The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 18??-1882, 1882-02-10

the spOtp it is bad picture, becaust
the spiritual has been sacrificed to the
material. The same is also of pOr
trait. How easy to make it like by ac
centuating some commonplace peculi
arity. The true painters aim should
be, not only to paint the soul of the
man, but also to show what traditions
belong to him and what portent they
have. You will pardon my rudeness,
he continued, but your face plainly
speaks long history
You are rightp L answered. 'Ex.
traordinary as the guess is, you are per.
fectly right. l am the representative
of one of the Oldest families in Britain.
The StOnnOrs, sir, date back to Edward
the Fourth-a pretty long history.
1T is, sir he said, with apOlite bow;
but there is no need of your assuring
me Of the fact. 1t is written on your
face ..,...,.,.
Come and dine on board the Frolic,
1 said, and we will inspect your folio
during the long evening"
I liked this young fellow. There was
a deferential air about him that is sad
ly missing in most young men of the
present day. My nephew did not at
first share in my admiration, but began
to alter his opinion after looking at the
drawings. They were distinctly differ
shore. Small literal transcripts OF
Dutch scenery, quaint figures, boats,
buildings, all drawn with great. skill
and care, and all signed Edward Han
sen. My nephew raved about their ar
tistic merit, and talked German art
with Hansen all the evening.
After this we saw great deal of
him. We were detained for provisions,
and the young men sketched and fished
together, till Charles, with his usual
contradictory and impulsive way, took
such liking for the young German
that he accompanied us on our cruise.
We had happy time. We explored
the Clyde LOchs, sailed round the Null
of Cantire, and saw most Of the coast
lately made famous by Mr.. Black and
Mr.. Collin Hunter. Our skipper was
invaluable. His memory was marvel
Gus. We had no need for guide books.
Hansen drank in these legends with
avidity. He was a strange, gentle
creature, thoroughly gentlemanlike and
unselfsh, making himself useful to my
nephew and myself in a thousand little
ways, till he became almost indispen-
sable to our comfort. We found out
that lie was in reduced circumstances,
and l was glad to be able, at my neph-
ew's suggestion, to purchase the folio
of drawings.
His fits of abstraction were absolute
ly painful to witness. They appeared
to be accompanied with considerable
physical suffering, and at these times
he would pace the deck for hours, re-
fusing both food and drink.
'CuriOusly enough 1 said one day
after listening to one of the shippers
tales, there is d legend of somwhat
similar character attached to our fami-
ly. The story goes that some time dur
ing the last century there was GER
tain Miss Lettice Stonnor who had Of
Tended her father in the same way as
poor Ellen Maclaine, and was in conse-
quence made close prisoner by him
in one of the rooms in Stonnor Hall.
She was treated with so much harsh
ness that at last she threw herself out
of the window in despair. There used
to be some story of ghost, but not in
my time. The room, however, remains
untouched, and can show it to you
now. There is curious old inscrip-
ton carved in oak over the fireplace.
1t is worded thus: Your lettuce grows
within the garden, but our Lettice buds
in Paradise
Poor Hansen listened spell-bound.
and subsequently had an unusually
severe fit of abstraction. So wretched-
ly ill did he look in the morning that 1
determined to speak to him.
'Mr. Stonnor,' he said, grasping my
hand, the sympathy of gentleman of
your high position is one of the most
precious comforts have experienced.
1 am most unfortunate person. You
see how these legends affect me. The
fact is, sir, l have the misfortune to be
en- rapport with the spiritual world.
Why the mantle should have fallen up
on me cannot tell, but so it is, and
the suffering it entails is dreadful. l
believe / am the most powerful medium
known. The manifestations that have
been elected thro' me in Germany have
had the effect of running my health.
The expenditure of odic force has rem
dered me as weak as an infant L can
no longer produce such sketches as
those you have lately purchased from
me. flew from Germany to distract
my thoughts, and to avoid being made
use of by the spiritulists. In your so
ciety 1 have been happier; but still you
see-I suffer-
is there anything, then, 1 asked, sin
this spiritualismT b..
Anything, Mr.. Stonnorl Oh, wish
there was notp
Il have always thought that 1t was
considered by our learned men as hum
bug.
Yes he replied, sadly, all the higher
truths suffer from modern skepticism.
A great mind like yours-unfettered
by study, and free from school tradi.
tions, one that has lain dormant in its
would bring new light or
the subjectp
Il dare say / could do something to
ward calculating it, I said. The Ston
nors have generally succeeded in what
they undertake.
L am sure of it, he replied, and
feel relieved now that / have unbur
dened my mind to YOU
This was the first Of many conversa
tions we had on the subject. My in
terest was reused, not so much n