INSCRIPTIONONBARONSTEIN’STOMB。
DUTYisathingthatisdue,andmustbepaidbyeverymanwhowouldavoidpresentdiscreditandeventualmoralinsolvency。Itisanobligation——adebt——whichcanonlybedischargedbyvoluntaryeffortandresoluteactionintheaffairsoflife。
Dutyembracesman’swholeexistence。Itbeginsinthehome,wherethereisthedutywhichchildrenowetotheirparentsontheonehand,andthedutywhichparentsowetotheirchildrenontheother。Thereare,inlikemanner,therespectivedutiesofhusbandsandwives,ofmastersandservants;whileoutsidethehometherearethedutieswhichmenandwomenowetoeachotherasfriendsandneighbours,asemployersandemployed,asgovernorsandgoverned。”Render,therefore,”saysSt。Paul,”toalltheirdues:tributetowhomtributeisdue;customtowhomcustom;feartowhomfear;
honourtowhomhonour。Owenomananything,buttoloveoneanother;forhethatlovethanotherhathfulfilledthelaw,”
Thusdutyroundsthewholeoflife,fromourentranceintoituntilourexitfromit——dutytosuperiors,dutytoinferiors,anddutytoequals——dutytoman,anddutytoGod。Whereverthereispowertouseortodirect,thereisduty。Forwearebutasstewards,appointedtoemploythemeansentrustedtousforourownandforothers’good。
Theabidingsenseofdutyistheverycrownofcharacter。Itistheupholdinglawofmaninhishighestattitudes。Withoutit,theindividualtottersandfallsbeforethefirstpuffofadversityortemptation;whereas,inspiredbyit,theweakestbecomesstrongandfullofcourage。”Duty,”saysMrs。Jameson,”isthecementwhichbindsthewholemoraledificetogether;
withoutwhich,allpower,goodness,intellect,truth,happiness,loveitself,canhavenopermanence;butallthefabricofexistencecrumblesawayfromunderus,andleavesusatlastsittinginthemidstofaruin,astonishedatourowndesolation。”
Dutyisbaseduponasenseofjustice——justiceinspiredbylove,whichisthemostperfectformofgoodness。Dutyisnotasentiment,butaprinciplepervadingthelife:anditexhibitsitselfinconductandinacts,whicharemainlydeterminedbyman’sconscienceandfreewill。
Thevoiceofconsciencespeaksindutydone;andwithoutitsregulatingandcontrollinginfluence,thebrightestandgreatestintellectmaybemerelyasalightthatleadsastray。Consciencesetsamanuponhisfeet,whilehiswillholdshimupright。
Conscienceisthemoralgovernoroftheheart——thegovernorofrightaction,ofrightthought,ofrightfaith,ofrightlife——
andonlythroughitsdominatinginfluencecanthenobleanduprightcharacterbefullydeveloped。
Theconscience,however,mayspeakneversoloudly,butwithoutenergeticwillitmayspeakinvain。Thewillisfreetochoosebetweentherightcourseandthewrongone,butthechoiceisnothingunlessfollowedbyimmediateanddecisiveaction。Ifthesenseofdutybestrong,andthecourseofactionclear,thecourageouswill,upheldbytheconscience,enablesamantoproceedonhiscoursebravely,andtoaccomplishhispurposesinthefaceofalloppositionanddifficulty。Andshouldfailurebetheissue,therewillremainatleastthissatisfaction,thatithasbeeninthecauseofduty。”Beandcontinuepoor,youngman,”saidHeinzelmann,”whileothersaroundyougrowrichbyfraudanddisloyalty;bewithoutplaceorpowerwhileothersbegtheirwayupwards;bearthepainofdisappointedhopes,whileothersgaintheaccomplishmentoftheirsbyflattery;foregothegraciouspressureofthehand,forwhichotherscringeandcrawl。Wrapyourselfinyourownvirtue,andseekafriendandyourdailybread。Ifyouhaveinyourowncausegrowngraywithunbleachedhonour,blessGodanddie!”
Meninspiredbyhighprinciplesareoftenrequiredtosacrificeallthattheyesteemandloveratherthanfailintheirduty。
TheoldEnglishideaofthissublimedevotiontodutywasexpressedbytheloyalistpoettohissweetheart,ontakinguparmsforhissovereign:-”Icouldlovethee,dear,somuch,LovedInothonourmore。’(1)
AndSertoriushassaid:”Themanwhohasanydignityofcharacter,shouldconquerwithhonour,andnotuseanybasemeanseventosavehislife。”SoSt。Paul,inspiredbydutyandfaith,declaredhimselfasnotonly”readytobebound,buttodieatJerusalem。”
WhentheMarquisofPescarawasentreatedbytheprincesofItalytodeserttheSpanishcause,towhichhewasinhonourbound,hisnoblewife,VittoriaColonna,remindedhimofhisduty。Shewrotetohim:”Rememberyourhonour,whichraisesyouabovefortuneandabovekings;bythatalone,andnotbythesplendouroftitles,isgloryacquired——thatglorywhichitwillbeyourhappinessandpridetotransmitunspottedtoyourposterity。”Suchwasthedignifiedviewwhichshetookofherhusband’shonour;andwhenhefellatPavia,thoughyoungandbeautiful,andbesoughtbymanyadmirers,shebetookherselftosolitude,thatshemightlamentoverherhusband’slossandcelebratehisexploits。(2)
Tolivereally,istoactenergetically。Lifeisabattletobefoughtvaliantly。Inspiredbyhighandhonourableresolve,amanmuststandtohispost,anddiethere,ifneedbe。LiketheoldDanishhero,hisdeterminationshouldbe,”todarenobly,towillstrongly,andnevertofalterinthepathofduty。”Thepowerofwill,beitgreatorsmall,whichGodhasgivenus,isaDivinegift;andweoughtneithertoletitperishforwantofusingontheonehand,norprofaneitbyemployingitforignoblepurposesontheother。Robertson,ofBrighton,hastrulysaid,thatman’srealgreatnessconsistsnotinseekinghisownpleasure,orfame,oradvancement——”notthateveryoneshallsavehisownlife,notthateverymanshallseekhisownglory——butthateverymanshalldohisownduty。”
Whatmoststandsinthewayoftheperformanceofduty,isirresolution,weaknessofpurpose,andindecision。Ontheonesideareconscienceandtheknowledgeofgoodandevil;ontheotherareindolence,selfishness,loveofpleasure,orpassion。
Theweakandill-disciplinedwillmayremainsuspendedforatimebetweentheseinfluences;butatlengththebalanceinclinesonewayortheother,accordingasthewilliscalledintoactionorotherwise。Ifitbeallowedtoremainpassive,thelowerinfluenceofselfishnessorpassionwillprevail;andthusmanhoodsuffersabdication,individualityisrenounced,characterisdegraded,andthemanpermitshimselftobecomethemerepassiveslaveofhissenses。
Thus,thepowerofexercisingthewillpromptly,inobediencetothedictatesofconscience,andtherebyresistingtheimpulsesofthelowernature,isofessentialimportanceinmoraldiscipline,andabsolutelynecessaryforthedevelopmentofcharacterinitsbestforms。Toacquirethehabitofwell-doing,toresistevilpropensities,tofightagainstsensualdesires,toovercomeinbornselfishness,mayrequirealongandperseveringdiscipline;butwhenoncethepracticeofdutyislearnt,itbecomesconsolidatedinhabit,andthence-forwardiscomparativelyeasy。
Thevaliantgoodmanishewho,bytheresoluteexerciseofhisfreewill,hassodisciplinedhimselfastohaveacquiredthehabitofvirtue;asthebadmanishewho,byallowinghisfreewilltoremaininactive,andgivingthebridletohisdesiresandpassions,hasacquiredthehabitofvice,bywhichhebecomes,atlast,boundasbychainsofiron。
Amancanonlyachievestrengthofpurposebytheactionofhisownfreewill。Ifheistostanderect,itmustbebyhisownefforts;forhecannotbekeptproppedupbythehelpofothers。
Heismasterofhimselfandofhisactions。Hecanavoidfalsehood,andbetruthful;hecanshunsensualism,andbecontinent;hecanturnasidefromdoingacruelthing,andbebenevolentandforgiving。Alltheseliewithinthesphereofindividualefforts,andcomewithintherangeofself-discipline。
Anditdependsuponmenthemselveswhetherintheserespectstheywillbefree,pure,andgoodontheonehand;orenslaved,impure,andmiserableontheother。
AmongthewisesayingsofEpictetuswefindthefollowing:”Wedonotchooseourownpartsinlife,andhavenothingtodowiththoseparts:oursimpledutyisconfinedtoplayingthemwell。
Theslavemaybeasfreeastheconsul;andfreedomisthechiefofblessings;itdwarfsallothers;besideitallothersareinsignificant;withitallothersareneedless;withoutitnoothersarepossible……Youmustteachmenthathappinessisnotwhere,intheirblindnessandmisery,theyseekit。Itisnotinstrength,forMyroandOfelliuswerenothappy;notinwealth,forCroesuswasnothappy;notinpower,fortheConsulswerenothappy;notinallthesetogether,forNeroandSardanapulusandAgamemnonsighedandweptandtoretheirhair,andweretheslavesofcircumstancesandthedupesofsemblances。Itliesinyourselves;intruefreedom,intheabsenceorconquestofeveryignoblefear;inperfectself-government;andinapowerofcontentmentandpeace,andtheevenflowoflifeamidpoverty,exile,disease,andtheveryvalleyoftheshadowofdeath。”(3)
Thesenseofdutyisasustainingpowereventoacourageousman。
Itholdshimupright,andmakeshimstrong。ItwasanoblesayingofPompey,whenhisfriendstriedtodissuadehimfromembarkingforRomeinastorm,tellinghimthathedidsoatthegreatperilofhislife:”Itisnecessaryformetogo,”hesaid;”itisnotnecessaryformetolive。”Whatitwasrightthatheshoulddo,hewoulddo,inthefaceofdangerandindefianceofstorms。
AsmightbeexpectedofthegreatWashington,thechiefmotivepowerinhislifewasthespiritofduty。Itwastheregalandcommandingelementinhischaracterwhichgaveitunity,compactness,andvigour。Whenheclearlysawhisdutybeforehim,hediditatallhazards,andwithinflexibleintegrity。Hedidnotdoitforeffect;nordidhethinkofglory,oroffameanditsrewards;butoftherightthingtobedone,andthebestwayofdoingit。
YetWashingtonhadamostmodestopinionofhimself;andwhenofferedthechiefcommandoftheAmericanpatriotarmy,hehesitatedtoacceptituntilitwaspresseduponhim。WhenacknowledginginCongressthehonourwhichhadbeendonehiminselectinghimtosoimportantatrust,ontheexecutionofwhichthefutureofhiscountryinagreatmeasuredepended,Washingtonsaid:”Ibegitmayberemembered,lestsomeunluckyeventshouldhappenunfavourabletomyreputation,thatIthisdaydeclare,withtheutmostsincerity,IdonotthinkmyselfequaltothecommandIamhonouredwith。”
Andinhislettertohiswife,communicatingtoherhisappointmentasCommander-in-Chief,hesaid:”Ihaveusedeveryendeavourinmypowertoavoidit,notonlyfrommyunwillingnesstopartwithyouandthefamily,butfromaconsciousnessofitsbeingatrusttoogreatformycapacity;andthatIshouldenjoymorerealhappinessinonemonthwithyouathome,thanIhavethemostdistantprospectoffindingabroad,ifmystayweretobeseventimessevenyears。But,asithasbeenakindofdestinythathasthrownmeuponthisservice,Ishallhopethatmyundertakingitisdesignedforsomegoodpurpose。Itwasutterlyoutofmypowertorefusetheappointment,withoutexposingmycharactertosuchcensuresaswouldhavereflecteddishonouruponmyself,andgivenpaintomyfriends。This,Iamsure,couldnot,andoughtnot,tobepleasingtoyou,andmusthavelessenedmeconsiderablyinmyownesteem。”(4)
Washingtonpursuedhisuprightcoursethroughlife,firstasCommander-in-Chief,andafterwardsasPresident,neverfalteringinthepathofduty。Hehadnoregardforpopularity,butheldtohispurpose,throughgoodandthroughevilreport,oftenattheriskofhispowerandinfluence。Thus,ononeoccasion,whentheratificationofatreaty,arrangedbyMr。JaywithGreatBritain,wasinquestion,Washingtonwasurgedtorejectit。Buthishonour,andthehonourofhiscountry,wascommitted,andherefusedtodoso。Agreatoutcrywasraisedagainstthetreaty,andforatimeWashingtonwassounpopularthatheissaidtohavebeenactuallystonedbythemob。Buthe,nevertheless,heldittobehisdutytoratifythetreaty;anditwascarriedout,indespiteofpetitionsandremonstrancesfromallquarters。”WhileIfeel,”hesaid,inanswertotheremonstrants,”themostlivelygratitudeforthemanyinstancesofapprobationfrommycountry,Icannootherwisedeserveitthanbyobeyingthedictatesofmyconscience。”
Wellington’swatchword,likeWashington’s,wasduty;andnomancouldbemoreloyaltoitthanhewas。(5)”Thereislittleornothing,”heoncesaid,”inthislifeworthlivingfor;butwecanallofusgostraightforwardanddoourduty。”Nonerecognisedmorecheerfullythanhedidthedutyofobedienceandwillingservice;forunlessmencanservefaithfully,theywillnotruleotherswisely。ThereisnomottothatbecomesthewisemanbetterthanICHDIEN,”Iserve;”and”Theyalsoservewhoonlystandandwait。”
Whenthemortificationofanofficer,becauseofhisbeingappointedtoacommandinferiortowhatheconsideredtobehismerits,wascommunicatedtotheDuke,hesaid:”Inthecourseofmymilitarycareer,Ihavegonefromthecommandofabrigadetothatofmyregiment,andfromthecommandofanarmytothatofabrigadeoradivision,asIwasordered,andwithoutanyfeelingofmortification。”
WhilstcommandingthealliedarmyinPortugal,theconductofthenativepopulationdidnotseemtoWellingtontobeeitherbecomingordutiful。”Wehaveenthusiasminplenty,”hesaid,”andplentyofcriesof’VIVA!’Wehaveilluminations,patrioticsongs,andFETESeverywhere。Butwhatwewantis,thateachinhisownstationshoulddohisdutyfaithfully,andpayimplicitobediencetolegalauthority。”
ThisabidingidealofdutyseemedtobethegoverningprincipleofWellington’scharacter。Itwasalwaysuppermostinhismind,anddirectedallthepublicactionsofhislife。Nordiditfailtocommunicateitselftothoseunderhim,whoservedhiminthelikespirit。WhenherodeintooneofhisinfantrysquaresatWaterloo,asitsdiminishednumberscloseduptoreceiveachargeofFrenchcavalry,hesaidtothemen,”Standsteady,lads;thinkofwhattheywillsayofusinEngland;”towhichthemenreplied,”Neverfear,sir——weknowourduty。”
DutywasalsothedominantideainNelson’smind。Thespiritinwhichheservedhiscountrywasexpressedinthefamouswatchword,”Englandexpectseverymantodohisduty,”signalledbyhimtothefleetbeforegoingintoactionatTrafalgar,aswellasinthelastwordsthatpassedhislips,——”Ihavedonemyduty;
IpraiseGodforit!”
AndNelson’scompanionandfriend——thebrave,sensible,homely-
mindedCollingwood——hewho,ashisshipboredownintothegreatsea-fight,saidtohisflag-captain,”JustaboutthistimeourwivesaregoingtochurchinEngland,”——Collingwoodtoowas,likehiscommander,anardentdevoteeofduty。”Doyourdutytothebestofyourability,”wasthemaximwhichheurgeduponmanyyoungmenstartingonthevoyageoflife。Toamidshipmanheoncegavethefollowingmanlyandsensibleadvice:-”Youmaydependuponit,thatitismoreinyourownpowerthaninanybodyelse’stopromotebothyourcomfortandadvancement。Astrictandunweariedattentiontoyourduty,andacomplacentandrespectfulbehaviour,notonlytoyoursuperiorsbuttoeverybody,willensureyoutheirregard,andtherewardwillsurelycome;butifitshouldnot,Iamconvincedyouhavetoomuchgoodsensetoletdisappointmentsouryou。Guardcarefullyagainstlettingdiscontentappearinyou。Itwillbesorrowtoyourfriends,atriumphtoyourcompetitors,andcannotbeproductiveofanygood。
Conductyourselfsoastodeservethebestthatcancometoyou,andtheconsciousnessofyourownproperbehaviourwillkeepyouinspiritsifitshouldnotcome。Letitbeyourambitiontobeforemostinallduty。Donotbeaniceobserverofturns,buteverpresentyourselfreadyforeverything,and,unlessyourofficersareveryinattentivemen,theywillnotallowotherstoimposemoredutyonyouthantheyshould。”
ThisdevotiontodutyissaidtobepeculiartotheEnglishnation;andithascertainlymoreorlesscharacterisedourgreatestpublicmen。ProbablynocommanderofanyothernationeverwentintoactionwithsuchasignalflyingasNelsonatTrafalgar——not”Glory,”or”Victory,”or”Honour,”or”Country”——
butsimply”Duty!”Howfewarethenationswillingtorallytosuchabattle-cry!
ShortlyafterthewreckoftheBIRKENHEADoffthecoastofAfrica,inwhichtheofficersandmenwentdownfiringaFEU-DE-JOIEafterseeingthewomenandchildrensafelyembarkedintheboats,——
RobertsonofBrighton,referringtothecircumstanceinoneofhisletters,said:”Yes!Goodness,Duty,Sacrifice,——thesearethequalitiesthatEnglandhonours。Shegapesandwonderseverynowandthen,likeanawkwardpeasant,atsomeotherthings——railwaykings,electro-biology,andothertrumperies;butnothingstirshergrandoldheartdowntoitscentraldeepsuniversallyandlong,excepttheRight。Sheputsonhershawlverybadly,andsheisawkwardenoughinaconcert-room,scarceknowingaSwedishnightingalefromajackdaw;but——blessingslargeandlonguponher!——sheknowshowtoteachhersonstosinklikemenamidstsharksandbillows,withoutparade,withoutdisplay,asifDutywerethemostnaturalthingintheworld;andshenevermistakeslonganactorforahero,oraheroforanactor。”(6)
Itisagrandthing,afterall,thispervadingspiritofDutyinanation;andsolongasitsurvives,nooneneeddespairofitsfuture。Butwhenithasdeparted,orbecomedeadened,andbeensupplantedbythirstforpleasure,orselfishaggrandisement,or”glory”——thenwoetothatnation,foritsdissolutionisnearathand!
IftherebeonepointonwhichintelligentobserversareagreedmorethananotherastothecauseofthelatedeplorablecollapseofFranceasanation,itwastheutterabsenceofthisfeelingofduty,aswellasoftruthfulness,fromthemind,notonlyofthemen,butoftheleadersoftheFrenchpeople。TheunprejudicedtestimonyofBaronStoffel,FrenchmilitaryattacheatBerlin,beforethewar,isconclusiveonthispoint。InhisprivatereporttotheEmperor,foundattheTuileries,whichwaswritteninAugust,1869,aboutayearbeforetheoutbreakofthewar,BaronStoffelpointedoutthatthehighly-educatedanddisciplinedGermanpeoplewerepervadedbyanardentsenseofduty,anddidnotthinkitbeneaththemtoreverencesincerelywhatwasnobleandlofty;whereas,inallrespects,Francepresentedamelancholycontrast。Therethepeople,havingsneeredateverything,hadlostthefacultyofrespectinganything,andvirtue,familylife,patriotism,honour,andreligion,wererepresentedtoafrivolousgenerationasonlyfittingsubjectsforridicule。(7)
Alas!howterriblyhasFrancebeenpunishedforhersinsagainsttruthandduty!
Yetthetimewas,whenFrancepossessedmanygreatmeninspiredbyduty;buttheywereallmenofacomparativelyremotepast。TheraceofBayard,Duguesclin,Coligny,Duquesne,Turenne,Colbert,andSully,seemstohavediedoutandleftnolineage。TherehasbeenanoccasionalgreatFrenchmanofmoderntimeswhohasraisedthecryofDuty;buthisvoicehasbeenasthatofonecryinginthewilderness。DeTocquevillewasoneofsuch;but,likeallmenofhisstamp,hewasproscribed,imprisoned,anddrivenfrompubliclife。WritingononeoccasiontohisfriendKergorlay,hesaid:”Likeyou,IbecomemoreandmorealivetothehappinesswhichconsistsinthefulfilmentofDuty。Ibelievethereisnoothersodeepandsoreal。Thereisonlyonegreatobjectintheworldwhichdeservesourefforts,andthatisthegoodofmankind。”(8)
AlthoughFrancehasbeentheunquietspiritamongthenationsofEuropesincethereignofLouisXIV。,therehavefromtimetotimebeenhonestandfaithfulmenwhohavelifteduptheirvoicesagainsttheturbulentwarliketendenciesofthepeople,andnotonlypreached,butendeavouredtocarryintopractice,agospelofpeace。Ofthese,theAbbedeSt-Pierrewasoneofthemostcourageous。HehadeventheboldnesstodenouncethewarsofLouisXIV。,andtodenythatmonarch’srighttotheepithetof’Great,’forwhichhewaspunishedbyexpulsionfromtheAcademy。
TheAbbewasasenthusiasticanagitatorforasystemofinternationalpeaceasanymemberofthemodernSocietyofFriends。AsJosephSturgewenttoSt。PetersburgtoconverttheEmperorofRussiatohisviews,sotheAbbewenttoUtrechttoconverttheConferencesittingthere,tohisprojectforaDiet;
tosecureperpetualpeace。Ofcoursehewasregardedasanenthusiast,CardinalDuboischaracterisinghisschemeas”thedreamofanhonestman。”YettheAbbehadfoundhisdreamintheGospel;andinwhatbetterwaycouldheexemplifythespiritoftheMasterheservedthanbyendeavouringtoabatethehorrorsandabominationsofwar?TheConferencewasanassemblageofmenrepresentingChristianStates:andtheAbbemerelycalleduponthemtoputinpracticethedoctrinestheyprofessedtobelieve。
Itwasofnouse:thepotentatesandtheirrepresentativesturnedtohimadeafear。
TheAbbedeSt-Pierrelivedseveralhundredyearstoosoon。Buthedeterminedthathisideashouldnotbelost,andin1713hepublishedhis’ProjectofPerpetualPeace。’HethereproposedtheformationofaEuropeanDiet,orSenate,tobecomposedofrepresentativesofallnations,beforewhichprincesshouldbebound,beforeresortingtoarms,tostatetheirgrievancesandrequireredress。Writingabouteightyyearsafterthepublicationofthisproject,Volneyasked:”Whatisapeople?——anindividualofthesocietyatlarge。Whatawar?——aduelbetweentwoindividualpeople。Inwhatmanneroughtasocietytoactwhentwoofitsmembersfight?——Interfere,andreconcileorrepressthem。
InthedaysoftheAbbedeSt-Pierre,thiswastreatedasadream;but,happilyforthehumanrace,itbeginstoberealised。”
AlasforthepredictionofVolney!Thetwenty-fiveyearsthatfollowedthedateatwhichthispassagewaswritten,weredistinguishedbymoredevastatingandfuriouswarsonthepartofFrancethanhadeverbeenknownintheworldbefore。
TheAbbewasnot,however,ameredreamer。Hewasanactivepracticalphilanthropistandanticipatedmanysocialimprovementswhichhavesincebecomegenerallyadopted。Hewastheoriginalfounderofindustrialschoolsforpoorchildren,wheretheynotonlyreceivedagoodeducation,butlearnedsomeusefultrade,bywhichtheymightearnanhonestlivingwhentheygrewuptomanhood。Headvocatedtherevisionandsimplificationofthewholecodeoflaws——anideaafterwardscarriedoutbytheFirstNapoleon。Hewroteagainstduelling,againstluxury,againstgambling,againstmonasticism,quotingtheremarkofSegrais,that”themaniaforamonasticlifeisthesmallpoxofthemind。”Hespenthiswholeincomeinactsofcharity——notinalmsgiving,butinhelpingpoorchildren,andpoormenandwomen,tohelpthemselves。Hisobjectalwayswastobenefitpermanentlythosewhomheassisted。Hecontinuedhisloveoftruthandhisfreedomofspeechtothelast。Attheageofeightyhesaid:”Iflifeisalotteryforhappiness,mylothasbeenoneofthebest。”Whenonhisdeathbed,Voltaireaskedhimhowhefelt,towhichheanswered,”Asabouttomakeajourneyintothecountry。”Andinthispeacefulframeofmindhedied。ButsooutspokenhadSt-
Pierrebeenagainstcorruptioninhighplaces,thatMaupertius,hisSuccessorattheAcademy,wasnotpermittedtopronouncehisELOGE;norwasituntilthirty-twoyearsafterhisdeaththatthishonourwasdonetohismemorybyD’Alembert。Thetrueandemphaticepitaphofthegood,truth-loving,truth-speakingAbbewasthis——”HELOVEDMUCH!”
Dutyiscloselyalliedtotruthfulnessofcharacter;andthedutifulmanis,aboveallthings,truthfulinhiswordsasinhisactions。Hesaysandhedoestherightthing,intherightway,andattherighttime。
ThereisprobablynosayingofLordChesterfieldthatcommendsitselfmorestronglytotheapprovalofmanly-mindedmen,thanthatitistruththatmakesthesuccessofthegentleman。
Clarendon,speakingofoneofthenoblestandpurestgentlemenofhisage,saysofFalkland,thathe”wassosevereanadoreroftruththathecouldaseasilyhavegivenhimselfleavetostealastodissemble。”
ItwasoneofthefinestthingsthatMrs。Hutchinsoncouldsayofherhusband,thathewasathoroughlytruthfulandreliableman:”Heneverprofessedthethingheintendednot,norpromisedwhathebelievedoutofhispower,norfailedintheperformanceofanythingthatwasinhispowertofulfil。”
Wellingtonwasasevereadmireroftruth。Anillustrationmaybegiven。Whenafflictedbydeafnessheconsultedacelebratedaurist,who,aftertryingallremediesinvain,determined,asalastresource,toinjectintotheearastrongsolutionofcaustic。Itcausedthemostintensepain,butthepatientboreitwithhisusualequanimity。Thefamilyphysicianaccidentallycallingoneday,foundtheDukewithflushedcheeksandbloodshoteyes,andwhenherosehestaggeredaboutlikeadrunkenman。Thedoctoraskedtobepermittedtolookathisear,andthenhefoundthatafuriousinflammationwasgoingon,which,ifnotimmediatelychecked,mustshortlyreachthebrainandkillhim。
Vigorousremedieswereatonceapplied,andtheinflammationwaschecked。Butthehearingofthatearwascompletelydestroyed。
Whentheauristheardofthedangerhispatienthadrun,throughtheviolenceoftheremedyhehademployed,hehastenedtoApsleyHousetoexpresshisgriefandmortification;buttheDukemerelysaid:”Donotsayawordmoreaboutit——youdidallforthebest。”TheauristsaiditwouldbehisruinwhenitbecameknownthathehadbeenthecauseofsomuchsufferinganddangertohisGrace。”Butnobodyneedknowanythingaboutit:keepyourowncounsel,and,dependuponit,Iwon’tsayawordtoanyone。””ThenyourGracewillallowmetoattendyouasusual,whichwillshowthepublicthatyouhavenotwithdrawnyourconfidencefromme?””No,”repliedtheDuke,kindlybutfirmly;”Ican’tdothat,forthatwouldbealie。”Hewouldnotactafalsehoodanymorethanhewouldspeakone。(9)
Anotherillustrationofdutyandtruthfulness,asexhibitedinthefulfilmentofapromise,maybeaddedfromthelifeofBlucher。
WhenhewashasteningwithhisarmyoverbadroadstothehelpofWellington,onthe18thofJune,1815,heencouragedhistroopsbywordsandgestures。”Forwards,children——forwards!””Itisimpossible;itcan’tbedone,”wastheanswer。Againandagainheurgedthem。”Children,wemustgeton;youmaysayitcan’tbedone,butitMUSTbedone!IhavepromisedmybrotherWellington——PROMISED,doyouhear?Youwouldn’thavemeBREAKMYWORD!”
Anditwasdone。
Truthistheverybondofsociety,withoutwhichitmustceasetoexist,anddissolveintoanarchyandchaos。Ahouseholdcannotbegovernedbylying;norcananation。SirThomasBrowneonceasked,”Dothedevilslie?””No,”washisanswer;”forthenevenhellcouldnotsubsist。”Noconsiderationscanjustifythesacrificeoftruth,whichoughttobesovereigninalltherelationsoflife。
Ofallmeanvices,perhapslyingisthemeanest。Itisinsomecasestheoffspringofperversityandvice,andinmanyothersofsheermoralcowardice。Yetmanypersonsthinksolightlyofitthattheywillordertheirservantstolieforthem;norcantheyfeelsurprisedif,aftersuchignobleinstruction,theyfindtheirservantslyingforthemselves。
SirHarryWotton’sdescriptionofanambassadoras”anhonestmansenttolieabroadforthebenefitofhiscountry,”thoughmeantasasatire,broughthimintodisfavourwithJamesI。whenitbecamepublished;foranadversaryquoteditasaprincipleoftheking’sreligion。ThatitwasnotWotton’srealviewofthedutyofanhonestman,isobviousfromthelinesquotedattheheadofthischapter,on’TheCharacterofaHappyLife,’inwhichheeulogisestheman”Whosearmourishishonestthought,Andsimpletruthhisutmostskill。”
Butlyingassumesmanyforms——suchasdiplomacy,expediency,andmoralreservation;and,underoneguiseoranother,itisfoundmoreorlesspervadingallclassesofsociety。Sometimesitassumestheformofequivocationormoraldodging——twistingandsostatingthethingssaidastoconveyafalseimpression——akindoflyingwhichaFrenchmanoncedescribedas”walkingroundaboutthetruth。”
Thereareevenmenofnarrowmindsanddishonestnatures,whopridethemselvesupontheirjesuiticalclevernessinequivocation,intheirserpent-wiseshirkingofthetruthandgettingoutofmoralback-doors,inordertohidetheirrealopinionsandevadetheconsequencesofholdingandopenlyprofessingthem。
Institutionsorsystemsbaseduponanysuchexpedientsmustnecessarilyprovefalseandhollow。”Thoughaliebeeversowelldressed,”saysGeorgeHerbert,”itiseverovercome。”Downrightlying,thoughbolderandmorevicious,isevenlesscontemptiblethansuchkindofshufflingandequivocation。
Untruthfulnessexhibitsitselfinmanyotherforms:inreticencyontheonehand,orexaggerationontheother;indisguiseorconcealment;inpretendedconcurrenceinothersopinions;inassuminganattitudeofconformitywhichisdeceptive;inmakingpromises,orallowingthemtobeimplied,whichareneverintendedtobeperformed;oreveninrefrainingfromspeakingthetruthwhentodosoisaduty。Therearealsothosewhoareallthingstoallmen,whosayonethinganddoanother,likeBunyan’sMr。
Facing-both-ways;onlydeceivingthemselveswhentheythinktheyaredeceivingothers——andwho,beingessentiallyinsincere,failtoevokeconfidence,andinvariablyintheendturnoutfailures,ifnotimpostors。
Othersareuntruthfulintheirpretentiousness,andinassumingmeritswhichtheydonotreallypossess。Thetruthfulmanis,onthecontrary,modest,andmakesnoparadeofhimselfandhisdeeds。WhenPittwasinhislastillness,thenewsreachedEnglandofthegreatdeedsofWellingtoninIndia。”ThemoreI
hearofhisexploits,”saidPitt,”themoreIadmirethemodestywithwhichhereceivesthepraiseshemeritsforthem。HeistheonlymanIeverknewthatwasnotvainofwhathehaddone,andyethadsomuchreasontobeso。”
SoitissaidofFaradaybyProfessorTyndall,that”pretenceofallkinds,whetherinlifeorinphilosophy,washatefultohim。”
Dr。MarshallHallwasamanoflikespirit——courageouslytruthful,dutiful,andmanly。Oneofhismostintimatefriendshassaidofhimthat,whereverhemetwithuntruthfulnessorsinistermotive,hewouldexposeit,saying——”Ineitherwill,norcan,givemyconsenttoalie。”Thequestion,”rightorwrong,”
oncedecidedinhisownmind,therightwasfollowed,nomatterwhatthesacrificeorthedifficulty——neitherexpediencynorinclinationweighingonejotinthebalance。
TherewasnovirtuethatDr。Arnoldlabouredmoresedulouslytoinstilintoyoungmenthanthevirtueoftruthfulness,asbeingthemanliestofvirtues,asindeedtheverybasisofalltruemanliness。Hedesignatedtruthfulnessas”moraltransparency,”
andhevalueditmorehighlythananyotherquality。Whenlyingwasdetected,hetreateditasagreatmoraloffence;butwhenapupilmadeanassertion,heaccepteditwithconfidence。”Ifyousayso,thatisquiteenough;OFCOURSEIbelieveyourword。”Bythustrustingandbelievingthem,heeducatedtheyoungintruthfulness;theboysatlengthcomingtosaytooneanother:”It’sashametotellArnoldalie——healwaysbelievesone。”(10)
Oneofthemoststrikinginstancesthatcouldbegivenofthecharacterofthedutiful,truthful,laboriousman,ispresentedinthelifeofthelateGeorgeWilson,ProfessorofTechnologyintheUniversityofEdinburgh。(11)ThoughwebringthisillustrationundertheheadofDuty,itmightequallyhavestoodunderthatofCourage,Cheerfulness,orIndustry,foritisalikeillustrativeoftheseseveralqualities。
Wilson’slifewas,indeed,amarvelofcheerfullaboriousness;
exhibitingthepowerofthesoultotriumphoverthebody,andalmosttosetitatdefiance。Itmightbetakenasanillustrationofthesayingofthewhaling-captaintoDr。Kane,astothepowerofmoralforceoverphysical:”Blessyou,sir,thesoulwillanydayliftthebodyoutofitsboots!”
Afragilebutbrightandlivelyboy,hehadscarcelyenteredmanhooderehisconstitutionbegantoexhibitsignsofdisease。
Asearly,indeed,ashisseventeenthyear,hebegantocomplainofmelancholyandsleeplessness,supposedtobetheeffectsofbile。”Idon’tthinkIshalllivelong,”hethensaidtoafriend;”mymindwill——mustworkitselfout,andthebodywillsoonfollowit。”Astrangeconfessionforaboytomake!Buthegavehisphysicalhealthnofairchance。Hislifewasallbrain-work,study,andcompetition。Whenhetookexerciseitwasinsuddenbursts,whichdidhimmoreharmthangood。LongwalksintheHighlandsjadedandexhaustedhim;andhereturnedtohisbrain-
workunrestedandunrefreshed。
Itwasduringoneofhisforcedwalksofsometwenty-fourmilesintheneighbourhoodofStirling,thatheinjuredoneofhisfeet,andhereturnedhomeseriouslyill。Theresultwasanabscess,diseaseoftheankle-joint,andlongagony,whichendedintheamputationoftherightfoot。Butheneverrelaxedinhislabours。Hewasnowwriting,lecturing,andteachingchemistry。
Rheumatismandacuteinflammationoftheeyenextattackedhim;
andweretreatedbycupping,blisetring,andcolchicum。Unablehimselftowrite,hewentonpreparinghislectures,whichhedictatedtohissister。Painhauntedhimdayandnight,andsleepwasonlyforcedbymorphia。Whileinthisstateofgeneralprostration,symptomsofpulmonarydiseasebegantoshowthemselves。YethecontinuedtogivetheweeklylecturestowhichhestoodcommittedtotheEdinburghSchoolofArts。Notonewasshirked,thoughtheirdelivery,beforealargeaudience,wasamostexhaustingduty。”Well,there’sanothernailputintomycoffin,”wastheremarkmadeonthrowingoffhistop-coatonreturninghome;andasleeplessnightalmostinvariablyfollowed。
Attwenty-seven,Wilsonwaslecturingten,eleven,ormorehoursweekly,usuallywithsetonsoropenblister-woundsuponhim——his”bosomfriends,”heusedtocallthem。Hefelttheshadowofdeathuponhim;andheworkedasifhisdayswerenumbered。”Don’tbesurprised,”hewrotetoafriend,”ifanymorningatbreakfastyouhearthatIamgone。”Butwhilehesaidso,hedidnotintheleastdegreeindulgeinthefeelingofsicklysentimentality。Heworkedonascheerfullyandhopefullyasifintheveryfulnessofhisstrength。”Tonone,”saidhe,”islifesosweetastothosewhohavelostallfeartodie。”
Sometimeshewascompelledtodesistfromhislaboursbysheerdebility,occasionedbylossofbloodfromthelungs;butafterafewweeks’restandchangeofair,hewouldreturntohiswork,saying,”Thewaterisrisinginthewellagain!”Thoughdiseasehadfastenedonhislungs,andwasspreadingthere,andthoughsufferingfromadistressingcough,hewentonlecturingasusual。
Toaddtohistroubles,whenonedayendeavouringtorecoverhimselffromastumbleoccasionedbyhislameness,heoverstrainedhisarm,andbroketheboneneartheshoulder。Butherecoveredfromhissuccessiveaccidentsandillnessesinthemostextraordinaryway。Thereedbent,butdidnotbreak:thestormpassed,anditstooderectasbefore。
Therewasnoworry,norfever,norfretabouthim;butinstead,cheerfulness,patience,andunfailingperseverance。Hismind,amidstallhissufferings,remainedperfectlycalmandserene。Hewentabouthisdailyworkwithanapparentlycharmedlife,asifhehadthestrengthofmanymeninhim。Yetallthewhileheknewhewasdying,hischiefanxietybeingtoconcealhisstatefromthoseabouthimathome,towhomtheknowledgeofhisactualconditionwouldhavebeeninexpressiblydistressing。”Iamcheerfulamongstrangers,”hesaid,”andtrytolivedaybydayasadyingman。”(12)
Hewentonteachingasbefore——lecturingtotheArchitecturalInstituteandtotheSchoolofArts。Oneday,afteralecturebeforethelatterinstitute,helaydowntorest,andwasshortlyawakenedbytheruptureofabloodvessel,whichoccasionedhimthelossofaconsiderablequantityofblood。HedidnotexperiencethedespairandagonythatKeatsdidonalikeoccasion;(13)
thoughheequallyknewthatthemessengerofdeathhadcome,andwaswaitingforhim。Heappearedatthefamilymealsasusual,andnextdayhelecturedtwice,punctuallyfulfillinghisengagements;buttheexertionofspeakingwasfollowedbyasecondattackofhaemorrhage。Henowbecameseriouslyill,anditwasdoubtedwhetherhewouldsurvivethenight。Buthedidsurvive;
andduringhisconvalescencehewasappointedtoanimportantpublicoffice——thatofDirectoroftheScottishIndustrialMuseum,whichinvolvedagreatamountoflabour,aswellaslecturing,inhiscapacityofProfessorofTechnology,whichheheldinconnectionwiththeoffice。
Fromthistimeforward,his”dearmuseum,”ashecalledit,absorbedallhissurplusenergies。Whilebusilyoccupiedincollectingmodelsandspecimensforthemuseum,hefilleduphisodds-and-endsoftimeinlecturingtoRaggedSchools,RaggedKirks,andMedicalMissionarySocieties。Hegavehimselfnorest,eitherofmindorbody;and”todieworking”wasthefateheenvied。Hismindwouldnotgivein,buthispoorbodywasforcedtoyield,andasevereattackofhaemorrhage——bleedingfrombothlungsandstomach(14)——compelledhimtorelaxinhislabours。”Foramonth,orsomefortydays,”hewrote——”adreadfulLent——themindhasblowngeographicallyfrom’Arabytheblest,’butthermometricallyfromIcelandtheaccursed。Ihavebeenmadeaprisonerofwar,hitbyanicicleinthelungs,andhaveshiveredandburnedalternatelyforalargeportionofthelastmonth,andspatbloodtillIgrewpalewithcoughing。NowIambetter,andto-morrowIgivemyconcludinglecture(onTechnology),thankfulthatIhavecontrived,notwithstandingallmytroubles,tocarryonwithoutmissingalecturetothelastdayoftheFacultyofArts,towhichIbelong。”(15)
Howlongwasittolast?Hehimselfbegantowonder,forhehadlongfelthislifeasifebbingaway。Atlengthhebecamelanguid,weary,andunfitforwork;eventhewritingofalettercosthimapainfuleffort,and。hefelt”asiftoliedownandsleepweretheonlythingsworthdoing。”Yetshortlyafter,tohelpaSunday-school,hewrotehis’FiveGatewaysofKnowledge,’
asalecture,andafterwardsexpandeditintoabook。Healsorecoveredstrengthsufficienttoenablehimtoproceedwithhislecturestotheinstitutionstowhichhebelonged,besidesonvariousoccasionsundertakingtodootherpeople’swork。”Iamlookeduponasgoodasmad,”hewrotetohisbrother,”because,onahastynotice,Itookadefaultinglecturer’splaceatthePhilosophicalInstitution,anddiscoursedonthePolarizationofLight……ButIlikework:itisafamilyweakness。”
Thenfollowedchronicmalaise——sleeplessnights,daysofpain,andmorespittingofblood。”Myonlypainlessmoments,”hesays,”werewhenlecturing。”Inthisstateofprostrationanddisease,theindefatigablemanundertooktowritethe’LifeofEdwardForbes’;andhedidit,likeeverythingheundertook,withadmirableability。Heproceededwithhislecturesasusual。Toanassociationofteachershedeliveredadiscourseontheeducationalvalueofindustrialscience。Afterhehadspokentohisaudienceforanhour,heleftthemtosaywhetherheshouldgoonornot,andtheycheeredhimontoanotherhalf-hour’saddress。”Itiscurious,”hewrote,”thefeelingofhavinganaudience,likeclayinyourhands,tomouldforaseasonasyouplease。Itisaterriblyresponsiblepower……IdonotmeanforamomenttoimplythatIamindifferenttothegoodopinionofothers——farotherwise;buttogainthisismuchlessaconcernwithmethantodeserveit。Itwasnotsoonce。Ihadnowishforunmeritedpraise,butIwastooreadytosettlethatIdidmeritit。Now,thewordDUTYseemstomethebiggestwordintheworld,andisuppermostinallmyseriousdoings。”
Thiswaswrittenonlyaboutfourmonthsbeforehisdeath。A
littlelaterhewrote,”Ispinmythreadoflifefromweektoweek,ratherthanfromyeartoyear。”Constantattacksofbleedingfromthelungssappedhislittleremainingstrength,butdidnotaltogetherdisablehimfromlecturing。Hewasamusedbyoneofhisfriendsproposingtoputhimundertrusteesforthepurposeoflookingafterhishealth。
Buthewouldnotberestrainedfromworking,solongasavestigeofstrengthremained。
Oneday,intheautumnof1859,hereturnedfromhiscustomarylectureintheUniversityofEdinburghwithaseverepaininhisside。Hewasscarcelyabletocrawlupstairs。Medicalaidwassentfor,andhewaspronouncedtobesufferingfrompleurisyandinflammationofthelungs。Hisenfeebledframewasillabletoresistsosevereadisease,andhesankpeacefullytotheresthesolongedfor,afterafewdays’illness:”Wrongnotthedeadwithtears!
Agloriousbrightto-morrowEndethawearylifeofpainandsorrow。”
ThelifeofGeorgeWilson——soadmirablyandaffectionatelyrelatedbyhissister——isprobablyoneofthemostmarvellousrecordsofpainandlongsuffering,andyetofpersistent,noble,andusefulwork,thatistobefoundinthewholehistoryofliterature。Hisentirecareerwasindeedbutaprolongedillustrationofthelineswhichhehimselfaddressedtohisdeceasedfriend,Dr。JohnReid,alikemindedman,whosememoirhewrote:-”ThouwertadailylessonOfcourage,hope,andfaith;
Wewonderedattheeliving,Weenvytheethydeath。
Thouwertsomeekandreverent,Soresoluteofwill,Soboldtobeartheuttermost,Andyetsocalmandstill。”
NOTES
(1)FromLovelace’slinestoLucusta(LucySacheverell),’GoingtotheWars。’
(2)Amongstothergreatmenofgenius,AriostoandMichaelAngelodevotedtohertheirserviceandtheirmuse。
(3)SeetheRev。F。W。Farrar’sadmirablebook,entitled’SeekersafterGod’(SundayLibrary)。Theauthortheresays:”EpictetuswasnotaChristian。HehasonlyoncealludedtotheChristiansinhisworks,andthenitisundertheopprobrioustitleof’Galileans,’whopractisedakindofinsensibilityinpainfulcircumstances,andanindifferencetoworldlyinterests,whichEpictetusunjustlysetsdownto’merehabit。’Unhappily,itwasnotgrantedtotheseheathenphilosophersinanytruesensetoknowwhatChristianitywas。Theythoughtthatitwasanattempttoimitatetheresultsofphilosophy,withouthavingpassedthroughthenecessarydiscipline。Theyvieweditwithsuspicion,theytreateditwithinjustice。AndyetinChristianity,andinChristianityalone,theywouldhavefoundanidealwhichwouldhavesurpassedtheirloftiestanticipations。”
(4)Sparks’’LifeofWashington,’pp。141-2。
(5)Wellington,likeWashington,hadtopaythepenaltyofhisadherencetothecausehethoughtright,inhislossof”popularity。”HewasmobbedinthestreetsofLondon,andhadhiswindowssmashedbythemob,whilehiswifelaydeadinthehouse。
SirWalterScottalsowashootedandpeltedatHawickby”thepeople,”amidstcriesof”BurkeSirWalter!”
(6)Robertson’s’LifeandLetters,’ii。157。
(7)WeselectthefollowingpassagesfromthisremarkablereportofBaronStoffel,asbeingofmorethanmerelytemporaryinterest:-
Whothathaslivedhere(Berlin)willdenythatthePrussiansareenergetic,patriotic,andteemingwithyouthfulvigour;thattheyarenotcorruptedbysensualpleasures,butaremanly,haveearnestconvictions,donotthinkitbeneaththemtoreverencesincerelywhatisnobleandlofty?WhatamelancholycontrastdoesFranceofferinallthis?Havingsneeredateverything,shehaslostthefacultyofrespectinganything。Virtue,familylife,patriotism,honour,religion,arerepresentedtoafrivolousgenerationasfittingsubjectsofridicule。Thetheatreshavebecomeschoolsofshamelessnessandobscenity。Dropbydrop,poisonisinstilledintotheverycoreofanignorantandenervatedsociety,whichhasneithertheinsightnortheenergylefttoamenditsinstitutions,nor——whichwouldbethemostnecessarysteptotake——becomebetterinformedormoremoral。
Oneaftertheotherthefinequalitiesofthenationaredyingout。Whereisthegenerosity,theloyalty,thecharmofourESPRIT,andourformerelevationofsoul?Ifthisgoeson,thetimewillcomewhenthisnobleraceofFrancewillbeknownonlybyitsfaults。AndFrancehasnoideathatwhilesheissinking,moreearnestnationsarestealingthemarchuponher,aredistancingherontheroadtoprogress,andarepreparingforherasecondarypositionintheworld。”IamafraidthattheseopinionswillnotberelishedinFrance。
Howevercorrect,theydiffertoomuchfromwhatisusuallysaidandassertedathome。IshouldwishsomeenlightenedandunprejudicedFrenchmentocometoPrussiaandmakethiscountrytheirstudy。Theywouldsoondiscoverthattheywerelivinginthemidstofastrong,earnest,andintelligentnation,entirelydestitute,itistrue,ofnobleanddelicatefeelings,ofallfascinatingcharms,butendowedwitheverysolidvirtue,andalikedistinguishedforuntiringindustry,order,andeconomy,aswellasforpatriotism,astrongsenseofduty,andthatconsciousnessofpersonaldignitywhichintheircaseissohappilyblendedwithrespectforauthorityandobediencetothelaw。Theywouldseeacountrywithfirm,sound,andmoralinstitutions,whoseupperclassesareworthyoftheirrank,and,bypossessingthehighestdegreeofculture,devotingthemselvestotheserviceoftheState,settinganexampleofpatriotism,andknowinghowtopreservetheinfluencelegitimatelytheirown。TheywouldfindaStatewithanexcellentadministrationwhereeverythingisinitsrightplace,andwherethemostadmirableorderprevailsineverybranchofthesocialandpoliticalsystem。Prussiamaybewellcomparedtoamassivestructureofloftyproportionsandastoundingsolidity,which,thoughithasnothingtodelighttheeyeorspeaktotheheart,cannotbutimpressuswithitsgrandsymmetry,equallyobservableinitsbroadfoundationsasinitsstrongandshelteringroof。”AndwhatisFrance?WhatisFrenchsocietyintheselatterdays?
Ahurly-burlyofdisorderlyelements,allmixedandjumbledtogether;acountryinwhicheverybodyclaimstherighttooccupythehighestposts,yetfewrememberthatamantobeemployedinaresponsiblepositionoughttohaveawell-balancedmind,oughttobestrictlymoral,toknowsomethingoftheworld,andpossesscertainintellectualpowers;acountryinwhichthehighestofficesarefrequentlyheldbyignorantanduneducatedpersons,whoeitherboastsomespecialtalent,orwhoseonlyclaimissocialpositionandsomeversatilityandaddress。Whatabanefulanddegradingstateofthings!Andhownaturalthat,whileitlasts,Franceshouldbefullofapeoplewithoutaposition,withoutacalling,whodonotknowwhattodowiththemselves,butarenonethelesseagertoenvyandmaligneveryonewhodoes……”TheFrenchdonotpossessinanyverymarkeddegreethequalitiesrequiredtorendergeneralconscriptionacceptable,ortoturnittoaccount。Conceitedandegotisticastheyare,thepeoplewouldobjecttoaninnovationwhoseinvigoratingforcetheyareunabletocomprehend,andwhichcannotbecarriedoutwithoutvirtueswhichtheydonotpossess——self-abnegation,conscientiousrecognitionofduty,andawillingnesstosacrificepersonalintereststotheloftierdemandsofthecountry。Asthecharacterofindividualsisonlyimprovedbyexperience,mostnationsrequireachastisementbeforetheysetaboutreorganisingtheirpoliticalinstitutions。SoPrussiawantedaJenatomakeherthestrongandhealthycountrysheis。”
(8)YeteveninDeTocqueville’sbenevolentnature,therewasapervadingelementofimpatience。Intheveryletterinwhichtheabovepassageoccurs,hesays:”Somepersonstrytobeofusetomenwhiletheydespisethem,andothersbecausetheylovethem。
Intheservicesrenderedbythefirst,thereisalwayssomethingincomplete,rough,andcontemptuous,thatinspiresneitherconfidencenorgratitude。Ishouldliketobelongtothesecondclass,butoftenIcannot。Ilovemankindingeneral,butI
constantlymeetwithindividualswhosebasenessrevoltsme。I
struggledailyagainstauniversalcontemptformyfellow,creatures。”——MEMOIRSANDREMAINSOFDETOCQUEVILLE,vol。i。p。
813。(LettertoKergorlay,Nov。13th,1833)。
(9)Gleig’s’LifeofWellington,’pp。314,315。
(10)’LifeofArnold,’i。94。
(11)Seethe’MemoirofGeorgeWilson,M。D。,F。R。S。E。’Byhissister(Edinburgh,1860)。
(12)Suchcasesarenotunusual。Wepersonallyknewayounglady,acountrywomanofProfessorWilson,afflictedbycancerinthebreast,whoconcealedthediseasefromherparentslestitshouldoccasionthemdistress。Anoperationbecamenecessary;andwhenthesurgeonscalledforthepurposeofperformingit,sheherselfansweredthedoor,receivedthemwithacheerfulcountenance,ledthemupstairstoherroom,andsubmittedtotheknife;andherparentsknewnothingoftheoperationuntilitwasallover。
Butthediseasehadbecometoodeeplyseatedforrecovery,andthenobleself-denyinggirldied,cheerfulanduncomplainingtotheend。
(13)”Onenight,abouteleveno’clock,Keatsreturnedhomeinastateofstrangephysicalexcitement——itmighthaveappeared,tothosewhodidnotknowhim,oneoffierceintoxication。Hetoldhisfriendhehadbeenoutsidethestage-coach,hadreceivedaseverechill,wasalittlefevered,butadded,’Idon’tfeelitnow。’Hewaseasilypersuadedtogotobed,andasheleaptintothecoldsheets,beforehisheadwasonthepillow,heslightlycoughedandsaid,’Thatisbloodfrommymouth;bringmethecandle;letmeseethisblood’Hegazedsteadfastlyforsomemomentsattheruddystain,andthen,lookinginhisfriend’sfacewithanexpressionofsuddencalmnessnevertobeforgotten,said,’Iknowthecolourofthatblood——itisarterialblood。Icannotbedeceivedinthatcolour;thatdropismydeath-warrant。Imustdie!’”——
Houghton’sLIFEOFKEATS,Ed。1867,p。289。
InthecaseofGeorgeWilson,thebleedingwasinthefirstinstancefromthestomach,thoughheafterwardssufferedfromlunghaemorrhagelikeKeats。Wilsonafterwards,speakingoftheLivesofLambandKeats,whichhadjustappeared,saidhehadbeenreadingthemwithgreatsadness。”Thereis,”saidhe,”somethinginthenoblebrotherlyloveofCharlestobrighten,andhallow,andrelievethatsadness;butKeats’sdeathbedistheblacknessofmidnight,unmitigatedbyonerayoflight!”
(14)Onthedoctors,whoattendedhiminhisfirstattack,mistakingthehaemorrhagefromthestomachforhaemorrhagefromthelungs,hewrote:”Itwouldhavebeenbutpoorconsolationtohavehadasanepitaph:-”HereliesGeorgeWilson,OvertakenbyNemesis;
HediednotofHaemoptysis,ButofHaematemesis。”
(15)’Memoir,’p。427。
CHAPTERVIII——TEMPER。”Temperisnine-tenthsofChristianity。”——BISHOPWILSON。”Heavenisatemper,notaplace。”——DR。CHALMERS。”Andshouldmyyouth,asyouthisaptIknow,Someharshnessshow;
AllvainasperitiesIdaybydayWouldwearaway,TillthesmoothtemperofmyageshouldbeLikethehighleavesupontheHollyTree”——SOUTHEY。
EvenPoweritselfhathnotone-halfthemightofGentleness”——
LEIGHHUNT。
Ithasbeensaidthatmensucceedinlifequiteasmuchbytheirtemperasbytheirtalents。Howeverthismaybe,itiscertainthattheirhappinessinlifedependsmainlyupontheirequanimityofdisposition,theirpatienceandforbearance,andtheirkindnessandthoughtfulnessforthoseaboutthem。ItisreallytruewhatPlatosays,thatinseekingthegoodofotherswefindourown。
Therearesomenaturessohappilyconstitutedthattheycanfindgoodineverything。Thereisnocalamitysogreatbuttheycaneducecomfortorconsolationfromit——noskysoblackbuttheycandiscoveragleamofsunshineissuingthroughitfromsomequarteroranother;andifthesunbenotvisibletotheireyes,theyatleastcomfortthemselveswiththethoughtthatitIS
there,thoughveiledfromthemforsomegoodandwisepurpose。
Suchhappynaturesaretobeenvied。Theyhaveabeamintheeye——abeamofpleasure,gladness,religiouscheerfulness,philosophy,callitwhatyouwill。Sunshineisabouttheirhearts,andtheirmindgildswithitsownhuesallthatitlooksupon。Whentheyhaveburdenstobear,theybearthemcheerfully——
notrepining,norfretting,norwastingtheirenergiesinuselesslamentation,butstrugglingonwardmanfully,gatheringupsuchflowersasliealongtheirpath。
Letitnotforamomentbesupposedthatmensuchasthosewespeakofareweakandunreflective。Thelargestandmostcomprehensivenaturesaregenerallyalsothemostcheerful,themostloving,themosthopeful,themosttrustful。Itisthewiseman,oflargevision,whoisthequickesttodiscernthemoralsunshinegleamingthroughthedarkestcloud。Inpresentevilheseesprospectivegood;inpain,herecognisestheeffortofnaturetorestorehealth;intrials,hefindscorrectionanddiscipline;
andinsorrowandsuffering,hegatherscourage,knowledge,andthebestpracticalwisdom。
WhenJeremyTaylorhadlostall——whenhishousehadbeenplundered,andhisfamilydrivenout-of-doors,andallhisworldlyestatehadbeensequestrated——hecouldstillwritethus:”Iamfallenintothehandsofpublicansandsequestrators,andtheyhavetakenallfromme;whatnow?Letmelookaboutme。Theyhaveleftmethesunandmoon,alovingwife,andmanyfriendstopityme,andsometorelieveme;andIcanstilldiscourse,and,unlessIlist,theyhavenottakenawaymymerrycountenanceandmycheerfulspirit,andagoodconscience;theyhavestillleftmetheprovidenceofGod,andallthepromisesoftheGospel,andmyreligion,andmyhopesofheaven,andmycharitytothem,too;andstillIsleepanddigest,Ieatanddrink,Ireadandmeditate……
Andhethathathsomanycausesofjoy,andsogreat,isverymuchinlovewithsorrowandpeevishness,wholovesallthesepleasures,andchoosestositdownuponhislittlehandfulofthorns。”(1)
Althoughcheerfulnessofdispositionisverymuchamatterofinborntemperament,itisalsocapableofbeingtrainedandcultivatedlikeanyotherhabit。Wemaymakethebestoflife,orwemaymaketheworstofit;anditdependsverymuchuponourselveswhetherweextractjoyormiseryfromit。Therearealwaystwosidesoflifeonwhichwecanlook,accordingaswechoose——thebrightsideorthegloomy。Wecanbringthepowerofthewilltobearinmakingthechoice,andthuscultivatethehabitofbeinghappyorthereverse。Wecanencouragethedispositionoflookingatthebrightestsideofthings,insteadofthedarkest。Andwhileweseethecloud,letusnotshutoureyestothesilverlining。
Thebeamintheeyeshedsbrightness,beauty,andjoyuponlifeinallitsphases。Itshinesuponcoldness,andwarmsit;uponsuffering,andcomfortsit;uponignorance,andenlightensit;
uponsorrow,andcheersit。Thebeamintheeyegiveslustretointellect,andbrightensbeautyitself。Withoutitthesunshineoflifeisnotfelt,flowersbloominvain,themarvelsofheavenandeartharenotseenoracknowledged,andcreationisbutadreary,lifeless,soullessblank。
Whilecheerfulnessofdispositionisagreatsourceofenjoymentinlife,itisalsoagreatsafeguardofcharacter。Adevotionalwriterofthepresentday,inanswertothequestion,Howarewetoovercometemptations?says:”Cheerfulnessisthefirstthing,cheerfulnessisthesecond,andcheerfulnessisthethird。”Itfurnishesthebestsoilforthegrowthofgoodnessandvirtue。Itgivesbrightnessofheartandelasticityofspirit。Itisthecompanionofcharity,thenurseofpatiencethemotherofwisdom。
Itisalsothebestofmoralandmentaltonics。”Thebestcordialofall,”saidDr。MarshallHalltooneofhispatients,”ischeerfulness。”AndSolomonhassaidthat”amerryheartdoethgoodlikeamedicine。”WhenLutherwasonceappliedtoforaremedyagainstmelancholy,hisadvicewas:”Gaietyandcourage——
innocentgaiety,andrationalhonourablecourage——arethebestmedicineforyoungmen,andforoldmen,too;forallmenagainstsadthoughts。”(2)Nexttomusic,ifnotbeforeit,Lutherlovedchildrenandflowers。Thegreatgnarledmanhadaheartastenderasawoman’s。
Cheerfulnessisalsoanexcellentwearingquality。Ithasbeencalledthebrightweatheroftheheart。Itgivesharmonyofsoul,andisaperpetualsongwithoutwords。Itistantamounttorepose。Itenablesnaturetorecruititsstrength;whereasworryanddiscontentdebilitateit,involvingconstantwear-and-tear。
HowisitthatweseesuchmenasLordPalmerstongrowingoldinharness,workingonvigorouslytotheend?Mainlythroughequanimityoftemperandhabitualcheerfulness。Theyhaveeducatedthemselvesinthehabitofendurance,ofnotbeingeasilyprovoked,ofbearingandforbearing,ofhearingharshandevenunjustthingssaidofthemwithoutindulginginundueresentment,andavoidingworreting,petty,andself-tormentingcares。AnintimatefriendofLordPalmerston,whoobservedhimcloselyfortwentyyears,hassaidthatheneversawhimangry,withperhapsoneexception;andthatwaswhentheministryresponsibleforthecalamityinAffghanistan,ofwhichhewasone,wereunjustlyaccusedbytheiropponentsoffalsehood,perjury,andwilfulmutilationofpublicdocuments。
Sofarascanbelearntfrombiography,menofthegreatestgeniushavebeenforthemostpartcheerful,contentedmen——noteagerforreputation,money,orpower——butrelishinglife,andkeenlysusceptibleofenjoyment,aswefindreflectedintheirworks。
SuchseemtohavebeenHomer,Horace,Virgil,Montaigne,Shakspeare,Cervantes。Healthyserenecheerfulnessisapparentintheirgreatcreations。Amongthesameclassofcheerful-mindedmenmayalsobementionedLuther,More,Bacon,LeonardodaVinci,Raphael,andMichaelAngelo。Perhapstheywerehappybecauseconstantlyoccupied,andinthepleasantestofallwork——thatofcreatingoutofthefulnessandrichnessoftheirgreatminds。
Milton,too,thoughamanofmanytrialsandsufferings,musthavebeenamanofgreatcheerfulnessandelasticityofnature。
Thoughovertakenbyblindness,desertedbyfriends,andfallenuponevildays——”darknessbeforeanddanger’svoicebehind”——
yetdidhenotbateheartorhope,but”stillboreupandsteeredrightonward。”
HenryFieldingwasamanbornedownthroughlifebydebt,anddifficulty,andbodilysuffering;andyetLadyMaryWortleyMontaguehassaidofhimthat,byvirtueofhischeerfuldisposition,shewaspersuadedhe”hadknownmorehappymomentsthananypersononearth。”
Dr。Johnson,throughallhistrialsandsufferingsandhardfightswithfortune,wasacourageousandcheerful-naturedman。Hemanfullymadethebestoflife,andtriedtobegladinit。Once,whenaclergymanwascomplainingofthedulnessofsocietyinthecountry,saying”theyonlytalkofrunts”(youngcows),JohnsonfeltflatteredbytheobservationofMrs。Thrale’smother,whosaid,”Sir,Dr。Johnsonwouldlearntotalkofrunts”——meaningthathewasamanwhowouldmakethemostofhissituation,whateveritwas。
Johnsonwasofopinionthatamangrewbetterashegrewolder,andthathisnaturemellowedwithage。ThisiscertainlyamuchmorecheerfulviewofhumannaturethanthatofLordChesterfield,whosawlifethroughtheeyesofacynic,andheldthat”theheartnevergrowsbetterbyage:itonlygrowsharder。”Butbothsayingsmaybetrueaccordingtothepointfromwhichlifeisviewed,andthetemperbywhichamanisgoverned;forwhilethegood,profitingbyexperience,anddiscipliningthemselvesbyself-control,willgrowbetter,theill-conditioned,uninfluencedbyexperience,willonlygrowworse。
SirWalterScottwasamanfullofthemilkofhumankindness。
Everybodylovedhim。Hewasneverfiveminutesinaroomerethelittlepetsofthefamily,whetherdumborlisping,hadfoundouthiskindnessforalltheirgeneration。ScottrelatedtoCaptainBasilHallanincidentofhisboyhoodwhichshowedthetendernessofhisnature。Oneday,adogcomingtowardshim,hetookupabigstone,threwit,andhitthedog。Thepoorcreaturehadstrengthenoughlefttocrawluptohimandlickhisfeet,althoughhesawitslegwasbroken。Theincident,hesaid,hadgivenhimthebitterestremorseinhisafter-life;butheadded,”Anearlycircumstanceofthatkind,properlyreflectedon,iscalculatedtohavethebesteffectonone’scharacterthroughoutlife。””Givemeanhonestlaugher,”Scottwouldsay;andhehimselflaughedtheheart’slaugh。Hehadakindwordforeverybody,andhiskindnessactedallroundhimlikeacontagion,dispellingthereserveandawewhichhisgreatnamewascalculatedtoinspire。”He’llcomehere,”saidthekeeperoftheruinsofMelroseAbbeytoWashingtonIrving——”he’llcomeheresome-times,wi’greatfolksinhiscompany,andthefirstI’llknowofitishearinghisvoicecallingout,’Johnny!JohnnyBower!’AndwhenIgooutI’msuretobegreetedwi’ajokeorapleasantword。He’llstandandcrackandlaughwi’me,justlikeanauldwife;andtothinkthatofamanthathasSUCHANAWFU’KNOWLEDGEO’HISTORY!”
Dr。Arnoldwasamanofthesameheartycordialityofmanner——
fullofhumansympathy。Therewasnotaparticleofaffectationorpretenceofcondescensionabouthim。”Ineverknewsuchahumblemanasthedoctor,”saidtheparishclerkatLaleham;”hecomesandshakesusbythehandasifhewasoneofus。””Heusedtocomeintomyhouse,”saidanoldwomannearFoxHow,”andtalktomeasifIwerealady。”
SydneySmithwasanotherillustrationofthepowerofcheerfulness。Hewaseverreadytolookonthebrightsideofthings;thedarkestcloudhadtohimitssilverlining。Whetherworkingascountrycurate,orasparishrector,hewasalwayskind,laborious,patient,andexemplary;exhibitingineverysphereoflifethespiritofaChristian,thekindnessofapastor,andthehonourofagentleman。Inhisleisureheemployedhispenonthesideofjustice,freedom,education,toleration,emancipation;andhiswritings,thoughfullofcommon-senseandbrighthumour,arenevervulgar;nordidheeverpandertopopularityorprejudice。Hisgoodspirits,thankstohisnaturalvivacityandstaminaofconstitution,neverforsookhim;andinhisoldage,whenbornedownbydisease,hewrotetoafriend:”I
havegout,asthma,andsevenothermaladies,butamotherwiseverywell。”InoneofthelastlettershewrotetoLadyCarlisle,hesaid:”Ifyouhearofsixteenoreighteenpoundsoffleshwantinganowner,theybelongtome。Ilookasifacuratehadbeentakenoutofme。”
Greatmenofsciencehaveforthemostpartbeenpatient,laborious,cheerful-mindedmen。SuchwereGalileo,Descartes,Newton,andLaplace。Eulerthemathematician,oneofthegreatestofnaturalphilosophers,wasadistinguishedinstance。Towardsthecloseofhislifehebecamecompletelyblind;buthewentonwritingascheerfullyasbefore,supplyingthewantofsightbyvariousingeniousmechanicaldevices,andbytheincreasedcultivationofhismemory,whichbecameexceedinglytenacious。
Hischiefpleasurewasinthesocietyofhisgrandchildren,towhomhetaughttheirlittlelessonsintheintervalsofhissevererstudies。
Inlikemanner,ProfessorRobisonofEdinburgh,thefirsteditorofthe’EncyclopaediaBritannica,’whendisabledfromworkbyalingeringandpainfuldisorder,foundhischiefpleasureinthesocietyofhisgrandchild。”Iaminfinitelydelighted,”hewrotetoJamesWatt,”withobservingthegrowthofitslittlesoul,andparticularlywithitsnumberlessinstincts,whichformerlypassedunheeded。IthanktheFrenchtheoristsformoreforciblydirectingmyattentiontothefingerofGod,whichIdiscernineveryawkwardmovementandeverywaywardwhim。Theyareallguardiansofhislifeandgrowthandpower。IregretindeedthatIhavenottimetomakeinfancyandthedevelopmentofitspowersmysolestudy。”
Oneofthesoresttrialsofaman’stemperandpatiencewasthatwhichbefellAbauzit,thenaturalphilosopher,whileresidingatGeneva;resemblinginmanyrespectsasimilarcalamitywhichoccurredtoNewton,andwhichheborewithequalresignation。
Amongstotherthings,Abauzitdevotedmuchstudytothebarometeranditsvariations,withtheobjectofdeducingthegenerallawswhichregulatedatmosphericpressure。Duringtwenty-sevenyearshemadenumerousobservationsdaily,recordingthemonsheetspreparedforthepurpose。Oneday,whenanewservantwasinstalledinthehouse,sheimmediatelyproceededtodisplayherzealby”puttingthingsto-rights。”Abauzit’sstudy,amongstotherrooms,wasmadetidyandsetinorder。Whenheenteredit,heaskedoftheservant,”Whathaveyoudonewiththepaperthatwasroundthebarometer?””Oh,sir,”wasthereply,”itwassodirtythatIburntit,andputinitsplacethispaper,whichyouwillseeisquitenew。”Abauzitcrossedhisarms,andaftersomemomentsofinternalstruggle,hesaid,inatoneofcalmnessandresignation:”Youhavedestroyedtheresultsoftwenty-sevenyearslabour;infuturetouchnothingwhateverinthisroom。”
Thestudyofnaturalhistorymorethanthatofanyotherbranchofscience,seemstobeaccompaniedbyunusualcheerfulnessandequanimityoftemperonthepartofitsvotaries;theresultofwhichis,thatthelifeofnaturalistsisonthewholemoreprolongedthanthatofanyotherclassofmenofscience。A
memberoftheLinnaeanSocietyhasinformedusthatoffourteenmemberswhodiedin1870,twowereoverninety,fivewereovereighty,andtwowereoverseventy。Theaverageageofallthememberswhodiedinthatyearwasseventy-five。
Adanson,theFrenchbotanist,wasaboutseventyyearsoldwhentheRevolutionbrokeout,andamidsttheshockhelosteverything——
hisfortune,hisplaces,andhisgardens。Buthispatience,courage,andresignationneverforsookhim。Hebecamereducedtothegreateststraits,andevenwantedfoodandclothing;yethisardourofinvestigationremainedthesame。Once,whentheInstituteinvitedhim,asbeingoneofitsoldestmembers,toassistataSEANCE,hisanswerwasthatheregrettedhecouldnotattendforwantofshoes。”Itwasatouchingsight,”saysCuvier,”toseethepooroldman,bentovertheembersofadecayingfire,tryingtotracecharacterswithafeeblehandonthelittlebitofpaperwhichheheld,forgettingallthepainsoflifeinsomenewideainnaturalhistory,whichcametohimlikesomebeneficentfairytocheerhiminhisloneliness。”TheDirectoryeventuallygavehimasmallpension,whichNapoleondoubled;andatlength,easefuldeathcametohisreliefinhisseventy-ninthyear。A
clauseinhiswill,astothemannerofhisfuneral,illustratesthecharacteroftheman。Hedirectedthatagarlandofflowers,providedbyfifty-eightfamilieswhomhehadestablishedinlife,shouldbetheonlydecorationofhiscoffin——aslightbuttouchingimageofthemoredurablemonumentwhichhehaderectedforhimselfinhisworks。
Suchareonlyafewinstances,ofthecheerful-working-nessofgreatmen,whichmight,indeed,bemultipliedtoanyextent。Alllargehealthynaturesarecheerfulaswellashopeful。Theirexampleisalsocontagiousanddiffusive,brighteningandcheeringallwhocomewithinreachoftheirinfluence。ItwassaidofSirJohnMalcolm,whenheappearedinasaddenedcampinIndia,that”itwaslikeagleamofsunlight,……nomanlefthimwithoutasmileonhisface。Hewas’boyMalcolm’still。Itwasimpossibletoresistthefascinationofhisgenialpresence。”(3)
TherewasthesamejoyousnessofnatureaboutEdmundBurke。OnceatadinneratSirJoshuaReynolds’s,whentheconversationturneduponthesuitabilityofliquorsforparticulartemperaments,Johnsonsaid,”Claretisforboys,portformen,andbrandyforheroes。””Then,”saidBurke,”letmehaveclaret:Ilovetobeaboy,andtohavethecarelessgaietyofboyishdays。”Andsoitis,thatthereareoldyoungmen,andyoungoldmen——somewhoareasjoyousandcheerfulasboysintheiroldage,andotherswhoareasmoroseandcheerlessassaddenedoldmenwhilestillintheirboyhood。
Inthepresenceofsomepriggishyouths,wehaveheardacheerfuloldmandeclarethat,apparently,therewouldsoonbenothingbut”oldboys”left。Cheerfulness,beinggenerousandgenial,joyousandhearty,isneverthecharacteristicofprigs。Goetheusedtoexclaimofgoody-goodypersons,”Oh!iftheyhadbutthehearttocommitanabsurdity!”Thiswaswhenhethoughttheywantedheartinessandnature。”Prettydolls!”washisexpressionwhenspeakingofthem,andturningaway。
Thetruebasisofcheerfulnessislove,hope,andpatience。Loveevokeslove,andbegetslovingkindness。Lovecherisheshopefulandgenerousthoughtsofothers。Itischaritable,gentle,andtruthful。Itisadiscernerofgood。Itturnstothebrightestsideofthings,anditsfaceiseverdirectedtowardshappiness。
Itsees”thegloryinthegrass,thesunshineontheflower。”Itencourageshappythoughts,andlivesinanatmosphereofcheerfulness。Itcostsnothing,andyetisinvaluable;foritblessesitspossessor,andgrowsupinabundanthappinessinthebosomsofothers。Evenitssorrowsarelinkedwithpleasures,anditsverytearsaresweet。
Benthamlaysitdownasaprinciple,thatamanbecomesrichinhisownstockofpleasuresinproportiontotheamounthedistributestoothers。Hiskindnesswillevokekindness,andhishappinessbeincreasedbyhisownbenevolence。”Kindwords,”hesays,”costnomorethanunkindones。Kindwordsproducekindactions,notonlyonthepartofhimtowhomtheyareaddressed,butonthepartofhimbywhomtheyareemployed;andthisnotincidentallyonly,buthabitually,invirtueoftheprincipleofassociation。”……”Itmayindeedhappen,thattheeffortofbeneficencemaynotbenefitthoseforwhomitwasintended;butwhenwiselydirected,itMUSTbenefitthepersonfromwhomitemanates。Goodandfriendlyconductmaymeetwithanunworthyandungratefulreturn;buttheabsenceofgratitudeonthepartofthereceivercannotdestroytheself-approbationwhichrecompensesthegiver,andwemayscattertheseedsofcourtesyandkindlinessaroundusatsolittleexpense。Someofthemwillinevitablyfallongoodground,andgrowupintobenevolenceinthemindsofothers;andallofthemwillbearfruitofhappinessinthebosomwhencetheyspring。Onceblestareallthevirtuesalways;twiceblestsometimes。”(4)
ThepoetRogersusedtotellastoryofalittlegirl,agreatfavouritewitheveryonewhoknewher。Someonesaidtoher,”Whydoeseverybodyloveyousomuch?”Sheanswered,”IthinkitisbecauseIloveeverybodysomuch。”Thislittlestoryiscapableofaverywideapplication;forourhappinessashumanbeings,generallyspeaking,willbefoundtobeverymuchinproportiontothenumberofthingswelove,andthenumberofthingsthatloveus。Andthegreatestworldlysuccess,howeverhonestlyachieved,willcontributecomparativelylittletohappiness,unlessitbeaccompaniedbyalivelybenevolencetowardseveryhumanbeing。
Kindnessisindeedagreatpowerintheworld。LeighHunthastrulysaidthat”Poweritselfhathnotonehalfthemightofgentleness。”Menarealwaysbestgovernedthroughtheiraffections。ThereisaFrenchproverbwhichsaysthat,”LES
HOMMESSEPRENNENTPARLADOUCEUR,”andacoarserEnglishone,totheeffectthat”Morewaspsarecaughtbyhoneythanbyvinegar。””Everyactofkindness,”saysBentham,”isinfactanexerciseofpower,andastockoffriendshiplaidup;andwhyshouldnotpowerexerciseitselfintheproductionofpleasureasofpain?”
Kindnessdoesnotconsistingifts,butingentlenessandgenerosityofspirit。Menmaygivetheirmoneywhichcomesfromthepurse,andwithholdtheirkindnesswhichcomesfromtheheart。
Thekindnessthatdisplaysitselfingivingmoney,doesnotamounttomuch,andoftendoesquiteasmuchharmasgood;butthekindnessoftruesympathy,ofthoughtfulhelp,isneverwithoutbeneficentresults。
Thegoodtemperthatdisplaysitselfinkindnessmustnotbeconfoundedwithsoftnessorsilliness。Initsbestform,itisnotamerelypassivebutanactiveconditionofbeing。Itisnotbyanymeansindifferent,butlargelysympathetic。Itdoesnotcharacterisethelowestandmostgelatinousformsofhumanlife,butthosethatarethemosthighlyorganized。Truekindnesscherishesandactivelypromotesallreasonableinstrumentalitiesfordoingpracticalgoodinitsowntime;and,lookingintofuturity,seesthesamespiritworkingonfortheeventualelevationandhappinessoftherace。
Itisthekindly-dispositionedmenwhoaretheactivemenoftheworld,whiletheselfishandthesceptical,whohavenolovebutforthemselves,areitsidlers。Buffonusedtosay,thathewouldgivenothingforayoungmanwhodidnotbeginlifewithanenthusiasmofsomesort。Itshowedthatatleasthehadfaithinsomethinggood,lofty,andgenerous,evenifunattainable。
Egotism,scepticism,andselfishnessarealwaysmiserablecompanionsinlife,andtheyareespeciallyunnaturalinyouth。
Theegotistisnext-doortoafanatic。Constantlyoccupiedwithself,hehasnothoughttospareforothers。Hereferstohimselfinallthings,thinksofhimself,andstudieshimself,untilhisownlittleselfbecomeshisownlittlegod。
Worstofallarethegrumblersandgrowlersatfortune——whofindthat”whateverisiswrong,”andwilldonothingtosetmattersright——whodeclarealltobebarren”fromDaneventoBeersheba。”
Thesegrumblersareinvariablyfoundtheleastefficienthelpersintheschooloflife。Astheworstworkmenareusuallythereadiestto”strike,”sotheleastindustriousmembersofsocietyarethereadiesttocomplain。Theworstwheelofallistheonethatcreaks。
Thereissuchathingasthecherishingofdiscontentuntilthefeelingbecomesmorbid。Thejaundicedseeeverythingaboutthemyellow。Theill-conditionedthinkallthingsawry,andthewholeworldout-of-joint。Allisvanityandvexationofspirit。ThelittlegirlinPUNCH,whofoundherdollstuffedwithbran,andforthwithdeclaredeverythingtobehollowandwantedto”gointoanunnery,”hadhercounterpartinreallife。Manyfull-grownpeoplearequiteasmorbidlyunreasonable。Therearethosewhomaybesaidto”enjoybadhealth;”theyregarditasasortofproperty。Theycanspeakof”MYheadache”——”MYbackache,”andsoforth,untilincourseoftimeitbecomestheirmostcherishedpossession。Butperhapsitisthesourcetothemofmuchcovetedsympathy,withoutwhichtheymightfindthemselvesofcomparativelylittleimportanceintheworld。
Wehavetobeonourguardagainstsmalltroubles,which,byencouraging,weareapttomagnifyintogreatones。Indeed,thechiefsourceofworryintheworldisnotrealbutimaginaryevil——smallvexationsandtrivialafflictions。Inthepresenceofagreatsorrow,allpettytroublesdisappear;butwearetooreadytotakesomecherishedmiserytoourbosom,andtopetitthere。
Veryoftenitisthechildofourfancy;and,forgetfulofthemanymeansofhappinesswhichliewithinourreach,weindulgethisspoiltchildofoursuntilitmastersus。Weshutthedooragainstcheerfulness,andsurroundourselveswithgloom。Thehabitgivesacolouringtoourlife。Wegrowquerulous,moody,andunsympathetic。Ourconversationbecomesfullofregrets。Weareharshinourjudgmentofothers。Weareunsociable,andthinkeverybodyelseisso。Wemakeourbreastastorehouseofpain,whichweinflictuponourselvesaswellasuponothers。
Thisdispositionisencouragedbyselfishness:indeed,itisforthemostpartselfishnessunmingled,withoutanyadmixtureofsympathyorconsiderationforthefeelingsofthoseaboutus。Itissimplywilfulnessinthewrongdirection。Itiswilful,becauseitmightbeavoided。Letthenecessitariansargueastheymay,freedomofwillandactionisthepossessionofeverymanandwoman。Itissometimesourglory,andveryoftenitisourshame:
alldependsuponthemannerinwhichitisused。Wecanchoosetolookatthebrightsideofthings,oratthedark。Wecanfollowgoodandeschewevilthoughts。Wecanbewrongheadedandwronghearted,orthereverse,asweourselvesdetermine。Theworldwillbetoeachoneofusverymuchwhatwemakeit。
Thecheerfulareitsrealpossessors,fortheworldbelongstothosewhoenjoyit。
Itmust,however,beadmittedthattherearecasesbeyondthereachofthemoralist。Once,whenamiserable-lookingdyspepticcalleduponaleadingphysicianandlaidhiscasebeforehim,”Oh!”saidthedoctor,”youonlywantagoodheartylaugh:
goandseeGrimaldi。””Alas!”saidthemiserablepatient,”IamGrimaldi!”So,whenSmollett,oppressedbydisease,travelledoverEuropeinthehopeoffindinghealth,hesaweverythingthroughhisownjaundicedeyes。”I’lltellit,”
saidSmellfungus,”totheworld。””Youhadbettertellit,”
saidSterne,”toyourphysician。”
Therestless,anxious,dissatisfiedtemper,thatiseverreadytorunandmeetcarehalf-way,isfataltoallhappinessandpeaceofmind。Howoftendoweseemenandwomensetthemselvesaboutasifwithstiffbristles,sothatonedarescarcelyapproachthemwithoutfearofbeingpricked!Forwantofalittleoccasionalcommandoverone’stemper,anamountofmiseryisoccasionedinsocietywhichispositivelyfrightful。Thusenjoymentisturnedintobitterness,andlifebecomeslikeajourneybarefootedamongstthornsandbriersandprickles。”Thoughsometimessmallevils,”saysRichardSharp,”likeinvisibleinsects,inflictgreatpain,andasinglehairmaystopavastmachine,yetthechiefsecretofcomfortliesinnotsufferingtriflestovexus;andinprudentlycultivatinganundergrowthofsmallpleasures,sinceveryfewgreatones,alas!areletonlongleases。”(5)
St。FrancisdeSalestreatsthesametopicfromtheChristian’spointofview。”Howcarefully,”hesays,”weshouldcherishthelittlevirtueswhichspringupatthefootoftheCross!”Whenthesaintwasasked,”Whatvirtuesdoyoumean?”hereplied:”Humility,patience,meekness,benignity,bearingoneanother’sburden,condescension,softnessofheart,cheerfulness,cordiality,compassion,forgivinginjuries,simplicity,candour——
all,inshortofthatsortoflittlevirtues。They,likeunobtrusiveviolets,lovetheshade;likethemaresustainedbydew;andthough,likethem,theymakelittleshow,theyshedasweetodouronallaround。”(6)
Andagainhesaid:”Ifyouwouldfallintoanyextreme,letitbeonthesideofgentleness。Thehumanmindissoconstructedthatitresistsrigour,andyieldstosoftness。Amildwordquenchesanger,aswaterquenchestherageoffire;andbybenignityanysoilmayberenderedfruitful。Truth,utteredwithcourtesy,isheapingcoalsoffireonthehead——orrather,throwingrosesintheface。Howcanweresistafoewhoseweaponsarepearlsanddiamonds?”(7)
Meetingevilsbyanticipationisnotthewaytoovercomethem。Ifweperpetuallycarryourburdensaboutwithus,theywillsoonbearusdownundertheirload。Whenevilcomes,wemustdealwithitbravelyandhopefully。WhatPertheswrotetoayoungman,whoseemedtohiminclinedtotaketriflesaswellassorrowstoomuchtoheart,wasdoubtlessgoodadvice:”Goforwardwithhopeandconfidence。Thisistheadvicegiventheebyanoldman,whohashadafullshareoftheburdenandheatoflife’sday。Wemusteverstandupright,happenwhatmay,andforthisendwemustcheerfullyresignourselvestothevariedinfluencesofthismany-
colouredlife。Youmaycallthislevity,andyouarepartlyright;forflowersandcoloursarebuttrifleslightasair,butsuchlevityisaconstituentportionofourhumannature,withoutwhichitwouldsinkundertheweightoftime。Whileonearthwemuststillplaywithearth,andwiththatwhichbloomsandfadesuponitsbreast。Theconsciousnessofthismortallifebeingbutthewaytoahighergoal,bynomeansprecludesourplayingwithitcheerfully;and,indeed,wemustdoso,otherwiseourenergyinactionwillentirelyfail。”(8)
Cheerfulnessalsoaccompaniespatience,whichisoneofthemainconditionsofhappinessandsuccessinlife。”Hethatwillbeserved,”saysGeorgeHerbert,”mustbepatient。”ItwassaidofthecheerfulandpatientKingAlfred,that”goodfortuneaccompaniedhimlikeagiftofGod。”Marlborough’sexpectantcalmnesswasgreat,andaprincipalsecretofhissuccessasageneral。”Patiencewillovercomeallthings,”hewrotetoGodolphin,in1702。Inthemidstofagreatemergency,whilebaffledandopposedbyhisallies,hesaid,”Havingdoneallthatispossible,weshouldsubmitwithpatience。”
LastandchiefestofblessingsisHope,themostcommonofpossessions;for,asThalesthephilosophersaid,”Eventhosewhohavenothingelsehavehope。”Hopeisthegreathelperofthepoor。Ithasevenbeenstyled”thepoorman’sbread。”Itisalsothesustainerandinspirerofgreatdeeds。ItisrecordedofAlexandertheGreat,thatwhenhesucceededtothethroneofMacedon,hegaveawayamongsthisfriendsthegreaterpartoftheestateswhichhisfatherhadlefthim;andwhenPerdiccasaskedhimwhathereservedforhimself,Alexanderanswered,”Thegreatestpossessionofall,——Hope!”
Thepleasuresofmemory,howevergreat,arestalecomparedwiththoseofhope;forhopeistheparentofalleffortandendeavour;
and”everygiftofnobleoriginisbreatheduponbyHope’sperpetualbreath。”Itmaybesaidtobethemoralenginethatmovestheworld,andkeepsitinaction;andattheendofalltherestandsbeforeuswhatRobertsonofEllonstyled”TheGreatHope。””IfitwerenotforHope,”saidByron,”wherewouldtheFuturebe?——inhell!ItisuselesstosaywherethePresentis,formostofusknow;andasforthePast,WHATpredominatesinmemory?——Hopebaffled。ERGO,inallhumanaffairsitisHope,Hope,Hope!”(9)
NOTES
(1)JeremyTaylor’s’HolyLiving。’
(2)’Michelet’s’LifeofLuther,’pp。411-12。
(3)SirJohnKaye’s’LivesofIndianOfficers。’
(4)’Deontology,’pp。130-1,144。
(5)’LettersandEssays,’p。67。
(6)’BeautiesofSt。FrancisdeSales。’
(7)Ibid。
(8)’LifeofPerthes,’ii。449。
(9)Moore’s’LifeofByron,’8vo。Ed。,p。483。
CHAPTERIX——MANNER——ART。”Wemustbegentle,nowwearegentlemen。”——SHAKSPEARE。”Mannersarenotidle,butthefruitOfnoblenatureandofloyalmind。”——TENNYSON。”Abeautifulbehaviourisbetterthanabeautifulform;itgivesahigherpleasurethanstatuesandpictures;itisthefinestofthefinearts。”——EMERSON。”Mannersareoftentoomuchneglected;theyaremostimportanttomen,nolessthantowomen……Lifeistooshorttogetoverabadmanner;besides,mannersaretheshadowsofvirtues。”——THE
REV。SIDNEYSMITH。