Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-07-05

"Never heard of 'em before. They sound
like new kind OF scaEull. What chap
YOU are for asking questions" he replied.
al have TO go to the cashier of the Omni-
bus Company yonder. VIII you wait for
me. and we can lunch somewhere to-
Cether? I've notion for poem
mo. thanks. I'm of. You're sure you
know nothing about skroelinSsf"
Not unless he's been entered for the
LIVERPOOL handicap" He nodded and
disappeared in the crowd.
Now II is written in the Saga of Eric of
Thorfn Karlsefne that 800 years ago when
Karlsefnes galleys came 20 Leif's booths,
which Left had erected in the unknown
land called MARYLAND, which may or may
not have been Rhode Island. the Skroe-
hngs, and the Lord he knows who these
may or may not have been-came to trade
with tho Vikings, and ran away because
they were frightened az the believing of
the cattle that Thorfin had brought with
HIM in the ships But what in the world
could a Greek slave know of that affair I
i wandered up and down among the
streets trying to unrsyel the mystery, aud
che more ! considered il the more battling
ii grew. One thing only seemed certain,
and that certainty took away my breath
for the moment. IL | came TO full know
ledge of anything ut all 1t would not Ice
one life of the soul ia Charlie Mears's
body. but half dozen-half dozen
several and separate exlstences spent on
blue water in the morning of the world.
Then | walked around the situation.
Obviously. if | used my knowledge
] should stand alone and unapproachable
until all men were rs wise as myself That
would 10 something. but. manlike. was
ungrayeiul. Ii seemed bitterly unfair that
Charities memory should fail me when
needed II most. Great powers aboye--I
looked up at them through the fog smoke
did the Lord Of life aud death know what
this meant TO mef Nothing less than eter-
nal fame of the best kind that comes from
one, and Is shared by one alone. | would
be content-like Give ] stood astounded
At my OVID moderatiOn-wlth the mere right
to tell one story. TO work out one little
contribution to the light literature of the
day. II Charlie were permitted full col.
lection for one hour-for sixty short min
utes of existence that had extended to my
own knowledge over q thousand years
! would forego all prodt and honor
from all that l should make Of his
speech. would take no share in the com
motion that would follow throughout the
particular corner OF the globe that calls it.
self the world. The thing should be put
forth anonymously-na i would make
other men believe that they had written it.
They would hire buil-hided. sslf-adver-
Preachers would found fresh conduct of
life upon it. swearing that il was new and
that they had lifted the fear Of death from
all mankind. Every Onentalist in Europe
would patronize II discursively with San
skirt and Pail texts. Terrible women
would invent unclean variants of the
mems belief Tor the elevation Of their SIS
tiers Churches and religions would war
over scuflies that would arise among half a
dozen denominations. all protesting the
doctrine of the True Metempsycho-
sis rs applied 10 the world and
the New Era" and saw, too. the
respectable English newspapers shying
like frightened kline over the beau
tiful simplicity OF the tale. The mind
leaped forward hundred-two hundred
athousand years. i saw with sorrow that
men would mutilste and garble the story !;
that rival creeds would turn it upside
down till at last the western world, which
clin@s to the dread OF death more closely
than the hope Of life. would set 1t aside ak
an interesting superstition and stampede
after some faith so long forgotten that it
seemed altogether new. Upon this
changed the terms of the bargain that
Wonld make with the Lords Of Life aud
Death. Only let mo know. let me write
the story with sure knowledge that wrote
the truth, and / would burn the manu.
script rs . solemn sacrifice. Five minutes
After the last line was written would de-
stroy u all. But l must DO allowedi TO
write IL.
There was no answer. The flaming
colors OF al aquarium poster" caught
my eye. and wondered whether II would
b wise or prudent 70 lure Charlie INTO the
hands Of the professional mesmerist there,
and whether II he were under his power ne
would speak Of his past lives. IL he did,
and 4 people believed him-but Charlie
would be frightened and clustered or made
conceitsd by the interviews. In either
csse he would begin TO lie through fear or
vanity. He was safest in my own hands.
sThey are very funny fools. your Eng
lish,' said voice at my elbow. and turning
round recognised casual acquaintance,
young Bengal law student. called Grish
Chunder. whose father had sent him to
England 20 become civilized. The old man
was retired native Official. aud on an in
como OF i've pounds mouth contrived to
allow his son two hundred pounds = year
end the run Of his ts,eth In q city where be
could pseteod 70 10 the cadet OF Q royaI