Mr. World and his friend paused opposite a cluster of magnificent buildings with frontage toward the Heavenly Way. Some were used by vulgar theatricals; some devoted to the sensual dance; some were occupied by the Devil’s maid-servants in prostitution, and many others were used as haunts of intemperance and personal pollution.
All along the road to perdition at thousands of places stand such clusters of buildings, each under the command of one of Satan’s most efficient leaders.
“Here,” said Mr. World, “let us take a long rest. If you have your glasses properly adjusted you can see new beauty behind magnificent walls.”
She looked at first doubtfully. “Ah! I never frequented such places before. I would not as much as look at them.”
“I doubt not your word, Miss Church-Member, but remember you are growing older and wiser. You are no more a narrow-minded creature influenced by prejudice and sophistry.”
She was now in a condition to imagine that much of her earlier instruction was erroneous. She had not forgotten the teaching of the sermon in Mr. World’s church. Subsequently she reasoned that the only way to learn the taste of forbidden fruit was to eat of it.
“I will enter these buildings as a student,” she soliloquized. “I will be cautious. Surely I have sufficiently clear judgment to discern between good and evil.”
The crafty Mr. World, having won her confidence, escorted her all through the Wicked Valley. By a continual palliation she yielded one point after another until her virtue was sacrificed on a cursed altar.
Satan assisted her in solving many perplexing problems when she reeled in the realm of doubt.
At the conclusion of their protracted visit I heard the wicked Mr. World say to his beloved friend: “Your eyes are completely cured. You may now with safety lay aside the glasses. I hope you will never have occasion to use them again.”