The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-04-18
Something to
Think about
THE JOB AND THE MAN
BYE. A. Walker
By A. Walker

| ~ ALL liiSlUIA, SdCIGU anu pIO1tA-Cr
| = there is no more interesting figure
than that of King Solomon. Wise be-
E! yond the other rulers of his time, his
| reputation stretches over from the
days of the Old Testament into the
records inscribed by the writer's OF the
| Christian era and he stands as the
type of magnificence and wisdom.
You will find much to interest you in
| reading the story of Bethsheba, the
| mother of solomon. Many a modern
/ best seller has filled in that ancient
| story with modern characters. You
! will be interested in how Solomon
came TO he king and what he did after
his rule began. You will be interested
in the fact that although he was a
! wise man he had his weaknesses and
died at the age of sixty from q worm
| out body.
! The most interesting event in Solo
mons life is recorded in l Kings.
third chapter. beginning with the fifth
verse. Somewhat condensed it reads
as follows:
| In Gideon the Lord appeared to Solomon
| a. and God said, ask what I shall give
| thee. And Solomon said Thou hast
made Thy Servant king instead of David
! my father. and I am but little child I
| know not how to go out or come in. .. o.
| Give therefore Thy servant an under
| standing heart to judge Thy people.
| that may discern between good
and ca%, for who is able TO jude
! this Thy so great a people! And
| God said unto him, because thou hast
asked this thing. and hast not asked for
! myself long life. neither hast asked riches
for thyself, nor hast asked the life of
! thine enemies, Behold l have cone
according to thy words; 10. l have given
thee wise and understanding heart
and l have also given thee that
which thou hast not asked, both riches,
and honor. so that there shall not be any
like unto thee.
The great trouble with the most of
us is that we lack an understanding
heart Parents do not have an under
standing heart in the consideration OF
their children and children lack it re
gardiug their parents.
If our public officials could have an
understanding heart when they CON
slider The problems of the people how
much more wisely they would govern.
If the heads Of nations could have
understanding hearts how completely
the faculty would take the places Of
armies and battlefields bloodshed and
destruction in the solution Of the
worlds problems.
We should all cultivate viewpoint
outside ourselves.
SelfShneSs. envy and covetousne>s
are responsible for more evil than all
the other human characteristics.
mia l1- in oil
the basis Of religion. Confucius
wrote it down before the Christian era
hogan. Mahommed made i part OF
his creed. anu as far back as there is
trace of any code for human con-
duct "Do unto others as you would be
done by" has been foundation stone.
1t is the understanding heart that
establishes the basis for that gecip-oc-
fty Of action. 1t is the understanding
heart that tells Us when we h2Te put
our neighbor on an equality with our
selves and made due allowance for
whatever difference there may be ia
wealth. I'm position. in intelligence anu
in opportunity.
We pray for good many things We
do not need. We seek for what we
think would be blessings, not knowing
that we are better off without them.
How few of us have and how many
fewer of us seek TO have. that broad
view of life. that generous attitude OF
mind. that charity Of vision and Eber-
aIity OF thought which constitute the
thing which solomon asked above all
other things and which choice received
so thorough comnendatiOn.
1t is a short prayer. easily learned
and quickly said: Give me, o Lord,
"a understanding heart"
Copy rght.)
In North Australia there are certain
cannibal tribes who make a practice
Of eating their slain friends. but MOI
tEeir enemies.