Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-04-12

Oucn was Cne conversation OF the
woman who had received us, and
who, probably, had been employed
to nurse him and take care Of him
during his illness. She was a Pro-
testant, yet she seemed very de-
sirous that we should afford him
some relief in his state of abandon
ment, bordering on complete des-
pair. Having remained thus some
time in the parlor, we at length
heard a noise in the adjoining
roomIacrosS the passage-way, which
induced us to believe that Mr..
Paine, who was sick in that room,
had aWoke. We accordingly pro
posed to proceed thither, which
was assented to by the woman, and
she opeted the door for us.
On entering we found him just
getting put of his slumber. A
more wreIched being in appearance
| never before beheld. He was ly-
ing in a bed sufficiently decent of
itself, but at present besmeared with
filth. His looks was that of a man
greatly tortured in mind his eyes
haggard; hls countenance forbid
ding-and his whole appearance
that of one whose better days had
been but one continued scene of
debauch. Hisonly nourishment at
this time, as We were informed, was
nothing more tlan milk punch, in
which he indulSed to the full ex-
tent of his weak state. He had
partaken, undoubtedly, but very re-
Gently of it, as t sides and cor
ners of his moutl exhibited une-
quiTocal traces oAit, as well as of
blood, which had aso flowed to the
bed, and left itI marks on the
pillow. His face, Il a certain ex-
tent, had also been lesmeared with
it. The head Of his &d was against
the side of the room brough which
the door opened. FaAer Kohlman
having entered first, tSk seat on
the same side near thSfoot of the
bed; took my seat o. the same
side near the head. nus in the
posture in which Pain Law, his
eyes could easily bear b Father
Kohlman, but not on he easily,
without turning his head.
AS soon as we had seasd our
selves Father Kohlman, inb mild
tone of voice, informed hin that
we were Catholic priests, an, were
come on his invitation to se&him.
Paine made no reply. After abort
pause Father Kohlman preceded
thus, addressing himself to Pine
in the French language, thinAg
that as Paine had been in Frate
he was probably acquainted VIII
that language (which, however, wa
not the fact), an1 might undeN
stand better what he said, as hi
had at that time a greater facility
and could express his thoughts bet
ter in it than in English;
"Mons. Paine j al lu votre livrt
intitule. LAge de la Raison, OF
vous avez attaque Pecriture saintC
avec une violence, sans bornes et
d'autres de vos ecrits publies Ell
France; ct ie suis persuade que
Paine here interrupted hin
abruptly, and in a sharp tone Of
voice, ordering him to speak Eng
lish, thus: "Speak English, man
speak English"
Father Kohlman, without show.
ing the least embarrassment, re.
sumed his discourse, and expressed
himself as follows, after his inter
ruption, in English: "Mr. Paine
| have read your book entitled thu
Age of Reason, as well as other O
your writings against the Christian
religion, and | am at a loss to i'm
agine how a man of your good sense
could have employed his talents il
attempting to undermine what, tt
say nothing Of its divine establish
ment, the wisdom of ages ha
deemed most conducive to the hap
piness of man-the Christian re
ligion, sir"
"That's enough, sir; that
enough" said Paine, again inter
rupting him; 81 see what yor
would be about; l wish to hear NJ
more from you, sir. Ny mind i
made up on that subject. l lool
upon the whole Christian schem
to be a tissue of absurdities an(
lies, and Jesus Christ to be moth
ing more than "a cunning knav,
and an impostor."
Father Kohlman here attempted
to speak again, when Paine, with
lowering countenance, ordered hin
instantly to be silent, and to trou
BILE him no more.
81 have told you already that
wish to hear nothing more iron
Won -