River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-01-31

BILE opinion, but Mr.. Utterex did not
want his house to lack in any of the
numerous suicidal methods But a
curious spectacle, and one that viii
certainly interest you" pursued the
guide. in a soft, insidious. aud almost
confidential tone, awaits you. Kindly
follow me-
These mysterious manners made an
impression upon the young man; his
lips and his hands trembled, his brow
was covered with icy sweat. No longer
able to resist. he did not know how to
say that ''he would like BETTER" that
he would, perhaps, prefer" to remain
there. His guide took him By the
arm and led him on. A door opened.
At first he did not clearly distinguish
any thing; then. in the greenish air he
saw the rigid forms of naked walls in
a large, unfinished and silent
room. The room was silent But
a murmur came from the deaf walls,
a murmur that can only be COM
pared to the distant report of a storm,
or the hOarse resOunding. increased a
hundred-fold, of one of those shells
wherein vibrates the obscure roaring
of the ocean. The clerk went to the
wall. and, with the gesture OF a
magician making passes. touched it
rapidly here and there. Immediately
the right side of the wall disappeared
and the report redoubled; it was like
the confused echo of lives seething in
the waves; and there they were swarm
ing in the flooded walls-fishes, crus-
tacea, mOllusks and all submarine ami
mails. 1t was the sea, and upon this
dark-green bottom, coming from afar,
increasing and charging, entering in
the chamber, appeared tens, hundreds
and thousands of arms terminated by
round and bloOdless mouths.
The visitor stepped Fundamentally
for he was incapable of making a
physical movement; all sentiment of
life that remained in him was in his
head. in the roots of his hair, an un-
usual pricking as though his hair stood
literally on end.
The devil-fsh!n said his guide, in
a hollow voice; "a living body full of
muscles and blood, trembling and SEN
sitive, thrown into this artificial sea
which, although without water, is
more terribly real than the other. can
here find the most splendid banquet of
physical sufferings. just imagine the
sensation of mortal disgust at the sticky
and swarming kisses of these innumer-
able tentacles, each one gifted with the
force of a thousand leeches, The very
essence of the body is in the blood, and
with the blood, life escapes through
this mOustrous suction. Little by little
the patient grows weaker. the eyelids
close. and rigor sets in. No one will
ever know whether you persisted by
fear or by pain. But what is the mat
ter with you. sir?''
The young man beat the air with
his arms and turned toward the door
with moribund look. The guide.
knowing by long experience that the
final parOxysm was attained aud that
nothing remained put real death by
fright, pressed some electrical buttons,
which dissipated the frightful appari-
ton. The young man had doubtless
become unconscious, for he seemed
born again when, bathed in fresh air
upon "A balcony, he saw his official
companion again become the incom-
parably correct parsonage who had
left his twin brother in the Office. But
he was not given time for long reaec-
ton.
what manner of death have you
chosen?"
The stranger was feverishly agi-
tated. Il can mott should prefer
ITO visit the establishment again,
perhaps?n
NO. no.
However. you must choose some
yes. of course. l must; it is evil
dent"
He gradually regained his self-pos-
session and at the same time his love
Of life: he assumed not without effort
an easy air and an appearance of in
difference to the physical terrors at
which IN reality he still inwardly
trembled. suddenly, as though il
lumined with an idea, he said:
'Let us go downstairs"
When they reached the third floor
he pointed to the Experimen Cham
Der, and said:
you say it is occupied"
yes, it is occupied.
What pity! Well, and the stran-
ger affected to contemplate longingly
the forbidden threshold -"well. will
wait. Let us descend. "
In passing before Schopenhauer's
statue he could not help looking it
straight in the face with a sort of de-
fiance.
At the Office he was received by Mr..
Utterex himself, who welcomed him
with a gentle smile.
The room that / have selected"
began the young man, with an easy
manner
The experimental chamber?"
Yes
lit is occupied" said Mr. Utterex,
still smiling, and ut the same time Of
fering the visitor a thin sheet OF bris-
tol-bOard with gilt edges, on which was
written;
Mr.. X, TO RICHARD UTTEREX. DR.:
10 restoring L0os Of IRE s., 900
Translated from the French of
Charles Morice.
s
Feeding Bran or Potatoes.
Approaching the subject from the
chemical side we can get a pretty