The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-16
THE DETIL'S FUNERAL.


known faiths. So ut last found myself at tie
cul W the avenue. Mt the end 81 Time. undorH
b!3hi red sky moro awful than the deepest black.
Blcn and women hurried to and fro. their pae
iacos rejecting the accursed complexion OF tn
Eoavens. A dcsolatc silence rested upon all
things. Then heard afar low wall, indie
scr.babiy gricvous. swelling and falling again
and blending with the notes Of the storm thut
began to rage. The waiting was answered hya
gronn. and the grooming grew into thunder.
The people wrung their hands and tore their
hair. and voice piercing and persistent
shriekcd above tho turmoil Our lord ana
muster. the Devil. is no more Our lord and
master is no moro !" Then l. too. joined the
mourners who bcwalled the Devils death.
Au old man came to me and took me by the
hand. You also loved ana served him z" no
asked. made no reply. for know not whore
fore lamented. He gazcd stcadfastly into my
eyes. There are SORROWS" he said mean
ingly. that are beyond utterancc." Not. then.
like your sorrow" rctorted. " for your eyes
arc dry. and there Is no grief behind their
pupils" Ho placed his finger on my lips and
whispered. Wait"
The old man led tho way to a vast and lofty
hall. filed to the furthcst corner with a weeping
crowd. The multitude was indeed. n mighty
one for all the people OF every age Of the world
who had worshipped and served the Dovil were
assembled there to do for him tho last Offices
for the dead. saw there men Of my own day
and recognized others Of earlier ages. whose
faces and fame had been brought down TO me
by art and by history; and saw many others
who belonged to tho later centuries through
which had passed in my night progress down
the avenue of Time. But MS / was about to
inquire concerning these. the old man checked
me. Hush" ho said. and lstcn.' And the
multitude cried with one voice. Hark aud hear
the report OF tho autopsy
From another apartment there came forth
surgeons and physicians and philosophers
and learned faculties Of oil times. charged to
examine the Devils body and TO discover II they
could. the mystery OF his existence For"
the people had said. ifthese men OF science can
tell us wherein the Devil WAS the Devil II they
can separate from his mortal parts the immortal
principle which distinguished him from our
. selveS we may stll wo.hip that immortal
principle to our own continued profit and e.
the unending glory of our late lord and
master"
With grave looks upon their countenances
and with reluctant stops. three delegates ad-
vanced from among the other sagos. The old
man beside me raised his hand to command
perfect silence. Every sound Of woe was at the
instant suppressed. l saw that one was Galen.
Paraccsus another. and Cornelius Agrippa
the third.
"Ye who have faithfully served the Master"
said Agrppa in n loud voice. must listen in
vain for thu secret which our scalpels have
disclosed We have laid bare both the hear,
and the soul OF him who lies Wonder. His
heart was like our own hearts. ntly formed 20
throb with hot passions. to shrink with hatred
and to swell with rage. But the mystery Of his
soul would blast the lips that uttered it,"
Tho old man hurredy drew me n little way
apart. out OF the thronG. The multitude began
to surge and sway with furious wrath. II
sought to seize and rend TO pieces the learned
and venerable men who had dissected the Devil
yet refused to publish the mystery Of his exist
encc. What rubbish is this you tell us you
charlatan hackers and hewers OF corpses 2" ex-
claimed one. You have discovered no mys-
terry: you lie TO our faces" Put them to
DEATH" screamed others. They wish to hoard
the secret for their own advantage. We shall
presently have triumyrate Of quacks setting
themselves up above US In place OF him whom
we have worshipped for the dignity Of his
teachings. the ingenuity Of his intellect. the cx-
allied character % his moraliy To death with
these upstart philosophers who would usurp
the DEVILS soul"
I'VE have sought only tho Truth" replied
the men Of science. soberly. but we cannot
We 1NA AAlH i rum IL We lhuNu IT. OuT luAN-
tons 60 not further" And thereupon they
withdrew.
Let US 500 for ourselves" shouted the fore
most in the angry crowd. SO they made their
way into the inner apartment where the Devils
body lny in state. Thousands pressed after
them and struggled in vain to enter the pres
ence OF death that they. too might discover the
true essential quality Of the departed. Thosc
who gained entrance Teverontly but eagerly
approached the massive bier Of solid gold
studded with gistenng stones, and Respondent
with the mingled lustre of the emerald. the
chrysolite and jasper. Dazzlcd. they shrank
back with wild faces and bewidered looks
Not a man among them dared stretch forth his
hand 70 tear away the bandages and coverings
with which the surgeons had yelled their work
Then the old man who with me had silently
witnessed the tumultuous scene drew himsel.
up 10 a grand height md said aloud; Wor-
shippers of the Devil. whose majesty even In
death holds you subject 1t is well that you
have not seized the mystery before the time. a
variety Of signs combine 10 inspire me with
hope that that when has sealed the lips Of the
men Of science may yet be revealed through
faith. Let us forthwith pay the last sad tribute
10 our departed lord. Let us make to his mem
DRY a sacrifice worthy Of our devotion. Ny art
can kindle fire which consumes weighty in
gots 81 gold as readily n IL burns tinse paper
and which leaves behind no ashes and no regrets
Let every man bring hitherall the gold. whether
in coin. or in plate, or in trinkets, that he has
earned in serving the Devil and every woman
the gold that she has earned. and cast it into
the consuming fire Then will the funeral pyre
DO worthy Of him whom We mourn"
Well said. old mani" cried the Devil wor-
shippers. THUS We will prove that our wor-
shin has not been base. Build you tho pyre
while we 20 TO fetch our gold"
Ny eyes were fixed upon the face OF my
companion, but l could not read the thoughts
that occupied his brain. When turned again
the vast hall WIS empty Of all save him and me
Slowly and laborously we built the funera,
pile in the centre Of the apartment We built
1t OF the costly woods that were at hand. al-
ready sprinkled by deyout mourners with thu
choicest spices. We built the pile broad and
high and draped it with gorgeous stuns. The
Old man smiled as he prepared the magic fir.
that was to consume the gold which the Devil
worshippcrs had gone to fetch. Within the
pyre he left an AMPLE space for thor sacrifice
Together we brought forth the Devils body.