The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-01
HAGGARD,s NEW NOVEL.
Written for the Purpose of Hitting
Anti-Vaccinationist
st. Louis Republic.

st. Louis Republic.
Mr.. H. Rider Haggard has written q story
with a purpose in his Doctor Theme. The
aim of the novel is to tell of the suffering
that ensues from characterization. (Long-
mans, Green q Coz DR.. Iherne tells ms
own story, and he relates by what deS-
perate chance ne came under the influence
ana under obligations to a faddist whose
hobby was characterization. TO this man
the doctor admitted that he had not vac
cinated his little motherless daughter; ne
did this as proof of his nonbelief in vac
cination. Stephen Strong, the faddist had
called to see Dr. Theme about standing for
Parliament on the anti-VaccinatOn ticket.
The doctor says:
II suppose that my doubts and irritation
were apparent in the inelegant locosity OF
my manner. At any rate, Stephen Strong
who was shrewd observer, took alarm.
. Look here, doctor, he said, 1 am hon
est, L am; right or wrong, L believe in this
characterization business and we are going
to run the election on it! If you don't be-
lieve in it-and you have no particular call
TO, since every man can claim his own opln-
ion-you'd better let is alone, and look on all
this talk as nothing. You are our first and
best man. but we nave several upon tlle
list; I'll go on to one of them,' and he took
up his hat
II let him take it; 1 even let him walk
towards the door; but as he approached IL
reflected that with that logged, burly form
went all my ambitions and my last chance
of advancement in life. When his hand was
already on the handle, not of Fermentation,
but by impulse, 1 said:
dom t know why you should talk ike
that as | think that have y, given 500 gOOG
What's that, doctor" he asked, turning
NV little girl is nearly four years old
and she has never been vaccnated.'
:" is it SOP he asked, doubtfully.
81 opened the door and called Jane IN,
beautiful little being with dark eyes ana
q Look for yourself said, and, taking
off the child's coat, l showed him both her
That's good enough, doctor, but, mind
you, she mustn't be vaccinated now
"As he spoke the words my heart sank IN
me- for 1 understood what l had done ana
the risk 1 was taking. But the die was
cast, or so ] thought, in my folly IL was
too late to go back
one of the leaders of the characterization
party. All the time he dreaded smallpox;
His daughter was a young woman, engaged
to a young physician of the town, when
smallpox visited the country. Her be-
trothed found that she had been visiting
stricken family. He urged that she be vac
cinated, reminding her of his deep interest:
That's not the point she answered. II
you vaccin2ted me and my arm fell on IN
consequence, l shouldn't care for you bit
the less because l should know that you
were the victim of a foolish superstition
and believed what you were doing 70 be
right. 1 have read all the papers and statis-
tics and heard the cleVerest men IN Eng ana
lecture upon it, and nothing, nothing, moth
ing will ever induce me ne 70 submit 10 mat
He heard and groaned, and then he tried
listen he said, you have been good
enough to tell me-several times-well, that
you loved me, and forgive me for alludlng
to it, but I think you were once so foolish
as to say that you cared enough for me TO
give up your very existence if it could make
me happy. Now, l ask you to submit to-
trif1ing inconvenience.
Ernest" she said, hoarsely, If you ask
anything else of me in the world l would
do it-yes, anything you can think of-but
this / can't do and won't do.
I'm Gods name, why not? he cried.
Because to do it would be to declare my
father quack and a liar, and to show that
T. his daughter, from whom. if from any
body he has a right to expect faith and
support, have no belief in him and the doc
trine he has taught for twenty years.
Ernest MerchisOn ground his teeth, UNI
Outstanding that in the face Of this wom-
ans blind fidelity all argument and appeal
were useless. Then, in his love and despair,
he formed a desperate resolve.
Catching her suddenly round the waist, he
thrust her into a cottage armchair which
stood by, and, despite her struggles, began
to cut at the sleeve of her dress with the
lancet in his hand But soon he realized
that the task was hopeless.
Ernest Merchison,' she said, as she es-
caped from him, with blazing eyes and
catching her breath, you have done what |
viii never forgive. Go your own way and
l will go NINE"
She did go to her death. Her coward
father however, vaccinated himself and es-
capped the disease to earn disgrace and con-
tumeiy.