by F. Anstey
It was now 9 p.m.—I had some Tea & Toast—everything so nicely prepared. I certainly had a lovely home but ‘fleeting are the joys of earth.’10 Night fine. I went for short walk. Voice saying ‘Violet, you are a fool!’ thought it was my husband. No one there. I turned & ran. At my door—voice didn’t accompany me in—but ran down road to entrance gate of the Cross Swords <?> & appeared to stand in middle of road & scream.
In my room. Every object that my eye rested upon spoke of some awful change—every article of furniture appeared to wear a mournful look. I sat down to read an amusing book—I have a copy of it given me by one of the nurses—title is Mr & Mrs Spoopendyke11—American. Some very amusing short tales in it. Nice fire burning. Number of pictures in room. Figures in picture moving as if alive. At first thought it might be the position of the lamp. I will describe it—if you have never heard of anything of the kind before it will enable you to judge if insanity had anything to do with it.
(1) Neapolitan lady under luxuriant foliage—guitar in hand. I saw her bony
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long white fingers moving over the strings. Eyes move—head raised when necessary to take high note—no sound—breeze now and then stirred lace on dress & elbows—leaves rustling.
(2) Scene on Coast of France. ‘The Expected Return’—groups of fisherwomen round ancient cross. Woman rocking in grief at foot of cross—child trying to draw her apron away—another wringing her hands—mouth opening at times. Woman with long telescope—pushing it in or pulling it out. ‘Her capstrings appeared to have a little amusement on their own account.’ One man kneeling & praying.
(3) A Winter Song—Robin—throat throbbing bill opening.
(4) The 3 Generations—Xmas Day assembly in drawing <?> room.
(5) Little girl washing a dog in tub, ‘& judging from expression of his face, he would not become a candidate for enforcement of sanitary laws amongst dogs.’
I took the lamp & went to each one in turn—felt quite pleased at this discovery—something to amuse me at all events. The thought struck me that daylight would bring them back to their original habits, i.e. remaining perfectly still—but daylight made no difference—for weeks for months they kept me amused—nor could I understand why others could not see as I did.
On evening of 3rd day husband, his friend Mr S. & the Doctor came to see me. I felt very much inclined to indulge my feelings of suppressed rage against my husband for having shamefully left me & against his friend for having aided and abetted him in his wickedness. Yet with my usual command over self I kept my temper—not any of the three could detect anything amiss. I knew if I once gave way to temper it would immediately be put down to madness. After that my doom was sealed. The Doctor touched on the broken door but I drew his attention to the picture of the little girl washing the dog. He did not appear to understand me & the subject dropped.
After they had gone dreadful depression as if my husband lay dead in one of the upper
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rooms & I actually could not rest until I went to see although I knew he was not in the house. During 12 months I did not get 20 nights’ sleep. I daresay Dr Will or Dr Miller can not be made to believe this & possibly will not credit many things written here. That is their loss not mine.
Gave up reading to study my pictures—sometimes quite free from gloomy thoughts—at others in depth of depression. My daughter’s voice seemed not to expect me to respond—as if she were getting tired of my constant non-compliance. Idea of getting poison. Only one chemist’s—but no matter what I asked for they said they had not any just then. No desire to disfigure myself in case daughter should not recognise me—therefore I should take poison or shoot myself through heart.
Miserable night chased by voices & singing. Husband much opposed to my going to London alone. I did not say goodbye to him—felt too indignant.
Not many minutes in train when I wished myself back again. Mid-day express from Lewes after 9 a.m. from Brighton—dark tunnels—one very long one before Croydon.
Travelled 2nd class & alone in compartment. Speed of train increased till I expected every moment it would come off the rails. Those devilish voices again commenced to torment me—quite close to my ear. Wild unearthly shrieks of that awful engine pierced through brain like a sharp instrument. I thought I was dead & that great monster dragging me with others down to an unknown world perhaps to Hell.
I beat the sides of the carriage—surrounded on every side by voices—tried to beat them away. Horrid low mocking laughter—suffocating—faint—dying. I was mangled in imagination.
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I could not last much longer. Who is that standing in the compartment? Yes there was a man with his back to the carriage window. He was dressed like a porter—viz. cord trousers & jacket—the usual cap & in his hand he held a lighted lantern—glare lighted the carriage previously in darkness. His face the 3 lengths of an ordinary man’s face, colour a dirty leaden or deathly colour that you see in faces of people who are dead about one week.
His eyes fixed on me with such a diabolical scowl—as he commenced to back out at the door I heard myself scream. I was found lying in carriage on my face & quite insensible. Carried into waiting room or refreshment room I forget which at Croydon & treated with great kindness. I wore a black chip hat12 & it was much crushed by the fall but otherwise without a scratch. I firmly believe that man was the devil.
A lady took charge of me. Before I fainted I must have snatched at my ‘guitar’ that I brought with me in order to have the strings seen to.
At London Bridge the Lady sent for a cab. I told the driver to go to the nearest ‘Coffee House.’ I got some tea, rested for about an hour & set out to look for lodgings.
A Policeman sent me to the house of a mate of his whose wife was a dressmaker. Very nice people & kind to me. Made efforts to go & see a doctor but turned giddy & frightened the moment I passed the threshold. Noise too much for me. To this day noise of a railway whistle & rush of an engine frightens me very much.
Stayed there one week—never slept—men’s & women’s voices kept annoying me—as when at home.
In the daytime as bad—to hide my feelings I kept in my room. I thought the people of the house did not observe anything strange in my manner but they must have.
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‘Shall we leave the light burning? Oh yes it will be all right.’ It was my own light. Well I managed to get out one day & I did find a doctor. I described my state to him. He looked very serious, said my best plan would be to return home at once—that I had a very disordered mind & was dancing on pretty feet to a madhouse. I should try & agree with my husband, go out every day, live generously & mix with my fellow creatures.
I returned home—but this time I got into a carriage where there were a number of other people. I will here bring my troubles to a close. If it has no other effect it will at least let you see what a woman with a determined will is capable of enduring.
As to my future that is wrapped in mystery. My present prospects are not very bright but perhaps the dawn is not far off.
Trusting that you will make every allowance for the many mistakes & scratchings that you will have met with
I shall sign
Myself
‘Satisfied’
‘A Vision’
I asked God once to give me a glimpse of Heaven Hell & the Middle State—if there was a Middle State & this is what I saw.
I found myself on a very broad road on high elevation from which I could see a black & barren country—thousands of miles—not one green leaf—every tree & shrub blackened & bare. To my right a dark sullen looking river—possibly the Styx & to the left
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a dark & impenetrable wood. Peering from between the trees white anxious & emaciated faces all evidently trying to get away from each other.
Outside forest—a muddy greyish mist over river & whole country like the murky dawn of a winter’s morning.
At the bottom I looked up & saw com
ing down old & young women & men coming down to join the thousands of workers.
This was Hell. No fire & brimstone—only punishment carrying heavy loads of earth from one place to another. Ground burning hot—pierced with holes through which I could see the fire burning or ‘hell’s fire.’
The Devil had discretion enough to conceal it from his victims’ eyes—the intense heat underfoot caused them to be constantly running about.
His Satanic Majesty nowhere to be seen.
I entered the dark forest—before & behind I could see thousands of every age sex & class hastening away from hell preparatory to entering the Middle State.
Still dark—some fell & could not get up—no [sic] one person appeared to wait to assist another—but went on headlong, pushing & scrambling & groaping [sic] their way. Dressed in black, loose gowns with a cord round the waist.
Light in distance. At last we were quite out of the darkness. Patches of cultivated land—trees & shrubs—young leaves budding. People remained here, sowing seeds & planting young trees—rolling large stones—making nets. As quickly as work completed they undid it again. All working as if their salvation was at stake—as of course it was.
I left this place—path wider—country better & richer—long dark place to pass through not
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unlike the Tunnel I have spoken of.
Different set of people. Cheerful yet anxious. ‘I shall feel happy when I get there & not till then.’ Dressed in scarlet with girdle. Lamp in hand like that carried by the ‘Ten Virgins.’
Presently a world of dazzling brightness—we had arrived in Heaven—Joy, gladness. First words I heard were ‘For Ever with the King.’ Whole multitudes began to sing. They at same time began to ascend steps of white marbel [sic] to immense hall studded with precious stones. As they entered each hung up his or her lamp on hooks of gold & went into another & longer & richer place where myriads of angels unrobed them—put on a white one threaded with gold. But my dress was not touched—I was not even noticed.
Leaving that hall of beauty I found myself alone.
Hundreds of castles of dazzling brightness apparently composed of gems & precious stones. Lovely flowers & birds—trees & fruit—marble roads covered with crimson & gold cloth interwoven. Grand procession forming. First carriage drawn by 20 horses abreast & 20 deep—horses covered with crimson & gold. Coachman
Heaven appeared to be several worlds rolled into one—for of course I could see for millions of miles around.
Last grand carriage was a sight. Shaped like a wind <?> barge with a large square piece <?> cut out of centre. Massive carved pillar at bow & stern & at each side & they supported white velvet hangings trimmed with very deep & heavy gold fringe.
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Drawn by 160 horses—half covered with white & gold, half with crimson & gold. No coachman. The place where God ought to be was covered over with most magnificent violet velvet cloth with gold fringe. I thought within myself ‘Well, even in heaven things are not quite perfect.’ I was disappointed & deeply troubled. But then the Bible says ‘No man hath seen God at any time’13 & I was of course a mortal.
I will just remark that all this belief about meeting friends & dead relatives in Heaven is I think doubtful, as I never saw in either hell, middle state or Heaven anyone I knew on earth.
And indeed when you come to think there are a great number of people here who would not feel at all rejoiced at meeting some of their earthly acquaintances. Even in Heaven. I think they are better apart. At the same time I expect to meet my child when I enter the other world—when we shall go hand in hand to the golden city.
Trusting to a future happy state I shall endeavour to make the best of this,
V. M.
(Extracted fr. original doct Sundays 2nd & 9th Decr 1888.)
NOTES
1 “M.R.C.S.” denotes member of the Royal College of Surgeons. The home this surgeon owns might be a Georgian building, with an upstairs drawing-room.
2 The British Temperance Movement was vigorous throughout Anstey’s lifetime, although as he was writing The Statement of Stella Maberly it suffered a temporary setback with the defeat of the Liberal Party in the 1895 election.
3 Punishable abortions were those that could not be justified as last-ditch interventions to save the mother’s life, and maybe the baby’s life too.
4 At this time in London the last postal delivery of the day might be made between 7.45 and 8.45pm.
5 This is the opening line of a hymn by Isaac Watts (1674-1748) which emphasises the futility of those who do not lead Christian lives professing Christian belief.
6 For as long as most Victorians could remember, scarlet fever had been one of the most feared diseases in the land; the worst epidemics were between 1840 and 1880.
7 While Job was exercising great patience in the face of terrible trials inflicted upon himself and his family, his wife urged him to “curse God, and die” (Job 2:9).
8 This is a Scottish folk song which Anstey is likely to have known from a very young age. His father’s family was Scottish and his mother was a piano teacher.
9 The line is from a consolatory rhyme of unknown authorship, “On that bright immortal shore / We shall meet to part no more,” which is often found on gravestones. (It is, however, the “bright immortal shore” which is likelier to have featured in the hymn remembered here.)
10 This line appears in Elizabeth O. Dannelly’s Cactus; or, Thorns and Blossoms (New York: Atlantic Publishing, 1873), p. 353.
11 A collection of Stanley Huntley’s extremely popular sketches, The Spoopendyke Papers, was published in New York in 1883. They are comedies of marital misunderstanding, in which Mrs Spoopendyke tries but fails to please her impatient and irascible husband.
12 This is an example of the fashionable headwear of the time, probably trimmed with feathers and flowers.
13 A line from the Gospels (John 1:18)
APPENDIX II: Violet Millar’s Statement
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Violet Millar’s Statement
As far as my memory will allow—that I then & now believe
‘Unravel’ what will at best be a ‘tangled skein.’
Notwithstanding some things will appear so impossible, remember everything happened just as I have written it.
Only merit in this narrative is truth.
Presentiment—Sleeplessness.
The selfpity—appreciation of horror of situation.
The sham logic—attempt to explain delusions by natural causes
stock quotations (but here <?> a half educated woman)
Selfpraise—‘I am not a —’
dread of dwelling on a scene
the half consciousness of insanity—candid admissions that appearances warranted it.
Wish that God would give us option of refusing life beforehand.
The sense of digressing.
Attempts to reason with herself
But I know that all this was assumed.
Dislike to society & pity for her loneliness
horror of crowds
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You will naturally say my mind in an unhealthy state & that perhaps accounted for it—but that had nothing to do with it.
Belief in being watched.
In a moment I divined her thought
hint at suicide
Was I haunted or mad. How could. I have been mad.
Pride in her own selfcontrol
I was & am a mystery to myself
insistence on detail
You will perhaps think
Effort to preserve a calm exterior
desire to smash things for relief.
Keenly alive to that disgraceful outburst of mad passion.
&nb
sp; Wish for more descriptive powers that story might be more readable—
The delirium of the animated pictures—
APPENDIX III: An Evil Spirit
In the British Library Anstey archive, Additional MS 54308 contains five film scenarios, all apparently prepared between March 1915 and March 1916. The third of the five, “An Evil Spirit,” was written over the space of ten days in the middle of February 1916. The text of this (occupying fos 110-143) is transcribed below, together with the front matter (fos 107-09). The numerals in brackets, from [107] onwards, refer to the numbered folio sheets of the manuscript; the numerals in parentheses, from (1) onwards, are the numbers of the scenes.
[107]
Scenario for Film
An Evil Spirit
by
F. Anstey
(founded on his story ‘The Statement of Stella Maberly’)
In Parts1
[108]
List & Description of Principal Characters
1. Stella Maberly
Age, in the opening scene at Asylum, about 30. Appearance, still beautiful, but with streaks of premature grey in her black hair.
Age at beginning of story, 18. Afterwards about 22. A tall slender brunette, rather stormy & passionate-looking.
{n.b. I do not imagine that Miss Lillah McCarthy2 could be engaged for this part, but I mention her as the ideal type for it.}
2. Evelyn Heseltine
Age, at beginning of story 18—afterwards about 22.
Tall, not necessarily as tall as Stella, but not much shorter. A complete contrast to her in other ways. Fairhaired with an expression of sweetness & innocence.
After the transformation this expression shows a subtle change at times but only when she is alone with Stella or unobserved.
{Type would be Miss Nina Severing, or Miss Lydia Bilbrooke.3}
3. The Evil Spirit
A shadowy form in black gauzy drapery, with a handsome but voluptuous & slightly cruel face.
