The gates wide open; or, Scenes in another world.

Front matter

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Chapter I

The World of Art and Beauty—Its Appearance to Beings of Earth floating in its

Atmosphere—These Observers described—The joyful Greetings of Mrs. Jay and Peter Schlemihl in upper Air—Their Colloquy—Peter describes his Sickness and Death—Of the City of God—Mrs. Jay and Peter alight near a Temple— Here they meet with Deacon and Mrs, Colgate, with whom they go to the Mansion of the Redeemed and spend the Night......ccceocsceseccscccescs, 1D

Chapter II

Morning Scenes—Deacon Colgate’s Account of this New World—Oolloquy concerning this World in contrast with Earth—Breakfast—Servitors described— Peter receives a Message from his Angel to hasten tothe Metropolis to hear a new Oratorio by Handel, Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven—The Messenger tells the Story of his Life .......ee.seee----see Meisel alee oleae sratele sinie wieloiee S Cit Oe

Chapter III

A Day spent in the World of Art and Beauty—Of the new St. Peter’s built by Michael

Angelo—Mrs, Jay and her friend Peter meet with their neighbor, Mr. Laurens —The new Oratorio by Handel is performed, aided by Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven—Of the Language and Literature of the World of Art—They reach the

‘Happy Valley—Trial of Skill with a Mocking-bird—The Enigmas of Faith Discussed—Laurens introduces his friends to St. Perpetua—They attend Vespers— Tke Temple and Worship described........ ... Malnciginia slaetelaareeOeaeiais stele es Tae

Chapter IV

Bt. Perpetua sends Persis to Mrs. Jay with a Message—Their Conversation—The

Idea of Married Life entertained by Persis—Her Admiration of Mrs. Jay— Scenes on Silver Lake—Mrs. Jay: joins Perpetua, who relates the Story of her

Kul CONTENTS.

Martyrdom at Ce thage—Of her appearance before Hilarion—Scene in the Ampb’.heatre— «er Companions in Martyrdom—Of the Fathers of the Church— The Similarity of Pagan and Papal Religions in Social Life—St. Perpetua and Mrs. Jay are joined by Faustinus and Calliste, just returned after an Absence of fourteen Centuries—Their Colloquy with Mrs. Jay—Their Surprise at hearing of the Discovery of a ‘*New World”’—Mrs. Jay describes her meeting Satan, ’ the “Architect of Ruin’?—Faustinus’s Account of the New World whence he has returned—Puplic Opinion in Rome, a.p. 8830—Roman Society of the Fourth Century—Calliste tells the Story of her Conversion ; her Interviews with St. Paul, of her Trials and Martyrdom......... Sa duces) Jolsisaedisiece: Rests 0 Catia amma

Chapter V

Faustinus inquires of Mrs. Jay as to the Progress of the Gospel—Of the Last Days of the World; Views of the Early Ages respecting it; Mrs. Jay gives the Views of the Present Day—Perpetua on the Progress of Christianity—On the Condition of Women in the Days of Nero—The Law of the Twelve Tables—Examples of the Degradation of Women, shown in the Mother of Demosthenes and the Wife of M. P. Cato—Of the Law of Divorce as shown by Cicero to Terentia—Calliste tells of the Condition of Roman Children—Testimony of Tacitus—She gives an Account of Roman Customs, concerning Marriage,in a Relation of her own BION tO AUSUINUS waco «cs ee sey eo Ry Barer hoy

Chapter VI

The Party returns to the Palace Gardens—Scene—The Festivity of the Servitors—

Their Dances described—Mrs. Jay’s Colloquy with St. Perpetua about Dancing

—Miss Mehitable Smith arrives—Her Horror at the Sights—Her Angel’s con. trast between the Dancing of Earth and the World of Beauty—Tibertius gives a Recitation to Mrs. Jay and Perpetua of a Sermon Preached in the Metropolis by St. John Chrysostom ............ eal aeiels's Sed hens ANG yr ci, 140 |

Chapter VII

Mrs. Jay rises at an early Hour—Her Recollectivns of her Infancy—She ascends into the Air and seats herself on a Cloud—Her Thoughts of God—Returns to the Palace to receive a Morning Call from Perpetua and Calliste in her own Room —Their Colloquy—Of the School of Eloquence—Why there are ro “ Strong-minded Women” in Heaven—Perpetua’s Opinion of Woman’s Rights—Of Modern Fashions—Influence of the Science of Phrenology on Beauty—Variety of dresses now worn—Paint not now used—Of Diamonds—Modern Invention of making Money out of Paper—Of the Fashions at Carthage—Advantage of an Auto-da- Fé—Satirical sayings of Tertullian—Of Celibacy—Asceticism—Monasticism— Rise of Nunneries—Character of Girls educated in Conyents—Of the Convents ooa

CONTENTS. X1U of the United States—Of escaped Nuns—Of political Parties in the United States—The Admiration of certain Mothers for Nunneries as Seminaries of Education—Perpetua and Mrs. Jay discuss how these Prisons of the Unhappy can be made subject to Law..............c-ccceeee NESS SOLOS Fee ice RR He 151

Chapter VIII

St. Perpetua, Calliste and Mrs. Jay rise into the Air and sweep over the Country alighting to visit attractive Pleasure Grounds—Perpetua’s Remarks on English Manners—The Villa of Anastasius—Frankie Guilford and her Music Lesson— Her Account of Herself and Studies—Emerentia welcomes our Party to her Villa—The Music Hall—New Music by Beethoven—Mrs, Jay sings some Airs, “Native” to good Society in New York—Their Visit to the Studio—Perpetua and her Party remain to Supper—Conversation at the Table—They take Leave of the Family of Anastasius—Evening Scenes at the Palace—Mrs. Jay contrasts the Appearance of the Saloons with a Grand Party of her own—Mrs. Jay’s Difference between Ancient and Modern Martyrdom—They join Sulpicius Severus and St. Hedwiges—St. Chrysostom’s Opinion of Modern Monkery—Of the Origin of AS COLICISIV src-c oie 270/s-+ 0 ace. bi AG BAG RAM HolGr aM eG BED Seb Oo hele ame ire te Sanioee 183

.

Chapter IX

The Feast of Fruits and Flowers—Mrs. Jay introduced to Dante and Beatrice— Perpetua and Mrs. Jay meet Laurens and Peter Schlemihl on the Lawn—They are joined by Faustinus and Calliste—Laurens gives an Account of a Meeting of Savans in a Distant World for the Advancement of Knowledge—Description of the Academy—They go to the Section of Metaphysicians—Peter Schlemihl gives an Account of his Experiences—Calliste is surprised to hear Peter speak of his Seven Senses—Peter’s Explanation—Gives his Views of the Discussions— Laurens resumes his Narrative—Mrs. Jay’s Story of a Learned Lady of the East—The Search for the Absolute—Sir William Hamilton and Plato compared —The Jews had no Philosophy—Faustinus gives his Views—Laurens finishes the Narrative of his Visit—Perpetua defends the Metaphysicians—They go to the Temple to hear Beethoven’s new Anthem—The Scene described—St. Cecilia and Beethoven............ Sablotence mene. PMR cr elelace one eta atls ea eaats Salat ne .. 204

Chapter X

fhe Story of Angela, the Nun—Mishael, the Guardian of Angela, leads her to the Temple of the Winds, where Perpetua and our Friends were seated— Her Appearance described—While Perpetua takes her on a Walk in the Gar- - dens, Mishael, at the request of Calliste, tells the Story of her Life—Angela ae having completed her Education at Home, is taken by her Mother to Paris, where she returns the Love of a young Nobleman—Her Mother gives her “aes Approval; and while Count Gratz is on a Visit to Vienna, she breaks up her Bi Home in Paris, and returns with Angela—The Count, in his Despair, takes the

XIV CONTENTS.

Vow of Celibacy and becomes a Priest—He writes her a Letter, which she receives at Home, praying her to become a Nun—Angela takes the Veil—Her “' Decline and Death.... POCO H HK COKER HS CORES HEHEHE HEHEHE EHE HESHEEHESEHES SHEE 226

Chapter XI

Life at the Palace described—An Evening Entertainment at the Temple—A Sunset described—The Sabbath—TIhe Ritual Service of the Temple—A Sermon is preached by John Howe, once Chaplain to Oliver Cromweli—Mrs. Jay and Peter meet Mr. Howe in the Gardens—Their Colloquy—The Necessity of a Creed—Mr. Howe on Conversion—Mrs, Jay’s Account of the State of the Churches of Christ in the United States—Her Notion of the Work of the IBTITUSEIY occ are core co's’ e Vaicis o's salgie & siviald ae o'o'e sisi cleratle ousmiele's wits sire state cuneate onan

Chapter XII

Visit to the Studio of the Metropolis—Controversy between two Doctors, an Allopathist and Homeopathist, as to their several Systems and Modes of Practice— Visit to the Studio of a young Artist—Mrs. Jay makes a Discovery—Peter meets Lucia sitting on a Cloud—Their Colloquy—Of the recent Meeting of Savams in Montreal for the Advancement of Science—Lucia tells the Story of her Life—Of her Interview with Lady Alice De Vere, just from St. Barnabas, in Pimlico—Story Of fA. ROMSD Saint.:2< 5 ccss ccieswee sc cere culs soc. clas'elesias.o'ss as 5 44's eae ca teentnenien

Chapter XIII

Mrs. Jay is recalled to Earth by Flavianus, her Angel, to be present at the Marriage of her Daughter—She is accompanied by Faustinus and Calliste, Peter and her Son—Sights seen on the Journey—The Records of Eternity—A World on Fire—On reaching the Milky-way they have a Vision of Paradise before the Creation of Adam—Scenes passing before them to the Ascension of Christ— Flavianus explains how the Air holds a Record of all Events from the beginning of Creation—They alight at the Home of Mrs. Jay... .....cccccccccccccccee 29%

Chapter XIV

The Wedding Party at Mr. Jay’s—The Marriage Guests enter—Miss Judith Grey— _ Mrs. Fairfield—Mrs. George Thomson—Mrs. Thomson’s Critique on “ Old Masters ’—Mrs. Gen. Wentworth and Mrs. Thomson discuss the late Mrs. Jay— Colloquy between Mrs. Thomson, Mrs. Butler, and Mrs. Griswold, as to the presence of the Departed—Mrs, Thomson’s Opinion of the World she lives in—The Story of a Night—Mrs. Howard and Miss Fairfield—Mrs. Jay takes leave of her Husband and Daughter—Peter remains behind—Discovers the Curtains of an Upper Room on Fire—Fails to arouse Mr. Jay—He rushes into the Ball-room Sana snouts, Bre (0. ds cece esses sundae elena eee eilstene iat ee 820,

THE GATES WIDE OPEN.