The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-31

reach. The way to be happy Is to live according to nature. Observe the linnet of the grove and the deer of the forest. Consider the lives of the animals whose motions are regulated by instinct. Let us learn to live ac- cording to this simple and inteliigible maxim; Deviation from nature Is de- viation from happiness"
 He looked with placid air at the Prince, who asked: "Can you teach me what it is to live according to nature2"
 gro live according to nature" said the philosopher, "is to act always with due regard to the fitness aris- ing from the relations and qualities of causes and iefeectB and to cooper ate with the general disposition and tendency of the system of things"
 Rasselas dfscerned that this was one of the sages whom a man understood less the longer he iistened to him. He bowed silently and departed, and the philosopher stroked his beard. with pride.
 The Prince went to Kekah and said: We will not succeed in our search by these means. Imalac does not help us, for he is convinced that there is no happiness We must find will look for the choice of life in the courts, You shall look for it in the modest houses of the middle fortune"
 The nxt day he arrived at the Bas- sa's court with a splendid train that obtained, immediate admtttance for him. He announced himself to be a prince from a distant land and his li- berality soon made him a member of the intimate court circles For a time he thought that it must be true hap piness to be such a ruler as the Bas- sa, who was obeyed by. thousands. and had the power of making them happy by wise administration. But soon he found that the lives of all the Bassa's advisers and friends were full of plots, stratagems and treachery. Suddenly one day a palace conspiracy reached success and within twenty-fOur hours the Bassa was being carried in chains to Alexandria.
 "Is power useless for happinessg' Rasselas asked his sister. "Or Is there happiness in supreme power. Is the Sultan the only truly happy man?"
 In a short time the second Bassa was deposed, and the Sultan who had had appointed him was murdered by his own Janizaries.
 Nekayah was no more successful in her search among private families than Rasselas had been In court. Some are the slaves of their servants" said she. "Others are kept in constant anxiety by the caprice of rich relatives. Some husbands are imper!ous. Some wives are perverse. I have seen few families
 weherin all were good Povererty is often concealed in splendor. great part of mankind wastes each present day in eontriving for the next. The opinions of children and parents are
 generally opposed. Those whom na- ture has most closely united often live to prove each others torment"
 "While you are seeking the wise way to live" said Imlac when they told him the result of their quest, you are neklecting to live" He proposed
 to them that they make a journey 10 see the pyramids, and they agreed. When they reached the mysterious monuments Pekuah declined trembling ly to enter them. The Princess, after having tried in vain to encourage her, embraced her and led her In the front Then Rasselas and Nekayah, guided
 by Imlac. surveyed the gloomy won ders of the interior and specuIated as to the reason that impelled the build ing of the mighty piles.
 "It was a king with power unlimitedi treasures lncalculRble. dominion un- questioned. nothing but pleasure to live for, who built them" said Imlac. Hay
 ing everything he could not bear the the tedlousness of life. and sought to alleviate 1t by seeing thousands labor 1 without end. laying one stone for no purpose on another. The pyramids confess the folly of desire"
 When they emerged they found panic and grief among their tents A band of Arabs had rushed upon the camp to plunder 1t. troop of Turkish horse
 men had arrived In time to drive them of. but they had succeeded in carrying Pekuah with them
 N1.g h1HNAE grief and blamed herself for the dls- aster. At first she kept her hope alive
 by efforts to find and rescue her fav- orIte. Rasselas paid money to offclaIs and private agents for information. messengers and armed men were sent 10 all places where Arab bands con. gregated, but no news came. Nekayah despaired at last and sank Into hopeless dejection. permitted mv fondness to lesson my authority" said she to Imlac. Had insisted on