FAMOUS PUNS Historical puns have played considerable part in the humor of history. The ridiculous use of play upon words was sometimes called by the Greeks Antanaclasis. This form of humor occurs frequently in the writings of Aristophanes. Among the Latins Plautus and Terence made most frequent use of it. Cicero, the famous Roman orator, indulged in it. Our own Shakespeare was fond of it at times, but according to rhetoricians, with him, it exhibited a species of weakness and its use by him was generally bad. Thomas Hood, the English poet, gave it a new departure, making it consist in the play both in the spirit as well as in the sound of a word. David Kerr has collected the following examples of historical puns: The Roman Bishop's famous compliment to the handsome Anglo-Saxon captives, "Not Angles, but angels," had greater results than its actual brilliancy might seem to merit; and St. Leo doubtless had no idea when he prayed to Heaven to aid Rome against the invading Huns, "and hurl back these Tartars into the fires of Tartarus," that this punning prayer was to fix upon the unlucky "Tartars" (as they were then called) a nickname that would never die. Such puns have more than once played a formidable part in history. France expiated by the devastation of an entire province a coarse and clumsy play upon "corpse" and "corpulence" made by the French King in derision of his terrible neighbor, William the Conqueror. Charles V's jesting assertion that he could put Paris in his glove (gant) though meant only to indicate the superior size of Ghent to the Paris of that day, stung Francis I into the renewal of a languishing war. One of Louis XV's upstart favorites was driven from the court by the biting pun that turned his new title of Marquis de Vandiere into "Marquis d'Avent-hier" (the day before yesterday). Sir The epigrammatic brevity of Sir Francis Drake's celebrated but probably mythical dispatch announcing the rout of the Armada-which consisted of the single word "Cantharides," i. e., the Spanish Fly-has been twice paralleled in our own age. Charles Napier and Lord Dalhousie respectively announced the annexation of Scinde and that of Oude in one word apiece, "Peccavi," I have sinned (Scinde), and "Vovi" I have vowed (Oude). Equally historical is the bitter pun that changed the name of the sluggish Admiral Torrington to "Admiral Tarry-in-town." Napoleon (who was no man for light jesting) is credited with only a single pun, and that a rather poor one. During his great Italian campaign of 1796-7 he replied to a lady, who wondered to find such a famous man so young, "I am young today, but tomorrow I shall have Milan" (i. e., "mille ans," a thousand years). A much better joke was that made on the great conqueror himself by an Italian countess, who, hearing him say, "All Italians are traitors," replied, pointedly, "Not all of them, but a good part" (Buo-na-parte). Equally neat, and even more grimly significant, was Bismarck's answer to a person who was speculating how much the impending war of 1870 would cost France. "Not much," said the Iron Count; "only two Napoleons." SONGS OF THE NIGHT One of the most remarkable incidents in Scripture is that of Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail. At midnight, as they were fast in the stocks, they sang songs and the wonderful phenomenon of nature occurred. In modern historical times, there are many incidents that illustrate this situation. A Scotch poet, entering into the popular feeling which imagined "a song in the night, as of a holy solemnity," expresses the sentiment: "Hark, from the far hill-taps, And low from the lauersome glen, A sweet psalm-tune, like a late dew, draps Its accents doon the win; But naething on earth can disturb that sang, Not Clavers in a' his pride; For it's raised by the Lord's ain ransomed thrang, Forgathered aboon Kirkbride." This was apropos of the experiences of the covenanters of Scotland and the ruined church of Kirkbride. In the cemetery, near the church, some of those who suffered for their faith are buried. The people fancied they could hear the singing of songs which had been sung on the Moor by worshipping men, fearful of Claverhouse's dragoons, and when the summer wind played round the ruins on a Sabbath evening. They thought. too, they heard the swan's song of dying men on the scaffold, whose awe of God had melted before the love which "casteth out fear." Thus, too, the Huguenots of France were extremely fond of singing songs. Occasionally at night, they would gather round the ruins of their demolished churches, thinking to hear the songs and the music of the Psalms in the air. An act of the Parliament of Pau attests this pious custom. This act which is still in existence as an historical document, forbids the Huguenots to gather by night at their ruined church of Orthez, to listen for the echo of the Psalms. Editorial VACATION The summer months are here which usually bring their full quota of hot weather. This period of the year has come to spell relaxation in the various activities with which we are engaged. It is the time for vacation. It is refreshing, as well as stimulating, to enjoy a respite from active toil which engages the mind and the hand throughout the rest of the year and to experience a complete change of scene and environment. To all of our members who contemplate such a vacation, we heartily wish them God-speed. We pray they may be returned to us strengthened in spirit and body for renewed activities in the Church and in the daily routine of duty. But as we enjoy our vacation away from home, let us not forget our obligations to God in the place where we sojourn. There is a growing tendency, based upon some false ideas, with respect to this, to forget one's accustomed religious habits and neglect the House of God on the Lord's Day. Too many people are making of Sunday a holiday instead of keeping it a holy day, especially when away on a vacation. us not fall into this grievous sin. God sees us, no matter where we may be, and if our heart is with Him it will always find its appropriate expression. Therefore, let us remember Him when away from home this summer.. HONORING ONE'S VOCATION Let it might be, that a member of a learned profession has for his particular vocation. A tinsmith, a tanner or a green grocer can dignify his calling and himself by taking a dignified and honorable attitude toward it, toward himself and toward the world in general. The speaker showed characteristic sound sense and imagination in giving this advice to the City collegians and all graduates may well lay it to heart. Herbert condensed the whole matter into the oftquoted couplet: "Who sweeps a room as for Thy laws Makes that and th' action fine." WAIT Some one says, "They also serve that wait." The spirit of restlessness is one of the characteristics of Americanism. Every one wants to rush things; to be up and doing. This spirit enters into the mind of many young persons in all walks of life. They consider that portion of their lives lost in which they are not actively engaged in the line for which they are fitting themselves, either in the school or merchant house or workshop. Hence their preparatory days hang heavy upon them. They become impatient, and begin to look around to curtail the time of their apprenticeship or preparatory training. They take the cue from the young duck, that as soon as it leaves its shell can swim as well as the mother bird, and not from the eaglet, that must abide its time in its nest until its feathers are grown like its mother before it can circle the sun. The consequence of this spirit of restlessness that drives men and women prematurely into their selected callings and professions is visible on every hand. It is the source of inefficiency, quackery and often of failure. One well equipped for his re(Continued on page 14.) DEAR FRIENDS: Since my last letter I have been traveling almost continuously. I have attended the conventions of Kansas, South Dakota, Iowa, Connecticut, New York, Ohio and Indiana. All of these conventions were more largely attended than those of the previous year. The men, in large numbers, have returned from the ranks, and, I am glad to say, to their Luther League duties. All these conventions have endorsed the new scheme for collecting dues as submitted by the Finance Committee. The Luther League of America has suffered in like manner, as have the synods by its units, waiting until their conventions to send on their moneys to the National Treasurer, whereas the apportionments are due and payable January 1st. In the meantime the treasury of the Luther League of America is empty, and the officials must not only pay their own salaries but their expense accounts as well. Our synods have attempted to overcome this prevailing deficit by urging the churches to introduce the weekly offering envelope and their treasurers to remit monthly to the synodical treasurer. The United Church will push this scheme vigorously in the fall. The Finance Committee of the Luther League of America, to whom are committed all financial arrangements, determined to inaugurate the same scheme. Every State treasurer has received cartons containing twelve envelopes in sufficient quantity for every local League. The per capita apportionment to the Luther League of America is 15 cents; to this is to be added that of the State and the district, and the amount thus obtained sent to the local treasurer with the carton of envelopes, who will remit as follows: For the sake of example, we will say that in New York City this amount is 15 cents for the Luther League of America, 6 cents for the State League and 3 cents for the district League, making 24 cents per annum per member, or 2 cents per month. St. John's League has fifty members, which means that its treasurer would place $1 in an envelope each month and send it to the district treasurer, who would take the amount belonging to the district and forward the balance to the State treasurer, who, in like manner, would take the amount belonging to the State League and send the balance to the Treasurer of the Luther League of America. In this way it would be comparatively easy for the local League to pay its apportionment, and there would be a monthly flow of money into the treasuries of the district, State and national Leagues. Again, it would be a very easy matter for each Leaguer to pay 2 cents per month, and locals would not need to rob their treasuries. If local treasurers who read this have not received their carton of envelopes, write to the State treasurer asking why not. He has them. The scheme is simple, efficient and effective, if worked. Let us have your co-operation. The Executive Committee has established a "Founders' Membership Fund," to which they are soliciting subscriptions of $100, $50 and $20 to liquidate the League's indebtedness. If you want to give yourself the privilege of contributing to this fund, communicate with the chairman, Mr. E. F. Eilert, 318 West 39th Street, New York City. In the interest of conservation, the July and August issues of the REVIEW will be reduced as so many of our Leagues are more or less inactive during the summer. The September issue will be the first to appear under the new editor. It will be of the usual size, but somewhat different in arrangement, all of which will be explained in that issue. Send the writer your suggestions and criticisms and then help to increase the circulation. I am hoping that all my readers will enjoy a pleasant and profitable vacation. Very truly yours, HARRY HODGES, General Secretary. (Continued from editorial page.) spective calling can accomplish more in one year than another ill equipped can in a decade. Moses spent years upon years in the training school before he entered upon his great work. Jesus spent thirty silent years before He entered upon His public ministry, the duration of which was only three years. Let us not rush things before we are fully prepared to rush them. Time is not lost which is spent in the drill room. Let us not leave our nest before our feathers are grown. Let us finish our education completely. Statistics show that of the twenty-five million children in North America, only about thirteen million are receiving any religious education. There are a few of these children within reach of every Sunday school. For patriotic reasons, as well as for the larger spiritual interests, the future citizens must be brought up in the nurture of the Christian Church. In Some of Our Large Cities NEW YORK The Lutheran Summer Assembly, at Hart-. wick Seminary, New York, will be in sessino August 25-30. Good speakers, live lectures and recreation for pastors and workers. Registration fee, $2; board and lodging, $1 per day. -Grace Church, North Tonawanda, though vacant since February 1, has maintained all its regular services. Four members were added at Easter. The offering was $93. The self-denial offering of the Sunday school was $97. The Luther League has provided a new altar and lectern and made changes in the chancel. Electric lights will be installed shortly. PENNSYLVANIA -The Annual Pastors' and Church Workers' Summer School, under the auspices of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania, will be held on the grounds of the Philadelphia Theological Seminary, Mt. Airy, Philadelphia, July 11-18. inquiries should be addressed to the secretary of the committee, Rev. Z. M. Corbe, 3120 North Park avenue, Philadelphia, Pa. All -The reunion will be held on Thursday, July 24, in Pen Mar Park, in the Blue Mountains. -Lutheran Summer Assembly, August 1-8. The following list of subjects will be offered to the constituency of the Lutheran Summer Assembly: Bible study, church music, work for boys and young people, open parliaments, Bible methods, devotional periods, lectures on the program of the United Lutheran Church along missionary and educational lines, missionary methods, Sunday school principles and methods, missionary and inner mission textbooks, sermons, story telling methods and practice. Among the faculty will be the following: C. P. Wiles, D.D., Dr. Anna Kugler, D. Burt Smith, D.D., Miss Jennie Strevig, Mrs. E. C. Cronk, Dr. J. F. Ohl, Rev. C. P. Harry, Professors Singmaster, Clutz, Coover, Alleman, Wentz, etc. The rates have been fixed at $1.50 per day for single room and $1.25 for double room. Preference will be given to those who remain for the entire assembly. Registrations and reservations are to be made through Rev. John H. Meyer, 21 Clendenny avenue, Jersey City, N. J. Programs may be secured through Rev. William C. Ney, secretary, Newport, Pa.; Rev. S. W. Herman, president, Harrisburg, Pa. -A boys' camp under Lutheran auspices will again be conducted at "Camp Artman," Sellersville, Pa., during the month of July. Last year's camp proved successful in every respect, and the location is ideal for this purpose. There is a large lodge for educational and entertainment purposes on the camp grounds, and the best of facilities for boating, swimming, tennis, baseball, hikes and athletics. As last year, the camp will again be conducted by the Rev. Arthur T. Michler, whose experience in this line extends over a number of years, and who can be addressed at 3341 North Eighteenth street, Philadelphia, Pa. The camp will be open to Lutheran boys and their friends, of ten years of age and over. Bible study is a vital and interesting part of the curriculum, which the boys have by no means found irksome, and the discipline of the camp has proved to be both acceptable and highly profitable. MINNESOTA -A joint convention of the Luther League and the Choral Union of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America was held at Red Wing, Minn., May 16 to 18. The slogan of the convention was "Creed and Flag." Duties of young people to both church and state were emphasized and the convention was made patriotic as well as religious. The convention was widely advertised, three columns in one newspaper being used with display type. It is said that that convention brought together the largest number of Lutheran young people of Norse extraction in the history of this country. MINNEAPOLIS -Redeemer Luther League held their annual meeting May 16. The following officers were elected: President, Carl A. Carlson; vice-president, Anna Walters; secretary, Hilder Johnson; treasurer, Raymond Lundquist. The church was represented with thirty-four men in the service and one lady in the Red Cross. Seventeen of the men have returned as well as the young lady in the Red Cross. The League was somewhat crippled on account of so many of their men going into the service, but with the men back the League is gradually gaining its former strength. The League lost one man in the service, Norman Gilkey, who was killed at Chateau Thierry. SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA -The Lutheran young, people of the San Francisco Bay cities met in St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Oakland, on May 23. A temporary organization was formed looking to the permanent organization of a district Luther League at a convention in October. Rev. E. A. Trabert, of St. Michael's Church, Berkeley, is chairman, and Miss Pauline Hillerman, of the class of '19, University of California, is secretary. Rev. O. H. Gruver, D.D., is chairman of the committee on nominations and convention program for the coming October. -Mr. Oliver D. Holman, who recently died in New York, had been a member of the Church of the Epiphany for over thirty years and was one of the organizers of the Lutheran Society of New York City and also of the Luther League of New York City. Luther League Supplies THE PRIZE WINNER, Luther League Topics "These are the best topics ever issued for use at young people's devotional meetings. The Lessons are arranged in accordance with the general plan of the Church Year. They are Biblical and Doctrinal, Historical and Missionary and contain appropriate Daily Bible Readings, Scripture references and illustrative suggestions. They are largely used and deserve to be adopted by every Lutheran Young People's Society." Issued Quarterly as a 32-page Pamphlet in December, March, June and September Each quarterly number ready on the 15th of the month preceding. 100 copies 1 year..$7.00 75 copies 1 year.. 6.00 50 copies 1 year.. 4.00 25 copies 1 year.. 2.00 100 copies 1 quarter..$2.50 75 copies 1 quarter.. 2.00 50 copies 1 quarter.. 1.50 25 copies 1 quarter.. One copy 1 year........25 cents Luther League Reading Courses Adopted by the Luther League of America .75 These books ought to be in the library of every Lutheran Sunday School and Young People's Society. They can easily be secured, as will be noted below: Quadri-Centennial Course Life of Luther, Dr. Wm. Rein; The Truth of the Apostles' Creed: Lutheran Manual; History of the Reformation, Peters; Praying and Working; Schoenberg Cotta Family, or choice of Friar of Wittenberg, Knight in Grey, or Blind Girl of Wittenberg. The first five books and one of the last four will pe sent by express or parcel post prepaid for $4.00. Or we will give these six books as a premium on receipt of $12.50 for 25 new subscriptions to the LUTHER LEAGUE REVIEW, Supplemental Reading Course Life of Luther, Wackernagel, $1.50; Life of Melanchthon. Stump. $1.25; Reformation Dawn, Painter, 50 cents; Ecclesia Lutherana, Seiss, $1.00; Katherine Von Bora, Endelich, $1.00; Gustavus Adolphus, Monroe, 50 cents; The Explanation of the Common Service, 75 cents; Way of Salvation, Gerberding, $1.00; Elements of Religion, Jacobs, $1.25; Lutheran Foreign Missions, Lauray, $1.25; Sacred Meditations, Gerhard, $1.00. We will send any of these books postpaid on receipt of price quoted, or on receipt of $5.00 for 10 new subscriptions to the UTHER LEAGUE REVIEW will send any choice of $2.00 worth of books as a premium. Junior Reformation Celebration Reading Course Martin of Mansfield, Seebach; Lutheran Landmarks, Finck; The Schoolmaster and Son, Caspari, These three valuable books for the Juniors will be sent postpaid on receipt of $2.00. Luther League Hymnal A Book with Lutheran Music, for Lutheran Young People's Societies Contains 250 well selected hymns set to bright. singable music, and the Opening and Closing Services for League meetings. The Hymnal has been adopted by State, Local and Individual Leagues and Societies in every part of our country. The hymns and tunes are among the best to be had. Bound in Cloth, with music, postpaid 60 cents 20 cents .$1.10 .60 .00 Watch Charms with Emblems both sides, Rolled Gold With Hanger, 50 cents extra. Watch Charms, with Emblems both sides, Solid Gold 6.00 3.50 Maltese Cross or Star Shape. LUTHER LEAGUE REVIEW, UPHELD BY QUALITY STIEFF Quality is built in every section of this remarkable piano. Also pianos of other makes to suit the most economical. Convenient terms. Write for illustrated catalogue and book of suggestion. Rev. John A. W. Haas, D. D., President Susquehanna University Beautifully located on the West bank of the Susquehanna River, at Selinsgrove, Pa. Strong faculty. Excellent buildings, with al modern conveniences. The Academy-four years' preparatory course. The College of Liberal Arts-leading t Bachelor degrees. The Conservatory of Music -leading to Mus. F Special Teachers' Course during Spring and Summer terms. The School of Business-diploma at graduation CHARLES T. AIKENS, D.D., President W. T. HORTON. Registrar, Selingsgrove, Penn. |