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THE CHRISTIAN NATION.
Vol. Si.
A r o u n d t h e O l d A r m C h a i r . i^;t^^:':J^:nr::::
A BROTHER.
'Tis good indeed to meet with friends
Who're true and faithiul in their
place;
But truly life has many ends
And for each life there is a race.
Oh oft as we go on life's way,
VCe feel the need of some one near
To share the burden of the day.
Be it toil or grief, be it hope or fear.
We look around to see if there
Is one in whom we can confide.
We seek for one who's glad to share,
Who's willing to be on our side.
Oh, is there one can he so near
Who'll help us when there is no other?
Oh, such a one would be so dear
We'd feel lie truly is our brother.
construction
that it is absolutely
beyond the ingenuity of man to
imitate tbem. A complete description
of feathers would occupy
many pages, but we can grasp in
a way the wonder of God's handiwork
by a sborit study of their
growth and structure.
Beginning with the young bird
£.s it is hatched from the egg we
find that scanty tufts of down cover
its ^od_\•.
Some birds at their
birtli are more completely covered
with this d'jwn than others—the
higl^er tlie species in the scale the
less down willl be found. This
first silky down of the nestling
bird grows
from a thin layer of
cells, the base of which is deeply
rooted in the under layer of
ing thebodj.
In observing the structure of a
the bird's skin. The skin of birds
feather we are at once impressed
is extremely thin—in some cases
with its strength, elasticity and
almost like tissue paper—and yet lightness. Each feather is com­
of feathers within feathers.
it has three layers and is of suf-poseficielnt
strength! to aEow all tbe Each quill has two rows of barbs
hundreds of feathers to find a which form the vane of the feather.
The barbs are divided into
separate surface for attaching
two rows of barbules, and these
themselves. The cells from which
again give rise to a series of
the down grows gradually reach
hooks or barbicels. Each, feather
outward, split into folds which
with all its parts is composed of
separate and which, after emerging
from the skin, harden into the ers overlap like the shingles on a
myriads of cells. The wing feath­
many little particles which are roof—each feather serving to bind
together the feathers above and
knovru as "down."
below it. This makes the wing
At the base of tbe protuberance
impervious to air and gives it the
which gives rise to the down of
Yes, one there is can help us all;
proper wind resistance to enable
He's glad to be our truest friend. the nestling is a round body of the bird to fly. It may be said
Yes, He will hear us when we call, cells which is inactive until the that feathers are construoted of
And faithful be until the end.
bird is old enough for -its true minute plates which are split up
into hundreds of thousands of
Oh Jesus, Savior! give us grace feathers. These cells then grow
That we may help the one, the other!
parts. These plates are so formed
as to give the feather lightness,
and push the base of the down
On earth I seek no higher place
Than just like Thee to be a Brother. feathers outward until they are
strength and elasticity and are
Geneva, '14. B. W. finally shoved free from the skin. joined together by a series of
In this way the nestling's first hooks extremely delicate in their
THE FEATHERS OF BIRDS. plumage is replaced by its true make-up.
By R. H. Howland.
feathers. These feathers, upon Every feather and its parts has
A bird's feather is one of the emerging from the skin, are
a special shape and texture—all
seeming to have a particular relationship
to adjoining feathers on
most marvelous pieces of mechanism
in the world. So wonderful is sheaths. It is this that gives a
bound up in a thin tissue of
the bird's body, and all the feathers
together forming a special pat­
its growth and so beautiful its young bird such a peculiar and
structure and color that it almost grotesque appearance which we tern. All this wonderful growth
seems as if the Great Moulder of have all noticed at a certain period
in its development. These anew each year. Birds shed or
of cell construdtion is reproduced
all Nature's] marvels bad pi^t a
soul in each part. So complicated
moult their plumage at least once
folds of growing feathers gradual-
annually—generally shortly after
and intricate are feathers in their
r
G o o d
Looks
As far as outline of feature is concerned, ed, good looks |
are a birthright gift of nature. But it takes more than outline
to realize what is understood by "o^ood looks" and ''beauty. "
There must also be the radiant, animating influence of
a fine skin and a lovely complexion. This can only be attained
by keeping the skin in a condition of perfect health
and purity; and the best known means is the daily use of
Pears' Soap
which is the quintessence of purity and the finest skin
beautifier in the world It affords just the aid that nature
requ-ires in making and keeping the skin soft, velvety, and
of a lovely color.
Pears' preserves the healthy freshness of the skin from
youth to age, and is the most economical of all toilet soaps
lasting twice as long as ordinary soaps. Commended by
the famous beauties of six generations.
First ill the Service of Beauty
the breeding season is over. Sonii
species moult both in the spring
and auturnn, otbers moult onl'
partially in the spring as well a;
moulting fully in the autumn
while still others seem to be in ;
constant state of moult throughou
the year. Feathers become won
and soiled and broken, the feathe:
cells become worn out owing t(
the waste of tissues, and moultinj
results. Fresh material which carries
away the useless and wornout
cells is brought to the root ol
the featJier by the blood, the tips
of the feather gradually weai
away and the new feather is left
exposed. Nature seems tq) provide
for everything. A bird's wing
feathers are shed in pairs with
the result that the bird is not incapacitated
in its flightduring the
process of moulting, and but for
few exceptions, moulting is always
gradual and does not in any way
hamper or interfere with the bird
and its habits.
As much again might be wriitter
of feather coloring, but tbis would
necessitate considerable discussior
of individual species, and the subject
of color in itself is a raosi
complicated one. One at all interested
in the study of birds cannolt
help but be impressed by al
the varied colors and markings t(
be found—birds of all colors—al
ways beautiful and wonderful th(,
world over.
IN MEMORIAM.
MISS ESTELLE SLATER.
The Young Ladies' Missionary So,
ciety ot Gene\'n Congregation, in thi
death of Estelle Slater, has lost i
faithful president and one of our mos:
earnest members.
i
Her guiet, cheerful disposition iani,
her sincere interest in the welfare o
all, and her willingness to helpii
every good work, bear testimony o
ner nigli Christian character. Jiivei
when near to death, her thoughts wen
of the Master's work in different de^
partments of the church.
Since the removal of such a devotei
life leaves a vacancy that will tn.
deeply realized by the members of th<
missionary society, we feel it eminent
ly fitting that we should record ou:
appreciation of her faithful and lovinjj
service; therefore, be it
Resolved, That whle we mourn, ye
we rejoice in the thought and assui
ance that she has gone to be foreve
with the Lord.
While we have deep sympathy fo
her mother and friends, yet we knos
that even so great a loss to us ai
may be overruled for good by Hir
who dGcth all things well.
COMMlTTEiE.