The Saint Paul globe., 1904-01-31

thread of the story where they are in
serted on one excuse or another
Despite all these difficulties in tha
way of interesting the reader, the book
possesses single feature which awak-
ems and keeps alive feeling of curios-
| lty as to the outcome. This is the mys-
| terry of the casket.
The latter is strange, small box of
metal, having the size, form and ap-
pearance of book. and supposed to
| contain precious treasures, which Fe-
| llx, the son of Wilhelm finds in a cave
! In the mountains. In one place, In fact.
the casket is called a book" 1t seemed
to be OF gold. adorned with enamel.
Whatever the casket might contain,
1t could be of no service until 1t should
| be unlocked And where was the KEY?
This Wilhelm did not discover, and the
| contents remained a mystery. After
| more than two hundred pages, there
| occurs letter from Hersilia, a young
friend of Felix, to his father, written
no one knows when or where Oike all
other letters in book, in which the lady
relates that she has found the key.
! An officer wishing to identify for
mer playmate of Felix. rascally little
| fellow, who is desired on a foreign
| requisition, requests her to examine a
! Jacket belonging to the suspect. and
] see II she recognizes ii. She does iden-
| tify 1t, as the garment of the former
! companion of her young friend: and In
| her examination of it she finds in the
| pocket a singular key, which she Sc
\ cretly abstracts from it,
| She Is burning with curiosity to as
| certain the contents of the casket
| (Which has come into her possession),
| but VIII not do so until she receives the
! fathers permission. though she believes
( that the purloined key will open 1t.
| Felix visits her. however, (as we read
one hundred and thirty pages further
| on). and draws from her the secret OF
| the key. He snatches ii from her hands,
when entreaties have proved of no
! avail, and IL breaks In the lock. He
| filings down the outer part on the table,
and rushes away in anger, never to re-
| turn. Later, an old goldsmith visits
| Hersilia and exhibits some antique
treasures, and she, acting upon impulse,
| brings out the casket and the broken
key. The goldsmith puts together the
| the pieces in some mysterious way.
and opens the box. but instantly closes
| down the lid again, stating that such
! secrets as 1t contains are not good to
| NEEDLE with. What is the meaning OF
| all this? What was Goethe's object In
| telling Of the casket IL he did not in
tend to clear up the mystery? Evident
| ly this part OF the book. like various
1
! Interpretation of It? Some hold that II
| illustrates the truth that that which is
long sought soemtimes loses its charm
| or Importance at last-llke the dark
| tower" to which ''Childe Roland" came
In Brownlng's famous poem. 1t may
! represent unattained knowledge, and
convey a lesson of patience to those
who are valnly seeking 1t. or of con-
| ISOLATION In the theory that the attain
| ment, after all. would be harmful.
To me. however, 1t has a different
meaning from those suggested by
critics. 1t seems to be a suggestion or
hint to the reader of the volume that
the book is given to him as a casket OF
hidden treasures, which will not be
| unlocked for him, but which he must
unlock for himself. The hint is GER
tainly needed. and Is cleverly given,
think. To the patient, resolute Ger
man mind such a hint Is enough. The
key to the book has been found by
many a truthful reader who placed
himself In touch with the great Geramn
thinker who wrote II, and followed out
In sympathy and affection the thought
| which he sought to convey. And that
| thought Is full of deep import to the
educator, the sociologist. the scientist,
and to all who reflect upon the nature
Of human life and its problems.