The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-24
NEW BOOKS.
An n. @. InEeraoll Hero.

The hero OF Harry Leon Wilson'S story
n sThe Seeker" Doubleday, Page & Coz
inherited, not his strong opinions about
religion, but his habit OF having strong
opnons about religion, from his grand
father. There was q great difference In
the opinions OF the two. The grandfather
was Presbyterian minister, who thought
in the manner of Jonathan Edwards,
whereas the hero was full OF the views OF
the late Robert G. Ingersoll. On an early
papn we read OF a startling incident In
the grandfather's career.
The grandfather. the Rev. Allan Delcher,
had ridden out from his homo In Edom on
his way to preach at FELTON, Falls. "A mile
out of town he had been acoosted by a big,
bearded man who had yet a singularly
childish look-who urged that he come to
his cabin to minister to sick friend. He
knew the fellow for one that the village OF
Edom called daft or queer yet held to
be harmess-to be rather amusing, indeed,
since he could be provoked to deliver
curious harangues upon the subject OF re-
vealed religion. He remembered now that
the mans face had stared at him from far
back In the church the night before-a face
full of the lveliest terror, though he had
not been among those that fed to the mercy
seat"
1t should be explainedthat "in the church
the night before" the hero's grandfather
had drawn o strong picture Of the place OF
everlasting torment. an the little log
church at Edom he had felt the spirit burn
in him and he had knowingly voiced it's
warnings of that dread place where the
flames forever blaze, yet never consume;
IL NJ
water to cool the parched tongues Of those
who sought not God while they lived. He
had told OF one who died-one that the
world called a good moral man-but not
Christian; one who had perversely neg
lected the way OF life. How, on his DEATH
bed, this one had called in agony for last
glass Of water. seeming to know all at once
that he would now be where no drop OF
water could cool him through all eternity
Little did the hero's grandfather dream
OF the sharp illustration Of relentless tort
ure that was about to be afforded to him.
-Aocedlng to the mans request, he fol-
lowed him up a wooded path to his cabin.
Dsmounting and tying his horse, he en-
tered and, turning to ask where the sick
man was, found himself throttled In the
grasp Of giant. He was thrust into an
inner room, windowless and with no other
door than the one now barred by his chuck
ling captor. And here the Rev. Allan
Delcher had lain three days and two nights
captive OF Q mailman, with no food and
without one drop Of water.
We should not have been surprised II the
maniac had dosed his captive with brim-
stone and molasses after the way Of Mrs.
Saueers at Dotheboy's Hall, q place where
teaching was also wildly illustrated. The
maniac does not seem to have thought
of that, but he cannot be said to have been
deficient In imagination. The hero's grand
father found his sufYerings duly stimulated.
From the other side Of the log partition
his cantor had declared himself to be the
keeper Of hell. Even now he could hear
the words maundered through the ohinks.
Never got another drop Of water for q
million years and still more, and him q
burning I'D and a roasting up, and his
tongue lolling out, all Of sizzle. Now
wasn't that fne-because folks said he'd
likely gone crazy about religionP Other
times his captor would declare himself
to be John the Baptist. making straight
the paths In the wilderness. Again he would
quote passages Of Scripture. some Of them
hdeous mockeries to the tortured pris-
oner, some strangely soothing and sug-
The neighbors came and liberated the
hero's grandfather at the end Of his evil
three days and two nights. After that
experience. though his views regarding
the place Of everlasting punishment were
not modified. and may indeed have been
strengthened, 1t was noted by those who
sat under him that che seemed to bear
down on hell jest o lee-tle less continue
ously." He Is hardly to be blamed II he
apprehended the possibility OF waking up
another lunatic.
The hero was dearly loved by his grand
father, notwithstanding the great diverg-
ence OF their several views. We must say
that we think the hero rubbed 1t in in
his letters to his elder from college. Chap
ter affords number Of these letters In
one we read: Dear Old Man: How am
going to thank you for the little book
for Buffers Analogy Or rather, how
shall forgive you for keeping It from me
all these years. I see that you acquired
il in 1s83-and I never knewl I must tell
you that looked upon 1t with suspicion
when I first unwrapped ia suspicion
that the title did not allay. For recalled
the last time you gave me book-the year
before came here. That book was 'Ras-
selas. Prince Of Abyssinia.' began it with
deep respect for you. finished with
profound dstrust OF all Abyssinians and an
overwhelming grief for the untimely de-
mise Of Mrs Johnson--for you had told me
that the good doctor wrote this book to
get money to bury her. How the circle
Of mourners for that estimable woman
must have widened as 'Rasselas' made its
way out into the world Oh, granddad, If
only they had been able to keep her going
some way until he needn't have done Il!