THE DREAD OF DEATH.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 322, 5 December 1888, Page 4

THE DR EAD OF DEATH.

It is singular how small is the proportion oi persons who have witnessed the closing ecene of the human tragedy. Even physicians do not see their patients expire so frequently as would be thought. But what they see is suificent to strip death of its consternation. Their presence at the unmasking of the fancied monster prepares them for the inevitable. When their time cornea they go at least resigned through the silent portal. They are no braver than others, bub they have learned not to be soared at spectres. Vcjiy few men, in . truth, are afiaid to die when the point comes. They do nob, as may be supposed, relish it, and they are anxious, as a rule to live, so long as their chances are good and they do nob suffer. When suffering growa acute- their desire dwarfs (few of us but prefer death to pain), and. when they loso hope they yield themselves without a murmur. »• I have seen, I repeat, an extraordinary f number ot persons die, and my observation and experience contradict the curient theories and opinions on the subject. At. i first I was surprised at the evidence of my own senses ; afterward I was convinced that they revealed the actual truth. Ire member, though but a small boy at the time, the first man who passed away botoro my eyes He was patient, tianquil, philosophic, while, conscious of his doom. I had expected him to be terrified, to perish in agony, and the circumstance made an indelible impression on my budding mind. 1 havo seen the last moments ot delicate, highly nervous women, vibo would shriek at the sight of n spider and who could not bear the mention of death. Anyone who hod known them would have thought Lhab their closing 1 scenes- must have been distressing. They longed ix) livo in the beginning, but as they ebbod away an \ weie conscious of the fact, peace ami renunciation canio to them. N r o hero oi a hundred fights could hu\e borne lingering illness and its end moro sfienely Women, woak and timid as they «cora, are horrified as they often arc at the grim monarch while remote, ;ue calm and intrepid when he stands at their side. As ho udvanco to j?eize them thej' do not blanch, or sigh, or comp'ain. I have wondeied how pei sons who have appeared to be aft aid of everything would meet their fate, and yet they have met it with equal mind and becoming iorlitude.