The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-26
CRY MILLIAM 7. ELLIsD

BY WILLIAM T ELLIS)
For eight weeks the Sunday schools
of the world will be studying the story
OF Joseph. the Old Testament tale
which is SO dramatic that it is now
running in New York city's largest
theater as a play. Childhood counts
the story a favorite, and poet and phll-
osopher find Iife's deepest lessons IN
IL.
The experiences of Joseph are full
of adventure and romance, and TOT
the first time in the Genesis nara
tive the events recorded concernlnS
a bible character are also related IN
secular history Joseph is connect
ing link between the story Oh the
Book and the story or the monu-
ments. His biography is probably the
greatest of the Old Testament stories.
Every chapter in X is traught with
significance for today.
Some Family Faults.
The eleventh son of his father JOS,
enb was the first child of the beloved
Rachel The children born OF Lean
and the concubines had no such place
in Jacobs heart as Joseph, the chlId
of his love. He showed his preIeIen'N
openly, and made it clear TO all tlIe
world by adjoining the lad with a COD
of many coIors. a mark of honor. Inc
first fault we charge up aaginst jacob
in this story is this display of faVorlt-
ism A parent offepds against MS OF,
flee as parent when he loves one cllilt
above another. All children may no.
be alike, but the parents duty Is equdl
toward all.
As fruit follows flower, and as Hover
follows seed. so jealousy followed Ia
voritism in the family of jacob Inc
ten older brothers were enVlous Oh tnl9
son who was the recipient OF suCli
special attentions from their father. II
is true that Joseph may have peeh
a bit of a prig, and his tale-bearlng
does not look well, although 1t was
probably only the guilelesSneSS Ilsit
characterized him through these cary
chapters of the biography Certalnly
the son of Rachel was not OF the salhe
timber and temperament as his rous-l
and ready feld-trained older hrothers.
with their queer notions OF justice anu
support.
4 Gentle Lad in a Rough Crowd
There are more tragedies on the
playground and in the school than
ever find their way into literature.
No artist has yet written an adequate
portrayal of the torments and terrors
of the gentIe-souIed youth of fine grain
whose lot is cast amid rough, uncom-
pretending and unsympathetic com
panions. To be called a ''mollycod-
die" or a sissy is the least of the
soul burden which such one bears
These epithets are but the crowd S
way of saying, You are different from
us''-and to be different from them is
the sum of all offending in the eyes
of most folk. Joseph suffered more
than we know at the hands of his
brethren long before he began to tell
them dreams. They could not see any
elements of greatness in his more SEN
sitiVe nature, or in his sweet and sim
pie candor We are reminded that
many men today are boasting that
they knew as boys certain distinguish
ed persons at whom in childhood they
used to scott. The tendency of the
crowd is to pull all others to it's level.
In a recent Lippincott's Magazine, Mar
guerite o. B. Wilkinson had strik-
ing poem full of this practical phi
loSophy:
lie set his hand to the pillow. one day.
While yet his years We're few,
Resolved to mark distant field
With burrows firm and true.
His arms were strong for the toll of life,
His heart was all afire,
Til neighbor laughed. and turned him
home.
Rebuking his desire:
You are too young. you are too poor, you
too weak said he.
Best leave such tasks to the rich and
great and strive to be like met
Then rosy Love brought grand largesse
To his very cottage door.
A maid of mystery and of charm
God never gave before;
And the lad held out dumb hands of Hope
10 the mighty Tires OF EedCe,
Till the neighbor passed with tongue In
cheek,
And then he sought release.
You are too dull the neghbor said, go
shine by such as she.
Find you a girl of common clay to we'd,
and be like mei''
So time sped by, till the fading day
Could bring but one last chance
To break the bonds of a sordid life
And conquer Circumstance;
And, well-nigh spent, he sought the road
% the heights where life is great.
Eager to reach shining goal.
But his neghbor whispered Wait
You are too old to do it now-it is far too
late said he.
81 could not do it myself. you know, and
you are just like me-,
The Candid Dreamer.
GuileIeSsneSs is quality of the
virtuous, but it is not always a Vir-
tue. 1t is not necessary to tell all
that one knows or thinks. Joseph's
mistake was not in having the dreams
the thoughts of youth are long, |
long thoughts''-but in telling them |
to his MISUNDERSTANDING and ill-think-
ing brothers. A simple, ingenious
and generous soul himself, he was