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About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 1890)
THE HESPERIAN. form of a communication addressed to Chamissoby his friend. The outline of the talc may be quickly sketched, since the idea embodied is so unfruitful in suggestions that an attempted elaboration of itwould degenerate into the profitless repetition of similar incidents and mishaps. In the course of his wan derings Peter Schlemihl joins himself to a pleasure party, consisting oi a certain wealthy family from the adjoinihg vil lage with their attendants. One member of the party seems, to possess magical powers, which, while astonishing Peter very much, cause no comment among the individuals of the company, who evidently regard the magician's feats as a mat ter of course. In a perplexed mood Peter turns toward the village, but before he has gone far on his way the worker of magic overtakes him, and, in a an extremely courteous manner, states that he has noticed what a magnificent sha dow accompanies Peter, and that nothing would please him more than to become the posscsor of it. Peter attempts to show the impossibility of effecting such a transfer, but the so licitor insists with such success that soon a bargain is struck Peter sells his shadow to the stranger, the devil in disguise in return for Fortunatus' bottomless purse. As soon as Peter had reached the village he had reason to regret his bargain. Some seeing him to be a shadowless being, pitied him; others hooted as he passed along the street. This was the beginning of his sorrows. He dare not leave his dwelling, on sunshiny days, unless accompanied by his faithful servant, who, being taller and stouter than his master, so regulated his steps that one shadow sufficed for both. Hut Peter confided in the prom ise that after a "year and a day," the possessor of his shadow would return and propose another arrangement more to Peter's liking. True to his promise the author of Schlcmilil's distress returned on the day set, but the price Peter was asked to pay to regain his shadow, was nothing else than the signing away of his soul to the devil after its natural scpaiatiou from the body. Peter at once refused such a contract; this time he was pioof against all insinuating arguments of the one whom he now hated. His situation was now all the more painful. He would frequent no more the haunts of men. But as he wandered the evil personage accompanied him, mocking at his feeble attempts to rid himself of the hateful presence of the persecutor. At length in his anguish of heart Tetcr renounced the magic purse, the thing which had tempted him into his error, and now, rid of the evil one whose presence had been so unbearable, he continued his wanderings with a lighter heart. The remainder of the story exhibits the defect in the auth or's plan. His orignal purpose seemed to be to show that "he who carelessly takes a step out of the straight path, is imper ceptibly impelled into another course in which he will be de luded farther and farther astray." This purpose accomplished the author does not close his narrative, but indicates in a dis jointed manner the wanderings of Schlemihl after he had be come the fortunate owner of the seven-league boots. The last chapter has little or no connection with the precccding ones. The accomplishment of the author's purpose, if he had a well defined purpose in writing it, is endangered by thus lugging in disconnected matter. The author has Intro duced less of the supernatural than one would expect in a narrative of this kind. The realistic way in which the nat ural consequences of a supernatural transaction are related, lends the narrative its chief interest $75.00 to $250.00 a month can be made working for us. Persons preferred who can furnish a horse and give their whole time to the business. Spare moments may be profit ably employed also. A few vacancies in towns and cities. B. F. JOHNSON & CO., 1009 Main St., Richmond, Va. CURRENT COMMENT. A bill is now pending before congress which if passed will ultimately bring the Indian territory into the Union. This bill proposes to admit as a slate territory defined by Spring er's Oklahoma bill and also that of the Five Nations. The Indians will then become citizens of the United States. This docs not seem to us desirable. If the people are dissatisfied because the negro has been admitted to citizenship what will they say after they have admitted the Indian. The Indian may in time become a good citizen but in our opinion it will be a long time. Past experience has shown that in his pres ent condition at least the Indian is not a desirable citizen. He allows himself to be controlled too easily by scheming politi cians. In all probability the bill was introduced as a means for personal advancement. The Indian will be perfectly con tented to live in the future as he has done in the past and un til he gives better evidence that he will be a success as a citi zen wc think he had better not be enfranchised. At last it is thought a great question is settled To any one viewing Niagara Falls this question naturally suggests it self: Why may not this immense power be utilized instead of going to waste? It has been said that if the full power could be brought into use it would furnish from 10,000,000 15,000, 000 horse power. Almost every plan imaginable has been thought of but all were useless. No water wheel could be found to sustain such great pressure. A commission from the Canadian authorities has, at last, they think succeed in solv ing the question. They have been to the Pacific coast to in vestigate the merits of the Pelton water wheel and declare that it -may be used to bring this great force under control. About 500,000 horse power will be obtained and besides run ning the manufactories which will spring up around the falls, they expect to run dynamos and supply the cities of Buffalo, which are at least twenty miles from there, with electric lights. Thus one of the greatest forces we have, a force that has never been curbed, will have to succumb to the will of man and science will have achieved another victory. By his last expedition into the interior of Africa, Henry M. Stanley has added another link to his already long chain of glory. To him, more than to any other man our know ledge of the interior of Africa is due. On his first expedi tion into Africa in quest of Livingstone he showed an untir ing persevering character that no obstacle could overcome and that enabled him to penetrate into the almost inaccessi ble regions of Africa. Where any other man would have giv en up in despair he pressed forward and held stedfastly to his purpose 'til lie had accomplished it. When Emin Pasha was in such sore straits in the Soudan country Henry M. Stanley was just the man to lead an expedition to his relief. After months of hardship accompanied by suffering and desertion he succeeded in reaching Emin and prevailing on him to re turn to civilization. To return with Stanley meant for him to give up all he had accomplished in fifteen years of hard labor. He had worked faithfully for his little colony and had led them quite a distance on the road to civilization. He had to abandon all this and leave his followers to return to their old state of barbarism. While Stanley is to be commended for accomplishing so difficult an object as the relief of Emin Pasha, yet, since wc have in view the colonization and civili zation of Africa, is it right that this colony of which Emin Pasha was the head, should be allowed to fall back into its original condition after it had been brought so near to civilization,
