New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-20
PETER IBBETSON.
Mr.. DU MAURIER'S WONDERFUL STORY.

Harper Brothers.
The modern tendency to explore obscure psy-
chologic problems has never been more 6trikingly
illustrated than by the truly wonderful story OF
Peter Ibbetson. Mr.. Du Maurier has in this
most original book contrived with great ingenuity
to combine, for the purposes of his romance, and
In the most effective manner. Oriental occultism
and modern science. The blending Of experiences
of multiple personality with the representation OF
scenes from the great picture gallery of the astral
light affords the basis for the dual existence led
by Mary Seraslsier and Peter Ibbetson during
twenty years and, strange as the tale is, 1t is
told with skill and versimilitude sufficient 10
persuade all but the most hardened skcptics that
what is related is not altogether beyond the posi-
bilitics. Not that the reader is shut up to any
definite conclusion. For the introduction gives him
the option OF assuming that Peter lbbetson was
mad when he wrote his autobiography. That he
had been mad was certain, but Madge Plunket,"
on the other hand, adduces certain facts which
tend to bear out the prisoners story in its ex-
ternals She declares with conviction that
mystery certainly existed between the Duchess of
Towers and the life-convict, and for her own part
she is not afraid to avow that she believes the
whole of his story-non- natural, as we'll as natural
The employment of the term non-natural," by
to believe in the possibility of such psychologist
phenomena as are here described, the reader must
assume them to be natural. There is nothing
nonnatural in multiple personality. or In the de-
veopment Of capacities, senses, states OF nina OF
of brain which produce manifestations contrary to
the general experience. Two hundred years ago
sorcery and witchcraft were the only explanations
of such strange phenomena suggested Oh accepted
Science has learned much since that dark time.
1t has learned, among other things, that the su-
pernatural" is misnomer, and a contradiction In
terms. Whatever is, exists by virtue Of natural
laws More than this, science has discovered that
the time has not come, and may never come, for
setting bounds to the possible in nature. These
changes Of view Mr. Du Maurier has availed himsel(
of with equal skill and daring. The rapport es-
tablished between Mary Seraslsier and Peter
Ibbetson opens the way for that marvellous
dream-drama the inception of which il not one OF
the least brilliant episodes in the story. That
first dream OF Peters at Passy, when the fantasies
Of the ordinary sleep cleared away by the
efdOlon Of the Duchess Of Towers; when the gro
tesque yet terrible gnomes are banished; and when
he is initiated into the great art and mystery OF
dreaming true" hannts the reader. and forms
a fitting prelude to the greater wonders which fol-
low. And what wonders they are Who can re-
fran from at least wishing that such experiences
were thinlSabe and possible To lie down at night
in a prison TO pass in a moment from thos, grim
surroundings to felicity and companionship i'm
measurably beyond common waking experience:
to be able to obiectify all past memories to re-
live all that is pleasantest in ones life: to look
on as an unseen spectator while one'a own child
hood relives itself 10 materalize all that one has
seen and known and read and felt; to be en-
lowed with boundless wealth TO enjoy the COM
pany of ones best-beloved and all this ac-
companied by a sense Of reality and an intense
ness Of appreciation differing radically from ord-
nary dreams Who would not desire to possess
the secret Of dreaming true"l
The method of inducing this form of dream is
indeed described here, and nothing could apparently
he simpler and easier. 1t might seem that after
reading the directions given by the Duchess to
Peter one-half of New-York might straightway
90 to bed and begin dreaming true" Listen
to the Duchess "Yoa must always sleep on
your back with your arms above your head, your
hands casped under it and your feet crossed, the
right one the left unless you are lefthanded
and you must never for moment cease thinking
of where you want to be in your dream till you
are asleep and get there; and you must never
forget in your dream where and what you were
when awake. You must join the dream on to
it, and surely the experiment may be tried very
easily, and perhaps good many inqusitive people
will try 1t for themselves. But it may be worth
while to point out that Peter Ibbetson and the
Duchess of Towers were not at all ordinary people
that the first was a modern Sir Galahad-a virgin
knight-who had led pure life in all things.
and whose memories clean and whole
some as those of child. Perhaps this mode Of
life was preparation for his strange experiences.
Just as all the occutiss declare it to be necessary
for the entrance into the higher mysteries. Un-
doubleday there is o special significance attached
by the author to this aspect Of his hero's char
aoter and we do not think we are far wrong in
assuming it to be what has been suggested.
The working out of SO wholly unconventional n
story demanded uncommon ingenuity and an
imagination not less subtle than powerful; and
Mr. Du Nlaurier's genius did not fail him. There
is singular decacy and lightness Of touch about
the description OF the drcamlife of the lovers
the strangest pair of lovers surely, in all lit
erature aud blessed by circumstances which from
without appear hopeless and desperate. Nothing
more delightful has been written than some Of
these descriptions of what went in the fairy
mansion of Magma sed Apta" No Oriental i'm
animation, revelling in the production of Arabian
Nights tales, has equalled the wealth Of fancy
lavshed upon these dream creations. Mr.. Du
Maurier testfes conclusively to the Asatic source
of his central motive in ascribing TO the Will
energies and powers stupendous. For it is
everywhere by the exercise Of the viii that these
marvels are supposed to be produced. The dream
ers do not really create the scenes that pass before
them. According to the hypothesis the astral
light is vast photograph gallery, wherein not
only faces and forms. but deeds and words, nay,
even thoughts, are registered forever. The trained
intelligent VIII can Gull from these archives any
thing il desires to recall II thus cause whole
periods to piss before it panoramically, not in
mere dumb show. but with speech and action This
is what happened at Pussy. when Peter and the
Duchess went over their childhood and saw before