diff options
Diffstat (limited to '14709-h')
| -rw-r--r-- | 14709-h/14709-h.htm | 10290 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 14709-h/images/001.jpg | bin | 0 -> 61169 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 14709-h/images/002.jpg | bin | 0 -> 36365 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 14709-h/images/003.jpg | bin | 0 -> 13227 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 14709-h/images/004.jpg | bin | 0 -> 62087 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 14709-h/images/005.jpg | bin | 0 -> 50811 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 14709-h/images/006.jpg | bin | 0 -> 25884 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 14709-h/images/007.jpg | bin | 0 -> 61882 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 14709-h/images/008.jpg | bin | 0 -> 77138 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 14709-h/images/009.jpg | bin | 0 -> 79560 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 14709-h/images/010.jpg | bin | 0 -> 130898 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 14709-h/images/011.jpg | bin | 0 -> 58191 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 14709-h/images/012.jpg | bin | 0 -> 17672 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 14709-h/images/013.jpg | bin | 0 -> 41951 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 14709-h/images/014.jpg | bin | 0 -> 97999 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 14709-h/images/015.jpg | bin | 0 -> 88292 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 14709-h/images/016.jpg | bin | 0 -> 4077 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 14709-h/images/017.jpg | bin | 0 -> 42996 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 14709-h/images/018.jpg | bin | 0 -> 39362 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 14709-h/images/019.jpg | bin | 0 -> 33888 bytes |
20 files changed, 10290 insertions, 0 deletions
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%; 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%; margin-left: 40%; width: 20%;} + .note + {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + span.pagenum + {position: absolute; left: 1%; right: 91%; font-size: 8pt;} + .blockquot + {margin-left:3%; margin-right:3%; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: justify;} + .poem + {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem p {margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem p.i2 {margin-left: 1em;} + .poem p.i4 {margin-left: 2em;} + .poem p.i6 {margin-left: 3em;} + .poem p.i8 {margin-left: 4em;} + .poem p.i10 {margin-left: 5em;} + .poem p.i12 {margin-left: 6em;} + .poem p.i16 {margin-left: 8em;} + .poem p.i18 {margin-left: 9em;} + .poem_1 {margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; margin-bottom: 1em; + text-align: center; width: 450px;} + .poem_1 .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem_1 p {margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem_1 p.i2 {margin-left: 1em;} + .poem_1 p.i4 {margin-left: 2em;} + .poem_1 p.i6 {margin-left: 3em;} + .poem_1 p.i8 {margin-left: 4em;} + .poem_1 p.i10 {margin-left: 5em;} + .poem_1 p.i12 {margin-left: 6em;} + .poem_1 p.i16 {margin-left: 8em;} + .poem_1 p.i18 {margin-left: 9em;} + .figure, .figcenter, .figright, .figleft + {padding: 1em; margin: 0; text-align: center;} + .figure img, .figcenter img, .figright img, .figleft img + {border: none;} + .figure p, .figcenter p, .figright p, .figleft p + {margin: 0; text-indent: 1em;} + .figcenter {margin: auto;} + .figright {float: right;} + .figleft {float: left;} + .inline {border: none; vertical-align: middle;} + .footnote {font-size: 0.9em; margin-right: 10%; margin-left: 10%;} + .letter_1 {margin-left: 2.5em; margin-right:auto; margin-bottom: 1em; + text-align: center; width: 500px;} + .side { float:right; + font-size: 75%; + width: 25%; + padding-left:10px; + border-left: dashed thin; + margin-left: 10px; + text-align: left; + text-indent: 0; + font-weight: bold; + font-style: italic;} + div.trans-note {border-style : solid; border-width : 1px; + margin : 3em 15%; padding : 1em; text-align : center;} + .illustrations { margin : 0.5em 10%; + font-size : 0.9em;} + .toc {margin-left: 0; margin-right:auto; margin-bottom: 1em; + text-align: left; width: 700px; font-size : 0.9em; font-weight : bold;} + .toc p {margin : 0.5em 0; } + .toc p.i4 {margin-left : 2em;} + span.toc_pagenum + {position: absolute; left: 690px; right: 699px; } + p.address {text-align: right; margin-right : 5%; } + p.author {text-align: right; margin-right : 5%; } + p.booklist {margin-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;} + p.center {text-align : center; } + a:link {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + link {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:#ff0000} + --> + /*]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14709 ***</div> +<h1 class="pg">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</h1> + <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> +<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 |
