Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1863-01-23
OLD SERIES,
A Living Death.


IL sometimes happens on certain coasts Of
Brittany or Scotland that a nan. traveller
OF fisherman. walking on the beach At low
tide far from the bank. suddenly notices
shai for several minutes he has been walk
ing with much difficulty. The strand be-
meath his Zee, Is Ike pitch; il is glue. The
beach Is perfectly dry. bat az every step he
takes. a. soon as he lifts his foot, the print
which Il leaves 6lls with water. The eve.
however has nOticed no change; the i'm
mense strand Is smooth and Tranquil. all the
sand has the same appearance; nothing
distinguishes the surface which j. no longer
80; the JOYOUS little cloud Of sand aeas con-
tinue 10 leap tumultuously over the wayfar-
er's feet. The man Pursues his way. goss
forward. inclines toward the land. endeas-
or 20 get nearer the upland.
lie Is not anxious. Anxious about whats
Only be feels somehow a. II the weight Of
his feet increased Al every step which be
takes. lie sinks in two or three inches.
Decidedly b. is not on the right road be
stops % take his bearings. All AZ once be
looks AZ his feet. His feet have disappear
ed. The sand covers them. lie draws his
feet cut 81 the sand. be will retrace has
steps BE- turns back. be sinks ia deeper.
The sand comes up 90 his ankles. be pulls
himself ont and throws himself 20 the left
the sand is hall leg deep; he thro.s him
self % the right. the sand comes UP 10 bis
Sims. Then be recognizes. with unspeak-
able terror. that h. j. caught in the quick
sand. and that BE- has beneath him the fear
ful medium in which man can no more walk
than the fish can swim. lie throws Of his
load II he has one he lightens himself Ike
shiP IN distress; il j. already too late.
the sand Is above his knees.
lie calls. he waves b. hat or his hand
kerchief. the sand gains on him more and
more; II the beach j. deserted. II the land
is too far of. II the sand bank Is q too IN
rcpute, II there Is no hero in sight. Il is All
over-he is condemned 20 enlistment. he IL
condemned 10 that appalling internent.
long. iufaliible. implaeable. impossible 10
slacken or % hasten. which endares for
hours, which viii not end. which seizes you
erect, free and in full health. which draws
you by the feet. which AZ every effort that
YOU attempt, AZ every shout that you utter.
drass you little deeper. which appears %
punish you for your resistance by reJoub-
ling 81 is grasp which SINKS the man slow
~ into the earth. while "a leaves him al the
time 10 look At the horizon. the trees. the
green fields. the smoke Of the village IN the
plain. the sails Of the ships upon the sea.
the birds hyins and singing. the sunshine.
the ky. Each minute Is an inexorabIe en-
-hroudress
The victim attempts 20 so down. 20 lie
down, 90 creep; every movement he makes
inters him; be straigh;cns up. b. howIs.
implores. cries 90 the clouds. wrinrs his
hands. despairs. Bcholds his waist deep
in the sand The sands reach his breast. BE-
y now only a bust. He rises his arms. Mt
tiers furious groans. :. clutches the beach with
his mails. would hold by that straw. leans
upon bis elbows. % pull himself out. sobs
frenzicdly; the sand rises The sand
reaches his -s-oi-icrs; The sand reaches his
meek the face alone j. visible now. The
mouth cries. the sand Ills it; silence. The
eyes stili gaze. the sand shuts them. night.
Then thc forehead decreases. a little hair
futicrs above the sand. hand protrudes.
comes through The surface of thc beach.
moves ani shakes. disappears. Sinister
efacemeut of man. Victor Hugo