第16章

类别:其他 作者:Mark Twain字数:13192更新时间:18/12/18 14:51:42
forwehaveItalianwaiters,andthemobdemandedthattheybeturnedoutofthehouseinstantlytobedrubbed,andthendrivenoutofthevillage。Everybodyinthehotelremainedupuntilfarintothenight,andexperiencedtheseveralkindsofterrorwhichonereadsaboutinbookswhichtellofnighattacksbyItaliansandbyFrenchmobs:thegrowingroaroftheoncomingcrowd;thearrival,withrainofstonesandacrashofglass;thewithdrawaltorearrangeplansfollowedbyasilenceominous,threatening,andhardertobearthaneventheactivesiegeandthenoise。Thelandlordandthetwovillagepolicemenstoodtheirground,andatlastthemobwaspersuadedtogoawayandleaveourItaliansinpeace。Todayfouroftheringleadershavebeensentencedtoheavypunishmentofapublicsortandarebecomelocalheroes,byconsequence。 ThatistheverymistakewhichwasatfirstmadeintheMissourianvillagehalfacenturyago。ThemistakewasrepeatedandrepeatedjustasFranceisdoingintheselatermonths。 InourvillagewehadourRavochals,ourHenrys,ourVaillants;andinahumblewayourCesarioIhopeIhavespelledthisnamewrong。Fiftyyearsagowepassedthrough,inallessentials,whatFrancehasbeenpassingthroughduringthepasttwoorthreeyears,inthematterofperiodicalfrights,horrors,andshudderings。 Inseveraldetailstheparallelsarequaintlyexact。Inthatday,foramantospeakoutopenlyandproclaimhimselfanenemyofnegroslaverywassimplytoproclaimhimselfamadman。 ForhewasblasphemingagainsttheholiestthingknowntoaMissourian,andcouldNOTbeinhisrightmind。ForamantoproclaimhimselfananarchistinFrance,threeyearsago,wastoproclaimhimselfamadmanhecouldnotbeinhisrightmind。 Nowtheoriginalfirstblasphemeragainstanyinstitutionprofoundlyveneratedbyacommunityisquitesuretobeinearnest;hisfollowersandimitatorsmaybehumbugsandself seekers,buthehimselfissincerehisheartisinhisprotest。 RobertHardywasourfirstABOLITIONISTawfulname!Hewasajourneymancooper,andworkedinthebigcoopershopbelongingtothegreatporkpackingestablishmentwhichwasMarionCity’schiefprideandsolesourceofprosperity。HewasaNew Englander,astranger。And,beingastranger,hewasofcourseregardedasaninferiorpersonforthathasbeenhumannaturefromAdamdownandofcourse,also,hewasmadetofeelunwelcome,forthisistheancientlawwithmanandtheotheranimals。Hardywasthirtyyearsold,andabachelor;pale,giventoreverieandreading。Hewasreserved,andseemedtoprefertheisolationwhichhadfallentohislot。Hewastreatedtomanysideremarksbyhisfellows,butashedidnotresentthemitwasdecidedthathewasacoward。 Allofasuddenheproclaimedhimselfanabolitionist straightoutandpublicly!Hesaidthatnegroslaverywasacrime,aninfamy。Foramomentthetownwasparalyzedwithastonishment;thenitbrokeintoafuryofrageandswarmedtowardthecoopershoptolynchHardy。ButtheMethodistministermadeapowerfulspeechtothemandstayedtheirhands。 HeprovedtothemthatHardywasinsaneandnotresponsibleforhiswords;thatnomanCOULDbesaneanduttersuchwords。 SoHardywassaved。Beinginsane,hewasallowedtogoontalking。Hewasfoundtobegoodentertainment。Severalnightsrunninghemadeabolitionspeechesintheopenair,andallthetownflockedtohearandlaugh。Heimploredthemtobelievehimsaneandsincere,andhavepityonthepoorslaves,andtakemeasurementsfortherestorationoftheirstolenrights,orinnolongtimebloodwouldflowblood,blood,riversofblood! Itwasgreatfun。Butallofasuddentheaspectofthingschanged。AslavecameflyingfromPalmyra,thecountyseat,afewmilesback,andwasabouttoescapeinacanoetoIllinoisandfreedominthedulltwilightoftheapproachingdawn,whenthetownconstableseizedhim。Hardyhappenedalongandtriedtorescuethenegro;therewasastruggle,andtheconstabledidnotcomeoutofitalive。Hardlycrossedtheriverwiththenegro,andthencamebacktogivehimselfup。Allthistooktime,fortheMississippiisnotaFrenchbrook,liketheSeine,theLoire,andthoseotherrivulets,butisarealrivernearlyamilewide。 Thetownwasonhandinforcebynow,buttheMethodistpreacherandthesheriffhadalreadymadearrangementsintheinterestoforder;soHardywassurroundedbyastrongguardandsafelyconveyedtothevillagecalabooseinspiteofalltheeffortofthemobtogetholdofhim。ThereaderwillhavebeguntoperceivethatthisMethodistministerwasapromptman;apromptman,withactivehandsandagoodheadpiece。WilliamswashisnameDamonWilliams;DamonWilliamsinpublic,DamnationWilliamsinprivate,becausehewassopowerfulonthatthemeandsofrequent。 Theexcitementwasprodigious。Theconstablewasthefirstmanwhohadeverbeenkilledinthetown。Theeventwasbylongoddsthemostimposinginthetown’shistory。Itliftedthehumblevillageintosuddenimportance;itsnamewasineverybody’smouthfortwentymilesaround。AndsowasthenameofRobertHardyRobertHardy,thestranger,thedespised。Inadayhewasbecomethepersonofmostconsequenceintheregion,theonlypersontalkedabout。Astothoseothercoopers,theyfoundtheirpositioncuriouslychangedtheywereimportantpeople,orunimportant,now,inproportionastohowlargeorhowsmallhadbeentheirintercoursewiththenewcelebrity。Thetwoorthreewhohadreallybeenonasortoffamiliarfootingwithhimfoundthemselvesobjectsofadmiringinterestwiththepublicandofenvywiththeirshopmates。 Thevillageweeklyjournalhadlatelygoneintonewhands。 Thenewmanwasanenterprisingfellow,andhemadethemostofthetragedy。Heissuedanextra。Thenheputupposterspromisingtodevotehiswholepapertomattersconnectedwiththegreateventtherewouldbeafullandintenselyinterestingbiographyofthemurderer,andevenaportraitofhim。Hewasasgoodashisword。Hecarvedtheportraithimself,onthebackofawoodentypeandaterroritwastolookat。Itmadeagreatcommotion,forthiswasthefirsttimethevillagepaperhadevercontainedapicture。Thevillagewasveryproud。Theoutputofthepaperwastentimesasgreatasithadeverbeenbefore,yeteverycopywassold。 Whenthetrialcameon,peoplecamefromallthefarmsaround,andfromHannibal,andQuincy,andevenfromKeokuk;andthecourthousecouldholdonlyafractionofthecrowdthatappliedforadmission。Thetrialwaspublishedinthevillagepaper,withfreshandstillmoretryingpicturesoftheaccused。 Hardywasconvicted,andhangedamistake。Peoplecamefrommilesaroundtoseethehanging;theybroughtcakesandcider,alsothewomenandchildren,andmadeapicnicofthematter。Itwasthelargestcrowdthevillagehadeverseen。TheropethathangedHardywaseagerlyboughtup,ininchsamples,foreverybodywantedamementoofthememorableevent。 Martyrdomgildedwithnotorietyhasitsfascinations。 Withinoneweekafterwardfouryounglightweightsinthevillageproclaimedthemselvesabolitionists!InlifeHardyhadnotbeenabletomakeaconvert;everybodylaughedathim;butnobodycouldlaughathislegacy。Thefourswaggeredaroundwiththeirslouchhatspulleddownovertheirfaces,andhinteddarklyatawfulpossibilities。Thepeopleweretroubledandafraid,andshowedit。Andtheywerestunned,too;theycouldnotunderstandit。\"Abolitionist\"hadalwaysbeenatermofshameandhorror; yetherewerefouryoungmenwhowerenotonlynotashamedtobearthatname,butweregrimlyproudofit。Respectableyoungmentheywere,tooofgoodfamilies,andbroughtupinthechurch。EdSmith,theprinter’sapprentice,nineteen,hadbeentheheadSundayschoolboy,andhadoncerecitedthreethousandBibleverseswithoutmakingabreak。DickSavage,twenty,thebaker’sapprentice;WillJoyce,twentytwo,journeymanblacksmith;andHenryTaylor,twentyfour,tobaccostemmerweretheotherthree。Theywereallofasentimentalcast;theywereallromancereaders;theyallwrotepoetry,suchasitwas;theywereallvainandfoolish;buttheyhadneverbeforebeensuspectedofhavinganythingbadinthem。 Theywithdrewfromsociety,andgrewmoreandmoremysteriousanddreadful。Theypresentlyachievedthedistinctionofbeingdenouncedbynamesfromthepulpitwhichmadeanimmensestir!Thiswasgrandeur,thiswasfame。Theywereenviedbyalltheotheryoungfellowsnow。Thiswasnatural。 Theircompanygrewgrewalarmingly。Theytookaname。Itwasasecretname,andwasdivulgedtonooutsider;publiclytheyweresimplytheabolitionists。Theyhadpasswords,grips,andsigns; theyhadsecretmeetings;theirinitiationswereconductedwithgloomypompsandceremonies,atmidnight。 TheyalwaysspokeofHardyas\"theMartyr,\"andeverylittlewhiletheymovedthroughtheprincipalstreetinprocessionatmidnight,blackrobed,masked,tothemeasuredtapofthesolemndrumonpilgrimagetotheMartyr’sgrave,wheretheywentthroughwithsomemajesticfooleriesandsworevengeanceuponhismurderers。Theygavepreviousnoticeofthepilgrimagebysmallposters,andwarnedeverybodytokeepindoorsanddarkenallhousesalongtheroute,andleavetheroadempty。Thesewarningswereobeyed,fortherewasaskullandcrossbonesatthetopoftheposter。 Whenthiskindofthinghadbeengoingonabouteightweeks,aquitenaturalthinghappened。Afewmenofcharacterandgritwokeupoutofthenightmareoffearwhichhadbeenstupefyingtheirfaculties,andbegantodischargescornandscoffingsatthemselvesandthecommunityforenduringthischild’splay;andatthesametimetheyproposedtoenditstraightway。Everybodyfeltanuplift;lifewasbreathedintotheirdeadspirits;theircourageroseandtheybegantofeellikemenagain。ThiswasonaSaturday。Alldaythenewfeelinggrewandstrengthened;itgrewwitharush;itbroughtinspirationandcheerwithit。 Midnightsawaunitedcommunity,fullofzealandpluck,andwithaclearlydefinedandwelcomepieceofworkinfrontofit。ThebestorganizerandstrongestandbitteresttalkeronthatgreatSaturdaywasthePresbyterianclergymanwhohaddenouncedtheoriginalfourfromhispulpitRev。HiramFletcherandhepromisedtousehispulpitinthepublicinterestagainnow。Onthemorrowhehadrevelationstomake,hesaidsecretsofthedreadfulsociety。 Buttherevelationswerenevermade。Athalfpasttwointhemorningthedeadsilenceofthevillagewasbrokenbyacrashingexplosion,andthetownpatrolsawthepreacher’shousespringinawreckofwhirlingfragmentsintothesky。Thepreacherwaskilled,togetherwithanegrowoman,hisonlyslaveandservant。 Thetownwasparalyzedagain,andwithreason。Tostruggleagainstavisibleenemyisathingworthwhile,andthereisaplentyofmenwhostandalwaysreadytoundertakeit;buttostruggleagainstaninvisibleoneaninvisibleonewhosneaksinanddoeshisawfulworkinthedarkandleavesnotracethatisanothermatter。Thatisathingtomakethebravesttrembleandholdback。 Thecowedpopulacewereafraidtogotothefuneral。Themanwhowastohavehadapackedchurchtohearhimexposeanddenouncethecommonenemyhadbutahandfultoseehimburied。 Thecoroner’sjuryhadbroughtinaverdictof\"deathbythevisitationofGod,\"fornowitnesscameforward;ifanyexistedtheyprudentlykeptoutoftheway。Nobodyseemedsorry。Nobodywantedtoseetheterriblesecretsocietyprovokedintothecommissionoffurtheroutrages。Everybodywantedthetragedyhushedup,ignored,forgotten,ifpossible。 AndsotherewasabittersurpriseandanunwelcomeonewhenWillJoyce,theblacksmith’sjourneyman,cameoutandproclaimedhimselftheassassin!Plainlyhewasnotmindedtoberobbedofhisglory。Hemadehisproclamation,andstucktoit。Stucktoit,andinsisteduponatrial。Herewasanominousthing;herewasanewandpeculiarlyformidableterror,foramotivewasrevealedherewhichsocietycouldnothopetodealwithsuccessfullyVANITY,thirstfornotoriety。Ifmenweregoingtokillfornotoriety’ssake,andtowinthegloryofnewspaperrenown,abigtrial,andashowyexecution,whatpossibleinventionofmancoulddiscourageordeterthem?Thetownwasinasortofpanic;itdidnotknowwhattodo。 However,thegrandjuryhadtotakeholdofthematterithadnochoice。Itbroughtinatruebill,andpresentlythecasewenttothecountycourt。Thetrialwasafinesensation。Theprisonerwastheprincipalwitnessfortheprosecution。Hegaveafullaccountoftheassassination;hefurnishedeventheminutestparticulars:howhedepositedhiskegofpowderandlaidhistrainfromthehousetosuchandsuchaspot;howGeorgeRonaldsandHenryHartcamealongjustthen,smoking,andheborrowedHart’scigarandfiredthetrainwithit,shouting,\"Downwithallslavetyrants!\"andhowHartandRonaldsmadenoefforttocapturehim,butranaway,andhadnevercomeforwardtotestifyyet。 Buttheyhadtotestifynow,andtheydidandpitifulitwastoseehowreluctanttheywere,andhowscared。ThecrowdedhouselistenedtoJoyce’sfearfultalewithaprofoundandbreathlessinterest,andinadeephushwhichwasnotbrokentillhebrokeithimself,inconcluding,witharoaringrepetitionofhis\"Deathtoallslavetyrants!\"whichcamesounexpectedlyandsostartlinglythatitmadeeveryonepresentcatchhisbreathandgasp。 Thetrialwasputinthepaper,withbiographyandlargeportrait,withotherslanderousandinsanepictures,andtheeditionsoldbeyondimagination。 TheexecutionofJoycewasafineandpicturesquething。Itdrewavastcrowd。Goodplacesintreesandseatsonrailfencessoldforhalfadollarapiece;lemonadeandgingerbreadstandshadgreatprosperity。Joycerecitedafuriousandfantasticanddenunciatoryspeechonthescaffoldwhichhadimposingpassagesofschoolboyeloquenceinit,andgavehimareputationonthespotasanorator,andhisname,later,inthesociety’srecords,ofthe\"MartyrOrator。\"Hewenttohisdeathbreathingslaughterandcharginghissocietyto\"avengehismurder。\"Ifheknewanythingofhumannatureheknewthattoplentyofyoungfellowspresentinthatgreatcrowdhewasagrandheroandenviablysituated。 Hewashanged。Itwasamistake。Withinamonthfromhisdeaththesocietywhichhehadhonoredhadtwentynewmembers,someofthemearnest,determinedmen。Theydidnotcourtdistinctioninthesameway,buttheycelebratedhismartyrdom。 Thecrimewhichhadbeenobscureanddespisedhadbecomeloftyandglorified。 Suchthingswerehappeningalloverthecountry。Wild brainedmartyrdomwassucceededbyuprisingandorganization。 Then,innaturalorder,followedriot,insurrection,andthewrackandrestitutionsofwar。Itwasboundtocome,anditwouldnaturallycomeinthatway。Ithasbeenthemannerofreformsincethebeginningoftheworld。 SWITZERLAND,THECRADLEOFLIBERTY Interlaken,Switzerland,1891。 ItisagoodmanyyearssinceIwasinSwitzerlandlast。Inthatremotetimetherewasonlyoneladderrailwayinthecountry。Thatstateofthingsisallchanged。Thereisn’tamountaininSwitzerlandnowthathasn’taladderrailroadortwoupitsbacklikesuspenders;indeed,somemountainsarelatticedwiththem,andtwoyearshenceallwillbe。Inthatdaythepeasantofthehighaltitudeswillhavetocarryalanternwhenhegoesvisitinginthenighttokeepfromstumblingoverrailroadsthathavebeenbuiltsincehislastround。Andalsointhatday,ifthereshallremainahighaltitudepeasantwhosepotatopatchhasn’tarailroadthroughit,itwouldmakehimasconspicuousasWilliamTell。 However,thereareonlytwobestwaystotravelthroughSwitzerland。Thefirstbestisafloat。Thesecondbestisbyopentwohorsecarriage。OnecancomefromLucernetoInterlakenovertheBrunigbyladderrailroadinanhourorsonow,butyoucanglidesmoothlyinacarriageinten,andhavetwohoursforluncheonatnoonforluncheon,notforrest。Thereisnofatigueconnectedwiththetrip。Onearrivesfreshinspiritandinpersonintheeveningnofretinhisheart,nogrimeonhisface,nogritinhishair,notacinderinhiseye。Thisistherightconditionofmindandbody,therightandduepreparationforthesolemneventwhichclosedthedaysteppingwithmetaphoricallyuncoveredheadintothepresenceofthemostimpressivemountainmassthattheglobecanshowtheJungfrau。 Thestranger’sfirstfeeling,whensuddenlyconfrontedbythattoweringandawfulapparitionwrappedinitsshroudofsnow,isbreathtakingastonishment。Itisasifheaven’sgateshadswungopenandexposedthethrone。 ItispeacefulhereandpleasantatInterlaken。Nothinggoingonatleastnothingbutbrilliantlifegivingsunshine。 Therearefloodsandfloodsofthat。Onemayproperlyspeakofitas\"goingon,\"foritisfullofthesuggestionofactivity; thelightpoursdownwithenergy,withvisibleenthusiasm。Thisisagoodatmospheretobein,morallyaswellasphysically。 Aftertryingthepoliticalatmosphereoftheneighboringmonarchies,itishealingandrefreshingtobreatheairthathasknownnotaintofslaveryforsixhundredyears,andtocomeamongapeoplewhosepoliticalhistoryisgreatandfine,andworthytobetaughtinallschoolsandstudiedbyallracesandpeoples。Forthestruggleherethroughoutthecenturieshasnotbeenintheinterestofanyprivatefamily,oranychurch,butintheinterestofthewholebodyofthenation,andforshelterandprotectionofallformsofbelief。Thisfactiscolossal。Ifonewouldrealizehowcolossalitis,andofwhatdignityandmajesty,lethimcontrastitwiththepurposesandobjectsoftheCrusades,thesiegeofYork,theWaroftheRoses,andotherhistoriccomediesofthatsortandsize。 LastweekIwasbeatingaroundtheLakeofFourCantons,andIsawRutliandAltorf。Rutliisaremotelittlepatchofmeadow,butIdonotknowhowanypieceofgroundcouldbeholierorbetterworthcrossingoceansandcontinentstosee,sinceitwastherethatthegreattrinityofSwitzerlandjoinedhandssixcenturiesagoandsworetheoathwhichsettheirenslavedandinsultedcountryforeverfree;andAltorfisalsohonorablegroundandworshipful,sinceitwastherethatWilliam,surnamedTell(whichinterpretedmeans\"Thefoolishtalker\"thatistosay,thetoodaringtalker),refusedtobowtoGessler’shat。Oflateyearsthepryingstudentofhistoryhasbeendelightinghimselfbeyondmeasureoverawonderfulfindwhichhehasmade towit,thatTelldidnotshoottheapplefromhisson’shead。 Tohearthestudentsjubilate,onewouldsupposethatthequestionofwhetherTellshottheappleordidn’twasanimportantmatter;whereasitranksinimportanceexactlywiththequestionofwhetherWashingtonchoppeddownthecherrytreeordidn’t。ThedeedsofWashington,thepatriot,aretheessentialthing;thecherrytreeincidentisofnoconsequence。ToprovethatTelldidshoottheapplefromhisson’sheadwouldmerelyprovethathehadbetternervethanmostmenandwasskillfulwithabowasamillionotherswhoprecededandfollowedhim,butnotonewhitmoreso。ButTellwasmoreandbetterthanameremarksman,moreandbetterthanamerecoolhead;hewasatype; hestandsforSwisspatriotism;inhispersonwasrepresentedawholepeople;hisspiritwastheirspiritthespiritwhichwouldbowtononebutGod,thespiritwhichsaidthisinwordsandconfirmeditwithdeeds。TherehavealwaysbeenTellsinSwitzerlandpeoplewhowouldnotbow。TherewasasufficiencyofthematRutli;therewereplentyofthematMurten;plentyatGrandson;thereareplentytoday。Andthefirstofthemalltheveryfirst,earliestbannerbearerofhumanfreedominthisworldwasnotaman,butawomanStauffacher’swife。Theresheloomsdimandgreat,throughthehazeofthecenturies,deliveringintoherhusband’searthatgospelofrevoltwhichwastobearfruitintheconspiracyofRutliandthebirthofthefirstfreegovernmenttheworldhadeverseen。 FromthisVictoriaHotelonelooksstraightacrossaflatoftriflingwidthtoaloftymountainbarrier,whichhasagatewayinitshapedlikeaninvertedpyramid。BeyondthisgatewayarisesthevastbulkoftheJungfrau,aspotlessmassofgleamingsnow,intothesky。Thegateway,inthedarkcoloredbarrier,makesastrongframeforthegreatpicture。Thesomberframeandtheglowingsnowpilearestartlinglycontrasted。ItisthisframewhichconcentratesandemphasizesthegloryoftheJungfrauandmakesitthemostengagingandbeguilingandfascinatingspectaclethatexistsontheearth。TherearemanymountainsofsnowthatareasloftyastheJungfrauandasnoblyproportioned,buttheylackthefame。Theystandatlarge;theyareintrudeduponandelbowedbyneighboringdomesandsummits,andtheirgrandeurisdiminishedandfailsofeffect。 Itisagoodname,JungfrauVirgin。Nothingcouldbewhiter;nothingcouldbepurer;nothingcouldbesaintlierofaspect。Atsixyesterdayeveningthegreatinterveningbarrierseenthroughafaintbluishhazeseemedmadeofairandsubstanceless,sosoftandrichitwas,soshimmeringwherethewanderinglightstoucheditandsodimwheretheshadowslay。 Apparentlyitwasadreamstuff,aworkoftheimagination,nothingrealaboutit。Thetintwasgreen,slightlyvaryingshadesofit,butmainlyverydark。Thesunwasdownasfarasthatbarrierwasconcerned,butnotfortheJungfrau,toweringintotheheavensbeyondthegateway。Shewasaroaringconflagrationofblindingwhite。 ItissaidtheFridolin(theoldFridolin),anewsaint,butformerlyamissionary,gavethemountainitsgraciousname。HewasanIrishman,sonofanIrishkingtherewerethirtythousandkingsreigninginCountyCorkaloneinhistime,fifteenhundredyearsago。Itgotsothattheycouldnotmakealiving,therewassomuchcompetitionandwagesgotcutso。Someofthemwereoutofworkmonthsatatime,withwifeandlittlechildrentofeed,andnotacrustintheplace。Atlastaparticularlyseverewinterfelluponthecountry,andhundredsofthemwerereducedtomendicancyandweretobeseendayafterdayinthebitterestweather,standingbarefootinthesnow,holdingouttheircrownsforalms。Indeed,theywouldhavebeenobligedtoemigrateorstarvebutforafortunateideaofPrinceFridolin’s,whostartedalaborunion,thefirstoneinhistory,andgotthegreatbulkofthemtojoinit。Hethuswonthegeneralgratitude,andtheywantedtomakehimemperoremperoroverthemallemperorofCountyCork,buthesaid,No,walkingdelegatewasgoodenoughforhim。Forbehold!hewasmodestbeyondhisyears,andkeenasawhip。TothisdayinGermanyandSwitzerland,whereSt。Fridolinisreveredandhonored,thepeasantryspeakofhimaffectionatelyasthefirstwalkingdelegate。 ThefirstwalkhetookwasintoFranceandGermany,missionaryingformissionaryingwasabetterthinginthosedaysthanitisinours。Allyouhadtodowastocurethesavage’ssickdaughterbya\"miracle\"amiraclelikethemiracleofLourdesinourday,forinstanceandimmediatelythatheadsavagewasyourconvert,andfilledtotheeyeswithanewconvert’senthusiasm。Youcouldsitdownandmakeyourselfeasy,now。Hewouldtakeanaxandconverttherestofthenationhimself。Charlemagnewasthatkindofawalkingdelegate。 Yes,thereweregreatmissionariesinthosedays,forthemethodsweresureandtherewardsgreat。Wehavenosuchmissionariesnow,andnosuchmethods。 Buttocontinuethehistoryofthefirstwalkingdelegate,ifyouareinterested。IaminterestedmyselfbecauseIhaveseenhisrelicsinSackingen,andalsotheveryspotwhereheworkedhisgreatmiracletheonewhichwonhimhissainthoodinthepapalcourtafewcenturieslater。Tohaveseenthesethingsmakesmefeelveryneartohim,almostlikeamemberofthefamily,infact。WhilewanderingabouttheContinenthearrivedatthespotontheRhinewhichisnowoccupiedbySackingen,andproposedtosettlethere,butthepeoplewarnedhimoff。HeappealedtothekingoftheFranks,whomadehimapresentofthewholeregion,peopleandall。Hebuiltagreatcloisterthereforwomenandproceededtoteachinitandaccumulatemoreland。 Thereweretwowealthybrothersintheneighborhood,UrsoandLandulph。UrsodiedandFridolinclaimedhisestates。Landulphaskedfordocumentsandpapers。Fridolinhadnonetoshow。Hesaidthebequesthadbeenmadetohimbywordofmouth。Landulphsuggestedthatheproduceawitnessandsaiditinawaywhichhethoughtwasverywitty,verysarcastic。Thisshowsthathedidnotknowthewalkingdelegate。Fridolinwasnotdisturbed。 Hesaid: \"Appointyourcourt。Iwillbringawitness。\" Thecourtthuscreatedconsistedoffifteencountsandbarons。Adaywasappointedforthetrialofthecase。Onthatdaythejudgestooktheirseatsinstate,andproclamationwasmadethatthecourtwasreadyforbusiness。Fiveminutes,tenminutes,fifteenminutespassed,andyetnoFridolinappeared。 Landulphrose,andwasintheactofclaimingjudgmentbydefaultwhenastrangeclackingsoundwasheardcomingupthestairs。 InanothermomentFridolinenteredatthedoorandcamewalkinginadeephushdownthemiddleaisle,withatallskeletonstalkinginhisrear。 Amazementandterrorsatuponeverycountenance,foreverybodysuspectedthattheskeletonwasUrso’s。Itstoppedbeforethechiefjudgeandraiseditsbonyarmaloftandbegantospeak,whilealltheassembledshuddered,fortheycouldseethewordsleakoutbetweenitsribs。Itsaid: \"Brother,whydostthoudisturbmyblessedrestandwithholdbyrobberythegiftwhichIgavetheeforthehonorofGod?\" Itseemsastrangethingandmostirregular,buttheverdictwasactuallygivenagainstLandulphonthetestimonyofthiswanderingrackheapofunidentifiedbones。Inourdayaskeletonwouldnotbeallowedtotestifyatall,foraskeletonhasnomoralresponsibility,anditswordcouldnotbebelievedonoath,andthiswasprobablyoneofthem。However,theincidentisvaluableaspreservingtousacurioussampleofthequaintlawsofevidenceofthatremotetimeatimesoremote,sofarbacktowardthebeginningoforiginalidiocy,thatthedifferencebetweenabenchofjudgesandabasketofvegetableswasasyetsoslightthatwemaysaywithallconfidencethatitdidn’treallyexist。 DuringseveralafternoonsIhavebeenengagedinaninteresting,maybeuseful,pieceofworkthatistosay,IhavebeentryingtomakethemightyJungfrauearnherlivingearnitinamosthumblesphere,butonaprodigiousscale,onaprodigiousscaleofnecessity,forshecouldn’tdoanythinginasmallwaywithhersizeandstyle。Ihavebeentryingtomakeherdoserviceonastupendousdialandcheckoffthehoursastheyglidealongherpallidfaceupthereagainstthesky,andtellthetimeofdaytothepopulationslyingwithinfiftymilesofherandtothepeopleinthemoon,iftheyhaveagoodtelescopethere。 UntillateintheafternoontheJungfrau’saspectisthatofaspotlessdesertofsnowsetuponedgeagainstthesky。Butbymidafternoonsomeelevationswhichriseoutofthewesternborderofthedesert,whosepresenceyouperhapshadnotdetectedorsuspecteduptothattime,begantocastblackshadowseastwardacrossthegleamingsurface。Atfirstthereisonlyoneshadow;latertherearetwo。Toward4P。M。theotherdayIwasgazingandworshipingasusualwhenIchancedtonoticethatshadowNo。1wasbeginningtotakeitselfsomethingoftheshapeofthehumanprofile。Byfourthebackoftheheadwasgood,themilitarycapwasprettygood,thenosewasboldandstrong,theupperlipsharp,butnotpretty,andtherewasagreatgoateethatshotstraightaggressivelyforwardfromthechin。 Atfourthirtythenosehadchangeditsshapeconsiderably,andthealteredslantofthesunhadrevealedandmadeconspicuousahugebuttressorbarrierofnakedrockwhichwassolocatedastoanswerverywellforashoulderorcoatcollartothisswarthyandindiscreetsweetheartwhohadstolenoutthererightbeforeeverybodytopillowhisheadontheVirgin’swhitebreastandwhispersoftsentimentalitiestoherinthesensuousmusicofthecrashingicedomesandtheboomandthunderofthepassingavalanchemusicveryfamiliartohisear,forhehadhearditeveryafternoonatthishoursincethedayhefirstcamecourtingthischildoftheearth,wholivesinthesky,andthatdayisfar,yesforhewasatthispleasantsportbeforetheMiddleAgesdriftedbyhiminthevalley;beforetheRomansmarchedpast,andbeforetheantiqueandrecordlessbarbariansfishedandhuntedhereandwonderedwhohemightbe,andwereprobablyafraidofhim;andbeforeprimevalmanhimself,justemergedfromhisfourfootedestate,steppedoutuponthisplain,firstsampleofhisrace,athousandcenturiesago,andcastagladeyeupthere,judginghehadfoundabrotherhumanbeingandconsequentlysomethingtokill;andbeforethebigsaurianswallowedhere,stillsomeeonsearlier。Ohyes,adaysofarbackthattheeternalsonwaspresenttoseethatfirstvisit;adaysofarbackthatneithertraditionnorhistorywasbornyetandawholewearyeternitymustcomeandgobeforetherestlesslittlecreature,ofwhosefacethisstupendousShadowFacewastheprophecy,wouldarriveintheearthandbeginhisshabbycareerandthinkofabigthing。Oh,indeedyes;whenyoutalkaboutyourpoorRomanandEgyptiandaybeforeyesterdayantiquities,youshouldchooseatimewhenthehoaryShadowFaceoftheJungfrauisnotby。Itantedatesallantiquitiesknownorimaginable;foritwasheretheworlditselfcreatedthetheateroffutureantiquities。Anditistheonlywitnesswithahumanfacethatwastheretoseethemarvel,andremainstousamemorialofit。 By4:40P。M。thenoseoftheshadowisperfectandisbeautiful。Itisblackandispowerfullymarkedagainsttheuprightcanvasofglowingsnow,andcovershundredsofacresofthatresplendentsurface。 MeantimeshadowNo。2hasbeencreepingoutwelltotherearofthefacewestofitandatfiveo’clockhasassumedashapethathasratherapoorandrudesemblanceofashoe。 Meantime,also,thegreatShadowFacehasbeengraduallychangingfortwentyminutes,andnow,5P。M。,itisbecomingaquitefairportraitofRoscoeConkling。Thelikenessisthere,andisunmistakable。Thegoateeisshortened,now,andhasanend; formerlyithadn’tany,butranoffeastwardandarrivednowhere。 By6P。M。thefacehasdissolvedandgone,andthegoateehasbecomewhatlooksliketheshadowofatowerwithapointedroof,andtheshoehadturnedintowhattheprinterscalla\"fist\"withafingerpointing。