The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1900-01-10

have the fatal gift of second sight in
regard to length of life, and saw
that he would pass from this world
within two years. AS to the cause of
death could not say. He seemed in
excellent health now, though not of
robust constitution; few men who do
Office work exhibit the quality of
ruggedness which is associated with
length of life, yet many live to good
old age. was filed with strange
pity for the man before me, so fair
minded, generous, and, in his way,
so attractive. Yet could not say
word of his short career. 'r.
This gift is difficult to describe: ]
only know that possess it. BY ex-
perience 1 have learned to guess how
near any person is to dissolution and
to avoid his society, for / dread n
dying person, man or woman.
"Your stories, Alcott," the editor
was saying, "'lack moral purpose,
patriotism, belief in high motives,
in affection. The people who read
stories want that sort of thing. They
read for amusement, for emotional ex-
element, to be fiattered by approba-
tion of sort of cheap generosity
which they feel they could easily in
dulge in themselves if rich. The
mission Of all art, it has been said,
lis to create and foster agreeable illu-
eions.'" -o,3t +r.at
eyes," I responded, rousing myself
to answer. "I have heard that, but l
despise that sort of cheap art. 1t is
work for valet, not philosopher. "
People don't want philosophy,
Alcott. Most persons accept their re-
ligion, their politics, and their philos-
ophy, from the current talk. IT
were rich should be happy That
is the unspoken conviction. Mean
while, let somebody tell me how vir-
tuous am and how much I deserve.
You don't do that. Just as likely as
not your hero robs q bank or wins
money on q horse race or kills an
enemy and has never qualm of con-
science afterwards. That isn't
proper. You want to make dishonest
people suffer for their sins and show
that Americans beat the world"
SIN what? In knavery? Is there
any nation at the top?"
"I have tried to point ont the way
you might succeed, but il it seems
only jest to you, il you don't care to
profit by my experience, why let it
CO."
The editor was wounded by my
flippancy, and could only pity hin,
and think '"Too bad! Only two
years longer to live"
"You want me to initiate Kipling?
I said.
"No, Kipling's merits belong solely
to him. But il you'd change this end
ing and make the men reform, il
might CO."
elk it up for me, that's q gooi
fellow" / said "You can't imagine
how / hate to touch a thing l have
written, even to read it over again
after have grown cold"
''You will never make success O.
literature unless you get over that
Alcott. What would lawyer amount
to il he could not tire out jury by
repetition, or an actor, or, in fact, any
professional man? But authors seen
to think they can say thing once ant
have the world at their feet"
| ! was glad to get away. The very
thought OF death disturbs me. II
makes me ask mys elf how long am
to live, and as cannot see myself,
torture myself in futile questioning
} OF the future.
About year later I met Mr.. King
the editor, on the street.
II had strange dream last night,
he said. ~ thought was dead, ant
: that you said you had known about /
! long ago. What do you think of it?'
, He tried to smile, but I saw he wa
scared. Death daunts all when locke,
: at face to face.
II don't have much faith il
8 Dreams" was my reply. "If you ha,
failed in as many things as hay,
you would welcome death as
change"
One says these things TO others bu
they are talashoods. ! fear death.