St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-09-04
John Bunyan on the Silver Issue, or
Demas and the Silver r1ine.

Demas and the Silver rline.
A correspondent of the Plttsfeld,
Mass, Sun calls attention to the fol-
lowing extract from John Bunyan's
"Pilgrim's Progress" as throwing
some light on the present attitude OF
the nation towards the silver ques-
ton. He calls upon the solid men
of both parties to decide whether
they shall leave the highway Of
economic soundness at the call Of
those who have silver to place upon
the American market.
1.-THE Christian and Hopeful went
on till they came to delicate plain
called Ease, where they went with
much content but that plain was
but narrow SO they were quickly got
over it. Now at the further side OF
that plain was a little hill called
Lucre, and in that hill a silver mine,
which some OF them that had form
erly gone that way, because of the
rarity of it, had turned aside to see,
but going too near the brim of that
pit, the ground being deceitiul under
them, broke and they were slain.
Some also had been manned there,
and could not to their dying day be
their own men again. Then | saw in
my dream, that little off of the
road, over against the silver
mine, stood Demas, (gentleman.ike)
to call passengers to comeand see
who said to Christian and his fellow,
Ho! turn aside hither, and | will
show thing.
Christian. What thing is so deserv-
ing as to turn us out of the way TO
see it?
Dumas. Here is silver mine and
some digging in it for treasures; if
you will come with little pains you
may richly provide for yourselves.
Then said Hopeful let us go see.
Not l, said Christian, have heard
OF this place before now, and how
many have there been slain, and
besides that treasure is snare to
those that seek it, for it hindereth
them on their pilgrimage.
Then Christian called Demas, say.
ing, is not the place dangerous?
hath it not shindered many in their
pilgrimage?
Demas. Not very dangerous,
except to those that are careless.
But withal he blushed as he spake.
Then said Christian to Hopeful,
let us not stir step, but still keep
on our way.
Hopeful. | warrant you, when
By-Ends comes up if he hath the
same invitation he will turn on
thither to see!
Christian. No doubt thereof, for
his principles lead him that way, and
a hundred to one ("sixteen to one')
but he dies there.
Then said Christian what is thv
name? Is it not the same by which |
have called thee?
Dtmas. Yes, my name is Demas;
| am the son of Abraham.
Christian. know you. Gehazi was
your great grandfather, and Judas
your father, and you have trod in
their steps. 1t is but a deviish
prank that thou usest, thy father
was hanged for a traitor, and thou
deservest no better reward. Assure
thyself that when we come to the
king we will tell him of this thv
behaviour. Thus they went their
way.
BY this time, By. Ends and his
companions were come again in sight,
and they at the first beck went over
to Dtmas. Now whether they fell
into the pit by looking over the
brink thereof, or whether they went
down to dig or whether they were
smothered in the bottom by the
damps that commonly arise, of these
things | am not certain, but this
observed that they never were seen
again in the way. Then sang Chris
tian:
"By. (Bry-anl and Silver Demas both
agree
One calls, the other runs that he may be
a sharer in his lucre-so these do
Take up this world and no further 60"