Born Again

by Alfred Lawson

DEDICATION

One day, not many years ago, while walking along a street in Detroit, Michigan, I was stopped by a ragged and forlorn beggar, with the requestfor a few cents to buy something to eat. 

I gave him a dime and walking on a few paces stopped to observe hisfollowing movements. Contrary to my supposition that perhaps he wouldenter a saloon and buy whiskey he went as fast as his weary legs wouldcarry him in a straight course toward a restaurant on the opposite sideof the street. 

As he was about to enter the place his attention was attracted by a morepitiable wretch than himself standing outside who had but one leg, waspartly blind, and whose nose was almost eaten off by disease. 

He paused for a moment and looked sympathetically at the crippled beggarand then started again toward the door of the restaurant, but beforeentering he stopped once more to take another look, and after a fewmoments' hesitation he deliberately turned about, handed the otherfellow the dime and walked away without feeding himself. 

Of all the heroic deeds I have ever witnessed, I recollect none quite sogrand and noble as this act, for notwithstanding this poor beggar mayhave been heir to every other weakness a human being could possiblycontract, still he contained that spark of unselfish love for his fellowbeings, without which no man is more than a mere brute, and for thatreason I respectfully dedicate this work to his memory. 

ALFRED WILLIAM LAWSON. 

CHAPTER I

Judging from my own experience it is my opinion that many strange andwonderful events have happened during the past in which man took part, that have never been recorded. 

Many reasons could be given for this, but the main causes perhaps, arethat the participants have lacked the intelligence, education orliterary ability to properly describe them. 

In these respects I must admit my own inferiority. But I feel thatshould I not promulgate an account of my own remarkable life for thebenefit of mankind then I would betray the trust nature has confided inme. 

So I warn the exquisite literary critic and the over-polished individualwho prefer fancy phrases to logical ideas, that this work may somewhatjar their delicate senses of perception. 

And having offered these few remarks I shall introduce myself to thereader. My name is John Convert. The earth is my home and country. Allmen are my kin, be they white, black, red, yellow or brown. I was bornsomewhere on the Atlantic Ocean between Liverpool and New York while myparents were emigrating from England to America. My mother died givingme birth. 

Whether or not it was because I first saw the light of day while in astate of transit that caused me afterwards to acquire a thirst fortravel and adventure I cannot say, but true it is that during my wholelife I have been constantly moving from place to place. Then again myfather was a Methodist preacher and the good Lord ostensibly sent callsto him from every nook and corner of the United States, for as long as Ican remember he too was continually changing abiding places. In fact, itseems to me now when I look back that he seldom preached twice from thesame pulpit. Whether this was due to bad preaching or because he had thecourage to tell the good church folk many plain truths concerningthemselves, I know not, but I do know that in many ways my father was avery good man, and also a very learned man--perhaps a little too learnedto be wise, for, like most great scholars he may have forced so muchbook stuff into his brain that he left no room for progressive thoughtsof his own. He was, however, quite unlike many clergymen of the presenttime who apparently think and certainly act as if their main work was toflatter and amuse the women. 

My father was straightforward, honest, kind and truthful. He wasdogmatic in his religious beliefs, combative by nature and never happierthan when fighting the Devil in his own corner, as he expressed it. Furthermore, he was haughty, stubborn and egotistical, and these traitsof character I inherited from him. But while I honestly inheritedcombativeness, stubbornness and egotism from my father, thesecharacteristics became very objectionable to him when displayed bymyself. So from my earliest childhood days there was a continual tug ofwar between us to see who would be master of the house. 

There was one inheritance I received from my father, however, that Ihave always felt profoundly grateful to him for, namely, a soundphysical constitution. One of his earnest teachings, which, by the way, was generally ridiculed, was that parents should not bring children intothe world unless they themselves had led temperate lives and were inperfect health. In this respect he lived as he preached and practicedtemperateness in all things. 

As I grew up I was taught to take care of myself physically, as well asmentally and morally. At the age of eleven I was as large and strong asmost boys of sixteen, and at sixteen there were few men who could outdome in feats of strength and endurance. My education was limited to whatI learned at the different public schools which I attended, and withoutexception I was always rated as the very worst boy of the wholeinstitution. I do not believe that ever a day passed that I was not sentto the principal for refractory conduct, and in many instances I wassuspended or expelled entirely. Fighting was my chief offence as I wasalways ready and anxious for a fistic encounter with any boy who waswilling to battle. In short, I was a very unruly child with anindependent spirit, who recognized the authority of nobody to givearbitrary commands. In consequence of these facts my father and I hadfrequent altercations and as my innate love for travel and adventureasserted itself I ran away from home when but eleven years old, an agewhen most children are mere babies, and started out in the world topaddle my own canoe. 

I began to earn my own living by selling newspapers on the streets ofChicago, and from that time on became a wanderer upon the face of theearth; working at various occupations and engaging in many schemes andpursuits in an endeavor to pay my way through life, and during the nexteleven years I not only visited every part of the United States, butnearly every country in the world, during which time I experiencedenough adventures to fill many books if put into print, but as they haveno bearing upon this narrative I must pass them by without mention. Andso at the age of twenty-two, being then a worthless vagabond, I wasaboard a three-masted schooner working my way from Australia to Englandas a common sailor. That was during the year of 1881. 

CHAPTER II

Phrenologists after studying the bumps on my head have invariably toldme that I lacked diplomacy. This, as I understand it, simply means anincapability of acting the hypocrite. And it does seem under the presentsystem of human existence, that he who fails to practice hypocrisy findsinnumerable obstacles to overcome, which otherwise might be avoided. So, lacking in this virtue, as diplomacy is sometimes styled, led me intotrouble with nearly everybody with whom I had any dealings. Indeed, hadit not been for this very defect in my nature, I should not have beenforced to pass through the most remarkable life, I think, everexperienced by living man. And so the ship had barely passed out of theharbor before I had undiplomatically aroused the enmity of all the otherseamen, and within two weeks I was thoroughly detested by every manaboard from the captain to the cook. The crew was composed of anunusually tough set of characters who avowed from the beginning thatthey did not like Yankees and would make life insufferable for me beforereaching the next port. Fist fights became frequent and each one of thesailors took a "punch at my head" at different times, only to learn thatI enjoyed that kind of sport and retaliated in a way that laid theoffender up for repairs afterward. The fact that in these encounters Ialways gained an easy victory over my opponents caused a more intensefeeling of bitterness to exist than ever, and to make matters worse thecaptain's wife, who was the only woman on the ship, took sides with meagainst all the others. This apparently angered the captain, for on oneoccasion, after he had given orders to have me put in irons for breakingone of my shipmate's ribs, and she interceded in my behalf, he becamefurious and threatened to have me thrown overboard. This threat, however, only had the effect of making me more stubborn and defiant. Asa cowboy I had fought Indians and real bad men in the western states ofAmerica, hunted elephants in Africa, tigers in India, and roughed it asa gold seeker in Australia until I had become hardened against dangerand absolutely fearless, so that a menace against my life did not worryme in the least. In fact, I really enjoyed the situation and dared thecaptain to do his worst. 

We had been out of Sydney about four weeks, and although I did not knowthe exact latitude and longitude, I imagined we must have been aconsiderable distance to the south and east of Cape Colony. It seems tome now that I heard somebody say we were a little further south of theregular course taken by vessels sailing around the Cape. It was one ofthose pleasant nights in December, which one must experience in southernwaters to appreciate, that I took my turn on watch in the forward partof the boat. It was past midnight and one of the darkest nights I haveever known. The sea was rather calm but a good breeze astern caused theship to make good headway. I was all alone and paced back and forth fromside to side peering out into space and darkness ahead. Occasionally, Iwould remain for several minutes leaning against one of the railings. Except for the splashing of the sea against the side of the ship, allwas quiet. As I stood in one of my meditative moods, looking straightahead, I was suddenly attracted by something which caused me to turnquickly and look in the opposite direction, and then I observed theforms of four men coming quickly toward me, but before I realized theirobject or had time to speak, they grabbed me by the arms and legs. Istruggled furiously for several moments and freeing my hands, dealt oneof them a vicious punch which felled him to the deck, and it seemed forawhile that I would shake them all off, when suddenly I received aterrible blow on the side of my head which partially stunned me, andduring the instant of inactivity on my part I was raised bodily high inthe air and plunged overboard into the waters below. 

CHAPTER III

It was in a semi-conscious state that I struck the water head foremost, and it was by instinct, I suppose, that I immediately started to swimaway from the side of the vessel. 

Although I was a powerful swimmer it seemed as if I should never reachthe surface again. The sudden and unexpected plunge had caused me to gointo the sea with my mouth open and thereby swallow a large quantity ofsalt water. When almost on the verge of strangulation, however, by asupreme effort I finally managed to reach the air again, more dead thanalive. It was then some time before I regained my breath and fullyunderstood what had happened. I assure the reader that it was not a verypleasant sensation to find myself out in the middle of the ocean withouteven the support of a life preserver and the ship sailing away in thedistance. During my adventurous career I had faced death a score oftimes without the slightest emotion or semblance of fright, but as Ifloated about on that broad expanse of water alone I then realized forthe first time in my life what a tiny, helpless microbe I really was. 

Oh, you little mortal known as man; you microscopical mixture ofprotoplasm and egotism; you atomical speck of ignorance and avarice; youwho believe that the earth, moon, stars and all creation wasmanufactured for your special benefit; if you could only be shown youractual size in the universe as I was on that occasion, I think it wouldresult in the eradication of some of your innate vanity and selfishness, thereby proving an incalculable blessing to you. 

And now at last I was placed in a position whereby I could feel andreflect upon my own littleness. I had absolutely no hope of being savedfrom a watery grave, feeling that it was only a matter of an hour or twobefore I should succumb to the inevitable and sink to the bottom of thesea. Still I was unwilling to give up the few bones entrusted to my careuntil finally overcome by exhaustion and so I kept afloat by lying on myback and exerting myself as little as possible. 

At length, however, my strength gave way entirely and I felt that thetime had arrived when I must come face to face with the God whom I hadbeen taught to believe in from infancy according to the Christian faith. Then it seemed that a million thoughts crowded themselves into my brainat the same time. 

How would He receive me? What dire judgment would He pass upon me? Had Iever done anything to merit His pleasure? I could not recollect one gooddeed I had ever accomplished of sufficient importance to call to Hisattention, but on the contrary I recalled a thousand bad acts I shouldnot have committed. I had spent a roving, aimless existence in which Ihad done practically nothing to increase the production or knowledge ofthe world, I had lived for myself alone--a life of mere pleasureseeking, without ever a thought of others' rights or happiness. Iremembered that during a hunting expedition in Africa how I had onceshot and killed seventeen spring-bok in one day, and how I had swelledup with conceit to know that I had destroyed the lives of that manyliving things. True, they were not human beings, but were they notcreatures of nature as well as myself? What right had I to take the lifeof any living thing at all, let alone for mere pleasure? What excusecould I now offer if tried for that cowardly offence? Would I ask God'sforgiveness? If so, would it be any better to ask Him to forgive me justbefore I died or immediately afterward? What difference would it make?Then again I wondered if God would have any more respect for me if aftercommitting the deed I whined and begged for mercy. Would He not considerthat cowardly on my part? Would He not think better of me if I wentforward bravely and said: Here I am, O God, I know I have done wrong, now punish me as Thou see'st fit. What would I do if I were to occupythe Creator's position as supreme judge in a case of that kind? Would Inot think far more of the man who would come forward courageously andtake the punishment he deserved than the creeping, cringing and whiningbeing who begged for mercy? Would God the Creator be more unreasonableabout the matter than I, whom He had created?

I had always thanked God as well as my parents for the extraordinaryphysical strength and courage with which I was endowed, and during mylife of trials and hardships that courage had never been shaken by manor beast, but now I felt that the crucial test was about to be applied. Would the courage the Almighty gave me weaken when about to face Him whohad bestowed it upon me?

With these and similar thoughts passing through my mind and my strengthexhausted, I took one long breath and sank beneath the water. 

CHAPTER IV

Sinking slowly down with a feeling of drowsiness stealing away mysenses, I was suddenly awakened by my body coming to an abrupt stop andresting upon some hard substance. My first impression was that I hadcollided with some huge sea-monster and was about to be devoured. Soplacing my hands and feet firmly upon it I sprang upward with all theforce I could command in an effort to get out of its reach, but to mygreat surprise my head and half of my body shot out of the water intothe air above and down I came again square upon my feet with a jolt thatcaused my teeth to rattle. And there I stood with my head and shouldersout of the water while my lungs inhaled long draughts of pure fresh air. I was too astonished to think and too weak to move, so I just stoodthere motionless until I had regained my equilibrium. I could neverforget how sweet life seemed to me at that time. For a long time Iremained standing there without giving a thought as to what I wasresting upon, and when I did direct my attention to the question I wasincapable of forming a satisfactory solution to the mystery. Accordingto the charts there was no land in that part of the ocean. Could it be awhale, I wondered? The more I thought of it the more perplexed I became. The night was very dark and I could see nothing about me in anydirection, so I concluded that the only thing to do was to remainstanding just where I was until daybreak. It was a long and tedious waitand I suffered much from stiffness and cold, but at last dawn appearedand I anxiously strained my eyes, looking about in every direction. Thenmy head nearly burst with a feeling of joyousness, for within twohundred yards of me I discerned the outline of what appeared to be ahill of rocks protruding from the deep, and as the light grew brighter Istarted to wade slowly towards it. This was an extremely tiresomeundertaking, as the bed upon which I had been resting was very rocky anduneven and I received many bruises before finally reaching its base. Mylimbs too were thoroughly numb and almost refused to work, but with eachstep ahead the water became shallower and my progress less arduous. As Iwent forward I thought it was by the miraculous hand of God that my lifehad been saved, for the time being at least. Then, again, it occurred tome, that if it was the hand of the Almighty that saved me, it must havebeen by His hand also that I was thrown overboard, for if He directedthe one act He must have surely directed the other. So why blame thesailors for attempting to take my life if it was God's will that itshould be done?

Reaching the base of the rocks in a feeble condition and staggering likea man under the influence of liquor, I threw myself down and went tosleep just as the sun peeped over the horizon. 

Several hours later I awakened with a start to find the burning sundirectly overhead and my body dripping with perspiration, my throatparched and an awful feeling of thirst within me. My tongue felt asthough it was several inches thick and it seemed as though I would chokeimmediately for the want of something to drink. Aside from the thirst, however, I felt considerably refreshed and sprang to my feet with myusual agility. 

The first thing that attracted my attention as I looked about in acurious manner, was that this strange pile of stone which protruded fromthe sea, bore evidence of having once been a part of some mammothbuilding which had apparently been shaken down and now lay in a chaoticheap. Some of the stones were of tremendous size and different in shapeand quality from any others I have ever seen. Their designs showed thatwonderful skill must have been employed by the workmen who originallycut and fit them into position. The whole mass formed a sort of a raggedhill about one hundred feet in diameter and the highest point aboutforty feet above the sea level. 

In looking about, I discovered to my great delight that among thecrevices of the rocks there were many little places which acted asbasins to store up water from the recent rains, and I immediately tookadvantage of these conditions to quench my thirst and bathe my face andhead. This done I began climbing up toward the top of the pile. It tookconsiderable time and patience to make the ascent, as the stones weremassed together in a most irregular and precipitous manner. Reaching thehighest point, I eagerly scanned the surrounding horizons with the hopeof seeing some passing ship, but nothing except sky and water met mygaze. 

Seating myself upon the topmost rock, I became buried in the depths ofmeditation, and as I sat perched up there alone without even a glimpseof a sea-fowl for companionship I felt as if I was the only living thingextant; in fact, I actually imagined myself as being the center andobjective point of the universe. God in His great wisdom had flung methere for some purpose or other and was watching my movements to theexclusion of everything else, so I thought. Aye, even the warmth fromthe rays of the sun had been arranged for my special benefit. How big alittle faith will make one feel sometimes. 

For several hours I remained in one position, musing over my strangesituation and wondering what the final outcome would be. At last, afterthe sun had gone down and darkness began to encircle me, I decided tolook about and find a suitable place to lie down and sleep for thenight. So I began to climb from rock to rock until I had reached theopposite side of the jagged plateau, when suddenly one of the greatstones wobbled, I lost my balance and slid down an incline into a sortof a pit. Then my feet struck something which momentarily stopped myunexpected descent, but it proved to be a mere shell, and crashingthrough it I landed with a violent jolt about ten feet further below. Although somewhat stunned and a trifle confused by the suddenness of thefall, I quickly regained my equanimity and looking upward I saw a smallhole which my body had passed through, the shaggy rocks above, the darksky and a few stars, but the strangest thing of all was, that the grottointo which I had fallen was as light as day. 

CHAPTER V

After all I had passed through during the preceding twenty-four hours, then to be suddenly cast from the outer darkness into a hole as light asif illuminated by the mid-day sun was a revelation that caused me toseriously doubt my own senses. But having spent a life of travel andadventure in which I had faced many unexpected dangers and inexplicablesights, I soon regained my normal presence of mind and began to lookaround with considerable interest. I was now fully convinced that thegreat pile of stone which I had so strangely reached had at one timeformed a gigantic structure moulded together by human ingenuity. 

The enclosure I found myself within might have been a hallway of theedifice, but it was hard to positively distinguish it as such, for thebuilding in falling had placed things in an almost unrecognizablecondition. Some of the great stones from above had passed through theceiling and floor, while others had become wedged together beforereaching the surface, thus forming a very ragged and peculiar aperture. 

In places where there were no obstructions I noticed a beautiful whitemarble floor, while here and there a fragment of the walls showed thatthe art of decorating had at one time reached a degree of proficiencyquite unapproachable by our modern artists. The space I found myself inwas too irregular in its outlines to form an adequate idea of what itmight have been used for. In some places I had to stoop to pass along, while in others I was forced to climb over great blocks of stone. 

After being in this passage about half an hour making an inspection ofthe premises, I discovered a small opening which led into anotherapartment. It appeared that a great door had separated the two rooms, but had apparently become broken with the fall of the building and lefta space barely wide enough for my body to pass through. So in I went. Orout I went, I was not quite sure which, for after squeezing through thedoorway a scene presented itself to my astonished gaze that I mustconfess my inability to properly describe. 

The view before me was a mammoth park with its variety of trees, flowersand shrubbery of every possible description. 

Straight ahead in the distance and plainly discernible was a runningbrook which flowed along in a devious course and emptied into a lake farbeyond. And there, in all its majesty was the sun just sinking behindthe horizon, its brilliant radiance forming the most beautiful effectsof colorization upon the distant clouds it has ever been my good fortuneto behold. 

I stood in motionless reverence for several minutes as my mind expandedwith wonder at the magnificent panorama, while my nostrils inhaled amost delicious fragrance from the innumerable plants which seemed to putnew life into my enervated body. 

What strange phenomena is this, I soliloquized? On the outside of theearth the sun had gone down and darkness prevailed, while down here, inunder its crust I found it blazing away in all its splendor. In fact itseemed that an entirely new world had suddenly been thrown in front ofme. Was I really alive or had I passed into some other world, was thenext question to enter my mind. I remembered that I had fallen aconsiderable distance into this strange place and was somewhat stunnedin the tumble. Perhaps, thought I, my body is still lying somewhereamong the rocks above while this is only my spirit wandering about in afanciful manner. But no, looking downward I plainly saw my massive framedressed in sailor's clothes just as I had left the ship and I waspositive of being alive, awake, and in my right senses. And the wondersmultiplied. Looking to the right of the entrance, a short distance away, I observed a marble platform elevated about two feet from the ground, inthe midst of huge flower-beds and shaded by large trees, upon which sata number of men, silent and motionless, with various musical instrumentsin their hands as if they had just finished playing and were taking ashort rest. These instruments were of an entirely different pattern fromany I had ever seen. And the men! Oh, if I only had the power to showthem to my fellow beings as I saw them. What an imposing, noble lookinglot they were. They were all about the same size and not one of themcould have been less than eight feet in height. In looking at themclosely, I noticed that they possessed most magnificent physiques. Theywere neither fat nor lean and their well-groomed bodies showed plainlythat no horse or piece of machinery ever received better care orattention. While they appeared to be from thirty to forty years in ages, not one of them wore a mustache, beard or any other shaggy decoration ofthe face. Their foreheads were broad and massive and extended to thecenter of their splendidly shaped craniums. Extraordinary intelligence, kindness and gentleness showed forth from every feature of theirhandsome countenances. Judging from their well-proportioned frames, eachone looked powerful enough to battle single handed with an elephant. Judging from their faces not one of them would have hurt a flea. Eachman appeared to be buried in the depth of thought--serious thought--notwithstanding every physiognomy plainly showed that the utmosthappiness and contentment existed within each, and good will between allof them. The skin of their faces, hands and feet was as white as snow, transparent, and backed by a beautiful pink. At first sight I thoughtthey were the gods. Uniformly clothed in closely fitting garments fromthe ankles to the neck, their superb forms showed complete symmetricalperfection. The hue of their raiment was indescribable for I had neverseen the like before. In fact the colors actually appeared to changebefore my steady gaze. Their feet were bare, very shapely, and the toesof greater length than ordinarily. 

As I stood rooted to the ground and viewed them with intense admiration, I wondered why they did not speak or take notice of my presence. Butfinally in order to attract their attention I shouted, hello. My voicesounded rather harsh and peculiar on this occasion, and was more likethe bray of an ass than anything else, but they made no motion as ifthey heard me, or were aware of my existence. Walking over to thenearest one, I reached up and touched him on the shoulder. Then I sprangback in amazement, for instead of giving any sign of recognition hemerely placed his instrument in position, as did all the others, andwith slow, graceful movements began to play. The first strains of music, although distinct and supernaturally grand, seemed to be miles away butgradually increased in sound as if coming nearer and nearer. At the sametime I observed that the musicians, who were not only using both handsin the manipulation of their instruments but with graceful dexteritytheir feet as well, were becoming enthusiastic and appeared to throwtheir very lives and souls into the work. If at first while inactivethey appeared to be extraordinarily intellectual beings, now in actionthey looked divine. Their eyes blazed like miniature suns shooting forthsparks of a thousand different hues. It seemed as if the very musicitself came from the expression of their faces. And on, on, on, came theintoxicating strains, increasing in volume and excellence until Iimagined that all heaven had broken loose in one great effort to charmmy feeble senses, and then with a thunderous climax it ceased instantly, the musicians smiled and bowed pleasantly to one another, and thenresumed their former attitudes. 

No mortal's pen could describe my ecstasy while listening to the musicproduced by this body of--I must say heavenly creatures. There wassomething strange and analogous about it, too, that seemed to recall amysterious dream or vision I had once passed through. Whether it wascaused by the music or the kindly expressions of love for one another onthe faces of the players I know not, but nevertheless great tearsspontaneously rolled down my cheeks, the first I ever recollect havingshed, and at the conclusion of the piece I remained transfixed to thespot for several minutes in deep cogitation. 

Once more, however, my inquiring nature aroused me and I walked overtoward the leader. His face was turned slightly in another direction, soI decided to step up on the platform, get squarely in front of him andlook straight into his eyes. So with a light movement I sprang for therostrum. But instead of reaching it my foot and head struck--not theplatform but solid wall, and a second later I found myself in a heap onthe ground. Then I started to think. Next I began to feel and finally abroad grin overspread my face, for the scene before me was not realafter all, but a wonderful painting on the interior of the building. 

CHAPTER VI

Putting my hand against the surface and walking along I discovered thatthis great scene which appeared to stretch away into the distance forseveral miles, including the trees, brook, lake, sun, clouds, sky, andeverything else, was painted on the wall, ceiling and floor, of acircular room. The ceiling was arranged in the shape of a dome, whilethe floor made a concave connection with the wall. The whole apartmentcould not have been over fifty feet in diameter. The entire room wascovered by one painting, and so well had the work been done that theonly way I could discern the difference between the real and artisticscene was by extending my hands in front of me and feeling my way along. 

But what about the music? Surely I heard it, and without doubt theskilled musicians had performed their work right before my eyes. And thesun, the light, and the fragrance from the flowers, what about these?While in a state of perplexity at not being able to understand thesemysterious things, my eyes fell upon something which I had not noticedpreviously, at the same time causing me to give a sudden start as ifpierced by an electric shock. 

To the left of the door through which I had entered and lying in areclining position upon a bed of flowers, similar in shape to a modernsofa, was the most beautiful object, I think, ever created--a woman. Andsuch a woman. Oh, ignorant humanity, why do you not breed all women likethat one? Although nearly twenty-three years have passed since then, still the vision of her is as fresh upon my mind now as at that momentwhen my eyes first beheld her. And as I think of her now I am unable torepress the tears from filling my eyes, strong man that I am. 

Dressed in a tight-fitting costume like those worn by the men, with theaddition of a net-like drapery of light material entwined about her, andlying in a comfortable position partly on one side, with her lovely headresting upon one arm, her shapely body and limbs posed gracefully andher eyes closed in slumber, she impressed me as being the queen of theuniverse. 

This is the most beautiful part of the whole picture, thought I, takinga few steps forward. What artist's imagination could ever have createdsuch a sublime and realistic work? As I stood in reverent contemplationof her my admiration was unbounded. It seemed as if my feelings wouldburst within me. My first love for woman was then and there confirmedfor all time. I decided I would stay and spend the rest of my days rightthere, silently attesting my everlasting devotion to that divinelikeness of ideality. Had I not discovered that the whole thing was awork of art, I should have felt positive that she was really alive andmerely lay there in peaceful repose. Then a sudden thought passedthrough my mind which gradually expanded into an irresistible desire; Iwould press my lips to hers and thereby seal my love forevermore. 

Trembling like a timid school-boy I advanced closer. How lovely sheappeared. How real. Bending forward and putting my head in juxtapositionto hers it seemed as if I actually heard her heart beat. It may havebeen my own. With my face flushed and feeling that perhaps I might betaking an unfair advantage of one who would not appreciate my caress, Itenderly touched her lips with mine. For another moment of suchindescribable ecstasy I would gladly pass through all the imaginarytortures of the infernal regions. But it ended there. 

No sooner had our lips come together than I became aware of the factthat the adorable object before me was real and not artificial assupposed. As if by magic her mouth twitched slightly and her whole framequivered perceptibly; then she opened her eyes and finally with a mostgraceful spring she landed squarely upon her feet directly in front ofme. I jumped backward in utter amazement. And there we stood face toface staring into each other's eyes. I then noticed that she was aboutseven feet in height and although not lean still there was not an ounceof superfluous flesh on her serpent-like figure. Like the men, she toowas bare footed, and her hair, a dark silky texture, was short and veryartistically arranged. Her snow white face, transparent with pink, wasthe acme of loveliness, with an expression of gentleness, purity andmodesty plainly stamped upon every feature. Her dazzling eyes sparkledwith the brilliancy of huge diamonds. Evidently she was as muchastonished as myself at the strange course of events. Although she didnot speak still I received an impression from her as if put into so manywords which plainly said: "John, am I dreaming or what awful experimenthave you attempted to transform yourself into such a hideous creature?"I tried to speak but my first effort nearly choked me. Then in a voicewhich seemed to be unusually coarse I finally blurted out: "My dearlady, will you kindly tell me who or what you are?" These words seemedto puzzle her more than ever and after hurriedly glancing about the roomshe looked me over carefully from head to foot. Speaking once more Isaid, "Madame, can you understand my language?" Then I received anotherstrange but unmistakable impression which replied: "I can understandyour thoughts but not your babble. " "Are you able, " she continuedtelepathically, "to give an explanation of this extraordinarymetamorphosis?" "The only information I can offer, " answered I, "will becheerfully given. My name is John Convert, late seaman aboard theschooner Brawl, bound from Sydney to London. Last night I was thrownoverboard by my shipmates and after floating about the deep for severalhours I landed upon this pile of ruins surrounded by the sea. In makingan investigation of the exterior I lost my foothold, fell into a creviceand breaking through a thin crust I landed in the outer passageway whichfinally led me into this room. I must confess that everything here is asinexplicable to me as I appear to you. " As I spoke she seemed to belaboring under intense mental excitement and tears came to her eyes. 

"I understand it all now, " she made known to me in her mysterious way, "the experiment failed. "

"What experiment was that?" questioned I in surprise. 

Looking me straight in the eye as though trying to impress upon my mindthe importance of her communication, she answered, "the attempt of manto change the course of the earth in space. "

CHAPTER VII

"And so you inform me that there is nothing left of beautiful Sagelandbut a heap of ruins surrounded by the sea, " mused the lovely--the ideastruck me to name her Arletta--"tell me what happened to the rest of mypeople. "

"Not knowing anything about the matter it is impossible for me to answerthat question, " replied I; "and although I have traveled through nearlyevery country on earth still no such people as you or the magnificentobjects represented in that picture have ever come to my attentionbefore. In fact I have never read of such a race or even heard of acountry by the name of Sageland. "

At this remark she turned abruptly and walked--or rather flew, so easyand graceful were her movements--over to a portion of the wall andlooked long and earnestly into a peculiar instrument, then returning shesaid: (without the use of words) "according to my chronometer, more thanfour thousand two hundred and thirty years have elapsed since the awfulcatastrophe. "

"Four thousand, two hundred and thirty years!" ejaculated I, "greatheavens, that must have been about the time of the flood. " "What flood?"inquired she. 

Then I proceeded to tell her how in those days the people of the worldbeing so wicked that God during a terrible fit of anger made it rain forforty days and forty nights, causing the destruction of every livingthing on earth except one Noah, his family and a male and female ofevery animal, bird and insect, who were saved by being taken aboard of ahuge ark built for the purpose by Noah. And then after every livingthing not aboard the boat was destroyed, how the waves receded, Noah andhis flock were safely landed upon a mountain peak, and God put a bowinto the sky as a pledge that he would never do such a thing again. Arletta appeared somewhat amused at my recital of the story and at itsconclusion merely remarked: "Noah evidently had more good sense than hisgod. " Then she added: "As to the rainbow, that was seen by theinhabitants of the earth millions of years before Noah's time. "

"So the world has retrogressed during the past four thousand years, "mused she sadly. 

"Retrogressed! No indeed, the world has made great progress and has nowreached a wonderful state of civilization, " answered I, proudly. 

Motioning me to an opposite position she majestically seated herselfupon the couch and after seriously looking at me for some time shefinally said: "This is one of nature's most extraordinary proceedingsand there are many things I wish to talk with you about, but beforegoing into the details of this matter I am anxious to get a view of theworld as it exists now. You have observed that unlike the lower animals, in which rank unfortunately you belong at the present time"--here Iinterrupted her by bursting forth into loud laughter, not because Ienjoyed being called an animal myself but at the thought of how some ofmy civilized friends would feel if informed that they were loweranimals. My intervention, however, not disturbing her in the least, sheresumed: "In our nomenclature your species was known as the Apeman, andrepresented in the chain of evolution the link between the Ape and Man. Our scientists placed the Apeman within the ranks of the lower animalsfor reasons I shall make clear later. But to continue, you have observedthat unlike yourself I have been conversing with you without the use ofthe voice but with the mind, the most effectual agent of communicationand one of the senses the Apeman has not cultivated. Now I shall showyou how to see without eyes. 

"Mind sight is an occult force which was exercised to great advantage bymy people. This force eliminates both distance and obstruction andexposes to view the object sought even if it is located on the oppositeside of the globe. Any mind, if sufficiently strong, can contractdistance and bring any mundane scene within its range while penetratingsolid matter as if it did not exist at all. So by utilizing this power, which I possess to a considerable degree, it is my intention to make ahurried survey of the earth's surface in order to obtain an exact ideaof present conditions. Furthermore, by the subtle concentration of ourmind forces together I shall convey to your inner vision the actualscenes witnessed by myself, and you shall act as my mental consort on atrip around the world. "

After the many wonderful things I had already seen it was my opinionthat there was nothing impossible for this beautiful woman to perform, so I mildly informed her that I was at her service, and ready for thejourney to begin. 

"Well then, " said she, "before starting I wish to warn you that nomatter what you see, hear or feel on this trip you must not disturb ourobservation with your primitive babble, apish laughter or by trying tooffer any comments whatsoever. "

At this remark I was brought to a realization of the fact that Arletta, whom I so ardently loved, aye even worshipped, was treating me in aboutthe same manner as I would have treated a pet monkey had I been teachingit some new tricks. She evidently regarded my smiles and feelings forher with about the same consideration as I should have given to those ofsome grinning female baboon had it been trying to make love to me. Herlast thoughts, therefore, aroused my sensitive nature, and a violentoutburst of temper was the result. I did not mind being called an Apemanso much, but hated the idea of being treated like one, so working myselfinto a passion I severely censured her, and with much bluster and manygestures endeavored to impress upon her mind how much superior I was towhat she had imagined. It was some time before my anger abated, and thenI noticed that she appeared quite unmoved by my wrath but sat lookingcalmly and alternately at me and one of the figures in the picture, while her face bore an expression of sadness and pity. Then I feltashamed to think of what a lack of self-control I had exhibited, andhumbly begged her pardon. 

"But now, " said Arletta, and I fancied that she called me John, "yoursoul is at present running the machinery of a very inferior mind andbody which plainly shows all the cruel passions and idiotic ideas of theApeman. This has happened through no fault of your own but is the resultof circumstances over which you had no control so that you are notresponsible for your present condition. I now say however that you havebeen chosen by nature for a great and glorious work and from this timeforward you must make use of your reasoning faculties for reasonablepurposes and cast aside all the animal passions, silly ideas andantiquated superstitions which you have inherited from the ignorant ofages, and begin afresh. Before starting on our journey perhaps it wouldbe well for us to take some refreshments in order that our minds mayremain strong and clear during the trip. We take our nourishment in adifferent way from you cannibals, " said Arletta, as she went to one ofthe artificial flower gardens, began inhaling and motioned me to dolikewise. "But we are not cannibals, " I mildly remonstrated, "we do notkill and eat human beings. " "Do you not kill and eat the flesh of otherliving things?" inquired she. "Yes, " replied I, "our diet consists ofthe flesh of birds, fish and cattle which God with great wisdom createdfor that purpose. " "Did he? Then you must worship a cannibal god, for itis but a very short step between eating the flesh of your own speciesand that of others. That is one reason why our scientists ranked theApeman with the lower animals. But come, inhale this perfume and see ifit is not far more refreshing and less disgusting than to fill yourstomach with roasted flesh. "

At her suggestion I stationed myself near the flower bed which containeda large variety of the most beautiful plants I had ever seen. Shetouched several of them lightly and immediately the air was saturatedwith a most delicious fragrance caused, no doubt, by an automaticarrangement concealed within each flower. I stood like one in a mostdelightful dream inhaling the invigorating fumes, and with eachsucceeding breath my body became stronger and my mind brighter until Ithought I should surely die from the effects of exuberant joy, when myattention was attracted by Arletta, who said: "Come, you greedy littlepig, don't you know when you have had enough?" Then she added, "but Iforgot that among your species greediness is considered a virtue. "

CHAPTER VIII

"Greediness considered a virtue among my species. " Surely I must havemisunderstood her, thought I, once more seating myself, preparatory tobeginning my mental journey with Arletta. And I was glad to know thatshe would shortly view our civilization as it existed, feeling positivethat she would then change her ideas regarding my species being loweranimals. I felt that it was my own fault because she harbored such anopinion and that I was to blame for being such a poor representative ofmy race for her to judge by. 

"Now, let's be off, " said she, "as I feel that my time will be shortwith you and we had better make the best of it while it lasts. " "Timeshort with you. " Those words gave me more pain than if a sword had beenthrust through my body. "By all the gods of eternity, I would not careto live ten minutes if anything happened to that heavenly being, "thought I, gazing at her with rapturous feelings of tenderness. "Call mea lower animal, a hideous creature or a greedy pig, and treat me likeone if you will, but do not leave me. Stay and let me be your slaveforever. " Those were my sincere thoughts. She understood them, but madeno response. 

Settling back in a comfortable position with my eyes fastened uponArletta in loving adoration, the scene changed instantly and I foundmyself once more upon the rocks in the middle of the sea. The sun wasjust rising in the east and another day was begun. Then our meteoricflight commenced, and quicker than it takes to relate I was high upamong the clouds and peering down at a familiar landscape. I recognizedthe location at once as the district occupied by and surrounding CapeTown, South Africa. 

I had been there before. But how peculiar everything appeared now as Ilooked down from above. I could plainly discern the harbor and greattableland in the scene before me, although apparently shrunk in size, but the city itself resembled a little toy village, while the largestships in the harbor reminded me of the tiny boats I used to constructwhen a child and float about in the bath-tub. But where, oh where, wasthe greatest of all exalted things--that for which the entire universeand all that it contains therein was constructed--mighty man? He couldnot be seen. In fact he was as completely invisible as the pestilentialgerm on the back of a sick flea. "If I only had a microscope, " thoughtI, "perhaps I could see him. " Then I began to descend, until finally Idiscovered innumerable little creepers moving about in all directions. They were men. At first sight they looked to be about the size of ants, but as I got closer to the earth they increased in bulk until theyappeared to be at least three inches in height, and then theirimportance became noticeable. As they moved about in great numbers and Icame into close proximity with them, I observed that the actions of somewas apparently sensible but that the doings of the most of them waspositively ridiculous. For instance, here was one set of creaturesdiligently toiling to produce something and getting nothing, while herewas a set of idlers doing absolutely nothing but receiving everything. The real producer of all the necessities and luxuries of life wasactually giving nine-tenths of the fruits of his labor to a class ofloafers and schemers who took it as a divine right, and then begrudgedhim the one-tenth he received of his own production. I observed that forevery one of these producers there were ten non-producers who spenttheir time and efforts devising the best ways and means to confiscatethat which had been produced. It seemed strange that the producer wouldallow this state of affairs to exist; but he did, and seemed quiteelated sometimes to think that the non-producer would permit him to liveat all. I noticed that most of the non-producers were fat and bloatedfrom being over-fed and from guzzling prepared liquors, and that theywere clothed with the finest materials the producer could contribute, while the producers themselves were lean and hungry looking objects, andwere dressed in rags. I had seen these same things many times beforewithout giving them any consideration, but now for the first time, Ifelt that there was something wrong with the people of the world. Itseemed to me now that the entire system of human endeavor had beenstarted wrong and was running along upside down. But what was the causeof this curious state of affairs? One word alone explained it all--Selfishness. And then there came to me a sentence, the imprint of whichhas never been effaced from my memory, viz: "Selfishness is the root ofall evil; eradicate selfishness from all human beings and the earth winbe heaven. "

Oh, dear reader, go over those few words again, and again; ten times;fifty times; one hundred times if necessary to thoroughly impress theirfull meaning upon your intellect. Study them; practice them; teach them;sing them to all the world. Take them for your everlasting motto and youwill have no need for all the stupid theories ever created by man. "Eradicate selfishness from all human beings and the earth will beheaven. "

And now I observed that great numbers of these little men were beingunloaded from the various ships in the harbor, and upon landing startedimmediately in a northerly direction. I understood the reason. Gold hadbeen discovered in the Transvaal, and thousands upon thousands werecoming from every quarter of the globe in anticipation of getting someof this metal. And what is there about gold that caused people to gosuch vast distances and bear many hardships and even risk their lives indesperate efforts to obtain it? Is there more real value to gold thanother metals? Not at all. There is no more intrinsic value to gold thanbrass, but centuries ago, a semi-savage glutton discovered that he couldnot eat all the swine he could raise nor legally steal all hiscontemporaries could breed, so he originated a plan whereby he couldsecure for himself what others had produced through the agency of afinancial system in which gold could be used as a medium of exchange. Hefound that he could get other and less crafty savages to go and dig thegold for him in return for swine. He also found that the breeders wouldexchange swine for gold. So he started by giving the diggers one swinefor ten ounces of gold and the breeders one ounce of gold for ten swine. This transaction he called business. This system of business has beenhanded down from generation to generation until it has become a part ofman's very nature. He knows very little of anything else. Gold being thefinancial medium of business he is taught to crave it in his infancy andas he grows older gold becomes his idol--his God. In order to gainpossession of gold or its equivalent man forgets his soul and sells hishonor. He is willing to crush the weak, cheat, steal or even murder hisfellow beings to obtain it. And no matter whether he has little or muchof it he considers any person insane who dare suggest the abolition ofthe financial system which permits individual accumulation and breedsselfishness and crime. 

With a change of mind, I landed thousands of miles further north intothe interior of uncivilized Africa, the home of wild beasts. Heresomething occurred which caused me to think that after all, perhapsArletta was right in classing my species with the lower animals. Underordinary conditions I should not have given the incident a secondthought, but now my mind being directly connected with hers, I was, nodoubt, impressed in the same manner as she while viewing these things. 

A party of English gentlemen were on a hunting expedition. They appearedto be intelligent beings of aristocratic birth. Men whom the averageindividual would take as examples to emulate. But here they were inAfrica, thousands of miles from home, with the sole purpose of killingsomething for pleasure. A short distance away was a family of lions; amale, female and several cubs. The lion and lioness lay close together, apparently casting loving glances at one another and enjoying the anticsof the little ones who were playing together nearby. Occasionally thelittle ones would run over and kiss their elders in a most affectionateway, which seemed to greatly please the parents. Never have I seen afamily of human beings display so much real affection toward each othersas this family of lions. But alas, their happiness was at an end. Man'sappetite for killing must be appeased. One of the hunters had caughtsight of the happy little family, and slinking behind a tree before hispresence became known to the lions he signaled to his comrades, whosneaked forward from tree to tree until they were within easy range oftheir prey. Then fixing their rifles and taking deliberate aim at theunsuspecting victims, and without giving them any chance to defendthemselves or little ones, these so-called brave and civilized hunterspulled the triggers and the happy old lion and the lionesssimultaneously expired, pierced by a dozen bullets. And what became ofthe little ones? The sight was too pitiable to describe. After theeffects of the first fright, caused by the noise of the shots, hadpassed, they instinctively rushed to their parents for protection. Oh, the anguish depicted upon the faces of these little things when theydiscovered that their loving progenitors were no more. Their looks andmoans were heartrending. But there were others made happy. A suddenshout of joyousness burst forth from the throats of a dozen civilizedmen who eagerly rushed from behind their fortresses to view the work ofdestruction. They had displayed fine marksmanship and were greatlypleased. Good shooting, said one of the brave fellows. Splendid, exclaimed another. But what shall we do with the cubs? asked the third. Better finish them also, remarked a fourth, as I am very fond of cubmeat, and would like nothing better than a broiled steak from one oftheir little carcasses. After a few minutes' parley a decision wasreached that it would be uncivilized to allow the little ones to wanderabout the jungle alone for fear that they might become the prey forother wild animals, so they killed them also; and filled their stomachswith them. And after they were through, a flock of vultures descendedand finished the work. Men and vultures are somewhat alike in thisrespect; they both eat the flesh of carcasses. But a good word can besaid for the vultures, however; they never kill. 

CHAPTER IX

It is not my intention to give a full descriptive account of my peculiarjourney around the world with Arletta, nor to recount the many strangethings witnessed. Suffice it to mention that we visited nearly everycountry on the globe through the power of mind sight, and I was enabledto see any terrestrial occurrence as well as if having been on the spotin person. In fact, being under the direct influence of Arletta'sperception, conditions appeared much more comprehensive to me than everbefore and I felt like some great judge looking down upon the earth andits inhabitants with an impartial eye. And somehow these inhabitants didnot seem to impress me as being in such a high state of intelligence asI had formerly been led to believe they were. Everywhere human beingswere fighting and snarling amongst themselves like ferocious beasts. Their universal law granted the right of the strong to victimize theweak either through the power of physical or mental force. In fact itwas considered a divine right for men of superior intellects to receivemore of the fruits of the earth than those of smaller mental capacity. One-half of the world was over-fed while the other half was under-fed. Aside from a slight difference in political and religious theories, thecharacteristics of all the peoples of the world were the same; thepredominant features being greed, vanity, egotism, intemperance, gluttony, fraud, theft, bribery, deceit, brutality, murder, superstitionand filth. Even America, the much boasted land of the free, the countrywhich God in his infinite wisdom had taken from the bad English andgiven to the good Americans, contained people with these traits, and theso-called great men of this country appeared like a lot of silly littlepigmies engaged in an eternal quarrel over a few trinkets. Few of themcould see further than their own noses unless it was to see somethingthat would increase their own selfish desires. Equality, of which thesepeople boasted so much, existed merely in their imaginations. The actualmeaning of equality, as the Americans understood it, was that thephysical and mental gladiators and weaklings alike were put into onegreat prize ring and given an opportunity to fight for their lives andnature's gifts. Those who were capable of battering down and tramplingupon their adversaries were legally entitled to all the luxuries theearth provided and more than they could use, but those who wereunfortunate enough to have been born weaklings and were unfit to copesuccessfully with the huge monsters in the ring, were crushed in thestruggle. 

Fraud was the slogan of the government officials and nearly all of thempracticed it, from the highest to the lowest functionary. Money was thepower behind the curtain and he who had the largest bank account wascatered to like an over-grown hog surrounded by a lot of suckling pigs. "God helps those who help themselves" was their accepted motto. In otherwords, God helps the strong and not the weak. If the Creator gives anyof His attention to the innumerable bickerings of these earthly microbesHe must feel greatly flattered by having this splendid motto thrust uponHim, for according to it, one was supposed to go to the assistance ofthe man who could swim, while he who could not, must be left to drown. 

A certain so-called great American, one Mr. Moundbuilder by name, expressed great faith in this doctrine. By employing thousands of hisfellow men to do the hard work while he sat in an easy chair andconfiscated the difference between what they earned and what he paidthem, he accumulated several hundred million dollars for his own use. About the time he was ready to die he learned to his great sorrow thatit was necessary to leave all this wealth behind. So he decided tobequeath it to only those who were sufficiently strong and willing tocontinue his policy of crushing the weak and incidentally erect somemonuments to his own memory. After much consideration as to how thestrong would derive the most benefit from his ill-gotten goods, heconcluded that the weak-minded and sickly creatures who were bred fromthe system he abetted and the over-worked and under-fed laborer wouldhave no opportunity to read books, so he established hundreds ofMoundbuilder libraries and Moundbuilder universities in all parts of theworld. To those who were already strong enough to reach a position wherethey could enter a university and did not really need his aid, the ideawas a grand one, as it would help to increase their strength, therebymaking it much easier for them to confiscate what the weaklings couldproduce in the future. Thus the plan to make the strong stronger, theweak weaker, and Moundbuilder immortal, would be perpetuated. But thecherished hopes of Mr. Moundbuilder in this respect will never berealized, for the day is not far distant when earthly mortals will beable to reason and then he will be recognized simply as a vain-gloriousold humbug. 

Another celebrated American who was classed among the great men of theday was a certain Mr. Porkpacker. This individual conducted anestablishment where thousands of animals, bred for the purpose, wereslaughtered daily. He had accumulated millions of blood-stained dollarsin this way, and was generally conceded to be a man of great businessability. He was pointed out to the rising generation as one of the mostsuccessful men in the country whose example should be followed. Justpause a moment and think of it. Here was a man who directed a businesswhere thousands of living things were murdered daily, set forth as agood example to follow just because he had secured millions of dollarsby the operation. Oh, ye mortals! Man considers the wolf a blood-thirstybeast because he kills and eats the flesh of human beings forsubsistence. What kind of a bestial monster would the wolf consider manif it saw him in his slaughter-house killing thousands of innocent beef, sheep and hogs daily? Or what would it think of civilized man if it sawhim shooting myriads of tame and harmless pigeons for amusement, orbroiling lobsters alive to satisfy his gormandizing desires? Perhaps thewolf would set man below its grade, if interrogated upon the subject. But tyrannical man, intoxicated by his own egotism and clinging to anelastic religion which allows him to act as he pleases, feels that hisgod created all these things for his special benefit. If the wolf couldbe questioned about the matter, it too might claim that its godpermitted the killing and eating of man. Mr. Porkpacker was consideredboth great and good by his fellow beings, for each year he gavethousands of dollars for the erection and maintenance of the church andlikewise contributed largely toward his pastor's salary. Would it begood policy then for the pastor to believe that it was wrong to killsheep, when one of the large contributors was earning money in thatbusiness? No, no. So the church upheld the slaughter-houses and provedby the scriptures that they were simply doing what the savages had donethousands of years previously according to divine right. 

Once I listened to my father preach a sermon on the beautiful innocenceand purity of the lamb. For an hour he spoke feelingly of the manyvirtues contained by this gentle little creature and after he wasthrough he immediately went home and filled his stomach with roastedlamb for dinner. Good Christians are anxious to know when the time willarrive that the lion and lamb will lie down together in peace andharmony. Possibly the lamb would like to know if the time will ever comewhen its carcass will not be utilized to appease the voracious appetiteof the Christian. 

In looking over the so-called great business men and financial swindlersof America they certainly presented a motley collection of physical andmental monstrosities. They spent so much of their time in the mad rushfor dollars and how to spend them, that physical and mental improvementreceived very little attention. Their brains became stagnant for thewant of proper training and their bodies were allowed to rot and becomeuseless for the need of exercise. Some were so fat they could not walk, while others were too lean to stand. A great many of them used eithercanes or crutches as an aid to hobble along or vehicles to convey themfrom place to place. Nearly all were cripples, more or less; rheumatism, gout, paralysis and numerous other ailments being the cause of theirhelplessness. Few of them seemed able to understand that all theseinfirmities were directly caused by the want of proper exercise and fromthe gluttonous habit of overloading their stomachs with foods of manykinds and meat especially. Apparently it was beyond their comprehensionthat nature commanded them to improve their physiques for the benefit ofcoming generations. Men who professed to be athletes when they were pastthe age of thirty were considered childish, while the exponents ofphysical culture were generally looked upon as cranks. Eating, drinkingand smoking were adapted as the best modes of recreation, while fishingand shooting pigeons, quail, squirrels and other harmless living thingswere regarded as good, healthy amusements. Of all the brutal methods ofdiversion ever adopted by man, fishing is perhaps the most cruel. If thereader does not think so, just stop for a moment and imagine yourselfbeing hooked to a great line by the mouth and your body being drawn farup into space and into another atmosphere, there to strangle slowly todeath. You would not like it, would you? Then why should the fish betreated so? Do you not suppose that the fish have feelings likeyourself? Oh, if all my fellowmen could only have taken that trip aroundthe world with Arletta and seen things as I saw them, cruelty in all itsvarious forms would be a thing of the past. That trip and my subsequentexperience with her proved to be the best education I could havereceived from any source. It taught me the real meaning of the wordkindness, without which, not only toward human beings, but toward allliving things, man will never rise above the savage state. 

CHAPTER X

We were just twenty-four hours making our journey around the world, whensuddenly I found myself once more gazing into the beautiful eyes ofArletta. While she bestowed a kindly look of sympathy toward me, herfeatures plainly showed that her gentle nature had received an awfulshock from the terrible and degrading sights we had witnessed. And therewas much reason why this pure and lovable woman should be shocked atwhat we had seen, for even I, a worthless and hardened vagabond, hadbecome thoroughly disgusted with my own species. 

"And what do you think of your highly civilized people now?" sheinquired sadly. "They are a race of tail-less monkeys and filthy beastswith myself included, " responded I, with vehemence, and then I began atirade of abuse against the entire human family. 

"Stop, " exclaimed Arletta, "you must not allow malice to enter your mindagainst any living creature, no matter how beastly or brutal it may be. Hatred will not make the world better; it needs love. No living being isresponsible for what it is any more than you or I are accountable forbeing in existence. But while each individual inherits the good or badinstincts of its predecessor, still it has the power to make better orworse its own condition. Love will not only make better your owncondition, but that of your fellow beings as well. Do not expect to findin others that which you do not possess yourself. It is your duty to seta good example, not wait for others to accomplish what you have not doneyourself. So begin right now with love. Cast away all unkind thoughtsand never allow another to enter your mind, no matter what theprovocation might be. I admit that the Apeman of today is no better, infact, in many respects is much inferior to the Apeman who lived overfour thousand years ago, but that is because he took the wrong road intrying to reach real manhood. He is still on the wrong path, but must beturned about and started in the right direction. He must be taught thatHeaven is here on earth, if he will only make it so. But the earth willnever be a paradise, so long as he allows a grain of selfishness toremain in his system. In yonder picture you can see what real men werelike. Study their countenances carefully and see if you can read thatany one of them ever committed a selfish act or even permitted an unkindthought to enter his mind, for if he had, you could plainly read it fromhis features, the face being the mirror of our thoughts and actions, andno matter what we do or what we think from the time we are born until wedie, every act and thought is indelibly stamped upon our faces and cannever be erased until the material of which we are composed hasdisintegrated and reentered the great chemical basin from which allliving things receive their matter and energy. And it is to be hopedthat with each turn of the chemical wheel the succeeding generation willbe re-moulded on a better scale, until the Apeman and all lower animalshave passed through a successful course of evolution and finally emergeinto real manhood--the highest type of earthly beings. This goal is buta few steps and within the power of the Apeman to reach, but he musttake his steps in the right direction. A whole nation of thosemagnificent beings you see in the picture, once existed in real life. Their ancestors were Apemen who were started in the right path, andafter persistently sticking to the upward march of unselfish progressfor many generations, ultimately reached the class of men you see beforeyou; giants, physically, mentally and morally. " And here she paused andlooked long and affectionately at those wonderful figures in thepainting. Then a feeling of intense jealousy suddenly crept into mybrain, and I thought I would surely go mad under its terrible pressure. Arletta was in love with one of those real men, while she held merely acompassionate feeling for me. 

I, the Apeman, standing six feet two inches in height and weighing overtwo hundred pounds avoirdupois, heretofore regarded as a marvel inphysical development, now, in the presence of these eight-foot giants, felt like a shrunken pigmy. Formerly it was generally conceded that Iwas a rather handsome fellow. This woman thought I was hideous. Previously, I had felt proud of my nicely curled heavy black mustache, now I thought it made me look like a monkey. The splendid features ofthe real men were not disfigured by a hair or blemish of any kind, whiletheir skin was as soft and smooth as that of a new born child. During mytrip around the world, I had observed that the more man's body wascovered by hair, the more ape-like he appeared, especially whendecorating his face with it, and I was certain that my appearance wasjust as ludicrous in the eyes of Arletta as those I had seen. Thereforemy admiration for the stately objects portrayed in the picture wasbeginning to turn into hatred. I inwardly wished they were alive that Imight have an opportunity to combat with one or all of them in order toshow Arletta that I possessed the courage to fight until death for herlove. While lost in the midst of such reflections Arletta turned hergaze upon me fixedly and said: "What barbaric thoughts have youpermitted to enter your mind now?" "I was wishing, " replied I rathersullenly, "that the man you love in that picture was alive, that I mighthave the chance to demonstrate my worth in a fight to secure your favor;perhaps, then, you would discover that I had some good qualities. "

"And do you suppose if I saw you fighting like a savage bulldog that Iwould admire those brutish tendencies in your nature?" inquired she. "Doyou think that the animal instincts of fighting and killing are goodqualities to possess? Has your trip around the world borne no goodresults? You have observed that your own species, like other savagebeasts, quarrel, fight, maim and kill each other through selfishmotives, and you have condemned them for it; now you would continue todo the very same thing yourself and think that I would consider itcourageous. According to one of our primitive laws, the courageous manwas he who feared no one and caused no one to fear him. These men of thepicture were the bravest of the brave, and still if one of them werealive today he would not fight with you, no matter how much you mightill use him, for he would know that it required more real strength totake abuse than to give it. He would suffer more pain if he hurt youthan if you injured him. And still he could have crushed you withgreater ease than a cat can a mouse, if he were cowardly enough to doit. That is the real courage of unselfishness--the kind your speciescannot understand. Your fellow beings applaud cowardice which theymistake for strength of character. They seem unable to comprehend thatit requires far more courage to suffer pain than to inflict it uponothers. They have inherited their erroneous ideas from the wild beastswho preceded them, and at the present time few of them know any better. But they must be taught differently and the teachers must set theexamples, not merely offer advice. The different countries of the worldtoday support large armies of licensed murderers who are commonly calledsoldiers. They are sent to the battle-fields to slaughter each other forselfish purposes. The strongest side is naturally victorious, and afterkilling as many of their adversaries as possible, return home to receivethe applause and admiration of their countrymen. They are consideredheroic because they were successful in slaying their weaker opponents. Your society worships these human butchers and the more lives one ofthem has destroyed the bigger the monument is erected in his honor. Howmany of these butchers would have the courage to take an insult from aweaker party without resenting it? It requires great bravery for thestrong to refrain from taking advantage of the weak; it demands realheroism for the strong to equally share the results of their labors withthe feeble. For the strong are doubly blessed in having strength whilethe weak are unfortunate and need sympathy. "

"Would it not be courageous for one person to die for the love ofanother?" inquired I. 

"That would depend altogether upon the circumstances, " replied Arletta. "It would require far more courage to sacrifice your life for one youdid not love as there would then be no selfish motive behind it. As Iunderstand your feelings, you love me and imagine that you would notcare to live without me. "

"Yes, " said I fervently, "I shall take my own life sooner than leaveyou. "

"That is not courage at all, it is simply cowardice, " answered she. "Through your own selfishness in trying to obtain something beyond yourreach, you lack the strength to live without it. It takes far morecourage to live when you want to die than to die when you want to live. Unselfishness is the very highest type of courageousness and one mustlive for the good he may do the world instead of his own personalaggrandizement. Thousands of our noble men sacrificed their lives yearlyfor the good of the world. Our laws permitted a certain number of themto leave their heavenly country periodically to go among the Apemen, andtry and teach these barbarians the meaning of unselfish love. They neverreturned. They fully realized before starting on these missionary trips, that they were depriving themselves of all the luxuries the earthprovided for a life of hardship and suffering; a life of insults and allthe cruel tortures the ferocious Apemen could inflict upon them. But itpleased them to know that they possessed the courage to withstand allthe insults heaped upon them, while trying to alleviate the conditionsof others. Unlike your present missionaries they did not go intodifferent countries backed up by loaded guns ready to annihilate all whodid not believe their doctrines. If you hit a man on the head with aclub and then tell him that you love him he will not believe you. Theyunderstood that to teach the Apemen to love one another they must setthemselves up as examples, not with mere words, but by unselfish andcourageous acts. They also knew that they had no divine right to enteranother country and force upon the inhabitants their laws and customs. They merely went to teach their methods and in trying to do good forothers were willing to accept insults in return for their kindness inorder to prove their sincerity of purpose. 

"At first, these good men were looked upon as gods by the Apemen whowished to worship them as such, and had they been vain-glorious like theApeman himself, they would have allowed this false idea to exist. Butno, there was not a grain of vanity or selfishness in their systems. They had not left their homes and friends to be worshiped, but had goneaway to show the Apeman how he might reach real manhood, if he would butfollow their instructions. They taught the eradication of selfishnessfrom all living beings and the abolition of the system of individualaccumulation, practiced then and now by all of your species. Of coursewhen the rich and religious rulers of the different tribes and nationslearned that these men were teaching that all living beings should havean equal chance in life, and that the weak should enjoy the samecomforts as the strong, and that their divine right laws were unjust, they became wroth and ordered our men to be put to death by the mostcruel methods. Some were burned at the stake; others were buried alive;several were put into dungeons and their bodies allowed to rot; manywere cast into fiery furnaces, while a number of them were thrown intodens containing lions and tigers. All these tortures and innumerableothers, did these brave men suffer that they might impress upon theApeman the real meaning of courage and unselfishness. And through thepower of mind sight we used to see these heroic volunteers unflinchinglysuffer these indignities for the cause of righteousness, notwithstandingwe had the power to annihilate the entire Apeman species, if we had sodesired. Our chemists could have turned on currents of poisonous air andasphyxiated whole nations of them at once; our electricians could havesent an electric shock around the earth that would have left a path ofdestruction a thousand miles in width; our scientists could haveconcentrated the full force of the sun's rays upon any particular citythey might choose and burn it up instantly; but they did not. We had thepower to destroy, but the courage of forbearance. The highest honor ournation could bestow upon a man was to allow him to leave his heavenlycountry and become a martyr to his own unselfishness in trying to upliftthe Apeman species. And had it not been for the unfortunate catastrophewhich I shall explain to you later, our plans would have succeeded andthe earth today would have been heaven with no such creature inexistence as the Apeman. "

CHAPTER XI

"Next to selfishness, religion has been the greatest drawback towardsprogress the Apeman has had to contend with in all ages, " continuedArletta. 

"Religion is the outgrowth of ignorance and the Apeman, just starting upthe ladder of human knowledge, adopted it as an explanation of things ofwhich he knew nothing. All religions were created by the Apeman; andwherein lies the difference between the god built of stone or from theimagination? In constructing the numberless religions, the Apemaninvariably made them to suit his own habits and customs. He built hisgods to please his own fancy and gave his own ideas as those of hisdeities. His own knowledge is likewise the extent of the wisdomcontained by his gods, whom lie manufactured to be twisted and turned inany direction and made to answer any purpose he might see fit. No onereligion is any worse than all the rest. They are all founded onignorance, superstition and selfishness. To believe in any of thesepetty religions is to cast insults upon the real Creator of theuniverse, for a god created by the Apeman must naturally be a veryinferior being. Each devout worshiper can point out the errors andabsurdities of every other religion excepting his own. He is capable ofutilizing his reasoning powers until directed against himself, andnarrowed down to a few words he feels that he is all right but everybodyelse is all wrong. Of the several hundred religions now extant, would itnot be more reasonable to suppose that they were all wrong than tobelieve they were all right? Take your own religion for instance; youare worshiping a most unnatural god. In fact your Bible puts him in theposition of a vain-glorious tyrant. According to the Bible an Apeman canbe no worse than his god no matter how bad he may be. The main reasonwhy. The Apeman believes in religion is because he is an inveteratecoward and fears some dire punishment if he investigates the matter. Butbelieve me, if the Creator gave you the power to reason, he certainlywill not condemn you for making use of your reasoning faculties in notaccepting opinions which appear untenable. So let us look into thismatter from an impartial point of view. In the first place the offer ofrewards for doing good, which is the foundation of all religions iswrong, for it carries selfishness right to the very gates of theimaginary heavens. Goodness is very shallow indeed if it cannot existwithout rewards being offered for it. I shall enumerate a few thingsyour god was supposed to have said or allowed, according to the Bible, which would make no Apeman living, any worse in his moral conduct. 

"Enmity. --'And I will put enmity between thee and the woman. ' Gen. Iii, 15. 

"Unkindness. --'Unto the woman He said, I will greatly multiply thysorrow. ' Gen. Iii, 16. 

"Flesh Eaters. --'Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you. 'Gen. Ix, 3. 

"Revenge. --'Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed. 'Gen. Ix, 6. 

"Drunkenness. --'And he drank of the wine, and was drunken. ' Gen. Ix, 21. 

"Partiality. --'God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in thetents of Shem and Canaan shall be his servant. ' Gen. Ix, 27. 

"Hunting--'He was a mighty hunter before the Lord. ' Gen. X, 9. 

"A curser. --'And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them thatcurseth thee. ' Gen. Xii, 3. 

"Fraud. --'By fraud, Jacob received the blessing intended for Esau andthen God blessed him and made him prosperous forever afterward. Gen. Xxvii to xxix. 

"Fornication. --'And Bilhah, Rachel's maid, conceived again and bareJacob a second son. ' Gen. Xxx, 7. 

"Anger. --'And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses. ' Exodusiv, 14. 

"Thievery. --'Speak now into the ears of the people and let every manborrow of his neighbor and every woman of her neighbor jewels of silverand jewels of gold. ' Exodus xi, 2. 

"Carnage. --'For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night andwill smite all the first born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast;and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment; I am theLord. ' Exodus xii, 12. 

"Jealousy. --'For I the Lord thy God am jealous God. ' Exodus xx, 5. 

"Slavery. --'Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shallalso bring him to the door, or unto the doorpost, and his master shallbore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him forever. 'Exodus xxi, 6. 

"Witchcraft. --'Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. ' Exodus xxii, 18. 

"Murder. --'And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with my swordand your wives shall be widows and your children fatherless. ' Exodusxxii, 24. 

"Changeability. --'And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Phinehas, theson of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath awayfrom the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake amongthem, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy. 'Numbers xxv, 10, 11. 

"Brutality. --'And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Bring forth himthat hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay theirhands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him. ' Leviticusxxiv, 13, 14. 

"Savage Cruelty. --'And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to theLord be of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtle doves, orof young pigeons. And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, andwring off its head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereofshall be wrung out at the ides of the altar. ' Leviticus i, 14, 15. 

"An Ass. --'And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass and she said untoBalaam, What have I done unto thee that thou hast smitten me these threetimes?' Numbers xxii, 28. 

"I have brought a few of these absurd writings to your attention, " saidArletta, "hoping that later on you will go over them carefully and givethem the same rational consideration you bestow upon other subjects. There is one commendable feature about your Bible however, and that is, it shows that once there existed among your species a noble mortal whodevoted his life trying to teach the Apeman human kindness in somewhatthe same manner our men used to do, with the exception of thesupernatural dogmas. I refer to Jesus Christ. The fact that the samelessons he expounded were taught thousands of years before he was born, or that he failed to grasp nature's beautiful ideas without confoundingthem with supernatural fancies, does not detract in any way from hisnobility of purpose and his name should be mentioned in the futurehistory of the world as one of the great benefactors of the human race. It seems a pity that his over-zealous followers have tried to place himin the light of a deity, for in time to come, when your species begin toreason, they might possibly regard him as an impostor. This should notbe the case however, for although Christ no doubt really believed in areligious god, it is unjust to believe that he ever pretended to beanything more than a mere human being himself, or that he knew anythingabout the wonderful miracles it was subsequently claimed he hadperformed. 

"Any earthly being, " said Arletta, as her face fairly beamed withintelligence, "whether it be a man, an Apeman or a monkey, who claims tobe related to the Creator of the universe, or to be His prophet, or Hisspecially appointed spokesman, or in any way tries to lead others tobelieve that he possesses supernatural powers, is either an impostor oran idiot. 

"When all earthly beings make use of the reasoning faculties natureendows them with, all religions will perish through the agency of theirown untruths. "

CHAPTER XII. 

"Then am I to understand that your people were Atheists?" inquired I ofArletta. 

"Not at all, " replied she. "We believed in Natural Law but not inreligion. Our most intellectual men decided that by no stretch of theimagination could they build a god for religious purposes as great asthe Creator of the universe must naturally be, and knowing that itremains for man himself to reach his highest state of perfection withoutany supernatural influence whatsoever, they therefore abolished allforms of religious worship and established a code of ethics which wastermed Natural Law. 

"Religion teaches one to believe in an unnatural god who apparently mustbe ever ready to answer anybody's prayerful cry and act as a generalservant to humanity by distributing good things to those who beg forthem; a sort of meddlesome god who enters into all the petty quarrels ofhunan beings and generally settles them in the wrong way. 

"Natural Law teaches that there exists on grand supreme ruler who guidesthe entire machinery of the universe; the Deity who created theprinciple of life, and one who does not deviate from His eternal andimmutable laws; an all-wise, everlasting and unchangeable being farbeyond the faintest conception the brain of man has ever been able toformulate. His power unlimited; His laws supreme; His goodnessincalculable. 

"Natural Law explains that He created the principle from which humanityevolved, but that it remains for all living things to make better orworse their own conditions. His laws may be studied and practiced by allhuman beings, but to claim to know the reasons of the Creator's actionswould be to assume His wisdom and knowledge. His purposes, therefore, are unfathomable. 

"Natural Law sets forth that notwithstanding the earth is but a merespeck in the universe, still, it being a part of the vast machinerygoverned by the Almighty, there is a reason for its existence and a workfor it to perform. Like other bodies in space, it contains particles ofliving matter which are constantly passing through a course ofdevelopment with methodical changes from life to death and from death tolife. But while all living things live and die, the material thereof isused over and over again indefinitely. Human beings are a species ofthese particles. All living things are composed of three parts, matter, energy and soul. The matter is the machinery; energy the motion and soulthe engineer. The mind is that part of the machinery having power tocontrol its movements. The soul is the spark of life and acts as a moralguide to the mind. Soul and conscience are synonymous. The soul, alwayspure, is continually striving to improve the condition of the mind. Themind alone is responsible for the disposition of the body and the evilsarising therefrom, the soul merely acting as its instructor for good. Itis the mind which inherits evil instincts and but for the good influenceof the soul, living creatures would not exist in harmony. As the mindhardens against righteousness the sway of the soul is lessened, but asthe mind softens towards goodness the soul increases its power. There isa continual struggle between the soul for good and the mind for evil, but the soul will eventually gain the ascendancy and all living thingswill be cleansed of impurities. 

"The body, including the mind, of each living thing dies, the materialdisintegrates and passes into the composition of other forms. The soulnever dies; it remains in one body until its collapse and thentransmigrates into another. The soul of man today may be that of a loweranimal tomorrow; therefore he should use the greatest kindness andconsideration toward all living things. There is only a certain quantityof matter upon earth to be moulded together in living forms and acertain number of souls to abide therein, so that with the increase ofmankind there must naturally be a decrease in the ranks of otheranimals, hence it remains the duty of man to extend in number andquality his own species until all the material in existence is utilizedby human beings of the very highest intelligence. Humanity, however, will never rise above the savage state until the barbarous custom ofkilling and eating other animals is abolished. 

"Selfishness is the root of all evil; eradicate selfishness fromhumanity and the earth will be heaven. 

"Man's heaven is here on earth if he is only capable of making it so, but men cannot enjoy heavenly blessings with hellish minds, and noselfish being can properly enjoy the sweets of life. The real essenceand pleasure of life can only be extracted when mankind laborsharmoniously together as a unit, instead of each individual strugglingseparately and murderously to obtain the largest portion of the earth'sblessings. The production of the world must be divided equally among allhonest toilers and man's greatest happiness must arise from servingothers instead of himself. No good mortal can thoroughly enjoy luxuriesthat are beyond the reach of his fellow men, therefore all human beingsshould work together as one; enjoying equally the fruits of theircombined efforts; the weak and the strong alike. There must be but onemaster--the entire human race bound together as one. When mankind, acting as a unit, masters itself, then will it rule the earth and gainknowledge of extraneous matters; thus the wisdom of inhabitants of olderand more advanced worlds will be attained and intercourse with thempracticed, thereby unraveling many apparent mysteries of the universe. 

"It is an error to suppose that the Deity is your maker; He created thesource from which all living things sprung, but collectively, man makeshimself and is responsible for his own conditions. If the Almighty wasyour maker then the production of criminals, cripples and lunatics woulddemonstrate very bad workmanship, so do not try to shift the blame forhuman weakness upon the Creator of the universe. The Deity controls theprinciple of life; man controls himself. 

"Do not pray; you cannot alter the Creator's plans and you place him inthe light of a petty vanity seeker when claiming that he wants to beworshipped. Better please the Omnipotent by kind acts toward all livingcreatures than by offering ridiculous exhortations for favors andforgiveness. You proffer insults to the Creator when you claim you canchange His immutable plans by prayer; when you think he would take fromone and give to another; when you pretend to communicate with Him; whenyou imagine He takes part in the silly squabbles of human beings; whenyou say that man was made in His image; when you take His name in vain. 

"A united world, with all living things on the same plane of perfectionand working harmoniously together for the common good is the heavenhumanity should strive to reach. It is within the power of mankind toperfect itself, but this can only be accomplished through the unselfishefforts of the whole people. Each individual can make better or worsehis own condition and thereby stamp a good or bad impression upon thelives of his descendants. The creature who passes his life withoutadding to the knowledge and goodness of the world has lived for naught, and he who fails to improve his own worth morally, mentally orphysically has spent a life of uselessness for which his descendantsmust suffer; for to misuse oneself is to commit a crime againstposterity. Each generation should be an improvement upon the precedingone. Having been entrusted with a piece of living machinery, it is theduty of everyone to give it the very best care and attention possible, that its value might be increased to nature, hence moral, mental andphysical perfection are the highest aims of life to achieve. Parentsshould have no off-spring when one or both of them are insane, diseased, gluttons, drunkards or criminals. 

"Practice moderation in all things that you may live longer and acquirestrength to enjoy natural blessings and bestow character upon those tofollow. Pleasure can only be extracted from temperateness; it increasesor decreases in proportion to quantity, and he who takes sparingly, lives longer to enjoy the most. Do not over-work, over-study, over-eat, over-drink, over-sleep, or commit any excess whatsoever. The surest wayto make the world better is to begin with yourself. Such is the essenceof Natural Law. "

CHAPTER XIII

"At the present time, " proceeded Arletta, "the earth resembles a hugetable over-loaded with good things and surrounded by a pack of gluttonseach striving to secure the largest portion. And in this piggishscramble the strong obtain more and the weak less than is needed whileenough is wasted to amply supply the whole. The best forces of theparticipants, which should be utilized for other purposes are also lostin the ravenous struggle, for it requires more power to retain thanobtain these things. 

"The same avaricious principal--individual accumulation--is thefoundation of every government in the world today, and consequently allof your social systems are being run upside down. Your people spendtheir time and strength in looking for remedies instead of stopping thesource from which all evils flow. Corruption is the result of a diseasedroot and as long as that remains, iniquities will continue to multiply. Extirpate the cause, however, and sin will depart like magic. 

"The system which allows the individual to acquire personal wealth isthe direct cause for nearly every evil in existence. There is no remedyfor a wrong unless you eradicate it entirely, and just as long as anation clings to the pernicious plan which permits separate persons tostore up the products of the earth for private uses, just so long willselfishness be the characteristic feature of the people, and all kindsof criminals will be bred from the material which otherwise would provevery useful to a unified world. According to present methods success isbased upon what each individual accumulates and not what mankind iscapable of producing. 

"The foundation of existence is effort, without which the inhabitants ofthe world would perish. United exertion produces better results and withless toil than competitive efforts. With united labor in force, everyliving being must work, for he who consumes and does not produce is athief. If all the inhabitants of the world combined their labors on themost economic basis, there would be enough comforts for all created byone-tenth of the power expended at the present time. Each person wouldadd his mite to the whole, and in return would receive as much as anyoneelse. All worthless occupations would be done away with, and the powerthereof directed into useful channels. Labor would rule the worldinstead of money. For of what good would be all the money on earth ifthere was no labor to produce the necessities of life? At present thereexists but one honest toiler whose labors enrich the world, to tenschemers who spend their time plotting to secure the results of hiswork; and these parasites actually confiscate the largest portion ofthat which is produced. The schemers feast and govern, while thelaborers fast and are governed. Can you imagine more unnaturalconditions than one class of beings producing all the comforts andreceiving none in return?

"With the abolition of the noxious system of individual accumulation, money would have no value and all the evils arising therefrom wouldcease. Take away the opportunity of the individual to accumulate wealthfor himself, and you remove the temptation for fraud, theft and numerousother crimes, for there is then no incentive left for them. Expel themotive and selfishness will disappear, and each mortal give his bestefforts toward perfecting himself morally, mentally and physically forthe good he may render the world. 

"Teach the child that it will not have to worry over the future; that itwill not have to lie, cheat, steal, murder or take any advantage of itsfellow beings in order to receive its share of the good things of life;explain to it that the real incentive is to give its best servicestoward increasing the general production of the earth, that all mankindmay enjoy the sweets thereof together in peace and harmony; impress uponits young mind, that he who works in excess of others for the good ofmankind, lives the noblest life and receives the highest esteem of hisfellow beings and the blessed approbation of his own soul, and thatchild, reaching maturity, will be a thousand times more useful tohimself and humanity than he who has been taught to hoard up riches forhis own special purposes. 

"Individual accumulation is responsible for crime; crime necessitateslaws; laws breed tyranny. 

"Abolish individualism, and crime, tyranny and nine-tenths of yoursuperfluous laws will be exterminated. 

"A few well-defined and just laws properly enforced are sufficient tosuccessfully operate the governmental machinery of the human raceaccording to Natural Law. "

CHAPTER XIV

"Telepathy, " continued Arletta, "proved to be one of the greatestfactors for good utilized by our people. Through its agency we not onlyfound that it was the most natural and complete way to converse with oneanother, but also learned to think collectively as well as singly. 

"The brain is both a receiver and transmitter of thought, and all mindsare directly connected with each other by an invisible force. Thought isan element of life and exists everywhere; it is not originated by themind, but is a utility for it. Thoughts are sustenance for the brain, asair is for the lungs, or food for the appetite; they are good and bad inquality, and it is within man's power to accept or reject them at will. By admitting good and repelling bad thoughts, the brain acquires moralas well as mental strength but vice versa it is poisoned, and degeneracyis sure to follow. 

"Nature created both the mountains and the thoughts; look and you cansee those lofty hills; think and you can receive inspiring thoughts. Shut your eyes and you cannot see; close your brain and you cannotthink. The broader the mind, the greater the ideas to enter. Ignoranceis bred from a closed brain; intelligence from an open one. He who isincapable of thinking is like the blind who cannot see or the deaf whocannot hear. The thought is the mightiest force for good or evil, humanity has to contend with; time is measured by it and pure meditationmakes the days short and sweet, while evil notions lengthen anddepreciate them. The mind that retains good ideas and refuses bad onesis of incalculable value to mankind for it has an instantaneous effectupon other minds in all parts of the earth. 

"It is easier for many minds working in harmony together to grasp athought, than for the single brain to receive it without aid. No oneearthly being ever conceived a great idea unassisted. One might havebelieved and proclaimed the origin of an idea, but unknown andinnumerable others secretly aided in its conception. The strongestintellect, however, retained and gave it to the world, and he whoaccepts, practices and impresses the thought upon others, deserves thecredit thereof. 

"It took several generations of continuous experimentation by theSagemen to acquire the fundamental principles of telepathy and many moreto establish the custom of conversing with the mind instead of thevoice. In the beginning, the evil ones looked upon the practice withhorror, for it was impossible to conceal anything from their fellowbeings. But this very fact alone caused them to keep clean and allow noimpure thoughts to enter their minds that would lower them in theestimation of their associates, and after a few generations of activeuse it was accepted as one of the great benefits of nature. 

"Whenever a great problem confronted the nation, a hundred or more ofour deepest thinkers would simultaneously concentrate their mentalforces upon it, and if unsuccessful in reaching a satisfactoryconclusion, then the whole people would devote an hour each day upon ituntil finally solved. Thus in thought as well as in action we laboredtogether as a unit, harmoniously working out vast ideas that never couldhave been conceived by a single brain, and each mortal receiving anequal share of the many blessings derived therefrom. 

"And there again is where your individual system retards naturalprogress. A little Apeman receives part of one of nature's ideas. Hisimmature brain is incapable of receiving the whole of it so he spendshis entire life stumbling along in the dark, vainly searching for theremainder. Sometimes he becomes insane or dies under the strain of theburden, and mankind loses the portion he had already understood. It washis greedy desire that caused him to struggle alone for something thatmany minds could easily have brought forth had they been called to hisassistance. But no, his purpose was not to aid humanity, but get moneyand the power to wield over his fellow creatures by accepting and havingpatented for himself one of nature's gifts. 

"And then again one of your little Apemen finally does conceive a goodidea, or part of one, after thirty years, more or less, of constantstrain upon his mental faculties. So the progress of the world must beheld in check for that length of time for an invention that could havebeen produced and put into useful operation by the combined efforts ofmany minds in a few days, weeks or months. But it is the individualsystem and not the individual himself which causes this stupendous wasteof time and power, and as long as it is kept in force the leakage ofhuman progress will naturally be beyond calculation. 

"It seems a pity, " said Arletta, looking at me sympathetically, "thatyour brain is not sufficiently developed to enable you to grasp themagnificent principle of life as it was understood by the Sage-men, butit would be as hard for you to comprehend an attempted explanation ofthe whole subject as it would be for a monkey to understand algebra. SoI have to be content with impressing upon your little intellect just asmuch as it will absorb. 

"But come, you look tired, let us partake of some refreshments. Andremember, do not overload your stomach. "

CHAPTER XV

"Do not overload your stomach. " This admonition caused me to feel like achild once more, and I was uncertain whether I ought to laugh or becomeindignant over the remark. Still I fully realized the necessity of thiswarning; not only for myself alone, but for the entire human race fromwhich I sprung. How many beings are there in the world today who wouldnot profit by following this advice? How many are there with senseenough to heed it? I cannot recall to memory any person I have ever metwho had absolute control of his appetite. 

"We take pleasure in living, but do not live for pleasure, " continuedArletta, as she touched an invisible spring concealed within a daintyflower and graciously invited me to eat--or rather to breathe. And as Iinhaled the delicious fumes it seemed that the very breath of lifeitself was injected into every pore of my body. 

"That is enough of the soup, " commented Arletta mirthfully, "now try theroast; now the entree; and here, perhaps, a little dessert will not hurtyou; there, that is plenty; a little is strengthening but too much ispoisonous. 

"You see, this process of living is very simple indeed; our chemistsmerely extracted the vital parts of vegetables, herbs, cereals, fruits, nuts, flowers, etc. , and reduced them to aeriform. These artificialflowers are arranged to conceal small tubes from which the nutrimentflows. By operating these automatic springs the substance is allowed toescape in such quantities as is required for meals. Very simple, is itnot? Much cleaner and better than munching a piece of fat pork, don'tyou think? And there are no cooks needed to prepare it, no waiters toserve it, nor any dishes to wash afterward. Our food was arranged readyfor consumption at the great national laboratories and piped directly tothe people, to use as they pleased. "

"It is all very wonderful, " exclaimed I, looking up to Arletta as if shewere the goddess of life itself, "but there is one thing in particular Iam anxious to know and that is: what causes daylight here when darknessprevails on the outside of this building?"

"Very simple, " explained she, "about a thousand years before the greatcatastrophe our scientists discovered a method whereby they could storeup the rays of the sun for light, heat and power, and after muchexperimenting they found that they could mix these rays with otheringredients into solid substances. The light you observed in the hallwaybefore entering here is merely compressed into the material of which thewalls are composed and as long as that remains light will shine from it. The light in this room comes from the miniature sun you see in thepicture; that too will give forth radiance as long as the material holdstogether. Our scientists were remarkable men; they not only made use ofthe sun's rays in many different ways for the benefit of mankind, butactually controlled the power of the sun itself insofar as it related tothe earth. They also restrained the atmosphere which surrounds the earthand made the weather conditions to suit their own welfare. But thesethings are so infinitely beyond the Apeman's comprehension, who feelsthat he has almost reached the limit of human resources with his crudelittle steam engines, that it would only be a waste of time and power totry and explain them to you, besides being a considerable strain uponyour half-grown brain. "

"This is certainly a wonderful painting, " said I, looking about the roomwith much admiration. "I have never seen anything to compare with itbefore. "

"There is nothing about it that is extraordinary, " remarked Arletta, "itis merely a little ornamentation of my own private apartment which I didmyself according to my own fancy. Any of our ordinary house decoratorscould have done as well or better. All of our children were taught topaint and they devoted considerable of their spare time to the art, butthe works of the real artists were placed upon exhibition in thenational galleries where everybody could see and enjoy theirmagnificence. "

"I observe an absence of jewelry about your person, " mentioned I, "wasit not the custom of your people to wear jewels?"

"Do you think that to wear rings around your toes and suspended fromyour nose is a sensible thing to do?" inquired Arletta. 

"No, no; decidedly not, " answered I, "such are the customs of thebarbarians only, but our civilized people wear rings around theirfingers and in their ears. "

"Indeed, and wherein lies the difference?" asked she, good naturedly. Itthen struck me rather forcibly that there was no difference and that itwas just as ridiculous to wear rings from the ears and around thefingers as it was to have them suspended from the nose and about thetoes. "But were there no diamonds in your country?" questioned I. 

"Yes, " replied Arletta, "there was a large pile of them in the nationalmuseum which we looked upon as old junk--sort of relics of the savageApemen. When our children were shown these things and informed that aking of an Apeman nation would gladly sacrifice the lives of a hundredthousand of his subjects in an attempt to gain possession of them, orthat his subjects would murder their friends, brothers, wives orchildren in an effort to secure some for themselves, it was impossiblefor their youthful minds to fully understand why the Apeman shouldbecome so ferocious and idiotic over such trifles. They naturally lookedupon your species as you would view a tribe of monkeys fighting amongstthemselves for the possession of a string of glass beads. The Apemanlike the monkey is incapable of seeing his own absurdities. "

"And what about gold?" I inquired. "We had a building constructed ofit, " answered she. "One of the first things the Sagemen did after theyabolished the system of individual accumulation was to take all the goldthere was in the country, and mould it into a huge edifice to be used asa national museum, and represent a sort of monument to a dead system. "

"It must have been a magnificent structure, " said I, in amazement. "Onthe contrary, " replied Arletta, "it was the most hideous building in ourland. As a curiosity it was worth seeing, but as an object of grandeurit was a total failure. There is more real beauty in one of nature'stiniest flowers than there would be in a mountain built of gold andstudded with diamonds, but the little Apeman who considers gold thestandard of value cannot understand this. "

"When you mentioned the absurdity of wearing jewelry, " said I, "itbrought to my attention the fact that you wear no shoes upon your feet, and that your toes are much longer and far more shapely and supple thanis the case nowadays. "

"Yes, " answered she, "that is because we made use of our toes as well asour fingers for useful purposes. It appears to me that the Apeman haspermitted his feet to grow into mere hoofs with which to stump alongupon, and from what I observed during my excursion around the world, your people are even allowing their hoofs to become worthless, " and hereshe smiled as she recalled to mind some of the gouty, rheumatic andover-fed mortals she had seen during that trip. 

As Arletta smiled, her beautiful lips parted and for the first time Inoticed, much to my surprise, that she had no teeth. A woman of our ownkind without teeth generally presents a rather dilapidated appearance, but here was a woman that I thought actually looked more lovely withoutthem. 

"Well, " remarked Arletta, noting my astonishment, "I do not have teethto bite and chew with like the lower animals. The Sageman shed his teethshortly after he discontinued the filthy animal habit of devouring fleshand other solid substances for subsistence, and substituted the morescientific, cleanly and healthful method of inhalation. "

CHAPTER XVI

"Now we shall enjoy a little music, " said Arletta, as she turned herattention to the pictorial orchestra. 

"Music, " repeated I, "then it was real music I heard a short time agoand not a mere fancy of my own. "

"I was not aware that you heard it at all, " replied she. "Yes, "responded I, "when first coming into this room, the men in the pictureappeared to me to be alive, and wishing to attract their attention Itouched the shoulder of the leader, and then it was that I thought Iheard the sweetest and grandest music it has ever been my good fortuneto listen to. "

"In that case, " said Arletta, "your ears did not deceive you, for youcertainly heard real music. You see in this picture, an exact portrayalof that which existed over four thousand years ago. This delineation isan almost perfect representation of one of our national bands as theyonce appeared in life ready to play. The music, of course, is reproducedmechanically, the mechanism being concealed from view behind thescenery. When you placed your hand upon the shoulder of the leader youunconsciously pressed the spring which set the machinery in motion, causing a reproduction of the same strains once rendered by these men. "

"But this being a painting, I cannot understand how the figures moved asif playing upon their instruments, " said I. 

"They did not move at all, " answered Arletta, "it was your soul thatbrought to your senses the movements that once took place among thesemen in real life. Music is inspired by the soul, and likewise has adirect influence upon it. No Sageman was considered an eminent composerif his work lacked the force to convey the soul of the listener to theactual scene from whence the inspiration was derived. No doubt yourinferior brain was incapable of grasping the magnificent conception ofthe author, but the selection being so enrapturous your soul awakenedand brought your senses to the point where you could see the movementsof the musicians. Perhaps the next rendition may have a stronger effectupon your soul which will cause you to get an outline of what wasintended by the composer. The composition which the orchestra will nowreproduce for your benefit was considered by our people to be themusical masterpiece of all time. It was named 'The Soul'sRetrospection, ' and was composed by the leader of this band only a fewyears prior to the great catastrophe. Look, " said Arletta, with muchfeeling as she waved her hand toward the exalted director, "take a goodlook at this model of a perfect man and you may be able to realize justwhat qualities he had to possess before acquiring the tremendousintellectual strength necessary to produce the wonderful work that willshortly be impressed upon you. Note the extraordinary look of kindness, gentleness and self-denial that is stamped upon his handsome features. See the expression of thankfulness and intense reverence he maintainedfor the many splendid gifts nature bestows upon all mankind capable ofaccepting them. Observe the optimistic appearance of one that believedthe earth was real heaven and who strived to make it so. Notice the castof superior intellectuality caused by devoting his time and mentality tonatural thoughts, instead of allowing absurd civilized theories to takeroot in his expansive brain. Behold the magnificent physique, the resultof the constant care and attention he gave to the machinery natureprovided him with. Ah, me! such a noble being, and to think that thereis not another piece of flesh and blood on earth at the present time tocompare with him seems cruel. "

At this point Arletta appeared almost overcome with sadness and emotionas she buried herself in contemplation of a glorious past and an unknownfuture. Great tears rolled from her beautiful eyes, and unconsciouslyfrom my own as well. How utterly helpless I felt at that moment. I knewof no way to cheer her, although I would have gladly given up my life todo so. Aye, more than that, my love for her was so strong that in orderto make her happy, I should have welcomed back to life again, if such athing were possible, any one of those handsome fellows in the picture. However, by a superb display of will power, she quickly regained controlof herself, and becoming cheerful once more, bade me recline upon one ofthe lounges while she pressed the spring which set the musical apparatusin motion. 

And as I followed her directions, there suddenly burst forth thevoluminous and harmonious sound of a hundred strange instruments, causing an indescribable thrill of ecstasy to take possession of mysenses, until it seemed that there was nothing left of me but aninvisible spirit. And then, even the music apparently stopped, and apeculiar feeling overcame me as if my soul had actually left its chargeand was flying about in an effort to find a convenient resting place. Suddenly, as if half awake and half dreaming, I found myself within aluxuriously furnished hall, surrounded by a score of richly-clad beings, who were bowing, kneeling, and cutting up all sorts of silly anticsabout me. In a dreamy sort of a way, I looked down at myself anddiscovered that I was arrayed in the gorgeous garments of a king, andweighted down with dazzling jewels from head to foot. Then everythingbecame clear enough to my memory; I was the king, and these idioticcreatures fawning and cringing about me were my obedient subjects; myslaves; the willing tools which kept me in power. A gouty feeling in myfeet, a dyspeptic ache of the stomach and an alcoholic pain in the head, caused me to be in a very disagreeable mood, and I felt like kicking theentire gathering out of my presence. 

"Sire, " squeaked a knock-kneed, sickly looking civilized creature aboutfive feet high, who wore knee breeches, silk stockings and fancyribbons, as he bowed low in addressing me, "those ungrateful subjects ofyour majesty, the ignorant common laboring horde whom God in Hisinfinite wisdom has entrusted to your noble guidance, have becomedissatisfied and turbulent again, and are disturbing the peacefulprosperity of the domain by clamoring for bread--more bread and lesstoil is their beastly cry. A delegation of their representativesrequested me to beg your majesty to grant them an audience that theymight state their imaginary grievances to you in person. "

"More bread and less toil, " shouted I furiously, "the audacity of thevermin! By the gods! I shall teach those craven beggars that I am themaster and will tolerate no new-fangled ideas. Give orders to thegeneralissimo to have this delegation beheaded at once and to put to thesword every dissatisfied laborer in the land. " As I uttered those words, intermingled with terrible oaths, and with intense hatred for thewretches who dared to complain against such conditions a sudden changeaffected me and I found myself within a dark, filthy little room, seatedat a bare table, with a feeling of hunger gnawing at my stomach. Mylimbs felt tired and sore from a hard day's toil. Beside me sat a thin, haggard, sorrowful woman and several half-famished children piteouslycrying for something to eat. Oh, what a dismal, melancholy feeling. "What is it, " mused I, observing my bony hands, crooked limbs and raggedclothes, "that causes my inability to earn enough money to supply breadfor myself and family, after working fifteen hours a day, whilethousands of men in this land do not work at all and have luxuries towaste? What unnatural law governs the world that starves myself andfamily who work, and over-feeds the pet dog of the aristocrat, wholoafs? The Church teaches me that God rules the universe, and that inorder to please Him I must be contented with my lot. Can I believe thisunreasonable doctrine of the Church? Can I give thanks to such a god?"

Another change, and behold, I am clad in the garments of a hunter, seated upon the back of a spirited horse and in mad pursuit of a fleet-footed antelope. I raise my rifle and blaze away at the frightenedbeast. There, I have hit the mark and brought him down at the firstshot, much to my delight. But lo, it is not dead yet; see how it pantsand struggles in desperation, as it tries to regain its feet. Now I amright upon it, and quickly dismounting, I take hold of its horns, draw along keen knife from its sheath, and with a powerful stroke I almostsever the victim's head from the body. And as the warm blood pours forthin every direction and the last sign of life departs from its shiveringbody, I view the work of destruction with the fiendish glee of a noblesportsman. 

But hold! What causes me to tremble with fear as though some blood-thirsty monster were pursuing me with the intention of crushing out mylife's blood? Ah, I understand. I am the four-footed beast and amrunning, running, running as fast as my weary limbs will carry me. Andsuch a terrified feeling overcomes me as I look backward and discover Iam pursued by the most dangerous, savage and cruel animal in existence--man. How relentlessly he dogs my footsteps. On, on, on he comes until heis right behind me and there is no chance to escape--nor any hope forquarter. At last being brought to bay I turn about and decide to givebattle to my pursuer. But look! The cowardly savage will not fight afterall. No, he will not advance and fight fair, but at a distance and outof harm's way, he stops, and pointing a weapon at me, takes deliberateaim, there is a loud report, a quick flash, and the scene once morechanges. 

And thus I transmigrated from one thing into another, in a seeminglyendless procession of lives, experiencing all the peculiar sensations ofthe many bodies I temporarily inhabited. In some cases I was the bigstrong brute--either physically or mentally--taking advantage of thepuny weakling. In others, I was the miserable weakling, being crushed bythe over-powering strength of the bully. But whether strong or weak, either physically or mentally, I was always the moral coward and selfishcreature, ready to cater to those who were stronger, and take advantageof those who were feebler than myself, until finally I emerged into amost extraordinary being, utterly deficient in all human weaknesses. 

Master of a physique absolutely free from all imperfections, andcontrolling a mind powerful enough to grasp nature's beautiful ideasunadulterated, I found myself seated upon a platform in the center of amammoth theatre and surrounded by the finest body of musicians the earthhas ever produced--the immortal Sixth National Band of Sageland. Then Ifully realized that as leader of this wonderful group I was about torender for the first time, my latest musical conception and masterpiece--"The Soul's Retrospection"--which would prove to humanity beyond adoubt, the positive truth of one of nature's grandest secrets--theindestructibility of the soul. 

It was generally believed that music was the direct inspiration of thesoul. It was also thought that the soul was one of the unchangeableforces of nature whose duty it was to operate and purify differentpieces of natural machinery known as animal lives; starting each on itsbrief career and remaining a part thereof until the mechanism exhaustedits power and collapsed, after which it attached itself to another bitof animal matter, remaining therewith until its death, and so onindefinitely. 

And now, after a life of unswerving devotion to this purpose, I wasabout to establish the truth of these theories by producing a musicalcomposition that would cause the listener's soul to leave the body, andgoing backward, revisit, as in a dream, the various animal forms it hadpreviously inhabited. How extremely happy I felt to think what a greatblessing humanity was about to receive direct from nature, through theinstrumentality of myself and the incalculable good that would resulttherefrom. Not only would it prove of vast scientific value to my owncountrymen, but also to the millions of ferocious Apemen in all parts ofthe world, who could now be made to understand that no soul is immunefrom hardship, misery and torture until all living things on earth havereached the highest stage of perfection. 

The news that the first production of "The Soul's Retrospection" wasabout to be given had attracted great attention among the Sagemen, and Iobserved that the great National Auditorium, which was capable ofseating four hundred thousand persons, was crowded to its very doors, aproceeding I had never witnessed before, notwithstanding my companionsand I had appeared there many times previously to give musicalperformances. I also noticed that the transmitters in all of the domesof the auditorium were open and ready for use and I knew that mycountrymen in every part of Sageland were at their musical receiversready to obtain the instantaneous results of our efforts. All of thecelebrated wise men and great scientists, while openly skepticalconcerning the claims of my composition, showed their interest in thematter by being present personally and appearing anxious for success tocrown my efforts. As my eyes wandered over the great assemblagecompletely filling tiers upon tiers of seats, as far back in everydirection as the natural eye could reach, I felt positive that there wasat least one person present who had no doubts of successful results. "Ah, where is she?" mused I, looking about for a sign of recognition. "Here I am, " came the quick telepathic response, and immediately my gazefell upon the loveliest woman on earth--Arletta--nature's companion tomy soul. I am utterly powerless to describe the feeling of joyexperienced as our eyes met in mutual admiration. Being held momentarilyspellbound by her loving glance, I fully recognized the fact that shewas the acme of purity--the guiding star of my life. And with such aguide there was no such thing as fail. 

All in readiness, I arose to my feet and the entire audience didlikewise, as a token of appreciation for past services rendered. Acknowledging the honor and waiving them seated, without further ado Isignaled my assistants to begin. 

Never did a body of musicians commence a difficult task with moredetermination to create, through the medium of their instruments, anexact interpretation of the author's purpose. In no degree could theyhave succeeded more admirably than on this occasion. Never was an entireaudience so completely carried beyond the borders of reality than now. From the first until the last note not a twitch of a muscle could beseen in all that mass of humanity, which now resembled a great concourseof motionless statues. The musicians themselves, with their minds andsouls bent upon giving the fullest expression to their grand work, werethe only evidence that any life at all remained in the large auditorium. How bravely they stuck to their laborious undertaking; how beautifullythey executed their divine work. 

At last the piece was finished, and looking about, I observed that thegreat audience jumped to its feet instantly, and every person presentfrantically extended both hands above the head--a sign that we had beensuccessful. Never before did I see my countrymen under such intenseexcitement and jubilation as now. Men hugged each other; women criedwith joy. The world is saved, was the general exclamation. Amid thegreat confusion that followed, I noticed Arletta with her armsoutstretched toward me--a sign that she was betrothed to me forever. Herbeautiful face was the picture of happiness and love. As I descendedfrom the platform and started forward to clasp her in my arms the entireaudience seemed to vanish into nothingness, and my head began to whirl. I turned and looked backward, and to my great astonishment and confusionbeheld myself still seated upon the platform. It seemed to me that I wasdivided into two parts. I rubbed my eyes in amazement and looked again. There was the leader of the band sitting on the platform motionless andsurrounded by his faithful helpmates. I looked in the other direction. There was Arletta reclining upon the couch with her lustrous eyes fixedupon me. I glanced down at myself and found that I was the same old JohnConvert dressed in sailor's clothes. 

For several moments I stood there buried in the depth of seriousmeditation. Then slowly walking over near Arletta, I stooped and restingupon one foot and knee, I tenderly took her hand in mine and bowed myhead in reverence. I understood it all now. 

CHAPTER XVII

"What a wonderful world this is! What writer of fiction could draw uponhis imagination for anything to compare with this extraordinary freak ofnature?" soliloquized I, arising and taking a seat opposite Arletta andstaring at her in amazement. 

"There is no such thing as a freak of nature, " corrected Arletta, "theutmost reason prevails for all of her acts; but the simplest of nature'slaws appears complex and incomprehensible to the Apeman, who merely useshis brain as an organ for self-gratification instead of an instrument tograsp natural laws for which purpose it is intended. And therefore, while your famous Apemen stunt the growth of the brain by misusing itfor the base purpose of accumulating individual wealth, our great menutilized their brains to receive, understand and operate the wise lawsestablished by nature for the equal benefit and betterment of allmankind. And therein lies the chief difference between the piece ofhuman machinery your soul now occupies and that which it once directedover four thousand years ago. Behold, " said she, dramatically pointingat the director of the band, "that you were, " and then casting her eyesupon me, "that you are. Does your mind lack the strength to fullyappreciate the magnificent lesson nature has forced upon you, and which, no doubt, stands unparalleled in the history of your species?

"Oh, if each little Apeman could only be made to understand, that thepresent body is but one little installment of the innumerable lives hissoul has to preside over, and that the rich and powerful today may bethe weak and lowly tomorrow, he would begin at once to treat all livingthings with equal kindness and sympathy. If he could only realize thatthe dog he kicks, the horse he mistreats, or the poor mental or physicalweakling he takes advantage of might possibly be impelled by the samesoul that moved the form of his deceased father, mother, or offspring, his selfishness and cruelty would vanish forever. If he could onlycomprehend that the soul suffers as well as the flesh it stimulates, andthat it must naturally continue to do so, more or less, until everyparticle of living matter has been cleansed and remoulded into thehighest type of earthly being, he would strive to reach perfectionhimself and urge others to do likewise. For all terrestrial life must goup or down together; a moment of selfish pleasure now, means an age ofsuffering and torment in the future. Such are the immutable laws ofnature. And these laws must be obeyed before mankind can climb theladder of greatness. 

"It sometimes appears as if Natural Law works very slowly beforereaching a given point, but there is always a reason for every one ofits movements. While apparently incomprehensible, still it was inaccordance with an eternal law, that you were sent back here again afteran interim of over tour thousand years. My soul, which had been held acaptive during all that time, might have remained here for millions ofyears had you not come back to release it from its peculiar bondage. Butyou did return, and nature thereby demonstrated that it never forgetsanything, from the workings of the great living things of which thesuns, moons and planets are but mere organs, down to the minutestmicrobe of the microbe. So you can readily perceive that at least two ofthe bodies which your soul has inhabited were chosen to perform greatservices for the human race. First, by a natural course of instruction, you proved to the Sagemen over four thousand years ago that the soul wasindestructible. And now, through a mysterious operation of nature youare brought back here in an inferior organism and have had a positivemanifestation of the identical principle thus established, in order thatyou might resurrect and make known to all mankind the unalterable truth--Natural Law. Do you not feel highly honored to be called upon twice forsuch grand missions?"

"But I cannot understand, " said I, "why nature, after having allowed theSagemen to reach such a state of physical, mental and moral superiority, should destroy them just when they had reached the threshold ofsuccess. "

"Nature did not destroy the Sagemen, " replied Arletta, "theyextinguished themselves in making an effort to accomplish somethingbeyond their powers. They tried to operate a law with which they had notbecome sufficiently familiar to insure success. If one of your littleApemen experiments with steam or dynamite and is blown to atoms, that ishis own fault, not nature's. 

"For a thousand years the Sagemen had made remarkable progress alongscientific lines. They had mastered themselves, and had learned to thinkboth individually and collectively; and also to properly distribute andenjoy the products of their combined efforts. They had acquired athorough knowledge of the particles of which the earth is composed, andhad secured control of the atmosphere that surrounds it. They hadharnessed the chemical properties of the sun after reaching the earth, and had gained possession of many other valuable utilities by followingthe course of Natural Law, but when they undertook to regulate theearth's path in space they simply over-stepped the confines of theirabilities and failed. That was one of nature's laws they were notthoroughly acquainted with. However, as it requires many drawbacks toachieve extraordinary success in all things, humanity should not bediscouraged over this failure, but gradually work its way up again untilit has not only reached, but surpassed the high standard of excellenceattained by the Sagemen. 

"In the great stretch called time, the length of one little humanexistence is but a mere fraction of a moment. Therefore, one shoulddevote his best efforts during that brief period, to making better theconditions of the place in which he has to spend many lives, for, according to what he has done in one life, so must he contend with inthe next. If, while possessing physical and mental strength in one body, he assists in upholding a corrupt social system which takes from theweak and gives to the strong, he must expect these same conditions toexist when he returns as a weakling. For as long as hogs are bred andslaughtered, so must he take his chances of being one of them. How muchbetter to help mankind seek a higher plane of intelligence, in whichequality would be a reality, thus firmly cementing the tie of sympathyand love between all living things. In this case he would have no fearconcerning his chances upon the next visit, no matter in what form hemight appear. And how much better to carry on the work of decreasing thebirth of the lower animals and increasing the numbers and quality of thehigher species, until there was nothing left on earth but the very besttype of human beings for all souls to inhabit. 

"Natural Law is very easily understood if the mind is properly directedtoward it. Great thoughts are easily conveyed from one to another afterthe strong intellects have conceived them. Nature itself is simply theprinciple of the utilization of creative life. This principle plainlyshows an evolutionary tendency of all living particles toward a finalstate of complete intelligence. This intelligence is absorbed by themind. The mind itself is expanded in proportion to the quantity it takesin, and is capable of directing it for either good or evil purposes. Thedifference between good and evil is merely that between unselfishnessand selfishness. Owing to its immature growth, the mind has a tendencyto use the intelligence it acquires for selfish ends. And here is wherethe soul or conscience has its work to perform, in trying to direct itinto good channels. 

"Intelligence means the ability to think, or understand the thoughtsconceived by others. The most intelligent mind will listen to the soul, and use the thought as an unselfish medium with which to aid others. Thepoorly developed brain stifles the pleadings of the conscience andutilizes it as a selfish weapon to secure the power to take from others. The battle of existence is constantly carried on between selfishness, which is bred from the very lowest form of intelligence, andunselfishness, which represents the very highest state of mentality. Awell-balanced mind wants all men to enjoy equal rights and opportunitiesin common with one another, affording each a chance to rise as high ashis capabilities will permit. For the more intelligent beings there arein existence, the better for all concerned. If you want to eradicatedisease, you must stamp out the conditions that breed it. Before you canreach the highest form of intelligence, you must exterminate the causeswhich create selfishness. And he who labors to improve others, unconsciously produces better conditions for himself. "

CHAPTER XVIII

"The history of Sageland, " continued Arletta, "during one thousand yearsprior to the great catastrophe was simply a record of heaven on earth, in which the inhabitants lived for and loved one another. The abolitionof the pernicious system of individual accumulation was the direct causefor the existence of this beautiful state of affairs. For when thepeople discovered that they could no longer hoard up wealth for personaladvantage, but were required to give their best efforts toward generalproduction in exchange for the necessities of life, they lost all evildesires and endeavored to secure the highest esteem of their fellow-beings by perfecting themselves mentally, morally and physically for thegood of the community. 

"The system by which the State required each individual to devote aportion of his time toward general production, and which gave him inreturn for his services a home, food, clothes, education, entertainment, and, in fact, everything necessary to his welfare and comfort, is sosimple and easy of comprehension that any living thing above theintellectual line of the Ape should be able to understand it. 

"In the first place, the State was simply the people--all of the people--working harmoniously together as a unit. Every child was educated fromits infancy in the economic principles of the State, and upon arrivingat maturity was given a voice in its government. There were noprivileges whatsoever granted to any particular person or persons, nomatter how superior their intelligence nor how valuable the servicesthey rendered to the country. As long as any one, whether strong orweak, lived up to the laws of the State and applied himself to the bestof his ability, just so long was he allowed a voice in the governmentand an equal proportion of the benefits accorded to all. Both men andwomen enjoyed equal rights. Every man and woman in the country was apublic servant; they all worked for the public good. Each law adoptedwas put into force through the direct vote of all the people. Municipaland sectional laws were made uniform throughout the entire nation. Thepublic officials were chosen from the wisest men and women of the land. These officials formulated the laws, but none of them became operativeuntil sanctioned by the people through suffrage. And no matter whetherthe law was great or trivial, it was left for the people to decidewhether they would accept or reject it. The majority always settled thequestion, and the law went into operation for a stated period, at theexpiration of which time the question would again be reconsidered andvoted upon if necessary. The laws were few and perfectly plain, andcould not be evaded. Nor was there any advantage to be gained by evadingthem. The principle simply decreed, that all persons must devote acertain portion of their time to advancing the conditions of the countrywhich gave them sustenance. The State allotted to the individual theemployment for which it was demonstrated he was best fitted. The workinghours were few, so that there was no strain upon any one, no matter whatlabor he had to perform. The average length of time the individual wascompelled to work for the public was four hours daily, the balance ofthe time being at his own disposal, but usually occupied as follows:four hours study; two hours for physical exercise and recreative games;three hours to music, painting and other intellectual amusements; threehours for nourishment and eight hours for sleep. While it was notcompulsory to pass one's time as stated, still it was generally taughtand believed that in so doing the individual developed his greatestqualities. 

"As the State provided everything the individual needed from time ofbirth until death, it gave him an opportunity to devote his time tohigher and purer thoughts and purposes than the mere animal desires forselfish gain, and thus exterminated the cause of deception, fraud, theftand all other crimes arising therefrom. 

"According to our laws the public owned and operated everything, andproduced and distributed all of its own goods. And in doing this it setaside all superfluous vocations that merely wasted public power andturned these forces into other channels for the common good. Forinstance: as the State owned all of the land and everything that wasproduced, and simply gave to the individual that which he was capable ofconsuming, there was no need for such things as taxes. And without taxesthere was no public labor wasted by tax collectors, lawyers, treasurers, auditors, clerks, book-keepers, etc. 

"Then again, the individual being able to obtain everything free ofcharge, money became valueless, all the evils of the financial systemeliminated, and the preponderance of labor expended in upholding thisunnatural system was used for productive purposes, thus doing away withsuch occupations as money making, money lending, banking, broking, speculating, gambling, etc. 

"Without money in existence, and labor being the only purchasing power, and as every want was satisfied by the State in return for theindividual's services, there was nothing left to steal, and consequentlyno necessity for utilizing the labor of an army of human beings aspolice, detectives, judges, lawyers, juries, etc. 

"And as all the public necessities were produced and distributed by themost systematic, direct, and economic methods, straight from the store-houses to the consumers, there was no use for merchants, traders, jobbers, agents, salesmen, clerks, peddlers, etc. 

"As each individual was compelled to give a percentage of his timetoward general production, in order to be a member, in good standing, ofthe community, and able to enjoy all the rights that such membershipaccorded, there was no chance to avoid honest work and no room for suchparasites as tramps, beggars and society loafers. 

"So that in abolishing the stupid system of individual accumulation andsubstituting nature's plan of united labor and honest distribution, alluseless vocations and parasitic accessories were extirpated entirely, thus transferring that tremendous leakage of human power into honestproduction, the beneficial results of this change being: shorter workhours, increased education, refinement, comfort, and security foreverybody, and the extermination of selfishness and crime. 

"United labor merely utilized the various forces of nature, to produceand distribute all the necessities of life for the general welfare ofmankind, by the most intelligent, humane, and unselfish methods. "

"But, " said I, as Arletta paused for a moment, "was it not a verydifficult matter to make all men give their best efforts to the Statewhen there was no incentive for personal gain other than that whicheverybody else received, and did not those who were capable ofaccomplishing more work than others, complain of the benefits giventhose with less ability and not so industriously inclined asthemselves?"

"Those same questions were asked and answered over five thousand yearsago, " replied Arletta, "and were subsequently proved to be fallacies. Ifa man's highest aim in life is to foolishly pile up worldly products forhis own piggish satisfaction, then he is really on no higher plane thanthe swine; for the rich accumulate wealth like the hog does filth, forwhat, they know not. It requires far more ability to build a strongmoral character and a kindly feeling for others, than it does toaccumulate a mountain of produce. The Sagemen, with their splendidintellects, would gladly have worked themselves to death for the publicgood had not the State restricted the working hours and required eachperson to give proper care and attention to himself as well as to thepublic. 

"Immediately after discarding the old system of individual accumulation, the Sagemen passed a law that all persons refusing to do their portionof work for the public should be considered insane, and put into asylumsuntil such time as they regained their proper senses. No work, nofreedom, the statute said. But even in the beginning there was verylittle use for these asylums, and within two generations they becameobsolete for the want of inmates. The vast majority of human beings areanxious to appear in the best possible light in the eyes of theircontemporaries and are swayed either forward or backward by thesentiment of others. If public opinion says to the individual: you areheld equally responsible with everybody else for the general welfare andconditions of your country, and if you show a lack of self-respect bytrying to evade the small portion of work necessary to pay for yourkeeping, then you shall be judged mentally and morally unsound, and notfit to associate with respectable people, he will not only do all thatis expected of him, but will try to out-work everybody else in order tosecure the highest esteem of his fellow beings. 

"The system of individual accumulation as now practiced throughout theentire world is a most brutal plan of existence. It is either directlyor indirectly responsible for all the crime and suffering humanity hasto contend with. It causes men to forget their souls in the desperatestruggle for a mere living. It saps the strength of the individual andthen censures him for being weak. It robs him of the fruits of his laborand then blames him for being poor. It forces him to steal and thenpunishes him for being a thief. It drives him to all sorts of crime, andthen condemns him for being a criminal. It encourages and giveseverything to the strong and discourages by taking everything from theweak. It originated with the primitive savages, and is the most beastlyand debasing system conceivable. It keeps mankind in the very loweststage of intelligence, and in a condition of helplessness on one sideand slavery on the other. It has been saturated with so many idioticlaws and so-called remedies since its inception that it now resembles agreat network of legalized corruption. Laws for this and laws for that, and laws to offset other laws are enacted until the power of the humanrace is wasted, in either making or breaking the innumerable edicts madeto uphold a weak and rotten system. 

"You cannot make right by patching up wrong. A new and effective systemcannot be created by changing the features of an old and putrid one. Anentirely new foundation must be constructed in order to insure solidityand strength. That was the reason the Sagemen uprooted entirely thecancerous system of individual accumulation and planted in its place thescientific and mutually beneficial plan of united labor and equaldistribution as decreed by Natural Law. 

"The Apeman being the foremost of living particles on earth at thepresent time, and nature being capable, willing and generous enough toabundantly provide for all of his needs, he should immediately cast offthe yoke of greed and devote his time and best efforts to a nobler workthan the petty accumulation of plunder. "

CHAPTER XIX

"In equal proportion to man's moral and mental strength, so should he bewell-balanced physically, " proceeded Arletta. "In fact, he cannot accepthis greatest opportunities unless perfectly sound and healthful. Themind derives its power of conception from the body, as well as the bodysecures its impetus from mind, therefore, the development of the frameshould at least keep pace with that of the intellect, if not exceedingit. There is nothing more delightful to behold or conceive than aperfect physical man, whose features manifest strong moral and mentalattributes, as exemplified by the portraits of the Sagemen. "

"Excepting a perfect woman as depicted by yourself, " thought I, withuncontrollable rapture, as I feasted my eyes upon her exquisite form andlovely countenance. Taking notice of my passionate cogitation, sheinterjected, "Nature created the male and female, and in order toperpetuate life itself, the union thereof is necessary; therefore, thehighest aim of each should be to win and hold the love and companionshipof the other. To do this successfully, each must strive to reach thevery highest point of physical, as well as mental and moral excellence. Our men adored women as the most sacred and beautiful objects of life;the women revered men as the grandest things extant. 

"According to the philosophy of Sage--who, by the way, was the founderof our government, and the first to expound the principles of NaturalLaw--men belonged to the community, and not the community to man. Hecontended that it was just as essential to the general welfare of thepublic for the individual to build himself up from a healthfulstandpoint, and likewise make himself pleasing to the eyes of others, asit was to construct sanitary and artistic houses. 

"Health and beauty are natural; disease and deformity are acquired, andare therefore crimes against mankind. There are three good reasons whyit is criminal for one to neglect health. First, by going contrary toNatural Law, he unfits himself to give his best labors toward theprogress of his species. Second, by breeding disease in himself, heforces it into the community. Third--the most heinous crime of all--hepasses down to his offspring the ghastly inheritances resulting from hisown degraded weaknesses, which, in turn, are handed down from generationto generation. 

"Intemperance, such as over-eating, over-drinking, over-work, over-rest, and many other forms of over-doing things, together with worry anduncleanliness, is directly responsible for disease and deformity. Allliving things would be healthful, if they contained enough intelligenceto live according to Natural Law. 

"Besides using moderation in taking nourishment, work and pleasure, theSageman was careful about his exercises, assiduously devoting from twoto three hours each day to physical culture. He practiced all manner ofgames and acrobatic performances, in order to bring the body up to itsbest possible shape. Suppleness, agility, and gracefulness were desiredin preference to brute strength. Running, jumping, swimming, and flyingwere considered a necessary part of every one's daily routine, fromearly youth until old age and death. "

"Flying, " exclaimed I, incredulously, "you surely do not mean to informme that the Sagemen could fly?"

"Yes, " answered Arletta, "the practice of floating in the air was begunshortly prior to the great catastrophe and many of our men and womenwere becoming adepts at it. You see, after the Sagemen discontinued theanimal method of eating flesh and other solid substances and adopted theaeriform process of nourishment, he naturally became much lighter inproportion to his bulk, and gravitation did not hold him so tightly tothe earth as formerly. Of course it took many generations of tendency inthat direction before he could even acquire the rudiments of aerialpropulsion. But after the dread feeling of worry and want was finallyeradicated from his mind by the abolition of the individual accumulativesystem, he then began to apply himself carefully to physicaldevelopment, and as running, jumping and acrobatic work have the bestsymmetrical effects upon the human form, this kind of exercise wasextensively followed, and as each generation succeeded in outdoing thefeats of the preceding one, the entire nation finally evolved into oneof extraordinary springing propensities. What will you think, when Itell you that any of our men or women could jump over the highestbuilding there is in the world today, or run faster than any of yoursteam locomotives? It seems hard for you to realize such things, butstill these are facts. In these days, the Apeman devotes his time to theconstruction of machinery with which to carry around his decaying andalmost useless frame, while the Sageman utilized the power of his ownbody to propel himself as nature intended. 

"The gradual increase from year to year, and generation to generation, of the Sageman's ability to make high leaps, and his continual desire toremain in the air as long as possible, eventually bore evolutionaryresults by man learning to fly. And like swimming, so with flying, themind plays the biggest part towards its accomplishment. 

"As you appear incredulous regarding my statements, I will just give youa little illustration, " said Arletta, and before I was aware of herintentions she arose, and with an almost imperceptible spring wentstraight up to the ceiling, and then with a graceful movement somewhatsimilar to a fish swimming in the water, she went half way across theroom and slowly descended to the floor again. "There is no good reasonwhy a man should not fly as well as swim, " said Arletta, being seatedonce more. "Time and inclination work wonders, and the human race has nolimit to its achievements if it only takes the right course. 

"In order to obtain the best results physically, the individual mustlive according to the simple laws of nature. Plenty of good healthfulexercise must be taken regularly and without strain. The intelligentdirection of the mind must also be brought into action with all muscularefforts. Man's daily employment should be a mixture of both mental andphysical labor, for all brain work strains the mind and weakens theflesh, while all bodily exertion over-taxes the frame and retards thegrowth of intellect. Deep breathing, an abundance of pure fresh air andplenty of sunlight are indispensable to perfect health. Daily baths areessential to keep the exterior of the body clean, while the interiormust be kept in good order with a moderate supply of simple, wholesomeand unadulterated foods. Nature's plain beverage, water, is all that manshould imbibe. No evil thoughts must be allowed to enter the mind. Cheerfulness, self-control, kindliness and optimism are great aids inpromoting health. Pessimism, worry, anger, fear and violent emotions arepoison to the system. There should be nothing in life to fear. Theunselfish know no fear. Those who teach it, or cause others to fear arecommon enemies to health and progress. 

"The beastly custom of drinking intoxicating liquors, now prevalentthroughout the world, is one of the very worst forms of robbing theindividual of his physical strength and vitality, as well as his reasonand moral character. 

"The tobacco habit also; that idiotic and ridiculous performance offilling the mouth with smoke merely to blow it out again, is anotherdangerous obstacle thrown in the path of good health. It seems strangethat the Apeman cannot open his eyes wide enough to see the danger aswell as the absurdity of these silly customs which sap his strength andleave him in a state of abject weakness. What a pity he cannot exertenough will power to overcome these stupid and harmful practices. 

"If you want to use your faculties when you are old, exercise themproperly when you are young. Improve yourself and you make better theworld. "

CHAPTER XX

"Sageland, previous to the catastrophe, " resumed Arletta, "was a smalloblong continent surrounded by what are now known as the Indian andSouth Atlantic Oceans. It ran from north-east to southwest. Its extremelength was nine hundred and twenty-eight miles and its greatest widthwas three hundred and ninety-six miles. There were a little over thirtymillion inhabitants in the land. 

"Unlike the different countries of the present time, there were no largecities in Sageland. The population was scattered over the entire surfaceof the country at intervals and was domiciled in two distinct ways, namely: the rural form of dwelling, in which a single family occupied aseparate house for its own private use, and the borough settlements, whereby several thousand persons lived together under one roof. 

"The great structures known as borough buildings covered about a squaremile of land each, and were from fifty to eighty stories in height. Theywere very artistically designed, most luxuriously furnished and thesanitary arrangements absolutely perfect. They contained, besides aprivate room for each individual, public reception rooms, libraries, music halls, theatres, gymnasiums, baths, etc. No person was allowedmore than one room for private use, but a family could have a suite ofapartments in proportion to its own number. The reception rooms, musichalls, theatres, libraries, gymnasiums, baths, etc. , were entirelypublic and all persons were at liberty to come or go as they pleased. The room in which you are now seated was my own private apartment in aborough building which was occupied by seven thousand people. 

"I have already explained the method whereby we received our sustenance, the different aeriform substances being piped directly from thelaboratories to the consumers' personal apartments, thus obviating thenecessity for dining halls and kitchens. 

"There being no such agency as commerce in Sageland, through which thenecessities of life were bought, sold, exchanged, or stolen, there was, of course, no need for such establishments as wholesale or retailstores, banks, etc. Neither were there any jails. Great national work-shops, laboratories, and store-houses, a national auditorium, artgallery, museum, and observatory were the only buildings erected besidesthe rural and borough dwellings. 

"The chief industries of our people were planting, reaping, condensingand distributing dietary substances; manufacturing such things asmachinery, clothing, paints, musical and scientific instruments, andbuilding. Railroads, steamships, mail service, the telegraph andtelephone had become obsolete with the Sagemen. In the first place, itwas not necessary for men to travel at all in person, for by the powerof mind sight they were able to see what took place at any particularplace on earth, and also they were capable of communicating with eachother telepathically at any distance just as easily as I am nowconversing with you. 

"Great centrifugal and centripetal engines, capable of transplanting anyquantity of material from one place to another, were constructed forcarrying purposes, while automatic transmuting machines, by which oneelement could be turned into another, cut down the necessity oftransportation to a minimum. Machinery, directed by the human mind, andderiving its power from the sun and other forces of nature, did all ofthe Sageman's laborious work. 

"The Sageman's discovery and partial utilization of the two great forcesof nature, centrifugal and centripetal power, were the causes of hisfinal destruction, however, for he not only used them advantageouslyhere, but by that method actually tried to regulate the earth's coursein space to suit himself. And furthermore, he not only contemplatedsteering his own world in whatever direction or part of the heavens hemight choose, but his ultimate plans were to visit, inhabit and controlthe movements of all the great bodies of the universe. 

"These laudable purposes, while no doubt practical, failed by beingundertaken prematurely as forewarned by many of our ablest thinkers, who, unfortunately, were in the minority when the question of making theinitial trial was voted upon. And by this failure the earth was rent ina fearful manner, its map considerably altered and Sageland and itspeople wiped out of existence entirely. 

"Many millions of Apemen who inhabited the balance of the globe at thattime must also have perished from the effects of the awful convulsionwhich no doubt shook the earth to its core. And so it was, I presume, the upset atmospheric conditions of the earth resulting from thiscatastrophe, forty-two hundred and thirty years ago, that is responsiblefor the legend by which the Apeman blames the Creator for sending aflood to destroy the inhabitants of the world, good and bad alike. 

"But notwithstanding his superior intellectuality the Sageman was farfrom being infallible. He often made mistakes as he relentlesslystruggled along in search of knowledge. Natural Law teaches that themain object of life is to absorb, concentrate and utilize intelligence. Intelligence rules the universe. The Sageman considered it his duty tofirst control himself, then the earth, and finally the universe. But hebecame impatient, and wanted to explore the heavens before he hadassimilated all terrestrial life, and concentrated sufficient power toinsure success. He was anxious to control new worlds before he had puthis own into the best order. Had he waited until the Apeman and otherliving particles could have reached the same state of intelligence ashimself, and then concentrated and utilized the combined mental strengthof the whole to solve the great problem, no doubt he would have beenmore successful in his first attempt at universal navigation. 

"However, he tried and failed, and by that failure thoroughlydemonstrated the futility of one part of humanity trying to rush aheadof the whole, and the absolute necessity for all mankind to workunitedly and harmoniously, and go forward as a unit to accomplish thegreatest results within its power. "

"But, " inquired I, "what law or chance was it that destroyed all of yourcountrymen, and still preserved you through all these ages?"

"That is the most remarkable circumstance of the whole affair, " answeredArletta, as she cast a loving glance in the direction of the leader ofthe band, and then, reverently pointing toward him, she continued, "hewas the foremost man of his day, and it was generally conceded by all ofour people that he was the greatest man the earth ever produced. LikeSage, the founder of our government, he lived entirely fox others. Hissole aim in life was to make better the conditions of all living things;to make hardship, sorrow, suffering or misery an impossibility on earth. In order to be of the greatest service to others, he knew that he mustnot only be unselfish, but also build up his body, brain and characterto the very highest degree of efficiency and perfection. And he did so. He built himself up from a physical, mental, and moral standpoint, untilit seemed to others that he was the personification of intelligence, love, virtue, and magnificence. While possessing the greatest brainpower, still he was the most humble man in Sageland. Although a giant inphysical strength, yet he was as gentle as a lamb. He was the greatestthinker of all time, but there was no room in his brain for an impurethought. Notwithstanding he was still a young man, being but fifty yearsof age, nevertheless he had attained distinct success and fame as amusician, composer, scientist, inventor, architect, and athlete. Heendeavored to unravel all the mysteries of nature which attracted hisattention. One of the many occult forces he experimented with was humanmagnetism. It was his belief that man could preserve himselfindefinitely, either in a state of animation or suspended vitality, bythe strength of his own will power. He often said that, barringaccidents, he would live to be a thousand years old. In order that hemight thoroughly study the subject and discover, if possible, the exactforces that caused life and death, he often used me as an example forhis experiments. Many times he had caused me to lie in a trance forseveral months' duration without the slightest change in my appearanceshowing itself. While my aid was necessary to suspend animation, yetwhen once under the influence of the strange forces by which it wasaccomplished, my senses departed entirely, and I had no power to revivemyself, but had to depend upon him to restore consciousness. Ten daysprior to the date set for the first trial whereby man was to navigatethe earth in space, I allowed him to put me under the spell of theseinfluences, and although it seems like yesterday that it happened, stillover forty-two centuries have since passed by. Uncounted billions ofhuman beings have lived, suffered and died since that time, but the samesoul which guided the magnificent being who put me into that trance, haslived through it all, and by a mysterious power, has finally returned torelease my soul from its incarceration. It was a natural law whichcaused me to sleep peacefully through all those centuries, and likewiseit was according to nature's principle that you were brought back hereto awaken me. 

"The seed of united labor sown by the immortal Sage, which proved soprolific in love and progress to the Sagemen, was not entirely destroyedby the great catastrophe, but lay smouldering in this tomb during thedark ages of superstition, ignorance and cruel civilization, that havesince elapsed, and must now be replanted in the soil of human hearts, and its benevolent results spread throughout the earth, offering peaceand good will to all living things. 

"And you, who are guided by the soul of my final consort, " said Arletta, as the full rays of her luminous eyes were fastened upon me, "I entreatyou to go forth as a messenger of truth and justice and teach theprinciples of Natural Law to all of your species. "

CHAPTER XXI

"But what about yourself?" inquired I of Arletta, as I met hersympathetic gaze with a look of adoration. "If you would visit thedifferent countries of the world you could revolutionize things in avery short time, I am sure. You could explain the principles of NaturalLaw to the people, and teach them methods of which I know nothing. Thewise and learned men of the present time would understand yourexplanation much better, and would give the subject far more seriousconsideration than if I, a poor ignorant fellow with neither educationnor standing, undertook to instruct them. The whole world would stop andlisten to you. The inhabitants would set you up as a goddess, and rallyto your standard as mistress of the earth. Besides, the power yourapparently unlimited intelligence would create, your wonderful beautywould immediately charm every mortal who once set eyes on you. Kings, emperors and potentates of all kinds would fall madly in love with youat first sight, and you would have but to command to bring them to yourfeet as slaves ready to do your slightest bidding. To further your ownpurposes you could"-but here I stopped short in my recital, shocked by athousand little demons of jealousy entering my brain as it occurred tome that perhaps Arletta would forget me entirely if all the greatpersons of the earth showered honors and favors upon her. I feltintensely miserable at the very idea of such a thing. 

"Do not allow silly thoughts to enter your head, " said shecompassionately, "I shall never leave this place. This room has been thescene of the happiest hours of my life in which my coeternal companion, incased in the flesh of a real man, plighted his everlasting love anddevotion to me. And by a simple and intelligent law of nature I havebeen held a captive in this room through countless generations towitness the transformation and return of that faithful comrade torelease my soul from captivity. And now this room shall be my mortalsepulcher. 

"Although I should like, ever so much, to go forth and devote many yearsto teaching the Apeman the glorious principles of Natural Law asprescribed by my beloved countrymen, yet it is not within my power to doso. 

"Owing to the constant change in the chemical composition of theatmosphere, and the vast difference in its present arrangement and thatof four thousand two hundred years ago, it would be impossible for me tolive five minutes outside of this chamber. In fact I have noticed thatthe supply of air, which must have been hermetically sealed within thisvault at the time of the catastrophe, has been gradually escaping by wayof the hole through which you forced a passageway. Hence within a veryshort time my life will have oozed away for the want of proper stimulus. Then again, the period in which the particles of this human frame shouldnaturally cling together has long since expired, and should I but exposemyself to the elements now existing on the exterior of this place, Ishould no doubt, crumble into dust and be blown away with the winds. Notwithstanding nature compels the mutability of all things, its lawshowever remain unchangeable, and as the time has passed and theconditions altered since I should have lived my natural life, thismaterial of which I am now composed must soon collapse, its partsdisintegrate and return to the elements from whence they came. 

"But my soul shall continue to live, and the same law which brought youback here to me will also bring our souls together many times and indifferent forms during eternity. And as you now possess the strength, intelligence and opportunity, it is your sacred duty to go forth andteach Apemen to love one another and practice kindness toward all livingthings, for you know not in what shape I may return. As you would bekind to me now, so must you treat all of nature's creatures. Andremember, that the soul you so ardently worship now and so reverentlyloved over four thousand years ago, cannot return in a perfect form ifthere are none such forms to inhabit, or in a good and pure being ifthere are no such beings extant. But, on the contrary, if in the futurenone but good and beautiful lives exist on earth, my soul cannotpossibly occupy anything else. Thus, Natural Law plainly teaches that, as you prepare earthly conditions in one form of life, so must youtolerate them in the next. In fact, our own future safety and happinessdepend upon all living things reaching a high state of perfection andequality. And now, " said Arletta, arising and exhibiting considerableemotion, "having briefly instructed you in Natural Law as deeply as yourlimited mental capacity will permit, the time has arrived that we mustpart, for I feel that I am growing weak and cannot live much longer. Infact, it has been through the power of my will alone that I have beenkept alive until now. So prepare yourself to go. "

"Go!" ejaculated I, jumping to my feet with an awful feeling of anguishas I realized the full meaning of her words. "Me, go? Never! I shallremain here and we shall die together. I could never live without you. There would be left no object in life worth living for. " And then, advancing forward, I took her shapely hand in mine, and, lookingdirectly into her lovely eyes with much earnestness, said: "I fullyunderstand that in comparison to the Sage-man, I am a hideous anddegraded creature. And I also know that the love that filled the heal isof your contemporaries for one another was sublime, having for a fewmoments during that musical spell been moved by the same emotions thatonce impelled the exalted being of which I am the re-incarnation, butbelieve me when I say that my love for you now is ten thousand timesstronger than it was then. I worship you. I shall die for and with you. Aye, even nature itself cannot keep me alive after you have gone. I maynot be the equal of the Sageman in other ways, but I shall prove that mylove for you is equally as great. "

During this outburst of my thoughts, Arletta stood in a motionlessattitude, holding my outstretched hand and returning my excited gazewith a look of mingled pity and sorrow. "Is it possible, " said she, "that there is not one Apeman in the world today with sufficientstrength of character to relinquish his own selfish desires for the goodof his species? Can it be that not one Apeman exists whom nature canrely upon for the great work of uplifting humanity, who is brave enoughto resist the temporary fascination of a lovable woman? And have I livedto see the reincarnated soul of the bravest and noblest man that everbreathed, bound within the flesh of a wretched coward incapable ofliving for any greater purpose than his own self-gratification? Am I tounderstand that one who is controlled by the spirit of my everlastingassociate, intends betraying nature's trust by shirking theresponsibilities of manhood, because he lacks the courage to live? Willthere be promulgated among the records of time an account of my immortalpartner having deserted his post of duty by sneaking out of the worldbefore his allotted time? Would this being, who is blessed with physicalstrength and a well-balanced brain, allow himself to sink to the levelof a craven suicide, because he cannot secure something beyond hisreach? Does he think that nature brought him into existence for no otherpurpose than to feed his own petty desires? Would he deliberately dielike a useless poltroon, and leave the world in its present state ofsavagery and wretchedness, without even attempting to be of service tohumanity in the very work it requires the most?"

"Stop! Enough!" cried I. "You have wounded my feelings to the very core. I'll admit that I am weak in this instance. Very weak indeed. But thisis the first time that my courage has ever been assailed by anyone, andto have you above all persons, openly insinuate that I am a coward isfar worse than having inflicted upon me the cruelest tortures of theApe-man's prospective hell. I am only an Apeman, but as I said before, Ilove you beyond all power of expression. You no doubt, cannot understandmy puny feelings any more than I can fully comprehend your lofty idealsor the full meaning of your higher knowledge of things. The verygreatest hardship for me to undergo would be to live after you havepassed away. But, if by the promise of so doing I can gain your respectand one encouraging look or word of approval, I will not only rescindthe text of my previous statement and live, but I swear to you in thename of the Creator of the law which governs all things, that I shallstrictly follow to the letter any instructions you may wish to offerconcerning my future movements, no matter what they might be. So make mytask a hard one, for the courage you so unfeelingly attacked must betested to its full limits. I am ready to obey your commands. "

Having thus addressed Arletta, I straightened myself up to my fullheight with as much dignity as I could assume, folded my arms across mychest and awaited her orders. 

"The Sagemen never urged their desires by a command, " replied Arletta, "they simply requested that which they would like to have done. Therequest I shall make concerning your future duty can be incorporated ina very few words, but it will require a lifetime and great strength ofcharacter to execute. But as you have promised like a man to follow myinstructions, I shall die with implicit confidence in your determinationto do so. So consider well the following mandate, for it contains theessence which will stimulate you to heroic deeds:

"Always consult your soul for advice, "Do no act your conscience will not sanction. "

Three times Arletta slowly repeated this precept, and then placing herhands upon my shoulders, she continued: "The first time you act contraryto the admonition of your soul, then you will have broken your promiseto me. Now go, " said she, turning me about until I faced the doorway, "Imust request your immediate departure. Go, and try to be a man. We shallmeet many times in the future, so while you have the chance try and makebetter the conditions of life, that we may eventually meet on the sameplane of equality without the shadow of strife or animosity to mar ourhappiness. Good-bye. "

With the meaning of these words ringing in my head, I fully understoodthat my audience with Arletta was at an end, and overcome with grief andgloom I weakly responded, "good-bye, " and then added, "I shall neverbreak my promise. " Then with a heavy tread I walked to the openingthrough which I had entered, turned half around and took one long, last, loving look at Arletta and passed into the corridor beyond. At the sametime I fancied I heard her gently sobbing. 

CHAPTER XXII

Suffering with a dejected feeling of despair, I wended my way throughthe chaotic anterior hall in search of the hole through which I had somiraculously entered. It seemed as if life's sole aim had suddenly beenstricken from the range of my vision. I could not understand why natureshould be so cruel as to give me but one momentary glimpse of thatangelic mortal and then thrust me away from her in such an indifferentmanner. I wondered why the world was not populated exclusively by suchlovely beings. Was it because the people themselves, through theirindividual accumulative system, created conditions whereby only the mostabject and debased mortals could survive? Was this system responsiblefor petty selfishness, instead of conscience governing man, causing himin his greedy scramble for temporary gain, to keep others in a state ofhelplessness, ignorance, and squalor, thus propagating an inferior raceof physical, mental, and moral pigmies as the foremost inhabitants ofthe earth? Why could not humanity organize itself as a great unit ofunselfish effort and equality, for the purpose of uplifting andstrengthening all of its component parts, instead of those parts pullingdown, weakening, and destroying one another in a ferocious struggle forindividual predominance?

As these and similar thoughts crowded themselves into my brain, myattention was attracted by soft strains of music emanating from the roomI had just left, and I stood still and listened. Arletta had evidentlyset the orchestral mechanism in motion again, and was accompanying it bytenderly singing her own requiem. With tremulous modulation, her vocalchords produced sounds such as I had never heard before, and of which Iam powerless to give the faintest description. Like a statue, I stoodand listened to the almost supernatural melody, and inwardly prayed thatit might continue forever. But suddenly both the music and singingended, and absolute quietness prevailed. It may have been a pure fancyon my part, but as I waited in breathless silence, hoping for moremusic, the apparition of Arletta seemed to pass directly over my head, and continued right on up through the solid roof of the hallway. Startled beyond expression at what I now consider a mere delusion, Ishouted Arletta at the top of my voice several times, and receiving noanswer, either telepathically or phonetically, I came to the awfulconclusion that she was no more. 

Is it unmanly to cry? If so, I must confess my unmanliness, for on thisoccasion it was impossible for me to repress the tears from coursingdown my cheeks, as I realized that the last of nature's grandest andnoblest earthly beings had passed away. But the tears I shed apparentlysoftened my nature, and as I stood buried in the depth of meditationconcerning the preceding events, I became impregnated with the desire totry and do some real good in the world; to make myself useful tomankind; to live for others instead of myself alone. And then and thereI resolved that I would devote the remainder of my natural life toteaching human beings the beautiful principles of Natural Law, as Iunderstood them, without expectation of compensation or future reward. Iwould go forth, as Arletta had requested, and plant the seed of realtruth, justice, love, and equality in human hearts to the best of myability, and trust in the souls of men to further aid in its universaland everlasting productiveness. I felt positive that the theory of theSagemen was right, and that the soul just released from Arletta was eventhen beginning life in a different form. Would it not be criminal on mypart to make no effort to better earthly conditions for her futurewelfare? Perhaps, conjectured I, the soul of my own mother, who died atthe time of my birth, might, even at that moment, be incased in adegraded body, surrounded by want and misery, caused by the operation ofthat selfish, brutal and murderous system, which encourages the strongto squeeze the very light and hope from the weak, thus forcing andkeeping mankind in a state of continual degradation. A system that wascreated in the beginning by savages, and which is upheld at the presenttime by savages. And the Church, that gigantic symbol of ignorance andstupidity, not only fails to protest against such a beastly system, butactually advocates its continuance. 

How long I stood there, seriously thinking on this subject, and formingnew and laudable resolutions for the future, I do not know; but at lastI awoke to the fact that I was still nothing more nor less than a commonadventurer, held captive on an isolated projecture in the middle of thesea. This became more apparent as I faintly heard the ocean's wavesdashing against the rocks on the outside of the place. So, following inthe direction of the sounds, they became louder and more distinct, untilfinally I found myself looking up at the very hole through which I hadbored my way so unceremoniously. It was night, and I could easilydistinguish the stars in the outer darkness. In making a careful surveyof the surroundings, I discovered that it was going to be a much moredifficult task to get out than it was to get in this extraordinarygrotto. The aperture was located about three feet above my head; wasbarely large enough to squeeze through, and there was no way by which Icould climb up to it. I observed, however, that adjoining the hole therewas a huge marble pillar running upward and outward in an oblique slant, and wedged in its position by several other massive stones, but with itsend protruding below the rest. So, without wasting any time, I leaped upand caught hold of it with both hands, and then, adopting the tactics ofa gymnast, I began slowly working my way through the hole feet foremost, like an acrobat going over a horizontal bar. This feat, which requiredgreat muscular strength, flexibility, and tenaciousness, was the veryhardest physical performance I ever accomplished, for, besides beingunable to get a firm grip on it, I found, to my dismay, that the greatpillar I clung to was insecure in its position, and threatened to falland crush me beneath its weight. And as inch by inch I slowly andpersistently worked my way upward and outward, so inch by inch did itslowly, but surely, work its way downward. Passing my feet and legsbeyond the brink of the opening, I doubled myself up in such a way thatthe lower half of my body rested upon a sort of a level platform, and, with head downward, I pushed my way up until I found myself kneelingupon the crust I had previously broken through, and which I subsequentlydecided must have been a great pane of glass, covered by the coagulatedsettlings of the air, which for centuries had been forming a solidcoating. I remained in a kneeling position for several moments, catchingmy breath and regaining strength. I feared to move, lest the thin layerupon which I rested would once more give way beneath me. It appeared towaver, as did everything else around me. After a short rest, I carefullyarose to a standing position, and then observed that I was located in asort of a pit, surrounded by rocks of various shapes and sizes. As Icautiously climbed upward, each one of them appeared to tremble at myvery touch, until just as I reached the topmost point the whole massapparently gave way at once, I lost my balance and fell forward, therewas a terrible crash, and after that I became dizzy and confused. 

The most peculiar and disconnected sensations then passed through mymind. First I thought there was a great hole in the side of my head, which I tried to fill with small stones. Then my head became full ofholes, and finally I fancied that I possessed a half dozen heads and allof them were cut and bleeding. And then apparently all of these headswere suddenly and mysteriously severed from my body, and floated away inspace like a lot of toy balloons. Following that, it felt as if everybone in my body had been broken, and I was taking these bones from theirplaces and trying to repair them. Then I imagined that I had severaldifferent bodies, and all of them were bruised and mangled. These formsincreased in numbers until I could see nothing else but them, and theyappeared to be struggling to extricate themselves from beneath a hugeobject which seemed to grow in size until it was as large as a mountain. Finally released, they began climbing up the mountain until the summitwas reached and then gradually decreased until there was but one left. 

"What is the matter with me?" I wondered. "Who am I, what am I, andwhere do I belong?" I tried to think coherently, but my mind was feebleand incapable of grasping an intelligent thought. Day and night went andcame many times, but still I remained on that mountain wondering, wondering, wondering. Sometimes I would expand until I felt larger thanthe mountain itself; then again I would shrink to the size of a flea. One time I would feel as if I were up near the North Pole, surrounded byice and freezing to death. At another time I would imagine that I was inthe middle of the Sahara Desert, being roasted alive by the scorchingrays of the sun. And, still again, I would feel that I was shipwreckedupon a barren island, and was slowly dying for the want of food andwater. Sometimes I fancied that I could see ships all about me, and Iwould yell, and roar at the top of my voice to attract attention, butwithout results, as they would pass beyond view without taking anynotice of me. At other times it seemed that ships would cast theiranchors right in front of my eyes, and apparently remain stationed therefor weeks and months at a time, and yet no one would come to myassistance. At last there appeared to be ten thousand ships all of thesame pattern lowering small boats into the water, and these boats mannedby stalwart oarsmen started to race with each other in my direction. What an evenly matched contest. On, on, on they came, bunched closelytogether, each using the same uniform stroke as if all were guided bythe same coxswain. Now they were right upon me. "Great race, " I shouted, as they came within hearing distance. "Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!" "Thepoor devil is mad, " I fancied I heard someone exclaim, and my mindbecame a blank. 

CHAPTER XXIII

FIRST VOICE: "This is a most peculiar case of enteric fever, in whichthe patient baffles all medical aid towards a cure. The fellow has beenout of his head ever since he was brought here, two months ago, andfancies that he has been in a trance since the time of Noah and the Ark. He has a strange hallucination that he can be awakened from hisprotracted nap by a kiss from a certain female, whom he describes asArletta the Beautiful. Although he is as crazy as a loon, yet some ofhis utterances are really remarkable for the depth of logic theycontain. The case has its amusing side also, for every woman by the nameof Arletta who visits this hospital cannot resist the temptation ofkissing the man, in order to ascertain whether they possess the secretcharm to restore his right senses. But so far the osculatory experimenthas proved a dire failure. He bears evidence of being a handsome anddistinguished person, notwithstanding he is a charity patient, andwithout friends. His identification is unknown, he having been picked upon the street in his present condition by the police, who had him senthere. I fully believe-but Miss, you are crying. Evidently your nature istoo emotional for the sick room, so come, we will pass along. "

SECOND VOICE: "No, wait a moment, Doctor. I--I think--I am positive thatI know this man. In fact, I was very well acquainted with him a fewyears ago. It all seems so strange, but-well-you see-he often told methat he loved me. Yes, my name is Arletta, but I did not love him, noreven like him. My father and mother hated him, and we all had tosecretly leave home and travel abroad in order for me to avoid hisundesirable attentions. But notwithstanding that, my heart now bleedsfor him in his terrible plight, and I want to do something for him. Myconscience would not allow me to pass along without trying to aid him. You say that in his ravings he claims that a kiss from Arletta wouldsave him. I have never done such a thing before in my life, but now anirresistible force from within has taken possession of me and I feelthat it is my duty to try the experiment myself, and see if it will havethe effect of restoring his normal condition. Therefore, Doctor, whetherthis strange method proves efficacious or not, I shall rely upon yourhonor to keep the secret, and never mention the incident to him. If heknew of it I should die of shame. My parents would disown me for such anact. "

As though awakening from a long and profound sleep the aforesaidcolloquy seemed to have been impressed upon my mind, and then I openedmy eyes and looked about in astonishment. The strangeness of my positionand surroundings surprised me beyond expression. I was lying upon myback in a small narrow bed stationed within a large oblong room aboutone hundred by fifty feet in dimensions. Long rows of little white bedsextended from one end of the apartment to the other, each containing theform of a human being. Most of these forms appeared to be soundlysleeping, some lay awake silently meditating, while others tossed aboutnervously from one position to another as if in terrible agony. Anoccasional howl of torture rent the air. Moving hither and thither amongthe different beds were women attired in white dresses and wearinglittle white caps on their heads. They carried in their hands, spoons, tumblers, trays, and various instruments and vessels of peculiar design. 

At the front of my bed stood a man of medium height and build, with aheavy reddish mustache and pointed beard. At one side, half way betweenthe head and foot of my bed, was the figure of a woman, apparently abouttwenty-one years of age. She was tall, slender, graceful, andmagnificently gowned in street clothes. Her head was shapely and coveredwith an abundance of dark brown hair. Her physiognomy was intellectuallystrong, and the whole cast of her features showed extraordinary beauty. Her eyes were clear and bright, and expressed a tender and sympatheticnature. She was looking straight at me in a half-startled sort of amanner, and appeared to be backing away from the bed upon which I lay. As my eyes met her steady gaze I involuntarily exclaimed, "Arletta!"Then instantly my memory returned, and I remembered all that had takenplace, as explained in the preceding chapters. 

Notwithstanding, however, that my mind became clear and well-balanced, Ibecame extremely puzzled as I looked at this beautiful woman, to notethat she bore a striking resemblance to the sublime being, who had justpassed away among the remnants of Sageland, and I became still furtherconfounded when she timidly approached me and softly said: "You are JohnConvert, are you not?"

"Yes, " answered I, "that is my name. "

"And do you recognize me?" inquired she. 

"I recognize in you a living demonstration and positive realization ofthe principle of re-incarnation, as embodied in the Sageman's theory ofNatural Law, " answered I, slowly and deliberately. "I recognize in youthe soul of Arletta, of Sageland, my eternal companion, and a fulfilmentof her prophecy that she would be born again. But while I make thisdeclaration with the utmost positiveness, still I am at a loss tounderstand how such a thing could be, as the soul of that lovely being, having but just left its material body, should according to Natural Law, have attached itself to an embryo form, while you are a full-grownwoman. " At these words she appeared considerably amazed for a moment, but quickly recovering herself, she said with much sympathy andtenderness of feeling: "Come, now, Mr. Convert, try and think clearlyand talk sensibly. Don't you recollect how, three years ago, we becameacquainted in Paris; how persistently you followed me all over Europe, then crossed the Atlantic aboard the same steamer, and finally journeyedout West to my home? Don't you remember how angry Papa became, and howhe threatened you with dire punishment if you did not stop annoying us?"

"No, " said I emphatically, "there must be some mistake, for I have nevervisited Paris and I distinctly recollect having been in Japan threeyears ago, as I celebrated my nineteenth birthday in Tokio. "

"Now that is absurd, " said she, with a mingled look of pity andsuppressed amusement. "Three years ago you told me that you were fortyyears old. Don't you recollect how you once cautioned me not to consideryou an old man simply because your hair was white, and how angry youbecame because I called you Grandpa? Come now, think real hard. "

At these words I began to seriously doubt my own identity, but after amoment of calm deliberation I replied, "No, I do not recollect any suchhappenings, and moreover, I am not forty years of age, but twenty-two, and neither is my hair white but black as you can plainly see. Will youplease tell me where I am? My mind is a trifle confused at the strangesurroundings. "

"You are in the Ruff Hospital, New York, " answered she. "I, myself, havebeen spending some time in this city, and, strangely enough, took anotion that I should like to see the different hospitals. It was purelyaccidental that I ran across you. The doctor says you have typhoidfever, but, " she added, in an encouraging manner, "you will soon bewell. So cheer up, and try to concentrate your mind, so that you canthink properly. "

"Ruff Hospital, New York!" ejaculated I, in astonishment. "How the deucedid I get away over here? Oh, I understand; I fell among the rocks andwas hurt; then the sailors came and rescued me, and I was brought here. That seems like a few moments ago, but I presume at least a month musthave elapsed since or the ship could not have reached this port. Whatmonth is this, January?"

"No, this is the month of March, " replied she. 

"March!" exclaimed I. "Great heavens, how the time has flown! Why, thatis about three months that I have known absolutely nothing. Let's see, it was December 5th that I was thrown overboard, and it must have beenDecember 7th that Arletta died. That's right, December 7, 1881-I shallalways remember that date and keep it holy. It must be now March, 1882. "

"Why, Mr. Convert, you are certainly dreaming, " responded she, "this theyear 1903, not 1882. But how strange that you should get so mixed in thedates-December 7, 1881, was the day I was born. That was over twenty-oneyears ago, instead of three months, as you fancy. "

At this juncture the red-whiskered individual came forward and said: "Itseems to be a hopeless case, Miss. He has talked in that same strainever since he came here. Perhaps after his fever abates somewhat he mayregain his equanimity, but to me it looks as if his mind will always beunbalanced. He has a nasty scar right over the temporal region, whichportends ill for his future reason. Perhaps it would be better not totalk to him any further at present. He is awfully weak, and appears moreexcited than usual. You have evidently made some impression upon him, however, and if you would visit him every few days he might eventuallybe able to recognize you, which would have a strong tendency to set himmentally straight again. "

"Very well, " said she, hesitatingly, as if not anxious to go. "May Icall and see him tomorrow, Doctor?"

"There are only three visiting days here each week, Miss; Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays, between the hours of three and four P. M. Butany time you call, if you will ask at the office for Doctor Savage, thatis my name, I shall consider it a pleasant duty to render you anyservice within my power, " replied he, looking at her with unsuppressedadmiration, of which she apparently took no notice. Then continuing, hesaid, "Would you kindly give me your card that I may know your full namein case you call at other times than the regular visiting hours?"

She opened her pocket book as if to take out a card, stopped andreflected a moment, and then said, "Well, never mind my last name; justremember me as Arletta, " and before I could collect my wits sufficientlyto voice my agitated thoughts they passed from the room together. 

CHAPTER XXIV

As I lay musing over the strange occurrences recorded in the previouschapter, and wondering whether my entire life was a reality or merely apeculiar dream, one of the white-capped nurses strode up to the side ofmy bed and without the slightest warning roughly pushed a little glasstube in my mouth. Not knowing whether she wanted me to swallow it or wasmerely trying to puncture a hole in my tongue, I put it out again andasked what she intended doing. 

"Now look here, " said she, in an irritated way, "I have about lost allpatience with you, and unless you do as I tell you hereafter I shallhave the orderly punish you again. "

"But, " said I, in amazement, "you have not mentioned yet what you wouldhave me do. "

"I have told you fully a hundred times to put this thermometer underyour tongue and keep it there, " replied she, exhibiting considerabletemper, as she viciously jammed it once more into my mouth and twistedit under my tongue. "You are about the biggest chump that ever came intothis hospital, " continued she, grasping my wrist as though she intendedbreaking it and simultaneously taking my pulse and temperature. 

A few moments later she jerked the thermometer from my mouth, glanced atit hurriedly and then entered a record upon a chart suspended from thehead of my bed. Then calling one of the male attendants, she instructedhim to fill the tub preparatory to giving me an ice bath. This attendantwent to the corner of the room from whence he secured a bath tub onwheels, which he pushed over to the side of my bed. The tub was alreadypartly filled with water, and I afterward learned that owing to thelaziness and filthiness of the attendants, the same water was often usedover and over again for the different typhoid patients. I observed thatthis attendant, who was otherwise called an orderly, was about asignorant and degraded a specimen of humanity as a much boastedcivilization could possibly breed. 

He was about six feet tall, round-shouldered, knock-kneed, and weighedabout two hundred pounds of flabby flesh, mostly covered by filthygarments. His head was pyramidal in shape, and covered by a mass ofunkempt red hair. He had practically no forehead. His eyes were dull andbloodshot. His nose was flat and bent to one side, and his whole facewas covered with pimples. His mouth was wide and beastly, and filledwith tobacco. His mustache was irregular, and dyed almost to the rootsby tobacco juice. His breath was odoriferous with fumes of whiskey, cigarettes, and foul stomach disorders, causing a poisonous stench topollute the surrounding atmosphere. One could not look upon him withouta feeling of sickening disgust. He was a twentieth century Americancivilized Christian. He was not, of course, the highest type of acivilized Christian, but nevertheless he was of a high enough order fora Christian community to breed, rear, and put in charge of its sick andunfortunate members. As he pushed the tub along he carelessly allowed itto strike the end of my bed, which gave me a shock as though I had beenpierced by a thousand daggers, causing an involuntary groan to escapefrom my lips. 

"Shut up there, you old duffer, " said he, looking at me in a stupid, expressionless sort of a way, "you are not hurt yet. I'll give yousomething to cry about if you don't quit making such a fuss overnothing. You're the biggest baby I ever saw. "

Having fixed the tub in position, put some pieces of ice into the water, and adjusted a small portable partition around my bed, which obstructedthe view of the other patients, he called for the assistance of anotherattendant, and began preparations to put me into the tub. As theyuncovered me, I glanced down at my emaciated form and was astounded atmy own appearance. Nothing now remained of the once muscular andpowerful frame I had always felt so proud of, but sickly looking skinand bones. Raising my arm to the level of my eyes I discovered that itwas shriveled, and ghastly to behold, and it fell back to my side with asickening thud for the want of strength to remain erect. It seemed as ifa great fiery furnace was located within me and that I was fairlyburning alive. Ten thousand different pains were shooting back and forthin every part of my body, but the most excruciating of all was aterrible pain in the center of my back, which caused me to think that myspinal column had been dislocated. And then as if all of the tortures ofa refined civilization had suddenly been thrust upon me, as though somesupernatural hellish agency was instrumental in causing me to go thefull limit of human suffering, those two devilish orderlies took hold ofme, one by the head and the other by the feet, and without any leveragewhatever to break the strain upon my backbone, they raised and thendumped me into the tub of ice-water below. I had always consideredmyself invulnerable to bodily pain, and from early youth had schooledmyself against outward manifestation of suffering, no matter what thecircumstances might be, but on this occasion the power of resistancedeserted me entirely and I gave vent to a howl, of rage like thebellowing of a maddened bull, and partly arising, endeavored to clutchthe throat of the unfeeling beast at my head, but too weak to accomplishmy purpose I fell back into the tub exhausted. At the same time theorderly took hold of my own throat and almost strangling me, beat myhead against the tub several times cursing me under his breath in thevilest of language at the same time. 

"Look out you don't kill him, " cautioned the other orderly at the footof the tub, "or we might have to go through another of those damnedinvestigations. "

Just then the doctor and nurse came within the inclosure, and inquiredas to the cause of the commotion. 

"This damned idiot has broken loose again, and I am teaching him how tobehave himself, " replied the orderly. 

"Well, he certainly needs a lesson in good behavior, " chimed in thenurse; "I cannot understand why he has not been sent over to the Islandfor more strenuous treatment long ago. "

"Why don't you do as told?" inquired the be-whiskered Dr. Savage, in aharsh tone of voice, as he approached close to me, but I was too weakand exhausted to answer, and merely looked from one to the other withthe utmost feeling of contempt. After censuring me sternly and advisingme to behave myself in the future, the doctor strolled away as if suchincidents were of trifling importance. 

I was kept in that tub of ice-water, freezing, for fifteen minutes, while the nurse and orderlies lazily rubbed my arms, legs, and trunk, and poured pitcher after pitcher of ice-water over my head, in an effortto reduce the fever. It was a barbarous method of treatment, and seemedof several hours' duration, but it allayed that intense burningsensation, and put new life and vigor into me. As they were about totransfer me back to the bed again, I quietly informed the nurse that myback was in a terrible condition, and requested that the orderlies beinstructed to handle me a little more carefully, and to take hold of mybody instead of my head and feet when lifting me up, so that the strainwould be less on the middle of my back. 

"There is nothing the matter with your back, " snapped she. "I have toldyou many times before that you only imagine your back hurts. Furthermore, we understand our business without any advice from you. "

And with this rejoinder, the orderlies once more took hold of my headand heels, and after much tugging and twisting, managed to lift me upinto the bed. This time the pain seemed even greater to bear thanbefore, but, summoning all my will power, I managed to take the brutaltreatment in silence, and said no more. Back upon the bed again, shivering and shaking with cold as though my bones would break, I wascovered with heavy blankets, and shortly afterwards fell asleep, thoroughly exhausted, and feeling assured beyond a doubt that I had oncemore returned to civilization. 

CHAPTER XXV

It is not my intention to give a full description of hospital life as itcame under my personal observation, nor to recount the many cruel actsor cases of stupid negligence on the part of the house staff asperpetrated upon myself and other patients, during my stay in the RuffHospital as a ward patient, as to do the subject justice would requireat least a volume in itself. Neither is it my desire to hold responsibleany particular person or persons for the existence of such a barbarousstate of affairs, in which degraded wretches inflict punishment upon thesick, knowing that this is but one of the logical results bred from thedebasing system kept in force by a semi-intelligent class of selfishbrutes, who are crafty enough to gain control of others by teaching thecruel and savage doctrine known as the "survival of the fittest. " I havenothing but a feeling of compassion and sorrow for those abjectcreatures who mistreated me when I was sick, knowing that they, as wellas those whom they mistreated, were but the victims of this pernicioussystem. 

In the desperate struggle for a mere existence, most men and women areforced into employment for which they are entirely unfitted, andconsequently take no other interest in their work than that of receivingtheir weekly or monthly stipend. This fact was thoroughly demonstratedto me by the action of several nurses who appeared to look upon theirwork as tasks to be executed mechanically, instead of duties to beperformed with pleasure. Then again, others who really preferred thework were either kept away from it entirely, or else made dull, peevishand irritable by the great number of hours they were forced to be onduty each day, thus turning what should have been pleasant employmentinto a drudgery. And like the nurses, so were the orderlies; their dailywork hours were so long and their pay so small that only the leastintelligent and most stupid moral idiots could be secured to takepositions that should be filled by men of the very highest intelligence, character and sympathy. 

The physicians themselves I found to be inexperienced youths, generallymasquerading under a set of whiskers, which some people are foolishenough to mistake for brains and ability. Coming direct from the medicalcolleges, they accepted these positions in order to gain some practicalexperience at the expense of the lives of the hospital patients. 

The bricklayer, who devotes his life to the honorable work of buildingthe edifice; the hod carrier, who gives his best services to thecommunity in an equally honorable employment; the locomotive engineer, who safely carries from city to city a train load of human beings eachday for many years, are only fit to be practiced upon by inexperiencedphysicians, and abused by irritable nurses and cruel orderlies, if theyare finally overcome by sickness and enter a charity hospital fortreatment. 

For several days I lay upon my little ward cot in the Ruff Hospital, with my life hanging in the balance, and obliged to accept for succorthe abuse and mistreatment of an inferior house staff. And worse still, I had to be an eye witness to cruelties imposed upon other and lessfortunate sufferers than myself. I feel sure that many a poor fellowthat I saw carried away upon a stretcher, a lifeless corpse, had givenup all hope of recovery and died, for the want of a few cheering wordsand kindly sympathy from sonic one, instead of the constant abuse andbrutality he was subjected to. 

I fully believe that I myself must have inevitably succumbed to mypitiless treatment, had it not been for the fact that the young girl, Arletta, visited me each day for a half hour, bestowing upon me a tendersympathy, and manifesting the greatest concern for my welfare andrecovery. 

I was placed in a most peculiar position. I could get no informationwhatsoever from the doctors, nurses, or orderlies, and even Arletta saidvery little, and cautioned me against talking or exciting myself in anymanner. I learned enough, however, to know that twenty-one years hadactually elapsed since my wonderful experience with Arletta of Sageland, and felt convinced beyond a doubt that the beautiful young girl, whotook such an interest in my welfare, was impelled by the same soul as mynoble instructress in Natural Law. But I was intensely mystified andunable to conceive what had become of the time between the going of theone and the coming of the other Arletta. 

Twenty-one years had been swallowed up as completely as if they hadnever been. Nearly one-half of my life had passed away, of which I couldgive absolutely no account. A look into the mirror was a convincingproof of this fact, for therein I saw a white-haired and premature oldman, with a thin, haggard and drawn countenance, which plainly showedthe results of having lived a life of hardship, and almostunrecognizable as my own face. My heavy black mustache was gone, and inits place nothing but white stubble remained. The more I endeavored toreach some tangible solution of the mystery, the more confused I became. According to the girl, Arletta's story, I had been introduced to her ata reception in Paris three years previously, had apparently fallendesperately in love with her, and made myself obnoxious by following hereverywhere she went for several months. But as neither she nor herparents liked me, I was finally eluded, and had not been seen for overtwo years. According to her account, I was generally looked upon as arich gentleman of leisure and bad habits, who did nothing but travel andspend money recklessly. This being the case, the foremost questions ofmy mind were: Where had I gotten the money to spend so extravagantly?Had I lived those twenty-one years as a rational being, earning andaccumulating wealth and still not knowing anything about it? Arletta ofSageland had told me that there was no such thing as a freak of nature, and that everything worked according to Natural Law, but my casecertainly seemed to be an exception to the general run of things. Whatwould be the final outcome of my mysterious career, was a question to beanswered that was entirely beyond the limits of my imagination. It gaveme a severe pain in the head to contemplate beyond the surface of thesubject, and I finally allowed the whole matter to slip from myattention and bent my efforts toward recovery from the effects of myphysical ailments. 

One day Arletta said to me in as kindly a manner as possible: "Mr. Convert, the doctor informs me that the reason you do not get well isbecause you lack the will power to do so. "

"Will power, " exclaimed I, "my dear sweet girl, that is all I have left. It is the only force that is keeping me alive in the face of thecruelest treatment man could possibly receive at the hands of his fellowbeings. Without will power I should have been killed long ago by thesepeople, but through that agency alone I have been enabled to defy deathand I promise you that I shall get well in spite of them. "

"Why, Mr. Convert, how can you talk so harshly against these kindpeople? I am sure they are doing everything within their power to makeyou well. "

"You think so because you know nothing of the case, " answered I. "Yousimply visit this place for a half hour each day, at a time thateverything is moving along smoothly, and merely get a surface view ofmatters. It is my earnest hope that you may never get a practicalinsight into these things by being placed in the same position as myselfor these other poor fellows all around me. If all the poor unfortunatesI have seen carried out of this ward, corpses, have died for want of thesame kind of will power I require, then all I can say is that thedoctors here should be held responsible for a great many cases of actualmurder. "

"Why, Mr. Convert, what do you mean by talking in this way?" inquiredshe. 

"Just this, " replied I, "these doctors are treating me for the wrongailment. I am suffering no more from the effects of typhoid fever thanyou are, but still these doctors are trying to cure me of a malady whichdoes not exist. Since recovering my memory I have observed that the manytyphoid patients all around me have been bathed from five to ten timesdaily, while my fever rises to a point which necessitates an ice bath toreduce it but once each day, and always at the same hour, five o'clockin the afternoon. In any part of the world where malaria is prevalentthese symptoms indicate nothing more nor less than chills and fever andshould be cured within a day or two by a few doses of quinine. I haveexplained this to the doctors several times, but with a wisdom born ofbook learning they have contemptuously disregarded my advice and stillcontinue to treat me for enteric fever, and then lay the blame upon mefor not getting well. Do not doubt me, my dear girl, I know what I amtalking about. Up to a few days ago my memory was obscured, but now I amin my right senses and fully capable of using all of my reasoningfaculties to their fullest extent. Some day I shall explain many strangethings to you, of which you know nothing. But now I must devote all ofmy thoughts and forces toward regaining my former physical strength, andlikewise increase my moral and mental vigor for a future great work. "

Arletta said no more at that time, but to my great surprise, the nextday I was transferred from the charity ward to a paid private room inanother part of the hospital. The furnishings of this room were of themost luxurious description, and the nurse informed me that it was thevery best and highest priced apartment in the building. I afterwardslearned that the cost of renting this room, including attendance, wasone hundred dollars per week. Arletta had secured it for me. It wasreally remarkable how quickly the value of my life increased in the eyesof those hospital attendants, by the expenditure of a little money. Froma worthless proletariat I was suddenly transformed into a man of greatimportance. There were two private nurses to wait on me, and they movedwith the celerity of antelopes in response to my slightest bidding. Theyappeared to be bubbling over with kindness and attention, and seemed toanticipate my every want. The orderlies treated me as if I were thecrowned ruler of the universe, while the doctors displayed an unnaturalpoliteness that was almost amusing. I found out later that Arletta wasto fee them all handsomely in case of my early recovery. My new nurseswere always ready to answer questions and give me any information Iwanted. 

Upon arriving at my new and sumptuous quarters, one of the nursesinformed me that I was to receive a personal visit from the great DoctorKnow-all that day. She further informed me that he was considered to bethe leading physician of America and that he never made a professionalcall for less than one thousand dollars. As if by appointment Arlettaand this doctor arrived at almost the same moment. Several of the housephysicians also followed him into the room anxious to learn whatdiagnosis this celebrated practitioner would make of a case which had sobaffled them. He lost no time in unnecessary talk but got down to workimmediately, first looking over the charts which recorded my conditionsince my entrance to the hospital. Then he examined me carefully, withvarious instruments, from the tip of my head to the sole of my foot, meanwhile asking me many questions on widely different subjects. 

At last he turned to the house physicians and said: "It is my opinionthat when this man first entered the hospital he was merely sufferingfrom a simple case of malaria and not enteric fever, as you havediagnosed. Since then his kidneys have become affected, and he nowsuffers from both malaria and lumbago. For the fever, give him tengrains of quinine three times a day for two days and gradually diminishthe quantity until the fever abates entirely. Begin to feed him afterthe second day. For the lumbago, give him at least two quarts of lithiawater to drink each day. Now as to the man's mental calibre, I find himperfectly sane and normal. But owing to a fracture of the skullsustained by him some time in the past, the two sides of his brain havebecome separated, causing two distinct personalities to exist. When oneside of the brain works, the other side remains dormant, and vice versa. He likewise possesses a dual memory, and is only capable of recollectingevents as they happen separately and distinctly, according to the sideof the brain which takes the impression. Consequently, this man may havelived a perfectly sane life during the past twenty-one years, of whichhe claims to have no recollection. He may at any time in the futureresume either personality by some slight mental disturbance, but his twopersonalities will always remain as strangers to each other. "

Having thus delivered himself, the doctor, who apparently was bent uponmaking a few more thousand dollar calls that day, hurriedly, but withgreat dignity, strode out of the room, closely followed by the otherphysicians. 

After they had departed, and we were alone, Arletta pulled a chair upclose to the head of my bed, and, looking steadily and earnestly into myeyes, said: "I sincerely hope, Mr. Convert, that you may never againresume your other personality. "

CHAPTER XXVI

The change from a charity patient to the highest paid patient in theRuff Hospital bore magical results, and I was soon on the road torecovery. The quinine knocked all the fever out of me within two days. The food I was given to eat after fasting two months, began tostrengthen me at once and within ten days I was able to walk about theroom. Arletta never failed to visit me at least once each day, and onsome days, two and three times. With each visit she brought flowers, fruit, or some little delicacy, and I was not long in discovering thatshe was taking more than an ordinary interest in me. As the days flewby, her visits became more frequent and of longer duration, untilfinally it seemed as if she almost lived in my apartment. Many times shecame in the morning and remained all day, taking her lunch with me inthe meantime. As my health improved, and I became more vigorous inbodily strength, those same feelings of admiration and love I bore forthe first Arletta took a firm hold of me until it seemed that she was apart of my very life. Ah! those were happy and heavenly days indeed. Thehappiness I enjoyed there, was of that kind which can only exist betweentwo souls fore-ordained and mated to each other for all eternity. As thetime went by-all too rapidly-we had much to talk about. Arlettadescribed the many progressive strides made by science and inventionduring the twenty-one years in which my mind was a blank, and I told herhair-raising stories of my early travels and adventures in all parts ofthe world. We said very little regarding my other personality. Thatsubject appeared distasteful, and caused her to shudder whenever it wasbrought up. She seemed to think that in my other character I was allthat was low, mean and contemptible, while she openly avowed that mypresent self was noble, honorable, and manly. 

There was one hitch, however, which seemed to take root and standthreateningly in the path of absolute harmony between us, and that wasmy belief in Natural Law. She refused to believe the story I told her ofthe wonderful Sagewoman of whom she was the re-incarnation, claimingthat it was nothing more nor less than a fancy of my disordered brain. She also seemed greatly displeased when I informed her that it was myintention to go out into the world and teach the principles of NaturalLaw. It pained her to think that I should allow myself to even questionthe authenticity and infallibility of the Bible. Her faith was so strongand her nature so gentle that I refrained from discussing the subject inany form, after I found how much she grieved over it. So I said no moreabout my experience with the divine Sagewoman and my promise to followher instructions during the remainder of my natural life, but confinedmy conversation to other subjects, and to the full enjoyment of herdaily companionship during my period of convalescence. 

Day by day my weight and strength increased, until at last the timearrived for me to quit the hospital and go into the outer world. I hadmade no plans as to what I should do when thrown upon my own resources, but felt confident that once well and strong I should find plenty ofwork to do with both my hands and brain. Arletta, who appeared to havean unlimited bank account, was generously supplying me with everycomfort and luxury that money could purchase, notwithstanding my earnestprotests against it. The tailor had visited me, taken my measure, andreturned a fine black frock suit of clothes. The hatter had furnished asilk tile, the shoemaker, shoes, and the haberdasher all the otherarticles necessary to complete my wearing apparel in the most up-to-datestyle. The barber, the manicurists, and even the chiropodist had visitedme and taken extra pains in polishing me off. 

"You are the handsomest old gentleman in New York, " said Arletta, girlishly, as she saw me for the first time dressed in street clothes, and all ready to take my departure. "But you do not look so old, afterall, " she added reflectively, "if it were not for your white hair youmight pass for a man of thirty-five. My! what a great big fellow youare! Really, I am afraid that all of the women at the Waldoria willbecome infatuated with you at first sight, " continued she, criticallylooking me over from head to foot. 

"And what do you mean by the Waldoria?" inquired I. 

"The Waldoria Hotel, " answered she. "I have arranged for you to livethere until you have thoroughly recuperated and regained your fullstrength-there, now, no more objections, or I shall become angry. Atpresent, you are in my charge, and must do just what I tell you. "

"Notwithstanding I consider the task of following your instructions amost pleasant one, " replied I, "still it seems to me that I am not doingexactly right in accepting your most generous offerings, for the simplereason that I shall never be able to repay you for all you have done. "

"I have been amply repaid already, " said Arletta, "by the miraculoustransformation of a very bad and offensive man whom I did not like, intoa thoroughly good one whom I do like. So say no more about the matter, for the present at least. After you have fully recovered from theeffects of the terrible ordeal through which you have just passed, thenI shall consider any protests you may have to offer, but not before. Ihave ordered the carriage to come for you at noon, and have giveninstructions to have you taken to the hotel. When you arrive there, youwill go to the head clerk's desk and hand him your card. " Here she gaveme a small package of visiting cards on which was inscribed "JohnConvert. " "You will then ask to be shown to your apartments, which havebeen settled for in advance for one year, after which make yourself ascomfortable as possible in the place. Do not mention your business inany way as it pertains to you and me. It will be impossible for me tosee you as often as I should like, but whenever it is convenient I shallhave you come and see me. I am stopping at a different hotel in anotherpart of the city, and for reasons best known to myself, I shall continueto withhold my last name from you, as you seem to have no recollectionof it whatever, and it will also be necessary for the present to meetyou in some out-of-the-way place, which I will designate later. Perhapssome day you will learn who I am, and all about me, but until I am readyto furnish you with further information concerning my identity, I shallrely upon your honor as a man not to undertake, by any methodswhatsoever, to discover who I am, or where I reside. "

With this mysterious admonition and a tender farewell, Arletta left mein the depth of meditation as to what strange occurrence nature'sstorehouse might still contain for me, and a few minutes later I wasnotified that the carriage was in waiting. 

CHAPTER XXVII

It would be almost impossible to record my impressions of the differentthings that came to my notice for the first time in twenty-one years, asI was driven from the hospital to the hotel. 

While great progress had taken place in many lines during that time, still after having had such a realistic mental picture of the wonders ofSage-land stamped upon my mind, the new inventions, such as trolleycars, automobiles, etc. , which I had never seen before, seemed crude andinsignificant. 

As I passed from street to street I could not fail to observe the greatdisorder that prevailed everywhere, in the foremost city of the world. In the first place, I was struck by the inharmonious and raggedappearance of the buildings. Here was a tall skyscraper of nice whitemarble thirty stories high, towering up into the clouds like a greatbeanpole, while on one side of it was a squatty little two-story redbrick structure, and on the other side a six-story brown stone building, the whole forming a most irregular and distracting appearance to theeye. In other places, right in the heart of the city, and adjoiningwell-designed buildings, were vacant lots inclosed by high ugly boardfences, on which were painted fantastic and ridiculous advertisements. 

These defects, of course, could only be thoroughly remedied by puttinginto force the logical economic principle of State ownership of all landand buildings, instead of permitting the individual to do as he pleasedwith property made valuable by the community. 

The disarrangement of the buildings, however, merely typified theincongruous and illogical disorganization of the people themselves. Forinstance, here was a big, strong, well-fed fashionably groomed youngman, walking along the street, carrying no heavier burden than a lightwalking stick, while just beside him was a half-starved old woman, almost bent double under the weight of a large basket of clothes she hadwashed for somebody else. 

Then again, here were two big, strong men, perched upon the driver'sseat of a magnificent carriage, drawn by two great powerful horses, andconveying about the city for recreation a dyspeptic lap-dog, whiletrudging along the gutter in search of work or something to eat was aweak, ill-fed, broken-down old man, who had, no doubt, given the bestyears of his life to the actual labor which had increased the wealth ofthe community. 

Along the streets everywhere were dirty young boys of tender age, whoshould have been at school or play, rushing madly in every direction, trying to earn a few cents by the sale of newspapers, polishing shoes, and acting as chore boys. 

Little brass bands were scattered about here and there, braying forthinharmoniously, and organ grinders and street piano players were rendingthe air with bad music in return for a few pennies, thrown to them bypassing pedestrians. 

Venders of fruit, shoe-strings, collar-buttons, and other lightmerchandise were scattered along the sidewalks and gutters, trying toearn a living by the sale of their wares, while beggars occasionallystopped the more fortunate members of society with patheticimportunities for money to buy bread. 

Cabmen and horses were wasting the public power by standing idly aboutwaiting for engagements, or else driving aimlessly in all directions, searching for patronage. 

Wagons of every description were rushing about hither and thither in awretchedly unsystematic method of retail delivery, utilizing in manycases the labor of two men and a team of horses to carry a small packageseveral miles distant. 

Countless little retail merchants, with an incalculable force ofmanagers, clerks, book-keepers, errand boys, etc. , were fairly throwingaway the public power in enormous quantities through the brainlessstruggle of competitive trade. 

All these imperfections could be extirpated by the abolition of themoney system, thought I, as the carriage came to a standstill in frontof a great brown stone edifice, and the driver announced that we hadreached our destination. The door of the carriage was swung open by auniformed employee, and, alighting therefrom, I was immediately usheredinto the main office of the leading institution of its kind in theWorld--the Waldoria Hotel. 

It was quite a new sensation for me to enter this great hostelry as aguest, having spent the fore part of my life as a rough adventurer whohad never known the meaning of luxury or refinement. But still, somehowor other, it always seemed natural for me to carry myself properly inwhatever position I happened to be placed, and on this occasion I feltcomposed and at my ease as I entered and made known my identity to thehead clerk. 

This pompous servant showed extraordinary affability and politenesstoward me, which caused me to wonder how I should have been received byhim had I been a shoemaker, a carpenter, or some other honest son oftoil, whose labor increases the wealth of the world, instead of amoneyed gentleman of leisure and extravagance, as he evidently supposedme to be. 

"Your secretary has deposited five thousand dollars to your credit here, Mr. Convert, " said he, handing me a blank cheque book, "so if you willkindly give me your signature for certification, you can then draw uponthat amount as you see fit. "

In astonishment I was about to inform him that I had no secretary, andthat the money was not mine, when it occurred to me that perhapsArletta, or her agent, if she had one, must have pretended to be mysecretary. So I said nothing and did as requested. 

Upon being shown to my apartments, a handsomely furnished suite of tworooms and a bath, upon the tenth floor, I was further amazed to findtherein a trunk, two dress-suit cases, a traveling bag, and six suits offine clothes, made in different styles, from an evening dress to a sackbusiness suit. And the bedstead, tables and bureaus were literallycovered with articles, such as a bath-robe, pajamas, underwear, shirts, collars, cuffs, gloves, hats, shoes, etc. , all brand new and marked"John Convert. " Upon the dressing case was a small jewel box, containingseveral kinds of gold cuff buttons, diamond scarf pins, and a solid goldwatch, on the inside of which was inscribed, "From Arletta to John. "

It took some time for me to get over the wonderment into which I wasplunged at the sight of these things, and the contemplation of how farArletta intended going before ceasing her benevolent acts towards me, but after spending an hour or two in becoming accustomed to mysurroundings and putting the various articles away into the bureaus andwardrobes, I decided to make a general survey of the entire hotelpremises. 

I learned that the Waldoria Hotel was thirty stories high, and coveredan entire block in the most fashionable district in New York City. Inmany ways it resembled a small city in itself, containing a bank, theatre, music hall, photograph gallery, art studio, gymnasium, laundry, electric plant, Turkish baths, tonsorial apartments, brokers' offices, library, and various ball-rooms, besides four different restaurants, twocafes, and several reception and smoking rooms for the use of itspatrons. 

The entire roof of the building was utilized as a promenade and summergarden for musical entertainments. 

The hotel could accommodate about three thousand guests, who occupiedapartments, the rentals of which cost from three to one hundred andfifty dollars per day. About two thousand employees were necessary tokeep the establishment in good running order. Each floor had a separateclerk and corps of attendants, and nobody could gain admission to any ofthe apartment floors except the occupants and their guests. 

All of the apartments of the hotel, from the magnificent "Royal Suite"to the single bedrooms of the transients, were furnished in the mostluxurious manner possible. Costly draperies, priceless paintings, andexquisite furnishings of every description, adorned the drawing-rooms, ball-rooms, foyers and restaurants. Statues of ancient personagesornamented the different hallways, while the carved marble and woodworkseen everywhere showed splendid workmanship. Sweet strains of music fromthe orchestras stationed in different balconies could be heard in mostany part of the building. 

Seated on either side of the long, commodious corridors, on loungesoverhung by palms and tropical plants of various descriptions, were menand women of the fashionable set, who represented the largest portion ofwealth of the community. 

The women with their low-cut gowns, highly perfumed, and weighted downwith jewels of every kind, formed a brilliant spectacle that wasbewitching and bewildering to behold. They vied with one another in thedisplay of their gorgeous gowns and jewels, with the desire to impressupon each other thereby the wealth they possessed and the position theyheld in society. In fact, wealth seemed to be the predominant feature oftheir whole existence. 

Beautiful young women scarcely out of their teens, could be seen payingall of their attentions to decrepit, bald-headed old men of apparentopulence, while on the other hand, young and athletic looking men werecourting women old enough to be their grandmothers. In either case, theyoung were quite willing to sell their persons for wealth. Theseunnatural facts plainly demonstrated to what depths the human being, will go in an endeavor to secure money, or the power derived therefrom. 

In the restaurants, the most criminal extravagance was practiced bythese moneyed people, in many cases the costly viands and high-pricedwines ordered being only partly consumed, and the remainder left to bethrown into the waste barrel. In fact, it appeared that the individual'simportance was gauged by the amount of money he could spend, and men whono doubt in a great many cases squeezed the pennies from the poorlaboring classes through their different financial methods ofconfiscation, thought nothing of spending from five to fifty dollars fora single meal. 

In short, I found the Waldoria Hotel to be a sort of a heavenly place, infested principally by hellish beings-a welcome nest for people withmoney but a very unwelcome place for persons who had none. It madeabsolutely no difference how people got their money as long as they hadit. 

The stone masons, iron-workers, carpenters, painters, plumbers and otherlaborers who built the beautiful edifice were not allowed inside of it. The furniture makers, carpet and tapestry weavers, interior decorators, etc. , through whose skill the hotel was made grand, were not permittedto enjoy the magnificence of their own creation. But owing to the stupidmoney system, which these laborers them selves help to keep in force, the results of their combined efforts were either usurped by anunproductive class fortunate enough to be born rich, or those shrewdenough to accumulate money, such as trust managers, bankers, real estatespeculators, stock jobbers, and brokers, gamblers, burglars, money loanswindlers, high salaried clergymen, etc. 

CHAPTER XXVIII

In looking over the daily newspapers the next morning my attention wasforcefully called to the fact that fully nine-tenths of the news columnswas given to the promulgation of crime in all its various forms, ofwhich ninety per cent could be directly traced to the money evil, ofwhich the system of individual accumulation must be held responsible. For the benefit of future generations who may desire information thatwill give them an exact idea of the real value of their civilizedancestors, I herewith reproduce a few extracts from the newspapers, wordfor word, just as the despatches were published. 

"Albany, N. Y. , Special Despatch: It is reported on high authority thatState Senator Grab has received a half million dollars, to bedistributed among the various senators and assemblymen, for the purposeof securing their votes in exchange for certain legislative laws thatwill favor the Gas Trust in its iniquitous squeeze of the people forhigher rates. Several senators have openly threatened to vote againstthese measures, claiming that Senator Grab is acting the hog and willnot divide the booty fairly among them. "

"Fall River, Mass. : Ten thousand workingmen and women have been thrownout of employment by the mills of this city, owing to the unprecedentedrise in the price of cotton, caused by the recent manipulations of thatfamous Wall Street speculator, Dan Bull, who by forcing up the prices inthe speculative market has added millions to his own bank account duringthe past few weeks. The mills have been shut down indefinitely andstarvation is now facing thousands of men, women and children as aconsequence. "

"Brooklyn, N. Y. : The marriage ceremony between the Right Reverend Q. T. Getrich, Bishop of New York, and Mrs. E. Z. Money was solemnized heretoday with great pomp, and attended by some of the very wealthiest andmost fashionable people of the country. It has been suggested by someungodly reprobate that perhaps the young and handsome bishop married thefat and aged widow to gain possession of her millions, but thissacrilegious imputation is furiously resented by all pious churchmembers. "

"Chicago, Ill. : Municipal ownership of public utilities seems to havebeen given a serious setback by the very costly and unsuccessfulexperiment this city undertook in operating its own electric and waterplants during the past year. It appears that city officials are just assusceptible to the charm of money as private corporations, and just aswilling, by corrupt methods, to fleece the public in order to obtain it. It is evident that as long as there is money in use there will always beboodlers. "

"Baltimore, Md. : The pure food inspectors of this city after having madean inspection of the different canned goods, have come to the conclusionthat at least ninety per cent. Of the same is adulterated and that thepublic is being slowly poisoned to death. The greed of the variousconcerns which produce these things for bigger profits, causes them touse cheap chemicals in their adulterative methods in place of higherpriced and genuine substances. These inspectors make the astonishingstatement that they believe all foods and drinks are more or lessadulterated and that in the general rush for money profits, theinhabitants of the world are actually poisoning each other by slowdegrees. "

"St. Louis, Mo. : An epidemic of diphtheria is raging in this city andhundreds of children are dying daily from the effects of its ravages. The deaths in most cases are children of the poorer classes who cannotafford to pay the exorbitant prices lately put upon antitoxin by theMedicine Trust. This trust, which controls the supply of antitoxin, hasincreased the price nearly two hundred per cent, during the past year atdifferent intervals, until it has now become absolutely prohibitive toall except the wealthy. Unless there is something done immediately toalleviate this condition of affairs, the lives of thousands of youngchildren will be blotted out, which might otherwise have been saved. "

"Kokomo, Ind. : An awful tragedy took place in this town yesterday whenPeter Doles, apparently driven insane from poverty and want ofemployment, killed his wife and five children by splitting their headsopen with an axe, and afterward thrust a knife into his own heart. Doleswas at one time a wealthy citizen of this place, but speculation was thecause of his downfall. "

"Philadelphia, Pa. : A terrible state of affairs has been brought tolight here by the police who have discovered that a regular system ofchild murder has been in practice for some time by a syndicate of fiendswho murder children for the insurance. These fiends, who secured theirvictims from regularly operated baby farms of illegitimate children, would have their lives insured for large sums and then destroy themafterwards, in order to obtain the insurance money. "

"Paterson, N. J. : U. R. Dire was sentenced to be hung today for themurder of his father. Some time ago, young Dire obtained informationthat his millionaire father was about to make a new will, and cut himoff without money, so he deliberately entered into a cold-blooded planwith his father's secretary to murder the old man by poison. Thesecretary afterward turned State's evidence and upon his testimony theyoung man was convicted. "

"Reno, Nev. : This town was the scene of murderous outlawry last nightwhen an organized band of burglars gained entrance to a local bank, andblew up the vaults. The night watchman discovered their presence, andraising an alarm brought the police and other citizens to the premises. Then occurred a general encounter between the police and the burglars inwhich over a hundred shots were fired, causing the death of threepolicemen, two private citizens and four of the burglars. The remainderof the desperadoes jumped on their horses and escaped with the money. "

"Boston, Mass. : Rev. D. D. Sly, the eminent clergyman of this city, announced today that he has received a call from the Lord to take up hiswork in another field. He will leave at once for New York City, where hewill take charge of a fashionable Fifth Avenue pastorate. Reverend Sly'ssalary will be increased from two thousand five hundred to five thousanddollars per annum through the change, which once more brings up thequestion as to whether the Lord was ever known to call a pastor to a newfield at a lower salary. "

"Buffalo, N. Y. : A case brought up in court here today shows to whatextent the extortionate loan sharks will go in their greed for money. Itwas proved that two years ago O. U. Curr loaned Mrs. Kate Poor, awasher-woman with three small children, the sum of fifty dollars onhousehold furniture. A contract was entered into, whereby the widow wasto pay interest at the rate of twenty per cent per month until theprincipal had been paid. Mrs. Poor stated under oath that she hasalready paid Curr, in monthly installments, over three hundred dollarsand that she is still indebted to him for the original loan of fiftydollars. "

"Scranton, Pa. : Trades Unionism is receiving a great deal of publiccensure at present in this city, owing to the recent disclosure madeagainst Judas Pilate, a union agent, who has been blackmailing differentcontractors for several years past, by making them pay him large sums ofmoney, under threats of ordering union men to strike. It has been provedthat Pilate has secured over fifty thousand dollars by this method. Hisfollowers, however, still remain loyal to him, notwithstanding he soldthem out many times and brought disrepute upon Trades Unionism. "

"Harrisburg, Pa. : The various manufacturers of cigarettes in this statehave banded together to defeat the Anti-Cigarette League in its effortsto have laws passed forbidding the sale of cigarettes to children. Whilethe manufacturers do not deny that the cigarette is wrecking thephysical, mental, and moral character of the American youth, theycontend that it will prove detrimental to their business interests, andthereby cause a loss of many thousand dollars if the Anti-Cigarette Lawis put into effect. Reliable statistics for the past three years showthat one hundred thousand children are ruined annually by smokingcigarettes. "

"Pittsburg, Pa. : The Steel Trust has made a general reduction in thesalaries of all its employees throughout the United States, which willdecrease the wages of the worker from ten to twenty per cent, andaffecting in the neighborhood of two hundred thousand men. It isestimated that this sweeping reduction will save the Steel Trustapproximately twenty millions of dollars per year. Owing to themanipulations of the Wall Street schemers, this saving becomes necessaryto keep the Trust in existence, as in the great merger of the severaldifferent steel companies, the actual valuation of the plants wasincreased one hundred times over in watered stock, so that it not onlybecomes necessary for those who do the labor to pay dividends on bonafide investments of the capitalists, but to pay dividends on wateredstock criminally increased one hundred fold besides. This decrease inwages will cause great suffering among the laboring classes, for, owingto the increased cost of living caused by the raising of prices by thevarious food trusts, it is almost impossible for the ordinary man tomake both ends meet. It appears to all thoughtful students of politicaleconomy that the object of those in control of the money markets is tolimit the supply of necessities of life, so that the demand for themwill force prices up, and, by decreasing production, will cause asuperfluous quantity of labor, which, in turn, will force wages down. With cheap labor to produce, and a high selling price for theproduction, the trust managers and other financiers have easily solvedthe question of how to legally confiscate the wealth of the world. "

"New York City: A great war is now being waged between the rich tenementhouse owners and their poor tenants on the East Side, which promises toend in lawlessness, riots, and much suffering in consequence. It appearsthat the owners of these houses have increased the rents from time totime until they are now beyond the reach of the tenants' ability to pay. At least three thousand of these occupants have banded together to fightthe last raise, while the landlords have also combined to evict themunless they comply with the terms. The tenants, who are mostly hardworking laborers, claim that it is utterly impossible for them to meetthe extortionate prices of foods, fuel, gas, oil, and rents, now beingforced upon them by the financiers with the small amount of wages thatthey receive for their work from the industrialists, and if they areevicted from their present homes it is a problem as to what they will door where they will go. The landlords claim that is none of theirconcern; that they themselves are merely following the system now inexistence of getting all they can, through their property rights, according to the law of supply and demand. Some of them even claim thatthese tenants are nothing more than vermin, anyway, and that it would bewell to push them all into the East River and exterminate thementirely. "

The newspaper articles, which I have reproduced, are but a few of thethousands chronicled daily of the terrible crimes which take place inall parts of civilized Christendom over the individual possession ofmoney, or its equivalent, and they also demonstrate that after nineteenhundred years of Christianity the world still remains in a savage state. The Christian must admit, if he will stop and consider, that there mustbe something lacking in his religion, if after all these centuries, suchbarbarous conditions still exist. What is lacking? This question can beanswered in a few words. The abolition of the money system. Theeradication of individual accumulation. The substitution of united laborand honest distribution. The adherence to the principles of Natural Law. 

Had Christ taught Natural Law instead of supernatural religion, had hebeen an organizer and started a movement toward the abolition of themoney system and established a united labor organization in place of thesystem of individual accumulation, the world long ere this would havebeen a heavenly abiding place for the human family, instead of aseething furnace of petty quarrels, murderous fights, and selfish strifeamong all of the inhabitants. 

Why should one hog have more to eat than another? Why should one manhave more luxuries and privileges than another? Why should the man whoconceives an idea receive a greater reward than he who puts the ideainto execution? Why should the man who works with his brain have more ofthe sweets of life than he who works with his hands? Why should the manwho lays the brick have more of the world's goods than he who carriesthe brick mortar to him? These questions do not apply alone to thecapitalist, but also to the laborer as well, and as long as the laboringclasses champion the cutthroat policy of grading man's allowanceaccording to his ability, of giving more to one than another, owing to aslight difference of brain capacity, he should not, after showing hisown greediness in this respect, expect the capitalist not to be greedyalso. He must learn that all men should have equal opportunities andbenefits from the whole production of united labor. As long as moneyexists, so long will fights and quarrels take place between capital andlabor, and between the different branches of labor as well. The laborerwill fight the capitalist until he in turn becomes a capitalist, andthen he will turn about and fight the laborer. So there is but onereasonable method to pursue in order to better the conditions on earth, and to eliminate suffering and crime entirely, and that method is tostrike at the very root of the cause, and abolish money and the systemof individual accumulation. 

CHAPTER XXIX

My sojourn at the Waldoria Hotel was a rather pleasant one in many ways. I enjoyed the luxury and refinement of the surroundings. The harmoniousmusic of the orchestras was pleasant to listen to, and the magnificentpaintings and beautiful works of art were pleasing to the eye. I alsotook some pleasure in wearing the different suits of fine clothes withwhich I had been supplied, and in making my own person appear as well aspossible in the eyes of others. I even enjoyed entering the spacious andluxurious restaurants and eating sparingly of some of the deliciousviands prepared by the scientific chef. In fact, the many delightfuladvantages to be derived from living at the Waldoria directly appealedto me as being some of the blessings supplied by nature for all humanbeings to enjoy. 

But still there was a serious drawback to my thorough and absoluteenjoyment of these conditions, when I took into consideration the factthat I was in no way responsible for their existence. I was acceptingsomething from the community, but giving nothing in return. I felt thatin living at the Waldoria, and doing no work for the community, I waslike a great sponge soaking up the life-blood of honest toil, andreturning nothing for the sustenance it afforded me. I felt that Ishould at least go to work and do something that would help to pay formy keeping. True it was that I had the money to pay for these things, but where did the money come from? Where does all money come from? Tohave money to pay for things does not mean that one has earned them. SoI decided that I would go to work as soon as possible, and give to thecommunity an equivalent for the things I enjoyed. 

But then, the great difficulty arose when I tried to find something todo. It made little difference what kind of work I should engage in aslong as it was of a productive nature. But when I went around lookingfor employment, I discovered that there was none to be had. 

It is certainly a most unnatural system which fails to utilize all thepower at its command for the good of universal production, and it seemshard to realize that such conditions can exist; but during my wanderingsfrom street to street, store to store, and factory to factory, throughout the great commonwealth of New York, I discovered that besidesmyself, there were also thousands of other earnest men tramping thestreets, willing, but unable, to find work. At last, however, I was putin the peculiar position of having to pay to work. One day, after a weekof unsuccessful attempts to obtain employment, I ran across one of thesub-bosses of the street-cleaning department. Making known my desire tohim, I was amazed when he told me that he would let me work on conditionthat I paid him twenty-five dollars for the job and promised to give himten per cent. Of my wages each month. He informed me that all of the menunder his charge had to do likewise. In fact, he intimated that in orderto hold his own position as sub-boss he had to pay this money to bosseshigher up in the department. 

And so in order to feel that I was at least doing something for thecommunity to earn my right to live, I was forced to pay for theopportunity and also to aid in keeping alive one of the many systems ofgraft, which unnaturally swallows up the results of honest men's labor. So I began work as a street-sweeper--a position looked upon generally asone of the lowest in the scale of human employment. Why the man whosweeps the streets, making clean and wholesome the thoroughfares, whichhave to be traveled constantly by the people, and saving the public fromfilth and disease, should be looked down upon by the rest of his fellowbeings for doing this great service, seems beyond the limits of sanereasoning; but such is the case in this world, where money is the godworshiped by all. 

An illustrative incident occurred while I held the unique position ofstreet-sweeper, and at the same time being a guest at the fashionableWaldoria Hotel. I had become acquainted with many of the wealthy guestsof the place, who, no doubt, supposing me to be a man of riches, courtedmy society to some extent. In fact, I had become rather popular amongthe permanent residents. There was one family in particular, a certainMrs. Snipe and her two daughters, who took every occasion to pay meattentions, until one day as I was engaged in my daily work on thestreet, some distance from the hotel, I noticed a carriage approachingwhich held Mrs. Snipe and her brood. They were all looking straight atme, but gave no sign of recognition as they passed along. That evening, after I had changed my working clothes, which by the way, resembled thewhite duck outfit worn by an African explorer, and, having left them inthe tool-house, I went home and attired myself in evening dress. Again Imet the Snipe family in one of the foyers of the hotel. The old lady, accompanied by her eligible daughters, approached me and said: "Mr. Convert, I have something awfully funny to tell you. It is just toofunny to keep to myself. You have a double; we saw him today. Now, don'tget angry when I tell you where we saw him and who he is, but heresembled you so much that if it were not for the position he occupied Ishould have sworn it was you. He was a member of the street-sweepingbrigade, and if you wish to see him just go over to Fifth avenue andTwenty-sixth street tomorrow and you can see for yourself. There, now, you are not angry, are you?"

"No, " answered I, "the person you refer to I have seen many times. Thereis nothing to be angry about. Certainly, not because he holds thehonorable position of cleaning the streets which you have to travel. "

"Honorable, " retorted Mrs. Snipe; "you must be joking. I cannotunderstand how an aristocratic gentleman like yourself would otherwisemake such an absurd remark. "

"I am not joking at all, " said I; "in my estimation, the street-sweeperbelongs to the most honorable portion of mankind. He is down-trodden bysociety now, owing to an unnatural system which permits the strong totake the largest portion of wealth and rule; but the day will come whenmen who sweep the streets or occupy other positions of worth to thecommunity, will enjoy the same luxuries and surroundings that you andother non-producers now enjoy. They will live in the palaces nowoccupied by the parasites who do no work. Such places as the WaldoriaHotel will be utilized for their benefit, and those who do not work, those who claim the right to live without labor, will be thrown outentirely. "

"Why, Mr. Convert, what do you mean by talking in such a beastly way? Ifyou are so fond of those vulgar street-sweepers, why don't you becomeone of them?"

"I have, " I answered. "The man you saw today sweeping the streets wasnone other than myself, and I am proud of it. "

"You are either joking or else you have gone out of your mind, " saidMrs. Snipe with a look of disgust. But upon my reiteration that I wasreally the man she saw, both she and her daughters abruptly left mypresence and never looked at me afterwards. They no doubt communicatedthe text of our conversation to the different people of the hotel, also, for I discovered later that the other guests with whom I had becomeacquainted, not only refused to converse with me, but regarded me as asort of curiosity or peculiar freak of nature. They would pass me on thestreet, where I was working at different times, in their gorgeouscarriages, and, calling each other's attention would pass jokes at myexpense, and laugh loud and mockingly at me. At first these thingstroubled me to some degree, but gradually I gathered courage to beartheir sneers-courage such as I had never experienced before. 

I had faced all manner of dangers during my life without fear, but I hadnever known the real meaning of courage until I made up my mind to doright under all conditions, and accept the ridicule of my fellow beingswithout resentment. In my humble position I could now appreciate thephilosophy and the true greatness of the Sagewoman's beautiful lessonsof unselfishness. I felt that I was just beginning to get strong-strongin the grandest attribute a human being can possess-moral courage. Thegreat Sagewoman's teachings on forbearance were beginning to take rootin my nature. I was learning to understand that I must work and feel forothers, regardless of my own selfish desires. 

One day, while I was busily engaged in my daily toil, my attentionbecame attracted to a big, fashionably dressed man, standing on thesidewalk near by, calmly smoking a high-priced cigar. He was apparentlyabout thirty years of age, six feet tall, and weighed over two hundredpounds. He was beastly in appearance, and looked as if he considered hisown selfish wants as the only things in the world worth attention. Heprobably had never done an honest day's labor in his life. A ragged oldman, about sixty years of age, who apparently had given his whole lifeto productive toil, but now feeble and half-starved in appearance, approached and appealed to him for a few cents with which to buysomething to eat. The big fellow roughly told him to go along and notbother him, and the old man, not doing as he was ordered, the young mandeliberately swung his fist and struck the poor beggar between the eyes, knocking him senseless to the pavement. For a moment I was dumbfoundedby this exhibition of brutality, and then instantly every drop of bloodin my body was set boiling at the sight. I lost control of myself. Myold-time pugnacious spirit asserted itself, and I sprang forward like amaddened bull, striking the brute a vicious blow upon the head with myfist, and sending him sprawling several feet away. As he scrambled tohis feet, in a dazed condition, I rushed forward furiously, with theintention of felling him to the ground. After allowing him to regain hisfeet, I raised my arm to deal a well-directed blow with all my strength, when something within me suddenly cried out: "Don't strike. " "Don't makea brute of yourself because the other did. " "Let the law take itscourse. " And, as I hesitated momentarily, there passed through my mindlike an electric flash, these words:

"Always consult your soul for advice. 

"Do no act your conscience will not sanction. "

Then instantly recognizing the mandate I had so faithfully promised thegreat Sagewoman to obey, I overcame my rage and allowed my arms to fallto my sides without striking another blow. 

Two policemen hurriedly approached the scene. I stated what had occurredand requested them to take the bully to jail. To my surprise, however, at the command of the well-dressed ruffian, who I afterward learned wasa wealthy financier, both myself and the beggar were taken to thestation-house. I was fined ten dollars, and the poor old man wassentenced to jail for thirty days. 

While I knew that in this case the law of justice had been misapplied infavor of the cowardly Wretch with money, nevertheless I felt that I hadgained incalculable strength in self-control by not acting contrary tothe warning of my soul and making of myself the same kind of a brute asthe one whom I had intended to injure. 

CHAPTER XXX

Central Park is a tract of land situate in the middle of residential NewYork. It is oblong in shape, being two miles in length, half a mile inwidth and covering an area of about eight hundred and sixty acres. Theground has been artificially changed from a wild waste to one of themost beautiful spots to be found anywhere. It is coursed by a net-workof splendid drive-ways, equestrian roads and foot-paths running in alldirections among the many little rocky hills and miniature lakes. Trees, flower-beds and shrubbery of various kinds have been cleverly arrangedby skilled artists to form a delightfully picturesque effect. Chirpingbirds of many colors and tame squirrels in multitudinous numbers findthis park a heavenly abiding place where the danger of annihilation isminimized. Playgrounds for the children are laid out in different partsof the domain while a zoological garden where animals are keptimprisoned in small cages for the term of their natural lives, is putforth as one of its many features. 

As one passes through the entrance gate at Seventy-eighth street andCentral Park West, and turns first to the right, then to the left, andfinally to the right again, following a foot-path similar in itswindings to a letter S, and crossing two small bridges, he will come toan abrupt ending of a narrow path running into an immense projectingrock. Here is located a canopied seat just large enough for two people. Facing this shelter is a small lake, on the edge of which overhangingtrees afford delightful shade during the hot months. That was the placeselected by Arletta for our meeting ground. It was an out-of-the-way, quiet and romantic spot where we spent many pleasant afternoons andevenings enjoying each other's company. Whenever Arletta wanted to seeme she sent a note which never failed to bring me there. In fact, such afeeling of enchantment did the place hold for me, that many times Iwandered out there and sat alone for hours, musing. 

But notwithstanding that our many meetings had the effect ofstrengthening our mutual admiration and love for each other, and that Iwas beginning to fairly idolize this beautiful young woman, stillcertain things came to pass that I could not understand, and whichcaused me to feel that Arletta's actions were very mysterious, and thatthere was something about her life she was trying to withhold from me. 

In the first place she would never meet me anywhere else except in thatobscure nook in the park, and in departing would not permit me to escorther beyond the Seventy-eighth street entrance, where she would abruptlybid me a hasty adieu, with instructions that I must take another route. 

That, in itself, appeared to be a strange proceeding, but one evening asI entered a fashionable Fifth avenue restaurant on one of my tours ofinspection of plutocratic conditions, I was amazed to see her seated atone of the tables, drinking wine with a male companion. Her face wasflushed from the effects of the beverage, and she was acting a triflehilarious, and displaying traits of frivolity such as I had neverobserved in her before. As I caught her eye she gave a quick start, andthen deliberately turned her head in another direction, and pretendednot to have seen me. At this act I rushed out into the street, and itwas with great difficulty that I was able to control my feelings. 

The next evening I met her in the park, and was further surprised whenshe not only failed to mention the incident, but intimated that she hadspent the evening at an entirely different place. She appeared soinnocent, however, and was so charming in her manner that I almostimmediately forgot the affair, and said nothing about it. A few nightslater, though, as I was walking down Broadway, near Twenty-seventhstreet, I noticed a large crowd of men and women gathered, andquestioning a bystander as to the reason thereof, I was informed that astylishly dressed lady was "too drunk to navigate" and was in the handsof a policeman. As I craned my neck to get a glimpse of the unfortunatewoman, I was shocked beyond expression to find that it was none otherthan Arletta who had created the commotion. Horrified, I rushed throughthe crowd, pushing men right and left, until I had reached thepoliceman, who was holding her up by the arm and trying to ascertain hername and address. She could hardly stand, and seemed dazed to the pointof falling, but as I spoke her name, her memory revived somewhat, and, fixing her half-closed eyes upon me, she said: "Why, hello Jack" Andthen, turning to the officer, remarked: "This is my friend Jack; he willtake me home. " I could not understand the reason she called me Jack. Shehad never addressed me in that way before. But without delay I informedthe policeman that I would take charge of her, and requested him to calla cab. When the vehicle arrived it became necessary for me to lift herbodily into it, and then I was at a loss to know just where to take her. In order to get away from the crowd, however, I told the driver to go onand I would give him the address later. 

"Tell him to take us to the Seraglio Apartments, " she mumbled. 

"Do you know where the Seraglio Apartments are?" I inquired of thedriver. 

"Yes, sir, in Central Park West, " replied he, as he whipped up his horseand started in that direction. 

Arletta said no more, but remained silent, as if stupefied from theeffects of the intoxicating drink she had taken. 

"What a pity, " thought I, as we sped along, "that this young woman, withall of her beauty, grace and charm, and with all of her splendid traitsof character, should fall a victim to the awful curse of drink! Couldthis condition have been brought about because she had no work toperform and too much time and money to squander recklessly? What a pitythat there are human beings who make and sell poisonous stuff for moneywhich not only robs those who use it of their reasoning power, but whichundermines the very foundation of the human race! Those people who makeand sell liquor, knowing that it will ultimately destroy the lives ofthousands of human beings, are just as much murderous poisoners as wouldbe the chemist who would knowingly give a deadly drug to an intendedsuicide. "

When we arrived at the apartment house, which was one of the mostmagnificent in New York, it was with some difficulty that I was able toarouse her sufficiently so that she could walk with my assistance. Entering the vestibule, I asked her if she could get along withoutfurther help, but she insisted that I should go to her rooms, so gettinginto the elevator we were taken up to the eighth floor. As though he wasaccustomed to this sort of an affair, the elevator attendant went aheadand opened one of the doors on the right of the hallway, and afterturning on the electric light, and we had entered, he withdrew at once, quietly closing the door after him. I then found myself within one ofthe most elegantly furnished drawing rooms imaginable. At one end of theapartment was an archway gorgeously draped with costly tapestries whichpartially screened another room beyond, which served as a bed-chamber. Arletta staggered forward, half pulling me along with her into thisother room, and throwing herself upon the bed, ordered me, in a dazedsort of a way, to remove her clothing. I was dumbfounded at thisextraordinary command and felt that I was placed in an extremely awkwardposition. I did not like the idea of allowing the poor girl to remainover night, in the uncomfortable position she had taken, bound as shewas by tightly fitting garments, and still I realized that it was a verydelicate undertaking to follow out her instructions, knowing full wellthat if she were in her right senses she would be horrified at thethought of such a thing. But as I stood looking at her for severalmoments in a state of perplexed indecision, and wondering what course topursue, she began to moan as if in agony, and without further hesitationI decided to go ahead and do my best to make her position morecomfortable. So I began by taking off her shoes. 

"What a superb foot!" mused I enthusiastically, as I unlaced and removedher pretty little shoes. "Was there ever another quite so shapely orentrancing? And the ankle! How daintily its joints showed beneathembroidered hose of exquisite material. " Hardly had I begun this taskbefore I realized that a strange magnetic force was stealing upon me. With such a feast for my eyes to contend with, it seemed as if my senseswere being gradually overcome by the intoxicating clutch of voluptuousdreams. 

The shoes off, I turned my attention to the collar which apparentlycaused her much uneasiness. The collar, as I discovered, was a part ofthe bodice and could not be taken off without removing the wholegarment, which task required considerable time, patience, and carefulmaneuvering to perform. This I finally accomplished, however, with theaid of Arletta, who revived occasionally from her comatose state longenough to give a few indistinct directions, and then as my eyes restedupon her lovely arms, neck and shoulders, I was plunged into ecstaticemotion such as words have not the power to express. At last I succeededin loosening the stays and different cords and ribbons usually worn bywomen, which alleviated her distress considerably, and after throwing alight robe over her form was about to, arrange her position so that shemight rest comfortably, when to my utter astonishment she threw her armsaround my neck, kissed me several times, and whispered in my ear, "Youwon't leave me alone tonight, will you, darling?"

This seemed to be almost too much for me to bear; the cravings of mysensual nature began a desperate struggle with my better self. My bloodstarted to tingle with the heat of passion. Evil thoughts crowdedthemselves into my brain. The more of these evil thoughts I allowed toenter my head the less power of resistance I held against their subtleravages. I was losing self-control. I felt powerless to battlesuccessfully against the temptation. Stealthily walking over to thedoor, I softly bolted it and then stood still for some time andlistened. It was past midnight and everything was quiet. I turned outthe light and started to go over to Arletta. As I did so, somethingwithin me seemed to cry out with shame against such cowardice. As Ipaused for a moment, the voice from within became stronger in itsdisapproval of my intentions. Apparently I became divided into twoparts, and each was struggling for the mastery of me. One side wastrying with all its might to push me forward, while the other wasattempting to hold me back with reproachful warnings. These two partswere my material and spiritual selves, contending for supremacy. Iwavered back and forth, from one to the other, and it seemed that thematerial side was about to conquer and carry me down to disgrace, whensuddenly there passed through my mind like a great wave of strength theSagewoman's wonderful precept:

"Always consult your soul for advice. 

"Do no act your conscience will not sanction. "

And recognizing the full meaning of these words, I immediately turnedabout, unbolted the door, and quietly left the apartment, feeling thatthe soul was still master of my actions. 

CHAPTER XXXI

Almost from the first day after I left the hospital I began to feel anearnest desire to follow out the instructions of the great Sage-woman inregard to teaching my fellow beings the philosophy of Natural Law, and, knowing of no better way to begin this work, I decided to go out andlecture upon the streets to all persons who might care to listen. I setaside three evenings each week to preach the Truth, and took a positionat the corner of Fifth avenue, and Twenty-third street, just oppositethe "Flatiron" building, with nothing but a soap-box for a platform; itwas here that I devoted many evenings instructing the masses in theprinciples of Sagemanism. At first I felt a little awkward, and couldnot find sufficient words to express myself properly upon the subject, but gradually there came self-reliance, which enabled me to communicatemy thoughts to others, and within a few weeks I had acquired a fluencyof speech whereby I could talk for hours without embarrassment. Duringmy first attempts at public speaking, few people would remain more thana moment or two to hear what I had to say, but with the increased forceand power of speech, which I acquired with practice, my audiences grewlarger and larger, until finally the streets were blockaded with theirnumbers at these meetings. Many of my hearers, both rich and poor alike, got into the habit of coming repeatedly to listen to these talks, andafter a short time they would come to me one by one and request personaltutorage in the principles set forth. In fact, the number of theseproselytes increased to such an extent, and their intentions were soearnest and serious, that it finally became necessary to engage a hall, where we might hold private meetings. It was in this way that there wasfinally organized the society for the propagation of the principles ofNatural Law. Little by little the society gained in numerical strength, until I felt sure that the seed of this grand work had been planted inhuman soil for all time to come, and that its fruits would blossom forthin abundance as time passed by. 

But while success appeared to be crowning my humble efforts in thisdirection, and the more progress I made in this propaganda, the moreopposed to my methods Arletta became. She grew intensely antagonistic tomy work, and tried in every way to have me discontinue it. She could notbelieve that all human beings were born to have equal rights andprivileges in the world. She had been taught from infancy that theremust always be a master and a servant, and that the Deity wasresponsible for the position held between them. She believed, as mostgood Christians do, that it is the Creator's will that some people areborn in wealth and luxury, while others are born and bred in poverty andsqualor. She repeatedly endeavored to persuade me to desist in the workI had undertaken and re-enter the Church as a good Christian member. Myefforts to convert her as a believer in Natural Law were futile, and agreat gulf seemed to be springing up and separating us from one another. I felt that I was placed in a very difficult position. On the one hand, I loved this beautiful young woman more than words can convey any ideaof. She seemed to be a part of my life. I would have gladly suffered anypain or torture, if by so doing it would have afforded her one moment ofpleasure. On the other hand, I had sworn most solemnly to the greatSagewoman that I would devote the remainder of my natural life to thedissemination of the principles in which she had instructed me. I oftenwondered at my strange predicament. Here I was being censured by thereincarnated soul of the great Sage-woman for carrying out the very workshe taught me, and for fulfilling my promise to her. 

The climax of this peculiar situation was reached one night at ourmeeting place in the park. Arletta had sent me an urgent despatch tocome and see her without fail, and then she had stated that it was herintention to leave New York the next day on a protracted trip throughEurope. She said she had come to bid me good-bye, and that it was to begood-bye forever, as she never intended to see me again. She appeareddepressed and sad upon this occasion, and her eyes were filled withtears. In answer to my inquiry, as to her reason for leaving me in thisway, she said that it was because she could not uphold me in my crusadeagainst all recognized principles of religious beliefs. 

She told me frankly that she loved me and that she cared nothing for anyother man in the world except myself, but that she could not dootherwise than go away and forget me. She claimed that nothing furthercould come of our friendship as long as I continued an emissary ofNatural Law; that her religion forbade it and her parents would opposeit; that her friends would be against it, and the whole world wouldsneer at it; and that to be placed in such a trying position was morethan she could possibly bear. According to her, there was no good reasonwhy I could not give up my undertaking, to please her. She hadeverything in the world to make me happy and was willing to give meanything within her power, if I would only relinquish my purpose andpromise never to think of it again. She told me that she was wealthy, that she had millions in her own name, and that her father and uncleswere multi-millionaires, to whose wealth she would be the sole heir. Shesaid that if I would promise to quit the work I was engaged in, that shewould give me her hand in marriage, and also deposit in the bank to mycredit one million dollars on the following day as a dowry, with which Icould do as I pleased. She was serious and, apparently in earnest, and Idid not doubt one word of what she said as being the truth. So I wasplaced in the position of choosing between great wealth, the woman Iloved, and all other earthly pleasures on the one hand, and a duty whichI had solemnly sworn to perform, on the other. It was a tryingsituation, to say the least. With bowed head I sat and considered allphases of the matter, with much earnestness and equal indecision. Tothink that Arletta would leave me forever was to feel that my heart wasbeing torn from its fastenings. To have her as my wife, this aloneseemed to be the very greatest happiness that life could afford, andmayhap, the promise of a million dollars was not without its allurement. A position in the very best society of the country also loomed before myvision, as I considered these things. On the other hand, if I refused, Icould look forward to a life of poverty, hard work, and the abuse of myfellow beings. The temptation was a trying one, and it seemed impossiblefor me to refuse Arletta's offering. As I raised my head and looked intoher beautiful eyes, which expressed great love, and tenderness, andexpectation, I felt that I could not say no to her. It seemed as if Ihad been placed between honor and temptation, and was about to fall intothe arms of the latter. I hesitated a moment, undecided as to what todo, when something within me distinctly said: "Be a man. Give up allearthly pleasures during this life and teach Natural Law, according toyour promise. " Then once again the wise words of the great Sagewomanpassed through my mind:

"Always consult your soul for advice. 

"Do no act your conscience will not sanction. "

Instantly arising and feeling that I should follow the advice of my soulabove all other considerations, I determined to do that which was right. I concluded that to lose Arletta, and all the pleasures incidental to alife with her, was but a temporary loss, but the opportunity of settinga great example to my fellow beings, a precedent that would have lastinginfluence, might never arrive again, and that it was my solemn duty toseize this chance while I had the power to do so. So, standing erect andwithout further hesitation, I took Arletta's hand in mine and said: "Mydear girl, to lose you will cause me much suffering and pain, so muchthat it would be impossible for you to form any conception of it. Tolose you is to deprive me of all that is dear and sweet in this life. Topermit you to go without acceding to your wishes taxes my strength tothe utmost limit, but believe me, the life of one little human being isof short duration in the immense sea of time, and while I am giving upthe delight and pleasure of your companionship now, I am doing so inorder that I may lend my feeble efforts toward the establishment of asocial system whereby the conditions of this world will be made suchthat at some future date our souls may be able to join each other inpeace and harmony and enjoy the blessings of a heavenly world, free frommoney, which I hope will eventually be the result of my present labors. Therefore, in acting contrary to your wishes now, I feel that I amworking for your future happiness. I shall remain at my present post ofduty, trying to uplift mankind, I shall follow the dictates of myconscience in doing this, and as long as the bones of my little anatomyhold together as a living being and my brain has the power to reason, Ishall teach the principles of Natural Law even if all the world followsyour example and turns against me. "

At the conclusion of this little speech my emotion overcame me and Icould say no more. Arletta also appeared overcome with sadness, and wasunable to speak. She withdrew her hand from mine and without a wordturned and walked slowly away, sobbing bitterly as she left. I stood andwatched her retreating form in a dazed sort of a way. With each stepwhich put us farther apart, increasing darkness obscured my vision. Iwanted to call her back but a lump came in my throat and I could notspeak. My brain was in a whirl. A terrible feeling of gloom over-shadowed me. I labored under great excitement. My head seemed as if itwere ready to burst. I felt that I was going mad. The trees andeverything else appeared to be moving about in great confusion. Thosesame symptoms which I experienced after falling among the rocks ofSageland returned. My body seemed to be dividing into several parts andthen becoming one again. I tried to control myself but without avail. All of a sudden I saw standing before me two Arlettas, one at the righthand and the other at the left. The one at the right I instantlyrecognized as the great Sagewoman, while on the left stood the girlArletta. They were facing and pointing in opposite directions. Lookingto my right I saw a path running up a steep hill which seemed almostimpossible to climb and upon which was inscribed the word strength. Tomy left I observed a path running down the hill upon which was writtenthe word weakness. At the top of the hill everything looked bright andcheerful and orderly, while at the bottom darkness and confusionprevailed. Above the extreme top, as though stamped in space like agreat rainbow, these words appeared: Natural Law, Wisdom, Love forOthers. At the bottom, and almost obscured in the gloom, I faintlydiscerned the following: Religion, Ignorance, Love of Self. 

As I stood speechless at this wonderful vision everything suddenlybecame dark and I knew no more. 

CHAPTER XXXII

The next impression my memory has any record of was a huge oceansteamer, floating away upon the deep. Great volumes of smoke werepouring forth from its smoke-stacks as it majestically glided over thewater. Upon its many decks were hundreds of human beings, scatteredabout in little groups, gaily chatting and enjoying to the fullestextent the delight experienced by an ocean voyage. Among all of thehappy faces, however, there was one that appeared sad and forlorn. Itwas the face of a beautiful young woman, standing alone against therailing of the promenade deck, who was weeping in silence. As she raisedher eyes and looked in my direction, I instantly recognized the girlArletta, and realized that she was leaving me forever. And then, likeone in a dream, I held out my hands and mutely implored her to return. She appeared to be within a short distance and looking straight at me, but still made no sign of recognition. I could not understand the reasonfor such coldness on her part, and in astonishment rubbed my eyes andlooked again, when lo and behold, she had vanished from sight. But farout into the distance, almost to the horizon, I could plainly see alarge steamer headed toward the vast ocean beyond. I looked around in aconfused sort of a way, and discovered, to my surprise, that I wasstanding almost at the water's edge on one of the docks near BatteryPlace. It was daylight, and the sun was shining overhead. I thenconcluded that I must have been out of my head for some time, andquestioning a stranger, who stood nearby, I learned that just fourteenhours had elapsed since I had bade Arletta good-bye, and I could form norecollection of the slightest incident that happened since then. 

After watching the steamer until it had disappeared from view, I slowlywalked to a bench in Battery Park and sat down, in the depths ofdespair, to reflect upon the strange occurrence. I must have sat therefor about an hour in deep meditation, when my attention was attracted bya newspaper urchin, shouting at the top of his voice: "Paper! Extra! Allabout the great murder. " At the same time he rushed up to me, pushed apaper into my hand, took the penny I offered him mechanically, andscampered along. 

"Another murder, " mused I; "what a pity human beings cannot dwelltogether without taking each other's lives. "

Glancing over the headlines, I learned from the big black type that abeautiful young woman had been murdered in cold blood. Reading further, I was horrified to find that the young woman's name was Arletta Fogg, and that she was murdered in her own rooms, at the Seraglio Apartments, Central Park West. I could hardly believe my eyes saw the thing aright. I felt sure that it must be an optical illusion wrought by my constantthought of Arletta. I looked again and again, yet read ever the samewords, and, laboring under tremendous excitement, I hurriedly perusedthe account of the murder. It stated that about eleven o'clock of theprevious night Arletta Fogg had arrived at the apartment house, and hadbeen taken to her rooms by the elevator attendant. A half hour later atall, smooth-faced, white-haired gentleman arrived, and was shown to herapartments. This man was seen by the watchman to leave the place atthree o'clock in the morning, and the chambermaid discovered her at teno'clock in the morning, dead, and covered with blood from several stabsin the body. 

Cold perspiration oozed from every pore of my body as I read and re-readthis article, over and over again. I was puzzled, dumbfounded, horror-stricken. The description given of the apparent murderer tallied exactlywith myself. Straining every nerve I endeavored to regain someimpression that might lead to a knowledge of my actions from the timeArletta left me the night before until I had recovered my senses thatday. But try as I might, I could no more recall to memory the slightestmovement on my part during that time than I could recollect any eventwhich happened during the twenty-one years of which my life had been ablank. 

Like a man under the influence of liquor I arose and staggered hurriedlyforward until I reached the "L" station where I boarded a train and rodeup to Eighty-first street. Here I alighted and walked rapidly over tothe Seraglio Apartments. A vast crowd of curious people was collectedabout the place, and as I approached, all eyes were apparently turnedupon me. 

Hastening forward I bounded up the entrance steps and almost flew intothe vestibule. There were little knots of people standing about thehallway, talking in low tones. Even their voices hushed as I hurriedinto the elevator and told the attendant to take me up to the eighthfloor. The operator appeared to be almost frightened out of his wits atthe sight of me, but after a momentary pause he ran the elevator to theeighth floor, peering at me all the time as he might have eyed a wildbeast who was about to devour him. Many people were in the upper hall-way, but looking neither to the right nor to the left, I went straightto the door of the room I had entered the night I had taken Arlettahome. Finding it locked, without a moment's hesitation I threw againstit, all of the force my gigantic frame could command which caused it togive way and fly open before me. I then observed that there were severalmen in the room, in different positions and groups, as if making a studyof the surroundings. Lying upon the bed, in the room adjoining, was theform of a woman partly covered by a spread, and being examined by a manwho might have been the coroner. As I rushed forward like a madman, every one there became frightened and made way for me to pass. 

Approaching the bed I eagerly scanned her features, and being positiveof her identity I took the inanimate form of Arletta in my arms andkissing her tenderly, was overcome by emotion. 

CHAPTER XXXIII

Arrested for the murder of Arletta Fogg, after being positivelyidentified by the elevator attendant and the night watchman as being theonly person who visited her apartments on the night of the crime, wasthe next incident of my strange career. Thrown into prison, and cagedlike a savage beast in a little cell hardly large enough to turn aroundin, has been my lot ever since that awful tragedy. The case attractedwidespread interest, and the newspapers teemed with sensational accountsof it. At the trial, all of the evidence pointed directly to me as theperpetrator of the deed. The elevator operator swore that I was the manwhom he had taken to Arletta's apartments shortly after eleven o'clockthat night. The watchman testified that he saw me leave her room atthree o'clock in the morning. On the stand, I was made to tell, underoath, that Arletta and I had been lovers; that we had been together thatsame night in the park, and had parted at about half past ten o'clock;that she had informed me of her intention to never see me again. Bythese statements the prosecuting attorney showed the motive for thecrime. I could give no account of my time between half past ten thatnight and the next day at noon, which was another strong point againstme. I had pleaded not guilty, feeling that as I knew nothing about thecrime I could not very wisely do otherwise, but also, stating that I hadsuffered a temporary aberration of the mind during that time, and thatif I really did commit the deed, which I could not believe possible, then I had done it in an entirely different character or personalityfrom my normal self. 

My attorney endeavored to have me sham insanity during the trial, and hebecame irritably insolent in his manner toward me because I positivelyrefused to do so. He told me that if I stuck to the truth I would surelybe convicted, but if I followed his advice by openly assuming idiotictactics in court and making false statements under oath, according tohis directions, he could save me without any trouble. He frequentlygrowled and cursed at me for the straightforward way that I gave mytestimony, claiming that his professional reputation was being ruined bymy telling the truth. He privately acknowledged that, in his opinion, Iwas guilty, but that if he were successful in having me acquitted, hewould achieve great fame thereby, and incidentally be able to increasethe size of his future clients' fees. 

It was proved in court-alas, the saddest blow I had yet received, thatArletta was a frivolous young woman, who practically lived a life ofease and luxury, by monetary gifts derived from two wealthy men, one aUnited States Senator and the other a prominent Wall Street financier, both being high pillars of the Church, and one of them being old enoughto be her grandfather. That was the most painful testimony of the wholeproceedings. It did not seem possible to me that the dear, sweet, innocent girl, whom I had loved so much for her gentleness and kindnessof nature, could possibly lead such a dual existence, and I could notunderstand why she should have deceived me, with accounts of herself soat variance with the facts. When I thought of her as she had alwaysappeared to me, excepting those times when I saw her under the influenceof liquor, she seemed like a good angel, who was far beyond even thesuspicion of reproach; and so when I learned the worst, I pictured herat her best, and my love remained unshaken. While I realized that it wasthe poor girl's weakness that led her into temptation, still it wasplain to discern that the cause of her downfall was money and themiserable creatures who utilized it to buy her very life's blood anddrag her along the mire of shame. The poor girl is dead, but the greatmen, through whose efforts she was disgraced, are still alive, and areconsidered eminently respectable by both the Church and the community. The curse of money could not have been more forcibly demonstrated thanby this incident. The unfortunate young woman craved money, and soldherself for it. My deepest sympathy goes after her to the grave. Thefinger of scorn is now raised against Arletta by the whole world, but ifshe could be brought back to life again, I should gladly take her by thehand and say, that my love for her was as strong as ever, and that Iwould defend her against the insults of the depraved society whichreared and educated her in the vices which it now deplores. 

It took the jury just forty-five minutes to reach a decision against me. Ten minutes of this time, as I learned from newspaper accounts, weredevoted to prayer, that the Almighty should point out the right way todecide the case. Evidently the god, to whom the jury prayed, demonstrated that it was their duty to convict me. For convict me theydid, by bringing in a verdict of murder in the first degree. My sentencewas that I pay the penalty of the crime with my life by beingelectrocuted. 

The trial was severe and brutal from beginning to end, from my point ofview. I was bullied by the prosecutor, scathingly censured by the judge, libeled by the press, cursed by the public, and deserted by my ownattorney. I was treated like a cowardly beast of the most depraved type. But with all the abuse that was heaped upon me, I endured it without amurmur, calmly claiming that I was not responsible for the deed, butperfectly willing to take any punishment the law meted out to me. Therewas one thing, however, which stood out prominently amidst the manyshoals of my misfortune, which made me feel that I had not lived invain. My faithful little band of followers, whom I had taught theprinciples of Natural Law, remained loyal to me until the very end. Notone member of the society was there who would believe that I was guiltyof such an atrocious crime. They insisted that there was some mistake, and spent much time and money in trying to ferret out the mystery. Theycalled upon me as often as the prison regulations would permit, and amidscenes that were touching, protested their undying fidelity to me andthe cause I espoused. Each individual promised most solemnly to carry onthe work I had begun as long as his life lasted, and I feel sure that, although the end of my time is drawing near, the work entrusted to me bythe great Sagewoman is born again, and will grow to huge proportions astime passes on. 

And so I have come to the end of my story. Tomorrow I must die. Inwriting this book, I have tried to confine myself exclusively to thetruth. I have felt all along, however, my inability to do the subjectjustice. There are many things that the great Sagewoman tried to impressupon me which my little brain was not strong enough to grasp. There arealso many things which are perfectly clear in my mind, that I have beenunable to convey to others, but I have done my best, and that is allthat can be expected of any one. I should like to have given moreattention to the arrangement of this work, but unfortunately the timeallowed me has been very short, and I have had to rush it along in orderto complete it. I have produced this treatise while confined within mycell in the death-house, and therefore have had many disadvantages tocontend with. I shall give the manuscript to the little body of men andwomen who are banded together and known as the Natural Law Society, ofwhich I had the honor to be the founder, with the understanding that itwill be published and distributed at the earliest possible date. I couldwish that the reader might peruse the contents of this work a secondtime, if it is not asking too much; at least that he might go overcarefully and thoughtfully that portion of it which contains theteachings of the great Sagewoman. While I probably have failed topresent clearly much of the great wisdom directly received from hermagnificent brain, there may arise in the future, wise men, who will becapable of reading in these lines much more than even I, who write them, am able to comprehend. It is my one hope that great men will spring upin the future and take hold of this work--men with minds so strong, sobroad, so courageous, and so unselfish, that they will be willing todevote their lives to the noble task of trying to put the whole humanrace on a footing of equality. There can be no equality so long as thosewho are strong want to take more of nature's gifts than those who areweak, and no man can ever be great who thinks that one human being isentitled to more than another. That is selfishness. Selfishness andgreatness are the extreme opposites. 

This is my last day on earth, to use a common but erroneous expression. At noon today my soul will be separated from its body by the hand ofman, acting according to a most unnatural, diabolical, and murderouslaw. And the poor unfortunate creature, who actually slays me, will doso, not because he has a thirst for blood, but for money. Moneyfurnished by the State--a Christian civilization which bred and rearedus both. 

I am now forty-four years old, and have just reached the threshold ofmental strength. As I am in perfect condition physically, and have asplendid constitution as a foundation, there is no good reason why Icould not have lived at least forty years more. Forty years longer couldI have served the world at my very best, but my fellow beings havedecided to kill me, right at a time when I could have been of the mostuse to them. I am really sorry that I must die, not because I feardeath, but because my opportunity to do good to others is taken from me. Twenty-two years ago I was anxious to die, aye even by my own hand. Ithought that there was nothing to live for at that time. But thebeautiful teachings of the great Sagewoman awakened new ideas ofresponsibility within me, and now I can see that the grandest thingwithin the reach of a human being is to live; live as long as naturewill allow; live for others. 

Natural Law teaches that it is idiotic to pray, and I believe thatprayer is a form of insanity, but were I to pray, which I profess I haveno idea of doing, my one request of the Creator would be that I mightlive out my life, in order to spread the principles of Natural Law tothe furthermost corners of the earth; or, that I might be born again ina well-constructed body, with a mind capable of grasping nature's ideasin their entirety, and interpreting them to my fellow men in a way thatcould not be misunderstood. If the Creator would grant me this request, and I could have the ability and the power to change the conditions ofthe earth to those existing in Sageland before the Catastrophe, I wouldgladly give in exchange for the privilege, my eternal soul as asacrifice, and take upon myself everlastingly, all of the misery, suffering, and torture now inflicted upon the rest of mankind. 

Good-bye, dear reader, and may your soul always guide you. 

END OF JOHN CONVERT'S WORK. 

Epilogue on following pages. 

EPILOGUE

FROM THE NEW YORK DAILY (Special Despatch:)

"SING SING, N. Y. , 11 A. M. -Electrocution day here always attracts manycurious people about the prison walls, but the much heralded executionof John Convert seems to have brought an unusual number of persons tothis neighborhood, and the hill overlooking the prison is almost blackwith people, who have come from all parts of the State. 

"Viewed from this hill, Sing Sing prison presents the appearance of ahuge, square pen, covering many acres of land, and enclosed by a high, brick wall on the three land sides, and a tall, iron picket fence on theside adjoining the Hudson River. 

"On the top of these walls, sentinels are stationed at intervals, whowalk back and forth, armed with breech-loading rifles, and under ordersto shoot dead any prisoner attempting to escape. 

"Within the enclosure, at the north end, are several red brickbuildings, which are used as workshops for the twelve hundred timeprisoners, now incarcerated here. Running along its eastern border is amassive stone structure, about seven hundred feet long, fifty feet wide, and sixty feet high, with windows crated by heavy, iron bars. This isthe main building of the prison, and is used principally as a dormitoryfor the inmates and offices for those who have charge of theinstitution. 

"The extreme south end of the main building is walled off separately, and occupied exclusively by prisoners whom the State has doomed todeath. This place is called the Death Chamber. Inside of this chamber isa high steel cage, four tiers high, and divided into several cells, which are about eight by six feet in dimension. Thick, cement walls, floor, and ceiling, make each cell separate and distinct from theothers. Heavy doors of barred steel open outward onto the differentplatforms, which run all the way around the inside of the cage. Armedpatrolmen, known as death guards, are kept constantly walking aroundthese platforms. Within this cage is John Convert and many othernotorious murderers, waiting their turns to be put to death aspunishment for their heinous crimes. 

"At the south end of the Death Chamber is a solid iron door, which leadsinto an adjoining little red brick building, about fifty by twenty feetin dimension, one story high, and containing two rooms. These rooms areperfectly bare, excepting that in one of them there is a chair, and inthe other a table. About ten feet from the door leading from the DeathChamber is the electric chair, by which the State kills its worstcriminals. In appearance it is similar to a plain, old-fashioned gardenarm-chair, with a high back. Connected to this chair are several straps, by which the condemned man is harnessed in a sitting position, so thathe cannot move. These straps are adjusted across the head, chest, abdomen, both fore and upper arms and the ankles. They are not bound tootightly, but left taut in order to allow for the expansion of the body. The electro connections are at the head and the inside of the rightcalf, the trousers being cut from the knee downward, so that a contactcan be made with the bare flesh. Just back of the chair is a largecloset, which conceals all of the electrical apparatus necessary tothrow on or off the current at the will of the Electrician, by whosehand the condemned man is sent to eternity. Stationed within the closet, the Electrocutioner can see what is going on outside, but cannot be seenfrom without. Just back of the closet is a partition dividing the tworooms, through which is a door leading into it. In the center of thisother room is a stationary table, upon which the autopsy is performed. 

"All of the machinery has been thoroughly tested, and found to be ingood running order, and neither the State's Electrician nor the Wardenexpect the slightest hitch in connection with today's proceedings. Thetwelve witnesses invited by the Warden, and made necessary by law, together with the brain experts, have arrived upon the scene, andeverything is in complete readiness for the electrocution of JohnConvert. "

FROM THE NEW YORK DAILY (Special Despatch:)

"SING SING, N. Y. , 1:15 P. M. -One of the strangest and most pathetictragedies that has ever happened in the State of New York has just takenplace within the house of electrocution here, the result of which mustcause the whole civilized world to pause and shudder. Your correspondentearnestly prays that he may never again be called upon to witnessanother such horror, the effects of which have completely unnerved himand beggars even a faint description. 

"At precisely twelve o'clock today, with the State Electrician, medicalexperts, and witnesses, mutely stationed in their places, the great irondoor leading from the Death Chamber was suddenly swung open, and betweentwo guards the gigantic form of John Convert walked over to the electricchair, with a firm and unfaltering step. Immediately, all eyes wereturned upon him, and at the same instant there was a subdued murmur ofsurprise by many of those present at the magnificent appearance of theman. 

"Tall and erect, with finely formed limbs, and powerfully builtshoulders, he easily towered above all of the other occupants of theroom. With a clean shaven face, the handsome features of which expressedextraordinary intelligence, kindness, and gentleness of nature, combinedwith wonderful strength of character, and a shapely head, overhung by anabundance of beautiful snow-white hair, he looked more like anambassador from heaven than a convicted murderer. He wore a black PrinceAlbert suit of clothes. As he reached the side of the chair he paused, and calmly looking from one to the other of the assemblage, he began toaddress them in a clear and melodious voice. Almost from the firstutterance, his hearers became electrified by his charming manner andeloquence, and for nearly half an hour were held spellbound, while heexplained the principles of Natural Law, and the vast benefits the humanrace could derive by putting them into effect. 

"In a convincing way he drew a beautiful picture upon the minds of thosepresent of a heaven that should be established here on earth by and forall living things, in which they should work united and harmoniouslytogether for a common and unselfish cause, instead of each one pullingin a different direction for his own selfish purposes. He explained thatall living things were composed of the same material, which wasconstantly undergoing a change from life to death and from death to lifeby being molded and remolded into different forms, which are constructedaccording to the intelligence absorbed by the whole. That it is withinthe power of the human race, if working together as a unit, toreconstruct all living matter on earth into more perfect organisms, justas it is within the power of man to re-mould a pile of dead scrap ironinto new and useful machinery. That these results could only beaccomplished by the eradication of selfishness from the human race, andthat it was impossible to extinguish selfishness as long as the moneysystem was kept in force, and individuals were recompensed according totheir craftiness to help themselves. He told of the soul beingeverlasting, and how a wise law of nature breaks the monotony of itsexistence through the process of re-incarnation, and that the soul ofthe rich aristocrat of today may be the soul of the suckling pigtomorrow. He said that it was within the power of every living thing todo good, if only following the advice of the soul, and that the oftenerthis advice was taken the easier it became to do right, but that theless the soul's warning was heeded, the more hardened and vile becamethe nature of the individual. He told of how children inherit theweaknesses of their parents, and mentioned how much grander it is forparents to give their children character without gold, than to give themgold without character. 

"So earnestly and pathetically did he present the whole subject, that atthe conclusion of his discourse there was not a dry eye in the room, andas he calmly took his seat in the electric chair, the whole assemblage, including the guards, stood motionless for several moments as if in ahypnotic trance. And then, as the guards reluctantly began to adjust thestraps about his body, three men burst into loud sobs and rushed fromthe room, bitterly denouncing the electrocution as savagery, andrefusing to witness the proceedings any further. With the exception ofthe condemned man, everybody was completely unstrung. But John Convert, in the shadow of death, did not lose his wonderful self-control for amoment, but sat with perfect equipoise in that murderous chair, calmlywatching with apparent interest the work of fastening him in. "'You havethat strap around the abdomen twisted, ' he coolly remarked to one of theexcited guards, and then quietly added, 'you are not sufficientlyhardened for this kind of work, my man, but perhaps your children maybe. ' And as if stung by remorse at these words, the guard suddenly burstinto a frenzy of grief and cried out in piteous tones: 'No, no! Don'tsay that! I love my children. I undertook this objectionable work fortheir sakes, that I might be able to give them the same advantages thatother children enjoy. But now that you have spoken, I can see that I ampaying for their advantages at the expense of their moral characters, and that they too might follow in my miserable footsteps and, eventuallysell themselves for money. But listen, I have but just taken thisposition, and now I am getting my first experience at this kind of work, and I feel as if _I_ were about to commit murder. And now, after hearingyour wonderful words, my conscience is crying out within me to stop, andso, in the presence of these witnesses, I not only renounce all furtherconnection with this abominable act, but I most solemnly swear that Ibelieve in Natural Law, and that I shall henceforth devote my life toteaching its principles to my own children, and also to those of myfellow beings. My eyes have suddenly been opened. For the first time inmy life I feel like a man. '

"At this unexpected turn of affairs, the countenance of John Convertlighted up with a look of divine happiness that was truly glorious tobehold, and, addressing the guard, he said: 'Well spoken, my noble man. May you accumulate sufficient strength to enable you to faithfullyfollow out your splendid resolution; may your future deeds be sounselfish, heroic, and fruitful, towards uplifting mankind, that thegrandchildren of your enemies may live to praise your name. '

"These words seemed to have a cheering effect upon the guard, whoaffectionately shook the hand of Convert, and then left the room. 

"During this time, however, the other guard had continued the work ofadjusting the straps, and finally having them properly arranged, steppedbackward a few feet and raised his left arm as a sign to theElectrocutioner in the closet that everything was in readiness. Andthen, just as John Convert uttered the words, 'Always Consult Your Soulfor Advice, ' a terrible, dull, buzzing sound took the place of hisvoice, his body suddenly expanded, as if about to burst, his limbs weredrawn up and distorted, blue flames shot forth with a weird glow, asickening odor of burning flesh saturated the air, and quicker than ittakes to tell, the deadly current had penetrated through every fiber ofhis body. 

"And then, as all turned away their heads from the awful sight, a loudcrash was heard, and the door leading from the court-yard into the otherroom burst open, and in rushed the Warden, yelling like a madman: 'Stopit! For God's sake, stop it! You are killing the wrong man!' And pullingopen the door of the closet which concealed the Electrician, he threwoff the current with his own hands. At the same time, amidst greatconfusion, several of the spectators rushed forward and beganunfastening the straps which bound the unfortunate man to the chair, after which the body was carried into the other room and laid upon thetable. 

"Following in the footsteps of the Warden, was a tall, beautiful, youngwoman, hatless, and with hair disheveled and dress disarranged. She waspanting heavily, and a wild, terrified look gleamed in her eyes. Sheappeared dazed and almost exhausted. Catching sight of Convert, shefrantically tried to get near him, but was held in check by one of thedoctors, while the other one made a hurried examination of the body. Andthen, this doctor, apparently suffering from great mental excitement, turned toward those present, and, with his eyes full of tears, chokinglywhispered, 'Too late, he is dead. '

"At these terrible words, the young woman uttered a heart-piercingshriek, and, rushing forward, threw herself upon the corpse, as shepiteously moaned: 'You have murdered him. You have murdered him. '"

FROM THE NEW YORK DAILY. 

"The following statement, made by one of Chicago's most beautiful andbrilliant young society women, is the sequel to the most extraordinarycase that ever attracted public attention in this country:

"'My name is Arletta Wright. My father is R. U. Wright, of Chicago, Ill. , the well-known financier and multi-millionaire. A few years ago, while in Paris, I was introduced to a man by the name of John Convert. Isupposed he was an American, but at that time did not take enoughinterest in him to inquire as to who he was or where he came from. Later, however, I found that he was continually crossing my path, andappeared anxious to court my attention. He was a tall, well-built, handsome man, with a clean-shaven face and snow-white hair, apparentlyabout forty years old. But there was something about his looks andactions that I did not like, and I tried to avoid him as much aspossible. But he was not to be avoided very easily, and, afterpersistently following me all over Europe, he crossed the ocean in thesame steamer, and finally came to my home in Chicago. He got to be sucha nuisance that he was refused admittance to our house, and in order toget rid of him entirely, I secretly left Chicago and went abroad again. A few months afterward I returned home, and found that he had left forparts unknown, and the incident was soon forgotten. 

"'During the month of March, 1903, about two and a half years later, important business called my father to New York for a stay of severalmonths, and mother and I, accompanying him, we took apartments at theOpulent Hotel, on Broadway, near Seventy-eighth street. 

"'About that time I decided to visit the different institutions of NewYork, and one day as I was being shown through a charity ward of theRuff Hospital, I was astonished to see John Convert lying sick upon oneof the cots. He had a wild and peculiar stare in his eyes and at firstgave no sign of recognition, but seemed to be undergoing an intense"mental strain, as if trying to recall to mind some event that hadescaped his memory. The doctor informed me that he was an unidentifiedcharity patient suffering with typhoid fever and was evidently insane. He told me that the man imagined he had been in a trance for over fourthousand years, and could only be brought out of it by a kiss from onehe called Arletta. My heart seemed to melt with pity and sorrow, and mydislike changed into love for the man upon hearing these words, andwithout hesitation I kissed him, at the same time hoping most sincerelythat the act would have a salutary effect. Strange as it may seem, thewhole expression of his countenance changed instantly as if by somemagic force; his eyes lighted up radiantly, and looking at me in greatastonishment he uttered my name-Arletta. But while I was quite elatedover my strange success, I was also much surprised and puzzled at hisfollowing utterances, whereby he claimed that I was the re-incarnatedsoul of Arletta of Sageland, who, according to his story, had died onthe same day I was born, over twenty-one years before, and from whichtime he could form no recollection of events whatever. 

"'Subsequently, I was informed by an eminent brain specialist, whoexamined him, that he was mentally sound, but that owing to a severefracture of the skull received some time previously his brain had becomedivided into two distinct parts, causing two personalities to exist andenabling him to recollect events only as they were separately recordedon either side of the brain. By this explanation I readily understoodthe reason why he did not recognize me and also for the wonderful changewhich took place, both in his character and my feelings toward him. Onthat day my first and last love for man was born. 

"'As time passed by, and he recovered his health and strength, heappeared to me the most beautiful character I had ever known, and witheach succeeding day my love for him grew stronger. But while love formeda strong mutual link of attachment between us, another force succeededin putting us apart. 

"'He believed in Natural Law and unselfishness, with equal rights forboth strong and weak alike. I believed in religion and selfishness, withthe strong enjoying more earthly blessings than the weak. 

"'He believed in a Supreme Being, who created immutable laws whereby theentire machinery of the universe is governed, and that these laws couldno more be changed by the silly prayers of man than by the prayers of amicrobe. I believed in a god to whom I could pray to change earthlyconditions to suit my fancies; a god willing to grant me favors even atthe expense of others. 

"'He believed in re-incarnation, and the power of the soul to eventuallymaster the flesh and create a heaven on earth. I believed in thetransmigration of the soul to some obscure heaven where there would benothing farther to do but rest during all eternity. 

"'He was broad in his views and never tried to restrain me from thinkingas I liked. I was narrow in mine, and quite unwilling that he shouldbelieve in any theory except my own. 

"'These and other differences of opinion caused us to separate. 

"'One night last June, the same night that awful murder took place inthe Seraglio Apartments, I met John Convert at our regular meeting placein Central Park for the last time. It was my habit to meet him in anout-of-the-way corner of the park, because I did not want my parents orfriends to know of it. For this same reason, I had never told him mylast name or place of residence. At this meeting, I informed him that hemust either give up all further connection with the movement he hadinstituted toward the regeneration of mankind, or bid me good-byeforever. He chose the latter course, although I know that his heart wasfairly bursting with grief when I left him. 

"'Now, that it is too late, I can fully appreciate what a grand, noblefellow he was. I offered him a million dollars to forsake the cause hehad pledged himself to uphold. Think of it, one million dollars! A sumof money for which most civilized men would gladly sell their eternalsouls. But John Convert, a believer in Natural Law, could not be boughtat any price, and even though I offered him my hand in marriage, anoffering which many Crown Princes of Europe have repeatedly begged for, still he would not recede from the grand purpose he had undertaken. 

"'Well, we parted, and the next morning I boarded a steamer bound forEurope. But I was wretched and unhappy, and felt that life was a burdento me. I was unable to drive the image of John Convert out of my mind, and as I stood upon the deck of the steamer, as it passed along theriver leading to the ocean. I looked back toward New York, and fancied Icould see poor John standing alone, and forlorn, upon one of the docks, with his arms outstretched, sadly imploring me to return, and with afeeling of remorse I started for my stateroom to lie down and have agood cry. 

"'As I hurried along the dark passageway leading to my room, I wasalmost startled out of my senses by coming face to face with the veryman I thought I had left behind, John Convert. He appeared to be evenmore startled than myself, and, stepping backward a few paces, he fairlytrembled, as he hoarsely exclaimed: 'My God, Arletta, is that reallyyou?' At these words I became frightened, and as the faint rays of lightfrom a distant port-hole fell squarely upon his face, I observed a wild, peculiar stare in his eyes, and noticed that his whole countenance wasovercast by a most villainous expression. At that moment, I rememberedthe doctor's warning words, that he might change personalities at anytime that he was subjected to severe mental excitement, and I nowrecognized in the man standing before me the same character I had met inParis. Just as quickly as love had taken possession of my feelings forJohn Convert in the hospital, just that suddenly did it depart when Isaw this detestable looking creature in front of me. In an instant hebecame loathsome to my sight, and without waiting for another word Irushed into my state-room and bolted the door. 

"'Not once did I leave my room during that trip across the ocean, butwhen the steamer arrived at Liverpool, and I started to go ashore, thevery first person my eyes rested upon was John Convert; and from thattime on he incessantly dogged my footsteps all over Europe. The more Isaw of him, the more debased and despicable he appeared to me. The good, kind, old face, that I had loved so well, had now apparently becomedistorted by a murderous expression, and the soulful eyes which hadintoxicated me with ecstasy, now depicted the nature of a degenerate. Ishunned him as I would a leper, and many times I wished that I had lefthim to die in the hospital, instead of aiding him to recover. He becameso objectionable to my sight that I threatened to have him arrested ifhe did not stop following me about. But this had no effect upon himwhatever, and after three long, weary months of travel on the continent, in which I attempted to elude him, without success, I finally returnedto England and boarded a steamer at Southampton for New York. I fullyexpected to see John Convert make the voyage also, but to my surpriseand great joy I saw him standing on the pier after the steamer had lefther moorings and was steaming away. He stood waving his hand at me, andI watched him until beyond the range of vision, then went down to mystate-room, with a feeling of relief, as though a great load had beenlifted from my shoulders. One of the first things that attracted myattention after entering the state-room, was a large, well-filledenvelope, lying upon the bed, and addressed to me. Tearing it open, Ifound an assortment of various documents, among which was the followingletter. '"

"'My dear Arletta: At last realizing that you are beyond my reach andthat further efforts to win your love would be useless, and feeling thatafter all, my affinity is not really you but she whom I recently killed, and as my conscience is torturing me until I can find no rest orcontentment in life, I have decided to avenge the many crimes I havecommitted during the past by taking my own life, and ere you read theselines I shall be dead. 

"'My life has been a most miserable failure, and were it not for thefact that during my last hours I feel a strong desire to try and makeamends, through you, to the man I have been impersonating for manyyears, I should, quietly pass out of existence without further ado. 

"'In the first place my name is not John, but Edward Convert, son ofHenry Convert, and grandson of Peter Convert, who many years ago was awealthy banker of London, England. 

"'My grandfather had two sons; James, the elder, being my uncle, andHenry the younger, my father. 

"'About the time my father reached maturity, both he and my uncle fellin love with beautiful twin sisters of a poor family, and in due courseof time each took one as a wife. This was done in direct opposition tomy grandfather's commands, and so incensed did he become over theaffair, that when he died shortly afterward, it was found that he hadcut them both off with a mere pittance, while the bulk of his estatewhich was valued at several million pounds, was to be held in trustuntil the eldest son of my uncle James had reached maturity, after whichit was to be delivered to him intact. 

"'At that time neither my father nor uncle had children, and being ofdifferent temperaments-my uncle a pious clergyman, and my father abroker with gambling tendencies-they soon parted and lost track of eachother. 

"'My parents emigrated to Canada and resided in Toronto for some years, in which city I was born. When I was about five years of age my motherdied, and a short time later my father moved to Buffalo, N. Y. , andentered into the brokerage business there. As I grew up, I was educatedwith the sole idea that the only purpose for which I had been createdwas to get money. At home I was taught by my father, in school throughbooks, and at church by the pastor, that my success in life would bejudged according to the amount of money I could accumulate. Was it anywonder, then, that I grew up to worship money as the real god, and tofinally sell my soul for it? Oh, the terrible curse of money! And whatan awful crime for parents to teach their children to love it! Had I notbeen taught from infancy to crave money, I might have become a usefulmember of the human family, and utilized my brain power for some worthycause, instead of using it to scheme, cheat, steal, and even murder, inorder that I might obtain it. 

"Well, one day when I was about sixteen years old, my father, havingjust returned from one of his western trips, informed me that he hadaccidentally run across his brother James, the clergyman, in a littleKansas town named Eden. He said that my uncle told him that his wife haddied sixteen years before, while giving birth to an only son, as theywere crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Subsequently this son, who had beennamed John, ran away from home when he was but eleven years old, and hadnever been seen or heard of since. My father said that Uncle James hadevidently brooded over the matter so long that he was broken down inhealth and could not live much longer. Then he showed me a picture ofJohn Convert, when he was ten years old, and said that it looked exactlylike me at that age. Finally, he told me that Cousin John was the soleheir to his grandfather's estate, and intimated that it would be asplendid stroke of business for me to go to Eden and pretend to be thelong-lost son, and, after reaching the age of twenty-one, claim theestate as my own. My father told me that as soon as he heard my uncle'sstory, his well-trained financial brain had immediately formulated thisexcellent plan, and consequently he led my uncle to believe that he hadno children of his own. He also ascertained the names of the differentplaces where my uncle had lived during the past, and proposed that Ishould visit these localities and become acquainted with John's oldplaymates, in order to acquire a thorough knowledge of his youthfulcharacteristics and any other useful information necessary to carry outthe deception successfully. 

"'Well, I entered into the plot with enthusiasm, and within six monthspresented myself to Uncle James as his son. 

"'At first the scheme worked to perfection, and there was greatrejoicing in the little town of Eden, where the Rev. James Convert wasan honored and respected citizen of the community. But as time went by, my uncle apparently began to doubt my identity, for at times he wouldlook at me long and searchingly, and then, with a sorrowful shake of thehead, would remark that I lacked the character of the boy he had knownas his son. So, fearing that he might ultimately discover the fraud andfoil our plans, my father and I jointly murdered him by a slow processof poison. Then, with the necessary papers in my possession, and plentyof reputable witnesses from Eden to swear that I was the acknowledgedson of the Rev. James Convert, at the age of twenty-one I tookpossession of my grandfather's vast estate in England. 

"'But the fear of the rightful heir turning up sooner or later to exposethe fraud began to haunt me, and, feeling my insecurity as long as hewas alive, I began a long and tedious search for John Convert, whichextended to all parts of the world, and covered a period of over twenty-three years, with the sole purpose of killing him if found. 

"'In the meantime, fearing that my father might become conscience-stricken sooner or later, and make a confession of our crime to theauthorities, I killed him also; and of the three murders, of which I amnow responsible, I feel less concern over my father's death than of theother two; for was it not from him that I inherited the instincts tolie, cheat, steal, and murder for money, and by his instructions thatthese instincts were developed, instead of being discouraged frominfancy?

"'Well, although I searched in nearly every nook and corner of theglobe, I was unable to find even a clue to my missing cousin, but duringthat time a most peculiar affair happened, which resulted in my killinga third victim. 

"'As you will remember, I met and became infatuated with you in Parisover three years ago, and then followed you to Chicago. After learningthat you had secretly departed for Europe again in order to avoid me, Imade up my mind to bother you no further, and taking a trip in theopposite direction I spent considerable time touring Australia, Africaand Asia. It was about two years after, while stopping at a fashionablehotel in Berlin that I discovered a young woman boarding there by thename of Arletta Fogg. So closely did she resemble you that I supposed itwas you living there under an assumed name. At first when I accused herof being Arletta Wright, of Chicago, she denied it emphatically. Butlater, after learning that I was a millionaire, she pretended that I wasright in my supposition and led me to believe that she had left home foran indefinite period owing to some family disagreement and was nowtraveling incognito. She permitted me to show her many attentions andgradually we became very good friends. So infatuated with her charms didI become that I was her abject slave. We went to Italy and Egypttogether and I lavished money upon her without stint. I proposedhonorable marriage to her a hundred times, but she always refused, saying that she preferred a free and independent life. We went to NewYork, and there I discovered that there were other men besides myselfinterested in her, and that she had two different places of residence. Several times I saw her in fashionable restaurants dining with othermen, and following her one night into the Seraglio Apartments, I foundthat she occupied a suite of rooms there, of which I had known nothing. She was somewhat under the influence of liquor that night, and theinformation I secured from her was of such a kind that it almost droveme mad with jealousy, and in a fit of frenzy I stabbed her to death withher own toy dagger and left her lying on the bed. The next morning Iquietly boarded the steamer for Europe, and keeping out of sight untilaway from land, I started to go to the purser's office to pay for mypassage, when the very first person I met was you. You can well imaginehow it startled me to see one whom I thought was dead. But after thefirst shock had passed away, and learning from the list that ArlettaWright was a passenger, I gave the whole matter thoughtful considerationand finally concluded that Arletta Fogg and Arletta Wright were twodifferent persons and that the other was merely a beautiful adventuressand your double. 

"'Well, you know the rest. You never would care for me, and as the greatwealth I so wrongfully acquired cannot buy happiness of peace of mind, Ishall ask God to forgive my sins and then blow out the brains that havebecome so useless. 

"'Somewhere in this world the right John Convert may be earning hisbread by the sweat of his brow, entirely ignorant of the fact that he isa millionaire by birth, for it was his father's intention never todisclose this secret to him, preferring that he should spend his time asa useful laborer, rather than a moneyed loafer, living without work. Whether he resembles me at this age or not, I cannot say. Perhaps not, for my hair has become prematurely white from sin and worry. Then again, he may wear a beard, while my face is clean shaven. But no matter wherehe is, what he does, or how he looks, I shall trust in you to do allwithin your power to try and locate him, and deliver into his hands theenclosed papers, which will be the means of restoring his possessions tohim. 

"'If you are fortunate enough to find him, beg his forgiveness for me, and say that the cause of all my wickedness was money, and a father whotaught me to love it. With a prayer to God for mercy, I shall expect togo to heaven in spite of my sins, as I have faith in Jesus Christ, and, hoping to meet you there, I bid you good-bye until then. 

"'Sincerely yours, "'EDWARD (JOHN) CONVERT. '"

"'Notwithstanding the dreadful contents of this letter, I felt likecrying with joy after reading it, as my mind once more became occupiedwith thoughts of the splendid character whom I had so ardently loved, but shamefully deserted in New York three months previously. I made upmy mind to return and ask his forgiveness, and then join him in hispraiseworthy labors of uplifting mankind. Oh! what happiness Iexperienced during the next few days in anticipation of seeing him againand hearing his manly voice. But alas, how little we know what sorrowsare in store for us! The steamer arrived at her wharf at ten o'clockthis morning, and a few minutes later. I was seated in a carriagespeeding along in the direction of the Waldoria Hotel. At forty minutespast ten I inquired of the clerk for John Convert. Then came theappalling information that he was to be electrocuted at noon for themurder of Arletta Fogg. The rest seems like an awful nightmare. Gettinga schedule of trains for Sing Sing, I rushed outside the hotel, and, jumping in the first cab I saw, handed the driver a roll of bills, andtold him they were all his if he could get me to the depot in time tocatch the eleven o'clock train. Through the streets like mad we whirled, and, reaching the station, I quickly alighted and ran to the ticketoffice, and from there to the train, which I boarded just as it startedaway. It was an express, which made no stops before reaching Sing Sing, and was due there at exactly twelve o'clock, the time set for theelectrocution. I told the conductor that I would give him a milliondollars if he would land me in Sing Sing fifteen minutes ahead of time, but he apparently thought I was insane, and paid no attention to myfrantic entreaties to go faster. To make matters worse, the trainarrived five minutes late, but, hoping against hopes, I got into acarriage and was driven to the prison. 

"Here the attendants thought I was crazy, as I rushed into the receptionroom, crying out to stop the electrocution, and they would not permit meto see the Warden, who was in his private office. Hearing my cries, however, the Warden came out to see what was the trouble, and as quicklyas possible I explained to him the circumstances surrounding the murderof Arletta Fogg, and showed him the written confession of EdwardConvert. He read just enough to make sure he was right, and then with anexclamation of horror he rushed out of the office, followed by me. Through grated doors, long, dismal corridors, and a court-yard, we ran, and coming to a little, red brick house, he broke open the frame doorwith a crash, and hurried inside, only to find that we were just aminute too late. '"

"After a fit of sobbing, Arletta Wright quieted herself long enough tosay: 'Telegraph the news to all parts of the civilized world that theState of New York has just murdered the noblest mortal of which historyhas ever made mention. Tell the inhabitants that through his teachings anew dispensation has sprung into existence, and that Sagemanism is bornagain. Publicly announce my firm belief in the beautiful principles ofNatural Law, and say that henceforth I renounce all further allegianceto a religion which permits the strong to victimize the weak, andupholds a corrupt and unnatural system, which allows schemers, thieves, gamblers, sneaks, loafers, spongers, and all other kinds of humanparasites to grow fat off the labors of those who toil. Say that I shalltake up the work where John Convert left off, and devote the remainderof my life and all of my wealth towards the cause he advocated. '"

(THE END. )

STRAY SHOTS

The foundation of humbug is faith. 

The light of the universe is reason. 

Better be an unselfish dog than a selfish man. 

Advice is cheap, so always give the best. 

To exhibit temper is to demonstrate insanity. 

The rich of today breed thieves for tomorrow. 

Strengthen yourself that you may help those less fortunate. 

There is never a pleasure lost that there is not another gained. 

True philanthropy does not steal from one to give to another. 

Religions burn their bridges in front instead of behind them. 

One good man on earth is better than ten thousand in heaven. 

Feed the mind with good thoughts and you will always be happy. 

Keep the mind and body clean and the soul will take care of itself. 

Put your trust in the desires of your conscience. 

There are two ways to think--animal and human. 

Make your soul the master of your mind and body. 

Observe at least one day each week for rest and play. 

Man is great among men as the flea is great among fleas. 

No drawback should cause man to lose control of himself. 

Better be a good man persecuted, than a bad man praised. 

You of few weaknesses should not judge harshly of those with manyweaknesses. 

Hate not, but pity your enemies, for thereby you demonstrate your ownsuperiority. 

It makes little difference who gets the credit, as long as the worldderives the benefit. 

Without Labor, Capital would starve; without Capital, Labor could livein luxury. 

A liar is a moral coward who fears to speak the truth and abide by theconsequences. 

Permit your soul to look from the eye and all of nature's objects willappear beautiful. 

Hide not your face behind a fantastic beard, that the world may readyour character. 

The expression of the face is caused by the tendency of the thought. 

Semi-intelligent beings try to live on the strength of those lessintelligent. 

Persecution is a deadly poison which reacts upon those who administerit. 

He with many faults is generally too weak to overlook the faults ofothers. 

Which is the most beastly, the pig itself, or the man who rears, killsand eats it?

Behold yourself through the eyes of others and judge your worthaccordingly. 

When man dies he leaves his works for the approbation or contempt ofposterity. 

As the mother loves her child, so should all living things love eachother. 

The sins of the parents are visited upon the children as a naturalresult, and not by an act of the Almighty. 

There are thoughts in existence today which man will not be able tograsp for thousands of years to come. 

Replace the Church with schools of moral, mental and physical cultureand the world will pro& thereby. 

As the swindler first creates a feeling of faith in his intended victim, so religion demands faith in its followers. 

Of what good are you if you gain the produce of the whole world andbreed ten thousand criminal descendants. 

There are many men in this world who call it work to figure how they cansecure the results of others' labor. 

If you have knowledge, offer it to others; if they do not accept it, that is their loss. 

Do not fill your head so full of other people's ideas that there is noroom left for your own. 

Point out the defects of him who is present; praise the good qualitiesof him who is absent. 

Those who ride upon the backs of others must in turn carry others upontheir own backs. 

The Bible not only proves its own absurdities, but any others that thehuman mind can conceive. 

Parents should mould their children's character before they are born, bytheir own thoughts and actions. 

Your ancestors are responsible for the weaknesses you inherit, but youare responsible for non-improvement. 

Marrying for money or position without mutual love is but one way tobreed and preserve the germs of prostitution. 

It is not only the selfishness of the strong that robs the weak, butalso the selfishness of the weak that keeps them so. 

If nature has blessed you with superior ability and you do not use it tobenefit mankind, then you have betrayed nature's trust. 

The laborer furnishes the capitalist with money, houses, clothes, eatables, service and then the weapons and power to keep him enslaved. 

If you have not improved your condition physically, mentally and morallyover that of your parents, your life has been a failure. 

Religion is a great cudgel held threateningly by the strong over theheads of the weak to keep them in a state of ignorance and slavery. 

If the soul were born with the body, then it must die with it; but ifthe soul live afterward, then it must have lived before the body wasborn. 

The learned man is sometimes wise; the wise man is not always learned. The wise man produces good thoughts direct from nature; the learned manacquires them afterward.