The Parable of the Camels

(Editor's Note-If you don't read anything else in this issue, read this. It is so true and so human.)

We sojourned in Egypt, I and Keturah, and we rode on donkeys, and also on camels. Now, of all the beasts that ever were made, the camel is the most ungainly and preposterous, and also the most picturesque. And he taketh himself very seriously.

And we beheld a string of five camels that belonged in one caravan, aqd they were tethered every one to the camel in front of him. But the foremost of the camels had on a halter that was tied to the saddle of a donkey.

And I spake unto the man of Arabia who had the camels, and inquired of him how he managed it.

And he said, each camel followeth the one in front and asketh no questions. And I come after, and prod up the last camel.

And I said, doth not the first camel consider that there is no other camel in front of him, but only an ass?

And he answered, Nay, for the first camel is blind, and knoweth only that there is a pull at his halter. And every other camel followeth as he is led, and I prod up the hindermost one.

And I inquired, how about the donkey?

And he said, The donkey is too stupid to do anything but keep straight on, and he hath been ofte4 over the road.

And I said unto Keturah, Behold a picture of human life. For on this fashion have the processions of the ages largely been formed. For there be few men who ask otherwise than how the next in front is going, and they blindly follow, each in the track of those who have gone before.

And Keturah said, But how about the leader?

And I said, That is the profoundest secret of history; for often he who seemed to be the leader was really behind the whole procession, and at the head was nothing more sensible than a donkey.

The fools make the fashions, and wise men follow them.

For so long as the world is content with the kind of leadership that now doth guide the fashions in clothes, politics and such like, the donkey will not lack for occupation.-

(From "Safed and Sage.")

DID YOU?

Did you give him a lift? He's a brother of man, lnd bearing about all the burden he can. Did you give him a smile? fle was downcast and blue, And the smile would have helped him to battle it through. Did yorr give him your hand? He was slipping downhill, And the world, so I fancied, was using him ill. Did you give him a word? Did you show him the road? Or did you just let him go on with his load?

-By W. J. Foley.

Best By Test

The English Class of Chubbtown colored school had to write an essay on "The Most Useful Animal."

Roosevelt Cheek's essay read as follows:

"De mos' usefullest animal dar is is de chickens, fur yo' can cotch dem wid de leastest ob troubles on de darkest ob de nights, an' dey kin be et bof befo' dey is bawn an' afteh dey is daid."

Seven Mistakes Of Life

The delusion that individual advancement is made by crushing others down.

The tendency to worry about things that cannot be helped.

Insisting that things are impossible because we can't do them.

Wanting to force others to live and think as we do.

Neglecting to read fine literature and thereby dodging refinement of the mind.

Letting trivial things in life stand in the way of doing important things.

Failure to establish the habit of saving.

Looked Like The Real Thing

Nearly every hour of the twenty-four a fresh breeze blows through Jacksonyille, Florida, carrying in its teeth an invisible film of sand.

Johnny Marshal beautified his fivver one day, varnishing it from bumper to tail light. Wishing to use it the next day he decided to leave it out of the garage all night so that it would dry faster.

Bright and early the next morning the old negro who works or\ the place appeared in the house.

"Yo' sho' done one fine job on dat cah, Mista' Johnny," he said fatteringly to the youngster.

"Looks good, does it?" Johnny asked, beamingly.

"Good?" the old boy exclaimed. "Ah ain't evah saw a mo' talented job o' stucco nowhah."

(Continued from Page 49.)

"The State has long recognized the principle of exemption from taxation of the growing trees on orchard and farm. California receives a heavy wealth contribution from her forests, and under the operition of this law, if carried at the coming election, will put herself in the forefront of all the great lumber States in measures of intelligent reforestation.

- In order to arrest the gradual destruction of the forests and to encourage the companies owning them to replant, such a law as this is necessary.

.Instances of the value of this law are furnished by the Pacific Redwood Company and the Union Lumber Company, which, in the hope of this law being approved by the voters, have planted this year two trees for every one cut, and its passage means that our forest area will be conserved for future generations.

A far-seeing policy dealing justly with a greatly burdened indust'ry ippeals to all thinking citizens to lend their influence to the adoption of this wholly desirable legislation. Forests for tomorrow we must have and we can only have them as intelligent, just laws open the way.

Every citizen of California should bb instructed in this vital proposal and its result. And the press of the State are urged to give the subject the favorable publicity- required tolnable-our people to give their approval by their vote to this enactrnenf whictr will make further reforestation possible."

Tree Planting In Los Angeles

The club also considered the subject of tree planting in Los Angeles and adopted the following_ resolution, which was to 6e sent to the Mayor and City Planning Commission and to the press:

"No feature in ttrls rapidly expanding city of the Southland excites more adverse comment from visitors than that existing in the marked lack of shade trees' In the most clelightful climate in the United States, with every element favoring arboriculture and the rapid growtk of the widesG varietv of beautiful shade trees. wt have shown lamentabld" failure to obtain the artistic and scenic beauty and comfort of trees for shade.

"We wonder whether there is a single great modern city in the world so devoid of the beauty bf trees as this city. This is a reproach which it is in ouf power to rqmedy.

"Over large sections of the more recently built up part of the city trees are a rarity and flower and shrub cannot make up for their lack. Mistaken notions of improvement have even destroyed much of the arboreal beauty developed by preceding generations, and trees of untold value and beauty have been destroyed, to make room for so-called improvements.

"No other single thing can aid so markedly to the charm of a city as the planting of trees. Sacramento, Fresno and Chico are marked examples of the results of wise treeplanting.

"The building at this time of new wide traffic arteries affords great opportunity to remedy the fault. Not only should wires be conduited along these arteries but treesnot palmettos or palms-real shade trees should be planted. And in place of sunbaked stretches of cement leave to our childrerr avenues of shaded beauty that will afford comfort and charm to the traffic that increasingly crowds the highways. No better additional inducement could be offered to our tourists to tarry longer than that of a tree-beautified city where the varied architecture of our residence districts might be unified and the contrasts softened into charm and harmony.

"We urge our honorable Mayor and the City Planning Commission to take immediate steps looking to a comprehensive plan of tree-planting, and we urge all civic bodies in the cily to pass similar resolutions and aid in every effort to stop the further destruction of trees within our borders."