Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-10-24
A Living Death.


Itsomeumes happens on certain coasts of Brit
tany or Scotland, that man, traveller or fisher
man, walking ON the beach at low tide far from
the bank, suddenly notices that for several min
utes he has been walking with some difficulty
The strand beneath his feet is like pitch his soes
stick to it, il is sand no longer; it is glue The
beach is perfectly dry. but every step he takes,
as soon as he lifts his foot, the print which it
leaves fills with water The eve, however has
noticed no change; the immense strand is smooth
and tranquil all the sand has the same appear
ance nothing distinguishes the surface which is
solid from the surface which is no longer so; the
JOYOUS little cloud of sand deas continue To leap
unanimously over the wayiarers feet. The man
pursues ms way, goes forward, incines toward
the land, endeavOrs Ia get nearer the upland. lie
is not anxious. Anxious about whatI Only, he
feels somehow II the weight OF bis feet increas
ed with every step which he takes. Suddenly he
sinks in. He SINKS IN two OF three inches. DE
cidedy he is not on the right road he stops to
take his bearings. All ut once he looks at his
feet His feet have disappeared. The sand
covers them. He draws his feet out of the sand,
he will retrace his steps, he turns back, he sinks
la deeper The sand comes up 10 his ankles, he
pulls himself out and throws himself To the left;
the sand Is halt lee deep ne throws himself to the
right the sand comes up 10 his shnS. Then he
recognizes with unspeakable terror that he Is
cau.h mt in the quicks and. and then ne has beneath
him the fearful medium IN which man can no
more walk than the fish can swim. He throws
off his load ii he has one; he lightens himself
like ship in distress: it is already too late, the
sand is above his knees.
tie call he waves his hat or his handkerchief,
the sand gains on him more and more; II the
beach Is deserted it the laad is lar OFT, il the
sand bank is of too i'll repute. ii there Is no hero
III sight, i Is all over. he Is condemned to enlze-
ment. He is condemned 10 that appalling inter
ment, long. iniallible. lmplacable. impossible to
slacken or 10 hasten, which encures for hours,
which will not end. which SEXES YOU erect, free
and ia lull health. which draws You by the feet,
which. az every effort that YOU attempt, at every
shout that YOU utter, drags you little deeper,
which appears 10 punish YOU for your resistance
10y rebuilding of its grasp, which sinks the
man slowly into the earth while II leaves him
all the time TO look at the horizon, the trees
the green helds. the smoke OF the village in the
plain the sails OF the ships upon the sea- the
birds flying and singing. the sunshine, the sky
Enlizement Is the grave become a tide and rising
from the depths OF the earth toward living
Each minute j. memorable eushroud
reSs. The victim attempts to sit down. 10 liz
down. to creep; every movement he makes inter:
him; he STRAIT CITIZENS up. he sinks in; he feels thai
he Is beng swallowed Cp; he howls, implores
cries TO the clouds. wrings his hands, despairs
Behold him waist deep ia the sand; the SAND
reaches hs breast, he i now only bust II,
raises his arms. utters furious groans, CLUTCHES
the beach with his nails. would hold by that
leans upon his elbows TO pull himself out of hi,
soft sheath. Sobs freuzedly; the sand rises. Tn,
sand reaches his shoulders. the sand reaches hi,
neck: the face alone Is visible now. The mouth
cries the sand fills il; silence. The ewes still
gaze. the sand shuts them, night Then the
forehead decrease little hair hutters above th'
sand hand pro,rudes, comes through the sur
face of the beach. moves and shakes. and disap
pears Sinister effaeement OF msn.-lteto
Hugo.