Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-10

| Specimens of humor are very diff
cult to find in biblical literature. Per-
haps the nearest approach to them are
contained in the apocryphal Ecclesi
asticus, or the Wisdom of Jesus, the
son of Sirach.
Intermediate between sacred and
secular literature, Ecclesiasticus (not
| to be confused with Ecclesiastes
shows the reader what a wise old mar
who lived some 200 B. G. thought
upon various problems Of practical
| living.
Surely the son of Sirach had slight
smile at the corners of his otherwise
grim mouth when he wrote:
las well as thou canst, Guess at thy
| neighbors"
Those who have had difficulties with
their neighbors-and who has not?-
will chuckle, perhaps, at this naive
| rending. Guess at them, in truth
And in more ways than one.
BE not wroth with thy neighbor
for every wrong" says Ecclesiasticus
In other words, if a good neighbor
does something to offend thee, think
twice before you "bawl him out"
"Strive for the truth unto DEATH
says this old writer, as he jots dowr
various reflections upon men and life
A consideration of some o. these
maXims, although briefly done, will
show that life was much the same
then as now, and men exactly alike.
X X X X
LET not thine hand be stretched out
to receive, and closed when thou
shouldst repay" tersely he reminds
us; and any one who has ever loaned
money-and who has not?-will recog'
niZe the human nature herei
If thou hast understanding" he
says, answer thy neighbor; and if
no., let thy hand be upon thy mouth
You see, they had as much difficulty
getting along with their neighbors
then as most persons do nowadays.
A faithful friend is strong defense,
the son of Sirach tells us, and yet:
Separate thyself from thine enemies;
and beware of thy friends" A faith
full friend, however, he goes on, sis
the medicine of life; and they that
fear the Lord shall find Him."
Contend not with a man that Is
full of tongue, and heap not wood upon
his fire. In other words, do not
add fuel to the fire, as an old saying
has it.. He adds: Jest not with a rude
man." There is much wisdom for ap-
plication in everyday life.
There is a slight twinkle in his eye,
In the following:
Lend not to a man that is mightier
than thyself; and if thou lend, be as
one that hath lost"
Take not counsel with fool; for he
will not be able to conceal the mat
ter"
Forsake not an old friend, he says,
"for the new is not comparable with
him." The following seems applicable
to some modern murder cases: "Sit not
at all with a woman that hath a hus-
band, and revel not with her at the
wine; lest haply thy soul turn aside
unto her, and with thy spirit thou
slide into destruction"
X X X
The busy bee, ever a favorite of the
ancients, comes into its own again:
Commend not man for his beauty,
and abhor not a man for his outward
appearance: the bee is little among
such as fly, and her fruit is the chief
of sweetmeats.
"Glory not in the putting on of raj
ment, and exalt not myself in the day
of honor. For the works of the Lord
are wonderful, and His works are hid
den among men: many kings have sat
down upon the ground, and one that
was never thought of hath worn a dia-
dem; many mighty men have been
greatly disgraced, and men of renown
have been delivered into other mems
hands,"