第10章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"A Miscellany of Men",免费读到尾

  Theveryrichareneitheraristocratsnorself-mademen;theyareaccidents——orrathercalamities。Allrevolutionarylanguageisagenerationbehindthetimesintalkingoftheirfutility。A

  revolutionistwouldsaywithperfecttruththatcoal-ownersknownexttonothingaboutcoal-mining。Butwearepastthatpoint。Coal-ownersknownexttonothingaboutcoal-owning。Theydonotdevelopanddefendthenatureoftheirownmonopolywithanyconsistentandcourageouspolicy,howeverwicked,asdidtheoldaristocratswiththemonopolyofland。Theyhavenotthevirtuesnoreventhevicesoftyrants;theyhaveonlytheirpowers。Itisthesamewithallthepowerfulofto-day;itisthesame,forinstance,withthehigh-placedandhigh-paidofficial。Notonlyisthejudgenotjudicial,butthearbiterisnotevenarbitrary。

  Thearbiterdecides,notbysomegustofjusticeorinjusticeinhissoulliketheolddespotdoomingmenunderatree,butbythepermanentclimateoftheclasstowhichhehappenstobelong。Theancientwigofthejudgeisoftenindistinguishablefromtheoldwigoftheflunkey。

  Tojudgeaboutsuccessorfailureonemustseethingsverysimply;onemustseetheminmasses,astheartist,halfclosinghiseyesagainstdetails,seeslightandshade。Thatistheonlywayinwhichajustjudgmentcanbeformedastowhetheranydepartureordevelopment,suchasIslamortheAmericanRepublic,hasbeenabenefituponthewhole。

  Seenclose,suchgreaterectionsalwaysaboundiningeniousdetailandimpressivesolidity;itisonlybyseeingthemafaroffthatonecantelliftheTowerleans。

  Nowifwethustakeinthewholetiltorpostureofourmodernstate,weshallsimplyseethisfact:thatthoseclasseswhohaveonthewholegoverned,haveonthewholefailed。Ifyougotoafactoryyouwillseesomeverywonderfulwheelsgoinground;youwillbetoldthattheemployeroftencomesthereearlyinthemorning;thathehasgreatorganisingpower;thatifheworksoverthecolossalaccumulationofwealthhealsoworksoveritswisedistribution。Allthismaybetrueofmanyemployers,anditispracticallysaidofall。

  Butifweshadeoureyesfromallthisdazzleofdetail;ifwesimplyaskwhathasbeenthemainfeature,theupshot,thefinalfruitofthecapitalistsystem,thereisnodoubtabouttheanswer。Thespecialandsolidresultofthereignoftheemployershasbeen——unemployment。

  Unemploymentnotonlyincreasing,butbecomingatlasttheverypivotuponwhichthewholeprocessturns。

  Or,again,ifyouvisitthevillagesthatdependononeofthegreatsquires,youwillhearpraises,oftenjust,ofthelandlord\'sgoodsenseorgoodnature;youwillhearofwholesystemsofpensionsorofcareforthesick,likethoseofasmallandseparatenation;youwillseemuchcleanliness,order,andbusinesshabitsintheofficesandaccountsoftheestate。Butifyouaskagainwhathasbeentheupshot,whathasbeentheactualresultofthereignoflandlords,againtheanswerisplain。

  Attheendofthereignoflandlordsmenwillnotliveontheland。Thepracticaleffectofhavinglandlordsisnothavingtenants。Thepracticaleffectofhavingemployersisthatmenarenotemployed。Theunrestofthepopulaceisthereforemorethanamurmuragainsttyranny;

  itisagainstasortoftreason。Itisthesuspicionthatevenatthetopofthetree,evenintheseatsofthemighty,ourverysuccessisunsuccessful。

  THEOTHERKINDOFMAN

  TherearesomewhoareconciliatedbyConciliationBoards。Therearesomewho,whentheyhearofRoyalCommissions,breatheagain——orsnoreagain。TherearethosewholookforwardtoCompulsoryArbitrationCourtsastotheislandsoftheblest。Thesemendonotunderstandthedaythattheylookuponorthesightsthattheireyeshaveseen。

  Thealmostsacramentalideaofrepresentation,bywhichthefewmayincarnatethemany,aroseintheMiddleAges,andhasdonegreatthingsforjusticeandliberty。Ithashaditsrealhoursoftriumph,aswhentheStatesGeneralmettorenewFrance\'syouthliketheeagle\'s;orwhenallthevirtuesoftheRepublicfoughtandruledinthefigureofWashington。Itisnothavingoneofitshoursoftriumphnow。Therealdemocraticunrestatthismomentisnotanextensionoftherepresentativeprocess,butratherarevoltagainstit。Itisnogoodgivingthosenowinrevoltmoreboardsandcommitteesandcompulsoryregulations。Itisagainsttheseverythingsthattheyarerevolting。

  Menarenotonlyrisingagainsttheiroppressors,butagainsttheirrepresentativesor,astheywouldsay,theirmisrepresentatives。TheinnerandactualspiritofworkadayEnglandiscomingoutnotinapplause,butinanger,asagodwhoshouldcomeoutofhistabernacletorebukeandconfoundhispriests。

  Thereisacertainkindofmanwhomweseemanytimesinaday,butwhomwedonot,ingeneral,botherverymuchabout。Heisthekindofmanofwhomhiswifesaysthatabetterhusbandwhenhe\'ssoberyoucouldn\'thave。Shesometimesaddsthatheneverissober;butthisisinangerandexaggeration。Reallyhedrinksmuchlessandworksmuchmorethanthemodernlegendsupposes。Butitisquitetruethathehasnotthehorrorofbodilyoutbreak,naturaltotheclassesthatcontainladies;

  anditisquitetruethatheneverhasthatalertandinventivesortofindustrynaturaltotheclassesfromwhichmencanclimbintogreatwealth。Hehasgrown,partlybynecessity,butpartlyalsobytemper,accustomedtohavedirtyclothesanddirtyhandsnormallyandwithoutdiscomfort。Heregardscleanlinessasakindofseparateandspecialcostume;tobeputonforgreatfestivals。Hehasseveralreallycuriouscharacteristics,whichwouldattracttheeyesofsociologists,iftheyhadanyeyes。Forinstance,hisvocabularyiscoarseandabusive,inmarkedcontrasttohisactualspirit,whichisgenerallypatientandcivil。Hehasanoddwayofusingcertainwordsofreallyhorriblemeaning,butusingthemquiteinnocentlyandwithoutthemostdistanttaintoftheevilstowhichtheyallude。Heisrathersentimental;and,likemostsentimentalpeople,notdevoidofsnobbishness。Atthesametime,hebelievestheordinarymanlycommonplacesoffreedomandfraternityashebelievesmostofthedecenttraditionsofChristianmen:

  hefindsitverydifficulttoactaccordingtothem,butthisdifficultyisnotconfinedtohim。Hehasastrongandindividualsenseofhumour,andnotmuchpowerofcorporateormilitantaction。HeisnotaSocialist。Finally,hebearsnomoreresemblancetoaLabourMemberthanhedoestoaCityAldermanoraDie-HardDuke。ThisistheCommonLabourerofEngland;anditishewhoisonthemarchatlast。

  Seethismaninyourmindasyouseehiminthestreet,realisethatitishisopenmindwewishtoinfluenceorhisemptystomachwewishtocure,andthenconsiderseriouslyifyoucanthefivemen,includingtwoofhisownallegedoppressors,whoweresummonedasaRoyalCommissiontoconsiderhisclaimswhenheorhissortwentoutonstrikeupontherailways。Iknewnothingagainst,indeedIknewnothingabout,anyofthegentlementhensummoned,beyondabareintroductiontoMr。

  Henderson,whomIliked,butwhoseidentityIwasinnodangerofconfusingwiththatofarailway-porter。Idonotthinkthatanyoldgentleman,howeverabsent-minded,wouldbelikelyonarrivingatEuston,letussay,tohandhisGladstone-bagtoMr。Hendersonortoattempttorewardthatpoliticianwithtwopence。OftheothersIcanonlyjudgebythefactsabouttheirstatusassetforthinthepublicPress。TheChairman,SirDavidHarrell,appearedtobeanex-officialdistinguishedinofallthingsintheworldtheIrishConstabulary。IhavenoearthlyreasontodoubtthattheChairmanmeanttobefair;butIamnottalkingaboutwhatmenmeantobe,butaboutwhattheyare。ThepoliceinIrelandarepracticallyanarmyofoccupation;amanservinginthemordirectingthemispracticallyasoldier;and,ofcourse,hemustdohisdutyassuch。ButitseemstrulyextraordinarytoselectasonelikelytosympathisewiththedemocracyofEnglandamanwhosewholebusinessinlifeithasbeentogovernagainstitswillthedemocracyofIreland。WhatshouldwesayifRussianstrikerswereofferedthesympatheticarbitrationoftheheadoftheRussianPoliceinFinlandorPoland?AndifwedonotknowthatthewholecivilisedworldseesIrelandwithPolandasatypicaloppressednation,itistimewedid。

  TheChairman,whateverhispersonalvirtues,mustbebyinstinctandhabitakintothecapitalistsinthedispute。TwomoreoftheCommissionersactuallywerethecapitalistsinthedispute。ThencameMr。

  Hendersonpushinghistrolleyandcheerilycrying,\"Byyourleave。”,andthenanotherlessknowngentlemanwhohad\"corresponded\"withtheBoardofTrade,andhadthusgainedsomestrangeclaimtorepresenttheverypoor。

  Nowpeoplelikethismightquitepossiblyproducearationalenoughreport,andinthisorthatrespectevenimprovethings。Menofthatkindaretolerablykind,tolerablypatriotic,andtolerablybusiness-like。

  Butifanyonesupposesthatmenofthatkindcanconceivablyquietanyreal\'quarrelwiththeManoftheOtherKind,themanwhomIfirstdescribed,itisfrantic。Thecommonworkerisangryexactlybecausehehasfoundoutthatalltheseboardsconsistofthesamewell-dressedKindofMan,whethertheyarecalledGovernmentalorCapitalist。Ifanyonehopesthathewillreconcilethepoor,Isay,asIsaidatthebeginning,thatsuchaonehasnotlookedonthelightofdayordweltinthelandoftheliving。

  ButIdonotcriticisesuchaCommissionexceptforonemostpracticalandurgentpurpose。ItwillbeansweredtomethatthefirstKindofManofwhomIspokecouldnotreallybeonboardsandcommittees,asmodernEnglandismanaged。Hisdirt,thoughnecessaryandhonourable,wouldbeoffensive:hisspeech,thoughrichandfigurative,wouldbealmostincomprehensible。Letusgrant,forthemoment,thatthisisso。ThisKindofMan,withhissootyhairorsanguinaryadjectives,cannotberepresentedatourcommitteesofarbitration。Therefore,theotherKindofMan,fairlyprosperous,fairlyplausible,athomeatleastwiththemiddleclass,capableatleastofreachingandtouchingtheupperclass,hemustremaintheonlyKindofManforsuchcouncils。

  Verywell。Ifthen,yougiveatanyfuturetimeanykindofcompulsorypowerstosuchcouncilstopreventstrikes,youwillbedrivingthefirstKindofMantoworkforaparticularmasterasmuchasifyoudrovehimwithawhip。

  THEMEDIAEVALVILLAIN

  IseethattherehavebeenmoreattemptsatthewhitewashingofKingJohn。

  Butthegentlemanwhowrotehasafurtherinterestinthematter;forhebelievesthatKingJohnwasinnocent,notonlyonthispoint,butasawhole。HethinksKingJohnhasbeenverybadlytreated;thoughIamnotsurewhetherhewouldattributetothatPlantagenetasaintlymeritormerelyahumdrumrespectability。

  IsympathisewiththewhitewashingofKingJohn,merelybecauseitisaprotestagainstourwaxworkstyleofhistory。Everybodyisinaparticularattitude,withparticularmoralattributes;RufusisalwayshuntingandCoeur-de-Lionalwayscrusading;HenryVIIIalwaysmarrying,andCharlesIalwayshavinghisheadcutoff;Alfredrapidlyandinrotationmakinghispeople\'sclocksandspoilingtheircakes;andKingJohnpullingoutJews\'teethwiththecelerityandindustryofanAmericandentist。Anythingisgoodthatshakesallthisstiffsimplification,andmakesusrememberthatthesemenwereoncealive;

  thatis,mixed,free,flippant,andinconsistent。ItgivesthemindahealthykicktoknowthatAlfredhadfits,thatCharlesIpreventedenclosures,thatRufuswasreallyinterestedinarchitecture,thatHenryVIIIwasreallyinterestedintheology。

  Andasthesescrapsofrealitycanstartleusintomoresolidimaginationofevents,socanevenerrorsandexaggerationsiftheyareontherightside。ItdoessomegoodtocallAlfredaprig,CharlesIaPuritan,andJohnajollygoodfellow;ifthismakesusfeelthattheywerepeoplewhomwemighthavelikedordisliked。IdonotmyselfthinkthatJohnwasanicegentleman;butforallthatthepopularpictureofhimisallwrong。Whetherhehadanygenerousqualitiesornot,hehadwhatcommonlymakesthempossible,dare-devilcourage,forinstance,andhot-

  headeddecision。But,aboveall,hehadamoralitywhichhebroke,butwhichwemisunderstand。

  ThemediaevalmindturnedcentrallyuponthepivotofFreeWill。IntheirsocialsystemthemediaevalsweretoomuchPARTI-PER-PALE,astheirheraldswouldsay,toorigidlycutupbyfencesandquarteringsofguildordegree。Butintheirmoralphilosophytheyalwaysthoughtofmanasstandingfreeanddoubtfulatthecross-roadsinaforest。Whiletheycladandboundthebodyandtosomeextentthemindtoostifflyandquaintlyforourtaste,theyhadamuchstrongersensethanwehaveofthefreedomofthesoul。Forthemthesoulalwayshungpoisedlikeaneagleintheheavensofliberty。Manyofthethingsthatstrikeamodernasmostfantasticcamefromtheirkeensenseofthepowerofchoice。

  Forinstance,thegreatestoftheSchoolmendevotesfoliostotheminutedescriptionofwhattheworldwouldhavebeenlikeifAdamhadrefusedtheapple;whatkings,laws,babies,animals,planetswouldhavebeeninanunfallenworld。SointenselydoeshefeelthatAdammighthavedecidedtheotherwaythatheseesacompleteandcomplexvisionofanotherworld,aworldthatnowcanneverbe。

  Thissenseofthestreamoflifeinamanthatmayturneitherwaycanbefeltthroughalltheirpopularethicsinlegend,chronicle,andballad。

  Itisafeelingwhichhasbeenweakenedamongusbytwoheavyintellectualforces。TheCalvinismoftheseventeenthcenturyandthephysicalscienceofthenineteenth,whateverothertruthstheymayhavetaught,havedarkenedthislibertywithasenseofdoom。Wethinkofbadmenassomethinglikeblackmen,aseparateandincurablekindofpeople。

  TheByronicspiritwasreallyasortofoperaticCalvinism。Itbroughtthevillainuponthestage;thelostsoul;themodernversionofKingJohn。ButthecontemporariesofKingJohndidnotfeellikethatabouthim,evenwhentheydetestedhim。Theyinstinctivelyfelthimtobeamanofmixedpassionslikethemselves,whowasallowinghisevilpassionstohavemuchtoogoodatimeofit。Theymighthavespokenofhimasamaninconsiderabledangerofgoingtohell;buttheywouldhavenottalkedofhimasifhehadcomefromthere。IntheballadsofPercyorRobinHooditfrequentlyhappensthattheKingcomesuponthescene,andhisultimatedecisionmakestheclimaxofthetale。Butwedonotfeel,aswedointheByronicormodernromance,thatthereisadefinitestagedirection\"EnterTyrant。”Nordowebeholdadeusexmachinawhoiscertaintodoallthatismildandjust。TheKingintheballadisinastateofvirileindecision。Sometimeshewillpassfromatoweringpassiontothemostsweepingmagnanimityandfriendliness;sometimeshewillbeginanactofvengeanceandbeturnedfromitbyajest。Yetthisaugustlevityisnotmoralindifference;itismoralfreedom。ItisthestrongsenseinthewriterthattheKing,beingthetypeofmanwithpower,willprobablysometimesuseitbadlyandsometimeswell。InthissenseJohniscertainlymisrepresented,forheispicturedassomethingthatnoneofhisownfriendsorenemiessaw。Inthatsensehewascertainlynotsoblackasheispainted,forhelivedinaworldwhereeveryonewaspiebald。

  KingJohnwouldberepresentedinamodernplayornovelasakindofdegenerate;ashiftyeyedmoralmaniacwithatwistinhissoul\'sbackboneandgreenbloodinhisveins。Themediaevalswerequitecapableofboilinghiminmeltedlead,buttheywouldhavebeenquiteincapableofdespairingofhissoulinthemodernfashion。AstrikingafortioricaseisthatofthestrangemediaevallegendofRoberttheDevil。RobertwasrepresentedasamonstrousbirthsenttoanembitteredwomanactuallyinanswertoprayerstoSatan,andhisearlieractionsaresimplythoseoftheinfernalfireletlooseuponearth。Yetthoughhecanbecalledalmostliterallyachildofhell,yettheclimaxofthestoryishisrepentanceatRomeandhisgreatreparation。Thatistheparadoxofmediaevalmorals:asitmustappeartothemoderns。WemusttrytoconceivearaceofmenwhohatedJohn,andsoughthisblood,andbelievedeveryabominationabouthim,whowouldhavebeenquitecapableofassassinatingortorturinghimintheextremityoftheiranger。Andyetwemustadmitthattheywouldnotreallyhavebeenfundamentallysurprisedifhehadshavedhisheadinhumiliation,givenallhisgoodstothepoor,embracedthelepersinalazar-house,andbeencanonisedasasaintinheaven。SostronglydidtheyholdthatthepivotofWillshouldturnfreely,whichnowisrusted,andsticks。

  Forwe,whateverourpoliticalopinions,certainlyneverthinkofourpublicmenlikethat。IfweholdtheopinionthatMr。LloydGeorgeisanobletribuneofthepopulaceandprotectorofthepoor,wedonotadmitthathecaneverhavepalteredwiththetruthorbargainedwiththepowerful。IfweholdtheequallyidioticopinionthatheisaredandrabidSocialist,maddeningmobsintomutinyandtheft,thenweexpecthimtogoonmaddeningthem——andus。Wedonotexpecthim,letussay,suddenlytogointoamonastery。Wehavelosttheideaofrepentance;

  especiallyinpublicthings;thatiswhywecannotreallygetridofourgreatnationalabusesofeconomictyrannyandaristocraticavarice。

  Progressinthemodernsenseisaverydismaldrudge;andmostlyconsistsofbeingmovedonbythepolice。Wemoveonbecausewearenotallowedtomoveback。Butthereallyraggedprophets,therealrevolutionistswhoheldhighlanguageinthepalacesofkings,theydidnotconfinethemselvestosaying,\"Onward,Christiansoldiers,\"stillless,\"Onward,Futuristsoldiers\";whattheysaidtohighemperorsandtowholeempireswas,\"Turnye,turnye,whywillyedie?\"

  THEDIVINEDETECTIVE

  Everypersonofsoundeducationenjoysdetectivestories,andthereareevenseveralpointsonwhichtheyhaveaheartysuperioritytomostmodernbooks。Adetectivestorygenerallydescribessixlivingmendiscussinghowitisthatamanisdead。Amodernphilosophicstorygenerallydescribessixdeadmendiscussinghowanymancanpossiblybealive。Butthosewhohaveenjoyedtheromanpoliciermusthavenotedonething,thatwhenthemurdereriscaughtheishardlyeverhanged。\"That,\"saysSherlockHolmes,\"istheadvantageofbeingaprivatedetective\";

  afterhehascaughthecansetfree。TheChristianChurchcanbestbedefinedasanenormousprivatedetective,correctingthatofficialdetective——theState。This,indeed,isoneoftheinjusticesdonetohistoricChristianity;injusticeswhicharisefromlookingatcomplexexceptionsandnotatthelargeandsimplefact。Weareconstantlybeingtoldthattheologiansusedracksandthumbscrews,andsotheydid。

  Theologiansusedracksandthumbscrewsjustastheyusedthimblesandthree-leggedstools,becauseeverybodyelseusedthem。ChristianitynomorecreatedthemediaevaltorturesthanitdidtheChinesetortures;itinheritedthemfromanyempireasheathenastheChinese。

  TheChurchdid,inanevilhour,consenttoimitatethecommonwealthandemploycruelty。Butifweopenoureyesandtakeinthewholepicture,ifwelookatthegeneralshapeandcolourofthething,therealdifferencebetweentheChurchandtheStateishugeandplain。TheState,inalllandsandages,hascreatedamachineryofpunishment,morebloodyandbrutalinsomeplacesthanothers,butbloodyandbrutaleverywhere。TheChurchistheonlyinstitutionthateverattemptedtocreateamachineryofpardon。TheChurchistheonlythingthateverattemptedbysystemtopursueanddiscovercrimes,notinordertoavenge,butinordertoforgivethem。Thestakeandrackweremerelytheweaknessesofthereligion;itssnobberies,itssurrenderstotheworld。

  Itsspeciality——or,ifyoulike,itsoddity——wasthismercilessmercy;

  theunrelentingsleuthhoundwhoseekstosaveandnotslay。

  IcanbestillustratewhatImeanbyreferringtotwopopularplaysonsomewhatparalleltopics,whichhavebeensuccessfulhereandinAmerica。

  ThePassingoftheThirdFloorBackisahumaneandreverentexperiment,dealingwiththeinfluenceofoneunknownbutdivinefigureashepassesthroughagroupofSqualidcharacters。Ihavenodesiretomakecheapfunoftheextremelyabruptconversionsofallthesepeople;thatisapointofart,notofmorals;and,afterall,manyconversionshavebeenabrupt。Thissaviour\'smethodofmakingpeoplegoodistotellthemhowgoodtheyarealready;andinthecaseofsuicidaloutcasts,whosemoralbacksarebroken,andwhoaresoakedwithsincereself-contempt,Icanimaginethatthismightbequitetherightway。IshouldnotdeliverthismessagetoauthorsormembersofParliament,becausetheywouldsoheartilyagreewithit。

  Still,itisnotaltogetherherethatIdifferfromthemoralofMr。

  Jerome\'splay。Idiffervitallyfromhisstorybecauseitisnotadetectivestory。ThereisinitnoneofthisgreatChristianideaoftearingtheireviloutofmen;itlackstherealismofthesaints。

  Redemptionshouldbringtruthaswellaspeace;andtruthisafinething,thoughthematerialistsdidgomadaboutit。Thingsmustbefaced,eveninordertobeforgiven;thegreatobjectionto\"lettingsleepingdogslie\"isthattheylieinmoresensesthanone。ButinMr。Jerome\'sPassingoftheThirdFloorBacktheredeemerisnotadivinedetective,pitilessinhisresolvetoknowandpardon。Ratherheisasortofdivinedupe,whodoesnotpardonatall,becausehedoesnotseeanythingthatisgoingon。Itmay,ormaynot,betruetosay,\"Toutcomprendreesttoutpardonner。”Butitismuchmoreevidentlytruetosay,\"RiencomprendreestrienPardonner,\"andthe\"ThirdFloorBack\"doesnotseemtocomprehendanything。Hemight,afterall,beaquiteselfishsentimentalist,whofounditcomfortingtothinkwellofhisneighbours。

  Thereisnothingveryheroicinlovingafteryouhavebeendeceived。Theheroicbusinessistoloveafteryouhavebeenundeceived。

  WhenIsawthisplayitwasnaturaltocompareitwithanotherplaywhichIhadnotseen,butwhichIhavereadinitsprintedversion。ImeanMr。

  RannKennedy\'sServantintheHouse,thesuccessofwhichsprawlsoversomanyoftheAmericannewspapers。Thisalsoisconcernedwithadim,yetevidentlydivine,figurechangingthedestiniesofawholegroupofpersons。Itisabetterplaystructurallythantheother;infact,itisaveryfineplayindeed;butthereisnothingaestheticorfastidiousaboutit。Itisasmuchormorethantheothersensational,democratic,andIusethewordinasoundandgoodsenseSalvationist。

  Butthedifferenceliespreciselyinthis——thattheChristofMr。

  Kennedy\'splayinsistsonreallyknowingallthesoulsthatheloves;hedeclinestoconquerbyakindofsupernaturalstupidity。Hepardonsevil,buthewillnotignoreit。Inotherwords,beisaChristian,andnotaChristianScientist。Thedistinctiondoubtlessispartlyexplainedbytheproblemsseverallyselected。Mr。JeromepracticallysupposesChristtobetryingtosavedisreputablepeople;andthat,ofcourse,isnaturallyasimplebusiness。Mr。KennedysupposesHimtobetryingtosavethereputablepeople,whichisamuchlargeraffair。ThechiefcharactersinTheServantintheHouseareapopularandstrenuousvicar,universallyrespected,andhisfashionableandforciblewife。Itwouldhavebeennogoodtotellthesepeopletheyhadsomegoodinthem——forthatwaswhattheyweretellingthemselvesalldaylong。Theyhadtoberemindedthattheyhadsomebadinthem——instinctiveidolatriesandsilenttreasonswhichtheyalwaystriedtoforget。Itisinconnectionwiththesecrimesofwealthandculturethatwefacetherealproblemofpositiveevil。ThewholeofMr。Blatchford\'scontroversyaboutsinwasvitiatedthroughoutbyone\'sconsciousnessthatwheneverhewrotetheword\"sinner\"hethoughtofamaninrags。Buthere,again,wecanfindtruthmerelybyreferringtovulgarliterature——itsunfailingfountain。

  Whoeverreadadetectivestoryaboutpoorpeople?Thepoorhavecrimes;

  butthepoorhavenosecrets。Anditisbecausetheproudhavesecretsthattheyneedtobedetectedbeforetheyareforgiven。

  THEELFOFJAPAN

  TherearethingsinthisworldofwhichIcansayseriouslythatIlovethembutIdonotlikethem。Thepointisnotmerelyverbal,butpsychologicallyquitevalid。Catsarethefirstthingsthatoccurtomeasexamplesoftheprinciple。Catsaresobeautifulthatacreaturefromanotherstarmightfallinlovewiththem,andsoincalculablethathemightkillthem。Someofmyfriendstakequiteahighmorallineaboutcats。Some,likeMr。Titterton,Ithink,admireacatforitsmoralindependenceandreadinesstoscratchanybody\"ifhedoesnotbehavehimself。”Others,likeMr。Belloe,regardthecatascruelandsecret,afitfriendforwitches;onewhowilldevoureverything,except,indeed,poisonedfood,\"soutterlylackingisitinChristiansimplicityandhumility。”Formypart,Ihaveneitherofthesefeelings。IadmirecatsasIadmirecatkins;thoselittlefluffythingsthathangontrees。Theyarebothprettyandbothfurry,andbothdeclarethegloryofGod。AndthisabstractexultationinalllivingthingsistrulytobecalledLove;

  foritisahigherfeelingthanmereaffectionalconvenience;itisavision。Itisheroic,andevensaintly,inthis:thatitasksfornothinginreturn。IlovealltheeatsinthestreetasSt。FrancisofAssisilovedallthebirdsinthewoodorallthefishesinthesea;notsomuch,ofcourse,butthenIamnotasaint。Buthedidnotwishtobridleabirdandrideonitsback,asonebridlesandridesonahorse。

  Hedidnotwishtoputacollarroundafish\'sneck,markedwiththename\"Francis,\"andtheaddress\"Assisi\"——asonedoeswithadog。Hedidnotwishthemtobelongtohimorhimselftobelongtothem;infact,itwouldbeaveryawkwardexperiencetobelongtoalotoffishes。Butamandoesbelongtohisdog,inanotherbutanequallyrealsensewiththatinwhichthedogbelongstohim。Thetwobondsofobedienceandresponsibilityvaryverymuchwiththedogsandthemen;buttheyarebothbonds。Inotherwords,amandoesnotmerelyloveadog;ashemightinamysticalmomentloveanysparrowthatperchedonhiswindow-

  silloranyrabbitthatranacrosshispath。Amanlikesadog;andthatisaseriousmatter。

点击下载App,搜索"A Miscellany of Men",免费读到尾