Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-01-27
yEW-CGyTURY CLUB.

Mr.. Henry q. SpauIding at BoHton
lectureu Monday night before urge
audience at the Nav Century Clul, on
.tThu Marhls Faun;" illustrating his
narrative with stereonticon views of
all the places IN Rome, described by
Nathaniel hawthorne in tho course Of
the story. Mr.. Spaulding knew nor
sonally not only the author, but the
originals Of two of the personages of
the novel, Kenyon and llilda. The
character of the former was suggested
by that Of the sculptor, William W.
Story, and the brown haired Now Eng
land maiden, llildH. was goyerDess 10
MIR. IIawthorne'H family. She was a
woman of marvellous sensitirenesa; in
deed OF Puritan over Ronsati1onesa and
Observation-Disclosures. She bad haen taught
so much about tho ainfulness of sin,
how it involves others besiles the actual
sinners that she felt guilty merely for
having witnessed the crime committed
hy Miriam and Donatello. 1t ia true
that "our sins destroy other Edens than
nur own" She and her family, who
lived in Dorchester, Mass, joined ia
the anti-sluvery crusade in the old ante
bellum days.
Miriam was beautiful JewesH that
Mr.. Hawthorne met in London. In
England the story is published under
the title OF "Ths Transformation, :"
because il shows the development Of a
soul in the gay, yivacious young Italian,
Donatello, who when he FIRST appears
eeems but a link between humanity
and the Innocent, happy creatures that
live in field and wood-a personiiica
tiun Of all the pleasantness Of sylvan
life, an essence of the lovely italian
landscapes. lie was humanized through
his repentance for committed crime.
Nathaniel Hawthorne did not believe
that sin was necessary process in the
education OF the soul, but through it
Donatello developed into a human being
who must work out his avn redemption,
aided by the Thanksgiving power of
friendship and OF religious fuith.
Crushed by his sense of guilt he was
lifted gently mp by the manly mediation
of his friend Kenyon. AN the famous
marble statue OF fann at Rome was the
suggestion Of the character OF DunatellO,
SO was TITO beautiful picture OF Beatrice
Cenci, with its unfathnmahle depth of
sorrow, tie inspiration for that Of
Miriam.
In England this work ia considered
the most important single contribution
our country has vet made to English
literature. In it's literary Style it is
clear cut aa a statue, yet glows like Il
painting. "Whsrs is the gotlmother
VINO gave you to talk pearls and dia.
monds?" asked Morley Of Hawthorne.
Ia Rome he shows lis tho past of two
distinct civilizations. that OF the media.
val saints and Of the old pagan gods.
Rome, as ii now axisis seems like but
q heap of rubbish thrown in to fill up
the gap between us and the empire.
While tho pictures ware thrown on
the screen Mr. Spaullins carried along
the thread of the story and quoted some
of Hawthorne's descriptions Of the
famous spots 10 Rome that wers made
background for its evunts. IN the
clear amber Of his style they some
times show with beauty not their
own, as in the case Of tho world. famed
fountain of Treyi, which he painted in
colors as much more brilliant than the
reality as Turner's "Slaye ship is
than its original. Nevertheless one
could realize why "The Marble Faunn
is considered one Of the best guide
books to Rome.
The next lecture Of this course will
be given next Monday evening: tine
subject .Romola. Florence. a. S.