Vicksburg weekly herald., 1877-11-02
FuIure Life and the Fear OF
Death.

Future Life and the Fear OF
Death.
W. Il. Gray, in the Nineteenth Century for
October.
1t must be conceded that the doctrine
OF future lie is by no means as uni
versally dif'used as Il IL the habit loose
ly 10 assert. II is not always discover
able among primitive aud savage races.
1t existed among pagan nations 10 q
form so vague aud haZy as to be de-
scribable rather as dream than a re-
ligious faith. II can scarcely be deter
mined whether the Chinese, whose
cultivation is perhaps the most ancient
existing In the world, can be ranked
among distinct believers; while the
conception Of NirUdnd, which prevails
In the meditative minds Of other orien-
tails, is more sort of conscious nom
existence than future life. With the
jews, moreover, as is we'll known, the
belief was not indigenous, but import
ed, and by no means an early importa.
ton. But what Is not so generally
recognized Is that, even among our
selves In these days, the conviction of
thoughtful natures varies curiously In
strength and in features at different pc.
riods OF life. In youth, when all our
sentiments are most vivacious and
dogmatic, most Of US not only cling to
II as an intellectual creed, but are &C.
customed 10 say aud feel that without
It as a solace aud hope to rest upon,
this world would DO stripped OF its
dee1est fasciuationa. II is from minds
OF this age, whose vigor Is unimpaired,
and whose relish for the joys of earth
is expansive, that the most glowing de.
lineations Of heaven usually proceed,
and on whom the thirst for felicity and
knowledge which can be slaked at no
earthly fountains has the most exciting
power. Then comes the busy turmoil
Of our mad career, when the present
|, curtains OF the future from our
thoughts, aud when a renewed exist.
ence In q different scene Is recalled TO
our fancy chiefly IN crises of bereave-
ment. And, finally, II 10 not the case
that in our fading years-when some
thing Of the languor aud placidity ol
age 10 creeping over US, just when fu.
turity is coming consciously aud rap
idly more near, and when one might
naturally expect II to occupy US more
necessarily, and with more anxious
. and searching glances-we think of II
less frequently, believe In 1t less con
fdently, desire |! less eagerly than in
our youth2 Such, at least, has beer
my observation and experience, es
I pecially among the more reflective and
I inquiring order of men. Tho life o
the hour absorbs Us most completely Al
the hours grow fewer aud less full thu
pleasures, the exemptions, the modes
interests, the afternoon peace, the gen
; tie affections Of the present scene, oh
Q scure the future from our view, AM
render II, curiously enough, even les
interesting than the past. To-day
which may be our last, engrosses us ia
y more than tomorrow, which may b
our forever, And the grave into whic
u we are just stepping down troubles u
' far less than in youth, when half a cer
j. tury lay between us and Il. What
u the explanation OF this strange phenC
a menon2 Is II merciful dIspensalio
arranged by the Ruler Of our Iii
0, TO soften and to ease a crisis whic
10 would be too grand and awful to b
"a faced with dignity or calm, If 1t wer
y actually realized at all? o
H. finally, as know Is true far oftene
10 than we fancy, Ia It that three
l. score years ana ten have quenche
NJ the passionate desire Tor life with whic
= at first We stepped upon the scene
u We are tired, some Of us, with unenC
ing and Improbable toll; we are sat
ated, others OF us, with such amp
ne pleasures as earth eau yield US; "
have had enough of ambition, alike
It's successes and lie failures; the iol
and blessings OF human affection Q
which, whatever their crises and vici
lie situdes, no righteous or truthful ms
o. will cast q slur, are yet so blended wi
y, pains which partake Of their intensity
a. the appetite for life, In short, is gon
lie the frame Is worn and the faculties e,
,t. hausted and-pOsslbly this Is the X
or TO the phenomenon we are examiniI
w age cannot, from the very law Of
d. nature, conceive itself endowed vii
fe' the bounding energies Of Youl
n. and without that vlgor both of exc
ito tion and desire, renewed existence CT
offer no inspiring charms. Our beil
Of upon earth has been enriched by viv
Tor interests aud precious joys, and we q
hO deeply grateful for the gift but we q
We wearied with our life and feel scarce
&C. qualified TO enter on the claims, ev
es. though balanced by the felicities al
ar. glories of another. II may be the
at. ligue which comes with age-fatigue
the fancy as we'll as Of the frame; bv
Try somehow, what we yearn for most
hat stinctively at last Is rest, and the pes
Is which we can imagine the easiest |
rty cause we know II best, is that OF slet
sas. -
ob. CHIEF Sitting BULL is full-bloc
= al Totnn Tndian iha Tat0n hain0