The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-26
By MAXIM CORK
r
Z,.r. .,e4 lrom ne Rnssian b. Daga 4. M0aeN

and before them lay street-two rows
Of dwellings and darkness in between. in
which the dim street lamps strikingly EN-
phasiled the lack of light on earth.
Tell mo, the Devil after pause began.
"how do you find the grave?"
Now that am used 10 It. it's not 40 bad
and very tranquil. At first. however, Il
was rather irving The fool who nailed
the lid on the coffin for some reason drove
nail into my skull This was a triaing in
cdent OF course but it was unpleasant,
nevertheless You know. | was ready 10
believe this some malicious symbolism
an endeavor to spoil my brains. by the use
Of which ! would myself spoil things for
people Then the worms appeared. They
tho Devil take them,--ate me with e1-
cruciating slowness.
"Of course. said the Devil 'and they
are not to be blamed for it, either: body
saturated with gall is by no means a very
savory dish.
How much body had l on? Virtually
| none retorted the writer.
still TO eat even that was rather a task
! than pleasure The publishers. for in
stanc,. the worms eat mora quickly and
with avidty-
palatable.
And is it damp in the grave in fall?- the
Devil asked
Decidedly so. But one becomes used
to all that. Frankly speaking the most
aggravatnR things ara the various idiots
who. roaming over the cemetery, chance
upon my grave. don't know just how
long have lain in the grave. for. as myself
/ a Ia
have no appreciation of time
You have been in your grave four years
soon five, announced the Devil
Yes il it so long During this
time three persons have visited my grave.
And they leased mo. Re they damned,
One. you know. actually denied that | ever
existed. He came. read the inscription,
and said with an air Of assurance:
There was none such, | never read
him, though the name ia somewhat familiar.
Whom | was quite young man bearing this
name kept a secret savings fund In our
street
Now what do you think OF that? And
appeared for sixteen years in the most
popular magazines. besides being published
thrice in three separate editions.
Your books have been published twioe
sincn your death, the Devil announced.
You seel Ard then two others came,
one of whom SAID:
Oh is this he:'
1t is the other replied. Yes. and he
was read too in bvgone days
Everybody il read. What did he
write asked the frat.
Generally about virtue, beauty and
the rest
Yes. yes. recolect. His style was
somewhat heavy. How many such lie III
the ground! Yes, the Russian soil is rich
in talent
And they eft, the o1en' know that
warm words won't rails, the temperature
of the grave. nor do want them; still it's
unpleasant TO hear such things And how
| should like to give them a scolding-
You ought TO rebuke them severely"
the Devil said, smiling.
But, it's awkward, you know. The
eve of the twentieth century, and all at
once the corpses take to scolding! How
ridiculous. and, in the end, 50 cruel 10 the
materialists.
Again the Devil was bored
This writer during his lifetime ever
wished to be bridegroom Mt every wedding
and the deceased at every funeral; and
now. when everything else had died within
him, his ambition was still alive. But, then.
i the body really essential to life? II is
mans spirit alone that ia important, and
only bis spirit is deserving of praise and
alteration. But how wearisome mankind
i=,r
The Devil was just at the point OF sug-
costing to the writer that he return to his
grave. when suddenly an idea entered
bis wicked head The two were at that
moment on the market place. surrounded
by massive buildings. Low over the mar
ket hung the black, damp sky; it seemed
as if 1t rested upon the roofs and looked
down gloomily upon the muddy ground
Listen. spoke the Devil, leaning low
ingly toward the author, would Won like
to see how your wife is getting along?-
81 really don't know whether | do or not,
the writer slowly answered.
Il see. you are perfect corpse,- the
Devil teasingy exclaimed.
No. why The writer boldly shook
his bones. Il am not opposed to it, and
besides. she shall not see me, and won't
recognize me if she does
"Of course, Of course the Devil assured
him.
81 say tiIis because she did not ike II
when I used to absent myself long from
home, the writer explained
Then one wall of n house vanished. or
else became transparent like glass The
writer saw the interiors Of large rooms
al very light. comfortable and beautiful
Nicely furnished apartments. these,-
or 'ousiy creiked the skeleton Very
fine furniture indeed SO circumstanced
perhaps l should have lived yeti
i ike it, too. the Devil said. smiling
And it isn't costly about 1000 Tubles
"H'm-this not costly | remember my
most pretentious literary production brought
me but SIS ribles and ! worked almost
year upon it. But who lives there?-
Your wife, said the Devil.
rs that sol An, that's good for her
And that woman? My wife,
1t is she"
Now her husband appeared
She has become handsome And how
richly dressed! HIM, her husband, you
say What a healthy looking fellow: his
face is altogether bourgeois. But kind
man he seems. His face, though looks /
rather foolish-even mean. But, then.
such faces please women
Shall | sigh for your the Devil asked