shadow, a memory. Retribution may not come suddenly, but it will come.—W. L. Watkinson, "The Transfigured Sackcloth."
(2767)
Retribution, Just—See Responsibility Evaded.
RETRIBUTION, THE LAW OF
For centuries did the kings and nobles of
France oppress the peasantry. It is impossible
for us to think adequately of the
vast, hopeless wretchedness of the people
from the cradle to the grave. When Louis
XVI came to the throne it seemed incredible
that the long-suffering people would ever
avenge themselves upon the powerful classes
by whom they were ground to the dust, and
yet by a marvelous series of events the
"wounded men" arose in awful wrath, burning
palaces with fire and trampling greatness
under foot. "Pierced through" were
those hungry, hopeless millions; but the day
of doom came, and every bleeding wretch
arose invincible with torch and sword.—W.
L. Watkinson, "The Transfigured Sackcloth."
(2768)
RETRIEVED SITUATION, A
When Senator Hanna was walking
through his factory in Cleveland some years
ago, says The National Magazine, on the
lookout for new ideas, or anything which
would aid the progress of business, he over-*heard
a little red-headed lad remark:
"Wish I had old Hanna's money, and he was in the poorhouse."
The Senator returned to his office and rang to have the boy sent to him. The boy came to the office timidly, just a bit conscience-stricken, wondering if his remark had been overheard and ready for the penalty. As the lad twisted his hands and nervously stood on one foot before the gaze of those twinkling dark eyes fixt on him by the man at the desk, he felt the hand of Uncle Mark on his shoulder.
"So you wish you had old Hanna's money, and he was in the poorhouse, eh? Suppose your wish should be granted, what would you do?"
"Why," stammered the lad, "the first thing I would do, sir, would be to get you out of the poorhouse."
The Senator laughed and sent the boy back to his work. To-day he is one of the managers of a large factory, but he never tires of telling the story that held his first job.
(2769)
Retrogression—See Down Grade, The.
RETROSPECT
We all know what distance does. Standing
on the floor of a cathedral in St. Petersburg,
the loud conversation of the multitudes
surging in and out seems to roar in the ear.
But standing in the tiny dome, three hundred
feet above, all the harshness is strained out
and the sounds become song. Those who
dwell inland know how the trees strain out
the roughness, and the surge and the roar of
the waves turn to music, falling on the fluted
tree-tops. Near at hand the frescoes in the
cathedral dome are blotches of blue and red;
from the floor beneath they melt into the
most exquisite tints, and shaded lines proclaim
the genius of an artist. For the architect
planned that dome to be seen from afar,
and God plans the events of childhood and
youth to be surveyed from the summit of
maturity.—N. D. Hillis.
(2770)
Reunion—See Future Reunion.
Revealing Stolen Property—See Exposure.
Revelation—See Utterance.
Revenge—See Anger, Futile.
REVENGE, A CHRISTIAN'S
A bed in the Bannu mission hospital in
India is known as "The Christian's Revenge."
It is supported by a sister of Captain Conolly,
who was cruelly murdered by order of the
Ameer of Bokhara after long incarceration
and many tortures, because he refused to
become a Mussulman. She endowed this
bed twenty-one years after the captain's
death, when a full account of his sufferings,
written by his own hand in prison, came unexpectedly
to light, a little prayer-book containing
the record coming into the hands of
his relatives.
That bed is an object-lesson to the
inmates and visitors of the hospital,
teaching the gentle and forgiving spirit
that the gospel of Jesus ever breathes
and inculcates.
(2771)
REVERENCE FOR PARENTS
The family of Jonathan Edwards consisted
of three sons and eight daughters. It is
said that when Mr. Edwards and his wife
