but there was no reply, after which the dying chief proceeded, "Now let my last work on earth be this: We will read a chapter of the Book, verse about, and then I will pray for you all, and the Missi will pray for me, and God will let me go while the song is still sounding in my heart."
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DEATH, CHEERFULNESS BEFORE
The following is a glimpse of Maximilian on the day of his execution:
Miramon slept three hours; he then arose,
drank a cup of chocolate, and drest himself
with care; at six o'clock he was ready to
start, accompanied by a priest, M. Ladron de
Guevara. In the corridor he found Maximilian
bidding his lawyer, Eulalio Ortega,
farewell. The sun was already high in the
heavens, and his warm beams shot down
brilliantly on the Quaretaro Valley; flashes
of sunlight penetrated into the narrow courtyard
of the convent. "What a splendid day,
Don Eulalio!" said Maximilian; "it is on
such a day as this I should have chosen to
die." A few bugle-notes were heard, and
Maximilian, not knowing how to interpret
them, questioned Miramon: "Miguel, will
that be for the execution?" "I have not the
slightest idea, sire; it will be the first time I
shall ever have been shot." This reply
brought a smile to the Emperor's lips.—Paris
Figaro.
(683)
The officer in command of the file of execution approached Maximilian and asked his pardon for having to fulfil his duty. The Emperor distributed several pieces of gold bearing his effigy to the soldiers, recommending them not to aim at his face. He then embraced the Generals Mejia and Miramon, and, as the latter had placed himself on his right, he said to him aloud: "Brave men should be respected by their sovereigns to the brink of the grave. General, pass to the place of honor." Miramon stept to the center. Then, with a firm voice, the Emperor addrest the crowd: "Mexicans! Men of my race and origin are born either to make a people's happiness or to be martyrs. God grant that my blood may be the last shed for the redemption of this unhappy country. Long live Mexico!" Immediately General Miramon, at the top of his voice, as when he commanded his troops on the battle-field, cried: "Mexicans! Before the court-martial my defenders only sought to save my life. At the moment I am about to appear before my God I protest against the name of traitor, which they have thrown in my face to justify my condemnation. Let this spot of infamy be removed from my children's name, and God grant that my country may be happy. Long live Mexico!" General Mejia raised his eyes toward the heavens: "Very Holy Mother, I beseech thy Son to pardon me, as I pardon those who are about to sacrifice me." A volley rung out from the file of soldiers, and amidst the cloud of smoke, which slowly drifted away, Maximilian appeared writhing convulsively in a pool of blood, and groaning, "Hay Hombre!"—Paris Figaro.
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DEATH, CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE
TOWARD
Prof. G. Currie Martin points out the difference between the Christian and the unchristian views of death.
In the old days, when the plague swept
over Italy, the ladies and gentlemen of
fashion used sometimes to withdraw into
some beautiful country residence, with its
surrounding park, and behind its high walls
shut themselves off from all thought of the
misery and sorrow that surrounded them.
Death, they imagined, could no longer reach
them, until suddenly the spectral figure
stalked into their midst, no one knew
whence, and the false safety was shattered
at a blow. The power of Christianity is
found in the fact that it can say such brave
and hopeful words about life, while all the
time it is perfectly conscious of death.
(Text.)
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DEATH, CHRISTIAN VIEW OF
Death, ever present all the world over—how
softened his grim visage is when associated
with the name of Jesus, how awful
when he appears alone. The writer still recalls
one summer long ago, May, 1889, when
funeral preparations were being made before
a neighboring house. He made inquiry of
An, his host: "I didn't know that there
was a death." "Yes, the master of the
house is dead; they will bury him." "But
when did he die? To-day when we were
out?" "No, no, not to-day. He died before
you came." I had been there two months.
They had a bier ornamented with dragons'
heads, painted in wild colors, that suggested
skull and cross-bones. The funeral service
was a fearful row; everybody was noisy,
many were weeping, many were drunk. A
