has made the
world's burden lighter, and its darkness less dense, and its chain
less galling, and its thrones of iniquity less secure. Farewell,
patriot, genius of the century, Victor Hugo! But he was not the
overtowering friend of mankind.

The greatest friend of capitalist and toiler, and the one who will yet
bring them together in complete accord, was born one Christmas night
while the curtains of heaven swung, stirred by the wings angelic.
Owner of all things--all the continents, all worlds, and all the
islands of light. Capitalist of immensity, crossing over to our
condition. Coming into our world, not by gate of palace, but by door
of barn. Spending His first night amid the shepherds. Gathering after
around Him the fishermen to be His chief attendants. With adze, and
saw, and chisel, and ax, and in a carpenter-shop showing himself
brother with the tradesmen. Owner of all things, and yet on a hillock
back of Jerusalem one day resigning everything for others, keeping not
so much as a shekel to pay for His obsequies, by charity buried in the
suburbs of a city that had cast Him out. Before the cross of such a
capitalist, and such a carpenter, all men can afford to shake hands
and worship. Here is the every man's Christ. None so high, but He was
higher. None so poor, but He was poorer. At His feet the hostile
extremes will yet renounce their animosities, and countenances which
have glowered with the prejudices and revenge of centuries shall
brighten with the smile of heaven as He commands: "Whatsoever ye would
that men should do to you, do ye even so to them."

DESPOTISM OF THE NEEDLE.

"So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are
done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were
oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their
oppressors there was power; but they had no
comforter."--ECCLES. iv: 1.

Very long ago the needle was busy. It was considered honorable for
women to toil in olden time. Alexander the Great stood in his palace
showing garments made by his own mother. The finest tapestries at
Bayeux were made by the queen of William the Conqueror. Augustus, the
Emperor, would not wear any garments except those that were fashioned
by some member of his royal family. So let the toiler everywhere be
respected!

The needle has slain more than the sword. When the sewing-machine was
invented some thought that invention would alleviate woman's toil an