The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1899-10-28
AN UNCANNY STORY.
ORIGIN OF THE "SOULLESS MONSTER
OF FRANkENSTElN."

The Interesting History of an Old
to In Literature and at Times Quot.
ed Incorrectly.
Everybody, or nearly everybody, has
heard of the novel of "Frankenstein.
though it is not probable that man!
persons read it nowadays. Here arc
so many illusions to it in our htera-
ture, however, that II aDSoroS some
sort of q notion of it so that he can
not help knowing that it is a weird ana
CHASTITY story about a monster. OUT
whether or not F~rankenSteln IS the
monster even well Informed people do
not always know. showing that they
rever read the story.
Sometimes we hear illusions to
"Frankenstein's monster" as in II OF
Charles Summers orations. where he
speaks of the "soulless monster OF
F~rankenstein, the wretched creation
of mortal science without God and
sometimes the reference is to Frank
enstein only. as if he We're the mon
ster. OF course Sumner. who was
very particular in his use Of figures OF
speech, vas right. When Mrs. Deland,
in her fine novel of sidney makes
Major Lee say that "Christianity is a
Frankenstein." she suffers the major
to talk nonsense.
The story Of this weird novel and the
circumstances under which it came to
be written are decidedly interesting
and may be told in a few words. The
facts are as follows:
In 1916 Mary Goodwin. afterward
Mrs. Shelley. eloped with Shelley. and
they took ,p their residence near &C.
neva. in Switzerland. They had Lord
Byron for q neighbor. and the three
passed much time together. Their on
versation frequently ran on the occult
and the mysterious. and Byron n day
proposed that each should write a
ghost story. All agreed and went to
work. but it was not long before the
two poets gave it up as a hopeless
task. They could write poetry, but
they could not write stories.
Mary ~persevered and completed her
tale in the spring Of 1917. When By
ron and Shelley heard it read. they
were surprised and delighted. 1t was
bound TO be the novel Of the century.
The name of it was 'Frankenstein: or.
The Modern Prometheus." 1t was i'm
mediately sent to London for publica-
ton and met with q great success.
Frankenstein is a Swiss youth. a
student at the University Of Ingol-
stadt. deeply interested in the study OF
chemistry and natural philosophy. He
resolves to penetrate the mysteries Of
life and death and wrest from nature
the secret Of creation. After prolong.
ed study he succeeds and discovers
how to impart movement and ANNA.
ton to lifeless matter.
He then resolves to mold a colossal
man, making him beautiful in form
and feature and Undue him with life
He carries on his work in a studio IA
from the h%abitations of man. labor:
long and secretly, and at last the worl
is completed. There in the great roon
lies the form and semblance Of q hui
man being. perfect in all his proper
tons. Frankenstein relates the story:
1T was on a dready night in NOvem
Der that l behell the accomplishment
Of my tolls. With an anxiety that al
most amounted to agony l collecte'
the instruments of life around me tina
l might infuse a spark Of being int
the lifeless thing that lay at my feet.
1T was already ! o'clock in tn
morning. The rain battered dismal
against the window panes. and m
candle was nearly buNed out, wher
by the glimmer Of the half extinguisl
ed light, l saw the dull yellow eye
the creature open. 1t breathed hare
and a c~onvulsive motion agitated i,
limbs"
Slowly the immense creature arcs
and the artist, frightened at his ow
work, fed away. Then he returns I
find his creation possessed Of life an
every attribute Of humanity except
soul. Nowhere can it find human syn
patty. 1t is out Of harmony with a
things about it, and after searchin
LC l III pursuit VI udDDlucSS
returns again to Frankenstein and d
mands that he make a companion wit
whom it can live in sympathy an
love.
Frankenstein declines, and theme,
forth the monster pursues him wit
hatred and revenge. 1t Stays his brotl
ers and sister, his friend and his brid,
1t follows him to Russia, to Siberi
and into the Arctic ocean, and Their
creature and artist perish together.
is a most uncanny story to read
nights.
Sir Walter Scott reviewed the now
in The Quarterly, but while admittin
its power confessed he did not like /
Our taste and our judgment revolt o
this kind Of writing" All the critic
agreed as to its daring originality
Chicago Post.
Ho,.v-cioo Conductop Indirtod.