In a half-decided mood Mr. World and Miss Church-Member meandered through this sickly region, and had decided to leave the place when they saw this illuminated motto over a ma.s.sive arch:

TO ALL WHO ARE DISGRACED! THE SHORTEST ROUTE TO REST! (ENTRANCE.)

A genial attendant informed Mr. World that visitors were welcome, but Miss Church-Member consented to enter only after some hesitancy. It was indeed a dark school, with long narrow halls where one could only see the darker side of life. Everything about the place evidenced the dark designs of Satan. The teachers in this infamous place, by a series of graded instructions, suggested to their pupils that suicide was the surest and shortest road to rest. In the darker rooms of the rear I saw, to my horror, a scene that neither Mr. World nor Miss Church-Member was permitted to see. _It was the daily graduating cla.s.s of this school of suicide._ Each member of the cla.s.s was instructed by what new method he might rend the strand of life with his own hand, in the desperate and sickening hope of finding rest "where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."

I quickly turned from this revolting spectacle, and saw that Mr. World and Miss Church-Member had returned to the station called Rest. They boarded the first car and were soon speeding on through Dismal Tunnel.

It was a welcome moment when the car emerged from the darkness into the light of day and took its winding course upward toward the microcosm of schools, which, as seen from this side of the mountain, also presented a picture of imposing magnitude.

When the car reached the University station Mr. World and his friend alighted, and at once entered one of the carriages in waiting. They were hurried away toward a group of immense structures known as the "College of the World's Literature;" and yet with all the immensity of its buildings, it was but a small part of the whole University which lay far extended over the distant mountain elevations.

As the noiseless carriage sped along I turned toward Blackana, who, in strange muteness still tarried at my side. "I command you, O Black Interpreter, to tell me of the origin and management of this College of Literature." As I spoke he turned his face in a manner that made me tremble. His sepulchral, husky voice only added to my uneasiness.

"It originated," he explained, "in simpler form, immediately after Satan commenced operations on the face of the earth. Parallel with the progress of every age it has increased to its present proportions.

That which you see is but the central point of this great educational enterprise. Its unseen branches extend into every part of the world.

The whole system is under the control of Satan. His most learned disciples have charge of the special departments."

"And what is the purpose of this limitless scheme?" I further queried.

The whole organism of Blackana quivered with reluctance as if he would not answer. "Refuse me not," I continued, "you well know that I have underneath me the everlasting arms."

He was restless for a moment, angrily rolling his awful eyes. Suddenly his att.i.tude changed and he thus calmly answered my question: "The purpose of all these schools is to counteract and, if possible, to destroy the influence of the teachings of Him who is called Jesus Christ. He was once visible in the flesh and declared that his kingdom was everlasting. Of him it was said that he would reign till he put all things under his feet."

Then did Blackana add with fiery emphasis: "_Neither my master nor any of his allies will ever be put under his feet._ Satan's words ran wild as he addressed the insulted hosts of h.e.l.l on this issue." Knowing that Blackana had a perfect memory, I commanded that he should reproduce Satan's address in my own dialect.

Like a flash of lightning he flung himself to the winds around me, thereby transforming himself into the image of Satan. It appeared as if a thousand spirits in fitful rage were dancing in mid-air.

Then his voice pealed forth the logic of h.e.l.l as Satan had spoken it centuries before: "Have ye heard, my n.o.ble comrades, how that Heaven flings insults into our teeth? Not satisfied that we grovel on these remains of empire, we are further threatened with being cast miserably under his feet. Whose feet I ask? The feet of our direst foe, whom to worship, as he desireth, means serfdom worse than ours. Is there one of you who will surrender his native dignity in such a fashion?"

Millions of voices rendered the air hideous with their cries, so accurately did Blackana reproduce it all.

"I knew your sentiments," continued he, triumph ringing in his tones.

"What can we do but stand unitedly on our rustic frontier, and push the conquest on to farther realms. Then all Heaven will learn that we are made of grit too fine and true to lie beneath the feet of any foe."

As Blackana continued, I was struck with shuddering terror at his awful gestures; but conscious that no harm could befall me, I continued listening to his flaming oratory.

"We must arise and seize our opportunities. Go forth, under cover of night, and sow the seed of our own growing; this will flourish in the very soil that Christ would bring to highest cultivation. The germs of our literature, rooted in human soil and growing secretly beneath the surface, shall spread throughout the world and come to fruitage in the light of every clime.

"We must build schools of literature, inspire the authors of the world with our fine creed, and thereby spread our doctrines to the myriad readers of every land and tongue. Who then, amongst our enemies, can kill the appet.i.te when once 'tis roused to craving for the carnal?

Give me the quill and the coming pen and press, and I can create thought at my bidding and turn the main streams of human endeavor into whatsoever channels I choose; and thus our river shall run full, while other streams are drying.

"With such a work how can our cause grow less or we go groveling under any foot? Impossible, my heroes! for we will live in glorious triumph to the end of time. On to your tasks, listening mult.i.tudes, and he who most successfully counteracts the so-called 'Truth' shall be a ruler in my kingdom, and shine more brightly than the radiance of all this region."

Thus was the speech suddenly ended, and I heard the unearthly reverberations of the fiendish cheering by the mighty host, while the form of Satan vanished; but from his waning shadows Blackana came forth and in death-like silence again resumed his sullen att.i.tude at my side.

CHAPTER XI.

SCHOOLS OF LITERATURE. FIRST AND SECOND DIVISIONS.

1. The schools described.

2. The literature of the world tainted by the teachers of darkness.

3. Satan's rules for the winning author.

The College of Literature, in three grand divisions, occupied one of the most attractive sites of all the territory covered by the University of the World. It was owned and controlled by Satan, and was visited by the children of the human family from every portion of the earth.

Mr. World and Miss Church-Member came thither in a conveyance. They stood before the ma.s.sive structure which comprised the first division of the College. Around them were the living fountains which, like pearls in billows of green, played upon the expansive lawn. While they strolled along the pebbled paths they were lost in admiration as they continued looking upon the stupendous building which towered far into the air and extended as far as the eye could reach. In breathless silence they noted first its size, then its durability, and marveled most at the splendid symmetry of the parts, each blending into a perfect whole.

"Heaven must have inspired so great and beautiful a design," was the first comment of Miss Church-Member. "Those porticos hanging in mid-air, those domes and pillars, dreamlike, stand before me more like a hundred fabled castles than aught real to sight or touch."

"Indeed the world affords rich and delightful privileges to all who will but walk in her ways," said Mr. World just as they arrived at one of the large entrances, over which these words were written:

DEPOSITORY OF THE WORLD'S LITERATURE, WELCOME TO ALL!

As Miss Church-Member viewed the weighty pillars on each side of the entrance, she exclaimed: "This is indeed a rare opportunity. Methinks I could revel, with delight, forever in fields of literature. Come, Mr. World, let us at once pa.s.s through the ma.s.sive doors and learn what we can from so great a source."

Although the literary tastes of Mr. World were not strongly developed, yet he offered no objections to her request. He seemed willing to suffer any inconvenience for her sake so long as she traveled on the Broad Highway. As they were entering the building I saw that many from the church and the world were also pushing their way into the interior that they might get a glimpse of the inner halls, and visit the ones that were best suited to their fancies.

Miss Church-Member was surprised when she saw the unique arrangement of the interior. There were twenty-eight magnificent halls so constructed that they converged toward a large central office into which I saw Mr. World and his companion enter, profoundly impressed with the smallness of the single human mind.

After answering the stipulated questions, they registered under the rules and regulations and were given certificates ent.i.tling them to all the privileges which this first division of the College accorded to visitors.

In the commodious office they learned that each of the twenty-eight halls contained a distinctive line of literature, systematically arranged in numerous sub-departments; and that competent librarians superintended the literature of each hall and of each department.

Miss Church-Member ascertained also that each hall was centrally supplied with a lecture room having an immense seating capacity, and that learned professors, each in their turn, occupied the platform and constantly gave lectures which were intended to describe and ill.u.s.trate the cla.s.s of literature represented in their faculties.

After considerable time spent in the office, they pa.s.sed through the long and wide circular lobby, reading the beautifully emblazoned inscriptions over each entrance door, but they could not immediately decide into which hall they would first enter.

At length after a pleasant loitering, Mr. World led his charming comrade into the fourth hall, over whose entrance, in plain words, this inscription appeared:

ALL THAT WAS EVER WRITTEN CONCERNING JESUS CHRIST.

They first chose to enter a sub-department where ancient scrolls, parchments, and papyri could be seen in tiresome variety. Miss Church-Member scanned most carefully some of the ma.n.u.scripts which had never been published.

In other sections of the hall there were books and pamphlets of all descriptions, each one referring to Jesus Christ in a favorable or an unfavorable manner.

During these visitations the attendants extended unusual courtesies to Mr. World and his faithful friend, and also to the endless procession of visitors and students who were constantly moving through these departments. Finally the two companions proceeded to the lecture room of this hall and listened to an address ent.i.tled: "The Divinity of Christ," by one of Satan's ablest advocates a professor with ecclesiastical t.i.tles. His gestures were unique and his style altogether persuasive.

I heard his words with great displeasure, for they taught the philosophy of h.e.l.l, with Heaven on the face of it.

"I must congratulate myself," commenced he, "on having the privilege of addressing so intelligent a cla.s.s of people. I only hope that I may be helpful to you in your quest of knowledge.

"The central theme of this hall is 'Jesus Christ' and I shall now proceed to speak of his so-called 'Divinity.' I cannot question that there is a supreme hand in the works of nature, but after careful research I am compelled to doubt the genuineness of the Divinity which is ascribed to Christ. True enough, his childhood was blameless, and he possessed exceptional wisdom so that many of his countrymen believed him to be more than human. In this manner the idea of his Divinity originated, and this fallacy grew as the man grew.

"He was shrewd, and possessed a great amount of magnetic force which was trained and used with remarkable skill, all of which made him pose as a G.o.d before a credulous and unsuspecting public. The ignorance and gross superst.i.tion of that age made a fit soil for the spread of Christ's doctrine and the idea that he was Divine.