Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 8, Number 18, DeMotte, Jasper County, 31 March 1938 — LIBRARY FEATURE Tragic Diary Of Prisoner Clears Name [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

LIBRARY FEATURE Tragic Diary Of Prisoner Clears Name

By ELIZABETH C. JAMES

I_T AVE you ever read “Peter Ib--1 1 betsoh,” by George du Maurier? The story is in diary form, supposedly written during Peter’s twen-ty-fifth year in prison. He described his parents, Monsieur and Madam

Pasquier, and his pleasant childhood in Paris. Unusually sensitive to beauty, even as a boy- he felt magic in the presence of his lovely mother. His diary relates incidents concerning a little invalid, Mimsey, who was -his playmate, and whose imagination idolized Gogo, as she called Peter.

Suddenly the life in Paris was broken by the death of both parents and Peter was sent to London to become the ward of his Uncle Ibbetson, whose name Peter took. The following years were dull and irritating, for Peter was lonely and ill at ease. After he reached manhood he completely broke with his uncle upon learning that he lied about the women of his circle to enhance his reputation as a devil. Peter went down to London and became an indifferent architect. One evening at a formal entertainment he met the Duchess of Towers, and again he felt the magic of perfect beauty. She reminded him vaguely of Mimsey, the childhood friend. The Duchess of Towers became the dream lady of his life, as far beyond reality as the stars. Dream Coincidence. In London sometime later, Peter went into the country to submit designs for redecorating a castle, and the duchess was the first person who came out into the garden.. Since this meeting was informal, he began to relate his strange dream to her. She interrupted him, then continued the dream herself, finishing it just as he had dreamed it. On the same night they had dreamed an identical dream. The duchess said: “The first time that I saw you, I thought you were

Gogo Pasquier, but you turned out to be Peter Ibbetson.” So she was his.Mimsey after all! Heathen explained the events of the intervening years, relating how he had been adopted _by his uncle. It seemed unbelievable that Mimsey could now be strong and well and ! .'W . lovely! And married to the duke of Towers. Thus were these childhood sweethearts brought together again. Their meetings continued, and despite the circumstances of the duchess’ marriage, they loved each other. In order that they might be together. the duchess explained to Peter a scientific secret revealed to her by her father, the secret of spiritual life available while the >ody is deep in sleep. Thus each night, he and the duchess of Towers met each other in the memories of childhood. Later they became so strong in their spiritual bodies that they could exchange knowledge of present happenings. Tragedy Stalks. Then Peter, killed "his Uncle Ibthat the uncle had told about Peter’s mother. At his trial, Peter declined to defend himself, preferring not to bring into court the stories which so angered him. The court sentenced Peter Ibbetson to prison for life. Life in prison was not wretched. Physical activity kept Peter strong and his mind was at peace so that he was a model prisoner. Years had passed Then came one frightful night. When Peter’s soul left his sleeping body and sought to meet the soul of his love he met a blank wall. Peter awoke, calmed himself, and then fell asleep again. The second time he tried and met blankness, and a third time. The duchess of Towers was dead. Peter became insane. One night the duchess came back to him. She explained that she had come to him this one time to comfort him and to unfold for him knowledge^of many things: That he must not grieve, that in the other world you learn that there is really no Time, and that his attempts at suicide would never succeed. To occupy his mind, the prisoner began to write this account of his life, much of it in code because he disliked the thought of the world reading it. -e Bell Syndicate.—WNV Service.

Elizabeth James