Page:Cyclopedia of illustrations for public speakers, containing facts, incidents, stories, experiences, anecdotes, selections, etc., for illustrative purposes, with cross-references; (IA cyclopediaofillu00scotrich).pdf/791

 Charles Wagner, in "The Gospel of Life," gives this interesting incident:

Something happened last winter, in Paris, that I shall place side by side with the mite of the gospel. You will remark the profound analogy, the close spiritual kinship of these two cases.

In the north wind of December a shelter was raised where warm soup was given to the unfortunate. A very old woman, who had long waited her turn, at length sat down and was served. Before she touched her portion, she noticed that a young, robust working man beside her had already consumed his with an avidity that betrayed that he was famished. At once she pushed her plate toward the workman and said to him: "I am not hungry, will you eat this?" The workman accepted. But some one had noticed all that had passed. As they went out, he took the old woman aside and said to her: "You were not hungry then?" "Oh, yes," she answered, blushing, "but I am old and can bear it, and that poor young man was more in need of it than I."

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VICE DEN DISPLACED BY MISSION

Persons passing No. 293 Bowery, formerly the Germania Assembly Rooms, were invited to come in and be "rescued."

"This is Hadley Rescue Hall," said the man at the door. "Please come in and be rescued while there is time. All are welcome."

"What!" exclaimed an astonished man; "the old Germania a mission! Why, this place was one of the biggest gambling dens the city ever had, and next door was McGuirk's 'Suicide Hall.' If I had the money that I blew in there I wouldn't be walking the Bowery to-day in search of a nickel for a cup of coffee."

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VICTORIES, DISASTROUS

Milman has told us how Pope John XXI, bursting into exultant laughter as he entered for the first time that noble chamber which he had built for himself at Viterbo, is crusht by its avenging roof, which that instant comes down on his head. And thus it is true, in a deeper sense, that many a triumph crushes and extinguishes all that is noblest in him who has won it. Doubtless, failure and defeat are bitter, but hardest of all to bear are not our losses but our victories.—Bishop , Scribner's Magazine.

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VICTORY

Baldwin, an Englishman, who went to Africa only with the intention of shooting, one day put this problem to himself, after having been very nearly felled by a lion: "Why does man risk his life without having any interest in doing so?" The answer he gave to himself was: "It is a question which I will not try to solve. All I can say is that in victory one finds an inward satisfaction for which it is worth while to run a risk, even if there is nobody to applaud."

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In 61, Pompey returned to Rome from the wars, having conquered the known world. He led a triumphal procession along the Via Sacra, occupying two days. In front were borne brazen tablets on which were recorded a list of the nations conquered and the trophies won in Africa, in Europe, and in Asia, representing nine hundred cities and one thousand fortresses. (Text.)

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See.

VICTORY IN DEFEAT

Billy Boy was in a very serious frame of mind; in fact, he was quite gloomy and dejected. To be sure, his side hadn't won the cricket match, but that was scarcely enough to account for his present state of feeling. He had lost before, and usually with pretty good grace. But to-day no sympathy appealed to him, no cheerful encouragement won so much as a shadow of a smile. The hopeful, merry, happy Billy Boy had entirely disappeared.

Mother, whose experience with little boys had warned her of occasions when it was a case of "do-better-or-do-nothing-at-all," as Hans says in the Grimm story, waited for the situation to develop, and at last the silence was broken. Slowly, seriously, solemnly, Billy Boy said it:

"Mother, God was on the side of the bad boys, and they won. You see, we fellows thought we would try awfully hard and not get mad or cheat or say bad words. And not one fellow did. And the other fellows did—like fury. I guess they swore. And they won and we were licked. God was on their side all right, and it's not fair."

Ordinary comfort and explanation availed nothing. The fact remained. The faithful little band that had tried to do right had been beaten by the rough little crowd that didn't care anything at all about it. God was on the side of might—not right. This was self-evident and did not admit of explanation;