The Irish standard., 1895-10-19

appears gradualky as yigor Wanes and the
powers are $MIld srHined. tS And, strange
Senongh the boon most sought for by the
long and patient sufferer lis not assur-
ances Tor a life hereafter, but rest, en-
tire and perfect rest, from the life that
now is. Hamlet had no fear of death be-
cause of Its physical fortunes. He didn't
ssset his life alta pins fee ' And he felt
assured that no sensible persons would
bear the whips and scorns OF time" the
"oppressors' wrong, 7 etc, etc, when he
could obtain his Quietus make with a hare
bodkin but for the dread OF something
after ydea th. !" That was the rub with
MIN; In,ithese days, at least with very
many, it. is not so much the dread Of
something as the fear of nothing after
death that puzzles the Will and makes
us bear the ills Of the present rather thar
fly to an uncertainty.
{ While Hamlet had no dread Of death
because of its physical pain, Gen. Grant
sta ed very frankly that his only fear Of
lit was the physical suffering attending
final dissolution. That he met it4like a
brave man the world knows, and that he
met it like a PHILOSOPHERS is seen from his
self criticism. a short time before he died..
III have often thought said he, that ii /
could accomplish this or that before l
was taken ] would be content to go, but
when this desire was gratified found
other tasks presenting themselves, and ]
am satisfied thatreve though years Of ad-
ditional life were granted one he would
never find himself quite ready or his
house in perfect order. So it is best to let
Gods time be our time -
. That there is pleasure in escaping, ever.
|. through death, the tortures Of pain, th5.
dre!ary treadmill of unceas.ng and monot-
onous toll which makes up the existence
Of certain unfortunate mortals, is un
questionable. Not few human beings
are like that overwprked farmers Wife
who burst out in a frenzied rejoicing
when the doctor announced that she was
dying, because death meant to her the
end of dishwashing, and she was going
to do. nothing, more forever and ever"
But the pleasure arising from this thought
is merely anticipatory, and not synony
NOUS with enjoyment, the sensation Of
actual delight in the physical dismember
merit of soul and body. as.
After looking on death In many varied
forms from that occurring on the battle
field and in the hospital to the family
chamber, a learned physician gives it as
his opinion that the supreme agony which
we are apt to associate with the final sun
dering of the vital cord is rarely if ever
present The poet assures us that it is
sweet to die for. ones country, but, this is
in the sense, no doubt, Of gladly max
ing great sacrifice for a loved object, and
not in the sense of experiencing physical
pleasure in laying down ones life. But
whether it be on account of the excite
ment and exultation Of the moment Or for
other reasons, eye witnesses tell us that
death in battle s often full Of that triumph
and ecstacy which are only inspired by
supreme pleasure. .s.
/. It is undoubtedly true that the man who
lives well IS apt to die well, and we love
to hear of the summons coming softly to
a brave life, as if the soul stole gently
forth on tip-toe, not to awake the sleeper.
Bryant's injunction is apropos in this
connection: @
So live that when thy summons comes
B. to join
The innumerable caravan, which moves
To that mysterious realm, where each
shall take ~
His chamber in the silent halls of death,
Thou go not like the quarry slave at night
,Scourged to his dungeon, but sustained
and soothed
BY an unfaltering trust; approach thy
grave
Like one who wraps the drapery of his
couch - Z go
About him and lies down to pleasant
; dreams. 47: