The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-07

Men still build battleships and construct armies
but they ashamed Of the work.
Men still murder each other in war; and they arc
ashamed of the murder when the murderous craze
is over--no longer proud as they once were to be
murderers by profession.
The slow building up of character, which means
conscience and sense of justice in the nations,
will destroy the warlke spirit and make 'iunk'
of all the batteships and guns and cannon, before
another century shall have passed.
But still there will be many centuries and hun.
dreds of before the characters of nations
and of individuals shall have been brought to truly
high development.
= :.
In the building Of character a. in tic building
Of the structures that crumbe and decay there arc
many disappontments, MANY RUINS A maj,
in his own life can look back upon ambitions and
resolutions that have tottercd and fallen to the
ground, like the big tower at Heidelberg, or the
old strong places along the Mediterranean
Every ruin in the history of the mans individ-
ual life, every disappointment every broken reso-
luton. has it's value, just the old ruins on tho
hills and plains of ancient lands have their value
We shall ask you to read here the Invocation
with which Volney begins his admirable volume,
Ruins of Empires"
Read this carefully, with attention to the beauty
Of thought and expression
Remember that what the great Frenchrnan
writes about solitary ruins holy scpulchres and
silent walls, and the lessons that they teach ap-
plies also to the disappointments and the failures
in your own life and character that arc the ruins
of an individual career fallen towers and ruined
palaces in the individual nation
The words of Volney which follow and which
this newspaper to-day places in the, hands of it's
readers. NC recommend earnestly those that arc
thoughtful in great reading family
INVOCATION
Hail solitary ruins holy sepuchres and silent
walls! you invoke you address my PRAYER.
While your aspect averts. with secret terror the
vulgar regard it excites in my heart the charm of
delicious sentnents-sublinc conternplations.
What useful lessons what aft Getting and profound
reflections you suggest to him who knows how to
consult you! When the whole earth in chains
and silence bowed the neck before it's tyrants YOU
had already proclaimed the truths which thew alb
hor and confounding the dust of the king with
that OF the meanest slave. had announced to man
the sacred dogma Of Equality. Within your pale
in solitary alteration Of Liberty saw her gem
JUS arise from the mansions OF the dead not such
as she is painted by the irnpassioned multitude
armed with fire and sword, but under the august
aspect of Justice. posing in her hand the sacred
balance wherein weighed the actions of men
at the gates Of eternity
Q TombS! what virtues are yours! You appaI
the tyrants heart and poison with secret alarm
his inpious joys He flies with coward STEP your
incorruptiblc aspect, and erects afar his throne
OF nsolence. You punish the powerful oppressori
you Wrest from avarice and extortion their ill-got-
ten gold, and you avcnge the feeble whom they
have despoed; you compensate the miseries of tho
poor by the anXietes of the rich; you console the
wretched, by opening to him last asylum from
distress; and you give to the soul that just euui-
poise of strength and sensibilty which constitutes
wisdon-the true science of life Aware that all
must return to you the wise oadeth not him
self with the burdens of grandeur and Of useless
wealth. he restraints his desires within the limits
Of justice; yet knowing that he must run his des-
tined course of life, he fills with employment all it's
hours and enjoys the comforts that fortune has
allotted him. You thus impose the impetuous
salles of cupidity salutary rein; you calm the
feverish ardor of enjoyment which disturb the
senses; you free the soul from the fatiguing con-
fIjct IF he IL +l,a