diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:32:54 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:32:54 -0700 |
| commit | 0b097ad0d3814ea92cfa5774c6d7485313034310 (patch) | |
| tree | ff3e6d2fe1e295fcd715e979b149e2a5b91d1f97 /old | |
Diffstat (limited to 'old')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/9226.txt | 884 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/9226.zip | bin | 0 -> 18492 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/haw5310.txt | 856 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/haw5310.zip | bin | 0 -> 17957 bytes |
4 files changed, 1740 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/old/9226.txt b/old/9226.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4bbae11 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/9226.txt @@ -0,0 +1,884 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Hall of Fantasy (From "Mosses From An +Old Manse"), by Nathaniel Hawthorne + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Hall of Fantasy (From "Mosses From An Old Manse") + +Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne + +Posting Date: December 8, 2010 [EBook #9226] +Release Date: November, 2005 +First Posted: September 6, 2003 +Last Updated: February 6, 2007 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HALL OF FANTASY *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger. HTML version by Al Haines. + + + + + + + + + + MOSSES FROM AN OLD MANSE + + By Nathaniel Hawthorne + + THE HALL OF FANTASY + + + +It has happened to me, on various occasions, to find myself +in a certain edifice which would appear to have some of the +characteristics of a public exchange. Its interior is a spacious +hall, with a pavement of white marble. Overhead is a lofty dome, +supported by long rows of pillars of fantastic architecture, the +idea of which was probably taken from the Moorish ruins of the +Alhambra, or perhaps from some enchanted edifice in the Arabian +tales. The windows of this hall have a breadth and grandeur of +design and an elaborateness of workmanship that have nowhere been +equalled, except in the Gothic cathedrals of the Old World. Like +their prototypes, too, they admit the light of heaven only through +stained and pictured glass, thus filling the hall with many-colored +radiance and painting its marble floor with beautiful or grotesque +designs; so that its inmates breathe, as it were, a visionary +atmosphere, and tread upon the fantasies of poetic minds. These +peculiarities, combining a wilder mixture of styles than even an +American architect usually recognizes as allowable,--Grecian, +Gothic, Oriental, and nondescript,--cause the whole edifice to give +the impression of a dream, which might be dissipated and shattered +to fragments by merely stamping the foot upon the pavement. Yet, +with such modifications and repairs as successive ages demand, the +Hall of Fantasy is likely to endure longer than the most substantial +structure that ever cumbered the earth. + +It is not at all times that one can gain admittance into this +edifice, although most persons enter it at some period or other of +their lives; if not in their waking moments, then by the universal +passport of a dream. At my last visit I wandered thither unawares +while my mind was busy with an idle tale, and was startled by the +throng of people who seemed suddenly to rise up around me. + +"Bless me! Where am I?" cried I, with but a dim recognition of the +place. + +"You are in a spot," said a friend who chanced to be near at hand, +"which occupies in the world of fancy the same position which the +Bourse, the Rialto, and the Exchange do in the commercial world. +All who have affairs in that mystic region, which lies above, below, +or beyond the actual, may here meet and talk over the business of +their dreams." + +"It is a noble hall," observed I. + +"Yes," he replied. "Yet we see but a small portion of the edifice. +In its upper stories are said to be apartments where the inhabitants +of earth may hold converse with those of the moon; and beneath our +feet are gloomy cells, which communicate with the infernal regions, +and where monsters and chimeras are kept in confinement and fed with +all unwholesomeness." + +In niches and on pedestals around about the hall stood the statues +or busts of men who in every age have been rulers and demigods in +the realms of imagination and its kindred regions. The grand old +countenance of Homer; the shrunken and decrepit form but vivid face +of AEsop; the dark presence of Dante; the wild Ariosto; Rabelais's +smile of deep-wrought mirth, the profound, pathetic humor of +Cervantes; the all-glorious Shakespeare; Spenser, meet guest for an +allegoric structure; the severe divinity of Milton; and Bunyan, +moulded of homeliest clay, but instinct with celestial fire,--were +those that chiefly attracted my eye. Fielding, Richardson, and +Scott occupied conspicuous pedestals. In an obscure and shadowy +niche was deposited the bust of our countryman, the author of Arthur +Mervyn. + +"Besides these indestructible memorials of real genius," remarked my +companion, "each century has erected statues of its own ephemeral +favorites in wood." + +"I observe a few crumbling relics of such," said I. "But ever and +anon, I suppose, Oblivion comes with her huge broom and sweeps them +all from the marble floor. But such will never be the fate of this +fine statue of Goethe." + +"Nor of that next to it,--Emanuel Swedenborg," said he. "Were ever +two men of transcendent imagination more unlike?" + +In the centre of the hall springs an ornamental fountain, the water +of which continually throws itself into new shapes and snatches the +most diversified lines from the stained atmosphere around. It is +impossible to conceive what a strange vivacity is imparted to the +scene by the magic dance of this fountain, with its endless +transformations, in which the imaginative beholder may discern what +form he will. The water is supposed by some to flow from the same +source as the Castalian spring, and is extolled by others as uniting +the virtues of the Fountain of Youth with those of many other +enchanted wells long celebrated in tale and song. Having never +tasted it, I can bear no testimony to its quality. + +"Did you ever drink this water?" I inquired of my friend. + +"A few sips now and then," answered he. "But there are men here who +make it their constant beverage,--or, at least, have the credit of +doing so. In some instances it is known to have intoxicating +qualities." + +"Pray let us look at these water-drinkers," said I. + +So we passed among the fantastic pillars till we came to a spot +where a number of persons were clustered together in the light of +one of the great stained windows, which seemed to glorify the whole +group as well as the marble that they trod on. Most of them were +men of broad foreheads, meditative countenances, and thoughtful, +inward eyes; yet it required but a trifle to summon up mirth, +peeping out from the very midst of grave and lofty musings. Some +strode about, or leaned against the pillars of the hall, alone and +in silence; their faces wore a rapt expression, as if sweet music +were in the air around them, or as if their inmost souls were about +to float away in song. One or two, perhaps, stole a glance at the +bystanders, to watch if their poetic absorption were observed. +Others stood talking in groups, with a liveliness of expression, a +ready smile, and a light, intellectual laughter, which showed how +rapidly the shafts of wit were glancing to and fro among them. + +A few held higher converse, which caused their calm and melancholy +souls to beam moonlight from their eyes. As I lingered near +them,--for I felt an inward attraction towards these men, as if the +sympathy of feeling, if not of genius, had united me to their +order,--my friend mentioned several of their names. The world has +likewise heard those names; with some it has been familiar for +years; and others are daily making their way deeper into the +universal heart. + +"Thank Heaven," observed I to my companion, as we passed to another +part of the hall, "we have done with this techy, wayward, shy, proud +unreasonable set of laurel-gatherers. I love them in their works, +but have little desire to meet them elsewhere." + +"You have adopted all old prejudice, I see," replied my friend, who +was familiar with most of these worthies, being himself a student of +poetry, and not without the poetic flame. "But, so far as my +experience goes, men of genius are fairly gifted with the social +qualities; and in this age there appears to be a fellow-feeling +among them which had not heretofore been developed. As men, they +ask nothing better than to be on equal terms with their fellow-men; +and as authors, they have thrown aside their proverbial jealousy, +and acknowledge a generous brotherhood." + +"The world does not think so," answered I. "An author is received +in general society pretty much as we honest citizens are in the Hall +of Fantasy. We gaze at him as if he had no business among us, and +question whether he is fit for any of our pursuits." + +"Then it is a very foolish question," said he. "Now, here are a +class of men whom we may daily meet on 'Change. Yet what poet in +the hall is more a fool of fancy than the sagest of them?" + +He pointed to a number of persons, who, manifest as the fact was, +would have deemed it an insult to be told that they stood in the +Hall of Fantasy. Their visages were traced into wrinkles and +furrows, each of which seemed the record of some actual experience +in life. Their eyes had the shrewd, calculating glance which +detects so quickly and so surely all that it concerns a man of +business to know about the characters and purposes of his fellow-men. +Judging them as they stood, they might be honored and trusted +members of the Chamber of Commerce, who had found the genuine secret +of wealth and whose sagacity gave them the command of fortune. + +There was a character of detail and matter of fact in their talk +which concealed the extravagance of its purport, insomuch that the +wildest schemes had the aspect of everyday realities. Thus the +listener was not startled at the idea of cities to be built, as if +by magic, in the heart of pathless forests; and of streets to be +laid out where now the sea was tossing; and of mighty rivers to be +stayed in their courses in order to turn the machinery of a +cotton-mill. It was only by an effort, and scarcely then, that the +mind convinced itself that such speculations were as much matter of +fantasy as the old dream of Eldorado, or as Mammon's Cave, or any +other vision of gold ever conjured up by the imagination of needy +poet or romantic adventurer. + +"Upon my word," said I, "it is dangerous to listen to such dreamers +as these. Their madness is contagious." + +"Yes," said my friend, "because they mistake the Hall of Fantasy +for actual brick and mortar, and its purple atmosphere for +unsophisticated sunshine. But the poet knows his whereabout, and +therefore is less likely to make a fool of himself in real life." + +"Here again," observed I, as we advanced a little farther, "we see +another order of dreamers, peculiarly characteristic, too, of the +genius of our country." + +These were the inventors of fantastic machines. Models of their +contrivances were placed against some of the pillars of the hall, +and afforded good emblems of the result generally to be anticipated +from an attempt to reduce day-dreams to practice. The analogy may +hold in morals as well as physics; for instance, here was the model +of a railroad through the air and a tunnel under the sea. Here was +a machine--stolen, I believe--for the distillation of heat from +moonshine; and another for the condensation of morning mist into +square blocks of granite, wherewith it was proposed to rebuild the +entire Hall of Fantasy. One man exhibited a sort of lens whereby he +had succeeded in making sunshine out of a lady's smile; and it was +his purpose wholly to irradiate the earth by means of this wonderful +invention. + +"It is nothing new," said I; "for most of our sunshine comes from +woman's smile already." + +"True," answered the inventor; "but my machine will secure a +constant supply for domestic use; whereas hitherto it has been very +precarious." + +Another person had a scheme for fixing the reflections of objects in +a pool of water, and thus taking the most life-like portraits +imaginable; and the same gentleman demonstrated the practicability +of giving a permanent dye to ladies' dresses, in the gorgeous clouds +of sunset. There were at least fifty kinds of perpetual motion, one +of which was applicable to the wits of newspaper editors and writers +of every description. Professor Espy was here, with a tremendous +storm in a gum-elastic bag. I could enumerate many more of these +Utopian inventions; but, after all, a more imaginative collection is +to be found in the Patent Office at Washington. + +Turning from the inventors we took a more general survey of the +inmates of the hall. Many persons were present whose right of +entrance appeared to consist in some crotchet of the brain, which, +so long as it might operate, produced a change in their relation to +the actual world. It is singular how very few there are who do not +occasionally gain admittance on such a score, either in abstracted +musings, or momentary thoughts, or bright anticipations, or vivid +remembrances; for even the actual becomes ideal, whether in hope or +memory, and beguiles the dreamer into the Hall of Fantasy. Some +unfortunates make their whole abode and business here, and contract +habits which unfit them for all the real employments of life. +Others--but these are few--possess the faculty, in their occasional +visits, of discovering a purer truth than the world call impart +among the lights and shadows of these pictured windows. + +And with all its dangerous influences, we have reason to thank God +that there is such a place of refuge from the gloom and chillness of +actual life. Hither may come the prisoner, escaping from his dark +and narrow cell and cankerous chain, to breathe free air in this +enchanted atmosphere. The sick man leaves his weary pillow, and +finds strength to wander hither, though his wasted limbs might not +support him even to the threshold of his chamber. The exile passes +through the Hall of Fantasy to revisit his native soil. The burden +of years rolls down from the old man's shoulders the moment that the +door uncloses. Mourners leave their heavy sorrows at the entrance, +and here rejoin the lost ones whose faces would else be seen no +more, until thought shall have become the only fact. It may be +said, in truth, that there is but half a life--the meaner and +earthier half--for those who never find their way into the hall. +Nor must I fail to mention that in the observatory of the edifice is +kept that wonderful perspective-glass, through which the shepherds +of the Delectable Mountains showed Christian the far-off gleam of +the Celestial City. The eye of Faith still loves to gaze through +it. + +"I observe some men here," said I to my friend, "who might set up a +strong claim to be reckoned among the most real personages of the +day." + +"Certainly," he replied. "If a man be in advance of his age, he +must be content to make his abode in this hall until the lingering +generations of his fellow-men come up with him. He can find no +other shelter in the universe. But the fantasies of one day are the +deepest realities of a future one." + +"It is difficult to distinguish them apart amid the gorgeous and +bewildering light of this ball," rejoined I. "The white sunshine of +actual life is necessary in order to test them. I am rather apt to +doubt both men and their reasonings till I meet them in that +truthful medium." + +"Perhaps your faith in the ideal is deeper than you are aware," said +my friend. "You are at least a democrat; and methinks no scanty +share of such faith is essential to the adoption of that creed." + +Among the characters who had elicited these remarks were most of the +noted reformers of the day, whether in physics, politics, morals, or +religion. There is no surer method of arriving at the Hall of +Fantasy than to throw one's-self into the current of a theory; for, +whatever landmarks of fact may be set up along the stream, there is +a law of nature that impels it thither. And let it be so; for here +the wise head and capacious heart may do their work; and what is +good and true becomes gradually hardened into fact, while error +melts away and vanishes among the shadows of the ball. Therefore +may none who believe and rejoice in the progress of mankind be angry +with me because I recognized their apostles and leaders amid the +fantastic radiance of those pictured windows. I love and honor such +men as well as they. + +It would be endless to describe the herd of real or self styled +reformers that peopled this place of refuge. They were the +representatives of an unquiet period, when mankind is seeking to +cast off the whole tissue of ancient custom like a tattered garment. +Many of then had got possession of some crystal fragment of truth, +the brightness of which so dazzled them that they could see nothing +else in the wide universe. Here were men whose faith had embodied +itself in the form of a potato; and others whose long beards had a +deep spiritual significance. Here was the abolitionist, brandishing +his one idea like an iron flail. In a word, there were a thousand +shapes of good and evil, faith and infidelity, wisdom and nonsense,--a +most incongruous throng. + +Yet, withal, the heart of the stanchest conservative, unless he +abjured his fellowship with man, could hardly have helped throbbing +in sympathy with the spirit that pervaded these innumerable +theorists. It was good for the man of unquickened heart to listen +even to their folly. Far down beyond the fathom of the intellect +the soul acknowledged that all these varying and conflicting +developments of humanity were united in one sentiment. Be the +individual theory as wild as fancy could make it, still the wiser +spirit would recognize the struggle of the race after a better and +purer life than had yet been realized on earth. My faith revived +even while I rejected all their schemes. It could not be that the +world should continue forever what it has been; a soil where +Happiness is so rare a flower and Virtue so often a blighted fruit; +a battle-field where the good principle, with its shield flung above +its head, can hardly save itself amid the rush of adverse +influences. In the enthusiasm of such thoughts I gazed through one +of the pictured windows, and, behold! the whole external world was +tinged with the dimly glorious aspect that is peculiar to the Hall +of Fantasy, insomuch that it seemed practicable at that very instant +to realize some plan for the perfection of mankind. But, alas! if +reformers would understand the sphere in which their lot is cast +they must cease to look through pictured windows. Yet they not only +use this medium, but mistake it for the whitest sunshine. + +"Come," said I to my friend, starting from a deep revery, "let us +hasten hence, or I shall be tempted to make a theory, after which +there is little hope of any man." + +"Come hither, then," answered he. "Here is one theory that swallows +up and annihilates all others." + +He led me to a distant part of the hall where a crowd of deeply +attentive auditors were assembled round an elderly man of plain, +honest, trustworthy aspect. With an earnestness that betokened the +sincerest faith in his own doctrine, he announced that the +destruction of the world was close at hand. + +"It is Father Miller himself!" exclaimed I. + +"No less a man," said my friend; "and observe how picturesque a +contrast between his dogma and those of the reformers whom we have +just glanced at. They look for the earthly perfection of mankind, +and are forming schemes which imply that the immortal spirit will be +connected with a physical nature for innumerable ages of futurity. +On the other hand, here comes good Father Miller, and with one puff +of his relentless theory scatters all their dreams like so many +withered leaves upon the blast." + +"It is, perhaps, the only method of getting mankind out of the +various perplexities into which they have fallen," I replied. "Yet I +could wish that the world might be permitted to endure until some +great moral shall have been evolved. A riddle is propounded. Where +is the solution? The sphinx did not slay herself until her riddle +had been guessed. Will it not be so with the world? Now, if it +should be burned to-morrow morning, I am at a loss to know what +purpose will have been accomplished, or how the universe will be +wiser or better for our existence and destruction." + +"We cannot tell what mighty truths may have been embodied in act +through the existence of the globe and its inhabitants," rejoined my +companion. "Perhaps it may be revealed to us after the fall of the +curtain over our catastrophe; or not impossibly, the whole drama, in +which we are involuntary actors, may have been performed for the +instruction of another set of spectators. I cannot perceive that +our own comprehension of it is at all essential to the matter. At +any rate, while our view is so ridiculously narrow and superficial +it would be absurd to argue the continuance of the world from the +fact that it seems to have existed hitherto in vain." + +"The poor old earth," murmured I. "She has faults enough, in all +conscience, but I cannot hear to have her perish." + +"It is no great matter," said my friend. "The happiest of us has +been weary of her many a time and oft." + +"I doubt it," answered I, pertinaciously; "the root of human nature +strikes down deep into this earthly soil, and it is but reluctantly +that we submit to be transplanted, even for a higher cultivation in +heaven. I query whether the destruction of the earth would gratify +any one individual, except perhaps some embarrassed man of business +whose notes fall due a day after the day of doom." + +Then methought I heard the expostulating cry of a multitude against +the consummation prophesied by Father Miller. The lover wrestled +with Providence for his foreshadowed bliss. Parents entreated that +the earth's span of endurance might be prolonged by some seventy +years, so that their new-born infant should not be defrauded of his +lifetime. A youthful poet murmured because there would be no +posterity to recognize the inspiration of his song. The reformers, +one and all, demanded a few thousand years to test their theories, +after which the universe might go to wreck. A mechanician, who was +busied with an improvement of the steam-engine, asked merely time to +perfect his model. A miser insisted that the world's destruction +would be a personal wrong to himself, unless he should first be +permitted to add a specified sum to his enormous heap of gold. A +little boy made dolorous inquiry whether the last day would come +before Christmas, and thus deprive him of his anticipated dainties. +In short, nobody seemed satisfied that this mortal scene of things +should have its close just now. Yet, it must be confessed, the +motives of the crowd for desiring its continuance were mostly so +absurd, that unless infinite Wisdom had been aware of much better +reasons, the solid earth must have melted away at once. + +For my own part, not to speak of a few private and personal ends, I +really desired our old mother's prolonged existence for her own dear +sake. + +"The poor old earth!" I repeated. "What I should chiefly regret in +her destruction would be that very earthliness which no other sphere +or state of existence can renew or compensate. The fragrance of +flowers and of new-mown hay; the genial warmth of sunshine, and the +beauty of a sunset among clouds; the comfort and cheerful glow of +the fireside; the deliciousness of fruits and of all good cheer; the +magnificence of mountains, and seas, and cataracts, and the softer +charm of rural scenery; even the fast-falling snow and the gray +atmosphere through which it descends,--all these and innumerable +other enjoyable things of earth must perish with her. Then the +country frolics; the homely humor; the broad, open-mouthed roar of +laughter, in which body and soul conjoin so heartily! I fear that +no other world call show its anything just like this. As for purely +moral enjoyments, the good will find them in every state of being. +But where the material and the moral exist together, what is to +happen then? And then our mute four-footed friends and the winged +songsters of our woods! Might it not be lawful to regret them, even +in the hallowed groves of paradise?" + +"You speak like the very spirit of earth, imbued with a scent of +freshly turned soil," exclaimed my friend. + +"It is not that I so much object to giving up these enjoyments on my +own account," continued I, "but I hate to think that they will have +been eternally annihilated from the list of joys." + +"Nor need they be," he replied. "I see no real force in what you +say. Standing in this Hall of Fantasy, we perceive what even the +earth-clogged intellect of man can do in creating circumstances +which, though we call them shadowy and visionary, are scarcely more +so than those that surround us in actual life. Doubt not then that +man's disembodied spirit may recreate time and the world for itself, +with all their peculiar enjoyments, should there still be human +yearnings amid life eternal and infinite. But I doubt whether we +shall be inclined to play such a poor scene over again." + +"O, you are ungrateful to our mother earth!" rejoined I. "Come what +may, I never will forget her! Neither will it satisfy me to have +her exist merely in idea. I want her great, round, solid self to +endure interminably, and still to be peopled with the kindly race of +man, whom I uphold to be much better than he thinks himself. +Nevertheless, I confide the whole matter to Providence, and shall +endeavor so to live that the world may come to an end at any moment +without leaving me at a loss to find foothold somewhere else." + +"It is an excellent resolve," said my companion, looking at his +watch. "But come; it is the dinner-hour. Will you partake of my +vegetable diet?" + +A thing so matter of fact as an invitation to dinner, even when the +fare was to be nothing more substantial than vegetables and fruit, +compelled us forthwith to remove from the Hall of Fantasy. As we +passed out of the portal we met the spirits of several persons who +had been sent thither in magnetic sleep. I looked back among the +sculptured pillars and at the transformations of the gleaming +fountain, and almost desired that the whole of life might be spent +in that visionary scene where the actual world, with its hard +angles, should never rub against me, and only be viewed through the +medium of pictured windows. But for those who waste all their days +in the Hall of Fantasy, good Father Miller's prophecy is already +accomplished, and the solid earth has come to an untimely end. Let +us be content, therefore, with merely an occasional visit, for the +sake of spiritualizing the grossness of this actual life, and +prefiguring to ourselves a state in which the Idea shall be all in +all. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Hall of Fantasy (From "Mosses From +An Old Manse"), by Nathaniel Hawthorne + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HALL OF FANTASY *** + +***** This file should be named 9226.txt or 9226.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/9/2/2/9226/ + +Produced by David Widger. HTML version by Al Haines. + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/9226.zip b/old/9226.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..16a13c1 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/9226.zip diff --git a/old/haw5310.txt b/old/haw5310.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..056d87f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/haw5310.txt @@ -0,0 +1,856 @@ +Project Gutenberg EBook, The Hall of Fantasy, by Nathaniel Hawthorne +From "Mosses From An Old Manse" +#53 in our series by Nathaniel Hawthorne + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**EBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These EBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers***** + + + +Title: The Hall of Fantasy (From "Mosses From An Old Manse") + +Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne + +Release Date: Nov, 2005 [EBook #9226] +[This file was first posted on September 6, 2003] +[Last updated on February 6, 2007] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + + + + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE HALL OF FANTASY *** + + + + +This eBook was produced by David Widger + + + + + + MOSSES FROM AN OLD MANSE + + By Nathaniel Hawthorne + + THE HALL OF FANTASY + + + +It has happened to me, on various occasions, to find myself +in a certain edifice which would appear to have some of the +characteristics of a public exchange. Its interior is a spacious +hall, with a pavement of white marble. Overhead is a lofty dome, +supported by long rows of pillars of fantastic architecture, the +idea of which was probably taken from the Moorish ruins of the +Alhambra, or perhaps from some enchanted edifice in the Arabian +tales. The windows of this hall have a breadth and grandeur of +design and an elaborateness of workmanship that have nowhere been +equalled, except in the Gothic cathedrals of the Old World. Like +their prototypes, too, they admit the light of heaven only through +stained and pictured glass, thus filling the hall with many-colored +radiance and painting its marble floor with beautiful or grotesque +designs; so that its inmates breathe, as it were, a visionary +atmosphere, and tread upon the fantasies of poetic minds. These +peculiarities, combining a wilder mixture of styles than even an +American architect usually recognizes as allowable,--Grecian, +Gothic, Oriental, and nondescript,--cause the whole edifice to give +the impression of a dream, which might be dissipated and shattered +to fragments by merely stamping the foot upon the pavement. Yet, +with such modifications and repairs as successive ages demand, the +Hall of Fantasy is likely to endure longer than the most substantial +structure that ever cumbered the earth. + +It is not at all times that one can gain admittance into this +edifice, although most persons enter it at some period or other of +their lives; if not in their waking moments, then by the universal +passport of a dream. At my last visit I wandered thither unawares +while my mind was busy with an idle tale, and was startled by the +throng of people who seemed suddenly to rise up around me. + +"Bless me! Where am I?" cried I, with but a dim recognition of the +place. + +"You are in a spot," said a friend who chanced to be near at hand, +"which occupies in the world of fancy the same position which the +Bourse, the Rialto, and the Exchange do in the commercial world. +All who have affairs in that mystic region, which lies above, below, +or beyond the actual, may here meet and talk over the business of +their dreams." + +"It is a noble hall," observed I. + +"Yes," he replied. "Yet we see but a small portion of the edifice. +In its upper stories are said to be apartments where the inhabitants +of earth may hold converse with those of the moon; and beneath our +feet are gloomy cells, which communicate with the infernal regions, +and where monsters and chimeras are kept in confinement and fed with +all unwholesomeness." + +In niches and on pedestals around about the hall stood the statues +or busts of men who in every age have been rulers and demigods in +the realms of imagination and its kindred regions. The grand old +countenance of Homer; the shrunken and decrepit form but vivid face +of AEsop; the dark presence of Dante; the wild Ariosto; Rabelais's +smile of deep-wrought mirth, the profound, pathetic humor of +Cervantes; the all-glorious Shakespeare; Spenser, meet guest for an +allegoric structure; the severe divinity of Milton; and Bunyan, +moulded of homeliest clay, but instinct with celestial fire,--were +those that chiefly attracted my eye. Fielding, Richardson, and +Scott occupied conspicuous pedestals. In an obscure and shadowy +niche was deposited the bust of our countryman, the author of Arthur +Mervyn. + +"Besides these indestructible memorials of real genius," remarked my +companion, "each century has erected statues of its own ephemeral +favorites in wood." + +"I observe a few crumbling relics of such," said I. "But ever and +anon, I suppose, Oblivion comes with her huge broom and sweeps them +all from the marble floor. But such will never be the fate of this +fine statue of Goethe." + +"Nor of that next to it,--Emanuel Swedenborg," said he. "Were ever +two men of transcendent imagination more unlike?" + +In the centre of the hall springs an ornamental fountain, the water +of which continually throws itself into new shapes and snatches the +most diversified lines from the stained atmosphere around. It is +impossible to conceive what a strange vivacity is imparted to the +scene by the magic dance of this fountain, with its endless +transformations, in which the imaginative beholder may discern what +form he will. The water is supposed by some to flow from the same +source as the Castalian spring, and is extolled by others as uniting +the virtues of the Fountain of Youth with those of many other +enchanted wells long celebrated in tale and song. Having never +tasted it, I can bear no testimony to its quality. + +"Did you ever drink this water?" I inquired of my friend. + +"A few sips now and then," answered he. "But there are men here who +make it their constant beverage,--or, at least, have the credit of +doing so. In some instances it is known to have intoxicating +qualities." + +"Pray let us look at these water-drinkers," said I. + +So we passed among the fantastic pillars till we came to a spot +where a number of persons were clustered together in the light of +one of the great stained windows, which seemed to glorify the whole +group as well as the marble that they trod on. Most of them were +men of broad foreheads, meditative countenances, and thoughtful, +inward eyes; yet it required but a trifle to summon up mirth, +peeping out from the very midst of grave and lofty musings. Some +strode about, or leaned against the pillars of the hall, alone and +in silence; their faces wore a rapt expression, as if sweet music +were in the air around them, or as if their inmost souls were about +to float away in song. One or two, perhaps, stole a glance at the +bystanders, to watch if their poetic absorption were observed. +Others stood talking in groups, with a liveliness of expression, a +ready smile, and a light, intellectual laughter, which showed how +rapidly the shafts of wit were glancing to and fro among them. + +A few held higher converse, which caused their calm and melancholy +souls to beam moonlight from their eyes. As I lingered near them,-- +for I felt an inward attraction towards these men, as if the +sympathy of feeling, if not of genius, had united me to their +order,--my friend mentioned several of their names. The world has +likewise heard those names; with some it has been familiar for +years; and others are daily making their way deeper into the +universal heart. + +"Thank Heaven," observed I to my companion, as we passed to another +part of the hall, "we have done with this techy, wayward, shy, proud +unreasonable set of laurel-gatherers. I love them in their works, +but have little desire to meet them elsewhere." + +"You have adopted all old prejudice, I see," replied my friend, who +was familiar with most of these worthies, being himself a student of +poetry, and not without the poetic flame. "But, so far as my +experience goes, men of genius are fairly gifted with the social +qualities; and in this age there appears to be a fellow-feeling +among them which had not heretofore been developed. As men, they +ask nothing better than to be on equal terms with their fellow-men; +and as authors, they have thrown aside their proverbial jealousy, +and acknowledge a generous brotherhood." + +"The world does not think so," answered I. "An author is received +in general society pretty much as we honest citizens are in the Hall +of Fantasy. We gaze at him as if he had no business among us, and +question whether he is fit for any of our pursuits." + +"Then it is a very foolish question," said he. "Now, here are a +class of men whom we may daily meet on 'Change. Yet what poet in +the hall is more a fool of fancy than the sagest of them?" + +He pointed to a number of persons, who, manifest as the fact was, +would have deemed it an insult to be told that they stood in the +Hall of Fantasy. Their visages were traced into wrinkles and +furrows, each of which seemed the record of some actual experience +in life. Their eyes had the shrewd, calculating glance which +detects so quickly and so surely all that it concerns a man of +business to know about the characters and purposes of his fellow- +men. Judging them as they stood, they might be honored and trusted +members of the Chamber of Commerce, who had found the genuine secret +of wealth and whose sagacity gave them the command of fortune. + +There was a character of detail and matter of fact in their talk +which concealed the extravagance of its purport, insomuch that the +wildest schemes had the aspect of everyday realities. Thus the +listener was not startled at the idea of cities to be built, as if +by magic, in the heart of pathless forests; and of streets to be +laid out where now the sea was tossing; and of mighty rivers to be +stayed in their courses in order to turn the machinery of a cotton- +mill. It was only by an effort, and scarcely then, that the mind +convinced itself that such speculations were as much matter of +fantasy as the old dream of Eldorado, or as Mammon's Cave, or any +other vision of gold ever conjured up by the imagination of needy +poet or romantic adventurer. + +"Upon my word," said I, "it is dangerous to listen to such dreamers +as these. Their madness is contagious." + +"Yes," said my friend, "because they mistake the Hall of Fantasy +for actual brick and mortar, and its purple atmosphere for +unsophisticated sunshine. But the poet knows his whereabout, and +therefore is less likely to make a fool of himself in real life." + +"Here again," observed I, as we advanced a little farther, "we see +another order of dreamers, peculiarly characteristic, too, of the +genius of our country." + +These were the inventors of fantastic machines. Models of their +contrivances were placed against some of the pillars of the hall, +and afforded good emblems of the result generally to be anticipated +from an attempt to reduce day-dreams to practice. The analogy may +hold in morals as well as physics; for instance, here was the model +of a railroad through the air and a tunnel under the sea. Here was +a machine--stolen, I believe--for the distillation of heat from +moonshine; and another for the condensation of morning mist into +square blocks of granite, wherewith it was proposed to rebuild the +entire Hall of Fantasy. One man exhibited a sort of lens whereby he +had succeeded in making sunshine out of a lady's smile; and it was +his purpose wholly to irradiate the earth by means of this wonderful +invention. + +"It is nothing new," said I; "for most of our sunshine comes from +woman's smile already." + +"True," answered the inventor; "but my machine will secure a +constant supply for domestic use; whereas hitherto it has been very +precarious." + +Another person had a scheme for fixing the reflections of objects in +a pool of water, and thus taking the most life-like portraits +imaginable; and the same gentleman demonstrated the practicability +of giving a permanent dye to ladies' dresses, in the gorgeous clouds +of sunset. There were at least fifty kinds of perpetual motion, one +of which was applicable to the wits of newspaper editors and writers +of every description. Professor Espy was here, with a tremendous +storm in a gum-elastic bag. I could enumerate many more of these +Utopian inventions; but, after all, a more imaginative collection is +to be found in the Patent Office at Washington. + +Turning from the inventors we took a more general survey of the +inmates of the hall. Many persons were present whose right of +entrance appeared to consist in some crotchet of the brain, which, +so long as it might operate, produced a change in their relation to +the actual world. It is singular how very few there are who do not +occasionally gain admittance on such a score, either in abstracted +musings, or momentary thoughts, or bright anticipations, or vivid +remembrances; for even the actual becomes ideal, whether in hope or +memory, and beguiles the dreamer into the Hall of Fantasy. Some +unfortunates make their whole abode and business here, and contract +habits which unfit them for all the real employments of life. +Others--but these are few--possess the faculty, in their occasional +visits, of discovering a purer truth than the world call impart +among the lights and shadows of these pictured windows. + +And with all its dangerous influences, we have reason to thank God +that there is such a place of refuge from the gloom and chillness of +actual life. Hither may come the prisoner, escaping from his dark +and narrow cell and cankerous chain, to breathe free air in this +enchanted atmosphere. The sick man leaves his weary pillow, and +finds strength to wander hither, though his wasted limbs might not +support him even to the threshold of his chamber. The exile passes +through the Hall of Fantasy to revisit his native soil. The burden +of years rolls down from the old man's shoulders the moment that the +door uncloses. Mourners leave their heavy sorrows at the entrance, +and here rejoin the lost ones whose faces would else be seen no +more, until thought shall have become the only fact. It may be +said, in truth, that there is but half a life--the meaner and +earthier half--for those who never find their way into the hall. +Nor must I fail to mention that in the observatory of the edifice is +kept that wonderful perspective-glass, through which the shepherds +of the Delectable Mountains showed Christian the far-off gleam of +the Celestial City. The eye of Faith still loves to gaze through +it. + +"I observe some men here," said I to my friend, "who might set up a +strong claim to be reckoned among the most real personages of the +day." + +"Certainly," he replied. "If a man be in advance of his age, he +must be content to make his abode in this hall until the lingering +generations of his fellow-men come up with him. He can find no +other shelter in the universe. But the fantasies of one day are the +deepest realities of a future one." + +"It is difficult to distinguish them apart amid the gorgeous and +bewildering light of this ball," rejoined I. "The white sunshine of +actual life is necessary in order to test them. I am rather apt to +doubt both men and their reasonings till I meet them in that +truthful medium." + +"Perhaps your faith in the ideal is deeper than you are aware," said +my friend. "You are at least a democrat; and methinks no scanty +share of such faith is essential to the adoption of that creed." + +Among the characters who had elicited these remarks were most of the +noted reformers of the day, whether in physics, politics, morals, or +religion. There is no surer method of arriving at the Hall of +Fantasy than to throw one's-self into the current of a theory; for, +whatever landmarks of fact may be set up along the stream, there is +a law of nature that impels it thither. And let it be so; for here +the wise head and capacious heart may do their work; and what is +good and true becomes gradually hardened into fact, while error +melts away and vanishes among the shadows of the ball. Therefore +may none who believe and rejoice in the progress of mankind be angry +with me because I recognized their apostles and leaders amid the +fantastic radiance of those pictured windows. I love and honor such +men as well as they. + +It would be endless to describe the herd of real or self styled +reformers that peopled this place of refuge. They were the +representatives of an unquiet period, when mankind is seeking to +cast off the whole tissue of ancient custom like a tattered garment. +Many of then had got possession of some crystal fragment of truth, +the brightness of which so dazzled them that they could see nothing +else in the wide universe. Here were men whose faith had embodied +itself in the form of a potato; and others whose long beards had a +deep spiritual significance. Here was the abolitionist, brandishing +his one idea like an iron flail. In a word, there were a thousand +shapes of good and evil, faith and infidelity, wisdom and nonsense, +--a most incongruous throng. + +Yet, withal, the heart of the stanchest conservative, unless he +abjured his fellowship with man, could hardly have helped throbbing +in sympathy with the spirit that pervaded these innumerable +theorists. It was good for the man of unquickened heart to listen +even to their folly. Far down beyond the fathom of the intellect +the soul acknowledged that all these varying and conflicting +developments of humanity were united in one sentiment. Be the +individual theory as wild as fancy could make it, still the wiser +spirit would recognize the struggle of the race after a better and +purer life than had yet been realized on earth. My faith revived +even while I rejected all their schemes. It could not be that the +world should continue forever what it has been; a soil where +Happiness is so rare a flower and Virtue so often a blighted fruit; +a battle-field where the good principle, with its shield flung above +its head, can hardly save itself amid the rush of adverse +influences. In the enthusiasm of such thoughts I gazed through one +of the pictured windows, and, behold! the whole external world was +tinged with the dimly glorious aspect that is peculiar to the Hall +of Fantasy, insomuch that it seemed practicable at that very instant +to realize some plan for the perfection of mankind. But, alas! if +reformers would understand the sphere in which their lot is cast +they must cease to look through pictured windows. Yet they not only +use this medium, but mistake it for the whitest sunshine. + +"Come," said I to my friend, starting from a deep revery, "let us +hasten hence, or I shall be tempted to make a theory, after which +there is little hope of any man." + +"Come hither, then," answered he. "Here is one theory that swallows +up and annihilates all others." + +He led me to a distant part of the hall where a crowd of deeply +attentive auditors were assembled round an elderly man of plain, +honest, trustworthy aspect. With an earnestness that betokened the +sincerest faith in his own doctrine, he announced that the +destruction of the world was close at hand. + +"It is Father Miller himself!" exclaimed I. + +"No less a man," said my friend; "and observe how picturesque a +contrast between his dogma and those of the reformers whom we have +just glanced at. They look for the earthly perfection of mankind, +and are forming schemes which imply that the immortal spirit will be +connected with a physical nature for innumerable ages of futurity. +On the other hand, here comes good Father Miller, and with one puff +of his relentless theory scatters all their dreams like so many +withered leaves upon the blast." + +"It is, perhaps, the only method of getting mankind out of the +various perplexities into which they have fallen," I replied. "Yet I +could wish that the world might be permitted to endure until some +great moral shall have been evolved. A riddle is propounded. Where +is the solution? The sphinx did not slay herself until her riddle +had been guessed. Will it not be so with the world? Now, if it +should be burned to-morrow morning, I am at a loss to know what +purpose will have been accomplished, or how the universe will be +wiser or better for our existence and destruction." + +"We cannot tell what mighty truths may have been embodied in act +through the existence of the globe and its inhabitants," rejoined my +companion. "Perhaps it may be revealed to us after the fall of the +curtain over our catastrophe; or not impossibly, the whole drama, in +which we are involuntary actors, may have been performed for the +instruction of another set of spectators. I cannot perceive that +our own comprehension of it is at all essential to the matter. At +any rate, while our view is so ridiculously narrow and superficial +it would be absurd to argue the continuance of the world from the +fact that it seems to have existed hitherto in vain." + +"The poor old earth," murmured I. "She has faults enough, in all +conscience, but I cannot hear to have her perish." + +"It is no great matter," said my friend. "The happiest of us has +been weary of her many a time and oft." + +"I doubt it," answered I, pertinaciously; "the root of human nature +strikes down deep into this earthly soil, and it is but reluctantly +that we submit to be transplanted, even for a higher cultivation in +heaven. I query whether the destruction of the earth would gratify +any one individual, except perhaps some embarrassed man of business +whose notes fall due a day after the day of doom." + +Then methought I heard the expostulating cry of a multitude against +the consummation prophesied by Father Miller. The lover wrestled +with Providence for his foreshadowed bliss. Parents entreated that +the earth's span of endurance might be prolonged by some seventy +years, so that their new-born infant should not be defrauded of his +lifetime. A youthful poet murmured because there would be no +posterity to recognize the inspiration of his song. The reformers, +one and all, demanded a few thousand years to test their theories, +after which the universe might go to wreck. A mechanician, who was +busied with an improvement of the steam-engine, asked merely time to +perfect his model. A miser insisted that the world's destruction +would be a personal wrong to himself, unless he should first be +permitted to add a specified sum to his enormous heap of gold. A +little boy made dolorous inquiry whether the last day would come +before Christmas, and thus deprive him of his anticipated dainties. +In short, nobody seemed satisfied that this mortal scene of things +should have its close just now. Yet, it must be confessed, the +motives of the crowd for desiring its continuance were mostly so +absurd, that unless infinite Wisdom had been aware of much better +reasons, the solid earth must have melted away at once. + +For my own part, not to speak of a few private and personal ends, I +really desired our old mother's prolonged existence for her own dear +sake. + +"The poor old earth!" I repeated. "What I should chiefly regret in +her destruction would be that very earthliness which no other sphere +or state of existence can renew or compensate. The fragrance of +flowers and of new-mown hay; the genial warmth of sunshine, and the +beauty of a sunset among clouds; the comfort and cheerful glow of +the fireside; the deliciousness of fruits and of all good cheer; the +magnificence of mountains, and seas, and cataracts, and the softer +charm of rural scenery; even the fast-falling snow and the gray +atmosphere through which it descends,--all these and innumerable +other enjoyable things of earth must perish with her. Then the +country frolics; the homely humor; the broad, open-mouthed roar of +laughter, in which body and soul conjoin so heartily! I fear that +no other world call show its anything just like this. As for purely +moral enjoyments, the good will find them in every state of being. +But where the material and the moral exist together, what is to +happen then? And then our mute four-footed friends and the winged +songsters of our woods! Might it not be lawful to regret them, even +in the hallowed groves of paradise?" + +"You speak like the very spirit of earth, imbued with a scent of +freshly turned soil," exclaimed my friend. + +"It is not that I so much object to giving up these enjoyments on my +own account," continued I, "but I hate to think that they will have +been eternally annihilated from the list of joys." + +"Nor need they be," he replied. "I see no real force in what you +say. Standing in this Hall of Fantasy, we perceive what even the +earth-clogged intellect of man can do in creating circumstances +which, though we call them shadowy and visionary, are scarcely more +so than those that surround us in actual life. Doubt not then that +man's disembodied spirit may recreate time and the world for itself, +with all their peculiar enjoyments, should there still be human +yearnings amid life eternal and infinite. But I doubt whether we +shall be inclined to play such a poor scene over again." + +"O, you are ungrateful to our mother earth!" rejoined I. "Come what +may, I never will forget her! Neither will it satisfy me to have +her exist merely in idea. I want her great, round, solid self to +endure interminably, and still to be peopled with the kindly race of +man, whom I uphold to be much better than he thinks himself. +Nevertheless, I confide the whole matter to Providence, and shall +endeavor so to live that the world may come to an end at any moment +without leaving me at a loss to find foothold somewhere else." + +"It is an excellent resolve," said my companion, looking at his +watch. "But come; it is the dinner-hour. Will you partake of my +vegetable diet?" + +A thing so matter of fact as an invitation to dinner, even when the +fare was to be nothing more substantial than vegetables and fruit, +compelled us forthwith to remove from the Hall of Fantasy. As we +passed out of the portal we met the spirits of several persons who +had been sent thither in magnetic sleep. I looked back among the +sculptured pillars and at the transformations of the gleaming +fountain, and almost desired that the whole of life might be spent +in that visionary scene where the actual world, with its hard +angles, should never rub against me, and only be viewed through the +medium of pictured windows. But for those who waste all their days +in the Hall of Fantasy, good Father Miller's prophecy is already +accomplished, and the solid earth has come to an untimely end. Let +us be content, therefore, with merely an occasional visit, for the +sake of spiritualizing the grossness of this actual life, and +prefiguring to ourselves a state in which the Idea shall be all in +all. + + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE HALL OF FANTASY *** +By Nathaniel Hawthorne + +**** This file should be named haw5310.txt or haw5310.zip ***** + +Corrected EDITIONS of our etexts get a new NUMBER, haw5311.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, haw5310a.txt + +This eBook was produced by David Widger [widger@cecomet.net] + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we usually do not +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, +even years after the official publication date. + +Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg eBooks is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. + +Most people start at our Web sites at: +http://gutenberg.net or +http://promo.net/pg + +These Web sites include award-winning information about Project +Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new +eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!). + + +Those of you who want to download any eBook before announcement +can get to them as follows, and just download by date. This is +also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the +indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an +announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter. + +http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext03 or +ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext03 + +Or /etext02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90 + +Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want, +as it appears in our Newsletters. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any eBook selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. Our +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If the value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour in 2002 as we release over 100 new text +files per month: 1240 more eBooks in 2001 for a total of 4000+ +We are already on our way to trying for 2000 more eBooks in 2002 +If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total +will reach over half a trillion eBooks given away by year's end. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away 1 Trillion eBooks! +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users. + +Here is the briefest record of our progress (* means estimated): + +eBooks Year Month + + 1 1971 July + 10 1991 January + 100 1994 January + 1000 1997 August + 1500 1998 October + 2000 1999 December + 2500 2000 December + 3000 2001 November + 4000 2001 October/November + 6000 2002 December* + 9000 2003 November* +10000 2004 January* + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created +to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +As of February, 2002, contributions are being solicited from people +and organizations in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, +Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, +Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, +Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New +Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, +Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South +Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West +Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. + +We have filed in all 50 states now, but these are the only ones +that have responded. + +As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list +will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states. +Please feel free to ask to check the status of your state. + +In answer to various questions we have received on this: + +We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork to legally +request donations in all 50 states. If your state is not listed and +you would like to know if we have added it since the list you have, +just ask. + +While we cannot solicit donations from people in states where we are +not yet registered, we know of no prohibition against accepting +donations from donors in these states who approach us with an offer to +donate. + +International donations are accepted, but we don't know ANYTHING about +how to make them tax-deductible, or even if they CAN be made +deductible, and don't have the staff to handle it even if there are +ways. + +Donations by check or money order may be sent to: + +Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +PMB 113 +1739 University Ave. +Oxford, MS 38655-4109 + +Contact us if you want to arrange for a wire transfer or payment +method other than by check or money order. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been approved by +the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN +[Employee Identification Number] 64-622154. Donations are +tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law. As fund-raising +requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be +made and fund-raising will begin in the additional states. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +You can get up to date donation information online at: + +http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html + + +*** + +If you can't reach Project Gutenberg, +you can always email directly to: + +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> + +Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message. + +We would prefer to send you information by email. + + +**The Legal Small Print** + + +(Three Pages) + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this eBook, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you may distribute copies of this eBook if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS EBOOK +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +eBook, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this eBook by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this eBook on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM EBOOKS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBooks, +is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart +through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project"). +Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this eBook +under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market +any commercial products without permission. + +To create these eBooks, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's eBooks and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other eBook medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may +receive this eBook from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook) disclaims +all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this eBook within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS EBOOK IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE EBOOK OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation, +and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated +with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including +legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the +following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this eBook, +[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the eBook, +or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this eBook electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + eBook or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this eBook in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word + processing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The eBook, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The eBook may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the eBook (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + eBook in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the eBook refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the + gross profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" + the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were + legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent + periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to + let us know your plans and to work out the details. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of +public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form. + +The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time, +public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses. +Money should be paid to the: +"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or +software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at: +hart@pobox.com + +[Portions of this eBook's header and trailer may be reprinted only +when distributed free of all fees. Copyright (C) 2001, 2002 by +Michael S. Hart. Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be +used in any sales of Project Gutenberg eBooks or other materials be +they hardware or software or any other related product without +express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* diff --git a/old/haw5310.zip b/old/haw5310.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ef8527c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/haw5310.zip |
