The sun., 1901-03-26
DO NOT DREAD DEATH
In Last Hours Interesting Assur'
ance From DR.. Thomas d.
Andrews,

Col. George Nox Mccain, one OF the
best among Philadelphia's newspaper
men, has been interviewing DIR. 4. IL.
Andrews, surgeon to the bureau oi
Police and Fire, ON the question Oh
whether dying persons experience iehr
or dread just before they pass from me-
| In the course Of 81 years Of active prac-
tice, DIR. Andrews has conducted over
| 4 900 post mortem examinations, ana mas
seen at least half that number of human
lbeings expire. From his widespread
land unusual means of observation the
Doctor is equipped to speak intelligentiy 4
on this subject of general interest ana
he said:
death is as much of mystery 10
me now us it was when | first saw
human being die. Nature is never so
kind to a man as when she is severlng
the ties that bind him to this earthly me-
She removes all fear, ameliorates every
harsh surrounding, softens every souha
! md smooths the narrow pathway to the
, crave with kindly hands. The easiest
: thing in life is to die" J,
'In your experience, DIR. Andrews,
was asked, .'have you ever found case
t in which fear Of death rose to the point
4 where men fought and screamed at It's
{ approachY"
i, "Neyer. In severe sickness death
comes in the grise of a welcome visitor
= On the battlefield, or as the result Oh ac'
= cident or sudden shock, when it comes
J. to man swiftly, who but moment be
" fore was in perfect health and who hall
y an hour later will be lifeless, forti
u tude which / cannot describe and nave
u never heen able to analyze sustalns TN
as victim"
n DO men. and women of the highe
trades of intelligence exhibit any diff
AZ ferent emotions as death approache
ne from those gifted with less mental pow
d, ar? Does the professional man or th
of scientist betray any different feeling
n, )r emotions from those exhibited by tn
lay laborer, the peasant or the mos
'h' gnorant of men"
'ly 'No. and yes" was the reply "Ih
IL scientist, the man or woman of keen il
- l,elligence and trained faculties, unles
sheir lives have been conspicuous for
rh- exhibition of faith in religion and il
Dp- 'eachngs, are slower to accept mini
er- trations of clergymen and others. III
ON nan of low intelligence yields at the hr
,pproach and calls for religious consol
M ton.
ect "The reason for this is, ] think, tn
in the vast majority of professional me
outside of the clergy, and particular
~, | loctors and scientists generally. are II
.'e Inclined to believe or accept what th
I'M ,annot demonstrate ms Il scientific fa'
Jon And vet, as a rule, these men and wol
/ is n willingly accept religious ministrati
4 when death is only Il matter of hou
:" "The one great unsolved problem,
OIL FORE which science has thus far sto
en- isarmed, is the secret and the myste
if ,f the origin of life. Side by side w
,n. It | may say is the mystery of dea
have never seen, and | have ne'
'nce heard of any authentic evidence from
leath-bcd of any one, which could
in accepted as scientific proof of the exi
,,o ,nce of life beyond.
"'rhat is n matter Of faith. 1t
y 10 beeen matter of faith through all
not ,ges, and l believe that it will be
the natter of faith to the end of time.
+bo lhavc. as I said before, discovered Il
s 4it ~. a,,a- lI-arnnp- of the nllr
very md in a manner that undoubtedly te
SEN % rob death Of even the semblance
t;oo, terror"