Evening journal., 1906-09-01
IN THE SHADOW
OF DEATH

AS Sir Walter Scott lay dying he
summoned his great friend to his side
by a motion Of his hand and whis-
pered: "Lockhart, l may have but a
minute to speak 10 you My dear, be
a good man. Be vlrtuous, be religious
--be a good man. Nothing else VIII
give you any comfort when you come
to lie here"
Nelson In the midst of his grateful
ness for having died VIGOROUSLY for
England thought for flashing mo-
ment of his early record in its relation
to the life after death. Doctor" he
said to the surgeon. Il have not been
q great sinner"
On the other hand. there are innu-
merable instances In the records of bi-
Ography pointing TO the fact that men
die without thought Of the world be-
yond. Charles II. died thinking of
"Poor Nell" Sir Richard Grenvllle
died with his mouth full Of oaths, ours
ing the traitors ana dogs" who had
surrendered his little Revenge to the
Spaniards. History is full of such in
stances.
Indeed. it Is a memorable subject
for consideration" says Stevenson,
with what unconcern and gayety
mankind runs on along the valley Of
the shadow Of death. The whole way
is one wilderness Of snares, and the
end of It for those who fear the last
pinch is irrevocable ruin. And yet we
go spinning through it all, like party
for the Derby"
A doctor tells me that in a very long
hospital experience he has never known
Of sensational deathbed The ap-
proach Of death is, as a rule. doubted,
and up to the last moment Of con-
sciousness the passing soul retains its
conviction in the endurance of earthly
things.
Soldiers tell the same story. To die
testing seems the last act Of courage
possible to a fighting man. and he
makes the most Of It, Endless are the
stories of soldiers dying In action with
a shout OF bumor on their lips
Even more wonderful is the cold
bloodedness Of men going to the scaf-
fold. To feel the edge OF the ak was
something of jest in old days. and
there is the story of the felon going to
Tyburn who blew the froth from his
last mug of beer because it always
gave him indigestion
And yet it is only in. brief moments
that the true horror Of death sweeps
over the soul We do not think about
1t. We put It away from US. Human
ity has made up its mind not to be
frightened Death indeed is even pre-
ferred before life. A hopeless infatua-
ton for a painted doll will drive For
tunatus to suicide. Money troubles
will fling a man under a passing ex-
press. and dyspepsia has loaded many
revolver. Life may be uncomfortable,
but death is not to be feared. Into the
unthlnkable mysteries Of the universe
soul casts itself in a petulance and
the waters of death close over it with
out sound.
What has become Of that soul?
Where is that consciousness gone
that personality. that individual force
which differed the man from every
other who ever lived?
But the mob who watch the poo
drenched and bloated and horrlbl-
body wheeled away TO the mortuar
turn away without any realization c
leath. They go to their taverns az
heir merchandise. take up the o
saasy and well worn threads Of the
Existence. and getting Of food mono
llizes all their thoughts.
Fear death? They fear nothing
he world. They are not even afra
Il themselves.-Ch Chicago Inter Ocean.