The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-03-24

The Scarlet Letter" was the first Sustained work Of fiction written by Hawthorne and is the best known oi all his works. The story is a rather morbid analysis of the human heart; and of the human heart afflicted with that curious thing that has come to science" which. among the Puritan fathers, cut such fantastic tricks and which. though much worn by the attri- ton of time. is sometimes even now seen suddenly appearing in all its strangeness among their descendants
 Hawthorne himself a descendant of the Puritans, has illustrated in mas terly manner in his story that peculiar tntrespective mysticism which so pre- meated the minds oI the cary -~ts4ei 5 an M echo from far-off. Teutonic ances- try dashed with fiery sparks of Morse peculiar tinge in early New England --and 1t is aI1sin the "Scarlet Letter.
 Hawthorne said of the story. Tt lacks sunshine" He was, also, much in doubt of it's success with the public doubt which was shared by his pub fishers so strongly that they printed for the first edition only 5000 copies. after which the type was immediately distributed. But the first edition was exhausted in ten days, and from then until now the Scarlet Letter has heio o English language: To some the Scar let Letter Is full of meaning and in- tense interest: to others its depths are sealed. But it's place in literature is assured
 On a summer morning, now more than two and a half centuries ago nearly all the inhabitants of Boston then q little settlement between the ocean and the wilderness. were assemo- led before the door of the jail await ing the coming forth of a woman con f ho a<lo the A which signified AduIteress She was to stand on the stocks before the meeting house that her shame might be in the eyes of the people as a waru- ing and a reproacb.
 1t was a featured and a hard hearted assemblage before which He's ter Prynne was about to appear with her child in her arms and the letter of disgrace upon her bosom The men were stern of feature. the women TO- bust and masculine in appearance and with little of woman's tenderness. When 1t became rumored through the assembly that the Magistrate instead of condemning the unfortunate woman to wear the Scarlet Letter branded with a hot iron upon her forehead, had been content with the lesser punish ment of condemning her to wear 1t Embroidered upon her bodice, mur-
  Magistrates were overmerciful. Some even cried out that Hester should havn suffered death, there being law for it both in the Scriptures and in the statute book.
 Finally the door of ths jail was thrown back and the town beadls. dressed in black, with his stan of office sn his hand and his sword by his side. Stepped like black shadow into the Sunshine. As he reached out ono hand to the prisoner, who had hesitated a moment in the doorway. the young wo- man repelled him and came forth alone with a natural grace of dignity.
 She bore in her arms a girl-child. three months old, who wtnked at the bright light. for 1t had known only the light of a prison. For an instant the woman clasped the child to her breast. ne If to hide the letter which burned there, then proudly she changed its posture, so that all might see the mark of her shame-the letter A cut from scarlet cloth set upon her bodice and surrounded by the most elaborate and sikii1fully-worked embroiderly done Ip Eold thread.
 She was a tall. dark. beautiful wo- man of rich complexion and classic of public humiliation her pride was ap- parent, her strength of will manifest. There was no sign upon her beautiful face of the intense agony which every step of the way from the jail to the market place caused her In fact. her mental suffering was so great that it