Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-07-29

aghast at such a request.
Then it follows that you have faith or
belief in something, but what that some
thing is you have no idea" The Doctor
smiled triumphantly, and as the Professor
only replied with an indignant stare he con-
tinued. "But granting that heaven exists
somewhere and that we will get there
"a large grant" put in the Governor,
dryly, C. tell us, Professor, what you as Q
believer expect to do when you get there2
Il expect to enjoy eternal felicity"
sand felicity meansr'
Happiness.
Then your position in this matter, as l
understand it, is that happiness is to be
found in 81 ven only; what and where Hea-
ven is you do not know, neither do you know
what happiness is"
Before the Professor could reply, if he in
deed intended, the Judge quietly asked,
Doctor, you have admitted Heaven for the
sake of argument, so go a little further and
give us your plans and specifications OF an
ideal Heaven .
"BritAy this" al once replied the Doctor;
"a place Of rest from toll, trouble and care.
Here at last is the solution Of our yexed
Que stion. The Doctor holds that happiness
is rest from toll, trouble and care.
The Doctor laughed. 80 it seems, but
assure you | did not think of it when l
spoke"
The Judge spoke meditatively q few min
utes and then said: "As you have ample
fortune why not 90 into the country, buy q
place and live there free from toll and care,
and thus enter into Heaven at onceY
"Floored!" replied the Doctor, 81 should
die of stagnation in one year"
A laugh went around at this, and Mr..
Mszzum filed the glasses. Then the Doc
Tor said after q deep draft of the wine: is
it not absurd that intelligent men should wish
to 90 to heaven, and yet have not the least
idea of what it is or what its happiness.
How do we know but that we should be as
badly bored there as We are here when lis
,eniDg TO a sermon with a sixthly in it"
"You want to know q little of the man
uers and customs Of the place before you
agree to become a citizen of 1t, eh?' asked
the Governor.
ayes, | do" was the answer given some,
what deiantly.
You have a lurking fancy that the other
place might offer more attractions
Why not2 We admit that Heaven is a
sealed book to Us, consequently the other
o ace is likewise"
Have you anything to advance to sup
port your why not'T
Certainly. But let me first lay down this
premise. which it is necessary to grant that
NV deductions may be valid; it is this: that
10 enjoy Heaven, or the other place, we
must retain our individuality; for otherwise
either place is naught for us"
Of course, of course" came from his lis
teners. 80.
Very good. Now assembled IN this
room are five men, and it is fair to say that
thew represent the s~yersgeof their classes in
the world. In my argument | shall leave
out the pleasures they take in their several
pursuits for it is usually held that men have
no professions or csllings in heaven. Leav'
ing this out what else gives Us most pleasure
n this hfeY'
No one replying to the question the Doc
tor continued: The majority of the law
abiding citizens in this country from the
age of Il upwards find their chief pleasures
in good dinners, good liquor, tobacco, thea
tres, dancing, horse racing, card playing,
novel reading, etlceters. Now the gentle
men of the clerical profession tell us thai
these pleasures are of the world, the flesh
and the devil, and consequently we must
infer that we will be deprived OF them when
we get 10 heaven. Very well, then" he
continued, filling and emptying his glass
"yery well; here then we have the negative
facts concerning the heaven offered Us By
the clergy: no professions, no money, no
wine. cigars, theatres, no life as we men OF
the world use the term Of any description,
On the other hand they tell Us we shall en-
Joy happiness, a something hon OF US car
define"
Rather q barren prospect" said the Gov
eruor.
"Very." wa the laconic reply. Then
IF the devil will offer rs the same bats II
the next life he does in this and we retair
our identities ] think / am safe in affirming
that the majority Of us will prefer to hive II
his dominioAs.
"But, doctor" said the professor, who
was somewhat shocked at this line of rea
sopin0, bell is q place of torment.
Professor, if You were in absolute con
troll of a lot Of criminals, would you torture
ihemf'
Certainly not, sirI'
Then you are more merciiul d I'M
-" the doctor broke off with q shrug.
II was after midnight when Mr.. MAJ
zum's guests departed. When they hac
| Oone be paced the floor for some time and
then going to q window, drev
aside the heavy drapery and looked
| ont. The moou hung low in the west and
| ne uiOht had that peculiar cold brightness
Il wear when the world sleeps. The ont
| sound heard was the footsteps OF some on
approaching. With queer intentness Mr.
Mazzum's mind fastened on this sound IN
al II died away in the distance and all va
silent Then letting fall the curtain n
looked over his room until his eyes reste'
ON a heavy chandelier suspended from tn
ceiling. IL seemed to fascinate him. d.
Slowly apuroached it and then with VIVA
cooked HE q shudder backed away again
but only TO return. Finally he took q chai
and standing on it took hold OF the chan
delier and drew mp the weight Of hi
BODY. The chandelier remained hrm
Then be quickly sprang down, and eneesinl
an adjoining room. soon returned win
smal strong rope. closing the door ate
him and s~huddering, for the room be lei
was DARK. Again he got up on the d .
and affer make 0 running moose at a en-.
ofthe rope and placing il around ms nee
IA fastened the other end to the chandele
and then kicked away the chair from undo
him. His hands convulsively went up I
his neck but soon dropped limp at his sidt
His body turned from left to right and iron
right to left. a. though looking about tn
room. and then slowly became motionlesl
His head inclined forward as though gain
Al the table beneath, on which silver an
glassware sparkled-