The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1915-05-28


nights when the air seems TO cling to
one like a warm wet blanket, and de-
presses ones spirits to the point of
painfulness.
Far down in the West the dull roar
of thunder heralded the battle of
cloud and wind. The night was far
advanced and l sat alone in de-
serted park meditating upon the
mystery of the immortality of the
soul. Should |, at death, vanish into
nothingness like the lightning flash
of the distant cloud, or rise into
an everlasting destiny? Was heaven
an appealing truth? Hell'a an appall-
ing verify? was so deeply absorbed
in my reverie that my hands and feet
grew cold. and my spirit struggled to
withdraw itself from my body, con-
ditions some persons experience just
before death. Unconsciously in my
! intensity of thought, | asked myself
aloud. is there truly a hell? A hand,
| light as the stroke of falling snow
flake was laid upon my shoulder. and
voice, calm and low, commanded,
come and see." The voice was as
strange as the touch was startling
but I was not afraid and followed
my invisible guide where 1t lead.
had long believed that IL the
mind could be almost wholly with
drawn from its diffusion throughout
the nervous system it could grasp
truths far too refined for compression
by the ordinary natural senses, and
/ felt now a hope of seeing that be-
lief verified.
In silent awe ana wonder and hope |
followed whittier led until we came !
at last to a precipice, whose fearful
depths, illumined by fitful flashes |
of pale blue light. seemed a thous-
and leagues below. On airy nothing |
we sank slowly down. On every side /
the great circular walls rose in sheer
and massive splendor. Truly such
prison house of death only God
could build.
Descending lower l heard faint
means and cries and feeble curses.
and saw strange and hideous forms.
Louder grew the fitful means and
bitterer rang the curses until shud-
cred at the grewsome spectacle. The
pulseless hand perceived my shudder
and counseled low, BE calm. Nerve
your spirit for terrors yet undreamed,
for when God breathes on yon pale
star, to flush 1t into flame, then shall
you see the kissing serpents and the
monsters of the damned; for
this is hell.
We stood at last upon sands that
my feet, and in air that
seemed to wither up my flesh. For a
all was dark as night and !
still as death, and then blazed forth .
the star The light was pale and cold
and wierd. but it exposed a scene, for
bid Almighty God / shall ever see
again.
stood in the regions of the
damned where gathered the occursed
souls of every land and time. Here
we're men and women from the low
lest to the lOftiest walks of life, all
alike accursed. No terrestrial attrib-
lite was wanting that could magni-
y their shame. Sparkling diamonds,
'ustling silks, freshborn flowers and
sweet perfumes to ill-smelling rags
wanted none of their earthly Iarts.
These were there to mark or shame
heir wretched wearers.
"YOnder stands" whispered my I
"a wizard of finance. See n
hat group of suicides, whose for o
unes he wrecked. reviling his wretch Fl
d misery See them piling his bonds, Il
lied for the torch. about his feet,
nd the ladel of his molten gold they
re about to pour upon his bloated :,
eek. And tina grand character, N
gaming upon a cane, was the king OF .,
ne tenderloin." l looked upon NJ
ian of massive form and faultiess
rray. A great diamond sparkled on
is bosom, and even in hell he looked Y
king. But about his genius of '
-ime swarmed horde of wretched
zen and fearful women, heaping a H
iorus of curses upon the miserable :
ctim. A woman. lean and pale. but :
Did of words, was shouting in his
.ce, cursed demon that you are. you
lined our tears into gold, nodded
ir hunger into banquets and fash
ned our heartaches into mansions,
n the Justice of an ayenging God