The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1894-06-01
The Ideal Land of Avalon.

There are certain times and seasons when the
gates OF Avalon are thrown open to mankind,
that they may drink deep draughts of its beaut-
les and live in astate of ecstasy apart from the
sphere i'll which they chance to abide Every
man may visit Avalon; there is an angel WHO
openeth and shutteth the gate allowing the visi-
tor to carry forth only dim memory of what
he as seen and heard in the Paradise he enter
ed he knew not when nor how. Men often con-
verse about Avalon; they state it is such a per-
feet region of delight they could live and wan
der therein forever. One peculiarly about
Avalon consists in every man having his own
grounds to traverse, and has his pleasure melted
unto himself; this he enjoys, Unconscious of the
lapse of time, and quite insensible to past or
future. When man crosses the purlieus of
Avalon he is conscious of some power which
guides him and exhibits unto him enhancing
scenes of delight. All is made beautiful, and
the knowledge of how or why made so is never
asorrow or trouble to investigate, since he is
not imbued with any desire to ascertain whether
good or evil. 1t is Paradise for him from which
is removed the "Tree of knowledge - Whilst
roaming amid sublime scenery, he experiences
all the sensations Of joy, which, if mortal or
awake, he might consider he could ever crave
to enjoy. There is no difficulty in reaching
this Avalon; there is no passage from life unto
death. He suddenly becomes conscious of
having entered a blissful above, guided by uu-
seen hands. He is dimly aware of having wit
messed the scenes before, but is totally at loss to
mention when or where. 1t would be difficult
to portray perfect Avalon, for everyone you
meet will consider his own superior to the one
you describe. "Happy are those men who are
permitted to wander undisturbed through the
peaceful silent valleys which stretch into that
great eternity that has no bounds" Happy.
affirm is he who falleth into that rapt dream and
pictures unto himself ecstatic visions too mar
velous for words. Into this land of Avalon men
are conveyed nightly and in dreams they rove,
wholly unconscious of their seraph guide who
opens enchanting scenes unto tranced spirits;
who unlocks the portals of unseen worlds. that
poets and authors have vainly endeavored to
portray And stealthily as they enter the mystic
rious domain, they are borne, as it were, on the
wings of the wind, and awoke to find not Ava
Ions sweet, restful vale, but world of action
and care. 1t is not chimera alone, this Avalon.
People are fully sensible of existing worlds far
beyond their reach, but wholly within their
STRENGTHENING and innumerable twinkling in
blue expanse, lit by an invisible hand, and
I situated nigh the phosphorescent moon. 1t is
no chimera to behold the sunlight revealing the
blossoms of the moon to harken to the melody
of the feathery chOirs trilling from the ada
cent woods ana coppice; it is the echo and SEM
blance of Avalon, the land in which we dream
ed of these; it is the awaking to life, to con-
seriousness and knowledge; it is no chimera to
watch the gilded clouds at sunset, to note the
silver mists irradiated by the rising moon, to
feel the drowsy numbness stealing DER our eye
lids, and to know we are entering that enchant-
ed land, the land of Avalon, the ideal region,
the realm of dreams. HARRY Cox.