7HL QULLR SIDE OF 1THINGS.

then another picture of the same island scemed to present itself before him. He fell to coughing and gasping violently, and grew purple 1n the face.

“Oh, dear — what a horrible atmosphere!” he ecxclamed. “I can't breathe ! Whatever 1s the matter? What a dreadful ‘. pressurc of elbows there | 15 all round me ; and how the ground moves about under one’s fcet as if there were an earthquake !”

“Itisn’t an earthquake,” explamed James; “it s merely that part of the population which, being weaker, has got trodden under foot——there being msufthcient standing-room . on the sland forall. The R\ stratum of thosc trodden o\ under foot is about 15ft. deep by this time; and you may perceive that fresh numbers are con- tinually falling from pressure and suffocation, there being, of course, insufficient air for all.

“DBut, just consider ! -—the birth-rate 1s always steadily on the increase, and the popu- lation 1s more jubilant than cver. Tt is a most happy island ; and all the other nations arc mad with envy.”

“Here! Help! T don't like this ! screamed Willlam. “I'm being whirled away by the crowd, and nearly torn to pieces! Why are they all rushing so? What's the matter?”

• “Oh, they have only caught sight

of a scrap of food,” said James. “ You see, the 1sland can necither produce nor 1mport anything approaching a sufficiency of food for the population, so everyone 1s chronically ravenous. But this by no means discounts the jubilation at the magnificent birth-rate. Here, give me your hand, and let me help you up to this place of comparative safety, on the roof of this cathedral, where the pressure of the crowd is less great. That’s all nght.”

“What is the matter with that throng over there? Why do they give cvi- dence of such wild indignation ?

“It 1s a mecting of working-men, convened to express indignation at a

[

UNEARLY TORN TO PIECES.”

“HE IIAS DECIDED TO EMIGRATE.”

323

suggestion lately made that some of them should emigrate in search of the employment and subsis- tence which they cannot find here. If they can get hold of the author of the heartless suggestion, they will' tear him in pieces. He has had the cynical cffrontery to propose that they shall procecd across the ocean, and scttle on a fertile tract of country where cvery one of them would have room, pure air, and plenty of food! As he has gone there himself, they unfortunately cannot get at him to rend him limb from limb.”

“ And who 1s this voung man over whom so many people are weepig, and who s cvidently the vietim of some ternl le misfortune?

“Oh! why, he1s a very extraordi- nary person, with a strangely warped mind ; in fact, the majority of the popuiation look upon him as msanc. Ile has actually decided to emigrate to that country across the ocean, and get a breath of fresh air and sutficient meals. He s looked upon as the vicetim of pernicious machinations, and sincerely pitied. Scee, he 1s

pushing toward ~.the sea-shore, and making his

way over the bodies of those who have been

squeezed out at the edge of the