IMHUM
THE HESPERIAN.
ttf
Ludington's Sister." It is written to suggest the propriety
of assigning a new meaning to the term "individual" nsuscd
with reference to human beings. In this novel but few char
acters arc introduced, the development of the plot being
made of secondary importance by the novelty of the leading
idea suggested.
Miss Ida Ludington in her youth was the belle of her na
tive village. At the time she was twenty years of age, dis
ease deprived her irrevocably of her beauty. When after
five years of sickness she had recovered health, vhc changes
already made m the little village annoyed her. Her former
joyful life had departed, and she resented any change in her
surroundings which tended to efface the memory of the past,
and bring more forcibly to her mind the realization of her
present forlorn condition. In time she fell heir to a large sum
of money, and with the means thus obtained she caused to be
built in another place an exact counterpart of her native village
where she determined to end her days. At length the infant
child of. her cousin was intrusted to her care, and life was
brightened henceforth by the presence of little Paul de
Riemer. From his youth he was charmed by thv. picture on
the mantel representing Miss Ludington as she appeared be
fore the dread disease had deprived her of beauty. The old
er he became the greater was his love for the Miss Ludington
of former days. On the day of his graduation from college
he wrote his aunt a letter in which he advanced the somewhat
startling opinion that the individual is no more the unit ol
humanity than the tribe or family; that the term "individual"
stands for a number of distinct persons whom he called infan
cy, childhood, youth, etc. Applying his theory to Miss Lud
ington's case, in which the transition from youth and beauty
to the opposite had been so sudden and painful, he held that
if the belief in the immortality of the soul had any sound
basis there was reason to believe that the soul of the youthful
Miss Ludington was then in the land beyond the grave.
Soon after Paul's return from college Miss Ludington was
visited by a friend of her youth. Paul's strange theory was
explained to this friend, who not only received it with favor
but at once suggested the possibility of summoning by the aid
of a medium the departed spirit of the youthful Miss Luding
ton. Paul and his aunt were clcliuhted at the sutrccstion of
such a possibility. A medium was consulted and a seance
held. The young lady appeared to the enraptured gaze of
Paul and his aunt, an exact counterpart, as they observed, of
the picture on the mantel. So great was Paul's desire to
have her with him always who had charmed him, that he be
gan to speculate on the possibility of retaining in human form
the one summoned, provided the medium should die during
the seance, thereby depriving the spirit of the agency that
had called it from the land of spirits and which would then
be unable to secure its return thither. He suggested this
possibility to the husband of her who was the medium. The
husband was of the same .opinion as Faul, namely, that it was
not a possibility but a probability. Accordingly another se
ance was soon held, during which, conveniently enough, the
medium died, her vitality passed to the one summoned from
the land of spirits, and Paul's desire, the human companion
ship of the youthful Ida Ludington was realized. He and his
aunt took the bewildered girl to their home. She recognized
in every particular the counterpart of the home of her youth.
It was impossible to name her relationship to the older Miss
Ludington, or to give the girl a name to distinguish her from
the elder lady. Thus several months were passed in recalling
scenes of childhood and remembrances of former days. The
young lady had been informed of Paul's love for her, and in
return had expressed aflcctionfor him; had promised to marry
him, but always gave way to uncontrollable emotion when
asked to set the marriage day. Supposing that her sojourn
In the spirit world caused her to loathe the idea of an earthly
union, Paul desisted at length from his entreaties.
One morning the young lady was missing. A letter found
in hor chamber explained the whole affair cruel deception
had been practiced and she was filled with .remorse for the
part she had acted. She was not Ida Ludington but Ida
Slater, the daughter of the woman who had first advised
them to consult a medium. An ingenious plan had been de
vised whereby the daughter should become the heir of Miss
Ludington's wealth. Paul and his aunt were amazed: but so
great was their love for her and their admiration for her con
duct in voluntarily revealing the deception she had practiced
when the reward was in her grasp, that they at once instituted
vigorous search for her. She was found and forgiven, and
Paul soon rejoiced in a wife not so ethereal as the being that
had inspired his youthful love.
The indefinite possibilities of human life, were Paul's
theory correct, would form an interesting topic for contem
plation. Especially would the spiritualist find therein food
for thought. As it is the story gains added zest by the intro
duction of an clement so supernatural. Although the plot is
but little complicated, one's interest is sustained to the close.
The author shows masterly skill in causing the fantastic idea
incorporated in the novel to germinate in the brain of one
about to become a college graduate. It is in the ambitious
mind of such a person that one may most reasonably expect
to find ideas that can be fittingly woven into a "Romance of
Immortality."
CURRENT COMMENT.
A joint resolution lately passed by the senate provides
that a statistical census of the territory of Alaska shall be
taken, and shall include an accurate statement of its natural
resources and the extent to which they may be developed.
This has never been done before in the history of that terri
tory but it is certainly a move in the right direction. The
purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867 has proven to be a
profitable investment, but as yet we know very little about
Alaska. We know that the seal fisheries and salmon fisheries
arc extensive, and that is about all we do know. There arc
probably mines that could be worked to advantage and possi
bly other industries, not now thought of, could be developed
so as to be a source of profit to the present owners of Alaska.
As far as the climate is concerned it is not so cold but that
people could live there comfortably. Sitka is not as far
north as St. Petersburg and there the people live all the year
round and not complain of the severe weather.
It seems, from all accounts, that the articles published by
George Kcnnan about Russian cruelty and other later reports
of Russian atrocities, have stirred up no small amount of ex
citement among the authorities of Russia. There has long
been in the minds of the American people a sense of the in
justice done by Russia to her subjects and the Kcnnan arti
cles have only fanned into a flame the lire that has long been
smouldering. Russia is now being assailed on all sides by
Americans that wish to see a reform. They wish her to use
caution and judgment in condemning her subjects to exile in
the wilds of Siberia. Unless this is done, the United States
and Russia will not be on as freindly terms as they have
been hcictofore. Russia knows this and as she has always
desired the iriendship of this country, both government and
BJWHR
