The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-04-18

pOiSOu Nn VsucE WO10S, Wnou man A>tIl learned to eat arsenic in fined doseMifls impunity, that dose is neceasaxy e hixa, and f t ss denied, thea appayentiy the cumulative force of the mineral in his system is released, and he dies with every. symptom of arsenic poisoning. The superintendent of the mines told me that at the age of eighteen. to protect hinseIf from the pernicious effects of his daily toil, he took grain of arsenic every morning in his coffee, and that he he'd gradually had to increase the dose antil at the time saw him, at the age of thirty five, he took fifteen grains every day. Now knew that fifteen grains is a quan- tity sufficient to kill five men. Twice had the superintendent been induced by tim- orous friends to try to stop the dangerous habit; and twice he had failed miserably. On the seventh day of the abstinence from arsenic he had been obliged to re- turn to 1t again, on the penalty of his life. He was fully resolved, 50 he told me, that he would not again attempt to break of the habit suddenly, for he knew that the result would inevitably he fatal. He in- tended, when he should retire from his position, at the age ot forty-ive, to begin to reduce the daily dose gradually, until at fifty he might give it up altogether. took notes of his and of my own corrob- oratory observations, and set down in bold black and white the fact which had most struck me. It is possible to cause death by teasing to administer poison.
 1t was in the midst of the happiness of my bridal tour, when smiled at the world and the responsive world willingly smiled back, and when tue future was full of hope and desire, it was then that caught the first glimpse of my great idea and was conscious of the first vague intim mAtions of my great discovery. Perhaps it was my happiness which led me into the search for what was to bring misery and death to my wife and to myself. It was fate in the spring, and we were in Vienna and can remember even now the feeling of unwonted cerebral excitement expe- rienced. It was to me a moment of growth and expansion. felt that the fertility of my mind was multiplied four fold, although of course in the beginning did not know either the cause or the effect of this. l can recall the very in- stant when the indistinct germ of the idea began to take root in my brain. An Aus trian, learned enthusiast in the history of his noble city, told me the moving tale of ths attack of the Turks :; and as heard again how the fate of civilization de- pended on the defense of one town against the host of Islam led by mighty leader, could not but think how much shorter it would have been to have struck at that leader and to have killed him, without whose energetic will the invaders would soon have been beaten back. To disorganjze an attacking force by remov- ing its head, suddenly, unexpectedly, at the most inepportune moment-this would be at once the surest and the sim plest means of defense. Then it was that 1 first thought of the Elixir of Death.
 And from that instant the idea never left me; it took possession of me; 1t mastered me until could master it. For the few eeks longer we fingered in Europe was still happy, for a man does not get out of the habit of happiness all at once. But had fixed idea, and pursued that relentlessly, to the mangling and destruction of whatever might stand between me and the accomplishment of my desire. What sought was a thing SO important to all humanity that the few paltry human existences l might have occasion to sacrifice in the attainment of my goa! were as nothing. For success in my search was ready to give my own life, and saw no reason why the lives of others should be more precious to me than my own life.
 The Elixir of Death was the name I had given in my own mind to the object of my search. And by the Elixir of Death l meant poison of properties hitherto unknown or hitherto uncom- bined. believed that it was possible to discover poison which could be admin istered to anybody at any time and from any distance, with the result of causing instant death. Once in the possession of the Elixir of Death, and was master ot the world. The Elixir of Death was universal talisman, 10 which all things were obedient, for death would come at its call, and death rules all things. If T. could once compound the Elixir of Death l had it in my power to change the des- tiny of mankind and to mould all human. ity to my will If an Attiia, a Tameriane, a Genghis Khan, threatened civil ation, with the Elixir of Death could remove him at once from the face of the earth. If a Napoleon arose, absorbing to himself by sheer force ot will and intellect the human energy which should have been utilized in forwarding human progress, a single drop of the Elixir of Death would be more potent than he. If there should come false prophet, leading all mankind astray by eloquent sophistries, had but to use the Elixir of Death, and he ceased to be. If a great criminal should set him. self above the law, and thus with impu- nity give an immoral example, the Elixir of Death would go on its way and do it's deadly work, though the mighty malefac- tor were as inured to poisons as Mithri- dates. When had once discovered the Elixir of Death should have-without let or hindrance or control-I should have the power of life and death over the whole world. If man in the further most corner of the earth deserved to die, l had but to make use of the Elixir of Death and the man was dead. When my search should be successful 1 should