Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-08-19

youth. Iney seek NJ genefatlOn
for unfit tasks. So they are build
ing up the bodies and spirits Of the
younger people, that they may be
equipped for the day"
In this Western world we have
been lax in this primary prepared
ness. Comparatively little of prac-
tical sort has been done to train
youth for an uncertain tomorrow
We are still in the stage of specu-
latlon and discussion, though many
eyes are open to this fundamental
need. l read a great many COM
mencement addresses in June, and
it was heartening to note the high
tone and deep conviction of these
utterances upon the primary obli-
cation of young men and women to
get ready for highest detectives.
lot in the arsenals or factories or
shipyards is the most essential work
of preparation being wrought. This
is a staggering task for all the forces
that shape character. How may we
strengthen the spirit OF
boys and girls, young men and
women? What are they to do, and
to refrain from doing, in order
to bear themselves triumphantly
through civilizations fast approach
ing ordeal? To do nothing is sinful,
brainless folly.
We have already made beginning
toward better bodies. Still we would
be more assured by a greater willing
ness on the part of youth to endure
discipline and hardship. Multitudes
have Slumped into routine OF COCK
tail parties, moviegoing, cabaret-at-
tending and comic-strip literature.
The muscles of body and mind go
unheeded Do you recall the episode
in Ben Hur" of the hero's training
of a picked company of young men
to be ready when needed for the de-
Tense of the Nazarene? The wise
youth of every community should
nowadays be taking similar counsel
with themselves as to how to be
ready for the emergency that is
surely coming.
One Man Who Was Ready.
This implies a stern and heroic
rejection of all that endangers and
debilitates health. There are many
good reasons for total abstinence
from liquor; but the one of most
pressing immediacy is for the sake
of fitness in the testing tomorrow.
&c rto n tho nrNu,ft n
of milk bars throughout the Eng
disappearing world and the increas-
ing number of sensible youth who
patroniZe hem.
The central figure in this weeks
lesson story is Daniel. who is first
of all remembered for his abstinence
from strong drink and rich foods.
He kept his body like a finely-tem-
pered blade, ready when needed. His
greatest hour of opportunity came
in the midst of royal carouse;
when suddenly there appeared
blazing on the wall of the banquet
room mysterious letters which none
of the court magi could interpret.
Daniel was called for and he rem
dered the translation of Meme
Meme, Tekel. Upharsin' to the panic
stricken Belshazzar as God has
numbered thy kingdom and brought
it to an end. Thou are weighed in
the balance and art found wanting.
Thy kingdom is divided and given
to the Persians"
A Visit to Babylon.
Before the war I first visited the
huge excavations of the Germans
at Babylon and the director. DR..
Kaldeway, took me on a tour of the
ruins. One spot especially held my
interest, the royal banqueting room,
with the alcove for the king on one
side and the cuneiform- stamped
bricks of the floor still intact. This,
he said, was undoubtedly the scene
of Belshazzar's feast, and it was on
the wall, now gone, opposite the
throne, that the mysterious writing
had appeared.
That visit to Babylon, even more
than subsequent ones, impressed the
place reality of the Daniel story
upon my mind Attempts of higher
critics to explain it all away leave
me cold and rather amused. The
total abstainer had the last word.
Babylon fell, but Daniel rose. We
recall. as we witness the ignominy
of Belshazzar, that it was in Baby
lon that Alexander the Great died
drunk, thus ending a career of
splendor.
For a New, Fit World.
One does not have to delve into
history to find instances of the con-
sequence of strong drink. Only a
few days ago young farmer
known to me as habitually dissolute,
was smashed up in an accident
caused by drunken prank. Every