Now it came to pass after many days, that there abode in the city of Denver, which lieth in the land of Colorado, very many mighty men—men of great renown, learned in all the medical and surgical wisdom of the age, and in the quackeries also; and they said, Behold, it is good for us to be here; for lo! the land is full of invalids, and we shall wax sleek eating of the fat of the land. And they bought and laid by in store, and builded them houses and barns, and whole blocks, of the money which they received from the suffering and diseased; who, like Asa of old, when he was diseased exceeding great, "yet in his disease he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians; and Asa slept with his fathers." Even so did they in these days who sought not to the Lord but to the physicians. Now about this time, there arose to their view a cloud, like a man's hand. Even a new doctrine, whose advocates declared that Mind was stronger than matter, powerful even to the pulling down of the strongholds of pills and plasters. And some who were wiser said to these men of learning: "Get thee down, and haste in advance, lest thou be overtaken, and find thy occupation gone." But they laughed it to scorn the more, and said: "Let be; let us see what these carpenters and fishwives will accomplish." Still the doctrine grew and flourished, and there were added to its followers daily, and divers wonders attended them. The drunkard forsook his drink and frequented no more the grog-shop, but sat in his own home, clothed and in his right mind; the sorrowing were comforted; the sick were healed, and needed no more the physician. And when they saw that this which had sprung up in a night —and seemed to them like a mushroom, because they could not, with their darkened vision, behold the rock whence it was hewn—that it grew and flourished like a green bay tree, and that because of it their hope of gain was gone, they were sore distressed, and took counsel together, saying, These metaphysicians do exceedingly trouble our city. Moreover they do heal many whom we were unable to heal; and if it be that they are permitted to practice, behold! the people will cease to call upon us, so shall we become of no repute in the land. We shall no longer receive the tenth part, or more, of every man's money; so shall our poverty come. Now, therefore, we must take some measures to stop them. And they sought the more to prevent them healing the sick; but they only waxed the stronger. So the physicians were sore afraid; and said, Let us seek counsel. And that same day Allopathy and Homeopathy were made friends together; for before they were at enmity between themselves. And they sought out a lawyer, renowned as an expert in tricks and quibbles of the law, and they spoke unto him and said: Lo, we are greatly troubled; and moreover we cannot of ourselves discern the way out of our trouble; wherefore we have sought out thee: and we pray thee that thou wilt make us out a writing; for thou knowest that the day is at hand when the law-makers of the land shall be gathered together, and we would fain have it made lawful that we may arrest, and cast into prison, and fine these people who do trouble us. Now, these are the things wherein we would instruct thee that thou mayest be cunning in the management of the writing; for we do fear the people, lest they be wroth with us. Therefore this writing must not appear to be against these metaphysicians; but rather that we seek the good of all. Make it, therefore, a writing which shall be for the health of the land; but do thou cunningly prepare it so that it shall be unlawful for any one to heal the sick, save only ourselves; so shall we smite them. But be ye careful lest it be not according to the laws of Uncle Sam, and so we come short of that which we desire. And if thou doest this thing, and lay for us a snare for their feet, behold thirty pieces of silver and more shall not be wanting. So this mighty man of law did according to all that they hath said unto him, and this writing is known unto this day as Senate Bill No. 14. Now, the remainder of the acts and the sayings of these men of learning, are they not written so plainly that he who runs may read?
