The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-31

most unusual that man has ever held known only by the minority of people today; yet in some undefinable way he remains q dominating figure, almost as if he were of the present.
 fame Is due almost entirely to his char acter. It was his talk, more than his writings that made him of fmmense taught the. minds about him to think. He brushed from the brains of his great contemporaries the cobwebs of cant, af- fecfton, also sentiment and meretricfous
 "Rasselas,' like most of his written wor<s is couched in suited language; but 1t Is beautiful, chaste and poetic phii6sophy and wonderful Knowledge of human nature in every part of it. It gives a view of life that is profound. though gloomy.
 Rasseias, Prince of f..Ahyssinia. was the fourth son of the mighty Emperor Of that great country in whose domin- ions the Nile, father of waters, begins his course. pouring downward the streams of plenty and scattering the harvest of Egypt over half the world.
 According to an age-lopg custom, Rasselas. like all other sons and daugh- kers of Abyssinian royalty, was comm cd from youth In private palace to walt tiii succession should call him to fhs throne.
 This palace stood in a gloriously beautiful valley and was surrounded by mountains of such steepness and height that they forbade flight or access. The only sntrance was through passage betveen the hills. defended by gates of iron 60 massive that no living man could open them without the aid of
 Those in the outer world did not tmagine that any of the fortunate ones in the beautiful valley could wish to iesve it. From time to time great poets or learned men. brilliant artists. dam cers and singers, were sent into the val ley to amuss or teach the princely fam- lily there The vision of comfort and delight which was opened to them al- ways impressed them so powerfully that they had no deafer wish than that it might be perpetual: and as the Iron gates closed on these visitors forever. none returned to tell the outside world tf longer experience changed their v.Sws. fs u
 The princes and princesses of Abys- sinis dweiied there with the knowedgs of only pleasure and repose. Around then were all the blessings of nature and of art, with their evil extracted. They wandered iAgardens of fragrance they knew not the meaning of danger. The sages taught them that they were happy and that the world without was sad. The poets and singers sang to them praises of their happy valley.
 Few of the princes ever wished to enlarge their bounds. but were con yinced that they had all that the world couid sbestow and pitied those who dweiied outside. But when Rasse1as, the fourth Prince, reached the age of 2s he became dissatisfied without know ing why.
 The oldest sage in the valley, who had been his instructor from youth, saw his mood and sought to change 1t. You are the first who has become dissatis- Ged with the happy valley" said the sage. Look around ana tell me which Of your wants Is unfulflled. If you want nothing, how can you De unhau- py7'
 That is the cause of my complaint" !" akid the Prince. T want nothing and know not what want. Give me some. eAing to desfres."' .e,fg4#
 sir" said the sage, If you had seen the miseries of the world beyond this valley you would know how to value your present state"
 Now" cried the Prince. starting up. now you have given me some. thing to desire. long to see the mis- cries of the world, since the sight of them is necessary to happiness"
 Rasselas now began to picture to himself this world which he never had seen. His chief amusement was to imagine himself in many conditions, en- tangled in difieuitfeS or engaged in wild adventures. and always he dream. ed that each adventure would terminate fin his relief of distress, defeat of op- pressors and diffusion of happiness,
 He resolved to nee from the happy valley, and. while he waited. for ID opportunity lie set about learning the ways of men. ,ArnonEi the wise fox who had been sent into the happy val ley was Ona Inniacs who had been in all the piaces of earth. and had seen men in wealth and in wretchedness. In glory and In shame.
 He told Rasselas of India and Arabia and Persia. and finally of Europe ',rhey cure wounds and diseases with which we lan6nish and perlsh' said .In1lac. "They have engines for per forming labor that we must do slow Jy by hand. There is such communi- cation between distant places that one friend can hardly be said to be absent from another"
 They are surely happy said the Prince; t*
 '"TheS are less unhappy than others.p said Inlae. "but they are not happy. Human life everywhere is a state in which much must be endured.
 The Prince was unwilling ta believe that happiness was distributed to nor tals so parsimoniously. Inllac told him how he had grown in wisdom without gaining happiness, and how at last he had returned to his native land still ses1ins 1t. "I desired to teach my eouatrymen what had learned" said he. "The nobles admitted me to theif tables.' heard my story and dismissed me. opened school. and was for hidJen to teach. I wooed a woman, and she rejected me because my fath- eft had been a tradesman. resigned myself with joy to perpetual confine- ment in this happy valley.
 "And are you happy at last?" asked Rasselas.
 T know not one of all your attend ants here who does not lament the hour when he entered this retreat said Imiac q ana less unhappy than the rest. bocauEe [ have a mind res plete with images. Yet I have the sor. rowful knowledge that my acquire Ynenta are useless now, and that none of my pleasures can be enjoyed again The rest, whose minds are less well stored, are corFoded by envious pas- atpuA"
 ''What passion can infest those who live in e place where all envy Is re- pressed by a 'con1munitys of enjoy InentT' asked RhsselaB in surprise
 'srhsre may be a community of ma teriai possessions." said Imlac. "hul that does not make community Ot love or esteem"
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