Page:Cyclopedia of illustrations for public speakers, containing facts, incidents, stories, experiences, anecdotes, selections, etc., for illustrative purposes, with cross-references; (IA cyclopediaofillu00scotrich).pdf/232



He immediately left the car and stood upon the platform, admiring the magnificence of the scenery that opens before the traveler. He said, "What an atmosphere! What a view! What glorious mountains! No wonder that Patrick Henry grew here." One of the natives, who was standing by his side, quietly replied, "Yes, sir; but as far as I have heard, that landscape and those mountains have always been here; but we haven't seen any more Patrick Henrys."

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ENVIRONMENT, SPIRITUAL

A Dutch scientist has just completed five years' study in South America. He took some insects from Holland into the rich tropic atmosphere, changed their environment, put them in a friendly environment, and gave them the best food. He expected to modify their coloring, having exchanged the damp, foggy sky of Holland for the brilliant hues of the tropics. And lo! these insects doubled their size; the dim subdued tints became gay and brilliant. At last he discovered that insects that in Holland crawled, in the South spread their wings to fly and meet God's sun. He began with potato-bugs in Holland; he ended with brilliant creatures that lived on the nectar of flowers, and only five summers and winters stood between the marvel. Oh, marvelous transformation, through environment and food! More marvelous still the way the soul can grow. Last year you lived in the damp, foggy miasmatic levels of selfishness; sordidness, like a cloud, wrapt you about. Suppose you take down your tent, and move into the tropic realm of love and faith and hope. Open the soul's wings to the light, the sun and dew of God's spirit. Live in the atmosphere of purity and prayer. Expel hate and fear, like poisonous winds. Imitate Christ's life. Love the master spirits. Read the great poets. Insist upon leisure to grow ripe. Guard your hours of solitude; practice the presence of God.—

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ENVIRONMENT THAT TRANSFORMS

The Japanese have an ingenious way of changing the color and appearance of birds and animals. For example, white sparrows are produced by selecting a pair of grayish birds and keeping them in a white cage, in a white room, where they are attended by a person drest in white. The mental effect on a series of generations of birds results in completely white birds. (Text.)

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ENVY

The Duchess of Argyll is reported to have written to various European monarchs asking them whom they envied. Among the answers was one from the Czar of Russia, as follows: "I sincerely envy every man who is not loaded down with the cares of a great empire, and who has not to weep for the woes of a people."

Not infrequently the envied are the envying, because each one is apt to think his own lot the hardest.

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Good men are often hated for their goodness by bad men, who can not endure the contrast with themselves. An unidentified writer points out this kind of envy in the following verse:

A glowworm sat in the grass; As I passed through the wood I found it; Bright as a diamond it shone, With a halo of light around it.

A toad came up from the fen; It was ugly in every feature; Like a thief it crept to the worm, And spat on the shining creature.

"What have I done," said the worm, "As I sat here in silence nightly?" "Nothing," replied the toad; "But why did you shine so brightly?" (Text.)

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ENVY GRATIFIED

Persons accustomed to gaze in awe upon suit-cases and steamer-trunks covered with labels of every size and color, thinking the while enviously of the fortunate owners of such baggage, who have such an advantage over the poor stay-at-homes, may perhaps be surprized to learn that there are shops where such labels may be had.

It is quite feasible, therefore, for any one to have his case or trunk covered with nicely worn labels, indicating that the owner thereof has roamed from Sydney to San Francisco; from Copenhagen to Colombo, to say nothing of all the capitals of Europe and Asia, with divers famous water-places thrown in for good measure.—Harper's Weekly.

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Ephemera—See ;.