Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-31

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Mark Twain Old Age the Once ovial iumost Changed by His
SadE Experiences of litter
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that was named for who ate OF the
fruit or tn" tree and then beGuiled the
man ana tho woman with II. We others
are still ignorant Of sin wc arc not able
TO commit it: we arc without blemsh, and
shall abide in that estate always.
We'--TNo OF }hc little "orkmcn were
Guarrclinc. AMI III buzzins little humble
boo voices they were cursins and swear
ina al each other. now came blows and
blood hen tncy locked themselves to-
cethor in life-and,dea;h struggle. Satan
reached out his hand and crushed the life
ont oF thcm with his fingers. threw them
away, wiped the rcd from his fingers on
his handkerchief and Went on talking
where he lad Loft OF. We cannot DO
wrong. neither have VIC any disposition
10 do II, for VIC do not know what il is
III seemed strange speech in the cir
cums;anCeS. bat we barely noticed that,
We were 20 shocked and -ricyed II tho
wanton murder he had committed for
murder II WAS. that its true namc.
and il was yith0u, ,allation or excuse.
for The men mad no, wronced him in any
waN
''lic went right on talking. Just as +
notiin- had happened. telling about his
travels charming us III spite OF tho pitt
ful scene that was now under our eyos. for
tho wives OF tho little dead men had
found The crushed and shapcless bodies
and lsmentinc. and priest WAS kneeinr
there with his hands crossed upon hi:
breast praying and crowds and crowds
of pityir. friends were masscd about
them, rcvorontly uncovered. with tncr
bare heads bowed. and many With tho
tears running down--a scene which Satan
paid no attention 10 until The small nos"
OF tho weeping and prayin. began 10 an
nOy him. then lie reached ont and took
tho heavy board scat out Of our swine
and brought il down and mashed All those
people into tho Garth Just as If they had
been nics. and went on talking Just the
same.
Satan said that lie would show the
boys an earthquake and few things Of
that kind that are always happening 10
ear'h's inhabitants:
Satan said VIC would have q storm
now, and an earthquake. if We liked but
NC must stand off piece. out OF danger
We wanted 10 call the people away. too
but he said never mind them; they we're
Of no consequence. and we could make
more. some time or other, if We needed
them.
"A small storm-cloud began 10 settle
down black over the castle, and tho minia-
ture lightning and thunder began TO play,
and tho ground 10 culver. ana the ~inh to
pipe and wheeZe, and the rain to fall. and
all the people fiOcled into the castle for
shelter. The cloud settled down blacker
and blackcr, and one could see the castle
only dimly through il: the lightning
blazed out fash upon fash and pierced
the castle and set it on fire. and the
flames shone out red and fierce through
tho cloud and the people came flying out
shriekins. b'l; Satan brushed them back.
paving no attention to our begging and
crying and mploring: and in The midst Of
the bowling Of the wind and vo'lcyins Of
the thunder the magazine blow lip. the
earthquake rent the ground wide. and the
castles wreck and ruin tumbed into the
chasm which swallowed il from sight
and closed upon il. with all that innocent
life. not one Of the five hundred poor
creatures escaping. Our hearts were
broken; We could not keep from crying
Don't cry Satan said. they were of
no value
Blu! they are gone to hell!'
"'Oh. it is no matter; We can make
plenty more.
The authors astonishing vein Of cynic-
ism is shown most strongly in his re
marks about moral sense:
The difference between man and
me-" says Satan, man is a museum OF