to my own intentions--be attended
with a peculiar grace and reverence. "I don't know what you call
locking up," said I, angrily. "Had Mr Crasweller been about to be
dragged to a felon's prison, you could not have used more opprobrious
language; and as to putting an end to him, you must, I think, be
ignorant of the method proposed for adding honour and glory to the
last moments in this world of those dear friends whose happy lot it
will be to be withdrawn from the world's troubles amidst the love
and veneration of their fellow-subjects." As to the actual mode of
transition, there had been many discussions held by the executive in
President Square, and it had at last been decided that certain veins
should be opened while the departing one should, under the influence
of morphine, be gently entranced within a warm bath. I, as president
of the empire, had agreed to use the lancet in the first two or three
cases, thereby intending to increase the honours conferred. Under
these circumstances I did feel the sting bitterly when he spoke of my
putting "an end" to him. "But you have not," I said, "at all realised
the feeling of the ceremony. A few ill-spoken words, such as these
you have just uttered, will do us more harm in the minds of many than
all your voting will have done good." In answer to this he merely
repeated his observation that Crasweller was a very bad specimen to
begin with. "He has got ten years of work in him," said my friend,
"and yet you intend to make away with him without the slightest
compunction."

Make away with him! What an expression to use,--and this from the
mouth of one who had been a determined Fixed-Periodist! It angered
me to think that men should be so little reasonable as to draw
deductions as to an entire system from a single instance. Crasweller
might in truth be strong and hearty at the Fixed Period. But that
period had been chosen with reference to the community at large; and
what though he might have to depart a year or two before he was worn
out, still he would do so with everything around him to make him
happy, and would depart before he had ever known the agony of a
headache. Looking at the entire question with the eyes of reason,
I could not but tell myself that a better example of a triumphant
beginning to our system could not have been found. But yet there
was in it something unfortunate. Had our first hero been compelled
to abandon his business by old age--had he become doting over