Certain pictures of Rubens are of "the earth, earthy." In painting them, the artist seems to have had no thought save of the flesh tints. The mood and soul of Rubens' Venus was nothing--her body everything. Here, beauty is only color deep. Paint is everything--spirit nothing. But with the great artists in their greatest moods, paint is at best only an incident, and for the soul aspirations and ideals as seen in vision hours are everything. Hope, faith, love, joy, peace, sympathy, self-sacrifice, humility--spiritual qualities these, that shine through the face, and transform the life. LIFE'S CROWNING PERFECTION. Culture can do much, but art, music, books, and travel have their limitations. When that brave boy returned from battling with the Black Prince, the tenants gathered before his father's castle and presented him tokens of love and honor. The farmer brought a golden sheaf, the husbandman brought a ripe cluster and a bough of fruit, the goldsmith offered a ring, the printer gave a rare book, while children strewed flowers in the way. But last of all his father gave the youth the title deeds of his inheritance and lent him name and power. Not otherwise the soul enters the scene like a conqueror to whom gifts are offered. The library offers a book. The lecture hall offers learning. The gallery offers a picture. Travel offers experience. But the fine arts, wisdom and culture cannot do everything. Culture can beautify the life, lend refinement to reason, lend wings to imagination. But God, the soul's father, alone can crown life with richness and influence. The secret of strength and beauty is hidden with Jesus Christ. What the great thinkers and seers can do for the intellect, what the poets can do for imagination, what the heroes can do for aspiration and purpose, that and a thousand fold more the Christ can do for the soul's life. He alone has mastered the science of right living. He only can teach the art of character building. He can lend reason true wisdom. He can lend taste true refinement. He can make conscience clear, and will invincible. Freeing the soul from sin, He can crown it with supreme beauty. He can make life a song, and the soul career a symphony. Newell Dwight Hillis GREAT BOOKS AS LIFE-TEACHERS Studies of Character, Real and Ideal. 12mo, cloth, gilt top, $1.50. _Fifteenth Edition_ A MAN'S VALUE TO SOCIETY Studies in Self-culture and Character. 16mo, cloth, gilt top, $1.25. _Ninth Edition_ THE INVESTMENT OF INFLUENCE A Study of Social Sympathy and Service. Uniform with "A Man's Value to Society," $1.25. RIGHT LIVING AS A FINE ART A Study of the Ideal Character, based upon Channing's "Symphony of Life." 12mo, decorated boards, 35 cents, net. _Little Book Series_ FORETOKENS OF IMMORTALITY Studies for the Hour when the Immortal Hope Burns Low in the Heart. Long 16mo, decorated cloth, 50 cents. _Quiet Hour Series_ HOW THE INNER LIGHT FAILED