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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:41:17 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:41:17 -0700 |
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diff --git a/13061-h/13061-h.htm b/13061-h/13061-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3ee81e3 --- /dev/null +++ b/13061-h/13061-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10261 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, Vol. 15, No. 87, March, 1875, by Various</title> + <style type="text/css"> + /*<![CDATA[*/ + + <!-- + body { + margin-left : 10%; + margin-right : 10%; + } + p { + text-align : justify; + } + blockquote { + text-align : justify; + } + h1 , h2 , h3 , h4 , h5 , h6 { + text-align : center; + } + h1 { /* Title */ + margin-top : 2em; + margin-bottom : 2em; + } + h2 { /* Article Headings */ + margin-top : 4em; + margin-bottom : 2em; + } + h3 { /* Chapters and subheadings */ + margin-top : 2em; + margin-bottom : 2em; + } + pre { + font-size : 0.7em; + } + hr { + text-align : center; + width : 50%; + } + hr.short { + text-align : center; + width : 20%; + } + hr.full { + width: 100%; + } + a:link {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + link {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:#ff0000} + pre {font-size: 9pt;} + .author { /* text right-justified inside small margin */ + margin-right : 5%; + text-align : right; + } + .center { /* used for author's name after poems */ + text-align : center; + } + .illustrations { + margin : 0.5em 10%; + font-size : 0.9em; + } + .note { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + font-size: 0.9em; + } + span.pagenum { + position : absolute; + left : 1%; + right : 85%; + font-size : 8pt; + } + div.trans-note { /* Transcriber's note */ + border-style : solid; + border-width : 1px; + margin : 3em 15%; + padding : 1em; + text-align : center; + } + + .poem { + margin-left : 10%; + margin-right : 10%; + margin-bottom : 1em; + text-align : left; + } + .poem .stanza { + margin : 1em 0; + } + .poem p { + margin : 0; + padding-left : 3em; + text-indent : -3em; + } + .poem p.i2 { + margin-left : 1em; + } + .poem p.i4 { + margin-left : 2em; + } + .poem p.i6 { + margin-left : 3em; + } + .poem p.i8 { + margin-left : 4em; + } + .poem p.i10 { + margin-left : 5em; + } + .toc { + margin : 0 10%; + text-align : left; + font-size : 0.9em; + } + .toc p { + margin : 0.5em 0; + } + .toc p.i4 { /* Table of contents indented items */ + margin-left : 2em; + } + .toc p.i6 { + margin-left : 3em; + } + .figure, .figcenter, .figright, .figleft { + padding : 1em; + margin : 0; + text-align : center; + } + .figure img , .figcenter img, .figright img, .figleft img { + border : none; + } + .figcenter { + margin : auto; + } + + .figright { + float : right; + } + .figleft { + float : left; + } + --> + /*]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13061 ***</div> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature +and Science, Vol. 15, No. 87, March, 1875, by Various, Edited by John +Foster Kirk</h1> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + <div class="trans-note"> + Transcriber's Note: The Table of Contents and the list of + illustrations were added by the transcriber. + </div> + <br /> + <hr class="full" /> + <br /> + <br /> + <span class="pagenum">[pg 265]</span> + + + <h1>LIPPINCOTT'S MAGAZINE</h1> + + <h3>OF</h3> + + <h2><i>POPULAR LITERATURE AND SCIENCE.</i></h2> + <hr class="short" /> + <h4>MARCH, 1875.</h4> + <h4>Vol. XV, No. 87</h4> + <hr class="short" /> + <br /> + <br /> + <h3>TABLE OF CONTENTS</h3> + + <div class="toc"> + <p><a href="#illustrations">ILLUSTRATIONS</a></p> + + <p><a href="#page265">AN ESCAPE FROM SIBERIA. [Illustrated] 265</a></p> + + <p>AUSTRALIAN SCENES AND ADVENTURES.</p> + + <p class="i4"><a href="#page282">Two Papers.—1. [Illustrated] + 282</a></p> + + <p><a href="#page294">FORECAST by CHARLOTTE F. BATES. + 294</a></p> + + <p>THE MATCHLESS ONE:</p> + + <p class="i4">A Tale of American Society, In Four Chapters + by ITA ANIOL PROKOP.</p> + + <p class="i6"><a href="#page295">Chapter III. 295</a></p> + + <p class="i6"><a href="#page300">Chapter IV. 300</a></p> + + <p><a href="#page303">MUNICH AS A PEST-CITY. 303</a></p> + + <p><a href="#page313">AMONG THE BLOUSARDS by WIRT SIKES. + 313</a></p> + + <p><a href="#page320">SONNET by F.A. HILLARD. 320</a></p> + + <p>THREE FEATHERS by WILLIAM BLACK</p> + + <p class="i4"><a href="#page321">Chapter XXVI. A Perilous Truce. + 321</a></p> + + <p class="i4"><a href="#page326">Chapter XXVII. Further Entanglements. + 326</a></p> + + <p class="i4"><a href="#page328">Chapter XXVIII. Farewell! + 328</a></p> + + <p>LA MADONNA DELLA SEDIA.</p> + + <p class="i4"><a href="#page334">A Tradition by EMMA LAZARUS. + 334</a></p> + + <p><a href="#page338">EARLY TRAVELING EXPERIENCES IN INDIA by FITZEDWARD HALL. + 338</a></p> + + <p><a href="#page345">ONCE AND AGAIN by CHARLES WARREN STODDARD. + 345</a></p> + + <p><a href="#page352">THE SCIENTIFIC LIFE by S. WEIR MITCHELL. + 352</a></p> + + <p><a href="#page357">PLAYING WITH FIRE by HARRIET PRESCOTT SPOFFORD. + 357</a></p> + + <p>RECOLLECTIONS OF THE TUSCAN COURT UNDER THE GRAND DUKE + LEOPOLD</p> + + <p class="i4"><a href="#page370">by T. ADOLPHUS TROLLOPE. + 370</a></p> + + <p>OUR MONTHLY GOSSIP.</p> + + <p class="i4"><a href="#page379">Old English Charities. + 379</a></p> + + <p class="i4"><a href="#page382">Landoriana. 382</a></p> + + <p class="i4"><a href="#page385">The Death of Doctors' Commons. + 385</a></p> + + <p class="i4"><a href="#page387">The Lay of the Leveler. + 387</a></p> + + <p class="i4"><a href="#page388">The Philosopher Strauss as A Poet. + 388</a></p> + + <p><a href="#page389">LITERATURE OF THE DAY. 389</a></p> + + <p> <a href="#page392">392<i>Books Received</i>.</a></p> + </div><br /> + <hr /> + <br /> + <a name="illustrations" + id="illustrations"></a> + + <h4>ILLUSTRATIONS</h4> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#rufin">Rufin + Piotrowski.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#arrest">The Arrest.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#crossing">Crossing the + Courtyard of the Prison.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#outstaring">Outstaring the + Guard.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#charity">Charity to the + Exile.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#russian">A Russian + Othello.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#vain">Vain Attempt to + Escape.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#samaritan">A Samaritan of + the Steppes.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#benediction">The Benediction + With Two Fingers.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#frontier">Crossing the + Frontier.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#aborigines">Aborigines of + the Eastern Coast.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#king">King Tatambo.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#daughter">Daughter of King + Tatambo.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#negro">Negro War-Dance, or + Corrobori.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#gold-mine">A + Gold-Mine.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#kangaroo">Kangaroo + Hunt.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"> + <a href="#cattle">Cattle-Hunting.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#companions">Companions of + the Hunt.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#fern">Fern Trees Near Hobart + Town.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#forest">Forest of + Ferns.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#library">Library of + Melbourne.</a></p> + + <p class="illustrations"><a href="#environs">The Environs of + Melbourne.</a></p><br /> + <hr /> + <a name="page265" + id="page265"></a> + + <h2>AN ESCAPE FROM SIBERIA.</h2> + + <div class="figcenter" + style="width:50%;"> + <a href="images/265.jpg" + name="rufin" + id="rufin"><img width="100%" + src="images/265.jpg" + alt="RUFIN PIOTROWSKI" /></a> RUFIN PIOTROWSKI. + </div> + + <p>All the languages of continental Europe have some phrase by + which a parting people express the hope of meeting again. The + French <i>au revoir</i>, the + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page266" + id="page266"></a>[pg 266]</span> Italian <i>à + rivederla</i>, the Spanish <i>hasta mañana</i>, the + German <i>Auf Wiedersehen</i>,—these and similar + forms, varied with the occasion, have grown from the need of + the heart to cheat separation of its pain. The Poles have an + expression of infinitely deeper meaning, which embodies all + that human nature can utter of grief and despair—"To + meet nevermore." This is the heart-rending farewell with + which the patriot exiled to Siberia takes leave of family + and friends.</p> + + <p>There is indeed little chance that he will ever again return + to his country and his home. Since Beniowski the Pole made his + famous romantic flight from the coal-mines of Kamschatka in the + last century, there has been but a single instance of a + Siberian exile making good his escape. In our day, M. Rufin + Piotrowski, also a Polish patriot, has had the marvelous + good-fortune to succeed in the all but impossible attempt; and + he has given his story to his countrymen in a simple, + unpretending narrative, which, even in an abridged form, will, + we think, be found one of thrilling interest.</p> + + <p>In January, 1843, we find Piotrowski in Paris, a refugee for + already twelve years, and on the eve of a secret mission into + Poland of which he gives no explanation. By means of an + American acquaintance he procured a passport from the British + embassy describing him as Joseph Catharo of Malta: he spoke + Italian perfectly, English indifferently, and was thus well + suited to support the character of an Italian-born subject of + Queen Victoria. Having crossed France, Germany, Austria and + Hungary in safety, he reached his destination, the town of + Kamenitz in Podolia, on the Turkish frontier. His ostensible + object was to settle there as a teacher of languages, and on + the strength of his British passport he obtained the necessary + permission from the police before their suspicions had been + roused. He also gained admission at once into the society of + the place, where, notwithstanding his pretended origin, he was + generally known as "the Frenchman," the common nickname for a + foreigner in the Polish provinces. He had soon a number of + pupils, some of them Poles—others, members of the + families of Russian resident officials. He frequented the + houses of the latter most, in order not to attract attention to + his intercourse with his compatriots. He spoke Russian + fluently, but feigned total ignorance both of that and his own + language, and even affected an incapacity for learning them + when urged to do so by his scholars. Among the risks to which + this exposed him was the temptation of cutting short a + difficult explanation in his lessons by a single word, which + would have made the whole matter clear. But this, although the + most frequent and vexatious, was not the severest trial of his + <i>incognito</i>. One day, while giving a lesson to two + beautiful Polish girls, daughters of a lady who had shown him + great kindness, the conversation turned upon Poland: he spoke + with an indifference which roused the younger to a vehement + outburst on behalf of her country. The elder interrupted her + sharply in their native language with, "How can you speak of + holy things to a hare-brained Frenchman?" At another Polish + house, a visitor, hearing that M. Catharo was from Paris, was + eager to ask news of his brother, who was living there in + exile: their host dissuaded him, saying, "You know that + inquiries about relations in exile are strictly forbidden. Take + care! one is never safe with a stranger." Their unfortunate + fellow-countryman, who knew the visitor's brother very well, + was forced to bend over a book to hide the blood which rushed + to his face in the conflict of feeling. He kept so close a + guard upon himself that he would never sleep in the room with + another person—which it was sometimes difficult to avoid + on visits to neighboring country-seats—lest a word spoken + in his troubled slumbers should betray him. He passed nine + months in familiar relations with all the principal people of + the place, his nationality and his designs being known to but + very few of his countrymen, who kept the secret with rigid + fidelity. At length, however, he became aware that he was + watched; the manner of some of his Russian friends grew + inquiring and constrained; he received private warnings, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page267" + id="page267"></a>[pg 267]</span> and perceived that he was + dogged by the police. It was not too late for flight, but he + knew that such a course would involve all who were in his + secret, and perhaps thousands of others, in tribulation, and + that for their sakes it behooved him to await the terrible + day of reckoning which was inevitably approaching. The only + use to which he could turn this time of horrible suspense + was in concerting a plan of action with his colleagues. His + final interview with the chief of them took place in a + church at the close of the short winter twilight on the last + day of the year. After agreeing on all the points which they + could foresee, they solemnly took leave of each other, and + Piotrowski was left alone in the church, where he lingered + to pray fervently for strength for the hour that was at + hand.</p> + + <p>The next morning at daybreak he was suddenly shaken by the + arm: he composed himself for the part he was to play, and + slowly opened his eyes. His room was filled with Russian + officials: he was arrested. He protested against the outrage to + a British subject, but his papers were seized, he was carried + before the governor of the place, and after a brief examination + given into the custody of the police.</p> + + <div class="figcenter" + style="width:50%;"> + <a href="images/267.jpg" + name="arrest" + id="arrest"><img width="100%" + src="images/267.jpg" + alt="THE ARREST" /></a> THE ARREST. + </div> + + <p>He was examined on several successive days, but persisted in + his first story, although aware that his identity was known, + and that the information had come from St. Petersburg. His + object was to force the authorities to confront him with those + who had been accused on his account, that they might hear his + confession and regulate their own accordingly. One day a number + of them were brought together—some his real accomplices, + others mere acquaintance. + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page268" + id="page268"></a>[pg 268]</span> After the usual routine of + questions and denials, Piotrowski suddenly exclaimed in + Polish, as one who can hold out no longer, "Well, then, yes! + I am no British subject, but a Pole of the Ukraine. I + emigrated after the revolution of 1831: I came back because + I could bear a life of exile no longer, and I only wished to + breathe my native air. I came under a false name, for I + could not have come in my own. I confided my secret to a few + of my countrymen, and asked their aid and advice: I had + nothing else to ask or tell them."</p> + + <div class="figcenter" + style="width:50%;"> + <a href="images/268.jpg" + name="crossing" + id="crossing"><img width="100%" + src="images/268.jpg" + alt="CROSSING THE COURTYARD OF THE PRISON" /></a> + CROSSING THE COURTYARD OF THE PRISON. + </div> + + <p>The preliminary interrogatories concluded, he was sent for a + more rigid examination to the fortress of Kiow. He left + Kamenitz early in January at midnight, under an escort of + soldiers and police. The town was dark and silent as they + passed through the deserted streets, but he saw lights in the + upper windows of several houses whose inmates had been + implicated in his accusation. Was it a mute farewell or the + sign of vigils of anguish? They traveled all night and part of + the next day: their first halt was at a great state prison, + where Piotrowski was for the first time shut up in a cell. He + was suffering from the excitement through which he had been + passing, from the furious speed of the journey, which had been + also very rough, and from a slight concussion of the brain + occasioned by one of the terrible jolts of the rude vehicle: a + physician saw him and ordered repose. The long, dark, still + hours of the night were gradually calming his nerves when he + was disturbed by a distant sound, which he soon guessed to be + the clanking of chains, followed by a chant in which many + voices mingled. It was Christmas Eve, old style, as still + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page269" + id="page269"></a>[pg 269]</span> observed in some of the + provinces, and the midnight chorus was singing an ancient + Christmas hymn which every Polish child knows from the + cradle. For twelve years the dear familiar melody had not + greeted his ears, and now he heard it sung by his captive + fellow-countrymen in a Russian dungeon.</p> + + <p>Two days later they set out again, and now he was chained + hand and foot with heavy irons, rusty, and too small for his + limbs. The sleigh hurried on day and night with headlong haste: + it was upset, everybody was thrown out, the prisoner's chain + caught and he was dragged until he lost consciousness. In this + state he arrived at Kiow. Here he was thrown into a cell six + feet by five, almost dark and disgustingly dirty. The wretched + man was soon covered from head to foot with vermin, of which + his handcuffs prevented his ridding himself. However, in a day + or two, after a visit from the commandant, his cell was + cleaned. His manacles prevented his walking, or even standing, + and the moral effect of being unable to use his hands was a + strange apathy such as might precede imbecility. He was + interrogated several times, but always adhered to his + confession at Kamenitz; menaces of harsher treatment, even of + torture, were tried—means which he knew too well had been + resorted to before; his guards were forbidden to exchange a + word with him, so that his time was passed in solitude, silence + and absolute inoccupation. Since Levitoux, another political + prisoner, fearful that the tortures to which he was subjected + might wring from him confessions which would criminate his + friends, had set fire to his straw bed with his night-lamp and + burned himself alive, no lights were allowed in the cells, so + that a great portion of the twenty-four hours went by in + darkness. After some time he was visited by Prince Bibikoff, + the governor-general of that section of the country, one of the + men whose names are most associated with the sufferings of + Poland: he tried by intimidation and persuasion to induce the + prisoner to reveal his projects and the names of his + associates. Piotrowski held firm, but the prince on withdrawing + ordered his chains to be struck off. The relief was ineffable: + he could do nothing but stretch his arms to enjoy the sense of + their free possession, and he felt his natural energy and + independence of thought return. He had not been able to take + off his boots since leaving Kamenitz, and his legs were bruised + and sore, but he walked to and fro in his cell all day, + enjoying the very pain this gave him as a proof that they were + unchained. Several weeks passed without any other incident, + when late one night he was surprised by a light in his cell: an + aide-de-camp and four soldiers entered and ordered him to rise + and follow them. He thought that he was summoned to his + execution. He crossed the great courtyard of the prison + supported by the soldiers; the snow creaked under foot; the + night was very dark, and the sharp fresh air almost took away + his breath, yet it was infinitely welcome to him after the + heavy atmosphere of his cell, and he inhaled it with keen + pleasure, thinking that each whiff was almost the last. He was + led into a large, faintly-lighted room, where officers of + various grades were smoking around a large table. It was only + the committee of investigation, for hitherto his examinations + had not been strictly in order.</p> + + <p>This was but the first of a series of sittings which were + prolonged through nearly half a year. During this time his + treatment improved; his cell was kept clean; he had no cause to + complain of his food; he was allowed to walk for an hour daily + in the corridor, which, though cold and damp, in some degree + satisfied his need of exercise. He was always guarded by two + sentinels, to whom he was forbidden to speak. He learned in + some way, however, that several of his co-accused were his + fellow-prisoners: they were confined in another part of the + fortress, and he but once caught a glimpse of one of + them—so changed that he hardly recognized him. His + neighbors on the corridor were common criminals. The president + of the committee offered him the use of a library, but he only + asked for a Bible, "with which," he says, "I was no longer + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page270" + id="page270"></a>[pg 270]</span> alone." His greatest + suffering arose from the nervous irritability caused by the + unremitting watch of the sentinel at his door, which drove + him almost frantic. The sensation of being spied at every + instant, in every action, of meeting this relentless, + irresponsive gaze on waking, of encountering it at each + minute of the day, was maddening. From daybreak he longed + for the night, which should deliver him from the sight. + Sometimes, beside himself, he would suddenly put his own + face close to the grating and stare into the tormenting eyes + to force them to divert their gaze for a moment, laughing + like a savage when he succeeded. He was in this feverish + condition when called to his last examination. He perceived + at once, from the solemnity of all present, that the crisis + had come. His sentence was pronounced: death, commuted by + Prince Bibikoff's intercession to hard labor for life in + Siberia. He was degraded from the nobility, to which order, + like half the inhabitants of Poland, he belonged, and + condemned to make the journey in chains. Without being taken + back to his cell, he was at once put into irons, the same + rusty, galling ones he had worn already, and placed in a + <i>kibitka</i>, or traveling-carriage, between two armed + guards. The gates of the fortress closed behind him, and + before him opened the road to Siberia.</p> + + <div class="figcenter" + style="width:50%;"> + <a href="images/270.jpg" + name="outstaring" + id="outstaring"><img width="100%" + src="images/270.jpg" + alt="OUTSTARING THE GUARD" /></a> OUTSTARING THE + GUARD. + </div> + + <p>His destination was about two thousand miles distant. The + incidents of the journey were few and much of the same + character. Charity and sympathy were shown him by people of + every class. Travelers of distinction, especially ladies, + pursued him with offers of assistance and money, which he would + not accept. The only gifts which he did not refuse were the + food and drink brought him by the peasants where they stopped + to change horses: wherever there was a + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page271" + id="page271"></a>[pg 271]</span> halt the good people plied + him with tea, brandy and simple dainties, which he + gratefully accepted. At one station a man in the uniform of + the Russian civil service timidly offered him a parcel + wrapped in a silk handkerchief, saying, "Accept this from my + saint." Piotrowski, repelled by the sight of the uniform, + shook his head. The other flushed: "You are a Pole, and do + not understand our customs. This is my birthday, and on this + day, above all others, I should share what I have with the + unfortunate. Pray accept it in the name of my patron saint." + He could not resist so Christian an appeal. The parcel + contained bread, salt and some money: the last he handed + over to the guards, who in any case would not have let him + keep it: he broke the bread with its donor. His guards were + almost the only persons with whom he had to do who showed + themselves insensible to his pain and sorrow. They were + divided between their fears of not arriving on the day + fixed, in which case they would be flogged, and of his dying + of fatigue on the route, when they would fare still worse. + The apprehension of his suicide beset them: at the ferries + or fords which they crossed each of them held him by an arm + lest he should drown himself, and all his meat was given to + him minced, to be eaten with a spoon, as he was not to be + trusted for an instant with a knife. Thus they traveled + night and day for three weeks, only stopping to change + horses and take their meals; yet he esteemed himself lucky + not to have been sent with a gang of convicts, chained to + some atrocious malefactor, or to have been ordered to make + the journey on foot, like his countryman, Prince Sanguzsko. + At last they reached Omsk, the head-quarters of Prince + Gortchakoff, then governor-general of Western Siberia. By + some informality in the mode of his transportation, the + interpretation of Piotrowski's sentence depended solely on + this man: he might be sent to work in one of the government + manufactories, or to the mines, the last, worst dread of a + Siberian exile. While awaiting the decision he was in charge + of a gay, handsome young officer, who treated him with great + friendliness, and in the course of their conversation, which + turned chiefly on Siberia, showed him a map of the country. + The prisoner devoured it with his eyes, tried to engrave it + on his memory, asked innumerable questions about roads and + water-courses, and betrayed so much agitation that the young + fellow noticed it, and exclaimed, "Ah! don't think of + escape. Too many of your countrymen have tried it, and those + are fortunate who, tracked on every side, famished, + desperate, have been able to put an end to themselves before + being retaken, for if they are, then comes the knout and a + life of misery beyond words. In Heaven's name, give up that + thought!" The commandant of the fortress paid him a short + official visit, and exclaimed repeatedly, "How sad! how sad! + to come back when you were free-in a foreign country!" The + chief of police, a hard, dry, vulture-like man, asked why he + had dared to return without the czar's permission. "I could + not bear my homesickness," replied the prisoner. "O native + country!" said the Russian in a softened voice, "how dear + thou art!" After various official interviews he was taken to + the governor-general's ante-chamber, where he found a number + of clerks, most of whom were his exiled compatriots and + received him warmly. While he was talking with them a door + opened, and Gortchakoff stood on the threshold: he fixed his + eyes on the prisoner for some moments, and withdrew without + a word. An hour of intense anxiety followed, and then an + officer appeared, who announced that he was consigned to the + distilleries of Ekaterininski-Zavod, some two hundred miles + farther north.</p> + + <p>Ekaterininski-Zavod is a miserable village of a couple of + hundred small houses on the river Irtish, in the midst of a + wide plain. Its inhabitants are all in some way connected with + the government distillery: they are the descendants of + criminals formerly transported. Piotrowski, after a short + interview with the inspector of the works, was entered on the + list of convicts and sent to the guard-house. "He is to work + with his <span class="pagenum"><a name="page272" + id="page272"></a>[pg 272]</span> feet in irons," added the + inspector. This unusual severity was in consequence of a + memorandum in Prince Gortchakoff's own writing appended to + the prisoner's papers: "Piotrowski must be watched with + especial care." The injunction was unprecedented, and + impressed the director with the prisoner's importance. + Before being taken to his work he was surrounded by his + fellow-countrymen, young men of talent and promise, who were + there, like himself, for political reasons. Their emotion + was extreme: they talked rapidly and eagerly, exhorting him + to patience and silence, and to do nothing to incur corporal + punishment, which was the mode of keeping the workmen in + order, so that in time he might be promoted, like + themselves, from hard labor to office-work. At the + guard-house he found a crowd of soldiers, among whom were + many Poles, incorporated into the standing army of Siberia + for having taken up arms for their country. This is one of + the mildest punishments for that offence. They seized every + pretext for speaking to him, to ask what was going on in + Poland, and whether there were any hopes for her. Overcome + by fatigue and misery, he sat down upon a bench, where he + remained sunk in the gloomiest thoughts until accosted by a + man of repulsive aspect, branded on the face—the + Russian practice with criminals of the worst sort—who + said abruptly, "Get up and go to work." It was the overseer, + himself a former convict. "O my God!" exclaims Piotrowski, + "Thou alone didst hear the bitter cry of my soul when this + outcast first spoke to me as my master."</p> + + <div class="figcenter" + style="width:50%;"> + <a href="images/272.jpg" + name="charity" + id="charity"><img width="100%" + src="images/272.jpg" + alt="CHARITY TO THE EXILE" /></a> CHARITY TO THE + EXILE. + </div> + + <p>Before going to work his irons were struck off, thanks to + the instant entreaties of his compatriots: he was then given a + broom and shovel and set to clear + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page273" + id="page273"></a>[pg 273]</span> rubbish and filth off the + roof of a large unfinished building. On one side was a + convict of the lowest order, with whom he worked—on + the other, the soldier who mounted guard over them. To avoid + the indignity of chastisement or reproof—indeed, to + escape notice altogether—he bent his whole force to + his task, without raising his head, or even his eyes, but + the iron entered into his soul and he wept.</p> + + <p>The order of his days knew no variation. Rising at sunrise, + the convicts worked until eight o'clock, when they breakfasted, + then until their dinner at noon, and again from one o'clock + until dark. His tasks were fetching wood and water, splitting + and piling logs, and scavenger-work of all sorts: it was all + out of doors and in every extreme of the Siberian climate. His + companions were all ruffians of a desperate caste: burglary, + highway robbery, rape, murder in every degree, were common + cases. One instance will suffice, and it is not the worst: it + was that of a young man, clerk of a wine-merchant in St. + Petersburg. He had a mistress whom he loved, but suspected of + infidelity; he took her and another girl into the country for a + holiday, and as they walked together in the fields fired a + pistol at his sweetheart's head: it only wounded her; the + friend rushed away shrieking for help; the victim fell on her + knees and cried, "Forgive me!" but he plunged a knife up to the + hilt in her breast, and she fell dead at his feet. He gave + himself up to justice, received the knout and was transported + for life.</p> + + <div class="figcenter" + style="width:50%;"> + <a href="images/273.jpg" + name="russian" + id="russian"><img width="100%" + src="images/273.jpg" + alt="A RUSSIAN OTHELLO" /></a> A RUSSIAN OTHELLO. + </div> + + <p>The daily contact with ignorant, brutish men, made worse + than brutes by a life of hideous crime, was the worst feature + in his wretched existence. He had determined never to submit to + blows, should the forfeit be his own life or another's, and the + incessant apprehension kept his + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page274" + id="page274"></a>[pg 274]</span> mind in a state of + frightful tension: it also nerved him to physical exertions + beyond his strength, and to a moral restraint of which he + had not deemed himself capable in the way of endurance and + self-command. But in the end he was the gainer. After the + first year he was taken into the office of the + establishment, and received a salary of ten francs a month. + He was also allowed to leave the barracks where he had been + herded with the convicts, and to lodge with two + fellow-countrymen in a little house which they built for + themselves, and which they shared with the soldiers who + guarded them. It was a privilege granted to the most + exemplary of the convicts to lodge with one or other of the + private inhabitants of the village; but besides their own + expenses they had to pay those of the soldier detailed to + watch them. In the course of the winter they were comforted + by the visit of a Polish priest. A certain number are + permitted, to travel through Siberia yearly, stopping + wherever there are Polish prisoners to administer the + sacraments and consolations of their Church to them: there + is no hardship which these heroic men will not encounter in + performing their thrice holy mission. Piotrowski, who, like + all Poles, was an ingrained Roman Catholic, after passing + through phases of doubt and disbelief had returned to a + fervent orthodoxy: this spiritual succor was most precious + to himself and his brother-exiles.</p> + + <p>One idea, however, was never absent from his mind—that + of escape. At the moment of receiving his sentence at Kiow he + had resolved to be free, and his resolution had not faltered. + He had neglected no means of acquiring information about + Siberia and the adjacent countries. For this he had listened to + the revolting confidences of the malefactors at the + barracks—for this he heard with unflagging attention, yet + with no sign of interest, the long stories of the traders who + came to the distillery from all parts of the empire to sell + grain or buy spirits. The office in which he passed his time + from eight in the morning until ten or eleven at night was + their <i>rendezvous</i>, and by a concentration of his mental + powers he acquired a thorough and accurate knowledge of the + country from the Frozen Ocean to the frontiers of Persia and + China, and of all its manners and customs. The prisoner who + meditates escape, he says, is absorbed in an infinitude of + details and calculations, of which it is only possible to give + the final result. Slowly and painfully, little by little, he + accumulated the indispensable articles—disguise, money, + food, a weapon, passports. The last were the most essential and + the most difficult: two were required, both upon paper with the + government stamp—one a simple pass for short distances + and absences, useless beyond a certain limit and date; the + other, the <i>plakatny</i>, or real passport, a document of + vital importance. He was able to abstract the paper from the + office, and a counterfeiter in the community forged the formula + and signatures. His appearance he had gradually changed by + allowing his hair and beard to grow, and he had studied the + tone of thought and peculiar phraseology of the born Siberian, + that he might the better pass for a native. More than six + months went by in preparations: then he made two false starts. + He had placed much hope on a little boat, which was often + forgotten at evening, moored in the Irtish. One dark night he + quietly loosed it and began to row away: suddenly the moon + broke through the clouds, and at the same instant the voices of + the inspector and some of his subordinates were heard on the + banks. Piotrowski was fortunate enough to get back unperceived. + On the second attempt a dense fog rose and shut him in: he + could not see a yard before him. All night long he pushed the + boat hither and thither, trying at least to regain the shore; + at daybreak the vapor began to disperse, but it was too late to + go on; he again had the good luck to land undiscovered. Five + routes were open to him—all long, and each beset with its + own perils. He decided to go northward, recross the Uralian + Mountains, and make his way to Archangel, nearly a thousand + miles off, where, among the hundreds of foreign ships + constantly in the docks, he trusted + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page275" + id="page275"></a>[pg 275]</span> to find one which would + bring him to America. Nobody knew his secret: he had vowed + to perish rather than ever again involve others in his fate. + He reckoned on getting over the first danger of pursuit by + mingling with the crowds of people then traveling from every + quarter to the annual fair at Irbite at the foot of the + Urals.</p> + + <div class="figcenter" + style="width:50%;"> + <a href="images/275.jpg" + name="vain" + id="vain"><img width="100%" + src="images/275.jpg" + alt="VAIN ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE" /></a> VAIN ATTEMPT TO + ESCAPE. + </div> + + <p>Finally, in February, 1846, he set out on foot. His costume + consisted of three shirts—a colored one uppermost, worn, + Russian fashion, outside his trousers, which were of heavy + cloth, like his waistcoat—and a small sheepskin burnous, + heavy high boots, a bright woolen sash, a red cap with a fur + border—the dress of a well-to-do peasant or commercial + traveler. In a small bag he carried a change of clothing and + his provisions: his money and passports were hidden about his + person; he was armed with a dagger and a bludgeon. He had + scarcely crossed the frozen Irtish when the sound of a sleigh + behind him brought his heart to his mouth: he held his ground + and was hailed by a peasant, who wanted to drive a bargain with + him for a lift. After a little politic chaffering he got in, + and was carried to a village about eight miles off at a gallop. + There the peasant set him down, and, knocking at the first + house, he asked for horses to the fair at Irbite. More + bargaining, but they were soon on the road. Erelong, however, + it began to snow; the track disappeared, the driver lost his + way; they wandered about for some time, and were forced to stop + all night in a forest—a night of agony. They were not + twelve miles from Ekaterininski-Zavod: every minute the + fugitive fancied he heard the bells of the pursuing + <i>kibitkas</i>; he had a horrible + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page276" + id="page276"></a>[pg 276]</span> suspicion, too, that his + driver was delaying purposely to betray him, as had befallen + a fellow-countryman in similar circumstances. But at + daybreak they found the road, and by nightfall, having + changed horses once or twice and traveled like the wind, he + was well on his way. At a fresh relay he was forced to go + into a tavern to make change to pay his driver: as he stood + among the tipsy crowd he was hustled and his pocket-book + snatched from his hand. He could not discover the thief nor + recover the purse: he durst not appeal to the police, and + had to let it go. In it, besides a quarter of his little + hoard of money, there was a memorandum of every town and + village on his way to Archangel, and his <i>plakatny</i>. In + this desperate strait—for the last loss seemed to cut + off hope—he had one paramount motive for going on: + return was impossible. Once having left Ekaterininski-Zavod, + his fate was sealed if retaken: he must go forward. Forward + he went, falling in with troops of travelers bound to the + fair. On the third evening of his flight, notwithstanding + the time lost, he was at the gates of Irbite, over six + hundred miles from his prison. "Halt and show your + passport!" cried the sentinel. He was fumbling for the local + pass with a sinking heart when the soldier whispered, + "Twenty kopecks and go ahead." He passed in. The loss of his + money and the unavoidable expenses had reduced his resources + so much that he found it necessary to continue the journey + on foot. He slept at Irbite, but was up early, and passed + out of an opposite gate unchallenged.</p> + + <p>Now began a long and weary tramp. The winter of 1846 was one + of unparalleled rigor in Siberia. The snow fell in enormous + masses, which buried the roads deep out of sight and crushed + solidly-built houses under its weight. Every difficulty of an + ordinary journey on foot was increased tenfold. Piotrowski's + clothes encumbered him excessively, yet he dared not take any + of them off. His habit was to avoid passing through villages as + much as possible, but, if forced to do so to inquire his way, + only to stop at the last house. When he was hungry he drew a + bit of frozen bread from his wallet and ate it as he went + along: to quench his thirst he often had no resource but + melting the snow in his mouth, which rather tends to increase + the desire for water. At night he went into the depths of the + forest, dug a hole under the snow, and creeping in slept there + as best he might. At the first experiment his feet were frozen: + he succeeded in curing them, though not without great pain. + Sometimes he plunged up to the waist or neck in the drifts, and + expected at the next step to be buried alive. One night, having + tasted to the full those two tortures, cold and hunger—of + which, as he says, we complain so frequently without knowing + what they mean—he ventured to ask for shelter at a little + hut near a hamlet where there were only two women. They gave + him warm food: he dried his drenched clothes, and stretched + himself out to sleep on the bench near the kitchen stove. He + was roused by voices, then shaken roughly and asked for his + passport: there were three men in the room. With amazing + presence of mind he demanded by what right they asked for his + passport: were any of them officials? No, but they insisted on + knowing who he was and where he was going, and seeing his pass. + He told them the same story that he had told the women, and + finally exhibited the local pass, which was now quite + worthless, and would not have deceived a government functionary + for a moment: they were satisfied with the sight of the stamp. + They excused themselves, saying that the women had taken fright + and given the alarm, thinking that, as sometimes happened, they + were housing an escaped convict. This adventure taught him a + severe lesson of prudence. He often passed fifteen or twenty + nights under the snow in the forest, without seeking food or + shelter, hearing the wolves howl at a distance. In this savage + mode of life he lost the count of time: he was already far in + the Ural Mountains before he again ventured to sleep beneath a + roof. As he was starting the next morning his hosts said, in + answer to his inquiries as to the road, "A little farther on + you will find a guard-house, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page277" + id="page277"></a>[pg 277]</span> where they will look at + your papers and give you precise directions." Again how + narrow an escape! He turned from the road and crossed hills + and gorges, often up to the chin in snow, and made an + immense curve before taking up his march again.</p> + + <div class="figcenter" + style="width:50%;"> + <a href="images/277.jpg" + name="samaritan" + id="samaritan"><img width="100%" + src="images/277.jpg" + alt="A SAMARITAN OF THE STEPPES" /></a> A SAMARITAN OF + THE STEPPES. + </div> + + <p>One moonlight night, in the dead silence of the ice-bound + winter, he stood on the ridge of the mountain-chain and began + to descend its eastern slope. Still on and on, the way more + dangerous than before, for now there were large towns upon his + route, which he could only avoid by going greatly out of his + way. One night in the woods he completely lost his bearings; a + tempest of wind and snow literally whirled him around; his + stock of bread was exhausted, and he fell upon the earth + powerless; there was a buzzing in his ears, a confusion in his + ideas; his senses forsook him, and but for spasms of cramp in + his stomach he had no consciousness left. Torpor was settling + upon him when a loud voice recalled him to himself: it was a + trapper, who lived hard by, going home with his booty. He + poured some brandy down the dying man's throat, and when this + had somewhat revived him gave him food from his store. After + some delay the stranger urged Piotrowski to get up and walk, + which he did with the utmost difficulty: leaning upon this + Samaritan of the steppes, he contrived to reach the highway, + where a small roadside inn was in sight. There his companion + left him, and he staggered forward with unspeakable joy toward + the warmth and shelter. He would have gone in if he had known + the guards were there on the lookout for him, for his case was + now desperate. He only got as far as the threshold, and there + fell forward and rolled under a bench. He asked for hot soup, + but could not <span class="pagenum"><a name="page278" + id="page278"></a>[pg 278]</span> swallow, and after a few + minutes fell into a swoon-like sleep which lasted + twenty-four hours. Restored by nourishment, rest and dry + clothes, he set forth again at once.</p> + + <p>During the first part of his journey he had passed as a + commercial traveler; after leaving Irbite he was a workman + seeking employment in the government establishments; but now he + assumed the character of a pilgrim to the convent of Solovetsk + on a holy island in the White Sea, near Archangel. For each + change of part he had to change his manners, mode of speech, + his whole personality, and always be probable and consistent in + his account of himself. It was mid-April: he had been + journeying on foot for two months. Easter was approaching, when + these pious journeys were frequent, and not far from + Veliki-Oustiog he fell in with several bands of men and + women—<i>bohomolets</i>, as they are called—on + their way to Solovetsk. There were more than two thousand in + the town waiting for the frozen Dwina to open, that they might + proceed by water to Archangel. It being Holy Week, Piotrowski + was forced to conform to the innumerable observances of the + Greek ritual—prayers, canticles, genuflexions, + prostrations, crossings and bowings, as manifold as in his own, + but different. His inner consciousness suffered from this + hypocrisy, but it was necessary to his part. They were detained + at Veliki-Oustiog a mortal month, during which these acts of + devotion went on with almost unabated zeal among the + <i>boholomets.</i> At length the river was free, and they set + out. Their vessel was a huge hulk which looked like a floating + barn: it was manned by twenty or thirty rowers, and to + replenish his purse a little the fugitive took an oar. The + agent who had charge of the expedition required their + passports: among the number the irregularity of Piotrowski's + escaped notice. The prayers and prostrations went on during the + voyage, which lasted a fort-night. One morning the early + sunshine glittered on the gilded domes of Archangel: the vessel + soon touched the shore, and his passport was returned to him + uninspected, with the small sum he had earned by rowing.</p> + + <p>He had reached his goal; a thousand miles of deadly + suffering and danger lay behind him; he was on the shores of + the White Sea, with vessels of every nation lying at anchor + ready to bear him away to freedom. Yet he was careful not to + commit himself by any imprudence or inconsistency. He went with + the pilgrims to their vast crowded lodging-house, and for + several days joined in their visits to the different churches + of Archangel; but when they embarked again for the holy island + he stayed behind under the pretext of fatigue, but really to go + unobserved to the harbor. There lay the ships from every part + of the world, with their flags floating from the masts. Alas! + alas! on every wharf a Russian sentinel mounted guard day and + night, challenging every one who passed, and on the deck of + each ship there was another. In vain he risked the consequences + of dropping his character of an ignorant Siberian peasant so + far as to speak to a group of sailors, first in French and then + in German; they understood neither: the idlers on the quays + began to gather round in idle curiosity, and he had to desist. + In vain, despite the icy coldness of the water, he tried + swimming in the bay to approach some vessel for the chance of + getting speech of the captain or crew unseen by the sentinel. + In vain he resorted to every device which desperation could + suggest. After three days he was forced to look the terrible + truth in the face: there was no escape possible from + Archangel.</p> + + <p>Baffled and hopeless, he turned his back on the town, not + knowing where to go. To retrace his steps would be madness. He + followed the shore of the White Sea to Onega, a natural + direction for pilgrims returning from Solovetsk to take. His + lonely way lay through a land of swamp and sand, with a sparse + growth of stunted pines; the midnight sun streamed across the + silent stretches; the huge waves of the White Sea, lashed by a + long storm, plunged foaming upon the desolate beach. Days and + nights of walking brought him to Onega: there + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page279" + id="page279"></a>[pg 279]</span> was no way of getting to + sea from there, and after a short halt he resumed his + journey southward along the banks of the river Onega, hardly + knowing whither or wherefore he went. The hardships of his + existence at midsummer were fewer than at midwinter, but the + dangers were greater: the absence of a definite goal, of a + distinct hope which had supported him before, unnerved him + physically. He had reached the point when he dreaded fatigue + more than risk. In spite of his familiarity with the + minutiae of Russian customs, he was nearly betrayed one day + by his ignorance of <i>tolokno</i>, a national dish. On + another occasion he stopped at the cabin of a poor old man + to ask his way: the gray-beard made him come in, and after + some conversation began to confide his religious grievances + to him, which turned upon the persecutions to which a sect + of religionists is exposed in Russia for adhering to certain + peculiarities in the forms of worship. Happily, Piorowski + was well versed in these subjects. The poor old man, after + dwelling long and tearfully on the woes of his + fellow-believers, looked cautiously in every direction, + locked the door, and after exacting an oath of secresy drew + from a hiding-place a little antique brass figure of + Byzantine origin, representing our Saviour in the act of + benediction with two fingers only raised, according to the + form cherished by the dissenters.</p> + + <div class="figcenter" + style="width:50%;"> + <a href="images/279.jpg" + name="benediction" + id="benediction"><img width="100%" + src="images/279.jpg" + alt="THE BENEDICTION WITH TWO FINGERS" /></a> THE + BENEDICTION WITH TWO FINGERS. + </div> + + <p>Following his purposeless march for hundreds of miles, the + fugitive reached Vytegra, where the river issues from the Lake + of Onega. There, on the wharf, a peasant asked him whither he + was bound: he replied that he was a pilgrim on his way from + Solovetsk to the shrines of Novgorod and Kiow. The peasant + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page280" + id="page280"></a>[pg 280]</span> said he was going to St. + Petersburg, and would give him a passage for his service if + he would take an oar. The bargain was struck, and that night + they started on their voyage to the capital of Poland's + arch-enemy, the head-quarters of politics, the source whence + his own arrest had emanated. He had no design: he was going + at hazard. The voyage was long: they followed the Lake of + Onega, the Lake of Ladoga and the river Neva. Sometimes poor + people got a lift in the boat: toward the end of the voyage + they took aboard a number of women-servants returning to + their situations in town from a visit to their country + homes. Among them was an elderly woman going to see her + daughter, who was a washerwoman at St. Petersburg. + Piotrowski showed her some small kindnesses, which won her + fervent gratitude. As they landed in the great capital, + which seemed the very focus of his dangers, and he stood on + the wharf wholly at a loss what should be his next step, the + poor woman came up with her daughter and offered to show him + cheap lodgings. He followed them, carrying his protectress's + trunk. The lodgings were cheap and miserable, and the woman + of the house demanded his passport. He handed it to her with + a thrill of anxiety, and carelessly announced his intention + of reporting himself at the police-office according to rule. + She glanced at the paper, which she could not read, and saw + the official stamp: she was satisfied, and began to dissuade + him from going to the police. It then appeared that the law + required her to accompany him as her lodger; that a great + deal of her time would be lost in the delays and formalities + of the office, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page281" + id="page281"></a>[pg 281]</span> which, being a + working-woman, she could ill afford; and as he was merely + passing through the city and had his passport, there could + be no harm in staying away. The next day, while wandering + about the streets seeking a mode of escape, the pilot of a + steam-packet to Riga asked him if he would like to sail with + them the next day, and named a very moderate fare. His heart + leapt up, but the next instant the man asked to see his + passport: he took it out trembling, but the sailor, without + scrutiny, cried, "Good! Be off with you, and come back + to-morrow morning at seven o'clock." The next morning at + seven he was on board, and the boat was under way.</p> + + <div class="figcenter" + style="width:50%;"> + <a href="images/280.jpg" + name="frontier" + id="frontier"><img width="100%" + src="images/280.jpg" + alt="CROSSING THE FRONTIER" /></a> CROSSING THE + FRONTIER. + </div> + + <p>From Riga he had to make his way on foot across Courland and + Lithuania to the Prussian frontier. He now made a change in his + disguise, and gave himself out as a dealer in hogs' bristles. + In Lithuania he found himself once more on his beloved native + soil, and the longing to speak his own language, to make + himself known to a fellow-countryman, was almost irresistible; + but he sternly quelled such a yearning. As he neared the + frontier he had the utmost difficulty in ascertaining where and + how it was guarded, and what he should have to encounter in + passing. At length he learned enough for his purpose: there + were no guards on the Prussian side. Reaching a rampart of the + fortifications, he waited until the moment when the two + sentinels on duty were back to back on their beats, and jumped + down into the first of the three ditches which protected the + boundary. Clambering and jumping, he reached the edge of the + third: shots were fired in several directions; he had been + seen. He slid into the third ditch, scrambled up the opposite + side, sprang down once more, rushed on until out of sight of + the soldiers, and fell panting in a little wood. There he lay + for hours without stirring, as he knew the Russian guards + sometimes violated the boundary in pursuit of fugitives. But + there was no pursuit, and he at last took heart. Then he began + a final transformation. He had lately bought a razor, a + pocket-mirror and some soap, and with these, by the aid of a + slight rain which was falling, he succeeded with much + difficulty in shaving himself and changing his clothes to a + costume he had provided expressly for Prussia. When night had + closed he set forth once more, lighter of heart than for many + long years, though well aware that by international agreement + he was not yet out of danger. He pushed on toward the grand + duchy of Posen, where he hoped to find assistance from his + fellow-countrymen, who, being under Prussian rule, would not be + compromised by aiding him. He passed through Memel and Tilsit, + and reached Königsberg without let or hindrance—over + two hundred miles on Prussian soil in addition to all the rest. + There he found a steamboat to sail the next day in the + direction which he wished to follow. He had slept only in the + open fields, and meant to do so on this night and re-enter the + town betimes in the morning. Meanwhile he sat down on a heap of + stones in the street, and, overcome by fatigue, fell into a + profound sleep. He was awakened by the patrol: his first + confused words excited suspicion, and he was arrested and + carried to the station-house. After all his perils, his + escapes, his adventures, his disguises, to be taken by a + Prussian watchman! The next morning he was examined by the + police: he declared himself a French artisan on his way home + from Russia, but as having lost his passport. The story imposed + upon nobody, and he perceived that he was supposed to be a + malefactor of some dangerous sort: his real case was not + suspected. A month's incarceration followed, and then a new + interrogation, in which he was informed that all his statements + had been found to be false, and that he was an object of the + gravest suspicion. He demanded a private interview with one of + the higher functionaries and a M. Fleury, a naturalized + Frenchman in some way connected with the police-courts. To them + he told his whole story. After the first moment's stupefaction + the Prussian cried, "But, unhappy man, we must send you back: + the treaty compels it. My God! my God! + <span class="pagenum">[pg 282]</span> why did you come + here?"—"There is no help for us," said M. Fleury, "but in + Heaven's name write to Count Eulenberg, on whom all depends: he + is a man whom everybody loves. What a misfortune!"</p> + + <p>He was taken back to prison. He wrote; he received a kind + but vague reply; delays followed, and investigations into the + truth of his story; his anguish of mind was reaching a climax + in which he felt that his dagger would be his best friend after + all. A citizen of the place, a M. Kamke, a total stranger, + offered to go bail for him: his story had got abroad and + excited the deepest sympathy. The bail was not effected without + difficulty: ultimately, he was declared free, however, but the + chief of police intimated that he had better remain in + Königsberg for the present. Anxious to show his gratitude + to his benefactors, fearful, too, of being suspected, he + tarried for a week, which he passed in the family of the + generous M. Kamke. At the end of that time he was again + summoned to the police-court, where two officials whom he + already knew told him sadly that the order to send him back to + Russia had come from Berlin: they could but give him time to + escape at his own risk, and pray God for his safety. He went + back to his friend M. Kamke: a plan was organized at once, and + by the morrow he was on the way to Dantzic. Well provided with + money and letters by the good souls at Königsberg, he + crossed Germany safely, and on the 22d of September, 1846, + found himself safe in Paris.</p><a name="page282" + id="page282"></a> + + <h2>AUSTRALIAN SCENES AND ADVENTURES.</h2> + + <h3>TWO PAPERS.—1.</h3> + + <p>Australia is still the world's latest wonder—a land + whose very existence was but a few years ago ignored by + geographers, but which they now acknowledge as a fifth + continent; a land of marvels that courts and repays the + investigation of the curious by its wild scenery, its strange + aboriginal inhabitants, its birds and beasts unlike all others, + its rich floral treasures, its mines of inexhaustible wealth, + its meadows and plains of dimensions so vast as to defy for + centuries to come a general cultivation; a land that has in + less than half a century experienced a growth and expansion + unprecedented in the history of nations. Yet is the + civilization an imported one, not indigenous, and to be traced + only here and there in the colonies, having as yet scarcely + touched the interior of the island or its aboriginal + inhabitants. These are, in our own day, hardly less untamed and + untamable than when visited by the great adventurer William + Dampier in the latter part of the seventeenth century, now + almost two hundred years ago. So little regard was paid to the + reports of Dampier that nearly another century elapsed without + further efforts at the exploration of Australia, till in 1770 + Cook, in his first voyage around the world, visited this great + island, furnishing to his country the first accurate + information of its climate, soil and productions. Yet his + marvelous accounts, though exciting at first a sort of nine + days' wonder, failed to awaken any permanent interest, and soon + Australia was again forgotten. But when England, in consequence + of the loss of her valuable American colonies, to which she had + been accustomed to transport her worst offenders, began to look + around for a substitute, the eyes of the government were for + the first time turned toward Australia. In May, 1787, the first + shipload <span class="pagenum"><a name="page283" + id="page283"></a>[pg 283]</span> of convicts was sent out, + and in the following January the foundation of Sydney, the + future capital of the penal settlement, was laid. Little, + however, was done in the way of exploring the country until + the discovery of gold within its borders. Then, indeed, the + world woke up, and long-forgotten, neglected Australia came + to be reckoned a point of interest, at least to + fortune-hunters.</p> + + <p>Seen in the distance, the view of this great island is + scarcely attractive. Its abrupt shores wear a sombre hue, and + the traveler, ere he sets foot on the soil, detects a sort of + savage air that seems to reign triumphant over the + demi-civilization that has been the growth of only a score or + two of years. Tiny native huts, looking as though the architect + had studied how small, uncouth and inconvenient a human + dwelling could possibly be made, contrast strangely with the + tasteful white cottages surrounded by flower-gardens and + wreathed with vines, or the elegant mansions of stone and + slate, that form the homes of foreign residents; natives in + filthy garb, or no garb at all, prowl about the dwellings or + worm their devious way among the costly equipages of Europeans; + orchards and vineyards are planted under the very shadow of + forests where roam in all their savage freedom herds of wild + cattle and their wilder masters; and out from the rocks and + boulders of the most rugged spots rise clusters of the graceful + umbrella palm, with a foliage, fern-like and feathery, of the + loveliest emerald, and a cone expanding like a lady's fan. The + odor of English cowslips mingles with the spicy aroma of + tropical fruits, and the perpetual snow of-lofty peaks is + reflected on fields of golden maize and on meadows that gleam + and glitter in the bright sunlight as if paved with emeralds. + It is contrast, not similitude, that attracts the eye, novelty + more than beauty, and quaintness rather than such gorgeous + sights as one meets everywhere within the tropics.</p> + + <div class="figcenter" + style="width:50%;"> + <a href="images/283.jpg" + name="aborigines" + id="aborigines"><img width="100%" + src="images/283.jpg" + alt="ABORIGINES OF THE EASTERN COAST" /></a> + ABORIGINES OF THE EASTERN COAST. + </div> + + <p>The harbors are very marvels of commodiousness, that of Port + Jackson, the entrance to Sydney, being fifteen miles long. It + is landlocked on both sides, without a shoal or rock to mar its + perfectness, and broad enough to afford safe anchorage to all + the navies of the world. Here ride at anchor vessels of almost + every nation, their gay pennons flaunting + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page284" + id="page284"></a>[pg 284]</span> in the breeze, while + worming their way in and out among the shipping may be seen + multitudes of native boats made of bark, quaint as frail, + and looking for all the world like a shoal of soldiers' + cocked hats. A man on land carries his tiny craft on his + shoulders with less difficulty, apparently, than the boat + carries him on the water. Rowing one seems about as + difficult an operation as balancing one's self on a straw + would, be; but it has an especial point of merit—it + never sink, only purls, and an Australian takes a good + ducking as nonchalantly as he smokes his pipe. The natives + usually paddle in companies of three, and when one of the + triad is purled the other two come to the rescue. One on + each side taking a hand of their unlucky comrade, and + reseating him, they move on rapidly as before, cutting the + blue water with their slender paddles and enlivening the + scene by occasional songs. The presence of numerous sharks + in these waters is the chief drawback to the pleasures of + boating, and many an ill-fated oarsman pays the forfeit of + life or limb for his temerity in venturing out too far. The + nose of the shark is his most vulnerable part; and the + natives, who eat this sea-monster as willingly as he eats + them, often inflict a fatal wound by slinging a huge stone + at his nose and battering it to a jelly as he rises out of + the water. The flesh is eaten raw by the aborigines in their + wild state, but the more civilized "burn it," as they say, + "like white men;" that is, they cut off huge lumps of the + flesh, lay them before a fire to roast, gnaw off the surface + as fast as it burns, and put down the remainder to toast + again until the appetite is glutted.</p> + + <div class="figright" + style="width:35%;"> + <a href="images/284-1.jpg" + name="king" + id="king"><img width="100%" + src="images/284-1.jpg" + alt="KING TATAMBO" /></a> KING TATAMBO. + </div> + + <div class="figleft" + style="width:35%;"> + <a href="images/284-2.jpg" + name="daughter" + id="daughter"><img width="100%" + src="images/284-2.jpg" + alt="DAUGHTER OF KING TATAMBO" /></a> DAUGHTER OF KING + TATAMBO. + </div> + <br clear="all" /> + <p>These islanders were all cannibals when first discovered by + Europeans, intellectually inferior to other savages, ignorant + of agricultural and mechanical arts, going entirely naked, and + living more like brutes than human beings. Slowly and + mutinously have their barbarous customs been relinquished, even + by those brought into occasional contact with foreigners, while + those in the interior are savage as the monsters that prowl + about them in dens and holes of the earth. Even such as mingle + most freely with the colonists can seldom be prevailed on to + practice permanently the arts of civilized life, usually + preferring their original habits and pursuits to the restraints + of society. They readily admit the superiority of foreigners, + but cling tenaciously to their forest homes and rude lives of + unfettered freedom. In character they are cruel and vindictive, + improvident and thievish; and they + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page285" + id="page285"></a>[pg 285]</span> seem almost devoid of + gallantry in the treatment of their women, wooing their + wives with blows, and often inflicting death upon women and + children for the slightest offences. Yet they have some + ideas of a Supreme Being and a future state, they practice a + sort of religious worship, and they bury or burn their dead. + They call their chiefs <i>be-à-na</i>, or "father," + but unless compelled by fear to obedience they treat them + with little respect or affection. Their language has a + musical sound, but the vocabulary is scanty; and thus far + the origin of these people and their language remains a + matter of doubt, though in many particulars they bear a + decided resemblance to the negroes of Guinea. In regard to + dress their habits are certainly primitive. A single ratskin + often forms the entire wardrobe of a native chief, and a + tomahawk with a brace of spears pointed with iron-wood or + flint his adornments. Opossum-skins tied together form a + sort of cloak used as a protection against the cold, but if + on the chase the wearer finds his upper garment oppressively + warm, he tosses it away, and trusts to finding or stealing + another when he needs it. Their dwellings are wretched + little huts, or rather sheds, composed of bark or dried + leaves, and so low-pitched that one must crawl on his knees + to enter them. They are ill-ventilated and filthy in the + extreme, utterly devoid of furniture and household + implements, and without any means of securing either privacy + or warmth—places where we should deem it impossible to + dwell content. Yet the native Australian seems always merry, + and he would not exchange his filthy hovel for the palace of + a prince. Unpretending as that of his subjects was the royal + abode of the venerable King Tatambo, an old man, whom the + count de Beauvoir describes as having a "skin black and + shiny as liquorice, with snow-white hair and beard," his + only garment being a fur cloak that was cast aside during + the dance at which the count was present. He gives, in + connection with the king's portrait, that of "the youngest + and most beautiful of His Majesty's daughters," which may + serve as a type of the female beauty of Australia.</p> + + <div class="figcenter" + style="width:100%;"> + <a href="images/285.jpg" + name="negro" + id="negro"><img width="100%" + src="images/285.jpg" + alt="NEGRO WAR-DANCE, OR CORROBORI" /></a> NEGRO + WAR-DANCE, OR CORROBORI. + </div> + + <p>The Australians are extremely fond of dancing, especially + their <i>corrobori</i> or war-dance, performed always with + bodies perfectly nude, while they brandish a spear in one hand + and a flaming brand in the other. The night is invariably + selected for the performance of the corrobori, and the effect + upon unaccustomed eyes is startling in the extreme. The agile + movements of the lean forms, black as night, reflected by the + radiance of their gleaming torches, the yells and frantic + gestures, together with the fierce + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page286" + id="page286"></a>[pg 286]</span> onsets of the combatants + with spear and tomahawk, present a spectacle of weird + interest, quite in keeping with the wild scenery of the + defiles and ravines where the corrobori is usually + celebrated.</p> + + <div class="figright" + style="width:50%;"> + <a href="images/286.jpg" + name="gold-mine" + id="gold-mine"><img width="100%" + src="images/286.jpg" + alt="A GOLD-MINE" /></a> A GOLD-MINE. + </div> + + <p>The complexion of the Australians is black or very dark + brown, their hair straight, and their features of the negro + type. They are of medium stature, but generally thin, though + well-formed, athletic and agile. They are eager in the pursuit + of gain, and this characteristic, combined with their wonderful + powers of endurance both of hunger and fatigue, renders them + patient and successful miners, while all other causes combined + have tended less to the development and improvement of the + Australian than has the discovery of gold within his borders. + This discovery, that has so changed the aspect of everything in + Australia, was the result of a mere accident that a thinking + mind knew how to turn to advantage. An adventurer from + California, whose dreams by day and by night were all of the + land of gold he had so recently left, while searching in + company with another for a new pasturage-ground for their + sheep, came one day upon a range of low hills so like the + "Golden Range" of California as to bring back all his old + prepossessions in favor of mining. Stopping to examine, he + found the hills composed of granite, mica and quartz, the + natural home of gold, and his experience as a miner led to the + conviction that though the main body of the gold might have + been already washed out among the surrounding clay, yet enough + remained to repay a careful search and to indicate the + existence, somewhere in the immediate vicinity, of a mine of + untold wealth. Several days were spent in unprofitable search: + then more favorable indications led the shepherds to dispose of + their flocks and set out in good earnest to dig for gold. A + couple of spades, a trowel and a calabash were their only + tools, but our adventurer was + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page287" + id="page287"></a>[pg 287]</span> a knowing man, and + "knowledge is power." His practiced eye knew just where the + precious metals would be most likely to exist if at all in + that locality—that in the old beds of rivers now dried + up gold would more naturally be found than in younger + streams, and especially that where round pebbles indicated a + strong eddy ten times as much gold might be expected as in + the level parts. Gravel and shingle were cleared away + without examination, then a bed of gray clay, as too porous + to hold gold; but when a stratum of pipeclay was reached the + diggers knew that not an ounce of gold would be found + beneath, and their search was confined to a little streak of + brownish clay, about an inch in thickness, just above the + pipeclay. Every particle of this was carefully washed, and + after hours of patient labor the toilers were rewarded by + about a thimbleful of the shining dust they were so eagerly + seeking. From this small beginning on the 10th of June, + 1851, have grown the wonderful mining operations of + Australia; and in less than + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page288" + id="page288"></a>[pg 288]</span> a month after the little + incident related above twenty thousand diggers—in a + year increased to one hundred and fifty thousand—were + busy in the inexhaustible mines of that far-off land; and so + came those rugged, barren lands, hitherto scarcely broken + even by savages, to be peopled by men from every civilized + land.</p> + + <div class="figleft" + style="width:75%;"> + <a href="images/287-1.jpg" + name="kangaroo" + id="kangaroo"><img width="100%" + src="images/287-1.jpg" + alt="KANGAROO HUNT" /></a> KANGAROO HUNT. + </div> + + <div class="figright" + style="width:75%;"> + <a href="images/287-2.jpg" + name="cattle" + id="cattle"><img width="100%" + src="images/287-2.jpg" + alt="CATTLE-HUNTING" /></a> CATTLE-HUNTING. + </div> + + <br clear="all" /> + + <p>Ballarat, the centre of one of the chief mining districts, + is connected now by railway with Melbourne, so that in the + interval of only four hours one passes from the commercial + metropolis to the "City of Gold." Over the fertile belt of + cultivated lands that surrounds Melbourne, through rugged rocks + and barren sands, runs this road, on which one meets crowds of + pedestrians, many of them barefoot, the sole capital of each a + tent and a pickaxe. Nearing the mines, the aspect of everything + is changed: whole forests of trees demolished as if by a + thunderbolt; rivers turned out of their natural bed; fertile + meadows laid waste; gaping chasms and frightful depths here and + there, in which are men toiling half naked, begrimed with mud, + and fierce, reckless, cadaverous faces that tell of hardships + and strife and sin in the eager pursuit of riches. Ballarat was + at first only a mining-camp of immense size, and its environs + are still occupied by tents, where transient visitors find very + passable accommodations. But the city proper, now some sixteen + years old, with a population already of thirty thousand, is an + exact transcript of Melbourne, with beautiful dwellings, and + broad streets thronged with carriages by day and lighted with + gas by night. It boasts already its clubs and theatres, its + banks and libraries and reading—rooms, where the + successful miner may invest his earnings, cultivate his + intellect and seek recreation for his leisure hours.</p> + + <div class="figleft" + style="width:50%;"> + <a href="images/288.jpg" + name="companions" + id="companions"><img width="100%" + src="images/288.jpg" + alt="COMPANIONS OF THE HUNT" /></a> COMPANIONS OF THE + HUNT. + </div> + + <p>There are over two thousand mining districts in Australia, + of which one of the <span class="pagenum"><a name="page289" + id="page289"></a>[pg 289]</span> richest is "Black Hill + Mine," but why called "Black Hill" it would be difficult to + say, as its beautiful glistening sands are far nearer white + than black. Next to gold, the most valuable ore is mercury, + immense quantities of which are shipped annually to England + from these mines. Iron-ore is found in nearly every part of + the island, much of it so rich as to produce nearly + three-fourths of its weight of metal. Topazes of rare beauty + are frequently obtained, and coal is both good and abundant. + In addition to these the island possesses an almost + inexhaustible store of granite, slate and freestone, well + adapted to building purposes. Sometimes gold is found + diffused with wonderful regularity within a few inches of + the surface, and so abundant that a single cradleful will + yield an ounce of pure gold-dust, the miners readily + realizing two or three thousand dollars per diem. As the + grass is torn up, flecks of bright gold are found clinging + to the roots, and the clay as it is turned over glitters + with the precious dust. Again, the digger has to search for + his treasure deep in the bowels of the earth, or among + flinty rocks, or far down beneath a river's bed, and, it may + be, spend weeks <span class="pagenum"><a name="page290" + id="page290"></a>[pg 290]</span> or months without realizing + a bawbee. Nothing else is so uncertain as to results as the + search for gold, and few vocations are at once so + fascinating and so cruelly exacting in regard to health, + ease, and even life.</p> + + <p>Among the mines, and amid barren, rugged scenery in + Australia, one is often surprised by glimpses of rare + beauty—flowers of wondrous brilliancy, odorless though + they be; a gigantic tree twined about by a delicate creeper of + exquisite loveliness; or one of those magnificent Australian + lakes that show nothing at first but the greenest grass, tall + and luxuriant as under the equator; then, as he attempts to + ride through the grass, he suddenly finds his horse's feet + growing moist and the spongy vegetation getting fuller and + fuller of water, till he discovers that he has entered a lake + so wide and deep that his only safety lies in a quick retreat. + This phenomenon is repeated on a small scale all through the + jungle-lands, little tufts of grass here and there, known + readily by their brighter green, furnishing water enough to + meet the wants of a thirsty animal. A calabash full of pure, + sweet water may be expressed from one of these tiny clumps of + grassy sponge, as many a weary traveler has attested while + roaming over sterile regions destitute alike of wells and + springs.</p> + + <p>But of surprises there is no end in Australia. Flowers + fascinating to the eye have no smell, but uncouth—looking + shrubs and bushes often fill the air with their delicate aroma; + crows look like magpies, and dogs like jackals; four-footed + animals hop about on two feet; rivers seem to turn their backs + on the sea and run inland; swans are black, and eagles white; + some of the parrots have webbed feet; and birds laugh and + chatter like human beings, while never a song, or even a + chirrup, can be heard from their nests and perches. So an + English lark or nightingale is at a premium; and many a rough + miner, with his shaggy beard and uncouth ways, his oaths and + lawlessness and crimes, has been known to walk on Sunday + evenings to a little English cottage twelve miles out of the + settlement just to hear the sweet song of a pet lark.</p> + + <div class="figcenter" + style="width:75%;"> + <a href="images/289.jpg" + name="fern" + id="fern"><img width="100%" + src="images/289.jpg" + alt="FERN TREES NEAR HOBART TOWN" /></a> FERN TREES + NEAR HOBART TOWN. + </div> + + <p>The variety of vegetable productions is so great that above + five thousand species, more than half of which are peculiar to + the country, have been described and classed. Among the most + remarkable is the species of <i>Eucalyptus</i>, or gum tree, + that forms some of the largest timber yet discovered, having + been seen of the height of one hundred and fifty feet, and + thirty to forty in girth near the root. The leafless acacias + are also found here, as well as the <i>Nepenthes + distillatoria</i> and the <i>Cephalotus follicularis</i>, two + remarkable varieties of the monkey-cup or pitcher-plant; while + many very beautiful ferns and flowering vines adorn the coasts + and lave their graceful fringes in the blue ocean waves. The + timber of the country is of gigantic size, and with other + varieties may be found cedar, rosewood, tulip and mahogany.</p> + + <p>But the most wonderful products of Australia belong to the + animal kingdom, among them the kangaroo, the wombat, and that + strange anomaly of the animal creation, the + <i>Ornithorynchus</i>, or "duck-billed quadruped." Emus, + eagles, parrots, white swans and overgrown pelicans of many + varieties, enrich the ornithological kingdom, while among + insects and reptiles are found some less desirable specimens, + such as tarantulas. The natives of the island hold the old + tradition of the ancients, that one bitten by a tarantula will + dance himself to death. The plumage of Australian birds is + varied and brilliant, and the natives make pretty fans by + arranging the feathers in assorted colors; while a sort of + head-dress worn by both men and women on the occasion of their + marriage, and composed entirely of feathers made into + many-tinted flowers, is a very gorgeous affair. Among the + varieties of birds peculiar to the island are the "lyre-bird" + and that known as the "satin-bower," so called from its glossy + plumage, which is green while the bird is young and jet black + at maturity. Before building their nests these birds gather a + large quantity of twigs, weaving them into a sort of bower, + which they tastefully decorate with bones, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page291" + id="page291"></a>[pg 291]</span> feathers, leaves and such + other adornments as they are able to collect. Here in this + arena the courting is done, the male bird chasing his mate + up and down, bowing his pretty head and playing the + agreeable generally, while she indulges in all manner of + airs and graces, pretends to be very coy, and acts the + coquette to perfection. But her lover's devotion conquers at + last, and in due time the fair flirt surrenders, yields up + her liberty and settles down as a dutiful wife and loving + mother, bringing up a family of sons and daughters, and no + doubt duly instructing them in the part they in their turn + are to take in life's drama. The black swans are not + prettier than white ones, but they are rarer, and when both + are floating together over the smooth surface of those + lovely Australian lakes they present a picture of which one + never wearies, see it as often as one may.</p> + + <div class="figcenter" + style="width:75%;"> + <a href="images/291.jpg" + name="forest" + id="forest"><img width="100%" + src="images/291.jpg" + alt="FOREST OF FERNS" /></a> FOREST OF FERNS. + </div> + + <p>The count de Beauvoir, in describing a hunt of several days, + speaks with enthusiasm of the flocks of wild-turkeys and blue + cranes, but bewails his ill-success in running down the huge + emus that stalked before the hunters faster than their horses + could gallop. He describes also a kangaroo-hunt, and a single + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page292" + id="page292"></a>[pg 292]</span> combat with an old + kangaroo, grizzled and gray, that in a hand-to-hand fight + for a long time parried all the hunter's efforts to take + him, either living or dead. He was brought down at last by a + revolver, and his skin was carried off as a trophy of + victory. The cattle-hunt was even more exciting, in the wild + flight of four or five thousand terrified beeves, rushing + pell-mell through the tall grass or over sandy plains, + stopping occasionally to hide their terrified faces from the + dangers that beset them, but one occasionally succumbing to + the trusty weapons of the count and his comrades. The + hunters were certainly not encumbered with superfluous + garments, several of the boys being clothed only in a pair + of boots, and none with more than a single garment. The + immense droves of cattle and sheep herded together in + Australia cannot fail to awaken the surprise of the visitor + on his first arrival in the country, an Australian herdsman + reckoning his flocks by hundreds, and even a thousand or two + heads of cattle owned by one man being no unusual + occurrence. Indeed, everything seems on a mammoth scale in + Australia—forests of timber trees that outlive + generation after generation of men, and yet have no thought + of dying; ferns like those near Hobart Town, that lift their + graceful fringes high over men's heads or serve as shade + trees to their dwellings; gigantic emus flying like the + fabled Mazeppa over plains the extent of which the eye + cannot measure; and those fathomless mines of inexhaustible + wealth that seem to promise gold enough for all the world + for the centuries yet unborn.</p> + + <div class="figcenter" + style="width:75%;"> + <a href="images/292.jpg" + name="library" + id="library"><img width="100%" + src="images/292.jpg" + alt="LIBRARY OF MELBOURNE" /></a> LIBRARY OF + MELBOURNE. + </div> + + <p>Aristocracy is a queer thing in Australia. Many of those now + claiming "respectability" and holding themselves aloof from the + members of the settlements did not have their expenses paid out + by government, because they were born on the island—not + convicts, but only the offspring of those who were. In the race + for wealth educated and refined gentlemen are generally + outstripped by those who with less mind have greater physical + strength, more practical knowledge of the world and more tact + in overcoming difficulties; so that one meets wealthy miners + who cannot write their own names, and learned bootblacks and + cooks who have taken their degrees in mathematics and the + languages. One millionaire who had a fancy to be thought + literary sent regular contributions to the English magazines, + every line of which was written by his footman, to whom he paid + an enormous salary, not so much for writing as for keeping his + secret, and it was years before it leaked out. In the struggle + for position the man of gold gains the day, and not + unfrequently brute force or unscrupulous trickery is called in + to keep that which wealth has purchased.</p> + + <p>Melbourne is the commercial metropolis of Australia, as + Sydney is the capital of the penal colony, and though both are + large, well-built and thriving cities, they are strikingly in + contrast with each <span class="pagenum"><a name="page293" + id="page293"></a>[pg 293]</span> other. One is the scion of + a lordly house, "to the manner born"—the other, the + <i>parvenu</i> of yesterday, whose gold makes his position. + Melbourne is to all intents a European city, with its + boulevards and regular streets, whole blocks of costly + stores and princely dwellings, and environed by elegant + villas and country-seats adorned with gardens, vineyards and + choice shrubbery. It has its English and Chinese quarters, + the latter as essentially Chinese as if built in the + Celestials' own land, and brought over, mandarin buttons, + tiny teapots, opium-pipes and all, in one of their own + junks. The English quarter contains, besides the government + buildings, several schools, hospitals, churches and + benevolent institutions, the public library, a polytechnic + hall, a national museum, theatres and opera-houses, all + built in a style alike elegant and substantial. The library + only ten years after it was opened numbered 41,000 volumes, + and has since been largely increased. Science rather than + literature, and practical utility more than entertainment, + have been kept in the ascendency in the management of this + institution. The hall is open for daily lectures, and some + valuable telescopes <span class="pagenum">[pg 294]</span> + and other apparatus belong to the institution. The cabinet + of natural history contains many rare specimens that serve + to elucidate the ancient and modern history of the country, + especially in regard to some of the animals and vegetables + indigenous to the island. The museum is built on a + commanding eminence, and from its spacious windows one sees + clearly to the opposite side of Hobson's Bay.</p> + + <div class="figcenter" + style="width:75%;"> + <a href="images/293.jpg" + name="environs" + id="environs"><img width="100%" + src="images/293.jpg" + alt="THE ENVIRONS OF MELBOURNE" /></a> THE ENVIRONS OF + MELBOURNE. + </div> + + <p>The city is not built on the sea-coast, but two or three + miles from the shore, its port being Sandridge, with which it + is connected by railway. Vessels of all nations crowd the + harbor, and the streets are as full of busy life and gay + frivolity as those of Havre or Marseilles. The drives in the + environs of the city are replete with picturesque + beauty—meadows dotted with many—tinted flowers and + magnificent forest trees, about which are festooned flowering + vines and creepers. Their thick branches are the resort of + cockatoos, parrots and paroquets in brilliant plumage, and + perhaps most beautiful of all, because most rare, sparrows, not + clothed, like ours, in sombre gray, but rejoicing in vestments + of green and gold. But brilliancy of plumage is the solitary + charm of these feathered beauties, for their voices are harsh + and their song a very burlesque on the name of + music.</p><a name="page294" + id="page294"></a> + + <h2>FORECAST.</h2> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>When I, for ever out of human sight,</p> + + <p class="i2">Shall seem beyond the wish for + anything,</p> + + <p>Oh then believe at morning and at night</p> + + <p class="i2">My soul shall listen for thy + whispering.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>The work of life may so fill up the day</p> + + <p class="i2">That not a thought of me shall venture + there;</p> + + <p>And after labor Love may charm away</p> + + <p class="i2">What could not enter for the press of + care.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>But when thou'st bidden all <i>this</i> world + good-night,</p> + + <p class="i2">And enterest that which lies so close to + mine,</p> + + <p><i>Call me by name</i>—-it is my angel's + right—</p> + + <p class="i2">And I shall hear thee, though I give no + sign.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>When morn undoes the high, white gates of sleep,</p> + + <p class="i2">Pause, as thou comest forth, to speak to + me:</p> + + <p>It may seem vain, for silence will be deep,</p> + + <p class="i2">But uttered wishes wait on prophecy.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>And when some day far distant thou dost feel</p> + + <p class="i2">That night and morrow will no longer + come,</p> + + <p>The pitying heart will let me then reveal</p> + + <p class="i2">My presence to thee on the passage + home.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="center">CHARLOTTE F. BATES.</p> + </div> + </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page295" + id="page295"></a>[pg 295]</span> + + <h2>THE MATCHLESS ONE:</h2> + + <h3>A TALE OF AMERICAN SOCIETY, IN FOUR CHAPTERS.</h3> + + <h3>CHAPTER III.</h3> + + <p>I was nearly asleep, though my thoughts were entertaining + enough, when again footsteps entered the arbor below. This time + the intruder did not pause. A woman's voice humming an air + seemed to approach, and in a moment more a swift hand parted + the bushes behind me, and Blanche Furnaval appeared. I was very + much surprised, but stood up to make way for her, at the same + time throwing aside my cigar.</p> + + <p>"I beg your pardon," she exclaimed immediately, clearly as + much astonished as I: "I did not know any one had found this + pretty spot but myself."</p> + + <p>"I think I know how to look for pretty things," I replied, + gazing at her face, which was glowing from quick walking, + though her breath came evenly through her parted lips.</p> + + <p>"Do you never tire of making those silly speeches?" she + asked, lifting her gray eyes candidly to my face. "Excuse me, + you need not answer: I am very brusque. You see I did not + expect to find any one here, and consequently left my company + manners at home. I am sorry to have disturbed you," she + continued, turning to go.</p> + + <p>"Let us compare notes, Miss Blanche, and see to whom the + rock belongs by right of discovery. Won't you be seated?" I + said, making a place for her.</p> + + <p>"I came to see the sunset," she replied after a moment's + hesitation, "and if it won't incommode you I will stay. Should + you not care to talk, please read on: I shall not mind. And + won't you light another cigar? I have no objection to cigars in + the open air, though I think them disgusting in the house."</p> + + <p>"Thank you," I said as she sat down and I took another + Havana for the one I had thrown away at her arrival. "Will you + relate to me the manner of your discovery? I would rather not + read."</p> + + <p>"About two weeks ago," she began, looking over the + landscape, and not at me, "I was sitting in the arbor below, + and I heard Mrs.—well, a lady coming whom, to be sincere + with you, I dislike. If I stayed, I knew she would have a long + talk with me: if I walked on, she might call me back. I looked + about in haste for a hiding-place. The bushes near me appeared + as if I might get behind them: I pushed through, saw a little + path, which I followed, turned round the base of a hillock, and + found two rocks, upon which I raised myself with the help of a + sapling. Then, carefully parting the branches, I saw this," + waving her small hand that I might see it, but still not + looking at me. "The sun was just setting; away down in yonder + field the sorrel was as fire in its rays; a catbird was + reciting a merry pastoral in the thicket beyond; two goats + stood high on a bank, like satyrs guarding the place. You see + why I come again."</p> + + <p>"I have the right of discovery," I cried gayly: "I made the + path and placed the rocks. I claim it, that I may lay it at + your feet."</p> + + <p>"Do you like it?" she asked, turning to me and laying a + slight stress on "you."</p> + + <p>"I told you I admired pretty things, and you know, Miss + Blanche, I am a bit of a poet."</p> + + <p>She smiled: "Ah yes; but do you really admire this?"</p> + + <p>"Of course I do—think it dem foine."</p> + + <p>She laughed outright—a laugh so gay that I joined her, + though I could not tell why. "As for sorrel," I added, "you + ought to see The Beauties: the fields are full of it, though + the farmers don't seem to admire it much."</p> + + <p>"Well, I am very fond of the sorrel," she replied, "with the + clover-tops, the seed-globes of dandelion and the daisies by + the water: it makes quite a bouquet in yonder field."</p> + + <p>I looked at her to see if she was chaffing + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page296" + id="page296"></a>[pg 296]</span> me: not at all—she + was sober as a judge.</p> + + <p>"Dem foine! I beg pardon, very nice indeed. How would you + like to carry it to the ball this evening?"</p> + + <p>"I never take anything to a ball that I care to have + appreciated," she answered dryly.</p> + + <p>"Aw! That is the reason you won't sing down there: isn't it, + now? But, really, they thought it fine the other + night—quite clever, I heard some of them say."</p> + + <p>"Oh yes," with a weary smile that had a little contempt in + it.</p> + + <p>"Did that ugly little Italian know very much about singing? + You seemed pleased with his admiration."</p> + + <p>"That ugly Italian, as you call him, has heard some of the + best prima donnas in Europe. He is poor, he is seedy—for + his voice left him just as he was on the eve of + success—but he was the only person in the room who could + tell me that I sang as well as the greatest of them." Her voice + quivered as she spoke.</p> + + <p>"You are mistaken indeed, Miss Blanche," I said. "Any fellow + there would have paid you the same compliment if you had given + him a chance; but you were so confoundedly wrapped up in that + Italian chap that you would not look at the rest of us."</p> + + <p>"I don't care for the compliment," she said, cooling down + directly: "I care for the truth. They don't know if I sing well + or not."</p> + + <p>"Then you only sing to be admired, Miss Furnaval?"</p> + + <p>"I don't sing at all," she said, coloring.</p> + + <p>"But you <i>should</i> sing."</p> + + <p>"Why?" she asked.</p> + + <p>"To please—to give pleasure to others."</p> + + <p>"I don't care to please any one but myself."</p> + + <p>"But that is not right, you know. Now, I try to please + everybody."</p> + + <p>"Do you always succeed, Mr. Highrank?"</p> + + <p>"Yes, always; and though it's tiresome at times, I bear it. + Last autumn you never saw anything to compare to it—in + the country, you know. But it's my vocation, and I try to live + up to it. People do wrong who have talents and do not use them. + That is why I blame you, Miss Blanche."</p> + + <p>"It is not worth the trouble. I have withdrawn my hand from + market, and intend to please myself the remainder of my + life."</p> + + <p>"From what market? What do you mean?"</p> + + <p>"I mean the matrimonial market, of course."</p> + + <p>"Why won't you marry? if I may ask."</p> + + <p>"It is too much trouble. I won't be a slave to the caprices + of the world so that I may be called amiable. Now, if I don't + wish to appear in the parlor, I stay in my room; if I don't + wish to receive callers, I refuse; if I don't wish to attend a + party, I stay at home. I need not visit to keep myself 'before, + the public.' I can be as eccentric as I like. When I disagree + with a gentleman, I can contradict him; if I do not feel like + smiling, I frown; and when I want to walk alone, I go. I can + please myself from morning till night, and I enjoy it."</p> + + <p>"You like clever fellows, don't you?" I asked, remembering + the conversation I had just overheard.</p> + + <p>"Yes," she answered, and then speaking decidedly, added, + "and I like 'poor devils,' as you call them: they are not so + dreadfully conceited as <i>some</i> men are."</p> + + <p>"I tell you what," I said—just for the purpose of + getting her opinion of myself, you know—"I am a clever + fellow: I hope you like me."</p> + + <p>She glanced round—I suppose to see if I was in + earnest—then turning away said, "Y-e-s, pretty well."</p> + + <p>It was rough on a chap, but she looked so sweet as she said + it, and sat so very unconscious that I was looking at her, that + I thought I would give her a little advice. I could not get it + out of my head how Mrs. Stunner said she would end badly, and + it seemed a pity for a charming girl such as she was. So I + said, persuasively, "Now, don't you go and marry one of those + poor chaps, Miss Blanche. You see, you will be regularly + unhappy, and all that sort of thing, if you do."</p> + + <p>"How do you know?" she + asked.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page297" + id="page297"></a>[pg 297]</span> + + <p>"Oh," I replied, not knowing what to to say for an instant, + "I heard it."</p> + + <p>"Heard what?" she said, looking at me curiously.</p> + + <p>"That you would do it, and would be unhappy."</p> + + <p>"A report made to order by those good people whom you want + me to take pains to please. 'Tis a method to make a harmless + rival of me. Rumor that I am engaged, and to a man beneath me, + and of course other gentlemen will not pay me attention. Mean! + mean! But no matter," she continued after a moment: "it won't + hurt me. I am not engaged, and don't intend to be; and it is + nothing new for me to know that the world is not particularly + truthful."</p> + + <p>"But why not marry? You had better change your + mind—indeed you had: I advise you for your good."</p> + + <p>"You say I must not select a poor man, and the rich require + too much devotion from the ladies. You gentlemen let us take + all the trouble to please: you present yourselves, and expect + us to fall at your feet.<i>I</i> am waiting for a chevalier who + will go the world over to win me—who will consider it an + honor if I finally accept him, instead of fancying, that I am + honored by his choice."</p> + + <p>"I used to have ideas of that kind, but found them false. It + <i>is</i> an honor to receive a proposal, you know. Every one + thinks so, else they would not tell of it and brag as they do. + By being so unlike the rest of the world you will end + badly—indeed you will, Miss Blanche."</p> + + <p>"Look for a moment at the case as I put it. A man asks me to + marry him: he likes me—thinks I shall make him a good + wife. He woos me to please himself, not to please me, and you + think I should be grateful because his vanity prompts him to + believe that I am highly honored. But this is only one of the + many fallacies which people adopt without question. It is good + for a man to be refused several times: it takes some little + conceit out of him, and makes him more humble and nice for the + poor woman who is ultimately to be his wife. I am convinced + that there is no gentleman who makes his first proposal that + has a doubt of his being accepted. Now, is there?" she asked, + appealing to me.</p> + + <p>"Well, you are about right. Women are not so particular + about making a choice, you know. It isn't so hard for them to + find, somebody that suits. I suppose I should be accepted by + any girl I might ask. Frankly, now," I said, wishing to give + her a poser, "wouldn't you accept me?"</p> + + <p>"Frankly," she replied, taking my own tone, "I would + not."</p> + + <p>"And why not?" I asked.</p> + + <p>"There would be too many young ladies made unhappy through + losing you," she answered banteringly.</p> + + <p>"But you know I should not care for that: I can't marry them + all."</p> + + <p>"You told me you thought it your duty to please + everybody."</p> + + <p>"Come, now, think of it, and tell the real truth: you know + if I marry it would have to be but one girl."</p> + + <p>"You might go to Utah."</p> + + <p>"You won't answer. Silence gives consent, don't it?" I said + in a tone of triumph.</p> + + <p>"Do you really want me to answer your question?" she asked, + looking at me queerly.</p> + + <p>"By Jove!" I thought, "it's coming now. I've pushed it too + far—never thought what I was doing: she will certainly + accept me, and I cannot retract." It took me but a moment to + see my danger and to make up my mind. A gentleman will always + sustain his word. My voice was shaking a little from the + greatness of the resolution I had made, but I managed to say + pretty steadily, "Of course I do." It was so very sudden, you + know. I felt I should be an engaged man in five minutes + more.</p> + + <p>"You are awfully funny," she exclaimed after quite a + pause.</p> + + <p>"I believe I am considered witty," I replied, hardly knowing + what I said: I tell you, that sort of thing makes a man + confoundedly nervous.</p> + + <p>Then she began laughing, and I thought she, would never + stop. I did not feel like laughing, so I just sat and looked at + her.</p> + + <p>"Oh my! oh my!" she gasped, trying + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page298" + id="page298"></a>[pg 298]</span> to control herself, "why + didn't you say No? You never intended to ask me at all. It + is the funniest thing I ever heard of. Oh my! I shall die of + laughing. I think <i>you</i> will 'end badly' if you go on + so," she said, quoting what I had repeated. "What induced + you to act in this manner?"</p> + + <p>I saw that she had found me out and thought I was a fool. + This provoked me, and I replied, rather warmly, pretending I + did not know what she meant, "It appears to me an odd manner + you have of receiving an offer, Miss Blanche. I think you + should at least treat me with politeness."</p> + + <p>She became serious in a moment when she saw I was hurt, and + did not lose her good-temper at my rude speech, but said + pleasantly, "You are not fond of being teased, Mr. Highrank. + Never mind: I don't intend to take advantage of your blunder, + nor keep you long in suspense. Go "—and she smiled as if + she really could not help it—"go, and be sensible in + future."</p> + + <p>"You mean that you won't marry me?" I asked.</p> + + <p>"Don't talk of that: let us pretend we were in fun—as + of course we were—and let me thank you for a very + agreeable afternoon."</p> + + <p>I declare she looked so bewitching as she spoke that I + wished she had thought me in earnest and accepted me. It was + real good in her, giving a fellow a second chance when she + might have snapped him up directly. I think girls ought to give + a man two chances, but they seldom do. Many a poor soul repents + the moment the words are spoken, but he can't help himself. + Generally, when 'tis done 'tis done.</p> + + <p>She made a motion to rise: I could not permit her to go + without an explanation. She had been so generous, and she was + so beautiful, that I began to desire quite earnestly that she + would be my wife, and that we could settle down at The Beauties + together: she would like the sorrel at any rate. Perhaps + Fortune had sent her to me this very afternoon, and I ought not + to let the opportunity slip, but ask her seriously before she + left. Of course she would accept me if she knew I was in + earnest. She was too delicate to take advantage of a + mistake—mighty few girls so particular. The more I + entertained the idea, the more I liked it, so I resolved to + speak. I fancied that she was a little cool in her manner: + possibly she thought I ought not have jested on such a subject, + but I would make it all right now. I was sitting on a stone a + little lower than she. I leaned forward and placed my arm on + the rock and round her—just near enough to keep her + there, you know. Then I spoke: "I want to beg your pardon, Miss + Blanche. You are offended, but I did not mean to annoy you: I + esteem you too highly for that."</p> + + <p>"I am not at all offended, not at all," she said heartily, + at the same time trying to rise, but as I was leaning on her + dress she could not. "I must beg you to move: I am going home," + she added, looking round: then seeing where my arm was, her + tone became slightly angry: "Will you allow me to rise?"</p> + + <p>"Not until you listen to me. Do not be displeased when I + tell you the truth. I was jesting, or at least did not think + what I was asking, a moment ago, but now I am in real earnest. + I want you to marry me—truly I do. I love you, and am + willing to do everything you can desire. See, I will kneel if + you like devotion;" and I fell on my knees before her, catching + her little white hands and kissing them. "Won't you love me?" I + felt as I looked into her sweet face that I could do anything + in the world for her.</p> + + <p>"A little less devotion and more respect would suit me + better, Mr. Highrank. Will you stop this farce and release my + dress? I shall certainly be offended if you do not rise + instantly."</p> + + <p>"I will obey you if you will give me one kind word."</p> + + <p>"I have none for you," she said frigidly.</p> + + <p>"You think I have been too hasty—that I am not really + in love with you; but I am, I assure you. I fall, in love very + quickly—indeed I do. I have often been in love with a + girl the first time I saw her, and I have known you ever so + long. Won't you believe me, + Blanche?"</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page299" + id="page299"></a>[pg 299]</span> + + <p>"I believe you are treating me in a most ungentlemanly + manner in keeping me here when I don't wish to stay."</p> + + <p>"I can't let you go," I said as I rose, but standing so that + she could not pass, "till you are convinced that I love you, + for I do, and shall always. Surely I have a right to an + answer."</p> + + <p>"I thought you were good-natured"—now she spoke + reproachfully—"and you are teasing me in the most + disagreeable way. Please let me pass."</p> + + <p>"Do you think me so base as to tease you on such a subject? + What shall I do to persuade you that I am sincere."</p> + + <p>"Let me go home."</p> + + <p>"May I go with you?"</p> + + <p>"I would rather you did not come, please."</p> + + <p>"Why are you so unkind?" I asked, taking her hand. "Tell me + you love me, and let us be happy."</p> + + <p>"But I don't love you," she said, trying to withdraw her + hand, and the tears coming into her eyes. "I don't love you, + and I want to go home." She turned from me to hide her face, + looking about at the same time for some way of escape.</p> + + <p>"But you will love me by to-morrow," I replied soothingly. + "I may ask you again, may I not?" and then she looked so + pitiful, with the tears rolling from her frightened eyes and + her hand trembling in mine, that I thought I would put my arm + around her—to comfort her, you know. "Poor child!" I + said, drawing her to me as they do in the theatre, "you don't + know your own heart: rest here."</p> + + <p>I wish you had seen her!—I <i>wish</i> you had seen + her! She drew herself from me quivering with indignation, her + eyes% sparkled, and she was in such a rage that she could + hardly speak, but after an effort she broke forth in a torrent + of words: "I have an utter contempt for you, and I will bear + this no longer. You think you are irresistible—that all + the girls are in love with you—that your wealth buys you + impunity—that your position will excuse your + rudeness—and that you can dispense with politeness + because your name is Highrank! I would like to box your ears. I + despise you and your behavior so thoroughly that were you a + hundred times in earnest in asking me to marry you, I would + refuse you a hundred times!" Then she rushed past me, and I was + so astonished that I did not try to prevent her.</p> + + <p>The idea of her refusing <i>me</i>, and in such a manner! No + wonder if she should end badly. Mrs. Stunner was right. + However, I am glad she <i>did</i> refuse me, for she must + certainly be a little wrong in her head. Wonder if her + ancestors were insane or anything. She was deuced handsome when + she got angry. Never saw a woman angry at me before: something + very queer about her. Had a contempt for me, too! Why should + she have that? I don't understand it. Said I was + conceited—that I thought all the girls would marry me. + And so they would, all but herself; and that shows there is + something odd about her—not at all like any other woman. + Deuced glad she did not take me at my word. Queerest thing! She + cried when I put my arm around her: never knew a woman would + cry at <i>that</i> before. Little Eva wouldn't. I believe I + like tender women best—at one time I thought they were + not nice. What a fool I was! What should I do with a wife I + could not kiss? I wonder if Blanche will speak to me again? + Maybe all this was a dodge, women have so many; but she looked + in earnest. I might have frightened her by being so sudden, but + why the deuce should women be frightened at proposals, when + they pass their lives in trying to get them? So Mrs. Stunner + said. Poor birdie!, what a soft hand she has! Maybe some women + are modest: I will ask Hardcash about it. She may not have + known what she was saying—agitated, and all that sort of + thing. I will see how she acts to-night—need not ask her + again if she is not civil. Eva will comfort me if I need it. + What a sweet voice she had till she got angry! but she was very + odd.</p> + + <p>I strolled home to the hotel, musing over the adventure of + the afternoon. Blanche was a girl who might be included in the + star type that I had once sought <span class="pagenum">[pg + 300]</span> for: wanted to be worshiped and play the superior. + Now that I had found her I was surprised how little I liked + that style. Just as if a good-looking fellow like me was a bear + or a wild Indian, to be afraid of! I don't see that she would + have been any the worse for it if I <i>had</i> kissed her; and + wasn't I as respectful as her nearest relation? 'Pon honor I + was. A very odd girl. I shall ask Ned Hardcash about it.</p> + + <h3><a name="page300" + id="page300">CHAPTER IV.</a></h3> + + <p>I never saw Eva looking better than she did that night. I + lounged around the room until I came to her crowd, attached + myself there, and did some heavy flirting. I asked her to take + a moonlight stroll, but her aunt overheard me and gave her a + look, upon which she said the air outside was too cool. I saw + the play was to be above-board. Aunt Stunner had taken matters + into her own hands, and the game had commenced in earnest. Mr. + David Todd, Jr., was there, and Eva paid him a good deal of + attention: I did not like it.</p> + + <p>Presently she went off to dance with him, and Aunt Stunner + sat down by me. Fanning herself energetically, she said in a + confidential tone, "Eva is looking sweetly to-night: don't you + think so, Mr. Highrank?"</p> + + <p>"Miss Eva always looks jolly," I said shortly. I did not + want to talk to the old lady.</p> + + <p>"Mr. Todd appears to think so too," she went on with a nod + and a knowing look at me. Evidently she was playing Todd + against Highrank.</p> + + <p>"Mr. David Todd, Jr.?" I asked languidly: "he has thirty + thousand a year, hasn't he?"</p> + + <p>She looked at me sharply for an instant, then smiled and + said, "How should I know, dear Mr. Highrank? It is his rare + personal merit that pleases me. I own I am happy to see him so + attentive to the child for her sake. She is so impulsive and + innocent, so likely to fancy a younger, more dashing kind of + man"—here she glanced at me—"that I acknowledge I + do feel anxious to have her settled happily. Not but that some + young men are exceptions," she continued amiably, "and make + excellent husbands."</p> + + <p>"There are two classes of men," I remarked quietly. "They + can be divided into those who make good husbands and those who + don't. Wealthy men are the most superior, and are best fitted + to fill the situation."</p> + + <p>"I agree with you entirely: you are a very sensible young + man," enthusiastically replied the old lady, not recognizing + the quotation.</p> + + <p>We talked on until Eva came back: then I claimed the next + waltz, and decided I would carry her off from Todd. I pressed + her hand, but she would not respond: it was plain she was + obeying orders.</p> + + <p>"Won't you walk with me?" I whispered as we were near an + open window in a pause of the dance.</p> + + <p>"I can't, Charley—indeed I can't," as I tried to draw + her outside: "I will explain another time."</p> + + <p>"You are very cruel," I continued in the same undertone.</p> + + <p>"You don't care if I am," she said a little bitterly.</p> + + <p>"As if I do not care when you use me badly! Won't you tell + me what is the matter?" I asked tenderly.</p> + + <p>"Oh, Mr. Highrank, I am so unhappy!" she whispered.</p> + + <p>"Why so, my dear?" No one could help calling Eva "my dear"; + besides, we were hidden by the heavy window curtain and no one + overheard us.</p> + + <p>"I—I—am going to be married," she said.</p> + + <p>"It appears to me that ought to make you particularly merry, + oughtn't it?"</p> + + <p>"But it don't," she answered, sighing.</p> + + <p>"Why not, you foolish girl?"</p> + + <p>"Oh, everything is so different from what I expected."</p> + + <p>"In what way?"</p> + + <p>"W-h-y," she answered slowly, "I thought it would be + romantic, and that he would ask me in the moonlight."</p> + + <p>"Like to-night, for instance?" I said, taking her hand and + drawing her through the low window on to the + piazza.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page301" + id="page301"></a>[pg 301]</span> + + <p>"Yes," she replied, "and instead of that—"</p> + + <p>Well, instead of that?" I repeated, seeing she paused.</p> + + <p>"Instead of that, it was in that old parlor of ours. I have + never had a nice time since we took it two weeks ago, odious + green place! I detest green furniture; it is so unbecoming," + she said pathetically.</p> + + <p>"And who is the happy dog—I mean gentleman'—Eva? + I may call you Eva, just for this evening yet, mayn't I?"</p> + + <p>"I don't care if—if—Oh my! what a name! Charley, + did you ever hear such a dreadful name as David?"</p> + + <p>"What! old Todd? It isn't old Todd?" I asked, laughing.</p> + + <p>"It is very unkind of you to laugh when you know I must + marry him."</p> + + <p>"I won't laugh," I said, putting her arm in mine and walking + down the verandah. "Come, sit on this sofa and tell me all + about it."</p> + + <p>"Well," she said, half pouting and half crying, "I must + marry some one this season—both mamma and auntie say + so—and I can't marry Ned."</p> + + <p>"Ned Hardcash? You don't mean to say he was spooney on + you?"</p> + + <p>"Yes he was, but I told him he was too poor."</p> + + <p>"You are very reasonable, Eva."</p> + + <p>"You need not talk that way. Mamma would not hear of it. I + could not let him ask her, for she would have been so angry, + and she and auntie would have scolded me; and you don't know + how fearfully auntie can abuse one when she begins."</p> + + <p>"How did Ned take your answer?"</p> + + <p>"Oh, he just went away, and did not care a bit, and I have + not seen him since."</p> + + <p>"He did not care?" thinking I now had the clew to Ned's + savage manner for the week past. "When did it happen?"</p> + + <p>"I can't exactly remember: it was soon after we took the + parlor. Auntie would not let me invite him there, and he got + angry and jealous of Mr. Todd, who was with me all the time, + and—"</p> + + <p>"But that showed he loved you, don't you think so?"</p> + + <p>"Well, perhaps he did a little: he told me if I Would trust + him he would not let mamma or auntie scold; but you know that + was nonsense. I would like to see any one prevent them if they + want to do it. And he hadn't any money, and we should have + starved: I told him so. Then he said there was no danger of + that: he could manage to keep the wolf from the door. I knew of + course that be could easily keep wolves away, for there are + none here, and I would not live in that horrid West; but that + would not prevent us starving: auntie said we would + starve."</p> + + <p>"Poor Ned!" I murmured.</p> + + <p>"You pity poor Ned," said she, now sobbing, "but you don't + pity poor me at all, and I am the most wretched."</p> + + <p>"Come, don't cry, Eva," I said, putting my arm around her: + it was very dark in that corner, and I knew Eva would not fuss + about it, as a certain other person did not long ago. "What + shall I do for you, my dear? Do you want Ned back? I'll tell + him and make it up between you: shall I?"</p> + + <p>"No, no! He is so cross and fierce that I should be afraid + of him: he was dreadfully ill-tempered when he left me that + night."</p> + + <p>"But that was because he loved you, Eva."</p> + + <p>"When people love me I don't want them to be disagreeable: I + should not want to vex any one if I loved him."</p> + + <p>"You will make a dear, kind, amiable little wife, I + know."</p> + + <p>"But I don't want to marry Mr. Todd," she said, still + sobbing on my shoulder. "Oh, Charley, what shall I do?"</p> + + <p>Could I find a lovelier, more tender, sweeter wife than the + girl now in my arms? My ideas of affectionate women had + changed, dating from about two weeks back, and the conduct of + Miss Blanche, who would neither see me nor speak to me since + that afternoon, strengthened me in the opinion that a woman is + best with some heart. Was it any wonder, then, that I decided + on the spot to answer Eva's question of "Charley, what shall I + do?" by saying "Marry <i>me</i>, my dear: 'tis the only way I + see for you to <span class="pagenum"><a name="page302" + id="page302"></a>[pg 302]</span> get out of the scrape"? + Just as my resolve became fixed I heard footsteps near. In + another moment, scarcely giving Eva time to wipe her eyes, + those three sisters, the Greys, came trooping by, and + stopped in front of us.</p> + + <p>"Spooning as usual?" remarked one of them to me.</p> + + <p>"Miss Eva, won't you ask Mr. Todd to give him a lesson in + proposing? I don't believe he knows how to do it. A deplorable + state of ignorance!" said another.</p> + + <p>A merry group soon joined them, and I did not get another + chance that evening. However, I went to my room happy, for I + knew I should be successful on the morrow. Eva loved me: her + mother had said as much when I overheard her in the arbor on + the mountain-side, and I knew Aunt Stunner would have no + objection, as my income exceeded Todd's. In an easy-chair by + the open window I thought over my resolution, and counted + myself a fortunate man. In the midst of this reverie the door + burst open, shut with a bang, and Ned Hardcash threw himself on + a fauteuil opposite me.</p> + + <p>"What's up now?" I cried. "Has Harry Basset lost?" Ned was + always deep on the turf, and I could think of nothing else that + would cut him up so much.</p> + + <p>"D—n Harry Basset! I say, Charley, haven't you some + brandy?"</p> + + <p>"Too hot for brandy to-night," I said: "take some of this," + pushing him a bottle.</p> + + <p>"Stuff!" and he looked at it contemptuously. "If you can't + treat a poor devil more like a man when he comes, he will go;" + and he rose with a jerk.</p> + + <p>"Sit down, old fellow! or rather go to that closet and get + what you want—enough there for a night or two."</p> + + <p>He looked the worse for hard drink already, but of course I + could not refuse him if he wanted it. It is true politeness, if + your friend wants to commit suicide, to sharpen the razor for + him and ask no questions. I leaned back while he mixed a glass + with seltzer and drank it greedily. Finally, when he looked + more composed, I said, "I want to ask you a question, Ned." I + thought of Blanche Furnaval's strange conduct on seeing Ned + before me, and resolved to ask him if he could explain it. "I + believe you know something about the queer ways of women. Can + you tell—"</p> + + <p>"Look here, Charley," he broke out savagely: "I want one + thing understood. You are always teasing and bothering about + the women; and as you have not got a piece of flesh as big as a + pea for a heart, you will never understand anything about them; + so, if you don't want to set me crazy, just let that subject + down while I am here."</p> + + <p>"It's a woman, then," I said, forgetting in my surprise to + be angry. "Cheer up, old boy! You will soon get over it: no + woman's worth it."</p> + + <p>"Not to you, perhaps, but it may be the contrary with me," + he answered moodily.</p> + + <p>There was a long silence. I smoked, he drank: at last I + broke it by saying unconsciously, "She is a dear little thing." + My thoughts had reverted to Eva.</p> + + <p>"Ah, you saw it?" cried Ned eagerly. "Then I can talk to you + about it. You may well say she is a dear little thing. She is + an angel—too good for a fellow like me. But the poor + child dotes on me: that is the hardest part of the cursed + thing. How she laid her head on my shoulder and cried, and said + she did not want to marry that other fellow, d—n him! It + almost broke my heart," he continued dejectedly, "and it is not + of the stuff that breaks easily. I told her I would take her + off and we would run for it, though Heaven knows what we should + do afterward. Sometimes it seems as if I could not bear it. I + wish I could strangle Todd: that would be some comfort."</p> + + <p>"What makes you so savage against old Todd?"</p> + + <p>"Don't you know he and Eva are engaged? All owing to the + interference of that old Stunner. What business was it of hers, + I wonder? And poor Eva disliking him as she does, and so + unhappy about it, and I can't help her! My cursed luck, + always;" and Ned heaved a brandy-and-seltzer sigh.</p> + + <p>Yes, it was Eva. I had forgotten all + <span class="pagenum">[pg 303]</span> she had told me about + Ned, or rather she had not told me as much as he did. She + sobbed on his shoulder, did she? His shoulder! disgusting! She + dote on him! he comfort her! It was horrible! A sudden idea + struck me. "Did you kiss her, Ned?" I asked gruffly.</p> + + <p>"You are asking a d——d impertinent question, old + fellow, and of course I sha'n't answer you;" and he tried to + make his drunken face look grave.</p> + + <p>I should have liked to throw him out of the window, but the + question was, as he said, hardly one to be asked; and then, if + she allowed it, what right had I—It was enough. It might + be pleasant to have an affectionate wife, but no drinking + gambler like Ned Hardcash should ever be able to say or + remember that he had kissed the mistress of The Beauties.</p> + + <p>I was sad at heart: hope now failed me. Poor little Eva! I + must bury her image with the "wild rose," with "my star," with + the "sympathizing friend." All, all are emptiness—are + names, are dreams. The poets were old-fogy chaps: they never + saw the women of to-day, and well for them they did not.</p> + + <p>I am still unmated: I bear the loneliness that awaits all + great excellence. The sun has no companion in glory; the moon + shines alone; there was but one phoenix; the white elephant is + solitary. So it must be with me. I am not misanthropic: I have + learned to bear my superiority with philosophy. I was groomsman + at Eva's wedding the other day, and gave her a handsome + present, as it was expected I should. I still like my + fellow-beings, and fulfill the duties of life to the best of my + abilities. I flirt, I dance, walk, drive, pursue my usual + occupations, give bachelor-parties at The Beauties, and have + grown contented from habit, but I am a confirmed old—or + shall I say young?—bachelor.</p> + + <p class="author">ITA ANIOL PROKOP.</p><a name="page303" + id="page303"></a> + + <h2>MUNICH AS A PEST-CITY.</h2> + + <p>From a time whereof the memory of man runneth not to the + contrary, Munich has had the reputation of being an + exceptionally unhealthy place. All ancient towns have their + legends of desolating plagues, the record of an ignorant + defiance of sanitary laws, but such stories are especially + numerous in the traditions of Munich, and are connected with + circumstances which show that epidemic diseases were formerly + extremely frequent and virulent in that City.</p> + + <p>The absurd festival of the "Metzger-Sprung" (Butchers' + Leap), which takes place annually on the Monday before + Ash-Wednesday, when butcher-boys attain to the second grade of + their apprenticeship by dressing themselves in long robes + trimmed with calves' tails, and springing into the old fountain + in the Marien-Platz in the face of an admiring crowd, is held + in commemoration of a similar frolic contrived several hundred + years ago by lads of the same trade during the prevalence of a + horrible epidemic, for the purpose of tempting the frightened + citizens out of their gloomy houses into fresh air and + merriment, which these sensible youths had concluded to be the + best safeguards against disease. The grotesque procession of + the "Schäffler-Tanz" (Coopers' Dance), which occurs once + in every seven years, just before the Carnival, has a similar + origin. One of the favorite myths of Munich is that of an + enormous dragon which lived in the ground beneath the city and + poisoned all the wells with his venomous breath, until, being + at last lured to the surface by seeing his reflection in a + mirror held above a certain spring, a brave knight slew him and + saved the <span class="pagenum"><a name="page304" + id="page304"></a>[pg 304]</span> people from further + destruction. The former imminence of danger from pestilence + is shown also in the songs of the night-watchmen, who every + hour exhorted to prayer for exemption from the plague, as + well as from the terrors of fire, sword and famine.</p> + + <p>And this evil fame still clings to Munich, in spite of all + that has been done to improve its condition, and of all that + has been written to purge it of its contempt. Efforts of the + latter kind have indeed been prodigious, increasing with the + growing importance of the place as a centre of education in + science and art. Local medical authorities issue from time to + time ingenious pamphlets on hygienic investigations, with + particular application to the suspicion under which their city + labors in this regard; the newspapers keep up the whitewashing + process with diligence, not forgetting to hold up frequently + before their readers the sanitary shortcomings of Vienna and + Berlin; nay, the traveler is met at the very threshold of his + hotel by a tiny tract containing not only a list of the + principal sights, but also a comforting assurance that the + climate is not so bad as has been represented, and that by + wearing sufficient wrappings and avoiding the ordinary drinking + water, strangers may hope to accomplish their visit and escape + unharmed. Surely no other city takes such benevolent pains to + reassure its inhabitants and instruct and warn its + stranger-guests: perhaps it is because deeds have not kept pace + with words that assertion and argument have hitherto failed of + the desired effect. The protracted, repeated cholera epidemic + of 1873-74 may well challenge a close observation of the + situation, surroundings and sanitary condition of Munich as a + means of ascertaining the causes of this exceptional + visitation, as well as of the continual existence of an + indigenous disease which, more than almost any other, is + dependent upon circumstances within the power of man to + control.</p> + + <p>Instead, therefore, of constructing the cholera and the + typhus out of our "inner consciousness," as certain of the + physicians and hygienists of Munich, in true German fashion, + appear disposed to do, let us look at some of the facts of the + case—facts sufficiently obvious to be perceptible to any + person of intelligence, and the nature of which is so well + understood as to be accepted at once as bearing closely upon + the subject in question.</p> + + <p>And first, as to climate. Considering that the cholera, from + which Munich suffers more at every visitation than almost any + other European city, and typhus, which is always at home within + its limits, are not, properly speaking, climatal diseases, it + would seem at first sight unnecessary to consider the situation + of Munich in this respect. But while the principal object of + the present paper is to indicate the causes of the + above-mentioned plagues, the fact should not be lost sight of + that nearly all known diseases flourish in this unfortunate + city, many of them owing to its exceptionally bad climate, + while the sudden and extreme changes of temperature which occur + in every season of the year have a tendency to aggravate those + ills which find their sources in more preventable + conditions.</p> + + <p>Munich stands upon a high, barren plain, sixteen hundred + feet above the level of the sea, exposed to the full power of + the sun in summer, brooded over by chilly fogs in spring and + autumn, and swept the whole year through by all the storms that + accumulate upon the mountains filling the horizon to the south + and east. The air is mountain-air, <i>minus</i> the aroma and + stimulus of evergreen forests, and <i>plus</i> the miasma of + miles of marsh and peat-land and the foulnesses of the city + exhalations. It is the thin air of a high elevation, pleasantly + bracing to persons so fortunate as to possess nerves of iron + and lungs of leather, but extremely irritating to sensitive + brains and delicate chests, and too exhausting, after a time, + in its demands upon the most abundant vitality. It is the boast + of certain physicians in Munich that consumption is rare in + that city, but the weekly report of deaths would seem to + contradict this assertion. Certain it is that diseases of the + throat and lungs are very common, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page305" + id="page305"></a>[pg 305]</span> especially during the + spring, and that all the rest of the year the whole + population suffers more or less from catarrh. Perhaps if + there be less of consumption than one would expect to find + in such a climate, it is because those who would otherwise + be its victims are carried off early by acute inflammation + of the implicated organs. "Of course, if these die in the + beginning, they cannot die at a later period," as a recent + medical writer has wisely and wittily pointed out to certain + amateur statisticians who would fain reduce the mortality of + Munich by leaving out of view the immense percentage of + infant deaths.</p> + + <p>The evil effects of the harsh air are increased by the + clouds of dust which the wind is continually raising in the + broad graveled streets—dust the more irritating to eyes, + nose and lungs because largely composed of lime, and which + dries with marvelous rapidity after the frequent heavy showers + and protracted rains for which this region is also remarkable. + It is the last resort of the citizens of Munich, when driven + out of every other defence of their climate, to say, "But it is + a good climate for the nerves." One would like to know for + <i>what</i> nerves and <i>whose</i> nerves, since strangers who + reside here for any length of time generally find that any + constitutional tendency to ailments in which the nerves are + principally involved is increased, instead of lessened; and + among the natives themselves brain diseases, strokes of all + kinds, fits and cramps, are frequent and fatal, while the enemy + which they fear the most, and which presses them the hardest, + is known by them as "nervous fever," The air is too stimulating + for any but the most robust constitutions; and the sudden + blasts of fierce wind that continually interrupt the enjoyment + of even the few days of otherwise pleasant weather, and the + intolerable glare of the sun upon the dusty streets and squares + and monotonous rows, of light-colored houses, unrelieved, for + the most part, by trees or vines or any green thing, are + perpetual irritants which must react unfavorably upon the + general health. Indeed, one begins at last to find in the + harshness of the climate some explanation, if not excuse, for + the roughness of disposition and manner which have made the + people of Munich a proverb among their countrymen and a terror + to foreign residents.</p> + + <p>Another cause of the unhealthiness of Munich is the nature + of the soil. The ground upon which the city is built, as also + the land for a considerable distance round about, was formerly + the bed of a lake, and consists of a loose gravel to the depth + of many feet, there being scarcely enough earth upon the top to + furnish subsistence for the commonest grass and weeds, while + trees, esculent vegetables and flowers can only be raised by + preparing a new soil, which must be continually enriched by + artificial means. A proverb says, "Scratch a Russian and the + Tartar shows through;" so one has only to stir the soil of + Munich to find just below the surface the coarse gravel, + defying cultivation. Of course, all the fluid matter deposited + upon the surface that does not exhale in the atmosphere + percolates through this loose stratum until it reaches the + rock, where it stagnates and corrupts, returning into the air + in the form of poisonous gases, instead of undergoing the + healthy transformation which is effected in all soils capable + of sustaining vegetable life. If the fluid thus held in + solution were only the rain from heaven, the result would not + be so disastrous; but, unfortunately, there is scarcely any + kind of filth that is not allowed to contribute constantly to + the subterranean supply of moisture. It has been estimated that + of the seventy-five thousand tons of refuse matter which Munich + furnishes within a year, scarcely one-third is carried out of + the city: the rest is suffered to go into the ground upon the + spot. Nor can that third which is gathered up be considered as + taken out of harm's way, since all of it that can be regarded + as manure is spread at once upon the neighboring fields, whence + it sends back its stenches upon every wind that blows.</p> + + <p>The people of Munich, according to one of their most famous + chroniclers, have always been noted for their piety + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page306" + id="page306"></a>[pg 306]</span> ("Fromm waren die + Münchner zu jeder Zeit"), but they have never been + celebrated for that virtue of cleanliness which is said to + be akin to godliness: indeed, they are known amongst other + Bavarians as <i>die dreckigen Münchner</i> ("the filthy + Munichers"); and certain it is that their city is far behind + the times in all sanitary matters. The introduction of + sewers is a very recent improvement. It will scarcely be + believed that many of the broad, showy streets which came + into existence under the patronage of Ludwig I. were laid + out and built up without any reference to this first + necessity of all thoroughfares. Even the Theresien Strasse + has not long rejoiced in a "canal;" and the sewer was laid + in that finest part of the Gabelsberger Strasse which runs + past the Pinakothek and the Polytechnic School as late as + the summer of 1873, while the upper end of the same street, + which is notoriously unhealthy, is still unpaved and + undrained. The Munich sewers, however, are not so great a + boon as one might suppose: indeed, they may be considered as + mere receptacles and condensers of the evil substances and + odors that would be promiscuously diffused. Owing to a want + of knowledge or of skill in their construction there is not + sufficient fall to carry away their contents, nor is there + any system of flushing to drive out the sediment and cleanse + the pipes. Consequently, there is a horrible odor ascending + at all times from the open gratings, and frequently the + pipes become choked, so as to necessitate the uncovering of + the receptacle at a junction, and the taking out and carting + away of the hideous slime—an operation which, of + course, adds temporary intensity to the usual stench.</p> + + <p>Another source of polluted air is the cellars of a great + proportion of the houses. Of course the families living in the + several flats of each building are all dependent upon one + cellar, which is divided off into compartments according to the + number of stories in the house. These compartments, however, + are in many instances separated from each other by a mere + partition of laths or rough boards, so that any want of + cleanliness on the part of an individual house-keeper is sure + to disturb all her neighbors. Owing to the custom of allowing + small shops to be kept in the ground-floor of dwelling-houses + there is apt to be a mingling of articles for storage in the + cellar such as is neither agreeable nor wholesome. Thus, for + instance, a dairywoman will fill the shelves of her compartment + with pans of milk: her next neighbor is perhaps a small dealer + in wood, coal and turf, and raises a dust accordingly; the + greengrocer opposite makes the air damp and bitter with his + heaps of neglected vegetables; while the butcher not only has a + right to hang up his newly-slaughtered animals and chop his + sausage-meat inside of his particular compartment, but may + allow a living pig or calf, whose death-hour has not yet + arrived, to roam up and down the dark passages, to the increase + of the general dirt and discomfort. In this connection it may + be well to enter a protest against the Munich regulation, or + absence of regulation, which allows every butcher to slaughter + pigs, calves and sheep upon his own premises. To say nothing of + the shocking sights and sounds which are thereby forced upon + the attention of the dwellers in the neighborhood of such + shops, it is impossible, considering the defective drainage and + insufficient water supply, that the practice should not be of + serious injury to the public health. There are also many + cellars which are rented out entirely to fruiterers and + green-grocers not living in the buildings as a place to store + their goods for the winter. In such cases the cellars are apt + to remain in a filthy condition, and the smells that pour from + the windows are at once a nuisance to passers-by and a source + of danger to the inhabitants of the houses. But it is not only + the living inhabitants of Munich that are corrupting the + heavens above, the earth beneath and the waters under the + earth: the dead in their graves are busy at the same work. It + is a pity that all thinking persons who still object to the + practice of cremation as unnecessary and impious could not be + compelled to take up their residence for + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page307" + id="page307"></a>[pg 307]</span> a while in the neighborhood + of the two great cemeteries of Munich: they would not be + long in crying out for the adoption of purifying flames and + the innoxious columbarium.</p> + + <p>The Old (or Southern) Cemetery at the time of its first + enclosure was a short distance outside of the city, though not + so far as it ought to have been; but by degrees the streets + have been extended to its very walls, and property-owners build + without hesitation handsome dwelling houses whose windows look + directly down upon that field of corruption, piously + denominated "God's Acre." The New Cemetery, on the north side + of the town, has been in use only five or six years, and was + from the beginning but a block or two removed from the nearest + houses. The air in the vicinity of the Old Cemetery is so laden + with the smell of death that even the natives are aware of it, + while strangers generally avoid a second visit. It is a rule + that every seven years a portion of the ground occupied by + rented graves shall be dug over for new tenants, the partially + decayed remains found therein being brought together and buried + again in an indiscriminate heap. This method is about as bad as + it could be, but the graves that are left undisturbed are not + much less harmful to the living. These can be leased for a + period of seventy years, the lease to be renewed if desired, + but never for a longer term than seventy years without renewal. + Whole generations of families are thus buried together, each + grave being dug deep enough to hold several coffins one above + another, the last one coming to within a few feet of the + surface. Now, when one considers the nature of the soil, the + closeness of the cemetery to the abodes of the living, the + frequency with which the earth is turned over, and the great + number of corpses which in a city of the size of Munich must be + interred every year, an idea can be formed of the + disagreeableness and unhealthiness of the cemeteries. Moreover, + bodies are not brought there to be buried at once, but are + placed within twelve hours after death in the dead-house, where + they are allowed to remain forty-eight hours before burial. + This provision, which is in force in most of the cities of + Germany, is a wise one in view of the number of families + inhabiting a single house: it would seem also to offer + additional securities against the horrible fate of being buried + alive, though the time allowed is not sufficient to ensure + certainty in suspicious cases, and is apt to be infringed upon + in seasons of epidemic. But, be that as it may, the continual + presence of scores of corpses lying in open coffins, and + separated only by glass doors from the hundreds of spectators + who come daily to gaze upon the ghastly sight, cannot be + otherwise than injurious to the general health. Also, the + practice of the citizens using the cemeteries as a favorite + promenade, and of spending hours in wandering amongst the + graves, is highly pernicious: it would seem as though the + people of Munich had fed upon stenches so long that they could + not be satisfied with the ordinary smells of the houses and + streets, but must seek the fountain-head of corruption to still + their morbid craving for the odors of decay. During the height + of the cholera epidemic of the winter of 1873-74 an article + appeared in one of the newspapers, written by a citizen who + signed himself "A Constant Visitor of the Dead-houses;" and the + article was answered by an opponent who signed himself "Another + Constant Visitor of the Dead-houses;" as though no more worthy + occupation could be imagined than this of prowling like ghouls + among the victims of the pestilence!</p> + + <p>It is now time to speak of another principal cause of the + unhealthiness of Munich, perhaps the most important one of + all—the water. As before stated, Munich is situated on + what was formerly the bed of a lake: the ground, therefore, is + full of springs, and from these the water-supply of the + inhabitants has always been obtained. There is a well in the + court of almost every house, in close proximity to the vault, + the refuse-pit and the drain, and well impregnated also, + doubtless, with that bugbear of Munich hygienists, "the + ground-water." The most ignorant citizen knows that the + well-water is not <span class="pagenum"><a name="page308" + id="page308"></a>[pg 308]</span> fit to drink, and avoids it + as a beverage; still, its use necessarily enters largely + into all domestic arrangements. Children are frequently + thirsty, and cannot be kept from the pumps and fountains; + the poor are not able to afford a constant supply of beer + (and, for that matter, the beer itself is made with the same + material); it is used in cooking and for washing and + bathing; and though its impurities are lessened through + boiling, it is so corrupt that nothing short of complete + distillation could make it wholesome for either outward or + inward application. Strangers are warned against drinking + it, and in numerous instances among the citizens bowel + complaints and typhus have been traced directly to its + poison. It is true that a small portion of the inhabitants + are more favored in respect to their water-supply. Within a + few years the water of two springs rising a little way out + of the city, at Brunnthal and Thalkirchen, has been + introduced into a few streets and houses, and, though by no + means pure, it is vastly better than that of the wells. But + the whole yield from these sources is not sufficient for + more than a third of the inhabitants; and the Thalkirchner + water has recently been corrupted by the breaking in of the + Isar, in consequence of an attempt to enlarge the + spring.</p> + + <p>But besides the unfavorable nature of the climate and soil + of Munich—which cannot be helped—and the shameful + condition of its sewerage and water-supply—for which the + city government is mainly responsible—there are many + accessory causes of disease to be found in the habits and + customs of the people. The open-air gatherings of the Germans + are, in many respects, a pleasant-and praiseworthy trait of + their social life, but the practice needs to be held in + judicious restraint to make it safe for the citizens of Munich. + The changes of temperature in that region are so frequent and + so severe, and the atmosphere at night is so heavily charged + with moisture and malaria, that the mere tarrying late in + public gardens is dangerous; but when to this source of danger + are added the imbibing of copious draughts of ice-cold beer and + the eating of suppers of heavy food, such as sausages, roast + pork, radishes, etc., it is easy to see how a sudden check of + perspiration might react upon a gorged stomach and produce the + fevers and inflammation which abound.</p> + + <p>Attention has been called to the peculiar soil of Munich as + a disadvantageous characteristic of the locality. There is, + however, a strip of land following the course of the Isar and + bordering the city on the north-eastern side, which is an + exception to the general barrenness, it having been gradually + formed out of the soil and vegetation brought down the river + from more fruitful regions during periods of inundation. It is + a low, marshy, heavily-timbered tract, which has been partially + drained and laid out as a public park, the so-called English + Garden—spot beloved of the people for its welcome shades, + where artificial waterfalls, from the "Isar rolling rapidly," + add chill to the natural dampness; where unwilling streamlets + creep slowly through tortuous channels toward a stagnant pond, + and pestiferous miasma, rising like incense at the going down + of the sun, broods over the meadows until his rising again. It + was in one of the streets bordering this park that the cholera + broke out in 1873, and there too, Kaulbach, one of its last + victims, had his home. So notorious is the spot as a + breeding-place of typhus that it is generally abandoned at + sunset; but the same crowd that hurry out of its dripping + shades at twilight return in the early summer mornings before + the dew has dried on the grass or the poisonous damps have + exhaled from the glens and thickets.</p> + + <p>So long as the sun is in the sky it is fine weather to a + Municher, no matter what wind may blow or what evil the earth + may be bringing forth. Thus, on Christmas Day of 1873, when the + weather, though unusually mild for the season, was still windy + and chilly, and utterly unfit for any open-air enjoyment other + than a brisk walk, every beer-garden in the city was filled + with an eating and drinking multitude; and this, too, when a + cold was especially to be deprecated, as the cholera was + increasing every hour. <span class="pagenum"><a name="page309" + id="page309"></a>[pg 309]</span> And so on all Sundays and + feast-days and fast-days and fairs there is a general + pouring out of the population into places of amusement near + and remote, no matter what may be the state of the weather + or what the condition of the public health.</p> + + <p>But, though the people of Munich are extremely fond of + staying out of doors, they are by no means lovers of fresh air + in their houses. With the dread of fever always before their + eyes, they make all close when they go to bed, forgetting that + "the only air at night is night air;" and, hardened by habit, + they spend long winter evenings in concert-rooms and tavern + beer-halls, made stifling with tobacco smoke and foul with + accumulated breaths; while at home, especially among the poorer + classes, the air is purposely unchanged in order to economize + heat. Even the Odeon Music-Hail, the place where aristocratic + concerts are given, is so badly constructed with respect to + ventilation that when crowded, as it generally is, women + frequently faint away, while many persons avoid going there + entirely through dread of the discomfort and fear of its + effects. So, too, the theatres show a shameful negligence of + the health and comfort of the audiences as to this particular, + the Royal Theatre especially becoming almost a "Black Hole of + Calcutta" by the end of a six hours' Wagner opera. The close + air of the crowded lecture-rooms of the Polytechnic School is a + source of positive injury to the students, and the same may be + said of the halls appropriated to pupils in the Academy of + Art.</p> + + <p>With respect to bathing, there is no danger of the people of + Munich being mistaken for an amphibious race. The tiny bowls + and pitchers that furnish an ordinary German washstand, and the + absence of slop-pail and foot-bath, are sufficient proof that + only partial ablutions are expected to be performed in the + bed-chamber; while the lack of a bath-room in even genteel + houses, and the smallness and rarity of bathing establishments, + show that the practice is by no means frequent or general among + the better classes. The fiercest radical who should find + himself for a time in the midst of a crowd of the populace + would scarcely hesitate (supposing him to be possessed of + delicate olfactories) to bestow upon them the epithet of "The + Great Unwashed." Indeed, it would be hardly reasonable to + expect that people should indulge often in a full bath at home + in a city where the water must be drawn from wells, and carried + up long flights of stairs in pitchers and pails by women and + children.</p> + + <p>The notions of the lower classes with regard to dress have + doubtless a good deal to do with their health. The same notions + prevail in most parts of Germany, but are especially hurtful in + a climate so severe and variable as that of Munich. Thus, it is + considered improper for a servant-girl to wear a hat or a + bonnet in the street when she is about the business of her + calling. On Sundays and holidays, indeed, or when she has an + outing in the afternoon, she may adorn herself with such an + appendage; but to go to market or to the grocer's with her head + covered would be a piece of presumption which would at once + expose her to ridicule from all the members of her class. + Hence, all day and every day women and girls may be seen in the + streets without any covering on the head, though, by way of + compensation, most of them are obliged to go about a good share + of the time with their faces bound up on account of swelled + jaws and tonsils, the natural result of such unnatural + exposure. Occasionally, in the coldest weather some few, more + prudent than the others, wear a hood or a small shawl over the + head, but these cases are rare, and excepting in the depth of + winter such a precaution is not thought of, although the gusty, + chilly weather of spring and autumn and the frequent cold + blasts that occur in summer are quite as dangerous, if not + prepared for, as are the winter storms. As a general thing, a + servant goes out on errands in precisely the same clothes that + she wears in the kitchen, and paddles about in rain and snow in + the thin, low house-shoes which, on account of their cheapness, + are the favorite foot-gear of the ordinary Munich + women.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page310" + id="page310"></a>[pg 310]</span> + + <p>Children, too, are sent to school in the same unprotected + manner: one may meet them any day trooping through the streets, + their bare heads shining in the sun or glistening in the rain, + according as the fickle sky may smile or weep; and babies are + drawn about in the open air, two, and sometimes three of them, + crowded into a small carriage and sweltering under a feather + bed which covers them to their chins, and yet with their bald + pates exposed to all the winds that blow. The ignorant + recklessness with which the changes of temperature are met is + well exemplified in the attire of little girls and young + maidens who participate in the religious processions which take + place so frequently in Munich, especially during the spring and + early summer. On such occasions, although the weather may be so + chilly that the bystanders are wrapped up to their eyes in + shawls and cloaks, these young creatures appear clad in thin + white muslin dresses, with necks and arms bare, and with no + covering upon the head more substantial than a wreath of + flowers or a gauze veil: and in this condition they march + through the wet and windy streets, and settle down finally to a + prolonged service in a church as cold and damp as a cellar.</p> + + <p>Another source of harm is the ordinary diet of the citizens. + There is probably no large city of the Old World where the + lower classes are able to obtain so much substantial food as in + Munich. Indeed, there is, properly speaking, no abject poverty + in that city, although the population, as a whole, possesses + less wealth than is usually found in capitals; one reason of + this being the fact that many families who are rich enough to + choose their place of residence avoid Munich on account of its + notorious sickliness, while their places are filled by + tradesmen and artisans of all kinds, who must make a living at + whatever risk of life. But, at any rate, no one dies there of + starvation, and the great majority of the citizens are able to + have meat for dinner every day. Unfortunately, veal—and + very young veal at that—is the favorite dish of all + classes, so that the benefit derived from animal juices is not + so great as it might be. During the recent Franco-German war it + was remarked that the Bavarian soldiers were able neither to + resist nor to endure so well as the troops of North Germany; + and by many this difference was ascribed to the habitual use by + the former of veal as the chief article of diet. There is no + doubt, too, that the immoderate drinking of beer tends to + weaken instead of strengthen the inhabitants, especially as so + many of them drink when they ought to eat, even beginning a + day's work by chilling their stomachs with this cold beverage, + and necessitating thereby a supplementary draught of + "schnapps," thus creating excitement instead of nourishment, + and superinducing a second bad habit upon a first. Pure + Bavarian beer, taken in moderation, would be an excellent + thing, for its stimulating and nutritive properties are a good + counterpoise to the exhausting effects of the harsh climate; + but, alas! this renowned specialty of Munich is losing its + ancient fame: the beer is no longer under governmental + inspection, and bitter is the general complaint against the + brewers on account of its alleged adulteration through the use + of foreign drugs and poisonous indigenous plants, to say + nothing of its dilution by the retailers with Munich water, + itself a poison sufficiently strong. For the rest, the amount + of pork and sausages consumed is enormous: the favorite + vegetable is the indigestible sauerkraut, and the bread in + general use is uniformly bad. Nor can tobacco be considered as + otherwise than an article of diet, since the men and boys are + hardly ever seen without a pipe or cigar in their mouths, while + the women and girls spend the greater part of their lives in an + atmosphere blue and heavy with tobacco smoke.</p> + + <p>Having now given many reasons why the citizens of Munich + ought to be sick, it is time to see to what degree effects + correspond to causes in the sanitary condition of the city. + Munich is known all over the world as a nest for typhus fever; + nor will it soon be forgotten that within a year it has + suffered from two distinct outbreaks of cholera, besides + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page311" + id="page311"></a>[pg 311]</span> being the only city in + Europe where that epidemic continued to rage during the + winter. The population is estimated at one hundred and + eighty-eight thousand, but this number is generally + considered as greater than the truth. Statistics show that + between two and three thousand sicken annually of typhus, + and that of these between two and three hundred die. Some + idea of the special tendency to this disease may be obtained + by comparing the statistics of Munich with those of Berlin, + which is also an unfavorably situated and very unhealthy + city. In Berlin, the regiment most exposed to fever loses + annually three men: in Munich, the first regiment of + artillery loses annually thirteen men. In Berlin, of the + whole body of the soldiery—over eighteen thousand + men—sixteen men die annually of typhus; in Munich, + where the number of the soldiers is only twelve thousand, + fifty men die annually of typhus. The disease, too, has been + on the increase for the last three years. In 1872 four + hundred and seven persons died of it, and during the first + four months of 1873 one hundred and twenty-two died. + Moreover, it must not be forgotten that many persons + visiting Munich contract the fever there, but return home to + sicken with it, and that this number has greatly increased + since the recent facilities for travel have been extended in + all directions from the capital. If all these cases were to + be added to the list of victims—and they properly + belong to it—the number would be appalling indeed. + Even that small body, the Bavarian Parliament, loses one or + more of its members every year from the same disease and yet + these men are more favorably situated than almost any others + as regards protective circumstances. So patent is the + danger, and so many are the instances of disease contracted + during a short stay in the capital and carried away to + spread contagion in remote places, that frequently persons + chosen to honorable and lucrative official positions refuse + to accept because, in order to hold such situations, they + must reside temporarily or entirely in Munich. Finally, the + general unhealthiness of Munich cannot be questioned, since + statistics show that nearly fifty per cent, of the children + born there die in infancy, and that the death-rate for the + whole population is nearly forty in a thousand.</p> + + <p>But is there no help for this state of things? The foregoing + account of the principal causes of disease suggests naturally + the means of at least partial cure for the accumulated evils + under which the benighted city is suffering. It is true that + the climate must always be unfavorable to persons of a certain + constitution, but its bracing air is a tonic to those who are + able to bear it, and its fierce winds serve to sweep away many + an impurity. It is true, also, that the soil must always be in + some degree a manufactory of injurious effluvia, and that the + vicinity of that long strip of marshy bottom known as the + English Garden must continue to be a source of mischief; but if + the dead had never been buried in the neighborhood of the town, + and if the excreta of the living had not from the beginning + until how been allowed to corrupt the air and the water, the + occasional prevalence of vegetable miasma would give + comparatively little trouble. In fact, the extreme backwardness + of the people with regard to knowledge of, and obedience to, + the simplest sanitary laws is a great aggravation of both their + necessary and unnecessary ills. During the recent cholera + epidemic the physicians complained that all rational means of + abating the plague were continually thwarted by the ignorance + and obstinacy of the lower classes. Very few families kept + remedies in their houses, and yet in many cases medical aid was + not applied for, lest the regulations concerning the + disinfection of furniture and the burning of bedding, and other + clothing should be enforced. There was the greatest + dissatisfaction with the prohibition against the holding of + public balls and other amusements wherein health would be + particularly exposed; and the foolish citizens crowded all the + more into the unventilated, tobacco-poisoned beer-cellars and + concert-halls, and persisted in supping on heavy food and cold + beer in the open air, as though on purpose to spite the + over-anxious <span class="pagenum"><a name="page312" + id="page312"></a>[pg 312]</span> magistrates and doctors. + Nor was the stupidity confined entirely to the lower + classes. People who ought to have known better defied the + cholera in excess of rioting, while those of another turn of + mind gave way to superstitious fears, and as soon as they + felt the first symptoms of the disease fled to the cold, + damp churches and wasted in prayer upon their knees the few + precious hours which, spent in a warm bed and under the + influence of proper remedies, might have ensured them the + salvation of at least their temporal life.</p> + + <p>To go still higher. Although Munich had warning of the + approach of the epidemic months before it broke out, no + sufficient means were adopted by the authorities to fortify the + city against its attack. All summer long the street-drains sent + up their concentrated stenches and the undrained streets spread + far and wide their promiscuous abominations. The general daily + disinfection ordered by the city government was never + thoroughly enforcedly the police, and as often as a lull + occurred in the virulence of the pestilence it was almost + totally neglected by the citizens. When the plague ceased for a + few days in the autumn, the chief medical authorities announced + that it was at an end; and when it broke out again, these wise + ones comforted the public by assuring them that it was only a + "<i>Nach-epidemie</i>"—an <i>after + epidemic</i>—that is, a final effort of the mysterious + poison, like the last flashing up of an expiring flame. And yet + this "after epidemic" lasted more than five months, and was + more virulent in its workings than had been the three months' + visitation in the previous summer! The official reports and + scientific discussions of the subject were unsatisfactory to + the last degree. The principal object seemed to be, not to + cleanse Munich and get rid of the pestilence, but to + substantiate the proposition that the variations in the + sanitary condition of the city are intimately connected with + the rising and falling of the ground-water + <i>(grund-wasser)</i>—a theory which, whether true or + not, is of small practical value under existing circumstances, + since the ground-water, so far as quality is concerned, is + entirely beyond human control, while the drinking-water and the + sewers are capable of improvement.</p> + + <p>It is but justice to say that a few physicians—who, + having recently come to Munich, are properly impressed with its + sanitary deficiencies, and one, at least, who, long a resident, + has a thorough knowledge of what is wanted, and sufficient + common sense and courage to speak out—do not hesitate to + declare that the bad water and bad drainage of that city are + the principal causes of its everlasting typhus and its frequent + epidemics. But these men are in bad odor with their colleagues, + and are denounced on all sides as enemies of the fair fame and + prosperity of Munich. Certain physicians of high standing there + laugh at the fuss made about the water, and tell their + patients, even foreigners, to drink all the water they want; + while it may be doubted whether any, excepting the few referred + to above, have any adequate idea of the injury constantly + accruing from the unwashed drains and the crowded + cemeteries.</p> + + <p>And Munich will be visited with a succession of "after + epidemics," and physicians will continue to talk nonsense and + make blunders and be at their wits' end, so long as they + persist in ignoring the true causes of these plagues and in + delaying to apply the only remedy. Water is what Munich + needs—pure water for the people to drink and to cook + with; plenty of water for them to bathe in; water to wash out + the vaults and drains; water for a daily flushing of the + sewers. As long ago as 1822 a competent authority pointed out + an inexhaustible source from which water might be obtained, + with a fall sufficient to obviate the necessity of any + hydraulic works for its elevation. There is in the Bavarian + Mountains, not far away, a lake of remarkably pure water, + situated at such a height that the level would be above the + loftiest houses in Munich. The estimated cost of bringing the + water into the city is only five millions of gulden (about two + millions of dollars). It seems surprising that with this + excellent opportunity <span class="pagenum">[pg 313]</span> at + hand there should be any hesitation about accepting it. And + yet, after having been possessed of the knowledge for more than + fifty years, there was only one vote in favor of the enterprise + when the subject was discussed in a meeting of the municipal + and medical authorities a short time ago. The proverbial + thriftiness of the German is apt to degenerate into stinginess + when the object to be attained is of general rather than + individual benefit; and though Munich claims a high place as an + art-centre, it would take a long time to convince its citizens + that three hundred millions of kreuzers are but as dust in the + balance when weighed against the value to the world of + Kaulbach.</p> + + <p>One step, however, has been gained. The urgent need of an + abundant supply of good water, which is so patent a fact to all + strangers visiting Munich, is beginning to dawn upon the + intelligence of the community. The connection between cause and + effect was so evident during the cholera epidemic of last year + that even Ignorance recognized the Law, while Superstition + dared only whisper of "judgments," and refrained from + attempting to propitiate the destroying angel by religious + mummeries until it was certain that his wrath was nearly spent. + But it is to be feared that, taking counsel of penuriousness, + an attempt will be made to utilize certain sources which have + recently been discovered near the city, and which are not only + insufficient, but impure, instead of bringing, once for all, a + full supply for every purpose from the neighboring mountain + lake.</p> + + <p>The dragon that haunted the soil of Munich in the old days + is still poisoning the springs and the atmosphere with his + pestilent breath, nor can he be tempted forth to his + destruction until he shall see his reflection mirrored in + fountains of pure water.</p> + + <p class="author">E.</p><a name="page313" + id="page313"></a> + + <h2>AMONG THE BLOUSARDS.</h2> + + <p>When the <i>misèrables</i> of the horrible and + fascinating old Paris that people used to read about in the + works of Eugène Sue and the elder Dumas were drawn into + the streets of modern Paris by the ragings of the last + revolution, people asked, "Where did these dreadful creatures + come from?" Not only did the well-to-do citizen of Paris, who + has his <i>habitudes</i>, and never departs from them, and + knows nothing outside of them, ask this question, but the + American or English tourist who was caught in Paris at the + moment asked it. These frightful creatures were not Parisians, + surely? Parisians! Why the very word is redolent of ess. + bouquet! The well-to-do citizen, sipping his black coffee after + dinner in his favorite corner on the Boulevard, explained that + they came from the provinces—"Oui, they were provincials, + these <i>misèrables</i>" And the tourist knew no better + than the citizen where the Communist demon came from, with his + flaring torch, his red eyes, his flying hair, his hoarse howl, + his sturdy tramp, which trampled civilization in the dust, and + his reckless spirit, which let loose all the devils of + incarnate vice for a mad riot. There are no such creatures as + this under the shadow of the Madeleine! We never meet them on + the Boulevard des Italiens! They don't live in the Faubourg St. + Germain! There are none such in the Champs + Élysées, even on Sunday, when, as everybody + knows, the lower orders invade the haunts of the better + classes—to wit, ourselves, the tourists.</p> + + <p>Nevertheless, these very creatures are still in Paris in + great numbers. The most elegant tourist who has walked the + streets of the French capital this year, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page314" + id="page314"></a>[pg 314]</span> though he kept strictly to + the choicer quarters, has touched elbows with these + creatures unconsciously; and if he has ventured into the + Belleville quarter, into the regions beyond the Place of the + Bastile, into the neighborhood of the Panthéon or the + Gobelins tapestry-mill, he has been jostled against, on the + narrow sidewalks of narrow streets, by thousands of them. + They are not such a conspicuous feature of the city's daily + life now as they were when the volcano of revolution was + belching its lava torrent through the streets; but they are + there. They are not now occupied in the way they were then; + they make less noise; they dress more quietly; they attend, + in one way or other, to the business of getting a living. + Some are working at trades; some are playing at soldiers; + some are keeping cabarets; some are driving fiacres. I am + morally certain the rascal who drove me home from the + Gymnase one night was a petroleum-flinger at the most active + period of his existence. "Give me your ticket, cocher," I + said to him; for the law requires the cabman to give to his + fare, without solicitation, a, ticket with his number, and + the legal rates of fare printed on it. He cracked his whip + at the left ear of his steed, and drove on without paying + any attention. "Give me your ticket," I repeated. This time + he shrugged his shoulders—it requires a really + superhuman effort on the part of a Frenchman to refrain from + letting his shoulders fly up to his ears, whatever his + determination to control himself—but drove on in + silence. Then I brandished my umbrella, and punching him + with that weapon in the back in an energetic manner, + repeated, "Cocher, oblige me with your ticket, tout de + suite." He turned round on his seat in a fury. "Ah, + ça!" he roared, thee-thou-ing me as an expression of + his direst rage and power of insult, "where hast thou come + out of, then, that thou hast no sense left thee at the + last?" Yes, I am morally certain he helped burn the + Tuileries, that fellow!</p> + + <p>Others of the former demons who howled in the Commune mobs + are now doing the congenial work of thievery which they did + before the Commune days, and especially during them. They are + not the worst-looking of the demons. A thief is generally a + rather sleek-looking person in his station. Rich thieves treat + themselves to the best of broadcloth and the shiniest of tall + hats. Poor thieves usually at least shave their faces, and try + to look unforbidding. If they wear a blouse, it is because they + belong on a social scale which does not dream of wearing a + coat. The blousard of Paris may be either a thief or a + working-man: he is always the one or the other, and sometimes + he is both.</p> + + <p>The great mass of those who rioted in the Commune—the + rank and file of that turbulent army—may be found + wherever there are blouses in Paris. Occasionally, arrests are + made, even now, of men who were prominently active, unduly + noisy, in that terrible time: the French police has got a list + of such, and will go on tracking them down and bringing them to + punishment for years to come, or until the next revolution + arrives. In a most respectable street in the Faubourg St. + Germain, where I lived, a quiet wine-seller next door to me was + arrested and his business broken up nearly two years after the + war was over, his only offence being that he had been too + active a Communist. Later, an industrious blousard of my + acquaintance was arrested at his work, and sent to prison for + the same offence: he was a carriage-maker. In the Rue de + Provence an old woman who begged very assiduously with a + drugged baby, and whom I used to watch from my window by the + half hour, fascinated by her practical methods of doing + business, was hauled up one day on the same charge, and went + her way with the gendarme, to be seen no more. A meeker-looking + old creature I never saw as she leaned against the wall over + the way, and collected sous industriously from the passers-by, + and hid them in a pocket in the small of the poor baby's back; + but I was told she displayed tremendous energy as a + pétroleuse in those other days when robbery was a better + trade than even beggary.</p> + + <p>You may have observed, when you have been returning home + from the <span class="pagenum"><a name="page315" + id="page315"></a>[pg 315]</span> opera some night in Paris, + in the gloom succeeding midnight, a dusky figure moving + along by the paved gutter in the shadow of a large square + lantern which he carries. The lantern has a light only in + front, and catches your eye as it glides along two or three + inches above the paving-stones, so that you see the figure + in the shadow behind it but dimly. Close down to the stones + it throws its glare for two or three feet about, and into + that glare-emerges a hook—an iron hook—which + pokes and prods at>out in the gutters, and now and then + fastens like a finger on a wisp of paper and disappears + behind the lamp. Following the hook with your eye, you see + that it deposits the wisps of paper in a deep basket + fastened on the back of a man. The is shaggy, dirty and + begrimed. He wears a hat which he has at some fished out of + a gutter, a ragged blue blouse, a raggeder apron, which was + in its brighter days a coffee-sack, and wooden shoes upon + his feet. A short pipe, sometimes alight, but more often + empty, is in a corner of his mouth. No one needs to be told + who he is or what his calling. In the argot of the blousards + he is known as the Chevalier of the Hook.</p> + + <p>The ragpicker of Paris has been often written of, but what I + have read of him has never shown him to me in quite the colors + I have found him in by personal observation and inquiry + concerning his ways of life. He has been somewhat idealized in + print, I find. Victor Hugo has presented him in a light not + unlike that of Cooper's noble savage—with large + difference of color and pose, of course. The average Frenchman + knows Cooper's noble savage as well as we know Hugo's romantic + ragpicker, and he knows nothing of the American Indian besides. + (It is a curious fact, which I may note in passing, that the + only American author whose writings appear to be really well + known in Paris to-day is Fenimore Cooper. Next to him stands + Edgar Poe—<i>Poaye</i>, as the French call him, + pronouncing both the vowels.) There is a street in the crowded + quarter of Paris back of the Panthéon which has the, + reputation of being the especial haunt of the ragpickers. It is + called the Rue Mouffetard, and includes many of this class of + blousards among its population; but as there are over twenty + thousand ragpickers in Paris, it needs little argument to show + that they are not <i>all</i> hived in the Rue Mouffetard. Great + numbers live in the Brise Miche quarter, behind the church of + St. Méry; at Montmartre, along the Canal de + Bièvre; in the purlieus of Belleville; out beyond the + Bastile; in fact, wherever there is dirt enough to suit their + tastes. For if the truth is to be written here, it must be said + that the ragpicker of Paris is the most degraded creature ever + met in the guise of a human being. I have met Digger Indians, + too, in California. There is something to be said in defence of + the bestiality of a Digger: he has not been exposed to the + refining influences of surrounding civilization; he was reared + in darkness and ignorance; so were his fathers before him for + many generations; the white man and his ways have just dawned + upon the poor Digger's consciousness; and so on. These things + cannot be said for the ragpicker of Paris. He is almost equally + dirty with the Digger, and he lives in the gayest capital of + the world. He is also almost equally ignorant with the Digger: + neither can read or write; neither has any idea whether the + world is round or flat; neither is aware, save dimly, that + there are other lands and other peoples than his own; but the + ragpicker is in a city full of books and newspapers (and, oddly + enough, is a principal purveyor for the mills that make paper + for printing); and the Digger has the advantage in the + comparison. The Digger lives in vicious sexual relations, but + in this particular point the comparison leaves the Indian far + in advance of his rival, for the ragpicker's customs in this + regard are worse by far than those of even the most degraded + Indians of America. There is nothing in any savage country more + horrible, more astounding and incredible than the practices of + the ragpickers of Paris in respect of the relations between the + sexes. They are so atrociously vile that it is difficult to + state the truth in cleanly + words.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page316" + id="page316"></a>[pg 316]</span> + + <p>You may have heard that a ragpicker who has risen to the + rank of a boss in his trade, and so remains at home in a shop + and goes out with his hook no more, is called an <i>ogre</i>. A + woman attaining this dignity is called an <i>ogress</i>. The + terms are not idle ones. Like many of the words and phrases of + slang they are based on the clearest conception of the merits + of the case. An ogre or ogress without a daughter, real or + adopted, lacks the first requisite for doing a successful + business. The ogre or ogress has his or her especial workmen, + who go out and scour the streets, bringing home their load, and + being paid in board and lodging simply. When there is a + daughter in the business the workmen are her husbands. The + process of divorce is easy, and consists simply in the + ragpicker's returning with his <i>hotte</i> (<i>la hotte</i> is + the basket which hangs on the back) to some other ogre or + ogress after his daily or nightly tour of the streets. Marriage + among the ragpickers of Paris is so rare an incident as to be + virtually no part of their plan of life.</p> + + <p>The Paris ragpicker is seldom seen in the streets by day: + his most profitable season is the night. And what meagre + pickings are his at the best! what despicable bits of paper, of + twine, of coal-refuse, of rejected food, bones, potato-skins, + he gathers carefully in his hoard! A bit of paper no larger + than a postage-stamp he saves. A crust of bread no bigger than + a walnut is a prize, for rare are the households in Paris in + which a crust that is large enough to be visible to the naked + eye is allowed to be thrown into the street. Standing and + watching this poor wretch prodding in a gutter after hopeless + infinitesimals, I have pictured to myself what emotions would + surge through his breast if a New York garbage-barrel were to + be set down before him. I am not sure he would be able to + refrain from fainting away at sight of such a mine of wealth. + Happy ragpicker of New York who takes his morning stroll and + his lordly pick from the contents of the teeming barrels our + servants set out on the pavement for him! <i>He</i> does not + have to work at night: he is a sort of prince, compared to his + Paris fellow. If a Paris ragpicker could have the monopoly of + the barrels in a single block between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, + I am convinced he would retire from business at the end of ten + years with an independent fortune—that is, if with the + New York barrels he could have the Paris market and live on + Paris fare. It is an old story that in Paris nothing is wasted. + The very mud in the streets is gathered up and sold. There is a + market for everything.</p> + + <p>An important division of the army of blousards is that + composed of the street-sweepers of Paris. They share the Rue + Mouffetard and the Place Maubert with the ragpickers, and, like + them, are scattered about in various poorer quarters of the + city. Ever-picturesque argot has given them a name of ridicule, + and calls them <i>les peintres</i> and their brooms their + inspired brushes. Every tourist has seen those unhappy wretches + at work, sometimes alone, sometimes in gangs of three or four, + men and women together. There is no distinction of sex in this + branch of industry, as indeed there is in none of the lowest + fields of labor in Paris. Women and girls are quite often + ragpickers; among the street-sweepers they form a good half of + the force; they are also street—peddlers, dragging + cartloads of vegetables about and crying aloud their wares; + they are porters, lugging bundles on their backs; they are + oyster-openers, hacking away with iron knife at coarse shells; + they even drive drays and big market-wagons; they split wood + and shovel coal, and in a hundred ways confound and confuse + those theorizers who pretend that male bone and muscle is by + nature brawnier than female. The female scavengers are quite as + strong, quite as coarse, quite as dirty, and can smoke their + pipes with quite as much gusto as their male compeers.</p> + + <p>The scavengers are six thousand in number, and are employed + by contractors, who pay them at the rate of four to eight sous + per hour. They use up seventy thousand brooms a year, and the + filth they gather is rotted in pits and sold for manure, + yielding about seven <span class="pagenum"><a name="page317" + id="page317"></a>[pg 317]</span> hundred thousand dollars a + year. Until the rubbish of New York streets is made to yield + a profit in a similar manner our streets will never be + cleaned as they should be. But I fear it is hopeless to + expect that New York streets will ever be cleaned as they + are in Paris, from lack of the human element that does the + work in the French capital. A hard ten hours' work would + yield the Paris scavenger forty to eighty sous, and on this + sum he would be rich, for he can clothe and feed himself on + a sum which would scarcely buy a New York laborer what drink + he needs alone, to say nothing about food and clothing. But + the Paris scavenger is rarely privileged to work ten hours a + day, and his earnings the year round will barely exceed on + an average twenty-five cents a day. For this sum he can have + sufficient food, and as for clothing, it is hardly an + exaggeration to say that he never buys any. At various + stages in his career he becomes possessed by a stroke of + fortune of some article of cast-off clothing, which he + wears, as it were, for life. Ordinarily, the poorest + blousard has a new blouse once in five or ten years, and a + new pair of wooden shoes in the same time; but the + scavenger's apparel is for ever old, and he never lays it + off. I have seen thousands of men and women in Paris of whom + it would be mere idle dreaming to suppose that they + undressed themselves at night. Their clothing was + practically as much a part of them as their skins. It is + only in the matter of lodging that the lowest classes of + Paris are hard pressed. Rents in Paris are high. Few + families, even of the better sort of blousards, have a home + attractive enough to compete with the fascinations of the + street or the café. Even in the Rue Mouffetard there + are cafés where wine is sold at two sous the glass, + and even cheaper, which would put to the blush some of the + most frequented "saloons" of Broadway in point of elegance + and comfort for the lounger. Stuccoed walls, frescoed + ceilings, huge mirrors, velvet sofas, marble-topped tables, + gleaming chandeliers, gilt and glitter that would be called + "palatial" in New York, make the place attractive. Yet a man + could hardly be too ragged to be welcome therein if he had a + few sous in his pocket.</p> + + <p>The scavenger and the ragpicker, being the lowest grade of + blousards, do not always rise to the dignity even of a blouse. + They wear a coat sometimes, but it is a marvel of a coat, and + was in the last stages of tottering old age before it fell to + the blousard. They wear leather boots too sometimes, instead of + the wooden shoes belonging to their station, but they are boots + which are but a mockery and a delusion, and yield the wearer no + comfort. A respectable blousard—a carpenter or a + shoemaker or a member of any honest trade—would scorn to + be seen in any other dress but his neat blouse, unless on some + great day, a fete, his wedding or at church, when he wears his + only coat, or his father's or a friend's. The blouse is in its + sphere a badge of respectability to the wearer, and honest + blousards look upon the assumption of a blouse by a thief as a + gross imposition upon the public at large and an outrage upon + honest workingmen. There is a wide range of quality in blouses, + too. I bought one in the Rue Mouffetard, to wear as a + protection in some of my night-wanderings, for the sum of forty + cents: it was a plain frock of coarse stuff, with a string at + the neck. But there were blouses of several degrees of fineness + in the shop—some of very fine linen, tied with a white + silk ribbon, and neatly embroidered. The usual color of blouses + is white, blue or black. The material is often a coarse, warm + cloth, such as one might make a very respectable overcoat of, I + should think. In cold weather it is common to see men wearing + two or even three blouses, one over the other. Caps are sold at + from twenty to sixty cents each in the same street. It will be + seen that clothing is inexpensive to the blousard, and as the + fashions <i>never</i> change with him, he never lays aside a + garment till it is quite worn out.</p> + + <p>One of the peculiar features of low Paris is the shop for + the sale of articles at the uniform price of one son. One + before which I paused in the Rue Mouffetard was presided over, + by two women—evidently + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page318" + id="page318"></a>[pg 318]</span> grandmother and + granddaughter. The former was as grotesque a type of the + jolly old <i>vendeuse</i> of Paris as it would be possible + to find. A low, winey humor twinkled in her little black + eyes, hidden in wrinkly wads of fat; her nose glowed with + good feeling; her toothless mouth smirked good-naturedly. A + worn shawl covered her chunky shoulders, and a cap like a + muslin and flannel extinguisher protected her bald old head + from the weather. The granddaughter, being young and rather + pretty, was less interesting as a picture of a curious type. + The shop occupied a corner, and seemed to literally overflow + upon the sidewalks of the two streets, so that care was + needful in moving about to avoid stumbling over the profuse + array of objects which littered the way. A group of old + women were standing near, laughing and chattering in + toothless merriment over some mysterious cause of amusement, + which I grievously suspected to be myself, the apparition of + a foreigner being no doubt an uncommon one in that quarter. + But the women of the shop, having an eye to sales, were + obsequiously polite to the stranger. I engaged in + conversation with the old woman, who proved quite + communicative, and set me off on a path of inquiry which + yielded information of curious interest.</p> + + <p>"Voyez!" cried out the younger woman from behind the broad + counter open to the street, and spread with a literally + innumerable variety of articles—"Voyez! All one sou! your + choice in the sale!"</p> + + <p>To study the shop was to find many suggestions of the types + of people living in the surrounding buildings—alphabets + and whistles for children; playing-cards for gamesters; camphor + cigarettes for invalids; sewing-cases for work-girls; mirrors + for coquettes; and toys innumerable, "all one sou." In the + grand shops on the fashionable boulevards you may see the last + new mode in toys—for no season goes by in Paris without + bringing some especial toy or toys to become "the + rage"—but in the Rue Mouffetard the toys are all + classics. They have been handed down from generation to + generation precisely in the forms you see them here. Babies who + are now tottering grandfathers and grandmothers played with the + toys of the "boutique à un sou" in their day, as the + babies of the present do, and paid the same price for them, in + spite of the changes of time and the decreased purchasing value + of the son in most respects. I bought a large collection of + these toys purely as objects of curiosity, and it was really + amazing to see, when spread out on a table, what a collection I + had gathered for the incredible price of sixteen cents. Many of + the toys would be readily recognized as old acquaintances in + America, but others, common here for a hundred years past, I + never saw at home. The articulated monkey chasing his nose over + the end of a stick; the wooden snake undulating in a + surprisingly life-like manner; the noisy "watchman's rattle," + which in our village was popularly supposed to be the constant + companion of the New York policeman on his beat; the + jumping-jack, the wooden sword, the whip and the + doll,—all these are household friends in the humblest + American homes. But not so the frog which jumps with a spring, + the wooden hammers which fall alternately on their wooden anvil + by the simplest of contrivances, and the horseman without legs, + whose horse has a whistle instead of a tail. How any one of + these articles could be sold for a sou passed my comprehension + until I learned details so surprising as to throw this one + quite into the shade.</p> + + <p>There are blousards whose whole lives are passed in carving + these toys from the wood of the linden tree, and daubing them + with the most flaming reds, the most glittering yellows, the + most dazzling blues, that ever colorist beheld. The toy whips + with handles decorated with gilt paper wrapped about them + spirally are said to be exclusively made by Israelites, but the + ingenuity of the human mind has not devised an explanation of + this curious fact. The papier-mâché sheep is one + of the most elaborately fashioned toys sold for a sou, and + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page319" + id="page319"></a>[pg 319]</span> the mode of making it is + this: The workman takes old scraps of paper and mashes them + in water to a pulp: this he sticks around the inside of a + rude mould, which is in two parts, one for each side of the + sheep. When the two sides are moulded, he sticks them + together and dips the whole in a pot of white mucilaginous + paint. When this coating is dry, he tattoos the sheep + according to his fancy, covers its back with a bit of + sheepskin, and ties a red string around its neck. And all + this work for a sou? is one's incredulous question. Why, our + blousard would think his fortune was made if he could get a + sou for it. The retailer in the Rue Mouffetard sells it for + a sou: the man who made it would be happy if he could sell + it at the rate of eight sous the dozen, but, like most other + workers, he must deal with a middleman. No retailer could + take his stock off his hands in sufficient quantities: he + must sell to a wholesale dealer in the first place, and the + wholesale dealer sells to the little shopkeeper at eight + sous the dozen. All this work for half a sou, then! And when + it is added that the workman has to furnish the materials + for his work besides, it really entitles the toy to a niche + in the realms of the marvelous. I have found my eyes growing + moist in New York as I listened to the tales of sewing-girls + who made coarse shirts at six cents apiece, and found the + thread, but such cases were exceptional, and could only be + viewed in the light of intolerable hardships; while the poor + wretches who make these toys at these prices are following + the trade to which they were bred, and which their fathers + followed before them, and their only fear is that they may + be unable to get enough of this work to do. Each of the + other toys in my collection is made at the same or a smaller + price. The little lead candlestick is sold by the wholesale + dealer at <i>four</i> sous the dozen. Whistles are sold at + <i>two</i> sous the dozen. There are little watches of + stamped brass with a crystal, movable hands, and a cord of + yellow cotton with an occasional gold thread running through + it, which are sold wholesale at seven sous the dozen.</p> + + <p>"Voyez! Make your choice, brave parents! If the little one + pulls in pieces the object of his affection, no matter: it will + not derange your resources to replace it."</p> + + <p>Courier, in the preface to his translation of Herodotus, + tells us that Malherbe, the courtier, used to say, "I learn all + my French at the Place Maubert," and that Plato, who was a poet + and did not like the lower orders, nevertheless called them his + "masters of language." The gamin of Paris, who is the father of + argot, long ago gave to the quarter of the city through which + the Rue Mouffetard runs a name which clings to it tenaciously. + He called it the "quartier souffrant"—the suffering + quarter. A designation like this, given by a magazinist, would + be fitting enough, certainly, but received into the current + slang of Paris, it becomes a really striking phrase. It is + nothing to read of a suffering quarter, but it is almost + startling to hear an omnibus conductor call out, "Place + Maubert! Rue St. Victor! Panthéon! Quartier Souffrant! + Anybody for the Suffering Quarter?" and to see a rheumatic old + woman, tottering with years and clad in dirty rags, get down + and go clattering off into the quarter to which she so palpably + belongs.</p> + + <p>The Rue Mouffetard, which in old times was a continuation of + the Place Maubert from the river Seine, then extended in an + unbroken line to the Barrière d'Italie, at the remote + southern limit of the city of Paris. The Haussmannizing reform + which set in under the Empire went at the horrible neighborhood + with a sort of sublime fury of destruction. Whole blocks of + dark, forbidding buildings were obliterated by the pickaxes of + the blousards, who thus assisted at their own regeneration. The + result is, that there is a long and wide avenue now stretching + its lines of lamps into the distance from the point where the + Rue Mouffetard stops and the Avenue Gobelins begins. The old + street—the portion of it which remains—looks with a + dazed and dirty sorrowfulness up the broad, clean avenue which + once was dirty and narrow like itself. The work of + transformation ceased with the breaking out + <span class="pagenum">[pg 320]</span> of the war with Germany. + So did the like work in numerous other quarters of the town + which needed it quite as badly as the Rue Mouffetard. But under + the government of the Septennat the work has been resumed in + some degree. The double purpose is hereby served of letting in + light on the dark spots of the town, and of giving employment + to the needy blousards, who might get into obstreperous moods + again if crowded too hard by poverty and want. It seems at + first sight an awful destruction of property, this work of + demolition, but I believe it has been proved that the rise in + value of the real estate thus regenerated more than compensates + for the losses sustained, in the long run. All the blousard + cares about the matter, however, is that it gives him work, and + that is what he craves.</p> + + <p>To see gangs of brawny fellows tearing down walls, ripping + off doors, carrying away timbers on their shoulders when a + street is in its decaying stage, is to see a most interesting + sight. At the entrance of the street a sign is put up: "RUE + BARRÉE." The front walls of buildings torn away, winding + staircases are seen climbing up with all their burden of years + upon them and all their secret weaknesses exposed. Sometimes + these stairways are of stone, sometimes of wood: when the + latter, if in a fair state of preservation, they are taken away + bodily, to be put up again in some remote quarter of the town. + Shop-windows are offered for sale for like purposes. At night + the scene is made lurid by the glare of triangular lanterns, + which throw out their warning red light, and the entrance to + the street is carefully guarded. Gradually the old buildings + are taken to pieces and removed, bit by bit. New walls of + creamy stone, with modern windows, handsomely carved cornices, + stone piazzas, and the like, are built up. The street has + become widened where it was narrow, and straightened where it + was crooked. The very sidewalks on either side of the new + boulevard or avenue are as wide as was the whole of the old + street which has now disappeared. And with the old street the + old tenants have disappeared too. Handsome shops occupy the + ground-floors, wealthy citizens live in the richly adorned + apartments on the upper floors. The blousards who hived in the + old street have found a nook in some other old street, or they + have fled to the suburbs—the best place for them, as it + is for all people of limited resources in all large towns.</p> + + <p class="author">WIRT SIKES.</p><a name="page320" + id="page320"></a> + + <h2>SONNET.</h2> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>If thou didst love me for imagined fame,</p> + + <p class="i2">Or for some reason bred within thy + mind</p> + + <p class="i2">By teeming Fancy, till thy sense grew + blind,</p> + + <p>And wish and its possession seemed the same,</p> + + <p>Was it my fault that I was not endowed</p> + + <p class="i2">With all the virtues of thy + paragon—</p> + + <p class="i2">That clearer light did shine my flaws + upon,</p> + + <p>And showed the actual presence free from cloud?</p> + + <p>Ah, no! the fault, if blame there be, was thine.</p> + + <p class="i2">If thou hadst loved me for myself + alone,</p> + + <p>Thy love had lent its graces unto mine,</p> + + <p class="i2">Until my frailties had to merits + grown—</p> + + <p>Till light, reflected from thy soul divine,</p> + + <p class="i2">Had so transfused me that I too had + shone.</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p class="center">>F.A. + HILLARD.</p><span class="pagenum">[pg 321]</span> + + <h2>THREE FEATHERS.</h2> + + <h3>BY WILLIAM BLACK, AUTHOR OF "A PRINCESS OF THULE."</h3> + + <h3><a name="page321" + id="page321">CHAPTER XXVI.</a></h3> + + <h3>A PERILOUS TRUCE.</h3> + + <p>The very stars in their courses seemed to fight for this + young man.</p> + + <p>No sooner had Wenna Rosewarne fled to her own room, there to + think over in a wild and bewildered way all that had just + happened, than her heart smote her sorely. She had not acted + prudently; she had forgotten her self-respect; she ought to + have forbidden him to come near her again—at least until + such time as this foolish fancy of his should have passed away + and been forgotten.</p> + + <p>How could she have parted with him so calmly, and led him to + suppose that their former relations were unaltered? She looked + back on the forced quietude of her manner, and was herself + astonished. Now her heart was beating rapidly; her trembling + fingers were unconsciously twisting and untwisting a bit of + ribbon; her head seemed giddy with the recollection of that + brief and strange interview, Then, somehow, she thought of the + look on his face when she told him that henceforth they must be + strangers to each other. It seemed hard that he should be badly + used for what was perhaps no intentional fault. If anybody had + been in fault, it was herself in being blind to a possibility + to which even her own sister had drawn her attention; and so + the punishment ought to fall on her.</p> + + <p>She would humble herself before Mr. Roscorla. She would + force herself to be affectionate toward him in her letters. She + would even write to Mabyn, and beg of her to take no notice of + that angry remonstrance.</p> + + <p>Then Wenna thought of her mother, and how she ought to tell + her of all these things. But how could she? During the past day + or two Mrs. Rosewarne had been at times singularly fretful and + anxious. No letter had come from her husband. In vain did Wenna + remind her that men were more careless of such small matters + than women, and that it was too soon to expect her father to + sit down and write. Mrs. Rosewarne sat brooding over her + husband's silence; then she would get up in an excited fashion + and declare her intention of going straight back to Eglosilyan; + and these fitful moods prayed on the health of the invalid. + Ought Wenna to risk increasing her anxiety by telling her this + strange tale? She would doubtless misunderstand it. She might + be angry with Harry Trelyon. She would certainly be surprised + that Wenna had given him permission to see her again—not + knowing that the girl, in her forced composure, had been + talking to him as if this avowal of his were of no great + moment.</p> + + <p>All the same, Wenna had a secret fear that she had been + imprudent in giving him this permission; and the most she could + do now was to make his visits as few, short and ceremonious as + possible. She would avoid him by every means in her power; and + the first thing was to make sure that he should not call on + them again while they remained in Penzance.</p> + + <p>So she went down to the small parlor in a much more equable + frame of mind, though her heart was still throbbing in an + unusual way. The moment she entered the room she saw that + something had occurred to disturb her mother. Mrs. Rosewarne + turned from the window, and there was an excited look in her + eyes. "Wenna," she said hurriedly, "did you see that carriage? + Did you see that woman? Who was with her? Did you see who was + with her? I know it was she: not if I live a hundred years + could I forget that—that devil in human shape!"</p> + + <p>"Mother, I don't know what you mean," Wenna said, wholly + aghast.</p> + + <p>Her mother had gone to the window again, and she was saying + to herself, hurriedly and in a low voice, "No, you don't + know—you don't know: why + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page322" + id="page322"></a>[pg 322]</span> should you know? That + shameless creature! And to drive by here! She must have + known I was here. Oh, the shamelessness of the woman!"</p> + + <p>She turned to Wenna again: "Wenna, I thought Mr. Trelyon was + here. How long has he gone? I want to see him most + particularly—most particularly, and only for a moment. He + is sure to know all the strangers at his hotel, is he not? I + want to ask him some questions. Wenna, will you go at once and + bid him come to see me for a moment?"</p> + + <p>"Mother!" Wenna said. How could she go to the hotel with + such a message?</p> + + <p>"Well, send a note to him, Wenna—send him a note by + the girl down stairs. What harm is there in that?"</p> + + <p>"Lie down, then, mother," said the girl calmly, "and I will + send a message to Mr. Trelyon."</p> + + <p>She drew her chair to the table, and her cheeks crimsoned to + think of what he might imagine this letter to mean when he got + the envelope in his hands. Her fingers trembled as she wrote + the date at the head of the note. Then she came to the word + "Dear," and it seemed to her that if shame were a punishment, + she was doing sufficient penance for her indiscretion of that + morning. Yet the note was not a compromising one. It merely + said—</p> + + <p>"DEAR MR. TRELYON: If you have a moment to spare, my mother + would be most obliged to you if you would call on her. I hope + you will forgive the trouble.</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>"Yours sincerely,</p> + + <p>WENNA ROSEWARNE."</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>When the young man got that note—he was just entering + the hotel when the servant arrived—he stared with + surprise. He told the girl he would call on Mrs. Rosewarne + directly. Then he followed her.</p> + + <p>He never for a moment doubted that this note had reference + to his own affairs. Wenna had told her mother what had + happened. The mother wished to see him to ask him to cease + visiting them. Well, he was prepared for that. He would ask + Wenna to leave the room. He would attack the mother boldly, and + tell her what he thought of Mr. Roscorla. He would appeal to + her to save her daughter from the impending marriage. He would + win her over to be his secret ally and friend; and while + nothing should be done precipitately to alarm Wenna or arouse + her suspicions, might not these two carry the citadel of her + heart in time, and hand over the keys to the rightful lord? It + was a pleasant speculation: it was at least marked by that + audacity that never wholly forsook Master Harry Trelyon. Of + course he was the rightful lord, ready to bid all false + claimants, rivals and pretenders Beware!</p> + + <p>And yet, as he walked up to the house, some little tremor of + anxiety crept into his heart. It was no mere game of brag in + which he was engaged. As he went into the parlor Wenna stepped + quietly by him, her eyes downcast, and he knew that all he + cared to look forward to in the world depended on the decision + of that quiet little person with the sensitive mouth and the + earnest eyes. Fighting was not of much use there.</p> + + <p>"Well, Mrs. Rosewarne," said he, rather shamefacedly, "I + suppose you mean to scold me?"</p> + + <p>Her answer surprised him. She took no heed of his remark, + but in a vehement, excited way began to ask him questions about + a woman whom she described.</p> + + <p>He stared at her. "I hope you don't know anything about that + elegant creature?" he said.</p> + + <p>She did not wholly tell him the story, but left him to guess + at some portions of it; and then she demanded to know all about + the woman and her companion, and how long they had been in + Penzance, and where they were going. Master Harry was by chance + able to reply to certain of her questions. The answers + comforted her greatly. Was he quite sure that she was married? + What was her husband's name? She was no longer Mrs. Shirley? + Would he find out all he could? Would he forgive her asking him + to take all this trouble? and would he promise to say no word + about it to Wenna?</p> + + <p>When all this had been said and done the young man felt + himself considerably <span class="pagenum"><a name="page323" + id="page323"></a>[pg 323]</span> embarrassed. Was there to + be no mention of his own affairs? So far from remonstrating + with him and forbidding him the house, Mrs. Rosewarne was + almost effusively grateful to him, and could only beg him a + thousand times not to mention the subject to her + daughter.</p> + + <p>"Oh, of course not," said he, rather bewildered. + "But—but I thought from the way in which she left the + room that—that perhaps I had offended her."</p> + + <p>"Oh no, I am sure that is not the case," said Mrs. + Rosewarne; and she immediately went and called Wenna, who came + into the room with rather an anxious look on her face. She + immediately perceived the change in her mother's mood. The + demon of suspicion and jealousy had been as suddenly exorcised + as it had been summoned. Mrs. Rosewarne's fine eyes were lit by + quite a new brightness and gayety of spirits. She bade Wenna + declare what fearful cause of offence Mr. Trelyon had given, + and laughed when the young man, blushing somewhat, hastily + assured both of them that it was all a stupid mistake of his + own.</p> + + <p>"Oh yes," Wenna said rather nervously, "it is a mistake. I + am sure you have given me no offence at all, Mr. Trelyon."</p> + + <p>It was an embarrassing moment for two, at least, out of + these three persons; and Mrs. Rosewarne, in her abundant + good-nature, could not understand their awkward silence. Wenna + was apparently looking out of the window at the bright blue bay + and the boats, and yet the girl was not ordinarily so occupied + when Mr. Trelyon was present. As for him, he had got his hat in + his hands; he seemed to be much concerned about it or about his + boots; one did not often find Master Harry actually showing + shyness.</p> + + <p>At last he said, desperately, "Mrs. Rosewarne, perhaps you + would go out for a sail in the afternoon? I could get you a + nice little yacht and some rods and lines. Won't you?"</p> + + <p>Mrs. Rosewarne was in a kindly humor. She said she would be + very glad to go, for Wenna was growing tired of always sitting + by the window. This would be some little variety for her.</p> + + <p>"I hope you won't consider me, mother," said the young lady + quickly lady and with some asperity. "I am quite pleased to sit + by the window: I could do so always. And it is very wrong of us + to take up so much of Mr. Trelyon's time."</p> + + <p>"Because Mr. Trelyon's time is of so much use to him!" said + that young man with a laugh; and then he told them when to + expect him in the afternoon, and went his way.</p> + + <p>He was in much better spirits when he went out. He whistled + as he went. The plash of the blue sea all along the shingle + seemed to have a sort of laugh in it: he was in love with + Penzance and all its beautiful neighborhood. Once again, he was + saying to himself, he would spend a quiet and delightful + afternoon with Wenna Rosewarne, even if that were to be the + last. He would surrender himself to the gentle intoxication of + her presence. He would get a glimpse, from time to time, of her + dark eyes when she was looking wistfully and absently over the + sea. It was no breach of the implied contract with her that he + should have seized this occasion. He had been sent for. And if + it was necessary that he should abstain from seeing her for any + great length of time, why this single afternoon would not make + much difference. Afterward he would obey her wishes in any + manner she pleased.</p> + + <p>He walked into the hotel. There was a gentleman standing in + the hall whose acquaintance Master Harry had condescended to + make. He was a person of much money, uncertain grammar and + oppressive generosity: he wore a frilled shirt and diamond + studs, and he had such a vast admiration for this handsome, + careless and somewhat rude young man that he would have been + very glad had Mr. Trelyon dined with him every evening, and + taken the trouble to win any reasonable amount of money of him + at billiards afterward. Mr. Trelyon had not as yet graced his + table.</p> + + <p>"Oh, Grainger," said the young man, "I want to speak to you. + Will you dine with me to-night at eight?"</p> + + <p>"No, no, no," said Mr. Grainger, shaking his head in humble + protest, "that isn't fair. You dine with me. It + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page324" + id="page324"></a>[pg 324]</span> ain't the first or the + second time of asking, either."</p> + + <p>"But look here," said Trelyon, "I've got lots more to ask of + you. I want you to lend me that little cutter of yours for the + afternoon: will you? You send your man on board to see she's + all right, and I'll pull out to her in about half an hour's + time. You'll do that, won't you, like a good fellow?"</p> + + <p>Mr. Grainger was not only willing to lend the yacht, but + also his own services to see that she properly received so + distinguished a guest; whereupon Trelyon had to explain that he + wanted the small craft merely to give a couple of ladies a sail + for an hour or so. Then Mr. Grainger would have his man + instructed to let the ladies have some tea on board; and he + would give Master Harry the key of certain receptacles in which + he would find cans of preserved meat, fancy biscuits, jam, and + even a few bottles of dry sillery; finally, he would + immediately hurry off to see about fishing-rods. Trelyon had to + acknowledge to himself that this worthy person deserved the + best dinner that the hotel could produce.</p> + + <p>In the afternoon he walked along to fetch Mrs. Rosewarne and + her daughter, his face bright with expectation. Mrs. Rosewarne + was dressed and ready when he went in, but she said, "I am + afraid I can't go, Mr. Trelyon. Wenna says she is a little + tired, and would rather stay at home."</p> + + <p>"Wenna, that isn't fair," he said, obviously hurt. "You + ought to make some little effort when you know it will do your + mother good. And it will do you good too, if only you make up + your mind to go."</p> + + <p>She hesitated for a moment: she saw that her mother was + disappointed. Then, without a word, she went and put on her hat + and shawl.</p> + + <p>"Well," he said approvingly, "you are very reasonable and + very obedient. But we can't have you go with us with such a + face as that. People would say we were going to a funeral."</p> + + <p>A shy smile came over the gentle features, and she turned + aside.</p> + + <p>"And we can't have you pretend that we forced you to go. If + we go at all, you must lead the way."</p> + + <p>"You would tease the life out of a saint," she said with a + vexed and embarrassed laugh; and then she marched out before + them, very glad to be able to conceal her heightened color.</p> + + <p>But much of her reserve vanished when they had set sail; and + when the small cutter was beginning to make way through the + light and plashing waves Wenna's face brightened. She no longer + let her two companions talk exclusively to each other. She + began to show a great curiosity about the little yacht; she + grew anxious to have the lines flung out; no words of hers + could express her admiration for the beauty of the afternoon + and of the scene around her.</p> + + <p>"Now, are you glad you came out?" he said to her.</p> + + <p>"Yes," she answered shyly. "And you'll take my advice + another time?"</p> + + <p>"Do <i>you</i> ever take any one's advice?" she said, + venturing to look up.</p> + + <p>"Yes, certainly," he answered, "when it agrees with my own + inclination. Who ever does any more than that?"</p> + + <p>They had now got a good bit away from land.</p> + + <p>"Skipper," said Trelyon to Mr. Grainger's man, "we'll put + her about now and let her drift. Here is a cigar for you: you + can take it up to the bow and smoke it, and keep a good lookout + for the sea-serpent."</p> + + <p>By this arrangement they obtained, as they sat and idly + talked, an excellent view of all the land around the bay, and + of the pale, clear sunset shining in the western skies. They + lay almost motionless in the lapping water: the light breeze + scarcely stirred the loose canvas. From time to time they could + hear a sound of calling or laughing from the distant + fishing-boats; and that only seemed to increase the silence + around them.</p> + + <p>It was an evening that invited to repose and reverie: there + were not even the usual fiery colors of the sunset to arouse + and fix attention by their rapidly-changing and glowing hues. + The town itself, lying darkly all around the sweep + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page325" + id="page325"></a>[pg 325]</span> of the bay, was dusky and + distant: elsewhere all the world seemed to be flooded with + the silver light coming over from behind the western hills. + The sky was of the palest blue; the long mackerel clouds + that stretched across were of the faintest yellow and + lightest gray; and into that shining gray rose the black + stems of the trees that were just over the outline of these + low heights. St. Michael's-Mount had its summit touched by + the pale glow: the rest of the giant rock and the far + stretches of sea around it were gray with mist. But close by + the boat there was a sharper light on the lapping waves and + on the tall spars, while it was warm enough to heighten the + color on Wenna's face as she sat and looked silently at the + great and open world around her.</p> + + <p>They were drifting in more ways than one. Wenna almost + forgot what had occurred in the morning. She was so pleased to + see her mother pleased that she conversed quite unreservedly + with the young man who had wrought the change, was ready to + believe all that Mrs. Rosewarne said in private about his being + so delightful and cheerful a companion. As for him, he was + determined to profit by this last opportunity. If the Strict + rules of honor demanded that Mr. Roscorla should have fair + play, or if Wenna wished him to absent himself—which was + of more consequence than Mr. Roscorla's interest—he would + make his visits few and formal, but in the mean time, at least, + they would have this one pleasant afternoon together. + Sometimes, it is true, he rebelled against the uncertain pledge + he had given her. Why should he not seek to win her? What had + the strict rules of honor to do with the prospect of a young + girl allowing herself to be sacrificed, while here he was, able + and willing to snatch her away from her fate?</p> + + <p>"How fond you are of the sea and of boats!" he said to her. + "Sometimes I think I shall have a big schooner yacht built for + myself, and take her to the Mediterranean, going from place to + place just as I have the fancy. But it would be very dull by + one's self, wouldn't it, even if one had a dozen men on What + one wants is to have a small party all very friendly with each + other, and at night they would sit up on deck and sing songs. + And I think they would admire those old-fashioned songs that + you sing, Miss Wenna, all the better for hearing them so far + away from home—at least, I should, but then I'm an outer + barbarian. I think you, now, would be delighted with the grand + music abroad—with the operas, you know, and all that. I + have had to knock about these places with people, but I don't + care about it. I would rather hear 'Norah, the Pride of + Kildare,' or 'The Maid of Llangollen,' because, I suppose, + those young women are more in my line. You see, I shouldn't + care to make the acquaintance of a gorgeous creature with black + hair and a train of yellow satin half a mile long, who tosses + up a gilt goblet when she sings a drinking-song, and then gets + into a frightful passion about what one doesn't understand. + Wouldn't you rather meet the 'Maid of Llangollen' coming along + a country road—coming in by Marazion over there, for + example—with a bright print dress all smelling of + lavender, and a basket of fresh eggs over her arm? + Well—What was I saying? Oh yes!, Don't you think if you + were away in the Adriatic, and sitting up on deck at night, you + would make the people have a quiet cry when you sang 'Home, + Sweet Home'? The words are rather silly, aren't they? But they + make you think such a lot if you hear them abroad."</p> + + <p>"And when are you going away?—this year, Mr. Trelyon?" + Wenna said, looking down.</p> + + <p>"Oh, I don't know," he said cheerfully: he would have no + question of his going away interfere with the happiness of the + present moment.</p> + + <p>At length, however, they had to bethink themselves of + getting back, for the western skies were deepening in color and + the evening air was growing chill. They ran the small cutter + back to her moorings: then they put off in the small boat for + the shore. It was a beautiful, quiet evening. Wenna, who had + taken off her glove and was allowing her bare hand + <span class="pagenum">[pg 326]</span> to drag through the + rippling water, seemed to be lost in distant and idle fancies + not altogether of a melancholy nature.</p> + + <p>"Wenna," her mother said, "you will get your hand perfectly + chilled."</p> + + <p>The girl drew back her hand and shook the water off her + dripping fingers. Then she uttered a slight cry. "My ring!" she + said, looking with absolute fright at her hand and then at the + sea.</p> + + <p>Of course they stopped the boat instantly, but all they + could do was to stare at the clear, dark water. The distress of + the girl was beyond expression. This was no ordinary trinket + that had been lost: it was a gage of plighted affection given + her by one now far away, and in his absence she had carelessly + flung it into the sea. She had no fear of omens, as her sister + had, but surely, of all things in the world, she ought to have + treasured up this ring. In spite of herself, tears sprang to + her eyes. Her mother in vain attempted to make light of the + loss.</p> + + <p>And then at last Harry Trelyon, driven almost beside himself + by seeing the girl so plunged in grief, hit upon a wild fashion + of consoling her. "Wenna," he said, "don't disturb yourself. + Why, we can easily get you the ring. Look at the rocks there: a + long bank of smooth sand slopes out from them, and your ring is + quietly lying on the sand. There is nothing easier than to get + it up with a dredging machine: I will undertake to let you have + it by to-morrow afternoon."</p> + + <p>Mrs. Rosewarne thought he was joking, but he effectually + persuaded Wenna, at all events, that she should have her ring + next day. Then he discovered that he would be just in time to + catch the half-past six train to Plymouth, where he would get + the proper apparatus, and return in the morning.</p> + + <p>"It was a pretty ring," said he. "There were six stones in + it, weren't there?"</p> + + <p>"Five," she said. So much she knew, though it must be + confessed she had not studied that token of Mr. Roscorla's + affection with the earnest solicitude which most young ladies + bestow on the first gift of their lovers.</p> + + <p>Trelyon jumped into a fly and drove off to the station, + where he sent back an apology to Mr. Grainger. Wenna went home + more perturbed than she had been for many a day, and that not + solely on account of the lost ring.</p> + + <p>Everything seemed to conspire against her and keep her from + carrying out her honorable resolutions. That sail in the + afternoon she could not well have avoided, but she had + determined to take some; opportunity of begging Mr. Trelyon not + to visit them again while they remained in Penzance. Now, + however, he was coming next day, and whether or not he was + successful in his quest after the missing ring, would she not + have to show herself abundantly grateful for all his + kindness?</p> + + <p>In putting away her gloves she came upon the letter of Mr. + Roscorla, which she had not yet answered. She shivered + slightly: the handwriting on the envelope seemed to reproach + her. And yet something of a rebellious spirit rose in her + against this imaginary accusation; and she grew angry that she + was called upon to serve this harsh and inconsiderate + task-master, and give him explanations which humiliated her. He + had no right to ask questions about Mr. Trelyon. He ought not + to have listened to idle gossip. He should have had sufficient + faith in her promised word; and if he only knew the torture of + doubt and anxiety she was suffering on his behalf—She did + not pursue these speculations farther, but it was well with Mr. + Roscorla that she did not at that moment sit down and answer + his letter.</p> + + <h3><a name="page326" + id="page326">CHAPTER XXVII.</a> </h3> + + <h3>FURTHER ENTANGLEMENTS.</h3> + + <p>"Mother," said Wenna that night, "what vexed you so this + morning? Who was the woman who went by?"</p> + + <p>"Don't ask me, Wenna," the mother said rather uneasily. "It + would do you no good to know. And you must not speak of that + woman: she is too horrid a creature to be mentioned by a young + girl, ever."</p> + + <p>Wenna looked surprised, and then she said warmly, "And if + she is so, mother, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page327" + id="page327"></a>[pg 327]</span> how could you ask Mr. + Trelyon to have anything to do with her? Why should you + send, for him? Why should he be spoken to about her?"</p> + + <p>"Mr. Trelyon!" her mother said impatiently. "You seem to + have no thought now for anybody but Mr. Trelyon. Surely the + young man can take care of himself."</p> + + <p>The reproof was just: the justice of it was its sting. She + was indeed thinking too much about the young man, and her + mother was right in saying so; but who was to understand the + extreme anxiety that possessed her to bring these dangerous + relations to an end?</p> + + <p>On the, following afternoon Wenna, sitting alone at the + window, heard Trelyon enter below. The young person who had + charge of such matters allowed him to go up stairs and announce + himself as a matter of course. He tapped at the door and came + into the room. "Where's your mother, Wenna? The girl said she + was here. However, never mind: I've brought you something that + will astonish you. What do you think of that?"</p> + + <p>She scarcely looked at the ring, so great was her + embarrassment. That the present of one lover should be brought + back to her by another was an awkward, almost humiliating + circumstance, Yet she was glad as well as ashamed. "Oh, Mr. + Trelyon, how can I thank you?" she said in a low earnest voice. + "All you seem to care for is to make other people happy. And + the trouble you have taken, too!"</p> + + <p>She forgot to look at the ring, even when he pointed out how + the washing in the sea had made it bright. She never asked + about the dredging. Indeed, she was evidently disinclined to + speak of this matter in any way, and kept the finger with the + ring on it out of sight.</p> + + <p>"Mr. Trelyon," she said then with equal steadiness of voice, + "I am going to ask something more from you; and I am sure you + will not refuse it."</p> + + <p>"I know," said he hastily; "and let me have the first word. + I have been thinking over our position during this trip to + Plymouth and back. Well, I think I have become a nuisance to + you—Wait a bit, let me say my say in my own way. I can + see that I only embarrass you when I call on you, and that the + permission you gave me is only leading to awkwardness and + discomfort. Mind, I don't think you are acting fairly to + yourself or to me in forbidding me to mention again what I told + you. I know you're wrong. You should let me show you what sort + of a life lies before you—But there! I promised to keep + clear of that. Well, I will do what you like; and if you'd + rather have me stay away altogether, I will do that. I don't + want to be a nuisance to you. But mind this, Wenna, I do it + because you wish it: I don't do it because I think any man is + bound to respect an engagement which—which—which, + in fact, he doesn't respect."</p> + + <p>His eloquence broke down, but his meaning was clear. He + stood there before her, ready to accept her decision with all + meekness and obedience, but giving her frankly to understand + that he did not any the more countenance or consider as a + binding thing her engagement to Mr. Roscorla.</p> + + <p>"Mind you," he said, "I am not quite as indifferent about + all this as I look. It isn't the way of our family to put their + hands in their pockets and wait for orders. But I can't fight + with you. Many a time I wish there was a man in the + case—then he and I might have it out—but as it is, + I suppose I have got to do what they say, Wenna, and that's the + long and short of it."</p> + + <p>She did not hesitate. She went forward and offered him her + hand, and with her frank eyes looking him in the face she said, + "You have said what I wished to say, and I feared I had not the + courage to say it. Now you are acting bravely. Perhaps at some + future time we may become friends again—oh yes, and I do + hope that—but in the mean time you will treat me as if I + were a stranger to you."</p> + + <p>"That is quite impossible," said he decisively. "You ask too + much of me, Wenna."</p> + + <p>"Would not that be the simpler way?" she said, looking at + him again with the <span class="pagenum">[pg 328]</span> frank + and earnest eyes; and he knew she was right.</p> + + <p>"And the length of time?" he said.</p> + + <p>"Until Mr. Roscorla comes home again, at all events," she + said.</p> + + <p>She had touched an angry chord. "What has he to do with us?" + the young man said almost fiercely. "I refuse to have him come + in as arbiter or in any way whatever. Let him mind his own + business; and I can tell you, when he and I come to talk over + this engagement of yours—"</p> + + <p>"You promised not to speak of that," she said quietly, and + he instantly ceased.</p> + + <p>"Well, Wenna," he said after a minute or two, "I think you + ask too much, but you must have it your own way. I won't annoy + you and drive you into a corner: you may depend on that, to be + perfect strangers for an indefinite time—Then you won't + speak to me when I see you passing to church?"</p> + + <p>"Oh yes," she said, looking down: "I did not mean strangers + like that."</p> + + <p>"And I thought," said he, with something more than + disappointment in his face, "that when I proposed to—to + relieve you from my visits, you would at least let us have one + more afternoon together—only one—for a drive, you + know. It would be nothing to you: it would be 'something for me + to remember."</p> + + <p>She would not recognize the fact, but for a brief moment his + under lip quivered; and somehow she seemed to know it, though + she dared not look up to his face.</p> + + <p>"One afternoon, only one—to-morrow—next day, + Wenna? Surely you cannot refuse me that?" Then, looking at her + with a great compassion in his eyes, he suddenly altered his + tone. "I think I ought to be hanged," he said in a vexed way. + "You are the only person in the world I care for, and every + time I see you I plunge you into trouble. Well, this is the + last time. Good-bye, Wenna." Almost involuntarily she put out + her hand, but it was with the least perceptible gesture, to bid + him remain. Then she went past him, and there were tears + running down her face. "If—if you will wait a moment," + she said, "I will see if mamma and I can go with you to-morrow + afternoon."</p> + + <p>She went out, and he was left alone. Each word that she had + uttered had pierced his heart; but which did he feel the more + deeply—remorse that he should have insisted on this + slight and useless concession, or bitter rage against the + circumstances that environed them, and against the man who was + altogether responsible for these? There was now at least one + person in the world who greatly longed for the return of Mr. + Roscorla.</p> + + <h3><a name="page328" + id="page328">CHAPTER XXVIII.</a></h3> + + <h3>FAREWELL!</h3> + + <p>"Yes, it is true," the young man said next morning to his + cousin: "this is the last time I shall see her for many a day." + He was standing with his back to her, moodily staring out of + the window.</p> + + <p>"Well, Harry," his cousin said, gently enough, "you won't be + hurt if I say it is a very good thing? I am glad to see you + have so much patience and reasonableness. Indeed, I think Miss + Rosewarne has very much improved you in that respect; and it is + very good advice she has given you now."</p> + + <p>"Oh yes, it is all very well to talk!" he said, impatiently. + "Common sense is precious easy when you are quite indifferent. + Of course she is quite indifferent, and she says, 'Don't + trouble me,' What can one do but go? But if she was not so + indifferent—" He turned suddenly: "Jue, you can't tell + what trouble I am in. Do you know that sometimes I have fancied + she was not quite as indifferent—- I have had the cheek + to think so from one or two things she said—and then, if + that were so, it is enough to drive one mad to think of leaving + her. How could I leave her, Jue? If any one cared for you, + would you quietly sneak off in order to consult your own + comfort and convenience? Would you be patient and reasonable + then?"</p> + + <p>"Harry, don't talk in that excited way. Listen! She does not + ask you to go away for your sake, but for + hers."</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page329" + id="page329"></a>[pg 329]</span> + + <p>"For her sake?" he repeated, staring. "If she is indifferent + how can that matter to her? Well, I suppose I am a nuisance to + her—as much as I am to myself. There it is: I am an + interloper."</p> + + <p>"My poor boy," his cousin said with a kindly smile, "you + don't know your own mind two minutes running. During this past + week you have been blown about by all sorts of contrary winds + of opinion and fancy. Sometimes you thought she cared for + you—sometimes no. Sometimes you thought it a shame to + interfere with Mr. Roscorla; then again you grew indignant and + would have slaughtered him. Now you don't know whether you + ought to go away or stop to persecute her. Don't you think she + is the best judge?"</p> + + <p>"No, I don't," he said. "I think she is no judge of what is + best for her, because she never thinks of that. She wants + somebody by her to insist on her being properly selfish."</p> + + <p>"That would be a pretty lesson."</p> + + <p>"A necessary one, anyhow, with some women, I can tell you. + But I suppose I must go, as she says. I couldn't bear meeting + her about Eglosilyan and be scarcely allowed to speak to her. + Then when that hideous little beast comes back from Jamaica, + fancy seeing them walk about together! I must cut the whole + place. I shall go into the army: it's the only profession open + to a fool like me; and they say it won't be long open, either. + When I come back, Jue, I suppose you'll be Mrs. Tressider."</p> + + <p>"I am very sorry," his cousin said, not heeding the + reference to herself: "I never expected to see you so deep in + trouble, Harry. But you have youth and good spirits on your + side: you will get over it."</p> + + <p>"I suppose so," he said, not very cheerfully; and then he + went off to see about the carriage which was to take Wenna and + himself for their last drive together.</p> + + <p>At the same time that he was talking to his cousin, Wenna + was seated at her writing-desk answering Mr. Roscorla's letter. + Her brows were knit together: she was evidently laboring at + some difficult and disagreeable task.</p> + + <p>Her mother, lying on the sofa, was regarding her with an + amused look: "What is the matter, Wenna? That letter seems to + give you a deal of trouble."</p> + + <p>The girl put down her pen with some trace of vexation in her + face: "Yes indeed, mother. How is one to explain delicate + matters in a letter? Every phrase seems capable of + misconstruction. And then the mischief it may cause!"</p> + + <p>"But surely you don't need to write with such care to Mr. + Roscorla?"</p> + + <p>Wenna colored slightly, and hesitated as she answered, + "Well, mother, it is something peculiar. I did not wish to + trouble you, but, after all, I don't think you will vex + yourself about so small a thing. Mr. Roscorla has been told + stories about me. He is angry that Mr. Trelyon should visit us + so often. And—and—I am trying to explain. That is + all, mother."</p> + + <p>"It is quite enough, Wenna; but I am not surprised. Of + course, if foolish persons liked to misconstrue Mr. Trelyon's + visits, they might make mischief. I see no harm in them myself. + I suppose the young man found an evening at the inn amusing; + and I can see that he likes you very well, as many other people + do. But you know how you are situated, Wenna. If Mr. Roscorla + objects to your continuing an acquaintance with Mr. Trelyon, + your duty is clear."</p> + + <p>"I do not think it is, mother," Wenna said, an indignant + flush of color appearing in her face. "I should not be + justified in throwing over any friend or acquaintance merely + because Mr. Roscorla had heard rumors: I would not do it. He + ought not to listen to such things: he ought to have greater + faith in me. But at the same time I have asked Mr. Trelyon not + to come here so often—I have done so already; and after + to-day, mother, the gossips will have nothing to report."</p> + + <p>"That is better, Wenna," the mother said. "I shall be sorry + myself to miss the young man, for I like him, but it is better + you should attend to Mr. Roscorla's wishes. And don't answer + his letter in a vexed or angry way, Wenna."</p> + + <p>She was certainly not doing so. Whatever + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page330" + id="page330"></a>[pg 330]</span> she might be thinking, a + deliberate and even anxious courtesy was visible in the + answer she was sending him. Her pride would not allow her to + apologize for what had been done—in which she had seen + no wrong—but as to the future she was earnest in her + promises. And yet she could not help saying a good word for + Trelyon.</p> + + <p>"You have known him longer than I," she wrote, "and you know + what his character is. I could see nothing wrong in his coming + to see my family and myself; nor did you say anything against + him while you saw him with us. I am sure you believe he is + straightforward, honest and frank; and if his frankness + sometimes verges upon rudeness, he is of late greatly improved + in that respect, as in many others, and he is most respectful + and gentle in his manners. As for his kindness to my mother and + myself, we could not shut our eyes to it. Here is the latest + instance of it, although I feel deeply ashamed to tell you the + story. We were returning in a small boat, and I was carelessly + letting my hand drag through the water, when somehow the ring + you gave me dropped off. Of course, we all considered it + lost—all except Mr. Trelyon, who took the trouble to go + at once all the way to Plymouth for a dredging-machine, and the + following afternoon I was overjoyed to find him return with the + lost ring, which I had scarcely dared hope to see again. How + many gentlemen would have done so much for a mere acquaintance? + I am sure if you had been here you would have been ashamed of + me if I had not been grateful to him. Now, however, since you + appear to attach importance to these idle rumors, I have asked + Mr. Trelyon—"</p> + + <p>So the letter went on. She would not have written so calmly + if she had foreseen the passion which her ingenuous story about + the dredging-machine was destined to arouse. When Mr. Roscorla + read that simple narrative, he first stared with astonishment + as though she were making some foolish joke. Directly he saw + she was serious, however, his rage and mortification were + indescribable. Here was this young man, not content with + hanging about the girl so that neighbors talked, but actually + imposing on her credulity, and making a jest of that engaged + ring which ought to have been sacred to her. Mr. Roscorla at + once saw through the whole affair—the trip to Plymouth, + the purchasing of a gypsy-ring that could have been matched a + dozen times over anywhere, the return to Penzance with a + cock-and-bull story about a dredging-machine. So hot was his + anger that it overcame his prudence. He would start for England + at once. He had taken no such resolution when he heard from the + friendly and communicative Mr. Barnes that Mr. Trelyon's + conduct with regard to Wenna was causing scandal, but this + making a fool of him in his absence he could not bear. At any + cost he would set out for England, arrange matters more to his + satisfaction by recalling Wenna to a sense of her position; and + then he would return to Jamaica. His affairs there were already + promising so well that he could afford the trip.</p> + + <p>Meanwhile, Wenna had just finished her letter when Mr. + Trelyon drove up with the carriage, and shortly afterward came + into the room. He seemed rather grave, and yet not at all + sentimentally sad. He addressed himself mostly to Mrs. + Rosewarne, and talked to her about the Port Isaac fishing, the + emigration of the miners and other matters. Then Wenna slipped + away to get ready.</p> + + <p>"Mrs. Rosewarne," he said, "you asked me to find out what I + could about that red-faced person, you know. Well, here is an + advertisement which may interest you. I came on it quite + accidentally last night in the smoking-room of the hotel."</p> + + <p>It was a marriage advertisement, cut from a paper about a + week old. The name of the lady was "Katherine Ann, widow of the + late J.T. Shirley, Esq., of Barrackpore."</p> + + <p>"Yes, I was sure it was that woman," Mrs. Rosewarne said + eagerly. "And so she is married again?"</p> + + <p>"I fancied the gay young things were here on their + wedding-trip," Trelyon said carelessly. "They amused me. I like + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page331" + id="page331"></a>[pg 331]</span> to see turtle-doves of + fifty billing and cooing on the promenade, especially when + one of them wears a brown wig, has an Irish accent and + drinks brandy-and-water at breakfast. But he is a good + billiard-player—yes, he is an uncommonly good + billiard-player. He told me last night he had beaten the + Irish secretary the other day in the billiard-room of the + House of Commons. I humbly suspect that was a lie. At least, + I can't remember anything about a billiard-table in the + House of Commons, and I was two or three times through every + bit of it when I was a little chap with an uncle of mine, + who was a member then; but perhaps they've got a + billiard-table now. Who knows? He told me he had stood for + an Irish borough, spent three thousand pounds on a + population of two hundred and eighty-four, and all he got + was a black eye and a broken head. I should say all that was + a fabrication too; indeed, I think he rather amuses himself + with lies—and brandy-and-water. But you don't want to + know anything more about him, Mrs. Rosewarne?"</p> + + <p>She did not. All that she cared to know was in that little + strip of printed paper; and as she left the room to get ready + for the drive she expressed herself grateful to him in such + warm tones that he was rather astonished. After all, as he said + to himself, he had had nothing to do in bringing about the + marriage of that somewhat gorgeous person in whom Mrs. + Rosewarne was so strangely interested.</p> + + <p>They were silent as they drove away. There was one happy + face amongst them, that of Mrs. Rosewarne, but she was thinking + of her own affairs in a sort of pleased reverie. Wenna was + timid and a trifle sad: she said little beyond "Yes, Mr. + Trelyon," and "No, Mr. Trelyon," and even that was said in low + voice. As for him, he spoke to her gravely and respectfully: it + was already as if she were a mere stranger.</p> + + <p>Had some of his old friends and acquaintances seen him now, + they would have been something more than astonished. Was this + young man, talking in a gentle and courteous fashion to his + companion, and endeavoring to interest her in the various + things around her, the same daredevil lad who used to clatter + down the main street of Eglosilyan, who knew no control other + than his own unruly wishes, and who had no answer but a mocking + jest for any remonstrance?</p> + + <p>"And how long do you remain in Penzance, Mr. Trelyon?" Mrs. + Rosewarne said at length.</p> + + <p>"Until to-morrow, I expect," he answered.</p> + + <p>"To-morrow?"</p> + + <p>"Yes: I am going back to Eglosilyan. You know my mother + means to give some party or other on my coming of age, and + there is so little of that amusement going on at our house that + it needs all possible encouragement. After that I mean to leave + Eglosilyan for a time."</p> + + <p>Wenna said nothing, but her downcast face grew a little + paler: it was she who was banishing him.</p> + + <p>"By the way," he continued with a smile, "my mother is very + anxious about Miss Wenna's return. I fancy she has been trying + to go into that business of the sewing club on her own account; + and in that case she would be sure to get into a mess. I know + her first impulse would be to pay any money to smooth matters + over, but that would be a bad beginning, wouldn't it?"</p> + + <p>"Yes, it would," Wenna said, but somehow, at this moment, + she was less inclined to be hopeful about the future.</p> + + <p>"And as for you, Mrs. Rosewarne," he said, "I suppose you + will be going home soon, now that the change seems to have done + you so much good?"</p> + + <p>"Yes, I hope so," she said, "but Wenna must go first. My + husband writes to me that he cannot do without her, and offers + to send Mabyn instead. Nobody seems to be able to get on + without our Wenna."</p> + + <p>"And yet she has the most curious fancy that she is of no + account to anybody. Why, some day I expect to hear of the + people in Eglosilyan holding a public meeting to present her + with a service of plate and an address written on parchment + with blue and gold + letters."</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page332" + id="page332"></a>[pg 332]</span> + + <p>"Perhaps they will do that when she gets married," the + mother said, ignorant of the stab she was dealing.</p> + + <p>It was a picturesque and pleasant bit of country through + which they were driving, yet to two of them at least the + afternoon sun seemed to shine over it with a certain sadness. + It was as if they were bidding good-bye to some beautiful scene + they could scarcely expect to revisit. For many a day + thereafter, indeed, Wenna seemed to recollect that drive as + though it had happened in a dream. She remembered the rough and + lonely road leading up sharp hills and getting down into + valleys again, the masses of ferns and wild-flowers by the + stone walls, the wild and undulating country, with its + stretches of yellow furze, its clumps of trees and its huge + blocks of gray granite. She remembered their passing into a + curious little valley, densely wooded, the winding path of + which was not well fitted for a broad carriage and a pair of + horses. They had to watch the boughs and branches as they + jolted by. The sun was warm among the foliage: there was a + resinous scent of ferns about. By and by the valley abruptly + opened on a wide and beautiful picture. Lamorna Cove lay before + them, and a cold fresh breeze came in from the sea. Here the + world seemed to cease suddenly. All around them were huge rocks + and wild-flowers and trees; and far up there on their left rose + a hill of granite, burning red with the sunset; but down below + them the strange little harbor was in shadow, and the sea + beyond, catching nothing of the glow in the west, was gray and + mystic and silent. Not a ship was visible on that pale plain; + no human being could be seen about the stone quays and the + cottages; it seemed as if they had come to the end of the + world, and were its last inhabitants. All these things Wenna + thought of in after days, until the odd and plain little harbor + of Lamorna, and its rocks and bushes and slopes of granite, + seemed to be some bit of Fairyland, steeped in the rich hues of + the sunset, and yet ethereal, distant and unrecoverable.</p> + + <p>Mrs. Rosewarne did not at all understand the silence of + these young people, and made many attempts to break it up. Was + the mere fact of Mr. Trelyon returning to Eglosilyan next day + anything to be sad about? He was not a school-boy going back to + school. As for Wenna, she had got back her engaged ring, and + ought to have been grateful and happy.</p> + + <p>"Come now," she said: "if you propose to drive back by the + Mouse Hole, we must waste no more time here. Wenna, have you + gone to sleep?"</p> + + <p>The girl started as if she really had been asleep: then she + walked back to the carriage and got in. They drove away again + without saying a word.</p> + + <p>"What is the matter with you, Wenna? Why are you so + downcast?" her mother said.</p> + + <p>"Oh, nothing," the girl said hastily. "But—but one + does not care to talk much on so beautiful an evening."</p> + + <p>"Yes, that is quite true," said Mr. Trelyon, quite as + eagerly, and with something of a blush: "one only cares to sit + and look at things."</p> + + <p>"Oh, indeed!" said Mrs. Rosewarne with a smile: she had + never before heard Mr. Trelyon give expression to his views + upon scenery.</p> + + <p>They drove round by the Mouse Hole, and when they came in + sight of Penzance again, the bay and the semicircle of houses + and St. Michael's Mount were all a pale gray in the twilight. + As they drove quietly along they heard the voices of people + from time to time: the occupants of the cottages had come out + for their evening stroll and chat. Suddenly, as they were + passing certain huge masses of rock that sloped suddenly down + to the sea, they heard another sound—that of two or three + boys calling out for help. The briefest glance showed what was + going on. These boys were standing on the rocks, staring + fixedly at one of their companions, who had fallen into the + water and was wildly splashing about, while all they could do + to help him was to call for aid at the pitch of their + voices.</p> + + <p>"That chap's drowning," Trelyon said, jumping out of the + carriage.</p> + + <p>The next minute he was out on the + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page333" + id="page333"></a>[pg 333]</span> rocks, hastily pulling of + his coat. What was it he heard just as he plunged into the + sea?—the agonized voice of a girl calling him + back?</p> + + + <p>Mrs. Rosewarne was at this moment staring at her daughter + with almost a horror-stricken look on her face. Was it really + Wenna Rosewarne who had been so mean? and what madness + possessed her to make her so? The girl had hold of her mother's + arm with both her hands, and held it with the grip of a vice, + while her white face was turned to the rocks and the sea. "Oh, + mother!" she cried, "it is only a boy, and he is a man; and + there is not another in all the world like him!"</p> + + <p>"Wenna, is it you who are speaking, or a devil? The boy is + drowning."</p> + + <p>But he was drowning no longer. He was laid hold of by a + strong arm, dragged in to the rocks, and there fished out by + his companions. Then Trelyon got up on the rocks and calmly + looked at his dripping clothes. "You are a nice little beast, + you are!" he said to the small boy, who had swallowed a good + deal of salt water, but was otherwise quite unhurt. "How do you + expect I am going home in these trousers? Perhaps your + mother'll pay me for a new pair, eh? And give you a jolly good + thrashing for tumbling in? Here's half a crown for you, you + young ruffian! and if I catch you on these rocks again, I'll + throw you in and let you swim for it: see if I don't."</p> + + <p>He walked up to the carriage, shaking himself, and putting + on his coat as he went with great difficulty: "Mrs. Rosewarne, + I must walk back: I can't think of—"</p> + + <p>He uttered a short cry. Wenna was lying as one dead in her + mother's arms, Mrs. Rosewarne vainly endeavoring to revive her. + He rushed down the rocks again to a pool and soaked his + handkerchief in the water: then he went hurriedly back to the + carriage and put the cold handkerchief on her temples and on + her face.</p> + + <p>"Oh, Mr. Trelyon, do go away or you will get your death of + cold," Mrs. Rosewarne said. "Leave Wenna to me. See, there is a + gentleman who will lend you his horse, and you will get to your + hotel directly."</p> + + <p>He did not even answer her. His own face was about as pale + as that of the girl before him, and hers was that of a corpse. + But by and by strange tremors passed through her frame: her + hands tightened their grip of her mother's arm, and with a sort + of shudder she opened her eyes and fearfully looked around. She + caught sight of the young man standing there: she scarcely + seemed to recognize him for a moment. And then, with a quick + nervous action, she caught at his hand and kissed it twice, + hurriedly and wildly: then she turned to her mother, hid her + face in her bosom and burst into a flood of tears. Probably the + girl scarcely knew all that had taken place, but her two + companions, in silence and with a great apprehension filling + their hearts, saw and recognized the story she had told.</p> + + <p>"Mr. Trelyon," said Mrs. Rosewarne, "you must not remain + here."</p> + + <p>Mechanically he obeyed her. The gentleman who had been + riding along the road had dismounted, and, fearing some + accident had occurred, had come forward to offer his + assistance. When he was told how matters stood, he at once gave + Trelyon his horse to ride in to Penzance; and then the carriage + was driven off also at a considerably less rapid pace.</p> + + <p>That evening, Trelyon, having got into warm clothes and + dined, went along to ask how Wenna was. His heart beat + hurriedly as he knocked at the door. He had intended merely + making the inquiry and coming away again, but the servant said + that Mrs. Rosewarne wished to see him.</p> + + <p>He went up stairs and found Mrs. Rosewarne alone. These two + looked at each other: that single glance told everything. They + were both aware of the secret that had been revealed.</p> + + <p>For an instant there was dead silence between them, and then + Mrs. Rosewarne, with a great sadness in her voice, despite its + studied calmness, said, "Mr. Trelyon, we need say nothing of + what has occurred. There are some things that are best not + spoken of. But I can trust to you not to seek to see Wenna + before you<span class="pagenum">[pg 334]</span> leave here. + She is quite recovered—only a little nervous, you know, + and frightened. To-morrow she will be quite well again."</p> + + <p>"You will bid her good-bye for me?" he said.</p> + + <p>But for the tight clasp of the hand between these two, it + was an ordinary parting. He put on his hat and went out. + Perhaps it was the cold sea-air that made his face so pale.</p> + + <p class="center">[TO BE CONTINUED.]</p> + + <h2><a name="page334" + id="page334">LA MADONNA DELLA SEDIA.</a></h2> + + <h3>A TRADITION.</h3> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Raphael. Still in this free, clear air that vision + floats</p> + + <p>Before my brain. I may nor banish it</p> + + <p>Nor grasp it. 'Tis too fine, too spirit-like,</p> + + <p>To offer as the type of motherhood.</p> + + <p>Color and blood and life and truth it lacks.</p> + + <p>Gods! can it be that our imaginings</p> + + <p>Excel your handiwork? Must life seem dull,</p> + + <p>Must earth seem barren and unbeautiful,</p> + + <p>For ever unto him who can create</p> + + <p>This rarer world of delicate phantasy?</p> + + <p>I lift mine eyes, and nothing real responds</p> + + <p>To those ideal forms. God pardon me!</p> + + <p>There in the everlasting sunshine sits</p> + + <p>The Mother with the Infant at her breast.</p> + + <p>Hence, ghostly shadows! let me learn to draw</p> + + <p>Mine inspiration from the common air.</p> + + <p>A peasant-woman auburn-haired, large-eyed,</p> + + <p>Within the shade of overhanging boughs</p> + + <p>Suckles her babe, and sees her eldest born</p> + + <p>Gambol upon the grass: the elf has wrought</p> + + <p>With two snapt boughs the semblance of a cross,</p> + + <p>And proudly holds the sacred symbol high</p> + + <p>Above his head to win his mother's praise.</p> + + <p>Mine art may haply reproduce that wealth</p> + + <p>Of brilliant hues—the dusk hair's glimmering + gold,</p> + + <p>The auroral blush, the bare breasts shining + white</p> + + <p>Where the babe's warm rose-face is pressed + against</p> + + <p>That fount of generous life; but ah! what craft</p> + + <p>May paint the unearthly peace upon her brow,</p> + + <p>The holy love that from her dark moist orbs</p> + + <p>Beams with no lesser glory than the eyes</p> + + <p>Of the Maid-Mother toward her heaven-born Child.</p> + </div> + </div> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p><i>Little Boy with the Cross</i>.</p> + + <p>Oh, mother, such a stranger comes this way!</p> + + <p>I saw him as I climbed the olive tree</p> + + <p>To break the branches for my crucifix—</p> + + <p>tall, fair youth with floating yellow curls.</p> + + <p>Is he an angel?</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p><i>Maria</i>. Silly darling, + peace!</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page335" + id="page335"></a>[pg 335]</span> + + <p>No longer dwell the angels on the earth,</p> + + <p>And see, he comes.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p><i>Raphael</i>. Madonna mia, hail!</p> + + <p>God bless thee and thy cherubim!</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p><i>Maria</i>. Amen!</p> + + <p>God bless thee also for the pious wish!</p> + + <p>No cherubim are these, but, Heaven be thanked,</p> + + <p>Two healthy boys. Pray, sit and rest with us:</p> + + <p>The heat has been too fierce for wayfarers,</p> + + <p>And 'neath these shady vines the afternoon</p> + + <p>Is doubly fresh.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p><i>Raphael</i>. Thanks, 'tis a grateful air:</p> + + <p>The weariness of travel it uplifts</p> + + <p>From heavy brow and body with its breath,</p> + + <p>Delicious as cool water to the touch.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p><i>Maria</i>. Bernardo, climb yon trunk again and + pluck</p> + + <p>Some ripened clusters for this gentleman.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p><i>Raphael</i>. Ah, 'tis a radiant child: what full, + lithe limbs!</p> + + <p>What cream-white dimpling flesh! what golden + lights</p> + + <p>Glance through the foliage on his crisp-curled + head!</p> + + <p>What rosy shadows on the naked form</p> + + <p>Against gray olive leaves and blue-green vine!</p> + + <p>And see, where now the bright, round face peers + down,</p> + + <p>And smiles and nods, and beckons us as one</p> + + <p>Who leaneth out of heaven.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p><i>Maria</i>. A wanton imp,</p> + + <p>And full of freaks. I marvel much thereat,</p> + + <p>Since I have named him from a holy saint,</p> + + <p>Who bode among us many years, and gave</p> + + <p>His dying blessing unto me and mine.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p><i>Raphael</i>. The child could be no other than he + is</p> + + <p>Without some loss, mother. But what saint</p> + + <p>Had here his hermitage?</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p><i>Maria</i>. Nay, pardon me,</p> + + <p>'Twas but my reverent love that sainted him;</p> + + <p>Yet was he one most worthy of the crown,</p> + + <p>If austere life of white simplicity,</p> + + <p>Large charity and strict self-sacrifice</p> + + <p>Can sanctify a mortal.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p><i>Raphael</i>. Yet I see</p> + + <p>No convent nigh.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p><i>Maria</i>. Nay, sir, no convent his.</p> + + <p>Beyond our comfortable homes he dwelt,</p> + + <p>Not lonely though alone: 'neath yonder hill</p> + + <p>His hut was reared; a tall full-foliaged oak</p> + + <p>O'ershadowed it. 'Tis not so long agone</p> + + <p>Since he was here to comfort, help and heal,</p> + + <p>Yet now no earthly trace of him remains.</p> + + <p>Spring freshets from the hills have washed away</p> + + <p>The last wrecked fragments of his hermitage,</p> + + <p>And though I pleaded hard, I could not save</p> + + <p>The oak, his dear dumb daughter, from the axe,</p> + + <p>Albeit 'twas she preserved him unto us.</p> + + <p>Forgive me, sir, my chatter wearies you,</p> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page336" + id="page336"></a>[pg 336]</span> + + <p>Here be the grapes my boy has plucked: they sate</p> + + <p>Both thirst and hunger, pray refresh yourself.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p><i>Raphael</i>. Dear mother, it is rest to hear thee + speak.</p> + + <p>'Tis not my hale young limbs that are forespent,</p> + + <p>But an outwearied spirit, seeking peace,</p> + + <p>Hath found it in thy voice. Speak on, speak on.</p> + + <p>What of this holy saint? how chanced the tree</p> + + <p>To save his life?</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p><i>Maria</i>. Ah, 'twas a miracle.</p> + + <p>Through summer's withering heats and blighting + droughts</p> + + <p>His own hands gave the thirsty roots to drink.</p> + + <p>In spring the first pale growth of tender green</p> + + <p>Thrilled him with scarcely less delight than + mine</p> + + <p>At my babe's earliest glance of answering love.</p> + + <p>Daily he fed the tame free birds that went</p> + + <p>Singing among its boughs; he tended it,</p> + + <p>He watched, he cherished, yea he talked to it,</p> + + <p>As though it had a soul. God gave to him</p> + + <p>Two daughters, he was wont to say—one + mute,</p> + + <p>And one who spake, the oak tree and myself.</p> + + <p>A child, scarce older than my Bernard now,</p> + + <p>I nestled to the quaint, kind hermit's heart,</p> + + <p>And grew to girlhood with my hand in his.</p> + + <p>I loved to prank his wretched cell with flowers.</p> + + <p>Twisting bright weeds around his crucifix,</p> + + <p>Or trailing ivy wreaths about his door.</p> + + <p>One winter came when half my father's vines</p> + + <p>Were killed with frost; the valley was as white</p> + + <p>As yonder boldest mountain-top; the air</p> + + <p>Cut like a knife; the brooks were still and + stiff;</p> + + <p>The high drifts choked the hollows of the hills.</p> + + <p>When spring approached and swollen brooks ran + free.</p> + + <p>And in the ponds the blue ice cracked and brake,</p> + + <p>The hard snows melted and the bladed green</p> + + <p>Put forth again, then from the mountain-slopes,</p> + + <p>The avalanches rolled; the streams o'erflowed;</p> + + <p>The fields were flooded; flocks were swept away,</p> + + <p>And folk fared o'er the pasture-ground in boats.</p> + + <p>Two days and nights the sun and stars seemed + drowned,</p> + + <p>The air was thick with water, and the world</p> + + <p>Lay ruined under rain and sliding snows.</p> + + <p>Then day and night my thoughts were with the + saint</p> + + <p>Whose poor hut clung to yonder treacherous + slope:</p> + + <p>My dreams, my tears, my prayers were all for + him.</p> + + <p>Not till the flood subsided, and again</p> + + <p>A watery sun shone forth, my prayers prevailed</p> + + <p>Upon my father, and he went with me</p> + + <p>To seek the holy man. "Just God!" he cried,</p> + + <p>And I, with both hands pressed against mine + eyes,</p> + + <p>Burst into sobs. No hermitage was there:</p> + + <p>Naught save one broken, tottering wall remained</p> + + <p>Beneath the unshaken, firmly-rooted oak.</p> + + <p>Then from the branches came a faint, thin voice,</p> + + <p>"My children, I am saved!" and looking + up,</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page337" + id="page337"></a>[pg 337]</span> + + <p>We found him clinging with what strength was + left</p> + + <p>Unto the boughs. We led him home with us,</p> + + <p>Starving and sick, and chilled through blood and + bone.</p> + + <p>Our tenderest care was needed to revive</p> + + <p>The life half spent, and soon we learned the + tale</p> + + <p>Of his salvation. He had climbed at first</p> + + <p>Unto his roof, but saw ere long small chance</p> + + <p>For that frail hut to stand against the storm.</p> + + <p>It rocked beneath him as a bark at sea,</p> + + <p>The hard wind beat upon him, and the rain</p> + + <p>Drenched him and seemed to scourge him as with + flails.</p> + + <p>He gave himself to God; composed with prayer</p> + + <p>His spirit to meet death; when overhead</p> + + <p>The swaying oak-limbs seemed to beckon him</p> + + <p>To seek the branches' shelter and support.</p> + + <p>His prayer till death was that the Lord would + bless</p> + + <p>His daughters, and distinguish them above</p> + + <p>All children of the earth. For me his suit</p> + + <p>Hath well prevailed, thank God! A happy wife,</p> + + <p>A happy mother, I have naught to ask:</p> + + <p>My blessings overflow.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p><i>Raphael</i>. Thanks for thy tale,</p> + + <p>Most gracious mother. See thy babe is lulled</p> + + <p>To smiling sleep.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p><i>Maria</i>. Yea, and the silence now</p> + + <p>Awakens him. Ah, darling rogue, art flushed</p> + + <p>With too much comfort? So! let the cool air</p> + + <p>Play with thy curls and fan the plump, hot + cheek.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p><i>Raphael</i>. Hold, as the child uplifts his + cherub face,</p> + + <p>Opens his soft small arms to stroke thy cheek,</p> + + <p>Crowing with glee, while the slant sunbeams + light</p> + + <p>A halo of gold fire about thy hair,</p> + + <p>I see again a canvas that is hung</p> + + <p>Over the altar in our church at home.</p> + + <p>"<i>Mater amabilis</i>," yet here be traits,</p> + + <p>Colors and tones the artist never dreamed.</p> + + <p>Sweet mother, let me sketch thee with thy babe:</p> + + <p>So rare a picture should not pass away</p> + + <p>With the brief moment which it illustrates.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p><i>Maria</i>. Art thou a painter too, Sir + Traveler?</p> + + <p>Where be thy brush and colors?</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p><i>Raphael</i>. Ah, 'tis true,</p> + + <p>Naught have I with me. What is this? 'twill + serve</p> + + <p>My purpose.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p><i>Maria</i>. 'Tis the cover of a cask,</p> + + <p>Made of the very oak whereof I spake:</p> + + <p>My father for his wine-casks felled the tree.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p><i>Raphael</i>. A miracle! the hermit's daughters + thus</p> + + <p>Will be remembered in the years to come.</p> + + <p>My pencil will suffice to scratch the lines</p> + + <p>Upon the wood: my memory will hold</p> + + <p>The lights, the tints, the golden atmosphere,</p> + + <p>The genius of the scene—the mother-love.</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p class="center">EMMA + LAZARUS.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page338" + id="page338"></a>[pg 338]</span> + + <h2>EARLY TRAVELING EXPERIENCES IN INDIA.</h2> + + <p>In August, 1849, when I had been living at Calcutta nearly + three years, I was warned by my doctor that I must go on a + sea-voyage or else to the Himalaya Mountains, if life was an + object with me. Such it was, and very keenly. The + four-and-twenty years of it which I had divided between study + and rollicking had approved themselves, like this poor old + world when it was new, "very good," and I had a strong + objection to parting with it on so short an acquaintance. True, + my hepatic apparatus, as the doctors grandly call the liver, + had got miserably out of gear, though I was a water-drinker, + and though I had a wholesome horror of tropical sunshine. But I + had a good constitution, and I had the word of the medical + faculty for it that many a man with not half so good a one as + mine had pulled through a much worse condition than I was in. + To go away somewhere, however, was proposed as my only + alternative to migrating down to the hideous cemetery among the + bogs and jackals of Chowringhee. But where should I go? After + having been shot once and drowned twice when a boy, I had been + ship-wrecked at the mouth of the sacred and accursed Ganges, + and had just escaped with my life and Greek lexicon. + Shooting—and I may throw in hanging—I felt proof + against, and as for drowning, I had no fear of that. + Nevertheless, I had been very near five months in coming out + from Boston under the blundering seamanship of Captain Coffin + (ominous cognomen!), and salt water, hard junk and weevilly + biscuit were as unattractive to me in possible prospect as they + were in retrospect. The sea I had weighed in the balance and + had found it much wanting. I would, then, go to the + Himalayas.</p> + + <p>So I prepared to make for Simla, which, however, I never + saw, nor had occasion to see, my liver complaint seeming to + have been left behind, with my good wishes, in the City of + Palaces. In the early days of Indian civilization to which I + refer the most convenient way of journeying on high-roads was + by palanquin. One of the black packing-cases so called was + purchased, and an arrangement entered into, after the custom of + the country, with the post-office to have relays of bearers + provided on the road at stated times and places. Thus, I was to + go as far as Ghazeepore, where I had a friend living, and there + I was to give due notice if I wished to proceed farther. + Traveling in India has so frequently been a subject of + description that I shall not describe it anew. I allow myself, + however, to say that if, before venturing on it, you lay in a + stock of boiled tongues, sardines, marmalade, and tea and + sugar, you could not do better by way of forestalling + starvation and repentance. Every day I stopped once or twice at + a travelers' bungalow, or rest-house; and I managed, + notwithstanding that my stock of Urdú was scanty, to + make my wants understood. That a great part of the copious + monologue which my purveyors expended, as we settled the + details of breakfast or dinner, was lost on me, did not seem, + in the final result, to matter in the least. What I needed I + asked for, and then listened attentively for the barbaric + representative of "yes" or "no" in the Babel of sounds that + followed, neglecting the flux of verbiage that engulfed it with + the same lofty indifference which a mathematician professes + toward infinitely small quantities. With a view to avoiding + cross-purposes there is nothing like economy of speech. But how + my tawny hosts could contrive to realize such a fortune of talk + out of their very meagre capital of subject-matter excited my + never-ending wonder. They could provide forlorn pullets, + certainly from the same farmyard with the lean kine of Egypt, + and to these they could add, what was much better left unadded, + a villainous species of unleavened + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page339" + id="page339"></a>[pg 339]</span> bread, a sort of hoecake, + not at all improved—precisely like the run of + travelers—by leaving home and wandering in the Orient. + And this was about all they could provide. But, I repeat, + how could expatiate on them! And how bespattered one with + compound epithets of adulation!</p> + + <p>A friend of mine, a lady, when fresh in the country once + compromised herself rather astonishingly by lending an ear to + their multiloquence, instead of resolutely refusing her + attention to all communication but that consisting of "yea, + yea," and "nay, nay." She had noted down, in her tablets, the + Urdú wherewith to ask whether a thing is procurable, and + to order it, if procurable, to be forthcoming, with the + appropriate outlandish words for "pullet" and "hoecake," and + also those for straightforward answers, affirmative and + negative. She was certain that with this lingual accoutrement + she could not possibly be taken at a disadvantage. The + experience of a few hours, however, unsettled her + self-confidence very considerably. She alights at a wayside + hostelry. Khudâbakhsh, the chief servant in attendance, + arrayed in more or less fine linen, without the purple, + surmounted by a turban after the likeness of Saturn and his + rings in a pictorial astronomy-book, presents himself, and + worships her with lowly salutations. "Is a fowl to be + had?"—"Gharîb-parwar," is the prompt + reply.—"Is hoecake to be had?"—"Dharm-antâr," + officiously cuts in Khudâbakhsh's mate, a low-caste + Hindoo; and the principal thinks it unnecessary to respond to + the question a second time. Now, what is to be done? What do + they mean? Have they fowl and hoecake? Have they not fowl and + hoecake? Here, to be sure, is a very <i>bivium</i> of + perplexities. The lady at last, with quiet nonchalance, demands + the production of a gharîb-parwar and a + dharm-antâr, thus unconsciously ordering a "cherisher of + the poor" and an "incarnation of justice," the pretty + appellations used to designate herself. "Queer things for + breakfast!" Khudâbakhsh and his mate mentally reflect, + exchanging glances, but without moving a muscle. Breakfast is + served, and my friend sees before her just what she meant to + order. On one dish reeks the bony contour of a chicken, + grinning thankfulness for extinction at every joint, and on a + second dish towers a pile of things like small wooden trenchers + pressed flat. Of course she has been puzzled, she + self-flatteringly concludes, by some less common names of the + very common viands which lie displayed before her. By and by, + however, she discovers that gharîb-parwar and + dharm-antâr are not articles of gastronomic indulgence, + at least beyond the borders of those islands of the blest where + slices of cold missionary come on with the dessert. When fully + aware of her little blunder she marvels, and not unreasonably, + that any one should address a lady as "cherisher of the poor" + or as "incarnation of justice," rather than as plain "madam;" + and she thinks it equally strange that any one should so beat + about the bush as to substitute polysyllables of compliment for + <i>hân</i>, the much more expeditious equivalent of + "yes."</p> + + <p>Everything went on smoothly and monotonously enough till I + was within twenty miles, roughly computed, of Ghazeepore. At + this point, on reaching the end of a stage, my bearers woke me + to say there was no relay waiting for them. It may have been + midnight. I told them to set me down, to make up a fire and to + go to sleep around it, but keeping watch, turn and turn about, + each for an hour. Matters being thus disposed, I shut and + hooked the palanquin doors, readjusting my blankets, and was + soon dreaming of another hemisphere. At sunrise no new bearers + had yet shown themselves. My men belonged to the region we were + in, and I learned from them that the nearest European dwelt + only eight miles distant. I bargained with them to take me to + his bungalow. The unexpected wages which they were promised + being liberal, they trotted off with unwonted briskness. In due + course the bungalow loomed in sight, and as I approached it a + burly figure, in shirt-sleeves and with arms akimbo, appeared + in the verandah, his eyes turned in the direction of his + unlooked-for visitor. "God bless you, Hugh Maxwell! + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page340" + id="page340"></a>[pg 340]</span> I'm devilish glad to see + you," shouted the burly figure, benedictory, but even in + benediction not oblivious of the Old Teaser. "I wish to + Goodness I was Hugh Maxwell!" I returned, stepping to the + ground. "Oh, never mind," rejoined the hearty + indigo-planter, perceiving his mistake and offering me his + hand. "There is just time for a bath before breakfast," he + added; and a good tubbing, in sufficient light to see and + evade creeping things by, was far from unacceptable. I + stayed with my good-natured host two days and nights, + picking up, in the mean while, much curious information + touching the cultivation and manufacture in which he was + occupied. Like most persons of his calling, he was an ardent + sportsman. The early hours of the morning he gave almost + daily to a stroll with his gun; and the first evening I + passed with him he invited me, in startlingly piebald + phraseology, to accompany him on the morrow. "Be up by + <i>top dage</i>," said he: "we will have <i>chhotî + hâzirî</i>, and then a <i>chal</i> over the + <i>khets</i> for some <i>shikâr</i>" Why he did not + prefer to say "gun-fire," "tea and toast," "run," "fields," + and "game," probably he could not have told himself. His way + of peppering his English with Urdú was characteristic + of his class, and till I got accustomed to it I found it + somewhat perplexing. If he had known me all his life he + could not have been more friendly. Yet his kindness and + hospitality were not exceptional things in the India of a + quarter of a century ago. All is changed there + now—whether much for the better I am skeptical. + Twenty-two hours after they were due my missing bearers made + their appearance. Arrived at Ghazeepore, I addressed a + complaint to the postmaster-general. Thereupon two sides of + a large sheet of paper were spread for me with base official + circumlocution, through the darkness of which I groped out, + after some labor, the audacious libel that the blame, if + there were any, rested entirely with myself. This stuff, + signed by the functionary aforesaid, but doubtless concocted + without his privity by one of his graceless subordinates, I + knew to be the only satisfaction I was to look for. A + request for revision of judgment would have been received + with silent scorn, and appeal there was none. Digesting my + disgust as best I could, I lighted my cheroot with the + mendacious foolscap and blushed for my species.</p> + + <p>Let us pass on to the beginning of 1851. Having then been + stationary at Benares for a whole year, I was longing for a + little variety. Oude, deservedly called the Garden of India, + was, by all accounts, well worth visiting. I resolved to visit + it. But not merely was independent exploration in that kingdom + attended with risk: in strict propriety, one had no business + there except by royal authority, which royal authority, as + concerned a traveler, strongly recommended itself to respectful + consideration from including a guard, and that free of expense. + An acquaintance of mine wrote a letter for me to the Resident + at Lucknow, Sir Henry Sleeman. The royal authority was + obtained, and the guard inclusive was to meet me on the Oude + frontier. Tents were borrowed; servants and camels were hired; + long consultations were held with old stagers in the marching + line. The canvas which was to shelter me for six weeks was + built up in front of my house, and already I felt myself half a + nomad. The last evening was spent with veterans in the ways of + camping out, and at three o'clock the next morning I mounted my + horse and began my journey. My road lay through Jaunpoor, and + here I encountered a violent thunderstorm in the middle of the + night, with floods of rain. At the cost of being almost drowned + out and blown away, I learned the expediency of trenching one's + tabernacle, and the wisdom of putting one's confidence in none + but brand-new cordage. In the city of Jaunpoor there is not + much to arrest notice, saving its very durable bridge, dating + from the time of Akbar, and the Atâlâ Masjid, a + mosque deformed from a rather ancient Hindoo temple; and the + rest of the district of Jaunpoor which my route lay through was + altogether uninteresting.</p> + + <p>The borders of the district crossed, after traversing a + narrow strip of Oude <span class="pagenum"><a name="page341" + id="page341"></a>[pg 341]</span> I came again to British + territory. This fragment formed a perfect island, so to + speak, the domains of the nawab hemming it in on every side. + The one European inhabitant of this isolated but fertile + spot was an indigo-planter, near whose bungalow and factory + I encamped for a night. His establishment was of long + standing, but he had no neighbor within many miles, and + there was that about the place which filled me with a sense + of utter dreariness and depression. Hard by the house was a + burial-ground, and wholly by that house it had been peopled + with all its many tenants. Saddening were the brief and + almost unvaried histories recorded on its unpretending + monuments. There was a name, and then a date, and then that + word at the bare mention of which there are few old Indians + who, as it calls up memories of bygone shocks and griefs, + can refrain from a sickening shudder—"cholera." Among + all who rested there in peace, so far away from every + reminder of childhood and of home, not one had passed the + prime of life. It was easy to picture to one's self the last + gloomy hours of those hapless exiles, stricken down by the + fell scourge in the pride of their strength, and perhaps at + the full tide of their prosperity, with none to succor, and + with no hope from the first but that they must perish. Nor + was this quite all. How could their sole companions, their + servants, people of the country, and bound to their masters + by none but the mercenary tie of a hireling, soothe their + dying moments with any genuine sympathy, or supply in the + dread travail of mortality the room of a friend, or even of + a fellow-countryman? This is no baseless sketch of fancy. + Familiar facts dispense with all need to draw on the + imagination in outlining the end of one who meets a destiny + like theirs. The planter suddenly finds himself ill; he + rapidly grows worse; a few hours of agony in his solitude, + and all is over. Tidings of the event are carried to the + nearest factory, and then to another and another. Two or + three of his former acquaintances ride over to his bungalow, + knock up a rude coffin, mumble a few sentences about "the + resurrection and the life," "our dear brother here + departed," and "ashes to ashes, dust to dust," bury him out + of sight, and set up a decent stone over his grave. His + place is filled again in a few weeks or months, and his + successor, regardless of warnings, toils on in the old + routine, possibly to share his miserable fate.</p> + + <p>As I have said above, a guard was directed to await me on + the Oude borders. Various, conflicting, and all of them wide of + the mark, were my speculations on its outward and visible form, + and the martial equipment by which it was to strike terror in + all beholders. Was it to consist of horse or of foot? and of + how many men? and so forth. The mystery was resolved at the + time and place appointed. A camel—a picked sample, + seemingly, for general ugliness and the vicious way it writhed + its mouth—shambled up to my tent. Its rider, who in all + specialties of repulsiveness tallied with the beast to a hair, + impaled a letter on the tip of his spear and handed it down. It + was from the Resident at Lucknow. In its unpromising bearer I + beheld my guard. If the look of a thorough ruffian, much + unwashed, with the spear just mentioned, a matchlock, and an + assortment round his waist of what resembled carving-knives and + skewers, was to be my sufficient defence in time of trouble, I + was well provided for. However it was to be explained, no harm + came to me anywhere on my march. But my guard, if he looked + zealously after my interests, looked full as zealously after + his own. For what I knew he was licensed, as a servant of the + state, to billet himself at free quarters on his royal master's + subjects: at any rate, so he did. But, greatly to his vexation, + I would not hear of his compelling the shopkeepers with whom my + butler had daily dealings in buying necessaries for me to + provision my camp at their own charge. The man was for carrying + things with a high hand; and at the period of which I am + writing to do so was in Oude wellnigh the universal rule. + Justice was fast dying out in the land, and violence already + reigned prevalent in its stead. + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page342" + id="page342"></a>[pg 342]</span> The taxes, exorbitant as + apportioned at the court, were farmed by merciless wretches + who made them more exorbitant still, and who collected them, + for the most part, at the point of the sword. Open robbery, + deadly brawls and private assassination had become matters + of perpetual occurrence. There was scarcely a day during my + tour that I was not in the close vicinity of fatal + skirmishes, and that I did not fall in with parties carrying + away from them the dead or wounded. Obviously, this state of + affairs could not exist for any very long duration. The + nawab was advised, warned, and then menaced with deposal, + provided things were not righted in his dominions, radically + and speedily, to the satisfaction of the East India Company. + Harsh measures, equally with mild, were, however, altogether + wasted on him. Personally, he was a groveling debauchee, + exhausted alike in mind and in body to sheer imbecility; and + his courtiers and counselors were little better than + himself. To anarchy, insurrection seemed inevitably + imminent. It was precluded by annexation, and the kingdom of + Oude, not an hour in advance of its deserts, took its place + in finished history.</p> + + <p>Game of a humbler description I met with in abundance + everywhere in Oude, but I had hunted the tiger with the rajah + of Benares, and since then had conceived a disdain of feathered + things, bustards excepted. Moreover, I had lately bought a + superb double-barreled Swiss rifle, as yet untested in real + work. With inviting jungles constantly within easy reach, not + to experiment with this lordly implement on something bigger + than a wild pig demanded abnegation beyond my philosophy. I had + no companion, but then I would control my impetuosity, do + nothing rash, and, if I could, keep out of the way of + temptation. One day, therefore, breakfast despatched, I + shouldered my lovely Switzer, and struck off at random across + the open. Woodland was not far to seek, and before I had been + away an hour I was in the heart of a dense jungle. Ordinary + deer and "such-like" I might have shot at will, but I happened + to be in an exclusive mood of mind, and was determined to drop + a blue-cow, if anything. But let not my Occidental reader + reproach me with having meditated such an atrocity as bovicide. + I have literally translated the Hindoo <i>nîl + gâe</i>, the misleading name given in India to the + white-footed antelope, sometimes called also <i>rojh</i>. At + last my slaughterous appetite was gratified, and a blue-cow + bore witness to the merit of my rifle, if not to my + marksmanship. It had cost me a tiresome search, and, being a + shy animal, much stealthy tracking. Yet when the beautiful + creature lay stretched at my feet it seemed as if I had been + guilty of wanton cruelty, and I wished my aim had miscarried, + proud as I had just before been of having done execution at + what looked to be an impracticably long range. Not improbably I + tried to extenuate my inhumanity by the argument that if I had + not killed it somebody else would have done so. Be this how it + may, I could never bring myself to shoot another, though I had + many a fair chance. All things considered, then, I am disposed + to strike a balance in my favor.</p> + + <p>However, a little while previously I had done a bit of + bloodshed which could not have lain on the very tenderest of + consciences. The circumstances were these: Near my camp was a + patch of sugar-cane, which I noticed bore marks of visitation + by some creature with a taste for sweets. The neighborhood, I + ascertained, was infested with wild hogs. In the afternoon I + surveyed the fields adjoining the sugar-cane, and made my + dispositions against night. The moon was at the full. As soon + as it rose I took my rifle and repaired to a position selected + with reference to a certain tree. This tree had a low—but + not too low—horizontal branch, strong enough, as proved + by experiment, to bear my weight. Presently, an unmistakable + concert of snorting and grunting announced the approach of + swine. I picked out their fugleman, a well-grown boar, and + fired. He was only wounded, and immediately gave chase after + me. I might discharge my second barrel at him, but suppose I + should miss? Perched out of his reach, I might miss him with + impunity, and <span class="pagenum"><a name="page343" + id="page343"></a>[pg 343]</span> load again. All this I had + pondered beforehand. So I started for my tree, which I + reached some ten seconds sooner than the boar, swung myself + up on its low branch, and there took my seat. The boar + rushed furiously to and fro, raging like the heathen of the + Psalmist, and also, like the Psalmist's people—not a + well-ordered democracy like ours, of course—imagining + a vain thing. Again and again he quixotically charged the + bole of the tree, no doubt thinking it to be myself in a new + shape. A fine classical boar he must have been, with his + poetic faith in instantaneous metamorphosis. His + classicality, however, what with his unmannerly savageness + and my own suspension between heaven and earth, I did not + feel bound to respect. So, without the slightest emotion of + sentimentality, I put a ball through his head.</p> + + <p>Let us now hark back to the blue-cow, beautiful and + breathless. Satisfied, for the nonce, with my prowess in laying + it low, I plunged into the forest, just to explore. I must have + rambled several miles, when I suddenly came upon an impervious + barrier of quickset. Following its course a little way, I found + that it curved, and at one point I espied through it a broad + ditch filled with water, and a wall beyond. By and by I reached + a gap in the barrier, and a drawbridge leading up to a large + gate. I crossed the bridge, knocked at the gate, parleyed with + an invisible porter, and was admitted. My visit was evidently + viewed with a mixture of dislike and suspicion, but with no + sign of alarm when it was seen that I was really unaccompanied, + as, while still outside, I had said I was. Looking around, I + perceived that I was in a substantial fortress. Eight or ten + ruffianly fellows came about me and wished to know what I + wanted. I asked who lived there, and they informed me, adding + an expression of surprise at my putting such a question. Was + their master at home? He was. And could I see him? They would + let me know directly. On this I was conducted to a small room, + and left there, The roughs paced backward and forward before + the door, casting glances at me which I fancied to be sinister. + In a few minutes their chief, a stalwart, brawny biped, + swaggered in, twirling his moustaches, clanking his sword, and + studying to seem truculent. He, no less than his men, was at a + loss to know what I could have come there for. So I told him + the unvarnished facts of the case, and paused for his reply. He + had none to make. The latest news from Lucknow he inquired for, + indeed, but as I had come from the opposite direction, and + withal did not know the latest news of the capital from the + stalest, I could contribute nothing to his enlightenment. + Besides my rifle, I had in my belt a pair of loaded pistols. He + desired to look at them, but took in good part enough my + objection that I never trusted them in any hands but my own. We + went on talking for a little while, when he called for betel + and pan. This meant that I might go. I helped myself, took + leave and recrossed the drawbridge. It was a notorious + freebooter, a Hindoo Robin Hood, that I had dropped upon. But + why did he not tumble me into his ditch and enrich his armory + with my rifle and pistols? It may be that prudence operated, in + his letting me go free, as a check on his lust for a very small + gain. Despite the then disordered condition of the + country—or, in some instances, by very reason of + it—people of his stamp were every here and there called + to a summary reckoning. A bandit would know the haunts of other + bandits, and either to conciliate the government or in the hope + of reward occasionally betrayed or slew a fellow-outlaw. While + in Oude, one morning just after breakfast I was told there was + something to show me in a basket. The cover was removed, and + there I saw sixteen human heads. Their late proprietors were a + famous brigand and his merry men, only looking quite the + reverse of merry in the grim ghastliness of decapitation. I + scarcely recovered my appetite before tiffin.</p> + + <p>By an odd concurrence of circumstances, when near Fyzabad I + was for three days thrown on the hospitality of a wealthy + Mohammedan. Nothing could have exceeded his kindness, but the + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page344" + id="page344"></a>[pg 344]</span> peculiar nature of the + entertainment he gave me may be conjectured when I mention + that he had not such a thing as a chair, table, knife, fork + or spoon to his name. Perforce, I had to dine sitting on the + floor and with the sole aid of my fingers. However, I + accepted my fate without a murmur, and soon learned to feed + after the fashion of Eden as deftly as if I had been bred to + it. Hindoo cookery I could rarely screw up my courage so + heroically as to venture upon. Even the odor of my Calcutta + washerman, redolent with the fragrance of castor oil, was + too much for my unchastised squeamishness; and as to + assafoetida, the favorite condiment of our Aryan cousins, I + was so uncatholic as to bring away from India the same + aversion to it that I had carried out there. But a + Mohammedan has, with some unimportant reservations, highly + rational notions as concerns the eatable and the drinkable. + His endless variety of kabobs and pilaus is worthy of all + commendation; and his sherbets, which refresh without a + sting or a resipiscent headache next morning, are no doubt + the style of phlegm-cutters and gum-ticklers which one had + better patronize pretty exclusively while between the + tropics. The gentleman of the circumcision whom I had for + host was, I suspect, something of an epicure, and his + cooking was such as I found eminently toothsome. My dinner + was on the floor at the polite hour of eight, after which he + would come to me for a short talk and to chant a little + Persian poetry. At nine he was due in his harem, which, he + gave me to understand, was a populous establishment.</p> + + <p>For my special service he detailed, to my surprise, not a + man, but a young woman, who, I take it, was in bonds. Under + considerate Hindoo and Mohammedan masters slavery is, however, + the lightest of hardships, and the damsel appropriated to wait + on me, if she were not a slave, could not have been + lighter-hearted. A student of all the natural products of the + East, I did not neglect while there to bestow a proper share of + study on Indian womankind; and as my Fyzabad abigail was a + noteworthy specimen of her species, I may as well gratify the + curiosity of the untraveled to know what she was like. Such as + she was the queen of Sheba would perhaps have been if scoured + very bright and pared shapely. Her name was Dilrubâ, + which signifies, being interpreted, "Heart-ravisher." She may + have been seventeen or eighteen; she was of a good height and + elegantly proportioned, with a well-set neck, sloping + shoulders, and fine bust; and her carriage had that stately and + sylph-like grace which no words can depict, and which is found + nowhere on earth but among the Orientals. Her hands and feet + were exquisitely small and symmetrical. Her arms, which were + bare to the shoulder, displayed everything of fullness, + rotundity and lines of beauty that could be desired. Their hue + and delicacy of texture would have reminded a connoisseur of + brownish satin. Her waist, tight-cinctured, was—which is + the highest praise—not ultra-fashionable, and the + undulations of her gauzy drapery disclosed, as she receded, + enough of ankle and crural adjacency to furnish hints of + improvement to most classical sculptors. Her lips, I regret to + say, were too liny, and not of the true ruby tint, but with the + exception of her mouth all her features were, not to say more, + good. As to her eyes, I should do injustice by any attempt to + describe them. An object must be susceptible of calm and + dispassionate contemplation if one would analyze it afterward + without complete disaster. A very irresistible little piece of + orientality she must indeed have been, perchance the reader + will conclude. And yet, if the reader is a man and a + brother—that is to say, a brother white man—I + answer him he is altogether in too great a hurry. He has + forgotten her color; and color is a matter which we + narrow—minded dwellers in the North find it impossible to + be liberal about. Not by five-and-twenty shades, at the least, + did the trim creature resemble any lily of the valley but a + very dark one; and of the rose she was totally unsuggestive. If + I had been so cosmopolitan as to make love to her, she could + not have called up a blush to save her + <span class="pagenum">[pg 345]</span> pretty little soul and + body. She might have turned green or yellow, for aught I know, + but by no possibility could she have done what she ought to + have done.</p> + + <p>At Fyzabad there is but little to see, and that little is + rather uninteresting. What impressed me there, more than + anything else, was a particular private dwelling, and + especially a certain room in it. The edifice to which I refer + belonged to an opulent Mohammedan, and had been erected by an + English architect. Being constructed pretty closely on the + model of a mansion in Belgravia, it was wholly unsuited in a + hot climate to any purpose except that of torture. In all + probability, its constructor, as he roasted over his work, + omitted of set intention to fit it up with fireplaces. In this + omission, however, there was a breach of contract, for in all + its details the building was to be thoroughly English. The + defect was pointed out at the last moment, and strict + injunctions were given to repair it. Fireplaces there must be, + and a full complement of them. The matter was finally + compromised by providing a single small square room at the top + of the house with one in each of its side walls. In the same + spirit of determination not to come short of the mark, a rich + Bengalee baboo whom I once knew furnished his drawing-room, a + large apartment, with thirty-two round tables and an equal + number of musical boxes.</p> + + <p>A great deal more might be said of Oude as I saw it, but the + region, since it became English territory, has been so often + and so fully described that I forbear to dwell on it. At + Lucknow, its capital, I spent a week as guest of Sir Henry + Sleeman, with whom, from that time to the end of his life, I + was in constant correspondence. That Sir Henry was a man + altogether out of the common must be evident from his various + publications. I came to know his mind on most subjects very + intimately. In every respect he was original and peculiar, and + but for a rooted aversion to anything like Boswellism I might + here depict a character such as one seldom meets with in these + days. To his personal influence it was largely owing that for + many a long year the annexation of Oude to the Indian empire + was suspended in disastrous balance.</p> + + <p class="author">FITZEDWARD HALL.</p> + + <h2><a name="page345" + id="page345">ONCE AND AGAIN.</a></h2> + + <p>Once and again I have nestled in the lap of a small village + and wondered at the necessity of any world beyond my peaceful + horizon. Once and again, after long years, I have entered the + old school-room with the fearful and impatient heart of a boy: + I have paced the play-ground and gone to and fro in the village + streets singing, but the song I once sang came not again to my + lips, for it no longer suited the time or the occasion.</p> + + <p>I thought to take up the thread of life where I had dropped + it near a score of years before, and complete the web which + fancy had embroidered with many a flower of memory and hope and + love. I had forgotten that the loom weaves steadily and + persistently whether my hand be on it or not, and that I can + never mend the rent in the fabric I so long neglected.</p> + + <p>My record elsewhere is replete with numerous accidents by + flood and field—with the epochs of meetings and + marryings, of births and deaths. Meanwhile, the friends who had + held fast to me through all these changes wrote ever in the + selfsame vein, and plotted for my return with such even and + sturdy faith that I had grown to look upon them as having drunk + at the fountain of immortal youth.</p> + + <p>Of course the delectable spring gushed + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page346" + id="page346"></a>[pg 346]</span> out of the heart of one of + those dear old hills that walled in the village, for how + else could they have quaffed it? The bones of more than two + centuries pave the highway between New England and + California. As jubilant as young Lochinvar, I came out of + the West one summer dawn, and took train for Heartsease. I + had resolved to compass in a single week the innumerable + landmarks that dot mountain and desert and prairie—to + leap as it were from sea to sea, from the present to the + past, from manhood to early youth.</p> + + <p>Is it any wonder that I forestalled the time, and was a day + and a night distant before inquiring friends discovered my + flight? Is it any wonder that the shrieking and swaying train + seemed slow to me, for already my spirit had folded its swift + wings in the nest-like village of Heartsease? I had, moreover, + by this brilliant manoeuvre, left the bitter cup of parting + untasted—but nothing more serious than this—and + seemed to have won a whole day from the clutches of Time, who + deals them out so stingily to the expectant and impatient + watcher.</p> + + <p>San Francisco faces the sunrise, but there is a broad + glittering bay and a coast range with brawny bare shoulders + between them: I sailed over the flashing water, rode under the + mountains and threaded three tunnels before I began to realize + that I was a fugitive from home. It was midsummer; the + car-windows were half open; whiffs of warm wind blew in upon me + scented with bay-leaves and sage. For a moment I forgot + Heartsease and the home of my youth, and turned tenderly to + take a last farewell of the beloved land of my adoption. The + corn was cut and stacked in long dusty rows: it looked like a + deserted camp; the grain was down; small squirrels skipped + lightly over the shining stubble, whisking their bushy tails + like puffs of smoke. It seemed to me that no fairer land ever + baked in summer's sunshine. Even the parched earth, with its + broken and powdered crust, was lovely in my eyes. Small + day-owls sat in the corners of the fences, when there were any + fences to sit in, and nodded to me from behind their feather + masks: all the birds of the air taunted me with heads on one + side and drooping wings. I might escape trusting humanity and + steal away betimes, but these airy messengers waylaid me and + chirped a sarcastic adieu from every field we crossed.</p> + + <p>In the compulsory solitude of travel a man is thrown back + upon himself: at any rate, I am, and with waning courage and a + growing regret I sank into a corner of my seat by the window, + and glowered at the interminable slices of landscape that slid + past me on both sides of the rocking train. Have you ever noted + the refrain of the flying wheels as they hurry from town to + town? There is a sharp shriek from the locomotive, and a groan + from one end of the train to the other, as if every screw were + rheumatic and nothing but a miracle held it in its place. Then + the song begins, very slowly at first, and in the old familiar + strain: "Ko—ka—chi—lunk, + ko—ka—chilunk, koka—chilunk, kokachilunk," + repeated again and again, varied only when the short rails are + crossed, where it adds a few extra syllables in this style: + "Kokachilunk—chilunk, chilunk," growing faster and faster + every moment until the utmost speed is attained: it then soars + into this impressive refrain: "Lickity-cut, lickity-cut, + lickity-cut, lickity-cut," repeated as often and as rapidly as + possible. All the world goes by in two dizzy landscapes, yet + the song is unvaried until you approach a town with a + straggling and unfinished edge, where the houses are waltzing + about as if they had not yet decided upon any permanent + location. Here you slacken speed and drop into a third + movement, as monotonous as the others and far more drowsy, for + it suggests all that is soothing and nerve-relaxing and + sleep-begetting. It is "Killi-kinick, killi—kinick, + killi—kin—nick; eh! ah! bang!" A long groan from + the wheels, a deep sigh from the locomotive, and you are + stockstill at some inland hamlet that knows no emotion greater + than that occasioned by your arrival.</p> + + <p>To this dull accompaniment I climbed out of the golden + lowlands, the basins of the San Joaquin and the Sacramento, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page347" + id="page347"></a>[pg 347]</span> into the silver mountains + where the full moon was just rising. The train seemed to + soar through space; we passed from cliff to cliff, above + dark ravines, on bridges like spider-webs; we whirled around + sharp corners as if we had started for some planet, but + thought better of it and clung to earth, with our hair on + end and half the breath out of our bodies. We were + continually ascending; the locomotive panted hideously; + every throb of the powerful machine sent a shudder through + the whole length of the train.</p> + + <p>Again and again we paused: it seemed that we could not go + farther without rest. Sometimes we hung on the edge of a chasm + in whose fathomless shadow were buried a forest and a stream, + both of which sent upward to us a fragrant and melodious + greeting; sometimes we rested under a mighty mountain, whose + adamantine brow scowled upon us, and we were glad when we once + more resumed the toilsome ascent of the Sierras and escaped + unharmed from that giant's lair.</p> + + <p>Once we tarried on the brink of a wild cañon. + Midnight and silence seemed to slumber there: the moon flooded + one half the mysterious gulf with light, revealing a slender + waterfall whose plash was faintly heard: it served only to make + the silence more profound. Near at hand the torn and ragged + earth, robbed of its treasure, looked painful even in that + softening light. On the dark side of the cañon, in among + the trees, a flame danced. I saw the gaunt forms of rough-clad + men gathered about the camp-fire, and beyond them a rude cabin + of un-barked logs, looking cheerful enough in the rosy + light.</p> + + <p>There was nothing lovelier than this or more characteristic + in the glorious ride over the Sierras—not even the lake, + above whose green shores we rushed with half a mountain between + us; nor the ice-gorges, nor the black forests, nor the chaos of + rock and ravine that has defied the humanizing touch of time. I + felt the burden of the mountains then, and it is for ever + associated with a memory of the high Sierras, caught and fixed + as we swept onward into the wild, wide snow-lands.</p> + + <p>The burden of the mountains: There shall come a day when the + ravine for the silver is drained and the gold-seekers turn from + thee disconsolate, but thy years are unnumbered and thy + strength unfailing: the grass shall cover thy nakedness and the + pine-boughs brood over thee for ever and ever; the clouds shall + visit thee and the springs increase; the snows shall gather in + the clefts of thy bosom; thy breasts shall give nourishment, + thy breath life to the fainting, and the sight of thy face joy. + The people shall go up to thee and build in thy shadow; their + flocks shall feed in peace: out of thy days shall come fatness, + and out of thy nights rest, for thou hast that within thee more + precious than silver, yea, better than much fine gold.</p> + + <p>When the burden was past I looked out into the night. A soft + wind was stirring; I scented the balsam of the piny woods; the + moon had descended beyond the crest of the mountain, and above + me the sky was flooded with pale and palpitating stars. We slid + out of the mountains into the broad Humboldt desert one + cloudless day: it was like getting on the roof of the + world—the great domed roof with its eaves sloping away + under the edges of heaven, and whereon there is nothing but a + matting of sagebrush, looking like grayish moss, and a deep + alkali dust as white and as fine as flour.</p> + + <p>There were but two features in the landscape on which to fix + the eye, and these were infrequent—the dusty beds of the + dead rivers and the wind-sculptured rocks. It was the + abomination of desolation: the air was thin, but spicy; the sky + was bare. When we had followed with eager glance the + shadow-like gazelle in his bounding flight, and brought the + heavy-headed buffalo to a momentary stand, with his small evil + eye fixed upon us, he wheeled suddenly and disappeared in a + cloud of dust; and we were alone in the desert.</p> + + <p>Those mellow hours by the inland sea, where sits the Garden + City, with its wide grass-grown streets and its vine-veiled + cottages basking in summer sunshine, were precious indeed! We + had ample <span class="pagenum"><a name="page348" + id="page348"></a>[pg 348]</span> opportunity for developing + philosophy, sentiment and politics at one sitting. Coming + out of the fair and foul refuge of the fleshly saints, I + thought of the wisdom of the French poet who once said to + me, "Oui, monsieur: life is an oasis in which there is many + a desert." In the unfruitful shoots of those thorn-bearing + vines and withered fig trees I learned the burden of the + desert: Though it blossom as the rose, if it yield not honey + it shall be laid waste; though it deck itself with beauty, + though it sing with the voice of the charmer, its fairness + is a mock and its song is the song of the harlot. Harbor it + not in your hearts. Let it be purged of uncleanness, let the + stain be washed from it. Though the builders build + cunningly, they have builded in vain. There is blood on + their lintels, and their hearts are full of lust. He that + sits in the seat of the scornful and is girded about with + pride, let him fall as the tree falls, even the king of the + forest, for there is rottenness at the core.</p> + + <p>Like pilgrims in the earthly paradise we ploughed the long + grass of the prairies; like a fiery snake our train trailed + over the flowering land; its long undulations were no + impediment; the grassy billows parted before us; we cleft the + young forests that have here and there sprung up at the call of + patient husbandry; myriads of wild-fowl wheeled over the + fragrant and boundless fields; every flower in the floral + calendar seemed at home in those meadow-lands of the world: the + sunset was not more glorious than the gentle slopes that swept + to our feet like a long wave of the sea, and then broke in a + foam of flowers. Not only was the delicious day + promise-crammed, but the night, loud with the chirp of the + cricket and the cry of the sentinel owl, seemed the realization + of some splendid dream.</p> + + <p>Out of the redundant and prophetic life of that land I heard + a prophecy, and the prophecy was the burden of the prairies. It + is the chant of the future, full of life and hope. I see now + rows of men and women, the toilers of the earth; they have + planted forests and the strong wind is stayed; they have broken + the soil and the grain is breast-high; they are merry, for they + are free, and their stores increase with the years. Wine and + oil are their portion, and fat kine and all manner of cunning + workmanship; their cities are greater and better than the old + cities, for they are builded on virgin soil; and the day shall + come when the jubilee of the prairies will assemble the hosts + from the borders of the two seas, and they will hear their + praises sung and receive tribute, for the strength of the land + is theirs.</p> + + <p>And we came into other countries that were full of people, + and of cities great and small. A thousand strange faces were + turned upon us as we shot past the open doors of houses wherein + the table was spread for the domestic meal. We hailed the + field-laborers and the town-artisans at their toil, and every + hour plunged deeper and deeper into the old civilization of the + East, which in some respects differs greatly from that of our + breezy West. It was time to be thinking on my journey's end and + its probable results. I seemed to read it all beforehand: Ellen + would greet me at the gate of the parsonage on the edge of + Heartsease, looking just as she looked when I parted with her + long, long years before. Ellen had not changed with time: she + had written me the same sweet, placid, sympathetic letters from + the beginning, and the beginning was when, a mere child, I had + worn out my heart with longing for home, and had at last been + welcomed back over the two seas and across the slender chain of + flowers that binds the two Americas together—back to the + land I love, California. Ellen would lead me in all the old + paths; we would see the garden in which, as a beautiful boy, I + more than once sought her to confess some grief, knowing there + was no ear so willing as hers, no heart tenderer, no counsel + more comforting. We would row up the stream that runs under the + hill by the willows, and strand in the same shallow nook, in + honor of the festal Saturdays dead and gone. We would gather + the old friends about us, and eat very large apples by the + study-window; we would hunt nests in the hayloft and acorns in + the wood; the <span class="pagenum"><a name="page349" + id="page349"></a>[pg 349]</span> school-room would take us + back again, and all the half-obliterated memories of the + past would glow with fresher color. A hundred hands would be + stretched out to me, and I would recognize the clasp of + each. Ah, happy day when I again returned to Heartsease and + found the lost thread of my youth unbroken, and I had only + to weave on and complete the fabric so long neglected!</p> + + <p>There were a dozen trains to enter and get out of before I + could be whirled across the country to Heartsease. Now that + Heartsease was easily attainable, all the restless world would + be fleeing thither, and it would no longer be worthy of its + name. I felt my way from town to town, pausing an hour here, + another hour there, in an impatient mood, for the last train + was behind time, and I feared I should not arrive in the + village at the moment of all others I most desired to. Why + should I not come at sunset to the parsonage—one from the + land of the sunset wearing, as it were, his colors on his + heart? The hour is so mysterious and pathetic—the very + hour to step in upon the village, for so you can gloat over it + all night, before the sun has laid the whole truth bare to you + on the following morning. And moreover I had not written Ellen + of my intended visit: why should I, when she had been looking + for me these ten years at least? Why should I say, "At last I + am coming," when a thousand things might have prevented me? Was + it not better to walk up the long road from the station at + twilight, pass silently through the quiet, familiar streets, + and then, as I approached the gate of the parsonage, discover a + form waiting there as if expecting some one, but whom it was + hard to say? Drawing nearer, I would recognize the form, + slender and graceful, and then the face, placid and pale, with + the soft hair drawn smoothly over the temples and the thin + hands folded in peace. Oh yes, it was much better thus.</p> + + <p>At the last change of trains, ten miles from Heartsease, a + heavy summer shower was drenching the town; the very rain was + hot, and the earth steamed lustily. I feared, my plan was + spoiled, my meeting at the gate after long years of patient and + hopeful waiting. But the rain passed over, and I was again + under way. Now every inch of the land was familiar: I + recognized old houses and barns and strips of fence and streams + that had not been in my mind once in all these years. I knew + every block of forest that had been left on the border of the + upland fields, and all the meadows, marshy or dry: the very + faces of the people seemed to recall some one I had known + before. The hills were like lessons learned by heart; and now I + came upon the actual haunts of my school-boy days—the + wood where we gave our picnics; the red house, a little out of + the village, where one of the boys lived—strangely + enough, the house I remembered, but the boy's looks and name + had gone from me—and then the train stopped. I felt a + tingling sensation, as if the blood were coming to the surface + all over me.</p> + + <p>A switchman, and a stranger, waved us welcome with a yard of + flaming bunting. I hurried out of the car and alighted within + half a mile of Heartsease. On the platform, where I had parted + with my schoolmates fifteen years before, I waited till the + train had passed onward and out of sight. I was alone: the + switchman asked no odds of me, but furled his bunting and + immediately withdrew. For a moment I looked about me in + bewilderment. I think I could have turned back had I been + encouraged to do so, for I felt half guilty in thus surprising + my friends. A moment later I plucked up heart and struck into + the road that leads up to the village.</p> + + <p>The road has a margin of grass and weeds, and there are + meadows on both sides. I walked in the very middle of it, with + my portmanteau in my hand, and looked straight ahead. Before me + lay the village, a cluster of white houses embowered in trees. + It was sunset; the rain had washed the leaves and laid the dust + in the road; the air was exquisitely fragrant and of uncommon + softness; the white spire of the village church, flanked by a + long line of poplars, was gilded with a sunbeam, but the lowly + roofs of the villagers were bathed in the radiant twilight that + had deepened under the <span class="pagenum"><a name="page350" + id="page350"></a>[pg 350]</span> western hills. Cattle were + lowing in the meadows; the crickets chirped everywhere; a + barbed swallow clove the air like an arrow whose force is + nigh spent; and a child's voice rang out on the edge of the + village as clear as a clarion. I paused and laughed aloud. I + was mad with joy; an exquisite thrill ran through me; it + seemed to me that the most delicious moment of my life had + come.</p> + + <p>I entered the village a boy again, with all the wild + ambition of a boy and with a boy's roguish spirit. I resolved + to play upon them at the parsonage. If Ellen were not at the + gate waiting for me, I would enter as a stranger and remain a + season before throwing off disguise. I would cunningly lead the + conversation from topic to topic until we came naturally to the + past, and there in the past my shadow would appear, and then at + the right moment I would throw myself at Ellen's feet and bury + my head in her lap and weep for very joy.</p> + + <p>These dreams beguiled me as I drew near the village. My step + was buoyant; I scarcely felt the weight of my portmanteau; I + was drunk with expectation and delight. In the village I found + the streets and houses and signs for the most part unchanged, + but I looked in vain for a familiar face. A few lads were + playing about "the corners," and when I saw them it suddenly + occurred to me that all those youngsters under fifteen were not + born when I was a schoolboy in Heartsease. I turned away from + them with a feeling of unutterable disappointment. Why should + not all my playmates be married or dead or have moved out of + the village if changes had come to it? I had not thought much + of change in this connection, and it was a hard blow.</p> + + <p>A faint flush was in the evening sky: it was the afterglow, + and in its light I pressed onward toward the parsonage. A + hollow in the road, through which a stream rippled, lay between + me and the grove that sheltered Ellen's home: I hastened down + it, and began climbing the easy ascent on the other side of the + stream. I seemed to grow years older with every step I took, + for I knew that the change which comes to all must have come to + me in like measure, though I was a boy again when I came up the + road laughing and heard the first sweet village voice.</p> + + <p>There was no form at the gate awaiting me, but the house was + quite unaltered, and I knew every leaf in the garden. The flush + in the sky had turned to gold and the air throbbed with light + as I hid my portmanteau under the rosebush by the gate and + stole up to the study-door. I would not give so palpable a clew + to my identity as that: I wished to appear like one who had + dropped in for a moment to ask the hour or the loan of a late + journal. I rapped at the shutters that enclosed the outer door, + and waited in a tremor of expectation: there was no response. + Again I rapped, and again waited in vain for a reply.</p> + + <p>The shadows deepened in the grove; a thin light sifted down + through the leaves and fell upon the doorstep in pale disks + that seemed to tremble with agitation and suspense. I grew + uneasy, and feared it was not wise of me to have come without + announcement, and my heart beat heavily. I walked nervously to + the side of the house and glanced in at the deep bow-window; a + shadow crossed the room: it was Ellen's shadow, and unchanged, + thank God! I knew she would not change, for she was one whom + time wearied not and fear fretted not, but to whom all things + were alike welcome, inasmuch as they came from the Hand that + can work no ill.</p> + + <p>I returned to the study-door and rapped again, and then grew + suddenly much excited: I almost wished I had not summoned her + so soon, but already I heard her step upon the carpet, her hand + on the latch and the shutters swung apart. I strove to calm + myself and ask carelessly if she were at home, when I thought I + saw a difference in the form and face before me: they were so + like Ellen's, but not hers. Had it been in my power to do so, I + would have turned at that moment and gone out into the world + without questioning any one: I would gladly have avoided any + revelation of ill that might have befallen that household, and + gone on as before, thinking it + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page351" + id="page351"></a>[pg 351]</span> was well with them. But it + was too late: at the same instant we recognized one + another.</p> + + <p>"Is it Emma?" I asked fearfully.</p> + + <p>"You are not—"</p> + + <p>Ah, yes, it was he who had promised all these years to come, + and had come at last!</p> + + <p>Then she added, "You have come too late: Ellen left us one + week ago."</p> + + <p>I knew what that meant: it was the leaving that takes all + along with it, and there remains nothing but a memory instead. + It was the leaving that lays bare the heart of hearts, and + strikes blind and dumb the agonized soul—the leaving and + the leave-taking that is all bitterness, call it by what name + you will—that makes weak, the strong and confounds the + wise, and strikes terror to the breast of stone—the + leaving which is the leaving off of everything that is near and + dear and familiar, and the taking on of all that is new and + strange—Death! Death! at the thought of which even the + Son of God faltered and cried, "If it be possible let this cup + pass from Me," alone in that wild night in the garden, with + watching and prayers and tears.</p> + + <p>I had dreamed out my dream: it was glorious while it lasted, + but I wakened to a reality that was as cruel as it was + unexpected.</p> + + <p>Emma was a mere child when I left Heartsease: she had grown + into the living image of her sister. Whenever Emma spoke I + seemed to hear the voice and feel the presence of the one who + had been gone a whole week when I came in search of her. I + entered the stricken home: father, mother and maiden + aunt—that good angel of all homes—were to me as if + I had parted with them but yesterday. We sat in silence for a + time: it seemed to me that if any one spoke there the very + walls of the house would distill sorrowful drops. Our hearts + were brimming, our lips were quivering, with inexpressible + grief. It was a solemn and a holy hour; the night closed in + about us with unutterable tenderness; the summer stars shed + down their radiant beams.</p> + + <p>The vesper-song of some invisible bird called me into the + garden, and I walked there alone. Did I walk utterly alone? A + spirit was with me. I wandered out to the gate and drew my + portmanteau from its hiding-place: I placed my hand upon the + latch; the gate swung easily, but I paused a moment. Shall I go + or shall I stay? asked my heart: "Stay," said the spirit that + was with me. I returned to the house and joined in the evening + meal: sorrow sat at the board with us, but not a hopeless + sorrow. The magnetism of her touch had not yet left that home: + it never need, it never will leave it, for it is treasured + there. Her piano was closed, and I would not open it: any + harmony would have been too harsh for the hallowed silence of + the place. Her books, her pictures, her dainty needlework, + <i>her words</i>—all that had been a part of her + life—still lived, though she had left us.</p> + + <p>Those were sweet days to me. Emma and I went side by side to + the old haunts—to most of them, but not all, for there + were some I cared no longer to revisit. Before we had compassed + the narrow limits of Heartsease I began to wonder if there was + a stone left that would give back to me the impression of my + early days: they all told another story now, and most of them a + sad one. Even the school-room was as a dead thing, though I sat + on the old benches and mounted the rostrum whereon I was wont + to "speak my piece" with much trepidation of spirit and an + inexplicable weakness of the knees. I wrote my name on the wall + in an obscure corner, simply because I didn't want it to be + stricken off from the roll entirely, and then turned back into + the street with less regret than I had reckoned on.</p> + + <p>Of all the old friends I had known in boyhood, I saw but two + besides Emma—two sisters whose histories were strange and + wonderful. They greeted me as of yore, and we talked of the + past with pity mingled with delight. Dick, my old chum, Emma's + soldier-brother, was miles and miles away: not a boy of all our + tribe was left in Heartsease to tell me the story of the past. + I began to be glad that it was so, for the great gulf that lay + between me and the boy I had been <span class="pagenum">[pg + 352]</span> seemed to render up no ghosts but were shrouded in + sorrow.</p> + + <p>There was one spot I might have visited, but did not: it + seemed to me better to wander to and fro about the dear old + parsonage with the living spirit near me, and to go out again + into the world with the softened influences of that lessened + but unbroken circle consoling me, than to seek the new grave + that had not yet had time to clothe itself with violets, and + the sight of which could have given me nothing but pain. By and + by, I thought, let me return, and when it has healed over and + is sweet with summer flowers I will sprinkle rue upon it and + breathe her name. I went back from Heartsease like the bearer + of strange news. We had all sat together and thought, rather + than uttered, the memories of the past: they weighed me down, + but they were precious freights. When I looked once more, and + for the last time, upon the darling village drowsing in the + sunshine, I felt that I had learned the burden of the hearth: + Not length of days is given, but the sweetness and strength + thereof: their memory shall live even though the dead be dust. + Out of the loam of this corrupting body springs heavenward the + invisible blossom of the soul. You have watered it with tears: + let the performance thereof comfort you. Though ye die, yet + shall ye live: thus saith the Lord. But shall the old days + delight us and the past live? Yea, verily, saith the + Spirit—once, but never again!</p> + + <p class="author">CHARLES WARREN STODDARD.</p> + + <h2><a name="page352" + id="page352">THE SCIENTIFIC LIFE.</a></h2> + + <p>It has been my good fortune to be thrown much with men of + science, and to find among them companions made agreeable by + the best of social qualities and by many larger capacities. + Perhaps it is their life apart, their consciousness of + belonging to a distinct class, that has made them, as I have + found them, so strikingly individual, and partly for this very + reason so interesting. Indeed, it is curious to observe how + varied and how utterly different maybe the non-essentials, + moral and mental, of the beings to whom God has given the rare + gift of power to look into the secrets He has scattered around + us in plant and earth and animal life. Consistently with + various grades of competence for investigation, the man may be + social, or may flee his fellows; may be witty, or incapable of + seeing the broadest fun; a poet, or almost devoid of creative + imagination; full of refinement and rife with multiple forms of + culture, or neither scholarly nor well-informed outside of his + especial line of work. According as he is endowed with mental + graces and forms of culture, apart from his science, will be + his charm as a companion; but while the absence of these means + of pleasing is sometimes met with, and while their lack in no + wise lessens his power of investigation, I have found most men + of science to possess in a high degree qualities which rendered + them delightful as comrades at the camp-fire or as guests at + the dinner-table. Indeed, the best talkers I know are men of + science—not the mere students of a knowledge already + garnered, but those who discover new facts or who spend their + lives in original research. The most mirthful, cheery, happy + and liberal-minded of men are to be found in the limited ring + of those who are known in this country as investigators. On the + European continent the same remark holds true, but in Europe + this class is very often less refined than with us. In England + the same class is undoubtedly notable for a curious absence of + the wide range of general information constantly found in + America, so that English men of science often amaze us in + social life by their lack not so much of culture, as + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page353" + id="page353"></a>[pg 353]</span> of wide knowledge of + matters outside of their own studies, as well as by their + inaptitude to share the lighter chat of the + dinner-table.</p> + + <p>Even in Great Britain—and yet more in Germany and + France—the habits of life make it less of a sacrifice + than here for men to abandon all that money gives and to devote + themselves to the quiet life of the closet and the laboratory. + Once set in a groove, the average man abroad is less apt, to + seek to rise out of it or depart from it; while with us the + constant flow of a too intensely active life is for ever luring + men with baits of greed to take the easy step aside from pure + science into the golden ways of gain. Honored be they in this + land of eager money-getting who withstand the temptation, and + in quiet and peace, undisturbed by the turmoil about them, + pursue those noble quests which give to humanity its highest + training! What these men lose we know: to them are neither + great houses nor the hoards of successful commerce. Their lives + are often vexed by the trouble and worry of wretchedly + incompetent incomes, and what trials they endure those they + love must also share. Their incomes, in fact, are usually such + as a well-paid bank-clerk or dry-goods salesman would despise. + Officers of the navy or army are, as a rule, as well paid as + men of science who hold the chairs of teachers; but while the + former class are the most signal and steady grumblers, the + latter are, of all the men I know, the most tranquilly content. + What they miss in life we can well imagine; what they gain the + general public little comprehends; but those who know them best + will readily understand why it is that their lives are + seemingly so happy.</p> + + <p>And here, again, I would remind the reader that the class I + speak of are not the mere college professors, useful as they + are, but those men, in or out of that class, whose lives are + devoted to the acquisition of facts fresh from Nature—to + the original study of bird and beast and stone and + flower—and those who, on a yet higher plane of work, are + busy with the patient investigation of physics and physiology. + Such men do not rely for success in their pursuits on their + knowledge of human nature, or the passions and foibles and + lower wants of their fellows, but, for ever turning toward a + more quiet life, are living among those strange problems which + haunt the naturalist, or among those awful forces which rule + the stars and pervade the dead and living world of matter. + There must be something quieting and ennobling in this steady + contemplation of vast machineries, which have all the force and + terror of human passions, and yet the serene steadiness and + certainty of unchanging law. It is "a purer ether, a diviner + air," from whence its citizens can afford to look down in + peace, perhaps in scorn, upon the ignoble strifes beneath + them.</p> + + <p>I suppose, too, that other men can hardly dream of the one + vast pleasure which comes to these searchers when ever so + little a new truth or a fresh analogy reaches them as the + result of their work. The pursuit itself is all absorbing, all + exacting, and when at last the purpose is attained, and out of + darkness flashes the light of some novel law, the knowledge of + some new connecting link, some simple explanation of a range of + facts or phenomena, or even the discovery of a fresh analogy or + homology, or of an undescribed fossil being, the purity of the + pleasure which they win is something which to be understood + must have been felt. "I think," said Jeffries Wyman once to the + writer, "that the most happy and heartfilling thing in the + world is to come face to face with something which no one but + God ever saw before." How transcendent must have been this form + of joy when it rewarded the first who saw the spectrum analysis + of starlight in its fullness of meaning, or to him who first + knew where and how the blood runs its wonderful courses!</p> + + <p>Then, too, the life of other men, of the merchant and the + lawyer, palls as age advances and its rewards are paid in + dollars or in honor. Their experiences are limited and work + out, but the naturalist or investigator only gathers day by day + new interests about his life of duties. His work is as pleasant + as play, and his play is usually only some new + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page354" + id="page354"></a>[pg 354]</span> form of work. Nature is + his—a mistress whose charms are unfading, and who is + his for life. Go to some meeting of men of science and see + how this is. The oldest has as keen a zest as the youngest, + and while life becomes to others a weariness, to these men + the pleasure in their steady work is absolutely unfailing. I + heard the other day a half-jesting remark at a dinner-table + of men of science to the effect that life might become a + tiresome thing as we grew older. "Not for me," said one of + them, whose name is known wherever science is held in honor: + "there must be no end of Rhizopods I have never studied." + Thus it is that men who live ever gazing at the surely + widening horizon of truth, who know that they at least need + never sigh for new worlds to conquer, who day by day are + coming into closer company with the yet unwhispered thoughts + of the great Maker, are happy and contented in the tasks to + which their lives are given, and serenely patient of what + their duties deny them of luxury and wealth and freedom to + wander or to rest.</p> + + <p>It might well be thought that men living so far apart from + the general paths, and pursuing purposes so remote from those + of the trader, would become obnoxious to that bitterest of + American reproaches, the charge of being unpractical. The + directness of aim of scientific training and the lofty code of + honor among students of science, with their fair share of + cis-Atlantic pliability, makes them, however, most useful and + trustworthy people whenever it becomes requisite to entrust to + them the mixture of commercial and scientific labor which is + needed by heads of boards of weights and measures, of + lighthouses, of coast surveys, and for the affairs and mere + business conduct of societies and colleges or museums. Indeed, + as regards this kind of work, they have too much of + it—too much of that sort of labor which in England is + well and wisely done by wealthy aristocrats who are amateurs in + science or eager to find work of some kind. The popular opinion + certainly conceives of the man of true science as being almost + unfit for the practical every-day duties which bring him into + working contact with his fellow-men. This is, as it were, a + reversed form of the prejudice which believes that a physician + or a lawyer will be a worse doctor or advocate because he + writes verses or amuses an hour of leisure by penning a + magazine article. As regards medicine, this popular decree is + swiftly fading, though it still has some mischievous power. It + was once believed, at least in this country, that a doctor + should be all his life a doctor, and nothing else: the notion + still lingers, so that young medical men who at the outset of + their career seek to become known as investigators in any of + the sciences related to medicine are, I fear, liable to be + looked upon by many older physicians, and by a part of the lay + public, as less likely than others to attain eminence in the + purely practical part of medical life. It is time that this + phantom of vulgar prejudice faded out. "Whatever you do," said + a late teacher of physiology in my presence to a young doctor, + "do not venture to become an experimental + physiologist—that is, if you wish afterward to succeed as + a doctor. It is fatal to that. It is sure to ruin you with the + public." Yet Brodie, Cooper, Erichson and many others so + employed their earlier years of leisure, and I might point in + this country to some noble instances of like success in + practice following upon careers which at first were purely + scientific. But, in truth, every physician is more or less an + investigator, and those who have been early trained to the + sternly accurate demands of work in the laboratory of the + experimental physiologist are only the better fitted for study + at the bedside.</p> + + <p>There is, however, a long list of physicians who have begun + life in the pursuit of science, and have found its charms too + potent to allow them to depart thence into the more lucrative + ways of medical practice. One of this class was Jeffries Wyman, + whose character and career well illustrate all that I have said + of the scientific life, its trials and rewards. There are some + graves on which we cannot lay too many flowers; and if, + therefore, after those who knew him best, I venture to + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page355" + id="page355"></a>[pg 355]</span> add my words of honor and + affection, and to state the impressions derived from my + intercourse with the very remarkable student of science + whose loss we have all lamented, I trust that the strong + feeling which prompts me may be held a sufficient + excuse.</p> + + <p>I had three or four sets of associations with Wyman, no one + of which fails to come back to my remembrance filled with the + charm of a man whose whole nature was simple, wholesome, pure + and generous. Others have said all that need be said of what he + did for his much-loved science: it is less easy to convey to + those who knew him not an impression of the influence he + exerted upon younger workers, and a sense of the social + pleasure which came of his remarkable combination of vast + knowledge and general culture, combined with a certain + loveliness of character and an almost childlike simplicity. I + once heard our greatest preacher nobly illustrate, with + Samson's riddle as his text, the delightfulness of that form of + human character in which sweetness and strength are blended. As + I listened, somehow I began to recall Wyman, for it was just + here that his social charm resided. He was intellectually + stronger even than any of his completed work showed, but he was + also the most lovable of men. His mind was very active and + remarkably suggestive—so much so that in social chat, + even the most careless, he was constantly saying things which + made you think or left you thoughtful. For many years he wrote + to me frequently, and his letters are filled with the most + lucid and happy suggestions, explanations or comments. After + the failure on the part of one of his friends to attain a + deserved object of just ambition, he wrote to me to state his + own extreme regret; and this not once, but thrice, as if he was + haunted by the sorrow of another's disappointment. At times he + was full of the most boyish spirit of jesting, as when in 1862 + he wrote to me grieving over the secession of Virginia, because + we had both of us thus lost our easiest supply of rattlesnakes. + Then he rejoiced over the fact that we still had the bull-frog; + and in an another note regrets that the rattlesnakes had not + been allowed to vote on the question of seceding.</p> + + <p>As I write I pause to turn over these records of a + dearly-valued friendship. They begin years ago with words of + encouragement as to certain investigations in which both of us + felt interest. Here and there they touch on matters of social + or personal value, but for the most part they deal only with + science. I used to wonder in those days, and still am surprised + anew as again I turn over these letters, at the amount of what + I might call suggestiveness in Wyman. He replies, for example, + in one letter to the gift of a scientific essay, and then in a + postscript runs off over eight pages of comment, explanation + and novel suggestions which put the subject in a new light; + while every here and there, amidst the wealth of scientific + illustration and useful hints given to aid another's work, + there is some pause to express a courteous doubt of his own + opinions. Everywhere, indeed, his letters, which made the most + of our intercourse, were full of the broadest sympathy in + pursuits which often were—but often were not—in the + same direction as his own lifelong studies. At times, too, the + sympathy broke out into the extreme of generosity. Thus, having + learned from me that certain very important and hitherto + undescribed anatomical structures would probably be found in + serpents and frogs, he tells me soon after that he has found + them; also, that he has discovered them in birds, and that he + has been led finally to a series of unlooked-for discoveries in + the anatomy of the nerves of the frog; and he wishes + experiments made on living frogs to learn the physiological use + of the structures thus found. Then not long after he proposes + that as the first discovery came from this writer, he should + take and use the notes and drawings which recorded his own + researches, and should use them in a second paper. It is + needless to say that this was declined, and the results + appeared under Wyman's name. It was characteristic of the man, + and was not the only time when I had to thank him for the + kindest offers of aid.</p> + + <p>To see Dr. Wyman in his museum + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page356" + id="page356"></a>[pg 356]</span> was one of the most + pleasant exhibitions of the man at his best. I well remember + one Sunday afternoon in May three years ago, when, walking + in Cambridge with H——, one of the most prominent + of our great railway presidents—and, better than this, + a man notable for genial social qualities, high culture and + a broad range of the readiest sympathies—I proposed to + him to call on Wyman and ask him to show us the + Archaeological Museum. We found Wyman at home, and if you + had asked a bright little girl to show you her baby-house + she could have been no better pleased than he. At first, as + we went from case to case, he was quiet and said little, but + as we showed the interest and admiration we so warmly felt, + he also grew eager and vivid in description, until as he + went on his talk became a marvel of illustrative + learning—so wide, so varied, so complete, that we were + carried along the current of his thoughts in wonder at this + strange combination of intense interest, of almost childlike + satisfaction, of a concentration on his subject of vast + antiquarian knowledge and of absolutely perfect anatomical + skill. Mr. H—— called his attention to the + curious distortions and odd enlargements of the protruded + tongue in some of the Alaskan wooden masks, and on this + little text he was away in a moment from case to case in the + museum, and from century to century, pointing out the use of + the tongue as an organ of facial expression in various ages. + Here were Roman or Greek examples, here Sioux or Alaskan + types of the same usages, and here was a new thought he had + never had before, and we were thanked for awakening it; and + so in his talk over this little point he showed us how + barbarian natures had like thoughts everywhere, and, as much + amused as we, he quoted and laughed and talked, still always + pleased and easy under the vast weight of learning which, + coming from his lips, was so utterly free from the least + appearance of being ponderous or tiresome. I think I never + knew any other man whose learning sat upon him as lightly or + was given to others as gracefully.</p> + + <p>I had once a like pleasure in raking over an Indian + shell-heap with Wyman. The quiet, amused amazement of the + native who plied the spade for us was an odd contrast to + Wyman's mood of deep interest and serious occupation. He had a + boy's pleasure in the quest, and again displayed for me the + most ready learning as to everything involved in the search. + Bits of bones were named as I would name the letters of the + alphabet: bone needles, fragments of pottery and odds and ends + of nameless use went with a laugh or some ingenious comment + into his little basket. In truth, a walk with Wyman at Mount + Desert was something to remember.</p> + + <p>The acquaintances of the merchant or lawyer grow fewer as + age comes on, but the naturalist is always enlarging his circle + of living or dead things in which he takes interest, and none + more profited thus by the years as they came than Wyman. The + bird, the tree, the flower, the rock, tiny worlds beneath damp + stones, little dramas of minute life within mouldy tree-trunks, + the quaint menageries in the sea-caves, shifted with every + tide, whatever the waves brought or the winds carried or the + earth bore were one and all acquaintances of this delightful + and delighted companion. Not without a manly interest in the + world of men and politics, he lived for the most part serenely + above its ferment and passions. Without the large means which, + had they been his, had been in the truest sense and for the + best purposes <i>means,</i> he lived a life of quiet, studious + content, made somewhat hard by ill-health, but, so far as I + know, undisturbed by envy of easier lots than his. Whatever + were his crosses in this world—and they must have been + many—no man who knew Wyman could now wish them to have + been changed, if, as no doubt was the case, they helped to + build up a character so filled with honest labor, so pure, so + lofty and so generous—</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Nor could Humanity resign</p> + + <p class="i2">A life which bade her heart beat + high,</p> + + <p>And blazoned Duty's stainless shield,</p> + + <p class="i2">And set a star in Honor's sky.</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p class="author">S. WEIR + MITCHELL.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page357" + id="page357"></a>[pg 357]</span> + + <h2>PLAYING WITH FIRE.</h2> + + <p>Apple-blossoms and the pale wild roses that grow in the + shadow of woody lanes were things of which she always reminded + you, she was so slight and so fair, with just a suggestion of + bloom about her—the bloom of youth. Hardly beautiful, but + then seventeen summers have a beauty of their own—a + beauty of firm round curves and velvety color, whose absence a + dozen years later works utter transformation. When Lilian + should approach thirty, and the blush that shifted now with + every word she spoke, almost with every thought, should have + paled—when time and tears should perhaps have dimmed the + soft eyes—then she might be, to those who love fleshly + magnificence alone, of sufficiently commonplace appearance, but + just now there was something about her so unique and so + attractive that every one when she passed by turned to discover + what it was. For the clear blue of her eye and the lofty purity + of her brow seemed to tell of a spirit whose beauty far + exceeded that of its temple, and the brightness of the glance + and the sweetness of the smile warmed the heart in her behalf + as regular outline and perfect contour are seldom known to do. + Happiness, too, is a crowning charm to any woman, and Lilian + was deeply and contentedly happy: a smile perpetually played in + the little, half-guessed dimples at the corners of her mouth, + and her wide clear eyes were full of peace. No; though years + should rob Lilian of bloom, it was plain that they could but + add fresh charms to her soul; and Lilian's lover must needs + love her soul.</p> + + <p>She was to be married in a couple of years—her mother + would not hear of it at present—to one who had been her + lover from her cradle, and who loved her with a tender and + devoted passion, who thought her embodied loveliness, and who + would have made any sacrifice, even to death, for her welfare. + She had seemed to him from the hour when he first saw + her—a blue-eyed, rosy child with an aureole of palest + yellow hair—a being not made of clay—something + remote and different as the angels are; and when he first + discovered that he loved her he had felt momentarily as if he + committed a sacrilege, and though he lost that sensation soon + enough, she always, seemed to him a holy and perfect thing. The + only cloud that crossed her sky now was sometimes when this + passion of Sterling's oppressed her or constrained her, and + made her feel that her love was less than his.</p> + + <p>Sterling was in the first flush of manhood, some half dozen + years her senior—a hazel-eyed, bright-haired Saxon, and a + noble, upright fellow: he was as prosperous in his fortunes as + he had a right to expect, for his father had established him in + a good business, and with suitable thrift and care there was no + reason why he should not succeed. His father was a man of such + strict adherence to theory that he allowed the boy, as he still + called him, only the same chance that he himself had had: he + lent him his capital and exacted a rigid payment of the + interest. "John shall share my fortune equally with Helen and + his mother," Mr. Sterling used to say, "when he has shown me + that he deserves it and can double it." And John, sure that any + theory of his father's was as right as a law of the universe, + was only anxious to keep the warm affection that he knew lay + behind the stern principle.</p> + + <p>He lived with Lilian's mother, whom he had persuaded, when + she found it necessary to make exertion, to come to the city + and rent a house there for himself and two or three of his + friends. He meant to take the house off her hands as soon as he + was able to afford so large an expenditure, and meantime he did + all he could to help her render it attractive and homelike. If + it was not yet all they wished, or all he intended it should + be, he knew that they were young, and felt + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page358" + id="page358"></a>[pg 358]</span> that they could wait; and + he said as much to Lilian when he saw her stand on tiptoe + before a picture or look longingly at a bit of bronze; + conscious the while that there was an artistic and luxurious + side to the child's nature that he did not + gratify—with which, indeed, he had little + sympathy—and evidence of which it often vexed him to + observe, as if it were a barrier between them, when her rapt + face revealed feelings unknown to him as she looked into the + sunset; as she stood at the door on summer nights while + bell-notes and flower-scents went by on the wind; as she + listened to orchestral music which in his ears was a noisy + snarl. But, for all that, he said to himself that this ideal + intelligence, so to call it, of Lilian's, was something + higher than his own rude senses; he had no wish to place her + on a lower level; he must do away the barrier by surmounting + it himself; and he used his leisure time to study pictures + and music, to discover the entrance to this world of art + whose atmosphere he fancied to be Lilian's native air; and + already he began to be able to translate into ideas the + strange and awful thrill he felt before some great white + marble where genius and inspiration had wrought together, + and to find the thread by which he might one day follow the + vast windings of those symphonies which Lilian always grew + so pale to hear. But he was a person of singular reserves, + and Lilian learned nothing of such effort or accomplishment + as yet. "You think I am so perfect!" she would say. "You + have built up a great hollow idol around me, and it is like + living in a vacuum. Don't you know it is very tiresome to be + chained up to such a standard?" And John only adored her all + the more for her candor, did not believe it, and hastened + home from business the sooner.</p> + + <p>In fact, if this home, in which they all shared, was not + exactly as they would have liked it to be, it was nevertheless + a delightful place to John Sterling. He already had a sense of + proprietorship in it. He lined its walls with books as he grew + able, with prints, with now and then a painting, with plaster + till he could get marble; Lilian's ivies clambered everywhere, + and her azaleas and great lilies seemed to have a secret of + perpetual flowering; a bright fire cast rosy lights and shadows + over it all; and John would declare, as he sank into his + easy-chair in the half twilight and surveyed the warm place, + which seemed only a ruddy background for Lilian's fairness, + that he never wanted anything better than this as long as he + lived. It hurt him sometimes, though, to remember that Lilian + never made any response to such words. "Well, well," he would + say to himself in a way he had, "why should she? and why should + I expect it of her? If people are born with wings, they do not + want to creep. She beautifies everything she touches, and she + is only in her right place when all the flower of the world's + beauty is about her. But some day that shall be; and meantime + there is nothing to hinder my liking this." He had almost an + ideal home with Lilian's mother, as he wrote to his own mother, + and every time he went out of it in the morning he felt himself + a better man than he was when he went into it at night. His + mother and father journeyed a thousand miles to see it, and + felt as John did himself—thanked Heaven for the promise + of a child like Lilian—one so forgetful of herself, so + thoughtful for every one else, so candid, so generous, so + gentle, so good. "She is nothing but a child," said Mrs. + Sterling for the thousandth time, "and yet how lofty she + is!—so lofty and so sweet! What will she be at thirty if + she is this at seventeen? It makes me tremble to think of + John's being blest so, as if it were too much, as if some fate + must overtake him."</p> + + <p>"He must become a very superior man under the influence of + such a wife as Lilian will be," said Mr. Sterling. "Helen shall + go on and spend the winter with John: they teach canaries to + sing," said he, stroking Helen's black hair, "by hanging up + their cages in the same room with a nightingale's."</p> + + <p>And so Helen was despatched on the journey, and made another + member in the little family, for John's friends merely had + rooms, and enjoyed no more sufferance than other guests in the + penetralia <span class="pagenum"><a name="page359" + id="page359"></a>[pg 359]</span> of the house. She was a + gaunt and big-eyed child, with a certain promise of + magnificence that, as Reyburn said, might be fulfilled in a + year or two in a sumptuous sort of beauty. But now she was a + morbid and retiring creature, fourteen or fifteen years old, + looking out askance and half suspiciously on the world from + under the shadow of her immense eyelashes, and singing from + room to room with a strange voice that a year or two would + ripen into tones fit for a siren. There was just the + difference in age between her and Lilian that, while it + allowed them companionship, gave Lilian, together with the + fact of her engagement to John, a glorious dignity in + Helen's eyes that she would not have her abate a jot. Her + gowns, her shawls, her simple laces and few jewels seemed + the appanage of a superior state of existence; they brought + close to her the possibilities of that charmed time when she + too would be a woman grown. She could not tire of gazing at + the blush flitting over Lilian's face as she spoke, at the + way her steady eyelid slanted toward her cheek as she read: + the sound of her voice had an intimate music that acted like + a charm; and when this wonderful being entertained her in + her well hours and cosseted her in her ill ones, listened to + her, waited on her and caressed her, Helen rewarded her by + worshiping her. It was Lilian who constantly procured Helen + pleasures, who shielded her little faults, who sympathized + with her joys and her griefs and her sentimentalities, + making merry with her to-day, crying with her to-morrow, and + who shone upon her with unvarying sunshine; it was Lilian + who did all this in another way for John; it was Lilian who + made every one's happiness that came near her; and Helen's + affection for her became something romantic and ideal. As + for her brother John, Helen had always held him in a place + apart: she loved him far better than she loved her strict, + stern father; he was a portion of herself; her universe + revolved around him; she had never formed a fancy of what + life and the world would be without him; and much as she + worshiped Lilian, she had more than once doubted if she were + altogether worthy of John—not because she was Lilian, + but because he was John. She used to watch Lilian sometimes + when John's friends came in in the evening—used to + watch her and admire her flushing face, her perfect + toilette, her gracious manner; but used to wonder if all + betrothed women treated their lovers' friends so exactly as + they did their lovers, with that same unchanging courtesy + and gentle sweetness. Once she saw the manner vary: it was + while she herself was singing to them all, facing down the + room, and John held his pawn suspended in the crisis of a + game of chess, while Mr. Reyburn walked familiarly up and + down, now turning the music for her, now bending with a word + in Lilian's ear, now joining in the burden of the song:</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,</p> + + <p class="i2">So deep in luve am I;</p> + + <p>And I will luve thee still, my dear,</p> + + <p class="i2">Till a' the seas gang dry—</p> + + <p>Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,</p> + + <p class="i2">And the rocks melt wi' the sun.</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>"What a being Burns was!" interrupted John, without looking + up. "How precisely he knew my feelings toward any one who would + show me how to escape this checkmate!" And Lilian sprang to her + feet, upsetting her workbasket, and ran to him and commenced + talking hurriedly, while Mr. Reyburn, whose eyes had been + resting on her face for some time, kept on singing after Helen + ceased—</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,</p> + + <p class="i2">And the rocks melt wi' the sun.</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>And Helen, child as she was, looking at him and listening to + him, recognized a veiled meaning in the tone of the singing, + and thought she hated the singer.</p> + + <p>That night, when all the others had gone, and Lilian's + mother was folding her work, and John was locking a window, and + Helen closing the piano, she saw Mr. Reyburn stoop over + Lilian's hand as he said good-night—stoop low, and press + his lips upon its dimpled back. In after years Helen might + recall his manner of that moment and understand it, half + reverence, half passion, as it was, but now she only saw Lilian + turn white and tremble, and clasp her hand over her eyes in a + bewildered way when he <span class="pagenum"><a name="page360" + id="page360"></a>[pg 360]</span> had gone to his rooms on + the other side of the hall, and walk up stairs as though she + feared to rouse an echo.</p> + + <p>"Oh, Lilian," said Helen, following her into her mother's + room, "how dared he kiss your hand? How dared he look at you so + while he sang? I hate him!"</p> + + <p>"Hush, child," said Lilian gently, almost solemnly. And + Helen, remembering who Lilian was, and the deep friendship + between her brother and the other, felt as if she had committed + an unpardonable sin, and crept away to bed, and did not see the + man again during the short remainder of her stay.</p> + + <p>But Lilian saw him often. Perhaps she never went out without + seeing him, perhaps she never remained at home that he did not + come in: going by the parlor-door half a dozen times a day, + nothing was easier. In fact, few men have friends who think it + worth their while to pay such attentions to another's chosen + wife as this friend of John's did. To-day he gave flowers and + helped her heap them in the vases; on the morrow he brought in + for inspection a borrowed portfolio of the wonderful + water—colors that some mad artist had dashed off among + the painted canons, or brought perhaps the artist himself; when + he was absent he wrote her letters, sent to John's care indeed, + and conveying messages to John—letters full of what John + called Reyburn's transcendental twaddle, but which were meat + and drink to Lilian, living half alone in her world of fancy; + when he was in town again he took her through galleries of + pictures and statues where John had not an entree; he placed + his opera-box at her disposal; and when John, who insisted on + her acceptance of Reyburn's courtesies, heard them talk + together about the mysteries of the music or the ballet there, + he could have found it possible to question the justice of Fate + that had mated such spirit with such clod in giving Lilian to + himself—for he felt that she was already given, and they + were mated by their long affection beyond all divorce but + death's—could have found it possible to question the + justice of Fate if he had not remembered, with a sort of pain, + that, charming and brilliant as Reyburn was, having a sweet and + reckless gayety and generosity, winning friends who loved him + almost as men love women, he was nevertheless as inconstant as + the breeze that rifles a rose.</p> + + <p>"Yes," said he one day, in speaking of Reyburn to Lilian as + they looked at him through the open door of the + drawing-room—"yes, we men may love Reyburn safely enough, + as we ask for no devotion in return, but woe be to the woman + who builds her house on that sand!"</p> + + <p>"Will it slide away?" asked Lilian, not glancing from her + needle.</p> + + <p>"Well—Look at him now. Possession palls on him, they + say. Half an hour ago he plucked that bud. If it had hung as + high as heaven, he would have climbed for it, having once set + his heart on it, and have been tireless till he got it. On the + whole, the thing is lucky that he did not tear it to pieces in + his dissecting love of laying bare its heart. He has been + inhaling its delicious soul this half hour: let us see what he + does with it." And as they looked they saw Reyburn lift the + half-forgotten flower, whose pale bloom had begun to tarnish + ever so little, glance at it lightly and give it a careless + fillip to the marble floor of the hall where he was walking up + and down, and where, as he came back, he set his heel upon it + without knowing that he did so.</p> + + <p>It was just after Helen went home that Lilian's health began + to fail—to fail gently and slowly, but surely. She shut + herself up at first, and lay all day listless and melancholy. + She did not come down in the morning before John went out, but + he usually found her on the sofa when he came in. And there she + stayed, either on the sofa or half lost among the cushions of + an arm-chair, during the evenings when John's friends came. But + by and by the house-friends one by one ceased to drop in as + they passed down the hall; other friends ceased to ring the + bell: the old lively evenings were impossible with one so frail + and delicate to be cared for.</p> + + <p>Reyburn, to be sure, came every day, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page361" + id="page361"></a>[pg 361]</span> and no message could shut + him out. If Lilian was not in the parlors, he ran up stairs + into the little sitting-room: if he could not see Lilian, he + would walk in and see her mother. Sometimes John took her + out to drive—to give her a color, as he said—but + he was unable to do it often, and then Reyburn took his + place till she declared she would ride no more. It was not + so easy to discover what ailed Lilian as it was to see she + failed. One doctor said she had merely functional + derangement of the heart; another talked about complicated + depression of the nerves; and a third said she was + whimsical, and nothing at all was the matter with her, and + she had better marry and taste the hard realities of life, + and she would soon be cured of her follies. But Lilian + firmly and quietly refused to be married yet: possibly she + knew that her emotions were not what they should be for + marriage with the man to whom she was plighted; possibly + hoped that time might make it right; possibly wanted nothing + more definite than delay. Once John impressed Reyburn into + his service in the matter: they were so thoroughly intimate, + so like brothers of one family, that he appealed to him + without a second thought. What Reyburn meant by urging her + to fix the day for her wedding with John, Lilian might have + marveled had he not kept his eyes on the floor while he + spoke the few curt sentences, and held her hand with the + grip of death. It was no marriage with John that Reyburn + wanted for her, she knew too well: he also looked forward to + delay. But she told John that when she was herself again it + would be time enough to talk of marriage: she should not + bind him to a dead woman. And somehow, though the relation + between her and John remained the same, the usual evidences + of it, one by one, had disappeared. If he took her in his + arms, she slipped away; if he bent to kiss her lips, she + held her cheek. Still, though caresses ceased, the tender + word and the kindly glance remained. John fancied the rest + to be but a part of the nervous whims of her illness, from + which she was to recover in time; and he waited with all the + old love in his soul. And as for Lilian, the old affection + was with her too—the affection of childhood and + girlhood, the deep and grateful feeling associated with all + her life—but it struggled and wrestled with a novel + power that while it promised pleasure gave only pain. It + made her suffer to see John suffer: she hurt him as little + as she could, but for the life of her she was able to do no + differently. She thought it would be better for him if she + should die; and when she found his great sad eyes fastened + on her, with their longing for her return to him, she wished + to disappear out of the world and his memory together. She + grew whiter and thinner, more tired and sore at heart, all + the time, till the two years that had been fixed as the + period of their engagement had passed—grew so + transparent and spiritual that sometimes, as John hung over + her in despair, he felt as if, instead of being bound to a + dead woman, he were already bound to an angel.</p> + + <p>One evening, after an absence, Reyburn came in as John sat + reading by Lilian's side: he brushed away the book and insisted + on their playing an odd new game of cards, and Lilian + unaccountably brightened and sparkled and laughed, as in the + old time, for more than an hour; and as he left them at last he + came back to declare his belief that a change was all Lilian + needed—other climates, other scenes. "Come, Sterling," + said he, "my little yacht, the Beachbird, sails on a cruise + next week. I will have a cabin fitted up for Miss Lilian if you + will take her and her mother and come along. The house can keep + itself; your clerks can keep your books; we shall all escape + the east winds. It will be a certain cure for her, and do you + good yourself."</p> + + <p>And talking of it lightly at first, presently it grew + feasible—all the more so that Helen and her father were + spending their second winter down there in one of those "summer + isles of Eden," and word could be sent to them in advance to be + in readiness to join the Beachbird. And the end of all the talk + was that at the close of the next week John's business had been + left in the hands of others, and + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page362" + id="page362"></a>[pg 362]</span> John and Lilian and her + mother were on the Beachbird's deck as she slipped down the + harbor.</p> + + <p>Mr. Reyburn's prophecy proved true: whether the sea-breeze + fanned Lilian into fresh life, whether there were healing balms + in the perpetual summer through which they sailed, or whether + she abandoned herself to the pleasures of the flying hours, she + began to regain strength and color, her languor disappeared, + she spent the day in the soft blissful air with her books or + work, her mother knitting and nodding near by; while John, if + not sick himself, yet feeling very miserable, lay on a mattress + on the deck, sometimes dozing, sometimes following with his eye + the graceful lines and snowy dazzle of the perfect little yacht + as mast and sheet and shroud made their relief upon the sky; + sometimes listening to Lilian and Reyburn; sometimes watching + them as they walked up and down in the twilight, her dress + fluttering round her and her fair hair blowing in the wind. + John wondered at her as he watched her: she seemed to be + possessed with an unnatural life; a flickering, dancing sort of + fire burned in her eye, on her cheek and lip, in her restless + manner: she was like one who after long slumber felt herself + alive and receiving happiness at every pore, but a strange, + treacherous sort of happiness that might slip away and leave + her at any moment, and which she was ever on the alert to + keep.</p> + + <p>One night Lilian's mother had gone below, John had followed, + and they were long since folded in their quiet dreams; and + Lilian, unable to sleep, had at last arisen and thrown on some + garments, and wrapping a great cloak about her, had stolen on + deck. The person still pacing the deck, who saw her ascend and + flit along with her fair hair streaming over her white cloak + and her face shining white in the starlight, might have taken + her for a spirit. But he was not the kind of man that believes + in spirits. He went and leaned with her as she leaned over the + vessel's edge, and watched the glittering rent they made in the + water. They were side by side: now and then the wind blew the + silken ends of her hair across his cheek, and his hand lay over + hers as it rested on the rail; now and then they looked at one + another; now and then they spoke.</p> + + <p>"Are you happy, Lilian?" he said.</p> + + <p>"Oh, perfectly!" she answered him.</p> + + <p>As she said it there was an outcry, a sudden lurch of the + vessel, a flapping of the sails and ropes, and a vast shadow + swept by them, the hull of a huge steamer, so near that they + could almost have touched it with an outstretched hand. But as + it ploughed its way on and left them unharmed and rocking on + its great waves, Reyburn released her from the arm he had flung + about her in the moment's dismay—the arm that had never + folded her before, that never did again.</p> + + <p>"Oh no! no!" sighed Lilian with a shiver as she quickly drew + away—"not perfectly, oh not perfectly! That is impossible + here, where that black death can at any moment extinguish all + our light."</p> + + <p>"Be still! be still!" said Reyburn. "Why do you speak of + it?" he cried roughly. "Isn't it enough to know that some day + it must come?—</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>"The iron hand that breaks our band,</p> + + <p class="i2">It breaks my bliss—it breaks my + heart!"</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>He left her side in a sudden agitation a moment, and walked + the deck again; and before he turned about Lilian had slipped + below.</p> + + <p>The next afternoon the Beachbird anchored within sight of + shore and outside a long low reef where they saw a palm-plume + tossing, and a boat came off, bringing Helen and her + father.</p> + + <p>John, who had begun at last to find his sea-legs, stood as + eager and impatient to welcome the new-comers, while every dip + of the shining oars lessened the distance between them, as if + the cruise were just beginning; but Lilian, in the evening + shadow behind him, knew that her share in the cruise was + over.</p> + + <p>"Is it the fierce and farouche duenna who wanted to + annihilate me so when I bade you adieu one night?" asked + Reyburn, taking Lilian upon his arm for a promenade upon the + deck while they waited. "Let me see: she was very young, was + she not, and tall, and ugly? + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page363" + id="page363"></a>[pg 363]</span> Is it her destiny to watch + over you? If she proves herself disagreeable, I will rig a + buoy and drop her overboard. After all, she is only a child. + Ah no," he said, half under his breath, "the end is not + yet."</p> + + <p>"She is no longer a child," said Lilian, "Her father writes + that he hardly dares call her the same name, she is so changed. + While I have been withering up in the North, two equatorial + years down here have wrought upon her as they do upon the + flowers. He says no Spanish woman rivals her. Well, it will + please—"</p> + + <p>Just then Reyburn handed her the glass he had been using, + and pointed it for her.</p> + + <p>"Can it be possible?" said Lilian. "Has Helen been + transfigured to that?" and something, she knew not what, sent a + quiver through her and made the image in the glass + tremble—the image of a tall and shapely girl whose round + and perfect figure swayed to the boat's motion, lithe as a reed + to the wind, while she stood erect looking at something that + had been pointed out, and the boatmen paused with their oars in + the air; the image of a face on whose dark cheek the rose was + burning, in whose dark eye a veiled lustre was shining, around + whose creamy brow the raven hair escaped in countless + tendril-like ringlets, and whose smile, as she seemed to speak + to some one while she stood in the low sunset light, had a + radiance of its own. As Lilian looked upon this dazzling + picture, backed by the golden and rosy sky, the golden and rosy + waters, the palm-plumes tossing in the purpling distance, the + silver flashing of the oars, the quiver came again, and she + gave the glass to Reyburn, who held it steadily till the boat + was within hailing distance, and who himself at last handed the + shining creature on board and led her to Lilian and her mother. + And then the Beachbird slowly spread her wings, and with her + new burden softly floated away into the dusk, and the great + colors faded, and the stars one after another seemed to drop + low and hang from the heavens like lamps, and rich odors + floated off from the receding land, and they moved along folded + in the dark splendor of the tropical night. But in some vague + way every soul on board the little yacht felt the presence of + another influence, and that, though they sailed in the same + waters as yesterday, it was in another atmosphere; for an + element had come among them that should produce a + transformation as powerful as though it wrought a chemic change + of their atoms.</p> + + <p>Lilian and Reyburn still paced the deck, after their custom, + when the first greetings were over, leaving Helen and her + father with John for the present. But as the conversation + dropped more personal subjects, and John and his father were + discussing political matters, Helen began to look about, and + chiefly she surveyed Lilian. And as she saw the transparent + skin, the vivid flush, the restless air—saw the way + Reyburn had, as he walked with her, as he bent to her, as he + folded her shawl about her—the way he had of absorbing + her, a hasty remembrance of the night when he stooped over + Lilian's hand came to her, and she remembered also how she + herself had hated him. "The man has bewitched her," said Helen + an hour afterward—an hour of watching and puzzling. "She + is fond of John still: she cannot bear to break his + heart—she would rather break her own—and she is + dying of her attraction to the other." As she sat there, still + observing them, wondering what could be done, she turned and + laid her arm on her brother's shoulder, and rested her head + beside it with her eyes full of tears. And at the movement John + bent and kissed her forehead, and she saw that he himself was + at last awake; and Reyburn, looking at them, saw it too. + Perhaps the tears dimmed her sight a little, and gave Lilian a + sort of glorified look to her, standing still a moment with the + light of the late rising moon on her face; but then as her gaze + fell again on Reyburn, on his lofty form and kingly manner, his + proud face, his bold bright eye, it seemed to her as if it were + Lucifer tempting an angel; and all at once she had resolved + what she would do to save Lilian, to save her brother. She + could do it well, she said, well and safely—she + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page364" + id="page364"></a>[pg 364]</span> who already hated the man. + Courage came with the resolution, courage and strength: she + began to laugh and scatter jests across the grave + conversation of John and her father; presently she was + humming a gay Spanish air.</p> + + <p>"That is right, Helen," said her brother. "Sing something to + us. My father says your voice would fill the Tacon + theatre."</p> + + <p>And at that she sang—not the air of the little bolero + again, but a low, melancholy song that began with a sigh, but + swelled ever clearer and higher, till, like the bursting of a + flower, it opened and deepened into one breath of passionate + sweetness and triumph. The rich voice rose to all the meaning + of the music, and, though they could not understand the words, + they thrilled before the singer, Late into the midnight she + sang—the bunch of blossoms that was in her hand as she + came on board still shedding its pungent odors round her as the + blossoms died—strange wild songs that she had learned in + the two years of her tropic life; ancient and plaintive Spanish + airs; Moorish songs whose savage tunes were sweet as the honey + of the rocks; wild and mournful Indian airs that the Spaniards + might have heard in those Caribbean islands when first they + burst upon their peaceful seas; and by and by a sleepy nocturne + that seemed to lull the wind, to charm the ship, and hold the + great moon hovering overhead; and as they rocked from wave to + wave of the glimmering water, and that pure voice rose and + poured out its melody, the soft vast southern night itself + seemed to pause and listen.</p> + + <p>Helen did not appear on the deck next day till the sunset + came again, for Lilian was ill, and she remained with her; nor + did Reyburn see her. But as the heat of the day passed, and the + sails, that had been hanging idle ever since the night-breeze + fell, began to fill again, Helen ascended.</p> + + <p>"You come with the stars," said Reyburn, giving her his hand + at the last step; but she merely put out her own hand with the + gesture of receiving aid, and passed on, her dark gauzy drapery + floating behind her, and the lace of her Spanish mantilla + falling round her from her Spanish comb. She went to her + brother's side, and sat there and talked, or rose with him and + walked: there was everything to say and hear after their two + years' separation. As for Reyburn, perhaps her manner was + courteous enough to him, but certainly she hardly seemed to see + him. Nor could he claim acquaintanceship with her: the gaunt + and big-eyed child whom he had known two years ago had a + different individuality from this dark girl with the rosy stain + on the oval cheek and the immense eyelashes. He heard her gay + laugh as John complimented her—a laugh as sweet as her + singing; he saw the smile that kindled all her beauty into + vivid life; he saw the still face listening to what was said; + but he scarcely learned anything further than was thus + declared. When at length she sang one parting strain, he + wondered if the singing and the beauty were all there was: it + occurred to him to find out. He remembered that moment of the + evening before when John had betrayed distrust. "I will mislead + him," said Reyburn, "and Lilian will understand it all." He + stood before Helen as she rose with her father to go down.</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>"Ask me no more whither doth haste</p> + + <p>The nightingale when May is past;</p> + + <p>For in your sweet dividing throat</p> + + <p>She winters, and keeps warm her note!"</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>he said, and stepped aside.</p> + + <p>"We've taken a mermaid aboard, sir," said the + sailing-master. "Nothing else, they say, sings after that + fashion, and the men are on the lookout for foul weather."</p> + + <p>"Never mind what the men say," said Reyburn, "while your + barometer says nothing."</p> + + <p>When Mr. Reyburn went on deck at sunrise he found Helen + standing there with Lilian—with Lilian, who, after her + day's illness, looked strangely wan and worn, looked like the + feeble shadow of the other with her rich carnations, her + glowing eyes, her picturesque outlines. Reyburn went aft and + took Lilian's hand. "You have been so ill!" he said; and then + he looked up and saw again this splendid creature, loosely clad + in white, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page365" + id="page365"></a>[pg 365]</span> her black hair, unbraided + and unbound, flowing in wave and ripple far down her back, + her sleeve falling from the uplifted arm and perfect hand, + that held a fan of the rose-colored spoonbill's feathers + above her head, so beautiful and brilliant that she seemed + only a projection of that beautiful and brilliant hour, with + all its radiant dyes, before the sun was up; and he forgot + that Lilian had been ill, forgot for a moment that Lilian + existed. "I will find out what she is made of," thought + Reyburn. "Are you made of clay?" he said boldly.</p> + + <p>"He shall find that there is fire in my clay," said Helen to + herself as she appeared not to heed his look or his words.</p> + + <p>And there it began. And swift and sudden it went on to the + end. She had come on board the yacht that first night to + startle it with her beauty and her voice; last night, silent + and stately, she had slipped through the evening like a dream; + now she stood before him a dazzling creature of the morning: + yesterday she was Penseroso; to-day she was Allegro; what would + she be to-morrow? How sparkling, as one day followed another, + her gayety was! and yet with no shallow sparkle: there was + always the shadow of still depths just beyond—seasons of + silence, moments of half sadness, times when he had to wonder + whither her thoughts had led her. She sang a little song of the + muleteers on the mountains, that he admired; then she must + teach it to him, she said; they sang the song together, their + voices lingering on the same note, rising in the same breath, + falling in the same cadence. He had a sonorous tenor of his + own: more than once she caught herself pausing in her part to + hear it. How soft, and yet how strong, was the language of the + song! he said; he must learn Spanish, she replied; and they + hung together over the same book, and he repeated the phrase + that fell from her lips—an apt pupil, it may be, for more + than once the phrase, as he uttered it, deepened the color on + her cheek. More than once she was conscious of gazing at him to + find the charm that Lilian had found; more than once he caught + her glance and held it there suspended; more than once you + might have thought, by the quick, impatient manner in which she + tore her eyes away, that she had found the charm herself. + Perhaps he made some ostentation of his attraction before the + others; perhaps the simulation of warmth was close enough to + melt a colder heart than hers; perhaps it was not wholly + simulation. It may be that her hand lay in his a moment longer + than need was, her glance fell before his a moment sooner: it + may be that as she fled all her manner beckoned him to follow. + She was confiding to him her thoughts, her aspirations, her + emotions, as if she wished that he, and he alone, should know + them: he was listening as though there were no other knowledge + in the world. If presently he thought of her as a creature of + romance, if presently she felt the need of that keen interest, + what wonder? They were playing with fire, and those that play + with fire must needs be burned. And meantime, whether he looked + at her languid in the burning noon, gay with the reviving + freshness of the dusk, leaning over the bulwarks in the night + and gazing up into the great spaces of the stars, he was always + fascinated to look again. There was the profile exquisite as + sculpture, there was the color as velvet soft as rose-petals, + there was the droop of the long silken lashes half belying with + its melancholy the rapture of the smile. Whether she spoke or + whether she sang, her voice was music's self, and he was + longing for the next tone; and presently—presently Lilian + had faded like a phantom before this aurora who was fresh and + rosy and dewy, with song and color and light—a sad pale + phantom wan in a mist of tears.</p> + + <p>And as for Lilian in this approaching trouble—in this + trouble that was already here—was it to her mother that + she turned as the good lady dozed and knitted there? Ah no, but + to John himself; and perhaps John comprehended it, and, if he + loved her all the more tenderly, suffered the more sharply. + Possibly, as she saw Reyburn follow Helen as an entranced man + follows a vision, as she saw Helen lead, Lilian knew that she + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page366" + id="page366"></a>[pg 366]</span> deserved her + punishment—knew that she had had her warning. Possibly + she realized that the passion which had usurped the place of + the love of years with her was but a selfish + idealism—possibly saw at last, and with an agony, of + what thin stuff the hero of her dream was + made—possibly knew that it must be, and knew that it + was best; but none the less she must have felt for a little + while that there was no place left for her in the world, and + she seemed to fade nearer and nearer the verge of it. Her + old languor overcame her, her old pallor returned, her eyes + were dull with their silent weeping: not yet twenty, she + looked twice her years. Reyburn himself saw the change in + her with trouble. "The voyage is doing you no good," he + said.</p> + + <p>"It is killing me!" she cried.</p> + + <p>But he did not perceive the meaning of her unguarded cry: he + did not know how it was with her, for he had not yet dreamed + how it was with himself. But he was soon to discover.</p> + + <p>Three weeks they had been wafted about from key to key, from + bay to bay; they landed and explored the quaint old towns; they + made trips into the tropical forests; great boatloads of juicy + mangoes and guavas and bananas came off to them; they scattered + coins on the clear bottom for the brown babies tumbling about + the shores to dive after. Now at noon they lay anchored in + still lagoons under the shadow of an overhanging orange-grove; + now at night they were flying across the broad seas. But Lilian + felt she could endure no more of it: her life was exhausted; + she longed for the yacht's head to be turned northward, that + she might die in peace on shore. John also was impatient to be + gone. If he could have Lilian once more at home, he thought, he + would marry her in spite of her protest, and take her where + forgetfulness must needs soothe her, and strange faces make her + cling to him in the old way. The way in which she clung to him + now was too bitter to be borne. Her mother also began to think + of home, and Mr. Sterling had wearied long ago; and at length, + further pretences failing, they had been freshly provisioned + and had started on their homeward way.</p> + + <p>Reyburn had, indeed, been loath to make any change in their + luxurious summering, but he was one of those who slide along + with the days.</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Take the goods the gods provide thee:</p> + + <p>The lovely Thais sits beside thee—</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>was a couplet that he was fond of humming, and he always + waited for some unnatural wrench to make the effort he should + have made himself. But he had consented at last to the return, + because while he was still floating in Southern waters, under + Southern skies, with this delicious voice in his ears, this + delicious beauty by his side, he could not think that a week's + sailing must bring him under other conditions.</p> + + <p>Perhaps, though, it would be more than a week's sailing, + some one said, for the fair wind that had taken them hither and + yon so long, and had waited on their fancies, was apparently on + the point of deserting them at last, and the yacht was merely + drifting before a fitful breeze that lightly moved a scud of + low clouds which the sunset had kindled into a blaze of glory + hanging just above them, and whose ragged shreds only now and + then displayed a star.</p> + + <p>"We are going to have nasty weather," the sailing-master + said to his mate. "The barometer is going down with a + rush."</p> + + <p>"Yes, sir," had come the answer: "we shall catch it in the + mid-watch."</p> + + <p>"Then stow the light sails, Mr. Mason," the captain said, + "and get everything secure for a heavy blow. Keep a sharp + lookout, and call me as soon as the weather changes."</p> + + <p>"All right, sir."</p> + + <p>"I am going down for forty winks," said the captain. Then as + he passed Mr. Reyburn: "I don't much like the appearance of + things, sir."</p> + + <p>"Appearance?" said Reyburn. "Why the sea is as smooth as + glass!"</p> + + <p>"Too smooth by half, sir, with the barometer falling. I've + sailed with that glass a long time, and she's never told me a + lie yet. We've already shortened + sail."</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page367" + id="page367"></a>[pg 367]</span> + + <p>"So I see. But why in the world did you do it, when you want + every stitch of it out to catch what wind there is? However, I + am in no hurry," said Reyburn laughing. "Do as you please, + skipper: you're sailing the ship."</p> + + <p>"I am sailing her, sir," said the captain, a little nettled, + "and sailing her on the edge of a hurricane. You had better + take the lady below, sir: when it comes it will come with a + crack." But Reyburn laughed at him again, and passed over to + Helen's side.</p> + + <p>They sat together on the deck, Helen and Reyburn, long after + all the others had gone to rest; for Mr. Sterling left the + arrangement of etiquette and decorum to Lilian's mother; and + whether she were a purblind soul, looking delightedly at a new + love-match, or whether, with any surmise of the state of + things, she felt pleased that Reyburn, led by whatever + inducement, should step aside from Lilian's path, she gave no + other sign than that when her early withdrawal from the scene + left the deck clear for action. As each in turn they fell away + into their dreams, those below could still hear Helen singing; + and if one there lay sleepless in the pauses of the singing, no + one guessed it. All the ship was in shadow save where a lantern + shone, but Helen lingered, still irresolute. Now and then she + touched the Spanish guitar in the measure of some tune that + flitted across her thoughts, now and then she sang the tune, + now and then was silent. She was half aware of what the + approaching moments held—was half afraid. Was she to + avenge herself upon the man who had destroyed her brother's + peace? Faithful to Lilian should she go, or faithless stay? He + took the guitar himself and fingered the strings, making fewer + chords than discords; her own fingers wandered to correct him; + their hands met; the guitar slipped down unheeded; the grasp + grew closer, grew warmer—ah, Helen, was it Lilian of whom + you thought, whom you would save?—and then an arm was + around her; shining eyes, only half guessed in the glimmer that + the phosphorescent swells sent through the darkness, hung over + her rosy upturned beauty; she was drawn forward unresisting, + her head was on his breast, she, heard the heavy throbbing of + his heart, and his lips lay on hers and seemed to draw her soul + away. And so they sat there in the deepening shadow, whispering + in faint low whispers, thrilling with a great rapture, their + lips meeting in long kisses. Why should he think of Lilian? + Never once had he touched <i>her</i> mouth like this, had his + arms closed round her so, had he felt the sighing of her + breath. As a pale white rushlight burns in the sun, that love + seemed now, compared with this great sweet flame. He bowed his + face over Helen's as she sat trembling in his embrace, and + neither of them remembered past or future in the passion of the + present; neither of them felt the yacht swing idly up and down + with scarcely a movement forward; neither of them heard the + listless flapping of the sails against the masts, or noticed + that no dew lay on the rail, or once looked up to see how black + and close the air had gathered round them, how deadly hot and + sulphurous—till suddenly, and as if by one accord, men + were running and voices were crying all about them. They sprang + to their feet to hear the sailing-master's shout as one beholds + lightning fall out of a blue sky: "See your halyards all clear + for running."</p> + + <p>"Ay, ay, sir!" came the ringing answer.</p> + + <p>"Stand by your halyards and down-hauls."</p> + + <p>"Ay, ay, sir!"</p> + + <p>"Haul down the flying jib: take the bonnet off the jib, and + put a reef in her," came the strong swift sentences. "Brail up + the foresail, and double reef the mainsail."</p> + + <p>There was a sound far, far off, like a mighty rush of + waters, coming nearer and swelling to a roar—an awful + roar of winds and waves. And Helen was wildly clasping Reyburn, + who was plunging with her down the companion-way.</p> + + <p>"Here she comes!" cried the captain. "Hold on all!" And then + there was a shock that threw them prostrate, a writhing and + twisting of every plank beneath them, and the tornado had + struck the <span class="pagenum"><a name="page368" + id="page368"></a>[pg 368]</span> yacht and knocked her on + her beam-ends.</p> + + <p>"Cut away the weather rigging!" they heard the captain + thunder through all the rout before they had once tried to + regain themselves. The quick, sharp blows resounded across the + beating of the billow and the shrieking of the wind and cloud. + "Stand clear, all!" and with a crash as if the heavens were + coming together the masts had gone by the board, and what there + was left of the Beachbird had righted and now rolled a wreck in + the trough of the sea.</p> + + <p>A half hour's work, but it had done more than wreck a ship: + it had wrecked a passion. For as Helen still clung round + Reyburn, sobbing and screaming, he had seen the opposite door + open, and Lilian landing there, white-robed, white-shawled, + with her bright hair about her face as white as a spirit's. + "John," she said, "we are in a hurricane."</p> + + <p>"Yes, Lilian," he had answered from where he was stationed + close beside her door. "But the worst must be over. The wind + already abates, and as soon as the sea goes down—"</p> + + <p>As he spoke there came the terrible cry, loud above all + other clamor, "A leak! a leak!" and then followed the renewed + trampling of feet overhead, and the hoarse wheeze of the + pumps.</p> + + <p>"We are going down," Lilian said, and turned that white face + away. "Oh, John!, before we go forgive me," she cried; and John + held his outstretched arms toward her and folded her within + them.</p> + + <p>Reyburn saw it, and even in that supreme moment, when life + and death swung in the balance, an awful revulsion seized him. + He beheld now with a sickening shudder the woman cowering at + his feet whose beauty an hour ago had melted his soul: she was + flesh to him only—her beauty was of the earth, and flesh + and the earth were passing, and it was other things on which + such moments as these were opening—things such as shone + in the transfigured face of Lilian—of Lilian whom, if + this marsh-light had not dazzled him from his way, he might now + be holding to his heart triumphant; for here disguises would + have fallen and he could have claimed his own. For, whether it + were the terror of the time, or the trancelike and spiritual + look of Lilian, or whether it were the jealous pang of seeing + her in another's arms, the love on which he had been waiting + for two years and more, to which he had sacrificed time and + endeavor, which had brought him here to this danger and this + death, returned now and overwhelmed him, and the passion of a + day and night fell apart and left him in its ruins. This woman + at his feet filled him with a strange disgust: that other + woman—If this were the last hour of time, he would have + risked his chances in eternity to have held her as John did. He + threw himself, face down, on the divan, and he cursed God and + called upon the drowning wave to come.</p> + + <p>The captain leaped down the companion-way, and caught his + pistols from a drawer. "Mr. Reyburn, we need you and the other + gentlemen," he cried. "We are throwing out our ballast. All + hands must take spells at the pumps, for the leak gains, and I + shall have all I can do to keep the men at work and the yacht + afloat."</p> + + <p>"Let her sink!" yelled Reyburn into the cushions where he + lay. "Damn her! let her sink!" And he did not stir. But John + had gently released Lilian and placed her in a chair near the + sofa where her mother lay gasping, and had sprung on deck with + his father and the captain.</p> + + <p>A horrid hour crept by—a bitter blank below, hard and + fierce work above—and then the pumps were choked. Lilian + and her mother had crept on deck, holding by whatever they + could find, and surveying the amazing scene around them. For + the great black storm-cloud was flying up and away, flying into + the north-east, and through the torn vapors that followed in + its rack a waning moon arose. A tremendous sea was running, + monstrous wave breaking on monstrous wave in a mad white frolic + far as the eye could see; as one billow bounded along, curling + and feathering and swelling on its path, a score leaped round + it to powder themselves in a common cloud of spray; and + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page369" + id="page369"></a>[pg 369]</span> every cloud of spray as it + shot upward caught the long ray of the half-risen moon, that + but darkly lighted and revealed an immensity of heaven, till + all the weltering tumult of gloom and foam was sown with a + myriad lunar rainbows.</p> + + <p>The beauty of it almost overcame the terror with Lilian as + she grasped her mother's hand.</p> + + <p>"It is a fit gate to enter heaven by," said John, coming to + her side. "We have done all we can," he added.</p> + + <p>At the moment the bows dipped with a prodigious sea. + Somebody forward sang out, "She's settling, sir! she's + settling, sir!" The cry ran along the deck like fire: there was + one panicstricken shriek that followed, and the men had jumped + for the boats, into which water and provision had been already + thrown. Reyburn came staggering up the companion-way with + Helen. The dingy and one of the quarter-boats were already + swamped in the wild haste: the men were crowding into the + other, which had been safely lowered.</p> + + <p>"You brutes!" the captain shouted, "are you going to leave + the women?"</p> + + <p>"Let them come, then," answered a voice, "and make haste + about it;" and Lilian found herself drawn forward and looking + over the side into the shadow below.</p> + + <p>"Are you going, John?" she said hurriedly.</p> + + <p>"No, darling: it is impossible, you see, but—"</p> + + <p>"Nor I, either," she answered quickly.</p> + + <p>"Lilian!"</p> + + <p>"No," she said, "no! We were to be together in life, and we + shall be in death. Oh, John, do you think I can leave you + now?"</p> + + <p>"Make haste about it," was repeated harshly from the + boat.</p> + + <p>"I am going to stay," repeated Lilian firmly.</p> + + <p>"Here," cried Reyburn, as he drew up the ropes to bind them + round Helen's waist. "Take <i>her</i>." But the boat was + already clear of the ship and away; and he flung the ropes down + again with a motion of abhorrence, and stood leaning against + the stump of the mast, where he could hear the murmurs of John + and Lilian, straining his ears to listen, as if he must needs + torment himself—to listen to those few low, fervent + whispers, with one eager to pour out the love so long + restrained, the other to receive it—both in the face of + death making the life so lately found too sweet a thing to + leave.</p> + + <p>Soon the little company remaining on the wreck had clustered + around that portion of it; the captain and Mr. Mason were near + by, and Lilian's mother sat beside her and kept her hand; Mr. + Sterling, not far off, held Helen, who lay faint with + fright—faint too with many a pang, snatched as she had + been from a dream of warmth and joy to a nightmare of horror; + one moment ruling in a heart that in the next moment had cast + her forth to be trampled on; bewildered by the repugnance she + had too plainly seen in the face of her passionate lover of two + hours ago; half heartbroken with the remembrance of the tone in + which he had called to the crew of the quarter-boat to take + her, and cold with the awful expectancy of the moment. The moon + swam slowly up, and the sky cleared about her; the sea rose and + fell less violently, its dark expanse everywhere running fire; + but the broken yacht still rolled like a log, and they clung to + each other as she rolled. She settled slowly, and another hour + had passed and left her still afloat.</p> + + <p>"We are safe," cried the captain, coming back to their side + after a brief absence with the mate. "Mr. Reyburn, do you see?" + But Mr. Reyburn did not even hear. A soft lustre began to + blanch the violet depths of the lofty sky; a rosy flare welled + up from the horizon and half drowned the shriveled moon; a star + that was steady in the east was shaking a countless host of + stars in the shaking waters round them. And then the rosy flare + was a yellow flame that filled the heavens; the long swells + that ran up to break against them were like sheets of molten + jewels—rubies and beryls and sapphires and chrysolites, + changing and flashing as they broke into a thousand splendors; + strange mild-eyed birds were hovering about them and alighting + on the wreck; the moon was gone; the <span class="pagenum">[pg + 370]</span> vaporous gold that overflowed the east was burned + away in the increasing glory, and the sunshine fell about + them.</p> + + <p>"We are not going down," cried Lilian, her face aglow and + lovely in the light. "That smoke in the horizon is a steamer's, + and she will take us off. Oh, John, we have our lives before us + yet!"</p> + + <p>The captain and Mr. Mason had already signaled the steamer, + and before very long the wreck was quite abandoned, and those + whom it had carried were on their northward way again.</p> + + <p>It was a singular wedding that I saw one day about two + months after the wreck of the Beachbird. I was going by the + church of St. Saviour, and being of an inquiring mind in the + matter of weddings, I went in. There were two brides there: the + husband of the first, the fair one, was just turning away with + her. So calm, so pure, so peaceful, so content, were the faces + of that new husband and wife, that I could long have looked + upon them, as on some picture of strong spirits in the presence + of God, had not the beauty of the second bride arrested me. But + that was a beauty one hardly sees twice in a lifetime—so + perfect in outline, under snowy veils and blossoms, the dark + eyes so softly, dewily dark, the white brow whiter for its + tendril-like rings of raven hair; and where had I ever seen + groom so stately, so lofty, so proud? But what did the + pantomime mean? a stranger might well have asked. Was that the + man's natural demeanor? or had he brought his mind to the task + of taking her by an effort that had destroyed every sentiment + of his soul but scorn? And for her? Had the rose forsaken her + cheek and the smile her lip because she looked on life as on a + desert? Was that utter sadness and dejection a thing that + should one day fade away and leave a sparkle of hope behind it? + Or was it the scar of one who had played with fire, who had not + the strength to release a pledge, and was marrying a man who + she knew loathed her and her beauty together?</p> + + <p class="author">HARRIET PRESCOTT + SPOFFORD.</p><a name="page370" + id="page370"></a> + + <h2>RECOLLECTIONS OF THE TUSCAN COURT UNDER THE GRAND DUKE + LEOPOLD.</h2> + + <p>When the wretched, worthless and worn-out debauchee Gian + Gaston dei Medici, grand duke of Tuscany, died on the 9th of + July, 1737, the dynasty of that famous family became extinct. + For some years before his death the prospect of a throne + without any heir by right divine to claim it had set the + cupidity of sundry of the European crowned heads in motion. + Various schemes and arrangements had been proposed in the + interest of different potentates. But the "vulpine cunning," as + an Italian historian calls it, of Cardinal Fleury, the minister + of Louis XV., at length succeeded in inducing the European + powers to accede to an arrangement which secured the greater + part of the advantage to France. It was finally settled that + the duke of Lorraine should cede to France his ancestral + states, which the latter had long coveted, and that he should + be married to Maria Teresa, the heiress of the Austrian + dominions, carrying in his hand Tuscany, the throne of which + was secured to him at the death of Gian Gaston. It was further + promised to the Tuscans, discontented at the prospect of having + an absentee sovereign, that on the death of the emperor + Francis, Tuscany should have a ruler of its own in the person + of his second son. This Francis, who gave up the duchy of + Lorraine to become the husband of Maria Teresa, reigned over + Tuscany till his sudden death by apoplexy on the 18th of + August, 1765. His second son, Leopold, reigned in Tuscany till, + on the death of <span class="pagenum"><a name="page371" + id="page371"></a>[pg 371]</span> his elder brother on the + 24th of December, 1789, he was in his turn also called to + ascend the imperial throne. Thereupon the second son of + Leopold became grand-duke in 1789, and reigned as Ferdinand + III. till 1824, when, on the 18th of June, his son succeeded + him as Leopold II. Now, though the sovereignty of Tuscany + was thus entirely and definitively separated from that of + Austria, all these princes were of the blood-royal of + Austria, and might in the course of Nature have succeeded to + the imperial throne. For this reason they were held, though + only dukes of Tuscany, to be entitled to the style and title + "imperial and royal," according to the custom of the House + of Austria; and thus every grimy little tobacco-shop and + lottery-office in Tuscany, in the days when I first knew it, + in 1841, styled itself "imperial and royal."</p> + + <p>The Tuscans had been greatly discontented when the + arrangements of the great powers of Europe, entered into + without a moment's thought as to the wishes of the population + of the grand duchy on the subject, had decided that they were + to be ruled over by a German prince of whom they knew + absolutely nothing. It was not that the later Medici had been + popular, or either respected or beloved. The misgovernment of + especially the last two of the Medicean line had reduced the + country to the lowest possible social, moral and economical + condition. But yet the change from the known to the utterly + unknown was unwelcome to the people. They feared they knew not + what changes and innovations in their old easy-going if + downward-tending ways. But Providence, in the shape of the + ambitions and intrigues of the great powers, had better things + in store for them than they dreamed of. The princes of the + Lorraine dynasty so ruled as not only quickly to gain the + respect and affection of their subjects, but gradually to + render Tuscany by far the most civilized and prosperous portion + of Italy. The first three princes of the Lorraine line were + enlightened men, far in advance not only of the generality of + their own subjects, but of their contemporaries in general. + They were conscientious rulers, earnestly desirous of + ameliorating the condition of the people they were called on to + govern. Of the last of the line the same cannot in its entirety + be said. A portion of the eulogy deserved by his predecessors + may be awarded to him unquestionably. He was, I fully believe, + a good and conscientious man, anxious to do his duty, and + desirous of the happiness and well being of his people. But he + was by no means a wise or enlightened man. It could hardly be + said that he was popular or beloved by his subjects at the time + when I first knew Florence. The Tuscans were very far better + off than any other Italians at that time, and they were fully + conscious that they were so. But this superiority was justly + credited to the wise rule of the grand duke's father and + grandfather, rather than to any merit of his own. Yet he was + liked in a sort of way—I am afraid I must say in a + contemptuous sort of way. The general notion was that he was + what is generally described by the expressive term "a poor + creature." He probably was so, in truth, from his birth upward. + It was said—and I believe with truth—that he had + been in his childish years reared with the greatest difficulty; + and strange as it may seem, it is, I believe, a fact that a + wet-nurse made an important part of the establishment of the + prince at the Pitti Palace till he was about twenty years old. + How far physiologists may deem that such an abnormal + circumstance may have been influential in producing a diathesis + of mind and body deficient in vigor, energy and "hard grit" of + any kind, I do not know. But if that is what such a bringing-up + may be expected to produce, then the expectation was in the + case in question certainly justified. Nevertheless, Italians + had been for so many generations and centuries taught by bitter + experience to consider kings and princes of all sorts as + malevolent and maleficent scourges of humanity that a sovereign + who really did no harm to any one was, after a fashion, as I + have said, popular. Accessibility is always one sure means of + making a sovereign acceptable to large + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page372" + id="page372"></a>[pg 372]</span> classes of his subjects; + and nothing could be easier than to gain access to the + presence of Leopold II., grand duke of Tuscany. A little + anecdote of an occurrence that took place at the time when + Lord Holland, to the regret of everybody in Florence, + English or Italian, ceased to be the representative of + England at the grand ducal court, will show the sort of + thing that used to prevail in the matter of the admission of + foreigners to the Pitti Palace.</p> + + <p>English travelers on the continent of Europe are, and have + been for many years, as it is hardly necessary to state, a very + motley and heterogeneous crowd. The same thing may be said of + American travelers now, but it was not so much the case at the + time of which I am writing. It is not so with the people of any + other nation; and foreigners are apt to sneer on occasion at + the unkempt and queer specimens of humanity which often come to + them from the two English-speaking nations. We can well afford + to let them stare and smile, well knowing that if a similar + amount of prosperity permitted the people of other countries to + travel for their pleasure in similar numbers, the result would + be at the very least an equally—shall I say + undrawing-room-like contribution to cosmopolitan society? When + Sir George Hamilton assumed the duties of British + representative at Florence, the yearly throng of English + visitors was becoming more numerous and more heterogeneous, and + all wanted to be invited to the balls at the Pitti Palace. + Those were the most urgent in their applications, as will be + easily understood, whose claims to such distinction were the + most problematic. The practice was for the minister to present + to the grand duke whom he thought fit, and those so presented + went to the balls as a matter of course. The position of the + minister, it will be seen, was an invidious one. Under the + pressure of these circumstances, Sir George Hamilton declared + that he would in no case take upon himself to decide on the + fitness or unfitness of any person, but would act invariably + upon the old recognized rule of etiquette observed at other + courts in such matters—i.e., he would present anybody who + had been presented at the court of St. James, and none who had + not been so presented. The result was soon apparent in a + singular thinning of the magnificent suites of rooms of the + Pitti on ball-nights. The general appearance of the rooms might + be something more like what the receiving-rooms of princes are + wont to look like, but all that was gained in <i>quality</i> + was attained by a very marked sacrifice of <i>quantity</i>. In + a week or two Sir George received a hint to the effect that the + grand duke would be pleased if the minister would be less + strict in the matter of presenting such English as might desire + to come to the Pitti. "Oh!" said Sir George, "if <i>that</i> is + what is desired, there can be no difficulty about it. I am sure + <i>I</i> won't stand in the way of filling the Pitti ball-room. + Let them all come." And accordingly everybody who asked to be + presented <i>was</i> presented without any pretence of an + attempt at discrimination.</p> + + <p>This was the manner in which the thing was done: All + new-comers were told that if they wished to go to the Pitti + balls they must notify to the English minister their desire to + be presented to the grand duke. In return, they received an + intimation that they must be in the ante-room of the suite of + receiving-rooms at eight o'clock on such an + evening—ladies in ball-dress; gentlemen in evening-dress + with white neckcloths. It may be observed here that this matter + of the white neckcloth was the only point insisted on. Both + ladies and gentlemen were allowed to exercise the utmost + latitude of private judgment as to what constituted + "ball-dress" and "evening-dress." I have seen a black stuff + gown fitting closely round the throat pass muster for the + first, and a gray frockcoat for the second. But the officials + at the door would refuse to admit a man with a black + neckerchief; and I once saw a man thus rejected retire a few + steps into a corridor, whip off the offending black silk and + put it in his pocket, obtain a fragment of white tape from some + portion of a lady's dress, put <i>that</i> round his + shirt-collar, and then again presenting himself be recognized + by the officials as complying with + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page373" + id="page373"></a>[pg 373]</span> the exigencies of + etiquette. The aspirants to "court society" having + assembled, from twenty to fifty, perhaps, in number, + according as it was earlier or later in the season, + presently the minister bustled in, and with a hurried "Now + then!" led his motley flock into the presence-chamber, where + they were formed into line. Much about the same moment (for + the grand duke had "the royal civility" of punctuality, and + rarely kept people waiting) His Serene Imperial and Royal + Highness came shambling into the room in the white-and-gold + uniform of an Austrian general officer, and looking very + much as if he had just been roused out of profound slumber, + and had not yet quite collected his senses. Walking as if he + had two odd legs, which had never been put to work together + before, he came to a standstill in front of the row of + presentees. If there was any person of any sort of + distinction among them, the minister whispered a word or two + in the grand ducal ear, and motioned the lion to come + forward. His Imperial and Royal Highness, after one glance + of helpless suffering at the stranger, fixed his gaze on his + own boots. A long pause ensued, during which courtly + etiquette forbade the stranger to utter a word. At last His + Highness shifted his weight on to his left foot, hung his + head down on his shoulder on the same side, and said "Ha!" + Another pause, the presentee hardly considering himself + justified in replying to this observation. The duke finding + he had made a false start and accomplished nothing, shifted + his weight to the right foot, simultaneously hanging his + head on his shoulder on that side, and said "Hum!" It would + often occur that when he had reached that point he would + make a duck forward with his head to signify that the + audience was at an end.</p> + + <p>If there was anything that the presenting official thought + might be appropriately remarked to the distinguished presentee, + he would whisper a hint to that effect in the grand ducal ear, + of which His Highness was usually glad to avail himself. I + remember one amusing instance in point, when it needed all the + sense of the majesty of the sovereign presence to preserve in + the bystanders the gravity due to the occasion. It was in the + case of an American presentation. The United States had at that + time no recognized representative at the grand ducal court, and + Americans, much fewer in number then than of late years, were + generally presented by a banker who had almost all the American + business. This gentleman, having to present some one—I + forget the name—who was connected by blood or in some + other special manner with Washington, whispered to the grand + duke that such was the case. His Serene Highness bowed his + appreciation of the fact. Then, after going through the usual + foot-exercise, and after a longer pause than usual, he looked + up at the expectant visitor standing in front of him, and said, + but with evident effort, "Ah-h-h! Le grand Vaash!" There was + nothing more forthcoming. Having thus delivered himself, he + made his visitor a low bow, and the latter retired. It was + evident that the grand duke of Tuscany heard of "Le grand + Vaash" then for the first time in his life.</p> + + <p>After any specialty of this sort had been disposed of, the + ruck of presentees, standing like a lot of school-boys in a + long row, were "presented," which ceremony was deemed to have + been effectually accomplished by one duck of the grand ducal + head, to be divided among all the recipients, and an answering + duck from each of them in return. They were then as free to + amuse themselves in any manner it seemed good to them as if + they had been at a public place of entertainment and had paid + for their tickets. And not only that, but they were free to + return and do the same, without any fresh presentation + ceremony, every time there was a ball at the palace, which was + at least once a week from the beginning of the year to the end + of Carnival.</p> + + <p>Nor were the amusements thus liberally provided by any means + to be despised. There was a magnificent suite of rooms, with a + really grand ball-room, all magnificently lighted; there was a + large and very excellent band; there was a great abundance of + card-tables, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page374" + id="page374"></a>[pg 374]</span> with all needed + appurtenances, in several of the rooms; ices and sherbets + and bonbons and tea and pastry were served in immense + profusion during the whole evening. At one o'clock the + supper-rooms were opened, and there was a really magnificent + supper, with "all the delicacies of the season," and wine in + abundance of every sort. And the old hands, who would appear + knowing, used to say to new-comers, "Never mind the + champagne—you can get that anywhere—but stick to + the Rhine wine: it comes from the old boy's own vineyards." + To tell the truth, the scene at that supper used to be a + somewhat discreditable one. The spreading of such a banquet + before such an assemblage of animals as had gone up into + that ark was a leading them into unwonted temptation which + was hardly judicious. Not that the foreigners were by any + means the worst offenders against decent behavior there. If + they carried away bushels of bonbons in their loaded + pockets, the Italians would consign to the same receptacles + whole fowls, vast blocks of galantine, and even platefuls of + mayonnaise, packed up in paper brought thither for the + purpose. They were like troops plundering a taken town. + Despite the enormous quantity of loot thus carried off, + inexhaustible fresh supplies refurnished the board again and + again till all were satisfied. I never saw English or + Americans pocket aught save bonbons, which seemed to be + considered fair game on all sides, but the quantity of these + that I have seen made prizes of was something + prodigious.</p> + + <p>The grand duchess had hardly more to say for herself than + the grand duke, and her manner was less calculated to please + her visitors. That which in the grand duke was evidently + shyness and want of ready wit, took in the grand duchess the + appearance of <i>hauteur</i> and the distant manner due to + pride. She was a sister of the king of Naples, and was liked by + no one. The one truly affable member of the court circle, whose + manner and bearing really had something of royal grace and + graciousness, was the dowager grand duchess, the widow of the + late grand duke, who to all outward appearance was as young as, + and a far more elegant-looking woman than, the reigning grand + duchess. She had been a princess of the royal family of Saxony, + and was no doubt in all respects, intellectual and moral as + well as social, a far more highly cultivated woman than the + scion of the Bourbon House of Naples. She was the late grand + duke's second wife, and not the mother of the reigning + duke.</p> + + <p>Why were all these balls given—at no small cost of + money and trouble—by the grand duke and duchess? Why did + his Serene Imperial and Royal Highness intimate to the English + minister his wish that every traveling Briton from Capel Court + or Bloomsbury should be brought to share his hospitality and + the pleasures of his society? The matter was simply this: His + Serene Highness was venturing a small fish to catch a large + one. As a good and provident ruler, anxious for the prosperity + and well-being of his subjects, he was making a bid for the + valuable patronage of the British Cockney. He was acting the + part of land-lord of a gratuitous "free-and-easy," in the hope + of making Florence an attractive place of residence to that + large class of nomad English to whom gratuitous court-balls + once a week appeared to be a near approach to those "Saturnia + regna" when the rivers ran champagne and plum-puddings grew on + all the bushes. And it cannot be doubted that the grand duke's + patriotic endeavors were crowned with success, and that his + expenditure in wax-lights, music, ices and suppers was returned + tenfold to the shopkeepers and hotel and lodging-house keepers + of his capital.</p> + + <p>One other point may be mentioned with reference to these + balls, as a small contribution to the history of a system of + social manners and usages which has now passed away. The utmost + latitudinarianism, as has been mentioned, was allowed in the + matter of costume, but this rule was subject to one exception. + On the night of New Year's Day, on which there was always a + ball at the Pitti, all those who attended it were + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page375" + id="page375"></a>[pg 375]</span> expected to appear in + proper court-dress. Those who were entitled to any official + costume, military or other, donned that. I have seen a + clergyman of the Church of England make his academical robes + do duty as a court-dress, as indeed they properly do at St. + James. But in the rooms at the Pitti His Reverence became + the observed of all observers to a remarkable degree. Those + who could lay claim to no official costume of any sort had + to fall back on the old court-dress of the period of George + I., still worn, oddly enough, at the English court. It is a + sufficiently handsome dress in itself, and had at all events + the advantage of looking extremely unlike the ordinary + costume of nineteenth-century mortals, It was often a + question with American civilians what dress they should wear + on these occasions, and I used to endeavor to persuade my + American friends to insist upon their republican right to + ignore in Europe court-tailor mummeries of which they knew + nothing at home; being perfectly sure that they would have + carried the point victoriously, and not unmindful of + Talleyrand's remark when Castlereagh at Vienna appeared in a + plain black coat, without any decoration, among the crowd of + continental diplomatists bedizened with ribbons of every + color and stars and crosses of every form and kind: "<i>Ma + foi! c'est fort distingué</i>!" But I never could + prevail, having, as I take it, the female influence against + me on the subject; and Americans used to adopt generally a + blue cloth coat and trousers well trimmed with gold lace, + and a white waistcoat.</p> + + <p>In later days, when popular discontent and the agitation + arising from it were gradually boiling up to a dangerous height + in every part of Italy, and the hatred felt toward the + different sovereigns was reflected in many an audacious squib + and satire, the grand duke of Tuscany never shared to any great + degree the odium which pursued his fellow-monarchs. It was with + a scathing vigor of satire that Giuseppe Giusti characterized + each of the Italian crowned heads of that period in burning + verses, which were circulated with cautious secresy in + manuscript from hand to hand, long before a surreptitious + edition, which it was dangerous (anywhere in Italy save in + Tuscany) to possess, appeared, to be followed in after years by + many an avowed one. These have given the name of Giusti a high + and peculiar place on the roll of Italian poets. But the + satirist's serpent scourge is changed for a somewhat + contemptuously used foolscap when the Tuscan ruler is + introduced in the following lines:</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Il Toscano Morfeo vien' lemme, lemme,</p> + + <p>Di pavavero cinto e di lattuga.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Then comes the Tuscan Morpheus, creepy, crawly,</p> + + <p>With poppies and with lettuce crowned.</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>These lines, however, represent pretty accurately about the + worst that his subjects had to say of poor old "Ciuco," as the + last of the grand dukes was irreverently and popularly called: + "Ciuco," I am sorry to state, means "donkey." And it must be + owned that the two lines I have quoted from Giusti's verses, + with their untranslatable "lemme, lemme"—of which I have + endeavored, with imperfect success, to give the + meaning—present a very graphic picture of the man and the + nature and characteristics of his government. Everything went + "lemme, lemme," in the Sleepy Hollow of Tuscany in those + days.</p> + + <p>Used as he was to be laughed at, Leopold could occasionally + be made sleepily half angry by impertinences which had + something of a sting in them. Here is an amusing instance of + that fact, and of the way in which things used to be done in + Tuscany. Most of the Italian provinces—or larger cities, + rather—- have been from time immemorial personated in the + popular fancy by certain comic types, supposed to represent + with more or less accuracy the special characteristics of each + district. Venice, as all the world knows, has, and still more + had, her "Pantaloon," Naples her "Pulcinello," etc. The + specialties of the Florentine character are popularly supposed + to be embodied in "Stenterello," who comes on the Florentine + stage, in pieces written for the purpose, every Carnival, to + the never-failing delight of the populace. Stenterello is an + absurd figure with a <span class="pagenum"><a name="page376" + id="page376"></a>[pg 376]</span> curling pigtail, large + cocked hat, and habiliments meant to represent those of a + Tuscan citizen of some hundred years or so ago. He is a sort + of shrewd fool, doing the most absurd things, lying through + thick and thin with a sort of simple, self-confuting + mendacity, yet contriving to cheat everybody, and always + having, amid all his follies, a shrewd eye to his own + interest. He talks with the broadest possible Florentine + accent and idiom, and despite his cunning is continually + getting more kicks than halfpence. Well, there was in those + days a famous Stenterello, really a very clever fellow in + his way, who for many years had been the delight of the + Florentines every Carnival. But one year a rival theatre + produced a new and rival Stenterello. Of course the old and + established Stenterello could not stand this without using + the license of the popular stage to overwhelm his rival with + ridicule. "This sort of thing," said he, "will never do! How + many Stenterelli are we to have? Two is the regular + established number in Florence. There are I and my brother + over there at the great house on the other side of the Arno: + we are the Florentine Stenterelli by right divine, as is + well known. Who is this pretender who comes to interfere + with us?" etc. Now, this was a little too much, even for + Florence. And a day or two afterward the old original + Stenterello was ordered to go to prison. Nobody was ever + <i>arrested</i>, as we should call it, or <i>taken</i> to + prison. A man who for any cause was to suffer imprisonment + used to be told to <i>go</i> to prison. Stenterello told the + officer who announced his doom that it was out of the + question that he should go just then: he had to appear on + the boards that night. This was deemed to be a just + impediment, and he was told to go next day. The next day was + a "festa:" of course a sufficient reason for putting off + everything. The day after, on presenting himself at the + prison-door, the actor was told that the governor of the + prison was out of Florence, and he must "call again" in a + few days. When the governor returned, Stenterello was + indisposed for a few days. When he got well the governor was + indisposed, and when <i>he</i> got well there was another + "festa;" and when at last the offending actor did apply to + the prison official to be imprisoned, he was told there was + no room for him. Long before that the higher authorities had + totally forgotten all about the matter. That was the way + things were done in Tuscany in the good old time.</p> + + <p>The more serious faults with which Leopold II. was + chargeable were due to the narrowness of his religious bigotry, + and, in the difficult and trying circumstances of the latter + years of his reign, the lack of the courage needed to enable + him to be truthful and to keep faith with his people. When the + frightened and fickle pope ran away from Rome, strong + influences were brought to bear on the grand duke of Tuscany to + induce him to refrain from following the example and to ally + himself with Piedmont. His confessor of course took the + opposite side, and strove with every weapon he could bring to + bear on his Serene penitent to induce him to throw in his lot + with the pope. At last the invisible world had to be appealed + to. Saint Philomena, who had been a special object of the + devotion of the grand ducal family, took to appearing to the + confessor, and expressing her earnest hope that her devotee + would not risk the salvation of a soul in which she took so + tender an interest by refusing to follow the path marked out + for him by the Holy Father. The saint became very importunate + upon the subject, and each one of her celestial visitations was + duly reported to the grand duke, and made the occasion of fresh + exhortations on the part of the holy man who had been favored + by them. The upshot is well known: Ciuco followed the advice of + Saint Philomena and lost his dukedom.</p> + + <p>Sometimes, however, this submission of his mind to his + clergy was not altogether proof against a certain simple + shrewdness, aided perhaps by an inclination to save money, to + which he was said not to be insensible. Of course his + grandfather, the enlightened and reforming Duke Leopold I., had + not been at all in the good graces of the Church, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page377" + id="page377"></a>[pg 377]</span> and for a series of years + Leopold II. had been in the habit of giving a sum of money + for masses for the repose of the soul of his grandfather. + But upon one occasion it happened that the archbishop of + Lucca (a very special hierarchical big-wig, and the greatest + ecclesiastical authority in those parts, being, by reason of + some ancient and peculiar privileges, a greater man than + even the archbishop of Florence), in the course of an + argument with the grand duke, the object of which was to + induce the latter to modify in some respects some of those + anti-ecclesiastical measures by which the elder Leopold had + made the prosperity of Tuscany, was so far carried away by + his zeal as to declare that the author of the obnoxious + constitutions which he wished altered had incurred eternal + damnation by the enactment of them. The grand duke bent his + head humbly before the archiepiscopal denunciation, and said + nothing in reply. But when the time came round for the + disbursement of the annual sum for masses for Leopold I., + his pious grandson declared that it was useless to spend any + more money for that purpose, for that the archbishop of + Lucca had informed him that his unhappy predecessor's soul + was in hell, and accordingly past help and past being + prayed—or paid—for.</p> + + <p>I remember an amusing instance of the same sort of simple + shrewdness on the lookout for the main chance which was + exemplified in the above anecdote showing itself in quite a + different sphere. There was in those days living in Florence an + Englishman bearing the name of Sloane. He had made a large + fortune by the intelligent and well-ordered management of some + copper-mines in the neighborhood of Volterra, which in his + hands had turned out to be of exceptional and unexpected + richness. He was a man who did much good with his money, and + was considered a very valuable and important citizen of his + adopted country. He was a Roman Catholic too, which made him + all the more acceptable to the Florentines, and especially to + the grand duke, with whom he was a great favorite. This Mr. + Sloane had bought some years before the date of my anecdote the + ancient Medicean villa of Careggi, with a considerable extent + of land surrounding it. One day the grand duke paid him a visit + at his villa of Careggi, and in the course of it proposed a + walk up the slope of the Apennines through some fine woods that + made a part of Mr. Sloane's property. They went together, + enjoying the delightful walk through the woods over a dry and + excellently well-made road, where everything betokened care and + good tending, till all of a sudden, near the top of the hill + they were climbing, they came to a place where the good road + suddenly ended, and the path beyond was all bog and the wood + utterly uncared for, so that their walk evidently had to come + to an end there, and they would have to retrace their + steps.</p> + + <p>"Why, Sloane, how is this? This is not like your way of + doing things. Why did you stop short in your good work?" said + the grand duke, as they stood at the limit of the good road, + looking out at the slough beyond them.</p> + + <p>"In truth, Your Highness, I was sorry that the good road + should break off here, but the circumstance is easily + explained. Here ends the property of your humble servant, and + there begins the property of Your Royal Highness," said Sloane + with a low bow.</p> + + <p>"Ha! Is it so? Well, then, I'll tell you what you shall do. + You shall <i>buy</i> it, Sloane, and then you can finish your + job," returned the grand duke.</p> + + <p>It is very doubtful whether the Tuscans would have approved + of the <i>liberality</i> of the grand duke's expenditure if he + had manifested it, as his neighbor-sovereigns did, by expending + his revenues on multitudes of show-soldiers. The Tuscan forces + of those days were not exactly calculated for brilliant + military display. They were about as likely to be called on to + fight as the scullions in the grand ducal kitchen, and neither + in number, appearance nor <i>tenue</i> were they such as would + have obtained the approval of the lowest officer in the service + of a more military-minded sovereign. However, such as they + were, the <span class="pagenum"><a name="page378" + id="page378"></a>[pg 378]</span> grand duke used + occasionally—generally on the recurrence of some great + Church festival—to review his troops. On such + occasions he was expected to say something to the men. Poor + Ciuco's efforts in that line often produced effects more + amusing to bystanders than impressive to the objects of his + oratory. He was one day reviewing the troops who occupied + barracks in the well-known "Fortezza di S. Giovanni," + popularly called by the Florentines "Fortezza da + basso"—the same in which the celebrated Filippo + Strozzi, then the prisoner of the vindictive Cosmo de' + Medici, was found dead one morning, leaving to the world the + still unsolved historical problem whether he died by his own + hand or by that of his jailer hired to do the murder. The + scene in the gloomy old fortress with which we are at + present concerned was of a less tragic nature. His Serene + Highness began by exhorting his "brave army"—which, + unlike that of Bombastes in the burlesque, certainly never + "kicked up a row" of any kind—to be attentive to their + religious duties. "It is particularly desirable that you + should show an example to the citizens by your regular + observance of the festivals of the Church; + and—and—" (here His Highness shuffled his feet, + and, hanging his head down, chanced to cast his eyes on the + line of feet of the men drawn up before him) + "and—and—always keep your shoes clean." And with + that doubtless much-needed exhortation His Highness + concluded his address.</p> + + <p>The fact that Leopold was not regarded by his subjects with + any bitterness of hatred—nay, that there was <i>au + fond</i> a considerable feeling of affection for him—is + shown by the circumstances of his deposition from the throne. A + little timely concession would have saved Charles I.: a still + less amount of concession would have preserved his throne to + Leopold II. As regarded his own power, he had no objection to + agree to all that was asked of him, but he could not make up + his mind to go against the head of his house and the head of + his religion. The last proposal made to him was to abdicate in + favor of his son, whom, if allied with Piedmont, the Tuscans + would have consented to accept as their sovereign. But the + grand duke felt that this would in fact be doing in an indirect + manner that which he had fully determined not to do; and he + refused. And then came the end, and that memorable April + morning (the 27th) when the present writer witnessed a + revolution such as the world had not seen before, and such as, + it may be feared, it is not likely soon to see again. + Revolutions, we have over and over again been told, "cannot be + made with rose-water." The Tuscan revolution may have "proved + the rule by the exception," but it assuredly proved it in no + other way. The revolution by which poor old Ciuco lost this + throne was essentially a rose-water revolution. The history of + that day, of the negotiations respecting the proposed + abdication of the duke, of the conduct and bearing of the + people, has already been told by the present writer, when he + was fresh from witnessing the events, in a little volume + published in 1859. He will not therefore repeat them now, but + will conclude this paper with an account of the manner of the + last grand duke's farewell to Florence which is not given in + the volume spoken of.</p> + + <p>It was at six o'clock in the evening that the carriages + containing the grand duke and his family passed through the + Porta San Gallo, from which proceeds the road to Bologna, and + thence to Vienna. The main preoccupation of the people at that + moment was to assure themselves by the evidence of their own + senses that the duke and dukelings were really gone. An immense + crowd of people assembled round the gate and lined the road + immediately outside it. Along the living line thus formed the + cortége of carriages proceeded at a slow pace. There was + no fear of violence. The Tuscan revolution had cost no drop of + blood—not so much as a bloody nose—to any human + being thus far, and there was no danger whatever that any + violence would be shown to the departing and totally + unprotected prince. But there might have been danger that the + populace would tarnish their hitherto blameless + <span class="pagenum">[pg 379]</span> conduct by some + manifestation of insult or exultation. There was not one word + of the sort spoken in all the crowd, or indeed a word of any + sort. The carriages, carrying away those who were never to see + the banks of the Arno and fair Florence again, passed on in + perfect—one might almost say in mournful—silence. + Of course the masses of the crowd were soon passed, and the + grand ducal heart, if it had beat a little quickly while his + unguarded carriage was passing between the lines of those who + declined to be any longer his subjects, resumed that "serenity" + supposed to be the especial property of royal highnesses. But + some half dozen carriages, containing a score or so of those + whose positions had brought them into personal acquaintance + with the sovereign, accompanied the royal cortége as far + as the Tuscan frontier between the grand ducal state and the + dominions of the Church. Arrived at that spot—it is on + the top of a high, bleak ridge among the Apennines—there + was a general alighting from the carriages for the mutual + saying of the last words of farewell. Of course an immense + amount of bowing, with backward steps according to true courtly + fashion, went to the due uttering of these adieux on that spot + of the high-road over the Apennines. Unfortunately, there + chanced to be a heap of broken stones for the mending of the + road which encroached a little on the roadway. And it so + happened that His Imperial and Royal Highness, never very + dexterous in the use of his limbs or an adept in the + performance of such courtly gymnastics, backed in bowing on + this unlucky heap of stones, and was tripped by it in such sort + that the imperial and royal heels went into the air, and the + grand duke made his last exit from Tuscany in a manner more + original than dignified.</p> + + <p class="author">T. ADOLPHUS TROLLOPE.</p><a name="page379" + id="page379"></a> + + <h2>OUR MONTHLY GOSSIP.</h2> + + <h3>OLD ENGLISH CHARITIES.</h3> + + <p>The local charities connected with the family history of + great landowners in England form one of the most interesting + classes of public relief. They date chiefly from + ante-Reformation times, and often embody a hidden symbolism + into which none save the antiquary now cares to inquire. It is + a mistake to suppose that <i>all</i> the dying bequests of + pious folk in the Middle Ages were devoted to the "Church" + proper: the larger part certainly were, although the spirit + that prompted even the making of such bequests was symbolical + of the belief in the dispensing (rather than the appropriating) + powers of churchmen: but many were also the sums left to be + yearly spent in the relief of the poor and starving. Thus + originated the alms-(or bede-) houses so frequently met with in + the retired villages of England. <i>Bede</i> (from the German + <i>beten</i>, to "pray") meant prayer, hinting at the pious + duty of those benefiting by the founder's legacy to pray for + his eternal welfare. When the Reformation, among many abuses, + also obliterated many beautiful and poetical customs, the + meaning of these "houses of prayer" was forgotten, and their + chapels were often ruthlessly whitewashed. The material part of + the foundation, however, still remained, and the bedesmen, + twelve or thirteen (in commemoration of the number of the + apostles, or the apostles and their Master), continued to be + chosen by the clergyman of the parish and the lord of the + manor. In other places, instead of this more costly mode of + relief, a custom prevailed of distributing a "dole" at stated + times to a large number of poor people, the + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page380" + id="page380"></a>[pg 380]</span> number corresponding to the + age of the giver: if alive, of course the number increased + every year; if dead, it was fixed at the age at which he or + she had died. Many of these local customs continue to this + day: some have even been instituted lately, since the + revived taste for medievalism has beautified and refined + English homesteads and village churches. The queen, a + faithful upholder of ancient national manners, has given the + example by adhering to the time-honored custom called the + Royal Maundy. This word is from <i>mandatum</i>, or + commandment, and refers to the "new commandment" given by + Christ to his apostles at the Last Supper. In Catholic + countries it is still the custom for the sovereign to wash + the feet of twelve poor men (his wife performing the same + office for twelve poor and aged women) in public on the + Thursday before Easter, and to serve them at table + afterward: in Vienna this is done in a very solemn and + public manner. The chosen ones are brought to the palace in + court-coaches, and after the ceremony is over are carried + home in the same way, loaded with presents of clothing, + money, and all the dishes, spoons, forks, etc., used at + their dinner. In England the same charity, or its + equivalent, is dispensed, not by the sovereign in person, + but by her chaplains and almoners, in the midst of beautiful + formalities. The dignity with which the ceremony is + performed is a striking evidence of the national character, + and a contrast to the sometimes slovenly manner in which + great public religious functions are got through abroad. The + charities are distributed in the chapel of Whitehall, the + palace made tragically famous by the disgrace of Wolsey and + the death of King Charles I. Fifty-five old men, and as many + women, the number corresponding to the age of the sovereign, + were thus relieved last year. On an earlier occasion + witnessed by the writer a procession consisting of a + detachment of the yeomen of the guard, under the command of + a sergeant-major (one of the yeomen carrying the royal alms + on a gold salver of the reign of William and Mary), several + chaplains, almoners, secretaries and a few national + schoolchildren (allowed to take part in the ceremony as a + signal reward for good behavior), left the Royal Almonry + Office for the chapel of Whitehall. It was met at the door + by the lord high almoner and the subdeans of the Chapel + Royal, who joined the ranks and passed up to the altar. The + surpliced boys of the Chapel Royal, and the clergy and + gentlemen belonging officially to it, took their appointed + places right and left, and the gold salver was deposited in + front of the royal pew, generally tenanted by one or more + members of the royal family. Evening prayer, slightly varied + and adapted for the occasion, as custom has decreed for + several centuries, was then gone through; the forty-first + Psalm was chanted; and after the First Lesson an anthem by + Goss was sung. Then followed the distribution of £1 + 15s. to each woman, and a pair of shoes and stockings to + each man. The two next anthems were by Mendelssohn, and in + the intervals woolen and linen clothes were first + distributed to each man, and money-purses to each man and + woman. The Second Lesson was then read, and the fourth and + concluding anthem, by Greene, chanted, after which the usual + Thanksgiving and Prayer of St. Chrysostom were read. The + musical part of the service, being especially prominent, was + correctly and artistically performed by skillful musicians + (some of them composers), styled officially "gentlemen of + the Chapel Royal:" the solo in the first anthem was sung by + one of the boys.</p> + + <p>In addition to this special ceremony, other Easter bounties, + styled "Minor Bounty," "Discretionary Bounty," and the "Royal + Gate Alms," were, according to old custom, distributed at the + Almonry Office on Good Friday and Saturday, while Easter Monday + and Tuesday were devoted to the distribution of other + supplementary relief to old and infirm people previously chosen + by the clergy of the various London parishes. The recipients + included over a thousand persons.</p> + + <p>Among the private local charities none is on so large a + scale as the <span class="pagenum"><a name="page381" + id="page381"></a>[pg 381]</span> famous "Tichborne Dole." + The idea we now attach to the word <i>dole</i> is + ludicrously inappropriate in this case, where the gift is in + the proportion of one gallon of the best wheaten flour to + each adult and half a gallon to each child, and where the + number of the recipients is generally between five and six + hundred, including the inhabitants of two parishes. This + custom is seven hundred years old, and was first instituted + on the Tichborne estate by Dame Mabel, the wife of Sir Roger + de Tichborne, knight, in the beginning of the twelfth + century. The foundress was renowned for her piety and + charity, and by her own people was looked upon as a saint. + The family record says that she was so charitable to the + poor that, not content to exercise that virtue all her + lifetime, she instituted the "dole" as a perpetual memorial + of her goodness, and entailed it to her posterity. It is + distributed yearly on the 25th of March. A large + oil-painting, now hanging in the dining-room of Tichborne + House, and representing the distribution of the "dole," was + painted in 1670, and is considered as one of the most + valuable family relics. The costumes of the period are + faithfully represented, most of the prominent figures are + portraits, and the scene is laid within the courtyard of the + old manor, with its sculptured gables and picturesque + mullioned windows. The present house, roomy and comfortable + as it is, is a plain, unpretending building, with no + architectural features to recommend it, but the park and + grounds are very beautiful, the old trees disposed in deep + glades and avenues, and the situation altogether very + picturesque. Since the famous trial has made everything + bearing the name of Tichborne a target for curiosity, the + occupants have been sadly annoyed, and access to the house + was at last, in self-defence, denied to strangers who came + simply as gaping sight-seers. The "dole" distribution, as we + have said, takes place every year. Last spring it was + attended with less show than usual, owing to the illness of + the little boy who now represents the old name (the nephew + of the lost Roger Tichborne), in consequence of which none + of the ladies of the family were present. But despite the + absence of the festal arrangements by which it is usually + accompanied, the main business was the same as it has always + been since Dame Mabel's time. About nine o'clock the fine + old park became thronged with men, women and children, all + carrying bags and baskets in which to stow away the + "bounty." The distribution was made at the back of the + house. The people gathered in groups, dressed in all sorts + of plain, dilapidated country garments—old men in + worn-out smock-frocks (a sight seldom seen even in + conservative England), gaiters such as they wear at work in + the fields, and slouched, unrecognizable hats that had + evidently seen better times; others stood in their "Sunday + clothes," stiff and uncomfortable as a laborer looks in that + unusual and unartistic guise; some were old and toothless, + yet upright and almost martial-looking; while some, again, + had that pathetic look—sunken eyes, bent limbs and + general air of having given in to the attacks of time and + sorrow—which invariably speaks the same language and + stirs the same sympathy all over the world. The women were + in the majority, most of them hale and hearty, the wives and + daughters of laborers who were too busy to come in person. + Nine sacks, each containing fifty gallons of flour, were + emptied by two sturdy miller's men into an immense tub. The + family being an old Roman Catholic one, a religious ceremony + was the prelude of the distribution. The domestic chaplain + offered up a short prayer, and after invoking the blessing + of Heaven on the gift, sprinkled the flour with holy water + in the form of a cross. It was no uncommon thing for one + person to carry away three or four gallons of flour: the + largest award was in the case of a family consisting of man, + wife and seven children, the wife carrying away with her + five and a half gallons. Many of those whose names appeared + as witnesses for the defence during the memorable trial were + present—John Etheridge, the blacksmith, and Kennett, + coachman to the dowager Lady Tichborne, + <span class="pagenum">[pg 382]</span> among the number. The + latter lives in a small freehold cottage, his own property, + at Cheriton, the next parish to Tichborne. Persons of all + denominations were relieved—Church people, Dissenters + and Roman Catholics alike—without the slightest + favoritism being shown to any.</p> + + <p>The same kind of charity, though on a smaller scale, and by + the custom of living patrons instead of the will of deceased + ones, is dispensed at various times in the year through the + whole country by both large and small landed proprietors.</p> + + <p>The 11th of November (St. Martin's Day) is the one generally + chosen for the distribution of winter clothing to the poor of + the parish, and this in commemoration of the mediaeval legend + of the holy Bishop Martin, who gave half his ample cloak to a + shivering leper who begged of him in the street. Next night, + says the legend, he saw in a dream Christ himself clothed in + that cloak, and remembered the promise that "inasmuch as ye + have done it unto one of these, ye have done it unto Me." The + writer has often assisted at such distribution of warm + clothing, both made and unmade. In every county squire's house + there is a bi-or tri-weekly distribution of soup to the village + poor, and in most two or three sets of fine bed-linen and soft + baby-clothes, to be lent out on occasions requiring greater + comforts than the poor and too often thriftless women of + agricultural villages can afford. Private charity is + all-reaching: the "hall" is the dispensary and the general ark + of refuge for all county ills, moral, physical and pecuniary, + and its help is never thought degrading, like that of the + "parish." Most families pay a doctor and a nurse by the year to + attend the poor free of expense, and an order from the doctor + for jellies, soup or wine, as well as for the ordinary sorts of + medicine, is always sure of being filled from the ample stores + of the "housekeeper's room." If the city poor were half as well + provided for as are the agricultural poor by their "lords of + the manor," there would be far less destitution. Some affect to + sneer at a system which savors of what they call "feudalism," + and which, they wisely suggest, encourages pauperism, but + warm-hearted and charitable people will probably disagree with + these searchers after new methods, and will be glad to find in + the ready sympathy of English landowners for their poor + neighbors a ray of the old-fashioned unquestioning charity + which distinguished biblical times.</p> + + <p class="author">B.M.</p> + <hr class="short" /> + <a name="page382" + id="page382"></a> + + <h3>LANDORIANA.</h3> + + <p>I wish to supplement the "Recollections of Landor," + published in a former number of the Magazine, by an anecdote + and two or three characteristic letters which by accident + escaped me when I was writing on the subject before. Here is + the story: Schlegel and Niebuhr had been for some time on + unpleasant terms. The historical skepticism of the latter was + altogether distasteful to Schlegel; and he was wont to deny + Niebuhr's claim to the title of historian. Well, Landor was + dining at Bonn, and among the company immediately opposite to + him at table was Schlegel. Hardly had the soup been despatched + before Landor, with that stentorian voice of his which always + filled every corner of every room he spoke in, began: "Are not + you the man, Mr. Schlegel, who has recently discovered, at the + end of two hundred and fifty years, that Shakespeare is a poet? + Well, perhaps if you live two hundred and fifty years longer, + you may discover that Niebuhr is an historian." "Schlegel did + not like it," added Landor when telling the story + himself—very much as who should say, "I knocked him down + with an unexpected blow of my fist, and he did not <i>like</i> + it!"</p> + + <p>And now for my letters. Here is one dated "Florence, June, + 1861," written to my wife when he was past eighty and within a + year or two of his death. The latter portion of the letter is + especially interesting, and will be none the less so to those + who may be disposed to dispute the correctness of the judgments + expressed in it.</p> + + <p>"Do not be alarmed," he writes, "at a letter which 'like a + wounded snake drags its slow length along.' Such, I + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page383" + id="page383"></a>[pg 383]</span> suspect, mine will be, + though it ought to contain only thanks for the admirable + ones you have sent to me on the late affairs of Tuscany. + Yesterday Mr. Trollope gave them to me as your present. I + then exprest a hope that he or you would undertake a history + of Italian affairs from the Treaty of Campo Formio down to + the present day. Indeed, I hope and trust that it may be + continued a year or two farther, until the recovery of Rome + from the most perfidious enemy she and Italy were ever + opprest by. And this under the title of deliverer! Lay your + two heads together, and let me have to boast that the best + and truest of our historians were my personal friends. + Southey and Napier were most intimately so. Hallam is a dull + proser—no discovery or illustration, no profound + thought, no vivid description, not even a harmonious period. + Macaulay is a smart reviewer, indifferent to truth, a + hanger-on of party. Lingard is more honest, and writes + better. He does not tag together loose epigrams with a + crooked pin. Now put the empty chairs of these people + against the wall, and sit down to your table with a long + piece of work before you. And now you must be tired, as I + foretold you would be. So hail the farewell of your + affectionate old friend,</p> + + <p class="author">"W. LANDOR."</p> + <hr class="short" /> + + <p>Here is another, undated, but shown by the Bath postmark to + have been written in 1857. The whole letter is strongly + characteristic of the writer, as indeed was everything that + Landor wrote, said or did, so thoroughly and in every sense of + the word was he <i>original</i>; but, as in the preceding + letter, the most interesting portion is that toward the end, + where he gives some amusing indications of his peculiar + political opinions and feelings. This letter also was written + to the same correspondent:</p> + + <p>"My dear friend: It is now three years since I have been in + London, except in passing through it to the Crystal Palace, + without dismounting." [How curiously the phrase indicates the + habits of the writer's youth, when gentlemen's journeys were + for the most part performed on horseback!] "At Sydenham I + remained three weeks, almost; but the air of London always + disagreed with me, added to which, the necessity of visiting + was always intolerable to me, and I have lost many friends by + refusing to undergo it. If Mr. Trollope should find a few days' + leisure for Bath, I can promise him a hearty reception and a + comfortable bedroom. Is it not singular that on your letter + being brought to me I laid down for it <i>Town and Country</i> + [a novel by Frances Trollope], which interests me as much on a + second reading as on the first? To-morrow I must + run—imagine a man of eighty-one running!—for the + Athenaeum. I myself have not thrown away the pen, which sadly + wants mending. They have published <i>Scenes from the + Shades,</i> and <i>Alfieri and Metastasio</i>, and <i>Codrus + and Polio</i>. These last three are in <i>Fraser</i>. If they + bring a few pounds or shillings, the money will be given to + Capera, a laboring man who has written some noble poetry." [The + writer in question produced some very tolerable verses, + remarkable as coming from a man in his position, but in our + friend's enthusiastic language they become "noble poetry" + directly he makes the man his protegé—a truly + Landorian touch!] "I could have collected three hundred pounds + for Kossuth from friends who wrote to me about it, and probably + ten or a dozen times as much from others, for no man ever had + so few friends or acquaintances as I have. Nearly all are dead, + and I have no leisure or inclination for new ones. It gave me + much pleasure to hear that the fine and pleasant Lord Normanby + is in part recovered from his paralysis. I parted from him at + Bath with few hopes. Never have I spent a winter in England so + free from every kind of malady as this last. A disastrous war + ends with a disgraceful peace. We are to have an illumination + and ringing of bells. Sir Claude Scott and myself will not + illuminate, but I have promised the ringers twenty shillings if + they will muffle the bells. Rejoice! The best generals and best + soldiers in the Crymea [sic] were Italians.</p> + + <p class="author">"W.S.L."</p> + <hr class="short" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page384" + id="page384"></a>[pg 384]</span> + + <p>Landor had many queer crotchets about spelling, and always + absolutely declined to follow any rule but his own. It seems to + have been one of these crotchets to spell Crimea as he spells + it in the above-quoted letter—on what grounds I do not + pretend to be able to guess: With regard to the seemingly + unpatriotic sentiment contained in the last lines, it must be + remembered that the writer was addressing a person long + resident in Italy, and eagerly anxious for the well-doing of + the Italian troops in their struggle with the different + despotisms which oppressed the Peninsula. The bribing the + ringers to <i>muffle</i> the bells is a highly characteristic + trait.</p> + + <p>Of a third letter I will print only a part, because the + remainder concerns the unfortunate affair which compelled the + writer finally to leave England—the result, as is well + known, of a trial for libel in which Landor was cast in heavy + damages which were far beyond his diminished means to pay. He + acted very wrongly, and still more imprudently, in attempting + to expose what he honestly deemed misconduct of a nature that + outraged all the generous feelings of his nature, by the + publication of a very gross libel. The passages in the letter + in question which refer to this business, then in the stage + preceding his conviction, abundantly testify to the fact that + the sentiments which had impelled him to act as he did were + wholly and solely those of generous indignation at wrong done, + in no-wise against himself, but against another, whom he deemed + to be oppressed and unprotected. But I think, on the whole, + that no good purpose would be served by raking up the matter + afresh. And (for Landor in his wrath was at no time a + Chrysostom) the letter bristles with assertions and accusations + couched in language which might, for aught I know, make the + publication of it a repetition of the offence for which he + suffered. The other matters touched on are not uninteresting + manifestations of opinion:</p> + + <p>"My DEAR FRIEND," he writes: "Whether I am ill or well it is + always with equal pleasure that I see the trace of your hand. + Surely, I must have written to you since I sent the scenes of + <i>Anthony and Octavius</i>. But I am too apt to believe that + what I <i>ought</i> to have done I <i>have</i> done. You ask me + what I think of the Neapolitan abominations." [The allusion is + to some one or other of the many acts of grievous tyranny which + were at that time perpetrated by the Neapolitan Bourbon + government in its terrified attempts to protect itself against + the rising indignation of the people.] "We countenance them. + The despots are in <i>Holy Alliance</i> against constitutions." + [Surely, Landor's old antagonism to former English governments + led him into error and injustice when he accuses England of + "countenancing" the tyrannies of the Neapolitan government. How + much Gladstone's celebrated letter and English sentiment in all + quarters contributed toward the overthrow of that tyranny was + not then known as well as it is now.] "On the other side of + this," he continues, "you will find a few verses I wrote on + Agesiloa Milano, the finest and bravest patriot on record." + [Agesilao Milano, whose name was just then in every mouth in + Italy, was one of the numerous victims of Austrian severity, + who had met his fate with admirable courage, and who willingly + gave his life for his country. But there was nothing to + distinguish him specially from hundreds of other Italians who + in those evil days did as much, and nothing save chance to + distinguish him from the tens of hundreds who were ready to do + as much had the lot fallen to them. But the mention of this + poor fellow in the letter is very specially Landorian. No + superlatives were with him strong enough to express his + sentiments on aught that immediately moved his feelings either + of admiration or indignation.] "The concessions in Lombardy," + he goes on, "are fabulous. Thieves and assassins are turned out + of prison with quiet literary men and brave patriots.... With + kindest regards to your circle, ever your affec.</p> + + <p class="author" + style="margin-top:-1.5em">"W. LANDOR."</p><br /> + + <p>The verses on Agesilao Milano announced as being "on the + other side" are <span class="pagenum">[pg 385]</span> there + preceded by two epigrams on the object of his indignation above + alluded to, which I suppress for the same reason that I have + suppressed that portion of the letter referring to the same + subject. The verses on the young Italian patriot and martyr run + as follows:</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Sometimes the brave have bent the head</p> + + <p>To lick the dust that despots tread.</p> + + <p>Not so Milano; he alone</p> + + <p>Would bow to Justice on the throne.</p> + + <p>To win a crown of thorns he trod</p> + + <p>A flinty path, and rests with God.</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p class="center">T.A.T.</p> + <hr class="short" /> + <a name="page385" + id="page385"></a> + + <h3>THE DEATH OF DOCTORS' COMMONS.</h3> + + <p>On the 20th of last October a venerable London institution + changed its quarters. Doctors' Commons may almost be said to be + no more. Its heart is gone. The Principal Registry of the Court + of Probate—the successor to the Prerogative Court of + Canterbury—is no longer to be found there, and those who + seek their fortunes in wills have now to prosecute their + researches in that hub of British departmental records, + Somerset House. The knell of "the Commons" was rung about + twenty years ago, when a campaign against the abuses prevailing + in the ecclesiastical courts was begun in the London + <i>Times</i>. It unquestionably had been the home <i>par + excellence</i> of sinecures and monopolies, which culminated in + the office of registrar of the Prerogative Court of the + archbishop of Canterbury. This office was in the gift of the + archbishop, and was at the time these attacks began held by the + Rev. Mr. Moore. Mr. Moore was a member of a family which had + certainly good cause to stand steadfast in the faith of the + Church of England, and not to waver one inch in attachment + thereto. It may be doubted whether since its foundation any + family—we except, of course, those to whom grants were + made from abbey-lands—during the whole history of the + Church has drawn such vast sums from it. His father, a + singularly fortunate man, set the ball rolling. Having gone up + to Christ Church, Oxford, as a sizar, or poor scholar, he + happened about the time of taking his degree to cross the + quadrangle at the moment when a nobleman of great position was + asking the dean to recommend a tutor for his son. Young Moore + at that moment caught the very reverend functionary's eye. + There is the very man, thought he. He called him up, presented + him to the peer, and an engagement was made. In those days the + patronage of a powerful peer was a ready road to preferment. + Young Moore gave satisfaction to his noble patron, and was + pushed up the ecclesiastical tree until he reached its topmost + branch, being created in 1783 archbishop of Canterbury. In 1770 + he formed a very judicious marriage with Miss Eden. This lady + was sister of Sir Robert Eden, governor of Maryland in 1776 + (who married the sister and co-heir of the last Lord + Baltimore), and of the first Lord Auckland, whom George III. + very justly stigmatized as "that eternal intriguer." To the + "eternal intriguer" the elevation of Moore to the archbishopric + was probably mainly due. Lord Auckland was for many years as + intimate a friend as Pitt ever had, and his daughter (afterward + countess of Buckinghamshire) is the great minister's only + recorded love. For twenty-three years Dr. Moore filled the + archbishopric, and in those days it was a far better thing + pecuniarily than it is now. He made hay whilst the sun shone, + and then and for long after did his relatives bask in the sun. + Registrarships, canonries and livings fell upon them in rich + profusion, and the great prize of all, the registrarship of the + Prerogative Court of the archbishop of Canterbury, fell to the + luckiest of the lot.</p> + + <p>Of course the registrar never came near his registry: his + duties were discharged by three deputies. Not one penny, + moreover, beyond what was absolutely necessary did he expend on + the registry itself. Such a hole as it was! Cribbed, cabined + and confined were the clerks who ran the reverend sinecurist's + business in one of the most extraordinary rabbit-warrens, to + use the epithet Bethell, Lord (Chancellor) Westbury, applied to + it in the writer's hearing. In Great Knight Rider + street—a name derived from the days of the Knights + Templar—was a dingy passage-way leading into a + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page386" + id="page386"></a>[pg 386]</span> yet dingier little court. + Passing up a short flight of steps, you found yourself in a + large room, with deep alcoves furnished with shelves, on + which, above and on all sides, were ranged huge volumes with + massive clasps. "What are all these books?" inquired a + youthful visitor—"old Bibles?" "No, sir; they're + testaments," was a waggish official's reply. They are, in + fact, copies of wills. The originals are deemed too precious + for exhibition except on special application, and the + stranger who pays his shilling only sees a copy. Formerly, + unless a searcher knew exactly when a will was proved, the + process of finding it was very troublesome, because he had + to search down indexes in Old English character arranged in + order of date only; but now the registers have been put into + alphabetical form.</p> + + <p>The great change in Doctors' Commons took place in 1858, + when the Probate Act came into operation. This was a very + sweeping measure, which at a blow superseded the whole system + of ecclesiastical courts, so far at least as wills were + concerned. For them it substituted a Court of Probate, with + jurisdiction over the whole of England. Attached to this court + are about forty registries for wills. That in London is called + the Principal Registry. A will must either be proved in the + district in which a man dies or in the Principal Registry. The + Principal Registry is a very large office, at the head of which + are four registrars, who are also registrars of the Divorce + Court, over which the judge of the Court of Probate presides, + being styled "judge ordinary" of this latter. There are about + forty registries scattered about the country, in most cases in + places where formerly ecclesiastical courts existed for the + proving of wills. The value of these registrarships ranges from + three hundred to fifteen hundred pounds. They are all in the + gift of the judge of the court, whose patronage is worth about + sixty thousand pounds a year, and may be reckoned the best in + England, inasmuch as he holds it continuously, whilst the lord + chancellor and other political officers merely hold their + patronage for the few years they may chance to continue in + office. Moreover, the judge of the Court of Probate, not being + a political officer, has no political pressure brought to bear + upon him in the distribution of his patronage, and can dispense + it precisely as he pleases. The registrars must, by the terms + of the act of Parliament, be barristers, solicitors, or clerks + who have served five years in the Principal Registry.</p> + + <p>Doctors' Commons twenty years ago was a unique corner of the + world. It lay so hid away that you might live for years in + London, and be within a stone's throw of it, and yet never have + its existence brought to your mind; and it had a life all its + own. The ecclesiastical lawyers were called doctors and + proctors, instead of barristers and attorneys; and although the + former did not arrogate to themselves a higher rank socially + and professionally than that of barrister, a proctor considered + himself a great many cuts above an attorney, and indeed was, + for the most part, the equal of the best class of attorneys. + Proctors, it will be borne in mind, are sketched by Charles + Dickens in the opening pages of <i>David Copperfield</i>, for + Dora's papa, Mr. Spenlow, was in proctorial partnership with + the reputably inexorable Jawkins. When the Probate Act came + into force it was a frightful blow to the tribe of Spenlows. + Not so much on account of the pecuniary loss. In that respect + the blow was considerably tempered to the shorn lambs by a + compensation all too liberal—for John Bull is unsurpassed + as a respecter of vested interests—and the proctors were + compensated on the basis of their incomes for the last five + years, their returns proving in some instances curiously at + variance with the amounts on which they had paid income-tax. + But they regarded themselves as terrible losers in prestige and + position by this rude invasion of the classic and aristocratic + ground of the Doctores Commensales, and above all by being + leveled down to the rank of attorneys. The clerks in the + Prerogative Court—of which the registrars and head-clerks + were all proctors, who, taking the cue from Chief Registrar + Moore, executed their work by deputy, the deputies being clerks + working <span class="pagenum">[pg 387]</span> long hours for + small salaries—had kotooed to them with the most servile + subserviency; but the Probate Office clerk was a government + official, who could not be removed, even by the judge of the + court, without the consent of the lord chancellor. What cared + he, then, for Spenlow and Jawkins? "I am astonished, Mr. + Spenlow," said a young clerk of the new <i>régime</i>, + "that you should have made such a mistake!" Mr. Spenlow, in + turn, was too much astonished to utter a word. Speechless with + amazement and indignation, he left the "seat," as the different + departments were called, to weep bitter tears in regret for the + past in the solitude of his dingy sanctum in Bell Yard, leaving + an emancipated clerk, who had served under the thraldom of the + old <i>régime</i>, exclaiming, "Good Heavens! Only + imagine any of us daring to use such language to a proctor two + years ago!"</p> + + <p class="author">R.W.</p> + <hr class="short" /> + <a name="page387" + id="page387"></a> + + <h3>THE LAY OF THE LEVELER.</h3> + + <p>Among the less known writings of Francis Quarles, author of + the once famous <i>Emblems</i>, is a volume, now become very + scarce, entitled <i>The Shepheards Oracles, delivered in + certain Eglogues</i>. The copy of it to which I have access was + published in 1646, or two years after Quarles's death. This + spirited poem must have been perused with intense interest by + Quarles's contemporaries. But history is constantly repeating + itself with more or less of modification, and <i>The Shepheards + Oracles</i>, at least here and there, and with reference to + England, reads, but for its quaintness of manner and idiom, + like a production of the nineteenth century. In the course of + it there occur some verses, put into the mouth of Anarchus, + which are well worth resuscitating. These verses, to which I + have supplied a title as above, are, in a sufficiently exact + transcription, as follows:</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Know, then, my brethren, heav'n is cleare,</p> + + <p class="i2">And all the Clouds are gone;</p> + + <p>The Righteous now shall flourish, and</p> + + <p class="i2">Good dais are coming on.</p> + + <p>Come, then, my Brethren, and be glad,</p> + + <p class="i2">And eke rejoyce with me:</p> + + <p>Lawn Sleeves and Rochets shall goe down:</p> + + <p class="i2">And, hey! then up goe we.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Wee'l break the windows which the Whore</p> + + <p class="i2">Of Babylon hath painted;</p> + + <p>And, when the Popish Saints are down,</p> + + <p class="i2">Then Barow shall be Sainted.</p> + + <p>There's neither Crosse nor Crucifixe</p> + + <p class="i2">Shall stand for man to see:</p> + + <p>Romes trash and trump'ries shall goe downe;</p> + + <p class="i2">And, hey! then up goe we.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>What ere [sic] the Popish hands have built,</p> + + <p class="i2">Our Hammers shall undoe;</p> + + <p>Wee'l breake their Pipes, and burn their Copes,</p> + + <p class="i2">And pull downe Churches, too:</p> + + <p>Wee'l exercise within the Groves,</p> + + <p class="i2">And teach beneath a Tree;</p> + + <p>Wee'l make a Pulpit of a Cart;</p> + + <p class="i2">And, hey! then up goe we.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Wee'l down with all the Varsities,</p> + + <p class="i2">Where Learning is profest,</p> + + <p>Because they practise and maintain</p> + + <p class="i2">The language of the Beast:</p> + + <p>Wee'l drive the Doctors out of doores,</p> + + <p class="i2">And Arts, what ere [sic] they be;</p> + + <p>Wee'l cry both Arts and Learning down;</p> + + <p class="i2">And, hey! then up goe we.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Wee'l down with Deans and Prebends, too;</p> + + <p class="i2">But I rejoyce to tell ye</p> + + <p>How then we will eat Pig our fill,</p> + + <p class="i2">And Capon by the belly:</p> + + <p>Wee'l burn the Fathers witty Tomes,</p> + + <p class="i2">And make the Schoolmen flee;</p> + + <p>Wee'l down with all that smels of wit;</p> + + <p class="i2">And, hey! then up goe we.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>If once that Antichristian crew</p> + + <p class="i2">Be crusht and overthrown,</p> + + <p>Wee'l teach the Nobles how to crouch,</p> + + <p class="i2">And keep the Gentry down:</p> + + <p>Good manners have an evil report,</p> + + <p class="i2">And turn to pride we see:</p> + + <p>Wee'l, therefore, cry good manners down;</p> + + <p class="i2">And, hey! then up goe we.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>The name of Lord shall be abhor'd;</p> + + <p class="i2">For every man's a brother:</p> + + <p>No reason why, in Church or State,</p> + + <p class="i2">One man should rule another.</p> + + <p>But, when the change of Government</p> + + <p class="i2">Shall set our fingers free,</p> + + <p>Wee'l make the wanton Sisters stoop:</p> + + <p class="i2">And, hey! then up goe we.</p> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Our Coblers shall translate their soules</p> + + <p class="i2">From Caves obscure and shady;</p> + + <p>Wee' make Tom T—— as good as my + Lord,</p> + + <p class="i2">And Joan as good as my Lady.</p> + + <p>Wee'l crush and fling the marriage Ring</p> + + <p class="i2">Into the Romane See;</p> + + <p>Wee'l ask no bans, but even clap hands;</p> + + <p>And, hey! then up goe we.</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>By "Barow," named in the second stanza, is intended, no + doubt, Henry Barrow, the Nonconformist enthusiast who was + executed at Tyburn in 1592. A follower of Robert Browne, + founder of the Brownists, whence sprang the sect of + Independents, he brought upon himself, by his zeal and + imprudence, a vengeance which his wary leader contrived + <span class="pagenum">[pg 388]</span> to evade. Browne himself + is alluded to punningly in <i>The Shepheards Oracles</i>, where + Philorthus, at sight of Anarchus approaching, asks whether he + is "in a Browne study." Anarchus replies:</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>"Man, if thou be'st a Babe of Grace,</p> + + <p class="i2">And of an holy Seed,</p> + + <p>I will reply incontinent,</p> + + <p class="i2">And in my words proceed;</p> + + <p>But, if thou art a child of wrath,</p> + + <p class="i2">And lewd in conversation,</p> + + <p>I will not, then, converse with thee,</p> + + <p class="i2">Nor hold communication."</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>Philorthus rejoins, referring by his "we all three" to + Philarchus, with whom he had just been conversing:</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>"I trust, Anarchus, we all three inherit</p> + + <p>The selfe same gifts, and share the selfe same + Spirit."</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>Then follow the stanzas which I have first quoted. There is + certainly ground to surmise that Lord Macaulay had in mind what + I have called "The Lay of the Leveler" when in 1820 he wrote "A + Radical War-song." In support of this opinion, I subjoin, for + comparison, its last stanza but one:</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>Down with your sheriffs and your mayors,</p> + + <p class="i2">Your registrars and proctors!</p> + + <p>We'll live without the lawyer's cares,</p> + + <p class="i2">And die without the doctor's.</p> + + <p>No discontented fair shall pout</p> + + <p class="i2">To see her spouse so stupid:</p> + + <p>We'll tread the torch of Hymen out,</p> + + <p class="i2">And live content with Cupid.</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p class="center">F.H.</p> + <hr class="short" /> + <a name="page388" + id="page388"></a> + + <h3>THE PHILOSOPHER STRAUSS AS A POET.</h3> + + <p>The writer of a sketch in a late number of a Leipsic journal + presents the famous author of the <i>Life of Jesus</i>, David + Friederich Strauss, in a new character. He mentions, first, + that in the <i>Unterhaltungen am häuslichen Heerde</i> + ("Conversations around the Homehearth"), published by Strauss + in 1856, the latter makes, in the introduction, the following + graceful reference to the deceased friend of his youth, E.F. + Kauffmann: "If I were a philosophical emperor and wrote + self-confessions, I would thank the gods for giving me, among + other blessings, a poet and musician for an early friend. He is + dead now, alas! the noble man whom alone I have to thank that + my ear, though still unskillful, has been opened to the world + of harmony. He was not a professional musician, but he had a + thoroughly musical nature. The laws of composition he had + studied theoretically, and he followed them practically. His + position, in reality, was that of a professor of mathematics. + But music was his secret love. He not only knew the great + masters, but he lived in them. He thought little of playing on + the piano the whole of one of Mozart's operas, note for note, + without any written music before him. I have often seen him do + this. How much I have owed to those hours! How he could draw + his hearers into the right mood! How he could illuminate the + groping mind with the lightning flash of thought!"</p> + + <p>To this friend Strauss sent from Munich in 1851 ten sonnets. + They were accompanied by a versified dedication to Kauffmann + himself, and they constitute his claim to be considered a poet + as well as a philosophic theologian. The sonnets are all on + musical subjects, and may be taken as the natural outgrowth of + that cultivation of his musical taste which he owed to his + intimate association with Professor Kauffmann. The metrical + dedication and the first five sonnets are given in the sketch + before referred to. The writer of that article looks upon the + tendency, thus displayed by Strauss, to "drop into poetry," as + Mr. Wegg was accustomed to say, as another strong proof of the + affinity—elsewhere noticed—between the genius of + Strauss and that of Gotthold Ephraim Lessing; who, it will be + remembered, sometimes diverted himself with the composition of + light poetical pieces, such as his famous song, beginning + "Gestern, Brüder, könnt ihr's glauben?"</p> + + <p>The first sonnet is on Händel, the second on + Glück, the third on Haydn, the fourth on <i>Don Juan</i>, + and the fifth on <i>Figaro</i>.</p> + + <p>The following attempt at a translation of the fourth sonnet + may serve to give some idea of how far the world-renowned + philosopher and skeptic has succeeded in his effort to assume + the anomalous <i>rôle</i> of a + sonneteer:</p><span class="pagenum">[pg 389]</span> + + <h4>DON JUAN.</h4> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p>How joyously life's fountains here are flowing!</p> + + <p class="i2">In crystal cups the purple flood is + foaming;</p> + + <p class="i2">Through dusky myrtle-groves are lovers + roaming,</p> + + <p>The dance begins in halls all bright and + glowing.</p> + + <p>Be watchful, though! Here treachery is hiding.</p> + + <p class="i2">Wild passion naught for truth or ruth is + caring:</p> + + <p class="i2">As hawks do doves, mild innocence 'tis + tearing,</p> + + <p>And human vengeance lightly is deriding.</p> + + <p class="i2">But now, once more alive, the slain + appear!</p> + + <p>They speak, with awful voice, the words of doom:</p> + + <p>Death his cold hand is silently extending.</p> + + <p class="i2">Now sinks the daring mood in ghastly + fear.</p> + + <p>The golden dream of life dissolves in gloom;</p> + + <p>The silent grave brings on the bright joy's + ending.</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>It is very hard, if not impossible, to render into any other + language the true spirit of a German poem. But in the original + this sonnet is far above mediocrity. It idealizes the opera of + <i>Don Juan</i> very artistically, and displays a combination + of force with harmony and grace which gives the impression, in + connection with the other sonnets, that if Strauss had devoted + his mental energy to poetry alone, he would not have taken a + low rank among the poets of Germany.</p> + + <p class="author">W.W.C.</p><a name="page389" + id="page389"></a> + + <h2>LITERATURE OF THE DAY.</h2> + + <blockquote> + <p class="note">The Life of Thomas Fuller, D.D., with + Notices of his Books, his Kinsmen and his Friends. By John + Eglinton Bailey. London: Pickering.</p> + </blockquote> + + <p>By no means to the credit of the nineteenth century, it is + hardly prudent, as yet, to speak to the general public about + Thomas Fuller without formally introducing him. Coleridge and + Southey and Lamb were, to be sure, familiar with his writings, + and prized them extremely. But they did the same by the + writings of many another old worthy now undeservedly slighted; + and, for all their eulogies on him, the great bulk of readers + were still content to continue in ignorance of the treasures he + has bequeathed to us. The neglect of him which at present + prevails is, however, in large measure, a delinquency of long + standing. His chief work is undoubtedly his <i>Church + History</i>; and Heylin's elaborate impugnment of its accuracy + appears to have had great weight, as with Fuller's + contemporaries, so with the generation which immediately + followed, and onward almost to our own time. To Heylin + succeeded Bishop Nicolson in exerting himself to discredit that + valuable work, and it is only within a few years that its + character has been substantially rehabilitated. Together with + the reputation of Fuller as an historian, his reputation in + other respects for a long while underwent eclipse; for, as it + is reviving again, we may not say that it passed away. His + matter quite apart—and it is always interesting—and + abstractedly from his pervasive pleasantry, which is always + original, it is a wonder that he is not more esteemed than he + is in an age which professes to set store by style. Mr. John + Nichols, an editor of his <i>Worthies</i>, timidly hazarded the + observation that, as against the strictures of Bishop Nicolson, + there might be much said in "vindication of the language of Dr. + Fuller"—a comment which excited Coleridge to a high pitch + of exasperation. "Fuller's language!" he ejaculates. "Grant me + patience, Heaven! A tithe of his beauties would be sold cheap + for a whole library of our classical writers, from Addison to + Johnson and Junius inclusive. And Bishop Nicolson!—a + painstaking old charwoman of the Antiquarian and Rubbish + Concern! The venerable rust and dust of the whole firm are not + worth an ounce of Fuller's earth."</p> + + <p>Of Fuller's ancestry nothing is known, on the paternal side, + beyond his father, a college-bred clergyman, who died in 1632. + His mother was a Davenant, of an ancient and respectable + family. Fuller was born in June, 1608, at Aldwinkle, in + Northamptonshire, at his father's rectory. When only about + twelve years of age he was entered at Queen's College, + Cambridge, his progress in his studies having been such as to + authorize this unusually early transfer from school to the + university. In 1628 he exchanged Queen's College for + Sydney-Sussex College, and in the following year he was + presented by the master and fellows of Corpus Christi College + to the curacy of St. Benet's, Cambridge. Within a twelvemonth + after—namely, in 1631—HE + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page222" + id="page222"></a>[pg 222]</span> made his first appearance + as an author. His <i>Davia's Heinous Sin, Hearty Repentance, + Heavy Punishment</i>, which came out in that year, was his + sole adventure of noteworthy compass as a versifier; and he + certainly testified his discretion in choosing thenceforward + to be satisfied with writing prose. A valuable prebend + attached to the Salisbury Cathedral was bestowed on him at + this time, near about which he is supposed to have + delivered, in discourses, his so-called <i>Comment on + Ruth</i>. Next we hear of him as rector of Broadwindsor, + where, probably, he composed his <i>History of the Holy + War</i>, published in 1639. His <i>Holy State</i> was given + to the world in 1642. Having just before this removed to + London under circumstances which are involved in some + obscurity, he was there appointed lecturer to the Inns of + Court and to the Savoy Chapel. But trouble awaited him, as + it then awaited all other loyalists whom it had not + overtaken already, and 1643 found him a refugee at Oxford. + There he was warmly welcomed by the king and his adherents, + but on his imprudently daring to urge lenient counsels, his + moderation gave as much dissatisfaction to the court party + as it had previously given to the Parliamentarians, and he + fell into temporary disgrace. Nevertheless, he suffered, at + the hands of the anti-royalists, the same spoliation which + would have been visited on a malignant of the extremest + stamp. To fill up the measure of his misfortune—as if + it were not enough that he should be deprived of his stated + means of livelihood—he was despoiled of his library. + For a while, also, his loyalty was held, though without the + slightest grounds, in considerable suspicion. On coming to + be better known, however, he was restored to favor, and was + enrolled among the royal chaplains. If the doubts as to the + sincerity of his adhesion to Charles were ever actually + thought to have good foundation, they must have been + dissipated by his voluntarily exposing himself to danger, as + he did at one of the sieges of Basing House. Like Isaac + Barrow, he would at need have done duty militant just as + effectually with carnal weapons as with spiritual. No longer + required at Basing House, he repaired to Oxford again, and + then to Exeter, where he was nominated chaplain to the + princess Henrietta Anne. But he held his new post for only a + short period. Leaving Exeter, he once more sought Oxford, + and thence went to London. Forbidden to preach there, he + retired to Northamptonshire, and then reappeared at the + metropolis, where he was sojourning in the memorable year + 1649. Becoming in that year curate of Waltham Abbey, he + enjoyed an interval of quietude while all around him was + turbulence. Yet he was soon in London afresh, lecturer at + various churches from 1651 till near the end of his life. In + 1658 he was appointed rector of St. Dunstan's, Cranford, but + we read of him as subsequently journeying to The Hague and + to Salisbury, and as preaching at the Savoy Chapel. It must + have solaced his latter days to reflect that he had survived + to welcome the Restoration. He died, from what is reasonably + surmised to have been typhus fever, on the 16th of August, + 1661, and lies buried in the chancel of the church to which + he last ministered, at Cranford, Surrey.</p> + + <p>Considering the unsettled and wandering life which Fuller + led for many years, it may seem almost a marvel that in those + very years he should have accomplished such + laborious—nay, all but gigantic—enterprises as are + to be referred to them; for it was then that he composed his + voluminous <i>Pisgah-sight of Palestine, Church History</i> and + <i>Worthies</i>, not to speak of many minor writings. But the + secret of his prolificness amidst surroundings which would have + paralyzed most men into stark sterility admits of ready + elucidation. Besides being endowed with great physical vigor + and enjoying uninterrupted health. Fuller never wasted a + moment, was an unweariable student at odd hours, and moreover + supplemented the advantage of a matchless memory by the + strictest observance of method. Taken for all in all, he was + without question one of the most remarkable of + Englishmen—not of his own age merely, but of all bygone + ages. "Next to Shakespeare," says Coleridge, "I am not certain + whether Thomas Fuller, beyond all other writers, does not + excite in me the sense and emotion of the marvelous.... Fuller + was incomparably the most sensible, the least prejudiced, great + man of an age that boasted a galaxy of great men." Others among + his countrymen have been more learned, and others have + surpassed him in this or that special faculty, but the whole + that we have in him it would be hard to find a parallel to. + Culeridge emphasizes the equity of his judgment; and this point + is one regarding which there can be no diversity of opinion. As + to his wit, granting that its quality may here and there be + somewhat inferior, still, it + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page391" + id="page391"></a>[pg 391]</span> has probably never been + surpassed in quantity by any one man. It has the laudable + character, too, of being nearly always impersonal, and while + it amuses it almost in equal measure instructs. Had Fuller, + with his mental agility and his mastery of incisive diction, + been poisoned with the bile of Swift, it is terrible to + think what a repertory of biting sarcasms and envenomed + repartees he might have transmitted for the study and + imitation of cynics and sneerers. Bitterer enemies no man + ever had to contend against; and unenviable indeed must have + been their disappointment at finding themselves wholly + impotent to discompose his sage and large-hearted serenity. + So impressive, withal, is his spirit of toleration and + benevolence that a diligent reader of his pages is, as it + were, perforce imbued by it. Indeed, we know of few writers + whom we can point to with more confidence as calculated, in + antidote to the fret and chafe inseparable from existence in + our day, to induce a tone of repose and resignation in + ourselves, and a disposition to take charity as our + watchword in our dealings with others.</p> + + <p>From Fuller we pass to Fuller's new biographer, the only + biographer he has hitherto had that at all deserves the + appellation. A completer life-history than that which Mr. + Bailey has produced is of rare occurrence in English + literature. There was no motive for his keeping back anything + that is known of Fuller; and he has really enabled us to form + wellnigh as distinct an idea of the portly and cheery old + divine as if we had known him in the flesh. Faithful to rigid + justice while reproducing the warmly eulogistic judgments which + have been passed on Fuller, especially in this century, he has + given us a circumstantial account of the censures which were + denounced on him by microscopic and malevolent criticasters and + Dryasdusts among his contemporaries. Some of the censures + referred to were grounded on the multitudinous dedications in + which Fuller indulged; and, in truth, it strikes one as rather + singular to find, as in his <i>Church History</i>, not only + every book, but every section of a book, prefaced by a long + string of compliments addressed to a separate dedicatee. But + these dedications meant money, and Fuller was poor. + Furthermore, if in his necessity he flattered, his flattery + was, for the most part, of a kind not irreconcilable with due + self-respect on the part of the flatterer. It is a very + different thing from the nauseous adulation to which + Dryden—to name but one out of numerous kindred + offenders—consented to abase himself. As auxiliary to a + full understanding of Fuller in his social relations, his + dedications are now of prime value. Though many of them are + inscribed to persons else quite unknown to fame, with a good + number of them it is otherwise; and they serve, by the + information which they embody, to show that Fuller was on terms + of familiar intimacy with a whole host of notabilities in + Church and State. Of these personages, and so of many others + with whom Fuller associated, Mr. Bailey, heedful of the adage + <i>noscitur a sociis</i>, has compiled very satisfactory + sketches, derived in all cases from the most trustworthy + authorities. In addition to a Life of Fuller, he has thus gone + far to give us a sort of biographical dictionary of the leading + men, political and ecclesiastical, who rallied round the + unfortunate First Charles, and who used their most strenuous + diligence to save his desperate cause from shipwreck.</p> + + <p>One who has already made acquaintance with Fuller's writings + must feel animated, under the guidance of the new light now + thrown upon them, to renew that acquaintance; and he to whom + the wise and witty old worthy is as yet a stranger must, unless + obdurately insensible, be moved to a suspicion that he ought to + remain a stranger no longer. To Mr. Bailey we are beholden + alike for a biography of the first excellence, and for a + sterling contribution to the history of an era which possesses + undying interest for every Englishman, be he conservative, + liberal or republican; and for every intelligent American as + well. We are given to understand that the author has now in + contemplation the publishing of Fuller's sermons, of which + there has never been a collective edition, and of which several + are among the rarest books in our language. The design is one + which challenges the furtherance of every lover of good + literature; and the <i>Life</i>, which, in parting, we + emphatically commend to our readers, should avail to secure for + it the encouragement it unquestionably merits.</p> + <hr /> + + <blockquote> + <p>The Greville Memoirs: A Journal of the Reigns of King + George IV. and King William IV. By Charles C.F. Greville. + Bric-à-Brac Series. New York: Scribner, Armstrong + & Co.</p> + </blockquote> + + <p>The distillation from Mr. Greville's copious memoirs which + Mr. R.H. Stoddard has made <span class="pagenum">[pg + 392]</span> for his interesting series is perhaps quite enough + of a good but not very noble thing. Our gossip-loving part is + not the proudest part of our nature, and Mr. Greville has but + two crowned kings of gossip to celebrate, so far. It is amusing + enough to see the disgusted clerk of council coming out of the + audience in a fret, and hear him saying, as he does in good set + terms, that the Fourth George is a spoiled, selfish, odious + beast. What must inevitably strike the republican mind is that, + after all, this sceptered beast was allowed to govern the + country and defend the faith through a long, peaceful and + stupid reign, and that his company was, on the whole, thought + preferable to his room by a free people. As for the next + monarch, William, never was there such a Roi Carotte, and + Offenbach seems to have been born to immortalize him in one of + his peculiar versions of history. He was not exactly a king in + a pantomime, for he talked incessantly, but he was such a + vulgar, malapert, meddling, fatuous squireen of a king that + etiquette lost its <i>raison d'être</i> in his presence, + and government ministers and foreign ambassadors laughed almost + openly at his folly—all except Talleyrand, who sat with + composed face through his dinner-speeches, and said softly that + they were "bien remarquable." We cannot but think, however, + that in this delineation of two nursery-rhyme kings the artist + has put a bit of himself. If Mr. Greville had been really in + the current of the social and political questions of the day, + which included some wonderful reforms, instead of the born + bureaucrat that he obviously was, he would perhaps have got a + little more rational human nature into his portraits, or at + least have given more importance to their background and + surroundings. He writes himself down very clearly as a watcher + of scandals and lover of backstairs history; a man of elegance + and gentlemanly instincts in a rather small way; a person very + easily shocked at social maladdress; a reading man intensely + fond of literary company; and a racing man who periodically + laments that he cannot cure himself of his love of the turf. + Amiable, frank, and of that graceful mental bearing that + bespeaks good blood rather than good marrow, he is keen but + superficial in what he notices, and tries his tooth constantly + on the really great figures of the day, Brougham and + Wellington, who are objects of his dislike. It is harsh to say + so, but, in fact, Mr. Greville completes a triad with his pair + of vicious and narrow monarchs as he sails down the same + stream, snarlingly protesting, but quite unconscious of the + currents that are modifying the age. At present, as we know, + <i>nous avons changé tout cela</i>. British Virtue in + person is on the throne, and she disarms satire by handing her + memoirs in person for revision to the Greville of the day, who + happens to be Sir Arthur Helps; and this secretary is no + turfman, never in his voluminous writings betraying the least + acquaintance with a horse; but he is what is a great deal + better, a sort of burgher Lord Bacon, a philosopher replete + with the wisdom of the nineteenth century, and able to give it + out in genial chapters for the use of schools. From Greville to + Helps—both attached to one single monarchy—we see + what a step has been made, and how short a time now-a-days will + change types completely: Greville, padded, full of deportment, + devoted to the great, with simple faith in the institutions of + family, and criticising royalty with that petulant ease of a + valet which, in its way, is adhesion and adoration; and Helps, + a pamphleteer in six easy lessons, a pedagogue in guise of an + essayist, a man in the current of all our reforms—above + all, the meek editor of the queen's + diaries.</p><a name="page392" + id="page392"></a> + + <h3><i>Books Received</i>.</h3> + + <p>The Bhagavad Gitá. Translated from the Sanskrit by J. + Cockburn Thompson. Chicago: Religio—Philosophical + Publishing House. S.S. Jones.</p> + + <p>A Practical and Critical Grammar of the English Language. By + Noble Butler. Louisville, Ky.: J.P. Morton & Co.</p> + + <p>The Puddleford Papers; or, Humors of the West. By H.H. + Riley. Boston: Lee & Shepard.</p> + + <p>Critical and Historical Essays. Contributed by Lord + Macaulay. New York: Albert Mason.</p> + + <p>For Better or Worse. By Jennie Cunningham Croley. Boston: + Lee & Shepard.</p> + + <p>Three Essays on Religion. By John Stuart Mill. New York: + Henry Holt & Co.</p> + + <p>The Babes in the Wood. By James De Mille. Boston: W.F. Gill + & Co.</p> + + <p>School of Singing. By F.W. Root. Chicago: George F. Root + & Sons.</p> + + <p>Treasure-Trove. Central Falls, R.I.: E.L. Freeman & + Co.</p> + + <p>Our Helen. By Sophie May. Boston; Lee & Shepard.</p> + <hr class="full" /> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13061 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/13061-h/images/265.jpg b/13061-h/images/265.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0652520 --- /dev/null +++ b/13061-h/images/265.jpg diff --git a/13061-h/images/267.jpg b/13061-h/images/267.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9bf8ad9 --- /dev/null +++ b/13061-h/images/267.jpg diff --git a/13061-h/images/268.jpg b/13061-h/images/268.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..687c3ac --- /dev/null +++ b/13061-h/images/268.jpg diff --git a/13061-h/images/270.jpg b/13061-h/images/270.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..fa0c140 --- /dev/null +++ b/13061-h/images/270.jpg diff --git a/13061-h/images/272.jpg b/13061-h/images/272.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e803a04 --- /dev/null +++ b/13061-h/images/272.jpg diff --git a/13061-h/images/273.jpg b/13061-h/images/273.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..05628f5 --- /dev/null +++ b/13061-h/images/273.jpg diff --git a/13061-h/images/275.jpg b/13061-h/images/275.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a2cb3b6 --- /dev/null +++ b/13061-h/images/275.jpg diff --git a/13061-h/images/277.jpg b/13061-h/images/277.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0a40e01 --- /dev/null +++ b/13061-h/images/277.jpg diff --git a/13061-h/images/279.jpg b/13061-h/images/279.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7ac9fba --- /dev/null +++ b/13061-h/images/279.jpg diff --git a/13061-h/images/280.jpg b/13061-h/images/280.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8de465a --- /dev/null +++ b/13061-h/images/280.jpg diff --git a/13061-h/images/283.jpg b/13061-h/images/283.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f6c65ed --- /dev/null +++ b/13061-h/images/283.jpg diff --git a/13061-h/images/284-1.jpg b/13061-h/images/284-1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0be4e8e --- /dev/null +++ b/13061-h/images/284-1.jpg diff --git a/13061-h/images/284-2.jpg b/13061-h/images/284-2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9330c2d --- /dev/null +++ b/13061-h/images/284-2.jpg diff --git a/13061-h/images/285.jpg b/13061-h/images/285.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..fcbbe7b --- /dev/null +++ b/13061-h/images/285.jpg diff --git a/13061-h/images/286.jpg b/13061-h/images/286.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9cdc6cf --- /dev/null +++ b/13061-h/images/286.jpg diff --git a/13061-h/images/287-1.jpg b/13061-h/images/287-1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0aa6808 --- /dev/null +++ b/13061-h/images/287-1.jpg diff --git a/13061-h/images/287-2.jpg b/13061-h/images/287-2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5137e0e --- /dev/null +++ b/13061-h/images/287-2.jpg diff --git a/13061-h/images/288.jpg b/13061-h/images/288.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..81e8072 --- /dev/null +++ b/13061-h/images/288.jpg diff --git a/13061-h/images/289.jpg b/13061-h/images/289.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c8517a2 --- /dev/null +++ b/13061-h/images/289.jpg diff --git a/13061-h/images/291.jpg b/13061-h/images/291.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a3ff3c2 --- /dev/null +++ b/13061-h/images/291.jpg diff --git a/13061-h/images/292.jpg b/13061-h/images/292.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3573385 --- /dev/null +++ b/13061-h/images/292.jpg diff --git a/13061-h/images/293.jpg b/13061-h/images/293.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..163b789 --- /dev/null +++ b/13061-h/images/293.jpg |
