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RVoman’s Page. ■AYBE A SERMON— MAYBE A SONG.’ Life is a continual struggle. t There is no stopping p dee that wil l serve for long. It is change, I change always; and one man in I bis time plays many parts, as has I been said. But he plays to differ- I ent audiences. Just the l p’e are never gathered together ■under just the same circumstances Hnore than once. B We meet and rest a moment to* ■tether in*s'6me pleasant spot; or ■we work together, growing to feel f for the time, as brothers. For there is no caste in blood that run- I noth red for all; or tears that | trickle £• r life’s sorrows. Then Iwe drift apart, some out into the ■night to be lost t > sight among the ■ shadows; others go forth with the idawn of a new era blushing on their faces and their lives. We hare like the pieces in a game of Ichess played by the Fates. Only ■ all o F us are not wooden and our I “moves” occasion us hoth joy and ■ sorrow. 1 | But my philosophising comes ’ lamely tonight : perhaps because I know that 1 sat down here a mo ment with you to say goodbye, land philosophy never seems suffi- Icient at such a time. I We have had such good times ■ together —I did not realize how ■pleasant they were until the time came to say goodbye. We have gone a-fishing, and told such out rageous yarns about the fish we caught—and the beaux. And in the spring we Exchanged recipes for tonics warranted to turn dull, Mfi Match flomplexions into ro- May oney ■ And when the spring sunsets [ burned in soft, pink splendors be lyond the pine-clad hills we sat, all the tender moods of the season pulsing warmly in our ’■hearts ; noting the growth of the callow buds and listening to the murmured good nights of the hap py birds. These were bits of still life that we did not desecrate with words; even if we were lovers. What need, when love’s primrose banners in the sky hung over love’s primrose paths upon the earth, and every wandering wind and ev ery plump, perfumed bud was love’s sign manual? And we were mutely grieved when spring’s rosy dyes of romance faded from the west, and the buds, full of tender mystery, at last became full, blown, gaudy flowers and left us no more to expect. And in summer we disagreed very warmly, sometimes. I shall always insist that a bathing club should have been the most popu lar organization oneo uld possibly think of during the summer inontTiydfmTTxhroere> hope some daring pioneer will lead the warm inhabitants out to the river next summer and chuck them in . It would be refreshing to them to be there, and refreshing to me to see them there. But in winter chill river floods are unattractive, and we can read ily forget our differences of the | sut imer as we sit around the win iter hearthstone. There is where ’ we have been closest together after all. In Natur 's > >as ns of warmth Bund harve-t cheer our fancies have ■blown lightly* hither and thither lon every vagrant breeze.. But 1 when the ice 1 >eks u > the genial, sappy currents >f nature, we warm o.ir bi«>od by the cheerful blaze in do u’s. we grow closer to gether. Nature turns her back upon us and chills us with her icy moods and scolding winds and we turn t > tiie home and to each fib ber for comfort and cheer. 1 am inexpressibly sad Smen I think of leaving my aceus ■Bied p ace. But it is a bit. of -law human egotism to think that the days will not run on the same and the world pursue its usual course when one shifts one’s abid ing place to another quarter, and I will not indulge it. lam glad to carry with me the memory of tlose whose kindness has made my work easier, and whose appreciation it was a pleasure to strive for. We will have other good times togeth er when our ships come into har bor and there are no more contrary winds and treacherous currents to vex. And so good friends, good night and —goodbye. E. C. Rambling Thoughts on a Wintery Afternoon, It might occur to anyone of even moderate sagacity, that the above mentioned items were related in some natural, logical way. And so indeed they are. There is a rela tion, both natural and logical, ex isting between a dark, drippy eve ning in mid-winter, and a medita tive mood. Not that meditation is necessarily confined to wet after noons. But the general gloom that characterizes such a day; the for bidding aspect upon the face of external nature; together with the all pervading sense of comfort, su perinduced by the music of rain drops upon a tin roof, and the warmth of agiowing fire —all’these are elements of the meditative in thought —factors, whose product is laziness, disposing one to idle drifting, like a piece of bark upon the surface of a river, rather than to the mental industry, that brings forth well connected results. Will the readers of the News bear with me, while I afflict them with some “rambling thoughts,” remembering that the mental ac tivities of an afternoon in January, with the rain and cold outside, and the warmth and glow inside, could scarcely’ be productive of anything better. This reminds me Hi'S the year 189 G is already in the past. Like a hurried dream, that floods a few brief moments of slumber with visions of long-forgotten griefs and joys, and fades away into the night all to quickly, it has come and gone. The old year is dead. The hopes and fears, jcys and sorrows, strifes and heart-aches that throng ed its calender, went into history with its expiring breath ; while the midnight chimes sang its requiem ; and the frost king wrought his magic wonders upon field and house-top. The old year is dead ; but the new year, with its countless opportunities, its mighty issues, and its unmeasured possi bilities of good and evil, is upon us. The record of the past contains much that is imperfect. Duties have been neglected, gaps have been left down along the way, op portunities for self-improvement, strength-getting, and character- of watchfulness, from which the*'soul might h-av<. come forth in sweet and chastened majesty, to renew its conflicts, and triumph over its enemies—have passed unimproved. All this fur nishes ground for heart-searching, conscientious, and thorough repentance, deep and honest. It is well, if out of this season of self arraignment and contrition, there is born h flier purpose, nobler en deavor, and better work for the fu ture. We are sorry mortals indeed, if we do not make this new year a i brighter and happier year, than any that have gone before. * * * How close to each other lie the smiles and tears, the sunshine and showers, the comedies and tragedies ■of human life. One is almost dai ly impressed with this. Do the pa thetic and tragic predominate? Wise men have said yes. It significant fact, that these are ■ elements, that have to art and Lterature, whatever endu- ' ring qualities they have possessed. The autho? or the orator, the artist or the musician, who would touch deeply the chords of human sympathy, and become master of human hearts must le'arn the se cret of pathos. The songs that have become im mortal, have been sung in a minor key. ’The painter or poet, who has wrought with a master hand, has dipped brush and.psn in his own heart’s blood. Take from Long fellow. or Bryant, George Eliot or Henry Grady, the under-current of pathos the heart-throbs of deep est pain, that run through their best work, and you leave them shorn of much of their power. Human sorrow is an enduring fact that must be taken into ac count by those who would inter pret the deepest philosophy of hu man hearts. , * * * In a few weeks, unless executive clemency interferes, a young man will hang in Georgia. He stands convicted of brutal murder. It was this writer’s privilege to witness the trial that issued in his death sentence. The entire personality of this young man presented a theme for interesting study. The almost womanly delicacy of his features, the tender curves of the perfect mouth, the poise of the head, the flash of the dark eyes would have made him a splendid character for a dime novel. The evidence against him was overwhelming. And one could but wonder that a nature so depraved, a character so vicious should be wrapped up in a personality so winning. He had in him the ele ments of successful leadership. A glance at his strong, fearless face, would impress you with the idea of almost unlimited force. I felt a deep sense of sadness at the sight of such a perversion of great possibilities. Nor is this morbid sympathy. It is with a full sense pf the enormity of his crime in my mind, that I say that there is more occasion for sadness th?n for exultation, in this specta cle of a worse than wasted life. It is such spectacles that sadden the heart of the Good Father and make the angels weep. * * * How much have her dity and environment to do with making criminals? Given the inherited criminal in stinct and such surroundings a’s* will foster and develop it, and in the absence of any counteracting forces, what need you expect but an “exceeding general cuss?” I would not be misunderstood. This young Ishmaelite is without ex cuse, and doubtless merits all the punishment to be meted out to him. But is society guiltless? What has she done, what is she doing to save his sort, before they reach his measure of depravity? Given a public press, that gives daily publicity to all revolting de tails of crime and scandal, thereby preparing susceptible minds for the implantation of all evil; given a convict system that educates its subjects in more advanced forms of deviltry, and why need wb be surprised that the criminal records grow' no smaller? . « It is the sowingof dragon’s teeth for a harvest of devils. The wonder is, the harvest is not greater. Let the state take some lessons in crimnology. A- B. Pope. A Parson’s Blessings. In one of the rural districts a Georgia minister was invited to dine with a ci izen who, though wealthy, furnished his table p oi ly. When they were seated die host said: “Times are mighty tight, parson an’ we ain’t got nothin’ much to ■ set before you, but sich as it is you air welcome. Will you ask a bles i sing on what you see?” The parson, observing the scant repast, lifted up his voice and said : “Lord make us thankful for what we see and may we be able f*to find it when we reach for it. ' Let it not escape us and prove a snare and delusion Amen. Thank you for the greens."—Atlanta • Constitution. i DESTRUCTIVE FIRE. Center. Ala., Almost Wholly De stroyed. Fire broke out in the store of ; Ward Bros., in Centre last Tuesday ■ morning before day, and it burned the larger part of the town before it could be controlled. The fire is supposed to have ori ginated from a defective flue and had gained good headway before it was discovered. It spread rapidly and the princi pal part of the business concerns were consumed. The burned district contained the following: Ward Bros., store house and liv ery stable; Jas. A. Webb, general merchandise, over his store was used by Masonic, K. of P. and Odd Fellows ; J. W. P. Johnson, general merchandise, barn in rear also burned; black smith shop belong ing to W. P. Snider; J. C. JSale, general- merghandise; P. H. -jChis olm, general rear a cottage belonging to Mjs. Ward; - Tennessee hotel, office •/•Building, two or three vmiant stores and barns, W. A.. Cobljgrresidence and the-Dr. Cabbot old homestead. The loss will exceed $50,000 with not nearly sufficient insurance to cover it. The details cannot be obtained as the nearest telegraph office is at Round mountain, seven miles a way. The loss to the little Alabama city is a terrible one. Rheumatism is a foe which give no quarter. It torments its vic tims day and night. Hood’s Sar saparilla purifies the blood and cures the aches and pains of rheu matism. Hood’s Pills are the best family cathartic and liver medicine. Gentle, reliable, sure. -—. ♦ - Peculiar Mental Affliction. In Massachusetts there are two brothers, aged 24 and 25 years, who are suffering a peculiar men tal affliction. Both are educated and of good address. Recently both went crazy at the same time and both acted in precisely the same manner. Whatever one would do the other would do at the same time. It appeared that their actions were governed by the same mind. When one slept the other would sleep; when one yawn ed the other would yawn ; when one wanted to shoot his father the other got a pistol and joined him. In fact, in every act they duplica ted each other, even if they chanc ed to be in separate rooms. Phy -1 sicians are studying the strange manifestation. I "w , A Tribute of Respect. Whereas, on the second day of i January, 1897, it pleased God to remove from our midst by death Daisy Oglesby, be it. i Resolved,!. That our Sabbath School has lost one of itsmostdil igent and useful members —one ■ who took all interest in the ad vancement of her class, one who i loved her teacher, one whose ten der heart was devoted to her Mas -1 ter and his cause. i Resolved, 2. That by this wise providence of God.' the hearts of our Sabbath School band have been made very sad. • I *' Resolved, 3. That although we s sorely feel her loss, yet we take comfort in the assurance that she is resting in the arms of Jesus, and that, emulating her example we • shall meet her in the “beautiful ’ beyond.” Resolved, 4. That a copy of. these resolution be sent to the be ' reaved family. And that the Sum merville News and Trion Echo each be furnished a copy for pub ' lication, and that a page in our 1 Sunday School record be inscribed to her memory. A precious one from us has flown, t A voice we loved is stilled, : A place is vacant in our midst, . Which never can be filled. 3 Tenia J. .Owings, 1 Lena L. Thurman, Com Edith B. Jarnagin, ) ‘ Menl ~ Ga. C ■ j Ripans Tabules cure headache. Ripans Tabules cure dizziness, Ripans Tabules cure liver troubles. i ■ «B ‘ ' J ;m. :' w . ■ h km ■ ■ wBB um BH •mm s? \ of, tlu-W H.ph.-r's advice. which■ • 'r’astmd fimmv t > Mrs. perfectly decided. The men will not take advice gjMgSIB they do not want, no- ofii-rs it. They know ■. J ■ V . e ' i.em - ■ si ■r I Vll er ever Ahether it be .leekoy whnß| Sunday out to propitiate ■ dess of the hay field, or geiieloinan who swears at hiBBMBB| for a speck of dust when «|B||||| for a certain impartant lie is worthy of notice, i. .. the frog, when he will r'.'e.&B becomes a nero fit uneasy period of epurtship the souls of men and shows what stuff they are made of, and there fore the manners of men of the Fifteenth Century, when marrying or trying to marry indicate very fairly the refinement of society at that time.—Emily Baily Stone, in i January Lippincott’s. Rich red blood is the foun- dation of good health. That is why Hood’s Sarsaparilla, the One True Blood Purifier, gives HEALTH. • In Memorial!!, After a lingering illness of con sumption of about one year’s dura tion on Tuesday evening at 6 o’- clock the sweet spirit of Miss Dora Rambo, passed over the dark river of death into the “home of tihe soul.” i She was born July 12, was in the bright . n ■ i. ■■ ic -ii illi.<> tlm Ai v ; firn; y ■ - ii ■ ~ ! 11 ■ I * tlm hb'ssed prmiiisim than tlm history of illness and triumphant '4B fords. Gifted with a mind common mould, and a sweet disp<® sition, her presence in society and ’ the home circle was ever a “Light of purest ray serene.” The life of one so “beautiful without but all glorious within,” shall be an inspi ration to us, ever leading us on ward through ways of pleasantness . and paths of peace.” To the be , reaved father, brothers and sisters we will say, “All things work to gether for good to those that love God.” For strength and consola tion we will point them to the great Comforter. L. F. Is it “overwork” that has filled’ this country with nervous dyspep , tics? —that takes the flesh off their , bones, the vitality from their i blood, and makes them feeble, e , maciated and inefficient? No. It [ is bad cooking, overeating of indi i gestible stuff,* and other health fl destroying habits. I The remedy is an artificially di .! gested such as the Shaker Diges , : five Cordial. Instead of irritating . • the already inflamed stomach the . I Cordiai gives it a chance to rest by 1 nourishing the system itself and digesting other food taken with it. iSo flesh and strength return. Is I not the idea rational? The Cordial ;is palatable and relieves imme [di&tely. No money risked to de cide on its value. AlO cent trial ■ bottle does that. Laxpl is the best medicine for ichilffret.. ■ jecomnmnd it ! in place of CastoV S¥ J 1 41' ai W "I 11 -9 mJ < ■ < w k 'w ■ *■ ■ compleH 1 ■ ■ JB ■ ■ s ' ■ 191 i BLOOD 1 ! a A household rem<dyn] H Skin diseases. Cuim v. | * ula.l'kers, HheumatGun.Cai j K and every f orm of Blood r g simplest pimple to thefoul * years’ use with unvarying W onstrates its paramount! Wing and building up virq » has more curative virtue] . W any other kind. Tt buil<] W and strength from the fin 1 w wr write /orjj W <l<-rfxil Cures, se! W cation. M £ If not kept by « ?1.(X) for a li'.rge s,tl<--. and fibaid, by JBML'ig fBLOOO BALM