The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1878-06-05
An Interview with Death.

osene and the buzzing of neighboring
mills, the ominous silence of the mid.
night hour without and the appalling
peacefulness which had settled down
upon the Office, put the wearied jour
nalist in the dreemy mood.
Weary, did we say? Nay, not
weary. No journalist gets weary
Oftentimes the pencil runs laggardly
over the paper; occasionally the paste
pot gets empty and the shears grow
dull, but the shrill cry of the devil for
"copy" in his elixir, and pencil flies,
the shears take on a new edge and
the stick IN the paste pot seems 20 ex-
nde the necessary glue.
No, not weary. He was lazy-per-
adventure sleepy. At least he per-
formed his work sort of perfunctorily,
and no doubt one would have thought
him at leisure.
A chilly breath seemed to come in
at the window. Fearing lest he might
take cold, the journalist arose to pull
down tho sash. The door of his sane
tum opened. Resuming his chair, the
knight OF the quill mechanically took
up his pencil, and kindly said to the
stranger, Take seat. What can |
do for YOU"
Young man, he said, and the jour
naliSt arose in terror. 1t was sep
nlchral voice. He raised his eyes and
beheld the face Of Death. Young
man, be not afraid. Sit down! |
want to be interviewed | demand
70 be interviewed | know every
thing | am versed in the phraseol-
ogy of ambiguity, but my speech to-
night will be plant Sit down, pray
you, sit down!
He sat. Summoning all the cour-
age Of his guild, and the assurance the
years Of journalistic life had given
him, he ordered up smile and with
out a sign Of nervousness said:
''Mr. Death, Pm h-happy TOTO see
you. What wh-what sh-shall-what
shall we talk about ?"
The fire alarm rung out its sepul-
chral signal, anil in twinkling the Of
fee was depopulated, of all save the
journalist and his wierd visitor.
Anything, anything, young man,
that viii profit the world and give me
an opportunity to make sensation
BY this time the editor had COM
posed himself and mapped out an in
terwiew with his importunate guest.
"Well, Mr.. Death, have long
thought l would like to ask you few
questions about incessant toll"
"Ah, all just the theme Go
on ! go onp
"Itrequently see reports inthepress
that such and such man died from
over-work. Can you give me any
hight on this subject? lssuch thing
possible ?"
Herethe spectre laid aside his cloak,
and. rubbing his attenuated fingers
through his still mo attenuated tres
ses, resumed his seat.
Eyes, yes, yes Know all about it.
Men are my victims | like to see
shem work If / had my way |
would Danish joy from the world,
Danish amusements, base ball, croquet,
Billiards, gymnasiums, excursions, pic
MICS, camp meetings, parks, boule
wards, watering places, yea m0re"-
and here he seemed to be particularly
emphatic-"l would destroy the press,
ostracise journalists"-a shudder
from the scribe-"burn up churches,
roast novel writers, run secret socie-
ties into the sea Oh, would set all
the world in blaze Nothing should
be LETT hut the hammer and forge, the
needle the Office, toll, care, big salar
ies, and huge responsibilities, trouble,
aches, pain. slavery to drudgery, hol-
low eyes, blancied cheeks. palSied
arms, cadaver0us forms, sickly chill
dren, "a world full of pigm es and
drunkards, and sots, and debahchees
and chain gangs. These, these only
these should remain! | like them
they are m, agents They populate
my realms They SOW ruin in the
lands They bring plaques upon the
towns They drape homes in sack
cloth They pnervate the race !"
"Ah, ali Pa wicked, demonaical
laugh -''Ha Ina Brave, bravo, young
man! love this theme! Work, work,
work II is killing the men. Apo
plexy, Paralysis, Consumption, De-
bility! These are my faithful meSsen-
gersl These are reaping riches for
my storehouses."
"What do care for mortal happi7
ness l hate it Woe, Misery
Pain These would | rain upon the