- owe their existence to
the vision of two men, both of whom
have proved unqualified to lead the
movements to success. Ability to
dream the dream must never be con-
founded with ability to do the deed
The really great man is possessed of
both capacities.
Joseph's scheme for Egypt in this
crisis was one of centralized control,
of a tax upon prosperity, and a sys-
tematic storage of grain all over the
land. l have seen these great stores
of grain in Egypt in the granaries be-
longing to the banks, for there man
deposits his actual crop as security
for loan. The storage of grain is
an ancient procedure. A few years
ago the natives found, in the myster-
ious rock citadel of Alfium Kara His
sar in Asia Minor, store of barley
which had been laid up in a secret
chamber for centuries, and possibly
for millenniums.
In Joseph's program lies a hon.
lily for all men to lay up in prosper
ity for the days of adversely. The fat
years of strength should be the de-
pendence of the lean years of weak
ness. Wasted youth is a sin against
needy age. The prosperous business
one that weatherS financial panics.
The people of this western world are
only now waking up to the great
truth of conservation of resources,
natural and human.
The Vanishing Famines.
In Pharaohs dreams, the lean
cows were no fatter after they had
the seven well-faVored
kline. The capacity of hard times is
appalling. 1t takes the constant pro-
ductivity of all the people to feed
and clothe the world. If a famine
like that of Egypt were suddenly to
strike American utter impossible
itY-the richest man in America with
all his incredible wealth, could not
feed the population for more than
month. The hugest fortunes are small
beside the & aggregate riches of all the
working people. Only the whole ma
ton can save a nation, in old Egypt,
even as today. 1t is the common work
that makes the common veal. Phar-
aoh's treasure house was unequal to
the famine; Joseph had to tax the
people to meet the enormous emer-
that E,0VDt confronted.
The horrors of famine are happily
unknown to Christian civilizations. 1
have spent weeks in the midst of the
famine region of China, and 1 know
something of the awfulness of it
the wailings of the babies whose
mothers cannot feed them; the heart
breaking pleas of mothers who seek
only the preservation of the lives of
their children; the hopeless anguish
of the old who have lain down to
die; the dogged, desperate endeavors
of the husbands and fathers, who
move from place to place seeking
food; the cowardice of the few who
desert their families; the famine pal
lor upon the faces of the living and
the dead by the wayside.
In a civilized Christian land to-
day, such thing as a famine is inn
possible. Modern methods of COM
munication and benevolent laws,
which would prevent cornering food
stuffs, make this impossible. Neigh
borhood has promoted brotherhood,
and the present generation will see
the end of possible famines all over
the earth.
Joseph in Egypt was a link in
chain of events which have given
the world its Christian civilization.
This great servant of the public
and it would be wholesome to medi-
tate upon the high character and pub
lie spirit of many office holders in
our own land and time-is often cited
as an antelope of that other great
Benefactor and Saviour who was de-
scended from Joseph's father, a child
of the race whom Joseph's providen-
tiaI exaltation gave shelter in Egypt.