function spacer(pos) {
            // Simple routine to generate spaces
            var space = "";
            for (var i = 0; i < pos; i++) 
               space += " ";
            return space;
         }

         function scrollStatus() {
            // Verify that there is a message to scroll.
            if (null != message) {
               with (message) {
                  // Restart message.
                  if (position < -text.length)
                     position = maxSpace;
                  // Scroll words off left edge.
                  if (position < 0) {
                  position--;
                     window.status = text.substring(-position);
                  }
                  else {
                  // Output preliminary spaces.
                  window.status = spacer(position--) + text;
                  }
               }
            }
         }

         function initMessage() {
         // Constructor for message object
         // Message to display is a required argument.
         this.text = document.body.getAttribute("message");
         // The speed is optional.
         if (null != arguments[0])
            this.speed = arguments[0];
         else
            this.speed = 10;
         // Initial number of prefix spaces
         this.maxSpace = 130;
         this.position = maxSpace;
         // Start timer.
         this.timer = setInterval("scrollStatus()", this.speed);
         return this;
         }