The Mordant by Merab Eberle Illustrated by MOREY [Illustration: “_Let us apply the mordant to the daisy in your buttonhole.... The mordant applied would put the artificial flower makers out of business._”] _There are several mechanical means, like the movie films and phonograph records, to preserve youthful charms or a gorgeous voice or expressions of brilliant minds, but there is no growth, or even variation. What if some scientist should discover the secret of indefinite prolongation of life and a young body? Off-hand such a discovery would seem to be a boon to humanity. But is it? Consider the question carefully. Our new author apparently has, and gives us the results of his consideration in an excellent short story of scientific fiction._ If the priests of ancient Egypt had discovered the mordant the awe-inspiring mummy would doubtless have been superseded by something more provocative of wonder--the human body preserved in its entirety. Our museums would hold the bodies of men and women looking as though they slept--Egyptian princesses and Pharaohs would be before us in reality. Without doubt, the morticians of our day would have made much of MacDowell’s discovery of the mordant. There are still many people on whom the idea of death has such an effect that the holding of a body in a perpetual state of non-decay would seem to them the equivalent of an eternal and beautiful sleep. Death to such people would be no more to be dreaded than healthy slumber--provided they knew that they were to remain intact, bodily. MacDowell had different ideas about the matter. He sought for the mordant in his quiet little laboratories in the Black Hills, not because he wished to achieve preservation, but because he desired to see what might happen to those to whom a life of perpetual youth was given. MacDowell believed in a soul and a God. Therefore he was not interested in the desires of those who wish the body to be preserved after death has made flesh useless. I first met MacDowell before the world had accepted him. I knew that a follower of the celebrated Adams was in the city. I had always been interested in the Adams’ concept of disease and its cure. A good story, I thought, for the paper. Therefore I made especial effort to meet the scientist, MacDowell. I was excited as I sped with my story to the city desk. Here was a man who was doing much more to eradicate disease than man had dreamed could be done. But the desk turned it down. Another advertisement by another quack. Time and again I attempted to place the achievements of MacDowell before the public. No one would believe me. That is why the story of the mordant has not been told. The public, which denounces the newspaper for the sensational tales which it prints, would be surprised if it should learn how conservative the editorial desk can be upon occasion.