La Junta tribune., 1908-12-12

for among their pleasures and pos
sessions. their griefs and joys, they
lacked the toon OF death To them
ambition became sia'e; success be-
came Irritating Love fretted instead
OF soothing and the flowers OF the
field wasted their fragranc. cn
dIscontented air The thrush In the
SKY was no longer as a song oil JOY
la tie morning. music failed 10
charm the ear: pleasure but dimmed
the eye with one acclaim the
people prayed for rest--eternai. peace
full rest. One day stranger came
into their mids. and told wonder
ful story Of an island OF undisturbed
rest. In glowing words he pictured
the solemn grandeur OF its quiet and
The giories OF its peace, The people
Of the Island Of Life lost no time
in putting to sea and directed their
course straight for the other land
with songs OF praise and thanks
giving upon their lips. Suddenly they
came within sight OF the miraculous
island. and marYelled at the still
ness which euveloped II. The trees
were green. but motionless. They
saw many birds. all sleeping on thei
nests Nearer they approached and
then they noticed that the waves
did not dash upon the coast. but lay
as mirror upon the surface of the
sea. They entered the quiet waters
and found that when they sought
To speak TO each other Of all these
wonders their tongues refused 10
move. The rowers felt their oars
become heavy as the weight of lead
Slowly the boats moved toward the
land. the people experienced swee
and tranquil sensation stealing over
their senses: their heads began to
nod: their bodies sank in drowsy re-
pose. With sighs of infinite bliss
they closed their eyes Eternal Sleep
placed the seal of its kiss upon each
brow All was quiet The boats
touched the shore and no longer
rocked or moved. They had landed
on the Island of Death.
enjoy musing over this exquisite
legend for the more study this
wonderful change which we call
Death. the more believe 1t is sim
ply a natural state OF rest. a mo
mentary halting on the threshold; the
opening OF door of escape from
this prison. the Earthly World; the
beginning OF something new. rather
than the end OF al. | believe that
all the terror. gloom and harshness
that cling about that dreaded name
are but the lurid imagery OF dis
eased and fanciful imagination.
Take death from the world and
you deprive humanity of It's great
est boon. Deaihis the only evil which
does not injfre us when we feel Its
presence. It not alone follows life
but also precedes II. and the dead
and ugly worm no more surely De
comes the graceful futtering butter
fly. than does myriad life spring
from the decay OF all that has died.
think Is no more beautiful senti
ment In the English language. con
corning Death. than the words o.
Shakespeare. when Laertes says o
ophelia:
Lay her l. the earth:
And from her fair and unpollutes
flesh
May yiolets spring."
Death is the end of all sorrow. Il
either ensures happiness or slays sun
fering. II frees the wretched slav.
from his cruel master; opens tn,
prison door to its benighted inmate
calms the tense agony of every pain,
stops the ruthless struggle OF power
ty. tears the bony hands of starv
alton from the throats Of hunger;
liberates mankind from all engross
ing cares: rescues the fallen woman
from the revilings of q heartless
world: unites the loving mother witt
her perished babe; covers all crimes
ouo AZ AeSsSeo, anu uhuS suS ~eA'
night OF every hopeless failure and
and neglect with the crowning Joy
of everlasting. dreamless sleep.
We must not only learn to face
death calmly and without fear. 1t Il
even more important that we learn
TO meet life bravely and with hope
Right living is the best preparation
for Death. and he whose life Is spent
in true sense Of dignity and vir-
tue Is best equipped to make that
solemn journey. whose road bears
not single imprint Of returning
foot. 1Eid whose direction and end
no mortal eye has ever seen.
The Benevolent and Protective