The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-05-23
The Philosopher
i'm the Fog.
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as he breasted the fog. The condi-
tions surrounding him were precisely
of character to furnish very salts
factory test of the philosophy OF
which it was his boast to profess, and
the discomfort of the moment affect
ed him only in so far as it enabled
him to rise superior to it. He moved
through an opaque, yellow-white
world of impenetrable mystery. He
was conscious of others moving in
the same world-with, it may be,
less satisfaction, if he might judge
from certain detached explanatory
sounds which from time to time rose
up out of the encircling darkness.
Palpable though invisible objects
passed and repassed him at every
conceivable angle, cannoning up
against each other with aggressive
stupidity, and not infrequently can
noning up against himself, as he
,steered his way in what he imagined
to be straight line along straight
pavement.
The pavement-as he remembered
IL
certainly straight, and ran from ST.
James past the National Gallery,
which made it the more surprising
when a few yards further on, the Phil
osopher fell over curbstone in the
middle of the road into the arms of a
policeman.
Trafalgar square, conceive?" said
the Philosopher blandly as he read
justed his hat.
''Piccadilly Circus" said the police
man gruffiy.
Dear me! you don't mean it?'' re-
Joined the Philosopher. ''That ac-
counts for my having collided with SO
many substantial shades during the
last few minutes. 1 appear to have
lost to an extent my sense of direc-
tion''
"You amt the fust," said the po-
liceman, in a tone of encouragement.
eff you go on long enough you will
come somewhere"
This remark contained so evident
a germ of philosophy that it ticlled
the Philosopher into an appreciative
-chuckle.
$50 might Epictetus have spoken!"
he exclaimed, gleefully. 81 perceive
you to be student of Truth, my
friend! Good evening"" and he con-
tinued his way with an uncertain but
,complacent gait. He was brought up
very shortly by the unexpected pro-
Dinuuity of q horse
"Sir, you are on the pavement" re-
monstrated the Philosopher.
you're on the road, more ike!"
retorted voice, presumably belong
ing to phantom driver up in the air.
1'Can you tell me where 1 amp"
81 was about to address the same
inquiry to you," replied the Philoso-
pher, coupled with request that
you should drive me somewhere else"
''Drive you-not 1, sir!" the voice
returned. "I've signed e contract
with the fog to remain on this ERE
spot till morning"
''That contract would appear to
have many signatories,' remarked
the Philosopher, as he walked into a
stationary omnibus. ''The man was
right am no longer on the pave
ment."
From time to time the Philosopher
paused in his progress to add his vocal
comments to the sum of the echoing
human sounds around him; it en-
gagged his fancy pleasantly to address
his brother phantoms in a spirit of
agreeable camaraderie, as their re-
spective orbits intersected each 9TH
er. Certain fragmentary ejacula-
lions would call for the echo of re-
sponse-as, for instance, when hui
man body collided against the Phil
osopher with some force and a voice
burst forth
"What the deuce place is this?"
''Sir," replied the Philosopher, 81
apprehend we are not far from the
.Styx-a pleasant passage to you'll"
But the illusion of an intangible
world was oddly interrupted, before
the Philosopher had Travelled dozen
yards farther, by the sound of fem
mime voice close at his elbow
"Oh, please, can you tell me where
1 amp"
The philosopher stopped short.
''Not very clearly, 1 am afraid
madam" he replied.
81 am lost-and am so frightened
/ daren't novel"
The voice was far too soft and sill
very to belong to a ghost-by nc
means the vox exigua of a Tartarear
Shade-and the Philosophers heart
was touched by it's plaintive appeal.
eff i can assist you"-he began.
She caught his arm impufsively.
ooh, don't leave mel" she cried, in
childish panic.
Con no account" said the Philoso
pher firmly.
IF I could only find a hansom!"
eve will look for one," he said.
They had instinctively fallen into
step together, though they could MOI
see each other. The Philosopher:
breast swelled with the sense of /;
protective mission. He became con
scious of little glored hand touch
ing his own-the impulse by which
his finoars closed over If was unde,