Untitled

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2087, 1 July 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

An Incident in the Life of ScottScott was once made the victim of one of those literary thieves called plagiarists. About the year 1825, when his fame was at its height, the reading world was mystified by the appearance of a romance called " Walladmor,” by the author of “ Waverley.” It was first published in Berlin. Translations immediately followed, and “ Walladmor,” in three volumes, may still be seen in some old collections of the “ Waverley Novels,” bound to match the regular series, and believed in by its original purchaser as a legitimate member of the family. The thief who stole Sir Walter’s good name was a Silesian, whose real name was Wilhelm Haring, but who chose to be known by the pseudonym of Widibald Alexis. He died December, 1871, in Germany, at the age of seventy-four, Scott, who had not at the time of its appearance avowed the authorship of the “Waverley Novels,” could not without unmasking ventilate the literary fraud, and so suffered in silence the annoyance which the credulity of the public, or a portion of it, who believed in its genuineness, must have caused him.

Messrs- Spiers and Pond, the last landlords of the old Cock Tavern at Temple Bar, now demolished, have sent to Lord Tennyson one of the tankards used in that hostelry, with the inscription, “ A pint-pot neatly graven” (from “Will Waterproof's Lyrical Monologue.”) The Laureate has returned his (hanks in an autograph letter, saying that lie will nrosorve the relic as an heirloom in Ids family, 530

BOTH ANGEL AND DEMON. “ Do you believe in a personal devil V' The question, coming so abruptly, startled me. Uy friend Del eyre, French edantlat, whose wit, inclining to sarcasm, contributed largely to the esprit of I'Academie Fraacaiae was evidently in a mood for discussion; and, tapping meditatively upon bis well-filled note book, repeated the question. “Yes, do you, or do yon not, attribute personality to his Satanic Majesty, f" Thus brought for the first time to an expression of my opinion upon this somewhat agitating subject, my mind hastily reviewed the pros and cons furnished by my early theological training; and finding there no decisive conclusion, I answered, somewhat vaguely : “Well, to tell the truth, Deleyre, ’tin a point upon which I am a trifle in doubt. But you ——" Deleyre’s black eyes already glowed with the fire of argument, and walking rapidly up and down the apartment he began abruptly : “ Yes, I believe in a personal devil; and my theory embraces the transmigration of souls. I hold that, always present from the foundation of the world, bis Satanic Majesty passes from one personality to another, appearing in one age as a demon of war, in anetber [n tbe form of pestilence, in another as inquisitorial ruler ; and again traversing the land as demon of earthquake, flood, fire, and accident. Our devil,” —and be chuckled impressively—“ our devil is an M.D., waving aloft his ted flag of carnage in the name of Science. What destruction follows in bis path I How fearful the slaughter I” “ Surely you err here," I interposed, “ to locate your personal devil in a profession so devoted to the service of mankind,” " Service I" Deleyre laughed ironically. “ I admit some of the profession are nobly entitled to recognition as benefactors of mankind; but 1 still maintain that an M.D. is tbe modern Mephiatopheles." “ Explain yourself.” Deleyre paused a moment, then taking bia chapeau from the rack, said, abruptly, " Come."

We passed out into the street, and my friend led tbe way to the City Hospital. “ We shall find him here," he said, briefly. “ Entrez."

Curiously 1 followed him, and we were soon in the presence of the house physician, who advanced courteously to meet us. Sorely not in him did I behold the demoniac spirit of our century. And with this sentiment expressed on my face I turned to Deleyre, os if to question his sanity, but his only reply was an impressive nod as he whispered: “Nous verrons, nous venous.” Then taming to the M. I), before us, wbo stood in questioning attitude of mingled courtesy and a desire to serve us, Deleyre asked with assumed innocence of manner, “Is this institution under homeopathic direction ?" 11 No, sir.”

Surely a thunderbolt must have fallen, (or there was a lightning flash on the faee of our physician, and the roar of thunder in his voice as he continued: ‘, You must indeed be uninformed to imagine our City Hospital under the control of a body designated as ' quacks ’by the law of the State, This institution is under the management of regular physicians.” “And are not the homeopathists regarded as such ?"

“We do not acknowledge them.” The doctor spoke stormily.

“Pardon," said Deleyre, with all the appearance of one seeking information, “ I am a Frenchman, and not familiar With your institutions. Are these homeopathists then really held in such disrepute ? Have they no standing, have they wrought no cures ?"

The follower of Esculapius before us shrugged bis shoulders ironically. 11 1 cannot say that the disciples of that alleged school are renowned in the art of healing," he said sarcastically, “ but if people are so lacking in wisdom as to seek their counsels, they must suffer the consequences. I have no tolerance for such. But,” consulting bis watch, “ I must beg yon to excuse me, as I have a patient waiting,” and bowing coldly, our M. D. left us.

“ What a noble, Christian spirit I" said Deleyre, casting upon the retreating fljfnre a look of well merited scorn, then turning to me. 11 Beware, my friend, that you do not apply for relief from any physical torment while you are at heart a homeopathist, for be would deem you a perfectly legitimate subject for his inquisitorial attentions, thinking the rack tit punishment for your heresy, or would resign you to the more tender mercies of death with the reflection that you merited death for your wandering from the 1 regular’ fold."

“Yet,surely," I interposed, “they are not all like that man."

“ Heaven forbid 1 Yet the spirit of evil walks the earth, more prevalent in some regions than in others, mayhap, but still existing." We paused before a residence in the aristocratic portion of the Eastern city and ascended the steps. “ They are friends of mine," Deleyre explained briefly as we were ushered into the dwelling, and be turned to the attendant with the query : “ And how is the invalid to-day ?” “ Poorly, sir. The doctors are killing her with their disputes and wrangliogs, their standing on professional etiquette and the like—letting a body die while they stand off and quarrel about their pathies. It's a shame and a disgrace I Listen to them now,” as tbc sound of professional voices in somewhat heated discussion reached our ears from the adjoining room. “ And you won’t wait, sir I” turning to Deleyre, who had moved toward the door.

“No j yet stay, give this to Dr. D.,” and, taking a card from his pocket, he wrote in pencil: “ Send for Dr. Blank, he wil! attend to the patient first, and discuss pathies afterward."

I followed my friend out of the bouse thinking that if we bad not found the modern Mepbistopbeles we were at least following in bis wake.

“ But, tell me, Deleyre,” I exclaimed, “ is this spirit of evil confined to allopathic quarters ? ’

“ Not wholly, mon ami, but I must do our homeopathist brothers the credit to say that I bare never found among them the intolerable bigotry prevalent among the so-called regulars. Mind you, I am not saying that the homeopathists are alt angels, or that there are not noble and generous minds in the old school; but I have known allopathists reputed among their colleagues and patients os courteous, kindly gentlemen, who became nngentlemanly, almost brutal in their dealing with a homeopathist because of their hatred for the new school. Bah I I despise such narrowness I" His expression was so tragic that I could not repress a smile. « Ah, Deleyre, from one extreme to the other. I venture to say if over you dispose of that bachelor heart of youm it will be to confide it to the keeping of some fascinating female M. D.” •< Never 1” ejaculated Deleyre fervently. The following summer I ran down to Nahant for a breath of old ocean ; and again met Deleyre, who greeted me most cordially. « Not yet returned to France, eh ? Is the fascinating M. D. detaining you ?" For a moment he looked puzzled, not comprehending my allusion ; then, recalling our fast conversation, laughed heartily. Mon Dicu, no. 1 am still heart whole. Yet there are many bcautilul girls in your country, but I love them not." “Hut you will in time. Oh. nut all of them,” as be be made a deprecatory gesture, “but one, In this land of varrd beauty surely one maiden possesses the power toon-

lock jour heart of adamant. And you bare not found her ?” '■No, t raiment" “ But you will P* "I doubt It" And tboa in friendlj obaffiag we wended oar waj along the there, each to Bog Bock, crowned at the height at eigfaty-eix feet bj a lighthouse; and then wandered back in a desultory war along the roek-bonad ehore to our hotel. And ere we reached it Delejre bad confided to me a bit of ad restore, which while be made light of it waa evidently tinged with more than a paaeiag intareat. " I had been down to Swallow Care," be ■aid in an ofthaad waj of aeenmed indifference, 11 and wn later (trolling through Maolis Garden, which la, too know, the picnic ground on the north ehore, adorned with ■hell-work and fountain, when enddenly I came upon two or three ladies, seated in a meet picturesque part of the grounds, and eridently in an attitude of expectation. I bad time to note this, bat scarcely more, for at my appearance a most singular scene was enacted, the younger, and I should say fauer of the ladies, seeing me rushed forward and with a warm embrace exclaimed in the sweetest of voices, 1 Oh, George, I am so glad yon hare come I’ What more she would bare said Ido not know; for at this most interesting stage in the proceedings camo a shriek from the elder lady; ‘ Oh, Rose I Why will you be so impetuous 7 That is not George.' Then followed another little shriek from my fair embracer (who suddenly released me), mingled with bewildering blushes and apologies innumerable. To spare further confusion I hastily withdrew, wondering who in thunder George was, and wishing for the first time in my life that I might lay claim to the name. Blockhead that I was!"

" Come, come Deleyre, don't be hard on yourself. Ton were scarcely to blame for not being named George." “ Who said anything about being to blame for that!"

'■ Yon implied it from expressing your regret at not possessing the name, and immediately proceeding to call yourself a blockhead; but 1 should have realised that it was only the natural incoberency of one suffering from an affair of the heart, and made due allowance. But may 1 ask then why you applied to yourself the scarcely complimentary title of blockhead t"

11 Because," answered Deleyre, somewhat vehemently, “ I allowed her to escape me. Instead of watching at a respectful distance the direction she should take I strode off a mile or so along the shore, and when at Inst the idea occurred to me it was too late. I returned only to find my fair unknown vanished."

Two days later I received a hasty summons to come to Deleyre, wbo had met with an accident while driving, and begged me to come to him at once. Accompanying the messenger, who could give me little information regarding the catastrophe, we crossed little Nahant and were soon on the part of the peninsula occupied by the handsome private residences. Before an ornate cottage my guide halted, and I was soon with Deleyre, who pale and interesting, reclined upon a sofa in the cheeriest of sit-ting-rooms, while a woman, both young and fair, was skilfully bandaging a wound in the head of the man below her, pausing now and then to give directions to an elderly woman standing near, whom she addressed as Aunt Bay.

At my entrance the ministering angel looked up from her dressing of the 'wound and said (forgetting or purposely omitting an introduction to herself), “ You are, 1 believe, the friend of Mr. Deleyre. He was thrown from his horse at our door, but I may safely say is not fatally injured ; be was stunned and rendered unconscious by the fall, but the wound is only a flesh hurt; serious yet not alarming."

Aa she spoke Deleyre slowly opened his eyes, looking from one to another, smiled faintly, and then, as his nurse left us alone tor a moment he drew me down to him and said in a whisper : “ It is she, and she is an U. D." Three month later I received from Deleyre the following communication : ‘‘ Henceforth I am to be her only patient. It the modern Mephistopheles is an M. D.,so also is the fairest of angels.