第12章

类别:其他 作者:Holmes, Oliver Wendell, Jr。字数:10403更新时间:18/12/18 09:17:40
Ipausedaminuteortwo,andasnoonespokeout;IputaquestiontotheCounsellor。 Areyouquitesurethatyouwishtolivetobethreescoreandtwentyyearsold? \"MostcertainlyIdo。Don\'ttheysaythatTheophrastuslivedtohishundredandseventhyear,anddidn\'thecomplainoftheshortnessoflife?Ateightyamanhashadjustabouttimetogetwarmlysettledinhisnest。Doyousupposehedoesn\'tenjoythequietofthatresting—place?Nomorehaggardresponsibilitytokeephimawakenights,——unlesshepreferstoretainhisholdonofficesanddutiesfromwhichhecanbeexcusedifbechooses。Nomoregoadingambitions,——heknowshehasdonehisbest。Nomorejealousies,ifhewereweakenoughtofeelsuchignoblestirringsinhismoreactiveseason。Anoctogenarianwithagoodrecord,andfreefromannoyingordistressinginfirmities,oughttobethehappiestofmen。 Everybodytreatshimwithdeference。Everybodywantstohelphim。 Heisthewardofthegenerationsthathavegrownupsincehewasinthevigorofmaturity。Yes,letmelivetobefourscoreyears,andthenIwilltellyouwhetherIshouldlikeafewmoreyearsornot。\" Youcarrythefeelingsofmiddleage,Isaid,inimagination,overintotheperiodofsenility,andthenreasonanddreamaboutitasifitswholemodeofbeingwerelikethatoftheearlierperiodoflife。 Buthowmanythingsthereareinoldagewhichyoumustliveintoifyouwouldexpecttohaveany\"realizingsense\"oftheirsignificance! Inthefirstplace,youhavenocoevals,ornexttonone。Atfifty,yourvesselisstanch,andyouareondeckwiththerest,inallweathers。Atsixty,thevesselstillfloats,andyouareinthecabin。Atseventy,you,withafewfellow—passengers,areonaraft。 Ateighty,youareonasparstowhich,possibly,one,ortwo,orthreefriendsofaboutyourownagearestillclinging。Afterthat,youmustexpectsoontofindyourselfalone,ifyouarestillfloating,withonlyalife—preservertokeepyouroldwhite—beardedchinabovethewater。 Kindness?Yes,pityingkindness,whichisabittersweetinwhichtheamiableingredientcanhardlybesaidtopredominate。Howpleasantdoyouthinkitistohaveanarmofferedtoyouwhenyouarewalkingonalevelsurface,wherethereisnochancetotrip? Howagreeabledoyousupposeitistohaveyourwell—meaningfriendsshoutandscreechatyou,asifyouweredeafasanadder,insteadofonlybeing,asyouinsist,somewhathardofhearing?IwasalittleovertwentyyearsoldwhenIwrotethelineswhichsomeofyoumayhavemetwith,fortheyhavebeenoftenreprinted: ThemossymarblesrestOnthelipsthathehasprestIntheirbloom,AndthenameshelovedtohearHavebeencarvedformanyayearOnthetomb。 Theworldwasagardentomethen;itisachurchyardnow。 \"Ithoughtyouwereoneofthosewholookeduponoldagecheerfully,andwelcomeditasaseasonofpeaceandcontentedenjoyment。\" Iamoneofthosewhosoregardit。Thosearenotbitterorscaldingtearsthatfallfrommyeyesupon\"themossymarbles。\"Theyoungwholeftmysideearlyinmylife\'sjourneyarestillwithmeintheunchangedfreshnessandbeautyofyouth。Thosewhohavelongkeptcompanywithmeliveonaftertheirseemingdeparture,wereitonlybythemereforceofhabit;theirimagesareallaroundme,asifeverysurfacehadbeenasensitivefilmthatphotographedthem;theirvoicesechoaboutme,asiftheyhadbeenrecordedonthoseunforgettingcylinderswhichbringbacktousthetonesandaccentsthathaveimprintedthem,asthehardenedsandsshowusthetracksofextinctanimals。Themelancholyofoldagehasadivinetendernessinit,whichonlythesadexperiencesoflifecanlendahumansoul。 Butthereisalowerlevel,——thatoftranquilcontentmentandeasyacquiescenceintheconditionsinwhichwefindourselves;alowerlevel,inwhicholdagetrudgespatientlywhenitisnotusingitswings。Isayitswings,fornoperiodoflifeissoimaginativeasthatwhichlookstoyoungerpeoplethemostprosaic。Theatmosphereofmemoryisoneinwhichimaginationfliesmoreeasilyandfeelsitselfmoreathomethaninthethinneretherofyouthfulanticipation。Ihavetoldyousomeofthedrawbacksofage;Iwouldnothaveyouforgetitsprivileges。Whenitcomesdownfromitsaerialexcursions,ithasmuchlefttoenjoyonthehumbleplaneofbeing。Andsoyouthinkyouwouldliketobecomeanoctogenarian? \"Ishould,\"saidtheCounsellor,nowamaninthehighnoonofbodilyandmentalvigor。\"Fourmore——yes,fivemore——decadeswouldnotbetoomuch,Ithink。AndhowmuchIshouldlivetoseeinthattime! Iamgladyouhavelaiddownsomerulesbywhichamanmayreasonablyexpecttoleaptheeightbarredgate。Iwon\'tpromisetoobeythemall,though。\" Amongthequestionsaddressedtome,astoalargenumberofotherpersons,arethefollowing。Itakethemfrom\"TheAmericanHebrew\" ofApril4,1890。Icannotpretendtoanswerthemall,butIcansaysomethingaboutoneortwoofthem。 \"I。Canyou,ofyourownpersonalexperience,findanyjustificationwhateverfortheentertainmentofprejudicetowardsindividualssolelybecausetheyareJews? \"II。IsthisprejudicenotduelargelytothereligiousinstructionthatisgivenbythechurchacidSunday—school?Forinstance,theteachingsthattheJewscrucifiedJesus;thattheyrejectedhim,andcanonlysecuresalvationbybeliefinhim,andsimilarmattersthatarecalculatedtoexciteintheimpressionablemindofthechildanaversion,ifnotaloathing,formembersof\'thedespisedrace。\' \"III。HaveyouobservedinthesocialorbusinesslifeoftheJew,sofarasyourpersonalexperiencehasgone,anydifferentstandardofconductthanprevailsamongChristiansofthesamesocialstatus? \"IV。Canyousuggestwhatshouldbedonetodispeltheexistingprejudice?\" Astothefirstquestion,IhavehadveryslightacquaintancewiththechildrenofIsrael。Isharedmoreorlesstheprevailingprejudicesagainstthepersecutedrace。Iusedtoreadinmyhymn— book,——IhopeIquotecorrectly,—— \"SeewhatalivingstoneThebuildersdidrefuse! YetGodhasbuilthischurchthereon,InspiteofenviousJews。\" Igrewupinheritingthetraditionalideathattheywerearacelyingunderacursefortheirobstinacyinrefusingthegospel。LikeotherchildrenofNewEnglandbirth,IwalkedinthenarrowpathofPuritanexclusiveness。ThegreathistoricalchurchofChristendomwaspresentedtomeasBunyandepictedit:oneofthetwogiantssittingatthedooroftheircaves,withthebones,ofpilgrimsscatteredaboutthem,andgrinningatthetravellerswhomtheycouldnolongerdevour。Inthenurseriesofold—fashionedOrthodoxytherewasonereligionintheworld,——onereligion,andamultitudeofdetestable,literallydamnableimpositions,believedinbyuncountedmillions,whoweredoomedtoperditionforsobelieving。TheJewswerethebelieversinoneofthesefalsereligions。Ithadbeentrueonce,butwasnowaperniciousandabominablelie。TheprincipaluseoftheJewsseemedtobetolendmoney,andtofulfilthepredictionsoftheoldprophetsoftheirrace。 NodoubttheindividualsonsofAbrahamwhomwefoundinourill— favoredandill—flavoredstreetswereapttobeunpleasingspecimensoftherace。Itwasagainstthemostadverseinfluencesoflegislation,ofreligiousfeeling,ofsocialrepugnance,thatthegreatnamesofJewishoriginmadethemselvesillustrious;thatthephilosophers,themusicians,thefinanciers,thestatesmen,ofthelastcenturiesforcedtheworldtorecognizeandacceptthem。 Benjamin,thesonofIsaac,asonofIsrael,ashisfamilynamemakesobvious,hasshownhowlargelyJewishbloodhasbeenrepresentedinthegreatmenandwomenofmoderndays。 TherearetwovirtueswhichChristianshavefounditveryhardtoexemplifyinpractice。Thesearemodestyandcivility。TheFounderoftheChristianreligionappearedamongapeopleaccustomedtolookforaMessiah,aspecialambassadorfromheaven,withanauthoritativemessage。Theywereintimatelyacquaintedwitheveryexpressionhavingreferencetothisdivinemessenger。Theyhadareligionoftheirown,aboutwhichChristianityagreeswithJudaisminassertingthatitwasofdivineorigin。Itisaseriousfact,towhichwedonotgivealltheattentionitdeserves,thatthisdivinelyinstructedpeoplewerenotsatisfiedwiththeevidencethattheyoungRabbiwhocametooverthrowtheirancientchurchandfoundanewonewasasupernaturalbeing。\"WethinkhewasagreatDoctor,\"saidaJewishcompanionwithwhomIwasconversing。HemeantagreatTeacher,Ipresume,thoughhealingthesickwasoneofhisspecialoffices。InsteadofrememberingthattheywereentitledtoformtheirownjudgmentofthenewTeacher,astheyhadjudgedofHillelandothergreatinstructors,Christians,astheycalledthemselves,haveinsulted,calumniated,oppressed,abased,outraged,\"thechosenrace\"duringthelongsuccessionofcenturiessincetheJewishcontemporariesoftheFounderofChristianitymadeuptheirmindsthathedidnotmeettheconditionsrequiredbythesubjectofthepredictionsoftheirScriptures。ThecourseoftheargumentagainstthemisverybrieflyandeffectivelystatedbyMr。Emerson: \"ThiswasJehovahcomedownoutofheaven。Iwillkillyouifyousayhewasaman。\" Itseemsasifthereshouldbecertainlawsofetiquetteregulatingtherelationofdifferentreligionstoeachother。ItisnotcivilforafollowerofMahomettocallhisneighborofanothercreeda\"Christiandog。\"Stillmore,thereshouldbesomethinglikepolitenessinthebearingofChristiansectstowardeachother,andofbelieversinthenewdispensationtowardthosewhostilladheretotheold。WeareinthehabitofallowingacertainarrogantassumptiontoourRomanCatholicbrethren。Wehavegotusedtotheirpretensions。Theymaycallus\"heretics,\"iftheylike。Theymayspeakofusas\"infidels,\"iftheychoose,especiallyiftheysayitinLatin。Solongasthereisnoinquisition,solongasthereisnoautodafe,wedonotmindthehardwordsmuch;andwehaveasgoodphrasestogivethemback:theManofSinandtheScarletWomanwillserveforexamples。Butitisbettertobeciviltoeachotherallround。IdoubtifaconverttothereligionofMahometwasevermadebycallingamanaChristiandog。IdoubtifaHebreweverbecameagoodChristianifthebaptismalritewasperformedbyspittingonhisJewishgabardine。IhaveoftenthoughtoftheadvanceincomityandtruecharityshowninthetitleofmylatehonoredfriendJamesFreemanClarke\'sbook,\"TheTenGreatReligions。\"Ifthecreedsofmankindtrytounderstandeachotherbeforeattemptingmutualextermination,theywillbesuretofindameaninginbeliefswhicharedifferentfromtheirown。TheoldCalvinisticspiritwasalmostsavagelyexclusive。Whiletheauthorofthe\"TenGreatReligions\" wasgrowingupinBostonunderthebenignant,large—mindedteachingsoftheRev。JamesFreeman,thefamousDr。JohnM。Mason,atNewYork,wasfiercelyattackingthenoblehumanityof\"TheUniversalPrayer。\"\"Inpreaching,\"sayshisbiographer,\"heoncequotedPope\'slinesastoGod\'sbeingadoredalike\'bysaint,bysavage,andbysage,\'andpronouncedit(inhisdeepestguttural)\'themostdamnablelie。\'\" WhatcouldtheHebrewexpectwhenaChristianpreachercouldusesuchlanguageaboutapetitionbreathingtheverysoulofhumanity? Happily,thetruehumanspiritisencroachingonthatarrogantandnarrow—mindedformofselfishnesswhichcalleditselfChristianity。 Thegoldenruleshouldgovernusindealingwiththosewhomwecallunbelievers,withheathen,andwithallwhodonotacceptourreligiousviews。TheJewsarewithusasaperpetuallessontoteachusmodestyandcivility。Thereligionweprofessisnotself— evident。Itdidnotconvincethepeopletowhomitwassent。Wehavenoclaimtotakeitforgrantedthatweareallright,andtheyareallwrong。And,therefore,inthemidstofallthetriumphsofChristianity,itiswellthatthestatelysynagogueshouldliftitswallsbythesideoftheaspiringcathedral,aperpetualreminderthattherearemanymansionsintheFather\'searthlyhouseaswellasintheheavenlyone;thatcivilizedhumanity,longerintimeandbroaderinspacethananyhistoricalformofbelief,ismightierthananyoneinstitutionororganizationitincludes。 ManyyearsagoIarguedwithmyselfthepropositionwhichmyHebrewcorrespondenthassuggested。RecognizingthefactthatIwasborntoabirthrightofnationalandsocialprejudicesagainst\"thechosenpeople,\"——chosenastheobjectofcontumelyandabusebytherestoftheworld,——Ipicturedmyowninheritedfeelingsofaversioninalltheirintensity,andthestrainofthoughtundertheinfluenceofwhichthoseprejudicesgavewaytoamorehuman,amoretrulyChristianfeelingofbrotherhood。ImustaskyourindulgencewhileI quoteafewversesfromapoemofmyown,printedlongagounderthetitle\"AtthePantomime。\" IwascrowdedbetweentwochildrenofIsrael,andgavefreeinwardexpressiontomyfeelings。AllatonceIhappenedtolookmorecloselyatoneofmyneighbors,andsawthattheyouthwastheveryidealoftheSonofMary。 AfreshyoungcheekwhoseolivehueThemantlingbloodshowsfaintlythrough; Locksdarkasmidnight,thatdivideAndshadetheneckoneitherside; Soft,gentle,lovingeyesthatgleamClearasastarlitmountainstream; SolookedthatotherchildofShem,TheMaiden\'sBoyofBethlehem! ——AndthoucouldstscornthepeerlessbloodThatflowsunmingledfromtheFlood,ThyscutcheonspottedwiththestainsOfNormanthievesandpirateDanes! TheNewWorld\'sfoundling,inthyprideScowlontheHebrewatthyside,Andlo!theverysemblancethereTheLordofGlorydeignedtowear! Iseethatradiantimagerise,Theflowinghair,thepityingeyes,ThefaintlycrimsonedcheekthatshowsTheblushofSharon\'sopeningrose,ThyhandswouldclasphishallowedfeetWhosebrethrensoilthyChristianseat,Thylipswouldpresshisgarment\'shemThatcurlinwrathfulscornforthem! Asuddenmist,awateryscreen,Droppedlikeaveilbeforethescene; Theshadowfloatedfrommysoul,Andtomylipsawhisperstole:—— ThyprophetscaughttheSpirit\'sflame,FromtheetheSonofMarycame,WiththeetheFatherdeignedtodwell,Peacebeuponthee,Israel!\" ItisnottobeexpectedthatintimaterelationswillbeestablishedbetweenJewishandChristiancommunitiesuntilbothbecomesofarrationalizedandhumanizedthattheirdifferencesarecomparativelyunimportant。ButalreadythereisanevidentapproximationintheextremeleftofwhatiscalledliberalChristianityandtherepresentativesofmodernJudaism。ThelifeofamanlikethelateSirMosesMontefiorereadsalessonfromtheOldTestamentwhichmightwellhavebeeninspiredbythenoblestteachingsoftheChristianGospels。 Delilah,andhowshegothername。 Est—ellebiengentille,cettepetite?IsaidonedaytoNumberFive,asourprettyDelilahputherarmbetweenuswithabunchofthosetenderearlyradishesthatsorecalltherosy—fingeredmorningofHomer。ThelittlehandwhichheldtheradisheswouldnothaveshamedAurora。Thathandhasneverknowndrudgery,Ifeelsure。 WhenIspokethoseFrenchwordsourlittleDelilahgaveaslight,seeminglyinvoluntarystart,andhercheeksgrewofasbrightaredasherradishes。Ah,saidItomyself;doesthatyounggirlunderstandFrench?Itmaybeworthwhiletobecarefulwhatonesaysbeforeher。 Thereisamysteryaboutthisgirl。Sheseemstoknowherplaceperfectly,——except,perhaps,whensheburstoutcrying,theotherday,whichwasagainstalltherulesoftable—maiden\'setiquette,—— andyetshelooksasifshehadbeenborntobewaitedon,andnottoperformthathumbleserviceforothers。Weknowthatonceinawhilegirlswitheducationandwellconnectedtakeitintotheirheadstogointoserviceforafewweeksormonths。Sometimesitisfromeconomicmotives,——toprocuremeansfortheireducation,ortohelpmembersoftheirfamilieswhoneedassistance。Atanyrate,theyundertakethelightermenialdutiesofsomehouseholdwheretheyarenotknown,and,havingstooped——ifstoopingitistobeconsidered—— tolowlyoffices,nobornandbredservantsaremorefaithfultoalltheirobligations。YoumustnotsupposeshewaschristenedDelilah。 AnyofourministerswouldhesitatetogivesuchaheathennametoaChristianchild。 Thewayshecametogetitwasthis:TheProfessorwasgoingtogivealecturebeforeanoccasionalaudience,oneevening。WhenhetookhisseatwiththeotherTeacups,theAmericanAnnexwhisperedtotheotherAnnex,\"Hishairwantscutting,——itlookslikefury。\"\"Quiteso,\"saidtheEnglishAnnex。\"Iwishyouwouldtellhimso,——Ido,awfully。\"\"I\'llfixit,\"saidtheAmericangirl。So,aftertheteacupswereemptiedandthecompanyhadleftthetable,shewentuptotheProfessor。\"Youreadthislecture,don\'tyou,Professor?\"shesaid。\"Ido,\"heanswered。\"Ishouldthinkthatlockofhairwhichfallsdownoveryourforeheadwouldtroubleyou,\"shesaid。\"Itdoessometimes,\"repliedtheProfessor。\"Letourlittlemaidtrimitforyou。You\'reequaltothat,aren\'tyou?\"turningtothehandmaiden。 \"Ialwaysusedtocutmyfather\'shair,\"sheanswered。Shebroughtapairofglitteringshears,andbeforeshewouldlettheProfessorgoshehadtrimmedhishairandbeardastheyhadnotbeendealtwithformanyaday。EverybodysaidtheProfessorlookedtenyearsyounger。AfterthatourlittlehandmaidenwasalwayscalledDelilah,amongthetalkingTeacups。 TheMistresskeepsawatchfuleyeonthisyounggirl。Ishouldnotbesurprisedtofindthatshewascarryingoutsomeideal,somefancyorwhim,——possiblynothingmore,butspringingfromsomegenerous,youthfulimpulse。PerhapssheisworkingforthatlittlesisterattheBlindAsylum。WheredidshelearnFrench?Shedidcertainlyblush,andbetrayedeverysignofunderstandingthewordsspokenaboutherinthatlanguage。Sometimesshesingswhileatherwork,andwehaveallbeenstruckwiththepure,musicalcharacterofhervoice。Itisjustsuchavoiceasoughttocomefromthatroundwhitethroat。Wemadeadiscoveryaboutittheotherevening。 TheMistresskeepsapianoinherroom,andwehavesometimeshadmusicintheevening。OneofTheTeacups,towhomIhaveslightlyreferred,isanaccomplishedpianist,andthetwoAnnexessingverysweetlytogether,——theAmericangirlhavingaclearsopranovoice,theEnglishgirlamellowcontralto。Theyhadsungseveraltunes,whentheMistressrangforAvis,——forthatisourDelilah\'srealname。Shewhisperedtotheyounggirl,whoblushedandtrembled。 \"Don\'tbefrightened,\"saidtheMistressencouragingly。\"Ihaveheardyousinging\'TooYoungforLove,\'andIwillgetourpianisttoplayit。Theyoungladiesbothknowit,andyoumustjoinin。\" Thetwovoices,withtheaccompaniment,hadhardlyfinishedthefirstlinewhenapure,ringing,almostchildlikevoicejoinedthevocalduet。Thesoundofherownvoiceseemedtomakeherforgetherfears,andshewarbledasnaturallyandfreelyasanyyoungbirdofaMaymorning。NumberFivecameinwhileshewassinging,andwhenshegotthroughcaughtherinherarmsandkissedher,asifshewerehersister,andnotDelilah,ourtable—maid。NumberFiveisapttoforgetherselfandthosesocialdifferencestowhichsomeofusattachsomuchimportance。Thisisthesonginwhichthelittlemaidtookpart: TOOYOUNGFORLOVE。 Tooyoungforlove? Ah,saynotso! Tellreddeningrose—budsnottoblow! Waitnotforspringtopassaway,—— Love\'ssummermonthsbeginwithMay! Tooyoungforlove? Ah,saynotso! Tooyoung?Tooyoung? Ah,no!no!no! Tooyoungforlove? Ah,saynotso,Whiledaisiesbloomandtulipsglow! JunesoonwillcomewithlengtheneddayTopractisealllovelearnedinMay。 Tooyoungforlove? Ah,saynotso! Tooyoung?Tooyoung? Ah,no!no!no! IX IoftenwishthatourNumberSevencouldhaveknownandcorrespondedwiththeauthorof\"TheBudgetofParadoxes。\"IthinkMr。DeMorganwouldhavefoundsomeofhisvagariesandfanciesnotundeservingofaplaceinhiswonderfulcollectionofeccentricities,absurdities,ingenuities,——mentalfreaksofallsorts。ButIthinkhewouldhavenowandthenrecognizedasoundidea,ajustcomparison,asuggestivehint,apracticalnotion,whichredeemedapageofextravagancesandcrotchetywhims。IconfessthatIamoftenpleasedwithfanciesofhis,andshouldbewillingtoadoptthemasmyown。Ithinkhehas,inthemidstofhiserraticandtangledconceptions,someperfectlyclearandconsistenttrainsofthought。 SowhenNumberSevenspokeofsendingusapaper,Iwelcomedthesuggestion。Iaskedhimwhetherhehadanyobjectiontomylookingitoverbeforehereadit。Myproposalratherpleasedhim,I thought,for,aswasobservedonaformeroccasion,hehasinconnectionwithabeliefinhimselfanotherside,——acuriousself— distrust。Ihavenoquestionthathehasanobscuresenseofsomementaldeficiency。Thusyoumayexpectfromhimfirstadogma,andpresentlyadoubt。Ifyoufighthisdogma,hewilldobattleforitstoutly;ifyoulethimalone,hewillveryprobablyexplainitsextravagances,ifithasany,andtameitintoreasonablelimits。 Sometimesheisinonemood,sometimesinanother。 Thefirstportionofwhatwelistenedtoshowshimathisbest;inthelatterpartIamafraidyouwillthinkhegetsalittlewild。 IproceedtolaybeforeyouthepaperwhichNumberSevenreadtoTheTeacups。Therewassomethingverypleasinginthedeferencewhichwasshownhim。Weallfeelthatthereisacrackintheteacup,andaredisposedtohandleitcarefully。Ihaveleftoutafewthingswhichhesaid,feelingthattheymightgiveoffencetosomeofthecompany。ThereweresentencessoinvolvedandobscurethatIwassuretheywouldnotbeunderstood,ifindeedheunderstoodthemhimself。Butthereareotherpassagessoentirelysane,andasitseemstomesojust,thatifanyreaderattributesthemtomeIshallnotthinkmyselfwrongedbythesupposition。YoumustrememberthatNumberSevenhashadafaireducation,thathehasbeenawidereaderinmanydirections,andthathebelongstoafamilyofremarkableintellectualgifts。Soitwasnotsurprisingthathesaidsomethingswhichpleasedthecompany,asinfacttheydid。Thereaderwillnotbestartledtoseeacertainabruptnessinthetransitionfromonesubjecttoanother,——itisacharacteristicofthesquintingbrainwhereveryoufindit。Anothercuriousmarkrarelywantinginthesubjectsofmentalstrabismusisanirregularandoftensprawlinganddeformedhandwriting。ManyandmanyatimeIhavesaid,afterglancingatthebackofaletter,\"Thiscomesfromaninsaneasylum,orfromaneccentricwhomightwellbeacandidateforsuchaninstitution。\"NumberSeven\'smanuscript,whichshowedmarksofmycorrectionshereandthere,furnishedgoodexamplesofthechirographyofpersonswithill—matedcerebralhemispheres。Buttheearlierportionsofthemanuscriptareofperfectlynormalappearance。 Conticuereomnes,asVirgilsays。WewereallsilentasNumberSevenbeganthereadingofhispaper。 NumberSevenreads。 Iamtheseventhsonofaseventhson,asIsupposeyouallknow。Itiscommonlybelievedthatsomeextraordinarygiftsbelongtothefortunateindividualsbornundertheseexceptionalconditions。 Howeverthismaybe,apeculiarvirtuewassupposedtodwellinmefrommyearliestyears。MytouchwasbelievedtohavetheinfluenceformerlyattributedtothatofthekingsandqueensofEngland。YoumayrememberthatthegreatDr。SamuelJohnson,whenachild,wascarriedtobetouchedbyherMajestyQueenAnneforthe\"king\'sevil,\"asscrofulausedtobecalled。OurhonoredfriendTheDictatorwilltellyouthatthebrotherofoneofhisAndoverschoolmateswastakentooneofthesegiftedpersons,whotouchedhim,andhungasmallbrightsilvercoin,eithera\"fourpenceha\'penny\"ora\"ninepence,\"abouthisneck,which,strangetosay,afterbeingwornacertaintime,becametarnished,andfinallyblack,——aproofofthepoisonousmatterswhichhadbecomeeliminatedfromthesystemandgathereduponthecoin。IrememberthatatonetimeIusedtocarryfourpenceha\'pennieswithholesboredthroughthem,whichIfurnishedtochildrenortotheirmothers,underpledgesofsecrecy,——receivingapieceofsilveroflargerdimensionsinexchange。Ineverfeltquitesureaboutanyextraordinaryendowmentbeingapartofmyinheritanceinvirtueofmyspecialconditionsofbirth。Aphrenologist,whoexaminedmyheadwhenIwasaboy,saidthetwosideswereunlike。Myhatter\'smeasurementtoldmethesamething;butinlookingovermorethanabushelofthesmallcardboardhat—patternswhichgivetheexactshapeofthehead,Ihavefoundthisisnotuncommon。ThephrenologistmadeallsortsofpredictionsofwhatIshouldbeanddo,whichprovedaboutasnearthetruthasthoserecordedinMissEdithThomas\'scharminglittlepoem,\"Augury,\"whichsomeofuswerereadingtheotherday。