"Dr. Heidegger's Experiment" is a

short story A short story is a piece of prose fiction that typically can be read in one sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the oldest ...

by American author

Nathaniel Hawthorne Nathaniel Hawthorne (July 4, 1804 – May 19, 1864) was an American novelist and short story writer. His works often focus on history, morality, and religion. He was born in 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts, from a family long associated with that t ...

. The story is about a doctor who claims to have been sent water from the

Fountain of Youth The Fountain of Youth is a mythical spring which allegedly restores the youth of anyone who drinks or bathes in its waters. Tales of such a fountain have been recounted around the world for thousands of years, appearing in the writings of Herod ...

. Originally published anonymously in 1837, it was later published in Hawthorne's collection ''

Twice-Told Tales ''Twice-Told Tales'' is a short story collection in two volumes by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The first volume was published in the spring of 1837 and the second in 1842. The stories had all been previously published in magazines and annuals, hence th ...

'', also in 1837.

Plot

Dr. Heidegger, an eccentric aged scientist, invites four elderly friends (Mr. Medbourne, a destitute man, who was a merchant in his youth but had squandered his wealth in wrong investments; Colonel Kiligrew, a elderly ailing man who had indulged himself in ‘sinful pleasures’; Mr. Gascoigne, a forgotten politician who displayed hypocrisy throughout his career; and the Widow Wycherley, a once-beautiful woman ostracised by her community for having a number of scandalous relationships, including with the three) to participate in an experiment in his mysterious, gloomy study. He shows them a withered rose that he claims is fifty-five years old, from his deceased fiancé Sylvia Ward (prior to their wedding, Sylvia had contracted a slight disorder; Heidegger had given her one of her experimental prescriptions, which killed her on her bridal evening). He then displays a vase, a gift from an acquaintance, that contains a generous quantity of sparkling water. Heidegger explains that this bewitching water is from the legendary

, near Lake Macaco (now known as

Lake Okeechobee Lake Okeechobee (), also known as Florida's Inland Sea, is the largest freshwater lake in the U.S. state of Florida. It is the tenth largest natural freshwater lake among the 50 states of the United States and the second-largest natural freshwa ...

, in Florida). The water wondrously causes the old rose to bloom again when it is dropped into it. Dr. Heidegger's friends become cautiously intrigued. They wish to taste the water, hoping it will restore their youth and give them an opportunity to live life again, free from the mistakes they made when they were young. As Heidegger watches, they anxiously drink the water. Their youth restored, they begin acting as fatuously as they did in their prime. Soon, the three men of the group begin competing for the attention of the now-youthful and beautiful widow. While experiencing their newfound youth, however, a tall ominous mirror in the study reflects an image of the four guests as still being elderly and feeble. The vase is accidentally smashed as the men fight over the widow, and its miraculous water is lost. As Heidegger protests against the four, the rose begins fading, restored back to its ‘dry and fragile’ state. To the four guests’ horror, they return to their old self. Heidegger realises that giving the four a second chance to live their youth once again, has brought them back to their flaws, further stating that “… for if the fountain gushed at (his) very doorstep, (he) would not stoop to bathe (his) lips in it.” To obtain more of the enchanted water, the four guests contemplate on travelling to, and head for Florida, to find the Fountain of Youth.

Characters

* Dr. Heidegger - An aged physician, who is the protagonist of the story. * Colonel Killigrew - A man who, throughout his life, has had many self-indulgent, sinful pleasures. * Mr. Medbourne - A once-rich merchant who lost most of his fortune in speculation. * Mr. Gascoigne - A politician whose career was ruined by his corruption. * Widow Wycherley - A formerly beautiful woman loved by the three gentlemen (Colonel Killigrew, Mr. Medbourne, Mr. Gascoigne). * Sylvia Ward- A youthful woman whose portrait hangs upon a wall in the study. She was supposed to marry Dr. Heidegger but died the day before their marriage. (The rose Dr. Heidegger uses in his experiment is one he received from Sylvia for their wedding.)

Publication history and response

The story was first published anonymously as "The Fountain of Youth" in the January 1837 issue of Lewis Gaylord Clark's '' The Knickerbocker'' magazine in New York. Clarke, who had invited Hawthorne to contribute, noted that he had "rarely read anything which delighted" him more. The story was included later that year in Hawthorne's collection ''

''. Park Benjamin Sr. reviewed the collection for the ''American Monthly Magazine'' and called it a rival to the work of

Washington Irving Washington Irving (April 3, 1783 – November 28, 1859) was an American short-story writer, essayist, biographer, historian, and diplomat of the early 19th century. He is best known for his short stories "Rip Van Winkle" (1819) and " The Legen ...

. He specified that "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment" served as "a very apt companion-piece" to Irving's "Mutability of Literature". An anonymous reviewer in the ''

Boston Daily Advertiser The ''Boston Daily Advertiser'' (est. 1813) was the first daily newspaper in Boston, and for many years the only daily paper in Boston. History The ''Advertiser'' was established in 1813, and in March 1814 it was purchased by journalist Nathan ...

'', however, noted that the stories in the collection were of "unequal merit" and preferred "the grace and sweetness of such papers as 'Little Annie's Ramble,' or 'A Rill from the Town-pump,' to those of a more ambitious cast, and in which the page glows with a wider and more fearful interest, like '

The Minister's Black Veil "The Minister's Black Veil" is a short story written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. It was first published in the 1836 edition of ''The Token and Atlantic Souvenir'', edited by Samuel Goodrich. It later appeared in '' Twice-Told Tales'', a collection of ...

' and 'Dr. Heidegger's Experiment.'"

Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe (; Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is wid ...

reviewed the second edition of the collection in 1842 and wrote that "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment" was "exceedingly well imagined and executed with surpassing ability. The artist breathes in every line of it."

Adaptations

* ''Dr. Heidegger's Experiment'', an episode of the old-time radio program ''

Favorite Story ''Favorite Story'' is an American old-time radio dramatic anthology. It was nationally syndicated by the Ziv Company from 1946 to 1949. The program was "advertised as a show that 'stands head and shoulders above the finest programs on the air'". ...

''. It first aired on May 15, 1948, and was hosted by Ronald Colman. It starred

John McIntire John Herrick McIntire (June 27, 1907 – January 30, 1991) was an American character actor who appeared in 65 theatrical films and many television series. McIntire is well known for having replaced Ward Bond, upon Bond's sudden death in Novem ...

as Dr. Heidegger, Lurene Tuttle,

Earle Ross Earle Ross (March 29, 1888 – May 21, 1961) was an American radio and film actor. While in school he became interested in dramatics and was usually cast as a villain or an old man because of his unusual voice characteristics. In 1908 he worke ...

, Arthur Q. Bryan, and Norman Field. It was selected by Robert Walker as his favorite story. *

Billie Burke Mary William Ethelbert Appleton Burke (August 7, 1884 – May 14, 1970) was an American actress who was famous on Broadway and radio, and in silent and sound films. She is best known to modern audiences as Glinda the Good Witch of the North ...

starred in an adaptation of the story on the TV version of '' Lights Out'' on November 20, 1950. * ''Dr. Heidegger's Fountain of Youth'', chamber opera by Jack Beeson and

Sheldon Harnick Sheldon Mayer Harnick (born April 30, 1924) is an American lyricist and songwriter best known for his collaborations with composer Jerry Bock on musicals such as ''Fiorello!'' and '' Fiddler on the Roof''. Early life Sheldon Mayer Harnick was ...

(1979) "Opera versions of Hawthorne's works, scores, librettos, and vocal recordings" ''ibiblio.org''
5 August 2011 * ''Britannica Classic: Nathaniel Hawthorne's Dr. Heidegger's Experiment'', adapted as a short film, dramatized by the Encyclopædia Britannica Educational Corporation in 1969. Available for viewing online at http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1685292/Doctor-Heideggers-Experiment. (It stars

Peter Brocco Carl Peter Brocco (January 16, 1903 – December 20, 1992) was an American screen and stage actor. He appeared in over 300 credits, notably ''Spartacus'' (1960) and '' One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'' (1975), during his career spanning over 60 ...

.) * It was included, with significant changes, as the first segment of the 1963 movie ''Twice-Told Tales'' starring

Vincent Price Vincent Leonard Price Jr. (May 27, 1911 – October 25, 1993) was an American actor, art historian, art collector and gourmet cook. He appeared on stage, television, and radio, and in more than 100 films. Price has two stars on the Hollywood Wal ...

*The story was adapted by Stephen Douglas Burton as one of three one-act operas in his 1975 trilogy, ''An American Triptych''.

References

External links

eText on Project Gutenberg
(Included in ''Twice Told Tales'')
A Brief Article
on NYU's database site * {{DEFAULTSORT:Doctor Heidegger's Experiment 1837 short stories Short stories adapted into films Short stories by Nathaniel Hawthorne Works adapted into operas Works originally published in The Knickerbocker Works published anonymously