Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 August 1900 — The Prince of the Masquerade. [ARTICLE]

The Prince of the Masquerade.

The Devil was dying of ennirt; .So be sauntered forth from his den, And he came try the Springs of Mundane Things, And gazed at the Sons of Men. 11. And he sighed at the Century's ending, For he saw the world at peace; Then lie cried. “Alack! have I lost my knack? “These piping times must cease.' 1 111. So he filched a Moralist’s mantle, And went on his jaunty course. In his raiment tine, with the air benign Of a Civilizing Force. IV. First he whispered a word to the Statesman : “Quick, out with thy idle knife! "Else the People, thy trust, will in harness rust; “Go preach them the Strenuous Life!” - V. Of a people that lived in quiet, The Devil demurely spoke: "Go, Benevolent Man. to that Primitive Clan, "And Assimilate those folk." VI. And the Statesman sprang, at the summons, And donned his warrior’s coat: Cried the Devil, "Hurrah!” as each man he saw With his hand at his neighbor's throat. VII. And straightway the Prophets of Progress Joined piously in the din; And the Devil cried. “See! These My Ministers be. And this is My Chamberlain!” VIII. - He slyly spake to the Rulers: “Is your'ancient valor cold?” And the seas grew black where the Warship's track Made straight for the shores of gold; IX Till the world was tilled ihriurning. As they called for more and more; And men held their breath as the pallid Death Rode proud in the van of War: X. Which so vastly amused the Devil, That the tears ran down his face, And he waggled his tail, as Men cried "Hail! "Make way for the Dominant Race!" . XI. The Devil slipped into the pulpit: ‘"Tis the spread of the Cross!" he hissed: And the priest with a nod asked the blessing of God On the March of the Sanctified Fist. XII. With the voice of the People's Teachers, The Devil disguised himself; "Hurrah!" it rang, as the bullets sang, "For Destiny, Duty and Pelf!” XIII. He laughed as the Backward Nations Dropt into the Conquer’s maw; And he chuckled long at the Poet's song, Of “The Spread of Christ's Word and Law." XIV. And tie shook his sides as he watched them, Nor once did his soft laugh cease, As the Dominant Race ran its ghastly pace In the name of the Prince of Peace. XV. So the Devil went back to his study: Quoth he with a wink and a nod: "Sure, the true way still to do My Will “Is to cal! it the work of God! ' —McCready Sykes, in Life.