Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1903-01-16
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VAoSCo u ICSOIl, Vuc lypc pISUOAl4udl-
ed-people in. the prime of youth. with
every show Of intelligence and, sensi-
bility in their: appearance. but with 1T
tie promise Of strength or the quality
that makes success. Few were much
above thirty. and not few were still
in their teens. They stood, leaning on
tables and shifting on their feet; some
times they smoked extraordinarily fast
pnd sometimes they let their cigars go
but; some talked well, but the CONVEX
sation of others was plainly the result
of nervous tension and was equally
without wit or purport. AS each new
bottle Of champagne was opened there
was manifest Improvement in ga yety.
Only two were seated-one in a chair
in the recess of the window, with his
head hanging and his hands plunged
deep into his trousers pockets. pale.
visfbly moist with Precipitation. saying
never word. very wreck Of soul and
body; the other sat on the diyan close
by the chimney and attracted notice
by a trenchant dissimilarity from all
the rest. He was probably upward of
forty, but he looked fully ten years
older, and Florizel thought he had
never seen a man more naturally hid
eous nor one more ravaged by disease
and ruinous excitements. He was no
more than skin and bone, was partly
paralyzed and wore spectacles of such
unusual power that his eyes appeared
through the glasses greatly magnified
and distorted in shape: Except the
prince and the president, he was the
only person in The room who preserved
the composure Of ordinary life.
There was little decency among the
the disgraceful actions, the conse-
quences of which had reduced them to
seek refuge in death, and the others
listened without disapprovaL There
was tacit understanding against NOR
al judgments. and whoever passed the
club doors enjoyed already some OF the
immunities of the tomb. They drank
to each others memories and to those
of notable suicides in the past. They
compared and developed their different
views of death, some declaring that it
was no more than blackness and cessa-
ton, others full of hope that that
very night they should be scaling the
stars and commencing with the mighty
dead. ~@
ITO the. eternal memory of Baron
Trenck. the type Of suicides!'' cried one.
'He went out OF 4 small cell into a
smaller that he might come forth again
to freedom"
"For my part" said second, II
wish no more than a bandage for my
eyes and cotton for my ears Only they
have no cotton thick enough in this
world"
A third was for reading the mysteries
of life in future state, and fourth
progressed that he would never have
joined the club if he had not been III
duced to believe in Mr.. Darwin.
Il could not bear" said this remark
able suicide, Ito be descended from an
ape"
Altogether the prince was disappoint.
ed by the bearing and conversation OF
the members.
1T does not seem to me-" he thought,
"a matter for So much disturbance. If
man has made up his mind to kill
himself, let him do it, in Gods name.
like gentleman. This hutter and big
talk is out Of place.
In the meanwhile Colonel Geraldine
was prey to the blacklist apprehen-
sions. The club and it's rules were still
mystery, and he looked round the room
for some one who should be able to set
his mind at rest. In this survey his
eye lighted ,on the paralytic person
with the strong spectacles, and, seeing
him SO exceedingly tranquil, he be-
sought the president. who was going In
and out of the room under pressure of
business, to present him to the gentle
man on the divan.
The functionary explained the need
lessness Of all such formalities. within
the club, but nevertheless presented
Mr.. Hammersmith to Mr.. Malthus
Mr.. Nautilus looked at the colonel GU
riously and then requested him to take
a seat upon his right
"You are newcomer" he said. '.and
wish information. You have come to
the proper source. 1t is two years since
first visited this charming club"
The colonel breathed again. II Mr..
Nautilus had frcQuented the place for
two years, there could lie little danger
for the prince in 4 single evening. But
Geraldine was none the less astonished
and began to suspect Il mystitication.
"What!' cried he. 1.-Two years!
thought-but indeed see I have been.
made the subject Of pleasantry.''
by no MEANS" replied Mr.. Nautilus
mildly: my case IL peculiar. am not,
properly speaking, suicide at all, but,
as it were, an honorary member. l
rarely visit. the club twice in two
months. Ny intirmity and the kindness
of the president have procured me these
little immunities, for which. besides,
pay at an advanced rate Even as it
is, my luck has been extraordinary"
II am afraid" said the colonel, .that
must ask you to be more explicit. You
must remember that am still most i'm
perfectly acquainted with the rules Of
A.. -. ! $50 r Z. =" .t. .