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No. 5</h4> + <hr class="short" /> + + <h3>TABLE OF CONTENTS</h3> + + <div class="toc"> + <p><a href="#illustrations">ILLUSTRATIONS</a></p> + + <p>THE NEW MARVEL IN PHOTOGRAPHY. By H.J.W. Dam. + <a href="#page403">403</a></p> + + <p>THE RÖNTGEN RAYS IN AMERICA. By Cleveland Moffett. + <a href="#page415">415</a></p> + + <p>THE HOUSEHOLDERS. By "Q." <a href="#page421">421</a></p> + + <p>ABRAHAM LINCOLN. By Ida M. Tarbell. + <a href="#page428">428</a></p> + + <p class="i4">Lincoln in the Campaign of 1840. + <a href="#page431">431</a></p> + + <p class="i4">Lincoln's Engagement to Miss Todd. + <a href="#page435">435</a></p> + + <p class="i4">The Lincoln and Shields Duel. + <a href="#page446">446</a></p> + + <p class="i4">Marriage of Lincoln and Miss Todd. + <a href="#page448">448</a></p> + + <p>"PHROSO." By Anthony Hope. + <a href="#page449">449</a></p> + + <p class="i4">Chapter I. A Long Thing Ending in Poulos. + <a href="#page449">449</a></p> + + <p class="i4">Chapter II. A Conservative Country. + <a href="#page454">454</a></p> + + <p class="i4">Chapter III. The Fever of Neopalia. + <a href="#page459">459</a></p> + + <p>A CENTURY OF PAINTING. By Will H. Low. + <a href="#page465">465</a></p> + + <p>"SOLDIER AN' SAILOR TOO." By Rudyard Kipling. + <a href="#page481">481</a></p> + + <p>RACHEL. By Mrs. E.V. Wilson. + <a href="#page483">483</a></p> + + <p>CHAPTERS FROM A LIFE. By Elizabeth Stuart Phelps. + <a href="#page490">490</a></p> + + <p>EDITORIAL NOTES. <a href="#page496">496</a></p> + + <p class="i4">Twenty Thousand Dollars for Short + Stories.<a href="#page496">496</a></p> + + <p class="i4">The McClure's "Early Life of Lincoln." + <a href="#page496">496</a></p> + + <p class="i4">The McClure's New "Life of Grant." + <a href="#page496">496</a></p> + + <p class="i4">New Pictures of Lincoln. + <a href="#page496">496</a></p> + + <p class="i4">The Abraham Lincoln School of Science and + Practical Arts. <a href="#page496">496</a></p> + + <p class="i4">The House in which Lincoln's Parents Were + Married--a Correction. <a href="#page496">496</a></p> + <hr /> + <a name="illustrations" + id="illustrations"></a> + + <h4>ILLUSTRATIONS</h4> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig401">PICTURES SHOWING + THE DIFFERENCES IN PENETRABILITY TO THE RÖNTGEN + RAYS.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig402">DR. WILLIAM + KONRAD RÖNTGEN, DISCOVERER OF THE X RAYS.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig403">PICTURE OF AN + ALUMINIUM CIGAR-CASE, SHOWING CIGARS WITHIN.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig404">PHOTOGRAPH OF A + LADY'S HAND SHOWING THE BONES, AND A RING ON THE THIRD + FINGER.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig405">THE PHYSICAL + INSTITUTE, UNIVERSITY OF WÜRZBURG.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig406-1">SKELETON OF A + FROG, PHOTOGRAPHED THROUGH THE FLESH.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig406-2">RAZOR-BLADE + PHOTOGRAPHED THROUGH A LEATHER CASE AND THE + RAZOR-HANDLE.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig407">SKELETON OF A + FISH PHOTOGRAPHED THROUGH THE FLESH.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig408">A HUMAN FOOT + PHOTOGRAPHED THROUGH THE SOLE OF A SHOE.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig409">PHOTOGRAPHING A + FOOT IN ITS SHOE BY THE RÖNTGEN PROCESS.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig411">BONES OF A HUMAN + FOOT PHOTOGRAPHED THROUGH THE FLESH.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig412">CORK-SCREW, KEY, + PENCIL WITH METALLIC PROTECTOR, AND PIECE OF COIN.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig413">COINS + PHOTOGRAPHED INSIDE A PURSE.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig417">DR. WILLIAM J. + MORTON PHOTOGRAPHING HIS OWN HAND UNDER + RÖNTGEN.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig418">A GROUP OF + FAMILIAR ARTICLES UNDER THE RÖNTGEN RAYS.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig419">THOMAS A. EDISON + EXPERIMENTING WITH THE RÖNTGEN RAYS.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig421">"I ... TRIED A + STEP TOWARD THE STAIRS, WITH EYES ALERT"</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig423">"HE STOOD + SIDEWAYS, ... AND LOOKED AT ME OVER HIS LEFT + SHOULDER."</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig427">"FACE TO FACE + WITH THE REAL HOUSEHOLDER."</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig429">OLD STATE-HOUSE + AT SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig430-1">A HARRISON + BADGE OF 1840.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig430-2">A HARRISON + BUTTON OF 1840.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig431">LINCOLN IN + 1860.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig433">ABRAHAM LINCOLN + IN 1861.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig434">WILLIAM HENRY + HARRISON, NINTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig435">JOSHUA F. SPEED + AND WIFE.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig436">MARY TODD + LINCOLN.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig437">LINCOLN IN + 1858.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig438-1">ROBERT S. + TODD.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig438-2">MISS JULIA + JAYNE, ONE OF MISS TODD'S BRIDESMAIDS.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig439-1">GENERAL JAMES + SHIELDS.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig439-2">MRS. NINIAN W. + EDWARDS.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig440">COURT-HOUSE AT + TREMONT WHERE LINCOLN RECEIVED WARNING OF SHIELDS'S + CHALLENGE.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig441">RESIDENCE OF + NINIAN W. EDWARDS, SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig442">LINCOLN'S + MARRIAGE LICENSE AND MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig443">REV. CHARLES + DRESSER.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig445">THE GLOBE HOTEL, + SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig465">A BROOK IN THE + DEPARTMENT OF VAR, FRANCE.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig466">JEAN BAPTISTE + CAMILLE COROT.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig467">A + BY-PATH.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig468">EARLY + MORNING.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig469">DIANA'S + BATH.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig470">A SHALLOW + RIVER.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig471">THE EDGE OF THE + FOREST (FONTAINEBLEAU).</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig472-1">ON THE RIVER + OISE.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig472-2">THE STORMY + SEA.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig473">A SUNLIT + GLADE.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig474">A SHEPHERD AND + HIS FLOCK.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig475">"THE MAN WITH + THE LEATHERN BELT."</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig476">THE + STONE-BREAKERS.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig477">THE GOOD + SAMARITAN.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig478">SERVANT AT THE + FOUNTAIN.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fig479">AN UNHAPPY + FAMILY.</a></p> + </div> + <hr /> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page401" + id="page401"></a>[pg 401]</span> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/401.jpg" + name="fig401" + id="fig401"><img src="images/401.jpg" + alt="PICTURES TAKEN BY PROFESSOR ARTHUR W. WRIGHT OF YALE COLLEGE, SHOWING THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SUBSTANCES IN PENETRABILITY TO THE RÖNTGEN RAYS." /> + </a> + + <h5>PICTURES TAKEN BY PROFESSOR ARTHUR W. WRIGHT OF YALE + COLLEGE, SHOWING THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SUBSTANCES IN + PENETRABILITY TO THE RÖNTGEN RAYS.</h5> + </div> + + <p>1 and 3. Flint glass prism (very opaque).</p> + + <p>2. Quartz prism, showing transmission of the rays through + the thin edges.</p> + + <p>4. Prism of heavy glass, more opaque than flint glass.</p> + + <p>5. One-cent coin, copper.</p> + + <p>6. Five-cent coin, nickel.</p> + + <p>7. White-crown glass, 1-1/2 millimetres thick.</p> + + <p>8. Blue crown glass, 2 millimetres thick.</p> + + <p>9. Yellow crown glass, 1-1/2 millimetres thick.</p> + + <p>10. Crown glass, 1 millimetre thick, covered with a very + thin layer of gold.</p> + + <p>11. Red crown glass, 2 millimetres thick.</p> + + <p>12. Block of Iceland spar (very transparent to ordinary + light, but very opaque to Röntgen rays).</p> + + <p>13. A bit of tinfoil.</p> + + <p>14. Aluminium medal, showing faint traces of the design and + lettering on both sides, as if it were translucent.</p> + + <p>15. Metallic mirror, shows no effect of regular + reflection.</p> + + <p>16. Bit of sheet-lead, 1 millimetre thick.</p> + + <p>17. Quarter-of-a-dollar coin, silver.</p> + + <p>18. Piece of thin ebonite, such as is used for photographic + plate-holder.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page402" + id="page402"></a>[pg 402]</span> + <hr /> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/402.jpg" + name="fig402" + id="fig402"><img src="images/402.jpg" + alt="DR. WILLIAM KONRAD RÖNTGEN, DISCOVERER OF THE X RAYS." /> + </a> + + <h5>DR. WILLIAM KONRAD RÖNTGEN, DISCOVERER OF THE X + RAYS.</h5> + + <p>From a photograph by Hanfstaenge, + Frankfort-on-the-Main.</p> + </div> + <hr class="full" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page403" + id="page403"></a>[pg 403]</span> + + <h2>THE NEW MARVEL IN PHOTOGRAPHY.</h2> + + <h3>A VISIT TO PROFESSOR RÖNTGEN AT HIS LABORATORY IN + WÜRZBURG.—HIS OWN ACCOUNT OF HIS GREAT + DISCOVERY.—INTERESTING EXPERIMENTS WITH THE CATHODE + RAYS.—PRACTICAL USES OF THE NEW PHOTOGRAPHY.</h3> + + <h4>By H.J.W. Dam.</h4> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/403.jpg" + name="fig403" + id="fig403"><img src="images/403.jpg" + alt="PICTURE OF AN ALUMINIUM CIGAR-CASE, SHOWING CIGARS WITHIN." /> + </a> + + <h5>PICTURE OF AN ALUMINIUM CIGAR-CASE, SHOWING CIGARS + WITHIN.</h5> + + <p>From a photograph by A.A.C. Swinton, Victoria Street, + London. Exposure, ten minutes.</p> + </div><br /> + + + <div class="figletter"> + <a href="images/LetterI.jpg" + name="fig403-l" + id="fig403-l"><img src="images/LetterI.jpg" + alt="Letter I" /></a> + </div> + + <p class="hang">N all the history of scientific discovery there + has never been, perhaps, so general, rapid, and dramatic an + effect wrought on the scientific centres of Europe as has + followed, in the past four weeks, upon an announcement made to + the Würzburg Physico-Medical Society, at their December + meeting, by Professor William Konrad Röntgen, professor of + physics at the Royal University of Würzburg. The first + news which reached London was by telegraph from Vienna to the + effect that a Professor Röntgen, until then the possessor + of only a local fame in the town mentioned, had discovered a + new kind of light, which penetrated and photographed through + everything. This news was received with a mild interest, some + amusement, and much incredulity; and a week passed. Then, by + mail and telegraph, came daily clear indications of the stir + which the discovery was making in all the great line of + universities between Vienna and Berlin. Then Röntgen's own + report arrived, so cool, so business-like, and so truly + scientific in character, that it left no doubt either of the + truth or of the great importance of the preceding reports. + To-day, four weeks after the announcement, Röntgen's name + is apparently in every scientific publication issued this week + in Europe; and accounts of his experiments, of the experiments + of others following his method, and of theories as to the + strange new force which he has been the first to observe, fill + pages of every scientific journal that comes to hand. And + before the necessary time elapses for this article to attain + publication in America, it is in all ways probable that the + laboratories and lecture-rooms of the United States will also + be giving full evidence of this contagious arousal of interest + over a discovery so strange that its importance cannot yet be + measured, its utility be even prophesied, or its ultimate + effect upon long-established scientific beliefs be even vaguely + foretold.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page404" + id="page404"></a>[pg 404]</span> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/404.jpg" + name="fig404" + id="fig404"><img src="images/404.jpg" + alt="PHOTOGRAPH OF A LADY'S HAND SHOWING THE BONES, AND A RING ON THE THIRD FINGER, WITH FAINT OUTLINES OF THE FLESH." /> + </a> + + <h5>PHOTOGRAPH OF A LADY'S HAND SHOWING THE BONES, AND A + RING ON THE THIRD FINGER, WITH FAINT OUTLINES OF THE + FLESH.</h5> + + <p>From a photograph taken by Mr. P. Spies, director of the + "Urania," Berlin.</p> + </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page405" + id="page405"></a>[pg 405]</span> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/405.jpg" + name="fig405" + id="fig405"><img src="images/405.jpg" + alt="THE PHYSICAL INSTITUTE, UNIVERSITY OF WÜRZBURG, WHERE PROFESSOR RÖNTGEN HAS HIS RESIDENCE, DELIVERS HIS LECTURES, AND CONDUCTS HIS EXPERIMENTS." /> + </a> + + <h5>THE PHYSICAL INSTITUTE, UNIVERSITY OF WÜRZBURG, + WHERE PROFESSOR RÖNTGEN HAS HIS RESIDENCE, DELIVERS + HIS LECTURES, AND CONDUCTS HIS EXPERIMENTS.</h5> + + <p>From a photograph by G. Glock, Würzburg.</p> + </div> + + <p>The Röntgen rays are certain invisible rays resembling, + in many respects, rays of light, which are set free when a high + pressure electric current is discharged through a vacuum tube. + A vacuum tube is a glass tube from which all the air, down to + one-millionth of an atmosphere, has been exhausted after the + insertion of a platinum wire in either end of the tube for + connection with the two poles of a battery or induction coil. + When the discharge is sent through the tube, there proceeds + from the anode—that is, the wire which is connected with + the positive pole of the battery—certain bands of light, + varying in color with the color of the glass. But these are + insignificant in comparison with the brilliant glow which + shoots from the cathode, or negative wire. This glow excites + brilliant phosphorescence in glass and many substances, and + these "cathode rays," as they are called, were observed and + studied by Hertz; and more deeply by his assistant, Professor + Lenard, Lenard having, in 1894, reported that the cathode rays + would penetrate thin films of aluminium, wood, and other + substances and produce photographic results beyond. It was + left, however, for Professor Röntgen to discover that + during the discharge another kind of rays are set free, which + differ greatly from those described by Lenard as cathode rays + The most marked difference between the two is the fact that + Röntgen rays are not deflected by a magnet, indicating a + very essential difference, while their range and penetrative + power are incomparably greater. In fact, all those qualities + which have lent a sensational character to the discovery of + Röntgen's rays were mainly absent from these of Lenard, to + the end that, although Röntgen has not been working in an + entirely new field, he has by common accord been freely granted + all the honors of a great + discovery.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page406" + id="page406"></a>[pg 406]</span> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/406-1.jpg" + name="fig406-1" + id="fig406-1"><img src="images/406-1.jpg" + alt="SKELETON OF A FROG, PHOTOGRAPHED THROUGH THE FLESH. THE SHADINGS INDICATE, IN ADDITION TO THE BONES, ALSO THE LUNGS AND THE CEREBRAL LOBES." /> + </a> + + <h5>SKELETON OF A FROG, PHOTOGRAPHED THROUGH THE FLESH. THE + SHADINGS INDICATE, IN ADDITION TO THE BONES, ALSO THE LUNGS + AND THE CEREBRAL LOBES.</h5> + + <p>From a photograph by Professors Imbert and Bertin-Sans; + reproduced by the courtesy of the "Presse Medicale," Paris. + In taking this photograph the experiment was tried of using + a diaphragm interposed between the Crookes tube and the + plate; and the superior clearness obtained is thought to + result from this.</p> + </div> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/406-2.jpg" + name="fig406-2" + id="fig406-2"><img src="images/406-2.jpg" + alt="RAZOR-BLADE PHOTOGRAPHED THROUGH A LEATHER CASE AND THE RAZOR-HANDLE." /> + </a> + + <h5>RAZOR-BLADE PHOTOGRAPHED THROUGH A LEATHER CASE AND THE + RAZOR-HANDLE.</h5> + + <p>From a photograph taken by Dr. W.L. Robb of Trinity + College. The shading in the picture indicates, what was the + actual fact, that the blade, which was hollow ground, was + thinner in the middle than near the edge.</p> + </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page407" + id="page407"></a>[pg 407]</span> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/407.jpg" + name="fig407" + id="fig407"><img src="images/407.jpg" + alt="SKELETON OF A FISH PHOTOGRAPHED THROUGH THE FLESH." /> + </a> + + <h5>SKELETON OF A FISH PHOTOGRAPHED THROUGH THE FLESH.</h5> + + <p>From a photograph by A.A.C. Swinton, Victoria Street, + London. Exposure, four minutes.</p> + </div> + + <p>Exactly what kind of a force Professor Röntgen has + discovered he does not know. As will be seen below, he declines + to call it a new kind of light, or a new form of electricity. + He has given it the name of the X rays. Others speak of it as + the Röntgen rays. Thus far its results only, and not its + essence, are known. In the terminology of science it is + generally called "a new mode of motion," or, in other words, a + new force. As to whether it is or not actually a force new to + science, or one of the known forces masquerading under strange + conditions, weighty authorities are already arguing. More than + one eminent scientist has already affected to see in it a key + to the great mystery of the law of gravity. All who have + expressed themselves in print have admitted, with more or less + frankness, that, in view of Röntgen's discovery, science + must forth-with revise, possibly to a revolutionary degree, the + long accepted theories concerning the phenomena of light and + sound. That the X rays, in their mode of action, combine a + strange resemblance to both sound and light vibrations, and are + destined to materially affect, if they do not greatly alter, + our views of both phenomena, is already certain; and beyond + this is the opening into a new and unknown field of physical + knowledge, concerning which speculation is already eager, and + experimental investigation already in hand, in London, Paris, + Berlin, and, perhaps, to a greater or less extent, in every + well-equipped physical laboratory in Europe.</p> + + <p>This is the present scientific aspect of the discovery. But, + unlike most epoch-making results from laboratories, this + discovery is one which, to a very unusual degree, is within the + grasp of the popular and non-technical imagination. Among the + other kinds of matter which these rays penetrate with ease is + the human flesh. That a new photography has suddenly arisen + which can photograph the bones, and, before long, the organs of + the human body; that a light has been found which can + penetrate, so as to make a photographic record, through + everything from a purse or a pocket to the walls of a room or a + house, is news which cannot fail to startle everybody. That the + eye of the physician or surgeon, long baffled by the skin, and + vainly seeking to penetrate the unfortunate darkness of the + human body, is now to be supplemented by a camera, making all + the parts of the human body as visible, in a way, as the + exterior, appears certainly to be a greater blessing to + humanity than even the Listerian antiseptic system of surgery; + and its benefits must inevitably be greater than those + conferred by Lister, great as the latter have been. Already, in + the few weeks since Röntgen's announcement, the results of + surgical operations under the new system are growing + voluminous. In Berlin, not only new bone fractures are being + immediately photographed, but joined fractures, as well, in + order to examine the results of recent surgical work. In + Vienna, imbedded bullets are being photographed, instead of + being probed for, and extracted with comparative ease. In + London, a wounded sailor, completely paralyzed, whose injury + was a mystery, has been saved by the photographing of an object + imbedded in the spine, which, upon extraction, proved to be a + small knife-blade. Operations for malformations, hitherto + obscure, but now clearly revealed by the new photography, are + already becoming common, and are being reported from all + directions. Professor Czermark of Graz has photographed the + living skull, denuded of flesh and hair, and has begun the + adaptation of the new photography to brain study. The relation + of the new rays to thought rays is being eagerly discussed in + what may be called the non-exact circles and journals; and all + that numerous group of inquirers into the occult, the believers + in clairvoyance, spiritualism, telepathy, and kindred orders of + alleged phenomena, are confident of finding in the new force + long-sought facts in proof of their claims. Professor Neusser + in Vienna has photographed gall-stones in the liver of one + patient (the stone showing snow-white in the negative), and a + stone in the bladder of another patient. His results so far + induce him to announce that all the organs of the human body + can, and will, shortly, be photographed. Lannelougue of Paris + has exhibited to the Academy of Science photographs of bones + showing inherited tuberculosis which had not otherwise revealed + itself. Berlin has already formed a society of forty for the + immediate prosecution of researches into both the character of + the new force and its physiological possibilities. In the next + few weeks these strange announcements will be trebled or + quadrupled, giving the best evidence from all quarters of the + great future that awaits the Röntgen rays, and the + startling impetus to the universal search for knowledge that + has come at the close of the nineteenth century from the modest + little laboratory in the Pleicher Ring at + Würzburg.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page408" + id="page408"></a>[pg 408]</span> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/408.jpg" + name="fig408" + id="fig408"><img src="images/408.jpg" + alt="A HUMAN FOOT PHOTOGRAPHED THROUGH THE SOLE OF A SHOE. THE SHADING SHOWS THE PEGS OF THE SHOE, AS WELL AS TRACES OF THE FOOT." /> + </a> + + <h5>A HUMAN FOOT PHOTOGRAPHED THROUGH THE SOLE OF A SHOE. + THE SHADING SHOWS THE PEGS OF THE SHOE, AS WELL AS TRACES + OF THE FOOT.</h5> + + <p>From a photograph by Dr. W.L. Robb of Trinity + College.</p> + </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page409" + id="page409"></a>[pg 409]</span> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/409.jpg" + name="fig409" + id="fig409"><img src="images/409.jpg" + alt="PHOTOGRAPHING A FOOT IN ITS SHOE BY THE RÖNTGEN PROCESS.—A PICTURE OF THE ACTUAL OPERATION WHICH PRODUCED THE PHOTOGRAPH SHOWN ON PAGE 408." /> + </a> + + <h5>PHOTOGRAPHING A FOOT IN ITS SHOE BY THE RÖNTGEN + PROCESS.—A PICTURE OF THE ACTUAL OPERATION WHICH + PRODUCED THE PHOTOGRAPH SHOWN ON PAGE 408.</h5> + + <p>From a photograph by Dr. W.L. Robb of Trinity College. + The subject's foot rests on the photographic plate.</p> + </div> + + <p>On instruction by cable from the editor of this magazine, on + the first announcement of the discovery, I set out for + Würzburg to see the discoverer and his laboratory. I found + a neat and thriving Bavarian city of forty-five thousand + inhabitants, which, for some ten centuries, has made no salient + claim upon the admiration of the world, except for the + elaborateness of its mediæval castle and the excellence + of its local beer. Its streets were adorned with large numbers + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page410" + id="page410"></a>[pg 410]</span> of students, all wearing + either scarlet, green, or blue caps, and an extremely + serious expression, suggesting much intensity either in the + contemplation of Röntgen rays or of the beer aforesaid. + All knew the residence of Professor Röntgen + (pronunciation: "Renken"), and directed me to the "Pleicher + Ring." The various buildings of the university are scattered + in different parts of Würzburg, the majority being in + the Pleicher Ring, which is a fine avenue, with a park along + one side of it, in the centre of the town. The Physical + Institute, Professor Röntgen's particular domain, is a + modest building of two stories and basement, the upper story + constituting his private residence, and the remainder of the + building being given over to lecture rooms, laboratories, + and their attendant offices. At the door I was met by an old + serving-man of the idolatrous order, whose pain was apparent + when I asked for "Professor" Röntgen, and he gently + corrected me with "Herr Doctor Röntgen." As it was + evident, however, that we referred to the same person, he + conducted me along a wide, bare hall, running the length of + the building, with blackboards and charts on the walls. At + the end he showed me into a small room on the right. This + contained a large table desk, and a small table by the + window, covered with photographs, while the walls held rows + of shelves laden with laboratory and other records. An open + door led into a somewhat larger room, perhaps twenty feet by + fifteen, and I found myself gazing into a laboratory which + was the scene of the discovery—a laboratory which, + though in all ways modest, is destined to be enduringly + historical.</p> + + <p>There was a wide table shelf running along the farther side, + in front of the two windows, which were high, and gave plenty + of light. In the centre was a stove; on the left, a small + cabinet, whose shelves held the small objects which the + professor had been using. There was a table in the left-hand + corner; and another small table—the one on which living + bones were first photographed—was near the stove, and a + Rhumkorff coil was on the right. The lesson of the laboratory + was eloquent. Compared, for instance, with the elaborate, + expensive, and complete apparatus of, say, the University of + London, or of any of the great American universities, it was + bare and unassuming to a degree. It mutely said that in the + great march of science it is the genius of man, and not the + perfection of appliances, that breaks new ground in the great + territory of the unknown. It also caused one to wonder at and + endeavor to imagine the great things which are to be done + through elaborate appliances with the Röntgen rays—a + field in which the United States, with its foremost genius in + invention, will very possibly, if not probably, take the + lead—when the discoverer himself had done so much with so + little. Already, in a few weeks, a skilled London operator, Mr. + A.A.C. Swinton, has reduced the necessary time of exposure for + Röntgen photographs from fifteen minutes to four. He used, + however, a Tesla oil coil, discharged by twelve half-gallon + Leyden jars, with an alternating current of twenty thousand + volts' pressure. Here were no oil coils, Leyden jars, or + specially elaborate and expensive machines. There were only a + Rhumkorff coil and Crookes (vacuum) tube and the man + himself.</p> + + <p>Professor Röntgen entered hurriedly, something like an + amiable gust of wind. He is a tall, slender, and loose-limbed + man, whose whole appearance bespeaks enthusiasm and energy. He + wore a dark blue sack suit, and his long, dark hair stood + straight up from his forehead, as if he were permanently + electrified by his own enthusiasm. His voice is full and deep, + he speaks rapidly, and, altogether, he seems clearly a man who, + once upon the track of a mystery which appealed to him, would + pursue it with unremitting vigor. His eyes are kind, quick, and + penetrating; and there is no doubt that he much prefers gazing + at a Crookes tube to beholding a visitor, visitors at present + robbing him of much valued time. The meeting was by + appointment, however, and his greeting was cordial and hearty. + In addition to his own language he speaks French well and + English scientifically, which is different from speaking it + popularly. These three tongues being more or less within the + equipment of his visitor, the conversation proceeded on an + international or polyglot basis, so to speak, varying at + necessity's demand.</p> + + <p>It transpired, in the course of inquiry, that the professor + is a married man and fifty years of age, though his eyes have + the enthusiasm of twenty-five. He was born near Zurich, and + educated there, and completed his studies and took his degree + at Utrecht. He has been at Würzburg about seven years, and + had made no discoveries which he considered of great importance + prior to the one under consideration. These details were given + under good-natured protest, he failing to understand why his + personality should interest the public. He declined to admire + himself or his results in any degree, and laughed at the idea + of being famous. The professor is too deeply interested in + science to waste any time in thinking about himself. His + emperor had <i>fêted</i>, flattered, and decorated him, + and he was loyally grateful. It was evident, however, that fame + and applause had small attractions for him, compared to the + mysteries still hidden in the vacuum tubes of the other + room.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page411" + id="page411"></a>[pg 411]</span> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/411.jpg" + name="fig411" + id="fig411"><img src="images/411.jpg" + alt="BONES OF A HUMAN FOOT PHOTOGRAPHED THROUGH THE FLESH." /> + </a> + + <h5>BONES OF A HUMAN FOOT PHOTOGRAPHED THROUGH THE + FLESH.</h5> + + <p>From a photograph by A.A.C. Swinton, Victoria Street, + London. Exposure, fifty-five seconds.</p> + </div> + + <p>"Now, then," said he, smiling, and with some impatience, + when the preliminary questions at which he chafed were over, + "you have come to see the invisible rays."</p> + + <p>"Is the invisible visible?"</p> + + <p>"Not to the eye; but its results are. Come in here."</p> + + <p>He led the way to the other square room mentioned, and + indicated the induction coil with which his researches were + made, an ordinary Rhumkorff coil, with a spark of from four to + six inches, charged by a current of twenty amperes. Two wires + led from the coil, through an open door, into a smaller room on + the right. In this room was a small table carrying a Crookes + tube connected with the coil. The most striking object in the + room, however, was a huge and mysterious tin box about seven + feet high and four feet square. It stood on end, like a huge + packing-case, its side being perhaps five inches from the + Crookes tube.</p> + + <p>The professor explained the mystery of the tin box, to the + effect that it was a device of his own for obtaining a portable + dark-room. When he began his investigations he used the whole + room, as was shown by the heavy blinds and curtains so arranged + as to exclude the entrance of all interfering light from the + windows. In the side of the tin box, at the point immediately + against the tube, was a circular sheet of aluminium one + millimetre in thickness, and perhaps eighteen inches in + diameter, soldered to the surrounding tin. To study his rays + the professor had only to turn on the current, enter the box, + close the door, and in perfect darkness inspect only such light + or light effects as he had a right to consider his own, hiding + his light, in fact, not under the Biblical bushel, but in a + more commodious box.</p> + + <p>"Step inside," said he, opening the door, which was on the + side of the box farthest from the tube. I immediately did so, + not altogether certain whether my skeleton was to be + photographed for general inspection, or my secret thoughts held + up to light on a glass plate. "You will find a sheet of barium + paper on the shelf," he added, and then went away to the coil. + The door was closed, and the interior of the + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page412" + id="page412"></a>[pg 412]</span> box became black darkness. + The first thing I found was a wooden stool, on which I + resolved to sit. Then I found the shelf on the side next the + tube, and then the sheet of paper prepared with barium + platino-cyanide. I was thus being shown the first phenomenon + which attracted the discoverer's attention and led to the + discovery, namely, the passage of rays, themselves wholly + invisible, whose presence was only indicated by the effect + they produced on a piece of sensitized photographic + paper.</p> + + <p>A moment later, the black darkness was penetrated by the + rapid snapping sound of the high-pressure current in action, + and I knew that the tube outside was glowing. I held the sheet + vertically on the shelf, perhaps four inches from the plate. + There was no change, however, and nothing was visible.</p> + + <p>"Do you see anything?" he called.</p> + + <p>"No."</p> + + <p>"The tension is not high enough;" and he proceeded to + increase the pressure by operating an apparatus of mercury in + long vertical tubes acted upon automatically by a weight lever + which stood near the coil. In a few moments the sound of the + discharge again began, and then I made my first acquaintance + with the Röntgen rays.</p> + + <p>The moment the current passed, the paper began to glow. A + yellowish-green light spread all over its surface in clouds, + waves, and flashes. The yellow-green luminescence, all the + stranger and stronger in the darkness, trembled, wavered, and + floated over the paper, in rhythm with the snapping of the + discharge. Through the metal plate, the paper, myself, and the + tin box, the invisible rays were flying, with an effect + strange, interesting, and uncanny. The metal plate seemed to + offer no appreciable resistance to the flying force, and the + light was as rich and full as if nothing lay between the paper + and the tube.</p> + + <p>"Put the book up," said the professor.</p> + + <p>I felt upon the shelf, in the darkness, a heavy book, two + inches in thickness, and placed this against the plate. It made + no difference. The rays flew through the metal and the book as + if neither had been there, and the waves of light, rolling + cloud-like over the paper, showed no change in brightness. It + was a clear, material illustration of the ease with which paper + and wood are penetrated. And then I laid book and paper down, + and put my eyes against the rays. All was blackness, and I + neither saw nor felt anything. The discharge was in full force, + and the rays were flying through my head, and, for all I knew, + through the side of the box behind me. But they were invisible + and impalpable. They gave no sensation whatever. Whatever the + mysterious rays may be, they are not to be seen, and are to be + judged only by their works.</p> + + <p>I was loath to leave this historical tin box, but time + pressed. I thanked the professor, who was happy in the reality + of his discovery and the music of his sparks. Then I said: + "Where did you first photograph living bones?"</p> + + <p>"Here," he said, leading the way into the room where the + coil stood. He pointed to a table on which was + another—the latter a small short-legged wooden one with + more the shape and size of a wooden seat. It was two feet + square and painted coal black. I viewed it with interest. I + would have bought it, for the little table on which light was + first sent through the human body will some day be a great + historical curiosity; but it was "nicht zu verkaufen." A + photograph of it would have been a consolation, but for several + reasons one was not to be had at present. However, the + historical table was there, and was duly inspected.</p> + + <div class="figright" + style="width:40%;"> + <a href="images/412.jpg" + name="fig412" + id="fig412"><img src="images/412.jpg" width="258" + alt="CORK-SCREW, KEY, PENCIL WITH METALLIC PROTECTOR, AND PIECE OF COIN, AS PHOTOGRAPHED WHILE INSIDE A CALICO POCKET." /> + </a> + + <h5>CORK-SCREW, KEY, PENCIL WITH METALLIC PROTECTOR, AND + PIECE OF COIN, AS PHOTOGRAPHED WHILE INSIDE A CALICO + POCKET.</h5>From a photograph by A.A.C. Swinton, Victoria + Street, London.<br /> + Four minutes' exposure through a sheet of aluminium. + </div> + + <p>"How did you take the first hand photograph?" I + asked.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page413" + id="page413"></a>[pg 413]</span> + + <p>The professor went over to a shelf by the window, where lay + a number of prepared glass plates, closely wrapped in black + paper. He put a Crookes tube underneath the table, a few inches + from the under side of its top. Then he laid his hand flat on + the top of the table, and placed the glass plate loosely on his + hand.</p> + + <p>"You ought to have your portrait painted in that attitude," + I suggested.</p> + + <p>"No, that is nonsense," said he, smiling.</p> + + <p>"Or be photographed." This suggestion was made with a deeply + hidden purpose.</p> + + <p>The rays from the Röntgen eyes instantly penetrated the + deeply hidden purpose. "Oh, no," said he; "I can't let you make + pictures of me. I am too busy." Clearly the professor was + entirely too modest to gratify the wishes of the curious + world.</p> + + <p>"Now, Professor," said I, "will you tell me the history of + the discovery?"</p> + + <div class="figleft" + style="width:50%;"> + <a href="images/413.jpg" + name="fig413" + id="fig413"><img src="images/413.jpg" + width="290" + alt="COINS PHOTOGRAPHED INSIDE A PURSE." /></a> + + <h5>COINS PHOTOGRAPHED INSIDE A PURSE.</h5> + + <p>From a photograph by A.A.C. Swinton, Victoria Street, + London.</p> + </div> + + <p>"There is no history," he said. "I have been for a long time + interested in the problem of the cathode rays from a vacuum + tube as studied by Hertz and Lenard. I had followed theirs and + other researches with great interest, and determined, as soon + as I had the time, to make some researches of my own. This time + I found at the close of last October. I had been at work for + some days when I discovered something new."</p> + + <p>"What was the date?"</p> + + <p>"The eighth of November."</p> + + <p>"And what was the discovery?"</p> + + <p>"I was working with a Crookes tube covered by a shield of + black cardboard. A piece of barium platino-cyanide paper lay on + the bench there. I had been passing a current through the tube, + and I noticed a peculiar black line across the paper."</p> + + <p>"What of that?"</p> + + <p>"The effect was one which could only be produced, in + ordinary parlance, by the passage of light. No light could come + from the tube, because the shield which covered it was + impervious to any light known, even that of the electric + arc."</p> + + <p>"And what did you think?"</p> + + <p>"I did not think; I investigated. I assumed that the effect + must have come from the tube, since its character indicated + that it could come from nowhere else. I tested it. In a few + minutes there was no doubt about it. Rays were coming from the + tube which had a luminescent effect upon the paper. I tried it + successfully at greater and greater distances, even at two + metres. It seemed at first a new kind of invisible light. It + was clearly something new, something unrecorded."</p> + + <p>"Is it light?"</p> + + <p>"No."</p> + + <p>"Is it electricity?"</p> + + <p>"Not in any known form."</p> + + <p>"What is it?"</p> + + <p>"I don't know."</p> + + <p>And the discoverer of the X rays thus stated as calmly his + ignorance of their essence as has everybody else who has + written on the phenomena thus far.</p> + + <p>"Having discovered the existence of a new kind of rays, I of + course began to investigate what they would do." He took up a + series of cabinet-sized photographs. "It soon appeared from + tests that the rays had penetrative power to a degree hitherto + unknown. They penetrated paper, wood, and cloth with ease; and + the thickness of the substance made no perceptible difference, + within reasonable limits." He showed photographs of a box of + laboratory weights of platinum, aluminium, and brass, they and + the brass hinges all having been photographed from a closed + box, without any indication of the box. Also a photograph of a + coil of fine wire, wound on a wooden spool, the wire having + been photographed, and the wood + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page414" + id="page414"></a>[pg 414]</span> omitted. "The rays," he + continued, "passed through all the metals tested, with a + facility varying, roughly speaking, with the density of the + metal. These phenomena I have discussed carefully in my + report to the Würzburg society, and you will find all + the technical results therein stated." He showed a + photograph of a small sheet of zinc. This was composed of + smaller plates soldered laterally with solders of different + metallic proportions. The differing lines of shadow, caused + by the difference in the solders, were visible evidence that + a new means of detecting flaws and chemical variations in + metals had been found. A photograph of a compass showed the + needle and dial taken through the closed brass cover. The + markings of the dial were in red metallic paint, and thus + interfered with the rays, and were reproduced. "Since the + rays had this great penetrative power, it seemed natural + that they should penetrate flesh, and so it proved in + photographing the hand, as I showed you."</p> + + <p>A detailed discussion of the characteristics of his rays the + professor considered unprofitable and unnecessary. He believes, + though, that these mysterious radiations are not light, because + their behavior is essentially different from that of light + rays, even those light rays which are themselves invisible. The + Röntgen rays cannot be reflected by reflecting surfaces, + concentrated by lenses, or refracted or diffracted. They + produce photographic action on a sensitive film, but their + action is weak as yet, and herein lies the first important + field of their development. The professor's exposures were + comparatively long—an average of fifteen minutes in + easily penetrable media, and half an hour or more in + photographing the bones of the hand. Concerning vacuum tubes, + he said that he preferred the Hittorf, because it had the most + perfect vacuum, the highest degree of air exhaustion being the + consummation most desirable. In answer to a question, "What of + the future?" he said:</p> + + <p>"I am not a prophet, and I am opposed to prophesying. I am + pursuing my investigations, and as fast as my results are + verified I shall make them public."</p> + + <p>"Do you think the rays can be so modified as to photograph + the organs of the human body?"</p> + + <p>In answer he took up the photograph of the box of weights. + "Here are already modifications," he said, indicating the + various degrees of shadow produced by the aluminium, platinum, + and brass weights, the brass hinges, and even the metallic + stamped lettering on the cover of the box, which was faintly + perceptible.</p> + + <p>"But Professor Neusser has already announced that the + photographing of the various organs is possible."</p> + + <p>"We shall see what we shall see," he said. We have the start + now; the developments will follow in time."</p> + + <p>"You know the apparatus for introducing the electric light + into the stomach?"</p> + + <p>"Yes."</p> + + <p>"Do you think that this electric light will become a vacuum + tube for photographing, from the stomach, any part of the + abdomen or thorax?"</p> + + <p>The idea of swallowing a Crookes tube, and sending a high + frequency current down into one's stomach, seemed to him + exceedingly funny. "When I have done it, I will tell you," he + said, smiling, resolute in abiding by results.</p> + + <p>"There is much to do, and I am busy, very busy," he said in + conclusion. He extended his hand in farewell, his eyes already + wandering toward his work in the inside room. And his visitor + promptly left him; the words, "I am busy," said in all + sincerity, seeming to describe in a single phrase the essence + of his character and the watchword of a very unusual man.</p> + + <p>Returning by way of Berlin, I called upon Herr Spies of the + Urania, whose photographs after the Röntgen method were + the first made public, and have been the best seen thus far. + The Urania is a peculiar institution, and one which it seems + might be profitably duplicated in other countries. It is a + scientific theatre. By means of the lantern and an admirable + equipment of scientific appliances, all new discoveries, as + well as ordinary interesting and picturesque phenomena, when + new discoveries are lacking, are described and illustrated + daily to the public, who pay for seats as in an ordinary + theatre, and keep the Urania profitably filled all the year + round. Professor Spies is a young man of great mental alertness + and mechanical resource. It is the photograph of a hand, his + wife's hand, which illustrates, perhaps better than any other + illustration in this article, the clear delineation of the + bones which can be obtained by the Röntgen rays. In + speaking of the discovery he said:</p> + + <p>"I applied it, as soon as the penetration of flesh was + apparent, to the photograph of a man's hand. Something in it + had pained him for years, and the photograph at once exhibited + a small foreign object, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page415" + id="page415"></a>[pg 415]</span> as you can see;" and he + exhibited a copy of the photograph in question. "The speck + there is a small piece of glass, which was immediately + extracted, and which, in all probability, would have + otherwise remained in the man's hand to the end of his + days." All of which indicates that the needle which has + pursued its travels in so many persons, through so many + years, will be suppressed by the camera.</p> + + <p>"My next object is to photograph the bones of the entire + leg," continued Herr Spies. "I anticipate no difficulty, though + it requires some thought in manipulation."</p> + + <p>It will be seen that the Röntgen rays and their + marvellous practical possibilities are still in their infancy. + The first successful modification of the action of the rays so + that the varying densities of bodily organs will enable them to + be photographed, will bring all such morbid growths as tumors + and cancers into the photographic field, to say nothing of + vital organs which may be abnormally developed or degenerate. + How much this means to medical and surgical practice it + requires little imagination to conceive. Diagnosis, long a + painfully uncertain science, has received an unexpected and + wonderful assistant; and how greatly the world will benefit + thereby, how much pain will be saved, and how many lives saved, + the future can only determine. In science a new door has been + opened where none was known to exist, and a side-light on + phenomena has appeared, of which the results may prove as + penetrating and astonishing as the Röntgen rays + themselves. The most agreeable feature of the discovery is the + opportunity it gives for other hands to help; and the work of + these hands will add many new words to the dictionaries, many + new facts to science, and, in the years long ahead of us, fill + many more volumes than there are paragraphs in this brief and + imperfect account.</p> + <hr class="full" /> + + <h2>THE RÖNTGEN RAYS IN AMERICA.</h2> + + <h4>By Cleveland Moffett.</h4> + + <p class="cap">AT the top of the great Sloane laboratory of + Yale University, in an experimenting room lined with curious + apparatus, I found Professor Arthur W. Wright experimenting + with the wonderful Röntgen rays. Professor Wright, a + small, low-voiced man, of modest manner, has achieved, in his + experiments in photographing through solid substances, some of + the most interesting and remarkable results thus far attained + in this country. His success is, no doubt, largely due to the + fact that for years he had been experimenting constantly with + vacuum tubes similar to the Crookes tubes used in producing the + cathode rays.</p> + + <p>When I arrived, Professor Wright was at work with a Crookes + tube, nearly spherical in shape, and about five inches in + diameter—the one with which he has taken all his shadow + pictures. His best results have been obtained with long + exposures—an hour or an hour and a half—and he + regards it as of the first importance that the objects through + which the Röntgen rays are to be projected be placed as + near as possible to the sensitized plate.</p> + + <p>It is from a failure to observe this precaution that so many + of the shadow pictures show blurred outlines. It is with these + pictures as with a shadow of the hand thrown on the + wall—the nearer the hand is to the wall, the more + distinct becomes the shadow; and this consideration makes + Professor Wright doubt whether it will be possible, with the + present facilities, to get clearly cut shadow images of very + thick objects, or in cases where the pictures are taken through + a thick board or other obstacle. The Röntgen rays will + doubtless traverse the board, and shadows will be formed upon + the plate, but there will be an uncertainty or dimness of + outline that will render the results unsatisfactory. It is for + this reason that Professor Wright has taken most of his shadow + pictures through only the thickness of ebonite in his + plate-holder. A most successful shadow picture taken by + Professor Wright in this way, shows five objects laid side by + side on a large plate—a saw, a case of pocket tools in + their cover, a pocket lense opened out as for use, a pair of + eye-glasses inside their leather case, and an awl. As will be + seen from the accompanying reproduction of this picture, all + the objects are photographed with remarkable distinctness, the + leather case of the eye-glasses being almost transparent, the + wood of the handles of the awl and saw being a little less so, + while the glass in the eye-glasses is less transparent than + either. In <span class="pagenum"><a name="page416" + id="page416"></a>[pg 416]</span> the case of the awl and the + saw, the iron stem of the tool shows plainly inside the + wooden handle. This photograph is similar to a dozen that + have been taken by Professor Wright with equal success. The + exposure here was fifty-five minutes.</p> + + <p>A more remarkable picture is one taken in the same way, but + with a somewhat longer exposure—of a rabbit laid upon the + ebonite plate, and so successfully pierced with the + Röntgen rays that not only the bones of the body show + plainly, but also the six grains of shot with which the animal + was killed. The bones of the fore legs show with beautiful + distinctness inside the shadowy flesh, while a closer + inspection makes visible the ribs, the cartilages of the ear, + and a lighter region in the centre of the body, which marks the + location of the heart.</p> + + <p>Like most experimenters, Professor Wright has taken numerous + shadow pictures of the human hand, showing the bones within, + and he has made a great number of experiments in photographing + various metals and different varieties of quartz and glass, + with a view to studying characteristic differences in the + shadows produced. A photograph of the latter sort is reproduced + on page 401. Aluminium shows a remarkable degree of + transparency to the Röntgen rays; so much so that + Professor Wright was able to photograph a medal of this metal, + showing in the same picture the designs and lettering on both + sides of the medal, presented simultaneously in superimposed + images. The denser metals, however, give in the main black + shadows, which offer little opportunity of distinguishing + between them.</p> + + <p>As to the nature of the Röntgen rays, Professor Wright + is inclined to regard them as a mode of motion through the + ether, in longitudinal stresses; and he thinks that, while they + are in many ways similar to the rays discovered by Lenard a + year or so ago, they still present important characteristics of + their own. It may be, he thinks, that the Röntgen rays are + the ordinary cathode rays produced in a Crookes tube, filtered, + if one may so express it, of the metallic particles carried in + their electrical stream from the metal terminal, on passing + through the glass. It is well known that the metal terminals of + a Crookes tube are steadily worn away while the current is + passing; so much so that sometimes portions of the interior of + the tube become coated with a metallic deposit almost + mirror-like.</p> + + <p>As to the future, Professor Wright feels convinced that + important results will be achieved in surgery and medicine by + the use of these new rays, while in physical science they point + to an entirely new field of investigation. The most necessary + thing now is to find some means of producing streams of + Röntgen rays of greater volume and intensity, so as to + make possible greater penetration and distinctness in the + images. Thus far only small Crookes tubes have been used, and + much is to be expected when larger ones become available; but + there is great difficulty in the manufacture of them. It might + be possible, Professor Wright thinks, to get good results by + using, instead of the Crookes tube, a large sphere of + aluminium, which is more transparent to the new rays than glass + and possesses considerable strength. It is a delicate question, + however, whether the increased thickness of metal necessary to + resist the air pressure upon a vacuum would not offset the + advantage gained from the greater size. Moreover, it is a + matter for experiment still to determine, what kind of an + electric current would be necessary to excite such a larger + tube with the best results.</p> + + <p>Among the most important experiments in shadow photography + made thus far in America are those of Dr. William J. Morton of + New York, who was the first in this country to use the + disruptive discharges of static electricity in connection with + the Röntgen discovery, and to demonstrate that shadow + pictures may be successfully taken without the use of Crookes + tubes. It was the well-known photographic properties of + ordinary lightning that made Dr. Morton suspect that cathode + rays are produced freely in the air when there is an electric + discharge from the heavens. Reasoning thus, he resolved to + search for cathode rays in the ten-inch lightning flash he was + able to produce between the poles of his immense Holtz machine, + probably the largest in this country.</p> + + <p>On January 30th he suspended a glass plate, with a circular + window in the middle, between the two poles. Cemented to this + plate of glass was one of hard rubber, about equal in size, + which of course covered the window in the glass. Back of the + rubber plate was suspended a photographic plate in the + plate-holder, and outside of this, between it and the rubber + surface, were ten letters cut from thin copper. Dr. Morton + proposed to see if he could not prove the existence of cathode + rays between the poles by causing them to picture in shadow, + upon the sensitized plate, the letters thus exposed.</p> + + <p>In order to do this it was necessary to separate the + ordinary electric sparks from + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page417" + id="page417"></a>[pg 417]</span> the invisible cathode rays + which, as Dr. Morton believed, accompanied them. It was to + accomplish this that he used the double plates of glass and + hard rubber placed, as already described, between the two + poles; for while the ordinary electric spark would not + traverse the rubber, any cathode rays that might be present + would do so with great ease, the circular window in the + glass plate allowing them passage there.</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/417.jpg" + name="fig417" + id="fig417"><img src="images/417.jpg" + alt="DR. WILLIAM J. MORTON PHOTOGRAPHING HIS OWN HAND UNDER RÖNTGEN RAYS." /> + </a> + + <h5>DR. WILLIAM J. MORTON PHOTOGRAPHING HIS OWN HAND UNDER + RÖNTGEN RAYS.</h5> + + <p>In this case the vacuum bulb is charged from Leyden jars + which, in their turn, are excited by an induction coil.</p> + </div> + + <p>The current being turned on, it was found that the powerful + electric sparks visible to the eye, unable to follow a straight + course on account of the intervening rubber plate, jumped + around the two plates in jagged, lightning-like lines, and thus + reached the other pole of the machine. But it was noticed that + at the same time a faint spray of purplish light was streaming + straight through the rubber between the two holes, as if its + passage was not interfered with by the rubber plate. It was in + company with this stream of violet rays, known as the brush + discharge, that the doctor conceived the invisible Röntgen + rays to be projected at each spark discharge around the plate; + and presently, when the photographic plate was developed, it + was found that his conception was based on fact. For there, dim + in outline, but unmistakable, were shadow pictures of the ten + letters which stand as historic, since they were probably the + first shadow pictures in the world taken without any bulb or + vacuum tube whatever. These shadow pictures Dr. Morton + carefully distinguished from the ordinary blackening effects on + the film produced by electrified objects.</p> + + <p>Pursuing his experiments with static electricity, Dr. Morton + soon found that better results could be obtained by the use of + Leyden jars influenced by the Holtz machine, and discharging + into a vacuum bulb, as shown in the illustration on this page. + This arrangement of the apparatus has the advantage of making + it much easier to regulate the electric supply and to modify + its intensity, and Dr. Morton finds that in this way large + vacuum tubes, perhaps twenty inches in diameter, may be excited + to the point of doing practical work without danger of breaking + the glass walls. But certain precautions are necessary. When he + uses tin-foil electrodes on the outside of the bulb, he + protects the tin-foil edges, and, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page418" + id="page418"></a>[pg 418]</span> what is more essential, + uses extremely small Leyden jars and a short spark gap + between the poles of the discharging rods. The philosophy of + this is, that the smaller the jars, the greater their number + of oscillations per second (easily fifteen million, + according to Dr. Lodge's computations), the shorter the wave + length, and, therefore, the greater the intensity of + effects.</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/418.jpg" + name="fig418" + id="fig418"><img src="images/418.jpg" + alt="A GROUP OF FAMILIAR ARTICLES UNDER THE RÖNTGEN RAYS." /> + </a> + + <h5>A GROUP OF FAMILIAR ARTICLES UNDER THE RÖNTGEN + RAYS.</h5> + + <p>From a photograph by Professor Arthur W. Wright of Yale + College, taken through an ebonite plate-holder with + fifty-five minutes exposure. It shows a pair of spectacles + in their leather case; an awl and a saw, with the iron + stem, plainly visible through the wooden handles; a + magnifying-glass; and a combination wooden tool-handle with + metallic tools stored in the head, and the metallic clamp + visible through the lower half.</p> + </div> + + <p>The next step was to bring more energy into play, still + using Leyden jars; and for this purpose Dr. Morton placed + within the circuit between the jars a Tesla oscillating coil. + He was thus able to use in his shadow pictures the most + powerful sparks the machine was capable of producing (twelve + inches), sending the Leyden-jar discharge through the primary + of the coil, and employing for the excitation of the vacuum + tube the "step up" current of the secondary coil with a + potential incalculably increased.</p> + + <p>While Dr. Morton has in some of his experiments excited his + Leyden jars from an induction coil, he thinks the best promise + lies in the use of powerful Holtz machines; and he now uses no + Leyden jars or converters, thus greatly adding to the + simplicity of operations.</p> + + <p>In regard to the bulb, Dr. Morton has tested various kinds + of vacuum tubes, the ordinary Crookes tubes, the Geissler + tubes, and has obtained excellent results from the use of a + special vacuum lamp adapted by himself to the purpose. One of + his ingenious expedients was to turn to use an ordinary + radiometer of large bulb, and, having fitted this with tin-foil + electrodes, he found that he was able to get strongly marked + shadow pictures. This application of the Röntgen principle + will commend itself to many students who, being unable to + provide themselves with the rare and expensive Crookes tubes, + may buy a radiometer which will serve their purpose excellently + in any laboratory supply store, the cost being only a few + dollars, while the application of the tin foil electrodes is + perfectly simple.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page419" + id="page419"></a>[pg 419]</span> + + <p>In the-well equipped Jackson laboratory at Trinity College, + Hartford, I found Dr. W.L. Robb, the professor of physics, + surrounded by enthusiastic students, who were assisting him in + some experiments with the new rays. Dr. Robb is the better + qualified for this work from the fact that he pursued his + electrical studies at the Würzburg University, in the very + laboratory where Professor Röntgen made his great + discovery. The picture reproduced herewith, showing a human + foot inside the shoe, was taken by Dr. Robb. The Crookes tubes + used in this and in most of Dr. Robb's experiments are + considerably larger than any I have seen elsewhere, being + pear-shaped, about eight inches long, and four inches wide at + the widest part. It is, perhaps, to the excellence of this tube + that Dr. Robb owes part of his success. At any rate, in the + foot picture the bones are outlined through shoe and stocking, + while every nail in the sole of the shoe shows plainly, + although the rays came from above, striking the top of the foot + first, the sole resting upon the plate-holder. In other of Dr. + Robb's pictures equally fine results were obtained; notably in + one of a fish, reproduced herewith, and showing the bony + structure of the body; one of a razor, where the lighter shadow + proves that the hollow ground portion is almost as thin as the + edge; and one of a man's hand, taken for use in a lawsuit, to + prove that the bones of the thumb, which had been crushed and + broken in an accident, had been improperly set by the attending + physician.</p> + + <div class="figright"> + <a href="images/419.jpg" + name="fig419" + id="fig419"><img src="images/419.jpg" + width="345" + alt="THOMAS A. EDISON EXPERIMENTING WITH THERÖNTGEN RAYS." /> + </a> + + <h5>THOMAS A. EDISON EXPERIMENTING WITH THE<br /> + RÖNTGEN RAYS.</h5> + </div> + + <p>Dr. Robb has made a series of novel and important + experiments with tubes from which the air has been exhausted in + varying degrees, and has concluded from these that it is + impossible to produce the Röntgen phenomena unless there + is present in the tube an almost perfect vacuum. Through a tube + half exhausted, on connecting it with an induction coil, he + obtained merely the ordinary series of sparks; in a tube + three-quarters exhausted, he obtained a reddish + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page420" + id="page420"></a>[pg 420]</span> glow from end to end, a + torpedo-shaped stream of fire; through a tube exhausted to a + fairly high degree—what the electric companies would + call "not bad"—he obtained a beautiful steaked effect + of bluish striæ in transverse layers. Finally, in a + tube exhausted as highly as possible, he obtained a faint + fluorescent glow, like that produced in a Crookes tube. This + fluorescence of the glass, according to Dr. Robb, invariably + accompanies the discharge of Röntgen rays, and it is + likely that these rays are produced more abundantly as the + fluorescence increases. Just how perfect a vacuum is needed + to give the best results remains a matter of conjecture. It + is possible, of course, as Tesla believes, that with an + absolutely perfect vacuum no results whatever would be + obtained.</p> + + <p>Dr. Robb has discovered that in order to get the best + results with shadow pictures it is necessary to use special + developers for the plates, and a different process in the + dark-room from the one known to ordinary photographers. In a + general way, it is necessary to use solutions designed to + affect the ultra-violet rays, and not the visible rays of the + spectrum. Having succeeded, after much experiment, in thus + modifying his developing process to meet the needs of the case, + Dr. Robb finds that he makes a great gain in time of exposure, + fifteen minutes being sufficient for the average shadow picture + taken through a layer of wood or leather, and half an hour + representing an extreme case. In some shadow pictures, as, for + instance, in taking a lead-pencil, it is a great mistake to + give an exposure exceeding two or three minutes; for the wood + is so transparent that with a long exposure it does not show at + all, and the effect of the picture is spoiled. Indeed, Dr. Robb + finds that there is a constant tendency to shorten the time of + exposure, and with good results. For instance, one of the best + shadow pictures he had taken was of a box of instruments + covered by two thicknesses of leather, two thicknesses of + velvet, and two thicknesses of wood; and yet the time of + exposure, owing to an accident to the coil, was only five + minutes.</p> + + <p>Dr. Robb made one very interesting experiment a few days ago + in the interest of a large bicycle company which sent to him + specimens of carbon steel and nickel steel for the purpose of + having him test them with the Röntgen rays, and see if + they showed any radical differences in the crystalline + structure. Photographs were taken as desired, but at the time + of my visit only negative results had been obtained.</p> + + <p>Dr. Robb realizes the great desirability of finding a + stronger source of Röntgen rays, and has himself begun + experimenting with exhaustive bulbs made of aluminium. One of + these he has already finished, and has obtained some results + with it, but not such as are entirely satisfactory, owing to + the great difficulty in obtaining a high vacuum without special + facilities.</p> + + <p>I also visited Professor U.I. Pupin of Columbia College, who + has been making numerous experiments with the Röntgen + rays, and has produced at least one very remarkable shadow + picture. This is of the hand of a gentleman resident in New + York, who, while on a hunting trip in England a few months ago, + was so unfortunate as to discharge his gun into his right hand, + no less than forty shot lodging in the palm and fingers. The + hand has since healed completely; but the shot remain in it, + the doctors being unable to remove them, because unable to + determine their exact location. The result is that the hand is + almost useless, and often painful.</p> + + <p>Hearing of this case, Professor Pupin induced the gentleman + to allow him to attempt a photograph of the hand. He used a + Crookes tube. The distance from the tube to the plate was only + five inches, and the hand lay between. After waiting fifty + minutes the plate was examined. Not only did every bone of the + hand show with beautiful distinctness, but each one of the + forty shot was to be seen almost as plainly as if it lay there + on the table; and, most remarkable of all, a number of shot + were seen through the bones of the fingers, showing that the + bones were transparent to the lead.</p> + + <p>In making this picture, Professor Pupin excited his tube by + means of a powerful Holtz machine, thus following Dr. Morton in + the substitution of statical electricity for the more common + induction coil.</p> + + <p>Professor Pupin sees no reason why the whole skeleton of the + human body should not be shown completely in a photograph as + soon as sufficiently powerful bulbs can be obtained. He thinks + that it would be possible to make Crookes tubes two feet in + diameter instead of a few inches, as at present.</p> + + <p>Thomas A. Edison has also been devoting himself, with his + usual energy, to experiments with the Röntgen rays, and + announces confidently that in the near future he will be able + to photograph the human brain, through the heavy bones of the + skull, and perhaps even to get a shadow picture showing the + human skeleton through the tissues of the body.</p> + <hr class="full" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page421" + id="page421"></a>[pg 421]</span> + + <h2>THE HOUSEHOLDERS.</h2> + + <h4>BY "Q,"</h4> + + <h5>Author of "Dead Man's Rock," "The Roll-Call of the Reef," + etc.</h5> + + <div class="figletter"> + <a href="images/LetterI.jpg" + name="fig421-l" + id="fig421-l"><img src="images/LetterI.jpg" + alt="Letter I" /></a> + </div> + + <p class="hang">WILL say this—speaking as accurately as a + man may, so long afterwards—that when first I spied the + house it put no desire in me but just to give thanks.</p> + + <p>For conceive my case. It was near midnight by this; and ever + since dusk I had been tracking the naked moors a-foot, in the + teeth of as vicious a nor'wester as ever drenched a man to the + skin, and then blew the cold home to his marrow. My clothes + were sodden; my coat-tails flapped with a noise like pistol + shots; my boots squeaked as I went. Overhead the October moon + was in her last quarter, and might have been a slice of + finger-nail for all the light she afforded. Two-thirds of the + time the wrack blotted her out altogether; and I, with my stick + clipped tight under my arm-pit, eyes puckered up, and head bent + like a butting ram's, but a little aslant, had to keep my wits + agog to distinguish the glimmer of the road from the black + heath to right and left. For three hours I had met neither man + nor man's dwelling, and (for all I knew) was desperately lost. + Indeed, at the cross roads, two miles back, there had been + nothing for me but to choose the way that kept the wind on my + face, and it gnawed me like a dog.</p> + + <p>Mainly to allay the stinging of my eyes, I pulled up at + last, turned right-about face, leant back against the blast + with a hand on my hat, and surveyed the blackness I had + traversed. It was at this instant that, far away to the left, a + point of light caught my notice, faint but steady; and at once + I felt sure it burnt in the window of a house. "The house," + thought I, "is a good mile off, beside the other road, and the + light must have been an inch over my hat-brim for the last half + hour," for my head had been sloped that way. This + reflection—that on so wide a moor I had come near missing + the information I wanted (and perhaps a supper) by one + inch—sent a strong thrill down my back.</p> + + <div class="figright" + style="width:35%;"> + <a href="images/421.jpg" + name="fig421" + id="fig421"><img src="images/421.jpg" + width="241" + alt=""I ... TRIED A STEP TOWARD THE STAIRS, WITH EYES ALERT"" /> + </a> + + <h5>"I ... TRIED A STEP TOWARD THE STAIRS, WITH EYES ALERT + FOR ANY MOVEMENT OF THE MASTIFF."</h5> + </div> + + <p>I cut straight across the heather towards the light, risking + quags and pitfalls. Nay, so heartening was the chance to hear a + fellow-creature's voice that I broke into a run, skipping over + the stunted gorse that cropped up here and there, and dreading + every moment to see the light quenched. "Suppose it burns in an + upper window, and the family is going to bed, as would be + likely at this hour"—the apprehension kept my eyes fixed + on the bright spot, to the frequent scandal of my legs, that + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page422" + id="page422"></a>[pg 422]</span> within five minutes were + stuck full of gorse-prickles.</p> + + <p>But the light did not go out, and soon a flicker of + moonlight gave me a glimpse of the house's outline. It proved + to be a deal more imposing than I looked for—the outline, + in fact, of a tall-square barrack with a cluster of chimneys at + either end, like ears, and a high wall, topped by the roofs of + some outbuildings, concealing the lower windows. There was no + gate in this wall, and presently I guessed the reason. I was + approaching the place from behind, and the light came from a + back window on the first floor.</p> + + <p>The faintness of the light also was explained by this time. + It shone behind a drab-colored blind, and in shape resembled + the stem of a wine-glass, broadening out at the foot—an + effect produced by the half-drawn curtains within. I came to a + halt, waiting for the next ray of moonlight. At the same moment + a rush of wind swept over the chimney-stacks, and on the wind + there seemed to ride a human sigh.</p> + + <p>On this last point I may err. The gust had passed some + seconds before I caught myself detecting this peculiar note, + and trying to disengage it from the natural chords of the + storm. From the next gust it was absent. And then, to my + dismay, the light faded from the window.</p> + + <p>I was half-minded to call out when it appeared again, this + time in two windows—those next on the right to that where + it had shone before. Almost at once it increased in brilliance, + as if the person who carried it from the smaller room to the + larger were lighting more candles; and now the illumination was + strong enough to make fine gold threads of the rain that fell + within its radiance, and fling two shafts of warm yellow over + the coping of the back wall into the night. During the minute + or more that I stood watching, no shadow fell on either + blind.</p> + + <p>Between me and the wall ran a ditch, into the black + obscurity of which the ground at my feet broke sharply away. + Setting my back to the storm again, I followed the lip of this + ditch around the wall's angle. Here was shelter, and here the + ditch seemed to grow shallower. Not wishing, however, to + mistake a bed of nettles or any such pitfall for solid earth, I + kept pretty wide as I went on. The house was dark on this side, + and the wall, as before, had no opening. Close beside the next + angle grew a mass of thick gorse bushes, and pushing through + these I found myself suddenly on a sound high road, with the + wind tearing at me as furiously as ever.</p> + + <p>But here was the front; and I now perceived that the + surrounding wall advanced some way before the house, so as to + form a narrow curtilage. So much of it, too, as faced the road + had been whitewashed; which made it an easy matter to find the + gate. But as I laid hand on its latch, I had a surprise.</p> + + <p>A line of paving-stones led from the gate to the heavy + porch; and along the wet surface of these fell a streak of + light from the front door, which stood ajar.</p> + + <p>That a door should remain six inches open on such a night + was astonishing enough, until I entered the court and found it + was as still as a room, owing to the high wall, and doubtless + the porch gave additional protection. But looking up and + assuring myself that all the rest of <i>façade</i> was + black as ink, I wondered at the inmates who could be thus + careless of their property.</p> + + <p>It was here that my professional instincts received the + first jog. Abating the sound of my feet on the paving-stones, I + went up to the door and pushed it softly. It opened without + noise.</p> + + <p>I stepped into a fair-sized hall of modern build, paved with + red tiles and lit with a small hanging lamp. To right and left + were doors leading to the ground-floor rooms. Along the wall by + my shoulder ran a line of pegs, on which hung half a dozen hats + and great coats, every one of clerical shape; and full in front + of me a broad staircase ran up, with a staring Brussels carpet, + the colors and pattern of which I can recall as well as + to-day's breakfast. Under this staircase was set a stand full + of walking-sticks, and a table littered with gloves, brushes, a + hand-bell, a riding-crop, one or two dog-whistles, and a + bed-room candle, with tinder-box beside it. This, with one + notable exception, was all the furniture.</p> + + <p>The exception—which turned me cold—was the form + of a yellow mastiff dog, curled on a mat beneath the table. The + arch of his back was towards me, and one forepaw lay over his + nose in a natural posture of sleep. I leant back on the + wainscoting, with my eyes tightly fixed on him, and my thoughts + flying back, with something of regret, to the storm I had come + through.</p> + + <p>But a man's habits are not easily denied. At the end of + three minutes the dog had not moved, and I was down on the + doormat unlacing my soaked boots. + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page423" + id="page423"></a>[pg 423]</span> Slipping them off, and + taking them in my left hand, I stood up, and tried a step + towards the stairs, with eyes alert for any movement of the + mastiff; but he never stirred. I was glad enough, however, + on reaching the stairs, to find them newly built and the + carpet thick. Up I went with a glance at every step for the + table which now hid the brute's form from me, and never a + creak did I wake out of that staircase till I was almost at + the first landing, when my toe caught a loose stair-rod, and + rattled it in a way that stopped my heart for a moment, and + then set it going in double-quick time.</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/423.jpg" + name="fig423" + id="fig423"><img src="images/423.jpg" + alt=""HE STOOD SIDEWAYS, ... AND LOOKED AT ME OVER HIS LEFT SHOULDER.."" /> + </a> + + <h5>"HE STOOD SIDEWAYS, ... AND LOOKED AT ME OVER HIS LEFT + SHOULDER.."</h5> + </div> + + <p>I stood still, with a hand on the rail. My eyes were now on + a level with the floor of the landing, out of which branched + two passages—one by my right hand, the other to the left, + at the foot of the next flight, so placed that I was gazing + down the length of it. And almost at the end there fell a + parallelogram of light across it from an open door.</p> + + <p>A man who has once felt it knows there is only one kind of + silence that can fitly be called "dead." This is only to be + found in a great house at midnight. I declare that for a few + seconds after I rattled the stair-rod you might have cut the + silence with a knife. If the house held a clock it ticked + inaudibly.</p> + + <p>Upon this silence, at the end of a minute, broke a light + sound—the <i>clink, clink</i> of a decanter on the rim of + a wine-glass. It came from the room where the light was.</p> + + <p>Now, perhaps it was that the very thought of liquor put + warmth into my cold bones. It is certain that all of a sudden I + straightened my back, took the remaining stairs at two strides, + and walked down the passage, as bold as brass, with out caring + a jot for the noise I made.</p> + + <p>In the doorway I halted. The room was long, lined for the + most part with books bound in what they call "divinity calf," + and littered with papers like a barrister's table on assize + day. Before the fireplace, where a few coals burned sulkily, + was drawn a leathern elbow chair, and beside it, on the corner + of a writing-table, were set an unlit candle and a pile of + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page424" + id="page424"></a>[pg 424]</span> manuscripts. At the + opposite end of the room a curtained door led (I guessed) to + the chamber that I had first seen illuminated. All this I + took in with the tail of my eye, while staring straight in + front, where, in the middle of a great square of carpet + between me and the windows, was a table with a red cloth + upon it. On this cloth were a couple of wax candles, lit, in + silver stands, a tray, and a decanter three parts full of + brandy. And between me and the table stood a man.</p> + + <p>He stood sideways, leaning a little back, as if to keep his + shadow off the threshold, and looked at me over his left + shoulder—a bald, grave man, slightly under the common + height, with a long clerical coat of preposterous fit hanging + loosely from his shoulders, a white cravat, black breeches, and + black stockings. His feet were loosely thrust into + carpet-slippers. I judged his age at fifty, or thereabouts; but + his face rested in the shadow, and I could only note a pair of + eyes, very small and alert, twinkling above a large expanse of + cheek.</p> + + <p>He was lifting a wine-glass from the table at the moment + when I appeared, and it trembled now in his right hand. I heard + a spilt drop or two fall on the carpet, and this was all the + evidence he showed of discomposure.</p> + + <p>Setting the glass back, he felt in his breast-pocket for a + handkerchief, failed to find one, and rubbed his hands together + to get the liquor off his fingers.</p> + + <p>"You startled me," he said, in a matter-of-fact tone, + turning his eyes upon me, as he lifted his glass again, and + emptied it. "How did you find your way in?"</p> + + <p>"By the front door," said I, wondering at his unconcern.</p> + + <p>He nodded his head slowly.</p> + + <p>"Ah! yes; I forgot to lock it. You came to steal, I + suppose?"</p> + + <p>"I came because I lost my way. I've been travelling this + God-forsaken moor since dusk—"</p> + + <p>"With your boots in your hand," he put in quietly.</p> + + <p>"I took them off out of respect to the yellow dog you + keep."</p> + + <p>"He lies in a very natural attitude—eh?"</p> + + <p>"You don't tell me he was <i>stuffed</i>!"</p> + + <p>The old man's eyes beamed a contemptuous pity.</p> + + <p>"You are indifferently sharp, my dear sir, for a + housebreaker. Come in. Set down those convicting boots, and + don't drip pools of water in the very doorway, of all places. + If I must entertain a burglar, I prefer him tidy."</p> + + <p>He walked to the fire, picked up a poker, and knocked the + coals into a blaze. This done, he turned round on me with the + poker still in his hand. The serenest gravity sat on his large, + pale features.</p> + + <p>"Why have I done this?" he asked.</p> + + <p>"I suppose to get possession of the poker."</p> + + <p>"Quite right. May I inquire your next move?"</p> + + <p>"Why," said I, feeling in my tail pocket, "I carry a + pistol."</p> + + <p>"Which I suppose to be damp?"</p> + + <p>"By no means. I carry it, as you see, in an oil-cloth + case."</p> + + <p>He stopped, and laid the poker carefully in the fender.</p> + + <p>"That is a stronger card than I possess. I might urge that + by pulling the trigger you would certainly alarm the house and + the neighborhood, and put a halter round your neck. I say, I + <i>might</i> urge this, and assume you to be an intelligent + auditor. But it strikes me as safer to assume you capable of + using a pistol with effect at three paces. With what might + happen subsequently I will not pretend to be concerned. It is + sufficient that I dislike the notion of being perforated. The + fate of your neck—" He waved a hand. "Well, I have known + you for just five minutes, and feel but moderate interest in + your neck. As for the inmates of this house, it will refresh + you to hear that there are none. I have lived here two years + with a butler and a female cook, both of whom I dismissed + yesterday at a moment's notice for conduct which I will not + shock your ears by explicitly naming. Suffice it to say, I + carried them off yesterday to my parish church, two miles away, + married them, and dismissed them in the vestry without + characters. I wish you had known that butler—but excuse + me; with the information I have supplied, you ought to find no + difficulty in fixing the price you will take to clear out of my + house instanter."</p> + + <p>"Sir," I answered, "I have held a pistol at one or two heads + in my time; but never at one stuffed with nobler discretion. + Your chivalry does not, indeed, disarm me, but prompts me to + desire more of your acquaintance. I have found a gentleman, and + must sup with him before I make terms."</p> + + <p>The address seemed to please him. He shuffled across the + room to a sideboard, and produced a plate of biscuits, another + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page425" + id="page425"></a>[pg 425]</span> of almonds and dried + raisins, a glass and two decanters.</p> + + <p>"Sherry and Madeira," he said. "There is also a cold pie in + the larder, if you care for it."</p> + + <p>"A biscuit will serve," I replied. "To tell the truth, I'm + more for the bucket than the manger, as the grooms say; and, by + your leave, the brandy you were testing just now is more to my + mind than wine."</p> + + <p>"There is no water handy."</p> + + <p>"There was plenty out of doors to last me with this + bottle."</p> + + <p>I pulled over a chair, and laid my pistol on the table, and + held out the glass for him to fill. Having done so, he helped + himself to a glass and a chair, and sat down facing me.</p> + + <p>"I was talking, just now, of my late butler," he began, with + a sip at his brandy. "Has it struck you that, when confronted + with moral delinquency, I am apt to let my indignation get the + better of me?"</p> + + <p>"Not at all," I answered heartily, refilling my glass.</p> + + <p>It appeared that another reply would have pleased him + better.</p> + + <p>"H'm. I was hoping that, perhaps, I had visited his offence + too strongly. As a clergyman, you see, I was bound to be + severe; but upon my word, sir, since he went I have felt like a + man who has lost a limb."</p> + + <p>He drummed with his fingers on the cloth for a few moments, + and went on:</p> + + <p>"One has a natural disposition to forgive + butlers—Pharaoh, for instance, felt it. There hovers + around butlers that peculiar atmosphere which Shakespeare + noticed as encircling kings, an atmosphere in which common + ethics lose their pertinence. But mine was a rare bird—a + black swan among butlers. He was more than a butler: he was a + quick and brightly-gifted man. Of the accuracy of his taste, + and the unusual scope of his endeavor, you will be able to form + some opinion when I assure you he modelled himself upon + <i>me</i>."</p> + + <p>I bowed over my brandy.</p> + + <p>"I am a scholar; yet I employed him to read aloud to me, and + derived pleasure from his intonation. I talk as a scholar; yet + he learned to answer me in language as precise as my own. My + cast-off garments fitted him not more irreproachably than did + my amenities of manner. Divest him of his tray, and you would + find his mode of entering a room hardly distinguishable from my + own—the same urbanity, the same alertness of carriage, + the same superfine deference towards the weaker sex. + All—all my idiosyncrasies I saw reflected in this my + mirror; and can you doubt that I was gratified? He was my + <i>alter ego</i>—which, by the way, makes it the more + extraordinary that it should have been necessary to marry him + to the cook."</p> + + <p>"Look here," I broke in; "you want a butler."</p> + + <p>"Oh, you really grasp that fact, do you?" he retorted.</p> + + <p>"And you wish to get rid of me as soon as may be."</p> + + <p>"I hope there is no impoliteness in complimenting you on + your discernment."</p> + + <p>"Your two wishes," said I, "may be reconciled. Let me cease + to be your burglar, and let me continue here as your + butler."</p> + + <p>He leant back, spreading out the fingers of each hand as if + the table's edge was a harpsichord, and he stretching octaves + upon it.</p> + + <p>"Believe me," I went on, "you might do worse. I have been a + demy of Magdalen College, Oxford, in my time, and retain some + Greek and Latin. I'll undertake to read the Fathers with an + accent that shall not offend you. My knowledge of wine is none + the worse for having been cultivated in other men's cellars. + Moreover, you shall engage the ugliest cook in Christendom, so + long as I'm your butler. I've taken a liking to + you—that's flat—and I apply for the post."</p> + + <p>"I give forty pounds a year," said he.</p> + + <p>"And I'm cheap at that price."</p> + + <p>He filled up his glass, looking up at me while he did so + with the air of one digesting a problem. From first to last his + face was grave as a judge's.</p> + + <p>"We are too impulsive, I think," was his answer, after a + minute's silence. "And your speech smacks of the amateur. You + say, 'Let me cease to be your burglar, and let me be your + butler.' The mere aspiration is respectable; but a man might as + well say, 'Let me cease to write poems; let me paint pictures.' + And truly, sir, you impressed me as no expert in your present + trade, but a journeyman-housebreaker, if I may say so."</p> + + <p>"On the other hand," I argued, "consider the moderation of + my demands; that alone should convince you of my desire to turn + over a new leaf. I ask for a month's trial; if, at the end of + that time, I don't suit, you shall say so, and I'll march from + your door with nothing in my pocket but my month's wages. Be + hanged, sir! but <span class="pagenum"><a name="page426" + id="page426"></a>[pg 426]</span> when I reflect on the + amount you'll have to pay to get me to face to-night's storm + again, you seem to be getting off dirt-cheap!" cried I, + slapping my palm on the table.</p> + + <p>"Ah, if you had only known Adolphus!" he exclaimed.</p> + + <p>Now, the third glass of clean spirits has always a + deplorable effect on me. It turns me from bright to black, from + lightness of spirits to extreme sulkiness. I have done more + wickedness over this third tumbler than in all the other states + of comparative inebriety within my experience. So now I + glowered at my companion and rapped out a curse.</p> + + <p>"Look here, I don't want to hear any more of Adolphus, and + I've a pretty clear notion of the game you're playing. You want + to make me drunk, and you're ready to sit prattling there till + I drop under the table."</p> + + <p>"Do me the favor to remember that you came, and are staying, + at your own invitation. As for the brandy, I would remind you + that I suggested a milder drink. Try some Madeira."</p> + + <p>He handed me the decanter, as he spoke, and I poured out a + glass.</p> + + <p>"Madeira!" said I, taking a gulp. "Ugh! it's the commonest + Marsala!"</p> + + <p>I had no sooner said the words than he rose up, and + stretched a hand gravely across to me.</p> + + <p>"I hope you'll shake it," he said; "though, as a man who + after three glasses of neat spirit can distinguish between + Madeira and Marsala, you have every right to refuse me. Two + minutes ago you offered to become my butler, and I demurred. I + now beg you to repeat that offer. Say the word, and I employ + you gladly; you shall even have the second decanter (which + contains genuine Madeira) to take to bed with you."</p> + + <p>We shook hands on our bargain, and catching up a + candlestick, he led the way from the room.</p> + + <p>Picking up my boots, I followed him along the passage and + down the silent staircase. In the hall he paused to stand on + tiptoe, and turn up the lamp, which was burning low. As he did + so, I found time to fling a glance at my old enemy, the + mastiff. He lay as I had first seen him—a stuffed dog, if + ever there was one. "Decidedly," thought I, "my wits are to + seek, to-night;" and with the same, a sudden suspicion made me + turn to my conductor, who had advanced to the left-hand door, + and was waiting for me, with hand on the knob.</p> + + <p>"One moment," I said; "this is all very pretty, but how am I + to know you're not sending me to bed while you fetch in all the + countryside to lay me by the heels?"</p> + + <p>"I'm afraid," was his answer, "you must be content with my + word, as a gentleman, that never, to-night or hereafter, will I + breathe a syllable about the circumstances of your visit. + However, if you choose, we will return upstairs."</p> + + <p>"No; I'll trust you," said I; and he opened the door.</p> + + <p>It led into a broad passage, paved with slate, upon which + three or four rooms opened. He paused by the second, and + ushered me into a sleeping-chamber which, though narrow, was + comfortable enough—a vast improvement, at any rate, on + the mumper's lodgings I had been used to for many months + past.</p> + + <p>"You can undress here," he said. "The sheets are aired, and + if you'll wait a moment I'll fetch a nightshirt—one of my + own."</p> + + <p>"Sir, you heap coals of fire on me."</p> + + <p>"Believe me that for ninety-nine of your qualities I do not + care a tinker's curse: but as a man who, after three tumblers + of neat brandy, can tell Marsala from Madeira you are to be + taken care of."</p> + + <p>He shuffled away, but came back in a couple of minutes with + the nightshirt.</p> + + <p>"Good-night," he called to me, flinging it in at the door; + and without giving me time to return the wish, went his way + upstairs.</p> + + <p>Now it might be supposed that I was only too glad to toss + off my clothes and climb into the bed I had so unexpectedly + acquired a right to. But, as a matter of fact, I did nothing of + the kind. Instead, I drew on my boots and sat on the bed's + edge, blinking at my candle till it died down in its socket, + and afterwards at the purple square of window as it slowly + changed to gray with the coming of dawn. I was cold to the + heart, and my teeth chattered with an ague. Certainly I never + suspected my host's word; but was even occupied in framing good + resolutions and shaping out an excellent future, when I heard + the front door gently pulled to, and a man's footsteps moving + quietly to the gate.</p> + + <p>The treachery knocked me in a heap for the moment. Then + leaping up and flinging my door wide, I stumbled through the + uncertain light of the passage into the front hall.</p> + + <p>There was a fan-shaped light over the door, and the place + was very still and <span class="pagenum"><a name="page427" + id="page427"></a>[pg 427]</span> gray. A quick thought, or + rather a sudden prophetic guess at the truth, made me turn + to the figure of the mastiff curled under the hall + table.</p> + + <p>I laid my hand on the scruff of his neck. He was quite limp, + and my fingers sank into the flesh on either side of the + vertebrae. Digging them deeper, I dragged him out into the + middle of the hall, and pulled the front door open to see the + better.</p> + + <p>His throat was gashed from ear to ear.</p> + + <p>How many seconds passed after I dropped the senseless lump + on the floor, and before I made another movement, it would + puzzle me to say. Twice I stirred a foot as if to run out at + the door. Then, changing my mind, I stepped over the mastiff, + and ran up the staircase. The light no longer shone out into + the left-hand passage; but groping down it, I found the study + door open, as before, and passed in. A sick light stole through + the blinds—enough for me to distinguish the glasses and + decanters on the table, and find my way to the curtain that + hung before the room where the light had first attracted + me.</p> + + <p>I pushed the curtain aside, paused for a moment, and + listened to the violent beat of my heart; then felt for the + door handle and turned it.</p> + + <p>All I could see at first; was that the chamber was small; + next, that the light patch in a line with the window was the + white coverlet of a bed; and next, that somebody, or something, + lay on the bed.</p> + + <p>I listened again. There was no sound in the room; no heart + beating but my own. I reached out a hand to pull up the blind, + and drew it back again. I dared not.</p> + + <p>The daylight grew, minute by minute, on the dull + parallelogram of the blind, and minute by minute that horrible + thing on the bed took something of distinctness. The strain + beat me at last. I fetched a veritable yell to give myself + courage, and, reaching for the cord, pulled up the blind as + fast as it would go.</p> + + <div class="figleft"> + <a href="images/427.jpg" + name="fig427" + id="fig427"><img src="images/427.jpg" + width="226" + alt=""FACE TO FACE WITH THE REAL HOUSEHOLDER."" /> + </a> + + <h5>"FACE TO FACE WITH THE REAL<br /> + HOUSEHOLDER."</h5> + </div> + + <p>The face on the pillow was that of an old man—a face + waxen and peaceful, with quiet lines about the month and eyes, + and long lines of gray hair falling back from the temples. The + body was turned a little on one side, and one hand lay outside + the bedclothes in a very natural manner. But there were two + dark spots on the coverlet.</p> + + <p>Then I knew I was face to face with the real householder; + and it flashed on me that I had been indiscreet in taking + service as his butler, and that I knew the face his ex-butler + wore.</p> + + <p>And, being by this time awake to the responsibilities of the + post, I quitted it three steps at a time, not once looking + behind me. Outside the house the storm had died, and white + sunlight broke over the sodden moors. But my bones were cold, + and I ran faster and faster.</p> + <hr class="full" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page428" + id="page428"></a>[pg 428]</span> + + <h2>ABRAHAM LINCOLN.</h2> + + <h4>By Ida M. Tarbell.</h4> + + <h3>LINCOLN'S PROMINENCE AS A WHIG POLITICIAN AT + THIRTY-TWO.—STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS'S REMOVAL TO + SPRINGFIELD.—BEGINNING OF THE RIVALRY BETWEEN LINCOLN AND + DOUGLAS.—LINCOLN'S PART IN THE CAMPAIGN OF + 1840.—MARY TODD AND HER ENGAGEMENT TO + LINCOLN.—FALSE STORIES REGARDING LINCOLN'S + COURTSHIP.—THE LINCOLN AND SHIELDS DUEL.—LINCOLN'S + MARRIAGE.</h3> + + <div class="figletter"> + <a href="images/LetterB.jpg" + name="fig428-l" + id="fig428-l"><img src="images/LetterB.jpg" + alt="Letter B" /></a> + </div> + + <p class="hang">Y the time Abraham Lincoln was thirty-two years + old—that is, in 1841—he was one of the leading Whig + politicians of Illinois. Four times in succession he had been + elected to the General Assembly of the State—in 1834, + 1836, 1838, and 1840. Twice he had been a candidate for Speaker + of the House—in 1838 and in 1840—both times against + William L.D. Ewing; and though both times defeated, the vote + had in each instance been close. In 1841 he had been talked of + as a candidate for governor, a suggestion to which he would not + listen.</p> + + <p>He had not taken this prominent position because the Whig + party lacked material. Edward Dickinson Baker, Colonel John J. + Hardin, John T. Stuart, Ninian W. Edwards, Jesse K. Dubois, + O.H. Browning, were but a few of the brilliant men who were + throwing all their ability and ambition into the contest for + political honors in the State. Nor were the Whigs a whit + superior to the Democrats. William L.D. Ewing, Ebenezer Peck, + William Thomas, James Shields, John Calhoun, were in every + respect as able as the best men of the Whig party. Indeed, one + of the prominent Democrats with whom Lincoln came often in + contact, was popularly regarded as the most brilliant and + promising politician of the State—Stephen A. Douglas. His + record had been phenomenal. He had amazed both parties, in + 1834, by securing appointment by the legislature to the office + of State Attorney for the first judicial circuit, over John J. + Hardin. In 1836 he had been elected to the legislature, and + although he was at that time but twenty-three years of age, he + had shown himself one of the most vigorous, capable, and + intelligent members. Indeed, Douglas's work in the Tenth + Assembly gave him about the same position in the Democratic + party of the State at large that Lincoln's work in the same + body gave him in the Whig party of his own district. In 1837 he + had had no difficulty in being appointed register of the land + office, a position which compelled him to make his home in + Springfield. It was only a few months after Lincoln rode into + town, all his earthly possessions in a pair of saddle-bags, + that Douglas appeared. Handsome, polished, and always with an + air of prosperity, the advent of the young Democratic official + was in striking contrast to that of the sad-eyed, ill-clad, + poverty-stricken young lawyer from New Salem.</p> + + <p>From the first, Lincoln and Douglas were thrown constantly + together in the social life of the town, and often pitted + against each other in what were the real forums of the State at + that day—the space around the huge "Franklin" stove of + some obliging store-keeper, the steps of somebody's law office, + a pile of lumber, or a long timber, lying in the public square, + where the new State-house was going up.</p> + + <p>In the fall of 1837 Douglas was nominated for Congress on + the Democratic ticket. His Whig opponent was Lincoln's law + partner, John T. Stuart. The campaign which the two conducted + was one of the most remarkable in the history of the State. For + five months of the spring and summer of 1838 they rode together + from town to town all over the northern part of Illinois + (Illinois at that time was divided into but three congressional + districts; the third, in which Sangamon County was included, + being made up of the twenty-two northernmost counties), + speaking six days out of seven. When the election came off in + August, 1838, out of thirty-six thousand votes cast, Stuart + received a majority of only fourteen; but even that majority + the Democrats always contended was won unfairly. The campaign + was watched with intense interest by the young politicians of + Springfield; <span class="pagenum"><a name="page429" + id="page429"></a>[pg 429]</span> no one of them felt a + deeper interest in it than Lincoln, who was himself at the + same time a candidate for member of the State + legislature.</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/429.jpg" + name="fig429" + id="fig429"><img src="images/429.jpg" + alt="OLD STATE-HOUSE AT SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS." /></a> + + + <h5>OLD STATE-HOUSE AT SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.</h5> + + <p>From a recent photograph made for MCCLURE'S MAGAZINE. + The corner-stone was laid July 4, 1837, about four months + after the passage of the act removing the capital to + Springfield. The event was attended with elaborate + ceremonies. The orator of the day was Colonel E.D. Baker. + It was nearly four years before the building was finally + completed, at a cost of two hundred and forty thousand + dollars. It was first occupied by the legislature during + the regular session of 1840-1841, that body, at two + previous special sessions, being obliged to use the + Methodist church for the Senate, and the Second + Presbyterian church for the House. The Supreme Court found + a meeting place in the Episcopal church. The legislative + committees met in rooms in private houses about town. This + building was the State capitol for more than thirty years, + becoming, upon the completion of the present State-house, + the court-house of Sangamon County.</p> + </div> + + <p>Lincoln must have learned by the end of 1840, if not before, + something of the power of the "Little Giant," as Douglas was + called. Certainly no man in public life between 1837 and 1860 + had a greater hold on his followers. The reasons for this grasp + are not hard to find. Douglas was by nature buoyant, + enthusiastic, impetuous. He had that sunny boyishness which is + so irresistible to young and old. With it he had great natural + eloquence. When his deep, rich voice rolled out fervid periods + in support of the sub-treasury and the convention system, or in + opposition to internal improvements by the federal government, + the people applauded out of sheer joy at the pleasure of + hearing him. He was one of the few men in Illinois whom the + epithet of "Yankee" never hurt. He might be a Yankee, but when + he sat down on the knee of some surly lawyer, and + confidentially told him his plans; or, at a political meeting, + took off his coat, and rolled up his sleeves, and "pitched + into" his opponent, the sons of Illinois forgot his origin in + love for the man.</p> + + <p>Lincoln undoubtedly understood the charm of Douglas, and + realized his power. But he already had an insight into one of + his political characteristics that few people recognized at + that day. In writing to Stuart in 1839, while the latter was + attending Congress, Lincoln said: "Douglas has not been here + since you left. A report is in circulation here now that he has + abandoned the idea of going to Washington, though the report + does not come in a very authentic form, so far as I can learn. + Though, by the way, speaking of authenticity, you know that if + we had heard Douglas say that he had abandoned the contest, it + would not be very authentic."</p> + + <p>In the campaign of 1840 Lincoln and Douglas came more + frequently than ever into conflict. At that time the local + issues, which had formerly engaged Illinois candidates almost + entirely, were lost sight of in + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page430" + id="page430"></a>[pg 430]</span> national questions. In + Springfield, where the leaders of the parties were living, + many hot debates were held in private. Out of these grew, in + December, 1839, a series of public discussions, extending + over eight evenings, and in which several of the first + orators of the State took part. Lincoln was the last man on + the list. The people were nearly worn out before his turn + came, and his audience was small. He began his speech with + some melancholy, self-deprecatory reflections, complaining + that the small audience cast a damp upon his spirits which + he was sure he would be unable to overcome during the + evening. He did better than he expected, overcoming the damp + on his spirits so effectually that he made what was regarded + as the best speech of the series; and by a general request, + it was printed for distribution. The speech is peculiarly + interesting from the fact that while there is a little of + the perfervid eloquence of 1840 in it, as well as a good + deal of the rather boisterous humor of the time, a part of + it is devoted to a careful examination of the statements of + his opponents, and a refutation of them by means of public + documents.</p> + + <div class="figleft" + style="width:35%;"> + <a href="images/430-1.jpg" + name="fig430-1" + id="fig430-1"><img src="images/430-1.jpg" + width="192" + alt="A HARRISON BADGE OF 1840." /></a> + + <h5>A HARRISON BADGE OF 1840.</h5> + + <p>From the collection of Mr. O.H. Oldroyd of Washington, + D.C.</p> + </div> + + <div class="figright" + style="width:30%;"> + <a href="images/430-2.jpg" + name="fig430-2" + id="fig430-2"><img src="images/430-2.jpg" + width="284" + alt="A HARRISON BUTTON OF 1840." /></a> + + <h5>A HARRISON BUTTON OF 1840.</h5> + + <p>From the collection of Mr. John C. Browne of + Philadelphia.</p> + </div> + + <p>As a good Democrat was expected to do, Douglas had explained + with plausibility why the Van Buren administration had in 1838 + spent $40,000,000. Lincoln takes up his statements one by one, + and proves, as he says, that "the majority of them are wholly + untrue." Douglas had attributed a part of the expenditures to + the purchase of public lands from the Indians.</p> + + <blockquote> + <p>"Now it happens," says Lincoln, "that no such purchase + was made during that year. It is true that some money was + paid that year in pursuance of Indian treaties; but no + more, or rather not as much, as had been paid on the same + account in each of several preceding years.... Again, Mr. + Douglas says that the removal of the Indians to the country + west of the Mississippi created much of the expenditure of + 1838. I have examined the public documents in relation to + this matter, and find that less was paid for the removal of + the Indians in that than in some former years. The whole + sum expended on that account in that year did not exceed + one quarter of a million. For this small sum, although we + do not think the administration entitled to credit, because + large sums have been expended in the same way in former + years, we consent it may take one and make the most of + it.</p> + + <p>"Next, Mr. Douglas says that five millions of the + expenditures of 1838 consisted of the payment of the French + indemnity money to its individual claimants. I have + carefully examined the public documents, and thereby find + this statement to be wholly untrue. Of the forty millions + of dollars expended in 1838, I am enabled to say positively + that not one dollar consisted of payments on the French + indemnities. So much for that + excuse.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page431" + id="page431"></a>[pg 431]</span> + + <p>"Next comes the post-office. He says that five millions + were expended during that year to sustain that department. + By a like examination of public documents, I find this also + wholly untrue. Of the so often mentioned forty millions, + not one dollar went to the post-office....</p> + + <p>"I return to another of Mr. Douglas's excuses for the + expenditures of 1838, at the same time announcing the + pleasing intelligence that this is the last one. He says + that ten millions of that year's expenditure was a + contingent appropriation, to prosecute an anticipated war + with Great Britain on the Maine boundary question. Few + words will settle this. First, that the ten millions + appropriated was not made till 1839, and consequently could + not have been expended in 1838; second, although it was + appropriated, it has never been expended at all. Those who + heard Mr. Douglas, recollect that he indulged himself in a + contemptuous expression of pity for me. 'Now he's got me,' + thought I. But when he went on to say that five millions of + the expenditure of 1838 were payments of the French + indemnities, which I knew to be untrue; that five millions + had been for the post-office, which I knew to be untrue; + that ten millions had been for the Maine boundary war, + which I not only knew to be untrue, but supremely + ridiculous also; and when I saw that he was stupid enough + to hope that I would permit such groundless and audacious + assertions to go unexposed,—I readily consented that, + on the score both of veracity and sagacity, the audience + should judge whether he or I were the more deserving of the + world's contempt."</p> + </blockquote> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/431.jpg" + name="fig431" + id="fig431"><img src="images/431.jpg" + alt="LINCOLN IN 1860.—NOW FIRST PUBLISHED." /> + </a> + + <h5>LINCOLN IN 1860.—NOW FIRST PUBLISHED.</h5> + + <p>From a first-state proof of an engraving of the Cooper + Institute picture of Lincoln (see McCLURE'S MAGAZINE for + February, 1896, first frontispiece). Made by John C. + Buttre, and now in the collection of W.C. Crane of New York + City, through whose courtesy it is here reproduced.</p> + </div> + + <p>These citations show that Lincoln had already learned to + handle public documents, and to depend for at least a part of + his success with an audience upon a careful statement of facts. + The methods used in at least a portion of this speech are + exactly those which made the irresistible strength of his + speeches in 1858 and 1859.</p> + + <h4>LINCOLN IN THE CAMPAIGN OF 1840.</h4> + + <p>But there was little of as good work done in the campaign of + 1840, by Lincoln or anybody else, as is found in this speech. + It was a campaign of noise and fun, and nowhere + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page432" + id="page432"></a>[pg 432]</span> more so than in Illinois. + Lincoln was one of the five Whig Presidential electors, and + he flung himself into the campaign with confidence. "The + nomination of Harrison takes first rate," he wrote to his + partner Stuart, then in Washington. "You know I am never + sanguine, but I believe we will carry the State. The chance + of doing so appears to me twenty-five per cent, better than + it did for you to beat Douglas." The Whigs, in spite of + their dislike of the convention system, organized as they + never had before, and even sent out a "confidential" + circular of which Lincoln was the author.</p> + + <p>Every weapon he thought of possible use in the contest he + secured. "Be sure to send me as many copies of the 'Life of + Harrison' as you can spare from other uses," he wrote Stuart. + "Be very sure to procure and send me the 'Senate Journal' of + New York, of September, 1814. I have a newspaper article which + says that that document proves that Van Buren voted against + raising troops in the last war. And, in general, send me + everything you think will be a good 'war-club.'"</p> + + <p>Every sign of success he quoted to Stuart; the number of + subscribers to the "Old Soldier," a campaign newspaper which + the Whig committee had informed the Whigs of the State that + they "<i>must take</i>;" the names of Van Buren men who were + weakening, and to whom he wanted Stuart to send documents; the + name of every theretofore doubtful person who had declared + himself for Harrison. "Japh Bell has come out for Harrison," he + put in a postscript to one letter; "ain't that a caution?"</p> + + <p>The monster political meetings held throughout the State did + much to widen Lincoln's reputation, particularly one held in + June in Springfield. Twenty thousand people attended this + meeting, delegations coming from every direction. It took + fourteen teams to haul the delegation from Chicago, and they + were three weeks on their journey. Each party carried some huge + symbolic piece—the log cabin being the favorite. One of + the cabins taken to Springfield was drawn by thirty yokes of + oxen. In a hickory tree which was planted beside this cabin, + coons were seen playing, and a barrel of hard cider stood by + the door, continually on tap. Instead of a log cabin, the + Chicago delegation dragged across country a government yawl + rigged up as a two-masted ship, with a band of music and a + six-pounder cannon on board.</p> + + <p>There are many reminiscences of this great celebration, and + Lincoln's part in it, still afloat in Illinois. General T.J. + Henderson writes, in the entertaining reminiscences of Lincoln + prepared for this biography:</p> + + <p>"The first time I remember to have seen Abraham Lincoln was + during the memorable campaign of 1840, when I was a boy fifteen + years of age. It was at an immense Whig mass-meeting held at + Springfield, Illinois, in the month of June of that year. The + Whigs attended this meeting from all parts of the State in + large numbers, and it was estimated that from forty to fifty + thousand people were present. They came in carriages and + wagons, on horseback and on foot. They came with log cabins + drawn on wheels by oxen, and with coons, coon-skins, and hard + cider. They came with music and banners; and thousands of them + came from long distances. It was the first political meeting I + had ever attended, and it made a very strong impression upon my + youthful mind.</p> + + <p>"My father, William H. Henderson, then a resident of Stark + County, Illinois, was an ardent Whig; and having served under + General William Henry Harrison, the then Whig candidate for + President, in the war of 1812-1815, he felt a deep interest in + his election. And although he lived about a hundred miles from + Springfield, he went with a delegation from Stark County to + this political meeting, and took me along with him. I remember + that at this great meeting of the supporters of Harrison and + Tyler there were a number of able and distinguished speakers of + the Whig party of the State of Illinois present. Among them + were Colonel E.D. Baker, who was killed at Ball's Bluff, on the + Potomac, in the late war, and who was one of the most eloquent + speakers in the State; Colonel John J. Hardin, who was killed + at the battle of Buena Vista, in the Mexican War; Fletcher + Webster, a son of Daniel Webster, who was killed in the late + war; S. Leslie Smith, a brilliant orator of Chicago; Rev. John + Hogan, Ben Bond, and Abraham Lincoln. I heard all of these men + speak on that occasion. And while I was too young to be a judge + of their speeches, yet I thought them all to be great men, and + none of them greater than Abraham Lincoln."</p> + + <p>One of the most prominent members of the Illinois bar has + written out especially for this work his impressions of + Lincoln's speech at that + gathering.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page433" + id="page433"></a>[pg 433]</span> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/433.jpg" + name="fig433" + id="fig433"><img src="images/433.jpg" + alt="ABRAHAM LINCOLN IN 1861." /></a> + + <h5>ABRAHAM LINCOLN IN 1861.</h5> + + <p>From a photograph by Klauber of Louisville, Kentucky. + From a photograph owned by Mr. James B. Speed of + Louisville, Kentucky, to whose courtesy we owe the right to + reproduce it here. When Lincoln was visiting Joshua F. + Speed in 1841, Mrs. Speed, the mother of his friend, became + much interested in him. His melancholy was profound, and + she tried by kindness and gentleness to arouse him to new + interest in life. One day before his departure she asked + one of her daughters for the latter's Oxford Bible, telling + her she wanted it for Mr. Lincoln, and promising to get + another in its place. The gift touched Lincoln deeply, and + after he became President he remembered the giver with the + above portrait—one he had had taken especially for + her, he wrote.</p> + </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page434" + id="page434"></a>[pg 434]</span> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/434.jpg" + name="fig434" + id="fig434"><img src="images/434.jpg" + alt="WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, NINTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES." /> + </a> + + <h5>WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, NINTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED + STATES.</h5> + + <p>From a painting. William Henry Harrison was born at + Berkeley, Virginia, February 9, 1773. He was educated at + Hampden Sidney College, and began to study medicine, but, + excited by Indian outrages, gave it up to enter the army. + He was sent against the Indians of the West, and at once + distinguished himself. After peace was made in 1798, he was + appointed secretary of the Northwest Territory. In 1799 he + was a territorial delegate to Congress, and from 1801 to + 1813, territorial governor of Indiana. In the war of 1812 + he gained the battles of Tippecanoe and the Thames. From + 1816 to 1819 he was a delegate to Congress from Ohio; from + 1825 to 1828, a United State Senator; and in 1828 and 1829, + United States Minister to Colombia. In 1836 he was the Whig + candidate for the Presidency, but was defeated. Four years + later (1840) he was elected, but lived for only one month + after his inauguration.</p> + </div> + + <p>"Mr. Lincoln stood in a wagon, from which he addressed the + mass of people that surrounded it. The meeting was one of + unusual interest because of him who was to make the principal + address. It was at the time of his greatest physical strength. + He was tall, and perhaps a little more slender than in later + life, and more homely than after he became stouter in person. + He was then only thirty-one years of age, and yet he was + regarded as one of the ablest of the Whig speakers in that + campaign. There was that in him that attracted and held public + attention. Even then he was the subject of popular regard + because of his candid and simple mode of discussing and + illustrating political questions. At times he was intensely + logical, and was always most convincing in his arguments. The + questions involved in that canvass had relation to the tariff, + internal public improvements by the federal government, the + distribution of the proceeds of the sales of public lands among + the several States, and other questions that divided the + political parties of that day. They were not such questions as + enlisted and engaged his best thoughts; they did not take hold + of his great nature, and had no tendency to develop it. At + times he discussed the questions of the time in a logical way, + but much time was devoted to telling stories to illustrate some + phase of his argument, though more often the telling of these + stories was resorted to for the purpose of rendering his + opponents ridiculous. That was a style of speaking much + appreciated at that early day. In that kind of oratory he + excelled most of his contemporaries—indeed, he had no + equals in the State. One story he told on that occasion was + full of salient points, and well illustrated the argument he + was making. It was not an impure story, yet it was not one it + would be seemly to publish; but rendered, as it was, in his + inimitable way, it contained nothing that was offensive to a + refined taste. The same story might have been told by another + in such a way that it would probably have been regarded as + transcending the proprieties of popular address. One + characterizing feature of all the stories told by Mr. Lincoln, + on the stump and elsewhere, was that although the subject + matter of some of them might not have been entirely + unobjectionable, yet the manner of telling them was so + peculiarly his own that they gave no offence even to refined + and cultured people. On the contrary, they were much enjoyed. + The story he told on this occasion was much liked by the vast + assembly that surrounded the temporary platform from which he + spoke, and was received with loud bursts of laughter and + applause. It served to place the opposing party and its + speakers in a most ludicrous position in respect to the + question being considered, and gave him a most favorable + hearing for the arguments he later made in support of the + measures he was + sustaining."</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page435" + id="page435"></a>[pg 435]</span> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/435.jpg" + name="fig435" + id="fig435"><img src="images/435.jpg" + alt="JOSHUA F. SPEED AND WIFE." /></a> + + <h5>JOSHUA F. SPEED AND WIFE.</h5> + + <p>From a painting by Healy, owned by Mrs, Joshua F. Speed + of Louisville, Kentucky, and reproduced here by permission. + Joshua F. Speed was a Kentuckian. At the time Lincoln went + to Springfield he was one of the leading merchants of the + town, and it was he who befriended the young lawyer on his + arrival (see MCCLURE'S MAGAZINE for March). Towards the end + of 1840 Mr. Speed sold his store, and soon after returned + to Louisville. At his urgent invitation Lincoln visited him + in the summer of 1841. He seems not to have gone back with + Speed, as many biographers have stated, for in a letter of + June 19, 1841, to Speed, Lincoln says: "I stick to my + promise to come to Louisville." He seems, too, to have + stayed a much shorter time than has frequently been stated, + for he wrote back to Speed's sister, on September 27th, of + his safe arrival in Springfield. The letters quoted from in + this article were given by Speed himself to Mr. Herndon to + publish in his "Life of Lincoln." Mr. Herndon turned them + over to Lamon, who used them in his volume published in + 1872. Joshua Speed and Lincoln remained intimate friends + through life. Although they differed radically in 1855 on + the policy to be pursued in regard to slavery, Lincoln, in + writing Speed a long letter explaining his views, closes: + "And yet let me say I am your friend forever."</p> + </div> + + <h4>LINCOLN'S ENGAGEMENT TO MISS TODD.</h4> + + <p>Lincoln had been busy with politics and law in the years + since he left New Salem, but he had by no means neglected the + social side of life. Indeed, he had gone so far as to become + engaged to be married to one of the favorite young women of + Springfield, Miss Mary Todd, the sister-in-law of one of his + political friends, a member of the "Long Nine" and a prominent + citizen, Ninian W. + Edwards.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page436" + id="page436"></a>[pg 436]</span> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/436.jpg" + name="fig436" + id="fig436"><img src="images/436.jpg" + alt="MARY TODD LINCOLN." /></a> + + <h5>MARY TODD LINCOLN.</h5> + + <p>From a carbon enlargement, by Sherman and McHugh of New + York, of a photograph by Brady. Mary Todd was born in + Lexington, Kentucky, December 13, 1818. Her mother died + when she was young, and she was educated at one of the + best-known schools of the State—Madame Mantelli's. + She remained there some four years, and as the school was + conducted entirely in French, she spoke the language + fluently. She was afterwards some time in the Ward Academy + of Lexington. Miss Todd first visited Springfield in 1837, + but remained only a few months. In 1839 she returned to + make her home with her sister, Mrs. Edwards. She had two + other sisters in the town, Mrs. William Wallace and Mrs. + C.M. Smith. The story of her life will, of course, be told + in connection with that of Mr. Lincoln in the forthcoming + articles. The photograph used for this reproduction was + kindly loaned by Mrs. S.J. Withington, Warner, New + Hampshire.</p> + </div> + + <p>Miss Todd came from a well-known family of Lexington, + Kentucky; her father, Robert S. Todd, being one of the leading + citizens of his State. She had come to Springfield in 1839 to + live with her sister, Mrs. Edwards. She was a brilliant, witty, + highly-educated girl, ambitious and spirited, with a touch of + audacity which only made her more attractive, and she at once + took a leading position in Springfield society. There were many + young unmarried men in the town, drawn there by politics, and + Mr. Edwards's handsome home was opened to them in the + hospitable Southern way. After Mary Todd became an inmate of + the Edwards house, the place was gayer than ever. She received + much attention from Douglas, Shields, Lincoln, and several + others. It was soon apparent, however, that Miss Todd preferred + Lincoln. As the intimacy between them increased, Mr. and Mrs. + Edwards protested. However honorable and able a man Lincoln + might be, he was still a "plebeian." His family were humble and + poor; he was self-educated, without address or polish, careless + of forms, indifferent to society. How could Mary Todd, brought + up in a cultured home, accustomed to the refinements of life, + and with ambition for social position, accommodate herself to + so grave a nature, so dull an exterior? Miss Todd knew her own + mind, however. She loved Lincoln, and seems to have believed + from the first in his future. Some time in 1840 they became + engaged.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page437" + id="page437"></a>[pg 437]</span> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/437.jpg" + name="fig437" + id="fig437"><img src="images/437.jpg" + alt="LINCOLN IN 1858.—HITHERTO UNPUBLISHED." /> + </a> + + <h5>LINCOLN IN 1858.—HITHERTO UNPUBLISHED.</h5> + + <p>From a photograph, by Harrison, Galesburg, Illinois, of + an ambrotype owned by Mrs. W.J. Thomson of Monmouth, + Illinois. This picture was taken at Monmouth on October 11, + 1858, by W.J. Thomson, after a speech made in the town by + Lincoln that day, and four days after the debate between + Lincoln and Douglas at Galesburg, Illinois, on October 7, + 1858.</p> + </div> + + <p>But it was not long before there came the clashing + inevitable between two persons whose tastes and ambitions were + so different. Miss Todd was jealous and exacting. Lincoln + frequently failed to accompany her to the merry-makings which + she wanted to attend. She resented this indifference, which + seemed to her a purposed slight, instead of simply a lack of + thought on his part, and sometimes she went with Mr. Douglas or + any other escort who offered. Reproaches and tears and + misunderstanding followed. If the lovers made up, it was only + to fall out again. At last Lincoln became convinced that they + were incompatible, and resolved that he must break the + engagement. But the knowledge that the + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page438" + id="page438"></a>[pg 438]</span> girl loved him took away + his courage. He felt that he must not draw back, and he + became profoundly miserable.</p> + + <p>"Whatever woman may cast her lot with mine, should any ever + do so, it is my intention to do all in my power to make her + happy and contented; and there is nothing I can imagine that + would make me more unhappy than to fail in the effort," Lincoln + had written Miss Owens three years before. How could he make + this brilliant, passionate creature to whom he was betrothed + happy?</p> + + <div class="figright" + style="width:40%;"> + <a href="images/438-2.jpg" + name="fig438-2" + id="fig438-2"><img src="images/438-2.jpg" + width="201" + alt="MISS JULIA JAYNE, ONE OF MISS TODD'S BRIDESMAIDS." /> + </a> + + <h5>MISS JULIA JAYNE, ONE OF MISS TODD'S BRIDESMAIDS.</h5> + + <p>From a photograph loaned by Mr. Jesse W. Weik. Miss + Jayne afterward became Mrs. Lyman Trumbull.</p> + </div> + + <div class="figleft" + style="width:40%;"> + <a href="images/438-1.jpg" + name="fig438-1" + id="fig438-1"><img width="226" + src="images/438-1.jpg" + alt="ROBERT S. TODD." /></a> + + <h5>ROBERT S. TODD.</h5> + + <p>Robert S. Todd, father of Mrs. Lincoln, came of + distinguished ancestors. He was the seventh son of + Major-General Levi Todd, and was born at Lexington, + Kentucky, February 25, 1791. He was prominent in the + politics of Kentucky for nearly thirty years. For many + years he was clerk of the Kentucky House of + Representatives; he was three times elected Representative + from Fayette County, and was a State Senator at the time of + his death, which occurred July 15, 1849. He was twice + married—the first time to his near relative, Eliza + Ann Parker, the mother of Mary Todd.</p> + </div><br clear="all" /> + + + <p>A mortal dread of the result of the marriage, a harrowing + doubt of his own feelings, possessed him. The experience is not + so rare in the lives of lovers that it should be regarded, as + it often has been, as something exceptional and abnormal in + Lincoln's case. A reflective nature founded in melancholy, like + Lincoln's, rarely undertakes even the simpler affairs of life + without misgivings. He certainly experienced dread and doubt + before entering on any new relation. When it came to forming + the most delicate and intimate of all human relations, he + staggered under a storm of uncertainty and suffering, and + finally broke the engagement.</p> + + <p>So horrible a breach of honor did this seem to him that he + called the day when it occurred the "fatal first of January, + 1841," and months afterward he wrote to his intimate friend + Speed: "I must regain my confidence in my own ability to keep + my resolves when they are made. In that ability I once prided + myself as the only or chief gem of my character; that gem I + lost—how and where you know too well. I have not yet + regained it, and, until I do, I cannot trust myself in any + matter of much importance."</p> + + <p>The breaking of the engagement between Miss Todd and Mr. + Lincoln was naturally known at the time to all their friends. + Lincoln's melancholy was evident to them all, nor did he, + indeed, attempt to disguise it. He wrote and spoke freely to + his intimates of the despair which possessed him, and of his + sense of dishonor. The episode caused a great amount of gossip, + as was to be expected. After Mr. Lincoln's assassination and + Mrs. Lincoln's sad death, various accounts of the courtship and + marriage were circulated. It remained, however, for one of + Lincoln's law partners, Mr. W.H. Herndon, to develop and + circulate the most sensational of all the versions of the + rupture. His story would not be referred to here were it not + that it has been generally accepted as truthful by even his + most conservative biographers, including Mr. John T. Morse and + Mr. Carl Schurz. According to Mr. Herndon, the engagement + between the two was broken in the most violent and public way + possible, by Mr. Lincoln's failing to appear at the wedding. + Mr. Herndon even describes the scene in + detail:</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page439" + id="page439"></a>[pg 439]</span> + + <blockquote class="note"> + <p>"The time fixed for the marriage was the first day of + January, 1841. Careful preparations for the happy occasion + were made at the Edwards mansion. The house underwent the + customary renovation; the furniture was properly arranged, + the rooms neatly decorated, the supper prepared, and the + guests invited. The latter assembled on the evening in + question, and awaited in expectant pleasure the interesting + ceremony of marriage. The bride, bedecked in veil and + silken gown, and nervously toying with the flowers in her + hair, sat in the adjoining room. Nothing was lacking but + the groom. For some strange reason he had been delayed. An + hour passed, and the guests, as well as the bride, were + becoming restless. But they were all doomed to + disappointment. Another hour passed; messengers were sent + out over town, and each returning with the same report, it + became apparent that Lincoln, the principal in this little + drama, had purposely failed to appear. The bride, in grief, + disappeared to her room; the wedding supper was left + untouched; the guests quietly and wonderingly withdrew; the + lights in the Edwards mansion were blown out, and darkness + settled over all for the night. What the feelings of a lady + as sensitive, passionate, and proud as Miss Todd were, we + can only imagine; no one can ever describe them. By + daybreak, after persistent search, Lincoln's friends found + him. Restless, gloomy, miserable, desperate, he seemed an + object of pity. His friends, Speed among the number, + fearing a tragic termination, watched him closely in their + rooms day and night. 'Knives and razors, and every + instrument that could be used for self-destruction, were + removed from his reach.' Mrs. Edwards did not hesitate to + regard him as insane, and of course her sister Mary shared + in that view."</p> + </blockquote> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/439-1.jpg" + name="fig439-1" + id="fig439-1"><img src="images/439-1.jpg" + alt="GENERAL JAMES SHIELDS." /></a> + + <h5>GENERAL JAMES SHIELDS.</h5> + + <p>From a photograph kindly loaned by C.B. Hall, New York. + General Shields was born at Dungannon, County of Tyrone, + Ireland, in 1810; came to the United States in 1826; + located in Randolph County, Illinois, and taught school + there; was admitted to the bar in 1832, and practised at + Kaskaskia. He was elected to the legislature in 1836, and + there became acquainted with Lincoln. In 1841 he was made + auditor of public accounts of Illinois, and it was while + holding this office that he challenged Lincoln to mortal + combat. In 1843 Governor Ford appointed him an associate + justice of the Supreme Court—an office which he + resigned two years later to become commissioner of the + general land-office. His gallantry in the Mexican War was + such that he was brevetted a major-general. The prestige + which his military record gave him made him a United States + Senator in 1849. Defeated for reelection by Lyman Trumbull + in 1855, he removed to Minnesota. There, May 12, 1858, he + was elected to the United States Senate to fill a vacancy, + serving about ten months. Then he went to California for a + year. August 19, 1861, President Lincoln, his old-time + enemy, presented him with a brigadier-general's commission; + but two years later he gave this up, and settled on a farm + in Missouri. He remained in retirement for a while, but + eventually emerged to become a member of the legislature, a + defeated candidate for Congress, adjutant-general of the + State, and finally, in 1879, once more a United States + Senator, serving about six weeks of an unexpired term. He + thus had the rare distinction to be a United States Senator + from three States. In his later years he delivered + lectures—"Reminiscences of the Mexican War" and + "Recollections of Eminent Statesmen and Soldiers." He died + suddenly at Ottumwa, Iowa, June 1, 1879. General Shields + has been variously rated by his contemporaries. That he was + a man of considerable ability is conceded, and he possessed + the warmth and generosity common to his race.—<i>J. + McCan Davis</i>.</p> + </div> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/439-2.jpg" + name="fig439-2" + id="fig439-2"><img src="images/439-2.jpg" + alt="MRS. NINIAN W. EDWARDS." /></a> + + <h5>MRS. NINIAN W. EDWARDS.</h5> + + <p>From a painting by Healy, owned by her son, Mr. A.S. + Edwards, Springfield, Illinois. Mrs. Ninian W. Edwards was + a sister of Mrs. Lincoln. Her maiden name was Elizabeth P. + Todd. She was born at Lexington, Kentucky, in 1813, and + died at Springfield, Illinois, her home since 1835, + February 22, 1888.</p> + </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page440" + id="page440"></a>[pg 440]</span> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/440.jpg" + name="fig440" + id="fig440"><img src="images/440.jpg" + alt="COURT-HOUSE AT TREMONT WHERE LINCOLN RECEIVED WARNING OF SHIELDS'S CHALLENGE." /> + </a> + + <h5>COURT-HOUSE AT TREMONT WHERE LINCOLN RECEIVED WARNING + OF SHIELDS'S CHALLENGE.</h5> + + <p>Tremont was about fifty miles north of Springfield, in + Tazewell County. Although the internal improvements scheme + of 1837 ran a railroad through the town, it was only + reached in 1842, at the time of the Shields-Lincoln duel, + by driving. The court-house is a fair example of those in + which Lincoln first practised law.</p> + </div> + + <p>No one can read this description in connection with the rest + of Mr. Herndon's text, and escape the impression that, if it is + true, there must have been a vein of cowardice in Lincoln. The + context shows that he was not insane enough to excuse such a + public insult to a woman. To break his engagement was, all + things considered, not in any way an unusual or abnormal thing; + to brood over the rupture, to blame himself, to feel that he + had been dishonorable, was to be expected, after such an act, + from one of his temperament. Nothing, however, but temporary + insanity or constitutional cowardice could explain such conduct + as here described. Mr. Herndon does not pretend to found his + story on any personal knowledge of the affair. He was in + Springfield at the time, a clerk in Speed's store, but did not + have then, nor, indeed, did he ever have, any social relations + with the families in which Mr. Lincoln was always a welcome + guest. His only authority for the story is a remark which he + says Mrs. Ninian Edwards made to him in an interview: "Lincoln + and Mary were engaged; everything was ready and prepared for + the marriage, even to the supper. Mr. Lincoln failed to meet + his engagement; cause, insanity." This remark, it should be + noted, is not from a manuscript written by Mrs. Edwards, but in + a report of an interview with her, written by Mr. Herndon. + Supposing, however, that the statement was made exactly as Mr. + Herndon reports it, it certainly does not justify any such + sensational description as Mr. Herndon gives.</p> + + <p>If such a thing had ever occurred, it could not have failed + to be known, of course, even to its smallest details, by all + the relatives and friends of both Miss Todd and Mr. Lincoln. + Nobody, however, ever heard of this wedding party until Mr. + Herndon gave his material to the public.</p> + + <p>One of the closest friends of the Lincolns throughout their + lives was a cousin of Mrs. Lincoln's, Mrs. Grimsley, afterwards + Mrs. Dr. Brown. Mrs. Grimsley lived in Springfield, on the most + intimate and friendly relations with Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln, and + the first six months of their life in the White House she spent + with them. She was a woman of unusual culture, and of the + rarest sweetness and graciousness of character. No one could + look on her face without feeling her perfect sincerity and + goodness. Some months before Mrs. Brown's death, in August, + 1895, a copy of Mr. Herndon's story was sent her, with a + request that she write for publication her knowledge of the + affair. In her reply she said:</p> + + <p>"Did Mr. Lincoln fail to appear when the invitations were + out, the guests invited, and the supper ready for the wedding? + I will say emphatically, + 'No.'</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page441" + id="page441"></a>[pg 441]</span> + + <p>"There may have been a little shadow of foundation for Mr. + Herndon's lively imagination to play upon, in that, the year + previous to the marriage, and when Mr. Lincoln and my cousin + Mary expected soon to be married, Mr. Lincoln was taken with + one of those fearful, overwhelming periods of depression, which + induced his friends to persuade him to leave Springfield. This + he did for a time; but I am satisfied he was loyal and true to + Mary, even though at times he may have doubted whether he was + responding as fully as a manly, generous nature should to such + affection as he knew my cousin was ready to bestow on him. And + this because it had not the overmastering depth of an early + love. This everybody here knows; therefore I do not feel as if + I were betraying dear friends."</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/441.jpg" + name="fig441" + id="fig441"><img src="images/441.jpg" + alt="RESIDENCE OF NINIAN W. EDWARDS, SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS." /> + </a> + + <h5>RESIDENCE OF NINIAN W. EDWARDS, SPRINGFIELD, + ILLINOIS.</h5> + + <p>From a photograph made for MCCLURE'S MAGAZINE in + February, 1896. At this house Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd + were married November 4, 1842, and here Mrs. Lincoln died + July 16, 1882. The house was built about 1835. It was a + brick structure, and there were few handsomer ones in the + town. The south half (appearing in the left of this + picture) was at first only one story in height; the second + story was but recently added. In this part was the + dining-room. The parlor, in which the marriage ceremony was + performed, was the front room on the first floor of the + north half of the house. The house is now occupied by St. + Agatha's School (Episcopal).</p> + </div> + + <p>Mrs. John Stuart, the wife of Lincoln's law partner at that + time, is still living in Springfield, a refined, cultivated, + intelligent woman, who remembers perfectly the life and events + of that day. When Mr. Herndon's story first came to her + attention, her indignation was intense. She protested that she + never before had heard of such a thing. Mrs. Stuart was not, + however, in Springfield at that particular date, but in + Washington, her husband being a member of Congress. She wrote + the following statement for this biography:</p> + + <p>"I cannot deny this, as I was not in Springfield for some + months before and after this occurrence was said to have taken + place; but I was in close correspondence with relatives and + friends during all this time, and never heard a word of it. The + late Judge Broadwell told me that he had asked Mr. Ninian + Edwards about it, and Mr. Edwards told him that no such thing + had ever taken place.</p> + + <p>"All I can say is that I unhesitatingly do not believe such + an event ever occurred. I thought I had never heard of this + till I saw it in Herndon's book. I have since been told that + Lamon mentions the same thing. I read Lamon at the time he + published, and felt very much disgusted, but did not remember + this particular assertion. The first chapters of Lamon's book + were purchased from Herndon; so Herndon is responsible for the + whole.</p> + + <p>"Mrs. Lincoln told me herself all the circumstances of her + engagement to Mr. Lincoln, of his illness, and the breaking off + of her engagement, of the renewal, and her marriage. So I say I + do not believe one word of this dishonorable story about Mr. + Lincoln."</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page442" + id="page442"></a>[pg 442]</span> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/442.jpg" + name="fig442" + id="fig442"><img src="images/442.jpg" + alt="LINCOLN'S MARRIAGE LICENSE AND MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE.—NOW FIRST PUBLISHED." /> + </a> + + <h5>LINCOLN'S MARRIAGE LICENSE AND MARRIAGE + CERTIFICATE.—NOW FIRST PUBLISHED.</h5> + + <p>Photographed for MCCLURE'S MAGAZINE from the original, + now on file in the county clerk's office, Springfield, + Illinois. It has hitherto been commonly supposed that the + original marriage license issued to Abraham Lincoln and + Mary Todd in 1842, with the officiating-minister's + certificate of marriage attached to it, was one of the + interesting documents in what was formerly the Keys Lincoln + Memorial Collection. Nicolay and Hay reproduced it in their + biography of Lincoln, and other publications have made it + appear authentic. Messrs. Keys and Munson, who formed the + collection in which the certificate was first exhibited, + called it a duplicate, and Mr. William H. Lambert of + Philadelphia, who owns it now, supposed, in buying it, that + it was a duplicate. Mr. Lambert, however, in showing us the + certificate, called attention to a suspicious circumstance + connected with the license. The seal of the county court + stamped upon it was dated "1849." It was difficult to + reconcile this with the fact that the marriage occurred in + 1842. The inconsistency was covered up in certain + facsimiles which have been published, by a stroke of the + pen; the date of the seal was changed to fit the date of + the marriage. Mr. Lambert's suggestion led to an + investigation for this Magazine. A search in the county + clerk's office at Springfield brought to light the real and + only "original" license, stowed away in a dusty + pigeon-hole, untouched in thirty years. This is the license + which is reproduced above. Beneath the license is the Rev. + Charles Dresser's certificate of the marriage. The bogus + document was made out on the blank form in use in the + county clerk's office in 1865—a form quite different + from that used in 1842. This form was not used prior to + 1865, and never after February 3, 1866. So it seems most + probable that the spurious license was procured soon after + Mr. Lincoln's assassination. The handwriting is that of + N.W. Matheny, then, as in 1842, the county clerk, a + gentleman of high character, who no doubt furnished the + copy for a perfectly proper purpose. It will be observed + that the genuine license bears no seal. This is due to the + fact that prior to 1849 the county court did not have a + seal; indeed, before that year, such a tribunal as the + "county court" was unknown to the judiciary system of the + State. The certificate attached to the counterfeit license, + of course, was not written by the Rev. Charles Dresser (for + he was then dead), but, like the license itself, was made + out by the county clerk.—<i>J. McCan Davis.</i></p> + </div> + + <p>Another prominent member in the same circle with Mr. Lincoln + and Miss Todd is Mrs. B.T. Edwards, the widow of Judge Benjamin + T. Edwards, and sister-in-law of Mr. Ninian Edwards, who had + married Miss Todd's sister. She came to Springfield in 1839, + and was intimately acquainted with Mr. Lincoln and Miss Todd, + and knew, as well as another could know, their affairs. Mrs. + Edwards is still living in Springfield, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page443" + id="page443"></a>[pg 443]</span> a woman of the most perfect + refinement and trustworthiness. In answer to the question, + "Is Mr. Herndon's description true?" she writes:</p> + + <p>"I am impatient to tell you that all that he says about this + wedding—the time for which was 'fixed for the first day + of January'—is a fabrication. He has drawn largely upon + his imagination in describing something which never took + place.</p> + + <p>"I know the engagement between Mr. Lincoln and Miss Todd was + interrupted for a time, and it was rumored among her young + friends that Mr. Edwards had rather opposed it. But I am sure + there had been no 'time fixed' for any wedding; that is, no + preparations had ever been made until the day that Mr. Lincoln + met Mr. Edwards on the street and told him that he and Mary + were going to be married that evening. Upon inquiry, Mr. + Lincoln said they would be married in the Episcopal church, to + which Mr. Edwards replied: 'No; Mary is my ward, and she must + be married at my house.'</p> + + <p>"If I remember rightly, the wedding guests were few, not + more than thirty; and it seems to me all are gone now but Mrs. + Wallace, Mrs. Levering, and myself, for it was not much more + than a family gathering; only two or three of Mary Todd's young + friends were present. The 'entertainment' was simple, but in + beautiful taste; but the bride had neither veil nor flowers in + her hair, with which to 'toy nervously.' There had been no + elaborate <i>trousseau</i> for the bride of the future + President of the United States, nor even a handsome wedding + gown; nor was it a gay wedding."</p> + + <p>Two sisters of Mrs. Lincoln's who are still living, Mrs. + Wallace of Springfield, and Mrs. Helm of Elizabethstown, + Kentucky, deny emphatically that any wedding was ever arranged + between Mr. Lincoln and Miss Todd but the one which did take + place. That the engagement was broken after a wedding had been + talked of, they think possible; but Mr. Herndon's story, they + deny emphatically.</p> + + <p>"There is not a word of truth in it!" Mrs. Wallace broke + out, impulsively, before the question about the non-appearance + of Mr. Lincoln had been finished. "I never was so amazed in my + life as when I read that story. Mr. Lincoln never did such a + thing. Why, Mary Lincoln never had a silk dress in her life + until she went to Washington."</p> + + <div class="figright"> + <a href="images/443.jpg" + name="fig443" + id="fig443"><img src="images/443.jpg" + alt="REV. CHARLES DRESSER." /></a> + + <h5>REV. CHARLES DRESSER.</h5> + + <p>From a daguerreotype owned by his son, Dr. T.W. Dresser, + Springfield, Illinois. The Rev. Charles Dresser, who was + the officiating clergyman at the wedding of Abraham Lincoln + and Mary Todd, was born at Pomfret, Connecticut, February + 24, 1800. He was graduated from Brown University in 1823, + and went to Virginia, where he studied theology. In 1829 he + became an ordained minister in the Protestant Episcopal + Church. He was married in 1832 in Dinwiddie County, + Virginia, to Louisa W. Withers. Upon his removal to + Springfield, Illinois, in 1838, he became the rector of the + Protestant Episcopal church there, and remained so until + 1858, when failing health caused his retirement. In 1855, + Jubilee College elected him Professor of Divinity and + Belles-Lettres, but he held this position only a short + time. He died March 25, 1865.—<i>J. McCan + Davis.</i></p> + </div> + + <p>As Mr. Joshua Speed was, all through this period, Mr. + Lincoln's closest friend, no thought or feeling of the one ever + being concealed from the other, Mrs. Joshua Speed, who is still + living in Louisville, Kentucky, was asked if she knew of the + story. Mrs. Speed listened in surprise to Mr. Herndon's tale. + "I never heard of it before," she declared. "I never heard of + it. If it is true, I never heard of it."</p> + + <p>In all of these cases the opinion of only those persons + intimately connected with Mr. Lincoln and Miss Todd has been + asked. Care has been taken, too, to apply only to persons whose + character put them beyond the suspicion of distorting + facts.</p> + + <p>Quite unexpectedly, some months ago, a volunteer witness to + the falsity of the story appeared. The Hon. H.W. Thornton of + Millersburg, Illinois, was a member of the Twelfth General + Assembly, which met in Springfield in 1840. During that winter + he was boarding near Lincoln, saw him almost every day, was a + constant visitor at Mr. <span class="pagenum"><a name="page444" + id="page444"></a>[pg 444]</span> Edwards's house, and he + knew Miss Todd well. He wrote to this magazine declaring + that Mr. Herndon's statement about the wedding must be + false, as he was closely associated with Miss Todd and Mr. + Lincoln all winter, and never knew anything of it. Mr. + Thornton went on to say that he knew beyond a doubt that the + sensational account of Lincoln's insanity was untrue, and he + quoted from the House journal to show how it was impossible + that, as Lamon says, using Herndon's notes, "Lincoln went + crazy as a loon, and did not attend the legislature in + 1841-1842, for this reason;" or, as Herndon says, that he + had to be watched constantly. According to the record taken + from the journals of the House sent us by Mr. Thornton, and + which we have had verified in Springfield, Mr. Lincoln was + in his seat in the House on that "fatal first of January" + when he is asserted to have been groping in the shadow of + madness, and he was also there on the following day. The + third of January was Sunday. On Monday, the fourth, he + appears not to have been present—at least he did not + vote; but even this is by no means conclusive evidence that + he was not there. On the fifth, and on every succeeding day + until the thirteenth, he was in his seat. From the + thirteenth to the eighteenth, inclusive, he is not recorded + on any of the roll-calls, and probably was not present. But + on the nineteenth, when "John J. Hardin announced his + illness to the House," as Mr. Herndon says (which + announcement seems not to have gotten into the journal), + Lincoln was again in his place, and voted. On the twentieth + he is not recorded; but on every subsequent day, until the + close of the session on the first of March, Lincoln was in + the House. Thus, during the whole of the two months of + January and February, he was absent not more than seven + days—as good a record as to attendance, perhaps, as + that made by the average member.</p> + + <p>Mr. Thornton says further: "Mr. Lincoln boarded at William + Butler's, near to Dr. Henry's, where I boarded. The missing + days, from January 13th to 19th, Mr. Lincoln spent several + hours each day at Dr. Henry's; a part of these days I remained + with Mr. Lincoln. His most intimate friends had no fears of his + injuring himself. He was very sad and melancholy, but being + subject to these spells, nothing serious was apprehended. His + being watched, as stated in Herndon's book, was news to me + until I saw it there."</p> + + <p>But while Lincoln went about his daily duties, even on the + "fatal first of January," his whole being was shrouded in + gloom. He did not pretend to conceal this from his friends. + Writing to Mr. Stuart on January 23d, he said: "I am now the + most miserable man living. If what I feel were equally + distributed to the whole human family, there would not be one + cheerful face on the earth. Whether I shall ever be better I + cannot tell; I awfully forebode I shall not. To remain as I am + is impossible. I must die or be better, it appears to me. The + matter you speak of on my account you may attend to as you say, + unless you shall hear of my condition forbidding it. I say this + because I fear I shall be unable to attend to any business + here, and a change of scene might help me."</p> + + <p>In the summer he visited his friend Speed, who had sold his + store in Springfield, and returned to Louisville, Kentucky. The + visit did much to brighten his spirits, for, writing back in + September, after his return, to his friend's sister, he was + even gay.</p> + + <p>A curious situation arose the next year (1842), which did + much to restore Lincoln to a more normal view of his relation + to Miss Todd. In the summer of 1841, his friend Speed had + become engaged. As his marriage approached, he in turn was + attacked by a melancholy not unlike that which Lincoln had + suffered. He feared he did not love well enough to marry, and + he confided his fear to Lincoln. Full of sympathy for the + trouble of his friend, Lincoln tried in every way to persuade + him that his "twinges of the soul" were all explained by + nervous debility. When Speed returned to Kentucky, Lincoln + wrote him several letters, in which he consoled, counselled, or + laughed at him. These letters abound in suggestive passages. + From what did Speed suffer? From three special causes and a + general one, which Lincoln proceeds to enumerate:</p> + + <blockquote> + <p>"The general cause is, that you are naturally of a + nervous temperament; and this I say from what I have seen + of you personally, and what you have told me concerning + your mother at various times, and concerning your brother + William at the time his wife died. The first special cause + is your exposure to bad weather on your journey, which my + experience clearly proves to be very severe on defective + nerves. The second is the absence of all business and + conversation of friends, which might divert your mind, give + it occasional rest from the intensity of thought which will + sometimes wear the sweetest idea thread-bare and turn it to + the bitterness of death. The third is the rapid and near + approach of that crisis on which all your thoughts and + feelings concentrate."</p> + </blockquote> + + <p>Speed writes that his <i>fiancée</i> is ill, and his + letter is full of gloomy forebodings of an early death. Lincoln + hails these fears as an omen of + happiness.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page445" + id="page445"></a>[pg 445]</span> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/445.jpg" + name="fig445" + id="fig445"><img src="images/445.jpg" + alt="THE GLOBE HOTEL, SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS." /></a> + + <h5>THE GLOBE HOTEL, SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.</h5> + + <p>In a letter to Joshua R. Speed, dated May 18, 1843, + Lincoln wrote: "We are not keeping house, but boarding at + the Globe Tavern, which is very well kept now by a widow + lady of the name of Beck. Our room (the same that Dr. + Wallace occupied there) and boarding only costs us four + dollars a week.... I most heartily wish you and your Fanny + would not fail to come. Just let us know the time, and we + will have a room provided for you at our house, and all be + merry together for a while." The Globe Hotel stood in + Springfield until about three years ago.</p> + </div> + + <blockquote> + <p>"I hope and believe that your present anxiety and + distress about her health and her life must and will + forever banish those horrid doubts which I know you + sometimes felt as to the truth of your affection for her. + If they can once and forever be removed (and I almost feel + a presentiment that the Almighty has sent your present + affliction expressly for that object), surely nothing can + come in their stead to fill their immeasurable measure of + misery.... I am now fully convinced that you love her as + ardently as you are capable of loving. Your ever being + happy in her presence, and your intense anxiety about her + health, if there were nothing else, would place this beyond + all dispute in my mind. I incline to think it probable that + your nerves will fail you occasionally for a while; but + once you get them firmly guarded now, that trouble is over + forever. I think, if I were you, in case my mind were not + exactly right, I would avoid being idle. I would + immediately engage in some business or go to making + preparations for it, which would be the same thing."</p> + </blockquote> + + <p>Mr. Speed's marriage occurred in February, and to the letter + announcing it Lincoln replied:</p> + + <blockquote> + <p>"I tell you, Speed, our forebodings (for which you and I + are peculiar) are all the worst sort of nonsense. I + fancied, from the time I received your letter of Saturday, + that the one of Wednesday was never to come, and yet it did + come, and what is more, it is perfectly clear, both from + its tone and handwriting, that you were much happier, or, + if you think the term preferable, less miserable, when you + wrote it than when you wrote the last one before. You had + so obviously improved at the very time I so much fancied + you would have grown worse. You say that something + indescribably horrible and alarming still haunts you. You + will not say that three months from now, I will venture. + When your nerves once get steady now, the whole trouble + will be over forever. Nor should you become impatient at + their being even very slow in becoming steady. Again, you + say, you much fear that that Elysium of which you have + dreamed so much is never to be realized. Well, if it shall + not, I dare swear it will not be the + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page446" + id="page446"></a>[pg 446]</span> fault of her who is now + your wife. I now have no doubt that it is the peculiar + misfortune of both you and me to dream dreams of Elysium + far exceeding all that anything earthly can + realize."</p> + </blockquote> + + <p>His prophecy was true. In March Speed wrote him that he was + "far happier than he had ever expected to be." Lincoln caught + at the letter with an eagerness which is deeply pathetic:</p> + + <blockquote> + <p>"It cannot be told how it now thrills me with joy to + hear you say you are far happier than you ever expected to + be. I know you too well to suppose your expectations were + not, at least, sometimes extravagant, and if the reality + exceeds them all, I say, Enough, dear Lord! I am not going + beyond the truth when I tell you that the short space it + took me to read your last letter gave me more pleasure than + the total sum of all I have enjoyed since the fatal 1st of + January, 1841. Since then, it seems to me, I should have + been entirely happy, but for the never absent idea that + there is one still unhappy whom I have contributed to make + so. That still kills me. I cannot but reproach myself for + even wishing to be happy while she is otherwise. She + accompanied a large party on the railroad cars to + Jacksonville last Monday, and on her return spoke, so that + I heard of it, of having enjoyed the trip exceedingly. God + be praised for that."</p> + </blockquote> + + <p>Evidently Lincoln was still unreconciled to his separation + from Miss Todd. In the summer of 1842, only three or four + months after the above letter was written, a clever ruse on the + part of certain of their friends threw the two unexpectedly + together; and an understanding of some kind evidently was come + to, for during the season they met secretly at the house of one + of Lincoln's friends, Mr. Simeon Francis. It was while these + meetings were going on that a burlesque encounter occurred + between Lincoln and James Shields, for which Miss Todd was + partly responsible, and which no doubt gave just the touch of + comedy necessary to relieve their tragedy and restore them to a + healthier view of their relations.</p> + + <h4>THE LINCOLN AND SHIELDS DUEL.</h4> + + <p>Among the Democratic officials then living in Springfield + was one James Shields, auditor of the State. He was a + hot-headed, blustering Irishman, not without ability, and + certainly courageous; a good politician, and, on the whole, a + very well-liked man. However, the swagger and noise with which + he accompanied the execution of his duties, and his habit of + being continually on the defensive, made him the butt of Whig + ridicule. Nothing could have given greater satisfaction to + Lincoln and his friends than having an opponent who, whenever + they joked him, flew into a rage and challenged them to + fight.</p> + + <p>At the time when Lincoln was visiting Miss Todd at Mr. + Francis's house, the Whigs were much excited over the fact that + the Democrats had issued an order forbidding the payment of + State taxes in State bank-notes. The bank-notes were in fact + practically worthless, for the State finances were suffering a + violent reaction from the extravagant legislation of 1836 and + 1837. One of the popular ways of attacking an obnoxious + political doctrine in that day was writing letters from some + imaginary backwoods settlement, setting forth in homely + vernacular the writer's views of the question, and showing how + its application affected his part of the world. These letters + were really a rude form of the "Bigelow Papers" or "Nasby + Letters." Soon after the order was issued by the Illinois + officials demanding silver instead of bank-notes in payment of + taxes, Lincoln wrote a letter to a Springfield paper from the + "Lost Townships," signing it "Aunt Rebecca." In it he described + the plight to which the new order had brought the neighborhood, + and he intimated that the only reason for issuing such an order + was that the State officers might have their salaries paid in + silver. Shields was ridiculed unmercifully in the letter for + his vanity and his gallantry.</p> + + <p>It happened that there were several young women in + Springfield who had received rather too pronounced attention + from Mr. Shields, and who were glad to see him tormented. Among + them were Miss Todd and her friend Miss Julia Jayne. Lincoln's + letter from the "Lost Townships" was such a success that they + followed it up with one in which "Aunt Rebecca" proposed to the + gallant auditor, and a few days later they published some very + bad verses, signed "Cathleen," celebrating the + wedding.<a id="footnotetag1" + name="footnotetag1"></a> + <a href="#footnote1"><sup>1</sup></a></p> + + <p>Springfield was highly entertained, less by the verses than + by the fury of Shields. He would have satisfaction, he said, + and he sent a friend, one General Whitesides, to the paper, to + ask for the name of the writer + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page447" + id="page447"></a>[pg 447]</span> of the communications. The + editor, in a quandary, went to Lincoln, who, unwilling that + Miss Todd and Miss Jayne should figure in the affair, + ordered that his own name be given as the author of letters + and poem. This was only about ten days after the first + letter had appeared, on September 2d, and Lincoln left + Springfield in a day or two for a long trip on the circuit. + He was at Tremont when, on the morning of the seventeenth, + two of his friends, E.H. Merryman and William Butler, drove + up hastily. Shields and his friend Whitesides were behind, + they said, the irate Irishman vowing that he would challenge + Lincoln. They, knowing that Lincoln was "unpractised both as + to diplomacy and weapons," had started as soon as they had + learned that Shields had left Springfield, had passed him in + the night, and were there to see Lincoln through.</p> + + <p>It was not long before Shields and Whitesides arrived, and + soon Lincoln received a note in which the indignant auditor + said: "I will take the liberty of requiring a full, positive, + and absolute retraction of all offensive allusions used by you + in these communications in relation to my private character and + standing as a man, as an apology for the insults conveyed in + them. This may prevent consequences which no one will regret + more than myself."</p> + + <p>Lincoln immediately replied that, since Shields had not + stopped to inquire whether he really was the author of the + articles, had not pointed out what was offensive in them, had + assumed facts and hinted at consequences, he could not submit + to answer the note. Shields wrote again, but Lincoln simply + replied that he could receive nothing but a withdrawal of the + first note or a challenge. To this he steadily held, even + refusing to answer the question as to the authorship of the + letters, which Shields finally put. It was inconsistent with + his honor to negotiate for peace with Mr. Shields, he said, + unless Mr. Shields withdrew his former offensive letter. + Seconds were immediately named: Whitesides by Shields, Merryman + by Lincoln; and though they talked of peace, Whitesides + declared he could not mention it to his principal. "He would + challenge me next, and as soon cut my throat as not."</p> + + <p>This was on the nineteenth, and that night the party + returned to Springfield. But in someway the affair had leaked + out, and fearing arrest, Lincoln and Merryman left town the + next morning. The instructions were left with Butler. If + Shields would withdraw his first note, and write another asking + if Lincoln was the author of the offensive articles, and, if + so, asking for gentlemanly satisfaction, then Lincoln had + prepared a letter explaining the whole affair. If Shields would + not do this, there was nothing to do but fight. Lincoln left + the following preliminaries for the duel:</p> + + <blockquote> + <p>"<i>First.</i> Weapons: Cavalry broadswords of the + largest size, precisely equal in all respects, and such as + now used by the cavalry company at Jacksonville.</p> + + <p>"<i>Second</i>. Position: A plank ten feet long, and + from nine to twelve inches broad, to be firmly fixed on + edge on the ground, as the line between us, which neither + is to pass his foot over on forfeit of his life. Next, a + line drawn on the ground on either side of said plank and + parallel with it, each at the distance of the whole length + of the sword and three feet additional from the plank; and + the passing of his own such line by either party during the + fight shall be deemed a surrender of the contest.</p> + + <p>"<i>Third</i>. Time: On Thursday evening at five + o'clock, if you can get it so; but in no case to be at a + greater distance of time than Friday evening at five + o'clock.</p> + + <p>"<i>Fourth</i>. Place: Within three miles of Alton, on + the opposite side of the river, the particular spot to be + agreed upon by you."</p> + </blockquote> + + <p>As Mr. Shields refused to withdraw his first note, the + entire party started for the rendezvous across the Mississippi. + Lincoln and Merryman drove together in a dilapidated old buggy, + in the bottom of which rattled a number of broadswords. It was + the morning of the 22d of September when the duellists arrived + in the town. There are people still living in Alton who + remember their coming. "The party arrived about the middle of + the morning," says Mr. Edward Levis,<a id="footnotetag2" + name="footnotetag2"></a> + <a href="#footnote2"><sup>2</sup></a> "and soon crossed the + river to a sand-bar which at the time was, by reason of the + low water, a part of the Missouri mainland. The means of + conveyance was an old horse-ferry that was operated by a man + named Chapman. The weapons were in the keeping of the + friends of the principals, and no care was taken to conceal + them; in fact, they were openly displayed. Naturally, there + was a great desire among the male population to attend the + duel, but the managers of the affair would not permit any + but their own party to board the ferry-boat. Skiffs were + very scarce, and but a few could avail themselves of the + opportunity in this way. I had to content myself with + standing on the levee and watching proceedings at long + range."</p> + + <p>The party had scarcely reached the sand-bar before they were + joined by some unexpected friends. Lincoln and Merryman, on + their way to Alton, had stopped at White Hall for dinner. + Across the street from the hotel lived Mr. Elijah Lott, an + acquaintance <span class="pagenum"><a name="page448" + id="page448"></a>[pg 448]</span> of Merryman's. Mr. Lott was + not long in finding out what was on foot, and as soon as the + duellists had departed, he drove to Carrollton, where he + knew that Colonel John J. Hardin and several other friends + of Lincoln were attending court, and warned them of the + trouble. Hardin and one or two others immediately started + for Alton. They arrived in time to calm Shields, and to aid + the seconds in adjusting matters "with honor to all + concerned."</p> + + <p>That the duellists returned in good spirits is evident from + Mr. Levis's reminiscences: "It was not very long," says he, + "until the boat was seen returning to Alton. As it drew near I + saw what was presumably a mortally wounded man lying on the bow + of the boat. His shirt appeared to be bathed in blood. I + distinguished Jacob Smith, a constable, fanning the supposed + victim vigorously. The people on the bank held their breath in + suspense, and guesses were freely made as to which of the two + men had been so terribly wounded. But suspense was soon turned + to chagrin and relief when it transpired that the supposed + candidate for another world was nothing more nor less than a + log covered with a red shirt. This ruse had been resorted to in + order to fool the people on the levee; and it worked to + perfection. Lincoln and Shields came off the boat together, + chatting in a nonchalant and pleasant manner."</p> + + <h4>MARRIAGE OF LINCOLN AND MISS TODD.</h4> + + <p>The Lincoln-Shields duel had so many farcical features, and + Miss Todd had unwittingly been so much to blame for it, that + one can easily see that it might have had considerable + influence on the relations of the two young people. However + that may be, something had made Mr. Lincoln feel that he could + renew his engagement. Early in October, not a fortnight after + the duel, he wrote Speed: "You have now been the husband of a + lovely woman nearly eight months. That you are happier now than + the day you married her I well know, for without you would not + be living. But I have your word for it, too, and the returning + elasticity of spirits which is manifested in your letters. But + I want to ask a close question: Are you now in feelings as well + as judgment glad that you are married as you are?"</p> + + <p>We do not know Speed's answer, nor the final struggle of the + man's heart. We only know that on November 4, 1842, Lincoln was + married, the wedding being almost impromptu. Mrs. Dr. Brown, + Miss Todd's cousin, in the same letter quoted from above, + describes the wedding:</p> + + <p>"One morning, bright and early, my cousin came down in her + excited, impetuous way, and said to my father: 'Uncle, you must + go up and tell my sister that Mr. Lincoln and I are to be + married this evening,' and to me: 'Get on your bonnet and go + with me to get my gloves, shoes, etc., and then to Mr. + Edwards's.' When we reached there we found some excitement over + a wedding being sprung upon them so suddenly. However, my + father, in his lovely, pacific way, 'poured oil upon the + waters,' and we thought everything was 'ship-shape,' when Mrs. + Edwards laughingly said: 'How fortunately you selected this + evening, for the Episcopal Sewing Society is to meet here, and + my supper is all ordered.'</p> + + <p>"But that comfortable little arrangement would not hold, as + Mary declared she would not make a spectacle for gossiping + ladies to gaze upon and talk about; there had already been too + much talk about her. Then my father was despatched to tell Mr. + Lincoln that the wedding would be deferred until the next + evening. Clergyman, attendants and intimate friends were + notified, and on Friday evening, in the midst of a small circle + of friends, with the elements doing their worst in the way of + rain, this singular courtship culminated in marriage. This I + know to be literally true, as I was one of her bridesmaids, + Miss Jayne (afterwards Mrs. Lyman Trumbull) and Miss Rodney + being the others."</p> + <hr class="short" /> + + <blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote1" + name="footnote1"></a><b>Footnote 1:</b> + <a href="#footnotetag1">(return)</a> + + <p>Mr. Charles Lamb, now passing his declining years + quietly on his farm, a dozen miles from Springfield, + Illinois, was a compositor on the "Sangamo Journal" from + 1836 to 1843, and it was he who put into type the poem by + "Cathleen," which, with the "Lost Townships" letters, led + General Shields to challenge Lincoln. "This poem," says Mr. + Lamb, "was written by Mary Todd and Julia Jayne, afterward + the wife of Senator Lyman Trumbull. After I had set up the + poem, I took the copy from the hook and put it into my + pocket. When Lincoln was informed by Simeon Francis, the + editor of the 'Journal,' that Shields had demanded the name + of the author of the verses, he came around to the office + and asked for the copy. I produced it, and he picked up a + pen and wrote his name across the top of the page. This, of + course, meant that he assumed the responsibility for the + production. I retained this copy until a few years ago, + when, unhappily, it was destroyed. My recollection is that + the 'Lost Townships' letters were set up by Mr. Francis + himself. Mr. Lincoln was a frequent contributor to the + 'Journal,' and it usually fell to my lot to set up his + contributions."—<i>J. McCan Davis.</i></p> + </blockquote> + + <blockquote class="footnote"> + <a id="footnote2" + name="footnote2"></a><b>Footnote 2:</b> + <a href="#footnotetag2">(return)</a> + + <p>Interview with Mr. Edward Levis made for this + Magazine.</p> + </blockquote> + <hr class="full" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page449" + id="page449"></a>[pg 449]</span> + + <h2>"PHROSO."</h2> + + <h3>A TALE OF BRAVE DEEDS AND PERILOUS VENTURES.</h3> + + <h4>By Anthony Hope,</h4> + + <h5>Author of "The Prisoner of Zenda," etc.</h5> + + <h3>CHAPTER I.</h3> + + <h4>A LONG THING ENDING IN POULOS.</h4> + + <p class="cap"><i>QUOT homines, tot sententiæ</i>; so + many men, so many fancies. My fancy was for an island. Perhaps + boyhood's glamour hung still round sea-girt rocks, and "faery + lands forlorn" still beckoned me; perhaps I felt that London + was too full, the Highlands rather fuller, the Swiss mountains + most insufferably crowded of them all. "Money can buy company," + and it can buy retirement. The latter service I asked now of + the moderate wealth with which my poor cousin Tom's death had + endowed me. Everybody was good enough to suppose that I + rejoiced at Tom's death, whereas I was particularly sorry for + it, and was not consoled even by the prospects of the island. + My friends understood this wish for an island as little as they + appreciated my feelings about poor Tom. Beatrice was most + emphatic in declaring that "a horrid little island" had no + charms for her, and that she would never set foot in it. This + declaration was rather annoying, because I had imagined myself + spending my honeymoon with Beatrice on the island; but life is + not all honeymoon, and I decided to have the island none the + less. In the first place, I was not to be married for a year. + Mrs. Kennett Hipgrave had insisted on this delay in order that + we might be sure that we knew our own hearts. And as I may say + without unfairness that Mrs. Hipgrave was to a considerable + degree responsible for the engagement—she asserted the + fact herself with much pride—I thought that she had a + right to some voice in the date of the marriage. Moreover, the + postponement gave me exactly time to go over and settle affairs + in the island.</p> + + <p>For I had bought it. It cost me seven thousand five hundred + and fifty pounds—rather a fancy price, but I could not + haggle with the old lord—half to be paid to the lord's + bankers in London, and the second half to him in Neopalia, when + he delivered possession to me. The Turkish government had + sanctioned the sale, and I had agreed to pay a hundred pounds + yearly as tribute. This sum, I was entitled, in my turn, to + levy on the inhabitants.</p> + + <p>"In fact, my dear lord," said old Mason to me when I called + on him in Lincoln's Inn Fields, "the whole affair is settled. I + congratulate you on having got just what was your whim. You are + over a hundred miles from the nearest land—Rhodes, you + see." (He laid a map before me.) "You are off the steamship + tracks; the Austrian Lloyds to Alexandria leave you far to the + northeast. You are equally remote from any submarine cable; + here on the southwest, from Alexandria to Candia, is the + nearest. You will have to fetch your letters—"</p> + + <p>"I shouldn't think of doing such a thing," said I, + indignantly.</p> + + <p>"Then you'll only get them once in three months. Neopalia is + extremely rugged and picturesque. It is nine miles long and + five broad; it grows cotton, wine, oil, and a little corn. The + people are quite unsophisticated, but very + good-hearted—"</p> + + <p>"And," said I, "there are only three hundred and seventy of + them, all told. I really think I shall do very well there."</p> + + <p>"I have no doubt you will. By the way, treat the old + gentleman kindly. He is terribly cut up at having to sell. 'My + dear island,' he writes, 'is second to my dead son's honor, and + to nothing else.' His son, you know, Lord Wheatley, was a bad + lot, a very bad lot indeed."</p> + + <p>"He left a lot of unpaid debts, didn't he?"</p> + + <p>"Yes, gambling debts. He spent his time knocking about Paris + and London with his cousin Constantine, by no means an + improving companion, if report speaks truly. And your money is + to pay the debts, you know."</p> + + <p>"Poor old chap," said I. I sympathized with him in the loss + of his island.</p> + + <p>"Here's the house, you see," said Mason, turning to the map, + and dismissing the sorrows of the old lord of Neopalia. "About + the middle of the island, nearly a + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page450" + id="page450"></a>[pg 450]</span> thousand feet above the + sea. I'm afraid it's a tumble-down old place, and will + swallow a lot of money without looking much better for the + dose. To put it into repair for the reception of the future + Lady Wheatley would cost—"</p> + + <p>"The future Lady Wheatley says she won't go there on any + account," I interrupted.</p> + + <p>"But, my very dear lord," cried he, aghast, "if she + won't—"</p> + + <p>"She won't, and there's an end of it, Mr. Mason. Well, good + day. I'm to have possession in a month?"</p> + + <p>"In a month to the very day—on the seventh of + May."</p> + + <p>"All right, I shall be there to take it;" and escaping from + the legal quarter, I made my way to my sister's house in + Cavendish Square. She had a party, and I was bound to go by + brotherly duty. As luck would have it, however, I was rewarded + for my virtue (and if that's not luck in this huddle-muddle + world, I don't know what is): the Turkish ambassador dropped + in, and presently James came and took me up to him. My + brother-in-law, James Cardew, is always anxious that I should + know the right people. The pasha received me with great + kindness.</p> + + <p>"You are the purchaser of Neopalia, aren't you?" he asked, + after a little conversation. "The matter came before me + officially."</p> + + <p>"I'm much obliged," said I, "for your ready consent to the + transfer."</p> + + <p>"Oh, it's nothing to us. In fact, our tribute, such as it + is, will be safer. Well, I'm sure I hope you'll settle in + comfortably."</p> + + <p>"Oh, I shall be all right. I know the Greeks very well, you + know; been there a lot, and, of course, I talk the tongue, + because I spent two years hunting antiquities in the Morea and + some of the islands."</p> + + <p>The pasha stroked his beard as he observed in a calm + tone:</p> + + <p>"The last time a Stefanopoulos tried to sell Neopalia the + people killed him, and turned the purchaser—he was a + Frenchman, a Baron d'Ezonville—adrift in an open boat, + with nothing on but his shirt."</p> + + <p>"Good heavens! Was that recently?"</p> + + <p>"No; two hundred years ago. But it's a conservative part of + the world, you know." And his excellency smiled.</p> + + <p>"They were described to me as good-hearted folk," said I; + "unsophisticated, of course, but good-hearted."</p> + + <p>"They think that the island is theirs, you see," he + explained, "and that the lord has no business to sell it. They + may be good-hearted, Lord Wheatley, but they are tenacious of + their rights."</p> + + <p>"But they can't have any rights," I expostulated.</p> + + <p>"None at all," he assented. "But a man is never so tenacious + of his rights as when he hasn't any. However, <i>autres temps, + autres moeurs</i>. I don't suppose you'll have any trouble of + that kind. Certainly, I hope not, my dear lord."</p> + + <p>"Surely your government will see to that?" I suggested.</p> + + <p>His excellency looked at me; then, although by nature a + grave man, he gave a low, humorous chuckle, and regarded me + with visible amusement.</p> + + <p>"Oh, of course, you can rely on that, Lord Wheatley," said + he.</p> + + <p>"That is a diplomatic assurance, your excellency?" I + ventured to suggest, with a smile.</p> + + <p>"It is unofficial," said he, "but as binding as if it were + official. Our governor in that part of the world is a very + active man—yes, a decidedly active man."</p> + + <p>The only result of this conversation was that, when I was + buying my sporting guns in St. James's Street the next day, I + purchased a couple of pairs of revolvers at the same time. It + is well to be on the safe side; and although I attached little + importance to the bygone outrage of which the ambassador spoke, + I did not suppose that the police service would be very + efficient. In fact, I thought it prudent to be ready for any + trouble that the Old World notions of the Neopalians might + occasion. But in my heart I meant to be very popular with them; + for I cherished the generous design of paying the whole tribute + out of my own pocket, and of disestablishing in Neopalia what + seems to be the only institution in no danger of such treatment + here—the tax-gatherer. If they understood that intention + of mine, they would hardly be so shortsighted as to set me + adrift in my shirt like a second Baron d'Ezonville, or so + unjust as to kill poor old Stefanopoulos as they had killed his + ancestor. Besides, as I comforted myself by repeating, they + were a good-hearted race; unsophisticated, of course, but + thoroughly good-hearted.</p> + + <p>My cousin, young Denny Swinton, was to dine with me that + evening at the Optimum. Denny (which is short for Dennis) was + the only member of the family who thoroughly sympathized with + me about Neopalia. He was wild with interest in the island, and + I looked forward to telling + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page451" + id="page451"></a>[pg 451]</span> him all I had heard about + it. I knew he would listen, for he was to go with me and + help me to take possession. The boy had almost wept on my + neck when I asked him to come; he had just left Woolwich, + and was not to join his regiment for six months. He was + thus, as he put it, "at a loose end," and succeeded in + persuading his parents that he ought to learn modern Greek. + General Swinton was rather cold about the project; he said + that Denny had spent ten years on ancient Greek, and knew + nothing about it, and would not probably learn much of the + newer sort in three months; but his wife thought it would be + a nice trip for Denny. Well, it turned out to be a very nice + trip for Denny; but if Mrs. Swinton had known—however, + if it comes to that, I might just as well exclaim, "If I had + known, myself!"</p> + + <p>Denny had taken a table next but one to the west end of the + room, and was drumming his fingers impatiently on the cloth + when I entered. He wanted both his dinner and the latest news + about Neopalia; so I sat down and made haste to satisfy him in + both respects. Travelling with equal steps through the two + matters, we had reached the first <i>entrée</i> and the + fate of the murdered Stefanopoulos (which Denny, for some + reason, declared was "a lark") when two people came in and sat + down at the table beyond ours and next to the wall, where two + chairs had been tilted up in token of preëngagement. The + man—for the pair were man and woman—was tall and + powerfully built; his complexion was dark, and he had good, + regular features; he looked, also, as if he had a bit of temper + somewhere about him. I was conscious of having seen him before, + and suddenly recollected that by a curious chance I had run up + against him twice in St. James's Street that very day. The lady + was handsome; she had an Italian cast of face, and moved with + much grace. Her manner was rather elaborate, and when she spoke + to the waiter, I detected a pronounced foreign accent. Taken + altogether, they were a remarkable couple, and presented a + distinguished appearance. I believe I am not a conceited man, + but I could not help wondering whether their thoughts paid me a + similar compliment, for I certainly detected both of them + casting more than one curious glance toward our table; and when + the man whispered once to a waiter, I was sure that I formed + the subject of his question. Perhaps he, also, remembered our + two encounters.</p> + + <p>"I wonder if there's any chance of a row?" said Denny, in a + tone that sounded wistful. "Going to take anybody with you, + Charlie?"</p> + + <p>"Only Watkins. I must have him; he always knows where + everything is; and I've told Hogvardt, my old dragoman, to meet + us in Rhodes. He'll talk their own language to the beggars, you + know."</p> + + <p>"But he's a German, isn't he?"</p> + + <p>"He thinks so," I answered. "He's not certain, you know. + Anyhow, he chatters Greek like a parrot. He's a pretty good man + in a row, too. But there won't be a row, you know."</p> + + <p>"I suppose there won't," admitted Denny, ruefully.</p> + + <p>"For my own part," said I meekly, "as I'm going there to be + quiet, I hope there won't."</p> + + <p>In the interest of conversation I had forgotten our + neighbors; but now, a lull occurring in Denny's questions and + surmises, I heard the lady's voice. She began a + sentence—and began it in Greek! That was a little + unexpected; but it was more strange that her companion cut her + short, saying very peremptorily, "Don't talk Greek; talk + Italian." This he said in Italian, and I, though no great hand + at that language, understood so much. Now why shouldn't the + lady talk Greek, if Greek were the language that came naturally + to her tongue? It would be as good a shield against idle + listeners as most languages—unless, indeed, I, who was + known to be an amateur of Greece and Greek things, were looked + upon as a possible listener. Recollecting the glances which I + had detected, recollecting again those chance meetings, I + ventured on a covert gaze at the lady. Her handsome face + expressed a mixture of anger, alarm, and entreaty. The man was + speaking to her now in low, urgent tones; he raised his hand + once and brought it down on the table as though to emphasize + some declaration—perhaps some promise—which he was + making. She regarded him with half angry, distrustful eyes. He + seemed to repeat his words; and she flung at him, in a tone + that suddenly grew louder, and in words that I could translate: + "Enough! I'll see to that. I shall come too!"</p> + + <p>Her heat stirred no answering fire in him. He dropped his + emphatic manner, shrugged a tolerant "As you will," with + eloquent shoulders, smiled at her, and, reaching across the + table, patted her hand. She held it up before his eyes, and + with the other hand pointed at a ring on her finger.</p> + + <p>"Yes, yes, my dearest," said he; and he + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page452" + id="page452"></a>[pg 452]</span> was about to say more, + when, glancing round, he caught my gaze retreating in hasty + confusion to my plate. I dared not look up again, but I felt + his scowl on me. I suppose that I deserved punishment for my + eavesdropping.</p> + + <p>"And when can we get off, Charlie?" asked Denny, in his + clear young voice. My thoughts had wandered from him, and I + paused for a moment, as a man does when a question takes him + unawares. There was silence at the next table also. The fancy + seemed absurd; but it occurred to me that there also my answer + was being waited for. Well, they could know if they liked; it + was no secret.</p> + + <p>"In a fortnight," said I. "We'll travel easily, and get + thereon the seventh of next month; that's the day on which I'm + entitled to take over my kingdom. We shall go to Rhodes. + Hogvardt will have bought me a little yacht, and + then—good-by to all this!" And a great longing for + solitude and a natural life came over me as I looked round on + the gilded cornices, the gilded mirrors, the gilded + flower-vases, and the highly gilded company of the Optimum.</p> + + <p>I was roused from my pleasant dream by a high, vivacious + voice, which I knew very well. Looking up, I saw Miss Hipgrave, + her mother, and young Bennett Hamlyn standing before me. I + disliked young Hamlyn, but he was always very civil to me.</p> + + <p>"Why, how early you two have dined!" cried Beatrice. "You're + at the savory, aren't you? We've only just come."</p> + + <p>"Are you going to dine?" I asked, rising. "Take this table; + we're just off."</p> + + <p>"Well, we may as well, mayn't we?" said my + <i>fiancée</i>. "Sorry you're going though. Oh, yes, + we're going to dine with Mr. Bennett Hamlyn. That's what you're + for, isn't it, Mr. Hamlyn? Why, he's not listening!"</p> + + <p>He was not, strange to say, listening, although, as a rule, + he listened to Beatrice with infinite attention and the most + deferential of smiles. But just now he was engaged in returning + a bow which our neighbor at the next table had bestowed on him. + The lady there had risen already, and was making for the door. + The man lingered and looked at Hamlyn, seeming inclined to back + up his bow with a few words of greeting. Hamlyn's air was not, + however, encouraging, and the stranger contented himself with a + nod and a careless "How are you?" and with that followed his + companion. Hamlyn turned round, conscious that he had neglected + Beatrice's remark, and full of penitence for his momentary + neglect.</p> + + <p>"I beg your pardon," said he, with an apologetic smile.</p> + + <p>"Oh," answered she, "I was only saying that men like you + were invented to give dinners; you're a sort of automatic + feeding-machine. You ought to stand open all day. Really, I + often miss you at lunch time."</p> + + <p>"My dear Beatrice!" said Mrs. Kennett Hipgrave, with that + peculiar lift of her brows that meant, "How naughty the dear + child is! Oh, but how clever!"</p> + + <p>"It's all right," said Hamlyn, meekly. "I'm awfully happy to + give you a dinner, anyhow, Miss Beatrice."</p> + + <p>Now, I had nothing to say on this subject, but I thought I + would just make this remark:</p> + + <p>"Miss Hipgrave," said I, "is very fond of a dinner."</p> + + <p>Beatrice laughed. She understood my little correction.</p> + + <p>"He doesn't know any better, do you?" said she, pleasantly, + to Hamlyn. "We shall civilize him in time, though. Then I + believe he'll be nicer than you, Charlie. I really do. + You're—"</p> + + <p>"I shall be uncivilized by then," said I.</p> + + <p>"Oh, that wretched island!" cried Beatrice. "You're really + going?"</p> + + <p>"Most undoubtedly. By the way, Hamlyn, who's your + friend?"</p> + + <p>Surely this was an innocent enough question; but little + Hamlyn went red from the edge of his clipped whisker on the + right to the edge of his mathematically equal whisker on the + left.</p> + + <p>"Friend!" said he, in an angry tone. "He's not a friend of + mine. I only met him on the Riviera."</p> + + <p>"That," I admitted, "does not, happily, constitute in itself + a friendship."</p> + + <p>"And he won a hundred louis of me in the train between + Cannes and Monte Carlo."</p> + + <p>"Not bad going, that," observed Denny, in an approving + tone.</p> + + <p>"Is he, then, <i>un grec</i>?" asked Mrs. Hipgrave, who + loves a scrap of French.</p> + + <p>"In both senses, I believe," answered Hamlyn, viciously.</p> + + <p>"And what's his name?" said I.</p> + + <p>"Really, I don't recollect," said Hamlyn, rather + petulantly.</p> + + <p>"It doesn't matter," observed Beatrice, attacking her + oysters, which had now made their appearance.</p> + + <p>"My dear Beatrice," I remonstrated, "you are the most + charming creature in <span class="pagenum"><a name="page453" + id="page453"></a>[pg 453]</span> the world, but not the only + one. You mean that it doesn't matter to you."</p> + + <p>"Oh, don't be tiresome. It doesn't matter to you, either, + you know. Do go away, and leave me to dine in peace."</p> + + <p>"Half a minute," said Hamlyn. "I thought I'd got it just + now, but it's gone again. Look here, though; I believe it's one + of those long things that end in 'poulos.'"</p> + + <p>"Oh, it ends in 'poulos,' does it?" said I, in a meditative + tone.</p> + + <p>"My dear Charlie," said Beatrice, "I shall end in Bedlam, if + you're so very tedious. What in the world I shall do when I'm + married, I don't know."</p> + + <p>"My dearest!" said Mrs. Hipgrave; and a stage direction + might add: "Business with brows, as before."</p> + + <p>"'Poulos'?" I repeated.</p> + + <p>"Could it be Constantinopoulos?" asked Hamlyn, with a + nervous deference to my Hellenic learning.</p> + + <p>"It might, conceivably," I hazarded, "be Constantine + Stefanopoulos."</p> + + <p>"Then," said Hamlyn, "I shouldn't wonder if it was. Anyhow, + the less you see of him, Wheatley, the better. Take my word for + that."</p> + + <p>"But," I objected—and I must admit that I have a habit + of thinking that everybody follows my train of + thought—"it's such a small place that, if he goes, I + should be almost bound to meet him."</p> + + <p>"What's such a small place?" cried Beatrice, with emphasized + despair.</p> + + <p>"Why, Neopalia, of course," said I.</p> + + <p>"Why should anybody except you be so insane as to go there?" + she asked.</p> + + <p>"If he's the man I think, he comes from there," I explained, + as I rose for the last time; for I had been getting up to go, + and sitting down again, several times.</p> + + <p>"Then he'll think twice before he goes back," pronounced + Beatrice, decisively; she was irreconcilable about my poor + island.</p> + + <p>Denny and I walked off together. As we went he observed:</p> + + <p>"I suppose that chap's got no end of money?"</p> + + <p>"Stefan—?" I began.</p> + + <p>"No, no. Hang it, you're as bad as Miss Hipgrave says. I + mean Bennett Hamlyn."</p> + + <p>"Oh, yes, absolutely no end to it, I believe."</p> + + <p>Denny looked sagacious.</p> + + <p>"He's very free with his dinners," he observed.</p> + + <p>"Don't let's worry about it," I suggested, taking his arm. I + was not worried about it myself. Indeed, for the moment, my + island monopolized my mind, and my attachment to Beatrice was + not of such a romantic character as to make me ready to be + jealous on slight grounds. Mrs. Hipgrave said the engagement + was based on "general suitability." Now it is difficult to be + very passionate over that.</p> + + <p>"If you don't mind, I don't," said Denny, reasonably.</p> + + <p>"That's right. It's only a little way Beatrice—" I + stopped abruptly. We were now on the steps outside the + restaurant, and I had just perceived a scrap of paper lying on + the mosaic pavement. I stooped down and picked it up. It proved + to be a fragment torn from the menu card. I turned it over.</p> + + <p>"Hullo, what's this?" said I, searching for my eyeglass, + which was, as usual, somewhere in the small of my back.</p> + + <p>Denny gave me the glass, and I read what was written on the + back. It was written in Greek, and it ran thus:</p> + + <p>"By way of Rhodes—small yacht there—arrive + seventh."</p> + + <p>I turned the piece of paper over in my hand. I drew a + conclusion or two. One was that my tall neighbor was named + Stefanopoulos; another, that he had made good use of his + ears—better than I had made of mine; for a third, I + guessed that he would go to Neopalia; for a fourth, I fancied + that Neopalia was the place to which the lady had declared she + would accompany him. Then I fell to wondering why all these + things should be so—why he wished to remember the route + of my journey, the date of my arrival, and the fact that I + meant to hire a yacht. Finally, those two chance encounters, + taken with the rest, assumed a more interesting complexion.</p> + + <p>"When you've done with that bit of paper," observed Denny, + in a tone expressive of exaggerated patience, "we might as well + go on, old fellow."</p> + + <p>"All right. I've done with it—for the present," said + I. And I took the liberty of slipping Mr. Constantine + Stefanopoulos's memorandum into my pocket.</p> + + <p>The general result of the evening was to increase most + distinctly my interest in Neopalia. I went to bed, still + thinking of my purchase, and I recollect that the last thing + which came into my head before I went to sleep was, "What did + she mean by pointing to the ring?"</p> + + <p>Well, I found an answer to that later + on.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page454" + id="page454"></a>[pg 454]</span> + + <h3>CHAPTER II.</h3> + + <h4>A CONSERVATIVE COUNTRY.</h4> + + <p>Until the moment of our parting came, I had no idea that + Beatrice Hipgrave felt my going at all. She was not in the + habit of displaying emotion, and I was much surprised at the + reluctance with which she separated from me. So far, however, + was she from reproaching me, that she took all the blame upon + herself, saying that if she had been kinder and nicer to me, I + should never have thought about my island. In this she was + quite wrong; but when I told her so, and assured her that I had + no fault to find with her behavior, I was met by an almost + passionate assertion of her unworthiness, and an entreaty that + I should not spend on her a love that she did not deserve. Her + abasement and penitence compelled me to show, and indeed to + feel, a good deal of tenderness for her. She was pathetic and + pretty in her unusual earnestness and unexplained distress. I + went the length of offering to put off my expedition until + after our wedding; and, although she besought me to do nothing + of the kind, I believe we might in the end have arranged + matters on this footing had we been left to ourselves. But Mrs. + Hipgrave saw fit to intrude on our interview at this point, and + she at once pooh-poohed the notion, declaring that I should be + better out of the way for a few months. Beatrice did not resist + her mother's conclusion; but when we were alone again, she + became very agitated, begging me always to think well of her, + and asking if I were really attached to her. I did not + understand this mood, which was very unlike her usual manner, + but I responded with a hearty and warm avowal of confidence in + her; and I met her questions as to my own feelings by pledging + my word very solemnly that absence should, so far as I was + concerned, make no difference, and that she might rely + implicitly on my faithful affection. This assurance seemed to + give her very little comfort, although I repeated it more than + once; and when I left her, I was in a state of some perplexity, + for I could not follow the bent of her thoughts, nor appreciate + the feelings that moved her. I was, however, considerably + touched, and upbraided myself for not having hitherto done + justice to the depth and sincerity of nature which underlay her + external frivolity. I expressed this self-condemnation to Denny + Swinton, but he met it very coldly, and would not be drawn into + any discussion of the subject. Denny was not wont to conceal + his opinions, and had never pretended to be enthusiastic about + my engagement. This attitude of his had not troubled me before, + but I was annoyed at it now, and I retaliated by asseverating + my affection for Beatrice in terms of even exaggerated + emphasis, and her's for me with no less vehemence.</p> + + <p>These troubles and perplexities vanished before the zest and + interest which our preparations and start excited. Denny and I + were like a pair of schoolboys off for a holiday, and spent + hours in forecasting what we should do and how we should fare + in the island. These speculations were extremely amusing, but + in the long run they were proved to be, one and all, wide of + the mark. Had I known Neopalia then as well as I came to know + it afterward, I should have recognized the futility of + attempting to prophesy what would happen there. As it was, we + spun our cobwebs merrily all the way to Rhodes, where we + arrived without event and without accident. There we picked up + Hogvardt, and embarked in the smart little steam yacht which he + had hired for me. A day or two was spent in arranging our + stores and buying what more we wanted, for we could not expect + to be able to procure anything in Neopalia. I was rather + surprised to find no letter for me from the old lord, but I had + no thought of waiting for a formal invitation, and pressed on + the hour of departure as much as I could. Here, also, I saw the + first of my new subjects, Hogvardt having engaged a couple of + men who had come to him, saying they were from Neopalia and + were anxious to work their passage back. I was delighted to + have them, and fell at once to studying them with immense + attention. They were fine, tall, capable-looking fellows, and + they, too, with ourselves, made a crew more than large enough + for our little boat; for both Denny and I would make ourselves + useful on board, and Hogvardt could do something of everything + on land or water, whilst Watkins acted as cook and steward. The + Neopalians were, as they stated, in answer to my questions, + brothers; their names were Spiro and Demetri, and they informed + us that their family had served the lords of Neopalia for many + generations. Hearing this, I was less inclined to resent the + undeniable reserve and even surliness with which they met my + advances. I made allowance for their hereditary attachment to + the outgoing family; and their natural want of cordiality + toward the intruder <span class="pagenum"><a name="page455" + id="page455"></a>[pg 455]</span> did not prevent me from + plying them with many questions concerning my predecessors + on the throne of the island. My perseverance was ill + rewarded, but I succeeded in learning that the only member + of the family on the island, besides the old lord, was a + girl whom they called "the Lady Euphrosyne," the daughter of + the lord's brother, who was dead. Next I asked after my + friend of the Optimum restaurant, Constantine. He was this + lady's cousin once or twice removed—I did not make out + the exact degree of kinship—but Demetri hastened to + inform me that he came very seldom to the island, and had + not been there for two years.</p> + + <p>"And he is not expected there now?" I asked.</p> + + <p>"He was not when we left, my lord," answered Demetri, and it + seemed to me that he threw an inquiring glance at his brother, + who added hastily:</p> + + <p>"What should we poor men know of the Lord Constantine's + doings?"</p> + + <p>"Do you know where he is now?" I asked.</p> + + <p>"No, my lord," they answered together, and with great + emphasis.</p> + + <p>I cannot deny that something struck me as peculiar in their + manner, but when I mentioned my impression to Denny, he scoffed + at me.</p> + + <p>"You've been reading old Byron again," he said, scornfully. + "Do you think they're corsairs?"</p> + + <p>Well, a man is not a fool simply because he reads Byron, and + I maintained my opinion that the brothers were embarrassed at + my questions. Moreover, I caught Spiro, the more + truculent-looking of the pair, scowling at me more than once + when he did not know I had my eye on him.</p> + + <p>These little mysteries, however, did nothing but add sauce + to my delight as we sprang over the blue waters; and my joy was + complete when, on the morning of the day I had appointed, the + seventh of May, Denny cried "Land," and, looking over the + starboard bow, I saw the cloud on the sea that was Neopalia. + Day came bright and glorious, and as we drew nearer to our + enchanted isle, we distinguished its features and conformation. + The coast was rocky, save where a small harbor opened to the + sea; and the rocks ran up from the coast, rising higher and + higher, till they culminated in a quite respectable peak in the + centre. The telescope showed cultivated ground and vineyards, + mingled with woods, on the slopes of the mountain; and about + half way up, sheltered on three sides, backed by thick woods, + and commanding a splendid sea view, stood an old, gray, + battlemented house.</p> + + <p>"There's my house!" I cried, in natural exultation, pointing + with my finger. It was a moment in my life—a moment to + mark.</p> + + <p>"Hurrah!" cried Denny, throwing up his hat in sympathy.</p> + + <p>Demetri was standing near, and met this ebullition with a + grim smile.</p> + + <p>"I hope my lord will find the house comfortable," said + he.</p> + + <p>"We shall soon make it comfortable," said Hogvardt. "I dare + say it's half a ruin now."</p> + + <p>"It is good enough now for a Stefanopoulos," said the + fellow, with a surly frown. The inference we were meant to draw + was plain even to incivility.</p> + + <p>At five o'clock in the evening we entered the harbor of + Neopalia and brought up alongside a rather crazy wooden jetty + that ran some fifty feet out from the shore. Our arrival + appeared to create great excitement. Men, women, and children + came running down the narrow, steep street which climbed up the + hill from the harbor. We heard shrill cries, and a hundred + fingers were pointed at us. We landed; nobody came forward to + greet us. I looked round, and saw no one who could be the old + lord; but I perceived a stout man who wore an air of + importance, and, walking up to him, I asked him very politely + if he would be so good as to direct me to the inn, for I had + discovered from Demetri that there was a modest house where we + could lodge that night, and I was too much in love with my + island to think of sleeping on board the yacht. The stout man + looked at Denny and me; then he looked at Demetri and Spiro, + who stood near us, smiling their usual grim smile. And he + answered my question by another, a rather abrupt one: "What do + you want, sir?" And he slightly lifted his tasselled cap and + replaced it on his head.</p> + + <p>"I want to know the way to the inn," I answered.</p> + + <p>"You have come to visit Neopalia?" he asked.</p> + + <p>A number of people had gathered round us now, and all fixed + their eyes on my face.</p> + + <p>"Oh," I said carelessly, "I am the purchaser of the island, + you know. I have come to take possession."</p> + + <p>Nobody spoke. Perfect silence reigned for half a minute.</p> + + <p>"I hope we shall get on well together," I said, with my + pleasantest smile.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page456" + id="page456"></a>[pg 456]</span> + + <p>Still no answer came. The people round still stared.</p> + + <p>At last the stout man, altogether ignoring my friendly + advances, said, curtly:</p> + + <p>"I keep the inn. Come. I will take you to it."</p> + + <p>He turned and led the way up the street. We followed, the + people making a lane for us, and still regarding us with stony + stares. Denny gave expression to my feelings, as well as his + own:</p> + + <p>"It can hardly be described as an ovation," he observed.</p> + + <p>"Surly brutes," muttered Hogvardt.</p> + + <p>"It is not the way to receive his lordship," agreed Watkins, + more in sorrow than in anger. Watkins had very high ideas of + the deference due to "his lordship."</p> + + <p>The fat innkeeper walked ahead. I quickened my pace and + overtook him.</p> + + <p>"The people do not seem very pleased to see me," I + remarked.</p> + + <p>He shook his head, but made no answer. Then he stopped + before a substantial house. We followed him in, and he led us + up-stairs to a large room. It overlooked the street, but, + somewhat to my surprise, the windows were heavily barred. The + door also was massive, and had large bolts inside and out.</p> + + <p>"You take good care of your houses, my friend," said Denny, + with a laugh.</p> + + <p>"We like to keep what we have, in Neopalia," said he.</p> + + <p>I asked him if he would provide us with a meal, and, + assenting gruffly, he left us alone. The food was some time in + coming, and we stood at the window, peering through our prison + bars. Our high spirits were dashed by the unfriendly reception; + my island should have been more gracious, it was so + beautiful.</p> + + <p>"However, it's a better welcome than we should have got two + hundred years ago," I said, with a laugh, trying to make the + best of the matter.</p> + + <p>Dinner, which the landlord brought in himself, cheered us + again, and we lingered over it till dusk began to fall, + discussing whether I ought to visit the lord, or whether, + seeing that he had not come to receive me, my dignity did not + demand that I should await his visit; and it was on this latter + course that we finally decided.</p> + + <p>"But he'll hardly come to-night," said Denny, jumping up. "I + wonder if there are any decent beds here!"</p> + + <p>Hogvardt and Watkins had, by my directions, sat down with + us; and the former was now smoking his pipe at the window, + while Watkins was busy overhauling our luggage. We had brought + light bags, the rods, guns, and other smaller articles. The + rest was in the yacht. Hearing beds mentioned, Watkins shook + his head in dismal presage, saying:</p> + + <p>"We had better sleep on board, my lord."</p> + + <p>"Not I! What, leave the island, now we've got here? No, + Watkins!"</p> + + <p>"Very good, my lord," said Watkins, impassively.</p> + + <p>A sudden call came from Hogvardt, and I joined him at the + window.</p> + + <p>The scene outside was indeed remarkable. In the narrow, + paved street, gloomy now in the failing light; there must have + been fifty or sixty men standing in a circle, surrounded by an + outer fringe of women and children; and in the centre stood our + landlord, his burly figure swaying to and fro, as he poured out + a low-voiced but vehement harangue. Sometimes he pointed toward + us, oftener along the ascending road that led to the interior. + I could not hear a word he said, but presently all his auditors + raised their hands toward heaven. I saw that the hands held, + some guns, some clubs, some knives; and all the men cried with + furious energy: "<i>Nai, nai!</i>" ("Yes, yes!") And then the + whole body—and the greater part of the grown men on the + island must have been present—started off, in compact + array, up the road, the innkeeper at their head. By his side + walked another man, whom I had not noticed before, and who wore + an ordinary suit of tweeds, but carried himself with an + assumption of much dignity. His face I did not see.</p> + + <p>"Well, what's the meaning of that?" I exclaimed, looking + down on the street, empty now, save for groups of white-clothed + women, who talked eagerly to one another, gesticulating, and + pointing now toward our inn, now toward where the men had + gone.</p> + + <p>"Perhaps it's their parliament," suggested Denny. "Or + perhaps they've repented of their rudeness, and are going to + erect a triumphal arch."</p> + + <p>These conjectures being obviously ironical, did not assist + the matter, although they amused their author.</p> + + <p>"Anyhow," said I, "I should like to investigate the thing. + Suppose we go for a stroll?"</p> + + <p>The proposal was accepted at once. We put on our hats, took + sticks, and prepared to go. Then I glanced at the luggage.</p> + + <p>"Since I was so foolish as to waste my money on revolvers," + said I, with an inquiring glance at + Hogvardt.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page457" + id="page457"></a>[pg 457]</span> + + <p>"The evening air will not hurt them," said he; and we each + stowed a revolver in our pockets. We felt, I think, rather + ashamed of our timidity, but the Neopalians certainly looked + rough customers. Then I turned the handle of the door. The door + did not open. I pulled hard at it. Then I looked at my + companions.</p> + + <p>"Queer," said Denny, and he began to whistle.</p> + + <p>Hogvardt got the little lantern, which he always had handy, + and carefully inspected the door.</p> + + <p>"Locked," he announced, "and bolted top and bottom. A solid + door, too!" and he struck it with his hand. Then he crossed to + the window, and looked at the bolts; and finally he said to me: + "I don't think we can have our walk, my lord."</p> + + <p>Well, I burst out laughing. The thing was too absurd. Under + cover of our animated talk the landlord must have bolted us in. + The bars made the window no use. A skilled burglar might have + beaten those bolts, and a battering-ram would, no doubt, have + smashed the door; we had neither burglar nor ram.</p> + + <p>"We are caught, my boy," said Denny. "Nicely caught. But + what's the game?"</p> + + <p>I had asked myself that question already, but had found no + answer. To tell the truth, I was wondering whether Neopalia was + going to turn out as conservative a country as the Turkish + ambassador had hinted. It was Watkins who suggested an + answer.</p> + + <p>"I imagine, my lord," said he, "that the natives [Watkins + always called the Neopalians "natives"] have gone to speak to + the gentleman who sold the island to your lordship."</p> + + <p>"Gad!" said Denny, "I hope it will be a pleasant + interview."</p> + + <p>Hogvardt's broad, good-humored face had assumed an anxious + look. He knew something about the people of these islands; so + did I.</p> + + <p>"Trouble, is it?" I asked him.</p> + + <p>"I'm afraid so," he answered; and then we turned to the + window again, except Denny, who wasted some energy and made a + useless din by battering at the door, till we beseeched him to + let it alone.</p> + + <p>There we sat for nearly two hours. Darkness fell, the women + had ceased their gossiping, but still stood about the street, + and in the doorways of the house.</p> + + <p>It was nine o'clock before matters showed any progress. Then + came shouts from the road above us, the flash of torches, the + tread of men's feet in a quick, triumphant march. Then the + stalwart figures of the picturesque fellows, with their white + kilts gleaming through the darkness, came again into sight, + seeming wilder and more imposing in the alternating glare and + gloom of the torches and the deepening night. The man in tweeds + was no longer visible. Our innkeeper was alone in front. And + all, as they marched, sang loudly a rude, barbarous sort of + chant, repeating it again and again; and the women and children + crowded out to meet the men, catching up the refrain in shrill + voices, till the whole air seemed full of it. And so martial + and inspiring was the rude tune that our feet began to beat in + time with it, and I felt the blood quicken in my veins. I have + tried to put the words of it into English, in a shape as rough, + I fear, as the rough original. Here it is:</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>"Ours is the land!</p> + + <p>Death to the hand</p> + + <p>That filches the land!</p> + + <p>Dead is that hand,</p> + + <p>Ours is the land!</p> + + <p>Forever we hold it.</p> + + <p>Dead's he that sold it!</p> + + <p>Ours is the land.</p> + + <p>Dead is the hand!"</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>Again and again they hurled forth the defiant words, until + they stopped at last opposite the inn, with one final, + long-drawn shout of savage triumph.</p> + + <p>"Well, this is a go!" said Denny, drawing a long breath. + "What are the beggars up to?"</p> + + <p>"What have they been up to?" I asked; for I doubted not that + the song we had heard had been chanted over a dead + Stefanopoulos two hundred years before.</p> + + <p>At this age of the world the idea seemed absurd, + preposterous, horrible. But there was no law nearer than + Rhodes, and there only Turk's law. The only law here was the + law of the Stefanopouloi, and if that law lost its force by the + crime of the hand that should wield it, why, strange things + might happen even to-day in Neopalia. And we were caught like + rats in a trap in the inn!</p> + + <p>"I do not see," remarked old Hogvardt, laying a hand on my + shoulders, "any harm in loading our revolvers, my lord."</p> + + <p>I did not see any harm in it either, and we all followed + Hogvardt's advice, and also filled our pockets with cartridges. + I was determined—I think we were all determined—not + to be bullied by these islanders and their skull-and-crossbones + ditty.</p> + + <p>A quarter of an hour passed, and there + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page458" + id="page458"></a>[pg 458]</span> came a knock at the door, + while the bolts were shot back.</p> + + <p>"I shall go out," said I, springing to my feet.</p> + + <p>The door opened, and the face of a lad appeared.</p> + + <p>"Vlacho, the innkeeper, bids you descend," said he; and + then, catching sight, perhaps, of our revolvers, he turned and + ran down-stairs again at his best speed. Following him, we came + to the door of the inn. It was ringed round with men, and + directly opposite to us stood Vlacho. When he saw me, he + commanded silence with his hand, and addressed me in the + following surprising style:</p> + + <p>"The Lady Euphrosyne, of her grace, bids you depart in + peace. Go, then, to your boat, and depart, thanking God for his + mercy."</p> + + <p>"Wait a bit, my man," said I. "Where is the lord of the + island?"</p> + + <p>"Did you not know that he died a week ago?" asked Vlacho, + with apparent surprise.</p> + + <p>"Died!" we exclaimed, one and all.</p> + + <p>"Yes, sir. The Lady Euphrosyne, lady of Neopalia, bids you + go."</p> + + <p>"What did he die of?"</p> + + <p>"Of a fever," said Vlacho, gravely. And several of the men + round him nodded their heads, and murmured, in no less grave + assent: "Yes, of a fever."</p> + + <p>"I am very sorry for it," said I. "But as he sold the island + to me before he died, I don't see what the lady, with all + respect to her, has got to do with it. Nor do I know what this + rabble is doing about the door. Send them away."</p> + + <p>This attempt at hauteur was most decidedly thrown away. + Vlacho seemed not to hear what I said. He pointed with his + finger toward the harbor.</p> + + <p>"There lies your boat. Demetri and Spiro cannot go with you, + but you will be able to manage her yourselves. Listen, now! + Till six in the morning you are free to go. If you are found in + Neopalia one minute after, you will never go. Think and be + wise." And he and all the rest of them, as though one spring + moved them, wheeled round, and marched off up the hill again, + breaking out into the old chant when they had gone about a + hundred yards; and we were left alone in the doorway of the + inn, looking, I must admit, rather blank.</p> + + <p>Up-stairs again we went, and I sat down by the window and + looked out on the night. It was very dark, and seemed darker + now that the gleaming torches were gone. Not a soul was to be + seen. The islanders, having put matters on a clear footing, + were gone to bed. I sat thinking. Presently Denny came to me, + and put his hand on my shoulder.</p> + + <p>"Going to cave in, Charlie?" he asked.</p> + + <p>"My dear Denny," said I, "I wish you were at home with your + mother."</p> + + <p>He smiled and repeated, "Going to cave in, old chap?"</p> + + <p>"No, by Jove, I'm not!" cried I, leaping up. "They've had my + money, and I'm going to have the island."</p> + + <p>"Take the yacht, my lord," counselled Hogvardt, "and come + back with enough force from Rhodes."</p> + + <p>Well, that was sense; my impulse was nonsense. We four could + not conquer the island. I swallowed my pride.</p> + + <p>"So be it," said I. "But, look here; it's only just twelve. + We might have a look round before we go. I want to see the + place, you know." For I was very sorely vexed at being turned + out of my island.</p> + + <p>Hogvardt grumbled a little at this, but here I overruled + him. We took our revolvers again, left the inn, and struck + straight up the road. For nearly a mile we mounted, the way + becoming steeper with every step. Then there was a sudden turn + off the main road.</p> + + <p>"That will lead to the house," said Hogvardt, who had + studied the map of Neopalia very carefully.</p> + + <p>"Then we'll have a look at the house. Show us a light, + Hogvardt. It's precious dark."</p> + + <p>Hogvardt opened his lantern, and cast its light in the way. + But suddenly he extinguished it again, and drew us close in to + the rocks that edged the road. We saw coming toward us in the + darkness two figures. They rode small horses. Their faces could + not be seen; but as they passed our silent, motionless forms, + one said in a clear, sweet, girlish voice:</p> + + <p>"Surely they will go?"</p> + + <p>"Ay, they'll go, or pay the penalty," said the other voice, + and at the sound of it I started. For it was the voice of my + neighbor in the restaurant, Constantine Stefanopoulos.</p> + + <p>"I shall be near at hand, sleeping in the town," said the + girl's voice, "and the people will listen to me."</p> + + <p>"The people will kill them, if they do not go," we heard + Constantine answer, in tones that witnessed no great horror at + the idea. Then the couple disappeared in the darkness.</p> + + <p>"On to the house!" I cried in sudden + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page459" + id="page459"></a>[pg 459]</span> excitement. For I was angry + now, angry at the utter, humbling scorn with which they + treated me.</p> + + <p>Another ten minutes' groping brought us in front of the old + gray house which we had seen from the sea. We walked boldly up + to it. The door stood open. We went in, and found ourselves in + a large hall. The wooden floor was carpeted, here and there, + with mats and skins. A long table ran down the middle. The + walls were decorated with mediæval armor and weapons. The + windows were but narrow slits, the walls massive and deep. The + door was a ponderous, iron-bound affair, that shamed even the + stout doors of our inn. I called loudly, "Is any one here?" + Nobody answered. The servants must have been drawn off to the + town by the excitement of the procession and the singing; or + perhaps there were no servants. I could not tell. I sat down in + a large armchair by the table. I enjoyed the sense of + proprietorship. Denny sat on the table by me, dangling his + legs. For a long while none of us spoke. Then I exclaimed, + suddenly:</p> + + <p>"By heaven! why shouldn't we see it through?" And I rose and + put my hands against the massive door, and closed and bolted + it, saying, "Let them open that at six o'clock in the + morning."</p> + + <p>"Hurrah!" cried Denny, leaping down from his table, on fire + with excitement in a moment.</p> + + <p>I faced Hogvardt. He shook his head, but he smiled. Watkins + stood by, with his usual imperturbability. He wanted to know + what his lordship decided, that was all; and when I said + nothing more, he asked:</p> + + <p>"Then your lordship will sleep here to-night?"</p> + + <p>"I'll stay here to-night, anyhow, Watkins," said I. "I'm not + going to be driven out of my own island by anybody!"</p> + + <p>And I brought my fist down with a crash on the table. And + then, to our amazement, we heard—from somewhere in the + dark recesses of the hall, where the faint light of Hogvardt's + lantern did not reach—a low, but distinct, groan, as of + some one in pain. Watkins shuddered; Hogvardt looked rather + uncomfortable; Denny and I listened eagerly. Again the groan + came. I seized the lantern from Hogvardt's hand, and rushed in + the direction of the sound. There, in the corner of the hall, + on a couch, covered with a rug, lay an old man in an uneasy + attitude, groaning now and then, and turning restlessly. And by + his side sat an old serving-woman in weary, heavy slumber. In a + moment I guessed the truth—part of the truth.</p> + + <p>"He's not dead of that fever yet," said I.</p> + + <h3>CHAPTER III.</h3> + + <h4>THE FEVER OF NEOPALIA.</h4> + + <p>I looked for a moment on the old man's pale, clean-cut, + aristocratic face; then I shook his attendant vigorously by the + arm. She awoke with a start.</p> + + <p>"What does this mean?" I demanded. "Who is he?"</p> + + <p>"Heaven help us, who are you?" she cried, leaping up in + alarm. Indeed, we four, with our eager, fierce faces, may have + looked disquieting enough.</p> + + <p>"I am Lord Wheatley; these are my friends," I answered in + brisk, sharp tones.</p> + + <p>"What, it is you, then—?" A wondering gaze ended her + question.</p> + + <p>"Yes, yes, it is I. I have bought the island. We came out + for a walk and—"</p> + + <p>"But he will kill you, if he finds you here."</p> + + <p>"He? Who?"</p> + + <p>"Ah, pardon, my lord—they will kill you, + they—the people—the men of the island."</p> + + <p>I gazed at her sternly. She shrank back in confusion. And I + spoke at a venture, yet in a well-grounded hazard:</p> + + <p>"You mean that Constantine Stefanopoulos will kill me?"</p> + + <p>"Ah, hush!" she cried. "He may be here! He may be + anywhere!"</p> + + <p>"He may thank his stars he's not here," said I grimly, for + my blood was up. "Attend, woman! Who is this?"</p> + + <p>"It is the lord of the island, my lord," she answered. + "Alas, and he is wounded, I fear, to death. And yet I fell + asleep. But I was so weary."</p> + + <p>"Wounded—by whom?"</p> + + <p>Her face suddenly became vacant and expressionless.</p> + + <p>"I do not know, my lord. It happened in the crowd. It was a + mistake. My dear lord had yielded what they asked. Yet some + one—no, by heaven, my lord, I do not know + whom—stabbed him! And he cannot live."</p> + + <p>"Tell me the whole thing," I commanded.</p> + + <p>"They came up here, my lord, all of them—Vlacho and + all, and with them my Lord Constantine. And the Lady Euphrosyne + was away; she is often away, down on the rocks by the sea, + watching <span class="pagenum"><a name="page460" + id="page460"></a>[pg 460]</span> the waves. And they came + and said that a man had landed who claimed our island as + his—a man of your name, my lord. And when my dear lord + said he had sold the island to save the honor of his house + and race, they were furious, and Vlacho raised the death + chant that One-eyed Alexander the Bard wrote on the death of + Stefan Stefanopoulos long ago. And they came near with + knives, demanding that my dear lord should send away the + stranger; for the men of Neopalia were not to be bought and + sold like bullocks or like pigs. At first my lord would not + yield; and they swore they would kill the stranger and my + lord also. Then they pressed closer. Vlacho was hard on him + with drawn knife, and the Lord Constantine stood by him, + praying him to yield, and Constantine drew his own knife, + saying to Vlacho that he must fight him also before he + killed the old lord. But at that Vlacho smiled—and + then—and then—ah, my dear lord!"</p> + + <p>For a moment her voice broke, and sobs supplanted words. But + she drew herself up, and, after a glance at the old man, whom + her vehement speech had not availed to waken, she went on:</p> + + <p>"And then those behind cried out that there was enough talk. + Would he yield or would he die? And they rushed forward, + pressing the nearest against him. And he, an old man, frail and + feeble—yet once he was as brave a man as any—cried, + in his weak tones: 'Enough, friends, I yield; I—' And + they fell back. But my lord stood for an instant; then he set + his hand to his side, and swayed and tottered and fell, and the + blood ran from his side. And the Lord Constantine fell on his + knees beside him, crying: 'Who stabbed him?' And Vlacho smiled + grimly, and the others looked at one another. And I, who had + run out from the doorway whence I had seen it all, knelt by my + lord and stanched the blood. Then Vlacho said, fixing his eyes + straight and keen on the Lord Constantine, 'It was not I, my + lord,' 'Nor I, by heaven!' cried the Lord Constantine; and he + rose to his feet, demanding: 'Who struck the blow?' But none + answered, and he went on: 'Nay, if it were in error, if it were + because he would not yield, speak! There shall be pardon,' But + Vlacho, hearing this, turned himself round and faced them all, + saying: 'Did he not sell us like oxen and like pigs?' and he + broke into the death chant, and they all raised the chant, none + caring any more who had struck the blow. And Lord + Constantine—" The impetuous flow of the old woman's story + was frozen to sudden silence.</p> + + <p>"Well, and Lord Constantine?" said I, in low, stern tones, + that quivered with excitement; and I felt Denny's hand, that + was on my arm, jump up and down. "And Constantine, woman?"</p> + + <p>"Nay, he did nothing," said she. "He talked with Vlacho a + while, and then they went away, and he bade me tend my lord, + and went himself to seek the Lady Euphrosyne. And presently he + came back with her. Her eyes were red, and she wept afresh when + she saw my poor lord, for she loved him. And she sat by him + till Constantine came and told her that you would not go, and + that you and your friends would be killed if you did not go. + And then, weeping to leave my lord, she went, praying heaven + she might find him alive when she returned. 'I must go,' she + said to me; 'for though it is a shameful thing that the island + should have been sold, yet these men must be persuaded to go + away and not meet death. Kiss him for me if he awakes.' Thus + she went, and left me with my lord, and I fear he will die." + And she ended in a burst of sobbing.</p> + + <p>For a moment there was silence. Then I said again:</p> + + <p>"Who struck the blow, woman? Who struck the blow?"</p> + + <p>She shrank from me as though I had struck her. "I do not + know, I do not know," she moaned.</p> + + <p>Then a thing happened that seemed strange and awful in the + gloomy, dark hall. For the stricken man opened his eyes, his + lips moved, and he groaned: "Constantine! You, Constantine!" + and the old woman's eyes met mine for a moment, and fell to the + ground again.</p> + + <p>"Why—why, Constantine?" moaned the wounded man. "I had + yielded—I had yielded, Constantine. I would have sent + them—" His words ceased, his eyes closed, his lips met + again, but met only to part. A moment later his jaw dropped. + The old lord of Neopalia was dead.</p> + + <p>Then I, carried away by anger and by hatred of the man who, + for a reason I did not yet understand, had struck so foul a + blow against his kinsman and an old man, did a thing so rash + that it seems to me now, when I consider it in the cold light + of the past, a mad deed. Yet then I could do nothing else; and + Denny's face, aye, and the eyes of the others, too, told me + that they were with me.</p> + + <p>"Compose this old man's body," I + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page461" + id="page461"></a>[pg 461]</span> said, "and we will watch + it. And do you go and tell this Constantine Stefanopoulos + that I know his crime, that I know who struck that blow, and + that what I know all men shall know, and that I will not + rest day nor night until he has paid the penalty of this + murder. And tell him I swore this on the honor of an English + gentleman."</p> + + <p>"And say I swore it, too!" cried Denny; and Hogvardt and + Watkins, not making bold to speak, ranged up close to me; and I + knew that they also meant what I meant.</p> + + <p>The old woman looked at me with searching eyes.</p> + + <p>"You are a bold man, my lord," said she.</p> + + <p>"I see nothing to be afraid of up to now," said I. "Such + courage as is needed to tell a scoundrel what I think of him, I + believe I can claim."</p> + + <p>"But he will never let you go now. You would go to Rhodes, + and tell his—tell what you say of him."</p> + + <p>"Yes, and farther than Rhodes, if need be. He shall die for + it as sure as I live."</p> + + <p>A thousand men might have tried in vain to persuade me; the + treachery of Constantine had fired my heart and driven out all + opposing motives.</p> + + <p>"Do as I bid you," said I, sternly, "and waste no time on + it. We will watch here by the old man till you return."</p> + + <p>"My lord," she replied, "you run on your own death. And you + are young, and the young man by you is yet younger."</p> + + <p>"We are not dead yet," said Denny; and I had never seen him + look as he did then; for the gayety was out of his face, and he + spoke from between stern-set lips.</p> + + <p>She raised her hands toward heaven—whether in prayer + or in lamentation, I do not know. We turned away and left her + to her sad offices, and going back to our places, waited there + till dawn began to break, and from the narrow windows we saw + the gray crests of the waves dancing and frolicking in the + early dawn. As I watched them the old woman was by my + elbow.</p> + + <p>"It is done, my lord," said she. "Are you still of the same + mind?"</p> + + <p>"Still of the same," said I.</p> + + <p>"It is death—death for you all," she said; and without + more she went to the great door. Hogvardt opened it for her, + and she walked away down the road, between the high rocks that + bounded the path on either side. Then we went and carried the + old man to a room that opened off the hall, and, returning, + stood in the doorway, cooling our brows in the fresh, early + air. And while we stood, Hogvardt said suddenly:</p> + + <p>"It is five o'clock."</p> + + <p>"Then we have only an hour to live," said I, smiling, "if we + do not make for the yacht."</p> + + <p>"You're not going back to the yacht, my lord?"</p> + + <p>"I'm puzzled," I admitted. "If we go this ruffian will + escape. And if we don't go—"</p> + + <p>"Why, we," Hogvardt ended for me, "may not escape."</p> + + <p>I saw that Hogvardt's sense of responsibility was heavy; he + always regarded himself as the shepherd, his employers as the + sheep. I believe this attitude of his confirmed my destiny, for + I said, without hesitation:</p> + + <p>"Oh, we'll chance that. When they know what a villain the + fellow is, they'll turn against him. Besides, we said we'd wait + here."</p> + + <p>Denny seized on my last words with alacrity. When you are + determined to do a rash thing, there is great comfort in + feeling that you are already committed to it by some previous + act or promise.</p> + + <p>"So we did," he cried. "Then that settles it, Hogvardt."</p> + + <p>"His lordship certainly expressed that intention," observed + Watkins, appearing at this moment with a large loaf of bread + and a great pitcher of milk. I eyed these viands.</p> + + <p>"I bought the house and its contents," said I. "Come + along."</p> + + <p>Watkins's further researches produced a large chunk of + native cheese; and when he had set this down, he remarked:</p> + + <p>"In a pen behind the house, close to the kitchen windows, + there are two goats; and your lordship sees there, on the right + of the front door, two cows tethered."</p> + + <p>I began to laugh, Watkins was so wise and solemn.</p> + + <p>"We can stand a siege, you mean?" I asked. "Well, I hope it + won't come to that."</p> + + <p>Hogvardt rose, and began to move round the hall, examining + the weapons that decorated the walls. From time to time he + grunted disapprovingly; the guns were useless, rusted, out of + date, and there was no ammunition for them. But when he had + almost completed his circuit, he gave an exclamation of + satisfaction, and came to me, holding an excellent modern rifle + and a large cartridge case.</p> + + <p>"See!" he grunted, in huge satisfaction. "C.S. on the stock, + I suspect you can guess whose it is, my + lord."</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page462" + id="page462"></a>[pg 462]</span> + + <p>"This is very thoughtful of Constantine," observed Denny, + who was employing himself in cutting imaginary lemons in two + with a fine damascened scimiter that he had taken from the + wall.</p> + + <p>"As for the cows," said I, "perhaps they will carry them + off."</p> + + <p>"I think not," said Hogvardt, taking an aim with the rifle + through the window.</p> + + <p>I looked at my watch. It was five minutes past six.</p> + + <p>"Well, we can't go now," said I. "It's settled. What a + comfort!" I wonder if I had ever in my heart meant to go!</p> + + <p>The next hour passed very quietly. We sat smoking pipes and + cigars, and talking in subdued tones. The recollection of the + dead man in the adjoining room sobered the excitement to which + our position would otherwise have given occasion. Indeed, I + suppose that I, at least, who had led the rest into this + <i>imbroglio</i> through my whim, should have been utterly + overwhelmed by the burden on me. But I was not. Perhaps + Hogvardt's assumption of responsibility relieved me; perhaps I + was too full of anger against Constantine to think of the risks + we ourselves ran; and I was more than half persuaded that the + revelation of what he had done would rob him of his power to + hurt us. Moreover, if I might judge from the words I heard on + the road, we had on our side an ally of uncertain, but probably + considerable, power, in the sweet-voiced girl whom the old + woman called the Lady Euphrosyne; and she would not support her + uncle's murderer even though he were her cousin.</p> + + <p>Presently Watkins carried me off to view his pen of goats, + and, having passed through the lofty, flagged kitchen, I found + myself in a sort of compound formed by the rocks. The ground + had been levelled for a few yards, and the cliffs rose straight + to the height of ten or twelve feet; from the top of this + artificial bank they ran again, in wooded slopes, toward the + peak of the mountain. I followed their course with my eye, and + five hundred or more feet above us, just beneath the summit, I + perceived a little wooden <i>chalet</i> or bungalow. Blue smoke + issued from the chimneys, and, even while we looked, a figure + came out of the door and stood still in front of it, apparently + looking down toward the house.</p> + + <p>"It's a woman," I pronounced.</p> + + <p>"Yes, my lord. A peasant's wife, I suppose."</p> + + <p>"I dare say," said I. But I soon doubted Watkins's + opinion—in the first place, because the woman's dress did + not look like that of a peasant woman; and, secondly, because + she went into the house, appeared again, and levelled at us + what was, if I mistook not, a large pair of binocular glasses. + Now, such things were not likely to be in the possession of the + peasants of Neopalia. Then she suddenly retreated, and through + the silence of those still slopes we heard the door of the + cottage closed with violence.</p> + + <p>"She doesn't seem to like the look of us," said I.</p> + + <p>"Possibly," suggested Watkins, with deference, "she did not + expect to see your lordship here."</p> + + <p>"I should think that's very likely, Watkins," said I.</p> + + <p>I was recalled from the survey of my new domains—my + satisfaction in the thought that they were mine survived all + the disturbing features of the situation—by a call from + Denny. In response to it I hurried back to the hall, and found + him at the window, with Constantine's rifle rested on the + sill.</p> + + <p>"I could pick him off pat," said Denny, laughingly, and he + pointed to a figure which was approaching the house. It was a + man riding a stout pony. When he came within about two hundred + yards of the house he stopped, took a leisurely look, and then + waved a white handkerchief.</p> + + <p>"The laws of war must be observed," said I, smiling. "This + is a flag of truce." And I opened the door, stepped out, and + waved my handkerchief in return. The man, reassured, began to + mop his brow with the flag of truce, and put his pony to a + trot. I now perceived him to be the innkeeper Vlacho, and a + moment later he reined up beside me, giving an angry jerk at + his pony's bridle.</p> + + <p>"I have searched the island for you," he cried. "I am weary + and hot. How came you here?"</p> + + <p>I explained to him briefly how I had chanced to take + possession of my house, and added, significantly:</p> + + <p>"But has no message come to you from me?"</p> + + <p>He smiled with equal meaning as he answered:</p> + + <p>"No. An old woman came to speak to a gentleman who is in the + village."</p> + + <p>"Yes, to Constantine Stefanopoulos," said I with a nod.</p> + + <p>"Well, then, if you will, to the Lord Constantine," he + admitted, with a careless shrug; "but her message was for his + ear only. He took her aside, and they talked + alone."</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page463" + id="page463"></a>[pg 463]</span> + + <p>"You know what she said, though."</p> + + <p>"That is between my Lord Constantine and me."</p> + + <p>"And the young lady knows it, I hope—the Lady + Euphrosyne?"</p> + + <p>Vlacho smiled broadly.</p> + + <p>"We could not distress her with such a silly tale," he + answered; and he leant down toward me. "Nobody has heard the + message but the lord and one man he told it to; and nobody + will. If that old woman spoke, she—well, she knows, and + will not speak."</p> + + <p>"And you back up this murderer?" I cried.</p> + + <p>"Murderer?" he repeated, questioningly. "Indeed, sir, it was + an accident, done in hot blood. It was the old man's fault, + because he tried to sell the island."</p> + + <p>"He did sell the island," I corrected. "And a good many + other people will hear of what happened to him."</p> + + <p>He looked at me again, smiling.</p> + + <p>"If you shouted in the hearing of every man in Neopalia, + what would they do?" he asked, scornfully.</p> + + <p>"Well, I should hope," I returned, "that they'd hang + Constantine to the tallest tree you've got here."</p> + + <p>"They would do this," he said, with a nod; and he began to + sing softly the chant I had heard the night before.</p> + + <p>I was disgusted at his savagery, but I said coolly:</p> + + <p>"And the lady?"</p> + + <p>"The lady believes what she is told, and will do as her + cousin bids her. Is she not his affianced wife?"</p> + + <p>"The deuce she is!" I cried in amazement, fixing a keen + scrutiny on Vlacho's face. The face told me nothing.</p> + + <p>"Certainly," he said, gently. "And they will rule the island + together."</p> + + <p>"Will they, though?" said I. I was becoming rather annoyed. + "There are one or two obstacles in the way of that. First, it's + my island."</p> + + <p>He shrugged his shoulders again. "That," he seemed to say, + "is not worth answering." But I had a second shot in the locker + for him, and I let him have it for what it was worth. I knew it + might be worth nothing, but I tried it.</p> + + <p>"And secondly," I observed, "how many wives does Constantine + propose to have?"</p> + + <p>A hit! A hit! A palpable hit! I could have sung in glee. The + fellow was dumb-founded. He turned red, bit his lip, scowled + fiercely.</p> + + <p>"What do you mean?" he blurted out, with an attempt at + blustering defiance.</p> + + <p>"Never mind what I mean. Something, perhaps, that the Lady + Euphrosyne might care to know. And now, my man, what do you + want of me?"</p> + + <p>He recovered his composure, and stated his errand with his + old, cool assurance; but the cloud of vexation still hung heavy + on his brow.</p> + + <p>"On behalf of the lady of the island—" he began.</p> + + <p>"Or shall we say her cousin?" I interrupted.</p> + + <p>"Which you will," he answered, as though it were not worth + while to wear the mask any longer. "On behalf, then, of my Lord + Constantine, I am to offer you safe passage to your boat, and a + return of the money you have paid."</p> + + <p>"How's he going to pay that?"</p> + + <p>"He will pay it in a year, and give you security + meanwhile."</p> + + <p>"And the condition is that I give up the island?" I asked; + and I began to think that perhaps I owed it to my companions to + acquiesce in this proposal, however distasteful it might be to + me.</p> + + <p>"Yes," said Vlacho; "and there is one other small condition, + which will not trouble you."</p> + + <p>"And what's that? You're rich in conditions."</p> + + <p>"You are lucky to be offered any. It is that you mind your + own business."</p> + + <p>"I came here for the purpose," I observed.</p> + + <p>"And that you undertake, for yourself and your companions, + on your word of honor, to speak not a word of what has passed + in the island, or of the affairs of the Lord Constantine."</p> + + <p>"And if I won't give my word?"</p> + + <p>"The yacht is in our hands; Demetri and Spiro are our men; + there will be no ship here for two months."</p> + + <p>The fellow paused, smiling at me. I took the liberty of + ending his period for him.</p> + + <p>"And there is," I said, returning the smile, "as we know by + now, a particularly sudden and fatal form of fever in the + island."</p> + + <p>"Certainly; you may chance to find that out," said he.</p> + + <p>"But is there no antidote?" I asked; and I showed him the + butt of my revolver in the pocket of my coat.</p> + + <p>"It may keep it off for a day or two; not longer. You have + the bottle there, but most of the drug is with your baggage at + the inn."</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page464" + id="page464"></a>[pg 464]</span> + + <p>His parable was true enough; we had only two or three dozen + cartridges apiece.</p> + + <p>"But there is plenty of food for Constantine's rifle," said + I, pointing to the muzzle of it, which protruded from the + window.</p> + + <p>He suddenly became impatient.</p> + + <p>"Your answer, sir?" he demanded, peremptorily.</p> + + <p>"Here it is," said I. "I'll keep the island, and I'll see + Constantine hanged."</p> + + <p>"So be it, so be it!" he cried. "You are warned; so be it!" + and without another word he turned his pony and trotted rapidly + off down the road. And I went back to the house, feeling, I + must confess, not in the best of spirits. But when my friends + heard all that had passed, they applauded me, and we made up + our minds to "see it through," as Denny said.</p> + + <p>That day passed quietly. At noon we carried the old lord out + of his house, having wrapped him in a sheet, and we dug for him + as good a grave as we could, in a little patch of ground that + lay outside the windows of his own chapel, a small erection at + the west end of the house. There he must lie for the moment. + This sad work done, we came back, and—so swift are life's + changes—we killed a goat for dinner, and watched Watkins + dress it. Thus the afternoon wore away, and when evening came + we ate our goat flesh, and Hogvardt milked our cows, and we sat + down to consider the position of the garrison.</p> + + <p>But the evening was hot, and we adjourned out of doors, + grouping ourselves on the broad marble pavement in front of the + door. Hogvardt had just begun to expound a very elaborate + scheme of escape, depending, so far as I could make out, on our + reaching the other side of the island, and finding there a + boat, which we had no reason to suppose would be there, when + Denny raised his hand, saying, "Hark!"</p> + + <p>From the direction of the village and the harbor came the + sound of a horn, blown long and shrill, and echoed back in + strange, protracted shrieks and groans from the hillside behind + us; and following on the blast, we heard, low in the distance + and indistinct, yet rising and falling, and rising again in + savage defiance and exultation, the death chant that One-eyed + Alexander the Bard had made on the death of Stefan + Stefanopoulos two hundred years ago. For a few minutes we sat + listening, and I do not think that any of us were very + comfortable. Then I rose to my feet, and I said:</p> + + <p>"Hogvardt, old fellow, I fancy that scheme of yours must + wait a little. Unless I'm very much mistaken, we're going to + have a lively evening."</p> + + <p>Well, and then we shook hands all round, and went in, and + bolted the door, and sat down to wait. We heard the death chant + through the walls now, for it was coming nearer.</p> + + <p class="center">(<i>To be continued</i>.)</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/464.jpg" + name="fig464" + id="fig464"><img width="500" + src="images/464.jpg" + alt="End of Chapter Graphic." /></a> + </div> + <hr class="full" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page465" + id="page465"></a>[pg 465]</span> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/465.jpg" + name="fig465" + id="fig465"><img src="images/465.jpg" + alt="A BROOK IN THE DEPARTMENT OF VAR, FRANCE. FROM A PAINTING BY HENRI HARPIGNIES." /> + </a> + + <h5>A BROOK IN THE DEPARTMENT OF VAR, FRANCE. FROM A + PAINTING BY HENRI HARPIGNIES.</h5> + + <p>In the galleries of the Luxembourg, Paris. First + exhibited at the Salon of 1888.</p> + </div> + + <h2>A CENTURY OF PAINTING.</h2> + + <h3>NOTES DESCRIPTIVE AND CRITICAL.—COROT AND THE MODERN + PASTORAL.—THE MEN OF 1830.—ROUSSEAU, DIAZ, + DUPRÉ, AND DAUBIGNY.—FOUR FIGURE PAINTERS OF + DIFFERING AIMS.</h3> + + <h4>By Will H. Low.</h4> + + <div class="figletter"> + <a href="images/LetterP.jpg" + name="fig465-l" + id="fig465-l"><img src="images/LetterP.jpg" + alt="Letter P" /></a> + </div> + + <p class="hang">ICTURES?" boasted Turner. "Give me canvas, + colors, a room to work in, <i>with a door that will lock</i>, + and it is not difficult to paint pictures!" This was the spirit + of the older men, against which Constable rose in his might. It + was the legacy of the past; the principle, or the lack of it, + which permitted Titian (in a picture now in the National + Gallery, London) to paint the shadows of his figures falling + away from the spectator into the picture, and <i>towards</i> + the setting sun in the background. The return to nature, + however, was not accomplished at once. It is doubtful, indeed, + if a painter can ever arrive at a respectable technical + achievement without imbibing certain conventions which prevent + complete submission to nature; absolute + <i>naïveté</i> thus becoming only theoretically + possible. Constable, with all his independence, dared not throw + over all received canons of art. And Géricault, while + daring to paint a modern theme, daring still more to embody it + in forms plausibly like average humanity, and refusing to place + on a raft in mid-ocean a carefully chosen assortment of antique + statues, still did not think, apparently, that the heavily + marked shadows prevalent throughout his picture were never seen + under the far-reaching arch of the sky, but fell from a studio + window. Nor do the early pictures by Corot free themselves from + the influences of the academy at once. In the studies which he + bequeathed to the Louvre—two tiny canvases on which are + depicted the Coliseum and the Castle of St. Angelo at + Rome—the conventional picking out of detail, the painting + of separate objects by themselves, without due relation to each + other, is the effect of early study; and it is only in the as + yet timid reaching for effect of light and atmosphere that we + feel the Corot of the future. These + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page466" + id="page466"></a>[pg 466]</span> studies were painted in + 1826; and as late as 1835 the same influences are manifest + in the "Hagar and Ishmael in the Desert," a historical + landscape of the kind dear to the academies, but saved and + made of interest by the native qualities of the painter + struggling to the surface.</p> + + <p>Jean Baptiste Camille Corot was born in Paris, July 28, + 1796. His father was originally a barber; but, marrying a + dressmaker, he joined forces with his wife to such effect that + they became the fashionable house of their time; and a "dress + from Corot's" found its place in the comedies of the early part + of the century, very much as the name of Worth has been potent + in later days. The youth's distaste for business (certain + unfortunate experiences in selling olive-colored cloth leading + directly thereto) at length vanquished the parents' opposition + to his choice of a career; and after a solemn family conclave, + it was decided that he was to have an allowance of three + hundred dollars a year, and be free to follow his own + inclinations. Procuring materials for work, Corot sat him down + the same day on the bank of the Seine, almost under the windows + of his father's shop, and began to paint. It is prettily + related that one of the shop-women, Mademoiselle Rose by name, + was the only person of his <i>entourage</i> who sympathized + with the young fellow, and who came to look at his work to + encourage him. Late in life the good Corot said: "Look at my + first study; the colors are still bright, the hour and day + remain fixed on the canvas; and only the other day Mademoiselle + Rose came to see me; and, alas, the old maid and the old man, + how faded they are!"</p> + + <div class="figright" + style="width:30%;"> + <a href="images/466.jpg" + name="fig466" + id="fig466"><img src="images/466.jpg" + alt="JEAN BAPTISTE CAMILLE COROT. AFTER A PHOTOGRAPH FROM LIFE." /> + </a> + + <h5>JEAN BAPTISTE CAMILLE COROT. AFTER A PHOTOGRAPH FROM + LIFE.</h5> + + <p>This portrait represents "good Papa Corot," as he was + universally known, at work out of doors.</p> + </div> + + <p>It was Corot's good fortune to meet at the start a young + landscape painter, Michallon, who had lately returned from + Rome, where he had gone after winning the prize for historical + landscape, which then formed part of the curriculum of the + École des Beaux Arts. Michallon died in 1824, when only + twenty-eight years old, too soon to have shown the fruits of an + independent spirit which had already revolted against the + trammels of the school. Desiring to save Corot from the + mistakes which he had himself made, he adjured him to remain + <i>naïf</i>, to paint nature as he saw it, and to + disregard the counsels of those who were for the moment in + authority. Gentle, almost timid by nature, having met so far in + life with little but disapproval, Corot disregarded his + friend's advice at first, and placed himself under the guidance + of Victor Bertin, a painter then in vogue, and, needless to + say, deeply imbued with scholastic tradition. In his company + Corot made his first voyage to Italy, in 1825, and thus came + for the first time under the true classic influence. The + lessons taught in the school of nature, where Claude had + studied, were those best fitted for the temperament of Corot, + who has been called "a child of the eighteenth century, grown + in the midst of that imitation of antiquity so ardent, and so + often unintelligent, where the Directory copied Athens, and the + Empire forced itself to imitate Rome." It is a curious and + interesting fact that when, as in this case, the spirit of + classicism reveals itself anew, its never-dying influence can + be the motive for work <span class="pagenum"><a name="page467" + id="page467"></a>[pg 467]</span> as fresh and modern as that + of Corot. It is also true that the rigid enforcement of the + study of drawing was a healthy influence on Corot's early + life. All the pictures of his early period show the most + minute attention to form and modelling; and when he had + finally rid himself of the hard manner which it entailed, + there remained the substratum of a constructive basis upon + which his freer brush played at will.</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/467.jpg" + name="fig467" + id="fig467"><img src="images/467.jpg" + alt="A BY-PATH. FROM A PAINTING BY JEAN BAPTISTE CAMILLE COROT." /> + </a> + + <h5>A BY-PATH. FROM A PAINTING BY JEAN BAPTISTE CAMILLE + COROT.</h5> + + <p>One of Corot's later works, and treated with greater + freedom than the earlier.</p> + </div> + + <p>Many years, however, Corot was to wait before the memorable + day when he bewailed that his complete collection of works had + been spoiled, he having sold a picture. Living on his modest + income, which his father doubled when, in 1846, the son was + given the cross of the Legion of Honor, he was happy with his + two loves, nature and painting. Little by little he gained a + reputation among the artists, especially when, after 1835, on + his return from a second voyage to Italy, he found that the + true country of the artist is his native country. After that + period his works are nearly all French in subject, many of them + painted in the environs of Paris; though, with his Theocritan + spirit, he could see the fountain of Jouvence in the woods of + Sèvres, and for him the classic nymph dwelt by the pond + at Ville d'Avray. His life was long—he died February 22, + 1875—and completely filled with his work.</p> + + <p>After Corot's death, there was exhibited at the École + des Beaux Arts in Paris a collection of several hundred of his + pictures, and then, perhaps for the first time, the genius of + the man was profoundly felt. To those who were inclined to + undervalue the pure, sweet spirit which shone through his work, + and to complain of the representation of a world in which no + breeze stronger than a zephyr blew, in which the birds always + sang, and the shepherd piped to a flock unconscious of the + existence of wolves, there were shown efforts in so many and + various directions as to forever silence their reproach of + monotony, so often directed against Corot's work. There were + landscapes, showing the gradual emancipation, due to the most + sincere study of nature, hard and precise, in the early period; + vaporous and filled with suggestion, as the sentiment of the + day and hour represented became important to the painter, and + his technical mastery became more certain in later years. There + were figures, none too well drawn from the point of view of + David or Ingres, but serving, to a painter whose interest in + atmospheric problems never ceased, as objects around which the + luminous light of day played, and which were bathed in + circumambient air.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page468" + id="page468"></a>[pg 468]</span> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/468.jpg" + name="fig468" + id="fig468"><img src="images/468.jpg" + alt="EARLY MORNING. JEAN BAPTISTE CAMILLE COROT." /> + </a> + + <h5>EARLY MORNING. JEAN BAPTISTE CAMILLE COROT.</h5> + + <p>From a painting now in the Louvre. One of the best known + of the works of the master, executed during the + transitional period, when he still gave great attention to + detail. The original is remarkable for its sense of dewy + freshness.</p> + </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page469" + id="page469"></a>[pg 469]</span> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/469.jpg" + name="fig469" + id="fig469"><img src="images/469.jpg" + alt="DIANA'S BATH. JEAN BAPTISTE CAMILLE COROT." /> + </a> + + <h5>DIANA'S BATH. JEAN BAPTISTE CAMILLE COROT.</h5> + + <p>From a painting in the Museum at Bordeaux.</p> + </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page470" + id="page470"></a>[pg 470]</span> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/470.jpg" + name="fig470" + id="fig470"><img src="images/470.jpg" + alt="A SHALLOW RIVER. FROM A PAINTING BY THÉODORE ROUSSEAU." /> + </a> + + <h5>A SHALLOW RIVER. FROM A PAINTING BY THÉODORE + ROUSSEAU.</h5> + </div> + + <p>With all this variety, however, the true value of Corot's + work lies in the expression of the spirit of the man himself. + It is often possible, and it is always theoretically desirable, + to separate the personality of a painter from his production in + any critical consideration of his achievement. It is at least + only fair to believe that the light which shines from so many + canvases is the true expression of many a life which is clouded + to our superficial view. With Corot, however, it is impossible + to make this separation. Every added detail of his + life—and they are so numerous that in the difficulty of a + choice they must remain unrecorded here—gives a new + perception of his work. A youthful Virgilian spirit to the day + of his death, as old at his birth as the classic source from + which he sprang, he invented a method essentially his own, in + which to express his new-old message. In our work-a-day, + materialistic age, like a thrush singing in a boiler-shop, he + is the quiet but triumphant vindication of the truth that all + great art has its roots firmly implanted in the earth of + Hellenic civilization, though its expression may be, as in + Corot's case, through an art unknown to the Greeks, and even, + as in the case of the one greater man of this century than + Corot—Millet—by the presentation of types which the + beauty-loving sons of Hellas disdained to represent.</p> + + <p>Millet's work must be considered later in these papers, but + it is useful here to make this passing comment, that with Corot + he represents what is best in our modern art; that the greatest + quality of our modern art is its steadfast reliance on nature; + and that, paradoxical as it may seem, they are alike in taking + only that from nature which is serviceable to the clarity of + their expression, being in this both at odds with the common + practice of modern painting, which usually adopts a more + servile attitude towards nature. Corot painted out of + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page471" + id="page471"></a>[pg 471]</span> doors constantly; but in + the maturity of his art his work was only based upon the + scene before him, a practice dangerous to the student, and + fraught with difficulty to the master. In the fever of + production; in the almost childish joy which the long + neglected painter felt when dealers and collectors besieged + his door; and, finally, in the necessity which arose for + large sums of money to carry on works of charity, which were + his only dissipation, and which it was his pride to sustain + without impairing the patrimony which in the course of time + he had inherited, and which he left intact to his relatives, + Corot undoubtedly weakened his legacy to the future by + over-production. In addition, his work became the prey of + unscrupulous dealers (as there is nothing easier to imitate + superficially than a Corot), and the mediocre pictures + signed by his name are not always of his workmanship. Such + works apart, his art has given us a message from the purest + source of poetry and painting, couched in a language which + is thoroughly of our time; and in this year, which is the + centenary of his birth, it can be said that no other painter + of the century, save the graver Millet, has held fast that + which was good in the art of the past, and so enriched it by + added truth and beauty as Corot. It was fitting that when he + lay dying as cheerfully as he had lived, contented that he + had "had good parents and good friends," beautiful + landscapes flitted before his eyes, "more beautiful than + painting." On the morning of February 22, 1875, his servant + urged him to eat to sustain his strength; but he gently + shook his head, saying: "Papa Corot will breakfast in heaven + to-day."</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/471.jpg" + name="fig471" + id="fig471"><img src="images/471.jpg" + alt="THE EDGE OF THE FOREST (FONTAINEBLEAU). FROM A PAINTING BY THÉODORE ROUSSEAU." /> + </a> + + <h5>THE EDGE OF THE FOREST (FONTAINEBLEAU). FROM A PAINTING + BY THÉODORE ROUSSEAU.</h5> + </div> + + <p>Eighteen years before, on December 22, 1867, there had died + at Barbizon, Théodore Rousseau, who, born in Paris, July + 15, 1812, had been the leader of the revolution in landscape + painting, in which we to-day count Corot, Daubigny, + Dupré, Troyon, Diaz, Jacque, and others who, with our + mania for classification, we call the "Barbizon school." The + fact that these men, more than any painters before their time, + had, by direct study from nature, developed strongly individual + characteristics, makes this title, localized as it is by the + name of a village with which a number of them had slight, if + any, connection, a misnomer. The French name for the group, + "the men of 1830," is more correct; for it was about that time + that their influence in the Salon began to be felt, as a result + of the pictorial invasion of Constable. Lacking the poetic + feeling of Corot, and more realistic in his aims, though not + always in result, Rousseau met with instant success when he + exhibited for the first time at the Salon in 1834. His picture, + "Felled Trees, Forest of Compiègne," received a medal, + and was purchased by the Due d'Orleans. The following year the + jury, presided over by Watelet, a justly forgotten painter, + refused Rousseau's pictures, and from that time until 1849, + when the overthrow of Louis Philippe had opened the Salon doors + to all comers, no picture by Rousseau was exhibited at the + Salon.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page472" + id="page472"></a>[pg 472]</span> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/472-1.jpg" + name="fig472-1" + id="fig472-1"><img src="images/472-1.jpg" + alt="ON THE RIVER OISE. FROM A PAINTING BY CHARLES FRANÇOIS DAUBIGNY." /> + </a> + + <h5>ON THE RIVER OISE. FROM A PAINTING BY CHARLES + FRANÇOIS DAUBIGNY.</h5> + + <p>A typical French river, with the familiar figures of + peasant women washing linen in the stream. Probably painted + during one of the voyages of his house-boat studio "Le + Bottin," in which the painter passed many summers.</p> + </div> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/472-2.jpg" + name="fig472-2" + id="fig472-2"><img src="images/472-2.jpg" + alt="THE STORMY SEA. FROM A PAINTING BY JULES DUPRÉ." /> + </a> + + <h5>THE STORMY SEA. FROM A PAINTING BY JULES + DUPRÉ.</h5> + + <p>This powerful picture gives an idea of the dramatic + force of one who has been fitly termed a symphonic + painter.</p> + </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page473" + id="page473"></a>[pg 473]</span> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/473.jpg" + name="fig473" + id="fig473"><img src="images/473.jpg" + alt="A SUNLIT GLADE. FROM A PAINTING BY LÉON GERMAIN PELOUSE." /> + </a> + + <h5>A SUNLIT GLADE. FROM A PAINTING BY LÉON GERMAIN + PELOUSE.</h5> + + <p>A remarkable rendering of intricate detail without + sacrifice of general effect, this picture, nevertheless, + gives somewhat the impression of a photograph from + nature.</p> + </div> + + <p>In the meantime, however, Rousseau's fame had grown, + fostered by the more advanced critics of the time. He lived at + Barbizon, on the border of the forest of Fontainebleau; and, + basing his work on the most uncompromising study of nature, his + pictures bore an impress of simple truth, which to our + latter-day vision seems so obvious and easily understood that + nothing could show more clearly the depth of error into which + his opponents had fallen than the systematic rejection of his + work for so many years. He was by nature a leader, and in his + country home he was soon joined by Millet and Charles Jacque, + while in Paris he had the hearty support of Delacroix and his + followers of the Romantic school. While forced by circumstances + to find allies in these men, Rousseau had, however, but little + of the imaginative temperament. He was, above all, the close + student of natural phenomena. He sat, an + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page474" + id="page474"></a>[pg 474]</span> impartial recorder of the + phases of nature's triumphal procession. Early and late, in + the fields, among the rocks, or under the trees of the + forest, his cunning hand noted an innumerable variety of + facts which before him, through ignorance or disdain, the + landscape painter had never seen. It is but fair to say + that, like all pioneers in the untrodden fields of art, his + means of expression at times failed to keep pace with his + intention. His work is occasionally overburdened with + detail, through the embarrassment of riches which nature + poured at his feet. Then, heir to the processes of painting + of former generations, it seemed to him necessary to endow + nature with a warmth of coloring, an abuse of the richer + tones of the palette, which we may presume he would have + discarded but for the fact already noted, that a painter + carries through his earthly pilgrimage a baggage of + early-formed habits difficult to throw off <i>en route</i>. + The belief that color to be beautiful must of necessity be + warm, rich, and deep in tone was shared by all painters of + Rousseau's time, and lingers still in the minds of many, + despite the fact that nature has created the tea-rose as + well as the orange. When, however, Rousseau was completely + successful—as, for instance, in the "Hoar-frost," in + the Walters gallery in Baltimore—the reward of his + painstaking methods was measurably great. In such works as + this the rendition of effect, the certainty of modelling, + the sustained power throughout the work, lift it beyond mere + transcription of fact into the realm of typical creations + which appear more true than average reality.</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/474.jpg" + name="fig474" + id="fig474"><img src="images/474.jpg" + alt="A SHEPHERD AND HIS FLOCK. FROM A PAINTING BY CHARLES ÉMILE JACQUE." /> + </a> + + <h5>A SHEPHERD AND HIS FLOCK. FROM A PAINTING BY CHARLES + ÉMILE JACQUE.</h5> + + <p>A typical example of the master, solidly painted, + though, as was often his habit, somewhat forced in + effect.</p> + </div> + + <p>Of the life of Rousseau as the head of the little colony of + painters who for longer or shorter periods resided at Barbizon, + much could be said if space permitted. It is pleasant to think + that the more prosperous Rousseau helped with purse and + influence his comrades, and that, by nature sad and irritable, + he was always considerate of them in the many discussions which + took place. Corot, ill at ease in the revolutionary atmosphere, + made an occasional appearance. Diaz, he of meridional + extraction, turbulent and emphatic, stamped his wooden leg, and + was as illogical in debate as in + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page475" + id="page475"></a>[pg 475]</span> painting. Charles Jacque, + with the keen smile and the facility for absorbing ideas + from the best of them; Ziem even, who painted Venice for + some years in the shades of Fontainebleau; Dupré, + whose nature expresses itself in deep sunsets gleaming + through the oaks of the forest; Daubigny, the youngest of + the group, and the more immediate forerunner of landscape as + it is to-day, then winning his first success; Decamps, who + later sometimes left the Imperial Court, domiciled for the + moment at the palace of Fontainebleau, and brought his + personality of a great painter who failed through lack of + elementary instruction, among them; Daumier, the great + caricaturist, and possibly greater painter, but for the + engrossing character of the work which first fell in his + way—all these and more made up the constantly shifting + group. The first innkeeper of the place and his wife, whose + hyphenated name, Luniot-Ganne, commemorated their union, + kept for many years on the walls, the panels of the doors, + and on odd cabinets and bits of furniture, <i>souvenirs</i> + of the passage of all these men, in the shape of sketches + made by their hands. This little museum, created in sportive + mood, bore all these names and many more, those of men, + often celebrated, who from sympathy or curiosity visited the + place. Millet was in life, as in art, somewhat apart in the + later years; but he was the consistent friend of Rousseau, + whose life closed in the darkness of a disordered mind.</p> + + <div class="figright" + style="width:40%;"> + <a href="images/475.jpg" + name="fig475" + id="fig475"><img src="images/475.jpg" + alt=""THE MAN WITH THE LEATHERN BELT." PORTRAIT OF GUSTAVE COURBET AS" /> + </a> + + <h5>"THE MAN WITH THE LEATHERN BELT." PORTRAIT OF GUSTAVE + COURBET AS A YOUNG MAN, BY HIMSELF.</h5> + + <p>From the original, in the Louvre.</p> + </div> + + <p>Narcisco Virgilio Diaz de la Peña was the noble name + of him who, born at Bordeaux in 1807, the son of a Spanish + refugee, died at Mentone, November 18, 1876. Left an orphan + when very young, he drifted to Paris, and found work, painting + on china, in the manufactory at Sèvres. Here he met + Dupré, employed like himself; and in their work in other + fields it is not fanciful to feel the influence of the delight + in rich translucent color, of the tones employed with + over-emphasis on the surface of <i>faïence</i>. After a + bitter acquaintance with poverty, Diaz produced work which + brought him great popularity. The earlier pictures were studies + in the forest of Fontainebleau, whose venerable tree-trunks, + moss-grown; whose lichen-covered rocks, and gleaming pools + reflecting the sky, he rendered with force of color and + strength of effect. Gradually he began to attempt the figure, + which in his hands never attained a higher plane than an + assemblage of charming though artificial color; and these + little <i>bouquets</i>, which superficially imitated Correggio, + Da Vinci, or Prud'hon, as the fancy seized the painter, bathed + in a color that is undeniably agreeable, were and are to this + day loved by the collector. Of a whimsical temperament, Diaz + was the life of artist gatherings; and his facility in work, + and its popularity, gave him the means of doing many generous + acts, the memory of which lives. But + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page476" + id="page476"></a>[pg 476]</span> of the group of men of his + time, he has exercised, perhaps, the least influence.</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/476.jpg" + name="fig476" + id="fig476"><img src="images/476.jpg" + alt="THE STONE-BREAKERS. FROM A PAINTING BY GUSTAVE COURBET." /> + </a> + + <h5>THE STONE-BREAKERS. FROM A PAINTING BY GUSTAVE + COURBET.</h5> + + <p>One of Courbet's early pictures, which, when exhibited + at the Salon, excited considerable discussion, certain + adverse critics finding in it an appeal to the socialistic + elements. It represents a scene common in France, where + stones are piled by the roadsides, to be broken up for + repairing the route.</p> + </div> + + <p>Jules Dupré rises to a higher plane. But his work, + freed from the colder academical bondage, is pitched in a key + of color which takes us to a world where the sun shines through + smoke; where the clouds float heavily, filled with inky vapors; + and the light shoots from behind the trees explosively. It is a + grave, rhythmic world, however; and if it lacks the dewy + atmosphere of Corot, it has an intensity which the more sanely + balanced painter seldom reached. Dupré, born at Nantes + in 1812, and dying near Paris, at the village of L'Isle-Adam, + in 1889, made his first important exhibit at the Salon in 1835, + after a visit to England, where he met Constable. This picture, + "Environs of Southampton," was typical of the work he was to + do. A long waste of land near the sea, the middle distance in + deepest shadow, and richly colored storm-clouds racing + overhead; the foreground in sunlight, enhanced by the + artificial contrast of the rest of the picture; a wooden dyke + on which, together with two white horses near by, the gleam of + sunlight falls almost with a sound, so intensified is all the + effect, make up the picture. Dupré's work is generally + keyed up to the highest possible pitch, and it is no little + merit that, with the constant insistence on this note, it is + seldom or never theatrical.</p> + + <p>Constant Troyon, from sympathy of aim, is commonly included + in this group, although it was gradually, and after success + achieved in landscape, that his more powerful cattle pictures + were produced, which alone entitle him to the place. Born at + Sèvres in 1810, where his father was employed at the + manufactory of porcelain, he was thrown in contact with + Dupré and Diaz. He first exhibited at the Salon in 1832, + and for nearly twenty years was known as a landscape painter. + His work at that time was eclectic, sufficiently in touch with + Rousseau, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page477" + id="page477"></a>[pg 477]</span> whose acquaintance he had + made, to be of interest, but never revolutionary enough to + alarm the academical juries of the Salon. In 1849, after a + visit to Holland, he turned his attention to animal + painting, and became in that field the first of his time. In + common with his quondam comrades in the porcelain + manufactory, Troyon delighted in warmth and richness of tone + and color; but in the rendering of the texture and color of + cattle the quality availed him greatly, and as objects in + his foreground the landscape environment gained in depth by + its judicious use. Troyon will be chiefly remembered by the + pictures painted from 1846 to 1858. The later years of his + life, until his death in 1865, were passed with a clouded + intellect.</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/477.jpg" + name="fig477" + id="fig477"><img src="images/477.jpg" + alt="THE GOOD SAMARITAN. FROM A PAINTING BY THÉODULE RIBOT." /> + </a> + + <h5>THE GOOD SAMARITAN. FROM A PAINTING BY THÉODULE + RIBOT.</h5> + + <p>From the Salon of 1870; now in the Luxembourg. The story + of the man who went down to Jericho and fell among thieves + is here treated as a pretext for a forcible effect of light + and shade, though it is also a novel and dramatic + presentation of the scene.</p> + </div> + + <p>The youngest of the group proper was Charles François + Daubigny, who was born in Paris in 1817, and died there in + 1878. He was the son of a well-known miniature painter, and + passed his youth in the country, where he imbibed the love for + simple nature which he afterwards rendered with less of fervor + than Rousseau, with less poetry than either Corot or + Dupré; but, in his way, with as much or more of truth. + His task was easier. In the progress which landscape painting + had made, there were hosts of younger painters, each adding a + particle of truth, each making an advance in technical skill + and daring, and Daubigny profited by it all. Corot, it is true, + had never been afflicted with the preoccupation of combining + the freshness of nature with the <i>patine</i> with which ages + had embrowned the old gallery pictures; but Daubigny, looking + at nature with a more literal eye than Corot, ran a gamut of + color greater than he. It was Daubigny who said of Corot, in + envious admiration: "He puts nothing on the canvas, and + everything is there." His own more prosaic nature took delight + in enregistering a greater number of facts. Floating quietly + down the rivers of France in a house-boat, he diligently + reproduced the sedgy banks, the low-lying distances the poplars + and clumps of trees lining the shore, and reflected in the + waters. He painted the "Springtime," now in the Louvre, with + lush grass growing thick + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page478" + id="page478"></a>[pg 478]</span> around the apple trees in + blossom; with tender greens, soft, fleecy clouds, and the + moist, humid atmosphere of France; without preoccupation of + rich color, of "brown sauce," of "low tone," of the thousand + and one conventions which have enfeebled the work of men + stronger than he. Thus he fills a middle place between the + men who made an honest effort at painting nature as they saw + and felt it, but could not altogether rid themselves of + their early education, and the lawless band who, with the + purple banner of impressionism, now riot joyously in the + fields, with brave show of gleaming color, and fearless + attempt to enlist science in their ranks.</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/478.jpg" + name="fig478" + id="fig478"><img src="images/478.jpg" + alt="SERVANT AT THE FOUNTAIN. FROM A PAINTING BY FRANÇOIS SAINT BONVIN." /> + </a> + + <h5>SERVANT AT THE FOUNTAIN. FROM A PAINTING BY + FRANÇOIS SAINT BONVIN.</h5> + + <p>From the Salon of 1863; now in the Luxembourg galleries. + A quiet scene, essentially French from the type of the + woman to the "fountain" of red copper so often seen in + French kitchens, it recalls the work of the old Holland + masters, and proves that, in our day, and with material + near at hand, one can be thoroughly modern, and yet claim + kinship with the great painters of the past.</p> + </div> + + <p>It is to these latter that the future must look, and it can + do so with confidence. In all the license which runs ahead of + progress there is less danger than resides in stagnation. The + men of 1830, who by ungrateful youths are now derided, had + their turn at derision, and extravagances were committed in + their name, according to the beliefs of their time. They + carried their work, however, to its full completion, and it + remains the greatest achievement of this century in painting, + the greatest in landscape + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page479" + id="page479"></a>[pg 479]</span> art of all time. What the + next century may bring is undoubtedly foreshadowed in the + work of impressionistic tendency. It has the merit of being + a new direction, one as yet hardly opened before us, but + more hopeful, despite certain excesses, than it would be to + see the men of our time settle down to an imitation of the + works, however great, of those men of 1830. The immediate + effect of their example was and can still be seen in the + works of men too numerous to be enregistered here.</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/479.jpg" + name="fig479" + id="fig479"><img src="images/479.jpg" + alt="AN UNHAPPY FAMILY. FROM A PAINTING BY NICOLAS FRANÇOIS OCTAVE TASSAERT." /> + </a> + + <h5>AN UNHAPPY FAMILY. FROM A PAINTING BY NICOLAS + FRANÇOIS OCTAVE TASSAERT.</h5> + + <p>In the Luxembourg catalogue, to which museum the picture + came from the Salon of 1850, is printed a long quotation + from Lamennais's "Les Paroles d'un Croyant" (The Words of a + Believer), an emphatic work, of great popularity about the + time that the picture was painted. The women represented, + having fallen into poverty, are suffering from cold and + hunger, the obvious end of the tragedy being explained by + these words, "Shortly after there were seen two forms, + luminous like souls, which took their flight towards + Heaven." The picture, like much of Tassaert's work, affords + an instance of misguided and morbid talent.</p> + </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page480" + id="page480"></a>[pg 480]</span> + + <p>In Henri Harpignies, a living painter, though now aged, the + influence is felt in the careful attention to form throughout + the landscape. The delicate branching of trees is depicted in + his work with accuracy tempered by a sense of the beauty of + line, which prevents it from becoming photographic. Léon + Germain Pelouse, who was born at Pierrelay in 1838, and died in + Paris, 1891, carried somewhat the same qualities to excess. His + pictures, though undeniably excellent, are marred by the + dangerous facility which degenerates into mere virtuosity. + Charles Jacque, who was born in 1813, and lived until 1894, was + of the original group living for many years in Barbizon. He + was, perhaps, of less original mind than any of the others, but + was gifted with a power of assimilation which enabled him to + form an eclectic style that is now recognized as his own. His + pictures are many in number and varied in character, though his + somewhat stereotyped pictures of sheep, done in the later years + of his life, are best known.</p> + + <p>The limits of space render it difficult to make even a + summary enumeration of certain tendencies in figure painting + which marked the years of the growth of this great landscape + school. Gustave Courbet (born at Ornans in 1819, died in + Switzerland, 1877), who might be classed both as a figure and a + landscape painter, would demand by right a longer consideration + than can be here given. Of his career as a champion of realism, + as a past master in the peculiarly modern art of keeping one's + self before the public, culminating in his connection with the + Commune in Paris in 1871, and the destruction of the column in + the Place Vendôme, there could be much to say. Courbet + was, as a painter, a powerful individuality; of more force, + however, as a painter of the superficial envelope than of the + deeper qualities which nature makes pictorial at the bidding of + one of finer fibre. His claim to be considered modern can be + contested, inasmuch as it was only in subject that his work was + novel. In manner of painting he was of a time long past, of a + school of greater masters than he showed himself to be. With + this reserve, however, as a vigorous painter, both of the + figure and landscape, he is interesting; and as one of the + first to look about him and find his subjects in our daily + life, his work will live.</p> + + <p>Curiously enough, the revival of the art of another epoch in + the case of Saint Bonvin remained absolutely modern. By nature + or by choice this painter (born at Vaugirard, near Paris, in + 1817, and dying at St. Germain-en-Laye in 1887) is a modern + Pieter de Hooghe; and as the Dutch masters addressed themselves + to a painstaking and sincere representation of the life about + them, in like manner Bonvin, bringing to his work much the same + qualities, choosing as his subjects quiet interiors, with the + life of the family pursuing its even tenor (or the still more + placid progress of conventual life, like the "Ave Maria in the + Convent of Aramont," in the Luxembourg), remains himself while + resembling his prototypes. It is instructive to look at his + "Servant at the Fountain," reproduced here, compare it with + many of the pictures of familiar life like those of Wilkie, + Webster, or Mulready, published last month, and note the + unconsciousness of the work before us.</p> + + <p>The work of a painter equally able, though suffering + somewhat as representing an art with which we moderns have + little sympathy, falls into comparison here, and undoubtedly + loses by it. The unfortunate painter, Octave Tassaert, who was + born in Paris in 1800, and lived there, undergoing constant + privation, until he voluntarily ended his life in 1874, + possibly found consolation for his hard lot in depicting scenes + like that entitled "An Unhappy Family."</p> + + <p>The lesson of the art of the men considered here is that of + direct inspiration of nature, of reliance on native qualities + rather than those acquired; and the impulse given by them has + continued in force until to day. We have before us, as a + consequence, two strongly defined tendencies which will control + the future of painting. The first and strongest, for the + moment, is the impressionistic tendency, with its negation of + any pictorial qualities other than those based on direct study + from objects actually existing. This would, if carried to a + logical conclusion, eliminate the imaginative quality, and + render the painter a human photographic camera. The other + tendency is that which has existed since art was born, and + which, though temporarily and justly ignored in periods when it + is necessary to recreate a technical standard, always comes to + the surface when men have learned their trade as painters. It + is the desire to create; the instinct which impels one to use + the language given him to express thought. The two tendencies + are not incompatible; and in the end the artist will arise who, + with certainty of expression, will express thought.</p> + <hr class="full" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page481" + id="page481"></a>[pg 481]</span> + + <h2>"SOLDIER AN' SAILOR TOO."</h2> + + <h4>By Rudyard Kipling,</h4> + + <h5>Author of "Barrack-Room Ballads," "The Jungle Book," + etc.</h5> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>As I was spittin' into the Ditch aboard o' the + "Crocodile,"</p> + + <p>I seed a man on a man-o'-war got up in the Reg'lars' + style.</p> + + <p>'E was scrapin' the paint from off of 'er plates, + an' I sez to 'im: "Oo are you?"</p> + + <p>Sez 'e: "I'm a Jolly—'er Majesty's + Jolly—soldier an' sailor too!"</p> + + <p class="i2"><i>Now 'is work begins by Gawd knows + when, and 'is work is never through—</i></p> + + <p class="i2"><i>'E isn't one o' the Regular line, nor + 'e isn't one of the crew—</i></p> + + <p class="i2"><i>'E's a kind of a giddy + herumfrodite—soldier an' sailor too</i>!</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>An' after I met 'im all over the world, a-doin' all + kinds o' things,</p> + + <p>Like landin' 'isself with a Gatling-gun to talk to + them 'eathen kings;</p> + + <p>'E sleeps in an 'ammick instead of a cot, an' 'e + drills with the deck on a slue,</p> + + <p>An' 'e sweats like a Jolly—'er Majesty's + Jolly—soldier an' sailor too!</p> + + <p class="i2"><i>For there isn't a job on the top o' + the earth the beggar don't know—nor do!</i></p> + + <p class="i2"><i>You can leave 'im at night on a bald + man's 'ead to paddle 'is own canoe;</i></p> + + <p class="i2"><i>'E's a sort of a bloomin' + cosmopolot—soldier an' sailor too</i>.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>We've fought 'em on trooper, we've fought em in + dock, an' drunk with 'em in betweens,</p> + + <p>When they called us the sea-sick scull'ry maids, an' + we called 'em the Ass Marines;</p> + + <p>But when we was down for a double fatigue, from + Woolwich to Bernardmyo,</p> + + <p>We sent for the Jollies—'er Majesty's + Jollies—soldier an' sailor too!</p> + + <p class="i2"><i>They think for 'emselves, an they + steal for 'emselves, an' they never ask what's to + do,</i></p> + + <p class="i2"><i>But they're camped an fed an' they're + up an' fed before our bugle's blew.</i></p> + + <p class="i2"><i>Ho! they ain't no limpin + procrastitutes—soldier an' sailor too!</i></p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>You may say we are fond of an 'arness cut or 'ootin' + in barrick-yards,</p> + + <p>Or startin' a Board School mutiny along o' the Onion + Guards;</p> + + <p>But once in a while we can finish in style for the + ends of the earth to view,</p> + + <p>The same as the Jollies—'er Majesty's + Jollies—soldier an' sailor + too.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page482" + id="page482"></a>[pg 482]</span> + + <p class="i2"><i>They come of our lot, they was + brothers to us, they was beggars we'd met and + knew;</i></p> + + <p class="i2"><i>Yes, barrin' an inch in the chest an' + the arms, they was doubles o' me and you,</i></p> + + <p class="i2"><i>For they weren't no special + chrysanthemums—soldier an' sailor too</i>.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>To take your chance in the thick of a rush with + firing all about</p> + + <p>Is nothing so bad when you've cover to 'and, and + leave an' likin' to shout;</p> + + <p>But to stand an' be still to the "Birken'ead" drill + is a damn tough bullet to chew,</p> + + <p>And they done it, the Jollies—'er Majesty's + Jollies—soldier an' sailor too.</p> + + <p class="i2"><i>Their work was done when it 'adn't + begun, they was younger nor me an you;</i></p> + + <p class="i2"><i>Their choice it was plain between + drownin in 'eaps an bein mashed by the screw,</i></p> + + <p class="i2"><i>An' they stood an' was still to the + "Birken'ead" drill, soldier an sailor too!</i></p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>We're most of us liars, we're 'arf of us thieves, + an' the rest are as rank as can be,</p> + + <p>But once in a while we can finish in style (which I + 'ope it won't 'appen to me);</p> + + <p>But it makes you think better o' you an' your + friends an' the work you may 'ave to do</p> + + <p>When you think o' the sinkin' "Victorier's" + Jollies—soldier an' sailor too.</p> + + <p class="i2"><i>Now there isn't no room for to say you + don't know—they 'ave settled it plain and + true—</i></p> + + <p class="i2"><i>That whether it's Widow or whether + it's ship, Victorier's work is to do,</i></p> + + <p class="i2"><i>As they done it, the Jollies—'er + Majesty's Jollies—soldier an sailor too!</i></p> + </div> + </div> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/482.jpg" + name="fig482" + id="fig482"><img width="400" + src="images/482.jpg" + alt="End of Chapter Graphic." /></a> + </div> + <hr class="full" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page483" + id="page483"></a>[pg 483]</span> + + <h2>RACHEL.</h2> + + <h4>By Mrs. E. V. Wilson,</h4> + + <h5>Author of "Barbary," "A Blizzard," and other stories.</h5> + + <p class="cap">IT was the middle of a short December afternoon. + From the scholars in the little log school-house in the + Stillman district rose a buzzing sound as they bent over their + desks, intent on books or mischief, as the case might be. The + teacher, a good-looking young man of twenty or thereabouts, was + busy with a class in arithmetic when a shrill voice called + out:</p> + + <p>"Teacher, Rachel Stillman's readin' a story-book."</p> + + <p>"Bring the book to me," said the teacher quietly; and the + delinquent, a girl of about fourteen, slowly rose and, walking + to him, placed a much-worn volume in his hands.</p> + + <p>"Why," he said, glancing at the open page, "it is 'The + Pilgrim's Progress.' No wonder you are interested. But you must + not read it during school hours."</p> + + <p>The child lifted to his face a pair of large blue eyes, + beautiful with timid wistfulness, as she replied:</p> + + <p>"I know I oughtn't, sir, but I wanted to see how they got + out of Doubting Castle so bad."</p> + + <p>He smiled. "I will give you the book after school; then you + can read it at home."</p> + + <p>"Oh, no," she whispered; "father won't let me read + story-books."</p> + + <p>"He surely would not object to this," answered the young + teacher; "but I will keep it until recess to-morrow, and, never + fear, Christian and Hopeful will outwit the giant yet."</p> + + <p>The wistful eyes brightened, and, with a grateful smile, + Rachel returned to her desk.</p> + + <p>"First class in spelling, take your places," called the + teacher.</p> + + <p>Rachel belonged to this class, as did all the larger + scholars, among whom was her brother, Thomas, two years her + elder. The teacher had promised a prize at the end of the term + to the member of the class obtaining the greatest number of + head marks, and consequently a good deal of interest was taken + in the lessons.</p> + + <p>Rachel had been at the head of the class the evening before; + therefore she now took her station at its foot. Tom, her + brother, now was head, and for some time no change in position + was made. But finally "somebody blundered," and Rachel, who was + one of the good spellers, went up in the long line. Presently + another word was missed, and now Rachel walked to the head. Tom + pushed her spitefully.</p> + + <p>"Another mark, Rachel," said the teacher, "for that is the + end of the lesson."</p> + + <p>The class resumed their seats, and, a few minutes after, + school was dismissed for the day.</p> + + <p>"Good-evening," said the teacher, as Rachel and a younger + sister, a pretty, delicate child, passed him at the door. "Now, + no worrying about Christian, Rachel."</p> + + <p>"I won't," she laughed. "I guess he'll get out. Didn't he + stand up to old Apollyon?"</p> + + <p>"Like a good fellow," was the reply. "Hope I'll come off as + well."</p> + + <p>She looked at him inquiringly, but he had turned toward his + desk, and the sisters set out on their half-mile walk home.</p> + + <p>Let us precede them and see what manner of home it is to + which these children belong.</p> + + <p>The farm is a large one, the buildings substantial, and + everything has a prosperous, well-to-do look. Mr. Stillman, the + owner of these broad acres and the father of these three, Tom, + Rachel, and Susy, as well as of three more girls and another + stalwart son, is a stout, comfortable-looking man of forty-five + or fifty. A glance at his close, thin lips and keen gray eyes + would convince an observant person that he would make it very + uncomfortable for any one in his power who might differ from + him in opinion or dispute his authority. Just now he is + chatting pleasantly with his hired man, and pays no attention + to the children, who pass him on the way to the house.</p> + + <p>Indoors Mrs. Stillman, a slender, fair-haired woman, who + looks as if she felt she owed the world an apology for living + in it, is preparing supper, assisted by her two daughters, + Elizabeth, a sad-faced woman of twenty-four, and Margaret, a + girl of eighteen, with her father's determined mouth and chin + and her mother's large blue eyes and fair hair. The clock + struck five as the school-girls entered the kitchen, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page484" + id="page484"></a>[pg 484]</span> a large room which in + winter did duty as dining-room as well as cooking-room.</p> + + <p>"Run in the sitting-room, girls, and get warm," said the + mother. "Supper is almost ready."</p> + + <p>"Oh, we're not cold; are we, Susy? I got another head mark, + mother," said Rachel.</p> + + <p>The mother smiled. "I hope you or Tom will get the prize. + Where is he?" She was interrupted by a stamping of feet as the + door was thrown open and Mr. Stillman, followed by the hired + man and Tom, entered the room.</p> + + <p>"Supper is ready," said Mrs. Stillman. "We were just going + to call you."</p> + + <p>"Well, I guess it will keep till we're ready," answered her + husband, roughly. "Rachel, get some water; the bucket's empty, + of course. Margaret, where's the wash-basin? Nothing in its + place, as usual. Pity there wasn't two or three more girls + lazyin' around!"</p> + + <p>Nobody replied to this tirade. The hired man picked up the + basin, Margaret handed a towel, Rachel brought the water, and + soon the family were gathered around the well-spread table.</p> + + <p>"I tell you," said Mr. Stillman, after a few mouthfuls of + the savory food had apparently put him in a better humor, "I + think we'll have fine weather for hog-killin' next week, and I + never did have a finer lot of hogs."</p> + + <p>"Oh, father," said Margaret, "don't butcher next week. + Friday is Christmas day and—"</p> + + <p>"Christmas!" interrupted her father. "Well, we always + butcher Christmas week, don't we?"</p> + + <p>"Yes, I know," she said, her lips trembling in spite of her + effort to control herself. "But we never have enjoyed the + holidays, and I thought maybe this year you—"</p> + + <p>"We will do this year as we always have," broke in the + father, angrily. "I suppose", with a look at his wife from + which she shrank as from a blow, "this is one of your plans to + have your girls gadding over the country."</p> + + <p>"Mother never said anything about it," said Margaret, her + temper getting the better of her; "but nobody else takes + Christmas times to do their hardest and dirtiest work."</p> + + <p>"Will you hush?" thundered the father. "What do I care what + anybody else does? I am master here."</p> + + <p>No one spoke again. The assertion could not be denied. He + was master, and well his wife and daughters knew it.</p> + + <p>Poor Mrs. Stillman! Two fortunate baby girls had died a few + weeks after their birth, and the tears that fell over the + little coffins were not half so bitter as those she shed when + first she held their innocent faces to her heart. When on this + evening the father had shown his authority, the two elder + daughters rose from the table, and taking a couple of large + buckets, went quietly out to the barnyard, and proceeded to + milk the half dozen cows awaiting them.</p> + + <p>It was nearly dark and very cold; but no word was spoken + except to the animals, as the girls hurried through the work + and hastened back to the kitchen, where Rachel and the mother + were clearing away the supper-table and making the needful + preparations for the early breakfast.</p> + + <p>When all was finished the mother and daughters entered the + large room adjoining the kitchen, which served as sitting-room + for the family and bed-room for the parents, Mr. Stillman not + permitting a fire kept in any other room in the house. Mrs. + Stillman sat down with her knitting-work as close in the corner + as possible; Elizabeth brought in a large basket of rags, and + she and Margaret were soon busy sewing strips and winding balls + for a carpet. The younger children were absorbed in their + lessons at the table, where the father sat reading his + newspaper.</p> + + <p>All were silent, for to have spoken while father was reading + would have been an unforgivable offence. At last, however, Mr. + Stillman lifted his eyes from the paper, and addressing Tom, + said: "Well, how did you get along at school to-day?"</p> + + <p>"Oh, first rate," said the boy; but that lost head mark + rankled in his mind, and he added, "Rachel was called up by the + teacher."</p> + + <p>"How was that, Rachel?" said her father sharply. Poor + girl!—deep in the mysteries of long division, she did not + hear him.</p> + + <p>"Rachel," he repeated, "what were you called up in school + for to-day?"</p> + + <p>She glanced reproachfully at Tom. "I read a little in 'The + Pilgrim's Progress,' father. It's not a story-book—"</p> + + <p>"Never mind what it is. I send you to school to study, and + you're not to touch any but your school-books."</p> + + <p>"May I bring it home?" she faltered.</p> + + <p>"Bring it home, indeed! No, miss. I guess you can find + enough to do at home. Not another word more, or you will stay + at home for good."</p> + + <p>The child bent over her slate; but tears would come, and at + last a sob burst forth.</p> + + <p>"Clear out to bed, Rachel," said her father angrily. "I want + no snivelling here."</p> + + <p>Upstairs, in the cold, dark room, what + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page485" + id="page485"></a>[pg 485]</span> bitter thoughts surged + through the childish brain!</p> + + <p>Mr. Stillman loved his wife and children. He wanted them to + be happy, but in his way. He must choose their pleasures. If + they could not be satisfied with what he chose for them, it was + not his fault; it was their perversity. And as no two souls are + alike, the attempt to fit a number of them by the same pattern + necessarily caused suffering to the souls undergoing the + operation.</p> + + <p>Mrs. Stillman's sensitive organization was completely + crushed; her eldest daughter's nearly so. Martha, the second + daughter, had escaped by marrying a clever young man, who first + pitied, then loved the daughter of his employer, and persuaded + her to elope with him, assuring her of a happier home than she + had with her father.</p> + + <p>The marriage angered Mr. Stillman greatly, and all + intercourse with the disobedient daughter was forbidden.</p> + + <p>Margaret, the third daughter, also rebelled at the fitting + process; and having a goodly portion of her father's + determination, many were the sharp words that passed between + them.</p> + + <p>So far Rachel and Susan had given no trouble. He ordered + them about as he did his dumb animals, and with no more regard + to their feelings. With his sons it was different. They would + be men some day. They must be treated with some consideration. + At an early age, John, two years older than Elizabeth, was + given a share in the stock and land to cultivate; so that when, + at the age of twenty-four, he married, he had a "right good + start in the world."</p> + + <p>But his sister toiled early and late, washing, ironing, + milking, churning, baking, nursing the younger children, + sharing her mother's labors, and paid as her mother + was—with her board and a scanty, grudgingly given + wardrobe. She was now twenty-four, and had never had a + five-dollar bill to spend as she pleased in her life—for + that matter, neither had the mother. There are many Mr. + Stillmans, "Are they honest men?" If father and son have the + right to be paid for their labor, have not the mother and + daughter? I leave the question with you.</p> + + <p>Rachel carried a heavy heart to school next morning. The + tinker's wonderful allegory to her was very real, and to leave + her hero in that awful dungeon was almost more than she could + bear. When at recess the teacher offered her the book, she did + not take it.</p> + + <p>"Father said," she began—then sobs choked her + utterance. He understood, and after a moment's silence said: "I + am interested in Christian as well as you, Rachel, and if you + will sit here I will read to you." In all her after life Rachel + never forgot these readings at intermission, which were + continued not only until Christian reached the Celestial city, + but until Christiana and the children completed their wonderful + journey to the same place. Her gratitude to her young teacher + would certainly have become love had she been a few years + older. As it was, when in March the term closed, not even the + prize as the best speller—a beautiful copy of "Pilgrim's + Progress"—consoled her for the cessation of school.</p> + + <p>As for the teacher, he was glad the winter's + work—which had been undertaken and conscientiously + carried through solely for the purpose of obtaining means to + pursue the study of his profession—was over. He liked + some of his scholars very much, Rachel especially; she was so + interested in her studies, so intelligent and grateful, that + when, with eyes swimming in tears, she bade him good-by, he + felt a moment's sorrow at leaving her, and comforted her by + telling her what a good girl she had been and that he would not + forget her.</p> + + <p>"You ought to have seen Rache an' Suse cry when old Gray bid + us good-by," said Tom that evening at home.</p> + + <p>"Did you cry?" asked Margaret.</p> + + <p>"Guess not! Glad school's out; an' I'm never goin' any + more."</p> + + <p>"I wouldn't if I were you, bub," said Margaret; "you know + enough now." She always called him "bub" when she wanted to vex + him, "But old Gray, as you call him, will be somebody yet, see + if he don't."</p> + + <p>The entrance of Mr. Stillman closed the conversation, and + Tom went out, banging the door after him. No wonder Margaret + was getting ill-natured.</p> + + <p>The winter was a long, dull season at Stillman's. Even her + enjoyment at the few social gatherings she was permitted to + attend in the neighborhood was marred by the knowledge that she + could not entertain her young friends in return. She had + attempted once to fix up the "spare room" and have a fire for + some company, but her father had peremptorily forbidden it. + "I'd like to know," he said, "why the settin'-room ain't good + enough! If your company is too nice to be with the rest of the + family they can stay away, miss."</p> + + <p>And "they" generally did stay away after one visit. Mr. + Stillman was not a success as a host, young people thought; and + a young minister who came home from meeting one Sunday with + Elizabeth was so <span class="pagenum"><a name="page486" + id="page486"></a>[pg 486]</span> completely abashed by the + cool reception he met that not even the daughter's pleading + eyes could persuade him to remain in her father's presence. + A few weeks after, he went to a distant appointment; and + Elizabeth's sad face grew sadder than ever.</p> + + <p>Jim Lansing, the son of a widow who managed a farm and two + grown sons with equal skill, was more successful. He usually + brought his mother with him; and, while she entertained Mr. and + Mrs. Stillman, Jim, the girls, and the carpet rags escaped to + the kitchen.</p> + + <p>But spring was near, and Margaret thought: "He can't keep us + out of the spare room in summer; and, besides, we can be + out-of-doors."</p> + + <p>June came, with her blue skies, her singing birds, her + wealth of beauty. But there was no time at Stillman's to enjoy + it. A larger crop than usual had been put in, and extra hands + employed, but not in the house. Why, there were five women, + counting frail little ten-year-old Susy as one, and poor, + delicate Mrs. Stillman as another! What extra help could they + need, although washing and cooking must be done for all the + men? You see, "hands" could be got much cheaper if they were + boarded—and what else had the women to do?</p> + + <p>It was true, mother was not as strong as she used to be; but + she did not complain. She was only more shadowy and quiet; and + Mr. Stillman told his daughters to "stir around" themselves, + and not let their mother do all the work.</p> + + <p>"Oh, dear," said Margaret one morning, as she and Rachel + were bending over the wash-tubs, while Susy labored at the + heavy churning and the mother and Elizabeth were preparing + dinner. "I wish we could go to the picnic on the Fourth; + everybody's going."</p> + + <p>"Maybe we can," said Rachel, hopefully. "I heard father say + the wheat was late this year, and he did not believe it would + do to cut before the sixth. And oh, Margaret, I heard him say + your calf would bring at least ten dollars; and if he gives you + the money, you can get a new white dress and give me your old + one. It is lots too small for you."</p> + + <p>Margaret laughed. "Yes," she said; "father said if I could + raise the calf I might have it. Didn't I have a time with it, + though, it was so near dead! Of course I will fix my old dress + up for you—that is, if I get the money. Sometimes I think + father's queer; he did not give Elizabeth the money when he + sold that colt he had given her." And both girls were + silent.</p> + + <p>Out in the barnyard, as the girls worked, Mr. Stillman and + Tom were putting the pretty calf in the wagon preparatory to + taking it to the butcher in the town a few miles distant. When + the girls went in to dinner the men had finished theirs, and + were lounging in the shady yard enjoying their nooning.</p> + + <p>As they were about to sit down at the table, Mr. Stillman + handed Margaret a package, saying, "There's your share of that + spotted calf, Margaret."</p> + + <p>"My share!" she exclaimed. "Why, you gave me the calf; you + had no right to it."</p> + + <p>As she spoke she opened the package and unrolled a piece of + cheap lawn—yellow ground dotted with blue. She flung it + angrily on the floor, and ran out of the room.</p> + + <p>Mr. Stillman turned to Rachel after a moment of dumb + amazement, and said: "You can have the dress, Rachel. I'll + teach Margaret a lesson."</p> + + <p>"I don't want it," she said. "You had no right to take + Margaret's money. You did give her the calf, and when you sold + Tom's pig you gave him his money."</p> + + <p>"Nice girls you're raising, mother," said Mr. Stillman to + his frightened wife. "They'll be turning us out of doors next. + You pick up that lawn, miss."</p> + + <p>Rachel did so. As she folded it, he went on: "That calf was + mine. I only meant to pay her for caring for it."</p> + + <p>"You should have told her so, then," said his daughter, + facing him with eyes keen as his own; "but you told her if she + could raise it she might have it, and, of course, she believed + you."</p> + + <p>He raised his hand as if to strike her; then, as she did not + move or drop her eyes, he turned and left the room.</p> + + <p>July came, but the Stillman girls did not go to the picnic. + Tom and the "hands" did; and Mrs. Lansing and her boys stopped + at Stillman's on their way and offered the girls seats in their + wagon. But Mr. Stillman said his women had to get ready for the + harvest hands who were coming next day, and Margaret said to + Rachel bitterly: "We have no decent clothes to go in anyhow." + And there was much washing, ironing, cooking, and churning done + as the days went on. No wonder Mrs. Stillman grew paler and + weaker, until even her husband noticed it, and brought her a + bottle of bitters, and told the girls to "keep mother out of + the kitchen," which they indeed tried to do. But how could the + mother rest when there was so much to do? The girls could not + manage as she could, and Elizabeth seemed "so poorly;" for the + patient elder daughter, as the summer dragged along, had a + pitifully hopeless look on her pale face, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page487" + id="page487"></a>[pg 487]</span> and went about listlessly, + as if life had lost all interest for her.</p> + + <p>At last there came a morning when the mother did not rise + for breakfast.</p> + + <p>"Hadn't we better send for Dr. Lewis, father?" said + Elizabeth.</p> + + <p>"Oh, no; your mother did not sleep much, it was so hot last + night. She'll be up directly. You keep her out of the kitchen, + and see you have dinner on time. We want to finish to-day, for + I expect we'll have a storm, from the feel of the air."</p> + + <p>Noon came. Dinner for a dozen hungry men was on the table, + and still Mrs. Stillman was in bed. While the men were eating, + Rachel slipped in to her mother. She was awake, but her flushed + face and wild, bright eyes startled the girl.</p> + + <p>"Oh, mother!" she cried, "you are very sick; you must have + the doctor."</p> + + <p>"No, dear," the mother answered; "father is too busy now. + I'll be better after awhile. You go help wait on the + table."</p> + + <p>Rachel returned to the dining-room. "Take that fly-brush, + Rachel," said her father. "Susy's no account; she's too lazy to + keep it going."</p> + + <p>Poor, tired little Susy, who had done a large churning that + morning, crimsoned to the roots of her hair as she handed + Rachel the brush and hurried out of the room.</p> + + <p>When dinner was over Mr. Stillman glared into the room where + his wife lay. "She is asleep," he said. "I guess she's all + right."</p> + + <p>"She hasn't eaten a thing to-day," said Rachel. "Hadn't she + better have the doctor?"</p> + + <p>"Well," said her father, impatiently, "if she's no better in + the morning, I'll send for him;" and he went back to the + field.</p> + + <p>Rachel went for Mrs. Lansing, for she and her sisters grew + frightened as the mother's fever increased. When that good + woman came she saw at once the serious condition of her + friend.</p> + + <p>"I saw Dr. Lewis coming down the road in his buggy as I + came," she said. "One of you hurry out and stop him."</p> + + <p>When, about five o'clock, the rain began to fall in + torrents, Mr. Stillman had the satisfaction of seeing the last + load of grain driven inside the barn door; and, taking off his + hat, he wiped the moisture from his face, saying: "Well, boys, + we beat the rain; and I don't care if it pours down now."</p> + + <p>He walked toward the house, and, to his surprise, saw the + well-known figure of Dr. Lewis on the front porch. "Driven in + by the rain," he thought. "I'll get him to give mother a little + medicine."</p> + + <p>"How are you, doctor?" he said, as he stepped upon the + porch. "Lucky getting my wheat in, wasn't I?"</p> + + <p>"Very," said the doctor, gravely; "but I am sorry to say I + find Mrs. Stillman a very sick woman. You should have sent for + me long ago." The husband was startled.</p> + + <p>"Why," he said, "she has been going about until to-day. I + guess it's this weather has made her so weak. She can't be very + sick."</p> + + <p>The physician was silent for a moment; then he said: "If + there is not a change for the better soon, I fear she will live + but a few days. I cannot understand how she has kept up;" and + he turned and went into the sick-room.</p> + + <p>For once the men at Stillman's ate a cold supper and did the + milking. Mrs. Lansing took things into her own capable hands. + John and his wife were sent for and came, and Jim Lansing + quietly hitched up a team and went for Martha and her + husband—poor Martha, who had not seen her mother for more + than a year!</p> + + <p>All night Mr. Stillman watched by the bedside or walked up + and down the long back porch. It could not be she would + die—his wife. It was the hot weather; she was just weak + and tired. That was it, Mr. Stillman—worn out, tired; and + rest was coming. When Martha came, the mother who had so longed + for her did not recognize her.</p> + + <p>"Mother, only speak to me!" cried the daughter in anguish; + but the mother looked at her with dimming eyes that saw no more + of earth, and muttered as she turned upon her couch, "Hurry, + girls, it's nearly noon. Hurry! Father will be angry if he has + to wait."</p> + + <p>Then she grew quiet; only her restless hands, which her + daughters vainly strove to hold, kept reaching out as if to + grasp that unknown land she was so soon to enter; and before + the sun was high in the morning Mrs. Stillman had found + rest.</p> + + <p>Her husband was stunned. With haggard face he bent over his + dead. "If I had known," he said. "Oh, my wife, if I had known, + I would have taken better care of you."</p> + + <p>Ah, Mr. Stillman, you are not the only one who with + remorseful heart cries, "If I had only known, if I had only + known!"</p> + + <p>Life went on as usual at Stillman's after the mother had + left them. For a while the father was kinder, but as time went + on the old habit was resumed. Elizabeth went mechanically about + her work, and her father did not notice her evidently failing + health. <span class="pagenum"><a name="page488" + id="page488"></a>[pg 488]</span> Her quietness was a relief + to him; for Margaret was growing more defiant toward him, + and quarrelled constantly with Tom, who, now that his + mother's influence was withdrawn, became more and more + meddlesome and overbearing in his conduct toward his + sisters. The summer following Mrs. Stillman's death Mrs. + Lansing's eldest son, Frank, took unto himself a wife; and + late in the fall the neighborhood was electrified by the + unexpected marriage of Mrs. Lansing and Mr. Stillman. Her + boys, on learning her intention, had remonstrated; but she + said: "You boys do not need me, and these girls do. Think of + a young girl like Rachel saying, 'God had nothing to do with + my mother's death. It was hard work killed her!' And when I + tried to tell her of His goodness to His creatures, she + said: 'Yes; He is good enough to men. All He cares for women + is to create them for men's convenience,' And then there's + little Susy, with a face like her mother's. Why, it just + haunts me!"</p> + + <p>"Well," said Jim, "things are in a bad fix over there; but + it isn't Susy's face that haunts me, by any means."</p> + + <p>His mother laughed. "I shall take care of Margaret," she + said; "she and Elizabeth need some one to look after them. They + are being worked to death."</p> + + <p>Four years have slipped over the heads of the + Stillmans—years well improved by Rachel and Susy at the + academy in the town near their father's farm; years which gave + Margaret's happiness into Jim Lansing's keeping, and made Jim a + young man of whom his sisters were extremely proud. Even + Elizabeth's sad face looks as if life might be worth living; + for, under the second wife, life at Stillman's had taken on a + different color. The spare room is a pretty sitting-room for + the young folks.</p> + + <p>"We don't want them always with us," says Mrs. Stillman, as + she shows her husband the change she has made; for one of her + peculiarities is that she manages her household affairs as she + thinks best, taking it for granted that her husband will + approve. As for Rachel, she enjoyed the change for the better; + but now, to the bitter feeling which she cherished toward her + father, was added a touch of contempt "See," she thought, "how + he can be flattered into doing things; if my mother could have + managed him so, she might have lived."</p> + + <p>Rachel was mistaken; the new wife did not manoeuvre or + flatter, she simply took her proper place as mistress of the + house—not as a sort of upper servant, to be snubbed or + praised at the master's humor.</p> + + <p>Another summer had been added to Rachel's years when, one + evening, Tom came home from town, and entering the dining-room, + where she was preparing the table for supper, exclaimed: + "Rachel, do you remember old Gray, as I used to call him, who + taught our school the winter before mother died?"</p> + + <p>"Yes," she said, "I remember him. Mother liked him."</p> + + <p>"Well, I met him in town to-day. He's on that Sanders case. + He knew me right off, and he's coming out here this evening; so + fix up nice and be looking your sweetest. They say he's smart. + I heard some of the old lawyers talking about him." And Tom + caught his sister about the waist and waltzed her out on the + porch.</p> + + <p>"Rachel," said Susy, as in their own room the girls were + dressing after supper, "you are very hard to please to-night + and you seem nervous. What ails you?"</p> + + <p>Rachel smiled. "I am thinking of old days, that is all," she + said. But she entered the little parlor, where Tom and the + guest were seated, in a perfectly self-possessed manner, + saying, as she held out her hand:</p> + + <p>"Good-evening, teacher. How goes the battle with + Apollyon?"</p> + + <p>And the young lawyer sprang to his feet, exclaiming: + "Rachel! is it possible?" and he retained her hand and looked + into her eyes so long that Susy, who had followed her into the + room, and Tom declared that he fell in love then and there. + However that may be, it is certain Mr. Gray showed a wonderful + interest in Stillman's district. The trial in progress at + Meywood was tedious, but his patience did not give out; and + when some of the lawyers proposed to hold night sessions of + court he objected earnestly, saying: "It would be too hard on + the old judge."</p> + + <p>But all things must end, and the case was at last decided in + favor of Mr. Gray's client. As Rachel congratulated him on his + victory, he said, with a look that brought the color to her + face:</p> + + <p>"How long must I stay in Doubting Castle, Rachel?"</p> + + <p>"Why, dear me," she answered, saucily, "I did not think a + promising young lawyer, as father calls you, ever got into such + a dismal place!"</p> + + <p>Then Susy came in, and the young man bade her good-by, but + he whispered promise of speedy return to Rachel, and as he + travelled homeward those wonderful eyes of hers seemed to haunt + him.</p> + + <p>"Who would have thought," he said to himself, "she could + have become such a woman? No wonder I could not find a + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page489" + id="page489"></a>[pg 489]</span> girl to suit me when she + has been my ideal."</p> + + <p>You see, he was trying to persuade himself he had thought of + her ever since that term of school; and it may be, unknown to + himself, those eyes had held him. At any rate, he says they + did; and when, time after time, they drew him back to + Stillman's, he at last made Rachel believe it, and with the + little key of promise she delivered him from Doubting + Castle.</p> + + <p>Let us take one more look, two years later, at the Stillman + homestead. There is a family gathering, and all the girls are + present—Martha and Margaret, with their sturdy boys and + rosy girls; Rachel, with her baby; and Susy, a gay young aunt, + flits to and fro, playing with and teasing the little ones. + Elizabeth, with unwonted brightness in her eyes, looks on, + enjoying the merriment.</p> + + <p>"Doesn't it seem odd," whispers Margaret, "that Lizzie's + minister should come back after all these years."</p> + + <p>"Yes," answers Rachel, in the same low tone. "I am so glad. + She seems so happy."</p> + + <p>The husbands are all present in the evening, and the old + house is full of light and gayety. Rachel slips upstairs to put + baby to bed; and as she sits in the room where so many + miserable hours of her childhood were spent, her tears fall, + thinking of herself and the dear, patient mother, who had + suffered and died; and the old bitterness rises in her heart. + Baby stirs and she hushes him, then lays him gently in the old + cradle, and goes downstairs. Some impulse prompts her to enter + the sitting-room instead of the parlor, where she thinks the + family are all gathered.</p> + + <p>As she opens the door she sees her father sitting, as of + old, by the table on which the lamp is burning, and she half + turns to go out; but something in his attitude touches her. He + is not reading, for the newspaper lies untouched—he is + looking at something in his hand.</p> + + <p>She notices how gray his hair is, and how age is tracing + lines on his face. "Are you feeling sick, father?" she + asks.</p> + + <p>"Oh, no," he says. "Look here, Rachel;" and he hands her a + faded daguerreotype of her mother taken when she was a fair + young bride. "I was thinking about her."</p> + + <p>"How much like Susy," she said, with tears falling on the + lovely face.</p> + + <p>"Yes, only she was prettier," he answers. "I have been + thinking of her so much lately, Rachel. I am going to do + something that would please her. I have bought that pretty + little place of Perry's, and I will put Martha and her husband + on it. Dick's a good industrious fellow; but it's hard to make + anything on a rented farm, and Martha's worried too much. You + don't think any of the children will object?" and he looked + anxiously in her face.</p> + + <p>"Object? Why, they will be glad, father!" And dropping her + head on his shoulder, she puts her arm around him for the first + time in her life; and as she slips the little daguerreotype in + his hand a sweet peace fills her heart and she thinks: "The + bitterness is gone, and love fills its place." After awhile she + joins the group in the parlor. They are singing to Susy's + accompaniment on the organ.</p> + + <p>"Sing 'Coronation,' Susy," she says, as she sits down beside + her husband and glances lovingly in his face.</p> + + <p>"What is it?" he whispers. "You are unusually happy."</p> + + <p>"Yes," she answers. "I have had a vision of the land of + Beulah, where Love is king."</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/489.jpg" + name="fig489" + id="fig489"><img width="500" + src="images/489.jpg" + alt="End of Chapter Graphic." /></a> + </div> + <hr class="full" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page490" + id="page490"></a>[pg 490]</span> + + <h2>CHAPTERS FROM A LIFE.</h2> + + <h4>By Elizabeth Stuart Phelps,</h4> + + <h5>Author of "The Gates Ajar," "A Singular Life," etc.</h5> + + <h3>THE BURNING OF THE PEMBERTON MILLS.—THE STORY OF "THE + TENTH OF JANUARY."—WHITTIER AND HIGGINSON.—THE + WRITING AND PUBLICATION OF "THE GATES AJAR."</h3> + + <p class="cap">THE town of Lawrence was three miles and a half + from Andover. Up to the year 1860 we had considered Lawrence + chiefly in the light of a place to drive to. To the girlish + resources which could, in those days, only include a trip to + Boston at the call of some fate too vast to be expected more + than two or three times a year, Lawrence offered consolations + in the shape of dry goods and restaurant ice-cream, and a slow, + delicious drive in the family carryall through sand flats and + pine woods, and past the largest bed of the sweetest violets + that ever dared the blasts of a New England spring. To the + pages of the gazetteer Lawrence would have been known as a + manufacturing town of importance. Upon the map of our young + fancy the great mills were sketched in lightly; we looked up + from the restaurant ice-cream to see the "hands" pour out for + dinner, a dark and restless, but a patient, throng; used, in + those days, to standing eleven hours and a quarter—women + and girls—at their looms, six days of the week, and + making no audible complaints; for socialism had not reached + Lawrence, and anarchy was content to bray in distant parts of + the geography at which the factory people had not arrived when + they left school.</p> + + <p>Sometimes we counted the great mills as we drove up Essex + Street—having come over the bridge by the roaring dam + that tamed the proud Merrimac to spinning cotton—Pacific, + Atlantic, Washington, Pemberton; but this was an idle, + æsthetic pleasure. We did not think about the + mill-people; they seemed as far from us as the coal-miners of a + vague West, or the down-gatherers on the crags of shores whose + names we did not think it worth while to remember. One January + evening, we were forced to think about the mills with curdling + horror that no one living in that locality when the tragedy + happened will forget.</p> + + <p>At five o'clock the Pemberton Mills, all hands being at the + time on duty, without a tremor of warning, sank to the + ground.</p> + + <p>At the erection of the factory a pillar with a defective + core had passed careless inspectors. In technical language, the + core had "floated" an eighth of an inch from its position. The + weak spot in the too thin wall of the pillar had bided its + time, and yielded. The roof, the walls, the machinery, fell + upon seven hundred and fifty living men and women, and buried + them. Most of these were rescued; but eighty-eight were killed. + As the night came on, those watchers on Andover Hill who could + not join the rescuing parties, saw a strange and fearful light + at the north.</p> + + <p>Where we were used to watching the beautiful belt of the + lighted mills blaze,—a zone of laughing fire from east to + west, upon the horizon bar,—a red and awful glare went + up. The mill had taken fire. A lantern, overturned in the hands + of a man who was groping to save an imprisoned life, had + flashed to the cotton, or the wool, or the oil with which the + ruins were saturated. One of the historic conflagrations of New + England resulted.</p> + + <p>With blanching cheeks we listened to the whispers that told + us how the mill-girls, caught in the ruins beyond hope of + escape, began to sing. They were used to singing, poor things, + at their looms—mill-girls always are—and their + young souls took courage from the familiar sound of one + another's voices. They sang the hymns and songs which they had + learned in the schools and churches. No classical strains, no + "music for music's sake," ascended from that furnace; no ditty + of love or frolic; but the plain, religious outcries of the + people: "Heaven is my home," "Jesus, lover of my soul," and + "Shall we gather at the river?" Voice after voice dropped. The + fire raced on. A few brave girls sang still:</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>"Shall we gather at the river,</p> + + <p>There to walk and worship ever?"</p> + </div> + </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page491" + id="page491"></a>[pg 491]</span> + + <p>But the startled Merrimac rolled by, red as blood beneath + the glare of the burning mills, and it was left to the fire and + the river to finish the chorus.</p> + + <p>At the time this tragedy occurred, I felt my share of its + horror, like other people; but no more than that. My brother, + being of the privileged sex, was sent over to see the scene; + but I was not allowed to go.</p> + + <p>Years after, I cannot say just how many, the half-effaced + negative came back to form under the chemical of some new + perception of the significance of human tragedy.</p> + + <p>It occurred to me to use the event as the basis of a story. + To this end I set forth to study the subject. I had heard + nothing in those days about "material," and conscience in the + use of it, and little enough about art. We did not talk about + realism then. Of critical phraseology I knew nothing; and of + critical standards only what I had observed by reading the best + fiction. Poor novels and stories I did not read. I do not + remember being forbidden them; but, by that parental art finer + than denial, they were absent from my convenience.</p> + + <p>It needed no instruction in the canons of art, however, to + teach me that to do a good thing, one must work hard for it. So + I gave the best part of a month to the study of the Pemberton + Mill tragedy, driving to Lawrence, and investigating every + possible avenue of information left at that too long remove of + time which might give the data. I visited the rebuilt mills, + and studied the machinery. I consulted engineers and officials + and physicians, newspaper men, and persons who had been in the + mill at the time of its fall. I scoured the files of old local + papers, and from these I took certain portions of names, + actually involved in the catastrophe; though, of course, + fictitiously used. When there was nothing left for me to learn + upon the subject, I came home and wrote a little story called + "The Tenth of January," and sent it to the "Atlantic Monthly," + where it appeared in due time.</p> + + <p>This story is of more interest to its author than it can + possibly be now to any reader, because it distinctly marked for + me the first recognition which I received from literary + people.</p> + + <p>Whittier, the poet, wrote me his first letter, after having + read this story. It was soon followed by a kind note from + Colonel Thomas Wentworth Higginson. Both these distinguished + men said the pleasant thing which goes so far towards keeping + the courage of young writers above sinking point, and which, to + a self-distrustful nature, may be little less than a + life-preserver. Both have done similar kindness to many other + beginners in our calling; but none of these can have been more + grateful for it, or more glad to say so, across this long width + of time, than the writer of "The Tenth of January."</p> + + <p>It was a defective enough little story, crude and young; I + never glance at it without longing to write it over; but I + cannot read it, to this day, without that tingling and numbness + down one's spine and through the top of one's head, which + exceptional tragedy must produce in any sensitive organization; + nor can I ever trust myself to hear it read by professional + elocutionists. I attribute the success of the story entirely to + the historic and unusual character of the catastrophe on whose + movement it was built.</p> + + <p>Of journalism, strictly speaking, I did nothing. But I often + wrote for weekly denominational papers, to which I contributed + those strictly secular articles so popular with the religious + public. My main impression of them now, is a pleasant sense of + sitting out in the apple-trees in the wonderful Andover Junes, + and "noticing" new books-with which Boston publishers kept me + supplied. For whatever reason, the weeklies gave me all I could + do at this sort of thing. In its course I formed some pleasant + acquaintances; among others that of Jean Ingelow. I have never + seen this poet, whom I honor now as much as I admired then; but + charming little notes, and books of her own, with her + autograph, reached me from time to time for years. I remember + when "The Gates Ajar" appeared, that she frankly called it + "Your most strange book."</p> + + <p>This brings me to say: I have been so often and so urgently + asked to publish some account of the history of this book, that + perhaps I need crave no pardon of whatever readers these papers + may command, for giving more of our space to the subject than + it would otherwise occur to one to do to a book so long behind + the day.</p> + + <p>Of what we know as literary ambition, I believe myself to + have been as destitute at that time as any girl who ever put + pen to paper. I was absorbed in thought and feeling as far + removed from the usual class of emotions or motives which move + men and women to write, as Wachusett was from the June lilies + burning beside the moonlit cross in my father's garden. + Literary ambition is a good thing to possess; + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page492" + id="page492"></a>[pg 492]</span> and I do not at all suggest + that I was superior to it, but simply apart from it. Of its + pangs and ecstasies I knew little, and thought less.</p> + + <p>I have been asked, possibly a thousand times, whether I + looked upon that little book as in any sense the result of + inspiration, whether what is called spiritualistic, or of any + other sort. I have always promptly said "No," to this question. + Yet sometimes I wonder if that convenient monosyllable in deed + and truth covers the whole case.</p> + + <p>When I remember just how the book came to be, perceive the + consequences of its being, and recall the complete + unconsciousness of the young author as to their probable + nature, there are moments when I am fain to answer the question + by asking another: "What do we mean by inspiration?"</p> + + <p>That book grew so naturally, it was so inevitable, it was so + unpremeditated, it came so plainly from that something not + one's self which makes for uses in which one's self is + extinguished, that there are times when it seems to me as if I + had no more to do with the writing of it than the bough through + which the wind cries, or the wave by means of which the tide + rises.</p> + + <p>The angel said unto me "Write!" and I wrote.</p> + + <p>It is impossible to remember how or when the idea of the + book first visited me. Its publication bears the date of 1869. + My impressions are that it may have been towards the close of + 1864 that the work began; for there was work in it, more than + its imperfect and youthful character might lead one ignorant of + the art of book-making to suppose.</p> + + <p>It was not until 1863 that I left school, being then just + about at my nineteenth birthday. It is probable that the + magazine stories and Sunday-school books and hack work occupied + from one to two years without interruption; but I have no more + temperament for dates in my own affairs than I have for those + of history. At the most, I could not have been far from twenty + when the book was written; possibly approaching twenty-one.</p> + + <p>At that time, it will be remembered, our country was dark + with sorrowing women. The regiments came home, but the mourners + went about the streets.</p> + + <p>The Grand Review passed through Washington; four hundred + thousand ghosts of murdered men kept invisible march to the + drum-beats, and lifted to the stained and tattered flags the + proud and unreturned gaze of the dead who have died in their + glory.</p> + + <p>Our gayest scenes were black with crape. The drawn faces of + bereaved wife, mother, sister, and widowed girl showed + piteously everywhere. Gray-haired parents knelt at the grave of + the boy whose enviable fortune it was to be brought home in + time to die in his mother's room. Towards the nameless mounds + of Arlington, of Gettysburg, and the rest, the yearning of + desolated homes went out in those waves of anguish which seem + to choke the very air that the happier and more fortunate must + breathe.</p> + + <p>Is there not an actual occult force in the existence of a + general grief? It swells to a tide whose invisible flow covers + all the little resistance of common, human joyousness. It is + like a material miasma. The gayest man breathes it, if he + breathe at all; and the most superficial cannot escape it.</p> + + <p>Into that great world of woe my little book stole forth, + trembling. So far as I can remember having had any "object" at + all in its creation, I wished to say something that would + comfort some few—I did not think at all about comforting + many, not daring to suppose that incredible privilege + possible—of the women whose misery crowded the land. The + smoke of their torment ascended, and the sky was blackened by + it. I do not think I thought so much about the suffering of + men—the fathers, the brothers, the sons—bereft; but + the women—the helpless, outnumbering, unconsulted women; + they whom war trampled down, without a choice or protest; the + patient, limited, domestic women, who thought little, but loved + much, and, loving, had lost all—to them I would have + spoken.</p> + + <p>For it came to seem to me, as I pondered these things in my + own heart, that even the best and kindest forms of our + prevailing beliefs had nothing to say to an afflicted woman + that could help her much. Creeds and commentaries and sermons + were made by men. What tenderest of men knows how to comfort + his own daughter when her heart is broken? What can the + doctrines do for the desolated by death? They were chains of + rusty iron, eating into raw hearts. The prayer of the preacher + were not much better; it sounded like the language of an + unknown race to a despairing girl. Listen to the hymn. It falls + like icicles on snow. Or, if it happen to be one of the old + genuine outcries of the Church, sprung from real human anguish + or hope, it maddens the listener, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page493" + id="page493"></a>[pg 493]</span> and she flees from it, too + sore a thing to bear the touch of holy music.</p> + + <p>At this time, be it said, I had no interest at all in any + especial movement for the peculiar needs of women as a class. I + was reared in circles which did not concern themselves with + what we should probably have called agitators. I was taught the + old ideas of womanhood, in the old way, and had not to any + important extent begun to resent them.</p> + + <p>Perhaps I am wrong here. Individually, I may have begun to + recoil from them, but only in a purely selfish, personal way, + beyond which I had evolved neither theory nor conscience; much + less the smallest tendency towards sympathy with any public + movement of the question.</p> + + <p>In the course of two or three years spent in exceptional + solitude, I had read a good deal in the direction of my ruling + thoughts and feeling, and came to the writing of my little + book, not ignorant of what had been written for and by the + mourning. The results of this reading, of course, went into the + book, and seemed to me, at the time, by far the most useful + part of it.</p> + + <p>How the book grew, who can say? More of nature than of + purpose, surely. It moved like a tear or a sigh or a prayer. In + a sense I scarcely knew that I wrote it. Yet it signified labor + and time, crude and young as it looks to me now; and often as I + have wondered, from my soul, why it has known the history that + it has, I have at least a certain respect for it, myself, in + that it did not represent shiftlessness or sloth, but steady + and conscientious toil. There was not a page in it which had + not been subjected to such study as the writer then knew how to + offer to her manuscripts.</p> + + <p>Every sentence had received the best attention which it was + in the power of my inexperience and youth to give. I wrote and + rewrote. The book was revised so many times that I could have + said it by heart. The process of forming and writing "The Gates + Ajar" lasted, I think, nearly two years.</p> + + <p>I had no study or place to myself in those days; only the + little room whose one window looked upon the garden cross, and + which it was not expected would be warmed in winter.</p> + + <p>The room contained no chimney, and, until I was sixteen, no + fire for any purpose. At that time, it being supposed that some + delicacy of the lungs had threatened serious results, my + father, who always moved the sods beneath him and the skies + above him to care for a sick child, had managed to insert a + little stove into the room, to soften its chill when needed. + But I did not have consumption, only life; and one was not + expected to burn wood all day for private convenience in our + furnace-heated house. Was there not the great dining-room where + the children studied?</p> + + <p>It was not so long since I, too, had learned my lessons off + the dining-room table, or in the corner by the register, that + it should occur to any member of the family that these + opportunities for privacy could not answer my needs.</p> + + <p>Equally, it did not occur to me to ask for any abnormal + luxuries. I therefore made the best of my conditions, though I + do remember sorely longing for quiet.</p> + + <p>This, at that time, in that house, it was impossible for me + to compass. There was a growing family of noisy boys—four + of them—of whom I was the only sister, as I was the + oldest child. When the baby did not cry (I have always + maintained that the baby cried pretty steadily both day and + night, but this is a point upon which their mother and I have + affectionately agreed to differ), the boys were shouting about + the grounds, chasing each other through the large house, up and + down the cellar stairs, and through the wide halls, a whirlwind + of vigor and fun. They were merry, healthy boys, and everything + was done to keep them so. I sometimes doubt if there are any + happier children growing anywhere than the boys and girls of + Andover used to be. I was very fond of the boys, and cherished + no objection to their privileges in the house. But when one + went down, on a cold day, to the register, to write one's + chapter on the nature of amusements in the life to come, and + found the dining-room neatly laid out in the form of a church + congregation, to which a certain proportion of brothers were + enthusiastically performing the duties of an active pastor and + parish, the environment was a definite check to + inspiration.</p> + + <p>I wonder if all Andover boys played at preaching? It + certainly was the one sport in our house which never + satiated.</p> + + <p>Coming in one day, I remember, struggling with certain + hopeless purposes of my own, for an afternoon's work, I found + the dining-room chairs all nicely set in the order of pews; a + table, ornamented with Bible and hymn-books, confronted them; + behind it, on a cricket, towered the bigger brother, loudly + holding forth. The little brother represented the + audience—it was usually the little one who was forced to + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page494" + id="page494"></a>[pg 494]</span> play this duller + <i>rôle</i>—and, with open mouth, and with + wriggling feet turned in on the rounds of the chair, + absorbed as much exhortation as he could suffer.</p> + + <p>"My text, brethren," said the little minister, "is, 'Suffer + the little children to come unto me.'</p> + + <p>"My subject is, <i>God; Joseph; and Moses in the + bulrushes</i>!"</p> + + <p>Discouraged by the alarming breadth of the little preacher's + topic, I fled up-stairs again. There an inspiration did, + indeed, strike me; for I remembered an old fur cape, or + <i>pelisse</i>, of my mother's, out of fashion, but the warmer + for that; and straightway I got me into it, and curled up, with + my papers, on the chilly bed in the cold room, and went to + work.</p> + + <p>It seems to me that a good part of "The Gates Ajar" was + written in that old fur cape. Often I stole up into the attic, + or into some unfrequented closet, to escape the noise of the + house, while at work. I remember, too, writing sometimes in the + barn, on the haymow. The book extended over a wide domestic + topography.</p> + + <p>I hasten to say that no person was to blame for + inconveniences of whose existence I had never complained. + Doubtless something would have been done to relieve them had I + asked for it; or if the idea that my work could ever be of any + consequence had occurred to any of us. Why should it? The girl + who is never "domestic" is trial enough at her best. She cannot + cook; she will not sew. She washes dishes Mondays and Tuesdays + under protest, while the nurse and parlor maid are called off + from their natural avocations, and dusts the drawing-room with + obedient resentment. She sits cutting out underclothes in the + March vacations, when all the schools are closed, and when the + heavy wagons from the distant farming region stick in the + bottomless Andover mud in front of the professor's house. The + big front door is opened, and the dismal, creaking sounds come + in.</p> + + <p>The kind and conscientious new mother, to whom I owe many + other gentle lessons more valuable than this, teaches how + necessary to a lady's education is a neat needle. The girl does + not deny this elemental fact; but her eyes wander away to the + cold sky above the Andover mud, with passionate entreaty. To + this day I cannot hear the thick chu-chunk! of heavy wheels on + March mud without a sudden mechanical echo of that wild, young + outcry: "Must I cut out underclothes forever? Must I go on + tucking the broken end of the thread into the nick in the + spool? Is <i>this</i> LIFE?"</p> + + <p>I am more than conscious that I could not have been an easy + girl to "bring up," and am sure that for whatever little + difficulties beset the earlier time of my ventures as a writer, + no person was in any fault. They were doubtless good for me, in + their way. We all know that some of the greatest of + brain-workers have selected the poorest and barest of spots in + which to study. Luxury and bric-a-brac come to easy natures or + in easy years. The energy that very early learns to conquer + difficulty is always worth its price.</p> + + <p>I used, later, to hear in Boston the story of the gentleman + who once took a friend to see the room of his son at Harvard + College. The friend was a man of plain life, but of rich mental + achievement. He glanced at the Persian rugs and costly + draperies of the boy's quarters in silence.</p> + + <p>"Well," cried the fond father, "don't you think my son has a + pretty room?"</p> + + <p>"Sir," said the visitor, with gentle candor, "<i>you'll + never raise a scholar on that carpet.</i>"</p> + + <p>Out of my discomforts, which were small enough, grew one + thing for which I have all my life been grateful—the + formation of fixed habits of work.</p> + + <p>I have seldom waited for inspiration before setting about a + task to be done. Life is too short for that. Broken health has + too often interrupted a regimen of study which ought to have + been more continuous; but, so far as I may venture to offer an + opinion from personal experience, I should say that the writers + who would be wise to play hide and seek with their own moods + are few.</p> + + <p>According to my custom, I said nothing (so far as I can + remember) to any person about the book.</p> + + <p>It cannot be said that I had any hope of success with it; or + that, in my most irrational dreams, anything like the + consequences of its publication ever occurred to my fancy. But + I did distinctly understand that I had set forth upon a venture + totally dissimilar to the safe and respectable careers of my + dozen Sunday-school books.</p> + + <p>I was asked only the other day why it was that, having such + a rare critic at first hand as my father, I did not more often + submit my manuscripts to his judgment. It would be difficult to + say precisely why. The professor of rhetoric was a very busy + man; and at that time the illness which condemned him to thirty + years of invalid suffering + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page495" + id="page495"></a>[pg 495]</span> was beginning to make + itself manifest. I can remember more often throwing down my + pen to fly out and beg the children to be quiet in the + garden while the sleepless man struggled for a few moments' + rest in the daytime; or stealing on tiptoe to his locked + door, at any hour of the night, to listen for signs of + sudden illness or need of help; these things come back more + easily than the desire to burden him with what I wrote.</p> + + <p>Yet perhaps that abnormal pride, whose existence I have + admitted, had quite as much to do with this restraint.</p> + + <p>When a thing was published, then quickly to him with it! His + sympathy and interest were unfailing, and his criticism only + too gentle; though it could be a sword of flame when he chose + to smite.</p> + + <p>Unknown to himself I had dedicated "The Gates Ajar" to him. + In this dedication there was a slip in good English, or, at + least, in such English as the professor wrote and spoke. I had + used the word "nears" as a verb, instead of its proper synonym, + "approaches." He read the dedication quietly, thanked me + tenderly for it, and said nothing. It was left for me to find + out my blunder for myself, as I did, in due time. He had not + the heart to tell me of it then. Nor did he insinuate his + consciousness that the dedication might seem to involve + him—as it did in certain citadels of stupidity—in + the views of the book.</p> + + <p>The story was sent to its publishers, Messrs. Ticknor and + Fields, and leisurely awaited their verdict. As I had written + somewhat for their magazines, "The Atlantic" and "Our Young + Folks," I did not come as quite a stranger. Still, the fate of + the book hung upon a delicate scale. It was two years from the + time the story went to its publishers before it appeared + between covers. How much of this period the author was kept in + suspense I cannot remember; but, I think, some time.</p> + + <p>I have the impression that the disposal of the book, so far + as that firm went, wavered for a while upon the decision of one + man, whose wife shared the reading of the manuscript. "Take + it," she said at last, decidedly; and the fiat went forth. The + lady afterwards became a personal friend, and I hope I may not + forfeit the treasure of her affection by this late and public + recognition of the pleasant part she bore in the fortunes of my + life.</p> + + <p>The book was accepted, and still this piece of good luck did + not make my head spin. I had lived among book-makers too much + to expect the miracle. I went soberly back to my hack work, and + on with my Sunday-school books.</p> + + <p>One autumn day the customary package of gift copies of the + new book made its way to Andover Hill; but: I opened it without + elation, the experience being so far from my first of its kind. + The usual note of thanks was returned to the publishers, and + quiet fell again. Unconscious of either hope or fear, I kept on + about my business, and the new book was the last thing on earth + with which I concerned myself.</p> + + <p>One morning, not many weeks after its publication, I + received a letter from Mr. James T. Fields. He, who was the + quickest of men to do a kindness, and surest to give to young + writers the encouraging word for which they had not hope enough + to listen, had hurried himself to break to me the news.</p> + + <p>"Your book is moving grandly," so he wrote. "It has already + reached a sale of four thousand copies. We take pleasure in + sending you—" He enclosed a check for six hundred + dollars, the largest sum on which I had ever set my startled + eyes. It would not, by my contract, have been due me for six + months or more to come.</p> + + <p>The little act was like him, and like the courteous and + generous house on whose list I have worked for thirty + years.</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <a href="images/495.jpg" + name="fig495" + id="fig495"><img width="70%" + src="images/495.jpg" + alt="End of Chapter Graphic." /></a> + </div> + <hr class="full" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page496" + id="page496"></a>[pg 496]</span> + + <h2>EDITORIAL NOTES.</h2> + + <blockquote class="note"> + <h4>TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR SHORT STORIES.</h4> + + <p>We find considerable difficulty in getting the two + hundred first-class short stories that we require each + year. We are delighted to be able to publish so many + stories by eminent authors, but we should like to get more + good stories from writers whose fame is yet to be made. We + therefore announce a liberal policy in regard to payment, + and invite contributions from every one who can write a + good story. The scale of payment will be such as to please + every contributor, whether he is famous or not.</p> + + <p>We need every year about fifty stories of from four to + six thousand words in length; about one hundred stories of + from two to three thousand words in length, and not less + than fifty stories a year for young people, about two + thousand words in length. Of these stories thirty or forty + are for McCLURE'S MAGAZINE, and the remainder are for the + newspaper syndicates controlled by the publishers of this + magazine.</p> + + <p>A regular manuscript department has been established by + the editors, and it is the intention to report upon every + manuscript within a week after it is received. We also + welcome contributions to every branch of literature + represented in the magazine.</p><br /> + + + <h4>THE McCLURE'S "EARLY LIFE OF LINCOLN."</h4> + + <p>This volume contains all the articles published in the + first four Lincoln numbers of McCLURE'S MAGAZINE (November + to February, inclusive). These numbers, although repeatedly + reprinted, are now out of print, and the "Early Life of + Lincoln" was published mainly to meet a demand we could not + fill with the magazine. It contains a great deal more, both + in text and pictures, than appeared in the magazine. It is + mailed to any address for fifty cents; or for one dollar, + if bound in cloth. We intend having our own plant, to + reprint the March and subsequent numbers whenever + necessary.</p><br /> + + + <h4>THE McCLURE'S NEW "LIFE OF GRANT."</h4> + + <p>We have been greatly surprised, in preparing our new + "Life of Grant," to find so much new and valuable material, + especially about Grant's earlier life. No more fascinating + and dramatic story has ever been lived. We have been + especially fortunate in securing the collaboration of Mr. + Hamlin Garland to write this life of Grant. Mr. Garland was + selected for this work for two reasons—first, he has + always loved and admired Grant; second, he is familiar in + general with the conditions of life in the middle West, and + is especially qualified to tell the truth both in color and + fact. The tastes and training of a realistic novelist are + an admirable equipment for a biographer, provided the hero + of his story and his environment appeal to the + novelist.</p> + + <p><i>We propose to publish the best Life of Grant ever + written.</i></p> + + <p>We have collected a great quantity of pictures and other + illustrations, and we ask our friends to help us as they + are helping us in our "Life of Lincoln." Every one who has + a contribution, either in picture or incident, to our + knowledge of this great man ought to bring it before the + two or three million readers that McCLURE'S will have when + we begin to publish the "Life of Grant" next + November.</p><br /> + + + <h4>NEW PICTURES OF LINCOLN.</h4> + + <p>Almost every week we add to our collection of Lincoln + pictures. Many of these ambrotypes and photographs are of + the greatest value in adding to our knowledge of Lincoln. + We hope to reach one hundred before the end of the year. We + had only fifty portraits last November. We have eighty + now.</p><br /> + + + <h4>THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND PRACTICAL + ARTS.</h4> + + <p>Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, was the scene of one + of the most important of the debates between Mr. Lincoln + and Mr. Douglas. The debate took place on a platform at the + east end of the main college building. At this memorable + debate the students carried a banner on which was inscribed + "Knox for Lincoln." In April, 1860, before he was nominated + for the Presidency, Knox College conferred the degree of + LL.D. on Abraham Lincoln. At their recent midwinter + meeting, the board of trustees unanimously voted to + establish a memorial to Lincoln; and this memorial will be + the scientific department of Knox College, and will be + called "The Abraham Lincoln School of Science and Practical + Arts."</p> + + <p>The founders of this magazine are all alumni of Knox + College, and are particularly pleased at this action of + their alma mater. Knox College affords a splendid + opportunity to young men and women of limited means. The + editors of this magazine can afford to pay the living + expenses and tuition for one year at this college of any + young man or woman who secures five hundred subscribers, as + proposed and explained on the second advertising page of + this number of the magazine.</p> + + <p>The editors of McCLURE'S MAGAZINE are thoroughly + acquainted with Knox College, and can recommend it, knowing + that students who go there will live under the best + possible influences and receive a sound education. All + inquiries should be addressed to the president, John + Finley, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois.</p><br /> + + + <h4>THE HOUSE IN WHICH LINCOLN'S PARENTS WERE + MARRIED.—A CORRECTION.</h4> + + <p>The picture of the house in which Thomas Lincoln and + Nancy Hanks were married, printed in McCLURE'S MAGAZINE for + November, 1895, was credited by mistake to the Oldroyd + collection. The photograph from which the reproduction was + made came from the Oldroyd collection; but this photograph + is, we are informed, from a negative now in the possession + of Mr. A.D. Miller of Brazil, Indiana, and credit is + therefore due to Mr. Miller.</p> + </blockquote> + +<p> </p> +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14663 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/14663-h/images/401.jpg b/14663-h/images/401.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9dd9121 --- /dev/null +++ b/14663-h/images/401.jpg diff --git a/14663-h/images/402.jpg b/14663-h/images/402.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..102f955 --- /dev/null +++ b/14663-h/images/402.jpg diff --git a/14663-h/images/403.jpg b/14663-h/images/403.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..00f7d14 --- /dev/null +++ b/14663-h/images/403.jpg diff --git a/14663-h/images/404.jpg b/14663-h/images/404.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c68581d --- /dev/null +++ b/14663-h/images/404.jpg diff --git a/14663-h/images/405.jpg b/14663-h/images/405.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..eca9a53 --- /dev/null +++ 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