Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-09-12
CHAPTER XIX

After many days, when time suffice,
for the people TO arrange their thought
ia reference to the foregoing scene
there was moro than ono account o.
what had been witnessed on the scafold
Most Of the spectators testified TO hav
ing seen on the breast OF the unhapp,
minister a scarlet letter-the very sem
blance Of that worn by Hester Prynne-
imprinted in the flesh. As regarded It,
origin, there we're various explanations
Oh of which must necessarily have beer
conjecturaL Some affirmed that tn,
Reverend Mr.. Dimmesdale, on the vers
day when Hester Prynne first wore hen
ignominious badge, had begun a cours,
Of penace, which he afterward in s.,
many futile methods followed out, by
iniiicting a hidoous torture on himself
Others contended that the stigma ha,
not been produced until a long timf
subsequent, when old Roger Chilling
worth, being potent necromancer, hat
caused it TO appear through the agenc,
Of magic and poisonous drugs. Others
again-and those best able TO apprecint,
tho minister's peculiar sensibility anc
the wonderful operation Of his spin
upon the body-whispered their belle
that the awful symbol was the effect o
the ever active tooth Of remorse, gnaw
ing from the Utmost heart outwardly
and at last menifesting heavens dread
full judgment by the visible presence o
the letter. The reader may choos
among these theories. We have throw
all Tho light we could acquire upon Tn,
portent, and would gladly. now that
has done its Office, erase its deep priu
out of our own brain, where long medi
tation has fixed it in very undesirabl,
distinctness.
tits singular, nevertheless, that certaii
persons, who were spectatorso of the Who'll,
scene and professed never once TO hav,
removed their eyes from tho Reveren,
Mr.. Dimmosdalo. denied that there wa.
any mark whatever on his breast NOR
than on a newborn infants. Neither
by their report. had his dying words ac
knowledgcd nor even remotely implied
any. the slightest, connection on his par
with the guilt for which Hester Prynn,
had so long worn tho scarlet letter
According 10 these highly respectabl,
witnesses. the minister. conscious tina
he was dying also that tn,
reverence Of tho multitude placed hin
already among saints and angels-haS
desired. by yielding up his breath in th,
arms of that fallen woman, TO express [,
the world how utterly nugatory is thi
choicest Of mans own Righteousness.
After exhausting life in his efforts FOL
manlgind's spiritual good he had mad.
the manner of his death a parable, il
order to impress ON his admirers tn
mighty aud mournful lesson that, il
the view of infinite purity we are sin
ners an alike. It was TO teach then
that the hottest among us has but az
tanned SO far above his fellows rs 20 dis
Germ more clearly the mercy which look
down and ropudiato more utterly th
phantom of human merit. which woul,
look aspiringly upward Without dis
putting a truth So momcnious, We mus
be allowed to consider this version @
Mr. Dimmesdales story as only ana in
stance Of that stubborn fidelity witt
which a mans fricnds-and especially
\ clergymau's-vill sometimes uphold h
character, when proofs. clear as I'll