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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/14709-0.txt b/14709-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5dea0bd --- /dev/null +++ b/14709-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8374 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14709 *** + +Note: The Table of Contents and the list of illustrations were added + by the transcriber. + + Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 14709-h.htm or 14709-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/7/0/14709/14709-h/14709-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/7/0/14709/14709-h.zip) + + + + + +LIPPINCOTT'S MAGAZINE OF POPULAR LITERATURE AND SCIENCE + +February, 1875 + +Vol. XV, No. 86 + + + + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS. + + + FOLLOWING THE TIBER. + CONCLUDING PAPER. + + SIX MONTHS AMONG CANNIBALS. + + AN AMERICAN GIRL AND HER LOVERS. by Mary E. Blair. + + A JAPANESE MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE. by W.E. Griffis. + + THE LOST BABY. by Clara G. Dolliver. + + THREE FEATHERS. by William Black. + CHAPTER XXIII. SOME OLD SONGS. + CHAPTER XXIV. THE CUT DIRECT. + CHAPTER XXV. NOT THE LAST WORD. + + FEVER. by H.C. Wood, Jr., M.D. + + SONNET. by Charlotte F. Bates. + + SOME RECOLLECTIONS OF HIRAM POWERS. by T. Adolphus Trollope. + + CORN. by Sidney Lanier. + + GENTLEMAN DICK. by W. Mackay Laffan. + + A SINGULAR FAMILY. by Clelia Lega Weeks. + + THE MATCHLESS ONE: + A TALE OF AMERICAN SOCIETY, IN FOUR CHAPTERS. + by Ita Aniol Prokop. + PROLOGUE. + CHAPTER I. + CHAPTER II. + + THE STRANGER WITHIN THE GATES OF PARIS. by Lucy H. Hooper. + + OUR MONTHLY GOSSIP. + GYPSY MUSIC IN HUNGARY. by E.C.R. + THE "GIORNO DEI MORTI." by T.A.T. + MR. MILL'S MOTHER. + + NOTES. + + LITERATURE OF THE DAY. + + Books Received. + + FOOTNOTES + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + TEMPLE OF THE CLITUMNUS. + THE FALLS OF TERNI. + ORVIETO. + CIVITÀ BAGNOREA. + THE TIBER, FROM ORTE. + BORGHETTO. + ST. PETER'S AND THE VATICAN, FROM THE FALLS OF THE TIBER. + THE CASTLE OF ST. ANGELO. + ISLAND OF THE TIBER. + CUPOLA OF ST. PETER'S. + THE PINCIO, FROM THE VILLA BORGHESE. + SORACTE. + VEII, FROM THE CAMPAGNA. + TIVOLI. + CASTLE AT OSTIA. + HEAD OF THE TRAJAN CANAL, NEAR OSTIA. + + + + +FOLLOWING THE TIBER. + +CONCLUDING PAPER. + +[Illustration: TEMPLE OF THE CLITUMNUS.] + + +One branch of the little river which encompasses Assisi is the +Clitumnus, the delight of philosophers and poets in the Augustan age. +Near its source stands a beautiful little temple to the divinity of the +stream. Although the ancients resorted hither for the loveliness of the +spot, they did not bathe in the springs, a gentle superstition holding +it sacrilege for the human body to lave itself in a stream near its +source. + +[Illustration: THE FALLS OF TERNI.] + +They came by the Via Flaminia, the old high-road from Rome to Florence, +which crosses the modern railroad hard by. Following its course, which +takes a more direct line than the devious Tiber, past Spoleto on its +woody castellated height, the traveler reaches Terni on the tumultuous +Nar, the wildest and most rebellious of all the tributaries. It was to +save the surrounding country from its outbreaks that the channel was +made by the Romans B.C. 271, the first of several experiments which +resulted in these cascades, which have been more sung and oftener +painted than any other in the world. The beauty of Terni is so hackneyed +that enthusiasm over it becomes cockney, yet the beauty of hackneyed +things is as eternal as the verity of truisms, and no more loses its +charm than the other its point. But one must not talk about it. The +foaming torrent rages along between its rocky walls until spanned by the +bridge of Augustus at Narni, a magnificent viaduct sixty feet high, +thrown from ridge to ridge across the ravine for the passage of the +Flaminian Way--a wreck now, for two of the arches have fallen, but +through the last there is a glimpse of the rugged hillsides with their +thick forests and the turbulent waters rushing through the chasm. Higher +still is Narni, looking over her embattled walls. It is one of the most +striking positions on the way from Florence to Rome, and the next half +hour, through savage gorges and black tunnels, ever beside the tormented +waters of the Nar until they meet the Tiber, swollen by the tributes of +the Paglia and Chiana, is singularly fine. + +[Illustration: ORVIETO.] + +Where the Paglia and Chiana flow together, at the issue of the charming +Val di Chiana, stands Orvieto on its steep and sudden rock, crowned with +one of the triumphs of Italian Gothic, the glorious cathedral. After +toiling up the ladder-like paths which lead from the plain to the summit +of the bluff, and passing through the grand mediæval gateway along the +slanting streets, where even the peasants dismount and walk beside their +donkeys, seeing nothing within the whole small compass of the walls save +what speaks of the narrowest and humblest life in the most remote of +hill-fastnesses, a few deserted and dilapidated palaces alone telling of +a period of importance long past, nothing can describe the effect of +coming out of this indigence and insignificance upon the silent, +solitary piazza where the incomparable cathedral rears its front, +covered from base to pinnacle with the richest sculpture and most +brilliant mosaic. The volcanic mass on which the town is built is over +seven hundred feet high, and nearly half as much in circumference: it +would be a fitting pedestal for this gorgeous duomo if it stood there +alone. But it is almost wedged in among the crooked streets, a few paces +of grass-grown stones allowing less than space enough to embrace the +whole result of proportion and color: one cannot go far enough off to +escape details. An account of those details would require a volume, and +one has already been written which leaves no more to be said;[1] yet +fain would we take the reader with us into that noble nave, where the +"glorious company of the apostles" stands colossal in marble beside the +pillars whose sculptured capitals are like leafy branches blown by the +wind; where the light comes rich and mellow through stained glass and +semilucent alabaster, like Indian-summer sunshine in autumn woods; where +Fra Angelico's and Benozzo Gozzoli's angelic host smile upon us with +ineffable mildness from above the struggle and strife of Luca +Signorelli's "Last Judgment," the great forerunner of Michael Angelo's. +It added greatly to the impressiveness that there was never a single +human being in the cathedral: except one afternoon at vespers we had it +all to ourselves. There is little else to see in the place, although it +is highly picturesque and the inhabitants wear a more complete costume +than any other I saw in Italy--the women, bright bodices, striped skirts +and red stockings; the men, jaunty jackets and breeches, peaked hats and +splendid sashes. + +The discomfort of Perugia was luxury to what we found at Orvieto, and it +was no longer May but December, when it is nearly as cold north of Rome +as with us; and Rome was drawing us with her mighty magnet. So, one +wintry morning, soon after daybreak, we set out in a close carriage with +four horses, wrapped as if we were going in a sleigh, with a +_scaldino_ (or little brazier) under our feet, for the nearest +railway station on our route, a nine hours' drive. Our way lay through +the snow-covered hills and their leafless forest, and long after we had +left Orvieto behind again and again a rise in the road would bring it +full in sight on its base of tufa, girt by its walls, the Gothic lines +of the cathedral sharp against the clear, brightening sky. At our last +look the sun was not up, but broad shafts of light, such as painters +throw before the chariot of Phoebus, refracted against the pure æther, +spread like a halo round the threefold pinnacles: a moment more and +Orvieto was hidden behind a higher hill, not to be seen again. All day +we drove among the snow-bound hills and woods, past the Lake of Bolsena +in its forbidding beauty; past small valleys full of naked fruit trees +and shivering olives, which must be nooks of loveliness in spring; past +defiant little towns aloft on their islands of tufa, like Bagnorea with +its single slender bell-tower; past Montefiascone with its good old +story about Cardinal Fugger and the native wine. + +[Illustration: CIVITÀ BAGNOREA.] + +We stopped to lunch at Viterbo, a town more closely connected with the +history of the Papacy than any except Rome itself, and full of legends +and romantic associations: it is dirty and dilapidated, and has great +need of all its memories. Being but eight miles from Montefiascone, we +called for a bottle of the fatal Est, which we had tasted once at +Augsburg, where the host of the Three Moors has it in his cellar, in +honor perhaps of the departed Fugger family, whose palace has become his +hotel: there we had found it delicious--a wine as sweet as cordial, with +a soul of fire and a penetrating but delicate flavor of its own--how +different from the thin, sour stuff they brought us in the long-necked, +straw-covered flask, nothing to attest its relationship to the generous +juice at the Three Moors except the singular, unique flavor! After this +little disappointment we left Viterbo, and drove on through the same +sort of scenery, which seemed to grow more and more beautiful in the +rosy light of the sinking sun. But it is hard to tell, for nothing makes +a journey so beautiful as to know that Rome is the goal. As the last +rays were flushing the hill-tops we came in sight of Orte, with its +irregular lines of building clinging to the sides of its precipitous +cliff in such eyrie-wise that it is difficult to say what is house and +what is rock, and whether the arched passages with which it is pierced +are masonry or natural grottoes; and there was the Tiber--already the +yellow Tiber--winding through the valley as far as eye could follow. +Here we waited for the train, which was ten minutes late, and tried to +make up for lost time by leaving our luggage, all duly marked and ready, +standing on the track. We soon began to greet familiar sites as we +flitted by: the last we made out plainly was Borghetto, a handful of +houses, with a ruined castle keeping watch on a hill hard by: then +twilight gathered, and we strained our eyes in vain for the earliest +glimpse of Mount Soracte, and night came down before we could descry the +first landmarks of the Agro Romano, the outposts of our excursions, the +farm-towers we knew by name, the farthest fragments of the aqueducts. +But it was not so obscure that we could not discern the Tiber between +his low banks showing us the way, the lights quivering in the Anio as +the train rushed over the bridge; and when at length we saw against the +clear night-sky a great dark barrier stretching right and left, we knew +that the walls of Rome were once more before us: in a moment we had +glided through with slackening speed, and her embrace enfolded us again. + +[Illustration: THE TIBER, FROM ORTE.] + +[Illustration: BORGHETTO.] + +[Illustration: ST. PETER'S AND THE VATICAN, FROM THE FALLS OF +THE TIBER.] + +The Tiber, winding as it does like a great artery through the heart of +Rome, is seldom long either out of sight or mind. One constantly comes +upon it in the most unexpected manner, for there is no river front to +the city. There is a wide open space on the Ripetta--a street which runs +from the Piazza del Popolo, at the head of the foreign quarter, to +remoter parts--where a broad flight of marble steps descends to the +level of the flood, and a ferry crosses to the opposite bank: looking +over at the trees and fields, it is like the open country, yet beyond +are St. Peter's and the Vatican, and the whole of what is known as the +Leonine City. But one cannot follow the Tiber through the streets of +Rome as one may the Seine in Paris: in the thickly-built quarters the +houses back upon the stream and its yellow waves wash their foundations, +working wrath and woe from time to time, as those who were there in the +winter of 1870 will recollect. Sometimes it is lost to sight for half a +mile together, unless one catches a glimpse of it through the +carriage-way of a palace. From the wharf of the Ripetta it disappears +until you come upon it again at the bridge of St. Angelo, the Ælian +bridge of ancient Rome, which is the most direct passage from the +fashionable and foreign quarter to the Trastevere. It must be confessed +that the idle sense of mere pleasure generally supersedes recollection +and association after one's first astonishment to find one's self among +the historic places subsides; yet how often, as our horses' hoofs rang +on the slippery stones, my thoughts went suddenly back to the scene when +Saint Gregory passed over, chanting litanies, at the head of the whole +populace, who formed one vast penitential procession, and saw the +avenging angel alight on the mausoleum of Adrian and sheath his sword in +sign that the plague was stayed; or to that terrible day when the +ferocious mercenaries of the Constable de Bourbon and the wretched +inhabitants given over to sack and slaughter swarmed across together, +butchering and butchered, while the troops in the castle hurled down +what was left of its classic statues upon the heads of friend and foe, +and the Tiber was turned to blood! + +[Illustration: THE CASTLE OF ST. ANGELO.] + +[Illustration: ISLAND OF THE TIBER.] + +From the bridge of St. Angelo the river is lost again for a long +distance, although one can make one's way to it at various points--where +at low water the submerged piers of the Pons Triumphalis are to be seen, +where the Ponte Sisto leads to the foot of the Janiculum Hill, and on +the opposite bank the orange-groves of the Farnesina palace hang their +golden fruit and dusky foliage over the long garden-wall upon the +river--until we come to the Ponte Quatro Capi (Bridge of the Four Heads) +and the island of the Tiber. This is said to have been formed in the +kingly period by the accumulation of a harvest cast into the stream a +little way above, which the current could not sweep away: it made a +nucleus for alluvial deposit, and the island gradually arose. Several +hundred years afterward it was built into the form of a ship, as bridges +and wharves are built, with a temple in the midst, and a tall obelisk +set up in guise of its mast. In mediæval days a church replaced the +heathen fane, and now it stands between its two bridges, a huddle of +houses, terraces and gardens, whence one looks down on the fine mass of +the Ponte Rotto (Broken Bridge), whose shattered arches pause in +mid-stream, and across to the low arch of the Cloaca Maxima and the +exquisite little circular temple of Vesta. From here down, the river is +in full view from either side until it passes beyond the walls near the +Monte Testaccio--on one side the Ripa Grande (Great Bank or Wharf), a +long series of quays, on the other the Marmorata or marble landing, +where the ships from the quarries unload. Here, on each side, all sorts +of small craft lie moored, not betokening a very extensive commerce from +their size and shape, but quaint and oddly rigged, making a very good +fore-or back-ground, according as one looks at the picture. The +Marmorata is at the foot of the Aventine, the most lonely and unvisited +of the Seven Hills. From among the vegetable-gardens and cypress-groves +which clothe its long flank rise large, formless piles, whose +foundations are as old as the Eternal City, and whose superstructures +are the wreck of temples of the kingly and republican periods, and +palaces and villas of imperial times, and haughty feudal abodes, only to +be distinguished from one another by the antiquary amid their +indiscriminate ruin and the tangle of wild-briers and fern, ivy and +trailers with which they are overgrown. On the summit no trace of +ancient Rome is to be seen. There are no dwellings of men on this +deserted ground: a few small and very early Christian churches have +replaced the temples which once stood here, to be in their turn +neglected and forsaken: they stand forlornly apart, separated by +vineyards and high blank walls. On the brow of the hill is the esplanade +of a modern fort, and within its quiet precincts are the church and +priory of the Knights of Malta--nothing but a chapel and small villa as +abandoned as the rest. After toiling up a steep and narrow lane between +two walls, our carriage stopped at a solid wooden gateway, and the +coachman told us to get out and look through the keyhole. We were +aghast, but he insisted, laughing and nodding; so we pocketed our pride +and peeped. Through an overarching vista of dark foliage was seen, white +and golden in a blaze of sunshine, the cupola of St. Peter's, which is +at the farthest end of the city, two miles at the least as the crow +flies. When the gate was opened we entered a sweet little garden full of +violets, traversed by an alley of old ilex trees, through which appeared +the noble dome, and which led from the gate to a terrace overhanging the +Tiber--I will not venture to guess how far below--more like two than one +hundred feet; perhaps still farther. On the edge of the terrace was an +arbor, and here we sank down enchanted, to drink in the view of the +city, which spread out under our eyes as we had never seen it from any +other point. But the custodino's wife urged us to come into the Priorato +and see the view from the upper story. We followed her, reluctant to +leave the sunshine and soft air, up a stiff winding staircase, through +large, dark, chilly, long-closed apartments, until we reached the top, +where there was a great square room occupying the whole floor. She flung +open the windows, and never did such a panorama meet my eyes. There were +windows on every side: to the north, one looked across the city to St. +Peter's, the Vatican, the Castle of St. Angelo, the Tiber with its great +bends and many bridges, and to lonely, far-away Soracte; westward, on +the other side of the river, rose the Janiculum with its close-wedged +houses, grade on grade, and on its summit the church of San Pietro in +Montorio and the flashing cataract of the Acqua Paola fountain, the +stone-pines of the Villa Dolia cresting the ridge above; eastward, the +Palatine, a world of ruins in a world of gardens, lay between us and the +Coliseum, and over them and the wall, the aqueducts, the plain, the eye +ranged to the snow-capped Sabine Hills, on whose many-colored +declivities tiny white towns were dotted like browsing sheep; southward, +we gazed down upon the Pyramid of Cestius, upon the beautiful Protestant +cemetery with its white monuments and dark cypresses where lie Shelley +and Keats, upon the stately Porta San Paolo, a great mediæval gateway +flanked with towers, and beyond, the Campagna, purple, violet, +ultramarine, oceanic, rolling out toward the Alban Hills, which +glittered with snow, rising sharply like island-peaks and sloping down +like promontories into the plain; and over all the sun and sky and +shadows of Italy. + +[Illustration: CUPOLA OF ST. PETER'S.] + +[Illustration: THE PINCIO, FROM THE VILLA BORGHESE.] + +The prospect from the Priorato surpasses anything in Rome--even the +wonderful view from the Janiculum, even the enchanting outlook from the +Pincian Hill. But the last was at our very doors: we could go thither in +the morning to watch the white mist curl up from the valleys and hang +about the mountain-brows, and at noon, when even in January the cool +avenues and splashing fountains were grateful, and at sunset, when the +city lay before us steeped in splendor. That was the view of our daily +walks--the beloved view of which one thinks most often and fondly in +remembering Rome. + +[Illustration: SORACTE.] + +But it is in riding that one grows to feel most familiar with the Tiber +and all his Roman children, whether it be strolling somewhat sulkily in +a line with his banks by the Via Flaminia or the Via Cassia, impatient +to get away from their stones and dust to the soft, springing turf; or +hailing him from afar as a guide after losing one's self in the endless +undulations of the open country; or cantering over daffodil-sheeted +meadows beside the Anio at the foot of the grassy heights on which +Antemnæ stood; or threading one's way doubtfully among the ravines which +intersect the course of the little Cremera as one goes to Veii. The last +is a most beautiful and interesting expedition, for, what with the +distance--more than twelve miles--and the difficulty of finding the way, +it is quite an enterprise. As one turns his horse's head away from the +river, off the high-road, to the high grassy flats, the whole Campagna +seems to lie before one like a vast table-land, with nothing between +one's self and Soracte as he lifts his heavy shoulder from the +plain--not half hidden by intervening mountains, as from some points of +view, but majestic and isolated, thirty miles away to the north. But +here, as in every other part of the Campagna, one cannot go far without +finding hillocks and hollows, long steep slopes and sudden little dells, +and, stranger still, unsuspected tracts of woodland, for the general +effect of the Roman landscape is quite treeless. So there is a few +miles' gallop across the trackless turf, sometimes asking the way of a +solitary shepherd, who looms up against the sky like a tower, sometimes +following it by faint landmarks, few and far between, of which we have +been told, and hard to find in that waste, until we pass a curious +little patriarchal abode shaped like a wigwam, where, in the midst of +these wide pastures dwells a herdsman surrounded by his family, his +cattle, his dogs, his goats and his fowls--the beautiful animals of the +Campagna, long-haired, soft-eyed, rich-colored, like the human children +of the soil. Then we strike the Cremera, and exploring begins among its +rocky gullies, up and down which the spirited, sure-footed horses +scramble like chamois. Thick woods of cork-oak clothe their sides, and +copses of a deciduous tree which I never saw in its summer dress of +green, but which keeps its dead leaves all through the winter, a full +suit of soft, pale brown contrasting with the dark evergreens. Among +these woods grow all the wild-flowers of the long Roman spring from +January to May--flowers that I never saw in bloom at the same time +anywhere else. On banks overcanopied by faded boughs nodded myriads of +snowdrops; farther on we held our horses' heads well up as they slipped, +almost sitting, down the damp rocky clefts of a gorge whose sides were +purple with violets, mingling their delicious odor, the sweetest and +most sentimental of perfumes, with the fresh, geranium-like scent of the +cyclamen, which here and there flung back its delicate pinkish petals +like one amazed: then came acres of anemones--not our pale wind-shaken +flower, but brave asters of half a dozen superb kinds. Up and down these +passes we forced our way through interlacing branches, which drooped too +low, until we had crossed the ridges on either side the Cremera, and +gained the valley at the head of which is Isola Farnese, the +rock-fortress supposed to occupy the site of the citadel of Etruscan +Veii. It is not really an island, in spite of its name; only a bold +peninsula, round whose base two rivulets flow and nearly meet. It is +called a village, and so it is, with quite a population, but the great +courtyard of the fifteenth-century castle contains them all, and the +huts, pig-pens, kennels and coops which they seem to inhabit +indiscriminately. Except where the bluff overlooks the valley, +everything is closed and shut in by rocks and gorges, through one of +which a lovely waterfall drips from a covert of boughs and shrubbery and +wreathing ferns and creepers into a little stream, which with musical +clamor rushes at a picturesque old mill: through another the road from +the castle passes through a narrow issue to the outer world. And this +stranded and shipwrecked fortress in the midst of so wild a scene is all +that exists to mark where Veii stood, the powerful city which kept Rome +at bay for ten years, and fell at length by stratagem! Its site was +forgotten for nearly two thousand years, but in this century the +discovery of some tombs revealed the secret. + +[Illustration: VEII, FROM THE CAMPAGNA.] + +[Illustration: TIVOLI.] + +The scenery differs entirely on different sides of Rome. Here there is +not a ruin, not a vestige, except a few low heaps of stone-or brickwork +hidden by weeds: on the other, toward Tivoli, much of the beauty is due +to the work of man--the stately remnants of ancient aqueduct, temple and +tomb; the tall square towers of feudal barons, round which cluster low +farm-buildings scarcely less old and solid; the vast, gloomy grottoes of +Cerbara, which look like the underground palace of a bygone race, but +which are the tufa-quarries of classic times; the ruined baths of +Zenobia, where the rushing milky waters of the Aquæ Albulæ fill the air +with sulphurous fumes; and, as a climax, the Villa of Hadrian, less a +country-place than a whole region, a town-in-country, with palace, +temples, circus, theatres, baths amidst a tract of garden and +pleasure-ground ten miles in circumference. Even when one is familiar +with the enormous height and bulk of the Coliseum or the Baths of +Caracalla, the extent of the ruins of Hadrian's Villa is overwhelming. +Numerous fragments are still standing, graceful and elegant, but a vast +many more are buried deep under turf and violets and fern: large +cypresses and ilexes have struck root among their stones, and they form +artificial hills and vales and great wide plateaus covered with herbage +and shrubbery, hardly to be distinguished from the natural accidents of +the land. The solitude is as immense as the space. After leaving our +carriage we wandered about for hours, sometimes lying in the sunshine at +the edge of a great grassy terrace which commands the Campagna and the +Agro Romano--beyond whose limits we had come--to where, like a little +bell, St. Peter's dome hung faint and blue upon the horizon; sometimes +exploring the innumerable porticoes and galleries, and replacing in +fancy the Venus de Medici, the Dancing Faun, and all the other shapes of +beauty which once occupied these ravished pedestals and niches; +sometimes rambling about the flowery fields, and up and down among the +hillocks and dells, meeting no one, until at length, when completely +bewildered and lost, we fell in with a rustic belonging to the estate, +who guided us back. We left the place with the sense of having been in a +separate realm, another country, belonging to another age. The whole of +that visit to Tivoli was like a dream. The sun was sinking when we left +the precincts of the villa, and twilight stole upon us, wrapping all the +landscape on which we looked back in softer folds of shade, and +resolving its features into large, calm masses, as the horses labored up +the narrow, stony road into a mysterious wood of gigantic olives, +gnarled, twisted and rent as no other tree could be and live. The scene +was wild and weird in the dying light, and it grew almost savage as we +wound upward among the robber-haunted hills. Night had fallen before we +reached the mountain-town. Our coachman dashed through the dark slits of +streets, where it seemed as if our wheels must strike the houses on each +side, cracking his whip and jingling the bells of the harness. Under +black archways sat groups of peasants, their swart visages lit up from +below by the glow of a brazier, while a flaring torch stuck through a +ring overhead threw fierce lights and shadows across the scene. Sharp +cries and shouts like maledictions rose as we passed, and as we turned +into the little square on which the inn stands we wondered in what sort +of den we should have to lodge. We followed our host of the little +Albergo della Regnia up the steep stone staircase with many misgivings: +he flung open a door, and we beheld a carpeted room, all furnished and +hung with pink chintz covered with cupids and garlands. There were +sofas, low arm-chairs, a writing-table with appurtenances, a tea-table +with snowy linen and a hissing brass tea-kettle. Opening from this were +two little white nests of bed-rooms, with tin bath-tubs and an abundance +of towels. We could not believe our eyes: here were English comfort and +French taste. Were we in May Fair or the Rue de Rivoli? Or was it a +fairy-tale? + +[Illustration: CASTLE AT OSTIA.] + +The fairy-tale went on next day, when, after wending our way through the +dirty, crooked little streets, we crossed a courtyard and descended a +long subterranean stairway to emerge on a magnificent terrace with a +heavy marble balustrade, whence flights of steps led down to lower +grades, amid statues, urns, vases, fountains, reservoirs, camellias in +bloom mingled with laurel and myrtle and laurustinums covered with +creamy flowers, cypresses tall as cathedral spires, ilex avenues, and +broad straight walks between huge walls of box: the whole space was +filled with the song of nightingales, the tinkle of falling water, with +whiffs of aromatic shrubs and the breath of hidden roses and violets;--a +princely garden, a royal pleasaunce, but in exquisite disorder and +neglect; the shrubbery too thick and straggling, the flowers straying +beyond their rightful boundaries, the statues stained and moss-grown, +the balusters entangled in clinging luxuriance, the fountains dripping +through fern and maiden-hair--Nature supreme, as one always sees her in +this land of Art. It was the Villa d'Este, famous these three hundred +years for its fountains and cypresses. Nor did the wonder cease when we +forsook this enchanting spot for the mountain-road which overhangs the +great ravine. Opposite, backed by mountains, rose the crags topped by +the clustering town and all its towers, arches, niches, battlements, +bridges, long lines of classic ruins, and on the edge of the abyss the +perfect little temple of the Sibyl; rushing down from everywhere the +waterfalls, one great column plunging at the head of the gorge, and +countless frolic streams, the _cascatelle_, leaping and dancing +from rock to rock through mist and rainbow and extravagance of emerald +moss and herbage, down among sea-green, silvery olives, finally sliding +away, between softer foliage and verdure, through the valley into the +plain--the immense azure plain, with its grand symphonic harmonies of +form and color. O land of dreams fulfilled, of satisfied longing! when +across these thousands of miles I recall your entrancing charm, your +unimaginable beauty, I sometimes wonder if you were _not_ a dream, +if you have any place in this real existence, this lower earth: are you +still delighting other eyes with the rapture of your loveliness, or were +you only an illusion, a vision, which vanishes like the glow of sunset +or "golden exhalations of the dawn "? + +The Campagna has one more aspect, different from all the rest, where the +Tiber, weary with his long wanderings, rolls lazily to the sea. It is a +dreary waste of swamp and sandhill and scrub growth, but with a forlorn +beauty of its own, and the beauty of color, never absent in Italy. The +tall, coarse grass and reeds pass through a series of vivid tones, +culminating in tawny gold and deep orange, against which the +silver-fretted violet blue-green of the Mediterranean assumes a magical +splendor. Small, shaggy buffaloes with ferocious eyes, and sometimes a +peasant as wild-looking as they, are the only inhabitants of this +wilderness. The machicolated towers of Castel Fusano among its grand +stone-pines stand up from the marshes, and farther seaward another +castle with a single pine; but they only enhance the surrounding +loneliness. Ostia, the ancient port, which sea and river have both +deserted, is now a city of the dead, a Pompeii above ground, whose +avenues of tombs lead to streets of human dwellings more desolate still. +It is no longer by Ostia, nor even by the Tiber, that one can reach the +sea: the way was choked by sand and silt seventeen centuries ago, and +Trajan caused the canal to be made which bears his name; and this is +still the outlet from Rome to the Mediterranean, while the river expires +among the pestilential marshes. + +[Illustration: HEAD OF THE TRAJAN CANAL, NEAR OSTIA.] + + + + +SIX MONTHS AMONG CANNIBALS. + + +[Illustration: A HALT IN THE BRUSH.] + +Perhaps as good an illustration of the purely absurd (according to +civilized notions) as can be imagined is a congregation of cannibals in +a missionary church weeping bitterly over the story of Calvary. Fresh +from their revolting feasts upon the flesh of their conquered enemies, +these gentle savages weep over the sufferings of One separated from them +by race, by distance, by almost every conceivable lack of the conditions +for natural sympathy, and by over eighteen hundred years of time! Surely +there must be hope for people who manifest such sensibility, and we may +fairly question whether cannibalism be necessarily the sign of the +lowest human degradation. A good deal of light is thrown upon the +subject by the writings of the young engineer, Jules Garnier, who was +lately charged by the French minister of the interior with a mission of +exploration in New Caledonia, the Pacific island discovered by Captain +Cook just one hundred years ago, and ceded to the French in 1853. + +It is about three hundred and sixty miles from Sydney to New Caledonia, +a long, narrow island lying just north of the Tropic of Capricorn, and +completely surrounded by belts of coral reef crenellated here and there, +and forming channels or passes where ships may enter. Navigation through +these channels is, however, exceedingly hazardous in any but calm +weather; and it was formerly thought that the island was on this account +practically valueless for colonization. Once inside them, however, +vessels may anchor safely anywhere, for there is in effect a continuous +roadstead all around the island. The passage through the narrow pass of +Dumbea, just outside of Noumea, affords a striking spectacle. On each +side of the ship is a wall of foam, and the reverberating thunder of the +waves dashing and breaking upon the jagged reefs keeps the mind in +breathless suspense. + +The site of Noumea seems to be the most unfortunate that could be +chosen. It is a barren, rocky spot, divested of all luxuriance of +vegetation, and the nearest water, a brook called Pont des Français, is +ten miles away. The appearance of the town, which fronts the harbor in +the form of an amphitheatre, the houses and gardens rising higher and +higher as they recede from the sea, tended somewhat to reassure the +explorer, who had been wondering that human stupidity should have been +equal to selecting in a tropical country, and in one of the best-watered +islands of the world, such a situation for its capital. Wells are of +little account, for the water thus obtained is at the level of the sea, +and always salt. The population has to depend upon the rain that falls +on roofs, and as the cleanliness of these is of prime importance, +domesticating pigeons is strictly forbidden. This might not be much of a +deprivation in most places, but in New Caledonia, of all the world, +there is a kind of giant pigeon as large as a common hen! This is the +_noton_, (sic) the _Carpophage Goliath_ of the naturalist. + +The hotel at Noumea was a kind of barracks, with partitions so slight +that every guest was forced to hear every sound in his neighbors' rooms. +M. Garnier, to escape this inconvenience, purchased a garden-plot, had a +cottage built in a few days, and so became a proprietor in Oceanica. +Before setting out on his exploring expedition into the interior he +tried to interest the government in a plan for cisterns to supply the +city with water--a project easy of execution from the natural +conformation of the locality. But his scheme received no encouragement +from the old-fogyish authorities. They were at that moment entertaining +one which for simplicity reminded Garnier of the egg problem of +Columbus. This was to distill the sea-water. He made a calculation of +the cost of thus supplying each of the sixteen hundred inhabitants with +five quarts of water a day, which showed that the proposition was +impracticable under the circumstances. + +From the showing of official accounts, this French colony of New +Caledonia must be one of the most absurd that exists. The military and +naval force far exceeds in number the whole civil population; and this, +too, when the natives are quiet and submissive, few in number, and fast +dying out through the inordinate use of the worst kind of tobacco, +pulmonary consumption and other concomitants of civilization not +necessary to enumerate. Contrast this with the rich and populous +province of Victoria, which has only three hundred and fifty soldiers; +with Brisbane, which has only sixteen to a population of one hundred +thousand; and finally Tasmania, which has only seven soldiers for two +hundred thousand colonists! + +It was believed formerly that New Caledonia was rich in gold-mines, and +the principal object of the expedition of M. Garnier was to discover +these. After one or two short excursions in the neighborhood of Noumea +he set out on an eight months' journey through the entire eastern +portion of the island. The plan which he adopted was to double the +southern extremity of the island, sail up the eastern coast between the +reefs and the mainland, as is the custom, stopping at the principal +stations and making long excursions into the interior, accompanied by a +guard of seven men. This plan he carried out, though some parts of the +country to be explored were inhabited by tribes that had seldom or never +seen a European. His testimony as to the almost unexceptionable kindness +of the natives, cannibals though they are, must be gratifying to those +who accept the doctrine of the brotherhood of man. Of the natives near +Balarde he says: "The moment you land all offer to guide your steps, and +in every way they can to satisfy your needs. Do you wish to hunt? A +native is ever ready to show you the marsh where ducks most abound. Are +you hungry or thirsty? They fly to the cocoanut plantation with the +agility of monkeys. If a swamp or a brook stops your course, the +shoulders of the first comer are ever ready to carry you across. If it +rains, they run to bring banana-leaves or make you a shelter of bark. +When night comes they light your way with resinous torches, and finally, +when you leave them, you read in their faces signs of sincere regret." + +Captain Cook, in his eulogies of these gentle savages, probably never +dreamed that they were anthropophagi, and if he had known the fact, his +kindly nature would have found some extenuation for them. Cannibals, as +a rule--certainly those of New Caledonia--do not eat each other +indiscriminately. For example, they dispose of their dead with tender +care, though they despatch with their clubs even their best friends when +dying; but this is with them a religious duty. They only eat their +enemies when they have killed them in battle. This also, in their code +of morals, appears to be a duty. Toussenel, in his _Zoölogie +Passionelle_, has a kind word even for these savages: "Let us pity +the cannibal, and not blame him too severely. We who boast of our +refined Christian civilization murder men by tens of thousands from +motives less excusable than hunger. The crime lies not in roasting our +dead enemy, but in killing him when he wishes to live." + +During M. Garnier's expedition he met the chief Onime, once the head of +a powerful tribe, now old and dispossessed of his power through the +revolt of his tribe some years previous. At that time a price had been +put upon his head, and he took refuge in the mountains. There was no +sign of discouragement or cruelty in his manners, but his face expressed +a bitter and profound sorrow. There was not a pig or a chicken on his +place--for he would have nothing imported by the _papalés_, or +Europeans--but he gave his guests a large quantity of yams, for which he +would accept no return except a little tobacco. When, however, Garnier +tied a pretty crimson handkerchief about the head of Onime's child, who +danced for joy at the possession of such a treasure, the old chief was +visibly moved, and gave his hand to the stranger. Two years later this +old man, being suspected of complicity in the assassination of a +colonist, was arrested, bound in chains and thrown into a dungeon. Three +times he broke his chains and escaped, and each time was recaptured. He +was then transported to Noumea. M. Garnier happened to be on the same +ship. The condition of the old man was pitiful. Deep wounds, exposing +the bones, were worn into his wrists and ankles in his attempts to free +himself from his chains. Three days later he died, and on a subsequent +examination of facts M. Garnier became convinced that Onime was innocent +of the crime charged against him. On the ship he recognized Garnier, and +accepted from him a little tobacco. Tobacco is more coveted by these +people than anything else in the world, and the stronger it is the +better. The child almost as soon as he can walk will smoke in an old +pipe the poisonous tobacco furnished specially for the natives, which is +so strong that it makes the most inveterate European smoker ill. "Gin +and brandy have been introduced successfully," but the natives as a rule +make horrible grimaces in drinking them, and invariably drink two or +three cups of water immediately _to put out the fire_, as they say. + +These natives speak a kind of "pigeon English." It would be pigeon +French, doubtless, had their first relations been with the French +instead of the English. The government has now stopped the sale of +spirituous liquors to the natives, and recommended the chiefs to forbid +their subjects smoking until a certain age, but no precautions yet taken +have had much influence upon their physical condition. They are rapidly +dying out. The most prevalent disease is pulmonary consumption, which +they declare has been given them by the Europeans. Fewer and fewer +children are born every year, and in the tribes about Poöbo and some +others these are almost all males. Here is a curious fact for +scientists. Is not the cause to be found in the deteriorated physical +condition of the women? Mary Trist, in her careful and extensive +experimentation with butterfly grubs, has shown that by generous feeding +these all develop into females, while by starving males only appear. + +M. Garnier believes that the principal cause of the deterioration and +decay of the natives in New Caledonia is the terrible tobacco that is +furnished to them. "Everybody pays for any service from the natives in +this poison." A missionary once asked a native convert why he had not +attended mass. "Because you don't give me any tobacco," replied this +hopeful Christian. To him, as to many others, says M. Garnier, going to +church means working for the missionary, just as much as digging in his +garden, and he therefore expects remuneration. The young girls in +regions where there are missions established all wear chaplets, for they +are good Catholics after a fashion, and generally refuse to marry +pagans. This operates to bring the young men under the religious yoke. +Self-interest is their strong motive generally. The missionary makes +them understand the value of his counsel in their tribes. It means their +raising cocoanuts for their oil, flocks of chickens and droves of hogs, +for all of which they can obtain pipes, quantities of tobacco, a gun, +and gaudy-colored cottons. When the chiefs find that their power is +gradually passing from them into the hands of the missionaries, they +only smoke more poisonous tobacco, expose themselves all the more to the +weather through the cheap fragmentary dress they have adopted, and so +the ravages of consumption are accelerated. Pious Christian women, who +have always given freely of their store to missionary causes, begin to +see that the results are not commensurate with their sacrifices--that +their charity, even their personal work among heathens, teaching them to +read and write and study the catechism, to cover their bodies with dress +and to love the arts of civilization, can avail little against the rum, +tobacco and nameless maladies legally or illegally introduced with +Christianity. + +During one of M. Garnier's excursions into the interior he came across +one of the sacred groves where the natives bury their dead, if hanging +them up in trees can be so designated. His guides all refused to +accompany him, fearing to excite the anger of the manes of their +ancestors. He therefore entered the high grove alone. Numerous corpses, +enveloped in carefully-woven mats and then bound in a kind of basket, +were suspended from the branches of the trees. Some of these were +falling in pieces, and the ground was strewn with whitened bones. It +seems strange that this form of burial should be chosen in a country +where at least once a year there occurs a terrible cyclone that destroys +crops, unroofs houses, uproots trees, and often sends these +basket-caskets flying with the cocoanuts through the air. + +In New Caledonia there are no ferocious beasts, and the largest animal +is a very rare bird which the natives call the kagon. When, therefore, +they saw the English eating the meat from beef bones they inferred that +these were the bones of giants, and naïvely inquired how they were +captured and what weapons of war they used. The confidence and +admiration of these children of Nature are easily gained, and under such +circumstances they talk freely and delight in imparting all the +information they possess. Among one of the tribes near Balarde, M. +Garnier noticed a young woman of superior beauty, and made inquiries +about her. This was Iarat, daughter of the chief Oundo. The hornlike +protuberances on her head were two "scarlet flowers, which were very +becoming in her dark hair." + +[Illustration: IARAT, DAUGHTER OF THE CHIEF OUNDO.] + +This poor little woman had a history. It is told in a few words: her +father sold her to the captain of a trading-vessel for a cask of brandy. +The "extenuating circumstances" in this case are that Oundo had been +invited on board the captain's ship, plied with brandy, and when nearly +drunk assented to the shameless bargain. When Oundo became sober he +repented of his act, and the more bitterly because the young girl was +betrothed to the young chief of a neighboring tribe. But he had given +his word, and was as great a moral coward as many of his betters are, +who think that honor may be preserved by dishonor. Nearly every coaster +has a native woman on board--some poor girl of low extraction, or some +orphan left to the mercy of her chief and sold for a hatchet or a few +yards of tawdry calico; but the daughters of chiefs are not thus +delivered over to the lusts of Europeans. The case of Iarat was an +exception. These coasters' wives, if such they may be called, are said +to be very devoted mothers and faithful servants. All day long they may +be seen managing the rudder or cooking in the narrow kitchen on deck. + +The vessel in the service of M. Garnier left him at Balarde, near the +north-eastern extremity of the island, but, having determined to explore +farther north, he applied to Oundo, who furnished him with a native boat +or canoe and two men for the expedition. In this boat were stowed the +camping and exploring apparatus and cooking utensils, and three of his +men, who were too fatigued by late excursions to follow Garnier on foot. +The canoe was not very large, and this freight sunk it very low in the +water; yet as the sea was perfectly calm, no danger was apprehended +until, a slight breeze springing up, a sail was hoisted. The shore-party +continued their course, exploring, digging, breaking minerals, etc., +generally in sight of the canoe, which M. Garnier watched with some +anxiety. Suddenly, Poulone, his faithful native guide, exclaimed, +"Captain, the pirogue sinks!" There was no time to be lost, for one of +the men could not swim at all, and the other two but indifferently. +Fortunately, the trunk of a tree was found near the water, some paddles +were improvised, and this primitive kind of boat was quickly afloat, +with the captain and Poulone on board. The canoe was some rods from the +shore, but the three men were picked up, having been supported meanwhile +by their dark companions. The latter did not swim ashore, but the moment +they were relieved from their charges, and without a word, set about +getting the canoe afloat. As to the cargo, it was all in plain sight, +but more than twenty feet under the limpid water. This was a great +misfortune. Some of the instruments were valuable, and could not be +replaced. If not recovered, the expedition to the north of the island +must be abandoned. In this strait Garnier despatched a messenger back to +Oundo, asking the old chief to come to the rescue with all his tribe. "I +did not count in vain," says he, "upon the generosity of this man, for +very soon I saw him approach, followed by the young people of his +tribe." He listened to the recital of the misfortune with every sign of +sympathy. + +"Oundo," said M. Garnier, "I expect that you will once more show your +well-tried friendship for the French people by rendering me a great +service. Do you think you can recover these things for me?" + +"Oundo will try," replied the chief simply. He then addressed his people +and gave his commands. In a moment, and with a loud cry of approbation +and good-will, they dashed into the water and swam out to the scene of +disaster. + +It is a fine sight to see these natives of Oceanica, the best swimmers +in the world, darting under the water like bronze tritons. They +generally swim beneath the surface, coming up from time to time to +breathe, and shaking the water from their thick curly hair. M. Garnier +followed the natives on the log that had served as a lifeboat, and to +encourage them by example undressed and threw himself into the water. +The work commenced. Twenty or thirty feet is not much of a dive for a +South Sea Islander. Every minute the divers brought up some object with +a shout of triumph. They were in their element, and so spiritedly did +they undertake the task that women, and even the children, dived to the +bottom and constantly brought up some small object. The three guns of +the men, their trappings, the heavy box of zoological specimens, all the +instruments, were brought up in succession. Even the sole cooking-pot of +the expedition and the tin plates were recovered. The work occupied some +six hours. M. Garnier thanked the chief and his brave people, who when +the work was finished returned to their huts as quietly as they came. +And this chief was the man who had sold his daughter for a keg of +brandy! + +Another chief, named Bourarte, the head of a great tribe near Hienguène, +deserves a few words. He was a chief of very superior experience and +intelligence. He had studied civilization diligently, enjoyed the +society of Europeans and knew that his people were barbarians. His story +is a most touching one. He said: "I always loved the English. They +treated me as a chief, and paid me honestly for all they received. One +day I consented to go with them to their great city of Sydney. It was +there that I learned the weakness of my people. I was well received +everywhere, but I longed to return. It was with pleasure that I saw +again our mountains and heard the joyful cries of welcome from my tribe. +About that time your people came. I paid little attention to them at +first, but because one of my men killed a Kanacka who was a protégé of +the missionaries there came a great ship (the Styx) into my port. The +captain sent for me. I went on board without fear, but my confidence was +betrayed. I was made a prisoner and transported to Tahiti. It was six +years before I saw my tribe again: they had already mourned me as dead. +I will tell you what happened in my absence. My people prepared for +vengeance: the French were apprised of the fact. They came again. And as +my people, filled with curiosity, flocked to the shore, the French fired +their cannon into the crowd. My people were frightened and fled into the +woods. Your soldiers landed, and for three days they burned our huts, +destroyed our plantations and cut down our cocoa trees. And all this +time," added the old chief with a heavy sigh, "I was a prisoner at +Tahiti, braiding baskets to gain a little food, and the grief that I +suffered whitened my head before the time." + +[Illustration: A KANACKA FAMILY TRAVELING.] + +After a long pause, during which the old Bourarte seemed lost in +thought, he said, "It is true that my people revenged themselves. They +killed a good many, and among them one of your chiefs. What is most +strange about this war is, that three English colonists, who lived +peacefully among us by their commerce and fishing, were taken by the +French and shot. Another Englishman, Captain Paddon, to whom I had sold +many a cargo of sandal-wood, on learning the fate of his compatriots, +fled on board a little boat with one Kanacka and a few provisions, got +out to sea, and, as I have been told, actually gained the port of +Sydney." This, it seems, is a historical fact. It was a boat without a +deck, and the distance is three hundred and sixty marine miles! + +The result of the exploring mission of M. Garnier was not a discovery of +gold-mines, as so many had hoped. He is of the opinion that gold +deposits are scarce in the island. His report of the natives is on the +whole favorable, and confirms the testimony of missionaries and others, +that they are superior savages, easily civilized and Christianized, but +from some cause or combination of causes fast dying out before the +advance of civilization. In some respects they are less rude than other +South Sea Islanders, but they treat their women in much the same way. M. +Garnier gives us a photograph of a New Caledonia family on the road, the +head of the family, a big, stolid brute apparently, burdened only with +his club, while his wife staggers along under the combined load of +sugar-canes, yams, dried fishes and other provisions. + +A more revolting, but also, happily, a far rarer sight, was that of a +cannibal banquet, of which M. Garnier was a concealed witness. The scene +was a thicket in the wildest portion of the country, and only the chiefs +of the tribe, which had just gained a victory over its enemies, took +part in the feast. A blazing fire threw its bright glare on a dozen +figures seated around huge banana-leaves, on which were spread the +smoking viands of the diabolical repast. A disgusting odor was wafted +toward the spot where our Frenchman and his companions lay perdu, +enchained by a horrible fascination which produced the sensation of +nightmare. Directly in front of them was an old chief with long white +beard and wrinkled skin, who gnawed a head still covered with the singed +hair. Thrusting a pointed stick into the eye-sockets, he contrived to +extract a portion of the brain, afterward placing the skull in the +hottest part of the fire, and thus separating the bones to obtain a +wider aperture. The click of a trigger close to his ear recalled M. +Garnier to his senses, and arresting the arm of his sergeant, who, +excited to indignation, had brought his musket to his shoulder, he +hurried from a scene calculated, beyond all others, to thrill the nerves +and curdle the blood of a civilized spectator. + + + + +AN AMERICAN GIRL AND HER LOVERS. + + +In the spring of 1869 I was induced, for the sake of rest and +recreation, to take charge of a young American girl during a tour in +Europe. This young girl was Miss Helen St. Clair of Detroit, Michigan. +We two were by no means strangers. She had been my pupil since the time +when she was the prettiest little creature that ever wore a scarlet +hood. I have a little picture, scarlet hood and all, that I would not +exchange for the most beautiful one that Greuze ever painted. Not that +her face bore any resemblance to the pictures of Greuze. It had neither +the sweet simplicity of the girl in "The Broken Pitcher," nor the +sentimental graces which he bestows on his court beauties. It was an +exceedingly piquant, animated face, never at rest, always kindling, +flashing, gleaming, whether with sunlight or lightning. Her movements +were quick and darting, like those of a humming-bird. Her enunciation, +though perfectly distinct, was marvelously rapid. The same quickness +characterized her mental operations. Her conclusions, right or wrong, +were always instantaneous. Her prompt decisiveness, her talent for +mimicry and her witchery of grace and beauty won her a devoted following +of school-girls, to whom her tastes and opinions were as authoritative +as ever were those of Eugénie to the ladies of her court. School-girls, +like college-boys, are very apt in nicknames, and Helen's was the +"Little Princess," which her pretty, imperious ways made peculiarly +appropriate. + +I do not know how her parents dared trust her to me for a year beyond +the sea, but they did. We set off in high enthusiasm, and Helen was full +of mirth and laughter till we were fairly on board the steamer in New +York harbor, when she threw herself on her father's breast with a +gesture of utter abandonment that would have made the fortune of a +débutante on any stage in the world. It was so unlooked-for that we all +broke down, and Mr. St. Clair was strongly inclined to take her home +with him. But so sudden was she in all her moods that his foot had +scarcely touched the shore before she was again radiant with +anticipation. + +I will not linger on the pleasant summer travel, the Rhine majesty, the +Alpine glory. September saw us established in the city of cities--Paris. +Everywhere we had met throngs of Americans. Neighbors from over the way +in our own city greeted us warmly in most unexpected places. But we had +not crossed the ocean merely to see our own countrymen. In Paris we were +determined to eschew hotels and pensions and to become the inmates of a +French home. Everybody told us this would be impossible, but I find +nothing so stimulating as the assertion that a thing can't be done. Two +weeks of eager inquiry, and we were received into a family which could +not have been more to our wish if it had been created expressly for us. +It was that of Monsieur Le Fort, a professor in the Medical College, a +handsome elderly man with the bit of red ribbon coveted by Frenchmen in +his buttonhole. Madame Le Fort, a charming, graceful woman midway +between thirty and forty, and a pretty daughter of seventeen, completed +the family. With great satisfaction we took possession of the pretty +rooms, all white and gold, that overlooked the Rond Point des Champs +Élysées. + +My little princess had found a prince in her own country, and, +considering the laws of attraction, his sudden appearance in Paris ought +not to have been a surprise to her. But, to his discomfiture, and even +anger, Helen refused to see him. She had bidden him good-bye at home, +she said; they would not be married for three years, if they ever were: +she was going to devote herself to her music; and she did not wish to +see him here. When he had completed his studies and their engagement was +announced (it was only a mutual understanding now) there would be time +enough to see each other at home. Excellent reasoning! but a fortnight +later a tiny hand slipped between my eyes and the _Figaro_ a little +note on which I read: + +"DEAR FRED: I think I should like to say good-bye again. + +"Yours, HELEN." + +The dark eyes looked half shyly, half coaxingly into mine. + +"Well," said I, "Katrine will mail it for you." + +The next day I saw for the first time Mr. Frederic Denham. He was tall +and slender; with a sallow complexion, rather dull gray eyes and black +hair, by no means handsome, but sufficiently well-looking to please a +friendly eye. In his manners there was a coldness and reserve which +passed for haughtiness. He was said to possess great talents and +ambition, and Helen had the fullest belief in his genius and success. +Not Goethe himself was a greater man in her eyes. + +I had frequent opportunities of seeing them together, for, according to +French ideas, nothing is more improper than to leave a young man and +woman a moment by themselves. Was it my fancy that he seemed too much +absorbed in himself, too little sensible of the rare good-fortune which +made him the favored lover of the beautiful Miss St. Clair? It might be +so, but others shared it. + +"What ails the American?" asked Madame Le Fort. "Is it possible that he +is not in love with that fascinating young creature? Or are all your +countrymen so cold and inanimate? Elle est ravissante, adorable! I +cannot comprehend it." + +"Probably," I replied, "he has too much reserve and delicacy to make a +display of his feelings in the presence strangers." + +But I was not satisfied. The more I watched them, the more I perceived a +lack of deference to her opinions and respect for her judgment--an +irritating assumption of superior wisdom, as if he had worn the visible +inscription, "I will accept homage, but not suggestions. Offer incense +and be content." Would the little princess be content? I saw symptoms of +rebellion. + +"Do _you_ think I am a little fool, Madame Fleming?" she asked with +heightened color and impetuous tone, turning suddenly to me while they +were conversing apart one evening. + +November came, and we were launched on the full tide of Parisian +society. Mr. Denham had gone to Germany to complete certain scientific +studies, and he left his fair betrothed with a parting injunction not to +dance with any foreigner. As well shut her up in a cell! Nowhere is +there such a furore for dancing as in Paris. Every family has its weekly +reception, and every card of invitation bears in the corner, "On +dansera." These receptions are the freest and gayest imaginable. Any +person who has the entrée of the house comes when he feels inclined. +Introductions are not indispensable as with us: any gentleman may ask a +lady to dance with him, whether he has been formally presented or not, +and it would be an affront to decline except for a previous engagement. +The company assemble about ten, and often dance till three or four in +the morning. In any one house we see nearly the same people once a week +for the whole winter, and such frequent companionship gives a feeling of +intimacy. It is surprising how many French men and French women have +some special artistic talent, dramatic or musical, and with what ready +good-humor each contributes to the entertainment of the rest. In every +assembly, with all its sparkle of youth and gayety, there is a +background of mature age; but though a card-room is generally open, it +never seems to draw many from the salons de danse. + +In these salons the little princess entered, at once upon her royalty. +Her dancing was the poetry of motion. She sang, and the most brilliant +men hung over her enraptured. "She was like Adelina Patti," they said, +"but of a more perfect and delicate type of beauty. What wonderful eyes, +with the long thick lashes veiling Oriental depths of liquid light! How +the music trickled from her fingers, and poured from her small throat +like the delicious warble of a nightingale! What a loss to art that her +position precluded her from singing in the opera! Not Malibran or Grisi +ever had triumphs that would equal hers." Eminent painters wished to +make a study of her face. Authors who had received the prizes of the +Academy for grave historical works sent her adulatory verses. "May +I--flirtation--wid you--loavely meess?" asked one of "the immortal +forty," displaying his English. + +It grew rather annoying. I was importuned with questions, such as "Will +you receive proposals of marriage for Miss St. Clair?" "What is her +dowry?" "Are you entrusted to find a husband for her abroad?" I was +tired of answering, "Miss St. Clair will probably marry in her own +country." "Her parents would be very reluctant to consent to any foreign +marriage." "I cannot tell what Mr. St. Clair will give his daughter. It +is not the custom to give dowries with us, as with you." + +One evening we saw at Madame Le Fort's reception a young man so +distinguished in appearance that he was known as "le beau Vergniaud." He +was six feet in height and well made, with abundant chestnut hair, dark +hazel eyes, clearly-cut, regular features, and a complexion needlessly +fine for a man. From that time he was invariably present, not only at +Madame Le Fort's, but wherever we went. + +One day Helen said to me, "I made a silly speech last evening. I was +dancing with M. Vergniaud, and we were talking of that charming Madame +de Launay. I said, 'I should think she might be happy, having an elegant +house in Paris, a château in the country, and such a handsome husband so +devoted to her.' And he rejoined instantly, very low, 'My dear Miss St. +Clair, can I not give you all this?' It was not fair to take advantage +of me in that way." + +"What did you say?" + +"Oh, I laughed it off. I did not think he was in earnest, but he spoke +to me again before he went away." + +That afternoon Madame Le Fort came into my room with the look of one who +has something important to communicate. "I have been wishing to see +you," she said. "M. Vergniaud has taken me into his confidence. He has +formed a serious attachment to Miss St. Clair, and wishes to make her +his wife. It is a splendid alliance," she continued, warming with her +theme: "if he had asked for my daughter I would give her to him +blindfold. He belongs to one of our old families. You should see his +house on the Avenue de Montaigne. Have you never seen him driving with +his superb horses in the Bois de Boulogne? He has an estate with a fine +old château in Touraine, a family inheritance. His character and habits +are unexceptionable too," she added by way of parenthesis. "It is not +often that you find all that in a man of twenty-six. So handsome +besides!" + +"True," said I, "but you forget Mr. Denham." + +"On the contrary, I remember him too well to conceive the possibility of +his being a rival to René Vergniaud." + +"But did you mention him to M. Vergniaud?" + +"Yes, and he was greatly disturbed at first, but when I told him that he +had no expectation of marrying for two or three years to come, he +laughed and said it was of no importance. M. Vergniaud would like to be +married in a few weeks, as is the custom with us, but I suppose it will +take longer to adjust the preliminaries on account of her parents being +across the Atlantic. What dowry has my little jewel?" (The inevitable +question, always put with as much simplicity and directness as if one +were asking the time of day.) + +"I do not know," I replied. "It is so contrary to all our notions. I do +not think there is a man in America who in asking a father for the hand +of his daughter would inquire how much money he was to have with her. It +would be considered an insult." + +"Perhaps Mr. St. Clair would prefer to settle an annuity on his +daughter. Is that the way the thing is managed in your country?" + +"It is not managed at all. A man gives his daughter what he likes, or he +gives her nothing but her bridal outfit. It is never a condition of the +marriage." + +"How strange all that is! One can hardly believe it in France. We set by +a sum of money for Clarice's dowry almost as soon as she was born, and +it would be a hard necessity that could compel us to diminish it by a +single sou. If you would like it, in a couple of days I can give you an +exact inventory of all M. Vergniaud's property and possessions. I could +guarantee that it will not vary twenty napoleons from the fact. We do +everything so systematically here." + +"Thanks! I think it will hardly be necessary. I do not know that Helen +likes him particularly." + +"Nobody admires that little paragon more than I--I should be frantically +in love with her if I were a man--but she had better think twice before +rejecting such a _parti_ as René Vergniaud, especially if she has +no dowry. You will surely not permit her to do so without communicating +with her father? He will understand her interests better." + +"In this case I shall let her do just as she pleases, as her father +would if he were here." + +Madame Le Fort's look of amazed incredulity was truly comical. What +ought I to do? I queried. On the whole, I decided to do the easiest +thing--wait. + +The next day I was honored with a call from M. Vergniaud. He believed +that Madame Le Fort had spoken to me of his profound attachment to the +lovely Miss St. Clair--the most passionate, the most devoted. Might he +hope for my influence with her father and mother? The matter of dowry +was indifferent to him: his income was sufficiently large, and, alas! he +had no parents to consult. Would I favor him with Mr. St. Clair's +address and a few words of introduction to him? He should be under +everlasting obligations to me, and if there was anything he could do to +show his gratitude, his appreciation-- + +I interrupted these protestations: "I doubt if Mr. St. Clair would +consent to any marriage which would separate him from his daughter, +however advantageous it might be in other respects." + +"My dear madame, who asks it? I have no business or profession: we could +easily spend a part of every year in America if it were desirable." + +"That would certainly make it easier, but it will be better to defer +writing till we have some intimation of Miss St. Clair's sentiments. Her +father will be guided chiefly by her inclination." + +"It is a nice country for young girls, America," said he with a smile. +"I shall do all that is possible to win Miss St. Clair's favor, for life +would be worthless without her." And he bowed himself gracefully out. + +Is it possible that Helen will be indifferent to this young Antinous? +thought I. Poor Mr. Denham would have small chance with me if I were in +her place. + +An hour later the concierge sent up to me an exquisite bouquet of +violets and white camellias, with the card of René Vergniaud and a +folded note: "If Madame Fleming does not think it improper, will she be +so kind as to give these flowers to my beautiful queen?" + +M. Vergniaud had asked Madame Le Fort's permission to call on Miss St. +Clair. "Certainly not," she replied. "I am astounded at such +presumption! But you may call to see _me_. To-morrow evening we go +to the opera, and Wednesday to Madame Perier's, and Thursday is my +reception, and Friday we have tickets to _Phèdre_ at the Français. +Saturday, then: it is the first evening we have free." + +We were all assembled in the salon as usual after dinner when M. +Vergniaud was announced. The little princess was radiant. She had never +been merrier in a school-girl frolic or more ready with gibe and jest +and laughter. She sang her best songs, putting her whole soul into +them--"Si tu savais comme je l'aime." René Vergniaud was so dazed that +he came near bidding farewell to his senses for ever. He evidently +thought that all this brilliancy was for him, and was in such a rapture +of delight that he never noticed Madame Le Fort's repeated glances at +the clock, and was only roused by the polite invitation to come +_again_. He was not too disconcerted to make a charming apology, +like a true Parisian, and tore himself away. + +Late as it was, as soon as we were in our own little parlor I could not +forbear saying, "I was surprised at you to-night, Helen. How +_could_ you run on so? Madame Le Turc there, too! and you know the +young French girls never open their lips to say more than 'Oui, +monsieur'--'Non, monsieur,' to a gentleman. What will M. Vergniaud +think?" + +"I don't care what he thinks," flinging herself down on an ottoman with +her head in my lap; "but I _do_ care what you think, Madame +Fleming. Did I behave so very badly? I didn't mean to, but I was +resolved he should not get a chance to talk any nonsense to-night; and +he _did_, after all. I hate being made love to before a whole room +full. I _had_ to laugh or else cry." And the little fairy dissolved +in a shower of tears, like another Undine. + +Another week went by. On Saturday afternoon Helen asked, "Will you be so +kind as to take me to the little Protestant church beyond the Arc +d'Étoile this evening, Madame Fleming? I should like so much to hear +that good M. Bercier." + +"So should I. But you have not forgotten that M. Vergniaud will be +here." + +"I am under no obligation to entertain Madame Le Fort's callers." + +"But you know, Helen, that he comes for your sake. It is well for you to +consider that the future Madame Vergniaud will have in some respects a +more brilliant position than perhaps any man in our country could offer +you." + +"I know all that, and I don't pretend to say that I should not like it. +I am ashamed of being so worldly, but to have a superb establishment and +all this charming Parisian society, and give a grand ball whenever I +liked, would be just paradise. And to have it all in my grasp, and not +be able to take it, is too aggravating. It is so vexatious that the +right man never has the right things." + +We went to church. M. Vergniaud called, but recollected an engagement +which took him away early. Monday evening he dropped in again just after +dinner: "Do not let me derange you in the least, je vous en prie, +madame. I come early because I am engaged to three balls to-night." + +Miss St. Clair could hardly have been more mute and statue-like if she +had been born and bred in France, where in the presence of gentlemen +young girls silently adhere to their brilliant mothers, whose wit and +grace and social tact make the charm of the Parisian salons. Apparently, +the French consider that the combined attractions of youthful faces and +sprightly conversation would be too much for any man, and mercifully +divide the two. And this leaves them helpless before a little American +girl, laughing, talking, jesting, teasing, till, bewildered by such a +phenomenon, they are swept down so easily that one is reminded of +Attila's taunt to the Romans, "The thicker the grass, the quicker it is +mowed." + +This social etiquette was very irksome to my little firefly, who seemed +always opening and shutting her wings. In the course of the evening M. +Vergniaud slipped into her hand, unperceived by any of us, a closed +envelope with the whisper, "Put it in your pocket. Do not let any one +see you." + +She opened it deliberately: "M. Vergniaud is so kind as to give me his +photograph, Madame Fleming. Do you think it a good likeness?" + +The mystery which French people are fond of attaching to harmless +trifles is inconceivable. One evening, in the earlier part of our stay +in Paris, a cousin of Miss St. Clair's, who was in the same hotel with +Mr. Denham, called on us, and when he was taking leave she held out an +unsealed note: "Will you give this to Fred? Don't forget it." + +Madame Le Fort was thunderstruck: "Is it possible? Send a note to a +young gentleman right before Madame Fleming and all of us!" + +"Why," said I, "do young people never write notes to each other in +France?" "Not openly like that--little three-cornered notes to slip +into the hand while dancing." + +"This is the way to fold them," said Clarice, taking up a small sheet of +paper. "You see that will just fit into the hollow of the hand, and +nobody could ever see it." + +"I like our way much better. What is done openly is not half so +mischievous." + +"Nor half so interesting," rejoined Clarice. + +The nimble hours danced on, as they had a trick of doing in Madame Le +Fort's salon. "I am afraid you forget the three balls, M. Vergniaud." + +"How can you be so cruel, mademoiselle? I shall only make my compliments +to the hostess and dance one set at each. I never do more except when I +come here." + +A few days later I asked Helen, "Have you made up your mind what answer +to give M. Vergniaud? He intends to write to your father. He was +speaking to me about it again to-day." + +"I won't have him writing to my father," she replied with her wonted +impetuosity. "I will not have my father worried about nothing. It would +be a month before I could set it right." + +"He seems to be very much in love with you. He says he shall be in +despair, wretched for ever, if you reject him." + +"So they all say. I don't believe a word of it, and I can't help it if +they are. I can't marry more than one of them, and I don't believe I +shall ever marry anybody. I won't be persecuted to death." + +The little princess was irritated. Something had evidently gone wrong. +It soon came out: "I had a letter from Fred this morning--a very +disagreeable letter." + +"Indeed! You have not yet answered it, I suppose." + +"No: he will have to write differently from that before he gets any +answer from me. I am not going to be lessoned and scolded as if I were a +little girl. Father never does it, and I will not submit to it from +_him_" After a pause: "He is not so much to blame. It is that +odious Mr. Wilkins, who keeps writing to him how much attention I +receive, and all that. As if I could help it! Poor old Fred! We have +known each other ever since we were children." + +That explains it, I thought. "Helen, if you have decided to say no to M. +Vergniaud, the sooner you say it the better." + +"I have said it, and he doesn't mind it in the least. I wish you would +tell him: you always speak so that people know you are in earnest and +can't help believing you." + +"Very well, Helen. I will ask Madame Le Fort to tell him that his suit +is hopeless, and that he must not annoy you by persisting in it." + +Early in February the Belgian ambassador, M. le comte de Beyens, and +Madame la comtesse, kindly took charge of Miss St. Clair to the imperial +ball at the Tuileries. She had never looked more charming than in the +exquisite costume of pale rose-colored faille, with a floating mist of +white tulle, caught here and there by rosebuds that might have grown in +Chrimhild's garden. The airy figure, so graceful in every motion, the +well-poised head with its flutter of shining curls, the wonderful dark +eyes, the perfect eyebrows, the delicious little mouth where love seemed +to nestle--when she had vanished "it seemed like the ceasing of +exquisite music." Madame la comtesse congratulated me on her appearance, +and afterward on her success. The emperor had distinguished her in a +very flattering manner, and Eugénie, looking earnestly at her, said to +the comtesse, "Nothing is so beautiful as youth," perhaps beginning to +regret her own. No one had made so decided a sensation. + +At Madame Le Fort's next reception there was a sudden influx of new +guests--a young Belgian baron of old historic name, slim and stiff as a +poker; a brisk French viscount, who told me that he had been connected +with the embassy at Washington, and had quite fallen in love with our +institutions; an Italian chevalier, a Russian prince. + +Ugliness has its compensations, thought I. Nobody makes such a fuss over +a pretty girl at home (they are not so uncommon), and I will never bring +one to Paris again. Thank Heaven! we are going to Italy soon. + + * * * * * + +The piercing Tramontane came down upon us in the Bay of Naples with so +fierce a blast that we doubted if we were not in Iceland, and were glad +to make our escape to Rome, where we found an asylum in the Hôtel de +Minerve, not far from the Pantheon. Many of the old palaces and convents +of Italy have been transformed into hotels. This was the ancient palace +of the princes of Conti. I was so captivated by the superb dining-room +that the quality of the dinners made but a faint impression. What! eat +in the presence of all those marble goddesses, looking down upon us, +serene and cold, as if from their thrones on the starry Olympus! Or if I +turned my eyes resolutely away from Juno, Ceres and Minerva, they were +sure to be snared by the dancing-girls of Pompeii stepping out from the +frescoed walls, or inextricably entangled in the lovely garlands of +fruit and flowers that wound their mazy way along the borders. + +One evening, while we were waiting for one of the endless courses of a +table-d'hôte dinner, my wandering eyes were caught by the most perfect +human head I had ever seen. It seemed that of the youthful Lord Byron, +so well known in busts and engravings--the same small head with high +forehead and clustering dark-brown curls, the perfectly-moulded chin, +the full, ripe beauty of the lips. The eyes were a deep blue, but I +thought them black at first, they were so darkly shaded by the thick +black lashes. I am convinced that Byron must have had just such eyes, +for some of his biographers describe them as black and others as blue. +When he rose from the table I saw a slight, well-knit figure of +exquisite proportions, like the Greek god of love. (Not Cupid with his +vulgar arrows, but the true heavenly Eros. I saw him once in the Museum +at Naples, and again in the Vatican. Is it Love, or Death, or +Immortality? I queried, and then I knew it was the three in one.) I soon +learned that the youth whose ideal beauty had impressed me so strongly +was the Count Francisco de Alvala of Toledo in Spain. I fancy that his +eyes were as easily attracted to beauty as mine, for the next day he was +my _vis-à -vis_ at table; not for the sake of looking at me, I was +well aware, but on account of my beautiful neighbor. However, he sought +my acquaintance with the grave courtesy becoming a grandee of Spain, and +naturally gained that of Miss St. Clair also. + +It is the most natural thing in the world to make acquaintances in Rome. +People talk together of the things they have seen or wish to see: they +go to the same places by day, and in the evening they meet in the +ladies' parlor to compare their impressions. The young count never +failed to join us in the evening. He had always something to show +us--prints of his home in Spain, articles of _virtù_ that he had +bought, sketches that he had made, for he was a good amateur artist. + +A group of young people of different nations generally collected on +these occasions, and the conversation often turned on the usages +peculiar to their respective countries. + +"In Spain I could not greet a lady with a simple good-evening," said the +count. "I should say, 'Permit the humblest of your servants to lay +himself at your feet,' or something like that." + +"Why do you not say it to us?" asked a bright-eyed Canadian girl. + +"Well, it might be a little awkward if you should happen to take it +literally. In Spain it is the merest commonplace." + +"If such exaggerated phrases are frittered into commonplaces, and the +most impassioned words grow meaningless, what can a Spanish gentleman +find to say when his heart is really touched?" I inquired. + +"I fancy we should find some very simple words to say it in," said the +boy, flushing like a girl. "But I do not know--I have never learned." + +"Talk some more," commanded the little princess. + +"If a pretty young lady is walking in our streets a mantle is often +flung suddenly in her way, and proud and happy is its owner if she +deigns to set her dainty foot upon it." + +"What do they do that for? Because the streets are so muddy?" inquired +an obtuse young woman. But nobody volunteered to enlighten her. + +"Cannot we go to Spain?" asked Miss St. Clair. "I should like to see a +modern Sir Walter Raleigh." + +"If the señorita should appear in our streets they would be strewn with +mantles," said the young count gallantly. + +"Would you throw down yours for me to step upon?" + +"Surely, señorita." + +"I'll come, then. It must be of velvet, mind." + +"Yes, studded with jewels." + +I loved the beautiful youth. His presence was like a poem in my life, +and if it ever occurred to me that the familiar intercourse of the young +people might not be altogether prudent, I dismissed it with the thought, +He is only a boy. + +There was to be an illumination of the Coliseum. We were going of +course, and Count Alvala begged that I would honor him by making use of +his carriage on this occasion. "Thank you, but I have already spoken to +Piero to come for us." + +"Oh, but we can send him away. You will find my carriage more +comfortable, and it will be in every way pleasanter," he urged +beseechingly; but my negative was peremptory. + +Eight o'clock came. Miss St. Clair and I descended to the court of the +hotel, but where was Piero? "It is singular. He was never late before, +but I am confident that he will be here presently. We have only to wait +a little." + +The minutes went by, and they were long minutes. It was awkward waiting +in so public a place. The count had joined us with his friend, an +Italian marquis some thirty years of age, with whom we had a slight +acquaintance. The count's handsome equipage was drawn up near us. There +was no Piero. + +"I really think you had better accept my young friend's carriage. It +would be a pity to miss so grand a spectacle," said the marquis. + +We entered the carriage. The count wrapped us in a magnificent feather +robe, such as the Montezumas wore, for the April nights in Rome are +chill, however hot the sunshine. It was strange to see the Forum, +ordinarily solitary and desolate, now thronged with an eager multitude +on foot and with numerous open carriages, in which were seated ladies in +full dress as at the opera with us. Arriving at the Coliseum, we left +the carriage and passed through the huge portal. The gloomy arches were +obscurely seen in the dusky Roman twilight, when suddenly, as if by +magic, every arch and crevice of the gigantic ruin glowed, incarnadined, +as if dyed with the blood of the martyrs that had drenched its soil. +There were salvos of artillery, bursts of military music and a few vivas +from the multitude. A brilliant spectacle, but the tender beauty of +moonlight harmonizes better with the solemnity of ruins. + +Rapt in the memories that the scene awakened, I paid little attention to +the monologue of my Italian friend, when I was suddenly roused by the +question, "Did you ever see a prettier couple?" + +"Who?" I asked absently. + +"There," he rejoined, pointing to the count and Miss St. Clair, who +preceded us. + +"He is too young," I replied, but the question was asked so +significantly that it disturbed me a little, and I resolved to be more +cautious than heretofore. + +The next morning Piero appeared with his carriage to take us to the +Baths of Caracalla. He hoped madame did not lose the illumination. He +was wretched to disappoint madame: he begged a thousand pardons. His +little boy was taken violently ill: he was forced to go for the doctor; +madame was so good. + +The truth flashed upon me: "Piero, how much did the count give you to +stay away last night?" + +A gleam of humor twinkled in his black eyes, but it was speedily +quenched: "I do not understand what madame wishes to say." + +It happened that a friend and country-woman at our hotel was taken ill +with typhoid fever, and amid the anxieties of her sick room the +incipient love-affair was almost forgotten. I no longer spent the +evenings in the parlor. One day Miss St. Clair showed me a tiny satin +bag beautifully embroidered, with a soft silken chain to pass around the +neck. "What can it be for?" she asked. + +"Why, Helen, it is an amulet. Where did you get it?" + +"The count gave it to me. He had the loveliest set of Byzantine mosaics +and pearls which he wished to give me; and when I would not accept them +he seemed so hurt that I did not like to refuse this trifle. What do you +suppose is in it." + +"A relic of some saint, without doubt. He thinks it will protect you +from fever perhaps." + +Like most Americans, we were desirous of seeing the pope, and Count +Alvala obtained for us the necessary permission. We were to be received +on a Saturday at eleven. We went in the prescribed costume, black silk, +with the picturesque Roman veil thrown over the head. From the foot of +the Scala Regia, (Royal Staircase) one of the papal guard, in a motley +suit which seemed one glare of black and yellow, escorted us to the door +of a long corridor, known as the Loggia of Raphael, where we were +received by a higher official in rich array of crimson velvet. About +seventy persons were seated in rows, facing each other, along this +gallery, nearly all laden with rosaries to be blessed by the Holy +Father. We waited till my neck ached with looking up at the exquisite +frescoes, fresh and tender in coloring as if new from the hand of the +master, when the pope appeared, attended by a cardinal on each hand. We +fell on our knees instantly, but not till I had seen an old man's face +so sweet and venerable as to make this act of etiquette a spontaneous +homage. He passed slowly down the line, saying a word or two to each, +and extending his hand, white and soft like a woman's, to be kissed. + +Pausing by the young count, who was kneeling beside me, he said +impressively, "Courage and faith have always been attributes of the +house of Alvala. Your fathers were good children of the Church, and you, +my son, will not be wanting in any of the qualities of your race." + +When he had passed us we rose from our knees, and I could observe him +more closely. He wore a close-fitting white cap on his finely-shaped +head; a long robe of white woolen cloth buttoned up in front, with a +small cape of the same material; a white sash, gold-embroidered at the +end; a long gold chain around his neck, to which was attached a large +golden cross; a seal ring on the third finger of his right hand; and red +slippers. Soft snowy locks fell from under the white skull-cap over a +noble forehead, which years and trials had left unwrinkled. Black +eyebrows and the soft dark eyes made a pleasant contrast to the +whiteness of hair and brow, and his smile was so sweet and winning that +I scarcely wondered to see two Catholic ladies prostrate themselves and +kiss his feet and the hem of his white garment with a rapture of +devotion from which his attendants with difficulty rescued him. He +lingered longest by a pretty boy four or five years old, and there was a +pathos in the caressing, clinging touch of his hand as it rested on the +child's head that called to mind an old love-story of the handsome Count +Mastai Ferretti when he wore the uniform of an officer of the guards, +and had not yet thought of priestly robe or papal crown. I wonder if he +remembers the fair English girl now? + +Having completed the round, he made a brief address, the purport of +which was that he was about to give us his blessing, and he wished that +it might be diffused to all our families and friends, and be not for the +present moment only, but extend through our whole lives and abide with +us in the hour of death; "But remember," said he with a kind of paternal +benignity, "that the gates of paradise open rarely to any who are +without the communion of the Holy Catholic Church. Sometimes +perhaps--sometimes--but with great difficulty." He extended his hands. +We dropped on our knees and received the blessing of this benign old +man, whom the larger part of Christendom revere as the earthly head of +the Church. As we were making our way through the stately columns of +the colonnade which forms the approach to the Vatican I saw the count +glance at the amulet which Helen wore. "What is in it?" I asked. + +"A relic of the blessed Saint Francis, my patron," he replied. + +"It will lose its efficacy on the neck of a little heretic like Miss St. +Clair," said I with a purpose. + +"It will do her no harm," said he coldly. + +Monday I was at the table d'hôte the first time for a week. I found the +count seated next to Miss St. Clair. It was very simple, she explained +to me afterward. A lady occupied his seat one day, and he came round to +the only vacant one, which happened to be next hers. I am a very +guileless person, but I think Vincenzo had an excellent reason for +letting it happen. Helen was on my left hand as usual, and the Italian +marquis on my right. + +"I am sorry for that boy," said he to me: "he is very unhappy." + +"The young count? What is the matter?" + +"Don't you see? He is madly in love with your bewitching little +American. It is his first impression, and he takes it hard. Well, he +will have to learn like the rest of us." + +"I hope you are mistaken;" and I glanced uneasily at my young neighbors, +who were too much absorbed in their own conversation to heed that +between the marquis and myself. + +"That is impossible. He raves to me about her. It is very pretty too--a +perfect idyl, all poetry and romance--eternal, unchangeable, and all +that boyish nonsense. We older men know better. But monsignore will be +here soon, and he will look after him." + +"Who is monsignore?" + +"The archbishop of Toledo, his guardian. He has been here, but some +diocesan matter called him home. He will be back anon, and then the +count will dine at home. As to that, he does now, and delicious dinners +they are, too. He only makes a pretence of eating here, just to have a +chance to see his little divinity." + +"He was here when we came." + +"True, but only for a day or two while his house was put in order. The +house is well worth seeing--one of the finest on the Corso. It is not +open to strangers, but if you would like to see it--" + +"Certainly not," I interrupted, a little irritably, the more so from the +consciousness of having been a somewhat careless chaperone. I was coming +sharply up to the line of duty now, at all events. + +"Helen," said I when we rose from the dinner-table, "do not go into the +parlor now. Come into my room a little while, please.--Well, Helen," I +resumed when we were seated by the pleasant window, "I have seen so +little of you for a week past that you must have a great deal to tell +me." + +"I do not know," she replied. "I have been out every day with the +Glenns, just as you arranged for me, and I have been in the parlor in +the evenings, and sometimes I sang, and one night there was a French +gentleman--" + +"How about the young count? The Italian says he is very much in love +with you. Do you know it?" + +"He has told me so often enough, if that is knowing it," with a quick, +impatient toss of the small, graceful head. + +"Oh, Helen!" I cried in real distress, "and what did you say to him?" + +"Why, what _could_ I say in that great parlor, with everybody +looking on? I just hushed him up as well as I could. There is the tall +English girl and that sharp-eyed Miss Donaldson, who are watching us the +whole time. It is real mean in them," excitedly. "And the count doesn't +mind letting everybody know how much he admires me. In fact, he is proud +of it, like one of the old knights, who used to wear their ladies' +favors as openly and proudly as they bore their knightly banners." + +"This will never do, Helen. Don't you see that this boy is not like the +gay Frenchman that you danced with last winter? René Vergniaud was a man +of the world: he could take care of himself. But this beautiful boy, +with his intensity of feeling, his ideal passionate love--You must not +play with him," I exclaimed vehemently. + +"I am not playing with him: I never do anything to make him like me. He +comes and talks to me, and I just make myself as agreeable to him as I +can, that is all." + +That is all, is it, you little mischief? thought I. As if that were not +the very refinement of coquetry! But I prudently refrained from saying +it, for a tempest of hot tears began to fall, and she sobbed, "Oh, +Madame Fleming, I did not think I was going to forfeit your good +opinion. What can I do? I can't help his liking me. I like him too, and +that makes me feel so badly." + +"Do you like him better than Mr. Denham?" + +"Better than Fred?" in a tone of surprise. "Why no, of course not: I +have known Fred always." + +"The best thing will be to tell him of Mr. Denham." + +"Oh no, I never can." + +"_I_ will, then." + +"Don't, I beseech you. We shall go away soon, and that will be the end +of it. Promise me you will not. I would rather tell him myself if I ever +have a chance." + +I looked in to see my invalid friend, and then descended to the parlor, +where I found the young count almost alone. He looked up eagerly as I +entered: "I thought Miss St. Clair was with you. I have been waiting for +her all the evening." + +"Indeed!" + +"I told her at table that I wished to see her particularly this +evening." + +"Perhaps she did not understand you." + +"Oh yes, she did. You would not let her come?" with a sudden lighting up +of the expressive face. + +"I did not forbid her coming: I did not know that you were waiting for +her." + +Then with sudden boyish candor and a happy smile on his animated +countenance "I thought you might have observed that I come here so often +because I like to talk with Miss St. Clair. But you never can know how +dearly I love her." + +"I am sorry." + +"Why?" with a naïve surprise. + +"She is older than you." + +"How old is she?" + +"She will be twenty in May." + +"And I am nineteen this very week. What is one poor little year?--not a +year," gleefully. + +"But the difference in religion?" + +"An obstacle, I grant, but not an insuperable one. My uncle married an +English lady, a Protestant, and they have been very happy together." + +"But I think there is another man," I stammered, surprised at finding my +outposts carried so easily. + +"You do not mean to say that she is compromised with any man?" almost +fiercely. + +"I do not know what meaning you attach to that word," for the count's +imperfect French was not always intelligible. "There is a young man, the +son of a neighbor, who has admired her a long time." + +"Oh, he admires her?" with a curl of the exquisite lips, as if to say, +"Who does not?" + +"But I think she may like him a little." + +"Why do you torture me so? Tell me at once that they are betrothed," +cried he, pale with concentrated anger. + +He thought she had trifled with him, I knew instantly, but quietly said, +"I cannot tell you exactly in what relation they stand to each other, +but I think Miss St. Clair would if she found an opportunity to speak +with you." + +"You do not know how I have tried to make opportunities. I go +everywhere, hoping to see you, and I have never met you--not once. Won't +you ask her to come down to-night?" coaxingly, like a child. + +"Not to-night: it is too late." + +"I _must_ see Miss St. Clair to-night." + +"Impossible." + +"I _must_ see Miss St. Clair. Find out for me when I can see her. I +will go with you," in a white heat of passion. (We had been alone for +some little time.) + +I took the arm which he held out, not a little agitated by the excess of +emotion which thrilled and quivered through his youthful frame, as he +hurried me up the broad stone staircase and along the wide corridors +that led to our rooms. What business had I to meddle? How should an old +fogy like me know anything of the love-affairs of this generation? The +girl would have managed more wisely than I, I reflected, by no means +jubilant over the result. + +"Wait here;" and I walked on to Miss St. Clair's door, opened it, and +there sat Helen in her pretty white wrapper, bathed in the moonlight, +serene as a star, as if there were no passionate young heart breaking in +waves of anguish at her feet. "Helen, the count is in the corridor, and +he will not go till I have told him when you will see him." + +"How can I? You must think for me." + +A hasty consultation. The count was standing where I had left him: "We +shall be at the Sistine Chapel to-morrow at two o'clock." + +He bowed and was gone. + +I did not sleep well that night. A pretty person I am to take charge of +a young girl! I wonder what Mr. St. Clair would think if he knew I had +made an appointment for his daughter to meet a young Spaniard? On the +way, however, I admonished Helen, as if no misgiving of my own wisdom +had ever crossed my mind: "You must be firm with him. Tell him so +decidedly that he cannot doubt you really mean it." + +"Yes," said she, "but I do dread it so. I can't bear his thinking that I +encouraged him." + +"Then you _did_?" + +"I didn't mean to, but I do like him; and I didn't think of his taking +it so to heart. Men are so strange! You think you have a charming +friend, and then they _will_ go on just so, boys and all, and you +have to take them or lose them; and you can't take them. It is too bad!" + +We were at the door. The keeper opened it, and there stood the count +waiting for us. It was not the first time we had been in the wonderful +chapel. Fortunately, there were very few persons there on this +afternoon--none that we knew. I sat down to look at the grand frescoes: +Helen and the count walked on to the farthest corner. I looked at the +Cumæan Sibyl, the impersonation of age and wisdom, and wished, as I +glanced at the youthful figures talking so earnestly in the distance, +but not a murmur of whose voices reached my ear, that she would impart +to me her far-reaching vision of futurity. I gazed on the image of the +Eternal Father sweeping in majestic flight through the air, bearing the +angels on His floating garment as He divides the light from the +darkness. I saw Adam, glad with new life, rising from the earth, because +the outstretched finger of his Creator gave him a conscious strength. I +looked at "The Last Judgment," grown dim with years, till every figure +started out in intensity of life, and it seemed as if the faces would +haunt me for ever. + +And yonder still progressed the old, ever-new drama of love and anguish, +with its two actors, who seemed scarcely to have changed their position +or taken their eyes from each other. At length they walked slowly toward +me with more serenity of aspect than I had dared to hope. + +"Shall we go into the picture-gallery?" asked the count. + +"I think we may have time to walk through it," I answered. "It is +half-past three." + +"Is it possible that we have kept you waiting so long?" they asked +simultaneously. + +"An hour and a half is a short time in a place like the Sistine Chapel," +I remarked sententiously. + +As soon as we were alone I drew Helen to the confessional: "Did you tell +him about Mr. Denham?" + +"Yes, everything, and he was so noble. I am so sorry. The tears stood in +his eyes, and he said, 'I suffer, but I am a man. I can bear it.' Then +he thanked me for dealing so openly with him. He never once hinted a +reproach. And I deserved it," she said with unwonted humility. "I never +felt before how wicked it is to flirt just a little. He is not selfish, +like some people that I know;" and my thought followed hers. "I don't +know but I am a little goose to let him go so. If he were only +twenty-three years old, and I were free--" + +The next day we saw nothing of the count, but early Thursday morning +Vincenzo knocked at my door with a note, in which Count Alvala informed +me that he was my son, and begged earnestly to see the beautiful Miss +St. Clair once more: he would never trouble me again. It was the only +day on which we could see the Palace of the Cæsars, and would I be so +good as to permit him to meet us there? I hastily penciled a few words: +"I am waiting for Dr. Valery. I shall probably stay with my sick friend +to-day, and Miss St. Clair will not go out without me," and sent the +line by Vincenzo, happy to be rid of the importunate boy for this time. + +Two hours later, when the doctor had pronounced my friend better, and I +had promised Helen a walk amid the ruins of the Palatine, which I did +not like to leave Rome without seeing, I went down to the roll, coffee +and eggs which constitute an Italian breakfast, and there sat the count +as vigilant as a sentinel. "You will go?" said he with a smile. + +"I think we may," curtly. + +"I shall perhaps meet you there." + +When we reached the Farnese gate he was waiting there, which made the +"perhaps" superfluous. We had a long ramble over the lonely hill, +stretching out like a green New England pasture, but where from time to +time we came unexpectedly upon flights of steps which led to massive +substructures of stone, foundations of ancient palaces, and to excavated +halls paved with mosaics and lined with frescoes more beautiful than +those of Pompeii. There were many statues, more or less mutilated, and +stately brick arches laden with a wealth of flowering shrubs, and here +and there thickets of tall dark cypress trees, harmonious with ruins. My +young companions were rather silent, but I fancy their thoughts were not +engrossed with old historic lore. I made a conscientious effort to force +mine into the ruts of association which I had supposed to be inevitable +in such a spot, but the bright sunshine, the delicate blue of the +distant Campagna, the living gladness of earth and air were too strong +for me, and I inwardly applauded a lively American girl who interrupted +her droning guide with the incisive "I don't care a snap for Cæsar." + +On reaching the gate after our three hours' ramble I consigned Miss St. +Clair to some friends who were waiting for her, and stepped into the +count's carriage. He seemed to feel bound in honor not to speak of love +to Miss St. Clair since the revelation of the Sistine Chapel, but he +must have a little solace in talking to me about it. "It would be easy," +said he, "if she were not _fiancée_, but that makes it difficult--very +difficult indeed. I am glad it is not going to be for three years: that +is a long time, a very long time." Then, with a sudden illumination of +face and a delicious intonation of the musical voice, "Perhaps they will +never marry: perhaps it will be another man--I." (Blessed infatuation of +youth, with its wonderful _perhapses_, which never come to maturer +years!) + +"One of these years I shall hope to hear that you are married to a +beautiful lady of your own country and your own religion." + +"You never will." + +"Oh yes, you will be astonished to find how easy it is to forget." + +"I come of a constant race," said he proudly. "My father loved my +mother, and they sent him all over the world to forget her, but he came +home in five years and married her." + +"Even if it were otherwise possible (which it is not), the difference in +religion ought to prevent it. How could so good a Catholic as you +distress your family by marrying a heretic?" + +"Perhaps she would be a Catholic." (I noticed that he did not say, +"Perhaps I shall become a Protestant.") "Don't you think her father +would let her marry a Catholic?" + +"No," I replied stoically. + +He was silent and dejected. + +"You must forget her," said I kindly. "It is only a little while since +you first saw her." + +"A little while! It is my whole life!" "Only a few weeks," I continued. +"We shall soon be across the ocean, and you will see other ladies." + +"There is only one Miss St. Clair." + +"I beg your pardon--there are three of them." But the boy was too +miserable to notice this poor little sally. + +We were approaching the hotel. "I shall not see you again at present," +said he. "Monsignore will arrive this evening, and I must be at home to +receive him. But I shall be in Paris by the middle of May, and I shall +see you there: farewell till then." + +The next morning Miss St. Clair and I were on our way to Florence. A +week later, on our return from the convent of San Marco, where we had +seen the cell of Savonarola and many lovely but faded frescoes of Fra +Angelico and Fra Bartolommeo, whom should we find waiting for us in our +temporary home on the Via Pandolfini but Count Alvala? I felt annoyed, +and my face must have revealed it, for he said deprecatingly, "You ought +to be glad to see your boy, Madame Fleming, for I have come this long +journey only for a day, expressly to see you." + +"Well," said I, "you took me so by surprise that I had not my welcome +ready. I did not expect the pleasure of seeing you till after our +arrival in Paris." + +"That is why I am here. I shall not be able to go to Paris. I am +bitterly disappointed, but monsignore has made other plans for me. I am +to go to Vienna to visit my aunt, whose husband is our ambassador there. +The tour to Paris is postponed till the autumn." + +Evidently monsignore had heard of the little heretic maiden, and he was +going to remove his ward from temptation. I was infinitely obliged to +him. + +A desultory conversation followed, carried on principally by the young +people, and then the count said, "Miss St. Clair tells me that you have +visited the Uffizi and Pitti galleries. May I not go with you somewhere +to-morrow?--to La Certose or San Miniato, for instance?" + +"Thank you," I replied: "we are so exhausted with sight-seeing, Miss St. +Clair and I, that we shall stay in all day to-morrow, and we shall be +happy to see you _once_ in the afternoon or evening, as may be most +convenient for you." + +I did not like to be hard and cross to the dear boy whom my heart +yearned over, but I felt as much bound to "make an effort" as if I had +been a veritable Dombey. + +The call lasted afternoon _and_ evening: it was only the change of +a particle. I could not reproduce the innocent talk, half gay, half sad, +of this long interview, but before he went away the count drew me aside: +"Will you give this to Miss St. Clair when I am gone?" + +I unfolded the package: it contained a photograph of himself and a small +painting which he had executed of the Coliseum on the night of the +illumination. "Yes." + +"And will you send me her photograph from Paris? I will have it copied +by the best miniature-painter in Rome and put in a locket set with +diamonds," said the boy enthusiastically. + +"I cannot promise." + +"Do you think I could be of any use to her father? Not to win his favor, +you understand, but I should be so happy to do anything to serve her or +her friends. Can't you tell me now?" + +"No. Mr. St. Clair does not need assistance in any way that I know." + +In spite of the boy's earnestness, the idea of his offering patronage to +the mature and independent American struck me as irresistibly ludicrous. + +"But you will tell him all about me." + +"Yes." + +"I shall learn to speak English--I have begun already--and in a year I +shall be in America. Will you write your address for me on this card?" + +I did so. + +"If you ever come to Spain, remember that my house and all that is in it +are yours." + +"I shall never go to Spain." + +"Perhaps you will one day to see Miss St. Clair," looking up in my face +with a bright smile of inextinguishable hope. "Good-bye for a year." + +A few more days in Florence, a week in Venice, a day or two in Milan, +and we bade adieu to Italy. Land of beauty and mystery! when I recall +thy many forms of loveliness, the glorious shapes of gods and heroes, +serene and passionless in their white majesty of marble, the blessed +sweetness of saints and Madonnas shining down into my soul, I seem to +have been once in heaven and afterward shut out. + + * * * * * + +We were once more at home. Almost the first news that came to us from +abroad was of the terrible war between France and Germany. During the +protracted siege of Paris we were full of anxieties, but at its close we +received long letters from Madame Le Fort, giving many details of the +sufferings and privations of the siege, sorrowful enough for the most +part, but enlivened here and there with touches of the gay French humor +that nothing can subdue. There was a lively sketch of a Christmas dinner +ingeniously got up of several courses of donkey-meat. At New Year's the +choicest gift that a gentleman could make a lady was a piece of wheaten +bread. Afterward there was nothing in the house but rice and chocolate +bonbons, which they chewed sparingly, a little at a time. But they kept +up their courage--they were even gay. Hardships were nothing, but that +Paris should be surrendered at last--that was a humiliation which +nothing could compensate. Many of the gay dancers whom we had known had +fallen in battle, among them, René Vergniaud. He was shot in the heart +in an engagement with the Prussians in the environs of Paris. + +I spent my next summer vacation with Miss St. Clair in Detroit. + +"When is Mr. Denham coming home?" I asked one evening when we were alone +together. + +"I do not know: he does not speak of coming home. I am a little puzzled +about Fred. He has written me a great deal lately about a certain +Fräulein Teresa, the daughter of one of his professors, who takes such +excellent care of her younger brothers and sisters, and who is such a +wonderfully economical, housewifely little body--just a new edition of +Werther's Charlotte. I do not think that he really likes her," she +continued after musing a little: "he just holds her up as a model for me +to copy. I shouldn't wonder if she was only imaginary, to make me feel +how far I come short of his ideal. Fred says that he worships the very +ground I tread on--slightly hyperbolical and very original, you +perceive," with a satirical curve of her pretty lips--"but he never +seems half satisfied with me. He ought to know by this time that I must +be just my own little self, and not a second-hand imitation of somebody +else." + +The next day came a letter with a German postmark, which was so eloquent +on the subject of Fräulein Teresa that it elicited the following reply: + + "DETROIT, August 5, 1871. + + "DEAR FRED: I despair of emulating Fräulein Teresa's many + excellencies. You know what a useless little thing I am. Happily, it + is not too late to make another choice. Thinking it may please you, + I hereby release you from all your promises to me. We may never be + anything more to each other perhaps, but I hope that we shall always + be dear friends. I shall never forget that we grew up together, and + I wish you all possible happiness. + + "Your little friend, HELEN." + +In due time this answer came: + + "HEIDELBERG, August 27, 1871. + + "MISS ST. CLAIR: Your somewhat singular letter of August 5th was + duly received. If I believed that you had written it, or ever could + or would do anything, with proper deliberation, I should accept + your decision at once. But as I have good reason to know your habit + of acting from sudden impulses which you afterward regret, I give + you three months to reconsider this hasty step. + + "I have the honor to be your obedient servant, + + "F. A. DENHAM." + +Helen held to me the open sheet, with kindling eyes and glowing cheeks: +"Three months! I don't need three minutes: I wouldn't change in three +centuries. I am so glad to be free!" she cried, sobbing and laughing at +the same moment. "He has worried me so--a poor little thing like me!" + +The next morning I started on my return to Boston. + +Early in October a servant handed me a card bearing the name Francisco +Alvala. I had ceased to think of the boy, not having heard a word from +him; but here he was, looking very manly, browned with the sun and sea, +and beautiful as Endymion when Diana stooped to kiss him and all the +green leaves in the white moonshine were tremulous with sympathy. + +After the first greeting he asked, "How is Miss St. Clair? and when did +you see her last?" + +I told him of my recent visit. + +"She is not married, then?" + +"On the contrary, she is free. The engagement with Mr. Denham has been +broken." + +"What did I tell you? Did I not say it would be _I_?" in a burst of +triumph. + +As a good Boston woman I am chagrined to record that Bunker Hill and all +the local lions, which I was at some pains to impress on his memory, did +not prove so attractive as the earliest Western train. + +Why make a long story of what every one foresees? In the course of the +autumn and winter the count made flying visits to Washington, +Philadelphia, New Orleans, and even San Francisco, but it was noticeable +that the way to all these places lay through Detroit. He spoke English +marvelously well now, and so won upon the hearts of Mr. and Mrs. St. +Clair that on the 23d of April, being his twenty-first birthday, the +marriage of the conde de Alvala and Helen St. Clair was duly celebrated. +I could not leave my school to be present at the wedding, but the young +couple came to Boston to take leave of me before sailing for Europe. +They were radiant with happiness, and I could hardly tell which I loved +best, my boy or my girl; but if the Italian had been there to ask if I +ever saw a more beautiful couple, I should have answered no with great +emphasis. + +I will copy Helen's first letter in order to prove that a château en +Espagne is not always a castle in the air: + + "ALVALA, near Toledo, June 20, 1872. + + "DEAR MADAME FLEMING: You have heard from mother of our voyage and + safe arrival. We are now at home, Francisco and I, if I can ever + learn to feel at home in such a grand place, where I can hardly + find my way round. It is like one of the old palaces at Rome, the + Borghese or Colonna, that we used to admire so much, with vast + halls opening into one another, hangings of tapestry and Cordovan + leather, marble statues and old paintings--family portraits by + Titian and Velasquez, one or two Murillos, and--but I cannot write + a catalogue. You must come to see us and the pictures. I am not + sure which you will like the best. Francisco is very good to me, + and so are all his friends. His sister and her husband were here to + welcome us. + + "One of the first things we did was to go down the rose-tree walk, + along the banks of the Tagus, for more than a mile--white and + delicate pink and deep-red roses blossoming above our heads and + dropping their petals at our feet all the way. Francisco said he + would make my life like that walk among the roses, all sweetness + and beauty, but that he cannot tell. + + "There is the old cathedral, with a wonderful head of Saint Francis + and a whole forest of columns; and when you come we will bribe the + sacristan not to lock you in, as they did at St. Roch. I shall + never be a Roman Catholic, but I go to mass sometimes, for there is + no Protestant service here, and one cannot be quite a heathen where + everybody is so devout. What I dislike most is to have a chaplain + in the house, walking about in his black petticoat, but of course I + never say a word to Francisco. + + "By and by we are going to our house in Madrid. _Our house in + Madrid_! does not that sound very strange? It all seems so unreal + that I am afraid of waking up and finding it a dream. + + "Do, dear Madame Fleming, give up slaving in that old school and + come and live with Francisco and me. He says he wishes you would, + and it would make everything seem more real if I had you here. + Think of it, now. You will, won't you? As ever, your dear child, + + "HELEN ALVALA." + +This true story suggests a little sermon in two heads: 1st. To all +possible and probable lovers: It was not the count's rank or wealth, but +the fervor and constancy of ideal love and his whole-souled, exclusive +devotion, that won the heart of the American girl. 2d. To all sensible +American parents: Do not permit your pretty young daughters to make a +tour in Europe unless you are willing to leave them there. + + MARY E. BLAIR. + + + + +A JAPANESE MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE. + + +In describing a Japanese marriage in high life we do not intend to soar +_too_ high. It is not for our alien pen to portray the splendors of such +a marriage as that of the princess of Satsuma to Iyesada, the thirteenth +Shô-gun of the Tokugawa dynasty, when all Yedo was festal and +illuminated for a week. Neither shall we describe that of the imperial +princess Kazu, the younger sister of the Mikado, who came up from Kioto +to wed the young Shô-gun Iyemochi, and thus to unite the sacred blood of +twenty-five centuries of imperial succession with that of the Tokugawas, +the proud family that ruled Japan, and dictated even to her emperors, +for two hundred and fifty years. We leave the description of those royal +nuptials to other pens. Ours aspires only to describe a marriage such as +has happened in old Yedo for the thousandth time in the samurai +class--the gentry of Japan. + +Were you with us in Tokio (the new name of the capital of Japan) we +should take you, were you inclined to go, to the place where once stood +the mansion of Yamashiro Kan, a high retainer of the prince of Echizen, +and a lineal descendant of the great Iyeyasu, the founder of the dynasty +of the Shô-guns. Were you to seek for Yamashiro's mansion now, you would +not find it, but instead several very vulgar evidences of the Western +civilization which is now changing the Land of the Gods into a paradise +of beef, bread, butter, milk and machinery. We walked past the old +mansion-grounds a few days ago, and lo! we saw a milk-shop and dairy, a +butcher's stall, a sewing-machine store, a printing-office, a school in +which Japanese boys were learning A, B, C's, a photographer's "studio," +a barber-shop with an English sign, and a score or more Japanese shops +of all kinds. This is of to-day. Five years ago a long wall of +diamond-shaped tiles laid in white cement extended round the spacious +grounds of the homestead of the Yamashiro family. Inside were +fish-ponds, mimic hills, miniature mountain-scenery, dense +flower-bushes, dwarfed arboreal wonders, solemn shade trees and a garden +laid out according to the very best Japanese style. The fine old +_yashiki_ of Yamashiro, with its porter's lodge, stone path, +entrance-porch, vestibule and the family homestead, was within. No +wonder, then, that the aged man, who firmly believes that Japan is going +to the dogs, the devil or the foreigners--he does not know which--shakes +his head as he now passes by the milk-and butcher-shops, around which +the lazy dogs sleep or wait for bones, and sighs as he remembers the +grand old mansion. + +About two miles farther north, in the great _rus urba_ of Yedo, was +another house of humbler pretensions, and yet one with a gate and garden +of dimensions betokening the residence of a man of rank. It was the home +of Nakayama, one of the eighty thousand _hatamoto_ (vassals) of the +Shô-gun, a studious gentleman whose greatest pride was in his two sons +and his only daughter. The former were not only manly and expert in the +use of the sword and spear, but had the best education that the classics +of Confucius and the Chinese college and literati in Yedo could give +them. Next to them in his love was his only daughter Kiku, seventeen +years old, and as fair as the fairest of Yedo's many fair daughters. No +vain doll was Kiku, but, inheriting her mother's beauty, she added to it +the inner grace of a meek and dutiful spirit. Besides being deft at +household duties, her memory was well stored with the knowledge of +Japanese history and the Chinese classics. She had committed to memory +the entire books of the _Woman's Great Learning_, and had read +carefully five other works on etiquette and morals which her father had +presented to her on successive birthdays. Kiku was a remarkably +well-educated maiden, and would have been a prize for the richest daimio +in the empire. + +Faithfully following Japanese etiquette, Kiku had been carefully kept +from the company of any of the male sex since her eighth year. She never +talked with any young man except her brothers. Occasionally at family +parties she was addressed by her uncles or cousins. Sometimes, when +gentlemen called to see her father, Kiku would bring tea to the guest, +and was thus made the subject of compliments; but as to "receiving" male +company, she never did it. Kiku never went out unless accompanied by her +mother or the maid, who was like her shadow. + +The gods of Japan meet together at the great temples in Ise during the +eleventh month and tie all the nuptial knots for the following year. +Kiku's marriage-knot had been tied by the gods six months before she +even suspected the strings had been crossed. How happened it? + +In Japan only the people in the lower classes are acquainted with and +see each other frequently before marriage. The business of selection, +betrothal and marriage is attended to by the parents or friends of the +pair, who carry on negotiations by means of a third factor, a middleman +or go-between. Children are often betrothed at birth or when on their +nurses' backs (there are no cradles in Japan). Of course the natural +results, mutual dislike and severance of the engagement at mature age, +or love and happy marriage, or marriage, mutual dislike and subsequent +divorce, happen, as the case may be. In general, when the parents make +the betrothal of grown-up children, it is not probable that the feelings +of son or daughter are outraged, or that marriages are forced against +the consent of either, though this does sometimes take place. In Asiatic +countries, where obedience to parents is the first and last duty, and in +which no higher religion than filial obedience exists, the betrothal and +marriage of children is not looked upon as anything strange. The +prevalence of concubinage as a recognized institution in Japan makes it +of no serious importance whether the husband loves his wife or not. + +To tell an ordinary Japanese that in America people often marry against +their parents' consent is to puzzle him, and make him believe Carlyle's +saying about Americans without having heard it. If a man who marries +against his parents' wish is not a triple-dyed ingrate, he must be a +downright fool. Beyond this idea the normal Japanese cannot go; and you +might as well try to make a blind man understand that "celestial rosy +red" was "Love's proper hue" as to convince him that a good man ever +marries against his parents' wishes. Such ideas and practices are +convincing evidences to him of the vast moral inferiority of Western +nations when compared with that of the people descended from the gods. + +Resuming our narrative, we must mention that Kiku's father had once had +an offer from one Matsui, a wealthy retainer of the Wakasa clan, through +that young nobleman's middleman or agent, which he refused, to the +disgust of both middleman and suitor. The latter had seen Kiku walking +with her mother while going to the temple at Shiba, and, being struck +with her beauty, inquired who she was. Having come of age and wishing a +wife, he had sued for Kiku to her father, who, for reasons of his own, +refused the request, on the ground that Kiku was too young, being then +but fifteen years old. The truth was, that the Wakasa samurai was a wild +young fellow, and bore a reputation for riotous living that did not +promise to make him a proper life-companion for Nakayama's refined and +cultured daughter. Between Nakayama, Kiku's father, and Yamashiro, the +retainer of the Echizen clan, whose home we spoke of in the opening of +our sketch, had long existed a warm friendship and a mutual high regard. +Yamashiro, though more fond of society and good living than Nakayama, +was nevertheless, like him, a high-spirited and well-read man. He had +four children, two sons and two daughters. The oldest son, named Taro, +was now twenty years old, of manly figure, diligent in study, and had +lately acted as a high page, attending daily upon the person of +Hitotsu-bashi, the then reigning Shô-gun, and the last of his line that +held or will hold regal power in Japan. Taro, being the oldest son of +his father, was the heir to his house, office, rank and revenue. Taro +wanted a wife. He wished to taste the sweets of love and wedded joy. He +had long thought of Kiku. Of course he asked his father, and his father +"was willing." He told Taro to go to Nakayama's house. Taro went. He +talked to Nakayama, and hinted faint compliments of his daughter. It was +enough. Nakayama was keen of scent, and he also "was willing." Clapping +his hands, the maid-servant appeared and falling down and bowing her +head to the floor, listened: "Make some tea, and tell Miss Kiku to serve +it." + +Had you been in the back rooms of that house, you would have seen Kiku +blush as the maid told her who was in the front room and what her father +had said. Her heart beat furiously, and the carnation of health upon her +cheeks was lost in the hot blushes that mantled her face and beautiful +neck when her mother, reproving her, said, "Why, dear child, don't be +excited: perhaps he has come only on some every-day business, after all. +Be composed, and get ready to take in the tea." + +Nevertheless, Kiku took out her metal mirror while the maid made the +tea, smoothed a pretended stray hair, powdered her neck slightly, drew +her robe more tightly around her waist, adjusted her girdle, which did +not need any adjusting, and then, taking up the tray, containing a tiny +tea-pot, a half dozen upturned cups, and as many brass sockets for them, +hastened into the front room, bowed with her face on her hands to the +floor, and then handed cups of tea to her parent and his guest. This +done, she returned to her mother. Whether Taro looked at Kiku's cheeks +or into her glittering black eyes we leave even a foreign reader to +judge. + +Let it not be thought, however, that a single word relating to marriage +in the concrete passed between the two men: no such breach of etiquette +was committed. The visit over, the two friends parted as friends, and +nothing more, either in fact or in visible prospect. + +But, to be brief, not long afterward, Taro, having selected a trusty +friend, sent him as a go-between to ask of Nakayama the hand of his +daughter in marriage. The proposal was accepted, and when the go-between +came the second time to Kiku's home it was in company with two servants +bearing bundles. These, being opened, were found to contain a splendidly +embroidered girdle, such as Japanese ladies wear, about twelve feet long +and a foot wide when doubled; a robe of the finest white silk from the +famous looms of Kanazawa; five or six pieces of silk not made up; +several kegs of _saké_ or rice-beer; dried fish, soy, etc. These +were for the bride-elect. For her father was a sword with a richly +mounted hilt and lacquered scabbard, hung with silken cords. The blade +alone of the sword was worth (it isn't polite to speak of the cost of +presents, but we will let you into the secret, good reader) one hundred +dollars, and had been made in Sagami from the finest native steel. +Kiku's mother was presented with a rich robe, which she recognized at +once as being woven of the famous Derva silk. The ceremonious reception +of these presents by the parents signified that the betrothal was +solemnly ratified, and that the engagement could not be broken. +Nakayama, the intended father-in-law, afterward sent to Taro a present +of a jar of the finest tea from his own plantation in Shimosa, a pair of +swords, and a piece of satin, such as that of which the _hakama_ or +trousers which indicate the rank of the samurai are made. + +The betrothal was now published in both families, and in both houses +there were festivities, rejoicing and congratulation. The marriage-day, +a fortunate or good-omened one, was fixed upon as the twenty-seventh +from the day of betrothal. + +Was Kiku happy? Nay, you should ask, Can that word express her feelings? +She had obeyed her parents: she could do nothing higher or more fraught +with happiness. She was to be a wife--woman's highest honor and a +Japanese woman's only aim. She was to marry a noble by name, nature and +achievement, with health, family, wealth and honor. Kiku lived in a new +world of anticipation and of vision, the gate of which the Japanese call +_iro_, and we _love_. At times, as she tried on for the twentieth time +her white silk robe and costly girdle, she fell into a reverie, half sad +and half joyful. She thought of leaving her mother alone with no +daughter, and then Kiku's bright eyes dimmed and her bosom heaved. Then +she thought of living in a new home, in a new house, with new faces. +What if her mother-in-law should be severe or jealous? Kiku's cheek +paled. What if Taro should achieve some great exploit, and she share his +joy as did the honorable women of old? What if his former position of +beloved page to the Shô-gun should give her occasional access to the +highest ladies in the land, the female courtiers of the castle? Her eyes +flashed. + +The wedding-night came, seeming to descend out of the starry heavens +from the gods. Marriages rarely take place in the daytime in Japan. The +solemn and joyful hour of evening, usually about nine o'clock, is the +time for marriage--as it often is for burial--in Japan. In the starlight +of a June evening the bride set forth on her journey to her intended +husband's home, as is the invariable custom. Her toilet finished, she +stepped out of her childhood's home to take her place in the _norimono_ +or palanquin which, borne on the shoulders of four men, was to convey +her to her future home. + +Just as Kiku stands in the vestibule of her father's house let us +photograph her for you. A slender maiden of seventeen, with cheeks of +carnation; eyes that shine under lids not so broadly open as the +Caucasian maiden's, but black and sparkling; very small hands with +tapering fingers, and very small feet encased in white mitten-socks; her +black hair glossy as polished jet, dressed in the style betokening +virginity, and decked with a garland of blossoms. Her robe of pure white +silk folds over her bosom from right to left, and is bound at the waist +by the gold-embroidered girdle, which is supported by a lesser band of +scarlet silken crape, and is tied into huge loops behind. The skirt of +the dress sweeps in a trail. Her under-dress is of the finest and +softest white silk. In her hands she carries a half-moon-shaped cap or +veil of floss silk. Its use we shall see hereafter. She salutes her +cousin, who, clad in ceremonial dress with his ever-present two swords, +is waiting to accompany her in addition to her family servants and +bearers, and steps into the norimono. + +The four bearers, the servants and the samurai pass down along the +beautiful Kanda River, whose waters mirror the stars, and whose depths +of shade re-echo to the gurgling of sculls, the rolling of ripples and +the songs of revelers. The cortége enters one of the gate-towers of the +old city-walls, passes beneath the shade of its ponderous copper-clad +portals, and soon arrives at the main entrance of the Yamashiro +_yashiki_. Here they find the street in front and the stone walk +covered with matting, and a friend of Taro's, in full dress, waiting to +receive the cortége. Of course the gazers of the neighborhood are +waiting respectfully in crowds to catch a glimpse of the coming bride. + +The go-between and a few friends of the bridegroom come out to receive +the bride and deliver her to her own servant and two of her own young +maiden friends, who had gone before to the Yamashiro mansion. The room +in which the families of the bride and groom and their immediate friends +are waiting, though guiltless of "furniture," as all Japanese rooms are, +is yet resplendent with gilt-paper screens, bronzes, tiny lacquered +tables and the Japanese nuptial emblems. On the wall hang three pictured +scrolls of the gods of Long Life, of Wealth and of Happiness. On a +little low table stands a dwarf pine tree, bifurcated, and beneath it +are an old man and an old woman. Long life, a green old age, changeless +constancy of love and the union of two hearts are symbolized by this +evergreen. In the _tokonoma_ (or large raised recess) of the room are +the preparations for the feast, the wine-service consisting of kettles, +decanters and cups. On two other tables are a pair of white storks and a +fringed tortoise. All through the rooms gorgeously painted wax candles +burn. The air of the apartment is heavy with perfume from the censer, a +representation in bronze of an ancient hero riding upon a bullock. All +the guests are seated _à la Japonaise_--upon the floor. Two or three +young ladies, the bridesmaids, go out to meet the bride and lead her to +her dressing-room. Here she finds her own property, which has been +brought to her future home during the day. Toilet-stands and cabinets +and the ceremonial towel-rack are prominently displayed. On a tall +clothes-horse of gilt lacquer are hung her silk robes and the other +articles of her wardrobe, which are bridal gifts. Over the doorway, in a +gilt rack, glitters the long spear or halberd to the dexterous use of +which all Japanese ladies of good family are trained. In a box of finest +wood, shining with lacquer and adorned with her family crest, are the +silk sleeping-dresses and coverlets, which are to be spread, as all +Japanese beds are, on the floor. The articles above mentioned constitute +the trousseau of a Japanese bride. + +Here Kiku rearranges her dress, retouches her lower lip with golden +paint and puts on her hood of floss silk. This is of a half-moon shape, +completely covering her face. She does not lift it until she has drunk +the sacramental marriage-cup. Many a Japanese maiden has seen her lord +for the first time as she lifted her silken hood. Kiku is all ready, and +she and the groom are led into the room where the ceremony is to be +performed, and assigned their positions. + +With a Japanese marriage neither religion nor the Church has anything to +do. At the wedding no robed priest appears officially among the guests. +The marriage is simply a civil and social contract. In place of our bans +is the acceptance of the suitor's presents by the family of the sought, +the announced betrothal and intimation of the marriage to the police of +the ward. In place of our answer, "Yes," is the sacramental drinking of +wine. We may say "wine," because we are talking of high life, and must +use high words. _Saké_, the universal spirituous beverage of Japan, +is made from fermented rice, and hence is properly rice-beer. It looks +like pale sherry, and has a taste which is peculiarly its own. Sweet +saké is very delicious, and it may be bought in all the degrees of +strength and of all flavors and prices. As the Japanese always drink +their wine hot, a copper kettle for heating saké is a necessity in every +household. On ceremonial occasions, such as marriages, the saké-kettles +are of the costliest and handsomest kind, being beautifully lacquered. +Bride and groom being ready, the wine-kettles, cups and two bottles are +handed down. Two pretty servant-maids now bring in a hot kettle of wine +and fill the bottles. To one bottle is fastened by a silken cord a male +butterfly, and to the other a female. The two girls also are called +"male" and "female" butterflies. The girl having the female butterfly +pours out some saké in the kettle, into which the girl with the male +butterfly also pours the contents of her bottle, so that the wine from +both bottles thus flows together. Then the saké is poured again into +another gilt-and-lacquered bottle of different shape. + +Now the real ceremony begins. On a little stand three cups, each +slightly concave and having an under-rest or foot about half an inch +high, are set one upon another, like a pagoda. The stand with this +three-storied arrangement is handed to the bride. Holding it in both +hands while the saké is poured into it by the male butterfly, the bride +lifts the cup, sips from it three times, and the tower of cups is then +passed to the bridegroom and refilled. He likewise drinks three times, +and puts the empty cup under the third. The bride again sips thrice from +the upper cup. The groom does the same, and places the empty cup beneath +the second. Again the bride sips three times, and the bridegroom does +the same, and they are man and wife: they are married. This ceremony is +called san-san-ku-do, or "three times three are nine." + +Like a wedding at once auspicious and _distingué_, the nuptials of Kiku +and Taro passed off without one misstep or incident of ill omen. In the +dressing-room and in the hall of ceremony Kiku's self-possessed demeanor +was admired by all. After drinking the sacramental wine she lifted her +silken hood, not too swiftly or nervously, and smiled blushingly on her +lord. The marriage ceremony over, both bride and groom retired to their +respective dressing-rooms. Kiku exchanged her white dress for one of +more elaborate design and of a lavender color. The groom, removing his +stiffly-starched ceremonial robes, appeared in ordinary dress. Meanwhile +refreshments had been served to all the bridesmaids and, maid-servants. +Husband and wife now took their seats again, and the whole company +joined in the supper, during which apparently innumerable courses were +served. Neither ices, oranges nor black-cake appeared on the table at +Kiku's wedding. The bill of fare contained many decidedly recherché +items which it requires a Japanese palate thoroughly to appreciate. Let +us enumerate a few. There were salmon from Hakodate, tea from Uji, young +rice from Higo, pheasants' eggs, fried cuttle-fish, _tai, koi, maguro_ +and many another sort of toothsome fish from the market at Nihon Bashi. +There were sea-weed of various sorts and from many coasts, bean-curd, +many kinds of fish-soups, condiments of various flavors, eggs in every +style and shellfish of every shape. A huge maguro-fish, thinly sliced, +but perfectly raw, was the _pièce de résistance_ of the feast. +Sweetmeats, candies of the sort known to the Japanese confectioners and +castera (sponge-cake) crowned the courses. + +Now, having briefly described Kiku's wedding, perhaps we should stop +here. Although fairly married, however, Kiku was not through the +ceremonies of the night. Before her own parents left the house she was +taken by the attendant ladies before her parents-in-law, and with them +drank cups of wine and exchanged gifts. All the bridal presents were +displayed during the evening in her dressing-room, and the whole of her +trousseau was open to the inspection of all the ladies present. Feasting +and dancing were the order of the hours until midnight, and then Kiku's +parents bade her farewell, and she was left a bride in a new home. + +"Where did the young couple go?" "What was the route of their +bridal-tour?" "Perhaps they made a late wedding-journey?" "Of course +Japan has many fine watering-places to which married couples resort?" +These are American questions. The fashion of making bridal-tours is not +Japanese. Many a lovely spot might serve for such a purpose in +everywhere beautiful Japan. The lake and mountains of Hakone; the +peerless scenery, trees, waterfalls and tombs of Nikko, where sleeps the +mighty Iyeyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa line; the spas of +Atami,--all these are spots which if in America would be thronged with +bridal-parties. Caucasians in Japan even make Fusiyama's summit the goal +of their wedded steps, but our Kiku and Taro went nowhere. + +"At home" for three days is the general rule in Japan. All their friends +came to see them, and presents were showered on the happy pair. The +great Shô-gun, remembering his former page, sent Taro a present of a +flawless ball of pure rock-crystal five inches in diameter. Prince +Echizen, his feudal lord, presented him with a splendid saddle with gilt +flaps and a pair of steel stirrups inlaid with gold and silver and +bronze, with the crest of the Echizen clan glittering in silver upon it. +From his own father he received a jet-black horse brought from the +province of Nambu, and an equine descendant of the Arab sire presented +by the viceroy of India to the Japanese embassy to the pope in 1589. On +the delightful wonders of the gifts to Kiku our masculine pen shrinks +from expatiating. On the third day after her marriage Kiku visited her +parents, and after that spent many days in returning the visits of all +who had called on her. + +Now, like the "goosie gander" of nursery memory, we must wander again +into the lady's chamber. Were you to wander to such a place after a +Japanese maiden became a wife, you would see, as we have often seen, how +the outward form of a Japanese maiden assumes that of a Japanese matron. +First, then, the maiden wears a high coiffure that always serves as a +sacred symbol of her virginity. It is not easy to describe its form, but +even foreigners think it very beautiful, and will regret the day when +the Japanese _musume_ wears her hair like her sisters across the ocean. +Indeed, it would be no strange thing were Queen Fashion to ordain that +American maidens should adopt the style of dressing the hair now in +universal vogue in Japan. The _shimada_ or virginal coiffure, however, +is changed after marriage, and Kiku, like the rest of her wedded +friends, now wore the _maru-mage_, or half-moon-shaped chignon, which is +wound round an ivory, tortoise-shell or coral-tipped bar, and is the +distinguishing mark of a Japanese wife. So far, however, the transition +from loveliness to ugliness has not been very startling: Kiku still +looked pretty. The second process, however, robbed her of her eyebrows, +and left her without those dark arches that had helped to make the +radiant sun of her once maidenly beauty. With tweezers and razor the +fell work, after many a wince, was done. With denuded brows and changed +coiffure surely the Japanese Hymen demands no more sacrifices at his +shrine? Surely Kiku can still keep the treasures of a set of teeth that +seem like a casket of pearls with borders of coral? Not so. The fashion +of all good society from remotest antiquity demands that the teeth of a +wife must be dyed black. Kiku joyfully applied the galls and iron, and +by patience and dint of polishing soon had a set of teeth as black as +jet and as polished as the best Whitby. Not strange to tell to a +Japanese, either, the smile of her husband Taro was a rich reward for +her trouble and the surrender of her maiden charms. Japanese husbands +never kiss their wives: kissing is an art unknown in Japan. It is even +doubtful whether the language has a word signifying a kiss. No wonder +Young Japan wishes to change his language for the English! Henceforth in +public or private, alone or in company, Kiku's personal and social +safety was as secure as if clothed in armor of proof and attended by an +army. The black teeth, _maru-mage_ and shaven eyebrows constitute a +talisman of safety in a land which foreigners so like to believe +licentious and corrupt beyond the bounds of conception. + +Now that we have Kiku married, we must leave her to glide into the cool, +sequestered paths of a Japanese married lady's life. Only one thing we +regret, and that is that her marriage could not have happened in the +year of our Lord 1874 and of "Enlightened Peace the seventh, and of the +era of Jimmu, the first Mikado, the two thousand five hundred and +thirty-fourth." Had she been married during the present year, her +coiffure would need no alteration, her eyebrows would still knit with +care or arch with mirth, and her teeth would still keep their virgin +whiteness, unsoiled by astringent galls or abhorred vitriol. + +The leader of feminine fashion in Japan, the young empress Haruko, has +set her subjects the example by for ever banishing the galls and iron, +appearing even in public with her teeth as Nature made them. Kiku and +Taro, though once proud to own allegiance to the Shô-gun, are now among +the staunch supporters of the lord of the Shô-gun, the Mikado, the only +true sovereign of the Sunrise Kingdom. + + W.E. GRIFFIS. + + + + +THE LOST BABY. + + +She wandered off one dismal day; +No one was by to bid her stay: +The earth was white, the sky was gray, +When the poor little baby wandered away. + +The sun went down with crimson crown +Behind the clouds and the tree-tops brown: +The cold road stared with a colder frown +When the poor little feet went wandering down. + +Her mother lived up in the shining sky, +Thought poor little baby, wondering why, +As hours and days and weeks went by, +She never came down at her baby's cry. + +If the crimson wave in the west led true, +The skyward road she surely knew: +She heeded not that the sharp winds blew, +Or her cold little feet sore tired grew. + +She hummed some broken baby song, +And talked to herself as she trudged along: +She feared no failure, recked no wrong, +But she thought that the way was lone and long. + +Tired and cold, she lingered to rest +Under a snow-drift's treacherous crest: +She cuddled herself in a tiny nest, +White and cold as her mother's breast. + +They found her there on the snowy ground, +Her silky hair with snowflakes crowned. +She made no sign, she breathed no sound, +But the skyward road she had surely found. + + CLARA G. DOLLIVER. + + + + +THREE FEATHERS. + +BY WILLIAM BLACK, AUTHOR OF "A PRINCESS OF THULE." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +SOME OLD SONGS. + + +"Are you dreaming again, child?" said Mrs. Rosewarne to her daughter. +"You are not a fit companion for a sick woman, who is herself dull +enough. Why do you always look so sad when you look at the sea, Wenna?" + +The wan-faced, beautiful-eyed woman lay on a sofa, a book beside her. +She had been chatting in a bright, rapid, desultory fashion about the +book and a dozen other things--amusing herself really by a continual +stream of playful talk--until she perceived that the girl's fancies were +far away. Then she stopped suddenly, with this expression of petulant +but good-natured disappointment. + +"Oh, I beg your pardon, mother," said Wenna, who was seated at an open +window fronting the bay. "What did you say? Why does the sea make one +sad? I don't know. One feels less at home here than out on the rocks at +Eglosilyan: perhaps that is it. Or the place is so beautiful that it +almost makes you cry. I don't know." + +And indeed Penzance Bay on this still, clear morning was beautiful +enough to attract wistful eyes and call up vague and distant fancies. +The cloudless sky was intensely dark in its blue: one had a notion that +the unseen sun was overhead and shining vertically down. The still plain +of water--so clear that the shingle could be seen through it a long way +out--had no decisive color, but the fishing smacks lying out there were +jet-black points in the bewildering glare. The sunlight did not seem to +be in the sky, in the air or on the sea; but when you turned to the +southern arm of the bay, where the low line of green hills ran out into +the water, there you could see the strong clear light shining--shining +on the green fields and on the sharp black lines of hedges, on that bit +of gray old town with its cottage-gardens and its sea-wall, and on the +line of dark rock that formed the point of the promontory. On the other +side of the bay the eye followed the curve of the level shores until it +caught sight of St. Michael's Mount rising palely from the water, its +sunlit grays and purple shadows softened by the cool distance. Then +beyond that again, on the verge of the far horizon, lay the long and +narrow line of the Lizard, half lost in a silver haze. For the rest, a +cool wind went this way and that through Mrs. Rosewarne's room, stirring +the curtains. There was an odor of the sea in the air. It was a day for +dreaming perhaps, but not for the gloom begotten of languor and an +indolent pulse. + +"Oh, mother! oh, mother!" Wenna cried suddenly, with a quick flush of +color to her cheeks, "do you know who is coming along? Can you see? It +is Mr. Trelyon, and he is looking at all the houses: I know he is +looking for us." + +"Child! child!" said the mother. "How should Mr. Trelyon know we are +here?" + +"Because I told him," Wenna said simply and hurriedly. "Mother, may I +wave a handkerchief to him? Won't you come and see him? he seems so much +more manly in this strange place; and how brave and handsome he looks!" + +"Wenna!" her mother said severely. + +The girl did not wave a handkerchief, it is true, but she knelt down at +the open bay-window, so that he must needs see her; and sure enough he +did. Off went his hat in a minute, a bright look of recognition leapt to +his eyes, and he crossed the street. + +Then Wenna turned, all in a flutter of delight, and quite unconscious of +the color in her face: "Are you vexed, mother? Mayn't I be glad to see +him? Why, when I know that he will brighten up your spirits better than +a dozen doctors? One feels quite happy and hopeful whenever he comes +into the room. Mother, you won't have to complain of dullness if Mr. +Trelyon comes to see you. And why doesn't the girl send him up at once?" + +Wenna was standing at the open door to receive him when he came up +stairs: she had wholly forgotten the embarrassment of their last +parting. + +"I thought I should find you out," he said when he came into the room, +and it was clear that there was little embarrassment about him; "and I +know how your mother likes to be teased and worried. You've got a nice +place here, Mrs. Rosewarne; and what splendid weather you've brought +with you!" + +"Yes," said Wenna, her whole face lit up with a shy gladness, "haven't +we? And did you ever see the bay looking more beautiful? It is enough to +make you laugh and clap your hands out of mere delight to see everything +so lovely and fresh." + +"A few minutes ago I thought you were nearly crying over it," said the +mother with a smile, but Miss Wenna took no heed of the reproof. She +would have Mr. Trelyon help himself to a tumbler of claret and water. +She fetched out from some mysterious lodging-house recess an ornamented +tin can of biscuits. She accused herself of being the dullest companion +in the world, and indirectly hinted that he might have pity on her mamma +and stay to luncheon with them. + +"Well, it's very odd," he said, telling a lie with great simplicity of +purpose, "but I had arranged to drive to the Land's End for luncheon--to +the inn there, you know. I suppose it wouldn't--Do you think, Mrs. +Rosewarne--would it be convenient for you to come for a drive so far?" + +"Oh, it would be the very best thing in the world for her--nothing could +be better," said Wenna; and then she added meekly, "if it is not giving +you too much trouble, Mr. Trelyon." + +He laughed: "Trouble! I'm glad to be of use to anybody; and in this case +I shall have all the pleasure on my side. Well, I'm off now to see about +the horses. If I come for you in half an hour, will that do?" + +As soon as he had left Mrs. Rosewarne turned to her daughter and said to +her, gravely enough, "Wenna, one has seldom to talk to you about the +proprieties, but really this seems just a little doubtful. Mr. Trelyon +may make a friend of you--that is all very well, for you are going to +marry a friend of his--but you ought not to expect him to associate with +me." + +"Mother," said Wenna with hot cheeks, "I wonder how you can suspect him +of thinking of such foolish and wicked things. Why, he is the very last +man in all the world to do anything that is mean and unkind, or to think +about it." + +"My dear child, I suspect him of nothing," Mrs. Rosewarne said; "but +look at the simple facts of the case. Mr. Trelyon is a very rich +gentleman; his family is an old one, greatly honored about here; and if +he is so recklessly kind as to offer his acquaintanceship to persons who +are altogether in a different sphere of life, we should take care not to +abuse his kindness or to let people have occasion to wonder at him. +Looking at your marriage and future station, it is perhaps more +permissible with you; but as regards myself, I don't very much care, +Wenna, to have Mr. Trelyon coming about the house." + +"Why, mother, I--I am surprised at you!" Wenna said warmly. "You judge +of him by the contemptible things that other people might say of him. Do +you think he would care for that? Mr. Trelyon is a man, and like a man +he has the courage to choose such friends as he likes; and it is no more +to him what money they have or what their position is than the--than the +shape of their pocket-handkerchiefs is. Perhaps that is his folly, +recklessness--the recklessness of a young man. Perhaps it is. I am not +old enough to know how people alter, but I hope I shall never see Mr. +Trelyon alter in this respect--never, if he were to live for a hundred +years. And--and I am surprised to hear you, of all people, mother, +suggest such things of him. What has he done that you should think so +meanly of him?" + +Wenna was very indignant and hurt. She would have continued further, but +that a tremulous movement of her under lip caused her to turn away her +head. + +"Well, Wenna, you needn't cry about it," her mother said gently. "It is +of no great consequence. Of course every one must please himself in +choosing his friends; and I quite admit that Mr. Trelyon is not likely +to be hindered by anything that any person may say. Don't take it so +much to heart, child: go and get on your things, and get back some of +the cheerfulness you had while he was here. I will say this for the +young man, that he has an extraordinary power of raising your spirits." + +"You are a good mother, after all," said Wenna penitently; "and if you +come and let me dress you prettily, I shall promise not to scold you +again--not till the next time you deserve it." + +By the time they drove away from Penzance the forenoon had softened into +more beautiful colors. There was a paler blue in the sky and on the sea, +and millions of yellow stars twinkled on the ripples. A faint haze had +fallen over the bright green hills lying on the south of the bay. + +"Life looks worth having on such a day as this," Trelyon said: "doesn't +it, Miss Wenna?" + +She certainly seemed pleased enough. She drank in the sweet fresh air; +she called attention to the pure rare colors of the sea and the green +uplands, the coolness of the woods through which they drove, the profuse +abundance of wild flowers along the banks; all things around her seemed +to have conspired to yield her delight, and a great happiness shone in +her eyes. Mr. Trelyon talked mostly to Mrs. Rosewarne, but his eyes +rarely wandered away for long from Wenna's pleased and radiant face; and +again and again he said to himself, "And if a simple drive on a spring +morning can give this child so great a delight, it is not the last that +she and I shall have together." + +"Mrs. Rosewarne," said he, "I think your daughter has as much need of a +holiday as anybody. I don't believe there's a woman or girl in the +county works as hard as she does." + +"I don't know whether she needs it," said Miss Wenna of herself, "but I +know that she enjoys it." + +"I know what you'd enjoy a good deal better than merely getting out of +sight of your own door for a week or two," said he. "Wouldn't you like +to get clear away from England for six months, and go wandering about in +all sorts of fine places? Why, I could take such a trip in that time! I +should like to see what you'd say to some of the old Dutch towns and +their churches, and all that; then Cologne, you know, and a sail up the +Rhine to Mainz; then you'd go on to Bâle and Geneva, and we'd get you a +fine big carriage, with the horses decorated with foxes' and pheasants' +tails, to drive you to Chamounix. Then, when you had gone tremulously +over the Mer de Glace, and kept your wits about you going down the +Mauvais Pas, I don't think you could do better than go on to the Italian +lakes--you never saw anything like them, I'll be bound--and Naples and +Florence. Would you come back by the Tyrol, and have a turn at Zurich +and Lucerne, with a long ramble through the Black Forest in a trap +resembling a ramshackle landau?" + +"Thank you," said Wenna very cheerfully. "The sketch is delightful, but +I am pretty comfortable where I am." + +"But this can't last," said he. + +"And neither can my holidays," she answered. + +"Oh, but they ought to," he retorted vehemently. "You have not half +enough amusement in your life: that's my opinion. You slave too much for +all those folks about Eglosilyan and their dozens of children. Why, you +don't get anything out of life as you ought to. What have you to look +forward to? Only the same ceaseless round of working for other people. +Don't you think you might let some one else have a turn at that useful +but monotonous occupation?" + +"But Wenna has something else to look forward to now," her mother +reminded him gently; and after that he did not speak for some while. + +Fair and blue was the sea that shone all around the land when they got +out on the rough moorland near the coast. They drove to the solitary +little inn perched over the steep cliffs, and here the horses were put +up and luncheon ordered. Would Mrs. Rosewarne venture down to the great +rocks at the promontory? No, she would rather stay indoors till the +young people returned; and so these two went along the grassy path +themselves. + +They clambered down the slopes, and went out among the huge blocks of +weather-worn granite, many of which were brilliant with gray, green and +orange lichens. There was a low and thunderous noise in the air: far +below them, calm and fine as the day was, the summer sea dashed and +roared into gigantic caverns, while the white foam floated out again on +the troubled waves. Could anything have been more magical than the +colors of the sea--its luminous greens, its rich purples, its brilliant +blues, lying in long swaths on the apparently motionless surface? It was +only the seething white beneath their feet and the hoarse thunder along +the coast that told of the force of this summer-like sea; and for the +rest the picture was light and calm and beautiful; but there the black +rocks basked in the sunlight, the big skarts standing here and there on +their ledges, not moving a feather. A small steamer was slowly making +for the island farther out, where a lighthouse stood. And far away +beyond these, on the remote horizon, the Scilly Isles lay like a low +bank of yellow fog under the pale-blue skies. + +They were very much by themselves out here at the end of the world, and +yet they did not seem inclined to talk much. Wenna sat down on the warm +grass; her companion perched himself on one of the blocks of granite; +they watched the great undulations of the blue water come rolling on to +the black rocks and then fall backward seething in foam. + +"And what are you thinking about?" said Trelyon to her gently, so that +she should not be startled. + +"Of nothing at all: I am quite happy," Wenna said frankly. Then she +added, "I suppose the worst of a day like this is that a long time after +you look back upon it, and it seems so beautiful and far away that it +makes you miserable. You think how happy you were once. That is the +unfortunate side of being happy." + +"Well," said he, "I must say you don't look forward to the future with +any great hope if you think the recollection of one bright day will make +you wretched." + +He came down from his perch and stood beside her. "Why, Wenna," said he, +"do you know what you really need? Some one to take you in hand +thoroughly, and give you such an abundance of cheerful and pleasant days +that you would never think of singling out any one of them. Why +shouldn't you have weeks and months of happy idling in bright weather, +such as lots of people have who don't deserve them a bit? There's +something wrong in your position. You want some one to become your +master and compel you to make yourself happy. You won't of yourself +study your own comfort: some one else ought to make you." + +"And who do you think would care to take so much trouble about me?" she +said with a smile, for she attached no serious meaning to this random +talk. + +Her companion's face flushed somewhat--not with embarrassment, but with +the courage of what he was going to say. "I would," he said boldly. "You +will say it is none of my business, but I tell you I would give twenty +thousand pounds to-morrow if I were allowed to--to get you a whole +summer of pleasant holidays." + +There was something about the plain-spoken honesty of this avowal that +touched her keenly. Wild and impossible as the suggestion was, it told +her at least what one person in the world thought of her. She said to +him, with her eyes cast down, "I like to hear you speak like that--not +for my own sake, but I know there is nothing generous and kindly that +you wouldn't do at a mere moment's impulse. But I hope you don't think I +have been grumbling over my lot on such a day as this? Oh no: I see too +much of other people's way of living to complain of my own. I have every +reason to be contented and happy." + +"Yes, you're a deal too contented and happy," said he with an impatient +shrug. "You want somebody to alter all that, and see that you get more +to be contented and happy about." + +She rose: he gave her his hand to help her up. But he did not surrender +her hand then, for the path up the slope was a deep and difficult one, +and she could fairly rely on his strength and sureness of foot. + +"But you are not content, Mr. Trelyon," she said. "I always notice that +whenever you get to a dangerous place you are never satisfied unless you +are putting your life in peril. Wouldn't you like to ride your black +horse down the face of this precipice? or wouldn't you like to clamber +down blindfold? Why does a man generally seem to be anxious to get rid +of his life?" + +"Perhaps it ain't of much use to him," he said coolly. + +"You ought not to say that," she answered in a low voice. + +"Well," he said, "I don't mean to break my neck yet a while; but if I +did, who would miss me? I suppose my mother would play half a dozen a +day more operas or oratorios, or stuff of that sort, and there would be +twenty parsons in the house for one there is at present. And some of the +brats about the place would miss an occasional sixpence; which would be +better for their health. And Dick--I suppose they'd sell him to some +fool of a Londoner, who would pound his knees out in the Park--he would +miss me too." + +"And these are all," she said, "who would miss you? You are kind to your +friends." + +"Why, would you?" he said with a stare of surprise; and then, seeing she +would not speak, he continued with a laugh, "I like the notion of my +making an object of general compassion of myself. Did the poor dear +tumble off a rock into the sea? And where was its mother's apron-string? +I'm not going to break my neck yet a while, Miss Wenna; so don't you +think I'm going to let you off your promise to pay me back for those +sewing-machines." + +"I have told you, Mr. Trelyon," she said with some dignity, "that we +shall pay you back every farthing of the price of them." + +He began to whistle in an impertinent manner. He clearly placed no great +faith in the financial prospects of that sewing club. + +They had some light luncheon in the remote little inn, and Mrs. +Rosewarne was pleased to see her ordinarily demure and preoccupied +daughter in such high and careless spirits. It was not a splendid +banquet. The chamber was not a gorgeous one, for the absence of ornament +and the enormous thickness of the walls told of the house being shut up +in the winter months and abandoned to the fury of the western gales, +when the wild sea came hurling up the face of these steep cliffs and +blowing over the land. But they paid little attention to any lack of +luxury. There was a beautiful blue sea shining in the distance. The +sunlight was falling hotly on the green sward of the rocks outside, but +all the same a fresh, cool breeze came blowing in at the open window. +They let the time pass easily, with pleasant talk and laughter. + +Then they drove leisurely back in the afternoon. They passed along the +moorland ways, through rude little villages built of stone and by the +outskirts of level and cheerless farms, until they got into the +beautiful woods and avenues lying around Penzance. When they came in +sight of the broad bay they found that the world had changed its colors +since the morning. The sea was of a cold purplish gray, but all around +it, on the eastern horizon, there was a band of pale pink in the sky. On +the west again, behind Penzance, the warm hues of the sunset were +shining behind the black stems of the trees. The broad thoroughfare was +mostly in shadow, and the sea was so still that one could hear the +footsteps and the voices of the people walking up and down the Parade. + +"I suppose I must go now," said the young gentleman when he had seen +them safely seated in the small parlor overlooking the bay. But he did +not seem anxious to go. + +"But why?" Wenna said, rather timidly. "You have no engagement, Mr. +Trelyon. Would you care to stay and have dinner with us--such a dinner +as we can give you?" + +"Well, to tell you the truth, I should like it very much," he said. + +Mrs. Rosewarne, a little surprised, and yet glad to see Wenna enjoying +herself, regarded the whole affair with a gentle resignation. Wenna had +the gas lit and the blinds let down: then, as the evening was rather +cool, she had soon a bright fire burning in the grate. She helped to lay +the table. She produced such wines as they had. She made sundry visits +to the kitchen, and at length the banquet was ready. + +What ailed the young man? He seemed beside himself with careless and +audacious mirth, and he made Mrs. Rosewarne laugh as she had not laughed +for years. It was in vain that Wenna assumed airs to rebuke his +rudeness. Nothing was sacred from his impertinence--not even the +offended majesty of her face. And at last she gave in too, and could +only revenge herself by saying things of him which, the more severe they +were, the more he seemed to enjoy. But after dinner she went to the +small piano, while her mother took a big easy-chair near the fire, and +he sat by the table, looking over some books. There was no more reckless +laughter then. + +In ancient times--that is to say, in the half-forgotten days of our +youth--a species of song existed which exists no more. It was not as the +mournful ballads of these days, which seem to record the gloomy +utterances of a strange young woman who has wandered into the magic +scene in _Der Freischütz_, and who mixes up the moanings of her passion +with descriptions of the sights, and sounds she there finds around her. +It was of quite another stamp. It dealt with a phraseology of sentiment +peculiar to itself--a "patter," as it were, which came to be universally +recognized in drawing-rooms. It spoke of maidens plighting their troth, +of Phyllis enchanting her lover with her varied moods, of marble halls +in which true love still remained the same. It apostrophized the shells +of ocean; it tenderly described the three great crises of a particular +heroine's life by mentioning her head-dress; it told of how the lover of +Pretty Jane would have her meet him in the evening. Well, all the world +was content to accept this conventional phraseology, and behind the +paraphernalia of "enchanted moon-beams" and "fondest glances" and +"adoring sighs" perceived and loved the sentiment that could find no +simpler utterance. Some of us, hearing the half-forgotten songs again, +suddenly forget the odd language, and the old pathos springs up again, +as fresh as in the days when our first love had just come home from her +boarding-school; while others, who have no old-standing acquaintance +with these memorable songs, have somehow got attracted to them by the +mere quaintness of their speech and the simplicity of their airs. Master +Harry Trelyon was no great critic of music. When Wenna Rosewarne sang +that night "She wore a wreath of roses," he fancied he had never +listened to anything so pathetic. When she sang "Meet me by moonlight +alone," he was delighted with the spirit and half-humorous, half-tender +grace of the composition. As she sang "When other lips and other +hearts," it seemed to him that there were no songs like the +old-fashioned songs, and that the people who wrote those ballads were +more frank and simple and touching in their speech than writers +now-a-days. Somehow, he began to think of the drawing-rooms of a former +generation, and of the pictures of herself his grandmother had drawn for +him many a time. Had she a high waist to that white silk dress in which +she ran away to Gretna? and did she have ostrich feathers on her head? +Anyhow, he entirely believed what she had told him of the men of that +generation. They were capable of doing daring things for the sake of a +sweetheart. Of course his grandfather had done boldly and well in +whirling the girl off to the Scottish borders, for who could tell what +might have befallen her among ill-natured relatives and persecuted +suitors? + +Wenna Rosewarne was singing "We met, 'twas in a crowd, and I thought he +would shun me." It is the song of a girl (must one explain so much in +these later days?) who is in love with one man, and is induced to marry +another: she meets the former, and her heart is filled with shame and +anguish and remorse. As Wenna sang the song it seemed to this young man +that there was an unusual pathos in her voice; and he was so carried +away by the earnestness of her singing that his heart swelled and rose +up within him, and he felt himself ready to declare that such should not +be her fate. This man who was coming back to marry her--was there no one +ready to meet him and challenge his atrocious claim? Then the song +ended, and with a sudden disappointment Trelyon recollected that he at +least had no business to interfere. What right had he to think of saving +her? + +He had been idly turning over some volumes on the table. At last he came +to a Prayer-book of considerable size and elegance of binding. +Carelessly looking at the fly-leaf, he saw that it was a present to +Wenna Rosewarne, "with the very dearest love of her sister Mabyn." He +passed his hand over the leaves, not noticing what he was doing. +Suddenly he saw something which did effectually startle him into +attention. + +It was a sheet of paper with two slits cut into it at top and bottom. In +these a carefully-pressed piece of None-so-pretty had been placed, and +just underneath the flower was written in pencil, "From H.T. to W.R., +May 2, 18--." He shut the book quickly, as if his fingers had been +burned, and then he sat quite silent, with his heart beating fast. + +So she had kept the flower he had put in the basket of primroses! It had +carried its message, and she still remained his friend! + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE CUT DIRECT. + + +"Well, mother," Miss Wenna said deliberately after he had gone, "I never +did see you so thoroughly enjoy a whole day." + +"I was thinking the same about you, Wenna," the mother answered with an +amused look. + +"That is true enough, mother," the girl confessed in her simple way. "He +is so good-natured, so full of spirits and careless, that one gets quite +as careless and happy as himself. It is a great comfort, mother, to be +with anybody who doesn't watch the meaning of every expression you use: +don't you think so? And I hope I wasn't rude: do you think I was rude?" + +"Why, child, I don't think you could be rude to a fox that was eating +your chickens. You would ask him to take a chair and not hurry himself." + +"Well, I must write to Mabyn now," Wenna said with a business-like air, +"and thank her for posting me this Prayer-book. I suppose she didn't +know I had my small one with me." + +She took up the book, for she was sitting on the chair that Harry +Trelyon had just vacated. She had no sooner done so than she caught +sight of the sheet of paper with the dried flower and the inscription in +Mabyn's handwriting. She stared, with something of a look of fear on her +face. "Mother," she said in quite an altered voice, "did you notice if +Mr. Trelyon was looking at this Prayer-book?" + +"I don't know, I'm sure," Mrs. Rosewarne said. "I should think he went +over every book on the table." + +The girl said nothing, but she took the book in her hand and carried it +up to her own room. She stood for a moment irresolute: then she took the +sheet of paper with the flowers on it, and tore it in a hundred pieces +and threw them into the empty grate. Then she cried a little, as a girl +must; and finally went down again and wrote a letter to Mabyn which +rather astonished that young lady. + + "MY DEAR MABYN" (so the letter ran): I am exceedingly angry with + you. I did not think you were capable of such folly: I might call + it by a worse name if I thought you really meant what you seem to + mean. I have just torn up the worthless scrap of flower you so + carefully preserved for me into a thousand pieces; but you will be + glad to know that in all probability Mr. Trelyon saw it on the + paper, and the initials too which you put there. I cannot tell you + how pained and angry I am. If he did place that flower + intentionally among the primroses, it was most impertinent of him; + but he is often impertinent in joking. What must he think of me + that I should seem to have taken this seriously, and treasured up + that miserable and horrid piece of weed, and put his initials below + it, and the important date? You put thoughts into my head that + cover me with shame. I should not be fit to live if I were what you + take me to be. If I thought there was another human being in the + world who could imagine or suspect what you apparently desire, I + would resolve this moment never to see Mr. Trelyon again; and much + harm that would do either him or me! But I am too proud to think + that any one could imagine such a thing. Nor did I expect that to + come from my own sister, who ought to know what my true relations + are with regard to Mr. Trelyon. I like him very much, as I told him + to his face two days before we left Eglosilyan; _and that will + show you what our relations are_. I think he is a very frank, + generous and good young man, and a clever and cheerful companion; + and my mother has to-day to thank him for about the pleasantest + little trip she has ever enjoyed. But as for your wishing me to + preserve a flower that he sent, or that you think he sent to me, + why, I feel my face burning at the thought of what you suggest. And + what can I say to him now, supposing he has seen it? Can I tell him + that my own sister thought such things of me? Perhaps, after all, + the simplest way to set matters right will be for me to break off + the acquaintance altogether; and that will show him whether I was + likely to have treasured up a scrap of London pride in my + Prayer-book. + + "I am your loving sister, + + "WENNA ROSEWARNE." + +Meanwhile, Harry Trelyon was walking up and down the almost empty +thoroughfare by the side of the sea, the stars overhead shining clearly +in the dark night, the dimly-seen waves falling monotonously on the +shelving beach. "To keep a flower, that is nothing," he was saying to +himself. "All girls do that, no matter who gives it to them. I suppose +she has lots more, all with the proper initials and date attached." + +It was not an agreeable reflection; he turned to other matters: "If she +were to care for me a little bit, would it be mean of me to try to carry +her off from that man? Is it possible that he has the same feeling for +her that I have? In that case it would be mean. Now, when I think of +her, the whole world seems filled with her presence somehow, and +everything is changed. When I hear the sea in the morning I think of +her, and wonder where she is; when I see a fine day I hope she is +enjoying it somewhere; the whole of Penzance has become magical. It is +no longer the same town. I used to come to it and never see it in the +old days, when one was busy about stables and the pilchard fishing and +the reports of the quarries. Now the whole of Penzance has got a sort of +charm in it since Wenna Rosewarne has come to it. I look at the houses, +and wonder if the people inside know anybody fit to compare with her; +and one becomes grateful to the good weather for shining round about her +and making her happy. I suppose the weather knows what she deserves." + +Then he began to argue the question as to whether it would be fair and +honorable to seek to take away from another man the woman who had +pledged herself to marry him; and of course an easy and definite +decision is sure to be arrived at when counsel on both sides and jury +and judges sitting _in banco_ are all one person, who conducts and +closes the case as it suits himself. He began by assuming such facts as +suited his arguments, and ended by selecting and confirming such +arguments as suited himself. Wenna Rosewarne cared nothing for Mr. +Roscorla. She would be miserable if she married him: her own sister was +continually hinting as much. Mr. Roscorla cared nothing for her except +in so far as she might prove a pretty housewife for him. The selfishness +that would sacrifice for its own purposes a girl's happiness was of a +peculiarly despicable sort which ought to be combated, and deserved no +mercy. Therefore, and because of all these things, Harry Trelyon was +justified in trying to win Wenna Rosewarne's love. + +One by one the people who had been strolling up and down the dark +thoroughfare left it: he was almost alone now. He walked along to the +house in which the Rosewarnes were. There was no light in any of the +windows. But might she not be sitting up there by herself, looking out +on the starlit heavens and listening to the waves? He wished to be able +to say good-night to her once more. + +How soon might she be up and out on the morrow? Early in the morning, +when the young day was rising over the gray sea, and the sea-winds +coming freshly in as if they were returning from the cold night? If he +could but see her at daybreak, with all the world asleep around them, +and with only themselves to watch the growing wonders of the dawn, might +not he say something to her then that she would not be vexed to hear, +and persuade her that a new sort of life lay before her if she would +only enter it along with him? That was the notion that he continually +dwelt on for self-justification when he happened to take the trouble to +justify himself. The crisis of this girl's life was approaching. Other +errors might be retrieved--that one, once committed, never. If he could +only see her now, this is what he would say: "We can only live but once, +Wenna; and this for us two would be life--our only chance of it. +Whatever else may happen, that is no matter: let us make sure of this +one chance, and face the future together--you full of sweetness and +trust, I having plenty of courage for both. We will treat objectors and +objections as they may arise--afterward: perhaps they will be prudent +and keep out of our way." And indeed he convinced himself that this, +and this only, was Wenna Rosewarne's chance of securing happiness for +her life, assuming, in a way, that he had love as well as courage +sufficient for both. + +He was early up next morning and down on the promenade, but the day was +not likely to tempt Wenna to come out just then. A gray fog hung over +land and sea, the sea itself being a dull, leaden plain. Trelyon walked +about, however, talking to everybody, as was his custom; and everybody +said the fog would clear and a fine day follow. This, in fact, happened, +and still Wenna did not make her appearance. The fog over the sea seemed +to separate itself into clouds: there was a dim, yellow light in the +breaks. These breaks widened: there was a glimmer of blue. Then on the +leaden plain a glare of white light fell, twinkling in innumerable stars +on the water. Everything promised a clear, bright day. + +As a last resource he thought he would go and get Juliott Penaluna, and +persuade that young lady to come and be introduced to the Rosewarnes. At +first Miss Penaluna refused point-blank. She asked him how he could +expect her to do such a thing. But then her cousin Harry happened to be +civil, and indeed kind, in his manner to her, and when he was in one of +those moods there was nothing she could refuse him. She went and got +ready with an air of resignation on her comely face. + +"Mind, Harry, I am not responsible," she said when she came back. "I am +afraid I shall get into awful trouble about it." + +"And who will interfere?" said the young man, just as if he were looking +about for some one anxious to be thrown from the top of the tower on St. +Michael's Mount. + +"I shall be accused of conniving with you, you know; and I think I am +very good-natured to do so much for you, Harry." + +"I think you are, Jue: you are a thoroughly good sort of girl when you +like to be--that's a fact. And now you will see whether what I have said +about Miss Rosewarne is all gammon or not." + +"My poor boy, I wouldn't say a word against her for the world. Do I want +my head wrenched off? But if any one says anything to me about what I +may do to-day, I shall have to tell the truth; and do you know what that +is, Harry? I do really believe you are in love with that girl, past all +argument; and there never was one of your family who would listen to +reason. I know quite well what you will do. If she cares ever so little +for you, you will marry her in spite of everybody, and probably against +her own wish: if she doesn't care for you, you will revenge yourself on +the happy man of her choice, and probably murder him. Well, it isn't my +fault. I know what your mother will say." + +"Ah, you don't know, Jue, what my mother thinks of her," he said +confidently. + +"Oh yes, mothers think very well of a girl until they discover that she +is going to marry their son." + +"Oh, stuff! why the inconsistency--" + +"It is the privilege of women to be inconsistent, Harry. Your mother +will detest that girl if you try to marry her." + +"I don't care." + +"Of course not. No man of your family cares for anything that interferes +with his own wishes. I suppose there's no use in my trying to show you +what a fearful amount of annoyance and trouble you are preparing for +yourself?" + +"None. I'll take it as it comes: I'm not afraid." + +They got down to the promenade; the forenoon was now bright and +cheerful; a good many folks had come out to enjoy the sunlight and the +cool sea-breeze. Miss Juliott was not at all disinclined to walk there +with her handsome cousin, though he had forgotten his gloves and was +clearly not paying her very special attention. + +"Jue," he said suddenly, "I can see Miss Rosewarne right at the end of +this road: can't you?" + +"I haven't got the eyes of a hawk, you stupid boy!" his cousin said. + +"Oh, but I can recognize her dress a dozen times as far away. These are +her pet colors at present--a soft cream-color and black, with bits of +dark red. Can you see now?" + +"I never saw you pay the least attention before to a lady's dress." + +"Because you don't know how _she_ dresses," he said proudly. + +She was coming along the Parade all alone. + +"Well, it _is_ a pretty dress," Miss Juliott said, "and I like the look +of her face, Harry. You can't expect one girl to say any more than that +of another girl, can you?" + +"This is a very nice way of being able to introduce you," he said. "I +suppose you will be able to chaperon each other afterward, when her +mother isn't able to go out?" + +Wenna was coming quietly along, apparently rather preoccupied. Sometimes +she looked out, with her dark, earnest and yet wistful eyes, at the +great plain of water quivering in the sunshine: she paid little heed to +the people who went by. When at length she did see Harry Trelyon, she +was quite near him, and she had just time to glance for a moment at his +companion. The next moment--he could not tell how it all happened--she +passed him with a slight bow of recognition, courteous enough, but +nothing more. There was no especial look of friendliness in her eyes. + +He stood there rather bewildered. + +"That is about as good as the cut direct, Harry," his cousin said. "Come +along--don't stand there." + +"Oh, but there's some mistake, Jue," he said. + +"A girl never does a thing of that sort by mistake. Either she is vexed +with you for walking with me--and that is improbable, for I doubt +whether she saw me--or she thinks the ardor of your acquaintance should +be moderated; and there I should agree with her. You don't seem so vexed +as one might have expected, Harry." + +"Vexed!" he said. "Why, can't you tell by that girl's face that she +could do nothing capricious or unkind? Of course she has a reason; and I +will find it out." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +NOT THE LAST WORD. + + +As soon as he could decently leave his cousin at home, he did; and then +he walked hastily down to the house in which Mrs. Rosewarne had taken +rooms. Miss Rosewarne was not at home, the small maid-servant said. Was +Mrs. Rosewarne? Yes; so he would see her. + +He went up stairs, never thinking how his deep trouble about so +insignificant an incident would strike a third person. + +"Mrs. Rosewarne," he said right out, "I want you to tell me if Wenna +wishes our acquaintance to end. Has she been speaking to you? Just now +she passed me in the street as if she did not wish to see me again." + +"Probably," said Mrs. Rosewarne, amused as well as surprised by the +young man's impetuosity, "she did not see you then. Wenna often passes +people so. Most likely she was thinking about other things, for she had +another letter from Jamaica just before she went out." + +"Oh, she has had another letter from Jamaica this morning?" Trelyon +said, with an angry light appearing in his eyes. "That is it, is it?" + +"I don't understand you," Mrs. Rosewarne was saying, when both of them +heard Wenna enter below. + +"Mrs. Rosewarne," he said with a sudden entreaty in his voice, "would +you mind letting me see Wenna alone for a couple of minutes? I want to +ask her if she is offended with me: you won't mind, will you?" + +"Not in the least," she said, good-naturedly; and then she added, at the +door, "Mind, Mr. Trelyon, Wenna is easily hurt. You must speak gently to +her." + +About a minute afterward Wenna, having laid her hat and shawl aside, +came into the room. When she found Trelyon there alone, she almost +shrank back, and her face paled somewhat: then she forced herself to go +forward and shake hands with him, though her face still wore a +frightened and constrained look. + +"Wenna," he said, "don't go away: I want to speak to you for a minute. +You are offended with me about something, and I want you to tell me why. +If you wish our friendship to cease, say so, and I will obey you; but +you must tell me why first." + +"I am not offended with you, Mr. Trelyon," she said in a low and nervous +voice. "Do not think that. But--but I think it will be better if you +will let our friendship cease, as you say." + +"Oh no," he said, "I will not in this fashion. You've got to tell me +what is the matter first. Now remember this. Not very long ago you chose +to quarrel with me about nothing--absolutely about nothing. You know +quite well that I meant no harm to you by lending Mr. Roscorla that +money, yet you must needs flare up and give it me as hot as you could, +all for nothing. What could I do? Why, only wait until you saw what a +mistake you had made." + +"It was very wrong of me," she said: "I ask your forgiveness. But now it +is quite different: I am not angry with you at all. I should like to +remain your friend, and yet I think it better not. I--I cannot explain +to you, Mr. Trelyon, and I am sure you won't ask me when I say so." + +He looked at her for a moment, and then he said, gently and yet firmly, +"Look here, Wenna. You think I am only a boy--that may or may not +be--but I am going to talk reasonably to you for once. Come over to this +chair by the window and sit down." + +She followed him in passive obedience. She took the one chair, he the +other. + +"Perhaps I am only a boy," he said, "but I have knocked about a good +deal, and I have kept my eyes as wide open as most folks. I suppose +ill-natured people might say that as I had nothing to do at Eglosilyan, +I wanted to have a flirtation with the only girl who was handy. I know +better. Year after year I saw more and more of you, bit by bit, and that +after I had been abroad or living in other places in England from time +to time. I got to believe that I had never seen anywhere any girl or +woman who was so honest as you are, and good in a dozen secret ways that +needed a deal of discovering. I found out far more about you than you +imagined. I heard of you in cottages that you never knew I was in; and +everything I heard made me respect you more and more. Mind this, too. I +had no sort of personal liking for the sort of thing you were doing. I +don't admire beastly little rooms and poverty and sick people as +appealing to a fine sentiment. There never was anything of the parson or +the benevolent old lady about me. I would rather give half a crown to an +impertinent little boy who had just whopped another boy bigger than +himself than give a halfpenny tract to a sickly child in its mother's +arms: that's original sin in me, I suppose. But all that squalid sort of +work you were in only made the jewel shine the more. I used to think I +should like to marry a very grand woman, who could be presented at court +without a tremor, who would come into a drawing-room as if she was +conferring a favor on the world at large; and I certainly never thought +I should find the best and finest woman I had ever seen in back kitchens +sewing pinafores for children. And then when I found her there, wasn't +it natural I should put some store by her friendship? I suppose you +didn't know what I thought of you, Wenna, because I kept chaffing you +and Mabyn? I have told you something of it now; and now I want you to +say whether you have a right to shunt me off like this, without a word +of explanation." + +She sat still, silent and nervous. The rude and impetuous eloquence of +his speech, broken by many a hesitating stammer, had touched her. There +was more thoughtfulness and tenderness in this wild lad than she had +supposed. + +"How can I explain?" she burst out suddenly. "I should cover myself with +shame!" + +"And what have you to be ashamed of?" he said with a stare. The distress +she was obviously suffering was so great that he had almost a mind to +take her at her word and leave the house without further ado. + +Just at this moment, when he was considering what would be the most +generous thing to do, she seemed to nerve herself to speak to him, and +in a low and measured voice she said, "Yes, I will tell you. I have had +a letter this morning from Mr. Roscorla. He asks me if it is true that +you are paying me such attention that people notice it; and he asks me +if that is how I keep my promise to him." + +Something like a quiver of rage passed through the young man at this +moment, but his teeth were kept firmly together. She did not look up to +his face. + +"That is not all. I must tell you that I was deeply shocked and grieved +by this letter; but on looking back over the past six weeks I think a +suspicious person might have been justified in complaining to Mr. +Roscorla. And--and--and, Mr. Trelyon, did you see that dried flower in +my Prayer-book last night?" + +Her resolution was fast ebbing away: he could see that her hands were +clasped piteously together. + +"Yes, I did," he said boldly. + +"And oh what could you have thought of me?" she cried in her distress. +"Indeed, Mr. Trelyon, it was all a mistake. I did not keep the flower--I +did not, indeed. And when I thought you had seen it I could have died +for shame." + +"And why?" he said in a way that made her lift up her startled eyes to +his face. There was a strange look there, as of a man who had suddenly +resolved to dare his fate, and yet was imploringly anxious as to the +result. "For you have been frank with me, and so will I be with you. Why +should you not have kept that flower? Yes, I sent it to you, and with +all the purpose that such a thing could carry. Yes, you may be as angry +as you please; only listen, Wenna. You don't love that man whom you are +engaged to marry; you know in your heart that you do not believe in his +love for you; and are you surprised that people should wish to have you +break off an engagement that will only bring you misery?" + +"Mr. Trelyon!" + +"Wenna, one minute: you must hear me. Do with my offer what you +like--only here it is: give me the power to break off this engagement, +and I will. Give me the right to do that. Don't mind me in the matter. +It is true I love you--there, I will say it again: there is nothing I +think of from morning till night but my love for you--and if you would +say that some time I might ask you to be my wife, you would give me more +happiness than you could dream of. But I don't wish that now. I will +remain your friend if you like, Wenna; only let me do this thing for +you, and when you are free you can then say yes or no." + +She rose, not proud and indignant, but weeping bitterly. "I have +deserved this," she said, apparently overwhelmed with mortification and +self-reproach. "I have earned this shame, and I must bear it. I do not +blame you, Mr. Trelyon: it is I who have done this. How many weeks is it +since the man left England to whom I promised to be faithful? and +already--But this I can do, Mr. Trelyon: I will bid you good-bye now, +and I will never see you again." + +Her face was quite pale. She held out her hand. + +"No," he said firmly. "We don't part like that, Wenna. First, let me say +that you have nothing to accuse yourself of. You have done nothing and +said nothing of which any man, however mean and suspicious, could +complain. Perhaps I was too hasty in speaking of my love for you. In +that case I've got to pay for my folly." + +"And it is folly, Mr. Trelyon," she said passionately, and yet with +nothing but tenderness in her face. "How could you have thought of +marrying me? Why, the future that ought to lie before you is far more +than you can imagine yet; and you would go and hamper it by marrying an +innkeeper's daughter! It is folly indeed, and you will see that very +soon. But--but I am very sorry all this has occurred: it is another +grief to me that I have troubled you. I think I was born to bring grief +to all my friends." + +He was anxiously debating what he should do; and he needed all his wits +at that moment, for his own feelings were strong within him, and +clamoring for expression. Should he insist? Should he bear down all +opposition? Happily, quieter counsels prevailed, for there was no +mistake as to the absolute truthfulness of what the girl had said. + +"Well, Wenna," he said, "I will do anything you like, only to remain +your friend. Is that possible? Will you forgive all that I have said if +I make you a promise not to repeat it, and never again to mention your +engagement to Mr. Roscorla?" + +"No, we must part now altogether," she said slowly. Then by haphazard +she glanced up at his face for a moment, and there was a great sadness +in her eyes. "It is a hard thing to part. Perhaps it will not be +necessary that you should never come to see me. But we must not be +friends as we have been, for I have my duty to do toward him." + +"Then I may come to see you sometimes?" + +She hesitated: "You may come to see my mother sometimes. And I will +always think of you as a dear friend, whether I see you or not." + +He went outside, and drew a long breath. "I had to keep a tight grip on +the reins that time," he was thinking to himself--"a precious tight +grip; but I did it." + +He thought of the look there was in her eyes when she finally bid him +goodbye. His face grew the happier as he thought of it. He was clearly +not at all down-hearted about his rejection: on the contrary, he went +and told his cousin Juliott that the little affair of the morning had +been quite satisfactorily arranged, that Miss Wenna and he were very +good friends again, and that it was quite a mistake to imagine that she +was already married to Mr. Roscorla. + +"Harry," said his cousin, "I strictly forbid you to mention that +gentleman's name." + +"Why, Jue?" he said. + +"Because I will not listen to the bad language you invariably use +whenever you speak of him; and you ought to remember that you are in a +clergyman's house. I wonder Miss Rosewarne is not ashamed to have your +acquaintance, but I dare say you amend your ways when you are in her +presence. She'll have plenty to reform if ever she takes you for a +husband." + +"That's true enough, Jue," the young man said penitently. "I believe I'm +a bad lot, but then look at the brilliant contrast which the future will +present. You know that my old grandmother is always saying to me, +'Harry, you were born with as many manners as most folks, and you've +used none; so you'll have a rare stock to come and go on when you +begin.'" + +[TO BE CONTINUED.] + + + + +FEVER. + + +At present all branches of Science possess an intrinsic interest for +every intelligent man, but such elementary knowledge as enables its +possessor to understand the explanations of the medical attendant has a +double value. Over and over again I have heard the remark when some bold +successful treatment was being discussed, "But you would not have dared +to do that in private practice." The days of medical mystification are +not yet entirely passed, but year by year the profession is assuredly +losing that peculiar virtue of office which it formerly possessed in so +eminent a degree. The doctor is no longer a dignified personage with +gold-headed cane and powdered wig, mounting the mansion steps with +stately tread, but a busy man in various garb, hurrying from house to +house, studying the multitudinous problems of disease, and applying the +fruits of such study to the relief of individual cases. No longer able +to awe his patients into obedience, he must rely upon his moral and +intellectual powers in controlling them. To enable any one to understand +the explanations of physicians, and to protect himself, by discovery, +against the impudent assumptions of quacks, some knowledge of medical +truths and of the drift of modern medical thought is necessary. Every +successful physician, no matter how independent he may be by nature, is +necessarily more or less cramped by the prejudices of patients--prejudices +which often a little primary instruction would have done away with. + +Of all the diseased processes fever is one of the most frequent and one +of the most serious in their results. A discussion, therefore, of its +nature, the method of its production and of its relief, will, it may be +hoped, engage the attention of the general reader. + +If the hand be laid upon the skin of a person in a high fever the +attention is at once attracted by the great heat, and if the bulb of a +thermometer be placed under the tongue or in the armpit of the patient +the mercury may indicate a temperature of 107°, 108°, 109°, or even 110° +Fahrenheit, instead of 98° to 99° Fahrenheit, the normal temperature of +the human body. It is a common belief that the skin in fever is always +dry as well as hot, but this is a mistake, as intense fever may coexist +with a reeking perspiration. During the fever the pulse is greatly +increased in frequency, the head aches and throbs, and if the attack be +very severe restlessness, sudden startings, irregular muscular +twitchings, or even violent epileptiform convulsions and stupor, +delirium or coma, indicate the disturbance of the nervous system. + +These various symptoms are simply results of the excess of caloric, +which excites universal irritation, and, if prolonged, destroys the +tissues. This fact I have verified by three series of experiments, by +the first of which it was shown that the general application of external +heat so as to raise the bodily temperature produces all the phenomena of +fever; by the second, that the local application of heat to the brain +and to the heart causes the nervous and circulatory disturbances so +universally seen in fever; and by the third that the abstraction of heat +in fever is followed by immediate subsidence of the other symptoms. + +If a small animal, such as a dog, cat or rabbit, be placed in a chamber +heated by means of the sun's rays falling upon a slanting glass roof or +by some artificial method to a temperature of considerably over one +hundred degrees, a very constant series of phenomena is developed. The +breathing becomes hurried and the pulse greatly quickened, whilst the +restless movements of the body indicate nervous distress. After a time, +if the exposure be continued, the symptoms are intensified, and +restlessness passes into the weakness of partial paralysis; then +suddenly or gradually, with or without convulsions, stupor sets in, +deepening into coma, and death from arrested respiration is the final +result. If the temperature of the animal be tested from time to time +during the exposure, it will be found to rise steadily, and the severity +of the symptoms will be directly, and in any one species constantly, +proportional to the intensity of the bodily heat. + +The nervous system of man apparently resists the action of heat, but in +reality it does not do so. Man, it is true, is the only animal that can +thrive almost equally amidst arctic snows and in tropical jungles. This +is not, however, because his nervous system lacks sensitiveness, but +because he has the power of heating or cooling his body in such a manner +that its temperature is comparatively unaffected by that of the +surrounding air. Man might be well defined as the naked sweating animal. +In the north he strips the bear and the fox of their coat to keep him +warm; in the south his own skin acts as a refrigerator. The dog has a +few sweat-glands about the mouth--man has two millions densely covering +his body. In the horse exposed to heat the hair soon becomes wet and +matted, interfering very greatly with evaporation; in man the bare skin +offers an excellent surface, from which the perspiration passes off +almost as fast as formed. Evaporation, conversion of a liquid into a +vapor, means a steady conversion of sensible heat into what was +formerly called latent heat, but what we now know to be repulsive force: +the heat-energy of the body is lost in driving the particles of sweat +asunder in the form of vapor. + +It is possible, however, to have a temperature which even a Hindoo +cannot resist. When a man is exposed to such a heat his bodily +temperature rises, and as it rises the symptoms of fever develop +precisely as they do in the lower animals--sometimes slowly, sometimes +suddenly--with disturbances of the respiration, circulation and +innervation precisely similar to those already noticed as occurring in +the dog, the cat and the rabbit. Sunstroke, or thermic fever, is +generally believed to be instantaneous in its onset, but the wide +experience of the English in India has shown that whilst in some cases +it is thus sudden in its development, in others it is a slow process, +and probably in almost all cases close observation would have revealed +the existence of premonitions. + +External heat, by producing an internal rise of temperature, may thus +cause all the phenomena of fever. Of these phenomena the most prominent +is disturbance of the nervous system and of the circulation. In order to +determine whether the heat itself directly causes the nervous +disturbance, or whether it produces it indirectly by causing changes in +the blood, I applied caloric directly to the brains of animals. This was +done by fitting a hog's bladder like a bonnet over the head and allowing +hot water to run through it. It was found that stupor, coma, +convulsions, and finally death from arrest of the respiration, were +produced, sometimes gradually, sometimes suddenly, precisely as in the +case of exposure of the animal in a hot chamber. Moreover, on opening +the skull and plunging a thermometer into the cerebrum immediately after +death or the supervention of unconsciousness, it was found that these +phenomena were developed at the same brain-temperature when the heat was +locally applied as when the animal was exposed in the hot box. Thus, if +any given species in the hot box became unconscious when the temperature +reached 110° Fahrenheit, this species also became unconscious when the +locally-heated brain attained a temperature of 110°; or if death +occurred by arrest of the respiration in the hot box at 114°, so did it +when the locally-heated brain reached that point. + +Dr. Lauder Brunton of England has performed a series of experiments upon +the circulation parallel to those just narrated. Anæsthetizing animals +and exposing the heart, he has found that the action of that organ is +accelerated and weakened by the local application of heat, precisely as +occurs in fever. + +In order to test the effect of the withdrawal of heat, I have taken a +rabbit out of the hot chamber, in which it lay upon its side totally +unconscious, and plunged it into a bucket of cold water. The temperature +of the water rose rapidly, whilst that of the rabbit fell even more +rapidly. As soon as the bodily heat approached its normal intensity +consciousness returned, and in a few moments the animal, which had just +before been at the point of death, was running about the grass. + +Some months since I had an opportunity of repeating this experiment upon +a human being. + +In acute inflammatory rheumatism it sometimes happens that the swelling +and pain of the joints suddenly disappear, and the patient becomes +comatose or wildly delirious. It has been customary to explain these +symptoms as the result of the rheumatism leaving the joints and +attacking the brain. Evidently, this being the case, the proper thing to +do was to irritate the joints so as to draw the rheumatism back to them. +This method was formerly practiced, and the almost invariable result was +death in a few hours. + +In most if not all of these frightful cases of sudden accession of +severe nervous symptoms in rheumatism the temperature will be found, on +testing it, to be exceedingly high--108°, 109° or even 110° Fahrenheit. +If the views advocated in this paper be correct, it is not the +rheumatism, but the intense bodily heat, which causes the severe +symptoms, and finally death. The joints lose their sensitiveness, not +because the disease has left them, but because the heat so overpowers +the brain that it has lost its power of perception: the patient's leg +might be cut off without his feeling it. In such a case the proper +treatment is to take away the heat by plunging the patient into a cold +bath. But can there be anything more shocking to the universal belief +and prejudices than to put a patient dying of acute rheumatism into an +almost ice-cold bath? + +Last spring there was in my ward in the Philadelphia Hospital a stout +young Irishman who had passed through an acute attack of inflammatory +rheumatism, and was suffering from a sharp relapse. Entering the ward +one day, I saw at once that the man was unconscious, and turning to the +resident physician asked, "What is the matter with James?" "Nothing," +was the reply: "I saw him an hour and a half ago, and he was doing very +well, except that the fever was very high." "He is dying now, at any +rate," was my rejoinder. On going to the bedside the patient was found +perfectly unconscious, the skin dry and intensely hot, the affected +joints pale and devoid of sensibility, the breathing irregular and +jerking, the pulse 170 and scarcely perceptible, every muscle relaxed as +in death, every power of perception abolished. A thermometer placed in +the armpit registered 108-4/5° Fahrenheit. + +Believing that the symptoms were due simply to this excessive +temperature, I ordered the man to be at once stripped and put in a full +bath drawn from the cold-water spigot. The temperature of this bath was +found to be 60° Fahrenheit. In one minute and a half after the patient +had been placed in the tub he recovered consciousness sufficiently to +put out his tongue when told to do so in a loud, commanding tone. In +three minutes he began to struggle to get out and to complain of the +cold. In six minutes and a half he had become quite rational. He was now +taken out, only partially wiped, laid upon an India-rubber blanket and +covered with a single sheet, the temperature of the room being between +65° and 70°. Three minutes after this the temperature in the armpit was +94°, in the mouth 105-3/5°; five minutes later the mouth-thermometer +marked 103°, and the pain and tenderness had reappeared in the affected +joints. It would be out of place here to give further details as to his +treatment. It is enough to state that, although owing to a +misunderstanding of my orders, the man was left in a cool room for +twelve hours upon the gum blanket, wet and covered only with a sheet--or +possibly because he was so left--he recovered without a relapse or any +bad symptoms. + +The first case in which the cold-water treatment was practiced in the +Philadelphia Hospital was that of a woman suffering from a desperate +relapse of typhoid fever. She was semi-comatose, with a pulse of 150 and +a temperature of 107° Fahrenheit: death was seemingly inevitable and +imminent. As the bath-tubs were not convenient, the order was given that +the woman be laid upon an India-rubber cloth, and be wrapped simply in a +sheet constantly wet with water at a temperature as near 32° as +practicable. The nurses, aghast, refused at first to carry out the +order, but the physician's power being despotic, obedience was enforced. +About three pints of whisky were given in the twenty-four hours, besides +drugs, the whole treatment being successful. + +It has been shown that excessive bodily heat is capable of producing the +various symptoms of fever, and that its withdrawal is followed by the +immediate relief of these symptoms; and since excessive heat is always +present in fever, it is a logical deduction that it is the cause of +fever symptoms; or, in other words, that it is the essential part of +fever. + +It must be borne in mind, however, that the term fever is here used in +an abstract sense, to express a general diseased process, a bodily +condition. _A_ fever is a very different thing from fever. We may have +_a_ fever, such as typhoid, without the existence of fever. In a fever, +the fever--_i.e._, the elevation of temperature--is only part of the +disease, and great judgment and experience are often required to decide +how much of the general symptoms is caused by the fever, and how much by +the disease which is the cause of the fever. + +The importance of high temperature having been recognized, it becomes a +matter of the gravest scientific and practical interest to determine the +method in which it is produced. + +There are only two systems which bind the body together--namely, the +circulation and the nervous system. As fever is usually a universal +phenomenon, occurring simultaneously in every part of the body, it must +be produced either through the nervous system or by a poison in the +blood acting simultaneously on every tissue. Every physician knows, +however, that there are cases of fever in which there has been no +introduction of a poison into the blood: hence it follows that at least +sometimes fever must be produced by the nervous system. + +This being so, the study of the influence of the nervous system upon +animal heat is naturally the next step in our investigation. Before +making this step it may be well to call to mind the fact that chemical +processes are usually accompanied either by the giving out or the +withdrawal of heat. Thus, the chemical actions which result when ice and +salt are mixed cause a withdrawal of heat, and a "freezing mixture" is +formed. When a candle is burnt, the oxidation of its constituents, a +chemical process, evolves heat. Oxidation is the great source of +artificial heat, and animal heat is chiefly generated by the same +process; in other words, animal heat is always the product of the +chemical movements of the body, and these movements are almost +exclusively of the character of oxidation. In the animal tissues a +lessened oxidation is equivalent to a lessened heat-production, and +_vise versâ_. + +If a large nerve be exposed in one of the lower animals, and a galvanic +current be sent through it for half a minute or more, the temperature of +the animal falls very decidedly; and if the irritation be repeated +several times at intervals, the diminution of the animal heat may amount +to several degrees. Galvanization of a nerve affects very powerfully the +circulation, and it has been believed that this derangement was the +cause of the lessened chemical movements. But the alteration of the +circulation is immediate, and ceases almost at once when the current is +broken, whereas the fall of temperature comes on only after several +minutes, then progressively increases, and persists for many minutes--it +may be hours. The two phenomena being thus differently developed, it is +impossible that they should have the relation of cause and effect, and +the fall of temperature must be traced to a direct influence of the +nervous system upon the chemical processes of the body. + +This lowering of temperature under the influence of a powerful +irritation of a nerve-trunk or of its minute branches, which everywhere +pervade the tissues and spread out in the skin, is common to all species +of mammals. If a rabbit be merely tied down tightly upon a table, the +fall is perceptible, and if it be severely wounded, the temperature +diminishes very greatly. It has long been known that severe burns are +followed by a very great depression of the animal heat. Redard, a French +physician, made during the late siege of Paris a most interesting series +of observations upon the influence of severe gunshot wounds. He found +that, entirely independent of any hæmorrhage which might have occurred, +the temperature fell enormously, and in direct proportion to the gravity +of the wound; so that by the aid of the thermometer he was able to +predict whether a fatal issue would or would not occur in the course of +a few hours. + +We have found that both in man and the lower animals the nervous system +is able to check the chemical movements of the body, but before we can +decide how it does so facts not yet noticed must be looked at. + +If the spinal cord of an animal be cut just below the origin of the +nerves of respiration, an immediate fall of temperature occurs, and, if +the animal be left in a cool room, persists until death ensues. If, +however, the victim be put in a warm place, after a time the temperature +begins to rise, and finally a most intense fever is developed. Parallel +phenomena follow division of the spinal cord in man. Indeed, Sir +Benjamin Brodie was first led to experiment upon animals by observing in +1837 an excessive fever follow in a patient a wound of the spinal cord. + +I have already explained, in a former number of this Magazine,[2] the +nature of the so-called vaso-motor nerves, which preside over the little +circular muscles that run round and round in the coats of the +blood-vessels. When they are excited, these muscles contract and the +size of the arteries is diminished: when they are paralyzed, the +arterial inner muscles relax and the vessels dilate. The vaso-motor +nerves have their governing centre in that upper portion of the spinal +cord which is within the skull, the so-called medulla oblongata. When +the spinal cord is divided, the vessels are cut off from the influence +of this vaso-motor centre, and at once dilate, profoundly affecting the +blood-current by doing so. + +The first fall of temperature which follows division of the cord is +believed by most physiologists to be due to this dilatation of the +vessels. Very probably the blood-stream, flowing sluggishly, does not +give the normal amount of stimulus to the tissues, so that at first +their chemical actions are lessened, and consequently less caloric than +usual is generated in the body. Further, the blood moving slowly through +the dilated vessels of the lungs and of the surface of the body, is +cooled more completely than it should be; hence, unless the body is +protected by being surrounded with warm air, no excessive accumulation +of heat in it can occur, and therefore no fever can appear. + +Assuming that this explanation of the primary lowering of the +temperature after division of the cord be correct--and no better one has +as yet been offered--what is the cause of the fever which afterward +develops itself? As it occurs only when the animal is exposed to a +somewhat elevated temperature, it has been thought by some to be due to +the absorption of this external heat. This, however, is certainly not +true, as is shown, to omit less decisive proofs, by the experiments of +Naunyn and Quincke, who exposed animals for two days to a temperature of +90°, and at the end of that time, their bodily temperature not having +risen, cut their spinal cords, after which intense fever was developed +in a few hours without any change of atmosphere. + +Section of the cord must therefore give rise to an increased chemical +movement and heat-production in the body. As already stated, this +section affects very greatly the circulation, but the fever is +independent of such action. The upper end of the medulla oblongata is +continuous with a nervous mass which joins the two brain hemispheres +together, and hence is known as the _pons_ or bridge. If, instead of +cutting the spinal cord, we separate the medulla oblongata from the +pons, an _immediate_ rise of temperature occurs, and continues until +death, whether the operation be performed in a cold or heated room.[3] + +Cutting the medulla at its junction with the pons causes, then, an +immediate and direct elevation of temperature, without disturbance of +the circulation. What can this mean? Evidently, only one thing--namely, +that by the division of the medulla there has been separated from the +general tissues of the body a repressive force--a something which +normally controls their chemical activity and the production in them of +animal heat. + +The existence of nerves whose function is to repress action is no new +discovery in physiology. Readers of _Lippincott's Magazine_ may remember +my description of the pneumogastrics or brake-nerves of the heart, whose +duty it is to control the action of that viscus. Nerves which repress or +inhibit action are spoken of in modern physiology as inhibitory. The +experiments which have been adduced prove that there are nerves whose +function it is to control the general vital chemical actions, and that +the governing centre of these nerves is situated above the medulla +oblongata. To this centre, whose exact location is unknown, the name of +the _inhibitory heat-centre_ has been given. + +The way in which galvanization of a nerve, violent injuries and +excessive pain depress the temperature, independently of any action upon +the circulation, is now evident. An impulse simply passes up the +irritated or wounded nerve, and excites this inhibitory heat-centre to +increased action, and the temperature falls because the chemical +movements of the body are repressed. + +The method in which fever is produced also becomes very evident when +once the existence of an inhibitory heat-centre has been established. +Any poison having the power to depress, and finally paralyze, this +centre must, if it find entrance to the blood, produce fever. If the +poison, from its inherent properties, or from its being in very small +quantity, only diminishes the activity of the inhibitory heat-centre, +the controlling influence is not entirely removed from the chemical +movements of the body, and only slight fever results; but if the poison +actually paralyzes the inhibitory nerves, a very great rise of +temperature must rapidly follow the complete removal of the brake-power. + +As an illustration we may consider the intense rheumatic fever, or the +so-called "cerebral rheumatism," such as affected the young Irishman +whose case has been narrated in the present article. Without any +apparent reason the poison of rheumatism habitually attacks one joint on +one day, and another joint on another day, and with as little apparent +reason it occasionally falls of a sudden upon the inhibitory +heat-centre, and actually paralyzes it. In a few minutes intense fever +is developed, and the bodily temperature rapidly approaches nearer and +nearer that line on the other side of which is death. + +In many cases of fever, however, there is no poison in the blood; thus, +the local irritation of a boil or other inflammation may cause what is +well termed "irritative fever." The way in which this is produced is by +an indirect, and not a direct, action upon the inhibitory heat-centre. + +The casualties of the late war proved but too abundantly that a man may +be wounded in one part of the body and suffer from paralysis of +voluntary motion in another part. Thus, a soldier struck in the neck +fell unconscious, and on awaking was astonished to find his right arm +powerless at his side. This is the so-called "reflex paralysis." Very +commonly the irritation of a nerve will give rise to an impulse which +will travel up the nerve to a motor-centre, and so excite it that it +shall send in turn an impulse down a second nerve to a distant muscle, +and a spasm result. Sometimes, however, the impulse which travels to the +nerve-centre is of such a character that, instead of exciting it to +action, it deprives it of the power of action. In the former instance +reflex motion, in the latter reflex paralysis, results. + +We have seen that galvanization of a nerve may excite the inhibitory +centre to activity, and the peculiar persistent irritation of a local +inflammation may deprive the same centre of its power of action: in the +one instance a reflex inhibitory heat-centre spasm--_i.e._, lowering of +temperature--is produced, and in the other a reflex inhibitory +heat-centre paralysis--_i.e._, fever--results. + +It would be going too far at present to assert that all fever is +produced in the way spoken of. There are certain drugs which lower the +temperature in the fever that follows division of the cord and +consequent paralysis of the heat-centre, and which must therefore act +either upon the blood, or universally upon the tissues so as to diminish +their-chemical movements. It is most probable, although not yet +absolutely proved, that there are other substances which act directly +upon the blood and tissues in such a way as to increase their chemical +activities, and thereby cause fever. + +The practical considerations in regard to the treatment of disease which +naturally flow from the recent investigations of fever are very +important and very obvious. This is especially true since it has been +shown in Germany that under the influence of a continuous high bodily +temperature, not intense enough at any time to compromise life, all the +muscular tissues of the body undergo a peculiar granular degeneration. +Many a typhoid-fever patient has undoubtedly died from the heart-muscle +having undergone this change, when, if by artificial cooling the +temperature of the body had been kept down, the alteration of the +heart-structure would have been prevented, and death averted. It is +obvious, also, that the old plan of thwarting the intentions of Nature, +and depriving the fever-patient of the free use of cooling drinks, was +practically a baneful cruelty. As the body is burning up in fever, it is +also evident that to deprive it of sustenance is to aid in the +production of fatal exhaustion. The burning will go on, whether food is +given or not, so long as the tissues can serve as fuel. Of course no +more food should be taken than the patient can digest, but every grain +of digested food is so much added to the resources of the system, which +is engaged, it may be, in a close and doubtful conflict with disease. + +If it were possible, of course the best treatment for fever would be +that which lessened the production of heat. Fortunately, we have some +drugs--notably, quinine and alcohol--which do exert a decided influence +upon the vital chemical movements, but, unfortunately, their power is +limited. As we are therefore often unable to control heat-production, +the best we can do is to abstract the caloric from the body whenever it +becomes so excessive as to threaten serious results. To do this, all +that is necessary is to put the patient in a cold bath, or wrap him in a +sheet wet with ice-cold water, or lay him upon an ice-mattress, or +surround him with coils of tubing through which cold water runs, or use +some similar efficacious device. I do not wish to be misunderstood. +External cold is not to be lightly employed: it is a powerful two-edged +weapon, capable of cutting both ways--a weapon as injurious and +destructive in the hands of the ignorant and inexperienced as it is +efficient in the hands of those to whom study and experience have taught +its skillful use. + +To illustrate what cold water may effect when employed by intelligent +and skillful physicians, I may be permitted to cite a few hospital +statistics from Germany and Switzerland, the only countries where the +so-called antipyretic treatment of continued fever has been efficiently +carried out on a large scale. From 1850 to 1861 there were treated +without cold water, at the hospital at Kiel, 330 cases of typhoid fever, +with 51 deaths--a mortality of about 15-1/2 per cent.; from 1863 to +1866, 160 cases were treated with cold baths, with 5 deaths--a mortality +of only 3-1/10 per cent. In the hospital of Bâle, from 1843 to 1864, +there were 1718 cases without antipyretic treatment, with 469 deaths--a +mortality of about 27-1/2 per cent; from September, 1866, to 1873, 1121 +cases were treated antipyretically, with 92 deaths--a mortality of a +little over 8 per cent. Assuredly, we may claim that this +water-treatment in typhoid fever is one of the greatest gains of modern +medicine since the discovery of anæsthesia. + +Some of my readers may here say to themselves, "Why, this is +hydropathy!" Not so. It is the legitimate, not the illegitimate, use of +cold water. It is the use of it as a single weapon, not as the only +weapon of the armory. It is the employment of it in a single affection, +not as a cure for all diseases. + +Perhaps, in concluding this essay, I may be pardoned one word of counsel +to my lay audience. Any physician who proclaims himself a follower of +any special doctrine, be he a hydropath, an electropath, an allopath, a +homoeopath, or any other _path_, should be viewed with suspicion. Water, +cold, heat, electricity, drugs, are all agents capable of being used +advantageously in the treatment of disease. Above all men, the physician +ought to have that teachable spirit which is the offspring of true +humility. Knowing the grave responsibilities which he assumes, living +almost beneath the shadow of that past whose life-imperiling mistakes +are so plainly visible in the light of the present, he, of all men, +should be ever seeking for new knowledge, gathering with equal zest the +seeds of healing in the waste as well as in the cultivated places, +amongst the lowest and most ignorant of the populace, as well as in +far-famed schools of medicine. + + H.C. WOOD, JR., M.D. + + + + +SONNET. + + +Young bride, that findest not a single star + Shining to-night with longed for prophecy, +Though snowy drifts are swelling near and far, + They need not chill thy happy hope and thee. +If blue had overarched the earth all day, + And heaven were brilliant with its stars to-night, +"A happy omen!" many a guest would say, + And think that Fortune blessed the sacred rite. +Be superstition far from thee, sweet soul: + This snowy robe, in unison with thine, +Nature will doff to-morrow, and the whole + Of this white waste in spring-like freshness shine. +If love be strong, then all adversity +Will melt like snow, and life the greener be. + + CHARLOTTE F. BATES. + + + + +SOME RECOLLECTIONS OF HIRAM POWERS. + + +There are--or were--many at Florence whose recollections of Hiram Powers +stretch over the best part of a quarter of a century; and there are few +men of whom it could with equal truth and accuracy be said that such +recollections are wholly pleasant in their character to the survivors +and honorable to the subject of them. He was in truth universally +respected by people of all classes, and by Americans and English, as +well as Italians, in the city of his adoption, and personally liked and +esteemed by all who had the good fortune to be among his friends. +Recollections such as these are, I say, the property of very many at +Florence. But there is no one in that city--there _was_ during his +life no one in that city, not even she who during a long life was a +companion, friend, partner and helpmeet in every sense admirable for +him--whose recollections went back to so early a period as mine did. + +When I came to Florence with my mother in 1841, intending to make a home +there for a few years, we found, with some surprise and much pleasure, +Hiram Powers, with a wife and children, settled there as a sculptor. It +was long since, in the course of the changes and chances of life, we had +lost sight of him, but the meeting was none the less pleasurable to, I +think I may say, both parties. It was at Cincinnati in 1829 that my +mother and myself first knew him. My mother, who had long been an +acquaintance of General La Fayette, became thus the intimate friend of +his ward, Frances Wright. Fascinated by the talent, the brilliancy and +the singular eloquence of that remarkable and highly-gifted woman, and +at the same time anxious to find a career for one of her sons (not the +well-known author of the present day, but another brother, long since +dead), whose wishes and proclivities adapted him for a life of more +activity and adventure than that of one of our home-abiding professions, +my mother was persuaded by her to join her in a scheme which at that +time was engaging all her singularly large powers of energy and +enthusiasm, the object of which was to found at New Harmony--I think, +though I am not sure whether Frances Wright's colony was not another, +separate from that of New Harmony--an establishment which was in some +way or other to contribute to the emancipation of the slaves, mainly, I +imagine, by showing that under proper management they were not unfitted +for freedom. The fate of that philanthropic scheme is too well known to +make it necessary for me to rehearse the story of it here, imperfectly +known to me as it is. The upshot was, that my mother and brother were +induced to go to Cincinnati and attempt other plans, the final result of +which was also a failure. I had had no share in these Transatlantic +projects, being at the time a scholar at Winchester in the college of +William of Wykeham. But between quitting Winchester, at the age of +eighteen, and going to Oxford, I had a period of liberty of nearly a +twelvemonth, the greater part of which I devoted to accompanying my +father on a visit to Cincinnati. And there I became acquainted with +Powers, a very few years only my senior, whom I found already the valued +friend of my mother and brother. + +He was at that time--I well remember the look of him--a tall, lanky, but +remarkably handsome lad, somewhat awkward in person, but with a calm but +at the same time intellectually expressive beauty of feature which +marked him as one of Nature's noblemen. His eyes were the most +noticeable point about him. They were magnificent--large, clear, +well-opened, and expressive of calm thought and the working of the +intellect rather than of shrewdness or passion. His manner, I remember, +was marked by an exceeding simpleness, and a sort of innocent and +dignified straightforwardness which much impressed me. Altogether, my +acquaintance with him was a contribution of a new sort to the education +of my mind. I had passed eight years in the acquisition of those things +which an English "gentleman's education" is supposed to offer. These +things (in the year 1829) consisted in a very fair knowledge of Latin +and Greek. Unquestionably, the eight years which I had spent in learning +those languages had brought with them other advantages and other +teachings of an altogether priceless sort. But what they professedly had +taught me, what I then considered as the net result of my eight years at +school, was a competent knowledge of Latin and Greek, and nothing else. +Now, here was a young man of my own age, or little more, about whose +idiosyncrasy there was something especially _simpatico_ to me, as +the Italians say--who knew nothing whatever of the only things which I +knew, but knew a whole world of things of which I was profoundly +ignorant. I was (of course) full of prejudices also--ecclesiastical +prejudices, class prejudices, political prejudices, caste +prejudices--all of which were as unintelligible to my new friend as they +would have been to a red Indian. He was singularly free from prejudice +of any kind--a sort of original, blank-paper mind, on which nothing had +been written save what he had consciously written there himself as the +result of his own observations of life. I knew other young Americans, +and perceived and could have pointed out characteristics which +distinguished them. But Powers was not like them. He seemed to me a sort +of Adam, a fresh, new and original _man_, unclassable and +unjudgable by any of the formulas or prejudices which served me as means +of appreciating men. Despite all this--perhaps because of all this--we +soon became great friends. I very shortly discovered that he was wholly +and entirely truthful. His "yes" was _yes,_ his "no" was _no_; +and not only that, but what is much rarer still, his "five" or "six" was +not five and a quarter or six and a half, but _five_ or _six_. +I remember in him then what I recognized after many, many years in later +life, and what is often so amusing a characteristic in simple, upright +and truthful minds--the notion that on occasion he could be deep enough +to outwit the cunning of the unscrupulous, whereas his loyal +unsuspiciousness of evil was such that he might have been cheated by the +first shallow rogue who chose to exercise his vulpine craft against him. + +When I reached Cincinnati I found him intimate with my brother, and a +favorite with my mother, who had formed a high opinion both of his +character and of his talents. The latter had already very markedly +manifested themselves in that direction which finally decided his career +in life. Yet there was little of that dreamy and enthusiastic worship +for the abstract beautiful which is generally supposed to be the marking +characteristic of the artistic temperament. But he had a wonderful +faculty of executing with his hands whatever his mind had conceived, and +a mind singularly active in invention and in devising means for the +execution of a mechanical end. Had circumstances not made him a +sculptor, he might have been--probably would have been--a successful +inventor, mechanician or engineer. Throughout life he was an eminently +and specially _practical_ man--a man whose tendency was not to +dream, but to _do_. That artistic temperament, as it is generally +called, which so often manifests itself in exactly the opposite +direction--in a tendency to dream rather than to do, and to allow the +pleasures of the ideal to incapacitate those who indulge in them for +real work--was so little his that I have never known a more industrious +and conscientious worker with his hands. And there was nothing to which +he could not turn them, and that with a degree of skill that would often +put to shame the attempts of members of the craft which he might be +essaying for the first time. + +At that time Hiram Powers was, as the saying is, living upon his wits; +and they, being such as I have described them, were not likely to fail +in producing the wherewithal to do so. There was at that period a little +Frenchman named Dorfeuille at Cincinnati--not a bad sort of little man, +I believe, and with some amount of literary and other talent. But he +also being engaged in the operation of living on his wits, or mainly so, +and not finding them so abundantly sufficient for the purpose as those +of my young friend, thought that he too might in part live on the wits +of the latter; and during the time of my stay at Cincinnati he did so to +the satisfaction of both parties. This Dorfeuille was the proprietor of +a museum, the main and most attractive portion of which was a number of +wax figures. But the Cincinnati public was not large enough in those +days to supply a constant stream of fresh spectators, and, though there +was little in the way of public amusement to compete with M. +Dorfeuille's museum, the Cincinnati people soon got tired of looking at +the same show; and but for the happy chance which brought him into +contact with Hiram Powers, M. Dorfeuille must have packed up his museum +and sought "fresh woods and pastures new." But with the advent of young +Powers, and the contents of the museum given over to his creating brain +and clever fingers, a period of halcyon days and new prosperity +commenced for the little Frenchman and his show. With the materials at +his disposition all things were possible to the young artist, to whom +such a chance gave the first clear consciousness of his own powers. New +combinations, new names, new costuming, alterations of figures, etc. +etc. were adopted to produce fine effects and amuse the public with +constant novelties. For the invention of these Powers often used to +consult my mother, whose suggestions he never failed to carry into +effect, to the great amusement of both parties. On one occasion an idea +struck her, which, when she communicated it to him, fired the +imagination of Powers and turned out a great success. This was nothing +less than to give a representation of some of the more striking scenes +of Dante's _Divina Commedia_. The idea was a sufficiently audacious +one. But "audaces Fortuna juvat." Powers scouted the notion of +difficulty. My mother was to draw up the programme, and he undertook, +with the materials furnished him by the museum, and with the help of +some of his own handiwork, to give scenic reality to her suggestions. +The result, as I have said, was a brilliant success. I have a copy of +the "bill" that was issued to the public inviting them to the exhibition +in question, which is a curiosity in its way, and which I must give the +reader. It is drawn up in high sensational style, with lines of +different lengths and boldness, and printed in all the different sorts +of capitals which the printer's case afforded. I cannot occupy space +with any imitation of these typographical magnificences, but will simply +copy the language of the bill. It must have been my mother's +composition, and Powers had to work up to it, which he did to the +letter: + + "The World to come, as described by Dante, and comprising, Hell, + Purgatory, and Paradise, will be exhibited in a room adjoining the + Western Museum on the 4th of July, and days following. Admittance, + twenty-five cents. In the centre is seen a grand colossal figure of + Minos, the Judge of Hell. He is seated at the entrance of the + INFERNAL REGIONS [enormous capitals]. His right hand is raised as + in the act to pronounce sentence, his left holding a two-pronged + sceptre. Above his head is a scroll on which are written the + concluding words of Dante's celebrated inscription, 'Abandon hope, + all ye who enter here!' To the right of this figure the foreground + presents a frozen lake, on the surface of which are seen the heads + of those who have been doomed to this species of punishment. Among + these is the head of Ugolino, whom Dante describes as eternally + gnawing the head of his enemy, who, after placing him and his three + sons in the upper chamber of a strong tower near Florence, threw + the key of it into the moat and left them to perish with hunger. + Grinning in mockery of these ice-bound sufferers, A BLACK IMP + [biggest extra black capitals] is seated on a rock, dandling a + young monster. On the edge of the opposite side of the frozen lake + stands a spirit, who is just about to endure the frozen torment; + and his attitude and countenance express the agony of extreme cold. + Behind him opens the fiery gulf, the reflection of whose lurid + glare is seen on his half-frozen body. At his feet a female head, + fixed in the ice, looks up to the flames, as longing for their + warmth; while a little way within the lake of fire another head is + seen gazing with longing eyes upon the ice. A brilliant fountain of + flame is in the midst of the lake, and around it crowds of + condemned spirits in all varieties of suffering. In one corner a + fiend is proclaiming their infamy by the aid of a trumpet through + all the depths of Hell. Birds and animals of hideous form and evil + omen are fluttering over the heads and tormenting the sufferers. + Large icicles hang from the rocks that form the Gate of Hell, and + reflect on their bright surface the red glare of the fires within. + On the left of Minos is seen a Skeleton ascending a column of + Icicles and holding a standard bearing these lines: + + "'To this grim form our cherished limbs have come, + And thus lie mouldering in their earthly home. + In turf-bound hillock or in sculptured shrine + The worms alike their cold caresses twine. + So far we all are equal; but once left + Our mortal weeds, of vital spark bereft, + Asunder farther than the poles we're driven-- + Some sunk to deepest Hell, some raised to highest Heaven.' + + "Still farther on the left of Minos, and melting into distance + behind him, is seen the shadowy region of Purgatory. Four bright + stars--the Cardinal Virtues--give a delicate and cheering light + amid the gloom. A group of figures loaded with the burthen of their + sins are about to plunge into the lake of purgatorial waters, in + the hope of depositing them there. A boat wafted by the wings of an + Angel is bearing departed, souls toward Heaven; and near it is a + column of pale light to direct its course. In the distance is the + mountain that divides Purgatory from Heaven; and Beatrice, the + departed mistress of Dante, is standing on its summit, encouraging + him to proceed with her to Heaven, where his former guide, Virgil, + cannot be admitted (being a Pagan). Groups of Pilgrims who have + passed through Purgatory are ascending the mountain. Still farther + to the left, and opening in unbroken splendor above the head of + Beatrice, is seen the Heaven of Heavens. The golden light pours + down on the heads of the Pilgrims, and angels are seen floating in + the air and encouraging their efforts. The foreground of this part + of the scene presents various objects to cheer the spirit of the + Pilgrims in their passage through Purgatory. The entrance indeed is + rocky, but shrubs and flowers adorn it, and the Dove, the bird of + Hope, is bearing the olive-branch before them." + +If all that was packed into "a room adjoining the Western Museum," the +sight of it must, I think, be admitted to have been a cheap twenty-five +cents' worth. The Cincinnati world of hard upon half a century ago +judged it to be so, and flocked to the exhibition in crowds. But very +soon the versatile and indefatigable artist devised new means of still +further stimulating the curiosity and excitement of his public. A bar +ran across the exhibition-room, dividing the space allotted to the +spectators from that occupied by the scenery and objects provided for +their amusement. But since the available space was, as may easily be +imagined, somewhat limited, it came to pass that the foremost +spectators, being often of that class of persons who see with the ends +of their fingers, would stretch out their arms and audaciously touch +"the Black Imp," or "the Skeleton," or Minos himself, or any other of +the _dramatis personæ_ they could reach, to the damage of those +somewhat perishable properties. A notice was therefore placarded in the +room, written in flame-colored letters and couched in the choicest +bugaboo phraseology, warning all such indiscreet persons that the +denizens of the Infernal Regions could not be touched by mortal hands +with impunity, and that _immediate_ punishment would visit +transgressors. Of course it was foreseen that such threats would not +avail to restrain, but would rather stimulate the curiosity of the +disciples of Saint Thomas. But, sure enough, the threatened punishment, +by no means "_pede claudo_" followed in every case--very accurately +with the speed of lightning--on the transgression; for Powers had +cunningly contrived, preparing it all with his own hand, that a sharp +electric shock should be communicated to each audacious hand that braved +the prohibition. The astonishment, the terror, and subsequently the fun, +produced by this ingenious device may easily be imagined. The sufferers, +like the fox who had lost his tail, brought their friends, and enjoyed +the fun of leading them into the same scrape. The "room adjoining the +Western Museum" was more thronged than ever, and little Dorfeuille +reaped a golden harvest. How large a share of it found its way into the +pockets of the ingenious artist I know not--probably a much smaller one +than fair play would have assigned him. + +In the long after years at Florence, Powers and I had many a laugh +together over his reminiscences of the scenes that occurred in that +exhibition-room, all of which he remembered as well as if the incidents +had happened but a year before, and would chuckle over with as much +enjoyment as he did at the time of their occurrence. My copy of the +hand-bill which I have given above--doubtless the only one now in +existence--was matter of much amusement to us, and served to recall +every portion and every figure of the early work of his hands. + +From the time I left America to go to Oxford, in the spring of 1829, +till our meeting at Florence in 1841, I saw no more of Powers. But, as +may be easily imagined, we lost no time in renewing our old friendship. +He was then, and for many years afterward, living in the Via Romana, not +far from the city gate of that name. The house stood back from the +street, and was approached only by a passage through another tenement, +from which it was divided by a little garden; a situation which, though +not in all respects convenient, had at least the advantage of securing +quietude. The young sculptor, with his already numerous and rapidly +increasing family, occupied the first and second floors, while the +ground floor was exclusively devoted to workshops and show-rooms. The +premises were large and the accommodations ample. Already few Americans +came to Florence without paying a visit to the "Studio Powers," but they +were in those days but few in comparison to the number which, partly as +residents and partly as merely passing tourists, throng every winter the +fair "City of Flowers." Up to the revolution of 1848 the English at +Florence were very far more numerous than the citizens of the other +English-speaking nation. That unsuccessful movement drove many English, +very unnecessarily, from their moorings. The English colony was very +much reduced even after those who returned on the return of the grand +duke had resumed their old places. And from that time forward I think +that America has been more numerously represented on the banks of the +Arno than England. Powers had at that time produced various successful +busts, but had not as yet made himself known as an imaginative sculptor. +Nevertheless, the former works had sufficed to give him an amount of +reputation in the United States that ensured constant visits of his +countrymen to the studio in the Via Romana. + +Some twelve years had elapsed when I first saw Powers in Florence since +the old days in Cincinnati. In such a space of time, especially at that +period of life which turns a lad into a man, most men change much. But +the change in Powers's face was but small: I should have known him if I +had met him in the street anywhere. But in person he was much changed: +he had become stout and what is called personable, not fat--he never was +that to the end of his life--but neither was he lanky, as he had been as +a youth. He had filled out, as the phrase is, and might be considered in +all respects a decidedly handsome man. There was something specially, +and more than commonly, upright in the carriage of his person and of his +head, which seemed the expression of the uprightness of the man's moral +and intellectual nature and character. He always looked straight at you +with those large, placid and generally grave eyes of his under their +large and bushy brows. They seemed to continue grave, or at least +thoughtful, those eyes, even when there was a pleasant genial smile on +the mouth. And there was this specialty about his smile--a specialty +which may be often observed in subjective natures habituated to original +thought and to live in the inner life: it seemed generally to be +produced more by the movement of his own inward feelings and thoughts +than by what was said by others. Like most dark-haired men, he began to +become gray early in life, and for some few years before his death his +appearance was venerable in no ordinary degree. He then wore his hair, +which had become perfectly white, very long, and a shallow, very +broad-brimmed white hat on the top of it. The latter, indeed, was, I +think, at all times his universal wear. I do not think that I ever saw +him in Florence in that detestable article of apparel called "a +chimney-pot hat." But this is anticipating. + +Very shortly after our arrival in Florence and the renewal of our +friendship with Powers--I think not more than a year--there arrived in +Florence, bringing a letter of introduction to my mother, an English +gentleman of fortune, Mr. Grant. He was a noted lover and patron of art, +and my mother proposed to him a visit to the Studio Powers. The sculptor +had then just completed his first imaginative work, the "Greek Slave," +which numerous _replicas_ have since made so well known on both +sides of the Atlantic. This work had greatly excited my mother's +admiration, and it was that he might have an opportunity of seeing the +"Greek Slave" that my mother was desirous of taking Mr. Grant to the +sculptor's studio. But it was not altogether easy to induce Mr. Grant to +accept the proposal. "If there is anything very good, that is the very +reason why I must not go there. Lead me not into temptation! I have been +spending all my money, and more than I meant to spend, on sculpture in +Rome. Don't show me any more statues, for I cannot buy any more." But +this confession of fearing temptation was calculated to produce a +stronger determination to expose him to it. Mr. Grant was persuaded to +visit the studio in the Via Romana: he was as much charmed with the +beauty of the conception of the statue as with the conscientious +perfection of its execution, and he became the purchaser of it. And it +speedily acquired a reputation which led to the execution of as many, I +think, as four or five replicas at the request of other lovers of art; +and the sculptor's reputation was made. + +The practice of the greatest sculptors as regards the degree in which it +has seemed desirable to them to take part in that mechanical portion of +the business of producing a statue which consists in the manipulation of +the marble, has always been very different. Some have subjected the +marble to the touching of their own hands more, some less. The work of +reproducing a copy of the clay model in marble is a purely mechanical +one, and may or may not be in the artist's judgment best brought to +perfection by the labor of his own hands. It will readily be believed, +however, from what has been already said of the tendencies of Powers's +talent and idiosyncrasy, that he was among those who have contributed +most of their personal labor to the perfecting of their works. Powers +was one of those men whose hands have faculty in them. He was a master +in the use of them, and accordingly he loved to use them. It was his +practice to go over with his own hand the surface of the marble of every +work which left his studio. But he was not contented to do this in the +manner and with the tools which had been used by so many generations of +sculptors before him. That decided bent of his genius to mechanical +invention which has been mentioned at the beginning of this paper led +him to perceive that an improvement might be made in this respect. For +giving the last finish to the marble, for removing from the surface a +quantity so small that no chisel could be trusted to do the work, it is +obvious enough to suggest the use of a file. And no doubt files are used +for the purpose, but they are liable to a special and very troublesome +source of inefficiency. They become clogged with the excessively fine +dust of the marble in a very few minutes to such an extent as to be +rendered useless, especially as the file must be of an exceedingly fine +description. Powers therefore set his mind to the problem of inventing +some means or some instrument by which this source of trouble could be +avoided; and after considerable vexation, not so much in perfecting his +own conception of the thing needed as in getting careless and not very +competent workmen to execute his orders, he perfected a file of the +necessary fineness upon the principle of a nutmeg-grater. His studio was +at all times full of little ingenious contrivances of all +sorts--contrivances for readily and conveniently modifying the light in +the exact degree desirable; contrivances for the due collocation and +distribution of artificial light; contrivances for the more ready moving +of marbles, etc. etc. + +It is the fashion in Florence and in Rome for artists to open their +studios to all visitors. It is a custom which adds much to the amusement +of visitors who are really lovers of art; but it must bring with it, one +would think, consequences which must sometimes be not a little trying to +the painter's or sculptor's temper and patience. Criticism from those +who have some little pretension to the right to criticise is not always +pleasant when volunteered, but criticism from such Philistines of the +Philistines as often haunt the studios must be hard indeed to bear with +common courtesy. Powers invariably received such with the most perfect +suavity and good-temper, but I have sometimes seen him, to my great +amusement, inflict a punishment on the talkers of nonsense which made +them wish they had held their tongues. This consisted simply of +defending his own practice by entering on a lecture upon the principles +which ought to regulate the matter in question. He was, I fancy, rather +fond of lecturing, and would rather have liked the work of a professor +of the fine arts. I have seen people writhe under his patient and +lengthy expositions, which they were as capable of understanding as so +many bullocks, and which they had brought down on themselves by some +absolutely absurd remark on the work before them. I have seen such +delinquents use every sort of effort to put a stop to or escape from the +punishment they had brought upon themselves. In vain: the lecture would +continue with a placid _uninterruptibility_ which it was amusing to +witness. + +It was in 1854, I think, or thereabouts (for I have not at hand the +means of verifying the date with accuracy, and it is of no consequence), +that Mr. Hume, the since well-known medium, came to Florence. He came to +my house on the pressing invitation of my mother, my then wife and +myself. We had seen accounts of extraordinary things said to have taken +place some months previously at the house of a Mr. Rymer, a solicitor +living at Ealing near London, and our curiosity and interest had been so +much excited that the hope of being able to witness some of these +marvels was not the least among the motives of a journey that summer to +England. We obtained an introduction to Mr. Rymer, were present at +sundry _séances_ at his house at Ealing, made acquaintance with Mr. +Hume, and invited him to stay for a while in my house in Florence. He +came accompanied by his friend, a son of Mr. Rymer; and both the young +men were resident under my roof for about a month, leaving it to accept +an invitation from Mr. Powers to make his house their home for a while. +The manifestations of phenomena produced, or supposed to be produced, by +what has become known to the world as "Spiritualism," were then only +beginning to attract in Europe the very general attention which they +have since that time attracted. The thing was then new to most people. +During the month that Mr. Hume and his friend were in my house we had +séances almost every evening, with the "assistance," as the French say, +of a rather numerous and very varied circle. For, as may easily be +supposed, all our friends were anxious to witness the new marvels, and +we, desirous only of as many eyes and as many minds as might be for the +better watching and discussion of the phenomena, welcomed all comers to +the extent of the capacity of our room and table. I have no intention of +troubling my present readers with any detailed rehearsal of the +phenomena which presented themselves. The testimony which my +observations during this period enabled me to offer has already more +than once been given to the world in print, and the catalogue of similar +and yet more extraordinary experiences has become too long, and the +witnesses to them too numerous and too well known to the public, for +such details to have any further interest at the present day. I feel +bound, however, to state that no amount of suspicious watching which I +was able to exercise in my house, and which Powers was able to exercise +in his, enabled us to discover any smallest degree of imposture, or fair +grounds for suspecting imposture, as regards the physical or material +phenomena which were witnessed. Such is my testimony, and such was that +of Powers, who, by his aptitude for inventing and understanding +mechanical contrivances of all kinds, was a man specially well fitted +for the task of watching the performance of such wonders. I have spoken +here, it will be observed, altogether of the _material_ and +_physical_ phenomena witnessed. As to what are called the spiritual +manifestations, Powers was perhaps not an entirely unbiased estimator of +these. He was an eminently sincere, earnest and zealous Swedenborgian, +and several of the leading tenets and dogmas of the Swedenborgian faith +are calculated to make such communications with the world of spirits as +Spiritualists claim to experience much less startling, less strange to +the mind and more acceptable, than they usually appear to other people. +To a Swedenborgian who is perfectly convinced that the spirits of the +departed are ever around him and interested in his welfare, it does not +seem a very strange or extraordinary thing that these visitors should +under certain circumstances be able to express the interest which they +always feel. Powers regarded all the professed manifestations of +spiritual communications from that stand-point, and was enabled to +accept them therefore somewhat more easily than another person might +have done. Yet, despite such predisposing proclivities, and though he +was disposed to think a great variety of professed communications from +the world of spirits to have been genuinely what they purported to be, +the habitual uprightness and truthfulness of Powers's mind led him, as I +believe I am justified in saying, to the conclusion that in the case +which I am about to mention, at least, there was ground for very strong +suspicion of the honesty of the medium. The circumstances of the case +were as follows: + +I had many years previously lost a brother--the same whom I have already +had occasion to mention in the earlier part of this letter. Now, at an +early stage of the series of sittings that took place at my house it was +intimated that the spirit of this brother was present and wishful or +willing to communicate with me. He did, as was proposed, communicate +very freely upon subjects of all sorts by means of raps under the table +and the letters of the alphabet spread upon it--on all subjects save +one. To the often-repeated question, where we had last met in life, I +could get no reply. It was constantly promised to me that I should be +answered this question at the next sitting. Now, it so happened that my +wife had conceived, reasonably or unreasonably, doubts as to the +medium's honesty in the matter, and she determined to try him in the +matter of this unanswered question. Talking one day with him in +tête-à -tête, she turned the subject of maladies of the chest, of which +they had been speaking, to the special case of her late brother-in-law, +discussing the powerful influence of climate, and remarking that she +feared Ostend had been a very bad place for him. And there she left the +matter without any further remark, and without eliciting any answer from +him. This occurred very shortly before the time when Mr. Hume left my +house to accept the hospitality of Mr. Powers. The sittings continued +with great frequency in the house of the latter, and my mother and +myself were very frequently present at them. As before, the +_soi-disant_ spirit of my brother Henry announced his presence, +and, as before, I repeated my often-asked question as to the place on +earth where he and I had last met. On this occasion the answer rapped +out consisted of the word "Ostend." I smilingly replied, "Spirit, you +know nothing about what you are talking of: you are wrong." Mr. Hume +became immediately very angry, and reproached me vehemently for +"interrupting the spirit"--for not waiting for what he was probably +going to say. It was likely enough, he added, that the spirit was about +to say that Ostend was _not_ the place. I said "Pshaw! In that way +he might go through the whole Gazetteer." Thereupon Mr. Hume declared +that I was evidently not in a fit frame of mind to be a sitter at such +meetings; that my presence would be likely to mar any results to be +expected from them; and, in short, if only for the sake of those who +wished to continue their experiences, it was necessary that I should +withdraw from them. That was the last occasion on which I took part in a +séance under Mr. Hume's mediumship. My mother continued her sittings at +the house of Mr. Powers, and it is fair to record that she there +witnessed material phenomena--some of them closely allied to phenomena +only explainable on Spiritualistic theories--of even a more +extraordinary nature than any which had occurred at my house; in which +neither she, nor Mr. Powers or any of his family, nor any of the others +of the party, were able to detect any imposture. And I believe I may add +that Mr. Powers fully believed in the genuineness of the phenomena +witnessed. It is also perhaps fair to state that had the answer to my +question been "On board the steamboat going from London to Ostend," the +reply would have been correct. How far it is possible to suppose that +the word "Ostend" may have been the _first_ word of an answer about +to be completed in that sense if it had not been interrupted, I leave to +the judgment of the reader. + +For some time after this Powers used to recount to me the marvels which +were witnessed at his house. He was not pleased with the medium as an +inmate in other respects: he did not form a favorable opinion of his +moral character. I am speaking of matters now many years old, and I +might not have considered it necessary to record these impressions of a +very specially upright and honest man with regard to one who is still +before the public were it not that they go to increase the value of Mr. +Powers's testimony to the genuineness of the phenomena which he +witnessed, by showing that his judgment upon the subject was at least in +no degree warped by any prejudice in favor of the miracle-worker. + +Meantime, the sculptor, still in the modest tenement which he occupied +for so many years in the Via Romana, was growing in fame and reputation +from day to day. A visit to the Studio Powers--or Pousse, as the +ciceroni and valets-de-place called it--was an obligatory part of the +tourist's regular work in "doing" Florence. A large family was, during +those prosperous and laborious years, growing up around him--sons and +daughters, most of whom he lived to see settled in life and to be justly +proud of. Death did not altogether pass his threshold by, but he knocked +there but once or twice in all that length of years. At last the time +came when the successful artist felt that his position enabled and +justified him in moving from his old quarters to more commodious and +luxurious ones. He had been but a tenant in the Via Romana: he was now +to inhabit a house of his own. + +It was the time when Florence was for a few short years enjoying the +fallacious and fatal honor of being the capital of Italy. There were +some who from the first were fully convinced that that honor would be a +transitory one. The greater number thought that the will of France and +of her emperor, and the difficulties attending the simultaneous +residence of the king of Italy and the pope within the walls of the same +city, would avail to make Florence the capital of the new kingdom for at +least as many years as human prudence could look forward to. The +earthquake-like events which shook down the bases of all such +calculations, and enabled Italy to realize her longing desire to see +Rome the capital of the nation, are too well known to need even +referring to. Florence suddenly ceased to be the metropolis of Italy, +and the amount of financial ruin in the case of those who had invested +money in building to supply the wants of the capital was very widespread +indeed. And there can be no doubt that the houses built by Powers are at +the present day worth much less than they were at the time he built +them, and still less than they would have been worth had Florence +remained the capital. Nevertheless, I do not think that he would have +abstained from building from any considerations of this kind. He built +solely with a view to residence, and in that respect he could hardly +have done better than he did. + +He did not move very far. His old lodging and studio were, as has been +said, a little way within the Porta Romana, and the villa residence +which he built is but two or three minutes' walk on the outside of it. +Immediately outside this Porta Romana, sloping off a little to the left +from the road to Rome, is a magnificent avenue of ilex and cypress +conducting to a grand-ducal villa called the "Poggio Imperiale." To the +left again of this avenue, which is perhaps a mile or somewhat more in +length, and between it and the city wall, which in that part of its +course encloses the Boboli Gardens attached to the Palazzo Pitti, is a +large extent of hillside, rapidly rising to the heights crowned by the +ancient and storied church of San Miniato, and by the suburban villages +of Arcetri and Pian Guillari. This space was, and had been for time out +of mind, occupied by fields and market-gardens. But when the new +fortunes of the City of Flowers fallaciously seemed to be in the +ascendant, it was at once seen that of all the spaces immediately around +Florence which were available for that increase of the city which was +expected to be urgently required, none was more desirable or more +favorably circumstanced than this hillside. A really magnificent +carriage-road, ornamented with gardens on either side of it, was led in +well-arranged curves up to San Miniato, and down on the other side of +the hill till it reaches the Arno at the village of Ricorboli. The +entire course of this road commands a series of varied views of the city +and the Vale of Arno than which nothing can be conceived more charming. +It is in truth the finest city promenade and drive that I know in +Europe. Rome has nothing comparable to it. The Bois de Boulogne and Hyde +Park are, as far as natural beauty goes, tame and flat in comparison to +it. The planning and the execution of it have been alike excellent. The +whole of the space up which the road serpentines has been turned into +ornamental gardens, and on either side of it, and among its lawns and +shrubberies, a large number of villa-sites were reserved to be disposed +of to purchasers. Of this singular opportunity Powers was one of the +first to avail himself. He selected with admirable judgment three sites +in the immediate neighborhood of each other--one for a residence for +himself, one for that of his eldest son, a married man, established and +doing well as a photographer, and one for that of his eldest daughter +and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Ibbetson. The friends of the sculptor thus +patriarchally establishing himself said laughingly that the region ought +to be called Powerstown. The three houses, each in its own grounds, were +built, and excellently good and comfortable residences they are. Powers +was almost as much in his own element in superintending them as in his +studio with mallet and chisel in hand, as might be surmised. The new +studio formed no part of the dwelling-house, but occupied a separate +erection in the grounds. Nor did the artist's love for his art fail to +show itself in the amplitude and excellent adaptation of the building to +all the needs of a studio, properly so called--of work-rooms and +exhibition-rooms for the reception of visitors. A more complete +sculptor's residence and establishment it would be difficult to imagine. +Alas for the shortness of the few years that were allowed to him for the +enjoyment of it! Long after the house and the studio were completed, and +the marbles all moved thither, Powers was still indulging in the delight +of improving his garden; and his plans for such improvement gave +striking evidence of that genius and passion for mechanical cleverness +and achievements of which I have frequently spoken. He had planned and +begun--I think only begun--to execute an artesian well by means of +certain newly-invented systems of boring, the details of which, in the +absence of all workmen who possessed any knowledge whatever on the +subject, had to be wholly superintended, arranged and adapted by +himself. He had satisfied himself by observations of his own that water +was to be found at a given depth, and had, I believe, prosecuted the +work sufficiently to be assured that his judgment in this respect was +well founded. In connection with this scheme of the artesian well was a +fountain in the garden, which was, I believe, also ultimately brought to +perfection. + +In conformity with the convenient continental fashion of ladies naming +one day in the week for the reception of visitors--a plan which enables +them to escape from the interruption to their domestic pursuits on all +other days, and which is very generally adopted by those who have large +circles of acquaintance--Mrs. Powers used to open the drawing-rooms of +her new house on every Saturday, and a considerable crowd was sure to be +found there from two to six. But such recent arrivals on the banks of +the Arno as paid their respects to Mrs. Powers in the hope and +expectation of seeing the famous sculptor were almost, if not quite, +invariably disappointed. None of the Florentine colony expected to find +Powers in the drawing-room on such occasions. They knew better where to +look for him--in his workshop. There he might be found by those who had +brought letters of introduction to him, in his usual workman's garb. +Powers never made the slightest concession to the necessities of +receiving "company" on such occasions. There he was, with his working +cap on head, probably in a long light gray coat, not innocent of marble +dust, but often in blouse and apron. + +In the latter days, when, though we little thought it, the end was +approaching, when the night of that long day of continuous activity and +labor was at hand, he might as frequently have been found sauntering +under the magnificent trees of the Poggio Imperiale avenue in the +immediate vicinity of his own house. Upright in figure and in carriage +as ever, and with his eye as bright as ever, it was difficult to suppose +that the venerable and stalwart figure of the old sculptor was not +destined still for years of life and activity. His malady was connected +with the respiratory organs; and a specially painful circumstance of it +for his friends was, that the loss of voice, which made the effort of +talking injurious to him, rendered it a selfish and inconsiderate thing +to visit him; for the activity of his mind was still such that in the +contact with another mind he could not abstain from the old familiar +intercourse which he had loved so well. Like the old camel of the +Arabian tale, that, having been all its life accustomed to lead the +caravan, died in the effort to keep his old place to the last, Powers, +who had been always wont to have rather the lion's share of +conversation, could not resign himself to hear another talk, in silence. +He _would_ talk, and suffered for it afterward. The result was that +his friends felt that they were showing the best consideration for him +by staying away. + +To look at him, I say, as he would stand in the sunshine at his own +gate, it was difficult to imagine that aught of a very serious nature +ailed him. But in the case of a man so habitually active his sauntering +there was a bad sign. He was emphatically one of those men with whom +life and work are the same thing--one whose sun was at the setting when +he could work no more, and who would probably have cared little to +survive his capacity for working. + + T. ADOLPHUS TROLLOPE. + + + + +CORN. + + + To-day the woods are trembling through and through + With shimmering forms, that flash into my view, + Then melt in green as dawn-stars melt in blue. + The leaves that wave against my cheek caress + Like women's hands; the embracing boughs express + A subtlety of mighty tenderness; + The copse-depths into little noises start, + That sound anon like beatings of a heart, + Anon like talk 'twixt lips not far apart. + The beech dreams balm, as a dreamer hums a song, + Through whose vague sweet float expirations strong + From lithe young hickories, breathing deep and long + With stress and urgence bold of inward spring, + And ecstasy of burgeoning. + Now, since the dew-plashed road of morn is dry, + Come daintier smells, linked in soft company, + Like velvet-slippered ladies pacing by. + Long muscadines, + Like Jove's locks curled round foreheads of great pines, + Breathe out ambrosial passion from their vines. + I pray with mosses, ferns and flowers shy + That hide like gentle nuns from human eye, + To lift adoring odors to the sky. + I hear faint bridal-sighs of blissful green, + Dying to kindred silences serene, + As dim lights melt into a pleasant sheen. + I start at fragmentary whispers, blown + From undertalks of leafy loves unknown, + Vague purports sweet, of inarticulate tone. + + Dreaming of gods, men, nuns and brides, between + Old companies of oaks that inward lean + To join their radiant amplitudes of green, + I slowly move, with ranging looks that pass + Up from the matted miracles of grass + Into yon veined complex of space, + Where sky and leafage interlace + So close the heaven of blue is seen + Inwoven with a heaven of green. + + I wander to the zigzag-cornered fence + Where sassafras, intrenched in brambles dense, + Contests with stolid vehemence + The march of culture, setting limb and thorn, + Like pikes, against the army of the corn. + + There, while I pause, before mine eyes, + Out of the silent corn-ranks, rise + Inward dignities + And large benignities and insights wise, + Graces and modest majesties. + Thus, without tilth, I house a wondrous yield; + Thus, without theft, I reap another's field, + And store quintuple harvests in my heart concealed. + + See, out of line a single corn-stem stands + Advanced beyond the foremost of his bands, + And waves his blades upon the very edge + And hottest thicket of the battling hedge. + Thou lustrous stalk, that canst nor walk nor talk, + Still dost thou type the poet-soul sublime + That leads the vanward of his timid time, + And sings up cowards with commanding rhyme-- + Soul calm, like thee, yet fain, like thee, to grow + By double increment, above, below; + Soul homely, as thou art, yet rich in grace like thee, + Teaching the yeomen selfless chivalry, + That moves in gentle curves of courtesy; + Soul filled like thy long veins with sweetness tense, + By every godlike sense + Transmuted from the four wild elements. + Toward the empyrean + Thou reachest higher up than mortal man, + Yet ever piercest downward in the mould, + And keepest hold + Upon the reverend and steadfast earth + That gave thee birth. + Yea, standest smiling in thy very grave, + Serene and brave, + With unremitting breath + Inhaling life from death, + Thine epitaph writ fair in fruitage eloquent, + Thy living self thy monument. + + As poets should, + Thou hast built up thy hardihood + With wondrous-varying food, + Drawn in select proportion fair + From solid mould and vagrant air; + From terrors of the dreadful night, + And joyful light; + From antique ashes, whose departed flame + In thee has finer life and longer fame; + From wounds and balms, + From storms and calms, + From potsherds and dry bones, + And ruin-stones. + So to thy vigorous substance thou hast wrought + Whate'er the hand of Circumstance hath brought; + Yea, into cool solacing green hast spun + White radiance hot from out the sun. + So thou dost mutually leaven + Strength of earth with grace of heaven; + So thou dost marry new and old + Into a one of higher mould; + So thou dost reconcile the hot and cold, + The dark and bright, + And many a heart-perplexing opposite: + And so, + Akin by blood to high and low, + Fitly thou playest out thy poet's part, + Richly expending thy much-bruised heart + In equal care to nourish lord in hall + Or beast in stall: + Thou took'st from all that thou might'st give to all. + + O steadfast dweller on the selfsame spot + Where thou wast born, that still repinest not-- + Type of the home-fond heart, the happy lot!-- + Deeply thy mild content rebukes the land + Whose flimsy homes, built on the shifting sand + Of trade, for ever rise and fall + With alternation whimsical, + Enduring scarce a day, + Then swept away + By swift engulfments of incalculable tides + Whereon capricious Commerce rides. + + Look, thou substantial spirit of content! + Across this little vale, thy continent, + To where, beyond the mouldering mill, + Yon old deserted Georgian hill + Bares to the sun his piteous aged crest + And seamy breast, + By restless-hearted children left to lie + Untended there beneath the heedless sky, + As barbarous folk expose their old to die. + Upon that generous swelling side, + Now scarified + By keen neglect, and all unfurrowed save + By gullies red as lash-marks on a slave, + Dwelt one I knew of old, who played at toil, + And dreamed himself a tiller of the soil. + Scorning the slow reward of patient grain, + He sowed his soul with hopes of swifter gain, + Then sat him down and waited for the rain. + He sailed in borrowed ships of usury-- + foolish Jason on a treacherous sea, + Seeking the Fleece and finding misery. + Lulled by smooth-rippling loans, in idle trance + He lay, content that unthrift Circumstance + Should plough for him the stony field of Chance. + Yea, gathering crops whose worth no man might tell, + He staked his life on a game of Buy-and-Sell, + And turned each field into a gambler's hell. + Aye, as each year began, + My farmer to the neighboring city ran, + Passed with a mournful anxious face + Into the banker's inner place; + Parleyed, excused, pleaded for longer grace, + Railed at the drought, the worm, the rust, the grass, + Protested ne'er again 'twould come to pass + Such troops of ills his labors should harass; + Politely swallowed searching questions rude, + And kissed the dust to melt his Dives's mood. + At last, small loans by pledges great renewed, + He issues smiling from the fatal door, + And buys with lavish hand his yearly store + Till his small borrowings will yield no more. + Aye, as each year declined, + With bitter heart and ever-brooding mind + He mourned his fate unkind. + In dust, in rain, with might and main, + He nursed his cotton, cursed his grain, + Fretted for news that made him fret again, + Snatched at each telegram of Future Sale, + And thrilled with Bulls' or Bears' alternate wail-- + In hope or fear alike for ever pale. + And thus from year to year, through hope and fear, + With many a curse and many a secret tear, + Striving in vain his cloud of debt to clear, + At last + He woke to find his foolish dreaming past, + Beheld his best-of-life the easy prey + Of quacks and scamps, and all the vile array + That line the way, + From thieving statesman down to petty knave; + Yea, saw himself, for all his bragging brave, + A gamester's catspaw and a banker's slave. + Then, worn and gray, and sick with deep unrest, + He fled away into the oblivious West, + Unmourned, unblest. + + Old hill! old hill! thou gashed and hairy Lear + Whom the divine Cordelia of the year, + E'en pitying Spring, will vainly strive to cheer-- + King, but too poor for any man to own, + Discrowned, undaughtered and alone, + Yet shall the great God turn thy fate, + And bring thee back into thy monarch's state + And majesty immaculate; + So, through hot waverings of the August morn, + A vision of great treasuries of corn + Thou bearest in thy vasty sides forlorn, + For largesse to some future bolder heart + That manfully shall take thy part, + And tend thee, + And defend thee, + With antique sinew and with modern art. + + SIDNEY LANIER. + + + + +GENTLEMAN DICK. + + +They had, all of them, nicknames themselves, for in a Colorado +mining-community it was not difficult to acquire a title, and they +called him Gentleman Dick. It was rather an odd name, to be sure, but it +was very expressive, and conveyed much of the prevailing opinion and +estimate of its owner. They laughed when he expressed a desire to join +the party in Denver, and Old Platte looked at his long, delicate hands, +so like a woman's, with a smile of rough, good-humored pity, mingled, +perhaps, with a shade of contempt for the habits and occupation that had +engendered such apparent effeminacy. But he pleaded so earnestly and +talked with such quiet energy and confidence of what he could and would +do, and moreover had about him so much of that spirit of subdued +_bonhomie_ that always captivates the roughest of the rough, that +they relented, took his money and put it in the "pot," and informed him +that he was one of them. Their decision was not altogether unconnected +with the fact that he had given evidence of considerable surgical skill +in his treatment of Mr. Woods, more familiarly known as "Short-card +William," who had been shot a week or so previously over a game of poker +by an independent bull-whacker whom he had attempted to defraud. The +sense of the community had sustained the act; and while the exhibition +of his skill in dealing was universally condemned as having been +indiscreet under the circumstances, still he was accounted a live man +among them, and the discovery of a surgeon to dress his wound was hailed +with a somewhat general feeling of relief. Had it not been for the fact +that the sobriquet of Gentleman Dick was already conferred and accepted +universally as his name, he certainly would not have escaped that of +"Doctor," and as it was, Mr. Woods, who was profuse as well as profane +in his gratitude, insisted upon so calling him. A doctor, or anything +bearing even a resemblance to a member of that sadly-represented +profession, was regarded with a certain degree of reverence among a +community whose peculiar habits often gave rise to pressing and +immediate need of surgical attendance. Consequently, Gentleman Dick +rapidly attained an elevated position in their regard, and became a +great favorite with Old Platte's party, although they still looked +doubtfully at his slender figure and felt "kind o' bothered" by the air +of gentility and good-breeding which hung around him in spite of the +rough miner's garments that he had chosen to assume. By the time they +left Denver for the Blue he was deemed as indispensable to the company +as Old Platte himself. + + * * * * * + +The forest of dark pines and firs that covered both sides of the valley +of the Blue grew down to the bars of the river, which along its banks +was thickly grown with wild gooseberry and raspberry bushes, and piled +up here and there with great tangled heaps of driftwood which the spring +floods brought down and left in masses of inextricable confusion along +its sides. Back a little distance from one of these sandy flats, and +nestled right in the shadow of the forest's edge, they built a long +rough cabin early in June. In summer-time the spot was a wild and +picturesque one. Green and luxuriant vegetation made a soft and +brilliant carpet at the feet of the stately old pines; huge boulder-like +rocks, their edges softened and rounded in the grasp of one of Agassiz' +pre-Adamite glaciers that had ground its icy way down from the melting +snow-caps above--rocks covered with bright lichens and tufts of moss--- +lay piled on one another at the foot of the steep mountain-side; while +gnarled cedars twisted around about them, their rough red roots twining +here and there in search of sustenance. Below the cabin a little way lay +the bar--Chihuahua Bar they had christened it, out of deference to +"Jones of Chihuahua," whose prospecting-pan had developed the fact that +gold in promising quantities lay beneath it--and a little farther on the +Blue sang merrily in its gravelly bed. Down the river, about two miles, +was Blue Bar, where about two hundred miners had formed a settlement, +and where a red-headed Scotchman, who combined the duties of a +self-constituted postmaster with the dispensation of a villainous +article of whisky, kept a lively grocery and provision store. + +During the early part of the season they had prospected up along the +river, finding gold all the way, but not in quantities sufficiently +large to warrant working. At the place, however, which they subsequently +named Chihuahua (pronounced in the vernacular Chee-waw-waw) the +perspicacious Jones had given it as his opinion, formed after mature +deliberation and a sapient examination of some two or three shovelsful +of dirt, that there was a satisfactory "color in that ar bank." Some +hard work of about a week demonstrated that there were excellent +diggings there, and then work was commenced upon it in good earnest. The +cabin was built, Gentleman Dick's choice of location being unanimously +approved; two or three trips were made across the "Range" to the nearest +settlement for materials and provisions; and then the real labor began. +As they cut through the heavy bank of mould and gravel, gradually eating +a long trench to the bed-rock, prospects grew better and better. At +last, one day a narrow ledge of brittle, shaly rock came in view, +covered with a coating of thick, heavy yellow mud, of which Old Platte +gathered a panful and betook himself down to the river-side. A war-whoop +from the direction in which he had disappeared came ringing through the +gooseberry bushes to their ears, and with a responsive yell and a +simultaneous dropping of shovels and picks they all dashed off to his +side. He was discovered in a condition of great excitement, dancing +wildly round the pan, in the bottom of which about half a teaspoonful +of coarse yellow nuggets were shining among the black sand. It was a +grand prospect, and with the exception of Gentleman Dick, whose +exultation was of a very mild and reserved order, the proprietors of the +Chihuahua Claim behaved in a very undignified and unseemly way; Thompson +and Jones organizing an impromptu sparring-match, and Old Platte +standing indecorously on his head in a neighboring clump of bushes. +Sundry war-whoops and divers indications of activity showed that work of +a very lively and energetic character was being prosecuted that +afternoon on the bar; and when the sun sunk to rest behind the purple +mountains, and the blue mists of evening rose in the valley, they had +their sluice-boxes and "riffles" in order, and were ready to commence +washing at sunrise. + +It did not take very long to clean the ledge, and early in the afternoon +the water was shut off. When it was found that the "riffles" yielded +thirteen ounces of gold that would coin eighteen dollars and a half to +the ounce, a firm conviction seemed to settle upon the camp that this +was an occasion which it would be improper to pass over without a +thorough and practical acknowledgment of its importance in the shape of +a regular celebration. The gold was weighed and divided, all sitting in +a circle in the middle of the cabin floor, while Old Platte officiated +at the scales with all the gravity and dignity which the responsible +position called for. + +Mr. McNab's grocery and post-office at Blue Bar was the scene of much +excitement and noisy revelry that evening and all the next day while the +gold lasted. Miners who had heard of the Chihuahua "streak" flocked up +to Blue Bar to get the particulars, and naturally joined in the general +feeling of exultation and hilarity that seemed to pervade that +community. Old Platte got terribly drunk, and Thompson and Jones +developed the strangest eccentricities of gait, manner and speech, and +finally subsided into a deep slumber in the dust and sand of the main +thoroughfare of the Bar. Gentleman Dick's absence from the festivities +was not noticed that evening, but the next day Thompson, who seemed to +feel aggrieved on the subject, announced his intention of going up to +Chihuahua to fetch him down. He left Mr. McNab's on his charitable +mission armed with a bottle of rum, and proceeded up the creek in a +condition of moderate intoxication. That he was somewhat sobered on his +arrival at the cabin was perhaps due to the fact that the cork was fixed +very firmly in the neck of his bottle: at any rate, he did not ask his +friend to drink when he found him. + +Gentleman Dick had just directed and sealed a letter, and was about to +start for the settlement of Gold Dirt, when Thompson loomed up +unsteadily in the doorway, surveyed him inquiringly for a moment and +asked undecidedly and apologetically, "Wass' up? W'ere you goin'?" + +Gentleman Dick, apparently overlooking his somewhat dubious condition, +told him he had been writing a letter to some one who lived in the +States: he was going to Gold Dirt to mail it, and a ring of Blue Creek +gold was to accompany it to its destination. Thompson said no more, but +stood there in the doorway with McNab's rum under his arm. He did not +stir, nor did he seem to notice the "good-bye" that came down the +winding trail through the pines, but remained there stolid and +immovable, gazing vacantly at the writing-paper on the rough table. +Suddenly he straightened himself up to his full height, and taking the +bottle from under his arm, held it out at arm's length and apostrophized +it in terms which Mr. McNab would have regarded as a personal insult, +and which the community on the Blue might possibly have resented with a +challenge to mortal combat. His next step, had they witnessed it, would +certainly have led to the conclusion that he was a dangerous lunatic, +and one, at that, whose peculiar madness was of a kind specially +objectionable to the residents of Blue Bar. He placed the object toward +which his feelings had undergone so sudden a revulsion carefully on the +ground, and seizing in his hands a huge boulder, he proceeded to let it +drop accurately upon it. He oscillated critically over the fragments, as +if to assure himself that the result had been satisfactorily attained, +and then strode rapidly and unsteadily into the forest. How such unsound +principles of economy came to be adopted by him never very clearly +appeared; and the problem of his absence from camp for two whole days, +and his subsequent reform upon the subject of whisky, were matters very +freely discussed at McNab's hut, without any definite or reliable result +being arrived at. + + * * * * * + +Summer had melted imperceptibly into autumn; and the bright tints that +glittered on the mountain-slopes and through the sturdy undergrowth of +the forest told that it in its turn was soon to give way to winter. +Chihuahua Bar was piled with great heaps of boulders and gravel, +furrowed here and there with deep ditches and trenches, and otherwise +gave ample evidence of the hard work that had been done. But, as Old +Platte, remarked, "The luck was down on them," and the partners had very +little to show for their long months of toil. Gentleman Dick had worked +as hard and earnestly as the others, and had never been known to utter a +word of complaint through the many hardships and mishaps they endured. +But a great change had come over him. No one who saw him when he joined +the party in Denver would have ventured to call him strong or robust, +but, delicate as he was then, he was now a mere shadow by comparison. +The change had been more marked and rapid during the last few weeks. He +had seemed to fade gradually away, growing daily weaker and weaker, +until at last a knowledge of his increasing debility forced itself upon +the not very observant faculties of his companions--coming rather as a +sense of indefinable uneasiness on his behalf than any actual +apprehension of his real condition. His great expressive eyes shone out +with an unnatural brilliancy from his pale, sunken cheeks, and a deeper +shade of melancholy seemed settling on his naturally thoughtful face. +Thompson probably noticed it more than anybody else, but said nothing, +while Old Platte and Jones exchanged ideas on the subject with a sort of +puzzled anxiety, mingled, it might be, with some genuine alarm. They +noticed that the work began to fatigue him more and more, and that he +often had to pause in the middle of it weary and exhausted. + +At last, one day, about the first of November, he remained in his bunk +in the cabin, unable to come down to the claim. In their rough, uncouth +way they pitied him, and would have given anything they could command to +be able to relieve him. But they seemed instinctively to feel that his +case was something out of their reach, and with the exception of a weak +suggestion from Jones, that he should try some of "them ar antibilious +pills as he had in his box," no course of medical treatment was +contemplated. Besides, was he not himself a doctor? and if he could do +nothing, what should they be able to effect? The argument was +sufficiently conclusive; at least, Jones accepted it as such, and +retired in some confusion, comforting himself by the perusal of the +label on his box of pills, which really seemed to justify the suggestion +he had made. Twice after this, on days when the warm sunshine tempted +him out of doors, he came down to the claim and sat by the wheel and +watched them working; but he never did any more work. He did not tell +them he could not do it, or complain that he was too weak: it was +tacitly understood that his share of the season's labor was over. + +About the middle of November the winter stepped in in its sudden way and +commenced to take possession of the valley of the Blue, and by the first +of December the ice was so thick that the partners reluctantly stopped +work. "Jones of Chihuahua" had expressed his determination of going +south to Santa Fé, to stay until spring among the "Greasers," but Old +Platte and Thompson would stay on the Blue for the winter, and to that +end had laid in such provisions as were deemed necessary. The settlement +below on the Bar had been abandoned early in November; and it was +doubtful if a white man besides themselves could be found by its waters +any nearer than the end of the Great Cañon of the Rio Colorado. But they +cared very little for that, and looked forward to their voluntary +hibernation without any feeling of apprehension on the score of +loneliness. Both were hardy mountaineers. Thompson had been the first +man that ever performed the feat of crossing the range at Grey's Peak in +the middle of winter, with the aid of a pair of snow-shoes; and he and +Old Platte knew that if their provisions gave out they could readily +reach some of the Clear Creek diggings in the same way. So Jones +strapped his belt of gold-dust around his waist and prepared to depart. +He shook hands with the partners, and when Gentleman Dick, with a forced +cheeriness of manner and with wishes for a pleasant winter in New +Mexico, remarked, "Next spring the boys will give you a third of my +share, Jones," he stoutly and earnestly repudiated the implied idea, but +with a confusion and uncertainty of manner that indicated a serious +doubt in the soundness of his own assertions. + +Gentleman Dick released the big hand as he lay in his blankets, and said +for the last time, "Good-bye, Jones." + +"Good-bye, old man." + +Jones strode away abruptly on his journey, and if the moisture about his +eyes was in excess of what was required in their normal condition, it +was probably due to the bracing and biting frostiness of the morning +air. + +And so they resigned themselves to their winter's prison on the +Blue--Old Platte stolidly and contentedly, Thompson uneasily and +restlessly, and Gentleman Dick peacefully and calmly, knowing full well +that spring would never bloom again for him. Thus the December days flew +by, growing colder and colder, and the snow-line crept gradually down +the slopes of the range until it reached the edge of the timber, where +it seemed to pause for a few days in its advance. It had already snowed +several times in the valley, and the afternoon sun had always melted it +away; but they knew by experience that it would soon come down in good +earnest and cover everything up for the winter in a mantle of snow some +six or seven feet deep. And as the days sped on Gentleman Dick grew +paler and paler, and his bright eyes shone with a brighter lustre, while +he seemed to be gradually slipping away, losing little by little his +hold upon life. He was a mystery to his companions, for he had no +disease that could be detected, and why he should sink thus without any +apparent cause was more than they could understand. + + * * * * * + +The wind came roaring down the cañon in wild, fierce gusts; the dead, +frost-hardened, brittle branches of the sturdy old pines rattled and +cracked and broke as it swept by laden with glittering crystals, stolen +from the range above, where it circled madly around the snowy peaks, and +whirled away great winding-sheets of snow--fine, sleety snow, that +filled the atmosphere with sharp prickly needles, that made their way +inside Old Platte's rough woolen shirt as he chopped away at the +woodpile, and made him shiver as they melted down his back. Everything +was frozen hard and fast; the Blue was silent in its bed; stones and +sticks adhered to the ground as if part and parcel of it, and each piece +of wood in the pile that Old Platte was working at stood stiffly and +firmly in its place. The wind, just before a snow-storm, always comes +down the cañons in fierce premonitory gusts, and as it was desirable to +get in a good stock of wood before the snow-drifts gathered around the +cabin, Old Platte had been hacking manfully for some hours. The sun sunk +low in the hollow of the hills to the westward while he was still +working, and lit up with a cold yellow glare the snowy wastes and icy +peaks of the mighty mountains that stood guard over the Blue. The +whistling of the wind among the pines died gradually away, and the +silence that seemed to fall with the deepening shadows was only broken +by the ringing strokes of the axe and the crack of the splitting wood. +When he ceased the valley had faded into darkness, and the range with +its sharp outlines was only faintly discernible against the sombre gray +pall that had overspread the sky. + +He made a broad stack of logs by the fireplace and a larger one outside +the door, and then stood by the threshold to take a look at the weather. +A great soft feather of snow came sailing slowly down and nestled in his +shaggy beard, and another fluttered on to the back of his hand. He +looked up through the darkness and saw that it was already beginning to +fall thickly, and then, with a self-satisfied glance of approval at his +provident woodpile, went into the cabin and fastened the door. + +Thompson had shot a fine argal or Rocky Mountain sheep that morning, and +the broiled steaks were giving forth a most acceptable odor. He had +tried to get Gentleman Dick to taste of a choice piece, but he shook his +head wearily, as he had every time for some two weeks or more when +proffered food. He could eat nothing, and lay there propped up on rough +pillows, seeming scarcely conscious of their presence; his dreamy eyes, +with lids half drooping, looking fixedly into the blazing fire. Even the +coffee, civilized as it was by the addition of some patent condensed +milk, and upon the manufacture of which Thompson had prided himself not +a little, stood untouched by his bedside. Old Platte lit his pipe and +dragged his three-legged stool into a corner of the wide chimney, and +Thompson, after moving the things away to a corner, sat down opposite, +mending his snow-shoes with a bundle of buckskin thongs. They did not +talk much in that family of evenings: men of this class are not +conversational in their habits, and a stranger who should look in would +be apt to think them an unsocial set. Old Platte puffed steadily at his +pipe, blinking and winking at the fire, which he poked occasionally with +a stick or fed with a log of wood from the pile by his side. Thompson +worked quietly with knife and awl at his dilapidated shoes, and the +pale, patient face beyond still gazed dreamily into the fire. There were +old scenes, doubtless, in among those burning logs--old familiar faces, +dear memories of the past and weird fantastic visions pictured in the +glowing coals. At last the eyes left the fire for a moment, resting on +the two that sat by it, and he said, "Boys, it's Christmas Eve." + +Thompson started, for he had not heard him speak with so much energy for +weeks. + +"Christmas Eve!" he repeated absently. "Christmas Eve, and to-morrow +will be Christmas Day. Last Christmas was not like this: all was bright +and fair, and she--" + +The rest of the sentence was lost as he muttered it uneasily to himself +and resumed his watching of the fire. Christmas Eve! So it was, but they +had not thought of it. Christmas Eve! The name seemed out of place among +those rocky fastnesses. What could the pines and the solitude, the snow +and the ice, have in common with Christmas? Christmas Eve down in that +desolate valley, in the quiet depths of the forest, away, miles away, +from human habitation of any kind? Christmas Eve! It seemed absurd, but +Christmas Eve it was nevertheless, there as everywhere else. + +Old Platte took his blackened old pipe from between his lips and +mechanically repeated the words. "Christmas Eve!" he half growled, as if +some perplexing ideas had been called into existence by the suggestion, +and his pipe went out as he listlessly shoved some stray coals back into +the fire with his foot. But his meditations, to judge from his +countenance, were neither interesting nor profitable. Probably his +Christmases had never been passed in a way that was calculated to make +them pleasingly conspicuous in the background of his life. Most of his +early recollections were associated with a villainous roadside groggery +in Pike county, Missouri, of which his father was the proprietor. Any +questions relating to this parent and home he had been known to +invariably evade, and whenever conversation tended in that direction he +strenuously discouraged it. Why he did so never very clearly appeared. +Some people who pretended to know used to say that the old gentleman had +been doing a lively trade in horseflesh without going through the +customary formalities of finance, and that some people with whom his +dealings had been unsatisfactory, in consequence of this unbusinesslike +habit of his, had called at his house one evening and invited him to +walk out with them. The invitation was one he would have liked to +decline, but extra inducements in the shape of the cold muzzle of a +revolver pressed against his forehead and a low but determined "Dry up +and come along!" caused him to put on his hat and step out. He was found +next morning hanging from a branch of a neighboring tree with a brief +but expressive obituary written in pencil on a scrap of paper and pinned +on his coat: "Horse-thief! Jerry Moon and Scotty, take notice." Inasmuch +as one of the latter individuals was the chief authority for the story, +and had expedited his departure from Pike county in consequence of the +intimation contained in the lines on the same bit of paper, it may be +safely inferred that there was some foundation for the numerous stories +of a similar nature that were in circulation. So Christmas spent as his +had been had no particular interest for Old Platte, and was pretty much +the same as any other kind of day upon which there would be an equally +good excuse for stopping work and getting venomously drunk. At any rate, +the memories that clung around that Pike county whisky-shop were none of +the pleasantest or most gratifying; and with a grunt of general +dissatisfaction he rekindled his pipe, put a couple of sticks on the +fire and allowed his mind to slide off into a more congenial train of +reflection. + +To Thompson, Gentleman Dick's words had come as a sort of revelation. He +knew well enough that Christmas came in December, and also upon what day +of that month it fell, but of late the days had gone by so monotonously, +and had so little to distinguish them one from another, that he had +kept no account of them, and had no idea that it was so near. Some +indefinable influence that he could not account for had of late sent his +mind groping into old and better channels, and consequently when he was +reminded of the presence of Christmas he felt disposed to accord it a +measure of consideration rather different from that with which several +of its predecessors had met. Like Old Platte, he had regarded it as a +good day to go on a "bust" and initiate a "drunk" of more or less +duration, but just now he seemed as if inclined to take a different view +of it. His eyes could take a clearer and healthier view of the past than +he had for a long time had, and its old memories and scenes flocked up +before him now, bright through the dim mist that time had cast over +them, and fresher and sweeter than ever by contrast with the gloomy +present. The snow-shoes slid from his lap and one by one the thongs of +buckskins dropped upon the floor, as he leaned back in the corner of the +broad chimney, his face resting upon his sinewy hand and his eyes +looking through the fire into the world of the past. + +Old Platte lay curled up in his bearskins and blankets fast asleep, but +the other still sat by the fire in the same position--still dreamily +thinking. How long he had sat there he did not know. The fire had sunk +into a glowing heap of coals, fast changing into soft white ashes, on +which now and then a melting snow-flake that had stolen down through the +chimney would fall and disappear with a short angry sizz, and the +shadows in the cabin were deep and dark. Suddenly it seemed to him in +his dreaming that a voice called him by name, and he awoke from his +reverie with a chill and a shudder and a sense of indefinable dread +creeping over him--a dread of what, he could not tell. A handful of +chips blazed up brightly and lit up the cabin with their flickering +light as he turned nervously toward the patient, quiet face behind him. +The eyes, shaded by the long black eyelashes, were still on the fire, +and while he was confident that he had not been called, he was dimly +conscious of a great change that had taken place. As he still looked +anxiously at the faded features, the eyes left their long watching of +the embers and were raised to meet his. He felt he was wanted, and was +by his side in a moment: "How d'yer feel, old man?" + +Gentleman Dick smiled as he laid his wasted fingers across the sturdy +brown hand that leaned on the edge of his bunk, and turning with +difficulty on his pillow, he said in a voice scarce above a whisper, +"Thompson, old fellow, you and Platte have been kind, very kind, to me. +I won't trouble you much more now. I'm going to say--good-bye to you; +and--Thompson--I want you to do one little thing for me--when spring +comes." He reached into a chink among the logs by his side and drew +forth an envelope containing a few letters, a photograph of a woman's +face, fair and tender, and a gold ring. + +Thompson took it with a hand that shook as his rarely did. + +"Send it soon--it's addressed and all--send it to her. Maybe she will be +glad to know I am--gone--at last--out of her path--out of the way--and +the world. She sent it back to me--would not have it--or me. Now--" Then +his mind seemed to wander, and he rambled incoherently, repeating over +and over again a name that sounded like that on the envelope. "You will +do it, won't you, Thompson?" said he, rallying suddenly. + +Thompson's voice was husky and thick as he answered impressively, "Damn +me ef I don't!" adding mentally, as he glanced at the package, "Damn her +skin, whoever she is! She's at the bottom of all this here business, you +bet." + +Gentleman Dick's lips moved as if he were speaking, and as Thompson +leaned over him he could hear, in a broken whisper, "Gold--in old +boot--under bed--Old Platte half." + +He heard no more. The pressure of the wasted fingers relaxed, the weary +head sunk slowly back on the pillow, and the tired eyelids drooped over +the glazing eyes. + +"Dick!" said Thompson--"Dick, old man!" + +Too late. Away through the softly-falling snow, from the Blue with its +stillness and solitude, from its heartaches and sorrows and troubles, +the weary spirit had fled, and Gentleman Dick was at rest. + + * * * * * + +Spring had come again; the snow had melted from the valleys; the grass +and the ferns and the green grass and bright lichens once more peeped +out among the gray boulders and about the feet of the stately pines; and +the Blue, freed from its wintry prison, sang merrily over the gravelly +reaches. And as the miners flocked down that spring from over the range, +they saw near by the Chihuahua Claim and the deserted cabin, in a square +formed by four gigantic pines, a neatly-built cairn of boulders. One big +gray boulder rested securely on top of all, and on it was hacked, in +rough and simple letters, GENTLEMAN DICK. + + W. MACKAY LAFFAN. + + + + +A SINGULAR FAMILY. + + +Almost as far back as I can remember three brothers, Italians named +Noele, were intimates and occasionally inmates of our home. The youngest +brother, Eugenio, had been imprisoned during the political disturbances +of his country, but had escaped and made his way to England. Here, at a +lecture given by Mazzini in London under the auspices of the liberal +Italians and those who espoused their cause, Eugenio, who to handsome +features and aristocratic appearance added a modulated voice and +persuasive manner, rose during the course of the evening, and in words +that held the audience spellbound narrated his own sufferings and those +of some of his friends under the yoke of Austria. As he concluded with +the utterance of the sentiment, "Libertà ! Equalità ! Fraternità !" a storm +of applause burst from the assembly, and many were the high personages +who at the close of the meeting requested an introduction to the +fascinating young orator. My father was present on this occasion, and +here his acquaintance with Eugenio Noele commenced. The young man having +discovered to him that his pecuniary resources were at the lowest ebb, +my father took him home with him, and my mother afterward united with +him in requesting Eugenio to consider their house as his own. My father +also introduced him to his mercantile connections and initiated him into +mercantile affairs, when by his astuteness and perseverance he was +enabled to lay the foundations of an excellent position. Indeed, but few +years had elapsed (during which time he had frequently resided with us) +ere he had acquired considerable wealth and we a clearer insight into +his true disposition. + +His principles were such as the promptings of self-love, a violent +temper, pride and ambition could without difficulty overcome. As he rose +higher in the social scale the reflection that he had owed the impetus +to others was a constant source of annoyance to him. Our house was now +but rarely visited by him, unless when some legal difficulties had +arisen on which he wished to consult my father or some important papers +required translating. Then the air of pride would yield to one of +deferential affection, and in silvery tones he would discourse on such +topics as he imagined were the most pleasing to us. My father would be +termed "Signor Padre" and my mother "Signora Madre." + +At about this time he sent to Italy for his brother Rugiero to assist +him in his affairs. Rugiero became as intimate at our house as Eugenio +had been. There were singularly contradictory elements in this brother's +character. At one time the history of a destitute family would move him +to tears, and his purse would be freely emptied for their benefit: at +another time he would spend half an hour in searching for a lost +farthing, and if not successful his countenance would betray lines of +anxiety for hours afterward. If he made me the gift of a paper horn or +box of sweets, his heart for the rest of the day would seem to be +expanded with the most joyous emotions, and for weeks after I was liable +to be asked whether I remembered the day when I was so pleased with his +little gift; and then he would request permission to examine the +pictures painted thereon, and call my attention to their merits. He was +ordinarily slow to understand the point of a witticism, but when he had +by deep pondering discovered it, nothing could exceed his enjoyment: +bending his head and clasping the bridge of his handsomely shaped nose, +he would laugh till the tears were ready to start. On the other hand, he +was extremely sensitive, jealous and suspicious. No one knew how soon +the pleasant smile and kindly word would give place to angry passions as +ungovernable as they were disagreeable to witness. A smile passing from +one person to another without his being acquainted with the cause, was +sufficient provocation for him to rise, make his respects in a frigidly +polite tone and take his leave, to return a few moments after with +heightened complexion and excited voice, and declare that he could not +suffer an affront with equanimity--that he would rid those present of +his "abhorred" society, and would never enter those doors again whilst +he drew the breath of life. We paid little attention to these egregious +eccentricities, merely remarking with a smile of amusement, "Poor +Rugiero! how ridiculous! He must be out of his senses;" and about a +fortnight later he would make his appearance, penitent, apologetic and +studious to remove the ill impression that his strange conduct must have +caused. + +A third brother, Giuseppe, was added to the group, of whom vacillation +was the distinguishing characteristic. Giuseppe, in the innumerable +discussions that arose between Rugiero and Eugenio, would acquiesce with +first one and then the other in whatever exaggerated sentiments their +enraged frame of mind might prompt them to utter, with the view of +keeping on good terms with both; but the only result was that when the +flag of truce had been raised, grievances passed over and differences +adjusted, he would have the mortification of finding the whole of the +blame laid on his shoulders, and himself stigmatized as "a +feather-head," "a meddler" and "a spy." + +As the years rolled on I grew into womanhood, and became the unwitting +source of constant ill-feeling between the brothers. Eugenio was +handsome, but I distrusted him; Rugiero was nearly as handsome, but I +regarded him as I would have regarded an uncle; Giuseppe was also +handsome, but unstable and entirely wanting in force. Time passed, and +the brothers had separated. Eugenio had married a woman in every way his +inferior. Rugiero had been drawn into a like union that surprised all +those who knew his refined tastes and sensitiveness to the social +amenities. Though a man of honor, his circumstances had become +embarrassed. In his emergencies he had recourse to his old friends, +whose aid was not withheld, but, a crisis arriving, he was declared +bankrupt. Eugenio, instead of assisting his brother, upbraided with +being a disgrace to his own respectability, publicly disowned him, and, +with the view of forcing him to abandon the country, spread injurious +reports concerning him amongst many of the merchants who would otherwise +have been willing to extend a helping hand. + +Soon after this Eugenio made a journey to Italy on business. Here he +visited his native place with an equipage designed to astonish the +simple peasants and suggest to them the immensity of his wealth. Never +had the village on the outskirts of which dwelt his widowed sister seen +such magnificence or experienced such munificence. His name was on all +tongues; ovations were made to him; he was almost a king in their eyes. +His sister, Lucretia Mortera, had borne to her husband a large family, +of whom but three survived--a youth named after his uncle Eugenio, and +then being educated for the priesthood; Celestino, a boy of eleven +years; and Virginia, a girl of eight. The little home in which they +resided in quiet retirement had been given to the widow for as long as +she chose to occupy it by a friend of her late husband, as a token of +respect to his memory. Eugenio Noele, ashamed to see a sister of his +living in a way so unsuited to her birth and former expectations, +requested her to dispose of whatever property she might be possessed of, +and prepare to accompany him with her family to London, where he would +provide for them, and his nephew Eugenio, leaving his studies, could +take a place in his counting-house. This request--or rather command--was +embraced with gratitude, though it cost a pang to think of leaving the +home that had sheltered them under many vicissitudes. Besides which, it +was a matter of doubt to Signora Mortera and her eldest son whether any +worldly promotion could justify his deserting the priestly vocation to +which he had felt himself called. + +One evening my mother and I were surprised by a call from Rugiero. His +face was pale and his eyes were wild. He sank into an easy-chair, and +after a long silence broke into the most terrible invectives against his +brother Eugenio, who had dragged the widow and orphans from a peaceful +home to cast them adrift. + +"What widow? what orphans?" + +"Simply, Madama Melville, my poor sister Lucretia, whom he induced to +accompany him to London, with her family, on the pretence of providing +for them all, is now with those children at my house, without means, +without even a change of clothing. Yes, my sister Lucretia, who was a +mother to him when his own mother died; and yet he prospers!" + +"But, Rugiero, what was the cause of his treating them thus?" + +"When they had arrived at my brother's house the wife, who had not +expected them, took an aversion to them, and no sooner did she learn +that they were strict Roman Catholics than she believed them to be +capable of every crime. Celestino, who is in a decline, was treated with +the greatest neglect. Every occasion of showing disrespect toward her +sister-in-law before her children or the servants was eagerly sought by +my brother's wife, whilst in the presence of her husband she was all +amiability. The sickness of one of her own children was made the +occasion of accusing Lucretia of an attempt to poison it, and the wily +woman so worked on my brother's parental feelings that he had not +returned home an hour ere he commanded his 'infamous sister'--'quel +assassinatrice!'--to leave his house with her children on the instant! +The door was closed upon them, and the outer apparel that had served +them for their journey was thrown to them from the window by the +servants. Amazed and full of grief, they directed their steps toward the +house of the good priest whose chapel they had once or twice attended. +Here they procured my address, and soon after came to my house, where +they now are in the extremest affliction. You, madama, may well imagine +that I can scarcely maintain my own family at this juncture, and that I +am therefore unable to do for my sister and her children what my heart +dictates. After a sleepless night I came to the conclusion that you, +Madama Melville, whose goodness of heart has so often been put sorely to +the test, would be able to suggest some plan by which to mitigate the +sufferings of my unfortunate sister or bring Eugenio to reason." + +"My dear Rugiero, I feel certain that my husband would think as I +do--that for the present they had better stay here with us. We can turn +one floor into sleeping apartments for them, and have one sitting-room +in which your sister can receive callers or remain when she wishes to be +alone. You know that I have so often heard you speak of your sister +Lucretia that I can take the privilege of giving her an invitation to +come and make us a long visit; and so you must tell her." + +"God bless you, dear madama, as you deserve to be blessed! This is +indeed a weight off my heart and mind." + +The result of this conversation was that on the next morning Rugiero +returned, bringing with him his sister and her children. Signora +Lucretia responded to the welcome of my parents with expressions of +fervent gratitude, calling them the saviors of her family. She was a +short, slender woman, in whose dark eyes, long, finely-cut features, and +pale, thin face one could discern the spirit of asceticism and the +traces of past afflictions. Of the children she had buried, all had +reached their tenth year in apparent health and remarkable for their +physical and moral beauty, but from that age they had rapidly trodden +the pathway to the tomb. None of her children had resembled their father +but Eugenio, who was a well-made youth of wiry constitution, and gave +every promise of attaining the ordinary age allotted to man. Celestino +was destined soon to rejoin the children gone before. How can I describe +the thrill I felt when I saw that child's face as he entered the room? +Never had I seen in picture or in dream a countenance so lovely. But +what can I say of those soul-speaking eyes, the large, dark-brown iris +surrounded by the brilliant azure-white and shaded by long dark lashes? +Finely chiseled features were added to a rounded face of a clear pale +olive, except where a flush like the pink lining of a shell played upon +it. Virginia greatly resembled her brother Celestino, but was in full +health, and in spirits that would have been lively but for the constant +and harassing admonitions of her mother, who in every free and graceful +movement saw a tendency to levity that must be repressed. The poor child +was doomed to a perpetual entanglement of the lower limbs, owing to her +garments being made as long as those of a grown person. If, forgetting +decorum, she chanced to skip or jump, Signora Lucretia would exclaim, +"Va scompostaccia! sta più composta" ("Go to, most discomposed one! be +more composed"), and seating her by her side would supply her with +needlework or knitting until my mother would intercede, assuring Signora +Lucretia that the child could never attain healthy womanhood unless +allowed the full play of her muscles and the expansion of her lungs by +singing and laughter. + +"Ah, madama, you know not how I fear lest the natural gayety of her +disposition should cause the loss of her soul." + +"Oh, my dear lady, such ideas are born of the troubles through which you +have passed, and not of your native good sense. God has implanted this +gayety in your child's heart to enable her to enter with zest into those +amusements so necessary to her development." + +One day my mother (by permission) had a tuck taken up in Virginia's +dress, and, directing me to take her for a walk, she privately +commissioned me to purchase for her such attire as was suitable to a +child of her years. I began with her head, and secured the jauntiest +little hat with feathers that I could find, not without a misgiving that +it would ultimately be consigned to the flames. Amongst other articles +that I procured was a wax doll, at the sight of which Virginia screamed +with delight. It was her first doll. Even Signora Lucretia's face was +lit by a smile of undisguised admiration at the improvement in the +child's toilette, but it soon gave place to a sigh at her own "vanity of +spirit," and she held the little hat as Eve might have held the apple +offered to her by the serpent. + +Signora Lucretia and her children spent some hours every morning before +breakfast in reciting litanies and other prayers, and on retiring to +rest the same forms were repeated. During the day, whenever the clock +struck the hour, the whole family, leaving whatever might be the +occupation of the moment, knelt on their chairs and made a short prayer +or meditation on the flight of time. + +At the time of their arrival my cousin Oswald was staying with us, and +on the first evening he retired early to give them an opportunity of +conversing more freely on the melancholy topics that filled their minds. +After bidding good-night to my mother and kissing her, he paid me the +same tokens of regard. This incident had not escaped the notice of the +young Eugenio, for when directed by his mother to retire to rest also, +he advanced toward me, shook hands, and (although, seeing his intention, +I drew back) succeeded in imprinting a kiss on my cheek. Signora +Lucretia turned as pale as death. My mother, to avoid a scene, turned +with a playful laugh to Eugenio, who by this time was scarlet with +shame, and said, "My dear boy, in this country such salutations are only +permitted from near relations or very intimate friends, but I am not +surprised that Mr. Oswald's thoughtlessness before you should have +misled you into doing the same. So I am sure that your good mother will +not be displeased with you." + +"Oh, madama," exclaimed Signora Lucretia, bursting into tears as soon as +the door had closed upon him, "to think that my son should have been +tempted by the Evil One so far as to forget what is due to the holy +vocation for which he is to fit himself! In Italy never had he even been +in the same room with any woman but myself and the priest's old +housekeeper. This is the first time that his lips have been so +desecrated." (Here my mother and I interchanged smiles.) "Unhappy mother +that I am! by what sufferings can I atone for his sin? What shall I +impose upon him to mortify the spirit that has arisen within him?" + +The next morning Eugenio came down looking pale and sad, and I felt sure +that he had been reprimanded in no measured terms. I gave him a pitying +glance, which fell like dew on the thirsting earth. + +At every breakfast the children were taught to say good-morning to each +person separately. The elder son would commence, "Good-morning and good +appetite, Mr. Melville! good-morning and good appetite, Madama Melville! +good-morning and good appetite, Signora Felicia!" and so on. Then +Celestino would go through the same ceremony, and finally Virginia, and +a grace was uttered, during which the breakfast was liable to become +cool, and Rugiero's temper (if he were present) not so. "Andiamo! I am +sure that Signor Melville and madama do not insist upon so many +compliments; and you, Eugenio, should have more gallantry than to keep +the Signora Felicia waiting whilst her toast becomes cold." That he +should connect the word _gallantry_ with Eugenio was an imprudence, +to say the least. But the offence was more serious when once at dinner +he favored us with some reminiscences of his own gallantries: "I +remember that when I was in the army the wife of our colonel had a +sister, a splendid-looking creature, with eyes like stars, who (to tell +the truth) was head over ears in--But my sister Lucretia, who is +frowning at me, is right. One would say that she must have had an +enlarged experience in such matters, seeing how sensitive she is to the +danger of discussing them." (Here Signora Lucretia, with blushing +cheeks, glanced from Rugiero to her son, who with downcast eyes appeared +to be absorbed with the roast chicken on his plate.) "Without entering +into details that would appear ill-timed to my dear sister" (here his +eyes twinkled with roguishness and his lips parted in laughter), +"suffice it merely to say that I acted as any other man under the +circumstances would have acted, and kissed her not once or twice, but--" + +"Go to thy room, Eugenio, most audacious!" panted Signora Lucretia, for +he had raised his head, and, meeting his uncle's laughing gaze, had +faintly smiled--"Go to thy room" (and here she struck him on the face), +"and recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin three times, and pray for +thy uncle, that he may be converted." + +Eugenio with flaming cheeks and ears rose submissively from the table, +and without a word or look ascended to his room to do her bidding. + +"What!" exclaimed Rugiero, rising from his seat, "would you dare to +insult me by desiring my own nephew to pray for me? It seems to me that +I dream! Per Bacco!" + +Here my father observed that he must own he saw nothing very outrageous +in what Rugiero had narrated, yet, as Signora Mortera had her own +peculiar views on the matter, he considered that her brother was bound +to respect them. Rugiero then admitted that he had been too hasty, and a +reconciliation was effected, but he never met his nephew's eye +thereafter without the same roguish smile, at which the poor youth would +blush painfully and lower his gaze. + +During this scene at the dinner-table Celestino breathed quickly, but +never moved his eyes from the table-cloth, while Virginia looked at each +one of the speakers in open-mouthed astonishment and curiosity. + +One day I accompanied Signora Lucretia and her children to a Roman +Catholic chapel in the neighborhood. I could not be unconscious of the +odd and incongruous appearance of the two sons--Eugenio in a suit like +that of a stage grandfather, snuff-colored, and with collar that raised +the lobes of his ears; and dear little Celestino with a similarly cut +coat in bottle green, with large gilt buttons, making him look like a +man in miniature. Such had been the style pronounced by the village +tailor to be in the height of Parisian fashion, but being a novelty to +the London "gamins," it attracted more notice from them than we could +have wished. After Signora Mortera and her children had attended the +confessional she seemed to be much easier in her mind, and was so +amiable as to tell my mother on our return home that it was edifying to +behold the signorina walking like a Roman matron, in contrast to those +who were giggling and turning their heads first one way and then the +other, like so many pulcinelle. Notwithstanding this compliment, +however, I perceived that she was uneasy concerning Eugenio and myself. +It was evidently a satisfaction to her that I should load Celestino with +caresses and endearing epithets, but that Eugenio should sit near me, +speak to me, or even be in the same room with me (whether alone or in +company), was the signal for demonstrations of the extremest vigilance. +On one evening my cousin had brought home some gifts, consisting of a +silver pencil-case with gold pen for Eugenio, a traveling writing-case +with his name on it for Celestino, and a small traveling work-bag +similarly marked for Virginia. These were highly appreciated. Celestino +seemed unwilling to have his desk out of his sight for a single moment, +and when his bed-time came wanted to take it up with him. His mother, +unwilling to leave Eugenio in my society without her watchful presence, +directed him to carry his brother up. + +"Signora madre," said Celestino, "I am not tired to-night." + +"Well, then, Eugenio can carry up thy writing-case for thee." + +"Signora madre, it is not heavy, and I would like to carry it myself." + +So Signora Lucretia went up with him herself, and, leaving my mother to +entertain Eugenio, I went immediately into another room. I felt too +deeply for the misfortunes of the unsophisticated Eugenio ever to have +willingly trifled with the nascent susceptibilities of his heart. + +One little incident, however, occurred to interrupt the orthodox reserve +of our demeanor. An old friend of ours, Captain Stuart, had sent +Virginia a bank-note with which to procure some keepsake. One evening +the old gentleman called, and was shown into the drawing-room, where my +mother received him. The rest of us were in the dining-room below. On my +mentioning Captain Stuart's name to Signora Lucretia, she exclaimed, +"Let us go, my children, and thank this good man for his kind present to +our Virginia." + +It was dark, but the hall-lamp had not been lit, so I took a wax taper +from the writing-table and, lighting it, proceeded to escort them up the +staircase. Some spirit of mischief prompted me by a sudden movement to +let the light be blown out. In an instant the hand of Eugenio met mine, +and thus hand in hand, swinging to and fro, we came to the drawing-room +door, and a flood of light bursting upon us discovered to Signora +Lucretia my face flushed with suppressed laughter, and Eugenio's eyes no +longer timid, but sparkling with joy. From this time he would spend +whole nights in writing verses, which he would show to his mother. She, +noting the classical allusions, and having a great respect for literary +talents, did not repress his efforts, but on the contrary appeared +desirous that he should show his verses to my mother and to me. Mingled +with expressions of grief and despair at the inconstancy of fortune and +the decrees of fate were allegorical fancies in which I could perceive +that I held a place, but I never allowed him to think that I noticed +this; and indeed after the escapade of the staircase I became more +distant than before. + +However, one day when Celestino was feeling more weak and tired than +usual, and I was propping him up on the sofa, I observed with some +trepidation that Eugenio, who had been reading at the window, changed +his seat to one near the head of the sofa. His mother and mine were busy +sewing at a window in the next room, from whence they could see us +through the folding doors. His eyes were full of tears, and, suddenly +bending over his brother and rearranging a cushion, he seized my hand +and covered it with silent kisses. In a moment I had disengaged my hand, +full of fear for the result to Eugenio should Signora Lucretia's +attention be directed toward us. The same evening, on returning from a +visit, I learned that my mother and Signora Mortera had gone out under +the escort of Oswald to attend vespers at a church some distance off. We +young people passed the evening alone together. The crimson curtains +were closely drawn, and the cosy room was lighted by a blazing fire. +Reclining in an easy-chair, I held Celestino's fragile form in my arms, +the wonderful eyes gazing into mine as I watched with emotions too deep +for words their ever-varying expression. Eugenio sat on an ottoman at my +feet, alternately reading aloud from Dante and pausing to observe me, +while Virginia was on the hearth-rug, happy in adorning her doll with +pieces of silk, beads and flowers. + +Suddenly Eugenio said, "Does the signora remember in the narrative of +Dives and Lazarus how Lazarus was thankful for the crumbs that fell from +the rich man's table?" + +I understood him, and hiding my face in Celestino's tendril-like curls, +I replied, "Yes, but I wonder whether he would have been hungry enough +to eat crumbs that he knew to be poisoned?" + +He made no reply. + +"Eugenio," I continued, "what are your plans for the future? Is it your +own desire to become a priest?" + +This last word made him tremble. "I _once_ desired it," he +answered, "thinking it the most honorable position to which I could +aspire, and also my natural vocation. But now--God knows whether it be a +sin or not--I would pass through any affliction He might send rather +than become one. But my mother's heart is fixed upon it more than ever, +and soon my family will be wholly dependent upon me. Ah! young as I am, +I have suffered and still suffer. Far happier is that child in your +arms, dying slowly though it may be, than the unfortunate Eugenio." + +"Have a care," I said, "lest, entering the state of priesthood, you bear +with you a heart fixed on the things of this world. Do not yield to the +impulses of a strong imagination, but endeavor to forget whatever might +prove a hindrance to you hereafter." + +"Ah, Felicia, my heart is too full ever to forget. Celestino, my +brother, _thou_ art indeed happy. Dost thou know it?" + +"Yes, Eugenio, I feel even too happy." + +"God bless thee, Celestino! I love thee more than ever;" and, stealing +his brother's hand from mine, he gently kissed it, whilst Celestino +smiled on us with a heavenly smile. + +It was arranged that I should accompany my father to the counting-house +of Eugenio Noele and strive to obtain some redress for the widow and +orphans, for I had always been a favorite with him, and my mother +imagined that my influence would have more power than her own. But the +only result of this interview was that Eugenio promised, for my sake, to +furnish his sister and her family with sufficient funds to enable them +to return to their own country: he also told my father that he should +send one of his clerks to accompany them and see that they _did_ go +there. + +On our way home we called on Dr. Newcastle, our old friend and +physician, and after describing the circumstances of the Mortera family, +asked him to call and see Celestino in the evening. The doctor was a +fine-looking man, with a profusion of silvery white hair and beard, a +deep thinker, blunt and sincere of speech, and full of dry wit that made +every one laugh but himself. His footman (a colored man) was once +overheard to say, "Berry strange man, my massa! berry sing'lar man! I +say to him, 'I can't walk fast in dese yere boots, sar--dey's too +short.' 'Oh,' he says, ''tis but the cutting off a piece of your toes, +Caesar, and de boots will fit well enuff.' Him berry sing'lar man. One +day I hear, through de open window of a lady's house, him say to her, +'For what did you send after me, madam?' and she say, 'I feel a leetle +'stericky again dis morning, doctor: what can you pescribe for me?' +'Pescribe!' says my massa with a sort of short laugh: 'why, dat you go +to de top of de house wid a brush and dustpan and sweep de stairs all de +way down, and make all de beds, and leave off drinking strong coffee;' +and a berry fashionable lady too, as dey tell me after. When de doctor +get into him carriage he talk to himself, and give him short laugh." + +After an introduction to Signora Mortera, the doctor turned his +attention to Celestino, who lay on the sofa pale and agitated: "Bless my +heart! what a handsome lad! what splendid eyes! Ah! hm! hm! poor fellow! +hm!" and he cleared his throat. "Let me feel your pulse." + +As Celestino turned and gazed on him with mute surprise the doctor +proceeded with his examination in complete silence, and then began +discoursing about the weather and politics. + +"But, doctor," said my mother, "you have told us nothing about the boy? +What is your opinion? what shall we do for him? what do you prescribe?" + +"Whirr! whirr! how many questions! I prescribe for him a course of early +rising, accompanied by long prayer and fasting. If he shows an +inclination for exercise, give him a rosary. Take away juvenile books, +and give him the _Lives of the Saints and Martyrs_. Let him +remember the days of fasting and abstinence. Why, bless me! the boy is +nothing but heart and brain. He must be kept cheerful and +well-nourished. Let him be in the open air when it is pleasant. I will +prescribe a little something for him, but his case is beyond all +medicine." + +"Oh, doctor, do you really mean to say that he will die?" + +"Die?" and the doctor laughed his little cynical laugh. "Why, we shall +all die some day, shall we not?" + +"Now, doctor, do be serious. Is there no hope for him?" + +"I don't see that there is;" and he continued to gaze at the boy's face +as if it had some fascination for him. + +Eugenio Noele failed not a week later to send his clerk to make +arrangements for the departure of the Morteras. As the time drew nearer +Celestino failed rapidly. He would lie for hours without speaking except +with his eloquent eyes. Frequently he would kiss a little ring that I +had given him, and a few days before his departure I gave him a trinket +consisting of a turquoise heart, with a cross set with crystals over red +stones, emblematical of the blood and water that flowed from the side of +our Redeemer. This he received with great emotion, and as I tied it to +his neck with a ribbon he said, "I will wear it as long as I have life." + +"Does Celestino fear to die?" + +"No, signora, not whilst you are near me; and by dying I shall see my +brothers and sisters in heaven, and can come and watch over you all." + +"Sweetest child! It will break my heart to lose thee." + +"Ah, do not weep;" and the boy's lips paled and his eyelids closed. I +gave him water, and called to his mother to come and speak to him. + +"Ah, this child of my bosom! my poor Celestino! must he leave me too?" + +"Dear signora, he goes to a world free from such sorrows or cares as +yours have been. He is like an angel even now." + +"Celestino, kiss thy poor afflicted mother." Without a word, but with +trembling lips, he stretched forth his arms to embrace her, and I stole +away, leaving to her sacred sorrow the poor woman who for the moment, +forgetting her self-imposed ascetic restraint, was yielding to every +impulse of demonstrative tenderness. + +The night before their departure Eugenio wrote an ode addressed to me, +and placed it in my hands. I did not then read it through: I felt too +dispirited and preoccupied. The next morning his eyes met mine with a +questioning expression that I did not comprehend. When the hour for +parting had arrived tears and broken exclamations were mingled. Eugenio +lingered to kiss me, with a look first of inquiry, then of deep despair. +I found afterward that the poem he had presented to me contained a +protestation of humble and devoted love, which he entreated me not to +neglect with scorn, and thereby add to the cruelties of his situation. + +What a sense of loneliness we experienced! I felt restless and unhappy: +I was pursued by the imploring face of Eugenio and haunted by the eyes +of Celestino. It was long ere our household recovered its old +equilibrium. Letters full of gratitude came from the Morteras. They were +re-established in their old home; Eugenio had resumed his studies; +Virginia was not so well; Celestino was dying. Soon after I received a +letter in Eugenio's handwriting informing me that the trinket he +enclosed would be to me an evidence that his beloved brother Celestino +was dead. He had died with a smile on his lips, and Eugenio with his own +hands had unfastened the jewel from his neck. In a letter written some +time after to my mother Eugenio implored her by all she loved to rescue +him from a position which he felt to be daily more unendurable, by +procuring for him some engagement, in however humble a capacity, that +would enable him to support himself and assist his family. A priest he +_could not, would not_ be. My parents had scarcely time to discuss +the matter ere another letter came from Eugenio, telling them that his +mother had discovered the subject of his correspondence, and that she +and their good old priest had succeeded in convincing him of his +wickedness in attempting to relinquish the holy vocation of priest--that +it had been a snare of the devil; and he implored Signor and Madama +Melville to forgive him for the scandal he had caused concerning his +holy religion by such unworthy backslidings, which he now deeply +repented. + +One day Oswald came in exclaiming, "Aunt, who do you think has failed +and left the country?" + +"Who?" + +"Why, your friend, Eugenio Noele! As I passed the house I saw men +carrying away the pictures and things. I could not help stopping to +inquire into the matter. One of the workmen, who seemed to know a great +deal about it, said that a confidential clerk was at the bottom of it +all, and had run off before the great smash came." + +The last news we heard of this singular family was that Rugiero, who had +gone to Italy with his family, was retrieving his position, that +Giuseppe was with him, and that Eugenio was a priest, and beloved by all +for his noble qualities and extended usefulness. + + CLELIA LEGA WEEKS. + + + + +THE MATCHLESS ONE: +A TALE OF AMERICAN SOCIETY, IN FOUR CHAPTERS. + +PROLOGUE. + + +Ah, the misfortune of being wealthy, the misery of being handsome, the +disadvantage of a divine moustache and a dimple in the chin, the +affliction of having wavy hair and dark eyes, the forlorn condition of a +man who is very clever, who never makes a bad joke, who is such "good +company," such a "jolly dog," such a "happy creature" and "fortunate +fellow"! Oh the calamity of possessing a romantic country-seat and fine +horses!--the ill-starred luck of a person who is always finding a moon +that shines beautifully, a sun that is never too hot, long walks that +cannot be too long, and drives that are "_so_ delightful"! + +I am the unhappy victim of a fate which in spiteful mood gifted me +beyond my fellow-men. I might have had my share of enjoyment in the +world, as mediocre people have, but my perfections are in my way at +every turn, continually marring my prospects. A superficial observer +might think that these advantages would have the contrary effect--that I +should be more fortunate than others--but my story will prove my +assertion. Take, for example, my difficulties as a "marrying man." I +will relate my experience during the past three years, and you can judge +for yourself. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +My good mother (may Heaven reward her!) often advised me to marry +betimes. "Marry early in life, my dear Charles," she would say, "but +marry a woman _worthy_ of you." + +In her solicitude my mother foresaw the difficulty of the task she had +set before me. She had known and admired me from childhood, and of +course appreciated my worth. I remember her sad but affectionate gaze as +she spoke, and I, unconscious of the future, smiled to reassure her. +With the simplicity inseparable from great natures, I did not value the +treasures I possessed. I was as the poet before he has touched his +lyre--as the sculptor ere he has found his marble. Since then the years +have brought knowledge. My eyes have been opened by the actions of those +around me--by the admiration I excite whenever I appear; by the respect +with which I am listened to when I speak; by the warmth with which I am +welcomed wherever I visit. I could produce many examples to illustrate +my gradual awakening, but they would be irrelevant to my subject. + +I earnestly desired to fulfill my mother's wishes, and as soon as it +seemed proper after her decease I set out on my quest as on a +pilgrimage. The task which requires from most men some six weeks' or +three months' time, perhaps a few moments snatched from business or a +few evenings of ball-room devotion, has cost me three years' labor, and +it is not yet accomplished. But I suppose it is easier for other men to +find some one worthy of _them_. + +I had read the poets: I had conceived an ideal of a faultless creature, +and with the enthusiasm of youth I sought for a woman to worship as a +star--one whom I should adore--one far above me, from whom it would be +honor to win a smile, and--and all that sort of thing. Alas! I found +they smiled before I could make my first bow at an introduction. At +first I blamed the poets--thought they had been mistaken--had not +studied human nature; but the truth gradually dawned upon me. _The +fault was mine_! The imagination of man had not been able to create a +hero of fiction like myself: in fact, had authorship attained such a +triumph, the most fastidious maiden would have been obliged to fall in +love at first sight, thereby spoiling many a fine three-volumed romance +and heroic cantos innumerable. How ruinous would the possession of +perfection such as mine have been to the chivalry of the Middle Ages! + +I do not think any less of the ladies for the ease of my conquests: I +know how impossible it is for the poor dears to resist my charms; but oh +the happiness of mediocrity! + +I was occupied for a whole season searching for the being whom I called +my star. My fancy was so pleased with the idea of basking in her +radiance, I had so fully persuaded myself to be guided by her light to +all things great and high, I had learned to think of her with so much +devotion, that I could not give up my hope of finding her somewhere. I +went to all the popular summer-resorts in turn, meeting only +disappointment. The star type of girls did not seem to be the mode that +season: I could see no trace of her I came to find. Though saddened, I +was too young to despair: in my usual clear and sensible manner I +thought the matter over. After all, I reflected, I suppose I can find a +woman worthy of me who is not a star. I doubt not the poets were sincere +in their civility to persons of the other sex. The exaggeration arose +from the absence of any really superior man with whom to compare them. +They _seemed_ stars in contrast with the existing male species: +_I_ had not yet appeared. + +Another summer found me renewing my search with unabated vigor, but this +time on a different basis, having determined to lay romance aside--to +seek for nothing above me--to be content with an equal. If with her I +should not be ecstatically happy--if our _ménage_ would not quite +rival that of Adam and Eve in the garden of Paradise--yet a certain +amount of modern bliss might be extracted from the companionship of an +agreeable woman who could appreciate and sympathize with my tastes and +be my friend through life. + +I employed my second summer in looking for a sympathetic woman, with the +intention of making her my wife. May I never see such a hard-working, +distracting season again! Not that such women were hard to find--they +were only too plenty: at one time I had six who were devoted to me. One +sympathized with my love of music; we sang duets together in the +evening; it was delightful, for I need hardly say that I sing as I do +everything else--remarkably well. Another sympathized with my sketching +propensities. We rambled in the woods together with boxes and colors. I +found it charming. "Nothing amateurish" about my style, Miss Pinklake +said. A third sympathized with my taste for horses: my restive Nero was +the "sweetest pet" she ever saw. (My groom says, "He's the divvil +hisself, Muster Charley.") With her I rode in the afternoon. She told +me--Miss Vernon, you know her? brunette, deuced pretty--she said one +day, when we were taking a canter together, "I can believe those +wonderful stories of the Centaurs when I see _you_ ride, Mr. +Highrank." She had a pleasant voice, and such a figure! I had almost +decided to propose to her one day, and was even thinking of the words I +should use, when the pale Miss Anabel Lee came walking along the road by +us, looking like a fairy, her hat hanging on her arm filled with wild +flowers, and her dress looped with ferns. As she passed she raised her +beautiful blue eyes to mine, and at the same time--it might have been +chance--she pressed a bunch of forget-me-nots to her lips. I remembered +I had an engagement to walk with Miss Lee on the beach that night: there +was a lovely moon--we talked poetry. It was Miss Annie Darling who said +I "waltzed divinely." Miss Annie laid her hand on one's sleeve when she +talked to one, mutilated her fan with various tappings on a fellow's +shoulder for being naughty, as she called it ("naughty" meant giving her +a kiss in a dark corner of the verandah), said saucy things to the +snobs, and used her eyes. She walked with the Grecian bend. When I had a +serious fit there was young Miss Carenaught, who was plain and read the +reviews, spoke sharply against fashion, and knew a man of my education +"must despise the butterfly existence of the surrounding throng." +Sometimes she would invite me to go with her to catch beetles and queer +insects--"not that she needed my help," she would say, "but my +intellectual society was indeed a treat in this crowded desert." + +All this was very agreeable, but also very perplexing. At the end of the +season I found myself as far from making a choice as ever. If I indulged +one taste at the expense of the others, I should become a less perfect +man; nor could I decide in which of my pursuits I needed sympathy the +most--music, painting, dancing, riding, reading. Alas! could I find one +woman congenial in all my moods I would marry her immediately. Wearied +by the attentions of so many, I yet feared an imperfect life spent with +but one. I saw that I had made another mistake, and retired to my +country-seat, "The Beauties," to recruit. + +I know there is a modern idea that women are the equals of men (the +poets, you remember, thought them superior), and many may consider it +odd that I did not find it so. I do not wish to offend. To those who +hold that opinion I modestly suggest my unfortunate superiority as the +probable cause of my failure. I do not blame the ladies, be it +understood. + +Again I sat down to plan and reflect. I looked mournfully on the past +and less hopefully on the future. The obstacles were beginning to +dishearten me, but even after a second failure I dared not relinquish my +quest: my mother's wishes must be fulfilled. A woman worthy of me: +behold the difficulty! What course of action should I now pursue? + +At last I had a flash of brain-light on the subject. I would look for +the purely good, rejecting the intellectual entirely. I would plunge +into the country and seek a bride fresh from the hands of Nature, a wild +flower without fashion, guile or brains--one who in leaving me free to +follow my own pursuits would yet adorn my life with charms of the +heart--a heart that had known no love but mine. + +It was in the most beautiful month of autumn that I made this resolve, +which I lost no time in putting into execution. I wrote to my old +college friend, Dick Hearty, that I would spend a month with him: he had +often invited me to visit him in the country. I counted on doing enough +love-making in that time to win my wild rose, and at my return I would +bring home my bride. I reasoned that in those unsophisticated regions, +in the shadow of the virgin forest, the trammels of long courtship and +other fashionable follies are unknown: heart meets heart as the pure +woodland streams meet each other and become one. + +Before I set out I gave a dinner-party at The Beauties to announce to my +gentleman friends the joyful event. At the dessert I rose and proposed +the health of my future bride. + +"And may it be years before she arrives at The Beauties!" mumbled Percy +Flyaway when they had drunk the toast. + +"I hope you will all welcome her at a grand reception here in--about a +month or six weeks." I remembered just in time that I had best not fix a +date, as something might intervene. + +A storm of questions, exclamations and remarks ensued. + +"Lovely?" + +"As fair as poet's dreaming." + +"Die Vernon?" + +"Not for Joe!" + +"The Soprano?" + +A shake of my head. + +"Anabel?" + +"No." + +"Who is she?" + +"Let us drink her health again," said one, getting thirsty, and fearing +in the excitement the bottle would not be passed. + +"Tell us all about her," cried another. + +"Gentlemen," said I seriously when the noise had slightly abated, "you +know I am a deuced good fellow." + +"Hear! hear!" they cried. + +"That you are!" said Percy. + +"Well, I am going to get a deuced good wife." + +"Congratulate you, old fellow!" + +"Do you think of going up in a balloon for a wedding-trip?" + +They all came around me, clinked their glasses with mine, shook hands +with me, and drank my health, her health, the health of my +mother-in-law, and any other toast that would serve as an excuse for +emptying a glass. + +"I say, will she cut rough on us chaps?" asked Percy in a plaintive +voice as the hubbub subsided. + +"Gentlemen," cried I, waving my hand, "my wife that is to be is an +angel." + +"Wish she would stay in heaven!" muttered Percy. + +"What I mean by an angel is a perfect woman." + +"Worse still," said the irrepressible Perce. (By the by, the wits had +nicknamed him "Perce sans purse," because he was poor, you know, but he +was a good fellow, quite.) + +"Gentlemen, let me explain." + +"Hear! hear!" + +"I have been looking for a wife for the past year: I have thought much +on the subject, for I think it an important one." + +"Solomon!" said Perce out of his wine-glass. + +"Now, a good wife must be a refined, gentle, kind, loving, beautiful +woman, with no nonsense about her." + +"Amen to the last clause!" cried Bear de Witt. + +"You have found her?" asked Percy, absently watching the sparkling +bubbles rise one after the other in his glass. + +"Ah--aw--I will bring her home," I answered, evading the question--"my +love, my bliss, my delight!" + +"He is awful spoony on her," said Bear in a disgusted tone. + +"He is tipsy," whispered Percy as I sat down with a tremor in my voice +and wiped my eyes with a napkin. + +Then Perce began to lecture me in an injured tone: "I say, it is really +too bad of you. I should not have believed it if you had not told us +yourself. To go and get married like any fool of a fella' that hasn't +forty thou' a year, like any common man--it's too rough." + +"I know it, Perce," I replied, "but we superior people must set an +example--the world expects it of us. The only question is, how to make a +proper choice." + +I remember very little after, except that the lights shone dimmer +through the cigar-smoke, that there was much noise from popping corks, +and occasionally a breakage of glass, and I think I made another speech. +Next morning I awoke with a very robust and well-defined head-ache. + +A few days later I started for the back-woods, with Wordsworth packed in +my trunk, he being the writer most congenial to my present state of +mind. Once seated in the cars, I looked with pleasure on each pastoral +scene as it came into view, and gazed at the milkmaids while thinking +romantically of my love. I took a nap, and awoke respectfully pressing +the handle of my portmanteau and murmuring a proposal to my wild flower. + +It was late when I arrived at the little village near which my friend +resided, and I resolved to spend the night at the modest inn of the +place. The gay singing of birds, mingled with the ringing of Sunday +bells, caused my drowsy eyes to open on the morrow. A happy thought came +to me as I lay enjoying the delightful freshness of all around me: "I +will go to church: my little Innocence will be there. I know she is +pious. As unconscious as the birds, and with as sweet a voice, she will, +like them, be praising her Maker this bright morning." + +I began to dress, looking each moment from the window with the hope that +she might pass by. The street was quiet--no one to be seen. Presently, +from a house near, tripped two pretty girls, and I eagerly came forward +to see them. "If it is not my rose herself," I thought, "it maybe some +relation--cousin, sister, friend: I am interested in the whole town +since _she_ lives here." The girls came nearer. They walked without +affectation: you could imagine that the spirit of Modesty herself had +taught them that quiet demeanor. Suddenly they looked up and saw me. Am +I Mephistopheles, to produce such a dire effect? They looked down, they +simpered, they laughed a laugh that was not natural: their voices grew +louder. + +"_Did_ you see him?" said one. + +"So perfectly lovely!" said the other. + +"I wonder who he is?" remarked the first. + +"My fate," I muttered as I turned away. + +After breakfast I sallied forth, humming "Pure as the Snow." Taking a +reconnoissance of the town, I came to a pretty house with +woodbine-covered porch, and a slender figure at the window. + +"I will not startle her with a rude glance," thought I, for I could see +without appearing to look. As my step resounded the figure turned. + +"Oh, do come here, Jessie! Who _can_ he be?" said the slender +figure to some one inside. + +I raised my eyes slowly, and my hat. "Could you tell me the way to Mr. +Hearty's?" I asked, not thinking of any other excuse for speaking to +her. + +Blushing, she told me. + +"And might I ask you," looking beseechingly at her as a person who might +be my future wife--"might I ask you to give me one of your roses?" + +"Take as many as you like," she said courteously. + +"I would rather you gave me one," with a smile. + +She hesitated for an instant, then quickly plucked a bud from the side +of the open window, threw it to me and ran away. + +"I shall find _my_ Rose later," sighed I. + +I sauntered on to church, a pretty little building of mossy gray stone, +and seated myself on a shady bench under the elms to watch the people +assembling. + +Ye gods! could it be? Here were last summer's styles, airs and grimaces, +served up as it were cold. I could pick out bad copies of each girl I +had flirted with the past season. You remember Florence Rich at The +Resort?--here was her portrait in caricature. Florence was the vainest +girl I ever knew, and showed it too. But she was vain of herself. This +country Florence was vain of a new silk that I would have taken the odds +she was wearing for the first time. She looked as if she were saying +with every rustle, "Admire me!" though of course she wasn't, you know. +She was constantly arranging her bracelet or smoothing her glove, and +looking on this side and that to see if any one was observing her. By +this means she gave her admirers the benefit of her full face, showing +both earrings; then of her profile, showing one earring and her curls; +and then of the back of her head, showing her fall bonnet. Her little +black veil ended just where her nose needed a shade. It is needless to +mention that she looked at me as she passed and gave me a smile _à la +profile_, which was ostensibly aimed at a pale young man near the +church-door. + +On they came, looking like the remnants of my summer's feast--the supper +after my season's dinner--stale and repelling to my satiated palate. On +entering I saw the ghost of "the Soprano" at the head of the choir, with +less voice and more affectation. The same glances of envy that had been +shot from angry eyes at The Resort I now saw passing between angry eyes +here. The church was full of imitations of this kind, or were they only +inferior originals of the same type? + +I learned afterward that the girls of the town were divided into two +classes--the followers of Miss Loude, who was fast and flashy, and the +imitators of Miss Weighty, who affected the quiet style, did not visit +indiscriminately, and was considered "stuck up" by the townspeople, +being the daughter of a retired grocer. During the service they all +looked at me. Some who were of the Loude school did it openly: those +after the Weighty pattern peeped clandestinely over their prayer-books, +through their fans, or between their fingers when praying. The more +clever would use strategy, shivering as if in a draught of air, and +looking around in my direction to see if a window were open, while the +mammas eyed me steadily through spectacles. + +"I might have known it," I thought, exasperated: "'tis the same +everywhere, unless I should go to a country where the people are blind." + +Dick Hearty, who was there with his sisters, came up after the service +and spoke to me. "Looking well, old fellow!" he said, as if I was not +sick of looking well. "Let me introduce you to my sisters." + +His sisters were of the fast and flashy school. Both of them fell in +love with me before I left, though I tried hard to make myself +disagreeable, not thinking it right to disappoint them, being a friend +of the brother, and all that. But unless I wear a mask I cannot prevent +such accidents. I hope they will get over it in time. They were deuced +nice girls too, but more like peonies than wild roses. + +Well, as I was saying, Dick introduced me, and insisted on taking me +home with him at once. I already began to fear for the success of my +object, but could not turn back at the very beginning of the promised +land; so I went with him. + +It would be tiresome to tell of all the flirtations and adventures I had +while there, or of all the girls who devoted themselves to me. Like +skillful leaders, Miss Loude and Miss Weighty set the example to their +imitators--an example which none were slow to follow. Indeed, it seemed +as if the struggle consisted in seeing who should be first at my feet. I +averaged half a dozen conquests daily: Dick's house was overwhelmed with +lady visitors, and it was usually love at first sight with them all. A +second interview was sufficient to win the most intractable. Not that I +cared to win: I was fatigued with victory--my laurels oppressed me. I +began to wish, like that nobby old emperor, Au--I used to know his +name--that all womankind had but one heart, that I might finish it with +a look, and then turn my attention to more important matters. + +Once I thought I had found her. At one of the picnics given in my honor +I saw a sober, pretty little thing, with rosy cheeks and chestnut hair, +who looked intensely rural. I fancied I should like to talk to her alone +for a while, and took her to a spring that was just in sight of the +dancing platform, thinking she would be too timid to go far away from +the others. I found her very sweet and bashful: I could desire nothing +more so. She blushed at each word she said, and made some very innocent +remarks, unfettered by the grammatic rules that restrain less ingenuous +people. Hoping to put her at her ease, I talked about the country, the +beautiful views, and all that. + +"If you like lovely views," she said shyly, "I can show you one." + +"I shall be most happy to see it," I replied. + +To tell you of the walk that the treacherous innocent took me, of the +rocks we climbed and the marshy brooks we crossed, and the two hours she +kept me at the work! Her stock of conversation was exhausted in the +first ten minutes, and I was too angry to be civil. Two hours of such +silent torture man never underwent before, and yet when we returned +tired, with the perspiration rolling down our faces, I actually +overheard her tell one of her companions that it had been "a delightful +walk, I was _so_ agreeable." Just my luck! And that walk made her a +belle! After it all the country beaux flocked around to pay her +attention, and she looked upon them as Cinderella might have viewed her +other suitors after the prince had danced with her at the ball. +Disgusting! + +Dick came to me after a while and said, "Charley, you are so stunning in +that velvet coat that all the girls are in love with you." + +"I know it, Dick," I said in a complaining voice--"I know it. It always +happens just so. Think it's the coat? I would take it off in a minute if +I thought it was." Then I added with a burst of confidence, "Dick, 'tis +the same with everything I wear: the fascination is in myself. I would +do anything to lessen it, but I can't." + +"You are a jolly joker," replied Dick with a tremendous slap on my back, +as if I had said something very funny. I am often witty when I don't +mean to be. + +But why continue a history which was the same thing day after day? I +stayed in the country more than three weeks. Though doubting, I was +conscientious, and left nothing undone to gain my end. The task bored me +far more than my sympathizers did in the summer. Indeed, any of those +friends were bewitching in contrast to the girls I now met, and had one +of them dropped in on me during that tiresome period I think I should +have forgotten nice distinctions and made serious love to her, sure of +finding more pleasure in having a single taste in common than in having +none at all. + +I believe country-people are even more egotistic than the dwellers in +cities. I sometimes found myself at the most isolated farm-houses +looking for my Rose. The men I met there invariably thought they knew +all about the weather and religion, politics and farming; the women were +convinced they had every kind of knowledge worth having, and that what +they did not know was "new-fangled" and not worth a pin; and their +daughters believed that they were beauties, or would be if they had fine +clothes to dress in. How people can be so mistaken as to their capacity +is a mystery to me. + +During my stay I came to the conclusion that I would rather press a soft +hand than a hard one; that I would rather see a tasty toilette than +beauty unadorned; that shy manners are anything but graceful; that the +useful and the beautiful are not likely to be found in the same person; +and that girls, like _articles de luxe_, should be carefully kept. +I like to recall that well-bred, unconscious air of Miss Haughton; I +remember Miss Darling as a model of deportment: why, she could do the +naughtiest things in a less objectionable manner than that of these +girls when acting propriety. + +I discovered some facts regarding wild roses. Their petals are few and +faded, and their thorns many and sharp. Their scanty green foliage will +always remind me of a calico gown. Take my word for it, and don't ever +go to the trouble of seeking one. Give me a full-blown damask rose. What +care I if it was nursed in a hot-house or if its beauty is due to the +gardener's care? I thank the gardener and take the rose. Or give me a +half-open sulphira, with suggestive odors and soft curving leaves, +passion-pale in tint, or a gorgeous amaryllis produced by artful +development, clothed like a queen in state, bearing erect her magic +beauty. No more wild roses for me! + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +I had been at Breezy Brook, that beautiful summer resort which you all +know, about a month: it was now July, and nothing had happened worth +relating since my arrival. During the past winter I had not been +idle--attending parties, balls and operas without number, but without +success. This summer I made up my mind to be tranquil and to let events +take their course, for, as Fortune had given me every other good, she +would no doubt in time provide me with a good wife. I had therefore +every reason to be patient. + +I was in an unsociable mood one afternoon; so, taking a cigar and book, +I sauntered up the mountain. There is an arbor halfway to its top, and I +have a lounging-place near by, where the roots of an old tree make a +comfortable nest just above a steep precipice, and the place is hidden +from intruders by rocks and foliage. 'Tis a discovery of mine I pride +myself upon, and I go there when I want to collect my thoughts and enjoy +my own company. + +Hardly had I made myself comfortable in my retreat when I heard voices +in the arbor below. It was Mrs. Fluffy and her sister, Mrs. J.K.B. +Stunner. I knew them in a moment, though they were not visible. Panting +for breath, Mrs. F. invited the other to take a seat: she was very stout +and soon tired. The sisters were examples of opposite schools of art. +Mrs. Stunner, dark, hard and sharp-faced, was a widow with all her +daughters "well settled" in life--_i.e._, married to wealthy +husbands--and was considered "fortunate" among the matrons. Mrs. Fluffy +was soft and florid, without an angular point, physically or mentally: +much younger and prettier than her sister, she was always spoken of as +"poor Mrs. Fluffy," though she was not badly off that I could see. She +had two daughters "out" this season, and a third casting longing looks +in the same direction. + +Thinking they would move on shortly, as the arbor was only a +halting-place for people walking to the summit, I lay snug and waited. +Presently the widow, among other commonplaces, began to discuss the +young ladies at The Brook. + +"By the by, Sarah," she said, "I don't see that your girls are doing +much this season: I really must say you do not seem to manage well at +all. You may be playing a very deep game, but I can discover no signs of +it, and there is little that escapes me in such matters." + +"Oh, Jane!" panted Mrs. F., "if you only knew the trouble of having two +daughters 'out' at once!" + +"As if I didn't know!" snuffed Mrs. Stunner. + +"True, true," replied Sarah in a conciliatory tone. "But you seemed to +have so little anxiety." + +"Seemed!" echoed the Stunner contemptuously. "Of course I _seemed_, +and the difficulty it required to _seem_! Do you think I was so +witless as to let my manoeuvres be seen? I wonder at you, Sarah!" + +"Well, well," said the other, yielding the point, "I know you have a +talent for such things, and can manage well, but _I_ don't know +what to do." + +"I--should--think--you--did--not," replied her sister, tapping the +ground slowly with her foot. + +"What have I done that you should speak like that, Jane?" asked the meek +Sarah, bridling up. + +"Tell me," answered Jane after an ominous silence that was quite +thrilling, "where is Eva at this moment?" + +"Oh,", replied Sarah with a sigh of relief, "she is walking with Mr. +Hardcash. You introduced him at the last ball." + +"I introduced him to dance with, not to walk with," said Jane severely. + +"Goodness me, sister! what's the difference?" + +"She asks me 'What's the difference?' Are you a child? Why, just the +difference between dancing and walking." + +From the pause that followed I knew that Mrs. F. was looking with both +her round eyes, intent on seeing it. I suppose she did not succeed, as +her sister continued, emphasizing each word clearly, "Mr. Hardcash has +not a penny," as if that at once explained the knotty question. + +"Why did you introduce him if you don't approve of him?" asked Mrs. +Fluffy, with a feeble attempt to throw the blame on her sister. + +"Have I not told you? In a ball-room girls need plenty of +partners--plenty of men about them. It makes them look popular and +fascinating, and if the gentlemen are handsome and stylish-looking, so +much the better. Mr. Hardcash is just the size to waltz well with +Eva--he shows her off to advantage--but he is not a man to encourage +afterward. She should not be seen walking or talking intimately with a +gentleman who has less than ten thousand a year." Mrs. Stunner delivered +this ultimatum with the tone of a just judge who will hear of no appeal. + +"How can I know how much the gentlemen are worth?" said Sarah pettishly. + +"It is your duty as a mother to discover it," replied the virtuous +widow. + +"But how?" + +"The visitors' book will tell where a man is from; you can easily get +acquainted with some old lady or gentleman from the same place; and--" + +"What! and ask about them!" + +"Nonsense! Speak of them, praise them if you wish, and let the others +talk: you have only to be an interested listener" (here I could imagine +Mrs. S. smiling grimly), "and you can soon hear enough. For instance, +commence in this way: 'Fine fellow, Mr. T. from your part of the +country.' As a general rule the old gentleman will then give you his +whole history. Another time you may say, 'What a pleasant young man that +Mr. B. is! but rather inclined to be wild, eh?' If he is you will soon +know it. You can also cross-question the man himself. Speak of a little +girl he has at home: if he blushes he is netted already, and lures are +useless. See how he eats his dinner: that is a good test to judge his +position by; not that a few _gaucheries_ will matter if he is very +wealthy--for a judicious mother-in-law can soon correct them--but for +every impropriety he should have a thousand added to his income. Such +things are so intolerable in a poor man!" + +"I don't think Eva would obey me if I did interfere in her affairs," +objected Mrs. Fluffy. + +"Her affairs, indeed! It is _your_ affair. Of course you want a +son-in-law who can keep a comfortable house for you to live in. You have +brought up Eva badly, Sarah, and there is one thing I must tell you +about her--she is entirely too familiar and sisterly with gentlemen." + +"She has a great many beaux," interrupted Mrs. F. + +"It is one of her worst faults," continued Jane, not listening to her. +"If a girl gets into those sisterly habits with a man, it will never +come into his head to marry her. She may be his chief confidante; he +will talk of his lady-love to her, and she may end by being first +bridesmaid at his wedding, but nothing nearer. I don't approve of it. +One of my maxims is, that a man ought not be well acquainted with the +girl he is to marry until the ceremony is performed." + +"Well, you cannot disapprove of Laura," said Mrs. Fluffy, trying to turn +the conversation. "I left her in her room reading." + +"'Disapprove' of her? The word is not strong enough for my feelings. +Neither of your girls has the least bit of common sense; but I don't +wonder, with such a mother! A girl who gets a reputation for being +learned and saying brilliant things might just as well give up matrimony +altogether. Men are either afraid of them or detest them: gentlemen +don't like to puzzle their brains over a witticism, nor do they admire +chaffing that is beyond their comprehension. Courtship should be made +easy. My Jane was clever, and vexed me a great deal in consequence, +daughters of that kind are so unmanageable: give me the most stupid in +preference. It is pleasant to a husband to feel his superiority, to look +down on his wife. The mediocre is the girl I take most delight in. There +are so many mediocre men that they are sure to get suited without giving +you much anxiety." + +"Jane," exclaimed Mrs. Fluffy with a burst of admiration, "you are so +clever I wonder _you_ ever were married. Did Mr. Stunner appreciate +that kind of women?" + +"La! no. I had the sense to conceal my talents. Take my word for it, +superior people as a class are never liked, unless they do as I +did--conceal it, conceal it." + +"I am glad I was not born talented: I fear I could not succeed in hiding +it as you do." Mrs. F. was too stupid for sarcasm, else I should have +thought-- + +"Now be frank with me, Sarah," broke in Mrs. Stunner, scattering my +thoughts: "who is paying attention to Eva now?" + +"Well," replied the other, appearing to recollect, "there is Mr. Rich: +he asked her to ride with him." + +"More than once?" + +"No, not more, but it was only day before yesterday." + +"Ah! he may ask her again: once means nothing. A gentleman may ask her +for pastime, or to make some one else jealous, or out of good-nature, +but to a girl properly brought up once is a chance--it is a good start." +(Mrs. S.'s late husband was fond of racing.) "It rests entirely with her +to make the once twice, the twice thrice, and so on; for if she is +amusing and don't talk love, he will be sure to ask her again." + +"'Don't talk love'? Why, Jane, you surprise me! I thought that was the +proper thing to do." + +"Just where people mistake. The most stupid man can talk love if he +feels love. Let girls be agreeable, sweet and charming, but without +especial effort to appear so, and when gentlemen are captivated they +will do their own love-making." + +"Dear me!" was the reply. + +"Yes, I protest against young ladies throwing themselves at the head of +every marriageable gentleman they see. They should think of the effect +it will have." + +"But they are so unworldly that they don't think of effect," said Mrs. +Fluffy. + +"Humph!" ejaculated the widow in a tone of incredulity. + +"You seem to have a very poor opinion of women, Jane." + +"They want to marry, all of them: you admit that, don't you?" asked Mrs. +Stunner severely. + +"I think not," objected Mrs. F. in a feeble voice. "There is Miss +Furnaval: they say she has refused--" + +"Then," interrupted her sister, not heeding her, "if they want to marry, +why not take the proper means? It is inconceivable to me how women, +after thinking about it all their lives, blunder into it in the end, +just as if it was an entirely unforeseen event. A little good sense is +requisite in everything, I think." + +"They are not all anxious to marry," reiterated Mrs. Fluffy, gaining +courage: "there's Miss Furnaval--" + +"A great example to give one!" remarked her sister contemptuously. "She +is making a fool of herself as fast as she can. Among all the young +ladies who marry badly, the fascinating ones prosper the worst. No girl +can refuse a good offer with impunity: a day of reckoning will come. +Society has its laws, which must be obeyed: if not, _gare_! Mark my +words," continued Mrs. Stunner solemnly: "Miss Furnaval has some +outlandish un-society principles, and practically they will not work. +Why, she is quite as well contented talking to a poor man as to a rich +one, and she is always encouraging worthless, amusing, handsome +fellows--talented men, instead of men whose position dispenses with the +necessity of their having brains. Those fellows she has about her are +the pests of society. If you hear of a runaway match, you may be sure it +is with one of them; if a daughter is obstinate, you may be sure some +ineligible jackanapes has prompted her to it. Blanche will end badly. +She will fall in love with one of them some day, and finish by marrying +him." + +"If Miss Furnaval loves one of that kind of gentlemen, I don't see why +she might not be happy with him." + +"You don't see anything, Sarah. You don't see the nose on your face, +though I see 'tis a very big one. I will make it evident to you. He will +be poor, Blanche is rich: if she gives him her money, he will spend it. +Never having had any of his own, he won't know how to take care of it. +If, on the other hand, she don't give it to him, he will think she does +not care for him--will get jealous, likely take to drink: your clever +man always does. They will quarrel; then her clever husband will use his +clever tongue to tease her, and his clever brain to thwart and provoke +her--which a stupid man would never think of doing--and, worse than all, +she will never get the least chance to have her own way in anything." + +"Poor Blanche! I pity her," sighed Mrs. Fluffy. + +"I don't, in the least," snapped the other. "Such an example will serve +to make other girls more sensible. Only you take it as a warning to your +own Eva." + +After quite a long silence, in which I suppose Mrs. Fluffy was +considering, she said pathetically, "I wish you would tell me what to do +with Eva." + +"Marry her as soon as possible," was the prompt and decided reply. "It +is her second summer 'out,' and she should at least be engaged." + +"I can do nothing. What do you advise, Jane?" + +"In the first place, stop her being with such gentlemen as Mr. +Hardcash." + +"Eva is so high-spirited," groaned Mrs. Fluffy, "I fear she would not +listen to me." + +"You mean _obstinate_, Sarah. Tell her seriously that she has had +two very gay seasons--that you can't afford another--that she must make +up her mind now. Then think over all the most eligible gentlemen you +know, and cultivate their acquaintance." + +"Couldn't you help me, Jane?" asked the other timidly. "I shall not know +what to do." + +"Let me see," continued Mrs. S. in a musing tone. "If you had a +country-house you could manage better. Elderly gentlemen are usually +pleased with domestic attractions, and there are many little attentions +that you and Eva could show them which in any other position would look +like courting them. Then there would be no danger of competition. +Indeed, if a pretty girl has a gentleman all to herself for a week or +two at a romantic country-house, a wedding is sure to follow. But there +must be no jarring, fretting, bad cooking or any household ill +whatever--no talk of poor servants or dishonest grooms: everything must +be _couleur de rose_." + +"Jane, it appears to me you are talking very silly," said Mrs. Fluffy, +glad of a chance to attack her superior sister. "You know I have no +country-house, and I can't buy one just to marry Eva and Laura from." + +"I merely said _if_ you had. I thought you might be pleased to hear +my theory," replied Mrs. Stunner stiffly, "The next best thing for you +is to have a parlor here, get up picnics and drives, make card-parties +with suppers--gentlemen so like to eat!--and do not spare expense when +you have a good investment in view. You can limit the invitations to two +or three gentlemen who are especially eligible: make these some little +compliment, such as '_You_ will come of course--our little party +would not be complete without you.' Contrive that they take care of the +girls, and you can entertain the others. Occasionally include some young +ladies in your evenings, so that the world may not say you are afraid of +them, but don't let them become intimate."--Here Mrs. Stunner paused for +breath. + +"It sounds easy enough," said poor Mrs. F. dolefully. + +"It is not easy at all," sharply replied her sister, "but if we manage +well we sha'n't have to go through with it more than one summer." + +"Then you will help me?" + +"I suppose I must sacrifice myself for the good of the family," said the +Stunner in an heroic tone, "but you must let me have my own way +entirely." + +"Oh yes, Jane--certainly. I am so much obliged!" replied Mrs. Fluffy +with effusion. + +"Then it is not necessary to explain my plans further: I shall be there +and will manage." + +"But whom do you think we should invite, Jane dear?" asked Mrs. F. +anxiously. + +"You spoke of Mr. Rich. I approve of him: I know he has twenty thousand +a year. Yes, he shall be one." + +"I am afraid Eva won't like him," Mrs. Fluffy timidly remarked. + +"Eva shall not interfere with my plans, and don't you commence with such +nonsense as liking and disliking; I won't have it," retorted Mrs. S. in +a louder voice than she would have used had she known I was so near. + +"But there might be some nicer gentleman just as wealthy, might there +not?" suggested the weak sister. + +"There is David Todd, with thirty thousand a year: I wonder if _he_ +would suit the dainty Eva?" said Mrs. Jane, sneering. + +"I think she would like Mr. Highrank to be invited," observed pink Mrs. +Fluffy, waiving the question. + +I sat up and listened attentively when I heard my own name mentioned, +not forgetful of the adage that listeners hear no good of themselves, +but of course _I_ had nothing to fear. + +"More sensible than I thought Eva could be," the Stunner rejoined. +"Forty thousand a year and entailed, so that he can't get through with +it. I have observed him a good deal for several seasons, and I find that +though he is such a fool, the sharpest girls can do nothing with him. +When so many are after him I suppose no single one can have a fair +chance. Yes, we will invite him, but I hope Eva will not think of +falling in love with him unless he should propose. Indeed, I think a +modest girl ought never to fall in love. It seems to me indecorous, at +least before marriage--after, they can do as they like about it. You +must warn Eva on the subject. If any other gentleman should ask for her, +she must not refuse, because we could not count on Highrank making up +his mind: I have an idea that he is too weak to form a resolution of any +kind." + +I thought the old woman must be bilious. "Me a fool!"--a philosopher +rather. But I have always known that exalted worth is a fault in the +estimation of narrow-minded people, who can't appreciate it. Little Eva +has more sense--would like me to visit her: of course the poor child is +in love with me. I wish I could tease that ridiculous old lady in some +way. I have a confounded mind to run off with Eva. No, that, I fear, +would please Aunt Stunner. But I am missing all her trash: better +listen. It is really not worth getting heated over. + +"The others I will see about," continued Aunt Jane. "It is very little +consequence who they are. Only one thing: I won't have that Hardcash +about: he and Eva have been entirely too much together." + +"She is rough on Ned," thought I in ambush. + +"I am afraid you won't be able to manage Eva, my dear Jane." + +"Don't worry. When I have a duty to perform I go through with it. Let us +walk on to the summit." + +"Just as you like: I am sufficiently rested, and we can talk as we go." + +There was a rustling of silk and a crunching of gravel, and all was +quiet. + +I lay there thinking for a long while: I wonder if my poor mother, were +she living, would take as much trouble to procure me a wife as Mrs. +Stunner is going to take to provide Eva with a husband. I wonder mothers +don't help their sons to marry, and let their daughters help themselves. +Girls are so much sharper about such things than men are. Everything is +against us. I suppose women think they deceive us for our good, but they +should continue to do so after marriage. 'Pon honor! I have seen the +sweetest, most amiable girl turn as sour as could be a few months after +the ceremony. The dressiest ones often get dowdy, the most musical can't +abide music, the most talkative have the dumps. A man has no chance of +judging how they are going to turn out. He is duped by the daughters, +inveigled by their mothers, and, what is worse still, as soon as he is +married they both undeceive him. It would not matter if a fellow was +cheated if he never knew it, but that's where it hurts. + +I shouldn't wonder if that pair of old plotters would catch me yet if I +don't take care. I will tease them a bit, any way: I'll pay a deuced lot +of attention to Eva, and keep the other fellows away. No man would try +to win her if he thought I was serious. + +Blanche Furnaval _is_ an odd girl, I went on musing. They said she +would end badly--hope she won't, though. Bewitching girl, but she don't +seem to care if people admire her or not. I never can quite understand +her. Once I wrote a few verses and gave them to her--compared her to an +ice-covered stream, quiet on the surface, but all motion and tumult +below. Well, she never even thanked me for them, though she said she +liked that simile, it was so new. There was another couplet about her +name--Blanche and snow and cold: when she read it she laughed and said, +"Though my name means white, it does not mean cold. You know there are +some white things that are very warm, Mr. Highrank--my ermine muff, for +instance." But I made a clever answer. I said, "The muff _looks_ +cold, and so does Miss Blanche, but if I could be so fortunate as to +touch the heart of either I might find warmth." "My muff has no heart," +she answered, looking at me as if she did not understand. "And is its +owner in the same condition?" I asked tenderly. (I make it a rule to +speak tenderly to all girls, it is so sad for them to love me when I +cannot return it.) "In a poetical sense I believe she is," she replied, +"but for all practical purposes she has one that serves very well." + +Sometimes she would be invisible for two or three days together: no one +would see her, either at meals or at the evening ball. When asked what +she had been doing, she would smile that sweet smile of hers and say she +had been enjoying herself. She was very talented, but not a bit +ostentatious. To give you an example: It was rumored that she had a +wonderful voice, and though we had been begging her to sing for at least +a month, she steadily refused to gratify us. One day there was a queer +old Italian chap came to The Brook for his health. He looked like an +organ-grinder, and had been once actually on the stage. Well, do you +know she allowed him to be introduced to her, and talked to him with as +much deference as if he had been a prince, when she ought not have +spoken to him at all, you know; and in that gibberish, too, that no one +can understand. One evening, after entertaining him for about an hour, +she walked with him the whole length of the room, not noticing any one, +though every eye was upon her. He sat down at the piano which stood in a +corner, struck a few chords, and then, with no coaxing whatever, she +sang; and such a song! Her gray eyes grew dark, and her voice quivered, +deepened, expanded into a melody that made you think the heavens had +suddenly opened. Every other sound ceased; the doors and windows were +filled with eager faces; the dancers ended in the middle of a quadrille, +and the band came in a body to listen. I saw one fat Dutchman holding +his fiddle in one hand while he wiped the tears from his eyes with the +other. When the song was ended the old Italian took both her hands in +his and kissed them, talking at the same time with impossible rapidity; +and she smiled and looked as happy as if she had won a prize, turning +her back on every one else who wished to congratulate her. It showed how +very odd she was. The next evening _I_ asked her to sing, and she +flatly refused without the least excuse, saying, "No: a refusal will be +a pleasant novelty in your life, Mr. Highrank." + + ITA ANIOL PROKOP. + +[TO BE CONTINUED] + + + + +THE STRANGER WITHIN THE GATES OF PARIS. + + +"Paris," once said Victor Hugo to me, "is the hostess of all the +nations. There all the world is at home. It is the second best place +with all foreigners--the fatherland first, and afterward Paris." + +There was a great deal of truth in the observation, and especially is it +true as regards Americans. By our natural sociability and versatility of +temperament, by our love of all bright and pleasant surroundings, by our +taste for pleasure and amusement, we assimilate more closely in our +superficial characteristics to the French nation than we do to any +other. Our Britannic cousins are too cold, too unsociable, too heavy for +our fraternization, and mighty barriers of dissimilarity of language, of +tastes, of customs and manners divide us from the European nation which +of all others we most closely resemble in essential particulars--namely, +the Northern Germans. The Prussians have been called--and that, too, +with a good deal of truth--the Yankees of Europe; and if the term +"Yankees" means, as it usually does in European parlance, the entire +population of the United States, we citizens of the great republic have +every right to feel proud of the comparison. Yet, with all our genuine +respect and admiration for the Prussians, there are but few American +tourists who take kindly to that people or their country. The lack of +the external polish, the graceful manners and winning ways of the +Parisians is severely felt by the chance tarrier within the gates of +Berlin. We accord our fullest meed of honor to the great conquering +nation of Europe, to its wonderful system of education, its admirable +military discipline, and its sturdy opposition to superstition and +ignorance in their most aggressive form. And yet we do not like Prussia +or the Prussians. We scoff at Berlin, planted on a sandy plain and new +with the thriving, aggressive newness of some of our own cities. We long +for the soft shadows of antiquity, the dim twilight of past glories, to +overhang our daily path as we journey onward through the storied lands +of the ancient world. We have enough of bright progressive prosperity at +home. Something of the feeling of the artist, who turns from the trim, +elegant damsel arrayed in the latest fashion to paint the figure of a +beggar-girl draped in picturesque rags, hangs about us as we travel. It +is only to Paris--Paris beautiful in its strange blending of smoky ruins +and splendid, freshly-erected mansions--that we can pardon the white +glare of newly-opened streets, the Vandal desecration of antique +landmarks, the universal sacrifice of old memories, historic +associations and antique picturesqueness on that altar of modern +progress whose high priest was Baron Haussmann and whose divinity was +Napoleon III. + +We love Paris, we Americans abroad, and we like the Parisians. One side +of our affection grows and strengthens and sends forth new shoots with +every passing day. The longer one lives in Paris the better one loves +it. Its beauty becomes part and parcel of one's daily life. The mighty +sweep of palace and arcade and museum and church, the plash of sunlit +fountains, the rustle and the shimmer of resplendent foliage, the grace +of statue, the grandeur of monument, the far-stretching splendor of +brilliant boulevard and bustling street,--all these make up a picture +whose lines are engraven on our heart of hearts. Often, passing along +the street, some far-off vista, some effect of light and color, some +single point of view, strikes on the sense with new and startling +beauty, and we pause to gaze and to admire, and to exclaim for the +thousandth time, How fair is Paris! + +And she is so prodigal of her treasures, this goodly city! She lavishes +them on all comers without fee or favor. All day long her princely +art-galleries stand open to welcome the passing visitor. One comes and +goes unhindered and unquestioned in church or museum, and even the +service of guides and boats and cars to the sewers, and of official +guides to the Catacombs, is given without compensation--nay more, all +fees are strictly; forbidden. There is no city on earth that receives +its guests with such splendid and lavish hospitality. Apart from one's +board and lodging, it is possible for a stranger to come to Paris and to +visit all its principal sights without the expenditure of a single sou. +And for the persons who, prolonging their stay, wish in some sort to +take up their permanent residence in Paris, things are smoothed and +ironed and the knots picked out in the most wonderful way. Your board is +dainty and your bed soft. Velvet-footed and fairy-handed beings minister +to your wants. You are clothed as if by magic in garments of marvelous +beauty. The very rustle of your letter of credit is as an open sesame to +treasure-chambers to which Ali Baba's cavern was but a shabby cellar. +And if, on the contrary, your means are limited and your wants but few, +the science of living has been so exactly conned and is so perfectly +understood that your franc-piece will buy you as many necessaries as +ever your fifty-cent greenback did home, and that, too, in face of the +fact that all provisions are now, owing to the war and the taxes, as +dear, if not dearer than they are in Philadelphia. If a stranger comes +to Paris and wishes to live comfortably and economically, there are +plenty of respectable, well-situated establishments in the best section +of the city where he can obtain a comfortable, well-furnished room and +well-cooked, well-served meals, for eight to ten francs a day--such +accommodations as five dollars would scarcely avail to purchase in +Philadelphia or New York. + +The whole secret of the matter is, that in France everybody understands +the art of making the most out of everything. No scrap of food is +wasted, no morsel cast aside, till every particle of nourishment it can +yield is carefully extracted. The portions given to the guests at the +minor hotels, where one lives _en pension_ at so much _per +diem_, are carefully measured for individual consumption. The slice +of steak, the tiny omelette, the minute moulded morsels of butter, even +the roll of bread and little _sucrier_ and cream-jug placed before +each person, have each been carefully gauged as to the usual dimensions +of an ordinary appetite. Nothing is squandered and nothing is wasted. +When one recalls the aspect of our hotel tables at home--the +bread-plates left with their piles of cold, uneatable corn-bread, and +heavy, chilled muffins and sodden toast uneaten, uncared-for and wasted; +the huge steak, with its scrap of tenderloin carefully scolloped out, +and the rest left to be thrown away; the broiled chicken--the legs +scorned in favor of the more toothsome breast; the half-emptied plates +of omelettes and fried potatoes,--one realizes how low prices for board +in Paris are still compatible with the increased price of provisions, +and why we must pay five dollars at home for accommodations for which we +expend two here. The same wastefulness creeps into all the details of +our hotel-life. If we want a glass of ice-water, for instance, we are +straight-way supplied with a pitcher brimming over with huge crystal +lumps of transparent ice. One-half the quantity would suffice for all +actual purposes: the rest is left to melt and run to waste. + +The fact is, that we citizens of the United States live more luxuriously +than any other people on the face of the earth. On an average we dress +better, fare better, sleep softer, and combat the cold in winter and the +heat in summer with more scientific persistency, than do any of the +so-called luxurious nations of Europe. Take, for instance, the matter of +heating and lighting. A few of the leading hotels in Paris, and a small +minority among the most expensive suites of private apartments, have gas +introduced into all the rooms, but as a general thing it is confined to +the public rooms, and the unfortunate wight who longs to see beyond the +end of his nose is forced to wrestle with dripping candles and unclean +lamps, known only by tradition in our native land. The gaslight, which +is a common necessary in the simplest private dwelling in an American +city, is here a luxury scarcely attainable save by the very wealthiest. +And we do not know how precious our gaslight is till we have lost it. To +sit in a dim parlor where four lighted candles struggle vainly to +disperse the gloom, to dress for opera or ball by the uncertain glimmer +of those greasy delusions, is enough to make one forswear all the +luxuries of Paris, and flee homeward forthwith. + +Then in winter comes the question of warmth. What is more delicious than +to plunge from the iced-champagne atmosphere of a sparkling winter's day +in America into the nest-like, all-pervading warmth of an American home? +Here such comfort is wholly unknown. The cold, though less severe than +with us, is damp, raw and insidious, and creeps under wraps with a +treacherous persistency that nothing can shut out. The ill-fitting +windows, opening in the old door-like fashion, let in every breath of +the chill outer air. A fire is a handful of sticks or half a dozen lumps +of coal. The _calorifère_, a poor substitute for our powerful +furnaces, is a luxury for the very rich--an innovation grudgingly +granted to the whims of the occupants of the most costly and fashionable +of private apartments. Warmth, our cosy, all-pervading warmth, is a +winter luxury that we leave behind us with the cheerful light of our +universal gas-burners. + +In summer we sorely miss the cold, pure ice-water of our native land, +and we long for it with a thirst which _vin ordinaire_ and Bavarian +beer are powerless to assuage. The ill-tasting limestone-tainted water +of Paris is a poor substitute for our sparkling draughts of Schuylkill +or Croton. Ice-pitchers, water-coolers and refrigerators are unknown +quantities in the sum-total of Parisian luxuries. The "cup of cold +water," which the traveler in our country finds gratuitously supplied in +every waiting-room and railway-station, every steamboat, every car and +every hotel, is here something that must be specially sought for, and +paid for at an exorbitant price. Ice can be purchased only in small +quantities for immediate consumption. Ten cents for a few lumps swimming +in water on a tepid plate is the usual tariff for this our American +necessity, this rare Parisian luxury. + +The scant supply of water for ablution is another annoyance to the +American traveler accustomed to the hot-and cold-water faucets +introduced into private bed-rooms and hotel apartments, and the capacious +bath-tubs and unlimited control of water in his native land. To be sure, +one can get a bath in Paris, as well as anywhere else, by ordering it +and waiting for it and paying for it; but the free use of water and its +gratuitous supply in hotels, so entirely a matter of course with us, is +here unheard of. As with ice-water, the bath is an American necessity, a +Parisian luxury. However, the latest erected dwelling-houses here have +had water-pipes and bath-tubs introduced. Wealth can command its bath +here as well as its gaslight and its supplies of ice, but wealth only. +The humblest abode of a Philadelphia mechanic contains comforts and +conveniences which are wellnigh unattainable luxuries in all but the +most splendid apartments of the most luxurious city of Europe. + +Nor do all the delicate artifices of French cookery suffice wholly to +replace for an American palate the dainties of his native land. The +buckwheat cakes and waffles, the large, delicate-flavored, luscious +oysters, the canvas-back ducks, the Philadelphia croquettes and +terrapin, find no substitutes on this side of the water. The delicious +shad and Spanish mackerel have no gastronomic rivals in these waters, +and the sole must be accepted in their stead. We miss, too, our +profusion and variety of vegetables, our stewed and stuffed tomatoes, +green corn, oyster-plants and sweet potatoes. As for fruits, the smaller +varieties are far more abundant and much finer here than they are with +us. Strawberries, cherries, raspberries, gooseberries, apricots--all of +great size and exquisite flavor--tempt and enchant the palate. But our +rich profusion of tropical fruits, such as bananas and pineapples, is +wholly unknown. Peaches are poor in flavor and exorbitant in price. As +for meats, poultry is dearer in Paris than at home, a small chicken for +fricasseeing costing six francs ($1.20 in gold), and a large one for +roasting ten francs ($2). Beef and mutton are at about the same prices +as in Philadelphia and New York. Butter costs from sixty to seventy +cents a pound. One can easily see, therefore, that it takes all the +skill and experience in domestic economy of Parisian housekeepers to +maintain the prices of living at anything like its present standard in +_pensions_ and hotels. But, in truth, the general standard of +French cooking has been much lowered since the war. A really sumptuous +French dinner is no longer to be procured at any of the tables d'hôte or +the leading hotels, and if ordered at a first-class restaurant it will +cost twice as much as it used to do. + +Rents, though somewhat lowered from their former proportions, are still +very high, a really elegant unfurnished suite of apartments costing from +five thousand to ten thousand francs a year, according to location; and +if furnished, nearly as much more. Two thousand francs is the lowest +rent which economy, desirous of two or three bed-rooms, in addition to +the parlor, kitchen and dining-room of an ordinary suite, can +accomplish. There are now in process of construction in the suburbs of +Paris several rows of houses built on the American plan, and it is +hardly possible to tell how comfortable and home-like the neat separate +abodes look to one who has been journeying round amid a series of +"floors," each so like the others. To the casual visitor there is a +despairing amount of sameness in the fitting-up of all French furnished +apartments. The scarlet coverings on the furniture, the red curtains, +the light moquette carpet with white ground and gay flowers, the white +and gold of the woodwork, the gilt bronze clock and candelabra, the +tables and cabinets in marquetry and buhl, are all precisely alike in +each, and all wear the same hotel-like look and lack of individuality. +Nobody here seems to care anything for home or home belongings. A suite +of apartments, even if occupied by the proprietor, is not the shrine for +any household gods or tender ideas: it is a place to rent out at so much +per month should the owner desire to go on a journey. No weak +sentimental ideas about keeping one's personal belongings from the touch +and the usage of strangers ever troubles anybody's mind. Tables and +chairs and carpets and curtains are just so many chattels that will +bring in, if rented, just so much more income: around them gleams no +vestige of the tender halo that surrounds the appurtenances of an +American home. + +The servant question is one that is just now of special interest to the +American housekeeper in Paris. I have elsewhere spoken of some of the +trials inflicted by these accomplished but often unprincipled domestics +on their masters and mistresses, so will not expatiate further on the +subject. I will merely specify as a special grievance the law that +forces the employer who discharges a servant to inscribe on his or her +character-book a _good_ character: should the departing help have +been sent away for gross immorality, theft or drunkenness, and should +the master write down the real reason of the dismissal, he renders +himself liable to an action for defamation of character. The person, +therefore, who engages servants from their character-book has no real +guarantee as to their worth. It is a well-known fact also that the +intelligence offices in Paris are far more anxious to obtain places for +bad servants than for good ones, because the former class return to them +more frequently, and are consequently the better customers. As to the +percentage exacted from grocers and provision-dealers by cooks and +stewards--a percentage which of course comes indirectly out of the +pocket of the master--the evil has become a crying one, but it is +apparently irremediable. A provision-dealer opened not long since a shop +in one of the most fashionable quarters of Paris, and sent round +circulars to all the housekeepers in the neighborhood announcing his +determination of paying no percentage to servants. The consequence was, +that not one of the cooks would buy anything of him, and he has been +forced to break up his establishment and depart. It is an impossibility +to engage a first-class cook without according to her the privilege of +doing all the marketing--a privilege by which she is enabled to more +than double the amount of her wages at her employer's expense. + +Among the other drawbacks of a residence abroad to an American woman is +an absence of the kindly deference to which, by virtue of her womanhood +alone, she is accustomed at home. The much-vaunted politeness of the +French nation is the thinnest possible varnish over real impertinence or +actual rudeness. None of the true, heartfelt, genuine courtesy that is +so freely accorded to our sex in our own favored land is to be met with +here. "A woman is weak and defenceless," argue, apparently, a large +class of Parisians, "therefore we will stare her out of countenance, we +will mutter impudent speeches in her ear, we will elbow her off the +sidewalk, we will thrust her aside if we want to enter a public +conveyance. Politeness is a thing of hat-lifting, of bowing and +scraping, of 'Pardon!' and 'Merci!' It is an article to be worn, like a +dress-coat and a white tie, in a drawing-room and among our +acquaintances. We have the right article for that occasion--very sweet, +very refined, very graceful, very charming indeed. But as for everyday +use--_nenni_!" That deep, true and chivalrous courtesy that +respects and protects a woman merely because she _is_ a woman, and +as such needs the guardianship of the stronger sex, is something of +which they have never heard and which they do not understand. They will +hand Madame la duchesse de la Haute Volée or Mademoiselle Trois-Étoiles +into her carriage with incomparable grace, but they will push Mrs. Brown +into the gutter, and will whisper in poor blushing Miss Brown's ear that +she is "une fillette charmante." + +And when a Frenchman _is_ rude, his impoliteness is worse than that +of other nations, because he knows better: he is rude with malice +prepense. The lower classes have especially lost much of their courtesy +since the Commune. I have seen a French workingman thrust a lady +violently aside on a crowded sidewalk, with a scowl and a muttered curse +that lent significance to the act. And the graceful, suave courtesy of +the shopkeepers--how swiftly it flies out of the window when their hope +of profit in the shape of the departing shopper walks out of the door! + +Shortly before quitting the United States I went into one of our large +public libraries to consult a voluminous work of reference. In the +remote recess where the books were kept sat a gentleman intent on the +perusal of a volume, his chair tipped back as far as it could be with +safety inclined, and his feet resting on the table. "Horrid fellow!" I +said to myself, glancing at the obtrusive members, and going forward to +the bookcase in search of the work I wanted. It proved to be of somewhat +ponderous dimensions, and higher than I could conveniently reach, so I +stood on tiptoe and tugged vainly at it for a moment. My friend of the +feet saw my dilemma, and down went his book, and he sprang to my +assistance in an instant, "Allow me," he said; and in a moment the heavy +tome was brought down, dusted by a few turns of his pocket-handkerchief +and laid on the table for my accommodation. If he had but known it, +there was mingled with my thanks a world of unuttered but heartfelt +apologies for my former hard thoughts respecting his attitude. And +therein lay the difference between the two nationalities. A Frenchman +would have died rather than have made a library-table a resting-place +for his feet, but he would have let a woman he did not know break a +blood-vessel by her exertions before he would have rendered her the +slightest assistance. + +American women are too apt to accept all the courtesies offered them by +strangers at home as their right, even neglecting to render the poor +meed of thanks in return. But let them when in Paris try to get into an +omnibus on a wet day, and being thrust aside by a strong-armed Frenchman +they will remorsefully remember the seats accorded to them in crowded +cars, and accepted thanklessly and as a matter of course. And when the +lounger on the boulevards dogs their steps or whispers his insulting +compliments in their shuddering ear, they will remember how they were +guarded at home not by one protector, but by all right-minded mankind, +and will thank Heaven that their brothers, their sons, their husbands +"are not even as these are." + + LUCY H. HOOPER. + + + + +OUR MONTHLY GOSSIP. + +GYPSY MUSIC IN HUNGARY. + + +We have all, at some time or other, felt our curiosity and interest +excited by the bands of wandering gypsies whom we may sometimes have +come upon in their encampments pitched in some remote or sequestered +wood or dell--wild-looking men and women and dark, ragged children +grouped about fires over which hang kettles suspended from stakes +arranged in a triangle; mongrel curs which seem to share their masters' +instinctive distrust of strangers; and donkeys browsing near the tilted +carts which convey the tribe from one place to another. We feel a sort +of traditional repulsion for these people, almost amounting to dread, +for stories of children stolen by gypsies, and of their dark, mysterious +ways, have taken root in our infant minds along with those of ghosts and +goblins, robbers and Indians. There are, it is true, romantic +associations connected with them, and we try to fancy a Meg Merrilies in +the swarthy old woman who examines the lines of our hand and tells us +the past, present and future--sometimes with a startling consistency and +probability. But few of us would have supposed that this race of +vagabonds and outcasts had ever risen much above their traditional +occupation of tinkering, far less that any portion of it had displayed +original artistic genius. We have, however, from Robert Franz the +composer a most interesting account of the wonderful music of the +Hungarian gypsies or Tziganys, which he had several opportunities of +hearing during a visit to a friend in Hungary. He had been much +impressed in his youth by the wandering apparitions of these people in +the streets of Kiev, and by the strange, wild dances of their women, +whose outlandish garb was rendered still more effective by the pieces of +red stuff cut into hearts and sewed all over their skirts. "These +caravans of strange beings, who preserve under every sky their dreamy +laziness, their rebellion against the yoke, their love of solitude," had +always possessed an irresistible charm for him, and he had never +understood the scorn and disgust of which they were the object. + +Being informed of the arrival of a gypsy band within eight or ten miles +of his friend's château, he took his immediate departure for the forest +where they had made their temporary home. The sun was going down when he +reached the camp. It was in an open glade, where the ground was trampled +down, in some places blackened by fire, and covered with fragments of +coarse pottery, wooden bowls, bones, parings, etc. The gypsies were +there pell-mell--men, women and children, horses, dogs and wagons. The +men, lounging about in various attitudes, were smoking: all had a look +of careless nobility about them, an air of melancholy, and eyes which +burned with slumbering passion. Old women were cowering about the fires, +surrounded by children whose meagre limbs were frankly displayed to +view. Tall girls, with Oriental eyes, firm and polished cheeks, and +vigorous forms, stood facing the horizon, and were distinctly defined +against the blue of the sky. Some wore scarlet gowns, bodices covered +with metallic ornaments, embroidered chemisettes and a profusion of +glass trinkets. In the centre was one, taller by a head than her +companions, her face of a fine and delicate oval unknown amongst us, +with magnetic, disquieting eyes which suggested splendid vices; a black +turban confined her black locks; a chemisette of dazzling whiteness half +opened on her breast; she wore, as a necklace, twisted five or six times +about her neck, a long chaplet of yellow flowers, clusters of which she +held in her hands. The red rays of the setting sun flashed with +fantastic effect upon the scene: then night fell, and in the flickering +glare of the fires gleaming eyes, white teeth and mobile hands emerged +from the gloom. + +Franz had expressed his wish to hear their music, but for a while all +was silent. Suddenly a strange, prolonged note vibrated through the air +like a sigh from the supernatural world; another followed; then after a +pause a majestic but sombre melody was developed. The sounds swelled +like an immense choral, with incomparable purity and nobleness, fraught +with memories of ruins and tombs, of lost liberty and love. Another +pause, and some strophes of unbridled gayety burst forth; then again the +principal phrase, detaching itself like a flower from its stem, among +myriads of winged notes, clusters of vaporous sounds, long spirals of +transparent _fioritures_. Still the violins grew bolder and more +impetuous. Franz rose from his seat while watching these men standing +with their violins pressed against their breasts, as if they were +pouring their life's blood into them: he felt oppressed with anguish, +when, by an ingenious inversion, the gloomy theme was transformed into a +graceful, poetic melody. The sounds passed away rapidily like sparks, +then were extinguished for a moment. A ferocious violence animated the +last measures, and the gypsies laid down their bows. But, divining a +sympathetic listener, they recommenced and played on till the night was +far advanced. At length they ceased, and Franz left the camp, carrying +with him the revelation of a hitherto unknown art. + +Three principal features (he tells us) determine the character of +Tzigany music--its intervals, not used in European harmony, its peculiar +rhythms, and its Oriental fioritures or grace-notes. In the minor scale +the Tziganys take the fourth augmented, the sixth diminished and the +seventh augmented. It is by the frequent augmentation of the fourth that +the harmony acquires a wonderfully audacious and disquieting character. +The educated musician at first thinks he hears false notes, but the law +of their harmonies is to have no law. Their abundance is incalculable, +and the solemn and intoxicating effects resulting from the rapid and +beautiful transitions cannot be imagined. As for the grace-notes, they +give to the ear a pleasure like that which Moorish architecture gives to +the eye: the architects of the Alhambra painted on each of their bricks +a graceful little poem; the gypsies adorn each note with melodious +designs and luxuriant embroideries. But (we quote M. Franz throughout) +who shall describe the impalpable flame of Tzigany sentiment, the +strange, subjugating charm of which is a vital animation almost adequate +to life itself? or the mysterious equilibrium which reigns in this +undisciplined art between the sentiment and the form? Mystery of genius, +which bears in itself its inexplicable power of emotion, and which +science and taste in vain deny! + +When Franz again heard Tzigany music it was under very different +circumstances. A fete was given by a Hungarian gentleman, of which this +music was to be one of the attractions, the most distinguished +performers being Farkas Miska and Remenyi Ede. The arrival of the latter +on the morning after the first evening concert (the fete seems to have +lasted some days) was announced to M. Franz by a great noise, a banging +of doors and windows and moving of furniture in the room next his own. +It at length ceased, and he was just getting to sleep again when some +one knocked at his door, and a pretty, fair-haired boy entered, who +announced himself as Ptolemyi Nandor, the fervent disciple of Remenyi +Ede, who, he said, had just arrived and was about to take possession of +the adjoining apartment. + +"Well, sir, is it to inform me of your name and your fervor that you +have come to prevent me from sleeping?" + +"No," said the boy decidedly: "it is to ask you to dress yourself and go +out for a walk." + +To the astonished exclamation of M. Franz he replied that his master +wished to practice, beginning early, and that it annoyed him to have any +one hear him. + +"Go to the devil, you and your master!" naturally shouted our composer. + +The boy became purple. "What!" he said, "send him to the devil?--him, +the great violinist, the successor of Czemak, of Bihary!" + +"Is your master a gypsy?" + +"No, but he is the only living violinist who possesses the authentic +tradition of gypsy music." + +"I love this music; therefore I will get up and go down to the garden." + +"Oh no, sir: go into the fields. See!" and he opened the window, "every +one has left the castle." And actually the master of the house and his +guests were all defiling through the garden-gate, having had only three +hours' sleep. M. Franz soon joined them, and heard from them the story +of Remenyi. + +At the age of seventeen he had been attached to the person of Görgey +during the Hungarian war. Leaving his country with the emigration, he +had shared the exile of Count Teleki, Sandor and others; then passed +some time at Guernsey, where he knew Victor Hugo. He had afterward +performed with brilliant success in London, Hamburg, etc., and his +renown, after his return to Hungary, went on increasing. He traveled +about the country in every direction, astonishing nobles and peasants, +and playing with the same enthusiasm and poetry in barns as in palaces. +On hearing this our author slipped back to the garden, where he hid +himself to listen to Remenyi, who, to his great disgust, was playing a +concerto of Bach's. + +At breakfast, Remenyi appeared, a very commonplace-looking man, full of +his own praises, and always speaking himself in the third person. +"Remenyi practiced well this morning," said he. + +"Yes, a concerto of Bach's!" Franz. + +Thereupon Remenyi asked for his violin, and they heard a marvelous +specimen of real Tzigany inspiration. Vanity disappeared--passion, nerve +and sentiment took its place. He had all the qualities demanded by +science, together with those of imagination. It was the passionate +inspiration of genius. After his performance was over, he went gravely +to the mantelpiece, stopped the clock, and said to the master of the +house, "Let this hand mark for ever the hour when Remenyi played at your +house." + +M. Franz taking no pains to disguise; his admiration, Remenyi, gratified +by it, invited him to accompany him home. Wherever he went he received a +perfect ovation. At one place he ordered a pair of boots, which were +sent home, paid for by the municipality. Art is a national glory in +Hungary, especially that of the gypsies, which has taken root in the +very heart of the soil. + +Remenyi's house at Rakos-Palota, near Pesth, is a long, rambling +building, the courtyard of which is given up to chickens, ducks and +pigs. M. Franz says the poplars before the door look like +exclamation-marks, and he thinks they are planted there to serve as +such. There are heaps of rare and precious objects of every imaginable +description--all gifts--but the ones which the owner shows with most +pride are his Hungarian sabre and a pair of boots which Liszt wore when +a child. + +The question is often discussed in Hungary whether the national +Hungarian music is the production of Tzigany genius, or whether the +gypsies are only the exponents of what properly belongs to Hungary +itself. The gypsies are proved to have been in Hungary as early as the +thirteenth century, and their musicians were celebrated in the +sixteenth, some of their names still living in the memory of the people. +What has been preserved of genuine old Hungarian music (some melodies of +Timody Stephens) has no charm save its antiquity. These and other +facts--but, above all, the impression produced on him by the music +itself--have convinced M. Franz that the gypsy faculty is one not only +of execution, but creation. Gypsy art proceeds from the sentiment, the +genius, of the Tzigany race. It is too strange, its elements are too +wild, to be the exclusive product of a thoughtful, wise, believing, +practical and civilized people; but the Hungarians have understood this +art--they have surrounded it with love and respect. Gaining new life, +warmth and vigor from the welcoming applause of Hungary, it belongs to +her by virtue of her admiration and sympathetic tears. + + E.C.R. + + + + +THE "GIORNO DEI MORTI." + + +We all know that the second of November is All Souls' Day, and that it +is the day dedicated in the Roman calendar to the commemoration of all +those who have departed "in the faith." And few who have traveled on the +continent of Europe are not aware that the day is observed in all +Southern countries with a degree of devotion which the greater part of +the communities in question are not in the habit of according to any +other of the ordinances of the Church. But to observe the manifestation +of this devotion in its most striking forms, to seize all the more +picturesque developments and presentations of it, the "Giorno dei Morti" +must be passed at Rome. + +It is a curious fact--one of the many of a similar order which +illustrate the moral specialties of the Latin populations--that hundreds +of thousands of people of both sexes, who neither believe, nor affect to +believe, the doctrines of the orthodox Church, and who are in the habit +of utterly disregarding all her prescriptions and teaching, should +nevertheless, as often as this sad anniversary comes round, behave as if +they were to all intents and purposes good Catholics. It will be said, +perhaps, that the feelings to which the special character of the +commemoration appeals are so common to all human hearts that the +manifestation of them on any customary occasion is in no degree to be +wondered at. But I do not think that this will suffice to explain the +phenomenon--at least as it may be witnessed here in Italy. Other church +ordinances might be pointed out of which the same thing might be said, +but which are not similarly observed. The real cause of the phenomenon I +take to be that this population is--as it was of old, and as it always +has been through all outward changes--pagan. I put it crudely for the +sake of putting it shortly, for this is not the place to trouble the +readers of a few paragraphs of "Gossip" with a dissertation in support +of the assertion. The innate paganism of these people, born of the +beauty of the climate and of all external Nature, and of the sensuous +proclivity to live and breathe and have their being in the present and +the visible which results therefrom, first forcibly shaped their early +Christianity into moulds which assimilated it to pagan observances and +modes of thought, and still remains ready to resume more and more of its +old empire as the authority of Church beliefs waxes feeble. The very +striking and singular scene which was to be witnessed in the great Roman +cemetery outside the Porta di San Lorenzo on the second day of November +was to all intents and purposes pagan in its spirit and meaning. And it +is curious to observe in this, as in so many other instances, how the +use of words supplies illustrations of national peculiarities and +specialties of character. The Church has dedicated the day in question +to the commemoration "_omnium animarum"_--of all _souls_. And we others, +people of a Teutonic race, have taken and used the phrase in its proper +Christian sense: we talk of "All _Souls_' Day." But with the peoples of +the Latin stock all thought or question of "souls" is very speedily lost +sight of. With them the day is simply the "Giorno dei _Morti_"--the day +of _the dead_. And their observance of it is to all intents and purposes +what it might have been two thousand years ago. + +The very ancient church of San Lorenzo, one of the four extramural +basilicas, is situated some ten minutes' walk outside the gate of the +same name on the road to Tivoli; and around and behind this church is +the vast cemetery to which all the Roman dead are carried. It was first +used as an extramural cemetery at the time of the first French +occupation, but has been very greatly extended since that time. Clergy, +nobles and monks were at first, and as long as Papal rule lasted, +exempted from the decree which forbade interment within the city. Now +all must be taken to San Lorenzo, and the greatly increased population +of the city has already very thickly filled an immense area. The first +thing that strikes the visitor to this huge necropolis is the very +marked division between the poor and the rich quarters of this city of +the dead. The _fashionable_ districts are quite as unmistakably divided +and separated from those occupied by "the lower classes" as they are in +any city of the living; as is perhaps but right and natural in the case +of a population among which it is held that the condition and prospects +of the dead may be very materially influenced by a _quantum sufficit_ of +masses said for them, and where these can be purchased in any quantity +for cash. A very large parallelogram, for the most part surrounded by +cloisters, is first entered from the gates which open on the road. But +this has been but little used as yet. Beyond it, to the right, is the +vast space occupied by the graves of the multitude. Let the reader +picture to himself a huge flat space extending as far as the eye can +see, thickly planted with little black wooden crosses, with inscriptions +on them in white letters. The sameness of all these fragile memorials +produces a strange and depressing effect. The undistinguished thousands +of them make all the space seem black spotted with white. They are ugly; +and the poverty of these bits of painted stick, incapable of resisting +the effects of the weather, seems sordid in the extreme. In the graves +of this part of the cemetery all are in truth equal. To the left of the +vast cloister-surrounded square which has been mentioned the scene is a +very different one. There, immediately behind the eastern end of the +basilica, the soil rises in a very steep bank to a height greater than +that of the church. To the space on the top of this bank a handsome and +garden-decorated flight of step leads; and there the "Upper Ten" take +their dignified rest, and their dust is perfectly safe from all danger +of being mingled with that of less distinguished mortality. This higher +ground is called the _Pincetto_--as who should say the "Little +Pincian"--a name adapted from that of the celebrated promenade of the +gay and fortunate in life, with a suggestion of meaning so satirical +that it might seem to have been given to the "fashionable" quarter of +the dead city by the united sneers of all the ghosts who haunt the +undistinguished graves below. In this aristocratic quarter there is of +course no monotonous uniformity. The monuments, some of freestone and +some of marble, are of every conceivable form and degree of splendor, +and death is made to look pretty and coquettish by the introduction of +numerous weeping willows and other such botanical helps to sentiment. +The great majority of the inscriptions are in Latin, for Pius IX., so +long as his power lasted, absolutely forbade the use of any other +language; which was a measure of very questionable judiciousness, seeing +that a large crop of Latinity by no means creditable to Italian +scholarship has been the result. It would have been better to stick to +good Della-Cruscan Italian, or to have employed some English +school-usher to come here as resident reviser of Roman Latinity. +Inelegant and even ungrammatical inscriptions, however, do not interfere +with the general picturesqueness of the spot, or with its singular +adaptation to show to advantage the remarkable scene enacted there on +the last "Giorno dei Morti." + +The cemetery had been visited by great numbers of persons, bringing +chaplets and flowers, during the day, both in the aristocratic and the +plebeian quarters, but it was at night that the crowd was greatest and +the scene most striking. The night, as it so chanced, was a dark one, +which did not make the scene by any means less strange and +weird-looking. The greater number of visitors, especially in the poor +quarter of the dead city, were women. Such is always the case, whether +it be that the female mind is more generally accessible to gentle +thoughts of and yearnings over their lost ones, or whether the +explanation be simply that, as is especially the case here, women, +having less to occupy their leisure either in the way of business or +amusement, are more eager to seek any emotion or occasion which may +serve to break the flat monotony of their lives. + +Certainly the scene in the cemetery on the evening of the "Day of the +Dead" was one calculated to make an impression not to be readily +forgotten by any mere looker-on who witnessed it. Nor was that presented +by the road from the gate to the cemetery less remarkable in its way. It +is an ugly, disagreeable bit of road, between high walls, deep with mud +in wet, and with dust in dry weather, as was the case on the present +occasion, and without the smallest vestige of a pathway for +foot-passengers; so that the motley crowd, with their lights and +chaplets and flowers, had to make their way amid a cloud of dust and +among the carriages of those bound for the "Pincetto" as best they +might. But it was the general apparent mood and temper of mind in which +these pilgrims, bound on so sad an errand, seemed to be performing their +self-imposed task that was especially noteworthy. It might be supposed +that a certain degree of reverential self-concentration, or at least of +quietude, would have been the characteristic of a crowd bound on such an +errand. There was not the smallest symptom of anything of the sort. It +is true that many visit the cemetery on the evening in question who have +not recently lost any relative or friend, going thither merely as +performing an act of devotion or of amusement, or, as is usually the +case with all devotion in this country, of both combined. But the +greater number of the pilgrims is composed of those who have buried +their dead within the preceding year. Yet, as I have said, there was +observable in the bearing of the crowd not only no reverential feeling, +but not even that amount of quietude which the most careless body of +people of our race would have deemed it but decent to assume on such an +occasion. Laughter might have been heard, though not perhaps very much. +But the noise was astonishing--noise of incessant chatter in tones which +bespoke anything but the tone of mind which might have been expected. +The truth is, that he who expects to find in the people of this race the +sentiment of awe or reverence under any circumstances whatever does not +know them. It is not in them. The capacity for it is not in them. It is +not a question of more or less education, or of this or that condition +of life. The higher and the lower classes, the clergy and the laity, are +equally destitute of the capacity for feeling or comprehending the +sentiment which makes so large a part of the lives of the people of a +different race. To me the observation, far from being suggested by what +met my eye on the occasion in question, is the outcome of more than a +quarter of a century's experience of Italian ways and thoughts. But the +exhibition of the peculiarity on that occasion was very striking. +Doubtless there was many a mother among that throng whose heart had been +wrung, whose very soul had been struck chill within her, by the loss of +the child on whose grave she was about to place the humble tribute of +common flowers which she carried in her hand. No doubt many a +truly-sorrowing husband and yet more deeply-stricken wife were on the +way to visit the sod beneath which their hopes of happiness had been +buried with their lost ones. But whatever might have been in their +hearts was not manifested by any token of _reverential_ feeling. There +were tears, there were even sobs occasionally to be heard, but there was +neither reverence nor what we should deem decency of behavior. + +Within the cemetery "distance lent enchantment to the view." As seen +from the cloister which surrounds the great square, as has been +mentioned, the outlook over the "poor quarter" of the vast burial-ground +was very striking. Amid the wilderness of black crosses, which extends +farther than eye could see, numerous figures were flitting hither and +thither, many of them with lights in their hands. In the farther +distance, where the figures were invisible, the lights could still be +seen mysteriously, as it seemed, moving over the closely-ranged graves +like corpse-candles, as the old superstition termed the phosphoric +lights which may in certain states of the atmosphere be seen in crowded +graveyards. In the foreground, where the figures could be distinguished, +many were seen on their knees in the damp and malarious evening air at +the graves of their lost relatives. But not even in the bearing these +could anything of real earnestness be traced. They were performing a +routine duty, of which no doubt their own consciences and their friends +and neighbors would have disapproved the omission; and that was all. +Nevertheless, the _picturesqueness_ of the general effect was perfect, +and it appealed to the imagination of a looker-on in a manner which to +many minds, more intent on sensational emotions than on discrimination +of social characteristics, would have caused the above remarks to appear +sadly ill-timed and out of place. + +The scene which was meantime being enacted on the Pincetto, where the +wholly separated resting-places of the "Upper Ten" protest so +successfully against the leveling notion that in death all are equal, I +might have suggested many a mordant epigram to the cynically-minded +visitor. I fear that there is often something provocative of cynicism in +sundry of the aspects of fashionable devotion, but on such an occasion +as the present it could hardly be otherwise. Rachels in Parisian bonnets +and sweeping silk skirts, muttering over their rosaries for their +children on splendid cushions borne in due state by attendant +plush-clothed ministers, were contrasted in these realms of the +universal Leveler somewhat too strongly with the scene one had just left +in the (physically and socially) lower regions of the cemetery. Of +course hearts that beat beneath silken bodices may be wrung as bitterly +as those that serge covers. I am speaking only of those outward +manifestations which contributed to complete the strangeness of the +general spectacle which I had come out to see. The better tending of the +aristocratic portion of the cemetery, and the greater space between the +graves and their monuments, made it of course easier and less +disagreeable to pass among them and to note the bearing of individual +mourners. If the former scene had presented much that was indecorously +formal, here all was decorously formal. The routine, cut-and-dry nature +of the duty being performed exercised in either case its property of +numbing natural feeling, or at least the appearance of it. + +On the whole, the experience offered by a visit to the great Roman +cemetery on the evening of the "Giorno dei Morti" is a singular and +curious one, as will be admitted, I think, by any one who may be tempted +by my example to go and see it. + + T.A.T. + + + + +MR. MILL'S MOTHER. + + +The publication of the late Mr. John Mill's _Theism_ (writes a +correspondent from England) has again brought forward its author and his +peculiarities as subjects of general conversation. Not content with +having talked these matters pretty well over some months ago, people are +at this moment discussing them with not a whit less of interest than if +they were brand-new. But it is what Mr. Mill has omitted to tell us in +his _Autobiography_, quite as much as what he has there told us, that +excites popular curiosity about him. How came it that a man whose +admiration of his wife was hardly distinguishable from idolatry should +never once mention his mother? Thousands have asked, and have asked in +vain, who she was, and whether she could have been so entirely +insignificant as to deserve being passed over, without even so much as +an allusion to her, by her very philosophic son. These questions, and +others connected with them, I might answer at length. However, the few +facts I shall here state will perhaps be no less welcome than a long +detail. The wife of James Mill, and mother of John Mill, was a Miss +Burrows, daughter of a Dr. Burrows who superintended an asylum for the +insane at Islington. She died in London about twenty years ago, having +outlived her husband not quite that period. Her children were nine in +number, of whom four daughters are still living--two in England and two +in France. She was not what would be reckoned a conspicuously +intellectual woman, and yet she by no means deserved the heartless +slight which was put on her memory by her son. Indeed, such a slight +could have its justification in little short of utter worthlessness; +and Mrs. James Mill was not only esteemed, but beloved, by a large +circle of friends. On the appearance of the _Autobiography_ her +daughters were, naturally enough, not a little indignant at finding +their mother as much ignored in it as if she had never existed, and were +inclined, at first, to supplement, publicly, their brother's account of +himself by certain disclosures not exactly of a character to exalt him +in the estimation of the world. Suffice it to say here that for many +years before his death he had been estranged from his family; and this +estrangement was attributed, by those who had the best opportunities of +judging, to the sinister influence of his wife. This is all that I am +disposed to communicate at present, but I should not be at all surprised +if we were to know, by and by, much more of the private life of John +Mill than we as yet know. + + + + +NOTES. + + +There has recently emerged into notice, from her hiding-place in one of +the outskirts of London, an ancient woman whose surroundings forcibly +illustrate the persevering vitality of even the insanest forms of +religious belief. Joanna Southcott and her fanaticisms we are apt to +associate with Dr. Faustus, alchemy, and persons and things of that +kind, as belonging to an age with which we have no personal concern. Yet +this is a mistake. The followers of the fatidical Joanna may still be +counted by thousands in Great Britain, particularly in its metropolis; +and their acknowledged head, in strict accordance with the fitness of +things, is a woman. She is a very old woman, too, her age symbolizing, +perhaps, the longevity to which her crazy superstition is destined. +Elizabeth Peacock is the name of this relic of the past. For many years +she itinerated as a preacher, and at the great age of one hundred and +three her health is still vigorous. Modern priestesses, however, not +unlike the prophets of antiquity, are subject to be scanted of due +honor, or, at all events, of what is more essential than this as +contributing to keep soul and body from parting company prematurely. The +fact of her being in a state of destitution was notified not long ago to +the magistrate of the Lambeth police-court, and that unappreciative +functionary, while consenting to subscribe, with others, for her relief, +openly expressed his conviction that she would be best off in the +workhouse. Altogether, the old creature is a bit of a curiosity. She has +had three husbands, and the last of them, whom she married in 1852, +killed himself only the other day, possibly from finding the twofold +burden of domestic predication and a helpmeet of five score too much for +his nerves. If sane, the ungrateful fellow ought, in all reason, to have +had the grace to survive her; for when he undertook matrimony, as he had +nothing to turn his hand to, she instructed him herself in the art and +mystery of cooperage. At that time, so robust a specimen of anility was +she, she could pitch an empty cask across the street, and her credulity +is as strong at this moment as her arm was of yore. We conclude, from +her story, that the proper stuff for making prophetesses of the baser +sort has, even in our day, only to be looked for to be discovered. + + * * * * * + +Our countrymen have lately learned to admire, in its Western +transformation, the extremely clever _Rubáiyát_ of Omer Khayyám. And +they are certainly much in the right in so doing. The sterling merits of +the Persian original are preserved with striking fidelity in the English +version of the poem, which, for the rest, has gone far to prove that the +acceptableness among us of Oriental poetry may depend very largely on +the skill with which it is transplanted into our language. The +translator of the _Rubáiyát_ is Mr. Edward FitzGerald, of Woodbridge in +Suffolk. Mr. FitzGerald's ancient family one may learn all about from +Burke's _Landed Gentry_, and that he was born in 1809, and that he +married Lucy, daughter of Bernard Barton, the Quaker poet. He was +educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where among his contemporaries +and friends were the present poet-laureate and Mr. Spedding, the editor +of Bacon. The _London Catalogue_ names three works as by Mr. FitzGerald. +These, as we find from inspection of the works themselves, are as +follows: 1. _Euphranor, a Dialogue on Youth,_ 1851 (it reached a second +edition, increased by an _Appendix_, in 1855); 2. _Polonius: A +Collection of Wise Saws and Modern Instances_, 1852; 3. _Six Dramas of +Calderon_, 1853. These dramas are translations, in prose and verse, of +_The Painter of his Own Dishonor, Keep your Own Secret, Gil Perez the +Gallician, Three Judgments at a Blow, The Mayor of Zalamea_, and _Beware +of Smooth Water_. In none of these volumes, however, except the last is +there any indication of its authorship but there Mr. FitzGerald's name +is given in full. The date of his metrical translation of _Salámán and +Absál_, from the Persian, we are not at this moment, able to specify. +Add, as printed by him, but not published, two other small volumes of +translations--one, of the _Agamemnon_ of Æschylus; and the other, of two +of Calderon's plays, _Life is a Dream_ and _The Wonderful Magician_. +Finally, we have to mention an unprinted verse-translation, _The Bird +Parliament_, from the Persian _Mantiq-ut-tair_ by Attár. Mr. Allibone +knows nothing of Mr. FitzGerald, and he is similarly passed over in +silence by the compiler of _Men of the Time._ Everything that he has +produced is uniformly distinguished by marked ability; and, such being +the case, his indifference to fame, in this age of ambition for literary +celebrity, is a phenomenon which deserves to be emphasized. + + + + +LITERATURE OF THE DAY. + +The French Humorists from the Twelfth to the Nineteenth Century. + By Walter Besant, M.A. + Boston: Roberts Brothers. + + +Had Mr. Besant given us definitions of "humor" and "humorist," we might +possibly not have been satisfied with them, but they would at least have +enabled us to understand what sense he attaches to the words, and what +principle determined him in selecting the writers embraced in his +category. In the first page of his book he speaks of humor as "a branch" +of satire; in the second he identifies French satire as the "esprit +gaulois;" in the third he tells us that "the French type for satire and +humor has preserved one uniform character from generation to +generation;" and in his last page he claims superiority for the French +over the English humorists, on the ground that "Rabelais has a finer wit +than Swift," that "we have no political satire so good as the _Satyre +Mènipée_," "no English humor comparable for a moment with that of the +fabliaux," "no letter-writer like Voiture," "no teller of tales like La +Fontaine," and "no _chansonnier_ like Béranger." Now, it is evident that +this is a comparison not of French and English humorists, but of certain +classes of writers in the two languages in reference to their +manifestation of humor. We have no fabulist like La Fontaine, no +song-writer equal to Béranger; but then we do not think of citing our +fables and songs as the highest examples of English humor. It would be +easy to array a list of names as a set-off against that of Mr. Besant. +But this is needless. Humor, in the sense in which the word is commonly +understood, may almost be said to be a distinctive quality of English +literature, which is pervaded by it in a far greater degree than that of +any other people. It is a leading trait in all the great English +novelists, from Fielding to Thackeray and George Eliot, without +excepting Richardson, in whom it is least conspicuous; it is the chief +attribute of our finest essayists, from Addison to Charles Lamb; it is +harmoniously blended with the fresh and simple pathos of Chaucer and +with the passionate moodiness of Carlyle: it holds equal sway with the +tragic element in the world created by Shakespeare. When Mr. Besant says +that "there is no English humor comparable for a moment with that of the +fabliaux," we are forced to suppose either that he uses the word "humor" +in some unexplained and inexplicable sense, or that he leaves out of the +account what would generally be considered the greatest of humorous +productions. The puzzle increases when we find him omitting all mention +of Le Sage, while excusing himself for the omission, from lack of space, +of Rousseau! A list of humorous works which should exclude _Gil Blas_ to +make room for _Émile_ or _Le Contrat Social_, might itself, one would +think, act as a provocative on the _esprit gaulois_. + +These mysteries are not the only ones in Mr. Besant's volume to which we +have to confess our inability to discover a key. In closing his remarks +on Montaigne he touches with undissembled irony the question whether he +was a Christian, and, after contrasting the tone and sentiments of the +_Essais_ with those of the Gospels, bids us "remember that we are not in +the nineteenth century, but in the sixteenth, that Montaigne died in the +act of adoration, and cease to ask whether the man was a Christian;" +adding, "Christian? There was no better Christian than Montaigne in all +his century." It appears, therefore, that the sixteenth century, instead +of being, as we had supposed, one in which the Reformation had brought +with it a revival of religious earnestness and a reaction against +religious formalism, and in which on the battle-field, in the dungeon +and at the stake, as well as through voluntary exile and the +relinquishment of property, thousands in every country testified to the +fervor and sincerity of their religious convictions, was in truth, like +the eighteenth century, one in which a prevailing skepticism or +indifference paid to dead but not yet dethroned creeds its light homage +of affected "adoration." Mr. Besant informs us that "to the men of +culture the rival parties were but two political sides." How many men of +culture could be cited in support of this assertion? We grant him +Montaigne, but it was precisely because the case of Montaigne was an +exceptional one in the age of Erasmus and More, of Calvin and Coligny, +that the question in regard to him has not seemed altogether idle. + +It appears from another passage that Mr. Besant has an easy method of +arriving at a judgment in regard to the character or general aspect of +an historical epoch. From the details in regard to food, dress and +furniture which he finds in the works of Eustache Deschamps, a satirical +poet of the fourteenth century, he infers that the bourgeois life of +that period was "comfortable, abundant and cheery." "History," he says, +"paints this as the worst and most disastrous period that Europe had +ever seen; yet here, in the most real poet of the century, we see how +life, as a whole, went on in the usual way. For when a great pestilence +strikes a country, it slays its thousands and goes away. Time quickly +heals the wounds of grief, and the world goes on as before. Then come +the English to sack and destroy. Nature heals their wounds, too, by the +recurring seasons, and the world goes on as before. I am inclined to +think that life, on the whole, was generally pleasant for a well-to-do +Frenchman of the period." Mr. Besant, it will be seen, concedes that +evils are evils while they last, that war and pestilence are not +pleasant things to the victims, and that the comfortable and cheery life +of the fourteenth century suffered some interruptions from these causes. +But then it was still, he insists, an agreeable life "on the whole," +since "the recurring seasons" healed the wounds and the grief, and left +the survivors to enjoy existence "in the usual way." This, it must be +owned, is a very comfortable and cheery philosophy--for those who preach +it. We do not see that they need ever complain of "bad times," since +they can always be sure that the recurring seasons will bring +alleviation to the survivors. It may also be admitted that, as there is +no age in which the recurring seasons do not bring relief, so there has +been none when war and pestilence and similar evils did not interrupt +the usual course of life. There is, however, this difference, that in +some ages these evils last longer than in others, the wounds are deeper, +the victims more numerous, the intermissions less frequent, the relief +tardier, the survivors fewer. Such an age in France was the period of +the English invasions, comprising a great portion of the fourteenth and +fifteenth centuries. That life was then, "on the whole," anything but +comfortable and cheery is attested by records and evidence of all kinds, +against which the mention of weddings and christenings, of +gold-embroidered mantles and robes of silk, in the pages of a court poet +will, we apprehend, count for very little, especially as the sufferers +do not appear to have solaced themselves with reflections on the sure +effects of the recurring seasons. Deschamps himself was unable, it +seems, to get his pension paid; and if he died, as Mr. Besant tells us, +about 1409, the chances, we think, are that however he may have +denounced luxury as the "crying evil" of his time, his death was the +result of starvation. + +Mr. Besant, it will be perceived, is one of those writers who indulge in +haphazard assertions without troubling their heads with the facts that +conflict with them. A glaring instance of his tendency to exaggeration +and wild speculation will be found in his estimate of Rabelais, whom he +first vaunts as "a great moral teacher," "a teacher the like of whom +Europe had not yet seen," and then denounces as having "destroyed +effectually, perhaps for centuries yet to come, earnestness in France," +declaring that "no writer who ever lived has inflicted such lasting +injury on his country," and that "it would have been better for France +if his book, tied to a millstone, had been hurled into the sea." These +opinions are contradictory of each other, since it is impossible that a +writer who so perverted men's minds should also have been, in any proper +sense of the term, a great moral teacher; they are inconsistent with Mr. +Besant's account of the "unbroken lines of writers," of whom Rabelais +was one, but not the first, all having the same characteristics, all +"irreverent," having "no strong convictions," "like children for +mockery, mischief and lightness of heart;" and finally, they are so +improbable in themselves, and so unsusceptible of proof, that, uttered +as they are with the solemnity of communications from an unseen world, +they produce much the same impression on us as the disclosures with +which Mr. Robert Dale Owen is favored by his "materialized" visitants. + +We might cite other examples to prove that Mr. Besant is not a safe +guide either in his general speculations or in his critical judgments. +He is an agreeable narrator, showing a close familiarity with the topics +he handles, and an enthusiasm which, if it sometimes degenerates into +mere fume, adds on the whole to the liveliness of his writing. His +translations in verse are remarkable for their ease and finish. The book +may be read with pleasure, but not, we fear, with equal profit. The +chapters that deal with the least known works and writers are the most +satisfactory. On Montaigne and Molière Mr. Besant has nothing to say +which is likely to incite the reader to a fresh study of their works, +which ought to be the effect of every fresh discourse on a great author. + + * * * * * + +Recollections of a Tour made in Scotland A.D. 1803. + By Dorothy Wordsworth. + Edited by J.C. Shairp, LL.D. + New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. + + +The special charm of this book lies in the fact that it is not a +book--that there was no thought in the writer's mind of printer's ink, +no vision of publicity or fame, no solicitude to propitiate critics or +win the sympathy of the "gentle reader." Or one might say it was a book +of the primitive kind, written on the bark of trees by some shy dryad, +unconcious translator into speech of the rustlings and whisperings of +the woodland. It is, as the editor observes, an "effortless narrative," +with "no attempt at fine or sensational writing, ... at that modern +artifice which they call word-painting," but recording with "vivid +exactness" what was seen and felt by the writer and her companions on a +journey through regions then little frequented by tourists and +unsmirched by the eloquence of guide-books. That the travelers were +William and Dorothy Wordsworth and (for a part of the way) S.T. +Coleridge, that scenes and incidents here first sketched in the sister's +sober prose were afterward memorialized and moralized in the brother's +verse, and that many of the spots described were about to become famous +with and through Scott--a meeting with whom formed the fitting close to +the tour,--these are circumstances that of course invest the journal +with a deeper interest and have called wider attention to its +unobtrusive beauty. But its chief attractiveness lies in the Doric +simplicity not only of the style but of the matter. An outlandish Irish +car was the conveyance; the appearance of the party was not such as to +attract notice unless by the quaintness of their garb or their awkward +management of the horse, "now gibbing and backing over a bank, now +reduced to a walk, with one of the poets leading him by the head;" and +they themselves were in search of nothing more notable than such wayside +objects as might serve to feed contemplation. On one occasion, having +turned aside to visit the duke of Hamilton's picture-gallery, they were +told by the porter, after he had scanned them over, that they ought not +to have come to the front door, and were directed to an obscure entrance +at the corner of the house, where they seated themselves humbly on a +bench while waiting for admittance, which was finally refused. They were +mortified, but had a deeper pang in the grounds around Bothwell Castle, +for here they were "_hurt_ to see that flower-borders had taken place of +the natural overgrowings of the ruins, the scattered stones and wild +plants." Sometimes at an inn they were made to perceive how little +consideration they were entitled to by being lodged in inferior rooms +while better ones were vacant; but to compensate for this, in the wilder +parts of the country they were greeted with the hospitality which their +mere condition as strangers was still sufficient to call forth. The +descriptions given of the people have at least an equal interest with +those of the scenery. We have a succession of pictures in which, as +Principal Shairp remarks, "man is seen against a great background of +Nature and solitude." The book is one not to be read and laid away, but +to be kept near at hand, and made a frequent companion and familiar +friend. + + + +_Books Received_. + + + +Sophisms of Protection. + By the late M. Frédéric Bastiat. + Translated from the Paris edition of 1863, + with Preface by Horace White. + New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. + + +Select Notes on the International Sabbath School Lessons for 1875. + By a New England Pastor. + Boston: Henry Hoyt. + + +Notes in England and Italy. + By Mrs. Nathaniel Hawthorne. + Illustrated Edition. + New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. + + +William Prince of Orange; or, The King and his Hostage. + By Rev. T.M. Merriman, A.M. + Boston: Henry Hoyt. + + +Report of the Commissioner of Education for the year 1873. + Washington: Government Printing Office. + + +Among the Trees. + By William Cullen Bryant. + Illustrated. + New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. + + +Early English History. + By John P. Yeatman. + London: Longmans, Green & Co. + + +Poems. + By Stuart Sterne. + (Published for the Author.) + New York: F.B. Patterson. + + +The Frozen Deep. + By Wilkie Collins. + Boston: William F. Gill & Co. + + +A Lecture on the Protestant Faith. + By Dwight H. Olmstead. + New York. + + + + +FOOTNOTES. + + +[1] _Travel and Art-Study in Italy_, by C.E. NORTON. + +[2] December, 1874, art. "Physical Effects of Emotion on the Heart." + +[3] I have several times performed this experiment, and by a method, +the explanation of which would require a separate article, have proved +that the vaso-motor centre, as well as the respiratory centre, is +situated in the medulla oblongata, and that paralysis of neither +respiration nor of the vaso-motor nerves follows the operation. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14709 *** diff --git a/14709-h/14709-h.htm b/14709-h/14709-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3d92b6e --- /dev/null +++ b/14709-h/14709-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10290 @@ +<!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. 86, February, 1875, by Various</title> + <style type="text/css"> + /*<![CDATA[*/ + <!-- + body {margin-left: 10%; 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Blair. + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href='#an_american_girl_and_her_lovers'> + 160</a></span></p> + + <p>A JAPANESE MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE. by W.E. Griffis. + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href='#japanese_marriage_in_high_life'> + 176</a></span></p> + + <p>THE LOST BABY. by Clara G. Dolliver. + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href='#the_lost_baby'>183</a></span></p>THREE + FEATHERS. by William Black.<br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">CHAPTER + XXIII. SOME OLD SONGS.</span> + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href='#chapter_xxiii'>184</a></span><br /> + + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">CHAPTER + XXIV. THE CUT DIRECT.</span> + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href='#chapter_xxiv'>190</a></span><br /> + + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">CHAPTER + XXV. NOT THE LAST WORD.</span> + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href='#chapter_xxv'>194</a></span><br /> + + + + <p>FEVER. by H.C. Wood, Jr., M.D. + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#fever">197</a></span></p> + + <p>SONNET. by Charlotte F. Bates. + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#sonnet">204</a></span></p> + + <p>SOME RECOLLECTIONS OF HIRAM POWERS.<br /> + <span style="margin-left: 12em;">by T. Adolphus + Trollope.</span> + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#some_recollections_of_hiram_powers"> + 205</a></span></p> + + <p>CORN. by Sidney Lanier. + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#corn">216</a></span></p> + + <p>GENTLEMAN DICK. by W. Mackay Laffan. + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#gentleman_dick">220</a></span></p> + + <p>A SINGULAR FAMILY. by Clelia Lega Weeks. + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#a_singular_family">227</a></span></p> + + <p>THE MATCHLESS ONE: A TALE OF AMERICAN SOCIETY,<br /> + <span style="margin-left: 9em;">IN FOUR CHAPTERS. by + Ita Aniol Prokop.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">PROLOGUE. </span> + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#prologue">236</a></span><br /> + + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">CHAPTER I. </span> + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#chapter_i">236</a></span><br /> + + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">CHAPTER II. </span> + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#chapter_ii">242</a></span></p> + + <p>THE STRANGER WITHIN THE GATES OF PARIS.<br /> + <span style="margin-left: 15em;">by Lucy H. Hooper.</span> + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#the_stranger_within_the_gates_of_paris"> + 248</a></span></p> + + <p>OUR MONTHLY GOSSIP.<br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">GYPSY MUSIC IN HUNGARY. by + E.C.R.</span><span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#gypsy_music_in_hungary"> + 253</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">THE "GIORNO DEI MORTI." by + T.A.T.</span><span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#the_giorno_dei_mortiquot"> + 256</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">MR. MILL'S MOTHER.</span> + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#mr_mills_mother">260</a></span></p><br /> + + + + <p>NOTES. + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#notes">260</a></span></p> + + <p>LITERATURE OF THE DAY. + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#literature_of_the_day">262</a></span></p> + + <p>Books Received. + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#books_received">264</a></span></p> + + <p><a href='#footnotes'>FOOTNOTES</a></p> + <hr /> + + <p>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.<br /> + <br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image001_jpg'>TEMPLE + OF THE CLITUMNUS.</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image002_jpg'>THE + FALLS OF TERNI.</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image003_jpg'>ORVIETO.</a></span><br /> + + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image004_jpg'>CIVITÀ + BAGNOREA.</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image005_jpg'>THE + TIBER, FROM ORTE.</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image006_jpg'>BORGHETTO.</a></span><br /> + + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image007_jpg'>ST. + PETER'S AND THE VATICAN, FROM THE FALLS OF THE + TIBER.</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image008_jpg'>THE + CASTLE OF ST. ANGELO.</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image009_jpg'>ISLAND + OF THE TIBER.</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image010_jpg'>CUPOLA + OF ST. PETER'S.</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image011_jpg'>THE + PINCIO, FROM THE VILLA BORGHESE.</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image012_jpg'>SORACTE.</a></span><br /> + + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image013_jpg'>VEII, + FROM THE CAMPAGNA.</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image014_jpg'>TIVOLI.</a></span><br /> + + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image015_jpg'>CASTLE + AT OSTIA.</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image016_jpg'>HEAD + OF THE TRAJAN CANAL, NEAR OSTIA.</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image017_jpg'>A + HALT IN THE BRUSH.</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image018_jpg'>IARAT, + DAUGHTER OF THE CHIEF OUNDO.</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image019_jpg'>A + KANACKA FAMILY TRAVELING.</a></span></p> + </div> + + <p> </p> + <hr /> + + <h3><a name='following_the_tiber' + id='following_the_tiber'></a>FOLLOWING THE TIBER.</h3> + + <p class='center'> + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_137]</span>CONCLUDING PAPER.</p> + + <div class='figcenter'> + <a name='image001_jpg' + id="image001_jpg"></a><img alt='temple_of_the_clitumnus' + border="0" + src="images/001.jpg" + width="409" + height="460" /> + + <p class='center'>TEMPLE OF THE CLITUMNUS.</p> + </div> + + <p>One branch of the little river which encompasses Assisi is + the Clitumnus, the delight of philosophers and poets in the + Augustan age. Near its + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_138]</span>source stands a beautiful + little temple to the divinity of the stream. Although the + ancients resorted hither for the loveliness of the spot, they + did not bathe in the springs, a gentle superstition holding it + sacrilege for the human body to lave itself in a stream near + its source.</p> + + <div class='figright'> + <a name='image002_jpg' + id="image002_jpg"></a><img alt='falls_of_terni' + border="0" + src="images/002.jpg" + width="240" + height="688" /> + + <p class='center'>THE FALLS OF TERNI.</p> + </div> + + <p>They came by the Via Flaminia, the old high-road from Rome + to Florence, which crosses the modern railroad hard by. + Following its course, which takes a more direct line than the + devious Tiber, past Spoleto on its woody castellated height, + the traveler reaches Terni on the tumultuous Nar, the wildest + and most rebellious of all the tributaries. It was to save the + surrounding country from its outbreaks that the channel was + made by the Romans B.C. 271, the first of several experiments + which resulted in these cascades, which have been more sung and + oftener painted than any other in the world. The beauty of + Terni is so hackneyed that enthusiasm over it becomes cockney, + yet the beauty of hackneyed things is as eternal as the verity + of truisms, and no more loses its charm than the other its + point. But one must not talk about it. The foaming torrent + rages along between its rocky walls until spanned by the bridge + of Augustus at Narni, a magnificent viaduct sixty feet high, + thrown from ridge to ridge across the ravine for the passage of + the Flaminian Way—a wreck now, for two of the arches have + fallen, but through the last there is a glimpse of the rugged + hillsides with their thick forests and the turbulent waters + rushing through the chasm. Higher still is Narni, looking over + her embattled walls. It is one of the most striking positions + on the way from Florence to Rome, and the next half hour, + through savage gorges and black tunnels, ever beside the + tormented waters of the Nar until they meet the Tiber, swollen + by the tributes of the Paglia and Chiana, is singularly + fine.</p> + + <p>Where the Paglia and Chiana flow together, at the issue of + the charming Val di Chiana, stands Orvieto on its steep and + sudden rock, crowned with one of the triumphs of Italian + Gothic, the glorious cathedral. After toiling up the + ladder-like paths which lead from the plain to the summit of + the bluff, and passing through the grand mediæval gateway + along the slanting streets, where even the peasants dismount + and walk beside their donkeys, seeing nothing within the whole + small compass of the <span class="pagenum">[Pg_139]</span>walls + save what speaks of the narrowest and humblest life in the most + remote of hill-fastnesses,a few deserted and dilapidated + palaces alone telling of a period of importance long past, + nothing can describe the effect of coming out of this indigence + and insignificance upon the silent, solitary piazza where the + incomparable cathedral rears its front, covered from base to + pinnacle with the richest sculpture and most brilliant + mosaic.</p> + + <div class='figleft'> + <a name='image003_jpg' + id="image003_jpg"></a><img alt='orvieto' + border="0" + src="images/003.jpg" + width="240" + height="185" /> + + <p class='center'>ORVIETO.</p> + </div> + + <p>The volcanic mass on which the town is built is over seven + hundred feet high, and nearly half as much in circumference: it + would be a fitting pedestal for this gorgeous duomo if it stood + there alone. But it is almost wedged in among the crooked + streets, a few paces of grass-grown stones allowing less than + space enough to embrace the whole result of proportion and + color: one cannot go far enough off to escape details. An + account of those details would require a volume, and one has + already been written which leaves no more to be + said;<a name="FNanchor_001_1" + id="FNanchor_001_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_001_1" + class="fnanchor">[1]</a> yet fain would we take the reader + with us into that noble nave, where the "glorious company of + the apostles" stands colossal in marble beside the pillars + whose sculptured capitals are like leafy branches blown by + the wind; where the light comes rich and mellow through + stained glass and semilucent alabaster, like Indian-summer + sunshine in autumn woods; where Fra Angelico's and Benozzo + Gozzoli's angelic host smile upon us with ineffable mildness + from above the struggle and strife of Luca Signorelli's + "Last Judgment," the great forerunner of Michael Angelo's. + It added greatly to the impressiveness that there was never + a single human being in the cathedral: except one afternoon + at vespers we had it all to ourselves. There is little else + to see in the place, although it is highly picturesque and + the inhabitants wear a more complete costume than any other + I saw in Italy—the women, bright bodices, striped + skirts and red stockings; the men, jaunty jackets and + breeches, peaked hats and splendid sashes.</p> + + <p>The discomfort of Perugia was luxury to what we found at + Orvieto, and it was no longer May but December, when it is + nearly as cold north of Rome as with us; and Rome was drawing + us with her mighty magnet. So, one wintry morning, soon after + daybreak, we set out in a close carriage with four horses, + wrapped as if we were going in a sleigh, with a <i>scaldino</i> + (or little brazier) under our feet, for the + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_140]</span>nearest railway station on + our route, a nine hours' drive. Our way lay through the + snow-covered hills and their leafless forest, and long after we + had left Orvieto behind again and again a rise in the road + would bring it full in sight on its base of tufa, girt by its + walls, the Gothic lines of the cathedral sharp against the + clear, brightening sky. At our last look the sun was not up, + but broad shafts of light, such as painters throw before the + chariot of Phoebus, refracted against the pure æther, + spread like a halo round the threefold pinnacles: a moment more + and <span class="pagenum">[Pg_141]</span>Orvieto was hidden + behind a higher hill, not to be seen again. All day we drove + among the snow-bound hills and woods, past the Lake of Bolsena + in its forbidding beauty; past small valleys full of naked + fruit trees and shivering olives, which must be nooks of + loveliness in spring; past defiant little towns aloft on their + islands of tufa, like Bagnorea with its single slender + bell-tower; past Montefiascone with its good old story about + Cardinal Fugger and the native wine.</p> + + <div class='figcenter'> + <a name='image004_jpg' + id="image004_jpg"></a><img alt='cività_bagnorea' + border="0" + src="images/004.jpg" + width="640" + height="430" /> + + <p class="center">CIVITÀ BAGNOREA.</p> + </div> + + <div class='figright'> + <a name='image005_jpg' + id="image005_jpg"></a><img alt='the_tiber' + border='0' + src='images/005.jpg' + width='240' + height='698' /> + + <p class='center'>THE TIBER, FROM ORTE.</p> + </div> + + <p>We stopped to lunch at Viterbo, a town more closely + connected with the history of the Papacy than any except Rome + itself, and full of legends and romantic associations: it is + dirty and dilapidated, and has great need of all its memories. + Being but eight miles from Montefiascone, we called for a + bottle of the fatal Est, which we had tasted once at Augsburg, + where the host of the Three Moors has it in his cellar, in + honor perhaps of the departed Fugger family, whose palace has + become his hotel: there we had found it delicious—a wine + as sweet as cordial, with a soul of fire and a penetrating but + delicate flavor of its own—how different from the thin, + sour stuff they brought us in the long-necked, straw-covered + flask, nothing to attest its relationship to the generous juice + at the Three Moors except the singular, unique flavor! After + this little disappointment we left Viterbo, and drove on + through the same sort of scenery, which seemed to grow more and + more beautiful in the rosy light of the sinking sun. But it is + hard to tell, for nothing makes a journey so beautiful as to + know that Rome is the goal.</p> + + <div class='figleft'> + <a name='image006_jpg' + id="image006_jpg"></a><img alt='borghetto' + src='images/006.jpg' + height='264' + width='400' /> + + <p class='center'>BORGHETTO.</p> + </div> + + <p>As the last rays were flushing the hill-tops we came in + sight of Orte, with its irregular lines of building clinging to + the sides of its precipitous cliff in such eyrie-wise that it + is difficult to say what is house and what is rock, and whether + the arched passages with which it is pierced are masonry or + natural grottoes; and there was the Tiber—already the + yellow Tiber—winding through the valley as far as eye + could follow. Here we waited for the train, which was ten + minutes late, and tried to make up for lost time by leaving our + luggage, all duly marked and ready, standing on the track. We + soon began to greet familiar sites as we flitted by: the last + we made out plainly was Borghetto, a handful of houses, with a + ruined castle keeping watch on a hill hard by: then twilight + gathered, and we strained our eyes in vain for + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_142]</span>the earliest glimpse of + Mount Soracte, and night came down before we could descry the + first landmarks of the Agro Romano, the outposts of our + excursions, the farm-towers we knew by name, the farthest + fragments of the aqueducts. But it was not so obscure that we + could not discern the Tiber between his low banks showing us + the way, the lights quivering in the Anio as the train rushed + over the bridge; and when at length we saw against the clear + night-sky a great dark barrier stretching right and left, we + knew that the walls of Rome + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_143]</span>were once more before us: + in a moment we had glided through with slackening speed, and + her embrace enfolded us again.</p> + + <p>The Tiber, winding as it does like a great artery through + the heart of Rome, is seldom long either out of sight or mind. + One constantly comes upon it in the most unexpected manner, for + there is no river front to the city. There is a wide open space + on the Ripetta—a street which runs from the Piazza del + Popolo, at the head of the foreign quarter, to remoter + parts—where a broad + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_144]</span>flight of marble steps + descends to the level of the flood, and a ferry crosses to the + opposite bank: looking over at the trees and fields, it is like + the open country, yet beyond are St. Peter's and the Vatican, + and the whole of what is known as the Leonine City.</p> + + <p>But one cannot follow the Tiber through the streets of Rome + as one may the Seine in Paris: in the thickly-built quarters + the houses back upon the stream and its yellow waves wash their + foundations, working wrath and woe from time to time, as those + who were there in the winter of 1870 will recollect. Sometimes + it is lost to sight for half a mile together, unless one + catches a glimpse of it through the carriage-way of a + palace.</p> + + <div class='figcenter'> + <a name='image007_jpg' + id="image007_jpg"></a><img alt='st_peters_and_the_vatican' + src='images/007.jpg' + height='396' + width='640' /> + + <p class='center'>ST. PETER'S AND THE VATICAN, FROM THE + FALLS OF THE TIBER.</p> + </div> + + <div class='figleft'> + <a name='image008_jpg' + id="image008_jpg"></a><img alt='castle_of_st_angelo' + src='images/008.jpg' + width='640' + height='483' /> + + <p class='center'>THE CASTLE OF ST. ANGELO.</p> + </div> + + <p>From the wharf of the Ripetta it disappears until you come + upon it again at the bridge of St. Angelo, the Ælian + bridge of ancient Rome, which is the most direct passage from + the fashionable and foreign quarter to the Trastevere. It must + be confessed that the idle sense of mere pleasure generally + supersedes recollection and association after one's first + astonishment to find one's self among the historic places + subsides; yet how often, as our horses' hoofs rang on the + slippery stones, my thoughts went suddenly back to the scene + when Saint Gregory passed over, chanting litanies, at the head + of the whole populace, who formed one vast penitential + procession, and saw the avenging angel alight on the mausoleum + of Adrian and sheath his sword in sign that the plague was + stayed; or to that terrible day when the ferocious mercenaries + of the Constable de Bourbon and the wretched inhabitants given + over to sack and slaughter swarmed across together, butchering + and butchered, while the troops in the castle hurled down what + was left of its classic statues upon the heads of friend and + foe, and the Tiber was turned to blood!</p> + + <div class='figright'> + <a name='image009_jpg' + id="image009_jpg"></a><img alt='island_of_the_tiber' + border='0' + src='images/009.jpg' + width='640' + height='474' /> + + <p class='center'>ISLAND OF THE TIBER.</p> + </div> + + <p>From the bridge of St. Angelo the river is lost again for a + long distance, although one can make one's way to it at various + points—where at low water the submerged piers of the Pons + Triumphalis are to be seen, where the Ponte Sisto leads to the + foot of the Janiculum Hill, and on the opposite bank the + orange-groves of the Farnesina palace hang their golden fruit + and dusky foliage over the long garden-wall upon the + river—until we come to the Ponte Quatro Capi (Bridge of + the Four Heads) and the island of the Tiber.This is said to + have been formed in the kingly period by the accumulation of a + harvest cast into the stream a little way + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_145]</span>above, which the current + could not sweep away: it made a nucleus for alluvial deposit, + and the island gradually arose. Several hundred years afterward + it was built into the form of a ship, as bridges and wharves + are built, with a temple in the midst, and a tall obelisk set + up in guise of its mast. In mediæval days a church + replaced the heathen fane, and now it stands between its two + bridges, a huddle of houses, terraces and gardens, whence one + looks down on the fine mass of the Ponte Rotto (Broken Bridge), + whose shattered arches pause in mid-stream, and across to the + low arch of the Cloaca Maxima and the exquisite little circular + temple of Vesta. From here down, the river is in full view from + either side until it passes beyond the walls near the Monte + Testaccio—on one side the Ripa Grande (Great Bank or + Wharf), a long series of quays, on the other the Marmorata or + marble landing, where the ships from the quarries unload. Here, + on each side, all sorts of small craft lie moored, not + betokening a very extensive commerce from their size and shape, + but quaint and oddly rigged, making a very good fore-or + back-ground, according as one looks at the picture. The + Marmorata is at the foot of the Aventine, the most lonely and + unvisited of the Seven Hills. From among the vegetable-gardens + and cypress-groves which clothe its long flank rise large, + formless piles, whose foundations are as old as the Eternal + City, and whose superstructures are the wreck of temples of the + kingly and republican periods, and palaces and villas of + imperial times, and haughty feudal abodes, only to be + distinguished from one another by the antiquary amid their + indiscriminate ruin and the tangle of wild-briers and fern, ivy + and trailers with which they are overgrown. On the summit + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_146]</span>no trace of ancient Rome + is to be seen. There are no dwellings of men on this deserted + ground: a few small and very early Christian churches have + replaced the temples which once stood here, to be in their turn + neglected and forsaken: they stand forlornly apart, separated + by vineyards and high blank walls. On the brow of the hill is + the esplanade of a modern fort, and within its quiet precincts + are the church and priory of the Knights of Malta—nothing + but a chapel and small villa as abandoned as the rest. After + toiling up a steep and narrow lane between two walls, our + carriage stopped at a solid wooden gateway, and the coachman + told us to get out and look through the keyhole. We were + aghast, but he insisted, laughing and nodding; so we pocketed + our pride and peeped.</p> + + <div class='figleft'> + <a name='image010_jpg' + id="image010_jpg"></a><img alt='cupola_of_st_peters' + border='0' + src='images/010.jpg' + width='100' + height='111' /> + + <p class="center">CUPOLA OF ST. PETER'S.</p> + </div> + + <p>Through an overarching vista of dark foliage was seen, white + and golden in a blaze of sunshine, the cupola of St. Peter's, + which is at the farthest end of the city, two miles at the + least as the crow flies. When the gate was opened we entered a + sweet little garden full of violets, traversed by an alley of + old ilex trees, through which appeared the noble dome, and + which led from the gate to a terrace overhanging the + Tiber—I will not venture to guess how far + below—more like two than one hundred feet; perhaps still + farther. On the edge of the terrace was an arbor, and here we + sank down enchanted, to drink in the view of the city, which + spread out under our eyes as we had never seen it from any + other point. But the custodino's wife urged us to come into the + Priorato and see the view from the upper story. We followed + her, reluctant to leave the sunshine and soft air, up a stiff + winding staircase, through large, dark, chilly, long-closed + apartments, until we reached the top, where there was a great + square room occupying the whole floor. She flung open the + windows, and never did such a panorama meet my eyes. There were + windows on every side: to the north, one looked across the city + to St. Peter's, the Vatican, the Castle of St. Angelo, the + Tiber with its great bends and many bridges, and to lonely, + far-away Soracte; westward, on the other side of the river, + rose the Janiculum with its close-wedged houses, grade on + grade, and on its summit the church of San Pietro in Montorio + and the flashing cataract of the Acqua Paola fountain, the + stone-pines of the Villa Dolia cresting the ridge above; + eastward, the Palatine, a world of ruins in a world of gardens, + lay between us and the Coliseum, and over them and the wall, + the aqueducts, the plain, the eye ranged to the snow-capped + Sabine Hills, on whose many-colored declivities tiny white + towns were dotted like browsing sheep; southward, we gazed down + upon the Pyramid of Cestius, upon the beautiful Protestant + cemetery with its white monuments and dark cypresses where lie + Shelley and Keats, upon the stately Porta San Paolo, a great + mediæval gateway flanked + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_147]</span>with towers, and beyond, + the Campagna, purple, violet, ultramarine, oceanic, rolling out + toward the Alban Hills, which glittered with snow, rising + sharply like island-peaks and sloping down like promontories + into the plain; and over all the sun and sky and shadows of + Italy.</p> + + <div class='figcenter'> + <a name='image011_jpg' + id="image011_jpg"></a><img alt='the_pincio' + border='0' + src='images/011.jpg' + width='640' + height='347' /> + + <p class="center">THE PINCIO, FROM THE VILLA BORGHESE.</p> + </div> + + <p>The prospect from the Priorato surpasses anything in + Rome—even the wonderful view from the Janiculum, even the + enchanting outlook from the Pincian Hill. But the last was at + our very doors: we could go thither in the morning to watch the + white mist curl up from the valleys and hang about the + mountain-brows, and at noon, when even in January the cool + avenues and splashing fountains were grateful, and at sunset, + when the city lay before us steeped in splendor. That was the + view of our daily walks—the beloved view of which one + thinks most often and fondly in remembering Rome.</p> + + <div class='figleft'> + <a name='image012_jpg' + id="image012_jpg"></a><img alt='soracte' + border='0' + src='images/012.jpg' + width='320' + height='190' /> + + <p class="center">SORACTE.</p> + </div> + + <p>But it is in riding that one grows to feel most familiar + with the Tiber and all his Roman children, whether it be + strolling somewhat sulkily in a line with his banks by the Via + Flaminia or the Via Cassia, impatient to get away from their + stones and dust to the soft, springing turf; or hailing him + from afar as a guide after losing one's self in the endless + undulations of the open country; or cantering over + daffodil-sheeted meadows beside the Anio at the foot of the + grassy heights on which Antemnæ stood; or threading one's + way doubtfully among the ravines which intersect the course of + the little Cremera as one goes to Veii.</p> + + <div class='figcenter'> + <a name='image013_jpg' + id="image013_jpg"></a><img alt='veii_from_the_campagna' + src='images/013.jpg' + width='480' + height='357' /> + + <p class="center">VEII, FROM THE CAMPAGNA.</p> + </div> + + <p>The last is a most beautiful and interesting expedition, + for, what with the distance—more than twelve + miles—and the difficulty of finding the way, it is quite + an enterprise. As one turns his horse's head away from the + river, off the high-road, to the high grassy flats, the whole + Campagna seems to lie before one like a vast table-land, with + nothing between one's self and Soracte as he lifts his heavy + shoulder from the plain—not half hidden by intervening + mountains, as from some points of view, but majestic and + isolated, thirty miles away to the north. But here, as in every + other part of the Campagna, one cannot go far without finding + hillocks and hollows, long steep slopes and sudden little + dells, and, stranger still, unsuspected tracts of woodland, for + the general effect of the Roman landscape is quite treeless. So + there is a few miles' gallop across the trackless turf, + sometimes asking the way of a solitary shepherd, who looms up + against the sky like a tower, sometimes following it by faint + landmarks, few and far between, of which we have been told, and + hard to find in that waste, until we pass a curious little + patriarchal abode shaped like a wigwam, where, in the midst of + these wide pastures dwells a herdsman surrounded by his family, + his cattle, his dogs, his goats and his fowls—the + beautiful animals of the Campagna, long-haired, soft-eyed, + rich-colored, like the human children of the soil. Then we + strike the Cremera, and exploring begins among its rocky + gullies, up and down which the spirited, sure-footed horses + scramble like chamois. Thick woods of cork-oak clothe their + sides, and copses of a deciduous tree which I never saw in its + summer dress of green, but which keeps its dead leaves all + through the winter, a full suit + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_148]</span>of soft, pale brown + contrasting with the dark evergreens. Among these woods grow + all the wild-flowers of the long Roman spring from January to + May—flowers that I never saw in bloom at the same time + anywhere else. On banks overcanopied by faded boughs nodded + myriads of snowdrops; farther on we held our horses' heads well + up as they slipped, almost sitting, down the damp rocky clefts + of a gorge whose sides were purple with violets, mingling their + delicious odor, the sweetest and most sentimental of perfumes, + with the fresh, geranium-like scent of the cyclamen, which here + and there flung back its delicate pinkish petals like one + amazed: then came acres of anemones—not our pale + wind-shaken flower, but brave asters of half a dozen superb + kinds. Up and down these passes we forced our way through + interlacing branches, which drooped too low, until we had + crossed the ridges on either side the Cremera, and gained the + valley at the head of which is Isola Farnese, the rock-fortress + supposed to occupy the site of the citadel of Etruscan Veii. It + is not really an island, in spite of its name; only a bold + peninsula, round whose base two rivulets flow and nearly meet. + It is called a village, and so it is, with quite a population, + but the great courtyard of the fifteenth-century castle + contains them all, and the huts, pig-pens, kennels and coops + which they seem to inhabit indiscriminately. Except where the + bluff overlooks the valley, everything is closed and shut in by + rocks and gorges, through one of which a lovely waterfall drips + from a covert of boughs and shrubbery and wreathing ferns and + creepers into a little stream, which with musical clamor rushes + at a picturesque old mill: through another the road from the + castle passes through a narrow issue to the outer world. And + this stranded and shipwrecked fortress in the midst of so wild + a scene is all that exists to mark where Veii stood, the + powerful city which kept Rome at bay for ten years, and fell at + length by stratagem! Its site was forgotten for nearly two + thousand years, but in this century the discovery of some tombs + revealed the secret.</p> + + <div class='figleft'> + <a name='image014_jpg' + id="image014_jpg"></a><img alt='tivoli' + border='0' + src='images/014.jpg' + width='573' + height='460' /> + + <p class="center">TIVOLI.</p> + </div> + + <p>The scenery differs entirely on different sides of Rome. + Here there is not a ruin, not a vestige, except a few low heaps + of stone-or brickwork hidden by weeds: on the other, toward + Tivoli, much of the beauty is due to the work of man—the + stately remnants of ancient aqueduct, + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_149]</span>temple and tomb; the tall + square towers of feudal barons, round which cluster low + farm-buildings scarcely less old and solid; the vast, gloomy + grottoes of Cerbara, which look like the underground palace of + a bygone race, but which are the tufa-quarries of classic + times; the ruined baths of Zenobia, where the rushing milky + waters of the Aquæ Albulæ fill the air with + sulphurous fumes; and, as a climax, the Villa of Hadrian, less + a country-place than a whole region, a town-in-country, with + palace, temples, circus, theatres, baths amidst a tract of + garden and pleasure-ground ten miles in circumference. Even + when one is familiar with the enormous height and bulk of the + Coliseum or the Baths of Caracalla, the extent of the ruins of + Hadrian's Villa is overwhelming. Numerous fragments are still + standing, graceful and elegant, but a vast many more are buried + deep under turf and violets and fern: large cypresses and + ilexes have struck root among their stones, and they form + artificial hills and vales and great wide plateaus covered with + herbage and shrubbery, hardly to be distinguished from the + natural accidents of the land. The solitude is as immense as + the space. After leaving our carriage we wandered about for + hours, sometimes lying in the sunshine at the edge of a great + grassy terrace which commands the Campagna and the Agro + Romano—beyond whose limits we had come—to where, + like a little bell, St. Peter's dome hung faint and blue upon + the horizon; sometimes exploring the innumerable porticoes and + galleries, and replacing in fancy the Venus de Medici, the + Dancing Faun, and all the other shapes of beauty which once + occupied these ravished pedestals and niches; sometimes + rambling about the flowery fields, and up and down among the + hillocks and dells, meeting no one, until at length, when + completely bewildered and lost, we fell in with a rustic + belonging to the estate, who guided us back. We left the place + with the sense of having been in a separate realm, another + country, belonging to another age. The whole of that visit to + Tivoli was like a dream. The sun was sinking when we left the + precincts of the villa, and twilight stole upon us, wrapping + all the landscape on which we looked back in softer folds of + shade, and resolving its features into large, calm masses, as + the horses labored up the narrow, stony road + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_150]</span>into a mysterious wood of + gigantic olives, gnarled, twisted and rent as no other tree + could be and live. The scene was wild and weird in the dying + light, and it grew almost savage as we wound upward among the + robber-haunted hills. Night had fallen before we reached the + mountain-town. Our coachman dashed through the dark slits of + streets, where it seemed as if our wheels must strike the + houses on each side, cracking his whip and jingling the bells + of the harness. Under black archways sat groups of peasants, + their swart visages lit up from below by the glow of a brazier, + while a flaring torch stuck through a ring overhead threw + fierce lights and shadows across the scene. Sharp cries and + shouts like maledictions rose as we passed, and as we turned + into the little square on which the inn stands we wondered in + what sort of den we should have to lodge. We followed our host + of the little Albergo della Regnia up the steep stone staircase + with many misgivings: he flung open a door, and we beheld a + carpeted room, all furnished and hung with pink chintz covered + with cupids and garlands. There were sofas, low arm-chairs, a + writing-table with appurtenances, a tea-table with snowy linen + and a hissing brass tea-kettle. Opening from this were two + little white nests of bed-rooms, with tin bath-tubs and an + abundance of towels. We could not believe our eyes: here were + English comfort and French taste. Were we in May Fair or the + Rue de Rivoli? Or was it a fairy-tale?</p> + + <div class='figright'> + <a name='image015_jpg' + id="image015_jpg"></a><img alt='castle_at_ostia' + border='0' + src='images/015.jpg' + width='640' + height='507' /> + + <p class="center">CASTLE AT OSTIA.</p> + </div> + + <p>The fairy-tale went on next day, when, after wending our way + through the dirty, crooked little streets, we crossed a + courtyard and descended a long subterranean stairway to emerge + on a magnificent terrace with a heavy marble balustrade, whence + flights of steps led down to lower grades, amid statues, urns, + vases, fountains, reservoirs, camellias in bloom mingled with + laurel and myrtle and laurustinums covered with creamy flowers, + cypresses tall as cathedral spires, ilex avenues, and broad + straight walks between huge walls of box: the whole space was + filled with the song of nightingales, the tinkle of falling + water, with whiffs of aromatic shrubs and the breath of hidden + roses and violets;—a princely garden, a royal pleasaunce, + but in exquisite disorder and neglect; the shrubbery too thick + and straggling, the flowers straying beyond their rightful + boundaries, the statues + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_151]</span>stained and moss-grown, + the balusters entangled in clinging luxuriance, the fountains + dripping through fern and maiden-hair—Nature supreme, as + one always sees her in this land of Art. It was the Villa + d'Este, famous these three hundred years for its fountains and + cypresses. Nor did the wonder cease when we forsook this + enchanting spot for the mountain-road which overhangs the great + ravine. Opposite, backed by mountains, rose the crags topped by + the clustering town and all its towers, arches, niches, + battlements, bridges, long lines of classic ruins, and on the + edge of the abyss the perfect little temple of the Sibyl; + rushing down from everywhere the waterfalls, one great column + plunging at the head of the gorge, and countless frolic + streams, the <i>cascatelle</i>, leaping and dancing from rock + to rock through mist and rainbow and extravagance of emerald + moss and herbage, down among sea-green, silvery olives, finally + sliding away, between softer foliage and verdure, through the + valley into the plain—the immense azure plain, with its + grand symphonic harmonies of form and color. O land of dreams + fulfilled, of satisfied longing! when across these thousands of + miles I recall your entrancing charm, your unimaginable beauty, + I sometimes wonder if you were <i>not</i> a dream, if you have + any place in this real existence, this lower earth: are you + still delighting other eyes with the rapture of your + loveliness, or were you only an illusion, a vision, which + vanishes like the glow of sunset or "golden exhalations of the + dawn "?</p> + + <div class='figleft'> + <a name='image016_jpg' + id="image016_jpg"></a><img alt='trajan_canal' + border='0' + src='images/016.jpg' + width='100' + height='117' /> + + <p class="center">HEAD OF THE<br /> + TRAJAN CANAL,<br /> + NEAR OSTIA.</p> + </div> + + <p>The Campagna has one more aspect, different from all the + rest, where the Tiber, weary with his long wanderings, rolls + lazily to the sea. It is a dreary waste of swamp and sandhill + and scrub growth, but with a forlorn beauty of its own, and the + beauty of color, never absent in Italy. The tall, coarse grass + and reeds pass through a series of vivid tones, culminating in + tawny gold and deep orange, against which the silver-fretted + violet blue-green of the Mediterranean assumes a magical + splendor. Small, shaggy buffaloes with ferocious eyes, and + sometimes a peasant as wild-looking as they, are the only + inhabitants of this wilderness. The machicolated towers of + Castel Fusano among its grand stone-pines stand up from the + marshes, and farther seaward another castle with a single pine; + but they only enhance the surrounding loneliness. Ostia, the + ancient port, which sea and river have both deserted, is now a + city of the dead, a Pompeii above ground, whose avenues of + tombs lead to streets of human dwellings more desolate still. + It is no longer by Ostia, nor even by the Tiber, that one can + reach the sea: the way was choked by sand and silt seventeen + centuries ago, and Trajan caused the canal to be made which + bears his name; and this is still the outlet from Rome to the + Mediterranean, while the river expires among the pestilential + marshes.</p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg_152]</span> + + <h2><a name='six_months_among_cannibals' + id="six_months_among_cannibals"></a>SIX MONTHS AMONG + CANNIBALS.</h2> + + <div class='figcenter'> + <a name='image017_jpg' + id="image017_jpg"></a><img alt='halt_in_the_brush' + border='0' + src='images/017.jpg' + width='305' + height='460' /> + + <p class='center'>A HALT IN THE BRUSH.</p> + </div> + + <p>Perhaps as good an illustration of the purely absurd + (according to civilized notions) as can be imagined is a + congregation of cannibals in a missionary church weeping + bitterly over the story of Calvary. Fresh from their revolting + feasts upon the flesh of their conquered enemies, these gentle + savages weep over the sufferings of One separated from them by + race, by distance, by almost every conceivable lack of the + conditions for natural sympathy, and by over eighteen hundred + years of time! Surely there must be hope for people who + manifest such sensibility, + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_153]</span>and we may fairly question + whether cannibalism be necessarily the sign of the lowest human + degradation. A good deal of light is thrown upon the subject by + the writings of the young engineer, Jules Garnier, who was + lately charged by the French minister of the interior with a + mission of exploration in New Caledonia, the Pacific island + discovered by Captain Cook just one hundred years ago, and + ceded to the French in 1853.</p> + + <p>It is about three hundred and sixty miles from Sydney to New + Caledonia, a long, narrow island lying just north of the Tropic + of Capricorn, and completely surrounded by belts of coral reef + crenellated here and there, and forming channels or passes + where ships may enter. Navigation through these channels is, + however, exceedingly hazardous in any but calm weather; and it + was formerly thought that the island was on this account + practically valueless for colonization. Once inside them, + however, vessels may anchor safely anywhere, for there is in + effect a continuous roadstead all around the island. The + passage through the narrow pass of Dumbea, just outside of + Noumea, affords a striking spectacle. On each side of the ship + is a wall of foam, and the reverberating thunder of the waves + dashing and breaking upon the jagged reefs keeps the mind in + breathless suspense.</p> + + <p>The site of Noumea seems to be the most unfortunate that + could be chosen. It is a barren, rocky spot, divested of all + luxuriance of vegetation, and the nearest water, a brook called + Pont des Français, is ten miles away. The appearance of + the town, which fronts the harbor in the form of an + amphitheatre, the houses and gardens rising higher and higher + as they recede from the sea, tended somewhat to reassure the + explorer, who had been wondering that human stupidity should + have been equal to selecting in a tropical country, and in one + of the best-watered islands of the world, such a situation for + its capital. Wells are of little account, for the water thus + obtained is at the level of the sea, and always salt. The + population has to depend upon the rain that falls on roofs, and + as the cleanliness of these is of prime importance, + domesticating pigeons is strictly forbidden. This might not be + much of a deprivation in most places, but in New Caledonia, of + all the world, there is a kind of giant pigeon as large as a + common hen! This is the <i>noton</i>, (sic) the <i>Carpophage + Goliath</i> of the naturalist.</p> + + <p>The hotel at Noumea was a kind of barracks, with partitions + so slight that every guest was forced to hear every sound in + his neighbors' rooms. M. Garnier, to escape this inconvenience, + purchased a garden-plot, had a cottage built in a few days, and + so became a proprietor in Oceanica. Before setting out on his + exploring expedition into the interior he tried to interest the + government in a plan for cisterns to supply the city with + water—a project easy of execution from the natural + conformation of the locality. But his scheme received no + encouragement from the old-fogyish authorities. They were at + that moment entertaining one which for simplicity reminded + Garnier of the egg problem of Columbus. This was to distill the + sea-water. He made a calculation of the cost of thus supplying + each of the sixteen hundred inhabitants with five quarts of + water a day, which showed that the proposition was + impracticable under the circumstances.</p> + + <p>From the showing of official accounts, this French colony of + New Caledonia must be one of the most absurd that exists. The + military and naval force far exceeds in number the whole civil + population; and this, too, when the natives are quiet and + submissive, few in number, and fast dying out through the + inordinate use of the worst kind of tobacco, pulmonary + consumption and other concomitants of civilization not + necessary to enumerate. Contrast this with the rich and + populous province of Victoria, which has only three hundred and + fifty soldiers; with Brisbane, which has only sixteen to a + population of one hundred thousand; and finally Tasmania, which + has only seven soldiers for two hundred thousand colonists!</p> + + <p>It was believed formerly that New Caledonia was rich in + gold-mines, and the principal object of the expedition of M. + Garnier was to discover these. After + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_154]</span>one or two short + excursions in the neighborhood of Noumea he set out on an eight + months' journey through the entire eastern portion of the + island. The plan which he adopted was to double the southern + extremity of the island, sail up the eastern coast between the + reefs and the mainland, as is the custom, stopping at the + principal stations and making long excursions into the + interior, accompanied by a guard of seven men. This plan he + carried out, though some parts of the country to be explored + were inhabited by tribes that had seldom or never seen a + European. His testimony as to the almost unexceptionable + kindness of the natives, cannibals though they are, must be + gratifying to those who accept the doctrine of the brotherhood + of man. Of the natives near Balarde he says: "The moment you + land all offer to guide your steps, and in every way they can + to satisfy your needs. Do you wish to hunt? A native is ever + ready to show you the marsh where ducks most abound. Are you + hungry or thirsty? They fly to the cocoanut plantation with the + agility of monkeys. If a swamp or a brook stops your course, + the shoulders of the first comer are ever ready to carry you + across. If it rains, they run to bring banana-leaves or make + you a shelter of bark. When night comes they light your way + with resinous torches, and finally, when you leave them, you + read in their faces signs of sincere regret."</p> + + <p>Captain Cook, in his eulogies of these gentle savages, + probably never dreamed that they were anthropophagi, and if he + had known the fact, his kindly nature would have found some + extenuation for them. Cannibals, as a rule—certainly + those of New Caledonia—do not eat each other + indiscriminately. For example, they dispose of their dead with + tender care, though they despatch with their clubs even their + best friends when dying; but this is with them a religious + duty. They only eat their enemies when they have killed them in + battle. This also, in their code of morals, appears to be a + duty. Toussenel, in his <i>Zoölogie Passionelle</i>, has a + kind word even for these savages: "Let us pity the cannibal, + and not blame him too severely. We who boast of our refined + Christian civilization murder men by tens of thousands from + motives less excusable than hunger. The crime lies not in + roasting our dead enemy, but in killing him when he wishes to + live."</p> + + <p>During M. Garnier's expedition he met the chief Onime, once + the head of a powerful tribe, now old and dispossessed of his + power through the revolt of his tribe some years previous. At + that time a price had been put upon his head, and he took + refuge in the mountains. There was no sign of discouragement or + cruelty in his manners, but his face expressed a bitter and + profound sorrow. There was not a pig or a chicken on his + place—for he would have nothing imported by the + <i>papalés</i>, or Europeans—but he gave his + guests a large quantity of yams, for which he would accept no + return except a little tobacco. When, however, Garnier tied a + pretty crimson handkerchief about the head of Onime's child, + who danced for joy at the possession of such a treasure, the + old chief was visibly moved, and gave his hand to the stranger. + Two years later this old man, being suspected of complicity in + the assassination of a colonist, was arrested, bound in chains + and thrown into a dungeon. Three times he broke his chains and + escaped, and each time was recaptured. He was then transported + to Noumea. M. Garnier happened to be on the same ship. The + condition of the old man was pitiful. Deep wounds, exposing the + bones, were worn into his wrists and ankles in his attempts to + free himself from his chains. Three days later he died, and on + a subsequent examination of facts M. Garnier became convinced + that Onime was innocent of the crime charged against him. On + the ship he recognized Garnier, and accepted from him a little + tobacco. Tobacco is more coveted by these people than anything + else in the world, and the stronger it is the better. The child + almost as soon as he can walk will smoke in an old pipe the + poisonous tobacco furnished specially for the natives, which is + so strong that it makes the most inveterate European smoker + ill. "Gin and brandy have been + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_155]</span>introduced successfully," + but the natives as a rule make horrible grimaces in drinking + them, and invariably drink two or three cups of water + immediately <i>to put out the fire</i>, as they say.</p> + + <p>These natives speak a kind of "pigeon English." It would be + pigeon French, doubtless, had their first relations been with + the French instead of the English. The government has now + stopped the sale of spirituous liquors to the natives, and + recommended the chiefs to forbid their subjects smoking until a + certain age, but no precautions yet taken have had much + influence upon their physical condition. They are rapidly dying + out. The most prevalent disease is pulmonary consumption, which + they declare has been given them by the Europeans. Fewer and + fewer children are born every year, and in the tribes about + Poöbo and some others these are almost all males. Here is + a curious fact for scientists. Is not the cause to be found in + the deteriorated physical condition of the women? Mary Trist, + in her careful and extensive experimentation with butterfly + grubs, has shown that by generous feeding these all develop + into females, while by starving males only appear.</p> + + <p>M. Garnier believes that the principal cause of the + deterioration and decay of the natives in New Caledonia is the + terrible tobacco that is furnished to them. "Everybody pays for + any service from the natives in this poison." A missionary once + asked a native convert why he had not attended mass. "Because + you don't give me any tobacco," replied this hopeful Christian. + To him, as to many others, says M. Garnier, going to church + means working for the missionary, just as much as digging in + his garden, and he therefore expects remuneration. The young + girls in regions where there are missions established all wear + chaplets, for they are good Catholics after a fashion, and + generally refuse to marry pagans. This operates to bring the + young men under the religious yoke. Self-interest is their + strong motive generally. The missionary makes them understand + the value of his counsel in their tribes. It means their + raising cocoanuts for their oil, flocks of chickens and droves + of hogs, for all of which they can obtain pipes, quantities of + tobacco, a gun, and gaudy-colored cottons. When the chiefs find + that their power is gradually passing from them into the hands + of the missionaries, they only smoke more poisonous tobacco, + expose themselves all the more to the weather through the cheap + fragmentary dress they have adopted, and so the ravages of + consumption are accelerated. Pious Christian women, who have + always given freely of their store to missionary causes, begin + to see that the results are not commensurate with their + sacrifices—that their charity, even their personal work + among heathens, teaching them to read and write and study the + catechism, to cover their bodies with dress and to love the + arts of civilization, can avail little against the rum, tobacco + and nameless maladies legally or illegally introduced with + Christianity.</p> + + <p>During one of M. Garnier's excursions into the interior he + came across one of the sacred groves where the natives bury + their dead, if hanging them up in trees can be so designated. + His guides all refused to accompany him, fearing to excite the + anger of the manes of their ancestors. He therefore entered the + high grove alone. Numerous corpses, enveloped in + carefully-woven mats and then bound in a kind of basket, were + suspended from the branches of the trees. Some of these were + falling in pieces, and the ground was strewn with whitened + bones. It seems strange that this form of burial should be + chosen in a country where at least once a year there occurs a + terrible cyclone that destroys crops, unroofs houses, uproots + trees, and often sends these basket-caskets flying with the + cocoanuts through the air.</p> + + <p>In New Caledonia there are no ferocious beasts, and the + largest animal is a very rare bird which the natives call the + kagon. When, therefore, they saw the English eating the meat + from beef bones they inferred that these were the bones of + giants, and naïvely inquired how they were captured and + what weapons of war they used. The confidence and admiration of + these children of Nature are easily + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_156]</span>gained, and under such + circumstances they talk freely and delight in imparting all the + information they possess. Among one of the tribes near Balarde, + M. Garnier noticed a young woman of superior beauty, and made + inquiries about her. This was Iarat, daughter of the chief + Oundo. The hornlike protuberances on her head were two "scarlet + flowers, which were very becoming in her dark hair."</p> + + <div class='figcenter'> + <a name='image018_jpg' + id="image018_jpg"></a><img alt='iarat_daughter_of_chief_oundo' + border='0' + src='images/018.jpg' + width='306' + height='460' /> + + <p class='center'>IARAT, DAUGHTER OF THE CHIEF OUNDO.</p> + </div> + + <p>This poor little woman had a history. It is told in a few + words: her father sold her to the captain of a trading-vessel + for a cask of brandy. The "extenuating circumstances" in this + case are that Oundo had been invited on board the captain's + ship, plied with brandy, and when nearly drunk assented to the + shameless bargain. When Oundo became sober he repented of his + act, and the more bitterly because the young girl was betrothed + to the young chief of a neighboring + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_157]</span>tribe. But he had given + his word, and was as great a moral coward as many of his + betters are, who think that honor may be preserved by dishonor. + Nearly every coaster has a native woman on board—some + poor girl of low extraction, or some orphan left to the mercy + of her chief and sold for a hatchet or a few yards of tawdry + calico; but the daughters of chiefs are not thus delivered over + to the lusts of Europeans. The case of Iarat was an exception. + These coasters' wives, if such they may be called, are said to + be very devoted mothers and faithful servants. All day long + they may be seen managing the rudder or cooking in the narrow + kitchen on deck.</p> + + <p>The vessel in the service of M. Garnier left him at Balarde, + near the north-eastern extremity of the island, but, having + determined to explore farther north, he applied to Oundo, who + furnished him with a native boat or canoe and two men for the + expedition. In this boat were stowed the camping and exploring + apparatus and cooking utensils, and three of his men, who were + too fatigued by late excursions to follow Garnier on foot. The + canoe was not very large, and this freight sunk it very low in + the water; yet as the sea was perfectly calm, no danger was + apprehended until, a slight breeze springing up, a sail was + hoisted. The shore-party continued their course, exploring, + digging, breaking minerals, etc., generally in sight of the + canoe, which M. Garnier watched with some anxiety. Suddenly, + Poulone, his faithful native guide, exclaimed, "Captain, the + pirogue sinks!" There was no time to be lost, for one of the + men could not swim at all, and the other two but indifferently. + Fortunately, the trunk of a tree was found near the water, some + paddles were improvised, and this primitive kind of boat was + quickly afloat, with the captain and Poulone on board. The + canoe was some rods from the shore, but the three men were + picked up, having been supported meanwhile by their dark + companions. The latter did not swim ashore, but the moment they + were relieved from their charges, and without a word, set about + getting the canoe afloat. As to the cargo, it was all in plain + sight, but more than twenty feet under the limpid water. This + was a great misfortune. Some of the instruments were valuable, + and could not be replaced. If not recovered, the expedition to + the north of the island must be abandoned. In this strait + Garnier despatched a messenger back to Oundo, asking the old + chief to come to the rescue with all his tribe. "I did not + count in vain," says he, "upon the generosity of this man, for + very soon I saw him approach, followed by the young people of + his tribe." He listened to the recital of the misfortune with + every sign of sympathy.</p> + + <p>"Oundo," said M. Garnier, "I expect that you will once more + show your well-tried friendship for the French people by + rendering me a great service. Do you think you can recover + these things for me?"</p> + + <p>"Oundo will try," replied the chief simply. He then + addressed his people and gave his commands. In a moment, and + with a loud cry of approbation and good-will, they dashed into + the water and swam out to the scene of disaster.</p> + + <p>It is a fine sight to see these natives of Oceanica, the + best swimmers in the world, darting under the water like bronze + tritons. They generally swim beneath the surface, coming up + from time to time to breathe, and shaking the water from their + thick curly hair. M. Garnier followed the natives on the log + that had served as a lifeboat, and to encourage them by example + undressed and threw himself into the water. The work commenced. + Twenty or thirty feet is not much of a dive for a South Sea + Islander. Every minute the divers brought up some object with a + shout of triumph. They were in their element, and so spiritedly + did they undertake the task that women, and even the children, + dived to the bottom and constantly brought up some small + object. The three guns of the men, their trappings, the heavy + box of zoological specimens, all the instruments, were brought + up in succession. Even the sole cooking-pot of the expedition + and the tin plates were recovered. The work occupied some six + hours. M. Garnier <span class="pagenum">[Pg_158]</span>thanked + the chief and his brave people, who when the work was finished + returned to their huts as quietly as they came. And this chief + was the man who had sold his daughter for a keg of brandy!</p> + + <p>Another chief, named Bourarte, the head of a great tribe + near Hienguène, deserves a few words. He was a chief of + very superior experience and intelligence. He had studied + civilization diligently, enjoyed the society of Europeans and + knew that his people were barbarians. His story is a most + touching one. He said: "I always loved the English. They + treated me as a chief, and paid me honestly for all they + received. One day I consented to go with them to their great + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_159]</span>city of Sydney. It was + there that I learned the weakness of my people. I was well + received everywhere, but I longed to return. It was with + pleasure that I saw again our mountains and heard the joyful + cries of welcome from my tribe. About that time your people + came. I paid little attention to them at first, but because one + of my men killed a Kanacka who was a protégé of + the missionaries there came a great ship (the Styx) into my + port. The captain sent for me. I went on board without fear, + but my confidence was betrayed. I was made a prisoner and + transported to Tahiti. It was six years before I saw my tribe + again: they had already mourned me as dead. I will tell you + what happened in my absence. My people prepared for vengeance: + the French were apprised of the fact. They came again. And as + my people, filled with curiosity, flocked to the shore, the + French fired their cannon into the crowd. My people were + frightened and fled into the woods. Your soldiers landed, and + for three days they burned our huts, destroyed our plantations + and cut down our cocoa trees. And all this time," added the old + chief with a heavy sigh, "I was a prisoner at Tahiti, braiding + baskets to gain a little food, and the grief that I suffered + whitened my head before the time."</p> + + <p>After a long pause, during which the old Bourarte seemed + lost in thought, he said, "It is true that my people revenged + themselves. They killed a good many, and among them one of your + chiefs. What is most strange about this war is, that three + English colonists, who lived peacefully among us by their + commerce and fishing, were taken by the French and shot. + Another Englishman, Captain Paddon, to whom I had sold many a + cargo of sandal-wood, on learning the fate of his compatriots, + fled on board a little boat with one Kanacka and a few + provisions, got out to sea, and, as I have been told, actually + gained the port of Sydney." This, it seems, is a historical + fact. It was a boat without a deck, and the distance is three + hundred and sixty marine miles!</p> + + <div class='figcenter'> + <a name='image019_jpg' + id="image019_jpg"></a> + <img alt='kanacka_family_traveling' + border='0' + src='images/019.jpg' + width='460' + height='300' /> + + <p class='center'>A KANACKA FAMILY TRAVELING.</p> + </div> + + <p>The result of the exploring mission of M. Garnier was not a + discovery of gold-mines, as so many had hoped. He is of the + opinion that gold deposits are scarce in the island. His report + of the natives is on the whole favorable, and confirms the + testimony of missionaries and others, that they are superior + savages, easily civilized and Christianized, but from some + cause or combination of causes fast dying out before the + advance of civilization. In some respects they are less rude + than other South Sea Islanders, but they treat their women in + much the same way. M. Garnier gives us a photograph of a New + Caledonia family on the road, the head of the family, a big, + stolid brute apparently, burdened only with his club, while his + wife staggers along under the combined load of sugar-canes, + yams, dried fishes and other provisions.</p> + + <p>A more revolting, but also, happily, a far rarer sight, was + that of a cannibal banquet, of which M. Garnier was a concealed + witness. The scene was a thicket in the wildest portion of the + country, and only the chiefs of the tribe, which had just + gained a victory over its enemies, took part in the feast. A + blazing fire threw its bright glare on a dozen figures seated + around huge banana-leaves, on which were spread the smoking + viands of the diabolical repast. A disgusting odor was wafted + toward the spot where our Frenchman and his companions lay + perdu, enchained by a horrible fascination which produced the + sensation of nightmare. Directly in front of them was an old + chief with long white beard and wrinkled skin, who gnawed a + head still covered with the singed hair. Thrusting a pointed + stick into the eye-sockets, he contrived to extract a portion + of the brain, afterward placing the skull in the hottest part + of the fire, and thus separating the bones to obtain a wider + aperture. The click of a trigger close to his ear recalled M. + Garnier to his senses, and arresting the arm of his sergeant, + who, excited to indignation, had brought his musket to his + shoulder, he hurried from a scene calculated, beyond all + others, to thrill the nerves and curdle the blood of a + civilized spectator.</p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg_160]</span> + + <h2><a name='an_american_girl_and_her_lovers' + id="an_american_girl_and_her_lovers"></a>AN AMERICAN GIRL + AND HER LOVERS.</h2> + + <p>In the spring of 1869 I was induced, for the sake of rest + and recreation, to take charge of a young American girl during + a tour in Europe. This young girl was Miss Helen St. Clair of + Detroit, Michigan. We two were by no means strangers. She had + been my pupil since the time when she was the prettiest little + creature that ever wore a scarlet hood. I have a little + picture, scarlet hood and all, that I would not exchange for + the most beautiful one that Greuze ever painted. Not that her + face bore any resemblance to the pictures of Greuze. It had + neither the sweet simplicity of the girl in "The Broken + Pitcher," nor the sentimental graces which he bestows on his + court beauties. It was an exceedingly piquant, animated face, + never at rest, always kindling, flashing, gleaming, whether + with sunlight or lightning. Her movements were quick and + darting, like those of a humming-bird. Her enunciation, though + perfectly distinct, was marvelously rapid. The same quickness + characterized her mental operations. Her conclusions, right or + wrong, were always instantaneous. Her prompt decisiveness, her + talent for mimicry and her witchery of grace and beauty won her + a devoted following of school-girls, to whom her tastes and + opinions were as authoritative as ever were those of + Eugénie to the ladies of her court. School-girls, like + college-boys, are very apt in nicknames, and Helen's was the + "Little Princess," which her pretty, imperious ways made + peculiarly appropriate.</p> + + <p>I do not know how her parents dared trust her to me for a + year beyond the sea, but they did. We set off in high + enthusiasm, and Helen was full of mirth and laughter till we + were fairly on board the steamer in New York harbor, when she + threw herself on her father's breast with a gesture of utter + abandonment that would have made the fortune of a + débutante on any stage in the world. It was so + unlooked-for that we all broke down, and Mr. St. Clair was + strongly inclined to take her home with him. But so sudden was + she in all her moods that his foot had scarcely touched the + shore before she was again radiant with anticipation.</p> + + <p>I will not linger on the pleasant summer travel, the Rhine + majesty, the Alpine glory. September saw us established in the + city of cities—Paris. Everywhere we had met throngs of + Americans. Neighbors from over the way in our own city greeted + us warmly in most unexpected places. But we had not crossed the + ocean merely to see our own countrymen. In Paris we were + determined to eschew hotels and pensions and to become the + inmates of a French home. Everybody told us this would be + impossible, but I find nothing so stimulating as the assertion + that a thing can't be done. Two weeks of eager inquiry, and we + were received into a family which could not have been more to + our wish if it had been created expressly for us. It was that + of Monsieur Le Fort, a professor in the Medical College, a + handsome elderly man with the bit of red ribbon coveted by + Frenchmen in his buttonhole. Madame Le Fort, a charming, + graceful woman midway between thirty and forty, and a pretty + daughter of seventeen, completed the family. With great + satisfaction we took possession of the pretty rooms, all white + and gold, that overlooked the Rond Point des Champs + Élysées.</p> + + <p>My little princess had found a prince in her own country, + and, considering the laws of attraction, his sudden appearance + in Paris ought not to have been a surprise to her. But, to his + discomfiture, and even anger, Helen refused to see him. She had + bidden him good-bye at home, she said; they would not be + married for three years, if they ever were: she was going to + devote herself to her music; and she did not wish to see him + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_161]</span>here. When he had + completed his studies and their engagement was announced (it + was only a mutual understanding now) there would be time enough + to see each other at home. Excellent reasoning! but a fortnight + later a tiny hand slipped between my eyes and the <i>Figaro</i> + a little note on which I read:</p> + + <div class='letter_1'> + <p>"DEAR FRED: I think I should like to say good-bye + again.</p> + + <p class='author'>Yours, + HELEN."</p> + </div> + + <p>The dark eyes looked half shyly, half coaxingly into + mine.</p> + + <p>"Well," said I, "Katrine will mail it for you."</p> + + <p>The next day I saw for the first time Mr. Frederic Denham. + He was tall and slender; with a sallow complexion, rather dull + gray eyes and black hair, by no means handsome, but + sufficiently well-looking to please a friendly eye. In his + manners there was a coldness and reserve which passed for + haughtiness. He was said to possess great talents and ambition, + and Helen had the fullest belief in his genius and success. Not + Goethe himself was a greater man in her eyes.</p> + + <p>I had frequent opportunities of seeing them together, for, + according to French ideas, nothing is more improper than to + leave a young man and woman a moment by themselves. Was it my + fancy that he seemed too much absorbed in himself, too little + sensible of the rare good-fortune which made him the favored + lover of the beautiful Miss St. Clair? It might be so, but + others shared it.</p> + + <p>"What ails the American?" asked Madame Le Fort. "Is it + possible that he is not in love with that fascinating young + creature? Or are all your countrymen so cold and inanimate? + Elle est ravissante, adorable! I cannot comprehend it."</p> + + <p>"Probably," I replied, "he has too much reserve and delicacy + to make a display of his feelings in the presence + strangers."</p> + + <p>But I was not satisfied. The more I watched them, the more I + perceived a lack of deference to her opinions and respect for + her judgment—an irritating assumption of superior wisdom, + as if he had worn the visible inscription, "I will accept + homage, but not suggestions. Offer incense and be content." + Would the little princess be content? I saw symptoms of + rebellion.</p> + + <p>"Do <i>you</i> think I am a little fool, Madame Fleming?" + she asked with heightened color and impetuous tone, turning + suddenly to me while they were conversing apart one + evening.</p> + + <p>November came, and we were launched on the full tide of + Parisian society. Mr. Denham had gone to Germany to complete + certain scientific studies, and he left his fair betrothed with + a parting injunction not to dance with any foreigner. As well + shut her up in a cell! Nowhere is there such a furore for + dancing as in Paris. Every family has its weekly reception, and + every card of invitation bears in the corner, "On dansera." + These receptions are the freest and gayest imaginable. Any + person who has the entrée of the house comes when he + feels inclined. Introductions are not indispensable as with us: + any gentleman may ask a lady to dance with him, whether he has + been formally presented or not, and it would be an affront to + decline except for a previous engagement. The company assemble + about ten, and often dance till three or four in the morning. + In any one house we see nearly the same people once a week for + the whole winter, and such frequent companionship gives a + feeling of intimacy. It is surprising how many French men and + French women have some special artistic talent, dramatic or + musical, and with what ready good-humor each contributes to the + entertainment of the rest. In every assembly, with all its + sparkle of youth and gayety, there is a background of mature + age; but though a card-room is generally open, it never seems + to draw many from the salons de danse.</p> + + <p>In these salons the little princess entered, at once upon + her royalty. Her dancing was the poetry of motion. She sang, + and the most brilliant men hung over her enraptured. "She was + like Adelina Patti," they said, "but of a more perfect and + delicate type of beauty. + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_162]</span>What wonderful eyes, with + the long thick lashes veiling Oriental depths of liquid light! + How the music trickled from her fingers, and poured from her + small throat like the delicious warble of a nightingale! What a + loss to art that her position precluded her from singing in the + opera! Not Malibran or Grisi ever had triumphs that would equal + hers." Eminent painters wished to make a study of her face. + Authors who had received the prizes of the Academy for grave + historical works sent her adulatory verses. "May + I—flirtation—wid you—loavely meess?" asked + one of "the immortal forty," displaying his English.</p> + + <p>It grew rather annoying. I was importuned with questions, + such as "Will you receive proposals of marriage for Miss St. + Clair?" "What is her dowry?" "Are you entrusted to find a + husband for her abroad?" I was tired of answering, "Miss St. + Clair will probably marry in her own country." "Her parents + would be very reluctant to consent to any foreign marriage." "I + cannot tell what Mr. St. Clair will give his daughter. It is + not the custom to give dowries with us, as with you."</p> + + <p>One evening we saw at Madame Le Fort's reception a young man + so distinguished in appearance that he was known as "le beau + Vergniaud." He was six feet in height and well made, with + abundant chestnut hair, dark hazel eyes, clearly-cut, regular + features, and a complexion needlessly fine for a man. From that + time he was invariably present, not only at Madame Le Fort's, + but wherever we went.</p> + + <p>One day Helen said to me, "I made a silly speech last + evening. I was dancing with M. Vergniaud, and we were talking + of that charming Madame de Launay. I said, 'I should think she + might be happy, having an elegant house in Paris, a + château in the country, and such a handsome husband so + devoted to her.' And he rejoined instantly, very low, 'My dear + Miss St. Clair, can I not give you all this?' It was not fair + to take advantage of me in that way."</p> + + <p>"What did you say?"</p> + + <p>"Oh, I laughed it off. I did not think he was in earnest, + but he spoke to me again before he went away."</p> + + <p>That afternoon Madame Le Fort came into my room with the + look of one who has something important to communicate. "I have + been wishing to see you," she said. "M. Vergniaud has taken me + into his confidence. He has formed a serious attachment to Miss + St. Clair, and wishes to make her his wife. It is a splendid + alliance," she continued, warming with her theme: "if he had + asked for my daughter I would give her to him blindfold. He + belongs to one of our old families. You should see his house on + the Avenue de Montaigne. Have you never seen him driving with + his superb horses in the Bois de Boulogne? He has an estate + with a fine old château in Touraine, a family + inheritance. His character and habits are unexceptionable too," + she added by way of parenthesis. "It is not often that you find + all that in a man of twenty-six. So handsome besides!"</p> + + <p>"True," said I, "but you forget Mr. Denham."</p> + + <p>"On the contrary, I remember him too well to conceive the + possibility of his being a rival to René Vergniaud."</p> + + <p>"But did you mention him to M. Vergniaud?"</p> + + <p>"Yes, and he was greatly disturbed at first, but when I told + him that he had no expectation of marrying for two or three + years to come, he laughed and said it was of no importance. M. + Vergniaud would like to be married in a few weeks, as is the + custom with us, but I suppose it will take longer to adjust the + preliminaries on account of her parents being across the + Atlantic. What dowry has my little jewel?" (The inevitable + question, always put with as much simplicity and directness as + if one were asking the time of day.)</p> + + <p>"I do not know," I replied. "It is so contrary to all our + notions. I do not think there is a man in America who in asking + a father for the hand of his daughter would inquire how much + money he was to have with her. It would be considered an + insult."</p> + + <p>"Perhaps Mr. St. Clair would prefer to + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_163]</span>settle an annuity on his + daughter. Is that the way the thing is managed in your + country?"</p> + + <p>"It is not managed at all. A man gives his daughter what he + likes, or he gives her nothing but her bridal outfit. It is + never a condition of the marriage."</p> + + <p>"How strange all that is! One can hardly believe it in + France. We set by a sum of money for Clarice's dowry almost as + soon as she was born, and it would be a hard necessity that + could compel us to diminish it by a single sou. If you would + like it, in a couple of days I can give you an exact inventory + of all M. Vergniaud's property and possessions. I could + guarantee that it will not vary twenty napoleons from the fact. + We do everything so systematically here."</p> + + <p>"Thanks! I think it will hardly be necessary. I do not know + that Helen likes him particularly."</p> + + <p>"Nobody admires that little paragon more than I—I + should be frantically in love with her if I were a + man—but she had better think twice before rejecting such + a <i>parti</i> as René Vergniaud, especially if she has + no dowry. You will surely not permit her to do so without + communicating with her father? He will understand her interests + better."</p> + + <p>"In this case I shall let her do just as she pleases, as her + father would if he were here."</p> + + <p>Madame Le Fort's look of amazed incredulity was truly + comical. What ought I to do? I queried. On the whole, I decided + to do the easiest thing—wait.</p> + + <p>The next day I was honored with a call from M. Vergniaud. He + believed that Madame Le Fort had spoken to me of his profound + attachment to the lovely Miss St. Clair—the most + passionate, the most devoted. Might he hope for my influence + with her father and mother? The matter of dowry was indifferent + to him: his income was sufficiently large, and, alas! he had no + parents to consult. Would I favor him with Mr. St. Clair's + address and a few words of introduction to him? He should be + under everlasting obligations to me, and if there was anything + he could do to show his gratitude, his appreciation—</p> + + <p>I interrupted these protestations: "I doubt if Mr. St. Clair + would consent to any marriage which would separate him from his + daughter, however advantageous it might be in other + respects."</p> + + <p>"My dear madame, who asks it? I have no business or + profession: we could easily spend a part of every year in + America if it were desirable."</p> + + <p>"That would certainly make it easier, but it will be better + to defer writing till we have some intimation of Miss St. + Clair's sentiments. Her father will be guided chiefly by her + inclination."</p> + + <p>"It is a nice country for young girls, America," said he + with a smile. "I shall do all that is possible to win Miss St. + Clair's favor, for life would be worthless without her." And he + bowed himself gracefully out.</p> + + <p>Is it possible that Helen will be indifferent to this young + Antinous? thought I. Poor Mr. Denham would have small chance + with me if I were in her place.</p> + + <p>An hour later the concierge sent up to me an exquisite + bouquet of violets and white camellias, with the card of + René Vergniaud and a folded note: "If Madame Fleming + does not think it improper, will she be so kind as to give + these flowers to my beautiful queen?"</p> + + <p>M. Vergniaud had asked Madame Le Fort's permission to call + on Miss St. Clair. "Certainly not," she replied. "I am + astounded at such presumption! But you may call to see + <i>me</i>. To-morrow evening we go to the opera, and Wednesday + to Madame Perier's, and Thursday is my reception, and Friday we + have tickets to <i>Phèdre</i> at the Français. + Saturday, then: it is the first evening we have free."</p> + + <p>We were all assembled in the salon as usual after dinner + when M. Vergniaud was announced. The little princess was + radiant. She had never been merrier in a school-girl frolic or + more ready with gibe and jest and laughter. She sang her best + songs, putting her whole soul into them—"Si tu savais + comme je l'aime." René Vergniaud was so dazed that he + came near bidding farewell to his senses for ever. He evidently + thought that all this brilliancy was for him, and was in such a + rapture of delight that he + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_164]</span>never noticed Madame Le + Fort's repeated glances at the clock, and was only roused by + the polite invitation to come <i>again</i>. He was not too + disconcerted to make a charming apology, like a true Parisian, + and tore himself away.</p> + + <p>Late as it was, as soon as we were in our own little parlor + I could not forbear saying, "I was surprised at you to-night, + Helen. How <i>could</i> you run on so? Madame Le Turc there, + too! and you know the young French girls never open their lips + to say more than 'Oui, monsieur'—'Non, monsieur,' to a + gentleman. What will M. Vergniaud think?"</p> + + <p>"I don't care what he thinks," flinging herself down on an + ottoman with her head in my lap; "but I <i>do</i> care what you + think, Madame Fleming. Did I behave so very badly? I didn't + mean to, but I was resolved he should not get a chance to talk + any nonsense to-night; and he <i>did</i>, after all. I hate + being made love to before a whole room full. I <i>had</i> to + laugh or else cry." And the little fairy dissolved in a shower + of tears, like another Undine.</p> + + <p>Another week went by. On Saturday afternoon Helen asked, + "Will you be so kind as to take me to the little Protestant + church beyond the Arc d'Étoile this evening, Madame + Fleming? I should like so much to hear that good M. + Bercier."</p> + + <p>"So should I. But you have not forgotten that M. Vergniaud + will be here."</p> + + <p>"I am under no obligation to entertain Madame Le Fort's + callers."</p> + + <p>"But you know, Helen, that he comes for your sake. It is + well for you to consider that the future Madame Vergniaud will + have in some respects a more brilliant position than perhaps + any man in our country could offer you."</p> + + <p>"I know all that, and I don't pretend to say that I should + not like it. I am ashamed of being so worldly, but to have a + superb establishment and all this charming Parisian society, + and give a grand ball whenever I liked, would be just paradise. + And to have it all in my grasp, and not be able to take it, is + too aggravating. It is so vexatious that the right man never + has the right things."</p> + + <p>We went to church. M. Vergniaud called, but recollected an + engagement which took him away early. Monday evening he dropped + in again just after dinner: "Do not let me derange you in the + least, je vous en prie, madame. I come early because I am + engaged to three balls to-night."</p> + + <p>Miss St. Clair could hardly have been more mute and + statue-like if she had been born and bred in France, where in + the presence of gentlemen young girls silently adhere to their + brilliant mothers, whose wit and grace and social tact make the + charm of the Parisian salons. Apparently, the French consider + that the combined attractions of youthful faces and sprightly + conversation would be too much for any man, and mercifully + divide the two. And this leaves them helpless before a little + American girl, laughing, talking, jesting, teasing, till, + bewildered by such a phenomenon, they are swept down so easily + that one is reminded of Attila's taunt to the Romans, "The + thicker the grass, the quicker it is mowed."</p> + + <p>This social etiquette was very irksome to my little firefly, + who seemed always opening and shutting her wings. In the course + of the evening M. Vergniaud slipped into her hand, unperceived + by any of us, a closed envelope with the whisper, "Put it in + your pocket. Do not let any one see you."</p> + + <p>She opened it deliberately: "M. Vergniaud is so kind as to + give me his photograph, Madame Fleming. Do you think it a good + likeness?"</p> + + <p>The mystery which French people are fond of attaching to + harmless trifles is inconceivable. One evening, in the earlier + part of our stay in Paris, a cousin of Miss St. Clair's, who + was in the same hotel with Mr. Denham, called on us, and when + he was taking leave she held out an unsealed note: "Will you + give this to Fred? Don't forget it."</p> + + <p>Madame Le Fort was thunderstruck: "Is it possible? Send a + note to a young gentleman right before Madame Fleming and all + of us!"</p> + + <p>"Why," said I, "do young people never write notes to each + other in France?" <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_165]</span> "Not + openly like that—little three-cornered notes to slip into + the hand while dancing."</p> + + <p>"This is the way to fold them," said Clarice, taking up a + small sheet of paper. "You see that will just fit into the + hollow of the hand, and nobody could ever see it."</p> + + <p>"I like our way much better. What is done openly is not half + so mischievous."</p> + + <p>"Nor half so interesting," rejoined Clarice.</p> + + <p>The nimble hours danced on, as they had a trick of doing in + Madame Le Fort's salon. "I am afraid you forget the three + balls, M. Vergniaud."</p> + + <p>"How can you be so cruel, mademoiselle? I shall only make my + compliments to the hostess and dance one set at each. I never + do more except when I come here."</p> + + <p>A few days later I asked Helen, "Have you made up your mind + what answer to give M. Vergniaud? He intends to write to your + father. He was speaking to me about it again to-day."</p> + + <p>"I won't have him writing to my father," she replied with + her wonted impetuosity. "I will not have my father worried + about nothing. It would be a month before I could set it + right."</p> + + <p>"He seems to be very much in love with you. He says he shall + be in despair, wretched for ever, if you reject him."</p> + + <p>"So they all say. I don't believe a word of it, and I can't + help it if they are. I can't marry more than one of them, and I + don't believe I shall ever marry anybody. I won't be persecuted + to death."</p> + + <p>The little princess was irritated. Something had evidently + gone wrong. It soon came out: "I had a letter from Fred this + morning—a very disagreeable letter."</p> + + <p>"Indeed! You have not yet answered it, I suppose."</p> + + <p>"No: he will have to write differently from that before he + gets any answer from me. I am not going to be lessoned and + scolded as if I were a little girl. Father never does it, and I + will not submit to it from <i>him</i>" After a pause: "He is + not so much to blame. It is that odious Mr. Wilkins, who keeps + writing to him how much attention I receive, and all that. As + if I could help it! Poor old Fred! We have known each other + ever since we were children."</p> + + <p>That explains it, I thought. "Helen, if you have decided to + say no to M. Vergniaud, the sooner you say it the better."</p> + + <p>"I have said it, and he doesn't mind it in the least. I wish + you would tell him: you always speak so that people know you + are in earnest and can't help believing you."</p> + + <p>"Very well, Helen. I will ask Madame Le Fort to tell him + that his suit is hopeless, and that he must not annoy you by + persisting in it."</p> + + <p>Early in February the Belgian ambassador, M. le comte de + Beyens, and Madame la comtesse, kindly took charge of Miss St. + Clair to the imperial ball at the Tuileries. She had never + looked more charming than in the exquisite costume of pale + rose-colored faille, with a floating mist of white tulle, + caught here and there by rosebuds that might have grown in + Chrimhild's garden. The airy figure, so graceful in every + motion, the well-poised head with its flutter of shining curls, + the wonderful dark eyes, the perfect eyebrows, the delicious + little mouth where love seemed to nestle—when she had + vanished "it seemed like the ceasing of exquisite music." + Madame la comtesse congratulated me on her appearance, and + afterward on her success. The emperor had distinguished her in + a very flattering manner, and Eugénie, looking earnestly + at her, said to the comtesse, "Nothing is so beautiful as + youth," perhaps beginning to regret her own. No one had made so + decided a sensation.</p> + + <p>At Madame Le Fort's next reception there was a sudden influx + of new guests—a young Belgian baron of old historic name, + slim and stiff as a poker; a brisk French viscount, who told me + that he had been connected with the embassy at Washington, and + had quite fallen in love with our institutions; an Italian + chevalier, a Russian prince.</p> + + <p>Ugliness has its compensations, thought I. Nobody makes such + a fuss over a <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_166]</span>pretty girl + at home (they are not so uncommon), and I will never bring one + to Paris again. Thank Heaven! we are going to Italy soon.</p> + + <p> </p> + + <p>The piercing Tramontane came down upon us in the Bay of + Naples with so fierce a blast that we doubted if we were not in + Iceland, and were glad to make our escape to Rome, where we + found an asylum in the Hôtel de Minerve, not far from the + Pantheon. Many of the old palaces and convents of Italy have + been transformed into hotels. This was the ancient palace of + the princes of Conti. I was so captivated by the superb + dining-room that the quality of the dinners made but a faint + impression. What! eat in the presence of all those marble + goddesses, looking down upon us, serene and cold, as if from + their thrones on the starry Olympus! Or if I turned my eyes + resolutely away from Juno, Ceres and Minerva, they were sure to + be snared by the dancing-girls of Pompeii stepping out from the + frescoed walls, or inextricably entangled in the lovely + garlands of fruit and flowers that wound their mazy way along + the borders.</p> + + <p>One evening, while we were waiting for one of the endless + courses of a table-d'hôte dinner, my wandering eyes were + caught by the most perfect human head I had ever seen. It + seemed that of the youthful Lord Byron, so well known in busts + and engravings—the same small head with high forehead and + clustering dark-brown curls, the perfectly-moulded chin, the + full, ripe beauty of the lips. The eyes were a deep blue, but I + thought them black at first, they were so darkly shaded by the + thick black lashes. I am convinced that Byron must have had + just such eyes, for some of his biographers describe them as + black and others as blue. When he rose from the table I saw a + slight, well-knit figure of exquisite proportions, like the + Greek god of love. (Not Cupid with his vulgar arrows, but the + true heavenly Eros. I saw him once in the Museum at Naples, and + again in the Vatican. Is it Love, or Death, or Immortality? I + queried, and then I knew it was the three in one.) I soon + learned that the youth whose ideal beauty had impressed me so + strongly was the Count Francisco de Alvala of Toledo in Spain. + I fancy that his eyes were as easily attracted to beauty as + mine, for the next day he was my <i>vis-à-vis</i> at + table; not for the sake of looking at me, I was well aware, but + on account of my beautiful neighbor. However, he sought my + acquaintance with the grave courtesy becoming a grandee of + Spain, and naturally gained that of Miss St. Clair also.</p> + + <p>It is the most natural thing in the world to make + acquaintances in Rome. People talk together of the things they + have seen or wish to see: they go to the same places by day, + and in the evening they meet in the ladies' parlor to compare + their impressions. The young count never failed to join us in + the evening. He had always something to show us—prints of + his home in Spain, articles of <i>virtù</i> that he had + bought, sketches that he had made, for he was a good amateur + artist.</p> + + <p>A group of young people of different nations generally + collected on these occasions, and the conversation often turned + on the usages peculiar to their respective countries.</p> + + <p>"In Spain I could not greet a lady with a simple + good-evening," said the count. "I should say, 'Permit the + humblest of your servants to lay himself at your feet,' or + something like that."</p> + + <p>"Why do you not say it to us?" asked a bright-eyed Canadian + girl.</p> + + <p>"Well, it might be a little awkward if you should happen to + take it literally. In Spain it is the merest commonplace."</p> + + <p>"If such exaggerated phrases are frittered into + commonplaces, and the most impassioned words grow meaningless, + what can a Spanish gentleman find to say when his heart is + really touched?" I inquired.</p> + + <p>"I fancy we should find some very simple words to say it + in," said the boy, flushing like a girl. "But I do not + know—I have never learned."</p> + + <p>"Talk some more," commanded the little princess.</p> + + <p>"If a pretty young lady is walking in our streets a mantle + is often flung suddenly <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_167]</span>in + her way, and proud and happy is its owner if she deigns to set + her dainty foot upon it."</p> + + <p>"What do they do that for? Because the streets are so + muddy?" inquired an obtuse young woman. But nobody volunteered + to enlighten her.</p> + + <p>"Cannot we go to Spain?" asked Miss St. Clair. "I should + like to see a modern Sir Walter Raleigh."</p> + + <p>"If the señorita should appear in our streets they + would be strewn with mantles," said the young count + gallantly.</p> + + <p>"Would you throw down yours for me to step upon?"</p> + + <p>"Surely, señorita."</p> + + <p>"I'll come, then. It must be of velvet, mind."</p> + + <p>"Yes, studded with jewels."</p> + + <p>I loved the beautiful youth. His presence was like a poem in + my life, and if it ever occurred to me that the familiar + intercourse of the young people might not be altogether + prudent, I dismissed it with the thought, He is only a boy.</p> + + <p>There was to be an illumination of the Coliseum. We were + going of course, and Count Alvala begged that I would honor him + by making use of his carriage on this occasion. "Thank you, but + I have already spoken to Piero to come for us."</p> + + <p>"Oh, but we can send him away. You will find my carriage + more comfortable, and it will be in every way pleasanter," he + urged beseechingly; but my negative was peremptory.</p> + + <p>Eight o'clock came. Miss St. Clair and I descended to the + court of the hotel, but where was Piero? "It is singular. He + was never late before, but I am confident that he will be here + presently. We have only to wait a little."</p> + + <p>The minutes went by, and they were long minutes. It was + awkward waiting in so public a place. The count had joined us + with his friend, an Italian marquis some thirty years of age, + with whom we had a slight acquaintance. The count's handsome + equipage was drawn up near us. There was no Piero.</p> + + <p>"I really think you had better accept my young friend's + carriage. It would be a pity to miss so grand a spectacle," + said the marquis.</p> + + <p>We entered the carriage. The count wrapped us in a + magnificent feather robe, such as the Montezumas wore, for the + April nights in Rome are chill, however hot the sunshine. It + was strange to see the Forum, ordinarily solitary and desolate, + now thronged with an eager multitude on foot and with numerous + open carriages, in which were seated ladies in full dress as at + the opera with us. Arriving at the Coliseum, we left the + carriage and passed through the huge portal. The gloomy arches + were obscurely seen in the dusky Roman twilight, when suddenly, + as if by magic, every arch and crevice of the gigantic ruin + glowed, incarnadined, as if dyed with the blood of the martyrs + that had drenched its soil. There were salvos of artillery, + bursts of military music and a few vivas from the multitude. A + brilliant spectacle, but the tender beauty of moonlight + harmonizes better with the solemnity of ruins.</p> + + <p>Rapt in the memories that the scene awakened, I paid little + attention to the monologue of my Italian friend, when I was + suddenly roused by the question, "Did you ever see a prettier + couple?"</p> + + <p>"Who?" I asked absently.</p> + + <p>"There," he rejoined, pointing to the count and Miss St. + Clair, who preceded us.</p> + + <p>"He is too young," I replied, but the question was asked so + significantly that it disturbed me a little, and I resolved to + be more cautious than heretofore.</p> + + <p>The next morning Piero appeared with his carriage to take us + to the Baths of Caracalla. He hoped madame did not lose the + illumination. He was wretched to disappoint madame: he begged a + thousand pardons. His little boy was taken violently ill: he + was forced to go for the doctor; madame was so good.</p> + + <p>The truth flashed upon me: "Piero, how much did the count + give you to stay away last night?"</p> + + <p>A gleam of humor twinkled in his black eyes, but it was + speedily quenched: "I do not understand what madame wishes to + say."</p> + + <p>It happened that a friend and country-woman at our hotel was + taken ill with typhoid fever, and amid the anxieties of + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_168]</span>her sick room the + incipient love-affair was almost forgotten. I no longer spent + the evenings in the parlor. One day Miss St. Clair showed me a + tiny satin bag beautifully embroidered, with a soft silken + chain to pass around the neck. "What can it be for?" she + asked.</p> + + <p>"Why, Helen, it is an amulet. Where did you get it?"</p> + + <p>"The count gave it to me. He had the loveliest set of + Byzantine mosaics and pearls which he wished to give me; and + when I would not accept them he seemed so hurt that I did not + like to refuse this trifle. What do you suppose is in it."</p> + + <p>"A relic of some saint, without doubt. He thinks it will + protect you from fever perhaps."</p> + + <p>Like most Americans, we were desirous of seeing the pope, + and Count Alvala obtained for us the necessary permission. We + were to be received on a Saturday at eleven. We went in the + prescribed costume, black silk, with the picturesque Roman veil + thrown over the head. From the foot of the Scala Regia, (Royal + Staircase) one of the papal guard, in a motley suit which + seemed one glare of black and yellow, escorted us to the door + of a long corridor, known as the Loggia of Raphael, where we + were received by a higher official in rich array of crimson + velvet. About seventy persons were seated in rows, facing each + other, along this gallery, nearly all laden with rosaries to be + blessed by the Holy Father. We waited till my neck ached with + looking up at the exquisite frescoes, fresh and tender in + coloring as if new from the hand of the master, when the pope + appeared, attended by a cardinal on each hand. We fell on our + knees instantly, but not till I had seen an old man's face so + sweet and venerable as to make this act of etiquette a + spontaneous homage. He passed slowly down the line, saying a + word or two to each, and extending his hand, white and soft + like a woman's, to be kissed.</p> + + <p>Pausing by the young count, who was kneeling beside me, he + said impressively, "Courage and faith have always been + attributes of the house of Alvala. Your fathers were good + children of the Church, and you, my son, will not be wanting in + any of the qualities of your race."</p> + + <p>When he had passed us we rose from our knees, and I could + observe him more closely. He wore a close-fitting white cap on + his finely-shaped head; a long robe of white woolen cloth + buttoned up in front, with a small cape of the same material; a + white sash, gold-embroidered at the end; a long gold chain + around his neck, to which was attached a large golden cross; a + seal ring on the third finger of his right hand; and red + slippers. Soft snowy locks fell from under the white skull-cap + over a noble forehead, which years and trials had left + unwrinkled. Black eyebrows and the soft dark eyes made a + pleasant contrast to the whiteness of hair and brow, and his + smile was so sweet and winning that I scarcely wondered to see + two Catholic ladies prostrate themselves and kiss his feet and + the hem of his white garment with a rapture of devotion from + which his attendants with difficulty rescued him. He lingered + longest by a pretty boy four or five years old, and there was a + pathos in the caressing, clinging touch of his hand as it + rested on the child's head that called to mind an old + love-story of the handsome Count Mastai Ferretti when he wore + the uniform of an officer of the guards, and had not yet + thought of priestly robe or papal crown. I wonder if he + remembers the fair English girl now?</p> + + <p>Having completed the round, he made a brief address, the + purport of which was that he was about to give us his blessing, + and he wished that it might be diffused to all our families and + friends, and be not for the present moment only, but extend + through our whole lives and abide with us in the hour of death; + "But remember," said he with a kind of paternal benignity, + "that the gates of paradise open rarely to any who are without + the communion of the Holy Catholic Church. Sometimes + perhaps—sometimes—but with great difficulty." He + extended his hands. We dropped on our knees and received the + blessing of this benign old man, whom the larger part of + Christendom revere as the earthly head of the Church. + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_169]</span> As we were making our way + through the stately columns of the colonnade which forms the + approach to the Vatican I saw the count glance at the amulet + which Helen wore. "What is in it?" I asked.</p> + + <p>"A relic of the blessed Saint Francis, my patron," he + replied.</p> + + <p>"It will lose its efficacy on the neck of a little heretic + like Miss St. Clair," said I with a purpose.</p> + + <p>"It will do her no harm," said he coldly.</p> + + <p>Monday I was at the table d'hôte the first time for a + week. I found the count seated next to Miss St. Clair. It was + very simple, she explained to me afterward. A lady occupied his + seat one day, and he came round to the only vacant one, which + happened to be next hers. I am a very guileless person, but I + think Vincenzo had an excellent reason for letting it happen. + Helen was on my left hand as usual, and the Italian marquis on + my right.</p> + + <p>"I am sorry for that boy," said he to me: "he is very + unhappy."</p> + + <p>"The young count? What is the matter?"</p> + + <p>"Don't you see? He is madly in love with your bewitching + little American. It is his first impression, and he takes it + hard. Well, he will have to learn like the rest of us."</p> + + <p>"I hope you are mistaken;" and I glanced uneasily at my + young neighbors, who were too much absorbed in their own + conversation to heed that between the marquis and myself.</p> + + <p>"That is impossible. He raves to me about her. It is very + pretty too—a perfect idyl, all poetry and + romance—eternal, unchangeable, and all that boyish + nonsense. We older men know better. But monsignore will be here + soon, and he will look after him."</p> + + <p>"Who is monsignore?"</p> + + <p>"The archbishop of Toledo, his guardian. He has been here, + but some diocesan matter called him home. He will be back anon, + and then the count will dine at home. As to that, he does now, + and delicious dinners they are, too. He only makes a pretence + of eating here, just to have a chance to see his little + divinity."</p> + + <p>"He was here when we came."</p> + + <p>"True, but only for a day or two while his house was put in + order. The house is well worth seeing—one of the finest + on the Corso. It is not open to strangers, but if you would + like to see it—"</p> + + <p>"Certainly not," I interrupted, a little irritably, the more + so from the consciousness of having been a somewhat careless + chaperone. I was coming sharply up to the line of duty now, at + all events.</p> + + <p>"Helen," said I when we rose from the dinner-table, "do not + go into the parlor now. Come into my room a little while, + please.—Well, Helen," I resumed when we were seated by + the pleasant window, "I have seen so little of you for a week + past that you must have a great deal to tell me."</p> + + <p>"I do not know," she replied. "I have been out every day + with the Glenns, just as you arranged for me, and I have been + in the parlor in the evenings, and sometimes I sang, and one + night there was a French gentleman—"</p> + + <p>"How about the young count? The Italian says he is very much + in love with you. Do you know it?"</p> + + <p>"He has told me so often enough, if that is knowing it," + with a quick, impatient toss of the small, graceful head.</p> + + <p>"Oh, Helen!" I cried in real distress, "and what did you say + to him?"</p> + + <p>"Why, what <i>could</i> I say in that great parlor, with + everybody looking on? I just hushed him up as well as I could. + There is the tall English girl and that sharp-eyed Miss + Donaldson, who are watching us the whole time. It is real mean + in them," excitedly. "And the count doesn't mind letting + everybody know how much he admires me. In fact, he is proud of + it, like one of the old knights, who used to wear their ladies' + favors as openly and proudly as they bore their knightly + banners."</p> + + <p>"This will never do, Helen. Don't you see that this boy is + not like the gay Frenchman that you danced with last winter? + René Vergniaud was a man of the world: he could take + care of himself. But this beautiful boy, with his intensity + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_170]</span>of feeling, his ideal + passionate love—You must not play with him," I exclaimed + vehemently.</p> + + <p>"I am not playing with him: I never do anything to make him + like me. He comes and talks to me, and I just make myself as + agreeable to him as I can, that is all."</p> + + <p>That is all, is it, you little mischief? thought I. As if + that were not the very refinement of coquetry! But I prudently + refrained from saying it, for a tempest of hot tears began to + fall, and she sobbed, "Oh, Madame Fleming, I did not think I + was going to forfeit your good opinion. What can I do? I can't + help his liking me. I like him too, and that makes me feel so + badly."</p> + + <p>"Do you like him better than Mr. Denham?"</p> + + <p>"Better than Fred?" in a tone of surprise. "Why no, of + course not: I have known Fred always."</p> + + <p>"The best thing will be to tell him of Mr. Denham."</p> + + <p>"Oh no, I never can."</p> + + <p>"<i>I</i> will, then."</p> + + <p>"Don't, I beseech you. We shall go away soon, and that will + be the end of it. Promise me you will not. I would rather tell + him myself if I ever have a chance."</p> + + <p>I looked in to see my invalid friend, and then descended to + the parlor, where I found the young count almost alone. He + looked up eagerly as I entered: "I thought Miss St. Clair was + with you. I have been waiting for her all the evening."</p> + + <p>"Indeed!"</p> + + <p>"I told her at table that I wished to see her particularly + this evening."</p> + + <p>"Perhaps she did not understand you."</p> + + <p>"Oh yes, she did. You would not let her come?" with a sudden + lighting up of the expressive face.</p> + + <p>"I did not forbid her coming: I did not know that you were + waiting for her."</p> + + <p>Then with sudden boyish candor and a happy smile on his + animated countenance "I thought you might have observed that I + come here so often because I like to talk with Miss St. Clair. + But you never can know how dearly I love her."</p> + + <p>"I am sorry."</p> + + <p>"Why?" with a naïve surprise.</p> + + <p>"She is older than you."</p> + + <p>"How old is she?"</p> + + <p>"She will be twenty in May."</p> + + <p>"And I am nineteen this very week. What is one poor little + year?—not a year," gleefully.</p> + + <p>"But the difference in religion?"</p> + + <p>"An obstacle, I grant, but not an insuperable one. My uncle + married an English lady, a Protestant, and they have been very + happy together."</p> + + <p>"But I think there is another man," I stammered, surprised + at finding my outposts carried so easily.</p> + + <p>"You do not mean to say that she is compromised with any + man?" almost fiercely.</p> + + <p>"I do not know what meaning you attach to that word," for + the count's imperfect French was not always intelligible. + "There is a young man, the son of a neighbor, who has admired + her a long time."</p> + + <p>"Oh, he admires her?" with a curl of the exquisite lips, as + if to say, "Who does not?"</p> + + <p>"But I think she may like him a little."</p> + + <p>"Why do you torture me so? Tell me at once that they are + betrothed," cried he, pale with concentrated anger.</p> + + <p>He thought she had trifled with him, I knew instantly, but + quietly said, "I cannot tell you exactly in what relation they + stand to each other, but I think Miss St. Clair would if she + found an opportunity to speak with you."</p> + + <p>"You do not know how I have tried to make opportunities. I + go everywhere, hoping to see you, and I have never met + you—not once. Won't you ask her to come down to-night?" + coaxingly, like a child.</p> + + <p>"Not to-night: it is too late."</p> + + <p>"I <i>must</i> see Miss St. Clair to-night."</p> + + <p>"Impossible."</p> + + <p>"I <i>must</i> see Miss St. Clair. Find out for me when I + can see her. I will go with you," in a white heat of passion. + (We had been alone for some little time.)</p> + + <p>I took the arm which he held out, not a little agitated by + the excess of emotion which thrilled and quivered through his + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_171]</span>youthful frame, as he + hurried me up the broad stone staircase and along the wide + corridors that led to our rooms. What business had I to meddle? + How should an old fogy like me know anything of the + love-affairs of this generation? The girl would have managed + more wisely than I, I reflected, by no means jubilant over the + result.</p> + + <p>"Wait here;" and I walked on to Miss St. Clair's door, + opened it, and there sat Helen in her pretty white wrapper, + bathed in the moonlight, serene as a star, as if there were no + passionate young heart breaking in waves of anguish at her + feet. "Helen, the count is in the corridor, and he will not go + till I have told him when you will see him."</p> + + <p>"How can I? You must think for me."</p> + + <p>A hasty consultation. The count was standing where I had + left him: "We shall be at the Sistine Chapel to-morrow at two + o'clock."</p> + + <p>He bowed and was gone.</p> + + <p>I did not sleep well that night. A pretty person I am to + take charge of a young girl! I wonder what Mr. St. Clair would + think if he knew I had made an appointment for his daughter to + meet a young Spaniard? On the way, however, I admonished Helen, + as if no misgiving of my own wisdom had ever crossed my mind: + "You must be firm with him. Tell him so decidedly that he + cannot doubt you really mean it."</p> + + <p>"Yes," said she, "but I do dread it so. I can't bear his + thinking that I encouraged him."</p> + + <p>"Then you <i>did</i>?"</p> + + <p>"I didn't mean to, but I do like him; and I didn't think of + his taking it so to heart. Men are so strange! You think you + have a charming friend, and then they <i>will</i> go on just + so, boys and all, and you have to take them or lose them; and + you can't take them. It is too bad!"</p> + + <p>We were at the door. The keeper opened it, and there stood + the count waiting for us. It was not the first time we had been + in the wonderful chapel. Fortunately, there were very few + persons there on this afternoon—none that we knew. I sat + down to look at the grand frescoes: Helen and the count walked + on to the farthest corner. I looked at the Cumæan Sibyl, + the impersonation of age and wisdom, and wished, as I glanced + at the youthful figures talking so earnestly in the distance, + but not a murmur of whose voices reached my ear, that she would + impart to me her far-reaching vision of futurity. I gazed on + the image of the Eternal Father sweeping in majestic flight + through the air, bearing the angels on His floating garment as + He divides the light from the darkness. I saw Adam, glad with + new life, rising from the earth, because the outstretched + finger of his Creator gave him a conscious strength. I looked + at "The Last Judgment," grown dim with years, till every figure + started out in intensity of life, and it seemed as if the faces + would haunt me for ever.</p> + + <p>And yonder still progressed the old, ever-new drama of love + and anguish, with its two actors, who seemed scarcely to have + changed their position or taken their eyes from each other. At + length they walked slowly toward me with more serenity of + aspect than I had dared to hope.</p> + + <p>"Shall we go into the picture-gallery?" asked the count.</p> + + <p>"I think we may have time to walk through it," I answered. + "It is half-past three."</p> + + <p>"Is it possible that we have kept you waiting so long?" they + asked simultaneously.</p> + + <p>"An hour and a half is a short time in a place like the + Sistine Chapel," I remarked sententiously.</p> + + <p>As soon as we were alone I drew Helen to the confessional: + "Did you tell him about Mr. Denham?"</p> + + <p>"Yes, everything, and he was so noble. I am so sorry. The + tears stood in his eyes, and he said, 'I suffer, but I am a + man. I can bear it.' Then he thanked me for dealing so openly + with him. He never once hinted a reproach. And I deserved it," + she said with unwonted humility. "I never felt before how + wicked it is to flirt just a little. He is not selfish, like + some people that I know;" and my thought followed hers. "I + don't <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_172]</span>know but I am a + little goose to let him go so. If he were only twenty-three + years old, and I were free—"</p> + + <p>The next day we saw nothing of the count, but early Thursday + morning Vincenzo knocked at my door with a note, in which Count + Alvala informed me that he was my son, and begged earnestly to + see the beautiful Miss St. Clair once more: he would never + trouble me again. It was the only day on which we could see the + Palace of the Cæsars, and would I be so good as to permit + him to meet us there? I hastily penciled a few words: "I am + waiting for Dr. Valery. I shall probably stay with my sick + friend to-day, and Miss St. Clair will not go out without me," + and sent the line by Vincenzo, happy to be rid of the + importunate boy for this time.</p> + + <p>Two hours later, when the doctor had pronounced my friend + better, and I had promised Helen a walk amid the ruins of the + Palatine, which I did not like to leave Rome without seeing, I + went down to the roll, coffee and eggs which constitute an + Italian breakfast, and there sat the count as vigilant as a + sentinel. "You will go?" said he with a smile.</p> + + <p>"I think we may," curtly.</p> + + <p>"I shall perhaps meet you there."</p> + + <p>When we reached the Farnese gate he was waiting there, which + made the "perhaps" superfluous. We had a long ramble over the + lonely hill, stretching out like a green New England pasture, + but where from time to time we came unexpectedly upon flights + of steps which led to massive substructures of stone, + foundations of ancient palaces, and to excavated halls paved + with mosaics and lined with frescoes more beautiful than those + of Pompeii. There were many statues, more or less mutilated, + and stately brick arches laden with a wealth of flowering + shrubs, and here and there thickets of tall dark cypress trees, + harmonious with ruins. My young companions were rather silent, + but I fancy their thoughts were not engrossed with old historic + lore. I made a conscientious effort to force mine into the ruts + of association which I had supposed to be inevitable in such a + spot, but the bright sunshine, the delicate blue of the distant + Campagna, the living gladness of earth and air were too strong + for me, and I inwardly applauded a lively American girl who + interrupted her droning guide with the incisive "I don't care a + snap for Cæsar."</p> + + <p>On reaching the gate after our three hours' ramble I + consigned Miss St. Clair to some friends who were waiting for + her, and stepped into the count's carriage. He seemed to feel + bound in honor not to speak of love to Miss St. Clair since the + revelation of the Sistine Chapel, but he must have a little + solace in talking to me about it. "It would be easy," said he, + "if she were not <i>fiancée</i>, but that makes it + difficult—very difficult indeed. I am glad it is not + going to be for three years: that is a long time, a very long + time." Then, with a sudden illumination of face and a delicious + intonation of the musical voice, "Perhaps they will never + marry: perhaps it will be another man—I." (Blessed + infatuation of youth, with its wonderful <i>perhapses</i>, + which never come to maturer years!)</p> + + <p>"One of these years I shall hope to hear that you are + married to a beautiful lady of your own country and your own + religion."</p> + + <p>"You never will."</p> + + <p>"Oh yes, you will be astonished to find how easy it is to + forget."</p> + + <p>"I come of a constant race," said he proudly. "My father + loved my mother, and they sent him all over the world to forget + her, but he came home in five years and married her."</p> + + <p>"Even if it were otherwise possible (which it is not), the + difference in religion ought to prevent it. How could so good a + Catholic as you distress your family by marrying a + heretic?"</p> + + <p>"Perhaps she would be a Catholic." (I noticed that he did + not say, "Perhaps I shall become a Protestant.") "Don't you + think her father would let her marry a Catholic?"</p> + + <p>"No," I replied stoically.</p> + + <p>He was silent and dejected.</p> + + <p>"You must forget her," said I kindly. "It is only a little + while since you first saw her."</p> + + <p>"A little while! It is my whole life!" + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_173]</span>"Only a few weeks," I + continued. "We shall soon be across the ocean, and you will see + other ladies."</p> + + <p>"There is only one Miss St. Clair."</p> + + <p>"I beg your pardon—there are three of them." But the + boy was too miserable to notice this poor little sally.</p> + + <p>We were approaching the hotel. "I shall not see you again at + present," said he. "Monsignore will arrive this evening, and I + must be at home to receive him. But I shall be in Paris by the + middle of May, and I shall see you there: farewell till + then."</p> + + <p>The next morning Miss St. Clair and I were on our way to + Florence. A week later, on our return from the convent of San + Marco, where we had seen the cell of Savonarola and many lovely + but faded frescoes of Fra Angelico and Fra Bartolommeo, whom + should we find waiting for us in our temporary home on the Via + Pandolfini but Count Alvala? I felt annoyed, and my face must + have revealed it, for he said deprecatingly, "You ought to be + glad to see your boy, Madame Fleming, for I have come this long + journey only for a day, expressly to see you."</p> + + <p>"Well," said I, "you took me so by surprise that I had not + my welcome ready. I did not expect the pleasure of seeing you + till after our arrival in Paris."</p> + + <p>"That is why I am here. I shall not be able to go to Paris. + I am bitterly disappointed, but monsignore has made other plans + for me. I am to go to Vienna to visit my aunt, whose husband is + our ambassador there. The tour to Paris is postponed till the + autumn."</p> + + <p>Evidently monsignore had heard of the little heretic maiden, + and he was going to remove his ward from temptation. I was + infinitely obliged to him.</p> + + <p>A desultory conversation followed, carried on principally by + the young people, and then the count said, "Miss St. Clair + tells me that you have visited the Uffizi and Pitti galleries. + May I not go with you somewhere to-morrow?—to La Certose + or San Miniato, for instance?"</p> + + <p>"Thank you," I replied: "we are so exhausted with + sight-seeing, Miss St. Clair and I, that we shall stay in all + day to-morrow, and we shall be happy to see you <i>once</i> in + the afternoon or evening, as may be most convenient for + you."</p> + + <p>I did not like to be hard and cross to the dear boy whom my + heart yearned over, but I felt as much bound to "make an + effort" as if I had been a veritable Dombey.</p> + + <p>The call lasted afternoon <i>and</i> evening: it was only + the change of a particle. I could not reproduce the innocent + talk, half gay, half sad, of this long interview, but before he + went away the count drew me aside: "Will you give this to Miss + St. Clair when I am gone?"</p> + + <p>I unfolded the package: it contained a photograph of himself + and a small painting which he had executed of the Coliseum on + the night of the illumination. "Yes."</p> + + <p>"And will you send me her photograph from Paris? I will have + it copied by the best miniature-painter in Rome and put in a + locket set with diamonds," said the boy enthusiastically.</p> + + <p>"I cannot promise."</p> + + <p>"Do you think I could be of any use to her father? Not to + win his favor, you understand, but I should be so happy to do + anything to serve her or her friends. Can't you tell me + now?"</p> + + <p>"No. Mr. St. Clair does not need assistance in any way that + I know."</p> + + <p>In spite of the boy's earnestness, the idea of his offering + patronage to the mature and independent American struck me as + irresistibly ludicrous.</p> + + <p>"But you will tell him all about me."</p> + + <p>"Yes."</p> + + <p>"I shall learn to speak English—I have begun + already—and in a year I shall be in America. Will you + write your address for me on this card?"</p> + + <p>I did so.</p> + + <p>"If you ever come to Spain, remember that my house and all + that is in it are yours."</p> + + <p>"I shall never go to Spain."</p> + + <p>"Perhaps you will one day to see Miss St. Clair," looking up + in my face with a bright smile of inextinguishable hope. + "Good-bye for a year."</p> + + <p>A few more days in Florence, a week in Venice, a day or two + in Milan, and <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_174]</span>we bade + adieu to Italy. Land of beauty and mystery! when I recall thy + many forms of loveliness, the glorious shapes of gods and + heroes, serene and passionless in their white majesty of + marble, the blessed sweetness of saints and Madonnas shining + down into my soul, I seem to have been once in heaven and + afterward shut out.</p> + + <p> </p> + + <p>We were once more at home. Almost the first news that came + to us from abroad was of the terrible war between France and + Germany. During the protracted siege of Paris we were full of + anxieties, but at its close we received long letters from + Madame Le Fort, giving many details of the sufferings and + privations of the siege, sorrowful enough for the most part, + but enlivened here and there with touches of the gay French + humor that nothing can subdue. There was a lively sketch of a + Christmas dinner ingeniously got up of several courses of + donkey-meat. At New Year's the choicest gift that a gentleman + could make a lady was a piece of wheaten bread. Afterward there + was nothing in the house but rice and chocolate bonbons, which + they chewed sparingly, a little at a time. But they kept up + their courage—they were even gay. Hardships were nothing, + but that Paris should be surrendered at last—that was a + humiliation which nothing could compensate. Many of the gay + dancers whom we had known had fallen in battle, among them, + René Vergniaud. He was shot in the heart in an + engagement with the Prussians in the environs of Paris.</p> + + <p>I spent my next summer vacation with Miss St. Clair in + Detroit.</p> + + <p>"When is Mr. Denham coming home?" I asked one evening when + we were alone together.</p> + + <p>"I do not know: he does not speak of coming home. I am a + little puzzled about Fred. He has written me a great deal + lately about a certain Fräulein Teresa, the daughter of + one of his professors, who takes such excellent care of her + younger brothers and sisters, and who is such a wonderfully + economical, housewifely little body—just a new edition of + Werther's Charlotte. I do not think that he really likes her," + she continued after musing a little: "he just holds her up as a + model for me to copy. I shouldn't wonder if she was only + imaginary, to make me feel how far I come short of his ideal. + Fred says that he worships the very ground I tread + on—slightly hyperbolical and very original, you + perceive," with a satirical curve of her pretty lips—"but + he never seems half satisfied with me. He ought to know by this + time that I must be just my own little self, and not a + second-hand imitation of somebody else."</p> + + <p>The next day came a letter with a German postmark, which was + so eloquent on the subject of Fräulein Teresa that it + elicited the following reply:</p> + + <div class='letter_1'> + <p class='address'>"DETROIT, August 5, 1871.</p> + + <p>"DEAR FRED: I despair of emulating Fräulein Teresa's + many excellencies. You know what a useless little thing I + am. Happily, it is not too late to make another choice. + Thinking it may please you, I hereby release you from all + your promises to me. We may never be anything more to each + other perhaps, but I hope that we shall always be dear + friends. I shall never forget that we grew up together, and + I wish you all possible happiness.</p> + + <p class='author'>"Your little friend, + HELEN."</p> + </div> + + <p>In due time this answer came:</p> + + <div class='letter_1'> + <p class='address'>"HEIDELBERG, August 27, 1871.</p> + + <p>"MISS ST. CLAIR: Your somewhat singular letter of August + 5th was duly received. If I believed that you had written + it, or ever could or would do anything, with proper + deliberation, I should accept your decision at once. But as + I have good reason to know your habit of acting from sudden + impulses which you afterward regret, I give you three + months to reconsider this hasty step.</p> + + <p>"I have the honor to be your obedient servant,</p> + + <p class='author'>"F. A. DENHAM."</p> + </div> + + <p>Helen held to me the open sheet, with kindling eyes and + glowing cheeks: "Three months! I don't need three minutes: I + wouldn't change in three centuries. I am so glad to be free!" + she cried, <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_175]</span>sobbing and + laughing at the same moment. "He has worried me so—a poor + little thing like me!"</p> + + <p>The next morning I started on my return to Boston.</p> + + <p>Early in October a servant handed me a card bearing the name + Francisco Alvala. I had ceased to think of the boy, not having + heard a word from him; but here he was, looking very manly, + browned with the sun and sea, and beautiful as Endymion when + Diana stooped to kiss him and all the green leaves in the white + moonshine were tremulous with sympathy.</p> + + <p>After the first greeting he asked, "How is Miss St. Clair? + and when did you see her last?"</p> + + <p>I told him of my recent visit.</p> + + <p>"She is not married, then?"</p> + + <p>"On the contrary, she is free. The engagement with Mr. + Denham has been broken."</p> + + <p>"What did I tell you? Did I not say it would be <i>I</i>?" + in a burst of triumph.</p> + + <p>As a good Boston woman I am chagrined to record that Bunker + Hill and all the local lions, which I was at some pains to + impress on his memory, did not prove so attractive as the + earliest Western train.</p> + + <p>Why make a long story of what every one foresees? In the + course of the autumn and winter the count made flying visits to + Washington, Philadelphia, New Orleans, and even San Francisco, + but it was noticeable that the way to all these places lay + through Detroit. He spoke English marvelously well now, and so + won upon the hearts of Mr. and Mrs. St. Clair that on the 23d + of April, being his twenty-first birthday, the marriage of the + conde de Alvala and Helen St. Clair was duly celebrated. I + could not leave my school to be present at the wedding, but the + young couple came to Boston to take leave of me before sailing + for Europe. They were radiant with happiness, and I could + hardly tell which I loved best, my boy or my girl; but if the + Italian had been there to ask if I ever saw a more beautiful + couple, I should have answered no with great emphasis.</p> + + <p>I will copy Helen's first letter in order to prove that a + château en Espagne is not always a castle in the air:</p> + + <div class='letter_1'> + <p class='address'>"ALVALA, near Toledo, June 20, 1872.</p> + + <p>"DEAR MADAME FLEMING: You have heard from mother of our + voyage and safe arrival. We are now at home, Francisco and + I, if I can ever learn to feel at home in such a grand + place, where I can hardly find my way round. It is like one + of the old palaces at Rome, the Borghese or Colonna, that + we used to admire so much, with vast halls opening into one + another, hangings of tapestry and Cordovan leather, marble + statues and old paintings—family portraits by Titian + and Velasquez, one or two Murillos, and—but I cannot + write a catalogue. You must come to see us and the + pictures. I am not sure which you will like the best. + Francisco is very good to me, and so are all his friends. + His sister and her husband were here to welcome us.</p> + + <p>"One of the first things we did was to go down the + rose-tree walk, along the banks of the Tagus, for more than + a mile—white and delicate pink and deep-red roses + blossoming above our heads and dropping their petals at our + feet all the way. Francisco said he would make my life like + that walk among the roses, all sweetness and beauty, but + that he cannot tell.</p> + + <p>"There is the old cathedral, with a wonderful head of + Saint Francis and a whole forest of columns; and when you + come we will bribe the sacristan not to lock you in, as + they did at St. Roch. I shall never be a Roman Catholic, + but I go to mass sometimes, for there is no Protestant + service here, and one cannot be quite a heathen where + everybody is so devout. What I dislike most is to have a + chaplain in the house, walking about in his black + petticoat, but of course I never say a word to + Francisco.</p> + + <p>"By and by we are going to our house in Madrid. <i>Our + house in Madrid</i>! does not that sound very strange? It + all seems so unreal that I am afraid of waking up and + finding it a dream.</p> + + <p>"Do, dear Madame Fleming, give up slaving in that old + school and come and + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_176]</span>live with Francisco + and me. He says he wishes you would, and it would make + everything seem more real if I had you here. Think of it, + now. You will, won't you? As ever, your dear child,</p> + + <p class='author'>"HELEN ALVALA."</p> + </div> + + <p>This true story suggests a little sermon in two heads: 1st. + To all possible and probable lovers: It was not the count's + rank or wealth, but the fervor and constancy of ideal love and + his whole-souled, exclusive devotion, that won the heart of the + American girl. 2d. To all sensible American parents: Do not + permit your pretty young daughters to make a tour in Europe + unless you are willing to leave them there.</p> + + <p class='author'>MARY E. BLAIR.</p> + + <h2><a name='japanese_marriage_in_high_life' + id='japanese_marriage_in_high_life'></a> A JAPANESE MARRIAGE + IN HIGH LIFE.</h2> + + <p>In describing a Japanese marriage in high life we do not + intend to soar <i>too</i> high. It is not for our alien pen to + portray the splendors of such a marriage as that of the + princess of Satsuma to Iyesada, the thirteenth Shô-gun of + the Tokugawa dynasty, when all Yedo was festal and illuminated + for a week. Neither shall we describe that of the imperial + princess Kazu, the younger sister of the Mikado, who came up + from Kioto to wed the young Shô-gun Iyemochi, and thus to + unite the sacred blood of twenty-five centuries of imperial + succession with that of the Tokugawas, the proud family that + ruled Japan, and dictated even to her emperors, for two hundred + and fifty years. We leave the description of those royal + nuptials to other pens. Ours aspires only to describe a + marriage such as has happened in old Yedo for the thousandth + time in the samurai class—the gentry of Japan.</p> + + <p>Were you with us in Tokio (the new name of the capital of + Japan) we should take you, were you inclined to go, to the + place where once stood the mansion of Yamashiro Kan, a high + retainer of the prince of Echizen, and a lineal descendant of + the great Iyeyasu, the founder of the dynasty of the + Shô-guns. Were you to seek for Yamashiro's mansion now, + you would not find it, but instead several very vulgar + evidences of the Western civilization which is now changing the + Land of the Gods into a paradise of beef, bread, butter, milk + and machinery. We walked past the old mansion-grounds a few + days ago, and lo! we saw a milk-shop and dairy, a butcher's + stall, a sewing-machine store, a printing-office, a school in + which Japanese boys were learning A, B, C's, a photographer's + "studio," a barber-shop with an English sign, and a score or + more Japanese shops of all kinds. This is of to-day. Five years + ago a long wall of diamond-shaped tiles laid in white cement + extended round the spacious grounds of the homestead of the + Yamashiro family. Inside were fish-ponds, mimic hills, + miniature mountain-scenery, dense flower-bushes, dwarfed + arboreal wonders, solemn shade trees and a garden laid out + according to the very best Japanese style. The fine old + <i>yashiki</i> of Yamashiro, with its porter's lodge, stone + path, entrance-porch, vestibule and the family homestead, was + within. No wonder, then, that the aged man, who firmly believes + that Japan is going to the dogs, the devil or the + foreigners—he does not know which—shakes his head + as he now passes by the milk-and butcher-shops, around which + the lazy dogs sleep or wait for bones, and sighs as he + remembers the grand old mansion.</p> + + <p>About two miles farther north, in the great <i>rus urba</i> + of Yedo, was another house of humbler pretensions, and yet one + with a gate and garden of dimensions betokening the residence + of a man <span class="pagenum">[Pg_177]</span>of rank. It was + the home of Nakayama, one of the eighty thousand + <i>hatamoto</i> (vassals) of the Shô-gun, a studious + gentleman whose greatest pride was in his two sons and his only + daughter. The former were not only manly and expert in the use + of the sword and spear, but had the best education that the + classics of Confucius and the Chinese college and literati in + Yedo could give them. Next to them in his love was his only + daughter Kiku, seventeen years old, and as fair as the fairest + of Yedo's many fair daughters. No vain doll was Kiku, but, + inheriting her mother's beauty, she added to it the inner grace + of a meek and dutiful spirit. Besides being deft at household + duties, her memory was well stored with the knowledge of + Japanese history and the Chinese classics. She had committed to + memory the entire books of the <i>Woman's Great Learning</i>, + and had read carefully five other works on etiquette and morals + which her father had presented to her on successive birthdays. + Kiku was a remarkably well-educated maiden, and would have been + a prize for the richest daimio in the empire.</p> + + <p>Faithfully following Japanese etiquette, Kiku had been + carefully kept from the company of any of the male sex since + her eighth year. She never talked with any young man except her + brothers. Occasionally at family parties she was addressed by + her uncles or cousins. Sometimes, when gentlemen called to see + her father, Kiku would bring tea to the guest, and was thus + made the subject of compliments; but as to "receiving" male + company, she never did it. Kiku never went out unless + accompanied by her mother or the maid, who was like her + shadow.</p> + + <p>The gods of Japan meet together at the great temples in Ise + during the eleventh month and tie all the nuptial knots for the + following year. Kiku's marriage-knot had been tied by the gods + six months before she even suspected the strings had been + crossed. How happened it?</p> + + <p>In Japan only the people in the lower classes are acquainted + with and see each other frequently before marriage. The + business of selection, betrothal and marriage is attended to by + the parents or friends of the pair, who carry on negotiations + by means of a third factor, a middleman or go-between. Children + are often betrothed at birth or when on their nurses' backs + (there are no cradles in Japan). Of course the natural results, + mutual dislike and severance of the engagement at mature age, + or love and happy marriage, or marriage, mutual dislike and + subsequent divorce, happen, as the case may be. In general, + when the parents make the betrothal of grown-up children, it is + not probable that the feelings of son or daughter are outraged, + or that marriages are forced against the consent of either, + though this does sometimes take place. In Asiatic countries, + where obedience to parents is the first and last duty, and in + which no higher religion than filial obedience exists, the + betrothal and marriage of children is not looked upon as + anything strange. The prevalence of concubinage as a recognized + institution in Japan makes it of no serious importance whether + the husband loves his wife or not.</p> + + <p>To tell an ordinary Japanese that in America people often + marry against their parents' consent is to puzzle him, and make + him believe Carlyle's saying about Americans without having + heard it. If a man who marries against his parents' wish is not + a triple-dyed ingrate, he must be a downright fool. Beyond this + idea the normal Japanese cannot go; and you might as well try + to make a blind man understand that "celestial rosy red" was + "Love's proper hue" as to convince him that a good man ever + marries against his parents' wishes. Such ideas and practices + are convincing evidences to him of the vast moral inferiority + of Western nations when compared with that of the people + descended from the gods.</p> + + <p>Resuming our narrative, we must mention that Kiku's father + had once had an offer from one Matsui, a wealthy retainer of + the Wakasa clan, through that young nobleman's middleman or + agent, which he refused, to the disgust of both middleman and + suitor. The latter had seen Kiku walking with her mother while + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_178]</span>going to the temple at + Shiba, and, being struck with her beauty, inquired who she was. + Having come of age and wishing a wife, he had sued for Kiku to + her father, who, for reasons of his own, refused the request, + on the ground that Kiku was too young, being then but fifteen + years old. The truth was, that the Wakasa samurai was a wild + young fellow, and bore a reputation for riotous living that did + not promise to make him a proper life-companion for Nakayama's + refined and cultured daughter. Between Nakayama, Kiku's father, + and Yamashiro, the retainer of the Echizen clan, whose home we + spoke of in the opening of our sketch, had long existed a warm + friendship and a mutual high regard. Yamashiro, though more + fond of society and good living than Nakayama, was + nevertheless, like him, a high-spirited and well-read man. He + had four children, two sons and two daughters. The oldest son, + named Taro, was now twenty years old, of manly figure, diligent + in study, and had lately acted as a high page, attending daily + upon the person of Hitotsu-bashi, the then reigning + Shô-gun, and the last of his line that held or will hold + regal power in Japan. Taro, being the oldest son of his father, + was the heir to his house, office, rank and revenue. Taro + wanted a wife. He wished to taste the sweets of love and wedded + joy. He had long thought of Kiku. Of course he asked his + father, and his father "was willing." He told Taro to go to + Nakayama's house. Taro went. He talked to Nakayama, and hinted + faint compliments of his daughter. It was enough. Nakayama was + keen of scent, and he also "was willing." Clapping his hands, + the maid-servant appeared and falling down and bowing her head + to the floor, listened: "Make some tea, and tell Miss Kiku to + serve it."</p> + + <p>Had you been in the back rooms of that house, you would have + seen Kiku blush as the maid told her who was in the front room + and what her father had said. Her heart beat furiously, and the + carnation of health upon her cheeks was lost in the hot blushes + that mantled her face and beautiful neck when her mother, + reproving her, said, "Why, dear child, don't be excited: + perhaps he has come only on some every-day business, after all. + Be composed, and get ready to take in the tea."</p> + + <p>Nevertheless, Kiku took out her metal mirror while the maid + made the tea, smoothed a pretended stray hair, powdered her + neck slightly, drew her robe more tightly around her waist, + adjusted her girdle, which did not need any adjusting, and + then, taking up the tray, containing a tiny tea-pot, a half + dozen upturned cups, and as many brass sockets for them, + hastened into the front room, bowed with her face on her hands + to the floor, and then handed cups of tea to her parent and his + guest. This done, she returned to her mother. Whether Taro + looked at Kiku's cheeks or into her glittering black eyes we + leave even a foreign reader to judge.</p> + + <p>Let it not be thought, however, that a single word relating + to marriage in the concrete passed between the two men: no such + breach of etiquette was committed. The visit over, the two + friends parted as friends, and nothing more, either in fact or + in visible prospect.</p> + + <p>But, to be brief, not long afterward, Taro, having selected + a trusty friend, sent him as a go-between to ask of Nakayama + the hand of his daughter in marriage. The proposal was + accepted, and when the go-between came the second time to + Kiku's home it was in company with two servants bearing + bundles. These, being opened, were found to contain a + splendidly embroidered girdle, such as Japanese ladies wear, + about twelve feet long and a foot wide when doubled; a robe of + the finest white silk from the famous looms of Kanazawa; five + or six pieces of silk not made up; several kegs of + <i>saké</i> or rice-beer; dried fish, soy, etc. These + were for the bride-elect. For her father was a sword with a + richly mounted hilt and lacquered scabbard, hung with silken + cords. The blade alone of the sword was worth (it isn't polite + to speak of the cost of presents, but we will let you into the + secret, good reader) one hundred dollars, and had been made in + Sagami from the finest native steel. + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_179]</span>Kiku's mother was + presented with a rich robe, which she recognized at once as + being woven of the famous Derva silk. The ceremonious reception + of these presents by the parents signified that the betrothal + was solemnly ratified, and that the engagement could not be + broken. Nakayama, the intended father-in-law, afterward sent to + Taro a present of a jar of the finest tea from his own + plantation in Shimosa, a pair of swords, and a piece of satin, + such as that of which the <i>hakama</i> or trousers which + indicate the rank of the samurai are made.</p> + + <p>The betrothal was now published in both families, and in + both houses there were festivities, rejoicing and + congratulation. The marriage-day, a fortunate or good-omened + one, was fixed upon as the twenty-seventh from the day of + betrothal.</p> + + <p>Was Kiku happy? Nay, you should ask, Can that word express + her feelings? She had obeyed her parents: she could do nothing + higher or more fraught with happiness. She was to be a + wife—woman's highest honor and a Japanese woman's only + aim. She was to marry a noble by name, nature and achievement, + with health, family, wealth and honor. Kiku lived in a new + world of anticipation and of vision, the gate of which the + Japanese call <i>iro</i>, and we <i>love</i>. At times, as she + tried on for the twentieth time her white silk robe and costly + girdle, she fell into a reverie, half sad and half joyful. She + thought of leaving her mother alone with no daughter, and then + Kiku's bright eyes dimmed and her bosom heaved. Then she + thought of living in a new home, in a new house, with new + faces. What if her mother-in-law should be severe or jealous? + Kiku's cheek paled. What if Taro should achieve some great + exploit, and she share his joy as did the honorable women of + old? What if his former position of beloved page to the + Shô-gun should give her occasional access to the highest + ladies in the land, the female courtiers of the castle? Her + eyes flashed.</p> + + <p>The wedding-night came, seeming to descend out of the starry + heavens from the gods. Marriages rarely take place in the + daytime in Japan. The solemn and joyful hour of evening, + usually about nine o'clock, is the time for marriage—as + it often is for burial—in Japan. In the starlight of a + June evening the bride set forth on her journey to her intended + husband's home, as is the invariable custom. Her toilet + finished, she stepped out of her childhood's home to take her + place in the <i>norimono</i> or palanquin which, borne on the + shoulders of four men, was to convey her to her future + home.</p> + + <p>Just as Kiku stands in the vestibule of her father's house + let us photograph her for you. A slender maiden of seventeen, + with cheeks of carnation; eyes that shine under lids not so + broadly open as the Caucasian maiden's, but black and + sparkling; very small hands with tapering fingers, and very + small feet encased in white mitten-socks; her black hair glossy + as polished jet, dressed in the style betokening virginity, and + decked with a garland of blossoms. Her robe of pure white silk + folds over her bosom from right to left, and is bound at the + waist by the gold-embroidered girdle, which is supported by a + lesser band of scarlet silken crape, and is tied into huge + loops behind. The skirt of the dress sweeps in a trail. Her + under-dress is of the finest and softest white silk. In her + hands she carries a half-moon-shaped cap or veil of floss silk. + Its use we shall see hereafter. She salutes her cousin, who, + clad in ceremonial dress with his ever-present two swords, is + waiting to accompany her in addition to her family servants and + bearers, and steps into the norimono.</p> + + <p>The four bearers, the servants and the samurai pass down + along the beautiful Kanda River, whose waters mirror the stars, + and whose depths of shade re-echo to the gurgling of sculls, + the rolling of ripples and the songs of revelers. The + cortége enters one of the gate-towers of the old + city-walls, passes beneath the shade of its ponderous + copper-clad portals, and soon arrives at the main entrance of + the Yamashiro <i>yashiki</i>. Here they find the street in + front and the stone walk covered with matting, and a + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_180]</span>friend of Taro's, in full + dress, waiting to receive the cortége. Of course the + gazers of the neighborhood are waiting respectfully in crowds + to catch a glimpse of the coming bride.</p> + + <p>The go-between and a few friends of the bridegroom come out + to receive the bride and deliver her to her own servant and two + of her own young maiden friends, who had gone before to the + Yamashiro mansion. The room in which the families of the bride + and groom and their immediate friends are waiting, though + guiltless of "furniture," as all Japanese rooms are, is yet + resplendent with gilt-paper screens, bronzes, tiny lacquered + tables and the Japanese nuptial emblems. On the wall hang three + pictured scrolls of the gods of Long Life, of Wealth and of + Happiness. On a little low table stands a dwarf pine tree, + bifurcated, and beneath it are an old man and an old woman. + Long life, a green old age, changeless constancy of love and + the union of two hearts are symbolized by this evergreen. In + the <i>tokonoma</i> (or large raised recess) of the room are + the preparations for the feast, the wine-service consisting of + kettles, decanters and cups. On two other tables are a pair of + white storks and a fringed tortoise. All through the rooms + gorgeously painted wax candles burn. The air of the apartment + is heavy with perfume from the censer, a representation in + bronze of an ancient hero riding upon a bullock. All the guests + are seated <i>à la Japonaise</i>—upon the floor. + Two or three young ladies, the bridesmaids, go out to meet the + bride and lead her to her dressing-room. Here she finds her own + property, which has been brought to her future home during the + day. Toilet-stands and cabinets and the ceremonial towel-rack + are prominently displayed. On a tall clothes-horse of gilt + lacquer are hung her silk robes and the other articles of her + wardrobe, which are bridal gifts. Over the doorway, in a gilt + rack, glitters the long spear or halberd to the dexterous use + of which all Japanese ladies of good family are trained. In a + box of finest wood, shining with lacquer and adorned with her + family crest, are the silk sleeping-dresses and coverlets, + which are to be spread, as all Japanese beds are, on the floor. + The articles above mentioned constitute the trousseau of a + Japanese bride.</p> + + <p>Here Kiku rearranges her dress, retouches her lower lip with + golden paint and puts on her hood of floss silk. This is of a + half-moon shape, completely covering her face. She does not + lift it until she has drunk the sacramental marriage-cup. Many + a Japanese maiden has seen her lord for the first time as she + lifted her silken hood. Kiku is all ready, and she and the + groom are led into the room where the ceremony is to be + performed, and assigned their positions.</p> + + <p>With a Japanese marriage neither religion nor the Church has + anything to do. At the wedding no robed priest appears + officially among the guests. The marriage is simply a civil and + social contract. In place of our bans is the acceptance of the + suitor's presents by the family of the sought, the announced + betrothal and intimation of the marriage to the police of the + ward. In place of our answer, "Yes," is the sacramental + drinking of wine. We may say "wine," because we are talking of + high life, and must use high words. <i>Saké</i>, the + universal spirituous beverage of Japan, is made from fermented + rice, and hence is properly rice-beer. It looks like pale + sherry, and has a taste which is peculiarly its own. Sweet + saké is very delicious, and it may be bought in all the + degrees of strength and of all flavors and prices. As the + Japanese always drink their wine hot, a copper kettle for + heating saké is a necessity in every household. On + ceremonial occasions, such as marriages, the + saké-kettles are of the costliest and handsomest kind, + being beautifully lacquered. Bride and groom being ready, the + wine-kettles, cups and two bottles are handed down. Two pretty + servant-maids now bring in a hot kettle of wine and fill the + bottles. To one bottle is fastened by a silken cord a male + butterfly, and to the other a female. The two girls also are + called "male" and "female" butterflies. The girl having the + female butterfly pours out some saké in the kettle, into + which the girl with the male + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_181]</span>butterfly also pours the + contents of her bottle, so that the wine from both bottles thus + flows together. Then the saké is poured again into + another gilt-and-lacquered bottle of different shape.</p> + + <p>Now the real ceremony begins. On a little stand three cups, + each slightly concave and having an under-rest or foot about + half an inch high, are set one upon another, like a pagoda. The + stand with this three-storied arrangement is handed to the + bride. Holding it in both hands while the saké is poured + into it by the male butterfly, the bride lifts the cup, sips + from it three times, and the tower of cups is then passed to + the bridegroom and refilled. He likewise drinks three times, + and puts the empty cup under the third. The bride again sips + thrice from the upper cup. The groom does the same, and places + the empty cup beneath the second. Again the bride sips three + times, and the bridegroom does the same, and they are man and + wife: they are married. This ceremony is called san-san-ku-do, + or "three times three are nine."</p> + + <p>Like a wedding at once auspicious and + <i>distingué</i>, the nuptials of Kiku and Taro passed + off without one misstep or incident of ill omen. In the + dressing-room and in the hall of ceremony Kiku's self-possessed + demeanor was admired by all. After drinking the sacramental + wine she lifted her silken hood, not too swiftly or nervously, + and smiled blushingly on her lord. The marriage ceremony over, + both bride and groom retired to their respective + dressing-rooms. Kiku exchanged her white dress for one of more + elaborate design and of a lavender color. The groom, removing + his stiffly-starched ceremonial robes, appeared in ordinary + dress. Meanwhile refreshments had been served to all the + bridesmaids and, maid-servants. Husband and wife now took their + seats again, and the whole company joined in the supper, during + which apparently innumerable courses were served. Neither ices, + oranges nor black-cake appeared on the table at Kiku's wedding. + The bill of fare contained many decidedly recherché + items which it requires a Japanese palate thoroughly to + appreciate. Let us enumerate a few. There were salmon from + Hakodate, tea from Uji, young rice from Higo, pheasants' eggs, + fried cuttle-fish, <i>tai, koi, maguro</i> and many another + sort of toothsome fish from the market at Nihon Bashi. There + were sea-weed of various sorts and from many coasts, bean-curd, + many kinds of fish-soups, condiments of various flavors, eggs + in every style and shellfish of every shape. A huge + maguro-fish, thinly sliced, but perfectly raw, was the + <i>pièce de résistance</i> of the feast. + Sweetmeats, candies of the sort known to the Japanese + confectioners and castera (sponge-cake) crowned the + courses.</p> + + <p>Now, having briefly described Kiku's wedding, perhaps we + should stop here. Although fairly married, however, Kiku was + not through the ceremonies of the night. Before her own parents + left the house she was taken by the attendant ladies before her + parents-in-law, and with them drank cups of wine and exchanged + gifts. All the bridal presents were displayed during the + evening in her dressing-room, and the whole of her trousseau + was open to the inspection of all the ladies present. Feasting + and dancing were the order of the hours until midnight, and + then Kiku's parents bade her farewell, and she was left a bride + in a new home.</p> + + <p>"Where did the young couple go?" "What was the route of + their bridal-tour?" "Perhaps they made a late wedding-journey?" + "Of course Japan has many fine watering-places to which married + couples resort?" These are American questions. The fashion of + making bridal-tours is not Japanese. Many a lovely spot might + serve for such a purpose in everywhere beautiful Japan. The + lake and mountains of Hakone; the peerless scenery, trees, + waterfalls and tombs of Nikko, where sleeps the mighty Iyeyasu, + the founder of the Tokugawa line; the spas of Atami,—all + these are spots which if in America would be thronged with + bridal-parties. Caucasians in Japan even make Fusiyama's summit + the goal of their wedded steps, but our Kiku and Taro went + nowhere.</p> + + <p>"At home" for three days is the general + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_182]</span>rule in Japan. All their + friends came to see them, and presents were showered on the + happy pair. The great Shô-gun, remembering his former + page, sent Taro a present of a flawless ball of pure + rock-crystal five inches in diameter. Prince Echizen, his + feudal lord, presented him with a splendid saddle with gilt + flaps and a pair of steel stirrups inlaid with gold and silver + and bronze, with the crest of the Echizen clan glittering in + silver upon it. From his own father he received a jet-black + horse brought from the province of Nambu, and an equine + descendant of the Arab sire presented by the viceroy of India + to the Japanese embassy to the pope in 1589. On the delightful + wonders of the gifts to Kiku our masculine pen shrinks from + expatiating. On the third day after her marriage Kiku visited + her parents, and after that spent many days in returning the + visits of all who had called on her.</p> + + <p>Now, like the "goosie gander" of nursery memory, we must + wander again into the lady's chamber. Were you to wander to + such a place after a Japanese maiden became a wife, you would + see, as we have often seen, how the outward form of a Japanese + maiden assumes that of a Japanese matron. First, then, the + maiden wears a high coiffure that always serves as a sacred + symbol of her virginity. It is not easy to describe its form, + but even foreigners think it very beautiful, and will regret + the day when the Japanese <i>musume</i> wears her hair like her + sisters across the ocean. Indeed, it would be no strange thing + were Queen Fashion to ordain that American maidens should adopt + the style of dressing the hair now in universal vogue in Japan. + The <i>shimada</i> or virginal coiffure, however, is changed + after marriage, and Kiku, like the rest of her wedded friends, + now wore the <i>maru-mage</i>, or half-moon-shaped chignon, + which is wound round an ivory, tortoise-shell or coral-tipped + bar, and is the distinguishing mark of a Japanese wife. So far, + however, the transition from loveliness to ugliness has not + been very startling: Kiku still looked pretty. The second + process, however, robbed her of her eyebrows, and left her + without those dark arches that had helped to make the radiant + sun of her once maidenly beauty. With tweezers and razor the + fell work, after many a wince, was done. With denuded brows and + changed coiffure surely the Japanese Hymen demands no more + sacrifices at his shrine? Surely Kiku can still keep the + treasures of a set of teeth that seem like a casket of pearls + with borders of coral? Not so. The fashion of all good society + from remotest antiquity demands that the teeth of a wife must + be dyed black. Kiku joyfully applied the galls and iron, and by + patience and dint of polishing soon had a set of teeth as black + as jet and as polished as the best Whitby. Not strange to tell + to a Japanese, either, the smile of her husband Taro was a rich + reward for her trouble and the surrender of her maiden charms. + Japanese husbands never kiss their wives: kissing is an art + unknown in Japan. It is even doubtful whether the language has + a word signifying a kiss. No wonder Young Japan wishes to + change his language for the English! Henceforth in public or + private, alone or in company, Kiku's personal and social safety + was as secure as if clothed in armor of proof and attended by + an army. The black teeth, <i>maru-mage</i> and shaven eyebrows + constitute a talisman of safety in a land which foreigners so + like to believe licentious and corrupt beyond the bounds of + conception.</p> + + <p>Now that we have Kiku married, we must leave her to glide + into the cool, sequestered paths of a Japanese married lady's + life. Only one thing we regret, and that is that her marriage + could not have happened in the year of our Lord 1874 and of + "Enlightened Peace the seventh, and of the era of Jimmu, the + first Mikado, the two thousand five hundred and thirty-fourth." + Had she been married during the present year, her coiffure + would need no alteration, her eyebrows would still knit with + care or arch with mirth, and her teeth would still keep their + virgin whiteness, unsoiled by astringent galls or abhorred + vitriol.</p> + + <p>The leader of feminine fashion in Japan, the young empress + Haruko, has <span class="pagenum">[Pg_183]</span>set her + subjects the example by for ever banishing the galls and iron, + appearing even in public with her teeth as Nature made them. + Kiku and Taro, though once proud to own allegiance to the + Shô-gun, are now among the staunch supporters of the lord + of the Shô-gun, the Mikado, the only true sovereign of + the Sunrise Kingdom.</p> + + <p class='author'>W.E. GRIFFIS.</p> + + <h2><a name='the_lost_baby' + id='the_lost_baby'></a>THE LOST BABY.</h2> + + <div class='poem_1'> + <div class='stanza'> + <p>She wandered off one dismal day;</p> + + <p>No one was by to bid her stay:</p> + + <p>The earth was white, the sky was gray,</p> + + <p>When the poor little baby wandered away.</p> + </div> + + <div class='stanza'> + <p>The sun went down with crimson crown</p> + + <p>Behind the clouds and the tree-tops brown:</p> + + <p>The cold road stared with a colder frown</p> + + <p>When the poor little feet went wandering down.</p> + </div> + + <div class='stanza'> + <p>Her mother lived up in the shining sky,</p> + + <p>Thought poor little baby, wondering why,</p> + + <p>As hours and days and weeks went by,</p> + + <p>She never came down at her baby's cry.</p> + </div> + + <div class='stanza'> + <p>If the crimson wave in the west led true,</p> + + <p>The skyward road she surely knew:</p> + + <p>She heeded not that the sharp winds blew,</p> + + <p>Or her cold little feet sore tired grew.</p> + </div> + + <div class='stanza'> + <p>She hummed some broken baby song,</p> + + <p>And talked to herself as she trudged along:</p> + + <p>She feared no failure, recked no wrong,</p> + + <p>But she thought that the way was lone and long.</p> + </div> + + <div class='stanza'> + <p>Tired and cold, she lingered to rest</p> + + <p>Under a snow-drift's treacherous crest:</p> + + <p>She cuddled herself in a tiny nest,</p> + + <p>White and cold as her mother's breast.</p> + </div> + + <div class='stanza'> + <p>They found her there on the snowy ground,</p> + + <p>Her silky hair with snowflakes crowned.</p> + + <p>She made no sign, she breathed no sound,</p> + + <p>But the skyward road she had surely found.</p> + </div> + + <p class='author'>CLARA G. DOLLIVER.</p> + </div> + + <h2>THREE FEATHERS.</h2> + + <h4>BY WILLIAM BLACK, AUTHOR OF "A PRINCESS OF THULE."</h4> + + <h3><a name='chapter_xxiii' + id='chapter_xxiii'></a>CHAPTER + XXIII. SOME OLD SONGS.</h3> + + <p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg_184]</span>"Are you dreaming + again, child?" said Mrs. Rosewarne to her daughter. "You are + not a fit companion for a sick woman, who is herself dull + enough. Why do you always look so sad when you look at the sea, + Wenna?"</p> + + <p>The wan-faced, beautiful-eyed woman lay on a sofa, a book + beside her. She had been chatting in a bright, rapid, desultory + fashion about the book and a dozen other things—amusing + herself really by a continual stream of playful + talk—until she perceived that the girl's fancies were far + away. Then she stopped suddenly, with this expression of + petulant but good-natured disappointment.</p> + + <p>"Oh, I beg your pardon, mother," said Wenna, who was seated + at an open window fronting the bay. "What did you say? Why does + the sea make one sad? I don't know. One feels less at home here + than out on the rocks at Eglosilyan: perhaps that is it. Or the + place is so beautiful that it almost makes you cry. I don't + know."</p> + + <p>And indeed Penzance Bay on this still, clear morning was + beautiful enough to attract wistful eyes and call up vague and + distant fancies. The cloudless sky was intensely dark in its + blue: one had a notion that the unseen sun was overhead and + shining vertically down. The still plain of water—so + clear that the shingle could be seen through it a long way + out—had no decisive color, but the fishing smacks lying + out there were jet-black points in the bewildering glare. The + sunlight did not seem to be in the sky, in the air or on the + sea; but when you turned to the southern arm of the bay, where + the low line of green hills ran out into the water, there you + could see the strong clear light shining—shining on the + green fields and on the sharp black lines of hedges, on that + bit of gray old town with its cottage-gardens and its sea-wall, + and on the line of dark rock that formed the point of the + promontory. On the other side of the bay the eye followed the + curve of the level shores until it caught sight of St. + Michael's Mount rising palely from the water, its sunlit grays + and purple shadows softened by the cool distance. Then beyond + that again, on the verge of the far horizon, lay the long and + narrow line of the Lizard, half lost in a silver haze. For the + rest, a cool wind went this way and that through Mrs. + Rosewarne's room, stirring the curtains. There was an odor of + the sea in the air. It was a day for dreaming perhaps, but not + for the gloom begotten of languor and an indolent pulse.</p> + + <p>"Oh, mother! oh, mother!" Wenna cried suddenly, with a quick + flush of color to her cheeks, "do you know who is coming along? + Can you see? It is Mr. Trelyon, and he is looking at all the + houses: I know he is looking for us."</p> + + <p>"Child! child!" said the mother. "How should Mr. Trelyon + know we are here?"</p> + + <p>"Because I told him," Wenna said simply and hurriedly. + "Mother, may I wave a handkerchief to him? Won't you come and + see him? he seems so much more manly in this strange place; and + how brave and handsome he looks!"</p> + + <p>"Wenna!" her mother said severely.</p> + + <p>The girl did not wave a handkerchief, it is true, but she + knelt down at the open bay-window, so that he must needs see + her; and sure enough he did. Off went his hat in a minute, a + bright look of recognition leapt to his eyes, and he crossed + the street.</p> + + <p>Then Wenna turned, all in a flutter of delight, and quite + unconscious of the color in her face: "Are you vexed, mother? + Mayn't I be glad to see him? Why, when I know that he will + brighten up your spirits better than a dozen doctors? One feels + quite happy and hopeful whenever he comes into the + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_185]</span>room. Mother, you won't + have to complain of dullness if Mr. Trelyon comes to see you. + And why doesn't the girl send him up at once?"</p> + + <p>Wenna was standing at the open door to receive him when he + came up stairs: she had wholly forgotten the embarrassment of + their last parting.</p> + + <p>"I thought I should find you out," he said when he came into + the room, and it was clear that there was little embarrassment + about him; "and I know how your mother likes to be teased and + worried. You've got a nice place here, Mrs. Rosewarne; and what + splendid weather you've brought with you!"</p> + + <p>"Yes," said Wenna, her whole face lit up with a shy + gladness, "haven't we? And did you ever see the bay looking + more beautiful? It is enough to make you laugh and clap your + hands out of mere delight to see everything so lovely and + fresh."</p> + + <p>"A few minutes ago I thought you were nearly crying over + it," said the mother with a smile, but Miss Wenna took no heed + of the reproof. She would have Mr. Trelyon help himself to a + tumbler of claret and water. She fetched out from some + mysterious lodging-house recess an ornamented tin can of + biscuits. She accused herself of being the dullest companion in + the world, and indirectly hinted that he might have pity on her + mamma and stay to luncheon with them.</p> + + <p>"Well, it's very odd," he said, telling a lie with great + simplicity of purpose, "but I had arranged to drive to the + Land's End for luncheon—to the inn there, you know. I + suppose it wouldn't—Do you think, Mrs. + Rosewarne—would it be convenient for you to come for a + drive so far?"</p> + + <p>"Oh, it would be the very best thing in the world for + her—nothing could be better," said Wenna; and then she + added meekly, "if it is not giving you too much trouble, Mr. + Trelyon."</p> + + <p>He laughed: "Trouble! I'm glad to be of use to anybody; and + in this case I shall have all the pleasure on my side. Well, + I'm off now to see about the horses. If I come for you in half + an hour, will that do?"</p> + + <p>As soon as he had left Mrs. Rosewarne turned to her daughter + and said to her, gravely enough, "Wenna, one has seldom to talk + to you about the proprieties, but really this seems just a + little doubtful. Mr. Trelyon may make a friend of + you—that is all very well, for you are going to marry a + friend of his—but you ought not to expect him to + associate with me."</p> + + <p>"Mother," said Wenna with hot cheeks, "I wonder how you can + suspect him of thinking of such foolish and wicked things. Why, + he is the very last man in all the world to do anything that is + mean and unkind, or to think about it."</p> + + <p>"My dear child, I suspect him of nothing," Mrs. Rosewarne + said; "but look at the simple facts of the case. Mr. Trelyon is + a very rich gentleman; his family is an old one, greatly + honored about here; and if he is so recklessly kind as to offer + his acquaintanceship to persons who are altogether in a + different sphere of life, we should take care not to abuse his + kindness or to let people have occasion to wonder at him. + Looking at your marriage and future station, it is perhaps more + permissible with you; but as regards myself, I don't very much + care, Wenna, to have Mr. Trelyon coming about the house."</p> + + <p>"Why, mother, I—I am surprised at you!" Wenna said + warmly. "You judge of him by the contemptible things that other + people might say of him. Do you think he would care for that? + Mr. Trelyon is a man, and like a man he has the courage to + choose such friends as he likes; and it is no more to him what + money they have or what their position is than the—than + the shape of their pocket-handkerchiefs is. Perhaps that is his + folly, recklessness—the recklessness of a young man. + Perhaps it is. I am not old enough to know how people alter, + but I hope I shall never see Mr. Trelyon alter in this + respect—never, if he were to live for a hundred years. + And—and I am surprised to hear you, of all people, + mother, suggest such things of him. What has he done that you + should think so meanly of him?"</p> + + <p>Wenna was very indignant and hurt. She would have continued + further, but <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_186]</span>that a + tremulous movement of her under lip caused her to turn away her + head.</p> + + <p>"Well, Wenna, you needn't cry about it," her mother said + gently. "It is of no great consequence. Of course every one + must please himself in choosing his friends; and I quite admit + that Mr. Trelyon is not likely to be hindered by anything that + any person may say. Don't take it so much to heart, child: go + and get on your things, and get back some of the cheerfulness + you had while he was here. I will say this for the young man, + that he has an extraordinary power of raising your + spirits."</p> + + <p>"You are a good mother, after all," said Wenna penitently; + "and if you come and let me dress you prettily, I shall promise + not to scold you again—not till the next time you deserve + it."</p> + + <p>By the time they drove away from Penzance the forenoon had + softened into more beautiful colors. There was a paler blue in + the sky and on the sea, and millions of yellow stars twinkled + on the ripples. A faint haze had fallen over the bright green + hills lying on the south of the bay.</p> + + <p>"Life looks worth having on such a day as this," Trelyon + said: "doesn't it, Miss Wenna?"</p> + + <p>She certainly seemed pleased enough. She drank in the sweet + fresh air; she called attention to the pure rare colors of the + sea and the green uplands, the coolness of the woods through + which they drove, the profuse abundance of wild flowers along + the banks; all things around her seemed to have conspired to + yield her delight, and a great happiness shone in her eyes. Mr. + Trelyon talked mostly to Mrs. Rosewarne, but his eyes rarely + wandered away for long from Wenna's pleased and radiant face; + and again and again he said to himself, "And if a simple drive + on a spring morning can give this child so great a delight, it + is not the last that she and I shall have together."</p> + + <p>"Mrs. Rosewarne," said he, "I think your daughter has as + much need of a holiday as anybody. I don't believe there's a + woman or girl in the county works as hard as she does."</p> + + <p>"I don't know whether she needs it," said Miss Wenna of + herself, "but I know that she enjoys it."</p> + + <p>"I know what you'd enjoy a good deal better than merely + getting out of sight of your own door for a week or two," said + he. "Wouldn't you like to get clear away from England for six + months, and go wandering about in all sorts of fine places? + Why, I could take such a trip in that time! I should like to + see what you'd say to some of the old Dutch towns and their + churches, and all that; then Cologne, you know, and a sail up + the Rhine to Mainz; then you'd go on to Bâle and Geneva, + and we'd get you a fine big carriage, with the horses decorated + with foxes' and pheasants' tails, to drive you to Chamounix. + Then, when you had gone tremulously over the Mer de Glace, and + kept your wits about you going down the Mauvais Pas, I don't + think you could do better than go on to the Italian + lakes—you never saw anything like them, I'll be + bound—and Naples and Florence. Would you come back by the + Tyrol, and have a turn at Zurich and Lucerne, with a long + ramble through the Black Forest in a trap resembling a + ramshackle landau?"</p> + + <p>"Thank you," said Wenna very cheerfully. "The sketch is + delightful, but I am pretty comfortable where I am."</p> + + <p>"But this can't last," said he.</p> + + <p>"And neither can my holidays," she answered.</p> + + <p>"Oh, but they ought to," he retorted vehemently. "You have + not half enough amusement in your life: that's my opinion. You + slave too much for all those folks about Eglosilyan and their + dozens of children. Why, you don't get anything out of life as + you ought to. What have you to look forward to? Only the same + ceaseless round of working for other people. Don't you think + you might let some one else have a turn at that useful but + monotonous occupation?"</p> + + <p>"But Wenna has something else to look forward to now," her + mother reminded him gently; and after that he did not speak for + some while.</p> + + <p>Fair and blue was the sea that shone all around the land + when they got out <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_187]</span>on the + rough moorland near the coast. They drove to the solitary + little inn perched over the steep cliffs, and here the horses + were put up and luncheon ordered. Would Mrs. Rosewarne venture + down to the great rocks at the promontory? No, she would rather + stay indoors till the young people returned; and so these two + went along the grassy path themselves.</p> + + <p>They clambered down the slopes, and went out among the huge + blocks of weather-worn granite, many of which were brilliant + with gray, green and orange lichens. There was a low and + thunderous noise in the air: far below them, calm and fine as + the day was, the summer sea dashed and roared into gigantic + caverns, while the white foam floated out again on the troubled + waves. Could anything have been more magical than the colors of + the sea—its luminous greens, its rich purples, its + brilliant blues, lying in long swaths on the apparently + motionless surface? It was only the seething white beneath + their feet and the hoarse thunder along the coast that told of + the force of this summer-like sea; and for the rest the picture + was light and calm and beautiful; but there the black rocks + basked in the sunlight, the big skarts standing here and there + on their ledges, not moving a feather. A small steamer was + slowly making for the island farther out, where a lighthouse + stood. And far away beyond these, on the remote horizon, the + Scilly Isles lay like a low bank of yellow fog under the + pale-blue skies.</p> + + <p>They were very much by themselves out here at the end of the + world, and yet they did not seem inclined to talk much. Wenna + sat down on the warm grass; her companion perched himself on + one of the blocks of granite; they watched the great + undulations of the blue water come rolling on to the black + rocks and then fall backward seething in foam.</p> + + <p>"And what are you thinking about?" said Trelyon to her + gently, so that she should not be startled.</p> + + <p>"Of nothing at all: I am quite happy," Wenna said frankly. + Then she added, "I suppose the worst of a day like this is that + a long time after you look back upon it, and it seems so + beautiful and far away that it makes you miserable. You think + how happy you were once. That is the unfortunate side of being + happy."</p> + + <p>"Well," said he, "I must say you don't look forward to the + future with any great hope if you think the recollection of one + bright day will make you wretched."</p> + + <p>He came down from his perch and stood beside her. "Why, + Wenna," said he, "do you know what you really need? Some one to + take you in hand thoroughly, and give you such an abundance of + cheerful and pleasant days that you would never think of + singling out any one of them. Why shouldn't you have weeks and + months of happy idling in bright weather, such as lots of + people have who don't deserve them a bit? There's something + wrong in your position. You want some one to become your master + and compel you to make yourself happy. You won't of yourself + study your own comfort: some one else ought to make you."</p> + + <p>"And who do you think would care to take so much trouble + about me?" she said with a smile, for she attached no serious + meaning to this random talk.</p> + + <p>Her companion's face flushed somewhat—not with + embarrassment, but with the courage of what he was going to + say. "I would," he said boldly. "You will say it is none of my + business, but I tell you I would give twenty thousand pounds + to-morrow if I were allowed to—to get you a whole summer + of pleasant holidays."</p> + + <p>There was something about the plain-spoken honesty of this + avowal that touched her keenly. Wild and impossible as the + suggestion was, it told her at least what one person in the + world thought of her. She said to him, with her eyes cast down, + "I like to hear you speak like that—not for my own sake, + but I know there is nothing generous and kindly that you + wouldn't do at a mere moment's impulse. But I hope you don't + think I have been grumbling over my lot on such a day as this? + Oh no: I see too much of other people's way of living to + complain of my own. I have every reason to be contented and + happy."</p> + + <p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg_188]</span>"Yes, you're a deal too + contented and happy," said he with an impatient shrug. "You + want somebody to alter all that, and see that you get more to + be contented and happy about."</p> + + <p>She rose: he gave her his hand to help her up. But he did + not surrender her hand then, for the path up the slope was a + deep and difficult one, and she could fairly rely on his + strength and sureness of foot.</p> + + <p>"But you are not content, Mr. Trelyon," she said. "I always + notice that whenever you get to a dangerous place you are never + satisfied unless you are putting your life in peril. Wouldn't + you like to ride your black horse down the face of this + precipice? or wouldn't you like to clamber down blindfold? Why + does a man generally seem to be anxious to get rid of his + life?"</p> + + <p>"Perhaps it ain't of much use to him," he said coolly.</p> + + <p>"You ought not to say that," she answered in a low + voice.</p> + + <p>"Well," he said, "I don't mean to break my neck yet a while; + but if I did, who would miss me? I suppose my mother would play + half a dozen a day more operas or oratorios, or stuff of that + sort, and there would be twenty parsons in the house for one + there is at present. And some of the brats about the place + would miss an occasional sixpence; which would be better for + their health. And Dick—I suppose they'd sell him to some + fool of a Londoner, who would pound his knees out in the + Park—he would miss me too."</p> + + <p>"And these are all," she said, "who would miss you? You are + kind to your friends."</p> + + <p>"Why, would you?" he said with a stare of surprise; and + then, seeing she would not speak, he continued with a laugh, "I + like the notion of my making an object of general compassion of + myself. Did the poor dear tumble off a rock into the sea? And + where was its mother's apron-string? I'm not going to break my + neck yet a while, Miss Wenna; so don't you think I'm going to + let you off your promise to pay me back for those + sewing-machines."</p> + + <p>"I have told you, Mr. Trelyon," she said with some dignity, + "that we shall pay you back every farthing of the price of + them."</p> + + <p>He began to whistle in an impertinent manner. He clearly + placed no great faith in the financial prospects of that sewing + club.</p> + + <p>They had some light luncheon in the remote little inn, and + Mrs. Rosewarne was pleased to see her ordinarily demure and + preoccupied daughter in such high and careless spirits. It was + not a splendid banquet. The chamber was not a gorgeous one, for + the absence of ornament and the enormous thickness of the walls + told of the house being shut up in the winter months and + abandoned to the fury of the western gales, when the wild sea + came hurling up the face of these steep cliffs and blowing over + the land. But they paid little attention to any lack of luxury. + There was a beautiful blue sea shining in the distance. The + sunlight was falling hotly on the green sward of the rocks + outside, but all the same a fresh, cool breeze came blowing in + at the open window. They let the time pass easily, with + pleasant talk and laughter.</p> + + <p>Then they drove leisurely back in the afternoon. They passed + along the moorland ways, through rude little villages built of + stone and by the outskirts of level and cheerless farms, until + they got into the beautiful woods and avenues lying around + Penzance. When they came in sight of the broad bay they found + that the world had changed its colors since the morning. The + sea was of a cold purplish gray, but all around it, on the + eastern horizon, there was a band of pale pink in the sky. On + the west again, behind Penzance, the warm hues of the sunset + were shining behind the black stems of the trees. The broad + thoroughfare was mostly in shadow, and the sea was so still + that one could hear the footsteps and the voices of the people + walking up and down the Parade.</p> + + <p>"I suppose I must go now," said the young gentleman when he + had seen them safely seated in the small parlor overlooking the + bay. But he did not seem anxious to go.</p> + + <p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg_189]</span>"But why?" Wenna said, + rather timidly. "You have no engagement, Mr. Trelyon. Would you + care to stay and have dinner with us—such a dinner as we + can give you?"</p> + + <p>"Well, to tell you the truth, I should like it very much," + he said.</p> + + <p>Mrs. Rosewarne, a little surprised, and yet glad to see + Wenna enjoying herself, regarded the whole affair with a gentle + resignation. Wenna had the gas lit and the blinds let down: + then, as the evening was rather cool, she had soon a bright + fire burning in the grate. She helped to lay the table. She + produced such wines as they had. She made sundry visits to the + kitchen, and at length the banquet was ready.</p> + + <p>What ailed the young man? He seemed beside himself with + careless and audacious mirth, and he made Mrs. Rosewarne laugh + as she had not laughed for years. It was in vain that Wenna + assumed airs to rebuke his rudeness. Nothing was sacred from + his impertinence—not even the offended majesty of her + face. And at last she gave in too, and could only revenge + herself by saying things of him which, the more severe they + were, the more he seemed to enjoy. But after dinner she went to + the small piano, while her mother took a big easy-chair near + the fire, and he sat by the table, looking over some books. + There was no more reckless laughter then.</p> + + <p>In ancient times—that is to say, in the half-forgotten + days of our youth—a species of song existed which exists + no more. It was not as the mournful ballads of these days, + which seem to record the gloomy utterances of a strange young + woman who has wandered into the magic scene in <i>Der + Freischütz</i>, and who mixes up the moanings of her + passion with descriptions of the sights, and sounds she there + finds around her. It was of quite another stamp. It dealt with + a phraseology of sentiment peculiar to itself—a "patter," + as it were, which came to be universally recognized in + drawing-rooms. It spoke of maidens plighting their troth, of + Phyllis enchanting her lover with her varied moods, of marble + halls in which true love still remained the same. It + apostrophized the shells of ocean; it tenderly described the + three great crises of a particular heroine's life by mentioning + her head-dress; it told of how the lover of Pretty Jane would + have her meet him in the evening. Well, all the world was + content to accept this conventional phraseology, and behind the + paraphernalia of "enchanted moon-beams" and "fondest glances" + and "adoring sighs" perceived and loved the sentiment that + could find no simpler utterance. Some of us, hearing the + half-forgotten songs again, suddenly forget the odd language, + and the old pathos springs up again, as fresh as in the days + when our first love had just come home from her + boarding-school; while others, who have no old-standing + acquaintance with these memorable songs, have somehow got + attracted to them by the mere quaintness of their speech and + the simplicity of their airs. Master Harry Trelyon was no great + critic of music. When Wenna Rosewarne sang that night "She wore + a wreath of roses," he fancied he had never listened to + anything so pathetic. When she sang "Meet me by moonlight + alone," he was delighted with the spirit and half-humorous, + half-tender grace of the composition. As she sang "When other + lips and other hearts," it seemed to him that there were no + songs like the old-fashioned songs, and that the people who + wrote those ballads were more frank and simple and touching in + their speech than writers now-a-days. Somehow, he began to + think of the drawing-rooms of a former generation, and of the + pictures of herself his grandmother had drawn for him many a + time. Had she a high waist to that white silk dress in which + she ran away to Gretna? and did she have ostrich feathers on + her head? Anyhow, he entirely believed what she had told him of + the men of that generation. They were capable of doing daring + things for the sake of a sweetheart. Of course his grandfather + had done boldly and well in whirling the girl off to the + Scottish borders, for who could tell what might have befallen + her among ill-natured relatives and persecuted suitors?</p> + + <p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg_190]</span>Wenna Rosewarne was + singing "We met, 'twas in a crowd, and I thought he would shun + me." It is the song of a girl (must one explain so much in + these later days?) who is in love with one man, and is induced + to marry another: she meets the former, and her heart is filled + with shame and anguish and remorse. As Wenna sang the song it + seemed to this young man that there was an unusual pathos in + her voice; and he was so carried away by the earnestness of her + singing that his heart swelled and rose up within him, and he + felt himself ready to declare that such should not be her fate. + This man who was coming back to marry her—was there no + one ready to meet him and challenge his atrocious claim? Then + the song ended, and with a sudden disappointment Trelyon + recollected that he at least had no business to interfere. What + right had he to think of saving her?</p> + + <p>He had been idly turning over some volumes on the table. At + last he came to a Prayer-book of considerable size and elegance + of binding. Carelessly looking at the fly-leaf, he saw that it + was a present to Wenna Rosewarne, "with the very dearest love + of her sister Mabyn." He passed his hand over the leaves, not + noticing what he was doing. Suddenly he saw something which did + effectually startle him into attention.</p> + + <p>It was a sheet of paper with two slits cut into it at top + and bottom. In these a carefully-pressed piece of + None-so-pretty had been placed, and just underneath the flower + was written in pencil, "From H.T. to W.R., May 2, 18—." + He shut the book quickly, as if his fingers had been burned, + and then he sat quite silent, with his heart beating fast.</p> + + <p>So she had kept the flower he had put in the basket of + primroses! It had carried its message, and she still remained + his friend!</p> + + <h3><a name='chapter_xxiv' + id='chapter_xxiv'></a>CHAPTER + XXIV. THE CUT DIRECT.</h3> + + <p>"Well, mother," Miss Wenna said deliberately after he had + gone, "I never did see you so thoroughly enjoy a whole + day."</p> + + <p>"I was thinking the same about you, Wenna," the mother + answered with an amused look.</p> + + <p>"That is true enough, mother," the girl confessed in her + simple way. "He is so good-natured, so full of spirits and + careless, that one gets quite as careless and happy as himself. + It is a great comfort, mother, to be with anybody who doesn't + watch the meaning of every expression you use: don't you think + so? And I hope I wasn't rude: do you think I was rude?"</p> + + <p>"Why, child, I don't think you could be rude to a fox that + was eating your chickens. You would ask him to take a chair and + not hurry himself."</p> + + <p>"Well, I must write to Mabyn now," Wenna said with a + business-like air, "and thank her for posting me this + Prayer-book. I suppose she didn't know I had my small one with + me."</p> + + <p>She took up the book, for she was sitting on the chair that + Harry Trelyon had just vacated. She had no sooner done so than + she caught sight of the sheet of paper with the dried flower + and the inscription in Mabyn's handwriting. She stared, with + something of a look of fear on her face. "Mother," she said in + quite an altered voice, "did you notice if Mr. Trelyon was + looking at this Prayer-book?"</p> + + <p>"I don't know, I'm sure," Mrs. Rosewarne said. "I should + think he went over every book on the table."</p> + + <p>The girl said nothing, but she took the book in her hand and + carried it up to her own room. She stood for a moment + irresolute: then she took the sheet of paper with the flowers + on it, and tore it in a hundred pieces and threw them into the + empty grate. Then she cried a little, as a girl must; and + finally went down again and wrote a letter to Mabyn which + rather astonished that young lady.</p> + + <div class='letter_1'> + <p>"MY DEAR MABYN" (so the letter ran): I am exceedingly + angry with you. I did not think you were capable of such + folly: I might call it by a worse name if + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_191]</span>I thought you really + meant what you seem to mean. I have just torn up the + worthless scrap of flower you so carefully preserved for me + into a thousand pieces; but you will be glad to know that + in all probability Mr. Trelyon saw it on the paper, and the + initials too which you put there. I cannot tell you how + pained and angry I am. If he did place that flower + intentionally among the primroses, it was most impertinent + of him; but he is often impertinent in joking. What must he + think of me that I should seem to have taken this + seriously, and treasured up that miserable and horrid piece + of weed, and put his initials below it, and the important + date? You put thoughts into my head that cover me with + shame. I should not be fit to live if I were what you take + me to be. If I thought there was another human being in the + world who could imagine or suspect what you apparently + desire, I would resolve this moment never to see Mr. + Trelyon again; and much harm that would do either him or + me! But I am too proud to think that any one could imagine + such a thing. Nor did I expect that to come from my own + sister, who ought to know what my true relations are with + regard to Mr. Trelyon. I like him very much, as I told him + to his face two days before we left Eglosilyan; <i>and that + will show you what our relations are</i>. I think he is a + very frank, generous and good young man, and a clever and + cheerful companion; and my mother has to-day to thank him + for about the pleasantest little trip she has ever enjoyed. + But as for your wishing me to preserve a flower that he + sent, or that you think he sent to me, why, I feel my face + burning at the thought of what you suggest. And what can I + say to him now, supposing he has seen it? Can I tell him + that my own sister thought such things of me? Perhaps, + after all, the simplest way to set matters right will be + for me to break off the acquaintance altogether; and that + will show him whether I was likely to have treasured up a + scrap of London pride in my Prayer-book.</p> + + <p>"I am your loving sister,</p> + + <p class='author'>"WENNA ROSEWARNE."</p> + </div> + + <p>Meanwhile, Harry Trelyon was walking up and down the almost + empty thoroughfare by the side of the sea, the stars overhead + shining clearly in the dark night, the dimly-seen waves falling + monotonously on the shelving beach. "To keep a flower, that is + nothing," he was saying to himself. "All girls do that, no + matter who gives it to them. I suppose she has lots more, all + with the proper initials and date attached."</p> + + <p>It was not an agreeable reflection; he turned to other + matters: "If she were to care for me a little bit, would it be + mean of me to try to carry her off from that man? Is it + possible that he has the same feeling for her that I have? In + that case it would be mean. Now, when I think of her, the whole + world seems filled with her presence somehow, and everything is + changed. When I hear the sea in the morning I think of her, and + wonder where she is; when I see a fine day I hope she is + enjoying it somewhere; the whole of Penzance has become + magical. It is no longer the same town. I used to come to it + and never see it in the old days, when one was busy about + stables and the pilchard fishing and the reports of the + quarries. Now the whole of Penzance has got a sort of charm in + it since Wenna Rosewarne has come to it. I look at the houses, + and wonder if the people inside know anybody fit to compare + with her; and one becomes grateful to the good weather for + shining round about her and making her happy. I suppose the + weather knows what she deserves."</p> + + <p>Then he began to argue the question as to whether it would + be fair and honorable to seek to take away from another man the + woman who had pledged herself to marry him; and of course an + easy and definite decision is sure to be arrived at when + counsel on both sides and jury and judges sitting <i>in + banco</i> are all one person, who conducts and closes the case + as it suits himself. He began by assuming such facts as suited + his arguments, and ended by selecting and confirming such + arguments as suited himself. Wenna Rosewarne cared nothing for + Mr. Roscorla. She would be miserable if + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_192]</span>she married him: her own + sister was continually hinting as much. Mr. Roscorla cared + nothing for her except in so far as she might prove a pretty + housewife for him. The selfishness that would sacrifice for its + own purposes a girl's happiness was of a peculiarly despicable + sort which ought to be combated, and deserved no mercy. + Therefore, and because of all these things, Harry Trelyon was + justified in trying to win Wenna Rosewarne's love.</p> + + <p>One by one the people who had been strolling up and down the + dark thoroughfare left it: he was almost alone now. He walked + along to the house in which the Rosewarnes were. There was no + light in any of the windows. But might she not be sitting up + there by herself, looking out on the starlit heavens and + listening to the waves? He wished to be able to say good-night + to her once more.</p> + + <p>How soon might she be up and out on the morrow? Early in the + morning, when the young day was rising over the gray sea, and + the sea-winds coming freshly in as if they were returning from + the cold night? If he could but see her at daybreak, with all + the world asleep around them, and with only themselves to watch + the growing wonders of the dawn, might not he say something to + her then that she would not be vexed to hear, and persuade her + that a new sort of life lay before her if she would only enter + it along with him? That was the notion that he continually + dwelt on for self-justification when he happened to take the + trouble to justify himself. The crisis of this girl's life was + approaching. Other errors might be retrieved—that one, + once committed, never. If he could only see her now, this is + what he would say: "We can only live but once, Wenna; and this + for us two would be life—our only chance of it. Whatever + else may happen, that is no matter: let us make sure of this + one chance, and face the future together—you full of + sweetness and trust, I having plenty of courage for both. We + will treat objectors and objections as they may + arise—afterward: perhaps they will be prudent and keep + out of our way." And indeed he convinced himself that this, and + this only, was Wenna Rosewarne's chance of securing happiness + for her life, assuming, in a way, that he had love as well as + courage sufficient for both.</p> + + <p>He was early up next morning and down on the promenade, but + the day was not likely to tempt Wenna to come out just then. A + gray fog hung over land and sea, the sea itself being a dull, + leaden plain. Trelyon walked about, however, talking to + everybody, as was his custom; and everybody said the fog would + clear and a fine day follow. This, in fact, happened, and still + Wenna did not make her appearance. The fog over the sea seemed + to separate itself into clouds: there was a dim, yellow light + in the breaks. These breaks widened: there was a glimmer of + blue. Then on the leaden plain a glare of white light fell, + twinkling in innumerable stars on the water. Everything + promised a clear, bright day.</p> + + <p>As a last resource he thought he would go and get Juliott + Penaluna, and persuade that young lady to come and be + introduced to the Rosewarnes. At first Miss Penaluna refused + point-blank. She asked him how he could expect her to do such a + thing. But then her cousin Harry happened to be civil, and + indeed kind, in his manner to her, and when he was in one of + those moods there was nothing she could refuse him. She went + and got ready with an air of resignation on her comely + face.</p> + + <p>"Mind, Harry, I am not responsible," she said when she came + back. "I am afraid I shall get into awful trouble about + it."</p> + + <p>"And who will interfere?" said the young man, just as if he + were looking about for some one anxious to be thrown from the + top of the tower on St. Michael's Mount.</p> + + <p>"I shall be accused of conniving with you, you know; and I + think I am very good-natured to do so much for you, Harry."</p> + + <p>"I think you are, Jue: you are a thoroughly good sort of + girl when you like to be—that's a fact. And now you will + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_193]</span>see whether what I have + said about Miss Rosewarne is all gammon or not."</p> + + <p>"My poor boy, I wouldn't say a word against her for the + world. Do I want my head wrenched off? But if any one says + anything to me about what I may do to-day, I shall have to tell + the truth; and do you know what that is, Harry? I do really + believe you are in love with that girl, past all argument; and + there never was one of your family who would listen to reason. + I know quite well what you will do. If she cares ever so little + for you, you will marry her in spite of everybody, and probably + against her own wish: if she doesn't care for you, you will + revenge yourself on the happy man of her choice, and probably + murder him. Well, it isn't my fault. I know what your mother + will say."</p> + + <p>"Ah, you don't know, Jue, what my mother thinks of her," he + said confidently.</p> + + <p>"Oh yes, mothers think very well of a girl until they + discover that she is going to marry their son."</p> + + <p>"Oh, stuff! why the inconsistency—"</p> + + <p>"It is the privilege of women to be inconsistent, Harry. + Your mother will detest that girl if you try to marry her."</p> + + <p>"I don't care."</p> + + <p>"Of course not. No man of your family cares for anything + that interferes with his own wishes. I suppose there's no use + in my trying to show you what a fearful amount of annoyance and + trouble you are preparing for yourself?"</p> + + <p>"None. I'll take it as it comes: I'm not afraid."</p> + + <p>They got down to the promenade; the forenoon was now bright + and cheerful; a good many folks had come out to enjoy the + sunlight and the cool sea-breeze. Miss Juliott was not at all + disinclined to walk there with her handsome cousin, though he + had forgotten his gloves and was clearly not paying her very + special attention.</p> + + <p>"Jue," he said suddenly, "I can see Miss Rosewarne right at + the end of this road: can't you?"</p> + + <p>"I haven't got the eyes of a hawk, you stupid boy!" his + cousin said.</p> + + <p>"Oh, but I can recognize her dress a dozen times as far + away. These are her pet colors at present—a soft + cream-color and black, with bits of dark red. Can you see + now?"</p> + + <p>"I never saw you pay the least attention before to a lady's + dress."</p> + + <p>"Because you don't know how <i>she</i> dresses," he said + proudly.</p> + + <p>She was coming along the Parade all alone.</p> + + <p>"Well, it <i>is</i> a pretty dress," Miss Juliott said, "and + I like the look of her face, Harry. You can't expect one girl + to say any more than that of another girl, can you?"</p> + + <p>"This is a very nice way of being able to introduce you," he + said. "I suppose you will be able to chaperon each other + afterward, when her mother isn't able to go out?"</p> + + <p>Wenna was coming quietly along, apparently rather + preoccupied. Sometimes she looked out, with her dark, earnest + and yet wistful eyes, at the great plain of water quivering in + the sunshine: she paid little heed to the people who went by. + When at length she did see Harry Trelyon, she was quite near + him, and she had just time to glance for a moment at his + companion. The next moment—he could not tell how it all + happened—she passed him with a slight bow of recognition, + courteous enough, but nothing more. There was no especial look + of friendliness in her eyes.</p> + + <p>He stood there rather bewildered.</p> + + <p>"That is about as good as the cut direct, Harry," his cousin + said. "Come along—don't stand there."</p> + + <p>"Oh, but there's some mistake, Jue," he said.</p> + + <p>"A girl never does a thing of that sort by mistake. Either + she is vexed with you for walking with me—and that is + improbable, for I doubt whether she saw me—or she thinks + the ardor of your acquaintance should be moderated; and there I + should agree with her. You don't seem so vexed as one might + have expected, Harry."</p> + + <p>"Vexed!" he said. "Why, can't you tell by that girl's face + that she could do nothing capricious or unkind? Of course she + has a reason; and I will find it out."</p> + + <h3><a name='chapter_xxv' + id='chapter_xxv'></a>CHAPTER XXV. NOT + THE LAST WORD.</h3> + + <p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg_194]</span>As soon as he could + decently leave his cousin at home, he did; and then he walked + hastily down to the house in which Mrs. Rosewarne had taken + rooms. Miss Rosewarne was not at home, the small maid-servant + said. Was Mrs. Rosewarne? Yes; so he would see her.</p> + + <p>He went up stairs, never thinking how his deep trouble about + so insignificant an incident would strike a third person.</p> + + <p>"Mrs. Rosewarne," he said right out, "I want you to tell me + if Wenna wishes our acquaintance to end. Has she been speaking + to you? Just now she passed me in the street as if she did not + wish to see me again."</p> + + <p>"Probably," said Mrs. Rosewarne, amused as well as surprised + by the young man's impetuosity, "she did not see you then. + Wenna often passes people so. Most likely she was thinking + about other things, for she had another letter from Jamaica + just before she went out."</p> + + <p>"Oh, she has had another letter from Jamaica this morning?" + Trelyon said, with an angry light appearing in his eyes. "That + is it, is it?"</p> + + <p>"I don't understand you," Mrs. Rosewarne was saying, when + both of them heard Wenna enter below.</p> + + <p>"Mrs. Rosewarne," he said with a sudden entreaty in his + voice, "would you mind letting me see Wenna alone for a couple + of minutes? I want to ask her if she is offended with me: you + won't mind, will you?"</p> + + <p>"Not in the least," she said, good-naturedly; and then she + added, at the door, "Mind, Mr. Trelyon, Wenna is easily hurt. + You must speak gently to her."</p> + + <p>About a minute afterward Wenna, having laid her hat and + shawl aside, came into the room. When she found Trelyon there + alone, she almost shrank back, and her face paled somewhat: + then she forced herself to go forward and shake hands with him, + though her face still wore a frightened and constrained + look.</p> + + <p>"Wenna," he said, "don't go away: I want to speak to you for + a minute. You are offended with me about something, and I want + you to tell me why. If you wish our friendship to cease, say + so, and I will obey you; but you must tell me why first."</p> + + <p>"I am not offended with you, Mr. Trelyon," she said in a low + and nervous voice. "Do not think that. But—but I think it + will be better if you will let our friendship cease, as you + say."</p> + + <p>"Oh no," he said, "I will not in this fashion. You've got to + tell me what is the matter first. Now remember this. Not very + long ago you chose to quarrel with me about + nothing—absolutely about nothing. You know quite well + that I meant no harm to you by lending Mr. Roscorla that money, + yet you must needs flare up and give it me as hot as you could, + all for nothing. What could I do? Why, only wait until you saw + what a mistake you had made."</p> + + <p>"It was very wrong of me," she said: "I ask your + forgiveness. But now it is quite different: I am not angry with + you at all. I should like to remain your friend, and yet I + think it better not. I—I cannot explain to you, Mr. + Trelyon, and I am sure you won't ask me when I say so."</p> + + <p>He looked at her for a moment, and then he said, gently and + yet firmly, "Look here, Wenna. You think I am only a + boy—that may or may not be—but I am going to talk + reasonably to you for once. Come over to this chair by the + window and sit down."</p> + + <p>She followed him in passive obedience. She took the one + chair, he the other.</p> + + <p>"Perhaps I am only a boy," he said, "but I have knocked + about a good deal, and I have kept my eyes as wide open as most + folks. I suppose ill-natured people might say that as I had + nothing to do at Eglosilyan, I wanted to have a flirtation with + the only girl who was handy. I know better. Year after year I + saw more and more of you, bit by bit, and that after I had been + abroad or living in other places in England from time to time. + I got to believe that I had never seen anywhere any girl or + woman who was so honest as you are, and good in a + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_195]</span>dozen secret ways that + needed a deal of discovering. I found out far more about you + than you imagined. I heard of you in cottages that you never + knew I was in; and everything I heard made me respect you more + and more. Mind this, too. I had no sort of personal liking for + the sort of thing you were doing. I don't admire beastly little + rooms and poverty and sick people as appealing to a fine + sentiment. There never was anything of the parson or the + benevolent old lady about me. I would rather give half a crown + to an impertinent little boy who had just whopped another boy + bigger than himself than give a halfpenny tract to a sickly + child in its mother's arms: that's original sin in me, I + suppose. But all that squalid sort of work you were in only + made the jewel shine the more. I used to think I should like to + marry a very grand woman, who could be presented at court + without a tremor, who would come into a drawing-room as if she + was conferring a favor on the world at large; and I certainly + never thought I should find the best and finest woman I had + ever seen in back kitchens sewing pinafores for children. And + then when I found her there, wasn't it natural I should put + some store by her friendship? I suppose you didn't know what I + thought of you, Wenna, because I kept chaffing you and Mabyn? I + have told you something of it now; and now I want you to say + whether you have a right to shunt me off like this, without a + word of explanation."</p> + + <p>She sat still, silent and nervous. The rude and impetuous + eloquence of his speech, broken by many a hesitating stammer, + had touched her. There was more thoughtfulness and tenderness + in this wild lad than she had supposed.</p> + + <p>"How can I explain?" she burst out suddenly. "I should cover + myself with shame!"</p> + + <p>"And what have you to be ashamed of?" he said with a stare. + The distress she was obviously suffering was so great that he + had almost a mind to take her at her word and leave the house + without further ado.</p> + + <p>Just at this moment, when he was considering what would be + the most generous thing to do, she seemed to nerve herself to + speak to him, and in a low and measured voice she said, "Yes, I + will tell you. I have had a letter this morning from Mr. + Roscorla. He asks me if it is true that you are paying me such + attention that people notice it; and he asks me if that is how + I keep my promise to him."</p> + + <p>Something like a quiver of rage passed through the young man + at this moment, but his teeth were kept firmly together. She + did not look up to his face.</p> + + <p>"That is not all. I must tell you that I was deeply shocked + and grieved by this letter; but on looking back over the past + six weeks I think a suspicious person might have been justified + in complaining to Mr. Roscorla. And—and—and, Mr. + Trelyon, did you see that dried flower in my Prayer-book last + night?"</p> + + <p>Her resolution was fast ebbing away: he could see that her + hands were clasped piteously together.</p> + + <p>"Yes, I did," he said boldly.</p> + + <p>"And oh what could you have thought of me?" she cried in her + distress. "Indeed, Mr. Trelyon, it was all a mistake. I did not + keep the flower—I did not, indeed. And when I thought you + had seen it I could have died for shame."</p> + + <p>"And why?" he said in a way that made her lift up her + startled eyes to his face. There was a strange look there, as + of a man who had suddenly resolved to dare his fate, and yet + was imploringly anxious as to the result. "For you have been + frank with me, and so will I be with you. Why should you not + have kept that flower? Yes, I sent it to you, and with all the + purpose that such a thing could carry. Yes, you may be as angry + as you please; only listen, Wenna. You don't love that man whom + you are engaged to marry; you know in your heart that you do + not believe in his love for you; and are you surprised that + people should wish to have you break off an engagement that + will only bring you misery?"</p> + + <p>"Mr. Trelyon!"</p> + + <p>"Wenna, one minute: you must hear me. Do with my offer what + you like—only here it is: give me the power to + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_196]</span>break off this engagement, + and I will. Give me the right to do that. Don't mind me in the + matter. It is true I love you—there, I will say it again: + there is nothing I think of from morning till night but my love + for you—and if you would say that some time I might ask + you to be my wife, you would give me more happiness than you + could dream of. But I don't wish that now. I will remain your + friend if you like, Wenna; only let me do this thing for you, + and when you are free you can then say yes or no."</p> + + <p>She rose, not proud and indignant, but weeping bitterly. "I + have deserved this," she said, apparently overwhelmed with + mortification and self-reproach. "I have earned this shame, and + I must bear it. I do not blame you, Mr. Trelyon: it is I who + have done this. How many weeks is it since the man left England + to whom I promised to be faithful? and already—But this I + can do, Mr. Trelyon: I will bid you good-bye now, and I will + never see you again."</p> + + <p>Her face was quite pale. She held out her hand.</p> + + <p>"No," he said firmly. "We don't part like that, Wenna. + First, let me say that you have nothing to accuse yourself of. + You have done nothing and said nothing of which any man, + however mean and suspicious, could complain. Perhaps I was too + hasty in speaking of my love for you. In that case I've got to + pay for my folly."</p> + + <p>"And it is folly, Mr. Trelyon," she said passionately, and + yet with nothing but tenderness in her face. "How could you + have thought of marrying me? Why, the future that ought to lie + before you is far more than you can imagine yet; and you would + go and hamper it by marrying an innkeeper's daughter! It is + folly indeed, and you will see that very soon. But—but I + am very sorry all this has occurred: it is another grief to me + that I have troubled you. I think I was born to bring grief to + all my friends."</p> + + <p>He was anxiously debating what he should do; and he needed + all his wits at that moment, for his own feelings were strong + within him, and clamoring for expression. Should he insist? + Should he bear down all opposition? Happily, quieter counsels + prevailed, for there was no mistake as to the absolute + truthfulness of what the girl had said.</p> + + <p>"Well, Wenna," he said, "I will do anything you like, only + to remain your friend. Is that possible? Will you forgive all + that I have said if I make you a promise not to repeat it, and + never again to mention your engagement to Mr. Roscorla?"</p> + + <p>"No, we must part now altogether," she said slowly. Then by + haphazard she glanced up at his face for a moment, and there + was a great sadness in her eyes. "It is a hard thing to part. + Perhaps it will not be necessary that you should never come to + see me. But we must not be friends as we have been, for I have + my duty to do toward him."</p> + + <p>"Then I may come to see you sometimes?"</p> + + <p>She hesitated: "You may come to see my mother sometimes. And + I will always think of you as a dear friend, whether I see you + or not."</p> + + <p>He went outside, and drew a long breath. "I had to keep a + tight grip on the reins that time," he was thinking to + himself—"a precious tight grip; but I did it."</p> + + <p>He thought of the look there was in her eyes when she + finally bid him goodbye. His face grew the happier as he + thought of it. He was clearly not at all down-hearted about his + rejection: on the contrary, he went and told his cousin Juliott + that the little affair of the morning had been quite + satisfactorily arranged, that Miss Wenna and he were very good + friends again, and that it was quite a mistake to imagine that + she was already married to Mr. Roscorla.</p> + + <p>"Harry," said his cousin, "I strictly forbid you to mention + that gentleman's name."</p> + + <p>"Why, Jue?" he said.</p> + + <p>"Because I will not listen to the bad language you + invariably use whenever you speak of him; and you ought to + remember that you are in a clergyman's house. I wonder Miss + Rosewarne is not ashamed to have your acquaintance, but I dare + say you amend your ways when you are in her presence. She'll + have [Pg_197]plenty to reform if ever she takes you for a + husband."</p> + + <p>"That's true enough, Jue," the young man said penitently. "I + believe I'm a bad lot, but then look at the brilliant contrast + which the future will present. You know that my old grandmother + is always saying to me, 'Harry, you were born with as many + manners as most folks, and you've used none; so you'll have a + rare stock to come and go on when you begin.'"</p> + + <p class="center">[TO BE CONTINUED.]</p> + + <h2><a name="fever" + id='fever'></a>FEVER.</h2> + + <p>At present all branches of Science possess an intrinsic + interest for every intelligent man, but such elementary + knowledge as enables its possessor to understand the + explanations of the medical attendant has a double value. Over + and over again I have heard the remark when some bold + successful treatment was being discussed, "But you would not + have dared to do that in private practice." The days of medical + mystification are not yet entirely passed, but year by year the + profession is assuredly losing that peculiar virtue of office + which it formerly possessed in so eminent a degree. The doctor + is no longer a dignified personage with gold-headed cane and + powdered wig, mounting the mansion steps with stately tread, + but a busy man in various garb, hurrying from house to house, + studying the multitudinous problems of disease, and applying + the fruits of such study to the relief of individual cases. No + longer able to awe his patients into obedience, he must rely + upon his moral and intellectual powers in controlling them. To + enable any one to understand the explanations of physicians, + and to protect himself, by discovery, against the impudent + assumptions of quacks, some knowledge of medical truths and of + the drift of modern medical thought is necessary. Every + successful physician, no matter how independent he may be by + nature, is necessarily more or less cramped by the prejudices + of patients—prejudices which often a little primary + instruction would have done away with.</p> + + <p>Of all the diseased processes fever is one of the most + frequent and one of the most serious in their results. A + discussion, therefore, of its nature, the method of its + production and of its relief, will, it may be hoped, engage the + attention of the general reader.</p> + + <p>If the hand be laid upon the skin of a person in a high + fever the attention is at once attracted by the great heat, and + if the bulb of a thermometer be placed under the tongue or in + the armpit of the patient the mercury may indicate a + temperature of 107°, 108°, 109°, or even 110° + Fahrenheit, instead of 98° to 99° Fahrenheit, the + normal temperature of the human body. It is a common belief + that the skin in fever is always dry as well as hot, but this + is a mistake, as intense fever may coexist with a reeking + perspiration. During the fever the pulse is greatly increased + in frequency, the head aches and throbs, and if the attack be + very severe restlessness, sudden startings, irregular muscular + twitchings, or even violent epileptiform convulsions and + stupor, delirium or coma, indicate the disturbance of the + nervous system.</p> + + <p>These various symptoms are simply results of the excess of + caloric, which excites universal irritation, and, if prolonged, + destroys the tissues. This fact I have verified by three series + of experiments, by the first of which it was shown that the + general application of external heat so as to raise the bodily + temperature produces all the phenomena of fever; by the second, + that the local application of heat to the brain and to the + heart causes the <span class="pagenum">[Pg_198]</span>nervous + and circulatory disturbances so universally seen in fever; and + by the third that the abstraction of heat in fever is followed + by immediate subsidence of the other symptoms.</p> + + <p>If a small animal, such as a dog, cat or rabbit, be placed + in a chamber heated by means of the sun's rays falling upon a + slanting glass roof or by some artificial method to a + temperature of considerably over one hundred degrees, a very + constant series of phenomena is developed. The breathing + becomes hurried and the pulse greatly quickened, whilst the + restless movements of the body indicate nervous distress. After + a time, if the exposure be continued, the symptoms are + intensified, and restlessness passes into the weakness of + partial paralysis; then suddenly or gradually, with or without + convulsions, stupor sets in, deepening into coma, and death + from arrested respiration is the final result. If the + temperature of the animal be tested from time to time during + the exposure, it will be found to rise steadily, and the + severity of the symptoms will be directly, and in any one + species constantly, proportional to the intensity of the bodily + heat.</p> + + <p>The nervous system of man apparently resists the action of + heat, but in reality it does not do so. Man, it is true, is the + only animal that can thrive almost equally amidst arctic snows + and in tropical jungles. This is not, however, because his + nervous system lacks sensitiveness, but because he has the + power of heating or cooling his body in such a manner that its + temperature is comparatively unaffected by that of the + surrounding air. Man might be well defined as the naked + sweating animal. In the north he strips the bear and the fox of + their coat to keep him warm; in the south his own skin acts as + a refrigerator. The dog has a few sweat-glands about the + mouth—man has two millions densely covering his body. In + the horse exposed to heat the hair soon becomes wet and matted, + interfering very greatly with evaporation; in man the bare skin + offers an excellent surface, from which the perspiration passes + off almost as fast as formed. Evaporation, conversion of a + liquid into a vapor, means a steady conversion of sensible heat + into what was formerly called latent heat, but what we now know + to be repulsive force: the heat-energy of the body is lost in + driving the particles of sweat asunder in the form of + vapor.</p> + + <p>It is possible, however, to have a temperature which even a + Hindoo cannot resist. When a man is exposed to such a heat his + bodily temperature rises, and as it rises the symptoms of fever + develop precisely as they do in the lower + animals—sometimes slowly, sometimes suddenly—with + disturbances of the respiration, circulation and innervation + precisely similar to those already noticed as occurring in the + dog, the cat and the rabbit. Sunstroke, or thermic fever, is + generally believed to be instantaneous in its onset, but the + wide experience of the English in India has shown that whilst + in some cases it is thus sudden in its development, in others + it is a slow process, and probably in almost all cases close + observation would have revealed the existence of + premonitions.</p> + + <p>External heat, by producing an internal rise of temperature, + may thus cause all the phenomena of fever. Of these phenomena + the most prominent is disturbance of the nervous system and of + the circulation. In order to determine whether the heat itself + directly causes the nervous disturbance, or whether it produces + it indirectly by causing changes in the blood, I applied + caloric directly to the brains of animals. This was done by + fitting a hog's bladder like a bonnet over the head and + allowing hot water to run through it. It was found that stupor, + coma, convulsions, and finally death from arrest of the + respiration, were produced, sometimes gradually, sometimes + suddenly, precisely as in the case of exposure of the animal in + a hot chamber. Moreover, on opening the skull and plunging a + thermometer into the cerebrum immediately after death or the + supervention of unconsciousness, it was found that these + phenomena were developed at the same brain-temperature when the + heat was locally applied as when the animal was exposed in the + hot box. Thus, if any given species in the hot + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_199]</span>box became unconscious + when the temperature reached 110° Fahrenheit, this species + also became unconscious when the locally-heated brain attained + a temperature of 110°; or if death occurred by arrest of + the respiration in the hot box at 114°, so did it when the + locally-heated brain reached that point.</p> + + <p>Dr. Lauder Brunton of England has performed a series of + experiments upon the circulation parallel to those just + narrated. Anæsthetizing animals and exposing the heart, + he has found that the action of that organ is accelerated and + weakened by the local application of heat, precisely as occurs + in fever.</p> + + <p>In order to test the effect of the withdrawal of heat, I + have taken a rabbit out of the hot chamber, in which it lay + upon its side totally unconscious, and plunged it into a bucket + of cold water. The temperature of the water rose rapidly, + whilst that of the rabbit fell even more rapidly. As soon as + the bodily heat approached its normal intensity consciousness + returned, and in a few moments the animal, which had just + before been at the point of death, was running about the + grass.</p> + + <p>Some months since I had an opportunity of repeating this + experiment upon a human being.</p> + + <p>In acute inflammatory rheumatism it sometimes happens that + the swelling and pain of the joints suddenly disappear, and the + patient becomes comatose or wildly delirious. It has been + customary to explain these symptoms as the result of the + rheumatism leaving the joints and attacking the brain. + Evidently, this being the case, the proper thing to do was to + irritate the joints so as to draw the rheumatism back to them. + This method was formerly practiced, and the almost invariable + result was death in a few hours.</p> + + <p>In most if not all of these frightful cases of sudden + accession of severe nervous symptoms in rheumatism the + temperature will be found, on testing it, to be exceedingly + high—108°, 109° or even 110° Fahrenheit. If + the views advocated in this paper be correct, it is not the + rheumatism, but the intense bodily heat, which causes the + severe symptoms, and finally death. The joints lose their + sensitiveness, not because the disease has left them, but + because the heat so overpowers the brain that it has lost its + power of perception: the patient's leg might be cut off without + his feeling it. In such a case the proper treatment is to take + away the heat by plunging the patient into a cold bath. But can + there be anything more shocking to the universal belief and + prejudices than to put a patient dying of acute rheumatism into + an almost ice-cold bath?</p> + + <p>Last spring there was in my ward in the Philadelphia + Hospital a stout young Irishman who had passed through an acute + attack of inflammatory rheumatism, and was suffering from a + sharp relapse. Entering the ward one day, I saw at once that + the man was unconscious, and turning to the resident physician + asked, "What is the matter with James?" "Nothing," was the + reply: "I saw him an hour and a half ago, and he was doing very + well, except that the fever was very high." "He is dying now, + at any rate," was my rejoinder. On going to the bedside the + patient was found perfectly unconscious, the skin dry and + intensely hot, the affected joints pale and devoid of + sensibility, the breathing irregular and jerking, the pulse 170 + and scarcely perceptible, every muscle relaxed as in death, + every power of perception abolished. A thermometer placed in + the armpit registered 108-4/5° Fahrenheit.</p> + + <p>Believing that the symptoms were due simply to this + excessive temperature, I ordered the man to be at once stripped + and put in a full bath drawn from the cold-water spigot. The + temperature of this bath was found to be 60° Fahrenheit. In + one minute and a half after the patient had been placed in the + tub he recovered consciousness sufficiently to put out his + tongue when told to do so in a loud, commanding tone. In three + minutes he began to struggle to get out and to complain of the + cold. In six minutes and a half he had become quite rational. + He was now taken out, only partially wiped, laid upon an + India-rubber blanket and covered with a single sheet, the + temperature of the room + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_200]</span>being between 65° and + 70°. Three minutes after this the temperature in the armpit + was 94°, in the mouth 105-3/5°; five minutes later the + mouth-thermometer marked 103°, and the pain and tenderness + had reappeared in the affected joints. It would be out of place + here to give further details as to his treatment. It is enough + to state that, although owing to a misunderstanding of my + orders, the man was left in a cool room for twelve hours upon + the gum blanket, wet and covered only with a sheet—or + possibly because he was so left—he recovered without a + relapse or any bad symptoms.</p> + + <p>The first case in which the cold-water treatment was + practiced in the Philadelphia Hospital was that of a woman + suffering from a desperate relapse of typhoid fever. She was + semi-comatose, with a pulse of 150 and a temperature of + 107° Fahrenheit: death was seemingly inevitable and + imminent. As the bath-tubs were not convenient, the order was + given that the woman be laid upon an India-rubber cloth, and be + wrapped simply in a sheet constantly wet with water at a + temperature as near 32° as practicable. The nurses, aghast, + refused at first to carry out the order, but the physician's + power being despotic, obedience was enforced. About three pints + of whisky were given in the twenty-four hours, besides drugs, + the whole treatment being successful.</p> + + <p>It has been shown that excessive bodily heat is capable of + producing the various symptoms of fever, and that its + withdrawal is followed by the immediate relief of these + symptoms; and since excessive heat is always present in fever, + it is a logical deduction that it is the cause of fever + symptoms; or, in other words, that it is the essential part of + fever.</p> + + <p>It must be borne in mind, however, that the term fever is + here used in an abstract sense, to express a general diseased + process, a bodily condition. <i>A</i> fever is a very different + thing from fever. We may have <i>a</i> fever, such as typhoid, + without the existence of fever. In a fever, the + fever—<i>i.e.</i>, the elevation of temperature—is + only part of the disease, and great judgment and experience are + often required to decide how much of the general symptoms is + caused by the fever, and how much by the disease which is the + cause of the fever.</p> + + <p>The importance of high temperature having been recognized, + it becomes a matter of the gravest scientific and practical + interest to determine the method in which it is produced.</p> + + <p>There are only two systems which bind the body + together—namely, the circulation and the nervous system. + As fever is usually a universal phenomenon, occurring + simultaneously in every part of the body, it must be produced + either through the nervous system or by a poison in the blood + acting simultaneously on every tissue. Every physician knows, + however, that there are cases of fever in which there has been + no introduction of a poison into the blood: hence it follows + that at least sometimes fever must be produced by the nervous + system.</p> + + <p>This being so, the study of the influence of the nervous + system upon animal heat is naturally the next step in our + investigation. Before making this step it may be well to call + to mind the fact that chemical processes are usually + accompanied either by the giving out or the withdrawal of heat. + Thus, the chemical actions which result when ice and salt are + mixed cause a withdrawal of heat, and a "freezing mixture" is + formed. When a candle is burnt, the oxidation of its + constituents, a chemical process, evolves heat. Oxidation is + the great source of artificial heat, and animal heat is chiefly + generated by the same process; in other words, animal heat is + always the product of the chemical movements of the body, and + these movements are almost exclusively of the character of + oxidation. In the animal tissues a lessened oxidation is + equivalent to a lessened heat-production, and <i>vise + versâ</i>.</p> + + <p>If a large nerve be exposed in one of the lower animals, and + a galvanic current be sent through it for half a minute or + more, the temperature of the animal falls very decidedly; and + if the irritation be repeated several times at intervals, the + diminution of the animal heat may amount to several degrees. + Galvanization <span class="pagenum">[Pg_201]</span>of a nerve + affects very powerfully the circulation, and it has been + believed that this derangement was the cause of the lessened + chemical movements. But the alteration of the circulation is + immediate, and ceases almost at once when the current is + broken, whereas the fall of temperature comes on only after + several minutes, then progressively increases, and persists for + many minutes—it may be hours. The two phenomena being + thus differently developed, it is impossible that they should + have the relation of cause and effect, and the fall of + temperature must be traced to a direct influence of the nervous + system upon the chemical processes of the body.</p> + + <p>This lowering of temperature under the influence of a + powerful irritation of a nerve-trunk or of its minute branches, + which everywhere pervade the tissues and spread out in the + skin, is common to all species of mammals. If a rabbit be + merely tied down tightly upon a table, the fall is perceptible, + and if it be severely wounded, the temperature diminishes very + greatly. It has long been known that severe burns are followed + by a very great depression of the animal heat. Redard, a French + physician, made during the late siege of Paris a most + interesting series of observations upon the influence of severe + gunshot wounds. He found that, entirely independent of any + hæmorrhage which might have occurred, the temperature + fell enormously, and in direct proportion to the gravity of the + wound; so that by the aid of the thermometer he was able to + predict whether a fatal issue would or would not occur in the + course of a few hours.</p> + + <p>We have found that both in man and the lower animals the + nervous system is able to check the chemical movements of the + body, but before we can decide how it does so facts not yet + noticed must be looked at.</p> + + <p>If the spinal cord of an animal be cut just below the origin + of the nerves of respiration, an immediate fall of temperature + occurs, and, if the animal be left in a cool room, persists + until death ensues. If, however, the victim be put in a warm + place, after a time the temperature begins to rise, and finally + a most intense fever is developed. Parallel phenomena follow + division of the spinal cord in man. Indeed, Sir Benjamin Brodie + was first led to experiment upon animals by observing in 1837 + an excessive fever follow in a patient a wound of the spinal + cord.</p> + + <p>I have already explained, in a former number of this + Magazine,<a name="FNanchor_002_1" + id="FNanchor_002_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_002_1" + class="fnanchor">[2]</a> the nature of the so-called + vaso-motor nerves, which preside over the little circular + muscles that run round and round in the coats of the + blood-vessels. When they are excited, these muscles contract + and the size of the arteries is diminished: when they are + paralyzed, the arterial inner muscles relax and the vessels + dilate. The vaso-motor nerves have their governing centre in + that upper portion of the spinal cord which is within the + skull, the so-called medulla oblongata. When the spinal cord + is divided, the vessels are cut off from the influence of + this vaso-motor centre, and at once dilate, profoundly + affecting the blood-current by doing so.</p> + + <p>The first fall of temperature which follows division of the + cord is believed by most physiologists to be due to this + dilatation of the vessels. Very probably the blood-stream, + flowing sluggishly, does not give the normal amount of stimulus + to the tissues, so that at first their chemical actions are + lessened, and consequently less caloric than usual is generated + in the body. Further, the blood moving slowly through the + dilated vessels of the lungs and of the surface of the body, is + cooled more completely than it should be; hence, unless the + body is protected by being surrounded with warm air, no + excessive accumulation of heat in it can occur, and therefore + no fever can appear.</p> + + <p>Assuming that this explanation of the primary lowering of + the temperature after division of the cord be correct—and + no better one has as yet been offered—what is the cause + of the fever which afterward develops itself? As it occurs only + when the animal is exposed to a somewhat elevated temperature, + it has been thought <span class="pagenum">[Pg_202]</span>by + some to be due to the absorption of this external heat. This, + however, is certainly not true, as is shown, to omit less + decisive proofs, by the experiments of Naunyn and Quincke, who + exposed animals for two days to a temperature of 90°, and + at the end of that time, their bodily temperature not having + risen, cut their spinal cords, after which intense fever was + developed in a few hours without any change of atmosphere.</p> + + <p>Section of the cord must therefore give rise to an increased + chemical movement and heat-production in the body. As already + stated, this section affects very greatly the circulation, but + the fever is independent of such action. The upper end of the + medulla oblongata is continuous with a nervous mass which joins + the two brain hemispheres together, and hence is known as the + <i>pons</i> or bridge. If, instead of cutting the spinal cord, + we separate the medulla oblongata from the pons, an + <i>immediate</i> rise of temperature occurs, and continues + until death, whether the operation be performed in a cold or + heated room.<a name="FNanchor_003_2" + id="FNanchor_003_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_003_2" + class="fnanchor">[3]</a></p> + + <p>Cutting the medulla at its junction with the pons causes, + then, an immediate and direct elevation of temperature, without + disturbance of the circulation. What can this mean? Evidently, + only one thing—namely, that by the division of the + medulla there has been separated from the general tissues of + the body a repressive force—a something which normally + controls their chemical activity and the production in them of + animal heat.</p> + + <p>The existence of nerves whose function is to repress action + is no new discovery in physiology. Readers of <i>Lippincott's + Magazine</i> may remember my description of the pneumogastrics + or brake-nerves of the heart, whose duty it is to control the + action of that viscus. Nerves which repress or inhibit action + are spoken of in modern physiology as inhibitory. The + experiments which have been adduced prove that there are nerves + whose function it is to control the general vital chemical + actions, and that the governing centre of these nerves is + situated above the medulla oblongata. To this centre, whose + exact location is unknown, the name of the <i>inhibitory + heat-centre</i> has been given.</p> + + <p>The way in which galvanization of a nerve, violent injuries + and excessive pain depress the temperature, independently of + any action upon the circulation, is now evident. An impulse + simply passes up the irritated or wounded nerve, and excites + this inhibitory heat-centre to increased action, and the + temperature falls because the chemical movements of the body + are repressed.</p> + + <p>The method in which fever is produced also becomes very + evident when once the existence of an inhibitory heat-centre + has been established. Any poison having the power to depress, + and finally paralyze, this centre must, if it find entrance to + the blood, produce fever. If the poison, from its inherent + properties, or from its being in very small quantity, only + diminishes the activity of the inhibitory heat-centre, the + controlling influence is not entirely removed from the chemical + movements of the body, and only slight fever results; but if + the poison actually paralyzes the inhibitory nerves, a very + great rise of temperature must rapidly follow the complete + removal of the brake-power.</p> + + <p>As an illustration we may consider the intense rheumatic + fever, or the so-called "cerebral rheumatism," such as affected + the young Irishman whose case has been narrated in the present + article. Without any apparent reason the poison of rheumatism + habitually attacks one joint on one day, and another joint on + another day, and with as little apparent reason it occasionally + falls of a sudden upon the inhibitory heat-centre, and actually + paralyzes it. In a few minutes intense fever is developed, and + the bodily temperature rapidly approaches nearer and nearer + that line on the other side of which is death.</p> + + <p>In many cases of fever, however, there is no poison in the + blood; thus, the local irritation of a boil or other + inflammation <span class="pagenum">[Pg_203]</span>may cause + what is well termed "irritative fever." The way in which this + is produced is by an indirect, and not a direct, action upon + the inhibitory heat-centre.</p> + + <p>The casualties of the late war proved but too abundantly + that a man may be wounded in one part of the body and suffer + from paralysis of voluntary motion in another part. Thus, a + soldier struck in the neck fell unconscious, and on awaking was + astonished to find his right arm powerless at his side. This is + the so-called "reflex paralysis." Very commonly the irritation + of a nerve will give rise to an impulse which will travel up + the nerve to a motor-centre, and so excite it that it shall + send in turn an impulse down a second nerve to a distant + muscle, and a spasm result. Sometimes, however, the impulse + which travels to the nerve-centre is of such a character that, + instead of exciting it to action, it deprives it of the power + of action. In the former instance reflex motion, in the latter + reflex paralysis, results.</p> + + <p>We have seen that galvanization of a nerve may excite the + inhibitory centre to activity, and the peculiar persistent + irritation of a local inflammation may deprive the same centre + of its power of action: in the one instance a reflex inhibitory + heat-centre spasm—<i>i.e.</i>, lowering of + temperature—is produced, and in the other a reflex + inhibitory heat-centre paralysis—<i>i.e.</i>, + fever—results.</p> + + <p>It would be going too far at present to assert that all + fever is produced in the way spoken of. There are certain drugs + which lower the temperature in the fever that follows division + of the cord and consequent paralysis of the heat-centre, and + which must therefore act either upon the blood, or universally + upon the tissues so as to diminish their-chemical movements. It + is most probable, although not yet absolutely proved, that + there are other substances which act directly upon the blood + and tissues in such a way as to increase their chemical + activities, and thereby cause fever.</p> + + <p>The practical considerations in regard to the treatment of + disease which naturally flow from the recent investigations of + fever are very important and very obvious. This is especially + true since it has been shown in Germany that under the + influence of a continuous high bodily temperature, not intense + enough at any time to compromise life, all the muscular tissues + of the body undergo a peculiar granular degeneration. Many a + typhoid-fever patient has undoubtedly died from the + heart-muscle having undergone this change, when, if by + artificial cooling the temperature of the body had been kept + down, the alteration of the heart-structure would have been + prevented, and death averted. It is obvious, also, that the old + plan of thwarting the intentions of Nature, and depriving the + fever-patient of the free use of cooling drinks, was + practically a baneful cruelty. As the body is burning up in + fever, it is also evident that to deprive it of sustenance is + to aid in the production of fatal exhaustion. The burning will + go on, whether food is given or not, so long as the tissues can + serve as fuel. Of course no more food should be taken than the + patient can digest, but every grain of digested food is so much + added to the resources of the system, which is engaged, it may + be, in a close and doubtful conflict with disease.</p> + + <p>If it were possible, of course the best treatment for fever + would be that which lessened the production of heat. + Fortunately, we have some drugs—notably, quinine and + alcohol—which do exert a decided influence upon the vital + chemical movements, but, unfortunately, their power is limited. + As we are therefore often unable to control heat-production, + the best we can do is to abstract the caloric from the body + whenever it becomes so excessive as to threaten serious + results. To do this, all that is necessary is to put the + patient in a cold bath, or wrap him in a sheet wet with + ice-cold water, or lay him upon an ice-mattress, or surround + him with coils of tubing through which cold water runs, or use + some similar efficacious device. I do not wish to be + misunderstood. External cold is not to be lightly employed: it + is a powerful two-edged weapon, capable of cutting both + ways—a weapon as injurious and destructive in the hands + of the <span class="pagenum">[Pg_204]</span>ignorant and + inexperienced as it is efficient in the hands of those to whom + study and experience have taught its skillful use.</p> + + <p>To illustrate what cold water may effect when employed by + intelligent and skillful physicians, I may be permitted to cite + a few hospital statistics from Germany and Switzerland, the + only countries where the so-called antipyretic treatment of + continued fever has been efficiently carried out on a large + scale. From 1850 to 1861 there were treated without cold water, + at the hospital at Kiel, 330 cases of typhoid fever, with 51 + deaths—a mortality of about 15-1/2 per cent.; from 1863 + to 1866, 160 cases were treated with cold baths, with 5 + deaths—a mortality of only 3-1/10 per cent. In the + hospital of Bâle, from 1843 to 1864, there were 1718 + cases without antipyretic treatment, with 469 deaths—a + mortality of about 27-1/2 per cent; from September, 1866, to + 1873, 1121 cases were treated antipyretically, with 92 + deaths—a mortality of a little over 8 per cent. + Assuredly, we may claim that this water-treatment in typhoid + fever is one of the greatest gains of modern medicine since the + discovery of anæsthesia.</p> + + <p>Some of my readers may here say to themselves, "Why, this is + hydropathy!" Not so. It is the legitimate, not the + illegitimate, use of cold water. It is the use of it as a + single weapon, not as the only weapon of the armory. It is the + employment of it in a single affection, not as a cure for all + diseases.</p> + + <p>Perhaps, in concluding this essay, I may be pardoned one + word of counsel to my lay audience. Any physician who proclaims + himself a follower of any special doctrine, be he a hydropath, + an electropath, an allopath, a homoeopath, or any other + <i>path</i>, should be viewed with suspicion. Water, cold, + heat, electricity, drugs, are all agents capable of being used + advantageously in the treatment of disease. Above all men, the + physician ought to have that teachable spirit which is the + offspring of true humility. Knowing the grave responsibilities + which he assumes, living almost beneath the shadow of that past + whose life-imperiling mistakes are so plainly visible in the + light of the present, he, of all men, should be ever seeking + for new knowledge, gathering with equal zest the seeds of + healing in the waste as well as in the cultivated places, + amongst the lowest and most ignorant of the populace, as well + as in far-famed schools of medicine.</p> + + <p class="author">H.C. WOOD, JR., M.D.</p> + + <h3><a name="sonnet" + id="sonnet"></a>SONNET.</h3> + + <div class='poem_1'> + <div class='stanza'> + <p>Young bride, that findest not a single star</p> + + <p class='i2'>Shining to-night with longed for + prophecy,</p> + + <p>Though snowy drifts are swelling near and far,</p> + + <p class='i2'>They need not chill thy happy hope and + thee.</p> + + <p>If blue had overarched the earth all day,</p> + + <p class='i2'>And heaven were brilliant with its stars + to-night,</p> + + <p>"A happy omen!" many a guest would say,</p> + + <p class='i2'>And think that Fortune blessed the sacred + rite.</p> + + <p>Be superstition far from thee, sweet soul:</p> + + <p class='i2'>This snowy robe, in unison with + thine,</p> + + <p>Nature will doff to-morrow, and the whole</p> + + <p class='i2'>Of this white waste in spring-like + freshness shine.</p> + + <p>If love be strong, then all adversity</p> + + <p>Will melt like snow, and life the greener be.</p> + </div> + + <p class="author">CHARLOTTE F. BATES.</p> + </div> + + <h2><a name="some_recollections_of_hiram_powers" + id="some_recollections_of_hiram_powers"></a>SOME + RECOLLECTIONS OF HIRAM POWERS.</h2> + + <p><span class="pagenum">[Pg_205]</span>There are—or + were—many at Florence whose recollections of Hiram Powers + stretch over the best part of a quarter of a century; and there + are few men of whom it could with equal truth and accuracy be + said that such recollections are wholly pleasant in their + character to the survivors and honorable to the subject of + them. He was in truth universally respected by people of all + classes, and by Americans and English, as well as Italians, in + the city of his adoption, and personally liked and esteemed by + all who had the good fortune to be among his friends. + Recollections such as these are, I say, the property of very + many at Florence. But there is no one in that city—there + <i>was</i> during his life no one in that city, not even she + who during a long life was a companion, friend, partner and + helpmeet in every sense admirable for him—whose + recollections went back to so early a period as mine did.</p> + + <p>When I came to Florence with my mother in 1841, intending to + make a home there for a few years, we found, with some surprise + and much pleasure, Hiram Powers, with a wife and children, + settled there as a sculptor. It was long since, in the course + of the changes and chances of life, we had lost sight of him, + but the meeting was none the less pleasurable to, I think I may + say, both parties. It was at Cincinnati in 1829 that my mother + and myself first knew him. My mother, who had long been an + acquaintance of General La Fayette, became thus the intimate + friend of his ward, Frances Wright. Fascinated by the talent, + the brilliancy and the singular eloquence of that remarkable + and highly-gifted woman, and at the same time anxious to find a + career for one of her sons (not the well-known author of the + present day, but another brother, long since dead), whose + wishes and proclivities adapted him for a life of more activity + and adventure than that of one of our home-abiding professions, + my mother was persuaded by her to join her in a scheme which at + that time was engaging all her singularly large powers of + energy and enthusiasm, the object of which was to found at New + Harmony—I think, though I am not sure whether Frances + Wright's colony was not another, separate from that of New + Harmony—an establishment which was in some way or other + to contribute to the emancipation of the slaves, mainly, I + imagine, by showing that under proper management they were not + unfitted for freedom. The fate of that philanthropic scheme is + too well known to make it necessary for me to rehearse the + story of it here, imperfectly known to me as it is. The upshot + was, that my mother and brother were induced to go to + Cincinnati and attempt other plans, the final result of which + was also a failure. I had had no share in these Transatlantic + projects, being at the time a scholar at Winchester in the + college of William of Wykeham. But between quitting Winchester, + at the age of eighteen, and going to Oxford, I had a period of + liberty of nearly a twelvemonth, the greater part of which I + devoted to accompanying my father on a visit to Cincinnati. And + there I became acquainted with Powers, a very few years only my + senior, whom I found already the valued friend of my mother and + brother.</p> + + <p>He was at that time—I well remember the look of + him—a tall, lanky, but remarkably handsome lad, somewhat + awkward in person, but with a calm but at the same time + intellectually expressive beauty of feature which marked him as + one of Nature's noblemen. His eyes were the most noticeable + point about him. They were magnificent—large, clear, + well-opened, and expressive of calm thought and the working of + the intellect rather than of shrewdness or passion. His manner, + I remember, was marked by an exceeding simpleness, and a sort + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_206]</span>of innocent and dignified + straightforwardness which much impressed me. Altogether, my + acquaintance with him was a contribution of a new sort to the + education of my mind. I had passed eight years in the + acquisition of those things which an English "gentleman's + education" is supposed to offer. These things (in the year + 1829) consisted in a very fair knowledge of Latin and Greek. + Unquestionably, the eight years which I had spent in learning + those languages had brought with them other advantages and + other teachings of an altogether priceless sort. But what they + professedly had taught me, what I then considered as the net + result of my eight years at school, was a competent knowledge + of Latin and Greek, and nothing else. Now, here was a young man + of my own age, or little more, about whose idiosyncrasy there + was something especially <i>simpatico</i> to me, as the + Italians say—who knew nothing whatever of the only things + which I knew, but knew a whole world of things of which I was + profoundly ignorant. I was (of course) full of prejudices + also—ecclesiastical prejudices, class prejudices, + political prejudices, caste prejudices—all of which were + as unintelligible to my new friend as they would have been to a + red Indian. He was singularly free from prejudice of any + kind—a sort of original, blank-paper mind, on which + nothing had been written save what he had consciously written + there himself as the result of his own observations of life. I + knew other young Americans, and perceived and could have + pointed out characteristics which distinguished them. But + Powers was not like them. He seemed to me a sort of Adam, a + fresh, new and original <i>man</i>, unclassable and unjudgable + by any of the formulas or prejudices which served me as means + of appreciating men. Despite all this—perhaps because of + all this—we soon became great friends. I very shortly + discovered that he was wholly and entirely truthful. His "yes" + was <i>yes,</i> his "no" was <i>no</i>; and not only that, but + what is much rarer still, his "five" or "six" was not five and + a quarter or six and a half, but <i>five</i> or <i>six</i>. I + remember in him then what I recognized after many, many years + in later life, and what is often so amusing a characteristic in + simple, upright and truthful minds—the notion that on + occasion he could be deep enough to outwit the cunning of the + unscrupulous, whereas his loyal unsuspiciousness of evil was + such that he might have been cheated by the first shallow rogue + who chose to exercise his vulpine craft against him.</p> + + <p>When I reached Cincinnati I found him intimate with my + brother, and a favorite with my mother, who had formed a high + opinion both of his character and of his talents. The latter + had already very markedly manifested themselves in that + direction which finally decided his career in life. Yet there + was little of that dreamy and enthusiastic worship for the + abstract beautiful which is generally supposed to be the + marking characteristic of the artistic temperament. But he had + a wonderful faculty of executing with his hands whatever his + mind had conceived, and a mind singularly active in invention + and in devising means for the execution of a mechanical end. + Had circumstances not made him a sculptor, he might have + been—probably would have been—a successful + inventor, mechanician or engineer. Throughout life he was an + eminently and specially <i>practical</i> man—a man whose + tendency was not to dream, but to <i>do</i>. That artistic + temperament, as it is generally called, which so often + manifests itself in exactly the opposite direction—in a + tendency to dream rather than to do, and to allow the pleasures + of the ideal to incapacitate those who indulge in them for real + work—was so little his that I have never known a more + industrious and conscientious worker with his hands. And there + was nothing to which he could not turn them, and that with a + degree of skill that would often put to shame the attempts of + members of the craft which he might be essaying for the first + time.</p> + + <p>At that time Hiram Powers was, as the saying is, living upon + his wits; and they, being such as I have described them, were + not likely to fail in producing the wherewithal to do so. There + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_207]</span>was at that period a + little Frenchman named Dorfeuille at Cincinnati—not a bad + sort of little man, I believe, and with some amount of literary + and other talent. But he also being engaged in the operation of + living on his wits, or mainly so, and not finding them so + abundantly sufficient for the purpose as those of my young + friend, thought that he too might in part live on the wits of + the latter; and during the time of my stay at Cincinnati he did + so to the satisfaction of both parties. This Dorfeuille was the + proprietor of a museum, the main and most attractive portion of + which was a number of wax figures. But the Cincinnati public + was not large enough in those days to supply a constant stream + of fresh spectators, and, though there was little in the way of + public amusement to compete with M. Dorfeuille's museum, the + Cincinnati people soon got tired of looking at the same show; + and but for the happy chance which brought him into contact + with Hiram Powers, M. Dorfeuille must have packed up his museum + and sought "fresh woods and pastures new." But with the advent + of young Powers, and the contents of the museum given over to + his creating brain and clever fingers, a period of halcyon days + and new prosperity commenced for the little Frenchman and his + show. With the materials at his disposition all things were + possible to the young artist, to whom such a chance gave the + first clear consciousness of his own powers. New combinations, + new names, new costuming, alterations of figures, etc. etc. + were adopted to produce fine effects and amuse the public with + constant novelties. For the invention of these Powers often + used to consult my mother, whose suggestions he never failed to + carry into effect, to the great amusement of both parties. On + one occasion an idea struck her, which, when she communicated + it to him, fired the imagination of Powers and turned out a + great success. This was nothing less than to give a + representation of some of the more striking scenes of Dante's + <i>Divina Commedia</i>. The idea was a sufficiently audacious + one. But "audaces Fortuna juvat." Powers scouted the notion of + difficulty. My mother was to draw up the programme, and he + undertook, with the materials furnished him by the museum, and + with the help of some of his own handiwork, to give scenic + reality to her suggestions. The result, as I have said, was a + brilliant success. I have a copy of the "bill" that was issued + to the public inviting them to the exhibition in question, + which is a curiosity in its way, and which I must give the + reader. It is drawn up in high sensational style, with lines of + different lengths and boldness, and printed in all the + different sorts of capitals which the printer's case afforded. + I cannot occupy space with any imitation of these typographical + magnificences, but will simply copy the language of the bill. + It must have been my mother's composition, and Powers had to + work up to it, which he did to the letter:</p> + + <div class="blockquot"> + <p>"The World to come, as described by Dante, and + comprising, Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise, will be + exhibited in a room adjoining the Western Museum on the 4th + of July, and days following. Admittance, twenty-five cents. + In the centre is seen a grand colossal figure of Minos, the + Judge of Hell. He is seated at the entrance of the INFERNAL + REGIONS [enormous capitals]. His right hand is raised as in + the act to pronounce sentence, his left holding a + two-pronged sceptre. Above his head is a scroll on which + are written the concluding words of Dante's celebrated + inscription, 'Abandon hope, all ye who enter here!' To the + right of this figure the foreground presents a frozen lake, + on the surface of which are seen the heads of those who + have been doomed to this species of punishment. Among these + is the head of Ugolino, whom Dante describes as eternally + gnawing the head of his enemy, who, after placing him and + his three sons in the upper chamber of a strong tower near + Florence, threw the key of it into the moat and left them + to perish with hunger. Grinning in mockery of these + ice-bound sufferers, A BLACK IMP [biggest extra black + capitals] is seated on a rock, dandling a young monster. On + the edge of the opposite side of the frozen lake + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_208]</span>stands a spirit, who + is just about to endure the frozen torment; and his + attitude and countenance express the agony of extreme cold. + Behind him opens the fiery gulf, the reflection of whose + lurid glare is seen on his half-frozen body. At his feet a + female head, fixed in the ice, looks up to the flames, as + longing for their warmth; while a little way within the + lake of fire another head is seen gazing with longing eyes + upon the ice. A brilliant fountain of flame is in the midst + of the lake, and around it crowds of condemned spirits in + all varieties of suffering. In one corner a fiend is + proclaiming their infamy by the aid of a trumpet through + all the depths of Hell. Birds and animals of hideous form + and evil omen are fluttering over the heads and tormenting + the sufferers. Large icicles hang from the rocks that form + the Gate of Hell, and reflect on their bright surface the + red glare of the fires within. On the left of Minos is seen + a Skeleton ascending a column of Icicles and holding a + standard bearing these lines:</p> + + <div class='poem_1'> + <div class='stanza'> + <p>"'To this grim form our cherished limbs have + come,</p> + + <p>And thus lie mouldering in their earthly + home.</p> + + <p>In turf-bound hillock or in sculptured + shrine</p> + + <p>The worms alike their cold caresses twine.</p> + + <p>So far we all are equal; but once left</p> + + <p>Our mortal weeds, of vital spark bereft,</p> + + <p>Asunder farther than the poles we're + driven—</p> + + <p>Some sunk to deepest Hell, some raised to + highest Heaven.'</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>"Still farther on the left of Minos, and melting into + distance behind him, is seen the shadowy region of + Purgatory. Four bright stars—the Cardinal + Virtues—give a delicate and cheering light amid the + gloom. A group of figures loaded with the burthen of their + sins are about to plunge into the lake of purgatorial + waters, in the hope of depositing them there. A boat wafted + by the wings of an Angel is bearing departed, souls toward + Heaven; and near it is a column of pale light to direct its + course. In the distance is the mountain that divides + Purgatory from Heaven; and Beatrice, the departed mistress + of Dante, is standing on its summit, encouraging him to + proceed with her to Heaven, where his former guide, Virgil, + cannot be admitted (being a Pagan). Groups of Pilgrims who + have passed through Purgatory are ascending the mountain. + Still farther to the left, and opening in unbroken splendor + above the head of Beatrice, is seen the Heaven of Heavens. + The golden light pours down on the heads of the Pilgrims, + and angels are seen floating in the air and encouraging + their efforts. The foreground of this part of the scene + presents various objects to cheer the spirit of the + Pilgrims in their passage through Purgatory. The entrance + indeed is rocky, but shrubs and flowers adorn it, and the + Dove, the bird of Hope, is bearing the olive-branch before + them."</p> + </div> + + <p>If all that was packed into "a room adjoining the Western + Museum," the sight of it must, I think, be admitted to have + been a cheap twenty-five cents' worth. The Cincinnati world of + hard upon half a century ago judged it to be so, and flocked to + the exhibition in crowds. But very soon the versatile and + indefatigable artist devised new means of still further + stimulating the curiosity and excitement of his public. A bar + ran across the exhibition-room, dividing the space allotted to + the spectators from that occupied by the scenery and objects + provided for their amusement. But since the available space + was, as may easily be imagined, somewhat limited, it came to + pass that the foremost spectators, being often of that class of + persons who see with the ends of their fingers, would stretch + out their arms and audaciously touch "the Black Imp," or "the + Skeleton," or Minos himself, or any other of the <i>dramatis + personæ</i> they could reach, to the damage of those + somewhat perishable properties. A notice was therefore + placarded in the room, written in flame-colored letters and + couched in the choicest bugaboo phraseology, warning all such + indiscreet persons that the denizens of the Infernal Regions + could not be touched by mortal hands with impunity, and that + <i>immediate</i> punishment would visit transgressors. Of + course it was foreseen that such threats would not avail to + restrain, but would rather stimulate the curiosity of the + disciples of Saint Thomas. But, sure enough, the threatened + punishment, by no means + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_209]</span>"<i>pede claudo</i>" + followed in every case—very accurately with the speed of + lightning—on the transgression; for Powers had cunningly + contrived, preparing it all with his own hand, that a sharp + electric shock should be communicated to each audacious hand + that braved the prohibition. The astonishment, the terror, and + subsequently the fun, produced by this ingenious device may + easily be imagined. The sufferers, like the fox who had lost + his tail, brought their friends, and enjoyed the fun of leading + them into the same scrape. The "room adjoining the Western + Museum" was more thronged than ever, and little Dorfeuille + reaped a golden harvest. How large a share of it found its way + into the pockets of the ingenious artist I know + not—probably a much smaller one than fair play would have + assigned him.</p> + + <p>In the long after years at Florence, Powers and I had many a + laugh together over his reminiscences of the scenes that + occurred in that exhibition-room, all of which he remembered as + well as if the incidents had happened but a year before, and + would chuckle over with as much enjoyment as he did at the time + of their occurrence. My copy of the hand-bill which I have + given above—doubtless the only one now in + existence—was matter of much amusement to us, and served + to recall every portion and every figure of the early work of + his hands.</p> + + <p>From the time I left America to go to Oxford, in the spring + of 1829, till our meeting at Florence in 1841, I saw no more of + Powers. But, as may be easily imagined, we lost no time in + renewing our old friendship. He was then, and for many years + afterward, living in the Via Romana, not far from the city gate + of that name. The house stood back from the street, and was + approached only by a passage through another tenement, from + which it was divided by a little garden; a situation which, + though not in all respects convenient, had at least the + advantage of securing quietude. The young sculptor, with his + already numerous and rapidly increasing family, occupied the + first and second floors, while the ground floor was exclusively + devoted to workshops and show-rooms. The premises were large + and the accommodations ample. Already few Americans came to + Florence without paying a visit to the "Studio Powers," but + they were in those days but few in comparison to the number + which, partly as residents and partly as merely passing + tourists, throng every winter the fair "City of Flowers." Up to + the revolution of 1848 the English at Florence were very far + more numerous than the citizens of the other English-speaking + nation. That unsuccessful movement drove many English, very + unnecessarily, from their moorings. The English colony was very + much reduced even after those who returned on the return of the + grand duke had resumed their old places. And from that time + forward I think that America has been more numerously + represented on the banks of the Arno than England. Powers had + at that time produced various successful busts, but had not as + yet made himself known as an imaginative sculptor. + Nevertheless, the former works had sufficed to give him an + amount of reputation in the United States that ensured constant + visits of his countrymen to the studio in the Via Romana.</p> + + <p>Some twelve years had elapsed when I first saw Powers in + Florence since the old days in Cincinnati. In such a space of + time, especially at that period of life which turns a lad into + a man, most men change much. But the change in Powers's face + was but small: I should have known him if I had met him in the + street anywhere. But in person he was much changed: he had + become stout and what is called personable, not fat—he + never was that to the end of his life—but neither was he + lanky, as he had been as a youth. He had filled out, as the + phrase is, and might be considered in all respects a decidedly + handsome man. There was something specially, and more than + commonly, upright in the carriage of his person and of his + head, which seemed the expression of the uprightness of the + man's moral and intellectual nature and character. He always + looked straight at you with those large, placid and generally + grave eyes of his <span class="pagenum">[Pg_210]</span>under + their large and bushy brows. They seemed to continue grave, or + at least thoughtful, those eyes, even when there was a pleasant + genial smile on the mouth. And there was this specialty about + his smile—a specialty which may be often observed in + subjective natures habituated to original thought and to live + in the inner life: it seemed generally to be produced more by + the movement of his own inward feelings and thoughts than by + what was said by others. Like most dark-haired men, he began to + become gray early in life, and for some few years before his + death his appearance was venerable in no ordinary degree. He + then wore his hair, which had become perfectly white, very + long, and a shallow, very broad-brimmed white hat on the top of + it. The latter, indeed, was, I think, at all times his + universal wear. I do not think that I ever saw him in Florence + in that detestable article of apparel called "a chimney-pot + hat." But this is anticipating.</p> + + <p>Very shortly after our arrival in Florence and the renewal + of our friendship with Powers—I think not more than a + year—there arrived in Florence, bringing a letter of + introduction to my mother, an English gentleman of fortune, Mr. + Grant. He was a noted lover and patron of art, and my mother + proposed to him a visit to the Studio Powers. The sculptor had + then just completed his first imaginative work, the "Greek + Slave," which numerous <i>replicas</i> have since made so well + known on both sides of the Atlantic. This work had greatly + excited my mother's admiration, and it was that he might have + an opportunity of seeing the "Greek Slave" that my mother was + desirous of taking Mr. Grant to the sculptor's studio. But it + was not altogether easy to induce Mr. Grant to accept the + proposal. "If there is anything very good, that is the very + reason why I must not go there. Lead me not into temptation! I + have been spending all my money, and more than I meant to + spend, on sculpture in Rome. Don't show me any more statues, + for I cannot buy any more." But this confession of fearing + temptation was calculated to produce a stronger determination + to expose him to it. Mr. Grant was persuaded to visit the + studio in the Via Romana: he was as much charmed with the + beauty of the conception of the statue as with the + conscientious perfection of its execution, and he became the + purchaser of it. And it speedily acquired a reputation which + led to the execution of as many, I think, as four or five + replicas at the request of other lovers of art; and the + sculptor's reputation was made.</p> + + <p>The practice of the greatest sculptors as regards the degree + in which it has seemed desirable to them to take part in that + mechanical portion of the business of producing a statue which + consists in the manipulation of the marble, has always been + very different. Some have subjected the marble to the touching + of their own hands more, some less. The work of reproducing a + copy of the clay model in marble is a purely mechanical one, + and may or may not be in the artist's judgment best brought to + perfection by the labor of his own hands. It will readily be + believed, however, from what has been already said of the + tendencies of Powers's talent and idiosyncrasy, that he was + among those who have contributed most of their personal labor + to the perfecting of their works. Powers was one of those men + whose hands have faculty in them. He was a master in the use of + them, and accordingly he loved to use them. It was his practice + to go over with his own hand the surface of the marble of every + work which left his studio. But he was not contented to do this + in the manner and with the tools which had been used by so many + generations of sculptors before him. That decided bent of his + genius to mechanical invention which has been mentioned at the + beginning of this paper led him to perceive that an improvement + might be made in this respect. For giving the last finish to + the marble, for removing from the surface a quantity so small + that no chisel could be trusted to do the work, it is obvious + enough to suggest the use of a file. And no doubt files are + used for the purpose, but they are liable to a special and very + troublesome source of + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_211]</span>inefficiency. They become + clogged with the excessively fine dust of the marble in a very + few minutes to such an extent as to be rendered useless, + especially as the file must be of an exceedingly fine + description. Powers therefore set his mind to the problem of + inventing some means or some instrument by which this source of + trouble could be avoided; and after considerable vexation, not + so much in perfecting his own conception of the thing needed as + in getting careless and not very competent workmen to execute + his orders, he perfected a file of the necessary fineness upon + the principle of a nutmeg-grater. His studio was at all times + full of little ingenious contrivances of all + sorts—contrivances for readily and conveniently modifying + the light in the exact degree desirable; contrivances for the + due collocation and distribution of artificial light; + contrivances for the more ready moving of marbles, etc. + etc.</p> + + <p>It is the fashion in Florence and in Rome for artists to + open their studios to all visitors. It is a custom which adds + much to the amusement of visitors who are really lovers of art; + but it must bring with it, one would think, consequences which + must sometimes be not a little trying to the painter's or + sculptor's temper and patience. Criticism from those who have + some little pretension to the right to criticise is not always + pleasant when volunteered, but criticism from such Philistines + of the Philistines as often haunt the studios must be hard + indeed to bear with common courtesy. Powers invariably received + such with the most perfect suavity and good-temper, but I have + sometimes seen him, to my great amusement, inflict a punishment + on the talkers of nonsense which made them wish they had held + their tongues. This consisted simply of defending his own + practice by entering on a lecture upon the principles which + ought to regulate the matter in question. He was, I fancy, + rather fond of lecturing, and would rather have liked the work + of a professor of the fine arts. I have seen people writhe + under his patient and lengthy expositions, which they were as + capable of understanding as so many bullocks, and which they + had brought down on themselves by some absolutely absurd remark + on the work before them. I have seen such delinquents use every + sort of effort to put a stop to or escape from the punishment + they had brought upon themselves. In vain: the lecture would + continue with a placid <i>uninterruptibility</i> which it was + amusing to witness.</p> + + <p>It was in 1854, I think, or thereabouts (for I have not at + hand the means of verifying the date with accuracy, and it is + of no consequence), that Mr. Hume, the since well-known medium, + came to Florence. He came to my house on the pressing + invitation of my mother, my then wife and myself. We had seen + accounts of extraordinary things said to have taken place some + months previously at the house of a Mr. Rymer, a solicitor + living at Ealing near London, and our curiosity and interest + had been so much excited that the hope of being able to witness + some of these marvels was not the least among the motives of a + journey that summer to England. We obtained an introduction to + Mr. Rymer, were present at sundry <i>séances</i> at his + house at Ealing, made acquaintance with Mr. Hume, and invited + him to stay for a while in my house in Florence. He came + accompanied by his friend, a son of Mr. Rymer; and both the + young men were resident under my roof for about a month, + leaving it to accept an invitation from Mr. Powers to make his + house their home for a while. The manifestations of phenomena + produced, or supposed to be produced, by what has become known + to the world as "Spiritualism," were then only beginning to + attract in Europe the very general attention which they have + since that time attracted. The thing was then new to most + people. During the month that Mr. Hume and his friend were in + my house we had séances almost every evening, with the + "assistance," as the French say, of a rather numerous and very + varied circle. For, as may easily be supposed, all our friends + were anxious to witness the new marvels, and we, desirous only + of as many eyes and as many minds as might be for the better + watching and discussion of the phenomena, + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_212]</span>welcomed all comers to the + extent of the capacity of our room and table. I have no + intention of troubling my present readers with any detailed + rehearsal of the phenomena which presented themselves. The + testimony which my observations during this period enabled me + to offer has already more than once been given to the world in + print, and the catalogue of similar and yet more extraordinary + experiences has become too long, and the witnesses to them too + numerous and too well known to the public, for such details to + have any further interest at the present day. I feel bound, + however, to state that no amount of suspicious watching which I + was able to exercise in my house, and which Powers was able to + exercise in his, enabled us to discover any smallest degree of + imposture, or fair grounds for suspecting imposture, as regards + the physical or material phenomena which were witnessed. Such + is my testimony, and such was that of Powers, who, by his + aptitude for inventing and understanding mechanical + contrivances of all kinds, was a man specially well fitted for + the task of watching the performance of such wonders. I have + spoken here, it will be observed, altogether of the + <i>material</i> and <i>physical</i> phenomena witnessed. As to + what are called the spiritual manifestations, Powers was + perhaps not an entirely unbiased estimator of these. He was an + eminently sincere, earnest and zealous Swedenborgian, and + several of the leading tenets and dogmas of the Swedenborgian + faith are calculated to make such communications with the world + of spirits as Spiritualists claim to experience much less + startling, less strange to the mind and more acceptable, than + they usually appear to other people. To a Swedenborgian who is + perfectly convinced that the spirits of the departed are ever + around him and interested in his welfare, it does not seem a + very strange or extraordinary thing that these visitors should + under certain circumstances be able to express the interest + which they always feel. Powers regarded all the professed + manifestations of spiritual communications from that + stand-point, and was enabled to accept them therefore somewhat + more easily than another person might have done. Yet, despite + such predisposing proclivities, and though he was disposed to + think a great variety of professed communications from the + world of spirits to have been genuinely what they purported to + be, the habitual uprightness and truthfulness of Powers's mind + led him, as I believe I am justified in saying, to the + conclusion that in the case which I am about to mention, at + least, there was ground for very strong suspicion of the + honesty of the medium. The circumstances of the case were as + follows:</p> + + <p>I had many years previously lost a brother—the same + whom I have already had occasion to mention in the earlier part + of this letter. Now, at an early stage of the series of + sittings that took place at my house it was intimated that the + spirit of this brother was present and wishful or willing to + communicate with me. He did, as was proposed, communicate very + freely upon subjects of all sorts by means of raps under the + table and the letters of the alphabet spread upon it—on + all subjects save one. To the often-repeated question, where we + had last met in life, I could get no reply. It was constantly + promised to me that I should be answered this question at the + next sitting. Now, it so happened that my wife had conceived, + reasonably or unreasonably, doubts as to the medium's honesty + in the matter, and she determined to try him in the matter of + this unanswered question. Talking one day with him in + tête-à-tête, she turned the subject of + maladies of the chest, of which they had been speaking, to the + special case of her late brother-in-law, discussing the + powerful influence of climate, and remarking that she feared + Ostend had been a very bad place for him. And there she left + the matter without any further remark, and without eliciting + any answer from him. This occurred very shortly before the time + when Mr. Hume left my house to accept the hospitality of Mr. + Powers. The sittings continued with great frequency in the + house of the latter, and my mother and myself were very + frequently present at them. + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_213]</span>As before, the + <i>soi-disant</i> spirit of my brother Henry announced his + presence, and, as before, I repeated my often-asked question as + to the place on earth where he and I had last met. On this + occasion the answer rapped out consisted of the word "Ostend." + I smilingly replied, "Spirit, you know nothing about what you + are talking of: you are wrong." Mr. Hume became immediately + very angry, and reproached me vehemently for "interrupting the + spirit"—for not waiting for what he was probably going to + say. It was likely enough, he added, that the spirit was about + to say that Ostend was <i>not</i> the place. I said "Pshaw! In + that way he might go through the whole Gazetteer." Thereupon + Mr. Hume declared that I was evidently not in a fit frame of + mind to be a sitter at such meetings; that my presence would be + likely to mar any results to be expected from them; and, in + short, if only for the sake of those who wished to continue + their experiences, it was necessary that I should withdraw from + them. That was the last occasion on which I took part in a + séance under Mr. Hume's mediumship. My mother continued + her sittings at the house of Mr. Powers, and it is fair to + record that she there witnessed material phenomena—some + of them closely allied to phenomena only explainable on + Spiritualistic theories—of even a more extraordinary + nature than any which had occurred at my house; in which + neither she, nor Mr. Powers or any of his family, nor any of + the others of the party, were able to detect any imposture. And + I believe I may add that Mr. Powers fully believed in the + genuineness of the phenomena witnessed. It is also perhaps fair + to state that had the answer to my question been "On board the + steamboat going from London to Ostend," the reply would have + been correct. How far it is possible to suppose that the word + "Ostend" may have been the <i>first</i> word of an answer about + to be completed in that sense if it had not been interrupted, I + leave to the judgment of the reader.</p> + + <p>For some time after this Powers used to recount to me the + marvels which were witnessed at his house. He was not pleased + with the medium as an inmate in other respects: he did not form + a favorable opinion of his moral character. I am speaking of + matters now many years old, and I might not have considered it + necessary to record these impressions of a very specially + upright and honest man with regard to one who is still before + the public were it not that they go to increase the value of + Mr. Powers's testimony to the genuineness of the phenomena + which he witnessed, by showing that his judgment upon the + subject was at least in no degree warped by any prejudice in + favor of the miracle-worker.</p> + + <p>Meantime, the sculptor, still in the modest tenement which + he occupied for so many years in the Via Romana, was growing in + fame and reputation from day to day. A visit to the Studio + Powers—or Pousse, as the ciceroni and valets-de-place + called it—was an obligatory part of the tourist's regular + work in "doing" Florence. A large family was, during those + prosperous and laborious years, growing up around + him—sons and daughters, most of whom he lived to see + settled in life and to be justly proud of. Death did not + altogether pass his threshold by, but he knocked there but once + or twice in all that length of years. At last the time came + when the successful artist felt that his position enabled and + justified him in moving from his old quarters to more + commodious and luxurious ones. He had been but a tenant in the + Via Romana: he was now to inhabit a house of his own.</p> + + <p>It was the time when Florence was for a few short years + enjoying the fallacious and fatal honor of being the capital of + Italy. There were some who from the first were fully convinced + that that honor would be a transitory one. The greater number + thought that the will of France and of her emperor, and the + difficulties attending the simultaneous residence of the king + of Italy and the pope within the walls of the same city, would + avail to make Florence the capital of the new kingdom for at + least as many years as human prudence could look forward to. + The earthquake-like events which shook down the bases of all + such calculations, and enabled Italy to realize her longing + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_214]</span>desire to see Rome the + capital of the nation, are too well known to need even + referring to. Florence suddenly ceased to be the metropolis of + Italy, and the amount of financial ruin in the case of those + who had invested money in building to supply the wants of the + capital was very widespread indeed. And there can be no doubt + that the houses built by Powers are at the present day worth + much less than they were at the time he built them, and still + less than they would have been worth had Florence remained the + capital. Nevertheless, I do not think that he would have + abstained from building from any considerations of this kind. + He built solely with a view to residence, and in that respect + he could hardly have done better than he did.</p> + + <p>He did not move very far. His old lodging and studio were, + as has been said, a little way within the Porta Romana, and the + villa residence which he built is but two or three minutes' + walk on the outside of it. Immediately outside this Porta + Romana, sloping off a little to the left from the road to Rome, + is a magnificent avenue of ilex and cypress conducting to a + grand-ducal villa called the "Poggio Imperiale." To the left + again of this avenue, which is perhaps a mile or somewhat more + in length, and between it and the city wall, which in that part + of its course encloses the Boboli Gardens attached to the + Palazzo Pitti, is a large extent of hillside, rapidly rising to + the heights crowned by the ancient and storied church of San + Miniato, and by the suburban villages of Arcetri and Pian + Guillari. This space was, and had been for time out of mind, + occupied by fields and market-gardens. But when the new + fortunes of the City of Flowers fallaciously seemed to be in + the ascendant, it was at once seen that of all the spaces + immediately around Florence which were available for that + increase of the city which was expected to be urgently + required, none was more desirable or more favorably + circumstanced than this hillside. A really magnificent + carriage-road, ornamented with gardens on either side of it, + was led in well-arranged curves up to San Miniato, and down on + the other side of the hill till it reaches the Arno at the + village of Ricorboli. The entire course of this road commands a + series of varied views of the city and the Vale of Arno than + which nothing can be conceived more charming. It is in truth + the finest city promenade and drive that I know in Europe. Rome + has nothing comparable to it. The Bois de Boulogne and Hyde + Park are, as far as natural beauty goes, tame and flat in + comparison to it. The planning and the execution of it have + been alike excellent. The whole of the space up which the road + serpentines has been turned into ornamental gardens, and on + either side of it, and among its lawns and shrubberies, a large + number of villa-sites were reserved to be disposed of to + purchasers. Of this singular opportunity Powers was one of the + first to avail himself. He selected with admirable judgment + three sites in the immediate neighborhood of each + other—one for a residence for himself, one for that of + his eldest son, a married man, established and doing well as a + photographer, and one for that of his eldest daughter and her + husband, Mr. and Mrs. Ibbetson. The friends of the sculptor + thus patriarchally establishing himself said laughingly that + the region ought to be called Powerstown. The three houses, + each in its own grounds, were built, and excellently good and + comfortable residences they are. Powers was almost as much in + his own element in superintending them as in his studio with + mallet and chisel in hand, as might be surmised. The new studio + formed no part of the dwelling-house, but occupied a separate + erection in the grounds. Nor did the artist's love for his art + fail to show itself in the amplitude and excellent adaptation + of the building to all the needs of a studio, properly so + called—of work-rooms and exhibition-rooms for the + reception of visitors. A more complete sculptor's residence and + establishment it would be difficult to imagine. Alas for the + shortness of the few years that were allowed to him for the + enjoyment of it! Long after the house and the studio were + completed, and the marbles all moved + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_215]</span>thither, Powers was still + indulging in the delight of improving his garden; and his plans + for such improvement gave striking evidence of that genius and + passion for mechanical cleverness and achievements of which I + have frequently spoken. He had planned and begun—I think + only begun—to execute an artesian well by means of + certain newly-invented systems of boring, the details of which, + in the absence of all workmen who possessed any knowledge + whatever on the subject, had to be wholly superintended, + arranged and adapted by himself. He had satisfied himself by + observations of his own that water was to be found at a given + depth, and had, I believe, prosecuted the work sufficiently to + be assured that his judgment in this respect was well founded. + In connection with this scheme of the artesian well was a + fountain in the garden, which was, I believe, also ultimately + brought to perfection.</p> + + <p>In conformity with the convenient continental fashion of + ladies naming one day in the week for the reception of + visitors—a plan which enables them to escape from the + interruption to their domestic pursuits on all other days, and + which is very generally adopted by those who have large circles + of acquaintance—Mrs. Powers used to open the + drawing-rooms of her new house on every Saturday, and a + considerable crowd was sure to be found there from two to six. + But such recent arrivals on the banks of the Arno as paid their + respects to Mrs. Powers in the hope and expectation of seeing + the famous sculptor were almost, if not quite, invariably + disappointed. None of the Florentine colony expected to find + Powers in the drawing-room on such occasions. They knew better + where to look for him—in his workshop. There he might be + found by those who had brought letters of introduction to him, + in his usual workman's garb. Powers never made the slightest + concession to the necessities of receiving "company" on such + occasions. There he was, with his working cap on head, probably + in a long light gray coat, not innocent of marble dust, but + often in blouse and apron.</p> + + <p>In the latter days, when, though we little thought it, the + end was approaching, when the night of that long day of + continuous activity and labor was at hand, he might as + frequently have been found sauntering under the magnificent + trees of the Poggio Imperiale avenue in the immediate vicinity + of his own house. Upright in figure and in carriage as ever, + and with his eye as bright as ever, it was difficult to suppose + that the venerable and stalwart figure of the old sculptor was + not destined still for years of life and activity. His malady + was connected with the respiratory organs; and a specially + painful circumstance of it for his friends was, that the loss + of voice, which made the effort of talking injurious to him, + rendered it a selfish and inconsiderate thing to visit him; for + the activity of his mind was still such that in the contact + with another mind he could not abstain from the old familiar + intercourse which he had loved so well. Like the old camel of + the Arabian tale, that, having been all its life accustomed to + lead the caravan, died in the effort to keep his old place to + the last, Powers, who had been always wont to have rather the + lion's share of conversation, could not resign himself to hear + another talk, in silence. He <i>would</i> talk, and suffered + for it afterward. The result was that his friends felt that + they were showing the best consideration for him by staying + away.</p> + + <p>To look at him, I say, as he would stand in the sunshine at + his own gate, it was difficult to imagine that aught of a very + serious nature ailed him. But in the case of a man so + habitually active his sauntering there was a bad sign. He was + emphatically one of those men with whom life and work are the + same thing—one whose sun was at the setting when he could + work no more, and who would probably have cared little to + survive his capacity for working.</p> + + <p class="author">T. ADOLPHUS + TROLLOPE.</p><span class="pagenum">[Pg_216]</span> + + <h2><a name="corn" + id="corn"></a>CORN.</h2> + + <div class='poem_1'> + <div class='stanza'> + <p>To-day the woods are trembling through and + through</p> + + <p class='i2'>With shimmering forms, that flash into my + view,</p> + + <p>Then melt in green as dawn-stars melt in blue.</p> + + <p class='i2'>The leaves that wave against my cheek + caress</p> + + <p class='i2'>Like women's hands; the embracing boughs + express</p> + + <p class='i8'>A subtlety of mighty tenderness;</p> + + <p>The copse-depths into little noises start,</p> + + <p>That sound anon like beatings of a heart,</p> + + <p>Anon like talk 'twixt lips not far apart.</p> + + <p class='i2'>The beech dreams balm, as a dreamer hums + a song,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Through whose vague sweet float + expirations strong</p> + + <p class='i2'>From lithe young hickories, breathing + deep and long</p> + + <p>With stress and urgence bold of inward spring,</p> + + <p class='i6'>And ecstasy of burgeoning.</p> + + <p class='i2'>Now, since the dew-plashed road of morn + is dry,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Come daintier smells, linked in soft + company,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Like velvet-slippered ladies pacing + by.</p> + + <p class='i12'>Long muscadines,</p> + + <p>Like Jove's locks curled round foreheads of great + pines,</p> + + <p>Breathe out ambrosial passion from their vines.</p> + + <p class='i2'>I pray with mosses, ferns and flowers + shy</p> + + <p class='i2'>That hide like gentle nuns from human + eye,</p> + + <p class='i2'>To lift adoring odors to the sky.</p> + + <p>I hear faint bridal-sighs of blissful green,</p> + + <p>Dying to kindred silences serene,</p> + + <p>As dim lights melt into a pleasant sheen.</p> + + <p class='i2'>I start at fragmentary whispers, + blown</p> + + <p class='i2'>From undertalks of leafy loves + unknown,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Vague purports sweet, of inarticulate + tone.</p> + </div> + + <div class='stanza'> + <p>Dreaming of gods, men, nuns and brides, between</p> + + <p>Old companies of oaks that inward lean</p> + + <p>To join their radiant amplitudes of green,</p> + + <p class='i2'>I slowly move, with ranging looks that + pass</p> + + <p class='i2'>Up from the matted miracles of grass</p> + + <p>Into yon veined complex of space,</p> + + <p>Where sky and leafage interlace</p> + + <p class='i2'>So close the heaven of blue is seen</p> + + <p class='i2'>Inwoven with a heaven of green.</p> + </div> + + <div class='stanza'> + <p>I wander to the zigzag-cornered fence</p> + + <p>Where sassafras, intrenched in brambles dense,</p> + + <p>Contests with stolid vehemence</p> + + <p class='i2'>The march of culture, setting limb and + thorn,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Like pikes, against the army of the + corn.</p> + </div> + + <div class='stanza'> + <p>There, while I pause, before mine eyes,</p> + + <p>Out of the silent corn-ranks, rise</p> + + <p class='i6'>Inward + dignities</p><span class="pagenum">[Pg_217]</span> + + <p>And large benignities and insights wise,</p> + + <p class='i6'>Graces and modest majesties.</p> + + <p class='i2'>Thus, without tilth, I house a wondrous + yield;</p> + + <p class='i2'>Thus, without theft, I reap another's + field,</p> + + <p class='i2'>And store quintuple harvests in my heart + concealed.</p> + </div> + + <div class='stanza'> + <p>See, out of line a single corn-stem stands</p> + + <p>Advanced beyond the foremost of his bands,</p> + + <p class='i2'>And waves his blades upon the very + edge</p> + + <p class='i2'>And hottest thicket of the battling + hedge.</p> + + <p>Thou lustrous stalk, that canst nor walk nor + talk,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Still dost thou type the poet-soul + sublime</p> + + <p class='i2'>That leads the vanward of his timid + time,</p> + + <p class='i2'>And sings up cowards with commanding + rhyme—</p> + + <p>Soul calm, like thee, yet fain, like thee, to + grow</p> + + <p>By double increment, above, below;</p> + + <p class='i2'>Soul homely, as thou art, yet rich in + grace like thee,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Teaching the yeomen selfless + chivalry,</p> + + <p class='i2'>That moves in gentle curves of + courtesy;</p> + + <p>Soul filled like thy long veins with sweetness + tense,</p> + + <p class='i6'>By every godlike sense</p> + + <p>Transmuted from the four wild elements.</p> + + <p class='i8'>Toward the empyrean</p> + + <p class='i2'>Thou reachest higher up than mortal + man,</p> + + <p>Yet ever piercest downward in the mould,</p> + + <p class='i6'>And keepest hold</p> + + <p class='i2'>Upon the reverend and steadfast earth</p> + + <p class='i6'>That gave thee birth.</p> + + <p>Yea, standest smiling in thy very grave,</p> + + <p class='i6'>Serene and brave,</p> + + <p class='i2'>With unremitting breath</p> + + <p class='i2'>Inhaling life from death,</p> + + <p>Thine epitaph writ fair in fruitage eloquent,</p> + + <p class='i6'>Thy living self thy monument.</p> + </div> + + <div class='stanza'> + <p class='i8'>As poets should,</p> + + <p>Thou hast built up thy hardihood</p> + + <p>With wondrous-varying food,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Drawn in select proportion fair</p> + + <p class='i2'>From solid mould and vagrant air;</p> + + <p>From terrors of the dreadful night,</p> + + <p class='i6'>And joyful light;</p> + + <p class='i2'>From antique ashes, whose departed + flame</p> + + <p class='i2'>In thee has finer life and longer + fame;</p> + + <p>From wounds and balms,</p> + + <p>From storms and calms,</p> + + <p class='i2'>From potsherds and dry bones,</p> + + <p class='i6'>And ruin-stones.</p> + + <p>So to thy vigorous substance thou hast wrought</p> + + <p>Whate'er the hand of Circumstance hath brought;</p> + + <p class='i2'>Yea, into cool solacing green hast + spun</p> + + <p class='i2'>White radiance hot from out the sun.</p> + + <p>So thou dost mutually leaven</p> + + <p>Strength of earth with grace of + heaven;</p><span class="pagenum">[Pg_218]</span> + + <p class='i2'>So thou dost marry new and old</p> + + <p class='i2'>Into a one of higher mould;</p> + + <p class='i2'>So thou dost reconcile the hot and + cold,</p> + + <p class='i10'>The dark and bright,</p> + + <p>And many a heart-perplexing opposite:</p> + + <p class='i12'>And so,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Akin by blood to high and low,</p> + + <p>Fitly thou playest out thy poet's part,</p> + + <p>Richly expending thy much-bruised heart</p> + + <p class='i2'>In equal care to nourish lord in hall</p> + + <p class='i8'>Or beast in stall:</p> + + <p class='i2'>Thou took'st from all that thou might'st + give to all.</p> + </div> + + <div class='stanza'> + <p>O steadfast dweller on the selfsame spot</p> + + <p>Where thou wast born, that still repinest + not—</p> + + <p>Type of the home-fond heart, the happy + lot!—</p> + + <p class='i2'>Deeply thy mild content rebukes the + land</p> + + <p class='i2'>Whose flimsy homes, built on the shifting + sand</p> + + <p>Of trade, for ever rise and fall</p> + + <p>With alternation whimsical,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Enduring scarce a day,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Then swept away</p> + + <p>By swift engulfments of incalculable tides</p> + + <p>Whereon capricious Commerce rides.</p> + </div> + + <div class='stanza'> + <p>Look, thou substantial spirit of content!</p> + + <p>Across this little vale, thy continent,</p> + + <p class='i2'>To where, beyond the mouldering mill,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Yon old deserted Georgian hill</p> + + <p>Bares to the sun his piteous aged crest</p> + + <p class='i6'>And seamy breast,</p> + + <p class='i2'>By restless-hearted children left to + lie</p> + + <p class='i2'>Untended there beneath the heedless + sky,</p> + + <p class='i2'>As barbarous folk expose their old to + die.</p> + + <p>Upon that generous swelling side,</p> + + <p class='i6'>Now scarified</p> + + <p class='i2'>By keen neglect, and all unfurrowed + save</p> + + <p class='i2'>By gullies red as lash-marks on a + slave,</p> + + <p>Dwelt one I knew of old, who played at toil,</p> + + <p>And dreamed himself a tiller of the soil.</p> + + <p class='i2'>Scorning the slow reward of patient + grain,</p> + + <p class='i2'>He sowed his soul with hopes of swifter + gain,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Then sat him down and waited for the + rain.</p> + + <p>He sailed in borrowed ships of usury—</p> + + <p>foolish Jason on a treacherous sea,</p> + + <p>Seeking the Fleece and finding misery.</p> + + <p class='i2'>Lulled by smooth-rippling loans, in idle + trance</p> + + <p class='i2'>He lay, content that unthrift + Circumstance</p> + + <p class='i2'>Should plough for him the stony field of + Chance.</p> + + <p>Yea, gathering crops whose worth no man might + tell,</p> + + <p>He staked his life on a game of Buy-and-Sell,</p> + + <p>And turned each field into a gambler's hell.</p> + + <p class='i2'>Aye, as each year began,</p> + + <p class='i2'>My farmer to the neighboring city + ran,</p><span class="pagenum">[Pg_219]</span> + + <p>Passed with a mournful anxious face</p> + + <p>Into the banker's inner place;</p> + + <p>Parleyed, excused, pleaded for longer grace,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Railed at the drought, the worm, the + rust, the grass,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Protested ne'er again 'twould come to + pass</p> + + <p class='i2'>Such troops of ills his labors should + harass;</p> + + <p>Politely swallowed searching questions rude,</p> + + <p>And kissed the dust to melt his Dives's mood.</p> + + <p>At last, small loans by pledges great renewed,</p> + + <p class='i2'>He issues smiling from the fatal + door,</p> + + <p class='i2'>And buys with lavish hand his yearly + store</p> + + <p class='i2'>Till his small borrowings will yield no + more.</p> + + <p>Aye, as each year declined,</p> + + <p>With bitter heart and ever-brooding mind</p> + + <p>He mourned his fate unkind.</p> + + <p class='i2'>In dust, in rain, with might and + main,</p> + + <p class='i2'>He nursed his cotton, cursed his + grain,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Fretted for news that made him fret + again,</p> + + <p>Snatched at each telegram of Future Sale,</p> + + <p>And thrilled with Bulls' or Bears' alternate + wail—</p> + + <p>In hope or fear alike for ever pale.</p> + + <p class='i2'>And thus from year to year, through hope + and fear,</p> + + <p class='i2'>With many a curse and many a secret + tear,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Striving in vain his cloud of debt to + clear,</p> + + <p class='i16'>At last</p> + + <p>He woke to find his foolish dreaming past,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Beheld his best-of-life the easy prey</p> + + <p class='i2'>Of quacks and scamps, and all the vile + array</p> + + <p class='i8'>That line the way,</p> + + <p>From thieving statesman down to petty knave;</p> + + <p>Yea, saw himself, for all his bragging brave,</p> + + <p>A gamester's catspaw and a banker's slave.</p> + + <p class='i2'>Then, worn and gray, and sick with deep + unrest,</p> + + <p class='i2'>He fled away into the oblivious West,</p> + + <p class='i8'>Unmourned, unblest.</p> + </div> + + <div class='stanza'> + <p>Old hill! old hill! thou gashed and hairy Lear</p> + + <p>Whom the divine Cordelia of the year,</p> + + <p>E'en pitying Spring, will vainly strive to + cheer—</p> + + <p class='i2'>King, but too poor for any man to + own,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Discrowned, undaughtered and alone,</p> + + <p>Yet shall the great God turn thy fate,</p> + + <p>And bring thee back into thy monarch's state</p> + + <p class='i6'>And majesty immaculate;</p> + + <p class='i2'>So, through hot waverings of the August + morn,</p> + + <p class='i2'>A vision of great treasuries of corn</p> + + <p class='i2'>Thou bearest in thy vasty sides + forlorn,</p> + + <p>For largesse to some future bolder heart</p> + + <p>That manfully shall take thy part,</p> + + <p class='i8'>And tend thee,</p> + + <p class='i8'>And defend thee,</p> + + <p>With antique sinew and with modern art.</p> + </div> + + <p class="author">SIDNEY LANIER.</p> + </div><span class='pagenum'>[Pg_220]</span> + + <h2><a name="gentleman_dick" + id="gentleman_dick"></a>GENTLEMAN DICK.</h2> + + <p>They had, all of them, nicknames themselves, for in a + Colorado mining-community it was not difficult to acquire a + title, and they called him Gentleman Dick. It was rather an odd + name, to be sure, but it was very expressive, and conveyed much + of the prevailing opinion and estimate of its owner. They + laughed when he expressed a desire to join the party in Denver, + and Old Platte looked at his long, delicate hands, so like a + woman's, with a smile of rough, good-humored pity, mingled, + perhaps, with a shade of contempt for the habits and occupation + that had engendered such apparent effeminacy. But he pleaded so + earnestly and talked with such quiet energy and confidence of + what he could and would do, and moreover had about him so much + of that spirit of subdued <i>bonhomie</i> that always + captivates the roughest of the rough, that they relented, took + his money and put it in the "pot," and informed him that he was + one of them. Their decision was not altogether unconnected with + the fact that he had given evidence of considerable surgical + skill in his treatment of Mr. Woods, more familiarly known as + "Short-card William," who had been shot a week or so previously + over a game of poker by an independent bull-whacker whom he had + attempted to defraud. The sense of the community had sustained + the act; and while the exhibition of his skill in dealing was + universally condemned as having been indiscreet under the + circumstances, still he was accounted a live man among them, + and the discovery of a surgeon to dress his wound was hailed + with a somewhat general feeling of relief. Had it not been for + the fact that the sobriquet of Gentleman Dick was already + conferred and accepted universally as his name, he certainly + would not have escaped that of "Doctor," and as it was, Mr. + Woods, who was profuse as well as profane in his gratitude, + insisted upon so calling him. A doctor, or anything bearing + even a resemblance to a member of that sadly-represented + profession, was regarded with a certain degree of reverence + among a community whose peculiar habits often gave rise to + pressing and immediate need of surgical attendance. + Consequently, Gentleman Dick rapidly attained an elevated + position in their regard, and became a great favorite with Old + Platte's party, although they still looked doubtfully at his + slender figure and felt "kind o' bothered" by the air of + gentility and good-breeding which hung around him in spite of + the rough miner's garments that he had chosen to assume. By the + time they left Denver for the Blue he was deemed as + indispensable to the company as Old Platte himself.</p> + <hr class='short' /> + + <p>The forest of dark pines and firs that covered both sides of + the valley of the Blue grew down to the bars of the river, + which along its banks was thickly grown with wild gooseberry + and raspberry bushes, and piled up here and there with great + tangled heaps of driftwood which the spring floods brought down + and left in masses of inextricable confusion along its sides. + Back a little distance from one of these sandy flats, and + nestled right in the shadow of the forest's edge, they built a + long rough cabin early in June. In summer-time the spot was a + wild and picturesque one. Green and luxuriant vegetation made a + soft and brilliant carpet at the feet of the stately old pines; + huge boulder-like rocks, their edges softened and rounded in + the grasp of one of Agassiz' pre-Adamite glaciers that had + ground its icy way down from the melting snow-caps + above—rocks covered with bright lichens and tufts of + moss—- lay piled on one another at the foot of the steep + mountain-side; while gnarled cedars twisted around about them, + their rough red roots twining here and there in search of + sustenance. Below <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_221]</span>the + cabin a little way lay the bar—Chihuahua Bar they had + christened it, out of deference to "Jones of Chihuahua," whose + prospecting-pan had developed the fact that gold in promising + quantities lay beneath it—and a little farther on the + Blue sang merrily in its gravelly bed. Down the river, about + two miles, was Blue Bar, where about two hundred miners had + formed a settlement, and where a red-headed Scotchman, who + combined the duties of a self-constituted postmaster with the + dispensation of a villainous article of whisky, kept a lively + grocery and provision store.</p> + + <p>During the early part of the season they had prospected up + along the river, finding gold all the way, but not in + quantities sufficiently large to warrant working. At the place, + however, which they subsequently named Chihuahua (pronounced in + the vernacular Chee-waw-waw) the perspicacious Jones had given + it as his opinion, formed after mature deliberation and a + sapient examination of some two or three shovelsful of dirt, + that there was a satisfactory "color in that ar bank." Some + hard work of about a week demonstrated that there were + excellent diggings there, and then work was commenced upon it + in good earnest. The cabin was built, Gentleman Dick's choice + of location being unanimously approved; two or three trips were + made across the "Range" to the nearest settlement for materials + and provisions; and then the real labor began. As they cut + through the heavy bank of mould and gravel, gradually eating a + long trench to the bed-rock, prospects grew better and better. + At last, one day a narrow ledge of brittle, shaly rock came in + view, covered with a coating of thick, heavy yellow mud, of + which Old Platte gathered a panful and betook himself down to + the river-side. A war-whoop from the direction in which he had + disappeared came ringing through the gooseberry bushes to their + ears, and with a responsive yell and a simultaneous dropping of + shovels and picks they all dashed off to his side. He was + discovered in a condition of great excitement, dancing wildly + round the pan, in the bottom of which about half a teaspoonful + of coarse yellow nuggets were shining among the black sand. It + was a grand prospect, and with the exception of Gentleman Dick, + whose exultation was of a very mild and reserved order, the + proprietors of the Chihuahua Claim behaved in a very + undignified and unseemly way; Thompson and Jones organizing an + impromptu sparring-match, and Old Platte standing indecorously + on his head in a neighboring clump of bushes. Sundry war-whoops + and divers indications of activity showed that work of a very + lively and energetic character was being prosecuted that + afternoon on the bar; and when the sun sunk to rest behind the + purple mountains, and the blue mists of evening rose in the + valley, they had their sluice-boxes and "riffles" in order, and + were ready to commence washing at sunrise.</p> + + <p>It did not take very long to clean the ledge, and early in + the afternoon the water was shut off. When it was found that + the "riffles" yielded thirteen ounces of gold that would coin + eighteen dollars and a half to the ounce, a firm conviction + seemed to settle upon the camp that this was an occasion which + it would be improper to pass over without a thorough and + practical acknowledgment of its importance in the shape of a + regular celebration. The gold was weighed and divided, all + sitting in a circle in the middle of the cabin floor, while Old + Platte officiated at the scales with all the gravity and + dignity which the responsible position called for.</p> + + <p>Mr. McNab's grocery and post-office at Blue Bar was the + scene of much excitement and noisy revelry that evening and all + the next day while the gold lasted. Miners who had heard of the + Chihuahua "streak" flocked up to Blue Bar to get the + particulars, and naturally joined in the general feeling of + exultation and hilarity that seemed to pervade that community. + Old Platte got terribly drunk, and Thompson and Jones developed + the strangest eccentricities of gait, manner and speech, and + finally subsided into a deep slumber in the dust and sand of + the main thoroughfare of + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_222]</span>the Bar. Gentleman Dick's + absence from the festivities was not noticed that evening, but + the next day Thompson, who seemed to feel aggrieved on the + subject, announced his intention of going up to Chihuahua to + fetch him down. He left Mr. McNab's on his charitable mission + armed with a bottle of rum, and proceeded up the creek in a + condition of moderate intoxication. That he was somewhat + sobered on his arrival at the cabin was perhaps due to the fact + that the cork was fixed very firmly in the neck of his bottle: + at any rate, he did not ask his friend to drink when he found + him.</p> + + <p>Gentleman Dick had just directed and sealed a letter, and + was about to start for the settlement of Gold Dirt, when + Thompson loomed up unsteadily in the doorway, surveyed him + inquiringly for a moment and asked undecidedly and + apologetically, "Wass' up? W'ere you goin'?"</p> + + <p>Gentleman Dick, apparently overlooking his somewhat dubious + condition, told him he had been writing a letter to some one + who lived in the States: he was going to Gold Dirt to mail it, + and a ring of Blue Creek gold was to accompany it to its + destination. Thompson said no more, but stood there in the + doorway with McNab's rum under his arm. He did not stir, nor + did he seem to notice the "good-bye" that came down the winding + trail through the pines, but remained there stolid and + immovable, gazing vacantly at the writing-paper on the rough + table. Suddenly he straightened himself up to his full height, + and taking the bottle from under his arm, held it out at arm's + length and apostrophized it in terms which Mr. McNab would have + regarded as a personal insult, and which the community on the + Blue might possibly have resented with a challenge to mortal + combat. His next step, had they witnessed it, would certainly + have led to the conclusion that he was a dangerous lunatic, and + one, at that, whose peculiar madness was of a kind specially + objectionable to the residents of Blue Bar. He placed the + object toward which his feelings had undergone so sudden a + revulsion carefully on the ground, and seizing in his hands a + huge boulder, he proceeded to let it drop accurately upon it. + He oscillated critically over the fragments, as if to assure + himself that the result had been satisfactorily attained, and + then strode rapidly and unsteadily into the forest. How such + unsound principles of economy came to be adopted by him never + very clearly appeared; and the problem of his absence from camp + for two whole days, and his subsequent reform upon the subject + of whisky, were matters very freely discussed at McNab's hut, + without any definite or reliable result being arrived at.</p> + <hr class='short' /> + + <p>Summer had melted imperceptibly into autumn; and the bright + tints that glittered on the mountain-slopes and through the + sturdy undergrowth of the forest told that it in its turn was + soon to give way to winter. Chihuahua Bar was piled with great + heaps of boulders and gravel, furrowed here and there with deep + ditches and trenches, and otherwise gave ample evidence of the + hard work that had been done. But, as Old Platte, remarked, + "The luck was down on them," and the partners had very little + to show for their long months of toil. Gentleman Dick had + worked as hard and earnestly as the others, and had never been + known to utter a word of complaint through the many hardships + and mishaps they endured. But a great change had come over him. + No one who saw him when he joined the party in Denver would + have ventured to call him strong or robust, but, delicate as he + was then, he was now a mere shadow by comparison. The change + had been more marked and rapid during the last few weeks. He + had seemed to fade gradually away, growing daily weaker and + weaker, until at last a knowledge of his increasing debility + forced itself upon the not very observant faculties of his + companions—coming rather as a sense of indefinable + uneasiness on his behalf than any actual apprehension of his + real condition. His great expressive eyes shone out with an + unnatural brilliancy from his pale, sunken + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_223]</span>cheeks, and a deeper shade + of melancholy seemed settling on his naturally thoughtful face. + Thompson probably noticed it more than anybody else, but said + nothing, while Old Platte and Jones exchanged ideas on the + subject with a sort of puzzled anxiety, mingled, it might be, + with some genuine alarm. They noticed that the work began to + fatigue him more and more, and that he often had to pause in + the middle of it weary and exhausted.</p> + + <p>At last, one day, about the first of November, he remained + in his bunk in the cabin, unable to come down to the claim. In + their rough, uncouth way they pitied him, and would have given + anything they could command to be able to relieve him. But they + seemed instinctively to feel that his case was something out of + their reach, and with the exception of a weak suggestion from + Jones, that he should try some of "them ar antibilious pills as + he had in his box," no course of medical treatment was + contemplated. Besides, was he not himself a doctor? and if he + could do nothing, what should they be able to effect? The + argument was sufficiently conclusive; at least, Jones accepted + it as such, and retired in some confusion, comforting himself + by the perusal of the label on his box of pills, which really + seemed to justify the suggestion he had made. Twice after this, + on days when the warm sunshine tempted him out of doors, he + came down to the claim and sat by the wheel and watched them + working; but he never did any more work. He did not tell them + he could not do it, or complain that he was too weak: it was + tacitly understood that his share of the season's labor was + over.</p> + + <p>About the middle of November the winter stepped in in its + sudden way and commenced to take possession of the valley of + the Blue, and by the first of December the ice was so thick + that the partners reluctantly stopped work. "Jones of + Chihuahua" had expressed his determination of going south to + Santa Fé, to stay until spring among the "Greasers," but + Old Platte and Thompson would stay on the Blue for the winter, + and to that end had laid in such provisions as were deemed + necessary. The settlement below on the Bar had been abandoned + early in November; and it was doubtful if a white man besides + themselves could be found by its waters any nearer than the end + of the Great Cañon of the Rio Colorado. But they cared + very little for that, and looked forward to their voluntary + hibernation without any feeling of apprehension on the score of + loneliness. Both were hardy mountaineers. Thompson had been the + first man that ever performed the feat of crossing the range at + Grey's Peak in the middle of winter, with the aid of a pair of + snow-shoes; and he and Old Platte knew that if their provisions + gave out they could readily reach some of the Clear Creek + diggings in the same way. So Jones strapped his belt of + gold-dust around his waist and prepared to depart. He shook + hands with the partners, and when Gentleman Dick, with a forced + cheeriness of manner and with wishes for a pleasant winter in + New Mexico, remarked, "Next spring the boys will give you a + third of my share, Jones," he stoutly and earnestly repudiated + the implied idea, but with a confusion and uncertainty of + manner that indicated a serious doubt in the soundness of his + own assertions.</p> + + <p>Gentleman Dick released the big hand as he lay in his + blankets, and said for the last time, "Good-bye, Jones."</p> + + <p>"Good-bye, old man."</p> + + <p>Jones strode away abruptly on his journey, and if the + moisture about his eyes was in excess of what was required in + their normal condition, it was probably due to the bracing and + biting frostiness of the morning air.</p> + + <p>And so they resigned themselves to their winter's prison on + the Blue—Old Platte stolidly and contentedly, Thompson + uneasily and restlessly, and Gentleman Dick peacefully and + calmly, knowing full well that spring would never bloom again + for him. Thus the December days flew by, growing colder and + colder, and the snow-line crept gradually down the slopes of + the range until it reached the edge of the timber, where it + seemed to pause for a few days in its + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_224]</span>advance. It had already + snowed several times in the valley, and the afternoon sun had + always melted it away; but they knew by experience that it + would soon come down in good earnest and cover everything up + for the winter in a mantle of snow some six or seven feet deep. + And as the days sped on Gentleman Dick grew paler and paler, + and his bright eyes shone with a brighter lustre, while he + seemed to be gradually slipping away, losing little by little + his hold upon life. He was a mystery to his companions, for he + had no disease that could be detected, and why he should sink + thus without any apparent cause was more than they could + understand.</p> + <hr class='short' /> + + <p>The wind came roaring down the cañon in wild, fierce + gusts; the dead, frost-hardened, brittle branches of the sturdy + old pines rattled and cracked and broke as it swept by laden + with glittering crystals, stolen from the range above, where it + circled madly around the snowy peaks, and whirled away great + winding-sheets of snow—fine, sleety snow, that filled the + atmosphere with sharp prickly needles, that made their way + inside Old Platte's rough woolen shirt as he chopped away at + the woodpile, and made him shiver as they melted down his back. + Everything was frozen hard and fast; the Blue was silent in its + bed; stones and sticks adhered to the ground as if part and + parcel of it, and each piece of wood in the pile that Old + Platte was working at stood stiffly and firmly in its place. + The wind, just before a snow-storm, always comes down the + cañons in fierce premonitory gusts, and as it was + desirable to get in a good stock of wood before the snow-drifts + gathered around the cabin, Old Platte had been hacking manfully + for some hours. The sun sunk low in the hollow of the hills to + the westward while he was still working, and lit up with a cold + yellow glare the snowy wastes and icy peaks of the mighty + mountains that stood guard over the Blue. The whistling of the + wind among the pines died gradually away, and the silence that + seemed to fall with the deepening shadows was only broken by + the ringing strokes of the axe and the crack of the splitting + wood. When he ceased the valley had faded into darkness, and + the range with its sharp outlines was only faintly discernible + against the sombre gray pall that had overspread the sky.</p> + + <p>He made a broad stack of logs by the fireplace and a larger + one outside the door, and then stood by the threshold to take a + look at the weather. A great soft feather of snow came sailing + slowly down and nestled in his shaggy beard, and another + fluttered on to the back of his hand. He looked up through the + darkness and saw that it was already beginning to fall thickly, + and then, with a self-satisfied glance of approval at his + provident woodpile, went into the cabin and fastened the + door.</p> + + <p>Thompson had shot a fine argal or Rocky Mountain sheep that + morning, and the broiled steaks were giving forth a most + acceptable odor. He had tried to get Gentleman Dick to taste of + a choice piece, but he shook his head wearily, as he had every + time for some two weeks or more when proffered food. He could + eat nothing, and lay there propped up on rough pillows, seeming + scarcely conscious of their presence; his dreamy eyes, with + lids half drooping, looking fixedly into the blazing fire. Even + the coffee, civilized as it was by the addition of some patent + condensed milk, and upon the manufacture of which Thompson had + prided himself not a little, stood untouched by his bedside. + Old Platte lit his pipe and dragged his three-legged stool into + a corner of the wide chimney, and Thompson, after moving the + things away to a corner, sat down opposite, mending his + snow-shoes with a bundle of buckskin thongs. They did not talk + much in that family of evenings: men of this class are not + conversational in their habits, and a stranger who should look + in would be apt to think them an unsocial set. Old Platte + puffed steadily at his pipe, blinking and winking at the fire, + which he poked occasionally with a stick or fed with a log of + wood from the pile by his side. Thompson worked quietly with + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_225]</span>knife and awl at his + dilapidated shoes, and the pale, patient face beyond still + gazed dreamily into the fire. There were old scenes, doubtless, + in among those burning logs—old familiar faces, dear + memories of the past and weird fantastic visions pictured in + the glowing coals. At last the eyes left the fire for a moment, + resting on the two that sat by it, and he said, "Boys, it's + Christmas Eve."</p> + + <p>Thompson started, for he had not heard him speak with so + much energy for weeks.</p> + + <p>"Christmas Eve!" he repeated absently. "Christmas Eve, and + to-morrow will be Christmas Day. Last Christmas was not like + this: all was bright and fair, and she—"</p> + + <p>The rest of the sentence was lost as he muttered it uneasily + to himself and resumed his watching of the fire. Christmas Eve! + So it was, but they had not thought of it. Christmas Eve! The + name seemed out of place among those rocky fastnesses. What + could the pines and the solitude, the snow and the ice, have in + common with Christmas? Christmas Eve down in that desolate + valley, in the quiet depths of the forest, away, miles away, + from human habitation of any kind? Christmas Eve! It seemed + absurd, but Christmas Eve it was nevertheless, there as + everywhere else.</p> + + <p>Old Platte took his blackened old pipe from between his lips + and mechanically repeated the words. "Christmas Eve!" he half + growled, as if some perplexing ideas had been called into + existence by the suggestion, and his pipe went out as he + listlessly shoved some stray coals back into the fire with his + foot. But his meditations, to judge from his countenance, were + neither interesting nor profitable. Probably his Christmases + had never been passed in a way that was calculated to make them + pleasingly conspicuous in the background of his life. Most of + his early recollections were associated with a villainous + roadside groggery in Pike county, Missouri, of which his father + was the proprietor. Any questions relating to this parent and + home he had been known to invariably evade, and whenever + conversation tended in that direction he strenuously + discouraged it. Why he did so never very clearly appeared. Some + people who pretended to know used to say that the old gentleman + had been doing a lively trade in horseflesh without going + through the customary formalities of finance, and that some + people with whom his dealings had been unsatisfactory, in + consequence of this unbusinesslike habit of his, had called at + his house one evening and invited him to walk out with them. + The invitation was one he would have liked to decline, but + extra inducements in the shape of the cold muzzle of a revolver + pressed against his forehead and a low but determined "Dry up + and come along!" caused him to put on his hat and step out. He + was found next morning hanging from a branch of a neighboring + tree with a brief but expressive obituary written in pencil on + a scrap of paper and pinned on his coat: "Horse-thief! Jerry + Moon and Scotty, take notice." Inasmuch as one of the latter + individuals was the chief authority for the story, and had + expedited his departure from Pike county in consequence of the + intimation contained in the lines on the same bit of paper, it + may be safely inferred that there was some foundation for the + numerous stories of a similar nature that were in circulation. + So Christmas spent as his had been had no particular interest + for Old Platte, and was pretty much the same as any other kind + of day upon which there would be an equally good excuse for + stopping work and getting venomously drunk. At any rate, the + memories that clung around that Pike county whisky-shop were + none of the pleasantest or most gratifying; and with a grunt of + general dissatisfaction he rekindled his pipe, put a couple of + sticks on the fire and allowed his mind to slide off into a + more congenial train of reflection.</p> + + <p>To Thompson, Gentleman Dick's words had come as a sort of + revelation. He knew well enough that Christmas came in + December, and also upon what day of that month it fell, but of + late the days had gone by so monotonously, and + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_226]</span> had so little to + distinguish them one from another, that he had kept no account + of them, and had no idea that it was so near. Some indefinable + influence that he could not account for had of late sent his + mind groping into old and better channels, and consequently + when he was reminded of the presence of Christmas he felt + disposed to accord it a measure of consideration rather + different from that with which several of its predecessors had + met. Like Old Platte, he had regarded it as a good day to go on + a "bust" and initiate a "drunk" of more or less duration, but + just now he seemed as if inclined to take a different view of + it. His eyes could take a clearer and healthier view of the + past than he had for a long time had, and its old memories and + scenes flocked up before him now, bright through the dim mist + that time had cast over them, and fresher and sweeter than ever + by contrast with the gloomy present. The snow-shoes slid from + his lap and one by one the thongs of buckskins dropped upon the + floor, as he leaned back in the corner of the broad chimney, + his face resting upon his sinewy hand and his eyes looking + through the fire into the world of the past.</p> + + <p>Old Platte lay curled up in his bearskins and blankets fast + asleep, but the other still sat by the fire in the same + position—still dreamily thinking. How long he had sat + there he did not know. The fire had sunk into a glowing heap of + coals, fast changing into soft white ashes, on which now and + then a melting snow-flake that had stolen down through the + chimney would fall and disappear with a short angry sizz, and + the shadows in the cabin were deep and dark. Suddenly it seemed + to him in his dreaming that a voice called him by name, and he + awoke from his reverie with a chill and a shudder and a sense + of indefinable dread creeping over him—a dread of what, + he could not tell. A handful of chips blazed up brightly and + lit up the cabin with their flickering light as he turned + nervously toward the patient, quiet face behind him. The eyes, + shaded by the long black eyelashes, were still on the fire, and + while he was confident that he had not been called, he was + dimly conscious of a great change that had taken place. As he + still looked anxiously at the faded features, the eyes left + their long watching of the embers and were raised to meet his. + He felt he was wanted, and was by his side in a moment: "How + d'yer feel, old man?"</p> + + <p>Gentleman Dick smiled as he laid his wasted fingers across + the sturdy brown hand that leaned on the edge of his bunk, and + turning with difficulty on his pillow, he said in a voice + scarce above a whisper, "Thompson, old fellow, you and Platte + have been kind, very kind, to me. I won't trouble you much more + now. I'm going to say—good-bye to you; + and—Thompson—I want you to do one little thing for + me—when spring comes." He reached into a chink among the + logs by his side and drew forth an envelope containing a few + letters, a photograph of a woman's face, fair and tender, and a + gold ring.</p> + + <p>Thompson took it with a hand that shook as his rarely + did.</p> + + <p>"Send it soon—it's addressed and all—send it to + her. Maybe she will be glad to know I am—gone—at + last—out of her path—out of the way—and the + world. She sent it back to me—would not have it—or + me. Now—" Then his mind seemed to wander, and he rambled + incoherently, repeating over and over again a name that sounded + like that on the envelope. "You will do it, won't you, + Thompson?" said he, rallying suddenly.</p> + + <p>Thompson's voice was husky and thick as he answered + impressively, "Damn me ef I don't!" adding mentally, as he + glanced at the package, "Damn her skin, whoever she is! She's + at the bottom of all this here business, you bet."</p> + + <p>Gentleman Dick's lips moved as if he were speaking, and as + Thompson leaned over him he could hear, in a broken whisper, + "Gold—in old boot—under bed—Old Platte + half."</p> + + <p>He heard no more. The pressure of the wasted fingers + relaxed, the weary head sunk slowly back on the pillow, + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_227]</span>and the tired eyelids + drooped over the glazing eyes.</p> + + <p>"Dick!" said Thompson—"Dick, old man!"</p> + + <p>Too late. Away through the softly-falling snow, from the + Blue with its stillness and solitude, from its heartaches and + sorrows and troubles, the weary spirit had fled, and Gentleman + Dick was at rest.</p> + <hr class='short' /> + + <p>Spring had come again; the snow had melted from the valleys; + the grass and the ferns and the green grass and bright lichens + once more peeped out among the gray boulders and about the feet + of the stately pines; and the Blue, freed from its wintry + prison, sang merrily over the gravelly reaches. And as the + miners flocked down that spring from over the range, they saw + near by the Chihuahua Claim and the deserted cabin, in a square + formed by four gigantic pines, a neatly-built cairn of + boulders. One big gray boulder rested securely on top of all, + and on it was hacked, in rough and simple letters, GENTLEMAN + DICK.</p> + + <p class="author">W. MACKAY LAFFAN.</p> + + <h2><a name="a_singular_family" + id="a_singular_family"></a>A SINGULAR FAMILY.</h2> + + <p>Almost as far back as I can remember three brothers, + Italians named Noele, were intimates and occasionally inmates + of our home. The youngest brother, Eugenio, had been imprisoned + during the political disturbances of his country, but had + escaped and made his way to England. Here, at a lecture given + by Mazzini in London under the auspices of the liberal Italians + and those who espoused their cause, Eugenio, who to handsome + features and aristocratic appearance added a modulated voice + and persuasive manner, rose during the course of the evening, + and in words that held the audience spellbound narrated his own + sufferings and those of some of his friends under the yoke of + Austria. As he concluded with the utterance of the sentiment, + "Libertà! Equalità! Fraternità!" a storm + of applause burst from the assembly, and many were the high + personages who at the close of the meeting requested an + introduction to the fascinating young orator. My father was + present on this occasion, and here his acquaintance with + Eugenio Noele commenced. The young man having discovered to him + that his pecuniary resources were at the lowest ebb, my father + took him home with him, and my mother afterward united with him + in requesting Eugenio to consider their house as his own. My + father also introduced him to his mercantile connections and + initiated him into mercantile affairs, when by his astuteness + and perseverance he was enabled to lay the foundations of an + excellent position. Indeed, but few years had elapsed (during + which time he had frequently resided with us) ere he had + acquired considerable wealth and we a clearer insight into his + true disposition.</p> + + <p>His principles were such as the promptings of self-love, a + violent temper, pride and ambition could without difficulty + overcome. As he rose higher in the social scale the reflection + that he had owed the impetus to others was a constant source of + annoyance to him. Our house was now but rarely visited by him, + unless when some legal difficulties had arisen on which he + wished to consult my father or some important papers required + translating. Then the air of pride would yield to one of + deferential affection, and in silvery tones he would discourse + on such topics as he imagined were the most pleasing to us. My + father would be termed "Signor Padre" and my mother "Signora + Madre."</p> + + <p>At about this time he sent to Italy for his brother Rugiero + to assist him in his affairs. Rugiero became as intimate at + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_228]</span>our house as Eugenio had + been. There were singularly contradictory elements in this + brother's character. At one time the history of a destitute + family would move him to tears, and his purse would be freely + emptied for their benefit: at another time he would spend half + an hour in searching for a lost farthing, and if not successful + his countenance would betray lines of anxiety for hours + afterward. If he made me the gift of a paper horn or box of + sweets, his heart for the rest of the day would seem to be + expanded with the most joyous emotions, and for weeks after I + was liable to be asked whether I remembered the day when I was + so pleased with his little gift; and then he would request + permission to examine the pictures painted thereon, and call my + attention to their merits. He was ordinarily slow to understand + the point of a witticism, but when he had by deep pondering + discovered it, nothing could exceed his enjoyment: bending his + head and clasping the bridge of his handsomely shaped nose, he + would laugh till the tears were ready to start. On the other + hand, he was extremely sensitive, jealous and suspicious. No + one knew how soon the pleasant smile and kindly word would give + place to angry passions as ungovernable as they were + disagreeable to witness. A smile passing from one person to + another without his being acquainted with the cause, was + sufficient provocation for him to rise, make his respects in a + frigidly polite tone and take his leave, to return a few + moments after with heightened complexion and excited voice, and + declare that he could not suffer an affront with + equanimity—that he would rid those present of his + "abhorred" society, and would never enter those doors again + whilst he drew the breath of life. We paid little attention to + these egregious eccentricities, merely remarking with a smile + of amusement, "Poor Rugiero! how ridiculous! He must be out of + his senses;" and about a fortnight later he would make his + appearance, penitent, apologetic and studious to remove the ill + impression that his strange conduct must have caused.</p> + + <p>A third brother, Giuseppe, was added to the group, of whom + vacillation was the distinguishing characteristic. Giuseppe, in + the innumerable discussions that arose between Rugiero and + Eugenio, would acquiesce with first one and then the other in + whatever exaggerated sentiments their enraged frame of mind + might prompt them to utter, with the view of keeping on good + terms with both; but the only result was that when the flag of + truce had been raised, grievances passed over and differences + adjusted, he would have the mortification of finding the whole + of the blame laid on his shoulders, and himself stigmatized as + "a feather-head," "a meddler" and "a spy."</p> + + <p>As the years rolled on I grew into womanhood, and became the + unwitting source of constant ill-feeling between the brothers. + Eugenio was handsome, but I distrusted him; Rugiero was nearly + as handsome, but I regarded him as I would have regarded an + uncle; Giuseppe was also handsome, but unstable and entirely + wanting in force. Time passed, and the brothers had separated. + Eugenio had married a woman in every way his inferior. Rugiero + had been drawn into a like union that surprised all those who + knew his refined tastes and sensitiveness to the social + amenities. Though a man of honor, his circumstances had become + embarrassed. In his emergencies he had recourse to his old + friends, whose aid was not withheld, but, a crisis arriving, he + was declared bankrupt. Eugenio, instead of assisting his + brother, upbraided with being a disgrace to his own + respectability, publicly disowned him, and, with the view of + forcing him to abandon the country, spread injurious reports + concerning him amongst many of the merchants who would + otherwise have been willing to extend a helping hand.</p> + + <p>Soon after this Eugenio made a journey to Italy on business. + Here he visited his native place with an equipage designed to + astonish the simple peasants and suggest to them the immensity + of his wealth. Never had the village on the outskirts of which + dwelt his widowed sister seen such magnificence or experienced + such munificence. His name was on all tongues; ovations were + made to <span class="pagenum">[Pg_229]</span>him; he was almost + a king in their eyes. His sister, Lucretia Mortera, had borne + to her husband a large family, of whom but three + survived—a youth named after his uncle Eugenio, and then + being educated for the priesthood; Celestino, a boy of eleven + years; and Virginia, a girl of eight. The little home in which + they resided in quiet retirement had been given to the widow + for as long as she chose to occupy it by a friend of her late + husband, as a token of respect to his memory. Eugenio Noele, + ashamed to see a sister of his living in a way so unsuited to + her birth and former expectations, requested her to dispose of + whatever property she might be possessed of, and prepare to + accompany him with her family to London, where he would provide + for them, and his nephew Eugenio, leaving his studies, could + take a place in his counting-house. This request—or + rather command—was embraced with gratitude, though it + cost a pang to think of leaving the home that had sheltered + them under many vicissitudes. Besides which, it was a matter of + doubt to Signora Mortera and her eldest son whether any worldly + promotion could justify his deserting the priestly vocation to + which he had felt himself called.</p> + + <p>One evening my mother and I were surprised by a call from + Rugiero. His face was pale and his eyes were wild. He sank into + an easy-chair, and after a long silence broke into the most + terrible invectives against his brother Eugenio, who had + dragged the widow and orphans from a peaceful home to cast them + adrift.</p> + + <p>"What widow? what orphans?"</p> + + <p>"Simply, Madama Melville, my poor sister Lucretia, whom he + induced to accompany him to London, with her family, on the + pretence of providing for them all, is now with those children + at my house, without means, without even a change of clothing. + Yes, my sister Lucretia, who was a mother to him when his own + mother died; and yet he prospers!"</p> + + <p>"But, Rugiero, what was the cause of his treating them + thus?"</p> + + <p>"When they had arrived at my brother's house the wife, who + had not expected them, took an aversion to them, and no sooner + did she learn that they were strict Roman Catholics than she + believed them to be capable of every crime. Celestino, who is + in a decline, was treated with the greatest neglect. Every + occasion of showing disrespect toward her sister-in-law before + her children or the servants was eagerly sought by my brother's + wife, whilst in the presence of her husband she was all + amiability. The sickness of one of her own children was made + the occasion of accusing Lucretia of an attempt to poison it, + and the wily woman so worked on my brother's parental feelings + that he had not returned home an hour ere he commanded his + 'infamous sister'—'quel assassinatrice!'—to leave + his house with her children on the instant! The door was closed + upon them, and the outer apparel that had served them for their + journey was thrown to them from the window by the servants. + Amazed and full of grief, they directed their steps toward the + house of the good priest whose chapel they had once or twice + attended. Here they procured my address, and soon after came to + my house, where they now are in the extremest affliction. You, + madama, may well imagine that I can scarcely maintain my own + family at this juncture, and that I am therefore unable to do + for my sister and her children what my heart dictates. After a + sleepless night I came to the conclusion that you, Madama + Melville, whose goodness of heart has so often been put sorely + to the test, would be able to suggest some plan by which to + mitigate the sufferings of my unfortunate sister or bring + Eugenio to reason."</p> + + <p>"My dear Rugiero, I feel certain that my husband would think + as I do—that for the present they had better stay here + with us. We can turn one floor into sleeping apartments for + them, and have one sitting-room in which your sister can + receive callers or remain when she wishes to be alone. You know + that I have so often heard you speak of your sister Lucretia + that I can take the privilege of giving her an invitation to + come and make us a long visit; and so you must tell her."</p> + + <p><span class="pagenum">[Pg_230]</span>"God bless you, dear + madama, as you deserve to be blessed! This is indeed a weight + off my heart and mind."</p> + + <p>The result of this conversation was that on the next morning + Rugiero returned, bringing with him his sister and her + children. Signora Lucretia responded to the welcome of my + parents with expressions of fervent gratitude, calling them the + saviors of her family. She was a short, slender woman, in whose + dark eyes, long, finely-cut features, and pale, thin face one + could discern the spirit of asceticism and the traces of past + afflictions. Of the children she had buried, all had reached + their tenth year in apparent health and remarkable for their + physical and moral beauty, but from that age they had rapidly + trodden the pathway to the tomb. None of her children had + resembled their father but Eugenio, who was a well-made youth + of wiry constitution, and gave every promise of attaining the + ordinary age allotted to man. Celestino was destined soon to + rejoin the children gone before. How can I describe the thrill + I felt when I saw that child's face as he entered the room? + Never had I seen in picture or in dream a countenance so + lovely. But what can I say of those soul-speaking eyes, the + large, dark-brown iris surrounded by the brilliant azure-white + and shaded by long dark lashes? Finely chiseled features were + added to a rounded face of a clear pale olive, except where a + flush like the pink lining of a shell played upon it. Virginia + greatly resembled her brother Celestino, but was in full + health, and in spirits that would have been lively but for the + constant and harassing admonitions of her mother, who in every + free and graceful movement saw a tendency to levity that must + be repressed. The poor child was doomed to a perpetual + entanglement of the lower limbs, owing to her garments being + made as long as those of a grown person. If, forgetting + decorum, she chanced to skip or jump, Signora Lucretia would + exclaim, "Va scompostaccia! sta più composta" ("Go to, + most discomposed one! be more composed"), and seating her by + her side would supply her with needlework or knitting until my + mother would intercede, assuring Signora Lucretia that the + child could never attain healthy womanhood unless allowed the + full play of her muscles and the expansion of her lungs by + singing and laughter.</p> + + <p>"Ah, madama, you know not how I fear lest the natural gayety + of her disposition should cause the loss of her soul."</p> + + <p>"Oh, my dear lady, such ideas are born of the troubles + through which you have passed, and not of your native good + sense. God has implanted this gayety in your child's heart to + enable her to enter with zest into those amusements so + necessary to her development."</p> + + <p>One day my mother (by permission) had a tuck taken up in + Virginia's dress, and, directing me to take her for a walk, she + privately commissioned me to purchase for her such attire as + was suitable to a child of her years. I began with her head, + and secured the jauntiest little hat with feathers that I could + find, not without a misgiving that it would ultimately be + consigned to the flames. Amongst other articles that I procured + was a wax doll, at the sight of which Virginia screamed with + delight. It was her first doll. Even Signora Lucretia's face + was lit by a smile of undisguised admiration at the improvement + in the child's toilette, but it soon gave place to a sigh at + her own "vanity of spirit," and she held the little hat as Eve + might have held the apple offered to her by the serpent.</p> + + <p>Signora Lucretia and her children spent some hours every + morning before breakfast in reciting litanies and other + prayers, and on retiring to rest the same forms were repeated. + During the day, whenever the clock struck the hour, the whole + family, leaving whatever might be the occupation of the moment, + knelt on their chairs and made a short prayer or meditation on + the flight of time.</p> + + <p>At the time of their arrival my cousin Oswald was staying + with us, and on the first evening he retired early to give them + an opportunity of conversing more freely on the melancholy + topics that filled their minds. After bidding good-night to my + mother and kissing her, he paid me the same tokens of regard. + This incident <span class="pagenum">[Pg_231]</span>had not + escaped the notice of the young Eugenio, for when directed by + his mother to retire to rest also, he advanced toward me, shook + hands, and (although, seeing his intention, I drew back) + succeeded in imprinting a kiss on my cheek. Signora Lucretia + turned as pale as death. My mother, to avoid a scene, turned + with a playful laugh to Eugenio, who by this time was scarlet + with shame, and said, "My dear boy, in this country such + salutations are only permitted from near relations or very + intimate friends, but I am not surprised that Mr. Oswald's + thoughtlessness before you should have misled you into doing + the same. So I am sure that your good mother will not be + displeased with you."</p> + + <p>"Oh, madama," exclaimed Signora Lucretia, bursting into + tears as soon as the door had closed upon him, "to think that + my son should have been tempted by the Evil One so far as to + forget what is due to the holy vocation for which he is to fit + himself! In Italy never had he even been in the same room with + any woman but myself and the priest's old housekeeper. This is + the first time that his lips have been so desecrated." (Here my + mother and I interchanged smiles.) "Unhappy mother that I am! + by what sufferings can I atone for his sin? What shall I impose + upon him to mortify the spirit that has arisen within him?"</p> + + <p>The next morning Eugenio came down looking pale and sad, and + I felt sure that he had been reprimanded in no measured terms. + I gave him a pitying glance, which fell like dew on the + thirsting earth.</p> + + <p>At every breakfast the children were taught to say + good-morning to each person separately. The elder son would + commence, "Good-morning and good appetite, Mr. Melville! + good-morning and good appetite, Madama Melville! good-morning + and good appetite, Signora Felicia!" and so on. Then Celestino + would go through the same ceremony, and finally Virginia, and a + grace was uttered, during which the breakfast was liable to + become cool, and Rugiero's temper (if he were present) not so. + "Andiamo! I am sure that Signor Melville and madama do not + insist upon so many compliments; and you, Eugenio, should have + more gallantry than to keep the Signora Felicia waiting whilst + her toast becomes cold." That he should connect the word + <i>gallantry</i> with Eugenio was an imprudence, to say the + least. But the offence was more serious when once at dinner he + favored us with some reminiscences of his own gallantries: "I + remember that when I was in the army the wife of our colonel + had a sister, a splendid-looking creature, with eyes like + stars, who (to tell the truth) was head over ears in—But + my sister Lucretia, who is frowning at me, is right. One would + say that she must have had an enlarged experience in such + matters, seeing how sensitive she is to the danger of + discussing them." (Here Signora Lucretia, with blushing cheeks, + glanced from Rugiero to her son, who with downcast eyes + appeared to be absorbed with the roast chicken on his plate.) + "Without entering into details that would appear ill-timed to + my dear sister" (here his eyes twinkled with roguishness and + his lips parted in laughter), "suffice it merely to say that I + acted as any other man under the circumstances would have + acted, and kissed her not once or twice, but—"</p> + + <p>"Go to thy room, Eugenio, most audacious!" panted Signora + Lucretia, for he had raised his head, and, meeting his uncle's + laughing gaze, had faintly smiled—"Go to thy room" (and + here she struck him on the face), "and recite the Litany of the + Blessed Virgin three times, and pray for thy uncle, that he may + be converted."</p> + + <p>Eugenio with flaming cheeks and ears rose submissively from + the table, and without a word or look ascended to his room to + do her bidding.</p> + + <p>"What!" exclaimed Rugiero, rising from his seat, "would you + dare to insult me by desiring my own nephew to pray for me? It + seems to me that I dream! Per Bacco!"</p> + + <p>Here my father observed that he must own he saw nothing very + outrageous in what Rugiero had narrated, yet, as Signora + Mortera had her own peculiar views on the matter, he considered + that <span class="pagenum">[Pg_232]</span>her brother was bound + to respect them. Rugiero then admitted that he had been too + hasty, and a reconciliation was effected, but he never met his + nephew's eye thereafter without the same roguish smile, at + which the poor youth would blush painfully and lower his + gaze.</p> + + <p>During this scene at the dinner-table Celestino breathed + quickly, but never moved his eyes from the table-cloth, while + Virginia looked at each one of the speakers in open-mouthed + astonishment and curiosity.</p> + + <p>One day I accompanied Signora Lucretia and her children to a + Roman Catholic chapel in the neighborhood. I could not be + unconscious of the odd and incongruous appearance of the two + sons—Eugenio in a suit like that of a stage grandfather, + snuff-colored, and with collar that raised the lobes of his + ears; and dear little Celestino with a similarly cut coat in + bottle green, with large gilt buttons, making him look like a + man in miniature. Such had been the style pronounced by the + village tailor to be in the height of Parisian fashion, but + being a novelty to the London "gamins," it attracted more + notice from them than we could have wished. After Signora + Mortera and her children had attended the confessional she + seemed to be much easier in her mind, and was so amiable as to + tell my mother on our return home that it was edifying to + behold the signorina walking like a Roman matron, in contrast + to those who were giggling and turning their heads first one + way and then the other, like so many pulcinelle. + Notwithstanding this compliment, however, I perceived that she + was uneasy concerning Eugenio and myself. It was evidently a + satisfaction to her that I should load Celestino with caresses + and endearing epithets, but that Eugenio should sit near me, + speak to me, or even be in the same room with me (whether alone + or in company), was the signal for demonstrations of the + extremest vigilance. On one evening my cousin had brought home + some gifts, consisting of a silver pencil-case with gold pen + for Eugenio, a traveling writing-case with his name on it for + Celestino, and a small traveling work-bag similarly marked for + Virginia. These were highly appreciated. Celestino seemed + unwilling to have his desk out of his sight for a single + moment, and when his bed-time came wanted to take it up with + him. His mother, unwilling to leave Eugenio in my society + without her watchful presence, directed him to carry his + brother up.</p> + + <p>"Signora madre," said Celestino, "I am not tired + to-night."</p> + + <p>"Well, then, Eugenio can carry up thy writing-case for + thee."</p> + + <p>"Signora madre, it is not heavy, and I would like to carry + it myself."</p> + + <p>So Signora Lucretia went up with him herself, and, leaving + my mother to entertain Eugenio, I went immediately into another + room. I felt too deeply for the misfortunes of the + unsophisticated Eugenio ever to have willingly trifled with the + nascent susceptibilities of his heart.</p> + + <p>One little incident, however, occurred to interrupt the + orthodox reserve of our demeanor. An old friend of ours, + Captain Stuart, had sent Virginia a bank-note with which to + procure some keepsake. One evening the old gentleman called, + and was shown into the drawing-room, where my mother received + him. The rest of us were in the dining-room below. On my + mentioning Captain Stuart's name to Signora Lucretia, she + exclaimed, "Let us go, my children, and thank this good man for + his kind present to our Virginia."</p> + + <p>It was dark, but the hall-lamp had not been lit, so I took a + wax taper from the writing-table and, lighting it, proceeded to + escort them up the staircase. Some spirit of mischief prompted + me by a sudden movement to let the light be blown out. In an + instant the hand of Eugenio met mine, and thus hand in hand, + swinging to and fro, we came to the drawing-room door, and a + flood of light bursting upon us discovered to Signora Lucretia + my face flushed with suppressed laughter, and Eugenio's eyes no + longer timid, but sparkling with joy. From this time he would + spend whole nights in writing verses, which he would show to + his mother. She, noting the classical allusions, and having a + great <span class="pagenum">[Pg_233]</span>respect for literary + talents, did not repress his efforts, but on the contrary + appeared desirous that he should show his verses to my mother + and to me. Mingled with expressions of grief and despair at the + inconstancy of fortune and the decrees of fate were allegorical + fancies in which I could perceive that I held a place, but I + never allowed him to think that I noticed this; and indeed + after the escapade of the staircase I became more distant than + before.</p> + + <p>However, one day when Celestino was feeling more weak and + tired than usual, and I was propping him up on the sofa, I + observed with some trepidation that Eugenio, who had been + reading at the window, changed his seat to one near the head of + the sofa. His mother and mine were busy sewing at a window in + the next room, from whence they could see us through the + folding doors. His eyes were full of tears, and, suddenly + bending over his brother and rearranging a cushion, he seized + my hand and covered it with silent kisses. In a moment I had + disengaged my hand, full of fear for the result to Eugenio + should Signora Lucretia's attention be directed toward us. The + same evening, on returning from a visit, I learned that my + mother and Signora Mortera had gone out under the escort of + Oswald to attend vespers at a church some distance off. We + young people passed the evening alone together. The crimson + curtains were closely drawn, and the cosy room was lighted by a + blazing fire. Reclining in an easy-chair, I held Celestino's + fragile form in my arms, the wonderful eyes gazing into mine as + I watched with emotions too deep for words their ever-varying + expression. Eugenio sat on an ottoman at my feet, alternately + reading aloud from Dante and pausing to observe me, while + Virginia was on the hearth-rug, happy in adorning her doll with + pieces of silk, beads and flowers.</p> + + <p>Suddenly Eugenio said, "Does the signora remember in the + narrative of Dives and Lazarus how Lazarus was thankful for the + crumbs that fell from the rich man's table?"</p> + + <p>I understood him, and hiding my face in Celestino's + tendril-like curls, I replied, "Yes, but I wonder whether he + would have been hungry enough to eat crumbs that he knew to be + poisoned?"</p> + + <p>He made no reply.</p> + + <p>"Eugenio," I continued, "what are your plans for the future? + Is it your own desire to become a priest?"</p> + + <p>This last word made him tremble. "I <i>once</i> desired it," + he answered, "thinking it the most honorable position to which + I could aspire, and also my natural vocation. But now—God + knows whether it be a sin or not—I would pass through any + affliction He might send rather than become one. But my + mother's heart is fixed upon it more than ever, and soon my + family will be wholly dependent upon me. Ah! young as I am, I + have suffered and still suffer. Far happier is that child in + your arms, dying slowly though it may be, than the unfortunate + Eugenio."</p> + + <p>"Have a care," I said, "lest, entering the state of + priesthood, you bear with you a heart fixed on the things of + this world. Do not yield to the impulses of a strong + imagination, but endeavor to forget whatever might prove a + hindrance to you hereafter."</p> + + <p>"Ah, Felicia, my heart is too full ever to forget. + Celestino, my brother, <i>thou</i> art indeed happy. Dost thou + know it?"</p> + + <p>"Yes, Eugenio, I feel even too happy."</p> + + <p>"God bless thee, Celestino! I love thee more than ever;" + and, stealing his brother's hand from mine, he gently kissed + it, whilst Celestino smiled on us with a heavenly smile.</p> + + <p>It was arranged that I should accompany my father to the + counting-house of Eugenio Noele and strive to obtain some + redress for the widow and orphans, for I had always been a + favorite with him, and my mother imagined that my influence + would have more power than her own. But the only result of this + interview was that Eugenio promised, for my sake, to furnish + his sister and her family with sufficient funds to enable them + to return to their own country: he also told my father that he + should send one of his clerks to accompany them and see that + they <i>did</i> go there.</p> + + <p><span class="pagenum">[Pg_234]</span>On our way home we + called on Dr. Newcastle, our old friend and physician, and + after describing the circumstances of the Mortera family, asked + him to call and see Celestino in the evening. The doctor was a + fine-looking man, with a profusion of silvery white hair and + beard, a deep thinker, blunt and sincere of speech, and full of + dry wit that made every one laugh but himself. His footman (a + colored man) was once overheard to say, "Berry strange man, my + massa! berry sing'lar man! I say to him, 'I can't walk fast in + dese yere boots, sar—dey's too short.' 'Oh,' he says, + ''tis but the cutting off a piece of your toes, Caesar, and de + boots will fit well enuff.' Him berry sing'lar man. One day I + hear, through de open window of a lady's house, him say to her, + 'For what did you send after me, madam?' and she say, 'I feel a + leetle 'stericky again dis morning, doctor: what can you + pescribe for me?' 'Pescribe!' says my massa with a sort of + short laugh: 'why, dat you go to de top of de house wid a brush + and dustpan and sweep de stairs all de way down, and make all + de beds, and leave off drinking strong coffee;' and a berry + fashionable lady too, as dey tell me after. When de doctor get + into him carriage he talk to himself, and give him short + laugh."</p> + + <p>After an introduction to Signora Mortera, the doctor turned + his attention to Celestino, who lay on the sofa pale and + agitated: "Bless my heart! what a handsome lad! what splendid + eyes! Ah! hm! hm! poor fellow! hm!" and he cleared his throat. + "Let me feel your pulse."</p> + + <p>As Celestino turned and gazed on him with mute surprise the + doctor proceeded with his examination in complete silence, and + then began discoursing about the weather and politics.</p> + + <p>"But, doctor," said my mother, "you have told us nothing + about the boy? What is your opinion? what shall we do for him? + what do you prescribe?"</p> + + <p>"Whirr! whirr! how many questions! I prescribe for him a + course of early rising, accompanied by long prayer and fasting. + If he shows an inclination for exercise, give him a rosary. + Take away juvenile books, and give him the <i>Lives of the + Saints and Martyrs</i>. Let him remember the days of fasting + and abstinence. Why, bless me! the boy is nothing but heart and + brain. He must be kept cheerful and well-nourished. Let him be + in the open air when it is pleasant. I will prescribe a little + something for him, but his case is beyond all medicine."</p> + + <p>"Oh, doctor, do you really mean to say that he will + die?"</p> + + <p>"Die?" and the doctor laughed his little cynical laugh. + "Why, we shall all die some day, shall we not?"</p> + + <p>"Now, doctor, do be serious. Is there no hope for him?"</p> + + <p>"I don't see that there is;" and he continued to gaze at the + boy's face as if it had some fascination for him.</p> + + <p>Eugenio Noele failed not a week later to send his clerk to + make arrangements for the departure of the Morteras. As the + time drew nearer Celestino failed rapidly. He would lie for + hours without speaking except with his eloquent eyes. + Frequently he would kiss a little ring that I had given him, + and a few days before his departure I gave him a trinket + consisting of a turquoise heart, with a cross set with crystals + over red stones, emblematical of the blood and water that + flowed from the side of our Redeemer. This he received with + great emotion, and as I tied it to his neck with a ribbon he + said, "I will wear it as long as I have life."</p> + + <p>"Does Celestino fear to die?"</p> + + <p>"No, signora, not whilst you are near me; and by dying I + shall see my brothers and sisters in heaven, and can come and + watch over you all."</p> + + <p>"Sweetest child! It will break my heart to lose thee."</p> + + <p>"Ah, do not weep;" and the boy's lips paled and his eyelids + closed. I gave him water, and called to his mother to come and + speak to him.</p> + + <p>"Ah, this child of my bosom! my poor Celestino! must he + leave me too?"</p> + + <p>"Dear signora, he goes to a world free from such sorrows or + cares as yours have been. He is like an angel even now."</p> + + <p>"Celestino, kiss thy poor afflicted + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_235]</span>mother." Without a word, + but with trembling lips, he stretched forth his arms to embrace + her, and I stole away, leaving to her sacred sorrow the poor + woman who for the moment, forgetting her self-imposed ascetic + restraint, was yielding to every impulse of demonstrative + tenderness.</p> + + <p>The night before their departure Eugenio wrote an ode + addressed to me, and placed it in my hands. I did not then read + it through: I felt too dispirited and preoccupied. The next + morning his eyes met mine with a questioning expression that I + did not comprehend. When the hour for parting had arrived tears + and broken exclamations were mingled. Eugenio lingered to kiss + me, with a look first of inquiry, then of deep despair. I found + afterward that the poem he had presented to me contained a + protestation of humble and devoted love, which he entreated me + not to neglect with scorn, and thereby add to the cruelties of + his situation.</p> + + <p>What a sense of loneliness we experienced! I felt restless + and unhappy: I was pursued by the imploring face of Eugenio and + haunted by the eyes of Celestino. It was long ere our household + recovered its old equilibrium. Letters full of gratitude came + from the Morteras. They were re-established in their old home; + Eugenio had resumed his studies; Virginia was not so well; + Celestino was dying. Soon after I received a letter in + Eugenio's handwriting informing me that the trinket he enclosed + would be to me an evidence that his beloved brother Celestino + was dead. He had died with a smile on his lips, and Eugenio + with his own hands had unfastened the jewel from his neck. In a + letter written some time after to my mother Eugenio implored + her by all she loved to rescue him from a position which he + felt to be daily more unendurable, by procuring for him some + engagement, in however humble a capacity, that would enable him + to support himself and assist his family. A priest he <i>could + not, would not</i> be. My parents had scarcely time to discuss + the matter ere another letter came from Eugenio, telling them + that his mother had discovered the subject of his + correspondence, and that she and their good old priest had + succeeded in convincing him of his wickedness in attempting to + relinquish the holy vocation of priest—that it had been a + snare of the devil; and he implored Signor and Madama Melville + to forgive him for the scandal he had caused concerning his + holy religion by such unworthy backslidings, which he now + deeply repented.</p> + + <p>One day Oswald came in exclaiming, "Aunt, who do you think + has failed and left the country?"</p> + + <p>"Who?"</p> + + <p>"Why, your friend, Eugenio Noele! As I passed the house I + saw men carrying away the pictures and things. I could not help + stopping to inquire into the matter. One of the workmen, who + seemed to know a great deal about it, said that a confidential + clerk was at the bottom of it all, and had run off before the + great smash came."</p> + + <p>The last news we heard of this singular family was that + Rugiero, who had gone to Italy with his family, was retrieving + his position, that Giuseppe was with him, and that Eugenio was + a priest, and beloved by all for his noble qualities and + extended usefulness.</p> + + <p class="author">CLELIA LEGA WEEKS.</p> + + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_236]</span> + + <h2><a name="the_matchless_one" + id="the_matchless_one"></a>THE MATCHLESS ONE:</h2> + + <h3>A TALE OF AMERICAN SOCIETY, IN FOUR CHAPTERS.</h3> + + <h2><a name="prologue" + id="prologue"></a>PROLOGUE.</h2> + + <p>Ah, the misfortune of + being wealthy, the misery of being handsome, the disadvantage + of a divine moustache and a dimple in the chin, the affliction + of having wavy hair and dark eyes, the forlorn condition of a + man who is very clever, who never makes a bad joke, who is such + "good company," such a "jolly dog," such a "happy creature" and + "fortunate fellow"! Oh the calamity of possessing a romantic + country-seat and fine horses!—the ill-starred luck of a + person who is always finding a moon that shines beautifully, a + sun that is never too hot, long walks that cannot be too long, + and drives that are "<i>so</i> delightful"!</p> + + <p>I am the unhappy victim of a fate which in spiteful mood + gifted me beyond my fellow-men. I might have had my share of + enjoyment in the world, as mediocre people have, but my + perfections are in my way at every turn, continually marring my + prospects. A superficial observer might think that these + advantages would have the contrary effect—that I should + be more fortunate than others—but my story will prove my + assertion. Take, for example, my difficulties as a "marrying + man." I will relate my experience during the past three years, + and you can judge for yourself.</p> + + <h2><a name="chapter_i" + id="chapter_i"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + + <p>My good mother (may Heaven reward her!) often advised me to + marry betimes. "Marry early in life, my dear Charles," she + would say, "but marry a woman <i>worthy</i> of you."</p> + + <p>In her solicitude my mother foresaw the difficulty of the + task she had set before me. She had known and admired me from + childhood, and of course appreciated my worth. I remember her + sad but affectionate gaze as she spoke, and I, unconscious of + the future, smiled to reassure her. With the simplicity + inseparable from great natures, I did not value the treasures I + possessed. I was as the poet before he has touched his + lyre—as the sculptor ere he has found his marble. Since + then the years have brought knowledge. My eyes have been opened + by the actions of those around me—by the admiration I + excite whenever I appear; by the respect with which I am + listened to when I speak; by the warmth with which I am + welcomed wherever I visit. I could produce many examples to + illustrate my gradual awakening, but they would be irrelevant + to my subject.</p> + + <p>I earnestly desired to fulfill my mother's wishes, and as + soon as it seemed proper after her decease I set out on my + quest as on a pilgrimage. The task which requires from most men + some six weeks' or three months' time, perhaps a few moments + snatched from business or a few evenings of ball-room devotion, + has cost me three years' labor, and it is not yet accomplished. + But I suppose it is easier for other men to find some one + worthy of <i>them</i>.</p> + + <p>I had read the poets: I had conceived an ideal of a + faultless creature, and with the enthusiasm of youth I sought + for a woman to worship as a star—one whom I should + adore—one far above me, from whom it would be honor to + win a smile, and—and all that sort of thing. Alas! I + found they smiled before I could make my first bow at an + introduction. At first I blamed the poets—thought they + had been mistaken—had not studied human nature; but the + truth gradually dawned upon me. <i>The fault was mine</i>! The + imagination of man had not been able to create a hero of + fiction like myself: in fact, had authorship attained such a + triumph, the most fastidious maiden would have been obliged to + fall in love at first sight, thereby spoiling many a fine + three-volumed romance and heroic cantos innumerable. How + ruinous would <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_237]</span>the + possession of perfection such as mine have been to the chivalry + of the Middle Ages!</p> + + <p>I do not think any less of the ladies for the ease of my + conquests: I know how impossible it is for the poor dears to + resist my charms; but oh the happiness of mediocrity!</p> + + <p>I was occupied for a whole season searching for the being + whom I called my star. My fancy was so pleased with the idea of + basking in her radiance, I had so fully persuaded myself to be + guided by her light to all things great and high, I had learned + to think of her with so much devotion, that I could not give up + my hope of finding her somewhere. I went to all the popular + summer-resorts in turn, meeting only disappointment. The star + type of girls did not seem to be the mode that season: I could + see no trace of her I came to find. Though saddened, I was too + young to despair: in my usual clear and sensible manner I + thought the matter over. After all, I reflected, I suppose I + can find a woman worthy of me who is not a star. I doubt not + the poets were sincere in their civility to persons of the + other sex. The exaggeration arose from the absence of any + really superior man with whom to compare them. They + <i>seemed</i> stars in contrast with the existing male species: + <i>I</i> had not yet appeared.</p> + + <p>Another summer found me renewing my search with unabated + vigor, but this time on a different basis, having determined to + lay romance aside—to seek for nothing above me—to + be content with an equal. If with her I should not be + ecstatically happy—if our <i>ménage</i> would not + quite rival that of Adam and Eve in the garden of + Paradise—yet a certain amount of modern bliss might be + extracted from the companionship of an agreeable woman who + could appreciate and sympathize with my tastes and be my friend + through life.</p> + + <p>I employed my second summer in looking for a sympathetic + woman, with the intention of making her my wife. May I never + see such a hard-working, distracting season again! Not that + such women were hard to find—they were only too plenty: + at one time I had six who were devoted to me. One sympathized + with my love of music; we sang duets together in the evening; + it was delightful, for I need hardly say that I sing as I do + everything else—remarkably well. Another sympathized with + my sketching propensities. We rambled in the woods together + with boxes and colors. I found it charming. "Nothing + amateurish" about my style, Miss Pinklake said. A third + sympathized with my taste for horses: my restive Nero was the + "sweetest pet" she ever saw. (My groom says, "He's the divvil + hisself, Muster Charley.") With her I rode in the afternoon. + She told me—Miss Vernon, you know her? brunette, deuced + pretty—she said one day, when we were taking a canter + together, "I can believe those wonderful stories of the + Centaurs when I see <i>you</i> ride, Mr. Highrank." She had a + pleasant voice, and such a figure! I had almost decided to + propose to her one day, and was even thinking of the words I + should use, when the pale Miss Anabel Lee came walking along + the road by us, looking like a fairy, her hat hanging on her + arm filled with wild flowers, and her dress looped with ferns. + As she passed she raised her beautiful blue eyes to mine, and + at the same time—it might have been chance—she + pressed a bunch of forget-me-nots to her lips. I remembered I + had an engagement to walk with Miss Lee on the beach that + night: there was a lovely moon—we talked poetry. It was + Miss Annie Darling who said I "waltzed divinely." Miss Annie + laid her hand on one's sleeve when she talked to one, mutilated + her fan with various tappings on a fellow's shoulder for being + naughty, as she called it ("naughty" meant giving her a kiss in + a dark corner of the verandah), said saucy things to the snobs, + and used her eyes. She walked with the Grecian bend. When I had + a serious fit there was young Miss Carenaught, who was plain + and read the reviews, spoke sharply against fashion, and knew a + man of my education "must despise the butterfly existence of + the surrounding throng." Sometimes she would invite me to go + with her to catch beetles and + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_238]</span>queer insects—"not + that she needed my help," she would say, "but my intellectual + society was indeed a treat in this crowded desert."</p> + + <p>All this was very agreeable, but also very perplexing. At + the end of the season I found myself as far from making a + choice as ever. If I indulged one taste at the expense of the + others, I should become a less perfect man; nor could I decide + in which of my pursuits I needed sympathy the most—music, + painting, dancing, riding, reading. Alas! could I find one + woman congenial in all my moods I would marry her immediately. + Wearied by the attentions of so many, I yet feared an imperfect + life spent with but one. I saw that I had made another mistake, + and retired to my country-seat, "The Beauties," to recruit.</p> + + <p>I know there is a modern idea that women are the equals of + men (the poets, you remember, thought them superior), and many + may consider it odd that I did not find it so. I do not wish to + offend. To those who hold that opinion I modestly suggest my + unfortunate superiority as the probable cause of my failure. I + do not blame the ladies, be it understood.</p> + + <p>Again I sat down to plan and reflect. I looked mournfully on + the past and less hopefully on the future. The obstacles were + beginning to dishearten me, but even after a second failure I + dared not relinquish my quest: my mother's wishes must be + fulfilled. A woman worthy of me: behold the difficulty! What + course of action should I now pursue?</p> + + <p>At last I had a flash of brain-light on the subject. I would + look for the purely good, rejecting the intellectual entirely. + I would plunge into the country and seek a bride fresh from the + hands of Nature, a wild flower without fashion, guile or + brains—one who in leaving me free to follow my own + pursuits would yet adorn my life with charms of the + heart—a heart that had known no love but mine.</p> + + <p>It was in the most beautiful month of autumn that I made + this resolve, which I lost no time in putting into execution. I + wrote to my old college friend, Dick Hearty, that I would spend + a month with him: he had often invited me to visit him in the + country. I counted on doing enough love-making in that time to + win my wild rose, and at my return I would bring home my bride. + I reasoned that in those unsophisticated regions, in the shadow + of the virgin forest, the trammels of long courtship and other + fashionable follies are unknown: heart meets heart as the pure + woodland streams meet each other and become one.</p> + + <p>Before I set out I gave a dinner-party at The Beauties to + announce to my gentleman friends the joyful event. At the + dessert I rose and proposed the health of my future bride.</p> + + <p>"And may it be years before she arrives at The Beauties!" + mumbled Percy Flyaway when they had drunk the toast.</p> + + <p>"I hope you will all welcome her at a grand reception here + in—about a month or six weeks." I remembered just in time + that I had best not fix a date, as something might + intervene.</p> + + <p>A storm of questions, exclamations and remarks ensued.</p> + + <p>"Lovely?"</p> + + <p>"As fair as poet's dreaming."</p> + + <p>"Die Vernon?"</p> + + <p>"Not for Joe!"</p> + + <p>"The Soprano?"</p> + + <p>A shake of my head.</p> + + <p>"Anabel?"</p> + + <p>"No."</p> + + <p>"Who is she?"</p> + + <p>"Let us drink her health again," said one, getting thirsty, + and fearing in the excitement the bottle would not be + passed.</p> + + <p>"Tell us all about her," cried another.</p> + + <p>"Gentlemen," said I seriously when the noise had slightly + abated, "you know I am a deuced good fellow."</p> + + <p>"Hear! hear!" they cried.</p> + + <p>"That you are!" said Percy.</p> + + <p>"Well, I am going to get a deuced good wife."</p> + + <p>"Congratulate you, old fellow!"</p> + + <p>"Do you think of going up in a balloon for a + wedding-trip?"</p> + + <p>They all came around me, clinked their glasses with mine, + shook hands with me, and drank my health, her health, the + health of my mother-in-law, and any other toast that would + serve as an excuse for emptying a glass.</p> + + <p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg_239]</span>"I say, will she cut + rough on us chaps?" asked Percy in a plaintive voice as the + hubbub subsided.</p> + + <p>"Gentlemen," cried I, waving my hand, "my wife that is to be + is an angel."</p> + + <p>"Wish she would stay in heaven!" muttered Percy.</p> + + <p>"What I mean by an angel is a perfect woman."</p> + + <p>"Worse still," said the irrepressible Perce. (By the by, the + wits had nicknamed him "Perce sans purse," because he was poor, + you know, but he was a good fellow, quite.)</p> + + <p>"Gentlemen, let me explain."</p> + + <p>"Hear! hear!"</p> + + <p>"I have been looking for a wife for the past year: I have + thought much on the subject, for I think it an important + one."</p> + + <p>"Solomon!" said Perce out of his wine-glass.</p> + + <p>"Now, a good wife must be a refined, gentle, kind, loving, + beautiful woman, with no nonsense about her."</p> + + <p>"Amen to the last clause!" cried Bear de Witt.</p> + + <p>"You have found her?" asked Percy, absently watching the + sparkling bubbles rise one after the other in his glass.</p> + + <p>"Ah—aw—I will bring her home," I answered, + evading the question—"my love, my bliss, my delight!"</p> + + <p>"He is awful spoony on her," said Bear in a disgusted + tone.</p> + + <p>"He is tipsy," whispered Percy as I sat down with a tremor + in my voice and wiped my eyes with a napkin.</p> + + <p>Then Perce began to lecture me in an injured tone: "I say, + it is really too bad of you. I should not have believed it if + you had not told us yourself. To go and get married like any + fool of a fella' that hasn't forty thou' a year, like any + common man—it's too rough."</p> + + <p>"I know it, Perce," I replied, "but we superior people must + set an example—the world expects it of us. The only + question is, how to make a proper choice."</p> + + <p>I remember very little after, except that the lights shone + dimmer through the cigar-smoke, that there was much noise from + popping corks, and occasionally a breakage of glass, and I + think I made another speech. Next morning I awoke with a very + robust and well-defined head-ache.</p> + + <p>A few days later I started for the back-woods, with + Wordsworth packed in my trunk, he being the writer most + congenial to my present state of mind. Once seated in the cars, + I looked with pleasure on each pastoral scene as it came into + view, and gazed at the milkmaids while thinking romantically of + my love. I took a nap, and awoke respectfully pressing the + handle of my portmanteau and murmuring a proposal to my wild + flower.</p> + + <p>It was late when I arrived at the little village near which + my friend resided, and I resolved to spend the night at the + modest inn of the place. The gay singing of birds, mingled with + the ringing of Sunday bells, caused my drowsy eyes to open on + the morrow. A happy thought came to me as I lay enjoying the + delightful freshness of all around me: "I will go to church: my + little Innocence will be there. I know she is pious. As + unconscious as the birds, and with as sweet a voice, she will, + like them, be praising her Maker this bright morning."</p> + + <p>I began to dress, looking each moment from the window with + the hope that she might pass by. The street was quiet—no + one to be seen. Presently, from a house near, tripped two + pretty girls, and I eagerly came forward to see them. "If it is + not my rose herself," I thought, "it maybe some + relation—cousin, sister, friend: I am interested in the + whole town since <i>she</i> lives here." The girls came nearer. + They walked without affectation: you could imagine that the + spirit of Modesty herself had taught them that quiet demeanor. + Suddenly they looked up and saw me. Am I Mephistopheles, to + produce such a dire effect? They looked down, they simpered, + they laughed a laugh that was not natural: their voices grew + louder.</p> + + <p>"<i>Did</i> you see him?" said one.</p> + + <p>"So perfectly lovely!" said the other.</p> + + <p>"I wonder who he is?" remarked the first.</p> + + <p>"My fate," I muttered as I turned away.</p> + + <p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg_240]</span>After breakfast I + sallied forth, humming "Pure as the Snow." Taking a + reconnoissance of the town, I came to a pretty house with + woodbine-covered porch, and a slender figure at the window.</p> + + <p>"I will not startle her with a rude glance," thought I, for + I could see without appearing to look. As my step resounded the + figure turned.</p> + + <p>"Oh, do come here, Jessie! Who <i>can</i> he be?" said the + slender figure to some one inside.</p> + + <p>I raised my eyes slowly, and my hat. "Could you tell me the + way to Mr. Hearty's?" I asked, not thinking of any other excuse + for speaking to her.</p> + + <p>Blushing, she told me.</p> + + <p>"And might I ask you," looking beseechingly at her as a + person who might be my future wife—"might I ask you to + give me one of your roses?"</p> + + <p>"Take as many as you like," she said courteously.</p> + + <p>"I would rather you gave me one," with a smile.</p> + + <p>She hesitated for an instant, then quickly plucked a bud + from the side of the open window, threw it to me and ran + away.</p> + + <p>"I shall find <i>my</i> Rose later," sighed I.</p> + + <p>I sauntered on to church, a pretty little building of mossy + gray stone, and seated myself on a shady bench under the elms + to watch the people assembling.</p> + + <p>Ye gods! could it be? Here were last summer's styles, airs + and grimaces, served up as it were cold. I could pick out bad + copies of each girl I had flirted with the past season. You + remember Florence Rich at The Resort?—here was her + portrait in caricature. Florence was the vainest girl I ever + knew, and showed it too. But she was vain of herself. This + country Florence was vain of a new silk that I would have taken + the odds she was wearing for the first time. She looked as if + she were saying with every rustle, "Admire me!" though of + course she wasn't, you know. She was constantly arranging her + bracelet or smoothing her glove, and looking on this side and + that to see if any one was observing her. By this means she + gave her admirers the benefit of her full face, showing both + earrings; then of her profile, showing one earring and her + curls; and then of the back of her head, showing her fall + bonnet. Her little black veil ended just where her nose needed + a shade. It is needless to mention that she looked at me as she + passed and gave me a smile <i>à la profile</i>, which + was ostensibly aimed at a pale young man near the + church-door.</p> + + <p>On they came, looking like the remnants of my summer's + feast—the supper after my season's dinner—stale and + repelling to my satiated palate. On entering I saw the ghost of + "the Soprano" at the head of the choir, with less voice and + more affectation. The same glances of envy that had been shot + from angry eyes at The Resort I now saw passing between angry + eyes here. The church was full of imitations of this kind, or + were they only inferior originals of the same type?</p> + + <p>I learned afterward that the girls of the town were divided + into two classes—the followers of Miss Loude, who was + fast and flashy, and the imitators of Miss Weighty, who + affected the quiet style, did not visit indiscriminately, and + was considered "stuck up" by the townspeople, being the + daughter of a retired grocer. During the service they all + looked at me. Some who were of the Loude school did it openly: + those after the Weighty pattern peeped clandestinely over their + prayer-books, through their fans, or between their fingers when + praying. The more clever would use strategy, shivering as if in + a draught of air, and looking around in my direction to see if + a window were open, while the mammas eyed me steadily through + spectacles.</p> + + <p>"I might have known it," I thought, exasperated: "'tis the + same everywhere, unless I should go to a country where the + people are blind."</p> + + <p>Dick Hearty, who was there with his sisters, came up after + the service and spoke to me. "Looking well, old fellow!" he + said, as if I was not sick of looking well. "Let me introduce + you to my sisters."</p> + + <p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg_241]</span>His sisters were of the + fast and flashy school. Both of them fell in love with me + before I left, though I tried hard to make myself disagreeable, + not thinking it right to disappoint them, being a friend of the + brother, and all that. But unless I wear a mask I cannot + prevent such accidents. I hope they will get over it in time. + They were deuced nice girls too, but more like peonies than + wild roses.</p> + + <p>Well, as I was saying, Dick introduced me, and insisted on + taking me home with him at once. I already began to fear for + the success of my object, but could not turn back at the very + beginning of the promised land; so I went with him.</p> + + <p>It would be tiresome to tell of all the flirtations and + adventures I had while there, or of all the girls who devoted + themselves to me. Like skillful leaders, Miss Loude and Miss + Weighty set the example to their imitators—an example + which none were slow to follow. Indeed, it seemed as if the + struggle consisted in seeing who should be first at my feet. I + averaged half a dozen conquests daily: Dick's house was + overwhelmed with lady visitors, and it was usually love at + first sight with them all. A second interview was sufficient to + win the most intractable. Not that I cared to win: I was + fatigued with victory—my laurels oppressed me. I began to + wish, like that nobby old emperor, Au—I used to know his + name—that all womankind had but one heart, that I might + finish it with a look, and then turn my attention to more + important matters.</p> + + <p>Once I thought I had found her. At one of the picnics given + in my honor I saw a sober, pretty little thing, with rosy + cheeks and chestnut hair, who looked intensely rural. I fancied + I should like to talk to her alone for a while, and took her to + a spring that was just in sight of the dancing platform, + thinking she would be too timid to go far away from the others. + I found her very sweet and bashful: I could desire nothing more + so. She blushed at each word she said, and made some very + innocent remarks, unfettered by the grammatic rules that + restrain less ingenuous people. Hoping to put her at her ease, + I talked about the country, the beautiful views, and all + that.</p> + + <p>"If you like lovely views," she said shyly, "I can show you + one."</p> + + <p>"I shall be most happy to see it," I replied.</p> + + <p>To tell you of the walk that the treacherous innocent took + me, of the rocks we climbed and the marshy brooks we crossed, + and the two hours she kept me at the work! Her stock of + conversation was exhausted in the first ten minutes, and I was + too angry to be civil. Two hours of such silent torture man + never underwent before, and yet when we returned tired, with + the perspiration rolling down our faces, I actually overheard + her tell one of her companions that it had been "a delightful + walk, I was <i>so</i> agreeable." Just my luck! And that walk + made her a belle! After it all the country beaux flocked around + to pay her attention, and she looked upon them as Cinderella + might have viewed her other suitors after the prince had danced + with her at the ball. Disgusting!</p> + + <p>Dick came to me after a while and said, "Charley, you are so + stunning in that velvet coat that all the girls are in love + with you."</p> + + <p>"I know it, Dick," I said in a complaining voice—"I + know it. It always happens just so. Think it's the coat? I + would take it off in a minute if I thought it was." Then I + added with a burst of confidence, "Dick, 'tis the same with + everything I wear: the fascination is in myself. I would do + anything to lessen it, but I can't."</p> + + <p>"You are a jolly joker," replied Dick with a tremendous slap + on my back, as if I had said something very funny. I am often + witty when I don't mean to be.</p> + + <p>But why continue a history which was the same thing day + after day? I stayed in the country more than three weeks. + Though doubting, I was conscientious, and left nothing undone + to gain my end. The task bored me far more than my sympathizers + did in the summer. Indeed, any of those friends were bewitching + in contrast to the girls I now met, and had one of them dropped + in on me during that tiresome period I think I + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_242]</span>should have forgotten nice + distinctions and made serious love to her, sure of finding more + pleasure in having a single taste in common than in having none + at all.</p> + + <p>I believe country-people are even more egotistic than the + dwellers in cities. I sometimes found myself at the most + isolated farm-houses looking for my Rose. The men I met there + invariably thought they knew all about the weather and + religion, politics and farming; the women were convinced they + had every kind of knowledge worth having, and that what they + did not know was "new-fangled" and not worth a pin; and their + daughters believed that they were beauties, or would be if they + had fine clothes to dress in. How people can be so mistaken as + to their capacity is a mystery to me.</p> + + <p>During my stay I came to the conclusion that I would rather + press a soft hand than a hard one; that I would rather see a + tasty toilette than beauty unadorned; that shy manners are + anything but graceful; that the useful and the beautiful are + not likely to be found in the same person; and that girls, like + <i>articles de luxe</i>, should be carefully kept. I like to + recall that well-bred, unconscious air of Miss Haughton; I + remember Miss Darling as a model of deportment: why, she could + do the naughtiest things in a less objectionable manner than + that of these girls when acting propriety.</p> + + <p>I discovered some facts regarding wild roses. Their petals + are few and faded, and their thorns many and sharp. Their + scanty green foliage will always remind me of a calico gown. + Take my word for it, and don't ever go to the trouble of + seeking one. Give me a full-blown damask rose. What care I if + it was nursed in a hot-house or if its beauty is due to the + gardener's care? I thank the gardener and take the rose. Or + give me a half-open sulphira, with suggestive odors and soft + curving leaves, passion-pale in tint, or a gorgeous amaryllis + produced by artful development, clothed like a queen in state, + bearing erect her magic beauty. No more wild roses for me!</p> + + <h2><a name="chapter_ii" + id="chapter_ii"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + + <p>I had been at Breezy Brook, that beautiful summer resort + which you all know, about a month: it was now July, and nothing + had happened worth relating since my arrival. During the past + winter I had not been idle—attending parties, balls and + operas without number, but without success. This summer I made + up my mind to be tranquil and to let events take their course, + for, as Fortune had given me every other good, she would no + doubt in time provide me with a good wife. I had therefore + every reason to be patient.</p> + + <p>I was in an unsociable mood one afternoon; so, taking a + cigar and book, I sauntered up the mountain. There is an arbor + halfway to its top, and I have a lounging-place near by, where + the roots of an old tree make a comfortable nest just above a + steep precipice, and the place is hidden from intruders by + rocks and foliage. 'Tis a discovery of mine I pride myself + upon, and I go there when I want to collect my thoughts and + enjoy my own company.</p> + + <p>Hardly had I made myself comfortable in my retreat when I + heard voices in the arbor below. It was Mrs. Fluffy and her + sister, Mrs. J.K.B. Stunner. I knew them in a moment, though + they were not visible. Panting for breath, Mrs. F. invited the + other to take a seat: she was very stout and soon tired. The + sisters were examples of opposite schools of art. Mrs. Stunner, + dark, hard and sharp-faced, was a widow with all her daughters + "well settled" in life—<i>i.e.</i>, married to wealthy + husbands—and was considered "fortunate" among the + matrons. Mrs. Fluffy was soft and florid, without an angular + point, physically or mentally: much younger and prettier than + her sister, she was always spoken of as "poor Mrs. Fluffy," + though she was not badly off that I could see. She had two + daughters "out" this season, and a third casting longing looks + in the same direction.</p> + + <p>Thinking they would move on shortly, as the arbor was only a + halting-place for people walking to the summit, I lay snug and + waited. Presently the widow, among + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_243]</span>other commonplaces, began + to discuss the young ladies at The Brook.</p> + + <p>"By the by, Sarah," she said, "I don't see that your girls + are doing much this season: I really must say you do not seem + to manage well at all. You may be playing a very deep game, but + I can discover no signs of it, and there is little that escapes + me in such matters."</p> + + <p>"Oh, Jane!" panted Mrs. F., "if you only knew the trouble of + having two daughters 'out' at once!"</p> + + <p>"As if I didn't know!" snuffed Mrs. Stunner.</p> + + <p>"True, true," replied Sarah in a conciliatory tone. "But you + seemed to have so little anxiety."</p> + + <p>"Seemed!" echoed the Stunner contemptuously. "Of course I + <i>seemed</i>, and the difficulty it required to <i>seem</i>! + Do you think I was so witless as to let my manoeuvres be seen? + I wonder at you, Sarah!"</p> + + <p>"Well, well," said the other, yielding the point, "I know + you have a talent for such things, and can manage well, but + <i>I</i> don't know what to do."</p> + + <p>"I—should—think—you—did—not," + replied her sister, tapping the ground slowly with her + foot.</p> + + <p>"What have I done that you should speak like that, Jane?" + asked the meek Sarah, bridling up.</p> + + <p>"Tell me," answered Jane after an ominous silence that was + quite thrilling, "where is Eva at this moment?"</p> + + <p>"Oh,", replied Sarah with a sigh of relief, "she is walking + with Mr. Hardcash. You introduced him at the last ball."</p> + + <p>"I introduced him to dance with, not to walk with," said + Jane severely.</p> + + <p>"Goodness me, sister! what's the difference?"</p> + + <p>"She asks me 'What's the difference?' Are you a child? Why, + just the difference between dancing and walking."</p> + + <p>From the pause that followed I knew that Mrs. F. was looking + with both her round eyes, intent on seeing it. I suppose she + did not succeed, as her sister continued, emphasizing each word + clearly, "Mr. Hardcash has not a penny," as if that at once + explained the knotty question.</p> + + <p>"Why did you introduce him if you don't approve of him?" + asked Mrs. Fluffy, with a feeble attempt to throw the blame on + her sister.</p> + + <p>"Have I not told you? In a ball-room girls need plenty of + partners—plenty of men about them. It makes them look + popular and fascinating, and if the gentlemen are handsome and + stylish-looking, so much the better. Mr. Hardcash is just the + size to waltz well with Eva—he shows her off to + advantage—but he is not a man to encourage afterward. She + should not be seen walking or talking intimately with a + gentleman who has less than ten thousand a year." Mrs. Stunner + delivered this ultimatum with the tone of a just judge who will + hear of no appeal.</p> + + <p>"How can I know how much the gentlemen are worth?" said + Sarah pettishly.</p> + + <p>"It is your duty as a mother to discover it," replied the + virtuous widow.</p> + + <p>"But how?"</p> + + <p>"The visitors' book will tell where a man is from; you can + easily get acquainted with some old lady or gentleman from the + same place; and—"</p> + + <p>"What! and ask about them!"</p> + + <p>"Nonsense! Speak of them, praise them if you wish, and let + the others talk: you have only to be an interested listener" + (here I could imagine Mrs. S. smiling grimly), "and you can + soon hear enough. For instance, commence in this way: 'Fine + fellow, Mr. T. from your part of the country.' As a general + rule the old gentleman will then give you his whole history. + Another time you may say, 'What a pleasant young man that Mr. + B. is! but rather inclined to be wild, eh?' If he is you will + soon know it. You can also cross-question the man himself. + Speak of a little girl he has at home: if he blushes he is + netted already, and lures are useless. See how he eats his + dinner: that is a good test to judge his position by; not that + a few <i>gaucheries</i> will matter if he is very + wealthy—for a judicious mother-in-law can soon correct + them—but for every impropriety he should have a thousand + added to his income. Such things are so intolerable in a poor + man!"</p> + + <p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg_244]</span>"I don't think Eva + would obey me if I did interfere in her affairs," objected Mrs. + Fluffy.</p> + + <p>"Her affairs, indeed! It is <i>your</i> affair. Of course + you want a son-in-law who can keep a comfortable house for you + to live in. You have brought up Eva badly, Sarah, and there is + one thing I must tell you about her—she is entirely too + familiar and sisterly with gentlemen."</p> + + <p>"She has a great many beaux," interrupted Mrs. F.</p> + + <p>"It is one of her worst faults," continued Jane, not + listening to her. "If a girl gets into those sisterly habits + with a man, it will never come into his head to marry her. She + may be his chief confidante; he will talk of his lady-love to + her, and she may end by being first bridesmaid at his wedding, + but nothing nearer. I don't approve of it. One of my maxims is, + that a man ought not be well acquainted with the girl he is to + marry until the ceremony is performed."</p> + + <p>"Well, you cannot disapprove of Laura," said Mrs. Fluffy, + trying to turn the conversation. "I left her in her room + reading."</p> + + <p>"'Disapprove' of her? The word is not strong enough for my + feelings. Neither of your girls has the least bit of common + sense; but I don't wonder, with such a mother! A girl who gets + a reputation for being learned and saying brilliant things + might just as well give up matrimony altogether. Men are either + afraid of them or detest them: gentlemen don't like to puzzle + their brains over a witticism, nor do they admire chaffing that + is beyond their comprehension. Courtship should be made easy. + My Jane was clever, and vexed me a great deal in consequence, + daughters of that kind are so unmanageable: give me the most + stupid in preference. It is pleasant to a husband to feel his + superiority, to look down on his wife. The mediocre is the girl + I take most delight in. There are so many mediocre men that + they are sure to get suited without giving you much + anxiety."</p> + + <p>"Jane," exclaimed Mrs. Fluffy with a burst of admiration, + "you are so clever I wonder <i>you</i> ever were married. Did + Mr. Stunner appreciate that kind of women?"</p> + + <p>"La! no. I had the sense to conceal my talents. Take my word + for it, superior people as a class are never liked, unless they + do as I did—conceal it, conceal it."</p> + + <p>"I am glad I was not born talented: I fear I could not + succeed in hiding it as you do." Mrs. F. was too stupid for + sarcasm, else I should have thought—</p> + + <p>"Now be frank with me, Sarah," broke in Mrs. Stunner, + scattering my thoughts: "who is paying attention to Eva + now?"</p> + + <p>"Well," replied the other, appearing to recollect, "there is + Mr. Rich: he asked her to ride with him."</p> + + <p>"More than once?"</p> + + <p>"No, not more, but it was only day before yesterday."</p> + + <p>"Ah! he may ask her again: once means nothing. A gentleman + may ask her for pastime, or to make some one else jealous, or + out of good-nature, but to a girl properly brought up once is a + chance—it is a good start." (Mrs. S.'s late husband was + fond of racing.) "It rests entirely with her to make the once + twice, the twice thrice, and so on; for if she is amusing and + don't talk love, he will be sure to ask her again."</p> + + <p>"'Don't talk love'? Why, Jane, you surprise me! I thought + that was the proper thing to do."</p> + + <p>"Just where people mistake. The most stupid man can talk + love if he feels love. Let girls be agreeable, sweet and + charming, but without especial effort to appear so, and when + gentlemen are captivated they will do their own + love-making."</p> + + <p>"Dear me!" was the reply.</p> + + <p>"Yes, I protest against young ladies throwing themselves at + the head of every marriageable gentleman they see. They should + think of the effect it will have."</p> + + <p>"But they are so unworldly that they don't think of effect," + said Mrs. Fluffy.</p> + + <p>"Humph!" ejaculated the widow in a tone of incredulity.</p> + + <p>"You seem to have a very poor opinion of women, Jane."</p> + + <p>"They want to marry, all of them: you admit that, don't + you?" asked Mrs. Stunner severely.</p> + + <p>"I think not," objected Mrs. F. in a + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_245]</span>feeble voice. "There is + Miss Furnaval: they say she has refused—"</p> + + <p>"Then," interrupted her sister, not heeding her, "if they + want to marry, why not take the proper means? It is + inconceivable to me how women, after thinking about it all + their lives, blunder into it in the end, just as if it was an + entirely unforeseen event. A little good sense is requisite in + everything, I think."</p> + + <p>"They are not all anxious to marry," reiterated Mrs. Fluffy, + gaining courage: "there's Miss Furnaval—"</p> + + <p>"A great example to give one!" remarked her sister + contemptuously. "She is making a fool of herself as fast as she + can. Among all the young ladies who marry badly, the + fascinating ones prosper the worst. No girl can refuse a good + offer with impunity: a day of reckoning will come. Society has + its laws, which must be obeyed: if not, <i>gare</i>! Mark my + words," continued Mrs. Stunner solemnly: "Miss Furnaval has + some outlandish un-society principles, and practically they + will not work. Why, she is quite as well contented talking to a + poor man as to a rich one, and she is always encouraging + worthless, amusing, handsome fellows—talented men, + instead of men whose position dispenses with the necessity of + their having brains. Those fellows she has about her are the + pests of society. If you hear of a runaway match, you may be + sure it is with one of them; if a daughter is obstinate, you + may be sure some ineligible jackanapes has prompted her to it. + Blanche will end badly. She will fall in love with one of them + some day, and finish by marrying him."</p> + + <p>"If Miss Furnaval loves one of that kind of gentlemen, I + don't see why she might not be happy with him."</p> + + <p>"You don't see anything, Sarah. You don't see the nose on + your face, though I see 'tis a very big one. I will make it + evident to you. He will be poor, Blanche is rich: if she gives + him her money, he will spend it. Never having had any of his + own, he won't know how to take care of it. If, on the other + hand, she don't give it to him, he will think she does not care + for him—will get jealous, likely take to drink: your + clever man always does. They will quarrel; then her clever + husband will use his clever tongue to tease her, and his clever + brain to thwart and provoke her—which a stupid man would + never think of doing—and, worse than all, she will never + get the least chance to have her own way in anything."</p> + + <p>"Poor Blanche! I pity her," sighed Mrs. Fluffy.</p> + + <p>"I don't, in the least," snapped the other. "Such an example + will serve to make other girls more sensible. Only you take it + as a warning to your own Eva."</p> + + <p>After quite a long silence, in which I suppose Mrs. Fluffy + was considering, she said pathetically, "I wish you would tell + me what to do with Eva."</p> + + <p>"Marry her as soon as possible," was the prompt and decided + reply. "It is her second summer 'out,' and she should at least + be engaged."</p> + + <p>"I can do nothing. What do you advise, Jane?"</p> + + <p>"In the first place, stop her being with such gentlemen as + Mr. Hardcash."</p> + + <p>"Eva is so high-spirited," groaned Mrs. Fluffy, "I fear she + would not listen to me."</p> + + <p>"You mean <i>obstinate</i>, Sarah. Tell her seriously that + she has had two very gay seasons—that you can't afford + another—that she must make up her mind now. Then think + over all the most eligible gentlemen you know, and cultivate + their acquaintance."</p> + + <p>"Couldn't you help me, Jane?" asked the other timidly. "I + shall not know what to do."</p> + + <p>"Let me see," continued Mrs. S. in a musing tone. "If you + had a country-house you could manage better. Elderly gentlemen + are usually pleased with domestic attractions, and there are + many little attentions that you and Eva could show them which + in any other position would look like courting them. Then there + would be no danger of competition. Indeed, if a pretty girl has + a gentleman all to herself for a week or two at a romantic + country-house, a wedding is sure to follow. But there must be + no jarring, fretting, bad cooking or any household ill + whatever—no talk of poor servants + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_246]</span>or dishonest grooms: + everything must be <i>couleur de rose</i>."</p> + + <p>"Jane, it appears to me you are talking very silly," said + Mrs. Fluffy, glad of a chance to attack her superior sister. + "You know I have no country-house, and I can't buy one just to + marry Eva and Laura from."</p> + + <p>"I merely said <i>if</i> you had. I thought you might be + pleased to hear my theory," replied Mrs. Stunner stiffly, "The + next best thing for you is to have a parlor here, get up + picnics and drives, make card-parties with + suppers—gentlemen so like to eat!—and do not spare + expense when you have a good investment in view. You can limit + the invitations to two or three gentlemen who are especially + eligible: make these some little compliment, such as + '<i>You</i> will come of course—our little party would + not be complete without you.' Contrive that they take care of + the girls, and you can entertain the others. Occasionally + include some young ladies in your evenings, so that the world + may not say you are afraid of them, but don't let them become + intimate."—Here Mrs. Stunner paused for breath.</p> + + <p>"It sounds easy enough," said poor Mrs. F. dolefully.</p> + + <p>"It is not easy at all," sharply replied her sister, "but if + we manage well we sha'n't have to go through with it more than + one summer."</p> + + <p>"Then you will help me?"</p> + + <p>"I suppose I must sacrifice myself for the good of the + family," said the Stunner in an heroic tone, "but you must let + me have my own way entirely."</p> + + <p>"Oh yes, Jane—certainly. I am so much obliged!" + replied Mrs. Fluffy with effusion.</p> + + <p>"Then it is not necessary to explain my plans further: I + shall be there and will manage."</p> + + <p>"But whom do you think we should invite, Jane dear?" asked + Mrs. F. anxiously.</p> + + <p>"You spoke of Mr. Rich. I approve of him: I know he has + twenty thousand a year. Yes, he shall be one."</p> + + <p>"I am afraid Eva won't like him," Mrs. Fluffy timidly + remarked.</p> + + <p>"Eva shall not interfere with my plans, and don't you + commence with such nonsense as liking and disliking; I won't + have it," retorted Mrs. S. in a louder voice than she would + have used had she known I was so near.</p> + + <p>"But there might be some nicer gentleman just as wealthy, + might there not?" suggested the weak sister.</p> + + <p>"There is David Todd, with thirty thousand a year: I wonder + if <i>he</i> would suit the dainty Eva?" said Mrs. Jane, + sneering.</p> + + <p>"I think she would like Mr. Highrank to be invited," + observed pink Mrs. Fluffy, waiving the question.</p> + + <p>I sat up and listened attentively when I heard my own name + mentioned, not forgetful of the adage that listeners hear no + good of themselves, but of course <i>I</i> had nothing to + fear.</p> + + <p>"More sensible than I thought Eva could be," the Stunner + rejoined. "Forty thousand a year and entailed, so that he can't + get through with it. I have observed him a good deal for + several seasons, and I find that though he is such a fool, the + sharpest girls can do nothing with him. When so many are after + him I suppose no single one can have a fair chance. Yes, we + will invite him, but I hope Eva will not think of falling in + love with him unless he should propose. Indeed, I think a + modest girl ought never to fall in love. It seems to me + indecorous, at least before marriage—after, they can do + as they like about it. You must warn Eva on the subject. If any + other gentleman should ask for her, she must not refuse, + because we could not count on Highrank making up his mind: I + have an idea that he is too weak to form a resolution of any + kind."</p> + + <p>I thought the old woman must be bilious. "Me a + fool!"—a philosopher rather. But I have always known that + exalted worth is a fault in the estimation of narrow-minded + people, who can't appreciate it. Little Eva has more + sense—would like me to visit her: of course the poor + child is in love with me. I wish I could tease that ridiculous + old lady in some way. I have a confounded mind to run off with + Eva. No, that, I fear, + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_247]</span>would please Aunt Stunner. + But I am missing all her trash: better listen. It is really not + worth getting heated over.</p> + + <p>"The others I will see about," continued Aunt Jane. "It is + very little consequence who they are. Only one thing: I won't + have that Hardcash about: he and Eva have been entirely too + much together."</p> + + <p>"She is rough on Ned," thought I in ambush.</p> + + <p>"I am afraid you won't be able to manage Eva, my dear + Jane."</p> + + <p>"Don't worry. When I have a duty to perform I go through + with it. Let us walk on to the summit."</p> + + <p>"Just as you like: I am sufficiently rested, and we can talk + as we go."</p> + + <p>There was a rustling of silk and a crunching of gravel, and + all was quiet.</p> + + <p>I lay there thinking for a long while: I wonder if my poor + mother, were she living, would take as much trouble to procure + me a wife as Mrs. Stunner is going to take to provide Eva with + a husband. I wonder mothers don't help their sons to marry, and + let their daughters help themselves. Girls are so much sharper + about such things than men are. Everything is against us. I + suppose women think they deceive us for our good, but they + should continue to do so after marriage. 'Pon honor! I have + seen the sweetest, most amiable girl turn as sour as could be a + few months after the ceremony. The dressiest ones often get + dowdy, the most musical can't abide music, the most talkative + have the dumps. A man has no chance of judging how they are + going to turn out. He is duped by the daughters, inveigled by + their mothers, and, what is worse still, as soon as he is + married they both undeceive him. It would not matter if a + fellow was cheated if he never knew it, but that's where it + hurts.</p> + + <p>I shouldn't wonder if that pair of old plotters would catch + me yet if I don't take care. I will tease them a bit, any way: + I'll pay a deuced lot of attention to Eva, and keep the other + fellows away. No man would try to win her if he thought I was + serious.</p> + + <p>Blanche Furnaval <i>is</i> an odd girl, I went on musing. + They said she would end badly—hope she won't, though. + Bewitching girl, but she don't seem to care if people admire + her or not. I never can quite understand her. Once I wrote a + few verses and gave them to her—compared her to an + ice-covered stream, quiet on the surface, but all motion and + tumult below. Well, she never even thanked me for them, though + she said she liked that simile, it was so new. There was + another couplet about her name—Blanche and snow and cold: + when she read it she laughed and said, "Though my name means + white, it does not mean cold. You know there are some white + things that are very warm, Mr. Highrank—my ermine muff, + for instance." But I made a clever answer. I said, "The muff + <i>looks</i> cold, and so does Miss Blanche, but if I could be + so fortunate as to touch the heart of either I might find + warmth." "My muff has no heart," she answered, looking at me as + if she did not understand. "And is its owner in the same + condition?" I asked tenderly. (I make it a rule to speak + tenderly to all girls, it is so sad for them to love me when I + cannot return it.) "In a poetical sense I believe she is," she + replied, "but for all practical purposes she has one that + serves very well."</p> + + <p>Sometimes she would be invisible for two or three days + together: no one would see her, either at meals or at the + evening ball. When asked what she had been doing, she would + smile that sweet smile of hers and say she had been enjoying + herself. She was very talented, but not a bit ostentatious. To + give you an example: It was rumored that she had a wonderful + voice, and though we had been begging her to sing for at least + a month, she steadily refused to gratify us. One day there was + a queer old Italian chap came to The Brook for his health. He + looked like an organ-grinder, and had been once actually on the + stage. Well, do you know she allowed him to be introduced to + her, and talked to him with as much deference as if he had been + a prince, when she ought not have spoken to him at all, you + know; and in that gibberish, too, that no one can understand. + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_248]</span>One evening, after + entertaining him for about an hour, she walked with him the + whole length of the room, not noticing any one, though every + eye was upon her. He sat down at the piano which stood in a + corner, struck a few chords, and then, with no coaxing + whatever, she sang; and such a song! Her gray eyes grew dark, + and her voice quivered, deepened, expanded into a melody that + made you think the heavens had suddenly opened. Every other + sound ceased; the doors and windows were filled with eager + faces; the dancers ended in the middle of a quadrille, and the + band came in a body to listen. I saw one fat Dutchman holding + his fiddle in one hand while he wiped the tears from his eyes + with the other. When the song was ended the old Italian took + both her hands in his and kissed them, talking at the same time + with impossible rapidity; and she smiled and looked as happy as + if she had won a prize, turning her back on every one else who + wished to congratulate her. It showed how very odd she was. The + next evening <i>I</i> asked her to sing, and she flatly refused + without the least excuse, saying, "No: a refusal will be a + pleasant novelty in your life, Mr. Highrank."</p> + + <p class="author">ITA ANIOL PROKOP.</p> + + <p class="center">[TO BE CONTINUED]</p> + + <h2><a name="the_stranger_within_the_gates_of_paris" + id="the_stranger_within_the_gates_of_paris"></a>THE STRANGER + WITHIN THE GATES OF PARIS.</h2> + + <p>"Paris," once said Victor Hugo to me, "is the hostess of all + the nations. There all the world is at home. It is the second + best place with all foreigners—the fatherland first, and + afterward Paris."</p> + + <p>There was a great deal of truth in the observation, and + especially is it true as regards Americans. By our natural + sociability and versatility of temperament, by our love of all + bright and pleasant surroundings, by our taste for pleasure and + amusement, we assimilate more closely in our superficial + characteristics to the French nation than we do to any other. + Our Britannic cousins are too cold, too unsociable, too heavy + for our fraternization, and mighty barriers of dissimilarity of + language, of tastes, of customs and manners divide us from the + European nation which of all others we most closely resemble in + essential particulars—namely, the Northern Germans. The + Prussians have been called—and that, too, with a good + deal of truth—the Yankees of Europe; and if the term + "Yankees" means, as it usually does in European parlance, the + entire population of the United States, we citizens of the + great republic have every right to feel proud of the + comparison. Yet, with all our genuine respect and admiration + for the Prussians, there are but few American tourists who take + kindly to that people or their country. The lack of the + external polish, the graceful manners and winning ways of the + Parisians is severely felt by the chance tarrier within the + gates of Berlin. We accord our fullest meed of honor to the + great conquering nation of Europe, to its wonderful system of + education, its admirable military discipline, and its sturdy + opposition to superstition and ignorance in their most + aggressive form. And yet we do not like Prussia or the + Prussians. We scoff at Berlin, planted on a sandy plain and new + with the thriving, aggressive newness of some of our own + cities. We long for the soft shadows of antiquity, the dim + twilight of past glories, to overhang our daily path as we + journey onward through the storied lands of the ancient world. + We have enough of bright progressive prosperity at home. + Something of the feeling of the artist, who turns from the + trim, elegant damsel arrayed in the latest fashion to paint the + figure of <span class="pagenum">[Pg_249]</span>a beggar-girl + draped in picturesque rags, hangs about us as we travel. It is + only to Paris—Paris beautiful in its strange blending of + smoky ruins and splendid, freshly-erected mansions—that + we can pardon the white glare of newly-opened streets, the + Vandal desecration of antique landmarks, the universal + sacrifice of old memories, historic associations and antique + picturesqueness on that altar of modern progress whose high + priest was Baron Haussmann and whose divinity was Napoleon + III.</p> + + <p>We love Paris, we Americans abroad, and we like the + Parisians. One side of our affection grows and strengthens and + sends forth new shoots with every passing day. The longer one + lives in Paris the better one loves it. Its beauty becomes part + and parcel of one's daily life. The mighty sweep of palace and + arcade and museum and church, the plash of sunlit fountains, + the rustle and the shimmer of resplendent foliage, the grace of + statue, the grandeur of monument, the far-stretching splendor + of brilliant boulevard and bustling street,—all these + make up a picture whose lines are engraven on our heart of + hearts. Often, passing along the street, some far-off vista, + some effect of light and color, some single point of view, + strikes on the sense with new and startling beauty, and we + pause to gaze and to admire, and to exclaim for the thousandth + time, How fair is Paris!</p> + + <p>And she is so prodigal of her treasures, this goodly city! + She lavishes them on all comers without fee or favor. All day + long her princely art-galleries stand open to welcome the + passing visitor. One comes and goes unhindered and unquestioned + in church or museum, and even the service of guides and boats + and cars to the sewers, and of official guides to the + Catacombs, is given without compensation—nay more, all + fees are strictly; forbidden. There is no city on earth that + receives its guests with such splendid and lavish hospitality. + Apart from one's board and lodging, it is possible for a + stranger to come to Paris and to visit all its principal sights + without the expenditure of a single sou. And for the persons + who, prolonging their stay, wish in some sort to take up their + permanent residence in Paris, things are smoothed and ironed + and the knots picked out in the most wonderful way. Your board + is dainty and your bed soft. Velvet-footed and fairy-handed + beings minister to your wants. You are clothed as if by magic + in garments of marvelous beauty. The very rustle of your letter + of credit is as an open sesame to treasure-chambers to which + Ali Baba's cavern was but a shabby cellar. And if, on the + contrary, your means are limited and your wants but few, the + science of living has been so exactly conned and is so + perfectly understood that your franc-piece will buy you as many + necessaries as ever your fifty-cent greenback did home, and + that, too, in face of the fact that all provisions are now, + owing to the war and the taxes, as dear, if not dearer than + they are in Philadelphia. If a stranger comes to Paris and + wishes to live comfortably and economically, there are plenty + of respectable, well-situated establishments in the best + section of the city where he can obtain a comfortable, + well-furnished room and well-cooked, well-served meals, for + eight to ten francs a day—such accommodations as five + dollars would scarcely avail to purchase in Philadelphia or New + York.</p> + + <p>The whole secret of the matter is, that in France everybody + understands the art of making the most out of everything. No + scrap of food is wasted, no morsel cast aside, till every + particle of nourishment it can yield is carefully extracted. + The portions given to the guests at the minor hotels, where one + lives <i>en pension</i> at so much <i>per diem</i>, are + carefully measured for individual consumption. The slice of + steak, the tiny omelette, the minute moulded morsels of butter, + even the roll of bread and little <i>sucrier</i> and cream-jug + placed before each person, have each been carefully gauged as + to the usual dimensions of an ordinary appetite. Nothing is + squandered and nothing is wasted. When one recalls the aspect + of our hotel tables at home—the bread-plates left with + their piles of cold, uneatable corn-bread, and heavy, chilled + muffins and <span class="pagenum">[Pg_250]</span>sodden toast + uneaten, uncared-for and wasted; the huge steak, with its scrap + of tenderloin carefully scolloped out, and the rest left to be + thrown away; the broiled chicken—the legs scorned in + favor of the more toothsome breast; the half-emptied plates of + omelettes and fried potatoes,—one realizes how low prices + for board in Paris are still compatible with the increased + price of provisions, and why we must pay five dollars at home + for accommodations for which we expend two here. The same + wastefulness creeps into all the details of our hotel-life. If + we want a glass of ice-water, for instance, we are straight-way + supplied with a pitcher brimming over with huge crystal lumps + of transparent ice. One-half the quantity would suffice for all + actual purposes: the rest is left to melt and run to waste.</p> + + <p>The fact is, that we citizens of the United States live more + luxuriously than any other people on the face of the earth. On + an average we dress better, fare better, sleep softer, and + combat the cold in winter and the heat in summer with more + scientific persistency, than do any of the so-called luxurious + nations of Europe. Take, for instance, the matter of heating + and lighting. A few of the leading hotels in Paris, and a small + minority among the most expensive suites of private apartments, + have gas introduced into all the rooms, but as a general thing + it is confined to the public rooms, and the unfortunate wight + who longs to see beyond the end of his nose is forced to + wrestle with dripping candles and unclean lamps, known only by + tradition in our native land. The gaslight, which is a common + necessary in the simplest private dwelling in an American city, + is here a luxury scarcely attainable save by the very + wealthiest. And we do not know how precious our gaslight is + till we have lost it. To sit in a dim parlor where four lighted + candles struggle vainly to disperse the gloom, to dress for + opera or ball by the uncertain glimmer of those greasy + delusions, is enough to make one forswear all the luxuries of + Paris, and flee homeward forthwith.</p> + + <p>Then in winter comes the question of warmth. What is more + delicious than to plunge from the iced-champagne atmosphere of + a sparkling winter's day in America into the nest-like, + all-pervading warmth of an American home? Here such comfort is + wholly unknown. The cold, though less severe than with us, is + damp, raw and insidious, and creeps under wraps with a + treacherous persistency that nothing can shut out. The + ill-fitting windows, opening in the old door-like fashion, let + in every breath of the chill outer air. A fire is a handful of + sticks or half a dozen lumps of coal. The + <i>calorifère</i>, a poor substitute for our powerful + furnaces, is a luxury for the very rich—an innovation + grudgingly granted to the whims of the occupants of the most + costly and fashionable of private apartments. Warmth, our cosy, + all-pervading warmth, is a winter luxury that we leave behind + us with the cheerful light of our universal gas-burners.</p> + + <p>In summer we sorely miss the cold, pure ice-water of our + native land, and we long for it with a thirst which <i>vin + ordinaire</i> and Bavarian beer are powerless to assuage. The + ill-tasting limestone-tainted water of Paris is a poor + substitute for our sparkling draughts of Schuylkill or Croton. + Ice-pitchers, water-coolers and refrigerators are unknown + quantities in the sum-total of Parisian luxuries. The "cup of + cold water," which the traveler in our country finds + gratuitously supplied in every waiting-room and + railway-station, every steamboat, every car and every hotel, is + here something that must be specially sought for, and paid for + at an exorbitant price. Ice can be purchased only in small + quantities for immediate consumption. Ten cents for a few lumps + swimming in water on a tepid plate is the usual tariff for this + our American necessity, this rare Parisian luxury.</p> + + <p>The scant supply of water for ablution is another annoyance + to the American traveler accustomed to the hot-and cold-water + faucets introduced into private bedrooms and hotel apartments, + and the capacious bath-tubs and unlimited control of water in + his native land. To be sure, one can get a bath in Paris, as + well as anywhere else, by ordering it and waiting + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_251]</span>for it and paying for it; + but the free use of water and its gratuitous supply in hotels, + so entirely a matter of course with us, is here unheard of. As + with ice-water, the bath is an American necessity, a Parisian + luxury. However, the latest erected dwelling-houses here have + had water-pipes and bath-tubs introduced. Wealth can command + its bath here as well as its gaslight and its supplies of ice, + but wealth only. The humblest abode of a Philadelphia mechanic + contains comforts and conveniences which are wellnigh + unattainable luxuries in all but the most splendid apartments + of the most luxurious city of Europe.</p> + + <p>Nor do all the delicate artifices of French cookery suffice + wholly to replace for an American palate the dainties of his + native land. The buckwheat cakes and waffles, the large, + delicate-flavored, luscious oysters, the canvas-back ducks, the + Philadelphia croquettes and terrapin, find no substitutes on + this side of the water. The delicious shad and Spanish mackerel + have no gastronomic rivals in these waters, and the sole must + be accepted in their stead. We miss, too, our profusion and + variety of vegetables, our stewed and stuffed tomatoes, green + corn, oyster-plants and sweet potatoes. As for fruits, the + smaller varieties are far more abundant and much finer here + than they are with us. Strawberries, cherries, raspberries, + gooseberries, apricots—all of great size and exquisite + flavor—tempt and enchant the palate. But our rich + profusion of tropical fruits, such as bananas and pineapples, + is wholly unknown. Peaches are poor in flavor and exorbitant in + price. As for meats, poultry is dearer in Paris than at home, a + small chicken for fricasseeing costing six francs ($1.20 in + gold), and a large one for roasting ten francs ($2). Beef and + mutton are at about the same prices as in Philadelphia and New + York. Butter costs from sixty to seventy cents a pound. One can + easily see, therefore, that it takes all the skill and + experience in domestic economy of Parisian housekeepers to + maintain the prices of living at anything like its present + standard in <i>pensions</i> and hotels. But, in truth, the + general standard of French cooking has been much lowered since + the war. A really sumptuous French dinner is no longer to be + procured at any of the tables d'hôte or the leading + hotels, and if ordered at a first-class restaurant it will cost + twice as much as it used to do.</p> + + <p>Rents, though somewhat lowered from their former + proportions, are still very high, a really elegant unfurnished + suite of apartments costing from five thousand to ten thousand + francs a year, according to location; and if furnished, nearly + as much more. Two thousand francs is the lowest rent which + economy, desirous of two or three bed-rooms, in addition to the + parlor, kitchen and dining-room of an ordinary suite, can + accomplish. There are now in process of construction in the + suburbs of Paris several rows of houses built on the American + plan, and it is hardly possible to tell how comfortable and + home-like the neat separate abodes look to one who has been + journeying round amid a series of "floors," each so like the + others. To the casual visitor there is a despairing amount of + sameness in the fitting-up of all French furnished apartments. + The scarlet coverings on the furniture, the red curtains, the + light moquette carpet with white ground and gay flowers, the + white and gold of the woodwork, the gilt bronze clock and + candelabra, the tables and cabinets in marquetry and buhl, are + all precisely alike in each, and all wear the same hotel-like + look and lack of individuality. Nobody here seems to care + anything for home or home belongings. A suite of apartments, + even if occupied by the proprietor, is not the shrine for any + household gods or tender ideas: it is a place to rent out at so + much per month should the owner desire to go on a journey. No + weak sentimental ideas about keeping one's personal belongings + from the touch and the usage of strangers ever troubles + anybody's mind. Tables and chairs and carpets and curtains are + just so many chattels that will bring in, if rented, just so + much more income: around them gleams no vestige of the tender + halo that surrounds the appurtenances of an American home.</p> + + <p>The servant question is one that is just + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_252]</span>now of special interest to + the American housekeeper in Paris. I have elsewhere spoken of + some of the trials inflicted by these accomplished but often + unprincipled domestics on their masters and mistresses, so will + not expatiate further on the subject. I will merely specify as + a special grievance the law that forces the employer who + discharges a servant to inscribe on his or her character-book a + <i>good</i> character: should the departing help have been sent + away for gross immorality, theft or drunkenness, and should the + master write down the real reason of the dismissal, he renders + himself liable to an action for defamation of character. The + person, therefore, who engages servants from their + character-book has no real guarantee as to their worth. It is a + well-known fact also that the intelligence offices in Paris are + far more anxious to obtain places for bad servants than for + good ones, because the former class return to them more + frequently, and are consequently the better customers. As to + the percentage exacted from grocers and provision-dealers by + cooks and stewards—a percentage which of course comes + indirectly out of the pocket of the master—the evil has + become a crying one, but it is apparently irremediable. A + provision-dealer opened not long since a shop in one of the + most fashionable quarters of Paris, and sent round circulars to + all the housekeepers in the neighborhood announcing his + determination of paying no percentage to servants. The + consequence was, that not one of the cooks would buy anything + of him, and he has been forced to break up his establishment + and depart. It is an impossibility to engage a first-class cook + without according to her the privilege of doing all the + marketing—a privilege by which she is enabled to more + than double the amount of her wages at her employer's + expense.</p> + + <p>Among the other drawbacks of a residence abroad to an + American woman is an absence of the kindly deference to which, + by virtue of her womanhood alone, she is accustomed at home. + The much-vaunted politeness of the French nation is the + thinnest possible varnish over real impertinence or actual + rudeness. None of the true, heartfelt, genuine courtesy that is + so freely accorded to our sex in our own favored land is to be + met with here. "A woman is weak and defenceless," argue, + apparently, a large class of Parisians, "therefore we will + stare her out of countenance, we will mutter impudent speeches + in her ear, we will elbow her off the sidewalk, we will thrust + her aside if we want to enter a public conveyance. Politeness + is a thing of hat-lifting, of bowing and scraping, of 'Pardon!' + and 'Merci!' It is an article to be worn, like a dress-coat and + a white tie, in a drawing-room and among our acquaintances. We + have the right article for that occasion—very sweet, very + refined, very graceful, very charming indeed. But as for + everyday use—<i>nenni</i>!" That deep, true and + chivalrous courtesy that respects and protects a woman merely + because she <i>is</i> a woman, and as such needs the + guardianship of the stronger sex, is something of which they + have never heard and which they do not understand. They will + hand Madame la duchesse de la Haute Volée or + Mademoiselle Trois-Étoiles into her carriage with + incomparable grace, but they will push Mrs. Brown into the + gutter, and will whisper in poor blushing Miss Brown's ear that + she is "une fillette charmante."</p> + + <p>And when a Frenchman <i>is</i> rude, his impoliteness is + worse than that of other nations, because he knows better: he + is rude with malice prepense. The lower classes have especially + lost much of their courtesy since the Commune. I have seen a + French workingman thrust a lady violently aside on a crowded + sidewalk, with a scowl and a muttered curse that lent + significance to the act. And the graceful, suave courtesy of + the shopkeepers—how swiftly it flies out of the window + when their hope of profit in the shape of the departing shopper + walks out of the door!</p> + + <p>Shortly before quitting the United States I went into one of + our large public libraries to consult a voluminous work of + reference. In the remote recess where the books were kept sat a + gentleman intent <span class="pagenum">[Pg_253]</span>on the + perusal of a volume, his chair tipped back as far as it could + be with safety inclined, and his feet resting on the table. + "Horrid fellow!" I said to myself, glancing at the obtrusive + members, and going forward to the bookcase in search of the + work I wanted. It proved to be of somewhat ponderous + dimensions, and higher than I could conveniently reach, so I + stood on tiptoe and tugged vainly at it for a moment. My friend + of the feet saw my dilemma, and down went his book, and he + sprang to my assistance in an instant, "Allow me," he said; and + in a moment the heavy tome was brought down, dusted by a few + turns of his pocket-handkerchief and laid on the table for my + accommodation. If he had but known it, there was mingled with + my thanks a world of unuttered but heartfelt apologies for my + former hard thoughts respecting his attitude. And therein lay + the difference between the two nationalities. A Frenchman would + have died rather than have made a library-table a resting-place + for his feet, but he would have let a woman he did not know + break a blood-vessel by her exertions before he would have + rendered her the slightest assistance.</p> + + <p>American women are too apt to accept all the courtesies + offered them by strangers at home as their right, even + neglecting to render the poor meed of thanks in return. But let + them when in Paris try to get into an omnibus on a wet day, and + being thrust aside by a strong-armed Frenchman they will + remorsefully remember the seats accorded to them in crowded + cars, and accepted thanklessly and as a matter of course. And + when the lounger on the boulevards dogs their steps or whispers + his insulting compliments in their shuddering ear, they will + remember how they were guarded at home not by one protector, + but by all right-minded mankind, and will thank Heaven that + their brothers, their sons, their husbands "are not even as + these are."</p> + + <p class="author">LUCY H. HOOPER.</p> + + <h2><a name="our_monthly_gossip" + id="our_monthly_gossip"></a>OUR MONTHLY GOSSIP.</h2> + + <h3><a name="gypsy_music_in_hungary" + id="gypsy_music_in_hungary"></a>GYPSY MUSIC IN HUNGARY.</h3> + + <p>We have all, at some time or other, felt our curiosity and + interest excited by the bands of wandering gypsies whom we may + sometimes have come upon in their encampments pitched in some + remote or sequestered wood or dell—wild-looking men and + women and dark, ragged children grouped about fires over which + hang kettles suspended from stakes arranged in a triangle; + mongrel curs which seem to share their masters' instinctive + distrust of strangers; and donkeys browsing near the tilted + carts which convey the tribe from one place to another. We feel + a sort of traditional repulsion for these people, almost + amounting to dread, for stories of children stolen by gypsies, + and of their dark, mysterious ways, have taken root in our + infant minds along with those of ghosts and goblins, robbers + and Indians. There are, it is true, romantic associations + connected with them, and we try to fancy a Meg Merrilies in the + swarthy old woman who examines the lines of our hand and tells + us the past, present and future—sometimes with a + startling consistency and probability. But few of us would have + supposed that this race of vagabonds and outcasts had ever + risen much above their traditional occupation of tinkering, far + less that any portion of it had displayed original artistic + genius. We have, however, from Robert Franz the composer a most + interesting account of the wonderful music of the Hungarian + gypsies or Tziganys, which he had several opportunities of + hearing during a visit <span class="pagenum">[Pg_254]</span>to + OUR_MONTHLY_GOSSIPa friend in Hungary. He had been much + impressed in his youth by the wandering apparitions of these + people in the streets of Kiev, and by the strange, wild dances + of their women, whose outlandish garb was rendered still more + effective by the pieces of red stuff cut into hearts and sewed + all over their skirts. "These caravans of strange beings, who + preserve under every sky their dreamy laziness, their rebellion + against the yoke, their love of solitude," had always possessed + an irresistible charm for him, and he had never understood the + scorn and disgust of which they were the object.</p> + + <p>Being informed of the arrival of a gypsy band within eight + or ten miles of his friend's château, he took his + immediate departure for the forest where they had made their + temporary home. The sun was going down when he reached the + camp. It was in an open glade, where the ground was trampled + down, in some places blackened by fire, and covered with + fragments of coarse pottery, wooden bowls, bones, parings, etc. + The gypsies were there pell-mell—men, women and children, + horses, dogs and wagons. The men, lounging about in various + attitudes, were smoking: all had a look of careless nobility + about them, an air of melancholy, and eyes which burned with + slumbering passion. Old women were cowering about the fires, + surrounded by children whose meagre limbs were frankly + displayed to view. Tall girls, with Oriental eyes, firm and + polished cheeks, and vigorous forms, stood facing the horizon, + and were distinctly defined against the blue of the sky. Some + wore scarlet gowns, bodices covered with metallic ornaments, + embroidered chemisettes and a profusion of glass trinkets. In + the centre was one, taller by a head than her companions, her + face of a fine and delicate oval unknown amongst us, with + magnetic, disquieting eyes which suggested splendid vices; a + black turban confined her black locks; a chemisette of dazzling + whiteness half opened on her breast; she wore, as a necklace, + twisted five or six times about her neck, a long chaplet of + yellow flowers, clusters of which she held in her hands. The + red rays of the setting sun flashed with fantastic effect upon + the scene: then night fell, and in the flickering glare of the + fires gleaming eyes, white teeth and mobile hands emerged from + the gloom.</p> + + <p>Franz had expressed his wish to hear their music, but for a + while all was silent. Suddenly a strange, prolonged note + vibrated through the air like a sigh from the supernatural + world; another followed; then after a pause a majestic but + sombre melody was developed. The sounds swelled like an immense + choral, with incomparable purity and nobleness, fraught with + memories of ruins and tombs, of lost liberty and love. Another + pause, and some strophes of unbridled gayety burst forth; then + again the principal phrase, detaching itself like a flower from + its stem, among myriads of winged notes, clusters of vaporous + sounds, long spirals of transparent <i>fioritures</i>. Still + the violins grew bolder and more impetuous. Franz rose from his + seat while watching these men standing with their violins + pressed against their breasts, as if they were pouring their + life's blood into them: he felt oppressed with anguish, when, + by an ingenious inversion, the gloomy theme was transformed + into a graceful, poetic melody. The sounds passed away rapidily + like sparks, then were extinguished for a moment. A ferocious + violence animated the last measures, and the gypsies laid down + their bows. But, divining a sympathetic listener, they + recommenced and played on till the night was far advanced. At + length they ceased, and Franz left the camp, carrying with him + the revelation of a hitherto unknown art.</p> + + <p>Three principal features (he tells us) determine the + character of Tzigany music—its intervals, not used in + European harmony, its peculiar rhythms, and its Oriental + fioritures or grace-notes. In the minor scale the Tziganys take + the fourth augmented, the sixth diminished and the seventh + augmented. It is by the frequent augmentation of the fourth + that the harmony acquires a wonderfully audacious and + disquieting character. The educated musician at first thinks he + hears <span class="pagenum">[Pg_255]</span>false notes, but the + law of their harmonies is to have no law. Their abundance is + incalculable, and the solemn and intoxicating effects resulting + from the rapid and beautiful transitions cannot be imagined. As + for the grace-notes, they give to the ear a pleasure like that + which Moorish architecture gives to the eye: the architects of + the Alhambra painted on each of their bricks a graceful little + poem; the gypsies adorn each note with melodious designs and + luxuriant embroideries. But (we quote M. Franz throughout) who + shall describe the impalpable flame of Tzigany sentiment, the + strange, subjugating charm of which is a vital animation almost + adequate to life itself? or the mysterious equilibrium which + reigns in this undisciplined art between the sentiment and the + form? Mystery of genius, which bears in itself its inexplicable + power of emotion, and which science and taste in vain deny!</p> + + <p>When Franz again heard Tzigany music it was under very + different circumstances. A fete was given by a Hungarian + gentleman, of which this music was to be one of the + attractions, the most distinguished performers being Farkas + Miska and Remenyi Ede. The arrival of the latter on the morning + after the first evening concert (the fete seems to have lasted + some days) was announced to M. Franz by a great noise, a + banging of doors and windows and moving of furniture in the + room next his own. It at length ceased, and he was just getting + to sleep again when some one knocked at his door, and a pretty, + fair-haired boy entered, who announced himself as Ptolemyi + Nandor, the fervent disciple of Remenyi Ede, who, he said, had + just arrived and was about to take possession of the adjoining + apartment.</p> + + <p>"Well, sir, is it to inform me of your name and your fervor + that you have come to prevent me from sleeping?"</p> + + <p>"No," said the boy decidedly: "it is to ask you to dress + yourself and go out for a walk."</p> + + <p>To the astonished exclamation of M. Franz he replied that + his master wished to practice, beginning early, and that it + annoyed him to have any one hear him.</p> + + <p>"Go to the devil, you and your master!" naturally shouted + our composer.</p> + + <p>The boy became purple. "What!" he said, "send him to the + devil?—him, the great violinist, the successor of Czemak, + of Bihary!"</p> + + <p>"Is your master a gypsy?"</p> + + <p>"No, but he is the only living violinist who possesses the + authentic tradition of gypsy music."</p> + + <p>"I love this music; therefore I will get up and go down to + the garden."</p> + + <p>"Oh no, sir: go into the fields. See!" and he opened the + window, "every one has left the castle." And actually the + master of the house and his guests were all defiling through + the garden-gate, having had only three hours' sleep. M. Franz + soon joined them, and heard from them the story of Remenyi.</p> + + <p>At the age of seventeen he had been attached to the person + of Görgey during the Hungarian war. Leaving his country + with the emigration, he had shared the exile of Count Teleki, + Sandor and others; then passed some time at Guernsey, where he + knew Victor Hugo. He had afterward performed with brilliant + success in London, Hamburg, etc., and his renown, after his + return to Hungary, went on increasing. He traveled about the + country in every direction, astonishing nobles and peasants, + and playing with the same enthusiasm and poetry in barns as in + palaces. On hearing this our author slipped back to the garden, + where he hid himself to listen to Remenyi, who, to his great + disgust, was playing a concerto of Bach's.</p> + + <p>At breakfast, Remenyi appeared, a very commonplace-looking + man, full of his own praises, and always speaking himself in + the third person. "Remenyi practiced well this morning," said + he.</p> + + <p>"Yes, a concerto of Bach's!" Franz.</p> + + <p>Thereupon Remenyi asked for his violin, and they heard a + marvelous specimen of real Tzigany inspiration. Vanity + disappeared—passion, nerve and sentiment took its place. + He had all the qualities demanded by science, together with + those of imagination. It was the passionate inspiration of + genius. After his performance + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_256]</span>was over, he went gravely + to the mantelpiece, stopped the clock, and said to the master + of the house, "Let this hand mark for ever the hour when + Remenyi played at your house."</p> + + <p>M. Franz taking no pains to disguise; his admiration, + Remenyi, gratified by it, invited him to accompany him home. + Wherever he went he received a perfect ovation. At one place he + ordered a pair of boots, which were sent home, paid for by the + municipality. Art is a national glory in Hungary, especially + that of the gypsies, which has taken root in the very heart of + the soil.</p> + + <p>Remenyi's house at Rakos-Palota, near Pesth, is a long, + rambling building, the courtyard of which is given up to + chickens, ducks and pigs. M. Franz says the poplars before the + door look like exclamation-marks, and he thinks they are + planted there to serve as such. There are heaps of rare and + precious objects of every imaginable description—all + gifts—but the ones which the owner shows with most pride + are his Hungarian sabre and a pair of boots which Liszt wore + when a child.</p> + + <p>The question is often discussed in Hungary whether the + national Hungarian music is the production of Tzigany genius, + or whether the gypsies are only the exponents of what properly + belongs to Hungary itself. The gypsies are proved to have been + in Hungary as early as the thirteenth century, and their + musicians were celebrated in the sixteenth, some of their names + still living in the memory of the people. What has been + preserved of genuine old Hungarian music (some melodies of + Timody Stephens) has no charm save its antiquity. These and + other facts—but, above all, the impression produced on + him by the music itself—have convinced M. Franz that the + gypsy faculty is one not only of execution, but creation. Gypsy + art proceeds from the sentiment, the genius, of the Tzigany + race. It is too strange, its elements are too wild, to be the + exclusive product of a thoughtful, wise, believing, practical + and civilized people; but the Hungarians have understood this + art—they have surrounded it with love and respect. + Gaining new life, warmth and vigor from the welcoming applause + of Hungary, it belongs to her by virtue of her admiration and + sympathetic tears.</p> + + <p class="author">E.C.R.</p> + + <h3><a name="the_giorno_dei_mortiquot" + id="the_giorno_dei_mortiquot"></a>THE "GIORNO DEI + MORTI."</h3> + + <p>We all know that the second of November is All Souls' Day, + and that it is the day dedicated in the Roman calendar to the + commemoration of all those who have departed "in the faith." + And few who have traveled on the continent of Europe are not + aware that the day is observed in all Southern countries with a + degree of devotion which the greater part of the communities in + question are not in the habit of according to any other of the + ordinances of the Church. But to observe the manifestation of + this devotion in its most striking forms, to seize all the more + picturesque developments and presentations of it, the "Giorno + dei Morti" must be passed at Rome.</p> + + <p>It is a curious fact—one of the many of a similar + order which illustrate the moral specialties of the Latin + populations—that hundreds of thousands of people of both + sexes, who neither believe, nor affect to believe, the + doctrines of the orthodox Church, and who are in the habit of + utterly disregarding all her prescriptions and teaching, should + nevertheless, as often as this sad anniversary comes round, + behave as if they were to all intents and purposes good + Catholics. It will be said, perhaps, that the feelings to which + the special character of the commemoration appeals are so + common to all human hearts that the manifestation of them on + any customary occasion is in no degree to be wondered at. But I + do not think that this will suffice to explain the + phenomenon—at least as it may be witnessed here in Italy. + Other church ordinances might be pointed out of which the same + thing might be said, but which are not similarly observed. The + real cause of the phenomenon I take to be that this population + is—as it was of old, and as it always has been through + all outward changes—pagan. I put it crudely for the sake + of putting it shortly, for this is not the place to trouble the + readers <span class="pagenum">[Pg_257]</span>of a few + paragraphs of "Gossip" with a dissertation in support of the + assertion. The innate paganism of these people, born of the + beauty of the climate and of all external Nature, and of the + sensuous proclivity to live and breathe and have their being in + the present and the visible which results therefrom, first + forcibly shaped their early Christianity into moulds which + assimilated it to pagan observances and modes of thought, and + still remains ready to resume more and more of its old empire + as the authority of Church beliefs waxes feeble. The very + striking and singular scene which was to be witnessed in the + great Roman cemetery outside the Porta di San Lorenzo on the + second day of November was to all intents and purposes pagan in + its spirit and meaning. And it is curious to observe in this, + as in so many other instances, how the use of words supplies + illustrations of national peculiarities and specialties of + character. The Church has dedicated the day in question to the + commemoration "<i>omnium animarum"</i>—of all + <i>souls</i>. And we others, people of a Teutonic race, have + taken and used the phrase in its proper Christian sense: we + talk of "All <i>Souls</i>' Day." But with the peoples of the + Latin stock all thought or question of "souls" is very speedily + lost sight of. With them the day is simply the "Giorno dei + <i>Morti</i>"—the day of <i>the dead</i>. And their + observance of it is to all intents and purposes what it might + have been two thousand years ago.</p> + + <p>The very ancient church of San Lorenzo, one of the four + extramural basilicas, is situated some ten minutes' walk + outside the gate of the same name on the road to Tivoli; and + around and behind this church is the vast cemetery to which all + the Roman dead are carried. It was first used as an extramural + cemetery at the time of the first French occupation, but has + been very greatly extended since that time. Clergy, nobles and + monks were at first, and as long as Papal rule lasted, exempted + from the decree which forbade interment within the city. Now + all must be taken to San Lorenzo, and the greatly increased + population of the city has already very thickly filled an + immense area. The first thing that strikes the visitor to this + huge necropolis is the very marked division between the poor + and the rich quarters of this city of the dead. The + <i>fashionable</i> districts are quite as unmistakably divided + and separated from those occupied by "the lower classes" as + they are in any city of the living; as is perhaps but right and + natural in the case of a population among which it is held that + the condition and prospects of the dead may be very materially + influenced by a <i>quantum sufficit</i> of masses said for + them, and where these can be purchased in any quantity for + cash. A very large parallelogram, for the most part surrounded + by cloisters, is first entered from the gates which open on the + road. But this has been but little used as yet. Beyond it, to + the right, is the vast space occupied by the graves of the + multitude. Let the reader picture to himself a huge flat space + extending as far as the eye can see, thickly planted with + little black wooden crosses, with inscriptions on them in white + letters. The sameness of all these fragile memorials produces a + strange and depressing effect. The undistinguished thousands of + them make all the space seem black spotted with white. They are + ugly; and the poverty of these bits of painted stick, incapable + of resisting the effects of the weather, seems sordid in the + extreme. In the graves of this part of the cemetery all are in + truth equal. To the left of the vast cloister-surrounded square + which has been mentioned the scene is a very different one. + There, immediately behind the eastern end of the basilica, the + soil rises in a very steep bank to a height greater than that + of the church. To the space on the top of this bank a handsome + and garden-decorated flight of step leads; and there the "Upper + Ten" take their dignified rest, and their dust is perfectly + safe from all danger of being mingled with that of less + distinguished mortality. This higher ground is called the + <i>Pincetto</i>—as who should say the "Little + Pincian"—a name adapted from that of the celebrated + promenade of the gay and fortunate in life, with a suggestion + of meaning so satirical that it might + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_258]</span>seem to have been given to + the "fashionable" quarter of the dead city by the united sneers + of all the ghosts who haunt the undistinguished graves below. + In this aristocratic quarter there is of course no monotonous + uniformity. The monuments, some of freestone and some of + marble, are of every conceivable form and degree of splendor, + and death is made to look pretty and coquettish by the + introduction of numerous weeping willows and other such + botanical helps to sentiment. The great majority of the + inscriptions are in Latin, for Pius IX., so long as his power + lasted, absolutely forbade the use of any other language; which + was a measure of very questionable judiciousness, seeing that a + large crop of Latinity by no means creditable to Italian + scholarship has been the result. It would have been better to + stick to good Della-Cruscan Italian, or to have employed some + English school-usher to come here as resident reviser of Roman + Latinity. Inelegant and even ungrammatical inscriptions, + however, do not interfere with the general picturesqueness of + the spot, or with its singular adaptation to show to advantage + the remarkable scene enacted there on the last "Giorno dei + Morti."</p> + + <p>The cemetery had been visited by great numbers of persons, + bringing chaplets and flowers, during the day, both in the + aristocratic and the plebeian quarters, but it was at night + that the crowd was greatest and the scene most striking. The + night, as it so chanced, was a dark one, which did not make the + scene by any means less strange and weird-looking. The greater + number of visitors, especially in the poor quarter of the dead + city, were women. Such is always the case, whether it be that + the female mind is more generally accessible to gentle thoughts + of and yearnings over their lost ones, or whether the + explanation be simply that, as is especially the case here, + women, having less to occupy their leisure either in the way of + business or amusement, are more eager to seek any emotion or + occasion which may serve to break the flat monotony of their + lives.</p> + + <p>Certainly the scene in the cemetery on the evening of the + "Day of the Dead" was one calculated to make an impression not + to be readily forgotten by any mere looker-on who witnessed it. + Nor was that presented by the road from the gate to the + cemetery less remarkable in its way. It is an ugly, + disagreeable bit of road, between high walls, deep with mud in + wet, and with dust in dry weather, as was the case on the + present occasion, and without the smallest vestige of a pathway + for foot-passengers; so that the motley crowd, with their + lights and chaplets and flowers, had to make their way amid a + cloud of dust and among the carriages of those bound for the + "Pincetto" as best they might. But it was the general apparent + mood and temper of mind in which these pilgrims, bound on so + sad an errand, seemed to be performing their self-imposed task + that was especially noteworthy. It might be supposed that a + certain degree of reverential self-concentration, or at least + of quietude, would have been the characteristic of a crowd + bound on such an errand. There was not the smallest symptom of + anything of the sort. It is true that many visit the cemetery + on the evening in question who have not recently lost any + relative or friend, going thither merely as performing an act + of devotion or of amusement, or, as is usually the case with + all devotion in this country, of both combined. But the greater + number of the pilgrims is composed of those who have buried + their dead within the preceding year. Yet, as I have said, + there was observable in the bearing of the crowd not only no + reverential feeling, but not even that amount of quietude which + the most careless body of people of our race would have deemed + it but decent to assume on such an occasion. Laughter might + have been heard, though not perhaps very much. But the noise + was astonishing—noise of incessant chatter in tones which + bespoke anything but the tone of mind which might have been + expected. The truth is, that he who expects to find in the + people of this race the sentiment of awe or reverence under any + circumstances whatever does not know them. It is not in them. + The capacity <span class="pagenum">[Pg_259]</span>for it is not + in them. It is not a question of more or less education, or of + this or that condition of life. The higher and the lower + classes, the clergy and the laity, are equally destitute of the + capacity for feeling or comprehending the sentiment which makes + so large a part of the lives of the people of a different race. + To me the observation, far from being suggested by what met my + eye on the occasion in question, is the outcome of more than a + quarter of a century's experience of Italian ways and thoughts. + But the exhibition of the peculiarity on that occasion was very + striking. Doubtless there was many a mother among that throng + whose heart had been wrung, whose very soul had been struck + chill within her, by the loss of the child on whose grave she + was about to place the humble tribute of common flowers which + she carried in her hand. No doubt many a truly-sorrowing + husband and yet more deeply-stricken wife were on the way to + visit the sod beneath which their hopes of happiness had been + buried with their lost ones. But whatever might have been in + their hearts was not manifested by any token of + <i>reverential</i> feeling. There were tears, there were even + sobs occasionally to be heard, but there was neither reverence + nor what we should deem decency of behavior.</p> + + <p>Within the cemetery "distance lent enchantment to the view." + As seen from the cloister which surrounds the great square, as + has been mentioned, the outlook over the "poor quarter" of the + vast burial-ground was very striking. Amid the wilderness of + black crosses, which extends farther than eye could see, + numerous figures were flitting hither and thither, many of them + with lights in their hands. In the farther distance, where the + figures were invisible, the lights could still be seen + mysteriously, as it seemed, moving over the closely-ranged + graves like corpse-candles, as the old superstition termed the + phosphoric lights which may in certain states of the atmosphere + be seen in crowded graveyards. In the foreground, where the + figures could be distinguished, many were seen on their knees + in the damp and malarious evening air at the graves of their + lost relatives. But not even in the bearing these could + anything of real earnestness be traced. They were performing a + routine duty, of which no doubt their own consciences and their + friends and neighbors would have disapproved the omission; and + that was all. Nevertheless, the <i>picturesqueness</i> of the + general effect was perfect, and it appealed to the imagination + of a looker-on in a manner which to many minds, more intent on + sensational emotions than on discrimination of social + characteristics, would have caused the above remarks to appear + sadly ill-timed and out of place.</p> + + <p>The scene which was meantime being enacted on the Pincetto, + where the wholly separated resting-places of the "Upper Ten" + protest so successfully against the leveling notion that in + death all are equal, I might have suggested many a mordant + epigram to the cynically-minded visitor. I fear that there is + often something provocative of cynicism in sundry of the + aspects of fashionable devotion, but on such an occasion as the + present it could hardly be otherwise. Rachels in Parisian + bonnets and sweeping silk skirts, muttering over their rosaries + for their children on splendid cushions borne in due state by + attendant plush-clothed ministers, were contrasted in these + realms of the universal Leveler somewhat too strongly with the + scene one had just left in the (physically and socially) lower + regions of the cemetery. Of course hearts that beat beneath + silken bodices may be wrung as bitterly as those that serge + covers. I am speaking only of those outward manifestations + which contributed to complete the strangeness of the general + spectacle which I had come out to see. The better tending of + the aristocratic portion of the cemetery, and the greater space + between the graves and their monuments, made it of course + easier and less disagreeable to pass among them and to note the + bearing of individual mourners. If the former scene had + presented much that was indecorously formal, here all was + decorously formal. The routine, cut-and-dry nature of the duty + being performed exercised + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_260]</span>in either case its + property of numbing natural feeling, or at least the appearance + of it.</p> + + <p>On the whole, the experience offered by a visit to the great + Roman cemetery on the evening of the "Giorno dei Morti" is a + singular and curious one, as will be admitted, I think, by any + one who may be tempted by my example to go and see it.</p> + + <p class="author">T.A.T.</p> + + <h3><a name="mr_mills_mother" + id="mr_mills_mother"></a>MR. MILL'S MOTHER.</h3> + + <p>The publication of the late Mr. John Mill's <i>Theism</i> + (writes a correspondent from England) has again brought forward + its author and his peculiarities as subjects of general + conversation. Not content with having talked these matters + pretty well over some months ago, people are at this moment + discussing them with not a whit less of interest than if they + were brand-new. But it is what Mr. Mill has omitted to tell us + in his <i>Autobiography</i>, quite as much as what he has there + told us, that excites popular curiosity about him. How came it + that a man whose admiration of his wife was hardly + distinguishable from idolatry should never once mention his + mother? Thousands have asked, and have asked in vain, who she + was, and whether she could have been so entirely insignificant + as to deserve being passed over, without even so much as an + allusion to her, by her very philosophic son. These questions, + and others connected with them, I might answer at length. + However, the few facts I shall here state will perhaps be no + less welcome than a long detail. The wife of James Mill, and + mother of John Mill, was a Miss Burrows, daughter of a Dr. + Burrows who superintended an asylum for the insane at + Islington. She died in London about twenty years ago, having + outlived her husband not quite that period. Her children were + nine in number, of whom four daughters are still + living—two in England and two in France. She was not what + would be reckoned a conspicuously intellectual woman, and yet + she by no means deserved the heartless slight which was put on + her memory by her son. Indeed, such a slight could have its + justification in little short of utter worthlessness; and Mrs. + James Mill was not only esteemed, but beloved, by a large + circle of friends. On the appearance of the + <i>Autobiography</i> her daughters were, naturally enough, not + a little indignant at finding their mother as much ignored in + it as if she had never existed, and were inclined, at first, to + supplement, publicly, their brother's account of himself by + certain disclosures not exactly of a character to exalt him in + the estimation of the world. Suffice it to say here that for + many years before his death he had been estranged from his + family; and this estrangement was attributed, by those who had + the best opportunities of judging, to the sinister influence of + his wife. This is all that I am disposed to communicate at + present, but I should not be at all surprised if we were to + know, by and by, much more of the private life of John Mill + than we as yet know.</p> + + <h2><a name="notes" + id="notes"></a>NOTES.</h2> + + <p>There has recently emerged into notice, from her + hiding-place in one of the outskirts of London, an ancient + woman whose surroundings forcibly illustrate the persevering + vitality of even the insanest forms of religious belief. Joanna + Southcott and her fanaticisms we are apt to associate with Dr. + Faustus, alchemy, and persons and things of that kind, as + belonging to an age with which we have no personal concern. Yet + this is a mistake. The followers of the fatidical Joanna may + still be counted by thousands in Great Britain, particularly in + its metropolis; and their acknowledged head, in strict + accordance with the fitness of things, is a woman. She is a + very old woman, too, her age symbolizing, perhaps, the + longevity to which her crazy superstition is destined. + Elizabeth Peacock is the name of this relic of the past. For + many years she itinerated as a preacher, and at the great age + of one hundred and three her health is still vigorous. Modern + priestesses, however, not unlike the prophets of antiquity, are + subject to be scanted of due honor, or, at all events, of what + is more essential than this as contributing to keep soul and + body from parting company prematurely. + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_261]</span>The fact of her being in a + state of destitution was notified not long ago to the + magistrate of the Lambeth police-court, and that unappreciative + functionary, while consenting to subscribe, with others, for + her relief, openly expressed his conviction that she would be + best off in the workhouse. Altogether, the old creature is a + bit of a curiosity. She has had three husbands, and the last of + them, whom she married in 1852, killed himself only the other + day, possibly from finding the twofold burden of domestic + predication and a helpmeet of five score too much for his + nerves. If sane, the ungrateful fellow ought, in all reason, to + have had the grace to survive her; for when he undertook + matrimony, as he had nothing to turn his hand to, she + instructed him herself in the art and mystery of cooperage. At + that time, so robust a specimen of anility was she, she could + pitch an empty cask across the street, and her credulity is as + strong at this moment as her arm was of yore. We conclude, from + her story, that the proper stuff for making prophetesses of the + baser sort has, even in our day, only to be looked for to be + discovered.</p> + <hr class='short' /> + + <p>Our countrymen have lately learned to admire, in its Western + transformation, the extremely clever + <i>Rubáiyát</i> of Omer Khayyám. And they + are certainly much in the right in so doing. The sterling + merits of the Persian original are preserved with striking + fidelity in the English version of the poem, which, for the + rest, has gone far to prove that the acceptableness among us of + Oriental poetry may depend very largely on the skill with which + it is transplanted into our language. The translator of the + <i>Rubáiyát</i> is Mr. Edward FitzGerald, of + Woodbridge in Suffolk. Mr. FitzGerald's ancient family one may + learn all about from Burke's <i>Landed Gentry</i>, and that he + was born in 1809, and that he married Lucy, daughter of Bernard + Barton, the Quaker poet. He was educated at Trinity College, + Cambridge, where among his contemporaries and friends were the + present poet-laureate and Mr. Spedding, the editor of Bacon. + The <i>London Catalogue</i> names three works as by Mr. + FitzGerald. These, as we find from inspection of the works + themselves, are as follows: 1. <i>Euphranor, a Dialogue on + Youth,</i> 1851 (it reached a second edition, increased by an + <i>Appendix</i>, in 1855); 2. <i>Polonius: A Collection of Wise + Saws and Modern Instances</i>, 1852; 3. <i>Six Dramas of + Calderon</i>, 1853. These dramas are translations, in prose and + verse, of <i>The Painter of his Own Dishonor, Keep your Own + Secret, Gil Perez the Gallician, Three Judgments at a Blow, The + Mayor of Zalamea</i>, and <i>Beware of Smooth Water</i>. In + none of these volumes, however, except the last is there any + indication of its authorship but there Mr. FitzGerald's name is + given in full. The date of his metrical translation of + <i>Salámán and Absál</i>, from the + Persian, we are not at this moment, able to specify. Add, as + printed by him, but not published, two other small volumes of + translations—one, of the <i>Agamemnon</i> of + Æschylus; and the other, of two of Calderon's plays, + <i>Life is a Dream</i> and <i>The Wonderful Magician</i>. + Finally, we have to mention an unprinted verse-translation, + <i>The Bird Parliament</i>, from the Persian + <i>Mantiq-ut-tair</i> by Attár. Mr. Allibone knows + nothing of Mr. FitzGerald, and he is similarly passed over in + silence by the compiler of <i>Men of the Time.</i> Everything + that he has produced is uniformly distinguished by marked + ability; and, such being the case, his indifference to fame, in + this age of ambition for literary celebrity, is a phenomenon + which deserves to be emphasized.</p> + + <h2><a name="literature_of_the_day" + id="literature_of_the_day"></a>LITERATURE OF THE DAY.</h2> + + <p><b>The French Humorists from the Twelfth to the Nineteenth + Century</b>.<br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">By Walter Besant, + M.A.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">Boston: Roberts + Brothers.</span></p> + + <p><span class="pagenum">[Pg_262]</span> Had Mr. Besant given + us definitions of "humor" and "humorist," we might possibly not + have been satisfied with them, but they would at least have + enabled us to understand what sense he attaches to the words, + and what principle determined him in selecting the writers + embraced in his category. In the first page of his book he + speaks of humor as "a branch" of satire; in the second he + identifies French satire as the "esprit gaulois;" in the third + he tells us that "the French type for satire and humor has + preserved one uniform character from generation to generation;" + and in his last page he claims superiority for the French over + the English humorists, on the ground that "Rabelais has a finer + wit than Swift," that "we have no political satire so good as + the <i>Satyre Mènipée</i>," "no English humor + comparable for a moment with that of the fabliaux," "no + letter-writer like Voiture," "no teller of tales like La + Fontaine," and "no <i>chansonnier</i> like Béranger." + Now, it is evident that this is a comparison not of French and + English humorists, but of certain classes of writers in the two + languages in reference to their manifestation of humor. We have + no fabulist like La Fontaine, no song-writer equal to + Béranger; but then we do not think of citing our fables + and songs as the highest examples of English humor. It would be + easy to array a list of names as a set-off against that of Mr. + Besant. But this is needless. Humor, in the sense in which the + word is commonly understood, may almost be said to be a + distinctive quality of English literature, which is pervaded by + it in a far greater degree than that of any other people. It is + a leading trait in all the great English novelists, from + Fielding to Thackeray and George Eliot, without excepting + Richardson, in whom it is least conspicuous; it is the chief + attribute of our finest essayists, from Addison to Charles + Lamb; it is harmoniously blended with the fresh and simple + pathos of Chaucer and with the passionate moodiness of Carlyle: + it holds equal sway with the tragic element in the world + created by Shakespeare. When Mr. Besant says that "there is no + English humor comparable for a moment with that of the + fabliaux," we are forced to suppose either that he uses the + word "humor" in some unexplained and inexplicable sense, or + that he leaves out of the account what would generally be + considered the greatest of humorous productions. The puzzle + increases when we find him omitting all mention of Le Sage, + while excusing himself for the omission, from lack of space, of + Rousseau! A list of humorous works which should exclude <i>Gil + Blas</i> to make room for <i>Émile</i> or <i>Le Contrat + Social</i>, might itself, one would think, act as a provocative + on the <i>esprit gaulois</i>.</p> + + <p>These mysteries are not the only ones in Mr. Besant's volume + to which we have to confess our inability to discover a key. In + closing his remarks on Montaigne he touches with undissembled + irony the question whether he was a Christian, and, after + contrasting the tone and sentiments of the <i>Essais</i> with + those of the Gospels, bids us "remember that we are not in the + nineteenth century, but in the sixteenth, that Montaigne died + in the act of adoration, and cease to ask whether the man was a + Christian;" adding, "Christian? There was no better Christian + than Montaigne in all his century." It appears, therefore, that + the sixteenth century, instead of being, as we had supposed, + one in which the Reformation had brought with it a revival of + religious earnestness and a reaction against religious + formalism, and in which on the battle-field, in the dungeon and + at the stake, as well as through voluntary exile and the + relinquishment of property, thousands in every country + testified to the fervor and sincerity of their religious + convictions, was in truth, like the eighteenth century, one in + which a prevailing skepticism or indifference paid to dead but + not yet dethroned creeds its light homage of affected + "adoration." Mr. Besant informs us that "to the men of culture + the rival parties were but two political sides." How many men + of culture could be cited in support of this assertion? We + grant him Montaigne, but it was precisely because the case of + Montaigne was an exceptional one in the age of Erasmus and + More, of Calvin and Coligny, that the question in regard to him + has not seemed altogether idle.</p> + + <p>It appears from another passage that Mr. Besant has an easy + method of arriving at a judgment in regard to the character or + general aspect of an historical epoch. From the details in + regard to food, dress and furniture which he finds in the works + of Eustache Deschamps, a satirical poet of the fourteenth + century, he infers that the bourgeois life of that period was + "comfortable, abundant and cheery." "History," he says, "paints + this as the worst and most disastrous period that Europe had + ever seen; yet here, in the most real poet of the century, we + see how life, as a whole, went on in the usual way. For when a + great pestilence strikes a country, it slays its thousands and + goes away. Time quickly heals the wounds of grief, and the + world goes on as before. Then come the English to sack and + destroy. Nature heals their wounds, too, by the recurring + seasons, and the world goes on as before. I am inclined to + think that life, on the whole, was generally pleasant for a + well-to-do Frenchman of the period." Mr. Besant, it will be + seen, concedes that evils are evils while they last, that war + and pestilence are not pleasant things to the victims, and that + the comfortable and cheery life of the fourteenth century + suffered some interruptions from these causes. But then it was + still, he insists, an agreeable life "on the whole," since "the + recurring seasons" healed the wounds and the grief, and left + the survivors to enjoy existence "in the usual way." This, it + must be owned, is a very comfortable and cheery + philosophy—for those who preach it. We do not see that + they need ever complain of "bad times," since they can always + be sure that the recurring seasons will bring alleviation to + the survivors. It may also be admitted that, as there is no age + in which the recurring seasons do not bring relief, so there + has been none when war and pestilence and similar evils did not + interrupt the usual course of life. There is, however, this + difference, that in some ages these evils last longer than in + others, the wounds are deeper, the victims more numerous, the + intermissions less frequent, the relief tardier, the survivors + fewer. Such an age in France was the period of the English + invasions, comprising a great portion of the fourteenth and + fifteenth centuries. That life was then, "on the whole," + anything but comfortable and cheery is attested by records and + evidence of all kinds, against which the mention of weddings + and christenings, of gold-embroidered mantles and robes of + silk, <span class="pagenum">[Pg_263]</span>in the pages of a + court poet will, we apprehend, count for very little, + especially as the sufferers do not appear to have solaced + themselves with reflections on the sure effects of the + recurring seasons. Deschamps himself was unable, it seems, to + get his pension paid; and if he died, as Mr. Besant tells us, + about 1409, the chances, we think, are that however he may have + denounced luxury as the "crying evil" of his time, his death + was the result of starvation.</p> + + <p>Mr. Besant, it will be perceived, is one of those writers + who indulge in haphazard assertions without troubling their + heads with the facts that conflict with them. A glaring + instance of his tendency to exaggeration and wild speculation + will be found in his estimate of Rabelais, whom he first vaunts + as "a great moral teacher," "a teacher the like of whom Europe + had not yet seen," and then denounces as having "destroyed + effectually, perhaps for centuries yet to come, earnestness in + France," declaring that "no writer who ever lived has inflicted + such lasting injury on his country," and that "it would have + been better for France if his book, tied to a millstone, had + been hurled into the sea." These opinions are contradictory of + each other, since it is impossible that a writer who so + perverted men's minds should also have been, in any proper + sense of the term, a great moral teacher; they are inconsistent + with Mr. Besant's account of the "unbroken lines of writers," + of whom Rabelais was one, but not the first, all having the + same characteristics, all "irreverent," having "no strong + convictions," "like children for mockery, mischief and + lightness of heart;" and finally, they are so improbable in + themselves, and so unsusceptible of proof, that, uttered as + they are with the solemnity of communications from an unseen + world, they produce much the same impression on us as the + disclosures with which Mr. Robert Dale Owen is favored by his + "materialized" visitants.</p> + + <p>We might cite other examples to prove that Mr. Besant is not + a safe guide either in his general speculations or in his + critical judgments. He is an agreeable narrator, showing a + close familiarity with the topics he handles, and an enthusiasm + which, if it sometimes degenerates into mere fume, adds on the + whole to the liveliness of his writing. His translations in + verse are remarkable for their ease and finish. The book may be + read with pleasure, but not, we fear, with equal profit. The + chapters that deal with the least known + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_264]</span>works and writers are the + most satisfactory. On Montaigne and Molière Mr. Besant + has nothing to say which is likely to incite the reader to a + fresh study of their works, which ought to be the effect of + every fresh discourse on a great author.</p> + + <p><b>Recollections of a Tour made in Scotland A.D. + 1803.</b><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">By Dorothy + Wordsworth.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">Edited by J.C. Shairp, + LL.D.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">New York: G.P. Putnam's + Sons.</span></p> + + <p>The special charm of this book lies in the fact that it is + not a book—that there was no thought in the writer's mind + of printer's ink, no vision of publicity or fame, no solicitude + to propitiate critics or win the sympathy of the "gentle + reader." Or one might say it was a book of the primitive kind, + written on the bark of trees by some shy dryad, unconcious + translator into speech of the rustlings and whisperings of the + woodland. It is, as the editor observes, an "effortless + narrative," with "no attempt at fine or sensational writing, + ... at that modern artifice which they call word-painting," but + recording with "vivid exactness" what was seen and felt by the + writer and her companions on a journey through regions then + little frequented by tourists and unsmirched by the eloquence + of guide-books. That the travelers were William and Dorothy + Wordsworth and (for a part of the way) S.T. Coleridge, that + scenes and incidents here first sketched in the sister's sober + prose were afterward memorialized and moralized in the + brother's verse, and that many of the spots described were + about to become famous with and through Scott—a meeting + with whom formed the fitting close to the tour,—these are + circumstances that of course invest the journal with a deeper + interest and have called wider attention to its unobtrusive + beauty. But its chief attractiveness lies in the Doric + simplicity not only of the style but of the matter. An + outlandish Irish car was the conveyance; the appearance of the + party was not such as to attract notice unless by the + quaintness of their garb or their awkward management of the + horse, "now gibbing and backing over a bank, now reduced to a + walk, with one of the poets leading him by the head;" and they + themselves were in search of nothing more notable than such + wayside objects as might serve to feed contemplation. On one + occasion, having turned aside to visit the duke of Hamilton's + picture-gallery, they were told by the porter, after he had + scanned them over, that they ought not to have come to the + front door, and were directed to an obscure entrance at the + corner of the house, where they seated themselves humbly on a + bench while waiting for admittance, which was finally refused. + They were mortified, but had a deeper pang in the grounds + around Bothwell Castle, for here they were "<i>hurt</i> to see + that flower-borders had taken place of the natural overgrowings + of the ruins, the scattered stones and wild plants." Sometimes + at an inn they were made to perceive how little consideration + they were entitled to by being lodged in inferior rooms while + better ones were vacant; but to compensate for this, in the + wilder parts of the country they were greeted with the + hospitality which their mere condition as strangers was still + sufficient to call forth. The descriptions given of the people + have at least an equal interest with those of the scenery. We + have a succession of pictures in which, as Principal Shairp + remarks, "man is seen against a great background of Nature and + solitude." The book is one not to be read and laid away, but to + be kept near at hand, and made a frequent companion and + familiar friend.</p> + + <h2><a name="books_received" + id="books_received"></a><i>Books Received</i>.</h2> + + <p><b>Sophisms of Protection.</b><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">By the late M. + Frédéric Bastiat.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">Translated from the Paris + edition of 1863,</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">with Preface by Horace + White.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">New York: G.P. Putnam's + Sons.</span><br /> + <br /> + <br /> + <b>Select Notes on the International Sabbath School Lessons for + 1875.</b><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">By a New England + Pastor.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">Boston: Henry + Hoyt.</span><br /> + <br /> + <br /> + <b>Notes in England and Italy.</b><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">By Mrs. Nathaniel + Hawthorne.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">Illustrated + Edition.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">New York: G.P. Putnam's + Sons.</span><br /> + <br /> + <br /> + <b>William Prince of Orange; or, The King and his + Hostage.</b><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">By Rev. T.M. Merriman, + A.M.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">Boston: Henry + Hoyt.</span><br /> + <br /> + <br /> + <b>Report of the Commissioner of Education for the year + 1873.</b><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">Washington: Government Printing + Office.</span><br /> + <br /> + <br /> + <b>Among the Trees.</b><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">By William Cullen + Bryant.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">Illustrated.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">New York: G.P. Putnam's + Sons.</span><br /> + <br /> + <br /> + <b>Early English History.</b><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">By John P. + Yeatman.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">London: Longmans, Green & + Co.</span><br /> + <br /> + <br /> + <b>Poems.</b><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">By Stuart Sterne.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Published for the + Author.)</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">New York: F.B. + Patterson.</span><br /> + <br /> + <br /> + <b>The Frozen Deep.</b><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">By Wilkie Collins.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">Boston: William F. Gill & + Co.</span><br /> + <br /> + <br /> + <b>A Lecture on the Protestant Faith.</b><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">By Dwight H. + Olmstead.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">New York.</span></p> + <hr /> + <a name='footnotes' + id='footnotes'></a> FOOTNOTES. + + <div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_001_1" + id="Footnote_001_1"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_001_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> + <i>Travel and Art-Study in Italy</i>, by C.E. + NORTON.</p> + </div> + + <div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_002_1" + id="Footnote_002_1"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_002_1"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> + December, 1874, art. "Physical Effects of Emotion on the + Heart."</p> + </div> + + <div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_003_2" + id="Footnote_003_2"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_003_2"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> + I have several times performed this experiment, and by a + method, the explanation of which would require a + separate article, have proved that the vaso-motor + centre, as well as the respiratory centre, is situated + in the medulla oblongata, and that paralysis of neither + respiration nor of the vaso-motor nerves follows the + operation.</p> + </div> +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14709 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/14709-h/images/001.jpg b/14709-h/images/001.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4bbe854 --- /dev/null +++ b/14709-h/images/001.jpg diff --git a/14709-h/images/002.jpg b/14709-h/images/002.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c8e515e --- /dev/null +++ b/14709-h/images/002.jpg diff --git a/14709-h/images/003.jpg b/14709-h/images/003.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bf79deb --- /dev/null +++ b/14709-h/images/003.jpg diff --git a/14709-h/images/004.jpg b/14709-h/images/004.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..260589e --- /dev/null +++ b/14709-h/images/004.jpg diff --git a/14709-h/images/005.jpg b/14709-h/images/005.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..44383fa --- /dev/null +++ b/14709-h/images/005.jpg diff --git a/14709-h/images/006.jpg b/14709-h/images/006.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9248b75 --- /dev/null +++ b/14709-h/images/006.jpg diff --git a/14709-h/images/007.jpg b/14709-h/images/007.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e29f983 --- /dev/null +++ b/14709-h/images/007.jpg diff --git a/14709-h/images/008.jpg b/14709-h/images/008.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..79879b7 --- /dev/null +++ b/14709-h/images/008.jpg diff --git a/14709-h/images/009.jpg b/14709-h/images/009.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0f83e52 --- /dev/null +++ b/14709-h/images/009.jpg diff --git a/14709-h/images/010.jpg b/14709-h/images/010.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ecb7f22 --- /dev/null +++ b/14709-h/images/010.jpg diff --git a/14709-h/images/011.jpg b/14709-h/images/011.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c64aba9 --- /dev/null +++ b/14709-h/images/011.jpg diff --git a/14709-h/images/012.jpg b/14709-h/images/012.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6485acb --- /dev/null +++ b/14709-h/images/012.jpg diff --git a/14709-h/images/013.jpg b/14709-h/images/013.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ceec37a --- /dev/null +++ b/14709-h/images/013.jpg diff --git a/14709-h/images/014.jpg b/14709-h/images/014.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4f16407 --- /dev/null +++ b/14709-h/images/014.jpg diff --git a/14709-h/images/015.jpg b/14709-h/images/015.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e91c578 --- /dev/null +++ b/14709-h/images/015.jpg diff --git a/14709-h/images/016.jpg b/14709-h/images/016.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cbd6ee2 --- /dev/null +++ b/14709-h/images/016.jpg diff --git a/14709-h/images/017.jpg b/14709-h/images/017.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d243314 --- /dev/null +++ b/14709-h/images/017.jpg diff --git a/14709-h/images/018.jpg b/14709-h/images/018.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..34cd823 --- /dev/null +++ b/14709-h/images/018.jpg diff --git a/14709-h/images/019.jpg b/14709-h/images/019.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..76eb840 --- /dev/null +++ b/14709-h/images/019.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e045f08 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #14709 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14709) diff --git a/old/14709-8.txt b/old/14709-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a68ff67 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14709-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8769 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature +and Science, Vol. 15, No. 86, February, 1875, by Various, Edited by John +Foster Kirk + + +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: Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, Vol. 15, +No. 86, February, 1875 + +Author: Various + +Release Date: January 17, 2005 [eBook #14709] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIPPINCOTT'S MAGAZINE OF POPULAR +LITERATURE AND SCIENCE, VOL. 15, NO. 86, FEBRUARY, 1875*** + + +E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, David Gundry, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +Note: The Table of Contents and the list of illustrations were added + by the transcriber. + + Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 14709-h.htm or 14709-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/7/0/14709/14709-h/14709-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/7/0/14709/14709-h.zip) + + + + + +LIPPINCOTT'S MAGAZINE OF POPULAR LITERATURE AND SCIENCE + +February, 1875 + +Vol. XV, No. 86 + + + + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS. + + + FOLLOWING THE TIBER. + CONCLUDING PAPER. + + SIX MONTHS AMONG CANNIBALS. + + AN AMERICAN GIRL AND HER LOVERS. by Mary E. Blair. + + A JAPANESE MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE. by W.E. Griffis. + + THE LOST BABY. by Clara G. Dolliver. + + THREE FEATHERS. by William Black. + CHAPTER XXIII. SOME OLD SONGS. + CHAPTER XXIV. THE CUT DIRECT. + CHAPTER XXV. NOT THE LAST WORD. + + FEVER. by H.C. Wood, Jr., M.D. + + SONNET. by Charlotte F. Bates. + + SOME RECOLLECTIONS OF HIRAM POWERS. by T. Adolphus Trollope. + + CORN. by Sidney Lanier. + + GENTLEMAN DICK. by W. Mackay Laffan. + + A SINGULAR FAMILY. by Clelia Lega Weeks. + + THE MATCHLESS ONE: + A TALE OF AMERICAN SOCIETY, IN FOUR CHAPTERS. + by Ita Aniol Prokop. + PROLOGUE. + CHAPTER I. + CHAPTER II. + + THE STRANGER WITHIN THE GATES OF PARIS. by Lucy H. Hooper. + + OUR MONTHLY GOSSIP. + GYPSY MUSIC IN HUNGARY. by E.C.R. + THE "GIORNO DEI MORTI." by T.A.T. + MR. MILL'S MOTHER. + + NOTES. + + LITERATURE OF THE DAY. + + Books Received. + + FOOTNOTES + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + TEMPLE OF THE CLITUMNUS. + THE FALLS OF TERNI. + ORVIETO. + CIVITÀ BAGNOREA. + THE TIBER, FROM ORTE. + BORGHETTO. + ST. PETER'S AND THE VATICAN, FROM THE FALLS OF THE TIBER. + THE CASTLE OF ST. ANGELO. + ISLAND OF THE TIBER. + CUPOLA OF ST. PETER'S. + THE PINCIO, FROM THE VILLA BORGHESE. + SORACTE. + VEII, FROM THE CAMPAGNA. + TIVOLI. + CASTLE AT OSTIA. + HEAD OF THE TRAJAN CANAL, NEAR OSTIA. + + + + +FOLLOWING THE TIBER. + +CONCLUDING PAPER. + +[Illustration: TEMPLE OF THE CLITUMNUS.] + + +One branch of the little river which encompasses Assisi is the +Clitumnus, the delight of philosophers and poets in the Augustan age. +Near its source stands a beautiful little temple to the divinity of the +stream. Although the ancients resorted hither for the loveliness of the +spot, they did not bathe in the springs, a gentle superstition holding +it sacrilege for the human body to lave itself in a stream near its +source. + +[Illustration: THE FALLS OF TERNI.] + +They came by the Via Flaminia, the old high-road from Rome to Florence, +which crosses the modern railroad hard by. Following its course, which +takes a more direct line than the devious Tiber, past Spoleto on its +woody castellated height, the traveler reaches Terni on the tumultuous +Nar, the wildest and most rebellious of all the tributaries. It was to +save the surrounding country from its outbreaks that the channel was +made by the Romans B.C. 271, the first of several experiments which +resulted in these cascades, which have been more sung and oftener +painted than any other in the world. The beauty of Terni is so hackneyed +that enthusiasm over it becomes cockney, yet the beauty of hackneyed +things is as eternal as the verity of truisms, and no more loses its +charm than the other its point. But one must not talk about it. The +foaming torrent rages along between its rocky walls until spanned by the +bridge of Augustus at Narni, a magnificent viaduct sixty feet high, +thrown from ridge to ridge across the ravine for the passage of the +Flaminian Way--a wreck now, for two of the arches have fallen, but +through the last there is a glimpse of the rugged hillsides with their +thick forests and the turbulent waters rushing through the chasm. Higher +still is Narni, looking over her embattled walls. It is one of the most +striking positions on the way from Florence to Rome, and the next half +hour, through savage gorges and black tunnels, ever beside the tormented +waters of the Nar until they meet the Tiber, swollen by the tributes of +the Paglia and Chiana, is singularly fine. + +[Illustration: ORVIETO.] + +Where the Paglia and Chiana flow together, at the issue of the charming +Val di Chiana, stands Orvieto on its steep and sudden rock, crowned with +one of the triumphs of Italian Gothic, the glorious cathedral. After +toiling up the ladder-like paths which lead from the plain to the summit +of the bluff, and passing through the grand mediæval gateway along the +slanting streets, where even the peasants dismount and walk beside their +donkeys, seeing nothing within the whole small compass of the walls save +what speaks of the narrowest and humblest life in the most remote of +hill-fastnesses, a few deserted and dilapidated palaces alone telling of +a period of importance long past, nothing can describe the effect of +coming out of this indigence and insignificance upon the silent, +solitary piazza where the incomparable cathedral rears its front, +covered from base to pinnacle with the richest sculpture and most +brilliant mosaic. The volcanic mass on which the town is built is over +seven hundred feet high, and nearly half as much in circumference: it +would be a fitting pedestal for this gorgeous duomo if it stood there +alone. But it is almost wedged in among the crooked streets, a few paces +of grass-grown stones allowing less than space enough to embrace the +whole result of proportion and color: one cannot go far enough off to +escape details. An account of those details would require a volume, and +one has already been written which leaves no more to be said;[1] yet +fain would we take the reader with us into that noble nave, where the +"glorious company of the apostles" stands colossal in marble beside the +pillars whose sculptured capitals are like leafy branches blown by the +wind; where the light comes rich and mellow through stained glass and +semilucent alabaster, like Indian-summer sunshine in autumn woods; where +Fra Angelico's and Benozzo Gozzoli's angelic host smile upon us with +ineffable mildness from above the struggle and strife of Luca +Signorelli's "Last Judgment," the great forerunner of Michael Angelo's. +It added greatly to the impressiveness that there was never a single +human being in the cathedral: except one afternoon at vespers we had it +all to ourselves. There is little else to see in the place, although it +is highly picturesque and the inhabitants wear a more complete costume +than any other I saw in Italy--the women, bright bodices, striped skirts +and red stockings; the men, jaunty jackets and breeches, peaked hats and +splendid sashes. + +The discomfort of Perugia was luxury to what we found at Orvieto, and it +was no longer May but December, when it is nearly as cold north of Rome +as with us; and Rome was drawing us with her mighty magnet. So, one +wintry morning, soon after daybreak, we set out in a close carriage with +four horses, wrapped as if we were going in a sleigh, with a +_scaldino_ (or little brazier) under our feet, for the nearest +railway station on our route, a nine hours' drive. Our way lay through +the snow-covered hills and their leafless forest, and long after we had +left Orvieto behind again and again a rise in the road would bring it +full in sight on its base of tufa, girt by its walls, the Gothic lines +of the cathedral sharp against the clear, brightening sky. At our last +look the sun was not up, but broad shafts of light, such as painters +throw before the chariot of Phoebus, refracted against the pure æther, +spread like a halo round the threefold pinnacles: a moment more and +Orvieto was hidden behind a higher hill, not to be seen again. All day +we drove among the snow-bound hills and woods, past the Lake of Bolsena +in its forbidding beauty; past small valleys full of naked fruit trees +and shivering olives, which must be nooks of loveliness in spring; past +defiant little towns aloft on their islands of tufa, like Bagnorea with +its single slender bell-tower; past Montefiascone with its good old +story about Cardinal Fugger and the native wine. + +[Illustration: CIVITÀ BAGNOREA.] + +We stopped to lunch at Viterbo, a town more closely connected with the +history of the Papacy than any except Rome itself, and full of legends +and romantic associations: it is dirty and dilapidated, and has great +need of all its memories. Being but eight miles from Montefiascone, we +called for a bottle of the fatal Est, which we had tasted once at +Augsburg, where the host of the Three Moors has it in his cellar, in +honor perhaps of the departed Fugger family, whose palace has become his +hotel: there we had found it delicious--a wine as sweet as cordial, with +a soul of fire and a penetrating but delicate flavor of its own--how +different from the thin, sour stuff they brought us in the long-necked, +straw-covered flask, nothing to attest its relationship to the generous +juice at the Three Moors except the singular, unique flavor! After this +little disappointment we left Viterbo, and drove on through the same +sort of scenery, which seemed to grow more and more beautiful in the +rosy light of the sinking sun. But it is hard to tell, for nothing makes +a journey so beautiful as to know that Rome is the goal. As the last +rays were flushing the hill-tops we came in sight of Orte, with its +irregular lines of building clinging to the sides of its precipitous +cliff in such eyrie-wise that it is difficult to say what is house and +what is rock, and whether the arched passages with which it is pierced +are masonry or natural grottoes; and there was the Tiber--already the +yellow Tiber--winding through the valley as far as eye could follow. +Here we waited for the train, which was ten minutes late, and tried to +make up for lost time by leaving our luggage, all duly marked and ready, +standing on the track. We soon began to greet familiar sites as we +flitted by: the last we made out plainly was Borghetto, a handful of +houses, with a ruined castle keeping watch on a hill hard by: then +twilight gathered, and we strained our eyes in vain for the earliest +glimpse of Mount Soracte, and night came down before we could descry the +first landmarks of the Agro Romano, the outposts of our excursions, the +farm-towers we knew by name, the farthest fragments of the aqueducts. +But it was not so obscure that we could not discern the Tiber between +his low banks showing us the way, the lights quivering in the Anio as +the train rushed over the bridge; and when at length we saw against the +clear night-sky a great dark barrier stretching right and left, we knew +that the walls of Rome were once more before us: in a moment we had +glided through with slackening speed, and her embrace enfolded us again. + +[Illustration: THE TIBER, FROM ORTE.] + +[Illustration: BORGHETTO.] + +[Illustration: ST. PETER'S AND THE VATICAN, FROM THE FALLS OF +THE TIBER.] + +The Tiber, winding as it does like a great artery through the heart of +Rome, is seldom long either out of sight or mind. One constantly comes +upon it in the most unexpected manner, for there is no river front to +the city. There is a wide open space on the Ripetta--a street which runs +from the Piazza del Popolo, at the head of the foreign quarter, to +remoter parts--where a broad flight of marble steps descends to the +level of the flood, and a ferry crosses to the opposite bank: looking +over at the trees and fields, it is like the open country, yet beyond +are St. Peter's and the Vatican, and the whole of what is known as the +Leonine City. But one cannot follow the Tiber through the streets of +Rome as one may the Seine in Paris: in the thickly-built quarters the +houses back upon the stream and its yellow waves wash their foundations, +working wrath and woe from time to time, as those who were there in the +winter of 1870 will recollect. Sometimes it is lost to sight for half a +mile together, unless one catches a glimpse of it through the +carriage-way of a palace. From the wharf of the Ripetta it disappears +until you come upon it again at the bridge of St. Angelo, the Ælian +bridge of ancient Rome, which is the most direct passage from the +fashionable and foreign quarter to the Trastevere. It must be confessed +that the idle sense of mere pleasure generally supersedes recollection +and association after one's first astonishment to find one's self among +the historic places subsides; yet how often, as our horses' hoofs rang +on the slippery stones, my thoughts went suddenly back to the scene when +Saint Gregory passed over, chanting litanies, at the head of the whole +populace, who formed one vast penitential procession, and saw the +avenging angel alight on the mausoleum of Adrian and sheath his sword in +sign that the plague was stayed; or to that terrible day when the +ferocious mercenaries of the Constable de Bourbon and the wretched +inhabitants given over to sack and slaughter swarmed across together, +butchering and butchered, while the troops in the castle hurled down +what was left of its classic statues upon the heads of friend and foe, +and the Tiber was turned to blood! + +[Illustration: THE CASTLE OF ST. ANGELO.] + +[Illustration: ISLAND OF THE TIBER.] + +From the bridge of St. Angelo the river is lost again for a long +distance, although one can make one's way to it at various points--where +at low water the submerged piers of the Pons Triumphalis are to be seen, +where the Ponte Sisto leads to the foot of the Janiculum Hill, and on +the opposite bank the orange-groves of the Farnesina palace hang their +golden fruit and dusky foliage over the long garden-wall upon the +river--until we come to the Ponte Quatro Capi (Bridge of the Four Heads) +and the island of the Tiber. This is said to have been formed in the +kingly period by the accumulation of a harvest cast into the stream a +little way above, which the current could not sweep away: it made a +nucleus for alluvial deposit, and the island gradually arose. Several +hundred years afterward it was built into the form of a ship, as bridges +and wharves are built, with a temple in the midst, and a tall obelisk +set up in guise of its mast. In mediæval days a church replaced the +heathen fane, and now it stands between its two bridges, a huddle of +houses, terraces and gardens, whence one looks down on the fine mass of +the Ponte Rotto (Broken Bridge), whose shattered arches pause in +mid-stream, and across to the low arch of the Cloaca Maxima and the +exquisite little circular temple of Vesta. From here down, the river is +in full view from either side until it passes beyond the walls near the +Monte Testaccio--on one side the Ripa Grande (Great Bank or Wharf), a +long series of quays, on the other the Marmorata or marble landing, +where the ships from the quarries unload. Here, on each side, all sorts +of small craft lie moored, not betokening a very extensive commerce from +their size and shape, but quaint and oddly rigged, making a very good +fore-or back-ground, according as one looks at the picture. The +Marmorata is at the foot of the Aventine, the most lonely and unvisited +of the Seven Hills. From among the vegetable-gardens and cypress-groves +which clothe its long flank rise large, formless piles, whose +foundations are as old as the Eternal City, and whose superstructures +are the wreck of temples of the kingly and republican periods, and +palaces and villas of imperial times, and haughty feudal abodes, only to +be distinguished from one another by the antiquary amid their +indiscriminate ruin and the tangle of wild-briers and fern, ivy and +trailers with which they are overgrown. On the summit no trace of +ancient Rome is to be seen. There are no dwellings of men on this +deserted ground: a few small and very early Christian churches have +replaced the temples which once stood here, to be in their turn +neglected and forsaken: they stand forlornly apart, separated by +vineyards and high blank walls. On the brow of the hill is the esplanade +of a modern fort, and within its quiet precincts are the church and +priory of the Knights of Malta--nothing but a chapel and small villa as +abandoned as the rest. After toiling up a steep and narrow lane between +two walls, our carriage stopped at a solid wooden gateway, and the +coachman told us to get out and look through the keyhole. We were +aghast, but he insisted, laughing and nodding; so we pocketed our pride +and peeped. Through an overarching vista of dark foliage was seen, white +and golden in a blaze of sunshine, the cupola of St. Peter's, which is +at the farthest end of the city, two miles at the least as the crow +flies. When the gate was opened we entered a sweet little garden full of +violets, traversed by an alley of old ilex trees, through which appeared +the noble dome, and which led from the gate to a terrace overhanging the +Tiber--I will not venture to guess how far below--more like two than one +hundred feet; perhaps still farther. On the edge of the terrace was an +arbor, and here we sank down enchanted, to drink in the view of the +city, which spread out under our eyes as we had never seen it from any +other point. But the custodino's wife urged us to come into the Priorato +and see the view from the upper story. We followed her, reluctant to +leave the sunshine and soft air, up a stiff winding staircase, through +large, dark, chilly, long-closed apartments, until we reached the top, +where there was a great square room occupying the whole floor. She flung +open the windows, and never did such a panorama meet my eyes. There were +windows on every side: to the north, one looked across the city to St. +Peter's, the Vatican, the Castle of St. Angelo, the Tiber with its great +bends and many bridges, and to lonely, far-away Soracte; westward, on +the other side of the river, rose the Janiculum with its close-wedged +houses, grade on grade, and on its summit the church of San Pietro in +Montorio and the flashing cataract of the Acqua Paola fountain, the +stone-pines of the Villa Dolia cresting the ridge above; eastward, the +Palatine, a world of ruins in a world of gardens, lay between us and the +Coliseum, and over them and the wall, the aqueducts, the plain, the eye +ranged to the snow-capped Sabine Hills, on whose many-colored +declivities tiny white towns were dotted like browsing sheep; southward, +we gazed down upon the Pyramid of Cestius, upon the beautiful Protestant +cemetery with its white monuments and dark cypresses where lie Shelley +and Keats, upon the stately Porta San Paolo, a great mediæval gateway +flanked with towers, and beyond, the Campagna, purple, violet, +ultramarine, oceanic, rolling out toward the Alban Hills, which +glittered with snow, rising sharply like island-peaks and sloping down +like promontories into the plain; and over all the sun and sky and +shadows of Italy. + +[Illustration: CUPOLA OF ST. PETER'S.] + +[Illustration: THE PINCIO, FROM THE VILLA BORGHESE.] + +The prospect from the Priorato surpasses anything in Rome--even the +wonderful view from the Janiculum, even the enchanting outlook from the +Pincian Hill. But the last was at our very doors: we could go thither in +the morning to watch the white mist curl up from the valleys and hang +about the mountain-brows, and at noon, when even in January the cool +avenues and splashing fountains were grateful, and at sunset, when the +city lay before us steeped in splendor. That was the view of our daily +walks--the beloved view of which one thinks most often and fondly in +remembering Rome. + +[Illustration: SORACTE.] + +But it is in riding that one grows to feel most familiar with the Tiber +and all his Roman children, whether it be strolling somewhat sulkily in +a line with his banks by the Via Flaminia or the Via Cassia, impatient +to get away from their stones and dust to the soft, springing turf; or +hailing him from afar as a guide after losing one's self in the endless +undulations of the open country; or cantering over daffodil-sheeted +meadows beside the Anio at the foot of the grassy heights on which +Antemnæ stood; or threading one's way doubtfully among the ravines which +intersect the course of the little Cremera as one goes to Veii. The last +is a most beautiful and interesting expedition, for, what with the +distance--more than twelve miles--and the difficulty of finding the way, +it is quite an enterprise. As one turns his horse's head away from the +river, off the high-road, to the high grassy flats, the whole Campagna +seems to lie before one like a vast table-land, with nothing between +one's self and Soracte as he lifts his heavy shoulder from the +plain--not half hidden by intervening mountains, as from some points of +view, but majestic and isolated, thirty miles away to the north. But +here, as in every other part of the Campagna, one cannot go far without +finding hillocks and hollows, long steep slopes and sudden little dells, +and, stranger still, unsuspected tracts of woodland, for the general +effect of the Roman landscape is quite treeless. So there is a few +miles' gallop across the trackless turf, sometimes asking the way of a +solitary shepherd, who looms up against the sky like a tower, sometimes +following it by faint landmarks, few and far between, of which we have +been told, and hard to find in that waste, until we pass a curious +little patriarchal abode shaped like a wigwam, where, in the midst of +these wide pastures dwells a herdsman surrounded by his family, his +cattle, his dogs, his goats and his fowls--the beautiful animals of the +Campagna, long-haired, soft-eyed, rich-colored, like the human children +of the soil. Then we strike the Cremera, and exploring begins among its +rocky gullies, up and down which the spirited, sure-footed horses +scramble like chamois. Thick woods of cork-oak clothe their sides, and +copses of a deciduous tree which I never saw in its summer dress of +green, but which keeps its dead leaves all through the winter, a full +suit of soft, pale brown contrasting with the dark evergreens. Among +these woods grow all the wild-flowers of the long Roman spring from +January to May--flowers that I never saw in bloom at the same time +anywhere else. On banks overcanopied by faded boughs nodded myriads of +snowdrops; farther on we held our horses' heads well up as they slipped, +almost sitting, down the damp rocky clefts of a gorge whose sides were +purple with violets, mingling their delicious odor, the sweetest and +most sentimental of perfumes, with the fresh, geranium-like scent of the +cyclamen, which here and there flung back its delicate pinkish petals +like one amazed: then came acres of anemones--not our pale wind-shaken +flower, but brave asters of half a dozen superb kinds. Up and down these +passes we forced our way through interlacing branches, which drooped too +low, until we had crossed the ridges on either side the Cremera, and +gained the valley at the head of which is Isola Farnese, the +rock-fortress supposed to occupy the site of the citadel of Etruscan +Veii. It is not really an island, in spite of its name; only a bold +peninsula, round whose base two rivulets flow and nearly meet. It is +called a village, and so it is, with quite a population, but the great +courtyard of the fifteenth-century castle contains them all, and the +huts, pig-pens, kennels and coops which they seem to inhabit +indiscriminately. Except where the bluff overlooks the valley, +everything is closed and shut in by rocks and gorges, through one of +which a lovely waterfall drips from a covert of boughs and shrubbery and +wreathing ferns and creepers into a little stream, which with musical +clamor rushes at a picturesque old mill: through another the road from +the castle passes through a narrow issue to the outer world. And this +stranded and shipwrecked fortress in the midst of so wild a scene is all +that exists to mark where Veii stood, the powerful city which kept Rome +at bay for ten years, and fell at length by stratagem! Its site was +forgotten for nearly two thousand years, but in this century the +discovery of some tombs revealed the secret. + +[Illustration: VEII, FROM THE CAMPAGNA.] + +[Illustration: TIVOLI.] + +The scenery differs entirely on different sides of Rome. Here there is +not a ruin, not a vestige, except a few low heaps of stone-or brickwork +hidden by weeds: on the other, toward Tivoli, much of the beauty is due +to the work of man--the stately remnants of ancient aqueduct, temple and +tomb; the tall square towers of feudal barons, round which cluster low +farm-buildings scarcely less old and solid; the vast, gloomy grottoes of +Cerbara, which look like the underground palace of a bygone race, but +which are the tufa-quarries of classic times; the ruined baths of +Zenobia, where the rushing milky waters of the Aquæ Albulæ fill the air +with sulphurous fumes; and, as a climax, the Villa of Hadrian, less a +country-place than a whole region, a town-in-country, with palace, +temples, circus, theatres, baths amidst a tract of garden and +pleasure-ground ten miles in circumference. Even when one is familiar +with the enormous height and bulk of the Coliseum or the Baths of +Caracalla, the extent of the ruins of Hadrian's Villa is overwhelming. +Numerous fragments are still standing, graceful and elegant, but a vast +many more are buried deep under turf and violets and fern: large +cypresses and ilexes have struck root among their stones, and they form +artificial hills and vales and great wide plateaus covered with herbage +and shrubbery, hardly to be distinguished from the natural accidents of +the land. The solitude is as immense as the space. After leaving our +carriage we wandered about for hours, sometimes lying in the sunshine at +the edge of a great grassy terrace which commands the Campagna and the +Agro Romano--beyond whose limits we had come--to where, like a little +bell, St. Peter's dome hung faint and blue upon the horizon; sometimes +exploring the innumerable porticoes and galleries, and replacing in +fancy the Venus de Medici, the Dancing Faun, and all the other shapes of +beauty which once occupied these ravished pedestals and niches; +sometimes rambling about the flowery fields, and up and down among the +hillocks and dells, meeting no one, until at length, when completely +bewildered and lost, we fell in with a rustic belonging to the estate, +who guided us back. We left the place with the sense of having been in a +separate realm, another country, belonging to another age. The whole of +that visit to Tivoli was like a dream. The sun was sinking when we left +the precincts of the villa, and twilight stole upon us, wrapping all the +landscape on which we looked back in softer folds of shade, and +resolving its features into large, calm masses, as the horses labored up +the narrow, stony road into a mysterious wood of gigantic olives, +gnarled, twisted and rent as no other tree could be and live. The scene +was wild and weird in the dying light, and it grew almost savage as we +wound upward among the robber-haunted hills. Night had fallen before we +reached the mountain-town. Our coachman dashed through the dark slits of +streets, where it seemed as if our wheels must strike the houses on each +side, cracking his whip and jingling the bells of the harness. Under +black archways sat groups of peasants, their swart visages lit up from +below by the glow of a brazier, while a flaring torch stuck through a +ring overhead threw fierce lights and shadows across the scene. Sharp +cries and shouts like maledictions rose as we passed, and as we turned +into the little square on which the inn stands we wondered in what sort +of den we should have to lodge. We followed our host of the little +Albergo della Regnia up the steep stone staircase with many misgivings: +he flung open a door, and we beheld a carpeted room, all furnished and +hung with pink chintz covered with cupids and garlands. There were +sofas, low arm-chairs, a writing-table with appurtenances, a tea-table +with snowy linen and a hissing brass tea-kettle. Opening from this were +two little white nests of bed-rooms, with tin bath-tubs and an abundance +of towels. We could not believe our eyes: here were English comfort and +French taste. Were we in May Fair or the Rue de Rivoli? Or was it a +fairy-tale? + +[Illustration: CASTLE AT OSTIA.] + +The fairy-tale went on next day, when, after wending our way through the +dirty, crooked little streets, we crossed a courtyard and descended a +long subterranean stairway to emerge on a magnificent terrace with a +heavy marble balustrade, whence flights of steps led down to lower +grades, amid statues, urns, vases, fountains, reservoirs, camellias in +bloom mingled with laurel and myrtle and laurustinums covered with +creamy flowers, cypresses tall as cathedral spires, ilex avenues, and +broad straight walks between huge walls of box: the whole space was +filled with the song of nightingales, the tinkle of falling water, with +whiffs of aromatic shrubs and the breath of hidden roses and violets;--a +princely garden, a royal pleasaunce, but in exquisite disorder and +neglect; the shrubbery too thick and straggling, the flowers straying +beyond their rightful boundaries, the statues stained and moss-grown, +the balusters entangled in clinging luxuriance, the fountains dripping +through fern and maiden-hair--Nature supreme, as one always sees her in +this land of Art. It was the Villa d'Este, famous these three hundred +years for its fountains and cypresses. Nor did the wonder cease when we +forsook this enchanting spot for the mountain-road which overhangs the +great ravine. Opposite, backed by mountains, rose the crags topped by +the clustering town and all its towers, arches, niches, battlements, +bridges, long lines of classic ruins, and on the edge of the abyss the +perfect little temple of the Sibyl; rushing down from everywhere the +waterfalls, one great column plunging at the head of the gorge, and +countless frolic streams, the _cascatelle_, leaping and dancing +from rock to rock through mist and rainbow and extravagance of emerald +moss and herbage, down among sea-green, silvery olives, finally sliding +away, between softer foliage and verdure, through the valley into the +plain--the immense azure plain, with its grand symphonic harmonies of +form and color. O land of dreams fulfilled, of satisfied longing! when +across these thousands of miles I recall your entrancing charm, your +unimaginable beauty, I sometimes wonder if you were _not_ a dream, +if you have any place in this real existence, this lower earth: are you +still delighting other eyes with the rapture of your loveliness, or were +you only an illusion, a vision, which vanishes like the glow of sunset +or "golden exhalations of the dawn "? + +The Campagna has one more aspect, different from all the rest, where the +Tiber, weary with his long wanderings, rolls lazily to the sea. It is a +dreary waste of swamp and sandhill and scrub growth, but with a forlorn +beauty of its own, and the beauty of color, never absent in Italy. The +tall, coarse grass and reeds pass through a series of vivid tones, +culminating in tawny gold and deep orange, against which the +silver-fretted violet blue-green of the Mediterranean assumes a magical +splendor. Small, shaggy buffaloes with ferocious eyes, and sometimes a +peasant as wild-looking as they, are the only inhabitants of this +wilderness. The machicolated towers of Castel Fusano among its grand +stone-pines stand up from the marshes, and farther seaward another +castle with a single pine; but they only enhance the surrounding +loneliness. Ostia, the ancient port, which sea and river have both +deserted, is now a city of the dead, a Pompeii above ground, whose +avenues of tombs lead to streets of human dwellings more desolate still. +It is no longer by Ostia, nor even by the Tiber, that one can reach the +sea: the way was choked by sand and silt seventeen centuries ago, and +Trajan caused the canal to be made which bears his name; and this is +still the outlet from Rome to the Mediterranean, while the river expires +among the pestilential marshes. + +[Illustration: HEAD OF THE TRAJAN CANAL, NEAR OSTIA.] + + + + +SIX MONTHS AMONG CANNIBALS. + + +[Illustration: A HALT IN THE BRUSH.] + +Perhaps as good an illustration of the purely absurd (according to +civilized notions) as can be imagined is a congregation of cannibals in +a missionary church weeping bitterly over the story of Calvary. Fresh +from their revolting feasts upon the flesh of their conquered enemies, +these gentle savages weep over the sufferings of One separated from them +by race, by distance, by almost every conceivable lack of the conditions +for natural sympathy, and by over eighteen hundred years of time! Surely +there must be hope for people who manifest such sensibility, and we may +fairly question whether cannibalism be necessarily the sign of the +lowest human degradation. A good deal of light is thrown upon the +subject by the writings of the young engineer, Jules Garnier, who was +lately charged by the French minister of the interior with a mission of +exploration in New Caledonia, the Pacific island discovered by Captain +Cook just one hundred years ago, and ceded to the French in 1853. + +It is about three hundred and sixty miles from Sydney to New Caledonia, +a long, narrow island lying just north of the Tropic of Capricorn, and +completely surrounded by belts of coral reef crenellated here and there, +and forming channels or passes where ships may enter. Navigation through +these channels is, however, exceedingly hazardous in any but calm +weather; and it was formerly thought that the island was on this account +practically valueless for colonization. Once inside them, however, +vessels may anchor safely anywhere, for there is in effect a continuous +roadstead all around the island. The passage through the narrow pass of +Dumbea, just outside of Noumea, affords a striking spectacle. On each +side of the ship is a wall of foam, and the reverberating thunder of the +waves dashing and breaking upon the jagged reefs keeps the mind in +breathless suspense. + +The site of Noumea seems to be the most unfortunate that could be +chosen. It is a barren, rocky spot, divested of all luxuriance of +vegetation, and the nearest water, a brook called Pont des Français, is +ten miles away. The appearance of the town, which fronts the harbor in +the form of an amphitheatre, the houses and gardens rising higher and +higher as they recede from the sea, tended somewhat to reassure the +explorer, who had been wondering that human stupidity should have been +equal to selecting in a tropical country, and in one of the best-watered +islands of the world, such a situation for its capital. Wells are of +little account, for the water thus obtained is at the level of the sea, +and always salt. The population has to depend upon the rain that falls +on roofs, and as the cleanliness of these is of prime importance, +domesticating pigeons is strictly forbidden. This might not be much of a +deprivation in most places, but in New Caledonia, of all the world, +there is a kind of giant pigeon as large as a common hen! This is the +_noton_, (sic) the _Carpophage Goliath_ of the naturalist. + +The hotel at Noumea was a kind of barracks, with partitions so slight +that every guest was forced to hear every sound in his neighbors' rooms. +M. Garnier, to escape this inconvenience, purchased a garden-plot, had a +cottage built in a few days, and so became a proprietor in Oceanica. +Before setting out on his exploring expedition into the interior he +tried to interest the government in a plan for cisterns to supply the +city with water--a project easy of execution from the natural +conformation of the locality. But his scheme received no encouragement +from the old-fogyish authorities. They were at that moment entertaining +one which for simplicity reminded Garnier of the egg problem of +Columbus. This was to distill the sea-water. He made a calculation of +the cost of thus supplying each of the sixteen hundred inhabitants with +five quarts of water a day, which showed that the proposition was +impracticable under the circumstances. + +From the showing of official accounts, this French colony of New +Caledonia must be one of the most absurd that exists. The military and +naval force far exceeds in number the whole civil population; and this, +too, when the natives are quiet and submissive, few in number, and fast +dying out through the inordinate use of the worst kind of tobacco, +pulmonary consumption and other concomitants of civilization not +necessary to enumerate. Contrast this with the rich and populous +province of Victoria, which has only three hundred and fifty soldiers; +with Brisbane, which has only sixteen to a population of one hundred +thousand; and finally Tasmania, which has only seven soldiers for two +hundred thousand colonists! + +It was believed formerly that New Caledonia was rich in gold-mines, and +the principal object of the expedition of M. Garnier was to discover +these. After one or two short excursions in the neighborhood of Noumea +he set out on an eight months' journey through the entire eastern +portion of the island. The plan which he adopted was to double the +southern extremity of the island, sail up the eastern coast between the +reefs and the mainland, as is the custom, stopping at the principal +stations and making long excursions into the interior, accompanied by a +guard of seven men. This plan he carried out, though some parts of the +country to be explored were inhabited by tribes that had seldom or never +seen a European. His testimony as to the almost unexceptionable kindness +of the natives, cannibals though they are, must be gratifying to those +who accept the doctrine of the brotherhood of man. Of the natives near +Balarde he says: "The moment you land all offer to guide your steps, and +in every way they can to satisfy your needs. Do you wish to hunt? A +native is ever ready to show you the marsh where ducks most abound. Are +you hungry or thirsty? They fly to the cocoanut plantation with the +agility of monkeys. If a swamp or a brook stops your course, the +shoulders of the first comer are ever ready to carry you across. If it +rains, they run to bring banana-leaves or make you a shelter of bark. +When night comes they light your way with resinous torches, and finally, +when you leave them, you read in their faces signs of sincere regret." + +Captain Cook, in his eulogies of these gentle savages, probably never +dreamed that they were anthropophagi, and if he had known the fact, his +kindly nature would have found some extenuation for them. Cannibals, as +a rule--certainly those of New Caledonia--do not eat each other +indiscriminately. For example, they dispose of their dead with tender +care, though they despatch with their clubs even their best friends when +dying; but this is with them a religious duty. They only eat their +enemies when they have killed them in battle. This also, in their code +of morals, appears to be a duty. Toussenel, in his _Zoölogie +Passionelle_, has a kind word even for these savages: "Let us pity +the cannibal, and not blame him too severely. We who boast of our +refined Christian civilization murder men by tens of thousands from +motives less excusable than hunger. The crime lies not in roasting our +dead enemy, but in killing him when he wishes to live." + +During M. Garnier's expedition he met the chief Onime, once the head of +a powerful tribe, now old and dispossessed of his power through the +revolt of his tribe some years previous. At that time a price had been +put upon his head, and he took refuge in the mountains. There was no +sign of discouragement or cruelty in his manners, but his face expressed +a bitter and profound sorrow. There was not a pig or a chicken on his +place--for he would have nothing imported by the _papalés_, or +Europeans--but he gave his guests a large quantity of yams, for which he +would accept no return except a little tobacco. When, however, Garnier +tied a pretty crimson handkerchief about the head of Onime's child, who +danced for joy at the possession of such a treasure, the old chief was +visibly moved, and gave his hand to the stranger. Two years later this +old man, being suspected of complicity in the assassination of a +colonist, was arrested, bound in chains and thrown into a dungeon. Three +times he broke his chains and escaped, and each time was recaptured. He +was then transported to Noumea. M. Garnier happened to be on the same +ship. The condition of the old man was pitiful. Deep wounds, exposing +the bones, were worn into his wrists and ankles in his attempts to free +himself from his chains. Three days later he died, and on a subsequent +examination of facts M. Garnier became convinced that Onime was innocent +of the crime charged against him. On the ship he recognized Garnier, and +accepted from him a little tobacco. Tobacco is more coveted by these +people than anything else in the world, and the stronger it is the +better. The child almost as soon as he can walk will smoke in an old +pipe the poisonous tobacco furnished specially for the natives, which is +so strong that it makes the most inveterate European smoker ill. "Gin +and brandy have been introduced successfully," but the natives as a rule +make horrible grimaces in drinking them, and invariably drink two or +three cups of water immediately _to put out the fire_, as they say. + +These natives speak a kind of "pigeon English." It would be pigeon +French, doubtless, had their first relations been with the French +instead of the English. The government has now stopped the sale of +spirituous liquors to the natives, and recommended the chiefs to forbid +their subjects smoking until a certain age, but no precautions yet taken +have had much influence upon their physical condition. They are rapidly +dying out. The most prevalent disease is pulmonary consumption, which +they declare has been given them by the Europeans. Fewer and fewer +children are born every year, and in the tribes about Poöbo and some +others these are almost all males. Here is a curious fact for +scientists. Is not the cause to be found in the deteriorated physical +condition of the women? Mary Trist, in her careful and extensive +experimentation with butterfly grubs, has shown that by generous feeding +these all develop into females, while by starving males only appear. + +M. Garnier believes that the principal cause of the deterioration and +decay of the natives in New Caledonia is the terrible tobacco that is +furnished to them. "Everybody pays for any service from the natives in +this poison." A missionary once asked a native convert why he had not +attended mass. "Because you don't give me any tobacco," replied this +hopeful Christian. To him, as to many others, says M. Garnier, going to +church means working for the missionary, just as much as digging in his +garden, and he therefore expects remuneration. The young girls in +regions where there are missions established all wear chaplets, for they +are good Catholics after a fashion, and generally refuse to marry +pagans. This operates to bring the young men under the religious yoke. +Self-interest is their strong motive generally. The missionary makes +them understand the value of his counsel in their tribes. It means their +raising cocoanuts for their oil, flocks of chickens and droves of hogs, +for all of which they can obtain pipes, quantities of tobacco, a gun, +and gaudy-colored cottons. When the chiefs find that their power is +gradually passing from them into the hands of the missionaries, they +only smoke more poisonous tobacco, expose themselves all the more to the +weather through the cheap fragmentary dress they have adopted, and so +the ravages of consumption are accelerated. Pious Christian women, who +have always given freely of their store to missionary causes, begin to +see that the results are not commensurate with their sacrifices--that +their charity, even their personal work among heathens, teaching them to +read and write and study the catechism, to cover their bodies with dress +and to love the arts of civilization, can avail little against the rum, +tobacco and nameless maladies legally or illegally introduced with +Christianity. + +During one of M. Garnier's excursions into the interior he came across +one of the sacred groves where the natives bury their dead, if hanging +them up in trees can be so designated. His guides all refused to +accompany him, fearing to excite the anger of the manes of their +ancestors. He therefore entered the high grove alone. Numerous corpses, +enveloped in carefully-woven mats and then bound in a kind of basket, +were suspended from the branches of the trees. Some of these were +falling in pieces, and the ground was strewn with whitened bones. It +seems strange that this form of burial should be chosen in a country +where at least once a year there occurs a terrible cyclone that destroys +crops, unroofs houses, uproots trees, and often sends these +basket-caskets flying with the cocoanuts through the air. + +In New Caledonia there are no ferocious beasts, and the largest animal +is a very rare bird which the natives call the kagon. When, therefore, +they saw the English eating the meat from beef bones they inferred that +these were the bones of giants, and naïvely inquired how they were +captured and what weapons of war they used. The confidence and +admiration of these children of Nature are easily gained, and under such +circumstances they talk freely and delight in imparting all the +information they possess. Among one of the tribes near Balarde, M. +Garnier noticed a young woman of superior beauty, and made inquiries +about her. This was Iarat, daughter of the chief Oundo. The hornlike +protuberances on her head were two "scarlet flowers, which were very +becoming in her dark hair." + +[Illustration: IARAT, DAUGHTER OF THE CHIEF OUNDO.] + +This poor little woman had a history. It is told in a few words: her +father sold her to the captain of a trading-vessel for a cask of brandy. +The "extenuating circumstances" in this case are that Oundo had been +invited on board the captain's ship, plied with brandy, and when nearly +drunk assented to the shameless bargain. When Oundo became sober he +repented of his act, and the more bitterly because the young girl was +betrothed to the young chief of a neighboring tribe. But he had given +his word, and was as great a moral coward as many of his betters are, +who think that honor may be preserved by dishonor. Nearly every coaster +has a native woman on board--some poor girl of low extraction, or some +orphan left to the mercy of her chief and sold for a hatchet or a few +yards of tawdry calico; but the daughters of chiefs are not thus +delivered over to the lusts of Europeans. The case of Iarat was an +exception. These coasters' wives, if such they may be called, are said +to be very devoted mothers and faithful servants. All day long they may +be seen managing the rudder or cooking in the narrow kitchen on deck. + +The vessel in the service of M. Garnier left him at Balarde, near the +north-eastern extremity of the island, but, having determined to explore +farther north, he applied to Oundo, who furnished him with a native boat +or canoe and two men for the expedition. In this boat were stowed the +camping and exploring apparatus and cooking utensils, and three of his +men, who were too fatigued by late excursions to follow Garnier on foot. +The canoe was not very large, and this freight sunk it very low in the +water; yet as the sea was perfectly calm, no danger was apprehended +until, a slight breeze springing up, a sail was hoisted. The shore-party +continued their course, exploring, digging, breaking minerals, etc., +generally in sight of the canoe, which M. Garnier watched with some +anxiety. Suddenly, Poulone, his faithful native guide, exclaimed, +"Captain, the pirogue sinks!" There was no time to be lost, for one of +the men could not swim at all, and the other two but indifferently. +Fortunately, the trunk of a tree was found near the water, some paddles +were improvised, and this primitive kind of boat was quickly afloat, +with the captain and Poulone on board. The canoe was some rods from the +shore, but the three men were picked up, having been supported meanwhile +by their dark companions. The latter did not swim ashore, but the moment +they were relieved from their charges, and without a word, set about +getting the canoe afloat. As to the cargo, it was all in plain sight, +but more than twenty feet under the limpid water. This was a great +misfortune. Some of the instruments were valuable, and could not be +replaced. If not recovered, the expedition to the north of the island +must be abandoned. In this strait Garnier despatched a messenger back to +Oundo, asking the old chief to come to the rescue with all his tribe. "I +did not count in vain," says he, "upon the generosity of this man, for +very soon I saw him approach, followed by the young people of his +tribe." He listened to the recital of the misfortune with every sign of +sympathy. + +"Oundo," said M. Garnier, "I expect that you will once more show your +well-tried friendship for the French people by rendering me a great +service. Do you think you can recover these things for me?" + +"Oundo will try," replied the chief simply. He then addressed his people +and gave his commands. In a moment, and with a loud cry of approbation +and good-will, they dashed into the water and swam out to the scene of +disaster. + +It is a fine sight to see these natives of Oceanica, the best swimmers +in the world, darting under the water like bronze tritons. They +generally swim beneath the surface, coming up from time to time to +breathe, and shaking the water from their thick curly hair. M. Garnier +followed the natives on the log that had served as a lifeboat, and to +encourage them by example undressed and threw himself into the water. +The work commenced. Twenty or thirty feet is not much of a dive for a +South Sea Islander. Every minute the divers brought up some object with +a shout of triumph. They were in their element, and so spiritedly did +they undertake the task that women, and even the children, dived to the +bottom and constantly brought up some small object. The three guns of +the men, their trappings, the heavy box of zoological specimens, all the +instruments, were brought up in succession. Even the sole cooking-pot of +the expedition and the tin plates were recovered. The work occupied some +six hours. M. Garnier thanked the chief and his brave people, who when +the work was finished returned to their huts as quietly as they came. +And this chief was the man who had sold his daughter for a keg of +brandy! + +Another chief, named Bourarte, the head of a great tribe near Hienguène, +deserves a few words. He was a chief of very superior experience and +intelligence. He had studied civilization diligently, enjoyed the +society of Europeans and knew that his people were barbarians. His story +is a most touching one. He said: "I always loved the English. They +treated me as a chief, and paid me honestly for all they received. One +day I consented to go with them to their great city of Sydney. It was +there that I learned the weakness of my people. I was well received +everywhere, but I longed to return. It was with pleasure that I saw +again our mountains and heard the joyful cries of welcome from my tribe. +About that time your people came. I paid little attention to them at +first, but because one of my men killed a Kanacka who was a protégé of +the missionaries there came a great ship (the Styx) into my port. The +captain sent for me. I went on board without fear, but my confidence was +betrayed. I was made a prisoner and transported to Tahiti. It was six +years before I saw my tribe again: they had already mourned me as dead. +I will tell you what happened in my absence. My people prepared for +vengeance: the French were apprised of the fact. They came again. And as +my people, filled with curiosity, flocked to the shore, the French fired +their cannon into the crowd. My people were frightened and fled into the +woods. Your soldiers landed, and for three days they burned our huts, +destroyed our plantations and cut down our cocoa trees. And all this +time," added the old chief with a heavy sigh, "I was a prisoner at +Tahiti, braiding baskets to gain a little food, and the grief that I +suffered whitened my head before the time." + +[Illustration: A KANACKA FAMILY TRAVELING.] + +After a long pause, during which the old Bourarte seemed lost in +thought, he said, "It is true that my people revenged themselves. They +killed a good many, and among them one of your chiefs. What is most +strange about this war is, that three English colonists, who lived +peacefully among us by their commerce and fishing, were taken by the +French and shot. Another Englishman, Captain Paddon, to whom I had sold +many a cargo of sandal-wood, on learning the fate of his compatriots, +fled on board a little boat with one Kanacka and a few provisions, got +out to sea, and, as I have been told, actually gained the port of +Sydney." This, it seems, is a historical fact. It was a boat without a +deck, and the distance is three hundred and sixty marine miles! + +The result of the exploring mission of M. Garnier was not a discovery of +gold-mines, as so many had hoped. He is of the opinion that gold +deposits are scarce in the island. His report of the natives is on the +whole favorable, and confirms the testimony of missionaries and others, +that they are superior savages, easily civilized and Christianized, but +from some cause or combination of causes fast dying out before the +advance of civilization. In some respects they are less rude than other +South Sea Islanders, but they treat their women in much the same way. M. +Garnier gives us a photograph of a New Caledonia family on the road, the +head of the family, a big, stolid brute apparently, burdened only with +his club, while his wife staggers along under the combined load of +sugar-canes, yams, dried fishes and other provisions. + +A more revolting, but also, happily, a far rarer sight, was that of a +cannibal banquet, of which M. Garnier was a concealed witness. The scene +was a thicket in the wildest portion of the country, and only the chiefs +of the tribe, which had just gained a victory over its enemies, took +part in the feast. A blazing fire threw its bright glare on a dozen +figures seated around huge banana-leaves, on which were spread the +smoking viands of the diabolical repast. A disgusting odor was wafted +toward the spot where our Frenchman and his companions lay perdu, +enchained by a horrible fascination which produced the sensation of +nightmare. Directly in front of them was an old chief with long white +beard and wrinkled skin, who gnawed a head still covered with the singed +hair. Thrusting a pointed stick into the eye-sockets, he contrived to +extract a portion of the brain, afterward placing the skull in the +hottest part of the fire, and thus separating the bones to obtain a +wider aperture. The click of a trigger close to his ear recalled M. +Garnier to his senses, and arresting the arm of his sergeant, who, +excited to indignation, had brought his musket to his shoulder, he +hurried from a scene calculated, beyond all others, to thrill the nerves +and curdle the blood of a civilized spectator. + + + + +AN AMERICAN GIRL AND HER LOVERS. + + +In the spring of 1869 I was induced, for the sake of rest and +recreation, to take charge of a young American girl during a tour in +Europe. This young girl was Miss Helen St. Clair of Detroit, Michigan. +We two were by no means strangers. She had been my pupil since the time +when she was the prettiest little creature that ever wore a scarlet +hood. I have a little picture, scarlet hood and all, that I would not +exchange for the most beautiful one that Greuze ever painted. Not that +her face bore any resemblance to the pictures of Greuze. It had neither +the sweet simplicity of the girl in "The Broken Pitcher," nor the +sentimental graces which he bestows on his court beauties. It was an +exceedingly piquant, animated face, never at rest, always kindling, +flashing, gleaming, whether with sunlight or lightning. Her movements +were quick and darting, like those of a humming-bird. Her enunciation, +though perfectly distinct, was marvelously rapid. The same quickness +characterized her mental operations. Her conclusions, right or wrong, +were always instantaneous. Her prompt decisiveness, her talent for +mimicry and her witchery of grace and beauty won her a devoted following +of school-girls, to whom her tastes and opinions were as authoritative +as ever were those of Eugénie to the ladies of her court. School-girls, +like college-boys, are very apt in nicknames, and Helen's was the +"Little Princess," which her pretty, imperious ways made peculiarly +appropriate. + +I do not know how her parents dared trust her to me for a year beyond +the sea, but they did. We set off in high enthusiasm, and Helen was full +of mirth and laughter till we were fairly on board the steamer in New +York harbor, when she threw herself on her father's breast with a +gesture of utter abandonment that would have made the fortune of a +débutante on any stage in the world. It was so unlooked-for that we all +broke down, and Mr. St. Clair was strongly inclined to take her home +with him. But so sudden was she in all her moods that his foot had +scarcely touched the shore before she was again radiant with +anticipation. + +I will not linger on the pleasant summer travel, the Rhine majesty, the +Alpine glory. September saw us established in the city of cities--Paris. +Everywhere we had met throngs of Americans. Neighbors from over the way +in our own city greeted us warmly in most unexpected places. But we had +not crossed the ocean merely to see our own countrymen. In Paris we were +determined to eschew hotels and pensions and to become the inmates of a +French home. Everybody told us this would be impossible, but I find +nothing so stimulating as the assertion that a thing can't be done. Two +weeks of eager inquiry, and we were received into a family which could +not have been more to our wish if it had been created expressly for us. +It was that of Monsieur Le Fort, a professor in the Medical College, a +handsome elderly man with the bit of red ribbon coveted by Frenchmen in +his buttonhole. Madame Le Fort, a charming, graceful woman midway +between thirty and forty, and a pretty daughter of seventeen, completed +the family. With great satisfaction we took possession of the pretty +rooms, all white and gold, that overlooked the Rond Point des Champs +Élysées. + +My little princess had found a prince in her own country, and, +considering the laws of attraction, his sudden appearance in Paris ought +not to have been a surprise to her. But, to his discomfiture, and even +anger, Helen refused to see him. She had bidden him good-bye at home, +she said; they would not be married for three years, if they ever were: +she was going to devote herself to her music; and she did not wish to +see him here. When he had completed his studies and their engagement was +announced (it was only a mutual understanding now) there would be time +enough to see each other at home. Excellent reasoning! but a fortnight +later a tiny hand slipped between my eyes and the _Figaro_ a little +note on which I read: + +"DEAR FRED: I think I should like to say good-bye again. + +"Yours, HELEN." + +The dark eyes looked half shyly, half coaxingly into mine. + +"Well," said I, "Katrine will mail it for you." + +The next day I saw for the first time Mr. Frederic Denham. He was tall +and slender; with a sallow complexion, rather dull gray eyes and black +hair, by no means handsome, but sufficiently well-looking to please a +friendly eye. In his manners there was a coldness and reserve which +passed for haughtiness. He was said to possess great talents and +ambition, and Helen had the fullest belief in his genius and success. +Not Goethe himself was a greater man in her eyes. + +I had frequent opportunities of seeing them together, for, according to +French ideas, nothing is more improper than to leave a young man and +woman a moment by themselves. Was it my fancy that he seemed too much +absorbed in himself, too little sensible of the rare good-fortune which +made him the favored lover of the beautiful Miss St. Clair? It might be +so, but others shared it. + +"What ails the American?" asked Madame Le Fort. "Is it possible that he +is not in love with that fascinating young creature? Or are all your +countrymen so cold and inanimate? Elle est ravissante, adorable! I +cannot comprehend it." + +"Probably," I replied, "he has too much reserve and delicacy to make a +display of his feelings in the presence strangers." + +But I was not satisfied. The more I watched them, the more I perceived a +lack of deference to her opinions and respect for her judgment--an +irritating assumption of superior wisdom, as if he had worn the visible +inscription, "I will accept homage, but not suggestions. Offer incense +and be content." Would the little princess be content? I saw symptoms of +rebellion. + +"Do _you_ think I am a little fool, Madame Fleming?" she asked with +heightened color and impetuous tone, turning suddenly to me while they +were conversing apart one evening. + +November came, and we were launched on the full tide of Parisian +society. Mr. Denham had gone to Germany to complete certain scientific +studies, and he left his fair betrothed with a parting injunction not to +dance with any foreigner. As well shut her up in a cell! Nowhere is +there such a furore for dancing as in Paris. Every family has its weekly +reception, and every card of invitation bears in the corner, "On +dansera." These receptions are the freest and gayest imaginable. Any +person who has the entrée of the house comes when he feels inclined. +Introductions are not indispensable as with us: any gentleman may ask a +lady to dance with him, whether he has been formally presented or not, +and it would be an affront to decline except for a previous engagement. +The company assemble about ten, and often dance till three or four in +the morning. In any one house we see nearly the same people once a week +for the whole winter, and such frequent companionship gives a feeling of +intimacy. It is surprising how many French men and French women have +some special artistic talent, dramatic or musical, and with what ready +good-humor each contributes to the entertainment of the rest. In every +assembly, with all its sparkle of youth and gayety, there is a +background of mature age; but though a card-room is generally open, it +never seems to draw many from the salons de danse. + +In these salons the little princess entered, at once upon her royalty. +Her dancing was the poetry of motion. She sang, and the most brilliant +men hung over her enraptured. "She was like Adelina Patti," they said, +"but of a more perfect and delicate type of beauty. What wonderful eyes, +with the long thick lashes veiling Oriental depths of liquid light! How +the music trickled from her fingers, and poured from her small throat +like the delicious warble of a nightingale! What a loss to art that her +position precluded her from singing in the opera! Not Malibran or Grisi +ever had triumphs that would equal hers." Eminent painters wished to +make a study of her face. Authors who had received the prizes of the +Academy for grave historical works sent her adulatory verses. "May +I--flirtation--wid you--loavely meess?" asked one of "the immortal +forty," displaying his English. + +It grew rather annoying. I was importuned with questions, such as "Will +you receive proposals of marriage for Miss St. Clair?" "What is her +dowry?" "Are you entrusted to find a husband for her abroad?" I was +tired of answering, "Miss St. Clair will probably marry in her own +country." "Her parents would be very reluctant to consent to any foreign +marriage." "I cannot tell what Mr. St. Clair will give his daughter. It +is not the custom to give dowries with us, as with you." + +One evening we saw at Madame Le Fort's reception a young man so +distinguished in appearance that he was known as "le beau Vergniaud." He +was six feet in height and well made, with abundant chestnut hair, dark +hazel eyes, clearly-cut, regular features, and a complexion needlessly +fine for a man. From that time he was invariably present, not only at +Madame Le Fort's, but wherever we went. + +One day Helen said to me, "I made a silly speech last evening. I was +dancing with M. Vergniaud, and we were talking of that charming Madame +de Launay. I said, 'I should think she might be happy, having an elegant +house in Paris, a château in the country, and such a handsome husband so +devoted to her.' And he rejoined instantly, very low, 'My dear Miss St. +Clair, can I not give you all this?' It was not fair to take advantage +of me in that way." + +"What did you say?" + +"Oh, I laughed it off. I did not think he was in earnest, but he spoke +to me again before he went away." + +That afternoon Madame Le Fort came into my room with the look of one who +has something important to communicate. "I have been wishing to see +you," she said. "M. Vergniaud has taken me into his confidence. He has +formed a serious attachment to Miss St. Clair, and wishes to make her +his wife. It is a splendid alliance," she continued, warming with her +theme: "if he had asked for my daughter I would give her to him +blindfold. He belongs to one of our old families. You should see his +house on the Avenue de Montaigne. Have you never seen him driving with +his superb horses in the Bois de Boulogne? He has an estate with a fine +old château in Touraine, a family inheritance. His character and habits +are unexceptionable too," she added by way of parenthesis. "It is not +often that you find all that in a man of twenty-six. So handsome +besides!" + +"True," said I, "but you forget Mr. Denham." + +"On the contrary, I remember him too well to conceive the possibility of +his being a rival to René Vergniaud." + +"But did you mention him to M. Vergniaud?" + +"Yes, and he was greatly disturbed at first, but when I told him that he +had no expectation of marrying for two or three years to come, he +laughed and said it was of no importance. M. Vergniaud would like to be +married in a few weeks, as is the custom with us, but I suppose it will +take longer to adjust the preliminaries on account of her parents being +across the Atlantic. What dowry has my little jewel?" (The inevitable +question, always put with as much simplicity and directness as if one +were asking the time of day.) + +"I do not know," I replied. "It is so contrary to all our notions. I do +not think there is a man in America who in asking a father for the hand +of his daughter would inquire how much money he was to have with her. It +would be considered an insult." + +"Perhaps Mr. St. Clair would prefer to settle an annuity on his +daughter. Is that the way the thing is managed in your country?" + +"It is not managed at all. A man gives his daughter what he likes, or he +gives her nothing but her bridal outfit. It is never a condition of the +marriage." + +"How strange all that is! One can hardly believe it in France. We set by +a sum of money for Clarice's dowry almost as soon as she was born, and +it would be a hard necessity that could compel us to diminish it by a +single sou. If you would like it, in a couple of days I can give you an +exact inventory of all M. Vergniaud's property and possessions. I could +guarantee that it will not vary twenty napoleons from the fact. We do +everything so systematically here." + +"Thanks! I think it will hardly be necessary. I do not know that Helen +likes him particularly." + +"Nobody admires that little paragon more than I--I should be frantically +in love with her if I were a man--but she had better think twice before +rejecting such a _parti_ as René Vergniaud, especially if she has +no dowry. You will surely not permit her to do so without communicating +with her father? He will understand her interests better." + +"In this case I shall let her do just as she pleases, as her father +would if he were here." + +Madame Le Fort's look of amazed incredulity was truly comical. What +ought I to do? I queried. On the whole, I decided to do the easiest +thing--wait. + +The next day I was honored with a call from M. Vergniaud. He believed +that Madame Le Fort had spoken to me of his profound attachment to the +lovely Miss St. Clair--the most passionate, the most devoted. Might he +hope for my influence with her father and mother? The matter of dowry +was indifferent to him: his income was sufficiently large, and, alas! he +had no parents to consult. Would I favor him with Mr. St. Clair's +address and a few words of introduction to him? He should be under +everlasting obligations to me, and if there was anything he could do to +show his gratitude, his appreciation-- + +I interrupted these protestations: "I doubt if Mr. St. Clair would +consent to any marriage which would separate him from his daughter, +however advantageous it might be in other respects." + +"My dear madame, who asks it? I have no business or profession: we could +easily spend a part of every year in America if it were desirable." + +"That would certainly make it easier, but it will be better to defer +writing till we have some intimation of Miss St. Clair's sentiments. Her +father will be guided chiefly by her inclination." + +"It is a nice country for young girls, America," said he with a smile. +"I shall do all that is possible to win Miss St. Clair's favor, for life +would be worthless without her." And he bowed himself gracefully out. + +Is it possible that Helen will be indifferent to this young Antinous? +thought I. Poor Mr. Denham would have small chance with me if I were in +her place. + +An hour later the concierge sent up to me an exquisite bouquet of +violets and white camellias, with the card of René Vergniaud and a +folded note: "If Madame Fleming does not think it improper, will she be +so kind as to give these flowers to my beautiful queen?" + +M. Vergniaud had asked Madame Le Fort's permission to call on Miss St. +Clair. "Certainly not," she replied. "I am astounded at such +presumption! But you may call to see _me_. To-morrow evening we go +to the opera, and Wednesday to Madame Perier's, and Thursday is my +reception, and Friday we have tickets to _Phèdre_ at the Français. +Saturday, then: it is the first evening we have free." + +We were all assembled in the salon as usual after dinner when M. +Vergniaud was announced. The little princess was radiant. She had never +been merrier in a school-girl frolic or more ready with gibe and jest +and laughter. She sang her best songs, putting her whole soul into +them--"Si tu savais comme je l'aime." René Vergniaud was so dazed that +he came near bidding farewell to his senses for ever. He evidently +thought that all this brilliancy was for him, and was in such a rapture +of delight that he never noticed Madame Le Fort's repeated glances at +the clock, and was only roused by the polite invitation to come +_again_. He was not too disconcerted to make a charming apology, +like a true Parisian, and tore himself away. + +Late as it was, as soon as we were in our own little parlor I could not +forbear saying, "I was surprised at you to-night, Helen. How +_could_ you run on so? Madame Le Turc there, too! and you know the +young French girls never open their lips to say more than 'Oui, +monsieur'--'Non, monsieur,' to a gentleman. What will M. Vergniaud +think?" + +"I don't care what he thinks," flinging herself down on an ottoman with +her head in my lap; "but I _do_ care what you think, Madame +Fleming. Did I behave so very badly? I didn't mean to, but I was +resolved he should not get a chance to talk any nonsense to-night; and +he _did_, after all. I hate being made love to before a whole room +full. I _had_ to laugh or else cry." And the little fairy dissolved +in a shower of tears, like another Undine. + +Another week went by. On Saturday afternoon Helen asked, "Will you be so +kind as to take me to the little Protestant church beyond the Arc +d'Étoile this evening, Madame Fleming? I should like so much to hear +that good M. Bercier." + +"So should I. But you have not forgotten that M. Vergniaud will be +here." + +"I am under no obligation to entertain Madame Le Fort's callers." + +"But you know, Helen, that he comes for your sake. It is well for you to +consider that the future Madame Vergniaud will have in some respects a +more brilliant position than perhaps any man in our country could offer +you." + +"I know all that, and I don't pretend to say that I should not like it. +I am ashamed of being so worldly, but to have a superb establishment and +all this charming Parisian society, and give a grand ball whenever I +liked, would be just paradise. And to have it all in my grasp, and not +be able to take it, is too aggravating. It is so vexatious that the +right man never has the right things." + +We went to church. M. Vergniaud called, but recollected an engagement +which took him away early. Monday evening he dropped in again just after +dinner: "Do not let me derange you in the least, je vous en prie, +madame. I come early because I am engaged to three balls to-night." + +Miss St. Clair could hardly have been more mute and statue-like if she +had been born and bred in France, where in the presence of gentlemen +young girls silently adhere to their brilliant mothers, whose wit and +grace and social tact make the charm of the Parisian salons. Apparently, +the French consider that the combined attractions of youthful faces and +sprightly conversation would be too much for any man, and mercifully +divide the two. And this leaves them helpless before a little American +girl, laughing, talking, jesting, teasing, till, bewildered by such a +phenomenon, they are swept down so easily that one is reminded of +Attila's taunt to the Romans, "The thicker the grass, the quicker it is +mowed." + +This social etiquette was very irksome to my little firefly, who seemed +always opening and shutting her wings. In the course of the evening M. +Vergniaud slipped into her hand, unperceived by any of us, a closed +envelope with the whisper, "Put it in your pocket. Do not let any one +see you." + +She opened it deliberately: "M. Vergniaud is so kind as to give me his +photograph, Madame Fleming. Do you think it a good likeness?" + +The mystery which French people are fond of attaching to harmless +trifles is inconceivable. One evening, in the earlier part of our stay +in Paris, a cousin of Miss St. Clair's, who was in the same hotel with +Mr. Denham, called on us, and when he was taking leave she held out an +unsealed note: "Will you give this to Fred? Don't forget it." + +Madame Le Fort was thunderstruck: "Is it possible? Send a note to a +young gentleman right before Madame Fleming and all of us!" + +"Why," said I, "do young people never write notes to each other in +France?" "Not openly like that--little three-cornered notes to slip +into the hand while dancing." + +"This is the way to fold them," said Clarice, taking up a small sheet of +paper. "You see that will just fit into the hollow of the hand, and +nobody could ever see it." + +"I like our way much better. What is done openly is not half so +mischievous." + +"Nor half so interesting," rejoined Clarice. + +The nimble hours danced on, as they had a trick of doing in Madame Le +Fort's salon. "I am afraid you forget the three balls, M. Vergniaud." + +"How can you be so cruel, mademoiselle? I shall only make my compliments +to the hostess and dance one set at each. I never do more except when I +come here." + +A few days later I asked Helen, "Have you made up your mind what answer +to give M. Vergniaud? He intends to write to your father. He was +speaking to me about it again to-day." + +"I won't have him writing to my father," she replied with her wonted +impetuosity. "I will not have my father worried about nothing. It would +be a month before I could set it right." + +"He seems to be very much in love with you. He says he shall be in +despair, wretched for ever, if you reject him." + +"So they all say. I don't believe a word of it, and I can't help it if +they are. I can't marry more than one of them, and I don't believe I +shall ever marry anybody. I won't be persecuted to death." + +The little princess was irritated. Something had evidently gone wrong. +It soon came out: "I had a letter from Fred this morning--a very +disagreeable letter." + +"Indeed! You have not yet answered it, I suppose." + +"No: he will have to write differently from that before he gets any +answer from me. I am not going to be lessoned and scolded as if I were a +little girl. Father never does it, and I will not submit to it from +_him_" After a pause: "He is not so much to blame. It is that +odious Mr. Wilkins, who keeps writing to him how much attention I +receive, and all that. As if I could help it! Poor old Fred! We have +known each other ever since we were children." + +That explains it, I thought. "Helen, if you have decided to say no to M. +Vergniaud, the sooner you say it the better." + +"I have said it, and he doesn't mind it in the least. I wish you would +tell him: you always speak so that people know you are in earnest and +can't help believing you." + +"Very well, Helen. I will ask Madame Le Fort to tell him that his suit +is hopeless, and that he must not annoy you by persisting in it." + +Early in February the Belgian ambassador, M. le comte de Beyens, and +Madame la comtesse, kindly took charge of Miss St. Clair to the imperial +ball at the Tuileries. She had never looked more charming than in the +exquisite costume of pale rose-colored faille, with a floating mist of +white tulle, caught here and there by rosebuds that might have grown in +Chrimhild's garden. The airy figure, so graceful in every motion, the +well-poised head with its flutter of shining curls, the wonderful dark +eyes, the perfect eyebrows, the delicious little mouth where love seemed +to nestle--when she had vanished "it seemed like the ceasing of +exquisite music." Madame la comtesse congratulated me on her appearance, +and afterward on her success. The emperor had distinguished her in a +very flattering manner, and Eugénie, looking earnestly at her, said to +the comtesse, "Nothing is so beautiful as youth," perhaps beginning to +regret her own. No one had made so decided a sensation. + +At Madame Le Fort's next reception there was a sudden influx of new +guests--a young Belgian baron of old historic name, slim and stiff as a +poker; a brisk French viscount, who told me that he had been connected +with the embassy at Washington, and had quite fallen in love with our +institutions; an Italian chevalier, a Russian prince. + +Ugliness has its compensations, thought I. Nobody makes such a fuss over +a pretty girl at home (they are not so uncommon), and I will never bring +one to Paris again. Thank Heaven! we are going to Italy soon. + + * * * * * + +The piercing Tramontane came down upon us in the Bay of Naples with so +fierce a blast that we doubted if we were not in Iceland, and were glad +to make our escape to Rome, where we found an asylum in the Hôtel de +Minerve, not far from the Pantheon. Many of the old palaces and convents +of Italy have been transformed into hotels. This was the ancient palace +of the princes of Conti. I was so captivated by the superb dining-room +that the quality of the dinners made but a faint impression. What! eat +in the presence of all those marble goddesses, looking down upon us, +serene and cold, as if from their thrones on the starry Olympus! Or if I +turned my eyes resolutely away from Juno, Ceres and Minerva, they were +sure to be snared by the dancing-girls of Pompeii stepping out from the +frescoed walls, or inextricably entangled in the lovely garlands of +fruit and flowers that wound their mazy way along the borders. + +One evening, while we were waiting for one of the endless courses of a +table-d'hôte dinner, my wandering eyes were caught by the most perfect +human head I had ever seen. It seemed that of the youthful Lord Byron, +so well known in busts and engravings--the same small head with high +forehead and clustering dark-brown curls, the perfectly-moulded chin, +the full, ripe beauty of the lips. The eyes were a deep blue, but I +thought them black at first, they were so darkly shaded by the thick +black lashes. I am convinced that Byron must have had just such eyes, +for some of his biographers describe them as black and others as blue. +When he rose from the table I saw a slight, well-knit figure of +exquisite proportions, like the Greek god of love. (Not Cupid with his +vulgar arrows, but the true heavenly Eros. I saw him once in the Museum +at Naples, and again in the Vatican. Is it Love, or Death, or +Immortality? I queried, and then I knew it was the three in one.) I soon +learned that the youth whose ideal beauty had impressed me so strongly +was the Count Francisco de Alvala of Toledo in Spain. I fancy that his +eyes were as easily attracted to beauty as mine, for the next day he was +my _vis-à-vis_ at table; not for the sake of looking at me, I was +well aware, but on account of my beautiful neighbor. However, he sought +my acquaintance with the grave courtesy becoming a grandee of Spain, and +naturally gained that of Miss St. Clair also. + +It is the most natural thing in the world to make acquaintances in Rome. +People talk together of the things they have seen or wish to see: they +go to the same places by day, and in the evening they meet in the +ladies' parlor to compare their impressions. The young count never +failed to join us in the evening. He had always something to show +us--prints of his home in Spain, articles of _virtù_ that he had +bought, sketches that he had made, for he was a good amateur artist. + +A group of young people of different nations generally collected on +these occasions, and the conversation often turned on the usages +peculiar to their respective countries. + +"In Spain I could not greet a lady with a simple good-evening," said the +count. "I should say, 'Permit the humblest of your servants to lay +himself at your feet,' or something like that." + +"Why do you not say it to us?" asked a bright-eyed Canadian girl. + +"Well, it might be a little awkward if you should happen to take it +literally. In Spain it is the merest commonplace." + +"If such exaggerated phrases are frittered into commonplaces, and the +most impassioned words grow meaningless, what can a Spanish gentleman +find to say when his heart is really touched?" I inquired. + +"I fancy we should find some very simple words to say it in," said the +boy, flushing like a girl. "But I do not know--I have never learned." + +"Talk some more," commanded the little princess. + +"If a pretty young lady is walking in our streets a mantle is often +flung suddenly in her way, and proud and happy is its owner if she +deigns to set her dainty foot upon it." + +"What do they do that for? Because the streets are so muddy?" inquired +an obtuse young woman. But nobody volunteered to enlighten her. + +"Cannot we go to Spain?" asked Miss St. Clair. "I should like to see a +modern Sir Walter Raleigh." + +"If the señorita should appear in our streets they would be strewn with +mantles," said the young count gallantly. + +"Would you throw down yours for me to step upon?" + +"Surely, señorita." + +"I'll come, then. It must be of velvet, mind." + +"Yes, studded with jewels." + +I loved the beautiful youth. His presence was like a poem in my life, +and if it ever occurred to me that the familiar intercourse of the young +people might not be altogether prudent, I dismissed it with the thought, +He is only a boy. + +There was to be an illumination of the Coliseum. We were going of +course, and Count Alvala begged that I would honor him by making use of +his carriage on this occasion. "Thank you, but I have already spoken to +Piero to come for us." + +"Oh, but we can send him away. You will find my carriage more +comfortable, and it will be in every way pleasanter," he urged +beseechingly; but my negative was peremptory. + +Eight o'clock came. Miss St. Clair and I descended to the court of the +hotel, but where was Piero? "It is singular. He was never late before, +but I am confident that he will be here presently. We have only to wait +a little." + +The minutes went by, and they were long minutes. It was awkward waiting +in so public a place. The count had joined us with his friend, an +Italian marquis some thirty years of age, with whom we had a slight +acquaintance. The count's handsome equipage was drawn up near us. There +was no Piero. + +"I really think you had better accept my young friend's carriage. It +would be a pity to miss so grand a spectacle," said the marquis. + +We entered the carriage. The count wrapped us in a magnificent feather +robe, such as the Montezumas wore, for the April nights in Rome are +chill, however hot the sunshine. It was strange to see the Forum, +ordinarily solitary and desolate, now thronged with an eager multitude +on foot and with numerous open carriages, in which were seated ladies in +full dress as at the opera with us. Arriving at the Coliseum, we left +the carriage and passed through the huge portal. The gloomy arches were +obscurely seen in the dusky Roman twilight, when suddenly, as if by +magic, every arch and crevice of the gigantic ruin glowed, incarnadined, +as if dyed with the blood of the martyrs that had drenched its soil. +There were salvos of artillery, bursts of military music and a few vivas +from the multitude. A brilliant spectacle, but the tender beauty of +moonlight harmonizes better with the solemnity of ruins. + +Rapt in the memories that the scene awakened, I paid little attention to +the monologue of my Italian friend, when I was suddenly roused by the +question, "Did you ever see a prettier couple?" + +"Who?" I asked absently. + +"There," he rejoined, pointing to the count and Miss St. Clair, who +preceded us. + +"He is too young," I replied, but the question was asked so +significantly that it disturbed me a little, and I resolved to be more +cautious than heretofore. + +The next morning Piero appeared with his carriage to take us to the +Baths of Caracalla. He hoped madame did not lose the illumination. He +was wretched to disappoint madame: he begged a thousand pardons. His +little boy was taken violently ill: he was forced to go for the doctor; +madame was so good. + +The truth flashed upon me: "Piero, how much did the count give you to +stay away last night?" + +A gleam of humor twinkled in his black eyes, but it was speedily +quenched: "I do not understand what madame wishes to say." + +It happened that a friend and country-woman at our hotel was taken ill +with typhoid fever, and amid the anxieties of her sick room the +incipient love-affair was almost forgotten. I no longer spent the +evenings in the parlor. One day Miss St. Clair showed me a tiny satin +bag beautifully embroidered, with a soft silken chain to pass around the +neck. "What can it be for?" she asked. + +"Why, Helen, it is an amulet. Where did you get it?" + +"The count gave it to me. He had the loveliest set of Byzantine mosaics +and pearls which he wished to give me; and when I would not accept them +he seemed so hurt that I did not like to refuse this trifle. What do you +suppose is in it." + +"A relic of some saint, without doubt. He thinks it will protect you +from fever perhaps." + +Like most Americans, we were desirous of seeing the pope, and Count +Alvala obtained for us the necessary permission. We were to be received +on a Saturday at eleven. We went in the prescribed costume, black silk, +with the picturesque Roman veil thrown over the head. From the foot of +the Scala Regia, (Royal Staircase) one of the papal guard, in a motley +suit which seemed one glare of black and yellow, escorted us to the door +of a long corridor, known as the Loggia of Raphael, where we were +received by a higher official in rich array of crimson velvet. About +seventy persons were seated in rows, facing each other, along this +gallery, nearly all laden with rosaries to be blessed by the Holy +Father. We waited till my neck ached with looking up at the exquisite +frescoes, fresh and tender in coloring as if new from the hand of the +master, when the pope appeared, attended by a cardinal on each hand. We +fell on our knees instantly, but not till I had seen an old man's face +so sweet and venerable as to make this act of etiquette a spontaneous +homage. He passed slowly down the line, saying a word or two to each, +and extending his hand, white and soft like a woman's, to be kissed. + +Pausing by the young count, who was kneeling beside me, he said +impressively, "Courage and faith have always been attributes of the +house of Alvala. Your fathers were good children of the Church, and you, +my son, will not be wanting in any of the qualities of your race." + +When he had passed us we rose from our knees, and I could observe him +more closely. He wore a close-fitting white cap on his finely-shaped +head; a long robe of white woolen cloth buttoned up in front, with a +small cape of the same material; a white sash, gold-embroidered at the +end; a long gold chain around his neck, to which was attached a large +golden cross; a seal ring on the third finger of his right hand; and red +slippers. Soft snowy locks fell from under the white skull-cap over a +noble forehead, which years and trials had left unwrinkled. Black +eyebrows and the soft dark eyes made a pleasant contrast to the +whiteness of hair and brow, and his smile was so sweet and winning that +I scarcely wondered to see two Catholic ladies prostrate themselves and +kiss his feet and the hem of his white garment with a rapture of +devotion from which his attendants with difficulty rescued him. He +lingered longest by a pretty boy four or five years old, and there was a +pathos in the caressing, clinging touch of his hand as it rested on the +child's head that called to mind an old love-story of the handsome Count +Mastai Ferretti when he wore the uniform of an officer of the guards, +and had not yet thought of priestly robe or papal crown. I wonder if he +remembers the fair English girl now? + +Having completed the round, he made a brief address, the purport of +which was that he was about to give us his blessing, and he wished that +it might be diffused to all our families and friends, and be not for the +present moment only, but extend through our whole lives and abide with +us in the hour of death; "But remember," said he with a kind of paternal +benignity, "that the gates of paradise open rarely to any who are +without the communion of the Holy Catholic Church. Sometimes +perhaps--sometimes--but with great difficulty." He extended his hands. +We dropped on our knees and received the blessing of this benign old +man, whom the larger part of Christendom revere as the earthly head of +the Church. As we were making our way through the stately columns of +the colonnade which forms the approach to the Vatican I saw the count +glance at the amulet which Helen wore. "What is in it?" I asked. + +"A relic of the blessed Saint Francis, my patron," he replied. + +"It will lose its efficacy on the neck of a little heretic like Miss St. +Clair," said I with a purpose. + +"It will do her no harm," said he coldly. + +Monday I was at the table d'hôte the first time for a week. I found the +count seated next to Miss St. Clair. It was very simple, she explained +to me afterward. A lady occupied his seat one day, and he came round to +the only vacant one, which happened to be next hers. I am a very +guileless person, but I think Vincenzo had an excellent reason for +letting it happen. Helen was on my left hand as usual, and the Italian +marquis on my right. + +"I am sorry for that boy," said he to me: "he is very unhappy." + +"The young count? What is the matter?" + +"Don't you see? He is madly in love with your bewitching little +American. It is his first impression, and he takes it hard. Well, he +will have to learn like the rest of us." + +"I hope you are mistaken;" and I glanced uneasily at my young neighbors, +who were too much absorbed in their own conversation to heed that +between the marquis and myself. + +"That is impossible. He raves to me about her. It is very pretty too--a +perfect idyl, all poetry and romance--eternal, unchangeable, and all +that boyish nonsense. We older men know better. But monsignore will be +here soon, and he will look after him." + +"Who is monsignore?" + +"The archbishop of Toledo, his guardian. He has been here, but some +diocesan matter called him home. He will be back anon, and then the +count will dine at home. As to that, he does now, and delicious dinners +they are, too. He only makes a pretence of eating here, just to have a +chance to see his little divinity." + +"He was here when we came." + +"True, but only for a day or two while his house was put in order. The +house is well worth seeing--one of the finest on the Corso. It is not +open to strangers, but if you would like to see it--" + +"Certainly not," I interrupted, a little irritably, the more so from the +consciousness of having been a somewhat careless chaperone. I was coming +sharply up to the line of duty now, at all events. + +"Helen," said I when we rose from the dinner-table, "do not go into the +parlor now. Come into my room a little while, please.--Well, Helen," I +resumed when we were seated by the pleasant window, "I have seen so +little of you for a week past that you must have a great deal to tell +me." + +"I do not know," she replied. "I have been out every day with the +Glenns, just as you arranged for me, and I have been in the parlor in +the evenings, and sometimes I sang, and one night there was a French +gentleman--" + +"How about the young count? The Italian says he is very much in love +with you. Do you know it?" + +"He has told me so often enough, if that is knowing it," with a quick, +impatient toss of the small, graceful head. + +"Oh, Helen!" I cried in real distress, "and what did you say to him?" + +"Why, what _could_ I say in that great parlor, with everybody +looking on? I just hushed him up as well as I could. There is the tall +English girl and that sharp-eyed Miss Donaldson, who are watching us the +whole time. It is real mean in them," excitedly. "And the count doesn't +mind letting everybody know how much he admires me. In fact, he is proud +of it, like one of the old knights, who used to wear their ladies' +favors as openly and proudly as they bore their knightly banners." + +"This will never do, Helen. Don't you see that this boy is not like the +gay Frenchman that you danced with last winter? René Vergniaud was a man +of the world: he could take care of himself. But this beautiful boy, +with his intensity of feeling, his ideal passionate love--You must not +play with him," I exclaimed vehemently. + +"I am not playing with him: I never do anything to make him like me. He +comes and talks to me, and I just make myself as agreeable to him as I +can, that is all." + +That is all, is it, you little mischief? thought I. As if that were not +the very refinement of coquetry! But I prudently refrained from saying +it, for a tempest of hot tears began to fall, and she sobbed, "Oh, +Madame Fleming, I did not think I was going to forfeit your good +opinion. What can I do? I can't help his liking me. I like him too, and +that makes me feel so badly." + +"Do you like him better than Mr. Denham?" + +"Better than Fred?" in a tone of surprise. "Why no, of course not: I +have known Fred always." + +"The best thing will be to tell him of Mr. Denham." + +"Oh no, I never can." + +"_I_ will, then." + +"Don't, I beseech you. We shall go away soon, and that will be the end +of it. Promise me you will not. I would rather tell him myself if I ever +have a chance." + +I looked in to see my invalid friend, and then descended to the parlor, +where I found the young count almost alone. He looked up eagerly as I +entered: "I thought Miss St. Clair was with you. I have been waiting for +her all the evening." + +"Indeed!" + +"I told her at table that I wished to see her particularly this +evening." + +"Perhaps she did not understand you." + +"Oh yes, she did. You would not let her come?" with a sudden lighting up +of the expressive face. + +"I did not forbid her coming: I did not know that you were waiting for +her." + +Then with sudden boyish candor and a happy smile on his animated +countenance "I thought you might have observed that I come here so often +because I like to talk with Miss St. Clair. But you never can know how +dearly I love her." + +"I am sorry." + +"Why?" with a naïve surprise. + +"She is older than you." + +"How old is she?" + +"She will be twenty in May." + +"And I am nineteen this very week. What is one poor little year?--not a +year," gleefully. + +"But the difference in religion?" + +"An obstacle, I grant, but not an insuperable one. My uncle married an +English lady, a Protestant, and they have been very happy together." + +"But I think there is another man," I stammered, surprised at finding my +outposts carried so easily. + +"You do not mean to say that she is compromised with any man?" almost +fiercely. + +"I do not know what meaning you attach to that word," for the count's +imperfect French was not always intelligible. "There is a young man, the +son of a neighbor, who has admired her a long time." + +"Oh, he admires her?" with a curl of the exquisite lips, as if to say, +"Who does not?" + +"But I think she may like him a little." + +"Why do you torture me so? Tell me at once that they are betrothed," +cried he, pale with concentrated anger. + +He thought she had trifled with him, I knew instantly, but quietly said, +"I cannot tell you exactly in what relation they stand to each other, +but I think Miss St. Clair would if she found an opportunity to speak +with you." + +"You do not know how I have tried to make opportunities. I go +everywhere, hoping to see you, and I have never met you--not once. Won't +you ask her to come down to-night?" coaxingly, like a child. + +"Not to-night: it is too late." + +"I _must_ see Miss St. Clair to-night." + +"Impossible." + +"I _must_ see Miss St. Clair. Find out for me when I can see her. I +will go with you," in a white heat of passion. (We had been alone for +some little time.) + +I took the arm which he held out, not a little agitated by the excess of +emotion which thrilled and quivered through his youthful frame, as he +hurried me up the broad stone staircase and along the wide corridors +that led to our rooms. What business had I to meddle? How should an old +fogy like me know anything of the love-affairs of this generation? The +girl would have managed more wisely than I, I reflected, by no means +jubilant over the result. + +"Wait here;" and I walked on to Miss St. Clair's door, opened it, and +there sat Helen in her pretty white wrapper, bathed in the moonlight, +serene as a star, as if there were no passionate young heart breaking in +waves of anguish at her feet. "Helen, the count is in the corridor, and +he will not go till I have told him when you will see him." + +"How can I? You must think for me." + +A hasty consultation. The count was standing where I had left him: "We +shall be at the Sistine Chapel to-morrow at two o'clock." + +He bowed and was gone. + +I did not sleep well that night. A pretty person I am to take charge of +a young girl! I wonder what Mr. St. Clair would think if he knew I had +made an appointment for his daughter to meet a young Spaniard? On the +way, however, I admonished Helen, as if no misgiving of my own wisdom +had ever crossed my mind: "You must be firm with him. Tell him so +decidedly that he cannot doubt you really mean it." + +"Yes," said she, "but I do dread it so. I can't bear his thinking that I +encouraged him." + +"Then you _did_?" + +"I didn't mean to, but I do like him; and I didn't think of his taking +it so to heart. Men are so strange! You think you have a charming +friend, and then they _will_ go on just so, boys and all, and you +have to take them or lose them; and you can't take them. It is too bad!" + +We were at the door. The keeper opened it, and there stood the count +waiting for us. It was not the first time we had been in the wonderful +chapel. Fortunately, there were very few persons there on this +afternoon--none that we knew. I sat down to look at the grand frescoes: +Helen and the count walked on to the farthest corner. I looked at the +Cumæan Sibyl, the impersonation of age and wisdom, and wished, as I +glanced at the youthful figures talking so earnestly in the distance, +but not a murmur of whose voices reached my ear, that she would impart +to me her far-reaching vision of futurity. I gazed on the image of the +Eternal Father sweeping in majestic flight through the air, bearing the +angels on His floating garment as He divides the light from the +darkness. I saw Adam, glad with new life, rising from the earth, because +the outstretched finger of his Creator gave him a conscious strength. I +looked at "The Last Judgment," grown dim with years, till every figure +started out in intensity of life, and it seemed as if the faces would +haunt me for ever. + +And yonder still progressed the old, ever-new drama of love and anguish, +with its two actors, who seemed scarcely to have changed their position +or taken their eyes from each other. At length they walked slowly toward +me with more serenity of aspect than I had dared to hope. + +"Shall we go into the picture-gallery?" asked the count. + +"I think we may have time to walk through it," I answered. "It is +half-past three." + +"Is it possible that we have kept you waiting so long?" they asked +simultaneously. + +"An hour and a half is a short time in a place like the Sistine Chapel," +I remarked sententiously. + +As soon as we were alone I drew Helen to the confessional: "Did you tell +him about Mr. Denham?" + +"Yes, everything, and he was so noble. I am so sorry. The tears stood in +his eyes, and he said, 'I suffer, but I am a man. I can bear it.' Then +he thanked me for dealing so openly with him. He never once hinted a +reproach. And I deserved it," she said with unwonted humility. "I never +felt before how wicked it is to flirt just a little. He is not selfish, +like some people that I know;" and my thought followed hers. "I don't +know but I am a little goose to let him go so. If he were only +twenty-three years old, and I were free--" + +The next day we saw nothing of the count, but early Thursday morning +Vincenzo knocked at my door with a note, in which Count Alvala informed +me that he was my son, and begged earnestly to see the beautiful Miss +St. Clair once more: he would never trouble me again. It was the only +day on which we could see the Palace of the Cæsars, and would I be so +good as to permit him to meet us there? I hastily penciled a few words: +"I am waiting for Dr. Valery. I shall probably stay with my sick friend +to-day, and Miss St. Clair will not go out without me," and sent the +line by Vincenzo, happy to be rid of the importunate boy for this time. + +Two hours later, when the doctor had pronounced my friend better, and I +had promised Helen a walk amid the ruins of the Palatine, which I did +not like to leave Rome without seeing, I went down to the roll, coffee +and eggs which constitute an Italian breakfast, and there sat the count +as vigilant as a sentinel. "You will go?" said he with a smile. + +"I think we may," curtly. + +"I shall perhaps meet you there." + +When we reached the Farnese gate he was waiting there, which made the +"perhaps" superfluous. We had a long ramble over the lonely hill, +stretching out like a green New England pasture, but where from time to +time we came unexpectedly upon flights of steps which led to massive +substructures of stone, foundations of ancient palaces, and to excavated +halls paved with mosaics and lined with frescoes more beautiful than +those of Pompeii. There were many statues, more or less mutilated, and +stately brick arches laden with a wealth of flowering shrubs, and here +and there thickets of tall dark cypress trees, harmonious with ruins. My +young companions were rather silent, but I fancy their thoughts were not +engrossed with old historic lore. I made a conscientious effort to force +mine into the ruts of association which I had supposed to be inevitable +in such a spot, but the bright sunshine, the delicate blue of the +distant Campagna, the living gladness of earth and air were too strong +for me, and I inwardly applauded a lively American girl who interrupted +her droning guide with the incisive "I don't care a snap for Cæsar." + +On reaching the gate after our three hours' ramble I consigned Miss St. +Clair to some friends who were waiting for her, and stepped into the +count's carriage. He seemed to feel bound in honor not to speak of love +to Miss St. Clair since the revelation of the Sistine Chapel, but he +must have a little solace in talking to me about it. "It would be easy," +said he, "if she were not _fiancée_, but that makes it difficult--very +difficult indeed. I am glad it is not going to be for three years: that +is a long time, a very long time." Then, with a sudden illumination of +face and a delicious intonation of the musical voice, "Perhaps they will +never marry: perhaps it will be another man--I." (Blessed infatuation of +youth, with its wonderful _perhapses_, which never come to maturer +years!) + +"One of these years I shall hope to hear that you are married to a +beautiful lady of your own country and your own religion." + +"You never will." + +"Oh yes, you will be astonished to find how easy it is to forget." + +"I come of a constant race," said he proudly. "My father loved my +mother, and they sent him all over the world to forget her, but he came +home in five years and married her." + +"Even if it were otherwise possible (which it is not), the difference in +religion ought to prevent it. How could so good a Catholic as you +distress your family by marrying a heretic?" + +"Perhaps she would be a Catholic." (I noticed that he did not say, +"Perhaps I shall become a Protestant.") "Don't you think her father +would let her marry a Catholic?" + +"No," I replied stoically. + +He was silent and dejected. + +"You must forget her," said I kindly. "It is only a little while since +you first saw her." + +"A little while! It is my whole life!" "Only a few weeks," I continued. +"We shall soon be across the ocean, and you will see other ladies." + +"There is only one Miss St. Clair." + +"I beg your pardon--there are three of them." But the boy was too +miserable to notice this poor little sally. + +We were approaching the hotel. "I shall not see you again at present," +said he. "Monsignore will arrive this evening, and I must be at home to +receive him. But I shall be in Paris by the middle of May, and I shall +see you there: farewell till then." + +The next morning Miss St. Clair and I were on our way to Florence. A +week later, on our return from the convent of San Marco, where we had +seen the cell of Savonarola and many lovely but faded frescoes of Fra +Angelico and Fra Bartolommeo, whom should we find waiting for us in our +temporary home on the Via Pandolfini but Count Alvala? I felt annoyed, +and my face must have revealed it, for he said deprecatingly, "You ought +to be glad to see your boy, Madame Fleming, for I have come this long +journey only for a day, expressly to see you." + +"Well," said I, "you took me so by surprise that I had not my welcome +ready. I did not expect the pleasure of seeing you till after our +arrival in Paris." + +"That is why I am here. I shall not be able to go to Paris. I am +bitterly disappointed, but monsignore has made other plans for me. I am +to go to Vienna to visit my aunt, whose husband is our ambassador there. +The tour to Paris is postponed till the autumn." + +Evidently monsignore had heard of the little heretic maiden, and he was +going to remove his ward from temptation. I was infinitely obliged to +him. + +A desultory conversation followed, carried on principally by the young +people, and then the count said, "Miss St. Clair tells me that you have +visited the Uffizi and Pitti galleries. May I not go with you somewhere +to-morrow?--to La Certose or San Miniato, for instance?" + +"Thank you," I replied: "we are so exhausted with sight-seeing, Miss St. +Clair and I, that we shall stay in all day to-morrow, and we shall be +happy to see you _once_ in the afternoon or evening, as may be most +convenient for you." + +I did not like to be hard and cross to the dear boy whom my heart +yearned over, but I felt as much bound to "make an effort" as if I had +been a veritable Dombey. + +The call lasted afternoon _and_ evening: it was only the change of +a particle. I could not reproduce the innocent talk, half gay, half sad, +of this long interview, but before he went away the count drew me aside: +"Will you give this to Miss St. Clair when I am gone?" + +I unfolded the package: it contained a photograph of himself and a small +painting which he had executed of the Coliseum on the night of the +illumination. "Yes." + +"And will you send me her photograph from Paris? I will have it copied +by the best miniature-painter in Rome and put in a locket set with +diamonds," said the boy enthusiastically. + +"I cannot promise." + +"Do you think I could be of any use to her father? Not to win his favor, +you understand, but I should be so happy to do anything to serve her or +her friends. Can't you tell me now?" + +"No. Mr. St. Clair does not need assistance in any way that I know." + +In spite of the boy's earnestness, the idea of his offering patronage to +the mature and independent American struck me as irresistibly ludicrous. + +"But you will tell him all about me." + +"Yes." + +"I shall learn to speak English--I have begun already--and in a year I +shall be in America. Will you write your address for me on this card?" + +I did so. + +"If you ever come to Spain, remember that my house and all that is in it +are yours." + +"I shall never go to Spain." + +"Perhaps you will one day to see Miss St. Clair," looking up in my face +with a bright smile of inextinguishable hope. "Good-bye for a year." + +A few more days in Florence, a week in Venice, a day or two in Milan, +and we bade adieu to Italy. Land of beauty and mystery! when I recall +thy many forms of loveliness, the glorious shapes of gods and heroes, +serene and passionless in their white majesty of marble, the blessed +sweetness of saints and Madonnas shining down into my soul, I seem to +have been once in heaven and afterward shut out. + + * * * * * + +We were once more at home. Almost the first news that came to us from +abroad was of the terrible war between France and Germany. During the +protracted siege of Paris we were full of anxieties, but at its close we +received long letters from Madame Le Fort, giving many details of the +sufferings and privations of the siege, sorrowful enough for the most +part, but enlivened here and there with touches of the gay French humor +that nothing can subdue. There was a lively sketch of a Christmas dinner +ingeniously got up of several courses of donkey-meat. At New Year's the +choicest gift that a gentleman could make a lady was a piece of wheaten +bread. Afterward there was nothing in the house but rice and chocolate +bonbons, which they chewed sparingly, a little at a time. But they kept +up their courage--they were even gay. Hardships were nothing, but that +Paris should be surrendered at last--that was a humiliation which +nothing could compensate. Many of the gay dancers whom we had known had +fallen in battle, among them, René Vergniaud. He was shot in the heart +in an engagement with the Prussians in the environs of Paris. + +I spent my next summer vacation with Miss St. Clair in Detroit. + +"When is Mr. Denham coming home?" I asked one evening when we were alone +together. + +"I do not know: he does not speak of coming home. I am a little puzzled +about Fred. He has written me a great deal lately about a certain +Fräulein Teresa, the daughter of one of his professors, who takes such +excellent care of her younger brothers and sisters, and who is such a +wonderfully economical, housewifely little body--just a new edition of +Werther's Charlotte. I do not think that he really likes her," she +continued after musing a little: "he just holds her up as a model for me +to copy. I shouldn't wonder if she was only imaginary, to make me feel +how far I come short of his ideal. Fred says that he worships the very +ground I tread on--slightly hyperbolical and very original, you +perceive," with a satirical curve of her pretty lips--"but he never +seems half satisfied with me. He ought to know by this time that I must +be just my own little self, and not a second-hand imitation of somebody +else." + +The next day came a letter with a German postmark, which was so eloquent +on the subject of Fräulein Teresa that it elicited the following reply: + + "DETROIT, August 5, 1871. + + "DEAR FRED: I despair of emulating Fräulein Teresa's many + excellencies. You know what a useless little thing I am. Happily, it + is not too late to make another choice. Thinking it may please you, + I hereby release you from all your promises to me. We may never be + anything more to each other perhaps, but I hope that we shall always + be dear friends. I shall never forget that we grew up together, and + I wish you all possible happiness. + + "Your little friend, HELEN." + +In due time this answer came: + + "HEIDELBERG, August 27, 1871. + + "MISS ST. CLAIR: Your somewhat singular letter of August 5th was + duly received. If I believed that you had written it, or ever could + or would do anything, with proper deliberation, I should accept + your decision at once. But as I have good reason to know your habit + of acting from sudden impulses which you afterward regret, I give + you three months to reconsider this hasty step. + + "I have the honor to be your obedient servant, + + "F. A. DENHAM." + +Helen held to me the open sheet, with kindling eyes and glowing cheeks: +"Three months! I don't need three minutes: I wouldn't change in three +centuries. I am so glad to be free!" she cried, sobbing and laughing at +the same moment. "He has worried me so--a poor little thing like me!" + +The next morning I started on my return to Boston. + +Early in October a servant handed me a card bearing the name Francisco +Alvala. I had ceased to think of the boy, not having heard a word from +him; but here he was, looking very manly, browned with the sun and sea, +and beautiful as Endymion when Diana stooped to kiss him and all the +green leaves in the white moonshine were tremulous with sympathy. + +After the first greeting he asked, "How is Miss St. Clair? and when did +you see her last?" + +I told him of my recent visit. + +"She is not married, then?" + +"On the contrary, she is free. The engagement with Mr. Denham has been +broken." + +"What did I tell you? Did I not say it would be _I_?" in a burst of +triumph. + +As a good Boston woman I am chagrined to record that Bunker Hill and all +the local lions, which I was at some pains to impress on his memory, did +not prove so attractive as the earliest Western train. + +Why make a long story of what every one foresees? In the course of the +autumn and winter the count made flying visits to Washington, +Philadelphia, New Orleans, and even San Francisco, but it was noticeable +that the way to all these places lay through Detroit. He spoke English +marvelously well now, and so won upon the hearts of Mr. and Mrs. St. +Clair that on the 23d of April, being his twenty-first birthday, the +marriage of the conde de Alvala and Helen St. Clair was duly celebrated. +I could not leave my school to be present at the wedding, but the young +couple came to Boston to take leave of me before sailing for Europe. +They were radiant with happiness, and I could hardly tell which I loved +best, my boy or my girl; but if the Italian had been there to ask if I +ever saw a more beautiful couple, I should have answered no with great +emphasis. + +I will copy Helen's first letter in order to prove that a château en +Espagne is not always a castle in the air: + + "ALVALA, near Toledo, June 20, 1872. + + "DEAR MADAME FLEMING: You have heard from mother of our voyage and + safe arrival. We are now at home, Francisco and I, if I can ever + learn to feel at home in such a grand place, where I can hardly + find my way round. It is like one of the old palaces at Rome, the + Borghese or Colonna, that we used to admire so much, with vast + halls opening into one another, hangings of tapestry and Cordovan + leather, marble statues and old paintings--family portraits by + Titian and Velasquez, one or two Murillos, and--but I cannot write + a catalogue. You must come to see us and the pictures. I am not + sure which you will like the best. Francisco is very good to me, + and so are all his friends. His sister and her husband were here to + welcome us. + + "One of the first things we did was to go down the rose-tree walk, + along the banks of the Tagus, for more than a mile--white and + delicate pink and deep-red roses blossoming above our heads and + dropping their petals at our feet all the way. Francisco said he + would make my life like that walk among the roses, all sweetness + and beauty, but that he cannot tell. + + "There is the old cathedral, with a wonderful head of Saint Francis + and a whole forest of columns; and when you come we will bribe the + sacristan not to lock you in, as they did at St. Roch. I shall + never be a Roman Catholic, but I go to mass sometimes, for there is + no Protestant service here, and one cannot be quite a heathen where + everybody is so devout. What I dislike most is to have a chaplain + in the house, walking about in his black petticoat, but of course I + never say a word to Francisco. + + "By and by we are going to our house in Madrid. _Our house in + Madrid_! does not that sound very strange? It all seems so unreal + that I am afraid of waking up and finding it a dream. + + "Do, dear Madame Fleming, give up slaving in that old school and + come and live with Francisco and me. He says he wishes you would, + and it would make everything seem more real if I had you here. + Think of it, now. You will, won't you? As ever, your dear child, + + "HELEN ALVALA." + +This true story suggests a little sermon in two heads: 1st. To all +possible and probable lovers: It was not the count's rank or wealth, but +the fervor and constancy of ideal love and his whole-souled, exclusive +devotion, that won the heart of the American girl. 2d. To all sensible +American parents: Do not permit your pretty young daughters to make a +tour in Europe unless you are willing to leave them there. + + MARY E. BLAIR. + + + + +A JAPANESE MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE. + + +In describing a Japanese marriage in high life we do not intend to soar +_too_ high. It is not for our alien pen to portray the splendors of such +a marriage as that of the princess of Satsuma to Iyesada, the thirteenth +Shô-gun of the Tokugawa dynasty, when all Yedo was festal and +illuminated for a week. Neither shall we describe that of the imperial +princess Kazu, the younger sister of the Mikado, who came up from Kioto +to wed the young Shô-gun Iyemochi, and thus to unite the sacred blood of +twenty-five centuries of imperial succession with that of the Tokugawas, +the proud family that ruled Japan, and dictated even to her emperors, +for two hundred and fifty years. We leave the description of those royal +nuptials to other pens. Ours aspires only to describe a marriage such as +has happened in old Yedo for the thousandth time in the samurai +class--the gentry of Japan. + +Were you with us in Tokio (the new name of the capital of Japan) we +should take you, were you inclined to go, to the place where once stood +the mansion of Yamashiro Kan, a high retainer of the prince of Echizen, +and a lineal descendant of the great Iyeyasu, the founder of the dynasty +of the Shô-guns. Were you to seek for Yamashiro's mansion now, you would +not find it, but instead several very vulgar evidences of the Western +civilization which is now changing the Land of the Gods into a paradise +of beef, bread, butter, milk and machinery. We walked past the old +mansion-grounds a few days ago, and lo! we saw a milk-shop and dairy, a +butcher's stall, a sewing-machine store, a printing-office, a school in +which Japanese boys were learning A, B, C's, a photographer's "studio," +a barber-shop with an English sign, and a score or more Japanese shops +of all kinds. This is of to-day. Five years ago a long wall of +diamond-shaped tiles laid in white cement extended round the spacious +grounds of the homestead of the Yamashiro family. Inside were +fish-ponds, mimic hills, miniature mountain-scenery, dense +flower-bushes, dwarfed arboreal wonders, solemn shade trees and a garden +laid out according to the very best Japanese style. The fine old +_yashiki_ of Yamashiro, with its porter's lodge, stone path, +entrance-porch, vestibule and the family homestead, was within. No +wonder, then, that the aged man, who firmly believes that Japan is going +to the dogs, the devil or the foreigners--he does not know which--shakes +his head as he now passes by the milk-and butcher-shops, around which +the lazy dogs sleep or wait for bones, and sighs as he remembers the +grand old mansion. + +About two miles farther north, in the great _rus urba_ of Yedo, was +another house of humbler pretensions, and yet one with a gate and garden +of dimensions betokening the residence of a man of rank. It was the home +of Nakayama, one of the eighty thousand _hatamoto_ (vassals) of the +Shô-gun, a studious gentleman whose greatest pride was in his two sons +and his only daughter. The former were not only manly and expert in the +use of the sword and spear, but had the best education that the classics +of Confucius and the Chinese college and literati in Yedo could give +them. Next to them in his love was his only daughter Kiku, seventeen +years old, and as fair as the fairest of Yedo's many fair daughters. No +vain doll was Kiku, but, inheriting her mother's beauty, she added to it +the inner grace of a meek and dutiful spirit. Besides being deft at +household duties, her memory was well stored with the knowledge of +Japanese history and the Chinese classics. She had committed to memory +the entire books of the _Woman's Great Learning_, and had read +carefully five other works on etiquette and morals which her father had +presented to her on successive birthdays. Kiku was a remarkably +well-educated maiden, and would have been a prize for the richest daimio +in the empire. + +Faithfully following Japanese etiquette, Kiku had been carefully kept +from the company of any of the male sex since her eighth year. She never +talked with any young man except her brothers. Occasionally at family +parties she was addressed by her uncles or cousins. Sometimes, when +gentlemen called to see her father, Kiku would bring tea to the guest, +and was thus made the subject of compliments; but as to "receiving" male +company, she never did it. Kiku never went out unless accompanied by her +mother or the maid, who was like her shadow. + +The gods of Japan meet together at the great temples in Ise during the +eleventh month and tie all the nuptial knots for the following year. +Kiku's marriage-knot had been tied by the gods six months before she +even suspected the strings had been crossed. How happened it? + +In Japan only the people in the lower classes are acquainted with and +see each other frequently before marriage. The business of selection, +betrothal and marriage is attended to by the parents or friends of the +pair, who carry on negotiations by means of a third factor, a middleman +or go-between. Children are often betrothed at birth or when on their +nurses' backs (there are no cradles in Japan). Of course the natural +results, mutual dislike and severance of the engagement at mature age, +or love and happy marriage, or marriage, mutual dislike and subsequent +divorce, happen, as the case may be. In general, when the parents make +the betrothal of grown-up children, it is not probable that the feelings +of son or daughter are outraged, or that marriages are forced against +the consent of either, though this does sometimes take place. In Asiatic +countries, where obedience to parents is the first and last duty, and in +which no higher religion than filial obedience exists, the betrothal and +marriage of children is not looked upon as anything strange. The +prevalence of concubinage as a recognized institution in Japan makes it +of no serious importance whether the husband loves his wife or not. + +To tell an ordinary Japanese that in America people often marry against +their parents' consent is to puzzle him, and make him believe Carlyle's +saying about Americans without having heard it. If a man who marries +against his parents' wish is not a triple-dyed ingrate, he must be a +downright fool. Beyond this idea the normal Japanese cannot go; and you +might as well try to make a blind man understand that "celestial rosy +red" was "Love's proper hue" as to convince him that a good man ever +marries against his parents' wishes. Such ideas and practices are +convincing evidences to him of the vast moral inferiority of Western +nations when compared with that of the people descended from the gods. + +Resuming our narrative, we must mention that Kiku's father had once had +an offer from one Matsui, a wealthy retainer of the Wakasa clan, through +that young nobleman's middleman or agent, which he refused, to the +disgust of both middleman and suitor. The latter had seen Kiku walking +with her mother while going to the temple at Shiba, and, being struck +with her beauty, inquired who she was. Having come of age and wishing a +wife, he had sued for Kiku to her father, who, for reasons of his own, +refused the request, on the ground that Kiku was too young, being then +but fifteen years old. The truth was, that the Wakasa samurai was a wild +young fellow, and bore a reputation for riotous living that did not +promise to make him a proper life-companion for Nakayama's refined and +cultured daughter. Between Nakayama, Kiku's father, and Yamashiro, the +retainer of the Echizen clan, whose home we spoke of in the opening of +our sketch, had long existed a warm friendship and a mutual high regard. +Yamashiro, though more fond of society and good living than Nakayama, +was nevertheless, like him, a high-spirited and well-read man. He had +four children, two sons and two daughters. The oldest son, named Taro, +was now twenty years old, of manly figure, diligent in study, and had +lately acted as a high page, attending daily upon the person of +Hitotsu-bashi, the then reigning Shô-gun, and the last of his line that +held or will hold regal power in Japan. Taro, being the oldest son of +his father, was the heir to his house, office, rank and revenue. Taro +wanted a wife. He wished to taste the sweets of love and wedded joy. He +had long thought of Kiku. Of course he asked his father, and his father +"was willing." He told Taro to go to Nakayama's house. Taro went. He +talked to Nakayama, and hinted faint compliments of his daughter. It was +enough. Nakayama was keen of scent, and he also "was willing." Clapping +his hands, the maid-servant appeared and falling down and bowing her +head to the floor, listened: "Make some tea, and tell Miss Kiku to serve +it." + +Had you been in the back rooms of that house, you would have seen Kiku +blush as the maid told her who was in the front room and what her father +had said. Her heart beat furiously, and the carnation of health upon her +cheeks was lost in the hot blushes that mantled her face and beautiful +neck when her mother, reproving her, said, "Why, dear child, don't be +excited: perhaps he has come only on some every-day business, after all. +Be composed, and get ready to take in the tea." + +Nevertheless, Kiku took out her metal mirror while the maid made the +tea, smoothed a pretended stray hair, powdered her neck slightly, drew +her robe more tightly around her waist, adjusted her girdle, which did +not need any adjusting, and then, taking up the tray, containing a tiny +tea-pot, a half dozen upturned cups, and as many brass sockets for them, +hastened into the front room, bowed with her face on her hands to the +floor, and then handed cups of tea to her parent and his guest. This +done, she returned to her mother. Whether Taro looked at Kiku's cheeks +or into her glittering black eyes we leave even a foreign reader to +judge. + +Let it not be thought, however, that a single word relating to marriage +in the concrete passed between the two men: no such breach of etiquette +was committed. The visit over, the two friends parted as friends, and +nothing more, either in fact or in visible prospect. + +But, to be brief, not long afterward, Taro, having selected a trusty +friend, sent him as a go-between to ask of Nakayama the hand of his +daughter in marriage. The proposal was accepted, and when the go-between +came the second time to Kiku's home it was in company with two servants +bearing bundles. These, being opened, were found to contain a splendidly +embroidered girdle, such as Japanese ladies wear, about twelve feet long +and a foot wide when doubled; a robe of the finest white silk from the +famous looms of Kanazawa; five or six pieces of silk not made up; +several kegs of _saké_ or rice-beer; dried fish, soy, etc. These +were for the bride-elect. For her father was a sword with a richly +mounted hilt and lacquered scabbard, hung with silken cords. The blade +alone of the sword was worth (it isn't polite to speak of the cost of +presents, but we will let you into the secret, good reader) one hundred +dollars, and had been made in Sagami from the finest native steel. +Kiku's mother was presented with a rich robe, which she recognized at +once as being woven of the famous Derva silk. The ceremonious reception +of these presents by the parents signified that the betrothal was +solemnly ratified, and that the engagement could not be broken. +Nakayama, the intended father-in-law, afterward sent to Taro a present +of a jar of the finest tea from his own plantation in Shimosa, a pair of +swords, and a piece of satin, such as that of which the _hakama_ or +trousers which indicate the rank of the samurai are made. + +The betrothal was now published in both families, and in both houses +there were festivities, rejoicing and congratulation. The marriage-day, +a fortunate or good-omened one, was fixed upon as the twenty-seventh +from the day of betrothal. + +Was Kiku happy? Nay, you should ask, Can that word express her feelings? +She had obeyed her parents: she could do nothing higher or more fraught +with happiness. She was to be a wife--woman's highest honor and a +Japanese woman's only aim. She was to marry a noble by name, nature and +achievement, with health, family, wealth and honor. Kiku lived in a new +world of anticipation and of vision, the gate of which the Japanese call +_iro_, and we _love_. At times, as she tried on for the twentieth time +her white silk robe and costly girdle, she fell into a reverie, half sad +and half joyful. She thought of leaving her mother alone with no +daughter, and then Kiku's bright eyes dimmed and her bosom heaved. Then +she thought of living in a new home, in a new house, with new faces. +What if her mother-in-law should be severe or jealous? Kiku's cheek +paled. What if Taro should achieve some great exploit, and she share his +joy as did the honorable women of old? What if his former position of +beloved page to the Shô-gun should give her occasional access to the +highest ladies in the land, the female courtiers of the castle? Her eyes +flashed. + +The wedding-night came, seeming to descend out of the starry heavens +from the gods. Marriages rarely take place in the daytime in Japan. The +solemn and joyful hour of evening, usually about nine o'clock, is the +time for marriage--as it often is for burial--in Japan. In the starlight +of a June evening the bride set forth on her journey to her intended +husband's home, as is the invariable custom. Her toilet finished, she +stepped out of her childhood's home to take her place in the _norimono_ +or palanquin which, borne on the shoulders of four men, was to convey +her to her future home. + +Just as Kiku stands in the vestibule of her father's house let us +photograph her for you. A slender maiden of seventeen, with cheeks of +carnation; eyes that shine under lids not so broadly open as the +Caucasian maiden's, but black and sparkling; very small hands with +tapering fingers, and very small feet encased in white mitten-socks; her +black hair glossy as polished jet, dressed in the style betokening +virginity, and decked with a garland of blossoms. Her robe of pure white +silk folds over her bosom from right to left, and is bound at the waist +by the gold-embroidered girdle, which is supported by a lesser band of +scarlet silken crape, and is tied into huge loops behind. The skirt of +the dress sweeps in a trail. Her under-dress is of the finest and +softest white silk. In her hands she carries a half-moon-shaped cap or +veil of floss silk. Its use we shall see hereafter. She salutes her +cousin, who, clad in ceremonial dress with his ever-present two swords, +is waiting to accompany her in addition to her family servants and +bearers, and steps into the norimono. + +The four bearers, the servants and the samurai pass down along the +beautiful Kanda River, whose waters mirror the stars, and whose depths +of shade re-echo to the gurgling of sculls, the rolling of ripples and +the songs of revelers. The cortége enters one of the gate-towers of the +old city-walls, passes beneath the shade of its ponderous copper-clad +portals, and soon arrives at the main entrance of the Yamashiro +_yashiki_. Here they find the street in front and the stone walk +covered with matting, and a friend of Taro's, in full dress, waiting to +receive the cortége. Of course the gazers of the neighborhood are +waiting respectfully in crowds to catch a glimpse of the coming bride. + +The go-between and a few friends of the bridegroom come out to receive +the bride and deliver her to her own servant and two of her own young +maiden friends, who had gone before to the Yamashiro mansion. The room +in which the families of the bride and groom and their immediate friends +are waiting, though guiltless of "furniture," as all Japanese rooms are, +is yet resplendent with gilt-paper screens, bronzes, tiny lacquered +tables and the Japanese nuptial emblems. On the wall hang three pictured +scrolls of the gods of Long Life, of Wealth and of Happiness. On a +little low table stands a dwarf pine tree, bifurcated, and beneath it +are an old man and an old woman. Long life, a green old age, changeless +constancy of love and the union of two hearts are symbolized by this +evergreen. In the _tokonoma_ (or large raised recess) of the room are +the preparations for the feast, the wine-service consisting of kettles, +decanters and cups. On two other tables are a pair of white storks and a +fringed tortoise. All through the rooms gorgeously painted wax candles +burn. The air of the apartment is heavy with perfume from the censer, a +representation in bronze of an ancient hero riding upon a bullock. All +the guests are seated _à la Japonaise_--upon the floor. Two or three +young ladies, the bridesmaids, go out to meet the bride and lead her to +her dressing-room. Here she finds her own property, which has been +brought to her future home during the day. Toilet-stands and cabinets +and the ceremonial towel-rack are prominently displayed. On a tall +clothes-horse of gilt lacquer are hung her silk robes and the other +articles of her wardrobe, which are bridal gifts. Over the doorway, in a +gilt rack, glitters the long spear or halberd to the dexterous use of +which all Japanese ladies of good family are trained. In a box of finest +wood, shining with lacquer and adorned with her family crest, are the +silk sleeping-dresses and coverlets, which are to be spread, as all +Japanese beds are, on the floor. The articles above mentioned constitute +the trousseau of a Japanese bride. + +Here Kiku rearranges her dress, retouches her lower lip with golden +paint and puts on her hood of floss silk. This is of a half-moon shape, +completely covering her face. She does not lift it until she has drunk +the sacramental marriage-cup. Many a Japanese maiden has seen her lord +for the first time as she lifted her silken hood. Kiku is all ready, and +she and the groom are led into the room where the ceremony is to be +performed, and assigned their positions. + +With a Japanese marriage neither religion nor the Church has anything to +do. At the wedding no robed priest appears officially among the guests. +The marriage is simply a civil and social contract. In place of our bans +is the acceptance of the suitor's presents by the family of the sought, +the announced betrothal and intimation of the marriage to the police of +the ward. In place of our answer, "Yes," is the sacramental drinking of +wine. We may say "wine," because we are talking of high life, and must +use high words. _Saké_, the universal spirituous beverage of Japan, +is made from fermented rice, and hence is properly rice-beer. It looks +like pale sherry, and has a taste which is peculiarly its own. Sweet +saké is very delicious, and it may be bought in all the degrees of +strength and of all flavors and prices. As the Japanese always drink +their wine hot, a copper kettle for heating saké is a necessity in every +household. On ceremonial occasions, such as marriages, the saké-kettles +are of the costliest and handsomest kind, being beautifully lacquered. +Bride and groom being ready, the wine-kettles, cups and two bottles are +handed down. Two pretty servant-maids now bring in a hot kettle of wine +and fill the bottles. To one bottle is fastened by a silken cord a male +butterfly, and to the other a female. The two girls also are called +"male" and "female" butterflies. The girl having the female butterfly +pours out some saké in the kettle, into which the girl with the male +butterfly also pours the contents of her bottle, so that the wine from +both bottles thus flows together. Then the saké is poured again into +another gilt-and-lacquered bottle of different shape. + +Now the real ceremony begins. On a little stand three cups, each +slightly concave and having an under-rest or foot about half an inch +high, are set one upon another, like a pagoda. The stand with this +three-storied arrangement is handed to the bride. Holding it in both +hands while the saké is poured into it by the male butterfly, the bride +lifts the cup, sips from it three times, and the tower of cups is then +passed to the bridegroom and refilled. He likewise drinks three times, +and puts the empty cup under the third. The bride again sips thrice from +the upper cup. The groom does the same, and places the empty cup beneath +the second. Again the bride sips three times, and the bridegroom does +the same, and they are man and wife: they are married. This ceremony is +called san-san-ku-do, or "three times three are nine." + +Like a wedding at once auspicious and _distingué_, the nuptials of Kiku +and Taro passed off without one misstep or incident of ill omen. In the +dressing-room and in the hall of ceremony Kiku's self-possessed demeanor +was admired by all. After drinking the sacramental wine she lifted her +silken hood, not too swiftly or nervously, and smiled blushingly on her +lord. The marriage ceremony over, both bride and groom retired to their +respective dressing-rooms. Kiku exchanged her white dress for one of +more elaborate design and of a lavender color. The groom, removing his +stiffly-starched ceremonial robes, appeared in ordinary dress. Meanwhile +refreshments had been served to all the bridesmaids and, maid-servants. +Husband and wife now took their seats again, and the whole company +joined in the supper, during which apparently innumerable courses were +served. Neither ices, oranges nor black-cake appeared on the table at +Kiku's wedding. The bill of fare contained many decidedly recherché +items which it requires a Japanese palate thoroughly to appreciate. Let +us enumerate a few. There were salmon from Hakodate, tea from Uji, young +rice from Higo, pheasants' eggs, fried cuttle-fish, _tai, koi, maguro_ +and many another sort of toothsome fish from the market at Nihon Bashi. +There were sea-weed of various sorts and from many coasts, bean-curd, +many kinds of fish-soups, condiments of various flavors, eggs in every +style and shellfish of every shape. A huge maguro-fish, thinly sliced, +but perfectly raw, was the _pièce de résistance_ of the feast. +Sweetmeats, candies of the sort known to the Japanese confectioners and +castera (sponge-cake) crowned the courses. + +Now, having briefly described Kiku's wedding, perhaps we should stop +here. Although fairly married, however, Kiku was not through the +ceremonies of the night. Before her own parents left the house she was +taken by the attendant ladies before her parents-in-law, and with them +drank cups of wine and exchanged gifts. All the bridal presents were +displayed during the evening in her dressing-room, and the whole of her +trousseau was open to the inspection of all the ladies present. Feasting +and dancing were the order of the hours until midnight, and then Kiku's +parents bade her farewell, and she was left a bride in a new home. + +"Where did the young couple go?" "What was the route of their +bridal-tour?" "Perhaps they made a late wedding-journey?" "Of course +Japan has many fine watering-places to which married couples resort?" +These are American questions. The fashion of making bridal-tours is not +Japanese. Many a lovely spot might serve for such a purpose in +everywhere beautiful Japan. The lake and mountains of Hakone; the +peerless scenery, trees, waterfalls and tombs of Nikko, where sleeps the +mighty Iyeyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa line; the spas of +Atami,--all these are spots which if in America would be thronged with +bridal-parties. Caucasians in Japan even make Fusiyama's summit the goal +of their wedded steps, but our Kiku and Taro went nowhere. + +"At home" for three days is the general rule in Japan. All their friends +came to see them, and presents were showered on the happy pair. The +great Shô-gun, remembering his former page, sent Taro a present of a +flawless ball of pure rock-crystal five inches in diameter. Prince +Echizen, his feudal lord, presented him with a splendid saddle with gilt +flaps and a pair of steel stirrups inlaid with gold and silver and +bronze, with the crest of the Echizen clan glittering in silver upon it. +From his own father he received a jet-black horse brought from the +province of Nambu, and an equine descendant of the Arab sire presented +by the viceroy of India to the Japanese embassy to the pope in 1589. On +the delightful wonders of the gifts to Kiku our masculine pen shrinks +from expatiating. On the third day after her marriage Kiku visited her +parents, and after that spent many days in returning the visits of all +who had called on her. + +Now, like the "goosie gander" of nursery memory, we must wander again +into the lady's chamber. Were you to wander to such a place after a +Japanese maiden became a wife, you would see, as we have often seen, how +the outward form of a Japanese maiden assumes that of a Japanese matron. +First, then, the maiden wears a high coiffure that always serves as a +sacred symbol of her virginity. It is not easy to describe its form, but +even foreigners think it very beautiful, and will regret the day when +the Japanese _musume_ wears her hair like her sisters across the ocean. +Indeed, it would be no strange thing were Queen Fashion to ordain that +American maidens should adopt the style of dressing the hair now in +universal vogue in Japan. The _shimada_ or virginal coiffure, however, +is changed after marriage, and Kiku, like the rest of her wedded +friends, now wore the _maru-mage_, or half-moon-shaped chignon, which is +wound round an ivory, tortoise-shell or coral-tipped bar, and is the +distinguishing mark of a Japanese wife. So far, however, the transition +from loveliness to ugliness has not been very startling: Kiku still +looked pretty. The second process, however, robbed her of her eyebrows, +and left her without those dark arches that had helped to make the +radiant sun of her once maidenly beauty. With tweezers and razor the +fell work, after many a wince, was done. With denuded brows and changed +coiffure surely the Japanese Hymen demands no more sacrifices at his +shrine? Surely Kiku can still keep the treasures of a set of teeth that +seem like a casket of pearls with borders of coral? Not so. The fashion +of all good society from remotest antiquity demands that the teeth of a +wife must be dyed black. Kiku joyfully applied the galls and iron, and +by patience and dint of polishing soon had a set of teeth as black as +jet and as polished as the best Whitby. Not strange to tell to a +Japanese, either, the smile of her husband Taro was a rich reward for +her trouble and the surrender of her maiden charms. Japanese husbands +never kiss their wives: kissing is an art unknown in Japan. It is even +doubtful whether the language has a word signifying a kiss. No wonder +Young Japan wishes to change his language for the English! Henceforth in +public or private, alone or in company, Kiku's personal and social +safety was as secure as if clothed in armor of proof and attended by an +army. The black teeth, _maru-mage_ and shaven eyebrows constitute a +talisman of safety in a land which foreigners so like to believe +licentious and corrupt beyond the bounds of conception. + +Now that we have Kiku married, we must leave her to glide into the cool, +sequestered paths of a Japanese married lady's life. Only one thing we +regret, and that is that her marriage could not have happened in the +year of our Lord 1874 and of "Enlightened Peace the seventh, and of the +era of Jimmu, the first Mikado, the two thousand five hundred and +thirty-fourth." Had she been married during the present year, her +coiffure would need no alteration, her eyebrows would still knit with +care or arch with mirth, and her teeth would still keep their virgin +whiteness, unsoiled by astringent galls or abhorred vitriol. + +The leader of feminine fashion in Japan, the young empress Haruko, has +set her subjects the example by for ever banishing the galls and iron, +appearing even in public with her teeth as Nature made them. Kiku and +Taro, though once proud to own allegiance to the Shô-gun, are now among +the staunch supporters of the lord of the Shô-gun, the Mikado, the only +true sovereign of the Sunrise Kingdom. + + W.E. GRIFFIS. + + + + +THE LOST BABY. + + +She wandered off one dismal day; +No one was by to bid her stay: +The earth was white, the sky was gray, +When the poor little baby wandered away. + +The sun went down with crimson crown +Behind the clouds and the tree-tops brown: +The cold road stared with a colder frown +When the poor little feet went wandering down. + +Her mother lived up in the shining sky, +Thought poor little baby, wondering why, +As hours and days and weeks went by, +She never came down at her baby's cry. + +If the crimson wave in the west led true, +The skyward road she surely knew: +She heeded not that the sharp winds blew, +Or her cold little feet sore tired grew. + +She hummed some broken baby song, +And talked to herself as she trudged along: +She feared no failure, recked no wrong, +But she thought that the way was lone and long. + +Tired and cold, she lingered to rest +Under a snow-drift's treacherous crest: +She cuddled herself in a tiny nest, +White and cold as her mother's breast. + +They found her there on the snowy ground, +Her silky hair with snowflakes crowned. +She made no sign, she breathed no sound, +But the skyward road she had surely found. + + CLARA G. DOLLIVER. + + + + +THREE FEATHERS. + +BY WILLIAM BLACK, AUTHOR OF "A PRINCESS OF THULE." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +SOME OLD SONGS. + + +"Are you dreaming again, child?" said Mrs. Rosewarne to her daughter. +"You are not a fit companion for a sick woman, who is herself dull +enough. Why do you always look so sad when you look at the sea, Wenna?" + +The wan-faced, beautiful-eyed woman lay on a sofa, a book beside her. +She had been chatting in a bright, rapid, desultory fashion about the +book and a dozen other things--amusing herself really by a continual +stream of playful talk--until she perceived that the girl's fancies were +far away. Then she stopped suddenly, with this expression of petulant +but good-natured disappointment. + +"Oh, I beg your pardon, mother," said Wenna, who was seated at an open +window fronting the bay. "What did you say? Why does the sea make one +sad? I don't know. One feels less at home here than out on the rocks at +Eglosilyan: perhaps that is it. Or the place is so beautiful that it +almost makes you cry. I don't know." + +And indeed Penzance Bay on this still, clear morning was beautiful +enough to attract wistful eyes and call up vague and distant fancies. +The cloudless sky was intensely dark in its blue: one had a notion that +the unseen sun was overhead and shining vertically down. The still plain +of water--so clear that the shingle could be seen through it a long way +out--had no decisive color, but the fishing smacks lying out there were +jet-black points in the bewildering glare. The sunlight did not seem to +be in the sky, in the air or on the sea; but when you turned to the +southern arm of the bay, where the low line of green hills ran out into +the water, there you could see the strong clear light shining--shining +on the green fields and on the sharp black lines of hedges, on that bit +of gray old town with its cottage-gardens and its sea-wall, and on the +line of dark rock that formed the point of the promontory. On the other +side of the bay the eye followed the curve of the level shores until it +caught sight of St. Michael's Mount rising palely from the water, its +sunlit grays and purple shadows softened by the cool distance. Then +beyond that again, on the verge of the far horizon, lay the long and +narrow line of the Lizard, half lost in a silver haze. For the rest, a +cool wind went this way and that through Mrs. Rosewarne's room, stirring +the curtains. There was an odor of the sea in the air. It was a day for +dreaming perhaps, but not for the gloom begotten of languor and an +indolent pulse. + +"Oh, mother! oh, mother!" Wenna cried suddenly, with a quick flush of +color to her cheeks, "do you know who is coming along? Can you see? It +is Mr. Trelyon, and he is looking at all the houses: I know he is +looking for us." + +"Child! child!" said the mother. "How should Mr. Trelyon know we are +here?" + +"Because I told him," Wenna said simply and hurriedly. "Mother, may I +wave a handkerchief to him? Won't you come and see him? he seems so much +more manly in this strange place; and how brave and handsome he looks!" + +"Wenna!" her mother said severely. + +The girl did not wave a handkerchief, it is true, but she knelt down at +the open bay-window, so that he must needs see her; and sure enough he +did. Off went his hat in a minute, a bright look of recognition leapt to +his eyes, and he crossed the street. + +Then Wenna turned, all in a flutter of delight, and quite unconscious of +the color in her face: "Are you vexed, mother? Mayn't I be glad to see +him? Why, when I know that he will brighten up your spirits better than +a dozen doctors? One feels quite happy and hopeful whenever he comes +into the room. Mother, you won't have to complain of dullness if Mr. +Trelyon comes to see you. And why doesn't the girl send him up at once?" + +Wenna was standing at the open door to receive him when he came up +stairs: she had wholly forgotten the embarrassment of their last +parting. + +"I thought I should find you out," he said when he came into the room, +and it was clear that there was little embarrassment about him; "and I +know how your mother likes to be teased and worried. You've got a nice +place here, Mrs. Rosewarne; and what splendid weather you've brought +with you!" + +"Yes," said Wenna, her whole face lit up with a shy gladness, "haven't +we? And did you ever see the bay looking more beautiful? It is enough to +make you laugh and clap your hands out of mere delight to see everything +so lovely and fresh." + +"A few minutes ago I thought you were nearly crying over it," said the +mother with a smile, but Miss Wenna took no heed of the reproof. She +would have Mr. Trelyon help himself to a tumbler of claret and water. +She fetched out from some mysterious lodging-house recess an ornamented +tin can of biscuits. She accused herself of being the dullest companion +in the world, and indirectly hinted that he might have pity on her mamma +and stay to luncheon with them. + +"Well, it's very odd," he said, telling a lie with great simplicity of +purpose, "but I had arranged to drive to the Land's End for luncheon--to +the inn there, you know. I suppose it wouldn't--Do you think, Mrs. +Rosewarne--would it be convenient for you to come for a drive so far?" + +"Oh, it would be the very best thing in the world for her--nothing could +be better," said Wenna; and then she added meekly, "if it is not giving +you too much trouble, Mr. Trelyon." + +He laughed: "Trouble! I'm glad to be of use to anybody; and in this case +I shall have all the pleasure on my side. Well, I'm off now to see about +the horses. If I come for you in half an hour, will that do?" + +As soon as he had left Mrs. Rosewarne turned to her daughter and said to +her, gravely enough, "Wenna, one has seldom to talk to you about the +proprieties, but really this seems just a little doubtful. Mr. Trelyon +may make a friend of you--that is all very well, for you are going to +marry a friend of his--but you ought not to expect him to associate with +me." + +"Mother," said Wenna with hot cheeks, "I wonder how you can suspect him +of thinking of such foolish and wicked things. Why, he is the very last +man in all the world to do anything that is mean and unkind, or to think +about it." + +"My dear child, I suspect him of nothing," Mrs. Rosewarne said; "but +look at the simple facts of the case. Mr. Trelyon is a very rich +gentleman; his family is an old one, greatly honored about here; and if +he is so recklessly kind as to offer his acquaintanceship to persons who +are altogether in a different sphere of life, we should take care not to +abuse his kindness or to let people have occasion to wonder at him. +Looking at your marriage and future station, it is perhaps more +permissible with you; but as regards myself, I don't very much care, +Wenna, to have Mr. Trelyon coming about the house." + +"Why, mother, I--I am surprised at you!" Wenna said warmly. "You judge +of him by the contemptible things that other people might say of him. Do +you think he would care for that? Mr. Trelyon is a man, and like a man +he has the courage to choose such friends as he likes; and it is no more +to him what money they have or what their position is than the--than the +shape of their pocket-handkerchiefs is. Perhaps that is his folly, +recklessness--the recklessness of a young man. Perhaps it is. I am not +old enough to know how people alter, but I hope I shall never see Mr. +Trelyon alter in this respect--never, if he were to live for a hundred +years. And--and I am surprised to hear you, of all people, mother, +suggest such things of him. What has he done that you should think so +meanly of him?" + +Wenna was very indignant and hurt. She would have continued further, but +that a tremulous movement of her under lip caused her to turn away her +head. + +"Well, Wenna, you needn't cry about it," her mother said gently. "It is +of no great consequence. Of course every one must please himself in +choosing his friends; and I quite admit that Mr. Trelyon is not likely +to be hindered by anything that any person may say. Don't take it so +much to heart, child: go and get on your things, and get back some of +the cheerfulness you had while he was here. I will say this for the +young man, that he has an extraordinary power of raising your spirits." + +"You are a good mother, after all," said Wenna penitently; "and if you +come and let me dress you prettily, I shall promise not to scold you +again--not till the next time you deserve it." + +By the time they drove away from Penzance the forenoon had softened into +more beautiful colors. There was a paler blue in the sky and on the sea, +and millions of yellow stars twinkled on the ripples. A faint haze had +fallen over the bright green hills lying on the south of the bay. + +"Life looks worth having on such a day as this," Trelyon said: "doesn't +it, Miss Wenna?" + +She certainly seemed pleased enough. She drank in the sweet fresh air; +she called attention to the pure rare colors of the sea and the green +uplands, the coolness of the woods through which they drove, the profuse +abundance of wild flowers along the banks; all things around her seemed +to have conspired to yield her delight, and a great happiness shone in +her eyes. Mr. Trelyon talked mostly to Mrs. Rosewarne, but his eyes +rarely wandered away for long from Wenna's pleased and radiant face; and +again and again he said to himself, "And if a simple drive on a spring +morning can give this child so great a delight, it is not the last that +she and I shall have together." + +"Mrs. Rosewarne," said he, "I think your daughter has as much need of a +holiday as anybody. I don't believe there's a woman or girl in the +county works as hard as she does." + +"I don't know whether she needs it," said Miss Wenna of herself, "but I +know that she enjoys it." + +"I know what you'd enjoy a good deal better than merely getting out of +sight of your own door for a week or two," said he. "Wouldn't you like +to get clear away from England for six months, and go wandering about in +all sorts of fine places? Why, I could take such a trip in that time! I +should like to see what you'd say to some of the old Dutch towns and +their churches, and all that; then Cologne, you know, and a sail up the +Rhine to Mainz; then you'd go on to Bâle and Geneva, and we'd get you a +fine big carriage, with the horses decorated with foxes' and pheasants' +tails, to drive you to Chamounix. Then, when you had gone tremulously +over the Mer de Glace, and kept your wits about you going down the +Mauvais Pas, I don't think you could do better than go on to the Italian +lakes--you never saw anything like them, I'll be bound--and Naples and +Florence. Would you come back by the Tyrol, and have a turn at Zurich +and Lucerne, with a long ramble through the Black Forest in a trap +resembling a ramshackle landau?" + +"Thank you," said Wenna very cheerfully. "The sketch is delightful, but +I am pretty comfortable where I am." + +"But this can't last," said he. + +"And neither can my holidays," she answered. + +"Oh, but they ought to," he retorted vehemently. "You have not half +enough amusement in your life: that's my opinion. You slave too much for +all those folks about Eglosilyan and their dozens of children. Why, you +don't get anything out of life as you ought to. What have you to look +forward to? Only the same ceaseless round of working for other people. +Don't you think you might let some one else have a turn at that useful +but monotonous occupation?" + +"But Wenna has something else to look forward to now," her mother +reminded him gently; and after that he did not speak for some while. + +Fair and blue was the sea that shone all around the land when they got +out on the rough moorland near the coast. They drove to the solitary +little inn perched over the steep cliffs, and here the horses were put +up and luncheon ordered. Would Mrs. Rosewarne venture down to the great +rocks at the promontory? No, she would rather stay indoors till the +young people returned; and so these two went along the grassy path +themselves. + +They clambered down the slopes, and went out among the huge blocks of +weather-worn granite, many of which were brilliant with gray, green and +orange lichens. There was a low and thunderous noise in the air: far +below them, calm and fine as the day was, the summer sea dashed and +roared into gigantic caverns, while the white foam floated out again on +the troubled waves. Could anything have been more magical than the +colors of the sea--its luminous greens, its rich purples, its brilliant +blues, lying in long swaths on the apparently motionless surface? It was +only the seething white beneath their feet and the hoarse thunder along +the coast that told of the force of this summer-like sea; and for the +rest the picture was light and calm and beautiful; but there the black +rocks basked in the sunlight, the big skarts standing here and there on +their ledges, not moving a feather. A small steamer was slowly making +for the island farther out, where a lighthouse stood. And far away +beyond these, on the remote horizon, the Scilly Isles lay like a low +bank of yellow fog under the pale-blue skies. + +They were very much by themselves out here at the end of the world, and +yet they did not seem inclined to talk much. Wenna sat down on the warm +grass; her companion perched himself on one of the blocks of granite; +they watched the great undulations of the blue water come rolling on to +the black rocks and then fall backward seething in foam. + +"And what are you thinking about?" said Trelyon to her gently, so that +she should not be startled. + +"Of nothing at all: I am quite happy," Wenna said frankly. Then she +added, "I suppose the worst of a day like this is that a long time after +you look back upon it, and it seems so beautiful and far away that it +makes you miserable. You think how happy you were once. That is the +unfortunate side of being happy." + +"Well," said he, "I must say you don't look forward to the future with +any great hope if you think the recollection of one bright day will make +you wretched." + +He came down from his perch and stood beside her. "Why, Wenna," said he, +"do you know what you really need? Some one to take you in hand +thoroughly, and give you such an abundance of cheerful and pleasant days +that you would never think of singling out any one of them. Why +shouldn't you have weeks and months of happy idling in bright weather, +such as lots of people have who don't deserve them a bit? There's +something wrong in your position. You want some one to become your +master and compel you to make yourself happy. You won't of yourself +study your own comfort: some one else ought to make you." + +"And who do you think would care to take so much trouble about me?" she +said with a smile, for she attached no serious meaning to this random +talk. + +Her companion's face flushed somewhat--not with embarrassment, but with +the courage of what he was going to say. "I would," he said boldly. "You +will say it is none of my business, but I tell you I would give twenty +thousand pounds to-morrow if I were allowed to--to get you a whole +summer of pleasant holidays." + +There was something about the plain-spoken honesty of this avowal that +touched her keenly. Wild and impossible as the suggestion was, it told +her at least what one person in the world thought of her. She said to +him, with her eyes cast down, "I like to hear you speak like that--not +for my own sake, but I know there is nothing generous and kindly that +you wouldn't do at a mere moment's impulse. But I hope you don't think I +have been grumbling over my lot on such a day as this? Oh no: I see too +much of other people's way of living to complain of my own. I have every +reason to be contented and happy." + +"Yes, you're a deal too contented and happy," said he with an impatient +shrug. "You want somebody to alter all that, and see that you get more +to be contented and happy about." + +She rose: he gave her his hand to help her up. But he did not surrender +her hand then, for the path up the slope was a deep and difficult one, +and she could fairly rely on his strength and sureness of foot. + +"But you are not content, Mr. Trelyon," she said. "I always notice that +whenever you get to a dangerous place you are never satisfied unless you +are putting your life in peril. Wouldn't you like to ride your black +horse down the face of this precipice? or wouldn't you like to clamber +down blindfold? Why does a man generally seem to be anxious to get rid +of his life?" + +"Perhaps it ain't of much use to him," he said coolly. + +"You ought not to say that," she answered in a low voice. + +"Well," he said, "I don't mean to break my neck yet a while; but if I +did, who would miss me? I suppose my mother would play half a dozen a +day more operas or oratorios, or stuff of that sort, and there would be +twenty parsons in the house for one there is at present. And some of the +brats about the place would miss an occasional sixpence; which would be +better for their health. And Dick--I suppose they'd sell him to some +fool of a Londoner, who would pound his knees out in the Park--he would +miss me too." + +"And these are all," she said, "who would miss you? You are kind to your +friends." + +"Why, would you?" he said with a stare of surprise; and then, seeing she +would not speak, he continued with a laugh, "I like the notion of my +making an object of general compassion of myself. Did the poor dear +tumble off a rock into the sea? And where was its mother's apron-string? +I'm not going to break my neck yet a while, Miss Wenna; so don't you +think I'm going to let you off your promise to pay me back for those +sewing-machines." + +"I have told you, Mr. Trelyon," she said with some dignity, "that we +shall pay you back every farthing of the price of them." + +He began to whistle in an impertinent manner. He clearly placed no great +faith in the financial prospects of that sewing club. + +They had some light luncheon in the remote little inn, and Mrs. +Rosewarne was pleased to see her ordinarily demure and preoccupied +daughter in such high and careless spirits. It was not a splendid +banquet. The chamber was not a gorgeous one, for the absence of ornament +and the enormous thickness of the walls told of the house being shut up +in the winter months and abandoned to the fury of the western gales, +when the wild sea came hurling up the face of these steep cliffs and +blowing over the land. But they paid little attention to any lack of +luxury. There was a beautiful blue sea shining in the distance. The +sunlight was falling hotly on the green sward of the rocks outside, but +all the same a fresh, cool breeze came blowing in at the open window. +They let the time pass easily, with pleasant talk and laughter. + +Then they drove leisurely back in the afternoon. They passed along the +moorland ways, through rude little villages built of stone and by the +outskirts of level and cheerless farms, until they got into the +beautiful woods and avenues lying around Penzance. When they came in +sight of the broad bay they found that the world had changed its colors +since the morning. The sea was of a cold purplish gray, but all around +it, on the eastern horizon, there was a band of pale pink in the sky. On +the west again, behind Penzance, the warm hues of the sunset were +shining behind the black stems of the trees. The broad thoroughfare was +mostly in shadow, and the sea was so still that one could hear the +footsteps and the voices of the people walking up and down the Parade. + +"I suppose I must go now," said the young gentleman when he had seen +them safely seated in the small parlor overlooking the bay. But he did +not seem anxious to go. + +"But why?" Wenna said, rather timidly. "You have no engagement, Mr. +Trelyon. Would you care to stay and have dinner with us--such a dinner +as we can give you?" + +"Well, to tell you the truth, I should like it very much," he said. + +Mrs. Rosewarne, a little surprised, and yet glad to see Wenna enjoying +herself, regarded the whole affair with a gentle resignation. Wenna had +the gas lit and the blinds let down: then, as the evening was rather +cool, she had soon a bright fire burning in the grate. She helped to lay +the table. She produced such wines as they had. She made sundry visits +to the kitchen, and at length the banquet was ready. + +What ailed the young man? He seemed beside himself with careless and +audacious mirth, and he made Mrs. Rosewarne laugh as she had not laughed +for years. It was in vain that Wenna assumed airs to rebuke his +rudeness. Nothing was sacred from his impertinence--not even the +offended majesty of her face. And at last she gave in too, and could +only revenge herself by saying things of him which, the more severe they +were, the more he seemed to enjoy. But after dinner she went to the +small piano, while her mother took a big easy-chair near the fire, and +he sat by the table, looking over some books. There was no more reckless +laughter then. + +In ancient times--that is to say, in the half-forgotten days of our +youth--a species of song existed which exists no more. It was not as the +mournful ballads of these days, which seem to record the gloomy +utterances of a strange young woman who has wandered into the magic +scene in _Der Freischütz_, and who mixes up the moanings of her passion +with descriptions of the sights, and sounds she there finds around her. +It was of quite another stamp. It dealt with a phraseology of sentiment +peculiar to itself--a "patter," as it were, which came to be universally +recognized in drawing-rooms. It spoke of maidens plighting their troth, +of Phyllis enchanting her lover with her varied moods, of marble halls +in which true love still remained the same. It apostrophized the shells +of ocean; it tenderly described the three great crises of a particular +heroine's life by mentioning her head-dress; it told of how the lover of +Pretty Jane would have her meet him in the evening. Well, all the world +was content to accept this conventional phraseology, and behind the +paraphernalia of "enchanted moon-beams" and "fondest glances" and +"adoring sighs" perceived and loved the sentiment that could find no +simpler utterance. Some of us, hearing the half-forgotten songs again, +suddenly forget the odd language, and the old pathos springs up again, +as fresh as in the days when our first love had just come home from her +boarding-school; while others, who have no old-standing acquaintance +with these memorable songs, have somehow got attracted to them by the +mere quaintness of their speech and the simplicity of their airs. Master +Harry Trelyon was no great critic of music. When Wenna Rosewarne sang +that night "She wore a wreath of roses," he fancied he had never +listened to anything so pathetic. When she sang "Meet me by moonlight +alone," he was delighted with the spirit and half-humorous, half-tender +grace of the composition. As she sang "When other lips and other +hearts," it seemed to him that there were no songs like the +old-fashioned songs, and that the people who wrote those ballads were +more frank and simple and touching in their speech than writers +now-a-days. Somehow, he began to think of the drawing-rooms of a former +generation, and of the pictures of herself his grandmother had drawn for +him many a time. Had she a high waist to that white silk dress in which +she ran away to Gretna? and did she have ostrich feathers on her head? +Anyhow, he entirely believed what she had told him of the men of that +generation. They were capable of doing daring things for the sake of a +sweetheart. Of course his grandfather had done boldly and well in +whirling the girl off to the Scottish borders, for who could tell what +might have befallen her among ill-natured relatives and persecuted +suitors? + +Wenna Rosewarne was singing "We met, 'twas in a crowd, and I thought he +would shun me." It is the song of a girl (must one explain so much in +these later days?) who is in love with one man, and is induced to marry +another: she meets the former, and her heart is filled with shame and +anguish and remorse. As Wenna sang the song it seemed to this young man +that there was an unusual pathos in her voice; and he was so carried +away by the earnestness of her singing that his heart swelled and rose +up within him, and he felt himself ready to declare that such should not +be her fate. This man who was coming back to marry her--was there no one +ready to meet him and challenge his atrocious claim? Then the song +ended, and with a sudden disappointment Trelyon recollected that he at +least had no business to interfere. What right had he to think of saving +her? + +He had been idly turning over some volumes on the table. At last he came +to a Prayer-book of considerable size and elegance of binding. +Carelessly looking at the fly-leaf, he saw that it was a present to +Wenna Rosewarne, "with the very dearest love of her sister Mabyn." He +passed his hand over the leaves, not noticing what he was doing. +Suddenly he saw something which did effectually startle him into +attention. + +It was a sheet of paper with two slits cut into it at top and bottom. In +these a carefully-pressed piece of None-so-pretty had been placed, and +just underneath the flower was written in pencil, "From H.T. to W.R., +May 2, 18--." He shut the book quickly, as if his fingers had been +burned, and then he sat quite silent, with his heart beating fast. + +So she had kept the flower he had put in the basket of primroses! It had +carried its message, and she still remained his friend! + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE CUT DIRECT. + + +"Well, mother," Miss Wenna said deliberately after he had gone, "I never +did see you so thoroughly enjoy a whole day." + +"I was thinking the same about you, Wenna," the mother answered with an +amused look. + +"That is true enough, mother," the girl confessed in her simple way. "He +is so good-natured, so full of spirits and careless, that one gets quite +as careless and happy as himself. It is a great comfort, mother, to be +with anybody who doesn't watch the meaning of every expression you use: +don't you think so? And I hope I wasn't rude: do you think I was rude?" + +"Why, child, I don't think you could be rude to a fox that was eating +your chickens. You would ask him to take a chair and not hurry himself." + +"Well, I must write to Mabyn now," Wenna said with a business-like air, +"and thank her for posting me this Prayer-book. I suppose she didn't +know I had my small one with me." + +She took up the book, for she was sitting on the chair that Harry +Trelyon had just vacated. She had no sooner done so than she caught +sight of the sheet of paper with the dried flower and the inscription in +Mabyn's handwriting. She stared, with something of a look of fear on her +face. "Mother," she said in quite an altered voice, "did you notice if +Mr. Trelyon was looking at this Prayer-book?" + +"I don't know, I'm sure," Mrs. Rosewarne said. "I should think he went +over every book on the table." + +The girl said nothing, but she took the book in her hand and carried it +up to her own room. She stood for a moment irresolute: then she took the +sheet of paper with the flowers on it, and tore it in a hundred pieces +and threw them into the empty grate. Then she cried a little, as a girl +must; and finally went down again and wrote a letter to Mabyn which +rather astonished that young lady. + + "MY DEAR MABYN" (so the letter ran): I am exceedingly angry with + you. I did not think you were capable of such folly: I might call + it by a worse name if I thought you really meant what you seem to + mean. I have just torn up the worthless scrap of flower you so + carefully preserved for me into a thousand pieces; but you will be + glad to know that in all probability Mr. Trelyon saw it on the + paper, and the initials too which you put there. I cannot tell you + how pained and angry I am. If he did place that flower + intentionally among the primroses, it was most impertinent of him; + but he is often impertinent in joking. What must he think of me + that I should seem to have taken this seriously, and treasured up + that miserable and horrid piece of weed, and put his initials below + it, and the important date? You put thoughts into my head that + cover me with shame. I should not be fit to live if I were what you + take me to be. If I thought there was another human being in the + world who could imagine or suspect what you apparently desire, I + would resolve this moment never to see Mr. Trelyon again; and much + harm that would do either him or me! But I am too proud to think + that any one could imagine such a thing. Nor did I expect that to + come from my own sister, who ought to know what my true relations + are with regard to Mr. Trelyon. I like him very much, as I told him + to his face two days before we left Eglosilyan; _and that will + show you what our relations are_. I think he is a very frank, + generous and good young man, and a clever and cheerful companion; + and my mother has to-day to thank him for about the pleasantest + little trip she has ever enjoyed. But as for your wishing me to + preserve a flower that he sent, or that you think he sent to me, + why, I feel my face burning at the thought of what you suggest. And + what can I say to him now, supposing he has seen it? Can I tell him + that my own sister thought such things of me? Perhaps, after all, + the simplest way to set matters right will be for me to break off + the acquaintance altogether; and that will show him whether I was + likely to have treasured up a scrap of London pride in my + Prayer-book. + + "I am your loving sister, + + "WENNA ROSEWARNE." + +Meanwhile, Harry Trelyon was walking up and down the almost empty +thoroughfare by the side of the sea, the stars overhead shining clearly +in the dark night, the dimly-seen waves falling monotonously on the +shelving beach. "To keep a flower, that is nothing," he was saying to +himself. "All girls do that, no matter who gives it to them. I suppose +she has lots more, all with the proper initials and date attached." + +It was not an agreeable reflection; he turned to other matters: "If she +were to care for me a little bit, would it be mean of me to try to carry +her off from that man? Is it possible that he has the same feeling for +her that I have? In that case it would be mean. Now, when I think of +her, the whole world seems filled with her presence somehow, and +everything is changed. When I hear the sea in the morning I think of +her, and wonder where she is; when I see a fine day I hope she is +enjoying it somewhere; the whole of Penzance has become magical. It is +no longer the same town. I used to come to it and never see it in the +old days, when one was busy about stables and the pilchard fishing and +the reports of the quarries. Now the whole of Penzance has got a sort of +charm in it since Wenna Rosewarne has come to it. I look at the houses, +and wonder if the people inside know anybody fit to compare with her; +and one becomes grateful to the good weather for shining round about her +and making her happy. I suppose the weather knows what she deserves." + +Then he began to argue the question as to whether it would be fair and +honorable to seek to take away from another man the woman who had +pledged herself to marry him; and of course an easy and definite +decision is sure to be arrived at when counsel on both sides and jury +and judges sitting _in banco_ are all one person, who conducts and +closes the case as it suits himself. He began by assuming such facts as +suited his arguments, and ended by selecting and confirming such +arguments as suited himself. Wenna Rosewarne cared nothing for Mr. +Roscorla. She would be miserable if she married him: her own sister was +continually hinting as much. Mr. Roscorla cared nothing for her except +in so far as she might prove a pretty housewife for him. The selfishness +that would sacrifice for its own purposes a girl's happiness was of a +peculiarly despicable sort which ought to be combated, and deserved no +mercy. Therefore, and because of all these things, Harry Trelyon was +justified in trying to win Wenna Rosewarne's love. + +One by one the people who had been strolling up and down the dark +thoroughfare left it: he was almost alone now. He walked along to the +house in which the Rosewarnes were. There was no light in any of the +windows. But might she not be sitting up there by herself, looking out +on the starlit heavens and listening to the waves? He wished to be able +to say good-night to her once more. + +How soon might she be up and out on the morrow? Early in the morning, +when the young day was rising over the gray sea, and the sea-winds +coming freshly in as if they were returning from the cold night? If he +could but see her at daybreak, with all the world asleep around them, +and with only themselves to watch the growing wonders of the dawn, might +not he say something to her then that she would not be vexed to hear, +and persuade her that a new sort of life lay before her if she would +only enter it along with him? That was the notion that he continually +dwelt on for self-justification when he happened to take the trouble to +justify himself. The crisis of this girl's life was approaching. Other +errors might be retrieved--that one, once committed, never. If he could +only see her now, this is what he would say: "We can only live but once, +Wenna; and this for us two would be life--our only chance of it. +Whatever else may happen, that is no matter: let us make sure of this +one chance, and face the future together--you full of sweetness and +trust, I having plenty of courage for both. We will treat objectors and +objections as they may arise--afterward: perhaps they will be prudent +and keep out of our way." And indeed he convinced himself that this, +and this only, was Wenna Rosewarne's chance of securing happiness for +her life, assuming, in a way, that he had love as well as courage +sufficient for both. + +He was early up next morning and down on the promenade, but the day was +not likely to tempt Wenna to come out just then. A gray fog hung over +land and sea, the sea itself being a dull, leaden plain. Trelyon walked +about, however, talking to everybody, as was his custom; and everybody +said the fog would clear and a fine day follow. This, in fact, happened, +and still Wenna did not make her appearance. The fog over the sea seemed +to separate itself into clouds: there was a dim, yellow light in the +breaks. These breaks widened: there was a glimmer of blue. Then on the +leaden plain a glare of white light fell, twinkling in innumerable stars +on the water. Everything promised a clear, bright day. + +As a last resource he thought he would go and get Juliott Penaluna, and +persuade that young lady to come and be introduced to the Rosewarnes. At +first Miss Penaluna refused point-blank. She asked him how he could +expect her to do such a thing. But then her cousin Harry happened to be +civil, and indeed kind, in his manner to her, and when he was in one of +those moods there was nothing she could refuse him. She went and got +ready with an air of resignation on her comely face. + +"Mind, Harry, I am not responsible," she said when she came back. "I am +afraid I shall get into awful trouble about it." + +"And who will interfere?" said the young man, just as if he were looking +about for some one anxious to be thrown from the top of the tower on St. +Michael's Mount. + +"I shall be accused of conniving with you, you know; and I think I am +very good-natured to do so much for you, Harry." + +"I think you are, Jue: you are a thoroughly good sort of girl when you +like to be--that's a fact. And now you will see whether what I have said +about Miss Rosewarne is all gammon or not." + +"My poor boy, I wouldn't say a word against her for the world. Do I want +my head wrenched off? But if any one says anything to me about what I +may do to-day, I shall have to tell the truth; and do you know what that +is, Harry? I do really believe you are in love with that girl, past all +argument; and there never was one of your family who would listen to +reason. I know quite well what you will do. If she cares ever so little +for you, you will marry her in spite of everybody, and probably against +her own wish: if she doesn't care for you, you will revenge yourself on +the happy man of her choice, and probably murder him. Well, it isn't my +fault. I know what your mother will say." + +"Ah, you don't know, Jue, what my mother thinks of her," he said +confidently. + +"Oh yes, mothers think very well of a girl until they discover that she +is going to marry their son." + +"Oh, stuff! why the inconsistency--" + +"It is the privilege of women to be inconsistent, Harry. Your mother +will detest that girl if you try to marry her." + +"I don't care." + +"Of course not. No man of your family cares for anything that interferes +with his own wishes. I suppose there's no use in my trying to show you +what a fearful amount of annoyance and trouble you are preparing for +yourself?" + +"None. I'll take it as it comes: I'm not afraid." + +They got down to the promenade; the forenoon was now bright and +cheerful; a good many folks had come out to enjoy the sunlight and the +cool sea-breeze. Miss Juliott was not at all disinclined to walk there +with her handsome cousin, though he had forgotten his gloves and was +clearly not paying her very special attention. + +"Jue," he said suddenly, "I can see Miss Rosewarne right at the end of +this road: can't you?" + +"I haven't got the eyes of a hawk, you stupid boy!" his cousin said. + +"Oh, but I can recognize her dress a dozen times as far away. These are +her pet colors at present--a soft cream-color and black, with bits of +dark red. Can you see now?" + +"I never saw you pay the least attention before to a lady's dress." + +"Because you don't know how _she_ dresses," he said proudly. + +She was coming along the Parade all alone. + +"Well, it _is_ a pretty dress," Miss Juliott said, "and I like the look +of her face, Harry. You can't expect one girl to say any more than that +of another girl, can you?" + +"This is a very nice way of being able to introduce you," he said. "I +suppose you will be able to chaperon each other afterward, when her +mother isn't able to go out?" + +Wenna was coming quietly along, apparently rather preoccupied. Sometimes +she looked out, with her dark, earnest and yet wistful eyes, at the +great plain of water quivering in the sunshine: she paid little heed to +the people who went by. When at length she did see Harry Trelyon, she +was quite near him, and she had just time to glance for a moment at his +companion. The next moment--he could not tell how it all happened--she +passed him with a slight bow of recognition, courteous enough, but +nothing more. There was no especial look of friendliness in her eyes. + +He stood there rather bewildered. + +"That is about as good as the cut direct, Harry," his cousin said. "Come +along--don't stand there." + +"Oh, but there's some mistake, Jue," he said. + +"A girl never does a thing of that sort by mistake. Either she is vexed +with you for walking with me--and that is improbable, for I doubt +whether she saw me--or she thinks the ardor of your acquaintance should +be moderated; and there I should agree with her. You don't seem so vexed +as one might have expected, Harry." + +"Vexed!" he said. "Why, can't you tell by that girl's face that she +could do nothing capricious or unkind? Of course she has a reason; and I +will find it out." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +NOT THE LAST WORD. + + +As soon as he could decently leave his cousin at home, he did; and then +he walked hastily down to the house in which Mrs. Rosewarne had taken +rooms. Miss Rosewarne was not at home, the small maid-servant said. Was +Mrs. Rosewarne? Yes; so he would see her. + +He went up stairs, never thinking how his deep trouble about so +insignificant an incident would strike a third person. + +"Mrs. Rosewarne," he said right out, "I want you to tell me if Wenna +wishes our acquaintance to end. Has she been speaking to you? Just now +she passed me in the street as if she did not wish to see me again." + +"Probably," said Mrs. Rosewarne, amused as well as surprised by the +young man's impetuosity, "she did not see you then. Wenna often passes +people so. Most likely she was thinking about other things, for she had +another letter from Jamaica just before she went out." + +"Oh, she has had another letter from Jamaica this morning?" Trelyon +said, with an angry light appearing in his eyes. "That is it, is it?" + +"I don't understand you," Mrs. Rosewarne was saying, when both of them +heard Wenna enter below. + +"Mrs. Rosewarne," he said with a sudden entreaty in his voice, "would +you mind letting me see Wenna alone for a couple of minutes? I want to +ask her if she is offended with me: you won't mind, will you?" + +"Not in the least," she said, good-naturedly; and then she added, at the +door, "Mind, Mr. Trelyon, Wenna is easily hurt. You must speak gently to +her." + +About a minute afterward Wenna, having laid her hat and shawl aside, +came into the room. When she found Trelyon there alone, she almost +shrank back, and her face paled somewhat: then she forced herself to go +forward and shake hands with him, though her face still wore a +frightened and constrained look. + +"Wenna," he said, "don't go away: I want to speak to you for a minute. +You are offended with me about something, and I want you to tell me why. +If you wish our friendship to cease, say so, and I will obey you; but +you must tell me why first." + +"I am not offended with you, Mr. Trelyon," she said in a low and nervous +voice. "Do not think that. But--but I think it will be better if you +will let our friendship cease, as you say." + +"Oh no," he said, "I will not in this fashion. You've got to tell me +what is the matter first. Now remember this. Not very long ago you chose +to quarrel with me about nothing--absolutely about nothing. You know +quite well that I meant no harm to you by lending Mr. Roscorla that +money, yet you must needs flare up and give it me as hot as you could, +all for nothing. What could I do? Why, only wait until you saw what a +mistake you had made." + +"It was very wrong of me," she said: "I ask your forgiveness. But now it +is quite different: I am not angry with you at all. I should like to +remain your friend, and yet I think it better not. I--I cannot explain +to you, Mr. Trelyon, and I am sure you won't ask me when I say so." + +He looked at her for a moment, and then he said, gently and yet firmly, +"Look here, Wenna. You think I am only a boy--that may or may not +be--but I am going to talk reasonably to you for once. Come over to this +chair by the window and sit down." + +She followed him in passive obedience. She took the one chair, he the +other. + +"Perhaps I am only a boy," he said, "but I have knocked about a good +deal, and I have kept my eyes as wide open as most folks. I suppose +ill-natured people might say that as I had nothing to do at Eglosilyan, +I wanted to have a flirtation with the only girl who was handy. I know +better. Year after year I saw more and more of you, bit by bit, and that +after I had been abroad or living in other places in England from time +to time. I got to believe that I had never seen anywhere any girl or +woman who was so honest as you are, and good in a dozen secret ways that +needed a deal of discovering. I found out far more about you than you +imagined. I heard of you in cottages that you never knew I was in; and +everything I heard made me respect you more and more. Mind this, too. I +had no sort of personal liking for the sort of thing you were doing. I +don't admire beastly little rooms and poverty and sick people as +appealing to a fine sentiment. There never was anything of the parson or +the benevolent old lady about me. I would rather give half a crown to an +impertinent little boy who had just whopped another boy bigger than +himself than give a halfpenny tract to a sickly child in its mother's +arms: that's original sin in me, I suppose. But all that squalid sort of +work you were in only made the jewel shine the more. I used to think I +should like to marry a very grand woman, who could be presented at court +without a tremor, who would come into a drawing-room as if she was +conferring a favor on the world at large; and I certainly never thought +I should find the best and finest woman I had ever seen in back kitchens +sewing pinafores for children. And then when I found her there, wasn't +it natural I should put some store by her friendship? I suppose you +didn't know what I thought of you, Wenna, because I kept chaffing you +and Mabyn? I have told you something of it now; and now I want you to +say whether you have a right to shunt me off like this, without a word +of explanation." + +She sat still, silent and nervous. The rude and impetuous eloquence of +his speech, broken by many a hesitating stammer, had touched her. There +was more thoughtfulness and tenderness in this wild lad than she had +supposed. + +"How can I explain?" she burst out suddenly. "I should cover myself with +shame!" + +"And what have you to be ashamed of?" he said with a stare. The distress +she was obviously suffering was so great that he had almost a mind to +take her at her word and leave the house without further ado. + +Just at this moment, when he was considering what would be the most +generous thing to do, she seemed to nerve herself to speak to him, and +in a low and measured voice she said, "Yes, I will tell you. I have had +a letter this morning from Mr. Roscorla. He asks me if it is true that +you are paying me such attention that people notice it; and he asks me +if that is how I keep my promise to him." + +Something like a quiver of rage passed through the young man at this +moment, but his teeth were kept firmly together. She did not look up to +his face. + +"That is not all. I must tell you that I was deeply shocked and grieved +by this letter; but on looking back over the past six weeks I think a +suspicious person might have been justified in complaining to Mr. +Roscorla. And--and--and, Mr. Trelyon, did you see that dried flower in +my Prayer-book last night?" + +Her resolution was fast ebbing away: he could see that her hands were +clasped piteously together. + +"Yes, I did," he said boldly. + +"And oh what could you have thought of me?" she cried in her distress. +"Indeed, Mr. Trelyon, it was all a mistake. I did not keep the flower--I +did not, indeed. And when I thought you had seen it I could have died +for shame." + +"And why?" he said in a way that made her lift up her startled eyes to +his face. There was a strange look there, as of a man who had suddenly +resolved to dare his fate, and yet was imploringly anxious as to the +result. "For you have been frank with me, and so will I be with you. Why +should you not have kept that flower? Yes, I sent it to you, and with +all the purpose that such a thing could carry. Yes, you may be as angry +as you please; only listen, Wenna. You don't love that man whom you are +engaged to marry; you know in your heart that you do not believe in his +love for you; and are you surprised that people should wish to have you +break off an engagement that will only bring you misery?" + +"Mr. Trelyon!" + +"Wenna, one minute: you must hear me. Do with my offer what you +like--only here it is: give me the power to break off this engagement, +and I will. Give me the right to do that. Don't mind me in the matter. +It is true I love you--there, I will say it again: there is nothing I +think of from morning till night but my love for you--and if you would +say that some time I might ask you to be my wife, you would give me more +happiness than you could dream of. But I don't wish that now. I will +remain your friend if you like, Wenna; only let me do this thing for +you, and when you are free you can then say yes or no." + +She rose, not proud and indignant, but weeping bitterly. "I have +deserved this," she said, apparently overwhelmed with mortification and +self-reproach. "I have earned this shame, and I must bear it. I do not +blame you, Mr. Trelyon: it is I who have done this. How many weeks is it +since the man left England to whom I promised to be faithful? and +already--But this I can do, Mr. Trelyon: I will bid you good-bye now, +and I will never see you again." + +Her face was quite pale. She held out her hand. + +"No," he said firmly. "We don't part like that, Wenna. First, let me say +that you have nothing to accuse yourself of. You have done nothing and +said nothing of which any man, however mean and suspicious, could +complain. Perhaps I was too hasty in speaking of my love for you. In +that case I've got to pay for my folly." + +"And it is folly, Mr. Trelyon," she said passionately, and yet with +nothing but tenderness in her face. "How could you have thought of +marrying me? Why, the future that ought to lie before you is far more +than you can imagine yet; and you would go and hamper it by marrying an +innkeeper's daughter! It is folly indeed, and you will see that very +soon. But--but I am very sorry all this has occurred: it is another +grief to me that I have troubled you. I think I was born to bring grief +to all my friends." + +He was anxiously debating what he should do; and he needed all his wits +at that moment, for his own feelings were strong within him, and +clamoring for expression. Should he insist? Should he bear down all +opposition? Happily, quieter counsels prevailed, for there was no +mistake as to the absolute truthfulness of what the girl had said. + +"Well, Wenna," he said, "I will do anything you like, only to remain +your friend. Is that possible? Will you forgive all that I have said if +I make you a promise not to repeat it, and never again to mention your +engagement to Mr. Roscorla?" + +"No, we must part now altogether," she said slowly. Then by haphazard +she glanced up at his face for a moment, and there was a great sadness +in her eyes. "It is a hard thing to part. Perhaps it will not be +necessary that you should never come to see me. But we must not be +friends as we have been, for I have my duty to do toward him." + +"Then I may come to see you sometimes?" + +She hesitated: "You may come to see my mother sometimes. And I will +always think of you as a dear friend, whether I see you or not." + +He went outside, and drew a long breath. "I had to keep a tight grip on +the reins that time," he was thinking to himself--"a precious tight +grip; but I did it." + +He thought of the look there was in her eyes when she finally bid him +goodbye. His face grew the happier as he thought of it. He was clearly +not at all down-hearted about his rejection: on the contrary, he went +and told his cousin Juliott that the little affair of the morning had +been quite satisfactorily arranged, that Miss Wenna and he were very +good friends again, and that it was quite a mistake to imagine that she +was already married to Mr. Roscorla. + +"Harry," said his cousin, "I strictly forbid you to mention that +gentleman's name." + +"Why, Jue?" he said. + +"Because I will not listen to the bad language you invariably use +whenever you speak of him; and you ought to remember that you are in a +clergyman's house. I wonder Miss Rosewarne is not ashamed to have your +acquaintance, but I dare say you amend your ways when you are in her +presence. She'll have plenty to reform if ever she takes you for a +husband." + +"That's true enough, Jue," the young man said penitently. "I believe I'm +a bad lot, but then look at the brilliant contrast which the future will +present. You know that my old grandmother is always saying to me, +'Harry, you were born with as many manners as most folks, and you've +used none; so you'll have a rare stock to come and go on when you +begin.'" + +[TO BE CONTINUED.] + + + + +FEVER. + + +At present all branches of Science possess an intrinsic interest for +every intelligent man, but such elementary knowledge as enables its +possessor to understand the explanations of the medical attendant has a +double value. Over and over again I have heard the remark when some bold +successful treatment was being discussed, "But you would not have dared +to do that in private practice." The days of medical mystification are +not yet entirely passed, but year by year the profession is assuredly +losing that peculiar virtue of office which it formerly possessed in so +eminent a degree. The doctor is no longer a dignified personage with +gold-headed cane and powdered wig, mounting the mansion steps with +stately tread, but a busy man in various garb, hurrying from house to +house, studying the multitudinous problems of disease, and applying the +fruits of such study to the relief of individual cases. No longer able +to awe his patients into obedience, he must rely upon his moral and +intellectual powers in controlling them. To enable any one to understand +the explanations of physicians, and to protect himself, by discovery, +against the impudent assumptions of quacks, some knowledge of medical +truths and of the drift of modern medical thought is necessary. Every +successful physician, no matter how independent he may be by nature, is +necessarily more or less cramped by the prejudices of patients--prejudices +which often a little primary instruction would have done away with. + +Of all the diseased processes fever is one of the most frequent and one +of the most serious in their results. A discussion, therefore, of its +nature, the method of its production and of its relief, will, it may be +hoped, engage the attention of the general reader. + +If the hand be laid upon the skin of a person in a high fever the +attention is at once attracted by the great heat, and if the bulb of a +thermometer be placed under the tongue or in the armpit of the patient +the mercury may indicate a temperature of 107°, 108°, 109°, or even 110° +Fahrenheit, instead of 98° to 99° Fahrenheit, the normal temperature of +the human body. It is a common belief that the skin in fever is always +dry as well as hot, but this is a mistake, as intense fever may coexist +with a reeking perspiration. During the fever the pulse is greatly +increased in frequency, the head aches and throbs, and if the attack be +very severe restlessness, sudden startings, irregular muscular +twitchings, or even violent epileptiform convulsions and stupor, +delirium or coma, indicate the disturbance of the nervous system. + +These various symptoms are simply results of the excess of caloric, +which excites universal irritation, and, if prolonged, destroys the +tissues. This fact I have verified by three series of experiments, by +the first of which it was shown that the general application of external +heat so as to raise the bodily temperature produces all the phenomena of +fever; by the second, that the local application of heat to the brain +and to the heart causes the nervous and circulatory disturbances so +universally seen in fever; and by the third that the abstraction of heat +in fever is followed by immediate subsidence of the other symptoms. + +If a small animal, such as a dog, cat or rabbit, be placed in a chamber +heated by means of the sun's rays falling upon a slanting glass roof or +by some artificial method to a temperature of considerably over one +hundred degrees, a very constant series of phenomena is developed. The +breathing becomes hurried and the pulse greatly quickened, whilst the +restless movements of the body indicate nervous distress. After a time, +if the exposure be continued, the symptoms are intensified, and +restlessness passes into the weakness of partial paralysis; then +suddenly or gradually, with or without convulsions, stupor sets in, +deepening into coma, and death from arrested respiration is the final +result. If the temperature of the animal be tested from time to time +during the exposure, it will be found to rise steadily, and the severity +of the symptoms will be directly, and in any one species constantly, +proportional to the intensity of the bodily heat. + +The nervous system of man apparently resists the action of heat, but in +reality it does not do so. Man, it is true, is the only animal that can +thrive almost equally amidst arctic snows and in tropical jungles. This +is not, however, because his nervous system lacks sensitiveness, but +because he has the power of heating or cooling his body in such a manner +that its temperature is comparatively unaffected by that of the +surrounding air. Man might be well defined as the naked sweating animal. +In the north he strips the bear and the fox of their coat to keep him +warm; in the south his own skin acts as a refrigerator. The dog has a +few sweat-glands about the mouth--man has two millions densely covering +his body. In the horse exposed to heat the hair soon becomes wet and +matted, interfering very greatly with evaporation; in man the bare skin +offers an excellent surface, from which the perspiration passes off +almost as fast as formed. Evaporation, conversion of a liquid into a +vapor, means a steady conversion of sensible heat into what was +formerly called latent heat, but what we now know to be repulsive force: +the heat-energy of the body is lost in driving the particles of sweat +asunder in the form of vapor. + +It is possible, however, to have a temperature which even a Hindoo +cannot resist. When a man is exposed to such a heat his bodily +temperature rises, and as it rises the symptoms of fever develop +precisely as they do in the lower animals--sometimes slowly, sometimes +suddenly--with disturbances of the respiration, circulation and +innervation precisely similar to those already noticed as occurring in +the dog, the cat and the rabbit. Sunstroke, or thermic fever, is +generally believed to be instantaneous in its onset, but the wide +experience of the English in India has shown that whilst in some cases +it is thus sudden in its development, in others it is a slow process, +and probably in almost all cases close observation would have revealed +the existence of premonitions. + +External heat, by producing an internal rise of temperature, may thus +cause all the phenomena of fever. Of these phenomena the most prominent +is disturbance of the nervous system and of the circulation. In order to +determine whether the heat itself directly causes the nervous +disturbance, or whether it produces it indirectly by causing changes in +the blood, I applied caloric directly to the brains of animals. This was +done by fitting a hog's bladder like a bonnet over the head and allowing +hot water to run through it. It was found that stupor, coma, +convulsions, and finally death from arrest of the respiration, were +produced, sometimes gradually, sometimes suddenly, precisely as in the +case of exposure of the animal in a hot chamber. Moreover, on opening +the skull and plunging a thermometer into the cerebrum immediately after +death or the supervention of unconsciousness, it was found that these +phenomena were developed at the same brain-temperature when the heat was +locally applied as when the animal was exposed in the hot box. Thus, if +any given species in the hot box became unconscious when the temperature +reached 110° Fahrenheit, this species also became unconscious when the +locally-heated brain attained a temperature of 110°; or if death +occurred by arrest of the respiration in the hot box at 114°, so did it +when the locally-heated brain reached that point. + +Dr. Lauder Brunton of England has performed a series of experiments upon +the circulation parallel to those just narrated. Anæsthetizing animals +and exposing the heart, he has found that the action of that organ is +accelerated and weakened by the local application of heat, precisely as +occurs in fever. + +In order to test the effect of the withdrawal of heat, I have taken a +rabbit out of the hot chamber, in which it lay upon its side totally +unconscious, and plunged it into a bucket of cold water. The temperature +of the water rose rapidly, whilst that of the rabbit fell even more +rapidly. As soon as the bodily heat approached its normal intensity +consciousness returned, and in a few moments the animal, which had just +before been at the point of death, was running about the grass. + +Some months since I had an opportunity of repeating this experiment upon +a human being. + +In acute inflammatory rheumatism it sometimes happens that the swelling +and pain of the joints suddenly disappear, and the patient becomes +comatose or wildly delirious. It has been customary to explain these +symptoms as the result of the rheumatism leaving the joints and +attacking the brain. Evidently, this being the case, the proper thing to +do was to irritate the joints so as to draw the rheumatism back to them. +This method was formerly practiced, and the almost invariable result was +death in a few hours. + +In most if not all of these frightful cases of sudden accession of +severe nervous symptoms in rheumatism the temperature will be found, on +testing it, to be exceedingly high--108°, 109° or even 110° Fahrenheit. +If the views advocated in this paper be correct, it is not the +rheumatism, but the intense bodily heat, which causes the severe +symptoms, and finally death. The joints lose their sensitiveness, not +because the disease has left them, but because the heat so overpowers +the brain that it has lost its power of perception: the patient's leg +might be cut off without his feeling it. In such a case the proper +treatment is to take away the heat by plunging the patient into a cold +bath. But can there be anything more shocking to the universal belief +and prejudices than to put a patient dying of acute rheumatism into an +almost ice-cold bath? + +Last spring there was in my ward in the Philadelphia Hospital a stout +young Irishman who had passed through an acute attack of inflammatory +rheumatism, and was suffering from a sharp relapse. Entering the ward +one day, I saw at once that the man was unconscious, and turning to the +resident physician asked, "What is the matter with James?" "Nothing," +was the reply: "I saw him an hour and a half ago, and he was doing very +well, except that the fever was very high." "He is dying now, at any +rate," was my rejoinder. On going to the bedside the patient was found +perfectly unconscious, the skin dry and intensely hot, the affected +joints pale and devoid of sensibility, the breathing irregular and +jerking, the pulse 170 and scarcely perceptible, every muscle relaxed as +in death, every power of perception abolished. A thermometer placed in +the armpit registered 108-4/5° Fahrenheit. + +Believing that the symptoms were due simply to this excessive +temperature, I ordered the man to be at once stripped and put in a full +bath drawn from the cold-water spigot. The temperature of this bath was +found to be 60° Fahrenheit. In one minute and a half after the patient +had been placed in the tub he recovered consciousness sufficiently to +put out his tongue when told to do so in a loud, commanding tone. In +three minutes he began to struggle to get out and to complain of the +cold. In six minutes and a half he had become quite rational. He was now +taken out, only partially wiped, laid upon an India-rubber blanket and +covered with a single sheet, the temperature of the room being between +65° and 70°. Three minutes after this the temperature in the armpit was +94°, in the mouth 105-3/5°; five minutes later the mouth-thermometer +marked 103°, and the pain and tenderness had reappeared in the affected +joints. It would be out of place here to give further details as to his +treatment. It is enough to state that, although owing to a +misunderstanding of my orders, the man was left in a cool room for +twelve hours upon the gum blanket, wet and covered only with a sheet--or +possibly because he was so left--he recovered without a relapse or any +bad symptoms. + +The first case in which the cold-water treatment was practiced in the +Philadelphia Hospital was that of a woman suffering from a desperate +relapse of typhoid fever. She was semi-comatose, with a pulse of 150 and +a temperature of 107° Fahrenheit: death was seemingly inevitable and +imminent. As the bath-tubs were not convenient, the order was given that +the woman be laid upon an India-rubber cloth, and be wrapped simply in a +sheet constantly wet with water at a temperature as near 32° as +practicable. The nurses, aghast, refused at first to carry out the +order, but the physician's power being despotic, obedience was enforced. +About three pints of whisky were given in the twenty-four hours, besides +drugs, the whole treatment being successful. + +It has been shown that excessive bodily heat is capable of producing the +various symptoms of fever, and that its withdrawal is followed by the +immediate relief of these symptoms; and since excessive heat is always +present in fever, it is a logical deduction that it is the cause of +fever symptoms; or, in other words, that it is the essential part of +fever. + +It must be borne in mind, however, that the term fever is here used in +an abstract sense, to express a general diseased process, a bodily +condition. _A_ fever is a very different thing from fever. We may have +_a_ fever, such as typhoid, without the existence of fever. In a fever, +the fever--_i.e._, the elevation of temperature--is only part of the +disease, and great judgment and experience are often required to decide +how much of the general symptoms is caused by the fever, and how much by +the disease which is the cause of the fever. + +The importance of high temperature having been recognized, it becomes a +matter of the gravest scientific and practical interest to determine the +method in which it is produced. + +There are only two systems which bind the body together--namely, the +circulation and the nervous system. As fever is usually a universal +phenomenon, occurring simultaneously in every part of the body, it must +be produced either through the nervous system or by a poison in the +blood acting simultaneously on every tissue. Every physician knows, +however, that there are cases of fever in which there has been no +introduction of a poison into the blood: hence it follows that at least +sometimes fever must be produced by the nervous system. + +This being so, the study of the influence of the nervous system upon +animal heat is naturally the next step in our investigation. Before +making this step it may be well to call to mind the fact that chemical +processes are usually accompanied either by the giving out or the +withdrawal of heat. Thus, the chemical actions which result when ice and +salt are mixed cause a withdrawal of heat, and a "freezing mixture" is +formed. When a candle is burnt, the oxidation of its constituents, a +chemical process, evolves heat. Oxidation is the great source of +artificial heat, and animal heat is chiefly generated by the same +process; in other words, animal heat is always the product of the +chemical movements of the body, and these movements are almost +exclusively of the character of oxidation. In the animal tissues a +lessened oxidation is equivalent to a lessened heat-production, and +_vise versâ_. + +If a large nerve be exposed in one of the lower animals, and a galvanic +current be sent through it for half a minute or more, the temperature of +the animal falls very decidedly; and if the irritation be repeated +several times at intervals, the diminution of the animal heat may amount +to several degrees. Galvanization of a nerve affects very powerfully the +circulation, and it has been believed that this derangement was the +cause of the lessened chemical movements. But the alteration of the +circulation is immediate, and ceases almost at once when the current is +broken, whereas the fall of temperature comes on only after several +minutes, then progressively increases, and persists for many minutes--it +may be hours. The two phenomena being thus differently developed, it is +impossible that they should have the relation of cause and effect, and +the fall of temperature must be traced to a direct influence of the +nervous system upon the chemical processes of the body. + +This lowering of temperature under the influence of a powerful +irritation of a nerve-trunk or of its minute branches, which everywhere +pervade the tissues and spread out in the skin, is common to all species +of mammals. If a rabbit be merely tied down tightly upon a table, the +fall is perceptible, and if it be severely wounded, the temperature +diminishes very greatly. It has long been known that severe burns are +followed by a very great depression of the animal heat. Redard, a French +physician, made during the late siege of Paris a most interesting series +of observations upon the influence of severe gunshot wounds. He found +that, entirely independent of any hæmorrhage which might have occurred, +the temperature fell enormously, and in direct proportion to the gravity +of the wound; so that by the aid of the thermometer he was able to +predict whether a fatal issue would or would not occur in the course of +a few hours. + +We have found that both in man and the lower animals the nervous system +is able to check the chemical movements of the body, but before we can +decide how it does so facts not yet noticed must be looked at. + +If the spinal cord of an animal be cut just below the origin of the +nerves of respiration, an immediate fall of temperature occurs, and, if +the animal be left in a cool room, persists until death ensues. If, +however, the victim be put in a warm place, after a time the temperature +begins to rise, and finally a most intense fever is developed. Parallel +phenomena follow division of the spinal cord in man. Indeed, Sir +Benjamin Brodie was first led to experiment upon animals by observing in +1837 an excessive fever follow in a patient a wound of the spinal cord. + +I have already explained, in a former number of this Magazine,[2] the +nature of the so-called vaso-motor nerves, which preside over the little +circular muscles that run round and round in the coats of the +blood-vessels. When they are excited, these muscles contract and the +size of the arteries is diminished: when they are paralyzed, the +arterial inner muscles relax and the vessels dilate. The vaso-motor +nerves have their governing centre in that upper portion of the spinal +cord which is within the skull, the so-called medulla oblongata. When +the spinal cord is divided, the vessels are cut off from the influence +of this vaso-motor centre, and at once dilate, profoundly affecting the +blood-current by doing so. + +The first fall of temperature which follows division of the cord is +believed by most physiologists to be due to this dilatation of the +vessels. Very probably the blood-stream, flowing sluggishly, does not +give the normal amount of stimulus to the tissues, so that at first +their chemical actions are lessened, and consequently less caloric than +usual is generated in the body. Further, the blood moving slowly through +the dilated vessels of the lungs and of the surface of the body, is +cooled more completely than it should be; hence, unless the body is +protected by being surrounded with warm air, no excessive accumulation +of heat in it can occur, and therefore no fever can appear. + +Assuming that this explanation of the primary lowering of the +temperature after division of the cord be correct--and no better one has +as yet been offered--what is the cause of the fever which afterward +develops itself? As it occurs only when the animal is exposed to a +somewhat elevated temperature, it has been thought by some to be due to +the absorption of this external heat. This, however, is certainly not +true, as is shown, to omit less decisive proofs, by the experiments of +Naunyn and Quincke, who exposed animals for two days to a temperature of +90°, and at the end of that time, their bodily temperature not having +risen, cut their spinal cords, after which intense fever was developed +in a few hours without any change of atmosphere. + +Section of the cord must therefore give rise to an increased chemical +movement and heat-production in the body. As already stated, this +section affects very greatly the circulation, but the fever is +independent of such action. The upper end of the medulla oblongata is +continuous with a nervous mass which joins the two brain hemispheres +together, and hence is known as the _pons_ or bridge. If, instead of +cutting the spinal cord, we separate the medulla oblongata from the +pons, an _immediate_ rise of temperature occurs, and continues until +death, whether the operation be performed in a cold or heated room.[3] + +Cutting the medulla at its junction with the pons causes, then, an +immediate and direct elevation of temperature, without disturbance of +the circulation. What can this mean? Evidently, only one thing--namely, +that by the division of the medulla there has been separated from the +general tissues of the body a repressive force--a something which +normally controls their chemical activity and the production in them of +animal heat. + +The existence of nerves whose function is to repress action is no new +discovery in physiology. Readers of _Lippincott's Magazine_ may remember +my description of the pneumogastrics or brake-nerves of the heart, whose +duty it is to control the action of that viscus. Nerves which repress or +inhibit action are spoken of in modern physiology as inhibitory. The +experiments which have been adduced prove that there are nerves whose +function it is to control the general vital chemical actions, and that +the governing centre of these nerves is situated above the medulla +oblongata. To this centre, whose exact location is unknown, the name of +the _inhibitory heat-centre_ has been given. + +The way in which galvanization of a nerve, violent injuries and +excessive pain depress the temperature, independently of any action upon +the circulation, is now evident. An impulse simply passes up the +irritated or wounded nerve, and excites this inhibitory heat-centre to +increased action, and the temperature falls because the chemical +movements of the body are repressed. + +The method in which fever is produced also becomes very evident when +once the existence of an inhibitory heat-centre has been established. +Any poison having the power to depress, and finally paralyze, this +centre must, if it find entrance to the blood, produce fever. If the +poison, from its inherent properties, or from its being in very small +quantity, only diminishes the activity of the inhibitory heat-centre, +the controlling influence is not entirely removed from the chemical +movements of the body, and only slight fever results; but if the poison +actually paralyzes the inhibitory nerves, a very great rise of +temperature must rapidly follow the complete removal of the brake-power. + +As an illustration we may consider the intense rheumatic fever, or the +so-called "cerebral rheumatism," such as affected the young Irishman +whose case has been narrated in the present article. Without any +apparent reason the poison of rheumatism habitually attacks one joint on +one day, and another joint on another day, and with as little apparent +reason it occasionally falls of a sudden upon the inhibitory +heat-centre, and actually paralyzes it. In a few minutes intense fever +is developed, and the bodily temperature rapidly approaches nearer and +nearer that line on the other side of which is death. + +In many cases of fever, however, there is no poison in the blood; thus, +the local irritation of a boil or other inflammation may cause what is +well termed "irritative fever." The way in which this is produced is by +an indirect, and not a direct, action upon the inhibitory heat-centre. + +The casualties of the late war proved but too abundantly that a man may +be wounded in one part of the body and suffer from paralysis of +voluntary motion in another part. Thus, a soldier struck in the neck +fell unconscious, and on awaking was astonished to find his right arm +powerless at his side. This is the so-called "reflex paralysis." Very +commonly the irritation of a nerve will give rise to an impulse which +will travel up the nerve to a motor-centre, and so excite it that it +shall send in turn an impulse down a second nerve to a distant muscle, +and a spasm result. Sometimes, however, the impulse which travels to the +nerve-centre is of such a character that, instead of exciting it to +action, it deprives it of the power of action. In the former instance +reflex motion, in the latter reflex paralysis, results. + +We have seen that galvanization of a nerve may excite the inhibitory +centre to activity, and the peculiar persistent irritation of a local +inflammation may deprive the same centre of its power of action: in the +one instance a reflex inhibitory heat-centre spasm--_i.e._, lowering of +temperature--is produced, and in the other a reflex inhibitory +heat-centre paralysis--_i.e._, fever--results. + +It would be going too far at present to assert that all fever is +produced in the way spoken of. There are certain drugs which lower the +temperature in the fever that follows division of the cord and +consequent paralysis of the heat-centre, and which must therefore act +either upon the blood, or universally upon the tissues so as to diminish +their-chemical movements. It is most probable, although not yet +absolutely proved, that there are other substances which act directly +upon the blood and tissues in such a way as to increase their chemical +activities, and thereby cause fever. + +The practical considerations in regard to the treatment of disease which +naturally flow from the recent investigations of fever are very +important and very obvious. This is especially true since it has been +shown in Germany that under the influence of a continuous high bodily +temperature, not intense enough at any time to compromise life, all the +muscular tissues of the body undergo a peculiar granular degeneration. +Many a typhoid-fever patient has undoubtedly died from the heart-muscle +having undergone this change, when, if by artificial cooling the +temperature of the body had been kept down, the alteration of the +heart-structure would have been prevented, and death averted. It is +obvious, also, that the old plan of thwarting the intentions of Nature, +and depriving the fever-patient of the free use of cooling drinks, was +practically a baneful cruelty. As the body is burning up in fever, it is +also evident that to deprive it of sustenance is to aid in the +production of fatal exhaustion. The burning will go on, whether food is +given or not, so long as the tissues can serve as fuel. Of course no +more food should be taken than the patient can digest, but every grain +of digested food is so much added to the resources of the system, which +is engaged, it may be, in a close and doubtful conflict with disease. + +If it were possible, of course the best treatment for fever would be +that which lessened the production of heat. Fortunately, we have some +drugs--notably, quinine and alcohol--which do exert a decided influence +upon the vital chemical movements, but, unfortunately, their power is +limited. As we are therefore often unable to control heat-production, +the best we can do is to abstract the caloric from the body whenever it +becomes so excessive as to threaten serious results. To do this, all +that is necessary is to put the patient in a cold bath, or wrap him in a +sheet wet with ice-cold water, or lay him upon an ice-mattress, or +surround him with coils of tubing through which cold water runs, or use +some similar efficacious device. I do not wish to be misunderstood. +External cold is not to be lightly employed: it is a powerful two-edged +weapon, capable of cutting both ways--a weapon as injurious and +destructive in the hands of the ignorant and inexperienced as it is +efficient in the hands of those to whom study and experience have taught +its skillful use. + +To illustrate what cold water may effect when employed by intelligent +and skillful physicians, I may be permitted to cite a few hospital +statistics from Germany and Switzerland, the only countries where the +so-called antipyretic treatment of continued fever has been efficiently +carried out on a large scale. From 1850 to 1861 there were treated +without cold water, at the hospital at Kiel, 330 cases of typhoid fever, +with 51 deaths--a mortality of about 15-1/2 per cent.; from 1863 to +1866, 160 cases were treated with cold baths, with 5 deaths--a mortality +of only 3-1/10 per cent. In the hospital of Bâle, from 1843 to 1864, +there were 1718 cases without antipyretic treatment, with 469 deaths--a +mortality of about 27-1/2 per cent; from September, 1866, to 1873, 1121 +cases were treated antipyretically, with 92 deaths--a mortality of a +little over 8 per cent. Assuredly, we may claim that this +water-treatment in typhoid fever is one of the greatest gains of modern +medicine since the discovery of anæsthesia. + +Some of my readers may here say to themselves, "Why, this is +hydropathy!" Not so. It is the legitimate, not the illegitimate, use of +cold water. It is the use of it as a single weapon, not as the only +weapon of the armory. It is the employment of it in a single affection, +not as a cure for all diseases. + +Perhaps, in concluding this essay, I may be pardoned one word of counsel +to my lay audience. Any physician who proclaims himself a follower of +any special doctrine, be he a hydropath, an electropath, an allopath, a +homoeopath, or any other _path_, should be viewed with suspicion. Water, +cold, heat, electricity, drugs, are all agents capable of being used +advantageously in the treatment of disease. Above all men, the physician +ought to have that teachable spirit which is the offspring of true +humility. Knowing the grave responsibilities which he assumes, living +almost beneath the shadow of that past whose life-imperiling mistakes +are so plainly visible in the light of the present, he, of all men, +should be ever seeking for new knowledge, gathering with equal zest the +seeds of healing in the waste as well as in the cultivated places, +amongst the lowest and most ignorant of the populace, as well as in +far-famed schools of medicine. + + H.C. WOOD, JR., M.D. + + + + +SONNET. + + +Young bride, that findest not a single star + Shining to-night with longed for prophecy, +Though snowy drifts are swelling near and far, + They need not chill thy happy hope and thee. +If blue had overarched the earth all day, + And heaven were brilliant with its stars to-night, +"A happy omen!" many a guest would say, + And think that Fortune blessed the sacred rite. +Be superstition far from thee, sweet soul: + This snowy robe, in unison with thine, +Nature will doff to-morrow, and the whole + Of this white waste in spring-like freshness shine. +If love be strong, then all adversity +Will melt like snow, and life the greener be. + + CHARLOTTE F. BATES. + + + + +SOME RECOLLECTIONS OF HIRAM POWERS. + + +There are--or were--many at Florence whose recollections of Hiram Powers +stretch over the best part of a quarter of a century; and there are few +men of whom it could with equal truth and accuracy be said that such +recollections are wholly pleasant in their character to the survivors +and honorable to the subject of them. He was in truth universally +respected by people of all classes, and by Americans and English, as +well as Italians, in the city of his adoption, and personally liked and +esteemed by all who had the good fortune to be among his friends. +Recollections such as these are, I say, the property of very many at +Florence. But there is no one in that city--there _was_ during his +life no one in that city, not even she who during a long life was a +companion, friend, partner and helpmeet in every sense admirable for +him--whose recollections went back to so early a period as mine did. + +When I came to Florence with my mother in 1841, intending to make a home +there for a few years, we found, with some surprise and much pleasure, +Hiram Powers, with a wife and children, settled there as a sculptor. It +was long since, in the course of the changes and chances of life, we had +lost sight of him, but the meeting was none the less pleasurable to, I +think I may say, both parties. It was at Cincinnati in 1829 that my +mother and myself first knew him. My mother, who had long been an +acquaintance of General La Fayette, became thus the intimate friend of +his ward, Frances Wright. Fascinated by the talent, the brilliancy and +the singular eloquence of that remarkable and highly-gifted woman, and +at the same time anxious to find a career for one of her sons (not the +well-known author of the present day, but another brother, long since +dead), whose wishes and proclivities adapted him for a life of more +activity and adventure than that of one of our home-abiding professions, +my mother was persuaded by her to join her in a scheme which at that +time was engaging all her singularly large powers of energy and +enthusiasm, the object of which was to found at New Harmony--I think, +though I am not sure whether Frances Wright's colony was not another, +separate from that of New Harmony--an establishment which was in some +way or other to contribute to the emancipation of the slaves, mainly, I +imagine, by showing that under proper management they were not unfitted +for freedom. The fate of that philanthropic scheme is too well known to +make it necessary for me to rehearse the story of it here, imperfectly +known to me as it is. The upshot was, that my mother and brother were +induced to go to Cincinnati and attempt other plans, the final result of +which was also a failure. I had had no share in these Transatlantic +projects, being at the time a scholar at Winchester in the college of +William of Wykeham. But between quitting Winchester, at the age of +eighteen, and going to Oxford, I had a period of liberty of nearly a +twelvemonth, the greater part of which I devoted to accompanying my +father on a visit to Cincinnati. And there I became acquainted with +Powers, a very few years only my senior, whom I found already the valued +friend of my mother and brother. + +He was at that time--I well remember the look of him--a tall, lanky, but +remarkably handsome lad, somewhat awkward in person, but with a calm but +at the same time intellectually expressive beauty of feature which +marked him as one of Nature's noblemen. His eyes were the most +noticeable point about him. They were magnificent--large, clear, +well-opened, and expressive of calm thought and the working of the +intellect rather than of shrewdness or passion. His manner, I remember, +was marked by an exceeding simpleness, and a sort of innocent and +dignified straightforwardness which much impressed me. Altogether, my +acquaintance with him was a contribution of a new sort to the education +of my mind. I had passed eight years in the acquisition of those things +which an English "gentleman's education" is supposed to offer. These +things (in the year 1829) consisted in a very fair knowledge of Latin +and Greek. Unquestionably, the eight years which I had spent in learning +those languages had brought with them other advantages and other +teachings of an altogether priceless sort. But what they professedly had +taught me, what I then considered as the net result of my eight years at +school, was a competent knowledge of Latin and Greek, and nothing else. +Now, here was a young man of my own age, or little more, about whose +idiosyncrasy there was something especially _simpatico_ to me, as +the Italians say--who knew nothing whatever of the only things which I +knew, but knew a whole world of things of which I was profoundly +ignorant. I was (of course) full of prejudices also--ecclesiastical +prejudices, class prejudices, political prejudices, caste +prejudices--all of which were as unintelligible to my new friend as they +would have been to a red Indian. He was singularly free from prejudice +of any kind--a sort of original, blank-paper mind, on which nothing had +been written save what he had consciously written there himself as the +result of his own observations of life. I knew other young Americans, +and perceived and could have pointed out characteristics which +distinguished them. But Powers was not like them. He seemed to me a sort +of Adam, a fresh, new and original _man_, unclassable and +unjudgable by any of the formulas or prejudices which served me as means +of appreciating men. Despite all this--perhaps because of all this--we +soon became great friends. I very shortly discovered that he was wholly +and entirely truthful. His "yes" was _yes,_ his "no" was _no_; +and not only that, but what is much rarer still, his "five" or "six" was +not five and a quarter or six and a half, but _five_ or _six_. +I remember in him then what I recognized after many, many years in later +life, and what is often so amusing a characteristic in simple, upright +and truthful minds--the notion that on occasion he could be deep enough +to outwit the cunning of the unscrupulous, whereas his loyal +unsuspiciousness of evil was such that he might have been cheated by the +first shallow rogue who chose to exercise his vulpine craft against him. + +When I reached Cincinnati I found him intimate with my brother, and a +favorite with my mother, who had formed a high opinion both of his +character and of his talents. The latter had already very markedly +manifested themselves in that direction which finally decided his career +in life. Yet there was little of that dreamy and enthusiastic worship +for the abstract beautiful which is generally supposed to be the marking +characteristic of the artistic temperament. But he had a wonderful +faculty of executing with his hands whatever his mind had conceived, and +a mind singularly active in invention and in devising means for the +execution of a mechanical end. Had circumstances not made him a +sculptor, he might have been--probably would have been--a successful +inventor, mechanician or engineer. Throughout life he was an eminently +and specially _practical_ man--a man whose tendency was not to +dream, but to _do_. That artistic temperament, as it is generally +called, which so often manifests itself in exactly the opposite +direction--in a tendency to dream rather than to do, and to allow the +pleasures of the ideal to incapacitate those who indulge in them for +real work--was so little his that I have never known a more industrious +and conscientious worker with his hands. And there was nothing to which +he could not turn them, and that with a degree of skill that would often +put to shame the attempts of members of the craft which he might be +essaying for the first time. + +At that time Hiram Powers was, as the saying is, living upon his wits; +and they, being such as I have described them, were not likely to fail +in producing the wherewithal to do so. There was at that period a little +Frenchman named Dorfeuille at Cincinnati--not a bad sort of little man, +I believe, and with some amount of literary and other talent. But he +also being engaged in the operation of living on his wits, or mainly so, +and not finding them so abundantly sufficient for the purpose as those +of my young friend, thought that he too might in part live on the wits +of the latter; and during the time of my stay at Cincinnati he did so to +the satisfaction of both parties. This Dorfeuille was the proprietor of +a museum, the main and most attractive portion of which was a number of +wax figures. But the Cincinnati public was not large enough in those +days to supply a constant stream of fresh spectators, and, though there +was little in the way of public amusement to compete with M. +Dorfeuille's museum, the Cincinnati people soon got tired of looking at +the same show; and but for the happy chance which brought him into +contact with Hiram Powers, M. Dorfeuille must have packed up his museum +and sought "fresh woods and pastures new." But with the advent of young +Powers, and the contents of the museum given over to his creating brain +and clever fingers, a period of halcyon days and new prosperity +commenced for the little Frenchman and his show. With the materials at +his disposition all things were possible to the young artist, to whom +such a chance gave the first clear consciousness of his own powers. New +combinations, new names, new costuming, alterations of figures, etc. +etc. were adopted to produce fine effects and amuse the public with +constant novelties. For the invention of these Powers often used to +consult my mother, whose suggestions he never failed to carry into +effect, to the great amusement of both parties. On one occasion an idea +struck her, which, when she communicated it to him, fired the +imagination of Powers and turned out a great success. This was nothing +less than to give a representation of some of the more striking scenes +of Dante's _Divina Commedia_. The idea was a sufficiently audacious +one. But "audaces Fortuna juvat." Powers scouted the notion of +difficulty. My mother was to draw up the programme, and he undertook, +with the materials furnished him by the museum, and with the help of +some of his own handiwork, to give scenic reality to her suggestions. +The result, as I have said, was a brilliant success. I have a copy of +the "bill" that was issued to the public inviting them to the exhibition +in question, which is a curiosity in its way, and which I must give the +reader. It is drawn up in high sensational style, with lines of +different lengths and boldness, and printed in all the different sorts +of capitals which the printer's case afforded. I cannot occupy space +with any imitation of these typographical magnificences, but will simply +copy the language of the bill. It must have been my mother's +composition, and Powers had to work up to it, which he did to the +letter: + + "The World to come, as described by Dante, and comprising, Hell, + Purgatory, and Paradise, will be exhibited in a room adjoining the + Western Museum on the 4th of July, and days following. Admittance, + twenty-five cents. In the centre is seen a grand colossal figure of + Minos, the Judge of Hell. He is seated at the entrance of the + INFERNAL REGIONS [enormous capitals]. His right hand is raised as + in the act to pronounce sentence, his left holding a two-pronged + sceptre. Above his head is a scroll on which are written the + concluding words of Dante's celebrated inscription, 'Abandon hope, + all ye who enter here!' To the right of this figure the foreground + presents a frozen lake, on the surface of which are seen the heads + of those who have been doomed to this species of punishment. Among + these is the head of Ugolino, whom Dante describes as eternally + gnawing the head of his enemy, who, after placing him and his three + sons in the upper chamber of a strong tower near Florence, threw + the key of it into the moat and left them to perish with hunger. + Grinning in mockery of these ice-bound sufferers, A BLACK IMP + [biggest extra black capitals] is seated on a rock, dandling a + young monster. On the edge of the opposite side of the frozen lake + stands a spirit, who is just about to endure the frozen torment; + and his attitude and countenance express the agony of extreme cold. + Behind him opens the fiery gulf, the reflection of whose lurid + glare is seen on his half-frozen body. At his feet a female head, + fixed in the ice, looks up to the flames, as longing for their + warmth; while a little way within the lake of fire another head is + seen gazing with longing eyes upon the ice. A brilliant fountain of + flame is in the midst of the lake, and around it crowds of + condemned spirits in all varieties of suffering. In one corner a + fiend is proclaiming their infamy by the aid of a trumpet through + all the depths of Hell. Birds and animals of hideous form and evil + omen are fluttering over the heads and tormenting the sufferers. + Large icicles hang from the rocks that form the Gate of Hell, and + reflect on their bright surface the red glare of the fires within. + On the left of Minos is seen a Skeleton ascending a column of + Icicles and holding a standard bearing these lines: + + "'To this grim form our cherished limbs have come, + And thus lie mouldering in their earthly home. + In turf-bound hillock or in sculptured shrine + The worms alike their cold caresses twine. + So far we all are equal; but once left + Our mortal weeds, of vital spark bereft, + Asunder farther than the poles we're driven-- + Some sunk to deepest Hell, some raised to highest Heaven.' + + "Still farther on the left of Minos, and melting into distance + behind him, is seen the shadowy region of Purgatory. Four bright + stars--the Cardinal Virtues--give a delicate and cheering light + amid the gloom. A group of figures loaded with the burthen of their + sins are about to plunge into the lake of purgatorial waters, in + the hope of depositing them there. A boat wafted by the wings of an + Angel is bearing departed, souls toward Heaven; and near it is a + column of pale light to direct its course. In the distance is the + mountain that divides Purgatory from Heaven; and Beatrice, the + departed mistress of Dante, is standing on its summit, encouraging + him to proceed with her to Heaven, where his former guide, Virgil, + cannot be admitted (being a Pagan). Groups of Pilgrims who have + passed through Purgatory are ascending the mountain. Still farther + to the left, and opening in unbroken splendor above the head of + Beatrice, is seen the Heaven of Heavens. The golden light pours + down on the heads of the Pilgrims, and angels are seen floating in + the air and encouraging their efforts. The foreground of this part + of the scene presents various objects to cheer the spirit of the + Pilgrims in their passage through Purgatory. The entrance indeed is + rocky, but shrubs and flowers adorn it, and the Dove, the bird of + Hope, is bearing the olive-branch before them." + +If all that was packed into "a room adjoining the Western Museum," the +sight of it must, I think, be admitted to have been a cheap twenty-five +cents' worth. The Cincinnati world of hard upon half a century ago +judged it to be so, and flocked to the exhibition in crowds. But very +soon the versatile and indefatigable artist devised new means of still +further stimulating the curiosity and excitement of his public. A bar +ran across the exhibition-room, dividing the space allotted to the +spectators from that occupied by the scenery and objects provided for +their amusement. But since the available space was, as may easily be +imagined, somewhat limited, it came to pass that the foremost +spectators, being often of that class of persons who see with the ends +of their fingers, would stretch out their arms and audaciously touch +"the Black Imp," or "the Skeleton," or Minos himself, or any other of +the _dramatis personæ_ they could reach, to the damage of those +somewhat perishable properties. A notice was therefore placarded in the +room, written in flame-colored letters and couched in the choicest +bugaboo phraseology, warning all such indiscreet persons that the +denizens of the Infernal Regions could not be touched by mortal hands +with impunity, and that _immediate_ punishment would visit +transgressors. Of course it was foreseen that such threats would not +avail to restrain, but would rather stimulate the curiosity of the +disciples of Saint Thomas. But, sure enough, the threatened punishment, +by no means "_pede claudo_" followed in every case--very accurately +with the speed of lightning--on the transgression; for Powers had +cunningly contrived, preparing it all with his own hand, that a sharp +electric shock should be communicated to each audacious hand that braved +the prohibition. The astonishment, the terror, and subsequently the fun, +produced by this ingenious device may easily be imagined. The sufferers, +like the fox who had lost his tail, brought their friends, and enjoyed +the fun of leading them into the same scrape. The "room adjoining the +Western Museum" was more thronged than ever, and little Dorfeuille +reaped a golden harvest. How large a share of it found its way into the +pockets of the ingenious artist I know not--probably a much smaller one +than fair play would have assigned him. + +In the long after years at Florence, Powers and I had many a laugh +together over his reminiscences of the scenes that occurred in that +exhibition-room, all of which he remembered as well as if the incidents +had happened but a year before, and would chuckle over with as much +enjoyment as he did at the time of their occurrence. My copy of the +hand-bill which I have given above--doubtless the only one now in +existence--was matter of much amusement to us, and served to recall +every portion and every figure of the early work of his hands. + +From the time I left America to go to Oxford, in the spring of 1829, +till our meeting at Florence in 1841, I saw no more of Powers. But, as +may be easily imagined, we lost no time in renewing our old friendship. +He was then, and for many years afterward, living in the Via Romana, not +far from the city gate of that name. The house stood back from the +street, and was approached only by a passage through another tenement, +from which it was divided by a little garden; a situation which, though +not in all respects convenient, had at least the advantage of securing +quietude. The young sculptor, with his already numerous and rapidly +increasing family, occupied the first and second floors, while the +ground floor was exclusively devoted to workshops and show-rooms. The +premises were large and the accommodations ample. Already few Americans +came to Florence without paying a visit to the "Studio Powers," but they +were in those days but few in comparison to the number which, partly as +residents and partly as merely passing tourists, throng every winter the +fair "City of Flowers." Up to the revolution of 1848 the English at +Florence were very far more numerous than the citizens of the other +English-speaking nation. That unsuccessful movement drove many English, +very unnecessarily, from their moorings. The English colony was very +much reduced even after those who returned on the return of the grand +duke had resumed their old places. And from that time forward I think +that America has been more numerously represented on the banks of the +Arno than England. Powers had at that time produced various successful +busts, but had not as yet made himself known as an imaginative sculptor. +Nevertheless, the former works had sufficed to give him an amount of +reputation in the United States that ensured constant visits of his +countrymen to the studio in the Via Romana. + +Some twelve years had elapsed when I first saw Powers in Florence since +the old days in Cincinnati. In such a space of time, especially at that +period of life which turns a lad into a man, most men change much. But +the change in Powers's face was but small: I should have known him if I +had met him in the street anywhere. But in person he was much changed: +he had become stout and what is called personable, not fat--he never was +that to the end of his life--but neither was he lanky, as he had been as +a youth. He had filled out, as the phrase is, and might be considered in +all respects a decidedly handsome man. There was something specially, +and more than commonly, upright in the carriage of his person and of his +head, which seemed the expression of the uprightness of the man's moral +and intellectual nature and character. He always looked straight at you +with those large, placid and generally grave eyes of his under their +large and bushy brows. They seemed to continue grave, or at least +thoughtful, those eyes, even when there was a pleasant genial smile on +the mouth. And there was this specialty about his smile--a specialty +which may be often observed in subjective natures habituated to original +thought and to live in the inner life: it seemed generally to be +produced more by the movement of his own inward feelings and thoughts +than by what was said by others. Like most dark-haired men, he began to +become gray early in life, and for some few years before his death his +appearance was venerable in no ordinary degree. He then wore his hair, +which had become perfectly white, very long, and a shallow, very +broad-brimmed white hat on the top of it. The latter, indeed, was, I +think, at all times his universal wear. I do not think that I ever saw +him in Florence in that detestable article of apparel called "a +chimney-pot hat." But this is anticipating. + +Very shortly after our arrival in Florence and the renewal of our +friendship with Powers--I think not more than a year--there arrived in +Florence, bringing a letter of introduction to my mother, an English +gentleman of fortune, Mr. Grant. He was a noted lover and patron of art, +and my mother proposed to him a visit to the Studio Powers. The sculptor +had then just completed his first imaginative work, the "Greek Slave," +which numerous _replicas_ have since made so well known on both +sides of the Atlantic. This work had greatly excited my mother's +admiration, and it was that he might have an opportunity of seeing the +"Greek Slave" that my mother was desirous of taking Mr. Grant to the +sculptor's studio. But it was not altogether easy to induce Mr. Grant to +accept the proposal. "If there is anything very good, that is the very +reason why I must not go there. Lead me not into temptation! I have been +spending all my money, and more than I meant to spend, on sculpture in +Rome. Don't show me any more statues, for I cannot buy any more." But +this confession of fearing temptation was calculated to produce a +stronger determination to expose him to it. Mr. Grant was persuaded to +visit the studio in the Via Romana: he was as much charmed with the +beauty of the conception of the statue as with the conscientious +perfection of its execution, and he became the purchaser of it. And it +speedily acquired a reputation which led to the execution of as many, I +think, as four or five replicas at the request of other lovers of art; +and the sculptor's reputation was made. + +The practice of the greatest sculptors as regards the degree in which it +has seemed desirable to them to take part in that mechanical portion of +the business of producing a statue which consists in the manipulation of +the marble, has always been very different. Some have subjected the +marble to the touching of their own hands more, some less. The work of +reproducing a copy of the clay model in marble is a purely mechanical +one, and may or may not be in the artist's judgment best brought to +perfection by the labor of his own hands. It will readily be believed, +however, from what has been already said of the tendencies of Powers's +talent and idiosyncrasy, that he was among those who have contributed +most of their personal labor to the perfecting of their works. Powers +was one of those men whose hands have faculty in them. He was a master +in the use of them, and accordingly he loved to use them. It was his +practice to go over with his own hand the surface of the marble of every +work which left his studio. But he was not contented to do this in the +manner and with the tools which had been used by so many generations of +sculptors before him. That decided bent of his genius to mechanical +invention which has been mentioned at the beginning of this paper led +him to perceive that an improvement might be made in this respect. For +giving the last finish to the marble, for removing from the surface a +quantity so small that no chisel could be trusted to do the work, it is +obvious enough to suggest the use of a file. And no doubt files are used +for the purpose, but they are liable to a special and very troublesome +source of inefficiency. They become clogged with the excessively fine +dust of the marble in a very few minutes to such an extent as to be +rendered useless, especially as the file must be of an exceedingly fine +description. Powers therefore set his mind to the problem of inventing +some means or some instrument by which this source of trouble could be +avoided; and after considerable vexation, not so much in perfecting his +own conception of the thing needed as in getting careless and not very +competent workmen to execute his orders, he perfected a file of the +necessary fineness upon the principle of a nutmeg-grater. His studio was +at all times full of little ingenious contrivances of all +sorts--contrivances for readily and conveniently modifying the light in +the exact degree desirable; contrivances for the due collocation and +distribution of artificial light; contrivances for the more ready moving +of marbles, etc. etc. + +It is the fashion in Florence and in Rome for artists to open their +studios to all visitors. It is a custom which adds much to the amusement +of visitors who are really lovers of art; but it must bring with it, one +would think, consequences which must sometimes be not a little trying to +the painter's or sculptor's temper and patience. Criticism from those +who have some little pretension to the right to criticise is not always +pleasant when volunteered, but criticism from such Philistines of the +Philistines as often haunt the studios must be hard indeed to bear with +common courtesy. Powers invariably received such with the most perfect +suavity and good-temper, but I have sometimes seen him, to my great +amusement, inflict a punishment on the talkers of nonsense which made +them wish they had held their tongues. This consisted simply of +defending his own practice by entering on a lecture upon the principles +which ought to regulate the matter in question. He was, I fancy, rather +fond of lecturing, and would rather have liked the work of a professor +of the fine arts. I have seen people writhe under his patient and +lengthy expositions, which they were as capable of understanding as so +many bullocks, and which they had brought down on themselves by some +absolutely absurd remark on the work before them. I have seen such +delinquents use every sort of effort to put a stop to or escape from the +punishment they had brought upon themselves. In vain: the lecture would +continue with a placid _uninterruptibility_ which it was amusing to +witness. + +It was in 1854, I think, or thereabouts (for I have not at hand the +means of verifying the date with accuracy, and it is of no consequence), +that Mr. Hume, the since well-known medium, came to Florence. He came to +my house on the pressing invitation of my mother, my then wife and +myself. We had seen accounts of extraordinary things said to have taken +place some months previously at the house of a Mr. Rymer, a solicitor +living at Ealing near London, and our curiosity and interest had been so +much excited that the hope of being able to witness some of these +marvels was not the least among the motives of a journey that summer to +England. We obtained an introduction to Mr. Rymer, were present at +sundry _séances_ at his house at Ealing, made acquaintance with Mr. +Hume, and invited him to stay for a while in my house in Florence. He +came accompanied by his friend, a son of Mr. Rymer; and both the young +men were resident under my roof for about a month, leaving it to accept +an invitation from Mr. Powers to make his house their home for a while. +The manifestations of phenomena produced, or supposed to be produced, by +what has become known to the world as "Spiritualism," were then only +beginning to attract in Europe the very general attention which they +have since that time attracted. The thing was then new to most people. +During the month that Mr. Hume and his friend were in my house we had +séances almost every evening, with the "assistance," as the French say, +of a rather numerous and very varied circle. For, as may easily be +supposed, all our friends were anxious to witness the new marvels, and +we, desirous only of as many eyes and as many minds as might be for the +better watching and discussion of the phenomena, welcomed all comers to +the extent of the capacity of our room and table. I have no intention of +troubling my present readers with any detailed rehearsal of the +phenomena which presented themselves. The testimony which my +observations during this period enabled me to offer has already more +than once been given to the world in print, and the catalogue of similar +and yet more extraordinary experiences has become too long, and the +witnesses to them too numerous and too well known to the public, for +such details to have any further interest at the present day. I feel +bound, however, to state that no amount of suspicious watching which I +was able to exercise in my house, and which Powers was able to exercise +in his, enabled us to discover any smallest degree of imposture, or fair +grounds for suspecting imposture, as regards the physical or material +phenomena which were witnessed. Such is my testimony, and such was that +of Powers, who, by his aptitude for inventing and understanding +mechanical contrivances of all kinds, was a man specially well fitted +for the task of watching the performance of such wonders. I have spoken +here, it will be observed, altogether of the _material_ and +_physical_ phenomena witnessed. As to what are called the spiritual +manifestations, Powers was perhaps not an entirely unbiased estimator of +these. He was an eminently sincere, earnest and zealous Swedenborgian, +and several of the leading tenets and dogmas of the Swedenborgian faith +are calculated to make such communications with the world of spirits as +Spiritualists claim to experience much less startling, less strange to +the mind and more acceptable, than they usually appear to other people. +To a Swedenborgian who is perfectly convinced that the spirits of the +departed are ever around him and interested in his welfare, it does not +seem a very strange or extraordinary thing that these visitors should +under certain circumstances be able to express the interest which they +always feel. Powers regarded all the professed manifestations of +spiritual communications from that stand-point, and was enabled to +accept them therefore somewhat more easily than another person might +have done. Yet, despite such predisposing proclivities, and though he +was disposed to think a great variety of professed communications from +the world of spirits to have been genuinely what they purported to be, +the habitual uprightness and truthfulness of Powers's mind led him, as I +believe I am justified in saying, to the conclusion that in the case +which I am about to mention, at least, there was ground for very strong +suspicion of the honesty of the medium. The circumstances of the case +were as follows: + +I had many years previously lost a brother--the same whom I have already +had occasion to mention in the earlier part of this letter. Now, at an +early stage of the series of sittings that took place at my house it was +intimated that the spirit of this brother was present and wishful or +willing to communicate with me. He did, as was proposed, communicate +very freely upon subjects of all sorts by means of raps under the table +and the letters of the alphabet spread upon it--on all subjects save +one. To the often-repeated question, where we had last met in life, I +could get no reply. It was constantly promised to me that I should be +answered this question at the next sitting. Now, it so happened that my +wife had conceived, reasonably or unreasonably, doubts as to the +medium's honesty in the matter, and she determined to try him in the +matter of this unanswered question. Talking one day with him in +tête-à-tête, she turned the subject of maladies of the chest, of which +they had been speaking, to the special case of her late brother-in-law, +discussing the powerful influence of climate, and remarking that she +feared Ostend had been a very bad place for him. And there she left the +matter without any further remark, and without eliciting any answer from +him. This occurred very shortly before the time when Mr. Hume left my +house to accept the hospitality of Mr. Powers. The sittings continued +with great frequency in the house of the latter, and my mother and +myself were very frequently present at them. As before, the +_soi-disant_ spirit of my brother Henry announced his presence, +and, as before, I repeated my often-asked question as to the place on +earth where he and I had last met. On this occasion the answer rapped +out consisted of the word "Ostend." I smilingly replied, "Spirit, you +know nothing about what you are talking of: you are wrong." Mr. Hume +became immediately very angry, and reproached me vehemently for +"interrupting the spirit"--for not waiting for what he was probably +going to say. It was likely enough, he added, that the spirit was about +to say that Ostend was _not_ the place. I said "Pshaw! In that way +he might go through the whole Gazetteer." Thereupon Mr. Hume declared +that I was evidently not in a fit frame of mind to be a sitter at such +meetings; that my presence would be likely to mar any results to be +expected from them; and, in short, if only for the sake of those who +wished to continue their experiences, it was necessary that I should +withdraw from them. That was the last occasion on which I took part in a +séance under Mr. Hume's mediumship. My mother continued her sittings at +the house of Mr. Powers, and it is fair to record that she there +witnessed material phenomena--some of them closely allied to phenomena +only explainable on Spiritualistic theories--of even a more +extraordinary nature than any which had occurred at my house; in which +neither she, nor Mr. Powers or any of his family, nor any of the others +of the party, were able to detect any imposture. And I believe I may add +that Mr. Powers fully believed in the genuineness of the phenomena +witnessed. It is also perhaps fair to state that had the answer to my +question been "On board the steamboat going from London to Ostend," the +reply would have been correct. How far it is possible to suppose that +the word "Ostend" may have been the _first_ word of an answer about +to be completed in that sense if it had not been interrupted, I leave to +the judgment of the reader. + +For some time after this Powers used to recount to me the marvels which +were witnessed at his house. He was not pleased with the medium as an +inmate in other respects: he did not form a favorable opinion of his +moral character. I am speaking of matters now many years old, and I +might not have considered it necessary to record these impressions of a +very specially upright and honest man with regard to one who is still +before the public were it not that they go to increase the value of Mr. +Powers's testimony to the genuineness of the phenomena which he +witnessed, by showing that his judgment upon the subject was at least in +no degree warped by any prejudice in favor of the miracle-worker. + +Meantime, the sculptor, still in the modest tenement which he occupied +for so many years in the Via Romana, was growing in fame and reputation +from day to day. A visit to the Studio Powers--or Pousse, as the +ciceroni and valets-de-place called it--was an obligatory part of the +tourist's regular work in "doing" Florence. A large family was, during +those prosperous and laborious years, growing up around him--sons and +daughters, most of whom he lived to see settled in life and to be justly +proud of. Death did not altogether pass his threshold by, but he knocked +there but once or twice in all that length of years. At last the time +came when the successful artist felt that his position enabled and +justified him in moving from his old quarters to more commodious and +luxurious ones. He had been but a tenant in the Via Romana: he was now +to inhabit a house of his own. + +It was the time when Florence was for a few short years enjoying the +fallacious and fatal honor of being the capital of Italy. There were +some who from the first were fully convinced that that honor would be a +transitory one. The greater number thought that the will of France and +of her emperor, and the difficulties attending the simultaneous +residence of the king of Italy and the pope within the walls of the same +city, would avail to make Florence the capital of the new kingdom for at +least as many years as human prudence could look forward to. The +earthquake-like events which shook down the bases of all such +calculations, and enabled Italy to realize her longing desire to see +Rome the capital of the nation, are too well known to need even +referring to. Florence suddenly ceased to be the metropolis of Italy, +and the amount of financial ruin in the case of those who had invested +money in building to supply the wants of the capital was very widespread +indeed. And there can be no doubt that the houses built by Powers are at +the present day worth much less than they were at the time he built +them, and still less than they would have been worth had Florence +remained the capital. Nevertheless, I do not think that he would have +abstained from building from any considerations of this kind. He built +solely with a view to residence, and in that respect he could hardly +have done better than he did. + +He did not move very far. His old lodging and studio were, as has been +said, a little way within the Porta Romana, and the villa residence +which he built is but two or three minutes' walk on the outside of it. +Immediately outside this Porta Romana, sloping off a little to the left +from the road to Rome, is a magnificent avenue of ilex and cypress +conducting to a grand-ducal villa called the "Poggio Imperiale." To the +left again of this avenue, which is perhaps a mile or somewhat more in +length, and between it and the city wall, which in that part of its +course encloses the Boboli Gardens attached to the Palazzo Pitti, is a +large extent of hillside, rapidly rising to the heights crowned by the +ancient and storied church of San Miniato, and by the suburban villages +of Arcetri and Pian Guillari. This space was, and had been for time out +of mind, occupied by fields and market-gardens. But when the new +fortunes of the City of Flowers fallaciously seemed to be in the +ascendant, it was at once seen that of all the spaces immediately around +Florence which were available for that increase of the city which was +expected to be urgently required, none was more desirable or more +favorably circumstanced than this hillside. A really magnificent +carriage-road, ornamented with gardens on either side of it, was led in +well-arranged curves up to San Miniato, and down on the other side of +the hill till it reaches the Arno at the village of Ricorboli. The +entire course of this road commands a series of varied views of the city +and the Vale of Arno than which nothing can be conceived more charming. +It is in truth the finest city promenade and drive that I know in +Europe. Rome has nothing comparable to it. The Bois de Boulogne and Hyde +Park are, as far as natural beauty goes, tame and flat in comparison to +it. The planning and the execution of it have been alike excellent. The +whole of the space up which the road serpentines has been turned into +ornamental gardens, and on either side of it, and among its lawns and +shrubberies, a large number of villa-sites were reserved to be disposed +of to purchasers. Of this singular opportunity Powers was one of the +first to avail himself. He selected with admirable judgment three sites +in the immediate neighborhood of each other--one for a residence for +himself, one for that of his eldest son, a married man, established and +doing well as a photographer, and one for that of his eldest daughter +and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Ibbetson. The friends of the sculptor thus +patriarchally establishing himself said laughingly that the region ought +to be called Powerstown. The three houses, each in its own grounds, were +built, and excellently good and comfortable residences they are. Powers +was almost as much in his own element in superintending them as in his +studio with mallet and chisel in hand, as might be surmised. The new +studio formed no part of the dwelling-house, but occupied a separate +erection in the grounds. Nor did the artist's love for his art fail to +show itself in the amplitude and excellent adaptation of the building to +all the needs of a studio, properly so called--of work-rooms and +exhibition-rooms for the reception of visitors. A more complete +sculptor's residence and establishment it would be difficult to imagine. +Alas for the shortness of the few years that were allowed to him for the +enjoyment of it! Long after the house and the studio were completed, and +the marbles all moved thither, Powers was still indulging in the delight +of improving his garden; and his plans for such improvement gave +striking evidence of that genius and passion for mechanical cleverness +and achievements of which I have frequently spoken. He had planned and +begun--I think only begun--to execute an artesian well by means of +certain newly-invented systems of boring, the details of which, in the +absence of all workmen who possessed any knowledge whatever on the +subject, had to be wholly superintended, arranged and adapted by +himself. He had satisfied himself by observations of his own that water +was to be found at a given depth, and had, I believe, prosecuted the +work sufficiently to be assured that his judgment in this respect was +well founded. In connection with this scheme of the artesian well was a +fountain in the garden, which was, I believe, also ultimately brought to +perfection. + +In conformity with the convenient continental fashion of ladies naming +one day in the week for the reception of visitors--a plan which enables +them to escape from the interruption to their domestic pursuits on all +other days, and which is very generally adopted by those who have large +circles of acquaintance--Mrs. Powers used to open the drawing-rooms of +her new house on every Saturday, and a considerable crowd was sure to be +found there from two to six. But such recent arrivals on the banks of +the Arno as paid their respects to Mrs. Powers in the hope and +expectation of seeing the famous sculptor were almost, if not quite, +invariably disappointed. None of the Florentine colony expected to find +Powers in the drawing-room on such occasions. They knew better where to +look for him--in his workshop. There he might be found by those who had +brought letters of introduction to him, in his usual workman's garb. +Powers never made the slightest concession to the necessities of +receiving "company" on such occasions. There he was, with his working +cap on head, probably in a long light gray coat, not innocent of marble +dust, but often in blouse and apron. + +In the latter days, when, though we little thought it, the end was +approaching, when the night of that long day of continuous activity and +labor was at hand, he might as frequently have been found sauntering +under the magnificent trees of the Poggio Imperiale avenue in the +immediate vicinity of his own house. Upright in figure and in carriage +as ever, and with his eye as bright as ever, it was difficult to suppose +that the venerable and stalwart figure of the old sculptor was not +destined still for years of life and activity. His malady was connected +with the respiratory organs; and a specially painful circumstance of it +for his friends was, that the loss of voice, which made the effort of +talking injurious to him, rendered it a selfish and inconsiderate thing +to visit him; for the activity of his mind was still such that in the +contact with another mind he could not abstain from the old familiar +intercourse which he had loved so well. Like the old camel of the +Arabian tale, that, having been all its life accustomed to lead the +caravan, died in the effort to keep his old place to the last, Powers, +who had been always wont to have rather the lion's share of +conversation, could not resign himself to hear another talk, in silence. +He _would_ talk, and suffered for it afterward. The result was that +his friends felt that they were showing the best consideration for him +by staying away. + +To look at him, I say, as he would stand in the sunshine at his own +gate, it was difficult to imagine that aught of a very serious nature +ailed him. But in the case of a man so habitually active his sauntering +there was a bad sign. He was emphatically one of those men with whom +life and work are the same thing--one whose sun was at the setting when +he could work no more, and who would probably have cared little to +survive his capacity for working. + + T. ADOLPHUS TROLLOPE. + + + + +CORN. + + + To-day the woods are trembling through and through + With shimmering forms, that flash into my view, + Then melt in green as dawn-stars melt in blue. + The leaves that wave against my cheek caress + Like women's hands; the embracing boughs express + A subtlety of mighty tenderness; + The copse-depths into little noises start, + That sound anon like beatings of a heart, + Anon like talk 'twixt lips not far apart. + The beech dreams balm, as a dreamer hums a song, + Through whose vague sweet float expirations strong + From lithe young hickories, breathing deep and long + With stress and urgence bold of inward spring, + And ecstasy of burgeoning. + Now, since the dew-plashed road of morn is dry, + Come daintier smells, linked in soft company, + Like velvet-slippered ladies pacing by. + Long muscadines, + Like Jove's locks curled round foreheads of great pines, + Breathe out ambrosial passion from their vines. + I pray with mosses, ferns and flowers shy + That hide like gentle nuns from human eye, + To lift adoring odors to the sky. + I hear faint bridal-sighs of blissful green, + Dying to kindred silences serene, + As dim lights melt into a pleasant sheen. + I start at fragmentary whispers, blown + From undertalks of leafy loves unknown, + Vague purports sweet, of inarticulate tone. + + Dreaming of gods, men, nuns and brides, between + Old companies of oaks that inward lean + To join their radiant amplitudes of green, + I slowly move, with ranging looks that pass + Up from the matted miracles of grass + Into yon veined complex of space, + Where sky and leafage interlace + So close the heaven of blue is seen + Inwoven with a heaven of green. + + I wander to the zigzag-cornered fence + Where sassafras, intrenched in brambles dense, + Contests with stolid vehemence + The march of culture, setting limb and thorn, + Like pikes, against the army of the corn. + + There, while I pause, before mine eyes, + Out of the silent corn-ranks, rise + Inward dignities + And large benignities and insights wise, + Graces and modest majesties. + Thus, without tilth, I house a wondrous yield; + Thus, without theft, I reap another's field, + And store quintuple harvests in my heart concealed. + + See, out of line a single corn-stem stands + Advanced beyond the foremost of his bands, + And waves his blades upon the very edge + And hottest thicket of the battling hedge. + Thou lustrous stalk, that canst nor walk nor talk, + Still dost thou type the poet-soul sublime + That leads the vanward of his timid time, + And sings up cowards with commanding rhyme-- + Soul calm, like thee, yet fain, like thee, to grow + By double increment, above, below; + Soul homely, as thou art, yet rich in grace like thee, + Teaching the yeomen selfless chivalry, + That moves in gentle curves of courtesy; + Soul filled like thy long veins with sweetness tense, + By every godlike sense + Transmuted from the four wild elements. + Toward the empyrean + Thou reachest higher up than mortal man, + Yet ever piercest downward in the mould, + And keepest hold + Upon the reverend and steadfast earth + That gave thee birth. + Yea, standest smiling in thy very grave, + Serene and brave, + With unremitting breath + Inhaling life from death, + Thine epitaph writ fair in fruitage eloquent, + Thy living self thy monument. + + As poets should, + Thou hast built up thy hardihood + With wondrous-varying food, + Drawn in select proportion fair + From solid mould and vagrant air; + From terrors of the dreadful night, + And joyful light; + From antique ashes, whose departed flame + In thee has finer life and longer fame; + From wounds and balms, + From storms and calms, + From potsherds and dry bones, + And ruin-stones. + So to thy vigorous substance thou hast wrought + Whate'er the hand of Circumstance hath brought; + Yea, into cool solacing green hast spun + White radiance hot from out the sun. + So thou dost mutually leaven + Strength of earth with grace of heaven; + So thou dost marry new and old + Into a one of higher mould; + So thou dost reconcile the hot and cold, + The dark and bright, + And many a heart-perplexing opposite: + And so, + Akin by blood to high and low, + Fitly thou playest out thy poet's part, + Richly expending thy much-bruised heart + In equal care to nourish lord in hall + Or beast in stall: + Thou took'st from all that thou might'st give to all. + + O steadfast dweller on the selfsame spot + Where thou wast born, that still repinest not-- + Type of the home-fond heart, the happy lot!-- + Deeply thy mild content rebukes the land + Whose flimsy homes, built on the shifting sand + Of trade, for ever rise and fall + With alternation whimsical, + Enduring scarce a day, + Then swept away + By swift engulfments of incalculable tides + Whereon capricious Commerce rides. + + Look, thou substantial spirit of content! + Across this little vale, thy continent, + To where, beyond the mouldering mill, + Yon old deserted Georgian hill + Bares to the sun his piteous aged crest + And seamy breast, + By restless-hearted children left to lie + Untended there beneath the heedless sky, + As barbarous folk expose their old to die. + Upon that generous swelling side, + Now scarified + By keen neglect, and all unfurrowed save + By gullies red as lash-marks on a slave, + Dwelt one I knew of old, who played at toil, + And dreamed himself a tiller of the soil. + Scorning the slow reward of patient grain, + He sowed his soul with hopes of swifter gain, + Then sat him down and waited for the rain. + He sailed in borrowed ships of usury-- + foolish Jason on a treacherous sea, + Seeking the Fleece and finding misery. + Lulled by smooth-rippling loans, in idle trance + He lay, content that unthrift Circumstance + Should plough for him the stony field of Chance. + Yea, gathering crops whose worth no man might tell, + He staked his life on a game of Buy-and-Sell, + And turned each field into a gambler's hell. + Aye, as each year began, + My farmer to the neighboring city ran, + Passed with a mournful anxious face + Into the banker's inner place; + Parleyed, excused, pleaded for longer grace, + Railed at the drought, the worm, the rust, the grass, + Protested ne'er again 'twould come to pass + Such troops of ills his labors should harass; + Politely swallowed searching questions rude, + And kissed the dust to melt his Dives's mood. + At last, small loans by pledges great renewed, + He issues smiling from the fatal door, + And buys with lavish hand his yearly store + Till his small borrowings will yield no more. + Aye, as each year declined, + With bitter heart and ever-brooding mind + He mourned his fate unkind. + In dust, in rain, with might and main, + He nursed his cotton, cursed his grain, + Fretted for news that made him fret again, + Snatched at each telegram of Future Sale, + And thrilled with Bulls' or Bears' alternate wail-- + In hope or fear alike for ever pale. + And thus from year to year, through hope and fear, + With many a curse and many a secret tear, + Striving in vain his cloud of debt to clear, + At last + He woke to find his foolish dreaming past, + Beheld his best-of-life the easy prey + Of quacks and scamps, and all the vile array + That line the way, + From thieving statesman down to petty knave; + Yea, saw himself, for all his bragging brave, + A gamester's catspaw and a banker's slave. + Then, worn and gray, and sick with deep unrest, + He fled away into the oblivious West, + Unmourned, unblest. + + Old hill! old hill! thou gashed and hairy Lear + Whom the divine Cordelia of the year, + E'en pitying Spring, will vainly strive to cheer-- + King, but too poor for any man to own, + Discrowned, undaughtered and alone, + Yet shall the great God turn thy fate, + And bring thee back into thy monarch's state + And majesty immaculate; + So, through hot waverings of the August morn, + A vision of great treasuries of corn + Thou bearest in thy vasty sides forlorn, + For largesse to some future bolder heart + That manfully shall take thy part, + And tend thee, + And defend thee, + With antique sinew and with modern art. + + SIDNEY LANIER. + + + + +GENTLEMAN DICK. + + +They had, all of them, nicknames themselves, for in a Colorado +mining-community it was not difficult to acquire a title, and they +called him Gentleman Dick. It was rather an odd name, to be sure, but it +was very expressive, and conveyed much of the prevailing opinion and +estimate of its owner. They laughed when he expressed a desire to join +the party in Denver, and Old Platte looked at his long, delicate hands, +so like a woman's, with a smile of rough, good-humored pity, mingled, +perhaps, with a shade of contempt for the habits and occupation that had +engendered such apparent effeminacy. But he pleaded so earnestly and +talked with such quiet energy and confidence of what he could and would +do, and moreover had about him so much of that spirit of subdued +_bonhomie_ that always captivates the roughest of the rough, that +they relented, took his money and put it in the "pot," and informed him +that he was one of them. Their decision was not altogether unconnected +with the fact that he had given evidence of considerable surgical skill +in his treatment of Mr. Woods, more familiarly known as "Short-card +William," who had been shot a week or so previously over a game of poker +by an independent bull-whacker whom he had attempted to defraud. The +sense of the community had sustained the act; and while the exhibition +of his skill in dealing was universally condemned as having been +indiscreet under the circumstances, still he was accounted a live man +among them, and the discovery of a surgeon to dress his wound was hailed +with a somewhat general feeling of relief. Had it not been for the fact +that the sobriquet of Gentleman Dick was already conferred and accepted +universally as his name, he certainly would not have escaped that of +"Doctor," and as it was, Mr. Woods, who was profuse as well as profane +in his gratitude, insisted upon so calling him. A doctor, or anything +bearing even a resemblance to a member of that sadly-represented +profession, was regarded with a certain degree of reverence among a +community whose peculiar habits often gave rise to pressing and +immediate need of surgical attendance. Consequently, Gentleman Dick +rapidly attained an elevated position in their regard, and became a +great favorite with Old Platte's party, although they still looked +doubtfully at his slender figure and felt "kind o' bothered" by the air +of gentility and good-breeding which hung around him in spite of the +rough miner's garments that he had chosen to assume. By the time they +left Denver for the Blue he was deemed as indispensable to the company +as Old Platte himself. + + * * * * * + +The forest of dark pines and firs that covered both sides of the valley +of the Blue grew down to the bars of the river, which along its banks +was thickly grown with wild gooseberry and raspberry bushes, and piled +up here and there with great tangled heaps of driftwood which the spring +floods brought down and left in masses of inextricable confusion along +its sides. Back a little distance from one of these sandy flats, and +nestled right in the shadow of the forest's edge, they built a long +rough cabin early in June. In summer-time the spot was a wild and +picturesque one. Green and luxuriant vegetation made a soft and +brilliant carpet at the feet of the stately old pines; huge boulder-like +rocks, their edges softened and rounded in the grasp of one of Agassiz' +pre-Adamite glaciers that had ground its icy way down from the melting +snow-caps above--rocks covered with bright lichens and tufts of moss--- +lay piled on one another at the foot of the steep mountain-side; while +gnarled cedars twisted around about them, their rough red roots twining +here and there in search of sustenance. Below the cabin a little way lay +the bar--Chihuahua Bar they had christened it, out of deference to +"Jones of Chihuahua," whose prospecting-pan had developed the fact that +gold in promising quantities lay beneath it--and a little farther on the +Blue sang merrily in its gravelly bed. Down the river, about two miles, +was Blue Bar, where about two hundred miners had formed a settlement, +and where a red-headed Scotchman, who combined the duties of a +self-constituted postmaster with the dispensation of a villainous +article of whisky, kept a lively grocery and provision store. + +During the early part of the season they had prospected up along the +river, finding gold all the way, but not in quantities sufficiently +large to warrant working. At the place, however, which they subsequently +named Chihuahua (pronounced in the vernacular Chee-waw-waw) the +perspicacious Jones had given it as his opinion, formed after mature +deliberation and a sapient examination of some two or three shovelsful +of dirt, that there was a satisfactory "color in that ar bank." Some +hard work of about a week demonstrated that there were excellent +diggings there, and then work was commenced upon it in good earnest. The +cabin was built, Gentleman Dick's choice of location being unanimously +approved; two or three trips were made across the "Range" to the nearest +settlement for materials and provisions; and then the real labor began. +As they cut through the heavy bank of mould and gravel, gradually eating +a long trench to the bed-rock, prospects grew better and better. At +last, one day a narrow ledge of brittle, shaly rock came in view, +covered with a coating of thick, heavy yellow mud, of which Old Platte +gathered a panful and betook himself down to the river-side. A war-whoop +from the direction in which he had disappeared came ringing through the +gooseberry bushes to their ears, and with a responsive yell and a +simultaneous dropping of shovels and picks they all dashed off to his +side. He was discovered in a condition of great excitement, dancing +wildly round the pan, in the bottom of which about half a teaspoonful +of coarse yellow nuggets were shining among the black sand. It was a +grand prospect, and with the exception of Gentleman Dick, whose +exultation was of a very mild and reserved order, the proprietors of the +Chihuahua Claim behaved in a very undignified and unseemly way; Thompson +and Jones organizing an impromptu sparring-match, and Old Platte +standing indecorously on his head in a neighboring clump of bushes. +Sundry war-whoops and divers indications of activity showed that work of +a very lively and energetic character was being prosecuted that +afternoon on the bar; and when the sun sunk to rest behind the purple +mountains, and the blue mists of evening rose in the valley, they had +their sluice-boxes and "riffles" in order, and were ready to commence +washing at sunrise. + +It did not take very long to clean the ledge, and early in the afternoon +the water was shut off. When it was found that the "riffles" yielded +thirteen ounces of gold that would coin eighteen dollars and a half to +the ounce, a firm conviction seemed to settle upon the camp that this +was an occasion which it would be improper to pass over without a +thorough and practical acknowledgment of its importance in the shape of +a regular celebration. The gold was weighed and divided, all sitting in +a circle in the middle of the cabin floor, while Old Platte officiated +at the scales with all the gravity and dignity which the responsible +position called for. + +Mr. McNab's grocery and post-office at Blue Bar was the scene of much +excitement and noisy revelry that evening and all the next day while the +gold lasted. Miners who had heard of the Chihuahua "streak" flocked up +to Blue Bar to get the particulars, and naturally joined in the general +feeling of exultation and hilarity that seemed to pervade that +community. Old Platte got terribly drunk, and Thompson and Jones +developed the strangest eccentricities of gait, manner and speech, and +finally subsided into a deep slumber in the dust and sand of the main +thoroughfare of the Bar. Gentleman Dick's absence from the festivities +was not noticed that evening, but the next day Thompson, who seemed to +feel aggrieved on the subject, announced his intention of going up to +Chihuahua to fetch him down. He left Mr. McNab's on his charitable +mission armed with a bottle of rum, and proceeded up the creek in a +condition of moderate intoxication. That he was somewhat sobered on his +arrival at the cabin was perhaps due to the fact that the cork was fixed +very firmly in the neck of his bottle: at any rate, he did not ask his +friend to drink when he found him. + +Gentleman Dick had just directed and sealed a letter, and was about to +start for the settlement of Gold Dirt, when Thompson loomed up +unsteadily in the doorway, surveyed him inquiringly for a moment and +asked undecidedly and apologetically, "Wass' up? W'ere you goin'?" + +Gentleman Dick, apparently overlooking his somewhat dubious condition, +told him he had been writing a letter to some one who lived in the +States: he was going to Gold Dirt to mail it, and a ring of Blue Creek +gold was to accompany it to its destination. Thompson said no more, but +stood there in the doorway with McNab's rum under his arm. He did not +stir, nor did he seem to notice the "good-bye" that came down the +winding trail through the pines, but remained there stolid and +immovable, gazing vacantly at the writing-paper on the rough table. +Suddenly he straightened himself up to his full height, and taking the +bottle from under his arm, held it out at arm's length and apostrophized +it in terms which Mr. McNab would have regarded as a personal insult, +and which the community on the Blue might possibly have resented with a +challenge to mortal combat. His next step, had they witnessed it, would +certainly have led to the conclusion that he was a dangerous lunatic, +and one, at that, whose peculiar madness was of a kind specially +objectionable to the residents of Blue Bar. He placed the object toward +which his feelings had undergone so sudden a revulsion carefully on the +ground, and seizing in his hands a huge boulder, he proceeded to let it +drop accurately upon it. He oscillated critically over the fragments, as +if to assure himself that the result had been satisfactorily attained, +and then strode rapidly and unsteadily into the forest. How such unsound +principles of economy came to be adopted by him never very clearly +appeared; and the problem of his absence from camp for two whole days, +and his subsequent reform upon the subject of whisky, were matters very +freely discussed at McNab's hut, without any definite or reliable result +being arrived at. + + * * * * * + +Summer had melted imperceptibly into autumn; and the bright tints that +glittered on the mountain-slopes and through the sturdy undergrowth of +the forest told that it in its turn was soon to give way to winter. +Chihuahua Bar was piled with great heaps of boulders and gravel, +furrowed here and there with deep ditches and trenches, and otherwise +gave ample evidence of the hard work that had been done. But, as Old +Platte, remarked, "The luck was down on them," and the partners had very +little to show for their long months of toil. Gentleman Dick had worked +as hard and earnestly as the others, and had never been known to utter a +word of complaint through the many hardships and mishaps they endured. +But a great change had come over him. No one who saw him when he joined +the party in Denver would have ventured to call him strong or robust, +but, delicate as he was then, he was now a mere shadow by comparison. +The change had been more marked and rapid during the last few weeks. He +had seemed to fade gradually away, growing daily weaker and weaker, +until at last a knowledge of his increasing debility forced itself upon +the not very observant faculties of his companions--coming rather as a +sense of indefinable uneasiness on his behalf than any actual +apprehension of his real condition. His great expressive eyes shone out +with an unnatural brilliancy from his pale, sunken cheeks, and a deeper +shade of melancholy seemed settling on his naturally thoughtful face. +Thompson probably noticed it more than anybody else, but said nothing, +while Old Platte and Jones exchanged ideas on the subject with a sort of +puzzled anxiety, mingled, it might be, with some genuine alarm. They +noticed that the work began to fatigue him more and more, and that he +often had to pause in the middle of it weary and exhausted. + +At last, one day, about the first of November, he remained in his bunk +in the cabin, unable to come down to the claim. In their rough, uncouth +way they pitied him, and would have given anything they could command to +be able to relieve him. But they seemed instinctively to feel that his +case was something out of their reach, and with the exception of a weak +suggestion from Jones, that he should try some of "them ar antibilious +pills as he had in his box," no course of medical treatment was +contemplated. Besides, was he not himself a doctor? and if he could do +nothing, what should they be able to effect? The argument was +sufficiently conclusive; at least, Jones accepted it as such, and +retired in some confusion, comforting himself by the perusal of the +label on his box of pills, which really seemed to justify the suggestion +he had made. Twice after this, on days when the warm sunshine tempted +him out of doors, he came down to the claim and sat by the wheel and +watched them working; but he never did any more work. He did not tell +them he could not do it, or complain that he was too weak: it was +tacitly understood that his share of the season's labor was over. + +About the middle of November the winter stepped in in its sudden way and +commenced to take possession of the valley of the Blue, and by the first +of December the ice was so thick that the partners reluctantly stopped +work. "Jones of Chihuahua" had expressed his determination of going +south to Santa Fé, to stay until spring among the "Greasers," but Old +Platte and Thompson would stay on the Blue for the winter, and to that +end had laid in such provisions as were deemed necessary. The settlement +below on the Bar had been abandoned early in November; and it was +doubtful if a white man besides themselves could be found by its waters +any nearer than the end of the Great Cañon of the Rio Colorado. But they +cared very little for that, and looked forward to their voluntary +hibernation without any feeling of apprehension on the score of +loneliness. Both were hardy mountaineers. Thompson had been the first +man that ever performed the feat of crossing the range at Grey's Peak in +the middle of winter, with the aid of a pair of snow-shoes; and he and +Old Platte knew that if their provisions gave out they could readily +reach some of the Clear Creek diggings in the same way. So Jones +strapped his belt of gold-dust around his waist and prepared to depart. +He shook hands with the partners, and when Gentleman Dick, with a forced +cheeriness of manner and with wishes for a pleasant winter in New +Mexico, remarked, "Next spring the boys will give you a third of my +share, Jones," he stoutly and earnestly repudiated the implied idea, but +with a confusion and uncertainty of manner that indicated a serious +doubt in the soundness of his own assertions. + +Gentleman Dick released the big hand as he lay in his blankets, and said +for the last time, "Good-bye, Jones." + +"Good-bye, old man." + +Jones strode away abruptly on his journey, and if the moisture about his +eyes was in excess of what was required in their normal condition, it +was probably due to the bracing and biting frostiness of the morning +air. + +And so they resigned themselves to their winter's prison on the +Blue--Old Platte stolidly and contentedly, Thompson uneasily and +restlessly, and Gentleman Dick peacefully and calmly, knowing full well +that spring would never bloom again for him. Thus the December days flew +by, growing colder and colder, and the snow-line crept gradually down +the slopes of the range until it reached the edge of the timber, where +it seemed to pause for a few days in its advance. It had already snowed +several times in the valley, and the afternoon sun had always melted it +away; but they knew by experience that it would soon come down in good +earnest and cover everything up for the winter in a mantle of snow some +six or seven feet deep. And as the days sped on Gentleman Dick grew +paler and paler, and his bright eyes shone with a brighter lustre, while +he seemed to be gradually slipping away, losing little by little his +hold upon life. He was a mystery to his companions, for he had no +disease that could be detected, and why he should sink thus without any +apparent cause was more than they could understand. + + * * * * * + +The wind came roaring down the cañon in wild, fierce gusts; the dead, +frost-hardened, brittle branches of the sturdy old pines rattled and +cracked and broke as it swept by laden with glittering crystals, stolen +from the range above, where it circled madly around the snowy peaks, and +whirled away great winding-sheets of snow--fine, sleety snow, that +filled the atmosphere with sharp prickly needles, that made their way +inside Old Platte's rough woolen shirt as he chopped away at the +woodpile, and made him shiver as they melted down his back. Everything +was frozen hard and fast; the Blue was silent in its bed; stones and +sticks adhered to the ground as if part and parcel of it, and each piece +of wood in the pile that Old Platte was working at stood stiffly and +firmly in its place. The wind, just before a snow-storm, always comes +down the cañons in fierce premonitory gusts, and as it was desirable to +get in a good stock of wood before the snow-drifts gathered around the +cabin, Old Platte had been hacking manfully for some hours. The sun sunk +low in the hollow of the hills to the westward while he was still +working, and lit up with a cold yellow glare the snowy wastes and icy +peaks of the mighty mountains that stood guard over the Blue. The +whistling of the wind among the pines died gradually away, and the +silence that seemed to fall with the deepening shadows was only broken +by the ringing strokes of the axe and the crack of the splitting wood. +When he ceased the valley had faded into darkness, and the range with +its sharp outlines was only faintly discernible against the sombre gray +pall that had overspread the sky. + +He made a broad stack of logs by the fireplace and a larger one outside +the door, and then stood by the threshold to take a look at the weather. +A great soft feather of snow came sailing slowly down and nestled in his +shaggy beard, and another fluttered on to the back of his hand. He +looked up through the darkness and saw that it was already beginning to +fall thickly, and then, with a self-satisfied glance of approval at his +provident woodpile, went into the cabin and fastened the door. + +Thompson had shot a fine argal or Rocky Mountain sheep that morning, and +the broiled steaks were giving forth a most acceptable odor. He had +tried to get Gentleman Dick to taste of a choice piece, but he shook his +head wearily, as he had every time for some two weeks or more when +proffered food. He could eat nothing, and lay there propped up on rough +pillows, seeming scarcely conscious of their presence; his dreamy eyes, +with lids half drooping, looking fixedly into the blazing fire. Even the +coffee, civilized as it was by the addition of some patent condensed +milk, and upon the manufacture of which Thompson had prided himself not +a little, stood untouched by his bedside. Old Platte lit his pipe and +dragged his three-legged stool into a corner of the wide chimney, and +Thompson, after moving the things away to a corner, sat down opposite, +mending his snow-shoes with a bundle of buckskin thongs. They did not +talk much in that family of evenings: men of this class are not +conversational in their habits, and a stranger who should look in would +be apt to think them an unsocial set. Old Platte puffed steadily at his +pipe, blinking and winking at the fire, which he poked occasionally with +a stick or fed with a log of wood from the pile by his side. Thompson +worked quietly with knife and awl at his dilapidated shoes, and the +pale, patient face beyond still gazed dreamily into the fire. There were +old scenes, doubtless, in among those burning logs--old familiar faces, +dear memories of the past and weird fantastic visions pictured in the +glowing coals. At last the eyes left the fire for a moment, resting on +the two that sat by it, and he said, "Boys, it's Christmas Eve." + +Thompson started, for he had not heard him speak with so much energy for +weeks. + +"Christmas Eve!" he repeated absently. "Christmas Eve, and to-morrow +will be Christmas Day. Last Christmas was not like this: all was bright +and fair, and she--" + +The rest of the sentence was lost as he muttered it uneasily to himself +and resumed his watching of the fire. Christmas Eve! So it was, but they +had not thought of it. Christmas Eve! The name seemed out of place among +those rocky fastnesses. What could the pines and the solitude, the snow +and the ice, have in common with Christmas? Christmas Eve down in that +desolate valley, in the quiet depths of the forest, away, miles away, +from human habitation of any kind? Christmas Eve! It seemed absurd, but +Christmas Eve it was nevertheless, there as everywhere else. + +Old Platte took his blackened old pipe from between his lips and +mechanically repeated the words. "Christmas Eve!" he half growled, as if +some perplexing ideas had been called into existence by the suggestion, +and his pipe went out as he listlessly shoved some stray coals back into +the fire with his foot. But his meditations, to judge from his +countenance, were neither interesting nor profitable. Probably his +Christmases had never been passed in a way that was calculated to make +them pleasingly conspicuous in the background of his life. Most of his +early recollections were associated with a villainous roadside groggery +in Pike county, Missouri, of which his father was the proprietor. Any +questions relating to this parent and home he had been known to +invariably evade, and whenever conversation tended in that direction he +strenuously discouraged it. Why he did so never very clearly appeared. +Some people who pretended to know used to say that the old gentleman had +been doing a lively trade in horseflesh without going through the +customary formalities of finance, and that some people with whom his +dealings had been unsatisfactory, in consequence of this unbusinesslike +habit of his, had called at his house one evening and invited him to +walk out with them. The invitation was one he would have liked to +decline, but extra inducements in the shape of the cold muzzle of a +revolver pressed against his forehead and a low but determined "Dry up +and come along!" caused him to put on his hat and step out. He was found +next morning hanging from a branch of a neighboring tree with a brief +but expressive obituary written in pencil on a scrap of paper and pinned +on his coat: "Horse-thief! Jerry Moon and Scotty, take notice." Inasmuch +as one of the latter individuals was the chief authority for the story, +and had expedited his departure from Pike county in consequence of the +intimation contained in the lines on the same bit of paper, it may be +safely inferred that there was some foundation for the numerous stories +of a similar nature that were in circulation. So Christmas spent as his +had been had no particular interest for Old Platte, and was pretty much +the same as any other kind of day upon which there would be an equally +good excuse for stopping work and getting venomously drunk. At any rate, +the memories that clung around that Pike county whisky-shop were none of +the pleasantest or most gratifying; and with a grunt of general +dissatisfaction he rekindled his pipe, put a couple of sticks on the +fire and allowed his mind to slide off into a more congenial train of +reflection. + +To Thompson, Gentleman Dick's words had come as a sort of revelation. He +knew well enough that Christmas came in December, and also upon what day +of that month it fell, but of late the days had gone by so monotonously, +and had so little to distinguish them one from another, that he had +kept no account of them, and had no idea that it was so near. Some +indefinable influence that he could not account for had of late sent his +mind groping into old and better channels, and consequently when he was +reminded of the presence of Christmas he felt disposed to accord it a +measure of consideration rather different from that with which several +of its predecessors had met. Like Old Platte, he had regarded it as a +good day to go on a "bust" and initiate a "drunk" of more or less +duration, but just now he seemed as if inclined to take a different view +of it. His eyes could take a clearer and healthier view of the past than +he had for a long time had, and its old memories and scenes flocked up +before him now, bright through the dim mist that time had cast over +them, and fresher and sweeter than ever by contrast with the gloomy +present. The snow-shoes slid from his lap and one by one the thongs of +buckskins dropped upon the floor, as he leaned back in the corner of the +broad chimney, his face resting upon his sinewy hand and his eyes +looking through the fire into the world of the past. + +Old Platte lay curled up in his bearskins and blankets fast asleep, but +the other still sat by the fire in the same position--still dreamily +thinking. How long he had sat there he did not know. The fire had sunk +into a glowing heap of coals, fast changing into soft white ashes, on +which now and then a melting snow-flake that had stolen down through the +chimney would fall and disappear with a short angry sizz, and the +shadows in the cabin were deep and dark. Suddenly it seemed to him in +his dreaming that a voice called him by name, and he awoke from his +reverie with a chill and a shudder and a sense of indefinable dread +creeping over him--a dread of what, he could not tell. A handful of +chips blazed up brightly and lit up the cabin with their flickering +light as he turned nervously toward the patient, quiet face behind him. +The eyes, shaded by the long black eyelashes, were still on the fire, +and while he was confident that he had not been called, he was dimly +conscious of a great change that had taken place. As he still looked +anxiously at the faded features, the eyes left their long watching of +the embers and were raised to meet his. He felt he was wanted, and was +by his side in a moment: "How d'yer feel, old man?" + +Gentleman Dick smiled as he laid his wasted fingers across the sturdy +brown hand that leaned on the edge of his bunk, and turning with +difficulty on his pillow, he said in a voice scarce above a whisper, +"Thompson, old fellow, you and Platte have been kind, very kind, to me. +I won't trouble you much more now. I'm going to say--good-bye to you; +and--Thompson--I want you to do one little thing for me--when spring +comes." He reached into a chink among the logs by his side and drew +forth an envelope containing a few letters, a photograph of a woman's +face, fair and tender, and a gold ring. + +Thompson took it with a hand that shook as his rarely did. + +"Send it soon--it's addressed and all--send it to her. Maybe she will be +glad to know I am--gone--at last--out of her path--out of the way--and +the world. She sent it back to me--would not have it--or me. Now--" Then +his mind seemed to wander, and he rambled incoherently, repeating over +and over again a name that sounded like that on the envelope. "You will +do it, won't you, Thompson?" said he, rallying suddenly. + +Thompson's voice was husky and thick as he answered impressively, "Damn +me ef I don't!" adding mentally, as he glanced at the package, "Damn her +skin, whoever she is! She's at the bottom of all this here business, you +bet." + +Gentleman Dick's lips moved as if he were speaking, and as Thompson +leaned over him he could hear, in a broken whisper, "Gold--in old +boot--under bed--Old Platte half." + +He heard no more. The pressure of the wasted fingers relaxed, the weary +head sunk slowly back on the pillow, and the tired eyelids drooped over +the glazing eyes. + +"Dick!" said Thompson--"Dick, old man!" + +Too late. Away through the softly-falling snow, from the Blue with its +stillness and solitude, from its heartaches and sorrows and troubles, +the weary spirit had fled, and Gentleman Dick was at rest. + + * * * * * + +Spring had come again; the snow had melted from the valleys; the grass +and the ferns and the green grass and bright lichens once more peeped +out among the gray boulders and about the feet of the stately pines; and +the Blue, freed from its wintry prison, sang merrily over the gravelly +reaches. And as the miners flocked down that spring from over the range, +they saw near by the Chihuahua Claim and the deserted cabin, in a square +formed by four gigantic pines, a neatly-built cairn of boulders. One big +gray boulder rested securely on top of all, and on it was hacked, in +rough and simple letters, GENTLEMAN DICK. + + W. MACKAY LAFFAN. + + + + +A SINGULAR FAMILY. + + +Almost as far back as I can remember three brothers, Italians named +Noele, were intimates and occasionally inmates of our home. The youngest +brother, Eugenio, had been imprisoned during the political disturbances +of his country, but had escaped and made his way to England. Here, at a +lecture given by Mazzini in London under the auspices of the liberal +Italians and those who espoused their cause, Eugenio, who to handsome +features and aristocratic appearance added a modulated voice and +persuasive manner, rose during the course of the evening, and in words +that held the audience spellbound narrated his own sufferings and those +of some of his friends under the yoke of Austria. As he concluded with +the utterance of the sentiment, "Libertà! Equalità! Fraternità!" a storm +of applause burst from the assembly, and many were the high personages +who at the close of the meeting requested an introduction to the +fascinating young orator. My father was present on this occasion, and +here his acquaintance with Eugenio Noele commenced. The young man having +discovered to him that his pecuniary resources were at the lowest ebb, +my father took him home with him, and my mother afterward united with +him in requesting Eugenio to consider their house as his own. My father +also introduced him to his mercantile connections and initiated him into +mercantile affairs, when by his astuteness and perseverance he was +enabled to lay the foundations of an excellent position. Indeed, but few +years had elapsed (during which time he had frequently resided with us) +ere he had acquired considerable wealth and we a clearer insight into +his true disposition. + +His principles were such as the promptings of self-love, a violent +temper, pride and ambition could without difficulty overcome. As he rose +higher in the social scale the reflection that he had owed the impetus +to others was a constant source of annoyance to him. Our house was now +but rarely visited by him, unless when some legal difficulties had +arisen on which he wished to consult my father or some important papers +required translating. Then the air of pride would yield to one of +deferential affection, and in silvery tones he would discourse on such +topics as he imagined were the most pleasing to us. My father would be +termed "Signor Padre" and my mother "Signora Madre." + +At about this time he sent to Italy for his brother Rugiero to assist +him in his affairs. Rugiero became as intimate at our house as Eugenio +had been. There were singularly contradictory elements in this brother's +character. At one time the history of a destitute family would move him +to tears, and his purse would be freely emptied for their benefit: at +another time he would spend half an hour in searching for a lost +farthing, and if not successful his countenance would betray lines of +anxiety for hours afterward. If he made me the gift of a paper horn or +box of sweets, his heart for the rest of the day would seem to be +expanded with the most joyous emotions, and for weeks after I was liable +to be asked whether I remembered the day when I was so pleased with his +little gift; and then he would request permission to examine the +pictures painted thereon, and call my attention to their merits. He was +ordinarily slow to understand the point of a witticism, but when he had +by deep pondering discovered it, nothing could exceed his enjoyment: +bending his head and clasping the bridge of his handsomely shaped nose, +he would laugh till the tears were ready to start. On the other hand, he +was extremely sensitive, jealous and suspicious. No one knew how soon +the pleasant smile and kindly word would give place to angry passions as +ungovernable as they were disagreeable to witness. A smile passing from +one person to another without his being acquainted with the cause, was +sufficient provocation for him to rise, make his respects in a frigidly +polite tone and take his leave, to return a few moments after with +heightened complexion and excited voice, and declare that he could not +suffer an affront with equanimity--that he would rid those present of +his "abhorred" society, and would never enter those doors again whilst +he drew the breath of life. We paid little attention to these egregious +eccentricities, merely remarking with a smile of amusement, "Poor +Rugiero! how ridiculous! He must be out of his senses;" and about a +fortnight later he would make his appearance, penitent, apologetic and +studious to remove the ill impression that his strange conduct must have +caused. + +A third brother, Giuseppe, was added to the group, of whom vacillation +was the distinguishing characteristic. Giuseppe, in the innumerable +discussions that arose between Rugiero and Eugenio, would acquiesce with +first one and then the other in whatever exaggerated sentiments their +enraged frame of mind might prompt them to utter, with the view of +keeping on good terms with both; but the only result was that when the +flag of truce had been raised, grievances passed over and differences +adjusted, he would have the mortification of finding the whole of the +blame laid on his shoulders, and himself stigmatized as "a +feather-head," "a meddler" and "a spy." + +As the years rolled on I grew into womanhood, and became the unwitting +source of constant ill-feeling between the brothers. Eugenio was +handsome, but I distrusted him; Rugiero was nearly as handsome, but I +regarded him as I would have regarded an uncle; Giuseppe was also +handsome, but unstable and entirely wanting in force. Time passed, and +the brothers had separated. Eugenio had married a woman in every way his +inferior. Rugiero had been drawn into a like union that surprised all +those who knew his refined tastes and sensitiveness to the social +amenities. Though a man of honor, his circumstances had become +embarrassed. In his emergencies he had recourse to his old friends, +whose aid was not withheld, but, a crisis arriving, he was declared +bankrupt. Eugenio, instead of assisting his brother, upbraided with +being a disgrace to his own respectability, publicly disowned him, and, +with the view of forcing him to abandon the country, spread injurious +reports concerning him amongst many of the merchants who would otherwise +have been willing to extend a helping hand. + +Soon after this Eugenio made a journey to Italy on business. Here he +visited his native place with an equipage designed to astonish the +simple peasants and suggest to them the immensity of his wealth. Never +had the village on the outskirts of which dwelt his widowed sister seen +such magnificence or experienced such munificence. His name was on all +tongues; ovations were made to him; he was almost a king in their eyes. +His sister, Lucretia Mortera, had borne to her husband a large family, +of whom but three survived--a youth named after his uncle Eugenio, and +then being educated for the priesthood; Celestino, a boy of eleven +years; and Virginia, a girl of eight. The little home in which they +resided in quiet retirement had been given to the widow for as long as +she chose to occupy it by a friend of her late husband, as a token of +respect to his memory. Eugenio Noele, ashamed to see a sister of his +living in a way so unsuited to her birth and former expectations, +requested her to dispose of whatever property she might be possessed of, +and prepare to accompany him with her family to London, where he would +provide for them, and his nephew Eugenio, leaving his studies, could +take a place in his counting-house. This request--or rather command--was +embraced with gratitude, though it cost a pang to think of leaving the +home that had sheltered them under many vicissitudes. Besides which, it +was a matter of doubt to Signora Mortera and her eldest son whether any +worldly promotion could justify his deserting the priestly vocation to +which he had felt himself called. + +One evening my mother and I were surprised by a call from Rugiero. His +face was pale and his eyes were wild. He sank into an easy-chair, and +after a long silence broke into the most terrible invectives against his +brother Eugenio, who had dragged the widow and orphans from a peaceful +home to cast them adrift. + +"What widow? what orphans?" + +"Simply, Madama Melville, my poor sister Lucretia, whom he induced to +accompany him to London, with her family, on the pretence of providing +for them all, is now with those children at my house, without means, +without even a change of clothing. Yes, my sister Lucretia, who was a +mother to him when his own mother died; and yet he prospers!" + +"But, Rugiero, what was the cause of his treating them thus?" + +"When they had arrived at my brother's house the wife, who had not +expected them, took an aversion to them, and no sooner did she learn +that they were strict Roman Catholics than she believed them to be +capable of every crime. Celestino, who is in a decline, was treated with +the greatest neglect. Every occasion of showing disrespect toward her +sister-in-law before her children or the servants was eagerly sought by +my brother's wife, whilst in the presence of her husband she was all +amiability. The sickness of one of her own children was made the +occasion of accusing Lucretia of an attempt to poison it, and the wily +woman so worked on my brother's parental feelings that he had not +returned home an hour ere he commanded his 'infamous sister'--'quel +assassinatrice!'--to leave his house with her children on the instant! +The door was closed upon them, and the outer apparel that had served +them for their journey was thrown to them from the window by the +servants. Amazed and full of grief, they directed their steps toward the +house of the good priest whose chapel they had once or twice attended. +Here they procured my address, and soon after came to my house, where +they now are in the extremest affliction. You, madama, may well imagine +that I can scarcely maintain my own family at this juncture, and that I +am therefore unable to do for my sister and her children what my heart +dictates. After a sleepless night I came to the conclusion that you, +Madama Melville, whose goodness of heart has so often been put sorely to +the test, would be able to suggest some plan by which to mitigate the +sufferings of my unfortunate sister or bring Eugenio to reason." + +"My dear Rugiero, I feel certain that my husband would think as I +do--that for the present they had better stay here with us. We can turn +one floor into sleeping apartments for them, and have one sitting-room +in which your sister can receive callers or remain when she wishes to be +alone. You know that I have so often heard you speak of your sister +Lucretia that I can take the privilege of giving her an invitation to +come and make us a long visit; and so you must tell her." + +"God bless you, dear madama, as you deserve to be blessed! This is +indeed a weight off my heart and mind." + +The result of this conversation was that on the next morning Rugiero +returned, bringing with him his sister and her children. Signora +Lucretia responded to the welcome of my parents with expressions of +fervent gratitude, calling them the saviors of her family. She was a +short, slender woman, in whose dark eyes, long, finely-cut features, and +pale, thin face one could discern the spirit of asceticism and the +traces of past afflictions. Of the children she had buried, all had +reached their tenth year in apparent health and remarkable for their +physical and moral beauty, but from that age they had rapidly trodden +the pathway to the tomb. None of her children had resembled their father +but Eugenio, who was a well-made youth of wiry constitution, and gave +every promise of attaining the ordinary age allotted to man. Celestino +was destined soon to rejoin the children gone before. How can I describe +the thrill I felt when I saw that child's face as he entered the room? +Never had I seen in picture or in dream a countenance so lovely. But +what can I say of those soul-speaking eyes, the large, dark-brown iris +surrounded by the brilliant azure-white and shaded by long dark lashes? +Finely chiseled features were added to a rounded face of a clear pale +olive, except where a flush like the pink lining of a shell played upon +it. Virginia greatly resembled her brother Celestino, but was in full +health, and in spirits that would have been lively but for the constant +and harassing admonitions of her mother, who in every free and graceful +movement saw a tendency to levity that must be repressed. The poor child +was doomed to a perpetual entanglement of the lower limbs, owing to her +garments being made as long as those of a grown person. If, forgetting +decorum, she chanced to skip or jump, Signora Lucretia would exclaim, +"Va scompostaccia! sta più composta" ("Go to, most discomposed one! be +more composed"), and seating her by her side would supply her with +needlework or knitting until my mother would intercede, assuring Signora +Lucretia that the child could never attain healthy womanhood unless +allowed the full play of her muscles and the expansion of her lungs by +singing and laughter. + +"Ah, madama, you know not how I fear lest the natural gayety of her +disposition should cause the loss of her soul." + +"Oh, my dear lady, such ideas are born of the troubles through which you +have passed, and not of your native good sense. God has implanted this +gayety in your child's heart to enable her to enter with zest into those +amusements so necessary to her development." + +One day my mother (by permission) had a tuck taken up in Virginia's +dress, and, directing me to take her for a walk, she privately +commissioned me to purchase for her such attire as was suitable to a +child of her years. I began with her head, and secured the jauntiest +little hat with feathers that I could find, not without a misgiving that +it would ultimately be consigned to the flames. Amongst other articles +that I procured was a wax doll, at the sight of which Virginia screamed +with delight. It was her first doll. Even Signora Lucretia's face was +lit by a smile of undisguised admiration at the improvement in the +child's toilette, but it soon gave place to a sigh at her own "vanity of +spirit," and she held the little hat as Eve might have held the apple +offered to her by the serpent. + +Signora Lucretia and her children spent some hours every morning before +breakfast in reciting litanies and other prayers, and on retiring to +rest the same forms were repeated. During the day, whenever the clock +struck the hour, the whole family, leaving whatever might be the +occupation of the moment, knelt on their chairs and made a short prayer +or meditation on the flight of time. + +At the time of their arrival my cousin Oswald was staying with us, and +on the first evening he retired early to give them an opportunity of +conversing more freely on the melancholy topics that filled their minds. +After bidding good-night to my mother and kissing her, he paid me the +same tokens of regard. This incident had not escaped the notice of the +young Eugenio, for when directed by his mother to retire to rest also, +he advanced toward me, shook hands, and (although, seeing his intention, +I drew back) succeeded in imprinting a kiss on my cheek. Signora +Lucretia turned as pale as death. My mother, to avoid a scene, turned +with a playful laugh to Eugenio, who by this time was scarlet with +shame, and said, "My dear boy, in this country such salutations are only +permitted from near relations or very intimate friends, but I am not +surprised that Mr. Oswald's thoughtlessness before you should have +misled you into doing the same. So I am sure that your good mother will +not be displeased with you." + +"Oh, madama," exclaimed Signora Lucretia, bursting into tears as soon as +the door had closed upon him, "to think that my son should have been +tempted by the Evil One so far as to forget what is due to the holy +vocation for which he is to fit himself! In Italy never had he even been +in the same room with any woman but myself and the priest's old +housekeeper. This is the first time that his lips have been so +desecrated." (Here my mother and I interchanged smiles.) "Unhappy mother +that I am! by what sufferings can I atone for his sin? What shall I +impose upon him to mortify the spirit that has arisen within him?" + +The next morning Eugenio came down looking pale and sad, and I felt sure +that he had been reprimanded in no measured terms. I gave him a pitying +glance, which fell like dew on the thirsting earth. + +At every breakfast the children were taught to say good-morning to each +person separately. The elder son would commence, "Good-morning and good +appetite, Mr. Melville! good-morning and good appetite, Madama Melville! +good-morning and good appetite, Signora Felicia!" and so on. Then +Celestino would go through the same ceremony, and finally Virginia, and +a grace was uttered, during which the breakfast was liable to become +cool, and Rugiero's temper (if he were present) not so. "Andiamo! I am +sure that Signor Melville and madama do not insist upon so many +compliments; and you, Eugenio, should have more gallantry than to keep +the Signora Felicia waiting whilst her toast becomes cold." That he +should connect the word _gallantry_ with Eugenio was an imprudence, +to say the least. But the offence was more serious when once at dinner +he favored us with some reminiscences of his own gallantries: "I +remember that when I was in the army the wife of our colonel had a +sister, a splendid-looking creature, with eyes like stars, who (to tell +the truth) was head over ears in--But my sister Lucretia, who is +frowning at me, is right. One would say that she must have had an +enlarged experience in such matters, seeing how sensitive she is to the +danger of discussing them." (Here Signora Lucretia, with blushing +cheeks, glanced from Rugiero to her son, who with downcast eyes appeared +to be absorbed with the roast chicken on his plate.) "Without entering +into details that would appear ill-timed to my dear sister" (here his +eyes twinkled with roguishness and his lips parted in laughter), +"suffice it merely to say that I acted as any other man under the +circumstances would have acted, and kissed her not once or twice, but--" + +"Go to thy room, Eugenio, most audacious!" panted Signora Lucretia, for +he had raised his head, and, meeting his uncle's laughing gaze, had +faintly smiled--"Go to thy room" (and here she struck him on the face), +"and recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin three times, and pray for +thy uncle, that he may be converted." + +Eugenio with flaming cheeks and ears rose submissively from the table, +and without a word or look ascended to his room to do her bidding. + +"What!" exclaimed Rugiero, rising from his seat, "would you dare to +insult me by desiring my own nephew to pray for me? It seems to me that +I dream! Per Bacco!" + +Here my father observed that he must own he saw nothing very outrageous +in what Rugiero had narrated, yet, as Signora Mortera had her own +peculiar views on the matter, he considered that her brother was bound +to respect them. Rugiero then admitted that he had been too hasty, and a +reconciliation was effected, but he never met his nephew's eye +thereafter without the same roguish smile, at which the poor youth would +blush painfully and lower his gaze. + +During this scene at the dinner-table Celestino breathed quickly, but +never moved his eyes from the table-cloth, while Virginia looked at each +one of the speakers in open-mouthed astonishment and curiosity. + +One day I accompanied Signora Lucretia and her children to a Roman +Catholic chapel in the neighborhood. I could not be unconscious of the +odd and incongruous appearance of the two sons--Eugenio in a suit like +that of a stage grandfather, snuff-colored, and with collar that raised +the lobes of his ears; and dear little Celestino with a similarly cut +coat in bottle green, with large gilt buttons, making him look like a +man in miniature. Such had been the style pronounced by the village +tailor to be in the height of Parisian fashion, but being a novelty to +the London "gamins," it attracted more notice from them than we could +have wished. After Signora Mortera and her children had attended the +confessional she seemed to be much easier in her mind, and was so +amiable as to tell my mother on our return home that it was edifying to +behold the signorina walking like a Roman matron, in contrast to those +who were giggling and turning their heads first one way and then the +other, like so many pulcinelle. Notwithstanding this compliment, +however, I perceived that she was uneasy concerning Eugenio and myself. +It was evidently a satisfaction to her that I should load Celestino with +caresses and endearing epithets, but that Eugenio should sit near me, +speak to me, or even be in the same room with me (whether alone or in +company), was the signal for demonstrations of the extremest vigilance. +On one evening my cousin had brought home some gifts, consisting of a +silver pencil-case with gold pen for Eugenio, a traveling writing-case +with his name on it for Celestino, and a small traveling work-bag +similarly marked for Virginia. These were highly appreciated. Celestino +seemed unwilling to have his desk out of his sight for a single moment, +and when his bed-time came wanted to take it up with him. His mother, +unwilling to leave Eugenio in my society without her watchful presence, +directed him to carry his brother up. + +"Signora madre," said Celestino, "I am not tired to-night." + +"Well, then, Eugenio can carry up thy writing-case for thee." + +"Signora madre, it is not heavy, and I would like to carry it myself." + +So Signora Lucretia went up with him herself, and, leaving my mother to +entertain Eugenio, I went immediately into another room. I felt too +deeply for the misfortunes of the unsophisticated Eugenio ever to have +willingly trifled with the nascent susceptibilities of his heart. + +One little incident, however, occurred to interrupt the orthodox reserve +of our demeanor. An old friend of ours, Captain Stuart, had sent +Virginia a bank-note with which to procure some keepsake. One evening +the old gentleman called, and was shown into the drawing-room, where my +mother received him. The rest of us were in the dining-room below. On my +mentioning Captain Stuart's name to Signora Lucretia, she exclaimed, +"Let us go, my children, and thank this good man for his kind present to +our Virginia." + +It was dark, but the hall-lamp had not been lit, so I took a wax taper +from the writing-table and, lighting it, proceeded to escort them up the +staircase. Some spirit of mischief prompted me by a sudden movement to +let the light be blown out. In an instant the hand of Eugenio met mine, +and thus hand in hand, swinging to and fro, we came to the drawing-room +door, and a flood of light bursting upon us discovered to Signora +Lucretia my face flushed with suppressed laughter, and Eugenio's eyes no +longer timid, but sparkling with joy. From this time he would spend +whole nights in writing verses, which he would show to his mother. She, +noting the classical allusions, and having a great respect for literary +talents, did not repress his efforts, but on the contrary appeared +desirous that he should show his verses to my mother and to me. Mingled +with expressions of grief and despair at the inconstancy of fortune and +the decrees of fate were allegorical fancies in which I could perceive +that I held a place, but I never allowed him to think that I noticed +this; and indeed after the escapade of the staircase I became more +distant than before. + +However, one day when Celestino was feeling more weak and tired than +usual, and I was propping him up on the sofa, I observed with some +trepidation that Eugenio, who had been reading at the window, changed +his seat to one near the head of the sofa. His mother and mine were busy +sewing at a window in the next room, from whence they could see us +through the folding doors. His eyes were full of tears, and, suddenly +bending over his brother and rearranging a cushion, he seized my hand +and covered it with silent kisses. In a moment I had disengaged my hand, +full of fear for the result to Eugenio should Signora Lucretia's +attention be directed toward us. The same evening, on returning from a +visit, I learned that my mother and Signora Mortera had gone out under +the escort of Oswald to attend vespers at a church some distance off. We +young people passed the evening alone together. The crimson curtains +were closely drawn, and the cosy room was lighted by a blazing fire. +Reclining in an easy-chair, I held Celestino's fragile form in my arms, +the wonderful eyes gazing into mine as I watched with emotions too deep +for words their ever-varying expression. Eugenio sat on an ottoman at my +feet, alternately reading aloud from Dante and pausing to observe me, +while Virginia was on the hearth-rug, happy in adorning her doll with +pieces of silk, beads and flowers. + +Suddenly Eugenio said, "Does the signora remember in the narrative of +Dives and Lazarus how Lazarus was thankful for the crumbs that fell from +the rich man's table?" + +I understood him, and hiding my face in Celestino's tendril-like curls, +I replied, "Yes, but I wonder whether he would have been hungry enough +to eat crumbs that he knew to be poisoned?" + +He made no reply. + +"Eugenio," I continued, "what are your plans for the future? Is it your +own desire to become a priest?" + +This last word made him tremble. "I _once_ desired it," he +answered, "thinking it the most honorable position to which I could +aspire, and also my natural vocation. But now--God knows whether it be a +sin or not--I would pass through any affliction He might send rather +than become one. But my mother's heart is fixed upon it more than ever, +and soon my family will be wholly dependent upon me. Ah! young as I am, +I have suffered and still suffer. Far happier is that child in your +arms, dying slowly though it may be, than the unfortunate Eugenio." + +"Have a care," I said, "lest, entering the state of priesthood, you bear +with you a heart fixed on the things of this world. Do not yield to the +impulses of a strong imagination, but endeavor to forget whatever might +prove a hindrance to you hereafter." + +"Ah, Felicia, my heart is too full ever to forget. Celestino, my +brother, _thou_ art indeed happy. Dost thou know it?" + +"Yes, Eugenio, I feel even too happy." + +"God bless thee, Celestino! I love thee more than ever;" and, stealing +his brother's hand from mine, he gently kissed it, whilst Celestino +smiled on us with a heavenly smile. + +It was arranged that I should accompany my father to the counting-house +of Eugenio Noele and strive to obtain some redress for the widow and +orphans, for I had always been a favorite with him, and my mother +imagined that my influence would have more power than her own. But the +only result of this interview was that Eugenio promised, for my sake, to +furnish his sister and her family with sufficient funds to enable them +to return to their own country: he also told my father that he should +send one of his clerks to accompany them and see that they _did_ go +there. + +On our way home we called on Dr. Newcastle, our old friend and +physician, and after describing the circumstances of the Mortera family, +asked him to call and see Celestino in the evening. The doctor was a +fine-looking man, with a profusion of silvery white hair and beard, a +deep thinker, blunt and sincere of speech, and full of dry wit that made +every one laugh but himself. His footman (a colored man) was once +overheard to say, "Berry strange man, my massa! berry sing'lar man! I +say to him, 'I can't walk fast in dese yere boots, sar--dey's too +short.' 'Oh,' he says, ''tis but the cutting off a piece of your toes, +Caesar, and de boots will fit well enuff.' Him berry sing'lar man. One +day I hear, through de open window of a lady's house, him say to her, +'For what did you send after me, madam?' and she say, 'I feel a leetle +'stericky again dis morning, doctor: what can you pescribe for me?' +'Pescribe!' says my massa with a sort of short laugh: 'why, dat you go +to de top of de house wid a brush and dustpan and sweep de stairs all de +way down, and make all de beds, and leave off drinking strong coffee;' +and a berry fashionable lady too, as dey tell me after. When de doctor +get into him carriage he talk to himself, and give him short laugh." + +After an introduction to Signora Mortera, the doctor turned his +attention to Celestino, who lay on the sofa pale and agitated: "Bless my +heart! what a handsome lad! what splendid eyes! Ah! hm! hm! poor fellow! +hm!" and he cleared his throat. "Let me feel your pulse." + +As Celestino turned and gazed on him with mute surprise the doctor +proceeded with his examination in complete silence, and then began +discoursing about the weather and politics. + +"But, doctor," said my mother, "you have told us nothing about the boy? +What is your opinion? what shall we do for him? what do you prescribe?" + +"Whirr! whirr! how many questions! I prescribe for him a course of early +rising, accompanied by long prayer and fasting. If he shows an +inclination for exercise, give him a rosary. Take away juvenile books, +and give him the _Lives of the Saints and Martyrs_. Let him +remember the days of fasting and abstinence. Why, bless me! the boy is +nothing but heart and brain. He must be kept cheerful and +well-nourished. Let him be in the open air when it is pleasant. I will +prescribe a little something for him, but his case is beyond all +medicine." + +"Oh, doctor, do you really mean to say that he will die?" + +"Die?" and the doctor laughed his little cynical laugh. "Why, we shall +all die some day, shall we not?" + +"Now, doctor, do be serious. Is there no hope for him?" + +"I don't see that there is;" and he continued to gaze at the boy's face +as if it had some fascination for him. + +Eugenio Noele failed not a week later to send his clerk to make +arrangements for the departure of the Morteras. As the time drew nearer +Celestino failed rapidly. He would lie for hours without speaking except +with his eloquent eyes. Frequently he would kiss a little ring that I +had given him, and a few days before his departure I gave him a trinket +consisting of a turquoise heart, with a cross set with crystals over red +stones, emblematical of the blood and water that flowed from the side of +our Redeemer. This he received with great emotion, and as I tied it to +his neck with a ribbon he said, "I will wear it as long as I have life." + +"Does Celestino fear to die?" + +"No, signora, not whilst you are near me; and by dying I shall see my +brothers and sisters in heaven, and can come and watch over you all." + +"Sweetest child! It will break my heart to lose thee." + +"Ah, do not weep;" and the boy's lips paled and his eyelids closed. I +gave him water, and called to his mother to come and speak to him. + +"Ah, this child of my bosom! my poor Celestino! must he leave me too?" + +"Dear signora, he goes to a world free from such sorrows or cares as +yours have been. He is like an angel even now." + +"Celestino, kiss thy poor afflicted mother." Without a word, but with +trembling lips, he stretched forth his arms to embrace her, and I stole +away, leaving to her sacred sorrow the poor woman who for the moment, +forgetting her self-imposed ascetic restraint, was yielding to every +impulse of demonstrative tenderness. + +The night before their departure Eugenio wrote an ode addressed to me, +and placed it in my hands. I did not then read it through: I felt too +dispirited and preoccupied. The next morning his eyes met mine with a +questioning expression that I did not comprehend. When the hour for +parting had arrived tears and broken exclamations were mingled. Eugenio +lingered to kiss me, with a look first of inquiry, then of deep despair. +I found afterward that the poem he had presented to me contained a +protestation of humble and devoted love, which he entreated me not to +neglect with scorn, and thereby add to the cruelties of his situation. + +What a sense of loneliness we experienced! I felt restless and unhappy: +I was pursued by the imploring face of Eugenio and haunted by the eyes +of Celestino. It was long ere our household recovered its old +equilibrium. Letters full of gratitude came from the Morteras. They were +re-established in their old home; Eugenio had resumed his studies; +Virginia was not so well; Celestino was dying. Soon after I received a +letter in Eugenio's handwriting informing me that the trinket he +enclosed would be to me an evidence that his beloved brother Celestino +was dead. He had died with a smile on his lips, and Eugenio with his own +hands had unfastened the jewel from his neck. In a letter written some +time after to my mother Eugenio implored her by all she loved to rescue +him from a position which he felt to be daily more unendurable, by +procuring for him some engagement, in however humble a capacity, that +would enable him to support himself and assist his family. A priest he +_could not, would not_ be. My parents had scarcely time to discuss +the matter ere another letter came from Eugenio, telling them that his +mother had discovered the subject of his correspondence, and that she +and their good old priest had succeeded in convincing him of his +wickedness in attempting to relinquish the holy vocation of priest--that +it had been a snare of the devil; and he implored Signor and Madama +Melville to forgive him for the scandal he had caused concerning his +holy religion by such unworthy backslidings, which he now deeply +repented. + +One day Oswald came in exclaiming, "Aunt, who do you think has failed +and left the country?" + +"Who?" + +"Why, your friend, Eugenio Noele! As I passed the house I saw men +carrying away the pictures and things. I could not help stopping to +inquire into the matter. One of the workmen, who seemed to know a great +deal about it, said that a confidential clerk was at the bottom of it +all, and had run off before the great smash came." + +The last news we heard of this singular family was that Rugiero, who had +gone to Italy with his family, was retrieving his position, that +Giuseppe was with him, and that Eugenio was a priest, and beloved by all +for his noble qualities and extended usefulness. + + CLELIA LEGA WEEKS. + + + + +THE MATCHLESS ONE: +A TALE OF AMERICAN SOCIETY, IN FOUR CHAPTERS. + +PROLOGUE. + + +Ah, the misfortune of being wealthy, the misery of being handsome, the +disadvantage of a divine moustache and a dimple in the chin, the +affliction of having wavy hair and dark eyes, the forlorn condition of a +man who is very clever, who never makes a bad joke, who is such "good +company," such a "jolly dog," such a "happy creature" and "fortunate +fellow"! Oh the calamity of possessing a romantic country-seat and fine +horses!--the ill-starred luck of a person who is always finding a moon +that shines beautifully, a sun that is never too hot, long walks that +cannot be too long, and drives that are "_so_ delightful"! + +I am the unhappy victim of a fate which in spiteful mood gifted me +beyond my fellow-men. I might have had my share of enjoyment in the +world, as mediocre people have, but my perfections are in my way at +every turn, continually marring my prospects. A superficial observer +might think that these advantages would have the contrary effect--that I +should be more fortunate than others--but my story will prove my +assertion. Take, for example, my difficulties as a "marrying man." I +will relate my experience during the past three years, and you can judge +for yourself. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +My good mother (may Heaven reward her!) often advised me to marry +betimes. "Marry early in life, my dear Charles," she would say, "but +marry a woman _worthy_ of you." + +In her solicitude my mother foresaw the difficulty of the task she had +set before me. She had known and admired me from childhood, and of +course appreciated my worth. I remember her sad but affectionate gaze as +she spoke, and I, unconscious of the future, smiled to reassure her. +With the simplicity inseparable from great natures, I did not value the +treasures I possessed. I was as the poet before he has touched his +lyre--as the sculptor ere he has found his marble. Since then the years +have brought knowledge. My eyes have been opened by the actions of those +around me--by the admiration I excite whenever I appear; by the respect +with which I am listened to when I speak; by the warmth with which I am +welcomed wherever I visit. I could produce many examples to illustrate +my gradual awakening, but they would be irrelevant to my subject. + +I earnestly desired to fulfill my mother's wishes, and as soon as it +seemed proper after her decease I set out on my quest as on a +pilgrimage. The task which requires from most men some six weeks' or +three months' time, perhaps a few moments snatched from business or a +few evenings of ball-room devotion, has cost me three years' labor, and +it is not yet accomplished. But I suppose it is easier for other men to +find some one worthy of _them_. + +I had read the poets: I had conceived an ideal of a faultless creature, +and with the enthusiasm of youth I sought for a woman to worship as a +star--one whom I should adore--one far above me, from whom it would be +honor to win a smile, and--and all that sort of thing. Alas! I found +they smiled before I could make my first bow at an introduction. At +first I blamed the poets--thought they had been mistaken--had not +studied human nature; but the truth gradually dawned upon me. _The +fault was mine_! The imagination of man had not been able to create a +hero of fiction like myself: in fact, had authorship attained such a +triumph, the most fastidious maiden would have been obliged to fall in +love at first sight, thereby spoiling many a fine three-volumed romance +and heroic cantos innumerable. How ruinous would the possession of +perfection such as mine have been to the chivalry of the Middle Ages! + +I do not think any less of the ladies for the ease of my conquests: I +know how impossible it is for the poor dears to resist my charms; but oh +the happiness of mediocrity! + +I was occupied for a whole season searching for the being whom I called +my star. My fancy was so pleased with the idea of basking in her +radiance, I had so fully persuaded myself to be guided by her light to +all things great and high, I had learned to think of her with so much +devotion, that I could not give up my hope of finding her somewhere. I +went to all the popular summer-resorts in turn, meeting only +disappointment. The star type of girls did not seem to be the mode that +season: I could see no trace of her I came to find. Though saddened, I +was too young to despair: in my usual clear and sensible manner I +thought the matter over. After all, I reflected, I suppose I can find a +woman worthy of me who is not a star. I doubt not the poets were sincere +in their civility to persons of the other sex. The exaggeration arose +from the absence of any really superior man with whom to compare them. +They _seemed_ stars in contrast with the existing male species: +_I_ had not yet appeared. + +Another summer found me renewing my search with unabated vigor, but this +time on a different basis, having determined to lay romance aside--to +seek for nothing above me--to be content with an equal. If with her I +should not be ecstatically happy--if our _ménage_ would not quite +rival that of Adam and Eve in the garden of Paradise--yet a certain +amount of modern bliss might be extracted from the companionship of an +agreeable woman who could appreciate and sympathize with my tastes and +be my friend through life. + +I employed my second summer in looking for a sympathetic woman, with the +intention of making her my wife. May I never see such a hard-working, +distracting season again! Not that such women were hard to find--they +were only too plenty: at one time I had six who were devoted to me. One +sympathized with my love of music; we sang duets together in the +evening; it was delightful, for I need hardly say that I sing as I do +everything else--remarkably well. Another sympathized with my sketching +propensities. We rambled in the woods together with boxes and colors. I +found it charming. "Nothing amateurish" about my style, Miss Pinklake +said. A third sympathized with my taste for horses: my restive Nero was +the "sweetest pet" she ever saw. (My groom says, "He's the divvil +hisself, Muster Charley.") With her I rode in the afternoon. She told +me--Miss Vernon, you know her? brunette, deuced pretty--she said one +day, when we were taking a canter together, "I can believe those +wonderful stories of the Centaurs when I see _you_ ride, Mr. +Highrank." She had a pleasant voice, and such a figure! I had almost +decided to propose to her one day, and was even thinking of the words I +should use, when the pale Miss Anabel Lee came walking along the road by +us, looking like a fairy, her hat hanging on her arm filled with wild +flowers, and her dress looped with ferns. As she passed she raised her +beautiful blue eyes to mine, and at the same time--it might have been +chance--she pressed a bunch of forget-me-nots to her lips. I remembered +I had an engagement to walk with Miss Lee on the beach that night: there +was a lovely moon--we talked poetry. It was Miss Annie Darling who said +I "waltzed divinely." Miss Annie laid her hand on one's sleeve when she +talked to one, mutilated her fan with various tappings on a fellow's +shoulder for being naughty, as she called it ("naughty" meant giving her +a kiss in a dark corner of the verandah), said saucy things to the +snobs, and used her eyes. She walked with the Grecian bend. When I had a +serious fit there was young Miss Carenaught, who was plain and read the +reviews, spoke sharply against fashion, and knew a man of my education +"must despise the butterfly existence of the surrounding throng." +Sometimes she would invite me to go with her to catch beetles and queer +insects--"not that she needed my help," she would say, "but my +intellectual society was indeed a treat in this crowded desert." + +All this was very agreeable, but also very perplexing. At the end of the +season I found myself as far from making a choice as ever. If I indulged +one taste at the expense of the others, I should become a less perfect +man; nor could I decide in which of my pursuits I needed sympathy the +most--music, painting, dancing, riding, reading. Alas! could I find one +woman congenial in all my moods I would marry her immediately. Wearied +by the attentions of so many, I yet feared an imperfect life spent with +but one. I saw that I had made another mistake, and retired to my +country-seat, "The Beauties," to recruit. + +I know there is a modern idea that women are the equals of men (the +poets, you remember, thought them superior), and many may consider it +odd that I did not find it so. I do not wish to offend. To those who +hold that opinion I modestly suggest my unfortunate superiority as the +probable cause of my failure. I do not blame the ladies, be it +understood. + +Again I sat down to plan and reflect. I looked mournfully on the past +and less hopefully on the future. The obstacles were beginning to +dishearten me, but even after a second failure I dared not relinquish my +quest: my mother's wishes must be fulfilled. A woman worthy of me: +behold the difficulty! What course of action should I now pursue? + +At last I had a flash of brain-light on the subject. I would look for +the purely good, rejecting the intellectual entirely. I would plunge +into the country and seek a bride fresh from the hands of Nature, a wild +flower without fashion, guile or brains--one who in leaving me free to +follow my own pursuits would yet adorn my life with charms of the +heart--a heart that had known no love but mine. + +It was in the most beautiful month of autumn that I made this resolve, +which I lost no time in putting into execution. I wrote to my old +college friend, Dick Hearty, that I would spend a month with him: he had +often invited me to visit him in the country. I counted on doing enough +love-making in that time to win my wild rose, and at my return I would +bring home my bride. I reasoned that in those unsophisticated regions, +in the shadow of the virgin forest, the trammels of long courtship and +other fashionable follies are unknown: heart meets heart as the pure +woodland streams meet each other and become one. + +Before I set out I gave a dinner-party at The Beauties to announce to my +gentleman friends the joyful event. At the dessert I rose and proposed +the health of my future bride. + +"And may it be years before she arrives at The Beauties!" mumbled Percy +Flyaway when they had drunk the toast. + +"I hope you will all welcome her at a grand reception here in--about a +month or six weeks." I remembered just in time that I had best not fix a +date, as something might intervene. + +A storm of questions, exclamations and remarks ensued. + +"Lovely?" + +"As fair as poet's dreaming." + +"Die Vernon?" + +"Not for Joe!" + +"The Soprano?" + +A shake of my head. + +"Anabel?" + +"No." + +"Who is she?" + +"Let us drink her health again," said one, getting thirsty, and fearing +in the excitement the bottle would not be passed. + +"Tell us all about her," cried another. + +"Gentlemen," said I seriously when the noise had slightly abated, "you +know I am a deuced good fellow." + +"Hear! hear!" they cried. + +"That you are!" said Percy. + +"Well, I am going to get a deuced good wife." + +"Congratulate you, old fellow!" + +"Do you think of going up in a balloon for a wedding-trip?" + +They all came around me, clinked their glasses with mine, shook hands +with me, and drank my health, her health, the health of my +mother-in-law, and any other toast that would serve as an excuse for +emptying a glass. + +"I say, will she cut rough on us chaps?" asked Percy in a plaintive +voice as the hubbub subsided. + +"Gentlemen," cried I, waving my hand, "my wife that is to be is an +angel." + +"Wish she would stay in heaven!" muttered Percy. + +"What I mean by an angel is a perfect woman." + +"Worse still," said the irrepressible Perce. (By the by, the wits had +nicknamed him "Perce sans purse," because he was poor, you know, but he +was a good fellow, quite.) + +"Gentlemen, let me explain." + +"Hear! hear!" + +"I have been looking for a wife for the past year: I have thought much +on the subject, for I think it an important one." + +"Solomon!" said Perce out of his wine-glass. + +"Now, a good wife must be a refined, gentle, kind, loving, beautiful +woman, with no nonsense about her." + +"Amen to the last clause!" cried Bear de Witt. + +"You have found her?" asked Percy, absently watching the sparkling +bubbles rise one after the other in his glass. + +"Ah--aw--I will bring her home," I answered, evading the question--"my +love, my bliss, my delight!" + +"He is awful spoony on her," said Bear in a disgusted tone. + +"He is tipsy," whispered Percy as I sat down with a tremor in my voice +and wiped my eyes with a napkin. + +Then Perce began to lecture me in an injured tone: "I say, it is really +too bad of you. I should not have believed it if you had not told us +yourself. To go and get married like any fool of a fella' that hasn't +forty thou' a year, like any common man--it's too rough." + +"I know it, Perce," I replied, "but we superior people must set an +example--the world expects it of us. The only question is, how to make a +proper choice." + +I remember very little after, except that the lights shone dimmer +through the cigar-smoke, that there was much noise from popping corks, +and occasionally a breakage of glass, and I think I made another speech. +Next morning I awoke with a very robust and well-defined head-ache. + +A few days later I started for the back-woods, with Wordsworth packed in +my trunk, he being the writer most congenial to my present state of +mind. Once seated in the cars, I looked with pleasure on each pastoral +scene as it came into view, and gazed at the milkmaids while thinking +romantically of my love. I took a nap, and awoke respectfully pressing +the handle of my portmanteau and murmuring a proposal to my wild flower. + +It was late when I arrived at the little village near which my friend +resided, and I resolved to spend the night at the modest inn of the +place. The gay singing of birds, mingled with the ringing of Sunday +bells, caused my drowsy eyes to open on the morrow. A happy thought came +to me as I lay enjoying the delightful freshness of all around me: "I +will go to church: my little Innocence will be there. I know she is +pious. As unconscious as the birds, and with as sweet a voice, she will, +like them, be praising her Maker this bright morning." + +I began to dress, looking each moment from the window with the hope that +she might pass by. The street was quiet--no one to be seen. Presently, +from a house near, tripped two pretty girls, and I eagerly came forward +to see them. "If it is not my rose herself," I thought, "it maybe some +relation--cousin, sister, friend: I am interested in the whole town +since _she_ lives here." The girls came nearer. They walked without +affectation: you could imagine that the spirit of Modesty herself had +taught them that quiet demeanor. Suddenly they looked up and saw me. Am +I Mephistopheles, to produce such a dire effect? They looked down, they +simpered, they laughed a laugh that was not natural: their voices grew +louder. + +"_Did_ you see him?" said one. + +"So perfectly lovely!" said the other. + +"I wonder who he is?" remarked the first. + +"My fate," I muttered as I turned away. + +After breakfast I sallied forth, humming "Pure as the Snow." Taking a +reconnoissance of the town, I came to a pretty house with +woodbine-covered porch, and a slender figure at the window. + +"I will not startle her with a rude glance," thought I, for I could see +without appearing to look. As my step resounded the figure turned. + +"Oh, do come here, Jessie! Who _can_ he be?" said the slender +figure to some one inside. + +I raised my eyes slowly, and my hat. "Could you tell me the way to Mr. +Hearty's?" I asked, not thinking of any other excuse for speaking to +her. + +Blushing, she told me. + +"And might I ask you," looking beseechingly at her as a person who might +be my future wife--"might I ask you to give me one of your roses?" + +"Take as many as you like," she said courteously. + +"I would rather you gave me one," with a smile. + +She hesitated for an instant, then quickly plucked a bud from the side +of the open window, threw it to me and ran away. + +"I shall find _my_ Rose later," sighed I. + +I sauntered on to church, a pretty little building of mossy gray stone, +and seated myself on a shady bench under the elms to watch the people +assembling. + +Ye gods! could it be? Here were last summer's styles, airs and grimaces, +served up as it were cold. I could pick out bad copies of each girl I +had flirted with the past season. You remember Florence Rich at The +Resort?--here was her portrait in caricature. Florence was the vainest +girl I ever knew, and showed it too. But she was vain of herself. This +country Florence was vain of a new silk that I would have taken the odds +she was wearing for the first time. She looked as if she were saying +with every rustle, "Admire me!" though of course she wasn't, you know. +She was constantly arranging her bracelet or smoothing her glove, and +looking on this side and that to see if any one was observing her. By +this means she gave her admirers the benefit of her full face, showing +both earrings; then of her profile, showing one earring and her curls; +and then of the back of her head, showing her fall bonnet. Her little +black veil ended just where her nose needed a shade. It is needless to +mention that she looked at me as she passed and gave me a smile _à la +profile_, which was ostensibly aimed at a pale young man near the +church-door. + +On they came, looking like the remnants of my summer's feast--the supper +after my season's dinner--stale and repelling to my satiated palate. On +entering I saw the ghost of "the Soprano" at the head of the choir, with +less voice and more affectation. The same glances of envy that had been +shot from angry eyes at The Resort I now saw passing between angry eyes +here. The church was full of imitations of this kind, or were they only +inferior originals of the same type? + +I learned afterward that the girls of the town were divided into two +classes--the followers of Miss Loude, who was fast and flashy, and the +imitators of Miss Weighty, who affected the quiet style, did not visit +indiscriminately, and was considered "stuck up" by the townspeople, +being the daughter of a retired grocer. During the service they all +looked at me. Some who were of the Loude school did it openly: those +after the Weighty pattern peeped clandestinely over their prayer-books, +through their fans, or between their fingers when praying. The more +clever would use strategy, shivering as if in a draught of air, and +looking around in my direction to see if a window were open, while the +mammas eyed me steadily through spectacles. + +"I might have known it," I thought, exasperated: "'tis the same +everywhere, unless I should go to a country where the people are blind." + +Dick Hearty, who was there with his sisters, came up after the service +and spoke to me. "Looking well, old fellow!" he said, as if I was not +sick of looking well. "Let me introduce you to my sisters." + +His sisters were of the fast and flashy school. Both of them fell in +love with me before I left, though I tried hard to make myself +disagreeable, not thinking it right to disappoint them, being a friend +of the brother, and all that. But unless I wear a mask I cannot prevent +such accidents. I hope they will get over it in time. They were deuced +nice girls too, but more like peonies than wild roses. + +Well, as I was saying, Dick introduced me, and insisted on taking me +home with him at once. I already began to fear for the success of my +object, but could not turn back at the very beginning of the promised +land; so I went with him. + +It would be tiresome to tell of all the flirtations and adventures I had +while there, or of all the girls who devoted themselves to me. Like +skillful leaders, Miss Loude and Miss Weighty set the example to their +imitators--an example which none were slow to follow. Indeed, it seemed +as if the struggle consisted in seeing who should be first at my feet. I +averaged half a dozen conquests daily: Dick's house was overwhelmed with +lady visitors, and it was usually love at first sight with them all. A +second interview was sufficient to win the most intractable. Not that I +cared to win: I was fatigued with victory--my laurels oppressed me. I +began to wish, like that nobby old emperor, Au--I used to know his +name--that all womankind had but one heart, that I might finish it with +a look, and then turn my attention to more important matters. + +Once I thought I had found her. At one of the picnics given in my honor +I saw a sober, pretty little thing, with rosy cheeks and chestnut hair, +who looked intensely rural. I fancied I should like to talk to her alone +for a while, and took her to a spring that was just in sight of the +dancing platform, thinking she would be too timid to go far away from +the others. I found her very sweet and bashful: I could desire nothing +more so. She blushed at each word she said, and made some very innocent +remarks, unfettered by the grammatic rules that restrain less ingenuous +people. Hoping to put her at her ease, I talked about the country, the +beautiful views, and all that. + +"If you like lovely views," she said shyly, "I can show you one." + +"I shall be most happy to see it," I replied. + +To tell you of the walk that the treacherous innocent took me, of the +rocks we climbed and the marshy brooks we crossed, and the two hours she +kept me at the work! Her stock of conversation was exhausted in the +first ten minutes, and I was too angry to be civil. Two hours of such +silent torture man never underwent before, and yet when we returned +tired, with the perspiration rolling down our faces, I actually +overheard her tell one of her companions that it had been "a delightful +walk, I was _so_ agreeable." Just my luck! And that walk made her a +belle! After it all the country beaux flocked around to pay her +attention, and she looked upon them as Cinderella might have viewed her +other suitors after the prince had danced with her at the ball. +Disgusting! + +Dick came to me after a while and said, "Charley, you are so stunning in +that velvet coat that all the girls are in love with you." + +"I know it, Dick," I said in a complaining voice--"I know it. It always +happens just so. Think it's the coat? I would take it off in a minute if +I thought it was." Then I added with a burst of confidence, "Dick, 'tis +the same with everything I wear: the fascination is in myself. I would +do anything to lessen it, but I can't." + +"You are a jolly joker," replied Dick with a tremendous slap on my back, +as if I had said something very funny. I am often witty when I don't +mean to be. + +But why continue a history which was the same thing day after day? I +stayed in the country more than three weeks. Though doubting, I was +conscientious, and left nothing undone to gain my end. The task bored me +far more than my sympathizers did in the summer. Indeed, any of those +friends were bewitching in contrast to the girls I now met, and had one +of them dropped in on me during that tiresome period I think I should +have forgotten nice distinctions and made serious love to her, sure of +finding more pleasure in having a single taste in common than in having +none at all. + +I believe country-people are even more egotistic than the dwellers in +cities. I sometimes found myself at the most isolated farm-houses +looking for my Rose. The men I met there invariably thought they knew +all about the weather and religion, politics and farming; the women were +convinced they had every kind of knowledge worth having, and that what +they did not know was "new-fangled" and not worth a pin; and their +daughters believed that they were beauties, or would be if they had fine +clothes to dress in. How people can be so mistaken as to their capacity +is a mystery to me. + +During my stay I came to the conclusion that I would rather press a soft +hand than a hard one; that I would rather see a tasty toilette than +beauty unadorned; that shy manners are anything but graceful; that the +useful and the beautiful are not likely to be found in the same person; +and that girls, like _articles de luxe_, should be carefully kept. +I like to recall that well-bred, unconscious air of Miss Haughton; I +remember Miss Darling as a model of deportment: why, she could do the +naughtiest things in a less objectionable manner than that of these +girls when acting propriety. + +I discovered some facts regarding wild roses. Their petals are few and +faded, and their thorns many and sharp. Their scanty green foliage will +always remind me of a calico gown. Take my word for it, and don't ever +go to the trouble of seeking one. Give me a full-blown damask rose. What +care I if it was nursed in a hot-house or if its beauty is due to the +gardener's care? I thank the gardener and take the rose. Or give me a +half-open sulphira, with suggestive odors and soft curving leaves, +passion-pale in tint, or a gorgeous amaryllis produced by artful +development, clothed like a queen in state, bearing erect her magic +beauty. No more wild roses for me! + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +I had been at Breezy Brook, that beautiful summer resort which you all +know, about a month: it was now July, and nothing had happened worth +relating since my arrival. During the past winter I had not been +idle--attending parties, balls and operas without number, but without +success. This summer I made up my mind to be tranquil and to let events +take their course, for, as Fortune had given me every other good, she +would no doubt in time provide me with a good wife. I had therefore +every reason to be patient. + +I was in an unsociable mood one afternoon; so, taking a cigar and book, +I sauntered up the mountain. There is an arbor halfway to its top, and I +have a lounging-place near by, where the roots of an old tree make a +comfortable nest just above a steep precipice, and the place is hidden +from intruders by rocks and foliage. 'Tis a discovery of mine I pride +myself upon, and I go there when I want to collect my thoughts and enjoy +my own company. + +Hardly had I made myself comfortable in my retreat when I heard voices +in the arbor below. It was Mrs. Fluffy and her sister, Mrs. J.K.B. +Stunner. I knew them in a moment, though they were not visible. Panting +for breath, Mrs. F. invited the other to take a seat: she was very stout +and soon tired. The sisters were examples of opposite schools of art. +Mrs. Stunner, dark, hard and sharp-faced, was a widow with all her +daughters "well settled" in life--_i.e._, married to wealthy +husbands--and was considered "fortunate" among the matrons. Mrs. Fluffy +was soft and florid, without an angular point, physically or mentally: +much younger and prettier than her sister, she was always spoken of as +"poor Mrs. Fluffy," though she was not badly off that I could see. She +had two daughters "out" this season, and a third casting longing looks +in the same direction. + +Thinking they would move on shortly, as the arbor was only a +halting-place for people walking to the summit, I lay snug and waited. +Presently the widow, among other commonplaces, began to discuss the +young ladies at The Brook. + +"By the by, Sarah," she said, "I don't see that your girls are doing +much this season: I really must say you do not seem to manage well at +all. You may be playing a very deep game, but I can discover no signs of +it, and there is little that escapes me in such matters." + +"Oh, Jane!" panted Mrs. F., "if you only knew the trouble of having two +daughters 'out' at once!" + +"As if I didn't know!" snuffed Mrs. Stunner. + +"True, true," replied Sarah in a conciliatory tone. "But you seemed to +have so little anxiety." + +"Seemed!" echoed the Stunner contemptuously. "Of course I _seemed_, +and the difficulty it required to _seem_! Do you think I was so +witless as to let my manoeuvres be seen? I wonder at you, Sarah!" + +"Well, well," said the other, yielding the point, "I know you have a +talent for such things, and can manage well, but _I_ don't know +what to do." + +"I--should--think--you--did--not," replied her sister, tapping the +ground slowly with her foot. + +"What have I done that you should speak like that, Jane?" asked the meek +Sarah, bridling up. + +"Tell me," answered Jane after an ominous silence that was quite +thrilling, "where is Eva at this moment?" + +"Oh,", replied Sarah with a sigh of relief, "she is walking with Mr. +Hardcash. You introduced him at the last ball." + +"I introduced him to dance with, not to walk with," said Jane severely. + +"Goodness me, sister! what's the difference?" + +"She asks me 'What's the difference?' Are you a child? Why, just the +difference between dancing and walking." + +From the pause that followed I knew that Mrs. F. was looking with both +her round eyes, intent on seeing it. I suppose she did not succeed, as +her sister continued, emphasizing each word clearly, "Mr. Hardcash has +not a penny," as if that at once explained the knotty question. + +"Why did you introduce him if you don't approve of him?" asked Mrs. +Fluffy, with a feeble attempt to throw the blame on her sister. + +"Have I not told you? In a ball-room girls need plenty of +partners--plenty of men about them. It makes them look popular and +fascinating, and if the gentlemen are handsome and stylish-looking, so +much the better. Mr. Hardcash is just the size to waltz well with +Eva--he shows her off to advantage--but he is not a man to encourage +afterward. She should not be seen walking or talking intimately with a +gentleman who has less than ten thousand a year." Mrs. Stunner delivered +this ultimatum with the tone of a just judge who will hear of no appeal. + +"How can I know how much the gentlemen are worth?" said Sarah pettishly. + +"It is your duty as a mother to discover it," replied the virtuous +widow. + +"But how?" + +"The visitors' book will tell where a man is from; you can easily get +acquainted with some old lady or gentleman from the same place; and--" + +"What! and ask about them!" + +"Nonsense! Speak of them, praise them if you wish, and let the others +talk: you have only to be an interested listener" (here I could imagine +Mrs. S. smiling grimly), "and you can soon hear enough. For instance, +commence in this way: 'Fine fellow, Mr. T. from your part of the +country.' As a general rule the old gentleman will then give you his +whole history. Another time you may say, 'What a pleasant young man that +Mr. B. is! but rather inclined to be wild, eh?' If he is you will soon +know it. You can also cross-question the man himself. Speak of a little +girl he has at home: if he blushes he is netted already, and lures are +useless. See how he eats his dinner: that is a good test to judge his +position by; not that a few _gaucheries_ will matter if he is very +wealthy--for a judicious mother-in-law can soon correct them--but for +every impropriety he should have a thousand added to his income. Such +things are so intolerable in a poor man!" + +"I don't think Eva would obey me if I did interfere in her affairs," +objected Mrs. Fluffy. + +"Her affairs, indeed! It is _your_ affair. Of course you want a +son-in-law who can keep a comfortable house for you to live in. You have +brought up Eva badly, Sarah, and there is one thing I must tell you +about her--she is entirely too familiar and sisterly with gentlemen." + +"She has a great many beaux," interrupted Mrs. F. + +"It is one of her worst faults," continued Jane, not listening to her. +"If a girl gets into those sisterly habits with a man, it will never +come into his head to marry her. She may be his chief confidante; he +will talk of his lady-love to her, and she may end by being first +bridesmaid at his wedding, but nothing nearer. I don't approve of it. +One of my maxims is, that a man ought not be well acquainted with the +girl he is to marry until the ceremony is performed." + +"Well, you cannot disapprove of Laura," said Mrs. Fluffy, trying to turn +the conversation. "I left her in her room reading." + +"'Disapprove' of her? The word is not strong enough for my feelings. +Neither of your girls has the least bit of common sense; but I don't +wonder, with such a mother! A girl who gets a reputation for being +learned and saying brilliant things might just as well give up matrimony +altogether. Men are either afraid of them or detest them: gentlemen +don't like to puzzle their brains over a witticism, nor do they admire +chaffing that is beyond their comprehension. Courtship should be made +easy. My Jane was clever, and vexed me a great deal in consequence, +daughters of that kind are so unmanageable: give me the most stupid in +preference. It is pleasant to a husband to feel his superiority, to look +down on his wife. The mediocre is the girl I take most delight in. There +are so many mediocre men that they are sure to get suited without giving +you much anxiety." + +"Jane," exclaimed Mrs. Fluffy with a burst of admiration, "you are so +clever I wonder _you_ ever were married. Did Mr. Stunner appreciate +that kind of women?" + +"La! no. I had the sense to conceal my talents. Take my word for it, +superior people as a class are never liked, unless they do as I +did--conceal it, conceal it." + +"I am glad I was not born talented: I fear I could not succeed in hiding +it as you do." Mrs. F. was too stupid for sarcasm, else I should have +thought-- + +"Now be frank with me, Sarah," broke in Mrs. Stunner, scattering my +thoughts: "who is paying attention to Eva now?" + +"Well," replied the other, appearing to recollect, "there is Mr. Rich: +he asked her to ride with him." + +"More than once?" + +"No, not more, but it was only day before yesterday." + +"Ah! he may ask her again: once means nothing. A gentleman may ask her +for pastime, or to make some one else jealous, or out of good-nature, +but to a girl properly brought up once is a chance--it is a good start." +(Mrs. S.'s late husband was fond of racing.) "It rests entirely with her +to make the once twice, the twice thrice, and so on; for if she is +amusing and don't talk love, he will be sure to ask her again." + +"'Don't talk love'? Why, Jane, you surprise me! I thought that was the +proper thing to do." + +"Just where people mistake. The most stupid man can talk love if he +feels love. Let girls be agreeable, sweet and charming, but without +especial effort to appear so, and when gentlemen are captivated they +will do their own love-making." + +"Dear me!" was the reply. + +"Yes, I protest against young ladies throwing themselves at the head of +every marriageable gentleman they see. They should think of the effect +it will have." + +"But they are so unworldly that they don't think of effect," said Mrs. +Fluffy. + +"Humph!" ejaculated the widow in a tone of incredulity. + +"You seem to have a very poor opinion of women, Jane." + +"They want to marry, all of them: you admit that, don't you?" asked Mrs. +Stunner severely. + +"I think not," objected Mrs. F. in a feeble voice. "There is Miss +Furnaval: they say she has refused--" + +"Then," interrupted her sister, not heeding her, "if they want to marry, +why not take the proper means? It is inconceivable to me how women, +after thinking about it all their lives, blunder into it in the end, +just as if it was an entirely unforeseen event. A little good sense is +requisite in everything, I think." + +"They are not all anxious to marry," reiterated Mrs. Fluffy, gaining +courage: "there's Miss Furnaval--" + +"A great example to give one!" remarked her sister contemptuously. "She +is making a fool of herself as fast as she can. Among all the young +ladies who marry badly, the fascinating ones prosper the worst. No girl +can refuse a good offer with impunity: a day of reckoning will come. +Society has its laws, which must be obeyed: if not, _gare_! Mark my +words," continued Mrs. Stunner solemnly: "Miss Furnaval has some +outlandish un-society principles, and practically they will not work. +Why, she is quite as well contented talking to a poor man as to a rich +one, and she is always encouraging worthless, amusing, handsome +fellows--talented men, instead of men whose position dispenses with the +necessity of their having brains. Those fellows she has about her are +the pests of society. If you hear of a runaway match, you may be sure it +is with one of them; if a daughter is obstinate, you may be sure some +ineligible jackanapes has prompted her to it. Blanche will end badly. +She will fall in love with one of them some day, and finish by marrying +him." + +"If Miss Furnaval loves one of that kind of gentlemen, I don't see why +she might not be happy with him." + +"You don't see anything, Sarah. You don't see the nose on your face, +though I see 'tis a very big one. I will make it evident to you. He will +be poor, Blanche is rich: if she gives him her money, he will spend it. +Never having had any of his own, he won't know how to take care of it. +If, on the other hand, she don't give it to him, he will think she does +not care for him--will get jealous, likely take to drink: your clever +man always does. They will quarrel; then her clever husband will use his +clever tongue to tease her, and his clever brain to thwart and provoke +her--which a stupid man would never think of doing--and, worse than all, +she will never get the least chance to have her own way in anything." + +"Poor Blanche! I pity her," sighed Mrs. Fluffy. + +"I don't, in the least," snapped the other. "Such an example will serve +to make other girls more sensible. Only you take it as a warning to your +own Eva." + +After quite a long silence, in which I suppose Mrs. Fluffy was +considering, she said pathetically, "I wish you would tell me what to do +with Eva." + +"Marry her as soon as possible," was the prompt and decided reply. "It +is her second summer 'out,' and she should at least be engaged." + +"I can do nothing. What do you advise, Jane?" + +"In the first place, stop her being with such gentlemen as Mr. +Hardcash." + +"Eva is so high-spirited," groaned Mrs. Fluffy, "I fear she would not +listen to me." + +"You mean _obstinate_, Sarah. Tell her seriously that she has had +two very gay seasons--that you can't afford another--that she must make +up her mind now. Then think over all the most eligible gentlemen you +know, and cultivate their acquaintance." + +"Couldn't you help me, Jane?" asked the other timidly. "I shall not know +what to do." + +"Let me see," continued Mrs. S. in a musing tone. "If you had a +country-house you could manage better. Elderly gentlemen are usually +pleased with domestic attractions, and there are many little attentions +that you and Eva could show them which in any other position would look +like courting them. Then there would be no danger of competition. +Indeed, if a pretty girl has a gentleman all to herself for a week or +two at a romantic country-house, a wedding is sure to follow. But there +must be no jarring, fretting, bad cooking or any household ill +whatever--no talk of poor servants or dishonest grooms: everything must +be _couleur de rose_." + +"Jane, it appears to me you are talking very silly," said Mrs. Fluffy, +glad of a chance to attack her superior sister. "You know I have no +country-house, and I can't buy one just to marry Eva and Laura from." + +"I merely said _if_ you had. I thought you might be pleased to hear +my theory," replied Mrs. Stunner stiffly, "The next best thing for you +is to have a parlor here, get up picnics and drives, make card-parties +with suppers--gentlemen so like to eat!--and do not spare expense when +you have a good investment in view. You can limit the invitations to two +or three gentlemen who are especially eligible: make these some little +compliment, such as '_You_ will come of course--our little party +would not be complete without you.' Contrive that they take care of the +girls, and you can entertain the others. Occasionally include some young +ladies in your evenings, so that the world may not say you are afraid of +them, but don't let them become intimate."--Here Mrs. Stunner paused for +breath. + +"It sounds easy enough," said poor Mrs. F. dolefully. + +"It is not easy at all," sharply replied her sister, "but if we manage +well we sha'n't have to go through with it more than one summer." + +"Then you will help me?" + +"I suppose I must sacrifice myself for the good of the family," said the +Stunner in an heroic tone, "but you must let me have my own way +entirely." + +"Oh yes, Jane--certainly. I am so much obliged!" replied Mrs. Fluffy +with effusion. + +"Then it is not necessary to explain my plans further: I shall be there +and will manage." + +"But whom do you think we should invite, Jane dear?" asked Mrs. F. +anxiously. + +"You spoke of Mr. Rich. I approve of him: I know he has twenty thousand +a year. Yes, he shall be one." + +"I am afraid Eva won't like him," Mrs. Fluffy timidly remarked. + +"Eva shall not interfere with my plans, and don't you commence with such +nonsense as liking and disliking; I won't have it," retorted Mrs. S. in +a louder voice than she would have used had she known I was so near. + +"But there might be some nicer gentleman just as wealthy, might there +not?" suggested the weak sister. + +"There is David Todd, with thirty thousand a year: I wonder if _he_ +would suit the dainty Eva?" said Mrs. Jane, sneering. + +"I think she would like Mr. Highrank to be invited," observed pink Mrs. +Fluffy, waiving the question. + +I sat up and listened attentively when I heard my own name mentioned, +not forgetful of the adage that listeners hear no good of themselves, +but of course _I_ had nothing to fear. + +"More sensible than I thought Eva could be," the Stunner rejoined. +"Forty thousand a year and entailed, so that he can't get through with +it. I have observed him a good deal for several seasons, and I find that +though he is such a fool, the sharpest girls can do nothing with him. +When so many are after him I suppose no single one can have a fair +chance. Yes, we will invite him, but I hope Eva will not think of +falling in love with him unless he should propose. Indeed, I think a +modest girl ought never to fall in love. It seems to me indecorous, at +least before marriage--after, they can do as they like about it. You +must warn Eva on the subject. If any other gentleman should ask for her, +she must not refuse, because we could not count on Highrank making up +his mind: I have an idea that he is too weak to form a resolution of any +kind." + +I thought the old woman must be bilious. "Me a fool!"--a philosopher +rather. But I have always known that exalted worth is a fault in the +estimation of narrow-minded people, who can't appreciate it. Little Eva +has more sense--would like me to visit her: of course the poor child is +in love with me. I wish I could tease that ridiculous old lady in some +way. I have a confounded mind to run off with Eva. No, that, I fear, +would please Aunt Stunner. But I am missing all her trash: better +listen. It is really not worth getting heated over. + +"The others I will see about," continued Aunt Jane. "It is very little +consequence who they are. Only one thing: I won't have that Hardcash +about: he and Eva have been entirely too much together." + +"She is rough on Ned," thought I in ambush. + +"I am afraid you won't be able to manage Eva, my dear Jane." + +"Don't worry. When I have a duty to perform I go through with it. Let us +walk on to the summit." + +"Just as you like: I am sufficiently rested, and we can talk as we go." + +There was a rustling of silk and a crunching of gravel, and all was +quiet. + +I lay there thinking for a long while: I wonder if my poor mother, were +she living, would take as much trouble to procure me a wife as Mrs. +Stunner is going to take to provide Eva with a husband. I wonder mothers +don't help their sons to marry, and let their daughters help themselves. +Girls are so much sharper about such things than men are. Everything is +against us. I suppose women think they deceive us for our good, but they +should continue to do so after marriage. 'Pon honor! I have seen the +sweetest, most amiable girl turn as sour as could be a few months after +the ceremony. The dressiest ones often get dowdy, the most musical can't +abide music, the most talkative have the dumps. A man has no chance of +judging how they are going to turn out. He is duped by the daughters, +inveigled by their mothers, and, what is worse still, as soon as he is +married they both undeceive him. It would not matter if a fellow was +cheated if he never knew it, but that's where it hurts. + +I shouldn't wonder if that pair of old plotters would catch me yet if I +don't take care. I will tease them a bit, any way: I'll pay a deuced lot +of attention to Eva, and keep the other fellows away. No man would try +to win her if he thought I was serious. + +Blanche Furnaval _is_ an odd girl, I went on musing. They said she +would end badly--hope she won't, though. Bewitching girl, but she don't +seem to care if people admire her or not. I never can quite understand +her. Once I wrote a few verses and gave them to her--compared her to an +ice-covered stream, quiet on the surface, but all motion and tumult +below. Well, she never even thanked me for them, though she said she +liked that simile, it was so new. There was another couplet about her +name--Blanche and snow and cold: when she read it she laughed and said, +"Though my name means white, it does not mean cold. You know there are +some white things that are very warm, Mr. Highrank--my ermine muff, for +instance." But I made a clever answer. I said, "The muff _looks_ +cold, and so does Miss Blanche, but if I could be so fortunate as to +touch the heart of either I might find warmth." "My muff has no heart," +she answered, looking at me as if she did not understand. "And is its +owner in the same condition?" I asked tenderly. (I make it a rule to +speak tenderly to all girls, it is so sad for them to love me when I +cannot return it.) "In a poetical sense I believe she is," she replied, +"but for all practical purposes she has one that serves very well." + +Sometimes she would be invisible for two or three days together: no one +would see her, either at meals or at the evening ball. When asked what +she had been doing, she would smile that sweet smile of hers and say she +had been enjoying herself. She was very talented, but not a bit +ostentatious. To give you an example: It was rumored that she had a +wonderful voice, and though we had been begging her to sing for at least +a month, she steadily refused to gratify us. One day there was a queer +old Italian chap came to The Brook for his health. He looked like an +organ-grinder, and had been once actually on the stage. Well, do you +know she allowed him to be introduced to her, and talked to him with as +much deference as if he had been a prince, when she ought not have +spoken to him at all, you know; and in that gibberish, too, that no one +can understand. One evening, after entertaining him for about an hour, +she walked with him the whole length of the room, not noticing any one, +though every eye was upon her. He sat down at the piano which stood in a +corner, struck a few chords, and then, with no coaxing whatever, she +sang; and such a song! Her gray eyes grew dark, and her voice quivered, +deepened, expanded into a melody that made you think the heavens had +suddenly opened. Every other sound ceased; the doors and windows were +filled with eager faces; the dancers ended in the middle of a quadrille, +and the band came in a body to listen. I saw one fat Dutchman holding +his fiddle in one hand while he wiped the tears from his eyes with the +other. When the song was ended the old Italian took both her hands in +his and kissed them, talking at the same time with impossible rapidity; +and she smiled and looked as happy as if she had won a prize, turning +her back on every one else who wished to congratulate her. It showed how +very odd she was. The next evening _I_ asked her to sing, and she +flatly refused without the least excuse, saying, "No: a refusal will be +a pleasant novelty in your life, Mr. Highrank." + + ITA ANIOL PROKOP. + +[TO BE CONTINUED] + + + + +THE STRANGER WITHIN THE GATES OF PARIS. + + +"Paris," once said Victor Hugo to me, "is the hostess of all the +nations. There all the world is at home. It is the second best place +with all foreigners--the fatherland first, and afterward Paris." + +There was a great deal of truth in the observation, and especially is it +true as regards Americans. By our natural sociability and versatility of +temperament, by our love of all bright and pleasant surroundings, by our +taste for pleasure and amusement, we assimilate more closely in our +superficial characteristics to the French nation than we do to any +other. Our Britannic cousins are too cold, too unsociable, too heavy for +our fraternization, and mighty barriers of dissimilarity of language, of +tastes, of customs and manners divide us from the European nation which +of all others we most closely resemble in essential particulars--namely, +the Northern Germans. The Prussians have been called--and that, too, +with a good deal of truth--the Yankees of Europe; and if the term +"Yankees" means, as it usually does in European parlance, the entire +population of the United States, we citizens of the great republic have +every right to feel proud of the comparison. Yet, with all our genuine +respect and admiration for the Prussians, there are but few American +tourists who take kindly to that people or their country. The lack of +the external polish, the graceful manners and winning ways of the +Parisians is severely felt by the chance tarrier within the gates of +Berlin. We accord our fullest meed of honor to the great conquering +nation of Europe, to its wonderful system of education, its admirable +military discipline, and its sturdy opposition to superstition and +ignorance in their most aggressive form. And yet we do not like Prussia +or the Prussians. We scoff at Berlin, planted on a sandy plain and new +with the thriving, aggressive newness of some of our own cities. We long +for the soft shadows of antiquity, the dim twilight of past glories, to +overhang our daily path as we journey onward through the storied lands +of the ancient world. We have enough of bright progressive prosperity at +home. Something of the feeling of the artist, who turns from the trim, +elegant damsel arrayed in the latest fashion to paint the figure of a +beggar-girl draped in picturesque rags, hangs about us as we travel. It +is only to Paris--Paris beautiful in its strange blending of smoky ruins +and splendid, freshly-erected mansions--that we can pardon the white +glare of newly-opened streets, the Vandal desecration of antique +landmarks, the universal sacrifice of old memories, historic +associations and antique picturesqueness on that altar of modern +progress whose high priest was Baron Haussmann and whose divinity was +Napoleon III. + +We love Paris, we Americans abroad, and we like the Parisians. One side +of our affection grows and strengthens and sends forth new shoots with +every passing day. The longer one lives in Paris the better one loves +it. Its beauty becomes part and parcel of one's daily life. The mighty +sweep of palace and arcade and museum and church, the plash of sunlit +fountains, the rustle and the shimmer of resplendent foliage, the grace +of statue, the grandeur of monument, the far-stretching splendor of +brilliant boulevard and bustling street,--all these make up a picture +whose lines are engraven on our heart of hearts. Often, passing along +the street, some far-off vista, some effect of light and color, some +single point of view, strikes on the sense with new and startling +beauty, and we pause to gaze and to admire, and to exclaim for the +thousandth time, How fair is Paris! + +And she is so prodigal of her treasures, this goodly city! She lavishes +them on all comers without fee or favor. All day long her princely +art-galleries stand open to welcome the passing visitor. One comes and +goes unhindered and unquestioned in church or museum, and even the +service of guides and boats and cars to the sewers, and of official +guides to the Catacombs, is given without compensation--nay more, all +fees are strictly; forbidden. There is no city on earth that receives +its guests with such splendid and lavish hospitality. Apart from one's +board and lodging, it is possible for a stranger to come to Paris and to +visit all its principal sights without the expenditure of a single sou. +And for the persons who, prolonging their stay, wish in some sort to +take up their permanent residence in Paris, things are smoothed and +ironed and the knots picked out in the most wonderful way. Your board is +dainty and your bed soft. Velvet-footed and fairy-handed beings minister +to your wants. You are clothed as if by magic in garments of marvelous +beauty. The very rustle of your letter of credit is as an open sesame to +treasure-chambers to which Ali Baba's cavern was but a shabby cellar. +And if, on the contrary, your means are limited and your wants but few, +the science of living has been so exactly conned and is so perfectly +understood that your franc-piece will buy you as many necessaries as +ever your fifty-cent greenback did home, and that, too, in face of the +fact that all provisions are now, owing to the war and the taxes, as +dear, if not dearer than they are in Philadelphia. If a stranger comes +to Paris and wishes to live comfortably and economically, there are +plenty of respectable, well-situated establishments in the best section +of the city where he can obtain a comfortable, well-furnished room and +well-cooked, well-served meals, for eight to ten francs a day--such +accommodations as five dollars would scarcely avail to purchase in +Philadelphia or New York. + +The whole secret of the matter is, that in France everybody understands +the art of making the most out of everything. No scrap of food is +wasted, no morsel cast aside, till every particle of nourishment it can +yield is carefully extracted. The portions given to the guests at the +minor hotels, where one lives _en pension_ at so much _per +diem_, are carefully measured for individual consumption. The slice +of steak, the tiny omelette, the minute moulded morsels of butter, even +the roll of bread and little _sucrier_ and cream-jug placed before +each person, have each been carefully gauged as to the usual dimensions +of an ordinary appetite. Nothing is squandered and nothing is wasted. +When one recalls the aspect of our hotel tables at home--the +bread-plates left with their piles of cold, uneatable corn-bread, and +heavy, chilled muffins and sodden toast uneaten, uncared-for and wasted; +the huge steak, with its scrap of tenderloin carefully scolloped out, +and the rest left to be thrown away; the broiled chicken--the legs +scorned in favor of the more toothsome breast; the half-emptied plates +of omelettes and fried potatoes,--one realizes how low prices for board +in Paris are still compatible with the increased price of provisions, +and why we must pay five dollars at home for accommodations for which we +expend two here. The same wastefulness creeps into all the details of +our hotel-life. If we want a glass of ice-water, for instance, we are +straight-way supplied with a pitcher brimming over with huge crystal +lumps of transparent ice. One-half the quantity would suffice for all +actual purposes: the rest is left to melt and run to waste. + +The fact is, that we citizens of the United States live more luxuriously +than any other people on the face of the earth. On an average we dress +better, fare better, sleep softer, and combat the cold in winter and the +heat in summer with more scientific persistency, than do any of the +so-called luxurious nations of Europe. Take, for instance, the matter of +heating and lighting. A few of the leading hotels in Paris, and a small +minority among the most expensive suites of private apartments, have gas +introduced into all the rooms, but as a general thing it is confined to +the public rooms, and the unfortunate wight who longs to see beyond the +end of his nose is forced to wrestle with dripping candles and unclean +lamps, known only by tradition in our native land. The gaslight, which +is a common necessary in the simplest private dwelling in an American +city, is here a luxury scarcely attainable save by the very wealthiest. +And we do not know how precious our gaslight is till we have lost it. To +sit in a dim parlor where four lighted candles struggle vainly to +disperse the gloom, to dress for opera or ball by the uncertain glimmer +of those greasy delusions, is enough to make one forswear all the +luxuries of Paris, and flee homeward forthwith. + +Then in winter comes the question of warmth. What is more delicious than +to plunge from the iced-champagne atmosphere of a sparkling winter's day +in America into the nest-like, all-pervading warmth of an American home? +Here such comfort is wholly unknown. The cold, though less severe than +with us, is damp, raw and insidious, and creeps under wraps with a +treacherous persistency that nothing can shut out. The ill-fitting +windows, opening in the old door-like fashion, let in every breath of +the chill outer air. A fire is a handful of sticks or half a dozen lumps +of coal. The _calorifère_, a poor substitute for our powerful +furnaces, is a luxury for the very rich--an innovation grudgingly +granted to the whims of the occupants of the most costly and fashionable +of private apartments. Warmth, our cosy, all-pervading warmth, is a +winter luxury that we leave behind us with the cheerful light of our +universal gas-burners. + +In summer we sorely miss the cold, pure ice-water of our native land, +and we long for it with a thirst which _vin ordinaire_ and Bavarian +beer are powerless to assuage. The ill-tasting limestone-tainted water +of Paris is a poor substitute for our sparkling draughts of Schuylkill +or Croton. Ice-pitchers, water-coolers and refrigerators are unknown +quantities in the sum-total of Parisian luxuries. The "cup of cold +water," which the traveler in our country finds gratuitously supplied in +every waiting-room and railway-station, every steamboat, every car and +every hotel, is here something that must be specially sought for, and +paid for at an exorbitant price. Ice can be purchased only in small +quantities for immediate consumption. Ten cents for a few lumps swimming +in water on a tepid plate is the usual tariff for this our American +necessity, this rare Parisian luxury. + +The scant supply of water for ablution is another annoyance to the +American traveler accustomed to the hot-and cold-water faucets +introduced into private bed-rooms and hotel apartments, and the capacious +bath-tubs and unlimited control of water in his native land. To be sure, +one can get a bath in Paris, as well as anywhere else, by ordering it +and waiting for it and paying for it; but the free use of water and its +gratuitous supply in hotels, so entirely a matter of course with us, is +here unheard of. As with ice-water, the bath is an American necessity, a +Parisian luxury. However, the latest erected dwelling-houses here have +had water-pipes and bath-tubs introduced. Wealth can command its bath +here as well as its gaslight and its supplies of ice, but wealth only. +The humblest abode of a Philadelphia mechanic contains comforts and +conveniences which are wellnigh unattainable luxuries in all but the +most splendid apartments of the most luxurious city of Europe. + +Nor do all the delicate artifices of French cookery suffice wholly to +replace for an American palate the dainties of his native land. The +buckwheat cakes and waffles, the large, delicate-flavored, luscious +oysters, the canvas-back ducks, the Philadelphia croquettes and +terrapin, find no substitutes on this side of the water. The delicious +shad and Spanish mackerel have no gastronomic rivals in these waters, +and the sole must be accepted in their stead. We miss, too, our +profusion and variety of vegetables, our stewed and stuffed tomatoes, +green corn, oyster-plants and sweet potatoes. As for fruits, the smaller +varieties are far more abundant and much finer here than they are with +us. Strawberries, cherries, raspberries, gooseberries, apricots--all of +great size and exquisite flavor--tempt and enchant the palate. But our +rich profusion of tropical fruits, such as bananas and pineapples, is +wholly unknown. Peaches are poor in flavor and exorbitant in price. As +for meats, poultry is dearer in Paris than at home, a small chicken for +fricasseeing costing six francs ($1.20 in gold), and a large one for +roasting ten francs ($2). Beef and mutton are at about the same prices +as in Philadelphia and New York. Butter costs from sixty to seventy +cents a pound. One can easily see, therefore, that it takes all the +skill and experience in domestic economy of Parisian housekeepers to +maintain the prices of living at anything like its present standard in +_pensions_ and hotels. But, in truth, the general standard of +French cooking has been much lowered since the war. A really sumptuous +French dinner is no longer to be procured at any of the tables d'hôte or +the leading hotels, and if ordered at a first-class restaurant it will +cost twice as much as it used to do. + +Rents, though somewhat lowered from their former proportions, are still +very high, a really elegant unfurnished suite of apartments costing from +five thousand to ten thousand francs a year, according to location; and +if furnished, nearly as much more. Two thousand francs is the lowest +rent which economy, desirous of two or three bed-rooms, in addition to +the parlor, kitchen and dining-room of an ordinary suite, can +accomplish. There are now in process of construction in the suburbs of +Paris several rows of houses built on the American plan, and it is +hardly possible to tell how comfortable and home-like the neat separate +abodes look to one who has been journeying round amid a series of +"floors," each so like the others. To the casual visitor there is a +despairing amount of sameness in the fitting-up of all French furnished +apartments. The scarlet coverings on the furniture, the red curtains, +the light moquette carpet with white ground and gay flowers, the white +and gold of the woodwork, the gilt bronze clock and candelabra, the +tables and cabinets in marquetry and buhl, are all precisely alike in +each, and all wear the same hotel-like look and lack of individuality. +Nobody here seems to care anything for home or home belongings. A suite +of apartments, even if occupied by the proprietor, is not the shrine for +any household gods or tender ideas: it is a place to rent out at so much +per month should the owner desire to go on a journey. No weak +sentimental ideas about keeping one's personal belongings from the touch +and the usage of strangers ever troubles anybody's mind. Tables and +chairs and carpets and curtains are just so many chattels that will +bring in, if rented, just so much more income: around them gleams no +vestige of the tender halo that surrounds the appurtenances of an +American home. + +The servant question is one that is just now of special interest to the +American housekeeper in Paris. I have elsewhere spoken of some of the +trials inflicted by these accomplished but often unprincipled domestics +on their masters and mistresses, so will not expatiate further on the +subject. I will merely specify as a special grievance the law that +forces the employer who discharges a servant to inscribe on his or her +character-book a _good_ character: should the departing help have +been sent away for gross immorality, theft or drunkenness, and should +the master write down the real reason of the dismissal, he renders +himself liable to an action for defamation of character. The person, +therefore, who engages servants from their character-book has no real +guarantee as to their worth. It is a well-known fact also that the +intelligence offices in Paris are far more anxious to obtain places for +bad servants than for good ones, because the former class return to them +more frequently, and are consequently the better customers. As to the +percentage exacted from grocers and provision-dealers by cooks and +stewards--a percentage which of course comes indirectly out of the +pocket of the master--the evil has become a crying one, but it is +apparently irremediable. A provision-dealer opened not long since a shop +in one of the most fashionable quarters of Paris, and sent round +circulars to all the housekeepers in the neighborhood announcing his +determination of paying no percentage to servants. The consequence was, +that not one of the cooks would buy anything of him, and he has been +forced to break up his establishment and depart. It is an impossibility +to engage a first-class cook without according to her the privilege of +doing all the marketing--a privilege by which she is enabled to more +than double the amount of her wages at her employer's expense. + +Among the other drawbacks of a residence abroad to an American woman is +an absence of the kindly deference to which, by virtue of her womanhood +alone, she is accustomed at home. The much-vaunted politeness of the +French nation is the thinnest possible varnish over real impertinence or +actual rudeness. None of the true, heartfelt, genuine courtesy that is +so freely accorded to our sex in our own favored land is to be met with +here. "A woman is weak and defenceless," argue, apparently, a large +class of Parisians, "therefore we will stare her out of countenance, we +will mutter impudent speeches in her ear, we will elbow her off the +sidewalk, we will thrust her aside if we want to enter a public +conveyance. Politeness is a thing of hat-lifting, of bowing and +scraping, of 'Pardon!' and 'Merci!' It is an article to be worn, like a +dress-coat and a white tie, in a drawing-room and among our +acquaintances. We have the right article for that occasion--very sweet, +very refined, very graceful, very charming indeed. But as for everyday +use--_nenni_!" That deep, true and chivalrous courtesy that +respects and protects a woman merely because she _is_ a woman, and +as such needs the guardianship of the stronger sex, is something of +which they have never heard and which they do not understand. They will +hand Madame la duchesse de la Haute Volée or Mademoiselle Trois-Étoiles +into her carriage with incomparable grace, but they will push Mrs. Brown +into the gutter, and will whisper in poor blushing Miss Brown's ear that +she is "une fillette charmante." + +And when a Frenchman _is_ rude, his impoliteness is worse than that +of other nations, because he knows better: he is rude with malice +prepense. The lower classes have especially lost much of their courtesy +since the Commune. I have seen a French workingman thrust a lady +violently aside on a crowded sidewalk, with a scowl and a muttered curse +that lent significance to the act. And the graceful, suave courtesy of +the shopkeepers--how swiftly it flies out of the window when their hope +of profit in the shape of the departing shopper walks out of the door! + +Shortly before quitting the United States I went into one of our large +public libraries to consult a voluminous work of reference. In the +remote recess where the books were kept sat a gentleman intent on the +perusal of a volume, his chair tipped back as far as it could be with +safety inclined, and his feet resting on the table. "Horrid fellow!" I +said to myself, glancing at the obtrusive members, and going forward to +the bookcase in search of the work I wanted. It proved to be of somewhat +ponderous dimensions, and higher than I could conveniently reach, so I +stood on tiptoe and tugged vainly at it for a moment. My friend of the +feet saw my dilemma, and down went his book, and he sprang to my +assistance in an instant, "Allow me," he said; and in a moment the heavy +tome was brought down, dusted by a few turns of his pocket-handkerchief +and laid on the table for my accommodation. If he had but known it, +there was mingled with my thanks a world of unuttered but heartfelt +apologies for my former hard thoughts respecting his attitude. And +therein lay the difference between the two nationalities. A Frenchman +would have died rather than have made a library-table a resting-place +for his feet, but he would have let a woman he did not know break a +blood-vessel by her exertions before he would have rendered her the +slightest assistance. + +American women are too apt to accept all the courtesies offered them by +strangers at home as their right, even neglecting to render the poor +meed of thanks in return. But let them when in Paris try to get into an +omnibus on a wet day, and being thrust aside by a strong-armed Frenchman +they will remorsefully remember the seats accorded to them in crowded +cars, and accepted thanklessly and as a matter of course. And when the +lounger on the boulevards dogs their steps or whispers his insulting +compliments in their shuddering ear, they will remember how they were +guarded at home not by one protector, but by all right-minded mankind, +and will thank Heaven that their brothers, their sons, their husbands +"are not even as these are." + + LUCY H. HOOPER. + + + + +OUR MONTHLY GOSSIP. + +GYPSY MUSIC IN HUNGARY. + + +We have all, at some time or other, felt our curiosity and interest +excited by the bands of wandering gypsies whom we may sometimes have +come upon in their encampments pitched in some remote or sequestered +wood or dell--wild-looking men and women and dark, ragged children +grouped about fires over which hang kettles suspended from stakes +arranged in a triangle; mongrel curs which seem to share their masters' +instinctive distrust of strangers; and donkeys browsing near the tilted +carts which convey the tribe from one place to another. We feel a sort +of traditional repulsion for these people, almost amounting to dread, +for stories of children stolen by gypsies, and of their dark, mysterious +ways, have taken root in our infant minds along with those of ghosts and +goblins, robbers and Indians. There are, it is true, romantic +associations connected with them, and we try to fancy a Meg Merrilies in +the swarthy old woman who examines the lines of our hand and tells us +the past, present and future--sometimes with a startling consistency and +probability. But few of us would have supposed that this race of +vagabonds and outcasts had ever risen much above their traditional +occupation of tinkering, far less that any portion of it had displayed +original artistic genius. We have, however, from Robert Franz the +composer a most interesting account of the wonderful music of the +Hungarian gypsies or Tziganys, which he had several opportunities of +hearing during a visit to a friend in Hungary. He had been much +impressed in his youth by the wandering apparitions of these people in +the streets of Kiev, and by the strange, wild dances of their women, +whose outlandish garb was rendered still more effective by the pieces of +red stuff cut into hearts and sewed all over their skirts. "These +caravans of strange beings, who preserve under every sky their dreamy +laziness, their rebellion against the yoke, their love of solitude," had +always possessed an irresistible charm for him, and he had never +understood the scorn and disgust of which they were the object. + +Being informed of the arrival of a gypsy band within eight or ten miles +of his friend's château, he took his immediate departure for the forest +where they had made their temporary home. The sun was going down when he +reached the camp. It was in an open glade, where the ground was trampled +down, in some places blackened by fire, and covered with fragments of +coarse pottery, wooden bowls, bones, parings, etc. The gypsies were +there pell-mell--men, women and children, horses, dogs and wagons. The +men, lounging about in various attitudes, were smoking: all had a look +of careless nobility about them, an air of melancholy, and eyes which +burned with slumbering passion. Old women were cowering about the fires, +surrounded by children whose meagre limbs were frankly displayed to +view. Tall girls, with Oriental eyes, firm and polished cheeks, and +vigorous forms, stood facing the horizon, and were distinctly defined +against the blue of the sky. Some wore scarlet gowns, bodices covered +with metallic ornaments, embroidered chemisettes and a profusion of +glass trinkets. In the centre was one, taller by a head than her +companions, her face of a fine and delicate oval unknown amongst us, +with magnetic, disquieting eyes which suggested splendid vices; a black +turban confined her black locks; a chemisette of dazzling whiteness half +opened on her breast; she wore, as a necklace, twisted five or six times +about her neck, a long chaplet of yellow flowers, clusters of which she +held in her hands. The red rays of the setting sun flashed with +fantastic effect upon the scene: then night fell, and in the flickering +glare of the fires gleaming eyes, white teeth and mobile hands emerged +from the gloom. + +Franz had expressed his wish to hear their music, but for a while all +was silent. Suddenly a strange, prolonged note vibrated through the air +like a sigh from the supernatural world; another followed; then after a +pause a majestic but sombre melody was developed. The sounds swelled +like an immense choral, with incomparable purity and nobleness, fraught +with memories of ruins and tombs, of lost liberty and love. Another +pause, and some strophes of unbridled gayety burst forth; then again the +principal phrase, detaching itself like a flower from its stem, among +myriads of winged notes, clusters of vaporous sounds, long spirals of +transparent _fioritures_. Still the violins grew bolder and more +impetuous. Franz rose from his seat while watching these men standing +with their violins pressed against their breasts, as if they were +pouring their life's blood into them: he felt oppressed with anguish, +when, by an ingenious inversion, the gloomy theme was transformed into a +graceful, poetic melody. The sounds passed away rapidily like sparks, +then were extinguished for a moment. A ferocious violence animated the +last measures, and the gypsies laid down their bows. But, divining a +sympathetic listener, they recommenced and played on till the night was +far advanced. At length they ceased, and Franz left the camp, carrying +with him the revelation of a hitherto unknown art. + +Three principal features (he tells us) determine the character of +Tzigany music--its intervals, not used in European harmony, its peculiar +rhythms, and its Oriental fioritures or grace-notes. In the minor scale +the Tziganys take the fourth augmented, the sixth diminished and the +seventh augmented. It is by the frequent augmentation of the fourth that +the harmony acquires a wonderfully audacious and disquieting character. +The educated musician at first thinks he hears false notes, but the law +of their harmonies is to have no law. Their abundance is incalculable, +and the solemn and intoxicating effects resulting from the rapid and +beautiful transitions cannot be imagined. As for the grace-notes, they +give to the ear a pleasure like that which Moorish architecture gives to +the eye: the architects of the Alhambra painted on each of their bricks +a graceful little poem; the gypsies adorn each note with melodious +designs and luxuriant embroideries. But (we quote M. Franz throughout) +who shall describe the impalpable flame of Tzigany sentiment, the +strange, subjugating charm of which is a vital animation almost adequate +to life itself? or the mysterious equilibrium which reigns in this +undisciplined art between the sentiment and the form? Mystery of genius, +which bears in itself its inexplicable power of emotion, and which +science and taste in vain deny! + +When Franz again heard Tzigany music it was under very different +circumstances. A fete was given by a Hungarian gentleman, of which this +music was to be one of the attractions, the most distinguished +performers being Farkas Miska and Remenyi Ede. The arrival of the latter +on the morning after the first evening concert (the fete seems to have +lasted some days) was announced to M. Franz by a great noise, a banging +of doors and windows and moving of furniture in the room next his own. +It at length ceased, and he was just getting to sleep again when some +one knocked at his door, and a pretty, fair-haired boy entered, who +announced himself as Ptolemyi Nandor, the fervent disciple of Remenyi +Ede, who, he said, had just arrived and was about to take possession of +the adjoining apartment. + +"Well, sir, is it to inform me of your name and your fervor that you +have come to prevent me from sleeping?" + +"No," said the boy decidedly: "it is to ask you to dress yourself and go +out for a walk." + +To the astonished exclamation of M. Franz he replied that his master +wished to practice, beginning early, and that it annoyed him to have any +one hear him. + +"Go to the devil, you and your master!" naturally shouted our composer. + +The boy became purple. "What!" he said, "send him to the devil?--him, +the great violinist, the successor of Czemak, of Bihary!" + +"Is your master a gypsy?" + +"No, but he is the only living violinist who possesses the authentic +tradition of gypsy music." + +"I love this music; therefore I will get up and go down to the garden." + +"Oh no, sir: go into the fields. See!" and he opened the window, "every +one has left the castle." And actually the master of the house and his +guests were all defiling through the garden-gate, having had only three +hours' sleep. M. Franz soon joined them, and heard from them the story +of Remenyi. + +At the age of seventeen he had been attached to the person of Görgey +during the Hungarian war. Leaving his country with the emigration, he +had shared the exile of Count Teleki, Sandor and others; then passed +some time at Guernsey, where he knew Victor Hugo. He had afterward +performed with brilliant success in London, Hamburg, etc., and his +renown, after his return to Hungary, went on increasing. He traveled +about the country in every direction, astonishing nobles and peasants, +and playing with the same enthusiasm and poetry in barns as in palaces. +On hearing this our author slipped back to the garden, where he hid +himself to listen to Remenyi, who, to his great disgust, was playing a +concerto of Bach's. + +At breakfast, Remenyi appeared, a very commonplace-looking man, full of +his own praises, and always speaking himself in the third person. +"Remenyi practiced well this morning," said he. + +"Yes, a concerto of Bach's!" Franz. + +Thereupon Remenyi asked for his violin, and they heard a marvelous +specimen of real Tzigany inspiration. Vanity disappeared--passion, nerve +and sentiment took its place. He had all the qualities demanded by +science, together with those of imagination. It was the passionate +inspiration of genius. After his performance was over, he went gravely +to the mantelpiece, stopped the clock, and said to the master of the +house, "Let this hand mark for ever the hour when Remenyi played at your +house." + +M. Franz taking no pains to disguise; his admiration, Remenyi, gratified +by it, invited him to accompany him home. Wherever he went he received a +perfect ovation. At one place he ordered a pair of boots, which were +sent home, paid for by the municipality. Art is a national glory in +Hungary, especially that of the gypsies, which has taken root in the +very heart of the soil. + +Remenyi's house at Rakos-Palota, near Pesth, is a long, rambling +building, the courtyard of which is given up to chickens, ducks and +pigs. M. Franz says the poplars before the door look like +exclamation-marks, and he thinks they are planted there to serve as +such. There are heaps of rare and precious objects of every imaginable +description--all gifts--but the ones which the owner shows with most +pride are his Hungarian sabre and a pair of boots which Liszt wore when +a child. + +The question is often discussed in Hungary whether the national +Hungarian music is the production of Tzigany genius, or whether the +gypsies are only the exponents of what properly belongs to Hungary +itself. The gypsies are proved to have been in Hungary as early as the +thirteenth century, and their musicians were celebrated in the +sixteenth, some of their names still living in the memory of the people. +What has been preserved of genuine old Hungarian music (some melodies of +Timody Stephens) has no charm save its antiquity. These and other +facts--but, above all, the impression produced on him by the music +itself--have convinced M. Franz that the gypsy faculty is one not only +of execution, but creation. Gypsy art proceeds from the sentiment, the +genius, of the Tzigany race. It is too strange, its elements are too +wild, to be the exclusive product of a thoughtful, wise, believing, +practical and civilized people; but the Hungarians have understood this +art--they have surrounded it with love and respect. Gaining new life, +warmth and vigor from the welcoming applause of Hungary, it belongs to +her by virtue of her admiration and sympathetic tears. + + E.C.R. + + + + +THE "GIORNO DEI MORTI." + + +We all know that the second of November is All Souls' Day, and that it +is the day dedicated in the Roman calendar to the commemoration of all +those who have departed "in the faith." And few who have traveled on the +continent of Europe are not aware that the day is observed in all +Southern countries with a degree of devotion which the greater part of +the communities in question are not in the habit of according to any +other of the ordinances of the Church. But to observe the manifestation +of this devotion in its most striking forms, to seize all the more +picturesque developments and presentations of it, the "Giorno dei Morti" +must be passed at Rome. + +It is a curious fact--one of the many of a similar order which +illustrate the moral specialties of the Latin populations--that hundreds +of thousands of people of both sexes, who neither believe, nor affect to +believe, the doctrines of the orthodox Church, and who are in the habit +of utterly disregarding all her prescriptions and teaching, should +nevertheless, as often as this sad anniversary comes round, behave as if +they were to all intents and purposes good Catholics. It will be said, +perhaps, that the feelings to which the special character of the +commemoration appeals are so common to all human hearts that the +manifestation of them on any customary occasion is in no degree to be +wondered at. But I do not think that this will suffice to explain the +phenomenon--at least as it may be witnessed here in Italy. Other church +ordinances might be pointed out of which the same thing might be said, +but which are not similarly observed. The real cause of the phenomenon I +take to be that this population is--as it was of old, and as it always +has been through all outward changes--pagan. I put it crudely for the +sake of putting it shortly, for this is not the place to trouble the +readers of a few paragraphs of "Gossip" with a dissertation in support +of the assertion. The innate paganism of these people, born of the +beauty of the climate and of all external Nature, and of the sensuous +proclivity to live and breathe and have their being in the present and +the visible which results therefrom, first forcibly shaped their early +Christianity into moulds which assimilated it to pagan observances and +modes of thought, and still remains ready to resume more and more of its +old empire as the authority of Church beliefs waxes feeble. The very +striking and singular scene which was to be witnessed in the great Roman +cemetery outside the Porta di San Lorenzo on the second day of November +was to all intents and purposes pagan in its spirit and meaning. And it +is curious to observe in this, as in so many other instances, how the +use of words supplies illustrations of national peculiarities and +specialties of character. The Church has dedicated the day in question +to the commemoration "_omnium animarum"_--of all _souls_. And we others, +people of a Teutonic race, have taken and used the phrase in its proper +Christian sense: we talk of "All _Souls_' Day." But with the peoples of +the Latin stock all thought or question of "souls" is very speedily lost +sight of. With them the day is simply the "Giorno dei _Morti_"--the day +of _the dead_. And their observance of it is to all intents and purposes +what it might have been two thousand years ago. + +The very ancient church of San Lorenzo, one of the four extramural +basilicas, is situated some ten minutes' walk outside the gate of the +same name on the road to Tivoli; and around and behind this church is +the vast cemetery to which all the Roman dead are carried. It was first +used as an extramural cemetery at the time of the first French +occupation, but has been very greatly extended since that time. Clergy, +nobles and monks were at first, and as long as Papal rule lasted, +exempted from the decree which forbade interment within the city. Now +all must be taken to San Lorenzo, and the greatly increased population +of the city has already very thickly filled an immense area. The first +thing that strikes the visitor to this huge necropolis is the very +marked division between the poor and the rich quarters of this city of +the dead. The _fashionable_ districts are quite as unmistakably divided +and separated from those occupied by "the lower classes" as they are in +any city of the living; as is perhaps but right and natural in the case +of a population among which it is held that the condition and prospects +of the dead may be very materially influenced by a _quantum sufficit_ of +masses said for them, and where these can be purchased in any quantity +for cash. A very large parallelogram, for the most part surrounded by +cloisters, is first entered from the gates which open on the road. But +this has been but little used as yet. Beyond it, to the right, is the +vast space occupied by the graves of the multitude. Let the reader +picture to himself a huge flat space extending as far as the eye can +see, thickly planted with little black wooden crosses, with inscriptions +on them in white letters. The sameness of all these fragile memorials +produces a strange and depressing effect. The undistinguished thousands +of them make all the space seem black spotted with white. They are ugly; +and the poverty of these bits of painted stick, incapable of resisting +the effects of the weather, seems sordid in the extreme. In the graves +of this part of the cemetery all are in truth equal. To the left of the +vast cloister-surrounded square which has been mentioned the scene is a +very different one. There, immediately behind the eastern end of the +basilica, the soil rises in a very steep bank to a height greater than +that of the church. To the space on the top of this bank a handsome and +garden-decorated flight of step leads; and there the "Upper Ten" take +their dignified rest, and their dust is perfectly safe from all danger +of being mingled with that of less distinguished mortality. This higher +ground is called the _Pincetto_--as who should say the "Little +Pincian"--a name adapted from that of the celebrated promenade of the +gay and fortunate in life, with a suggestion of meaning so satirical +that it might seem to have been given to the "fashionable" quarter of +the dead city by the united sneers of all the ghosts who haunt the +undistinguished graves below. In this aristocratic quarter there is of +course no monotonous uniformity. The monuments, some of freestone and +some of marble, are of every conceivable form and degree of splendor, +and death is made to look pretty and coquettish by the introduction of +numerous weeping willows and other such botanical helps to sentiment. +The great majority of the inscriptions are in Latin, for Pius IX., so +long as his power lasted, absolutely forbade the use of any other +language; which was a measure of very questionable judiciousness, seeing +that a large crop of Latinity by no means creditable to Italian +scholarship has been the result. It would have been better to stick to +good Della-Cruscan Italian, or to have employed some English +school-usher to come here as resident reviser of Roman Latinity. +Inelegant and even ungrammatical inscriptions, however, do not interfere +with the general picturesqueness of the spot, or with its singular +adaptation to show to advantage the remarkable scene enacted there on +the last "Giorno dei Morti." + +The cemetery had been visited by great numbers of persons, bringing +chaplets and flowers, during the day, both in the aristocratic and the +plebeian quarters, but it was at night that the crowd was greatest and +the scene most striking. The night, as it so chanced, was a dark one, +which did not make the scene by any means less strange and +weird-looking. The greater number of visitors, especially in the poor +quarter of the dead city, were women. Such is always the case, whether +it be that the female mind is more generally accessible to gentle +thoughts of and yearnings over their lost ones, or whether the +explanation be simply that, as is especially the case here, women, +having less to occupy their leisure either in the way of business or +amusement, are more eager to seek any emotion or occasion which may +serve to break the flat monotony of their lives. + +Certainly the scene in the cemetery on the evening of the "Day of the +Dead" was one calculated to make an impression not to be readily +forgotten by any mere looker-on who witnessed it. Nor was that presented +by the road from the gate to the cemetery less remarkable in its way. It +is an ugly, disagreeable bit of road, between high walls, deep with mud +in wet, and with dust in dry weather, as was the case on the present +occasion, and without the smallest vestige of a pathway for +foot-passengers; so that the motley crowd, with their lights and +chaplets and flowers, had to make their way amid a cloud of dust and +among the carriages of those bound for the "Pincetto" as best they +might. But it was the general apparent mood and temper of mind in which +these pilgrims, bound on so sad an errand, seemed to be performing their +self-imposed task that was especially noteworthy. It might be supposed +that a certain degree of reverential self-concentration, or at least of +quietude, would have been the characteristic of a crowd bound on such an +errand. There was not the smallest symptom of anything of the sort. It +is true that many visit the cemetery on the evening in question who have +not recently lost any relative or friend, going thither merely as +performing an act of devotion or of amusement, or, as is usually the +case with all devotion in this country, of both combined. But the +greater number of the pilgrims is composed of those who have buried +their dead within the preceding year. Yet, as I have said, there was +observable in the bearing of the crowd not only no reverential feeling, +but not even that amount of quietude which the most careless body of +people of our race would have deemed it but decent to assume on such an +occasion. Laughter might have been heard, though not perhaps very much. +But the noise was astonishing--noise of incessant chatter in tones which +bespoke anything but the tone of mind which might have been expected. +The truth is, that he who expects to find in the people of this race the +sentiment of awe or reverence under any circumstances whatever does not +know them. It is not in them. The capacity for it is not in them. It is +not a question of more or less education, or of this or that condition +of life. The higher and the lower classes, the clergy and the laity, are +equally destitute of the capacity for feeling or comprehending the +sentiment which makes so large a part of the lives of the people of a +different race. To me the observation, far from being suggested by what +met my eye on the occasion in question, is the outcome of more than a +quarter of a century's experience of Italian ways and thoughts. But the +exhibition of the peculiarity on that occasion was very striking. +Doubtless there was many a mother among that throng whose heart had been +wrung, whose very soul had been struck chill within her, by the loss of +the child on whose grave she was about to place the humble tribute of +common flowers which she carried in her hand. No doubt many a +truly-sorrowing husband and yet more deeply-stricken wife were on the +way to visit the sod beneath which their hopes of happiness had been +buried with their lost ones. But whatever might have been in their +hearts was not manifested by any token of _reverential_ feeling. There +were tears, there were even sobs occasionally to be heard, but there was +neither reverence nor what we should deem decency of behavior. + +Within the cemetery "distance lent enchantment to the view." As seen +from the cloister which surrounds the great square, as has been +mentioned, the outlook over the "poor quarter" of the vast burial-ground +was very striking. Amid the wilderness of black crosses, which extends +farther than eye could see, numerous figures were flitting hither and +thither, many of them with lights in their hands. In the farther +distance, where the figures were invisible, the lights could still be +seen mysteriously, as it seemed, moving over the closely-ranged graves +like corpse-candles, as the old superstition termed the phosphoric +lights which may in certain states of the atmosphere be seen in crowded +graveyards. In the foreground, where the figures could be distinguished, +many were seen on their knees in the damp and malarious evening air at +the graves of their lost relatives. But not even in the bearing these +could anything of real earnestness be traced. They were performing a +routine duty, of which no doubt their own consciences and their friends +and neighbors would have disapproved the omission; and that was all. +Nevertheless, the _picturesqueness_ of the general effect was perfect, +and it appealed to the imagination of a looker-on in a manner which to +many minds, more intent on sensational emotions than on discrimination +of social characteristics, would have caused the above remarks to appear +sadly ill-timed and out of place. + +The scene which was meantime being enacted on the Pincetto, where the +wholly separated resting-places of the "Upper Ten" protest so +successfully against the leveling notion that in death all are equal, I +might have suggested many a mordant epigram to the cynically-minded +visitor. I fear that there is often something provocative of cynicism in +sundry of the aspects of fashionable devotion, but on such an occasion +as the present it could hardly be otherwise. Rachels in Parisian bonnets +and sweeping silk skirts, muttering over their rosaries for their +children on splendid cushions borne in due state by attendant +plush-clothed ministers, were contrasted in these realms of the +universal Leveler somewhat too strongly with the scene one had just left +in the (physically and socially) lower regions of the cemetery. Of +course hearts that beat beneath silken bodices may be wrung as bitterly +as those that serge covers. I am speaking only of those outward +manifestations which contributed to complete the strangeness of the +general spectacle which I had come out to see. The better tending of the +aristocratic portion of the cemetery, and the greater space between the +graves and their monuments, made it of course easier and less +disagreeable to pass among them and to note the bearing of individual +mourners. If the former scene had presented much that was indecorously +formal, here all was decorously formal. The routine, cut-and-dry nature +of the duty being performed exercised in either case its property of +numbing natural feeling, or at least the appearance of it. + +On the whole, the experience offered by a visit to the great Roman +cemetery on the evening of the "Giorno dei Morti" is a singular and +curious one, as will be admitted, I think, by any one who may be tempted +by my example to go and see it. + + T.A.T. + + + + +MR. MILL'S MOTHER. + + +The publication of the late Mr. John Mill's _Theism_ (writes a +correspondent from England) has again brought forward its author and his +peculiarities as subjects of general conversation. Not content with +having talked these matters pretty well over some months ago, people are +at this moment discussing them with not a whit less of interest than if +they were brand-new. But it is what Mr. Mill has omitted to tell us in +his _Autobiography_, quite as much as what he has there told us, that +excites popular curiosity about him. How came it that a man whose +admiration of his wife was hardly distinguishable from idolatry should +never once mention his mother? Thousands have asked, and have asked in +vain, who she was, and whether she could have been so entirely +insignificant as to deserve being passed over, without even so much as +an allusion to her, by her very philosophic son. These questions, and +others connected with them, I might answer at length. However, the few +facts I shall here state will perhaps be no less welcome than a long +detail. The wife of James Mill, and mother of John Mill, was a Miss +Burrows, daughter of a Dr. Burrows who superintended an asylum for the +insane at Islington. She died in London about twenty years ago, having +outlived her husband not quite that period. Her children were nine in +number, of whom four daughters are still living--two in England and two +in France. She was not what would be reckoned a conspicuously +intellectual woman, and yet she by no means deserved the heartless +slight which was put on her memory by her son. Indeed, such a slight +could have its justification in little short of utter worthlessness; +and Mrs. James Mill was not only esteemed, but beloved, by a large +circle of friends. On the appearance of the _Autobiography_ her +daughters were, naturally enough, not a little indignant at finding +their mother as much ignored in it as if she had never existed, and were +inclined, at first, to supplement, publicly, their brother's account of +himself by certain disclosures not exactly of a character to exalt him +in the estimation of the world. Suffice it to say here that for many +years before his death he had been estranged from his family; and this +estrangement was attributed, by those who had the best opportunities of +judging, to the sinister influence of his wife. This is all that I am +disposed to communicate at present, but I should not be at all surprised +if we were to know, by and by, much more of the private life of John +Mill than we as yet know. + + + + +NOTES. + + +There has recently emerged into notice, from her hiding-place in one of +the outskirts of London, an ancient woman whose surroundings forcibly +illustrate the persevering vitality of even the insanest forms of +religious belief. Joanna Southcott and her fanaticisms we are apt to +associate with Dr. Faustus, alchemy, and persons and things of that +kind, as belonging to an age with which we have no personal concern. Yet +this is a mistake. The followers of the fatidical Joanna may still be +counted by thousands in Great Britain, particularly in its metropolis; +and their acknowledged head, in strict accordance with the fitness of +things, is a woman. She is a very old woman, too, her age symbolizing, +perhaps, the longevity to which her crazy superstition is destined. +Elizabeth Peacock is the name of this relic of the past. For many years +she itinerated as a preacher, and at the great age of one hundred and +three her health is still vigorous. Modern priestesses, however, not +unlike the prophets of antiquity, are subject to be scanted of due +honor, or, at all events, of what is more essential than this as +contributing to keep soul and body from parting company prematurely. The +fact of her being in a state of destitution was notified not long ago to +the magistrate of the Lambeth police-court, and that unappreciative +functionary, while consenting to subscribe, with others, for her relief, +openly expressed his conviction that she would be best off in the +workhouse. Altogether, the old creature is a bit of a curiosity. She has +had three husbands, and the last of them, whom she married in 1852, +killed himself only the other day, possibly from finding the twofold +burden of domestic predication and a helpmeet of five score too much for +his nerves. If sane, the ungrateful fellow ought, in all reason, to have +had the grace to survive her; for when he undertook matrimony, as he had +nothing to turn his hand to, she instructed him herself in the art and +mystery of cooperage. At that time, so robust a specimen of anility was +she, she could pitch an empty cask across the street, and her credulity +is as strong at this moment as her arm was of yore. We conclude, from +her story, that the proper stuff for making prophetesses of the baser +sort has, even in our day, only to be looked for to be discovered. + + * * * * * + +Our countrymen have lately learned to admire, in its Western +transformation, the extremely clever _Rubáiyát_ of Omer Khayyám. And +they are certainly much in the right in so doing. The sterling merits of +the Persian original are preserved with striking fidelity in the English +version of the poem, which, for the rest, has gone far to prove that the +acceptableness among us of Oriental poetry may depend very largely on +the skill with which it is transplanted into our language. The +translator of the _Rubáiyát_ is Mr. Edward FitzGerald, of Woodbridge in +Suffolk. Mr. FitzGerald's ancient family one may learn all about from +Burke's _Landed Gentry_, and that he was born in 1809, and that he +married Lucy, daughter of Bernard Barton, the Quaker poet. He was +educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where among his contemporaries +and friends were the present poet-laureate and Mr. Spedding, the editor +of Bacon. The _London Catalogue_ names three works as by Mr. FitzGerald. +These, as we find from inspection of the works themselves, are as +follows: 1. _Euphranor, a Dialogue on Youth,_ 1851 (it reached a second +edition, increased by an _Appendix_, in 1855); 2. _Polonius: A +Collection of Wise Saws and Modern Instances_, 1852; 3. _Six Dramas of +Calderon_, 1853. These dramas are translations, in prose and verse, of +_The Painter of his Own Dishonor, Keep your Own Secret, Gil Perez the +Gallician, Three Judgments at a Blow, The Mayor of Zalamea_, and _Beware +of Smooth Water_. In none of these volumes, however, except the last is +there any indication of its authorship but there Mr. FitzGerald's name +is given in full. The date of his metrical translation of _Salámán and +Absál_, from the Persian, we are not at this moment, able to specify. +Add, as printed by him, but not published, two other small volumes of +translations--one, of the _Agamemnon_ of Æschylus; and the other, of two +of Calderon's plays, _Life is a Dream_ and _The Wonderful Magician_. +Finally, we have to mention an unprinted verse-translation, _The Bird +Parliament_, from the Persian _Mantiq-ut-tair_ by Attár. Mr. Allibone +knows nothing of Mr. FitzGerald, and he is similarly passed over in +silence by the compiler of _Men of the Time._ Everything that he has +produced is uniformly distinguished by marked ability; and, such being +the case, his indifference to fame, in this age of ambition for literary +celebrity, is a phenomenon which deserves to be emphasized. + + + + +LITERATURE OF THE DAY. + +The French Humorists from the Twelfth to the Nineteenth Century. + By Walter Besant, M.A. + Boston: Roberts Brothers. + + +Had Mr. Besant given us definitions of "humor" and "humorist," we might +possibly not have been satisfied with them, but they would at least have +enabled us to understand what sense he attaches to the words, and what +principle determined him in selecting the writers embraced in his +category. In the first page of his book he speaks of humor as "a branch" +of satire; in the second he identifies French satire as the "esprit +gaulois;" in the third he tells us that "the French type for satire and +humor has preserved one uniform character from generation to +generation;" and in his last page he claims superiority for the French +over the English humorists, on the ground that "Rabelais has a finer wit +than Swift," that "we have no political satire so good as the _Satyre +Mènipée_," "no English humor comparable for a moment with that of the +fabliaux," "no letter-writer like Voiture," "no teller of tales like La +Fontaine," and "no _chansonnier_ like Béranger." Now, it is evident that +this is a comparison not of French and English humorists, but of certain +classes of writers in the two languages in reference to their +manifestation of humor. We have no fabulist like La Fontaine, no +song-writer equal to Béranger; but then we do not think of citing our +fables and songs as the highest examples of English humor. It would be +easy to array a list of names as a set-off against that of Mr. Besant. +But this is needless. Humor, in the sense in which the word is commonly +understood, may almost be said to be a distinctive quality of English +literature, which is pervaded by it in a far greater degree than that of +any other people. It is a leading trait in all the great English +novelists, from Fielding to Thackeray and George Eliot, without +excepting Richardson, in whom it is least conspicuous; it is the chief +attribute of our finest essayists, from Addison to Charles Lamb; it is +harmoniously blended with the fresh and simple pathos of Chaucer and +with the passionate moodiness of Carlyle: it holds equal sway with the +tragic element in the world created by Shakespeare. When Mr. Besant says +that "there is no English humor comparable for a moment with that of the +fabliaux," we are forced to suppose either that he uses the word "humor" +in some unexplained and inexplicable sense, or that he leaves out of the +account what would generally be considered the greatest of humorous +productions. The puzzle increases when we find him omitting all mention +of Le Sage, while excusing himself for the omission, from lack of space, +of Rousseau! A list of humorous works which should exclude _Gil Blas_ to +make room for _Émile_ or _Le Contrat Social_, might itself, one would +think, act as a provocative on the _esprit gaulois_. + +These mysteries are not the only ones in Mr. Besant's volume to which we +have to confess our inability to discover a key. In closing his remarks +on Montaigne he touches with undissembled irony the question whether he +was a Christian, and, after contrasting the tone and sentiments of the +_Essais_ with those of the Gospels, bids us "remember that we are not in +the nineteenth century, but in the sixteenth, that Montaigne died in the +act of adoration, and cease to ask whether the man was a Christian;" +adding, "Christian? There was no better Christian than Montaigne in all +his century." It appears, therefore, that the sixteenth century, instead +of being, as we had supposed, one in which the Reformation had brought +with it a revival of religious earnestness and a reaction against +religious formalism, and in which on the battle-field, in the dungeon +and at the stake, as well as through voluntary exile and the +relinquishment of property, thousands in every country testified to the +fervor and sincerity of their religious convictions, was in truth, like +the eighteenth century, one in which a prevailing skepticism or +indifference paid to dead but not yet dethroned creeds its light homage +of affected "adoration." Mr. Besant informs us that "to the men of +culture the rival parties were but two political sides." How many men of +culture could be cited in support of this assertion? We grant him +Montaigne, but it was precisely because the case of Montaigne was an +exceptional one in the age of Erasmus and More, of Calvin and Coligny, +that the question in regard to him has not seemed altogether idle. + +It appears from another passage that Mr. Besant has an easy method of +arriving at a judgment in regard to the character or general aspect of +an historical epoch. From the details in regard to food, dress and +furniture which he finds in the works of Eustache Deschamps, a satirical +poet of the fourteenth century, he infers that the bourgeois life of +that period was "comfortable, abundant and cheery." "History," he says, +"paints this as the worst and most disastrous period that Europe had +ever seen; yet here, in the most real poet of the century, we see how +life, as a whole, went on in the usual way. For when a great pestilence +strikes a country, it slays its thousands and goes away. Time quickly +heals the wounds of grief, and the world goes on as before. Then come +the English to sack and destroy. Nature heals their wounds, too, by the +recurring seasons, and the world goes on as before. I am inclined to +think that life, on the whole, was generally pleasant for a well-to-do +Frenchman of the period." Mr. Besant, it will be seen, concedes that +evils are evils while they last, that war and pestilence are not +pleasant things to the victims, and that the comfortable and cheery life +of the fourteenth century suffered some interruptions from these causes. +But then it was still, he insists, an agreeable life "on the whole," +since "the recurring seasons" healed the wounds and the grief, and left +the survivors to enjoy existence "in the usual way." This, it must be +owned, is a very comfortable and cheery philosophy--for those who preach +it. We do not see that they need ever complain of "bad times," since +they can always be sure that the recurring seasons will bring +alleviation to the survivors. It may also be admitted that, as there is +no age in which the recurring seasons do not bring relief, so there has +been none when war and pestilence and similar evils did not interrupt +the usual course of life. There is, however, this difference, that in +some ages these evils last longer than in others, the wounds are deeper, +the victims more numerous, the intermissions less frequent, the relief +tardier, the survivors fewer. Such an age in France was the period of +the English invasions, comprising a great portion of the fourteenth and +fifteenth centuries. That life was then, "on the whole," anything but +comfortable and cheery is attested by records and evidence of all kinds, +against which the mention of weddings and christenings, of +gold-embroidered mantles and robes of silk, in the pages of a court poet +will, we apprehend, count for very little, especially as the sufferers +do not appear to have solaced themselves with reflections on the sure +effects of the recurring seasons. Deschamps himself was unable, it +seems, to get his pension paid; and if he died, as Mr. Besant tells us, +about 1409, the chances, we think, are that however he may have +denounced luxury as the "crying evil" of his time, his death was the +result of starvation. + +Mr. Besant, it will be perceived, is one of those writers who indulge in +haphazard assertions without troubling their heads with the facts that +conflict with them. A glaring instance of his tendency to exaggeration +and wild speculation will be found in his estimate of Rabelais, whom he +first vaunts as "a great moral teacher," "a teacher the like of whom +Europe had not yet seen," and then denounces as having "destroyed +effectually, perhaps for centuries yet to come, earnestness in France," +declaring that "no writer who ever lived has inflicted such lasting +injury on his country," and that "it would have been better for France +if his book, tied to a millstone, had been hurled into the sea." These +opinions are contradictory of each other, since it is impossible that a +writer who so perverted men's minds should also have been, in any proper +sense of the term, a great moral teacher; they are inconsistent with Mr. +Besant's account of the "unbroken lines of writers," of whom Rabelais +was one, but not the first, all having the same characteristics, all +"irreverent," having "no strong convictions," "like children for +mockery, mischief and lightness of heart;" and finally, they are so +improbable in themselves, and so unsusceptible of proof, that, uttered +as they are with the solemnity of communications from an unseen world, +they produce much the same impression on us as the disclosures with +which Mr. Robert Dale Owen is favored by his "materialized" visitants. + +We might cite other examples to prove that Mr. Besant is not a safe +guide either in his general speculations or in his critical judgments. +He is an agreeable narrator, showing a close familiarity with the topics +he handles, and an enthusiasm which, if it sometimes degenerates into +mere fume, adds on the whole to the liveliness of his writing. His +translations in verse are remarkable for their ease and finish. The book +may be read with pleasure, but not, we fear, with equal profit. The +chapters that deal with the least known works and writers are the most +satisfactory. On Montaigne and Molière Mr. Besant has nothing to say +which is likely to incite the reader to a fresh study of their works, +which ought to be the effect of every fresh discourse on a great author. + + * * * * * + +Recollections of a Tour made in Scotland A.D. 1803. + By Dorothy Wordsworth. + Edited by J.C. Shairp, LL.D. + New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. + + +The special charm of this book lies in the fact that it is not a +book--that there was no thought in the writer's mind of printer's ink, +no vision of publicity or fame, no solicitude to propitiate critics or +win the sympathy of the "gentle reader." Or one might say it was a book +of the primitive kind, written on the bark of trees by some shy dryad, +unconcious translator into speech of the rustlings and whisperings of +the woodland. It is, as the editor observes, an "effortless narrative," +with "no attempt at fine or sensational writing, ... at that modern +artifice which they call word-painting," but recording with "vivid +exactness" what was seen and felt by the writer and her companions on a +journey through regions then little frequented by tourists and +unsmirched by the eloquence of guide-books. That the travelers were +William and Dorothy Wordsworth and (for a part of the way) S.T. +Coleridge, that scenes and incidents here first sketched in the sister's +sober prose were afterward memorialized and moralized in the brother's +verse, and that many of the spots described were about to become famous +with and through Scott--a meeting with whom formed the fitting close to +the tour,--these are circumstances that of course invest the journal +with a deeper interest and have called wider attention to its +unobtrusive beauty. But its chief attractiveness lies in the Doric +simplicity not only of the style but of the matter. An outlandish Irish +car was the conveyance; the appearance of the party was not such as to +attract notice unless by the quaintness of their garb or their awkward +management of the horse, "now gibbing and backing over a bank, now +reduced to a walk, with one of the poets leading him by the head;" and +they themselves were in search of nothing more notable than such wayside +objects as might serve to feed contemplation. On one occasion, having +turned aside to visit the duke of Hamilton's picture-gallery, they were +told by the porter, after he had scanned them over, that they ought not +to have come to the front door, and were directed to an obscure entrance +at the corner of the house, where they seated themselves humbly on a +bench while waiting for admittance, which was finally refused. They were +mortified, but had a deeper pang in the grounds around Bothwell Castle, +for here they were "_hurt_ to see that flower-borders had taken place of +the natural overgrowings of the ruins, the scattered stones and wild +plants." Sometimes at an inn they were made to perceive how little +consideration they were entitled to by being lodged in inferior rooms +while better ones were vacant; but to compensate for this, in the wilder +parts of the country they were greeted with the hospitality which their +mere condition as strangers was still sufficient to call forth. The +descriptions given of the people have at least an equal interest with +those of the scenery. We have a succession of pictures in which, as +Principal Shairp remarks, "man is seen against a great background of +Nature and solitude." The book is one not to be read and laid away, but +to be kept near at hand, and made a frequent companion and familiar +friend. + + + +_Books Received_. + + + +Sophisms of Protection. + By the late M. Frédéric Bastiat. + Translated from the Paris edition of 1863, + with Preface by Horace White. + New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. + + +Select Notes on the International Sabbath School Lessons for 1875. + By a New England Pastor. + Boston: Henry Hoyt. + + +Notes in England and Italy. + By Mrs. Nathaniel Hawthorne. + Illustrated Edition. + New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. + + +William Prince of Orange; or, The King and his Hostage. + By Rev. T.M. Merriman, A.M. + Boston: Henry Hoyt. + + +Report of the Commissioner of Education for the year 1873. + Washington: Government Printing Office. + + +Among the Trees. + By William Cullen Bryant. + Illustrated. + New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. + + +Early English History. + By John P. Yeatman. + London: Longmans, Green & Co. + + +Poems. + By Stuart Sterne. + (Published for the Author.) + New York: F.B. Patterson. + + +The Frozen Deep. + By Wilkie Collins. + Boston: William F. Gill & Co. + + +A Lecture on the Protestant Faith. + By Dwight H. Olmstead. + New York. + + + + +FOOTNOTES. + + +[1] _Travel and Art-Study in Italy_, by C.E. NORTON. + +[2] December, 1874, art. "Physical Effects of Emotion on the Heart." + +[3] I have several times performed this experiment, and by a method, +the explanation of which would require a separate article, have proved +that the vaso-motor centre, as well as the respiratory centre, is +situated in the medulla oblongata, and that paralysis of neither +respiration nor of the vaso-motor nerves follows the operation. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIPPINCOTT'S MAGAZINE OF POPULAR +LITERATURE AND SCIENCE, VOL. 15, NO. 86, FEBRUARY, 1875*** + + +******* This file should be named 14709-8.txt or 14709-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/7/0/14709 + + + +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. 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charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, Vol. 15, No. 86, February, 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 {margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em} + h2 {margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 2em} + h3 {margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 2em} + h1.pg {text-align: center; + margin-top: 0em; + margin-bottom: 0em} + h3.pg {text-align: center; + margin-top: 0em; + margin-bottom: 0em} + h6.pg {text-align: center; + margin-top: 0em; + margin-bottom: 0em} + pre {font-size: 0.7em;} + hr {text-align: center; width: 50%;} + html>body hr {margin-right: 25%; margin-left: 25%; width: 50%;} + hr.full {width: 100%;} + html>body hr.full {margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%;} + hr.short {text-align: center; width: 20%;} + html>body hr.short {margin-right: 40%; 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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 <a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, Vol. 15, No. 86, February, 1875</p> +<p>Author: Various</p> +<p>Release Date: January 17, 2005 [eBook #14709]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIPPINCOTT'S MAGAZINE OF POPULAR LITERATURE AND SCIENCE, VOL. 15, NO. 86, FEBRUARY, 1875***</p> +<br /><br /><h3 class="pg">E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, David Gundry,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team</h3><br /><br /> + <div class="trans-note"> + Transcriber's Note: The Table of Contents and the list of + illustrations were added by the transcriber. + </div> + <hr class="full" /> + + <h1>LIPPINCOTT'S MAGAZINE</h1> + + <h3 class="pg">OF</h3> + + <h2><i>POPULAR LITERATURE AND SCIENCE</i>.</h2> + <hr class='short' /> + + <h3>FEBRUARY, 1875.<br /> + <br /> + Vol. XV, No. 86</h3> + <hr class='short' /> + + <p> </p> + <hr /> + + <p> </p> + + <div class='toc'> + <p>TABLE OF CONTENTS. + <span class="toc_pagenum">Page</span></p> + + <p> </p> + + <p>FOLLOWING THE TIBER.<br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">CONCLUDING + PAPER. </span> + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href='#following_the_tiber'>137</a></span></p> + + <p>SIX MONTHS AMONG CANNIBALS. + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href='#six_months_among_cannibals'> + 152</a></span></p> + + <p>AN AMERICAN GIRL AND HER LOVERS. by Mary E. Blair. + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href='#an_american_girl_and_her_lovers'> + 160</a></span></p> + + <p>A JAPANESE MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE. by W.E. Griffis. + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href='#japanese_marriage_in_high_life'> + 176</a></span></p> + + <p>THE LOST BABY. by Clara G. Dolliver. + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href='#the_lost_baby'>183</a></span></p>THREE + FEATHERS. by William Black.<br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">CHAPTER + XXIII. SOME OLD SONGS.</span> + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href='#chapter_xxiii'>184</a></span><br /> + + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">CHAPTER + XXIV. THE CUT DIRECT.</span> + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href='#chapter_xxiv'>190</a></span><br /> + + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">CHAPTER + XXV. NOT THE LAST WORD.</span> + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href='#chapter_xxv'>194</a></span><br /> + + + + <p>FEVER. by H.C. Wood, Jr., M.D. + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#fever">197</a></span></p> + + <p>SONNET. by Charlotte F. Bates. + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#sonnet">204</a></span></p> + + <p>SOME RECOLLECTIONS OF HIRAM POWERS.<br /> + <span style="margin-left: 12em;">by T. Adolphus + Trollope.</span> + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#some_recollections_of_hiram_powers"> + 205</a></span></p> + + <p>CORN. by Sidney Lanier. + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#corn">216</a></span></p> + + <p>GENTLEMAN DICK. by W. Mackay Laffan. + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#gentleman_dick">220</a></span></p> + + <p>A SINGULAR FAMILY. by Clelia Lega Weeks. + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#a_singular_family">227</a></span></p> + + <p>THE MATCHLESS ONE: A TALE OF AMERICAN SOCIETY,<br /> + <span style="margin-left: 9em;">IN FOUR CHAPTERS. by + Ita Aniol Prokop.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">PROLOGUE. </span> + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#prologue">236</a></span><br /> + + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">CHAPTER I. </span> + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#chapter_i">236</a></span><br /> + + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">CHAPTER II. </span> + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#chapter_ii">242</a></span></p> + + <p>THE STRANGER WITHIN THE GATES OF PARIS.<br /> + <span style="margin-left: 15em;">by Lucy H. Hooper.</span> + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#the_stranger_within_the_gates_of_paris"> + 248</a></span></p> + + <p>OUR MONTHLY GOSSIP.<br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">GYPSY MUSIC IN HUNGARY. by + E.C.R.</span><span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#gypsy_music_in_hungary"> + 253</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">THE "GIORNO DEI MORTI." by + T.A.T.</span><span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#the_giorno_dei_mortiquot"> + 256</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">MR. MILL'S MOTHER.</span> + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#mr_mills_mother">260</a></span></p><br /> + + + + <p>NOTES. + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#notes">260</a></span></p> + + <p>LITERATURE OF THE DAY. + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#literature_of_the_day">262</a></span></p> + + <p>Books Received. + <span class="toc_pagenum"><a href="#books_received">264</a></span></p> + + <p><a href='#footnotes'>FOOTNOTES</a></p> + <hr /> + + <p>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.<br /> + <br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image001_jpg'>TEMPLE + OF THE CLITUMNUS.</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image002_jpg'>THE + FALLS OF TERNI.</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image003_jpg'>ORVIETO.</a></span><br /> + + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image004_jpg'>CIVITÀ + BAGNOREA.</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image005_jpg'>THE + TIBER, FROM ORTE.</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image006_jpg'>BORGHETTO.</a></span><br /> + + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image007_jpg'>ST. + PETER'S AND THE VATICAN, FROM THE FALLS OF THE + TIBER.</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image008_jpg'>THE + CASTLE OF ST. ANGELO.</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image009_jpg'>ISLAND + OF THE TIBER.</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image010_jpg'>CUPOLA + OF ST. PETER'S.</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image011_jpg'>THE + PINCIO, FROM THE VILLA BORGHESE.</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image012_jpg'>SORACTE.</a></span><br /> + + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image013_jpg'>VEII, + FROM THE CAMPAGNA.</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image014_jpg'>TIVOLI.</a></span><br /> + + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image015_jpg'>CASTLE + AT OSTIA.</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image016_jpg'>HEAD + OF THE TRAJAN CANAL, NEAR OSTIA.</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image017_jpg'>A + HALT IN THE BRUSH.</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image018_jpg'>IARAT, + DAUGHTER OF THE CHIEF OUNDO.</a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href='#image019_jpg'>A + KANACKA FAMILY TRAVELING.</a></span></p> + </div> + + <p> </p> + <hr /> + + <h3><a name='following_the_tiber' + id='following_the_tiber'></a>FOLLOWING THE TIBER.</h3> + + <p class='center'> + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_137]</span>CONCLUDING PAPER.</p> + + <div class='figcenter'> + <a name='image001_jpg' + id="image001_jpg"></a><img alt='temple_of_the_clitumnus' + border="0" + src="images/001.jpg" + width="409" + height="460" /> + + <p class='center'>TEMPLE OF THE CLITUMNUS.</p> + </div> + + <p>One branch of the little river which encompasses Assisi is + the Clitumnus, the delight of philosophers and poets in the + Augustan age. Near its + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_138]</span>source stands a beautiful + little temple to the divinity of the stream. Although the + ancients resorted hither for the loveliness of the spot, they + did not bathe in the springs, a gentle superstition holding it + sacrilege for the human body to lave itself in a stream near + its source.</p> + + <div class='figright'> + <a name='image002_jpg' + id="image002_jpg"></a><img alt='falls_of_terni' + border="0" + src="images/002.jpg" + width="240" + height="688" /> + + <p class='center'>THE FALLS OF TERNI.</p> + </div> + + <p>They came by the Via Flaminia, the old high-road from Rome + to Florence, which crosses the modern railroad hard by. + Following its course, which takes a more direct line than the + devious Tiber, past Spoleto on its woody castellated height, + the traveler reaches Terni on the tumultuous Nar, the wildest + and most rebellious of all the tributaries. It was to save the + surrounding country from its outbreaks that the channel was + made by the Romans B.C. 271, the first of several experiments + which resulted in these cascades, which have been more sung and + oftener painted than any other in the world. The beauty of + Terni is so hackneyed that enthusiasm over it becomes cockney, + yet the beauty of hackneyed things is as eternal as the verity + of truisms, and no more loses its charm than the other its + point. But one must not talk about it. The foaming torrent + rages along between its rocky walls until spanned by the bridge + of Augustus at Narni, a magnificent viaduct sixty feet high, + thrown from ridge to ridge across the ravine for the passage of + the Flaminian Way—a wreck now, for two of the arches have + fallen, but through the last there is a glimpse of the rugged + hillsides with their thick forests and the turbulent waters + rushing through the chasm. Higher still is Narni, looking over + her embattled walls. It is one of the most striking positions + on the way from Florence to Rome, and the next half hour, + through savage gorges and black tunnels, ever beside the + tormented waters of the Nar until they meet the Tiber, swollen + by the tributes of the Paglia and Chiana, is singularly + fine.</p> + + <p>Where the Paglia and Chiana flow together, at the issue of + the charming Val di Chiana, stands Orvieto on its steep and + sudden rock, crowned with one of the triumphs of Italian + Gothic, the glorious cathedral. After toiling up the + ladder-like paths which lead from the plain to the summit of + the bluff, and passing through the grand mediæval gateway + along the slanting streets, where even the peasants dismount + and walk beside their donkeys, seeing nothing within the whole + small compass of the <span class="pagenum">[Pg_139]</span>walls + save what speaks of the narrowest and humblest life in the most + remote of hill-fastnesses,a few deserted and dilapidated + palaces alone telling of a period of importance long past, + nothing can describe the effect of coming out of this indigence + and insignificance upon the silent, solitary piazza where the + incomparable cathedral rears its front, covered from base to + pinnacle with the richest sculpture and most brilliant + mosaic.</p> + + <div class='figleft'> + <a name='image003_jpg' + id="image003_jpg"></a><img alt='orvieto' + border="0" + src="images/003.jpg" + width="240" + height="185" /> + + <p class='center'>ORVIETO.</p> + </div> + + <p>The volcanic mass on which the town is built is over seven + hundred feet high, and nearly half as much in circumference: it + would be a fitting pedestal for this gorgeous duomo if it stood + there alone. But it is almost wedged in among the crooked + streets, a few paces of grass-grown stones allowing less than + space enough to embrace the whole result of proportion and + color: one cannot go far enough off to escape details. An + account of those details would require a volume, and one has + already been written which leaves no more to be + said;<a name="FNanchor_001_1" + id="FNanchor_001_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_001_1" + class="fnanchor">[1]</a> yet fain would we take the reader + with us into that noble nave, where the "glorious company of + the apostles" stands colossal in marble beside the pillars + whose sculptured capitals are like leafy branches blown by + the wind; where the light comes rich and mellow through + stained glass and semilucent alabaster, like Indian-summer + sunshine in autumn woods; where Fra Angelico's and Benozzo + Gozzoli's angelic host smile upon us with ineffable mildness + from above the struggle and strife of Luca Signorelli's + "Last Judgment," the great forerunner of Michael Angelo's. + It added greatly to the impressiveness that there was never + a single human being in the cathedral: except one afternoon + at vespers we had it all to ourselves. There is little else + to see in the place, although it is highly picturesque and + the inhabitants wear a more complete costume than any other + I saw in Italy—the women, bright bodices, striped + skirts and red stockings; the men, jaunty jackets and + breeches, peaked hats and splendid sashes.</p> + + <p>The discomfort of Perugia was luxury to what we found at + Orvieto, and it was no longer May but December, when it is + nearly as cold north of Rome as with us; and Rome was drawing + us with her mighty magnet. So, one wintry morning, soon after + daybreak, we set out in a close carriage with four horses, + wrapped as if we were going in a sleigh, with a <i>scaldino</i> + (or little brazier) under our feet, for the + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_140]</span>nearest railway station on + our route, a nine hours' drive. Our way lay through the + snow-covered hills and their leafless forest, and long after we + had left Orvieto behind again and again a rise in the road + would bring it full in sight on its base of tufa, girt by its + walls, the Gothic lines of the cathedral sharp against the + clear, brightening sky. At our last look the sun was not up, + but broad shafts of light, such as painters throw before the + chariot of Phoebus, refracted against the pure æther, + spread like a halo round the threefold pinnacles: a moment more + and <span class="pagenum">[Pg_141]</span>Orvieto was hidden + behind a higher hill, not to be seen again. All day we drove + among the snow-bound hills and woods, past the Lake of Bolsena + in its forbidding beauty; past small valleys full of naked + fruit trees and shivering olives, which must be nooks of + loveliness in spring; past defiant little towns aloft on their + islands of tufa, like Bagnorea with its single slender + bell-tower; past Montefiascone with its good old story about + Cardinal Fugger and the native wine.</p> + + <div class='figcenter'> + <a name='image004_jpg' + id="image004_jpg"></a><img alt='cività_bagnorea' + border="0" + src="images/004.jpg" + width="640" + height="430" /> + + <p class="center">CIVITÀ BAGNOREA.</p> + </div> + + <div class='figright'> + <a name='image005_jpg' + id="image005_jpg"></a><img alt='the_tiber' + border='0' + src='images/005.jpg' + width='240' + height='698' /> + + <p class='center'>THE TIBER, FROM ORTE.</p> + </div> + + <p>We stopped to lunch at Viterbo, a town more closely + connected with the history of the Papacy than any except Rome + itself, and full of legends and romantic associations: it is + dirty and dilapidated, and has great need of all its memories. + Being but eight miles from Montefiascone, we called for a + bottle of the fatal Est, which we had tasted once at Augsburg, + where the host of the Three Moors has it in his cellar, in + honor perhaps of the departed Fugger family, whose palace has + become his hotel: there we had found it delicious—a wine + as sweet as cordial, with a soul of fire and a penetrating but + delicate flavor of its own—how different from the thin, + sour stuff they brought us in the long-necked, straw-covered + flask, nothing to attest its relationship to the generous juice + at the Three Moors except the singular, unique flavor! After + this little disappointment we left Viterbo, and drove on + through the same sort of scenery, which seemed to grow more and + more beautiful in the rosy light of the sinking sun. But it is + hard to tell, for nothing makes a journey so beautiful as to + know that Rome is the goal.</p> + + <div class='figleft'> + <a name='image006_jpg' + id="image006_jpg"></a><img alt='borghetto' + src='images/006.jpg' + height='264' + width='400' /> + + <p class='center'>BORGHETTO.</p> + </div> + + <p>As the last rays were flushing the hill-tops we came in + sight of Orte, with its irregular lines of building clinging to + the sides of its precipitous cliff in such eyrie-wise that it + is difficult to say what is house and what is rock, and whether + the arched passages with which it is pierced are masonry or + natural grottoes; and there was the Tiber—already the + yellow Tiber—winding through the valley as far as eye + could follow. Here we waited for the train, which was ten + minutes late, and tried to make up for lost time by leaving our + luggage, all duly marked and ready, standing on the track. We + soon began to greet familiar sites as we flitted by: the last + we made out plainly was Borghetto, a handful of houses, with a + ruined castle keeping watch on a hill hard by: then twilight + gathered, and we strained our eyes in vain for + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_142]</span>the earliest glimpse of + Mount Soracte, and night came down before we could descry the + first landmarks of the Agro Romano, the outposts of our + excursions, the farm-towers we knew by name, the farthest + fragments of the aqueducts. But it was not so obscure that we + could not discern the Tiber between his low banks showing us + the way, the lights quivering in the Anio as the train rushed + over the bridge; and when at length we saw against the clear + night-sky a great dark barrier stretching right and left, we + knew that the walls of Rome + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_143]</span>were once more before us: + in a moment we had glided through with slackening speed, and + her embrace enfolded us again.</p> + + <p>The Tiber, winding as it does like a great artery through + the heart of Rome, is seldom long either out of sight or mind. + One constantly comes upon it in the most unexpected manner, for + there is no river front to the city. There is a wide open space + on the Ripetta—a street which runs from the Piazza del + Popolo, at the head of the foreign quarter, to remoter + parts—where a broad + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_144]</span>flight of marble steps + descends to the level of the flood, and a ferry crosses to the + opposite bank: looking over at the trees and fields, it is like + the open country, yet beyond are St. Peter's and the Vatican, + and the whole of what is known as the Leonine City.</p> + + <p>But one cannot follow the Tiber through the streets of Rome + as one may the Seine in Paris: in the thickly-built quarters + the houses back upon the stream and its yellow waves wash their + foundations, working wrath and woe from time to time, as those + who were there in the winter of 1870 will recollect. Sometimes + it is lost to sight for half a mile together, unless one + catches a glimpse of it through the carriage-way of a + palace.</p> + + <div class='figcenter'> + <a name='image007_jpg' + id="image007_jpg"></a><img alt='st_peters_and_the_vatican' + src='images/007.jpg' + height='396' + width='640' /> + + <p class='center'>ST. PETER'S AND THE VATICAN, FROM THE + FALLS OF THE TIBER.</p> + </div> + + <div class='figleft'> + <a name='image008_jpg' + id="image008_jpg"></a><img alt='castle_of_st_angelo' + src='images/008.jpg' + width='640' + height='483' /> + + <p class='center'>THE CASTLE OF ST. ANGELO.</p> + </div> + + <p>From the wharf of the Ripetta it disappears until you come + upon it again at the bridge of St. Angelo, the Ælian + bridge of ancient Rome, which is the most direct passage from + the fashionable and foreign quarter to the Trastevere. It must + be confessed that the idle sense of mere pleasure generally + supersedes recollection and association after one's first + astonishment to find one's self among the historic places + subsides; yet how often, as our horses' hoofs rang on the + slippery stones, my thoughts went suddenly back to the scene + when Saint Gregory passed over, chanting litanies, at the head + of the whole populace, who formed one vast penitential + procession, and saw the avenging angel alight on the mausoleum + of Adrian and sheath his sword in sign that the plague was + stayed; or to that terrible day when the ferocious mercenaries + of the Constable de Bourbon and the wretched inhabitants given + over to sack and slaughter swarmed across together, butchering + and butchered, while the troops in the castle hurled down what + was left of its classic statues upon the heads of friend and + foe, and the Tiber was turned to blood!</p> + + <div class='figright'> + <a name='image009_jpg' + id="image009_jpg"></a><img alt='island_of_the_tiber' + border='0' + src='images/009.jpg' + width='640' + height='474' /> + + <p class='center'>ISLAND OF THE TIBER.</p> + </div> + + <p>From the bridge of St. Angelo the river is lost again for a + long distance, although one can make one's way to it at various + points—where at low water the submerged piers of the Pons + Triumphalis are to be seen, where the Ponte Sisto leads to the + foot of the Janiculum Hill, and on the opposite bank the + orange-groves of the Farnesina palace hang their golden fruit + and dusky foliage over the long garden-wall upon the + river—until we come to the Ponte Quatro Capi (Bridge of + the Four Heads) and the island of the Tiber.This is said to + have been formed in the kingly period by the accumulation of a + harvest cast into the stream a little way + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_145]</span>above, which the current + could not sweep away: it made a nucleus for alluvial deposit, + and the island gradually arose. Several hundred years afterward + it was built into the form of a ship, as bridges and wharves + are built, with a temple in the midst, and a tall obelisk set + up in guise of its mast. In mediæval days a church + replaced the heathen fane, and now it stands between its two + bridges, a huddle of houses, terraces and gardens, whence one + looks down on the fine mass of the Ponte Rotto (Broken Bridge), + whose shattered arches pause in mid-stream, and across to the + low arch of the Cloaca Maxima and the exquisite little circular + temple of Vesta. From here down, the river is in full view from + either side until it passes beyond the walls near the Monte + Testaccio—on one side the Ripa Grande (Great Bank or + Wharf), a long series of quays, on the other the Marmorata or + marble landing, where the ships from the quarries unload. Here, + on each side, all sorts of small craft lie moored, not + betokening a very extensive commerce from their size and shape, + but quaint and oddly rigged, making a very good fore-or + back-ground, according as one looks at the picture. The + Marmorata is at the foot of the Aventine, the most lonely and + unvisited of the Seven Hills. From among the vegetable-gardens + and cypress-groves which clothe its long flank rise large, + formless piles, whose foundations are as old as the Eternal + City, and whose superstructures are the wreck of temples of the + kingly and republican periods, and palaces and villas of + imperial times, and haughty feudal abodes, only to be + distinguished from one another by the antiquary amid their + indiscriminate ruin and the tangle of wild-briers and fern, ivy + and trailers with which they are overgrown. On the summit + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_146]</span>no trace of ancient Rome + is to be seen. There are no dwellings of men on this deserted + ground: a few small and very early Christian churches have + replaced the temples which once stood here, to be in their turn + neglected and forsaken: they stand forlornly apart, separated + by vineyards and high blank walls. On the brow of the hill is + the esplanade of a modern fort, and within its quiet precincts + are the church and priory of the Knights of Malta—nothing + but a chapel and small villa as abandoned as the rest. After + toiling up a steep and narrow lane between two walls, our + carriage stopped at a solid wooden gateway, and the coachman + told us to get out and look through the keyhole. We were + aghast, but he insisted, laughing and nodding; so we pocketed + our pride and peeped.</p> + + <div class='figleft'> + <a name='image010_jpg' + id="image010_jpg"></a><img alt='cupola_of_st_peters' + border='0' + src='images/010.jpg' + width='100' + height='111' /> + + <p class="center">CUPOLA OF ST. PETER'S.</p> + </div> + + <p>Through an overarching vista of dark foliage was seen, white + and golden in a blaze of sunshine, the cupola of St. Peter's, + which is at the farthest end of the city, two miles at the + least as the crow flies. When the gate was opened we entered a + sweet little garden full of violets, traversed by an alley of + old ilex trees, through which appeared the noble dome, and + which led from the gate to a terrace overhanging the + Tiber—I will not venture to guess how far + below—more like two than one hundred feet; perhaps still + farther. On the edge of the terrace was an arbor, and here we + sank down enchanted, to drink in the view of the city, which + spread out under our eyes as we had never seen it from any + other point. But the custodino's wife urged us to come into the + Priorato and see the view from the upper story. We followed + her, reluctant to leave the sunshine and soft air, up a stiff + winding staircase, through large, dark, chilly, long-closed + apartments, until we reached the top, where there was a great + square room occupying the whole floor. She flung open the + windows, and never did such a panorama meet my eyes. There were + windows on every side: to the north, one looked across the city + to St. Peter's, the Vatican, the Castle of St. Angelo, the + Tiber with its great bends and many bridges, and to lonely, + far-away Soracte; westward, on the other side of the river, + rose the Janiculum with its close-wedged houses, grade on + grade, and on its summit the church of San Pietro in Montorio + and the flashing cataract of the Acqua Paola fountain, the + stone-pines of the Villa Dolia cresting the ridge above; + eastward, the Palatine, a world of ruins in a world of gardens, + lay between us and the Coliseum, and over them and the wall, + the aqueducts, the plain, the eye ranged to the snow-capped + Sabine Hills, on whose many-colored declivities tiny white + towns were dotted like browsing sheep; southward, we gazed down + upon the Pyramid of Cestius, upon the beautiful Protestant + cemetery with its white monuments and dark cypresses where lie + Shelley and Keats, upon the stately Porta San Paolo, a great + mediæval gateway flanked + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_147]</span>with towers, and beyond, + the Campagna, purple, violet, ultramarine, oceanic, rolling out + toward the Alban Hills, which glittered with snow, rising + sharply like island-peaks and sloping down like promontories + into the plain; and over all the sun and sky and shadows of + Italy.</p> + + <div class='figcenter'> + <a name='image011_jpg' + id="image011_jpg"></a><img alt='the_pincio' + border='0' + src='images/011.jpg' + width='640' + height='347' /> + + <p class="center">THE PINCIO, FROM THE VILLA BORGHESE.</p> + </div> + + <p>The prospect from the Priorato surpasses anything in + Rome—even the wonderful view from the Janiculum, even the + enchanting outlook from the Pincian Hill. But the last was at + our very doors: we could go thither in the morning to watch the + white mist curl up from the valleys and hang about the + mountain-brows, and at noon, when even in January the cool + avenues and splashing fountains were grateful, and at sunset, + when the city lay before us steeped in splendor. That was the + view of our daily walks—the beloved view of which one + thinks most often and fondly in remembering Rome.</p> + + <div class='figleft'> + <a name='image012_jpg' + id="image012_jpg"></a><img alt='soracte' + border='0' + src='images/012.jpg' + width='320' + height='190' /> + + <p class="center">SORACTE.</p> + </div> + + <p>But it is in riding that one grows to feel most familiar + with the Tiber and all his Roman children, whether it be + strolling somewhat sulkily in a line with his banks by the Via + Flaminia or the Via Cassia, impatient to get away from their + stones and dust to the soft, springing turf; or hailing him + from afar as a guide after losing one's self in the endless + undulations of the open country; or cantering over + daffodil-sheeted meadows beside the Anio at the foot of the + grassy heights on which Antemnæ stood; or threading one's + way doubtfully among the ravines which intersect the course of + the little Cremera as one goes to Veii.</p> + + <div class='figcenter'> + <a name='image013_jpg' + id="image013_jpg"></a><img alt='veii_from_the_campagna' + src='images/013.jpg' + width='480' + height='357' /> + + <p class="center">VEII, FROM THE CAMPAGNA.</p> + </div> + + <p>The last is a most beautiful and interesting expedition, + for, what with the distance—more than twelve + miles—and the difficulty of finding the way, it is quite + an enterprise. As one turns his horse's head away from the + river, off the high-road, to the high grassy flats, the whole + Campagna seems to lie before one like a vast table-land, with + nothing between one's self and Soracte as he lifts his heavy + shoulder from the plain—not half hidden by intervening + mountains, as from some points of view, but majestic and + isolated, thirty miles away to the north. But here, as in every + other part of the Campagna, one cannot go far without finding + hillocks and hollows, long steep slopes and sudden little + dells, and, stranger still, unsuspected tracts of woodland, for + the general effect of the Roman landscape is quite treeless. So + there is a few miles' gallop across the trackless turf, + sometimes asking the way of a solitary shepherd, who looms up + against the sky like a tower, sometimes following it by faint + landmarks, few and far between, of which we have been told, and + hard to find in that waste, until we pass a curious little + patriarchal abode shaped like a wigwam, where, in the midst of + these wide pastures dwells a herdsman surrounded by his family, + his cattle, his dogs, his goats and his fowls—the + beautiful animals of the Campagna, long-haired, soft-eyed, + rich-colored, like the human children of the soil. Then we + strike the Cremera, and exploring begins among its rocky + gullies, up and down which the spirited, sure-footed horses + scramble like chamois. Thick woods of cork-oak clothe their + sides, and copses of a deciduous tree which I never saw in its + summer dress of green, but which keeps its dead leaves all + through the winter, a full suit + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_148]</span>of soft, pale brown + contrasting with the dark evergreens. Among these woods grow + all the wild-flowers of the long Roman spring from January to + May—flowers that I never saw in bloom at the same time + anywhere else. On banks overcanopied by faded boughs nodded + myriads of snowdrops; farther on we held our horses' heads well + up as they slipped, almost sitting, down the damp rocky clefts + of a gorge whose sides were purple with violets, mingling their + delicious odor, the sweetest and most sentimental of perfumes, + with the fresh, geranium-like scent of the cyclamen, which here + and there flung back its delicate pinkish petals like one + amazed: then came acres of anemones—not our pale + wind-shaken flower, but brave asters of half a dozen superb + kinds. Up and down these passes we forced our way through + interlacing branches, which drooped too low, until we had + crossed the ridges on either side the Cremera, and gained the + valley at the head of which is Isola Farnese, the rock-fortress + supposed to occupy the site of the citadel of Etruscan Veii. It + is not really an island, in spite of its name; only a bold + peninsula, round whose base two rivulets flow and nearly meet. + It is called a village, and so it is, with quite a population, + but the great courtyard of the fifteenth-century castle + contains them all, and the huts, pig-pens, kennels and coops + which they seem to inhabit indiscriminately. Except where the + bluff overlooks the valley, everything is closed and shut in by + rocks and gorges, through one of which a lovely waterfall drips + from a covert of boughs and shrubbery and wreathing ferns and + creepers into a little stream, which with musical clamor rushes + at a picturesque old mill: through another the road from the + castle passes through a narrow issue to the outer world. And + this stranded and shipwrecked fortress in the midst of so wild + a scene is all that exists to mark where Veii stood, the + powerful city which kept Rome at bay for ten years, and fell at + length by stratagem! Its site was forgotten for nearly two + thousand years, but in this century the discovery of some tombs + revealed the secret.</p> + + <div class='figleft'> + <a name='image014_jpg' + id="image014_jpg"></a><img alt='tivoli' + border='0' + src='images/014.jpg' + width='573' + height='460' /> + + <p class="center">TIVOLI.</p> + </div> + + <p>The scenery differs entirely on different sides of Rome. + Here there is not a ruin, not a vestige, except a few low heaps + of stone-or brickwork hidden by weeds: on the other, toward + Tivoli, much of the beauty is due to the work of man—the + stately remnants of ancient aqueduct, + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_149]</span>temple and tomb; the tall + square towers of feudal barons, round which cluster low + farm-buildings scarcely less old and solid; the vast, gloomy + grottoes of Cerbara, which look like the underground palace of + a bygone race, but which are the tufa-quarries of classic + times; the ruined baths of Zenobia, where the rushing milky + waters of the Aquæ Albulæ fill the air with + sulphurous fumes; and, as a climax, the Villa of Hadrian, less + a country-place than a whole region, a town-in-country, with + palace, temples, circus, theatres, baths amidst a tract of + garden and pleasure-ground ten miles in circumference. Even + when one is familiar with the enormous height and bulk of the + Coliseum or the Baths of Caracalla, the extent of the ruins of + Hadrian's Villa is overwhelming. Numerous fragments are still + standing, graceful and elegant, but a vast many more are buried + deep under turf and violets and fern: large cypresses and + ilexes have struck root among their stones, and they form + artificial hills and vales and great wide plateaus covered with + herbage and shrubbery, hardly to be distinguished from the + natural accidents of the land. The solitude is as immense as + the space. After leaving our carriage we wandered about for + hours, sometimes lying in the sunshine at the edge of a great + grassy terrace which commands the Campagna and the Agro + Romano—beyond whose limits we had come—to where, + like a little bell, St. Peter's dome hung faint and blue upon + the horizon; sometimes exploring the innumerable porticoes and + galleries, and replacing in fancy the Venus de Medici, the + Dancing Faun, and all the other shapes of beauty which once + occupied these ravished pedestals and niches; sometimes + rambling about the flowery fields, and up and down among the + hillocks and dells, meeting no one, until at length, when + completely bewildered and lost, we fell in with a rustic + belonging to the estate, who guided us back. We left the place + with the sense of having been in a separate realm, another + country, belonging to another age. The whole of that visit to + Tivoli was like a dream. The sun was sinking when we left the + precincts of the villa, and twilight stole upon us, wrapping + all the landscape on which we looked back in softer folds of + shade, and resolving its features into large, calm masses, as + the horses labored up the narrow, stony road + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_150]</span>into a mysterious wood of + gigantic olives, gnarled, twisted and rent as no other tree + could be and live. The scene was wild and weird in the dying + light, and it grew almost savage as we wound upward among the + robber-haunted hills. Night had fallen before we reached the + mountain-town. Our coachman dashed through the dark slits of + streets, where it seemed as if our wheels must strike the + houses on each side, cracking his whip and jingling the bells + of the harness. Under black archways sat groups of peasants, + their swart visages lit up from below by the glow of a brazier, + while a flaring torch stuck through a ring overhead threw + fierce lights and shadows across the scene. Sharp cries and + shouts like maledictions rose as we passed, and as we turned + into the little square on which the inn stands we wondered in + what sort of den we should have to lodge. We followed our host + of the little Albergo della Regnia up the steep stone staircase + with many misgivings: he flung open a door, and we beheld a + carpeted room, all furnished and hung with pink chintz covered + with cupids and garlands. There were sofas, low arm-chairs, a + writing-table with appurtenances, a tea-table with snowy linen + and a hissing brass tea-kettle. Opening from this were two + little white nests of bed-rooms, with tin bath-tubs and an + abundance of towels. We could not believe our eyes: here were + English comfort and French taste. Were we in May Fair or the + Rue de Rivoli? Or was it a fairy-tale?</p> + + <div class='figright'> + <a name='image015_jpg' + id="image015_jpg"></a><img alt='castle_at_ostia' + border='0' + src='images/015.jpg' + width='640' + height='507' /> + + <p class="center">CASTLE AT OSTIA.</p> + </div> + + <p>The fairy-tale went on next day, when, after wending our way + through the dirty, crooked little streets, we crossed a + courtyard and descended a long subterranean stairway to emerge + on a magnificent terrace with a heavy marble balustrade, whence + flights of steps led down to lower grades, amid statues, urns, + vases, fountains, reservoirs, camellias in bloom mingled with + laurel and myrtle and laurustinums covered with creamy flowers, + cypresses tall as cathedral spires, ilex avenues, and broad + straight walks between huge walls of box: the whole space was + filled with the song of nightingales, the tinkle of falling + water, with whiffs of aromatic shrubs and the breath of hidden + roses and violets;—a princely garden, a royal pleasaunce, + but in exquisite disorder and neglect; the shrubbery too thick + and straggling, the flowers straying beyond their rightful + boundaries, the statues + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_151]</span>stained and moss-grown, + the balusters entangled in clinging luxuriance, the fountains + dripping through fern and maiden-hair—Nature supreme, as + one always sees her in this land of Art. It was the Villa + d'Este, famous these three hundred years for its fountains and + cypresses. Nor did the wonder cease when we forsook this + enchanting spot for the mountain-road which overhangs the great + ravine. Opposite, backed by mountains, rose the crags topped by + the clustering town and all its towers, arches, niches, + battlements, bridges, long lines of classic ruins, and on the + edge of the abyss the perfect little temple of the Sibyl; + rushing down from everywhere the waterfalls, one great column + plunging at the head of the gorge, and countless frolic + streams, the <i>cascatelle</i>, leaping and dancing from rock + to rock through mist and rainbow and extravagance of emerald + moss and herbage, down among sea-green, silvery olives, finally + sliding away, between softer foliage and verdure, through the + valley into the plain—the immense azure plain, with its + grand symphonic harmonies of form and color. O land of dreams + fulfilled, of satisfied longing! when across these thousands of + miles I recall your entrancing charm, your unimaginable beauty, + I sometimes wonder if you were <i>not</i> a dream, if you have + any place in this real existence, this lower earth: are you + still delighting other eyes with the rapture of your + loveliness, or were you only an illusion, a vision, which + vanishes like the glow of sunset or "golden exhalations of the + dawn "?</p> + + <div class='figleft'> + <a name='image016_jpg' + id="image016_jpg"></a><img alt='trajan_canal' + border='0' + src='images/016.jpg' + width='100' + height='117' /> + + <p class="center">HEAD OF THE<br /> + TRAJAN CANAL,<br /> + NEAR OSTIA.</p> + </div> + + <p>The Campagna has one more aspect, different from all the + rest, where the Tiber, weary with his long wanderings, rolls + lazily to the sea. It is a dreary waste of swamp and sandhill + and scrub growth, but with a forlorn beauty of its own, and the + beauty of color, never absent in Italy. The tall, coarse grass + and reeds pass through a series of vivid tones, culminating in + tawny gold and deep orange, against which the silver-fretted + violet blue-green of the Mediterranean assumes a magical + splendor. Small, shaggy buffaloes with ferocious eyes, and + sometimes a peasant as wild-looking as they, are the only + inhabitants of this wilderness. The machicolated towers of + Castel Fusano among its grand stone-pines stand up from the + marshes, and farther seaward another castle with a single pine; + but they only enhance the surrounding loneliness. Ostia, the + ancient port, which sea and river have both deserted, is now a + city of the dead, a Pompeii above ground, whose avenues of + tombs lead to streets of human dwellings more desolate still. + It is no longer by Ostia, nor even by the Tiber, that one can + reach the sea: the way was choked by sand and silt seventeen + centuries ago, and Trajan caused the canal to be made which + bears his name; and this is still the outlet from Rome to the + Mediterranean, while the river expires among the pestilential + marshes.</p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg_152]</span> + + <h2><a name='six_months_among_cannibals' + id="six_months_among_cannibals"></a>SIX MONTHS AMONG + CANNIBALS.</h2> + + <div class='figcenter'> + <a name='image017_jpg' + id="image017_jpg"></a><img alt='halt_in_the_brush' + border='0' + src='images/017.jpg' + width='305' + height='460' /> + + <p class='center'>A HALT IN THE BRUSH.</p> + </div> + + <p>Perhaps as good an illustration of the purely absurd + (according to civilized notions) as can be imagined is a + congregation of cannibals in a missionary church weeping + bitterly over the story of Calvary. Fresh from their revolting + feasts upon the flesh of their conquered enemies, these gentle + savages weep over the sufferings of One separated from them by + race, by distance, by almost every conceivable lack of the + conditions for natural sympathy, and by over eighteen hundred + years of time! Surely there must be hope for people who + manifest such sensibility, + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_153]</span>and we may fairly question + whether cannibalism be necessarily the sign of the lowest human + degradation. A good deal of light is thrown upon the subject by + the writings of the young engineer, Jules Garnier, who was + lately charged by the French minister of the interior with a + mission of exploration in New Caledonia, the Pacific island + discovered by Captain Cook just one hundred years ago, and + ceded to the French in 1853.</p> + + <p>It is about three hundred and sixty miles from Sydney to New + Caledonia, a long, narrow island lying just north of the Tropic + of Capricorn, and completely surrounded by belts of coral reef + crenellated here and there, and forming channels or passes + where ships may enter. Navigation through these channels is, + however, exceedingly hazardous in any but calm weather; and it + was formerly thought that the island was on this account + practically valueless for colonization. Once inside them, + however, vessels may anchor safely anywhere, for there is in + effect a continuous roadstead all around the island. The + passage through the narrow pass of Dumbea, just outside of + Noumea, affords a striking spectacle. On each side of the ship + is a wall of foam, and the reverberating thunder of the waves + dashing and breaking upon the jagged reefs keeps the mind in + breathless suspense.</p> + + <p>The site of Noumea seems to be the most unfortunate that + could be chosen. It is a barren, rocky spot, divested of all + luxuriance of vegetation, and the nearest water, a brook called + Pont des Français, is ten miles away. The appearance of + the town, which fronts the harbor in the form of an + amphitheatre, the houses and gardens rising higher and higher + as they recede from the sea, tended somewhat to reassure the + explorer, who had been wondering that human stupidity should + have been equal to selecting in a tropical country, and in one + of the best-watered islands of the world, such a situation for + its capital. Wells are of little account, for the water thus + obtained is at the level of the sea, and always salt. The + population has to depend upon the rain that falls on roofs, and + as the cleanliness of these is of prime importance, + domesticating pigeons is strictly forbidden. This might not be + much of a deprivation in most places, but in New Caledonia, of + all the world, there is a kind of giant pigeon as large as a + common hen! This is the <i>noton</i>, (sic) the <i>Carpophage + Goliath</i> of the naturalist.</p> + + <p>The hotel at Noumea was a kind of barracks, with partitions + so slight that every guest was forced to hear every sound in + his neighbors' rooms. M. Garnier, to escape this inconvenience, + purchased a garden-plot, had a cottage built in a few days, and + so became a proprietor in Oceanica. Before setting out on his + exploring expedition into the interior he tried to interest the + government in a plan for cisterns to supply the city with + water—a project easy of execution from the natural + conformation of the locality. But his scheme received no + encouragement from the old-fogyish authorities. They were at + that moment entertaining one which for simplicity reminded + Garnier of the egg problem of Columbus. This was to distill the + sea-water. He made a calculation of the cost of thus supplying + each of the sixteen hundred inhabitants with five quarts of + water a day, which showed that the proposition was + impracticable under the circumstances.</p> + + <p>From the showing of official accounts, this French colony of + New Caledonia must be one of the most absurd that exists. The + military and naval force far exceeds in number the whole civil + population; and this, too, when the natives are quiet and + submissive, few in number, and fast dying out through the + inordinate use of the worst kind of tobacco, pulmonary + consumption and other concomitants of civilization not + necessary to enumerate. Contrast this with the rich and + populous province of Victoria, which has only three hundred and + fifty soldiers; with Brisbane, which has only sixteen to a + population of one hundred thousand; and finally Tasmania, which + has only seven soldiers for two hundred thousand colonists!</p> + + <p>It was believed formerly that New Caledonia was rich in + gold-mines, and the principal object of the expedition of M. + Garnier was to discover these. After + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_154]</span>one or two short + excursions in the neighborhood of Noumea he set out on an eight + months' journey through the entire eastern portion of the + island. The plan which he adopted was to double the southern + extremity of the island, sail up the eastern coast between the + reefs and the mainland, as is the custom, stopping at the + principal stations and making long excursions into the + interior, accompanied by a guard of seven men. This plan he + carried out, though some parts of the country to be explored + were inhabited by tribes that had seldom or never seen a + European. His testimony as to the almost unexceptionable + kindness of the natives, cannibals though they are, must be + gratifying to those who accept the doctrine of the brotherhood + of man. Of the natives near Balarde he says: "The moment you + land all offer to guide your steps, and in every way they can + to satisfy your needs. Do you wish to hunt? A native is ever + ready to show you the marsh where ducks most abound. Are you + hungry or thirsty? They fly to the cocoanut plantation with the + agility of monkeys. If a swamp or a brook stops your course, + the shoulders of the first comer are ever ready to carry you + across. If it rains, they run to bring banana-leaves or make + you a shelter of bark. When night comes they light your way + with resinous torches, and finally, when you leave them, you + read in their faces signs of sincere regret."</p> + + <p>Captain Cook, in his eulogies of these gentle savages, + probably never dreamed that they were anthropophagi, and if he + had known the fact, his kindly nature would have found some + extenuation for them. Cannibals, as a rule—certainly + those of New Caledonia—do not eat each other + indiscriminately. For example, they dispose of their dead with + tender care, though they despatch with their clubs even their + best friends when dying; but this is with them a religious + duty. They only eat their enemies when they have killed them in + battle. This also, in their code of morals, appears to be a + duty. Toussenel, in his <i>Zoölogie Passionelle</i>, has a + kind word even for these savages: "Let us pity the cannibal, + and not blame him too severely. We who boast of our refined + Christian civilization murder men by tens of thousands from + motives less excusable than hunger. The crime lies not in + roasting our dead enemy, but in killing him when he wishes to + live."</p> + + <p>During M. Garnier's expedition he met the chief Onime, once + the head of a powerful tribe, now old and dispossessed of his + power through the revolt of his tribe some years previous. At + that time a price had been put upon his head, and he took + refuge in the mountains. There was no sign of discouragement or + cruelty in his manners, but his face expressed a bitter and + profound sorrow. There was not a pig or a chicken on his + place—for he would have nothing imported by the + <i>papalés</i>, or Europeans—but he gave his + guests a large quantity of yams, for which he would accept no + return except a little tobacco. When, however, Garnier tied a + pretty crimson handkerchief about the head of Onime's child, + who danced for joy at the possession of such a treasure, the + old chief was visibly moved, and gave his hand to the stranger. + Two years later this old man, being suspected of complicity in + the assassination of a colonist, was arrested, bound in chains + and thrown into a dungeon. Three times he broke his chains and + escaped, and each time was recaptured. He was then transported + to Noumea. M. Garnier happened to be on the same ship. The + condition of the old man was pitiful. Deep wounds, exposing the + bones, were worn into his wrists and ankles in his attempts to + free himself from his chains. Three days later he died, and on + a subsequent examination of facts M. Garnier became convinced + that Onime was innocent of the crime charged against him. On + the ship he recognized Garnier, and accepted from him a little + tobacco. Tobacco is more coveted by these people than anything + else in the world, and the stronger it is the better. The child + almost as soon as he can walk will smoke in an old pipe the + poisonous tobacco furnished specially for the natives, which is + so strong that it makes the most inveterate European smoker + ill. "Gin and brandy have been + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_155]</span>introduced successfully," + but the natives as a rule make horrible grimaces in drinking + them, and invariably drink two or three cups of water + immediately <i>to put out the fire</i>, as they say.</p> + + <p>These natives speak a kind of "pigeon English." It would be + pigeon French, doubtless, had their first relations been with + the French instead of the English. The government has now + stopped the sale of spirituous liquors to the natives, and + recommended the chiefs to forbid their subjects smoking until a + certain age, but no precautions yet taken have had much + influence upon their physical condition. They are rapidly dying + out. The most prevalent disease is pulmonary consumption, which + they declare has been given them by the Europeans. Fewer and + fewer children are born every year, and in the tribes about + Poöbo and some others these are almost all males. Here is + a curious fact for scientists. Is not the cause to be found in + the deteriorated physical condition of the women? Mary Trist, + in her careful and extensive experimentation with butterfly + grubs, has shown that by generous feeding these all develop + into females, while by starving males only appear.</p> + + <p>M. Garnier believes that the principal cause of the + deterioration and decay of the natives in New Caledonia is the + terrible tobacco that is furnished to them. "Everybody pays for + any service from the natives in this poison." A missionary once + asked a native convert why he had not attended mass. "Because + you don't give me any tobacco," replied this hopeful Christian. + To him, as to many others, says M. Garnier, going to church + means working for the missionary, just as much as digging in + his garden, and he therefore expects remuneration. The young + girls in regions where there are missions established all wear + chaplets, for they are good Catholics after a fashion, and + generally refuse to marry pagans. This operates to bring the + young men under the religious yoke. Self-interest is their + strong motive generally. The missionary makes them understand + the value of his counsel in their tribes. It means their + raising cocoanuts for their oil, flocks of chickens and droves + of hogs, for all of which they can obtain pipes, quantities of + tobacco, a gun, and gaudy-colored cottons. When the chiefs find + that their power is gradually passing from them into the hands + of the missionaries, they only smoke more poisonous tobacco, + expose themselves all the more to the weather through the cheap + fragmentary dress they have adopted, and so the ravages of + consumption are accelerated. Pious Christian women, who have + always given freely of their store to missionary causes, begin + to see that the results are not commensurate with their + sacrifices—that their charity, even their personal work + among heathens, teaching them to read and write and study the + catechism, to cover their bodies with dress and to love the + arts of civilization, can avail little against the rum, tobacco + and nameless maladies legally or illegally introduced with + Christianity.</p> + + <p>During one of M. Garnier's excursions into the interior he + came across one of the sacred groves where the natives bury + their dead, if hanging them up in trees can be so designated. + His guides all refused to accompany him, fearing to excite the + anger of the manes of their ancestors. He therefore entered the + high grove alone. Numerous corpses, enveloped in + carefully-woven mats and then bound in a kind of basket, were + suspended from the branches of the trees. Some of these were + falling in pieces, and the ground was strewn with whitened + bones. It seems strange that this form of burial should be + chosen in a country where at least once a year there occurs a + terrible cyclone that destroys crops, unroofs houses, uproots + trees, and often sends these basket-caskets flying with the + cocoanuts through the air.</p> + + <p>In New Caledonia there are no ferocious beasts, and the + largest animal is a very rare bird which the natives call the + kagon. When, therefore, they saw the English eating the meat + from beef bones they inferred that these were the bones of + giants, and naïvely inquired how they were captured and + what weapons of war they used. The confidence and admiration of + these children of Nature are easily + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_156]</span>gained, and under such + circumstances they talk freely and delight in imparting all the + information they possess. Among one of the tribes near Balarde, + M. Garnier noticed a young woman of superior beauty, and made + inquiries about her. This was Iarat, daughter of the chief + Oundo. The hornlike protuberances on her head were two "scarlet + flowers, which were very becoming in her dark hair."</p> + + <div class='figcenter'> + <a name='image018_jpg' + id="image018_jpg"></a><img alt='iarat_daughter_of_chief_oundo' + border='0' + src='images/018.jpg' + width='306' + height='460' /> + + <p class='center'>IARAT, DAUGHTER OF THE CHIEF OUNDO.</p> + </div> + + <p>This poor little woman had a history. It is told in a few + words: her father sold her to the captain of a trading-vessel + for a cask of brandy. The "extenuating circumstances" in this + case are that Oundo had been invited on board the captain's + ship, plied with brandy, and when nearly drunk assented to the + shameless bargain. When Oundo became sober he repented of his + act, and the more bitterly because the young girl was betrothed + to the young chief of a neighboring + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_157]</span>tribe. But he had given + his word, and was as great a moral coward as many of his + betters are, who think that honor may be preserved by dishonor. + Nearly every coaster has a native woman on board—some + poor girl of low extraction, or some orphan left to the mercy + of her chief and sold for a hatchet or a few yards of tawdry + calico; but the daughters of chiefs are not thus delivered over + to the lusts of Europeans. The case of Iarat was an exception. + These coasters' wives, if such they may be called, are said to + be very devoted mothers and faithful servants. All day long + they may be seen managing the rudder or cooking in the narrow + kitchen on deck.</p> + + <p>The vessel in the service of M. Garnier left him at Balarde, + near the north-eastern extremity of the island, but, having + determined to explore farther north, he applied to Oundo, who + furnished him with a native boat or canoe and two men for the + expedition. In this boat were stowed the camping and exploring + apparatus and cooking utensils, and three of his men, who were + too fatigued by late excursions to follow Garnier on foot. The + canoe was not very large, and this freight sunk it very low in + the water; yet as the sea was perfectly calm, no danger was + apprehended until, a slight breeze springing up, a sail was + hoisted. The shore-party continued their course, exploring, + digging, breaking minerals, etc., generally in sight of the + canoe, which M. Garnier watched with some anxiety. Suddenly, + Poulone, his faithful native guide, exclaimed, "Captain, the + pirogue sinks!" There was no time to be lost, for one of the + men could not swim at all, and the other two but indifferently. + Fortunately, the trunk of a tree was found near the water, some + paddles were improvised, and this primitive kind of boat was + quickly afloat, with the captain and Poulone on board. The + canoe was some rods from the shore, but the three men were + picked up, having been supported meanwhile by their dark + companions. The latter did not swim ashore, but the moment they + were relieved from their charges, and without a word, set about + getting the canoe afloat. As to the cargo, it was all in plain + sight, but more than twenty feet under the limpid water. This + was a great misfortune. Some of the instruments were valuable, + and could not be replaced. If not recovered, the expedition to + the north of the island must be abandoned. In this strait + Garnier despatched a messenger back to Oundo, asking the old + chief to come to the rescue with all his tribe. "I did not + count in vain," says he, "upon the generosity of this man, for + very soon I saw him approach, followed by the young people of + his tribe." He listened to the recital of the misfortune with + every sign of sympathy.</p> + + <p>"Oundo," said M. Garnier, "I expect that you will once more + show your well-tried friendship for the French people by + rendering me a great service. Do you think you can recover + these things for me?"</p> + + <p>"Oundo will try," replied the chief simply. He then + addressed his people and gave his commands. In a moment, and + with a loud cry of approbation and good-will, they dashed into + the water and swam out to the scene of disaster.</p> + + <p>It is a fine sight to see these natives of Oceanica, the + best swimmers in the world, darting under the water like bronze + tritons. They generally swim beneath the surface, coming up + from time to time to breathe, and shaking the water from their + thick curly hair. M. Garnier followed the natives on the log + that had served as a lifeboat, and to encourage them by example + undressed and threw himself into the water. The work commenced. + Twenty or thirty feet is not much of a dive for a South Sea + Islander. Every minute the divers brought up some object with a + shout of triumph. They were in their element, and so spiritedly + did they undertake the task that women, and even the children, + dived to the bottom and constantly brought up some small + object. The three guns of the men, their trappings, the heavy + box of zoological specimens, all the instruments, were brought + up in succession. Even the sole cooking-pot of the expedition + and the tin plates were recovered. The work occupied some six + hours. M. Garnier <span class="pagenum">[Pg_158]</span>thanked + the chief and his brave people, who when the work was finished + returned to their huts as quietly as they came. And this chief + was the man who had sold his daughter for a keg of brandy!</p> + + <p>Another chief, named Bourarte, the head of a great tribe + near Hienguène, deserves a few words. He was a chief of + very superior experience and intelligence. He had studied + civilization diligently, enjoyed the society of Europeans and + knew that his people were barbarians. His story is a most + touching one. He said: "I always loved the English. They + treated me as a chief, and paid me honestly for all they + received. One day I consented to go with them to their great + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_159]</span>city of Sydney. It was + there that I learned the weakness of my people. I was well + received everywhere, but I longed to return. It was with + pleasure that I saw again our mountains and heard the joyful + cries of welcome from my tribe. About that time your people + came. I paid little attention to them at first, but because one + of my men killed a Kanacka who was a protégé of + the missionaries there came a great ship (the Styx) into my + port. The captain sent for me. I went on board without fear, + but my confidence was betrayed. I was made a prisoner and + transported to Tahiti. It was six years before I saw my tribe + again: they had already mourned me as dead. I will tell you + what happened in my absence. My people prepared for vengeance: + the French were apprised of the fact. They came again. And as + my people, filled with curiosity, flocked to the shore, the + French fired their cannon into the crowd. My people were + frightened and fled into the woods. Your soldiers landed, and + for three days they burned our huts, destroyed our plantations + and cut down our cocoa trees. And all this time," added the old + chief with a heavy sigh, "I was a prisoner at Tahiti, braiding + baskets to gain a little food, and the grief that I suffered + whitened my head before the time."</p> + + <p>After a long pause, during which the old Bourarte seemed + lost in thought, he said, "It is true that my people revenged + themselves. They killed a good many, and among them one of your + chiefs. What is most strange about this war is, that three + English colonists, who lived peacefully among us by their + commerce and fishing, were taken by the French and shot. + Another Englishman, Captain Paddon, to whom I had sold many a + cargo of sandal-wood, on learning the fate of his compatriots, + fled on board a little boat with one Kanacka and a few + provisions, got out to sea, and, as I have been told, actually + gained the port of Sydney." This, it seems, is a historical + fact. It was a boat without a deck, and the distance is three + hundred and sixty marine miles!</p> + + <div class='figcenter'> + <a name='image019_jpg' + id="image019_jpg"></a> + <img alt='kanacka_family_traveling' + border='0' + src='images/019.jpg' + width='460' + height='300' /> + + <p class='center'>A KANACKA FAMILY TRAVELING.</p> + </div> + + <p>The result of the exploring mission of M. Garnier was not a + discovery of gold-mines, as so many had hoped. He is of the + opinion that gold deposits are scarce in the island. His report + of the natives is on the whole favorable, and confirms the + testimony of missionaries and others, that they are superior + savages, easily civilized and Christianized, but from some + cause or combination of causes fast dying out before the + advance of civilization. In some respects they are less rude + than other South Sea Islanders, but they treat their women in + much the same way. M. Garnier gives us a photograph of a New + Caledonia family on the road, the head of the family, a big, + stolid brute apparently, burdened only with his club, while his + wife staggers along under the combined load of sugar-canes, + yams, dried fishes and other provisions.</p> + + <p>A more revolting, but also, happily, a far rarer sight, was + that of a cannibal banquet, of which M. Garnier was a concealed + witness. The scene was a thicket in the wildest portion of the + country, and only the chiefs of the tribe, which had just + gained a victory over its enemies, took part in the feast. A + blazing fire threw its bright glare on a dozen figures seated + around huge banana-leaves, on which were spread the smoking + viands of the diabolical repast. A disgusting odor was wafted + toward the spot where our Frenchman and his companions lay + perdu, enchained by a horrible fascination which produced the + sensation of nightmare. Directly in front of them was an old + chief with long white beard and wrinkled skin, who gnawed a + head still covered with the singed hair. Thrusting a pointed + stick into the eye-sockets, he contrived to extract a portion + of the brain, afterward placing the skull in the hottest part + of the fire, and thus separating the bones to obtain a wider + aperture. The click of a trigger close to his ear recalled M. + Garnier to his senses, and arresting the arm of his sergeant, + who, excited to indignation, had brought his musket to his + shoulder, he hurried from a scene calculated, beyond all + others, to thrill the nerves and curdle the blood of a + civilized spectator.</p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg_160]</span> + + <h2><a name='an_american_girl_and_her_lovers' + id="an_american_girl_and_her_lovers"></a>AN AMERICAN GIRL + AND HER LOVERS.</h2> + + <p>In the spring of 1869 I was induced, for the sake of rest + and recreation, to take charge of a young American girl during + a tour in Europe. This young girl was Miss Helen St. Clair of + Detroit, Michigan. We two were by no means strangers. She had + been my pupil since the time when she was the prettiest little + creature that ever wore a scarlet hood. I have a little + picture, scarlet hood and all, that I would not exchange for + the most beautiful one that Greuze ever painted. Not that her + face bore any resemblance to the pictures of Greuze. It had + neither the sweet simplicity of the girl in "The Broken + Pitcher," nor the sentimental graces which he bestows on his + court beauties. It was an exceedingly piquant, animated face, + never at rest, always kindling, flashing, gleaming, whether + with sunlight or lightning. Her movements were quick and + darting, like those of a humming-bird. Her enunciation, though + perfectly distinct, was marvelously rapid. The same quickness + characterized her mental operations. Her conclusions, right or + wrong, were always instantaneous. Her prompt decisiveness, her + talent for mimicry and her witchery of grace and beauty won her + a devoted following of school-girls, to whom her tastes and + opinions were as authoritative as ever were those of + Eugénie to the ladies of her court. School-girls, like + college-boys, are very apt in nicknames, and Helen's was the + "Little Princess," which her pretty, imperious ways made + peculiarly appropriate.</p> + + <p>I do not know how her parents dared trust her to me for a + year beyond the sea, but they did. We set off in high + enthusiasm, and Helen was full of mirth and laughter till we + were fairly on board the steamer in New York harbor, when she + threw herself on her father's breast with a gesture of utter + abandonment that would have made the fortune of a + débutante on any stage in the world. It was so + unlooked-for that we all broke down, and Mr. St. Clair was + strongly inclined to take her home with him. But so sudden was + she in all her moods that his foot had scarcely touched the + shore before she was again radiant with anticipation.</p> + + <p>I will not linger on the pleasant summer travel, the Rhine + majesty, the Alpine glory. September saw us established in the + city of cities—Paris. Everywhere we had met throngs of + Americans. Neighbors from over the way in our own city greeted + us warmly in most unexpected places. But we had not crossed the + ocean merely to see our own countrymen. In Paris we were + determined to eschew hotels and pensions and to become the + inmates of a French home. Everybody told us this would be + impossible, but I find nothing so stimulating as the assertion + that a thing can't be done. Two weeks of eager inquiry, and we + were received into a family which could not have been more to + our wish if it had been created expressly for us. It was that + of Monsieur Le Fort, a professor in the Medical College, a + handsome elderly man with the bit of red ribbon coveted by + Frenchmen in his buttonhole. Madame Le Fort, a charming, + graceful woman midway between thirty and forty, and a pretty + daughter of seventeen, completed the family. With great + satisfaction we took possession of the pretty rooms, all white + and gold, that overlooked the Rond Point des Champs + Élysées.</p> + + <p>My little princess had found a prince in her own country, + and, considering the laws of attraction, his sudden appearance + in Paris ought not to have been a surprise to her. But, to his + discomfiture, and even anger, Helen refused to see him. She had + bidden him good-bye at home, she said; they would not be + married for three years, if they ever were: she was going to + devote herself to her music; and she did not wish to see him + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_161]</span>here. When he had + completed his studies and their engagement was announced (it + was only a mutual understanding now) there would be time enough + to see each other at home. Excellent reasoning! but a fortnight + later a tiny hand slipped between my eyes and the <i>Figaro</i> + a little note on which I read:</p> + + <div class='letter_1'> + <p>"DEAR FRED: I think I should like to say good-bye + again.</p> + + <p class='author'>Yours, + HELEN."</p> + </div> + + <p>The dark eyes looked half shyly, half coaxingly into + mine.</p> + + <p>"Well," said I, "Katrine will mail it for you."</p> + + <p>The next day I saw for the first time Mr. Frederic Denham. + He was tall and slender; with a sallow complexion, rather dull + gray eyes and black hair, by no means handsome, but + sufficiently well-looking to please a friendly eye. In his + manners there was a coldness and reserve which passed for + haughtiness. He was said to possess great talents and ambition, + and Helen had the fullest belief in his genius and success. Not + Goethe himself was a greater man in her eyes.</p> + + <p>I had frequent opportunities of seeing them together, for, + according to French ideas, nothing is more improper than to + leave a young man and woman a moment by themselves. Was it my + fancy that he seemed too much absorbed in himself, too little + sensible of the rare good-fortune which made him the favored + lover of the beautiful Miss St. Clair? It might be so, but + others shared it.</p> + + <p>"What ails the American?" asked Madame Le Fort. "Is it + possible that he is not in love with that fascinating young + creature? Or are all your countrymen so cold and inanimate? + Elle est ravissante, adorable! I cannot comprehend it."</p> + + <p>"Probably," I replied, "he has too much reserve and delicacy + to make a display of his feelings in the presence + strangers."</p> + + <p>But I was not satisfied. The more I watched them, the more I + perceived a lack of deference to her opinions and respect for + her judgment—an irritating assumption of superior wisdom, + as if he had worn the visible inscription, "I will accept + homage, but not suggestions. Offer incense and be content." + Would the little princess be content? I saw symptoms of + rebellion.</p> + + <p>"Do <i>you</i> think I am a little fool, Madame Fleming?" + she asked with heightened color and impetuous tone, turning + suddenly to me while they were conversing apart one + evening.</p> + + <p>November came, and we were launched on the full tide of + Parisian society. Mr. Denham had gone to Germany to complete + certain scientific studies, and he left his fair betrothed with + a parting injunction not to dance with any foreigner. As well + shut her up in a cell! Nowhere is there such a furore for + dancing as in Paris. Every family has its weekly reception, and + every card of invitation bears in the corner, "On dansera." + These receptions are the freest and gayest imaginable. Any + person who has the entrée of the house comes when he + feels inclined. Introductions are not indispensable as with us: + any gentleman may ask a lady to dance with him, whether he has + been formally presented or not, and it would be an affront to + decline except for a previous engagement. The company assemble + about ten, and often dance till three or four in the morning. + In any one house we see nearly the same people once a week for + the whole winter, and such frequent companionship gives a + feeling of intimacy. It is surprising how many French men and + French women have some special artistic talent, dramatic or + musical, and with what ready good-humor each contributes to the + entertainment of the rest. In every assembly, with all its + sparkle of youth and gayety, there is a background of mature + age; but though a card-room is generally open, it never seems + to draw many from the salons de danse.</p> + + <p>In these salons the little princess entered, at once upon + her royalty. Her dancing was the poetry of motion. She sang, + and the most brilliant men hung over her enraptured. "She was + like Adelina Patti," they said, "but of a more perfect and + delicate type of beauty. + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_162]</span>What wonderful eyes, with + the long thick lashes veiling Oriental depths of liquid light! + How the music trickled from her fingers, and poured from her + small throat like the delicious warble of a nightingale! What a + loss to art that her position precluded her from singing in the + opera! Not Malibran or Grisi ever had triumphs that would equal + hers." Eminent painters wished to make a study of her face. + Authors who had received the prizes of the Academy for grave + historical works sent her adulatory verses. "May + I—flirtation—wid you—loavely meess?" asked + one of "the immortal forty," displaying his English.</p> + + <p>It grew rather annoying. I was importuned with questions, + such as "Will you receive proposals of marriage for Miss St. + Clair?" "What is her dowry?" "Are you entrusted to find a + husband for her abroad?" I was tired of answering, "Miss St. + Clair will probably marry in her own country." "Her parents + would be very reluctant to consent to any foreign marriage." "I + cannot tell what Mr. St. Clair will give his daughter. It is + not the custom to give dowries with us, as with you."</p> + + <p>One evening we saw at Madame Le Fort's reception a young man + so distinguished in appearance that he was known as "le beau + Vergniaud." He was six feet in height and well made, with + abundant chestnut hair, dark hazel eyes, clearly-cut, regular + features, and a complexion needlessly fine for a man. From that + time he was invariably present, not only at Madame Le Fort's, + but wherever we went.</p> + + <p>One day Helen said to me, "I made a silly speech last + evening. I was dancing with M. Vergniaud, and we were talking + of that charming Madame de Launay. I said, 'I should think she + might be happy, having an elegant house in Paris, a + château in the country, and such a handsome husband so + devoted to her.' And he rejoined instantly, very low, 'My dear + Miss St. Clair, can I not give you all this?' It was not fair + to take advantage of me in that way."</p> + + <p>"What did you say?"</p> + + <p>"Oh, I laughed it off. I did not think he was in earnest, + but he spoke to me again before he went away."</p> + + <p>That afternoon Madame Le Fort came into my room with the + look of one who has something important to communicate. "I have + been wishing to see you," she said. "M. Vergniaud has taken me + into his confidence. He has formed a serious attachment to Miss + St. Clair, and wishes to make her his wife. It is a splendid + alliance," she continued, warming with her theme: "if he had + asked for my daughter I would give her to him blindfold. He + belongs to one of our old families. You should see his house on + the Avenue de Montaigne. Have you never seen him driving with + his superb horses in the Bois de Boulogne? He has an estate + with a fine old château in Touraine, a family + inheritance. His character and habits are unexceptionable too," + she added by way of parenthesis. "It is not often that you find + all that in a man of twenty-six. So handsome besides!"</p> + + <p>"True," said I, "but you forget Mr. Denham."</p> + + <p>"On the contrary, I remember him too well to conceive the + possibility of his being a rival to René Vergniaud."</p> + + <p>"But did you mention him to M. Vergniaud?"</p> + + <p>"Yes, and he was greatly disturbed at first, but when I told + him that he had no expectation of marrying for two or three + years to come, he laughed and said it was of no importance. M. + Vergniaud would like to be married in a few weeks, as is the + custom with us, but I suppose it will take longer to adjust the + preliminaries on account of her parents being across the + Atlantic. What dowry has my little jewel?" (The inevitable + question, always put with as much simplicity and directness as + if one were asking the time of day.)</p> + + <p>"I do not know," I replied. "It is so contrary to all our + notions. I do not think there is a man in America who in asking + a father for the hand of his daughter would inquire how much + money he was to have with her. It would be considered an + insult."</p> + + <p>"Perhaps Mr. St. Clair would prefer to + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_163]</span>settle an annuity on his + daughter. Is that the way the thing is managed in your + country?"</p> + + <p>"It is not managed at all. A man gives his daughter what he + likes, or he gives her nothing but her bridal outfit. It is + never a condition of the marriage."</p> + + <p>"How strange all that is! One can hardly believe it in + France. We set by a sum of money for Clarice's dowry almost as + soon as she was born, and it would be a hard necessity that + could compel us to diminish it by a single sou. If you would + like it, in a couple of days I can give you an exact inventory + of all M. Vergniaud's property and possessions. I could + guarantee that it will not vary twenty napoleons from the fact. + We do everything so systematically here."</p> + + <p>"Thanks! I think it will hardly be necessary. I do not know + that Helen likes him particularly."</p> + + <p>"Nobody admires that little paragon more than I—I + should be frantically in love with her if I were a + man—but she had better think twice before rejecting such + a <i>parti</i> as René Vergniaud, especially if she has + no dowry. You will surely not permit her to do so without + communicating with her father? He will understand her interests + better."</p> + + <p>"In this case I shall let her do just as she pleases, as her + father would if he were here."</p> + + <p>Madame Le Fort's look of amazed incredulity was truly + comical. What ought I to do? I queried. On the whole, I decided + to do the easiest thing—wait.</p> + + <p>The next day I was honored with a call from M. Vergniaud. He + believed that Madame Le Fort had spoken to me of his profound + attachment to the lovely Miss St. Clair—the most + passionate, the most devoted. Might he hope for my influence + with her father and mother? The matter of dowry was indifferent + to him: his income was sufficiently large, and, alas! he had no + parents to consult. Would I favor him with Mr. St. Clair's + address and a few words of introduction to him? He should be + under everlasting obligations to me, and if there was anything + he could do to show his gratitude, his appreciation—</p> + + <p>I interrupted these protestations: "I doubt if Mr. St. Clair + would consent to any marriage which would separate him from his + daughter, however advantageous it might be in other + respects."</p> + + <p>"My dear madame, who asks it? I have no business or + profession: we could easily spend a part of every year in + America if it were desirable."</p> + + <p>"That would certainly make it easier, but it will be better + to defer writing till we have some intimation of Miss St. + Clair's sentiments. Her father will be guided chiefly by her + inclination."</p> + + <p>"It is a nice country for young girls, America," said he + with a smile. "I shall do all that is possible to win Miss St. + Clair's favor, for life would be worthless without her." And he + bowed himself gracefully out.</p> + + <p>Is it possible that Helen will be indifferent to this young + Antinous? thought I. Poor Mr. Denham would have small chance + with me if I were in her place.</p> + + <p>An hour later the concierge sent up to me an exquisite + bouquet of violets and white camellias, with the card of + René Vergniaud and a folded note: "If Madame Fleming + does not think it improper, will she be so kind as to give + these flowers to my beautiful queen?"</p> + + <p>M. Vergniaud had asked Madame Le Fort's permission to call + on Miss St. Clair. "Certainly not," she replied. "I am + astounded at such presumption! But you may call to see + <i>me</i>. To-morrow evening we go to the opera, and Wednesday + to Madame Perier's, and Thursday is my reception, and Friday we + have tickets to <i>Phèdre</i> at the Français. + Saturday, then: it is the first evening we have free."</p> + + <p>We were all assembled in the salon as usual after dinner + when M. Vergniaud was announced. The little princess was + radiant. She had never been merrier in a school-girl frolic or + more ready with gibe and jest and laughter. She sang her best + songs, putting her whole soul into them—"Si tu savais + comme je l'aime." René Vergniaud was so dazed that he + came near bidding farewell to his senses for ever. He evidently + thought that all this brilliancy was for him, and was in such a + rapture of delight that he + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_164]</span>never noticed Madame Le + Fort's repeated glances at the clock, and was only roused by + the polite invitation to come <i>again</i>. He was not too + disconcerted to make a charming apology, like a true Parisian, + and tore himself away.</p> + + <p>Late as it was, as soon as we were in our own little parlor + I could not forbear saying, "I was surprised at you to-night, + Helen. How <i>could</i> you run on so? Madame Le Turc there, + too! and you know the young French girls never open their lips + to say more than 'Oui, monsieur'—'Non, monsieur,' to a + gentleman. What will M. Vergniaud think?"</p> + + <p>"I don't care what he thinks," flinging herself down on an + ottoman with her head in my lap; "but I <i>do</i> care what you + think, Madame Fleming. Did I behave so very badly? I didn't + mean to, but I was resolved he should not get a chance to talk + any nonsense to-night; and he <i>did</i>, after all. I hate + being made love to before a whole room full. I <i>had</i> to + laugh or else cry." And the little fairy dissolved in a shower + of tears, like another Undine.</p> + + <p>Another week went by. On Saturday afternoon Helen asked, + "Will you be so kind as to take me to the little Protestant + church beyond the Arc d'Étoile this evening, Madame + Fleming? I should like so much to hear that good M. + Bercier."</p> + + <p>"So should I. But you have not forgotten that M. Vergniaud + will be here."</p> + + <p>"I am under no obligation to entertain Madame Le Fort's + callers."</p> + + <p>"But you know, Helen, that he comes for your sake. It is + well for you to consider that the future Madame Vergniaud will + have in some respects a more brilliant position than perhaps + any man in our country could offer you."</p> + + <p>"I know all that, and I don't pretend to say that I should + not like it. I am ashamed of being so worldly, but to have a + superb establishment and all this charming Parisian society, + and give a grand ball whenever I liked, would be just paradise. + And to have it all in my grasp, and not be able to take it, is + too aggravating. It is so vexatious that the right man never + has the right things."</p> + + <p>We went to church. M. Vergniaud called, but recollected an + engagement which took him away early. Monday evening he dropped + in again just after dinner: "Do not let me derange you in the + least, je vous en prie, madame. I come early because I am + engaged to three balls to-night."</p> + + <p>Miss St. Clair could hardly have been more mute and + statue-like if she had been born and bred in France, where in + the presence of gentlemen young girls silently adhere to their + brilliant mothers, whose wit and grace and social tact make the + charm of the Parisian salons. Apparently, the French consider + that the combined attractions of youthful faces and sprightly + conversation would be too much for any man, and mercifully + divide the two. And this leaves them helpless before a little + American girl, laughing, talking, jesting, teasing, till, + bewildered by such a phenomenon, they are swept down so easily + that one is reminded of Attila's taunt to the Romans, "The + thicker the grass, the quicker it is mowed."</p> + + <p>This social etiquette was very irksome to my little firefly, + who seemed always opening and shutting her wings. In the course + of the evening M. Vergniaud slipped into her hand, unperceived + by any of us, a closed envelope with the whisper, "Put it in + your pocket. Do not let any one see you."</p> + + <p>She opened it deliberately: "M. Vergniaud is so kind as to + give me his photograph, Madame Fleming. Do you think it a good + likeness?"</p> + + <p>The mystery which French people are fond of attaching to + harmless trifles is inconceivable. One evening, in the earlier + part of our stay in Paris, a cousin of Miss St. Clair's, who + was in the same hotel with Mr. Denham, called on us, and when + he was taking leave she held out an unsealed note: "Will you + give this to Fred? Don't forget it."</p> + + <p>Madame Le Fort was thunderstruck: "Is it possible? Send a + note to a young gentleman right before Madame Fleming and all + of us!"</p> + + <p>"Why," said I, "do young people never write notes to each + other in France?" <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_165]</span> "Not + openly like that—little three-cornered notes to slip into + the hand while dancing."</p> + + <p>"This is the way to fold them," said Clarice, taking up a + small sheet of paper. "You see that will just fit into the + hollow of the hand, and nobody could ever see it."</p> + + <p>"I like our way much better. What is done openly is not half + so mischievous."</p> + + <p>"Nor half so interesting," rejoined Clarice.</p> + + <p>The nimble hours danced on, as they had a trick of doing in + Madame Le Fort's salon. "I am afraid you forget the three + balls, M. Vergniaud."</p> + + <p>"How can you be so cruel, mademoiselle? I shall only make my + compliments to the hostess and dance one set at each. I never + do more except when I come here."</p> + + <p>A few days later I asked Helen, "Have you made up your mind + what answer to give M. Vergniaud? He intends to write to your + father. He was speaking to me about it again to-day."</p> + + <p>"I won't have him writing to my father," she replied with + her wonted impetuosity. "I will not have my father worried + about nothing. It would be a month before I could set it + right."</p> + + <p>"He seems to be very much in love with you. He says he shall + be in despair, wretched for ever, if you reject him."</p> + + <p>"So they all say. I don't believe a word of it, and I can't + help it if they are. I can't marry more than one of them, and I + don't believe I shall ever marry anybody. I won't be persecuted + to death."</p> + + <p>The little princess was irritated. Something had evidently + gone wrong. It soon came out: "I had a letter from Fred this + morning—a very disagreeable letter."</p> + + <p>"Indeed! You have not yet answered it, I suppose."</p> + + <p>"No: he will have to write differently from that before he + gets any answer from me. I am not going to be lessoned and + scolded as if I were a little girl. Father never does it, and I + will not submit to it from <i>him</i>" After a pause: "He is + not so much to blame. It is that odious Mr. Wilkins, who keeps + writing to him how much attention I receive, and all that. As + if I could help it! Poor old Fred! We have known each other + ever since we were children."</p> + + <p>That explains it, I thought. "Helen, if you have decided to + say no to M. Vergniaud, the sooner you say it the better."</p> + + <p>"I have said it, and he doesn't mind it in the least. I wish + you would tell him: you always speak so that people know you + are in earnest and can't help believing you."</p> + + <p>"Very well, Helen. I will ask Madame Le Fort to tell him + that his suit is hopeless, and that he must not annoy you by + persisting in it."</p> + + <p>Early in February the Belgian ambassador, M. le comte de + Beyens, and Madame la comtesse, kindly took charge of Miss St. + Clair to the imperial ball at the Tuileries. She had never + looked more charming than in the exquisite costume of pale + rose-colored faille, with a floating mist of white tulle, + caught here and there by rosebuds that might have grown in + Chrimhild's garden. The airy figure, so graceful in every + motion, the well-poised head with its flutter of shining curls, + the wonderful dark eyes, the perfect eyebrows, the delicious + little mouth where love seemed to nestle—when she had + vanished "it seemed like the ceasing of exquisite music." + Madame la comtesse congratulated me on her appearance, and + afterward on her success. The emperor had distinguished her in + a very flattering manner, and Eugénie, looking earnestly + at her, said to the comtesse, "Nothing is so beautiful as + youth," perhaps beginning to regret her own. No one had made so + decided a sensation.</p> + + <p>At Madame Le Fort's next reception there was a sudden influx + of new guests—a young Belgian baron of old historic name, + slim and stiff as a poker; a brisk French viscount, who told me + that he had been connected with the embassy at Washington, and + had quite fallen in love with our institutions; an Italian + chevalier, a Russian prince.</p> + + <p>Ugliness has its compensations, thought I. Nobody makes such + a fuss over a <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_166]</span>pretty girl + at home (they are not so uncommon), and I will never bring one + to Paris again. Thank Heaven! we are going to Italy soon.</p> + + <p> </p> + + <p>The piercing Tramontane came down upon us in the Bay of + Naples with so fierce a blast that we doubted if we were not in + Iceland, and were glad to make our escape to Rome, where we + found an asylum in the Hôtel de Minerve, not far from the + Pantheon. Many of the old palaces and convents of Italy have + been transformed into hotels. This was the ancient palace of + the princes of Conti. I was so captivated by the superb + dining-room that the quality of the dinners made but a faint + impression. What! eat in the presence of all those marble + goddesses, looking down upon us, serene and cold, as if from + their thrones on the starry Olympus! Or if I turned my eyes + resolutely away from Juno, Ceres and Minerva, they were sure to + be snared by the dancing-girls of Pompeii stepping out from the + frescoed walls, or inextricably entangled in the lovely + garlands of fruit and flowers that wound their mazy way along + the borders.</p> + + <p>One evening, while we were waiting for one of the endless + courses of a table-d'hôte dinner, my wandering eyes were + caught by the most perfect human head I had ever seen. It + seemed that of the youthful Lord Byron, so well known in busts + and engravings—the same small head with high forehead and + clustering dark-brown curls, the perfectly-moulded chin, the + full, ripe beauty of the lips. The eyes were a deep blue, but I + thought them black at first, they were so darkly shaded by the + thick black lashes. I am convinced that Byron must have had + just such eyes, for some of his biographers describe them as + black and others as blue. When he rose from the table I saw a + slight, well-knit figure of exquisite proportions, like the + Greek god of love. (Not Cupid with his vulgar arrows, but the + true heavenly Eros. I saw him once in the Museum at Naples, and + again in the Vatican. Is it Love, or Death, or Immortality? I + queried, and then I knew it was the three in one.) I soon + learned that the youth whose ideal beauty had impressed me so + strongly was the Count Francisco de Alvala of Toledo in Spain. + I fancy that his eyes were as easily attracted to beauty as + mine, for the next day he was my <i>vis-à-vis</i> at + table; not for the sake of looking at me, I was well aware, but + on account of my beautiful neighbor. However, he sought my + acquaintance with the grave courtesy becoming a grandee of + Spain, and naturally gained that of Miss St. Clair also.</p> + + <p>It is the most natural thing in the world to make + acquaintances in Rome. People talk together of the things they + have seen or wish to see: they go to the same places by day, + and in the evening they meet in the ladies' parlor to compare + their impressions. The young count never failed to join us in + the evening. He had always something to show us—prints of + his home in Spain, articles of <i>virtù</i> that he had + bought, sketches that he had made, for he was a good amateur + artist.</p> + + <p>A group of young people of different nations generally + collected on these occasions, and the conversation often turned + on the usages peculiar to their respective countries.</p> + + <p>"In Spain I could not greet a lady with a simple + good-evening," said the count. "I should say, 'Permit the + humblest of your servants to lay himself at your feet,' or + something like that."</p> + + <p>"Why do you not say it to us?" asked a bright-eyed Canadian + girl.</p> + + <p>"Well, it might be a little awkward if you should happen to + take it literally. In Spain it is the merest commonplace."</p> + + <p>"If such exaggerated phrases are frittered into + commonplaces, and the most impassioned words grow meaningless, + what can a Spanish gentleman find to say when his heart is + really touched?" I inquired.</p> + + <p>"I fancy we should find some very simple words to say it + in," said the boy, flushing like a girl. "But I do not + know—I have never learned."</p> + + <p>"Talk some more," commanded the little princess.</p> + + <p>"If a pretty young lady is walking in our streets a mantle + is often flung suddenly <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_167]</span>in + her way, and proud and happy is its owner if she deigns to set + her dainty foot upon it."</p> + + <p>"What do they do that for? Because the streets are so + muddy?" inquired an obtuse young woman. But nobody volunteered + to enlighten her.</p> + + <p>"Cannot we go to Spain?" asked Miss St. Clair. "I should + like to see a modern Sir Walter Raleigh."</p> + + <p>"If the señorita should appear in our streets they + would be strewn with mantles," said the young count + gallantly.</p> + + <p>"Would you throw down yours for me to step upon?"</p> + + <p>"Surely, señorita."</p> + + <p>"I'll come, then. It must be of velvet, mind."</p> + + <p>"Yes, studded with jewels."</p> + + <p>I loved the beautiful youth. His presence was like a poem in + my life, and if it ever occurred to me that the familiar + intercourse of the young people might not be altogether + prudent, I dismissed it with the thought, He is only a boy.</p> + + <p>There was to be an illumination of the Coliseum. We were + going of course, and Count Alvala begged that I would honor him + by making use of his carriage on this occasion. "Thank you, but + I have already spoken to Piero to come for us."</p> + + <p>"Oh, but we can send him away. You will find my carriage + more comfortable, and it will be in every way pleasanter," he + urged beseechingly; but my negative was peremptory.</p> + + <p>Eight o'clock came. Miss St. Clair and I descended to the + court of the hotel, but where was Piero? "It is singular. He + was never late before, but I am confident that he will be here + presently. We have only to wait a little."</p> + + <p>The minutes went by, and they were long minutes. It was + awkward waiting in so public a place. The count had joined us + with his friend, an Italian marquis some thirty years of age, + with whom we had a slight acquaintance. The count's handsome + equipage was drawn up near us. There was no Piero.</p> + + <p>"I really think you had better accept my young friend's + carriage. It would be a pity to miss so grand a spectacle," + said the marquis.</p> + + <p>We entered the carriage. The count wrapped us in a + magnificent feather robe, such as the Montezumas wore, for the + April nights in Rome are chill, however hot the sunshine. It + was strange to see the Forum, ordinarily solitary and desolate, + now thronged with an eager multitude on foot and with numerous + open carriages, in which were seated ladies in full dress as at + the opera with us. Arriving at the Coliseum, we left the + carriage and passed through the huge portal. The gloomy arches + were obscurely seen in the dusky Roman twilight, when suddenly, + as if by magic, every arch and crevice of the gigantic ruin + glowed, incarnadined, as if dyed with the blood of the martyrs + that had drenched its soil. There were salvos of artillery, + bursts of military music and a few vivas from the multitude. A + brilliant spectacle, but the tender beauty of moonlight + harmonizes better with the solemnity of ruins.</p> + + <p>Rapt in the memories that the scene awakened, I paid little + attention to the monologue of my Italian friend, when I was + suddenly roused by the question, "Did you ever see a prettier + couple?"</p> + + <p>"Who?" I asked absently.</p> + + <p>"There," he rejoined, pointing to the count and Miss St. + Clair, who preceded us.</p> + + <p>"He is too young," I replied, but the question was asked so + significantly that it disturbed me a little, and I resolved to + be more cautious than heretofore.</p> + + <p>The next morning Piero appeared with his carriage to take us + to the Baths of Caracalla. He hoped madame did not lose the + illumination. He was wretched to disappoint madame: he begged a + thousand pardons. His little boy was taken violently ill: he + was forced to go for the doctor; madame was so good.</p> + + <p>The truth flashed upon me: "Piero, how much did the count + give you to stay away last night?"</p> + + <p>A gleam of humor twinkled in his black eyes, but it was + speedily quenched: "I do not understand what madame wishes to + say."</p> + + <p>It happened that a friend and country-woman at our hotel was + taken ill with typhoid fever, and amid the anxieties of + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_168]</span>her sick room the + incipient love-affair was almost forgotten. I no longer spent + the evenings in the parlor. One day Miss St. Clair showed me a + tiny satin bag beautifully embroidered, with a soft silken + chain to pass around the neck. "What can it be for?" she + asked.</p> + + <p>"Why, Helen, it is an amulet. Where did you get it?"</p> + + <p>"The count gave it to me. He had the loveliest set of + Byzantine mosaics and pearls which he wished to give me; and + when I would not accept them he seemed so hurt that I did not + like to refuse this trifle. What do you suppose is in it."</p> + + <p>"A relic of some saint, without doubt. He thinks it will + protect you from fever perhaps."</p> + + <p>Like most Americans, we were desirous of seeing the pope, + and Count Alvala obtained for us the necessary permission. We + were to be received on a Saturday at eleven. We went in the + prescribed costume, black silk, with the picturesque Roman veil + thrown over the head. From the foot of the Scala Regia, (Royal + Staircase) one of the papal guard, in a motley suit which + seemed one glare of black and yellow, escorted us to the door + of a long corridor, known as the Loggia of Raphael, where we + were received by a higher official in rich array of crimson + velvet. About seventy persons were seated in rows, facing each + other, along this gallery, nearly all laden with rosaries to be + blessed by the Holy Father. We waited till my neck ached with + looking up at the exquisite frescoes, fresh and tender in + coloring as if new from the hand of the master, when the pope + appeared, attended by a cardinal on each hand. We fell on our + knees instantly, but not till I had seen an old man's face so + sweet and venerable as to make this act of etiquette a + spontaneous homage. He passed slowly down the line, saying a + word or two to each, and extending his hand, white and soft + like a woman's, to be kissed.</p> + + <p>Pausing by the young count, who was kneeling beside me, he + said impressively, "Courage and faith have always been + attributes of the house of Alvala. Your fathers were good + children of the Church, and you, my son, will not be wanting in + any of the qualities of your race."</p> + + <p>When he had passed us we rose from our knees, and I could + observe him more closely. He wore a close-fitting white cap on + his finely-shaped head; a long robe of white woolen cloth + buttoned up in front, with a small cape of the same material; a + white sash, gold-embroidered at the end; a long gold chain + around his neck, to which was attached a large golden cross; a + seal ring on the third finger of his right hand; and red + slippers. Soft snowy locks fell from under the white skull-cap + over a noble forehead, which years and trials had left + unwrinkled. Black eyebrows and the soft dark eyes made a + pleasant contrast to the whiteness of hair and brow, and his + smile was so sweet and winning that I scarcely wondered to see + two Catholic ladies prostrate themselves and kiss his feet and + the hem of his white garment with a rapture of devotion from + which his attendants with difficulty rescued him. He lingered + longest by a pretty boy four or five years old, and there was a + pathos in the caressing, clinging touch of his hand as it + rested on the child's head that called to mind an old + love-story of the handsome Count Mastai Ferretti when he wore + the uniform of an officer of the guards, and had not yet + thought of priestly robe or papal crown. I wonder if he + remembers the fair English girl now?</p> + + <p>Having completed the round, he made a brief address, the + purport of which was that he was about to give us his blessing, + and he wished that it might be diffused to all our families and + friends, and be not for the present moment only, but extend + through our whole lives and abide with us in the hour of death; + "But remember," said he with a kind of paternal benignity, + "that the gates of paradise open rarely to any who are without + the communion of the Holy Catholic Church. Sometimes + perhaps—sometimes—but with great difficulty." He + extended his hands. We dropped on our knees and received the + blessing of this benign old man, whom the larger part of + Christendom revere as the earthly head of the Church. + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_169]</span> As we were making our way + through the stately columns of the colonnade which forms the + approach to the Vatican I saw the count glance at the amulet + which Helen wore. "What is in it?" I asked.</p> + + <p>"A relic of the blessed Saint Francis, my patron," he + replied.</p> + + <p>"It will lose its efficacy on the neck of a little heretic + like Miss St. Clair," said I with a purpose.</p> + + <p>"It will do her no harm," said he coldly.</p> + + <p>Monday I was at the table d'hôte the first time for a + week. I found the count seated next to Miss St. Clair. It was + very simple, she explained to me afterward. A lady occupied his + seat one day, and he came round to the only vacant one, which + happened to be next hers. I am a very guileless person, but I + think Vincenzo had an excellent reason for letting it happen. + Helen was on my left hand as usual, and the Italian marquis on + my right.</p> + + <p>"I am sorry for that boy," said he to me: "he is very + unhappy."</p> + + <p>"The young count? What is the matter?"</p> + + <p>"Don't you see? He is madly in love with your bewitching + little American. It is his first impression, and he takes it + hard. Well, he will have to learn like the rest of us."</p> + + <p>"I hope you are mistaken;" and I glanced uneasily at my + young neighbors, who were too much absorbed in their own + conversation to heed that between the marquis and myself.</p> + + <p>"That is impossible. He raves to me about her. It is very + pretty too—a perfect idyl, all poetry and + romance—eternal, unchangeable, and all that boyish + nonsense. We older men know better. But monsignore will be here + soon, and he will look after him."</p> + + <p>"Who is monsignore?"</p> + + <p>"The archbishop of Toledo, his guardian. He has been here, + but some diocesan matter called him home. He will be back anon, + and then the count will dine at home. As to that, he does now, + and delicious dinners they are, too. He only makes a pretence + of eating here, just to have a chance to see his little + divinity."</p> + + <p>"He was here when we came."</p> + + <p>"True, but only for a day or two while his house was put in + order. The house is well worth seeing—one of the finest + on the Corso. It is not open to strangers, but if you would + like to see it—"</p> + + <p>"Certainly not," I interrupted, a little irritably, the more + so from the consciousness of having been a somewhat careless + chaperone. I was coming sharply up to the line of duty now, at + all events.</p> + + <p>"Helen," said I when we rose from the dinner-table, "do not + go into the parlor now. Come into my room a little while, + please.—Well, Helen," I resumed when we were seated by + the pleasant window, "I have seen so little of you for a week + past that you must have a great deal to tell me."</p> + + <p>"I do not know," she replied. "I have been out every day + with the Glenns, just as you arranged for me, and I have been + in the parlor in the evenings, and sometimes I sang, and one + night there was a French gentleman—"</p> + + <p>"How about the young count? The Italian says he is very much + in love with you. Do you know it?"</p> + + <p>"He has told me so often enough, if that is knowing it," + with a quick, impatient toss of the small, graceful head.</p> + + <p>"Oh, Helen!" I cried in real distress, "and what did you say + to him?"</p> + + <p>"Why, what <i>could</i> I say in that great parlor, with + everybody looking on? I just hushed him up as well as I could. + There is the tall English girl and that sharp-eyed Miss + Donaldson, who are watching us the whole time. It is real mean + in them," excitedly. "And the count doesn't mind letting + everybody know how much he admires me. In fact, he is proud of + it, like one of the old knights, who used to wear their ladies' + favors as openly and proudly as they bore their knightly + banners."</p> + + <p>"This will never do, Helen. Don't you see that this boy is + not like the gay Frenchman that you danced with last winter? + René Vergniaud was a man of the world: he could take + care of himself. But this beautiful boy, with his intensity + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_170]</span>of feeling, his ideal + passionate love—You must not play with him," I exclaimed + vehemently.</p> + + <p>"I am not playing with him: I never do anything to make him + like me. He comes and talks to me, and I just make myself as + agreeable to him as I can, that is all."</p> + + <p>That is all, is it, you little mischief? thought I. As if + that were not the very refinement of coquetry! But I prudently + refrained from saying it, for a tempest of hot tears began to + fall, and she sobbed, "Oh, Madame Fleming, I did not think I + was going to forfeit your good opinion. What can I do? I can't + help his liking me. I like him too, and that makes me feel so + badly."</p> + + <p>"Do you like him better than Mr. Denham?"</p> + + <p>"Better than Fred?" in a tone of surprise. "Why no, of + course not: I have known Fred always."</p> + + <p>"The best thing will be to tell him of Mr. Denham."</p> + + <p>"Oh no, I never can."</p> + + <p>"<i>I</i> will, then."</p> + + <p>"Don't, I beseech you. We shall go away soon, and that will + be the end of it. Promise me you will not. I would rather tell + him myself if I ever have a chance."</p> + + <p>I looked in to see my invalid friend, and then descended to + the parlor, where I found the young count almost alone. He + looked up eagerly as I entered: "I thought Miss St. Clair was + with you. I have been waiting for her all the evening."</p> + + <p>"Indeed!"</p> + + <p>"I told her at table that I wished to see her particularly + this evening."</p> + + <p>"Perhaps she did not understand you."</p> + + <p>"Oh yes, she did. You would not let her come?" with a sudden + lighting up of the expressive face.</p> + + <p>"I did not forbid her coming: I did not know that you were + waiting for her."</p> + + <p>Then with sudden boyish candor and a happy smile on his + animated countenance "I thought you might have observed that I + come here so often because I like to talk with Miss St. Clair. + But you never can know how dearly I love her."</p> + + <p>"I am sorry."</p> + + <p>"Why?" with a naïve surprise.</p> + + <p>"She is older than you."</p> + + <p>"How old is she?"</p> + + <p>"She will be twenty in May."</p> + + <p>"And I am nineteen this very week. What is one poor little + year?—not a year," gleefully.</p> + + <p>"But the difference in religion?"</p> + + <p>"An obstacle, I grant, but not an insuperable one. My uncle + married an English lady, a Protestant, and they have been very + happy together."</p> + + <p>"But I think there is another man," I stammered, surprised + at finding my outposts carried so easily.</p> + + <p>"You do not mean to say that she is compromised with any + man?" almost fiercely.</p> + + <p>"I do not know what meaning you attach to that word," for + the count's imperfect French was not always intelligible. + "There is a young man, the son of a neighbor, who has admired + her a long time."</p> + + <p>"Oh, he admires her?" with a curl of the exquisite lips, as + if to say, "Who does not?"</p> + + <p>"But I think she may like him a little."</p> + + <p>"Why do you torture me so? Tell me at once that they are + betrothed," cried he, pale with concentrated anger.</p> + + <p>He thought she had trifled with him, I knew instantly, but + quietly said, "I cannot tell you exactly in what relation they + stand to each other, but I think Miss St. Clair would if she + found an opportunity to speak with you."</p> + + <p>"You do not know how I have tried to make opportunities. I + go everywhere, hoping to see you, and I have never met + you—not once. Won't you ask her to come down to-night?" + coaxingly, like a child.</p> + + <p>"Not to-night: it is too late."</p> + + <p>"I <i>must</i> see Miss St. Clair to-night."</p> + + <p>"Impossible."</p> + + <p>"I <i>must</i> see Miss St. Clair. Find out for me when I + can see her. I will go with you," in a white heat of passion. + (We had been alone for some little time.)</p> + + <p>I took the arm which he held out, not a little agitated by + the excess of emotion which thrilled and quivered through his + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_171]</span>youthful frame, as he + hurried me up the broad stone staircase and along the wide + corridors that led to our rooms. What business had I to meddle? + How should an old fogy like me know anything of the + love-affairs of this generation? The girl would have managed + more wisely than I, I reflected, by no means jubilant over the + result.</p> + + <p>"Wait here;" and I walked on to Miss St. Clair's door, + opened it, and there sat Helen in her pretty white wrapper, + bathed in the moonlight, serene as a star, as if there were no + passionate young heart breaking in waves of anguish at her + feet. "Helen, the count is in the corridor, and he will not go + till I have told him when you will see him."</p> + + <p>"How can I? You must think for me."</p> + + <p>A hasty consultation. The count was standing where I had + left him: "We shall be at the Sistine Chapel to-morrow at two + o'clock."</p> + + <p>He bowed and was gone.</p> + + <p>I did not sleep well that night. A pretty person I am to + take charge of a young girl! I wonder what Mr. St. Clair would + think if he knew I had made an appointment for his daughter to + meet a young Spaniard? On the way, however, I admonished Helen, + as if no misgiving of my own wisdom had ever crossed my mind: + "You must be firm with him. Tell him so decidedly that he + cannot doubt you really mean it."</p> + + <p>"Yes," said she, "but I do dread it so. I can't bear his + thinking that I encouraged him."</p> + + <p>"Then you <i>did</i>?"</p> + + <p>"I didn't mean to, but I do like him; and I didn't think of + his taking it so to heart. Men are so strange! You think you + have a charming friend, and then they <i>will</i> go on just + so, boys and all, and you have to take them or lose them; and + you can't take them. It is too bad!"</p> + + <p>We were at the door. The keeper opened it, and there stood + the count waiting for us. It was not the first time we had been + in the wonderful chapel. Fortunately, there were very few + persons there on this afternoon—none that we knew. I sat + down to look at the grand frescoes: Helen and the count walked + on to the farthest corner. I looked at the Cumæan Sibyl, + the impersonation of age and wisdom, and wished, as I glanced + at the youthful figures talking so earnestly in the distance, + but not a murmur of whose voices reached my ear, that she would + impart to me her far-reaching vision of futurity. I gazed on + the image of the Eternal Father sweeping in majestic flight + through the air, bearing the angels on His floating garment as + He divides the light from the darkness. I saw Adam, glad with + new life, rising from the earth, because the outstretched + finger of his Creator gave him a conscious strength. I looked + at "The Last Judgment," grown dim with years, till every figure + started out in intensity of life, and it seemed as if the faces + would haunt me for ever.</p> + + <p>And yonder still progressed the old, ever-new drama of love + and anguish, with its two actors, who seemed scarcely to have + changed their position or taken their eyes from each other. At + length they walked slowly toward me with more serenity of + aspect than I had dared to hope.</p> + + <p>"Shall we go into the picture-gallery?" asked the count.</p> + + <p>"I think we may have time to walk through it," I answered. + "It is half-past three."</p> + + <p>"Is it possible that we have kept you waiting so long?" they + asked simultaneously.</p> + + <p>"An hour and a half is a short time in a place like the + Sistine Chapel," I remarked sententiously.</p> + + <p>As soon as we were alone I drew Helen to the confessional: + "Did you tell him about Mr. Denham?"</p> + + <p>"Yes, everything, and he was so noble. I am so sorry. The + tears stood in his eyes, and he said, 'I suffer, but I am a + man. I can bear it.' Then he thanked me for dealing so openly + with him. He never once hinted a reproach. And I deserved it," + she said with unwonted humility. "I never felt before how + wicked it is to flirt just a little. He is not selfish, like + some people that I know;" and my thought followed hers. "I + don't <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_172]</span>know but I am a + little goose to let him go so. If he were only twenty-three + years old, and I were free—"</p> + + <p>The next day we saw nothing of the count, but early Thursday + morning Vincenzo knocked at my door with a note, in which Count + Alvala informed me that he was my son, and begged earnestly to + see the beautiful Miss St. Clair once more: he would never + trouble me again. It was the only day on which we could see the + Palace of the Cæsars, and would I be so good as to permit + him to meet us there? I hastily penciled a few words: "I am + waiting for Dr. Valery. I shall probably stay with my sick + friend to-day, and Miss St. Clair will not go out without me," + and sent the line by Vincenzo, happy to be rid of the + importunate boy for this time.</p> + + <p>Two hours later, when the doctor had pronounced my friend + better, and I had promised Helen a walk amid the ruins of the + Palatine, which I did not like to leave Rome without seeing, I + went down to the roll, coffee and eggs which constitute an + Italian breakfast, and there sat the count as vigilant as a + sentinel. "You will go?" said he with a smile.</p> + + <p>"I think we may," curtly.</p> + + <p>"I shall perhaps meet you there."</p> + + <p>When we reached the Farnese gate he was waiting there, which + made the "perhaps" superfluous. We had a long ramble over the + lonely hill, stretching out like a green New England pasture, + but where from time to time we came unexpectedly upon flights + of steps which led to massive substructures of stone, + foundations of ancient palaces, and to excavated halls paved + with mosaics and lined with frescoes more beautiful than those + of Pompeii. There were many statues, more or less mutilated, + and stately brick arches laden with a wealth of flowering + shrubs, and here and there thickets of tall dark cypress trees, + harmonious with ruins. My young companions were rather silent, + but I fancy their thoughts were not engrossed with old historic + lore. I made a conscientious effort to force mine into the ruts + of association which I had supposed to be inevitable in such a + spot, but the bright sunshine, the delicate blue of the distant + Campagna, the living gladness of earth and air were too strong + for me, and I inwardly applauded a lively American girl who + interrupted her droning guide with the incisive "I don't care a + snap for Cæsar."</p> + + <p>On reaching the gate after our three hours' ramble I + consigned Miss St. Clair to some friends who were waiting for + her, and stepped into the count's carriage. He seemed to feel + bound in honor not to speak of love to Miss St. Clair since the + revelation of the Sistine Chapel, but he must have a little + solace in talking to me about it. "It would be easy," said he, + "if she were not <i>fiancée</i>, but that makes it + difficult—very difficult indeed. I am glad it is not + going to be for three years: that is a long time, a very long + time." Then, with a sudden illumination of face and a delicious + intonation of the musical voice, "Perhaps they will never + marry: perhaps it will be another man—I." (Blessed + infatuation of youth, with its wonderful <i>perhapses</i>, + which never come to maturer years!)</p> + + <p>"One of these years I shall hope to hear that you are + married to a beautiful lady of your own country and your own + religion."</p> + + <p>"You never will."</p> + + <p>"Oh yes, you will be astonished to find how easy it is to + forget."</p> + + <p>"I come of a constant race," said he proudly. "My father + loved my mother, and they sent him all over the world to forget + her, but he came home in five years and married her."</p> + + <p>"Even if it were otherwise possible (which it is not), the + difference in religion ought to prevent it. How could so good a + Catholic as you distress your family by marrying a + heretic?"</p> + + <p>"Perhaps she would be a Catholic." (I noticed that he did + not say, "Perhaps I shall become a Protestant.") "Don't you + think her father would let her marry a Catholic?"</p> + + <p>"No," I replied stoically.</p> + + <p>He was silent and dejected.</p> + + <p>"You must forget her," said I kindly. "It is only a little + while since you first saw her."</p> + + <p>"A little while! It is my whole life!" + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_173]</span>"Only a few weeks," I + continued. "We shall soon be across the ocean, and you will see + other ladies."</p> + + <p>"There is only one Miss St. Clair."</p> + + <p>"I beg your pardon—there are three of them." But the + boy was too miserable to notice this poor little sally.</p> + + <p>We were approaching the hotel. "I shall not see you again at + present," said he. "Monsignore will arrive this evening, and I + must be at home to receive him. But I shall be in Paris by the + middle of May, and I shall see you there: farewell till + then."</p> + + <p>The next morning Miss St. Clair and I were on our way to + Florence. A week later, on our return from the convent of San + Marco, where we had seen the cell of Savonarola and many lovely + but faded frescoes of Fra Angelico and Fra Bartolommeo, whom + should we find waiting for us in our temporary home on the Via + Pandolfini but Count Alvala? I felt annoyed, and my face must + have revealed it, for he said deprecatingly, "You ought to be + glad to see your boy, Madame Fleming, for I have come this long + journey only for a day, expressly to see you."</p> + + <p>"Well," said I, "you took me so by surprise that I had not + my welcome ready. I did not expect the pleasure of seeing you + till after our arrival in Paris."</p> + + <p>"That is why I am here. I shall not be able to go to Paris. + I am bitterly disappointed, but monsignore has made other plans + for me. I am to go to Vienna to visit my aunt, whose husband is + our ambassador there. The tour to Paris is postponed till the + autumn."</p> + + <p>Evidently monsignore had heard of the little heretic maiden, + and he was going to remove his ward from temptation. I was + infinitely obliged to him.</p> + + <p>A desultory conversation followed, carried on principally by + the young people, and then the count said, "Miss St. Clair + tells me that you have visited the Uffizi and Pitti galleries. + May I not go with you somewhere to-morrow?—to La Certose + or San Miniato, for instance?"</p> + + <p>"Thank you," I replied: "we are so exhausted with + sight-seeing, Miss St. Clair and I, that we shall stay in all + day to-morrow, and we shall be happy to see you <i>once</i> in + the afternoon or evening, as may be most convenient for + you."</p> + + <p>I did not like to be hard and cross to the dear boy whom my + heart yearned over, but I felt as much bound to "make an + effort" as if I had been a veritable Dombey.</p> + + <p>The call lasted afternoon <i>and</i> evening: it was only + the change of a particle. I could not reproduce the innocent + talk, half gay, half sad, of this long interview, but before he + went away the count drew me aside: "Will you give this to Miss + St. Clair when I am gone?"</p> + + <p>I unfolded the package: it contained a photograph of himself + and a small painting which he had executed of the Coliseum on + the night of the illumination. "Yes."</p> + + <p>"And will you send me her photograph from Paris? I will have + it copied by the best miniature-painter in Rome and put in a + locket set with diamonds," said the boy enthusiastically.</p> + + <p>"I cannot promise."</p> + + <p>"Do you think I could be of any use to her father? Not to + win his favor, you understand, but I should be so happy to do + anything to serve her or her friends. Can't you tell me + now?"</p> + + <p>"No. Mr. St. Clair does not need assistance in any way that + I know."</p> + + <p>In spite of the boy's earnestness, the idea of his offering + patronage to the mature and independent American struck me as + irresistibly ludicrous.</p> + + <p>"But you will tell him all about me."</p> + + <p>"Yes."</p> + + <p>"I shall learn to speak English—I have begun + already—and in a year I shall be in America. Will you + write your address for me on this card?"</p> + + <p>I did so.</p> + + <p>"If you ever come to Spain, remember that my house and all + that is in it are yours."</p> + + <p>"I shall never go to Spain."</p> + + <p>"Perhaps you will one day to see Miss St. Clair," looking up + in my face with a bright smile of inextinguishable hope. + "Good-bye for a year."</p> + + <p>A few more days in Florence, a week in Venice, a day or two + in Milan, and <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_174]</span>we bade + adieu to Italy. Land of beauty and mystery! when I recall thy + many forms of loveliness, the glorious shapes of gods and + heroes, serene and passionless in their white majesty of + marble, the blessed sweetness of saints and Madonnas shining + down into my soul, I seem to have been once in heaven and + afterward shut out.</p> + + <p> </p> + + <p>We were once more at home. Almost the first news that came + to us from abroad was of the terrible war between France and + Germany. During the protracted siege of Paris we were full of + anxieties, but at its close we received long letters from + Madame Le Fort, giving many details of the sufferings and + privations of the siege, sorrowful enough for the most part, + but enlivened here and there with touches of the gay French + humor that nothing can subdue. There was a lively sketch of a + Christmas dinner ingeniously got up of several courses of + donkey-meat. At New Year's the choicest gift that a gentleman + could make a lady was a piece of wheaten bread. Afterward there + was nothing in the house but rice and chocolate bonbons, which + they chewed sparingly, a little at a time. But they kept up + their courage—they were even gay. Hardships were nothing, + but that Paris should be surrendered at last—that was a + humiliation which nothing could compensate. Many of the gay + dancers whom we had known had fallen in battle, among them, + René Vergniaud. He was shot in the heart in an + engagement with the Prussians in the environs of Paris.</p> + + <p>I spent my next summer vacation with Miss St. Clair in + Detroit.</p> + + <p>"When is Mr. Denham coming home?" I asked one evening when + we were alone together.</p> + + <p>"I do not know: he does not speak of coming home. I am a + little puzzled about Fred. He has written me a great deal + lately about a certain Fräulein Teresa, the daughter of + one of his professors, who takes such excellent care of her + younger brothers and sisters, and who is such a wonderfully + economical, housewifely little body—just a new edition of + Werther's Charlotte. I do not think that he really likes her," + she continued after musing a little: "he just holds her up as a + model for me to copy. I shouldn't wonder if she was only + imaginary, to make me feel how far I come short of his ideal. + Fred says that he worships the very ground I tread + on—slightly hyperbolical and very original, you + perceive," with a satirical curve of her pretty lips—"but + he never seems half satisfied with me. He ought to know by this + time that I must be just my own little self, and not a + second-hand imitation of somebody else."</p> + + <p>The next day came a letter with a German postmark, which was + so eloquent on the subject of Fräulein Teresa that it + elicited the following reply:</p> + + <div class='letter_1'> + <p class='address'>"DETROIT, August 5, 1871.</p> + + <p>"DEAR FRED: I despair of emulating Fräulein Teresa's + many excellencies. You know what a useless little thing I + am. Happily, it is not too late to make another choice. + Thinking it may please you, I hereby release you from all + your promises to me. We may never be anything more to each + other perhaps, but I hope that we shall always be dear + friends. I shall never forget that we grew up together, and + I wish you all possible happiness.</p> + + <p class='author'>"Your little friend, + HELEN."</p> + </div> + + <p>In due time this answer came:</p> + + <div class='letter_1'> + <p class='address'>"HEIDELBERG, August 27, 1871.</p> + + <p>"MISS ST. CLAIR: Your somewhat singular letter of August + 5th was duly received. If I believed that you had written + it, or ever could or would do anything, with proper + deliberation, I should accept your decision at once. But as + I have good reason to know your habit of acting from sudden + impulses which you afterward regret, I give you three + months to reconsider this hasty step.</p> + + <p>"I have the honor to be your obedient servant,</p> + + <p class='author'>"F. A. DENHAM."</p> + </div> + + <p>Helen held to me the open sheet, with kindling eyes and + glowing cheeks: "Three months! I don't need three minutes: I + wouldn't change in three centuries. I am so glad to be free!" + she cried, <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_175]</span>sobbing and + laughing at the same moment. "He has worried me so—a poor + little thing like me!"</p> + + <p>The next morning I started on my return to Boston.</p> + + <p>Early in October a servant handed me a card bearing the name + Francisco Alvala. I had ceased to think of the boy, not having + heard a word from him; but here he was, looking very manly, + browned with the sun and sea, and beautiful as Endymion when + Diana stooped to kiss him and all the green leaves in the white + moonshine were tremulous with sympathy.</p> + + <p>After the first greeting he asked, "How is Miss St. Clair? + and when did you see her last?"</p> + + <p>I told him of my recent visit.</p> + + <p>"She is not married, then?"</p> + + <p>"On the contrary, she is free. The engagement with Mr. + Denham has been broken."</p> + + <p>"What did I tell you? Did I not say it would be <i>I</i>?" + in a burst of triumph.</p> + + <p>As a good Boston woman I am chagrined to record that Bunker + Hill and all the local lions, which I was at some pains to + impress on his memory, did not prove so attractive as the + earliest Western train.</p> + + <p>Why make a long story of what every one foresees? In the + course of the autumn and winter the count made flying visits to + Washington, Philadelphia, New Orleans, and even San Francisco, + but it was noticeable that the way to all these places lay + through Detroit. He spoke English marvelously well now, and so + won upon the hearts of Mr. and Mrs. St. Clair that on the 23d + of April, being his twenty-first birthday, the marriage of the + conde de Alvala and Helen St. Clair was duly celebrated. I + could not leave my school to be present at the wedding, but the + young couple came to Boston to take leave of me before sailing + for Europe. They were radiant with happiness, and I could + hardly tell which I loved best, my boy or my girl; but if the + Italian had been there to ask if I ever saw a more beautiful + couple, I should have answered no with great emphasis.</p> + + <p>I will copy Helen's first letter in order to prove that a + château en Espagne is not always a castle in the air:</p> + + <div class='letter_1'> + <p class='address'>"ALVALA, near Toledo, June 20, 1872.</p> + + <p>"DEAR MADAME FLEMING: You have heard from mother of our + voyage and safe arrival. We are now at home, Francisco and + I, if I can ever learn to feel at home in such a grand + place, where I can hardly find my way round. It is like one + of the old palaces at Rome, the Borghese or Colonna, that + we used to admire so much, with vast halls opening into one + another, hangings of tapestry and Cordovan leather, marble + statues and old paintings—family portraits by Titian + and Velasquez, one or two Murillos, and—but I cannot + write a catalogue. You must come to see us and the + pictures. I am not sure which you will like the best. + Francisco is very good to me, and so are all his friends. + His sister and her husband were here to welcome us.</p> + + <p>"One of the first things we did was to go down the + rose-tree walk, along the banks of the Tagus, for more than + a mile—white and delicate pink and deep-red roses + blossoming above our heads and dropping their petals at our + feet all the way. Francisco said he would make my life like + that walk among the roses, all sweetness and beauty, but + that he cannot tell.</p> + + <p>"There is the old cathedral, with a wonderful head of + Saint Francis and a whole forest of columns; and when you + come we will bribe the sacristan not to lock you in, as + they did at St. Roch. I shall never be a Roman Catholic, + but I go to mass sometimes, for there is no Protestant + service here, and one cannot be quite a heathen where + everybody is so devout. What I dislike most is to have a + chaplain in the house, walking about in his black + petticoat, but of course I never say a word to + Francisco.</p> + + <p>"By and by we are going to our house in Madrid. <i>Our + house in Madrid</i>! does not that sound very strange? It + all seems so unreal that I am afraid of waking up and + finding it a dream.</p> + + <p>"Do, dear Madame Fleming, give up slaving in that old + school and come and + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_176]</span>live with Francisco + and me. He says he wishes you would, and it would make + everything seem more real if I had you here. Think of it, + now. You will, won't you? As ever, your dear child,</p> + + <p class='author'>"HELEN ALVALA."</p> + </div> + + <p>This true story suggests a little sermon in two heads: 1st. + To all possible and probable lovers: It was not the count's + rank or wealth, but the fervor and constancy of ideal love and + his whole-souled, exclusive devotion, that won the heart of the + American girl. 2d. To all sensible American parents: Do not + permit your pretty young daughters to make a tour in Europe + unless you are willing to leave them there.</p> + + <p class='author'>MARY E. BLAIR.</p> + + <h2><a name='japanese_marriage_in_high_life' + id='japanese_marriage_in_high_life'></a> A JAPANESE MARRIAGE + IN HIGH LIFE.</h2> + + <p>In describing a Japanese marriage in high life we do not + intend to soar <i>too</i> high. It is not for our alien pen to + portray the splendors of such a marriage as that of the + princess of Satsuma to Iyesada, the thirteenth Shô-gun of + the Tokugawa dynasty, when all Yedo was festal and illuminated + for a week. Neither shall we describe that of the imperial + princess Kazu, the younger sister of the Mikado, who came up + from Kioto to wed the young Shô-gun Iyemochi, and thus to + unite the sacred blood of twenty-five centuries of imperial + succession with that of the Tokugawas, the proud family that + ruled Japan, and dictated even to her emperors, for two hundred + and fifty years. We leave the description of those royal + nuptials to other pens. Ours aspires only to describe a + marriage such as has happened in old Yedo for the thousandth + time in the samurai class—the gentry of Japan.</p> + + <p>Were you with us in Tokio (the new name of the capital of + Japan) we should take you, were you inclined to go, to the + place where once stood the mansion of Yamashiro Kan, a high + retainer of the prince of Echizen, and a lineal descendant of + the great Iyeyasu, the founder of the dynasty of the + Shô-guns. Were you to seek for Yamashiro's mansion now, + you would not find it, but instead several very vulgar + evidences of the Western civilization which is now changing the + Land of the Gods into a paradise of beef, bread, butter, milk + and machinery. We walked past the old mansion-grounds a few + days ago, and lo! we saw a milk-shop and dairy, a butcher's + stall, a sewing-machine store, a printing-office, a school in + which Japanese boys were learning A, B, C's, a photographer's + "studio," a barber-shop with an English sign, and a score or + more Japanese shops of all kinds. This is of to-day. Five years + ago a long wall of diamond-shaped tiles laid in white cement + extended round the spacious grounds of the homestead of the + Yamashiro family. Inside were fish-ponds, mimic hills, + miniature mountain-scenery, dense flower-bushes, dwarfed + arboreal wonders, solemn shade trees and a garden laid out + according to the very best Japanese style. The fine old + <i>yashiki</i> of Yamashiro, with its porter's lodge, stone + path, entrance-porch, vestibule and the family homestead, was + within. No wonder, then, that the aged man, who firmly believes + that Japan is going to the dogs, the devil or the + foreigners—he does not know which—shakes his head + as he now passes by the milk-and butcher-shops, around which + the lazy dogs sleep or wait for bones, and sighs as he + remembers the grand old mansion.</p> + + <p>About two miles farther north, in the great <i>rus urba</i> + of Yedo, was another house of humbler pretensions, and yet one + with a gate and garden of dimensions betokening the residence + of a man <span class="pagenum">[Pg_177]</span>of rank. It was + the home of Nakayama, one of the eighty thousand + <i>hatamoto</i> (vassals) of the Shô-gun, a studious + gentleman whose greatest pride was in his two sons and his only + daughter. The former were not only manly and expert in the use + of the sword and spear, but had the best education that the + classics of Confucius and the Chinese college and literati in + Yedo could give them. Next to them in his love was his only + daughter Kiku, seventeen years old, and as fair as the fairest + of Yedo's many fair daughters. No vain doll was Kiku, but, + inheriting her mother's beauty, she added to it the inner grace + of a meek and dutiful spirit. Besides being deft at household + duties, her memory was well stored with the knowledge of + Japanese history and the Chinese classics. She had committed to + memory the entire books of the <i>Woman's Great Learning</i>, + and had read carefully five other works on etiquette and morals + which her father had presented to her on successive birthdays. + Kiku was a remarkably well-educated maiden, and would have been + a prize for the richest daimio in the empire.</p> + + <p>Faithfully following Japanese etiquette, Kiku had been + carefully kept from the company of any of the male sex since + her eighth year. She never talked with any young man except her + brothers. Occasionally at family parties she was addressed by + her uncles or cousins. Sometimes, when gentlemen called to see + her father, Kiku would bring tea to the guest, and was thus + made the subject of compliments; but as to "receiving" male + company, she never did it. Kiku never went out unless + accompanied by her mother or the maid, who was like her + shadow.</p> + + <p>The gods of Japan meet together at the great temples in Ise + during the eleventh month and tie all the nuptial knots for the + following year. Kiku's marriage-knot had been tied by the gods + six months before she even suspected the strings had been + crossed. How happened it?</p> + + <p>In Japan only the people in the lower classes are acquainted + with and see each other frequently before marriage. The + business of selection, betrothal and marriage is attended to by + the parents or friends of the pair, who carry on negotiations + by means of a third factor, a middleman or go-between. Children + are often betrothed at birth or when on their nurses' backs + (there are no cradles in Japan). Of course the natural results, + mutual dislike and severance of the engagement at mature age, + or love and happy marriage, or marriage, mutual dislike and + subsequent divorce, happen, as the case may be. In general, + when the parents make the betrothal of grown-up children, it is + not probable that the feelings of son or daughter are outraged, + or that marriages are forced against the consent of either, + though this does sometimes take place. In Asiatic countries, + where obedience to parents is the first and last duty, and in + which no higher religion than filial obedience exists, the + betrothal and marriage of children is not looked upon as + anything strange. The prevalence of concubinage as a recognized + institution in Japan makes it of no serious importance whether + the husband loves his wife or not.</p> + + <p>To tell an ordinary Japanese that in America people often + marry against their parents' consent is to puzzle him, and make + him believe Carlyle's saying about Americans without having + heard it. If a man who marries against his parents' wish is not + a triple-dyed ingrate, he must be a downright fool. Beyond this + idea the normal Japanese cannot go; and you might as well try + to make a blind man understand that "celestial rosy red" was + "Love's proper hue" as to convince him that a good man ever + marries against his parents' wishes. Such ideas and practices + are convincing evidences to him of the vast moral inferiority + of Western nations when compared with that of the people + descended from the gods.</p> + + <p>Resuming our narrative, we must mention that Kiku's father + had once had an offer from one Matsui, a wealthy retainer of + the Wakasa clan, through that young nobleman's middleman or + agent, which he refused, to the disgust of both middleman and + suitor. The latter had seen Kiku walking with her mother while + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_178]</span>going to the temple at + Shiba, and, being struck with her beauty, inquired who she was. + Having come of age and wishing a wife, he had sued for Kiku to + her father, who, for reasons of his own, refused the request, + on the ground that Kiku was too young, being then but fifteen + years old. The truth was, that the Wakasa samurai was a wild + young fellow, and bore a reputation for riotous living that did + not promise to make him a proper life-companion for Nakayama's + refined and cultured daughter. Between Nakayama, Kiku's father, + and Yamashiro, the retainer of the Echizen clan, whose home we + spoke of in the opening of our sketch, had long existed a warm + friendship and a mutual high regard. Yamashiro, though more + fond of society and good living than Nakayama, was + nevertheless, like him, a high-spirited and well-read man. He + had four children, two sons and two daughters. The oldest son, + named Taro, was now twenty years old, of manly figure, diligent + in study, and had lately acted as a high page, attending daily + upon the person of Hitotsu-bashi, the then reigning + Shô-gun, and the last of his line that held or will hold + regal power in Japan. Taro, being the oldest son of his father, + was the heir to his house, office, rank and revenue. Taro + wanted a wife. He wished to taste the sweets of love and wedded + joy. He had long thought of Kiku. Of course he asked his + father, and his father "was willing." He told Taro to go to + Nakayama's house. Taro went. He talked to Nakayama, and hinted + faint compliments of his daughter. It was enough. Nakayama was + keen of scent, and he also "was willing." Clapping his hands, + the maid-servant appeared and falling down and bowing her head + to the floor, listened: "Make some tea, and tell Miss Kiku to + serve it."</p> + + <p>Had you been in the back rooms of that house, you would have + seen Kiku blush as the maid told her who was in the front room + and what her father had said. Her heart beat furiously, and the + carnation of health upon her cheeks was lost in the hot blushes + that mantled her face and beautiful neck when her mother, + reproving her, said, "Why, dear child, don't be excited: + perhaps he has come only on some every-day business, after all. + Be composed, and get ready to take in the tea."</p> + + <p>Nevertheless, Kiku took out her metal mirror while the maid + made the tea, smoothed a pretended stray hair, powdered her + neck slightly, drew her robe more tightly around her waist, + adjusted her girdle, which did not need any adjusting, and + then, taking up the tray, containing a tiny tea-pot, a half + dozen upturned cups, and as many brass sockets for them, + hastened into the front room, bowed with her face on her hands + to the floor, and then handed cups of tea to her parent and his + guest. This done, she returned to her mother. Whether Taro + looked at Kiku's cheeks or into her glittering black eyes we + leave even a foreign reader to judge.</p> + + <p>Let it not be thought, however, that a single word relating + to marriage in the concrete passed between the two men: no such + breach of etiquette was committed. The visit over, the two + friends parted as friends, and nothing more, either in fact or + in visible prospect.</p> + + <p>But, to be brief, not long afterward, Taro, having selected + a trusty friend, sent him as a go-between to ask of Nakayama + the hand of his daughter in marriage. The proposal was + accepted, and when the go-between came the second time to + Kiku's home it was in company with two servants bearing + bundles. These, being opened, were found to contain a + splendidly embroidered girdle, such as Japanese ladies wear, + about twelve feet long and a foot wide when doubled; a robe of + the finest white silk from the famous looms of Kanazawa; five + or six pieces of silk not made up; several kegs of + <i>saké</i> or rice-beer; dried fish, soy, etc. These + were for the bride-elect. For her father was a sword with a + richly mounted hilt and lacquered scabbard, hung with silken + cords. The blade alone of the sword was worth (it isn't polite + to speak of the cost of presents, but we will let you into the + secret, good reader) one hundred dollars, and had been made in + Sagami from the finest native steel. + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_179]</span>Kiku's mother was + presented with a rich robe, which she recognized at once as + being woven of the famous Derva silk. The ceremonious reception + of these presents by the parents signified that the betrothal + was solemnly ratified, and that the engagement could not be + broken. Nakayama, the intended father-in-law, afterward sent to + Taro a present of a jar of the finest tea from his own + plantation in Shimosa, a pair of swords, and a piece of satin, + such as that of which the <i>hakama</i> or trousers which + indicate the rank of the samurai are made.</p> + + <p>The betrothal was now published in both families, and in + both houses there were festivities, rejoicing and + congratulation. The marriage-day, a fortunate or good-omened + one, was fixed upon as the twenty-seventh from the day of + betrothal.</p> + + <p>Was Kiku happy? Nay, you should ask, Can that word express + her feelings? She had obeyed her parents: she could do nothing + higher or more fraught with happiness. She was to be a + wife—woman's highest honor and a Japanese woman's only + aim. She was to marry a noble by name, nature and achievement, + with health, family, wealth and honor. Kiku lived in a new + world of anticipation and of vision, the gate of which the + Japanese call <i>iro</i>, and we <i>love</i>. At times, as she + tried on for the twentieth time her white silk robe and costly + girdle, she fell into a reverie, half sad and half joyful. She + thought of leaving her mother alone with no daughter, and then + Kiku's bright eyes dimmed and her bosom heaved. Then she + thought of living in a new home, in a new house, with new + faces. What if her mother-in-law should be severe or jealous? + Kiku's cheek paled. What if Taro should achieve some great + exploit, and she share his joy as did the honorable women of + old? What if his former position of beloved page to the + Shô-gun should give her occasional access to the highest + ladies in the land, the female courtiers of the castle? Her + eyes flashed.</p> + + <p>The wedding-night came, seeming to descend out of the starry + heavens from the gods. Marriages rarely take place in the + daytime in Japan. The solemn and joyful hour of evening, + usually about nine o'clock, is the time for marriage—as + it often is for burial—in Japan. In the starlight of a + June evening the bride set forth on her journey to her intended + husband's home, as is the invariable custom. Her toilet + finished, she stepped out of her childhood's home to take her + place in the <i>norimono</i> or palanquin which, borne on the + shoulders of four men, was to convey her to her future + home.</p> + + <p>Just as Kiku stands in the vestibule of her father's house + let us photograph her for you. A slender maiden of seventeen, + with cheeks of carnation; eyes that shine under lids not so + broadly open as the Caucasian maiden's, but black and + sparkling; very small hands with tapering fingers, and very + small feet encased in white mitten-socks; her black hair glossy + as polished jet, dressed in the style betokening virginity, and + decked with a garland of blossoms. Her robe of pure white silk + folds over her bosom from right to left, and is bound at the + waist by the gold-embroidered girdle, which is supported by a + lesser band of scarlet silken crape, and is tied into huge + loops behind. The skirt of the dress sweeps in a trail. Her + under-dress is of the finest and softest white silk. In her + hands she carries a half-moon-shaped cap or veil of floss silk. + Its use we shall see hereafter. She salutes her cousin, who, + clad in ceremonial dress with his ever-present two swords, is + waiting to accompany her in addition to her family servants and + bearers, and steps into the norimono.</p> + + <p>The four bearers, the servants and the samurai pass down + along the beautiful Kanda River, whose waters mirror the stars, + and whose depths of shade re-echo to the gurgling of sculls, + the rolling of ripples and the songs of revelers. The + cortége enters one of the gate-towers of the old + city-walls, passes beneath the shade of its ponderous + copper-clad portals, and soon arrives at the main entrance of + the Yamashiro <i>yashiki</i>. Here they find the street in + front and the stone walk covered with matting, and a + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_180]</span>friend of Taro's, in full + dress, waiting to receive the cortége. Of course the + gazers of the neighborhood are waiting respectfully in crowds + to catch a glimpse of the coming bride.</p> + + <p>The go-between and a few friends of the bridegroom come out + to receive the bride and deliver her to her own servant and two + of her own young maiden friends, who had gone before to the + Yamashiro mansion. The room in which the families of the bride + and groom and their immediate friends are waiting, though + guiltless of "furniture," as all Japanese rooms are, is yet + resplendent with gilt-paper screens, bronzes, tiny lacquered + tables and the Japanese nuptial emblems. On the wall hang three + pictured scrolls of the gods of Long Life, of Wealth and of + Happiness. On a little low table stands a dwarf pine tree, + bifurcated, and beneath it are an old man and an old woman. + Long life, a green old age, changeless constancy of love and + the union of two hearts are symbolized by this evergreen. In + the <i>tokonoma</i> (or large raised recess) of the room are + the preparations for the feast, the wine-service consisting of + kettles, decanters and cups. On two other tables are a pair of + white storks and a fringed tortoise. All through the rooms + gorgeously painted wax candles burn. The air of the apartment + is heavy with perfume from the censer, a representation in + bronze of an ancient hero riding upon a bullock. All the guests + are seated <i>à la Japonaise</i>—upon the floor. + Two or three young ladies, the bridesmaids, go out to meet the + bride and lead her to her dressing-room. Here she finds her own + property, which has been brought to her future home during the + day. Toilet-stands and cabinets and the ceremonial towel-rack + are prominently displayed. On a tall clothes-horse of gilt + lacquer are hung her silk robes and the other articles of her + wardrobe, which are bridal gifts. Over the doorway, in a gilt + rack, glitters the long spear or halberd to the dexterous use + of which all Japanese ladies of good family are trained. In a + box of finest wood, shining with lacquer and adorned with her + family crest, are the silk sleeping-dresses and coverlets, + which are to be spread, as all Japanese beds are, on the floor. + The articles above mentioned constitute the trousseau of a + Japanese bride.</p> + + <p>Here Kiku rearranges her dress, retouches her lower lip with + golden paint and puts on her hood of floss silk. This is of a + half-moon shape, completely covering her face. She does not + lift it until she has drunk the sacramental marriage-cup. Many + a Japanese maiden has seen her lord for the first time as she + lifted her silken hood. Kiku is all ready, and she and the + groom are led into the room where the ceremony is to be + performed, and assigned their positions.</p> + + <p>With a Japanese marriage neither religion nor the Church has + anything to do. At the wedding no robed priest appears + officially among the guests. The marriage is simply a civil and + social contract. In place of our bans is the acceptance of the + suitor's presents by the family of the sought, the announced + betrothal and intimation of the marriage to the police of the + ward. In place of our answer, "Yes," is the sacramental + drinking of wine. We may say "wine," because we are talking of + high life, and must use high words. <i>Saké</i>, the + universal spirituous beverage of Japan, is made from fermented + rice, and hence is properly rice-beer. It looks like pale + sherry, and has a taste which is peculiarly its own. Sweet + saké is very delicious, and it may be bought in all the + degrees of strength and of all flavors and prices. As the + Japanese always drink their wine hot, a copper kettle for + heating saké is a necessity in every household. On + ceremonial occasions, such as marriages, the + saké-kettles are of the costliest and handsomest kind, + being beautifully lacquered. Bride and groom being ready, the + wine-kettles, cups and two bottles are handed down. Two pretty + servant-maids now bring in a hot kettle of wine and fill the + bottles. To one bottle is fastened by a silken cord a male + butterfly, and to the other a female. The two girls also are + called "male" and "female" butterflies. The girl having the + female butterfly pours out some saké in the kettle, into + which the girl with the male + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_181]</span>butterfly also pours the + contents of her bottle, so that the wine from both bottles thus + flows together. Then the saké is poured again into + another gilt-and-lacquered bottle of different shape.</p> + + <p>Now the real ceremony begins. On a little stand three cups, + each slightly concave and having an under-rest or foot about + half an inch high, are set one upon another, like a pagoda. The + stand with this three-storied arrangement is handed to the + bride. Holding it in both hands while the saké is poured + into it by the male butterfly, the bride lifts the cup, sips + from it three times, and the tower of cups is then passed to + the bridegroom and refilled. He likewise drinks three times, + and puts the empty cup under the third. The bride again sips + thrice from the upper cup. The groom does the same, and places + the empty cup beneath the second. Again the bride sips three + times, and the bridegroom does the same, and they are man and + wife: they are married. This ceremony is called san-san-ku-do, + or "three times three are nine."</p> + + <p>Like a wedding at once auspicious and + <i>distingué</i>, the nuptials of Kiku and Taro passed + off without one misstep or incident of ill omen. In the + dressing-room and in the hall of ceremony Kiku's self-possessed + demeanor was admired by all. After drinking the sacramental + wine she lifted her silken hood, not too swiftly or nervously, + and smiled blushingly on her lord. The marriage ceremony over, + both bride and groom retired to their respective + dressing-rooms. Kiku exchanged her white dress for one of more + elaborate design and of a lavender color. The groom, removing + his stiffly-starched ceremonial robes, appeared in ordinary + dress. Meanwhile refreshments had been served to all the + bridesmaids and, maid-servants. Husband and wife now took their + seats again, and the whole company joined in the supper, during + which apparently innumerable courses were served. Neither ices, + oranges nor black-cake appeared on the table at Kiku's wedding. + The bill of fare contained many decidedly recherché + items which it requires a Japanese palate thoroughly to + appreciate. Let us enumerate a few. There were salmon from + Hakodate, tea from Uji, young rice from Higo, pheasants' eggs, + fried cuttle-fish, <i>tai, koi, maguro</i> and many another + sort of toothsome fish from the market at Nihon Bashi. There + were sea-weed of various sorts and from many coasts, bean-curd, + many kinds of fish-soups, condiments of various flavors, eggs + in every style and shellfish of every shape. A huge + maguro-fish, thinly sliced, but perfectly raw, was the + <i>pièce de résistance</i> of the feast. + Sweetmeats, candies of the sort known to the Japanese + confectioners and castera (sponge-cake) crowned the + courses.</p> + + <p>Now, having briefly described Kiku's wedding, perhaps we + should stop here. Although fairly married, however, Kiku was + not through the ceremonies of the night. Before her own parents + left the house she was taken by the attendant ladies before her + parents-in-law, and with them drank cups of wine and exchanged + gifts. All the bridal presents were displayed during the + evening in her dressing-room, and the whole of her trousseau + was open to the inspection of all the ladies present. Feasting + and dancing were the order of the hours until midnight, and + then Kiku's parents bade her farewell, and she was left a bride + in a new home.</p> + + <p>"Where did the young couple go?" "What was the route of + their bridal-tour?" "Perhaps they made a late wedding-journey?" + "Of course Japan has many fine watering-places to which married + couples resort?" These are American questions. The fashion of + making bridal-tours is not Japanese. Many a lovely spot might + serve for such a purpose in everywhere beautiful Japan. The + lake and mountains of Hakone; the peerless scenery, trees, + waterfalls and tombs of Nikko, where sleeps the mighty Iyeyasu, + the founder of the Tokugawa line; the spas of Atami,—all + these are spots which if in America would be thronged with + bridal-parties. Caucasians in Japan even make Fusiyama's summit + the goal of their wedded steps, but our Kiku and Taro went + nowhere.</p> + + <p>"At home" for three days is the general + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_182]</span>rule in Japan. All their + friends came to see them, and presents were showered on the + happy pair. The great Shô-gun, remembering his former + page, sent Taro a present of a flawless ball of pure + rock-crystal five inches in diameter. Prince Echizen, his + feudal lord, presented him with a splendid saddle with gilt + flaps and a pair of steel stirrups inlaid with gold and silver + and bronze, with the crest of the Echizen clan glittering in + silver upon it. From his own father he received a jet-black + horse brought from the province of Nambu, and an equine + descendant of the Arab sire presented by the viceroy of India + to the Japanese embassy to the pope in 1589. On the delightful + wonders of the gifts to Kiku our masculine pen shrinks from + expatiating. On the third day after her marriage Kiku visited + her parents, and after that spent many days in returning the + visits of all who had called on her.</p> + + <p>Now, like the "goosie gander" of nursery memory, we must + wander again into the lady's chamber. Were you to wander to + such a place after a Japanese maiden became a wife, you would + see, as we have often seen, how the outward form of a Japanese + maiden assumes that of a Japanese matron. First, then, the + maiden wears a high coiffure that always serves as a sacred + symbol of her virginity. It is not easy to describe its form, + but even foreigners think it very beautiful, and will regret + the day when the Japanese <i>musume</i> wears her hair like her + sisters across the ocean. Indeed, it would be no strange thing + were Queen Fashion to ordain that American maidens should adopt + the style of dressing the hair now in universal vogue in Japan. + The <i>shimada</i> or virginal coiffure, however, is changed + after marriage, and Kiku, like the rest of her wedded friends, + now wore the <i>maru-mage</i>, or half-moon-shaped chignon, + which is wound round an ivory, tortoise-shell or coral-tipped + bar, and is the distinguishing mark of a Japanese wife. So far, + however, the transition from loveliness to ugliness has not + been very startling: Kiku still looked pretty. The second + process, however, robbed her of her eyebrows, and left her + without those dark arches that had helped to make the radiant + sun of her once maidenly beauty. With tweezers and razor the + fell work, after many a wince, was done. With denuded brows and + changed coiffure surely the Japanese Hymen demands no more + sacrifices at his shrine? Surely Kiku can still keep the + treasures of a set of teeth that seem like a casket of pearls + with borders of coral? Not so. The fashion of all good society + from remotest antiquity demands that the teeth of a wife must + be dyed black. Kiku joyfully applied the galls and iron, and by + patience and dint of polishing soon had a set of teeth as black + as jet and as polished as the best Whitby. Not strange to tell + to a Japanese, either, the smile of her husband Taro was a rich + reward for her trouble and the surrender of her maiden charms. + Japanese husbands never kiss their wives: kissing is an art + unknown in Japan. It is even doubtful whether the language has + a word signifying a kiss. No wonder Young Japan wishes to + change his language for the English! Henceforth in public or + private, alone or in company, Kiku's personal and social safety + was as secure as if clothed in armor of proof and attended by + an army. The black teeth, <i>maru-mage</i> and shaven eyebrows + constitute a talisman of safety in a land which foreigners so + like to believe licentious and corrupt beyond the bounds of + conception.</p> + + <p>Now that we have Kiku married, we must leave her to glide + into the cool, sequestered paths of a Japanese married lady's + life. Only one thing we regret, and that is that her marriage + could not have happened in the year of our Lord 1874 and of + "Enlightened Peace the seventh, and of the era of Jimmu, the + first Mikado, the two thousand five hundred and thirty-fourth." + Had she been married during the present year, her coiffure + would need no alteration, her eyebrows would still knit with + care or arch with mirth, and her teeth would still keep their + virgin whiteness, unsoiled by astringent galls or abhorred + vitriol.</p> + + <p>The leader of feminine fashion in Japan, the young empress + Haruko, has <span class="pagenum">[Pg_183]</span>set her + subjects the example by for ever banishing the galls and iron, + appearing even in public with her teeth as Nature made them. + Kiku and Taro, though once proud to own allegiance to the + Shô-gun, are now among the staunch supporters of the lord + of the Shô-gun, the Mikado, the only true sovereign of + the Sunrise Kingdom.</p> + + <p class='author'>W.E. GRIFFIS.</p> + + <h2><a name='the_lost_baby' + id='the_lost_baby'></a>THE LOST BABY.</h2> + + <div class='poem_1'> + <div class='stanza'> + <p>She wandered off one dismal day;</p> + + <p>No one was by to bid her stay:</p> + + <p>The earth was white, the sky was gray,</p> + + <p>When the poor little baby wandered away.</p> + </div> + + <div class='stanza'> + <p>The sun went down with crimson crown</p> + + <p>Behind the clouds and the tree-tops brown:</p> + + <p>The cold road stared with a colder frown</p> + + <p>When the poor little feet went wandering down.</p> + </div> + + <div class='stanza'> + <p>Her mother lived up in the shining sky,</p> + + <p>Thought poor little baby, wondering why,</p> + + <p>As hours and days and weeks went by,</p> + + <p>She never came down at her baby's cry.</p> + </div> + + <div class='stanza'> + <p>If the crimson wave in the west led true,</p> + + <p>The skyward road she surely knew:</p> + + <p>She heeded not that the sharp winds blew,</p> + + <p>Or her cold little feet sore tired grew.</p> + </div> + + <div class='stanza'> + <p>She hummed some broken baby song,</p> + + <p>And talked to herself as she trudged along:</p> + + <p>She feared no failure, recked no wrong,</p> + + <p>But she thought that the way was lone and long.</p> + </div> + + <div class='stanza'> + <p>Tired and cold, she lingered to rest</p> + + <p>Under a snow-drift's treacherous crest:</p> + + <p>She cuddled herself in a tiny nest,</p> + + <p>White and cold as her mother's breast.</p> + </div> + + <div class='stanza'> + <p>They found her there on the snowy ground,</p> + + <p>Her silky hair with snowflakes crowned.</p> + + <p>She made no sign, she breathed no sound,</p> + + <p>But the skyward road she had surely found.</p> + </div> + + <p class='author'>CLARA G. DOLLIVER.</p> + </div> + + <h2>THREE FEATHERS.</h2> + + <h4>BY WILLIAM BLACK, AUTHOR OF "A PRINCESS OF THULE."</h4> + + <h3><a name='chapter_xxiii' + id='chapter_xxiii'></a>CHAPTER + XXIII. SOME OLD SONGS.</h3> + + <p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg_184]</span>"Are you dreaming + again, child?" said Mrs. Rosewarne to her daughter. "You are + not a fit companion for a sick woman, who is herself dull + enough. Why do you always look so sad when you look at the sea, + Wenna?"</p> + + <p>The wan-faced, beautiful-eyed woman lay on a sofa, a book + beside her. She had been chatting in a bright, rapid, desultory + fashion about the book and a dozen other things—amusing + herself really by a continual stream of playful + talk—until she perceived that the girl's fancies were far + away. Then she stopped suddenly, with this expression of + petulant but good-natured disappointment.</p> + + <p>"Oh, I beg your pardon, mother," said Wenna, who was seated + at an open window fronting the bay. "What did you say? Why does + the sea make one sad? I don't know. One feels less at home here + than out on the rocks at Eglosilyan: perhaps that is it. Or the + place is so beautiful that it almost makes you cry. I don't + know."</p> + + <p>And indeed Penzance Bay on this still, clear morning was + beautiful enough to attract wistful eyes and call up vague and + distant fancies. The cloudless sky was intensely dark in its + blue: one had a notion that the unseen sun was overhead and + shining vertically down. The still plain of water—so + clear that the shingle could be seen through it a long way + out—had no decisive color, but the fishing smacks lying + out there were jet-black points in the bewildering glare. The + sunlight did not seem to be in the sky, in the air or on the + sea; but when you turned to the southern arm of the bay, where + the low line of green hills ran out into the water, there you + could see the strong clear light shining—shining on the + green fields and on the sharp black lines of hedges, on that + bit of gray old town with its cottage-gardens and its sea-wall, + and on the line of dark rock that formed the point of the + promontory. On the other side of the bay the eye followed the + curve of the level shores until it caught sight of St. + Michael's Mount rising palely from the water, its sunlit grays + and purple shadows softened by the cool distance. Then beyond + that again, on the verge of the far horizon, lay the long and + narrow line of the Lizard, half lost in a silver haze. For the + rest, a cool wind went this way and that through Mrs. + Rosewarne's room, stirring the curtains. There was an odor of + the sea in the air. It was a day for dreaming perhaps, but not + for the gloom begotten of languor and an indolent pulse.</p> + + <p>"Oh, mother! oh, mother!" Wenna cried suddenly, with a quick + flush of color to her cheeks, "do you know who is coming along? + Can you see? It is Mr. Trelyon, and he is looking at all the + houses: I know he is looking for us."</p> + + <p>"Child! child!" said the mother. "How should Mr. Trelyon + know we are here?"</p> + + <p>"Because I told him," Wenna said simply and hurriedly. + "Mother, may I wave a handkerchief to him? Won't you come and + see him? he seems so much more manly in this strange place; and + how brave and handsome he looks!"</p> + + <p>"Wenna!" her mother said severely.</p> + + <p>The girl did not wave a handkerchief, it is true, but she + knelt down at the open bay-window, so that he must needs see + her; and sure enough he did. Off went his hat in a minute, a + bright look of recognition leapt to his eyes, and he crossed + the street.</p> + + <p>Then Wenna turned, all in a flutter of delight, and quite + unconscious of the color in her face: "Are you vexed, mother? + Mayn't I be glad to see him? Why, when I know that he will + brighten up your spirits better than a dozen doctors? One feels + quite happy and hopeful whenever he comes into the + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_185]</span>room. Mother, you won't + have to complain of dullness if Mr. Trelyon comes to see you. + And why doesn't the girl send him up at once?"</p> + + <p>Wenna was standing at the open door to receive him when he + came up stairs: she had wholly forgotten the embarrassment of + their last parting.</p> + + <p>"I thought I should find you out," he said when he came into + the room, and it was clear that there was little embarrassment + about him; "and I know how your mother likes to be teased and + worried. You've got a nice place here, Mrs. Rosewarne; and what + splendid weather you've brought with you!"</p> + + <p>"Yes," said Wenna, her whole face lit up with a shy + gladness, "haven't we? And did you ever see the bay looking + more beautiful? It is enough to make you laugh and clap your + hands out of mere delight to see everything so lovely and + fresh."</p> + + <p>"A few minutes ago I thought you were nearly crying over + it," said the mother with a smile, but Miss Wenna took no heed + of the reproof. She would have Mr. Trelyon help himself to a + tumbler of claret and water. She fetched out from some + mysterious lodging-house recess an ornamented tin can of + biscuits. She accused herself of being the dullest companion in + the world, and indirectly hinted that he might have pity on her + mamma and stay to luncheon with them.</p> + + <p>"Well, it's very odd," he said, telling a lie with great + simplicity of purpose, "but I had arranged to drive to the + Land's End for luncheon—to the inn there, you know. I + suppose it wouldn't—Do you think, Mrs. + Rosewarne—would it be convenient for you to come for a + drive so far?"</p> + + <p>"Oh, it would be the very best thing in the world for + her—nothing could be better," said Wenna; and then she + added meekly, "if it is not giving you too much trouble, Mr. + Trelyon."</p> + + <p>He laughed: "Trouble! I'm glad to be of use to anybody; and + in this case I shall have all the pleasure on my side. Well, + I'm off now to see about the horses. If I come for you in half + an hour, will that do?"</p> + + <p>As soon as he had left Mrs. Rosewarne turned to her daughter + and said to her, gravely enough, "Wenna, one has seldom to talk + to you about the proprieties, but really this seems just a + little doubtful. Mr. Trelyon may make a friend of + you—that is all very well, for you are going to marry a + friend of his—but you ought not to expect him to + associate with me."</p> + + <p>"Mother," said Wenna with hot cheeks, "I wonder how you can + suspect him of thinking of such foolish and wicked things. Why, + he is the very last man in all the world to do anything that is + mean and unkind, or to think about it."</p> + + <p>"My dear child, I suspect him of nothing," Mrs. Rosewarne + said; "but look at the simple facts of the case. Mr. Trelyon is + a very rich gentleman; his family is an old one, greatly + honored about here; and if he is so recklessly kind as to offer + his acquaintanceship to persons who are altogether in a + different sphere of life, we should take care not to abuse his + kindness or to let people have occasion to wonder at him. + Looking at your marriage and future station, it is perhaps more + permissible with you; but as regards myself, I don't very much + care, Wenna, to have Mr. Trelyon coming about the house."</p> + + <p>"Why, mother, I—I am surprised at you!" Wenna said + warmly. "You judge of him by the contemptible things that other + people might say of him. Do you think he would care for that? + Mr. Trelyon is a man, and like a man he has the courage to + choose such friends as he likes; and it is no more to him what + money they have or what their position is than the—than + the shape of their pocket-handkerchiefs is. Perhaps that is his + folly, recklessness—the recklessness of a young man. + Perhaps it is. I am not old enough to know how people alter, + but I hope I shall never see Mr. Trelyon alter in this + respect—never, if he were to live for a hundred years. + And—and I am surprised to hear you, of all people, + mother, suggest such things of him. What has he done that you + should think so meanly of him?"</p> + + <p>Wenna was very indignant and hurt. She would have continued + further, but <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_186]</span>that a + tremulous movement of her under lip caused her to turn away her + head.</p> + + <p>"Well, Wenna, you needn't cry about it," her mother said + gently. "It is of no great consequence. Of course every one + must please himself in choosing his friends; and I quite admit + that Mr. Trelyon is not likely to be hindered by anything that + any person may say. Don't take it so much to heart, child: go + and get on your things, and get back some of the cheerfulness + you had while he was here. I will say this for the young man, + that he has an extraordinary power of raising your + spirits."</p> + + <p>"You are a good mother, after all," said Wenna penitently; + "and if you come and let me dress you prettily, I shall promise + not to scold you again—not till the next time you deserve + it."</p> + + <p>By the time they drove away from Penzance the forenoon had + softened into more beautiful colors. There was a paler blue in + the sky and on the sea, and millions of yellow stars twinkled + on the ripples. A faint haze had fallen over the bright green + hills lying on the south of the bay.</p> + + <p>"Life looks worth having on such a day as this," Trelyon + said: "doesn't it, Miss Wenna?"</p> + + <p>She certainly seemed pleased enough. She drank in the sweet + fresh air; she called attention to the pure rare colors of the + sea and the green uplands, the coolness of the woods through + which they drove, the profuse abundance of wild flowers along + the banks; all things around her seemed to have conspired to + yield her delight, and a great happiness shone in her eyes. Mr. + Trelyon talked mostly to Mrs. Rosewarne, but his eyes rarely + wandered away for long from Wenna's pleased and radiant face; + and again and again he said to himself, "And if a simple drive + on a spring morning can give this child so great a delight, it + is not the last that she and I shall have together."</p> + + <p>"Mrs. Rosewarne," said he, "I think your daughter has as + much need of a holiday as anybody. I don't believe there's a + woman or girl in the county works as hard as she does."</p> + + <p>"I don't know whether she needs it," said Miss Wenna of + herself, "but I know that she enjoys it."</p> + + <p>"I know what you'd enjoy a good deal better than merely + getting out of sight of your own door for a week or two," said + he. "Wouldn't you like to get clear away from England for six + months, and go wandering about in all sorts of fine places? + Why, I could take such a trip in that time! I should like to + see what you'd say to some of the old Dutch towns and their + churches, and all that; then Cologne, you know, and a sail up + the Rhine to Mainz; then you'd go on to Bâle and Geneva, + and we'd get you a fine big carriage, with the horses decorated + with foxes' and pheasants' tails, to drive you to Chamounix. + Then, when you had gone tremulously over the Mer de Glace, and + kept your wits about you going down the Mauvais Pas, I don't + think you could do better than go on to the Italian + lakes—you never saw anything like them, I'll be + bound—and Naples and Florence. Would you come back by the + Tyrol, and have a turn at Zurich and Lucerne, with a long + ramble through the Black Forest in a trap resembling a + ramshackle landau?"</p> + + <p>"Thank you," said Wenna very cheerfully. "The sketch is + delightful, but I am pretty comfortable where I am."</p> + + <p>"But this can't last," said he.</p> + + <p>"And neither can my holidays," she answered.</p> + + <p>"Oh, but they ought to," he retorted vehemently. "You have + not half enough amusement in your life: that's my opinion. You + slave too much for all those folks about Eglosilyan and their + dozens of children. Why, you don't get anything out of life as + you ought to. What have you to look forward to? Only the same + ceaseless round of working for other people. Don't you think + you might let some one else have a turn at that useful but + monotonous occupation?"</p> + + <p>"But Wenna has something else to look forward to now," her + mother reminded him gently; and after that he did not speak for + some while.</p> + + <p>Fair and blue was the sea that shone all around the land + when they got out <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_187]</span>on the + rough moorland near the coast. They drove to the solitary + little inn perched over the steep cliffs, and here the horses + were put up and luncheon ordered. Would Mrs. Rosewarne venture + down to the great rocks at the promontory? No, she would rather + stay indoors till the young people returned; and so these two + went along the grassy path themselves.</p> + + <p>They clambered down the slopes, and went out among the huge + blocks of weather-worn granite, many of which were brilliant + with gray, green and orange lichens. There was a low and + thunderous noise in the air: far below them, calm and fine as + the day was, the summer sea dashed and roared into gigantic + caverns, while the white foam floated out again on the troubled + waves. Could anything have been more magical than the colors of + the sea—its luminous greens, its rich purples, its + brilliant blues, lying in long swaths on the apparently + motionless surface? It was only the seething white beneath + their feet and the hoarse thunder along the coast that told of + the force of this summer-like sea; and for the rest the picture + was light and calm and beautiful; but there the black rocks + basked in the sunlight, the big skarts standing here and there + on their ledges, not moving a feather. A small steamer was + slowly making for the island farther out, where a lighthouse + stood. And far away beyond these, on the remote horizon, the + Scilly Isles lay like a low bank of yellow fog under the + pale-blue skies.</p> + + <p>They were very much by themselves out here at the end of the + world, and yet they did not seem inclined to talk much. Wenna + sat down on the warm grass; her companion perched himself on + one of the blocks of granite; they watched the great + undulations of the blue water come rolling on to the black + rocks and then fall backward seething in foam.</p> + + <p>"And what are you thinking about?" said Trelyon to her + gently, so that she should not be startled.</p> + + <p>"Of nothing at all: I am quite happy," Wenna said frankly. + Then she added, "I suppose the worst of a day like this is that + a long time after you look back upon it, and it seems so + beautiful and far away that it makes you miserable. You think + how happy you were once. That is the unfortunate side of being + happy."</p> + + <p>"Well," said he, "I must say you don't look forward to the + future with any great hope if you think the recollection of one + bright day will make you wretched."</p> + + <p>He came down from his perch and stood beside her. "Why, + Wenna," said he, "do you know what you really need? Some one to + take you in hand thoroughly, and give you such an abundance of + cheerful and pleasant days that you would never think of + singling out any one of them. Why shouldn't you have weeks and + months of happy idling in bright weather, such as lots of + people have who don't deserve them a bit? There's something + wrong in your position. You want some one to become your master + and compel you to make yourself happy. You won't of yourself + study your own comfort: some one else ought to make you."</p> + + <p>"And who do you think would care to take so much trouble + about me?" she said with a smile, for she attached no serious + meaning to this random talk.</p> + + <p>Her companion's face flushed somewhat—not with + embarrassment, but with the courage of what he was going to + say. "I would," he said boldly. "You will say it is none of my + business, but I tell you I would give twenty thousand pounds + to-morrow if I were allowed to—to get you a whole summer + of pleasant holidays."</p> + + <p>There was something about the plain-spoken honesty of this + avowal that touched her keenly. Wild and impossible as the + suggestion was, it told her at least what one person in the + world thought of her. She said to him, with her eyes cast down, + "I like to hear you speak like that—not for my own sake, + but I know there is nothing generous and kindly that you + wouldn't do at a mere moment's impulse. But I hope you don't + think I have been grumbling over my lot on such a day as this? + Oh no: I see too much of other people's way of living to + complain of my own. I have every reason to be contented and + happy."</p> + + <p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg_188]</span>"Yes, you're a deal too + contented and happy," said he with an impatient shrug. "You + want somebody to alter all that, and see that you get more to + be contented and happy about."</p> + + <p>She rose: he gave her his hand to help her up. But he did + not surrender her hand then, for the path up the slope was a + deep and difficult one, and she could fairly rely on his + strength and sureness of foot.</p> + + <p>"But you are not content, Mr. Trelyon," she said. "I always + notice that whenever you get to a dangerous place you are never + satisfied unless you are putting your life in peril. Wouldn't + you like to ride your black horse down the face of this + precipice? or wouldn't you like to clamber down blindfold? Why + does a man generally seem to be anxious to get rid of his + life?"</p> + + <p>"Perhaps it ain't of much use to him," he said coolly.</p> + + <p>"You ought not to say that," she answered in a low + voice.</p> + + <p>"Well," he said, "I don't mean to break my neck yet a while; + but if I did, who would miss me? I suppose my mother would play + half a dozen a day more operas or oratorios, or stuff of that + sort, and there would be twenty parsons in the house for one + there is at present. And some of the brats about the place + would miss an occasional sixpence; which would be better for + their health. And Dick—I suppose they'd sell him to some + fool of a Londoner, who would pound his knees out in the + Park—he would miss me too."</p> + + <p>"And these are all," she said, "who would miss you? You are + kind to your friends."</p> + + <p>"Why, would you?" he said with a stare of surprise; and + then, seeing she would not speak, he continued with a laugh, "I + like the notion of my making an object of general compassion of + myself. Did the poor dear tumble off a rock into the sea? And + where was its mother's apron-string? I'm not going to break my + neck yet a while, Miss Wenna; so don't you think I'm going to + let you off your promise to pay me back for those + sewing-machines."</p> + + <p>"I have told you, Mr. Trelyon," she said with some dignity, + "that we shall pay you back every farthing of the price of + them."</p> + + <p>He began to whistle in an impertinent manner. He clearly + placed no great faith in the financial prospects of that sewing + club.</p> + + <p>They had some light luncheon in the remote little inn, and + Mrs. Rosewarne was pleased to see her ordinarily demure and + preoccupied daughter in such high and careless spirits. It was + not a splendid banquet. The chamber was not a gorgeous one, for + the absence of ornament and the enormous thickness of the walls + told of the house being shut up in the winter months and + abandoned to the fury of the western gales, when the wild sea + came hurling up the face of these steep cliffs and blowing over + the land. But they paid little attention to any lack of luxury. + There was a beautiful blue sea shining in the distance. The + sunlight was falling hotly on the green sward of the rocks + outside, but all the same a fresh, cool breeze came blowing in + at the open window. They let the time pass easily, with + pleasant talk and laughter.</p> + + <p>Then they drove leisurely back in the afternoon. They passed + along the moorland ways, through rude little villages built of + stone and by the outskirts of level and cheerless farms, until + they got into the beautiful woods and avenues lying around + Penzance. When they came in sight of the broad bay they found + that the world had changed its colors since the morning. The + sea was of a cold purplish gray, but all around it, on the + eastern horizon, there was a band of pale pink in the sky. On + the west again, behind Penzance, the warm hues of the sunset + were shining behind the black stems of the trees. The broad + thoroughfare was mostly in shadow, and the sea was so still + that one could hear the footsteps and the voices of the people + walking up and down the Parade.</p> + + <p>"I suppose I must go now," said the young gentleman when he + had seen them safely seated in the small parlor overlooking the + bay. But he did not seem anxious to go.</p> + + <p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg_189]</span>"But why?" Wenna said, + rather timidly. "You have no engagement, Mr. Trelyon. Would you + care to stay and have dinner with us—such a dinner as we + can give you?"</p> + + <p>"Well, to tell you the truth, I should like it very much," + he said.</p> + + <p>Mrs. Rosewarne, a little surprised, and yet glad to see + Wenna enjoying herself, regarded the whole affair with a gentle + resignation. Wenna had the gas lit and the blinds let down: + then, as the evening was rather cool, she had soon a bright + fire burning in the grate. She helped to lay the table. She + produced such wines as they had. She made sundry visits to the + kitchen, and at length the banquet was ready.</p> + + <p>What ailed the young man? He seemed beside himself with + careless and audacious mirth, and he made Mrs. Rosewarne laugh + as she had not laughed for years. It was in vain that Wenna + assumed airs to rebuke his rudeness. Nothing was sacred from + his impertinence—not even the offended majesty of her + face. And at last she gave in too, and could only revenge + herself by saying things of him which, the more severe they + were, the more he seemed to enjoy. But after dinner she went to + the small piano, while her mother took a big easy-chair near + the fire, and he sat by the table, looking over some books. + There was no more reckless laughter then.</p> + + <p>In ancient times—that is to say, in the half-forgotten + days of our youth—a species of song existed which exists + no more. It was not as the mournful ballads of these days, + which seem to record the gloomy utterances of a strange young + woman who has wandered into the magic scene in <i>Der + Freischütz</i>, and who mixes up the moanings of her + passion with descriptions of the sights, and sounds she there + finds around her. It was of quite another stamp. It dealt with + a phraseology of sentiment peculiar to itself—a "patter," + as it were, which came to be universally recognized in + drawing-rooms. It spoke of maidens plighting their troth, of + Phyllis enchanting her lover with her varied moods, of marble + halls in which true love still remained the same. It + apostrophized the shells of ocean; it tenderly described the + three great crises of a particular heroine's life by mentioning + her head-dress; it told of how the lover of Pretty Jane would + have her meet him in the evening. Well, all the world was + content to accept this conventional phraseology, and behind the + paraphernalia of "enchanted moon-beams" and "fondest glances" + and "adoring sighs" perceived and loved the sentiment that + could find no simpler utterance. Some of us, hearing the + half-forgotten songs again, suddenly forget the odd language, + and the old pathos springs up again, as fresh as in the days + when our first love had just come home from her + boarding-school; while others, who have no old-standing + acquaintance with these memorable songs, have somehow got + attracted to them by the mere quaintness of their speech and + the simplicity of their airs. Master Harry Trelyon was no great + critic of music. When Wenna Rosewarne sang that night "She wore + a wreath of roses," he fancied he had never listened to + anything so pathetic. When she sang "Meet me by moonlight + alone," he was delighted with the spirit and half-humorous, + half-tender grace of the composition. As she sang "When other + lips and other hearts," it seemed to him that there were no + songs like the old-fashioned songs, and that the people who + wrote those ballads were more frank and simple and touching in + their speech than writers now-a-days. Somehow, he began to + think of the drawing-rooms of a former generation, and of the + pictures of herself his grandmother had drawn for him many a + time. Had she a high waist to that white silk dress in which + she ran away to Gretna? and did she have ostrich feathers on + her head? Anyhow, he entirely believed what she had told him of + the men of that generation. They were capable of doing daring + things for the sake of a sweetheart. Of course his grandfather + had done boldly and well in whirling the girl off to the + Scottish borders, for who could tell what might have befallen + her among ill-natured relatives and persecuted suitors?</p> + + <p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg_190]</span>Wenna Rosewarne was + singing "We met, 'twas in a crowd, and I thought he would shun + me." It is the song of a girl (must one explain so much in + these later days?) who is in love with one man, and is induced + to marry another: she meets the former, and her heart is filled + with shame and anguish and remorse. As Wenna sang the song it + seemed to this young man that there was an unusual pathos in + her voice; and he was so carried away by the earnestness of her + singing that his heart swelled and rose up within him, and he + felt himself ready to declare that such should not be her fate. + This man who was coming back to marry her—was there no + one ready to meet him and challenge his atrocious claim? Then + the song ended, and with a sudden disappointment Trelyon + recollected that he at least had no business to interfere. What + right had he to think of saving her?</p> + + <p>He had been idly turning over some volumes on the table. At + last he came to a Prayer-book of considerable size and elegance + of binding. Carelessly looking at the fly-leaf, he saw that it + was a present to Wenna Rosewarne, "with the very dearest love + of her sister Mabyn." He passed his hand over the leaves, not + noticing what he was doing. Suddenly he saw something which did + effectually startle him into attention.</p> + + <p>It was a sheet of paper with two slits cut into it at top + and bottom. In these a carefully-pressed piece of + None-so-pretty had been placed, and just underneath the flower + was written in pencil, "From H.T. to W.R., May 2, 18—." + He shut the book quickly, as if his fingers had been burned, + and then he sat quite silent, with his heart beating fast.</p> + + <p>So she had kept the flower he had put in the basket of + primroses! It had carried its message, and she still remained + his friend!</p> + + <h3><a name='chapter_xxiv' + id='chapter_xxiv'></a>CHAPTER + XXIV. THE CUT DIRECT.</h3> + + <p>"Well, mother," Miss Wenna said deliberately after he had + gone, "I never did see you so thoroughly enjoy a whole + day."</p> + + <p>"I was thinking the same about you, Wenna," the mother + answered with an amused look.</p> + + <p>"That is true enough, mother," the girl confessed in her + simple way. "He is so good-natured, so full of spirits and + careless, that one gets quite as careless and happy as himself. + It is a great comfort, mother, to be with anybody who doesn't + watch the meaning of every expression you use: don't you think + so? And I hope I wasn't rude: do you think I was rude?"</p> + + <p>"Why, child, I don't think you could be rude to a fox that + was eating your chickens. You would ask him to take a chair and + not hurry himself."</p> + + <p>"Well, I must write to Mabyn now," Wenna said with a + business-like air, "and thank her for posting me this + Prayer-book. I suppose she didn't know I had my small one with + me."</p> + + <p>She took up the book, for she was sitting on the chair that + Harry Trelyon had just vacated. She had no sooner done so than + she caught sight of the sheet of paper with the dried flower + and the inscription in Mabyn's handwriting. She stared, with + something of a look of fear on her face. "Mother," she said in + quite an altered voice, "did you notice if Mr. Trelyon was + looking at this Prayer-book?"</p> + + <p>"I don't know, I'm sure," Mrs. Rosewarne said. "I should + think he went over every book on the table."</p> + + <p>The girl said nothing, but she took the book in her hand and + carried it up to her own room. She stood for a moment + irresolute: then she took the sheet of paper with the flowers + on it, and tore it in a hundred pieces and threw them into the + empty grate. Then she cried a little, as a girl must; and + finally went down again and wrote a letter to Mabyn which + rather astonished that young lady.</p> + + <div class='letter_1'> + <p>"MY DEAR MABYN" (so the letter ran): I am exceedingly + angry with you. I did not think you were capable of such + folly: I might call it by a worse name if + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_191]</span>I thought you really + meant what you seem to mean. I have just torn up the + worthless scrap of flower you so carefully preserved for me + into a thousand pieces; but you will be glad to know that + in all probability Mr. Trelyon saw it on the paper, and the + initials too which you put there. I cannot tell you how + pained and angry I am. If he did place that flower + intentionally among the primroses, it was most impertinent + of him; but he is often impertinent in joking. What must he + think of me that I should seem to have taken this + seriously, and treasured up that miserable and horrid piece + of weed, and put his initials below it, and the important + date? You put thoughts into my head that cover me with + shame. I should not be fit to live if I were what you take + me to be. If I thought there was another human being in the + world who could imagine or suspect what you apparently + desire, I would resolve this moment never to see Mr. + Trelyon again; and much harm that would do either him or + me! But I am too proud to think that any one could imagine + such a thing. Nor did I expect that to come from my own + sister, who ought to know what my true relations are with + regard to Mr. Trelyon. I like him very much, as I told him + to his face two days before we left Eglosilyan; <i>and that + will show you what our relations are</i>. I think he is a + very frank, generous and good young man, and a clever and + cheerful companion; and my mother has to-day to thank him + for about the pleasantest little trip she has ever enjoyed. + But as for your wishing me to preserve a flower that he + sent, or that you think he sent to me, why, I feel my face + burning at the thought of what you suggest. And what can I + say to him now, supposing he has seen it? Can I tell him + that my own sister thought such things of me? Perhaps, + after all, the simplest way to set matters right will be + for me to break off the acquaintance altogether; and that + will show him whether I was likely to have treasured up a + scrap of London pride in my Prayer-book.</p> + + <p>"I am your loving sister,</p> + + <p class='author'>"WENNA ROSEWARNE."</p> + </div> + + <p>Meanwhile, Harry Trelyon was walking up and down the almost + empty thoroughfare by the side of the sea, the stars overhead + shining clearly in the dark night, the dimly-seen waves falling + monotonously on the shelving beach. "To keep a flower, that is + nothing," he was saying to himself. "All girls do that, no + matter who gives it to them. I suppose she has lots more, all + with the proper initials and date attached."</p> + + <p>It was not an agreeable reflection; he turned to other + matters: "If she were to care for me a little bit, would it be + mean of me to try to carry her off from that man? Is it + possible that he has the same feeling for her that I have? In + that case it would be mean. Now, when I think of her, the whole + world seems filled with her presence somehow, and everything is + changed. When I hear the sea in the morning I think of her, and + wonder where she is; when I see a fine day I hope she is + enjoying it somewhere; the whole of Penzance has become + magical. It is no longer the same town. I used to come to it + and never see it in the old days, when one was busy about + stables and the pilchard fishing and the reports of the + quarries. Now the whole of Penzance has got a sort of charm in + it since Wenna Rosewarne has come to it. I look at the houses, + and wonder if the people inside know anybody fit to compare + with her; and one becomes grateful to the good weather for + shining round about her and making her happy. I suppose the + weather knows what she deserves."</p> + + <p>Then he began to argue the question as to whether it would + be fair and honorable to seek to take away from another man the + woman who had pledged herself to marry him; and of course an + easy and definite decision is sure to be arrived at when + counsel on both sides and jury and judges sitting <i>in + banco</i> are all one person, who conducts and closes the case + as it suits himself. He began by assuming such facts as suited + his arguments, and ended by selecting and confirming such + arguments as suited himself. Wenna Rosewarne cared nothing for + Mr. Roscorla. She would be miserable if + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_192]</span>she married him: her own + sister was continually hinting as much. Mr. Roscorla cared + nothing for her except in so far as she might prove a pretty + housewife for him. The selfishness that would sacrifice for its + own purposes a girl's happiness was of a peculiarly despicable + sort which ought to be combated, and deserved no mercy. + Therefore, and because of all these things, Harry Trelyon was + justified in trying to win Wenna Rosewarne's love.</p> + + <p>One by one the people who had been strolling up and down the + dark thoroughfare left it: he was almost alone now. He walked + along to the house in which the Rosewarnes were. There was no + light in any of the windows. But might she not be sitting up + there by herself, looking out on the starlit heavens and + listening to the waves? He wished to be able to say good-night + to her once more.</p> + + <p>How soon might she be up and out on the morrow? Early in the + morning, when the young day was rising over the gray sea, and + the sea-winds coming freshly in as if they were returning from + the cold night? If he could but see her at daybreak, with all + the world asleep around them, and with only themselves to watch + the growing wonders of the dawn, might not he say something to + her then that she would not be vexed to hear, and persuade her + that a new sort of life lay before her if she would only enter + it along with him? That was the notion that he continually + dwelt on for self-justification when he happened to take the + trouble to justify himself. The crisis of this girl's life was + approaching. Other errors might be retrieved—that one, + once committed, never. If he could only see her now, this is + what he would say: "We can only live but once, Wenna; and this + for us two would be life—our only chance of it. Whatever + else may happen, that is no matter: let us make sure of this + one chance, and face the future together—you full of + sweetness and trust, I having plenty of courage for both. We + will treat objectors and objections as they may + arise—afterward: perhaps they will be prudent and keep + out of our way." And indeed he convinced himself that this, and + this only, was Wenna Rosewarne's chance of securing happiness + for her life, assuming, in a way, that he had love as well as + courage sufficient for both.</p> + + <p>He was early up next morning and down on the promenade, but + the day was not likely to tempt Wenna to come out just then. A + gray fog hung over land and sea, the sea itself being a dull, + leaden plain. Trelyon walked about, however, talking to + everybody, as was his custom; and everybody said the fog would + clear and a fine day follow. This, in fact, happened, and still + Wenna did not make her appearance. The fog over the sea seemed + to separate itself into clouds: there was a dim, yellow light + in the breaks. These breaks widened: there was a glimmer of + blue. Then on the leaden plain a glare of white light fell, + twinkling in innumerable stars on the water. Everything + promised a clear, bright day.</p> + + <p>As a last resource he thought he would go and get Juliott + Penaluna, and persuade that young lady to come and be + introduced to the Rosewarnes. At first Miss Penaluna refused + point-blank. She asked him how he could expect her to do such a + thing. But then her cousin Harry happened to be civil, and + indeed kind, in his manner to her, and when he was in one of + those moods there was nothing she could refuse him. She went + and got ready with an air of resignation on her comely + face.</p> + + <p>"Mind, Harry, I am not responsible," she said when she came + back. "I am afraid I shall get into awful trouble about + it."</p> + + <p>"And who will interfere?" said the young man, just as if he + were looking about for some one anxious to be thrown from the + top of the tower on St. Michael's Mount.</p> + + <p>"I shall be accused of conniving with you, you know; and I + think I am very good-natured to do so much for you, Harry."</p> + + <p>"I think you are, Jue: you are a thoroughly good sort of + girl when you like to be—that's a fact. And now you will + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_193]</span>see whether what I have + said about Miss Rosewarne is all gammon or not."</p> + + <p>"My poor boy, I wouldn't say a word against her for the + world. Do I want my head wrenched off? But if any one says + anything to me about what I may do to-day, I shall have to tell + the truth; and do you know what that is, Harry? I do really + believe you are in love with that girl, past all argument; and + there never was one of your family who would listen to reason. + I know quite well what you will do. If she cares ever so little + for you, you will marry her in spite of everybody, and probably + against her own wish: if she doesn't care for you, you will + revenge yourself on the happy man of her choice, and probably + murder him. Well, it isn't my fault. I know what your mother + will say."</p> + + <p>"Ah, you don't know, Jue, what my mother thinks of her," he + said confidently.</p> + + <p>"Oh yes, mothers think very well of a girl until they + discover that she is going to marry their son."</p> + + <p>"Oh, stuff! why the inconsistency—"</p> + + <p>"It is the privilege of women to be inconsistent, Harry. + Your mother will detest that girl if you try to marry her."</p> + + <p>"I don't care."</p> + + <p>"Of course not. No man of your family cares for anything + that interferes with his own wishes. I suppose there's no use + in my trying to show you what a fearful amount of annoyance and + trouble you are preparing for yourself?"</p> + + <p>"None. I'll take it as it comes: I'm not afraid."</p> + + <p>They got down to the promenade; the forenoon was now bright + and cheerful; a good many folks had come out to enjoy the + sunlight and the cool sea-breeze. Miss Juliott was not at all + disinclined to walk there with her handsome cousin, though he + had forgotten his gloves and was clearly not paying her very + special attention.</p> + + <p>"Jue," he said suddenly, "I can see Miss Rosewarne right at + the end of this road: can't you?"</p> + + <p>"I haven't got the eyes of a hawk, you stupid boy!" his + cousin said.</p> + + <p>"Oh, but I can recognize her dress a dozen times as far + away. These are her pet colors at present—a soft + cream-color and black, with bits of dark red. Can you see + now?"</p> + + <p>"I never saw you pay the least attention before to a lady's + dress."</p> + + <p>"Because you don't know how <i>she</i> dresses," he said + proudly.</p> + + <p>She was coming along the Parade all alone.</p> + + <p>"Well, it <i>is</i> a pretty dress," Miss Juliott said, "and + I like the look of her face, Harry. You can't expect one girl + to say any more than that of another girl, can you?"</p> + + <p>"This is a very nice way of being able to introduce you," he + said. "I suppose you will be able to chaperon each other + afterward, when her mother isn't able to go out?"</p> + + <p>Wenna was coming quietly along, apparently rather + preoccupied. Sometimes she looked out, with her dark, earnest + and yet wistful eyes, at the great plain of water quivering in + the sunshine: she paid little heed to the people who went by. + When at length she did see Harry Trelyon, she was quite near + him, and she had just time to glance for a moment at his + companion. The next moment—he could not tell how it all + happened—she passed him with a slight bow of recognition, + courteous enough, but nothing more. There was no especial look + of friendliness in her eyes.</p> + + <p>He stood there rather bewildered.</p> + + <p>"That is about as good as the cut direct, Harry," his cousin + said. "Come along—don't stand there."</p> + + <p>"Oh, but there's some mistake, Jue," he said.</p> + + <p>"A girl never does a thing of that sort by mistake. Either + she is vexed with you for walking with me—and that is + improbable, for I doubt whether she saw me—or she thinks + the ardor of your acquaintance should be moderated; and there I + should agree with her. You don't seem so vexed as one might + have expected, Harry."</p> + + <p>"Vexed!" he said. "Why, can't you tell by that girl's face + that she could do nothing capricious or unkind? Of course she + has a reason; and I will find it out."</p> + + <h3><a name='chapter_xxv' + id='chapter_xxv'></a>CHAPTER XXV. NOT + THE LAST WORD.</h3> + + <p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg_194]</span>As soon as he could + decently leave his cousin at home, he did; and then he walked + hastily down to the house in which Mrs. Rosewarne had taken + rooms. Miss Rosewarne was not at home, the small maid-servant + said. Was Mrs. Rosewarne? Yes; so he would see her.</p> + + <p>He went up stairs, never thinking how his deep trouble about + so insignificant an incident would strike a third person.</p> + + <p>"Mrs. Rosewarne," he said right out, "I want you to tell me + if Wenna wishes our acquaintance to end. Has she been speaking + to you? Just now she passed me in the street as if she did not + wish to see me again."</p> + + <p>"Probably," said Mrs. Rosewarne, amused as well as surprised + by the young man's impetuosity, "she did not see you then. + Wenna often passes people so. Most likely she was thinking + about other things, for she had another letter from Jamaica + just before she went out."</p> + + <p>"Oh, she has had another letter from Jamaica this morning?" + Trelyon said, with an angry light appearing in his eyes. "That + is it, is it?"</p> + + <p>"I don't understand you," Mrs. Rosewarne was saying, when + both of them heard Wenna enter below.</p> + + <p>"Mrs. Rosewarne," he said with a sudden entreaty in his + voice, "would you mind letting me see Wenna alone for a couple + of minutes? I want to ask her if she is offended with me: you + won't mind, will you?"</p> + + <p>"Not in the least," she said, good-naturedly; and then she + added, at the door, "Mind, Mr. Trelyon, Wenna is easily hurt. + You must speak gently to her."</p> + + <p>About a minute afterward Wenna, having laid her hat and + shawl aside, came into the room. When she found Trelyon there + alone, she almost shrank back, and her face paled somewhat: + then she forced herself to go forward and shake hands with him, + though her face still wore a frightened and constrained + look.</p> + + <p>"Wenna," he said, "don't go away: I want to speak to you for + a minute. You are offended with me about something, and I want + you to tell me why. If you wish our friendship to cease, say + so, and I will obey you; but you must tell me why first."</p> + + <p>"I am not offended with you, Mr. Trelyon," she said in a low + and nervous voice. "Do not think that. But—but I think it + will be better if you will let our friendship cease, as you + say."</p> + + <p>"Oh no," he said, "I will not in this fashion. You've got to + tell me what is the matter first. Now remember this. Not very + long ago you chose to quarrel with me about + nothing—absolutely about nothing. You know quite well + that I meant no harm to you by lending Mr. Roscorla that money, + yet you must needs flare up and give it me as hot as you could, + all for nothing. What could I do? Why, only wait until you saw + what a mistake you had made."</p> + + <p>"It was very wrong of me," she said: "I ask your + forgiveness. But now it is quite different: I am not angry with + you at all. I should like to remain your friend, and yet I + think it better not. I—I cannot explain to you, Mr. + Trelyon, and I am sure you won't ask me when I say so."</p> + + <p>He looked at her for a moment, and then he said, gently and + yet firmly, "Look here, Wenna. You think I am only a + boy—that may or may not be—but I am going to talk + reasonably to you for once. Come over to this chair by the + window and sit down."</p> + + <p>She followed him in passive obedience. She took the one + chair, he the other.</p> + + <p>"Perhaps I am only a boy," he said, "but I have knocked + about a good deal, and I have kept my eyes as wide open as most + folks. I suppose ill-natured people might say that as I had + nothing to do at Eglosilyan, I wanted to have a flirtation with + the only girl who was handy. I know better. Year after year I + saw more and more of you, bit by bit, and that after I had been + abroad or living in other places in England from time to time. + I got to believe that I had never seen anywhere any girl or + woman who was so honest as you are, and good in a + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_195]</span>dozen secret ways that + needed a deal of discovering. I found out far more about you + than you imagined. I heard of you in cottages that you never + knew I was in; and everything I heard made me respect you more + and more. Mind this, too. I had no sort of personal liking for + the sort of thing you were doing. I don't admire beastly little + rooms and poverty and sick people as appealing to a fine + sentiment. There never was anything of the parson or the + benevolent old lady about me. I would rather give half a crown + to an impertinent little boy who had just whopped another boy + bigger than himself than give a halfpenny tract to a sickly + child in its mother's arms: that's original sin in me, I + suppose. But all that squalid sort of work you were in only + made the jewel shine the more. I used to think I should like to + marry a very grand woman, who could be presented at court + without a tremor, who would come into a drawing-room as if she + was conferring a favor on the world at large; and I certainly + never thought I should find the best and finest woman I had + ever seen in back kitchens sewing pinafores for children. And + then when I found her there, wasn't it natural I should put + some store by her friendship? I suppose you didn't know what I + thought of you, Wenna, because I kept chaffing you and Mabyn? I + have told you something of it now; and now I want you to say + whether you have a right to shunt me off like this, without a + word of explanation."</p> + + <p>She sat still, silent and nervous. The rude and impetuous + eloquence of his speech, broken by many a hesitating stammer, + had touched her. There was more thoughtfulness and tenderness + in this wild lad than she had supposed.</p> + + <p>"How can I explain?" she burst out suddenly. "I should cover + myself with shame!"</p> + + <p>"And what have you to be ashamed of?" he said with a stare. + The distress she was obviously suffering was so great that he + had almost a mind to take her at her word and leave the house + without further ado.</p> + + <p>Just at this moment, when he was considering what would be + the most generous thing to do, she seemed to nerve herself to + speak to him, and in a low and measured voice she said, "Yes, I + will tell you. I have had a letter this morning from Mr. + Roscorla. He asks me if it is true that you are paying me such + attention that people notice it; and he asks me if that is how + I keep my promise to him."</p> + + <p>Something like a quiver of rage passed through the young man + at this moment, but his teeth were kept firmly together. She + did not look up to his face.</p> + + <p>"That is not all. I must tell you that I was deeply shocked + and grieved by this letter; but on looking back over the past + six weeks I think a suspicious person might have been justified + in complaining to Mr. Roscorla. And—and—and, Mr. + Trelyon, did you see that dried flower in my Prayer-book last + night?"</p> + + <p>Her resolution was fast ebbing away: he could see that her + hands were clasped piteously together.</p> + + <p>"Yes, I did," he said boldly.</p> + + <p>"And oh what could you have thought of me?" she cried in her + distress. "Indeed, Mr. Trelyon, it was all a mistake. I did not + keep the flower—I did not, indeed. And when I thought you + had seen it I could have died for shame."</p> + + <p>"And why?" he said in a way that made her lift up her + startled eyes to his face. There was a strange look there, as + of a man who had suddenly resolved to dare his fate, and yet + was imploringly anxious as to the result. "For you have been + frank with me, and so will I be with you. Why should you not + have kept that flower? Yes, I sent it to you, and with all the + purpose that such a thing could carry. Yes, you may be as angry + as you please; only listen, Wenna. You don't love that man whom + you are engaged to marry; you know in your heart that you do + not believe in his love for you; and are you surprised that + people should wish to have you break off an engagement that + will only bring you misery?"</p> + + <p>"Mr. Trelyon!"</p> + + <p>"Wenna, one minute: you must hear me. Do with my offer what + you like—only here it is: give me the power to + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_196]</span>break off this engagement, + and I will. Give me the right to do that. Don't mind me in the + matter. It is true I love you—there, I will say it again: + there is nothing I think of from morning till night but my love + for you—and if you would say that some time I might ask + you to be my wife, you would give me more happiness than you + could dream of. But I don't wish that now. I will remain your + friend if you like, Wenna; only let me do this thing for you, + and when you are free you can then say yes or no."</p> + + <p>She rose, not proud and indignant, but weeping bitterly. "I + have deserved this," she said, apparently overwhelmed with + mortification and self-reproach. "I have earned this shame, and + I must bear it. I do not blame you, Mr. Trelyon: it is I who + have done this. How many weeks is it since the man left England + to whom I promised to be faithful? and already—But this I + can do, Mr. Trelyon: I will bid you good-bye now, and I will + never see you again."</p> + + <p>Her face was quite pale. She held out her hand.</p> + + <p>"No," he said firmly. "We don't part like that, Wenna. + First, let me say that you have nothing to accuse yourself of. + You have done nothing and said nothing of which any man, + however mean and suspicious, could complain. Perhaps I was too + hasty in speaking of my love for you. In that case I've got to + pay for my folly."</p> + + <p>"And it is folly, Mr. Trelyon," she said passionately, and + yet with nothing but tenderness in her face. "How could you + have thought of marrying me? Why, the future that ought to lie + before you is far more than you can imagine yet; and you would + go and hamper it by marrying an innkeeper's daughter! It is + folly indeed, and you will see that very soon. But—but I + am very sorry all this has occurred: it is another grief to me + that I have troubled you. I think I was born to bring grief to + all my friends."</p> + + <p>He was anxiously debating what he should do; and he needed + all his wits at that moment, for his own feelings were strong + within him, and clamoring for expression. Should he insist? + Should he bear down all opposition? Happily, quieter counsels + prevailed, for there was no mistake as to the absolute + truthfulness of what the girl had said.</p> + + <p>"Well, Wenna," he said, "I will do anything you like, only + to remain your friend. Is that possible? Will you forgive all + that I have said if I make you a promise not to repeat it, and + never again to mention your engagement to Mr. Roscorla?"</p> + + <p>"No, we must part now altogether," she said slowly. Then by + haphazard she glanced up at his face for a moment, and there + was a great sadness in her eyes. "It is a hard thing to part. + Perhaps it will not be necessary that you should never come to + see me. But we must not be friends as we have been, for I have + my duty to do toward him."</p> + + <p>"Then I may come to see you sometimes?"</p> + + <p>She hesitated: "You may come to see my mother sometimes. And + I will always think of you as a dear friend, whether I see you + or not."</p> + + <p>He went outside, and drew a long breath. "I had to keep a + tight grip on the reins that time," he was thinking to + himself—"a precious tight grip; but I did it."</p> + + <p>He thought of the look there was in her eyes when she + finally bid him goodbye. His face grew the happier as he + thought of it. He was clearly not at all down-hearted about his + rejection: on the contrary, he went and told his cousin Juliott + that the little affair of the morning had been quite + satisfactorily arranged, that Miss Wenna and he were very good + friends again, and that it was quite a mistake to imagine that + she was already married to Mr. Roscorla.</p> + + <p>"Harry," said his cousin, "I strictly forbid you to mention + that gentleman's name."</p> + + <p>"Why, Jue?" he said.</p> + + <p>"Because I will not listen to the bad language you + invariably use whenever you speak of him; and you ought to + remember that you are in a clergyman's house. I wonder Miss + Rosewarne is not ashamed to have your acquaintance, but I dare + say you amend your ways when you are in her presence. She'll + have [Pg_197]plenty to reform if ever she takes you for a + husband."</p> + + <p>"That's true enough, Jue," the young man said penitently. "I + believe I'm a bad lot, but then look at the brilliant contrast + which the future will present. You know that my old grandmother + is always saying to me, 'Harry, you were born with as many + manners as most folks, and you've used none; so you'll have a + rare stock to come and go on when you begin.'"</p> + + <p class="center">[TO BE CONTINUED.]</p> + + <h2><a name="fever" + id='fever'></a>FEVER.</h2> + + <p>At present all branches of Science possess an intrinsic + interest for every intelligent man, but such elementary + knowledge as enables its possessor to understand the + explanations of the medical attendant has a double value. Over + and over again I have heard the remark when some bold + successful treatment was being discussed, "But you would not + have dared to do that in private practice." The days of medical + mystification are not yet entirely passed, but year by year the + profession is assuredly losing that peculiar virtue of office + which it formerly possessed in so eminent a degree. The doctor + is no longer a dignified personage with gold-headed cane and + powdered wig, mounting the mansion steps with stately tread, + but a busy man in various garb, hurrying from house to house, + studying the multitudinous problems of disease, and applying + the fruits of such study to the relief of individual cases. No + longer able to awe his patients into obedience, he must rely + upon his moral and intellectual powers in controlling them. To + enable any one to understand the explanations of physicians, + and to protect himself, by discovery, against the impudent + assumptions of quacks, some knowledge of medical truths and of + the drift of modern medical thought is necessary. Every + successful physician, no matter how independent he may be by + nature, is necessarily more or less cramped by the prejudices + of patients—prejudices which often a little primary + instruction would have done away with.</p> + + <p>Of all the diseased processes fever is one of the most + frequent and one of the most serious in their results. A + discussion, therefore, of its nature, the method of its + production and of its relief, will, it may be hoped, engage the + attention of the general reader.</p> + + <p>If the hand be laid upon the skin of a person in a high + fever the attention is at once attracted by the great heat, and + if the bulb of a thermometer be placed under the tongue or in + the armpit of the patient the mercury may indicate a + temperature of 107°, 108°, 109°, or even 110° + Fahrenheit, instead of 98° to 99° Fahrenheit, the + normal temperature of the human body. It is a common belief + that the skin in fever is always dry as well as hot, but this + is a mistake, as intense fever may coexist with a reeking + perspiration. During the fever the pulse is greatly increased + in frequency, the head aches and throbs, and if the attack be + very severe restlessness, sudden startings, irregular muscular + twitchings, or even violent epileptiform convulsions and + stupor, delirium or coma, indicate the disturbance of the + nervous system.</p> + + <p>These various symptoms are simply results of the excess of + caloric, which excites universal irritation, and, if prolonged, + destroys the tissues. This fact I have verified by three series + of experiments, by the first of which it was shown that the + general application of external heat so as to raise the bodily + temperature produces all the phenomena of fever; by the second, + that the local application of heat to the brain and to the + heart causes the <span class="pagenum">[Pg_198]</span>nervous + and circulatory disturbances so universally seen in fever; and + by the third that the abstraction of heat in fever is followed + by immediate subsidence of the other symptoms.</p> + + <p>If a small animal, such as a dog, cat or rabbit, be placed + in a chamber heated by means of the sun's rays falling upon a + slanting glass roof or by some artificial method to a + temperature of considerably over one hundred degrees, a very + constant series of phenomena is developed. The breathing + becomes hurried and the pulse greatly quickened, whilst the + restless movements of the body indicate nervous distress. After + a time, if the exposure be continued, the symptoms are + intensified, and restlessness passes into the weakness of + partial paralysis; then suddenly or gradually, with or without + convulsions, stupor sets in, deepening into coma, and death + from arrested respiration is the final result. If the + temperature of the animal be tested from time to time during + the exposure, it will be found to rise steadily, and the + severity of the symptoms will be directly, and in any one + species constantly, proportional to the intensity of the bodily + heat.</p> + + <p>The nervous system of man apparently resists the action of + heat, but in reality it does not do so. Man, it is true, is the + only animal that can thrive almost equally amidst arctic snows + and in tropical jungles. This is not, however, because his + nervous system lacks sensitiveness, but because he has the + power of heating or cooling his body in such a manner that its + temperature is comparatively unaffected by that of the + surrounding air. Man might be well defined as the naked + sweating animal. In the north he strips the bear and the fox of + their coat to keep him warm; in the south his own skin acts as + a refrigerator. The dog has a few sweat-glands about the + mouth—man has two millions densely covering his body. In + the horse exposed to heat the hair soon becomes wet and matted, + interfering very greatly with evaporation; in man the bare skin + offers an excellent surface, from which the perspiration passes + off almost as fast as formed. Evaporation, conversion of a + liquid into a vapor, means a steady conversion of sensible heat + into what was formerly called latent heat, but what we now know + to be repulsive force: the heat-energy of the body is lost in + driving the particles of sweat asunder in the form of + vapor.</p> + + <p>It is possible, however, to have a temperature which even a + Hindoo cannot resist. When a man is exposed to such a heat his + bodily temperature rises, and as it rises the symptoms of fever + develop precisely as they do in the lower + animals—sometimes slowly, sometimes suddenly—with + disturbances of the respiration, circulation and innervation + precisely similar to those already noticed as occurring in the + dog, the cat and the rabbit. Sunstroke, or thermic fever, is + generally believed to be instantaneous in its onset, but the + wide experience of the English in India has shown that whilst + in some cases it is thus sudden in its development, in others + it is a slow process, and probably in almost all cases close + observation would have revealed the existence of + premonitions.</p> + + <p>External heat, by producing an internal rise of temperature, + may thus cause all the phenomena of fever. Of these phenomena + the most prominent is disturbance of the nervous system and of + the circulation. In order to determine whether the heat itself + directly causes the nervous disturbance, or whether it produces + it indirectly by causing changes in the blood, I applied + caloric directly to the brains of animals. This was done by + fitting a hog's bladder like a bonnet over the head and + allowing hot water to run through it. It was found that stupor, + coma, convulsions, and finally death from arrest of the + respiration, were produced, sometimes gradually, sometimes + suddenly, precisely as in the case of exposure of the animal in + a hot chamber. Moreover, on opening the skull and plunging a + thermometer into the cerebrum immediately after death or the + supervention of unconsciousness, it was found that these + phenomena were developed at the same brain-temperature when the + heat was locally applied as when the animal was exposed in the + hot box. Thus, if any given species in the hot + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_199]</span>box became unconscious + when the temperature reached 110° Fahrenheit, this species + also became unconscious when the locally-heated brain attained + a temperature of 110°; or if death occurred by arrest of + the respiration in the hot box at 114°, so did it when the + locally-heated brain reached that point.</p> + + <p>Dr. Lauder Brunton of England has performed a series of + experiments upon the circulation parallel to those just + narrated. Anæsthetizing animals and exposing the heart, + he has found that the action of that organ is accelerated and + weakened by the local application of heat, precisely as occurs + in fever.</p> + + <p>In order to test the effect of the withdrawal of heat, I + have taken a rabbit out of the hot chamber, in which it lay + upon its side totally unconscious, and plunged it into a bucket + of cold water. The temperature of the water rose rapidly, + whilst that of the rabbit fell even more rapidly. As soon as + the bodily heat approached its normal intensity consciousness + returned, and in a few moments the animal, which had just + before been at the point of death, was running about the + grass.</p> + + <p>Some months since I had an opportunity of repeating this + experiment upon a human being.</p> + + <p>In acute inflammatory rheumatism it sometimes happens that + the swelling and pain of the joints suddenly disappear, and the + patient becomes comatose or wildly delirious. It has been + customary to explain these symptoms as the result of the + rheumatism leaving the joints and attacking the brain. + Evidently, this being the case, the proper thing to do was to + irritate the joints so as to draw the rheumatism back to them. + This method was formerly practiced, and the almost invariable + result was death in a few hours.</p> + + <p>In most if not all of these frightful cases of sudden + accession of severe nervous symptoms in rheumatism the + temperature will be found, on testing it, to be exceedingly + high—108°, 109° or even 110° Fahrenheit. If + the views advocated in this paper be correct, it is not the + rheumatism, but the intense bodily heat, which causes the + severe symptoms, and finally death. The joints lose their + sensitiveness, not because the disease has left them, but + because the heat so overpowers the brain that it has lost its + power of perception: the patient's leg might be cut off without + his feeling it. In such a case the proper treatment is to take + away the heat by plunging the patient into a cold bath. But can + there be anything more shocking to the universal belief and + prejudices than to put a patient dying of acute rheumatism into + an almost ice-cold bath?</p> + + <p>Last spring there was in my ward in the Philadelphia + Hospital a stout young Irishman who had passed through an acute + attack of inflammatory rheumatism, and was suffering from a + sharp relapse. Entering the ward one day, I saw at once that + the man was unconscious, and turning to the resident physician + asked, "What is the matter with James?" "Nothing," was the + reply: "I saw him an hour and a half ago, and he was doing very + well, except that the fever was very high." "He is dying now, + at any rate," was my rejoinder. On going to the bedside the + patient was found perfectly unconscious, the skin dry and + intensely hot, the affected joints pale and devoid of + sensibility, the breathing irregular and jerking, the pulse 170 + and scarcely perceptible, every muscle relaxed as in death, + every power of perception abolished. A thermometer placed in + the armpit registered 108-4/5° Fahrenheit.</p> + + <p>Believing that the symptoms were due simply to this + excessive temperature, I ordered the man to be at once stripped + and put in a full bath drawn from the cold-water spigot. The + temperature of this bath was found to be 60° Fahrenheit. In + one minute and a half after the patient had been placed in the + tub he recovered consciousness sufficiently to put out his + tongue when told to do so in a loud, commanding tone. In three + minutes he began to struggle to get out and to complain of the + cold. In six minutes and a half he had become quite rational. + He was now taken out, only partially wiped, laid upon an + India-rubber blanket and covered with a single sheet, the + temperature of the room + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_200]</span>being between 65° and + 70°. Three minutes after this the temperature in the armpit + was 94°, in the mouth 105-3/5°; five minutes later the + mouth-thermometer marked 103°, and the pain and tenderness + had reappeared in the affected joints. It would be out of place + here to give further details as to his treatment. It is enough + to state that, although owing to a misunderstanding of my + orders, the man was left in a cool room for twelve hours upon + the gum blanket, wet and covered only with a sheet—or + possibly because he was so left—he recovered without a + relapse or any bad symptoms.</p> + + <p>The first case in which the cold-water treatment was + practiced in the Philadelphia Hospital was that of a woman + suffering from a desperate relapse of typhoid fever. She was + semi-comatose, with a pulse of 150 and a temperature of + 107° Fahrenheit: death was seemingly inevitable and + imminent. As the bath-tubs were not convenient, the order was + given that the woman be laid upon an India-rubber cloth, and be + wrapped simply in a sheet constantly wet with water at a + temperature as near 32° as practicable. The nurses, aghast, + refused at first to carry out the order, but the physician's + power being despotic, obedience was enforced. About three pints + of whisky were given in the twenty-four hours, besides drugs, + the whole treatment being successful.</p> + + <p>It has been shown that excessive bodily heat is capable of + producing the various symptoms of fever, and that its + withdrawal is followed by the immediate relief of these + symptoms; and since excessive heat is always present in fever, + it is a logical deduction that it is the cause of fever + symptoms; or, in other words, that it is the essential part of + fever.</p> + + <p>It must be borne in mind, however, that the term fever is + here used in an abstract sense, to express a general diseased + process, a bodily condition. <i>A</i> fever is a very different + thing from fever. We may have <i>a</i> fever, such as typhoid, + without the existence of fever. In a fever, the + fever—<i>i.e.</i>, the elevation of temperature—is + only part of the disease, and great judgment and experience are + often required to decide how much of the general symptoms is + caused by the fever, and how much by the disease which is the + cause of the fever.</p> + + <p>The importance of high temperature having been recognized, + it becomes a matter of the gravest scientific and practical + interest to determine the method in which it is produced.</p> + + <p>There are only two systems which bind the body + together—namely, the circulation and the nervous system. + As fever is usually a universal phenomenon, occurring + simultaneously in every part of the body, it must be produced + either through the nervous system or by a poison in the blood + acting simultaneously on every tissue. Every physician knows, + however, that there are cases of fever in which there has been + no introduction of a poison into the blood: hence it follows + that at least sometimes fever must be produced by the nervous + system.</p> + + <p>This being so, the study of the influence of the nervous + system upon animal heat is naturally the next step in our + investigation. Before making this step it may be well to call + to mind the fact that chemical processes are usually + accompanied either by the giving out or the withdrawal of heat. + Thus, the chemical actions which result when ice and salt are + mixed cause a withdrawal of heat, and a "freezing mixture" is + formed. When a candle is burnt, the oxidation of its + constituents, a chemical process, evolves heat. Oxidation is + the great source of artificial heat, and animal heat is chiefly + generated by the same process; in other words, animal heat is + always the product of the chemical movements of the body, and + these movements are almost exclusively of the character of + oxidation. In the animal tissues a lessened oxidation is + equivalent to a lessened heat-production, and <i>vise + versâ</i>.</p> + + <p>If a large nerve be exposed in one of the lower animals, and + a galvanic current be sent through it for half a minute or + more, the temperature of the animal falls very decidedly; and + if the irritation be repeated several times at intervals, the + diminution of the animal heat may amount to several degrees. + Galvanization <span class="pagenum">[Pg_201]</span>of a nerve + affects very powerfully the circulation, and it has been + believed that this derangement was the cause of the lessened + chemical movements. But the alteration of the circulation is + immediate, and ceases almost at once when the current is + broken, whereas the fall of temperature comes on only after + several minutes, then progressively increases, and persists for + many minutes—it may be hours. The two phenomena being + thus differently developed, it is impossible that they should + have the relation of cause and effect, and the fall of + temperature must be traced to a direct influence of the nervous + system upon the chemical processes of the body.</p> + + <p>This lowering of temperature under the influence of a + powerful irritation of a nerve-trunk or of its minute branches, + which everywhere pervade the tissues and spread out in the + skin, is common to all species of mammals. If a rabbit be + merely tied down tightly upon a table, the fall is perceptible, + and if it be severely wounded, the temperature diminishes very + greatly. It has long been known that severe burns are followed + by a very great depression of the animal heat. Redard, a French + physician, made during the late siege of Paris a most + interesting series of observations upon the influence of severe + gunshot wounds. He found that, entirely independent of any + hæmorrhage which might have occurred, the temperature + fell enormously, and in direct proportion to the gravity of the + wound; so that by the aid of the thermometer he was able to + predict whether a fatal issue would or would not occur in the + course of a few hours.</p> + + <p>We have found that both in man and the lower animals the + nervous system is able to check the chemical movements of the + body, but before we can decide how it does so facts not yet + noticed must be looked at.</p> + + <p>If the spinal cord of an animal be cut just below the origin + of the nerves of respiration, an immediate fall of temperature + occurs, and, if the animal be left in a cool room, persists + until death ensues. If, however, the victim be put in a warm + place, after a time the temperature begins to rise, and finally + a most intense fever is developed. Parallel phenomena follow + division of the spinal cord in man. Indeed, Sir Benjamin Brodie + was first led to experiment upon animals by observing in 1837 + an excessive fever follow in a patient a wound of the spinal + cord.</p> + + <p>I have already explained, in a former number of this + Magazine,<a name="FNanchor_002_1" + id="FNanchor_002_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_002_1" + class="fnanchor">[2]</a> the nature of the so-called + vaso-motor nerves, which preside over the little circular + muscles that run round and round in the coats of the + blood-vessels. When they are excited, these muscles contract + and the size of the arteries is diminished: when they are + paralyzed, the arterial inner muscles relax and the vessels + dilate. The vaso-motor nerves have their governing centre in + that upper portion of the spinal cord which is within the + skull, the so-called medulla oblongata. When the spinal cord + is divided, the vessels are cut off from the influence of + this vaso-motor centre, and at once dilate, profoundly + affecting the blood-current by doing so.</p> + + <p>The first fall of temperature which follows division of the + cord is believed by most physiologists to be due to this + dilatation of the vessels. Very probably the blood-stream, + flowing sluggishly, does not give the normal amount of stimulus + to the tissues, so that at first their chemical actions are + lessened, and consequently less caloric than usual is generated + in the body. Further, the blood moving slowly through the + dilated vessels of the lungs and of the surface of the body, is + cooled more completely than it should be; hence, unless the + body is protected by being surrounded with warm air, no + excessive accumulation of heat in it can occur, and therefore + no fever can appear.</p> + + <p>Assuming that this explanation of the primary lowering of + the temperature after division of the cord be correct—and + no better one has as yet been offered—what is the cause + of the fever which afterward develops itself? As it occurs only + when the animal is exposed to a somewhat elevated temperature, + it has been thought <span class="pagenum">[Pg_202]</span>by + some to be due to the absorption of this external heat. This, + however, is certainly not true, as is shown, to omit less + decisive proofs, by the experiments of Naunyn and Quincke, who + exposed animals for two days to a temperature of 90°, and + at the end of that time, their bodily temperature not having + risen, cut their spinal cords, after which intense fever was + developed in a few hours without any change of atmosphere.</p> + + <p>Section of the cord must therefore give rise to an increased + chemical movement and heat-production in the body. As already + stated, this section affects very greatly the circulation, but + the fever is independent of such action. The upper end of the + medulla oblongata is continuous with a nervous mass which joins + the two brain hemispheres together, and hence is known as the + <i>pons</i> or bridge. If, instead of cutting the spinal cord, + we separate the medulla oblongata from the pons, an + <i>immediate</i> rise of temperature occurs, and continues + until death, whether the operation be performed in a cold or + heated room.<a name="FNanchor_003_2" + id="FNanchor_003_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_003_2" + class="fnanchor">[3]</a></p> + + <p>Cutting the medulla at its junction with the pons causes, + then, an immediate and direct elevation of temperature, without + disturbance of the circulation. What can this mean? Evidently, + only one thing—namely, that by the division of the + medulla there has been separated from the general tissues of + the body a repressive force—a something which normally + controls their chemical activity and the production in them of + animal heat.</p> + + <p>The existence of nerves whose function is to repress action + is no new discovery in physiology. Readers of <i>Lippincott's + Magazine</i> may remember my description of the pneumogastrics + or brake-nerves of the heart, whose duty it is to control the + action of that viscus. Nerves which repress or inhibit action + are spoken of in modern physiology as inhibitory. The + experiments which have been adduced prove that there are nerves + whose function it is to control the general vital chemical + actions, and that the governing centre of these nerves is + situated above the medulla oblongata. To this centre, whose + exact location is unknown, the name of the <i>inhibitory + heat-centre</i> has been given.</p> + + <p>The way in which galvanization of a nerve, violent injuries + and excessive pain depress the temperature, independently of + any action upon the circulation, is now evident. An impulse + simply passes up the irritated or wounded nerve, and excites + this inhibitory heat-centre to increased action, and the + temperature falls because the chemical movements of the body + are repressed.</p> + + <p>The method in which fever is produced also becomes very + evident when once the existence of an inhibitory heat-centre + has been established. Any poison having the power to depress, + and finally paralyze, this centre must, if it find entrance to + the blood, produce fever. If the poison, from its inherent + properties, or from its being in very small quantity, only + diminishes the activity of the inhibitory heat-centre, the + controlling influence is not entirely removed from the chemical + movements of the body, and only slight fever results; but if + the poison actually paralyzes the inhibitory nerves, a very + great rise of temperature must rapidly follow the complete + removal of the brake-power.</p> + + <p>As an illustration we may consider the intense rheumatic + fever, or the so-called "cerebral rheumatism," such as affected + the young Irishman whose case has been narrated in the present + article. Without any apparent reason the poison of rheumatism + habitually attacks one joint on one day, and another joint on + another day, and with as little apparent reason it occasionally + falls of a sudden upon the inhibitory heat-centre, and actually + paralyzes it. In a few minutes intense fever is developed, and + the bodily temperature rapidly approaches nearer and nearer + that line on the other side of which is death.</p> + + <p>In many cases of fever, however, there is no poison in the + blood; thus, the local irritation of a boil or other + inflammation <span class="pagenum">[Pg_203]</span>may cause + what is well termed "irritative fever." The way in which this + is produced is by an indirect, and not a direct, action upon + the inhibitory heat-centre.</p> + + <p>The casualties of the late war proved but too abundantly + that a man may be wounded in one part of the body and suffer + from paralysis of voluntary motion in another part. Thus, a + soldier struck in the neck fell unconscious, and on awaking was + astonished to find his right arm powerless at his side. This is + the so-called "reflex paralysis." Very commonly the irritation + of a nerve will give rise to an impulse which will travel up + the nerve to a motor-centre, and so excite it that it shall + send in turn an impulse down a second nerve to a distant + muscle, and a spasm result. Sometimes, however, the impulse + which travels to the nerve-centre is of such a character that, + instead of exciting it to action, it deprives it of the power + of action. In the former instance reflex motion, in the latter + reflex paralysis, results.</p> + + <p>We have seen that galvanization of a nerve may excite the + inhibitory centre to activity, and the peculiar persistent + irritation of a local inflammation may deprive the same centre + of its power of action: in the one instance a reflex inhibitory + heat-centre spasm—<i>i.e.</i>, lowering of + temperature—is produced, and in the other a reflex + inhibitory heat-centre paralysis—<i>i.e.</i>, + fever—results.</p> + + <p>It would be going too far at present to assert that all + fever is produced in the way spoken of. There are certain drugs + which lower the temperature in the fever that follows division + of the cord and consequent paralysis of the heat-centre, and + which must therefore act either upon the blood, or universally + upon the tissues so as to diminish their-chemical movements. It + is most probable, although not yet absolutely proved, that + there are other substances which act directly upon the blood + and tissues in such a way as to increase their chemical + activities, and thereby cause fever.</p> + + <p>The practical considerations in regard to the treatment of + disease which naturally flow from the recent investigations of + fever are very important and very obvious. This is especially + true since it has been shown in Germany that under the + influence of a continuous high bodily temperature, not intense + enough at any time to compromise life, all the muscular tissues + of the body undergo a peculiar granular degeneration. Many a + typhoid-fever patient has undoubtedly died from the + heart-muscle having undergone this change, when, if by + artificial cooling the temperature of the body had been kept + down, the alteration of the heart-structure would have been + prevented, and death averted. It is obvious, also, that the old + plan of thwarting the intentions of Nature, and depriving the + fever-patient of the free use of cooling drinks, was + practically a baneful cruelty. As the body is burning up in + fever, it is also evident that to deprive it of sustenance is + to aid in the production of fatal exhaustion. The burning will + go on, whether food is given or not, so long as the tissues can + serve as fuel. Of course no more food should be taken than the + patient can digest, but every grain of digested food is so much + added to the resources of the system, which is engaged, it may + be, in a close and doubtful conflict with disease.</p> + + <p>If it were possible, of course the best treatment for fever + would be that which lessened the production of heat. + Fortunately, we have some drugs—notably, quinine and + alcohol—which do exert a decided influence upon the vital + chemical movements, but, unfortunately, their power is limited. + As we are therefore often unable to control heat-production, + the best we can do is to abstract the caloric from the body + whenever it becomes so excessive as to threaten serious + results. To do this, all that is necessary is to put the + patient in a cold bath, or wrap him in a sheet wet with + ice-cold water, or lay him upon an ice-mattress, or surround + him with coils of tubing through which cold water runs, or use + some similar efficacious device. I do not wish to be + misunderstood. External cold is not to be lightly employed: it + is a powerful two-edged weapon, capable of cutting both + ways—a weapon as injurious and destructive in the hands + of the <span class="pagenum">[Pg_204]</span>ignorant and + inexperienced as it is efficient in the hands of those to whom + study and experience have taught its skillful use.</p> + + <p>To illustrate what cold water may effect when employed by + intelligent and skillful physicians, I may be permitted to cite + a few hospital statistics from Germany and Switzerland, the + only countries where the so-called antipyretic treatment of + continued fever has been efficiently carried out on a large + scale. From 1850 to 1861 there were treated without cold water, + at the hospital at Kiel, 330 cases of typhoid fever, with 51 + deaths—a mortality of about 15-1/2 per cent.; from 1863 + to 1866, 160 cases were treated with cold baths, with 5 + deaths—a mortality of only 3-1/10 per cent. In the + hospital of Bâle, from 1843 to 1864, there were 1718 + cases without antipyretic treatment, with 469 deaths—a + mortality of about 27-1/2 per cent; from September, 1866, to + 1873, 1121 cases were treated antipyretically, with 92 + deaths—a mortality of a little over 8 per cent. + Assuredly, we may claim that this water-treatment in typhoid + fever is one of the greatest gains of modern medicine since the + discovery of anæsthesia.</p> + + <p>Some of my readers may here say to themselves, "Why, this is + hydropathy!" Not so. It is the legitimate, not the + illegitimate, use of cold water. It is the use of it as a + single weapon, not as the only weapon of the armory. It is the + employment of it in a single affection, not as a cure for all + diseases.</p> + + <p>Perhaps, in concluding this essay, I may be pardoned one + word of counsel to my lay audience. Any physician who proclaims + himself a follower of any special doctrine, be he a hydropath, + an electropath, an allopath, a homoeopath, or any other + <i>path</i>, should be viewed with suspicion. Water, cold, + heat, electricity, drugs, are all agents capable of being used + advantageously in the treatment of disease. Above all men, the + physician ought to have that teachable spirit which is the + offspring of true humility. Knowing the grave responsibilities + which he assumes, living almost beneath the shadow of that past + whose life-imperiling mistakes are so plainly visible in the + light of the present, he, of all men, should be ever seeking + for new knowledge, gathering with equal zest the seeds of + healing in the waste as well as in the cultivated places, + amongst the lowest and most ignorant of the populace, as well + as in far-famed schools of medicine.</p> + + <p class="author">H.C. WOOD, JR., M.D.</p> + + <h3><a name="sonnet" + id="sonnet"></a>SONNET.</h3> + + <div class='poem_1'> + <div class='stanza'> + <p>Young bride, that findest not a single star</p> + + <p class='i2'>Shining to-night with longed for + prophecy,</p> + + <p>Though snowy drifts are swelling near and far,</p> + + <p class='i2'>They need not chill thy happy hope and + thee.</p> + + <p>If blue had overarched the earth all day,</p> + + <p class='i2'>And heaven were brilliant with its stars + to-night,</p> + + <p>"A happy omen!" many a guest would say,</p> + + <p class='i2'>And think that Fortune blessed the sacred + rite.</p> + + <p>Be superstition far from thee, sweet soul:</p> + + <p class='i2'>This snowy robe, in unison with + thine,</p> + + <p>Nature will doff to-morrow, and the whole</p> + + <p class='i2'>Of this white waste in spring-like + freshness shine.</p> + + <p>If love be strong, then all adversity</p> + + <p>Will melt like snow, and life the greener be.</p> + </div> + + <p class="author">CHARLOTTE F. BATES.</p> + </div> + + <h2><a name="some_recollections_of_hiram_powers" + id="some_recollections_of_hiram_powers"></a>SOME + RECOLLECTIONS OF HIRAM POWERS.</h2> + + <p><span class="pagenum">[Pg_205]</span>There are—or + were—many at Florence whose recollections of Hiram Powers + stretch over the best part of a quarter of a century; and there + are few men of whom it could with equal truth and accuracy be + said that such recollections are wholly pleasant in their + character to the survivors and honorable to the subject of + them. He was in truth universally respected by people of all + classes, and by Americans and English, as well as Italians, in + the city of his adoption, and personally liked and esteemed by + all who had the good fortune to be among his friends. + Recollections such as these are, I say, the property of very + many at Florence. But there is no one in that city—there + <i>was</i> during his life no one in that city, not even she + who during a long life was a companion, friend, partner and + helpmeet in every sense admirable for him—whose + recollections went back to so early a period as mine did.</p> + + <p>When I came to Florence with my mother in 1841, intending to + make a home there for a few years, we found, with some surprise + and much pleasure, Hiram Powers, with a wife and children, + settled there as a sculptor. It was long since, in the course + of the changes and chances of life, we had lost sight of him, + but the meeting was none the less pleasurable to, I think I may + say, both parties. It was at Cincinnati in 1829 that my mother + and myself first knew him. My mother, who had long been an + acquaintance of General La Fayette, became thus the intimate + friend of his ward, Frances Wright. Fascinated by the talent, + the brilliancy and the singular eloquence of that remarkable + and highly-gifted woman, and at the same time anxious to find a + career for one of her sons (not the well-known author of the + present day, but another brother, long since dead), whose + wishes and proclivities adapted him for a life of more activity + and adventure than that of one of our home-abiding professions, + my mother was persuaded by her to join her in a scheme which at + that time was engaging all her singularly large powers of + energy and enthusiasm, the object of which was to found at New + Harmony—I think, though I am not sure whether Frances + Wright's colony was not another, separate from that of New + Harmony—an establishment which was in some way or other + to contribute to the emancipation of the slaves, mainly, I + imagine, by showing that under proper management they were not + unfitted for freedom. The fate of that philanthropic scheme is + too well known to make it necessary for me to rehearse the + story of it here, imperfectly known to me as it is. The upshot + was, that my mother and brother were induced to go to + Cincinnati and attempt other plans, the final result of which + was also a failure. I had had no share in these Transatlantic + projects, being at the time a scholar at Winchester in the + college of William of Wykeham. But between quitting Winchester, + at the age of eighteen, and going to Oxford, I had a period of + liberty of nearly a twelvemonth, the greater part of which I + devoted to accompanying my father on a visit to Cincinnati. And + there I became acquainted with Powers, a very few years only my + senior, whom I found already the valued friend of my mother and + brother.</p> + + <p>He was at that time—I well remember the look of + him—a tall, lanky, but remarkably handsome lad, somewhat + awkward in person, but with a calm but at the same time + intellectually expressive beauty of feature which marked him as + one of Nature's noblemen. His eyes were the most noticeable + point about him. They were magnificent—large, clear, + well-opened, and expressive of calm thought and the working of + the intellect rather than of shrewdness or passion. His manner, + I remember, was marked by an exceeding simpleness, and a sort + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_206]</span>of innocent and dignified + straightforwardness which much impressed me. Altogether, my + acquaintance with him was a contribution of a new sort to the + education of my mind. I had passed eight years in the + acquisition of those things which an English "gentleman's + education" is supposed to offer. These things (in the year + 1829) consisted in a very fair knowledge of Latin and Greek. + Unquestionably, the eight years which I had spent in learning + those languages had brought with them other advantages and + other teachings of an altogether priceless sort. But what they + professedly had taught me, what I then considered as the net + result of my eight years at school, was a competent knowledge + of Latin and Greek, and nothing else. Now, here was a young man + of my own age, or little more, about whose idiosyncrasy there + was something especially <i>simpatico</i> to me, as the + Italians say—who knew nothing whatever of the only things + which I knew, but knew a whole world of things of which I was + profoundly ignorant. I was (of course) full of prejudices + also—ecclesiastical prejudices, class prejudices, + political prejudices, caste prejudices—all of which were + as unintelligible to my new friend as they would have been to a + red Indian. He was singularly free from prejudice of any + kind—a sort of original, blank-paper mind, on which + nothing had been written save what he had consciously written + there himself as the result of his own observations of life. I + knew other young Americans, and perceived and could have + pointed out characteristics which distinguished them. But + Powers was not like them. He seemed to me a sort of Adam, a + fresh, new and original <i>man</i>, unclassable and unjudgable + by any of the formulas or prejudices which served me as means + of appreciating men. Despite all this—perhaps because of + all this—we soon became great friends. I very shortly + discovered that he was wholly and entirely truthful. His "yes" + was <i>yes,</i> his "no" was <i>no</i>; and not only that, but + what is much rarer still, his "five" or "six" was not five and + a quarter or six and a half, but <i>five</i> or <i>six</i>. I + remember in him then what I recognized after many, many years + in later life, and what is often so amusing a characteristic in + simple, upright and truthful minds—the notion that on + occasion he could be deep enough to outwit the cunning of the + unscrupulous, whereas his loyal unsuspiciousness of evil was + such that he might have been cheated by the first shallow rogue + who chose to exercise his vulpine craft against him.</p> + + <p>When I reached Cincinnati I found him intimate with my + brother, and a favorite with my mother, who had formed a high + opinion both of his character and of his talents. The latter + had already very markedly manifested themselves in that + direction which finally decided his career in life. Yet there + was little of that dreamy and enthusiastic worship for the + abstract beautiful which is generally supposed to be the + marking characteristic of the artistic temperament. But he had + a wonderful faculty of executing with his hands whatever his + mind had conceived, and a mind singularly active in invention + and in devising means for the execution of a mechanical end. + Had circumstances not made him a sculptor, he might have + been—probably would have been—a successful + inventor, mechanician or engineer. Throughout life he was an + eminently and specially <i>practical</i> man—a man whose + tendency was not to dream, but to <i>do</i>. That artistic + temperament, as it is generally called, which so often + manifests itself in exactly the opposite direction—in a + tendency to dream rather than to do, and to allow the pleasures + of the ideal to incapacitate those who indulge in them for real + work—was so little his that I have never known a more + industrious and conscientious worker with his hands. And there + was nothing to which he could not turn them, and that with a + degree of skill that would often put to shame the attempts of + members of the craft which he might be essaying for the first + time.</p> + + <p>At that time Hiram Powers was, as the saying is, living upon + his wits; and they, being such as I have described them, were + not likely to fail in producing the wherewithal to do so. There + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_207]</span>was at that period a + little Frenchman named Dorfeuille at Cincinnati—not a bad + sort of little man, I believe, and with some amount of literary + and other talent. But he also being engaged in the operation of + living on his wits, or mainly so, and not finding them so + abundantly sufficient for the purpose as those of my young + friend, thought that he too might in part live on the wits of + the latter; and during the time of my stay at Cincinnati he did + so to the satisfaction of both parties. This Dorfeuille was the + proprietor of a museum, the main and most attractive portion of + which was a number of wax figures. But the Cincinnati public + was not large enough in those days to supply a constant stream + of fresh spectators, and, though there was little in the way of + public amusement to compete with M. Dorfeuille's museum, the + Cincinnati people soon got tired of looking at the same show; + and but for the happy chance which brought him into contact + with Hiram Powers, M. Dorfeuille must have packed up his museum + and sought "fresh woods and pastures new." But with the advent + of young Powers, and the contents of the museum given over to + his creating brain and clever fingers, a period of halcyon days + and new prosperity commenced for the little Frenchman and his + show. With the materials at his disposition all things were + possible to the young artist, to whom such a chance gave the + first clear consciousness of his own powers. New combinations, + new names, new costuming, alterations of figures, etc. etc. + were adopted to produce fine effects and amuse the public with + constant novelties. For the invention of these Powers often + used to consult my mother, whose suggestions he never failed to + carry into effect, to the great amusement of both parties. On + one occasion an idea struck her, which, when she communicated + it to him, fired the imagination of Powers and turned out a + great success. This was nothing less than to give a + representation of some of the more striking scenes of Dante's + <i>Divina Commedia</i>. The idea was a sufficiently audacious + one. But "audaces Fortuna juvat." Powers scouted the notion of + difficulty. My mother was to draw up the programme, and he + undertook, with the materials furnished him by the museum, and + with the help of some of his own handiwork, to give scenic + reality to her suggestions. The result, as I have said, was a + brilliant success. I have a copy of the "bill" that was issued + to the public inviting them to the exhibition in question, + which is a curiosity in its way, and which I must give the + reader. It is drawn up in high sensational style, with lines of + different lengths and boldness, and printed in all the + different sorts of capitals which the printer's case afforded. + I cannot occupy space with any imitation of these typographical + magnificences, but will simply copy the language of the bill. + It must have been my mother's composition, and Powers had to + work up to it, which he did to the letter:</p> + + <div class="blockquot"> + <p>"The World to come, as described by Dante, and + comprising, Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise, will be + exhibited in a room adjoining the Western Museum on the 4th + of July, and days following. Admittance, twenty-five cents. + In the centre is seen a grand colossal figure of Minos, the + Judge of Hell. He is seated at the entrance of the INFERNAL + REGIONS [enormous capitals]. His right hand is raised as in + the act to pronounce sentence, his left holding a + two-pronged sceptre. Above his head is a scroll on which + are written the concluding words of Dante's celebrated + inscription, 'Abandon hope, all ye who enter here!' To the + right of this figure the foreground presents a frozen lake, + on the surface of which are seen the heads of those who + have been doomed to this species of punishment. Among these + is the head of Ugolino, whom Dante describes as eternally + gnawing the head of his enemy, who, after placing him and + his three sons in the upper chamber of a strong tower near + Florence, threw the key of it into the moat and left them + to perish with hunger. Grinning in mockery of these + ice-bound sufferers, A BLACK IMP [biggest extra black + capitals] is seated on a rock, dandling a young monster. On + the edge of the opposite side of the frozen lake + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_208]</span>stands a spirit, who + is just about to endure the frozen torment; and his + attitude and countenance express the agony of extreme cold. + Behind him opens the fiery gulf, the reflection of whose + lurid glare is seen on his half-frozen body. At his feet a + female head, fixed in the ice, looks up to the flames, as + longing for their warmth; while a little way within the + lake of fire another head is seen gazing with longing eyes + upon the ice. A brilliant fountain of flame is in the midst + of the lake, and around it crowds of condemned spirits in + all varieties of suffering. In one corner a fiend is + proclaiming their infamy by the aid of a trumpet through + all the depths of Hell. Birds and animals of hideous form + and evil omen are fluttering over the heads and tormenting + the sufferers. Large icicles hang from the rocks that form + the Gate of Hell, and reflect on their bright surface the + red glare of the fires within. On the left of Minos is seen + a Skeleton ascending a column of Icicles and holding a + standard bearing these lines:</p> + + <div class='poem_1'> + <div class='stanza'> + <p>"'To this grim form our cherished limbs have + come,</p> + + <p>And thus lie mouldering in their earthly + home.</p> + + <p>In turf-bound hillock or in sculptured + shrine</p> + + <p>The worms alike their cold caresses twine.</p> + + <p>So far we all are equal; but once left</p> + + <p>Our mortal weeds, of vital spark bereft,</p> + + <p>Asunder farther than the poles we're + driven—</p> + + <p>Some sunk to deepest Hell, some raised to + highest Heaven.'</p> + </div> + </div> + + <p>"Still farther on the left of Minos, and melting into + distance behind him, is seen the shadowy region of + Purgatory. Four bright stars—the Cardinal + Virtues—give a delicate and cheering light amid the + gloom. A group of figures loaded with the burthen of their + sins are about to plunge into the lake of purgatorial + waters, in the hope of depositing them there. A boat wafted + by the wings of an Angel is bearing departed, souls toward + Heaven; and near it is a column of pale light to direct its + course. In the distance is the mountain that divides + Purgatory from Heaven; and Beatrice, the departed mistress + of Dante, is standing on its summit, encouraging him to + proceed with her to Heaven, where his former guide, Virgil, + cannot be admitted (being a Pagan). Groups of Pilgrims who + have passed through Purgatory are ascending the mountain. + Still farther to the left, and opening in unbroken splendor + above the head of Beatrice, is seen the Heaven of Heavens. + The golden light pours down on the heads of the Pilgrims, + and angels are seen floating in the air and encouraging + their efforts. The foreground of this part of the scene + presents various objects to cheer the spirit of the + Pilgrims in their passage through Purgatory. The entrance + indeed is rocky, but shrubs and flowers adorn it, and the + Dove, the bird of Hope, is bearing the olive-branch before + them."</p> + </div> + + <p>If all that was packed into "a room adjoining the Western + Museum," the sight of it must, I think, be admitted to have + been a cheap twenty-five cents' worth. The Cincinnati world of + hard upon half a century ago judged it to be so, and flocked to + the exhibition in crowds. But very soon the versatile and + indefatigable artist devised new means of still further + stimulating the curiosity and excitement of his public. A bar + ran across the exhibition-room, dividing the space allotted to + the spectators from that occupied by the scenery and objects + provided for their amusement. But since the available space + was, as may easily be imagined, somewhat limited, it came to + pass that the foremost spectators, being often of that class of + persons who see with the ends of their fingers, would stretch + out their arms and audaciously touch "the Black Imp," or "the + Skeleton," or Minos himself, or any other of the <i>dramatis + personæ</i> they could reach, to the damage of those + somewhat perishable properties. A notice was therefore + placarded in the room, written in flame-colored letters and + couched in the choicest bugaboo phraseology, warning all such + indiscreet persons that the denizens of the Infernal Regions + could not be touched by mortal hands with impunity, and that + <i>immediate</i> punishment would visit transgressors. Of + course it was foreseen that such threats would not avail to + restrain, but would rather stimulate the curiosity of the + disciples of Saint Thomas. But, sure enough, the threatened + punishment, by no means + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_209]</span>"<i>pede claudo</i>" + followed in every case—very accurately with the speed of + lightning—on the transgression; for Powers had cunningly + contrived, preparing it all with his own hand, that a sharp + electric shock should be communicated to each audacious hand + that braved the prohibition. The astonishment, the terror, and + subsequently the fun, produced by this ingenious device may + easily be imagined. The sufferers, like the fox who had lost + his tail, brought their friends, and enjoyed the fun of leading + them into the same scrape. The "room adjoining the Western + Museum" was more thronged than ever, and little Dorfeuille + reaped a golden harvest. How large a share of it found its way + into the pockets of the ingenious artist I know + not—probably a much smaller one than fair play would have + assigned him.</p> + + <p>In the long after years at Florence, Powers and I had many a + laugh together over his reminiscences of the scenes that + occurred in that exhibition-room, all of which he remembered as + well as if the incidents had happened but a year before, and + would chuckle over with as much enjoyment as he did at the time + of their occurrence. My copy of the hand-bill which I have + given above—doubtless the only one now in + existence—was matter of much amusement to us, and served + to recall every portion and every figure of the early work of + his hands.</p> + + <p>From the time I left America to go to Oxford, in the spring + of 1829, till our meeting at Florence in 1841, I saw no more of + Powers. But, as may be easily imagined, we lost no time in + renewing our old friendship. He was then, and for many years + afterward, living in the Via Romana, not far from the city gate + of that name. The house stood back from the street, and was + approached only by a passage through another tenement, from + which it was divided by a little garden; a situation which, + though not in all respects convenient, had at least the + advantage of securing quietude. The young sculptor, with his + already numerous and rapidly increasing family, occupied the + first and second floors, while the ground floor was exclusively + devoted to workshops and show-rooms. The premises were large + and the accommodations ample. Already few Americans came to + Florence without paying a visit to the "Studio Powers," but + they were in those days but few in comparison to the number + which, partly as residents and partly as merely passing + tourists, throng every winter the fair "City of Flowers." Up to + the revolution of 1848 the English at Florence were very far + more numerous than the citizens of the other English-speaking + nation. That unsuccessful movement drove many English, very + unnecessarily, from their moorings. The English colony was very + much reduced even after those who returned on the return of the + grand duke had resumed their old places. And from that time + forward I think that America has been more numerously + represented on the banks of the Arno than England. Powers had + at that time produced various successful busts, but had not as + yet made himself known as an imaginative sculptor. + Nevertheless, the former works had sufficed to give him an + amount of reputation in the United States that ensured constant + visits of his countrymen to the studio in the Via Romana.</p> + + <p>Some twelve years had elapsed when I first saw Powers in + Florence since the old days in Cincinnati. In such a space of + time, especially at that period of life which turns a lad into + a man, most men change much. But the change in Powers's face + was but small: I should have known him if I had met him in the + street anywhere. But in person he was much changed: he had + become stout and what is called personable, not fat—he + never was that to the end of his life—but neither was he + lanky, as he had been as a youth. He had filled out, as the + phrase is, and might be considered in all respects a decidedly + handsome man. There was something specially, and more than + commonly, upright in the carriage of his person and of his + head, which seemed the expression of the uprightness of the + man's moral and intellectual nature and character. He always + looked straight at you with those large, placid and generally + grave eyes of his <span class="pagenum">[Pg_210]</span>under + their large and bushy brows. They seemed to continue grave, or + at least thoughtful, those eyes, even when there was a pleasant + genial smile on the mouth. And there was this specialty about + his smile—a specialty which may be often observed in + subjective natures habituated to original thought and to live + in the inner life: it seemed generally to be produced more by + the movement of his own inward feelings and thoughts than by + what was said by others. Like most dark-haired men, he began to + become gray early in life, and for some few years before his + death his appearance was venerable in no ordinary degree. He + then wore his hair, which had become perfectly white, very + long, and a shallow, very broad-brimmed white hat on the top of + it. The latter, indeed, was, I think, at all times his + universal wear. I do not think that I ever saw him in Florence + in that detestable article of apparel called "a chimney-pot + hat." But this is anticipating.</p> + + <p>Very shortly after our arrival in Florence and the renewal + of our friendship with Powers—I think not more than a + year—there arrived in Florence, bringing a letter of + introduction to my mother, an English gentleman of fortune, Mr. + Grant. He was a noted lover and patron of art, and my mother + proposed to him a visit to the Studio Powers. The sculptor had + then just completed his first imaginative work, the "Greek + Slave," which numerous <i>replicas</i> have since made so well + known on both sides of the Atlantic. This work had greatly + excited my mother's admiration, and it was that he might have + an opportunity of seeing the "Greek Slave" that my mother was + desirous of taking Mr. Grant to the sculptor's studio. But it + was not altogether easy to induce Mr. Grant to accept the + proposal. "If there is anything very good, that is the very + reason why I must not go there. Lead me not into temptation! I + have been spending all my money, and more than I meant to + spend, on sculpture in Rome. Don't show me any more statues, + for I cannot buy any more." But this confession of fearing + temptation was calculated to produce a stronger determination + to expose him to it. Mr. Grant was persuaded to visit the + studio in the Via Romana: he was as much charmed with the + beauty of the conception of the statue as with the + conscientious perfection of its execution, and he became the + purchaser of it. And it speedily acquired a reputation which + led to the execution of as many, I think, as four or five + replicas at the request of other lovers of art; and the + sculptor's reputation was made.</p> + + <p>The practice of the greatest sculptors as regards the degree + in which it has seemed desirable to them to take part in that + mechanical portion of the business of producing a statue which + consists in the manipulation of the marble, has always been + very different. Some have subjected the marble to the touching + of their own hands more, some less. The work of reproducing a + copy of the clay model in marble is a purely mechanical one, + and may or may not be in the artist's judgment best brought to + perfection by the labor of his own hands. It will readily be + believed, however, from what has been already said of the + tendencies of Powers's talent and idiosyncrasy, that he was + among those who have contributed most of their personal labor + to the perfecting of their works. Powers was one of those men + whose hands have faculty in them. He was a master in the use of + them, and accordingly he loved to use them. It was his practice + to go over with his own hand the surface of the marble of every + work which left his studio. But he was not contented to do this + in the manner and with the tools which had been used by so many + generations of sculptors before him. That decided bent of his + genius to mechanical invention which has been mentioned at the + beginning of this paper led him to perceive that an improvement + might be made in this respect. For giving the last finish to + the marble, for removing from the surface a quantity so small + that no chisel could be trusted to do the work, it is obvious + enough to suggest the use of a file. And no doubt files are + used for the purpose, but they are liable to a special and very + troublesome source of + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_211]</span>inefficiency. They become + clogged with the excessively fine dust of the marble in a very + few minutes to such an extent as to be rendered useless, + especially as the file must be of an exceedingly fine + description. Powers therefore set his mind to the problem of + inventing some means or some instrument by which this source of + trouble could be avoided; and after considerable vexation, not + so much in perfecting his own conception of the thing needed as + in getting careless and not very competent workmen to execute + his orders, he perfected a file of the necessary fineness upon + the principle of a nutmeg-grater. His studio was at all times + full of little ingenious contrivances of all + sorts—contrivances for readily and conveniently modifying + the light in the exact degree desirable; contrivances for the + due collocation and distribution of artificial light; + contrivances for the more ready moving of marbles, etc. + etc.</p> + + <p>It is the fashion in Florence and in Rome for artists to + open their studios to all visitors. It is a custom which adds + much to the amusement of visitors who are really lovers of art; + but it must bring with it, one would think, consequences which + must sometimes be not a little trying to the painter's or + sculptor's temper and patience. Criticism from those who have + some little pretension to the right to criticise is not always + pleasant when volunteered, but criticism from such Philistines + of the Philistines as often haunt the studios must be hard + indeed to bear with common courtesy. Powers invariably received + such with the most perfect suavity and good-temper, but I have + sometimes seen him, to my great amusement, inflict a punishment + on the talkers of nonsense which made them wish they had held + their tongues. This consisted simply of defending his own + practice by entering on a lecture upon the principles which + ought to regulate the matter in question. He was, I fancy, + rather fond of lecturing, and would rather have liked the work + of a professor of the fine arts. I have seen people writhe + under his patient and lengthy expositions, which they were as + capable of understanding as so many bullocks, and which they + had brought down on themselves by some absolutely absurd remark + on the work before them. I have seen such delinquents use every + sort of effort to put a stop to or escape from the punishment + they had brought upon themselves. In vain: the lecture would + continue with a placid <i>uninterruptibility</i> which it was + amusing to witness.</p> + + <p>It was in 1854, I think, or thereabouts (for I have not at + hand the means of verifying the date with accuracy, and it is + of no consequence), that Mr. Hume, the since well-known medium, + came to Florence. He came to my house on the pressing + invitation of my mother, my then wife and myself. We had seen + accounts of extraordinary things said to have taken place some + months previously at the house of a Mr. Rymer, a solicitor + living at Ealing near London, and our curiosity and interest + had been so much excited that the hope of being able to witness + some of these marvels was not the least among the motives of a + journey that summer to England. We obtained an introduction to + Mr. Rymer, were present at sundry <i>séances</i> at his + house at Ealing, made acquaintance with Mr. Hume, and invited + him to stay for a while in my house in Florence. He came + accompanied by his friend, a son of Mr. Rymer; and both the + young men were resident under my roof for about a month, + leaving it to accept an invitation from Mr. Powers to make his + house their home for a while. The manifestations of phenomena + produced, or supposed to be produced, by what has become known + to the world as "Spiritualism," were then only beginning to + attract in Europe the very general attention which they have + since that time attracted. The thing was then new to most + people. During the month that Mr. Hume and his friend were in + my house we had séances almost every evening, with the + "assistance," as the French say, of a rather numerous and very + varied circle. For, as may easily be supposed, all our friends + were anxious to witness the new marvels, and we, desirous only + of as many eyes and as many minds as might be for the better + watching and discussion of the phenomena, + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_212]</span>welcomed all comers to the + extent of the capacity of our room and table. I have no + intention of troubling my present readers with any detailed + rehearsal of the phenomena which presented themselves. The + testimony which my observations during this period enabled me + to offer has already more than once been given to the world in + print, and the catalogue of similar and yet more extraordinary + experiences has become too long, and the witnesses to them too + numerous and too well known to the public, for such details to + have any further interest at the present day. I feel bound, + however, to state that no amount of suspicious watching which I + was able to exercise in my house, and which Powers was able to + exercise in his, enabled us to discover any smallest degree of + imposture, or fair grounds for suspecting imposture, as regards + the physical or material phenomena which were witnessed. Such + is my testimony, and such was that of Powers, who, by his + aptitude for inventing and understanding mechanical + contrivances of all kinds, was a man specially well fitted for + the task of watching the performance of such wonders. I have + spoken here, it will be observed, altogether of the + <i>material</i> and <i>physical</i> phenomena witnessed. As to + what are called the spiritual manifestations, Powers was + perhaps not an entirely unbiased estimator of these. He was an + eminently sincere, earnest and zealous Swedenborgian, and + several of the leading tenets and dogmas of the Swedenborgian + faith are calculated to make such communications with the world + of spirits as Spiritualists claim to experience much less + startling, less strange to the mind and more acceptable, than + they usually appear to other people. To a Swedenborgian who is + perfectly convinced that the spirits of the departed are ever + around him and interested in his welfare, it does not seem a + very strange or extraordinary thing that these visitors should + under certain circumstances be able to express the interest + which they always feel. Powers regarded all the professed + manifestations of spiritual communications from that + stand-point, and was enabled to accept them therefore somewhat + more easily than another person might have done. Yet, despite + such predisposing proclivities, and though he was disposed to + think a great variety of professed communications from the + world of spirits to have been genuinely what they purported to + be, the habitual uprightness and truthfulness of Powers's mind + led him, as I believe I am justified in saying, to the + conclusion that in the case which I am about to mention, at + least, there was ground for very strong suspicion of the + honesty of the medium. The circumstances of the case were as + follows:</p> + + <p>I had many years previously lost a brother—the same + whom I have already had occasion to mention in the earlier part + of this letter. Now, at an early stage of the series of + sittings that took place at my house it was intimated that the + spirit of this brother was present and wishful or willing to + communicate with me. He did, as was proposed, communicate very + freely upon subjects of all sorts by means of raps under the + table and the letters of the alphabet spread upon it—on + all subjects save one. To the often-repeated question, where we + had last met in life, I could get no reply. It was constantly + promised to me that I should be answered this question at the + next sitting. Now, it so happened that my wife had conceived, + reasonably or unreasonably, doubts as to the medium's honesty + in the matter, and she determined to try him in the matter of + this unanswered question. Talking one day with him in + tête-à-tête, she turned the subject of + maladies of the chest, of which they had been speaking, to the + special case of her late brother-in-law, discussing the + powerful influence of climate, and remarking that she feared + Ostend had been a very bad place for him. And there she left + the matter without any further remark, and without eliciting + any answer from him. This occurred very shortly before the time + when Mr. Hume left my house to accept the hospitality of Mr. + Powers. The sittings continued with great frequency in the + house of the latter, and my mother and myself were very + frequently present at them. + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_213]</span>As before, the + <i>soi-disant</i> spirit of my brother Henry announced his + presence, and, as before, I repeated my often-asked question as + to the place on earth where he and I had last met. On this + occasion the answer rapped out consisted of the word "Ostend." + I smilingly replied, "Spirit, you know nothing about what you + are talking of: you are wrong." Mr. Hume became immediately + very angry, and reproached me vehemently for "interrupting the + spirit"—for not waiting for what he was probably going to + say. It was likely enough, he added, that the spirit was about + to say that Ostend was <i>not</i> the place. I said "Pshaw! In + that way he might go through the whole Gazetteer." Thereupon + Mr. Hume declared that I was evidently not in a fit frame of + mind to be a sitter at such meetings; that my presence would be + likely to mar any results to be expected from them; and, in + short, if only for the sake of those who wished to continue + their experiences, it was necessary that I should withdraw from + them. That was the last occasion on which I took part in a + séance under Mr. Hume's mediumship. My mother continued + her sittings at the house of Mr. Powers, and it is fair to + record that she there witnessed material phenomena—some + of them closely allied to phenomena only explainable on + Spiritualistic theories—of even a more extraordinary + nature than any which had occurred at my house; in which + neither she, nor Mr. Powers or any of his family, nor any of + the others of the party, were able to detect any imposture. And + I believe I may add that Mr. Powers fully believed in the + genuineness of the phenomena witnessed. It is also perhaps fair + to state that had the answer to my question been "On board the + steamboat going from London to Ostend," the reply would have + been correct. How far it is possible to suppose that the word + "Ostend" may have been the <i>first</i> word of an answer about + to be completed in that sense if it had not been interrupted, I + leave to the judgment of the reader.</p> + + <p>For some time after this Powers used to recount to me the + marvels which were witnessed at his house. He was not pleased + with the medium as an inmate in other respects: he did not form + a favorable opinion of his moral character. I am speaking of + matters now many years old, and I might not have considered it + necessary to record these impressions of a very specially + upright and honest man with regard to one who is still before + the public were it not that they go to increase the value of + Mr. Powers's testimony to the genuineness of the phenomena + which he witnessed, by showing that his judgment upon the + subject was at least in no degree warped by any prejudice in + favor of the miracle-worker.</p> + + <p>Meantime, the sculptor, still in the modest tenement which + he occupied for so many years in the Via Romana, was growing in + fame and reputation from day to day. A visit to the Studio + Powers—or Pousse, as the ciceroni and valets-de-place + called it—was an obligatory part of the tourist's regular + work in "doing" Florence. A large family was, during those + prosperous and laborious years, growing up around + him—sons and daughters, most of whom he lived to see + settled in life and to be justly proud of. Death did not + altogether pass his threshold by, but he knocked there but once + or twice in all that length of years. At last the time came + when the successful artist felt that his position enabled and + justified him in moving from his old quarters to more + commodious and luxurious ones. He had been but a tenant in the + Via Romana: he was now to inhabit a house of his own.</p> + + <p>It was the time when Florence was for a few short years + enjoying the fallacious and fatal honor of being the capital of + Italy. There were some who from the first were fully convinced + that that honor would be a transitory one. The greater number + thought that the will of France and of her emperor, and the + difficulties attending the simultaneous residence of the king + of Italy and the pope within the walls of the same city, would + avail to make Florence the capital of the new kingdom for at + least as many years as human prudence could look forward to. + The earthquake-like events which shook down the bases of all + such calculations, and enabled Italy to realize her longing + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_214]</span>desire to see Rome the + capital of the nation, are too well known to need even + referring to. Florence suddenly ceased to be the metropolis of + Italy, and the amount of financial ruin in the case of those + who had invested money in building to supply the wants of the + capital was very widespread indeed. And there can be no doubt + that the houses built by Powers are at the present day worth + much less than they were at the time he built them, and still + less than they would have been worth had Florence remained the + capital. Nevertheless, I do not think that he would have + abstained from building from any considerations of this kind. + He built solely with a view to residence, and in that respect + he could hardly have done better than he did.</p> + + <p>He did not move very far. His old lodging and studio were, + as has been said, a little way within the Porta Romana, and the + villa residence which he built is but two or three minutes' + walk on the outside of it. Immediately outside this Porta + Romana, sloping off a little to the left from the road to Rome, + is a magnificent avenue of ilex and cypress conducting to a + grand-ducal villa called the "Poggio Imperiale." To the left + again of this avenue, which is perhaps a mile or somewhat more + in length, and between it and the city wall, which in that part + of its course encloses the Boboli Gardens attached to the + Palazzo Pitti, is a large extent of hillside, rapidly rising to + the heights crowned by the ancient and storied church of San + Miniato, and by the suburban villages of Arcetri and Pian + Guillari. This space was, and had been for time out of mind, + occupied by fields and market-gardens. But when the new + fortunes of the City of Flowers fallaciously seemed to be in + the ascendant, it was at once seen that of all the spaces + immediately around Florence which were available for that + increase of the city which was expected to be urgently + required, none was more desirable or more favorably + circumstanced than this hillside. A really magnificent + carriage-road, ornamented with gardens on either side of it, + was led in well-arranged curves up to San Miniato, and down on + the other side of the hill till it reaches the Arno at the + village of Ricorboli. The entire course of this road commands a + series of varied views of the city and the Vale of Arno than + which nothing can be conceived more charming. It is in truth + the finest city promenade and drive that I know in Europe. Rome + has nothing comparable to it. The Bois de Boulogne and Hyde + Park are, as far as natural beauty goes, tame and flat in + comparison to it. The planning and the execution of it have + been alike excellent. The whole of the space up which the road + serpentines has been turned into ornamental gardens, and on + either side of it, and among its lawns and shrubberies, a large + number of villa-sites were reserved to be disposed of to + purchasers. Of this singular opportunity Powers was one of the + first to avail himself. He selected with admirable judgment + three sites in the immediate neighborhood of each + other—one for a residence for himself, one for that of + his eldest son, a married man, established and doing well as a + photographer, and one for that of his eldest daughter and her + husband, Mr. and Mrs. Ibbetson. The friends of the sculptor + thus patriarchally establishing himself said laughingly that + the region ought to be called Powerstown. The three houses, + each in its own grounds, were built, and excellently good and + comfortable residences they are. Powers was almost as much in + his own element in superintending them as in his studio with + mallet and chisel in hand, as might be surmised. The new studio + formed no part of the dwelling-house, but occupied a separate + erection in the grounds. Nor did the artist's love for his art + fail to show itself in the amplitude and excellent adaptation + of the building to all the needs of a studio, properly so + called—of work-rooms and exhibition-rooms for the + reception of visitors. A more complete sculptor's residence and + establishment it would be difficult to imagine. Alas for the + shortness of the few years that were allowed to him for the + enjoyment of it! Long after the house and the studio were + completed, and the marbles all moved + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_215]</span>thither, Powers was still + indulging in the delight of improving his garden; and his plans + for such improvement gave striking evidence of that genius and + passion for mechanical cleverness and achievements of which I + have frequently spoken. He had planned and begun—I think + only begun—to execute an artesian well by means of + certain newly-invented systems of boring, the details of which, + in the absence of all workmen who possessed any knowledge + whatever on the subject, had to be wholly superintended, + arranged and adapted by himself. He had satisfied himself by + observations of his own that water was to be found at a given + depth, and had, I believe, prosecuted the work sufficiently to + be assured that his judgment in this respect was well founded. + In connection with this scheme of the artesian well was a + fountain in the garden, which was, I believe, also ultimately + brought to perfection.</p> + + <p>In conformity with the convenient continental fashion of + ladies naming one day in the week for the reception of + visitors—a plan which enables them to escape from the + interruption to their domestic pursuits on all other days, and + which is very generally adopted by those who have large circles + of acquaintance—Mrs. Powers used to open the + drawing-rooms of her new house on every Saturday, and a + considerable crowd was sure to be found there from two to six. + But such recent arrivals on the banks of the Arno as paid their + respects to Mrs. Powers in the hope and expectation of seeing + the famous sculptor were almost, if not quite, invariably + disappointed. None of the Florentine colony expected to find + Powers in the drawing-room on such occasions. They knew better + where to look for him—in his workshop. There he might be + found by those who had brought letters of introduction to him, + in his usual workman's garb. Powers never made the slightest + concession to the necessities of receiving "company" on such + occasions. There he was, with his working cap on head, probably + in a long light gray coat, not innocent of marble dust, but + often in blouse and apron.</p> + + <p>In the latter days, when, though we little thought it, the + end was approaching, when the night of that long day of + continuous activity and labor was at hand, he might as + frequently have been found sauntering under the magnificent + trees of the Poggio Imperiale avenue in the immediate vicinity + of his own house. Upright in figure and in carriage as ever, + and with his eye as bright as ever, it was difficult to suppose + that the venerable and stalwart figure of the old sculptor was + not destined still for years of life and activity. His malady + was connected with the respiratory organs; and a specially + painful circumstance of it for his friends was, that the loss + of voice, which made the effort of talking injurious to him, + rendered it a selfish and inconsiderate thing to visit him; for + the activity of his mind was still such that in the contact + with another mind he could not abstain from the old familiar + intercourse which he had loved so well. Like the old camel of + the Arabian tale, that, having been all its life accustomed to + lead the caravan, died in the effort to keep his old place to + the last, Powers, who had been always wont to have rather the + lion's share of conversation, could not resign himself to hear + another talk, in silence. He <i>would</i> talk, and suffered + for it afterward. The result was that his friends felt that + they were showing the best consideration for him by staying + away.</p> + + <p>To look at him, I say, as he would stand in the sunshine at + his own gate, it was difficult to imagine that aught of a very + serious nature ailed him. But in the case of a man so + habitually active his sauntering there was a bad sign. He was + emphatically one of those men with whom life and work are the + same thing—one whose sun was at the setting when he could + work no more, and who would probably have cared little to + survive his capacity for working.</p> + + <p class="author">T. ADOLPHUS + TROLLOPE.</p><span class="pagenum">[Pg_216]</span> + + <h2><a name="corn" + id="corn"></a>CORN.</h2> + + <div class='poem_1'> + <div class='stanza'> + <p>To-day the woods are trembling through and + through</p> + + <p class='i2'>With shimmering forms, that flash into my + view,</p> + + <p>Then melt in green as dawn-stars melt in blue.</p> + + <p class='i2'>The leaves that wave against my cheek + caress</p> + + <p class='i2'>Like women's hands; the embracing boughs + express</p> + + <p class='i8'>A subtlety of mighty tenderness;</p> + + <p>The copse-depths into little noises start,</p> + + <p>That sound anon like beatings of a heart,</p> + + <p>Anon like talk 'twixt lips not far apart.</p> + + <p class='i2'>The beech dreams balm, as a dreamer hums + a song,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Through whose vague sweet float + expirations strong</p> + + <p class='i2'>From lithe young hickories, breathing + deep and long</p> + + <p>With stress and urgence bold of inward spring,</p> + + <p class='i6'>And ecstasy of burgeoning.</p> + + <p class='i2'>Now, since the dew-plashed road of morn + is dry,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Come daintier smells, linked in soft + company,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Like velvet-slippered ladies pacing + by.</p> + + <p class='i12'>Long muscadines,</p> + + <p>Like Jove's locks curled round foreheads of great + pines,</p> + + <p>Breathe out ambrosial passion from their vines.</p> + + <p class='i2'>I pray with mosses, ferns and flowers + shy</p> + + <p class='i2'>That hide like gentle nuns from human + eye,</p> + + <p class='i2'>To lift adoring odors to the sky.</p> + + <p>I hear faint bridal-sighs of blissful green,</p> + + <p>Dying to kindred silences serene,</p> + + <p>As dim lights melt into a pleasant sheen.</p> + + <p class='i2'>I start at fragmentary whispers, + blown</p> + + <p class='i2'>From undertalks of leafy loves + unknown,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Vague purports sweet, of inarticulate + tone.</p> + </div> + + <div class='stanza'> + <p>Dreaming of gods, men, nuns and brides, between</p> + + <p>Old companies of oaks that inward lean</p> + + <p>To join their radiant amplitudes of green,</p> + + <p class='i2'>I slowly move, with ranging looks that + pass</p> + + <p class='i2'>Up from the matted miracles of grass</p> + + <p>Into yon veined complex of space,</p> + + <p>Where sky and leafage interlace</p> + + <p class='i2'>So close the heaven of blue is seen</p> + + <p class='i2'>Inwoven with a heaven of green.</p> + </div> + + <div class='stanza'> + <p>I wander to the zigzag-cornered fence</p> + + <p>Where sassafras, intrenched in brambles dense,</p> + + <p>Contests with stolid vehemence</p> + + <p class='i2'>The march of culture, setting limb and + thorn,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Like pikes, against the army of the + corn.</p> + </div> + + <div class='stanza'> + <p>There, while I pause, before mine eyes,</p> + + <p>Out of the silent corn-ranks, rise</p> + + <p class='i6'>Inward + dignities</p><span class="pagenum">[Pg_217]</span> + + <p>And large benignities and insights wise,</p> + + <p class='i6'>Graces and modest majesties.</p> + + <p class='i2'>Thus, without tilth, I house a wondrous + yield;</p> + + <p class='i2'>Thus, without theft, I reap another's + field,</p> + + <p class='i2'>And store quintuple harvests in my heart + concealed.</p> + </div> + + <div class='stanza'> + <p>See, out of line a single corn-stem stands</p> + + <p>Advanced beyond the foremost of his bands,</p> + + <p class='i2'>And waves his blades upon the very + edge</p> + + <p class='i2'>And hottest thicket of the battling + hedge.</p> + + <p>Thou lustrous stalk, that canst nor walk nor + talk,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Still dost thou type the poet-soul + sublime</p> + + <p class='i2'>That leads the vanward of his timid + time,</p> + + <p class='i2'>And sings up cowards with commanding + rhyme—</p> + + <p>Soul calm, like thee, yet fain, like thee, to + grow</p> + + <p>By double increment, above, below;</p> + + <p class='i2'>Soul homely, as thou art, yet rich in + grace like thee,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Teaching the yeomen selfless + chivalry,</p> + + <p class='i2'>That moves in gentle curves of + courtesy;</p> + + <p>Soul filled like thy long veins with sweetness + tense,</p> + + <p class='i6'>By every godlike sense</p> + + <p>Transmuted from the four wild elements.</p> + + <p class='i8'>Toward the empyrean</p> + + <p class='i2'>Thou reachest higher up than mortal + man,</p> + + <p>Yet ever piercest downward in the mould,</p> + + <p class='i6'>And keepest hold</p> + + <p class='i2'>Upon the reverend and steadfast earth</p> + + <p class='i6'>That gave thee birth.</p> + + <p>Yea, standest smiling in thy very grave,</p> + + <p class='i6'>Serene and brave,</p> + + <p class='i2'>With unremitting breath</p> + + <p class='i2'>Inhaling life from death,</p> + + <p>Thine epitaph writ fair in fruitage eloquent,</p> + + <p class='i6'>Thy living self thy monument.</p> + </div> + + <div class='stanza'> + <p class='i8'>As poets should,</p> + + <p>Thou hast built up thy hardihood</p> + + <p>With wondrous-varying food,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Drawn in select proportion fair</p> + + <p class='i2'>From solid mould and vagrant air;</p> + + <p>From terrors of the dreadful night,</p> + + <p class='i6'>And joyful light;</p> + + <p class='i2'>From antique ashes, whose departed + flame</p> + + <p class='i2'>In thee has finer life and longer + fame;</p> + + <p>From wounds and balms,</p> + + <p>From storms and calms,</p> + + <p class='i2'>From potsherds and dry bones,</p> + + <p class='i6'>And ruin-stones.</p> + + <p>So to thy vigorous substance thou hast wrought</p> + + <p>Whate'er the hand of Circumstance hath brought;</p> + + <p class='i2'>Yea, into cool solacing green hast + spun</p> + + <p class='i2'>White radiance hot from out the sun.</p> + + <p>So thou dost mutually leaven</p> + + <p>Strength of earth with grace of + heaven;</p><span class="pagenum">[Pg_218]</span> + + <p class='i2'>So thou dost marry new and old</p> + + <p class='i2'>Into a one of higher mould;</p> + + <p class='i2'>So thou dost reconcile the hot and + cold,</p> + + <p class='i10'>The dark and bright,</p> + + <p>And many a heart-perplexing opposite:</p> + + <p class='i12'>And so,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Akin by blood to high and low,</p> + + <p>Fitly thou playest out thy poet's part,</p> + + <p>Richly expending thy much-bruised heart</p> + + <p class='i2'>In equal care to nourish lord in hall</p> + + <p class='i8'>Or beast in stall:</p> + + <p class='i2'>Thou took'st from all that thou might'st + give to all.</p> + </div> + + <div class='stanza'> + <p>O steadfast dweller on the selfsame spot</p> + + <p>Where thou wast born, that still repinest + not—</p> + + <p>Type of the home-fond heart, the happy + lot!—</p> + + <p class='i2'>Deeply thy mild content rebukes the + land</p> + + <p class='i2'>Whose flimsy homes, built on the shifting + sand</p> + + <p>Of trade, for ever rise and fall</p> + + <p>With alternation whimsical,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Enduring scarce a day,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Then swept away</p> + + <p>By swift engulfments of incalculable tides</p> + + <p>Whereon capricious Commerce rides.</p> + </div> + + <div class='stanza'> + <p>Look, thou substantial spirit of content!</p> + + <p>Across this little vale, thy continent,</p> + + <p class='i2'>To where, beyond the mouldering mill,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Yon old deserted Georgian hill</p> + + <p>Bares to the sun his piteous aged crest</p> + + <p class='i6'>And seamy breast,</p> + + <p class='i2'>By restless-hearted children left to + lie</p> + + <p class='i2'>Untended there beneath the heedless + sky,</p> + + <p class='i2'>As barbarous folk expose their old to + die.</p> + + <p>Upon that generous swelling side,</p> + + <p class='i6'>Now scarified</p> + + <p class='i2'>By keen neglect, and all unfurrowed + save</p> + + <p class='i2'>By gullies red as lash-marks on a + slave,</p> + + <p>Dwelt one I knew of old, who played at toil,</p> + + <p>And dreamed himself a tiller of the soil.</p> + + <p class='i2'>Scorning the slow reward of patient + grain,</p> + + <p class='i2'>He sowed his soul with hopes of swifter + gain,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Then sat him down and waited for the + rain.</p> + + <p>He sailed in borrowed ships of usury—</p> + + <p>foolish Jason on a treacherous sea,</p> + + <p>Seeking the Fleece and finding misery.</p> + + <p class='i2'>Lulled by smooth-rippling loans, in idle + trance</p> + + <p class='i2'>He lay, content that unthrift + Circumstance</p> + + <p class='i2'>Should plough for him the stony field of + Chance.</p> + + <p>Yea, gathering crops whose worth no man might + tell,</p> + + <p>He staked his life on a game of Buy-and-Sell,</p> + + <p>And turned each field into a gambler's hell.</p> + + <p class='i2'>Aye, as each year began,</p> + + <p class='i2'>My farmer to the neighboring city + ran,</p><span class="pagenum">[Pg_219]</span> + + <p>Passed with a mournful anxious face</p> + + <p>Into the banker's inner place;</p> + + <p>Parleyed, excused, pleaded for longer grace,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Railed at the drought, the worm, the + rust, the grass,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Protested ne'er again 'twould come to + pass</p> + + <p class='i2'>Such troops of ills his labors should + harass;</p> + + <p>Politely swallowed searching questions rude,</p> + + <p>And kissed the dust to melt his Dives's mood.</p> + + <p>At last, small loans by pledges great renewed,</p> + + <p class='i2'>He issues smiling from the fatal + door,</p> + + <p class='i2'>And buys with lavish hand his yearly + store</p> + + <p class='i2'>Till his small borrowings will yield no + more.</p> + + <p>Aye, as each year declined,</p> + + <p>With bitter heart and ever-brooding mind</p> + + <p>He mourned his fate unkind.</p> + + <p class='i2'>In dust, in rain, with might and + main,</p> + + <p class='i2'>He nursed his cotton, cursed his + grain,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Fretted for news that made him fret + again,</p> + + <p>Snatched at each telegram of Future Sale,</p> + + <p>And thrilled with Bulls' or Bears' alternate + wail—</p> + + <p>In hope or fear alike for ever pale.</p> + + <p class='i2'>And thus from year to year, through hope + and fear,</p> + + <p class='i2'>With many a curse and many a secret + tear,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Striving in vain his cloud of debt to + clear,</p> + + <p class='i16'>At last</p> + + <p>He woke to find his foolish dreaming past,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Beheld his best-of-life the easy prey</p> + + <p class='i2'>Of quacks and scamps, and all the vile + array</p> + + <p class='i8'>That line the way,</p> + + <p>From thieving statesman down to petty knave;</p> + + <p>Yea, saw himself, for all his bragging brave,</p> + + <p>A gamester's catspaw and a banker's slave.</p> + + <p class='i2'>Then, worn and gray, and sick with deep + unrest,</p> + + <p class='i2'>He fled away into the oblivious West,</p> + + <p class='i8'>Unmourned, unblest.</p> + </div> + + <div class='stanza'> + <p>Old hill! old hill! thou gashed and hairy Lear</p> + + <p>Whom the divine Cordelia of the year,</p> + + <p>E'en pitying Spring, will vainly strive to + cheer—</p> + + <p class='i2'>King, but too poor for any man to + own,</p> + + <p class='i2'>Discrowned, undaughtered and alone,</p> + + <p>Yet shall the great God turn thy fate,</p> + + <p>And bring thee back into thy monarch's state</p> + + <p class='i6'>And majesty immaculate;</p> + + <p class='i2'>So, through hot waverings of the August + morn,</p> + + <p class='i2'>A vision of great treasuries of corn</p> + + <p class='i2'>Thou bearest in thy vasty sides + forlorn,</p> + + <p>For largesse to some future bolder heart</p> + + <p>That manfully shall take thy part,</p> + + <p class='i8'>And tend thee,</p> + + <p class='i8'>And defend thee,</p> + + <p>With antique sinew and with modern art.</p> + </div> + + <p class="author">SIDNEY LANIER.</p> + </div><span class='pagenum'>[Pg_220]</span> + + <h2><a name="gentleman_dick" + id="gentleman_dick"></a>GENTLEMAN DICK.</h2> + + <p>They had, all of them, nicknames themselves, for in a + Colorado mining-community it was not difficult to acquire a + title, and they called him Gentleman Dick. It was rather an odd + name, to be sure, but it was very expressive, and conveyed much + of the prevailing opinion and estimate of its owner. They + laughed when he expressed a desire to join the party in Denver, + and Old Platte looked at his long, delicate hands, so like a + woman's, with a smile of rough, good-humored pity, mingled, + perhaps, with a shade of contempt for the habits and occupation + that had engendered such apparent effeminacy. But he pleaded so + earnestly and talked with such quiet energy and confidence of + what he could and would do, and moreover had about him so much + of that spirit of subdued <i>bonhomie</i> that always + captivates the roughest of the rough, that they relented, took + his money and put it in the "pot," and informed him that he was + one of them. Their decision was not altogether unconnected with + the fact that he had given evidence of considerable surgical + skill in his treatment of Mr. Woods, more familiarly known as + "Short-card William," who had been shot a week or so previously + over a game of poker by an independent bull-whacker whom he had + attempted to defraud. The sense of the community had sustained + the act; and while the exhibition of his skill in dealing was + universally condemned as having been indiscreet under the + circumstances, still he was accounted a live man among them, + and the discovery of a surgeon to dress his wound was hailed + with a somewhat general feeling of relief. Had it not been for + the fact that the sobriquet of Gentleman Dick was already + conferred and accepted universally as his name, he certainly + would not have escaped that of "Doctor," and as it was, Mr. + Woods, who was profuse as well as profane in his gratitude, + insisted upon so calling him. A doctor, or anything bearing + even a resemblance to a member of that sadly-represented + profession, was regarded with a certain degree of reverence + among a community whose peculiar habits often gave rise to + pressing and immediate need of surgical attendance. + Consequently, Gentleman Dick rapidly attained an elevated + position in their regard, and became a great favorite with Old + Platte's party, although they still looked doubtfully at his + slender figure and felt "kind o' bothered" by the air of + gentility and good-breeding which hung around him in spite of + the rough miner's garments that he had chosen to assume. By the + time they left Denver for the Blue he was deemed as + indispensable to the company as Old Platte himself.</p> + <hr class='short' /> + + <p>The forest of dark pines and firs that covered both sides of + the valley of the Blue grew down to the bars of the river, + which along its banks was thickly grown with wild gooseberry + and raspberry bushes, and piled up here and there with great + tangled heaps of driftwood which the spring floods brought down + and left in masses of inextricable confusion along its sides. + Back a little distance from one of these sandy flats, and + nestled right in the shadow of the forest's edge, they built a + long rough cabin early in June. In summer-time the spot was a + wild and picturesque one. Green and luxuriant vegetation made a + soft and brilliant carpet at the feet of the stately old pines; + huge boulder-like rocks, their edges softened and rounded in + the grasp of one of Agassiz' pre-Adamite glaciers that had + ground its icy way down from the melting snow-caps + above—rocks covered with bright lichens and tufts of + moss—- lay piled on one another at the foot of the steep + mountain-side; while gnarled cedars twisted around about them, + their rough red roots twining here and there in search of + sustenance. Below <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_221]</span>the + cabin a little way lay the bar—Chihuahua Bar they had + christened it, out of deference to "Jones of Chihuahua," whose + prospecting-pan had developed the fact that gold in promising + quantities lay beneath it—and a little farther on the + Blue sang merrily in its gravelly bed. Down the river, about + two miles, was Blue Bar, where about two hundred miners had + formed a settlement, and where a red-headed Scotchman, who + combined the duties of a self-constituted postmaster with the + dispensation of a villainous article of whisky, kept a lively + grocery and provision store.</p> + + <p>During the early part of the season they had prospected up + along the river, finding gold all the way, but not in + quantities sufficiently large to warrant working. At the place, + however, which they subsequently named Chihuahua (pronounced in + the vernacular Chee-waw-waw) the perspicacious Jones had given + it as his opinion, formed after mature deliberation and a + sapient examination of some two or three shovelsful of dirt, + that there was a satisfactory "color in that ar bank." Some + hard work of about a week demonstrated that there were + excellent diggings there, and then work was commenced upon it + in good earnest. The cabin was built, Gentleman Dick's choice + of location being unanimously approved; two or three trips were + made across the "Range" to the nearest settlement for materials + and provisions; and then the real labor began. As they cut + through the heavy bank of mould and gravel, gradually eating a + long trench to the bed-rock, prospects grew better and better. + At last, one day a narrow ledge of brittle, shaly rock came in + view, covered with a coating of thick, heavy yellow mud, of + which Old Platte gathered a panful and betook himself down to + the river-side. A war-whoop from the direction in which he had + disappeared came ringing through the gooseberry bushes to their + ears, and with a responsive yell and a simultaneous dropping of + shovels and picks they all dashed off to his side. He was + discovered in a condition of great excitement, dancing wildly + round the pan, in the bottom of which about half a teaspoonful + of coarse yellow nuggets were shining among the black sand. It + was a grand prospect, and with the exception of Gentleman Dick, + whose exultation was of a very mild and reserved order, the + proprietors of the Chihuahua Claim behaved in a very + undignified and unseemly way; Thompson and Jones organizing an + impromptu sparring-match, and Old Platte standing indecorously + on his head in a neighboring clump of bushes. Sundry war-whoops + and divers indications of activity showed that work of a very + lively and energetic character was being prosecuted that + afternoon on the bar; and when the sun sunk to rest behind the + purple mountains, and the blue mists of evening rose in the + valley, they had their sluice-boxes and "riffles" in order, and + were ready to commence washing at sunrise.</p> + + <p>It did not take very long to clean the ledge, and early in + the afternoon the water was shut off. When it was found that + the "riffles" yielded thirteen ounces of gold that would coin + eighteen dollars and a half to the ounce, a firm conviction + seemed to settle upon the camp that this was an occasion which + it would be improper to pass over without a thorough and + practical acknowledgment of its importance in the shape of a + regular celebration. The gold was weighed and divided, all + sitting in a circle in the middle of the cabin floor, while Old + Platte officiated at the scales with all the gravity and + dignity which the responsible position called for.</p> + + <p>Mr. McNab's grocery and post-office at Blue Bar was the + scene of much excitement and noisy revelry that evening and all + the next day while the gold lasted. Miners who had heard of the + Chihuahua "streak" flocked up to Blue Bar to get the + particulars, and naturally joined in the general feeling of + exultation and hilarity that seemed to pervade that community. + Old Platte got terribly drunk, and Thompson and Jones developed + the strangest eccentricities of gait, manner and speech, and + finally subsided into a deep slumber in the dust and sand of + the main thoroughfare of + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_222]</span>the Bar. Gentleman Dick's + absence from the festivities was not noticed that evening, but + the next day Thompson, who seemed to feel aggrieved on the + subject, announced his intention of going up to Chihuahua to + fetch him down. He left Mr. McNab's on his charitable mission + armed with a bottle of rum, and proceeded up the creek in a + condition of moderate intoxication. That he was somewhat + sobered on his arrival at the cabin was perhaps due to the fact + that the cork was fixed very firmly in the neck of his bottle: + at any rate, he did not ask his friend to drink when he found + him.</p> + + <p>Gentleman Dick had just directed and sealed a letter, and + was about to start for the settlement of Gold Dirt, when + Thompson loomed up unsteadily in the doorway, surveyed him + inquiringly for a moment and asked undecidedly and + apologetically, "Wass' up? W'ere you goin'?"</p> + + <p>Gentleman Dick, apparently overlooking his somewhat dubious + condition, told him he had been writing a letter to some one + who lived in the States: he was going to Gold Dirt to mail it, + and a ring of Blue Creek gold was to accompany it to its + destination. Thompson said no more, but stood there in the + doorway with McNab's rum under his arm. He did not stir, nor + did he seem to notice the "good-bye" that came down the winding + trail through the pines, but remained there stolid and + immovable, gazing vacantly at the writing-paper on the rough + table. Suddenly he straightened himself up to his full height, + and taking the bottle from under his arm, held it out at arm's + length and apostrophized it in terms which Mr. McNab would have + regarded as a personal insult, and which the community on the + Blue might possibly have resented with a challenge to mortal + combat. His next step, had they witnessed it, would certainly + have led to the conclusion that he was a dangerous lunatic, and + one, at that, whose peculiar madness was of a kind specially + objectionable to the residents of Blue Bar. He placed the + object toward which his feelings had undergone so sudden a + revulsion carefully on the ground, and seizing in his hands a + huge boulder, he proceeded to let it drop accurately upon it. + He oscillated critically over the fragments, as if to assure + himself that the result had been satisfactorily attained, and + then strode rapidly and unsteadily into the forest. How such + unsound principles of economy came to be adopted by him never + very clearly appeared; and the problem of his absence from camp + for two whole days, and his subsequent reform upon the subject + of whisky, were matters very freely discussed at McNab's hut, + without any definite or reliable result being arrived at.</p> + <hr class='short' /> + + <p>Summer had melted imperceptibly into autumn; and the bright + tints that glittered on the mountain-slopes and through the + sturdy undergrowth of the forest told that it in its turn was + soon to give way to winter. Chihuahua Bar was piled with great + heaps of boulders and gravel, furrowed here and there with deep + ditches and trenches, and otherwise gave ample evidence of the + hard work that had been done. But, as Old Platte, remarked, + "The luck was down on them," and the partners had very little + to show for their long months of toil. Gentleman Dick had + worked as hard and earnestly as the others, and had never been + known to utter a word of complaint through the many hardships + and mishaps they endured. But a great change had come over him. + No one who saw him when he joined the party in Denver would + have ventured to call him strong or robust, but, delicate as he + was then, he was now a mere shadow by comparison. The change + had been more marked and rapid during the last few weeks. He + had seemed to fade gradually away, growing daily weaker and + weaker, until at last a knowledge of his increasing debility + forced itself upon the not very observant faculties of his + companions—coming rather as a sense of indefinable + uneasiness on his behalf than any actual apprehension of his + real condition. His great expressive eyes shone out with an + unnatural brilliancy from his pale, sunken + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_223]</span>cheeks, and a deeper shade + of melancholy seemed settling on his naturally thoughtful face. + Thompson probably noticed it more than anybody else, but said + nothing, while Old Platte and Jones exchanged ideas on the + subject with a sort of puzzled anxiety, mingled, it might be, + with some genuine alarm. They noticed that the work began to + fatigue him more and more, and that he often had to pause in + the middle of it weary and exhausted.</p> + + <p>At last, one day, about the first of November, he remained + in his bunk in the cabin, unable to come down to the claim. In + their rough, uncouth way they pitied him, and would have given + anything they could command to be able to relieve him. But they + seemed instinctively to feel that his case was something out of + their reach, and with the exception of a weak suggestion from + Jones, that he should try some of "them ar antibilious pills as + he had in his box," no course of medical treatment was + contemplated. Besides, was he not himself a doctor? and if he + could do nothing, what should they be able to effect? The + argument was sufficiently conclusive; at least, Jones accepted + it as such, and retired in some confusion, comforting himself + by the perusal of the label on his box of pills, which really + seemed to justify the suggestion he had made. Twice after this, + on days when the warm sunshine tempted him out of doors, he + came down to the claim and sat by the wheel and watched them + working; but he never did any more work. He did not tell them + he could not do it, or complain that he was too weak: it was + tacitly understood that his share of the season's labor was + over.</p> + + <p>About the middle of November the winter stepped in in its + sudden way and commenced to take possession of the valley of + the Blue, and by the first of December the ice was so thick + that the partners reluctantly stopped work. "Jones of + Chihuahua" had expressed his determination of going south to + Santa Fé, to stay until spring among the "Greasers," but + Old Platte and Thompson would stay on the Blue for the winter, + and to that end had laid in such provisions as were deemed + necessary. The settlement below on the Bar had been abandoned + early in November; and it was doubtful if a white man besides + themselves could be found by its waters any nearer than the end + of the Great Cañon of the Rio Colorado. But they cared + very little for that, and looked forward to their voluntary + hibernation without any feeling of apprehension on the score of + loneliness. Both were hardy mountaineers. Thompson had been the + first man that ever performed the feat of crossing the range at + Grey's Peak in the middle of winter, with the aid of a pair of + snow-shoes; and he and Old Platte knew that if their provisions + gave out they could readily reach some of the Clear Creek + diggings in the same way. So Jones strapped his belt of + gold-dust around his waist and prepared to depart. He shook + hands with the partners, and when Gentleman Dick, with a forced + cheeriness of manner and with wishes for a pleasant winter in + New Mexico, remarked, "Next spring the boys will give you a + third of my share, Jones," he stoutly and earnestly repudiated + the implied idea, but with a confusion and uncertainty of + manner that indicated a serious doubt in the soundness of his + own assertions.</p> + + <p>Gentleman Dick released the big hand as he lay in his + blankets, and said for the last time, "Good-bye, Jones."</p> + + <p>"Good-bye, old man."</p> + + <p>Jones strode away abruptly on his journey, and if the + moisture about his eyes was in excess of what was required in + their normal condition, it was probably due to the bracing and + biting frostiness of the morning air.</p> + + <p>And so they resigned themselves to their winter's prison on + the Blue—Old Platte stolidly and contentedly, Thompson + uneasily and restlessly, and Gentleman Dick peacefully and + calmly, knowing full well that spring would never bloom again + for him. Thus the December days flew by, growing colder and + colder, and the snow-line crept gradually down the slopes of + the range until it reached the edge of the timber, where it + seemed to pause for a few days in its + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_224]</span>advance. It had already + snowed several times in the valley, and the afternoon sun had + always melted it away; but they knew by experience that it + would soon come down in good earnest and cover everything up + for the winter in a mantle of snow some six or seven feet deep. + And as the days sped on Gentleman Dick grew paler and paler, + and his bright eyes shone with a brighter lustre, while he + seemed to be gradually slipping away, losing little by little + his hold upon life. He was a mystery to his companions, for he + had no disease that could be detected, and why he should sink + thus without any apparent cause was more than they could + understand.</p> + <hr class='short' /> + + <p>The wind came roaring down the cañon in wild, fierce + gusts; the dead, frost-hardened, brittle branches of the sturdy + old pines rattled and cracked and broke as it swept by laden + with glittering crystals, stolen from the range above, where it + circled madly around the snowy peaks, and whirled away great + winding-sheets of snow—fine, sleety snow, that filled the + atmosphere with sharp prickly needles, that made their way + inside Old Platte's rough woolen shirt as he chopped away at + the woodpile, and made him shiver as they melted down his back. + Everything was frozen hard and fast; the Blue was silent in its + bed; stones and sticks adhered to the ground as if part and + parcel of it, and each piece of wood in the pile that Old + Platte was working at stood stiffly and firmly in its place. + The wind, just before a snow-storm, always comes down the + cañons in fierce premonitory gusts, and as it was + desirable to get in a good stock of wood before the snow-drifts + gathered around the cabin, Old Platte had been hacking manfully + for some hours. The sun sunk low in the hollow of the hills to + the westward while he was still working, and lit up with a cold + yellow glare the snowy wastes and icy peaks of the mighty + mountains that stood guard over the Blue. The whistling of the + wind among the pines died gradually away, and the silence that + seemed to fall with the deepening shadows was only broken by + the ringing strokes of the axe and the crack of the splitting + wood. When he ceased the valley had faded into darkness, and + the range with its sharp outlines was only faintly discernible + against the sombre gray pall that had overspread the sky.</p> + + <p>He made a broad stack of logs by the fireplace and a larger + one outside the door, and then stood by the threshold to take a + look at the weather. A great soft feather of snow came sailing + slowly down and nestled in his shaggy beard, and another + fluttered on to the back of his hand. He looked up through the + darkness and saw that it was already beginning to fall thickly, + and then, with a self-satisfied glance of approval at his + provident woodpile, went into the cabin and fastened the + door.</p> + + <p>Thompson had shot a fine argal or Rocky Mountain sheep that + morning, and the broiled steaks were giving forth a most + acceptable odor. He had tried to get Gentleman Dick to taste of + a choice piece, but he shook his head wearily, as he had every + time for some two weeks or more when proffered food. He could + eat nothing, and lay there propped up on rough pillows, seeming + scarcely conscious of their presence; his dreamy eyes, with + lids half drooping, looking fixedly into the blazing fire. Even + the coffee, civilized as it was by the addition of some patent + condensed milk, and upon the manufacture of which Thompson had + prided himself not a little, stood untouched by his bedside. + Old Platte lit his pipe and dragged his three-legged stool into + a corner of the wide chimney, and Thompson, after moving the + things away to a corner, sat down opposite, mending his + snow-shoes with a bundle of buckskin thongs. They did not talk + much in that family of evenings: men of this class are not + conversational in their habits, and a stranger who should look + in would be apt to think them an unsocial set. Old Platte + puffed steadily at his pipe, blinking and winking at the fire, + which he poked occasionally with a stick or fed with a log of + wood from the pile by his side. Thompson worked quietly with + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_225]</span>knife and awl at his + dilapidated shoes, and the pale, patient face beyond still + gazed dreamily into the fire. There were old scenes, doubtless, + in among those burning logs—old familiar faces, dear + memories of the past and weird fantastic visions pictured in + the glowing coals. At last the eyes left the fire for a moment, + resting on the two that sat by it, and he said, "Boys, it's + Christmas Eve."</p> + + <p>Thompson started, for he had not heard him speak with so + much energy for weeks.</p> + + <p>"Christmas Eve!" he repeated absently. "Christmas Eve, and + to-morrow will be Christmas Day. Last Christmas was not like + this: all was bright and fair, and she—"</p> + + <p>The rest of the sentence was lost as he muttered it uneasily + to himself and resumed his watching of the fire. Christmas Eve! + So it was, but they had not thought of it. Christmas Eve! The + name seemed out of place among those rocky fastnesses. What + could the pines and the solitude, the snow and the ice, have in + common with Christmas? Christmas Eve down in that desolate + valley, in the quiet depths of the forest, away, miles away, + from human habitation of any kind? Christmas Eve! It seemed + absurd, but Christmas Eve it was nevertheless, there as + everywhere else.</p> + + <p>Old Platte took his blackened old pipe from between his lips + and mechanically repeated the words. "Christmas Eve!" he half + growled, as if some perplexing ideas had been called into + existence by the suggestion, and his pipe went out as he + listlessly shoved some stray coals back into the fire with his + foot. But his meditations, to judge from his countenance, were + neither interesting nor profitable. Probably his Christmases + had never been passed in a way that was calculated to make them + pleasingly conspicuous in the background of his life. Most of + his early recollections were associated with a villainous + roadside groggery in Pike county, Missouri, of which his father + was the proprietor. Any questions relating to this parent and + home he had been known to invariably evade, and whenever + conversation tended in that direction he strenuously + discouraged it. Why he did so never very clearly appeared. Some + people who pretended to know used to say that the old gentleman + had been doing a lively trade in horseflesh without going + through the customary formalities of finance, and that some + people with whom his dealings had been unsatisfactory, in + consequence of this unbusinesslike habit of his, had called at + his house one evening and invited him to walk out with them. + The invitation was one he would have liked to decline, but + extra inducements in the shape of the cold muzzle of a revolver + pressed against his forehead and a low but determined "Dry up + and come along!" caused him to put on his hat and step out. He + was found next morning hanging from a branch of a neighboring + tree with a brief but expressive obituary written in pencil on + a scrap of paper and pinned on his coat: "Horse-thief! Jerry + Moon and Scotty, take notice." Inasmuch as one of the latter + individuals was the chief authority for the story, and had + expedited his departure from Pike county in consequence of the + intimation contained in the lines on the same bit of paper, it + may be safely inferred that there was some foundation for the + numerous stories of a similar nature that were in circulation. + So Christmas spent as his had been had no particular interest + for Old Platte, and was pretty much the same as any other kind + of day upon which there would be an equally good excuse for + stopping work and getting venomously drunk. At any rate, the + memories that clung around that Pike county whisky-shop were + none of the pleasantest or most gratifying; and with a grunt of + general dissatisfaction he rekindled his pipe, put a couple of + sticks on the fire and allowed his mind to slide off into a + more congenial train of reflection.</p> + + <p>To Thompson, Gentleman Dick's words had come as a sort of + revelation. He knew well enough that Christmas came in + December, and also upon what day of that month it fell, but of + late the days had gone by so monotonously, and + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_226]</span> had so little to + distinguish them one from another, that he had kept no account + of them, and had no idea that it was so near. Some indefinable + influence that he could not account for had of late sent his + mind groping into old and better channels, and consequently + when he was reminded of the presence of Christmas he felt + disposed to accord it a measure of consideration rather + different from that with which several of its predecessors had + met. Like Old Platte, he had regarded it as a good day to go on + a "bust" and initiate a "drunk" of more or less duration, but + just now he seemed as if inclined to take a different view of + it. His eyes could take a clearer and healthier view of the + past than he had for a long time had, and its old memories and + scenes flocked up before him now, bright through the dim mist + that time had cast over them, and fresher and sweeter than ever + by contrast with the gloomy present. The snow-shoes slid from + his lap and one by one the thongs of buckskins dropped upon the + floor, as he leaned back in the corner of the broad chimney, + his face resting upon his sinewy hand and his eyes looking + through the fire into the world of the past.</p> + + <p>Old Platte lay curled up in his bearskins and blankets fast + asleep, but the other still sat by the fire in the same + position—still dreamily thinking. How long he had sat + there he did not know. The fire had sunk into a glowing heap of + coals, fast changing into soft white ashes, on which now and + then a melting snow-flake that had stolen down through the + chimney would fall and disappear with a short angry sizz, and + the shadows in the cabin were deep and dark. Suddenly it seemed + to him in his dreaming that a voice called him by name, and he + awoke from his reverie with a chill and a shudder and a sense + of indefinable dread creeping over him—a dread of what, + he could not tell. A handful of chips blazed up brightly and + lit up the cabin with their flickering light as he turned + nervously toward the patient, quiet face behind him. The eyes, + shaded by the long black eyelashes, were still on the fire, and + while he was confident that he had not been called, he was + dimly conscious of a great change that had taken place. As he + still looked anxiously at the faded features, the eyes left + their long watching of the embers and were raised to meet his. + He felt he was wanted, and was by his side in a moment: "How + d'yer feel, old man?"</p> + + <p>Gentleman Dick smiled as he laid his wasted fingers across + the sturdy brown hand that leaned on the edge of his bunk, and + turning with difficulty on his pillow, he said in a voice + scarce above a whisper, "Thompson, old fellow, you and Platte + have been kind, very kind, to me. I won't trouble you much more + now. I'm going to say—good-bye to you; + and—Thompson—I want you to do one little thing for + me—when spring comes." He reached into a chink among the + logs by his side and drew forth an envelope containing a few + letters, a photograph of a woman's face, fair and tender, and a + gold ring.</p> + + <p>Thompson took it with a hand that shook as his rarely + did.</p> + + <p>"Send it soon—it's addressed and all—send it to + her. Maybe she will be glad to know I am—gone—at + last—out of her path—out of the way—and the + world. She sent it back to me—would not have it—or + me. Now—" Then his mind seemed to wander, and he rambled + incoherently, repeating over and over again a name that sounded + like that on the envelope. "You will do it, won't you, + Thompson?" said he, rallying suddenly.</p> + + <p>Thompson's voice was husky and thick as he answered + impressively, "Damn me ef I don't!" adding mentally, as he + glanced at the package, "Damn her skin, whoever she is! She's + at the bottom of all this here business, you bet."</p> + + <p>Gentleman Dick's lips moved as if he were speaking, and as + Thompson leaned over him he could hear, in a broken whisper, + "Gold—in old boot—under bed—Old Platte + half."</p> + + <p>He heard no more. The pressure of the wasted fingers + relaxed, the weary head sunk slowly back on the pillow, + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_227]</span>and the tired eyelids + drooped over the glazing eyes.</p> + + <p>"Dick!" said Thompson—"Dick, old man!"</p> + + <p>Too late. Away through the softly-falling snow, from the + Blue with its stillness and solitude, from its heartaches and + sorrows and troubles, the weary spirit had fled, and Gentleman + Dick was at rest.</p> + <hr class='short' /> + + <p>Spring had come again; the snow had melted from the valleys; + the grass and the ferns and the green grass and bright lichens + once more peeped out among the gray boulders and about the feet + of the stately pines; and the Blue, freed from its wintry + prison, sang merrily over the gravelly reaches. And as the + miners flocked down that spring from over the range, they saw + near by the Chihuahua Claim and the deserted cabin, in a square + formed by four gigantic pines, a neatly-built cairn of + boulders. One big gray boulder rested securely on top of all, + and on it was hacked, in rough and simple letters, GENTLEMAN + DICK.</p> + + <p class="author">W. MACKAY LAFFAN.</p> + + <h2><a name="a_singular_family" + id="a_singular_family"></a>A SINGULAR FAMILY.</h2> + + <p>Almost as far back as I can remember three brothers, + Italians named Noele, were intimates and occasionally inmates + of our home. The youngest brother, Eugenio, had been imprisoned + during the political disturbances of his country, but had + escaped and made his way to England. Here, at a lecture given + by Mazzini in London under the auspices of the liberal Italians + and those who espoused their cause, Eugenio, who to handsome + features and aristocratic appearance added a modulated voice + and persuasive manner, rose during the course of the evening, + and in words that held the audience spellbound narrated his own + sufferings and those of some of his friends under the yoke of + Austria. As he concluded with the utterance of the sentiment, + "Libertà! Equalità! Fraternità!" a storm + of applause burst from the assembly, and many were the high + personages who at the close of the meeting requested an + introduction to the fascinating young orator. My father was + present on this occasion, and here his acquaintance with + Eugenio Noele commenced. The young man having discovered to him + that his pecuniary resources were at the lowest ebb, my father + took him home with him, and my mother afterward united with him + in requesting Eugenio to consider their house as his own. My + father also introduced him to his mercantile connections and + initiated him into mercantile affairs, when by his astuteness + and perseverance he was enabled to lay the foundations of an + excellent position. Indeed, but few years had elapsed (during + which time he had frequently resided with us) ere he had + acquired considerable wealth and we a clearer insight into his + true disposition.</p> + + <p>His principles were such as the promptings of self-love, a + violent temper, pride and ambition could without difficulty + overcome. As he rose higher in the social scale the reflection + that he had owed the impetus to others was a constant source of + annoyance to him. Our house was now but rarely visited by him, + unless when some legal difficulties had arisen on which he + wished to consult my father or some important papers required + translating. Then the air of pride would yield to one of + deferential affection, and in silvery tones he would discourse + on such topics as he imagined were the most pleasing to us. My + father would be termed "Signor Padre" and my mother "Signora + Madre."</p> + + <p>At about this time he sent to Italy for his brother Rugiero + to assist him in his affairs. Rugiero became as intimate at + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_228]</span>our house as Eugenio had + been. There were singularly contradictory elements in this + brother's character. At one time the history of a destitute + family would move him to tears, and his purse would be freely + emptied for their benefit: at another time he would spend half + an hour in searching for a lost farthing, and if not successful + his countenance would betray lines of anxiety for hours + afterward. If he made me the gift of a paper horn or box of + sweets, his heart for the rest of the day would seem to be + expanded with the most joyous emotions, and for weeks after I + was liable to be asked whether I remembered the day when I was + so pleased with his little gift; and then he would request + permission to examine the pictures painted thereon, and call my + attention to their merits. He was ordinarily slow to understand + the point of a witticism, but when he had by deep pondering + discovered it, nothing could exceed his enjoyment: bending his + head and clasping the bridge of his handsomely shaped nose, he + would laugh till the tears were ready to start. On the other + hand, he was extremely sensitive, jealous and suspicious. No + one knew how soon the pleasant smile and kindly word would give + place to angry passions as ungovernable as they were + disagreeable to witness. A smile passing from one person to + another without his being acquainted with the cause, was + sufficient provocation for him to rise, make his respects in a + frigidly polite tone and take his leave, to return a few + moments after with heightened complexion and excited voice, and + declare that he could not suffer an affront with + equanimity—that he would rid those present of his + "abhorred" society, and would never enter those doors again + whilst he drew the breath of life. We paid little attention to + these egregious eccentricities, merely remarking with a smile + of amusement, "Poor Rugiero! how ridiculous! He must be out of + his senses;" and about a fortnight later he would make his + appearance, penitent, apologetic and studious to remove the ill + impression that his strange conduct must have caused.</p> + + <p>A third brother, Giuseppe, was added to the group, of whom + vacillation was the distinguishing characteristic. Giuseppe, in + the innumerable discussions that arose between Rugiero and + Eugenio, would acquiesce with first one and then the other in + whatever exaggerated sentiments their enraged frame of mind + might prompt them to utter, with the view of keeping on good + terms with both; but the only result was that when the flag of + truce had been raised, grievances passed over and differences + adjusted, he would have the mortification of finding the whole + of the blame laid on his shoulders, and himself stigmatized as + "a feather-head," "a meddler" and "a spy."</p> + + <p>As the years rolled on I grew into womanhood, and became the + unwitting source of constant ill-feeling between the brothers. + Eugenio was handsome, but I distrusted him; Rugiero was nearly + as handsome, but I regarded him as I would have regarded an + uncle; Giuseppe was also handsome, but unstable and entirely + wanting in force. Time passed, and the brothers had separated. + Eugenio had married a woman in every way his inferior. Rugiero + had been drawn into a like union that surprised all those who + knew his refined tastes and sensitiveness to the social + amenities. Though a man of honor, his circumstances had become + embarrassed. In his emergencies he had recourse to his old + friends, whose aid was not withheld, but, a crisis arriving, he + was declared bankrupt. Eugenio, instead of assisting his + brother, upbraided with being a disgrace to his own + respectability, publicly disowned him, and, with the view of + forcing him to abandon the country, spread injurious reports + concerning him amongst many of the merchants who would + otherwise have been willing to extend a helping hand.</p> + + <p>Soon after this Eugenio made a journey to Italy on business. + Here he visited his native place with an equipage designed to + astonish the simple peasants and suggest to them the immensity + of his wealth. Never had the village on the outskirts of which + dwelt his widowed sister seen such magnificence or experienced + such munificence. His name was on all tongues; ovations were + made to <span class="pagenum">[Pg_229]</span>him; he was almost + a king in their eyes. His sister, Lucretia Mortera, had borne + to her husband a large family, of whom but three + survived—a youth named after his uncle Eugenio, and then + being educated for the priesthood; Celestino, a boy of eleven + years; and Virginia, a girl of eight. The little home in which + they resided in quiet retirement had been given to the widow + for as long as she chose to occupy it by a friend of her late + husband, as a token of respect to his memory. Eugenio Noele, + ashamed to see a sister of his living in a way so unsuited to + her birth and former expectations, requested her to dispose of + whatever property she might be possessed of, and prepare to + accompany him with her family to London, where he would provide + for them, and his nephew Eugenio, leaving his studies, could + take a place in his counting-house. This request—or + rather command—was embraced with gratitude, though it + cost a pang to think of leaving the home that had sheltered + them under many vicissitudes. Besides which, it was a matter of + doubt to Signora Mortera and her eldest son whether any worldly + promotion could justify his deserting the priestly vocation to + which he had felt himself called.</p> + + <p>One evening my mother and I were surprised by a call from + Rugiero. His face was pale and his eyes were wild. He sank into + an easy-chair, and after a long silence broke into the most + terrible invectives against his brother Eugenio, who had + dragged the widow and orphans from a peaceful home to cast them + adrift.</p> + + <p>"What widow? what orphans?"</p> + + <p>"Simply, Madama Melville, my poor sister Lucretia, whom he + induced to accompany him to London, with her family, on the + pretence of providing for them all, is now with those children + at my house, without means, without even a change of clothing. + Yes, my sister Lucretia, who was a mother to him when his own + mother died; and yet he prospers!"</p> + + <p>"But, Rugiero, what was the cause of his treating them + thus?"</p> + + <p>"When they had arrived at my brother's house the wife, who + had not expected them, took an aversion to them, and no sooner + did she learn that they were strict Roman Catholics than she + believed them to be capable of every crime. Celestino, who is + in a decline, was treated with the greatest neglect. Every + occasion of showing disrespect toward her sister-in-law before + her children or the servants was eagerly sought by my brother's + wife, whilst in the presence of her husband she was all + amiability. The sickness of one of her own children was made + the occasion of accusing Lucretia of an attempt to poison it, + and the wily woman so worked on my brother's parental feelings + that he had not returned home an hour ere he commanded his + 'infamous sister'—'quel assassinatrice!'—to leave + his house with her children on the instant! The door was closed + upon them, and the outer apparel that had served them for their + journey was thrown to them from the window by the servants. + Amazed and full of grief, they directed their steps toward the + house of the good priest whose chapel they had once or twice + attended. Here they procured my address, and soon after came to + my house, where they now are in the extremest affliction. You, + madama, may well imagine that I can scarcely maintain my own + family at this juncture, and that I am therefore unable to do + for my sister and her children what my heart dictates. After a + sleepless night I came to the conclusion that you, Madama + Melville, whose goodness of heart has so often been put sorely + to the test, would be able to suggest some plan by which to + mitigate the sufferings of my unfortunate sister or bring + Eugenio to reason."</p> + + <p>"My dear Rugiero, I feel certain that my husband would think + as I do—that for the present they had better stay here + with us. We can turn one floor into sleeping apartments for + them, and have one sitting-room in which your sister can + receive callers or remain when she wishes to be alone. You know + that I have so often heard you speak of your sister Lucretia + that I can take the privilege of giving her an invitation to + come and make us a long visit; and so you must tell her."</p> + + <p><span class="pagenum">[Pg_230]</span>"God bless you, dear + madama, as you deserve to be blessed! This is indeed a weight + off my heart and mind."</p> + + <p>The result of this conversation was that on the next morning + Rugiero returned, bringing with him his sister and her + children. Signora Lucretia responded to the welcome of my + parents with expressions of fervent gratitude, calling them the + saviors of her family. She was a short, slender woman, in whose + dark eyes, long, finely-cut features, and pale, thin face one + could discern the spirit of asceticism and the traces of past + afflictions. Of the children she had buried, all had reached + their tenth year in apparent health and remarkable for their + physical and moral beauty, but from that age they had rapidly + trodden the pathway to the tomb. None of her children had + resembled their father but Eugenio, who was a well-made youth + of wiry constitution, and gave every promise of attaining the + ordinary age allotted to man. Celestino was destined soon to + rejoin the children gone before. How can I describe the thrill + I felt when I saw that child's face as he entered the room? + Never had I seen in picture or in dream a countenance so + lovely. But what can I say of those soul-speaking eyes, the + large, dark-brown iris surrounded by the brilliant azure-white + and shaded by long dark lashes? Finely chiseled features were + added to a rounded face of a clear pale olive, except where a + flush like the pink lining of a shell played upon it. Virginia + greatly resembled her brother Celestino, but was in full + health, and in spirits that would have been lively but for the + constant and harassing admonitions of her mother, who in every + free and graceful movement saw a tendency to levity that must + be repressed. The poor child was doomed to a perpetual + entanglement of the lower limbs, owing to her garments being + made as long as those of a grown person. If, forgetting + decorum, she chanced to skip or jump, Signora Lucretia would + exclaim, "Va scompostaccia! sta più composta" ("Go to, + most discomposed one! be more composed"), and seating her by + her side would supply her with needlework or knitting until my + mother would intercede, assuring Signora Lucretia that the + child could never attain healthy womanhood unless allowed the + full play of her muscles and the expansion of her lungs by + singing and laughter.</p> + + <p>"Ah, madama, you know not how I fear lest the natural gayety + of her disposition should cause the loss of her soul."</p> + + <p>"Oh, my dear lady, such ideas are born of the troubles + through which you have passed, and not of your native good + sense. God has implanted this gayety in your child's heart to + enable her to enter with zest into those amusements so + necessary to her development."</p> + + <p>One day my mother (by permission) had a tuck taken up in + Virginia's dress, and, directing me to take her for a walk, she + privately commissioned me to purchase for her such attire as + was suitable to a child of her years. I began with her head, + and secured the jauntiest little hat with feathers that I could + find, not without a misgiving that it would ultimately be + consigned to the flames. Amongst other articles that I procured + was a wax doll, at the sight of which Virginia screamed with + delight. It was her first doll. Even Signora Lucretia's face + was lit by a smile of undisguised admiration at the improvement + in the child's toilette, but it soon gave place to a sigh at + her own "vanity of spirit," and she held the little hat as Eve + might have held the apple offered to her by the serpent.</p> + + <p>Signora Lucretia and her children spent some hours every + morning before breakfast in reciting litanies and other + prayers, and on retiring to rest the same forms were repeated. + During the day, whenever the clock struck the hour, the whole + family, leaving whatever might be the occupation of the moment, + knelt on their chairs and made a short prayer or meditation on + the flight of time.</p> + + <p>At the time of their arrival my cousin Oswald was staying + with us, and on the first evening he retired early to give them + an opportunity of conversing more freely on the melancholy + topics that filled their minds. After bidding good-night to my + mother and kissing her, he paid me the same tokens of regard. + This incident <span class="pagenum">[Pg_231]</span>had not + escaped the notice of the young Eugenio, for when directed by + his mother to retire to rest also, he advanced toward me, shook + hands, and (although, seeing his intention, I drew back) + succeeded in imprinting a kiss on my cheek. Signora Lucretia + turned as pale as death. My mother, to avoid a scene, turned + with a playful laugh to Eugenio, who by this time was scarlet + with shame, and said, "My dear boy, in this country such + salutations are only permitted from near relations or very + intimate friends, but I am not surprised that Mr. Oswald's + thoughtlessness before you should have misled you into doing + the same. So I am sure that your good mother will not be + displeased with you."</p> + + <p>"Oh, madama," exclaimed Signora Lucretia, bursting into + tears as soon as the door had closed upon him, "to think that + my son should have been tempted by the Evil One so far as to + forget what is due to the holy vocation for which he is to fit + himself! In Italy never had he even been in the same room with + any woman but myself and the priest's old housekeeper. This is + the first time that his lips have been so desecrated." (Here my + mother and I interchanged smiles.) "Unhappy mother that I am! + by what sufferings can I atone for his sin? What shall I impose + upon him to mortify the spirit that has arisen within him?"</p> + + <p>The next morning Eugenio came down looking pale and sad, and + I felt sure that he had been reprimanded in no measured terms. + I gave him a pitying glance, which fell like dew on the + thirsting earth.</p> + + <p>At every breakfast the children were taught to say + good-morning to each person separately. The elder son would + commence, "Good-morning and good appetite, Mr. Melville! + good-morning and good appetite, Madama Melville! good-morning + and good appetite, Signora Felicia!" and so on. Then Celestino + would go through the same ceremony, and finally Virginia, and a + grace was uttered, during which the breakfast was liable to + become cool, and Rugiero's temper (if he were present) not so. + "Andiamo! I am sure that Signor Melville and madama do not + insist upon so many compliments; and you, Eugenio, should have + more gallantry than to keep the Signora Felicia waiting whilst + her toast becomes cold." That he should connect the word + <i>gallantry</i> with Eugenio was an imprudence, to say the + least. But the offence was more serious when once at dinner he + favored us with some reminiscences of his own gallantries: "I + remember that when I was in the army the wife of our colonel + had a sister, a splendid-looking creature, with eyes like + stars, who (to tell the truth) was head over ears in—But + my sister Lucretia, who is frowning at me, is right. One would + say that she must have had an enlarged experience in such + matters, seeing how sensitive she is to the danger of + discussing them." (Here Signora Lucretia, with blushing cheeks, + glanced from Rugiero to her son, who with downcast eyes + appeared to be absorbed with the roast chicken on his plate.) + "Without entering into details that would appear ill-timed to + my dear sister" (here his eyes twinkled with roguishness and + his lips parted in laughter), "suffice it merely to say that I + acted as any other man under the circumstances would have + acted, and kissed her not once or twice, but—"</p> + + <p>"Go to thy room, Eugenio, most audacious!" panted Signora + Lucretia, for he had raised his head, and, meeting his uncle's + laughing gaze, had faintly smiled—"Go to thy room" (and + here she struck him on the face), "and recite the Litany of the + Blessed Virgin three times, and pray for thy uncle, that he may + be converted."</p> + + <p>Eugenio with flaming cheeks and ears rose submissively from + the table, and without a word or look ascended to his room to + do her bidding.</p> + + <p>"What!" exclaimed Rugiero, rising from his seat, "would you + dare to insult me by desiring my own nephew to pray for me? It + seems to me that I dream! Per Bacco!"</p> + + <p>Here my father observed that he must own he saw nothing very + outrageous in what Rugiero had narrated, yet, as Signora + Mortera had her own peculiar views on the matter, he considered + that <span class="pagenum">[Pg_232]</span>her brother was bound + to respect them. Rugiero then admitted that he had been too + hasty, and a reconciliation was effected, but he never met his + nephew's eye thereafter without the same roguish smile, at + which the poor youth would blush painfully and lower his + gaze.</p> + + <p>During this scene at the dinner-table Celestino breathed + quickly, but never moved his eyes from the table-cloth, while + Virginia looked at each one of the speakers in open-mouthed + astonishment and curiosity.</p> + + <p>One day I accompanied Signora Lucretia and her children to a + Roman Catholic chapel in the neighborhood. I could not be + unconscious of the odd and incongruous appearance of the two + sons—Eugenio in a suit like that of a stage grandfather, + snuff-colored, and with collar that raised the lobes of his + ears; and dear little Celestino with a similarly cut coat in + bottle green, with large gilt buttons, making him look like a + man in miniature. Such had been the style pronounced by the + village tailor to be in the height of Parisian fashion, but + being a novelty to the London "gamins," it attracted more + notice from them than we could have wished. After Signora + Mortera and her children had attended the confessional she + seemed to be much easier in her mind, and was so amiable as to + tell my mother on our return home that it was edifying to + behold the signorina walking like a Roman matron, in contrast + to those who were giggling and turning their heads first one + way and then the other, like so many pulcinelle. + Notwithstanding this compliment, however, I perceived that she + was uneasy concerning Eugenio and myself. It was evidently a + satisfaction to her that I should load Celestino with caresses + and endearing epithets, but that Eugenio should sit near me, + speak to me, or even be in the same room with me (whether alone + or in company), was the signal for demonstrations of the + extremest vigilance. On one evening my cousin had brought home + some gifts, consisting of a silver pencil-case with gold pen + for Eugenio, a traveling writing-case with his name on it for + Celestino, and a small traveling work-bag similarly marked for + Virginia. These were highly appreciated. Celestino seemed + unwilling to have his desk out of his sight for a single + moment, and when his bed-time came wanted to take it up with + him. His mother, unwilling to leave Eugenio in my society + without her watchful presence, directed him to carry his + brother up.</p> + + <p>"Signora madre," said Celestino, "I am not tired + to-night."</p> + + <p>"Well, then, Eugenio can carry up thy writing-case for + thee."</p> + + <p>"Signora madre, it is not heavy, and I would like to carry + it myself."</p> + + <p>So Signora Lucretia went up with him herself, and, leaving + my mother to entertain Eugenio, I went immediately into another + room. I felt too deeply for the misfortunes of the + unsophisticated Eugenio ever to have willingly trifled with the + nascent susceptibilities of his heart.</p> + + <p>One little incident, however, occurred to interrupt the + orthodox reserve of our demeanor. An old friend of ours, + Captain Stuart, had sent Virginia a bank-note with which to + procure some keepsake. One evening the old gentleman called, + and was shown into the drawing-room, where my mother received + him. The rest of us were in the dining-room below. On my + mentioning Captain Stuart's name to Signora Lucretia, she + exclaimed, "Let us go, my children, and thank this good man for + his kind present to our Virginia."</p> + + <p>It was dark, but the hall-lamp had not been lit, so I took a + wax taper from the writing-table and, lighting it, proceeded to + escort them up the staircase. Some spirit of mischief prompted + me by a sudden movement to let the light be blown out. In an + instant the hand of Eugenio met mine, and thus hand in hand, + swinging to and fro, we came to the drawing-room door, and a + flood of light bursting upon us discovered to Signora Lucretia + my face flushed with suppressed laughter, and Eugenio's eyes no + longer timid, but sparkling with joy. From this time he would + spend whole nights in writing verses, which he would show to + his mother. She, noting the classical allusions, and having a + great <span class="pagenum">[Pg_233]</span>respect for literary + talents, did not repress his efforts, but on the contrary + appeared desirous that he should show his verses to my mother + and to me. Mingled with expressions of grief and despair at the + inconstancy of fortune and the decrees of fate were allegorical + fancies in which I could perceive that I held a place, but I + never allowed him to think that I noticed this; and indeed + after the escapade of the staircase I became more distant than + before.</p> + + <p>However, one day when Celestino was feeling more weak and + tired than usual, and I was propping him up on the sofa, I + observed with some trepidation that Eugenio, who had been + reading at the window, changed his seat to one near the head of + the sofa. His mother and mine were busy sewing at a window in + the next room, from whence they could see us through the + folding doors. His eyes were full of tears, and, suddenly + bending over his brother and rearranging a cushion, he seized + my hand and covered it with silent kisses. In a moment I had + disengaged my hand, full of fear for the result to Eugenio + should Signora Lucretia's attention be directed toward us. The + same evening, on returning from a visit, I learned that my + mother and Signora Mortera had gone out under the escort of + Oswald to attend vespers at a church some distance off. We + young people passed the evening alone together. The crimson + curtains were closely drawn, and the cosy room was lighted by a + blazing fire. Reclining in an easy-chair, I held Celestino's + fragile form in my arms, the wonderful eyes gazing into mine as + I watched with emotions too deep for words their ever-varying + expression. Eugenio sat on an ottoman at my feet, alternately + reading aloud from Dante and pausing to observe me, while + Virginia was on the hearth-rug, happy in adorning her doll with + pieces of silk, beads and flowers.</p> + + <p>Suddenly Eugenio said, "Does the signora remember in the + narrative of Dives and Lazarus how Lazarus was thankful for the + crumbs that fell from the rich man's table?"</p> + + <p>I understood him, and hiding my face in Celestino's + tendril-like curls, I replied, "Yes, but I wonder whether he + would have been hungry enough to eat crumbs that he knew to be + poisoned?"</p> + + <p>He made no reply.</p> + + <p>"Eugenio," I continued, "what are your plans for the future? + Is it your own desire to become a priest?"</p> + + <p>This last word made him tremble. "I <i>once</i> desired it," + he answered, "thinking it the most honorable position to which + I could aspire, and also my natural vocation. But now—God + knows whether it be a sin or not—I would pass through any + affliction He might send rather than become one. But my + mother's heart is fixed upon it more than ever, and soon my + family will be wholly dependent upon me. Ah! young as I am, I + have suffered and still suffer. Far happier is that child in + your arms, dying slowly though it may be, than the unfortunate + Eugenio."</p> + + <p>"Have a care," I said, "lest, entering the state of + priesthood, you bear with you a heart fixed on the things of + this world. Do not yield to the impulses of a strong + imagination, but endeavor to forget whatever might prove a + hindrance to you hereafter."</p> + + <p>"Ah, Felicia, my heart is too full ever to forget. + Celestino, my brother, <i>thou</i> art indeed happy. Dost thou + know it?"</p> + + <p>"Yes, Eugenio, I feel even too happy."</p> + + <p>"God bless thee, Celestino! I love thee more than ever;" + and, stealing his brother's hand from mine, he gently kissed + it, whilst Celestino smiled on us with a heavenly smile.</p> + + <p>It was arranged that I should accompany my father to the + counting-house of Eugenio Noele and strive to obtain some + redress for the widow and orphans, for I had always been a + favorite with him, and my mother imagined that my influence + would have more power than her own. But the only result of this + interview was that Eugenio promised, for my sake, to furnish + his sister and her family with sufficient funds to enable them + to return to their own country: he also told my father that he + should send one of his clerks to accompany them and see that + they <i>did</i> go there.</p> + + <p><span class="pagenum">[Pg_234]</span>On our way home we + called on Dr. Newcastle, our old friend and physician, and + after describing the circumstances of the Mortera family, asked + him to call and see Celestino in the evening. The doctor was a + fine-looking man, with a profusion of silvery white hair and + beard, a deep thinker, blunt and sincere of speech, and full of + dry wit that made every one laugh but himself. His footman (a + colored man) was once overheard to say, "Berry strange man, my + massa! berry sing'lar man! I say to him, 'I can't walk fast in + dese yere boots, sar—dey's too short.' 'Oh,' he says, + ''tis but the cutting off a piece of your toes, Caesar, and de + boots will fit well enuff.' Him berry sing'lar man. One day I + hear, through de open window of a lady's house, him say to her, + 'For what did you send after me, madam?' and she say, 'I feel a + leetle 'stericky again dis morning, doctor: what can you + pescribe for me?' 'Pescribe!' says my massa with a sort of + short laugh: 'why, dat you go to de top of de house wid a brush + and dustpan and sweep de stairs all de way down, and make all + de beds, and leave off drinking strong coffee;' and a berry + fashionable lady too, as dey tell me after. When de doctor get + into him carriage he talk to himself, and give him short + laugh."</p> + + <p>After an introduction to Signora Mortera, the doctor turned + his attention to Celestino, who lay on the sofa pale and + agitated: "Bless my heart! what a handsome lad! what splendid + eyes! Ah! hm! hm! poor fellow! hm!" and he cleared his throat. + "Let me feel your pulse."</p> + + <p>As Celestino turned and gazed on him with mute surprise the + doctor proceeded with his examination in complete silence, and + then began discoursing about the weather and politics.</p> + + <p>"But, doctor," said my mother, "you have told us nothing + about the boy? What is your opinion? what shall we do for him? + what do you prescribe?"</p> + + <p>"Whirr! whirr! how many questions! I prescribe for him a + course of early rising, accompanied by long prayer and fasting. + If he shows an inclination for exercise, give him a rosary. + Take away juvenile books, and give him the <i>Lives of the + Saints and Martyrs</i>. Let him remember the days of fasting + and abstinence. Why, bless me! the boy is nothing but heart and + brain. He must be kept cheerful and well-nourished. Let him be + in the open air when it is pleasant. I will prescribe a little + something for him, but his case is beyond all medicine."</p> + + <p>"Oh, doctor, do you really mean to say that he will + die?"</p> + + <p>"Die?" and the doctor laughed his little cynical laugh. + "Why, we shall all die some day, shall we not?"</p> + + <p>"Now, doctor, do be serious. Is there no hope for him?"</p> + + <p>"I don't see that there is;" and he continued to gaze at the + boy's face as if it had some fascination for him.</p> + + <p>Eugenio Noele failed not a week later to send his clerk to + make arrangements for the departure of the Morteras. As the + time drew nearer Celestino failed rapidly. He would lie for + hours without speaking except with his eloquent eyes. + Frequently he would kiss a little ring that I had given him, + and a few days before his departure I gave him a trinket + consisting of a turquoise heart, with a cross set with crystals + over red stones, emblematical of the blood and water that + flowed from the side of our Redeemer. This he received with + great emotion, and as I tied it to his neck with a ribbon he + said, "I will wear it as long as I have life."</p> + + <p>"Does Celestino fear to die?"</p> + + <p>"No, signora, not whilst you are near me; and by dying I + shall see my brothers and sisters in heaven, and can come and + watch over you all."</p> + + <p>"Sweetest child! It will break my heart to lose thee."</p> + + <p>"Ah, do not weep;" and the boy's lips paled and his eyelids + closed. I gave him water, and called to his mother to come and + speak to him.</p> + + <p>"Ah, this child of my bosom! my poor Celestino! must he + leave me too?"</p> + + <p>"Dear signora, he goes to a world free from such sorrows or + cares as yours have been. He is like an angel even now."</p> + + <p>"Celestino, kiss thy poor afflicted + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_235]</span>mother." Without a word, + but with trembling lips, he stretched forth his arms to embrace + her, and I stole away, leaving to her sacred sorrow the poor + woman who for the moment, forgetting her self-imposed ascetic + restraint, was yielding to every impulse of demonstrative + tenderness.</p> + + <p>The night before their departure Eugenio wrote an ode + addressed to me, and placed it in my hands. I did not then read + it through: I felt too dispirited and preoccupied. The next + morning his eyes met mine with a questioning expression that I + did not comprehend. When the hour for parting had arrived tears + and broken exclamations were mingled. Eugenio lingered to kiss + me, with a look first of inquiry, then of deep despair. I found + afterward that the poem he had presented to me contained a + protestation of humble and devoted love, which he entreated me + not to neglect with scorn, and thereby add to the cruelties of + his situation.</p> + + <p>What a sense of loneliness we experienced! I felt restless + and unhappy: I was pursued by the imploring face of Eugenio and + haunted by the eyes of Celestino. It was long ere our household + recovered its old equilibrium. Letters full of gratitude came + from the Morteras. They were re-established in their old home; + Eugenio had resumed his studies; Virginia was not so well; + Celestino was dying. Soon after I received a letter in + Eugenio's handwriting informing me that the trinket he enclosed + would be to me an evidence that his beloved brother Celestino + was dead. He had died with a smile on his lips, and Eugenio + with his own hands had unfastened the jewel from his neck. In a + letter written some time after to my mother Eugenio implored + her by all she loved to rescue him from a position which he + felt to be daily more unendurable, by procuring for him some + engagement, in however humble a capacity, that would enable him + to support himself and assist his family. A priest he <i>could + not, would not</i> be. My parents had scarcely time to discuss + the matter ere another letter came from Eugenio, telling them + that his mother had discovered the subject of his + correspondence, and that she and their good old priest had + succeeded in convincing him of his wickedness in attempting to + relinquish the holy vocation of priest—that it had been a + snare of the devil; and he implored Signor and Madama Melville + to forgive him for the scandal he had caused concerning his + holy religion by such unworthy backslidings, which he now + deeply repented.</p> + + <p>One day Oswald came in exclaiming, "Aunt, who do you think + has failed and left the country?"</p> + + <p>"Who?"</p> + + <p>"Why, your friend, Eugenio Noele! As I passed the house I + saw men carrying away the pictures and things. I could not help + stopping to inquire into the matter. One of the workmen, who + seemed to know a great deal about it, said that a confidential + clerk was at the bottom of it all, and had run off before the + great smash came."</p> + + <p>The last news we heard of this singular family was that + Rugiero, who had gone to Italy with his family, was retrieving + his position, that Giuseppe was with him, and that Eugenio was + a priest, and beloved by all for his noble qualities and + extended usefulness.</p> + + <p class="author">CLELIA LEGA WEEKS.</p> + + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_236]</span> + + <h2><a name="the_matchless_one" + id="the_matchless_one"></a>THE MATCHLESS ONE:</h2> + + <h3>A TALE OF AMERICAN SOCIETY, IN FOUR CHAPTERS.</h3> + + <h2><a name="prologue" + id="prologue"></a>PROLOGUE.</h2> + + <p>Ah, the misfortune of + being wealthy, the misery of being handsome, the disadvantage + of a divine moustache and a dimple in the chin, the affliction + of having wavy hair and dark eyes, the forlorn condition of a + man who is very clever, who never makes a bad joke, who is such + "good company," such a "jolly dog," such a "happy creature" and + "fortunate fellow"! Oh the calamity of possessing a romantic + country-seat and fine horses!—the ill-starred luck of a + person who is always finding a moon that shines beautifully, a + sun that is never too hot, long walks that cannot be too long, + and drives that are "<i>so</i> delightful"!</p> + + <p>I am the unhappy victim of a fate which in spiteful mood + gifted me beyond my fellow-men. I might have had my share of + enjoyment in the world, as mediocre people have, but my + perfections are in my way at every turn, continually marring my + prospects. A superficial observer might think that these + advantages would have the contrary effect—that I should + be more fortunate than others—but my story will prove my + assertion. Take, for example, my difficulties as a "marrying + man." I will relate my experience during the past three years, + and you can judge for yourself.</p> + + <h2><a name="chapter_i" + id="chapter_i"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + + <p>My good mother (may Heaven reward her!) often advised me to + marry betimes. "Marry early in life, my dear Charles," she + would say, "but marry a woman <i>worthy</i> of you."</p> + + <p>In her solicitude my mother foresaw the difficulty of the + task she had set before me. She had known and admired me from + childhood, and of course appreciated my worth. I remember her + sad but affectionate gaze as she spoke, and I, unconscious of + the future, smiled to reassure her. With the simplicity + inseparable from great natures, I did not value the treasures I + possessed. I was as the poet before he has touched his + lyre—as the sculptor ere he has found his marble. Since + then the years have brought knowledge. My eyes have been opened + by the actions of those around me—by the admiration I + excite whenever I appear; by the respect with which I am + listened to when I speak; by the warmth with which I am + welcomed wherever I visit. I could produce many examples to + illustrate my gradual awakening, but they would be irrelevant + to my subject.</p> + + <p>I earnestly desired to fulfill my mother's wishes, and as + soon as it seemed proper after her decease I set out on my + quest as on a pilgrimage. The task which requires from most men + some six weeks' or three months' time, perhaps a few moments + snatched from business or a few evenings of ball-room devotion, + has cost me three years' labor, and it is not yet accomplished. + But I suppose it is easier for other men to find some one + worthy of <i>them</i>.</p> + + <p>I had read the poets: I had conceived an ideal of a + faultless creature, and with the enthusiasm of youth I sought + for a woman to worship as a star—one whom I should + adore—one far above me, from whom it would be honor to + win a smile, and—and all that sort of thing. Alas! I + found they smiled before I could make my first bow at an + introduction. At first I blamed the poets—thought they + had been mistaken—had not studied human nature; but the + truth gradually dawned upon me. <i>The fault was mine</i>! The + imagination of man had not been able to create a hero of + fiction like myself: in fact, had authorship attained such a + triumph, the most fastidious maiden would have been obliged to + fall in love at first sight, thereby spoiling many a fine + three-volumed romance and heroic cantos innumerable. How + ruinous would <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_237]</span>the + possession of perfection such as mine have been to the chivalry + of the Middle Ages!</p> + + <p>I do not think any less of the ladies for the ease of my + conquests: I know how impossible it is for the poor dears to + resist my charms; but oh the happiness of mediocrity!</p> + + <p>I was occupied for a whole season searching for the being + whom I called my star. My fancy was so pleased with the idea of + basking in her radiance, I had so fully persuaded myself to be + guided by her light to all things great and high, I had learned + to think of her with so much devotion, that I could not give up + my hope of finding her somewhere. I went to all the popular + summer-resorts in turn, meeting only disappointment. The star + type of girls did not seem to be the mode that season: I could + see no trace of her I came to find. Though saddened, I was too + young to despair: in my usual clear and sensible manner I + thought the matter over. After all, I reflected, I suppose I + can find a woman worthy of me who is not a star. I doubt not + the poets were sincere in their civility to persons of the + other sex. The exaggeration arose from the absence of any + really superior man with whom to compare them. They + <i>seemed</i> stars in contrast with the existing male species: + <i>I</i> had not yet appeared.</p> + + <p>Another summer found me renewing my search with unabated + vigor, but this time on a different basis, having determined to + lay romance aside—to seek for nothing above me—to + be content with an equal. If with her I should not be + ecstatically happy—if our <i>ménage</i> would not + quite rival that of Adam and Eve in the garden of + Paradise—yet a certain amount of modern bliss might be + extracted from the companionship of an agreeable woman who + could appreciate and sympathize with my tastes and be my friend + through life.</p> + + <p>I employed my second summer in looking for a sympathetic + woman, with the intention of making her my wife. May I never + see such a hard-working, distracting season again! Not that + such women were hard to find—they were only too plenty: + at one time I had six who were devoted to me. One sympathized + with my love of music; we sang duets together in the evening; + it was delightful, for I need hardly say that I sing as I do + everything else—remarkably well. Another sympathized with + my sketching propensities. We rambled in the woods together + with boxes and colors. I found it charming. "Nothing + amateurish" about my style, Miss Pinklake said. A third + sympathized with my taste for horses: my restive Nero was the + "sweetest pet" she ever saw. (My groom says, "He's the divvil + hisself, Muster Charley.") With her I rode in the afternoon. + She told me—Miss Vernon, you know her? brunette, deuced + pretty—she said one day, when we were taking a canter + together, "I can believe those wonderful stories of the + Centaurs when I see <i>you</i> ride, Mr. Highrank." She had a + pleasant voice, and such a figure! I had almost decided to + propose to her one day, and was even thinking of the words I + should use, when the pale Miss Anabel Lee came walking along + the road by us, looking like a fairy, her hat hanging on her + arm filled with wild flowers, and her dress looped with ferns. + As she passed she raised her beautiful blue eyes to mine, and + at the same time—it might have been chance—she + pressed a bunch of forget-me-nots to her lips. I remembered I + had an engagement to walk with Miss Lee on the beach that + night: there was a lovely moon—we talked poetry. It was + Miss Annie Darling who said I "waltzed divinely." Miss Annie + laid her hand on one's sleeve when she talked to one, mutilated + her fan with various tappings on a fellow's shoulder for being + naughty, as she called it ("naughty" meant giving her a kiss in + a dark corner of the verandah), said saucy things to the snobs, + and used her eyes. She walked with the Grecian bend. When I had + a serious fit there was young Miss Carenaught, who was plain + and read the reviews, spoke sharply against fashion, and knew a + man of my education "must despise the butterfly existence of + the surrounding throng." Sometimes she would invite me to go + with her to catch beetles and + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_238]</span>queer insects—"not + that she needed my help," she would say, "but my intellectual + society was indeed a treat in this crowded desert."</p> + + <p>All this was very agreeable, but also very perplexing. At + the end of the season I found myself as far from making a + choice as ever. If I indulged one taste at the expense of the + others, I should become a less perfect man; nor could I decide + in which of my pursuits I needed sympathy the most—music, + painting, dancing, riding, reading. Alas! could I find one + woman congenial in all my moods I would marry her immediately. + Wearied by the attentions of so many, I yet feared an imperfect + life spent with but one. I saw that I had made another mistake, + and retired to my country-seat, "The Beauties," to recruit.</p> + + <p>I know there is a modern idea that women are the equals of + men (the poets, you remember, thought them superior), and many + may consider it odd that I did not find it so. I do not wish to + offend. To those who hold that opinion I modestly suggest my + unfortunate superiority as the probable cause of my failure. I + do not blame the ladies, be it understood.</p> + + <p>Again I sat down to plan and reflect. I looked mournfully on + the past and less hopefully on the future. The obstacles were + beginning to dishearten me, but even after a second failure I + dared not relinquish my quest: my mother's wishes must be + fulfilled. A woman worthy of me: behold the difficulty! What + course of action should I now pursue?</p> + + <p>At last I had a flash of brain-light on the subject. I would + look for the purely good, rejecting the intellectual entirely. + I would plunge into the country and seek a bride fresh from the + hands of Nature, a wild flower without fashion, guile or + brains—one who in leaving me free to follow my own + pursuits would yet adorn my life with charms of the + heart—a heart that had known no love but mine.</p> + + <p>It was in the most beautiful month of autumn that I made + this resolve, which I lost no time in putting into execution. I + wrote to my old college friend, Dick Hearty, that I would spend + a month with him: he had often invited me to visit him in the + country. I counted on doing enough love-making in that time to + win my wild rose, and at my return I would bring home my bride. + I reasoned that in those unsophisticated regions, in the shadow + of the virgin forest, the trammels of long courtship and other + fashionable follies are unknown: heart meets heart as the pure + woodland streams meet each other and become one.</p> + + <p>Before I set out I gave a dinner-party at The Beauties to + announce to my gentleman friends the joyful event. At the + dessert I rose and proposed the health of my future bride.</p> + + <p>"And may it be years before she arrives at The Beauties!" + mumbled Percy Flyaway when they had drunk the toast.</p> + + <p>"I hope you will all welcome her at a grand reception here + in—about a month or six weeks." I remembered just in time + that I had best not fix a date, as something might + intervene.</p> + + <p>A storm of questions, exclamations and remarks ensued.</p> + + <p>"Lovely?"</p> + + <p>"As fair as poet's dreaming."</p> + + <p>"Die Vernon?"</p> + + <p>"Not for Joe!"</p> + + <p>"The Soprano?"</p> + + <p>A shake of my head.</p> + + <p>"Anabel?"</p> + + <p>"No."</p> + + <p>"Who is she?"</p> + + <p>"Let us drink her health again," said one, getting thirsty, + and fearing in the excitement the bottle would not be + passed.</p> + + <p>"Tell us all about her," cried another.</p> + + <p>"Gentlemen," said I seriously when the noise had slightly + abated, "you know I am a deuced good fellow."</p> + + <p>"Hear! hear!" they cried.</p> + + <p>"That you are!" said Percy.</p> + + <p>"Well, I am going to get a deuced good wife."</p> + + <p>"Congratulate you, old fellow!"</p> + + <p>"Do you think of going up in a balloon for a + wedding-trip?"</p> + + <p>They all came around me, clinked their glasses with mine, + shook hands with me, and drank my health, her health, the + health of my mother-in-law, and any other toast that would + serve as an excuse for emptying a glass.</p> + + <p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg_239]</span>"I say, will she cut + rough on us chaps?" asked Percy in a plaintive voice as the + hubbub subsided.</p> + + <p>"Gentlemen," cried I, waving my hand, "my wife that is to be + is an angel."</p> + + <p>"Wish she would stay in heaven!" muttered Percy.</p> + + <p>"What I mean by an angel is a perfect woman."</p> + + <p>"Worse still," said the irrepressible Perce. (By the by, the + wits had nicknamed him "Perce sans purse," because he was poor, + you know, but he was a good fellow, quite.)</p> + + <p>"Gentlemen, let me explain."</p> + + <p>"Hear! hear!"</p> + + <p>"I have been looking for a wife for the past year: I have + thought much on the subject, for I think it an important + one."</p> + + <p>"Solomon!" said Perce out of his wine-glass.</p> + + <p>"Now, a good wife must be a refined, gentle, kind, loving, + beautiful woman, with no nonsense about her."</p> + + <p>"Amen to the last clause!" cried Bear de Witt.</p> + + <p>"You have found her?" asked Percy, absently watching the + sparkling bubbles rise one after the other in his glass.</p> + + <p>"Ah—aw—I will bring her home," I answered, + evading the question—"my love, my bliss, my delight!"</p> + + <p>"He is awful spoony on her," said Bear in a disgusted + tone.</p> + + <p>"He is tipsy," whispered Percy as I sat down with a tremor + in my voice and wiped my eyes with a napkin.</p> + + <p>Then Perce began to lecture me in an injured tone: "I say, + it is really too bad of you. I should not have believed it if + you had not told us yourself. To go and get married like any + fool of a fella' that hasn't forty thou' a year, like any + common man—it's too rough."</p> + + <p>"I know it, Perce," I replied, "but we superior people must + set an example—the world expects it of us. The only + question is, how to make a proper choice."</p> + + <p>I remember very little after, except that the lights shone + dimmer through the cigar-smoke, that there was much noise from + popping corks, and occasionally a breakage of glass, and I + think I made another speech. Next morning I awoke with a very + robust and well-defined head-ache.</p> + + <p>A few days later I started for the back-woods, with + Wordsworth packed in my trunk, he being the writer most + congenial to my present state of mind. Once seated in the cars, + I looked with pleasure on each pastoral scene as it came into + view, and gazed at the milkmaids while thinking romantically of + my love. I took a nap, and awoke respectfully pressing the + handle of my portmanteau and murmuring a proposal to my wild + flower.</p> + + <p>It was late when I arrived at the little village near which + my friend resided, and I resolved to spend the night at the + modest inn of the place. The gay singing of birds, mingled with + the ringing of Sunday bells, caused my drowsy eyes to open on + the morrow. A happy thought came to me as I lay enjoying the + delightful freshness of all around me: "I will go to church: my + little Innocence will be there. I know she is pious. As + unconscious as the birds, and with as sweet a voice, she will, + like them, be praising her Maker this bright morning."</p> + + <p>I began to dress, looking each moment from the window with + the hope that she might pass by. The street was quiet—no + one to be seen. Presently, from a house near, tripped two + pretty girls, and I eagerly came forward to see them. "If it is + not my rose herself," I thought, "it maybe some + relation—cousin, sister, friend: I am interested in the + whole town since <i>she</i> lives here." The girls came nearer. + They walked without affectation: you could imagine that the + spirit of Modesty herself had taught them that quiet demeanor. + Suddenly they looked up and saw me. Am I Mephistopheles, to + produce such a dire effect? They looked down, they simpered, + they laughed a laugh that was not natural: their voices grew + louder.</p> + + <p>"<i>Did</i> you see him?" said one.</p> + + <p>"So perfectly lovely!" said the other.</p> + + <p>"I wonder who he is?" remarked the first.</p> + + <p>"My fate," I muttered as I turned away.</p> + + <p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg_240]</span>After breakfast I + sallied forth, humming "Pure as the Snow." Taking a + reconnoissance of the town, I came to a pretty house with + woodbine-covered porch, and a slender figure at the window.</p> + + <p>"I will not startle her with a rude glance," thought I, for + I could see without appearing to look. As my step resounded the + figure turned.</p> + + <p>"Oh, do come here, Jessie! Who <i>can</i> he be?" said the + slender figure to some one inside.</p> + + <p>I raised my eyes slowly, and my hat. "Could you tell me the + way to Mr. Hearty's?" I asked, not thinking of any other excuse + for speaking to her.</p> + + <p>Blushing, she told me.</p> + + <p>"And might I ask you," looking beseechingly at her as a + person who might be my future wife—"might I ask you to + give me one of your roses?"</p> + + <p>"Take as many as you like," she said courteously.</p> + + <p>"I would rather you gave me one," with a smile.</p> + + <p>She hesitated for an instant, then quickly plucked a bud + from the side of the open window, threw it to me and ran + away.</p> + + <p>"I shall find <i>my</i> Rose later," sighed I.</p> + + <p>I sauntered on to church, a pretty little building of mossy + gray stone, and seated myself on a shady bench under the elms + to watch the people assembling.</p> + + <p>Ye gods! could it be? Here were last summer's styles, airs + and grimaces, served up as it were cold. I could pick out bad + copies of each girl I had flirted with the past season. You + remember Florence Rich at The Resort?—here was her + portrait in caricature. Florence was the vainest girl I ever + knew, and showed it too. But she was vain of herself. This + country Florence was vain of a new silk that I would have taken + the odds she was wearing for the first time. She looked as if + she were saying with every rustle, "Admire me!" though of + course she wasn't, you know. She was constantly arranging her + bracelet or smoothing her glove, and looking on this side and + that to see if any one was observing her. By this means she + gave her admirers the benefit of her full face, showing both + earrings; then of her profile, showing one earring and her + curls; and then of the back of her head, showing her fall + bonnet. Her little black veil ended just where her nose needed + a shade. It is needless to mention that she looked at me as she + passed and gave me a smile <i>à la profile</i>, which + was ostensibly aimed at a pale young man near the + church-door.</p> + + <p>On they came, looking like the remnants of my summer's + feast—the supper after my season's dinner—stale and + repelling to my satiated palate. On entering I saw the ghost of + "the Soprano" at the head of the choir, with less voice and + more affectation. The same glances of envy that had been shot + from angry eyes at The Resort I now saw passing between angry + eyes here. The church was full of imitations of this kind, or + were they only inferior originals of the same type?</p> + + <p>I learned afterward that the girls of the town were divided + into two classes—the followers of Miss Loude, who was + fast and flashy, and the imitators of Miss Weighty, who + affected the quiet style, did not visit indiscriminately, and + was considered "stuck up" by the townspeople, being the + daughter of a retired grocer. During the service they all + looked at me. Some who were of the Loude school did it openly: + those after the Weighty pattern peeped clandestinely over their + prayer-books, through their fans, or between their fingers when + praying. The more clever would use strategy, shivering as if in + a draught of air, and looking around in my direction to see if + a window were open, while the mammas eyed me steadily through + spectacles.</p> + + <p>"I might have known it," I thought, exasperated: "'tis the + same everywhere, unless I should go to a country where the + people are blind."</p> + + <p>Dick Hearty, who was there with his sisters, came up after + the service and spoke to me. "Looking well, old fellow!" he + said, as if I was not sick of looking well. "Let me introduce + you to my sisters."</p> + + <p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg_241]</span>His sisters were of the + fast and flashy school. Both of them fell in love with me + before I left, though I tried hard to make myself disagreeable, + not thinking it right to disappoint them, being a friend of the + brother, and all that. But unless I wear a mask I cannot + prevent such accidents. I hope they will get over it in time. + They were deuced nice girls too, but more like peonies than + wild roses.</p> + + <p>Well, as I was saying, Dick introduced me, and insisted on + taking me home with him at once. I already began to fear for + the success of my object, but could not turn back at the very + beginning of the promised land; so I went with him.</p> + + <p>It would be tiresome to tell of all the flirtations and + adventures I had while there, or of all the girls who devoted + themselves to me. Like skillful leaders, Miss Loude and Miss + Weighty set the example to their imitators—an example + which none were slow to follow. Indeed, it seemed as if the + struggle consisted in seeing who should be first at my feet. I + averaged half a dozen conquests daily: Dick's house was + overwhelmed with lady visitors, and it was usually love at + first sight with them all. A second interview was sufficient to + win the most intractable. Not that I cared to win: I was + fatigued with victory—my laurels oppressed me. I began to + wish, like that nobby old emperor, Au—I used to know his + name—that all womankind had but one heart, that I might + finish it with a look, and then turn my attention to more + important matters.</p> + + <p>Once I thought I had found her. At one of the picnics given + in my honor I saw a sober, pretty little thing, with rosy + cheeks and chestnut hair, who looked intensely rural. I fancied + I should like to talk to her alone for a while, and took her to + a spring that was just in sight of the dancing platform, + thinking she would be too timid to go far away from the others. + I found her very sweet and bashful: I could desire nothing more + so. She blushed at each word she said, and made some very + innocent remarks, unfettered by the grammatic rules that + restrain less ingenuous people. Hoping to put her at her ease, + I talked about the country, the beautiful views, and all + that.</p> + + <p>"If you like lovely views," she said shyly, "I can show you + one."</p> + + <p>"I shall be most happy to see it," I replied.</p> + + <p>To tell you of the walk that the treacherous innocent took + me, of the rocks we climbed and the marshy brooks we crossed, + and the two hours she kept me at the work! Her stock of + conversation was exhausted in the first ten minutes, and I was + too angry to be civil. Two hours of such silent torture man + never underwent before, and yet when we returned tired, with + the perspiration rolling down our faces, I actually overheard + her tell one of her companions that it had been "a delightful + walk, I was <i>so</i> agreeable." Just my luck! And that walk + made her a belle! After it all the country beaux flocked around + to pay her attention, and she looked upon them as Cinderella + might have viewed her other suitors after the prince had danced + with her at the ball. Disgusting!</p> + + <p>Dick came to me after a while and said, "Charley, you are so + stunning in that velvet coat that all the girls are in love + with you."</p> + + <p>"I know it, Dick," I said in a complaining voice—"I + know it. It always happens just so. Think it's the coat? I + would take it off in a minute if I thought it was." Then I + added with a burst of confidence, "Dick, 'tis the same with + everything I wear: the fascination is in myself. I would do + anything to lessen it, but I can't."</p> + + <p>"You are a jolly joker," replied Dick with a tremendous slap + on my back, as if I had said something very funny. I am often + witty when I don't mean to be.</p> + + <p>But why continue a history which was the same thing day + after day? I stayed in the country more than three weeks. + Though doubting, I was conscientious, and left nothing undone + to gain my end. The task bored me far more than my sympathizers + did in the summer. Indeed, any of those friends were bewitching + in contrast to the girls I now met, and had one of them dropped + in on me during that tiresome period I think I + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_242]</span>should have forgotten nice + distinctions and made serious love to her, sure of finding more + pleasure in having a single taste in common than in having none + at all.</p> + + <p>I believe country-people are even more egotistic than the + dwellers in cities. I sometimes found myself at the most + isolated farm-houses looking for my Rose. The men I met there + invariably thought they knew all about the weather and + religion, politics and farming; the women were convinced they + had every kind of knowledge worth having, and that what they + did not know was "new-fangled" and not worth a pin; and their + daughters believed that they were beauties, or would be if they + had fine clothes to dress in. How people can be so mistaken as + to their capacity is a mystery to me.</p> + + <p>During my stay I came to the conclusion that I would rather + press a soft hand than a hard one; that I would rather see a + tasty toilette than beauty unadorned; that shy manners are + anything but graceful; that the useful and the beautiful are + not likely to be found in the same person; and that girls, like + <i>articles de luxe</i>, should be carefully kept. I like to + recall that well-bred, unconscious air of Miss Haughton; I + remember Miss Darling as a model of deportment: why, she could + do the naughtiest things in a less objectionable manner than + that of these girls when acting propriety.</p> + + <p>I discovered some facts regarding wild roses. Their petals + are few and faded, and their thorns many and sharp. Their + scanty green foliage will always remind me of a calico gown. + Take my word for it, and don't ever go to the trouble of + seeking one. Give me a full-blown damask rose. What care I if + it was nursed in a hot-house or if its beauty is due to the + gardener's care? I thank the gardener and take the rose. Or + give me a half-open sulphira, with suggestive odors and soft + curving leaves, passion-pale in tint, or a gorgeous amaryllis + produced by artful development, clothed like a queen in state, + bearing erect her magic beauty. No more wild roses for me!</p> + + <h2><a name="chapter_ii" + id="chapter_ii"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + + <p>I had been at Breezy Brook, that beautiful summer resort + which you all know, about a month: it was now July, and nothing + had happened worth relating since my arrival. During the past + winter I had not been idle—attending parties, balls and + operas without number, but without success. This summer I made + up my mind to be tranquil and to let events take their course, + for, as Fortune had given me every other good, she would no + doubt in time provide me with a good wife. I had therefore + every reason to be patient.</p> + + <p>I was in an unsociable mood one afternoon; so, taking a + cigar and book, I sauntered up the mountain. There is an arbor + halfway to its top, and I have a lounging-place near by, where + the roots of an old tree make a comfortable nest just above a + steep precipice, and the place is hidden from intruders by + rocks and foliage. 'Tis a discovery of mine I pride myself + upon, and I go there when I want to collect my thoughts and + enjoy my own company.</p> + + <p>Hardly had I made myself comfortable in my retreat when I + heard voices in the arbor below. It was Mrs. Fluffy and her + sister, Mrs. J.K.B. Stunner. I knew them in a moment, though + they were not visible. Panting for breath, Mrs. F. invited the + other to take a seat: she was very stout and soon tired. The + sisters were examples of opposite schools of art. Mrs. Stunner, + dark, hard and sharp-faced, was a widow with all her daughters + "well settled" in life—<i>i.e.</i>, married to wealthy + husbands—and was considered "fortunate" among the + matrons. Mrs. Fluffy was soft and florid, without an angular + point, physically or mentally: much younger and prettier than + her sister, she was always spoken of as "poor Mrs. Fluffy," + though she was not badly off that I could see. She had two + daughters "out" this season, and a third casting longing looks + in the same direction.</p> + + <p>Thinking they would move on shortly, as the arbor was only a + halting-place for people walking to the summit, I lay snug and + waited. Presently the widow, among + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_243]</span>other commonplaces, began + to discuss the young ladies at The Brook.</p> + + <p>"By the by, Sarah," she said, "I don't see that your girls + are doing much this season: I really must say you do not seem + to manage well at all. You may be playing a very deep game, but + I can discover no signs of it, and there is little that escapes + me in such matters."</p> + + <p>"Oh, Jane!" panted Mrs. F., "if you only knew the trouble of + having two daughters 'out' at once!"</p> + + <p>"As if I didn't know!" snuffed Mrs. Stunner.</p> + + <p>"True, true," replied Sarah in a conciliatory tone. "But you + seemed to have so little anxiety."</p> + + <p>"Seemed!" echoed the Stunner contemptuously. "Of course I + <i>seemed</i>, and the difficulty it required to <i>seem</i>! + Do you think I was so witless as to let my manoeuvres be seen? + I wonder at you, Sarah!"</p> + + <p>"Well, well," said the other, yielding the point, "I know + you have a talent for such things, and can manage well, but + <i>I</i> don't know what to do."</p> + + <p>"I—should—think—you—did—not," + replied her sister, tapping the ground slowly with her + foot.</p> + + <p>"What have I done that you should speak like that, Jane?" + asked the meek Sarah, bridling up.</p> + + <p>"Tell me," answered Jane after an ominous silence that was + quite thrilling, "where is Eva at this moment?"</p> + + <p>"Oh,", replied Sarah with a sigh of relief, "she is walking + with Mr. Hardcash. You introduced him at the last ball."</p> + + <p>"I introduced him to dance with, not to walk with," said + Jane severely.</p> + + <p>"Goodness me, sister! what's the difference?"</p> + + <p>"She asks me 'What's the difference?' Are you a child? Why, + just the difference between dancing and walking."</p> + + <p>From the pause that followed I knew that Mrs. F. was looking + with both her round eyes, intent on seeing it. I suppose she + did not succeed, as her sister continued, emphasizing each word + clearly, "Mr. Hardcash has not a penny," as if that at once + explained the knotty question.</p> + + <p>"Why did you introduce him if you don't approve of him?" + asked Mrs. Fluffy, with a feeble attempt to throw the blame on + her sister.</p> + + <p>"Have I not told you? In a ball-room girls need plenty of + partners—plenty of men about them. It makes them look + popular and fascinating, and if the gentlemen are handsome and + stylish-looking, so much the better. Mr. Hardcash is just the + size to waltz well with Eva—he shows her off to + advantage—but he is not a man to encourage afterward. She + should not be seen walking or talking intimately with a + gentleman who has less than ten thousand a year." Mrs. Stunner + delivered this ultimatum with the tone of a just judge who will + hear of no appeal.</p> + + <p>"How can I know how much the gentlemen are worth?" said + Sarah pettishly.</p> + + <p>"It is your duty as a mother to discover it," replied the + virtuous widow.</p> + + <p>"But how?"</p> + + <p>"The visitors' book will tell where a man is from; you can + easily get acquainted with some old lady or gentleman from the + same place; and—"</p> + + <p>"What! and ask about them!"</p> + + <p>"Nonsense! Speak of them, praise them if you wish, and let + the others talk: you have only to be an interested listener" + (here I could imagine Mrs. S. smiling grimly), "and you can + soon hear enough. For instance, commence in this way: 'Fine + fellow, Mr. T. from your part of the country.' As a general + rule the old gentleman will then give you his whole history. + Another time you may say, 'What a pleasant young man that Mr. + B. is! but rather inclined to be wild, eh?' If he is you will + soon know it. You can also cross-question the man himself. + Speak of a little girl he has at home: if he blushes he is + netted already, and lures are useless. See how he eats his + dinner: that is a good test to judge his position by; not that + a few <i>gaucheries</i> will matter if he is very + wealthy—for a judicious mother-in-law can soon correct + them—but for every impropriety he should have a thousand + added to his income. Such things are so intolerable in a poor + man!"</p> + + <p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg_244]</span>"I don't think Eva + would obey me if I did interfere in her affairs," objected Mrs. + Fluffy.</p> + + <p>"Her affairs, indeed! It is <i>your</i> affair. Of course + you want a son-in-law who can keep a comfortable house for you + to live in. You have brought up Eva badly, Sarah, and there is + one thing I must tell you about her—she is entirely too + familiar and sisterly with gentlemen."</p> + + <p>"She has a great many beaux," interrupted Mrs. F.</p> + + <p>"It is one of her worst faults," continued Jane, not + listening to her. "If a girl gets into those sisterly habits + with a man, it will never come into his head to marry her. She + may be his chief confidante; he will talk of his lady-love to + her, and she may end by being first bridesmaid at his wedding, + but nothing nearer. I don't approve of it. One of my maxims is, + that a man ought not be well acquainted with the girl he is to + marry until the ceremony is performed."</p> + + <p>"Well, you cannot disapprove of Laura," said Mrs. Fluffy, + trying to turn the conversation. "I left her in her room + reading."</p> + + <p>"'Disapprove' of her? The word is not strong enough for my + feelings. Neither of your girls has the least bit of common + sense; but I don't wonder, with such a mother! A girl who gets + a reputation for being learned and saying brilliant things + might just as well give up matrimony altogether. Men are either + afraid of them or detest them: gentlemen don't like to puzzle + their brains over a witticism, nor do they admire chaffing that + is beyond their comprehension. Courtship should be made easy. + My Jane was clever, and vexed me a great deal in consequence, + daughters of that kind are so unmanageable: give me the most + stupid in preference. It is pleasant to a husband to feel his + superiority, to look down on his wife. The mediocre is the girl + I take most delight in. There are so many mediocre men that + they are sure to get suited without giving you much + anxiety."</p> + + <p>"Jane," exclaimed Mrs. Fluffy with a burst of admiration, + "you are so clever I wonder <i>you</i> ever were married. Did + Mr. Stunner appreciate that kind of women?"</p> + + <p>"La! no. I had the sense to conceal my talents. Take my word + for it, superior people as a class are never liked, unless they + do as I did—conceal it, conceal it."</p> + + <p>"I am glad I was not born talented: I fear I could not + succeed in hiding it as you do." Mrs. F. was too stupid for + sarcasm, else I should have thought—</p> + + <p>"Now be frank with me, Sarah," broke in Mrs. Stunner, + scattering my thoughts: "who is paying attention to Eva + now?"</p> + + <p>"Well," replied the other, appearing to recollect, "there is + Mr. Rich: he asked her to ride with him."</p> + + <p>"More than once?"</p> + + <p>"No, not more, but it was only day before yesterday."</p> + + <p>"Ah! he may ask her again: once means nothing. A gentleman + may ask her for pastime, or to make some one else jealous, or + out of good-nature, but to a girl properly brought up once is a + chance—it is a good start." (Mrs. S.'s late husband was + fond of racing.) "It rests entirely with her to make the once + twice, the twice thrice, and so on; for if she is amusing and + don't talk love, he will be sure to ask her again."</p> + + <p>"'Don't talk love'? Why, Jane, you surprise me! I thought + that was the proper thing to do."</p> + + <p>"Just where people mistake. The most stupid man can talk + love if he feels love. Let girls be agreeable, sweet and + charming, but without especial effort to appear so, and when + gentlemen are captivated they will do their own + love-making."</p> + + <p>"Dear me!" was the reply.</p> + + <p>"Yes, I protest against young ladies throwing themselves at + the head of every marriageable gentleman they see. They should + think of the effect it will have."</p> + + <p>"But they are so unworldly that they don't think of effect," + said Mrs. Fluffy.</p> + + <p>"Humph!" ejaculated the widow in a tone of incredulity.</p> + + <p>"You seem to have a very poor opinion of women, Jane."</p> + + <p>"They want to marry, all of them: you admit that, don't + you?" asked Mrs. Stunner severely.</p> + + <p>"I think not," objected Mrs. F. in a + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_245]</span>feeble voice. "There is + Miss Furnaval: they say she has refused—"</p> + + <p>"Then," interrupted her sister, not heeding her, "if they + want to marry, why not take the proper means? It is + inconceivable to me how women, after thinking about it all + their lives, blunder into it in the end, just as if it was an + entirely unforeseen event. A little good sense is requisite in + everything, I think."</p> + + <p>"They are not all anxious to marry," reiterated Mrs. Fluffy, + gaining courage: "there's Miss Furnaval—"</p> + + <p>"A great example to give one!" remarked her sister + contemptuously. "She is making a fool of herself as fast as she + can. Among all the young ladies who marry badly, the + fascinating ones prosper the worst. No girl can refuse a good + offer with impunity: a day of reckoning will come. Society has + its laws, which must be obeyed: if not, <i>gare</i>! Mark my + words," continued Mrs. Stunner solemnly: "Miss Furnaval has + some outlandish un-society principles, and practically they + will not work. Why, she is quite as well contented talking to a + poor man as to a rich one, and she is always encouraging + worthless, amusing, handsome fellows—talented men, + instead of men whose position dispenses with the necessity of + their having brains. Those fellows she has about her are the + pests of society. If you hear of a runaway match, you may be + sure it is with one of them; if a daughter is obstinate, you + may be sure some ineligible jackanapes has prompted her to it. + Blanche will end badly. She will fall in love with one of them + some day, and finish by marrying him."</p> + + <p>"If Miss Furnaval loves one of that kind of gentlemen, I + don't see why she might not be happy with him."</p> + + <p>"You don't see anything, Sarah. You don't see the nose on + your face, though I see 'tis a very big one. I will make it + evident to you. He will be poor, Blanche is rich: if she gives + him her money, he will spend it. Never having had any of his + own, he won't know how to take care of it. If, on the other + hand, she don't give it to him, he will think she does not care + for him—will get jealous, likely take to drink: your + clever man always does. They will quarrel; then her clever + husband will use his clever tongue to tease her, and his clever + brain to thwart and provoke her—which a stupid man would + never think of doing—and, worse than all, she will never + get the least chance to have her own way in anything."</p> + + <p>"Poor Blanche! I pity her," sighed Mrs. Fluffy.</p> + + <p>"I don't, in the least," snapped the other. "Such an example + will serve to make other girls more sensible. Only you take it + as a warning to your own Eva."</p> + + <p>After quite a long silence, in which I suppose Mrs. Fluffy + was considering, she said pathetically, "I wish you would tell + me what to do with Eva."</p> + + <p>"Marry her as soon as possible," was the prompt and decided + reply. "It is her second summer 'out,' and she should at least + be engaged."</p> + + <p>"I can do nothing. What do you advise, Jane?"</p> + + <p>"In the first place, stop her being with such gentlemen as + Mr. Hardcash."</p> + + <p>"Eva is so high-spirited," groaned Mrs. Fluffy, "I fear she + would not listen to me."</p> + + <p>"You mean <i>obstinate</i>, Sarah. Tell her seriously that + she has had two very gay seasons—that you can't afford + another—that she must make up her mind now. Then think + over all the most eligible gentlemen you know, and cultivate + their acquaintance."</p> + + <p>"Couldn't you help me, Jane?" asked the other timidly. "I + shall not know what to do."</p> + + <p>"Let me see," continued Mrs. S. in a musing tone. "If you + had a country-house you could manage better. Elderly gentlemen + are usually pleased with domestic attractions, and there are + many little attentions that you and Eva could show them which + in any other position would look like courting them. Then there + would be no danger of competition. Indeed, if a pretty girl has + a gentleman all to herself for a week or two at a romantic + country-house, a wedding is sure to follow. But there must be + no jarring, fretting, bad cooking or any household ill + whatever—no talk of poor servants + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_246]</span>or dishonest grooms: + everything must be <i>couleur de rose</i>."</p> + + <p>"Jane, it appears to me you are talking very silly," said + Mrs. Fluffy, glad of a chance to attack her superior sister. + "You know I have no country-house, and I can't buy one just to + marry Eva and Laura from."</p> + + <p>"I merely said <i>if</i> you had. I thought you might be + pleased to hear my theory," replied Mrs. Stunner stiffly, "The + next best thing for you is to have a parlor here, get up + picnics and drives, make card-parties with + suppers—gentlemen so like to eat!—and do not spare + expense when you have a good investment in view. You can limit + the invitations to two or three gentlemen who are especially + eligible: make these some little compliment, such as + '<i>You</i> will come of course—our little party would + not be complete without you.' Contrive that they take care of + the girls, and you can entertain the others. Occasionally + include some young ladies in your evenings, so that the world + may not say you are afraid of them, but don't let them become + intimate."—Here Mrs. Stunner paused for breath.</p> + + <p>"It sounds easy enough," said poor Mrs. F. dolefully.</p> + + <p>"It is not easy at all," sharply replied her sister, "but if + we manage well we sha'n't have to go through with it more than + one summer."</p> + + <p>"Then you will help me?"</p> + + <p>"I suppose I must sacrifice myself for the good of the + family," said the Stunner in an heroic tone, "but you must let + me have my own way entirely."</p> + + <p>"Oh yes, Jane—certainly. I am so much obliged!" + replied Mrs. Fluffy with effusion.</p> + + <p>"Then it is not necessary to explain my plans further: I + shall be there and will manage."</p> + + <p>"But whom do you think we should invite, Jane dear?" asked + Mrs. F. anxiously.</p> + + <p>"You spoke of Mr. Rich. I approve of him: I know he has + twenty thousand a year. Yes, he shall be one."</p> + + <p>"I am afraid Eva won't like him," Mrs. Fluffy timidly + remarked.</p> + + <p>"Eva shall not interfere with my plans, and don't you + commence with such nonsense as liking and disliking; I won't + have it," retorted Mrs. S. in a louder voice than she would + have used had she known I was so near.</p> + + <p>"But there might be some nicer gentleman just as wealthy, + might there not?" suggested the weak sister.</p> + + <p>"There is David Todd, with thirty thousand a year: I wonder + if <i>he</i> would suit the dainty Eva?" said Mrs. Jane, + sneering.</p> + + <p>"I think she would like Mr. Highrank to be invited," + observed pink Mrs. Fluffy, waiving the question.</p> + + <p>I sat up and listened attentively when I heard my own name + mentioned, not forgetful of the adage that listeners hear no + good of themselves, but of course <i>I</i> had nothing to + fear.</p> + + <p>"More sensible than I thought Eva could be," the Stunner + rejoined. "Forty thousand a year and entailed, so that he can't + get through with it. I have observed him a good deal for + several seasons, and I find that though he is such a fool, the + sharpest girls can do nothing with him. When so many are after + him I suppose no single one can have a fair chance. Yes, we + will invite him, but I hope Eva will not think of falling in + love with him unless he should propose. Indeed, I think a + modest girl ought never to fall in love. It seems to me + indecorous, at least before marriage—after, they can do + as they like about it. You must warn Eva on the subject. If any + other gentleman should ask for her, she must not refuse, + because we could not count on Highrank making up his mind: I + have an idea that he is too weak to form a resolution of any + kind."</p> + + <p>I thought the old woman must be bilious. "Me a + fool!"—a philosopher rather. But I have always known that + exalted worth is a fault in the estimation of narrow-minded + people, who can't appreciate it. Little Eva has more + sense—would like me to visit her: of course the poor + child is in love with me. I wish I could tease that ridiculous + old lady in some way. I have a confounded mind to run off with + Eva. No, that, I fear, + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_247]</span>would please Aunt Stunner. + But I am missing all her trash: better listen. It is really not + worth getting heated over.</p> + + <p>"The others I will see about," continued Aunt Jane. "It is + very little consequence who they are. Only one thing: I won't + have that Hardcash about: he and Eva have been entirely too + much together."</p> + + <p>"She is rough on Ned," thought I in ambush.</p> + + <p>"I am afraid you won't be able to manage Eva, my dear + Jane."</p> + + <p>"Don't worry. When I have a duty to perform I go through + with it. Let us walk on to the summit."</p> + + <p>"Just as you like: I am sufficiently rested, and we can talk + as we go."</p> + + <p>There was a rustling of silk and a crunching of gravel, and + all was quiet.</p> + + <p>I lay there thinking for a long while: I wonder if my poor + mother, were she living, would take as much trouble to procure + me a wife as Mrs. Stunner is going to take to provide Eva with + a husband. I wonder mothers don't help their sons to marry, and + let their daughters help themselves. Girls are so much sharper + about such things than men are. Everything is against us. I + suppose women think they deceive us for our good, but they + should continue to do so after marriage. 'Pon honor! I have + seen the sweetest, most amiable girl turn as sour as could be a + few months after the ceremony. The dressiest ones often get + dowdy, the most musical can't abide music, the most talkative + have the dumps. A man has no chance of judging how they are + going to turn out. He is duped by the daughters, inveigled by + their mothers, and, what is worse still, as soon as he is + married they both undeceive him. It would not matter if a + fellow was cheated if he never knew it, but that's where it + hurts.</p> + + <p>I shouldn't wonder if that pair of old plotters would catch + me yet if I don't take care. I will tease them a bit, any way: + I'll pay a deuced lot of attention to Eva, and keep the other + fellows away. No man would try to win her if he thought I was + serious.</p> + + <p>Blanche Furnaval <i>is</i> an odd girl, I went on musing. + They said she would end badly—hope she won't, though. + Bewitching girl, but she don't seem to care if people admire + her or not. I never can quite understand her. Once I wrote a + few verses and gave them to her—compared her to an + ice-covered stream, quiet on the surface, but all motion and + tumult below. Well, she never even thanked me for them, though + she said she liked that simile, it was so new. There was + another couplet about her name—Blanche and snow and cold: + when she read it she laughed and said, "Though my name means + white, it does not mean cold. You know there are some white + things that are very warm, Mr. Highrank—my ermine muff, + for instance." But I made a clever answer. I said, "The muff + <i>looks</i> cold, and so does Miss Blanche, but if I could be + so fortunate as to touch the heart of either I might find + warmth." "My muff has no heart," she answered, looking at me as + if she did not understand. "And is its owner in the same + condition?" I asked tenderly. (I make it a rule to speak + tenderly to all girls, it is so sad for them to love me when I + cannot return it.) "In a poetical sense I believe she is," she + replied, "but for all practical purposes she has one that + serves very well."</p> + + <p>Sometimes she would be invisible for two or three days + together: no one would see her, either at meals or at the + evening ball. When asked what she had been doing, she would + smile that sweet smile of hers and say she had been enjoying + herself. She was very talented, but not a bit ostentatious. To + give you an example: It was rumored that she had a wonderful + voice, and though we had been begging her to sing for at least + a month, she steadily refused to gratify us. One day there was + a queer old Italian chap came to The Brook for his health. He + looked like an organ-grinder, and had been once actually on the + stage. Well, do you know she allowed him to be introduced to + her, and talked to him with as much deference as if he had been + a prince, when she ought not have spoken to him at all, you + know; and in that gibberish, too, that no one can understand. + <span class='pagenum'>[Pg_248]</span>One evening, after + entertaining him for about an hour, she walked with him the + whole length of the room, not noticing any one, though every + eye was upon her. He sat down at the piano which stood in a + corner, struck a few chords, and then, with no coaxing + whatever, she sang; and such a song! Her gray eyes grew dark, + and her voice quivered, deepened, expanded into a melody that + made you think the heavens had suddenly opened. Every other + sound ceased; the doors and windows were filled with eager + faces; the dancers ended in the middle of a quadrille, and the + band came in a body to listen. I saw one fat Dutchman holding + his fiddle in one hand while he wiped the tears from his eyes + with the other. When the song was ended the old Italian took + both her hands in his and kissed them, talking at the same time + with impossible rapidity; and she smiled and looked as happy as + if she had won a prize, turning her back on every one else who + wished to congratulate her. It showed how very odd she was. The + next evening <i>I</i> asked her to sing, and she flatly refused + without the least excuse, saying, "No: a refusal will be a + pleasant novelty in your life, Mr. Highrank."</p> + + <p class="author">ITA ANIOL PROKOP.</p> + + <p class="center">[TO BE CONTINUED]</p> + + <h2><a name="the_stranger_within_the_gates_of_paris" + id="the_stranger_within_the_gates_of_paris"></a>THE STRANGER + WITHIN THE GATES OF PARIS.</h2> + + <p>"Paris," once said Victor Hugo to me, "is the hostess of all + the nations. There all the world is at home. It is the second + best place with all foreigners—the fatherland first, and + afterward Paris."</p> + + <p>There was a great deal of truth in the observation, and + especially is it true as regards Americans. By our natural + sociability and versatility of temperament, by our love of all + bright and pleasant surroundings, by our taste for pleasure and + amusement, we assimilate more closely in our superficial + characteristics to the French nation than we do to any other. + Our Britannic cousins are too cold, too unsociable, too heavy + for our fraternization, and mighty barriers of dissimilarity of + language, of tastes, of customs and manners divide us from the + European nation which of all others we most closely resemble in + essential particulars—namely, the Northern Germans. The + Prussians have been called—and that, too, with a good + deal of truth—the Yankees of Europe; and if the term + "Yankees" means, as it usually does in European parlance, the + entire population of the United States, we citizens of the + great republic have every right to feel proud of the + comparison. Yet, with all our genuine respect and admiration + for the Prussians, there are but few American tourists who take + kindly to that people or their country. The lack of the + external polish, the graceful manners and winning ways of the + Parisians is severely felt by the chance tarrier within the + gates of Berlin. We accord our fullest meed of honor to the + great conquering nation of Europe, to its wonderful system of + education, its admirable military discipline, and its sturdy + opposition to superstition and ignorance in their most + aggressive form. And yet we do not like Prussia or the + Prussians. We scoff at Berlin, planted on a sandy plain and new + with the thriving, aggressive newness of some of our own + cities. We long for the soft shadows of antiquity, the dim + twilight of past glories, to overhang our daily path as we + journey onward through the storied lands of the ancient world. + We have enough of bright progressive prosperity at home. + Something of the feeling of the artist, who turns from the + trim, elegant damsel arrayed in the latest fashion to paint the + figure of <span class="pagenum">[Pg_249]</span>a beggar-girl + draped in picturesque rags, hangs about us as we travel. It is + only to Paris—Paris beautiful in its strange blending of + smoky ruins and splendid, freshly-erected mansions—that + we can pardon the white glare of newly-opened streets, the + Vandal desecration of antique landmarks, the universal + sacrifice of old memories, historic associations and antique + picturesqueness on that altar of modern progress whose high + priest was Baron Haussmann and whose divinity was Napoleon + III.</p> + + <p>We love Paris, we Americans abroad, and we like the + Parisians. One side of our affection grows and strengthens and + sends forth new shoots with every passing day. The longer one + lives in Paris the better one loves it. Its beauty becomes part + and parcel of one's daily life. The mighty sweep of palace and + arcade and museum and church, the plash of sunlit fountains, + the rustle and the shimmer of resplendent foliage, the grace of + statue, the grandeur of monument, the far-stretching splendor + of brilliant boulevard and bustling street,—all these + make up a picture whose lines are engraven on our heart of + hearts. Often, passing along the street, some far-off vista, + some effect of light and color, some single point of view, + strikes on the sense with new and startling beauty, and we + pause to gaze and to admire, and to exclaim for the thousandth + time, How fair is Paris!</p> + + <p>And she is so prodigal of her treasures, this goodly city! + She lavishes them on all comers without fee or favor. All day + long her princely art-galleries stand open to welcome the + passing visitor. One comes and goes unhindered and unquestioned + in church or museum, and even the service of guides and boats + and cars to the sewers, and of official guides to the + Catacombs, is given without compensation—nay more, all + fees are strictly; forbidden. There is no city on earth that + receives its guests with such splendid and lavish hospitality. + Apart from one's board and lodging, it is possible for a + stranger to come to Paris and to visit all its principal sights + without the expenditure of a single sou. And for the persons + who, prolonging their stay, wish in some sort to take up their + permanent residence in Paris, things are smoothed and ironed + and the knots picked out in the most wonderful way. Your board + is dainty and your bed soft. Velvet-footed and fairy-handed + beings minister to your wants. You are clothed as if by magic + in garments of marvelous beauty. The very rustle of your letter + of credit is as an open sesame to treasure-chambers to which + Ali Baba's cavern was but a shabby cellar. And if, on the + contrary, your means are limited and your wants but few, the + science of living has been so exactly conned and is so + perfectly understood that your franc-piece will buy you as many + necessaries as ever your fifty-cent greenback did home, and + that, too, in face of the fact that all provisions are now, + owing to the war and the taxes, as dear, if not dearer than + they are in Philadelphia. If a stranger comes to Paris and + wishes to live comfortably and economically, there are plenty + of respectable, well-situated establishments in the best + section of the city where he can obtain a comfortable, + well-furnished room and well-cooked, well-served meals, for + eight to ten francs a day—such accommodations as five + dollars would scarcely avail to purchase in Philadelphia or New + York.</p> + + <p>The whole secret of the matter is, that in France everybody + understands the art of making the most out of everything. No + scrap of food is wasted, no morsel cast aside, till every + particle of nourishment it can yield is carefully extracted. + The portions given to the guests at the minor hotels, where one + lives <i>en pension</i> at so much <i>per diem</i>, are + carefully measured for individual consumption. The slice of + steak, the tiny omelette, the minute moulded morsels of butter, + even the roll of bread and little <i>sucrier</i> and cream-jug + placed before each person, have each been carefully gauged as + to the usual dimensions of an ordinary appetite. Nothing is + squandered and nothing is wasted. When one recalls the aspect + of our hotel tables at home—the bread-plates left with + their piles of cold, uneatable corn-bread, and heavy, chilled + muffins and <span class="pagenum">[Pg_250]</span>sodden toast + uneaten, uncared-for and wasted; the huge steak, with its scrap + of tenderloin carefully scolloped out, and the rest left to be + thrown away; the broiled chicken—the legs scorned in + favor of the more toothsome breast; the half-emptied plates of + omelettes and fried potatoes,—one realizes how low prices + for board in Paris are still compatible with the increased + price of provisions, and why we must pay five dollars at home + for accommodations for which we expend two here. The same + wastefulness creeps into all the details of our hotel-life. If + we want a glass of ice-water, for instance, we are straight-way + supplied with a pitcher brimming over with huge crystal lumps + of transparent ice. One-half the quantity would suffice for all + actual purposes: the rest is left to melt and run to waste.</p> + + <p>The fact is, that we citizens of the United States live more + luxuriously than any other people on the face of the earth. On + an average we dress better, fare better, sleep softer, and + combat the cold in winter and the heat in summer with more + scientific persistency, than do any of the so-called luxurious + nations of Europe. Take, for instance, the matter of heating + and lighting. A few of the leading hotels in Paris, and a small + minority among the most expensive suites of private apartments, + have gas introduced into all the rooms, but as a general thing + it is confined to the public rooms, and the unfortunate wight + who longs to see beyond the end of his nose is forced to + wrestle with dripping candles and unclean lamps, known only by + tradition in our native land. The gaslight, which is a common + necessary in the simplest private dwelling in an American city, + is here a luxury scarcely attainable save by the very + wealthiest. And we do not know how precious our gaslight is + till we have lost it. To sit in a dim parlor where four lighted + candles struggle vainly to disperse the gloom, to dress for + opera or ball by the uncertain glimmer of those greasy + delusions, is enough to make one forswear all the luxuries of + Paris, and flee homeward forthwith.</p> + + <p>Then in winter comes the question of warmth. What is more + delicious than to plunge from the iced-champagne atmosphere of + a sparkling winter's day in America into the nest-like, + all-pervading warmth of an American home? Here such comfort is + wholly unknown. The cold, though less severe than with us, is + damp, raw and insidious, and creeps under wraps with a + treacherous persistency that nothing can shut out. The + ill-fitting windows, opening in the old door-like fashion, let + in every breath of the chill outer air. A fire is a handful of + sticks or half a dozen lumps of coal. The + <i>calorifère</i>, a poor substitute for our powerful + furnaces, is a luxury for the very rich—an innovation + grudgingly granted to the whims of the occupants of the most + costly and fashionable of private apartments. Warmth, our cosy, + all-pervading warmth, is a winter luxury that we leave behind + us with the cheerful light of our universal gas-burners.</p> + + <p>In summer we sorely miss the cold, pure ice-water of our + native land, and we long for it with a thirst which <i>vin + ordinaire</i> and Bavarian beer are powerless to assuage. The + ill-tasting limestone-tainted water of Paris is a poor + substitute for our sparkling draughts of Schuylkill or Croton. + Ice-pitchers, water-coolers and refrigerators are unknown + quantities in the sum-total of Parisian luxuries. The "cup of + cold water," which the traveler in our country finds + gratuitously supplied in every waiting-room and + railway-station, every steamboat, every car and every hotel, is + here something that must be specially sought for, and paid for + at an exorbitant price. Ice can be purchased only in small + quantities for immediate consumption. Ten cents for a few lumps + swimming in water on a tepid plate is the usual tariff for this + our American necessity, this rare Parisian luxury.</p> + + <p>The scant supply of water for ablution is another annoyance + to the American traveler accustomed to the hot-and cold-water + faucets introduced into private bedrooms and hotel apartments, + and the capacious bath-tubs and unlimited control of water in + his native land. To be sure, one can get a bath in Paris, as + well as anywhere else, by ordering it and waiting + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_251]</span>for it and paying for it; + but the free use of water and its gratuitous supply in hotels, + so entirely a matter of course with us, is here unheard of. As + with ice-water, the bath is an American necessity, a Parisian + luxury. However, the latest erected dwelling-houses here have + had water-pipes and bath-tubs introduced. Wealth can command + its bath here as well as its gaslight and its supplies of ice, + but wealth only. The humblest abode of a Philadelphia mechanic + contains comforts and conveniences which are wellnigh + unattainable luxuries in all but the most splendid apartments + of the most luxurious city of Europe.</p> + + <p>Nor do all the delicate artifices of French cookery suffice + wholly to replace for an American palate the dainties of his + native land. The buckwheat cakes and waffles, the large, + delicate-flavored, luscious oysters, the canvas-back ducks, the + Philadelphia croquettes and terrapin, find no substitutes on + this side of the water. The delicious shad and Spanish mackerel + have no gastronomic rivals in these waters, and the sole must + be accepted in their stead. We miss, too, our profusion and + variety of vegetables, our stewed and stuffed tomatoes, green + corn, oyster-plants and sweet potatoes. As for fruits, the + smaller varieties are far more abundant and much finer here + than they are with us. Strawberries, cherries, raspberries, + gooseberries, apricots—all of great size and exquisite + flavor—tempt and enchant the palate. But our rich + profusion of tropical fruits, such as bananas and pineapples, + is wholly unknown. Peaches are poor in flavor and exorbitant in + price. As for meats, poultry is dearer in Paris than at home, a + small chicken for fricasseeing costing six francs ($1.20 in + gold), and a large one for roasting ten francs ($2). Beef and + mutton are at about the same prices as in Philadelphia and New + York. Butter costs from sixty to seventy cents a pound. One can + easily see, therefore, that it takes all the skill and + experience in domestic economy of Parisian housekeepers to + maintain the prices of living at anything like its present + standard in <i>pensions</i> and hotels. But, in truth, the + general standard of French cooking has been much lowered since + the war. A really sumptuous French dinner is no longer to be + procured at any of the tables d'hôte or the leading + hotels, and if ordered at a first-class restaurant it will cost + twice as much as it used to do.</p> + + <p>Rents, though somewhat lowered from their former + proportions, are still very high, a really elegant unfurnished + suite of apartments costing from five thousand to ten thousand + francs a year, according to location; and if furnished, nearly + as much more. Two thousand francs is the lowest rent which + economy, desirous of two or three bed-rooms, in addition to the + parlor, kitchen and dining-room of an ordinary suite, can + accomplish. There are now in process of construction in the + suburbs of Paris several rows of houses built on the American + plan, and it is hardly possible to tell how comfortable and + home-like the neat separate abodes look to one who has been + journeying round amid a series of "floors," each so like the + others. To the casual visitor there is a despairing amount of + sameness in the fitting-up of all French furnished apartments. + The scarlet coverings on the furniture, the red curtains, the + light moquette carpet with white ground and gay flowers, the + white and gold of the woodwork, the gilt bronze clock and + candelabra, the tables and cabinets in marquetry and buhl, are + all precisely alike in each, and all wear the same hotel-like + look and lack of individuality. Nobody here seems to care + anything for home or home belongings. A suite of apartments, + even if occupied by the proprietor, is not the shrine for any + household gods or tender ideas: it is a place to rent out at so + much per month should the owner desire to go on a journey. No + weak sentimental ideas about keeping one's personal belongings + from the touch and the usage of strangers ever troubles + anybody's mind. Tables and chairs and carpets and curtains are + just so many chattels that will bring in, if rented, just so + much more income: around them gleams no vestige of the tender + halo that surrounds the appurtenances of an American home.</p> + + <p>The servant question is one that is just + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_252]</span>now of special interest to + the American housekeeper in Paris. I have elsewhere spoken of + some of the trials inflicted by these accomplished but often + unprincipled domestics on their masters and mistresses, so will + not expatiate further on the subject. I will merely specify as + a special grievance the law that forces the employer who + discharges a servant to inscribe on his or her character-book a + <i>good</i> character: should the departing help have been sent + away for gross immorality, theft or drunkenness, and should the + master write down the real reason of the dismissal, he renders + himself liable to an action for defamation of character. The + person, therefore, who engages servants from their + character-book has no real guarantee as to their worth. It is a + well-known fact also that the intelligence offices in Paris are + far more anxious to obtain places for bad servants than for + good ones, because the former class return to them more + frequently, and are consequently the better customers. As to + the percentage exacted from grocers and provision-dealers by + cooks and stewards—a percentage which of course comes + indirectly out of the pocket of the master—the evil has + become a crying one, but it is apparently irremediable. A + provision-dealer opened not long since a shop in one of the + most fashionable quarters of Paris, and sent round circulars to + all the housekeepers in the neighborhood announcing his + determination of paying no percentage to servants. The + consequence was, that not one of the cooks would buy anything + of him, and he has been forced to break up his establishment + and depart. It is an impossibility to engage a first-class cook + without according to her the privilege of doing all the + marketing—a privilege by which she is enabled to more + than double the amount of her wages at her employer's + expense.</p> + + <p>Among the other drawbacks of a residence abroad to an + American woman is an absence of the kindly deference to which, + by virtue of her womanhood alone, she is accustomed at home. + The much-vaunted politeness of the French nation is the + thinnest possible varnish over real impertinence or actual + rudeness. None of the true, heartfelt, genuine courtesy that is + so freely accorded to our sex in our own favored land is to be + met with here. "A woman is weak and defenceless," argue, + apparently, a large class of Parisians, "therefore we will + stare her out of countenance, we will mutter impudent speeches + in her ear, we will elbow her off the sidewalk, we will thrust + her aside if we want to enter a public conveyance. Politeness + is a thing of hat-lifting, of bowing and scraping, of 'Pardon!' + and 'Merci!' It is an article to be worn, like a dress-coat and + a white tie, in a drawing-room and among our acquaintances. We + have the right article for that occasion—very sweet, very + refined, very graceful, very charming indeed. But as for + everyday use—<i>nenni</i>!" That deep, true and + chivalrous courtesy that respects and protects a woman merely + because she <i>is</i> a woman, and as such needs the + guardianship of the stronger sex, is something of which they + have never heard and which they do not understand. They will + hand Madame la duchesse de la Haute Volée or + Mademoiselle Trois-Étoiles into her carriage with + incomparable grace, but they will push Mrs. Brown into the + gutter, and will whisper in poor blushing Miss Brown's ear that + she is "une fillette charmante."</p> + + <p>And when a Frenchman <i>is</i> rude, his impoliteness is + worse than that of other nations, because he knows better: he + is rude with malice prepense. The lower classes have especially + lost much of their courtesy since the Commune. I have seen a + French workingman thrust a lady violently aside on a crowded + sidewalk, with a scowl and a muttered curse that lent + significance to the act. And the graceful, suave courtesy of + the shopkeepers—how swiftly it flies out of the window + when their hope of profit in the shape of the departing shopper + walks out of the door!</p> + + <p>Shortly before quitting the United States I went into one of + our large public libraries to consult a voluminous work of + reference. In the remote recess where the books were kept sat a + gentleman intent <span class="pagenum">[Pg_253]</span>on the + perusal of a volume, his chair tipped back as far as it could + be with safety inclined, and his feet resting on the table. + "Horrid fellow!" I said to myself, glancing at the obtrusive + members, and going forward to the bookcase in search of the + work I wanted. It proved to be of somewhat ponderous + dimensions, and higher than I could conveniently reach, so I + stood on tiptoe and tugged vainly at it for a moment. My friend + of the feet saw my dilemma, and down went his book, and he + sprang to my assistance in an instant, "Allow me," he said; and + in a moment the heavy tome was brought down, dusted by a few + turns of his pocket-handkerchief and laid on the table for my + accommodation. If he had but known it, there was mingled with + my thanks a world of unuttered but heartfelt apologies for my + former hard thoughts respecting his attitude. And therein lay + the difference between the two nationalities. A Frenchman would + have died rather than have made a library-table a resting-place + for his feet, but he would have let a woman he did not know + break a blood-vessel by her exertions before he would have + rendered her the slightest assistance.</p> + + <p>American women are too apt to accept all the courtesies + offered them by strangers at home as their right, even + neglecting to render the poor meed of thanks in return. But let + them when in Paris try to get into an omnibus on a wet day, and + being thrust aside by a strong-armed Frenchman they will + remorsefully remember the seats accorded to them in crowded + cars, and accepted thanklessly and as a matter of course. And + when the lounger on the boulevards dogs their steps or whispers + his insulting compliments in their shuddering ear, they will + remember how they were guarded at home not by one protector, + but by all right-minded mankind, and will thank Heaven that + their brothers, their sons, their husbands "are not even as + these are."</p> + + <p class="author">LUCY H. HOOPER.</p> + + <h2><a name="our_monthly_gossip" + id="our_monthly_gossip"></a>OUR MONTHLY GOSSIP.</h2> + + <h3><a name="gypsy_music_in_hungary" + id="gypsy_music_in_hungary"></a>GYPSY MUSIC IN HUNGARY.</h3> + + <p>We have all, at some time or other, felt our curiosity and + interest excited by the bands of wandering gypsies whom we may + sometimes have come upon in their encampments pitched in some + remote or sequestered wood or dell—wild-looking men and + women and dark, ragged children grouped about fires over which + hang kettles suspended from stakes arranged in a triangle; + mongrel curs which seem to share their masters' instinctive + distrust of strangers; and donkeys browsing near the tilted + carts which convey the tribe from one place to another. We feel + a sort of traditional repulsion for these people, almost + amounting to dread, for stories of children stolen by gypsies, + and of their dark, mysterious ways, have taken root in our + infant minds along with those of ghosts and goblins, robbers + and Indians. There are, it is true, romantic associations + connected with them, and we try to fancy a Meg Merrilies in the + swarthy old woman who examines the lines of our hand and tells + us the past, present and future—sometimes with a + startling consistency and probability. But few of us would have + supposed that this race of vagabonds and outcasts had ever + risen much above their traditional occupation of tinkering, far + less that any portion of it had displayed original artistic + genius. We have, however, from Robert Franz the composer a most + interesting account of the wonderful music of the Hungarian + gypsies or Tziganys, which he had several opportunities of + hearing during a visit <span class="pagenum">[Pg_254]</span>to + OUR_MONTHLY_GOSSIPa friend in Hungary. He had been much + impressed in his youth by the wandering apparitions of these + people in the streets of Kiev, and by the strange, wild dances + of their women, whose outlandish garb was rendered still more + effective by the pieces of red stuff cut into hearts and sewed + all over their skirts. "These caravans of strange beings, who + preserve under every sky their dreamy laziness, their rebellion + against the yoke, their love of solitude," had always possessed + an irresistible charm for him, and he had never understood the + scorn and disgust of which they were the object.</p> + + <p>Being informed of the arrival of a gypsy band within eight + or ten miles of his friend's château, he took his + immediate departure for the forest where they had made their + temporary home. The sun was going down when he reached the + camp. It was in an open glade, where the ground was trampled + down, in some places blackened by fire, and covered with + fragments of coarse pottery, wooden bowls, bones, parings, etc. + The gypsies were there pell-mell—men, women and children, + horses, dogs and wagons. The men, lounging about in various + attitudes, were smoking: all had a look of careless nobility + about them, an air of melancholy, and eyes which burned with + slumbering passion. Old women were cowering about the fires, + surrounded by children whose meagre limbs were frankly + displayed to view. Tall girls, with Oriental eyes, firm and + polished cheeks, and vigorous forms, stood facing the horizon, + and were distinctly defined against the blue of the sky. Some + wore scarlet gowns, bodices covered with metallic ornaments, + embroidered chemisettes and a profusion of glass trinkets. In + the centre was one, taller by a head than her companions, her + face of a fine and delicate oval unknown amongst us, with + magnetic, disquieting eyes which suggested splendid vices; a + black turban confined her black locks; a chemisette of dazzling + whiteness half opened on her breast; she wore, as a necklace, + twisted five or six times about her neck, a long chaplet of + yellow flowers, clusters of which she held in her hands. The + red rays of the setting sun flashed with fantastic effect upon + the scene: then night fell, and in the flickering glare of the + fires gleaming eyes, white teeth and mobile hands emerged from + the gloom.</p> + + <p>Franz had expressed his wish to hear their music, but for a + while all was silent. Suddenly a strange, prolonged note + vibrated through the air like a sigh from the supernatural + world; another followed; then after a pause a majestic but + sombre melody was developed. The sounds swelled like an immense + choral, with incomparable purity and nobleness, fraught with + memories of ruins and tombs, of lost liberty and love. Another + pause, and some strophes of unbridled gayety burst forth; then + again the principal phrase, detaching itself like a flower from + its stem, among myriads of winged notes, clusters of vaporous + sounds, long spirals of transparent <i>fioritures</i>. Still + the violins grew bolder and more impetuous. Franz rose from his + seat while watching these men standing with their violins + pressed against their breasts, as if they were pouring their + life's blood into them: he felt oppressed with anguish, when, + by an ingenious inversion, the gloomy theme was transformed + into a graceful, poetic melody. The sounds passed away rapidily + like sparks, then were extinguished for a moment. A ferocious + violence animated the last measures, and the gypsies laid down + their bows. But, divining a sympathetic listener, they + recommenced and played on till the night was far advanced. At + length they ceased, and Franz left the camp, carrying with him + the revelation of a hitherto unknown art.</p> + + <p>Three principal features (he tells us) determine the + character of Tzigany music—its intervals, not used in + European harmony, its peculiar rhythms, and its Oriental + fioritures or grace-notes. In the minor scale the Tziganys take + the fourth augmented, the sixth diminished and the seventh + augmented. It is by the frequent augmentation of the fourth + that the harmony acquires a wonderfully audacious and + disquieting character. The educated musician at first thinks he + hears <span class="pagenum">[Pg_255]</span>false notes, but the + law of their harmonies is to have no law. Their abundance is + incalculable, and the solemn and intoxicating effects resulting + from the rapid and beautiful transitions cannot be imagined. As + for the grace-notes, they give to the ear a pleasure like that + which Moorish architecture gives to the eye: the architects of + the Alhambra painted on each of their bricks a graceful little + poem; the gypsies adorn each note with melodious designs and + luxuriant embroideries. But (we quote M. Franz throughout) who + shall describe the impalpable flame of Tzigany sentiment, the + strange, subjugating charm of which is a vital animation almost + adequate to life itself? or the mysterious equilibrium which + reigns in this undisciplined art between the sentiment and the + form? Mystery of genius, which bears in itself its inexplicable + power of emotion, and which science and taste in vain deny!</p> + + <p>When Franz again heard Tzigany music it was under very + different circumstances. A fete was given by a Hungarian + gentleman, of which this music was to be one of the + attractions, the most distinguished performers being Farkas + Miska and Remenyi Ede. The arrival of the latter on the morning + after the first evening concert (the fete seems to have lasted + some days) was announced to M. Franz by a great noise, a + banging of doors and windows and moving of furniture in the + room next his own. It at length ceased, and he was just getting + to sleep again when some one knocked at his door, and a pretty, + fair-haired boy entered, who announced himself as Ptolemyi + Nandor, the fervent disciple of Remenyi Ede, who, he said, had + just arrived and was about to take possession of the adjoining + apartment.</p> + + <p>"Well, sir, is it to inform me of your name and your fervor + that you have come to prevent me from sleeping?"</p> + + <p>"No," said the boy decidedly: "it is to ask you to dress + yourself and go out for a walk."</p> + + <p>To the astonished exclamation of M. Franz he replied that + his master wished to practice, beginning early, and that it + annoyed him to have any one hear him.</p> + + <p>"Go to the devil, you and your master!" naturally shouted + our composer.</p> + + <p>The boy became purple. "What!" he said, "send him to the + devil?—him, the great violinist, the successor of Czemak, + of Bihary!"</p> + + <p>"Is your master a gypsy?"</p> + + <p>"No, but he is the only living violinist who possesses the + authentic tradition of gypsy music."</p> + + <p>"I love this music; therefore I will get up and go down to + the garden."</p> + + <p>"Oh no, sir: go into the fields. See!" and he opened the + window, "every one has left the castle." And actually the + master of the house and his guests were all defiling through + the garden-gate, having had only three hours' sleep. M. Franz + soon joined them, and heard from them the story of Remenyi.</p> + + <p>At the age of seventeen he had been attached to the person + of Görgey during the Hungarian war. Leaving his country + with the emigration, he had shared the exile of Count Teleki, + Sandor and others; then passed some time at Guernsey, where he + knew Victor Hugo. He had afterward performed with brilliant + success in London, Hamburg, etc., and his renown, after his + return to Hungary, went on increasing. He traveled about the + country in every direction, astonishing nobles and peasants, + and playing with the same enthusiasm and poetry in barns as in + palaces. On hearing this our author slipped back to the garden, + where he hid himself to listen to Remenyi, who, to his great + disgust, was playing a concerto of Bach's.</p> + + <p>At breakfast, Remenyi appeared, a very commonplace-looking + man, full of his own praises, and always speaking himself in + the third person. "Remenyi practiced well this morning," said + he.</p> + + <p>"Yes, a concerto of Bach's!" Franz.</p> + + <p>Thereupon Remenyi asked for his violin, and they heard a + marvelous specimen of real Tzigany inspiration. Vanity + disappeared—passion, nerve and sentiment took its place. + He had all the qualities demanded by science, together with + those of imagination. It was the passionate inspiration of + genius. After his performance + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_256]</span>was over, he went gravely + to the mantelpiece, stopped the clock, and said to the master + of the house, "Let this hand mark for ever the hour when + Remenyi played at your house."</p> + + <p>M. Franz taking no pains to disguise; his admiration, + Remenyi, gratified by it, invited him to accompany him home. + Wherever he went he received a perfect ovation. At one place he + ordered a pair of boots, which were sent home, paid for by the + municipality. Art is a national glory in Hungary, especially + that of the gypsies, which has taken root in the very heart of + the soil.</p> + + <p>Remenyi's house at Rakos-Palota, near Pesth, is a long, + rambling building, the courtyard of which is given up to + chickens, ducks and pigs. M. Franz says the poplars before the + door look like exclamation-marks, and he thinks they are + planted there to serve as such. There are heaps of rare and + precious objects of every imaginable description—all + gifts—but the ones which the owner shows with most pride + are his Hungarian sabre and a pair of boots which Liszt wore + when a child.</p> + + <p>The question is often discussed in Hungary whether the + national Hungarian music is the production of Tzigany genius, + or whether the gypsies are only the exponents of what properly + belongs to Hungary itself. The gypsies are proved to have been + in Hungary as early as the thirteenth century, and their + musicians were celebrated in the sixteenth, some of their names + still living in the memory of the people. What has been + preserved of genuine old Hungarian music (some melodies of + Timody Stephens) has no charm save its antiquity. These and + other facts—but, above all, the impression produced on + him by the music itself—have convinced M. Franz that the + gypsy faculty is one not only of execution, but creation. Gypsy + art proceeds from the sentiment, the genius, of the Tzigany + race. It is too strange, its elements are too wild, to be the + exclusive product of a thoughtful, wise, believing, practical + and civilized people; but the Hungarians have understood this + art—they have surrounded it with love and respect. + Gaining new life, warmth and vigor from the welcoming applause + of Hungary, it belongs to her by virtue of her admiration and + sympathetic tears.</p> + + <p class="author">E.C.R.</p> + + <h3><a name="the_giorno_dei_mortiquot" + id="the_giorno_dei_mortiquot"></a>THE "GIORNO DEI + MORTI."</h3> + + <p>We all know that the second of November is All Souls' Day, + and that it is the day dedicated in the Roman calendar to the + commemoration of all those who have departed "in the faith." + And few who have traveled on the continent of Europe are not + aware that the day is observed in all Southern countries with a + degree of devotion which the greater part of the communities in + question are not in the habit of according to any other of the + ordinances of the Church. But to observe the manifestation of + this devotion in its most striking forms, to seize all the more + picturesque developments and presentations of it, the "Giorno + dei Morti" must be passed at Rome.</p> + + <p>It is a curious fact—one of the many of a similar + order which illustrate the moral specialties of the Latin + populations—that hundreds of thousands of people of both + sexes, who neither believe, nor affect to believe, the + doctrines of the orthodox Church, and who are in the habit of + utterly disregarding all her prescriptions and teaching, should + nevertheless, as often as this sad anniversary comes round, + behave as if they were to all intents and purposes good + Catholics. It will be said, perhaps, that the feelings to which + the special character of the commemoration appeals are so + common to all human hearts that the manifestation of them on + any customary occasion is in no degree to be wondered at. But I + do not think that this will suffice to explain the + phenomenon—at least as it may be witnessed here in Italy. + Other church ordinances might be pointed out of which the same + thing might be said, but which are not similarly observed. The + real cause of the phenomenon I take to be that this population + is—as it was of old, and as it always has been through + all outward changes—pagan. I put it crudely for the sake + of putting it shortly, for this is not the place to trouble the + readers <span class="pagenum">[Pg_257]</span>of a few + paragraphs of "Gossip" with a dissertation in support of the + assertion. The innate paganism of these people, born of the + beauty of the climate and of all external Nature, and of the + sensuous proclivity to live and breathe and have their being in + the present and the visible which results therefrom, first + forcibly shaped their early Christianity into moulds which + assimilated it to pagan observances and modes of thought, and + still remains ready to resume more and more of its old empire + as the authority of Church beliefs waxes feeble. The very + striking and singular scene which was to be witnessed in the + great Roman cemetery outside the Porta di San Lorenzo on the + second day of November was to all intents and purposes pagan in + its spirit and meaning. And it is curious to observe in this, + as in so many other instances, how the use of words supplies + illustrations of national peculiarities and specialties of + character. The Church has dedicated the day in question to the + commemoration "<i>omnium animarum"</i>—of all + <i>souls</i>. And we others, people of a Teutonic race, have + taken and used the phrase in its proper Christian sense: we + talk of "All <i>Souls</i>' Day." But with the peoples of the + Latin stock all thought or question of "souls" is very speedily + lost sight of. With them the day is simply the "Giorno dei + <i>Morti</i>"—the day of <i>the dead</i>. And their + observance of it is to all intents and purposes what it might + have been two thousand years ago.</p> + + <p>The very ancient church of San Lorenzo, one of the four + extramural basilicas, is situated some ten minutes' walk + outside the gate of the same name on the road to Tivoli; and + around and behind this church is the vast cemetery to which all + the Roman dead are carried. It was first used as an extramural + cemetery at the time of the first French occupation, but has + been very greatly extended since that time. Clergy, nobles and + monks were at first, and as long as Papal rule lasted, exempted + from the decree which forbade interment within the city. Now + all must be taken to San Lorenzo, and the greatly increased + population of the city has already very thickly filled an + immense area. The first thing that strikes the visitor to this + huge necropolis is the very marked division between the poor + and the rich quarters of this city of the dead. The + <i>fashionable</i> districts are quite as unmistakably divided + and separated from those occupied by "the lower classes" as + they are in any city of the living; as is perhaps but right and + natural in the case of a population among which it is held that + the condition and prospects of the dead may be very materially + influenced by a <i>quantum sufficit</i> of masses said for + them, and where these can be purchased in any quantity for + cash. A very large parallelogram, for the most part surrounded + by cloisters, is first entered from the gates which open on the + road. But this has been but little used as yet. Beyond it, to + the right, is the vast space occupied by the graves of the + multitude. Let the reader picture to himself a huge flat space + extending as far as the eye can see, thickly planted with + little black wooden crosses, with inscriptions on them in white + letters. The sameness of all these fragile memorials produces a + strange and depressing effect. The undistinguished thousands of + them make all the space seem black spotted with white. They are + ugly; and the poverty of these bits of painted stick, incapable + of resisting the effects of the weather, seems sordid in the + extreme. In the graves of this part of the cemetery all are in + truth equal. To the left of the vast cloister-surrounded square + which has been mentioned the scene is a very different one. + There, immediately behind the eastern end of the basilica, the + soil rises in a very steep bank to a height greater than that + of the church. To the space on the top of this bank a handsome + and garden-decorated flight of step leads; and there the "Upper + Ten" take their dignified rest, and their dust is perfectly + safe from all danger of being mingled with that of less + distinguished mortality. This higher ground is called the + <i>Pincetto</i>—as who should say the "Little + Pincian"—a name adapted from that of the celebrated + promenade of the gay and fortunate in life, with a suggestion + of meaning so satirical that it might + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_258]</span>seem to have been given to + the "fashionable" quarter of the dead city by the united sneers + of all the ghosts who haunt the undistinguished graves below. + In this aristocratic quarter there is of course no monotonous + uniformity. The monuments, some of freestone and some of + marble, are of every conceivable form and degree of splendor, + and death is made to look pretty and coquettish by the + introduction of numerous weeping willows and other such + botanical helps to sentiment. The great majority of the + inscriptions are in Latin, for Pius IX., so long as his power + lasted, absolutely forbade the use of any other language; which + was a measure of very questionable judiciousness, seeing that a + large crop of Latinity by no means creditable to Italian + scholarship has been the result. It would have been better to + stick to good Della-Cruscan Italian, or to have employed some + English school-usher to come here as resident reviser of Roman + Latinity. Inelegant and even ungrammatical inscriptions, + however, do not interfere with the general picturesqueness of + the spot, or with its singular adaptation to show to advantage + the remarkable scene enacted there on the last "Giorno dei + Morti."</p> + + <p>The cemetery had been visited by great numbers of persons, + bringing chaplets and flowers, during the day, both in the + aristocratic and the plebeian quarters, but it was at night + that the crowd was greatest and the scene most striking. The + night, as it so chanced, was a dark one, which did not make the + scene by any means less strange and weird-looking. The greater + number of visitors, especially in the poor quarter of the dead + city, were women. Such is always the case, whether it be that + the female mind is more generally accessible to gentle thoughts + of and yearnings over their lost ones, or whether the + explanation be simply that, as is especially the case here, + women, having less to occupy their leisure either in the way of + business or amusement, are more eager to seek any emotion or + occasion which may serve to break the flat monotony of their + lives.</p> + + <p>Certainly the scene in the cemetery on the evening of the + "Day of the Dead" was one calculated to make an impression not + to be readily forgotten by any mere looker-on who witnessed it. + Nor was that presented by the road from the gate to the + cemetery less remarkable in its way. It is an ugly, + disagreeable bit of road, between high walls, deep with mud in + wet, and with dust in dry weather, as was the case on the + present occasion, and without the smallest vestige of a pathway + for foot-passengers; so that the motley crowd, with their + lights and chaplets and flowers, had to make their way amid a + cloud of dust and among the carriages of those bound for the + "Pincetto" as best they might. But it was the general apparent + mood and temper of mind in which these pilgrims, bound on so + sad an errand, seemed to be performing their self-imposed task + that was especially noteworthy. It might be supposed that a + certain degree of reverential self-concentration, or at least + of quietude, would have been the characteristic of a crowd + bound on such an errand. There was not the smallest symptom of + anything of the sort. It is true that many visit the cemetery + on the evening in question who have not recently lost any + relative or friend, going thither merely as performing an act + of devotion or of amusement, or, as is usually the case with + all devotion in this country, of both combined. But the greater + number of the pilgrims is composed of those who have buried + their dead within the preceding year. Yet, as I have said, + there was observable in the bearing of the crowd not only no + reverential feeling, but not even that amount of quietude which + the most careless body of people of our race would have deemed + it but decent to assume on such an occasion. Laughter might + have been heard, though not perhaps very much. But the noise + was astonishing—noise of incessant chatter in tones which + bespoke anything but the tone of mind which might have been + expected. The truth is, that he who expects to find in the + people of this race the sentiment of awe or reverence under any + circumstances whatever does not know them. It is not in them. + The capacity <span class="pagenum">[Pg_259]</span>for it is not + in them. It is not a question of more or less education, or of + this or that condition of life. The higher and the lower + classes, the clergy and the laity, are equally destitute of the + capacity for feeling or comprehending the sentiment which makes + so large a part of the lives of the people of a different race. + To me the observation, far from being suggested by what met my + eye on the occasion in question, is the outcome of more than a + quarter of a century's experience of Italian ways and thoughts. + But the exhibition of the peculiarity on that occasion was very + striking. Doubtless there was many a mother among that throng + whose heart had been wrung, whose very soul had been struck + chill within her, by the loss of the child on whose grave she + was about to place the humble tribute of common flowers which + she carried in her hand. No doubt many a truly-sorrowing + husband and yet more deeply-stricken wife were on the way to + visit the sod beneath which their hopes of happiness had been + buried with their lost ones. But whatever might have been in + their hearts was not manifested by any token of + <i>reverential</i> feeling. There were tears, there were even + sobs occasionally to be heard, but there was neither reverence + nor what we should deem decency of behavior.</p> + + <p>Within the cemetery "distance lent enchantment to the view." + As seen from the cloister which surrounds the great square, as + has been mentioned, the outlook over the "poor quarter" of the + vast burial-ground was very striking. Amid the wilderness of + black crosses, which extends farther than eye could see, + numerous figures were flitting hither and thither, many of them + with lights in their hands. In the farther distance, where the + figures were invisible, the lights could still be seen + mysteriously, as it seemed, moving over the closely-ranged + graves like corpse-candles, as the old superstition termed the + phosphoric lights which may in certain states of the atmosphere + be seen in crowded graveyards. In the foreground, where the + figures could be distinguished, many were seen on their knees + in the damp and malarious evening air at the graves of their + lost relatives. But not even in the bearing these could + anything of real earnestness be traced. They were performing a + routine duty, of which no doubt their own consciences and their + friends and neighbors would have disapproved the omission; and + that was all. Nevertheless, the <i>picturesqueness</i> of the + general effect was perfect, and it appealed to the imagination + of a looker-on in a manner which to many minds, more intent on + sensational emotions than on discrimination of social + characteristics, would have caused the above remarks to appear + sadly ill-timed and out of place.</p> + + <p>The scene which was meantime being enacted on the Pincetto, + where the wholly separated resting-places of the "Upper Ten" + protest so successfully against the leveling notion that in + death all are equal, I might have suggested many a mordant + epigram to the cynically-minded visitor. I fear that there is + often something provocative of cynicism in sundry of the + aspects of fashionable devotion, but on such an occasion as the + present it could hardly be otherwise. Rachels in Parisian + bonnets and sweeping silk skirts, muttering over their rosaries + for their children on splendid cushions borne in due state by + attendant plush-clothed ministers, were contrasted in these + realms of the universal Leveler somewhat too strongly with the + scene one had just left in the (physically and socially) lower + regions of the cemetery. Of course hearts that beat beneath + silken bodices may be wrung as bitterly as those that serge + covers. I am speaking only of those outward manifestations + which contributed to complete the strangeness of the general + spectacle which I had come out to see. The better tending of + the aristocratic portion of the cemetery, and the greater space + between the graves and their monuments, made it of course + easier and less disagreeable to pass among them and to note the + bearing of individual mourners. If the former scene had + presented much that was indecorously formal, here all was + decorously formal. The routine, cut-and-dry nature of the duty + being performed exercised + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_260]</span>in either case its + property of numbing natural feeling, or at least the appearance + of it.</p> + + <p>On the whole, the experience offered by a visit to the great + Roman cemetery on the evening of the "Giorno dei Morti" is a + singular and curious one, as will be admitted, I think, by any + one who may be tempted by my example to go and see it.</p> + + <p class="author">T.A.T.</p> + + <h3><a name="mr_mills_mother" + id="mr_mills_mother"></a>MR. MILL'S MOTHER.</h3> + + <p>The publication of the late Mr. John Mill's <i>Theism</i> + (writes a correspondent from England) has again brought forward + its author and his peculiarities as subjects of general + conversation. Not content with having talked these matters + pretty well over some months ago, people are at this moment + discussing them with not a whit less of interest than if they + were brand-new. But it is what Mr. Mill has omitted to tell us + in his <i>Autobiography</i>, quite as much as what he has there + told us, that excites popular curiosity about him. How came it + that a man whose admiration of his wife was hardly + distinguishable from idolatry should never once mention his + mother? Thousands have asked, and have asked in vain, who she + was, and whether she could have been so entirely insignificant + as to deserve being passed over, without even so much as an + allusion to her, by her very philosophic son. These questions, + and others connected with them, I might answer at length. + However, the few facts I shall here state will perhaps be no + less welcome than a long detail. The wife of James Mill, and + mother of John Mill, was a Miss Burrows, daughter of a Dr. + Burrows who superintended an asylum for the insane at + Islington. She died in London about twenty years ago, having + outlived her husband not quite that period. Her children were + nine in number, of whom four daughters are still + living—two in England and two in France. She was not what + would be reckoned a conspicuously intellectual woman, and yet + she by no means deserved the heartless slight which was put on + her memory by her son. Indeed, such a slight could have its + justification in little short of utter worthlessness; and Mrs. + James Mill was not only esteemed, but beloved, by a large + circle of friends. On the appearance of the + <i>Autobiography</i> her daughters were, naturally enough, not + a little indignant at finding their mother as much ignored in + it as if she had never existed, and were inclined, at first, to + supplement, publicly, their brother's account of himself by + certain disclosures not exactly of a character to exalt him in + the estimation of the world. Suffice it to say here that for + many years before his death he had been estranged from his + family; and this estrangement was attributed, by those who had + the best opportunities of judging, to the sinister influence of + his wife. This is all that I am disposed to communicate at + present, but I should not be at all surprised if we were to + know, by and by, much more of the private life of John Mill + than we as yet know.</p> + + <h2><a name="notes" + id="notes"></a>NOTES.</h2> + + <p>There has recently emerged into notice, from her + hiding-place in one of the outskirts of London, an ancient + woman whose surroundings forcibly illustrate the persevering + vitality of even the insanest forms of religious belief. Joanna + Southcott and her fanaticisms we are apt to associate with Dr. + Faustus, alchemy, and persons and things of that kind, as + belonging to an age with which we have no personal concern. Yet + this is a mistake. The followers of the fatidical Joanna may + still be counted by thousands in Great Britain, particularly in + its metropolis; and their acknowledged head, in strict + accordance with the fitness of things, is a woman. She is a + very old woman, too, her age symbolizing, perhaps, the + longevity to which her crazy superstition is destined. + Elizabeth Peacock is the name of this relic of the past. For + many years she itinerated as a preacher, and at the great age + of one hundred and three her health is still vigorous. Modern + priestesses, however, not unlike the prophets of antiquity, are + subject to be scanted of due honor, or, at all events, of what + is more essential than this as contributing to keep soul and + body from parting company prematurely. + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_261]</span>The fact of her being in a + state of destitution was notified not long ago to the + magistrate of the Lambeth police-court, and that unappreciative + functionary, while consenting to subscribe, with others, for + her relief, openly expressed his conviction that she would be + best off in the workhouse. Altogether, the old creature is a + bit of a curiosity. She has had three husbands, and the last of + them, whom she married in 1852, killed himself only the other + day, possibly from finding the twofold burden of domestic + predication and a helpmeet of five score too much for his + nerves. If sane, the ungrateful fellow ought, in all reason, to + have had the grace to survive her; for when he undertook + matrimony, as he had nothing to turn his hand to, she + instructed him herself in the art and mystery of cooperage. At + that time, so robust a specimen of anility was she, she could + pitch an empty cask across the street, and her credulity is as + strong at this moment as her arm was of yore. We conclude, from + her story, that the proper stuff for making prophetesses of the + baser sort has, even in our day, only to be looked for to be + discovered.</p> + <hr class='short' /> + + <p>Our countrymen have lately learned to admire, in its Western + transformation, the extremely clever + <i>Rubáiyát</i> of Omer Khayyám. And they + are certainly much in the right in so doing. The sterling + merits of the Persian original are preserved with striking + fidelity in the English version of the poem, which, for the + rest, has gone far to prove that the acceptableness among us of + Oriental poetry may depend very largely on the skill with which + it is transplanted into our language. The translator of the + <i>Rubáiyát</i> is Mr. Edward FitzGerald, of + Woodbridge in Suffolk. Mr. FitzGerald's ancient family one may + learn all about from Burke's <i>Landed Gentry</i>, and that he + was born in 1809, and that he married Lucy, daughter of Bernard + Barton, the Quaker poet. He was educated at Trinity College, + Cambridge, where among his contemporaries and friends were the + present poet-laureate and Mr. Spedding, the editor of Bacon. + The <i>London Catalogue</i> names three works as by Mr. + FitzGerald. These, as we find from inspection of the works + themselves, are as follows: 1. <i>Euphranor, a Dialogue on + Youth,</i> 1851 (it reached a second edition, increased by an + <i>Appendix</i>, in 1855); 2. <i>Polonius: A Collection of Wise + Saws and Modern Instances</i>, 1852; 3. <i>Six Dramas of + Calderon</i>, 1853. These dramas are translations, in prose and + verse, of <i>The Painter of his Own Dishonor, Keep your Own + Secret, Gil Perez the Gallician, Three Judgments at a Blow, The + Mayor of Zalamea</i>, and <i>Beware of Smooth Water</i>. In + none of these volumes, however, except the last is there any + indication of its authorship but there Mr. FitzGerald's name is + given in full. The date of his metrical translation of + <i>Salámán and Absál</i>, from the + Persian, we are not at this moment, able to specify. Add, as + printed by him, but not published, two other small volumes of + translations—one, of the <i>Agamemnon</i> of + Æschylus; and the other, of two of Calderon's plays, + <i>Life is a Dream</i> and <i>The Wonderful Magician</i>. + Finally, we have to mention an unprinted verse-translation, + <i>The Bird Parliament</i>, from the Persian + <i>Mantiq-ut-tair</i> by Attár. Mr. Allibone knows + nothing of Mr. FitzGerald, and he is similarly passed over in + silence by the compiler of <i>Men of the Time.</i> Everything + that he has produced is uniformly distinguished by marked + ability; and, such being the case, his indifference to fame, in + this age of ambition for literary celebrity, is a phenomenon + which deserves to be emphasized.</p> + + <h2><a name="literature_of_the_day" + id="literature_of_the_day"></a>LITERATURE OF THE DAY.</h2> + + <p><b>The French Humorists from the Twelfth to the Nineteenth + Century</b>.<br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">By Walter Besant, + M.A.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">Boston: Roberts + Brothers.</span></p> + + <p><span class="pagenum">[Pg_262]</span> Had Mr. Besant given + us definitions of "humor" and "humorist," we might possibly not + have been satisfied with them, but they would at least have + enabled us to understand what sense he attaches to the words, + and what principle determined him in selecting the writers + embraced in his category. In the first page of his book he + speaks of humor as "a branch" of satire; in the second he + identifies French satire as the "esprit gaulois;" in the third + he tells us that "the French type for satire and humor has + preserved one uniform character from generation to generation;" + and in his last page he claims superiority for the French over + the English humorists, on the ground that "Rabelais has a finer + wit than Swift," that "we have no political satire so good as + the <i>Satyre Mènipée</i>," "no English humor + comparable for a moment with that of the fabliaux," "no + letter-writer like Voiture," "no teller of tales like La + Fontaine," and "no <i>chansonnier</i> like Béranger." + Now, it is evident that this is a comparison not of French and + English humorists, but of certain classes of writers in the two + languages in reference to their manifestation of humor. We have + no fabulist like La Fontaine, no song-writer equal to + Béranger; but then we do not think of citing our fables + and songs as the highest examples of English humor. It would be + easy to array a list of names as a set-off against that of Mr. + Besant. But this is needless. Humor, in the sense in which the + word is commonly understood, may almost be said to be a + distinctive quality of English literature, which is pervaded by + it in a far greater degree than that of any other people. It is + a leading trait in all the great English novelists, from + Fielding to Thackeray and George Eliot, without excepting + Richardson, in whom it is least conspicuous; it is the chief + attribute of our finest essayists, from Addison to Charles + Lamb; it is harmoniously blended with the fresh and simple + pathos of Chaucer and with the passionate moodiness of Carlyle: + it holds equal sway with the tragic element in the world + created by Shakespeare. When Mr. Besant says that "there is no + English humor comparable for a moment with that of the + fabliaux," we are forced to suppose either that he uses the + word "humor" in some unexplained and inexplicable sense, or + that he leaves out of the account what would generally be + considered the greatest of humorous productions. The puzzle + increases when we find him omitting all mention of Le Sage, + while excusing himself for the omission, from lack of space, of + Rousseau! A list of humorous works which should exclude <i>Gil + Blas</i> to make room for <i>Émile</i> or <i>Le Contrat + Social</i>, might itself, one would think, act as a provocative + on the <i>esprit gaulois</i>.</p> + + <p>These mysteries are not the only ones in Mr. Besant's volume + to which we have to confess our inability to discover a key. In + closing his remarks on Montaigne he touches with undissembled + irony the question whether he was a Christian, and, after + contrasting the tone and sentiments of the <i>Essais</i> with + those of the Gospels, bids us "remember that we are not in the + nineteenth century, but in the sixteenth, that Montaigne died + in the act of adoration, and cease to ask whether the man was a + Christian;" adding, "Christian? There was no better Christian + than Montaigne in all his century." It appears, therefore, that + the sixteenth century, instead of being, as we had supposed, + one in which the Reformation had brought with it a revival of + religious earnestness and a reaction against religious + formalism, and in which on the battle-field, in the dungeon and + at the stake, as well as through voluntary exile and the + relinquishment of property, thousands in every country + testified to the fervor and sincerity of their religious + convictions, was in truth, like the eighteenth century, one in + which a prevailing skepticism or indifference paid to dead but + not yet dethroned creeds its light homage of affected + "adoration." Mr. Besant informs us that "to the men of culture + the rival parties were but two political sides." How many men + of culture could be cited in support of this assertion? We + grant him Montaigne, but it was precisely because the case of + Montaigne was an exceptional one in the age of Erasmus and + More, of Calvin and Coligny, that the question in regard to him + has not seemed altogether idle.</p> + + <p>It appears from another passage that Mr. Besant has an easy + method of arriving at a judgment in regard to the character or + general aspect of an historical epoch. From the details in + regard to food, dress and furniture which he finds in the works + of Eustache Deschamps, a satirical poet of the fourteenth + century, he infers that the bourgeois life of that period was + "comfortable, abundant and cheery." "History," he says, "paints + this as the worst and most disastrous period that Europe had + ever seen; yet here, in the most real poet of the century, we + see how life, as a whole, went on in the usual way. For when a + great pestilence strikes a country, it slays its thousands and + goes away. Time quickly heals the wounds of grief, and the + world goes on as before. Then come the English to sack and + destroy. Nature heals their wounds, too, by the recurring + seasons, and the world goes on as before. I am inclined to + think that life, on the whole, was generally pleasant for a + well-to-do Frenchman of the period." Mr. Besant, it will be + seen, concedes that evils are evils while they last, that war + and pestilence are not pleasant things to the victims, and that + the comfortable and cheery life of the fourteenth century + suffered some interruptions from these causes. But then it was + still, he insists, an agreeable life "on the whole," since "the + recurring seasons" healed the wounds and the grief, and left + the survivors to enjoy existence "in the usual way." This, it + must be owned, is a very comfortable and cheery + philosophy—for those who preach it. We do not see that + they need ever complain of "bad times," since they can always + be sure that the recurring seasons will bring alleviation to + the survivors. It may also be admitted that, as there is no age + in which the recurring seasons do not bring relief, so there + has been none when war and pestilence and similar evils did not + interrupt the usual course of life. There is, however, this + difference, that in some ages these evils last longer than in + others, the wounds are deeper, the victims more numerous, the + intermissions less frequent, the relief tardier, the survivors + fewer. Such an age in France was the period of the English + invasions, comprising a great portion of the fourteenth and + fifteenth centuries. That life was then, "on the whole," + anything but comfortable and cheery is attested by records and + evidence of all kinds, against which the mention of weddings + and christenings, of gold-embroidered mantles and robes of + silk, <span class="pagenum">[Pg_263]</span>in the pages of a + court poet will, we apprehend, count for very little, + especially as the sufferers do not appear to have solaced + themselves with reflections on the sure effects of the + recurring seasons. Deschamps himself was unable, it seems, to + get his pension paid; and if he died, as Mr. Besant tells us, + about 1409, the chances, we think, are that however he may have + denounced luxury as the "crying evil" of his time, his death + was the result of starvation.</p> + + <p>Mr. Besant, it will be perceived, is one of those writers + who indulge in haphazard assertions without troubling their + heads with the facts that conflict with them. A glaring + instance of his tendency to exaggeration and wild speculation + will be found in his estimate of Rabelais, whom he first vaunts + as "a great moral teacher," "a teacher the like of whom Europe + had not yet seen," and then denounces as having "destroyed + effectually, perhaps for centuries yet to come, earnestness in + France," declaring that "no writer who ever lived has inflicted + such lasting injury on his country," and that "it would have + been better for France if his book, tied to a millstone, had + been hurled into the sea." These opinions are contradictory of + each other, since it is impossible that a writer who so + perverted men's minds should also have been, in any proper + sense of the term, a great moral teacher; they are inconsistent + with Mr. Besant's account of the "unbroken lines of writers," + of whom Rabelais was one, but not the first, all having the + same characteristics, all "irreverent," having "no strong + convictions," "like children for mockery, mischief and + lightness of heart;" and finally, they are so improbable in + themselves, and so unsusceptible of proof, that, uttered as + they are with the solemnity of communications from an unseen + world, they produce much the same impression on us as the + disclosures with which Mr. Robert Dale Owen is favored by his + "materialized" visitants.</p> + + <p>We might cite other examples to prove that Mr. Besant is not + a safe guide either in his general speculations or in his + critical judgments. He is an agreeable narrator, showing a + close familiarity with the topics he handles, and an enthusiasm + which, if it sometimes degenerates into mere fume, adds on the + whole to the liveliness of his writing. His translations in + verse are remarkable for their ease and finish. The book may be + read with pleasure, but not, we fear, with equal profit. The + chapters that deal with the least known + <span class="pagenum">[Pg_264]</span>works and writers are the + most satisfactory. On Montaigne and Molière Mr. Besant + has nothing to say which is likely to incite the reader to a + fresh study of their works, which ought to be the effect of + every fresh discourse on a great author.</p> + + <p><b>Recollections of a Tour made in Scotland A.D. + 1803.</b><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">By Dorothy + Wordsworth.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">Edited by J.C. Shairp, + LL.D.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">New York: G.P. Putnam's + Sons.</span></p> + + <p>The special charm of this book lies in the fact that it is + not a book—that there was no thought in the writer's mind + of printer's ink, no vision of publicity or fame, no solicitude + to propitiate critics or win the sympathy of the "gentle + reader." Or one might say it was a book of the primitive kind, + written on the bark of trees by some shy dryad, unconcious + translator into speech of the rustlings and whisperings of the + woodland. It is, as the editor observes, an "effortless + narrative," with "no attempt at fine or sensational writing, + ... at that modern artifice which they call word-painting," but + recording with "vivid exactness" what was seen and felt by the + writer and her companions on a journey through regions then + little frequented by tourists and unsmirched by the eloquence + of guide-books. That the travelers were William and Dorothy + Wordsworth and (for a part of the way) S.T. Coleridge, that + scenes and incidents here first sketched in the sister's sober + prose were afterward memorialized and moralized in the + brother's verse, and that many of the spots described were + about to become famous with and through Scott—a meeting + with whom formed the fitting close to the tour,—these are + circumstances that of course invest the journal with a deeper + interest and have called wider attention to its unobtrusive + beauty. But its chief attractiveness lies in the Doric + simplicity not only of the style but of the matter. An + outlandish Irish car was the conveyance; the appearance of the + party was not such as to attract notice unless by the + quaintness of their garb or their awkward management of the + horse, "now gibbing and backing over a bank, now reduced to a + walk, with one of the poets leading him by the head;" and they + themselves were in search of nothing more notable than such + wayside objects as might serve to feed contemplation. On one + occasion, having turned aside to visit the duke of Hamilton's + picture-gallery, they were told by the porter, after he had + scanned them over, that they ought not to have come to the + front door, and were directed to an obscure entrance at the + corner of the house, where they seated themselves humbly on a + bench while waiting for admittance, which was finally refused. + They were mortified, but had a deeper pang in the grounds + around Bothwell Castle, for here they were "<i>hurt</i> to see + that flower-borders had taken place of the natural overgrowings + of the ruins, the scattered stones and wild plants." Sometimes + at an inn they were made to perceive how little consideration + they were entitled to by being lodged in inferior rooms while + better ones were vacant; but to compensate for this, in the + wilder parts of the country they were greeted with the + hospitality which their mere condition as strangers was still + sufficient to call forth. The descriptions given of the people + have at least an equal interest with those of the scenery. We + have a succession of pictures in which, as Principal Shairp + remarks, "man is seen against a great background of Nature and + solitude." The book is one not to be read and laid away, but to + be kept near at hand, and made a frequent companion and + familiar friend.</p> + + <h2><a name="books_received" + id="books_received"></a><i>Books Received</i>.</h2> + + <p><b>Sophisms of Protection.</b><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">By the late M. + Frédéric Bastiat.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">Translated from the Paris + edition of 1863,</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">with Preface by Horace + White.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">New York: G.P. Putnam's + Sons.</span><br /> + <br /> + <br /> + <b>Select Notes on the International Sabbath School Lessons for + 1875.</b><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">By a New England + Pastor.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">Boston: Henry + Hoyt.</span><br /> + <br /> + <br /> + <b>Notes in England and Italy.</b><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">By Mrs. Nathaniel + Hawthorne.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">Illustrated + Edition.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">New York: G.P. Putnam's + Sons.</span><br /> + <br /> + <br /> + <b>William Prince of Orange; or, The King and his + Hostage.</b><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">By Rev. T.M. Merriman, + A.M.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">Boston: Henry + Hoyt.</span><br /> + <br /> + <br /> + <b>Report of the Commissioner of Education for the year + 1873.</b><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">Washington: Government Printing + Office.</span><br /> + <br /> + <br /> + <b>Among the Trees.</b><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">By William Cullen + Bryant.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">Illustrated.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">New York: G.P. Putnam's + Sons.</span><br /> + <br /> + <br /> + <b>Early English History.</b><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">By John P. + Yeatman.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">London: Longmans, Green & + Co.</span><br /> + <br /> + <br /> + <b>Poems.</b><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">By Stuart Sterne.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Published for the + Author.)</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">New York: F.B. + Patterson.</span><br /> + <br /> + <br /> + <b>The Frozen Deep.</b><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">By Wilkie Collins.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">Boston: William F. Gill & + Co.</span><br /> + <br /> + <br /> + <b>A Lecture on the Protestant Faith.</b><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">By Dwight H. + Olmstead.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1em;">New York.</span></p> + <hr /> + <a name='footnotes' + id='footnotes'></a> FOOTNOTES. + + <div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_001_1" + id="Footnote_001_1"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_001_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> + <i>Travel and Art-Study in Italy</i>, by C.E. + NORTON.</p> + </div> + + <div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_002_1" + id="Footnote_002_1"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_002_1"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> + December, 1874, art. "Physical Effects of Emotion on the + Heart."</p> + </div> + + <div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_003_2" + id="Footnote_003_2"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_003_2"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> + I have several times performed this experiment, and by a + method, the explanation of which would require a + separate article, have proved that the vaso-motor + centre, as well as the respiratory centre, is situated + in the medulla oblongata, and that paralysis of neither + respiration nor of the vaso-motor nerves follows the + operation.</p> + </div> + <hr /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIPPINCOTT'S MAGAZINE OF POPULAR LITERATURE AND SCIENCE, VOL. 15, NO. 86, FEBRUARY, 1875***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 14709-h.txt or 14709-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/7/0/14709">https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/7/0/14709</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>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. 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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: Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, Vol. 15, +No. 86, February, 1875 + +Author: Various + +Release Date: January 17, 2005 [eBook #14709] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIPPINCOTT'S MAGAZINE OF POPULAR +LITERATURE AND SCIENCE, VOL. 15, NO. 86, FEBRUARY, 1875*** + + +E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, David Gundry, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +Note: The Table of Contents and the list of illustrations were added + by the transcriber. + + Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 14709-h.htm or 14709-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/7/0/14709/14709-h/14709-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/7/0/14709/14709-h.zip) + + + + + +LIPPINCOTT'S MAGAZINE OF POPULAR LITERATURE AND SCIENCE + +February, 1875 + +Vol. XV, No. 86 + + + + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS. + + + FOLLOWING THE TIBER. + CONCLUDING PAPER. + + SIX MONTHS AMONG CANNIBALS. + + AN AMERICAN GIRL AND HER LOVERS. by Mary E. Blair. + + A JAPANESE MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE. by W.E. Griffis. + + THE LOST BABY. by Clara G. Dolliver. + + THREE FEATHERS. by William Black. + CHAPTER XXIII. SOME OLD SONGS. + CHAPTER XXIV. THE CUT DIRECT. + CHAPTER XXV. NOT THE LAST WORD. + + FEVER. by H.C. Wood, Jr., M.D. + + SONNET. by Charlotte F. Bates. + + SOME RECOLLECTIONS OF HIRAM POWERS. by T. Adolphus Trollope. + + CORN. by Sidney Lanier. + + GENTLEMAN DICK. by W. Mackay Laffan. + + A SINGULAR FAMILY. by Clelia Lega Weeks. + + THE MATCHLESS ONE: + A TALE OF AMERICAN SOCIETY, IN FOUR CHAPTERS. + by Ita Aniol Prokop. + PROLOGUE. + CHAPTER I. + CHAPTER II. + + THE STRANGER WITHIN THE GATES OF PARIS. by Lucy H. Hooper. + + OUR MONTHLY GOSSIP. + GYPSY MUSIC IN HUNGARY. by E.C.R. + THE "GIORNO DEI MORTI." by T.A.T. + MR. MILL'S MOTHER. + + NOTES. + + LITERATURE OF THE DAY. + + Books Received. + + FOOTNOTES + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + TEMPLE OF THE CLITUMNUS. + THE FALLS OF TERNI. + ORVIETO. + CIVITA BAGNOREA. + THE TIBER, FROM ORTE. + BORGHETTO. + ST. PETER'S AND THE VATICAN, FROM THE FALLS OF THE TIBER. + THE CASTLE OF ST. ANGELO. + ISLAND OF THE TIBER. + CUPOLA OF ST. PETER'S. + THE PINCIO, FROM THE VILLA BORGHESE. + SORACTE. + VEII, FROM THE CAMPAGNA. + TIVOLI. + CASTLE AT OSTIA. + HEAD OF THE TRAJAN CANAL, NEAR OSTIA. + + + + +FOLLOWING THE TIBER. + +CONCLUDING PAPER. + +[Illustration: TEMPLE OF THE CLITUMNUS.] + + +One branch of the little river which encompasses Assisi is the +Clitumnus, the delight of philosophers and poets in the Augustan age. +Near its source stands a beautiful little temple to the divinity of the +stream. Although the ancients resorted hither for the loveliness of the +spot, they did not bathe in the springs, a gentle superstition holding +it sacrilege for the human body to lave itself in a stream near its +source. + +[Illustration: THE FALLS OF TERNI.] + +They came by the Via Flaminia, the old high-road from Rome to Florence, +which crosses the modern railroad hard by. Following its course, which +takes a more direct line than the devious Tiber, past Spoleto on its +woody castellated height, the traveler reaches Terni on the tumultuous +Nar, the wildest and most rebellious of all the tributaries. It was to +save the surrounding country from its outbreaks that the channel was +made by the Romans B.C. 271, the first of several experiments which +resulted in these cascades, which have been more sung and oftener +painted than any other in the world. The beauty of Terni is so hackneyed +that enthusiasm over it becomes cockney, yet the beauty of hackneyed +things is as eternal as the verity of truisms, and no more loses its +charm than the other its point. But one must not talk about it. The +foaming torrent rages along between its rocky walls until spanned by the +bridge of Augustus at Narni, a magnificent viaduct sixty feet high, +thrown from ridge to ridge across the ravine for the passage of the +Flaminian Way--a wreck now, for two of the arches have fallen, but +through the last there is a glimpse of the rugged hillsides with their +thick forests and the turbulent waters rushing through the chasm. Higher +still is Narni, looking over her embattled walls. It is one of the most +striking positions on the way from Florence to Rome, and the next half +hour, through savage gorges and black tunnels, ever beside the tormented +waters of the Nar until they meet the Tiber, swollen by the tributes of +the Paglia and Chiana, is singularly fine. + +[Illustration: ORVIETO.] + +Where the Paglia and Chiana flow together, at the issue of the charming +Val di Chiana, stands Orvieto on its steep and sudden rock, crowned with +one of the triumphs of Italian Gothic, the glorious cathedral. After +toiling up the ladder-like paths which lead from the plain to the summit +of the bluff, and passing through the grand mediaeval gateway along the +slanting streets, where even the peasants dismount and walk beside their +donkeys, seeing nothing within the whole small compass of the walls save +what speaks of the narrowest and humblest life in the most remote of +hill-fastnesses, a few deserted and dilapidated palaces alone telling of +a period of importance long past, nothing can describe the effect of +coming out of this indigence and insignificance upon the silent, +solitary piazza where the incomparable cathedral rears its front, +covered from base to pinnacle with the richest sculpture and most +brilliant mosaic. The volcanic mass on which the town is built is over +seven hundred feet high, and nearly half as much in circumference: it +would be a fitting pedestal for this gorgeous duomo if it stood there +alone. But it is almost wedged in among the crooked streets, a few paces +of grass-grown stones allowing less than space enough to embrace the +whole result of proportion and color: one cannot go far enough off to +escape details. An account of those details would require a volume, and +one has already been written which leaves no more to be said;[1] yet +fain would we take the reader with us into that noble nave, where the +"glorious company of the apostles" stands colossal in marble beside the +pillars whose sculptured capitals are like leafy branches blown by the +wind; where the light comes rich and mellow through stained glass and +semilucent alabaster, like Indian-summer sunshine in autumn woods; where +Fra Angelico's and Benozzo Gozzoli's angelic host smile upon us with +ineffable mildness from above the struggle and strife of Luca +Signorelli's "Last Judgment," the great forerunner of Michael Angelo's. +It added greatly to the impressiveness that there was never a single +human being in the cathedral: except one afternoon at vespers we had it +all to ourselves. There is little else to see in the place, although it +is highly picturesque and the inhabitants wear a more complete costume +than any other I saw in Italy--the women, bright bodices, striped skirts +and red stockings; the men, jaunty jackets and breeches, peaked hats and +splendid sashes. + +The discomfort of Perugia was luxury to what we found at Orvieto, and it +was no longer May but December, when it is nearly as cold north of Rome +as with us; and Rome was drawing us with her mighty magnet. So, one +wintry morning, soon after daybreak, we set out in a close carriage with +four horses, wrapped as if we were going in a sleigh, with a +_scaldino_ (or little brazier) under our feet, for the nearest +railway station on our route, a nine hours' drive. Our way lay through +the snow-covered hills and their leafless forest, and long after we had +left Orvieto behind again and again a rise in the road would bring it +full in sight on its base of tufa, girt by its walls, the Gothic lines +of the cathedral sharp against the clear, brightening sky. At our last +look the sun was not up, but broad shafts of light, such as painters +throw before the chariot of Phoebus, refracted against the pure aether, +spread like a halo round the threefold pinnacles: a moment more and +Orvieto was hidden behind a higher hill, not to be seen again. All day +we drove among the snow-bound hills and woods, past the Lake of Bolsena +in its forbidding beauty; past small valleys full of naked fruit trees +and shivering olives, which must be nooks of loveliness in spring; past +defiant little towns aloft on their islands of tufa, like Bagnorea with +its single slender bell-tower; past Montefiascone with its good old +story about Cardinal Fugger and the native wine. + +[Illustration: CIVITA BAGNOREA.] + +We stopped to lunch at Viterbo, a town more closely connected with the +history of the Papacy than any except Rome itself, and full of legends +and romantic associations: it is dirty and dilapidated, and has great +need of all its memories. Being but eight miles from Montefiascone, we +called for a bottle of the fatal Est, which we had tasted once at +Augsburg, where the host of the Three Moors has it in his cellar, in +honor perhaps of the departed Fugger family, whose palace has become his +hotel: there we had found it delicious--a wine as sweet as cordial, with +a soul of fire and a penetrating but delicate flavor of its own--how +different from the thin, sour stuff they brought us in the long-necked, +straw-covered flask, nothing to attest its relationship to the generous +juice at the Three Moors except the singular, unique flavor! After this +little disappointment we left Viterbo, and drove on through the same +sort of scenery, which seemed to grow more and more beautiful in the +rosy light of the sinking sun. But it is hard to tell, for nothing makes +a journey so beautiful as to know that Rome is the goal. As the last +rays were flushing the hill-tops we came in sight of Orte, with its +irregular lines of building clinging to the sides of its precipitous +cliff in such eyrie-wise that it is difficult to say what is house and +what is rock, and whether the arched passages with which it is pierced +are masonry or natural grottoes; and there was the Tiber--already the +yellow Tiber--winding through the valley as far as eye could follow. +Here we waited for the train, which was ten minutes late, and tried to +make up for lost time by leaving our luggage, all duly marked and ready, +standing on the track. We soon began to greet familiar sites as we +flitted by: the last we made out plainly was Borghetto, a handful of +houses, with a ruined castle keeping watch on a hill hard by: then +twilight gathered, and we strained our eyes in vain for the earliest +glimpse of Mount Soracte, and night came down before we could descry the +first landmarks of the Agro Romano, the outposts of our excursions, the +farm-towers we knew by name, the farthest fragments of the aqueducts. +But it was not so obscure that we could not discern the Tiber between +his low banks showing us the way, the lights quivering in the Anio as +the train rushed over the bridge; and when at length we saw against the +clear night-sky a great dark barrier stretching right and left, we knew +that the walls of Rome were once more before us: in a moment we had +glided through with slackening speed, and her embrace enfolded us again. + +[Illustration: THE TIBER, FROM ORTE.] + +[Illustration: BORGHETTO.] + +[Illustration: ST. PETER'S AND THE VATICAN, FROM THE FALLS OF +THE TIBER.] + +The Tiber, winding as it does like a great artery through the heart of +Rome, is seldom long either out of sight or mind. One constantly comes +upon it in the most unexpected manner, for there is no river front to +the city. There is a wide open space on the Ripetta--a street which runs +from the Piazza del Popolo, at the head of the foreign quarter, to +remoter parts--where a broad flight of marble steps descends to the +level of the flood, and a ferry crosses to the opposite bank: looking +over at the trees and fields, it is like the open country, yet beyond +are St. Peter's and the Vatican, and the whole of what is known as the +Leonine City. But one cannot follow the Tiber through the streets of +Rome as one may the Seine in Paris: in the thickly-built quarters the +houses back upon the stream and its yellow waves wash their foundations, +working wrath and woe from time to time, as those who were there in the +winter of 1870 will recollect. Sometimes it is lost to sight for half a +mile together, unless one catches a glimpse of it through the +carriage-way of a palace. From the wharf of the Ripetta it disappears +until you come upon it again at the bridge of St. Angelo, the AElian +bridge of ancient Rome, which is the most direct passage from the +fashionable and foreign quarter to the Trastevere. It must be confessed +that the idle sense of mere pleasure generally supersedes recollection +and association after one's first astonishment to find one's self among +the historic places subsides; yet how often, as our horses' hoofs rang +on the slippery stones, my thoughts went suddenly back to the scene when +Saint Gregory passed over, chanting litanies, at the head of the whole +populace, who formed one vast penitential procession, and saw the +avenging angel alight on the mausoleum of Adrian and sheath his sword in +sign that the plague was stayed; or to that terrible day when the +ferocious mercenaries of the Constable de Bourbon and the wretched +inhabitants given over to sack and slaughter swarmed across together, +butchering and butchered, while the troops in the castle hurled down +what was left of its classic statues upon the heads of friend and foe, +and the Tiber was turned to blood! + +[Illustration: THE CASTLE OF ST. ANGELO.] + +[Illustration: ISLAND OF THE TIBER.] + +From the bridge of St. Angelo the river is lost again for a long +distance, although one can make one's way to it at various points--where +at low water the submerged piers of the Pons Triumphalis are to be seen, +where the Ponte Sisto leads to the foot of the Janiculum Hill, and on +the opposite bank the orange-groves of the Farnesina palace hang their +golden fruit and dusky foliage over the long garden-wall upon the +river--until we come to the Ponte Quatro Capi (Bridge of the Four Heads) +and the island of the Tiber. This is said to have been formed in the +kingly period by the accumulation of a harvest cast into the stream a +little way above, which the current could not sweep away: it made a +nucleus for alluvial deposit, and the island gradually arose. Several +hundred years afterward it was built into the form of a ship, as bridges +and wharves are built, with a temple in the midst, and a tall obelisk +set up in guise of its mast. In mediaeval days a church replaced the +heathen fane, and now it stands between its two bridges, a huddle of +houses, terraces and gardens, whence one looks down on the fine mass of +the Ponte Rotto (Broken Bridge), whose shattered arches pause in +mid-stream, and across to the low arch of the Cloaca Maxima and the +exquisite little circular temple of Vesta. From here down, the river is +in full view from either side until it passes beyond the walls near the +Monte Testaccio--on one side the Ripa Grande (Great Bank or Wharf), a +long series of quays, on the other the Marmorata or marble landing, +where the ships from the quarries unload. Here, on each side, all sorts +of small craft lie moored, not betokening a very extensive commerce from +their size and shape, but quaint and oddly rigged, making a very good +fore-or back-ground, according as one looks at the picture. The +Marmorata is at the foot of the Aventine, the most lonely and unvisited +of the Seven Hills. From among the vegetable-gardens and cypress-groves +which clothe its long flank rise large, formless piles, whose +foundations are as old as the Eternal City, and whose superstructures +are the wreck of temples of the kingly and republican periods, and +palaces and villas of imperial times, and haughty feudal abodes, only to +be distinguished from one another by the antiquary amid their +indiscriminate ruin and the tangle of wild-briers and fern, ivy and +trailers with which they are overgrown. On the summit no trace of +ancient Rome is to be seen. There are no dwellings of men on this +deserted ground: a few small and very early Christian churches have +replaced the temples which once stood here, to be in their turn +neglected and forsaken: they stand forlornly apart, separated by +vineyards and high blank walls. On the brow of the hill is the esplanade +of a modern fort, and within its quiet precincts are the church and +priory of the Knights of Malta--nothing but a chapel and small villa as +abandoned as the rest. After toiling up a steep and narrow lane between +two walls, our carriage stopped at a solid wooden gateway, and the +coachman told us to get out and look through the keyhole. We were +aghast, but he insisted, laughing and nodding; so we pocketed our pride +and peeped. Through an overarching vista of dark foliage was seen, white +and golden in a blaze of sunshine, the cupola of St. Peter's, which is +at the farthest end of the city, two miles at the least as the crow +flies. When the gate was opened we entered a sweet little garden full of +violets, traversed by an alley of old ilex trees, through which appeared +the noble dome, and which led from the gate to a terrace overhanging the +Tiber--I will not venture to guess how far below--more like two than one +hundred feet; perhaps still farther. On the edge of the terrace was an +arbor, and here we sank down enchanted, to drink in the view of the +city, which spread out under our eyes as we had never seen it from any +other point. But the custodino's wife urged us to come into the Priorato +and see the view from the upper story. We followed her, reluctant to +leave the sunshine and soft air, up a stiff winding staircase, through +large, dark, chilly, long-closed apartments, until we reached the top, +where there was a great square room occupying the whole floor. She flung +open the windows, and never did such a panorama meet my eyes. There were +windows on every side: to the north, one looked across the city to St. +Peter's, the Vatican, the Castle of St. Angelo, the Tiber with its great +bends and many bridges, and to lonely, far-away Soracte; westward, on +the other side of the river, rose the Janiculum with its close-wedged +houses, grade on grade, and on its summit the church of San Pietro in +Montorio and the flashing cataract of the Acqua Paola fountain, the +stone-pines of the Villa Dolia cresting the ridge above; eastward, the +Palatine, a world of ruins in a world of gardens, lay between us and the +Coliseum, and over them and the wall, the aqueducts, the plain, the eye +ranged to the snow-capped Sabine Hills, on whose many-colored +declivities tiny white towns were dotted like browsing sheep; southward, +we gazed down upon the Pyramid of Cestius, upon the beautiful Protestant +cemetery with its white monuments and dark cypresses where lie Shelley +and Keats, upon the stately Porta San Paolo, a great mediaeval gateway +flanked with towers, and beyond, the Campagna, purple, violet, +ultramarine, oceanic, rolling out toward the Alban Hills, which +glittered with snow, rising sharply like island-peaks and sloping down +like promontories into the plain; and over all the sun and sky and +shadows of Italy. + +[Illustration: CUPOLA OF ST. PETER'S.] + +[Illustration: THE PINCIO, FROM THE VILLA BORGHESE.] + +The prospect from the Priorato surpasses anything in Rome--even the +wonderful view from the Janiculum, even the enchanting outlook from the +Pincian Hill. But the last was at our very doors: we could go thither in +the morning to watch the white mist curl up from the valleys and hang +about the mountain-brows, and at noon, when even in January the cool +avenues and splashing fountains were grateful, and at sunset, when the +city lay before us steeped in splendor. That was the view of our daily +walks--the beloved view of which one thinks most often and fondly in +remembering Rome. + +[Illustration: SORACTE.] + +But it is in riding that one grows to feel most familiar with the Tiber +and all his Roman children, whether it be strolling somewhat sulkily in +a line with his banks by the Via Flaminia or the Via Cassia, impatient +to get away from their stones and dust to the soft, springing turf; or +hailing him from afar as a guide after losing one's self in the endless +undulations of the open country; or cantering over daffodil-sheeted +meadows beside the Anio at the foot of the grassy heights on which +Antemnae stood; or threading one's way doubtfully among the ravines which +intersect the course of the little Cremera as one goes to Veii. The last +is a most beautiful and interesting expedition, for, what with the +distance--more than twelve miles--and the difficulty of finding the way, +it is quite an enterprise. As one turns his horse's head away from the +river, off the high-road, to the high grassy flats, the whole Campagna +seems to lie before one like a vast table-land, with nothing between +one's self and Soracte as he lifts his heavy shoulder from the +plain--not half hidden by intervening mountains, as from some points of +view, but majestic and isolated, thirty miles away to the north. But +here, as in every other part of the Campagna, one cannot go far without +finding hillocks and hollows, long steep slopes and sudden little dells, +and, stranger still, unsuspected tracts of woodland, for the general +effect of the Roman landscape is quite treeless. So there is a few +miles' gallop across the trackless turf, sometimes asking the way of a +solitary shepherd, who looms up against the sky like a tower, sometimes +following it by faint landmarks, few and far between, of which we have +been told, and hard to find in that waste, until we pass a curious +little patriarchal abode shaped like a wigwam, where, in the midst of +these wide pastures dwells a herdsman surrounded by his family, his +cattle, his dogs, his goats and his fowls--the beautiful animals of the +Campagna, long-haired, soft-eyed, rich-colored, like the human children +of the soil. Then we strike the Cremera, and exploring begins among its +rocky gullies, up and down which the spirited, sure-footed horses +scramble like chamois. Thick woods of cork-oak clothe their sides, and +copses of a deciduous tree which I never saw in its summer dress of +green, but which keeps its dead leaves all through the winter, a full +suit of soft, pale brown contrasting with the dark evergreens. Among +these woods grow all the wild-flowers of the long Roman spring from +January to May--flowers that I never saw in bloom at the same time +anywhere else. On banks overcanopied by faded boughs nodded myriads of +snowdrops; farther on we held our horses' heads well up as they slipped, +almost sitting, down the damp rocky clefts of a gorge whose sides were +purple with violets, mingling their delicious odor, the sweetest and +most sentimental of perfumes, with the fresh, geranium-like scent of the +cyclamen, which here and there flung back its delicate pinkish petals +like one amazed: then came acres of anemones--not our pale wind-shaken +flower, but brave asters of half a dozen superb kinds. Up and down these +passes we forced our way through interlacing branches, which drooped too +low, until we had crossed the ridges on either side the Cremera, and +gained the valley at the head of which is Isola Farnese, the +rock-fortress supposed to occupy the site of the citadel of Etruscan +Veii. It is not really an island, in spite of its name; only a bold +peninsula, round whose base two rivulets flow and nearly meet. It is +called a village, and so it is, with quite a population, but the great +courtyard of the fifteenth-century castle contains them all, and the +huts, pig-pens, kennels and coops which they seem to inhabit +indiscriminately. Except where the bluff overlooks the valley, +everything is closed and shut in by rocks and gorges, through one of +which a lovely waterfall drips from a covert of boughs and shrubbery and +wreathing ferns and creepers into a little stream, which with musical +clamor rushes at a picturesque old mill: through another the road from +the castle passes through a narrow issue to the outer world. And this +stranded and shipwrecked fortress in the midst of so wild a scene is all +that exists to mark where Veii stood, the powerful city which kept Rome +at bay for ten years, and fell at length by stratagem! Its site was +forgotten for nearly two thousand years, but in this century the +discovery of some tombs revealed the secret. + +[Illustration: VEII, FROM THE CAMPAGNA.] + +[Illustration: TIVOLI.] + +The scenery differs entirely on different sides of Rome. Here there is +not a ruin, not a vestige, except a few low heaps of stone-or brickwork +hidden by weeds: on the other, toward Tivoli, much of the beauty is due +to the work of man--the stately remnants of ancient aqueduct, temple and +tomb; the tall square towers of feudal barons, round which cluster low +farm-buildings scarcely less old and solid; the vast, gloomy grottoes of +Cerbara, which look like the underground palace of a bygone race, but +which are the tufa-quarries of classic times; the ruined baths of +Zenobia, where the rushing milky waters of the Aquae Albulae fill the air +with sulphurous fumes; and, as a climax, the Villa of Hadrian, less a +country-place than a whole region, a town-in-country, with palace, +temples, circus, theatres, baths amidst a tract of garden and +pleasure-ground ten miles in circumference. Even when one is familiar +with the enormous height and bulk of the Coliseum or the Baths of +Caracalla, the extent of the ruins of Hadrian's Villa is overwhelming. +Numerous fragments are still standing, graceful and elegant, but a vast +many more are buried deep under turf and violets and fern: large +cypresses and ilexes have struck root among their stones, and they form +artificial hills and vales and great wide plateaus covered with herbage +and shrubbery, hardly to be distinguished from the natural accidents of +the land. The solitude is as immense as the space. After leaving our +carriage we wandered about for hours, sometimes lying in the sunshine at +the edge of a great grassy terrace which commands the Campagna and the +Agro Romano--beyond whose limits we had come--to where, like a little +bell, St. Peter's dome hung faint and blue upon the horizon; sometimes +exploring the innumerable porticoes and galleries, and replacing in +fancy the Venus de Medici, the Dancing Faun, and all the other shapes of +beauty which once occupied these ravished pedestals and niches; +sometimes rambling about the flowery fields, and up and down among the +hillocks and dells, meeting no one, until at length, when completely +bewildered and lost, we fell in with a rustic belonging to the estate, +who guided us back. We left the place with the sense of having been in a +separate realm, another country, belonging to another age. The whole of +that visit to Tivoli was like a dream. The sun was sinking when we left +the precincts of the villa, and twilight stole upon us, wrapping all the +landscape on which we looked back in softer folds of shade, and +resolving its features into large, calm masses, as the horses labored up +the narrow, stony road into a mysterious wood of gigantic olives, +gnarled, twisted and rent as no other tree could be and live. The scene +was wild and weird in the dying light, and it grew almost savage as we +wound upward among the robber-haunted hills. Night had fallen before we +reached the mountain-town. Our coachman dashed through the dark slits of +streets, where it seemed as if our wheels must strike the houses on each +side, cracking his whip and jingling the bells of the harness. Under +black archways sat groups of peasants, their swart visages lit up from +below by the glow of a brazier, while a flaring torch stuck through a +ring overhead threw fierce lights and shadows across the scene. Sharp +cries and shouts like maledictions rose as we passed, and as we turned +into the little square on which the inn stands we wondered in what sort +of den we should have to lodge. We followed our host of the little +Albergo della Regnia up the steep stone staircase with many misgivings: +he flung open a door, and we beheld a carpeted room, all furnished and +hung with pink chintz covered with cupids and garlands. There were +sofas, low arm-chairs, a writing-table with appurtenances, a tea-table +with snowy linen and a hissing brass tea-kettle. Opening from this were +two little white nests of bed-rooms, with tin bath-tubs and an abundance +of towels. We could not believe our eyes: here were English comfort and +French taste. Were we in May Fair or the Rue de Rivoli? Or was it a +fairy-tale? + +[Illustration: CASTLE AT OSTIA.] + +The fairy-tale went on next day, when, after wending our way through the +dirty, crooked little streets, we crossed a courtyard and descended a +long subterranean stairway to emerge on a magnificent terrace with a +heavy marble balustrade, whence flights of steps led down to lower +grades, amid statues, urns, vases, fountains, reservoirs, camellias in +bloom mingled with laurel and myrtle and laurustinums covered with +creamy flowers, cypresses tall as cathedral spires, ilex avenues, and +broad straight walks between huge walls of box: the whole space was +filled with the song of nightingales, the tinkle of falling water, with +whiffs of aromatic shrubs and the breath of hidden roses and violets;--a +princely garden, a royal pleasaunce, but in exquisite disorder and +neglect; the shrubbery too thick and straggling, the flowers straying +beyond their rightful boundaries, the statues stained and moss-grown, +the balusters entangled in clinging luxuriance, the fountains dripping +through fern and maiden-hair--Nature supreme, as one always sees her in +this land of Art. It was the Villa d'Este, famous these three hundred +years for its fountains and cypresses. Nor did the wonder cease when we +forsook this enchanting spot for the mountain-road which overhangs the +great ravine. Opposite, backed by mountains, rose the crags topped by +the clustering town and all its towers, arches, niches, battlements, +bridges, long lines of classic ruins, and on the edge of the abyss the +perfect little temple of the Sibyl; rushing down from everywhere the +waterfalls, one great column plunging at the head of the gorge, and +countless frolic streams, the _cascatelle_, leaping and dancing +from rock to rock through mist and rainbow and extravagance of emerald +moss and herbage, down among sea-green, silvery olives, finally sliding +away, between softer foliage and verdure, through the valley into the +plain--the immense azure plain, with its grand symphonic harmonies of +form and color. O land of dreams fulfilled, of satisfied longing! when +across these thousands of miles I recall your entrancing charm, your +unimaginable beauty, I sometimes wonder if you were _not_ a dream, +if you have any place in this real existence, this lower earth: are you +still delighting other eyes with the rapture of your loveliness, or were +you only an illusion, a vision, which vanishes like the glow of sunset +or "golden exhalations of the dawn "? + +The Campagna has one more aspect, different from all the rest, where the +Tiber, weary with his long wanderings, rolls lazily to the sea. It is a +dreary waste of swamp and sandhill and scrub growth, but with a forlorn +beauty of its own, and the beauty of color, never absent in Italy. The +tall, coarse grass and reeds pass through a series of vivid tones, +culminating in tawny gold and deep orange, against which the +silver-fretted violet blue-green of the Mediterranean assumes a magical +splendor. Small, shaggy buffaloes with ferocious eyes, and sometimes a +peasant as wild-looking as they, are the only inhabitants of this +wilderness. The machicolated towers of Castel Fusano among its grand +stone-pines stand up from the marshes, and farther seaward another +castle with a single pine; but they only enhance the surrounding +loneliness. Ostia, the ancient port, which sea and river have both +deserted, is now a city of the dead, a Pompeii above ground, whose +avenues of tombs lead to streets of human dwellings more desolate still. +It is no longer by Ostia, nor even by the Tiber, that one can reach the +sea: the way was choked by sand and silt seventeen centuries ago, and +Trajan caused the canal to be made which bears his name; and this is +still the outlet from Rome to the Mediterranean, while the river expires +among the pestilential marshes. + +[Illustration: HEAD OF THE TRAJAN CANAL, NEAR OSTIA.] + + + + +SIX MONTHS AMONG CANNIBALS. + + +[Illustration: A HALT IN THE BRUSH.] + +Perhaps as good an illustration of the purely absurd (according to +civilized notions) as can be imagined is a congregation of cannibals in +a missionary church weeping bitterly over the story of Calvary. Fresh +from their revolting feasts upon the flesh of their conquered enemies, +these gentle savages weep over the sufferings of One separated from them +by race, by distance, by almost every conceivable lack of the conditions +for natural sympathy, and by over eighteen hundred years of time! Surely +there must be hope for people who manifest such sensibility, and we may +fairly question whether cannibalism be necessarily the sign of the +lowest human degradation. A good deal of light is thrown upon the +subject by the writings of the young engineer, Jules Garnier, who was +lately charged by the French minister of the interior with a mission of +exploration in New Caledonia, the Pacific island discovered by Captain +Cook just one hundred years ago, and ceded to the French in 1853. + +It is about three hundred and sixty miles from Sydney to New Caledonia, +a long, narrow island lying just north of the Tropic of Capricorn, and +completely surrounded by belts of coral reef crenellated here and there, +and forming channels or passes where ships may enter. Navigation through +these channels is, however, exceedingly hazardous in any but calm +weather; and it was formerly thought that the island was on this account +practically valueless for colonization. Once inside them, however, +vessels may anchor safely anywhere, for there is in effect a continuous +roadstead all around the island. The passage through the narrow pass of +Dumbea, just outside of Noumea, affords a striking spectacle. On each +side of the ship is a wall of foam, and the reverberating thunder of the +waves dashing and breaking upon the jagged reefs keeps the mind in +breathless suspense. + +The site of Noumea seems to be the most unfortunate that could be +chosen. It is a barren, rocky spot, divested of all luxuriance of +vegetation, and the nearest water, a brook called Pont des Francais, is +ten miles away. The appearance of the town, which fronts the harbor in +the form of an amphitheatre, the houses and gardens rising higher and +higher as they recede from the sea, tended somewhat to reassure the +explorer, who had been wondering that human stupidity should have been +equal to selecting in a tropical country, and in one of the best-watered +islands of the world, such a situation for its capital. Wells are of +little account, for the water thus obtained is at the level of the sea, +and always salt. The population has to depend upon the rain that falls +on roofs, and as the cleanliness of these is of prime importance, +domesticating pigeons is strictly forbidden. This might not be much of a +deprivation in most places, but in New Caledonia, of all the world, +there is a kind of giant pigeon as large as a common hen! This is the +_noton_, (sic) the _Carpophage Goliath_ of the naturalist. + +The hotel at Noumea was a kind of barracks, with partitions so slight +that every guest was forced to hear every sound in his neighbors' rooms. +M. Garnier, to escape this inconvenience, purchased a garden-plot, had a +cottage built in a few days, and so became a proprietor in Oceanica. +Before setting out on his exploring expedition into the interior he +tried to interest the government in a plan for cisterns to supply the +city with water--a project easy of execution from the natural +conformation of the locality. But his scheme received no encouragement +from the old-fogyish authorities. They were at that moment entertaining +one which for simplicity reminded Garnier of the egg problem of +Columbus. This was to distill the sea-water. He made a calculation of +the cost of thus supplying each of the sixteen hundred inhabitants with +five quarts of water a day, which showed that the proposition was +impracticable under the circumstances. + +From the showing of official accounts, this French colony of New +Caledonia must be one of the most absurd that exists. The military and +naval force far exceeds in number the whole civil population; and this, +too, when the natives are quiet and submissive, few in number, and fast +dying out through the inordinate use of the worst kind of tobacco, +pulmonary consumption and other concomitants of civilization not +necessary to enumerate. Contrast this with the rich and populous +province of Victoria, which has only three hundred and fifty soldiers; +with Brisbane, which has only sixteen to a population of one hundred +thousand; and finally Tasmania, which has only seven soldiers for two +hundred thousand colonists! + +It was believed formerly that New Caledonia was rich in gold-mines, and +the principal object of the expedition of M. Garnier was to discover +these. After one or two short excursions in the neighborhood of Noumea +he set out on an eight months' journey through the entire eastern +portion of the island. The plan which he adopted was to double the +southern extremity of the island, sail up the eastern coast between the +reefs and the mainland, as is the custom, stopping at the principal +stations and making long excursions into the interior, accompanied by a +guard of seven men. This plan he carried out, though some parts of the +country to be explored were inhabited by tribes that had seldom or never +seen a European. His testimony as to the almost unexceptionable kindness +of the natives, cannibals though they are, must be gratifying to those +who accept the doctrine of the brotherhood of man. Of the natives near +Balarde he says: "The moment you land all offer to guide your steps, and +in every way they can to satisfy your needs. Do you wish to hunt? A +native is ever ready to show you the marsh where ducks most abound. Are +you hungry or thirsty? They fly to the cocoanut plantation with the +agility of monkeys. If a swamp or a brook stops your course, the +shoulders of the first comer are ever ready to carry you across. If it +rains, they run to bring banana-leaves or make you a shelter of bark. +When night comes they light your way with resinous torches, and finally, +when you leave them, you read in their faces signs of sincere regret." + +Captain Cook, in his eulogies of these gentle savages, probably never +dreamed that they were anthropophagi, and if he had known the fact, his +kindly nature would have found some extenuation for them. Cannibals, as +a rule--certainly those of New Caledonia--do not eat each other +indiscriminately. For example, they dispose of their dead with tender +care, though they despatch with their clubs even their best friends when +dying; but this is with them a religious duty. They only eat their +enemies when they have killed them in battle. This also, in their code +of morals, appears to be a duty. Toussenel, in his _Zooelogie +Passionelle_, has a kind word even for these savages: "Let us pity +the cannibal, and not blame him too severely. We who boast of our +refined Christian civilization murder men by tens of thousands from +motives less excusable than hunger. The crime lies not in roasting our +dead enemy, but in killing him when he wishes to live." + +During M. Garnier's expedition he met the chief Onime, once the head of +a powerful tribe, now old and dispossessed of his power through the +revolt of his tribe some years previous. At that time a price had been +put upon his head, and he took refuge in the mountains. There was no +sign of discouragement or cruelty in his manners, but his face expressed +a bitter and profound sorrow. There was not a pig or a chicken on his +place--for he would have nothing imported by the _papales_, or +Europeans--but he gave his guests a large quantity of yams, for which he +would accept no return except a little tobacco. When, however, Garnier +tied a pretty crimson handkerchief about the head of Onime's child, who +danced for joy at the possession of such a treasure, the old chief was +visibly moved, and gave his hand to the stranger. Two years later this +old man, being suspected of complicity in the assassination of a +colonist, was arrested, bound in chains and thrown into a dungeon. Three +times he broke his chains and escaped, and each time was recaptured. He +was then transported to Noumea. M. Garnier happened to be on the same +ship. The condition of the old man was pitiful. Deep wounds, exposing +the bones, were worn into his wrists and ankles in his attempts to free +himself from his chains. Three days later he died, and on a subsequent +examination of facts M. Garnier became convinced that Onime was innocent +of the crime charged against him. On the ship he recognized Garnier, and +accepted from him a little tobacco. Tobacco is more coveted by these +people than anything else in the world, and the stronger it is the +better. The child almost as soon as he can walk will smoke in an old +pipe the poisonous tobacco furnished specially for the natives, which is +so strong that it makes the most inveterate European smoker ill. "Gin +and brandy have been introduced successfully," but the natives as a rule +make horrible grimaces in drinking them, and invariably drink two or +three cups of water immediately _to put out the fire_, as they say. + +These natives speak a kind of "pigeon English." It would be pigeon +French, doubtless, had their first relations been with the French +instead of the English. The government has now stopped the sale of +spirituous liquors to the natives, and recommended the chiefs to forbid +their subjects smoking until a certain age, but no precautions yet taken +have had much influence upon their physical condition. They are rapidly +dying out. The most prevalent disease is pulmonary consumption, which +they declare has been given them by the Europeans. Fewer and fewer +children are born every year, and in the tribes about Pooebo and some +others these are almost all males. Here is a curious fact for +scientists. Is not the cause to be found in the deteriorated physical +condition of the women? Mary Trist, in her careful and extensive +experimentation with butterfly grubs, has shown that by generous feeding +these all develop into females, while by starving males only appear. + +M. Garnier believes that the principal cause of the deterioration and +decay of the natives in New Caledonia is the terrible tobacco that is +furnished to them. "Everybody pays for any service from the natives in +this poison." A missionary once asked a native convert why he had not +attended mass. "Because you don't give me any tobacco," replied this +hopeful Christian. To him, as to many others, says M. Garnier, going to +church means working for the missionary, just as much as digging in his +garden, and he therefore expects remuneration. The young girls in +regions where there are missions established all wear chaplets, for they +are good Catholics after a fashion, and generally refuse to marry +pagans. This operates to bring the young men under the religious yoke. +Self-interest is their strong motive generally. The missionary makes +them understand the value of his counsel in their tribes. It means their +raising cocoanuts for their oil, flocks of chickens and droves of hogs, +for all of which they can obtain pipes, quantities of tobacco, a gun, +and gaudy-colored cottons. When the chiefs find that their power is +gradually passing from them into the hands of the missionaries, they +only smoke more poisonous tobacco, expose themselves all the more to the +weather through the cheap fragmentary dress they have adopted, and so +the ravages of consumption are accelerated. Pious Christian women, who +have always given freely of their store to missionary causes, begin to +see that the results are not commensurate with their sacrifices--that +their charity, even their personal work among heathens, teaching them to +read and write and study the catechism, to cover their bodies with dress +and to love the arts of civilization, can avail little against the rum, +tobacco and nameless maladies legally or illegally introduced with +Christianity. + +During one of M. Garnier's excursions into the interior he came across +one of the sacred groves where the natives bury their dead, if hanging +them up in trees can be so designated. His guides all refused to +accompany him, fearing to excite the anger of the manes of their +ancestors. He therefore entered the high grove alone. Numerous corpses, +enveloped in carefully-woven mats and then bound in a kind of basket, +were suspended from the branches of the trees. Some of these were +falling in pieces, and the ground was strewn with whitened bones. It +seems strange that this form of burial should be chosen in a country +where at least once a year there occurs a terrible cyclone that destroys +crops, unroofs houses, uproots trees, and often sends these +basket-caskets flying with the cocoanuts through the air. + +In New Caledonia there are no ferocious beasts, and the largest animal +is a very rare bird which the natives call the kagon. When, therefore, +they saw the English eating the meat from beef bones they inferred that +these were the bones of giants, and naively inquired how they were +captured and what weapons of war they used. The confidence and +admiration of these children of Nature are easily gained, and under such +circumstances they talk freely and delight in imparting all the +information they possess. Among one of the tribes near Balarde, M. +Garnier noticed a young woman of superior beauty, and made inquiries +about her. This was Iarat, daughter of the chief Oundo. The hornlike +protuberances on her head were two "scarlet flowers, which were very +becoming in her dark hair." + +[Illustration: IARAT, DAUGHTER OF THE CHIEF OUNDO.] + +This poor little woman had a history. It is told in a few words: her +father sold her to the captain of a trading-vessel for a cask of brandy. +The "extenuating circumstances" in this case are that Oundo had been +invited on board the captain's ship, plied with brandy, and when nearly +drunk assented to the shameless bargain. When Oundo became sober he +repented of his act, and the more bitterly because the young girl was +betrothed to the young chief of a neighboring tribe. But he had given +his word, and was as great a moral coward as many of his betters are, +who think that honor may be preserved by dishonor. Nearly every coaster +has a native woman on board--some poor girl of low extraction, or some +orphan left to the mercy of her chief and sold for a hatchet or a few +yards of tawdry calico; but the daughters of chiefs are not thus +delivered over to the lusts of Europeans. The case of Iarat was an +exception. These coasters' wives, if such they may be called, are said +to be very devoted mothers and faithful servants. All day long they may +be seen managing the rudder or cooking in the narrow kitchen on deck. + +The vessel in the service of M. Garnier left him at Balarde, near the +north-eastern extremity of the island, but, having determined to explore +farther north, he applied to Oundo, who furnished him with a native boat +or canoe and two men for the expedition. In this boat were stowed the +camping and exploring apparatus and cooking utensils, and three of his +men, who were too fatigued by late excursions to follow Garnier on foot. +The canoe was not very large, and this freight sunk it very low in the +water; yet as the sea was perfectly calm, no danger was apprehended +until, a slight breeze springing up, a sail was hoisted. The shore-party +continued their course, exploring, digging, breaking minerals, etc., +generally in sight of the canoe, which M. Garnier watched with some +anxiety. Suddenly, Poulone, his faithful native guide, exclaimed, +"Captain, the pirogue sinks!" There was no time to be lost, for one of +the men could not swim at all, and the other two but indifferently. +Fortunately, the trunk of a tree was found near the water, some paddles +were improvised, and this primitive kind of boat was quickly afloat, +with the captain and Poulone on board. The canoe was some rods from the +shore, but the three men were picked up, having been supported meanwhile +by their dark companions. The latter did not swim ashore, but the moment +they were relieved from their charges, and without a word, set about +getting the canoe afloat. As to the cargo, it was all in plain sight, +but more than twenty feet under the limpid water. This was a great +misfortune. Some of the instruments were valuable, and could not be +replaced. If not recovered, the expedition to the north of the island +must be abandoned. In this strait Garnier despatched a messenger back to +Oundo, asking the old chief to come to the rescue with all his tribe. "I +did not count in vain," says he, "upon the generosity of this man, for +very soon I saw him approach, followed by the young people of his +tribe." He listened to the recital of the misfortune with every sign of +sympathy. + +"Oundo," said M. Garnier, "I expect that you will once more show your +well-tried friendship for the French people by rendering me a great +service. Do you think you can recover these things for me?" + +"Oundo will try," replied the chief simply. He then addressed his people +and gave his commands. In a moment, and with a loud cry of approbation +and good-will, they dashed into the water and swam out to the scene of +disaster. + +It is a fine sight to see these natives of Oceanica, the best swimmers +in the world, darting under the water like bronze tritons. They +generally swim beneath the surface, coming up from time to time to +breathe, and shaking the water from their thick curly hair. M. Garnier +followed the natives on the log that had served as a lifeboat, and to +encourage them by example undressed and threw himself into the water. +The work commenced. Twenty or thirty feet is not much of a dive for a +South Sea Islander. Every minute the divers brought up some object with +a shout of triumph. They were in their element, and so spiritedly did +they undertake the task that women, and even the children, dived to the +bottom and constantly brought up some small object. The three guns of +the men, their trappings, the heavy box of zoological specimens, all the +instruments, were brought up in succession. Even the sole cooking-pot of +the expedition and the tin plates were recovered. The work occupied some +six hours. M. Garnier thanked the chief and his brave people, who when +the work was finished returned to their huts as quietly as they came. +And this chief was the man who had sold his daughter for a keg of +brandy! + +Another chief, named Bourarte, the head of a great tribe near Hienguene, +deserves a few words. He was a chief of very superior experience and +intelligence. He had studied civilization diligently, enjoyed the +society of Europeans and knew that his people were barbarians. His story +is a most touching one. He said: "I always loved the English. They +treated me as a chief, and paid me honestly for all they received. One +day I consented to go with them to their great city of Sydney. It was +there that I learned the weakness of my people. I was well received +everywhere, but I longed to return. It was with pleasure that I saw +again our mountains and heard the joyful cries of welcome from my tribe. +About that time your people came. I paid little attention to them at +first, but because one of my men killed a Kanacka who was a protege of +the missionaries there came a great ship (the Styx) into my port. The +captain sent for me. I went on board without fear, but my confidence was +betrayed. I was made a prisoner and transported to Tahiti. It was six +years before I saw my tribe again: they had already mourned me as dead. +I will tell you what happened in my absence. My people prepared for +vengeance: the French were apprised of the fact. They came again. And as +my people, filled with curiosity, flocked to the shore, the French fired +their cannon into the crowd. My people were frightened and fled into the +woods. Your soldiers landed, and for three days they burned our huts, +destroyed our plantations and cut down our cocoa trees. And all this +time," added the old chief with a heavy sigh, "I was a prisoner at +Tahiti, braiding baskets to gain a little food, and the grief that I +suffered whitened my head before the time." + +[Illustration: A KANACKA FAMILY TRAVELING.] + +After a long pause, during which the old Bourarte seemed lost in +thought, he said, "It is true that my people revenged themselves. They +killed a good many, and among them one of your chiefs. What is most +strange about this war is, that three English colonists, who lived +peacefully among us by their commerce and fishing, were taken by the +French and shot. Another Englishman, Captain Paddon, to whom I had sold +many a cargo of sandal-wood, on learning the fate of his compatriots, +fled on board a little boat with one Kanacka and a few provisions, got +out to sea, and, as I have been told, actually gained the port of +Sydney." This, it seems, is a historical fact. It was a boat without a +deck, and the distance is three hundred and sixty marine miles! + +The result of the exploring mission of M. Garnier was not a discovery of +gold-mines, as so many had hoped. He is of the opinion that gold +deposits are scarce in the island. His report of the natives is on the +whole favorable, and confirms the testimony of missionaries and others, +that they are superior savages, easily civilized and Christianized, but +from some cause or combination of causes fast dying out before the +advance of civilization. In some respects they are less rude than other +South Sea Islanders, but they treat their women in much the same way. M. +Garnier gives us a photograph of a New Caledonia family on the road, the +head of the family, a big, stolid brute apparently, burdened only with +his club, while his wife staggers along under the combined load of +sugar-canes, yams, dried fishes and other provisions. + +A more revolting, but also, happily, a far rarer sight, was that of a +cannibal banquet, of which M. Garnier was a concealed witness. The scene +was a thicket in the wildest portion of the country, and only the chiefs +of the tribe, which had just gained a victory over its enemies, took +part in the feast. A blazing fire threw its bright glare on a dozen +figures seated around huge banana-leaves, on which were spread the +smoking viands of the diabolical repast. A disgusting odor was wafted +toward the spot where our Frenchman and his companions lay perdu, +enchained by a horrible fascination which produced the sensation of +nightmare. Directly in front of them was an old chief with long white +beard and wrinkled skin, who gnawed a head still covered with the singed +hair. Thrusting a pointed stick into the eye-sockets, he contrived to +extract a portion of the brain, afterward placing the skull in the +hottest part of the fire, and thus separating the bones to obtain a +wider aperture. The click of a trigger close to his ear recalled M. +Garnier to his senses, and arresting the arm of his sergeant, who, +excited to indignation, had brought his musket to his shoulder, he +hurried from a scene calculated, beyond all others, to thrill the nerves +and curdle the blood of a civilized spectator. + + + + +AN AMERICAN GIRL AND HER LOVERS. + + +In the spring of 1869 I was induced, for the sake of rest and +recreation, to take charge of a young American girl during a tour in +Europe. This young girl was Miss Helen St. Clair of Detroit, Michigan. +We two were by no means strangers. She had been my pupil since the time +when she was the prettiest little creature that ever wore a scarlet +hood. I have a little picture, scarlet hood and all, that I would not +exchange for the most beautiful one that Greuze ever painted. Not that +her face bore any resemblance to the pictures of Greuze. It had neither +the sweet simplicity of the girl in "The Broken Pitcher," nor the +sentimental graces which he bestows on his court beauties. It was an +exceedingly piquant, animated face, never at rest, always kindling, +flashing, gleaming, whether with sunlight or lightning. Her movements +were quick and darting, like those of a humming-bird. Her enunciation, +though perfectly distinct, was marvelously rapid. The same quickness +characterized her mental operations. Her conclusions, right or wrong, +were always instantaneous. Her prompt decisiveness, her talent for +mimicry and her witchery of grace and beauty won her a devoted following +of school-girls, to whom her tastes and opinions were as authoritative +as ever were those of Eugenie to the ladies of her court. School-girls, +like college-boys, are very apt in nicknames, and Helen's was the +"Little Princess," which her pretty, imperious ways made peculiarly +appropriate. + +I do not know how her parents dared trust her to me for a year beyond +the sea, but they did. We set off in high enthusiasm, and Helen was full +of mirth and laughter till we were fairly on board the steamer in New +York harbor, when she threw herself on her father's breast with a +gesture of utter abandonment that would have made the fortune of a +debutante on any stage in the world. It was so unlooked-for that we all +broke down, and Mr. St. Clair was strongly inclined to take her home +with him. But so sudden was she in all her moods that his foot had +scarcely touched the shore before she was again radiant with +anticipation. + +I will not linger on the pleasant summer travel, the Rhine majesty, the +Alpine glory. September saw us established in the city of cities--Paris. +Everywhere we had met throngs of Americans. Neighbors from over the way +in our own city greeted us warmly in most unexpected places. But we had +not crossed the ocean merely to see our own countrymen. In Paris we were +determined to eschew hotels and pensions and to become the inmates of a +French home. Everybody told us this would be impossible, but I find +nothing so stimulating as the assertion that a thing can't be done. Two +weeks of eager inquiry, and we were received into a family which could +not have been more to our wish if it had been created expressly for us. +It was that of Monsieur Le Fort, a professor in the Medical College, a +handsome elderly man with the bit of red ribbon coveted by Frenchmen in +his buttonhole. Madame Le Fort, a charming, graceful woman midway +between thirty and forty, and a pretty daughter of seventeen, completed +the family. With great satisfaction we took possession of the pretty +rooms, all white and gold, that overlooked the Rond Point des Champs +Elysees. + +My little princess had found a prince in her own country, and, +considering the laws of attraction, his sudden appearance in Paris ought +not to have been a surprise to her. But, to his discomfiture, and even +anger, Helen refused to see him. She had bidden him good-bye at home, +she said; they would not be married for three years, if they ever were: +she was going to devote herself to her music; and she did not wish to +see him here. When he had completed his studies and their engagement was +announced (it was only a mutual understanding now) there would be time +enough to see each other at home. Excellent reasoning! but a fortnight +later a tiny hand slipped between my eyes and the _Figaro_ a little +note on which I read: + +"DEAR FRED: I think I should like to say good-bye again. + +"Yours, HELEN." + +The dark eyes looked half shyly, half coaxingly into mine. + +"Well," said I, "Katrine will mail it for you." + +The next day I saw for the first time Mr. Frederic Denham. He was tall +and slender; with a sallow complexion, rather dull gray eyes and black +hair, by no means handsome, but sufficiently well-looking to please a +friendly eye. In his manners there was a coldness and reserve which +passed for haughtiness. He was said to possess great talents and +ambition, and Helen had the fullest belief in his genius and success. +Not Goethe himself was a greater man in her eyes. + +I had frequent opportunities of seeing them together, for, according to +French ideas, nothing is more improper than to leave a young man and +woman a moment by themselves. Was it my fancy that he seemed too much +absorbed in himself, too little sensible of the rare good-fortune which +made him the favored lover of the beautiful Miss St. Clair? It might be +so, but others shared it. + +"What ails the American?" asked Madame Le Fort. "Is it possible that he +is not in love with that fascinating young creature? Or are all your +countrymen so cold and inanimate? Elle est ravissante, adorable! I +cannot comprehend it." + +"Probably," I replied, "he has too much reserve and delicacy to make a +display of his feelings in the presence strangers." + +But I was not satisfied. The more I watched them, the more I perceived a +lack of deference to her opinions and respect for her judgment--an +irritating assumption of superior wisdom, as if he had worn the visible +inscription, "I will accept homage, but not suggestions. Offer incense +and be content." Would the little princess be content? I saw symptoms of +rebellion. + +"Do _you_ think I am a little fool, Madame Fleming?" she asked with +heightened color and impetuous tone, turning suddenly to me while they +were conversing apart one evening. + +November came, and we were launched on the full tide of Parisian +society. Mr. Denham had gone to Germany to complete certain scientific +studies, and he left his fair betrothed with a parting injunction not to +dance with any foreigner. As well shut her up in a cell! Nowhere is +there such a furore for dancing as in Paris. Every family has its weekly +reception, and every card of invitation bears in the corner, "On +dansera." These receptions are the freest and gayest imaginable. Any +person who has the entree of the house comes when he feels inclined. +Introductions are not indispensable as with us: any gentleman may ask a +lady to dance with him, whether he has been formally presented or not, +and it would be an affront to decline except for a previous engagement. +The company assemble about ten, and often dance till three or four in +the morning. In any one house we see nearly the same people once a week +for the whole winter, and such frequent companionship gives a feeling of +intimacy. It is surprising how many French men and French women have +some special artistic talent, dramatic or musical, and with what ready +good-humor each contributes to the entertainment of the rest. In every +assembly, with all its sparkle of youth and gayety, there is a +background of mature age; but though a card-room is generally open, it +never seems to draw many from the salons de danse. + +In these salons the little princess entered, at once upon her royalty. +Her dancing was the poetry of motion. She sang, and the most brilliant +men hung over her enraptured. "She was like Adelina Patti," they said, +"but of a more perfect and delicate type of beauty. What wonderful eyes, +with the long thick lashes veiling Oriental depths of liquid light! How +the music trickled from her fingers, and poured from her small throat +like the delicious warble of a nightingale! What a loss to art that her +position precluded her from singing in the opera! Not Malibran or Grisi +ever had triumphs that would equal hers." Eminent painters wished to +make a study of her face. Authors who had received the prizes of the +Academy for grave historical works sent her adulatory verses. "May +I--flirtation--wid you--loavely meess?" asked one of "the immortal +forty," displaying his English. + +It grew rather annoying. I was importuned with questions, such as "Will +you receive proposals of marriage for Miss St. Clair?" "What is her +dowry?" "Are you entrusted to find a husband for her abroad?" I was +tired of answering, "Miss St. Clair will probably marry in her own +country." "Her parents would be very reluctant to consent to any foreign +marriage." "I cannot tell what Mr. St. Clair will give his daughter. It +is not the custom to give dowries with us, as with you." + +One evening we saw at Madame Le Fort's reception a young man so +distinguished in appearance that he was known as "le beau Vergniaud." He +was six feet in height and well made, with abundant chestnut hair, dark +hazel eyes, clearly-cut, regular features, and a complexion needlessly +fine for a man. From that time he was invariably present, not only at +Madame Le Fort's, but wherever we went. + +One day Helen said to me, "I made a silly speech last evening. I was +dancing with M. Vergniaud, and we were talking of that charming Madame +de Launay. I said, 'I should think she might be happy, having an elegant +house in Paris, a chateau in the country, and such a handsome husband so +devoted to her.' And he rejoined instantly, very low, 'My dear Miss St. +Clair, can I not give you all this?' It was not fair to take advantage +of me in that way." + +"What did you say?" + +"Oh, I laughed it off. I did not think he was in earnest, but he spoke +to me again before he went away." + +That afternoon Madame Le Fort came into my room with the look of one who +has something important to communicate. "I have been wishing to see +you," she said. "M. Vergniaud has taken me into his confidence. He has +formed a serious attachment to Miss St. Clair, and wishes to make her +his wife. It is a splendid alliance," she continued, warming with her +theme: "if he had asked for my daughter I would give her to him +blindfold. He belongs to one of our old families. You should see his +house on the Avenue de Montaigne. Have you never seen him driving with +his superb horses in the Bois de Boulogne? He has an estate with a fine +old chateau in Touraine, a family inheritance. His character and habits +are unexceptionable too," she added by way of parenthesis. "It is not +often that you find all that in a man of twenty-six. So handsome +besides!" + +"True," said I, "but you forget Mr. Denham." + +"On the contrary, I remember him too well to conceive the possibility of +his being a rival to Rene Vergniaud." + +"But did you mention him to M. Vergniaud?" + +"Yes, and he was greatly disturbed at first, but when I told him that he +had no expectation of marrying for two or three years to come, he +laughed and said it was of no importance. M. Vergniaud would like to be +married in a few weeks, as is the custom with us, but I suppose it will +take longer to adjust the preliminaries on account of her parents being +across the Atlantic. What dowry has my little jewel?" (The inevitable +question, always put with as much simplicity and directness as if one +were asking the time of day.) + +"I do not know," I replied. "It is so contrary to all our notions. I do +not think there is a man in America who in asking a father for the hand +of his daughter would inquire how much money he was to have with her. It +would be considered an insult." + +"Perhaps Mr. St. Clair would prefer to settle an annuity on his +daughter. Is that the way the thing is managed in your country?" + +"It is not managed at all. A man gives his daughter what he likes, or he +gives her nothing but her bridal outfit. It is never a condition of the +marriage." + +"How strange all that is! One can hardly believe it in France. We set by +a sum of money for Clarice's dowry almost as soon as she was born, and +it would be a hard necessity that could compel us to diminish it by a +single sou. If you would like it, in a couple of days I can give you an +exact inventory of all M. Vergniaud's property and possessions. I could +guarantee that it will not vary twenty napoleons from the fact. We do +everything so systematically here." + +"Thanks! I think it will hardly be necessary. I do not know that Helen +likes him particularly." + +"Nobody admires that little paragon more than I--I should be frantically +in love with her if I were a man--but she had better think twice before +rejecting such a _parti_ as Rene Vergniaud, especially if she has +no dowry. You will surely not permit her to do so without communicating +with her father? He will understand her interests better." + +"In this case I shall let her do just as she pleases, as her father +would if he were here." + +Madame Le Fort's look of amazed incredulity was truly comical. What +ought I to do? I queried. On the whole, I decided to do the easiest +thing--wait. + +The next day I was honored with a call from M. Vergniaud. He believed +that Madame Le Fort had spoken to me of his profound attachment to the +lovely Miss St. Clair--the most passionate, the most devoted. Might he +hope for my influence with her father and mother? The matter of dowry +was indifferent to him: his income was sufficiently large, and, alas! he +had no parents to consult. Would I favor him with Mr. St. Clair's +address and a few words of introduction to him? He should be under +everlasting obligations to me, and if there was anything he could do to +show his gratitude, his appreciation-- + +I interrupted these protestations: "I doubt if Mr. St. Clair would +consent to any marriage which would separate him from his daughter, +however advantageous it might be in other respects." + +"My dear madame, who asks it? I have no business or profession: we could +easily spend a part of every year in America if it were desirable." + +"That would certainly make it easier, but it will be better to defer +writing till we have some intimation of Miss St. Clair's sentiments. Her +father will be guided chiefly by her inclination." + +"It is a nice country for young girls, America," said he with a smile. +"I shall do all that is possible to win Miss St. Clair's favor, for life +would be worthless without her." And he bowed himself gracefully out. + +Is it possible that Helen will be indifferent to this young Antinous? +thought I. Poor Mr. Denham would have small chance with me if I were in +her place. + +An hour later the concierge sent up to me an exquisite bouquet of +violets and white camellias, with the card of Rene Vergniaud and a +folded note: "If Madame Fleming does not think it improper, will she be +so kind as to give these flowers to my beautiful queen?" + +M. Vergniaud had asked Madame Le Fort's permission to call on Miss St. +Clair. "Certainly not," she replied. "I am astounded at such +presumption! But you may call to see _me_. To-morrow evening we go +to the opera, and Wednesday to Madame Perier's, and Thursday is my +reception, and Friday we have tickets to _Phedre_ at the Francais. +Saturday, then: it is the first evening we have free." + +We were all assembled in the salon as usual after dinner when M. +Vergniaud was announced. The little princess was radiant. She had never +been merrier in a school-girl frolic or more ready with gibe and jest +and laughter. She sang her best songs, putting her whole soul into +them--"Si tu savais comme je l'aime." Rene Vergniaud was so dazed that +he came near bidding farewell to his senses for ever. He evidently +thought that all this brilliancy was for him, and was in such a rapture +of delight that he never noticed Madame Le Fort's repeated glances at +the clock, and was only roused by the polite invitation to come +_again_. He was not too disconcerted to make a charming apology, +like a true Parisian, and tore himself away. + +Late as it was, as soon as we were in our own little parlor I could not +forbear saying, "I was surprised at you to-night, Helen. How +_could_ you run on so? Madame Le Turc there, too! and you know the +young French girls never open their lips to say more than 'Oui, +monsieur'--'Non, monsieur,' to a gentleman. What will M. Vergniaud +think?" + +"I don't care what he thinks," flinging herself down on an ottoman with +her head in my lap; "but I _do_ care what you think, Madame +Fleming. Did I behave so very badly? I didn't mean to, but I was +resolved he should not get a chance to talk any nonsense to-night; and +he _did_, after all. I hate being made love to before a whole room +full. I _had_ to laugh or else cry." And the little fairy dissolved +in a shower of tears, like another Undine. + +Another week went by. On Saturday afternoon Helen asked, "Will you be so +kind as to take me to the little Protestant church beyond the Arc +d'Etoile this evening, Madame Fleming? I should like so much to hear +that good M. Bercier." + +"So should I. But you have not forgotten that M. Vergniaud will be +here." + +"I am under no obligation to entertain Madame Le Fort's callers." + +"But you know, Helen, that he comes for your sake. It is well for you to +consider that the future Madame Vergniaud will have in some respects a +more brilliant position than perhaps any man in our country could offer +you." + +"I know all that, and I don't pretend to say that I should not like it. +I am ashamed of being so worldly, but to have a superb establishment and +all this charming Parisian society, and give a grand ball whenever I +liked, would be just paradise. And to have it all in my grasp, and not +be able to take it, is too aggravating. It is so vexatious that the +right man never has the right things." + +We went to church. M. Vergniaud called, but recollected an engagement +which took him away early. Monday evening he dropped in again just after +dinner: "Do not let me derange you in the least, je vous en prie, +madame. I come early because I am engaged to three balls to-night." + +Miss St. Clair could hardly have been more mute and statue-like if she +had been born and bred in France, where in the presence of gentlemen +young girls silently adhere to their brilliant mothers, whose wit and +grace and social tact make the charm of the Parisian salons. Apparently, +the French consider that the combined attractions of youthful faces and +sprightly conversation would be too much for any man, and mercifully +divide the two. And this leaves them helpless before a little American +girl, laughing, talking, jesting, teasing, till, bewildered by such a +phenomenon, they are swept down so easily that one is reminded of +Attila's taunt to the Romans, "The thicker the grass, the quicker it is +mowed." + +This social etiquette was very irksome to my little firefly, who seemed +always opening and shutting her wings. In the course of the evening M. +Vergniaud slipped into her hand, unperceived by any of us, a closed +envelope with the whisper, "Put it in your pocket. Do not let any one +see you." + +She opened it deliberately: "M. Vergniaud is so kind as to give me his +photograph, Madame Fleming. Do you think it a good likeness?" + +The mystery which French people are fond of attaching to harmless +trifles is inconceivable. One evening, in the earlier part of our stay +in Paris, a cousin of Miss St. Clair's, who was in the same hotel with +Mr. Denham, called on us, and when he was taking leave she held out an +unsealed note: "Will you give this to Fred? Don't forget it." + +Madame Le Fort was thunderstruck: "Is it possible? Send a note to a +young gentleman right before Madame Fleming and all of us!" + +"Why," said I, "do young people never write notes to each other in +France?" "Not openly like that--little three-cornered notes to slip +into the hand while dancing." + +"This is the way to fold them," said Clarice, taking up a small sheet of +paper. "You see that will just fit into the hollow of the hand, and +nobody could ever see it." + +"I like our way much better. What is done openly is not half so +mischievous." + +"Nor half so interesting," rejoined Clarice. + +The nimble hours danced on, as they had a trick of doing in Madame Le +Fort's salon. "I am afraid you forget the three balls, M. Vergniaud." + +"How can you be so cruel, mademoiselle? I shall only make my compliments +to the hostess and dance one set at each. I never do more except when I +come here." + +A few days later I asked Helen, "Have you made up your mind what answer +to give M. Vergniaud? He intends to write to your father. He was +speaking to me about it again to-day." + +"I won't have him writing to my father," she replied with her wonted +impetuosity. "I will not have my father worried about nothing. It would +be a month before I could set it right." + +"He seems to be very much in love with you. He says he shall be in +despair, wretched for ever, if you reject him." + +"So they all say. I don't believe a word of it, and I can't help it if +they are. I can't marry more than one of them, and I don't believe I +shall ever marry anybody. I won't be persecuted to death." + +The little princess was irritated. Something had evidently gone wrong. +It soon came out: "I had a letter from Fred this morning--a very +disagreeable letter." + +"Indeed! You have not yet answered it, I suppose." + +"No: he will have to write differently from that before he gets any +answer from me. I am not going to be lessoned and scolded as if I were a +little girl. Father never does it, and I will not submit to it from +_him_" After a pause: "He is not so much to blame. It is that +odious Mr. Wilkins, who keeps writing to him how much attention I +receive, and all that. As if I could help it! Poor old Fred! We have +known each other ever since we were children." + +That explains it, I thought. "Helen, if you have decided to say no to M. +Vergniaud, the sooner you say it the better." + +"I have said it, and he doesn't mind it in the least. I wish you would +tell him: you always speak so that people know you are in earnest and +can't help believing you." + +"Very well, Helen. I will ask Madame Le Fort to tell him that his suit +is hopeless, and that he must not annoy you by persisting in it." + +Early in February the Belgian ambassador, M. le comte de Beyens, and +Madame la comtesse, kindly took charge of Miss St. Clair to the imperial +ball at the Tuileries. She had never looked more charming than in the +exquisite costume of pale rose-colored faille, with a floating mist of +white tulle, caught here and there by rosebuds that might have grown in +Chrimhild's garden. The airy figure, so graceful in every motion, the +well-poised head with its flutter of shining curls, the wonderful dark +eyes, the perfect eyebrows, the delicious little mouth where love seemed +to nestle--when she had vanished "it seemed like the ceasing of +exquisite music." Madame la comtesse congratulated me on her appearance, +and afterward on her success. The emperor had distinguished her in a +very flattering manner, and Eugenie, looking earnestly at her, said to +the comtesse, "Nothing is so beautiful as youth," perhaps beginning to +regret her own. No one had made so decided a sensation. + +At Madame Le Fort's next reception there was a sudden influx of new +guests--a young Belgian baron of old historic name, slim and stiff as a +poker; a brisk French viscount, who told me that he had been connected +with the embassy at Washington, and had quite fallen in love with our +institutions; an Italian chevalier, a Russian prince. + +Ugliness has its compensations, thought I. Nobody makes such a fuss over +a pretty girl at home (they are not so uncommon), and I will never bring +one to Paris again. Thank Heaven! we are going to Italy soon. + + * * * * * + +The piercing Tramontane came down upon us in the Bay of Naples with so +fierce a blast that we doubted if we were not in Iceland, and were glad +to make our escape to Rome, where we found an asylum in the Hotel de +Minerve, not far from the Pantheon. Many of the old palaces and convents +of Italy have been transformed into hotels. This was the ancient palace +of the princes of Conti. I was so captivated by the superb dining-room +that the quality of the dinners made but a faint impression. What! eat +in the presence of all those marble goddesses, looking down upon us, +serene and cold, as if from their thrones on the starry Olympus! Or if I +turned my eyes resolutely away from Juno, Ceres and Minerva, they were +sure to be snared by the dancing-girls of Pompeii stepping out from the +frescoed walls, or inextricably entangled in the lovely garlands of +fruit and flowers that wound their mazy way along the borders. + +One evening, while we were waiting for one of the endless courses of a +table-d'hote dinner, my wandering eyes were caught by the most perfect +human head I had ever seen. It seemed that of the youthful Lord Byron, +so well known in busts and engravings--the same small head with high +forehead and clustering dark-brown curls, the perfectly-moulded chin, +the full, ripe beauty of the lips. The eyes were a deep blue, but I +thought them black at first, they were so darkly shaded by the thick +black lashes. I am convinced that Byron must have had just such eyes, +for some of his biographers describe them as black and others as blue. +When he rose from the table I saw a slight, well-knit figure of +exquisite proportions, like the Greek god of love. (Not Cupid with his +vulgar arrows, but the true heavenly Eros. I saw him once in the Museum +at Naples, and again in the Vatican. Is it Love, or Death, or +Immortality? I queried, and then I knew it was the three in one.) I soon +learned that the youth whose ideal beauty had impressed me so strongly +was the Count Francisco de Alvala of Toledo in Spain. I fancy that his +eyes were as easily attracted to beauty as mine, for the next day he was +my _vis-a-vis_ at table; not for the sake of looking at me, I was +well aware, but on account of my beautiful neighbor. However, he sought +my acquaintance with the grave courtesy becoming a grandee of Spain, and +naturally gained that of Miss St. Clair also. + +It is the most natural thing in the world to make acquaintances in Rome. +People talk together of the things they have seen or wish to see: they +go to the same places by day, and in the evening they meet in the +ladies' parlor to compare their impressions. The young count never +failed to join us in the evening. He had always something to show +us--prints of his home in Spain, articles of _virtu_ that he had +bought, sketches that he had made, for he was a good amateur artist. + +A group of young people of different nations generally collected on +these occasions, and the conversation often turned on the usages +peculiar to their respective countries. + +"In Spain I could not greet a lady with a simple good-evening," said the +count. "I should say, 'Permit the humblest of your servants to lay +himself at your feet,' or something like that." + +"Why do you not say it to us?" asked a bright-eyed Canadian girl. + +"Well, it might be a little awkward if you should happen to take it +literally. In Spain it is the merest commonplace." + +"If such exaggerated phrases are frittered into commonplaces, and the +most impassioned words grow meaningless, what can a Spanish gentleman +find to say when his heart is really touched?" I inquired. + +"I fancy we should find some very simple words to say it in," said the +boy, flushing like a girl. "But I do not know--I have never learned." + +"Talk some more," commanded the little princess. + +"If a pretty young lady is walking in our streets a mantle is often +flung suddenly in her way, and proud and happy is its owner if she +deigns to set her dainty foot upon it." + +"What do they do that for? Because the streets are so muddy?" inquired +an obtuse young woman. But nobody volunteered to enlighten her. + +"Cannot we go to Spain?" asked Miss St. Clair. "I should like to see a +modern Sir Walter Raleigh." + +"If the senorita should appear in our streets they would be strewn with +mantles," said the young count gallantly. + +"Would you throw down yours for me to step upon?" + +"Surely, senorita." + +"I'll come, then. It must be of velvet, mind." + +"Yes, studded with jewels." + +I loved the beautiful youth. His presence was like a poem in my life, +and if it ever occurred to me that the familiar intercourse of the young +people might not be altogether prudent, I dismissed it with the thought, +He is only a boy. + +There was to be an illumination of the Coliseum. We were going of +course, and Count Alvala begged that I would honor him by making use of +his carriage on this occasion. "Thank you, but I have already spoken to +Piero to come for us." + +"Oh, but we can send him away. You will find my carriage more +comfortable, and it will be in every way pleasanter," he urged +beseechingly; but my negative was peremptory. + +Eight o'clock came. Miss St. Clair and I descended to the court of the +hotel, but where was Piero? "It is singular. He was never late before, +but I am confident that he will be here presently. We have only to wait +a little." + +The minutes went by, and they were long minutes. It was awkward waiting +in so public a place. The count had joined us with his friend, an +Italian marquis some thirty years of age, with whom we had a slight +acquaintance. The count's handsome equipage was drawn up near us. There +was no Piero. + +"I really think you had better accept my young friend's carriage. It +would be a pity to miss so grand a spectacle," said the marquis. + +We entered the carriage. The count wrapped us in a magnificent feather +robe, such as the Montezumas wore, for the April nights in Rome are +chill, however hot the sunshine. It was strange to see the Forum, +ordinarily solitary and desolate, now thronged with an eager multitude +on foot and with numerous open carriages, in which were seated ladies in +full dress as at the opera with us. Arriving at the Coliseum, we left +the carriage and passed through the huge portal. The gloomy arches were +obscurely seen in the dusky Roman twilight, when suddenly, as if by +magic, every arch and crevice of the gigantic ruin glowed, incarnadined, +as if dyed with the blood of the martyrs that had drenched its soil. +There were salvos of artillery, bursts of military music and a few vivas +from the multitude. A brilliant spectacle, but the tender beauty of +moonlight harmonizes better with the solemnity of ruins. + +Rapt in the memories that the scene awakened, I paid little attention to +the monologue of my Italian friend, when I was suddenly roused by the +question, "Did you ever see a prettier couple?" + +"Who?" I asked absently. + +"There," he rejoined, pointing to the count and Miss St. Clair, who +preceded us. + +"He is too young," I replied, but the question was asked so +significantly that it disturbed me a little, and I resolved to be more +cautious than heretofore. + +The next morning Piero appeared with his carriage to take us to the +Baths of Caracalla. He hoped madame did not lose the illumination. He +was wretched to disappoint madame: he begged a thousand pardons. His +little boy was taken violently ill: he was forced to go for the doctor; +madame was so good. + +The truth flashed upon me: "Piero, how much did the count give you to +stay away last night?" + +A gleam of humor twinkled in his black eyes, but it was speedily +quenched: "I do not understand what madame wishes to say." + +It happened that a friend and country-woman at our hotel was taken ill +with typhoid fever, and amid the anxieties of her sick room the +incipient love-affair was almost forgotten. I no longer spent the +evenings in the parlor. One day Miss St. Clair showed me a tiny satin +bag beautifully embroidered, with a soft silken chain to pass around the +neck. "What can it be for?" she asked. + +"Why, Helen, it is an amulet. Where did you get it?" + +"The count gave it to me. He had the loveliest set of Byzantine mosaics +and pearls which he wished to give me; and when I would not accept them +he seemed so hurt that I did not like to refuse this trifle. What do you +suppose is in it." + +"A relic of some saint, without doubt. He thinks it will protect you +from fever perhaps." + +Like most Americans, we were desirous of seeing the pope, and Count +Alvala obtained for us the necessary permission. We were to be received +on a Saturday at eleven. We went in the prescribed costume, black silk, +with the picturesque Roman veil thrown over the head. From the foot of +the Scala Regia, (Royal Staircase) one of the papal guard, in a motley +suit which seemed one glare of black and yellow, escorted us to the door +of a long corridor, known as the Loggia of Raphael, where we were +received by a higher official in rich array of crimson velvet. About +seventy persons were seated in rows, facing each other, along this +gallery, nearly all laden with rosaries to be blessed by the Holy +Father. We waited till my neck ached with looking up at the exquisite +frescoes, fresh and tender in coloring as if new from the hand of the +master, when the pope appeared, attended by a cardinal on each hand. We +fell on our knees instantly, but not till I had seen an old man's face +so sweet and venerable as to make this act of etiquette a spontaneous +homage. He passed slowly down the line, saying a word or two to each, +and extending his hand, white and soft like a woman's, to be kissed. + +Pausing by the young count, who was kneeling beside me, he said +impressively, "Courage and faith have always been attributes of the +house of Alvala. Your fathers were good children of the Church, and you, +my son, will not be wanting in any of the qualities of your race." + +When he had passed us we rose from our knees, and I could observe him +more closely. He wore a close-fitting white cap on his finely-shaped +head; a long robe of white woolen cloth buttoned up in front, with a +small cape of the same material; a white sash, gold-embroidered at the +end; a long gold chain around his neck, to which was attached a large +golden cross; a seal ring on the third finger of his right hand; and red +slippers. Soft snowy locks fell from under the white skull-cap over a +noble forehead, which years and trials had left unwrinkled. Black +eyebrows and the soft dark eyes made a pleasant contrast to the +whiteness of hair and brow, and his smile was so sweet and winning that +I scarcely wondered to see two Catholic ladies prostrate themselves and +kiss his feet and the hem of his white garment with a rapture of +devotion from which his attendants with difficulty rescued him. He +lingered longest by a pretty boy four or five years old, and there was a +pathos in the caressing, clinging touch of his hand as it rested on the +child's head that called to mind an old love-story of the handsome Count +Mastai Ferretti when he wore the uniform of an officer of the guards, +and had not yet thought of priestly robe or papal crown. I wonder if he +remembers the fair English girl now? + +Having completed the round, he made a brief address, the purport of +which was that he was about to give us his blessing, and he wished that +it might be diffused to all our families and friends, and be not for the +present moment only, but extend through our whole lives and abide with +us in the hour of death; "But remember," said he with a kind of paternal +benignity, "that the gates of paradise open rarely to any who are +without the communion of the Holy Catholic Church. Sometimes +perhaps--sometimes--but with great difficulty." He extended his hands. +We dropped on our knees and received the blessing of this benign old +man, whom the larger part of Christendom revere as the earthly head of +the Church. As we were making our way through the stately columns of +the colonnade which forms the approach to the Vatican I saw the count +glance at the amulet which Helen wore. "What is in it?" I asked. + +"A relic of the blessed Saint Francis, my patron," he replied. + +"It will lose its efficacy on the neck of a little heretic like Miss St. +Clair," said I with a purpose. + +"It will do her no harm," said he coldly. + +Monday I was at the table d'hote the first time for a week. I found the +count seated next to Miss St. Clair. It was very simple, she explained +to me afterward. A lady occupied his seat one day, and he came round to +the only vacant one, which happened to be next hers. I am a very +guileless person, but I think Vincenzo had an excellent reason for +letting it happen. Helen was on my left hand as usual, and the Italian +marquis on my right. + +"I am sorry for that boy," said he to me: "he is very unhappy." + +"The young count? What is the matter?" + +"Don't you see? He is madly in love with your bewitching little +American. It is his first impression, and he takes it hard. Well, he +will have to learn like the rest of us." + +"I hope you are mistaken;" and I glanced uneasily at my young neighbors, +who were too much absorbed in their own conversation to heed that +between the marquis and myself. + +"That is impossible. He raves to me about her. It is very pretty too--a +perfect idyl, all poetry and romance--eternal, unchangeable, and all +that boyish nonsense. We older men know better. But monsignore will be +here soon, and he will look after him." + +"Who is monsignore?" + +"The archbishop of Toledo, his guardian. He has been here, but some +diocesan matter called him home. He will be back anon, and then the +count will dine at home. As to that, he does now, and delicious dinners +they are, too. He only makes a pretence of eating here, just to have a +chance to see his little divinity." + +"He was here when we came." + +"True, but only for a day or two while his house was put in order. The +house is well worth seeing--one of the finest on the Corso. It is not +open to strangers, but if you would like to see it--" + +"Certainly not," I interrupted, a little irritably, the more so from the +consciousness of having been a somewhat careless chaperone. I was coming +sharply up to the line of duty now, at all events. + +"Helen," said I when we rose from the dinner-table, "do not go into the +parlor now. Come into my room a little while, please.--Well, Helen," I +resumed when we were seated by the pleasant window, "I have seen so +little of you for a week past that you must have a great deal to tell +me." + +"I do not know," she replied. "I have been out every day with the +Glenns, just as you arranged for me, and I have been in the parlor in +the evenings, and sometimes I sang, and one night there was a French +gentleman--" + +"How about the young count? The Italian says he is very much in love +with you. Do you know it?" + +"He has told me so often enough, if that is knowing it," with a quick, +impatient toss of the small, graceful head. + +"Oh, Helen!" I cried in real distress, "and what did you say to him?" + +"Why, what _could_ I say in that great parlor, with everybody +looking on? I just hushed him up as well as I could. There is the tall +English girl and that sharp-eyed Miss Donaldson, who are watching us the +whole time. It is real mean in them," excitedly. "And the count doesn't +mind letting everybody know how much he admires me. In fact, he is proud +of it, like one of the old knights, who used to wear their ladies' +favors as openly and proudly as they bore their knightly banners." + +"This will never do, Helen. Don't you see that this boy is not like the +gay Frenchman that you danced with last winter? Rene Vergniaud was a man +of the world: he could take care of himself. But this beautiful boy, +with his intensity of feeling, his ideal passionate love--You must not +play with him," I exclaimed vehemently. + +"I am not playing with him: I never do anything to make him like me. He +comes and talks to me, and I just make myself as agreeable to him as I +can, that is all." + +That is all, is it, you little mischief? thought I. As if that were not +the very refinement of coquetry! But I prudently refrained from saying +it, for a tempest of hot tears began to fall, and she sobbed, "Oh, +Madame Fleming, I did not think I was going to forfeit your good +opinion. What can I do? I can't help his liking me. I like him too, and +that makes me feel so badly." + +"Do you like him better than Mr. Denham?" + +"Better than Fred?" in a tone of surprise. "Why no, of course not: I +have known Fred always." + +"The best thing will be to tell him of Mr. Denham." + +"Oh no, I never can." + +"_I_ will, then." + +"Don't, I beseech you. We shall go away soon, and that will be the end +of it. Promise me you will not. I would rather tell him myself if I ever +have a chance." + +I looked in to see my invalid friend, and then descended to the parlor, +where I found the young count almost alone. He looked up eagerly as I +entered: "I thought Miss St. Clair was with you. I have been waiting for +her all the evening." + +"Indeed!" + +"I told her at table that I wished to see her particularly this +evening." + +"Perhaps she did not understand you." + +"Oh yes, she did. You would not let her come?" with a sudden lighting up +of the expressive face. + +"I did not forbid her coming: I did not know that you were waiting for +her." + +Then with sudden boyish candor and a happy smile on his animated +countenance "I thought you might have observed that I come here so often +because I like to talk with Miss St. Clair. But you never can know how +dearly I love her." + +"I am sorry." + +"Why?" with a naive surprise. + +"She is older than you." + +"How old is she?" + +"She will be twenty in May." + +"And I am nineteen this very week. What is one poor little year?--not a +year," gleefully. + +"But the difference in religion?" + +"An obstacle, I grant, but not an insuperable one. My uncle married an +English lady, a Protestant, and they have been very happy together." + +"But I think there is another man," I stammered, surprised at finding my +outposts carried so easily. + +"You do not mean to say that she is compromised with any man?" almost +fiercely. + +"I do not know what meaning you attach to that word," for the count's +imperfect French was not always intelligible. "There is a young man, the +son of a neighbor, who has admired her a long time." + +"Oh, he admires her?" with a curl of the exquisite lips, as if to say, +"Who does not?" + +"But I think she may like him a little." + +"Why do you torture me so? Tell me at once that they are betrothed," +cried he, pale with concentrated anger. + +He thought she had trifled with him, I knew instantly, but quietly said, +"I cannot tell you exactly in what relation they stand to each other, +but I think Miss St. Clair would if she found an opportunity to speak +with you." + +"You do not know how I have tried to make opportunities. I go +everywhere, hoping to see you, and I have never met you--not once. Won't +you ask her to come down to-night?" coaxingly, like a child. + +"Not to-night: it is too late." + +"I _must_ see Miss St. Clair to-night." + +"Impossible." + +"I _must_ see Miss St. Clair. Find out for me when I can see her. I +will go with you," in a white heat of passion. (We had been alone for +some little time.) + +I took the arm which he held out, not a little agitated by the excess of +emotion which thrilled and quivered through his youthful frame, as he +hurried me up the broad stone staircase and along the wide corridors +that led to our rooms. What business had I to meddle? How should an old +fogy like me know anything of the love-affairs of this generation? The +girl would have managed more wisely than I, I reflected, by no means +jubilant over the result. + +"Wait here;" and I walked on to Miss St. Clair's door, opened it, and +there sat Helen in her pretty white wrapper, bathed in the moonlight, +serene as a star, as if there were no passionate young heart breaking in +waves of anguish at her feet. "Helen, the count is in the corridor, and +he will not go till I have told him when you will see him." + +"How can I? You must think for me." + +A hasty consultation. The count was standing where I had left him: "We +shall be at the Sistine Chapel to-morrow at two o'clock." + +He bowed and was gone. + +I did not sleep well that night. A pretty person I am to take charge of +a young girl! I wonder what Mr. St. Clair would think if he knew I had +made an appointment for his daughter to meet a young Spaniard? On the +way, however, I admonished Helen, as if no misgiving of my own wisdom +had ever crossed my mind: "You must be firm with him. Tell him so +decidedly that he cannot doubt you really mean it." + +"Yes," said she, "but I do dread it so. I can't bear his thinking that I +encouraged him." + +"Then you _did_?" + +"I didn't mean to, but I do like him; and I didn't think of his taking +it so to heart. Men are so strange! You think you have a charming +friend, and then they _will_ go on just so, boys and all, and you +have to take them or lose them; and you can't take them. It is too bad!" + +We were at the door. The keeper opened it, and there stood the count +waiting for us. It was not the first time we had been in the wonderful +chapel. Fortunately, there were very few persons there on this +afternoon--none that we knew. I sat down to look at the grand frescoes: +Helen and the count walked on to the farthest corner. I looked at the +Cumaean Sibyl, the impersonation of age and wisdom, and wished, as I +glanced at the youthful figures talking so earnestly in the distance, +but not a murmur of whose voices reached my ear, that she would impart +to me her far-reaching vision of futurity. I gazed on the image of the +Eternal Father sweeping in majestic flight through the air, bearing the +angels on His floating garment as He divides the light from the +darkness. I saw Adam, glad with new life, rising from the earth, because +the outstretched finger of his Creator gave him a conscious strength. I +looked at "The Last Judgment," grown dim with years, till every figure +started out in intensity of life, and it seemed as if the faces would +haunt me for ever. + +And yonder still progressed the old, ever-new drama of love and anguish, +with its two actors, who seemed scarcely to have changed their position +or taken their eyes from each other. At length they walked slowly toward +me with more serenity of aspect than I had dared to hope. + +"Shall we go into the picture-gallery?" asked the count. + +"I think we may have time to walk through it," I answered. "It is +half-past three." + +"Is it possible that we have kept you waiting so long?" they asked +simultaneously. + +"An hour and a half is a short time in a place like the Sistine Chapel," +I remarked sententiously. + +As soon as we were alone I drew Helen to the confessional: "Did you tell +him about Mr. Denham?" + +"Yes, everything, and he was so noble. I am so sorry. The tears stood in +his eyes, and he said, 'I suffer, but I am a man. I can bear it.' Then +he thanked me for dealing so openly with him. He never once hinted a +reproach. And I deserved it," she said with unwonted humility. "I never +felt before how wicked it is to flirt just a little. He is not selfish, +like some people that I know;" and my thought followed hers. "I don't +know but I am a little goose to let him go so. If he were only +twenty-three years old, and I were free--" + +The next day we saw nothing of the count, but early Thursday morning +Vincenzo knocked at my door with a note, in which Count Alvala informed +me that he was my son, and begged earnestly to see the beautiful Miss +St. Clair once more: he would never trouble me again. It was the only +day on which we could see the Palace of the Caesars, and would I be so +good as to permit him to meet us there? I hastily penciled a few words: +"I am waiting for Dr. Valery. I shall probably stay with my sick friend +to-day, and Miss St. Clair will not go out without me," and sent the +line by Vincenzo, happy to be rid of the importunate boy for this time. + +Two hours later, when the doctor had pronounced my friend better, and I +had promised Helen a walk amid the ruins of the Palatine, which I did +not like to leave Rome without seeing, I went down to the roll, coffee +and eggs which constitute an Italian breakfast, and there sat the count +as vigilant as a sentinel. "You will go?" said he with a smile. + +"I think we may," curtly. + +"I shall perhaps meet you there." + +When we reached the Farnese gate he was waiting there, which made the +"perhaps" superfluous. We had a long ramble over the lonely hill, +stretching out like a green New England pasture, but where from time to +time we came unexpectedly upon flights of steps which led to massive +substructures of stone, foundations of ancient palaces, and to excavated +halls paved with mosaics and lined with frescoes more beautiful than +those of Pompeii. There were many statues, more or less mutilated, and +stately brick arches laden with a wealth of flowering shrubs, and here +and there thickets of tall dark cypress trees, harmonious with ruins. My +young companions were rather silent, but I fancy their thoughts were not +engrossed with old historic lore. I made a conscientious effort to force +mine into the ruts of association which I had supposed to be inevitable +in such a spot, but the bright sunshine, the delicate blue of the +distant Campagna, the living gladness of earth and air were too strong +for me, and I inwardly applauded a lively American girl who interrupted +her droning guide with the incisive "I don't care a snap for Caesar." + +On reaching the gate after our three hours' ramble I consigned Miss St. +Clair to some friends who were waiting for her, and stepped into the +count's carriage. He seemed to feel bound in honor not to speak of love +to Miss St. Clair since the revelation of the Sistine Chapel, but he +must have a little solace in talking to me about it. "It would be easy," +said he, "if she were not _fiancee_, but that makes it difficult--very +difficult indeed. I am glad it is not going to be for three years: that +is a long time, a very long time." Then, with a sudden illumination of +face and a delicious intonation of the musical voice, "Perhaps they will +never marry: perhaps it will be another man--I." (Blessed infatuation of +youth, with its wonderful _perhapses_, which never come to maturer +years!) + +"One of these years I shall hope to hear that you are married to a +beautiful lady of your own country and your own religion." + +"You never will." + +"Oh yes, you will be astonished to find how easy it is to forget." + +"I come of a constant race," said he proudly. "My father loved my +mother, and they sent him all over the world to forget her, but he came +home in five years and married her." + +"Even if it were otherwise possible (which it is not), the difference in +religion ought to prevent it. How could so good a Catholic as you +distress your family by marrying a heretic?" + +"Perhaps she would be a Catholic." (I noticed that he did not say, +"Perhaps I shall become a Protestant.") "Don't you think her father +would let her marry a Catholic?" + +"No," I replied stoically. + +He was silent and dejected. + +"You must forget her," said I kindly. "It is only a little while since +you first saw her." + +"A little while! It is my whole life!" "Only a few weeks," I continued. +"We shall soon be across the ocean, and you will see other ladies." + +"There is only one Miss St. Clair." + +"I beg your pardon--there are three of them." But the boy was too +miserable to notice this poor little sally. + +We were approaching the hotel. "I shall not see you again at present," +said he. "Monsignore will arrive this evening, and I must be at home to +receive him. But I shall be in Paris by the middle of May, and I shall +see you there: farewell till then." + +The next morning Miss St. Clair and I were on our way to Florence. A +week later, on our return from the convent of San Marco, where we had +seen the cell of Savonarola and many lovely but faded frescoes of Fra +Angelico and Fra Bartolommeo, whom should we find waiting for us in our +temporary home on the Via Pandolfini but Count Alvala? I felt annoyed, +and my face must have revealed it, for he said deprecatingly, "You ought +to be glad to see your boy, Madame Fleming, for I have come this long +journey only for a day, expressly to see you." + +"Well," said I, "you took me so by surprise that I had not my welcome +ready. I did not expect the pleasure of seeing you till after our +arrival in Paris." + +"That is why I am here. I shall not be able to go to Paris. I am +bitterly disappointed, but monsignore has made other plans for me. I am +to go to Vienna to visit my aunt, whose husband is our ambassador there. +The tour to Paris is postponed till the autumn." + +Evidently monsignore had heard of the little heretic maiden, and he was +going to remove his ward from temptation. I was infinitely obliged to +him. + +A desultory conversation followed, carried on principally by the young +people, and then the count said, "Miss St. Clair tells me that you have +visited the Uffizi and Pitti galleries. May I not go with you somewhere +to-morrow?--to La Certose or San Miniato, for instance?" + +"Thank you," I replied: "we are so exhausted with sight-seeing, Miss St. +Clair and I, that we shall stay in all day to-morrow, and we shall be +happy to see you _once_ in the afternoon or evening, as may be most +convenient for you." + +I did not like to be hard and cross to the dear boy whom my heart +yearned over, but I felt as much bound to "make an effort" as if I had +been a veritable Dombey. + +The call lasted afternoon _and_ evening: it was only the change of +a particle. I could not reproduce the innocent talk, half gay, half sad, +of this long interview, but before he went away the count drew me aside: +"Will you give this to Miss St. Clair when I am gone?" + +I unfolded the package: it contained a photograph of himself and a small +painting which he had executed of the Coliseum on the night of the +illumination. "Yes." + +"And will you send me her photograph from Paris? I will have it copied +by the best miniature-painter in Rome and put in a locket set with +diamonds," said the boy enthusiastically. + +"I cannot promise." + +"Do you think I could be of any use to her father? Not to win his favor, +you understand, but I should be so happy to do anything to serve her or +her friends. Can't you tell me now?" + +"No. Mr. St. Clair does not need assistance in any way that I know." + +In spite of the boy's earnestness, the idea of his offering patronage to +the mature and independent American struck me as irresistibly ludicrous. + +"But you will tell him all about me." + +"Yes." + +"I shall learn to speak English--I have begun already--and in a year I +shall be in America. Will you write your address for me on this card?" + +I did so. + +"If you ever come to Spain, remember that my house and all that is in it +are yours." + +"I shall never go to Spain." + +"Perhaps you will one day to see Miss St. Clair," looking up in my face +with a bright smile of inextinguishable hope. "Good-bye for a year." + +A few more days in Florence, a week in Venice, a day or two in Milan, +and we bade adieu to Italy. Land of beauty and mystery! when I recall +thy many forms of loveliness, the glorious shapes of gods and heroes, +serene and passionless in their white majesty of marble, the blessed +sweetness of saints and Madonnas shining down into my soul, I seem to +have been once in heaven and afterward shut out. + + * * * * * + +We were once more at home. Almost the first news that came to us from +abroad was of the terrible war between France and Germany. During the +protracted siege of Paris we were full of anxieties, but at its close we +received long letters from Madame Le Fort, giving many details of the +sufferings and privations of the siege, sorrowful enough for the most +part, but enlivened here and there with touches of the gay French humor +that nothing can subdue. There was a lively sketch of a Christmas dinner +ingeniously got up of several courses of donkey-meat. At New Year's the +choicest gift that a gentleman could make a lady was a piece of wheaten +bread. Afterward there was nothing in the house but rice and chocolate +bonbons, which they chewed sparingly, a little at a time. But they kept +up their courage--they were even gay. Hardships were nothing, but that +Paris should be surrendered at last--that was a humiliation which +nothing could compensate. Many of the gay dancers whom we had known had +fallen in battle, among them, Rene Vergniaud. He was shot in the heart +in an engagement with the Prussians in the environs of Paris. + +I spent my next summer vacation with Miss St. Clair in Detroit. + +"When is Mr. Denham coming home?" I asked one evening when we were alone +together. + +"I do not know: he does not speak of coming home. I am a little puzzled +about Fred. He has written me a great deal lately about a certain +Fraeulein Teresa, the daughter of one of his professors, who takes such +excellent care of her younger brothers and sisters, and who is such a +wonderfully economical, housewifely little body--just a new edition of +Werther's Charlotte. I do not think that he really likes her," she +continued after musing a little: "he just holds her up as a model for me +to copy. I shouldn't wonder if she was only imaginary, to make me feel +how far I come short of his ideal. Fred says that he worships the very +ground I tread on--slightly hyperbolical and very original, you +perceive," with a satirical curve of her pretty lips--"but he never +seems half satisfied with me. He ought to know by this time that I must +be just my own little self, and not a second-hand imitation of somebody +else." + +The next day came a letter with a German postmark, which was so eloquent +on the subject of Fraeulein Teresa that it elicited the following reply: + + "DETROIT, August 5, 1871. + + "DEAR FRED: I despair of emulating Fraeulein Teresa's many + excellencies. You know what a useless little thing I am. Happily, it + is not too late to make another choice. Thinking it may please you, + I hereby release you from all your promises to me. We may never be + anything more to each other perhaps, but I hope that we shall always + be dear friends. I shall never forget that we grew up together, and + I wish you all possible happiness. + + "Your little friend, HELEN." + +In due time this answer came: + + "HEIDELBERG, August 27, 1871. + + "MISS ST. CLAIR: Your somewhat singular letter of August 5th was + duly received. If I believed that you had written it, or ever could + or would do anything, with proper deliberation, I should accept + your decision at once. But as I have good reason to know your habit + of acting from sudden impulses which you afterward regret, I give + you three months to reconsider this hasty step. + + "I have the honor to be your obedient servant, + + "F. A. DENHAM." + +Helen held to me the open sheet, with kindling eyes and glowing cheeks: +"Three months! I don't need three minutes: I wouldn't change in three +centuries. I am so glad to be free!" she cried, sobbing and laughing at +the same moment. "He has worried me so--a poor little thing like me!" + +The next morning I started on my return to Boston. + +Early in October a servant handed me a card bearing the name Francisco +Alvala. I had ceased to think of the boy, not having heard a word from +him; but here he was, looking very manly, browned with the sun and sea, +and beautiful as Endymion when Diana stooped to kiss him and all the +green leaves in the white moonshine were tremulous with sympathy. + +After the first greeting he asked, "How is Miss St. Clair? and when did +you see her last?" + +I told him of my recent visit. + +"She is not married, then?" + +"On the contrary, she is free. The engagement with Mr. Denham has been +broken." + +"What did I tell you? Did I not say it would be _I_?" in a burst of +triumph. + +As a good Boston woman I am chagrined to record that Bunker Hill and all +the local lions, which I was at some pains to impress on his memory, did +not prove so attractive as the earliest Western train. + +Why make a long story of what every one foresees? In the course of the +autumn and winter the count made flying visits to Washington, +Philadelphia, New Orleans, and even San Francisco, but it was noticeable +that the way to all these places lay through Detroit. He spoke English +marvelously well now, and so won upon the hearts of Mr. and Mrs. St. +Clair that on the 23d of April, being his twenty-first birthday, the +marriage of the conde de Alvala and Helen St. Clair was duly celebrated. +I could not leave my school to be present at the wedding, but the young +couple came to Boston to take leave of me before sailing for Europe. +They were radiant with happiness, and I could hardly tell which I loved +best, my boy or my girl; but if the Italian had been there to ask if I +ever saw a more beautiful couple, I should have answered no with great +emphasis. + +I will copy Helen's first letter in order to prove that a chateau en +Espagne is not always a castle in the air: + + "ALVALA, near Toledo, June 20, 1872. + + "DEAR MADAME FLEMING: You have heard from mother of our voyage and + safe arrival. We are now at home, Francisco and I, if I can ever + learn to feel at home in such a grand place, where I can hardly + find my way round. It is like one of the old palaces at Rome, the + Borghese or Colonna, that we used to admire so much, with vast + halls opening into one another, hangings of tapestry and Cordovan + leather, marble statues and old paintings--family portraits by + Titian and Velasquez, one or two Murillos, and--but I cannot write + a catalogue. You must come to see us and the pictures. I am not + sure which you will like the best. Francisco is very good to me, + and so are all his friends. His sister and her husband were here to + welcome us. + + "One of the first things we did was to go down the rose-tree walk, + along the banks of the Tagus, for more than a mile--white and + delicate pink and deep-red roses blossoming above our heads and + dropping their petals at our feet all the way. Francisco said he + would make my life like that walk among the roses, all sweetness + and beauty, but that he cannot tell. + + "There is the old cathedral, with a wonderful head of Saint Francis + and a whole forest of columns; and when you come we will bribe the + sacristan not to lock you in, as they did at St. Roch. I shall + never be a Roman Catholic, but I go to mass sometimes, for there is + no Protestant service here, and one cannot be quite a heathen where + everybody is so devout. What I dislike most is to have a chaplain + in the house, walking about in his black petticoat, but of course I + never say a word to Francisco. + + "By and by we are going to our house in Madrid. _Our house in + Madrid_! does not that sound very strange? It all seems so unreal + that I am afraid of waking up and finding it a dream. + + "Do, dear Madame Fleming, give up slaving in that old school and + come and live with Francisco and me. He says he wishes you would, + and it would make everything seem more real if I had you here. + Think of it, now. You will, won't you? As ever, your dear child, + + "HELEN ALVALA." + +This true story suggests a little sermon in two heads: 1st. To all +possible and probable lovers: It was not the count's rank or wealth, but +the fervor and constancy of ideal love and his whole-souled, exclusive +devotion, that won the heart of the American girl. 2d. To all sensible +American parents: Do not permit your pretty young daughters to make a +tour in Europe unless you are willing to leave them there. + + MARY E. BLAIR. + + + + +A JAPANESE MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE. + + +In describing a Japanese marriage in high life we do not intend to soar +_too_ high. It is not for our alien pen to portray the splendors of such +a marriage as that of the princess of Satsuma to Iyesada, the thirteenth +Sho-gun of the Tokugawa dynasty, when all Yedo was festal and +illuminated for a week. Neither shall we describe that of the imperial +princess Kazu, the younger sister of the Mikado, who came up from Kioto +to wed the young Sho-gun Iyemochi, and thus to unite the sacred blood of +twenty-five centuries of imperial succession with that of the Tokugawas, +the proud family that ruled Japan, and dictated even to her emperors, +for two hundred and fifty years. We leave the description of those royal +nuptials to other pens. Ours aspires only to describe a marriage such as +has happened in old Yedo for the thousandth time in the samurai +class--the gentry of Japan. + +Were you with us in Tokio (the new name of the capital of Japan) we +should take you, were you inclined to go, to the place where once stood +the mansion of Yamashiro Kan, a high retainer of the prince of Echizen, +and a lineal descendant of the great Iyeyasu, the founder of the dynasty +of the Sho-guns. Were you to seek for Yamashiro's mansion now, you would +not find it, but instead several very vulgar evidences of the Western +civilization which is now changing the Land of the Gods into a paradise +of beef, bread, butter, milk and machinery. We walked past the old +mansion-grounds a few days ago, and lo! we saw a milk-shop and dairy, a +butcher's stall, a sewing-machine store, a printing-office, a school in +which Japanese boys were learning A, B, C's, a photographer's "studio," +a barber-shop with an English sign, and a score or more Japanese shops +of all kinds. This is of to-day. Five years ago a long wall of +diamond-shaped tiles laid in white cement extended round the spacious +grounds of the homestead of the Yamashiro family. Inside were +fish-ponds, mimic hills, miniature mountain-scenery, dense +flower-bushes, dwarfed arboreal wonders, solemn shade trees and a garden +laid out according to the very best Japanese style. The fine old +_yashiki_ of Yamashiro, with its porter's lodge, stone path, +entrance-porch, vestibule and the family homestead, was within. No +wonder, then, that the aged man, who firmly believes that Japan is going +to the dogs, the devil or the foreigners--he does not know which--shakes +his head as he now passes by the milk-and butcher-shops, around which +the lazy dogs sleep or wait for bones, and sighs as he remembers the +grand old mansion. + +About two miles farther north, in the great _rus urba_ of Yedo, was +another house of humbler pretensions, and yet one with a gate and garden +of dimensions betokening the residence of a man of rank. It was the home +of Nakayama, one of the eighty thousand _hatamoto_ (vassals) of the +Sho-gun, a studious gentleman whose greatest pride was in his two sons +and his only daughter. The former were not only manly and expert in the +use of the sword and spear, but had the best education that the classics +of Confucius and the Chinese college and literati in Yedo could give +them. Next to them in his love was his only daughter Kiku, seventeen +years old, and as fair as the fairest of Yedo's many fair daughters. No +vain doll was Kiku, but, inheriting her mother's beauty, she added to it +the inner grace of a meek and dutiful spirit. Besides being deft at +household duties, her memory was well stored with the knowledge of +Japanese history and the Chinese classics. She had committed to memory +the entire books of the _Woman's Great Learning_, and had read +carefully five other works on etiquette and morals which her father had +presented to her on successive birthdays. Kiku was a remarkably +well-educated maiden, and would have been a prize for the richest daimio +in the empire. + +Faithfully following Japanese etiquette, Kiku had been carefully kept +from the company of any of the male sex since her eighth year. She never +talked with any young man except her brothers. Occasionally at family +parties she was addressed by her uncles or cousins. Sometimes, when +gentlemen called to see her father, Kiku would bring tea to the guest, +and was thus made the subject of compliments; but as to "receiving" male +company, she never did it. Kiku never went out unless accompanied by her +mother or the maid, who was like her shadow. + +The gods of Japan meet together at the great temples in Ise during the +eleventh month and tie all the nuptial knots for the following year. +Kiku's marriage-knot had been tied by the gods six months before she +even suspected the strings had been crossed. How happened it? + +In Japan only the people in the lower classes are acquainted with and +see each other frequently before marriage. The business of selection, +betrothal and marriage is attended to by the parents or friends of the +pair, who carry on negotiations by means of a third factor, a middleman +or go-between. Children are often betrothed at birth or when on their +nurses' backs (there are no cradles in Japan). Of course the natural +results, mutual dislike and severance of the engagement at mature age, +or love and happy marriage, or marriage, mutual dislike and subsequent +divorce, happen, as the case may be. In general, when the parents make +the betrothal of grown-up children, it is not probable that the feelings +of son or daughter are outraged, or that marriages are forced against +the consent of either, though this does sometimes take place. In Asiatic +countries, where obedience to parents is the first and last duty, and in +which no higher religion than filial obedience exists, the betrothal and +marriage of children is not looked upon as anything strange. The +prevalence of concubinage as a recognized institution in Japan makes it +of no serious importance whether the husband loves his wife or not. + +To tell an ordinary Japanese that in America people often marry against +their parents' consent is to puzzle him, and make him believe Carlyle's +saying about Americans without having heard it. If a man who marries +against his parents' wish is not a triple-dyed ingrate, he must be a +downright fool. Beyond this idea the normal Japanese cannot go; and you +might as well try to make a blind man understand that "celestial rosy +red" was "Love's proper hue" as to convince him that a good man ever +marries against his parents' wishes. Such ideas and practices are +convincing evidences to him of the vast moral inferiority of Western +nations when compared with that of the people descended from the gods. + +Resuming our narrative, we must mention that Kiku's father had once had +an offer from one Matsui, a wealthy retainer of the Wakasa clan, through +that young nobleman's middleman or agent, which he refused, to the +disgust of both middleman and suitor. The latter had seen Kiku walking +with her mother while going to the temple at Shiba, and, being struck +with her beauty, inquired who she was. Having come of age and wishing a +wife, he had sued for Kiku to her father, who, for reasons of his own, +refused the request, on the ground that Kiku was too young, being then +but fifteen years old. The truth was, that the Wakasa samurai was a wild +young fellow, and bore a reputation for riotous living that did not +promise to make him a proper life-companion for Nakayama's refined and +cultured daughter. Between Nakayama, Kiku's father, and Yamashiro, the +retainer of the Echizen clan, whose home we spoke of in the opening of +our sketch, had long existed a warm friendship and a mutual high regard. +Yamashiro, though more fond of society and good living than Nakayama, +was nevertheless, like him, a high-spirited and well-read man. He had +four children, two sons and two daughters. The oldest son, named Taro, +was now twenty years old, of manly figure, diligent in study, and had +lately acted as a high page, attending daily upon the person of +Hitotsu-bashi, the then reigning Sho-gun, and the last of his line that +held or will hold regal power in Japan. Taro, being the oldest son of +his father, was the heir to his house, office, rank and revenue. Taro +wanted a wife. He wished to taste the sweets of love and wedded joy. He +had long thought of Kiku. Of course he asked his father, and his father +"was willing." He told Taro to go to Nakayama's house. Taro went. He +talked to Nakayama, and hinted faint compliments of his daughter. It was +enough. Nakayama was keen of scent, and he also "was willing." Clapping +his hands, the maid-servant appeared and falling down and bowing her +head to the floor, listened: "Make some tea, and tell Miss Kiku to serve +it." + +Had you been in the back rooms of that house, you would have seen Kiku +blush as the maid told her who was in the front room and what her father +had said. Her heart beat furiously, and the carnation of health upon her +cheeks was lost in the hot blushes that mantled her face and beautiful +neck when her mother, reproving her, said, "Why, dear child, don't be +excited: perhaps he has come only on some every-day business, after all. +Be composed, and get ready to take in the tea." + +Nevertheless, Kiku took out her metal mirror while the maid made the +tea, smoothed a pretended stray hair, powdered her neck slightly, drew +her robe more tightly around her waist, adjusted her girdle, which did +not need any adjusting, and then, taking up the tray, containing a tiny +tea-pot, a half dozen upturned cups, and as many brass sockets for them, +hastened into the front room, bowed with her face on her hands to the +floor, and then handed cups of tea to her parent and his guest. This +done, she returned to her mother. Whether Taro looked at Kiku's cheeks +or into her glittering black eyes we leave even a foreign reader to +judge. + +Let it not be thought, however, that a single word relating to marriage +in the concrete passed between the two men: no such breach of etiquette +was committed. The visit over, the two friends parted as friends, and +nothing more, either in fact or in visible prospect. + +But, to be brief, not long afterward, Taro, having selected a trusty +friend, sent him as a go-between to ask of Nakayama the hand of his +daughter in marriage. The proposal was accepted, and when the go-between +came the second time to Kiku's home it was in company with two servants +bearing bundles. These, being opened, were found to contain a splendidly +embroidered girdle, such as Japanese ladies wear, about twelve feet long +and a foot wide when doubled; a robe of the finest white silk from the +famous looms of Kanazawa; five or six pieces of silk not made up; +several kegs of _sake_ or rice-beer; dried fish, soy, etc. These +were for the bride-elect. For her father was a sword with a richly +mounted hilt and lacquered scabbard, hung with silken cords. The blade +alone of the sword was worth (it isn't polite to speak of the cost of +presents, but we will let you into the secret, good reader) one hundred +dollars, and had been made in Sagami from the finest native steel. +Kiku's mother was presented with a rich robe, which she recognized at +once as being woven of the famous Derva silk. The ceremonious reception +of these presents by the parents signified that the betrothal was +solemnly ratified, and that the engagement could not be broken. +Nakayama, the intended father-in-law, afterward sent to Taro a present +of a jar of the finest tea from his own plantation in Shimosa, a pair of +swords, and a piece of satin, such as that of which the _hakama_ or +trousers which indicate the rank of the samurai are made. + +The betrothal was now published in both families, and in both houses +there were festivities, rejoicing and congratulation. The marriage-day, +a fortunate or good-omened one, was fixed upon as the twenty-seventh +from the day of betrothal. + +Was Kiku happy? Nay, you should ask, Can that word express her feelings? +She had obeyed her parents: she could do nothing higher or more fraught +with happiness. She was to be a wife--woman's highest honor and a +Japanese woman's only aim. She was to marry a noble by name, nature and +achievement, with health, family, wealth and honor. Kiku lived in a new +world of anticipation and of vision, the gate of which the Japanese call +_iro_, and we _love_. At times, as she tried on for the twentieth time +her white silk robe and costly girdle, she fell into a reverie, half sad +and half joyful. She thought of leaving her mother alone with no +daughter, and then Kiku's bright eyes dimmed and her bosom heaved. Then +she thought of living in a new home, in a new house, with new faces. +What if her mother-in-law should be severe or jealous? Kiku's cheek +paled. What if Taro should achieve some great exploit, and she share his +joy as did the honorable women of old? What if his former position of +beloved page to the Sho-gun should give her occasional access to the +highest ladies in the land, the female courtiers of the castle? Her eyes +flashed. + +The wedding-night came, seeming to descend out of the starry heavens +from the gods. Marriages rarely take place in the daytime in Japan. The +solemn and joyful hour of evening, usually about nine o'clock, is the +time for marriage--as it often is for burial--in Japan. In the starlight +of a June evening the bride set forth on her journey to her intended +husband's home, as is the invariable custom. Her toilet finished, she +stepped out of her childhood's home to take her place in the _norimono_ +or palanquin which, borne on the shoulders of four men, was to convey +her to her future home. + +Just as Kiku stands in the vestibule of her father's house let us +photograph her for you. A slender maiden of seventeen, with cheeks of +carnation; eyes that shine under lids not so broadly open as the +Caucasian maiden's, but black and sparkling; very small hands with +tapering fingers, and very small feet encased in white mitten-socks; her +black hair glossy as polished jet, dressed in the style betokening +virginity, and decked with a garland of blossoms. Her robe of pure white +silk folds over her bosom from right to left, and is bound at the waist +by the gold-embroidered girdle, which is supported by a lesser band of +scarlet silken crape, and is tied into huge loops behind. The skirt of +the dress sweeps in a trail. Her under-dress is of the finest and +softest white silk. In her hands she carries a half-moon-shaped cap or +veil of floss silk. Its use we shall see hereafter. She salutes her +cousin, who, clad in ceremonial dress with his ever-present two swords, +is waiting to accompany her in addition to her family servants and +bearers, and steps into the norimono. + +The four bearers, the servants and the samurai pass down along the +beautiful Kanda River, whose waters mirror the stars, and whose depths +of shade re-echo to the gurgling of sculls, the rolling of ripples and +the songs of revelers. The cortege enters one of the gate-towers of the +old city-walls, passes beneath the shade of its ponderous copper-clad +portals, and soon arrives at the main entrance of the Yamashiro +_yashiki_. Here they find the street in front and the stone walk +covered with matting, and a friend of Taro's, in full dress, waiting to +receive the cortege. Of course the gazers of the neighborhood are +waiting respectfully in crowds to catch a glimpse of the coming bride. + +The go-between and a few friends of the bridegroom come out to receive +the bride and deliver her to her own servant and two of her own young +maiden friends, who had gone before to the Yamashiro mansion. The room +in which the families of the bride and groom and their immediate friends +are waiting, though guiltless of "furniture," as all Japanese rooms are, +is yet resplendent with gilt-paper screens, bronzes, tiny lacquered +tables and the Japanese nuptial emblems. On the wall hang three pictured +scrolls of the gods of Long Life, of Wealth and of Happiness. On a +little low table stands a dwarf pine tree, bifurcated, and beneath it +are an old man and an old woman. Long life, a green old age, changeless +constancy of love and the union of two hearts are symbolized by this +evergreen. In the _tokonoma_ (or large raised recess) of the room are +the preparations for the feast, the wine-service consisting of kettles, +decanters and cups. On two other tables are a pair of white storks and a +fringed tortoise. All through the rooms gorgeously painted wax candles +burn. The air of the apartment is heavy with perfume from the censer, a +representation in bronze of an ancient hero riding upon a bullock. All +the guests are seated _a la Japonaise_--upon the floor. Two or three +young ladies, the bridesmaids, go out to meet the bride and lead her to +her dressing-room. Here she finds her own property, which has been +brought to her future home during the day. Toilet-stands and cabinets +and the ceremonial towel-rack are prominently displayed. On a tall +clothes-horse of gilt lacquer are hung her silk robes and the other +articles of her wardrobe, which are bridal gifts. Over the doorway, in a +gilt rack, glitters the long spear or halberd to the dexterous use of +which all Japanese ladies of good family are trained. In a box of finest +wood, shining with lacquer and adorned with her family crest, are the +silk sleeping-dresses and coverlets, which are to be spread, as all +Japanese beds are, on the floor. The articles above mentioned constitute +the trousseau of a Japanese bride. + +Here Kiku rearranges her dress, retouches her lower lip with golden +paint and puts on her hood of floss silk. This is of a half-moon shape, +completely covering her face. She does not lift it until she has drunk +the sacramental marriage-cup. Many a Japanese maiden has seen her lord +for the first time as she lifted her silken hood. Kiku is all ready, and +she and the groom are led into the room where the ceremony is to be +performed, and assigned their positions. + +With a Japanese marriage neither religion nor the Church has anything to +do. At the wedding no robed priest appears officially among the guests. +The marriage is simply a civil and social contract. In place of our bans +is the acceptance of the suitor's presents by the family of the sought, +the announced betrothal and intimation of the marriage to the police of +the ward. In place of our answer, "Yes," is the sacramental drinking of +wine. We may say "wine," because we are talking of high life, and must +use high words. _Sake_, the universal spirituous beverage of Japan, +is made from fermented rice, and hence is properly rice-beer. It looks +like pale sherry, and has a taste which is peculiarly its own. Sweet +sake is very delicious, and it may be bought in all the degrees of +strength and of all flavors and prices. As the Japanese always drink +their wine hot, a copper kettle for heating sake is a necessity in every +household. On ceremonial occasions, such as marriages, the sake-kettles +are of the costliest and handsomest kind, being beautifully lacquered. +Bride and groom being ready, the wine-kettles, cups and two bottles are +handed down. Two pretty servant-maids now bring in a hot kettle of wine +and fill the bottles. To one bottle is fastened by a silken cord a male +butterfly, and to the other a female. The two girls also are called +"male" and "female" butterflies. The girl having the female butterfly +pours out some sake in the kettle, into which the girl with the male +butterfly also pours the contents of her bottle, so that the wine from +both bottles thus flows together. Then the sake is poured again into +another gilt-and-lacquered bottle of different shape. + +Now the real ceremony begins. On a little stand three cups, each +slightly concave and having an under-rest or foot about half an inch +high, are set one upon another, like a pagoda. The stand with this +three-storied arrangement is handed to the bride. Holding it in both +hands while the sake is poured into it by the male butterfly, the bride +lifts the cup, sips from it three times, and the tower of cups is then +passed to the bridegroom and refilled. He likewise drinks three times, +and puts the empty cup under the third. The bride again sips thrice from +the upper cup. The groom does the same, and places the empty cup beneath +the second. Again the bride sips three times, and the bridegroom does +the same, and they are man and wife: they are married. This ceremony is +called san-san-ku-do, or "three times three are nine." + +Like a wedding at once auspicious and _distingue_, the nuptials of Kiku +and Taro passed off without one misstep or incident of ill omen. In the +dressing-room and in the hall of ceremony Kiku's self-possessed demeanor +was admired by all. After drinking the sacramental wine she lifted her +silken hood, not too swiftly or nervously, and smiled blushingly on her +lord. The marriage ceremony over, both bride and groom retired to their +respective dressing-rooms. Kiku exchanged her white dress for one of +more elaborate design and of a lavender color. The groom, removing his +stiffly-starched ceremonial robes, appeared in ordinary dress. Meanwhile +refreshments had been served to all the bridesmaids and, maid-servants. +Husband and wife now took their seats again, and the whole company +joined in the supper, during which apparently innumerable courses were +served. Neither ices, oranges nor black-cake appeared on the table at +Kiku's wedding. The bill of fare contained many decidedly recherche +items which it requires a Japanese palate thoroughly to appreciate. Let +us enumerate a few. There were salmon from Hakodate, tea from Uji, young +rice from Higo, pheasants' eggs, fried cuttle-fish, _tai, koi, maguro_ +and many another sort of toothsome fish from the market at Nihon Bashi. +There were sea-weed of various sorts and from many coasts, bean-curd, +many kinds of fish-soups, condiments of various flavors, eggs in every +style and shellfish of every shape. A huge maguro-fish, thinly sliced, +but perfectly raw, was the _piece de resistance_ of the feast. +Sweetmeats, candies of the sort known to the Japanese confectioners and +castera (sponge-cake) crowned the courses. + +Now, having briefly described Kiku's wedding, perhaps we should stop +here. Although fairly married, however, Kiku was not through the +ceremonies of the night. Before her own parents left the house she was +taken by the attendant ladies before her parents-in-law, and with them +drank cups of wine and exchanged gifts. All the bridal presents were +displayed during the evening in her dressing-room, and the whole of her +trousseau was open to the inspection of all the ladies present. Feasting +and dancing were the order of the hours until midnight, and then Kiku's +parents bade her farewell, and she was left a bride in a new home. + +"Where did the young couple go?" "What was the route of their +bridal-tour?" "Perhaps they made a late wedding-journey?" "Of course +Japan has many fine watering-places to which married couples resort?" +These are American questions. The fashion of making bridal-tours is not +Japanese. Many a lovely spot might serve for such a purpose in +everywhere beautiful Japan. The lake and mountains of Hakone; the +peerless scenery, trees, waterfalls and tombs of Nikko, where sleeps the +mighty Iyeyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa line; the spas of +Atami,--all these are spots which if in America would be thronged with +bridal-parties. Caucasians in Japan even make Fusiyama's summit the goal +of their wedded steps, but our Kiku and Taro went nowhere. + +"At home" for three days is the general rule in Japan. All their friends +came to see them, and presents were showered on the happy pair. The +great Sho-gun, remembering his former page, sent Taro a present of a +flawless ball of pure rock-crystal five inches in diameter. Prince +Echizen, his feudal lord, presented him with a splendid saddle with gilt +flaps and a pair of steel stirrups inlaid with gold and silver and +bronze, with the crest of the Echizen clan glittering in silver upon it. +From his own father he received a jet-black horse brought from the +province of Nambu, and an equine descendant of the Arab sire presented +by the viceroy of India to the Japanese embassy to the pope in 1589. On +the delightful wonders of the gifts to Kiku our masculine pen shrinks +from expatiating. On the third day after her marriage Kiku visited her +parents, and after that spent many days in returning the visits of all +who had called on her. + +Now, like the "goosie gander" of nursery memory, we must wander again +into the lady's chamber. Were you to wander to such a place after a +Japanese maiden became a wife, you would see, as we have often seen, how +the outward form of a Japanese maiden assumes that of a Japanese matron. +First, then, the maiden wears a high coiffure that always serves as a +sacred symbol of her virginity. It is not easy to describe its form, but +even foreigners think it very beautiful, and will regret the day when +the Japanese _musume_ wears her hair like her sisters across the ocean. +Indeed, it would be no strange thing were Queen Fashion to ordain that +American maidens should adopt the style of dressing the hair now in +universal vogue in Japan. The _shimada_ or virginal coiffure, however, +is changed after marriage, and Kiku, like the rest of her wedded +friends, now wore the _maru-mage_, or half-moon-shaped chignon, which is +wound round an ivory, tortoise-shell or coral-tipped bar, and is the +distinguishing mark of a Japanese wife. So far, however, the transition +from loveliness to ugliness has not been very startling: Kiku still +looked pretty. The second process, however, robbed her of her eyebrows, +and left her without those dark arches that had helped to make the +radiant sun of her once maidenly beauty. With tweezers and razor the +fell work, after many a wince, was done. With denuded brows and changed +coiffure surely the Japanese Hymen demands no more sacrifices at his +shrine? Surely Kiku can still keep the treasures of a set of teeth that +seem like a casket of pearls with borders of coral? Not so. The fashion +of all good society from remotest antiquity demands that the teeth of a +wife must be dyed black. Kiku joyfully applied the galls and iron, and +by patience and dint of polishing soon had a set of teeth as black as +jet and as polished as the best Whitby. Not strange to tell to a +Japanese, either, the smile of her husband Taro was a rich reward for +her trouble and the surrender of her maiden charms. Japanese husbands +never kiss their wives: kissing is an art unknown in Japan. It is even +doubtful whether the language has a word signifying a kiss. No wonder +Young Japan wishes to change his language for the English! Henceforth in +public or private, alone or in company, Kiku's personal and social +safety was as secure as if clothed in armor of proof and attended by an +army. The black teeth, _maru-mage_ and shaven eyebrows constitute a +talisman of safety in a land which foreigners so like to believe +licentious and corrupt beyond the bounds of conception. + +Now that we have Kiku married, we must leave her to glide into the cool, +sequestered paths of a Japanese married lady's life. Only one thing we +regret, and that is that her marriage could not have happened in the +year of our Lord 1874 and of "Enlightened Peace the seventh, and of the +era of Jimmu, the first Mikado, the two thousand five hundred and +thirty-fourth." Had she been married during the present year, her +coiffure would need no alteration, her eyebrows would still knit with +care or arch with mirth, and her teeth would still keep their virgin +whiteness, unsoiled by astringent galls or abhorred vitriol. + +The leader of feminine fashion in Japan, the young empress Haruko, has +set her subjects the example by for ever banishing the galls and iron, +appearing even in public with her teeth as Nature made them. Kiku and +Taro, though once proud to own allegiance to the Sho-gun, are now among +the staunch supporters of the lord of the Sho-gun, the Mikado, the only +true sovereign of the Sunrise Kingdom. + + W.E. GRIFFIS. + + + + +THE LOST BABY. + + +She wandered off one dismal day; +No one was by to bid her stay: +The earth was white, the sky was gray, +When the poor little baby wandered away. + +The sun went down with crimson crown +Behind the clouds and the tree-tops brown: +The cold road stared with a colder frown +When the poor little feet went wandering down. + +Her mother lived up in the shining sky, +Thought poor little baby, wondering why, +As hours and days and weeks went by, +She never came down at her baby's cry. + +If the crimson wave in the west led true, +The skyward road she surely knew: +She heeded not that the sharp winds blew, +Or her cold little feet sore tired grew. + +She hummed some broken baby song, +And talked to herself as she trudged along: +She feared no failure, recked no wrong, +But she thought that the way was lone and long. + +Tired and cold, she lingered to rest +Under a snow-drift's treacherous crest: +She cuddled herself in a tiny nest, +White and cold as her mother's breast. + +They found her there on the snowy ground, +Her silky hair with snowflakes crowned. +She made no sign, she breathed no sound, +But the skyward road she had surely found. + + CLARA G. DOLLIVER. + + + + +THREE FEATHERS. + +BY WILLIAM BLACK, AUTHOR OF "A PRINCESS OF THULE." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +SOME OLD SONGS. + + +"Are you dreaming again, child?" said Mrs. Rosewarne to her daughter. +"You are not a fit companion for a sick woman, who is herself dull +enough. Why do you always look so sad when you look at the sea, Wenna?" + +The wan-faced, beautiful-eyed woman lay on a sofa, a book beside her. +She had been chatting in a bright, rapid, desultory fashion about the +book and a dozen other things--amusing herself really by a continual +stream of playful talk--until she perceived that the girl's fancies were +far away. Then she stopped suddenly, with this expression of petulant +but good-natured disappointment. + +"Oh, I beg your pardon, mother," said Wenna, who was seated at an open +window fronting the bay. "What did you say? Why does the sea make one +sad? I don't know. One feels less at home here than out on the rocks at +Eglosilyan: perhaps that is it. Or the place is so beautiful that it +almost makes you cry. I don't know." + +And indeed Penzance Bay on this still, clear morning was beautiful +enough to attract wistful eyes and call up vague and distant fancies. +The cloudless sky was intensely dark in its blue: one had a notion that +the unseen sun was overhead and shining vertically down. The still plain +of water--so clear that the shingle could be seen through it a long way +out--had no decisive color, but the fishing smacks lying out there were +jet-black points in the bewildering glare. The sunlight did not seem to +be in the sky, in the air or on the sea; but when you turned to the +southern arm of the bay, where the low line of green hills ran out into +the water, there you could see the strong clear light shining--shining +on the green fields and on the sharp black lines of hedges, on that bit +of gray old town with its cottage-gardens and its sea-wall, and on the +line of dark rock that formed the point of the promontory. On the other +side of the bay the eye followed the curve of the level shores until it +caught sight of St. Michael's Mount rising palely from the water, its +sunlit grays and purple shadows softened by the cool distance. Then +beyond that again, on the verge of the far horizon, lay the long and +narrow line of the Lizard, half lost in a silver haze. For the rest, a +cool wind went this way and that through Mrs. Rosewarne's room, stirring +the curtains. There was an odor of the sea in the air. It was a day for +dreaming perhaps, but not for the gloom begotten of languor and an +indolent pulse. + +"Oh, mother! oh, mother!" Wenna cried suddenly, with a quick flush of +color to her cheeks, "do you know who is coming along? Can you see? It +is Mr. Trelyon, and he is looking at all the houses: I know he is +looking for us." + +"Child! child!" said the mother. "How should Mr. Trelyon know we are +here?" + +"Because I told him," Wenna said simply and hurriedly. "Mother, may I +wave a handkerchief to him? Won't you come and see him? he seems so much +more manly in this strange place; and how brave and handsome he looks!" + +"Wenna!" her mother said severely. + +The girl did not wave a handkerchief, it is true, but she knelt down at +the open bay-window, so that he must needs see her; and sure enough he +did. Off went his hat in a minute, a bright look of recognition leapt to +his eyes, and he crossed the street. + +Then Wenna turned, all in a flutter of delight, and quite unconscious of +the color in her face: "Are you vexed, mother? Mayn't I be glad to see +him? Why, when I know that he will brighten up your spirits better than +a dozen doctors? One feels quite happy and hopeful whenever he comes +into the room. Mother, you won't have to complain of dullness if Mr. +Trelyon comes to see you. And why doesn't the girl send him up at once?" + +Wenna was standing at the open door to receive him when he came up +stairs: she had wholly forgotten the embarrassment of their last +parting. + +"I thought I should find you out," he said when he came into the room, +and it was clear that there was little embarrassment about him; "and I +know how your mother likes to be teased and worried. You've got a nice +place here, Mrs. Rosewarne; and what splendid weather you've brought +with you!" + +"Yes," said Wenna, her whole face lit up with a shy gladness, "haven't +we? And did you ever see the bay looking more beautiful? It is enough to +make you laugh and clap your hands out of mere delight to see everything +so lovely and fresh." + +"A few minutes ago I thought you were nearly crying over it," said the +mother with a smile, but Miss Wenna took no heed of the reproof. She +would have Mr. Trelyon help himself to a tumbler of claret and water. +She fetched out from some mysterious lodging-house recess an ornamented +tin can of biscuits. She accused herself of being the dullest companion +in the world, and indirectly hinted that he might have pity on her mamma +and stay to luncheon with them. + +"Well, it's very odd," he said, telling a lie with great simplicity of +purpose, "but I had arranged to drive to the Land's End for luncheon--to +the inn there, you know. I suppose it wouldn't--Do you think, Mrs. +Rosewarne--would it be convenient for you to come for a drive so far?" + +"Oh, it would be the very best thing in the world for her--nothing could +be better," said Wenna; and then she added meekly, "if it is not giving +you too much trouble, Mr. Trelyon." + +He laughed: "Trouble! I'm glad to be of use to anybody; and in this case +I shall have all the pleasure on my side. Well, I'm off now to see about +the horses. If I come for you in half an hour, will that do?" + +As soon as he had left Mrs. Rosewarne turned to her daughter and said to +her, gravely enough, "Wenna, one has seldom to talk to you about the +proprieties, but really this seems just a little doubtful. Mr. Trelyon +may make a friend of you--that is all very well, for you are going to +marry a friend of his--but you ought not to expect him to associate with +me." + +"Mother," said Wenna with hot cheeks, "I wonder how you can suspect him +of thinking of such foolish and wicked things. Why, he is the very last +man in all the world to do anything that is mean and unkind, or to think +about it." + +"My dear child, I suspect him of nothing," Mrs. Rosewarne said; "but +look at the simple facts of the case. Mr. Trelyon is a very rich +gentleman; his family is an old one, greatly honored about here; and if +he is so recklessly kind as to offer his acquaintanceship to persons who +are altogether in a different sphere of life, we should take care not to +abuse his kindness or to let people have occasion to wonder at him. +Looking at your marriage and future station, it is perhaps more +permissible with you; but as regards myself, I don't very much care, +Wenna, to have Mr. Trelyon coming about the house." + +"Why, mother, I--I am surprised at you!" Wenna said warmly. "You judge +of him by the contemptible things that other people might say of him. Do +you think he would care for that? Mr. Trelyon is a man, and like a man +he has the courage to choose such friends as he likes; and it is no more +to him what money they have or what their position is than the--than the +shape of their pocket-handkerchiefs is. Perhaps that is his folly, +recklessness--the recklessness of a young man. Perhaps it is. I am not +old enough to know how people alter, but I hope I shall never see Mr. +Trelyon alter in this respect--never, if he were to live for a hundred +years. And--and I am surprised to hear you, of all people, mother, +suggest such things of him. What has he done that you should think so +meanly of him?" + +Wenna was very indignant and hurt. She would have continued further, but +that a tremulous movement of her under lip caused her to turn away her +head. + +"Well, Wenna, you needn't cry about it," her mother said gently. "It is +of no great consequence. Of course every one must please himself in +choosing his friends; and I quite admit that Mr. Trelyon is not likely +to be hindered by anything that any person may say. Don't take it so +much to heart, child: go and get on your things, and get back some of +the cheerfulness you had while he was here. I will say this for the +young man, that he has an extraordinary power of raising your spirits." + +"You are a good mother, after all," said Wenna penitently; "and if you +come and let me dress you prettily, I shall promise not to scold you +again--not till the next time you deserve it." + +By the time they drove away from Penzance the forenoon had softened into +more beautiful colors. There was a paler blue in the sky and on the sea, +and millions of yellow stars twinkled on the ripples. A faint haze had +fallen over the bright green hills lying on the south of the bay. + +"Life looks worth having on such a day as this," Trelyon said: "doesn't +it, Miss Wenna?" + +She certainly seemed pleased enough. She drank in the sweet fresh air; +she called attention to the pure rare colors of the sea and the green +uplands, the coolness of the woods through which they drove, the profuse +abundance of wild flowers along the banks; all things around her seemed +to have conspired to yield her delight, and a great happiness shone in +her eyes. Mr. Trelyon talked mostly to Mrs. Rosewarne, but his eyes +rarely wandered away for long from Wenna's pleased and radiant face; and +again and again he said to himself, "And if a simple drive on a spring +morning can give this child so great a delight, it is not the last that +she and I shall have together." + +"Mrs. Rosewarne," said he, "I think your daughter has as much need of a +holiday as anybody. I don't believe there's a woman or girl in the +county works as hard as she does." + +"I don't know whether she needs it," said Miss Wenna of herself, "but I +know that she enjoys it." + +"I know what you'd enjoy a good deal better than merely getting out of +sight of your own door for a week or two," said he. "Wouldn't you like +to get clear away from England for six months, and go wandering about in +all sorts of fine places? Why, I could take such a trip in that time! I +should like to see what you'd say to some of the old Dutch towns and +their churches, and all that; then Cologne, you know, and a sail up the +Rhine to Mainz; then you'd go on to Bale and Geneva, and we'd get you a +fine big carriage, with the horses decorated with foxes' and pheasants' +tails, to drive you to Chamounix. Then, when you had gone tremulously +over the Mer de Glace, and kept your wits about you going down the +Mauvais Pas, I don't think you could do better than go on to the Italian +lakes--you never saw anything like them, I'll be bound--and Naples and +Florence. Would you come back by the Tyrol, and have a turn at Zurich +and Lucerne, with a long ramble through the Black Forest in a trap +resembling a ramshackle landau?" + +"Thank you," said Wenna very cheerfully. "The sketch is delightful, but +I am pretty comfortable where I am." + +"But this can't last," said he. + +"And neither can my holidays," she answered. + +"Oh, but they ought to," he retorted vehemently. "You have not half +enough amusement in your life: that's my opinion. You slave too much for +all those folks about Eglosilyan and their dozens of children. Why, you +don't get anything out of life as you ought to. What have you to look +forward to? Only the same ceaseless round of working for other people. +Don't you think you might let some one else have a turn at that useful +but monotonous occupation?" + +"But Wenna has something else to look forward to now," her mother +reminded him gently; and after that he did not speak for some while. + +Fair and blue was the sea that shone all around the land when they got +out on the rough moorland near the coast. They drove to the solitary +little inn perched over the steep cliffs, and here the horses were put +up and luncheon ordered. Would Mrs. Rosewarne venture down to the great +rocks at the promontory? No, she would rather stay indoors till the +young people returned; and so these two went along the grassy path +themselves. + +They clambered down the slopes, and went out among the huge blocks of +weather-worn granite, many of which were brilliant with gray, green and +orange lichens. There was a low and thunderous noise in the air: far +below them, calm and fine as the day was, the summer sea dashed and +roared into gigantic caverns, while the white foam floated out again on +the troubled waves. Could anything have been more magical than the +colors of the sea--its luminous greens, its rich purples, its brilliant +blues, lying in long swaths on the apparently motionless surface? It was +only the seething white beneath their feet and the hoarse thunder along +the coast that told of the force of this summer-like sea; and for the +rest the picture was light and calm and beautiful; but there the black +rocks basked in the sunlight, the big skarts standing here and there on +their ledges, not moving a feather. A small steamer was slowly making +for the island farther out, where a lighthouse stood. And far away +beyond these, on the remote horizon, the Scilly Isles lay like a low +bank of yellow fog under the pale-blue skies. + +They were very much by themselves out here at the end of the world, and +yet they did not seem inclined to talk much. Wenna sat down on the warm +grass; her companion perched himself on one of the blocks of granite; +they watched the great undulations of the blue water come rolling on to +the black rocks and then fall backward seething in foam. + +"And what are you thinking about?" said Trelyon to her gently, so that +she should not be startled. + +"Of nothing at all: I am quite happy," Wenna said frankly. Then she +added, "I suppose the worst of a day like this is that a long time after +you look back upon it, and it seems so beautiful and far away that it +makes you miserable. You think how happy you were once. That is the +unfortunate side of being happy." + +"Well," said he, "I must say you don't look forward to the future with +any great hope if you think the recollection of one bright day will make +you wretched." + +He came down from his perch and stood beside her. "Why, Wenna," said he, +"do you know what you really need? Some one to take you in hand +thoroughly, and give you such an abundance of cheerful and pleasant days +that you would never think of singling out any one of them. Why +shouldn't you have weeks and months of happy idling in bright weather, +such as lots of people have who don't deserve them a bit? There's +something wrong in your position. You want some one to become your +master and compel you to make yourself happy. You won't of yourself +study your own comfort: some one else ought to make you." + +"And who do you think would care to take so much trouble about me?" she +said with a smile, for she attached no serious meaning to this random +talk. + +Her companion's face flushed somewhat--not with embarrassment, but with +the courage of what he was going to say. "I would," he said boldly. "You +will say it is none of my business, but I tell you I would give twenty +thousand pounds to-morrow if I were allowed to--to get you a whole +summer of pleasant holidays." + +There was something about the plain-spoken honesty of this avowal that +touched her keenly. Wild and impossible as the suggestion was, it told +her at least what one person in the world thought of her. She said to +him, with her eyes cast down, "I like to hear you speak like that--not +for my own sake, but I know there is nothing generous and kindly that +you wouldn't do at a mere moment's impulse. But I hope you don't think I +have been grumbling over my lot on such a day as this? Oh no: I see too +much of other people's way of living to complain of my own. I have every +reason to be contented and happy." + +"Yes, you're a deal too contented and happy," said he with an impatient +shrug. "You want somebody to alter all that, and see that you get more +to be contented and happy about." + +She rose: he gave her his hand to help her up. But he did not surrender +her hand then, for the path up the slope was a deep and difficult one, +and she could fairly rely on his strength and sureness of foot. + +"But you are not content, Mr. Trelyon," she said. "I always notice that +whenever you get to a dangerous place you are never satisfied unless you +are putting your life in peril. Wouldn't you like to ride your black +horse down the face of this precipice? or wouldn't you like to clamber +down blindfold? Why does a man generally seem to be anxious to get rid +of his life?" + +"Perhaps it ain't of much use to him," he said coolly. + +"You ought not to say that," she answered in a low voice. + +"Well," he said, "I don't mean to break my neck yet a while; but if I +did, who would miss me? I suppose my mother would play half a dozen a +day more operas or oratorios, or stuff of that sort, and there would be +twenty parsons in the house for one there is at present. And some of the +brats about the place would miss an occasional sixpence; which would be +better for their health. And Dick--I suppose they'd sell him to some +fool of a Londoner, who would pound his knees out in the Park--he would +miss me too." + +"And these are all," she said, "who would miss you? You are kind to your +friends." + +"Why, would you?" he said with a stare of surprise; and then, seeing she +would not speak, he continued with a laugh, "I like the notion of my +making an object of general compassion of myself. Did the poor dear +tumble off a rock into the sea? And where was its mother's apron-string? +I'm not going to break my neck yet a while, Miss Wenna; so don't you +think I'm going to let you off your promise to pay me back for those +sewing-machines." + +"I have told you, Mr. Trelyon," she said with some dignity, "that we +shall pay you back every farthing of the price of them." + +He began to whistle in an impertinent manner. He clearly placed no great +faith in the financial prospects of that sewing club. + +They had some light luncheon in the remote little inn, and Mrs. +Rosewarne was pleased to see her ordinarily demure and preoccupied +daughter in such high and careless spirits. It was not a splendid +banquet. The chamber was not a gorgeous one, for the absence of ornament +and the enormous thickness of the walls told of the house being shut up +in the winter months and abandoned to the fury of the western gales, +when the wild sea came hurling up the face of these steep cliffs and +blowing over the land. But they paid little attention to any lack of +luxury. There was a beautiful blue sea shining in the distance. The +sunlight was falling hotly on the green sward of the rocks outside, but +all the same a fresh, cool breeze came blowing in at the open window. +They let the time pass easily, with pleasant talk and laughter. + +Then they drove leisurely back in the afternoon. They passed along the +moorland ways, through rude little villages built of stone and by the +outskirts of level and cheerless farms, until they got into the +beautiful woods and avenues lying around Penzance. When they came in +sight of the broad bay they found that the world had changed its colors +since the morning. The sea was of a cold purplish gray, but all around +it, on the eastern horizon, there was a band of pale pink in the sky. On +the west again, behind Penzance, the warm hues of the sunset were +shining behind the black stems of the trees. The broad thoroughfare was +mostly in shadow, and the sea was so still that one could hear the +footsteps and the voices of the people walking up and down the Parade. + +"I suppose I must go now," said the young gentleman when he had seen +them safely seated in the small parlor overlooking the bay. But he did +not seem anxious to go. + +"But why?" Wenna said, rather timidly. "You have no engagement, Mr. +Trelyon. Would you care to stay and have dinner with us--such a dinner +as we can give you?" + +"Well, to tell you the truth, I should like it very much," he said. + +Mrs. Rosewarne, a little surprised, and yet glad to see Wenna enjoying +herself, regarded the whole affair with a gentle resignation. Wenna had +the gas lit and the blinds let down: then, as the evening was rather +cool, she had soon a bright fire burning in the grate. She helped to lay +the table. She produced such wines as they had. She made sundry visits +to the kitchen, and at length the banquet was ready. + +What ailed the young man? He seemed beside himself with careless and +audacious mirth, and he made Mrs. Rosewarne laugh as she had not laughed +for years. It was in vain that Wenna assumed airs to rebuke his +rudeness. Nothing was sacred from his impertinence--not even the +offended majesty of her face. And at last she gave in too, and could +only revenge herself by saying things of him which, the more severe they +were, the more he seemed to enjoy. But after dinner she went to the +small piano, while her mother took a big easy-chair near the fire, and +he sat by the table, looking over some books. There was no more reckless +laughter then. + +In ancient times--that is to say, in the half-forgotten days of our +youth--a species of song existed which exists no more. It was not as the +mournful ballads of these days, which seem to record the gloomy +utterances of a strange young woman who has wandered into the magic +scene in _Der Freischuetz_, and who mixes up the moanings of her passion +with descriptions of the sights, and sounds she there finds around her. +It was of quite another stamp. It dealt with a phraseology of sentiment +peculiar to itself--a "patter," as it were, which came to be universally +recognized in drawing-rooms. It spoke of maidens plighting their troth, +of Phyllis enchanting her lover with her varied moods, of marble halls +in which true love still remained the same. It apostrophized the shells +of ocean; it tenderly described the three great crises of a particular +heroine's life by mentioning her head-dress; it told of how the lover of +Pretty Jane would have her meet him in the evening. Well, all the world +was content to accept this conventional phraseology, and behind the +paraphernalia of "enchanted moon-beams" and "fondest glances" and +"adoring sighs" perceived and loved the sentiment that could find no +simpler utterance. Some of us, hearing the half-forgotten songs again, +suddenly forget the odd language, and the old pathos springs up again, +as fresh as in the days when our first love had just come home from her +boarding-school; while others, who have no old-standing acquaintance +with these memorable songs, have somehow got attracted to them by the +mere quaintness of their speech and the simplicity of their airs. Master +Harry Trelyon was no great critic of music. When Wenna Rosewarne sang +that night "She wore a wreath of roses," he fancied he had never +listened to anything so pathetic. When she sang "Meet me by moonlight +alone," he was delighted with the spirit and half-humorous, half-tender +grace of the composition. As she sang "When other lips and other +hearts," it seemed to him that there were no songs like the +old-fashioned songs, and that the people who wrote those ballads were +more frank and simple and touching in their speech than writers +now-a-days. Somehow, he began to think of the drawing-rooms of a former +generation, and of the pictures of herself his grandmother had drawn for +him many a time. Had she a high waist to that white silk dress in which +she ran away to Gretna? and did she have ostrich feathers on her head? +Anyhow, he entirely believed what she had told him of the men of that +generation. They were capable of doing daring things for the sake of a +sweetheart. Of course his grandfather had done boldly and well in +whirling the girl off to the Scottish borders, for who could tell what +might have befallen her among ill-natured relatives and persecuted +suitors? + +Wenna Rosewarne was singing "We met, 'twas in a crowd, and I thought he +would shun me." It is the song of a girl (must one explain so much in +these later days?) who is in love with one man, and is induced to marry +another: she meets the former, and her heart is filled with shame and +anguish and remorse. As Wenna sang the song it seemed to this young man +that there was an unusual pathos in her voice; and he was so carried +away by the earnestness of her singing that his heart swelled and rose +up within him, and he felt himself ready to declare that such should not +be her fate. This man who was coming back to marry her--was there no one +ready to meet him and challenge his atrocious claim? Then the song +ended, and with a sudden disappointment Trelyon recollected that he at +least had no business to interfere. What right had he to think of saving +her? + +He had been idly turning over some volumes on the table. At last he came +to a Prayer-book of considerable size and elegance of binding. +Carelessly looking at the fly-leaf, he saw that it was a present to +Wenna Rosewarne, "with the very dearest love of her sister Mabyn." He +passed his hand over the leaves, not noticing what he was doing. +Suddenly he saw something which did effectually startle him into +attention. + +It was a sheet of paper with two slits cut into it at top and bottom. In +these a carefully-pressed piece of None-so-pretty had been placed, and +just underneath the flower was written in pencil, "From H.T. to W.R., +May 2, 18--." He shut the book quickly, as if his fingers had been +burned, and then he sat quite silent, with his heart beating fast. + +So she had kept the flower he had put in the basket of primroses! It had +carried its message, and she still remained his friend! + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE CUT DIRECT. + + +"Well, mother," Miss Wenna said deliberately after he had gone, "I never +did see you so thoroughly enjoy a whole day." + +"I was thinking the same about you, Wenna," the mother answered with an +amused look. + +"That is true enough, mother," the girl confessed in her simple way. "He +is so good-natured, so full of spirits and careless, that one gets quite +as careless and happy as himself. It is a great comfort, mother, to be +with anybody who doesn't watch the meaning of every expression you use: +don't you think so? And I hope I wasn't rude: do you think I was rude?" + +"Why, child, I don't think you could be rude to a fox that was eating +your chickens. You would ask him to take a chair and not hurry himself." + +"Well, I must write to Mabyn now," Wenna said with a business-like air, +"and thank her for posting me this Prayer-book. I suppose she didn't +know I had my small one with me." + +She took up the book, for she was sitting on the chair that Harry +Trelyon had just vacated. She had no sooner done so than she caught +sight of the sheet of paper with the dried flower and the inscription in +Mabyn's handwriting. She stared, with something of a look of fear on her +face. "Mother," she said in quite an altered voice, "did you notice if +Mr. Trelyon was looking at this Prayer-book?" + +"I don't know, I'm sure," Mrs. Rosewarne said. "I should think he went +over every book on the table." + +The girl said nothing, but she took the book in her hand and carried it +up to her own room. She stood for a moment irresolute: then she took the +sheet of paper with the flowers on it, and tore it in a hundred pieces +and threw them into the empty grate. Then she cried a little, as a girl +must; and finally went down again and wrote a letter to Mabyn which +rather astonished that young lady. + + "MY DEAR MABYN" (so the letter ran): I am exceedingly angry with + you. I did not think you were capable of such folly: I might call + it by a worse name if I thought you really meant what you seem to + mean. I have just torn up the worthless scrap of flower you so + carefully preserved for me into a thousand pieces; but you will be + glad to know that in all probability Mr. Trelyon saw it on the + paper, and the initials too which you put there. I cannot tell you + how pained and angry I am. If he did place that flower + intentionally among the primroses, it was most impertinent of him; + but he is often impertinent in joking. What must he think of me + that I should seem to have taken this seriously, and treasured up + that miserable and horrid piece of weed, and put his initials below + it, and the important date? You put thoughts into my head that + cover me with shame. I should not be fit to live if I were what you + take me to be. If I thought there was another human being in the + world who could imagine or suspect what you apparently desire, I + would resolve this moment never to see Mr. Trelyon again; and much + harm that would do either him or me! But I am too proud to think + that any one could imagine such a thing. Nor did I expect that to + come from my own sister, who ought to know what my true relations + are with regard to Mr. Trelyon. I like him very much, as I told him + to his face two days before we left Eglosilyan; _and that will + show you what our relations are_. I think he is a very frank, + generous and good young man, and a clever and cheerful companion; + and my mother has to-day to thank him for about the pleasantest + little trip she has ever enjoyed. But as for your wishing me to + preserve a flower that he sent, or that you think he sent to me, + why, I feel my face burning at the thought of what you suggest. And + what can I say to him now, supposing he has seen it? Can I tell him + that my own sister thought such things of me? Perhaps, after all, + the simplest way to set matters right will be for me to break off + the acquaintance altogether; and that will show him whether I was + likely to have treasured up a scrap of London pride in my + Prayer-book. + + "I am your loving sister, + + "WENNA ROSEWARNE." + +Meanwhile, Harry Trelyon was walking up and down the almost empty +thoroughfare by the side of the sea, the stars overhead shining clearly +in the dark night, the dimly-seen waves falling monotonously on the +shelving beach. "To keep a flower, that is nothing," he was saying to +himself. "All girls do that, no matter who gives it to them. I suppose +she has lots more, all with the proper initials and date attached." + +It was not an agreeable reflection; he turned to other matters: "If she +were to care for me a little bit, would it be mean of me to try to carry +her off from that man? Is it possible that he has the same feeling for +her that I have? In that case it would be mean. Now, when I think of +her, the whole world seems filled with her presence somehow, and +everything is changed. When I hear the sea in the morning I think of +her, and wonder where she is; when I see a fine day I hope she is +enjoying it somewhere; the whole of Penzance has become magical. It is +no longer the same town. I used to come to it and never see it in the +old days, when one was busy about stables and the pilchard fishing and +the reports of the quarries. Now the whole of Penzance has got a sort of +charm in it since Wenna Rosewarne has come to it. I look at the houses, +and wonder if the people inside know anybody fit to compare with her; +and one becomes grateful to the good weather for shining round about her +and making her happy. I suppose the weather knows what she deserves." + +Then he began to argue the question as to whether it would be fair and +honorable to seek to take away from another man the woman who had +pledged herself to marry him; and of course an easy and definite +decision is sure to be arrived at when counsel on both sides and jury +and judges sitting _in banco_ are all one person, who conducts and +closes the case as it suits himself. He began by assuming such facts as +suited his arguments, and ended by selecting and confirming such +arguments as suited himself. Wenna Rosewarne cared nothing for Mr. +Roscorla. She would be miserable if she married him: her own sister was +continually hinting as much. Mr. Roscorla cared nothing for her except +in so far as she might prove a pretty housewife for him. The selfishness +that would sacrifice for its own purposes a girl's happiness was of a +peculiarly despicable sort which ought to be combated, and deserved no +mercy. Therefore, and because of all these things, Harry Trelyon was +justified in trying to win Wenna Rosewarne's love. + +One by one the people who had been strolling up and down the dark +thoroughfare left it: he was almost alone now. He walked along to the +house in which the Rosewarnes were. There was no light in any of the +windows. But might she not be sitting up there by herself, looking out +on the starlit heavens and listening to the waves? He wished to be able +to say good-night to her once more. + +How soon might she be up and out on the morrow? Early in the morning, +when the young day was rising over the gray sea, and the sea-winds +coming freshly in as if they were returning from the cold night? If he +could but see her at daybreak, with all the world asleep around them, +and with only themselves to watch the growing wonders of the dawn, might +not he say something to her then that she would not be vexed to hear, +and persuade her that a new sort of life lay before her if she would +only enter it along with him? That was the notion that he continually +dwelt on for self-justification when he happened to take the trouble to +justify himself. The crisis of this girl's life was approaching. Other +errors might be retrieved--that one, once committed, never. If he could +only see her now, this is what he would say: "We can only live but once, +Wenna; and this for us two would be life--our only chance of it. +Whatever else may happen, that is no matter: let us make sure of this +one chance, and face the future together--you full of sweetness and +trust, I having plenty of courage for both. We will treat objectors and +objections as they may arise--afterward: perhaps they will be prudent +and keep out of our way." And indeed he convinced himself that this, +and this only, was Wenna Rosewarne's chance of securing happiness for +her life, assuming, in a way, that he had love as well as courage +sufficient for both. + +He was early up next morning and down on the promenade, but the day was +not likely to tempt Wenna to come out just then. A gray fog hung over +land and sea, the sea itself being a dull, leaden plain. Trelyon walked +about, however, talking to everybody, as was his custom; and everybody +said the fog would clear and a fine day follow. This, in fact, happened, +and still Wenna did not make her appearance. The fog over the sea seemed +to separate itself into clouds: there was a dim, yellow light in the +breaks. These breaks widened: there was a glimmer of blue. Then on the +leaden plain a glare of white light fell, twinkling in innumerable stars +on the water. Everything promised a clear, bright day. + +As a last resource he thought he would go and get Juliott Penaluna, and +persuade that young lady to come and be introduced to the Rosewarnes. At +first Miss Penaluna refused point-blank. She asked him how he could +expect her to do such a thing. But then her cousin Harry happened to be +civil, and indeed kind, in his manner to her, and when he was in one of +those moods there was nothing she could refuse him. She went and got +ready with an air of resignation on her comely face. + +"Mind, Harry, I am not responsible," she said when she came back. "I am +afraid I shall get into awful trouble about it." + +"And who will interfere?" said the young man, just as if he were looking +about for some one anxious to be thrown from the top of the tower on St. +Michael's Mount. + +"I shall be accused of conniving with you, you know; and I think I am +very good-natured to do so much for you, Harry." + +"I think you are, Jue: you are a thoroughly good sort of girl when you +like to be--that's a fact. And now you will see whether what I have said +about Miss Rosewarne is all gammon or not." + +"My poor boy, I wouldn't say a word against her for the world. Do I want +my head wrenched off? But if any one says anything to me about what I +may do to-day, I shall have to tell the truth; and do you know what that +is, Harry? I do really believe you are in love with that girl, past all +argument; and there never was one of your family who would listen to +reason. I know quite well what you will do. If she cares ever so little +for you, you will marry her in spite of everybody, and probably against +her own wish: if she doesn't care for you, you will revenge yourself on +the happy man of her choice, and probably murder him. Well, it isn't my +fault. I know what your mother will say." + +"Ah, you don't know, Jue, what my mother thinks of her," he said +confidently. + +"Oh yes, mothers think very well of a girl until they discover that she +is going to marry their son." + +"Oh, stuff! why the inconsistency--" + +"It is the privilege of women to be inconsistent, Harry. Your mother +will detest that girl if you try to marry her." + +"I don't care." + +"Of course not. No man of your family cares for anything that interferes +with his own wishes. I suppose there's no use in my trying to show you +what a fearful amount of annoyance and trouble you are preparing for +yourself?" + +"None. I'll take it as it comes: I'm not afraid." + +They got down to the promenade; the forenoon was now bright and +cheerful; a good many folks had come out to enjoy the sunlight and the +cool sea-breeze. Miss Juliott was not at all disinclined to walk there +with her handsome cousin, though he had forgotten his gloves and was +clearly not paying her very special attention. + +"Jue," he said suddenly, "I can see Miss Rosewarne right at the end of +this road: can't you?" + +"I haven't got the eyes of a hawk, you stupid boy!" his cousin said. + +"Oh, but I can recognize her dress a dozen times as far away. These are +her pet colors at present--a soft cream-color and black, with bits of +dark red. Can you see now?" + +"I never saw you pay the least attention before to a lady's dress." + +"Because you don't know how _she_ dresses," he said proudly. + +She was coming along the Parade all alone. + +"Well, it _is_ a pretty dress," Miss Juliott said, "and I like the look +of her face, Harry. You can't expect one girl to say any more than that +of another girl, can you?" + +"This is a very nice way of being able to introduce you," he said. "I +suppose you will be able to chaperon each other afterward, when her +mother isn't able to go out?" + +Wenna was coming quietly along, apparently rather preoccupied. Sometimes +she looked out, with her dark, earnest and yet wistful eyes, at the +great plain of water quivering in the sunshine: she paid little heed to +the people who went by. When at length she did see Harry Trelyon, she +was quite near him, and she had just time to glance for a moment at his +companion. The next moment--he could not tell how it all happened--she +passed him with a slight bow of recognition, courteous enough, but +nothing more. There was no especial look of friendliness in her eyes. + +He stood there rather bewildered. + +"That is about as good as the cut direct, Harry," his cousin said. "Come +along--don't stand there." + +"Oh, but there's some mistake, Jue," he said. + +"A girl never does a thing of that sort by mistake. Either she is vexed +with you for walking with me--and that is improbable, for I doubt +whether she saw me--or she thinks the ardor of your acquaintance should +be moderated; and there I should agree with her. You don't seem so vexed +as one might have expected, Harry." + +"Vexed!" he said. "Why, can't you tell by that girl's face that she +could do nothing capricious or unkind? Of course she has a reason; and I +will find it out." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +NOT THE LAST WORD. + + +As soon as he could decently leave his cousin at home, he did; and then +he walked hastily down to the house in which Mrs. Rosewarne had taken +rooms. Miss Rosewarne was not at home, the small maid-servant said. Was +Mrs. Rosewarne? Yes; so he would see her. + +He went up stairs, never thinking how his deep trouble about so +insignificant an incident would strike a third person. + +"Mrs. Rosewarne," he said right out, "I want you to tell me if Wenna +wishes our acquaintance to end. Has she been speaking to you? Just now +she passed me in the street as if she did not wish to see me again." + +"Probably," said Mrs. Rosewarne, amused as well as surprised by the +young man's impetuosity, "she did not see you then. Wenna often passes +people so. Most likely she was thinking about other things, for she had +another letter from Jamaica just before she went out." + +"Oh, she has had another letter from Jamaica this morning?" Trelyon +said, with an angry light appearing in his eyes. "That is it, is it?" + +"I don't understand you," Mrs. Rosewarne was saying, when both of them +heard Wenna enter below. + +"Mrs. Rosewarne," he said with a sudden entreaty in his voice, "would +you mind letting me see Wenna alone for a couple of minutes? I want to +ask her if she is offended with me: you won't mind, will you?" + +"Not in the least," she said, good-naturedly; and then she added, at the +door, "Mind, Mr. Trelyon, Wenna is easily hurt. You must speak gently to +her." + +About a minute afterward Wenna, having laid her hat and shawl aside, +came into the room. When she found Trelyon there alone, she almost +shrank back, and her face paled somewhat: then she forced herself to go +forward and shake hands with him, though her face still wore a +frightened and constrained look. + +"Wenna," he said, "don't go away: I want to speak to you for a minute. +You are offended with me about something, and I want you to tell me why. +If you wish our friendship to cease, say so, and I will obey you; but +you must tell me why first." + +"I am not offended with you, Mr. Trelyon," she said in a low and nervous +voice. "Do not think that. But--but I think it will be better if you +will let our friendship cease, as you say." + +"Oh no," he said, "I will not in this fashion. You've got to tell me +what is the matter first. Now remember this. Not very long ago you chose +to quarrel with me about nothing--absolutely about nothing. You know +quite well that I meant no harm to you by lending Mr. Roscorla that +money, yet you must needs flare up and give it me as hot as you could, +all for nothing. What could I do? Why, only wait until you saw what a +mistake you had made." + +"It was very wrong of me," she said: "I ask your forgiveness. But now it +is quite different: I am not angry with you at all. I should like to +remain your friend, and yet I think it better not. I--I cannot explain +to you, Mr. Trelyon, and I am sure you won't ask me when I say so." + +He looked at her for a moment, and then he said, gently and yet firmly, +"Look here, Wenna. You think I am only a boy--that may or may not +be--but I am going to talk reasonably to you for once. Come over to this +chair by the window and sit down." + +She followed him in passive obedience. She took the one chair, he the +other. + +"Perhaps I am only a boy," he said, "but I have knocked about a good +deal, and I have kept my eyes as wide open as most folks. I suppose +ill-natured people might say that as I had nothing to do at Eglosilyan, +I wanted to have a flirtation with the only girl who was handy. I know +better. Year after year I saw more and more of you, bit by bit, and that +after I had been abroad or living in other places in England from time +to time. I got to believe that I had never seen anywhere any girl or +woman who was so honest as you are, and good in a dozen secret ways that +needed a deal of discovering. I found out far more about you than you +imagined. I heard of you in cottages that you never knew I was in; and +everything I heard made me respect you more and more. Mind this, too. I +had no sort of personal liking for the sort of thing you were doing. I +don't admire beastly little rooms and poverty and sick people as +appealing to a fine sentiment. There never was anything of the parson or +the benevolent old lady about me. I would rather give half a crown to an +impertinent little boy who had just whopped another boy bigger than +himself than give a halfpenny tract to a sickly child in its mother's +arms: that's original sin in me, I suppose. But all that squalid sort of +work you were in only made the jewel shine the more. I used to think I +should like to marry a very grand woman, who could be presented at court +without a tremor, who would come into a drawing-room as if she was +conferring a favor on the world at large; and I certainly never thought +I should find the best and finest woman I had ever seen in back kitchens +sewing pinafores for children. And then when I found her there, wasn't +it natural I should put some store by her friendship? I suppose you +didn't know what I thought of you, Wenna, because I kept chaffing you +and Mabyn? I have told you something of it now; and now I want you to +say whether you have a right to shunt me off like this, without a word +of explanation." + +She sat still, silent and nervous. The rude and impetuous eloquence of +his speech, broken by many a hesitating stammer, had touched her. There +was more thoughtfulness and tenderness in this wild lad than she had +supposed. + +"How can I explain?" she burst out suddenly. "I should cover myself with +shame!" + +"And what have you to be ashamed of?" he said with a stare. The distress +she was obviously suffering was so great that he had almost a mind to +take her at her word and leave the house without further ado. + +Just at this moment, when he was considering what would be the most +generous thing to do, she seemed to nerve herself to speak to him, and +in a low and measured voice she said, "Yes, I will tell you. I have had +a letter this morning from Mr. Roscorla. He asks me if it is true that +you are paying me such attention that people notice it; and he asks me +if that is how I keep my promise to him." + +Something like a quiver of rage passed through the young man at this +moment, but his teeth were kept firmly together. She did not look up to +his face. + +"That is not all. I must tell you that I was deeply shocked and grieved +by this letter; but on looking back over the past six weeks I think a +suspicious person might have been justified in complaining to Mr. +Roscorla. And--and--and, Mr. Trelyon, did you see that dried flower in +my Prayer-book last night?" + +Her resolution was fast ebbing away: he could see that her hands were +clasped piteously together. + +"Yes, I did," he said boldly. + +"And oh what could you have thought of me?" she cried in her distress. +"Indeed, Mr. Trelyon, it was all a mistake. I did not keep the flower--I +did not, indeed. And when I thought you had seen it I could have died +for shame." + +"And why?" he said in a way that made her lift up her startled eyes to +his face. There was a strange look there, as of a man who had suddenly +resolved to dare his fate, and yet was imploringly anxious as to the +result. "For you have been frank with me, and so will I be with you. Why +should you not have kept that flower? Yes, I sent it to you, and with +all the purpose that such a thing could carry. Yes, you may be as angry +as you please; only listen, Wenna. You don't love that man whom you are +engaged to marry; you know in your heart that you do not believe in his +love for you; and are you surprised that people should wish to have you +break off an engagement that will only bring you misery?" + +"Mr. Trelyon!" + +"Wenna, one minute: you must hear me. Do with my offer what you +like--only here it is: give me the power to break off this engagement, +and I will. Give me the right to do that. Don't mind me in the matter. +It is true I love you--there, I will say it again: there is nothing I +think of from morning till night but my love for you--and if you would +say that some time I might ask you to be my wife, you would give me more +happiness than you could dream of. But I don't wish that now. I will +remain your friend if you like, Wenna; only let me do this thing for +you, and when you are free you can then say yes or no." + +She rose, not proud and indignant, but weeping bitterly. "I have +deserved this," she said, apparently overwhelmed with mortification and +self-reproach. "I have earned this shame, and I must bear it. I do not +blame you, Mr. Trelyon: it is I who have done this. How many weeks is it +since the man left England to whom I promised to be faithful? and +already--But this I can do, Mr. Trelyon: I will bid you good-bye now, +and I will never see you again." + +Her face was quite pale. She held out her hand. + +"No," he said firmly. "We don't part like that, Wenna. First, let me say +that you have nothing to accuse yourself of. You have done nothing and +said nothing of which any man, however mean and suspicious, could +complain. Perhaps I was too hasty in speaking of my love for you. In +that case I've got to pay for my folly." + +"And it is folly, Mr. Trelyon," she said passionately, and yet with +nothing but tenderness in her face. "How could you have thought of +marrying me? Why, the future that ought to lie before you is far more +than you can imagine yet; and you would go and hamper it by marrying an +innkeeper's daughter! It is folly indeed, and you will see that very +soon. But--but I am very sorry all this has occurred: it is another +grief to me that I have troubled you. I think I was born to bring grief +to all my friends." + +He was anxiously debating what he should do; and he needed all his wits +at that moment, for his own feelings were strong within him, and +clamoring for expression. Should he insist? Should he bear down all +opposition? Happily, quieter counsels prevailed, for there was no +mistake as to the absolute truthfulness of what the girl had said. + +"Well, Wenna," he said, "I will do anything you like, only to remain +your friend. Is that possible? Will you forgive all that I have said if +I make you a promise not to repeat it, and never again to mention your +engagement to Mr. Roscorla?" + +"No, we must part now altogether," she said slowly. Then by haphazard +she glanced up at his face for a moment, and there was a great sadness +in her eyes. "It is a hard thing to part. Perhaps it will not be +necessary that you should never come to see me. But we must not be +friends as we have been, for I have my duty to do toward him." + +"Then I may come to see you sometimes?" + +She hesitated: "You may come to see my mother sometimes. And I will +always think of you as a dear friend, whether I see you or not." + +He went outside, and drew a long breath. "I had to keep a tight grip on +the reins that time," he was thinking to himself--"a precious tight +grip; but I did it." + +He thought of the look there was in her eyes when she finally bid him +goodbye. His face grew the happier as he thought of it. He was clearly +not at all down-hearted about his rejection: on the contrary, he went +and told his cousin Juliott that the little affair of the morning had +been quite satisfactorily arranged, that Miss Wenna and he were very +good friends again, and that it was quite a mistake to imagine that she +was already married to Mr. Roscorla. + +"Harry," said his cousin, "I strictly forbid you to mention that +gentleman's name." + +"Why, Jue?" he said. + +"Because I will not listen to the bad language you invariably use +whenever you speak of him; and you ought to remember that you are in a +clergyman's house. I wonder Miss Rosewarne is not ashamed to have your +acquaintance, but I dare say you amend your ways when you are in her +presence. She'll have plenty to reform if ever she takes you for a +husband." + +"That's true enough, Jue," the young man said penitently. "I believe I'm +a bad lot, but then look at the brilliant contrast which the future will +present. You know that my old grandmother is always saying to me, +'Harry, you were born with as many manners as most folks, and you've +used none; so you'll have a rare stock to come and go on when you +begin.'" + +[TO BE CONTINUED.] + + + + +FEVER. + + +At present all branches of Science possess an intrinsic interest for +every intelligent man, but such elementary knowledge as enables its +possessor to understand the explanations of the medical attendant has a +double value. Over and over again I have heard the remark when some bold +successful treatment was being discussed, "But you would not have dared +to do that in private practice." The days of medical mystification are +not yet entirely passed, but year by year the profession is assuredly +losing that peculiar virtue of office which it formerly possessed in so +eminent a degree. The doctor is no longer a dignified personage with +gold-headed cane and powdered wig, mounting the mansion steps with +stately tread, but a busy man in various garb, hurrying from house to +house, studying the multitudinous problems of disease, and applying the +fruits of such study to the relief of individual cases. No longer able +to awe his patients into obedience, he must rely upon his moral and +intellectual powers in controlling them. To enable any one to understand +the explanations of physicians, and to protect himself, by discovery, +against the impudent assumptions of quacks, some knowledge of medical +truths and of the drift of modern medical thought is necessary. Every +successful physician, no matter how independent he may be by nature, is +necessarily more or less cramped by the prejudices of patients--prejudices +which often a little primary instruction would have done away with. + +Of all the diseased processes fever is one of the most frequent and one +of the most serious in their results. A discussion, therefore, of its +nature, the method of its production and of its relief, will, it may be +hoped, engage the attention of the general reader. + +If the hand be laid upon the skin of a person in a high fever the +attention is at once attracted by the great heat, and if the bulb of a +thermometer be placed under the tongue or in the armpit of the patient +the mercury may indicate a temperature of 107 deg., 108 deg., 109 deg., +or even 110 deg. Fahrenheit, instead of 98 deg. to 99 deg. Fahrenheit, +the normal temperature of the human body. It is a common belief that the +skin in fever is always dry as well as hot, but this is a mistake, as +intense fever may coexist with a reeking perspiration. During the fever +the pulse is greatly increased in frequency, the head aches and throbs, +and if the attack be very severe restlessness, sudden startings, +irregular muscular twitchings, or even violent epileptiform convulsions +and stupor, delirium or coma, indicate the disturbance of the nervous +system. + +These various symptoms are simply results of the excess of caloric, +which excites universal irritation, and, if prolonged, destroys the +tissues. This fact I have verified by three series of experiments, by +the first of which it was shown that the general application of external +heat so as to raise the bodily temperature produces all the phenomena of +fever; by the second, that the local application of heat to the brain +and to the heart causes the nervous and circulatory disturbances so +universally seen in fever; and by the third that the abstraction of heat +in fever is followed by immediate subsidence of the other symptoms. + +If a small animal, such as a dog, cat or rabbit, be placed in a chamber +heated by means of the sun's rays falling upon a slanting glass roof or +by some artificial method to a temperature of considerably over one +hundred degrees, a very constant series of phenomena is developed. The +breathing becomes hurried and the pulse greatly quickened, whilst the +restless movements of the body indicate nervous distress. After a time, +if the exposure be continued, the symptoms are intensified, and +restlessness passes into the weakness of partial paralysis; then +suddenly or gradually, with or without convulsions, stupor sets in, +deepening into coma, and death from arrested respiration is the final +result. If the temperature of the animal be tested from time to time +during the exposure, it will be found to rise steadily, and the severity +of the symptoms will be directly, and in any one species constantly, +proportional to the intensity of the bodily heat. + +The nervous system of man apparently resists the action of heat, but in +reality it does not do so. Man, it is true, is the only animal that can +thrive almost equally amidst arctic snows and in tropical jungles. This +is not, however, because his nervous system lacks sensitiveness, but +because he has the power of heating or cooling his body in such a manner +that its temperature is comparatively unaffected by that of the +surrounding air. Man might be well defined as the naked sweating animal. +In the north he strips the bear and the fox of their coat to keep him +warm; in the south his own skin acts as a refrigerator. The dog has a +few sweat-glands about the mouth--man has two millions densely covering +his body. In the horse exposed to heat the hair soon becomes wet and +matted, interfering very greatly with evaporation; in man the bare skin +offers an excellent surface, from which the perspiration passes off +almost as fast as formed. Evaporation, conversion of a liquid into a +vapor, means a steady conversion of sensible heat into what was +formerly called latent heat, but what we now know to be repulsive force: +the heat-energy of the body is lost in driving the particles of sweat +asunder in the form of vapor. + +It is possible, however, to have a temperature which even a Hindoo +cannot resist. When a man is exposed to such a heat his bodily +temperature rises, and as it rises the symptoms of fever develop +precisely as they do in the lower animals--sometimes slowly, sometimes +suddenly--with disturbances of the respiration, circulation and +innervation precisely similar to those already noticed as occurring in +the dog, the cat and the rabbit. Sunstroke, or thermic fever, is +generally believed to be instantaneous in its onset, but the wide +experience of the English in India has shown that whilst in some cases +it is thus sudden in its development, in others it is a slow process, +and probably in almost all cases close observation would have revealed +the existence of premonitions. + +External heat, by producing an internal rise of temperature, may thus +cause all the phenomena of fever. Of these phenomena the most prominent +is disturbance of the nervous system and of the circulation. In order to +determine whether the heat itself directly causes the nervous +disturbance, or whether it produces it indirectly by causing changes in +the blood, I applied caloric directly to the brains of animals. This was +done by fitting a hog's bladder like a bonnet over the head and allowing +hot water to run through it. It was found that stupor, coma, +convulsions, and finally death from arrest of the respiration, were +produced, sometimes gradually, sometimes suddenly, precisely as in the +case of exposure of the animal in a hot chamber. Moreover, on opening +the skull and plunging a thermometer into the cerebrum immediately after +death or the supervention of unconsciousness, it was found that these +phenomena were developed at the same brain-temperature when the heat was +locally applied as when the animal was exposed in the hot box. Thus, if +any given species in the hot box became unconscious when the temperature +reached 110 deg. Fahrenheit, this species also became unconscious when the +locally-heated brain attained a temperature of 110 deg.; or if death +occurred by arrest of the respiration in the hot box at 114 deg., so did it +when the locally-heated brain reached that point. + +Dr. Lauder Brunton of England has performed a series of experiments upon +the circulation parallel to those just narrated. Anaesthetizing animals +and exposing the heart, he has found that the action of that organ is +accelerated and weakened by the local application of heat, precisely as +occurs in fever. + +In order to test the effect of the withdrawal of heat, I have taken a +rabbit out of the hot chamber, in which it lay upon its side totally +unconscious, and plunged it into a bucket of cold water. The temperature +of the water rose rapidly, whilst that of the rabbit fell even more +rapidly. As soon as the bodily heat approached its normal intensity +consciousness returned, and in a few moments the animal, which had just +before been at the point of death, was running about the grass. + +Some months since I had an opportunity of repeating this experiment upon +a human being. + +In acute inflammatory rheumatism it sometimes happens that the swelling +and pain of the joints suddenly disappear, and the patient becomes +comatose or wildly delirious. It has been customary to explain these +symptoms as the result of the rheumatism leaving the joints and +attacking the brain. Evidently, this being the case, the proper thing to +do was to irritate the joints so as to draw the rheumatism back to them. +This method was formerly practiced, and the almost invariable result was +death in a few hours. + +In most if not all of these frightful cases of sudden accession of +severe nervous symptoms in rheumatism the temperature will be found, on +testing it, to be exceedingly high--108 deg., 109 deg. or even 110 deg. +Fahrenheit. If the views advocated in this paper be correct, it is not +the rheumatism, but the intense bodily heat, which causes the severe +symptoms, and finally death. The joints lose their sensitiveness, not +because the disease has left them, but because the heat so overpowers the +brain that it has lost its power of perception: the patient's leg might +be cut off without his feeling it. In such a case the proper treatment is +to take away the heat by plunging the patient into a cold bath. But can +there be anything more shocking to the universal belief and prejudices +than to put a patient dying of acute rheumatism into an almost ice-cold +bath? + +Last spring there was in my ward in the Philadelphia Hospital a stout +young Irishman who had passed through an acute attack of inflammatory +rheumatism, and was suffering from a sharp relapse. Entering the ward +one day, I saw at once that the man was unconscious, and turning to the +resident physician asked, "What is the matter with James?" "Nothing," +was the reply: "I saw him an hour and a half ago, and he was doing very +well, except that the fever was very high." "He is dying now, at any +rate," was my rejoinder. On going to the bedside the patient was found +perfectly unconscious, the skin dry and intensely hot, the affected +joints pale and devoid of sensibility, the breathing irregular and +jerking, the pulse 170 and scarcely perceptible, every muscle relaxed as +in death, every power of perception abolished. A thermometer placed in +the armpit registered 108-4/5 deg. Fahrenheit. + +Believing that the symptoms were due simply to this excessive +temperature, I ordered the man to be at once stripped and put in a full +bath drawn from the cold-water spigot. The temperature of this bath +was found to be 60 deg. Fahrenheit. In one minute and a half after +the patient had been placed in the tub he recovered consciousness +sufficiently to put out his tongue when told to do so in a loud, +commanding tone. In three minutes he began to struggle to get out and +to complain of the cold. In six minutes and a half he had become quite +rational. He was now taken out, only partially wiped, laid upon an +India-rubber blanket and covered with a single sheet, the temperature of +the room being between 65 deg. and 70 deg. Three minutes after this the +temperature in the armpit was 94 deg., in the mouth 105-3/5 deg.; five +minutes later the mouth-thermometer marked 103 deg., and the pain and +tenderness had reappeared in the affected joints. It would be out of +place here to give further details as to his treatment. It is enough to +state that, although owing to a misunderstanding of my orders, the man +was left in a cool room for twelve hours upon the gum blanket, wet and +covered only with a sheet--or possibly because he was so left--he +recovered without a relapse or any bad symptoms. + +The first case in which the cold-water treatment was practiced in the +Philadelphia Hospital was that of a woman suffering from a desperate +relapse of typhoid fever. She was semi-comatose, with a pulse of 150 and +a temperature of 107 deg. Fahrenheit: death was seemingly inevitable and +imminent. As the bath-tubs were not convenient, the order was given that +the woman be laid upon an India-rubber cloth, and be wrapped simply in a +sheet constantly wet with water at a temperature as near 32 deg. as +practicable. The nurses, aghast, refused at first to carry out the +order, but the physician's power being despotic, obedience was enforced. +About three pints of whisky were given in the twenty-four hours, besides +drugs, the whole treatment being successful. + +It has been shown that excessive bodily heat is capable of producing the +various symptoms of fever, and that its withdrawal is followed by the +immediate relief of these symptoms; and since excessive heat is always +present in fever, it is a logical deduction that it is the cause of +fever symptoms; or, in other words, that it is the essential part of +fever. + +It must be borne in mind, however, that the term fever is here used in +an abstract sense, to express a general diseased process, a bodily +condition. _A_ fever is a very different thing from fever. We may have +_a_ fever, such as typhoid, without the existence of fever. In a fever, +the fever--_i.e._, the elevation of temperature--is only part of the +disease, and great judgment and experience are often required to decide +how much of the general symptoms is caused by the fever, and how much by +the disease which is the cause of the fever. + +The importance of high temperature having been recognized, it becomes a +matter of the gravest scientific and practical interest to determine the +method in which it is produced. + +There are only two systems which bind the body together--namely, the +circulation and the nervous system. As fever is usually a universal +phenomenon, occurring simultaneously in every part of the body, it must +be produced either through the nervous system or by a poison in the +blood acting simultaneously on every tissue. Every physician knows, +however, that there are cases of fever in which there has been no +introduction of a poison into the blood: hence it follows that at least +sometimes fever must be produced by the nervous system. + +This being so, the study of the influence of the nervous system upon +animal heat is naturally the next step in our investigation. Before +making this step it may be well to call to mind the fact that chemical +processes are usually accompanied either by the giving out or the +withdrawal of heat. Thus, the chemical actions which result when ice and +salt are mixed cause a withdrawal of heat, and a "freezing mixture" is +formed. When a candle is burnt, the oxidation of its constituents, a +chemical process, evolves heat. Oxidation is the great source of +artificial heat, and animal heat is chiefly generated by the same +process; in other words, animal heat is always the product of the +chemical movements of the body, and these movements are almost +exclusively of the character of oxidation. In the animal tissues a +lessened oxidation is equivalent to a lessened heat-production, and +_vise versa_. + +If a large nerve be exposed in one of the lower animals, and a galvanic +current be sent through it for half a minute or more, the temperature of +the animal falls very decidedly; and if the irritation be repeated +several times at intervals, the diminution of the animal heat may amount +to several degrees. Galvanization of a nerve affects very powerfully the +circulation, and it has been believed that this derangement was the +cause of the lessened chemical movements. But the alteration of the +circulation is immediate, and ceases almost at once when the current is +broken, whereas the fall of temperature comes on only after several +minutes, then progressively increases, and persists for many minutes--it +may be hours. The two phenomena being thus differently developed, it is +impossible that they should have the relation of cause and effect, and +the fall of temperature must be traced to a direct influence of the +nervous system upon the chemical processes of the body. + +This lowering of temperature under the influence of a powerful +irritation of a nerve-trunk or of its minute branches, which everywhere +pervade the tissues and spread out in the skin, is common to all species +of mammals. If a rabbit be merely tied down tightly upon a table, the +fall is perceptible, and if it be severely wounded, the temperature +diminishes very greatly. It has long been known that severe burns are +followed by a very great depression of the animal heat. Redard, a French +physician, made during the late siege of Paris a most interesting series +of observations upon the influence of severe gunshot wounds. He found +that, entirely independent of any haemorrhage which might have occurred, +the temperature fell enormously, and in direct proportion to the gravity +of the wound; so that by the aid of the thermometer he was able to +predict whether a fatal issue would or would not occur in the course of +a few hours. + +We have found that both in man and the lower animals the nervous system +is able to check the chemical movements of the body, but before we can +decide how it does so facts not yet noticed must be looked at. + +If the spinal cord of an animal be cut just below the origin of the +nerves of respiration, an immediate fall of temperature occurs, and, if +the animal be left in a cool room, persists until death ensues. If, +however, the victim be put in a warm place, after a time the temperature +begins to rise, and finally a most intense fever is developed. Parallel +phenomena follow division of the spinal cord in man. Indeed, Sir +Benjamin Brodie was first led to experiment upon animals by observing in +1837 an excessive fever follow in a patient a wound of the spinal cord. + +I have already explained, in a former number of this Magazine,[2] the +nature of the so-called vaso-motor nerves, which preside over the little +circular muscles that run round and round in the coats of the +blood-vessels. When they are excited, these muscles contract and the +size of the arteries is diminished: when they are paralyzed, the +arterial inner muscles relax and the vessels dilate. The vaso-motor +nerves have their governing centre in that upper portion of the spinal +cord which is within the skull, the so-called medulla oblongata. When +the spinal cord is divided, the vessels are cut off from the influence +of this vaso-motor centre, and at once dilate, profoundly affecting the +blood-current by doing so. + +The first fall of temperature which follows division of the cord is +believed by most physiologists to be due to this dilatation of the +vessels. Very probably the blood-stream, flowing sluggishly, does not +give the normal amount of stimulus to the tissues, so that at first +their chemical actions are lessened, and consequently less caloric than +usual is generated in the body. Further, the blood moving slowly through +the dilated vessels of the lungs and of the surface of the body, is +cooled more completely than it should be; hence, unless the body is +protected by being surrounded with warm air, no excessive accumulation +of heat in it can occur, and therefore no fever can appear. + +Assuming that this explanation of the primary lowering of the +temperature after division of the cord be correct--and no better one has +as yet been offered--what is the cause of the fever which afterward +develops itself? As it occurs only when the animal is exposed to a +somewhat elevated temperature, it has been thought by some to be due to +the absorption of this external heat. This, however, is certainly not +true, as is shown, to omit less decisive proofs, by the experiments of +Naunyn and Quincke, who exposed animals for two days to a temperature of +90 deg., and at the end of that time, their bodily temperature not having +risen, cut their spinal cords, after which intense fever was developed +in a few hours without any change of atmosphere. + +Section of the cord must therefore give rise to an increased chemical +movement and heat-production in the body. As already stated, this +section affects very greatly the circulation, but the fever is +independent of such action. The upper end of the medulla oblongata is +continuous with a nervous mass which joins the two brain hemispheres +together, and hence is known as the _pons_ or bridge. If, instead of +cutting the spinal cord, we separate the medulla oblongata from the +pons, an _immediate_ rise of temperature occurs, and continues until +death, whether the operation be performed in a cold or heated room.[3] + +Cutting the medulla at its junction with the pons causes, then, an +immediate and direct elevation of temperature, without disturbance of +the circulation. What can this mean? Evidently, only one thing--namely, +that by the division of the medulla there has been separated from the +general tissues of the body a repressive force--a something which +normally controls their chemical activity and the production in them of +animal heat. + +The existence of nerves whose function is to repress action is no new +discovery in physiology. Readers of _Lippincott's Magazine_ may remember +my description of the pneumogastrics or brake-nerves of the heart, whose +duty it is to control the action of that viscus. Nerves which repress or +inhibit action are spoken of in modern physiology as inhibitory. The +experiments which have been adduced prove that there are nerves whose +function it is to control the general vital chemical actions, and that +the governing centre of these nerves is situated above the medulla +oblongata. To this centre, whose exact location is unknown, the name of +the _inhibitory heat-centre_ has been given. + +The way in which galvanization of a nerve, violent injuries and +excessive pain depress the temperature, independently of any action upon +the circulation, is now evident. An impulse simply passes up the +irritated or wounded nerve, and excites this inhibitory heat-centre to +increased action, and the temperature falls because the chemical +movements of the body are repressed. + +The method in which fever is produced also becomes very evident when +once the existence of an inhibitory heat-centre has been established. +Any poison having the power to depress, and finally paralyze, this +centre must, if it find entrance to the blood, produce fever. If the +poison, from its inherent properties, or from its being in very small +quantity, only diminishes the activity of the inhibitory heat-centre, +the controlling influence is not entirely removed from the chemical +movements of the body, and only slight fever results; but if the poison +actually paralyzes the inhibitory nerves, a very great rise of +temperature must rapidly follow the complete removal of the brake-power. + +As an illustration we may consider the intense rheumatic fever, or the +so-called "cerebral rheumatism," such as affected the young Irishman +whose case has been narrated in the present article. Without any +apparent reason the poison of rheumatism habitually attacks one joint on +one day, and another joint on another day, and with as little apparent +reason it occasionally falls of a sudden upon the inhibitory +heat-centre, and actually paralyzes it. In a few minutes intense fever +is developed, and the bodily temperature rapidly approaches nearer and +nearer that line on the other side of which is death. + +In many cases of fever, however, there is no poison in the blood; thus, +the local irritation of a boil or other inflammation may cause what is +well termed "irritative fever." The way in which this is produced is by +an indirect, and not a direct, action upon the inhibitory heat-centre. + +The casualties of the late war proved but too abundantly that a man may +be wounded in one part of the body and suffer from paralysis of +voluntary motion in another part. Thus, a soldier struck in the neck +fell unconscious, and on awaking was astonished to find his right arm +powerless at his side. This is the so-called "reflex paralysis." Very +commonly the irritation of a nerve will give rise to an impulse which +will travel up the nerve to a motor-centre, and so excite it that it +shall send in turn an impulse down a second nerve to a distant muscle, +and a spasm result. Sometimes, however, the impulse which travels to the +nerve-centre is of such a character that, instead of exciting it to +action, it deprives it of the power of action. In the former instance +reflex motion, in the latter reflex paralysis, results. + +We have seen that galvanization of a nerve may excite the inhibitory +centre to activity, and the peculiar persistent irritation of a local +inflammation may deprive the same centre of its power of action: in the +one instance a reflex inhibitory heat-centre spasm--_i.e._, lowering of +temperature--is produced, and in the other a reflex inhibitory +heat-centre paralysis--_i.e._, fever--results. + +It would be going too far at present to assert that all fever is +produced in the way spoken of. There are certain drugs which lower the +temperature in the fever that follows division of the cord and +consequent paralysis of the heat-centre, and which must therefore act +either upon the blood, or universally upon the tissues so as to diminish +their-chemical movements. It is most probable, although not yet +absolutely proved, that there are other substances which act directly +upon the blood and tissues in such a way as to increase their chemical +activities, and thereby cause fever. + +The practical considerations in regard to the treatment of disease which +naturally flow from the recent investigations of fever are very +important and very obvious. This is especially true since it has been +shown in Germany that under the influence of a continuous high bodily +temperature, not intense enough at any time to compromise life, all the +muscular tissues of the body undergo a peculiar granular degeneration. +Many a typhoid-fever patient has undoubtedly died from the heart-muscle +having undergone this change, when, if by artificial cooling the +temperature of the body had been kept down, the alteration of the +heart-structure would have been prevented, and death averted. It is +obvious, also, that the old plan of thwarting the intentions of Nature, +and depriving the fever-patient of the free use of cooling drinks, was +practically a baneful cruelty. As the body is burning up in fever, it is +also evident that to deprive it of sustenance is to aid in the +production of fatal exhaustion. The burning will go on, whether food is +given or not, so long as the tissues can serve as fuel. Of course no +more food should be taken than the patient can digest, but every grain +of digested food is so much added to the resources of the system, which +is engaged, it may be, in a close and doubtful conflict with disease. + +If it were possible, of course the best treatment for fever would be +that which lessened the production of heat. Fortunately, we have some +drugs--notably, quinine and alcohol--which do exert a decided influence +upon the vital chemical movements, but, unfortunately, their power is +limited. As we are therefore often unable to control heat-production, +the best we can do is to abstract the caloric from the body whenever it +becomes so excessive as to threaten serious results. To do this, all +that is necessary is to put the patient in a cold bath, or wrap him in a +sheet wet with ice-cold water, or lay him upon an ice-mattress, or +surround him with coils of tubing through which cold water runs, or use +some similar efficacious device. I do not wish to be misunderstood. +External cold is not to be lightly employed: it is a powerful two-edged +weapon, capable of cutting both ways--a weapon as injurious and +destructive in the hands of the ignorant and inexperienced as it is +efficient in the hands of those to whom study and experience have taught +its skillful use. + +To illustrate what cold water may effect when employed by intelligent +and skillful physicians, I may be permitted to cite a few hospital +statistics from Germany and Switzerland, the only countries where the +so-called antipyretic treatment of continued fever has been efficiently +carried out on a large scale. From 1850 to 1861 there were treated +without cold water, at the hospital at Kiel, 330 cases of typhoid fever, +with 51 deaths--a mortality of about 15-1/2 per cent.; from 1863 to +1866, 160 cases were treated with cold baths, with 5 deaths--a mortality +of only 3-1/10 per cent. In the hospital of Bale, from 1843 to 1864, +there were 1718 cases without antipyretic treatment, with 469 deaths--a +mortality of about 27-1/2 per cent; from September, 1866, to 1873, 1121 +cases were treated antipyretically, with 92 deaths--a mortality of a +little over 8 per cent. Assuredly, we may claim that this +water-treatment in typhoid fever is one of the greatest gains of modern +medicine since the discovery of anaesthesia. + +Some of my readers may here say to themselves, "Why, this is +hydropathy!" Not so. It is the legitimate, not the illegitimate, use of +cold water. It is the use of it as a single weapon, not as the only +weapon of the armory. It is the employment of it in a single affection, +not as a cure for all diseases. + +Perhaps, in concluding this essay, I may be pardoned one word of counsel +to my lay audience. Any physician who proclaims himself a follower of +any special doctrine, be he a hydropath, an electropath, an allopath, a +homoeopath, or any other _path_, should be viewed with suspicion. Water, +cold, heat, electricity, drugs, are all agents capable of being used +advantageously in the treatment of disease. Above all men, the physician +ought to have that teachable spirit which is the offspring of true +humility. Knowing the grave responsibilities which he assumes, living +almost beneath the shadow of that past whose life-imperiling mistakes +are so plainly visible in the light of the present, he, of all men, +should be ever seeking for new knowledge, gathering with equal zest the +seeds of healing in the waste as well as in the cultivated places, +amongst the lowest and most ignorant of the populace, as well as in +far-famed schools of medicine. + + H.C. WOOD, JR., M.D. + + + + +SONNET. + + +Young bride, that findest not a single star + Shining to-night with longed for prophecy, +Though snowy drifts are swelling near and far, + They need not chill thy happy hope and thee. +If blue had overarched the earth all day, + And heaven were brilliant with its stars to-night, +"A happy omen!" many a guest would say, + And think that Fortune blessed the sacred rite. +Be superstition far from thee, sweet soul: + This snowy robe, in unison with thine, +Nature will doff to-morrow, and the whole + Of this white waste in spring-like freshness shine. +If love be strong, then all adversity +Will melt like snow, and life the greener be. + + CHARLOTTE F. BATES. + + + + +SOME RECOLLECTIONS OF HIRAM POWERS. + + +There are--or were--many at Florence whose recollections of Hiram Powers +stretch over the best part of a quarter of a century; and there are few +men of whom it could with equal truth and accuracy be said that such +recollections are wholly pleasant in their character to the survivors +and honorable to the subject of them. He was in truth universally +respected by people of all classes, and by Americans and English, as +well as Italians, in the city of his adoption, and personally liked and +esteemed by all who had the good fortune to be among his friends. +Recollections such as these are, I say, the property of very many at +Florence. But there is no one in that city--there _was_ during his +life no one in that city, not even she who during a long life was a +companion, friend, partner and helpmeet in every sense admirable for +him--whose recollections went back to so early a period as mine did. + +When I came to Florence with my mother in 1841, intending to make a home +there for a few years, we found, with some surprise and much pleasure, +Hiram Powers, with a wife and children, settled there as a sculptor. It +was long since, in the course of the changes and chances of life, we had +lost sight of him, but the meeting was none the less pleasurable to, I +think I may say, both parties. It was at Cincinnati in 1829 that my +mother and myself first knew him. My mother, who had long been an +acquaintance of General La Fayette, became thus the intimate friend of +his ward, Frances Wright. Fascinated by the talent, the brilliancy and +the singular eloquence of that remarkable and highly-gifted woman, and +at the same time anxious to find a career for one of her sons (not the +well-known author of the present day, but another brother, long since +dead), whose wishes and proclivities adapted him for a life of more +activity and adventure than that of one of our home-abiding professions, +my mother was persuaded by her to join her in a scheme which at that +time was engaging all her singularly large powers of energy and +enthusiasm, the object of which was to found at New Harmony--I think, +though I am not sure whether Frances Wright's colony was not another, +separate from that of New Harmony--an establishment which was in some +way or other to contribute to the emancipation of the slaves, mainly, I +imagine, by showing that under proper management they were not unfitted +for freedom. The fate of that philanthropic scheme is too well known to +make it necessary for me to rehearse the story of it here, imperfectly +known to me as it is. The upshot was, that my mother and brother were +induced to go to Cincinnati and attempt other plans, the final result of +which was also a failure. I had had no share in these Transatlantic +projects, being at the time a scholar at Winchester in the college of +William of Wykeham. But between quitting Winchester, at the age of +eighteen, and going to Oxford, I had a period of liberty of nearly a +twelvemonth, the greater part of which I devoted to accompanying my +father on a visit to Cincinnati. And there I became acquainted with +Powers, a very few years only my senior, whom I found already the valued +friend of my mother and brother. + +He was at that time--I well remember the look of him--a tall, lanky, but +remarkably handsome lad, somewhat awkward in person, but with a calm but +at the same time intellectually expressive beauty of feature which +marked him as one of Nature's noblemen. His eyes were the most +noticeable point about him. They were magnificent--large, clear, +well-opened, and expressive of calm thought and the working of the +intellect rather than of shrewdness or passion. His manner, I remember, +was marked by an exceeding simpleness, and a sort of innocent and +dignified straightforwardness which much impressed me. Altogether, my +acquaintance with him was a contribution of a new sort to the education +of my mind. I had passed eight years in the acquisition of those things +which an English "gentleman's education" is supposed to offer. These +things (in the year 1829) consisted in a very fair knowledge of Latin +and Greek. Unquestionably, the eight years which I had spent in learning +those languages had brought with them other advantages and other +teachings of an altogether priceless sort. But what they professedly had +taught me, what I then considered as the net result of my eight years at +school, was a competent knowledge of Latin and Greek, and nothing else. +Now, here was a young man of my own age, or little more, about whose +idiosyncrasy there was something especially _simpatico_ to me, as +the Italians say--who knew nothing whatever of the only things which I +knew, but knew a whole world of things of which I was profoundly +ignorant. I was (of course) full of prejudices also--ecclesiastical +prejudices, class prejudices, political prejudices, caste +prejudices--all of which were as unintelligible to my new friend as they +would have been to a red Indian. He was singularly free from prejudice +of any kind--a sort of original, blank-paper mind, on which nothing had +been written save what he had consciously written there himself as the +result of his own observations of life. I knew other young Americans, +and perceived and could have pointed out characteristics which +distinguished them. But Powers was not like them. He seemed to me a sort +of Adam, a fresh, new and original _man_, unclassable and +unjudgable by any of the formulas or prejudices which served me as means +of appreciating men. Despite all this--perhaps because of all this--we +soon became great friends. I very shortly discovered that he was wholly +and entirely truthful. His "yes" was _yes,_ his "no" was _no_; +and not only that, but what is much rarer still, his "five" or "six" was +not five and a quarter or six and a half, but _five_ or _six_. +I remember in him then what I recognized after many, many years in later +life, and what is often so amusing a characteristic in simple, upright +and truthful minds--the notion that on occasion he could be deep enough +to outwit the cunning of the unscrupulous, whereas his loyal +unsuspiciousness of evil was such that he might have been cheated by the +first shallow rogue who chose to exercise his vulpine craft against him. + +When I reached Cincinnati I found him intimate with my brother, and a +favorite with my mother, who had formed a high opinion both of his +character and of his talents. The latter had already very markedly +manifested themselves in that direction which finally decided his career +in life. Yet there was little of that dreamy and enthusiastic worship +for the abstract beautiful which is generally supposed to be the marking +characteristic of the artistic temperament. But he had a wonderful +faculty of executing with his hands whatever his mind had conceived, and +a mind singularly active in invention and in devising means for the +execution of a mechanical end. Had circumstances not made him a +sculptor, he might have been--probably would have been--a successful +inventor, mechanician or engineer. Throughout life he was an eminently +and specially _practical_ man--a man whose tendency was not to +dream, but to _do_. That artistic temperament, as it is generally +called, which so often manifests itself in exactly the opposite +direction--in a tendency to dream rather than to do, and to allow the +pleasures of the ideal to incapacitate those who indulge in them for +real work--was so little his that I have never known a more industrious +and conscientious worker with his hands. And there was nothing to which +he could not turn them, and that with a degree of skill that would often +put to shame the attempts of members of the craft which he might be +essaying for the first time. + +At that time Hiram Powers was, as the saying is, living upon his wits; +and they, being such as I have described them, were not likely to fail +in producing the wherewithal to do so. There was at that period a little +Frenchman named Dorfeuille at Cincinnati--not a bad sort of little man, +I believe, and with some amount of literary and other talent. But he +also being engaged in the operation of living on his wits, or mainly so, +and not finding them so abundantly sufficient for the purpose as those +of my young friend, thought that he too might in part live on the wits +of the latter; and during the time of my stay at Cincinnati he did so to +the satisfaction of both parties. This Dorfeuille was the proprietor of +a museum, the main and most attractive portion of which was a number of +wax figures. But the Cincinnati public was not large enough in those +days to supply a constant stream of fresh spectators, and, though there +was little in the way of public amusement to compete with M. +Dorfeuille's museum, the Cincinnati people soon got tired of looking at +the same show; and but for the happy chance which brought him into +contact with Hiram Powers, M. Dorfeuille must have packed up his museum +and sought "fresh woods and pastures new." But with the advent of young +Powers, and the contents of the museum given over to his creating brain +and clever fingers, a period of halcyon days and new prosperity +commenced for the little Frenchman and his show. With the materials at +his disposition all things were possible to the young artist, to whom +such a chance gave the first clear consciousness of his own powers. New +combinations, new names, new costuming, alterations of figures, etc. +etc. were adopted to produce fine effects and amuse the public with +constant novelties. For the invention of these Powers often used to +consult my mother, whose suggestions he never failed to carry into +effect, to the great amusement of both parties. On one occasion an idea +struck her, which, when she communicated it to him, fired the +imagination of Powers and turned out a great success. This was nothing +less than to give a representation of some of the more striking scenes +of Dante's _Divina Commedia_. The idea was a sufficiently audacious +one. But "audaces Fortuna juvat." Powers scouted the notion of +difficulty. My mother was to draw up the programme, and he undertook, +with the materials furnished him by the museum, and with the help of +some of his own handiwork, to give scenic reality to her suggestions. +The result, as I have said, was a brilliant success. I have a copy of +the "bill" that was issued to the public inviting them to the exhibition +in question, which is a curiosity in its way, and which I must give the +reader. It is drawn up in high sensational style, with lines of +different lengths and boldness, and printed in all the different sorts +of capitals which the printer's case afforded. I cannot occupy space +with any imitation of these typographical magnificences, but will simply +copy the language of the bill. It must have been my mother's +composition, and Powers had to work up to it, which he did to the +letter: + + "The World to come, as described by Dante, and comprising, Hell, + Purgatory, and Paradise, will be exhibited in a room adjoining the + Western Museum on the 4th of July, and days following. Admittance, + twenty-five cents. In the centre is seen a grand colossal figure of + Minos, the Judge of Hell. He is seated at the entrance of the + INFERNAL REGIONS [enormous capitals]. His right hand is raised as + in the act to pronounce sentence, his left holding a two-pronged + sceptre. Above his head is a scroll on which are written the + concluding words of Dante's celebrated inscription, 'Abandon hope, + all ye who enter here!' To the right of this figure the foreground + presents a frozen lake, on the surface of which are seen the heads + of those who have been doomed to this species of punishment. Among + these is the head of Ugolino, whom Dante describes as eternally + gnawing the head of his enemy, who, after placing him and his three + sons in the upper chamber of a strong tower near Florence, threw + the key of it into the moat and left them to perish with hunger. + Grinning in mockery of these ice-bound sufferers, A BLACK IMP + [biggest extra black capitals] is seated on a rock, dandling a + young monster. On the edge of the opposite side of the frozen lake + stands a spirit, who is just about to endure the frozen torment; + and his attitude and countenance express the agony of extreme cold. + Behind him opens the fiery gulf, the reflection of whose lurid + glare is seen on his half-frozen body. At his feet a female head, + fixed in the ice, looks up to the flames, as longing for their + warmth; while a little way within the lake of fire another head is + seen gazing with longing eyes upon the ice. A brilliant fountain of + flame is in the midst of the lake, and around it crowds of + condemned spirits in all varieties of suffering. In one corner a + fiend is proclaiming their infamy by the aid of a trumpet through + all the depths of Hell. Birds and animals of hideous form and evil + omen are fluttering over the heads and tormenting the sufferers. + Large icicles hang from the rocks that form the Gate of Hell, and + reflect on their bright surface the red glare of the fires within. + On the left of Minos is seen a Skeleton ascending a column of + Icicles and holding a standard bearing these lines: + + "'To this grim form our cherished limbs have come, + And thus lie mouldering in their earthly home. + In turf-bound hillock or in sculptured shrine + The worms alike their cold caresses twine. + So far we all are equal; but once left + Our mortal weeds, of vital spark bereft, + Asunder farther than the poles we're driven-- + Some sunk to deepest Hell, some raised to highest Heaven.' + + "Still farther on the left of Minos, and melting into distance + behind him, is seen the shadowy region of Purgatory. Four bright + stars--the Cardinal Virtues--give a delicate and cheering light + amid the gloom. A group of figures loaded with the burthen of their + sins are about to plunge into the lake of purgatorial waters, in + the hope of depositing them there. A boat wafted by the wings of an + Angel is bearing departed, souls toward Heaven; and near it is a + column of pale light to direct its course. In the distance is the + mountain that divides Purgatory from Heaven; and Beatrice, the + departed mistress of Dante, is standing on its summit, encouraging + him to proceed with her to Heaven, where his former guide, Virgil, + cannot be admitted (being a Pagan). Groups of Pilgrims who have + passed through Purgatory are ascending the mountain. Still farther + to the left, and opening in unbroken splendor above the head of + Beatrice, is seen the Heaven of Heavens. The golden light pours + down on the heads of the Pilgrims, and angels are seen floating in + the air and encouraging their efforts. The foreground of this part + of the scene presents various objects to cheer the spirit of the + Pilgrims in their passage through Purgatory. The entrance indeed is + rocky, but shrubs and flowers adorn it, and the Dove, the bird of + Hope, is bearing the olive-branch before them." + +If all that was packed into "a room adjoining the Western Museum," the +sight of it must, I think, be admitted to have been a cheap twenty-five +cents' worth. The Cincinnati world of hard upon half a century ago +judged it to be so, and flocked to the exhibition in crowds. But very +soon the versatile and indefatigable artist devised new means of still +further stimulating the curiosity and excitement of his public. A bar +ran across the exhibition-room, dividing the space allotted to the +spectators from that occupied by the scenery and objects provided for +their amusement. But since the available space was, as may easily be +imagined, somewhat limited, it came to pass that the foremost +spectators, being often of that class of persons who see with the ends +of their fingers, would stretch out their arms and audaciously touch +"the Black Imp," or "the Skeleton," or Minos himself, or any other of +the _dramatis personae_ they could reach, to the damage of those +somewhat perishable properties. A notice was therefore placarded in the +room, written in flame-colored letters and couched in the choicest +bugaboo phraseology, warning all such indiscreet persons that the +denizens of the Infernal Regions could not be touched by mortal hands +with impunity, and that _immediate_ punishment would visit +transgressors. Of course it was foreseen that such threats would not +avail to restrain, but would rather stimulate the curiosity of the +disciples of Saint Thomas. But, sure enough, the threatened punishment, +by no means "_pede claudo_" followed in every case--very accurately +with the speed of lightning--on the transgression; for Powers had +cunningly contrived, preparing it all with his own hand, that a sharp +electric shock should be communicated to each audacious hand that braved +the prohibition. The astonishment, the terror, and subsequently the fun, +produced by this ingenious device may easily be imagined. The sufferers, +like the fox who had lost his tail, brought their friends, and enjoyed +the fun of leading them into the same scrape. The "room adjoining the +Western Museum" was more thronged than ever, and little Dorfeuille +reaped a golden harvest. How large a share of it found its way into the +pockets of the ingenious artist I know not--probably a much smaller one +than fair play would have assigned him. + +In the long after years at Florence, Powers and I had many a laugh +together over his reminiscences of the scenes that occurred in that +exhibition-room, all of which he remembered as well as if the incidents +had happened but a year before, and would chuckle over with as much +enjoyment as he did at the time of their occurrence. My copy of the +hand-bill which I have given above--doubtless the only one now in +existence--was matter of much amusement to us, and served to recall +every portion and every figure of the early work of his hands. + +From the time I left America to go to Oxford, in the spring of 1829, +till our meeting at Florence in 1841, I saw no more of Powers. But, as +may be easily imagined, we lost no time in renewing our old friendship. +He was then, and for many years afterward, living in the Via Romana, not +far from the city gate of that name. The house stood back from the +street, and was approached only by a passage through another tenement, +from which it was divided by a little garden; a situation which, though +not in all respects convenient, had at least the advantage of securing +quietude. The young sculptor, with his already numerous and rapidly +increasing family, occupied the first and second floors, while the +ground floor was exclusively devoted to workshops and show-rooms. The +premises were large and the accommodations ample. Already few Americans +came to Florence without paying a visit to the "Studio Powers," but they +were in those days but few in comparison to the number which, partly as +residents and partly as merely passing tourists, throng every winter the +fair "City of Flowers." Up to the revolution of 1848 the English at +Florence were very far more numerous than the citizens of the other +English-speaking nation. That unsuccessful movement drove many English, +very unnecessarily, from their moorings. The English colony was very +much reduced even after those who returned on the return of the grand +duke had resumed their old places. And from that time forward I think +that America has been more numerously represented on the banks of the +Arno than England. Powers had at that time produced various successful +busts, but had not as yet made himself known as an imaginative sculptor. +Nevertheless, the former works had sufficed to give him an amount of +reputation in the United States that ensured constant visits of his +countrymen to the studio in the Via Romana. + +Some twelve years had elapsed when I first saw Powers in Florence since +the old days in Cincinnati. In such a space of time, especially at that +period of life which turns a lad into a man, most men change much. But +the change in Powers's face was but small: I should have known him if I +had met him in the street anywhere. But in person he was much changed: +he had become stout and what is called personable, not fat--he never was +that to the end of his life--but neither was he lanky, as he had been as +a youth. He had filled out, as the phrase is, and might be considered in +all respects a decidedly handsome man. There was something specially, +and more than commonly, upright in the carriage of his person and of his +head, which seemed the expression of the uprightness of the man's moral +and intellectual nature and character. He always looked straight at you +with those large, placid and generally grave eyes of his under their +large and bushy brows. They seemed to continue grave, or at least +thoughtful, those eyes, even when there was a pleasant genial smile on +the mouth. And there was this specialty about his smile--a specialty +which may be often observed in subjective natures habituated to original +thought and to live in the inner life: it seemed generally to be +produced more by the movement of his own inward feelings and thoughts +than by what was said by others. Like most dark-haired men, he began to +become gray early in life, and for some few years before his death his +appearance was venerable in no ordinary degree. He then wore his hair, +which had become perfectly white, very long, and a shallow, very +broad-brimmed white hat on the top of it. The latter, indeed, was, I +think, at all times his universal wear. I do not think that I ever saw +him in Florence in that detestable article of apparel called "a +chimney-pot hat." But this is anticipating. + +Very shortly after our arrival in Florence and the renewal of our +friendship with Powers--I think not more than a year--there arrived in +Florence, bringing a letter of introduction to my mother, an English +gentleman of fortune, Mr. Grant. He was a noted lover and patron of art, +and my mother proposed to him a visit to the Studio Powers. The sculptor +had then just completed his first imaginative work, the "Greek Slave," +which numerous _replicas_ have since made so well known on both +sides of the Atlantic. This work had greatly excited my mother's +admiration, and it was that he might have an opportunity of seeing the +"Greek Slave" that my mother was desirous of taking Mr. Grant to the +sculptor's studio. But it was not altogether easy to induce Mr. Grant to +accept the proposal. "If there is anything very good, that is the very +reason why I must not go there. Lead me not into temptation! I have been +spending all my money, and more than I meant to spend, on sculpture in +Rome. Don't show me any more statues, for I cannot buy any more." But +this confession of fearing temptation was calculated to produce a +stronger determination to expose him to it. Mr. Grant was persuaded to +visit the studio in the Via Romana: he was as much charmed with the +beauty of the conception of the statue as with the conscientious +perfection of its execution, and he became the purchaser of it. And it +speedily acquired a reputation which led to the execution of as many, I +think, as four or five replicas at the request of other lovers of art; +and the sculptor's reputation was made. + +The practice of the greatest sculptors as regards the degree in which it +has seemed desirable to them to take part in that mechanical portion of +the business of producing a statue which consists in the manipulation of +the marble, has always been very different. Some have subjected the +marble to the touching of their own hands more, some less. The work of +reproducing a copy of the clay model in marble is a purely mechanical +one, and may or may not be in the artist's judgment best brought to +perfection by the labor of his own hands. It will readily be believed, +however, from what has been already said of the tendencies of Powers's +talent and idiosyncrasy, that he was among those who have contributed +most of their personal labor to the perfecting of their works. Powers +was one of those men whose hands have faculty in them. He was a master +in the use of them, and accordingly he loved to use them. It was his +practice to go over with his own hand the surface of the marble of every +work which left his studio. But he was not contented to do this in the +manner and with the tools which had been used by so many generations of +sculptors before him. That decided bent of his genius to mechanical +invention which has been mentioned at the beginning of this paper led +him to perceive that an improvement might be made in this respect. For +giving the last finish to the marble, for removing from the surface a +quantity so small that no chisel could be trusted to do the work, it is +obvious enough to suggest the use of a file. And no doubt files are used +for the purpose, but they are liable to a special and very troublesome +source of inefficiency. They become clogged with the excessively fine +dust of the marble in a very few minutes to such an extent as to be +rendered useless, especially as the file must be of an exceedingly fine +description. Powers therefore set his mind to the problem of inventing +some means or some instrument by which this source of trouble could be +avoided; and after considerable vexation, not so much in perfecting his +own conception of the thing needed as in getting careless and not very +competent workmen to execute his orders, he perfected a file of the +necessary fineness upon the principle of a nutmeg-grater. His studio was +at all times full of little ingenious contrivances of all +sorts--contrivances for readily and conveniently modifying the light in +the exact degree desirable; contrivances for the due collocation and +distribution of artificial light; contrivances for the more ready moving +of marbles, etc. etc. + +It is the fashion in Florence and in Rome for artists to open their +studios to all visitors. It is a custom which adds much to the amusement +of visitors who are really lovers of art; but it must bring with it, one +would think, consequences which must sometimes be not a little trying to +the painter's or sculptor's temper and patience. Criticism from those +who have some little pretension to the right to criticise is not always +pleasant when volunteered, but criticism from such Philistines of the +Philistines as often haunt the studios must be hard indeed to bear with +common courtesy. Powers invariably received such with the most perfect +suavity and good-temper, but I have sometimes seen him, to my great +amusement, inflict a punishment on the talkers of nonsense which made +them wish they had held their tongues. This consisted simply of +defending his own practice by entering on a lecture upon the principles +which ought to regulate the matter in question. He was, I fancy, rather +fond of lecturing, and would rather have liked the work of a professor +of the fine arts. I have seen people writhe under his patient and +lengthy expositions, which they were as capable of understanding as so +many bullocks, and which they had brought down on themselves by some +absolutely absurd remark on the work before them. I have seen such +delinquents use every sort of effort to put a stop to or escape from the +punishment they had brought upon themselves. In vain: the lecture would +continue with a placid _uninterruptibility_ which it was amusing to +witness. + +It was in 1854, I think, or thereabouts (for I have not at hand the +means of verifying the date with accuracy, and it is of no consequence), +that Mr. Hume, the since well-known medium, came to Florence. He came to +my house on the pressing invitation of my mother, my then wife and +myself. We had seen accounts of extraordinary things said to have taken +place some months previously at the house of a Mr. Rymer, a solicitor +living at Ealing near London, and our curiosity and interest had been so +much excited that the hope of being able to witness some of these +marvels was not the least among the motives of a journey that summer to +England. We obtained an introduction to Mr. Rymer, were present at +sundry _seances_ at his house at Ealing, made acquaintance with Mr. +Hume, and invited him to stay for a while in my house in Florence. He +came accompanied by his friend, a son of Mr. Rymer; and both the young +men were resident under my roof for about a month, leaving it to accept +an invitation from Mr. Powers to make his house their home for a while. +The manifestations of phenomena produced, or supposed to be produced, by +what has become known to the world as "Spiritualism," were then only +beginning to attract in Europe the very general attention which they +have since that time attracted. The thing was then new to most people. +During the month that Mr. Hume and his friend were in my house we had +seances almost every evening, with the "assistance," as the French say, +of a rather numerous and very varied circle. For, as may easily be +supposed, all our friends were anxious to witness the new marvels, and +we, desirous only of as many eyes and as many minds as might be for the +better watching and discussion of the phenomena, welcomed all comers to +the extent of the capacity of our room and table. I have no intention of +troubling my present readers with any detailed rehearsal of the +phenomena which presented themselves. The testimony which my +observations during this period enabled me to offer has already more +than once been given to the world in print, and the catalogue of similar +and yet more extraordinary experiences has become too long, and the +witnesses to them too numerous and too well known to the public, for +such details to have any further interest at the present day. I feel +bound, however, to state that no amount of suspicious watching which I +was able to exercise in my house, and which Powers was able to exercise +in his, enabled us to discover any smallest degree of imposture, or fair +grounds for suspecting imposture, as regards the physical or material +phenomena which were witnessed. Such is my testimony, and such was that +of Powers, who, by his aptitude for inventing and understanding +mechanical contrivances of all kinds, was a man specially well fitted +for the task of watching the performance of such wonders. I have spoken +here, it will be observed, altogether of the _material_ and +_physical_ phenomena witnessed. As to what are called the spiritual +manifestations, Powers was perhaps not an entirely unbiased estimator of +these. He was an eminently sincere, earnest and zealous Swedenborgian, +and several of the leading tenets and dogmas of the Swedenborgian faith +are calculated to make such communications with the world of spirits as +Spiritualists claim to experience much less startling, less strange to +the mind and more acceptable, than they usually appear to other people. +To a Swedenborgian who is perfectly convinced that the spirits of the +departed are ever around him and interested in his welfare, it does not +seem a very strange or extraordinary thing that these visitors should +under certain circumstances be able to express the interest which they +always feel. Powers regarded all the professed manifestations of +spiritual communications from that stand-point, and was enabled to +accept them therefore somewhat more easily than another person might +have done. Yet, despite such predisposing proclivities, and though he +was disposed to think a great variety of professed communications from +the world of spirits to have been genuinely what they purported to be, +the habitual uprightness and truthfulness of Powers's mind led him, as I +believe I am justified in saying, to the conclusion that in the case +which I am about to mention, at least, there was ground for very strong +suspicion of the honesty of the medium. The circumstances of the case +were as follows: + +I had many years previously lost a brother--the same whom I have already +had occasion to mention in the earlier part of this letter. Now, at an +early stage of the series of sittings that took place at my house it was +intimated that the spirit of this brother was present and wishful or +willing to communicate with me. He did, as was proposed, communicate +very freely upon subjects of all sorts by means of raps under the table +and the letters of the alphabet spread upon it--on all subjects save +one. To the often-repeated question, where we had last met in life, I +could get no reply. It was constantly promised to me that I should be +answered this question at the next sitting. Now, it so happened that my +wife had conceived, reasonably or unreasonably, doubts as to the +medium's honesty in the matter, and she determined to try him in the +matter of this unanswered question. Talking one day with him in +tete-a-tete, she turned the subject of maladies of the chest, of which +they had been speaking, to the special case of her late brother-in-law, +discussing the powerful influence of climate, and remarking that she +feared Ostend had been a very bad place for him. And there she left the +matter without any further remark, and without eliciting any answer from +him. This occurred very shortly before the time when Mr. Hume left my +house to accept the hospitality of Mr. Powers. The sittings continued +with great frequency in the house of the latter, and my mother and +myself were very frequently present at them. As before, the +_soi-disant_ spirit of my brother Henry announced his presence, +and, as before, I repeated my often-asked question as to the place on +earth where he and I had last met. On this occasion the answer rapped +out consisted of the word "Ostend." I smilingly replied, "Spirit, you +know nothing about what you are talking of: you are wrong." Mr. Hume +became immediately very angry, and reproached me vehemently for +"interrupting the spirit"--for not waiting for what he was probably +going to say. It was likely enough, he added, that the spirit was about +to say that Ostend was _not_ the place. I said "Pshaw! In that way +he might go through the whole Gazetteer." Thereupon Mr. Hume declared +that I was evidently not in a fit frame of mind to be a sitter at such +meetings; that my presence would be likely to mar any results to be +expected from them; and, in short, if only for the sake of those who +wished to continue their experiences, it was necessary that I should +withdraw from them. That was the last occasion on which I took part in a +seance under Mr. Hume's mediumship. My mother continued her sittings at +the house of Mr. Powers, and it is fair to record that she there +witnessed material phenomena--some of them closely allied to phenomena +only explainable on Spiritualistic theories--of even a more +extraordinary nature than any which had occurred at my house; in which +neither she, nor Mr. Powers or any of his family, nor any of the others +of the party, were able to detect any imposture. And I believe I may add +that Mr. Powers fully believed in the genuineness of the phenomena +witnessed. It is also perhaps fair to state that had the answer to my +question been "On board the steamboat going from London to Ostend," the +reply would have been correct. How far it is possible to suppose that +the word "Ostend" may have been the _first_ word of an answer about +to be completed in that sense if it had not been interrupted, I leave to +the judgment of the reader. + +For some time after this Powers used to recount to me the marvels which +were witnessed at his house. He was not pleased with the medium as an +inmate in other respects: he did not form a favorable opinion of his +moral character. I am speaking of matters now many years old, and I +might not have considered it necessary to record these impressions of a +very specially upright and honest man with regard to one who is still +before the public were it not that they go to increase the value of Mr. +Powers's testimony to the genuineness of the phenomena which he +witnessed, by showing that his judgment upon the subject was at least in +no degree warped by any prejudice in favor of the miracle-worker. + +Meantime, the sculptor, still in the modest tenement which he occupied +for so many years in the Via Romana, was growing in fame and reputation +from day to day. A visit to the Studio Powers--or Pousse, as the +ciceroni and valets-de-place called it--was an obligatory part of the +tourist's regular work in "doing" Florence. A large family was, during +those prosperous and laborious years, growing up around him--sons and +daughters, most of whom he lived to see settled in life and to be justly +proud of. Death did not altogether pass his threshold by, but he knocked +there but once or twice in all that length of years. At last the time +came when the successful artist felt that his position enabled and +justified him in moving from his old quarters to more commodious and +luxurious ones. He had been but a tenant in the Via Romana: he was now +to inhabit a house of his own. + +It was the time when Florence was for a few short years enjoying the +fallacious and fatal honor of being the capital of Italy. There were +some who from the first were fully convinced that that honor would be a +transitory one. The greater number thought that the will of France and +of her emperor, and the difficulties attending the simultaneous +residence of the king of Italy and the pope within the walls of the same +city, would avail to make Florence the capital of the new kingdom for at +least as many years as human prudence could look forward to. The +earthquake-like events which shook down the bases of all such +calculations, and enabled Italy to realize her longing desire to see +Rome the capital of the nation, are too well known to need even +referring to. Florence suddenly ceased to be the metropolis of Italy, +and the amount of financial ruin in the case of those who had invested +money in building to supply the wants of the capital was very widespread +indeed. And there can be no doubt that the houses built by Powers are at +the present day worth much less than they were at the time he built +them, and still less than they would have been worth had Florence +remained the capital. Nevertheless, I do not think that he would have +abstained from building from any considerations of this kind. He built +solely with a view to residence, and in that respect he could hardly +have done better than he did. + +He did not move very far. His old lodging and studio were, as has been +said, a little way within the Porta Romana, and the villa residence +which he built is but two or three minutes' walk on the outside of it. +Immediately outside this Porta Romana, sloping off a little to the left +from the road to Rome, is a magnificent avenue of ilex and cypress +conducting to a grand-ducal villa called the "Poggio Imperiale." To the +left again of this avenue, which is perhaps a mile or somewhat more in +length, and between it and the city wall, which in that part of its +course encloses the Boboli Gardens attached to the Palazzo Pitti, is a +large extent of hillside, rapidly rising to the heights crowned by the +ancient and storied church of San Miniato, and by the suburban villages +of Arcetri and Pian Guillari. This space was, and had been for time out +of mind, occupied by fields and market-gardens. But when the new +fortunes of the City of Flowers fallaciously seemed to be in the +ascendant, it was at once seen that of all the spaces immediately around +Florence which were available for that increase of the city which was +expected to be urgently required, none was more desirable or more +favorably circumstanced than this hillside. A really magnificent +carriage-road, ornamented with gardens on either side of it, was led in +well-arranged curves up to San Miniato, and down on the other side of +the hill till it reaches the Arno at the village of Ricorboli. The +entire course of this road commands a series of varied views of the city +and the Vale of Arno than which nothing can be conceived more charming. +It is in truth the finest city promenade and drive that I know in +Europe. Rome has nothing comparable to it. The Bois de Boulogne and Hyde +Park are, as far as natural beauty goes, tame and flat in comparison to +it. The planning and the execution of it have been alike excellent. The +whole of the space up which the road serpentines has been turned into +ornamental gardens, and on either side of it, and among its lawns and +shrubberies, a large number of villa-sites were reserved to be disposed +of to purchasers. Of this singular opportunity Powers was one of the +first to avail himself. He selected with admirable judgment three sites +in the immediate neighborhood of each other--one for a residence for +himself, one for that of his eldest son, a married man, established and +doing well as a photographer, and one for that of his eldest daughter +and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Ibbetson. The friends of the sculptor thus +patriarchally establishing himself said laughingly that the region ought +to be called Powerstown. The three houses, each in its own grounds, were +built, and excellently good and comfortable residences they are. Powers +was almost as much in his own element in superintending them as in his +studio with mallet and chisel in hand, as might be surmised. The new +studio formed no part of the dwelling-house, but occupied a separate +erection in the grounds. Nor did the artist's love for his art fail to +show itself in the amplitude and excellent adaptation of the building to +all the needs of a studio, properly so called--of work-rooms and +exhibition-rooms for the reception of visitors. A more complete +sculptor's residence and establishment it would be difficult to imagine. +Alas for the shortness of the few years that were allowed to him for the +enjoyment of it! Long after the house and the studio were completed, and +the marbles all moved thither, Powers was still indulging in the delight +of improving his garden; and his plans for such improvement gave +striking evidence of that genius and passion for mechanical cleverness +and achievements of which I have frequently spoken. He had planned and +begun--I think only begun--to execute an artesian well by means of +certain newly-invented systems of boring, the details of which, in the +absence of all workmen who possessed any knowledge whatever on the +subject, had to be wholly superintended, arranged and adapted by +himself. He had satisfied himself by observations of his own that water +was to be found at a given depth, and had, I believe, prosecuted the +work sufficiently to be assured that his judgment in this respect was +well founded. In connection with this scheme of the artesian well was a +fountain in the garden, which was, I believe, also ultimately brought to +perfection. + +In conformity with the convenient continental fashion of ladies naming +one day in the week for the reception of visitors--a plan which enables +them to escape from the interruption to their domestic pursuits on all +other days, and which is very generally adopted by those who have large +circles of acquaintance--Mrs. Powers used to open the drawing-rooms of +her new house on every Saturday, and a considerable crowd was sure to be +found there from two to six. But such recent arrivals on the banks of +the Arno as paid their respects to Mrs. Powers in the hope and +expectation of seeing the famous sculptor were almost, if not quite, +invariably disappointed. None of the Florentine colony expected to find +Powers in the drawing-room on such occasions. They knew better where to +look for him--in his workshop. There he might be found by those who had +brought letters of introduction to him, in his usual workman's garb. +Powers never made the slightest concession to the necessities of +receiving "company" on such occasions. There he was, with his working +cap on head, probably in a long light gray coat, not innocent of marble +dust, but often in blouse and apron. + +In the latter days, when, though we little thought it, the end was +approaching, when the night of that long day of continuous activity and +labor was at hand, he might as frequently have been found sauntering +under the magnificent trees of the Poggio Imperiale avenue in the +immediate vicinity of his own house. Upright in figure and in carriage +as ever, and with his eye as bright as ever, it was difficult to suppose +that the venerable and stalwart figure of the old sculptor was not +destined still for years of life and activity. His malady was connected +with the respiratory organs; and a specially painful circumstance of it +for his friends was, that the loss of voice, which made the effort of +talking injurious to him, rendered it a selfish and inconsiderate thing +to visit him; for the activity of his mind was still such that in the +contact with another mind he could not abstain from the old familiar +intercourse which he had loved so well. Like the old camel of the +Arabian tale, that, having been all its life accustomed to lead the +caravan, died in the effort to keep his old place to the last, Powers, +who had been always wont to have rather the lion's share of +conversation, could not resign himself to hear another talk, in silence. +He _would_ talk, and suffered for it afterward. The result was that +his friends felt that they were showing the best consideration for him +by staying away. + +To look at him, I say, as he would stand in the sunshine at his own +gate, it was difficult to imagine that aught of a very serious nature +ailed him. But in the case of a man so habitually active his sauntering +there was a bad sign. He was emphatically one of those men with whom +life and work are the same thing--one whose sun was at the setting when +he could work no more, and who would probably have cared little to +survive his capacity for working. + + T. ADOLPHUS TROLLOPE. + + + + +CORN. + + + To-day the woods are trembling through and through + With shimmering forms, that flash into my view, + Then melt in green as dawn-stars melt in blue. + The leaves that wave against my cheek caress + Like women's hands; the embracing boughs express + A subtlety of mighty tenderness; + The copse-depths into little noises start, + That sound anon like beatings of a heart, + Anon like talk 'twixt lips not far apart. + The beech dreams balm, as a dreamer hums a song, + Through whose vague sweet float expirations strong + From lithe young hickories, breathing deep and long + With stress and urgence bold of inward spring, + And ecstasy of burgeoning. + Now, since the dew-plashed road of morn is dry, + Come daintier smells, linked in soft company, + Like velvet-slippered ladies pacing by. + Long muscadines, + Like Jove's locks curled round foreheads of great pines, + Breathe out ambrosial passion from their vines. + I pray with mosses, ferns and flowers shy + That hide like gentle nuns from human eye, + To lift adoring odors to the sky. + I hear faint bridal-sighs of blissful green, + Dying to kindred silences serene, + As dim lights melt into a pleasant sheen. + I start at fragmentary whispers, blown + From undertalks of leafy loves unknown, + Vague purports sweet, of inarticulate tone. + + Dreaming of gods, men, nuns and brides, between + Old companies of oaks that inward lean + To join their radiant amplitudes of green, + I slowly move, with ranging looks that pass + Up from the matted miracles of grass + Into yon veined complex of space, + Where sky and leafage interlace + So close the heaven of blue is seen + Inwoven with a heaven of green. + + I wander to the zigzag-cornered fence + Where sassafras, intrenched in brambles dense, + Contests with stolid vehemence + The march of culture, setting limb and thorn, + Like pikes, against the army of the corn. + + There, while I pause, before mine eyes, + Out of the silent corn-ranks, rise + Inward dignities + And large benignities and insights wise, + Graces and modest majesties. + Thus, without tilth, I house a wondrous yield; + Thus, without theft, I reap another's field, + And store quintuple harvests in my heart concealed. + + See, out of line a single corn-stem stands + Advanced beyond the foremost of his bands, + And waves his blades upon the very edge + And hottest thicket of the battling hedge. + Thou lustrous stalk, that canst nor walk nor talk, + Still dost thou type the poet-soul sublime + That leads the vanward of his timid time, + And sings up cowards with commanding rhyme-- + Soul calm, like thee, yet fain, like thee, to grow + By double increment, above, below; + Soul homely, as thou art, yet rich in grace like thee, + Teaching the yeomen selfless chivalry, + That moves in gentle curves of courtesy; + Soul filled like thy long veins with sweetness tense, + By every godlike sense + Transmuted from the four wild elements. + Toward the empyrean + Thou reachest higher up than mortal man, + Yet ever piercest downward in the mould, + And keepest hold + Upon the reverend and steadfast earth + That gave thee birth. + Yea, standest smiling in thy very grave, + Serene and brave, + With unremitting breath + Inhaling life from death, + Thine epitaph writ fair in fruitage eloquent, + Thy living self thy monument. + + As poets should, + Thou hast built up thy hardihood + With wondrous-varying food, + Drawn in select proportion fair + From solid mould and vagrant air; + From terrors of the dreadful night, + And joyful light; + From antique ashes, whose departed flame + In thee has finer life and longer fame; + From wounds and balms, + From storms and calms, + From potsherds and dry bones, + And ruin-stones. + So to thy vigorous substance thou hast wrought + Whate'er the hand of Circumstance hath brought; + Yea, into cool solacing green hast spun + White radiance hot from out the sun. + So thou dost mutually leaven + Strength of earth with grace of heaven; + So thou dost marry new and old + Into a one of higher mould; + So thou dost reconcile the hot and cold, + The dark and bright, + And many a heart-perplexing opposite: + And so, + Akin by blood to high and low, + Fitly thou playest out thy poet's part, + Richly expending thy much-bruised heart + In equal care to nourish lord in hall + Or beast in stall: + Thou took'st from all that thou might'st give to all. + + O steadfast dweller on the selfsame spot + Where thou wast born, that still repinest not-- + Type of the home-fond heart, the happy lot!-- + Deeply thy mild content rebukes the land + Whose flimsy homes, built on the shifting sand + Of trade, for ever rise and fall + With alternation whimsical, + Enduring scarce a day, + Then swept away + By swift engulfments of incalculable tides + Whereon capricious Commerce rides. + + Look, thou substantial spirit of content! + Across this little vale, thy continent, + To where, beyond the mouldering mill, + Yon old deserted Georgian hill + Bares to the sun his piteous aged crest + And seamy breast, + By restless-hearted children left to lie + Untended there beneath the heedless sky, + As barbarous folk expose their old to die. + Upon that generous swelling side, + Now scarified + By keen neglect, and all unfurrowed save + By gullies red as lash-marks on a slave, + Dwelt one I knew of old, who played at toil, + And dreamed himself a tiller of the soil. + Scorning the slow reward of patient grain, + He sowed his soul with hopes of swifter gain, + Then sat him down and waited for the rain. + He sailed in borrowed ships of usury-- + foolish Jason on a treacherous sea, + Seeking the Fleece and finding misery. + Lulled by smooth-rippling loans, in idle trance + He lay, content that unthrift Circumstance + Should plough for him the stony field of Chance. + Yea, gathering crops whose worth no man might tell, + He staked his life on a game of Buy-and-Sell, + And turned each field into a gambler's hell. + Aye, as each year began, + My farmer to the neighboring city ran, + Passed with a mournful anxious face + Into the banker's inner place; + Parleyed, excused, pleaded for longer grace, + Railed at the drought, the worm, the rust, the grass, + Protested ne'er again 'twould come to pass + Such troops of ills his labors should harass; + Politely swallowed searching questions rude, + And kissed the dust to melt his Dives's mood. + At last, small loans by pledges great renewed, + He issues smiling from the fatal door, + And buys with lavish hand his yearly store + Till his small borrowings will yield no more. + Aye, as each year declined, + With bitter heart and ever-brooding mind + He mourned his fate unkind. + In dust, in rain, with might and main, + He nursed his cotton, cursed his grain, + Fretted for news that made him fret again, + Snatched at each telegram of Future Sale, + And thrilled with Bulls' or Bears' alternate wail-- + In hope or fear alike for ever pale. + And thus from year to year, through hope and fear, + With many a curse and many a secret tear, + Striving in vain his cloud of debt to clear, + At last + He woke to find his foolish dreaming past, + Beheld his best-of-life the easy prey + Of quacks and scamps, and all the vile array + That line the way, + From thieving statesman down to petty knave; + Yea, saw himself, for all his bragging brave, + A gamester's catspaw and a banker's slave. + Then, worn and gray, and sick with deep unrest, + He fled away into the oblivious West, + Unmourned, unblest. + + Old hill! old hill! thou gashed and hairy Lear + Whom the divine Cordelia of the year, + E'en pitying Spring, will vainly strive to cheer-- + King, but too poor for any man to own, + Discrowned, undaughtered and alone, + Yet shall the great God turn thy fate, + And bring thee back into thy monarch's state + And majesty immaculate; + So, through hot waverings of the August morn, + A vision of great treasuries of corn + Thou bearest in thy vasty sides forlorn, + For largesse to some future bolder heart + That manfully shall take thy part, + And tend thee, + And defend thee, + With antique sinew and with modern art. + + SIDNEY LANIER. + + + + +GENTLEMAN DICK. + + +They had, all of them, nicknames themselves, for in a Colorado +mining-community it was not difficult to acquire a title, and they +called him Gentleman Dick. It was rather an odd name, to be sure, but it +was very expressive, and conveyed much of the prevailing opinion and +estimate of its owner. They laughed when he expressed a desire to join +the party in Denver, and Old Platte looked at his long, delicate hands, +so like a woman's, with a smile of rough, good-humored pity, mingled, +perhaps, with a shade of contempt for the habits and occupation that had +engendered such apparent effeminacy. But he pleaded so earnestly and +talked with such quiet energy and confidence of what he could and would +do, and moreover had about him so much of that spirit of subdued +_bonhomie_ that always captivates the roughest of the rough, that +they relented, took his money and put it in the "pot," and informed him +that he was one of them. Their decision was not altogether unconnected +with the fact that he had given evidence of considerable surgical skill +in his treatment of Mr. Woods, more familiarly known as "Short-card +William," who had been shot a week or so previously over a game of poker +by an independent bull-whacker whom he had attempted to defraud. The +sense of the community had sustained the act; and while the exhibition +of his skill in dealing was universally condemned as having been +indiscreet under the circumstances, still he was accounted a live man +among them, and the discovery of a surgeon to dress his wound was hailed +with a somewhat general feeling of relief. Had it not been for the fact +that the sobriquet of Gentleman Dick was already conferred and accepted +universally as his name, he certainly would not have escaped that of +"Doctor," and as it was, Mr. Woods, who was profuse as well as profane +in his gratitude, insisted upon so calling him. A doctor, or anything +bearing even a resemblance to a member of that sadly-represented +profession, was regarded with a certain degree of reverence among a +community whose peculiar habits often gave rise to pressing and +immediate need of surgical attendance. Consequently, Gentleman Dick +rapidly attained an elevated position in their regard, and became a +great favorite with Old Platte's party, although they still looked +doubtfully at his slender figure and felt "kind o' bothered" by the air +of gentility and good-breeding which hung around him in spite of the +rough miner's garments that he had chosen to assume. By the time they +left Denver for the Blue he was deemed as indispensable to the company +as Old Platte himself. + + * * * * * + +The forest of dark pines and firs that covered both sides of the valley +of the Blue grew down to the bars of the river, which along its banks +was thickly grown with wild gooseberry and raspberry bushes, and piled +up here and there with great tangled heaps of driftwood which the spring +floods brought down and left in masses of inextricable confusion along +its sides. Back a little distance from one of these sandy flats, and +nestled right in the shadow of the forest's edge, they built a long +rough cabin early in June. In summer-time the spot was a wild and +picturesque one. Green and luxuriant vegetation made a soft and +brilliant carpet at the feet of the stately old pines; huge boulder-like +rocks, their edges softened and rounded in the grasp of one of Agassiz' +pre-Adamite glaciers that had ground its icy way down from the melting +snow-caps above--rocks covered with bright lichens and tufts of moss--- +lay piled on one another at the foot of the steep mountain-side; while +gnarled cedars twisted around about them, their rough red roots twining +here and there in search of sustenance. Below the cabin a little way lay +the bar--Chihuahua Bar they had christened it, out of deference to +"Jones of Chihuahua," whose prospecting-pan had developed the fact that +gold in promising quantities lay beneath it--and a little farther on the +Blue sang merrily in its gravelly bed. Down the river, about two miles, +was Blue Bar, where about two hundred miners had formed a settlement, +and where a red-headed Scotchman, who combined the duties of a +self-constituted postmaster with the dispensation of a villainous +article of whisky, kept a lively grocery and provision store. + +During the early part of the season they had prospected up along the +river, finding gold all the way, but not in quantities sufficiently +large to warrant working. At the place, however, which they subsequently +named Chihuahua (pronounced in the vernacular Chee-waw-waw) the +perspicacious Jones had given it as his opinion, formed after mature +deliberation and a sapient examination of some two or three shovelsful +of dirt, that there was a satisfactory "color in that ar bank." Some +hard work of about a week demonstrated that there were excellent +diggings there, and then work was commenced upon it in good earnest. The +cabin was built, Gentleman Dick's choice of location being unanimously +approved; two or three trips were made across the "Range" to the nearest +settlement for materials and provisions; and then the real labor began. +As they cut through the heavy bank of mould and gravel, gradually eating +a long trench to the bed-rock, prospects grew better and better. At +last, one day a narrow ledge of brittle, shaly rock came in view, +covered with a coating of thick, heavy yellow mud, of which Old Platte +gathered a panful and betook himself down to the river-side. A war-whoop +from the direction in which he had disappeared came ringing through the +gooseberry bushes to their ears, and with a responsive yell and a +simultaneous dropping of shovels and picks they all dashed off to his +side. He was discovered in a condition of great excitement, dancing +wildly round the pan, in the bottom of which about half a teaspoonful +of coarse yellow nuggets were shining among the black sand. It was a +grand prospect, and with the exception of Gentleman Dick, whose +exultation was of a very mild and reserved order, the proprietors of the +Chihuahua Claim behaved in a very undignified and unseemly way; Thompson +and Jones organizing an impromptu sparring-match, and Old Platte +standing indecorously on his head in a neighboring clump of bushes. +Sundry war-whoops and divers indications of activity showed that work of +a very lively and energetic character was being prosecuted that +afternoon on the bar; and when the sun sunk to rest behind the purple +mountains, and the blue mists of evening rose in the valley, they had +their sluice-boxes and "riffles" in order, and were ready to commence +washing at sunrise. + +It did not take very long to clean the ledge, and early in the afternoon +the water was shut off. When it was found that the "riffles" yielded +thirteen ounces of gold that would coin eighteen dollars and a half to +the ounce, a firm conviction seemed to settle upon the camp that this +was an occasion which it would be improper to pass over without a +thorough and practical acknowledgment of its importance in the shape of +a regular celebration. The gold was weighed and divided, all sitting in +a circle in the middle of the cabin floor, while Old Platte officiated +at the scales with all the gravity and dignity which the responsible +position called for. + +Mr. McNab's grocery and post-office at Blue Bar was the scene of much +excitement and noisy revelry that evening and all the next day while the +gold lasted. Miners who had heard of the Chihuahua "streak" flocked up +to Blue Bar to get the particulars, and naturally joined in the general +feeling of exultation and hilarity that seemed to pervade that +community. Old Platte got terribly drunk, and Thompson and Jones +developed the strangest eccentricities of gait, manner and speech, and +finally subsided into a deep slumber in the dust and sand of the main +thoroughfare of the Bar. Gentleman Dick's absence from the festivities +was not noticed that evening, but the next day Thompson, who seemed to +feel aggrieved on the subject, announced his intention of going up to +Chihuahua to fetch him down. He left Mr. McNab's on his charitable +mission armed with a bottle of rum, and proceeded up the creek in a +condition of moderate intoxication. That he was somewhat sobered on his +arrival at the cabin was perhaps due to the fact that the cork was fixed +very firmly in the neck of his bottle: at any rate, he did not ask his +friend to drink when he found him. + +Gentleman Dick had just directed and sealed a letter, and was about to +start for the settlement of Gold Dirt, when Thompson loomed up +unsteadily in the doorway, surveyed him inquiringly for a moment and +asked undecidedly and apologetically, "Wass' up? W'ere you goin'?" + +Gentleman Dick, apparently overlooking his somewhat dubious condition, +told him he had been writing a letter to some one who lived in the +States: he was going to Gold Dirt to mail it, and a ring of Blue Creek +gold was to accompany it to its destination. Thompson said no more, but +stood there in the doorway with McNab's rum under his arm. He did not +stir, nor did he seem to notice the "good-bye" that came down the +winding trail through the pines, but remained there stolid and +immovable, gazing vacantly at the writing-paper on the rough table. +Suddenly he straightened himself up to his full height, and taking the +bottle from under his arm, held it out at arm's length and apostrophized +it in terms which Mr. McNab would have regarded as a personal insult, +and which the community on the Blue might possibly have resented with a +challenge to mortal combat. His next step, had they witnessed it, would +certainly have led to the conclusion that he was a dangerous lunatic, +and one, at that, whose peculiar madness was of a kind specially +objectionable to the residents of Blue Bar. He placed the object toward +which his feelings had undergone so sudden a revulsion carefully on the +ground, and seizing in his hands a huge boulder, he proceeded to let it +drop accurately upon it. He oscillated critically over the fragments, as +if to assure himself that the result had been satisfactorily attained, +and then strode rapidly and unsteadily into the forest. How such unsound +principles of economy came to be adopted by him never very clearly +appeared; and the problem of his absence from camp for two whole days, +and his subsequent reform upon the subject of whisky, were matters very +freely discussed at McNab's hut, without any definite or reliable result +being arrived at. + + * * * * * + +Summer had melted imperceptibly into autumn; and the bright tints that +glittered on the mountain-slopes and through the sturdy undergrowth of +the forest told that it in its turn was soon to give way to winter. +Chihuahua Bar was piled with great heaps of boulders and gravel, +furrowed here and there with deep ditches and trenches, and otherwise +gave ample evidence of the hard work that had been done. But, as Old +Platte, remarked, "The luck was down on them," and the partners had very +little to show for their long months of toil. Gentleman Dick had worked +as hard and earnestly as the others, and had never been known to utter a +word of complaint through the many hardships and mishaps they endured. +But a great change had come over him. No one who saw him when he joined +the party in Denver would have ventured to call him strong or robust, +but, delicate as he was then, he was now a mere shadow by comparison. +The change had been more marked and rapid during the last few weeks. He +had seemed to fade gradually away, growing daily weaker and weaker, +until at last a knowledge of his increasing debility forced itself upon +the not very observant faculties of his companions--coming rather as a +sense of indefinable uneasiness on his behalf than any actual +apprehension of his real condition. His great expressive eyes shone out +with an unnatural brilliancy from his pale, sunken cheeks, and a deeper +shade of melancholy seemed settling on his naturally thoughtful face. +Thompson probably noticed it more than anybody else, but said nothing, +while Old Platte and Jones exchanged ideas on the subject with a sort of +puzzled anxiety, mingled, it might be, with some genuine alarm. They +noticed that the work began to fatigue him more and more, and that he +often had to pause in the middle of it weary and exhausted. + +At last, one day, about the first of November, he remained in his bunk +in the cabin, unable to come down to the claim. In their rough, uncouth +way they pitied him, and would have given anything they could command to +be able to relieve him. But they seemed instinctively to feel that his +case was something out of their reach, and with the exception of a weak +suggestion from Jones, that he should try some of "them ar antibilious +pills as he had in his box," no course of medical treatment was +contemplated. Besides, was he not himself a doctor? and if he could do +nothing, what should they be able to effect? The argument was +sufficiently conclusive; at least, Jones accepted it as such, and +retired in some confusion, comforting himself by the perusal of the +label on his box of pills, which really seemed to justify the suggestion +he had made. Twice after this, on days when the warm sunshine tempted +him out of doors, he came down to the claim and sat by the wheel and +watched them working; but he never did any more work. He did not tell +them he could not do it, or complain that he was too weak: it was +tacitly understood that his share of the season's labor was over. + +About the middle of November the winter stepped in in its sudden way and +commenced to take possession of the valley of the Blue, and by the first +of December the ice was so thick that the partners reluctantly stopped +work. "Jones of Chihuahua" had expressed his determination of going +south to Santa Fe, to stay until spring among the "Greasers," but Old +Platte and Thompson would stay on the Blue for the winter, and to that +end had laid in such provisions as were deemed necessary. The settlement +below on the Bar had been abandoned early in November; and it was +doubtful if a white man besides themselves could be found by its waters +any nearer than the end of the Great Canon of the Rio Colorado. But they +cared very little for that, and looked forward to their voluntary +hibernation without any feeling of apprehension on the score of +loneliness. Both were hardy mountaineers. Thompson had been the first +man that ever performed the feat of crossing the range at Grey's Peak in +the middle of winter, with the aid of a pair of snow-shoes; and he and +Old Platte knew that if their provisions gave out they could readily +reach some of the Clear Creek diggings in the same way. So Jones +strapped his belt of gold-dust around his waist and prepared to depart. +He shook hands with the partners, and when Gentleman Dick, with a forced +cheeriness of manner and with wishes for a pleasant winter in New +Mexico, remarked, "Next spring the boys will give you a third of my +share, Jones," he stoutly and earnestly repudiated the implied idea, but +with a confusion and uncertainty of manner that indicated a serious +doubt in the soundness of his own assertions. + +Gentleman Dick released the big hand as he lay in his blankets, and said +for the last time, "Good-bye, Jones." + +"Good-bye, old man." + +Jones strode away abruptly on his journey, and if the moisture about his +eyes was in excess of what was required in their normal condition, it +was probably due to the bracing and biting frostiness of the morning +air. + +And so they resigned themselves to their winter's prison on the +Blue--Old Platte stolidly and contentedly, Thompson uneasily and +restlessly, and Gentleman Dick peacefully and calmly, knowing full well +that spring would never bloom again for him. Thus the December days flew +by, growing colder and colder, and the snow-line crept gradually down +the slopes of the range until it reached the edge of the timber, where +it seemed to pause for a few days in its advance. It had already snowed +several times in the valley, and the afternoon sun had always melted it +away; but they knew by experience that it would soon come down in good +earnest and cover everything up for the winter in a mantle of snow some +six or seven feet deep. And as the days sped on Gentleman Dick grew +paler and paler, and his bright eyes shone with a brighter lustre, while +he seemed to be gradually slipping away, losing little by little his +hold upon life. He was a mystery to his companions, for he had no +disease that could be detected, and why he should sink thus without any +apparent cause was more than they could understand. + + * * * * * + +The wind came roaring down the canon in wild, fierce gusts; the dead, +frost-hardened, brittle branches of the sturdy old pines rattled and +cracked and broke as it swept by laden with glittering crystals, stolen +from the range above, where it circled madly around the snowy peaks, and +whirled away great winding-sheets of snow--fine, sleety snow, that +filled the atmosphere with sharp prickly needles, that made their way +inside Old Platte's rough woolen shirt as he chopped away at the +woodpile, and made him shiver as they melted down his back. Everything +was frozen hard and fast; the Blue was silent in its bed; stones and +sticks adhered to the ground as if part and parcel of it, and each piece +of wood in the pile that Old Platte was working at stood stiffly and +firmly in its place. The wind, just before a snow-storm, always comes +down the canons in fierce premonitory gusts, and as it was desirable to +get in a good stock of wood before the snow-drifts gathered around the +cabin, Old Platte had been hacking manfully for some hours. The sun sunk +low in the hollow of the hills to the westward while he was still +working, and lit up with a cold yellow glare the snowy wastes and icy +peaks of the mighty mountains that stood guard over the Blue. The +whistling of the wind among the pines died gradually away, and the +silence that seemed to fall with the deepening shadows was only broken +by the ringing strokes of the axe and the crack of the splitting wood. +When he ceased the valley had faded into darkness, and the range with +its sharp outlines was only faintly discernible against the sombre gray +pall that had overspread the sky. + +He made a broad stack of logs by the fireplace and a larger one outside +the door, and then stood by the threshold to take a look at the weather. +A great soft feather of snow came sailing slowly down and nestled in his +shaggy beard, and another fluttered on to the back of his hand. He +looked up through the darkness and saw that it was already beginning to +fall thickly, and then, with a self-satisfied glance of approval at his +provident woodpile, went into the cabin and fastened the door. + +Thompson had shot a fine argal or Rocky Mountain sheep that morning, and +the broiled steaks were giving forth a most acceptable odor. He had +tried to get Gentleman Dick to taste of a choice piece, but he shook his +head wearily, as he had every time for some two weeks or more when +proffered food. He could eat nothing, and lay there propped up on rough +pillows, seeming scarcely conscious of their presence; his dreamy eyes, +with lids half drooping, looking fixedly into the blazing fire. Even the +coffee, civilized as it was by the addition of some patent condensed +milk, and upon the manufacture of which Thompson had prided himself not +a little, stood untouched by his bedside. Old Platte lit his pipe and +dragged his three-legged stool into a corner of the wide chimney, and +Thompson, after moving the things away to a corner, sat down opposite, +mending his snow-shoes with a bundle of buckskin thongs. They did not +talk much in that family of evenings: men of this class are not +conversational in their habits, and a stranger who should look in would +be apt to think them an unsocial set. Old Platte puffed steadily at his +pipe, blinking and winking at the fire, which he poked occasionally with +a stick or fed with a log of wood from the pile by his side. Thompson +worked quietly with knife and awl at his dilapidated shoes, and the +pale, patient face beyond still gazed dreamily into the fire. There were +old scenes, doubtless, in among those burning logs--old familiar faces, +dear memories of the past and weird fantastic visions pictured in the +glowing coals. At last the eyes left the fire for a moment, resting on +the two that sat by it, and he said, "Boys, it's Christmas Eve." + +Thompson started, for he had not heard him speak with so much energy for +weeks. + +"Christmas Eve!" he repeated absently. "Christmas Eve, and to-morrow +will be Christmas Day. Last Christmas was not like this: all was bright +and fair, and she--" + +The rest of the sentence was lost as he muttered it uneasily to himself +and resumed his watching of the fire. Christmas Eve! So it was, but they +had not thought of it. Christmas Eve! The name seemed out of place among +those rocky fastnesses. What could the pines and the solitude, the snow +and the ice, have in common with Christmas? Christmas Eve down in that +desolate valley, in the quiet depths of the forest, away, miles away, +from human habitation of any kind? Christmas Eve! It seemed absurd, but +Christmas Eve it was nevertheless, there as everywhere else. + +Old Platte took his blackened old pipe from between his lips and +mechanically repeated the words. "Christmas Eve!" he half growled, as if +some perplexing ideas had been called into existence by the suggestion, +and his pipe went out as he listlessly shoved some stray coals back into +the fire with his foot. But his meditations, to judge from his +countenance, were neither interesting nor profitable. Probably his +Christmases had never been passed in a way that was calculated to make +them pleasingly conspicuous in the background of his life. Most of his +early recollections were associated with a villainous roadside groggery +in Pike county, Missouri, of which his father was the proprietor. Any +questions relating to this parent and home he had been known to +invariably evade, and whenever conversation tended in that direction he +strenuously discouraged it. Why he did so never very clearly appeared. +Some people who pretended to know used to say that the old gentleman had +been doing a lively trade in horseflesh without going through the +customary formalities of finance, and that some people with whom his +dealings had been unsatisfactory, in consequence of this unbusinesslike +habit of his, had called at his house one evening and invited him to +walk out with them. The invitation was one he would have liked to +decline, but extra inducements in the shape of the cold muzzle of a +revolver pressed against his forehead and a low but determined "Dry up +and come along!" caused him to put on his hat and step out. He was found +next morning hanging from a branch of a neighboring tree with a brief +but expressive obituary written in pencil on a scrap of paper and pinned +on his coat: "Horse-thief! Jerry Moon and Scotty, take notice." Inasmuch +as one of the latter individuals was the chief authority for the story, +and had expedited his departure from Pike county in consequence of the +intimation contained in the lines on the same bit of paper, it may be +safely inferred that there was some foundation for the numerous stories +of a similar nature that were in circulation. So Christmas spent as his +had been had no particular interest for Old Platte, and was pretty much +the same as any other kind of day upon which there would be an equally +good excuse for stopping work and getting venomously drunk. At any rate, +the memories that clung around that Pike county whisky-shop were none of +the pleasantest or most gratifying; and with a grunt of general +dissatisfaction he rekindled his pipe, put a couple of sticks on the +fire and allowed his mind to slide off into a more congenial train of +reflection. + +To Thompson, Gentleman Dick's words had come as a sort of revelation. He +knew well enough that Christmas came in December, and also upon what day +of that month it fell, but of late the days had gone by so monotonously, +and had so little to distinguish them one from another, that he had +kept no account of them, and had no idea that it was so near. Some +indefinable influence that he could not account for had of late sent his +mind groping into old and better channels, and consequently when he was +reminded of the presence of Christmas he felt disposed to accord it a +measure of consideration rather different from that with which several +of its predecessors had met. Like Old Platte, he had regarded it as a +good day to go on a "bust" and initiate a "drunk" of more or less +duration, but just now he seemed as if inclined to take a different view +of it. His eyes could take a clearer and healthier view of the past than +he had for a long time had, and its old memories and scenes flocked up +before him now, bright through the dim mist that time had cast over +them, and fresher and sweeter than ever by contrast with the gloomy +present. The snow-shoes slid from his lap and one by one the thongs of +buckskins dropped upon the floor, as he leaned back in the corner of the +broad chimney, his face resting upon his sinewy hand and his eyes +looking through the fire into the world of the past. + +Old Platte lay curled up in his bearskins and blankets fast asleep, but +the other still sat by the fire in the same position--still dreamily +thinking. How long he had sat there he did not know. The fire had sunk +into a glowing heap of coals, fast changing into soft white ashes, on +which now and then a melting snow-flake that had stolen down through the +chimney would fall and disappear with a short angry sizz, and the +shadows in the cabin were deep and dark. Suddenly it seemed to him in +his dreaming that a voice called him by name, and he awoke from his +reverie with a chill and a shudder and a sense of indefinable dread +creeping over him--a dread of what, he could not tell. A handful of +chips blazed up brightly and lit up the cabin with their flickering +light as he turned nervously toward the patient, quiet face behind him. +The eyes, shaded by the long black eyelashes, were still on the fire, +and while he was confident that he had not been called, he was dimly +conscious of a great change that had taken place. As he still looked +anxiously at the faded features, the eyes left their long watching of +the embers and were raised to meet his. He felt he was wanted, and was +by his side in a moment: "How d'yer feel, old man?" + +Gentleman Dick smiled as he laid his wasted fingers across the sturdy +brown hand that leaned on the edge of his bunk, and turning with +difficulty on his pillow, he said in a voice scarce above a whisper, +"Thompson, old fellow, you and Platte have been kind, very kind, to me. +I won't trouble you much more now. I'm going to say--good-bye to you; +and--Thompson--I want you to do one little thing for me--when spring +comes." He reached into a chink among the logs by his side and drew +forth an envelope containing a few letters, a photograph of a woman's +face, fair and tender, and a gold ring. + +Thompson took it with a hand that shook as his rarely did. + +"Send it soon--it's addressed and all--send it to her. Maybe she will be +glad to know I am--gone--at last--out of her path--out of the way--and +the world. She sent it back to me--would not have it--or me. Now--" Then +his mind seemed to wander, and he rambled incoherently, repeating over +and over again a name that sounded like that on the envelope. "You will +do it, won't you, Thompson?" said he, rallying suddenly. + +Thompson's voice was husky and thick as he answered impressively, "Damn +me ef I don't!" adding mentally, as he glanced at the package, "Damn her +skin, whoever she is! She's at the bottom of all this here business, you +bet." + +Gentleman Dick's lips moved as if he were speaking, and as Thompson +leaned over him he could hear, in a broken whisper, "Gold--in old +boot--under bed--Old Platte half." + +He heard no more. The pressure of the wasted fingers relaxed, the weary +head sunk slowly back on the pillow, and the tired eyelids drooped over +the glazing eyes. + +"Dick!" said Thompson--"Dick, old man!" + +Too late. Away through the softly-falling snow, from the Blue with its +stillness and solitude, from its heartaches and sorrows and troubles, +the weary spirit had fled, and Gentleman Dick was at rest. + + * * * * * + +Spring had come again; the snow had melted from the valleys; the grass +and the ferns and the green grass and bright lichens once more peeped +out among the gray boulders and about the feet of the stately pines; and +the Blue, freed from its wintry prison, sang merrily over the gravelly +reaches. And as the miners flocked down that spring from over the range, +they saw near by the Chihuahua Claim and the deserted cabin, in a square +formed by four gigantic pines, a neatly-built cairn of boulders. One big +gray boulder rested securely on top of all, and on it was hacked, in +rough and simple letters, GENTLEMAN DICK. + + W. MACKAY LAFFAN. + + + + +A SINGULAR FAMILY. + + +Almost as far back as I can remember three brothers, Italians named +Noele, were intimates and occasionally inmates of our home. The youngest +brother, Eugenio, had been imprisoned during the political disturbances +of his country, but had escaped and made his way to England. Here, at a +lecture given by Mazzini in London under the auspices of the liberal +Italians and those who espoused their cause, Eugenio, who to handsome +features and aristocratic appearance added a modulated voice and +persuasive manner, rose during the course of the evening, and in words +that held the audience spellbound narrated his own sufferings and those +of some of his friends under the yoke of Austria. As he concluded with +the utterance of the sentiment, "Liberta! Equalita! Fraternita!" a storm +of applause burst from the assembly, and many were the high personages +who at the close of the meeting requested an introduction to the +fascinating young orator. My father was present on this occasion, and +here his acquaintance with Eugenio Noele commenced. The young man having +discovered to him that his pecuniary resources were at the lowest ebb, +my father took him home with him, and my mother afterward united with +him in requesting Eugenio to consider their house as his own. My father +also introduced him to his mercantile connections and initiated him into +mercantile affairs, when by his astuteness and perseverance he was +enabled to lay the foundations of an excellent position. Indeed, but few +years had elapsed (during which time he had frequently resided with us) +ere he had acquired considerable wealth and we a clearer insight into +his true disposition. + +His principles were such as the promptings of self-love, a violent +temper, pride and ambition could without difficulty overcome. As he rose +higher in the social scale the reflection that he had owed the impetus +to others was a constant source of annoyance to him. Our house was now +but rarely visited by him, unless when some legal difficulties had +arisen on which he wished to consult my father or some important papers +required translating. Then the air of pride would yield to one of +deferential affection, and in silvery tones he would discourse on such +topics as he imagined were the most pleasing to us. My father would be +termed "Signor Padre" and my mother "Signora Madre." + +At about this time he sent to Italy for his brother Rugiero to assist +him in his affairs. Rugiero became as intimate at our house as Eugenio +had been. There were singularly contradictory elements in this brother's +character. At one time the history of a destitute family would move him +to tears, and his purse would be freely emptied for their benefit: at +another time he would spend half an hour in searching for a lost +farthing, and if not successful his countenance would betray lines of +anxiety for hours afterward. If he made me the gift of a paper horn or +box of sweets, his heart for the rest of the day would seem to be +expanded with the most joyous emotions, and for weeks after I was liable +to be asked whether I remembered the day when I was so pleased with his +little gift; and then he would request permission to examine the +pictures painted thereon, and call my attention to their merits. He was +ordinarily slow to understand the point of a witticism, but when he had +by deep pondering discovered it, nothing could exceed his enjoyment: +bending his head and clasping the bridge of his handsomely shaped nose, +he would laugh till the tears were ready to start. On the other hand, he +was extremely sensitive, jealous and suspicious. No one knew how soon +the pleasant smile and kindly word would give place to angry passions as +ungovernable as they were disagreeable to witness. A smile passing from +one person to another without his being acquainted with the cause, was +sufficient provocation for him to rise, make his respects in a frigidly +polite tone and take his leave, to return a few moments after with +heightened complexion and excited voice, and declare that he could not +suffer an affront with equanimity--that he would rid those present of +his "abhorred" society, and would never enter those doors again whilst +he drew the breath of life. We paid little attention to these egregious +eccentricities, merely remarking with a smile of amusement, "Poor +Rugiero! how ridiculous! He must be out of his senses;" and about a +fortnight later he would make his appearance, penitent, apologetic and +studious to remove the ill impression that his strange conduct must have +caused. + +A third brother, Giuseppe, was added to the group, of whom vacillation +was the distinguishing characteristic. Giuseppe, in the innumerable +discussions that arose between Rugiero and Eugenio, would acquiesce with +first one and then the other in whatever exaggerated sentiments their +enraged frame of mind might prompt them to utter, with the view of +keeping on good terms with both; but the only result was that when the +flag of truce had been raised, grievances passed over and differences +adjusted, he would have the mortification of finding the whole of the +blame laid on his shoulders, and himself stigmatized as "a +feather-head," "a meddler" and "a spy." + +As the years rolled on I grew into womanhood, and became the unwitting +source of constant ill-feeling between the brothers. Eugenio was +handsome, but I distrusted him; Rugiero was nearly as handsome, but I +regarded him as I would have regarded an uncle; Giuseppe was also +handsome, but unstable and entirely wanting in force. Time passed, and +the brothers had separated. Eugenio had married a woman in every way his +inferior. Rugiero had been drawn into a like union that surprised all +those who knew his refined tastes and sensitiveness to the social +amenities. Though a man of honor, his circumstances had become +embarrassed. In his emergencies he had recourse to his old friends, +whose aid was not withheld, but, a crisis arriving, he was declared +bankrupt. Eugenio, instead of assisting his brother, upbraided with +being a disgrace to his own respectability, publicly disowned him, and, +with the view of forcing him to abandon the country, spread injurious +reports concerning him amongst many of the merchants who would otherwise +have been willing to extend a helping hand. + +Soon after this Eugenio made a journey to Italy on business. Here he +visited his native place with an equipage designed to astonish the +simple peasants and suggest to them the immensity of his wealth. Never +had the village on the outskirts of which dwelt his widowed sister seen +such magnificence or experienced such munificence. His name was on all +tongues; ovations were made to him; he was almost a king in their eyes. +His sister, Lucretia Mortera, had borne to her husband a large family, +of whom but three survived--a youth named after his uncle Eugenio, and +then being educated for the priesthood; Celestino, a boy of eleven +years; and Virginia, a girl of eight. The little home in which they +resided in quiet retirement had been given to the widow for as long as +she chose to occupy it by a friend of her late husband, as a token of +respect to his memory. Eugenio Noele, ashamed to see a sister of his +living in a way so unsuited to her birth and former expectations, +requested her to dispose of whatever property she might be possessed of, +and prepare to accompany him with her family to London, where he would +provide for them, and his nephew Eugenio, leaving his studies, could +take a place in his counting-house. This request--or rather command--was +embraced with gratitude, though it cost a pang to think of leaving the +home that had sheltered them under many vicissitudes. Besides which, it +was a matter of doubt to Signora Mortera and her eldest son whether any +worldly promotion could justify his deserting the priestly vocation to +which he had felt himself called. + +One evening my mother and I were surprised by a call from Rugiero. His +face was pale and his eyes were wild. He sank into an easy-chair, and +after a long silence broke into the most terrible invectives against his +brother Eugenio, who had dragged the widow and orphans from a peaceful +home to cast them adrift. + +"What widow? what orphans?" + +"Simply, Madama Melville, my poor sister Lucretia, whom he induced to +accompany him to London, with her family, on the pretence of providing +for them all, is now with those children at my house, without means, +without even a change of clothing. Yes, my sister Lucretia, who was a +mother to him when his own mother died; and yet he prospers!" + +"But, Rugiero, what was the cause of his treating them thus?" + +"When they had arrived at my brother's house the wife, who had not +expected them, took an aversion to them, and no sooner did she learn +that they were strict Roman Catholics than she believed them to be +capable of every crime. Celestino, who is in a decline, was treated with +the greatest neglect. Every occasion of showing disrespect toward her +sister-in-law before her children or the servants was eagerly sought by +my brother's wife, whilst in the presence of her husband she was all +amiability. The sickness of one of her own children was made the +occasion of accusing Lucretia of an attempt to poison it, and the wily +woman so worked on my brother's parental feelings that he had not +returned home an hour ere he commanded his 'infamous sister'--'quel +assassinatrice!'--to leave his house with her children on the instant! +The door was closed upon them, and the outer apparel that had served +them for their journey was thrown to them from the window by the +servants. Amazed and full of grief, they directed their steps toward the +house of the good priest whose chapel they had once or twice attended. +Here they procured my address, and soon after came to my house, where +they now are in the extremest affliction. You, madama, may well imagine +that I can scarcely maintain my own family at this juncture, and that I +am therefore unable to do for my sister and her children what my heart +dictates. After a sleepless night I came to the conclusion that you, +Madama Melville, whose goodness of heart has so often been put sorely to +the test, would be able to suggest some plan by which to mitigate the +sufferings of my unfortunate sister or bring Eugenio to reason." + +"My dear Rugiero, I feel certain that my husband would think as I +do--that for the present they had better stay here with us. We can turn +one floor into sleeping apartments for them, and have one sitting-room +in which your sister can receive callers or remain when she wishes to be +alone. You know that I have so often heard you speak of your sister +Lucretia that I can take the privilege of giving her an invitation to +come and make us a long visit; and so you must tell her." + +"God bless you, dear madama, as you deserve to be blessed! This is +indeed a weight off my heart and mind." + +The result of this conversation was that on the next morning Rugiero +returned, bringing with him his sister and her children. Signora +Lucretia responded to the welcome of my parents with expressions of +fervent gratitude, calling them the saviors of her family. She was a +short, slender woman, in whose dark eyes, long, finely-cut features, and +pale, thin face one could discern the spirit of asceticism and the +traces of past afflictions. Of the children she had buried, all had +reached their tenth year in apparent health and remarkable for their +physical and moral beauty, but from that age they had rapidly trodden +the pathway to the tomb. None of her children had resembled their father +but Eugenio, who was a well-made youth of wiry constitution, and gave +every promise of attaining the ordinary age allotted to man. Celestino +was destined soon to rejoin the children gone before. How can I describe +the thrill I felt when I saw that child's face as he entered the room? +Never had I seen in picture or in dream a countenance so lovely. But +what can I say of those soul-speaking eyes, the large, dark-brown iris +surrounded by the brilliant azure-white and shaded by long dark lashes? +Finely chiseled features were added to a rounded face of a clear pale +olive, except where a flush like the pink lining of a shell played upon +it. Virginia greatly resembled her brother Celestino, but was in full +health, and in spirits that would have been lively but for the constant +and harassing admonitions of her mother, who in every free and graceful +movement saw a tendency to levity that must be repressed. The poor child +was doomed to a perpetual entanglement of the lower limbs, owing to her +garments being made as long as those of a grown person. If, forgetting +decorum, she chanced to skip or jump, Signora Lucretia would exclaim, +"Va scompostaccia! sta piu composta" ("Go to, most discomposed one! be +more composed"), and seating her by her side would supply her with +needlework or knitting until my mother would intercede, assuring Signora +Lucretia that the child could never attain healthy womanhood unless +allowed the full play of her muscles and the expansion of her lungs by +singing and laughter. + +"Ah, madama, you know not how I fear lest the natural gayety of her +disposition should cause the loss of her soul." + +"Oh, my dear lady, such ideas are born of the troubles through which you +have passed, and not of your native good sense. God has implanted this +gayety in your child's heart to enable her to enter with zest into those +amusements so necessary to her development." + +One day my mother (by permission) had a tuck taken up in Virginia's +dress, and, directing me to take her for a walk, she privately +commissioned me to purchase for her such attire as was suitable to a +child of her years. I began with her head, and secured the jauntiest +little hat with feathers that I could find, not without a misgiving that +it would ultimately be consigned to the flames. Amongst other articles +that I procured was a wax doll, at the sight of which Virginia screamed +with delight. It was her first doll. Even Signora Lucretia's face was +lit by a smile of undisguised admiration at the improvement in the +child's toilette, but it soon gave place to a sigh at her own "vanity of +spirit," and she held the little hat as Eve might have held the apple +offered to her by the serpent. + +Signora Lucretia and her children spent some hours every morning before +breakfast in reciting litanies and other prayers, and on retiring to +rest the same forms were repeated. During the day, whenever the clock +struck the hour, the whole family, leaving whatever might be the +occupation of the moment, knelt on their chairs and made a short prayer +or meditation on the flight of time. + +At the time of their arrival my cousin Oswald was staying with us, and +on the first evening he retired early to give them an opportunity of +conversing more freely on the melancholy topics that filled their minds. +After bidding good-night to my mother and kissing her, he paid me the +same tokens of regard. This incident had not escaped the notice of the +young Eugenio, for when directed by his mother to retire to rest also, +he advanced toward me, shook hands, and (although, seeing his intention, +I drew back) succeeded in imprinting a kiss on my cheek. Signora +Lucretia turned as pale as death. My mother, to avoid a scene, turned +with a playful laugh to Eugenio, who by this time was scarlet with +shame, and said, "My dear boy, in this country such salutations are only +permitted from near relations or very intimate friends, but I am not +surprised that Mr. Oswald's thoughtlessness before you should have +misled you into doing the same. So I am sure that your good mother will +not be displeased with you." + +"Oh, madama," exclaimed Signora Lucretia, bursting into tears as soon as +the door had closed upon him, "to think that my son should have been +tempted by the Evil One so far as to forget what is due to the holy +vocation for which he is to fit himself! In Italy never had he even been +in the same room with any woman but myself and the priest's old +housekeeper. This is the first time that his lips have been so +desecrated." (Here my mother and I interchanged smiles.) "Unhappy mother +that I am! by what sufferings can I atone for his sin? What shall I +impose upon him to mortify the spirit that has arisen within him?" + +The next morning Eugenio came down looking pale and sad, and I felt sure +that he had been reprimanded in no measured terms. I gave him a pitying +glance, which fell like dew on the thirsting earth. + +At every breakfast the children were taught to say good-morning to each +person separately. The elder son would commence, "Good-morning and good +appetite, Mr. Melville! good-morning and good appetite, Madama Melville! +good-morning and good appetite, Signora Felicia!" and so on. Then +Celestino would go through the same ceremony, and finally Virginia, and +a grace was uttered, during which the breakfast was liable to become +cool, and Rugiero's temper (if he were present) not so. "Andiamo! I am +sure that Signor Melville and madama do not insist upon so many +compliments; and you, Eugenio, should have more gallantry than to keep +the Signora Felicia waiting whilst her toast becomes cold." That he +should connect the word _gallantry_ with Eugenio was an imprudence, +to say the least. But the offence was more serious when once at dinner +he favored us with some reminiscences of his own gallantries: "I +remember that when I was in the army the wife of our colonel had a +sister, a splendid-looking creature, with eyes like stars, who (to tell +the truth) was head over ears in--But my sister Lucretia, who is +frowning at me, is right. One would say that she must have had an +enlarged experience in such matters, seeing how sensitive she is to the +danger of discussing them." (Here Signora Lucretia, with blushing +cheeks, glanced from Rugiero to her son, who with downcast eyes appeared +to be absorbed with the roast chicken on his plate.) "Without entering +into details that would appear ill-timed to my dear sister" (here his +eyes twinkled with roguishness and his lips parted in laughter), +"suffice it merely to say that I acted as any other man under the +circumstances would have acted, and kissed her not once or twice, but--" + +"Go to thy room, Eugenio, most audacious!" panted Signora Lucretia, for +he had raised his head, and, meeting his uncle's laughing gaze, had +faintly smiled--"Go to thy room" (and here she struck him on the face), +"and recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin three times, and pray for +thy uncle, that he may be converted." + +Eugenio with flaming cheeks and ears rose submissively from the table, +and without a word or look ascended to his room to do her bidding. + +"What!" exclaimed Rugiero, rising from his seat, "would you dare to +insult me by desiring my own nephew to pray for me? It seems to me that +I dream! Per Bacco!" + +Here my father observed that he must own he saw nothing very outrageous +in what Rugiero had narrated, yet, as Signora Mortera had her own +peculiar views on the matter, he considered that her brother was bound +to respect them. Rugiero then admitted that he had been too hasty, and a +reconciliation was effected, but he never met his nephew's eye +thereafter without the same roguish smile, at which the poor youth would +blush painfully and lower his gaze. + +During this scene at the dinner-table Celestino breathed quickly, but +never moved his eyes from the table-cloth, while Virginia looked at each +one of the speakers in open-mouthed astonishment and curiosity. + +One day I accompanied Signora Lucretia and her children to a Roman +Catholic chapel in the neighborhood. I could not be unconscious of the +odd and incongruous appearance of the two sons--Eugenio in a suit like +that of a stage grandfather, snuff-colored, and with collar that raised +the lobes of his ears; and dear little Celestino with a similarly cut +coat in bottle green, with large gilt buttons, making him look like a +man in miniature. Such had been the style pronounced by the village +tailor to be in the height of Parisian fashion, but being a novelty to +the London "gamins," it attracted more notice from them than we could +have wished. After Signora Mortera and her children had attended the +confessional she seemed to be much easier in her mind, and was so +amiable as to tell my mother on our return home that it was edifying to +behold the signorina walking like a Roman matron, in contrast to those +who were giggling and turning their heads first one way and then the +other, like so many pulcinelle. Notwithstanding this compliment, +however, I perceived that she was uneasy concerning Eugenio and myself. +It was evidently a satisfaction to her that I should load Celestino with +caresses and endearing epithets, but that Eugenio should sit near me, +speak to me, or even be in the same room with me (whether alone or in +company), was the signal for demonstrations of the extremest vigilance. +On one evening my cousin had brought home some gifts, consisting of a +silver pencil-case with gold pen for Eugenio, a traveling writing-case +with his name on it for Celestino, and a small traveling work-bag +similarly marked for Virginia. These were highly appreciated. Celestino +seemed unwilling to have his desk out of his sight for a single moment, +and when his bed-time came wanted to take it up with him. His mother, +unwilling to leave Eugenio in my society without her watchful presence, +directed him to carry his brother up. + +"Signora madre," said Celestino, "I am not tired to-night." + +"Well, then, Eugenio can carry up thy writing-case for thee." + +"Signora madre, it is not heavy, and I would like to carry it myself." + +So Signora Lucretia went up with him herself, and, leaving my mother to +entertain Eugenio, I went immediately into another room. I felt too +deeply for the misfortunes of the unsophisticated Eugenio ever to have +willingly trifled with the nascent susceptibilities of his heart. + +One little incident, however, occurred to interrupt the orthodox reserve +of our demeanor. An old friend of ours, Captain Stuart, had sent +Virginia a bank-note with which to procure some keepsake. One evening +the old gentleman called, and was shown into the drawing-room, where my +mother received him. The rest of us were in the dining-room below. On my +mentioning Captain Stuart's name to Signora Lucretia, she exclaimed, +"Let us go, my children, and thank this good man for his kind present to +our Virginia." + +It was dark, but the hall-lamp had not been lit, so I took a wax taper +from the writing-table and, lighting it, proceeded to escort them up the +staircase. Some spirit of mischief prompted me by a sudden movement to +let the light be blown out. In an instant the hand of Eugenio met mine, +and thus hand in hand, swinging to and fro, we came to the drawing-room +door, and a flood of light bursting upon us discovered to Signora +Lucretia my face flushed with suppressed laughter, and Eugenio's eyes no +longer timid, but sparkling with joy. From this time he would spend +whole nights in writing verses, which he would show to his mother. She, +noting the classical allusions, and having a great respect for literary +talents, did not repress his efforts, but on the contrary appeared +desirous that he should show his verses to my mother and to me. Mingled +with expressions of grief and despair at the inconstancy of fortune and +the decrees of fate were allegorical fancies in which I could perceive +that I held a place, but I never allowed him to think that I noticed +this; and indeed after the escapade of the staircase I became more +distant than before. + +However, one day when Celestino was feeling more weak and tired than +usual, and I was propping him up on the sofa, I observed with some +trepidation that Eugenio, who had been reading at the window, changed +his seat to one near the head of the sofa. His mother and mine were busy +sewing at a window in the next room, from whence they could see us +through the folding doors. His eyes were full of tears, and, suddenly +bending over his brother and rearranging a cushion, he seized my hand +and covered it with silent kisses. In a moment I had disengaged my hand, +full of fear for the result to Eugenio should Signora Lucretia's +attention be directed toward us. The same evening, on returning from a +visit, I learned that my mother and Signora Mortera had gone out under +the escort of Oswald to attend vespers at a church some distance off. We +young people passed the evening alone together. The crimson curtains +were closely drawn, and the cosy room was lighted by a blazing fire. +Reclining in an easy-chair, I held Celestino's fragile form in my arms, +the wonderful eyes gazing into mine as I watched with emotions too deep +for words their ever-varying expression. Eugenio sat on an ottoman at my +feet, alternately reading aloud from Dante and pausing to observe me, +while Virginia was on the hearth-rug, happy in adorning her doll with +pieces of silk, beads and flowers. + +Suddenly Eugenio said, "Does the signora remember in the narrative of +Dives and Lazarus how Lazarus was thankful for the crumbs that fell from +the rich man's table?" + +I understood him, and hiding my face in Celestino's tendril-like curls, +I replied, "Yes, but I wonder whether he would have been hungry enough +to eat crumbs that he knew to be poisoned?" + +He made no reply. + +"Eugenio," I continued, "what are your plans for the future? Is it your +own desire to become a priest?" + +This last word made him tremble. "I _once_ desired it," he +answered, "thinking it the most honorable position to which I could +aspire, and also my natural vocation. But now--God knows whether it be a +sin or not--I would pass through any affliction He might send rather +than become one. But my mother's heart is fixed upon it more than ever, +and soon my family will be wholly dependent upon me. Ah! young as I am, +I have suffered and still suffer. Far happier is that child in your +arms, dying slowly though it may be, than the unfortunate Eugenio." + +"Have a care," I said, "lest, entering the state of priesthood, you bear +with you a heart fixed on the things of this world. Do not yield to the +impulses of a strong imagination, but endeavor to forget whatever might +prove a hindrance to you hereafter." + +"Ah, Felicia, my heart is too full ever to forget. Celestino, my +brother, _thou_ art indeed happy. Dost thou know it?" + +"Yes, Eugenio, I feel even too happy." + +"God bless thee, Celestino! I love thee more than ever;" and, stealing +his brother's hand from mine, he gently kissed it, whilst Celestino +smiled on us with a heavenly smile. + +It was arranged that I should accompany my father to the counting-house +of Eugenio Noele and strive to obtain some redress for the widow and +orphans, for I had always been a favorite with him, and my mother +imagined that my influence would have more power than her own. But the +only result of this interview was that Eugenio promised, for my sake, to +furnish his sister and her family with sufficient funds to enable them +to return to their own country: he also told my father that he should +send one of his clerks to accompany them and see that they _did_ go +there. + +On our way home we called on Dr. Newcastle, our old friend and +physician, and after describing the circumstances of the Mortera family, +asked him to call and see Celestino in the evening. The doctor was a +fine-looking man, with a profusion of silvery white hair and beard, a +deep thinker, blunt and sincere of speech, and full of dry wit that made +every one laugh but himself. His footman (a colored man) was once +overheard to say, "Berry strange man, my massa! berry sing'lar man! I +say to him, 'I can't walk fast in dese yere boots, sar--dey's too +short.' 'Oh,' he says, ''tis but the cutting off a piece of your toes, +Caesar, and de boots will fit well enuff.' Him berry sing'lar man. One +day I hear, through de open window of a lady's house, him say to her, +'For what did you send after me, madam?' and she say, 'I feel a leetle +'stericky again dis morning, doctor: what can you pescribe for me?' +'Pescribe!' says my massa with a sort of short laugh: 'why, dat you go +to de top of de house wid a brush and dustpan and sweep de stairs all de +way down, and make all de beds, and leave off drinking strong coffee;' +and a berry fashionable lady too, as dey tell me after. When de doctor +get into him carriage he talk to himself, and give him short laugh." + +After an introduction to Signora Mortera, the doctor turned his +attention to Celestino, who lay on the sofa pale and agitated: "Bless my +heart! what a handsome lad! what splendid eyes! Ah! hm! hm! poor fellow! +hm!" and he cleared his throat. "Let me feel your pulse." + +As Celestino turned and gazed on him with mute surprise the doctor +proceeded with his examination in complete silence, and then began +discoursing about the weather and politics. + +"But, doctor," said my mother, "you have told us nothing about the boy? +What is your opinion? what shall we do for him? what do you prescribe?" + +"Whirr! whirr! how many questions! I prescribe for him a course of early +rising, accompanied by long prayer and fasting. If he shows an +inclination for exercise, give him a rosary. Take away juvenile books, +and give him the _Lives of the Saints and Martyrs_. Let him +remember the days of fasting and abstinence. Why, bless me! the boy is +nothing but heart and brain. He must be kept cheerful and +well-nourished. Let him be in the open air when it is pleasant. I will +prescribe a little something for him, but his case is beyond all +medicine." + +"Oh, doctor, do you really mean to say that he will die?" + +"Die?" and the doctor laughed his little cynical laugh. "Why, we shall +all die some day, shall we not?" + +"Now, doctor, do be serious. Is there no hope for him?" + +"I don't see that there is;" and he continued to gaze at the boy's face +as if it had some fascination for him. + +Eugenio Noele failed not a week later to send his clerk to make +arrangements for the departure of the Morteras. As the time drew nearer +Celestino failed rapidly. He would lie for hours without speaking except +with his eloquent eyes. Frequently he would kiss a little ring that I +had given him, and a few days before his departure I gave him a trinket +consisting of a turquoise heart, with a cross set with crystals over red +stones, emblematical of the blood and water that flowed from the side of +our Redeemer. This he received with great emotion, and as I tied it to +his neck with a ribbon he said, "I will wear it as long as I have life." + +"Does Celestino fear to die?" + +"No, signora, not whilst you are near me; and by dying I shall see my +brothers and sisters in heaven, and can come and watch over you all." + +"Sweetest child! It will break my heart to lose thee." + +"Ah, do not weep;" and the boy's lips paled and his eyelids closed. I +gave him water, and called to his mother to come and speak to him. + +"Ah, this child of my bosom! my poor Celestino! must he leave me too?" + +"Dear signora, he goes to a world free from such sorrows or cares as +yours have been. He is like an angel even now." + +"Celestino, kiss thy poor afflicted mother." Without a word, but with +trembling lips, he stretched forth his arms to embrace her, and I stole +away, leaving to her sacred sorrow the poor woman who for the moment, +forgetting her self-imposed ascetic restraint, was yielding to every +impulse of demonstrative tenderness. + +The night before their departure Eugenio wrote an ode addressed to me, +and placed it in my hands. I did not then read it through: I felt too +dispirited and preoccupied. The next morning his eyes met mine with a +questioning expression that I did not comprehend. When the hour for +parting had arrived tears and broken exclamations were mingled. Eugenio +lingered to kiss me, with a look first of inquiry, then of deep despair. +I found afterward that the poem he had presented to me contained a +protestation of humble and devoted love, which he entreated me not to +neglect with scorn, and thereby add to the cruelties of his situation. + +What a sense of loneliness we experienced! I felt restless and unhappy: +I was pursued by the imploring face of Eugenio and haunted by the eyes +of Celestino. It was long ere our household recovered its old +equilibrium. Letters full of gratitude came from the Morteras. They were +re-established in their old home; Eugenio had resumed his studies; +Virginia was not so well; Celestino was dying. Soon after I received a +letter in Eugenio's handwriting informing me that the trinket he +enclosed would be to me an evidence that his beloved brother Celestino +was dead. He had died with a smile on his lips, and Eugenio with his own +hands had unfastened the jewel from his neck. In a letter written some +time after to my mother Eugenio implored her by all she loved to rescue +him from a position which he felt to be daily more unendurable, by +procuring for him some engagement, in however humble a capacity, that +would enable him to support himself and assist his family. A priest he +_could not, would not_ be. My parents had scarcely time to discuss +the matter ere another letter came from Eugenio, telling them that his +mother had discovered the subject of his correspondence, and that she +and their good old priest had succeeded in convincing him of his +wickedness in attempting to relinquish the holy vocation of priest--that +it had been a snare of the devil; and he implored Signor and Madama +Melville to forgive him for the scandal he had caused concerning his +holy religion by such unworthy backslidings, which he now deeply +repented. + +One day Oswald came in exclaiming, "Aunt, who do you think has failed +and left the country?" + +"Who?" + +"Why, your friend, Eugenio Noele! As I passed the house I saw men +carrying away the pictures and things. I could not help stopping to +inquire into the matter. One of the workmen, who seemed to know a great +deal about it, said that a confidential clerk was at the bottom of it +all, and had run off before the great smash came." + +The last news we heard of this singular family was that Rugiero, who had +gone to Italy with his family, was retrieving his position, that +Giuseppe was with him, and that Eugenio was a priest, and beloved by all +for his noble qualities and extended usefulness. + + CLELIA LEGA WEEKS. + + + + +THE MATCHLESS ONE: +A TALE OF AMERICAN SOCIETY, IN FOUR CHAPTERS. + +PROLOGUE. + + +Ah, the misfortune of being wealthy, the misery of being handsome, the +disadvantage of a divine moustache and a dimple in the chin, the +affliction of having wavy hair and dark eyes, the forlorn condition of a +man who is very clever, who never makes a bad joke, who is such "good +company," such a "jolly dog," such a "happy creature" and "fortunate +fellow"! Oh the calamity of possessing a romantic country-seat and fine +horses!--the ill-starred luck of a person who is always finding a moon +that shines beautifully, a sun that is never too hot, long walks that +cannot be too long, and drives that are "_so_ delightful"! + +I am the unhappy victim of a fate which in spiteful mood gifted me +beyond my fellow-men. I might have had my share of enjoyment in the +world, as mediocre people have, but my perfections are in my way at +every turn, continually marring my prospects. A superficial observer +might think that these advantages would have the contrary effect--that I +should be more fortunate than others--but my story will prove my +assertion. Take, for example, my difficulties as a "marrying man." I +will relate my experience during the past three years, and you can judge +for yourself. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +My good mother (may Heaven reward her!) often advised me to marry +betimes. "Marry early in life, my dear Charles," she would say, "but +marry a woman _worthy_ of you." + +In her solicitude my mother foresaw the difficulty of the task she had +set before me. She had known and admired me from childhood, and of +course appreciated my worth. I remember her sad but affectionate gaze as +she spoke, and I, unconscious of the future, smiled to reassure her. +With the simplicity inseparable from great natures, I did not value the +treasures I possessed. I was as the poet before he has touched his +lyre--as the sculptor ere he has found his marble. Since then the years +have brought knowledge. My eyes have been opened by the actions of those +around me--by the admiration I excite whenever I appear; by the respect +with which I am listened to when I speak; by the warmth with which I am +welcomed wherever I visit. I could produce many examples to illustrate +my gradual awakening, but they would be irrelevant to my subject. + +I earnestly desired to fulfill my mother's wishes, and as soon as it +seemed proper after her decease I set out on my quest as on a +pilgrimage. The task which requires from most men some six weeks' or +three months' time, perhaps a few moments snatched from business or a +few evenings of ball-room devotion, has cost me three years' labor, and +it is not yet accomplished. But I suppose it is easier for other men to +find some one worthy of _them_. + +I had read the poets: I had conceived an ideal of a faultless creature, +and with the enthusiasm of youth I sought for a woman to worship as a +star--one whom I should adore--one far above me, from whom it would be +honor to win a smile, and--and all that sort of thing. Alas! I found +they smiled before I could make my first bow at an introduction. At +first I blamed the poets--thought they had been mistaken--had not +studied human nature; but the truth gradually dawned upon me. _The +fault was mine_! The imagination of man had not been able to create a +hero of fiction like myself: in fact, had authorship attained such a +triumph, the most fastidious maiden would have been obliged to fall in +love at first sight, thereby spoiling many a fine three-volumed romance +and heroic cantos innumerable. How ruinous would the possession of +perfection such as mine have been to the chivalry of the Middle Ages! + +I do not think any less of the ladies for the ease of my conquests: I +know how impossible it is for the poor dears to resist my charms; but oh +the happiness of mediocrity! + +I was occupied for a whole season searching for the being whom I called +my star. My fancy was so pleased with the idea of basking in her +radiance, I had so fully persuaded myself to be guided by her light to +all things great and high, I had learned to think of her with so much +devotion, that I could not give up my hope of finding her somewhere. I +went to all the popular summer-resorts in turn, meeting only +disappointment. The star type of girls did not seem to be the mode that +season: I could see no trace of her I came to find. Though saddened, I +was too young to despair: in my usual clear and sensible manner I +thought the matter over. After all, I reflected, I suppose I can find a +woman worthy of me who is not a star. I doubt not the poets were sincere +in their civility to persons of the other sex. The exaggeration arose +from the absence of any really superior man with whom to compare them. +They _seemed_ stars in contrast with the existing male species: +_I_ had not yet appeared. + +Another summer found me renewing my search with unabated vigor, but this +time on a different basis, having determined to lay romance aside--to +seek for nothing above me--to be content with an equal. If with her I +should not be ecstatically happy--if our _menage_ would not quite +rival that of Adam and Eve in the garden of Paradise--yet a certain +amount of modern bliss might be extracted from the companionship of an +agreeable woman who could appreciate and sympathize with my tastes and +be my friend through life. + +I employed my second summer in looking for a sympathetic woman, with the +intention of making her my wife. May I never see such a hard-working, +distracting season again! Not that such women were hard to find--they +were only too plenty: at one time I had six who were devoted to me. One +sympathized with my love of music; we sang duets together in the +evening; it was delightful, for I need hardly say that I sing as I do +everything else--remarkably well. Another sympathized with my sketching +propensities. We rambled in the woods together with boxes and colors. I +found it charming. "Nothing amateurish" about my style, Miss Pinklake +said. A third sympathized with my taste for horses: my restive Nero was +the "sweetest pet" she ever saw. (My groom says, "He's the divvil +hisself, Muster Charley.") With her I rode in the afternoon. She told +me--Miss Vernon, you know her? brunette, deuced pretty--she said one +day, when we were taking a canter together, "I can believe those +wonderful stories of the Centaurs when I see _you_ ride, Mr. +Highrank." She had a pleasant voice, and such a figure! I had almost +decided to propose to her one day, and was even thinking of the words I +should use, when the pale Miss Anabel Lee came walking along the road by +us, looking like a fairy, her hat hanging on her arm filled with wild +flowers, and her dress looped with ferns. As she passed she raised her +beautiful blue eyes to mine, and at the same time--it might have been +chance--she pressed a bunch of forget-me-nots to her lips. I remembered +I had an engagement to walk with Miss Lee on the beach that night: there +was a lovely moon--we talked poetry. It was Miss Annie Darling who said +I "waltzed divinely." Miss Annie laid her hand on one's sleeve when she +talked to one, mutilated her fan with various tappings on a fellow's +shoulder for being naughty, as she called it ("naughty" meant giving her +a kiss in a dark corner of the verandah), said saucy things to the +snobs, and used her eyes. She walked with the Grecian bend. When I had a +serious fit there was young Miss Carenaught, who was plain and read the +reviews, spoke sharply against fashion, and knew a man of my education +"must despise the butterfly existence of the surrounding throng." +Sometimes she would invite me to go with her to catch beetles and queer +insects--"not that she needed my help," she would say, "but my +intellectual society was indeed a treat in this crowded desert." + +All this was very agreeable, but also very perplexing. At the end of the +season I found myself as far from making a choice as ever. If I indulged +one taste at the expense of the others, I should become a less perfect +man; nor could I decide in which of my pursuits I needed sympathy the +most--music, painting, dancing, riding, reading. Alas! could I find one +woman congenial in all my moods I would marry her immediately. Wearied +by the attentions of so many, I yet feared an imperfect life spent with +but one. I saw that I had made another mistake, and retired to my +country-seat, "The Beauties," to recruit. + +I know there is a modern idea that women are the equals of men (the +poets, you remember, thought them superior), and many may consider it +odd that I did not find it so. I do not wish to offend. To those who +hold that opinion I modestly suggest my unfortunate superiority as the +probable cause of my failure. I do not blame the ladies, be it +understood. + +Again I sat down to plan and reflect. I looked mournfully on the past +and less hopefully on the future. The obstacles were beginning to +dishearten me, but even after a second failure I dared not relinquish my +quest: my mother's wishes must be fulfilled. A woman worthy of me: +behold the difficulty! What course of action should I now pursue? + +At last I had a flash of brain-light on the subject. I would look for +the purely good, rejecting the intellectual entirely. I would plunge +into the country and seek a bride fresh from the hands of Nature, a wild +flower without fashion, guile or brains--one who in leaving me free to +follow my own pursuits would yet adorn my life with charms of the +heart--a heart that had known no love but mine. + +It was in the most beautiful month of autumn that I made this resolve, +which I lost no time in putting into execution. I wrote to my old +college friend, Dick Hearty, that I would spend a month with him: he had +often invited me to visit him in the country. I counted on doing enough +love-making in that time to win my wild rose, and at my return I would +bring home my bride. I reasoned that in those unsophisticated regions, +in the shadow of the virgin forest, the trammels of long courtship and +other fashionable follies are unknown: heart meets heart as the pure +woodland streams meet each other and become one. + +Before I set out I gave a dinner-party at The Beauties to announce to my +gentleman friends the joyful event. At the dessert I rose and proposed +the health of my future bride. + +"And may it be years before she arrives at The Beauties!" mumbled Percy +Flyaway when they had drunk the toast. + +"I hope you will all welcome her at a grand reception here in--about a +month or six weeks." I remembered just in time that I had best not fix a +date, as something might intervene. + +A storm of questions, exclamations and remarks ensued. + +"Lovely?" + +"As fair as poet's dreaming." + +"Die Vernon?" + +"Not for Joe!" + +"The Soprano?" + +A shake of my head. + +"Anabel?" + +"No." + +"Who is she?" + +"Let us drink her health again," said one, getting thirsty, and fearing +in the excitement the bottle would not be passed. + +"Tell us all about her," cried another. + +"Gentlemen," said I seriously when the noise had slightly abated, "you +know I am a deuced good fellow." + +"Hear! hear!" they cried. + +"That you are!" said Percy. + +"Well, I am going to get a deuced good wife." + +"Congratulate you, old fellow!" + +"Do you think of going up in a balloon for a wedding-trip?" + +They all came around me, clinked their glasses with mine, shook hands +with me, and drank my health, her health, the health of my +mother-in-law, and any other toast that would serve as an excuse for +emptying a glass. + +"I say, will she cut rough on us chaps?" asked Percy in a plaintive +voice as the hubbub subsided. + +"Gentlemen," cried I, waving my hand, "my wife that is to be is an +angel." + +"Wish she would stay in heaven!" muttered Percy. + +"What I mean by an angel is a perfect woman." + +"Worse still," said the irrepressible Perce. (By the by, the wits had +nicknamed him "Perce sans purse," because he was poor, you know, but he +was a good fellow, quite.) + +"Gentlemen, let me explain." + +"Hear! hear!" + +"I have been looking for a wife for the past year: I have thought much +on the subject, for I think it an important one." + +"Solomon!" said Perce out of his wine-glass. + +"Now, a good wife must be a refined, gentle, kind, loving, beautiful +woman, with no nonsense about her." + +"Amen to the last clause!" cried Bear de Witt. + +"You have found her?" asked Percy, absently watching the sparkling +bubbles rise one after the other in his glass. + +"Ah--aw--I will bring her home," I answered, evading the question--"my +love, my bliss, my delight!" + +"He is awful spoony on her," said Bear in a disgusted tone. + +"He is tipsy," whispered Percy as I sat down with a tremor in my voice +and wiped my eyes with a napkin. + +Then Perce began to lecture me in an injured tone: "I say, it is really +too bad of you. I should not have believed it if you had not told us +yourself. To go and get married like any fool of a fella' that hasn't +forty thou' a year, like any common man--it's too rough." + +"I know it, Perce," I replied, "but we superior people must set an +example--the world expects it of us. The only question is, how to make a +proper choice." + +I remember very little after, except that the lights shone dimmer +through the cigar-smoke, that there was much noise from popping corks, +and occasionally a breakage of glass, and I think I made another speech. +Next morning I awoke with a very robust and well-defined head-ache. + +A few days later I started for the back-woods, with Wordsworth packed in +my trunk, he being the writer most congenial to my present state of +mind. Once seated in the cars, I looked with pleasure on each pastoral +scene as it came into view, and gazed at the milkmaids while thinking +romantically of my love. I took a nap, and awoke respectfully pressing +the handle of my portmanteau and murmuring a proposal to my wild flower. + +It was late when I arrived at the little village near which my friend +resided, and I resolved to spend the night at the modest inn of the +place. The gay singing of birds, mingled with the ringing of Sunday +bells, caused my drowsy eyes to open on the morrow. A happy thought came +to me as I lay enjoying the delightful freshness of all around me: "I +will go to church: my little Innocence will be there. I know she is +pious. As unconscious as the birds, and with as sweet a voice, she will, +like them, be praising her Maker this bright morning." + +I began to dress, looking each moment from the window with the hope that +she might pass by. The street was quiet--no one to be seen. Presently, +from a house near, tripped two pretty girls, and I eagerly came forward +to see them. "If it is not my rose herself," I thought, "it maybe some +relation--cousin, sister, friend: I am interested in the whole town +since _she_ lives here." The girls came nearer. They walked without +affectation: you could imagine that the spirit of Modesty herself had +taught them that quiet demeanor. Suddenly they looked up and saw me. Am +I Mephistopheles, to produce such a dire effect? They looked down, they +simpered, they laughed a laugh that was not natural: their voices grew +louder. + +"_Did_ you see him?" said one. + +"So perfectly lovely!" said the other. + +"I wonder who he is?" remarked the first. + +"My fate," I muttered as I turned away. + +After breakfast I sallied forth, humming "Pure as the Snow." Taking a +reconnoissance of the town, I came to a pretty house with +woodbine-covered porch, and a slender figure at the window. + +"I will not startle her with a rude glance," thought I, for I could see +without appearing to look. As my step resounded the figure turned. + +"Oh, do come here, Jessie! Who _can_ he be?" said the slender +figure to some one inside. + +I raised my eyes slowly, and my hat. "Could you tell me the way to Mr. +Hearty's?" I asked, not thinking of any other excuse for speaking to +her. + +Blushing, she told me. + +"And might I ask you," looking beseechingly at her as a person who might +be my future wife--"might I ask you to give me one of your roses?" + +"Take as many as you like," she said courteously. + +"I would rather you gave me one," with a smile. + +She hesitated for an instant, then quickly plucked a bud from the side +of the open window, threw it to me and ran away. + +"I shall find _my_ Rose later," sighed I. + +I sauntered on to church, a pretty little building of mossy gray stone, +and seated myself on a shady bench under the elms to watch the people +assembling. + +Ye gods! could it be? Here were last summer's styles, airs and grimaces, +served up as it were cold. I could pick out bad copies of each girl I +had flirted with the past season. You remember Florence Rich at The +Resort?--here was her portrait in caricature. Florence was the vainest +girl I ever knew, and showed it too. But she was vain of herself. This +country Florence was vain of a new silk that I would have taken the odds +she was wearing for the first time. She looked as if she were saying +with every rustle, "Admire me!" though of course she wasn't, you know. +She was constantly arranging her bracelet or smoothing her glove, and +looking on this side and that to see if any one was observing her. By +this means she gave her admirers the benefit of her full face, showing +both earrings; then of her profile, showing one earring and her curls; +and then of the back of her head, showing her fall bonnet. Her little +black veil ended just where her nose needed a shade. It is needless to +mention that she looked at me as she passed and gave me a smile _a la +profile_, which was ostensibly aimed at a pale young man near the +church-door. + +On they came, looking like the remnants of my summer's feast--the supper +after my season's dinner--stale and repelling to my satiated palate. On +entering I saw the ghost of "the Soprano" at the head of the choir, with +less voice and more affectation. The same glances of envy that had been +shot from angry eyes at The Resort I now saw passing between angry eyes +here. The church was full of imitations of this kind, or were they only +inferior originals of the same type? + +I learned afterward that the girls of the town were divided into two +classes--the followers of Miss Loude, who was fast and flashy, and the +imitators of Miss Weighty, who affected the quiet style, did not visit +indiscriminately, and was considered "stuck up" by the townspeople, +being the daughter of a retired grocer. During the service they all +looked at me. Some who were of the Loude school did it openly: those +after the Weighty pattern peeped clandestinely over their prayer-books, +through their fans, or between their fingers when praying. The more +clever would use strategy, shivering as if in a draught of air, and +looking around in my direction to see if a window were open, while the +mammas eyed me steadily through spectacles. + +"I might have known it," I thought, exasperated: "'tis the same +everywhere, unless I should go to a country where the people are blind." + +Dick Hearty, who was there with his sisters, came up after the service +and spoke to me. "Looking well, old fellow!" he said, as if I was not +sick of looking well. "Let me introduce you to my sisters." + +His sisters were of the fast and flashy school. Both of them fell in +love with me before I left, though I tried hard to make myself +disagreeable, not thinking it right to disappoint them, being a friend +of the brother, and all that. But unless I wear a mask I cannot prevent +such accidents. I hope they will get over it in time. They were deuced +nice girls too, but more like peonies than wild roses. + +Well, as I was saying, Dick introduced me, and insisted on taking me +home with him at once. I already began to fear for the success of my +object, but could not turn back at the very beginning of the promised +land; so I went with him. + +It would be tiresome to tell of all the flirtations and adventures I had +while there, or of all the girls who devoted themselves to me. Like +skillful leaders, Miss Loude and Miss Weighty set the example to their +imitators--an example which none were slow to follow. Indeed, it seemed +as if the struggle consisted in seeing who should be first at my feet. I +averaged half a dozen conquests daily: Dick's house was overwhelmed with +lady visitors, and it was usually love at first sight with them all. A +second interview was sufficient to win the most intractable. Not that I +cared to win: I was fatigued with victory--my laurels oppressed me. I +began to wish, like that nobby old emperor, Au--I used to know his +name--that all womankind had but one heart, that I might finish it with +a look, and then turn my attention to more important matters. + +Once I thought I had found her. At one of the picnics given in my honor +I saw a sober, pretty little thing, with rosy cheeks and chestnut hair, +who looked intensely rural. I fancied I should like to talk to her alone +for a while, and took her to a spring that was just in sight of the +dancing platform, thinking she would be too timid to go far away from +the others. I found her very sweet and bashful: I could desire nothing +more so. She blushed at each word she said, and made some very innocent +remarks, unfettered by the grammatic rules that restrain less ingenuous +people. Hoping to put her at her ease, I talked about the country, the +beautiful views, and all that. + +"If you like lovely views," she said shyly, "I can show you one." + +"I shall be most happy to see it," I replied. + +To tell you of the walk that the treacherous innocent took me, of the +rocks we climbed and the marshy brooks we crossed, and the two hours she +kept me at the work! Her stock of conversation was exhausted in the +first ten minutes, and I was too angry to be civil. Two hours of such +silent torture man never underwent before, and yet when we returned +tired, with the perspiration rolling down our faces, I actually +overheard her tell one of her companions that it had been "a delightful +walk, I was _so_ agreeable." Just my luck! And that walk made her a +belle! After it all the country beaux flocked around to pay her +attention, and she looked upon them as Cinderella might have viewed her +other suitors after the prince had danced with her at the ball. +Disgusting! + +Dick came to me after a while and said, "Charley, you are so stunning in +that velvet coat that all the girls are in love with you." + +"I know it, Dick," I said in a complaining voice--"I know it. It always +happens just so. Think it's the coat? I would take it off in a minute if +I thought it was." Then I added with a burst of confidence, "Dick, 'tis +the same with everything I wear: the fascination is in myself. I would +do anything to lessen it, but I can't." + +"You are a jolly joker," replied Dick with a tremendous slap on my back, +as if I had said something very funny. I am often witty when I don't +mean to be. + +But why continue a history which was the same thing day after day? I +stayed in the country more than three weeks. Though doubting, I was +conscientious, and left nothing undone to gain my end. The task bored me +far more than my sympathizers did in the summer. Indeed, any of those +friends were bewitching in contrast to the girls I now met, and had one +of them dropped in on me during that tiresome period I think I should +have forgotten nice distinctions and made serious love to her, sure of +finding more pleasure in having a single taste in common than in having +none at all. + +I believe country-people are even more egotistic than the dwellers in +cities. I sometimes found myself at the most isolated farm-houses +looking for my Rose. The men I met there invariably thought they knew +all about the weather and religion, politics and farming; the women were +convinced they had every kind of knowledge worth having, and that what +they did not know was "new-fangled" and not worth a pin; and their +daughters believed that they were beauties, or would be if they had fine +clothes to dress in. How people can be so mistaken as to their capacity +is a mystery to me. + +During my stay I came to the conclusion that I would rather press a soft +hand than a hard one; that I would rather see a tasty toilette than +beauty unadorned; that shy manners are anything but graceful; that the +useful and the beautiful are not likely to be found in the same person; +and that girls, like _articles de luxe_, should be carefully kept. +I like to recall that well-bred, unconscious air of Miss Haughton; I +remember Miss Darling as a model of deportment: why, she could do the +naughtiest things in a less objectionable manner than that of these +girls when acting propriety. + +I discovered some facts regarding wild roses. Their petals are few and +faded, and their thorns many and sharp. Their scanty green foliage will +always remind me of a calico gown. Take my word for it, and don't ever +go to the trouble of seeking one. Give me a full-blown damask rose. What +care I if it was nursed in a hot-house or if its beauty is due to the +gardener's care? I thank the gardener and take the rose. Or give me a +half-open sulphira, with suggestive odors and soft curving leaves, +passion-pale in tint, or a gorgeous amaryllis produced by artful +development, clothed like a queen in state, bearing erect her magic +beauty. No more wild roses for me! + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +I had been at Breezy Brook, that beautiful summer resort which you all +know, about a month: it was now July, and nothing had happened worth +relating since my arrival. During the past winter I had not been +idle--attending parties, balls and operas without number, but without +success. This summer I made up my mind to be tranquil and to let events +take their course, for, as Fortune had given me every other good, she +would no doubt in time provide me with a good wife. I had therefore +every reason to be patient. + +I was in an unsociable mood one afternoon; so, taking a cigar and book, +I sauntered up the mountain. There is an arbor halfway to its top, and I +have a lounging-place near by, where the roots of an old tree make a +comfortable nest just above a steep precipice, and the place is hidden +from intruders by rocks and foliage. 'Tis a discovery of mine I pride +myself upon, and I go there when I want to collect my thoughts and enjoy +my own company. + +Hardly had I made myself comfortable in my retreat when I heard voices +in the arbor below. It was Mrs. Fluffy and her sister, Mrs. J.K.B. +Stunner. I knew them in a moment, though they were not visible. Panting +for breath, Mrs. F. invited the other to take a seat: she was very stout +and soon tired. The sisters were examples of opposite schools of art. +Mrs. Stunner, dark, hard and sharp-faced, was a widow with all her +daughters "well settled" in life--_i.e._, married to wealthy +husbands--and was considered "fortunate" among the matrons. Mrs. Fluffy +was soft and florid, without an angular point, physically or mentally: +much younger and prettier than her sister, she was always spoken of as +"poor Mrs. Fluffy," though she was not badly off that I could see. She +had two daughters "out" this season, and a third casting longing looks +in the same direction. + +Thinking they would move on shortly, as the arbor was only a +halting-place for people walking to the summit, I lay snug and waited. +Presently the widow, among other commonplaces, began to discuss the +young ladies at The Brook. + +"By the by, Sarah," she said, "I don't see that your girls are doing +much this season: I really must say you do not seem to manage well at +all. You may be playing a very deep game, but I can discover no signs of +it, and there is little that escapes me in such matters." + +"Oh, Jane!" panted Mrs. F., "if you only knew the trouble of having two +daughters 'out' at once!" + +"As if I didn't know!" snuffed Mrs. Stunner. + +"True, true," replied Sarah in a conciliatory tone. "But you seemed to +have so little anxiety." + +"Seemed!" echoed the Stunner contemptuously. "Of course I _seemed_, +and the difficulty it required to _seem_! Do you think I was so +witless as to let my manoeuvres be seen? I wonder at you, Sarah!" + +"Well, well," said the other, yielding the point, "I know you have a +talent for such things, and can manage well, but _I_ don't know +what to do." + +"I--should--think--you--did--not," replied her sister, tapping the +ground slowly with her foot. + +"What have I done that you should speak like that, Jane?" asked the meek +Sarah, bridling up. + +"Tell me," answered Jane after an ominous silence that was quite +thrilling, "where is Eva at this moment?" + +"Oh,", replied Sarah with a sigh of relief, "she is walking with Mr. +Hardcash. You introduced him at the last ball." + +"I introduced him to dance with, not to walk with," said Jane severely. + +"Goodness me, sister! what's the difference?" + +"She asks me 'What's the difference?' Are you a child? Why, just the +difference between dancing and walking." + +From the pause that followed I knew that Mrs. F. was looking with both +her round eyes, intent on seeing it. I suppose she did not succeed, as +her sister continued, emphasizing each word clearly, "Mr. Hardcash has +not a penny," as if that at once explained the knotty question. + +"Why did you introduce him if you don't approve of him?" asked Mrs. +Fluffy, with a feeble attempt to throw the blame on her sister. + +"Have I not told you? In a ball-room girls need plenty of +partners--plenty of men about them. It makes them look popular and +fascinating, and if the gentlemen are handsome and stylish-looking, so +much the better. Mr. Hardcash is just the size to waltz well with +Eva--he shows her off to advantage--but he is not a man to encourage +afterward. She should not be seen walking or talking intimately with a +gentleman who has less than ten thousand a year." Mrs. Stunner delivered +this ultimatum with the tone of a just judge who will hear of no appeal. + +"How can I know how much the gentlemen are worth?" said Sarah pettishly. + +"It is your duty as a mother to discover it," replied the virtuous +widow. + +"But how?" + +"The visitors' book will tell where a man is from; you can easily get +acquainted with some old lady or gentleman from the same place; and--" + +"What! and ask about them!" + +"Nonsense! Speak of them, praise them if you wish, and let the others +talk: you have only to be an interested listener" (here I could imagine +Mrs. S. smiling grimly), "and you can soon hear enough. For instance, +commence in this way: 'Fine fellow, Mr. T. from your part of the +country.' As a general rule the old gentleman will then give you his +whole history. Another time you may say, 'What a pleasant young man that +Mr. B. is! but rather inclined to be wild, eh?' If he is you will soon +know it. You can also cross-question the man himself. Speak of a little +girl he has at home: if he blushes he is netted already, and lures are +useless. See how he eats his dinner: that is a good test to judge his +position by; not that a few _gaucheries_ will matter if he is very +wealthy--for a judicious mother-in-law can soon correct them--but for +every impropriety he should have a thousand added to his income. Such +things are so intolerable in a poor man!" + +"I don't think Eva would obey me if I did interfere in her affairs," +objected Mrs. Fluffy. + +"Her affairs, indeed! It is _your_ affair. Of course you want a +son-in-law who can keep a comfortable house for you to live in. You have +brought up Eva badly, Sarah, and there is one thing I must tell you +about her--she is entirely too familiar and sisterly with gentlemen." + +"She has a great many beaux," interrupted Mrs. F. + +"It is one of her worst faults," continued Jane, not listening to her. +"If a girl gets into those sisterly habits with a man, it will never +come into his head to marry her. She may be his chief confidante; he +will talk of his lady-love to her, and she may end by being first +bridesmaid at his wedding, but nothing nearer. I don't approve of it. +One of my maxims is, that a man ought not be well acquainted with the +girl he is to marry until the ceremony is performed." + +"Well, you cannot disapprove of Laura," said Mrs. Fluffy, trying to turn +the conversation. "I left her in her room reading." + +"'Disapprove' of her? The word is not strong enough for my feelings. +Neither of your girls has the least bit of common sense; but I don't +wonder, with such a mother! A girl who gets a reputation for being +learned and saying brilliant things might just as well give up matrimony +altogether. Men are either afraid of them or detest them: gentlemen +don't like to puzzle their brains over a witticism, nor do they admire +chaffing that is beyond their comprehension. Courtship should be made +easy. My Jane was clever, and vexed me a great deal in consequence, +daughters of that kind are so unmanageable: give me the most stupid in +preference. It is pleasant to a husband to feel his superiority, to look +down on his wife. The mediocre is the girl I take most delight in. There +are so many mediocre men that they are sure to get suited without giving +you much anxiety." + +"Jane," exclaimed Mrs. Fluffy with a burst of admiration, "you are so +clever I wonder _you_ ever were married. Did Mr. Stunner appreciate +that kind of women?" + +"La! no. I had the sense to conceal my talents. Take my word for it, +superior people as a class are never liked, unless they do as I +did--conceal it, conceal it." + +"I am glad I was not born talented: I fear I could not succeed in hiding +it as you do." Mrs. F. was too stupid for sarcasm, else I should have +thought-- + +"Now be frank with me, Sarah," broke in Mrs. Stunner, scattering my +thoughts: "who is paying attention to Eva now?" + +"Well," replied the other, appearing to recollect, "there is Mr. Rich: +he asked her to ride with him." + +"More than once?" + +"No, not more, but it was only day before yesterday." + +"Ah! he may ask her again: once means nothing. A gentleman may ask her +for pastime, or to make some one else jealous, or out of good-nature, +but to a girl properly brought up once is a chance--it is a good start." +(Mrs. S.'s late husband was fond of racing.) "It rests entirely with her +to make the once twice, the twice thrice, and so on; for if she is +amusing and don't talk love, he will be sure to ask her again." + +"'Don't talk love'? Why, Jane, you surprise me! I thought that was the +proper thing to do." + +"Just where people mistake. The most stupid man can talk love if he +feels love. Let girls be agreeable, sweet and charming, but without +especial effort to appear so, and when gentlemen are captivated they +will do their own love-making." + +"Dear me!" was the reply. + +"Yes, I protest against young ladies throwing themselves at the head of +every marriageable gentleman they see. They should think of the effect +it will have." + +"But they are so unworldly that they don't think of effect," said Mrs. +Fluffy. + +"Humph!" ejaculated the widow in a tone of incredulity. + +"You seem to have a very poor opinion of women, Jane." + +"They want to marry, all of them: you admit that, don't you?" asked Mrs. +Stunner severely. + +"I think not," objected Mrs. F. in a feeble voice. "There is Miss +Furnaval: they say she has refused--" + +"Then," interrupted her sister, not heeding her, "if they want to marry, +why not take the proper means? It is inconceivable to me how women, +after thinking about it all their lives, blunder into it in the end, +just as if it was an entirely unforeseen event. A little good sense is +requisite in everything, I think." + +"They are not all anxious to marry," reiterated Mrs. Fluffy, gaining +courage: "there's Miss Furnaval--" + +"A great example to give one!" remarked her sister contemptuously. "She +is making a fool of herself as fast as she can. Among all the young +ladies who marry badly, the fascinating ones prosper the worst. No girl +can refuse a good offer with impunity: a day of reckoning will come. +Society has its laws, which must be obeyed: if not, _gare_! Mark my +words," continued Mrs. Stunner solemnly: "Miss Furnaval has some +outlandish un-society principles, and practically they will not work. +Why, she is quite as well contented talking to a poor man as to a rich +one, and she is always encouraging worthless, amusing, handsome +fellows--talented men, instead of men whose position dispenses with the +necessity of their having brains. Those fellows she has about her are +the pests of society. If you hear of a runaway match, you may be sure it +is with one of them; if a daughter is obstinate, you may be sure some +ineligible jackanapes has prompted her to it. Blanche will end badly. +She will fall in love with one of them some day, and finish by marrying +him." + +"If Miss Furnaval loves one of that kind of gentlemen, I don't see why +she might not be happy with him." + +"You don't see anything, Sarah. You don't see the nose on your face, +though I see 'tis a very big one. I will make it evident to you. He will +be poor, Blanche is rich: if she gives him her money, he will spend it. +Never having had any of his own, he won't know how to take care of it. +If, on the other hand, she don't give it to him, he will think she does +not care for him--will get jealous, likely take to drink: your clever +man always does. They will quarrel; then her clever husband will use his +clever tongue to tease her, and his clever brain to thwart and provoke +her--which a stupid man would never think of doing--and, worse than all, +she will never get the least chance to have her own way in anything." + +"Poor Blanche! I pity her," sighed Mrs. Fluffy. + +"I don't, in the least," snapped the other. "Such an example will serve +to make other girls more sensible. Only you take it as a warning to your +own Eva." + +After quite a long silence, in which I suppose Mrs. Fluffy was +considering, she said pathetically, "I wish you would tell me what to do +with Eva." + +"Marry her as soon as possible," was the prompt and decided reply. "It +is her second summer 'out,' and she should at least be engaged." + +"I can do nothing. What do you advise, Jane?" + +"In the first place, stop her being with such gentlemen as Mr. +Hardcash." + +"Eva is so high-spirited," groaned Mrs. Fluffy, "I fear she would not +listen to me." + +"You mean _obstinate_, Sarah. Tell her seriously that she has had +two very gay seasons--that you can't afford another--that she must make +up her mind now. Then think over all the most eligible gentlemen you +know, and cultivate their acquaintance." + +"Couldn't you help me, Jane?" asked the other timidly. "I shall not know +what to do." + +"Let me see," continued Mrs. S. in a musing tone. "If you had a +country-house you could manage better. Elderly gentlemen are usually +pleased with domestic attractions, and there are many little attentions +that you and Eva could show them which in any other position would look +like courting them. Then there would be no danger of competition. +Indeed, if a pretty girl has a gentleman all to herself for a week or +two at a romantic country-house, a wedding is sure to follow. But there +must be no jarring, fretting, bad cooking or any household ill +whatever--no talk of poor servants or dishonest grooms: everything must +be _couleur de rose_." + +"Jane, it appears to me you are talking very silly," said Mrs. Fluffy, +glad of a chance to attack her superior sister. "You know I have no +country-house, and I can't buy one just to marry Eva and Laura from." + +"I merely said _if_ you had. I thought you might be pleased to hear +my theory," replied Mrs. Stunner stiffly, "The next best thing for you +is to have a parlor here, get up picnics and drives, make card-parties +with suppers--gentlemen so like to eat!--and do not spare expense when +you have a good investment in view. You can limit the invitations to two +or three gentlemen who are especially eligible: make these some little +compliment, such as '_You_ will come of course--our little party +would not be complete without you.' Contrive that they take care of the +girls, and you can entertain the others. Occasionally include some young +ladies in your evenings, so that the world may not say you are afraid of +them, but don't let them become intimate."--Here Mrs. Stunner paused for +breath. + +"It sounds easy enough," said poor Mrs. F. dolefully. + +"It is not easy at all," sharply replied her sister, "but if we manage +well we sha'n't have to go through with it more than one summer." + +"Then you will help me?" + +"I suppose I must sacrifice myself for the good of the family," said the +Stunner in an heroic tone, "but you must let me have my own way +entirely." + +"Oh yes, Jane--certainly. I am so much obliged!" replied Mrs. Fluffy +with effusion. + +"Then it is not necessary to explain my plans further: I shall be there +and will manage." + +"But whom do you think we should invite, Jane dear?" asked Mrs. F. +anxiously. + +"You spoke of Mr. Rich. I approve of him: I know he has twenty thousand +a year. Yes, he shall be one." + +"I am afraid Eva won't like him," Mrs. Fluffy timidly remarked. + +"Eva shall not interfere with my plans, and don't you commence with such +nonsense as liking and disliking; I won't have it," retorted Mrs. S. in +a louder voice than she would have used had she known I was so near. + +"But there might be some nicer gentleman just as wealthy, might there +not?" suggested the weak sister. + +"There is David Todd, with thirty thousand a year: I wonder if _he_ +would suit the dainty Eva?" said Mrs. Jane, sneering. + +"I think she would like Mr. Highrank to be invited," observed pink Mrs. +Fluffy, waiving the question. + +I sat up and listened attentively when I heard my own name mentioned, +not forgetful of the adage that listeners hear no good of themselves, +but of course _I_ had nothing to fear. + +"More sensible than I thought Eva could be," the Stunner rejoined. +"Forty thousand a year and entailed, so that he can't get through with +it. I have observed him a good deal for several seasons, and I find that +though he is such a fool, the sharpest girls can do nothing with him. +When so many are after him I suppose no single one can have a fair +chance. Yes, we will invite him, but I hope Eva will not think of +falling in love with him unless he should propose. Indeed, I think a +modest girl ought never to fall in love. It seems to me indecorous, at +least before marriage--after, they can do as they like about it. You +must warn Eva on the subject. If any other gentleman should ask for her, +she must not refuse, because we could not count on Highrank making up +his mind: I have an idea that he is too weak to form a resolution of any +kind." + +I thought the old woman must be bilious. "Me a fool!"--a philosopher +rather. But I have always known that exalted worth is a fault in the +estimation of narrow-minded people, who can't appreciate it. Little Eva +has more sense--would like me to visit her: of course the poor child is +in love with me. I wish I could tease that ridiculous old lady in some +way. I have a confounded mind to run off with Eva. No, that, I fear, +would please Aunt Stunner. But I am missing all her trash: better +listen. It is really not worth getting heated over. + +"The others I will see about," continued Aunt Jane. "It is very little +consequence who they are. Only one thing: I won't have that Hardcash +about: he and Eva have been entirely too much together." + +"She is rough on Ned," thought I in ambush. + +"I am afraid you won't be able to manage Eva, my dear Jane." + +"Don't worry. When I have a duty to perform I go through with it. Let us +walk on to the summit." + +"Just as you like: I am sufficiently rested, and we can talk as we go." + +There was a rustling of silk and a crunching of gravel, and all was +quiet. + +I lay there thinking for a long while: I wonder if my poor mother, were +she living, would take as much trouble to procure me a wife as Mrs. +Stunner is going to take to provide Eva with a husband. I wonder mothers +don't help their sons to marry, and let their daughters help themselves. +Girls are so much sharper about such things than men are. Everything is +against us. I suppose women think they deceive us for our good, but they +should continue to do so after marriage. 'Pon honor! I have seen the +sweetest, most amiable girl turn as sour as could be a few months after +the ceremony. The dressiest ones often get dowdy, the most musical can't +abide music, the most talkative have the dumps. A man has no chance of +judging how they are going to turn out. He is duped by the daughters, +inveigled by their mothers, and, what is worse still, as soon as he is +married they both undeceive him. It would not matter if a fellow was +cheated if he never knew it, but that's where it hurts. + +I shouldn't wonder if that pair of old plotters would catch me yet if I +don't take care. I will tease them a bit, any way: I'll pay a deuced lot +of attention to Eva, and keep the other fellows away. No man would try +to win her if he thought I was serious. + +Blanche Furnaval _is_ an odd girl, I went on musing. They said she +would end badly--hope she won't, though. Bewitching girl, but she don't +seem to care if people admire her or not. I never can quite understand +her. Once I wrote a few verses and gave them to her--compared her to an +ice-covered stream, quiet on the surface, but all motion and tumult +below. Well, she never even thanked me for them, though she said she +liked that simile, it was so new. There was another couplet about her +name--Blanche and snow and cold: when she read it she laughed and said, +"Though my name means white, it does not mean cold. You know there are +some white things that are very warm, Mr. Highrank--my ermine muff, for +instance." But I made a clever answer. I said, "The muff _looks_ +cold, and so does Miss Blanche, but if I could be so fortunate as to +touch the heart of either I might find warmth." "My muff has no heart," +she answered, looking at me as if she did not understand. "And is its +owner in the same condition?" I asked tenderly. (I make it a rule to +speak tenderly to all girls, it is so sad for them to love me when I +cannot return it.) "In a poetical sense I believe she is," she replied, +"but for all practical purposes she has one that serves very well." + +Sometimes she would be invisible for two or three days together: no one +would see her, either at meals or at the evening ball. When asked what +she had been doing, she would smile that sweet smile of hers and say she +had been enjoying herself. She was very talented, but not a bit +ostentatious. To give you an example: It was rumored that she had a +wonderful voice, and though we had been begging her to sing for at least +a month, she steadily refused to gratify us. One day there was a queer +old Italian chap came to The Brook for his health. He looked like an +organ-grinder, and had been once actually on the stage. Well, do you +know she allowed him to be introduced to her, and talked to him with as +much deference as if he had been a prince, when she ought not have +spoken to him at all, you know; and in that gibberish, too, that no one +can understand. One evening, after entertaining him for about an hour, +she walked with him the whole length of the room, not noticing any one, +though every eye was upon her. He sat down at the piano which stood in a +corner, struck a few chords, and then, with no coaxing whatever, she +sang; and such a song! Her gray eyes grew dark, and her voice quivered, +deepened, expanded into a melody that made you think the heavens had +suddenly opened. Every other sound ceased; the doors and windows were +filled with eager faces; the dancers ended in the middle of a quadrille, +and the band came in a body to listen. I saw one fat Dutchman holding +his fiddle in one hand while he wiped the tears from his eyes with the +other. When the song was ended the old Italian took both her hands in +his and kissed them, talking at the same time with impossible rapidity; +and she smiled and looked as happy as if she had won a prize, turning +her back on every one else who wished to congratulate her. It showed how +very odd she was. The next evening _I_ asked her to sing, and she +flatly refused without the least excuse, saying, "No: a refusal will be +a pleasant novelty in your life, Mr. Highrank." + + ITA ANIOL PROKOP. + +[TO BE CONTINUED] + + + + +THE STRANGER WITHIN THE GATES OF PARIS. + + +"Paris," once said Victor Hugo to me, "is the hostess of all the +nations. There all the world is at home. It is the second best place +with all foreigners--the fatherland first, and afterward Paris." + +There was a great deal of truth in the observation, and especially is it +true as regards Americans. By our natural sociability and versatility of +temperament, by our love of all bright and pleasant surroundings, by our +taste for pleasure and amusement, we assimilate more closely in our +superficial characteristics to the French nation than we do to any +other. Our Britannic cousins are too cold, too unsociable, too heavy for +our fraternization, and mighty barriers of dissimilarity of language, of +tastes, of customs and manners divide us from the European nation which +of all others we most closely resemble in essential particulars--namely, +the Northern Germans. The Prussians have been called--and that, too, +with a good deal of truth--the Yankees of Europe; and if the term +"Yankees" means, as it usually does in European parlance, the entire +population of the United States, we citizens of the great republic have +every right to feel proud of the comparison. Yet, with all our genuine +respect and admiration for the Prussians, there are but few American +tourists who take kindly to that people or their country. The lack of +the external polish, the graceful manners and winning ways of the +Parisians is severely felt by the chance tarrier within the gates of +Berlin. We accord our fullest meed of honor to the great conquering +nation of Europe, to its wonderful system of education, its admirable +military discipline, and its sturdy opposition to superstition and +ignorance in their most aggressive form. And yet we do not like Prussia +or the Prussians. We scoff at Berlin, planted on a sandy plain and new +with the thriving, aggressive newness of some of our own cities. We long +for the soft shadows of antiquity, the dim twilight of past glories, to +overhang our daily path as we journey onward through the storied lands +of the ancient world. We have enough of bright progressive prosperity at +home. Something of the feeling of the artist, who turns from the trim, +elegant damsel arrayed in the latest fashion to paint the figure of a +beggar-girl draped in picturesque rags, hangs about us as we travel. It +is only to Paris--Paris beautiful in its strange blending of smoky ruins +and splendid, freshly-erected mansions--that we can pardon the white +glare of newly-opened streets, the Vandal desecration of antique +landmarks, the universal sacrifice of old memories, historic +associations and antique picturesqueness on that altar of modern +progress whose high priest was Baron Haussmann and whose divinity was +Napoleon III. + +We love Paris, we Americans abroad, and we like the Parisians. One side +of our affection grows and strengthens and sends forth new shoots with +every passing day. The longer one lives in Paris the better one loves +it. Its beauty becomes part and parcel of one's daily life. The mighty +sweep of palace and arcade and museum and church, the plash of sunlit +fountains, the rustle and the shimmer of resplendent foliage, the grace +of statue, the grandeur of monument, the far-stretching splendor of +brilliant boulevard and bustling street,--all these make up a picture +whose lines are engraven on our heart of hearts. Often, passing along +the street, some far-off vista, some effect of light and color, some +single point of view, strikes on the sense with new and startling +beauty, and we pause to gaze and to admire, and to exclaim for the +thousandth time, How fair is Paris! + +And she is so prodigal of her treasures, this goodly city! She lavishes +them on all comers without fee or favor. All day long her princely +art-galleries stand open to welcome the passing visitor. One comes and +goes unhindered and unquestioned in church or museum, and even the +service of guides and boats and cars to the sewers, and of official +guides to the Catacombs, is given without compensation--nay more, all +fees are strictly; forbidden. There is no city on earth that receives +its guests with such splendid and lavish hospitality. Apart from one's +board and lodging, it is possible for a stranger to come to Paris and to +visit all its principal sights without the expenditure of a single sou. +And for the persons who, prolonging their stay, wish in some sort to +take up their permanent residence in Paris, things are smoothed and +ironed and the knots picked out in the most wonderful way. Your board is +dainty and your bed soft. Velvet-footed and fairy-handed beings minister +to your wants. You are clothed as if by magic in garments of marvelous +beauty. The very rustle of your letter of credit is as an open sesame to +treasure-chambers to which Ali Baba's cavern was but a shabby cellar. +And if, on the contrary, your means are limited and your wants but few, +the science of living has been so exactly conned and is so perfectly +understood that your franc-piece will buy you as many necessaries as +ever your fifty-cent greenback did home, and that, too, in face of the +fact that all provisions are now, owing to the war and the taxes, as +dear, if not dearer than they are in Philadelphia. If a stranger comes +to Paris and wishes to live comfortably and economically, there are +plenty of respectable, well-situated establishments in the best section +of the city where he can obtain a comfortable, well-furnished room and +well-cooked, well-served meals, for eight to ten francs a day--such +accommodations as five dollars would scarcely avail to purchase in +Philadelphia or New York. + +The whole secret of the matter is, that in France everybody understands +the art of making the most out of everything. No scrap of food is +wasted, no morsel cast aside, till every particle of nourishment it can +yield is carefully extracted. The portions given to the guests at the +minor hotels, where one lives _en pension_ at so much _per +diem_, are carefully measured for individual consumption. The slice +of steak, the tiny omelette, the minute moulded morsels of butter, even +the roll of bread and little _sucrier_ and cream-jug placed before +each person, have each been carefully gauged as to the usual dimensions +of an ordinary appetite. Nothing is squandered and nothing is wasted. +When one recalls the aspect of our hotel tables at home--the +bread-plates left with their piles of cold, uneatable corn-bread, and +heavy, chilled muffins and sodden toast uneaten, uncared-for and wasted; +the huge steak, with its scrap of tenderloin carefully scolloped out, +and the rest left to be thrown away; the broiled chicken--the legs +scorned in favor of the more toothsome breast; the half-emptied plates +of omelettes and fried potatoes,--one realizes how low prices for board +in Paris are still compatible with the increased price of provisions, +and why we must pay five dollars at home for accommodations for which we +expend two here. The same wastefulness creeps into all the details of +our hotel-life. If we want a glass of ice-water, for instance, we are +straight-way supplied with a pitcher brimming over with huge crystal +lumps of transparent ice. One-half the quantity would suffice for all +actual purposes: the rest is left to melt and run to waste. + +The fact is, that we citizens of the United States live more luxuriously +than any other people on the face of the earth. On an average we dress +better, fare better, sleep softer, and combat the cold in winter and the +heat in summer with more scientific persistency, than do any of the +so-called luxurious nations of Europe. Take, for instance, the matter of +heating and lighting. A few of the leading hotels in Paris, and a small +minority among the most expensive suites of private apartments, have gas +introduced into all the rooms, but as a general thing it is confined to +the public rooms, and the unfortunate wight who longs to see beyond the +end of his nose is forced to wrestle with dripping candles and unclean +lamps, known only by tradition in our native land. The gaslight, which +is a common necessary in the simplest private dwelling in an American +city, is here a luxury scarcely attainable save by the very wealthiest. +And we do not know how precious our gaslight is till we have lost it. To +sit in a dim parlor where four lighted candles struggle vainly to +disperse the gloom, to dress for opera or ball by the uncertain glimmer +of those greasy delusions, is enough to make one forswear all the +luxuries of Paris, and flee homeward forthwith. + +Then in winter comes the question of warmth. What is more delicious than +to plunge from the iced-champagne atmosphere of a sparkling winter's day +in America into the nest-like, all-pervading warmth of an American home? +Here such comfort is wholly unknown. The cold, though less severe than +with us, is damp, raw and insidious, and creeps under wraps with a +treacherous persistency that nothing can shut out. The ill-fitting +windows, opening in the old door-like fashion, let in every breath of +the chill outer air. A fire is a handful of sticks or half a dozen lumps +of coal. The _calorifere_, a poor substitute for our powerful +furnaces, is a luxury for the very rich--an innovation grudgingly +granted to the whims of the occupants of the most costly and fashionable +of private apartments. Warmth, our cosy, all-pervading warmth, is a +winter luxury that we leave behind us with the cheerful light of our +universal gas-burners. + +In summer we sorely miss the cold, pure ice-water of our native land, +and we long for it with a thirst which _vin ordinaire_ and Bavarian +beer are powerless to assuage. The ill-tasting limestone-tainted water +of Paris is a poor substitute for our sparkling draughts of Schuylkill +or Croton. Ice-pitchers, water-coolers and refrigerators are unknown +quantities in the sum-total of Parisian luxuries. The "cup of cold +water," which the traveler in our country finds gratuitously supplied in +every waiting-room and railway-station, every steamboat, every car and +every hotel, is here something that must be specially sought for, and +paid for at an exorbitant price. Ice can be purchased only in small +quantities for immediate consumption. Ten cents for a few lumps swimming +in water on a tepid plate is the usual tariff for this our American +necessity, this rare Parisian luxury. + +The scant supply of water for ablution is another annoyance to the +American traveler accustomed to the hot-and cold-water faucets +introduced into private bed-rooms and hotel apartments, and the capacious +bath-tubs and unlimited control of water in his native land. To be sure, +one can get a bath in Paris, as well as anywhere else, by ordering it +and waiting for it and paying for it; but the free use of water and its +gratuitous supply in hotels, so entirely a matter of course with us, is +here unheard of. As with ice-water, the bath is an American necessity, a +Parisian luxury. However, the latest erected dwelling-houses here have +had water-pipes and bath-tubs introduced. Wealth can command its bath +here as well as its gaslight and its supplies of ice, but wealth only. +The humblest abode of a Philadelphia mechanic contains comforts and +conveniences which are wellnigh unattainable luxuries in all but the +most splendid apartments of the most luxurious city of Europe. + +Nor do all the delicate artifices of French cookery suffice wholly to +replace for an American palate the dainties of his native land. The +buckwheat cakes and waffles, the large, delicate-flavored, luscious +oysters, the canvas-back ducks, the Philadelphia croquettes and +terrapin, find no substitutes on this side of the water. The delicious +shad and Spanish mackerel have no gastronomic rivals in these waters, +and the sole must be accepted in their stead. We miss, too, our +profusion and variety of vegetables, our stewed and stuffed tomatoes, +green corn, oyster-plants and sweet potatoes. As for fruits, the smaller +varieties are far more abundant and much finer here than they are with +us. Strawberries, cherries, raspberries, gooseberries, apricots--all of +great size and exquisite flavor--tempt and enchant the palate. But our +rich profusion of tropical fruits, such as bananas and pineapples, is +wholly unknown. Peaches are poor in flavor and exorbitant in price. As +for meats, poultry is dearer in Paris than at home, a small chicken for +fricasseeing costing six francs ($1.20 in gold), and a large one for +roasting ten francs ($2). Beef and mutton are at about the same prices +as in Philadelphia and New York. Butter costs from sixty to seventy +cents a pound. One can easily see, therefore, that it takes all the +skill and experience in domestic economy of Parisian housekeepers to +maintain the prices of living at anything like its present standard in +_pensions_ and hotels. But, in truth, the general standard of +French cooking has been much lowered since the war. A really sumptuous +French dinner is no longer to be procured at any of the tables d'hote or +the leading hotels, and if ordered at a first-class restaurant it will +cost twice as much as it used to do. + +Rents, though somewhat lowered from their former proportions, are still +very high, a really elegant unfurnished suite of apartments costing from +five thousand to ten thousand francs a year, according to location; and +if furnished, nearly as much more. Two thousand francs is the lowest +rent which economy, desirous of two or three bed-rooms, in addition to +the parlor, kitchen and dining-room of an ordinary suite, can +accomplish. There are now in process of construction in the suburbs of +Paris several rows of houses built on the American plan, and it is +hardly possible to tell how comfortable and home-like the neat separate +abodes look to one who has been journeying round amid a series of +"floors," each so like the others. To the casual visitor there is a +despairing amount of sameness in the fitting-up of all French furnished +apartments. The scarlet coverings on the furniture, the red curtains, +the light moquette carpet with white ground and gay flowers, the white +and gold of the woodwork, the gilt bronze clock and candelabra, the +tables and cabinets in marquetry and buhl, are all precisely alike in +each, and all wear the same hotel-like look and lack of individuality. +Nobody here seems to care anything for home or home belongings. A suite +of apartments, even if occupied by the proprietor, is not the shrine for +any household gods or tender ideas: it is a place to rent out at so much +per month should the owner desire to go on a journey. No weak +sentimental ideas about keeping one's personal belongings from the touch +and the usage of strangers ever troubles anybody's mind. Tables and +chairs and carpets and curtains are just so many chattels that will +bring in, if rented, just so much more income: around them gleams no +vestige of the tender halo that surrounds the appurtenances of an +American home. + +The servant question is one that is just now of special interest to the +American housekeeper in Paris. I have elsewhere spoken of some of the +trials inflicted by these accomplished but often unprincipled domestics +on their masters and mistresses, so will not expatiate further on the +subject. I will merely specify as a special grievance the law that +forces the employer who discharges a servant to inscribe on his or her +character-book a _good_ character: should the departing help have +been sent away for gross immorality, theft or drunkenness, and should +the master write down the real reason of the dismissal, he renders +himself liable to an action for defamation of character. The person, +therefore, who engages servants from their character-book has no real +guarantee as to their worth. It is a well-known fact also that the +intelligence offices in Paris are far more anxious to obtain places for +bad servants than for good ones, because the former class return to them +more frequently, and are consequently the better customers. As to the +percentage exacted from grocers and provision-dealers by cooks and +stewards--a percentage which of course comes indirectly out of the +pocket of the master--the evil has become a crying one, but it is +apparently irremediable. A provision-dealer opened not long since a shop +in one of the most fashionable quarters of Paris, and sent round +circulars to all the housekeepers in the neighborhood announcing his +determination of paying no percentage to servants. The consequence was, +that not one of the cooks would buy anything of him, and he has been +forced to break up his establishment and depart. It is an impossibility +to engage a first-class cook without according to her the privilege of +doing all the marketing--a privilege by which she is enabled to more +than double the amount of her wages at her employer's expense. + +Among the other drawbacks of a residence abroad to an American woman is +an absence of the kindly deference to which, by virtue of her womanhood +alone, she is accustomed at home. The much-vaunted politeness of the +French nation is the thinnest possible varnish over real impertinence or +actual rudeness. None of the true, heartfelt, genuine courtesy that is +so freely accorded to our sex in our own favored land is to be met with +here. "A woman is weak and defenceless," argue, apparently, a large +class of Parisians, "therefore we will stare her out of countenance, we +will mutter impudent speeches in her ear, we will elbow her off the +sidewalk, we will thrust her aside if we want to enter a public +conveyance. Politeness is a thing of hat-lifting, of bowing and +scraping, of 'Pardon!' and 'Merci!' It is an article to be worn, like a +dress-coat and a white tie, in a drawing-room and among our +acquaintances. We have the right article for that occasion--very sweet, +very refined, very graceful, very charming indeed. But as for everyday +use--_nenni_!" That deep, true and chivalrous courtesy that +respects and protects a woman merely because she _is_ a woman, and +as such needs the guardianship of the stronger sex, is something of +which they have never heard and which they do not understand. They will +hand Madame la duchesse de la Haute Volee or Mademoiselle Trois-Etoiles +into her carriage with incomparable grace, but they will push Mrs. Brown +into the gutter, and will whisper in poor blushing Miss Brown's ear that +she is "une fillette charmante." + +And when a Frenchman _is_ rude, his impoliteness is worse than that +of other nations, because he knows better: he is rude with malice +prepense. The lower classes have especially lost much of their courtesy +since the Commune. I have seen a French workingman thrust a lady +violently aside on a crowded sidewalk, with a scowl and a muttered curse +that lent significance to the act. And the graceful, suave courtesy of +the shopkeepers--how swiftly it flies out of the window when their hope +of profit in the shape of the departing shopper walks out of the door! + +Shortly before quitting the United States I went into one of our large +public libraries to consult a voluminous work of reference. In the +remote recess where the books were kept sat a gentleman intent on the +perusal of a volume, his chair tipped back as far as it could be with +safety inclined, and his feet resting on the table. "Horrid fellow!" I +said to myself, glancing at the obtrusive members, and going forward to +the bookcase in search of the work I wanted. It proved to be of somewhat +ponderous dimensions, and higher than I could conveniently reach, so I +stood on tiptoe and tugged vainly at it for a moment. My friend of the +feet saw my dilemma, and down went his book, and he sprang to my +assistance in an instant, "Allow me," he said; and in a moment the heavy +tome was brought down, dusted by a few turns of his pocket-handkerchief +and laid on the table for my accommodation. If he had but known it, +there was mingled with my thanks a world of unuttered but heartfelt +apologies for my former hard thoughts respecting his attitude. And +therein lay the difference between the two nationalities. A Frenchman +would have died rather than have made a library-table a resting-place +for his feet, but he would have let a woman he did not know break a +blood-vessel by her exertions before he would have rendered her the +slightest assistance. + +American women are too apt to accept all the courtesies offered them by +strangers at home as their right, even neglecting to render the poor +meed of thanks in return. But let them when in Paris try to get into an +omnibus on a wet day, and being thrust aside by a strong-armed Frenchman +they will remorsefully remember the seats accorded to them in crowded +cars, and accepted thanklessly and as a matter of course. And when the +lounger on the boulevards dogs their steps or whispers his insulting +compliments in their shuddering ear, they will remember how they were +guarded at home not by one protector, but by all right-minded mankind, +and will thank Heaven that their brothers, their sons, their husbands +"are not even as these are." + + LUCY H. HOOPER. + + + + +OUR MONTHLY GOSSIP. + +GYPSY MUSIC IN HUNGARY. + + +We have all, at some time or other, felt our curiosity and interest +excited by the bands of wandering gypsies whom we may sometimes have +come upon in their encampments pitched in some remote or sequestered +wood or dell--wild-looking men and women and dark, ragged children +grouped about fires over which hang kettles suspended from stakes +arranged in a triangle; mongrel curs which seem to share their masters' +instinctive distrust of strangers; and donkeys browsing near the tilted +carts which convey the tribe from one place to another. We feel a sort +of traditional repulsion for these people, almost amounting to dread, +for stories of children stolen by gypsies, and of their dark, mysterious +ways, have taken root in our infant minds along with those of ghosts and +goblins, robbers and Indians. There are, it is true, romantic +associations connected with them, and we try to fancy a Meg Merrilies in +the swarthy old woman who examines the lines of our hand and tells us +the past, present and future--sometimes with a startling consistency and +probability. But few of us would have supposed that this race of +vagabonds and outcasts had ever risen much above their traditional +occupation of tinkering, far less that any portion of it had displayed +original artistic genius. We have, however, from Robert Franz the +composer a most interesting account of the wonderful music of the +Hungarian gypsies or Tziganys, which he had several opportunities of +hearing during a visit to a friend in Hungary. He had been much +impressed in his youth by the wandering apparitions of these people in +the streets of Kiev, and by the strange, wild dances of their women, +whose outlandish garb was rendered still more effective by the pieces of +red stuff cut into hearts and sewed all over their skirts. "These +caravans of strange beings, who preserve under every sky their dreamy +laziness, their rebellion against the yoke, their love of solitude," had +always possessed an irresistible charm for him, and he had never +understood the scorn and disgust of which they were the object. + +Being informed of the arrival of a gypsy band within eight or ten miles +of his friend's chateau, he took his immediate departure for the forest +where they had made their temporary home. The sun was going down when he +reached the camp. It was in an open glade, where the ground was trampled +down, in some places blackened by fire, and covered with fragments of +coarse pottery, wooden bowls, bones, parings, etc. The gypsies were +there pell-mell--men, women and children, horses, dogs and wagons. The +men, lounging about in various attitudes, were smoking: all had a look +of careless nobility about them, an air of melancholy, and eyes which +burned with slumbering passion. Old women were cowering about the fires, +surrounded by children whose meagre limbs were frankly displayed to +view. Tall girls, with Oriental eyes, firm and polished cheeks, and +vigorous forms, stood facing the horizon, and were distinctly defined +against the blue of the sky. Some wore scarlet gowns, bodices covered +with metallic ornaments, embroidered chemisettes and a profusion of +glass trinkets. In the centre was one, taller by a head than her +companions, her face of a fine and delicate oval unknown amongst us, +with magnetic, disquieting eyes which suggested splendid vices; a black +turban confined her black locks; a chemisette of dazzling whiteness half +opened on her breast; she wore, as a necklace, twisted five or six times +about her neck, a long chaplet of yellow flowers, clusters of which she +held in her hands. The red rays of the setting sun flashed with +fantastic effect upon the scene: then night fell, and in the flickering +glare of the fires gleaming eyes, white teeth and mobile hands emerged +from the gloom. + +Franz had expressed his wish to hear their music, but for a while all +was silent. Suddenly a strange, prolonged note vibrated through the air +like a sigh from the supernatural world; another followed; then after a +pause a majestic but sombre melody was developed. The sounds swelled +like an immense choral, with incomparable purity and nobleness, fraught +with memories of ruins and tombs, of lost liberty and love. Another +pause, and some strophes of unbridled gayety burst forth; then again the +principal phrase, detaching itself like a flower from its stem, among +myriads of winged notes, clusters of vaporous sounds, long spirals of +transparent _fioritures_. Still the violins grew bolder and more +impetuous. Franz rose from his seat while watching these men standing +with their violins pressed against their breasts, as if they were +pouring their life's blood into them: he felt oppressed with anguish, +when, by an ingenious inversion, the gloomy theme was transformed into a +graceful, poetic melody. The sounds passed away rapidily like sparks, +then were extinguished for a moment. A ferocious violence animated the +last measures, and the gypsies laid down their bows. But, divining a +sympathetic listener, they recommenced and played on till the night was +far advanced. At length they ceased, and Franz left the camp, carrying +with him the revelation of a hitherto unknown art. + +Three principal features (he tells us) determine the character of +Tzigany music--its intervals, not used in European harmony, its peculiar +rhythms, and its Oriental fioritures or grace-notes. In the minor scale +the Tziganys take the fourth augmented, the sixth diminished and the +seventh augmented. It is by the frequent augmentation of the fourth that +the harmony acquires a wonderfully audacious and disquieting character. +The educated musician at first thinks he hears false notes, but the law +of their harmonies is to have no law. Their abundance is incalculable, +and the solemn and intoxicating effects resulting from the rapid and +beautiful transitions cannot be imagined. As for the grace-notes, they +give to the ear a pleasure like that which Moorish architecture gives to +the eye: the architects of the Alhambra painted on each of their bricks +a graceful little poem; the gypsies adorn each note with melodious +designs and luxuriant embroideries. But (we quote M. Franz throughout) +who shall describe the impalpable flame of Tzigany sentiment, the +strange, subjugating charm of which is a vital animation almost adequate +to life itself? or the mysterious equilibrium which reigns in this +undisciplined art between the sentiment and the form? Mystery of genius, +which bears in itself its inexplicable power of emotion, and which +science and taste in vain deny! + +When Franz again heard Tzigany music it was under very different +circumstances. A fete was given by a Hungarian gentleman, of which this +music was to be one of the attractions, the most distinguished +performers being Farkas Miska and Remenyi Ede. The arrival of the latter +on the morning after the first evening concert (the fete seems to have +lasted some days) was announced to M. Franz by a great noise, a banging +of doors and windows and moving of furniture in the room next his own. +It at length ceased, and he was just getting to sleep again when some +one knocked at his door, and a pretty, fair-haired boy entered, who +announced himself as Ptolemyi Nandor, the fervent disciple of Remenyi +Ede, who, he said, had just arrived and was about to take possession of +the adjoining apartment. + +"Well, sir, is it to inform me of your name and your fervor that you +have come to prevent me from sleeping?" + +"No," said the boy decidedly: "it is to ask you to dress yourself and go +out for a walk." + +To the astonished exclamation of M. Franz he replied that his master +wished to practice, beginning early, and that it annoyed him to have any +one hear him. + +"Go to the devil, you and your master!" naturally shouted our composer. + +The boy became purple. "What!" he said, "send him to the devil?--him, +the great violinist, the successor of Czemak, of Bihary!" + +"Is your master a gypsy?" + +"No, but he is the only living violinist who possesses the authentic +tradition of gypsy music." + +"I love this music; therefore I will get up and go down to the garden." + +"Oh no, sir: go into the fields. See!" and he opened the window, "every +one has left the castle." And actually the master of the house and his +guests were all defiling through the garden-gate, having had only three +hours' sleep. M. Franz soon joined them, and heard from them the story +of Remenyi. + +At the age of seventeen he had been attached to the person of Goergey +during the Hungarian war. Leaving his country with the emigration, he +had shared the exile of Count Teleki, Sandor and others; then passed +some time at Guernsey, where he knew Victor Hugo. He had afterward +performed with brilliant success in London, Hamburg, etc., and his +renown, after his return to Hungary, went on increasing. He traveled +about the country in every direction, astonishing nobles and peasants, +and playing with the same enthusiasm and poetry in barns as in palaces. +On hearing this our author slipped back to the garden, where he hid +himself to listen to Remenyi, who, to his great disgust, was playing a +concerto of Bach's. + +At breakfast, Remenyi appeared, a very commonplace-looking man, full of +his own praises, and always speaking himself in the third person. +"Remenyi practiced well this morning," said he. + +"Yes, a concerto of Bach's!" Franz. + +Thereupon Remenyi asked for his violin, and they heard a marvelous +specimen of real Tzigany inspiration. Vanity disappeared--passion, nerve +and sentiment took its place. He had all the qualities demanded by +science, together with those of imagination. It was the passionate +inspiration of genius. After his performance was over, he went gravely +to the mantelpiece, stopped the clock, and said to the master of the +house, "Let this hand mark for ever the hour when Remenyi played at your +house." + +M. Franz taking no pains to disguise; his admiration, Remenyi, gratified +by it, invited him to accompany him home. Wherever he went he received a +perfect ovation. At one place he ordered a pair of boots, which were +sent home, paid for by the municipality. Art is a national glory in +Hungary, especially that of the gypsies, which has taken root in the +very heart of the soil. + +Remenyi's house at Rakos-Palota, near Pesth, is a long, rambling +building, the courtyard of which is given up to chickens, ducks and +pigs. M. Franz says the poplars before the door look like +exclamation-marks, and he thinks they are planted there to serve as +such. There are heaps of rare and precious objects of every imaginable +description--all gifts--but the ones which the owner shows with most +pride are his Hungarian sabre and a pair of boots which Liszt wore when +a child. + +The question is often discussed in Hungary whether the national +Hungarian music is the production of Tzigany genius, or whether the +gypsies are only the exponents of what properly belongs to Hungary +itself. The gypsies are proved to have been in Hungary as early as the +thirteenth century, and their musicians were celebrated in the +sixteenth, some of their names still living in the memory of the people. +What has been preserved of genuine old Hungarian music (some melodies of +Timody Stephens) has no charm save its antiquity. These and other +facts--but, above all, the impression produced on him by the music +itself--have convinced M. Franz that the gypsy faculty is one not only +of execution, but creation. Gypsy art proceeds from the sentiment, the +genius, of the Tzigany race. It is too strange, its elements are too +wild, to be the exclusive product of a thoughtful, wise, believing, +practical and civilized people; but the Hungarians have understood this +art--they have surrounded it with love and respect. Gaining new life, +warmth and vigor from the welcoming applause of Hungary, it belongs to +her by virtue of her admiration and sympathetic tears. + + E.C.R. + + + + +THE "GIORNO DEI MORTI." + + +We all know that the second of November is All Souls' Day, and that it +is the day dedicated in the Roman calendar to the commemoration of all +those who have departed "in the faith." And few who have traveled on the +continent of Europe are not aware that the day is observed in all +Southern countries with a degree of devotion which the greater part of +the communities in question are not in the habit of according to any +other of the ordinances of the Church. But to observe the manifestation +of this devotion in its most striking forms, to seize all the more +picturesque developments and presentations of it, the "Giorno dei Morti" +must be passed at Rome. + +It is a curious fact--one of the many of a similar order which +illustrate the moral specialties of the Latin populations--that hundreds +of thousands of people of both sexes, who neither believe, nor affect to +believe, the doctrines of the orthodox Church, and who are in the habit +of utterly disregarding all her prescriptions and teaching, should +nevertheless, as often as this sad anniversary comes round, behave as if +they were to all intents and purposes good Catholics. It will be said, +perhaps, that the feelings to which the special character of the +commemoration appeals are so common to all human hearts that the +manifestation of them on any customary occasion is in no degree to be +wondered at. But I do not think that this will suffice to explain the +phenomenon--at least as it may be witnessed here in Italy. Other church +ordinances might be pointed out of which the same thing might be said, +but which are not similarly observed. The real cause of the phenomenon I +take to be that this population is--as it was of old, and as it always +has been through all outward changes--pagan. I put it crudely for the +sake of putting it shortly, for this is not the place to trouble the +readers of a few paragraphs of "Gossip" with a dissertation in support +of the assertion. The innate paganism of these people, born of the +beauty of the climate and of all external Nature, and of the sensuous +proclivity to live and breathe and have their being in the present and +the visible which results therefrom, first forcibly shaped their early +Christianity into moulds which assimilated it to pagan observances and +modes of thought, and still remains ready to resume more and more of its +old empire as the authority of Church beliefs waxes feeble. The very +striking and singular scene which was to be witnessed in the great Roman +cemetery outside the Porta di San Lorenzo on the second day of November +was to all intents and purposes pagan in its spirit and meaning. And it +is curious to observe in this, as in so many other instances, how the +use of words supplies illustrations of national peculiarities and +specialties of character. The Church has dedicated the day in question +to the commemoration "_omnium animarum"_--of all _souls_. And we others, +people of a Teutonic race, have taken and used the phrase in its proper +Christian sense: we talk of "All _Souls_' Day." But with the peoples of +the Latin stock all thought or question of "souls" is very speedily lost +sight of. With them the day is simply the "Giorno dei _Morti_"--the day +of _the dead_. And their observance of it is to all intents and purposes +what it might have been two thousand years ago. + +The very ancient church of San Lorenzo, one of the four extramural +basilicas, is situated some ten minutes' walk outside the gate of the +same name on the road to Tivoli; and around and behind this church is +the vast cemetery to which all the Roman dead are carried. It was first +used as an extramural cemetery at the time of the first French +occupation, but has been very greatly extended since that time. Clergy, +nobles and monks were at first, and as long as Papal rule lasted, +exempted from the decree which forbade interment within the city. Now +all must be taken to San Lorenzo, and the greatly increased population +of the city has already very thickly filled an immense area. The first +thing that strikes the visitor to this huge necropolis is the very +marked division between the poor and the rich quarters of this city of +the dead. The _fashionable_ districts are quite as unmistakably divided +and separated from those occupied by "the lower classes" as they are in +any city of the living; as is perhaps but right and natural in the case +of a population among which it is held that the condition and prospects +of the dead may be very materially influenced by a _quantum sufficit_ of +masses said for them, and where these can be purchased in any quantity +for cash. A very large parallelogram, for the most part surrounded by +cloisters, is first entered from the gates which open on the road. But +this has been but little used as yet. Beyond it, to the right, is the +vast space occupied by the graves of the multitude. Let the reader +picture to himself a huge flat space extending as far as the eye can +see, thickly planted with little black wooden crosses, with inscriptions +on them in white letters. The sameness of all these fragile memorials +produces a strange and depressing effect. The undistinguished thousands +of them make all the space seem black spotted with white. They are ugly; +and the poverty of these bits of painted stick, incapable of resisting +the effects of the weather, seems sordid in the extreme. In the graves +of this part of the cemetery all are in truth equal. To the left of the +vast cloister-surrounded square which has been mentioned the scene is a +very different one. There, immediately behind the eastern end of the +basilica, the soil rises in a very steep bank to a height greater than +that of the church. To the space on the top of this bank a handsome and +garden-decorated flight of step leads; and there the "Upper Ten" take +their dignified rest, and their dust is perfectly safe from all danger +of being mingled with that of less distinguished mortality. This higher +ground is called the _Pincetto_--as who should say the "Little +Pincian"--a name adapted from that of the celebrated promenade of the +gay and fortunate in life, with a suggestion of meaning so satirical +that it might seem to have been given to the "fashionable" quarter of +the dead city by the united sneers of all the ghosts who haunt the +undistinguished graves below. In this aristocratic quarter there is of +course no monotonous uniformity. The monuments, some of freestone and +some of marble, are of every conceivable form and degree of splendor, +and death is made to look pretty and coquettish by the introduction of +numerous weeping willows and other such botanical helps to sentiment. +The great majority of the inscriptions are in Latin, for Pius IX., so +long as his power lasted, absolutely forbade the use of any other +language; which was a measure of very questionable judiciousness, seeing +that a large crop of Latinity by no means creditable to Italian +scholarship has been the result. It would have been better to stick to +good Della-Cruscan Italian, or to have employed some English +school-usher to come here as resident reviser of Roman Latinity. +Inelegant and even ungrammatical inscriptions, however, do not interfere +with the general picturesqueness of the spot, or with its singular +adaptation to show to advantage the remarkable scene enacted there on +the last "Giorno dei Morti." + +The cemetery had been visited by great numbers of persons, bringing +chaplets and flowers, during the day, both in the aristocratic and the +plebeian quarters, but it was at night that the crowd was greatest and +the scene most striking. The night, as it so chanced, was a dark one, +which did not make the scene by any means less strange and +weird-looking. The greater number of visitors, especially in the poor +quarter of the dead city, were women. Such is always the case, whether +it be that the female mind is more generally accessible to gentle +thoughts of and yearnings over their lost ones, or whether the +explanation be simply that, as is especially the case here, women, +having less to occupy their leisure either in the way of business or +amusement, are more eager to seek any emotion or occasion which may +serve to break the flat monotony of their lives. + +Certainly the scene in the cemetery on the evening of the "Day of the +Dead" was one calculated to make an impression not to be readily +forgotten by any mere looker-on who witnessed it. Nor was that presented +by the road from the gate to the cemetery less remarkable in its way. It +is an ugly, disagreeable bit of road, between high walls, deep with mud +in wet, and with dust in dry weather, as was the case on the present +occasion, and without the smallest vestige of a pathway for +foot-passengers; so that the motley crowd, with their lights and +chaplets and flowers, had to make their way amid a cloud of dust and +among the carriages of those bound for the "Pincetto" as best they +might. But it was the general apparent mood and temper of mind in which +these pilgrims, bound on so sad an errand, seemed to be performing their +self-imposed task that was especially noteworthy. It might be supposed +that a certain degree of reverential self-concentration, or at least of +quietude, would have been the characteristic of a crowd bound on such an +errand. There was not the smallest symptom of anything of the sort. It +is true that many visit the cemetery on the evening in question who have +not recently lost any relative or friend, going thither merely as +performing an act of devotion or of amusement, or, as is usually the +case with all devotion in this country, of both combined. But the +greater number of the pilgrims is composed of those who have buried +their dead within the preceding year. Yet, as I have said, there was +observable in the bearing of the crowd not only no reverential feeling, +but not even that amount of quietude which the most careless body of +people of our race would have deemed it but decent to assume on such an +occasion. Laughter might have been heard, though not perhaps very much. +But the noise was astonishing--noise of incessant chatter in tones which +bespoke anything but the tone of mind which might have been expected. +The truth is, that he who expects to find in the people of this race the +sentiment of awe or reverence under any circumstances whatever does not +know them. It is not in them. The capacity for it is not in them. It is +not a question of more or less education, or of this or that condition +of life. The higher and the lower classes, the clergy and the laity, are +equally destitute of the capacity for feeling or comprehending the +sentiment which makes so large a part of the lives of the people of a +different race. To me the observation, far from being suggested by what +met my eye on the occasion in question, is the outcome of more than a +quarter of a century's experience of Italian ways and thoughts. But the +exhibition of the peculiarity on that occasion was very striking. +Doubtless there was many a mother among that throng whose heart had been +wrung, whose very soul had been struck chill within her, by the loss of +the child on whose grave she was about to place the humble tribute of +common flowers which she carried in her hand. No doubt many a +truly-sorrowing husband and yet more deeply-stricken wife were on the +way to visit the sod beneath which their hopes of happiness had been +buried with their lost ones. But whatever might have been in their +hearts was not manifested by any token of _reverential_ feeling. There +were tears, there were even sobs occasionally to be heard, but there was +neither reverence nor what we should deem decency of behavior. + +Within the cemetery "distance lent enchantment to the view." As seen +from the cloister which surrounds the great square, as has been +mentioned, the outlook over the "poor quarter" of the vast burial-ground +was very striking. Amid the wilderness of black crosses, which extends +farther than eye could see, numerous figures were flitting hither and +thither, many of them with lights in their hands. In the farther +distance, where the figures were invisible, the lights could still be +seen mysteriously, as it seemed, moving over the closely-ranged graves +like corpse-candles, as the old superstition termed the phosphoric +lights which may in certain states of the atmosphere be seen in crowded +graveyards. In the foreground, where the figures could be distinguished, +many were seen on their knees in the damp and malarious evening air at +the graves of their lost relatives. But not even in the bearing these +could anything of real earnestness be traced. They were performing a +routine duty, of which no doubt their own consciences and their friends +and neighbors would have disapproved the omission; and that was all. +Nevertheless, the _picturesqueness_ of the general effect was perfect, +and it appealed to the imagination of a looker-on in a manner which to +many minds, more intent on sensational emotions than on discrimination +of social characteristics, would have caused the above remarks to appear +sadly ill-timed and out of place. + +The scene which was meantime being enacted on the Pincetto, where the +wholly separated resting-places of the "Upper Ten" protest so +successfully against the leveling notion that in death all are equal, I +might have suggested many a mordant epigram to the cynically-minded +visitor. I fear that there is often something provocative of cynicism in +sundry of the aspects of fashionable devotion, but on such an occasion +as the present it could hardly be otherwise. Rachels in Parisian bonnets +and sweeping silk skirts, muttering over their rosaries for their +children on splendid cushions borne in due state by attendant +plush-clothed ministers, were contrasted in these realms of the +universal Leveler somewhat too strongly with the scene one had just left +in the (physically and socially) lower regions of the cemetery. Of +course hearts that beat beneath silken bodices may be wrung as bitterly +as those that serge covers. I am speaking only of those outward +manifestations which contributed to complete the strangeness of the +general spectacle which I had come out to see. The better tending of the +aristocratic portion of the cemetery, and the greater space between the +graves and their monuments, made it of course easier and less +disagreeable to pass among them and to note the bearing of individual +mourners. If the former scene had presented much that was indecorously +formal, here all was decorously formal. The routine, cut-and-dry nature +of the duty being performed exercised in either case its property of +numbing natural feeling, or at least the appearance of it. + +On the whole, the experience offered by a visit to the great Roman +cemetery on the evening of the "Giorno dei Morti" is a singular and +curious one, as will be admitted, I think, by any one who may be tempted +by my example to go and see it. + + T.A.T. + + + + +MR. MILL'S MOTHER. + + +The publication of the late Mr. John Mill's _Theism_ (writes a +correspondent from England) has again brought forward its author and his +peculiarities as subjects of general conversation. Not content with +having talked these matters pretty well over some months ago, people are +at this moment discussing them with not a whit less of interest than if +they were brand-new. But it is what Mr. Mill has omitted to tell us in +his _Autobiography_, quite as much as what he has there told us, that +excites popular curiosity about him. How came it that a man whose +admiration of his wife was hardly distinguishable from idolatry should +never once mention his mother? Thousands have asked, and have asked in +vain, who she was, and whether she could have been so entirely +insignificant as to deserve being passed over, without even so much as +an allusion to her, by her very philosophic son. These questions, and +others connected with them, I might answer at length. However, the few +facts I shall here state will perhaps be no less welcome than a long +detail. The wife of James Mill, and mother of John Mill, was a Miss +Burrows, daughter of a Dr. Burrows who superintended an asylum for the +insane at Islington. She died in London about twenty years ago, having +outlived her husband not quite that period. Her children were nine in +number, of whom four daughters are still living--two in England and two +in France. She was not what would be reckoned a conspicuously +intellectual woman, and yet she by no means deserved the heartless +slight which was put on her memory by her son. Indeed, such a slight +could have its justification in little short of utter worthlessness; +and Mrs. James Mill was not only esteemed, but beloved, by a large +circle of friends. On the appearance of the _Autobiography_ her +daughters were, naturally enough, not a little indignant at finding +their mother as much ignored in it as if she had never existed, and were +inclined, at first, to supplement, publicly, their brother's account of +himself by certain disclosures not exactly of a character to exalt him +in the estimation of the world. Suffice it to say here that for many +years before his death he had been estranged from his family; and this +estrangement was attributed, by those who had the best opportunities of +judging, to the sinister influence of his wife. This is all that I am +disposed to communicate at present, but I should not be at all surprised +if we were to know, by and by, much more of the private life of John +Mill than we as yet know. + + + + +NOTES. + + +There has recently emerged into notice, from her hiding-place in one of +the outskirts of London, an ancient woman whose surroundings forcibly +illustrate the persevering vitality of even the insanest forms of +religious belief. Joanna Southcott and her fanaticisms we are apt to +associate with Dr. Faustus, alchemy, and persons and things of that +kind, as belonging to an age with which we have no personal concern. Yet +this is a mistake. The followers of the fatidical Joanna may still be +counted by thousands in Great Britain, particularly in its metropolis; +and their acknowledged head, in strict accordance with the fitness of +things, is a woman. She is a very old woman, too, her age symbolizing, +perhaps, the longevity to which her crazy superstition is destined. +Elizabeth Peacock is the name of this relic of the past. For many years +she itinerated as a preacher, and at the great age of one hundred and +three her health is still vigorous. Modern priestesses, however, not +unlike the prophets of antiquity, are subject to be scanted of due +honor, or, at all events, of what is more essential than this as +contributing to keep soul and body from parting company prematurely. The +fact of her being in a state of destitution was notified not long ago to +the magistrate of the Lambeth police-court, and that unappreciative +functionary, while consenting to subscribe, with others, for her relief, +openly expressed his conviction that she would be best off in the +workhouse. Altogether, the old creature is a bit of a curiosity. She has +had three husbands, and the last of them, whom she married in 1852, +killed himself only the other day, possibly from finding the twofold +burden of domestic predication and a helpmeet of five score too much for +his nerves. If sane, the ungrateful fellow ought, in all reason, to have +had the grace to survive her; for when he undertook matrimony, as he had +nothing to turn his hand to, she instructed him herself in the art and +mystery of cooperage. At that time, so robust a specimen of anility was +she, she could pitch an empty cask across the street, and her credulity +is as strong at this moment as her arm was of yore. We conclude, from +her story, that the proper stuff for making prophetesses of the baser +sort has, even in our day, only to be looked for to be discovered. + + * * * * * + +Our countrymen have lately learned to admire, in its Western +transformation, the extremely clever _Rubaiyat_ of Omer Khayyam. And +they are certainly much in the right in so doing. The sterling merits of +the Persian original are preserved with striking fidelity in the English +version of the poem, which, for the rest, has gone far to prove that the +acceptableness among us of Oriental poetry may depend very largely on +the skill with which it is transplanted into our language. The +translator of the _Rubaiyat_ is Mr. Edward FitzGerald, of Woodbridge in +Suffolk. Mr. FitzGerald's ancient family one may learn all about from +Burke's _Landed Gentry_, and that he was born in 1809, and that he +married Lucy, daughter of Bernard Barton, the Quaker poet. He was +educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where among his contemporaries +and friends were the present poet-laureate and Mr. Spedding, the editor +of Bacon. The _London Catalogue_ names three works as by Mr. FitzGerald. +These, as we find from inspection of the works themselves, are as +follows: 1. _Euphranor, a Dialogue on Youth,_ 1851 (it reached a second +edition, increased by an _Appendix_, in 1855); 2. _Polonius: A +Collection of Wise Saws and Modern Instances_, 1852; 3. _Six Dramas of +Calderon_, 1853. These dramas are translations, in prose and verse, of +_The Painter of his Own Dishonor, Keep your Own Secret, Gil Perez the +Gallician, Three Judgments at a Blow, The Mayor of Zalamea_, and _Beware +of Smooth Water_. In none of these volumes, however, except the last is +there any indication of its authorship but there Mr. FitzGerald's name +is given in full. The date of his metrical translation of _Salaman and +Absal_, from the Persian, we are not at this moment, able to specify. +Add, as printed by him, but not published, two other small volumes of +translations--one, of the _Agamemnon_ of AEschylus; and the other, of two +of Calderon's plays, _Life is a Dream_ and _The Wonderful Magician_. +Finally, we have to mention an unprinted verse-translation, _The Bird +Parliament_, from the Persian _Mantiq-ut-tair_ by Attar. Mr. Allibone +knows nothing of Mr. FitzGerald, and he is similarly passed over in +silence by the compiler of _Men of the Time._ Everything that he has +produced is uniformly distinguished by marked ability; and, such being +the case, his indifference to fame, in this age of ambition for literary +celebrity, is a phenomenon which deserves to be emphasized. + + + + +LITERATURE OF THE DAY. + +The French Humorists from the Twelfth to the Nineteenth Century. + By Walter Besant, M.A. + Boston: Roberts Brothers. + + +Had Mr. Besant given us definitions of "humor" and "humorist," we might +possibly not have been satisfied with them, but they would at least have +enabled us to understand what sense he attaches to the words, and what +principle determined him in selecting the writers embraced in his +category. In the first page of his book he speaks of humor as "a branch" +of satire; in the second he identifies French satire as the "esprit +gaulois;" in the third he tells us that "the French type for satire and +humor has preserved one uniform character from generation to +generation;" and in his last page he claims superiority for the French +over the English humorists, on the ground that "Rabelais has a finer wit +than Swift," that "we have no political satire so good as the _Satyre +Menipee_," "no English humor comparable for a moment with that of the +fabliaux," "no letter-writer like Voiture," "no teller of tales like La +Fontaine," and "no _chansonnier_ like Beranger." Now, it is evident that +this is a comparison not of French and English humorists, but of certain +classes of writers in the two languages in reference to their +manifestation of humor. We have no fabulist like La Fontaine, no +song-writer equal to Beranger; but then we do not think of citing our +fables and songs as the highest examples of English humor. It would be +easy to array a list of names as a set-off against that of Mr. Besant. +But this is needless. Humor, in the sense in which the word is commonly +understood, may almost be said to be a distinctive quality of English +literature, which is pervaded by it in a far greater degree than that of +any other people. It is a leading trait in all the great English +novelists, from Fielding to Thackeray and George Eliot, without +excepting Richardson, in whom it is least conspicuous; it is the chief +attribute of our finest essayists, from Addison to Charles Lamb; it is +harmoniously blended with the fresh and simple pathos of Chaucer and +with the passionate moodiness of Carlyle: it holds equal sway with the +tragic element in the world created by Shakespeare. When Mr. Besant says +that "there is no English humor comparable for a moment with that of the +fabliaux," we are forced to suppose either that he uses the word "humor" +in some unexplained and inexplicable sense, or that he leaves out of the +account what would generally be considered the greatest of humorous +productions. The puzzle increases when we find him omitting all mention +of Le Sage, while excusing himself for the omission, from lack of space, +of Rousseau! A list of humorous works which should exclude _Gil Blas_ to +make room for _Emile_ or _Le Contrat Social_, might itself, one would +think, act as a provocative on the _esprit gaulois_. + +These mysteries are not the only ones in Mr. Besant's volume to which we +have to confess our inability to discover a key. In closing his remarks +on Montaigne he touches with undissembled irony the question whether he +was a Christian, and, after contrasting the tone and sentiments of the +_Essais_ with those of the Gospels, bids us "remember that we are not in +the nineteenth century, but in the sixteenth, that Montaigne died in the +act of adoration, and cease to ask whether the man was a Christian;" +adding, "Christian? There was no better Christian than Montaigne in all +his century." It appears, therefore, that the sixteenth century, instead +of being, as we had supposed, one in which the Reformation had brought +with it a revival of religious earnestness and a reaction against +religious formalism, and in which on the battle-field, in the dungeon +and at the stake, as well as through voluntary exile and the +relinquishment of property, thousands in every country testified to the +fervor and sincerity of their religious convictions, was in truth, like +the eighteenth century, one in which a prevailing skepticism or +indifference paid to dead but not yet dethroned creeds its light homage +of affected "adoration." Mr. Besant informs us that "to the men of +culture the rival parties were but two political sides." How many men of +culture could be cited in support of this assertion? We grant him +Montaigne, but it was precisely because the case of Montaigne was an +exceptional one in the age of Erasmus and More, of Calvin and Coligny, +that the question in regard to him has not seemed altogether idle. + +It appears from another passage that Mr. Besant has an easy method of +arriving at a judgment in regard to the character or general aspect of +an historical epoch. From the details in regard to food, dress and +furniture which he finds in the works of Eustache Deschamps, a satirical +poet of the fourteenth century, he infers that the bourgeois life of +that period was "comfortable, abundant and cheery." "History," he says, +"paints this as the worst and most disastrous period that Europe had +ever seen; yet here, in the most real poet of the century, we see how +life, as a whole, went on in the usual way. For when a great pestilence +strikes a country, it slays its thousands and goes away. Time quickly +heals the wounds of grief, and the world goes on as before. Then come +the English to sack and destroy. Nature heals their wounds, too, by the +recurring seasons, and the world goes on as before. I am inclined to +think that life, on the whole, was generally pleasant for a well-to-do +Frenchman of the period." Mr. Besant, it will be seen, concedes that +evils are evils while they last, that war and pestilence are not +pleasant things to the victims, and that the comfortable and cheery life +of the fourteenth century suffered some interruptions from these causes. +But then it was still, he insists, an agreeable life "on the whole," +since "the recurring seasons" healed the wounds and the grief, and left +the survivors to enjoy existence "in the usual way." This, it must be +owned, is a very comfortable and cheery philosophy--for those who preach +it. We do not see that they need ever complain of "bad times," since +they can always be sure that the recurring seasons will bring +alleviation to the survivors. It may also be admitted that, as there is +no age in which the recurring seasons do not bring relief, so there has +been none when war and pestilence and similar evils did not interrupt +the usual course of life. There is, however, this difference, that in +some ages these evils last longer than in others, the wounds are deeper, +the victims more numerous, the intermissions less frequent, the relief +tardier, the survivors fewer. Such an age in France was the period of +the English invasions, comprising a great portion of the fourteenth and +fifteenth centuries. That life was then, "on the whole," anything but +comfortable and cheery is attested by records and evidence of all kinds, +against which the mention of weddings and christenings, of +gold-embroidered mantles and robes of silk, in the pages of a court poet +will, we apprehend, count for very little, especially as the sufferers +do not appear to have solaced themselves with reflections on the sure +effects of the recurring seasons. Deschamps himself was unable, it +seems, to get his pension paid; and if he died, as Mr. Besant tells us, +about 1409, the chances, we think, are that however he may have +denounced luxury as the "crying evil" of his time, his death was the +result of starvation. + +Mr. Besant, it will be perceived, is one of those writers who indulge in +haphazard assertions without troubling their heads with the facts that +conflict with them. A glaring instance of his tendency to exaggeration +and wild speculation will be found in his estimate of Rabelais, whom he +first vaunts as "a great moral teacher," "a teacher the like of whom +Europe had not yet seen," and then denounces as having "destroyed +effectually, perhaps for centuries yet to come, earnestness in France," +declaring that "no writer who ever lived has inflicted such lasting +injury on his country," and that "it would have been better for France +if his book, tied to a millstone, had been hurled into the sea." These +opinions are contradictory of each other, since it is impossible that a +writer who so perverted men's minds should also have been, in any proper +sense of the term, a great moral teacher; they are inconsistent with Mr. +Besant's account of the "unbroken lines of writers," of whom Rabelais +was one, but not the first, all having the same characteristics, all +"irreverent," having "no strong convictions," "like children for +mockery, mischief and lightness of heart;" and finally, they are so +improbable in themselves, and so unsusceptible of proof, that, uttered +as they are with the solemnity of communications from an unseen world, +they produce much the same impression on us as the disclosures with +which Mr. Robert Dale Owen is favored by his "materialized" visitants. + +We might cite other examples to prove that Mr. Besant is not a safe +guide either in his general speculations or in his critical judgments. +He is an agreeable narrator, showing a close familiarity with the topics +he handles, and an enthusiasm which, if it sometimes degenerates into +mere fume, adds on the whole to the liveliness of his writing. His +translations in verse are remarkable for their ease and finish. The book +may be read with pleasure, but not, we fear, with equal profit. The +chapters that deal with the least known works and writers are the most +satisfactory. On Montaigne and Moliere Mr. Besant has nothing to say +which is likely to incite the reader to a fresh study of their works, +which ought to be the effect of every fresh discourse on a great author. + + * * * * * + +Recollections of a Tour made in Scotland A.D. 1803. + By Dorothy Wordsworth. + Edited by J.C. Shairp, LL.D. + New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. + + +The special charm of this book lies in the fact that it is not a +book--that there was no thought in the writer's mind of printer's ink, +no vision of publicity or fame, no solicitude to propitiate critics or +win the sympathy of the "gentle reader." Or one might say it was a book +of the primitive kind, written on the bark of trees by some shy dryad, +unconcious translator into speech of the rustlings and whisperings of +the woodland. It is, as the editor observes, an "effortless narrative," +with "no attempt at fine or sensational writing, ... at that modern +artifice which they call word-painting," but recording with "vivid +exactness" what was seen and felt by the writer and her companions on a +journey through regions then little frequented by tourists and +unsmirched by the eloquence of guide-books. That the travelers were +William and Dorothy Wordsworth and (for a part of the way) S.T. +Coleridge, that scenes and incidents here first sketched in the sister's +sober prose were afterward memorialized and moralized in the brother's +verse, and that many of the spots described were about to become famous +with and through Scott--a meeting with whom formed the fitting close to +the tour,--these are circumstances that of course invest the journal +with a deeper interest and have called wider attention to its +unobtrusive beauty. But its chief attractiveness lies in the Doric +simplicity not only of the style but of the matter. An outlandish Irish +car was the conveyance; the appearance of the party was not such as to +attract notice unless by the quaintness of their garb or their awkward +management of the horse, "now gibbing and backing over a bank, now +reduced to a walk, with one of the poets leading him by the head;" and +they themselves were in search of nothing more notable than such wayside +objects as might serve to feed contemplation. On one occasion, having +turned aside to visit the duke of Hamilton's picture-gallery, they were +told by the porter, after he had scanned them over, that they ought not +to have come to the front door, and were directed to an obscure entrance +at the corner of the house, where they seated themselves humbly on a +bench while waiting for admittance, which was finally refused. They were +mortified, but had a deeper pang in the grounds around Bothwell Castle, +for here they were "_hurt_ to see that flower-borders had taken place of +the natural overgrowings of the ruins, the scattered stones and wild +plants." Sometimes at an inn they were made to perceive how little +consideration they were entitled to by being lodged in inferior rooms +while better ones were vacant; but to compensate for this, in the wilder +parts of the country they were greeted with the hospitality which their +mere condition as strangers was still sufficient to call forth. The +descriptions given of the people have at least an equal interest with +those of the scenery. We have a succession of pictures in which, as +Principal Shairp remarks, "man is seen against a great background of +Nature and solitude." The book is one not to be read and laid away, but +to be kept near at hand, and made a frequent companion and familiar +friend. + + + +_Books Received_. + + + +Sophisms of Protection. + By the late M. Frederic Bastiat. + Translated from the Paris edition of 1863, + with Preface by Horace White. + New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. + + +Select Notes on the International Sabbath School Lessons for 1875. + By a New England Pastor. + Boston: Henry Hoyt. + + +Notes in England and Italy. + By Mrs. Nathaniel Hawthorne. + Illustrated Edition. + New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. + + +William Prince of Orange; or, The King and his Hostage. + By Rev. T.M. Merriman, A.M. + Boston: Henry Hoyt. + + +Report of the Commissioner of Education for the year 1873. + Washington: Government Printing Office. + + +Among the Trees. + By William Cullen Bryant. + Illustrated. + New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. + + +Early English History. + By John P. Yeatman. + London: Longmans, Green & Co. + + +Poems. + By Stuart Sterne. + (Published for the Author.) + New York: F.B. Patterson. + + +The Frozen Deep. + By Wilkie Collins. + Boston: William F. Gill & Co. + + +A Lecture on the Protestant Faith. + By Dwight H. Olmstead. + New York. + + + + +FOOTNOTES. + + +[1] _Travel and Art-Study in Italy_, by C.E. NORTON. + +[2] December, 1874, art. "Physical Effects of Emotion on the Heart." + +[3] I have several times performed this experiment, and by a method, +the explanation of which would require a separate article, have proved +that the vaso-motor centre, as well as the respiratory centre, is +situated in the medulla oblongata, and that paralysis of neither +respiration nor of the vaso-motor nerves follows the operation. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIPPINCOTT'S MAGAZINE OF POPULAR +LITERATURE AND SCIENCE, VOL. 15, NO. 86, FEBRUARY, 1875*** + + +******* This file should be named 14709.txt or 14709.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/7/0/14709 + + + +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. 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