The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-01-29
..lghere is Abel Thr Rrother2,.

In the familiar story of Cain We have
the first record of crime in the history
of the human race. A murder COM
mitted in fit of jealous anger, the lie
which followed, and in the swift justice
meted out to him we have the first
precedent from the hand of the Al
mighty. Cain considered his punish
ment greater than he could bear, and
the Lord mitigated the sentence some
what But who shall be able to find
extenuating circumstances for him who
destroys body and soul?
There IS no exaggeration in the state
ment that the child's education begins
hundred years before it is born. A
humorous writer has said, IF you wish
child to go in a certain direction, you
must skirmish along the line yourself. -
But skirmishing IS not enough Maneu-
vering and the most skillful strategy
you are capable of often meet with
most humiliating defeat. The liquor
habit, when not inherited, is very easily
acquired. The soothing syrups for in
fants, the brandy and sugar for cramps
or any little aIlment, make a very good
foundation; in a few years he has an
appetite for highly seasoned food. for
buildings and pie favored with brandy
and cider. So the work progresses. In
a few years more he graduates and you
are verify guilty. It is not the city
saloon that makes drunkards of our
country boys You may take my boy
to the lowest saloon in your city make
you may not take him to your homes
and treat him to choice wines, cider
and liquor favored sweetmeats. 1t
would take a lifetime of upright be-
havior to Offset the memory of the hor-
ror and disgrace of the first experience
while the second treatment might give
him such a start on the road to de-
struction that reform would be hope
less cit must needs be that offences
will come saith the Great Leader,
'Ebut woe unto him by whom they
come" May that woe not come upon
my house. Possibly your stimulating
food may not harm ninety-nine out of
one hundred, but that hundreth one
may be your son or my son. fWoe I'M
to him who offends one of these little
ones, these weak ones,' continues the
Leader. ut were better that mill
stone were hanged about his neck and
he cast into the depth of the sea-" 1t
requires great strength of will, but it
is safer to adopt the resolution of the
great apostle Wherefore if meat
maketh my brother to offend, I will eat
no flesh while the world standeth lest
make my brother to offend" What a
resolution is that. What a contrast to
Gains insolent, selfish, ''Am 1 my
brother keeper" If the man of to-
day could put himself in Gains place
aud realize that his brothers blood
crieth from the very ground unto the
Most High; if he who prides himself on
being a self-made nan, the architect of
his own fortune, viii remember that
the building inspector is the Judge Of
all the earth, who has set him to be &
Waterman unto the house of Israel, if
they who guard the ballot box with such
mastif-like tenacIty, who pay 1.-THE of
mint, anise and cummin, and omit the
weightier matters of the law, justice,
mercy, and faith, if all these could be
brought to adopt the resolution of St.
Paul, 81 will eat no flesh while the
world standeth lest make my brother
to offeud, what a heaven our earthly
home would become. What an exalted
nation would be ours. The days de-
mand is men. In the oft quoted words
of DR.. Holland we pray:
e'God give US men. a time like this
demands
Strong minds, great hearts, true faith
and ready hands.
Men whom the lust of Office does not
kill,
Men whom the spoils of office cannot
buy,
Men who possess opinions and a will,
Men who have honor, men who will not
lie,
Tall men, sun-crowned, who live above
the fog,
In public doing and in private thinking.
For while the rabble with thumb-worn
creeds