In 1747 Mr. John Brown was invited to become the pastor of a
church at Hingham. There was but one opponent to his settlement,
a man whom Mr. Brown won over by a stroke of good humor. He
asked for the grounds of his opposition. “I like your person
and your manner,” was the reply, “but your preaching, sir, I
disapprove.” “Then,” said Mr. Brown, “we are agreed. I do not
like my preaching very well myself, but how great a folly it is
for you and me to set up our opinion against that of the whole
parish.” The force of this reasoning appealed to the man, and he
at once withdrew his objections.--_The Argonaut._
(3162)
* * * * *
The impression that most people have regarding the life of kings and
queens is that of everything in a costly and magnificent style. One of
the admirable things about the life of King Edward VII at Sandringham
Palace was its simplicity.
Court formality was laid aside and the king’s guests enjoyed
themselves without restraint. As host and hostess King Edward
and Queen Alexandra were notably hospitable, and the person
who failed to enjoy himself at the royal table was indeed an
unfortunate being. Many were the tales told about the king’s
tact, as displayed toward his guests, not the least of which
was one concerning the famous English sculptor, Alfred Gilbert.
Gilbert received an invitation to Sandringham, and his servant,
in the excitement of packing, omitted to put a pair of black
shoes into his bag. When the sculptor arrived at the king’s
residence he discovered, much to his dismay, that he must appear
in tan shoes if he wished to attend dinner. His embarrassment
was all the more keen because he was aware that the king
disliked tan footgear. However, there was nothing for him to do
but make the best of matters, and on the shoes went. In some
mysterious manner word of Gilbert’s predicament reached the
king’s ears, and when Edward appeared to greet his guest the
latter was surprized to note that his host also wore tan shoes.
(3163)
* * * * *
At Bannockburn Lord Randolph Murray was being sorely prest by a
large body of cavalry. Sir James Douglas got leave from Bruce
to go to his aid, but just as he came up he found the English
in disorder, and many horses galloping away with empty saddles.
“Halt!” he cried to his men; “These brave men have already
repulsed the enemy; let us not diminish their glory by seeking
to share it.”--WILLIAM MOODIE.
(3164)
* * * * *
Colonel Nicholas Smith, in “Grant the Man of Mystery,” says:
Grant is often called “The Silent Man.” While he wrote with
fluency and with great rapidity, it was difficult for him to
express himself extemporaneously until after his Presidential
career, and many interesting stories are told of his attempts to
talk. A large body of ministers once called upon him and made
a long address, to which he was compelled to reply. After a
sentence or two, Mr. Fish noticed that his voice faltered, and
fearing that he might be at a loss what to say, the secretary,
standing next to him, caused a diversion by beginning to cough
violently. The President afterward said to Mr. Fish, “How
fortunate it was for me that you had that cough, as I had felt
my knees begin to shake. I do not think that I could have spoken
another word.”
(3165)
* * * * *
We may please and help and comfort the very same persons whom
we may by different treatment irritate, bringing out the worst
where we might with tact bring out the best that is in them.
You take a piece of ribbon-grass and rub it from end to end and
admire its velvet smoothness; but as you then rub it the other
way you find it is pricking you as if malignantly. And one of
the mysteries of electricity is that the same magnet with which
you can attract by presenting one pole will repel if you present
the other. (Text.)
(3166)