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
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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,