LIFE AND DEATH.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 260, 27 July 1908, Page 8

LIFE AND DEATH.

WALTZ MUSIC AT AN INQUEST. 'An inquest is being held at the Hospital. 'A woman dressed in black waits with the police, the jurors, and the other witnesses for tho Coroner to arrive. A train went over ; her heart' the day before,' but she, is aliyo.' An' attendant,' then a nurse,'.'t'ripsf.up'thel'staiK caso gaily, laughing at some small jok'o, humming a bright air; The police, the jurorsj and the witnosses,-including'.' the 'woman, -dressed 'in. black, troop upstairs slowly to 1 the inquest, room. ; . \, At. tho end of twenty minutes »the Coroner • arrives,' in hasto and takes his seat. -" Sergeant, conduct the, jury to vi?w. ,th^_bod^.". ri ■Seven ,men clattor downstairs; with a .noise .that might .''wake tho 'dead; after : .what 'seems an imconscionable time, one hears them tramping up again. "Swear the jury." It is done, though the sergeant' has.'forgotten first- the name of the foreman, then the name: of the deceased.," Let's see, what was., the -man's .name ?'.- ;He does-not ask the widow, though- .. siio-hears. - 1 -1 •- • Tho engine-driver; and two doctors tell a sickening story, slowiy, while -the Coroner writes it, down,' and up. tho staircase' conies a lively waltz tune. Somebody .is•playing a piano down ".stairs. • ..The varying,, mocking .strains mix with the ivords of witnesses. The-house'surgeon, hears; and pushes .to; the 1 door.;. Tho' sonri4.'is silenced.for a'moment;' : -then,,louder and more insistent.-the flippant strains'- accompany' the story--of.',the tragedy.•The widow.'giyos her evidence -with the rest. ,\The.Coroner, was' late .becauso he had_ gone first to'tho toorgjio. , Thqugh.'his; part, oftho. procsedings. isicqnducted ;.with,the:fullost'de-.. ooruni, .it is evident that he has ; no time to spare. After hearing the most important .'witnesses, Instates'that lie-does not/propose■ to 'take'any further evidence at that; stage'. The inquest will be adjouriicd till -Tuesday; he tliuiks that it .'might : bp .resumed..'at , the morgue.. • ' ' ■;'• '.'•.'..i-.'• : ;; The'Sub-Inspcctor says:' '/That will -be more ooiivwiient' for: all .concerned.'/ Ho does not Bay that it.will bo more (Jcccnt. ' "Certainly vtho' piano , hospital. scems. harshly -insistent on this perversion ;of .a text—"ln tho midst/of death- we are. in life." 'i, "