The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1894-06-16
Miss Mia n. Scranton.

The Gazette has received an in
vitation to attend tie annual COM
mencement Exercises of St. Marry's
Dominican Academy, New Orleans,
Thursday, June 81, 1894. Among
the graduates of this year we notice
the name of Miss Nita r. Scranton,
daughter of DIR. Scranton, of Roy
Vile. 10 the May number of The
Salve Regina, the Academy's paper,
this gifted young lady contributes
the following essay:
.'I'lL CROSS IT THOUGH 1T BLAST Me-.
In looking over some notes of ga New
Variorum Edition of Shakespeare" the fol-
lowing note touching the line, '1'H cross 1t
though it blast me-, (itamlet, Act l.
Scene 1. Line l27) struck our fancy.
| ..Nhoever crossed the spot on which spec
tire was seen became subject to its malignant |
influence. To prove this assertion the Com |
mcntators Blakeway says ''Among the rea-
so IS for surprising the Earl of Derby, who !
died 1904, TO have been 'bewitched is the
following Here he quotes from Lodges
| illustrations of British History vol. iii, p ~.
| s.On Friday there appeared a tall man who
twice tyossta him swiftly and when the Earl
| came to the place where he saw this man, he
| first fell sick.'' This note may be true but
| such interpretation of the sentence would
| never enter minds. ''I'll cross it though
| it blast me- suggests at once the beautiful
old custom of signing oneself with the sign
Of the cross when any evil thing was sup
| posed near, or present, or of making the
Sign of the cross between oneself and the
thug. All early Christians believed in the
efficacy of this sacred sign. IT light so
out, to this day Saxon and Celt of the oidern
| school makes the sign of the cross on his brow
and says ..God pres rye me from eternal
darkness" When lights are brought in,
the sign made and he nurmurs, 'Ihe
light vi Heaven to my soul" When any
ting unusual happens his ,hn,nb seeks his
brow anil his lips whisper, 'frhe cross of
Christ about us" Shakespeare wrote when
S ,cl p :tices were second nature, he knew
III ire OF them than of the supecs OF the
crossing of PATHS, which though we fail to
KIN w the time of its origin, we believe to be
nuc., later; besiies Shakespeare was Cath
lie and kncw that Catholics employ the
sign of the cross 10 distinguish an evil spirit
from, a yoosi-,he Devil cannot withstand
= the scared sign.
, If spectre appear to a Saxon or Celt,
he accosis it thus: elm the name of Jesus
Christ command you not to hurt me, -
r then ma king the sign of the cross towards
= the spectre, he continues, ''1n the name
=, ,,f ,h- Father, Son ami Holy Ghost who are
YOU ans, what do you WANT The frs,
Il bar: Of the invocation shows the person is
c ignorant of the nature of the spirit. The
Z nupal,r belief is if it be evil and come will
:, c..il intention and be questioned without
. command in the nam. of Jesus Christ not to
u hurt it can blast and destroy one as it wills
y but if ono command first and then question
e if is Obliged to answer ana mas no power u
iniurc Maybe Hamlet this, but in hi
naturalization of spirit and his uncertainty a
- to whether it was his fathers ghost, forgo
= the command and though, only of question
)r ing hence the conditional, ''though it bias
N me- Now were he positive it were goo
. spirit to cross its path would not lead t
y fatal results. Probably he did not know o
Il the command, for it not general
D known as the form of the question.
le Blakeway in his notes does not say tn
IN Earl of Derby crossed the path of the spec
:; tire, but the spectre crossed his path twice
- Now the Ghost in Hamlet has no idea G
az latter to follow him. Why then shoul
ne young Hamlet cross the path of the Gho
as we cross each other at street corners.
Were this manner of crossing effective
1S then according to proof brought forward
lit the Ghost should cross Hamlet. not Ham1
.lv the Ghust-Mo:eover, the prince has no d
~. sire to be blasted all his soul is centred {
" discovering who was the murderer OF Ii
C. father, he suspects his uncle, but suspicion
* cruel and trcacherous and Hami
we sickens in their presence. hence one eau
~ of his Joy bcholtins this messenger fro
- another world and his ea:,erness for the i
q = -fe1 nation it may have the power to COZ
&c municatc.
i, Shakcspere's respect for all things sacr
H. is we'll known and acknowledged. VIII
~ he quotes the Bible he does with reve
o cncc and for SOM: important and weigh
on motive, hence his Hamlet crossing the spe
ed tire is no mere matter of curiosity but one
~, deep import both to the kingdom at lar
and the future conduct of the prln<
The convictions that induced Shakespeare
Introduce the Ghost guided him also Ill
DIS treatment
an, That he meant the Ghost to be n sc
from Pur:,atory We have never doubted W
We else should young Hamlet entreat:-
49,. ..s;pcak
: 70 do ; s: and "s sses
- Speak me-,
I've The doing Of good action can not g
ease to n damned soul, though 1t may
CIV crcas,. grace IN the soul of the performer
, it DC already in the state OF grace. Ag
young hamlet says:-
ate .'it thd, has cupboard I'll in thy lite
Extprted the womb OF earth: ,
OSt For which they spirits Oft walk In dc'
Speak Of it,
Out of hell there is no redemption,
70. debts, their time to atone is pass
t,,l therefore, the GnoSt must have been fr
Heaven from PurSatory. The Ono:
!let reply proves he is not from Heaven;-
,,.. :.l;host.--Aly hour is almost come
III, When I tn silphur.,uS and tofnentns nj
. , Must render up myself: <..s
- (;!ost-Ii;y m not. 6u, lend thy serious heal
ON, To what shall unfold.
Flamlct.-Sp-ak. 1 am bound to hear
Ghost-s'o art thou to revenge when thor smart n
49,: Iianet.--What.
-tlC I;hoS,-I fathers spirit:
ed n certain to walk .hc VI
GIN And for the day confined to f:sst n hrc
I'll. the foul crimes done i'll days OF ma
our Are burn. ard pur.sci away
The fire of hell barns but does not pa
r E