IF I WERE TWENTY-ONE AGAIN. <
Gi?t of a Sermon Recently Preached <
In the Four Oaks Baptist Church i
by the Pastor, Rev. R. M. Von
Miller.
Disraeli in one of his books says:
"Youth is a blunder, manhood is a
struggle and old age a regret." That
is a falsehood. For those who live
right and walk circumspectly, youth
ia opportunity, manhood is achieve
ment, and old age is a holy memory.
Life has two ends ? a beginning and
an ending. A certain old preacher once
said: "At twenty we know everything
? at seventy we know nothing." Ma
tured wisdom, like old wine, has a pe
culiar quality. We know just a few
things at seventy, but we know what
we know. Dr. T. E. DeWitt Talmage,
in his autobiography remarks: "It
seems to me that the constructive
period of a man's life begins when he
has passed fifty." Ernest Renan af
firmed that "No man can write well
until he is forty."
The bread of wisdom cannot be
baked in a quick oven. The sweetest
cream comes of quick browsing. Every
silver hair which crowns the brow of
knowledge cost a thought. Henry
Clay Trumbull received a package of
cabinet photographs from a metro
politan artist. His face, which was
lined with the furrows of caro as
thickly as was General Sherman's
wrinkled physignomy, was made to
appear as smooth and even as the
face of a society belle. Trumbull ob
served in dismay: "That photographer
has taken out every wrinkle; send the
picture back; those wrinkles cost me
too much." Experience is a great
teacher, but she asks a high price for
every bit of knowledge which she
sees fit to impart. Therefore the man
of years has a wisdom which he may
reveal without the impoverishment of
himself and to the enrichment of all
those who will listen.
If I were twenty-one again I would
give twenty minutes every day to
special physical exercise. All things i
being equal, happiness depends on
health, health depends on digestion,
digestion depends on blood, the quality
of the blood depends on the circulation
and the circulation of the blood de
pends on exercise. It is not much use
saying anything in these days unless
you say it loud. That is what George
Smith of the Minnesota University,
is doing when he remarks: "Person
ally, I would rather have as a father
a robust burglar than a weak, narrow
chested consumptive bishop." Few
consumptives ever live long enough
to be bishops, however.
If I were twenty-one again I would
study and strive to be an orignal
thinker. At the age of ten we wonder,
at twenty we imagine, at thirty we
cogitate, at forty we think, at fifty
we have "an idea or two," at sixty we
have two ideas and at seventy we are
a "one idea." The sooner you get to
that one idea the better. Be an orignal
thinker. The only real difference be
tween the stupid man and the man
who is "original" is the vital fact that I
one man thinks and the other does j
not. Do not "take things for granted" s
? take them for what they are worth. 1
Think your way through prejudice,
precedent, custom, convention, style,
fashion and all the forms of modern
folly and get at the heart of things.
Socrates' brain was not a whit better
than yours, but he wore a thinking ]
cap. Think your way in and you will j
have small difficulty in thinking your ,
way out. j
If I were twenty-one again I would <
steer my life by a few fundamental j
convictions. The great convictions of
the race are exprest in the words of .
God, truth, right, love, law and im- i
mortality. A man without conviction '
is as weak as door hanging on its 1
lower hinge. Have a conviction. ]
If I were twenty-one again, I should 1
begin life with a clear conviction con
cerning the sovereign value of my -
soul in the presence of God. Every
man has within him all the upward ]
possibilities of the character of
Jesus and all the downward possibil
ities of the character of Judas. Jesus
was in a representative capacity, hu
manity at its best. Judas the reverse.
If I were twenty-one again I would
put quality into every thought, word,
and deed. A Christian is a person who
does ordinary things in an extraor
dinary way. One day twenty centuries
ago a carpenter built a cross. That
cross has been lifted into the sacred
incandescence of spiritual glory. It
stands to-day and forever as a sky
line of history. The horizon of our
civilisation, encircling the earth, be
gins and ends with the Ccoss of Cal
* ary. Its four great ?rms like shafts
of history. Little thought the humble
carpenter when he was building the
cross that its rough boards, touched
by the sacred form of the world's Re
deemer, would miraculously flame
into sign and symbol for the sacra
mental hosts of a world conquering
religion.
"In the cross of Christ I glory,
Towering over the wrecks of time;
All the light of sacred story.
Gathers round its head sublime."
If I were twenty-one I would crowd
at least, one kind act into every twen
ty four hours. Kindness is the velvet
of social intercourse. Kindness is the
oil in the wheels of life's machinery.
Kindness is the burlap in the packing
which holds back the slamming door.
Kindness is the burlap in the packing
case of every day's merchandise.
Kindness is the color in the cathed
ral window which, woven into beauti
ful character, shuts out the hideous
sights of a world which is all too prac
tical. Kindness is the carpet on life's
floor which deadens the sound of
shuffling feet and adds warmth to si
lence. Kindness is the satin in the
silver casket. Kindness is plush on the
chair. Kindness is the green grass
near the hard pebbles of the road.
Kindness is the touch of an angel's
hand.
If I were twenty-one again I would
have two or three choice friends
among older people. They know the
way.
If I were twenty-one again I would
identify myself with some great un
popular cause. Courage is the finest
test of character. Stand fast, stand
firm, stand erect, stand alone ? if need
be. Stand with your back toward the
past and with your face toward the
unfoldings of God's plans and pur
pose for humanity. Be downright, up
right and out-right.
If I were twenty-one again I would
give the flower of my youth to Jesus
Christ. I would begin life with Him.
I would not wait until my hair had
grown white in the service of sin and
then offer to the world's Redeemer the
ashes of a misspent life. I would be
gin with Jesus.
Farewell, ye dreams of night;
Jesus is mine.
Lost in this dawning bright,
Jesus is mine.
All that my soul has tried
Left but a dismal void;
Jesus has satisfied;
Jesus is mine.
IRON AND STEEL HANDICAPS.
Outputs Are Still Further Curtailed
Through Inadequate Supplies
of Fuel.
Another week's reports about iron
and steel have made disappointing
reading, for the restraints on pro
iuction have increased, rather than
lessened, and the year-end approaches
with the industry in a very unsatis
factory position from an operating
standpoint. With transportation prob
lems aggravated by the weather,
novements of fuel have become still
nore difficult and irregular, and more
plants have been forced to shut down
entirely or to reduce working sehed
iles appreciably through inability to
<eep fires going. This condition has
lot been confined to any one section,
jut has been practically general, and
he proportion of idle machinery and
abor has on occasions been consider
able, with 7,000 to 8,000 men esti
nated to have been unoccupied in
;he Youngstown district alone early
n the week. Dispatches from Pitts
;urgh have told of the worst coal situ
ation ever known there, and of a
shortage in pig iron that is steadily
aecoming more pronounced. Mean
while, the requirements of the Gov
ernment are growing, both in iron
and steel, and business in structural
steel for shipbuilding and other war
needs is notably large, the Bridge
Builders and Structural Society re
sorting more shop capacity put under
contract during November than in
any other month this year. But where
jrdinary demands are concerned, there
is hesitation in not a few quarters
because of doubts about the price
situation after January 1. Discussing
this subject, The Iron Age says that
'the impression has gained strength
that no important revision of existing
price schedules will be made on Jan
uary 1st." ? Dun's Review.
IHE POET AM) BLACKSMITH.
Longfellow and His Eriend and
Neighbor Dexter I'ratt.
(Vlyn Johnson, in St. Nicholas.)
The professor came to be a neigh
bor of the blacksmith in the year
1837. As he walked daily past the
smithy and the simple comfortable
home of the blacksmith he came to
watch and know the kindly man. It
was not long before they became good
friends. The blacksmith was proud of
lis home, and doubtless told the pro
fessor how happy he was when in
1825 he had made his first arrange
ments to buy it from a man named
rorrey Hancock. And perhaps some
times they talked about the wonderful
spring that was famous for its clear
and sparkling waters, for this was
right at hand. Below the spot where
the spring gushed forth the women
3f the town still did their washing.
The name of the street where lived
the blacksmith and the professor is
the same today as in their time. If
pou visit the great city of Cambridge,
fou will easily find your way to
Brattle street* and the homes of "the
tillage blacksmith," by name Dexter
Pratt, and of the professor and poet,
tlenry W. Longfellow.
THREE DISEASES THAT KILL.
Heart Dinriae, Tuberculosis and Pneu
monia Cause One Third of Ail
Deaths. Pneumonia and Tubercu
losis on Decrease.
Th?_' three diseases that are most
fatal in the Uinted States, according
to the Federal Census Bureau, are
heart disease, tuberculosis and pneu
monia. These three diseases causc
nearly on third of all the deaths oc
curring in the country. At one time
tuberculosis headed the list and pneu
monia ranked low. Heart disease
ranked forth as a cause of death from
1900 to 1910. Within thirty years it
rose from ninth place to fourth place.
Now it has first place.
The increase of heart disease as a
cause of death is due to three facts:
more people have the disease new,
which is due to our manner of living,
generally to excess in some for^i or
another, people are living longer and
are likely to have the disease, and
other diseases like tuberculosis and
children's diseases are so greatly re
duced that they take second and lower
places leaving the highest to heart
diseases.
The deaths from heart disease in
the registration area in 1916 num
bered 114,171, or 159.4 per 100,000
population. The death rate from this
cause shows a marked increase as
compared with 1900 when it was only
123.1 per 100,000.
Tuberculosis in its various forms
caused 101,396 deaths in 1916, of
which 88,666 were due to tuberculosis
of the lungs. Because of progress in
the prevention and treatment of tuber
culosis of all kinds, the decline in the
tuberculosis death rate in recent years
has been most pronounced, having
fallen from 200.7 in 1904 to 141.6 in
1916, a decrease of nearly 30 per
cent. Even yet, however, tuberculosis
causes more deaths annually than any
other malady, except heart disease,
and about 37 per cent more than all
external causes ? accidents, homicides,
and suicides ? combined.
Pneumonia (including broncho
pneumonia) was responsible for 98,
334 death in the registration area in
1916, or 137.3 per 100,000. The mor
tality from this disease, like that from
tuberculosis, has shown a marked de
cline since 1900, when it was 180.5 per
100,000. Its fluctuations from year
to year, however, have been pro
nounced, whereas the decline in the
rate for tuberculosis has been nearly
continuous.
John C. Scarborough.
The death of Hon. John C. Scar
borough yesterday at his home at
Murfrcesboro called to the beyond one
of the best known of North Carolina's
older men and one who had to his
credit an uncommonly long and useful
public career. For twelve years
Superintendent of Public Instruction
and for several years Commissioner
of Labor and Printing, he served the
State with fidelity and efficiency.
His career in private life reflected
the same conscientious devotion to
duty that marked his public career.
As a tutor at Wake Forest College
and as teacher in a number of private
schools before entering into the ser
vice of the State he established a
reputation for scholarship and ad
ministrative ability that made him
the logical man for preferment in his
line of endeavor when his political
party was looking around for men to
serve as its standard-bearers. Retir
ing from public life he rounded out
his highly useful career by serving as
president for a number of years of
Chowan Baptist Female Institute,
now Chowan College, serving later as
county superintendent of public in
struction of Hertford county.
Elected to the Superintendency of
Public Instruction in 1876 when
Vance was elected Governor, he did
valuable pioneer work in the shaping
of a school system out of the ruins
that had been left by the war, formu
lating the school law which provided
for the present system of county
superintendents and laying the foun
dations for the present educational
structure, his work characterized by
unflagging devotion to the State and
by foresight and sound judgment.
Prof. Scarborough also was highly
honored in the great religious de
nomination with which he was con
nected, having been president for sev
eral terms of the Baptist State Con
vention and having served for many
years on the boards of several of the
institutions of that denomination. His
service in the War Between the States
was one marked by gallantry and for
titude.
A man of rugged honesty in all his
dealings, of absolute fearlessness and
of complete fidelity to his convictions,
Prof. Scarborough left as a heritage
to his family and friends the good
name which is rather to be chosen
than great riches. Service was the
keynote of his long and nobly spent
life. ? News and Observer, 27th.
The Cape Fear river at Fayetteville
was frozen over the first, of the week
for the first time in 19 years.
,
MOORE'S SCHOOL NOTES.
Schools opened Monday 31, after
Christmas holidays, with good atten
dance considering the weather.
Miss Maude Porter, Principal of
Moore's School, spent the Christmas
holidays at her home in Hillsboro,
N. C.
Mips Essie Sasser entertained a
number of her friends on Friday even
ing, Dec. 28, at the home of Mr. N.
Narron in the honor of her sisters,
Misses Bertha and Rose Sasser, of
Kinston.
Miss Leone Foster spent Christ
mas holidays with her parents, at
Selma.
Mr. J. S. Stancil and family are
moving from our community. We re
gret very much to have them leave.
Honor Roll for month ending De
cember 22:
First Grade ? Johnnie Grice, Willard
Renfrow, Rosa Johnson, ivlattie Davis
and Flossie Davis.
Second Grade ? Erma Narron, Ida
Renfrow, Jim Renfrow and Wilton
Hare.
Third Grade ? Ira Renfrow, Neppie
Godwin, Lola Narron, Pearl Grice,
Addie Grice and Martha Johnson.
Fourth Grade ? Zelma Godwin, Mar
tha Renfrow.
Sixth Grade ? Floyd Hill.
"L. F.M
Why Women Should Vote.
To the Editor: There are at least
three reasons why I am in favor of
national woman suffrage.
Our idea of democracy demands it.
1 want my wife to vote. I want every
intelligent woman in America to
vote. It does me good to feel that my
vote counts for as much as does the
vote of any other man in the nation.
I want cach woman in America to
have an opportunity of feeling as I
feel on that point. The American idea
of democracy demands that our
women be allowed to vote.
The women of America desire to
vote. I do not mean that every woman
is insane on the subject. There are
of course a great many women who
have not yet learned to care. But the
majority are soon going to demand
the ballot; their demand should be
met by giving them the opportunity
of voting.
Practical governmental efficiency
demands that the women of America
be allowed to vote. Public sentiment
is the chief support of government
in a democracy. The people who initi
ate a law, or anything else, are the
people most interested in its success
ful execution. It will make our gov
ernment more successful for our
women to vote; therefore, I favor
women suffrage.
M. B. ANDREWS.
Kenly, N. C.
Johnston Boy in the Navy.
Selma, Jan. 1. ? Mr. John Foster,
Jr., of the U. S. Navy, has returned to
New York after spending ChristAias
holidays at home with his parents, Mr.
and Mrs. J. W. Foster. Mr. Foster
has been in the service of the U. S. (
Navy for three years. He has done
well and is still making good.
?Rj .>* * -v y * " '
Money to Loan
On improved Farm Lands in Johnston,
Wayne and Wilson Counties
Long Time Low interest rate
Write or call on
Paul D. Grady
Attorney-at-Law
KENLY, N. C.
5 per cent money for 5
*
years. 6 per cent money
for 1 to 20 years.
Will loan you one-half the value of your cleared lands ac
cording to appraisment made by your neighbors on terms
above stated.
Make your arrangements now in order to be ready for
January 1st.
Will buy your land or sell you mine. See me before clos
ing deal. Will buy your notes and mortgages at reason
able discount.
Frederick H. Brooks
A TTORMET-A T-LA W
Smitlifield. - - North Carolina
This Means You,
Mr. Merchant!
DID you know that
you and this paper
have an interest in com
mon? Y our success helps
the community as a whole
which in turn is of benefit
to us.
When a merchant adver
tises with us, he is invest
ing his money, which it
returned with interest.
Shew Year Good* In the Window*
ud Advertise Them 1a ThU Piper
:all on beaty & lassiter for
your Letter Heads and Envelopes or
anything in the Printing line.
?lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllilllllllllllllliillllllllllllllllllB
DISTINCTIVE
Printina
? wi inn minimi iiiiiiiiniii mum ill iiiiiib 4
E I
C. Printing that will
attradt attention and
put your advertising
in a class by itself ?
printing that con tains
originality in con
ception and excel
lence in its execution
? this quality of
originality and in
dividuality charadter
izes all the printed
work we turn out.
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
The "NEW-WAY" Engine
Will do his bit ,
While the hired man
Stays home to knit.
ALL TYPES
AND SIZES
g FROM
? 1 T42 If P
? ' I _ ? . .
Goes ah? Goes Right
Buy Now Before Prices Go Ui
The scarcity of material and the unprecedented demand for power on the farms will soon
make a shortage of farm engines and higher prices. It is bound to. Yet there never was a
time when you could better afford to invest in an engine than now. At the present prices for
farm products less bushels than ever of potatoes, grain, fruit, etc. will pay for an engine.
On the other hand, the farm laborer is demanding higher wages, the cost of feeding him is
double what it formerly was. Good hired men are scarce at that.
Y^JJ CAN DEPEND UPON THIS ENGINE
The "NEW-WAY" Engine can be harnessed to any belt driven machine about the place.
It will take the place of a hired man and then some. The "NEW-WAY" is waterless, never
overheats but is always ready to go and deliver its full rated horse power, Summer or Winter.
YOUR LOCAL DEALER WILL SHOW YOU
He will explain the many points of "NEW-WAY" superiority. He will prove to vou that
price is not everything to consider and that you can save money and trouble by purchasing a
"NEW- WAY" waterless engine rather than the common variety or mail order gasoline engine.
SEE THE "NEW-WAY" FIRST
1
*** vaa w..'i?a a
Ljufstms, Micnicam. U.S.A.
"New-Way" Agent for Smithfield
COTTER HARDWARE COMPANY
F-t