DreamsatSunset

byF.W.Boreham

Theshadowslengthen,and,tome,itseems

Apocalypticgloriesgild

theWest;Myfeeblehandstoywith

amilliondreamsAndweaveintothisweb

thoseIlovebest.

CONTENTS

Introduction

PartOne1.DreamsatSunset2.SpotsontheSun3.TheHungryDice4.TheLaureateoftheLarrikin

5.TheSaratoga6.ATotalEclipse7.TheSilverTrumpets8.TheAvonandtheYarra9.TheSergeant-Major’sLove-Story10.ASonoftheSynagogue11.TheChapletofAriadne

PartTwo

1.ABaby’sBaggage2.Earth’sLongestDay3.BorntotheLancet4.TheInstinctofSaviourhood5.AFour-CorneredRomance6.ThePriestoftheStreet-Corner

7.GrilledMiceatMidnight8.ThePokerFace9.GreenPasturesandStillWaters

PartThree

1.TheFatheroftheMan2.TheMusicMaster3.TheIdealCongregation

4.TherewereSixBrothers5.AnIliadinEbony6.TheUndersongsofLife7.TheSoulofaSolitary8.TheCardinal’sViolin9.LavenderandOldLace10.TheMysteryof

Mysteries

ByWayofIntroduction

EverynowandagainIreceivealetterbearingaNewZealandpostmark.Eachsuchlettercontainsaphotograph.Ialwaysexaminethepicturecarefullybeforereadingtheepistle.Itinvariablyrepresentsanoldcouple,

grew,furrowedandbent,butlookingextremelyhappy.IknowinstinctivelythatitmarksaGoldenWedding.Butwhose?Iscanthewrinkledfacesforaclue;butseldomfindone.Iliketothinkthatthese

tiredveterans,amidsttherejoicingswithwhichtheyreviewthefiftyyears,

havegivenathoughttotheministerwho,halfacenturyago,disentangledtheirlove-affairsandofficiatedattheirweddings.Aftersolongan

intervalitisamovingexperiencetoseemyMosgielbridesandbridegroomsagaininthisnewguise.What

memoriesdotheseoldpeoplecherish?Whatthoughtsaretheythinking?Whatdreamsaretheydreaminginthesunset?Iwonder.

F.W.BorehamKew,Victoria,

Australia3rdMarch,1954.

PartI

Chapter1

DreamsatSunset

Thebairnslittleknow,saysDr.GeorgeMacdonald,whattheauldfolksarethinking.Itisanintriguingrealmforspeculation.Thethoughtsofyouth,theysay,are

long,longthoughts.Whatifthethoughtsofageareevenlonger?Thought-readingis

alwaysahazardousbusiness.Itisnotsoverydifficultwithpeopleinthefullfloodoflife.Butwhatisababythinking?Lookingaroundhimas

hesprawlsinhiscradle,hestarescuriously,

puckershisbrows,seemsuncertainastowhethertosmileortocry;andsetseverybodywonderingastotheideasthatarechasingeachotherthroughthatplasticbrainofhis.Attheotherendoflife

theproblemisnolessacute.Yetthosewhotakethetroubletolearnthe

languageofage,andtodecipheritscode,shouldhavenodifficultyinpenetratingitssecretthought.

IFaceshavearhetoricof

theirown,and,ofallfaces,nonearesoeloquentasoldfaces.Thatiswhythegreat

paintersdelightindepictinggrizzledandstorm-beatencountenances.NobodycangazeuponRembrandt'sOldJeworWhistler'sMyMotherwithoutrecognizingtherichandskilfulartistrythatwasstrugglingtorevealthethoughtsthatageisthinking.

AnnaBuchan,thebrilliantsisterofLordTweedsmuir,lovedtotelloftheoldladywhowoulddropinatherfather'smanse,and,settingeverybodyattheirease,wouldsitanddarnstockingbythehour.Shedidnotneedtobeentertained,andindeed,didnotmindintheleastif

everybodywentoutandleftheralone.SheusedtotellAnna

thatmiddleageisthesaddestpartoflife.Themiddle-agedseethefollyofyouthbuthaveforgottenitsrapture;theyseethepathosofagewithoutrealizingitsamplecompensations.Thedimmingeyesofage

seethepictureinitsentirety.Annalovedtositandwatchthetell-taleexpressionsthatlittheeyesandilluminedthecountenanceofthegoodoldbody.Thethoughtsbehind

suchfurrowedfacesseemtobefocusedonneedleandthread;inrealitytheyareoverthehillsandfar

away.Tothesympatheticobserverthosethoughtsbetraythemselvesinthealternatingsmilesandshadowsthat,likethepatchesofsunshineandcloudthatscudacrossthehillsandhollowsofanundulatinglandscapeonanAprilday,flitfitfullyamongthecorrugatedwrinkles.

Mostofthosethoughtsarepleasantones.Theendlesssuccessionofromances,comediesandtragedies--manyofthemextremelyembarrassing,orevendistressing,intheirincompletestages--furnishthemindwitharetrospectuniformlyenchanting.Safehomeagain,a

sailorlikestorecounthisstormsandasoldierhisbattles.Ageenjoystheimmenseadvantageofreviewinglife'smostharrowingandexcitingexperiences,knowinghoweachended.Dayswhenthecourseoftrueloverananythingbutsmoothlyareseeninthelightoftherapturous

reconciliations.Hoursofagonizingsuspensemakeupapleasingrecollectioninviewofthesubsequentdeliveranceortriumph.

IIItshouldheartenthose

whoarejustembarkingonthegreatadventure,andthosewhofindthemselvesinthethickof

things,toreflectthatveryfewoftheoldfolkregrethavingbeenguestsatlife'sbanquet.Theysmacktheirwitheredlipsastheyrecallthepiquantdelicaciesthattheyhavetasted,and,ontheirknees,minglewiththeirthanksgivingagratefulbenedictionontheparentswhousheredtheminto

suchacontinuousandvariegatedluxurianceoffelicity.Itisthisinward

exultationthatrenderstheirgrandchildrensoirresistiblyattractivetothem.Amongthebookspublishedinrecentyearsaretwo--innowayrelatedtoeachother--thatforciblyillustratemy

point.Oneisconcernedwithadelightfuloldlady;theotherwithanequallyengagingoldgentleman.TheoldladyisMrs.HannahWhitallSmith;whosestoryisplacedonrecordbyoneofhergrandchildren.Inthesepageswehave

apictureofaparticularlydaintylittlecreature

whosesmilewassunshine,whoselaughterwasmusicandwhosesilveryvoicecompelledeveryhearerbyitssoftpersuasiveness.Everybodymarvelledatherinvinciblegaietyandfreshnessandcharm.Theyears,astheymultiplied,couldnotburdenherblitheandjoyousspirit;

agehadnopowertowitheroroppressher.Shekepthergirlishvivacityandsparkletothelast.How?Shesimplylivedforher

grandchildren.Dwellingintheirsociety,shesharedtheirromps,theirmerriment,theirever-varyingfrolics.Herlastwords,addressedtoher

daughter,were:'I'veputthechildren'sfireworksonthetopshelf!'ThestoryofTheMan

WhoWouldNotGrowOld,toldbyMr.T.SharperKnowlsonisverysimilar.HoraceTemple,theheroofthebook,was,inspiteofheavytroublesandcrushinglosses,aboytothelast.Hewasnever

sohappyaswhensurroundedbyhisgrandchildren.Onthelastnightofhislife,thoughhehadnoideathathewasabouttopassfromtheminhissleep,hehadthemroundhisbed.Reallylovingthem,hemadehimselfwonderfullyattractivetothem.Andwhenhedied,everybody

wasastonishedatthenumberofpeoplewhosincerelylamentedhisdeparture.

IIISuchveteransresemble

oldLucilleinElizabethGoudge'sBirdintheTree.Worshippingtheyoungpeoplewhothrongedaroundher,shemade

allowancefortheirfunnyfanciesandfashions;thesewereoftheirgeneration,andnotofhers.But,lovingthemwithallherheart,sheexhaustedhertiredlimbsintheirservice,andtriedtobuildforthemarefugetowhichtheycouldflywhentheirfeveredwaysweariedthembeyond

endurance.This,sheargued,waswhatgrandmotherswerefor.Thelawbywhichthe

mountainthatlookedamolehillinthedistanceappearsstupendousasweapproachitgivestheoldpeoplesuchasenseoftheeternalastheyoungergenerationcanscarcelyunderstand.Andthe

sunsetglowthatlightsuptheireagerandexpectantfacesbegetsinthemaferventdesiretomakelifealittleeasierforthosewhofollowthantheythemselveshavefoundit.

Chapter2

SpotsontheSun

Itwasrainingintorrents--hadbeenraining,indeed,forseveraldays.Iwasoccupyingthecornerofalongandextremelyuncomfortablerailwaycarriage--oneofthose

carriagesthat,fairlycommonintheearlydaysofNewZealand,hadseatsalongbothsidesanddoorsatbothends.Scatteredalongthetwoseatswereaboutadozendisconsolatepassengers.Amongthesewasaneatly-attiredyoungbusybodywho,approachinguseachin

turn,openedtheconversationwithaquestion.'Doyouknow,'he

began,'whatiscausingallthiswetweather?'Havigndiscoveredourignorance,thewiseacre,outofthewealthofhismeteorologicalerudition,proceededtoenlightenus.'It'scaused,'he

explained,'bythespotsonthesurfaceofthesun!'Mostofuscontentedourselveswiththankinghimfortheinformation,andthenchangedthesubjectasadroitlyaspossibleinthehopeoflightinguponatopicinwhichhetooknointerest.Andthuswegotridofhim.

Butatatinycountrysidingthereenteredthecarriageashaggyandweatherbeatenoldmanwho,verywetandveryweary,hadobviouslytravelledalongwaytocatchthetrain.Assoonaswewere

againunderway,ourweather-wisefellow-passengerapproachedthe

newcomer.Theoldgentlemanwasverydeafandourscientisthadtoshouthisconundrum.Heaskedhisquestion,and,havingreceivedtheinevitableandinvariablereply,hetenderedthevaluableinformationwithwhichhehaddispelledthedarknessofusall.Thebeardedoldman

staredathimalmostangrily,andthen,inavoicealmostasloudasthatofhisquestioner,hereplied:'Soit'sthespotsonthe

surfaceofthesunthat'sdoingit!Well,youngman,andhowdoyouproposetogetthosespotsoff?Tellmethat!'Thescientistwas

dumbfounded.Hereturnedtamelytohisownseatand,duringtheremainderofthejourney,neveragainleftit.Ihaveoftenrecalled

thatexperience.Itissoeasytogothroughlifetalkingaboutthespotsonthesurfaceofthesun;itissodifficulttodevisesomemeansofremovingthose

disfigurements.Thereisnopointin

criticizingthepolicyoftheGovernmentunlessyouarepreparedtooutlineabetterone.Thereisnotmuchsense

intalkingeverlastinglyaboutthedefectsinthecharactersofthepeopleaboutyouunlessyoucansaysomething,ordo

something,tohelpthemtoovercomeandobliteratethoseblemishes.IliketothinkthatHe

whocameintotheworldtoconfrontthatworldwithitswickednesswenttotheCrossinordertoprovidemenwiththemeansbywhichtheycouldescapeboththeguiltandthepowerof

theirtransgressions.Henotonlydrawsattentiontomysins,Hemakesanendofthemforever.

Chapter3

TheHungryDice

WhilstCaptainArthurPhillip,ontheSiriuswasscuddingacrosstheSouthernOceanfromCapeTown,intentoninauguratingthedramaofAustralianhistory,alittle

girlwasborninaHampshirevillage,thetragedyandcomedyofwhoselifewillprovoketearsandsmilesaslongastheannalsofourliteratureendure.

IMaryRussellMitford

wasadoctor'sdaughter;butthepityofitisthatthe

goodmanhadpreoccupationsthatentirelydroveformhiswaywardmindtheachesandpainsofanyunfortunatepatientswhomayhavebeenmisguidedenoughtoconsulthim.Inhisportrayalsof

WilkinsMicawberandHaroldSkimpole,Dickenshasoftenbeencharged

withexaggeration.Theyarenotcharacters,ithasbeensaid,butcaricatures.If,however,youweretorollintoonealltheshiftless,improvident,irresponsiblecreationsofallournovelists,youwouldnotproduceapersonalityworthyofcomparisonwithDr.GeorgeMitford.

Heinheritedafortune,whichhequicklysquanderedonhiscards,hisdiceandhisridiculousinvestments.Hemarriedaladywho,inadditiontohousesandproperty,broughthimtwenty-eightthousandpoundsincash.Itallwentdownthedrain.Hisoneredeeming

featurewashispassionate

devotiontoMary,thefutureauthoress,hisonlychild.Bythetimethatshewasthree,hehadtaughthertoreadaloud,and,standingheronthetable,wouldplaceabookinherhandsanddisplayherprowesstohisneighboursandfriends.Eveninthoseearlydays,hehadimplicitconfidenceinherfuture

fame.BythetimeMarywas

nine,thefamilywasreducedtolivinginapoortenementnearBlackfriarsBridge.Mrs.Mitfordwasatherwits'endforhousekeepingmoney,whilstherhusbandwasdisplayingremarkablecunninginevadinghiscreditors.

Oneday,onasuddenimpulse,hetookMarywithhimtobuyaticketinalottery.Shewastochoosethenumberandanyresultantprize-moneywastobeallherown.Shestraight-wayaskedforticket2224,anditwonaprizeoftwentythousandpounds.

IITheyatoncepurchased

GraselyCourt,afineoldmansionnearReading,repletewithallthegrandeurandcomfortofanancientEnglishhome,includinghiddenpanels,mysteriouspassagesandsecretroomsinwhich,inthedaysofromance,priests,cavaliersand

otherfugitiveshadbeenknowntohide.Alwaysrestlessand

eagerforchange,however,thedoctorshortlyafterwardsdecidedtodemolishthisantiquedwellingandtoerectanewhome,onmodernlines,nearby.HereatBertramHouse,

Maryspenttheremainder

ofhergirlhood;andthen,theirfinancesbeing,fortheoldreason,attheirlowestebb,theyweredriventocontentthemselveswithamodestlittledwellingatThreeMileCross,aboutamileaway.Itwasacottageso

smallthat,asMarysaid,itwasscarcelyworthyof

beingcalledacottage;butitwasherethatshewroteOurVillage,theworkthatestablishedherfame.Itisjustpossiblethat,at

ThreeMileCross,thedoctor,whohadnowdissipatedthreefortunes,andwaslivingontheliteraryearningsofhiscleverdaughter,madesomeslightcontribution

totheeconomyofthehousehold.Helovedthevillage.Hewashail-fellow-well-metwithallthecranksandodditiesofthecountryside.HedescribedthemtoMaryandevenintroducedhertosomeofthem.Sotheyfoundtheirway

intothepagesofOurVillage,and,beforelong,

wereendearedtothousandsofpeoplealloverthecountry.CharlesLambandSavageLandorthoughthercameosincomparable.Thesuccessoftheworkledhertowritefourcompanionproductions.Manypossessedan

uncannyflairfordissecting,analysingand

describingpeople.Shesawthroughthem.Herbiography,inthreevolumes,consistsalmostexclusivelyofherletters.Theseintimateepistlesaremasterpiecesofincisiveandpenetratingcriticism.Shetellsofthepeopleshehasmet--manyofthemfamouspeople--andofthebooksshehasread--many

ofthempopularclassics.ButnameandfamearenothingtoMary.Shehasamindofherown;and,inthiscorrespondenceofhers,weseetheoutstandingfiguresofthenineteenthcenturyinanewandoftensurprisinglight.Inthesameway,the

phenomenaofthevillage

tookonfreshcolourandfreshcharmwhenMarystrolleddownthecrazystreettodohershopping,orwalkedonSundaytothevillagechurch.ThehamletofThreeMileCrossbecameamirrorinwhichallthesimplicityandlovelinessofEnglishcountrylifestoodreflected,andeverybody

wholovedruralscenesandruralpeoplerevelledinherwritings.Inthecourseofavisit

toLondonshewasintroducedtothetheatres,withtheresultthatshetestedherpowersasaplaywright.Threeofherdramas,Julian,TheFoscariandRienzimadetheirappearanceat

CoventGardenandDruryLane.Shealsowroteagooddealofpoetryaswellasanautobiographyandanovelortwo;butherclaimtoremembrancemustalwaysrestonherartistryinportrayingtheidyllicgraceoftheEnglishcountryside.Withthemostunselfish

andbeautifuldevotion,

Marysupportedandtendingherparentsuntiltheydied--themotherin1830,whenMarywasforty-three,andthefatherthirteenyearslater.Sheherselfpassedawayin1855atSwallowfield,inBerkshire,thevillageinwhichshespentthelastfiveyearsofherlifetastingthefruitsof

successandenjoyingthefriendshipofMrs.Browning,CharlotteBrontëandothereminentpeopleofthattime.Charlotteandshediedwithinafewweeksofeachother.

IIITheinsolublemystery

ofherlifeconsistsinher

relationshipwithherscapegracefather.Hekeptherinastateofchronicimpecuniosity.Herrecordsareplentifullypunctuatedwithsuchphrasesas'pressureformoney,''financialdifficulties'andsoon.Yet,althoughhewastheheart-breakofherentireexistence,sheworshipped

thegroundhetrod.Thephraseologyofallherletterstohimisthephraseologyofagirladdressingtheloversheadores.Stillmoreincredibly,

sheimplicitlytrustedhim.HeneverwenttoLondonwithoutgettingintoallsortsoftrouble;yetsheconfidedtohimallher

businessarrangementswithherpublishers--themakingofterms,thecontrolofthemanuscriptsandeventhecollectionofthemoney.Sheknewperfectlywellthathecouldbevictimizedbyanysmugandoily-mouthedscoundrelwhohadsomefantasticschemeforturninghis

penniesintoshillingsandhisshillingsintopounds.Herchildishconfidenceinhimremainedasboundlessasitwasincomprehensible.Herfrailtyisonethatitiseasytoforgive;andweforgiveherforthesakeofthesheer,downrightgoodnessthatmadeeverybodyloveher.

Chapter4

TheLaureateoftheLarrikin

TheerectionofamonumenttoC.J.Dennis,whohasbeendenominatedTheLaureateoftheLarrikin

willawakenasympatheticvibrationintheheartsofthatvastmultitudeofappreciativeadmirerswhoseearsarepleasantlyhauntedbyhisliltingmelodies.Himselfapendulum,swingingincessantlybetwixtasmileandatear,hecarriesusallwithhimintowhicheverrealmhe

plunges.Itisinlinewiththe

imposingtraditionsoftheolderlandsthattheliteraryannalsofAustraliashouldbeadornedbyamagneticfigurewhosedazzlingbrilliance,humantendernessandexuberanthumourarethrownintoreliefbyfrailtiesthat

evokealikeourpityandouraffection.Sixteenyearshavenow

passedsinceheslippedawayfromus.How,onewonders,ishisuniquecraftsmanshipstandingthetestoftime?Hiswasanextraordinarycareer;and,asaconsequence,hestruckanotethatwasdistinctlyandexclusively

hisown.TheSentimentalBlokewasmodelledonnothing,andnothingcouldpossiblybemodelledonit.Whenthepoetdied,at

theageofsixty-two,Mr.J.A.Lyons,thenPrimeMinister,referredtohimastheRobertBurnsofAustralia,whilst,longbeforethattime,someof

themosteminentcriticshadsalutedhimasamasterofhiscraft.Thesheetsofhis

masterpiecewerescarcelyoffthepresswhenMr.H.G.Wellswrotethepublishersaletterofenthusiasticcongratulation.Thatmostfastidiousjudge,Mr.E.V.Lucas,confessedthat

hewasalittlebewilderedatfindingAustralianslangsettomusicwithsuchsuperbskill;butheaddedthatthegeneraleffectwassomovingastobepositivelyembarrassing;and,sincehehatedtobeseenwithmoisteyes,hedeclinedtohearthestanzasrecited.JohnMasefield,thePoet

Laureate,greetedDennisasatruebard,and,duringhisvisittoAustralia,spentmanydelightfulhoursashisguest.

IBornatatypicalup-

countryinnatAuburn,inSouthAustralia,andmoving,whilststillveryyoung,toanotherinnat

Laura,Dennisearlyacquiredtheartofexpressingvigorousthoughtintunefulverse.Possessingadelicateearformusicandadiscriminatingeyeforbeauty,hedevelopedanuncannyappreciationofthevalueandsweetnessofwords.LikeRobertService,hisCanadian

contemporary,withwhomhehadmuchincommon,hewasdeeplyindebtedtothemaidenauntswholistenedwithencouragingpridetohisprenticeventuresinpoesy.Passingfrombeneath

theirdotingauthority,Dennisspenthismatureyouthandearlymanhoodindriftingfromplaceto

place,andfromoccupationtooccupation,gropingwithblindhandsfortheglitteringbutelusivedestinythatseemedtolurehimon.Barman,solicitor's

clerk,journalist,andwhatnot,hewaseverythingbyturnsandnothinglong.Anexcellentmixer,singingarollickingsong,

enjoyingagoodsquaremealandlovingaheartyjest,heneverlackedcompanions.Itwasduringthese

yearsofgipsyingthatheacquiredhabitsthatheafterwardsdeplored,andthateventuallybroughthim,sadandsorry,tothemountainhomeofMr.andMrs.J.G.Roberts,of

Kallista,whosehospitalityrestoredhisself-respect,capturedhisheartandgavetotheworldapoetofrenown.Mr.andMrs.RobertsdidforC.J.Denniswhat,agenerationearlier,Mr.andMrs.MeynellhaddoneforFrancisThompson.Hisworkdeservesto

live.In'dippinghislid'to

C.J.DennisbycontributingaforewordtoTheSentimentalBloke,HenryLawsonstrikesanoteofwarning.Thebook,hesays,isverybrilliant.Letthereaderbeware,however,lestitsbrilliance--brillianceofconception,brillianceofhumourandbrillianceofpathos--shouldblindhim

tosomethingstilldeeper.Whatisthatdeeper

something?Itiseverywhere.Take,forexample,hisstoryofJimoftheHills.Jimisatimber-worker;heisemployedatasawmill.Oneday,whilstJimisbusyathissaw,agroupofvisitorsentersthemill.

Therewereothersintheparty,buttheonethatgotmystareWasherwithtwo

brown,laughin'eyes,andsunlightinherhair.

Jim,dazzledbythesuddenapparitionofsomuchloveliness,tripsoversometimberandfallsagainstthemachine.

NextthingIknowthebossisthere,an'talkingfineandgood,Explainin'tothe

visitorshowtreesaremadeofwood.Theymurmurthings

like'Marvellous!'an''Whatamonstertree!'An'thentheonewith

sunlithaircomesright

banguptome.'Isawyoufall,'shesort

ofsung;youcouldn'tsayshetalked,Forhervoicehad

springtimeinit,likethewayshelookedan'walked.'Isawyoufall,'she

sungatme;'Ihopeyouwerenothurt':An'suddenlyIwas

awareIworemyoldestshirt.

TheromancerepresentedbyJimandhisshirtisbutasparkandascintillationofthegreatestromanceofall.Atremendousprincipleliesbehindit.YoumighthavetoldJimahundredtimesthathewasgoingtowork

inaworn-outshirt:hewouldhavetakennonotice.Butthemomenthesawthesunlithairandheardthespring-timevoice,thensuddenlyhewasawareheworehisoldestshirt!YoumighthavetoldacertainyoungJewahundredtimesthathewasamanofuncleanlips;hewouldhavetaken

nonotice.ButwhenhesawtheLordhighandliftedup,histrainfillingthetemple,hecriedout,'Woeisme,forIamundone!'YoumighthavespokentoPeterahundredtimesabouthiswaywardnessandunbelief:hewouldhavetakennonotice.ButwhenhesawtheSonofGod

displayingHisdivineauthorityoverlandandsea,hefellatJesus'feet,saying,'Departfromme,forIamasinfulman,OLord!'TheworkofDennisaboundsinthissortofthing.

IIAtfirstblushthere

wouldseemtobeno

parallelbetweenDennisandDante.TheSentimentalBlokedoesnotbelongtothesameworldastheDivineComedy.YetRuskinsumsuptheDivineComedyasDante'slove-poemtoBeatrice;asongofpraiseforherwatchoverhissoul.'Shesaveshimfromdestruction.'

Ruskincontinues.'Heiseternallygoingastrayindespair.Shecomestohishelp,and,throughouttheascentofParadise,leadshimfromstartostar.'ThewordsexactlydescribeDennis'spoem.TheloveofDoreensavesBillfromhisbaserself,liftshislifetoaloftierplaneandmakesanewmanofhim.

Thepoemopensdismally.BelongingtotheloweststratumofMelbournelife,Billhasspentmostofhistimeindrinking,gamblingandfightingamongthepurlieusofLittleBourkeandLittleLonsdaleStreets.Heis,however,sicktodeathofthewholething.

Butwhyhashesosuddenlycometoloathethelifethathehadsorecentlyloved?Obviously,somethingmusthavecausedthisrecoil.Ithas.OnaperfectspringmorninghehasseenDoreen.Itistheprincipleofthesunlithairandthetatteredshirtinanewsetting.Atfirst

Doreenwillhavenothingtodowithhim.Hespeaks;but,withatossofherprettyheadandaswishofherbillowingskirts,shepassesonherqueenlyway,leavingBillwrithingintheverydust.Yethelovesherallthemostforherrefusaltomakeherselfcheap.Onthisslenderbut

exquisitelyhumanfoundation,Dennisrearshisphilosophyoflife.Billhastochoosebetweenhisoldwaysand--Doreen.

Fer'ersweetsakeI'vegoneandchuckeditclean;Thepubsandthe

schools,an'allthatleerygame.

Ferwhenabloke'ascometoknowDoreen,Itain'tthesame.There's'igherthings,

shesez,forblokestodo;An'Iam'arfbelievin'

thatit'strue.

Justonce,twomonthsaftertheirwedding,Billmeetssomeofhisoldcronies,slipsbackintohis

formercoursesandturnshisstepshomewardintheearlymorninginaconditioninwhichheisashamedtopresenthimselftoDoreen.Sheputshimtobed,and,afewhourslater,tiptoesintotheroomwithtearsinhereyesand,inherhands,abasinofbeef-tea:

Beef-tea!Shetreatsmelikeahinvaleed!Me!that'adcaused'er

lovin''earttobleed,It'urtmeworsethan

naggin'feraweek!'Er!'oo'adrighttoturn

deadsouronme,Fergiveslikethat,an'

feedsmewifbeef-tea...Itriestospeak;An'then--Iain't

ashamedofwotIdid--I'idesmeface...an'

blubberslikeakid.

InhisbriefbutexcellentbiographyofDennis,Mr.A.H.Chisholmtellsusthatthisepisodeisreallyautobiographical,beingbasedonthewelcomeextendedtoDennisby

Mrs.Robertsafteroneofhisunhappylapses.

IIILikeDante,Dennis

chantsthevictoryofLoveTriumphant.Thesearethelastlinesinthebook:

An'Iamrich,becosmeeyes'aveseenThelovelightintheeyes

ofmyDoreen;An'Iamblestbecosme

feet'avetrodAland'oo'sfields

reflectthesmileo'God.Sittin'atev'nin'inthis

sunset-land,Wiv'Erinaltheworld

to'oldme'and,Livin'an'lovin'--solife

moocheson.

C.J.DennishasrestedforsixteenyearsinhisgraveatBoxHill;butAustraliacanillaffordtolethimdie.

Chapter5

TheSaratoga

Theproblemwasanacuteone.ItallhappenedatParattahJunctioninTasmania.Iwastravelingonthesouth-boundexpress.Havingenjoyedagooddinnerinthe

refreshment-rooms,IdiscoveredthatIstillhadfiveminutesbeforethetrainresumeditsjourney.Atthatverymoment,

thenorth-boundexpressarrived.HowbettercouldIspendmysparefiveminutesthanbystrollingalongtheplatformonthechanceofmeetingsomebodyIknew?And,

surelyenough,besideoneofthecentralcarriages,Icaughtsightofayounglady,aminister'sdaughter,atwhosehomeIhadoftenbeenaguest.

IIsawataglancethat

shewasindiredistress.'Why,Effie!'I

exclaimed.'What's

wrong?''Oh,I'minserious

trouble,'shereplied.'I'velostmySaratoga!''That'sdreadful,'I

assented,sympathetically.'Butlook,youtakethefrontpartofthetrainandI'lltaketheback,andwe'llmeetagainhereinaminuteortwo!'Ihurriedalongthe

carriagesthatIhadassignedtomyself,lookinghighandlowfortheelusiveSaratoga.IsincerelyhopedthatEffiewouldfinditinthatportionofthetrainthatIhadallottedtoher,forIhadtoconfesstomyselfthatIfeltseriouslyhandicappedinmyownsearchbythelamentable

circumstancesthatIhadnoshadowofanideaastowhataSaratogawas!Itsoundedasifitmight

beaspecialbreedofdog,andIpokedwithmystickamongthebagsandboxeshopingthat,withafrightenedyelp,thelittlebeastwoulddashoutatme.Butthenagain,itmightbeanarticleof

jewelry,and,forthatreason,IscrutinizedtheasphaltoftheplatformandthefloorsofthecarriagesinthefrantichopethatImightdetectasuddenglitter.Butthen,Ireminded

myself,aSaratogamightconceivablybesomemysteriouspartofalady'swearingapparel,andit

wasbecauseofthispossibilitythat,fearingtoembarrassher,IhadrefrainedfromaskingEffieforexactparticularsofthemissingtreasure.AtanyrateIsearched

myhalfofthetrainascloselyasmylimitedtimewouldallow,and,onreturningtoourappointedrendezvous,wasdelighted

tofindEffiewithherfacebeamingandthepreciousSaratogaatherfeet.HowwasItoknowthataSaratogawasaspeciesofsuitcase?Icongratulatedher,wavedherahurriedgoodbye;andcaughtmyowntrainbytheskinofmyteeth.But,tomydyingday,I

shallneverforgetthe

sensationofsearchingeagerlyforathingwithoutpossessingthefaintestclueastowhatthatthingmightbe.

IIMyexperiencethatday

resemblestheuniversalsearchforhappiness.Ifaskedwhattheywereseeking,ninepeopleout

often--perhapsninety-nineoutofahundred--wouldreplythattheyareseekinghappiness.Dotheyknowwhattheyarelookingfor?Wouldtheyrecognizeitiftheysawit?OristheirpassionatequestlikemyownwildpursuitoftheSaratoga?Whatisittobehappy?

Aremostpeoplehappy?

Ishappinessmoredifficultofattainmentthanitusedtobe?Littlebylittlewehaveallowedtheideaofhappinesstocrystallizeintoaphilosophyoflife.OnthefirstofJanuarywewisheachotherahappyNewYear:wegreeteachindividualbirthdaywithadesireformanyhappy

returns:weassureeveryprospectivebrideandbridegroomofourhopethattheywillbeecstaticallyhappy:and,onceayear,ourenthusiasmforouridealbecomeslikeariverthathasburstitsbanks;theusualtermseemspitifullyinadequate:andwecraveforoneanotheractual

merrimentatChristmas.What,precisely,haveweinmindwhenweexchangetheseexuberantsalutations?InhernovelAllPassion

Spent,theHon.V.SackvilleWesttakesasherheroineLadySlane,acharmingolddowagerofeighty-eight.LadySlanewasseldomannoyed;but

shehatedbeingaskedbycasualcallersifherlonglifehadbeenahappyone.Theauthoressherselfpokesfunattheword.Itis,shedeclares,astrangeclickingword,withitsshortvowelanditsspittingdouble'p's'anditsperttip-tilted'y'attheend,toexpressintwosyllablesawhole

summaryoflife.HadLadySlanebeenhappy?sheasks.Itwasanunanswerablequestion.Therehadbeenmomentsinwhichshehadbeendeliriously,madly,uncontrollablyhappy;butthenagain,therehadbeendaysofabjectwretchedness,daysspentinthelowestdepthsof

despair.Theagedpeeress

maintainedthatnobodycouldspeakoflifeasawholeaseitherhappyorunhappy.Itis,sheusedtotellhervisitors,likeabeautifullakeofferingitsevensurfacetomanyreflections,nowgildedbythesun,nowsilveredbythemoon,nowdarkened

byacloud,andagainroughenedbyaripple.Yet,sheadded,itisalwaysaplane,alwayslevel,keepingitsbounds,nottoberolledupintoatight,hardball,smallenoughtobeheldinthehand,whichwaswhatpeopleweretryingtodowhentheyaskedifone'slifehadbeenhappyor

unhappy.

IIISomebodyhas

suggestedthatweshouldtakeacensusonhappiness.Leteverymanbeinvitedtotelluswhetherornothefindslifetohistaste.SirWilliamRobertsonNicollonceattemptedsomething

ofthekindandwasastonishedattheresult.Theexperimentconvincedhimthatmostpeopleareextremelyhappy.Mostpeople,indeed,arehappierthantheyknow.Manyofthosetowhomthequestionnairewassubmittedconfessedthat,untiltheyattemptedtoanalysetheiremotions,

theydidnotrealizehowhappytheyactuallywere.SirAlfredFripp,an

eminentsurgeon,laiditdownasanaxiomthathappinessisanartwhichanystudent,withalittlepains,mayacquire.Success,SirAlfredpointedout,cannotcometoeverybody,norhealth;buthappinessiswithin

any-body'sgrasp,eventhoughhealthandwealtheludehim.'Itisdistinctlyanart,'heinsisted.'Asanart,itrequiresfosteringbypracticetillitbecomesahabit.'Anymanorwomanmaymasterit.Toassisteagerstudents

toattainproficiencyinthispreeminentlydesirablecraft,SirAlfred

laysdownanumberofrules.Brieflyepitomized,theymaybestatedasfollows:I.Alwaysbeyourself.2.Considerthefeelingsofothers.3.Keepthefaithandsimplicityofyouth.4.Don'tcrossbridgestillyoucometothem.5.Bepatientwithfools.6.Keepyourfriendshipsinrepair.7.

Don'tgetdraggedintoquarrelsandcontroversies.8.Rememberthatittakesallkindsofpeopletomakeaworld.9.Trytounderstandthemanyoucondemn:toknowallistoforgiveall.10.Maintainyourindependence.11.Guardyoursenseofhumourandyoursenseof

proportion.12.Neverbroodoverthepast:memoryconsistsintheartofforgetting.

IVAllthisleadsusupthe

grassyslopesofanEasternhillside.Thedisciples,likealltheirfellow-men,cravedthesecretofhappiness.We

allknowwhathappened.ItremindsmeofastoryfromearlyAmericanhistory.Itwasasultryday:thelittlemeeting-housewascrowded;and,torenderconditionsmoretolerable,thedoorsandwindowsstoodwideopen.Whilstthemeetingwasinprogress,theredmenemergedsilently

fromthewoodsandcreptlikesnakesacrosstheopenspacethatsurroundedthebuilding.Theirchief,theterribleBlackEagle,wasattheirhead.Glidingtowardstheopendoor,hewasdeterminedtoobservethedispositionofthosewithin,andattherightmoment,togivethesignal

fortheimpendingmassacre.But,ashepausedbesidetheportal,heheardavoice--subdued,reverentandstately--readingsomestrangeandwondrouswords.Thesentencestowhichhelistenedinastonishmentwerethese:

Blessedarethepoorin

spirit:fortheirsisthekingdomofheaven.Blessedaretheythat

mourn:fortheyshallbecomforted.Blessedarethemeek:

fortheyshallinherittheearth.Blessedaretheywhich

dohungerandthirstafterrighteousness:fortheyshallbefilled...

andsoon.

Asstealthilyashehadcome,BlackEaglecreptaway.'Ifthesebethelawsofthewhitemen,'hesaid,'letthemliveandteachtheredmenthesameholydoctrine!'Theyhadfoundthe

long-soughtsecretofhappiness.Forhappiness,

astheBeatitudesshow,mustberootedinanoblecharacter;suchacharactercanissueonlyfromanexaltedfaith;but,dependuponit,themanwhopossessesthatfaithanddevelopsthatcharacterwillenjoyahappinessthatstandssublimelyindependentofallthebludgeoningsof

circumstance.

Chapter6

ATotalEclipse

AmongtheminorsensationsofthenineteenthcenturywerethethrillersofGuyThorne.Hismostdynamicandexplosiveproduction,WhenItWas

Dark,wasproclaimedasthemostdaringandoriginalnoveloftheperiod,andenjoyedthedistinctionofbeingglowinglycommendedbytheBishopofLondonfromthepulpitofWestminsterAbbey.

IIttellshowConstantine

Schuabe,amillionaire,loathingChristianitywithavenomoushatred,resolves,atanycost,todestroyit.DiscoveringthatProfessorSirRobertLlwellyn,themostbrilliantantiquarianandarchaeologistofhisday,isleadingadoublelifeandisuptohisearsindebt,Schuabecultivates

hisacquaintance,lendshimfourteenthousandpounds,and,shortlyafterwards,demandsrepaymentunderpenaltyofhavingthewholevilestoryofLlwellyn'sprivatelifeexposed.WhilstLlwellynis

grovellingatthefeetoftheplutocrat,beggingfortime,Schuabestartleshim

byremarkingthatitwouldbeeasyforhimtowipeoutthedebtandbecomeawealthyman.How?SchuabetellsLlwellyn

thathemust,ontheexcuseofill-health,getayear'sleavefromtheBritishMuseum;hemustthengotoPalestineanddiscoverthattherecordof

theResurrectionisjustapiousfraud.Backedbyhis

unimpeachablereputation,hisverdictwillbereadilyaccepted,andChristianitywillbeanexplodedmyth.Whatcouldbemoresimple?

IIAfewmonthslaterthe

worldlearnswithspeechlessamazementthatanewcavehasbeenunearthedintheHolyLand.Itcontainsaslabinscribed,'I,JosephofArimathea,tookthebodyofJesusfromthetombandhiditinthisplace.'Onaledgenearbyaslightmouldisspread,probablyallthatremainsofa

decomposedbody.Theannouncement

createsasensationsuchasthenationhasneverpreviouslyknown.Llwellyn'snamecarriesweight.Press,Parliamentandpeoplearealikedumbfounded.Stocksandsharescollapse.Withthedeclineofpublicconfidence,commerceis

reducedtostagnationandindustryisparalysed.Bankruptcyandunemploymentbecometheorderoftheday.Depressionreignseverywhere.WhenCyrilHands,

whomLlwellynhademployedtodothespadeworkoftheexpedition,returnsto

England,heisoverwhelmedbyremorse.Aservantfindshisbodyonthehearthrug:anewspaper,withitsterrifyingcolumnsofwretchedness,desolationandruin,isclutchedinhisdeadhand.Thosewhosereligionis

oftheformal,superficialkind,abandonit:the

bubblehasburst:theyfeelashamedoftheirowngullibility.Butthereareothers.Inchurches,chapelsandmission-hallsupanddownthecountry,therearethousandsofsimplesoulswhosepersonalexperienceoftheSaviour'stransforminggracehasbeensovivid,soprofoundandso

convincingthatthewaveofunbelieffailstoaffectthem.

IIIAmongthese

immovableoptimistsisGertrudeHunt,theprettydancing-girlwithwhomSirRobertLlwellynhadbecomeinvolved.JustbeforeLlwellyn's

departureforPalestine,shewastakenill.ToSirRobertLlwellyn'sineffabledisgust,BasilGortre,ayoungcuratevisitedher,leadinghertorepentanceandfaith.Lateron,hersickness

havingtakenamoreseriousturn,sheconfrontsthebombshellinthenewspaper.Butitmakes

nodifference.How,withalifeasradicallychangedashershadbeen,canshepossiblydoubt?Laterstill,strange

thoughtsoccurtoher.LlwellynwasgivenleavetogotoPalestineonthegroundsoffailinghealth;yetshe,whoknewhimsointimately,sawnosignsofweakness.Why,too,

didhebrag,beforegoing,thathewouldstartletheworldbyhisdiscoveries?Andwhy,insteadofworryingabouthisdebts,asheusedtodo,washenowsoaffluentandrecklessofexpense?Movedbyasudden

inspiration,shegoestohim,pretendsthatsheistiredofbeinggood,and

wantseverythingtobeasitoncewas.Inthesurpriseofthis

unexpecteddenouement,heflingstothewindstheforebodingsthathaveincreasinglyoppressedhim,and,inaburstofhalf-drunkenconfidence,tellshereverything.AssoonasGertrude

leaveshim,Llwellyn

realizestheenormityofhisindiscretion.Torelievehisownmindoftheintolerableagony,herushestoSchuabe,themillionaire,andconfesseshisincrediblefolly.Thetwomenstareaghastatoneanother.Whatistobedone?Nothingcanbedone:forGertrudehasgonestraighttoBasil

Gortre,thecuratewhohadbeentheinstrumentofherregeneration,andputitinhispowertohurlintotheworldasecondbombshell.Thegeneralreliefis

indescribable.Humanityisemancipated.Butintheuniversalrejoicingtheprincipalactorsinthedramahavenoshare.

Gertrudediesofthemaladythathassolongafflictedher.Llwellyn,wretchedbeyondwords,completelycollapsesandpassesawaywhilstconfessingtohiswifehissordidinfidelity.AndSchuabe,hisimmensefortunewreckedbythedepressionthathehashimselfcreated,loseshis

reasonandvanishesfromsight.ButtheworldatlargeisoncemorebathedinthebrightnessoftheEastertriumph.

Chapter7

TheSilverTrumpets

Thepostmanhasthismorningbroughtmealetterthataffordsmepeculiarsatisfaction.Itinvitesmetoreturnfor

onenotableSundaytoapulpitinwhich,longago,Ispenttwelveveryhappyyears.'Wearecelebratingour

Jubilee,'theministerwrites,'andweallwantyoutobeamongus!''OurJubilee!'Thereis

musicintheveryphrase.Thewordsimplymeansablareoftrumpets.Ittakes

usbacktotheGardenofEden,forthewordisbasedonthenameofJubal,theseventhfromAdam,whowasthefatherofallthosewhohandlemusicalinstruments.Youmaysearchallthe

archivesofantiquity,andalltheannalsofmorerecentempires,foranyenactmentmoreintriguing

ormoresuggestivethantheJewishlawofjubilee.Everyfiftiethyear--theyearthatwaswelcomedwiththeblastofthesilvertrumpets--alllandsandestatesrevertedtothepossessionofthosewhohadownedthemfiftyyearsearlier.Thisimportantconsiderationwas,ofcourse,takeninto

accountinallsalesandpurchasesofproperty.AblockoflandsoldimmediatelyaftertheyearofJubileewouldbeworthaboutfiftytimesasmuchasthesameblocksoldjustastheyearofJubileewasapproaching.Allpersonswho,topay

theirdebts,hadsoldthemselvesintoslavery

duringthefiftyyears,werecompulsorilyreleasedwhenthesilvertrumpetssounded,and,underthelawsrelatingtoproperty,receivedbackanyestateswhichtheyortheirprogenitorshadpossessedwhenlasttheJubileewascelebrated.

Theeffectofsuchalaw

isobvious.Nofamilycouldbecomeexcessivelywealthy;nonecouldbecomedegradinglypoor.Landmonopolywasimpossible.Everyfamilyandeveryindividualenjoyedafreshstartontheoldfootingattheendofeachhalf-century.TheyearofJubileewas

ayearofRedemption;it

wasayearofRestoration,anditwasayearofEmancipation.

ITheyearofJubileewas

ayearofRedemption.ItbeganontheGreatDayofAtonement.Whenthehighpriesthaddonnedhisgarmentsofsnowywhite,hetooktwogoats,theone

asasin-offeringandtheotherasascapegoat.Hethensolemnlysacrificedtheformer,and,withitsblood,sprinkledthemercyseatandtheholyplace.Then,comingforth,helaidhishandsontheheadofthesecondgoat,confessingoveritthesinsofthecongregation.And,whilstthepeoplewere

weepingandlamentingtheirtransgressions,theanimalwasdrivenawayintothewilderness.Priestandpeoplewatcheditvanishingintoinfinity,andassoonasthescapegoathadentirelydisappeared,thesilvertrumpetsrangout;sadnessgavewaytogladness;theyearofJubileehadbegun!

Thetruthtypifiedbyallthisstandscrystalclear.Allourrejoicingisbasedonredemption.ItisbecauseChrist,theSonofGod,oncesufferedforoursinsuponthebittertree,thatourheartsoverflowwithadoringgratitude.AllthejubilationoftheagesisbasedonthedarknessofGethsemane

andtheagonyofCalvary.UptotheCrossalltheworld'ssinsandsorrowswentgroaning:downfromtheCrossallitsjoyscomestreaming.Ayearofjubilee,tobe

truetoitstraditions,shouldbeayearofpassionateevangelism,ayearinwhichmultitudesofstragglersandwaverers

shouldbeledintotheValleyofDecision.

IITheyearofJubileewas

ayearofRestoration.EachJewfoundhimselfpossessedoncemoreofallthathehadlostduringthefiftyyears.Thatisthemessagefortoday.Weareinperiloflosingthebest

aslifegoeson.Wearelikemenwhofilltheirpocketswithgold,buthaveholesinalltheirpockets.Theyearsaregreatthieves;theycreepuponuswithstealthyfootstepsandfilchawayourmostprecioustreasure.Havewenotalllostsomethingoftherapturethatfilledour

soulsatthetimeofourconversion?HavewenotlostsomethingoftheradianceofourfirstsimplefaithinJesus?LikethechurchatEphesus,wehavelostourfirstloveandnolongerdoourfirstworks.Butthisistheyearof

Restoration!Aman'sfirstlove,hisfirstfaith,his

firstvision,hisfirstjoy,hisfirstdeep,satisfyingpeace,mayallbehisagain!

IIIAndtheyearofJubilee

isayearofEmancipation.Theslaveswereallsetfree.Itiswonderfulhowtheyearsenchainus.Theworld,thefleshandthe

devilmakeustheircaptives.Webecomeenslavedbyhabit,bybusiness,bypleasure,byfashion,bymoney,orbyanyoneofathousandthings.Butthedayof

deliverancehasdawned;thebonds,whatevertheyare,mayallbebroken.TheyearofJubilee

meantafreshstartforeverybody.Itwasthedivinefestivalofanewbeginning.NothingdelightsGodmore.Heisaninveteratebeginner.InthebeginningGodcreatedtheheavenandtheearth.Thereyouhavetherecord,notofthebeginningofCreation,butofthecreationof

Beginnings.Backbeyondthat,nothingevenbegan;everythingalwayswas.Ifyoureyescanpeerbeyondtheboundariesofthatbeginning,youwillseenothingbutGod--GodinhabitingHisownbeginninglessandendlesslife,dreamingHisownbeginninglessandendlessdreams,layingHisown

supernalplans--plansofCreationandRedemptionandwondersinconceivable.Thencamethefirst

beginning.And,havingoncefashionedabeginning,itbecameHisdivinehabit.Heisalwaysdoingit.Hebeginsagainwitheverymorning,witheverySpring,andwith

everybabyborn.AyearofJubileemust

markanewbirthineveryman'ssoul;aneweraineveryman'slife;anewanddelightfulescapefromalltheforcesthathaveheretoforehamperedandenslavedus.ThereinliestheenchantingmusicoftheSilverTrumpets.

Chapter8

TheAvonandtheYarra

Icouldscarcelycredittheevidenceofmysenses.IhadbeenbusyinMelbourneallthemorning,andnow,with

anhourtospare,IhadstrolledoverPrincesBridgeandfoundapleasantresting-placeintheSnowdenGardens,onthegrassyslopesbesidetheYarra.Almostimmediately,astrangersharedmyseat.Itoccurredtome,ashe

approached,thathisattirewasslightly

unconventionalandthathismovementswerecharacterizedbyanold-worldbearing;but,inthesedaysofmassmigration,suchtriflespassunnoticed.Itwaswhenhespokethathestartledme,forhisvoicewassorichandsoftandbeautifullymodulatedthathealmostseemedtobe

singing.'IsnottheGarrick

Theatrenearhere?'heinquired.Ipointedtothebuildingthatonceborethatname,explainingatthesamethat,asatheatre,ithadgonethewayofGarrickhimself.

IHeseemed

disappointed.HeexplainedthathewasastrangertoAustralia.Iaskedwhencehehadcome,anditwasthenthathetookmybreathaway.'Fromtheseventeenth

century,'hereplied.AsIinspectedhimmorenarrowly,asuspicioncreptintomymindthatalmostparalysedme.

Itcouldnotbe.Foronething,hewasnotquitetallenough,and,foranother,hewasalittletooportly.Andyettheface,withitsfullcheeks,itslittlepointedbeard,itstoweringforehead,itslustroushazeleyesanditsshockofrichauburnhair,answeredpreciselytothetraditionalconception.

'Notbyanyfortunatechance,Mr.Shakespeare?'Ihazarded.Hesmiled,verypleasantly,andmyfelicitywascomplete.Stammeringly,Itriedto

expressmydelight.'Youknow,'Ifaltered,'youfigureinourhistorybooksasakindofgloriousghost.Younevermaterialize.Youhaunt

thatdimoldElizabethanageofyoursandnever,nightorday,emergefromit.Withotherwriterswehavebecomefamiliar;butyou,thegreatestofthemall,remainshadowyandunreal,akindofgoldenlegend.'Hesaidthathewasnot

surprised.'Therecordsareveryscanty,'heremarked.

'Youhavelittleornothingtogoupon.'Wechattedforsometimeabouttheplays:abouttheirvaryingandfluctuatingpopularity;andhehadmuchtosayonthesourcesofhisinspirationandonthehistoricalsettingthatsuggestedsomeofhismostnotablecompositions.

Itoldhimthatmanypeople,includingevenscholarsofgreatrenown,founditdifficulttobelievethatoneman,dyingatfifty-two,couldhavewrittenallthemasterpiecesthatbearhisname.Heturneduponmewithsomethinglikeastonishment.'Where'stheproblem?'heasked.

Hewentontopointoutthat,sincehisdays,otherwriters,suchasScott,Dickens,andTrollope,haveproducedamassofliteraturethatmakeshislooksmall.'Tobesure,'heconceded,'theywroteprosewhilstIgaveyoublankverse.Butitisreasonabletoassumethattheywroteandrewrote

andrevisedeachsentencebeforegivingititsfinalform.And,asagainstthis,blankversecameeasilyandnaturallytome;Ialmosttalkedit.Ifyouaresatisfiedwiththequalityofmyoutput,Iseenodifficultyaboutthequantityofit.'

II

Iaskedhimastohisearliestandmostformativememories.Heexplainedthat,whenhewasonlyfive,twotroupesofstrollingplayersvisitedStratfordwithinafewmonthsofeachother.Hisfather,JohnShakespeare,washighbailiffthatyearandmarchedout,inhisgownofglowingscarlet

trimmedwithfur,towelcomethem.Thevividscenesmade

anindelibleimpressionuponhisboyishmind,andwhenheattendedtheperformancesofthevisitorsinthecourtyardoftheAngelInn,hefeltthattobeanactormustbethedizzyclimaxofhumanhappiness.

Detectingamovementthat,Ifeared,presagedhisdeparture,Iventureduponamoredelicateandmoreintimatetheme.Hemust,Ihinted,havenoticedthatromantictraditionthathadgatheredaboutthenameofAnneHathaway;diditpleasehim?Hesmiled,alittlesadly,andpausedforsometimebefore

replying.'PoorAnne!'he

exclaimed,asiftalkingtohimselfratherthantome,'herswasaroughroad.Wemarriedfartooearly.Iwasjusteighteen;shewastwenty-six.Isupposethat,wheneverIfoundmyselfwithAnne,theemotionalstraininmycomposition--thequality

thatgiveslifeandcolourtomyplays--tookthebitintoitsteethandboltedwithme.Icompletelylostmyhead.Tothedisgustanddismayofourpeople,weinsistedonmarrying.'Followingthe

ceremony,Annecametoliveatourplace.Sheandmymotherstruggledbravelytomakethe

unpalatableschemeworksmoothly,butnobodylikedit.Ithappened,however,thatwhenourlittledaughterwasborn,shehadalittleplaymatewaitingforherinthepersonofanuncletwoyearsolderthanherself,andthechildrengotonfamouslywithoneanother.Attwenty-oneI

wenttoLondon,andthereafterAnneandIsawverylittleofeachotheruntil,onretiringatforty-seven,IreturnedtoStratford.'

IIIHerose,butIbegged

permissiontoaskonemorequestion.'Youcomposedaverse,'Isaid,

'tobeplaceduponyourtomb,invokingacurseuponanymanwhomeddledwithyourbones.'Heinterruptedmewithaburstofheartylaughter,hisfirstreallaughsincewemet.'WhenIwasalittle

chap,'heexplained,'Ioftenwatchedthesextondigupoldskeletonsto

makeroomfornewburials.Hetossedtheghastlythingsintoabonehousewhich,tome,wasthemosthorribleplaceonearth.Ishudderedlestmyownbonesshouldonedaymeetasimilarfate.'As,withacourtly

smile,heleftme,Icuriouslycontrastedthe

contemptthathedreadedwiththeimmortalityhenowenjoys.

Chapter9

TheSergeant-Major'sLove-

Story

Itistheearlybirdthatcatchestheworm;anditwasaparticularlydeliciouswormthatthe

sergeant-majorcaughtinthegreydawnofabitterwinter'smorningin1787.Itwastheyearinwhichhecameofage.ItwasinCanada,inthe

provinceofNewBrunswicktobeexact.Thesnowwasdeepontheground;icicleswerehangingfromtheeavesofthehouses;andabiting

windwasblowing.Thefewpeoplewho

werestirringattheoutlandishhourmusthavewonderedwhyonearththesergeant-major,inhisbrilliantscarletuniform,wasabroadsoearly.Itwaspurelyamatter

ofhabit.Thegrandsonofafarmlabourerandthesonofasmallfarmer,

WilliamCobbetthadbeenrearedinahardschool.'Idonotremember,'heafterwardswrote,'atimewhenIdidnotearnmyownliving.'Inhissixthyearhewas

trainedtoriseinthedarknesstodriveawaythesmallbirdsbeforetheysettledontheturnipseed,andtoscarethe

rooksfromthepeas.'WhenIfirsttrudgedafield,'hesays,'withmywoodenbottleandsatchelslungovermyshoulder,Iwashardlyabletoclimbthegatesandstiles;and,atthecloseoftheday,toreachhomewasataskofinfinitedifficulty'

I

Itwasthen,afterascantymealhadbeenhurriedlyswallowed,thatthebookswerebroughtout,and,withthefatherasschoolmaster,thebusinessofeducationtackled.Whentheboysfellasleepovertheirlessons,astheyoftendid,theyweresentofftobedindisgrace.Therewerefourof

them,andtheproudfatheroftenboastedthatthosefourboys,theeldestofwhomwasfifteen,didasmuchworkeverydayasanythreemenintheparish.Theamazingthingisthat,inCobbett'spicturesquedescriptionsofhisstrenuousboyhood,thereisnosyllableofresentmentorbitterness.

Those,heavers,werehappydays.But,sinceitwasnotgoodthatsuchexactingconditionsshouldcontinue,hededicatedthebesteffortsofhislifetotheiramelioration.ForsomeyearstheburlyformofWilliamCobbett,astridehisgreymare,wasasfamiliartothedwellers

alongtheEnglishhighwaysasthepetitefigureofMr.Wesley,similarlymounted,hadbeenafewyearsearlier.

IIAttheageofseventeen,

takingcounselofnobody,hesetoutforLondon,arrivinginthemetropoliswithexactlyhalfacrown

inhispocket.Citylife,however,waslittletohistaste.HedecidedtojointheMarines;but,fillinginthewrongform,wassurprisedtofindhimselfasoldierofthelineinHisMajesty'sFifty-fourthFootRegimentunderorderstosailforCanada.Cherishinghissecret

dreamsastothekindof

lifeheaspiredtoliveandthekindofworkthathedesiredtodo,hedeterminedtomakehismilitarycareerastepping-stonetohigherthings.DuringhisearlyyearsintheArmy,hedevotedhistimeandthoughttotheprocessofself-improvement.Herealizedthat,ifheaimedat

makingthoughtfulpeoplethinkashewishedthemtothink,hemustlearntospeaktheirlanguageandtospeakitwell.Everypennythatcame

hiswaywasspentonbooksandstationery.Unabletoaffordlampsorcandles,hefrequentlyreadandwrotebyfirelight.Heoftenhadto

studyamidstthesongsandshoutsoftheothermembersoftheregiment.Yetnomaninthebarrackswasmorepopular.Hekepttheaccountsanddidthesecretarialworkofthecompany;wonswiftpromotion,passingataboundfromtherankofcorporal,tothatof

sergeant-major;and,whenheobtainedhisdischarge,waseloquentlythankedbyhiscommandingofficers.Itwaspureforceof

habit,therefore,thatledtohisrisingsoearlyonthatcruelwintermorninginNewBrunswick.Inthecourseofhismatutinalstrollhepassedacottage

gardenprotectedbypalings.Hisheightpermittedhimtoglanceoverthepalingsandacrossthesnow-coveredgardentotheouthouses,inoneofwhichhewassurprisedtoseeabonnygirlrinsingouthertubsafterhavingfinishedthehouseholdwashing.Itwasscarcelylight;itwas

bitterlycold;yetshesangasshewatchedthevanishingsuds.'That'sthegirlforme!'soliloquizedthesergeant-major.Hispresencewas

unsuspected.Hestoodtherewatchinghereverymovement,and,themorehesawofher,themorehelikedher.Then,asthedawnstrengthenedto

daylight,andhemadeoutherfeaturesmoreclearly,herecognizedherasanartilleryman'sdaughtertowhomhehadbeenintroducedatasocialfunctionadayortwoearlier.Havingjustputawayhertubs,thegirlvanishedintothecottage,neverdreamingthatshehadbeenobserved;the

sergeant-majorcompletedhisstroll;andsomehow,notwithstandingthesleetandtheslush,hewasundertheimpressionthatitwasalovelymorning.

IIIThecourseoftruelove

neverdidrunsmooth.Oncultivatingthecloseracquaintanceoftheyoung

ladywhosebeautyanddiligencehadsobewitchedhim,hemadetwodevastatingdiscoveries.Thefirstwasthat,althoughherprematuredevelopmenthadimpartedtoherappearanceanimpressionofripeningwomanhood,shewasreallyonlythirteen--theageof

Shakespeare'sJuliet.Theotherwasthatherfather'sregimenthadbeenorderedbacktoEngland.Duringtheyearsin

whichthetwoyoungpeoplewerecompelledtolivetheirlives,oneontheonesideoftheAtlanticandtheotherontheother,hewroteherregularly;and,fearfullestshe

shouldruinhercharmsbytoomuchtoil,hesentherallthemoneyhecouldscrapetogether--onehundredandfiftyguineasinall.When,aftertheinterminableyears,Cobbetthimself,nolongerasergeant-major,returnedtothehomeland,hefoundheramaidofallwork,earningtwo

shillingsaweek.Havingattainedthe

maturityofsweetseventeen,shesmilinglyacceptedhisproposalofmarriage,and,atthesametime,handedhimaparcelwhichcontainedtheentiresumthathehadsenther.TotheendofhisdaysCobbettnevertiredofsingingherpraisesasa

wifeandasamother.Norwashisdevotionmerelyamatterofwords.Inoneofhistelling

essaysheurgeshusbandstodemonstratetheirfondnessfortheirwives,notbyendearingepithets,butbyrealunderstandingandpracticalsympathy.When,ononeoccasion,Mrs.Cobbettwasin

delicatehealthand,becauseofthebarkingofdogs,foundsleepelusive,Cobbettslippedquietlyoutofthehouse,and,barefooted,lestsheshouldhearhissteps,spentthenightindrivingthenoisynuisancestoadistance.Hewasanoddmixture.

Strengthandtenderness

subsistedinhimsidebyside:polishandpugnacitydwelttogetherinhissoul.UponCobbett'smassivefigure,resolutefeaturesandrobustcharacter,JohnLeechissaidtohavebasedhisfamiliardelineationofJohnBull.Heconstantlyblundered,yethistransparenthonestyofpurposeand

hisdownrightgoodnessofheartwontheaffectionofhisbitterestfoes.Hisfaultswerethefaultsofthehead;neveroftheheart.HelovedtheEnglishcountryside,theEnglishpeople,theEnglishlanguageandtheEnglishhome;andhewillalwaysberememberedasbothastrongmananda

goodone.

Chapter10

ASonoftheSynagogue

InthedaysimmediatelyprecedingtheGreatPlagueandtheGreatFire,twomenporedovermanuscriptsthatwere

destinedtomouldtheages.Insomerespectstheypresentaninterestingcomparison;inothers,astrikingcontrast.Cladinhissuitof

coarsegreycloth,JohnMiltonsits,insummer-time,amongthesweet-smellingflowersofhiswell-keptgarden.Inwinter-time,garbedin

blackvelvet,heimprisonshimselfinhisdrearychamber,hungwithitsrustygreentapestry,whilsthespeedshisinspiredfancyonitsmostaudaciousflights.Hisrichauburnhair,

whichretainedsomethingofitsgoldtothelast,fallsinacataractabouthisslightly-stooping

shoulders,settingoffafaceremarkableforitssweetness,strengthandserenity.Hissoftgreyeyesgivenohintoftheirtragicsecret.Justacrossthechannel,

inthequaintold-fashionedvillageofVoorburg,nearTheHague,sitsaswarthy,black-haired,well-built

youthofsingularcharm.HisfeaturesproclaimhimofJewishextraction,whilsthisdarkolivecomplexionsuggestsaSouthernorigin.Hispeoplewere,infact,refugeesfromPortugal.Asecondglancereveals

thathisfaceisslightlydrawn;hischeeksareunnaturallyflushed,and

hiseyesglistenwiththetell-talelustrethatbetokenstheravagesofconsumption.Milton,wellintothe

fifties,isdictatingtohiswearydaughtersthedeathlessstanzasofParadiseLost;Spinoza,inhisearlythirties,andwithnohopeofeverreachingthefifties,isputtingthe

finishingtouchestohisEthics.Alittlelater,Milton

makeshiswayamongthecharredruinsofthemetropolistosellhisponderousmanuscriptforfivepoundstoafriendlybutnervouspublisher.Spinoza,sensingthe

stormthatwillbreakuponhisheadifhedaresto

printhisphilosophy,lockshisfoliosinhisdesktotaketheirchanceofbeingburnedorbroadcastwhenhispitilessdiseasehaslaidhiminhistomb.

ITheboyhoodof

SpinozawasspentinaJewishhomeofthebesttype.Thesacredtraditions

ofthesynagoguewereinhisblood.HisgrandfatherandhisfatherhadbeenreveredandhonouredleadersinIsrael.ThefactthathewasnamedBaruch,theBlessed,whilsthissisterswereRebekahandMiriam,indicatestheatmosphereinwhichthephilosopherwasreared.

ThemostmomentouseventofhisyouthwashisdeterminationtolearnLatin.Threesensationaldevelopmentsattendedthisstep.ThefirstwasthatheselectedashistutoradoctornamedVanDenEnde,anextraordinarycharacterwhowashangedinParisin1674.Thesecondwas

thathefellinlovewithhisteacher'sprettydaughter,who,alittlelater,jiltedhim.Andthethirdwasthathisnewacquirementbroughthimintotouchwithmodernphilosophyandopenedupanewworld.Asaresultofthis

adventure,hefelthimselftobemovingonanother

planeandspeakinganotherlanguage.Hisoldassociatessuspectedhisorthodoxy,and,inpointoffact,hehimselfwasnotverysureaboutit.Hewasofferedapensionofathousandflorinsayeartoreaffirmhisattachmenttohisoldfaith.Heindignantlyrefused,and,in1656,wassolemnly

excommunicatedfromtheCommonwealthofIsrael.

IIHisbehaviouratthis

crisiswascharacteristicofhim.Hismindwasonpilgrimageandmustbefreetofollowitsownbent.Lateron,althoughpoorerthananychurchmouse,hedeclineda

pensionfromtheFrenchkingandanappointmentasProfessorofPhilosophyattheUniversityofHeidelberg,lestacceptanceofsuchtemptingboonsshouldcommithimtoteachalittlemoreoralittlelessthan,atthemoment,hereallybelieved.For,than,Spinoza,theworldhas

neverknownamorehonestman.Inthecourseofhis

briefcareer,hisdisciples,pityinghisphysicalfrailty,madehimhandsomegifts,but,forthemostpart,hesupportedhimselfbylabouringwithhisownhands.LikeallyoungJewsoftheperiod,hehad

learnedatrade.Hewasaskilfulpolisheroflenses;andthespectacles,microscopesandtelescopesthatproceededfromhisbenchwereheldinthehighestrepute.Unfortunately,thedust

resultingfromtheconstantgrindingandfilingofglassesirritatedhiscrazylungs,

aggravatinghismaladyandhasteninghisdeath.Oneofhisgreatest

admirerswasHenryOldenburg,thefirstsecretaryoftheRoyalSociety.OldenburgmorethanoncevisitedthelittlecottageinwhichSpinozaboarded,and,throughtheyears,maintainedwithhimavoluminous

correspondence.Astimewenton,

however,Oldenburgbegantofindhimselfoutofhisdepth.Spinozaseemedtohimtobeexploringworldsinvisible.Hetwittedhisoldfriendwithhavingforsakenphilosophyfortheology;hewasspendingtoomuchofhistimewith

angelsandarchangels.

IIIThesimplefactwas

that,themoreSpinozaprobedthemysteriesofTimeandofEternity,themorecertainhebecameofthatspiritualrealmofwhichthematerialrealmisbutashadow.HetalkedmoreandmoreaboutGod

asthesourceofallthings,thehomeofallthings,andthedestinyofallthings.HereallylovedGodandwantedeverybodyelsetoloveHim.Inaphrasethathasstucktohisname,NovaliscalledhimtheGod-intoxicatedman.Hisconsumptionslew

himattheageofforty-

four.Heleftjustenoughgoodsandchattelstopayhisdebtsandfuneralexpenses.Hisgreatestwork,publishedsometimeafterhisdeath,washailedbythemosteminentthinkersasamasterpiece,and,althoughnowsuperseded,orincorporatedintheworkoflaterwriters,

exercisedaprofoundinfluenceonthegenerationsthatfollowed.

Chapter11

TheChapletofAriadne

WhenTheseussetoutonthatbraveadventureinthecourseofwhichhehopedtoclimbtherainbow,stridealongthe

MilkyWayandscaletheheightsofPleiades,hecameuponamountain,allofsolidgold.Obviously,ithadnot

alwaysbeenofthatvaluablesubstance.Thetalltreesanddaintiersaplingshadevidentlygrownnormallyandbeenmagicallytransmuted.Logsandboulderslay

aroundthathadclearlybeenofwoodandstone,althoughtheircorrugationsandsharpedgesnowglitteredinthesunlight.Searchingforthecause

ofthisstrangetransformation,TheseusatlengthfoundtheChapletofAriadne,lyingundertheshadowofan

immensecliff.Visitingtheranges,thegoddessmustinadvertentlyhavedroppedhertreasure,anditspotentinfluence,asitlaythere,hadturnedthesummitintoshininggold.Ihaveseenthesame

thinghappenthreetimesover,notintherealmofMythology,butofHistory;and,sinceitis

thustobeseenintheactualrecordsofrealmenandrealthings,itis,forus,thericherinpracticalsignificance.Thewonderwas

wrought,notbytheChapletofAriadne,butbysomethinginfinitelymorepotentandmoreprecious,'themostvaluablethingthisworld

affords',astheQueenwasassuredinthecourseoftheCoronationService.TheBibletouchedthreeperiodsofhumanhistorywhichmight,butforit,havebeenlittlemorethancommonplace;anditturnedeachofthosethreeperiodsintoaGoldenAge.Thegreatnessof

Scriptureisnotonlyimpressive;itisinfectious;itimpartsstatelinessandsplendourtoeverythingittouches.ThegreatnessofCaesardwarfedmen.InthewordsofCassius,hebestrodethisnarrowworldlikeacolossus,and,asaconsequence,ordinarymortalscrept

underhishugelegsandpeepedabouttofindthemselvesdishonourablegraves.ThegreatnessoftheBible,onthecontrary,makesmenfeelgreat;itinvestslifewithasenseofinfinitepossibilityanddignityandmajesty.Thethreeperiodsof

humanhistorywithwhichtheBiblestandsmost

intimatelyassociatedhavecometoberecognizedasthethreemostmomentouserasthatourlittleworldhasknown.Theyrepresent(1)TheRiseofGreekCulture;(2)TheRenaissanceinEurope;and(3)TheEvangelicalRevivaloftheEighteenthCentury.Onemaysearchthearchivesofmankind

fromthedawnofcreationtothisveryhourwithoutunearthingrecordsthatcanputthesethreeclassicalperiodstoshame.AndeachofthethreefindsitsexplanationanditsmonumentinthesacredvolumethatistodaybeingissuedbytheBritishandForeignBibleSocietyinmorethana

thousandlanguages.

IDeanAlford,perhaps

theoutstandingauthorityonthesubject,declaresthatoneofthemostarrestingcoincidencesofalltimeistheevolutionoftheGreektongueduringtheyearsimmediatelyprecedingtheChristian

era.InthefairestportionofthesouthofEurope,amidsttheindentedcoastsandrockyvalleysandsnow-cladrangesofGreece,theregrewtoperfection,Alfordsays,themostbeautiful,mostfluentandmostpowerfullanguagethateverflowedfromthetongueofman.Amongthebrilliant

intellectualsofAthensitreceiveditsedgeandpolish.Init,asinnoothertongueknowntomen,themostminuteturnsofhumanthoughtfoundexpression.Truthsrequiringalmostmicroscopicmentaldiscernmentwereaccuratelyandexquisitelyconveyedbyit.Itwasa

precisioninstrumentofthefinestpossiblequality.And,toaddtoitscharms,itwasanattractiveandmelodiouslanguage,charmingtheearwithitsliquidmusicaswellasgratifyingthemindbyitsphilologicalsubtlety.SpreadacrosstheworldbytheconquestsofAlexandertheGreat,

himselfapupilofAristotleandawriterofrenown,humanityfounditselfinpossessionofanidealvehicleforitsthoughtattheverymomentatwhichthemoststartlingrevelationofalltimewasabouttobemade.H.V.Mortondeclaresthatthestudentwhowouldtracethebirth

ofChristianitymustgobacktoatime,threecenturiesbeforeBethlehem,whenayoungman,Alexanderbyname,toredownthebarriersthathaddividedEastfromWestandlaunchedupontheworldthatsuperbcultureinwhichthenewfaithcouldbecomelyricallyarticulate.Homer

andHesiodandSophoclesdidnotsing,Alfordinsists,forthesakeofsinging;HerodotusandThucydidesandXenophondidnotwriteforthesakeofwriting;Demosthenesandhisrivalsdidnotproducetheirmasterpiecesoforatoryasaproudexhibitionofconsummate

artistry;theyweredivinelychosen,thoughunconscious,craftsmen,sharpeningandbrighteningandperfectingtheinstrumentwhichwasdestinedtotransfigurethelifeofmankind.

IIThesecondofthese

SummitsofGoldwasthe

EuropeanRenaissance.Ittransfiguredthelivesofallnations,includingourown.Inthosedays,asSirSidneyLeeavers,Englishmenbreathedanewatmosphere.Theycame,hesays,underafreshstimulus,compoundedofmanyelements,eachoftheminspiring,almost

intoxicating.Newcontinentswerespringinguplikemushroomsonamistymorning;newoceanswereeverywherebeingsighted.Theentireatlaswasrecast;theworldassumedastartlinglynovelshape.Itwasanageofthrills!OnedayBartholomewDiazgaveAfricatotheworld;the

next,ColumbuspresenteditwithAmerica;andthenVascodaGamaunveiledIndia!AndwhilstCabotandBalboaandMagellanandCortesandPizarrowereachievingtheirtriumphs,Copernicuswasdiscoveringanewuniversesintheskies;astronomywasbeingbornagain.Newinventions

revolutionizedcommerceandindustry.Itwasaregenerationofthehumanintellect.Menfeltapassionforextendingthelimitsofknowledge.Intherealmsofphilosophy,music,artandscience,illustriousadventurers,whosenameswillliveforever,appearedlikebrightstarsthattwinkle

suddenlyoutoftheage-longdark.Aninfinitehorizonwasopenedtothesimplestminds.Menfellinlovewiththeuniverse.Peoplewhohadlivedinanagebecamecitizensofalltheages.Thosewhodweltinhamletsandvillagesenjoyedtheraptureofthecontinental.Moreover,withthat

revivedinterestinancientcultureandindistantlands,thereawokeinthemindsofthepeopleaninsatiabledesiretopossesstheScripturesintheirowntongue.And,atthatpsychologicalmoment,twomenarose.Thefirst,WilliamTyndale.AprivatetutorinGloucestershire,he

conceivedtheideaofmakingthesimplestploughboyasfamiliarwiththeinspiredwritingsasthemosteruditescholarsthenwere.Asaresult,hecompletedhismonumentaltranslationinsuchamasterlywaythat,exceptinmattersofdetail,nosubsequentrevisershavebeenabletoimprove

onhismajesticproduction.Thesecondofthesetwo

menwasWilliamCaxton.Hisprintingpressessurprisedtheworldattheverymomentatwhichtheworldhadsomethingsupremelyworthprinting.Theinnovationcapturedtheimaginationofthepopulace.Learnedmen,

fashionablewomenandgreatnoblesthrongedthelittleprintinghouseatWestminstertoseehowthemiraclewasperformed.ThustheBible,asweknowit,sprangintobeing;theimmensityofthevolumebecameanationalreflectionoftheimmensityoftheage;and,

bycontactwithit,theimmensityoftheagebecameevenmoreimposing.JustastheGreek

languagereachedperfectionjustintimetoexpress,byitseleganceandexactitude,themostsublimerevelationevergiventomen,soCaxton'sintroductionofprinting

synchronizedwithTyndale'shistorictranslation.Bothachievementsseemedtorepresentthecomplementarysectionsofamasterplan.Hewhoisnotimpressedbythesheerwonderofsuchcoincidenceswillnever,inthisworldorinanyother,beprofoundly

impressedbyanything.Hehaseyes,butheseesnot.

IIIThethirdofthese

SummitsofGold,theseefflorescencesofhistory,wasthegreatevangelicalrevivalthat,intheeighteenthcentury,exercisedaninfluenceso

overwhelming,sodynamicandsoirresistiblethatittransformed,fundamentallyandpermanently,everyphraseofournationallife.Indayswhenancientthronesweretotteringandhoaryinstitutionscrumbling,itpreservedforus,asLeckyhasshown,ournational

integrityandrespect.Mensawtheaffairsofthisworld,andofeveryother,inanewperspective.Thecountrywas

regenerated.Apartfromthedirectspiritualfruitageoftherevival,theby-productsofthattransfiguringmovementwereliterallylegion.Socialreformswere

effected;slaverywasabolished:industrialwrongswererighted:theplague--thespectreofthecenturies--wasbanishedbypurerstandardsoflivingandsanersanitation:whilstphilanthropicandbenevolentinstitutionsaroseeverywhere.Inthesweepofthis

mountainousandmemorablemovement,allourgreatmissionarysocietiessprangintobeingandadesirewascreatedtogiveeverymanliving,regardlessofcolour,raceorclime,acopyoftheScripturesinhisowntongue.Thus,bytheBible,

historywasreconstituted

andreconditioned.Nosinglefactorhashadmoretodowiththecreationofourliterature,withthemouldingofourlegislationandwiththedeterminationofourwayoflife.Theminstrelsyofalltheworld'spoetsisrootedintheworkoftheseancientseersandsingers;thestatutesofall

civilizedpeoplesarebasedontheinflexiblemandatesoftheMosaiccode;whilstallthechivalriesandcourtesiesoflifearethenaturalexpressioninhumanconductoftheseimmemorialethicsandideals.Underitsspell,earth'speaksallglitter.

PartII

Chapter1

ABaby'sBaggage

Findwhatfaultyouwillwithanewbornbaby,youcannotjustlyaccusehimofhavingbroughtwithhimanexcessofluggage.

Birthistheterminusofalongandwonderfuljourney.'Wheredidyoucome

from,Babydear?'asksDr.GeorgeMacdonald;andheanswershisownquestionbyreplying:'OutoftheEverywhereintoHere!'Onthatmomentous

adventure,wetravellight.

If,onarrival,aCustomsOfficerinsistedoninspectingourbaggage,hewouldbeembarrassedbythepaucityofourmeagrebelongings.

IYet,becauseafair

stockoffaithisindispensabletoourhappinessandwell-being,

webringwithusanabundanceofthatpricelesscommodity.Inourearlydaysonthisterrestrialsphere,webelieveeverything.Ourcredulityisillimitable.Allthatourgraveandreverendseniorstellus,wedevourwithwonderingeyeswideopen.Aesop'sFables,

NurseryRhymes,GhostStories,FairyTales,andtheArabianNightsEntertainmentareallgristtothemillofachild'svirginfancy.Itneveroccurstoayoungstertodoubtthatthecowjumpedoverthemoonorthatthedishranawaywiththespoon.Thesingingofthefour-and-

twentyblackbirdsfrombeneaththepie-crustis,tohim,anintegralpartofthefunoftheroyalfeast.JacktheGiantKilleris,tohim,asrealasJuliusCaesar;heisassureoftheFairyGodmotherasofQueenVictoria;andtheEnchantedCastlefallsintothesamecategoryasBuckinghamPalace.To

questiontheexistenceofSantaClauswouldbe,tohim,thestarkclimaxofableakandrevoltinginfidelity.Faithispartofthe

charmofchildhood;whowouldwishtoacceleratethecruelprocessofdisillusionment?WeallrememberhowthevillainousSirJake

Hardcastlestoodhissmallsononthedining-roomtableatHardcastleHall,stretchedouthishandstowardshimandbadehimjump.Harryjumped;thefatherwithdrewhisarmsandthechildfellwithacrytothefloor.'Andwhydidyoudothat?'demandedthehorrifiedmother.'Toteachhimto

trustnobody--notevenhisfather!'coldlyrepliedSirJake.Suchbitterlessonsmayinculcatecaution,oratleastcunning,butweinstinctivelyfeelthat,withthelossoffaithfromachild'sheart,thegloryofinfancyhasdeparted.Theglosshasleftthecherry;thebloomhasvanishedfromthepeach.

IIThetragedyisbyno

meansconfinedtothenursery.Faithisthemainspringoftheuniverse,thesheet-anchorofcivilization.Ifitgoes,everythinggoes.Eveninthepracticalrealmsofpolitics,ofcommerceandinternational

relationships,itistheonefactorthatholdsallthingstogether.Theorgyofrearmamentthathasrecentlystartledtheworld,cripplingallitsindustriesandeconomics,hasbeenmadenecessarybythecompletecollapseofthefaithofthenationsineachother'spledgesandtreaties.Whenonthe

slightestprovocation,statesmenrenounceandrepudiatetheirmostsolemnundertakings,faithisimpossibleandallpeoplesmustpreparefortheworst.Peacerestsonfaith,and,whenthefoundationisdestroyed,thegraciousfabriccrumbles.Aneminentbanker

recentlypointedoutthatallsoundfinanceisbuiltonfaith.Peopleruninandoutofbankswithmoney,money,money.But,exceptinafewisolatedinstances,themoneyisnotrealmoney.Itisallpaper--cheques,bills,notes--that,initself,isworthlessthanitsweightinoldnewspapers.Butit

becomesofequalvaluewiththecoinoftherealmjustsofarasitrepresentstheimplicitfaithofcertainpeopleinthepromisesandpledgesofcertainotherpeople.Theentirefinancialstructureisbuiltuponcredit,trust,confidence,faith.So,forthatmatter,istheentiredomesticstructure.The

homerestsfoursquareuponfaith.Marriedlifecanonlybesavedfrommiserybytheunhesitatingandunswervingfaithofbrideandbridegroominoneanother.

IIIForthisreason,theloss

offaith,inanydepartmentofhumanexperienceof

endeavour,isthemostdevastatinglosstowhichmortalsareeversubject.Inacharminglittlepoem,FrancisBrownedescribesabandofpilgrimsdiscussingthegreatestmisfortunestheyhadeverknown.Onespeaksofashipthathasfounderedwithallhistreasure;anotherofhislostfortune;

athirdofaficklelover;andafourthofagreen,greengrave.

Butwhentheirtalesweredone,therestoodamongthemone,Astrangerseeming

fromallsorrowfree:'Sadlosseshaveyemet,

butmineisheavieryet,Forabelievingheart

hathgonefromme.''Alas,'thosepilgrims

said,'forthelivingandthedead,Forfortune'scruelty

andlove'ssorecross,Forthewrecksbyland

andsea;but,howe'eritcametothee,Thine,stranger,islife's

lastandheaviestloss.

Itisthere-enactment,onamorevitalandmoretragicscale,ofthelossthatHarryHardcastlesuffered.Thisbeingso,thereis

obviouslynothingarbitraryorastonishinginthedivinedemandforfaithasanindispensableconditionofsalvation.Itisthemostfittingandthe

mostnaturalthingintheworld:itisinharmonywiththemusicofallthespheres.Asolicitorcannotsave

hisclientunlessthecliententrustshimwithallthedata:adoctorcannotsavehispatientunlessthepatientfranklyconfidestohimallthesymptomsandallthecircumstances:a

ministerishelplesstoadvisehisparishionerifheinstinctivelyfeelsthathisvisitor,distrustinghim,isrevealingonlywhathewishestorevealandconcealingwhathepreferstoconceal.Thereis,inshort,

nothingsoparalysingtoawould-besaviourastheabsenceoffaithonthe

partofthepersonneedingsalvation.Nomancansavehisbrother-manunlesshisbrother-manreallyandtrulytrustshim.Nor,ofcourse,canAlmightyGod.Therearesomethings

thatevenomnipotencecannotdo.Godcannotmaketwohillswithoutavalleybetweenthem;and,

byalawthatiswovenintotheverywebandwoofoftheuniverseHecannotsavethemanwhowithholdsfromHimhisperfectconfidenceandtrust.But,intothesoulofthemanwhoimplicitlybelievesinHim,Hepoursawealthofgracethatisunsearchable,inexhaustible,

unfathomable,unexplorable,andthatlastsforevermore.

Chapter2

Earth'sLongestDay

Attheverydawnofhernationhood,fivekingsledtheirunitedarmiesagainstIsrael.Thetyrannicalconfederacywasalmost

defeated,and,ifonlythelightwouldhold,mightbeabsolutelyrouted.AndJoshuasaidinthesightofallIsrael,Sun,standthoustilluponGibeon;andthou,Moon,intheValleyofAjalon!Nobodyknowsexactlywhathappened.Amiracleofsomekindwasperformed;thelightheldoutbravely;andthe

ultimatetriumphwasoverwhelming.Theveryfactthata

miraclewasdeemednecessarydemonstratesthehistoricimportanceoftheoccasion.Fewthingsinrevelationaremorestrikingthanthedivinefrugalityintheuseofsupernaturalpower.Themiraclesmentionedinthe

OldTestamentaverageaboutonetoeachcenturyrecorded;indeed,thereisoneperiodoffourhundredyearswithnomiracleatall.When,therefore,wecomeupononeoftheserarities--invariablyintroducedtosetthesealofdivineauthorityonanewinstitutionoranew

leader--thewonderifallthemorearrestingandallthemoreimpressive.

ITherecometimes--

serioustimes;criticaltimes;pivotaltimes;timesuponwhichdestinyseemstremblinglytohang--whenamanmustre-adjusthisrelationshipto

thegeneralschemeofthings.Hemustassumecontrol.Insteadofbeingnegative,hemustbepositive;insteadofbeinglanguidlypassive,hemustbesplendidlyactive;insteadofacquiescinginthemovementsofhistime,hemusttakechargeofthem.Undernormalconditions,when

everythingisgoingsmoothly,therisingandthesettingofthesunarenoconcernofhis.Hemayletthemoonwaxandwaneasitwill.But,intimesofcrisisandemergency,hemustrisetotheheightofhissublimeprerogatives.Hemustorderthingsabout.Hemusttellthesunwhen

toset:hemustshouthiscommandstothemoon:hemustregardthestarsintheircoursesashisslavesandsubordinates.Insteadofbeingacoginthemachine,hemustbecometheengineer.Bydiscoveringradium,

PierreandMarieCuriegaveanewcomplexiontocivilization.Whatwas

theirsecret?Theyadoptedastheirmottothewords:Wetakethesun!Thesun,thatistosay,wastobetheirservantandnottheirmaster;theywouldbenditspowerstotheirpurpose.Carlylecanseenothing

inourhistory,norinanyother,morenotablethanthespectacleofayoung

farmer,OliverCromwellbyname,puttinghishorseinthestableandhisploughintheshed,andsettingoutfromhisfieldsinHuntingdonshiretohurlthekingfromhisthrone,todismisstheParliamentandtoreconstitutethecountryonanewandbetterbasis.HewillputGodinHisrightplace,

andtheBibleinitsrightplace,andtheChurchinitsrightplaceandthepeopleintheirrightplace.Thetimehascometoasserthimself.

IIJoshua'sexperience

illustratestheLawoftheSecondWind.Weoftenregardourselvesasatthe

endofourresourceswhen,asamatteroffact,ourresourcesarescarcelytapped.Generallyspeaking,thestrengthofthedayfitsthelengthoftheday.Wepassfromhourtohour,and,enjoyingtheexperiencesoflifeastheycome,feelgladtobealive.Buttowardsnightthe

exhilarationwanes.Wegrowweary.Andbythetimethatthedaydrawstoitsclose,wearegladtogotorest,and,closingoureyes,toloseourselvesinslumber.Thisisverystrikingandsuggestive--thismatchingofourphysicalenergytothelengthoftheday.Anhourortwobeforebedtime,

andwearetoomuchinlovewithlifetodesiresleep.Anhourortwopastbedtime,andtheyawnsandnodstelltheirowntale.Fromearlysummer's

dawntolatesummer'sdusk,Joshuaandhismenhavefoughtwithoutrespiteandpossiblywithoutrefreshment.And

nowthesunissinking!Intheordinarycourseofthingstheyshouldhavebeentootiredtodragonefootbeforetheother.Theyshouldhavebeenreadytodropwheretheystoodand,onthebareearth,tosleepuntilthesunoncemoreappeared.Butthiswasoneofthosestupendoushoursin

whichamanflingshiswearinesstothewinds,and,asfreshaswhenthemorningdawned,fightsgallantlyon.Iremember,withthree

otheryoungministers,spendingadayinNewZealandonamiserablyuncomfortablerailwaytrain.Thejourneyoccupiedeighteenmortal

hours;and,whenwereachedourdestinationlateatnight,weweretootiredeithertoeatortosleep.But,atthatverymoment,afirebrokeout.Itwastheworstthecityhadeverseen;thewholeplaceseemedablaze.Werushedofftoseethefiremenfighttheflames,standinginthecrowdfor

hours,andthen,thelasttramhavingleft,walkingbacktooursuburbanhomeintheearlymorning.Wearinesswasforgotten.Thatlawconfrontsus

everywhere.Howeverlongwehavefought,itisalwayspossibletofightalittlelonger.Howevermuchwehavedone,we

canalwaysdoalittlemore.Whateverthesacrificeswehavemade,afurthergiftisalwayswithinourpower.Joshua'smenwerereadytofaintandevenfall;but,thegreatcausedemandinganeweffort,theydeliberatelydoubledthelengthoftheirdayandfoughtwiththezestof

boysatplay

IIINomanmustallowhis

intellectualoreducationallimitationstostandinthewayofconsecratedservice.Joshua,andthescribewhorecordedtheepisode,livedlongbeforeGalileoandCopernicus.Intheirviewthesun

revolvedabouttheearth.TheythoughtofthesunasakindofglorifiedChineselanternsuspendedfromtheskiestogivethiscentralglobealittlelight.Butwhatdidtheirignorancematter?InmystudentdaysI

attendedinLondonaprayermeetingatwhichtwoorthreethousand

peoplewerepresent.AlittleoldgentlemaninthebodyofthehallrosetoleadustotheThroneofGrace.Hisvoicewasclearasabell;hisdictionwasreverentandbeautiful;heprayedlikeamaninspired.Butallatonce,hisaccentsbecametremulouswithemotionandhisutterancebecame

confused.Afterstrugglingwithhimselfforasecondortwo,heshookhisheadsorrowfully.'Takethemeaning,Lord,'hefaltered,'takethemeaning!'andsatdown.Ihaveforgottenalltheotherprayers:Ishallneverforgethis.Joshua'srequest,andthedivineresponse,areplacedon

permanentrecordtoshowthatgreatignorancemaysubsistsidebysidewithgreatspirituality.

IVIlikethemanwhose

visiongrowsmostclear,andwhosefaithgrowsmostdaring,asnightclosesin.Joshua'ssoulrosetoitsgreatest

grandeurwhenthesunwassetting.HaroldFortescuehasa

storyofaboywhowasveryanxioustoseeGod.Heaskedhisfatherifitwaspossible:thefatherridiculedtheidea.Theboyformedtheacquaintanceofanoldfishermanwho,everyday,roweduptheriverinhis

boat.Thefatheraskedtheboywhattheoldmanwaslike.'He'sverykindandverygood,'answeredtheboy;'theonlystrangethingabouthimisthat,whenthesunissetting,hejustleansonhisoars,looksintothesunsetandthetearscomeintohiseyes.''Oh,'repliedthefather,'you'llbeallright

withhim.'Nexteveningwhentheoldmanrestedonhisoarsandstaredintotheglowingwest,theboybrokethesilence.'CanyouseeGod?'heasked.'Sonny,'theoldmananswered,brokenly,'it'sgettingthatwaynowthatIcanseenothingelse!'

V

'Sun,standthoustilluponGibeon;andthou,Moon,inthevalleyofAjalon!'Theincidentisgivensuchprominenceinorderthatwemayrealizethattherearenolimitstothetriumphofthemanwho,trustingGodimplicitly,ispreparedtodefyalltheboundsoffatigue.Modellingour

behaviouronJoshua's,wemayallenterintothethrillingexperiencethatvisitedhim.Whatseemslikeduskshallbetransformedintodawn;thesunthatappearstobesinkingshallshinebravelyon:andthecrisisthatthreatensuswithdisasteranddefeatshallprovetobeourfinest

hour.

Chapter3

BorntotheLancet

Ared-headed,freckle-faced,sturdilybuiltyoungsterisdrivinghiscowsintothethatchedfarmhouseatLong

CalderwoodinLanarkshire.Notwithstandingtheevidentseriousnessofhiscountenance,atell-taletwinklelurksinthecornerofhisdeepblueeye,andwhenhecalls,eithertothecowsortotheworkersonthefarm,alltheburrsofthemoorlandsseemtohavebeenblownintohis

northernthroat.Johnniewasjustthe

handy-boyabouttheplace.Hedidtheoddjobs;and,accordingtotheprogrammeofhisparents,hewastogoondoingoddjobsfortherestofhisdays.For,ifthetruthmustbetold,Johnniewasanunwelcomechild.Whenhisfatherandmother,

whoalreadyhadninechildren,realizedthatJohnniewasontheway,theyheavedasigh.Surelyninewasenough!Theplacewasovercrowdedandtheyweretired.Theyagreedthat,inthe

matterofavocation,Johnniemusttakepot-luck.Hemustmakehisownwayinlife.There

couldbenothoughtofafirst-classeducation.WillieandJimmiehadalreadysettheirheartsongoingtocollege.Howitwastobefinanced,thedistractedpairhadnoidea.Theonethingthatwascrystal-clearwasthattheycouldnotpossiblyindulgetheluxuryofhavingthreescholarsin

thefamily.Yet,asitturnedout,

Willie,JimmieandJohnnieallbecamedoctors,Johnniethemostillustriousofthethree.Howhemanageditremainstothisdayoneoftheinscrutablemysteriesoftheprofession.Ofdegreesanddiplomasheknewnothing.Imbued

withthesimplebutruggedfaiththatwascommoninScotlandinthosedays,hefeltinhisverybonesthatGodhadmadehimtobeasurgeon;and,indefianceofallregulationsandprecedents,hebecameasurgeonbythesimpleprocessofpractisingsurgery.

IfJamesandAgnesHunter,sittingintheirarmchairsbesidethelogfireinthebigfarm-kitchenatLongCalderwood,hadmadeuptheirminds,onthebirthoftheirninthchild,thatnineshouldbethelimit,theywouldhavedeprivedtheworldofasurgeonwhoishonouredbythe

scientistsoftodayasoneofthegreatestsurgeonsofalltime,wouldhaveimpoverishedsciencetoadegreethatnobodycancontemplatewithoutashudder,andwouldhaveintensifiedtheagoniesofmillionsofsufferers.

IAttheageofseventeen,

JohnnieforsookhiscowsatCalderwoodforcabinet-makinginGlasgow.Threeyearslater,hearingofWillie'sprogressinhisprofession,Johnpointedouttohisbrotherthatagoodcabinet-makershouldproveanexcellentsurgeon,andbeggedthathemightbepermittedto

exercisehiscraftsmanship,notinthecarvingoffurniture,butinthedissectionofhumanbodiesinhisbrother'sanatomicalschool.Recognizingtheforce

oftheargument,andaccedingtoJohnnie'saudaciousrequest,Williamsoonbecameconvincedthatthe

ambitiousyoungsterhadanaturalflairforallkindsofnovelexperimentsonthehumanframe.Johnbecameextremelypopularwitheverybodyonthepremises.Heacquiredspecialrenownfortheskillwithwhichhebeatdownthepricesoftheresurrectionmen,obtainingtheghastly

trophiesoftheirnocturnalraidsonthesilentchurchyardsatpricesatwhichsuchghoulishtreasurehadneverbeenobtainedbefore.Whenitbecameclearto

Williamthattheyouthfulcabinet-makerwas,inreality,abornsurgeon,headvisedJohntopursuehisprofessionalstudiesalong

moreorthodoxlines.Withawryface,theyouthconsented,andattheageoftwenty-sevenwentuptoOxford.But,afteracoupleofmonths,heabandonedtheacademicprojectasjustsomuchtomfoolery.'How,'hedemanded,'willaheadfulofGreekrootsandLatinconjugationshelpmeto

operateforpoplitealanuerism?'Afewyearslater,when

hewastoldthatJesseFoothadsneeredathisignoranceofthedeadlanguages,heretortedthathemightnotknowmuchaboutdeadlanguages,buthecouldteachthingsaboutdeadbodiesthatJesseFoothadnever

learnedinanylanguage,livingordead.Alwayssomewhat

brusqueandperhapsatrifleunmannerly,JohnHunterlivedtobecomethemosteminentsurgeonofhisday.Hewasfifty-fivewhenheboughtthepretentiousmansionsinLeicesterSquarewhich,becauseofthearrayof

splendidequipagesalwayswaitingnearhisdoors,earnedforhimthenicknameofTheGoldenCalfofLeicesterSquare.

IIInhisexcellent

biographyofHunter,Mr.ErnestA.Graystressestheconsistentlypracticalsideofthegreatman's

work.Healwayssniffedatabstracttheories.If,indiscussingacasewithanothersurgeon,hiscompanionsaidthathethoughtthatthis,thatortheothermightbedone,Hunterwouldsnort:'Whythink?Let'stryit!'Hekeptahugemenagerieofanimals,birds,reptilesandfishes,andobtained

therighttoexperimentuponthecreaturesinthevariousparks,shows,gardensandzoos.Intestingthequalitiesofcertaindrugs,hepoisonedthousandsofspecimens,buthegainedtheknowledgeforwhichhishungrymindwasgroping.Thispassionfor

practicalexperiment

involvedhimintragedy.Becauseofit,hewasunable,formanyyears,toentertainanythoughtofromance.Inhisresearchesintotheincidenceofaloathsomediseasewithwhichhewouldnotdreamofinfectinganybodyelse,heusedhimselfasaguinea-pig,and,asaconsequence,

hadtorelinquishallhopesofmarriage.Attheageofforty-three,however,itwasdeemedsafetoremovetheban,andhewashappilyunitedwithAnneHome,thelyricalpoetesswhogaveus'TheFlowersoftheForest'and'MyMotherbidsmebindmyHair.'Itseemedlikethe

weddingofgraniteandmoss.WhenAnneinvitedtoherdrawingroomsomeofthemusical,literaryandartisticfiguresoftheworldtowhichshebelonged,Johnwouldlistentotheconversationuntilhewasboredbeyondendurance,andthen,mutteringthatitwas'allblawfrum,'would

suddenlyforsaketheroom.Anne'sportrait,painted

byMasquerier,whichmatchesJohn's,paintedbySirJoshuaReynolds,showshertohavebeenaremarkablybeautifulwoman,and,tothelastdayofhislifehewasinordinatelyproudofher.

IIIHediedverysuddenly

attheageofsixty-five,attheverymomentatwhich,ontheothersideoftheChannel,theunhappyMarieAntoinettewasbeingrushedtotheguillotine.Itwasthecomfortofhismatureryearsthat,despiteallobstaclesthathadbeset

hispath,hehadfulfilledthedestinyanddonetheworkforwhich,hefirmlybelieved,hehadbeendivinelyappointed.Onthatfataldayhewas

participatinginaheatedprofessionalargumentwithhiscolleagueswhen,allatonce,heslumpedforwardandwasgone.Hewasburiedinthevaultsof

St.Martin-in-the-Fields,and,foralongtime,theexactplaceofhissepulturewasunknown.Sixty-sixyearslater,however,FrankBuckland,whoalwaysregardedHunterasapeerlessprinceofthescientificrealm,locatedthecoffin,and,witheverypompandcircumstance,itwas

reinterredinWestminsterAbbey.Withhispassionfor

oculardemonstrationandpracticalexperiment,itwasnaturalthatJohnHuntershouldhaveaccumulatedacolossalandvaluablecollectionofspecimens.Withinhalfacenturyofhisdeath,Parliamentvotedabout

fiftythousandpoundsfortheacquisitionandaccommodationofhismuseum.Mr.GrayclaimsthatitwasHunterwholiftedsurgerytoascience.Aslongastheworldlasts,hesays,theburlyshadowofJohnHunterwillfallathwarteveryoperatingtheatre,everyhospitalwardandeverybiological

laboratory.Itisanobletribute,noblyearned.

Chapter4

TheInstinctofSaviourhood

Humanityisdistinguishedbyanunconquerableinstinctforsaviourhood.Istherea

manliving,orawoman,whohasnotatsometimeyearnedfortheopportunityofsavingthelifeofafellow-man?WereadoftheawardsconferredbytheRoyalHumaneSocietyonthosewho,atthehazardoftheirownlives,haverescuedothersfromfireorfromflood;andwe

instinctivelyfeelthatlifewouldbeinvestedwithanewlusterifweourselveswerepresentedwithsosublimeanopportunityandwereabletoembraceit.Thatfeelingitselfis

significant.Carlylehasshownthathero-worshipistheprotoplasmicgermfromwhichheroism

evolves.Theinstinctofsaviourhoodimpelsmanyofouryoungmentobecomedoctorsandmanyofouryoungwomentobecomenurses.Fewofusactually

realizeoursecretambition.Thechancenevercomes;or,ifitcomes,ourbesteffortsproveabortive.Intheyear

1741,anIrishmannamedConnellwassentencedtodeathatNorthampton.PhilipDoddridge,whorepresentsinhisownpersonthenaturallinkbetweentheageofthePuritansthatwaspassingandtheageoftheGreatRevivaliststhatwasjustdawning,happenedtobeinthefullfloodofhis

historicministryatNorthamptonatthetime.Atgreattroubleand

expense,Dr.Doddridgeinstitutedarigidscrutinyintothecase,andproved,beyondthepossibilityofadoubt,thatConnellwasahundredandtwentymilesawaywhenthecrimewascommitted.Thecourseofjudgmentcouldnot,

however,bedeflected.Connellwasaskedifhehadanyrequesttomakebeforesettingoutforthegallows.HeansweredthathedesiredtheprocessiontopauseinfrontofthehouseofDr.PhilipDoddridge,thathemightkneelontheminister'sdoorstepandbreatheabenedictionontheman

whohadtriedtosavehim.'Dr.Doddridge,'he

cried,whentheprocessionhalted,'everyhairofmyheadthanksyou;everythrobofmyheartthanksyou;everydropofmybloodthanksyou!Youdidyourbesttosaveme,butyoucouldn't!'Dr.Doddridge'scaseistypicalofmillions.

Theworldislargelypopulatedbyaspiringandpotentialsaviours.Thethoughtis

suggestedbythefactthatIhopeonSundaytopreachonthetext:Hesavedothers;HimselfHecouldnotsave.Iseemtoseefourmen.

I

ThereistheManWhoCanSaveneitherHimselfnorOthers.Thismorning'spapertellsofanaeroplane,withforty-sixpeopleonboard,missingovertheGulfofMexico.Itisassumedthatthepilotlosthisbearings,and,aftercirclingroundinadesperateefforttofindalandmark,atlastplunged

intothesea.Itiseasytoconjureup

thepilot'ssensations.HowpassionatelyhemusthavecovetedthetributethatthepriestsandthescribesandtheelderspaidtoJesus!Hesavedothers;HimselfHecouldnotsave!Hewouldgladlyhavediedathousanddeathsifonly,bythe

thousanddeaths,hecouldhavesavedhispassengers!Buthecansaveneitherhimselfnorthem.Itisthemelancholyfateofallcaptainswhogodownwiththeirships,ofallofficerswhodieinbattlewiththeirmen;ofallleaderswho,likeO'HaraBurkeandCaptainScott,perishwiththe

expeditionsthattheyled.ItremindsusofPaul.'I

couldwishthatmyselfwereaccursedfromChristformybrethren,mykinsmenaccordingtotheflesh.'Butitcannotbe.Thetravailofsaviourhoodisthere;but,asinthecaseofDr.Doddridge,itisdoomedtodisappointmentand

frustration.

IIThereistheManWho

CanSaveHimselfbutnotOthers.TherearefewothersonsofwhomAustraliaismoreproudthanofSirDouglasMawson.ButthereisoneexperienceofwhichSirDouglashatestospeakor

eventhink.WithLieutenantNinnisandDr.Mertz,SirDouglaswasmakinghiswayacrossthevastAntarcticwasteswhenthefrozensnowbeneaththemsuddenlycollapsedandhistwocompanionssimplyvanishedinthefrightfulchasmthathadopened.Facedbythehourlyperil

ofstarvation,Dr.Mawsonstruggledonforthirtyterribledays,andthirtystillmoreterriblenights,byhimself.Thelonelinesswasmaddening;thedangersterrifying;buttheclimaxofhisagonywassummedupinthereflectionthat,thoughhehimselfhadbeensaved,hehadbeenunableto

savehiscomrades.Inthecourseofhis

conversationwiththesistersofthePalaceBeautiful,Christianwasaskedaquestionthat,despitehispleasantsituation,reducedhimtoabjectwretchedness.ItwasCharitywhomadethepainfulthrust.'Artthouamarried

man?'sheinquired.Christianinstantlydetectedhermeaning.Whywashesavinghimself--butnotothers?Christianweptand

declaredthathewouldgladlyhavebroughthiswifeandchildrenonpilgrimage;but,heexplained,hewastothemasonethatmocked;they

simplywouldnotlistentohisearnestentreaties.Hadheprayedforthem

andpleadedwiththem?Charitypressed.'Overandoverandoveragain!'repliedthebroken-heartedman.'Theycouldseebymycountenance,bymytearsandbymytremblingthatIwasagonizinglyconcerned

aboutthejudgmentawaitingthem;butitwasallofnouse;theywouldnotcome!'Sothepoorpilgrimwas

foundamongthosewho,savingthemselves,coulddonothingforothers.

IIIThereistheManWho

SavesHimselfbySaving

Others.Itoftenhappens.

Numbandwearyonthemountains,wouldstthousleepamidstthesnow?Chafethatfrozenform

besidethee,and,together,bothshallglow.

Somelittletimeago,amountain-guidereturnedalonefromanexpedition

thathadsetouttoscaleoneofthesnow-cappedandsky-piercingsummitsofNewZealand.Askedattheinquesttoaccountforhissolitarysurvival,heexplained,withobviousemotion,that,whenhefoundalltheclimberssickandexhausted,heworkedsofranticallyinchafingtheirlimbs,movingthem

fromplacetoplaceandministeringtotheircountlessneedsthathisownbloodwaskeptpulsingthroughhisveinsbyhisactivity.Otherwise,hedeclared,hecouldneverhavelivedtomakethedescent.Itisagreatthingto

saveyourselfbyyoureffortsonbehalfofothers.

IoftenwonderwhetherImyselfwouldhavemaintainedthroughalltheyearsmyinterestinspiritualthingsandmyloveforGod,HisWord,HisHouseandHispeoplehadIneverbeencalledtospendmylifeinendeavouringtoleadothersintothekingdom.

IVAndthenthereisthe

ManWhoCanSaveOthersbutCannotSaveHimself.AtGlenalmondSchool,inScotland,therestandsamemorialtoAlexanderCumineRussell.SoonafterheleftGlenalmondSchool,RussellbecameanofficerintheHighlandLight

Infantry.HisregimentwasontheBirkenheadwhenshesank.Thewomenwereorderedtotheboats.Whenoneoftheseboatswasfilled,thecaptainplacedRussellinchargeofitwithorderstoallownobodyelsetoenterit.Justastheboatwaspullingawayfromthedoomedship,however,a

manwhohadbeenstrugglinginthewatergraspedanoarandpulledhimselftoapositioninwhicheverybodycouldseehisface.Apiercingscreamrenttheair.'Savehim!He'smyhusband!'awomancried.Withoutasecond'shesitation,AlexanderCumineRussellleaptoverboard;

helpedthemanintotheboatandwasseennomore.HehadjoinedthatillustriouscompanyofwhichJesusisthehead,thecompanyofthosewho,savingothers,areunabletosavethemselves.

VButwhoarethesemen

whoraisethisstrangecryonthegloomyslopesofCalvary?Itisthecryofthechiefpriestsandthescribesandtheelders,theverymenwhohadinstigatedandengineeredthecrucifixion!Hesavedothers,HimselfHecouldnotsave!theycried.Intwowaystheywererightandintwowaysthey

werewrong.Theywerecertainly

rightinsayingthatHesavedothers;althoughwhy,knowingHisskillasaSaviour,theyshouldwishtodestroyHim,isbeyondhumancomprehension.ThatHesavedotherswasobvioustoeverybody.Therewerethoseinthecrowdwho

gazedupontheCrosswitheyesthatHehadgiventhem.TherewerethosewholistenedtothetumultwithearsthatHehadopened.Therewerethoseminglingwiththethrong,who,notsolongago,wereforbiddentominglewiththrongs;theyhadbeenleprousandunclean.ThedaughterofJairus

mayhavebeenthere;orthesonofthewidowofNain;orLazarusofBethany--thosewhomHehadraisedfromthedead.Butiftheywererightin

sayingthatHesavedothers,theywerewronginsayingthatHimselfHecouldnotsave.OfcourseHecould!Itistheoldtusslebetweenthe

materialandthespiritual.'Icannothelpit!'criesadistractedwoman,assheburstsintoablazinghousetosaveherchild.Shecan;anybodycanstandinactive;butsomeforcewithinher,mightierthanhermuscles,defieshercontrol.'Icannothelpmyself,'exclaimsamanwho,consciousofhis

limitationsasaswimmer,neverthelessplungesintotheboilingsurftosavehisboy.Hecan;itrequiresbutlittlestrengthtoremainuponthebeach.Buttheinstinctofsaviourhoodisstrongerthantheinstinctofself-preservation.Thespiritualbeinginfinitelymightierthanthephysical,he

cannotholdback;hemustgo!Similarly,Jesuscould

havesavedHimselffromtheCross!IhavepowertolaydownmylifeandIhavepowertotakeitagain.HecouldhaveansweredthetauntofhisenemiesbyshakingHimselffreeoftheCrossandallitsghastly

appurtenances,asadogshakesthewaterfromhiscoatwhenheleapsfromthestreamtothebank.Hecouldhavedone;yetHecouldnot;foramightierforcepreventedit.Wesometimessingthat'HisloveisasgreatasHispowerandneitherknowsmeasurenorend.'Itisanunderstatement.Hislove

isnotonlyasgreatasHispower;itisgreater;thatiswhy,havingsavedothers,HecannotsaveHimself.Theywererightin

declaringthatHesavedothers!Forsee!Here,attheendofmyBible,Icatchavisionoftheshininghostoftheredeemed,amultitudethatnomancannumber!

Hesavedthem,everyone!Theywerewrongin

sayingthatHecannotsaveHimself!Forsee,inthisself-samevision,IseeHim,theLambupontheThrone,crownedwitheverlastinghonour.Neitherintheheavensabovenorontheearthbeneath,isthereanyone

moretriumphantlysavedthanHe!Havingsavedothers,HehasgloriouslysavedHimself!Hallelujah,whataSaviour!

Chapter5

AFour-CorneredRomance

Forsomeinscrutablereason,mytruantmindrevertstodaytooneofthestrangestlove-storiesofalltime.Itbelongstothe

daysoftheGreatPlagueandtheGreatFire.And,althoughfourpeopleareinvolved,nosinisterelementofanykindmarsthebeautyofthegracefulrecord.Thefourprincipalsare

JohnEvelyn,thefamousdiarist,MaryBrowne,MargaretBlaggeandSidneyGodolphin.

IItallbeganwhen

Evelyn,alivelyyouthinhistwenties,visitedFranceandfellviolentlyinlovewithadaintylittledamseloftwelve.MaryBrownewasthe

daughterofSirRichardBrowne,theBritishResidentattheFrench

Court.ShemarriedEvelyninParisin1647,hebeingthentwenty-sevenandshefourteen.Withshrewd

diplomacy,Evelyndiscoveredahappywayofingratiatinghimselfintheaffectionateesteemofhisbrideandherpeople.Theyhadanobsession.

Theywereeverlastingly

talkingaboutthecharmsofSayesCourtatDeptford,thebeautifulestatethathadoncebeentheproudhomeoftheBrownefamilybutwhichhadbeenwrenchedfromthembysequestration.Evelynwentto

England;boughtSayesCourt;presentedittohisexcitedlittlewife;andit

wastheirhappyhomeforfortyyears.Evelynwasagoodman

inanageinwhichitwasnoteasytobegood.Mr.ArthurPonsonbysaysthateverymanhemetwasthebetterforknowinghim.Afternearlysixtyyears

ofperfectweddedlife,hediedfirst,attheageofeighty-six,andshe,inher

will,beggedtobeburiedbyherhusband'sside,'hiscareofmyeducationhavingbeensuch,tothelastmomentofhislife,asmightbecomeafather,alover,afriendandahusbandfortenderness,affectionandfidelity'.JohnEvelynhadbeen

marriedtoMaryfortwenty-oneyears,andhad

becomethefatherofninechildren,whenhemetMargaretBlagge.

IIOddlyenough,itwas

hiswifewho,laudinghertotheskies,introducedhimtoher.Agoodwomanherself,Mrs.Evelynwasfascinatedbytheexquisitesaintlinessof

Margaret'slife.Likeabrightstarinadarksky,MargaretshonewithextraordinaryradianceasaMaidofHonouratthedissoluteCourtofCharlestheSecond.Thereweresaints,wearetold,inNero'shousehold;andtherewasatleastonesaintofpeerlesspurityandsweetnessinthe

palaceoftheprofligateEnglishking.Inarguingthat,likea

lilygrowinginacoalmine,arealChristiancanbeaChristiananywhere,BishopAlexanderpointstothefactthat,amidstacoarsetangleofobscenitiesandprofanities,MargaretBlaggeliterallydweltin

thesecretplaceoftheMostHigh,abodeundertheShadowoftheAlmightyandkeptherselfunspottedfromtheworld.EvelynandMargaret

feltthemselvespowerfullyattractedtoeachother.Mr.W.G.Hiscockhastoldthestoryoftheirstrangefriendship.Itreacheditsclimaxwhen

hepresentedherwithapictureofanaltarwithaheartinacircleofstars.'Bethisthesymbolofinviolablefriendship,'itisinscribed.Sheendorsedthesentimentbyappendingthewords,'Beitso.M.B.''Doyouknowwhatyou

havedone?'heaskedher.'Youhavebrought

yourselfintobondsyoucanneveruntiewhilstyoulive.Thisaltaristhemarriageofsouls,thesignofafriendshipthatisbeyondallrelationsoffleshandblood.'Theymetoften,wrote

toeachotherfrequentlyandexchangedgiftswhichweregladlyacceptedandreverently

treasured.Evelynoftenassuredherthathecouldneverthinkofherwithoutfeelingasenseofrevulsionfromthecorruptionoftheworld;somuchthatpassesforlove,headds,isnorealloveatall.

IIIThreethingsremainto

besaid.Mrs.EvelynneverforamomentregrettedhavingbroughtMargaretintoherhusband'slife.ShealwaysfeltthatJohn'scharacterwasimmenselyennobledandenrichedbythefriendship.Eveninacourtthatwas

notoriousforuglygossip,Margaret'sreputationfor

perfectinnocenceremaineduntarnished.Sheheldherplace,yearafteryear,asasilentrebuketolicentiousnessandaconstantincentivetogoodness.'Howdimthetapersburnedwhensheleftthepalace!'itwassaid.Shelefttomarry

SidneyGodolphin,oneof

themostrenownedoftheStuartdiplomats.HerhusbandwasfullyawareofherfriendshipforEvelynandrespectedit.Ayearafterhermarriage,shediedingivingbirthtotheirchild.Whenthedistracted

husbandrealizedthatMargaretwassinking,heatoncesentpost-hastefor

Evelyn,earnestlycravingthebenefitofhispresence,hissympathyandhisprayers.

Chapter6

ThePriestoftheStreetCorner

ThoseofuswhoenjoydelightfulcorrespondencewithfriendsintheUnitedStateshavenoticedthatthegovernmentofthat

countrynotlongagoissuedanewpostagestampinhonourofthenewsboy.Itdepictsanewsboybusilyplyinghistrade,whilst,totherightofthedesign,atorchburnsbrightlyasasymboloftheilluminationofwhichtheyoungsteristhemodestinstrument.ForthenewsboyisthePriest

oftheStreetCorner,mediating,aspriestswill,betweentheIndividualandtheUniversal.

IThenewsboyisin

businessinabigway.Hedealsinimmensities.Asuperficialobservermaysaythatheissellingpaper.Heisdoingnothing

ofthekind.HeisnomoresellingpaperthananyothertradesmanissellingpaperwhofindsitconvenienttowraphiswaresinthatprotectivecoveringThenewsboyisselling

news.Itisnewsandnotpaperthathiscustomerswant,and,intheend,theythinksolittleofthepaper

thattheytossitasideassoonastheyhaveabsorbedthenewsthatitcontains.Theactualpaper

dispensedbythenewsboycountsforlessthanthepapersoldbyabookseller.Themanwhobuysabookbuysitforthesakeofitscontents;but,havingdevoured

thosecontents,helikestokeepthebookonhisshelves,partlyforconsultationandpartlyfordis-play.Butthepapersoldbythenewsboycountsfornothing;itisthenews,andthenewsalone,thatmatters.Hewhothinksofanewsboyasmerelyavendorofpaperfailstorecognized

boththedignityoftheboy'sofficeandhisvitalnicheintheeternalschemeofthings.Anewsboydeals,notin

paper,butinearthquakes,warsandrevolutions;infires,faminesandpestilences;inassassinations,abdicationsandcoronations;withafew

testmatches,horse-races,footballfinalsandsimilartriflesthrowninforgoodmeasure.Othertradesmendealincoats,coalsandcabbages;butthenewsboysellsyoucathedralsandpalaces;heoffersyouthehouseofparliamentandthestockexchange;hisstock-in-tradeincludesarmies,

naviesandair-squadrons;births,marriagesanddeaths;heholdsinhishandallearth'smostimposingstructures,allthesensationsofscienceandalltheshipsthatsailthesevenseas.

IIThepointisthatthe

wholeworldiswrapped

upineverypaperthatthenewsboysells.Thecityurchinwhoweaveshiswayamongthetraffictoeffectasale,andthecountryladwhosetsoutfromthegeneralstoretocarrythepapertothehomesteadoverthehill,arebothlikeAtlas;theybeartheentireglobewiththem.

Watchingtheseboys--theonescurryingtoandfroamongthebustlingpedestrians,andtheothertrudgingslowlyalongthedustytrackthroughthebush--anaturalquestionspringstomind.Why,amongpeopleofallkindsandclasses,istheresuchageneraldemandforthesepapers?Why,for

example,dothedwellersinthesmallestandmostremotesettlementwantthenews?WhycannotBulman'sGullybesatisfiedwithBulman'sGully?WhycannotHorseshoeCreekbecontentwithHorseshoeCreek?Whyshouldtheytroubletheirheadsaboutthegreatcrowdedworld

beyond?

IIIItisnotidlecuriosity.It

istheexpressionofapassionthat,likeallourmasterpassions,iswovenintotheverytextureofourhumanity.Amanmayliveinahut

orahumpyatthebackofthebush,orinsomecrazy

shelterawayattheotherendofnowhere,buthewillfretforavistaoffar-offcontinentsandlongfortheromanceoftenthousanddistantislands.Eachmanwantsallmen.Beheoldoryoung,richorpoor,hewantsthewholewideworld,andhiscosmopolitanappetiteexpressesitselfinhis

quenchlessthirstfornews.Thisravenouscraving

isoneofthesublimestthingsaboutus.Itiswovenintotheverywarpandwoofofourhumanity.Itisvital,basic,fundamental.Inhisclassicalnarrativeoftheemotionandexcitementamidstwhichheatlast

foundLivingstone,Stanleysaysthattheonethingforwhichthelostexplorerclamouredwasthenews.Stanleyurgedhimtoreadhisletters."No,no,"cried

Livingstone,"theletterscanwaitafewminuteslonger.Tellmethenews!How'stheworldgettingon?"Then,buriedinthat

denseAfricanjungle,thetwomensatforhours,whilsttheonetoldtheotherofthecountlesstransformationsthathadovertakentheworldwhilstthelostmanhadbeenburiedinthedarkcontinent.Livingstonebecameachangedman.Freshtidesofvitalityrushedintohisframe;his

haggardfaceshonewithenthusiasm."Youhavebroughtmenewlife!"hemurmuredrepeatedly.Theincidentis

extraordinarilyrevealing.Amanwantstheworld;ageographicalfragmentwillnotsatisfyhim;ahemisphereisnotenough.Stanleypouredtheworldintothestarvedsoulof

Livingstone,andeveryfibreofhisbeingtingledwithnewanimation.Aman'shungerforthe

worldisapulsationoftheinfinitywhichstirswithinhim."Thouhastsettheworldintheirhearts,"declaresanancientprophet.Thewaresinwhichthenewsboydealsaretheverycommodities

thatthehumanspiritmostpassionatelycraves.Manwasmadeinthe

imagooftheMostHigh.Itissmallwonder,therefore,that,fashionedinthatdivinesimilitude,heshouldsharehisMaker'sall-embracingpassion.Godlovestheworld.

Thatiswhymanlovesthe

world.AndthatmanismostGod-likewho,lovingtheworldwithallhisheart,ispreparedtomakeanysacrificeforitssalvationandwell-being.

Chapter7

GrilledMiceatMidnight

Itgivesamananastyturnwhen,seatedatdinnerwithhiswifeandfamily,hehearsacrunchingsoundnearhis

feetand,onpeepingunderthetable,discoversthathispetjackalhasjustpolishedoffhisfavouriteguineapig.Tragediesofthiskind

wereoffairlyfrequentoccurrenceintheestablishmentofFrankBuckland.TheBucklandfamily

providesoneoftherare

instancesinwhichafatherandsonbothbecamefamousalongdifferentlinesofresearch.AnybodywhocarestoconsultanencyclopediawillfindWilliamBuckland,thefather,listedasaneminentgeologist,andFrancisBuckland,theson,figuringasanoless

notablezoologist.Thefather,whowas

DeanofWestminster,revelledinstonesandstrata,theinanimateproductsofprehistoricages.Theson,whobecameInspectorofBritishFisheries,delightedinallthefinnedandfurredandfeatheredthingsthatflappedor

flutteredorflew,ranorleapedorwriggled,intheworldimmediatelyaroundhim.Whilsthisfather

exploredarealmthatwasasdeadasthedodo,Franklovedeverythingthatlived,andcouldneverseetoomuchofit.

I

TheboywasbornasOxfordin1826.Hesoonbetrayedanextraordinaryunderstandingofanimals,largeorsmall,wildortame,nativeorforeign.Aliveordead,itmatteredlittle;theyallbelongedtohim.Ifalive,headopted

them:ifdeadhedevouredthem;andiftheywere

bothdeadandburied,heexhumedthem.Whenhisgraveareverendseniorsprotestedagainsthiseatingsuchnastyfare,heaskedthemhowtheyknewitwasnastyiftheyhadnevertriedit.Whenhesleptwith

otherboysincampordormitory,hewouldawakenhiscompanionsat

midnight,and,theirnostrilshavingbeenassailedbyasavouryaroma,hewouldregalethemwithgrilledmice,pipinghot,which,heassuredthem,werefartastierthanlarks.Squirrelpie,roastviper

andfrogsinbatterwereoftenincludedinhismenu.And,eveninthe

daysofhisrenown,hewouldentertainhisguestswithelephantsoup,giraffesteak,pantherchopsoratastydishofalligator.Hesometimesadmittedthat,thecreaturehavingreposedfortoolonginitsgrave,themealwasnotquiteastoothsomeashehadhoped.

Hispassionforwildthingsofteninvolvedhiminseriousembarrassment.Hisschoolfellowseyessuspiciouslythebulgingpocketfromwhichtheheadofasnakefurtivelydarted.Unsympatheticmasters,ushersandprefectsobjectedtohisstuffinghisdeskwithcats,haresandweasels

which,thoughlongdead,madetheirpresenceunmistakablyperceptible.Hesurmountedthis

difficultybyingratiatinghimselfintheaffectionsofthebell-ringeratthechurch,whoallowedhimtotakehisdeceasedfriendstothetopofthetowerandleavethemthereuntilthebleached

skeletonscouldbeadded,withoutodoriferousoffence,tohismuseum.

IINorosewithoutathorn,

hischarmingwifeusedtosigh.Sinceshehadmarriedthemostlovablemanintheworld,shesupposedthatshecouldnotresenthavingmarried

amenagerieintothebargain.Hisbearandhis

monkeysgothimintotonsoftrouble.AndwhenthepostmanenteredAlbany-street,bearingallkindsofmysteriouspackagesforNo.37,theneighboursdiscreetlyclosedtheirwindowsandshuttheirdoors,keeping

themsecurelyfasteneduntilMr.Buckland'smailhadbeensafelydelivered.Withhispredilection

foranatomy,andhisinsistenceonholdingpostmortemexaminationsonallthedeadthingsroundtheplace,hischoiceofaprofessionwasaforegoneconclusion.Hebecamehousesurgeonat

St.George'sHospitalattheageoftwenty-six.Oneofthemostfateful

momentsofhislifewasthemomentinwhichhebecameanangler.Hetooktofishingassomementaketodrinkingandsoonbecamegloriouslyintoxicated.Hecouldtalkofnothingbutlinesandhooksandcastsandflies.

Heoftendeclaredthatthegreatestthrillofhislifewasthelandingofhisfirstsalmon.Theinevitable

happened:hefellinlovewiththefish.Hestudiedtheirhauntsandhabitssointentlythathecametofellasif,insomeearlierincarnation,hehadhimselfbeenasalmon

andhadretainedavividmemoryofasalmon'ssensations,difficultiesandrequirements.

IIIItwasthisthatledto

hisfamousinventionofthewater-ladder,acontrivancebymeansofwhichthefishcouldclimbtheweirandpass

onupstream.Whenthepontiffsridiculedhissuggestion,hisreplywasunanswerable.'Buildaninexpensiveladder,'hepleaded,'andleavetheultimatedecisiontothesalmon.'Intheresult,thesalmonvotedunanimouslyforBuckland.Hisinvestigationswere

oftenbesetbyperil.Intakingfromthecobra'scageatthezooaratthathadbeenbittenbythereptile,thevenompassedthroughascratchonhisfingerintohisownsystem.Beforeheleftthegardens,hewasstaggeringlikeadrunkenmen:hehoveredforsometimeatdeath'sdoor.

Onanotheroccasion,hemaddenedaviperuntilitbitsavagelyattheglassslidethatheheldinhishand.Examiningtheresultantdropsunderapowerfulmicroscope,hesaidthattheircorruscationsandcrystallizationsremindedhimoftheflashingoftheauroraborealis.

Hediedatfifty-four,confidentthathismostexcitingdiscoverieswereyettobemade.'Godissoverygoodtothelittlefishes,'hesaid,'thatHewillneverallowtheirinspectortosuffershipwreckatthelast.'Greatlybeloved,amonumenttohismemoryisstilloneofthe

adornmentsatSouthKensington.

Chapter8

ThePokerFace

Intheloungeofhishotel,inthesaloonofashiporinacompartmentofarailwaytrain,onesometimesseesaman,engrossedinagameofcards,lookingforallthe

worldlikeaclassicalbustofJuliusCaesar.Hiscountenanceisutterlydestituteofallexpression;neveragleamofexcitement,neveraglimmerofsatisfaction,neverashadowofdisappointment.Suchamanisfighting,

andfightingdesperately,againstNature.Nature,if

shehadherway,wouldbrightenhisfacewithgladnesswhenthingsweregoingwell,andwouldpuckerhisbrowswithannoyancewhentheluckturnedagainsthim.But,forreasonsofhisown,herefusesNatureafreehand.

I

Thehumanfaceisdesignedtoactastheshop-windowofthehumansoul.Itisnot,ofcourse,invariablyreliable.Itbynomeansfollows,becausethecountenanceofaGarrick,anIrvingoranOlivieriswreathedinsmiles,thatthemanhimselfisatthatmomentradiantlyhappy,

nor,becausehisfeaturesaresteepedingloom,thatheisinthedepthsofdespair.Theactorisaprofessionalwindow-dresser,andisgivinganexhibitionofhiscraft;thatisall.Everydayofourlives,inanamateurishkindofway,weeachdosomethingofthekind.Nordoesitfollow,

becausethereisnothinginthewindow,thatthetradesman'sstocksareexhausted.Thereinliesthephilosophyofthepoker-face.Theplayerputsnothinginthewindowinordertokeepyouguessingastothenatureofhisstock.Apoker-faceisanartificialface,anunnaturalface,a

meremask.Itfrustratestheverypurposeforwhichfaceswerecreated.

II'Myfaceismyfortune!'

boastedthemilkmaidinthenurseryrhyme.Herprouddeclarationis,inreality,anunderstatement.Asingleface,differing

ingeneraloutlinefromall

otherfaces,isitselfafascinatingentertainment;itiscapableofsuchaninfinitevarietyofaspects.Eachexpression,asitmomentarilyappearsanddisappears,iscomposedofacertainadmixtureofemotionalingredients.Ineachsuchadmixture,thecomponentpartsaremingledinproportions

suggestedbytheimmediatecircumstances;andthatsameadmixture,inthoseidenticalproportions,isneverlikelytorecur.Thefaceisa

kaleidoscope;thevarietyofthepassionsthatplayuponitisextremelycomplicated;thesamemosaicneverappearsa

secondtime.Hereinliesthesubtle

secretofallsuperlativeart.Takethedrama,forexample.Afirst-classactorcannotonlymimicaman,hecanmimicanymaninanymood.DiderotsaysthatheoncesawGarrickpasshisheadbetweentwoscreensand,inthespaceofafew

seconds,theexpressionofhiscountenancerangedfrommadejoytomoderatejoy,fromthistotranquillity,fromtranquillitytosurprise,fromsurprisetoastonishment,fromastonishmenttogloom,fromgloomtoutterdejection,fromdejectiontofear,fromfearto

horror,fromhorrortodespair;andthenre-ascendfromthedepthsofmiserytothewilddelightwithwhichhestarted.Thedifferencebetween

afirst-classportraitpainterandasecond-classoneisthattheformergivesustheexpression;thelattergivesonlytheface.Anyonecanpainta

poker-face.Thepoker-face

representsthelegendofPygmalioninreverse.Inthegracefulmyth,thestatuewastransformedintoahuman.Thepoker-facechangesthehumanintoastatue.Thebeastsofthefield

andthefowlsoftheairdisplay,intheirhairyor

featheredfaces,littleornoevidenceofinwardemotion.Theanthropoidapesoccasionallydisplaysymptomsofrageandofoneortwootherbasicandelementarysensations;butthatisasfarasitgoes.Wehumans,however,arebuiltonaverydifferentplan.Weareendowedwith

facessosensitiveandpliablethat,liketheseismograph,theyreflectandregistertheslightestinternaltremorordisturbance.Thereisanappropriateoutwardexpressionforeachinwardagitation;andanyattempttopreventthefacialmechanismfromfulfillingitsproper

functionisastultificationofnaturallawandadefianceofoneoftheprimaryprinciplesofhumanexistence.Theforcesthatbuildup

thedelicatestructureofthismasterpieceoforganismhavetheirrootsfirmlystruckintoahoaryantiquity.Historyhasahandintheshapingofour

faces.ThuswespeakoftheGrecianface,theAsiaticface,theAfricanface,andmanyanthropologistsdeclarethatthereisadistinctdifferencebetweenthetypeoffacethatprevailedbeforetheChristianeraandthetypethathasevolvedsince.Undernormal

conditions,theface,ofwhatevertype,becomestheautomaticrevelationofthepersonalcharacter.Mendelssohn,theeminentLondonphotographer,alwaysinsistedthatnofretful,discontentedandill-naturedwomancanremainforlongreallybeautiful.

IIINobodyknowshowArt

becamepossessedofthetraditionalfaceofChrist;noportraitwaseverpainted.Itsbeautyis,however,arecognitionofthefactthat,asPaultellsus,thegloryofGodismanifestedinthefaceofJesus.Theconventionaldescriptionsofheaven

maynotappealtotheaverageman;but,asBrowningmakesDavidexclaimtoSaul:

...ItshallbeAFacelikemyfacethat

receivesthee;aManliketome,Thoushaltloveandbe

lovedby,forever;aHandlikethishand

Shallthrowopenthegatesofnewlifetothee!SeetheChriststand!

Intheinvisibleworld,asinthevisible,ahumanFacerepresentsrevelation'sfinalword.

Chapter9

GreenPasturesandStillWaters

ItwasaSundayevening!Therainwaslashingdownintorrents.JohnBroadbanksandIwerecampingawayback

inthebushatPiripikiGorge,inNewZealand.Therewasnothingforitbuttoremainwithinourtent.Wechattedforawhileandthendeterminedtomakeanearlynightofit.Beforeturningin,weeachdrewfromourbaggagetinyvest-pocketeditionsofportionsoftheScriptures.Automatically,

eachglancedatthebookletinthehandoftheother.'MineistheGospel

accordingtoSt.John,'Ivolunteered.'Idon'tknowwhy;butIalwaystakeJohnwithmeonholiday;andsomehowthelovelystoriesthatitcontainsbecome,tome,partandpartoftheholidayscene.

Isupposeit'sjustamatterofhabit.''That'sinteresting!'John

replied,afteracharacteristicpause.'IalwaysbringthePsalter.IfindthatifIreadanyotherbookonholiday,mymindstartssermonizingatonce.ButIfindthePsalmsdevotionalwithoutbeingprovocative.And,

likeyouwithJohn,IfindthemusicofthePsalmsminglingwiththesongsofthebushbirdsandthemurmurofthewaves.'Thisallhappenedmany

yearsago,but,tothisday,IseldomreadaPsalmwithoutathoughtofJohn'sremarksthatwetnightinthebush.

IBreathesthereaman

withsoulsodeadthatheexperiencesnolittletrillsofpleasantsensationandcherishedrecollectionwheneversomefamiliarphrasefromtheBookofPsalmsfallsupontheearorrushestohismemory?ThePsalmsareso

exquisitelysimple,so

artlesslynaturalandsopalpitatinglyhumanthatonefeelsonreadingthemasamanmightfeelwhen,onidlyturningthepagesofanalbum,hesuddenlyconfrontshisownphotograph.

IIInthecourseofhis

deathlessallegory,John

Bunyantellsusthat,whenFaithfulpassedthroughtheValleyoftheShadowofDeath,hewasterrorizedbynohideousdemons,andheardnoscreechinggoblins,becausehewassohappilyemployedincrooningtohimselfthePsalms.Yet,ifweareaskedtoaccount,inpreciseterms,forthe

popularityofthisparticularbook,itwouldbedifficulttoformulateasatisfactoryreply.Ithasnogreatnarrative

value,likethehistoricalbooks,assistingustoanappreciationofancienthappenings;ithasnoplotlikethoseinEsther,RuthandJonah;ithasnoprofoundtheological

significancelikethegospelsandepistles;itdoesnotdazzleuswithblindingapocalypticvisionssuchaswefindinDanielandtheRevelation.Thefactisthatthe

PalaceBeautifulhasitsArchives:theyarerepresentedbythebooksofSamuel,Kingsand

Chronicles.IthasitsStudyinthemasterpiecesofJohn,Paulandtheotherapostles.IthasitsObservatoryinitsgloriouscompanyofseersandofprophets.Butithasalsoitsprivatechapel,itsinnershrine,itsSanctumSanctorum,andthatcharmingretreatispopularlyknownasthe

BookofPsalms.Forthisreason,a

deliciousatmosphereofpeacebroodsoverthesemelodiouspages.InQuaker-likequiet,thePsalmshavestoodalooffromthestridentshoutsofmortalconflictandfromtheharshbattle-criesofthecontroversialists.Likealeafygladeina

shadywood,theyofferasabbatichushandarefreshingcalmtotheheated,andperhapsstricken,combatantsfrommoremartialfields.

IIINotbyanymeansthat

thebookhasnoevidentialvalue.'JohnBrightoncetoldme,'saidMr.

Gladstone,'thathewouldbecontenttostakeupontheBookofPsalmstheentirequestionoftheexistenceofadivinerevelation.'Turningfromthe

abstracttotheconcrete,historyhaslenttothesongsofthismagneticvolumeassociationsthathaveincalculably

deepenedthevenerationandinflamedtheaffectioninwhichweshouldinanycasehaveheldthem.Tothemusicofthesixty-eighthpsalm,forexample,theCrusadersmarchedastheyprosecutedtheirlongcampaigntodelivertheHolySepulchrefromthehandsoftheInfidel.It

wasthebattle-cryoftheHuguenots:and,notoncebutmanytimes,itsstirringstrainsralliedthedroopingspiritsofthePuritans.Inthetitanicfightfor

theemancipationoftheslaves,too,thePsalmsplayedtheirpartbravely;andtherearefewmorepatheticandbeautiful

recordsintheannalsofthatmemorablecampaignthanthesimpleentryinthediaryofWilberforce:'WalkedfromHydeParkCornerrepeatingtheonehundredandnineteenthpsalmwithinfinitecomfort.'Itwasfromthatsecretsourcethathegatheredstrengthforthestupendousstruggle

whichculminatedinhistriumphantdeathinthehourofvictory.

IVThemanwhomarches

onhispilgrimagetothemusicofthePsalmsenjoysnotonlythepurestofpoesy,butthecondensedessenceofhistoryandthesublimest

unfoldingsofprophecy.Take,forexample,thetwenty-second,twenty-thirdandtwenty-fourth.Thetwenty-secondisthePsalmoftheCross;thetwenty-thirdisthePsalmoftheCrook;thetwenty-fourthisthePsalmoftheCrown.Inthetwenty-second,hebeholdstheChristofCalvary;inthe

twenty-third,heseestheSaviourastheGoodShepherd;and,inthetwenty-fourth,heisdazzledbythevisionofhisRedeemer'scoronation.Jeromedeclaresthatthe

shepherds,thevine-dressers,thesowers,theploughmenandthereapersofPalestine

accomplishedtheirdailytasksoftlyhummingtothemselvesthePsalmsofDavid;andnothingismorecertainthanthatthosesamehauntingmelodieswilllightentheburdensofthelastgenerationofthesonsofmen.

There'slotsofmusicin

thePsalms,Thosedear,sweet

Psalmsofold,Withvisionsbrightof

landsoflight,Andshiningstreetsof

gold;Ihearthemringing,

singingstill,Inmemory,softand

clear,'Suchpityasafather

hathUntohischildrendear.'

TheyseemtosingforevermoreOfbetter,sweeterdays,Whentheliliesofthe

loveofGodBloomedwhiteinall

earth'sways;AndstillIhearthe

solemnstrains

Inthequaintoldmeetingflow,'Ogreatlyblestthe

peopleareThejoyfulsoundthat

know.'

Forthirtycenturiestheseliltingpsalmshavedispelledmen'sdoubts,illuminedtheirgloom,wipedawaytheirbitterest

tearsandrevivedtheirdearesthopes.Theyhave,asBaldwinBrownfinelyputsit,furnishedthebridalhymns,thebattle-songs,thepilgrimmarches,thepenitentialprayersandthepublicpraisesofeverynationinChristendomsinceChristendomwasborn.Theyhaverolled

throughthedinofeverybattleandhavepealedthroughthescreamofeverystorm.TheyhavecrossedtheoceanwiththeMayflowerpilgrims;andhaveinspiredthepioneersandpathfindersinalltheirgallantquestsbylandandsea.Inpalacehalls,by

happyhearths,insqualid

attics,inpauperwards,inprisoncells,incrowdedsanctuaries,inlonelydeserts;everywherethesepsalmshaveutteredhumanity'smoanofcontrition,itssongoftriumph,itspassionateplaintsanditsmostferventsupplications.Inourowntime,the

psalmshavefigured

prominentlyamidstthesplendoursofaroyalwedding.For,whenHerMajestytheQueenwaspreparingforherbridalappearanceintheAbbey,shespeciallyaskedthatametricalpsalmshouldbeused--

TheLord'smyShepherd,I'llnotwant:

HemakesmedowntolieInpasturesgreen;He

leadethmeThequietwatersby.

AndtheQueen-Mother,delightedatherdaughter'srequest,beggedthatitmightbesungtothetuneofCrimond,madefamiliartoherinher

Scottishgirlhood.AndsoIturnafreshto

thebookthathaswipedthetearsfromsomanyeyesandsetsomanylipssinging.And,asIdoso,Iadmireacrossthelong,longyears,thespiritualperspicacitythatledmyoldfriendtomakeitthecompanionofhisholidayhoursinthedaysofauld

langsyne.

PartIII

Chapter1

TheFatheroftheMan

InoneofthemostinspiredmomentsWordsworthdeclaredthatthechildisthefatheroftheman.Thelaureate's

epigramhasitspracticalimplications.Ifmaturitycanimbibe

allthatinfancycanimpart,thegoldenageofwhichtheseersoftheageshavedreamedmaynotbeasremoteaswesometimesfancy.Thefreshandsparkling-eyedyoungsterhasmuchthathecanteachhisprosaic

andblasésenior.SirJohnKirk,the

eminentnaturalist,oncedeclaredthat,ifhehadhisway,alittlechildshouldbealwaysavailableintheheartofLondon,perhapssomewhereintheprecinctsofWestminsterAbbyorSt.Paul'sCathedral,andnomanshouldbeallowedto

contestaseatinParliament,orbecomeacandidateforanypublicoffice,untilhehadspentatleastadaywiththechildandhadpassedanexaminationinhisnovelmethodsofthought,feelingandexpression.Thegloryofchildhood

liesinthefactthatitseesthingswhole;itsworld

hasnohemisphereandnofrontiers.TherealmofRomanceandtherealmofRealitymergenaturallyandblendeasily.This,ofcourse,isinkeepingwiththeeternalfitnessofthings;forthedivisionoftheglobeintohemispheresandsectionsisasarbitraryandartificialasanythingon

theplanet.Toachildthereisno

suchthingasFactandnosuchthingasFancy.JacktheGiantKilleris,tohim--asIrememberoncewriting--asrealasJuliusCaesar;heisassureoftheFairyGodmotherasofQueenVictoria;theEnchantedCastlefallsintothesamecategoryas

theBuckinghamPalace.Chestertonhasanessay,runningintofortypages,inwhichhelashesthestupidityofunimaginativeadultsfortheirfailuretoappreciatethecharmsofFairyland.Chestertonextolsthe

geniusofchildhoodinrecognizingtheinherentbeautyofastory,whether

itsplotshappenstobelaidinFairylandorinBethnalGreen.Letgrown-uppeoplesneerastheywill,Fairylandremains,Chestertonmaintains,thesunnycountryofcommonsense.Morethananythingelse,itpreparesthemindforthatsubtleelementofmysterythatlurkseverywhereinlifeandfor

theinexorablechainofcausesandconsequencesthat,daybyday,confrontsusateveryturn.St.Chrysostomthought

thatthepreeminentcharmofchildhoodlayinitsscornofthosesocialdistinctionsthatlaterinlifeenslaveus.Achildwillmakenobonesaboutturninghisbackonan

uninterestingduketochatwithaninterestinggardener.Sometimeback,asmallboy,chargedwiththetaskofpresentingabouquettotheQueen,horrifiedtheassembleddignitariesbyrummagingaroundHerMajesty'sfeet.Hewas,heafterwardexplained,lookingforthemouse

that,onhervisittoLondontolookattheQueen,thecatsawunderthechair.Toachild,monarchsandmiceareofequalinterest.'If,'saysChrysostom,

'youshowhimaqueenwithacrown,hewillnotpreferhertohismother,albeitclothedinrags,butwillclingtohismotherin

herpoorattireratherthanthequeeninallherbravery.'Achildpossessesan

infinitecapacityforpenetratingtheinwardnessofthings.Arguingthatachildistheonlynaturalpoet,MacaulayenlargesuponthethemeinhisessayonMilton;Wordsworthsings

ofitinhisOdeonImmortality;GeorgeEliotwritesofitwithenthusiasminAdamBede;ProfessorIllingwortharguesfromitinhistreatiseonPersonality.Andthehistorian,thepoet,thenovelistandthephilosopherareallofthemindisputablyright.Achildexhibitsan

innatesensitivenesstomysticism.Hisinsightisastounding.TellachildthestoryofBethlehem,thevigiloftheshepherds,thequestoftheMagi,thesongoftheangelsandthebabeinthemanger.Hedrinksitallin.Anadult,similarlysituated,opensadiscussiononwhatheispleasedtocallthe

doctrineoftheIncarnation.TellachildthestoryoftheCross;heacceptsitavidly,findingnodifficultyanywhere.RelatetoanadultthesameimpressivefactsandhewillasklearnedlyforatheoryoftheAtonement.Thearchivesof

inspirationcontainfewgemsmoreaffectingthan

therecordofthewayinwhichtheSaviorofMentookalittlechildandsethiminthemidstofthedisciples,notthatthechildmightaimatbecominglikePeterandJamesandJohn,butthatPeterandJamesandJohnmightcovetthesweetnessandsimplicityofthelittlechild.

Chapter2

TheMusicMaster

Ifeveramassiveandmountainouspersonalitybestrodethisnarrowworldlikeacolossus,hisnamewasSebastianBach.

Fewcouldresisthismagnetism.Thosewhomethimonthestreetinstinctivelyturnedtoenjoyasecondandmoreleisurelyglance.Whereverhecame,heconquered.FredericktheGreatcollectedcelebritiesandnotabilitiesassomemencollectbirds'eggs,sea-shellsandpostage

stamps.In1747,hecommandedthecomposertovisithimatPotsdam.Bach,whowassixty-two,regardedtheinvitationastheclimaxofhisrenown.'HerecomesoldBach!'exclaimedtheking,underhisbreath,asthegallantfigurewasbeingusheredintohispresence.Butadayortwolater,having

cultivatedhisguest'sacquaintanceandbeenheldspellboundbyhisartistry,heshoutedamidsthisapplause:`ThereisonlyoneBach!ThereisonlyoneBach!'Theepisodeistypicaloftheimpressionthattheeminentorganistinvariablycreated.

IThemostcolourfuland

satisfyingportraitofBachhasbeengivenusbyEstherMeynellinherLittleChronicleofMagdalenaBach.Mrs.Meynellconfessesthat,inhervividandconvincingdelineationofherhero,shehasoccasionallygivenreintoherimagination.

ButanybodyfamiliarwiththelifeofBachwillfinditdifficulttoplacehisfingeronanypassageinherattractivechroniclethatcannotbesubstantiatedbyareferencetothemoresombreandpretentiousbiographies.Thefictionallapsescan

onlyconsistofsplashesof

colourintroducedtogivetothetotalimpressionitsjustandrealisticeffect.MacaulayarguesthatSirWalterScott'snovelsarebetterentitledtoberegardedashistorythanmanyoftheforbiddingvolumesthatconsistofcontinentsoffactsandoceansoffigures.'Theperfecthistorian,'he

maintains,'isheinwhoseworkthecharacterandspiritofanageisexhibitedinminiature.'Thatbeingso,Mrs.Meynelldeservestobesalutedasaqueenofbiographers.Herflesh-and-bloodchroniclehascertainlyendearedSebastianBachtoreaderswho,totheirownsorrow,

havelittleornoearforhismusic.

IIBachwasagigantic

human.Helovedlife;helovedmenandwomen;helovedboysandgirls;helovedcongenialcompany,convivialconversation,heartylaughter,woodlandscenery,fragrantgardens,

andhedearlylovedagoodsquaremeal.Itgoeswithoutsayingthathelovedmusic.Hewasdrenchedinit.Comingofalonglineofmusicians,sweetsoundsweretohimthelightofhiseyesandthebreathofhisnostrils.Hethoughtmusically;hetalkedmusically;hewalkedthroughthisworld

tothemusicofsomeworldunseen.Hewasessentiallya

home-bird.Twicemarried,hehadsevenchildrenbyhisfirstwifeandthirteenbythesecond.Aswasusualinthosedaysofprodigiousfamilies,manyoftheyoungstersdied;buttheirfatherdearlylovedand

cherishedthesurvivors.Oneortwooftheminvolvedhiminheartacheandheart-break;buthisaffectionneverwavered.Hisgoldenhourswerethehoursinwhichhesatwiththematmeals:chattedwiththembythefireside;playedandsangwiththemintheirdomesticconcerts;orpicnicked

withtheminthewoods.Althoughtheimageof

gravityandevenseverityonseriousoccasions,hesecretlyoverflowedwithfun.WhenhemarriedMagdalena,hissecondwife,shebeggedhimtoteachhermusic,thatherlifemightbemoreperfectlyattunedtohis.'Mydear,'hereplied,

'there'snothingtolearn.Youmerelystriketherightnoteintherightwayattherighttimeandtheorgandoestherest.'Sometimeshissenseof

humourinvadedhisart,asintheCoffeeCantata.Itisbasedonthestoryofagirlwhowassoaddictedtocoffeethatherfathersworethathewouldnever

consenttohermarriagetillshegaveitup,athreattowhichthedaughterrepliedbysayingthatshewouldneveracceptaproposalunlessherloverpromisedthatsheshouldstillhavehercoffee.And,inthehome,Sebastiancomposedallsortsofquodlibets,gaylittleminuetsandcatchy

snatchesofnonsense--songsforthedelectationofthebairns.Asateacher,hewasa

benevolenttyrant.Heknewhowtobestern.Astudentrejectedhisadvice.'Ithinkitsoundsbetterthisway,'theyouthexplained.'Sir,'Bachreplied,'thouarttooadvancedformyteaching:

wemustpart.'Andtheydid.Buthealsoknewhowtobegentle.Ifhefoundastudentdoinghisbest,butdoingitbadly,hewouldsay:'Myson,supposeyouweretotryitthisway!'Andhewouldplayithimselfwiththeairofafellow-learnerwhowasmakingamodestsuggestion.Isitany

wonderthathisstudentsworshippedhim?'Master,'burstoutoneofthem,whenIhearyouplay,IfeelthatIcannotdoanythingwrongforatleastaweek!'

IIIAnintenselydevout

man,hisgreatreligiousmasterpieceswerethe

naturaloutpouringsofhisinmostsoul.'Deepdowninhisgreatheart,'wereadintheLittleChronicle,'healwayscarriedhisLordCrucified,andhisnoblestmusicishissecretcryforadearervisionoftherisenChrist.InhislullabyintheChristmasCantatahecouldwritemusictenderenoughfortheBabeof

Bethlehem;intheCrucifixionofhisGreatMasshecouldfindstrainsgrandenoughfortheSaviourofCalvary.AttheendofhisearlierscoreshealwaysinscribedthelettersS.D.G.--'ToGodbetheglory!'Itmirroredthemotiveoftheman.Oneofthemost

fascinatingrealmsof

biographicalconjectureispresentedbythespeculationastowhatwouldhavehappenedifBachandHandelhadmetandformedeachother'sfriendship.Bornwithinamonthofoneanother,theirlivesranalongparallellines.Theyweremovedbythesameloftyideals;eachadmiredthe

other'swork;bothbecameblindandbothwereoperateduponbythesamesurgeon.Bachdidevenmore

thanHandeltolaythefoundationsonwhichmuchofourmodernmusicsecurelyrests.MasterslikeMendelssohn,Schumann,WagnerandBrahmshave

gratefullyacknowledgedtheincalculabledebtthattheyowedtothatlovablecreatorofamillionharmonicswho,amidstthetearsofhisadmiringcontemporaries,diedsuddenlyofapoplexytwohundredyearsago.

Chapter3

TheIdealCongregation

Theremaybesomequestionastowhichisthelargestcongregationintheworld:theremaybesomedoubtastowhichisthe

richest:buttherecanbenouncertaintyastowhichisthebest.Thebestcongregationintheworldisacongregationofone.Andthebestofthatbestcongregationisthatanyonecanenjoytheprivilegeofaddressingit.

IMr.Chestertonsays

that,betweenoneandtwothereisoftenadifferenceofmillions.Thereiscertainlyadifferenceofmillionsbetweenacongregationofoneandacongregationoftwo.Acongregationofonetakeseverywordinadirectandpersonalsense;but,inacongregationoftwo,eachauditortakesitforgranted

thatthepreacherisreferringtotheother.Nathanhadacongregationofonewhen,inunfoldinghisparableoftheoneewelamb,helookedintothefaceofDavidandcriedThouarttheman!Bymeansofthatcleverartificeandlightning-flashapplication,Nathan

broughthiscongregationofonetoitsknees.Shakespearemusthave

studiedthisstoryofNathanbeforewritinghisownHamlet.AdoptingNathan'sstrategy.Hamlettrainedthestrollingplayerstoreproducetheking'scrimebeforetheroyalbutguiltyparty;and,whenthemonarch

sawhisownevildeedsenactedonthestagebeforehim,thebloodlefthisface,hisheartstoodstill,thelightsswaminblurredconfusionbeforehisfailingsight,and,pleadingsuddensickness,hestaggeredfromthetheatre.Everyactorseemedtobepointingstraightathim.Every

voicecried:Thouarttheman!Justoccasionally,of

course,apreacherfindsiteasytomakehisappealtotheindividualconscience.Dr.LymanBeecher,forexample,lovedtotellofamemorableSundayintheearlydaysofhisministry.Hehadpromisedtoexchangepulpitswitha

countrypreacher.Whenthedayarrived,thehedgerowswereburiedinsnow.Hishorsecouldscarcelyploughitswaythroughthedeepdrifts.Whenservice-time

came,Dr.Beecherhadthebuildingalltohimself.Hewasjustabouttoremountandridebackwhenonesolitaryworshipperstole

in.Nowwhatoughthetodo?Afterabriefconsideration,herecalledthesenseofguidancethathehadexperiencedwhenpreparingfortheservice.Hethereupondecidedtobehavejustasifthechurchwerecrowded.Hedid.TwentyyearslateragentlemaninOhio,steppinguptoDr.

Beecher,addressedhimbyname.'Havewemetbefore?'

askedthedoctor.'Wehave!'repliedhis

companion.'Doyouremember,twentyyearsago,preachingtoasingleperson?''Ido,indeed,'admitted

Dr.Beecher,graspinghishand,'and,ifyouarethe

man,IwantyoutoknowthatIhavebeenlookingforyoueversince!''Iamtheman,sir;and

thatsermon,leadingmetotheSaviour,madeaministerofme.Yonderismychurch!TheconvertsofthatsermonarealloverOhio!'Thetaskofreachingthe

individualearandthe

individualconscienceisnotalwaysassimpleamatteras,onthatnotableoccasion,Dr.Beecherfoundit.

IIInthebeginning,the

evangelismoftheChurchwasdone,notbytheminister,butbyhispeople.TheNew

Testamentnevercontemplatedtheconquestoftheworldbypublicoratory.TotheprimitiveChurch,suchathingwasoutofthequestion.GatheringssuchasthosethatweareabletoholdonSundayswereneverdreamedof.TheearlyChurchwashuntedandharassedbycruel

persecution.Herserviceswereheldinsecret.Hersanctuarieswereplacesofperil.Theonlypersonspresent,therefore,weredevoutbelievers.Theonlyobjectssoughtwereworshipandfellowship.Anevangelisticaddresswouldhavebeenstrangelyoutofplace.Yet,despitetheselect

characterofitsassemblies,thatearlyChurchwasneverthelessapassionatelyevangelisticChurch.Itsmembersrejoiced,anditspersecutorscomplained,thatitsteachingsspreadlikewild-fire.'Wearebutofyesterday,'wroteTertullian,'yetwehavefilledyourcities,islands,

townsandboroughs;weareinthecamp,theSenateandtheForum.Ourfoeslamentthateverysex,ageandcondition,andpersonsofeveryrank,areconvertstothenameofChrist.'Andinthreecenturies,theRomanEmpireitselfcapitulatedunconditionallytothe

triumphantChurch!TheChurchhad

conqueredtheworld,notthroughtheattendanceoftheworldatherservices,norevenbyherpublicwitnessoutsideotherchurchwalls,butbytheprivateinfluenceofhermembersoverthosewithwhom,duringtheweek,theycameincontact.She

broughtthenationstoherfeet,notbypublicevangelism,butbyanexquisitelybeautifulrepresentation,inprivateconductandconversation,ofthemercifulandmajesticteachingsofherDivineLord.Theindividualcapturedtheindividual.Theworkofevangelizationwasdone

atthebenchandatthedesk,intheworkroomandinthekitchen,duringtheweek;andthen,onSunday,eachmemberintroducedhisconvertstothedelightedassembly.Thecarpenterbroughthismates;themaidbroughthermistress;themasterbroughthismen.OnMondaymorning,each

memberwentforthweeping,bearingpreciousseed;onSunday,hecameagainwithrejoicing,bringinghissheaveswithhim.

IIIEvenpublicevangelism

isonlyeffectivesofarasitsappealisindividualized.Men

cannotbewonforChristinshoals;theymustbebroughtinonebyone.Theheaven-bornevangelistknowsthatacrowdisanuisanceunlessyouknowhowtotakeittopieces.Alawyercannotdealwithclientsincrowds;adoctorcannotdealwithpatientsincrowds;and,facedbya

crowd,anevangelistisjustashelpless.Acrowdislikeanut.Youbreakthenuttofindthekernel;youcrackthecrowdtofindtheindividualsoul.Thepreacherwhohastofaceacrowdmustbeaskilfulpsychologistaswellasanearnestevangelist.Acrowdhasnoconsciencetobe

stirred,nohearttobebrokenandnosoultobesaved.Themanwhostandsbeforeacrowdcanonlyhopetosucceedsofarashecandisentangletheindividualfromthemass.WesleyandWhitefield,

SpurgeonandMoodyknewhowtopreachtocrowds.Theyconquered

thecrowdbyignoringit.Sofarfromforgettingtheindividualinthecrowd,theyforgotthecrowdintheindividual.Theylikedtoseeamultitudeoffaces,justasananglerlikestofeelthathislineissurroundedbyamultitudeoffish;itenhanceshischanceofcatching,inquicksuccession,firstone

andthenanother;butthatisasfarasitgoes.Tothegreatevangelists,thecrowdwassimplythemultipliedopportunityofindividualconquest.JeanBaptisteMassillon,

themanwhosepreachingterrifiedyetmagnetizedLouistheFourteenth,hadanoratoricaltrickbymeansofwhich,evenina

throngedcathedral,hesecuredforhimself,notonecongregationoftwothousand,buttwothousandcongregationsofone.'Thedomehas

vanished,'hewouldexclaimdramatically,'theceilinghasdisappeared:nothingnowintervenesbetweenyouand

AlmightyGod!Andsee,thewallshaveevaporated;thegreatcongregationhasdispersed;youandIareleftalonetogether!JustyouandI!'Andthen,likeaskilfulsurgeonalonewithhispatient,hewouldprobetotheverydepthsoftheheart'ssecretbeing.LouistheMagnificent

usedtosaythathe

enjoyedhearingotherpreachers;heneverenjoyedMassillon,forMassillonseemedtotearhisverysoulwideopen.Yet,ifhehadtoselectonepreacherandhearhimonly,hewouldwishthatonepreachertobeMassillon.Oneofthegreatestdays

inMr.Wesley'slifewas

June17,1739.Intheearlymorning,hepreachedtoeightthousandpeopleatMoorfields;intheafternoonhepreachedtoasimilarconcourseonKenningtonCommon.Atthefirstservice,JohnNelson,thestout-heartedstonemason,wasconverted;atthesecond,asoldierwasledtothe

Saviour.Itisinterestingtocomparetheirtestimonies.'Othatwasablessed

morningtomysoul,'writesJohnNelson.'AssoonasMr.Wesleystoodupandstrokedbackhishair,hefixedhiseyeonme.Itmademyheartbeatlikethependulumofaclock;and,whenhebegantospeak,Ithoughthis

wholediscoursewasaimeddirectlyatme!''WhenMr.Wesley

begantospeak,'saysthesoldier,'hiswordsmademetremble.Ithoughthespoketonoonebutme;andIdurstnotlookup,forIimaginedthatallthepeoplewerelookingatme!'Oneachoccasionthere

werethousandspresent,yetMr.Wesleymadeeachhearerfeelthatpreacherandlistenerwerealonetogether.EverymanfeltasDavidfeltwhenNathanpointedathimandcried,Thouarttheman!EverymanfeltasLouistheFourteenthfeltwhenlisteningtoMassillon.Itisthetopmostpinnacleof

thepreacher'sart.ButwhyshouldIhave

troubledmyheadaboutMassillonorWesleyoranybodyelse?Thesupremeexamplestillawaitsourcontemplation.InhisexquisitelittleLifeofChrist,Dr.StalkershowsthatJesuseverkeptHisdivineeyeswideopenforanyopportunityof

preachingtothebestofallcongregations,acongregationofone.Heseizedanysuchchancewithavidity.Dr.Stalkerdeclares.'Althoughhewaswornoutwithfatigue,Hetalkedtothewomanatthewell;HechattedwithZacchaeusunderthesycamoretree;HereceivedNicodemus

aloneatnight;HetaughtMaryinthehomeatBethany.Briefasthegospelsare,theycontainnineteenrecordsofsuchpersonalinterviews.'Asanevangelist,asineveryotherrespect,Heisthemodel.

Chapter4

TherewereSixBrothers

Itwaslateatnight.Thechairwascosy;thefirewasglowinggenially;theonlysoundwasthedrowsytickingofthe

clockonthemantelpiece.Inthecaressofconditionssotranquil,Imusthavedozed.EarlierintheeveningI

hadbeenreading,inthesixteenthofLuke,ofthementalanguishofalostsoul.Dives,wearetold,wassuddenlyseizedwithterrifiedconcernforhisfivebrothers.Inhisabject

misery,hesoughtthedivinemercyontheirbehalf.Strangethatamanwhohadcompletedhisearthlypilgrimagewithoutbowingthekneeshould,assoonashehadpassedbeyondredemption,haveacquiredtheartofprayer!Havingfaileddismallyinhissupplicationsforhimself,

hepassionatelyintercededforhisbrothers.HeentreatedthatLazarusmightbedispatchedfromheavenonanevangelisticmissiontotheseworldlyrelativesofhis.Inanswertohis

agonizedpetition,Diveswastoldthathewasenormouslyexaggeratingtheappealofthe

supernatural.Amessengerfromtheinvisibleworldwouldprovelessconvincingtoearth-menthanthesuppliantimagined.'TheyhaveMosesandtheprophets,'hewastold,'letthemhearthem!''Nay,FatherAbraham,'Divespersisted,'butifonewentuntothemfromthedead,

theywillrepent!'Hewasassured,however,that,ifthosefivebrothersofhisturnedadeafeartoMosesandtheprophets,theywouldpayverylittleheedtoanythingsaidtothembyavisitorfromamongthedead.

IIcaneasilybelieveit.

For,reclininginthatcomfortablechairlastnight,Idreamedadream.Indeed,Idreamedtwo.Inmyfirstdream,Isaw

thesefivemenspendingtheeveningtogetherafterhavingattendedtheirbrother'sfuneral.Afterchattingaboutoldtimes,asmenwillundersuchcircumstances,theysat

downtosupper.Themealwasscarcelyfinishedwhentheeldest,peeringintotheshadowsatthefarendoftheroom,manifestedthemostextraordinaryagitation.'DoyouseewhatIsee?'

hecried,hisfaceblanching.'It'saghost!'exclaimed

thebrotherseatednext

him.'Itlookstomelike

Lazarus,thebeggarwhousedtolieatDives'gate!'stammeredthethird.'ItisLazarus,'declared

thefourth,'onlyheisnowabletostanderect,whilsthishorridsoreshavealldisappeared!''Whatdoyouwant?'

demandedthefifth

addressingthespectre.'Iamhere,'explained

Lazarus,'becauseyourbrotherinhellbeggedinhistormentthatImightbesenttoyoufivebrotherstocallyoutorepentance!'And,ontheinstant,hevanished.Thefivenowsatfora

while,paleandtrembling.Then,afterafew

commonplaces,theybadeoneanotherGood-night.Beforeactuallyretiring,however,eachponderedinsolitudetheweirdexperiencethathadovertakenhim.Thendoubtssupervened.Perhapsthewineatsupperhadaffectedthem.Hadtheyreallyseenandheardanapparition,or,

unstrungbytheemotionalstrainofthefuneral,hadtheybeenvictimizedbysomekindofauto-suggestion,inducedbythestartlingquestionoftheireldestbrother?Talkingitovernextday

withafewintimatefriends,somuchwassaidaboutimaginativereactions,psychic

impressionsandtheelusivephenomenaofastralplanesthattheythoughtnomoreofthecalltorepentancewhichwastherealpurposeoftheghostlyvisit.

IIInmyseconddream,

thefivebrothersarespendingtheevening

togetherafterhavingattendedthefuneralofDives.Aftersuppertheybegintotalk.'Youknow,Remarkedtheeldest,'a

deathlikethissetsyouthinking.IwasreadingthismorningintheScrolloftheLaw.DoyourememberthedayswhenFatherandMothermade

usrecitetheTenCommandmentseverySabbathandsometimesreadtousallthecursestowhich,intheolddays,thepeoplehadtosayAmen?Well,Iwentoveritallthismorning,andIdon'tmindconfessingtoyouthatIfeltscared.Ireallybelievethat,inthecourseoftheyears,I'vebroken

everyoneofthoseCommandmentsandbroughtonmyselfeveryoneofthosecurses!Itellyou,I'mverythankfulthatIwasn'tcutdownsuddenly,asDiveswas!'''Strangeyoushouldsay

that,'repliedthesecondbrother,'for,duringtheserviceattheSynagoguetoday,Iwentoverthelife

I'velivedsince,asboys,DivesandIplayedtogether,anditmademefeelthatmysoulwasasblackaspitch.Iwasneversomiserableinmylife!''Ithappens,'addedthe

third,'thatIwaslisteninglastweektothisnewpreacher--JesusofNazareth,theycallHim--whoismovingabout

JudeaandGalileejustnow.YoushouldhearHimtalkaboutGodandrighteousnessandsinandrepentanceandforgiveness!Hiswordswenttomyheartlikeaknife.Andnowthatthishashappened,itallcomesbacktome.Death'sadreadfulthing;it'ssofinal;andthen,after

death,there'sthejudgment!'Thefourthtoldhowhis

consciencehadbeentroublinghim.'It'saqueerthing,conscience,'headded.'YoutalkabouttheCommandmentsandthecurses,'hesaid,asheturnedtowardsthefirstspeaker,'butthethingsthatconsciencesaysfrom

withinaretheverysamethingsthattheLawsaysfromwithout.Makesyouwonderifthere'ssomekindofconnectionbetweenthem!'Heturnedinquiringlytotheyoungestbrother.Theyoungestwas

somethingofaphilosopherinhismodestway.Heconfessedthat

thedeathofDiveshadthrownhimintoapensivemood;andthenheproceeded,inhisquietfashiontounfoldthethoughtsconcerninglifeanddeathandimmortalitythathadbeenpressinguponhismindwhilsthehadbeenassistingwiththefuneralarrangements.

IIITheywerealldeeply

moved;Idetectedaglintofmoistureintheeyesofmorethanoneofthem.AndIsawwhatJesusmeantwhenhesaidthat,ifmenwillnotlistentoMosesandtheprophets,neitherwouldtheybepersuadedthoughonerosefromthedead.

Wedonotneedvisitantsfromotherworlds.WeknowenoughofGod,ofeternityandofourownhearts,todriveustorepentance.AthousandvoicesfromwithinandfromwithoutstressourdesperateneedofaSaviour.Ifthosemyriadandmightyvoicesdonothurryourlaggard

footstepstotheCross,nospectralapparitionfromanotherworldwouldsucceedindoingso.

Chapter5

AnIliadinEbony

UncleTom'sCabinisahundredyearsold;andalthough,inthecourseofthecentury,otheredifices,muchmorepretentious

andmuchmorepalatial,havegonetodustandashes,thecabinstandsinmodestgrandeurasoneofthemostfamiliarandfamousstructuresofalltime.Youmaysay,ifyou

will,thatMrs.HarrietBeecherStowe'smasterpiecewasjustanavalancheofpropaganda,

launchedonasusceptibleworldatanimpressionablemoment,toplacebeyonddoubttheultimatetriumphofagreatcause.Youmaysay,ifyou

will,thatitwasjustawelterofmelodrama,skilfullypreparedbyacunninghandforthedelectationofageneration

that,atthatpsychologicalmoment,wasinthemoodtoenjoytheluxuryofagoodcry.Butwhenyouhavesaid

eithertheoneortheother,orboth,youhavefailedtoexplainwhythebookwassoldbythemillioninaboutfortylanguages,whyitdidmorethananythingelseto

emancipatetheslaves,andwhyitearnedforitsauthoressAbrahamLincoln'sepithet--'Thelittleladywhomadethebigwar.'Ifatreeistobejudgedbyitsfruits,Mrs.Stowe'sfameissecure.

IOurharassed

housewiveswillliketo

reflectthatUncleTom'sCabinwaswrittenbyaharassedlittlehousewifeofforty.Ourmostvividdescriptionofherisherown:'Iamalittlebitofawoman,somewhatmorethanforty,justasthinanddryasapinchofsnuff;neververymuchtolookatinmybestdaysandverymuchused-upby

now.'Shehadspentherlifeinanatmosphereinwhichthetheologywasinexorable,thedrudgeryillimitable,thefinancesinfinitesimalandthechildreninnumerable.SheproducedUncle

Tom'sCabinsoonafterthebirthofherseventhchild.Sheusedtosaythatshewasalwaysgladwhen

thetimeforheraccouchementcamebecauseitgaveheranexcuseforgoingtobedforaweekortwoandenjoyingadeliciousrest.Itisaninteresting

sidelightonthetemperofthetimethatherfirstchildren,twingirls,werefourmonthsoldbeforetheirfather,whowas

visitingEngland,wasawareoftheirexistence.Heleftonhisreturnhomewhentheyweretwomonthsold:thenewsoftheirbirthhadnotreachedhimonhisembarkation:thevoyageoccupiedtwomoremonths:anditwasnotuntilhisarrivalinAmericathathelearnedofhisgoodfortune.

Otherchildrencameinquicksuccession.ProfessorStowe'sresourceswerestrainedtotheutmostbythegrowingdemandsofhisrapidlyincreasinghousehold.Wasthereanywayofaugmentinghisslendersalary?Mrs.Stowe'sfingershadalwaysitchedtowrite.Defyingthe

multiplicityofherdomesticduties,sheresolvestomaketheattempt.Sheproducedathinlittlevolumeofstoriesthatdidlittleornothingtorelievethestrainedeconomyofthehomeandthatgavelittleornopromiseofbetterthingstocome.Butacrisisfollowed,and,with

thecrisis,cameachallengethatawokeasensitivesoultoagrandeurthatapproachedsublimity.

IIBornin1811,Harriet

BeecherStowewasaminister'sdaughter;sheherselfmarriedaminister,andshehadsixbrothers

intheministry.Shecitedthesefactsforalltheywereworthwhenevershehearditaffirmed,asitoftenwas,thatthechurcheslookedwithapprobationoratleastwithtolerance,uponslavery.'Ioughttoknow,'she

wouldretort,'and,indeed,Idoknow;youmaytake

itfrommethatthechurcheshateslaverylikepoison!'Therewereexceptions,ofcourse,but,generallyspeaking,hercontentionwassound.In1832,theyearin

whichHattycameofage,herfatherwasmadepresidentofLaneTheologicalSeminaryinCincinnati,andfouryears

latersheherselfmarriedoneoftheprofessorsonhisstaff.CincinnatiisseparatedonlybyanarrowwaterwayfromKentucky.Whenevershecrossed

thatbarrier,Hattyhadtheopportunityofwitnessingthehorrorsofslavery.Shesaidlittleatthetime;butshewasstungtothequick

bytherevoltingindignitiestowhichthecolouredgirlswereexposed;bythepitilesswayinwhichmembersoffamiliesweretornfromeachotherbytheauctioneer'shammer;andbythecallouscrueltyoftheinhumanmarketeers.Sheevenhelpedsomeoftheslavestoescape.

IIITheideathatthewhole

iniquitoustrafficmightbeabolished,andthatsheherselfmightbecomeapotentinstrumentinitsdestruction,neverenteredHatty'sheaduntilasister-in-lawwrotesayingthat,ifshepossessedHatty'sliterarygift,shewould

writeabookthatwouldstirthewholenationtoarecognitionoftheevilsofslavery.Mrs.Stowerosefrom

herchair,claspingtheletterinherhand.Pacingthefloorforamoment,shesuddenlyturnedtothoseabouther.'Iwill!'sheexclaimed.'Iwill!'Andastheworldvery

wellknows,shedid.'Thedeath-knellof

Americanslavery,'saysDavidLivingstone,inwritingtohisdaughterAgnes,'thedeath-knellofAmericanslaverywasrungbyawoman'shand.'AndwhatwasitthatpreparedthesoulofMrs.HarrietBeecherStowetorespondtothetremendous

challengewhenitcame?Sheherselfhastoldus.Harrietwasrearedina

hauntedhouse,ahousethatwaspervaded,throughandthrough,bythespiritofherdeadmother.Nobodyinthehomecouldthinkofthebeautifulsoulthathaddepartedwithoutthinkingofatextthat,insome

strangeway,wasinvariablyassociatedwithher.Itwasthis,'Foryearenotcomeuntothemountthatburnedwithfire,noruntoblacknessanddarknessandtempest;butyearecomeuntoMountSion,thecityofthelivingGod,theheavenlyJerusalem,andtoaninnumerable

companyofangels,tothegeneralassemblyandchurchofthefirstborn,andtothespiritsofjustmenmadeperfect.''Weallknew,'Mrs.Stowecontinues,'thatthiswaswhatourfatherrepeatedtohiswifewhenshewasdying,andweoftenrepeatedittoeachother.Itwastothatwefeltwe

mustattain,thoughwescarcelyknewhow.Ineverysceneoffamilyjoyorsorrow,orwhenfatherwishedtomakeanappealtoourheartsthatheknewwecouldnotresist,hespokeofherandhertext.'Thebookbymeansof

whichMrs.HarrietBeecherStowecontrivedtoinfecttheworldwith

herownimplacablehatredofslaveryisdrenchedfromcovertocoverwiththenoblethoughtembeddedinthatstatelypassage.When,forexample,littleEvaliesdying,withUncleTomsittingsadlybesideher,shespeaksoftheheavenlyJerusalemandoftheinnumerablecompany

ofangelsandofJesus.AndUncleTom'seyessparkleateveryword.Theargumentis

obviousandunanswerable.IfaslavecancometoMountSionanduntothecityofthelivingGod,theheavenlyJerusalem,andtoaninnumerablecompanyofangels,tothegeneral

assemblyandchurchofthefirstborn,whicharewritteninheaven,andtoGodtheJudgeofall,andtothespiritofjustmenmadeperfect,andtoJesus,howcanyousethimuponanauctionblockandsellhim,bodyandsoul,fromonewhitemantoanother?Thatwasthesublimeand

sensationalrevelationthatunderlaytheabolitionofslavery.Thebookwaswritten

ontatteredscrapsofpaperinsuchoddmomentsascouldbesnatchedfrommakingbeds,cookingmeals,mendingsocksandwashingbabies.Onthedayofits

publicationthreethousand

copiesweresold;withinayearthreehundredthousandhadbeendemanded;andthenumberssoonranintomillions.Itwasdramatizedandplayedinfirst-classtheatresallovertheworld.Forthefirsttimeinherlife,Mrs.Stowewasliftedabovepecuniaryanxiety,

althoughthewealththatsurprisedherwasbutaninsignificantfractionofwhatitwouldhavebeenhadherrightsintheworkbeenproperlysecured.

Chapter6

TheUndersongsofLife

InoneofhismostrapturousandseraphicpredictionsconcerningthecomingRedeemer,IsaiahdeclaresthatHisvoice

shallbequiet,subdued,restrained.'Heshallnotscreamnorshout,noradvertiseHimself.'Hisutterance,thatistosay,shallbeexpressive,persuasive,effective;butthereshallbenothingloudorself-assertiveaboutit.Theeloquenceofheavenisalwayscouchedindelicateandmelodious

undertones.

IOntheverylastpages

ofhisConfessionsofanUncommonAttorney,ReginaldHinepaintsanexquisitepictureoftheidyllicscenesamidstwhichheislayingasidehispen.ItisabeautifulestateatMinsdenin

Hertfordshire,thehauntofeverykindofwildflowerandofeveryspeciesoffeatheredsongster.Amongcountlessotherattractions,itboaststheruinsofanoldfourteenth-centurychurch,theChurchofSt.Nicholas.Sosoothingistheperfumeoftheflowers

andthesongofthebirdsthatMr.Hinefeelsthat,ifallthosewouldvisittheplacewhosemindsandwhoseheartsare,likethecrumblingsanctuary,inruins,theywouldfindhealingandsuccourintheveryatmospherethatwouldthereunfoldthem.Itwould,hesays,bealovelyplacetodiein.

Peacefulastheplaceis,Mr.Hinemakesitclearthatitstranquillitydoesnotconsistinitssilence.'Theveryair,'hesays,'istremulouswiththatfaintmurmur--callittheundersongoftheearth,themusicofthespheres,thesighofdepartedtime,orwhatyouwill--whichonlythemorefinely

attunedspiritsoverhear--

StillnessaccompaniedwithsoundsosoftCharmsmorethan

silence.MeditationhereMaythinkdownhours

tomoments.

'Forthosewhohaveearstohear,'Mr.Hineadds,'howpeacefuland

assuagingitistolistentothemurmurofthebreeze'scall,thenightwind'slovelyvesperhymn!'Therearesoundssosoftandsatisfyingthattheysweetenandsanctifythesilence.Forsilenceinitselfcan

bemaddening.Asthosewhohaveenduredsolitaryconfinementknow,

silencehathitshorrorsnolessrenownedthannoise.What,onewonders,wastheworldlikebeforethehurricaneofmechanizationawokethescreechandthecrashandtheroarbywhichallmoderngenerationshavebeentortured?Inastateofnature,Manwouldbefamiliarwithmany

sounds;butitissafetoassumethattheywouldallbebeneficentsounds--pleasantsoundsdesignedforhisdelectationandunpleasantsoundsdesignedtowarnhimoftheproximityofhisnaturalenemies.Betweenasoundandanoisethereisallthedifferenceintheworld.Anoisewill

awakenachild;themother,inrestoringittoitsslumbers,willresort,nottosilence,buttosound;shewillcroonalullaby.InLockhart'sbeautiful

descriptionofthepassingofSirWalterScott,hemakesitclearthatitwasnotbysilence,butbysomethinglovelier,that

Scott'slastmomentsweresolaced.'Itwassoquietadaythatthesoundhelovedbest,thegentlerippleoftheTweedoveritspebbles,wasdistinctlyaudibleaswekneltaroundhisbedwhilsthiseldestsonkissedandclosedhiseyes.'SirWalter'srequiemwaschantedbyNatureina

lyricalandalmostcelestialmurmur.Lifeisverylargely

mouldedbyitsundertonesandundersongs--thewhisperingamongtheleaves,thehummingofinsects,thetwitteringofbirds,thelappingofwavesandallthosehushedandsubduedsoundsthat,everydayof

ourlives,pacify,fortifyandstrengthenus.

IIThephenomenonmay

easilybecomeanallegory.Thereare,ineverylife,softandalmostinaudibleundersongsthatarefarmoretrulythearticulationofthemanthanthelouderandmore

volubleutterancesthatalmostdrownthem.ThebiographerofSir

WilliamOsler,RegiusProfessorofMedicineatOxford,tellshow,oneday,sirWilliamwaspassingalongthewardofachildren'shospital.Aroundhimweresomereallydesperatecases,childreninthegripof

horribleandpainfuldiseasesforwhomnothingcouldbedone.Suddenlythegreatdoctorturnedawayfromthisdistressinggroupandstrode,whistling,fromtheward.Acompanionventured

aremonstrance.'How,'heasked,'canyouwhistle,seeingwhatyouhave

seen?''Mydearsir,'repliedSirWilliam,'Ijusthadtowhistleorweep;soIwhistled.'Moreoftenthanwethink,theapparentfrivolityofmenisasubterfugetoconcealtheirrealemotions.Ifwehadearstohear,weshouldcatchthedeepernotesoftheundersong.

IIIInoneofhisgreatest

novels,Trollopedeclaresthatthereisscarcelyamoodthatsuchsoundswillnotmatch.RestingneartheRhine,hisheroineisenjoyingthedeliciousmusicofitsrapidlymovingwaters.'Ifyouarechattingwithyourfriend,'Trollopeobserves,

'suchmelodioussoundswrapupyourspeech,keepingittoyourtwoselves.Ifyouwouldsleep,itisofalllullabiesthesweetest.Ifyouarealone,andwouldthink,itaidsyourthoughts.Ifyouarealone,and,becausethoughtwouldbetoopainful,youdonotwishtothink,itgentlydispels

yoursorrow.'Allthisgoestoshowthat,whilstsilenceisinfinitelypreferabletonoise,thereissomethingevenmoregratefultotheearthansilence.Suchsubduedsoundsminglewiththesongsoflifeandwiththesilencesoflifetoproducethatessentialsymphonyofreposeinwhichthe

ordinarymanmayfindhissoul.Everymanshould,occasionally,lendhiseartolife'smelodiousandeloquentundertones.Allthroughlife,the

voicesthatmostprofoundlyimpressus,andthatmostimperativelycommandus,aregentleandperfectlycontrolledvoices.We

maybehectoredintocompliancebybellowandbluster,butitisthewhisperthatmoreoftensecuresourwhole-heartedco-operation.Isitanywonder,then,

thatthedivinevoice,wheneverandwhereverheard,isinvariablymarkedbysoftness,calmnessandrestraint?

Welearn,withElijah,thatthemostconvincingandcompellingexhibitionsofsuperhumanpowercome,notintheearthquakenorinthefire,butinthestillsmallvoice.Reasonspeaksinanundertone;sodoesconscience;andsodoesJesus.Hedoesnotscream,norshout,noradvertiseHimself.Amidst

thesanctitiesofthesoul,Hewhispers,'ComeuntoMe!'andthosewhorecognizethesublimeauthorityofthatcelestialundertonerespondwithoutaninstant'sdelay.

Chapter7

TheSoulofaSolitary

Hewhowouldcultivatetheacquaintanceofoneoftheloneliestsoulsinhistoryshouldstudythesingularpersonalityand

fascinatingcareerofHenryDavidThoreau.Throughtheforty-fiveyearsofhisbriefpilgrimage,hepreferrednobody'scompanytohisown.Hazlittbeginshis

famousessayOnGoingaJourneybysayingthat,whenhesetsoutonsuchanexcursion,helikesto

gobyhimself.Thoreauwasverymuchofhiscontemporary'smind.Itwasnotsomuchbecausehewaspassionatelyinlovewithhimself:itwasratherbecauseheneverfoundanybodyonwhomhecouldlavishhisconfidence,devotionandaffection

ILikeMarkRutherford,

helongedforafriendasblindmenlongforlight;but,likeMarkRutherford,hecouldneverfindone.Hisretirement,attheageoftwenty-eight,tohisone-roomcabininthewoodsbesidetheWaldenPondwassimplytheinevitableclimaxofthat

processofspiritualevolutionthatproducedanincorrigibleanchorite.Thoreauwasabornhermit.Hepaidthepenaltyof

hissolitude.Havinglosttouchwithmenandthings,hewasalwayshesitantanduncertaininhismovements.Heresemblesaboatmanwho,

outofsightofland,isneverquitesureofhisbearings.Confrontedbythosetremendousissuesthat,soonerorlater,everymanmustface,Thoreauwashopelesslyatsea.Helivedpracticallyhis

wholelifeatConcord,thatEdenoftheWestwithwhichEmersonandHawthornehave

familiarizedus.ButneitherEmersonnorHawthornesawinConcordtheenchantmentthatThoreaudiscoveredthere.Inthecourseofhislife

hemadeafewtimidjourneysintotheworldbeyond;buthereturnedtoConcordoneachoccasionconvincedthatConcord

wasthehomeofallbeautyandthesummitofallgrandeur.TheThoreauswereby

nomeanswealthy,anditstrainedtheirresourcestotheutmosttosendHenryfromschooltoHarvardUniversity.Andthenthetroublebegan.Hewasnomixer;andhisfellowstudentscouldmake

neitherheadnortailofhim.Hemovedaboutthecollegeprecinctslikeanuneasyghost.Yethedidreasonablywell;qualifiedasasurveyor;badegoodbyetoHarvard;andwentbacktoConcordtowrestlewiththeproblemofhisfuture.Whatshouldhedo?Whatshouldhebe?

IIHewantedaprofession

thatwouldbringhimaslittleaspossibleintotouchwithhisfellow-men.Asshyasaschool-girl,hehatedtobedrawnintoconversation,blushingfuriouslywheneverhewasintroducedtoastranger.

Hedetestedordinaryfiresidechatterbecausehesomehowsensethatverylittleofitwassincere.Peoplesaywhattheyareexpectedtosay,orwhatitispleasanttosayorwhatwilltickletheearsofthecompany.Evenwhen,afewyears

later,hefoundhimselfgroupedwiththemost

eminentfiguresofhisday,hewasasuncomfortableasatoadunderaharrow.Theonlypeoplewith

whomhefeltperfectlyhappywereploughboys,axemen,trappersandthelike.Hedidnotcarehowuncouthorungrammaticalamanmightbe:ifhesaidwhathemeant,andmeant

whathesaid,thatwasallthatHenryThoreaucared.Hewouldstandinthefieldstalkingtosuchamanbythehouratastretch.Ofwomenhecould

makenothingatall;theywereapocalypticmysteries,sealedwithsevenseals.Ifhecameuponaclusterofthem,he

wouldstumbleoverhisownfeet,collidewiththetablesandchairs,andstutterandstammertothepointofincomprehensibility.

IIIItwasin1845thathe

builtthelittlecabinbesidethepondatWalden.ThelandwasEmerson'sand

wascheerfullyplacedathisdisposal.Borrowinganaxe,hefashionedhishermitagewithhisownhands.Itstotalcostwasabouteightpounds.Herehelivedfortwoblissfulandfruitfulyears.Thosewhohave

revelledinhisWaldenknowhowwellthetimewasspent.Hewovethe

wailofthewhip-poor-will,thecryofthescreech-owl,thecallofthepeeweeandthemewofthecheewinkintoanexquisiteprosepoemthathasbecomeoneofhiscountry'schoicestclassics.ItisthewesterncounterparttoGilbertWhite'sNaturalHistoryofSelborne.

Strangelyenough,onhisemergencefromhishermitage,hiscareerassumedanentirelynewcomplexion.Hissoulcaughtfire.Frombeingarecluse,hebecameawarrior.Thecountrywasinthegripoftheagitationfortheemancipationoftheslaves.HenryThoreaucameintotouchwithJohn

Brownwhosesoul,accordingtothesong,stillmarcheson.Thoreau'senthusiasm

wasaroused,and,withvoiceandwithpen,helaboureddayandnighttoensurethetriumphoftheabolitionistcause.But,in1862,his

consumptioncaughtupwithhim.Inthemost

reveredlittlegod's-acreintheWesternworld,thepine-fringedcemeteryatSleepyHollowinConcord,helieswithHawthorne,EmersonandLouisaAlcott,whilsthisname,liketheirs,livethforevermore.

Chapter8

TheCardinal'sViolin

Theonlymomentsofjoyousandunrestrainedself-expressionthat,inthecourseofhisninetyyears,CardinalNewmanever

knewwerethosethathespentinthedelightfulandmelodiouscompanyofhisviolin.Passinghisentirelifein

anagonyofheartrendingloneliness,hisfaceshoneandhisheartglowedas,tothedeliciousstrainsofsomelovelypassagefromBeethoven,hepacedhissecludedapartment,lost

toalltheworldintransportsofindescribableecstasy.Thesensuousraptureof

theseintervalsofcarefreeabandonmentwassooverpoweringthathisasceticsoulsometimescriedoutinindignantprotest,and,doubtfulastowhethermortalsshouldallowthemselvesa

banquetofsuchexcessivebliss,hesadlyrestoredtheinstrumenttoitscase,andallowedit,formanymoons,toliethere.Inhisyouth,hewasa

martyrtotoothache,andveryoften,withswollenfaceandthrobbingnerve,wouldturnforsolacetohisviolin.Whentheagonywasmost

excruciating,themusicrosetoashrillcrescendo,whilst,asthepainabated,itsanktoalowandplaintivemurmur.Laterinlife,hedaily

enduredthetorturesofdyspepsia.Itwasasthoughacolonyofratswasgnawingathisvitals.Whenhissufferingseemedtobreakall

bounds,andpillsandpotionsfailedtoaffordtheslightestalleviationorrelief,itwasalwaystohisviolinthatheturnedforconsolation.

IPainfulaswerethese

physicaltorments,histwogreatesttroubleswereofaverydifferentkind.He

wasafflictedbyaconstitutionalinabilitytomakeuphismind.Whenevertheroadsforkedandhehadtochoosebetweenthiscourseandthatone,hesufferedindescribableagoniesofindecision.Mr.Churchillsaysof

LordAsquiththathepossessedamindthat,

confrontedbyalternatives,closedwithasnap.Theissuewasdetermined;thethingwassettled;thedecisionwasmadeandthegatesofhellcouldnotprevailagainstit.Newmanwastheexactopposite.Hismind,likeapendulum,wasalwaysontheswing.Thosewhohavestudiedhiscareerin

Irelandmusthavegrownterriblytiredofhisinterminableattemptstodecideforhimselfthequestionofhisresignation.Manyaman,farlessgifted,wouldhaveresolvedinhoursproblemsthatworriedNewmanforasmanyyears.Hisfatherwastoblame.

Ashiftlesscreaturewho,bothasabankerandabrewer,headedstraightfortheBankruptcyCourt,hebequeathedtomorethanoneofhischildrenamindthat,onallpracticalissues,waswoefullyunstable.WhenJohnwasfifteen,forexample,hisfatherdecidedtosendhimtouniversity.Butwhich?

Thepost-chaisewasactuallyatthedoorbeforethegoodmanhadmadeuphismind.Atthatcrucialmoment,acuratecalledandthedistractedfatherbeggedhisadvice.'SendhimtoOxford!'saidthecleric.AndOxforditwas!OxfordfashionedhimintoCardinalNewman.Hadthecurate

said'Cambridge!'JohnmighteasilyhavefallenunderthespellofCharlesSimeonandhavespenthislifeasanevangelicalmissionaryontheupperreachesoftheYangtseoramongthemalarialswampsofCentralAfrica.Itispossiblethatthis

inheritedtendencytovacillationaccountsin

partforNewman'sholdonthepublicmind.Ifatightropewalkerstridesoutuponhisperilouspathandcrossesthechasmwiththeutmostease,thespectatorsfeelthattheentertainmenthasbeenstrangelytame.Butifhepauseshalfway,stumbles,sways,andappearsuncertainofhisbalance,

heholdseveryeyespellbound.Sowasitwith

Newman.When,fullofdoubtanduncertainty,heretiredtoLittlemoretodecideonceandforallthequestionofhisfutureloyaltiesandaffinities,anentirepopulaceawaitedtheoutcomewiththestrainedintensitywith

which,atothertimes,itwouldhaveawaitedtheresultofatestmatch,ageneralelectionoranavalengagement.Andallthroughthose

crueldays,inwhichhismindseemedtobegoingroundincircles,hisviolinsangtohimthemostwonderfulsongs.Thereweretimeswhenthe

enchantingmusicseemedtocomefromsomesourceoutsideofhimself;hecouldscarcelybelievethatitwasthecreationofhisownhand.

IIThesecondburdenthat

weighedhimdownwashisbrother.Charleswastheskeletoninthefamily

cupboard;andthecupboard-doorhadanawkwardwayofswingingopenatthemostembarrassingmoments.Charleswasafrail,

patheticcreaturewho,asaboy,wasalwaysthecentreofsomeawkwardscrape.Ashegrewtomaturity,hismisdemeanoursbecame

moreseriousandheoftenhadtoberescuedfromthesqualidscenesofhisdisgustingdebauches.Thereweretimeswhenthesehideousoutbreaksnearlybrokehisbrother'sheart.Eventually,itwas

arrangedthatCharlesshouldbecommittedtothecareofagoodwoman

ontheWelshcoast.Withatendersolicitudethatisaboveallpraise,theCardinalprovidedforhimandministeredtohimtotheveryend.Morethanonce,NewmanlefttheOratoryandwentdowntoWalestovisithisunhappybrother,onlytoberefusedanaudienceonarrival.Butitmadenodifference.

Hepitiedandlovedtheweaklinginspiteofeverything.Andoften,whenanxietyaboutCharlesblottedoutallhappierandholierthoughts,itwasthesoftsweetstrainsoftheviolinthatluredheavenbacktohisheart.

III

Iliketorememberthat,asaveryoldman,CardinalNewmanwentdowntoDevonshiretostaywiththePattesons--thefamilyfromwhichJohnColeridgePatteson,theMartyrBishopofMelanesia,hadsprung.OnemorningtheagedCardinalcamedownlatetobreakfast.Hehadasked

themnottowaitandtheyhadtakenhimathisword.Asheenteredtheroom,movingslowlytowardshisvacantplaceatthetableandreceivingsmilinglythegreetingsofthefamily,hiseyesbecamefascinatedbyatinychild,withblueeyesandflaxenhair,whooccupiedahighchair

immediatelyoppositehisown.Theagedprelatestoodforafractionofamoment,lostinecstaticadmiration.'Isn'thebeautiful?'he

asked;'Imustgivehimmyblessing!'Hemovedsoftlyround

tothehighchairandlaidhistwowrinkledhandsonthefreshyoungheadof

thechild.Everybodyinstinctivelyrose.Andthen,afterasecond'simpressivesilence,theCardinalpronouncedabenedictioninLatin.Nobodyknewexactlythesignificanceofthewordsheuttered;but,astheCardinalliftedhishandsfromthechild'sheadandquietlytookhisownseat,

therewerefewdryeyesintheroom.ThatwastherealJohnHenryNewman.HemusthavespentaheavenlyhourwithBeethovenandhisbelovedviolininhisatticroomovernight.

Chapter9

LavenderandOldLace

ThecalendaronmydeskfrigidlyinformsmethatitisthefourteenthofFebruary.Ifcalendarswerecapableofemotion,

theletterswouldbeprintedingoldandthenumeralsinsilver.Ineverycommunity,thereareelderlymenandwomenwholiketorecall,perhapswithanostalgicsmile,thetimewhen,onthefourteenthofFebruary,thepostmanwasasheavily-ladenasonChristmasEve,whilst

theairaroundhimwasperfumedwithallthespicesofAraby.Inthosedays,allthe

resourcesofart,andallthecraftsmanshipofthemostskilfulexperts,wereannuallyrequisitionedinorderthatthenewseason'svalentinesmightbealittlemoreromantic,oralittlemoredainty,or

alittlemorefragrantthananythathadpreviouslyappeared.St.Valentine'sDay,

withitslavenderanditslace,itsposiesanditspompadours,representedanunashamedorgyofsentiment;anditfellintodesuetudeanddecaywhenitbecameunfashionabletocarry

one'sheartonone'ssleeve.

ITherewasonething

which,accordingtoGeorgeEliot,AdamBedesawmoreclearlythananythingelse.'EversinceIwasayoung'un,'Adamexclaimed,'I'veseenperfectlyclearas

religion'ssomethingelsebesidesnotions.Itain'tnotionsassetspeopledoingtherightthing:it'sfeelings!'Inthisshrewdmorselofhomelyphilosophy,theHayslopecarpenterputshisfingerononeofthenerve-centresofhumanactionandexperience.ImmanuelKant,

perhapsthemostpenetratingmetaphysicianofalltime,declaredthataman'snatureismadeupofintelligence,willandemotion;butlifehastaughtuslittleunlesswehavelearnedthat,inthegreatcrisesofhumanexperience,wheneverythingisatstake,itisbytheemotionsrather

thanbytheintelligenceofthewillthatmenareguidedandcontrolled.Oddlyenough,however,thisdominantfactorinourcompositionisoneofwhichweareleastproud.ThemanhasneverbeenbornwhohasanyseriousdoubtaboutthepresenceofKant'sfirsttwoingredients,intelligence

andwill,inthecomplexmechanismofhisbeing;yetitisveryseldomthatwemeetamanwhoispreparedtoconfessthatverymuchinthewayofsentimenthasenteredintohisheterogeneoustemperamentandconstitution.Apalpitatingbundleof

emotion,theaverageman

cannotbeartobesuspectedofsuchweakness.Hewillforcealaughormakeajesttoconcealthefactthathisheartisbreaking.Weresembleanimalsthatliketoenduretheirpaininsilenceandinsecrecy.Cowperlikenshimself,duringoneoftheemotionalcrisesofhis

strangecareer,tothestrickendeerthatleavestheherd,itspantingsidetransfixedwithmanyanarrow.Yet,whilstnomanlikestoregardhimselfasbeingemotional,andparticularlyhatestobethoughtsobyhisfriends,nomanhasanydoubtaboutthesentimentalpropensitiesofallother

men.Inhissecretsoul,every

manknowsthat,inthelastresort,itisbysentimentthattheworldisswayed.'Howlimited,'exclaimsLordBeaconsfieldinConingsby,'istheforceofhumanreason!Wearenotindebtedtothereasonofmanforanyofthegreat

achievementswhicharethelandmarksofhumanactionandhumanprogress.ItwasnotreasonthatbesiegedTroy.ItwasnotreasonthatsentforththeSaracenfromthedeserttoconquertheworld;itwasnotreasonthatinspiredtheCrusaderandestablishedtheMonasticOrders;itwas

notreasonthatcreatedtheFrenchRevolution.Manisonlygreatwhenheactsfromthepassions;neverirresistiblebutwhenheappealstotheimagination.'LordBeaconsfieldagreeswithAdamBede;notionsareinsignificantascomparedwithemotions.Itisbysentimentthatmenlive,

andbyacommonsentimentthattheyareboundtogether.Anancientlegendtells

how,whenherfortuneswereattheirlowestebb,SpartasoughtaleaderfromAthens.Tothegeneraldisgust,themansentthemwasalamelittleschool-master,Tyrtaeusbyname.Theysoon

discovered,however,thatthisdwarfishodditycouldmakemusicthatseteverysoulonfire.Hisstirringballadsandpatrioticmelodiesawoketheslumberingardourofthecitizens;and,asaresult,thearmsofSpartaweresooncrownedwithresoundingvictories.Letanymanquestion

himselfastohisfavouritepoet,andhewillprobablyconfessthathisinterestwasfirstawakenedandhisadmirationexcited,bysomethingintheworkofthebardthatappealedtothesoftersideofhisnature.Thegreatestnovelsarethenovelsthatmoveusbytheirromanceorterrifyusbytheir

tragedy.Mostoftheworld'striumphsofartarepaintingsthatbringustothevergeoftears.

IISentimentisthe

mainspringandnerve-centreofourhumanity.Thenovelisthasnodoubtaboutit,forheknowsthatthereisnodateonwhich

SamuelRichardsondiscoveredthatfictionwouldbeamazinglymorepopularifsuffusedwiththespiritofromance.Thestatesmanknowsit,forexperiencehastaughthimthat,atthehustings,thereisnoappealquiteaseffectiveasasentimentalappeal.Thebarristerknowsit,forhehas

addressedtoomanyjuriestobeignorantoftheirsusceptibilities.Theactorknowsit;hasnotDameSybilThorndiketoldusthatthesuprememomentinanactor'slifeisthemomentatwhichhefeelshimselfandhisaudiencecaughtintheswirlofsometremendousgustofemotion?

DameSybilgoesfurther.Athousandthingstendtodividemenandtoarrangetheminhostilecamps.Getthemtoshare,evenforanhourortwo,aheartrendingemotionalexperienceandyouhaveboundthemtoeachotherwithhoopsofsteel.Evenyourdearest

enemy,shemaintains,isa

differentpersonifyouhavesatnexttohim,sharingthesamedesolatinggriefandthesameparalysingfear,cryingwhenhecriedandlaughingwhenhelaughed.

IIIWeallrecognize,when

wecometothinkofit,

thatlove,hate,pity,shame,jealousy,sympathy,revenge--thegreatmaster-passionsthatswayusandmakeuswhatweare--areallofthemmattersofsentiment,andthatsentimentgovernstheworld.ThestoryoftheChurch

herselfiswritteninchaptersofprofound

emotionalexperience.'SpeakyehometotheheartofJerusalem,'wasthedivinecommandtoanancientprophet.TheHebrewwordsindicate,SirGeorgeAdamSmithtellsus,thatthepreacheristostirthesoulofthepeopleasaloverstirstheheartofalasswhenheuttershispassionate

appealandmakesherhisown.FromthedayofPentecostuntilthisdaythepivotalepochsofchurchhistoryhavebeendistinguishedbywavesofemotion,stormsoffeeling,tempestsoftears.Menwere'cuttotheheart',asaninspiredchroniclerputsit.Indescribingtheeffectof

theevangelismofGeorgeWhitefieldontheAmericancontinent,Whittiersaysthat--

Thefloodofemotion,deepandstrong,Troubledthelandasit

sweptalong,Butleftaresultof

holierlives.

Oneveryleveloflife,secularandsacred,notionscountformuch,butemotionscountforimmenselymore.ThetrappingsanddraperyofSt.Valentine'sdaymayfadeanddecay,butthespiritunderlyingitisasimmortalasmanandwillenduretotheendoftime.

Chapter10

TheMysteryofMysteries

IhavemadeupmymindtopreachonSundayonasubjectamillionsizestoobigforme;amillionsizestoobigfor

mycongregation;amillionsizestoobigforanypreacheroranycongregation.Ishallcommencetheservicewiththehymn--

Holy,Holy,Holy,LordGodAlmighty!Earlyinthemorning

oursongshallrisetoThee:

Holy,Holy,Holy!mercifulandmighty,GodinThreePersons,

blessedTrinity!

andthatlastlinewillrepresentmytheme.Ishallapproachmy

stupendoustaskwiththeconvictionthatneitherInormyhearerswillhaveacquiredamore

intelligentgraspofthesublimetopicasaresultofourmutualstudy:yetitisgoodforchildrentobathenowandthenintheseaeventhoughtheycannotconceiveofitsinfinitebreadthsandinfinitedepths.WhenIleavethepulpitatthecloseofmyservice,Ishallfindcomfortinthe

thoughtthatthegospeltranscendsateverypointtheintelligenceofthepoorpreacherwhoiscalledontoexpoundit.Itishigherthanalltheheights;deeperthanallthedepths;widerthanalltheimmensitiesandinfinitiesandeternitiesofhismostdazzlingdreams.LikethepeaceofGod,it

passethallunderstanding."Canyouunderstand

JesusChrist?"someoneaskedDanielWebsteroneday,whenthegreatstatesmanwassurroundedbyagroupofhisliteraryacquaintances."No!"hereplied,"IwouldbeashamedtoacknowledgeHimasmySaviourifIcouldunderstandHim.I

needasuperhumanSaviour--onesogreatandgloriousthatIcannotcomprehendHim!"Isometimesthinkthat

Christianpeople,iftheytaketheirreligionseriously,shouldbealittlebrainier,aswellasalittlebetter,thanordinarymortals.Ifmuchexercisestrengthensthemuscles,

thenmuchthinkingonsuchtremendousthemesastheTrinity,theCreation,theIncarnation,theCrucifixion,theResurrectionandtheImmortalityoftheSoul,shouldexpandandinvigoratethemind.AChristianshouldpossess,notonlyagreaterwealthoffaithandfeelingthan

ordinarymen,butamightierintellectaswell.Butthisisbytheway.

IAttheveryoutsetof

ourinvasionoftheseinfinitudes,Ifindtwomodestlittlereflectionsthatfacilitatemyapproachtoourtheme.Thefirstisthis:Isit

anywonderthatIcannotgrasptheideaoftheTrinityoftheGodheadwhenIfindmyselfpuzzledbythetrinitythatIdiscoverwithinthecompassofmyownpersonality?Iamphysical.Ihavea

body,justastheanimalshave.Itthrobswithanimalinstinctsand

animalappetitesandanimalpassions.Butthoseinstinctsandappetitesandpassionsaremyinstinctsandmyappetitesandmypassions;theyareanintegralpartofthewarpandwoofofmyownpersonality.Mycongregationwill

seethismaterialbodyofmineasIstandinthe

pulpit.Butiftheyelecttoclosetheireyes,theywillstillbeconsciousofme.Formyvoicewillconveytothemmythought.Theywillthusbecomeawareofthesecondelementinmycomposition.Iamintellectualaswellasphysical.Suchanachievementisimpossibletothebeaststhatperish;I

amabletosurveythepast,contemplatethefuture,reasonouttheproblemsofthepresentandreadtheriddlesofthestars.Andwhatofthat

openinghymn?Thecongregationwillnotbelookingatmewhentheysingit,andtheywillcertainlynothearmy

voiceasIsingwiththem.YettheirsoulswillthrilltothethoughtoftheindescribablemajestyoftheTrinity,andsowillmine.Thatsecretandindefinableandmutualthrillrepresentstheevidenceofthespiritualinthemandinme.And,inthatspiritualelement,andspiritualfellowship,

youhavethethirdfactorinthetrinityofmybeing.Andyetmybodyisme,

andmymindisme,andmyspiritisme.Theyarenotmerepossessions,likemyfountain-penandmywatchandmywalking-stick.Eachispartandparcelofmypersonality.Eachstandsinvitalrelationshipwiththeother

two.Allthethreetogethercontributetothecompletenessofmyself!Idonotunderstandit.Icannotdefinetheboundaryatwhichthevisiblebrainendsandtheinvisiblemindbegins;Icannotplacemyfingeronthepointatwhichphysicalindulgenceendsandintellectual

gratificationbegins;Iamoutofmydepth.AndifIamoutofmydepthincontemplatingthetriunecharacterofmyownpersonality,isitanywonderthatIambaffledandbewilderedbythethoughtoftheTriunePersonalityofAlmightyGod?Thesecondofthese

trivialideasthatassistmyapproachtosoaugustasubjectisthereflectionthat,whenaworkmanmakesanarticle--nomatterwhat--heunconsciouslystampsitwiththehall-markofhisownindividuality.Solongasthatpieceofworkmanshipendures,therewillalwaysbe

somethingofhimaboutit.OnecandetecttracesoftheidiosyncrasiesofTurnerineverypicturethathepainted;onecandiscerntheruggedpersonalityofCarlyleineverysentencethathepenned;onecanfeelthepeculiaritiesofBeethoven'stemperamentineachofhis

compositions.InthebeginningGod

createdtheheavenandtheearth.Now,ifHebe,indeedandintruth,atriuneGod,weshouldexpecttofindsomequalityoftriunityintheveryfabricandtissueofHisworkmanship.Andthestrikingthingisthat,ifyouexaminetheheaven

andtheearthwithwide-openeyes,youfindthebrandofthree-nesseverywhere.Ministersareoftentwittedwiththewayinwhich,intheirsermons,theydivideeverythingintothreeparts.TheymustalwayshaveaFirstlyandaSecondlyandaThirdly.Theyarenottoblamefor

that.Buttheyaretoblamefordoingitwithoutunderstandingwhytheydoit.Everythemethattheyhandledividesitselfintothreepartsforthesimplereasonthattheelementofthree-nessisthehall-markofdivinemanufacture.EverythingthatGodhassaid,andeverythingthatGodhas

done,andeverythingthatGodhasmadehasthatdistinctiveanddistinguishingelementaboutit.ATriuneGodnecessarilyscatterstriunityeverywhere.Thematerialrealm

aroundusconsistsofthreekingdoms--animal,vegetableandmineral.Humanitydividesitself

intothree--men,womenandchildren.Or,ifyouprefertoanalyseithistorically,youfindthreeraces--theyellowraces,thesonsofShem;theblackraces,thesonsofHam;andthewhiteraces,thesonsofJaphet.Orif,insteadoftakingthemass,youtaketheindividual,youfindthatheismade

upofspirit,soulandbody--threeagain.Or,ifyoufancyKant'smorephilosophicalanalysis,heconsistsofintelligence,emotionandwill--stillthree!Youglanceroundupontheuniverseandyousaythatitconsistsofsun,moonandstars.Or,confiningyourattentiontothingsimmediately

aroundyou,youdividethemupintosea,earthandsky.Thestatelypageantoftimeconsistsofpast,presentandfuture.Eventhemoneyinyourpocketfallsintothreeparts--pounds,shillingsandpence!Inattemptingto

describeathingyouemployoneorotherof

threedegreesofcomparison:inattemptingtomeasureathingyouareconfrontedbythreedimensions,length,breadthandthickness.Theindispensabilitiesofmortalexistencearethree:air,foodandwater.TheBibleaboundsintrinities.Itdivideshumanconductintothought,wordand

deed;itmarshalstheforcesofevilastheworld,thefleshandthedevil;itbreaksupthelifeofgraceintofaith,hopeandcharity.TheepicoftheTemptationintheWildernessconsistsofthreestanzas:thedesertstanza,thetemplestanza,andtheworldstanza.Admirersofthe

AutocratoftheBreakfastTablewillrememberthatheremarksuponthewayinwhich,indescribingaperson,weinvariablyemploythreeadjectives.Wesaythatamanishonourable,courteousandbrave,orthatawomanisgraceful,charmingandkind.Inhisdelineationsofcharacter,Dr.Samuel

Johnsonisfamousforhiseverlastingthrees.Anditisworth

recallingthatwhenJeromeK.JeromepublishedThreeMeninaBoatheexplainedthatthefrolicwasbasedonhisprofoundconvictionthatthreeistheidealnumberforanexcursion.Twogettiredofeachothers

society.Apartyoffourormoresoonsplitsupintogroupsandcliques.Butthreeisperfection.Thefigurethree,then,

isinscribeduponeverythingthatGodhasfashioned;andmenwillneversolvethemysteryoftheuniversalityofthatinscriptionunlesstheyhavegraspedthefactthat

theuniversethatbearsthisbrandisthehandiworkofaTriuneGod.

IIButIampaddlinginthe

shallows.Imustgetnearertothedeeps.And,inorderthatImaydoso,letmeacceptahelpinghandfirstfromIreland,

thenfromScotland,andfinallyfromEngland--atrinityofnationalities.ToIrelandfirst!

EverybodyknowsthehauntinglittleIrishmelodyaboutthe'dearlittleshamrock,thesweetlittleshamrock,thedearlittle,sweetlittleshamrockofIreland."Thesongdeclaresthatitwas

St.Patrickhimself,sure,thatsetit.

Andthesunonhislabourwithpleasuredidsmile,Andthedewfromhis

eyeoftenwetit.

Butwhy?ThethingthatcharmedSt.Patrickashegazedupontheshamrock

wasthefactthatitseemedtothrowjustonewelcomerayoflightonthemostexcellentmysteryoftheTrinity.'HaveIherethreeleaves,'heaskedhimself,ashefondlyfingeredthedaintytrefoil,'orhaveIhereoneleaf?Itisthreeinone!'AndforthatreasonhemadeittheemblemofIreland.

ToScotlandnext!EverybodyknowshowmuchScotlandowestotheErskines.IhavenevervisitedScotlandwithoutbaringmyheadbeforetheirtombs.HenryErskine,thefatherofRalphandEbenezer,hasleftusmuchthatisnotableandmemorable,buthehasbequeathedto

usfewtreasuresmorevaluablethanhisParableoftheHoney.GodtheFather,hewouldsay,islikehoneyintheflower--sweetnesspotential;GodtheSonislikehoneyinthebee--sweetnesscommunicable:whilstGodtheHolySpiritislikehoneyinthemouth--sweetnessappropriable

andenjoyable.AndnowtoEngland!

PreachinginthepulpitofSt.Paul'sCathedral,CanonLiddonsaidthatnothinghelpedhimmoretoanintelligentapprehensionoftheawfuldoctrineoftheTrinitythanaglassprism.Heheldthetinytrinketinhishandandcaughtthepure

whiterayofsunlight.Straightwaytherewerethrownuponthewallthethreecardinalcolours--red,blueandyellow.Thethreewereone,andtheonewasthree!Youmayseetheminunityorindiversity,justasyouwill.

IIIIdonotunderstandall

this;donotbegintounderstandit;neverexpecttounderstandit.YetIrealizethatitmeetsthedeepestneedsofmyheart.ForIoftenfeelthatIambutalittlechild,andneedaFather;IamasinfulmanandIdesperatelyneedaSaviour;Iamtroubledandheart-broken,andI

needtheSpirit,theParaclete,theComforter.IoncesawapaintingentitledTheParaclete.Itrepresentedagoodoldwomansittingdownbesideayoungwidowtocomforther.Thatistheideaofthewordexactly--onewhocomesalongside.IneedFathering;IneedSaving;Ineed

Comforting;and,intheHolyTrinity,Ifindallmyneedsdivinelymet.Ishallclosemysermon

onSundaybyentreatingtheyoungpeopleinmycongregationnottobecomebewilderedorconfused."YouallknowJesus,"Ishallsay."Hisfaceandformseemfamiliartoyou.Youlove

theverythoughtofHim.Well,thinkoftheTrinityinthetermsofyourreverentintimacywithJesus.HeistheexpressimageoftheFather.HeHimselfdeclaredthathethathathseenHimhathactuallyseentheFather.And,astotheHolySpirit,HehasnodesirethatyoushouldthinkofHimapart

fromyourthoughtofJesus.ItisHissuprememissiontoimpressyouwiththeloveofChrist!"AndifIcanleadthat

congregationofminetothefeetofJesus,andleavetheminpenitenceandadorationthere,IshallfeelthatIhaveachievedmyend,andthat,concerningthe

wonderoftheTrinity,thereisnomoretobesaid.