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Northern Star (1837-1852), 18th September 1852, Edition 1 of 2, Page 13

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      REVIEWS . Pur Scarlet Letter , a Romance , by Nathaniel Hawthorne . London : Henry G . Boiin , York Street Covext Garden . j ' In a previous number we jotted down a few of the principal haractcristics of Hawthorne ' s writings , and made mention of he weird and wondrous power with which the " Scarlet Letter" was written ; but words of ours could but faintly indicate the depth and scope of his writings—so rich in

      thought-, ill beauty , so full of fine suggestiveness and so excellently Erne as they are , they must "be read and studied to be fully ippreciated . Hawthorne goes direct to Nature for his insp iration—nature as it exists , and has existed , in his own country . He does not go to foreign literature to learn what man can suffer and do , but he unveils the human heart , knowing that it is all written there , that it contains all the elements of goodness and greatness , bright and beautiful now as ever flashed out in heroic deed in the old days of Greece or Rome or Palestine , and all the crimes and lusts that make up the

      curse of humanity . " Look in the heart and write , " said the poet-warrior Sydney ; and it was wise instruction . Dip the pencil in the warm hues of thy own life-blood , ye who would move the world , and be master of human smiles and tears . The " Scarlet Letter" is a tale of mystery , and full of passion ! The author opens the work with a rather long account of his life at the " Custom-house , " of which he was an officer . This introduction is interspersed with some exquisite touches of

      characterization and a way-side beauty that start up in unexpected places , with now and then a stroke of quaint quiet humour , worthy of our own dear " Eliza . " Burrowing one day amoing reams of rotten papers and heaps of rubbish , the author found some documents from which he professes to have derived the original material for his romance . Amon * the papers was a large letter " A" embroidered on cloth of scarlet , with thread of gold . The tale is of the early times of New England , when it was the custom with the stern old

      Puritan settlers to bum an adulterer with a scarlet letter on the bosom , and compel the person thus marked to stand a length of time on a public scaffold exposed to the popular gaze , and , in addition , to wear the letter for a number of years . Hester Prynne has been married m the mothercountry ( as we understand it ) to a wrinkled old book-worm , a scholar who has given his best years to learning , and is already in decay . He is no fitting mate for a bride of Hester ' s youth and loveliness . He is cold and withering—she warm , budding out with love , and eager for a meet return . She is a strong

      reaper in the field of life ' s pleasure ; he is but a poor gleaner . What marvel that the result of such unnatural relations is sin and death ? The old husband conies to the New England settlement , and the first object that strikes his sight is his young wife standing ignominiously on the scaffold , with a babe in her arms , the fatal Scarlet Letter blazoned on her breast , and the hungry eyes of a silent multitude burning into the core of her heart He reveals himself to her , but binds her with an oath to keep his relationship to her an eternal secret . His object is to be fearfully revenged on her paramour , the best beloved clergyman of the place , whose character is of seraphic beauty . The old husband obtains an entrance into the house

      of his victim , becomes a resident with him , and under the guise of devoted friendship , daily and hourly tears open the poor man s fearful heart-wound , which is fast bleeding out his life in secret and silence . He brings all his skill in medicine to bear upon the sufferer ' s physical health , on purpose to prolong and gloat over his tortures . And Hester—she has sworn not to reveal the man ' s character to any one . For seven years the -curse works , and how terribly distinct its workings are delineated ! Let us see how it is with Hester : In all her intercourse with society , however , there was

      nothing that made her feel as if she belonged to it . ^ She stood apart from mortal interests ; yet close beside them , like a ghost that revisits the faimliar fireside , and can no longer make itself seen or felt ; no more smile with the household joy , nor mourn with the kindred sorrow . The poor whom she sought out to he the objects of her bounty , often reviled the hand that was stretched forth to succour them . Dames of elevated rank , likewise , whose doors she entered in the way of her occupation , were accustomed to distill drops of bitterness into her heartsometimes throuffh that ahhelmv of quiet malice by which woman

      can concoct a subtle ' poison from ordinary trifles ^ and sometimes , also by a coarser expression that fell upon the sufferer ' s defenceless breast like a rough blow upon an ulcerated wound . Hester had schooled herself long and well . She never responded to ihese attacks , save by a flush of crimson that arose irrepressibly over her pale cheek , * and again subsided into the depths of her bosom . She was patient , —a martyr , indeed , but she forbore to pray for her enemies ; lest , in spite of her forgiving aspirations , the words of the blessing- should stubbornly twist themselves into a curse . Continually , and in a thousand ways , did she feel l

      the innumerable throbs of anguish that had been so cunningy contrived for her by the undying , the over-active sentence of the Puritan Tribunal . Walking to and fro , with those lonely footsteps , in the little world with which she was outwardly connected , it now ana then appeared to Hester—if altogether fancy , it was nevertheless too potent to he resisted—she felt , or fancied , then , that the Scarlet Letter had endowed her with a two tense . She shuddered to believe , yet could not help believ' mg that it gave her a sympathetic knowledge of the hidden sin in other hearts . She was terror-stricken by the revelations tfiat

      were thus made . "What were they ? Sometimes the red infamy « pon her breast would give a sympathetic throb as she passed near a venerable minister , or magistrate , the model of piety a&d justice , to whom that age of antique reverence looked up as to a mortal man in fellowship with angels . " What evil thing is at hand ?» would Hester say to herself . Lifting up her reluctant eyes , there would be nothing human within the scone of \ iew saxa the form of this earthly saint .

      Again , a mystic sisterhood would contumaciously assert itself «* she met the sanctified frown of some matron who , according to *« e rumour of all tongues , had hpt cold snow within her breast hroughout life . Once more the electric thrill would give her darning . » Behold , Hester , here is a companion ! " and , looking ll she would detect the eyes of a young maiden glancing at «\ e scarlet letter , shyly and aside , and quietly averted with a f amt chill crimson on her cheeks , as if her purity were some ™> at sullied by that momentary glance .

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      sm ^ fJ ' g that ! true as raro * We sM not have Sh l glVe ? lU' r ¥ ers a Y 1 ^ Of the " intcrior ° a heart , " Tvnich shows how the curse is working with poor Mr Dim-^ e and is told ith thrilling power " and K ^ . v also P *® «* . character of Pearl , the elf-like child of Snl ^ n ^ n " ° V Vild beaufcy and truing S n } i } le + ngth He 8 t ' W erWh ° of sfclmind and I &p oi * L T' somewhat recovers and resolves to nake an effort to release Mr . Dimmesdale from the faiwp of had met there M He ig hmkm ( bwn in ^ ^ stren th ' endeavoui ' s to ills P ire him with hope and

      bnt thn ? f VT " l lder the seven yeavs' weight of misery , stem o .+ ? alt , lea J f > md thee ! U slia ] 1 not cumber thy 3 ht « ii 5 read . f . al ^ g forest path ; neither shalt thoa thk wtp v f ™ il \ ' ^ P refer t 0 cross the se a- Leave more witt af T ^ i where , £ ath h 1 ap P ened ! Meddle no Svttii ? i ^ "K m « w * Hastthou exhaustedpossibifnfr nf ? ? T Ot thlS One trial ? Notso ! The future is yet TWi ? 5 ? UCfSS' Tkere is happiness to be en ] oyed \ f _ . s ^ t 0 ^ e d 01 i - Exchange this false life of thine for

      ? l £ T T \ thy sPint Slimm ° n thee to such a mission , the teacher and apostle , of the red men . Or-as is more thy I ™ f 7 ^ f . scholar and a sage among the wisest and the renowned of the civilized world . Preach ! Write ! Act ! Do ?;! ft- ^ t ° He dow n and die . Give up this name of Aunur Dimmesdale , and make thyself another , and a high one such as thou cans't wear without fear or shame Why shoiildst thou tarry so much as one other day in the torments that have gnawed into thy life-that have made thee feeble to will and to do-that will leave thee powerless , even to repent , up , and away . " i

      v i ? i ^ e ? fr / " crIed Arfclmr Dimmesdale , in whose eyes a fitful light , kindled by her enthusiasm , flushed up and died away , thou tellest of running a race to a man whose knees are tottering beneath him ! I must die here . There is not the vSPSjh or courage left me to venture into the wide , strange diihcult world alone !" It was the last expression of the despondency of a broken spirit . He lacked the energy to grasp th . » jtbf fortune that seemed within his reach . He repeated the word . « Alone Hester ! " " Thou shalt not go alone , " she answered in a deep whisper . Then all was spoken ! * * * % * "Thou wilt go ! " said Hester calmly , as he met her glance . lne decision once made , a glow of strange enjoyment threw its flickering brightness over the trouble of his breast . "Do I feel joy again ? " cried he , wondering at himself . Methonght the germ of it was dead within me ! 0 Hester thou art my better angel ! I seem to have flung myself—sick ' , sin-stained , and sorrow blackened—down upon these forest leaves , and to have risen up all made a-new . This is already the better life ! Why did we not find it sooner ? " Let us not look back ; " answered Hester Prynne , "the past is gonewherefore should we linger upon it now ? See ! with this symbol I undo it all , and make it as it had never been ! " So speaking , she undid the clasp that fastened the scarlet letter , and , taking it from her bosom , threw it to a distance among the withered leaves .

      And now follows one of Hawthorne ' s fresh and radiant descriptions : "The stigma gone , Hester heaved a long deep sigh , in which the burden of shame and anguish departed from her spirit . 0 exquisite relief ! By another impulse she took off the formal cap that confined her hair , and down it fell upon her shoulders , dark and rich , with at once a shadow and a light in its abundance , and imparting the charm of softness to her features . There played around her mouth and beamed out of her eyes , a radiant and tender smile , that seemed gushing from the very heart of womanhood . A crimson flush was glowing on her cheek that had been long so pale . Her sex , her youth , the whole richness of her beauty , came back from what men call

      the irrevocable past , and clustered themselves with her maiden hope , and a happiness before unknown , within the magic circle of that hour . And , as if the gloom of the earth and sky had been but the influence of those two hearts , it vanished with their sorrow . Ail at once , as with a sudden smile of heaven forth burst the sunshine , pouring a very flood into the obscure forest , gladdening each green leaf , transmuting the yellow fallen ones to gold , cind gleaming adown the grey trunks of the solemn trees . The course of the little brook might be traced by its merry gleam afar into the wood ' s heart of mystery , which had become a mystery of joy .

      Such was the sympathy of nature—that wild heathen nature of the forest , never subjugated by human law , nor illumined by higher truth—with the bliss of these two spirits . Love , whether newly-born or aroused from death-like slumber , ' must always create a sunshine , filling the heart so full of radiance that it overflows the outward world . Splendid bursts like this run in radiant relief , like threads of gold through the dark woof of the story . They prepare to start for Old England , births are already taken on board

      ship , but the evil eye of the old man is upon them , and his cunning thwarts their intentions . The shadow of death is already npon Mr . Dimmesdale , and the end approaches . He has to preach the election sermon , and determines to make this an opportunity for the " revelation of the Scarlet Letter . ' Never did the rich endowments of the preacher shine forth so glorious—never had the music of his eloquence sunk so deep into the hearts of his hearers—never did their idol look so bright and beautiful as he then stood transfigured on the heights of their admiration . And on this lofty pedestal of feme he chose to proclaim himself the paramour of the woman with the " Scarlet Letter , " and die like an Indian bride on the self-lighted pyre . He leaves the church apotheosized by worshippers ; his face is of death-like hue , he totters on like a man in a dream . At length the procession arrives at the scaffold on which Hester had stood seven years before . He calls upon Hester and little Pearl , their child , and mounts the scaffold steps with them , hand in hand . Old Roger Chillingworth whispers in his car :

      " Hadst thou sought the whole earth over , there was no one p lace so secret—no high place , nor lowly place , where thou conldst have escaped me , save on this very scaffold / ' '' Thanks be to Him who hath led me hither ! " answered the minister ; "is it not better than what we dreamed of in the forest ?" murmered he to Hester . "I know not ! I know not ! " she hurriedly replied . "Better ? yea ; so we may both die , and little Pearl die with us . " * * * * » People of New England ! " cried he , with a voice that rose over them , high , solemn , and majestic , yet had always a tremor in it , and sometimes a

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      t ^ l 4 lF } ^ ? a kthomless depth of remorse and behold mo t : T oved me-ye that havc deemed me holybel 10 Id me here the one sinner of the world ! at last ! at l / st ! stoodIXU ! i ? pot where > seven years since > T s ] iouW h tret h Jv ' v ? IT 11111 ' wh 08 ° ' ' <™ «« - ' Httle this JrellI n wltV , hav <> crept hitherwards , sustains me at e sculeti ie r ^ grOvellin 8 ' dmvn uP ° mv f > a <* ! Lo ! it ? Whlv i ^ ^ 8 ter wears ! Ye have shuddered at it . Wherever her walk hath been it , Wl , n »« f n l « v ? ri « i »« m nt id WriM at l been [ t hath cast a lurkl lefim of

      awe a S o ? e hi tl e ^ ^ Vnf PUglianCe r 0 Und about hCT ' But thSrc stood Zrl no ^ shudl I ? ' f Wh 0 se brand of in ^ 7 ^ sin ve Staflirt S i lfc 8 e ? ' this I » H a * » the tat h ^ fonHht 1 T * l 1 ™ naindM ot > Ms secret undisclosed ; &intnraToillv l W b ° l . weakness < and sti 11 ««» w the He rew off ^ i ^ ^ St ? vhlg for the maste ^ with him . nointin » if if I Th i ? l hc mS ^ were for ever cunningly from men , and walked among y ^ Twitl tie m ^ o a spirit , mournful , because so pure in a % ' ul \ 2 ^ T j

      uecause lie missed his heavenly kindred . Now at the death hour , he stands up before you ! He bids you look a 4 ft Hester's scarlet letter ! He tells you that wirti nil V JWr ^ j " tho ?•>* - rf tSt ^ b L"rife own breast , and that even this , his own ml sttema is no more lmn he typo of what has seared his inmose iJIt P Stand ™ v oenoid a clreadiul witness of it . " * % -k- * •'

      he S $ Q T k d 0 Wn ' . " HeSter ' farewel V' innmured he . fehall we not meet again ? " said she . "Shall we not 3 f 5 S 3 Wf ' - * fc = ! K seestr > lg djmg e 7 CS ' tel 1 me what thou .. Str ^ W Said h f ^ itemulous solemnity , th-alt r % t ! ignt s i ^ "I S ^ r ^ ing torture to bear upon my breast ; by ' sendh l yon der hriand terrible od man to keep the torture always ft ml 1 eat hv hrmgiuffme hither to die this death of triumphant ; imonmiv More the people , His will be done ! iarewe 1 '' 8 }

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      Ten Ybaes in the Prison op Mont St . Michael and the Citadel op Dotjllens . By Martin Bernard . First ia . it , &c .

      Ihia book is a sufficient improvement of the savin ? that men Will no onger W martyrdom in defence of IS ef gion It is t ™ they have now too high an opinionof - digmty and ot the value of human life , to seek death iTde fence of some miserable childish dogma but Wl a danm , or cruelties have been able to daunt the noble son of the lievo lution or to make them waver , ever for a momen in tl eir gaUant „ niggle for the holy principles of eq ,, a % nd ibeX -the religion , o humanity V Martin Bernard was one of hose condemned for the insurrection of May , iffflT Alon ' wth Barbes anrl other soldiers of tho republican cause ° he was sent to the fortress of MonwLint So \ where hey were subjected to the most cruel tatment witli the view , apparently , of destroying their heaUh and thus , by madness , or gradual death , gratifying the revere ful feelings of he government , who had the will , but not the courage to send their defeated enemies to tho scaffold The aaatsscsswia-jit-j si , « f : aitK ; : : s = i as

      prison . * " THE CELLULAR WAGGON . Upon my descent into one of the courts , by the pale ljo-ht of the lanthoniB carried by my guides , I saw aii immense waW which certainly bore no resemblance to those belonging totiS prisons of Pans , and to which six horses were attachtd Lnm - diately my name was called , and I was compelled to entei The strange vehicle , of which I believe it useless to give a e ailed description , as everybody now knows the form and deatinadon ot these frightful cages , which contemnomrv r ^\\ an ^^ , r Jl

      qualified by tho technical name of cellular wc ^ goni ^ Z enough for me to say that , when the door of my cabin was closed upon me an irresistable shudder ran through my ^ at the thought of remaining enclosed in that horrib e box where my body had , like a corpse in its coffin , strictly the nhce necessary for its length and breadth , and where air and St were measured to mo with the same parsimony . Yet it Iw not for an hour merely that this was to last , but for many davs perhaps for it could be no longer doubted hat we were S to depart for our definite prison . "

      lhat prison was Mont-Samt-Mjehcl , within whose walls hey were enclosed at seven o ' clock on tho mon h ^ of the 1 ith of July Here they were subjected to the Ssy tem m direct contravention of the lows of v ,. o « i I } ??' tho-gh ever prating of ^^^^ A kws , has never hesitated to break throufl XL whe / ver done wi h impunity However , in spite of the illegal imposi-Zv r i Ja ° ' ? mard an ( l Bai ' ^ WCTe enabW to hold many litt ] 0 < conversations , which helped to sweeten the rigour of their prison life . For this purpose , they at first made use ot a symbolical and allegorical language , and subsequently of ^ . atin , a little practice having sufficed to renew in their

      memories all that they had formerly learned of that adorable language of Virgil and Horace . In one of the short pronienades which he was allowed to take , while crossing the fcaut-Orauthier , tho darkness of our author ' s prison life was tor an instant brightened up by

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      September 18 , 1852 . » , ^ ============= ^^ J ^ EfcDGM . 93 * " "' ¦ i .. . ¦ ' - ^ ¦ ¦ " ' " ¦

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      Dix Ans de Prison au Mont -Saint-Michel ut a la Citadblle de Doullens . Par Martin Bernard . Premiere Partie . Paris : 1851 .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Sept. 18, 1852, page 13, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1696/page/13/