The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-01-13
Selfrf Stugy.
WILL SHE LIVE AGAIN?

Helen Lake, in the Argonaut.
Late one night in Jone two men, 8
medical student and young lawyer, sal
discussing more things than Horatio
dreamed VI in bis philosophy.
"Can you think" said Graham the
lawyer, "that there is absolutely no ex-
istence OF any vital principle apart from
the physical functions that stop with
dea,h3 I will never believe that there
is not something behind all that-the
something that looks ont OF the eyes
that intangible, incomprehensible come.
thing; that 81 or that you which only
uses human eyes or voice to express It.
self"
"All that has been discovered to be
nothing but combination more or less
complicated Of brain cells" returned
Fielding the student. at you had gone
into that sort Of thing. as l have, you
would see that it is all reducible to mat.
ter. A few more steps aud there will be
no question Of spirit.even for such ideal
lists as you Touch one spot in the brain
OF genius and you have gibbering
idiot. Lift q bit Of hone from an idiots
brain and you can educate man Of ge-
MUS"
Graham shook his head.
"You won't see. Hasn't that idiot In
some way lost the connection between
matter and spirit2 Try as you may, you
never will discover that subtitle, vital es.
sence. When You have called the intel
lect the working OF The brain, the moral
sense the working OF the brain sgaln: ali
good or evil qualities the working Of the
brain still again-T cay there is some.
thing above and beyond ell thai, that you
train and educate, and that escapes With
death. Whether there is individual i'm.
mortality or not, sm not prepared to
argue with you, HIT on the very theory
OF the indestructihilitv Of existing prin.
cples in the universe, that vital principle
10 not destroyed"
"All the musty remains OF an inherited
theology" returned Fielding. "fou are
not brave enough to discard them in the
face Of scientific proof. Ihave seen too
many deaths and 700 many dissections
not to he positively assured thst the
vital essence is extinct With death. Why,
just look at It, how many tri1ing acct
dents put an end to mans existence.
Stop bis heart, take away few pounds
OF blood, destroy his digestion, and you
have destroyed him, say. The neces-
sary combination of forces 10 work his
machinery has been disarrsnged, and be
stops for good and oil. l grant you for
some it 10 bard enough to give up the
idea OF Q soul, but most people will be
glad to welcome annihilation az do.
No, We are born and We die, and there's
the end"
Graham smoked silently for some
time and looked out 0f the open window
on the brilliant moonlight that dimmed
half the stars.
ga night for lovers" be remarked
presently.
"Who believe in immortality for one
night only" laughed Fielding. "What
nonsense it seems that the reflected light
OF the dead world. and the tvinkling Of
a few live suns, millions OF leagues away,
should make people ready TO die for each
other when they laugh at the idea after
their own sun rises"
"You incorrigible materialist!" cried
Graham; "6hy do people marry Eery
day?"
Habit, example and the conditions OF
the race. One woman is 90 good as an.
other If she is healthy and swset-tem-
percd."
"Poor Tom Carroll doesn't think 80
where Dora Varian Is concerned" said
Graham with Q short laugh.
"Yes, and in two years Tom Carroll
will have forgotten her refusal and her
existence under the comfortable regime
of some indiferently pretty honsekeeper
whom accident will saddle on him as q
wife and mother Of bis children"
81 don't see why she wanted to throw
Tom over" said Graham looking at the
end Of his cigar with a slight frown
"What merciless fiirt she is! 1t would
not have been 80 had II she hadn't taken
him awsy from another girl. I wonder
IL she hasn't any heart at ell 2"
''She's q skeptic like me-" said Field.
ing carelesslv. "These men work up
speeches out Of novels, and play devo-
ted, and it amuses her. 1t would amuse
me-"
"You don't know her we'll, do you p
said Graham. 81 don't believe 10 you
did you could keep ont OF her clutches.