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222 REMARKS OH VICTOR HFGO 7 S" IiES MIS...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
¦ « By Frances Power Cobbe. It Is Either...
TiLG most profound study of human nature to be found In modern books is perhaps the story of Valjean's great trial when his
reformation comes to be tested after years of prosperity , in which he has * X > y long patience and
merit—And grasped . " Grapp the skirts led with of happy his evil chance star , "
and stands at last the master and benefactor of his little factorytown . An unknown wretchguilty of a trifling thefthas been
Supposed to be identified with , himself , the _ex-forgat . And , as thesmallest crime in a lapsed convict is punished with perpetual
doom , this miserable thief is threatened with the galleys for life , if Valjean will not save him by revealing his own all-unsuspected
identity . The struggle in Valjean ' s mind , his first determination not to betray himself , his wavering , then his reassurance from the thought
of present usefulness and charity , all to be destroyed for the sake of ~ an unknown manthen again his horror at the thought of consigning
, this poor wretch to his chain and bullet , and the hollow mockery which thenceforth all religion and charity would be for himall this
, is terrible to read . We are made to look into the awful shadows of a Gethsemane , such as perhaps in one degree of darkness or
another all sons of God must pass through , but which is almost too sacred and terrible for any eyes save those of angels to . witness _.
Even the Calvary which may come afterwards is less solemn and awe-inspiring . At last the poor struggling soul feebly rises to
tread the first steps of his " Via Sacra , " but all undetermined , yet as to how far he will follow it . He will go to the place of the trialand
, witness all that passes , and see if the man be really condemned— . and then ?—and then he will decide what he has to do . He goes ,
driving on through the night , storm and darkness without , storm . and darkness within . His carriage breaks down at a wayside
village . It cannot be repaired till the morrow , nor any substitute procured , though he honestly strives to obtain it . Then he is
released ! Providence itself has absolved him . His heart leaps at the thought . But at that momentfrom an unexpected quarter
, , comes the offer of another carriage , and he is again ordered on by that relentless voice within , on to his miserable doom . At last
he stands in the crowded court , and hears the evidence alleged in error against the wretched prisoner in the dockthat he was once
the convict of Toulon , Jean Valjean . His sentence , of perpetual slavery is inexorable . Then the wealthy and honoured gentleman ,
the supposed M . Madeleine , mayor of M . sur M ., steps forward and claims to take that convict ' s place .
Of his future career , his return to Toulon , his escape , and then _, his long life of a hunted wild beasthiding from the fellow-men of *
whom he would fain have been the , friend and benefactor , and pouring out all the tenderness of his soul on the poor little orphan
girl he has rescued and adopted , of all this we cannot write , nor of
all the episodes of this marvellous book . The scenes of "Waterloo .
222 Remarks Oh Victor Hfgo 7 S" Iies Mis...
222 REMARKS OH VICTOR HFGO S" IiES _MISERABIiES . _"
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Citation
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English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), Dec. 1, 1862, page 222, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01121862/page/6/
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