1 DECEMBER 1900, Page 29

HELL RATHER THAN ANNIHILATION ?

[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]

Silt,—Some years ago a dying cottager to whom my mother had been speaking of the happiness of heaven expressed his preference for a "somewhat improved continuance" of his earthly existence in this pithy sentence "Ay, Ma'am, they do say heaven's a nicet place, but I think I'd rayther go some- where where I could dig a bit, and sich." May I say that the spirit which prefers hell to annihilation seems to me to savour strongly of spiritual pride P—I am, Sir, &c., C. C. B.