The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-31

became clear to Rasselas and Nekayah, and that was that they were discon- tented, considering themselves as cursed to labor for the rich.
 The next day they came into a beauti- full domain where the most perfect art had been used to increase the charm of generous nature. Woods and streams were there in primeval loveliness. Handsome youths danced and. sang in the open glades. Everywhers were signs that the master of the land was no less lovable than rich.
 The master invited the party to his pal ace and entertained them with luxury that was rendered unobtrusive by his simple hospitality. Rasselas finally con- graduated him on his ideal condition. In reply he sighed and said: My prosperity has undone me- The Bassa of Egypt has become envious of my possessions. I am now sending away what I can of my wealth. for it is only a matter of time before shall be compelled to flee"
 Imlac looked at Rasselas with a com passionate glance that said: You see how rare true happiness is."
 On the third day they came to the hermits cell. He welcomed them with the words and manners of one accus- toned to courts. After he had set food before them, they told him why they ch oice of life" said the Prince. Your example recommends solitude"
 T have, indeed, lived 15 years in solitude" answered the hermit, "but will not recommend it. l was the commander of an army, when young CT office began to gain fame, and l, feeling that my vigor was decaying, resolved to seek peace, having found the world full of snares and discord. I retreated to this place. At first I felt like a tempest-b eaten sailor when he enters a harbor. But for many years I have been unsettled and dis tracted. I have found that the life of a solitary man is certain to be mis- erable. but not certain to be devout. We cannot escape our minds. have decided to return to the world"
 They heard his decision with disap- pointment, but offered to conduct him to Cairo. He dug up a treasure that he had hidden among the rocks, and when he saw the city at last, he gazed on it with such rapture that Rasselas realized how empty his solitary phil osophy had been.
 The Prince told the story of the her init to a great philosopher of Cairo, who smiled indulgently and replied: "Nothing is so foolish as to inquire blindly for happiness when nature has already placed it close within our 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 os the animals whose motions are regulated by instinct. Let us learn to live &C., cording to this simple and intelligi- ble maxim: Deviation from nature is deviation from happiness"
 He looked with placid air at the Prince, who asked: Can you teach me what 1t is to live according to na- ture?"
 "To live according to nature" said the philosopher, lis to act always with due regard to the fitness arising from the, relations and qualities of causes and effects and to cooperate with the general disposition and tendency of the system of things"
 Rasselas discerned that this was one of the sages whom a man understood less the longer he listened to him. He bowed silently and departed, and the philosopher stroked his beard with pride.
 The Prince went to Eekayah and said: We will not succeed in our search by these means Imlac does not help us, for he is convinced that there is no happiness. We must find it