The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-31

have imagined the possibility of per- feet government by which all wrong should be restrained, all vice reformed. and all the subjects preserved In tranquility and innocence. I have im- agined innumerable schemes of reform alton and have dictated useful regula- tons and edicts. start now with fright when I realize that I imagined the deaths of my father and my bro- therH without the feast compuncticn or anguish"
 s'such are the results of visionary schemes." said 1mlac. We know them to be absurd at first. but gradually they seem quite sane and practical"
 They were walking along the banks moon shone on the water and the shore. and In It's beams they saw . very old man whom Rasselas ofter had. heard in the assemblies of sages.
 Let us ask him what are hls feel ings," said Rasselas. T would know 1T the latter part of life stlli struggles with wexation."
 "sir." said the Princess to the old man. "a man like yourself must have pleasures which ignorance and youth can hardly conceive"
 Lady" answered he, "iet the vigor- ous expect pleasure. It is enought that age can obtain ease. My fame Is empty. for have outlived the relatives and friends who should have been pleased by t. My mind is burdened with no heavy sin, and therefore re- pose myself to tranquiiiity; but my retrospect brings to my view many opportunities for good neglected, much time sauandered on trifies, and more lost in ldieness. leave many designs unattenpted and many great attempts unfinished. There Is little left for me to do save to abstract my thoughts from hopes and caes that reason knows now to be vain: to expect with serene humility the hour of my change: and to hope to possess in q better state that happiness which here cannet ind and that achievement which here have not attainsd."
 Smiling sadly, and yet not without cheer he arose and departed. Rasselas. Nekayah and Pekuah were disturbed and depressed; but they tried to com. fort themselves by agreeing: drat that age never had been considered the sea- son of happiness; second, that age was queruious and malignant and looked with envy on its heirs; and. third. that the man was older than he ap- psared and was in his dotage.
 Imlac smiled at the comforts which they thus procured for themselves 50 readily. and remembered that at the same age he was equally confident of unningied proBpsrity and equally fer- tile of consoiatery beiisfs.
 They resolved to set about the cure of the astronomer, arguing justly that his fantastic fancy might Zee before the distraction of society. In this they were correct, for after the astronomer had been In their company for some weeks. he confessed to Imlac that he found the conviction of his authority over the skies fade gradually from his mind.
 One day Rasseias spoke again of the monks whom the party had seen In the monastery of St. Anthony. 'The hap- py valley" said he. "disgusted me by the mere recurrence of its iuxuries, which became monotonous. I could but reproach myself when I saw the monks support without complaint q life not of monotoneus delight but fof monoton0ns harashIp.n
 They are less wFetehed | nthefr silent convent" said Tnaiac, t'tzan the Abyssinian Princes in their prison of pleasure. what the monks do is in- cited by sn adequate motive"