No flocks that roam the valley free, To slaughter I condemn, Taught by the power that pities me, I learn to pity them. --Goldsmith. * * * * * In religion, what damned error but some sober brow will bless it and approve it with a text, hiding the grossness with fair ornament. --Shakespeare. * * * * * The untold suffering the human family sanctions through a wrong conception of what is right, should make every Christian heart ache. --Platt. * * * * * When men go hunting (to kill) they call it sport but when the hunted animal (perhaps wounded) turns to fight for its life, they call _that_ ferocity.--Shaw. * * * * * Let all creatures live, as we desire to live. --Tolstoy. [Illustration: Decorative Border] THE RELIGION OF BUDDHA. (An Idea from "Light of Asia.") 'Twere good to be humane to the helpless beast; Better than to deplore the sins of the world With priests who pray for mankind, And yet have no mercy on God's dumb creatures-- "They pray for mercy Whilst they themselves are merciless." --Kusel. [Illustration: Decorative Border] Humanitarian Philosophy By Emil Edward Kusel No doubt some of the conscience-stricken readers will brand the author of the sentiments herein as an extremist rather than a humane enthusiast, but bethink yourself it is far better to be "an extremist" on a logical, noble basis than to be inconsistent under false pretense. * * * * * The author is presenting truths from an absolutely rational standpoint standing firmly on a real philosophical basis that cannot be overthrown by a cyclone of protests from the "religious" flesh-eating faction. The idea is to show that man, when he gets "right with God," drifts away from the customs of ancient times and reasons from the Golden Rule foundation which is consistent with a higher life and makes him religiously humane as well as "pious." * * * * * You may allow your quasi-religious principle to prevail against reason; you may pout and cry against the Humanitarian's noble philosophy; you may dream of the imps of hell awaiting his quietus; you may consult your Bible to bless your inhumanity and yet mercy for our dumb fellow-creatures is unselfish, pure and gentle, resultant from a proper conception of man's superiority and his God. If a man's religion is pure and good and undefiled it would be wrong to present facts to blast his belief (be it ever so superstitious); however, when he insists upon inhumanity toward any sentient creature, he should be severely criticised. * * * * *