Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-08-30

Time Novel That 10 often Alluded
10 Ia Literature and at Times Quot
ed Incorrectly.
Everybody. or nearly every body. has
heard Of the novel Of "Frankenstein.
though il is not probable that many
persons read il nowadays. There are
50 many illusions 10 il in our litera-
ture. however. that one abSOrbs some
sort Of a uotion Of il so that ne can
not help knowing that il is weird and
CHASTITY story about monster. but
whether or not Frankensteiu is the
monster even well informed people 10
not always know. showing that they
never read the story.
Sometimes we hear allusiOnS 70
"Frankeu stems monster" as in one OF
Charles Summers orations. where he
speaks of the "souilcs~ monster Of
Frankenstein. the wr,tched creation
OF mortal science without God and
sometimes the reference is TO Frank
enstein only as If hc were the mon
ster. OF course sumner who was
very particular in his use of figures Of
speech. was right When Mrs. Dcland.
in her fine novel OF sidney" makes
Major Lee say that "Christianity is a
Frankcnstein." She suffers the major
10 talk nonsense.
The story of this weird novel and the
circumstances under which il came 10
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. cloped with Shelley. and
they took -p their residence near Gc-
neva. .u Switzerland They had Lord
Byron for g nei@hbor. and the three
passed much time together. Their con-
vcr~ation frequently ram on the occult
and the mysterious. ana Byron one day
proposed that each should write a
ghost story Al agreed and went 20
work. but % was not long before the
two poets gave II up as "a hopeless
task. They could write poetry. but
they could not write stories.
Mary per~evercd and completed her
tale In the spring Of 1871 When BY
ron and shelley heard FL rcad. they
were surprised and delighted Il was
bound TO hc The novel of the century,
The name OF IL was "Frankcustein: or.
The Modern prometheuS" 1t was im-
mediately sent to London for publica-
tion and met with q great success.
Frankcnstoiu is Swiss youth. 4
student at the University Of Incol-
stadt, deeply Interested I'm the study OF
chemistry and natural philosophy. He
resolves 10 penetrate the mysteries OF
life and death ana wrest from nature
the secret 81 creation. After nrolong-
ed study he succeeds aud discovers
how 10 impart movement and anima-
Uou 20 lifelcSS matter.
He then resolves 90 mold q colossal
man. making him beautiful .u form
and feature and imbue him with life.
He carries on his work in a studio far
from the h1Oitations of man. labors
long and secretly. and at last the work
Is completed. There In the -rcat room
lies the form and Semblarce of q hui
man being, perfect in all his propor-
uons. FrankenStein relates the story:
1T was on q dready night in N0vem-
Der that ! beheld the ACCOMPLISHMENT
OF my tolls With an anxiety that al
most amounted to agony ! collected
the Instruments Of life around me that
might infuSe a spark of beiu- into
the lifelcSS thing tAat lay at nay feet.
1T was already ! O'Clock ia the
morning. The rain pattered dismauy
against the window pancS. and my
candle was nearly burned out. when.
10y the glimmcr Of the half eNtinguish-
Cd light saw the dun yellow eve of
the creature open. Il breathcd hard.
and convulsive motion agitated It's
limbs"
Slowly the immense creature arose.
and the artist. frightened III his own
work. fled away. Then he returns To
find his creation possessed of life and
every attribute ~ humanity eNcept a
soul Nowhere can il ind human sym
pathy. 1t Is Out OF harmony with all
things about II. and after searching
the world in pursuit OF happiness IL
returns again 10 Frankenstein and de-
mandS that he make companion with
whom il can live in sympathy and
love.
lrankenStein declines. and thence
iorth the monster pursues him with
hatred and revenge. 1t slays his broth
CTS and sister. his friend and his bride.
IL follows him TO Russia. To Siberia
and into the Arctic ocean. and tbera
creature and artist perish together. II
Is most uncanny story 10 read o.
nights.
Sir Walter Scott reviewed the novel
In The Quarterly. but while admitting
Its power confessed he did not like il.
our taste and our Judgment revolt at
this Kind of writing" All the critics
agreed as 10 its daring originality
Chicago Post