On Death.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4509, 18 June 1883, Page 2

On Death.

It is a remarkable fact that in all ages, and among all peoples Death has been propitiated in some way or other. Prior to the devastating eruption of Vesuvius, which swept towns and villages away in the first few years of the Christian era, the inexorable colleague of Time was daily worshipped by the Romans. Feastiug in those days was reduoed to a v«re

question of capacity, and the only purpose for which feasts were ordained, appears to have been for the express intention of making all. the guests intoxicated. Whenever a rich Roman gave a feast, he invariably appointed one of his guests to the position of arbiter bibendi, or a& "we should call it in English, a drinking master, who rul'-d supreme over the feast in hII matters in which wine was to the fore. His word was law, and woe to the man who did not quaff the flowing, bowl in sufficient quantity to please him In those.days there were no Good Templars to set an example of sobriety before the worshippers of Psilas, and conse quently JPompeii was rioted (as indeed was 4 tferculaneum and other Italian cities) for its vices and intoxication. The recent excavations of antiquarians have brought to light the magnificent abodes of the rich in that age of debauchery and vicious pleasures, and several statues-of the gods worshipped ( by our Roman forefathers. It may not seem quite intelligible to the reader, this mention, of feasting in connection with death, but the above remarks were necessary to illustrate the meaning of the first sentence. Before the banquet had commenced, slaves attended at the shrine of the Image of Death, and offered propitiation 1 in the «hape of cups of wino, which they poured on the altar in front of the statue.' While this ceremony was being performed a choir chanted songs in his honour, and when it was, oonsi.iercd that ho haci be^n sufficiently propitiated, the revelry commenced. It was the invariable custom to make these offerings, and feasts never passed off without Thauatos being driven away. This heathen idea has come down to our own time, and even we who are more philosophical and scientific than our. forefathers, are not wholly free from superstitious practices •in regard to the Universal Benefactor. At times, we think over the fact that Death may come upon us at any time, bnt this idea is soon chased away by some thoughts more congenial to our minds. It may be that on Sundays we think gravely over the return of the body to the dust out of which we are informed it was made, and we devote ourselves to its contemplation more seriously perhaps than at any other time. We meet each other in the streets, and endeavour to make believe that we have only one thought, health and wealth. Absorbed in the hard and continuous struggle for. a bare subsistence, we can hardly find time for metaphysics. At concerts, parties, and in the bosom of our own families we tenaciously cling to this idea, and not until we suffer some severe pain do we think of our ultimate fate. The moment, however we have any trivial ailment, and feel indisposed, iour.thoughts irreai&bly find their way into a gloomy channel,'and we begin to consider the all important fact that we were all made to die. At this moment the tales we have heard of wicked men dying unabsolvcd rush before our mental retina, and we shudder as we think of their probable fate in the next world. We there and then determine to tecome more attentive to our religious observances, and determine that, come what may, we will be prepared -when the last summons tousisissued by the Creator. Excellent as these resolutions of reform are, is it not a fact that after recover* ing our illness we soon forget the solemn promises wp have made to ourselv^ to perform,' and drift back into oar former way of life—whether it be choked with the weed* ojf ,ij^garde>n of sin,' or whether it be comparatively sinless when compared with the hideousness of vice. And indeed, so far as the earthly happiness of mankind is concerned, it is well that we • should be partly heedless of Death. Qne of our chief objects and enjoyments of life is that of speculating as to, and working for the future. We mako projects for Easter, Christmas or Whitsuntide, and even go so far as to make provision for years that are in the far distance at present. We anticipate and work laboriously in order that we should be able to support ourselves in our old age, and picture to ourselves pleasant visions of oar passiag the downhill portion of our life in peace and comfort. Suppose we were always to have the thought of Death before us, should we be able to interest ourselves to any great extent iv anything appertaining to the earth. How would science, art, and letters progress.if we absorbed our minds with the thought of Death P And so it will be until this world departs from her ordinary course, 'and takes a leap that shall convey us into some realm of space where the golden key is not the aim and, object of all human beings. ; ;■, Lux.