The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-30
The Shadow on the Wall

Hans Alienus lived In an humble cot
tage in Jerusalem. One evening he stood
long before the open window shutter.
How difficult it was to get at closing It'll
The air was cool, the city still. Below
in the narrow, billy street came a mule
teer astride, STOPPING forward over the
back of the ass, whose little hoofs click
ed and slipped on the big, smooth stones.
He sang a monotonous song, in the Gus
tomary plaintive drawing, nasal tones OF
the Fastener; and as he passed along
the sound Of his voice reminded one OF
the bag-pipe.
On the window-siu lay a manuscript
dissertation, and so clear and brilliant
was the February moonlight that Hans
could read the fine writing without diff
f1culty. 1t was a defence Of the establish
ed order of things, Of standstill conserv-
atism, admitting OF no exception. And
as he stood there in the city where the
idea Of human brotherhood was born, AMI
had gone forth over the earth, as ne
glanced over the pages of the document,
he said to himself, NO, no, we young
people are natural foes to conservatism;
I'VE are the ones who now. in all ages,
have broken ground for the truths which
have preceded from this city" AS he
spoke, he made an unconscious move
ment with his hand. At the same time
his glance fell upon his own shadow on
the wall, outlined by the moon.
He could not restrain his laughter. Was
not that the shadow of an actor, the head
thrown back, the hand extended as If he
were declaiming some stirring passage?
feeling Of shame swept over him as
ne considered for the first time. that
|
city to the Western world, as a cargo Of
precious Jewels. was a tiny pearl hui
mainly.
He closed his eyes, and pressed his
hands over his face, and a thousand lit
tie stars seemed to flash before his sight.
To be sure it was merely the pulsations
of his own blood, which produced the sem
sation; and yet, little by little, those
tiny lights ceased to revolve and looked
for all the world like the pale stars which
he had just been watching in the frma-
ment. At length, aroused by voices In
the street, he looked out.
Between the houses opposite there ex-
tended a wall. On the ground in front
was a bright fire, and by that fire stood
Christ, surrounded by g few disciples and
friends. Just behind him his shadow was
clearly defined upon the wall
John, the disciple whom he loved, me-
chanically picked up a blackened coal,
and with 1t outlined the shadow until he
had delineated the entire figure of the
master, upon the wall. Then he dropped
the coal and entered into conversation
with the rest.
Next morning, when Hans Alienus
again stood at his open window and saw
The people pass, there were many who
I y
drawing on the wall.
THAT represents a shoemaker, his back
is bowed" said the shoemaker.
You talk nonsense returned the fruit
erer; that STOPPING posture proves that
he is q fruit-vender. They forgot to
draw the banket on his back, but that
half-open mouth shows clearly that he
was crying, 'Pomgranates, come and buy,
come and buy"
high official of the Sanhedrin who
passed, and who, of course. did not rntx
his voice with the gable of the trades
people. thought to himself, ut is perfect
ly plain that that represents a learned
man and thinker. One might almost
take it to be portrait of me. Positive
~ 1t is me. Not bad, either Probably
some OF the trades-people drew it. OF
course they all know me, more or less"
Meanwhile one of the spectators had
silently approached the carbon drawing.
He had a simple demeanor, and a kind,
patient face. Nothing great was known
of him. no chronicle has preserved his
name, for he led a retired life, away from
the noise of the world. With hands cross
ed over the knob Of his walking-stick
| he contemplated the drawing.
What a noble forehead he thought.
What lofty humanity that bent figure
suggests. Oh, if only one could be like
that. But why wish for the impossible?"
AS he stood there, silent and humble
the likeness to the drawing was so strik-
ing that everybody fell back, pointing to
him in whispers.
Startled and ashamed, he slipped away
unable to understand why they should
stare at him.
In his conscious humility he had resem-
| bled the Christ shadow.
| Had he known this, and. proud in that
! consciousness, stood erect, the likeness
would have vanished.-Translated from
! the Swedish by Axel Gustafson.