, 1924-05-29
N
Edited by Dr.. Jas. A. Fraser
WHAT THE SIGN SAID

Walking through a large department store one day I saw
a sign which read, 'Slightly Soiled, Greatly Reduced. y There
thought ], is a bargain counter. 1 noticed that a great many
were headed that way, so, being human, and filed with curios-
ity, I tagged along too. What do you think was on that table,
Muslin! The store was trying to get rid of many yards of
this kind Of cloth, because it was soled. "Slightly soiled,
Greatly Reduced in Price" In front of one of our garages
have driven for years. They are greatly reduced in price.
Well, let us get back to our muslin! The muslin we are talk
ing about, and for that matter, all muslin, had quite a history.
1t was taken from the South to the North, but before it left
the South it was picked, in the form of cotton blossoms. Then
after the picking, it was sent to the mills, and at last found
it's way into the stores and upon the tables. When first it came
to the stores it was nice and clean; and it's whiteness gave it
value. However, while it waited to be sold, dust settled upon
it, and pure whiteness began to depart Then it was constant
ly handled by customers who came to the store. Their hands
were solled, and every time the cloth was touched it lost some
of its purity.
With the soiing of the muslin went it's value, and the
keeper of the store decided to get rid of it. Thus the sign,
''slightly soiled, Greatly Reduced"
Damaged Goods! Who wants themi Who wants to see
themf Who wants to ride in a rusty, creaking cart Do we
like to see a fine automobile, a beautiful painting damaged'
No, certainly not! But I wonder if we think overmuch with
reference to a damaged or soiled characteri Do we shudder
when we come face to face with a damaged ifei
My young friends, characters are like that piece of white
muslin! They are of value when spotless and clean, but when
they become soled, they are greatly reduced in price. When
the white of character departs the value departs. Do you
want to become valuable' Then be pure, be honest, be clean.
Wilderness of soul is everything.
1t is important for boys and girls to form those habits
by which later they will be governed. Form in youth the habit
of industry, and the habit of industry will control you, and
you will become Industrious men and women. If you are now
forming the habit of lazlness, be sure that habit will in later
years bring you much bitterness and regret. The habit of
honesty or dishonesty, of s~elfishness or unselfishness, of purity
or impurity-it is the very same! What you will be as men
and women depends on what you are making yourselves now.
1t is important to start right! The reason why many come to
defeat and failure is that they started out early in life and
headed towards defeat and failure. Perhaps, early in life,
they had become slightly soiled, or tainted, and went on and
on until they were of very little value to themselves, or to
others. Abraham Lincoln ended his career in a place of
honor, because early in life he formed the habit of industry
and right thinking. When our characters are being made,
remember that we are to see to it chat we get the right color,
Tor afterwards they can never be changed.