Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-03-18

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New York, March IL. - There is
probably pothing so attractive as the
unknown. The mysterious beckons 10
each and every one Of uB, and We long
to find out that which ia marvellous, or
to become well versed in that which is
magical. Thousands of years ago, in
Oriental countries, the magician or
prophet, call him what you will, oc-
cupied position of trust, and was
respected and reyered. Whether the
world grow, more material, or whether
it grew wiser, who can say? But GER
tain it il that it grew very prosaic,
and, except at intervals, little interest
SEEMED 70 be taken in what might be
called the unknown. And yet, suppose
you had told Marie Antoinstte, that
message could be sent from New
France, across the water TO her home
In Paris, the answer flashed back, and
oil within five hourH-would she have
believed III No. She would have said
it Was the work of the devil, or that
you were dreaming. To US there is no
mystery in the telegram or the cable.
Suppose you bad told your grand
mother, even as late as 30 years ago.
that you could sit in your office in
New York, ssnd not only talk to your
brother In Chicago, but hear him talk
70 you-what faith would she have had
In your storyf And yet, how we'll
used We are TO the telephone. Suppose
you had told your son ouiy 10 years
ago that there would be not tricycles.
not bicycles, but hansoms, landeaus,
cabs; in fact, any style of carriages,
running without horses. And yet to-
day we see the hanson worked by
electricity, or what may be the motive
power chosen, and We begin TO thi. i
that there will be a heaven for the
horses even on earth. How, then, can
We claim that anything is impossible
IL Goa wills it?
And yet, it was a Frenchman who
took the American idea of spiritualism
and used 1T as basis for a play! A
play performed by one OF the most care
fully collected group of actors that
were ever ON stage in New York. And
yet, in that audience OF we'll dressed
Misunderstanding people there were
some who laughed at the situations
they dn'tcomprehend, and others who
having no brains themselves, giggled at
what they counted as nonsense. be-
cause they were too stupid to see why
certain types were introduced. Here,
in New York City, a play written by
the foremost play writer of the day,
Sardou, was given by every paper, with
the exception of one, the lighteet and
most frivolous sort OF notices. / don t
call them criticisms because they were
nothing Of the sort. Anybody can jeer
at a play, but it takes a good critic to
write just criticism.
Possibly the play may not come to
you and 80 / will tell you little about
it a man OF wealth, of brain, who has
studied much, becomes interested in
spiritnaIisn be has a beautiful wife,
and, willis be does not love his wife
any the less, he becomes 40 absorbed
in his studies that be forgets to show
her all the courrtesiea that are due
from husband to a wife. She ia
young, handsome, and a little blase.
Like many q worse woman, finding that
her husband negleets her, abe imaginee
herself in love with a man who affects
passion for her because she is indie
pendently rich. She ia TO 20 to visit a
woman friend. Instead. she starts with
her friend and her maid, only to let the
maid and friend go on the train while
she fiies to the house of her lover. The
husband and the remainder of the
guests conclude to try to evoke the
spirits; they do 30. and, by the old
method OF tapping out the letters, they
are told to open something. Soon they
find out that 1t is the window that is
to be opened. Through it they see a
great fire raging. Later on, We know
that petroleum train has colIided with
the express just at the station, ano
that it is believed that wit hothers The
wife has been burned to death. Her bus
band, accompanied by his friends, goes
to the house OF her lover to find out il
he knows which train she took. Listen
ing. hidden in another room, the faith
less wife realizes the force of her hus
bands love and his intense grief. Wher
he goes away cousin of hers remains
and insists that she is concealed in tina
house. He calls her to come out frou
her hiding place. and she appears
Horror. stricken as she is at tbs situa
tion, she tells him that she will remain
dead. That 10 that way alone can SD,
become mistress Of herself, and will thel
be able to keep from her husband tn,
story of her infidelity. Her cousin tell
her he vii. not encourage her in thi
scheme. The lover quickly realize
that. dead, she cannot control he
fortune, and he urges her to declar
herself alive, get divorce and MARI.
him. Then she comprehends il is he
money and not herself which he /
after. Securing him, she agrees to q
with her cousin, and to confess all t.
her husband.
During tbs time she waits for dark
ness she sees her home draped in mourn
ing for her, she hears the cries o
those who loved her, and she secs tn
body OF another woman as she says
IAN honest woman" carried on bic
to her own home as herself. The hus
band, grief-stricken, cannot stay i
his own home, and goes TO a sma
cottage where he had spent his honey
moon. Here the cousin brings the wife
conceais her, and then talks TO tn
husband, that hs may think out wha
to do. Naturally, the conyersatio
drifts to his latest study piritua.ism
He asks him il be has ever called u
the spirit OF bis wife. The sorrowin
man tells him that he has done
again and again, but without gettin
az answer Then, the husband zoe
on to say, that he is happy, becaus
there appeared to him the spirit of
young sister who, to prove her identity
called him by pet name, known onl
to her, and assured him that on tia
very night he would sec his wife. Fl
believed it. The cousin realized bi
opportunity. He leaves the expsctan
man alone and. later Oh, in tho sem
darkened room. the husband calls upo
the wife to appear. She enters, and be
believing u to be her spirit, promise
her he will not touch her or come nea
nh ell md.