The morning news., 1892-02-10
STRAUSS AND HIS SOUL.
6e Believes in TransmiRration Up to
a Certain Point Only.

a OSA "a II 1OA1I OllI.
From the NssC York Sunday advertiser.
DR.. Bedloe, the United States consul to
Annoy, is over here on a visit at present,
and uptown he is adding TO his well-de-
served laurels as a story teller. 1t is not
exactly the thing to steal the after-dinner
thunder and lightning Of a brother bon
Vlvant, aud it seems something like crime
to publish one of his best stories. This was
the thought ventured to express TO DIR.
Dedloe after a little tale over which |
laughed the other evening. "Go ahead. |
don't mind" be said. In fact, be has such
a stock Of good stories that he will never
miss one. This is how it goes" he con.
tinued:
was crossing Europe on my way here.
and had in my compartment a gentleman
who. after we had Travelled some miles to-
getaer, handed me his card. This read
Michael Strauss, Laces." / found Mr..
Strauss an interesting travelling companion.
and he talked on variety of subjects with
great deal OF intelligence. But he grew a
little tiresome at last, and when he started
the subject OF religion l was determined to
shut him of. No diplomat, as you know.
will permit himself to be dra Tn into a dis
cussion on that subject.
80, to large extent, permitted hirl TO
DO all ths talking himself, incidentally
throwing out fiettering hints as TO the anti
guilty Of the Hebrew faith and the religious
iads OF the Chinese and japanese. on which
latter subject | am fairly we'll posted, but
did not Wish to let myself out before him.
Veil yes but dere vas dot new re-
leeshon, dot tramps migrashun of sould,' he
remarked. Herr PedlOe, please you tell me
vot dot vasP
so started in to tell bin. you mean.
said, the transmigration Of souls l do
not know that 1t is new idea; in fact, it is
one OF the beliefs of ancient Greece. can
@ pest explain 1t IN this way, Mr.. Strauss.
When your body dies, you know, the soul
goes marching on and enters into SONS
other being. For instance, at the exact
time when your widow is disposing to the
best advantage the flowers on your corpse.
your soul has found home in a beautiful
yellow canary in g gilded cage, and the
dainty fnger-tips of a lovely girl with
blonde ourls are dropping seeds for you into
golden cup.'
"'Dot's goo-ood. eoo-ood. ,murmured Mr.
Strauss.
but one day, my friend, tho door of
the gllded cage is left insecurely fastened,
and the Maltese cat, who for days has been
watching her opportunity, presses the but
ton and does the rest Her mistress comes
IN opportunely for your soul, Mr.. Strauss.
and instead OF being devoured, the yellow
canary receives decent burial In the back
garden. Then your soul passes into a beau
tiful crimson flower, which blossoms by a
dusty wayside, filling the tired air with per-
fume and adorning the landscape.
=" Un' dot pootiful hower-dot was me?
YahP
"Yes, Mr.. Strauss; but just at the
moment when you are nodding to the
brees in self-complacent pride a weary.
hungary donkey comes along aud bites off
the lovely crimson flower, and you pass
into the anatomy of that much-abused
beast
'Mais c'est embettant; ca
"Yes. Mr. Strauss, it was a trifle disa-
greeable, but presently one of your friends
happens along the dusty road and pets the
tired donkey. Stroking the long, silky
ears, he gently sighs; Poor, poor Strauss,
my dear old friend. How little you have
schangedr"
"'Hein3 Got in himmelrn