Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-11
THE RICHMOND DIsPATCB-sUNDAY. JUNE II. 1892

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massive structure. Whist curiously med
itating. and much wondering. a door OPEN
ca before me, as II oDed!ent TO my will,
through which / passed 10 the interior.
ms was vast apartment, IN which were
assembled a group OF spirits, one OF whom
dccosted me on the instant: How do you
~ John. We knew you were coming
take my arm. and I'll introduce you TO
our Fellows. They all hail from. Richmond,
anu know OF you
ms mysei-appointed guide | knew in
the mesh as Bob. lie duly presented me
10 the company. who, one and all. greet
eu me with hearty welcome. / asked
| questions or those best known to me, and
answered all their inquiries. These, 20 my
| surprise, were directed TO the earth and
It's concerns. The tender regard they ex-
| pressed for the friends still living there
was touching in the extreme. In fact. IL
seemed as IL they cared more for the well
fare Of these than for their own. | could
out pity the air OF listlessness which per-
Vaded the whole group. whether they
| moved sinuOusly about, or, standing up.
leaned one against another, as cattle in a
! pen.
Every moment 1 passed with these spir-
its was really an age. with all its events
| present, TO me. Every act OF theirs on
earth was lettered in large characters in
| hell; so that knew each ones history as
well as know my own. But the strangesi
OF strange things is this; When / talked
with one L talked with all, by a species
Of telesraphy failed 10 comprehend. Be
fore the lips opened, or the tongue spoke,
| all knew what was going TO be said, and
L knew, too, and could have delivered
ones thought In ones own words.
THE FURNITURE.
After a pleasant interchange Of civllities
l looked TO se- what furniture might be
In the apartment. There was not SO much
as chair 10 afford the spirits comfort. or
rest. looked up 10 the ceiins-the space
above me was open. vast. incomprehensi-
bic. y Hight snone tniOugn it, radiant
all-perYadlng. but cast no shadows. AT
this / maTyeled much and long. A blend
ing of the electric with the softest moon
light will give one good idea OF IL.
After my wonder had somewhat abated
l asked Bob why he ana his friends were
confined III this miserable quarter. lie
answered me flppanty, and L thought,
profanely. That H. the he'll Of it!' What
then, co you all here" L returned. His
quick response met my question halfway,
Nothing" Amazed, bat hardly believing
my ears, 1 probed him further: did you
say nothing BQb?' With q curl of his
| lip, and snesr, he exclaimed: "Yesi no
thing, ana that, as | said, Is the he'll Of
| itm
| now babe adieu 20 these miserable spir-
| its. but not without commissioning their
fate, and wishing then. with all my heart,
d speedy deliverauce from their tolls.
Bob, from whose arm mine had been dis
enssSed, again TOOK il, and led me up 10
a ral, similar to that through which |
z A
opened easily, and let down at the same
! time folding steps, up which we mounted
TO the threshold. Here was d parsonage
in the act of descending. whom no soon
or saw than | exclaimed: Toni why Tom,
| now do you do? This is a surprise" How
do you do. john" &c returned. II heard
OF your visit, and have come down to see
| you. Tell me all you know Of my friends
in Richmond-how are they aU?" "They
were al well when / left the city; but
Tom, you look so natuial-Just as you
used to do-not a day Older. What are
you here for?' His face clouded. as he
| replied, Il am not OF this place. When l
| left Richmond l went straight TO Heaven.
Bat M time Is UP; ] must leave you.
Good-0y." Befors the last word was
| spoken he had vanished
Bob now led me TO another part Of the
vast mansion. when the door behind US
closed, and another JUST opposte opened.
Through this was coming, with a busy
step, and pre-engaged air, q person
whom l instantly guessed TO be the boss
Of big brewery. He was bu-ly OF frame.
and plainly, but neatly, dressed. / have
habit of pfejudglag character before ac.
qua!niance bssins, ana rely chiefly on the
eyes. As l looked into the strangers |
saw soul Of business IN them -pensiye.
penetrating, pre0ccupied. 10 my surprise.
he aCcOsted me BY name, and ciyiliy ex-
cJsod himself for not appearing sooner.
Important business, he said. had detain-
cd him. His duties were imperative. He.
too, kn,w OF my Visit. and, with q grave
courtesy offered - take me, with q safe
conduct, through several Of the wards OF
what he was pleased 10 call the peniten-
| tiary.
At this stage Of my progress Bob had
vanished, and l saw him no more After
br!ef pause l said to the stranger: II
am not sure. sir, bat l think / have seen
you before-possibly in New York. May
L ask the favor Of your manner? Satan.
BY this name am commonly known. and
by IL you will best identify me" Though
thunder-struck. l was neither awed nor
made AFRAID by this disclosure, but kept
my countcnance and my nerves.
SATAN WAS TALKATIVE.
Continuing, Satan said: You have
heard of me on earth. l know. in various
ways. and by various names: nowfteu me
how am l regarded-how REPRESENTED
there?"
Without desising to be diplomatic. re-
piled: BY the intelligent you are thought
10 be most like the character which Mil
ton drew of Lucifer-an arch-angeI in re-
bellion against God-who was hurled from
Heaven down TO these dismal precincts.
Your Majesty"-I biushed as I said this
must be aware that ignorant folks plct-
ure you in various shapes; sometimes
half-man, half-beast. with goats or bulls
horns, or cloven boots; or al a serpent of
great cunning. and fascinating power: or
as sophisticated gentleman who per
suades man to follow vicious courses. 10
his ultimate ruin"
He remarked on this: What Ignorance
prevails on earth! The learned are no
wiser than the herd-neither know truth
from error. But come, sir; I'll show YOU
other forms Of punishment for those who.
IN the flesh, have gone astray."
n great door flew open in the infinite
wall through which ] saw. as In a piano.
rama. a long line of bakers at work in
their ovens. The perspective Of the as
cending column Of workers, interminable
though IL seemed was as beautiful as any
ever devised by man, or displayed by IA.
ture in her grandest moods. The bakers
and their numerous assistants, in their
white caps and garments were as busy
as bees in hive, and did their work with
the dizziness Of master-workmen. The
sweat ran from them in streams, and
made a little river.
DO you bake bread In hell" asked OF
Satan. Yes" he said. The labor is 4
punishment for those on earth who knew
the rioht and naraistantl,. .....--...l =