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Show I APPROACH OF DEATH. Colonel A. K. McClure, who is a fine old gentleman, gen-tleman, and once a most distinguished editor, friendly to the south,' recently made a speech at the Philadelphia Clover Club, of which he is the honored dean. He made use, in the course of his remarks of the following language: ''Old age has nothing in it. to fear. When death calls to me I shall not be afraid. ''After dining with Mr. Carnegie once he said to me that he would give $200,000,000 to have a lease on life. 'Two hundred millions. Alee,' he said to me, 'that is what I would give for a lease on this life. 1 am not hoggish either. I would give it for ten years only.' I don't-think Carnegie is afraid of death but he clings to life. There is a difference, I said, 'And yet you would be buncoed at that price.' " St. Theresa told her contemporaries to fear nothing, but it was coupled with the proverb that "God alone suffices." If the old Philadelphia Colonel Colo-nel has the disposition meant by St. Theresa he. of course, need not fear old age or dread death. But if. perchance, he has led as an editor, a newspaper publisher, politician and man of the world, faring sumptuously, a life of religious indifference, he might not dread old age unduly, but have what wiser and better men have not been ashamed to own, a dread of death. Some people become what they call philosophers and many have about con-eluded con-eluded that there is no hell; so they regard the advent ad-vent of death with no outward omen. We trust that the colonel is not in that category. Carnegie could easily of fer ' $200,000,000 for a ten-years' lease on iife, but he knows that no one can deliver the goods or make the contract secure. He may, as a tough Scotchman, get his decade of continued human existence; but at the end of that period he'will, with much more anxiety wish that his money could buy an additional length of days. Queen Elizabeth's last words were: "All my possessions pos-sessions for a moment of time!" She was at a pass where her possessions were valueless and the moment mo-ment of time craved would be of no use to her. One of the Saints, discussing with his companions compan-ions when it was best to die. replied, "We should be ready at all times and believe that the best time to die is when God calls us. even now, if must be." We v once knew a millionaire who had built a rural palace. Just upon its completion he said to assembled friends: "If the good Lord will only give me fifteen years to enjoy that property I will be content to depart from this world." ,Poor man, he did not occupy it fifteen days. His widow mar-ried mar-ried a poor man. much younger than herself, and' he is now the lord of the manor. People hoard up riches and know not who will harvest them. We wish McClure anj&. Carnegie well, and tru3t that thev may not have any cause to fear death; but a wholesome dread might not do them any harm. The Morning Star. |