A Homœopathic Dose.

A Hom ? opathic Dose .

" TT TELL , you may say what you like ; I don't think a man V / y has any right to put an end to his life . " " And I say he has . I was never asked whether I wanted to live . I was shoved into this world without even a by-your-Ieave . And am I to stay here patiently , whether it is made agreeable to me or not , till I am shoved out again ?

Should I go to any party or picnic even for an afternoon on such monstrous terms ? Life is a sort of party , an entertainment , and when it is dull the only consolation lies in the fact that we know we can , at the worst , leave it . " " Well , but then it ' s like going on to another house—the

supper may be even worse in the next one , " said a plump young man very thoughtfully . They were in the club smoking room , and the discussion on this unwontedly solemn topic had been started by one of their members' announcing that he had had enough of life . Most of them had felt like that for a few minutes at various

important junctures of their careers ; sometimes after an unsuccessful flutter on the Stock Exchange , or the Trrf , or a run of bad fortune at bridge ; sometimes when the only girl in the world had jilted them . The feeling was quite comprehensible when there was sufficient cause , and was certainly not worth arguing about They knew , all but the

particular one who happened to be momentarily suffering , that it was merely a passing idea , the result of indigestion caused by emotion ; and they were aware it would be instantly dispelled by the mere sight of cold steel or poison , or whatever other instrument the patient had thought of for his cure .

But the case of Sir George Milford was different . He was rich , well connected , no gambler , and none of them suspected him of being in love . It almost seemed as if he meant what he said . " We must risk that , " said Sir George . "The next world may be a worse . one , or there may be none at all ; or , as the

spiritualists inform us , it may be our duty throughout eternity to stay in this world and rap at tables and answer silly questions put by any idiots who choose to join their hands . I confess , if I believed that , I would cling to life at every cost . If I must be in this world I prefer to have a

body and direct my own movements . But I don't believe it . You may all of you sit round tables for weeks when I am gone , and put the silliest questions you can think of , you shall get no raps from me , and I shall refuse to ' materialize . '"

" I wish you wouldn ' t talk such uncanny rot , Milford , " said a middle-aged man with a florid countenance . " It ' s not a subject to jest about . We have all got duties in the world , and we ' ve got no business to give them up till we have to do so in the natural course of things . " " I don't see where you get that idea from , " returned Sir

George . " Perhaps you have duties ; I know I haven't—at any rate I never perform any . There isn't any living soul whose happiness is dependent on my life . On the contrary , my death would benefit my whole family , and would give unmixed pleasure to niy sister-in-law . It is only the

penniless who do not show selfishness by remaining alive . When you think of your heirs and successors a speedy suicide seems almost a duty . ; but I do not for a moment suggest that is my reason for contemplating the step . If I want to leave , it is because I am bored by staying . "

" It is a very cowardly way out of things , said the middle-aged man . " That is a sort of catch-phvase that people use , " said Sir George . "It-means nothing . What is there cowardly in leaving a ball when you are bored ? Cowardice doesn ' t come into it—unlessof courseyou have made engagements—that's

, , another thing . If you are married , or have ' undertaken to do any particular work , or stay at any particular post , that is another matter . Desertion is cowardly , because it is breach of agreement ; but escape from forcible detention is not cowardly . "

"Suicide has always been considered cowardly , though , " said the plump young man . It happened to have no attractions for him , and he was quite ready to speak harshly of it . " I should be glad if you would talk of something else , " said Sir George , in an offended tone . " I have told you all that I intend to do a certain thing , and I should be obliged if

you would kindly desist from insinuating that I am a coward . I tell you that is an accusation that has never been brought against me , and never will be , unless unjustly . If I'm tired of life it's not because I ' m afraid of doing anything , but simply because ... "

" You're sick of doing nothing , " smiled a man who had hitherto taken no part in the conversation . He had the indefinable look that proclaims the successful physician . " Are you coming to Lady Fareliam ' s ? You're asked , I know . Shall we go together ? " " By all means , " said Sir George . " I must write a couple

of letters before we go , however . I won't be five minutes . " " Is he really going to commit suicide , Doctor ? " asked the middle-aged man anxiously , as he watched Sir George saunter away to a writing table . " I don't know . He's capable of it . Besides , he ' s ill . I've been watching him all the evening . "

" I suppose , " said the middle-aged man , " like lots of young fellows , he ' s been living too fast . " " I should doubt that ; but certainly he ' s been living too foolishly—too aimlessly . A man must have interests , some sort of aim—even if it ' s only a low one . We don't live by

bread alone . Our minds have as much to say to life as embodies , or very nearly ; certainly in a man of his nervous temperament . Nothing above a limpet can really thrive without interests . Busy men who retire from business to enjoy themselves , as they fondly imagine , frequently bore themselves literally to death . "

"Yes , but Sir George didn't bore himself , surely , " said the plump young man . " He used always to be talking , after he succeeded to the title and the property , you remember , of the joic de vivre as his creed . " "The joic de vivre ! " laughed Doctor Lonsdale . "Lookat him ! Long nose , long thin face , dark hair and eyes—the

melancholic temperament . There is no joic de vivre possible for him . Such a man must take his pleasures seriously if not sadly ; he may become vicious , he will never become joyous . That is only the result of natural high spirits . Lucky are those who are born with that wonderful inward fountain of

happiness ; but there ' s no known recipe for artificial lightheartedness . The nearest approach to it is the rules of hygiene . " " Well , I don't like to hear people talk lightly about suicide , " said the middle-aged man , " whether they mean it or not . I hope you won't let him do anything criminal . "

" It's my trade to keep people alive , " said the Doctor ; "but there are limits to my capacities . Suicide is a want of patriotism . A powerful race has to be a numerous race , and anyone who diminishes our numbers diminishes our power , and hence is unpatriotic . "

" Exactly , " said the middle-aged man , wishing he had thought of something of that kind wherewith to have retorted to Sir George when he was talking to him . " That is what I always think . I believe in broad principles—broad principles ,, eh , doctor ?"

Sir George and Dr . Lonsdale found crowded rooms at the Farehams' ; but Lady Fareham was an excellent hostess who had the rare art of making each guest feel he was the one person whose presence was indispensable to her . Sir George ' s welcome , indeed , stood in no possible doubt , for it

was common gossip that the desire of Lad y Fareham ' s soul was that her daughter Sybil should find favour in his sight . But Doctor Lonsdale had an equally flattering reception . " I must have a minute's talk with you alone , Doctor-You are the only man who can help me . " She drew him aside from the throng .