Heart of Stone

I have a notebook filled with clippings from The Times. These clippings consist of news articles, birth, marriage and death announcements and advertisements. They are not arranged in chronological order of when they were written, but only in the order in which I found them. As I flip through pages of my notebook, the years jump from 1795 to 1864 and back again. I have been quite disorganized and random in my search for interesting treasures. So, when I find pieces that are connected, it feels like a blessed bit of serendipity.  One of my favourite series of clippings is an example of this type of fortunate find.

This advertisement was posted in The Times on September 9, 1859:

The Times Friday, Sep 09, 1859; pg. 1; Issue 23407; col B

It reads:

To the HEART of STONE.—Why torture the victim longer? Bright prospects shine if you meet on the instant. He has been ruined over and over in screening you. It is the last attempt. If you oppose him now, a few days will put it out of his power to do all he desires for you - this is more than can be told. He forgives from his heart, and will never allude to the past. If he has offended, he hopes, alas, to be forgiven. Let him see the child and kiss it. The nurse shall bear the note fixing the time and place. Let it be where you now are.

Parts of this advertisement are cryptic, but a few things are clear. There is a child involved, a man who has been advocating for Heart of Stone and is now being advocated for by the writer, and this man is being kept from the child. I could not find any more references to Heart of Stone until this advertisement was posted on October  3, 1865, over 6 years later:

 The Times Tuesday, Oct 03, 1865; pg. 1; Issue 25306; col B

It reads:

THE HEART of STONE.—Why torture the victim longer? Bright prospects shine if you meet at once. Present conduct very suspicions to him who knows all; indicates also desire to delude, and exhibits all the past professions to have been for the same purpose. The “Martyr” can no longer endure such ungenerous, petty insult; it out-Herods all. Address, as before, under cover, to Mr. Pollaky, private inquiry office, 13, Paddington-green, W.

Six years have passed and the conflict continues. A few days later, this advertisement is posted. It seems to have been written by the Heart of Stone:

The Times Thursday, Oct 12, 1865; pg. 1; Issue 25314; col B

It reads:

THE HEART of STONE. – Fifteen years of gloomiest depression and long, sad hours of pain and sorrow have made me what I am; but the idol of our mutual affection having now passed into a better life, “Heart of Stone” will relent if “Martyr,” with meekness and submission befitting her self-adopted title, consents to the conditions stated in a former communication to Mr. Pollaky, private inquiry office, 13, Paddington-green; until then, no meeting can, or shall take place.

This advertisement provides a new perspective to this story. It seems that Heart of Stone has a heart that is made of anything but stone, as it has been filled with “pain and sorrow” and the “gloomiest depression.” We also hear that the “idol”, who I presume is the man referred to in the first posting, has died. This next advertisement is written again by Martyr, the author of the first two postings:

The Times Wednesday, Oct 18, 1865; pg. 1; Issue 25319; col B

This advertisement reads:

MARTYR to HEART of STONE. – I accept all your conditions, with the exception of that part of clause 5 which refers to “Corca.” I have left all the necessary documents with Mr. Pollaky, at 13, Paddington-green, W.

It appears that this is a conflict that is further complicated by legal matters. This final advertisement, written by the “Heart of Stone” suggests some resolution, and a promise of meeting:

The Times Tuesday, Oct 24, 1865; pg. 1; Issue 25324; col B

It reads:

HEART of STONE to “MARTYR.” – After so many years of lacerating agony what are riches to me! And, now that our idol is no more, I do not press further your acceptance of Clause 5. Let our meeting take place on the approaching anniversary of an event so indelibly impressed on the memory of us both; and may the solemnity of our reconciliation at the hour of our reunion not be profaned by the faintest suspicion of parsimony. I will communicate to Mr. Pollaky the exact time and place of meeting.

 I find the mention of the “approaching anniversary of an event so indelibly impressed on the memory of us both” to be quite haunting. What was this event that begins such a long period of suffering? What happened to the child? Who was the Martyr and the Heart of Stone? How did they find themselves to be woven in this complicated story?