Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-11-30

pnfpnOlOglStS IL Del1eNe CTrOHcOuSly) nave
assigned n separate organ, surprising 1t
primitive faculty, has been SO frequently
seen in those whose intellect bordered
otherwise upon idiocy as to have attracted
general observation among writer's on
morals. Between ingenuity and the ana
lytic ability there exists difference far
greater, indeed, than that between the
fancy and the Imagination, but of char
acter very strictly analogous. 1t will be
found, in fact, that the ingenious are al
ways fanciful, and the truly imaginative
never otherwise than analytic
The narrative which follows will appear
to the reader somewhat in the light of
commentary upon the propositions just
advanced.
Residing in Paris during the spring and
part of the summer of 49,, there be-
came acquainted with a NJ. c. Augusta
Dupin. This young gentleman was of an
excellent, indeed of an illustrious, family,
but, by variety of untoward events, had
been reduced to such poverty that the
energy Of his character succumbed be-
meath it, and he ceased to bestir himself
in the world or to care for the retrieval
of his fortunes. BY courtesy of his cred
itors there still remained in his possession
small remnant of his patrimony; and,
upon the income arising from this, he
managed, by means of a rigorous econ
omy, to procure the necessaries of life
without troubling himself about it's super
fuities. Books, indeed, were his sole
luxuries, and in Paris these are easily OBJ
tanned
Our first meeting was at an obscure
library in the Rue Montmartre, where the
accident of our both being in search of the
same very rare and very remarkable vol
/ to-
We saw each other again and again.
was deeply interested in the little family
history which he detailed to me with all
that candor which a Frenchman INDUCES
whenever mere self is the theme. was
astonished, too, at the vast extent of his
reading; and, above all, felt my soul en-
kindlcd within me by the wild fervor and
| the vivid freshness of his Imagination.
Seeking in Paris the objects then sought,
| | felt that the society of such man would
be to me treasure beyond price, and this
| feeling frankly confided to him. 1t was
at length arranged that we should live to-
gether during my stay in the city; and as
my worldly circumstances were somewhat
| less embarrassed than his own, | was per-
mitted to be at the expense of renting and
/ furnishing. in a style which suited the
rather fantastic gloom of our common
temper, time eaten and grotesque man
sion, lone deserted through superstitions
into which we did not inquire, and totter-
ing to it's fall in a retired and desolate
portion of the Faubourg St German.
Had the routine of our life at this place
been known to the world, we should have
been regarded as madmen-although per-
haps, as madmen of II harmless nature.
Our seclusion was perfect We admitted
no visitors. Indeed, the locality of our
retirement had been carefully kept secret
from my own former associates, and it
had been many years since Dupin had
ceased to know or be known in Paris.
We existed within ourselves alone.
1t was freak of fancy in my friend
(for what else shall call it?) to be enam-
ored of the night for her own sake, and
into this bizarrerie, as into all his others,
l quietly fell, giving myself up to his
wild whims with a perfect abandon. The
sable divinity would not herself dwell
with US always, but we could counterfeit
her presence. At the first dawn of the
morning we closed all the massy shutters
of our old building, lighted a couple of
tapers, which, strongly perfumed threw
out only the ghastliest and feeblest of
rays. By the aid of these we then busted
our souls in dreams, reading, writing or
conversing until warned by the clock of
the advent of the true darkness. Then
we sailed forth into the streets, arm in
arm continuing the topics of the day, or
roaming far and wide until late hour,
seeking amid the wild lights and shadows
of the populous city that infnity of men
tai excitement which quiet observation
can afford.
At such times could not help remark
ing and admiring although from his rich
deality had been prepared to expect it,
a peculiar analytic ability in Dupin. He
seemed, too, to take an eager delight in its
exercise-if not exactly in its display
and did rot hesitate to confess the plea
sure thus derived He boosted to me,
with low chuckling laugh, that most
men, in respect to himself, wore windows
in their hosoms, and was wont to follow
up such assertions by direct and very
startling proofs of his intimate knowl,
edge of ray own. HIS manner at these
moments was frigid and abstract; his eyes
were vacant in expression; while his voice,
usually rich tenor rose into a treble
which would have sounded petulantly but
for the deiberateness and entire distinct
ness of the enunciation. Observing him
in these moods, often dwelt meditatively
upon the old philosophy of the BIZ Part
Soul, and amused myself with the fancy
of double Dupin-the creative and the
resolvent.
Let it not be supposed from what
have just said that | am detailing any
mystery or penning any romance. What
| have described in the Frenchman was
merely the result of an excited or per
haps of diseased intelligence. But OF
the character of his remarks at the pc.
RODS in question an example will best
convey the idea
We were strolling one night down a
long, dirty street, in the vicinity of the
Palais Royal Being both apparently oc-
cupied with thought. neither of us had
spoken syllable for fifteen minutes at
least All at once Dupin broke forth with
these words:
"Heis very little fellow, that's true
and would do better for the Theatre des
Varieties.
There can be no doubt of that" re-
piled unwittingly, and not at first observ.
ing $50 much had been absorbed in re,
ilection) the extraordinary manner in
which the speaker had chimed in with nv