The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-05-10
nv wuLIAM T. ELLIS.

Made Ruler of Egypt, Geii'
las.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
erouo of Boston literary men
once debated as to which Is lhe ihSSe
perfect short story in all the WoI - >
literature, and they voted una -
" for the Bibles narrative OF
sant5s avnariences. The tale is alike
dear TO childhood and to the mature
man of affairs. 1t has lessons Ioi -
and withal an inherent cnarI ~
There is nothing more Iollt M nie hi
oeraphy studied in this present res
son. which shows Joseph suddehly
lifted out of prison to the 1lrst PlHoe
in the empire of Egypt -
such things happen only III
hooks remarks the skeptic. Far
from it. Within the year the world
has seen Yuar Shin Kai, the exIIe9
disgraced Chinese statesman, recalIe9
from seclusion and put at the hee ~
of the oldest and largest nauon III
the world while his royal enemies
themselves go into exile and obscur-
ity. Two years ago Dr. sun at sen
was a man with a price on ms hedu'
who did not dare toucn 1901 oil
Chinese soil Yet the world acclalms
him as the leader of the revolution
which made China a republic, ana ne
was the first of the Chinese presl-
dents. Maxim PaSha, the turkish COIL
ed a few weeks ago, had been untll
the revolution, an exile and Vlctlm
of Abdul Hamid's vengeance. NOT
are incidents of this sort confined 10
Asia 1 myself have luncheon en-
gagement tomorrow with friend
who. when 1 last heard from him. was
in the depths of adversely; now ne
wants to talk over what to do with
his new fortune. Joseph's story Is
being repeated every day
When a Man Is Down and Out
The proving of a man comes When
all the props are removed from under
him. There are a myriad nonentl-
ties who could scarcely earn day Ia
borers' wages in open market, VINO
yet easily fill the role of rich and
aristocratic men. There is nothing 10
test their manhood. How they would
fare if wealth and position were sud
denly taken away would show their
rear character. Such was Joseph
plight. The position he had inherit
ed in his own family had been taken
from him by his murderous brothers;
the second position to which he had
won in Potophers household by his
own merit he had lost at the hands
of a vengeful woman. Now he was
in Jail. AS we saw last week; though
he found even a prison large enough
sphere in which to exercise helpful
ness. His Interpretation of the
dreams of Pharaoh's servants had not
only proved his capacity, but had
given him a glimmering of hope of
release. But the ungrateful butler
quickly forgot
The two years in prison which fol-
lowed for Joseph might easily have
broken his spirit. 1t takes courage not
to lose heart when all things go against
one. 1t is easy for the prisoner to
fall in character to the -ungeon level.
We scarcely would have blamed Joseph
had he thought only of petty things
and moped his days away, nursing
thoughts of injustice and vengeance.
But Joseph was not that style of
man. His growth in character.
while still a prisoner, has left to the
world great message. namely that
any circumstances are good soil for
soul-culture Here is a test for the
man who is out of work or laid aside
by illness: how does he employ the
leisure of which he now has much?
Does he study books and also get a
new mastery of his own calling and
likewise acquaint himself with men and
their diverse ways? Does he master
topography of his own city, or does
he sit idle on park bench, or spend
half his day in bed, or loaf about with
companions. cursing his hard luck?
When Opportunity Came.
Opportunity usually does come for
the fit man. Even if occasion pass
him by, he still has that best reward
H.,
calibre of character. He becomes
big man whether he stands in high
place or a lowly. Woodrow Wilson as
college president was as great man as
Woodrow Wilson the President of the
United States, but it is only now that
the whole world rings with his great
ness.
Joseph's hour struck when Phar-
aohs troublesome dreams could not
be interpreted by the professional wise
men. Then the ungrateful butler re-
membered his friend in prison. and a
message was sent for Joseph. What
excitement there was in the Jail that
day when the servant of the captain
of the guard-note how Joseph here, as
everywhere. had won promotion for
himSelf-was summoned into the royal
presence. The messenger found him
ready man, aware of all that the occa-
sion demanded No covering convict.
but an appropriately dressed, self-con-
fident self-respecting man stood before
the king
The Kings Dreams.
In a land and a time when dreams
were accorded greater significance
than now. Pharaoh and his encourage
were troubled by his repeated dream
of seven fat cows that came up from
the River Nile, and were followed by
seven lean cows which devoured the
fat cows, and still remained lean them
selves. A kindred dream was of seven
heads of wheat, rich and good, follow
ed by seven thin and blasted, which
swallowed up the good heads. In pur-
suit of the Interpretation, the young
Hebrew, Joseph. was sent for. He,
reverently disclaiming power for him
self, and according all the honor for
his ability to God, read the meaning
of the message that had come to
Pharoah on his couch.
The symbols were of seven years
of unusual prosperity to be followed
by seven years of dreadful famine
Egypt, along the Nile, is fertile land