NOTES OF CHRISTIAN LIFE AND WORK.
The Cost of a Bible.
The striking diagram here shown is an attempt to represent the different prices a buyer would have had to pay in times past for an ordinary English Bible which he can get to-day for sixpence! In 1804 such a Bible could not be bought under ten times that sum, and in 1650 the purchaser would have had to pay no less than a sovereign, or, forty times to-day's price, for a similar Bible. In 1450 it could not have been bought, except as a written copy, and would have cost over five pounds, money then, as compared with now, having greater purchasing power, too! So that it is practically impossible to give a true representation of this last case, compared with the former; but the diagram clearly shows that a silver coin which would buy such a Bible to-day would have to be represented by the ten coins to buy the same Bible in 1804, and by the forty coins to buy it in 1650!
(Photo: London Stereoscopic Co., Limited.)
THE EARL OF HARROWBY.
(President of the Bible Society.)
THE COMPARATIVE COST OF A BIBLE IN 1650, 1804, AND 1899.
The Children's Rest.
In the pretty neighbourhood of Roehampton stands a useful Convalescent Home rejoicing in the bright name of Hope Cottage, or The Children's Rest. The Home is intended for girls requiring country air and good food, and once again more than sixty little visitors have passed through the Home in twelve months, and delighted in the love and the sunshine, the treats and the toys, they found awaiting them there. From April 1st to September 30th girls between four and thirteen years of age are received for three weeks; but during the winter months children from hospitals requiring continued care are admitted, also chronic invalids and young servants up to sixteen years of age needing the benefits of the Home, the time of their visit being longer or shorter according to circumstances. Small payments weekly are taken in some cases. Twenty of the children have come from the Ragged School Union's Cripple department, all with some burden of suffering to bear through life; and Miss B. M. Galpin, the lady superintendent, would be glad if a new wheeled chair could be sent by some kind friend to supply the place of the wickerwork hand carriage that has so frequently journeyed up Putney Hill with the afflicted children, and which has lately become very frail. Any number of dolls seem wanted, and Miss Pretty, the matron, looking to stern realities, asks for children's boots. The "paper-soled apologies" that come with the patients too often are reduced to pulp at the first real country jaunt. Wet feet for convalescents do not conduce to recovery. Of course, subscriptions are also required, for though small payments are made by some of the children, yet there are free beds and many cases which have to be met half-way. Miss Galpin would welcome more visitors also, to take an interest in the children; and one lady, Miss M. Pollock (who has left the neighbourhood) has made an afternoon every week pass very quickly in games, while several others have given donations of toys or arranged picnics. Perhaps some others would do likewise.
Korea's Crisis.
January 8th, 1895, was an eventful day for Korea. From a hill in the grounds of the Mulberry Palace at Seoul a vast crowd of men, white-robed, black-hatted, looked down in silence and gravity on a scene which marked a new era in its history. In the presence of his court and the dignitaries of his kingdom, assembled at the most sacred altar in Korea, the king took an oath to reform internal administration, and remedy accumulated abuses. "All thoughts of dependence on China shall be cut away and a firm foundation for independence secured," was the first of fourteen clauses in the Great Charter. There was nothing alarming on the surface of this royal undertaking enforced by Japan. Yet the king was ill with anxiety, and old and serious men had fasted and mourned for two previous days. The king and the officers had probably a very shrewd impression what this action involved. Sprinkled amongst the gorgeous costumes of Korean officers were Japanese policemen in blue ulsters, and newly created Seoul police in a blue European uniform. These and other apparent trifles indicated an incoming wave of Western civilisation which could not fail to sweep away old and cherished institutions. The hermit kingdom of Korea has been roughly dragged out of obscurity. It stands dazzled and faint with the glare. A transition stage has inevitable trials. It was during this crisis in its history that the well-known traveller, Mrs. Bishop, visited the country and had four royal audiences. On one of these occasions the queen, who was shortly afterwards assassinated with great brutality, spoke with admiration of Queen Victoria. "Does she ever in her glory think of poor Korea?" she inquired. "She does so much good in the world; her life is so good. We wish her long life and prosperity." The king added, "England is our best friend." Poor Korea, rich by nature, but ruined by man, with its thirty-four million inhabitants, has a claim on English consideration. Already Chemulpo, the treaty port, is a bustling foreign settlement, open both to the good and evil influence of Western power. Which of the two is to predominate?
KOREAN CIVIL OFFICERS.
(From a Photograph.)
Some Miscellaneous Works.
One of the most interesting books of the season is Mr. Richard Kearton's "Wild Life at Home" (Cassell and Co.), in which he treats in a bright and informing manner of many phases of bird, animal, and insect life of the United Kingdom. A special value is given to the work by the numerous unique photographs, taken direct from nature, by Mr. Cherry Kearton, many of which were secured only after hours of patient waiting and by means of most ingenious devices (of which full particulars are given) to overcome the natural shyness and timidity of the "subjects."
From Messrs. Hodder and Stoughton comes a series of short stories by Ian Maclaren, under the title of "Afterwards." The author's abounding sympathy with, and extensive knowledge of, human nature are abundantly manifested throughout the book; but we cannot help expressing a wish that the stories had been, as a whole, less melancholy in character, and more on the lines of "The Right Hand of Samuel Dodson," which is the most interesting of the series. The same publishers are also responsible for a biography of "John Stoughton, D.D.," by his daughter, Mrs. King Lewis. Dr. Stoughton's own "Recollections" were issued a few years before his death and widely read, and consequently this biography is limited in its scope, but all the same it contains much that will be read with interest by the many friends of the late veteran divine. Our contributor, the Rev. Professor Bernard, D.D., has just issued, through Messrs. Hodder and Stoughton, a volume of sermons under the title "Via Domini," more than one of which originally appeared in our pages. It is quite unnecessary to introduce Dr. Bernard to our readers, to whom we heartily commend this helpful and suggestive volume.—"Beneath the Banner" (Cassell and Co.) is a work which ought to be in the hands of every boy and girl, and on the shelf of every young people's library. It consists of a number of interesting and instructive "narratives of noble lives and brave deeds," compiled by Mr. F. J. Cross, and we give a special word of welcome to the new and enlarged edition which has just been issued.—For young men and women no more earnest and stimulating work could be found than the recently published addresses by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon, which appear under the appropriate title "A Good Start" (Passmore and Alabaster); whilst young people, as well as their elders, will doubtless be specially attracted by the new volume of "Anecdotes, Incidents, and Illustrations," which Mr. D. L. Moody has just issued through Messrs. Morgan and Scott. From the same publishers also comes a volume of graceful and pathetic poems by S. Trevor Francis, entitled "Whence—Whither," and also another of the Rev. F. B. Meyer's popular booklets of daily homilies, the latest of which deals with the Psalms and Canticles.—We have also to acknowledge the receipt of "A Study of the Types of the Bible," by Ada Habershon (Morgan and Scott), and of a new shilling edition of "Cassell's Miniature Cyclopædia," which should have a place in every home, where also Phyllis Browne's new work, "The Dictionary of Dainty Breakfasts" (Cassell and Co.), would be found exceedingly useful by every housewife in search of information respecting new dishes and reliable hints regarding old ones.
AN OLD SERMON.
(See "Were Young Folk Wiser Then?")
Were Young Folk Wiser Then?
The sermon of which we have reproduced the dingy title-page seemed worthy of rescue from half a dozen handfuls of booksellers' rubbish. The treatise itself is solid, and a trifle heavy according to our modern ideas, but its existence proves that a solution was found in London nearly two hundred years ago for a difficulty which to-day perplexes ministers of all denominations. Young men would come to church, and were willing to be taught and, even further, to be questioned when they got there. "Consideration" is hardly a subject that would appeal to a youthful audience at the close of the nineteenth century. But there are signs that the strenuous efforts made in every department of the Church are winning back young men to exhortation and worship, though the methods pursued are probably more lively than those adopted with such apparent success by the Rev. Mr. Billingsly of the Old Jewry. That divine, however, had not to cope with the comparative secularisation of Sunday, and with what somebody has cleverly called the "era of cyclisation."
"A Mother's Bible."
In our December number we published some touching lines under the above title, which were sent to us by a correspondent who was unaware of the authorship of the poem. Since their publication we have received several inquiries as to the author's identity, and if any of our readers should be aware of the name of the author, we should be very glad to hear from such, and to pass on the information to the inquirers.