The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-07

the plea would be OF no avail. we might
say: ave have q warantee deed for that
property" the plea would be Of no avail.
We might say: "We have lien on that
store-house;' that would do us no good.
Death is blind, and he cannot see seal,
and cannot read an indenture. So that,
first and last, want to tell you that when
you propose that give up my soul for the
world, you cannot give me the first item OF
title.
Having examined the title Of property,
your next question is about insurance.
You would not be silly enough to buy
large warehouse that could not possibly be
insured. You would not have anything to
do with such property. Now, j ask you
what assurance can you give me that this
world is not going to be burned up? Alb
solutely none. Biologists tell us that it is
already ON fire; that the heart Of the world
is one great living coal; that II is just
like ship on fire at sea, the flames
not bursting out because the matches
are kept down. And yet you propose to
palm off on me, in return for my soul,
world for which, in the first place, you
give no title, and in the second place, for
which you can give no insurance. "Oh,"
you say, ''the water Of the ocean will
wash over all the land and put out the
fire." Oh no! There are inflammable ell
ements in the water-hydrogen and oxy-
gen. Call off the hydrogen, and then the
Atlantic and the Pacific oceans would
blaze like heaps Of shavings. You want
me to take this world, for which you can
give no possible insurance.
Astronomers have swept their telescopes
through the sky, and have found out that
there have been thirteen worlds in the
last two centuries, that have disappeared.
At first they looked Just like other worlds.
Then they got deeply red-they were on
fire. Then they got ashen, showing they
were burned down. Then they disap-
peared, showing that even the ashes were
scattered. And II the geologist be right
in his prophecy, then our world is to 60 in
the same way. And yet you want me TO
exchange my soul for it. All, no; IL is
world that is burning now. Suppose you
brought an insurance agent 10 look atyour
property for the purpose OF giving you n
policy upon ii, and while he stood in front
Of the house he should say: THAT house
is on fire now in the basement" you could
not get any insurance upon II. Yet you
talk about this world as though II were q
safe investment, as though you could get
some insurance upon it, when down in
the basement II is on fire.
remark, also, that this world is prop
erty, with which everybody who has taken
IL as possession has had trouble. Now,
know large reach Of land that is not
built on. / ask what is the mat
ter, and they reply that every
body who has had anything TO do
with that property got into trouble
about IL. IL is just 80 with this world;
everybody that had anything 10 do with
IL, as possession, has been in perplexity.
How was il with Lord Byron2 Did he not
sell his immortal soul for the purpose OF
getting the world2 Was he satisfied with
the possession2 Alasl alasl the poem
graphically describes his case when IL says:
| Drank every cup Of Joy.
| Heard every trump Of fame;
| Drank early. deeply dnink,
Drank dmnrhts which common millions might
Thcu died Of Thirst, because there was no more to
| drink"
Oh, yes, he had trouble with Il; and so
did Napoleon After conqucring nations
by the force OF the sword, he lies down 10
| die. his entire possession the military boots
that he insisted on having upon his feet
while he was dying. So II has been with
mon who had better ambition. Thackeray,
one OF the most genial and lovablc souls,
after he had won the applause Of all intel
| liRent lands through his wonderful genius,
sits down in restaurant in Paris, looks 10
4 the other end OF the room, and wonders
whose that forlorn aud wrctched face Is;
rising up after awhile, he finds that II il
Thackeray In the mirror. Oh yes, this
world is a cheat. Talk about man gain.
ing the world Who ever gained half OF
the world? Who ever owned a hcmis.
phere? Who ever gained 4 continent
Who ever owned Asia? Who ever gained
a city7 Who ever owned Brooklyn? Talk
about gaining the world Noman ever gained
IL, or the hundred thousnndth part Of IL.
You are demanding that sell my~oul,
not for the world, but for fragment oI
Il. Here Is man who has had large cs.
tate for forty or fifty years. lie lies
down TO die. You say: THAT man
is worth millions and millions oI
dollars" Is he2 You call up sur.
yeyor, with his compass and chains, and
you say: "There is property extending
three miles In one direction, aud three
miles in another direction" IS that the
way TO measure that mans property Mo-
You do not want any surveyor, with his
compass and chains. That is not the way
you want 10 measure that mans property
now. II Is an undertaken that you need
who will come and put his finger In bis
vest pocket, and take out q tape.linc, and
he will measure Eve feet nine inches one
way, and two feet and half the Other
way. That Is the man's'propcrty' Oh
no, forgot; not 10 much as that, for h,
docs not own even the place In which h,
lies In the cemetery. The deed TO that
belongs 10 the executors and the heirs
Oh, what property you propose 10 give
me for my soul II you sclla bill OF goods
YOU 20 into the counting room, ami sny "a
your partner "Do Won think that man
Is GOOD for this bill? Can he give proper
security2 VIII he meet this payment?
Now, when you are offered this world as
possession, want you 10 test the matter
/ do not want You 10 70 into this bargain
blindly. want YOU 10 ask about th'
title, about the insurance, about whether
men have ever had any trouble with II
about whether You can keep IL, abou
whether you can get all, or the tcr
thousandth, or one hundred thousandil
part OF II.
There is the world now. shall say n,
more about H. Make up your mind fo
yourself, "a shall, before God, have q
make up my mind for myself, about IN,
value of this world. cannot afford q
make a mistake for my soul, and you cal
not afford 10 make n mistake for your soul
Now, let us look nj the other prop
erty--the soul We cannot make
bargain without seeing the com
parative value The soul How shall
| | Al n - IA