The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1888-09-05
DARK AND CHEERlESS.

Noted Tnfidels Views of Liie-''Thcre
Isn't Much to It"-TIie Bold and Ii arren
Peaks Controlled with the Light That
Shines From Out the Divine Revelation.
There is something very suggestive
and instructive in \ remark attributed
to the arch infilel, Robert G. Ingersoll;
Life Is very sad to me; it is very pitt
flu; there isn't much to it." From
Mr.. Ingersoll, considering all things,
this is remarkable Language. He is
not a poor dyspeptic whose stomach
often gets above his heart and lies on
it with load that crushas all joy out
of IT. He is a man of good digestion.
good blood and plenty of it. has a
phls.quc to be admired and to be COW
etcd. In the prime of life, with a
comfortable competence, enviable rep
utation for the most popular and cap
tivating gifts. hailed and applauded
by immense audiences whenever he
speaks, happy, according to DR.. Field.
in his family where he is lovable and
dcvotedly loved, yet this man says:
Life is very sad to me-" etc.
This must be revelation to the hum
drcds of thousands who screamed with
laughter at his wit and drollory and
sarcasm as he employed them in his
raillery at the Bible and Bible charac-
tiers. Will it not seem surprising to
his gay admirers that this man. so full
of humor and fun and ridicule. should
be sad and cheerless and say of life:
ut is very pi'ful; there isn't much to
it" If there isn't much to it" for a
man so peculiarly favored by nature
. and fortune. what shall be said for the
lot of thosc-and they are in the i'm.
mense majority-to whom life comes as
an inheritance of physical iniirmity
and pain, of poverty and toll, menta
disquietude AMI spiritual unrest. un'
ceasing domestic and social burden,
and sorrowsP What has Mr.. Ingersoll tC
say to thcmp What has he to say for
HIMSELF Fortunate rs he is, he has
had some experience of the trouble:
from which meme of us can escape
Some years ago he was bercavcd of
brother whom he loved. He otliciatct
at the funeral. His address, on the oc
casion was characteristic for rhetorical
beauty and also for its utter cherries
ness and barrcnness of hope. Life i
but morrow vale between the col,
and barren peaks of two eternites
No wonder if this is all and the best
there ism m, ch to it.
At another time, with this burden OF
him, the like of which is always crush
ing some bleeding hears, he is frivol
Gus and comical, and talks about b.
ing las ready" should there be
future life, "as the mex, man to ente
on any remuneratve occupation.
But "thc peaks are barren and cold
which lie between this and that con
tingency. and he has nothing bu
Jokes about it. and scorn and sarcasm
for those who Look rs seeing II il
who is invisible" and wait to b
satisfied when they awake in Hi
likeness" But Mr.. IngcrsolTs exper
ence as an inlidel about the sadnes
and emptiness of life is not singular
Other noted iniid is. much more ser
ons and profound, able to disclose t
Others and cnjDy Themselves an
secret comforts there may lie hidde
in phiosophic unbclief if such Their
be. have anticipated him and even ye
more bitterly bewailea the calamity c
human existence. A. Mr.. Ingerso
only VIGOROUSLY rehashed the old i,
fidel arguments and sneers, addin
absolutely nothing original. save
may DC tue brilliant tinsel of II uniqu
sarcasm, or jaunty blasphemy t
point the inconsequcnt logic of h
predecessors and his own. it is not t
be expoc 9 that his occasional sobC
confessions. such as the one quoted i
this article. should be very differor
from theirs, How Mr.. Ingersoll'
lament resembles that of his grrs
French master and superior, Vo
taire. who said: "rhe world abound
with wonders. also with victims
In man is more wretchot
ness than in all other animals put t,
gether. Mn loves life. yet knows
must die; spends his existence |
diffIsiug the miSeres he has sufere,
cutting the throats of his fellow
creatures for pay; cheating and bein
cheated. The bulk of mankind al
nothing more than crowd of wretche
equally criminal, equally unfortunat
wish had never been bora To {,
French skeptic. ''the cold and barre
peaks were burden-i with slaughl,
and crimsoned with blood. To Il
philosophic Hume they were shroud,
in blackness and darkness. He sal
when | look abroad, on every side
see dispute, contradiction and distra
ZION When l turn my eye inward
find nothing but doubt aud iguoranc