Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1908-07-08
MAN WITHOUT A SOUL
The Uncanny Creation of Mary
Goodwin Shelley.
MONSTER OF FRANKENSTEIN.


Day Novel That Is Frequently Al
iuded TO In Literature and at Times
Quoted Incorrectly.
Everybody. or nearly everybody. has
heard Of the novel OF "Frankenstein ~
though it IS not probable that many
persons read it nowadays. There are
50 many illusions 20 II I'm our rtor.-
ture. however, that one absorbs some
sort Of notion of it so that he cannot
help knowing that 1t is weird and
ghastly story about 4 monster. but
whether or not Frankensteln IS the
monster even we'll Informed poorla do
not always know. showing that they
never read the story.
sometimes we hear illusions 10
'trankenstein's monster" as IN one Of
Charles Summers orations. where no
speaks OF the "soulless monster ~
tr2nkenstein. the wretched creation az
mortal science without God" and some
times the reference IS 10 Frankenstein
only rs II he were the monster. OF
course sumner. who was very particll-
lar in his use Of figures Of speech. was
right When Mrs. Deland I'm her novel
or sidney makes Major Lee say that
christianity IS q Frankenstein" she
suffers the major 10 talk nonsense.
The story Of this weird novel and the
circumstances under which IL came 70
lie written are decidedly Interesting
and may DE told IN q few words Tho
facts are rs follows:
In 1Sl6 Mary Goodwin. afterwarl
Mrs. Shelley, eloped with shelley. and
they took up their residence near &c.
reva, IN Switzerland They had Lord
Byron for neighbor. and the three
passed much time together. Their con.
NerSauon frequently ran on the occult
and the mysterious. and Byron one dav
proposed that each should write \
ghost story. All agreed and went IN
work, but il was not long before the
Two poets gave IL up as 4 hopeless
task They could write poetry. but
they could not write stories.
Mary persevered and completed her
tale IN the spring OF 1917. When b..
ron and Shelley heard IL read they
were surprised and delighted II was
bound 70 be the novel -of the century,
The name or it was "FrankenSteln. or
The Modern PrometheuS." II was i'm
mediately sent 70 London for 0uhl,ca-
ton and met with 4 great success.
Fr1nkenStein Is 4 Swiss youth -
student 1T the University OF In.rol.
stadt, deeply interested in the study 90
chemistry and natural philosophy. He
resolves 10 penetrate the mysteries Of
IKE and death and wrcSt from natur,
the secret OF creation. After pro'our-
ed study he succeeds and discovers
how 70 impart movement and an!no-
ton 70 Nfe!eSS matter.
He then resolves to mold q co,oSSa,
man, making him beautiful In form
and feature and Undue him with life.
lie carries on his work in a studio TAR
from the habi,atiouS OF man. labors
long and secretly, and nc LAST the v-or,
Is completed. There in the great room
Hes the form and semblance Of q hue
man being, perfect in all his pro0or-
tons. FrankenStein relates the story.
1T was on dreary night in Nover,-
Der that ] beheld the accomplishment
or my tolls. With an anxiety thar NJ.
most amounted 10 agony collected
the Instruments or life around me thar
l might infuSe spark Of being Into
the llfe.eSS thing that lay NJ my feet
1T was already I o'clock in III,
morning. The rain battered dism0ur
against the window paueS and my
candle was nearly burned out whom.
by the gllmmer OF the half extinruiSh
ell light. I saw the dun yellow eve of
the creature open. It broathel hard.
and 4 convulS.ve motion ag.tated irs
limbs"
Slowly the immense creature arose.
and the artist. frightened ut his own
work, He'd away. Then he returns 70
/ mud his creation possessed of life ana
every attribute Of humanity exceDt y
soul. Nowhere can it find human sym
| pathy 1t IS out OF harmony with MI
things about IL. and after SEARCHING
the world IN pursuit Of happiness il
returns again 10 FrankenStein and de
mandS that he make a companion with
whom It can live In sympathy and
| love
trankenStein declines, and thence
Forth the monster purSueS him with
hatred and revenge. IL Stays his broth
erS and sister his friend and his bride
1t follows him 10 Russia. TO Siberia
and into the Arctic ocean, and there
creature and artist perish together. II
Is q most uncanny story to read O
I nights.
Sir Walter Scott reviewed the move
IN the quarterly. but while admitting
/ lis power. confessed he did not like il
( our taste and our Judgment revolt a.
TINS kind Of writing" Al the critic.
agreed rs to its daring originality
/ Exchange.