The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-01-10
Tickets for Heaven.

In these days OF cheap travelling ana
excursions, it would seem to be only
appropriate that those who desire to go
to heaven cheaply-aDd who does not
might be furnished with means there
to. There are consequently in Paris
and elsewhere small packets of cards
DC in each pack) purporting 20 be "tick-
cts for heaven" They serve as hand |
books to guide the steps of anxious
pilgrims Of every name and cline. The
following will illustrate the style aud
character of these ''billcts dentree pour
lie CELL" They are published by Ponti-
fical authority. No. represents (by an
engraving) the mode of getting to
heaven Gin gondola," which from its
tranquil and peaceful mode of progress
sion is represented To be especially suit
able for saints. No. 2 is ''in u palan-
ouiu," carried by two sprightly mules, for
which obedience and holy confidence
are necessary" No. 3. is ION an ass, by
little steps and slow, but always stead
ily," an angel holding the bride. The
4th is, curiously enough, by railway;
an angel is the engine driver, and
broad-hatted priest is the stoker, while,
behind are number of third-class car
riases crowded with pilgrims. This is
the "iron road of self-abncgation and
sacrifice" The 5th is by way of ''all
fonrs," and the pilgrim, cross in hand,
crawls by difficult paths mp the noun
tain side. No. is by night on foot,
"when in solitude and darkness the soul
wends its way onwards.' No. is lin a
cart" No. is 'on plank" on the
singing waters, surrounded by ice
bergs, but No. Q is very char
acteristic enc in which the soul
is being carried son the shoulders
of the charitable;' the double sisnihca-
ton Of this, as at once procuring admis-
sion for those who receive charity and
for those who afford it, is obvious. No
10 is ain the barge" or common and or
binary road suitable for the many who
are unable to distinguish themselves
otherwise than by their fidelity. The
next is "by ladder" and shows how
"heaven is taken by storm and with a
holy violence" and thus the goal is
speedily reached. No. - is "by swim
ming" a way in which ''there is no rest,
and where earth is left behind and SEN
tirely abandoned" This of course in
dictates monastic life. No. 13 is ION n
litter borne by angels, as the text be-
low says "a miserable and lowly mode
which requires humility even while, it
confers consolation: one must be badly
wounded or very courageous to choose
it," No. IA is "by the ford" and much
resembles the last passage across the
waters of death in Bunyan's famous al
legory. No. Is is upon o raft, and
deposits the soul with no solid sup
port and without any pause, pass
ing swiftly on its way to God, urged by
love. The last, No. Is, represents the
pilgrim suddenly detached fiOm this
world and blown to heaven from the
top of q volcano, and thus "cast into the
arms Of God" If there is any truth,
says the Pail Mall Gazette, in the COM
parison so persistently made, that Rome
at this moment resembles nothing so
much as q moral volcano, We venture
out of pure benevolence to recommend
the Ultramontaine cardinals and priests
now residing in the Eternal City, to in
vest largely in the purchase of No. l6.
If tickets of admission from off that vol
cano to Heaven can really be purchased
by small outlay, a very moderate
amount of the wisdom Of the serpent
would, under existing circumstances,
suggest their probable value and util-
ity.