Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-04-21
RAToN RoUGE LOUISIANA THURSDAY April 1881 3D.

terrified traveller expected, nothing met
his ear but sounds of mirth and jollity; |
and he found himself at the entrance OF
a superb building, far exceeding any ne
had seen constructed by human hands.
Within too. what scene? No amuse-
nent, employment, orpursuit OF man on
earth, but was here being carried on with
o vehemence that excited his unatter-
able amazement. There the painting
steed still bore his brutal rider through
the excitement of the goaledrace. There,
over the midnight bowl, the incorporate
still drawled out the cwanton song OF
maudlin blasphemy. The gambler car
ried on his endless game and the slaves
of Mammon toiled through eternity their
endless task; whilst all the magnlticence
on earth paled before that which now
met his view.
He soon perceived that he was among
old acquaintance, whom he knew to be
dead ; and each, he observed, was pur-
suing the object, whatever it was, that
had formerly engrossed him; when find
ing himself relieved from the presence OF
! his unwelcome conductor, he ventured
| to address his former friend, Miss d.,
whom he saw sitting, as had been her
wont on earth, absorbed at loo-request-
ing her to rest from the game, and intro
! duce him to the pleasures of the place,
which appeared to him to be very IN
like what he had expected, and indeed
extremely agreeable. But with cry
of agony she answered that there wasno
rest in hell /; that they must ever toll on
at those pleasures; and innumerable
voices echoed through the interminable
vaults. "There is no rest in help
whilst throwing open their vest, each
disclosed in his bosom an burning
flame. These, they said, were hepleas-
ures Of hell their choice on earth was
now their inevitable doom. In the
midst of the horror this scene inspired,
his conductor returned, and at his ear
nest entreaty, restored him again to
earth but as be quilted him, he said,
Remember, i'll year and a day we
meet again
At this crisis of his dream. the sleeper
awoke, feverish and i'll: and whether
from the effect of his dream or of his
preceding orgies, be was SO unwell as tc
be obliged to keep his bed for severa
days, during which period he had time
for many serious reflections, which ter
minated in resolution to abandon the
club and his licentious companions alto
gether.
He was no sooner well, however, thar
they locked around him, bent on recov
ering so valuable member of their so
ciety: and having wrung from him
confession of the cause of his detection
: which, as may be supposed, appeared t.
, them ridiculous, they soon contrived t.
make him ashamed Y his good resolu
, tons. He joined them again, resumed
r his former course of life, and when tn,
| annual saturnalia came round, he fount
r himself with glass in his hand at TIT
$ table: when the president, arising tt
= make the accustomed speech, began will
/, saying, Gentlemen, this being leal
t year, it is year and a day since on
| last anniversary" etc. The word STRUCK
: upon the young mans ears like knell
= but ashamed to expose his weakness tt
the ieers of his companions, he sat on
) the feast, plying himself with wine ever
? more literally than usual, in order Il
: drown his intrusive thoughts, till, in tn
gloom of winters morning, he mounted
S his horse to ride home. Some hours at
t terward the horse was found grazing b.
:. the roadside, about halfway between
Y the city and Mr.. BIS house, whilst q few
1 yards off lay the corpse Of his master.
/ Now. as | have said in introducing thi
. story, it is no fiction; the Circumstance
t happened as here related. An account o
: it was published at the time. but th
t copies were bought up by the family
Two or three. however, were preserved
@ and the narrative has been reprinted.
SARCASM.