Contents:
Woman’sWorkinaCountryParishTheScienceofHealthTheTwoBreathsThriftNausicaainLondon;or,theLowerEducationofWomenTheAir-MothersTheTreeofKnowledgeGreatCitiesandtheirInfluenceforGoodandEvilHeroismTheMassacreoftheInnocents\"Amadworld,mymasters。\"
WOMAN’SWORKINACOUNTRYPARISH{1}
Ihavebeenaskedtospeakafewwordstoyouonalady’sworkinacountryparish。Ishallconfinemyselfrathertoprinciplesthantodetails;andthefirstprinciplewhichIwouldimpressonyouis,thatwemustallbejustbeforewearegenerous。Imust,indeed,speakplainlyonthispoint。Awoman’sfirstdutiesaretoherownfamily,herownservants。Benotdeceived:ifanyonecannotruleherownhousehold,shecannotruletheChurchofGod。
Ifanyonecannotsympathisewiththeservantswithwhomsheisincontactalldaylong,shewillnotreallysympathisewiththepoorwhomsheseesonceaweek。Iknowthetemptationnottobelievethisisverygreat。Itseemssomucheasiertowomentodosomethingforthepoor,thanfortheirownladies’maids,andhouse-maids,andcooks。Andwhy?BecausetheycantreatthepoorasTHINGS:buttheyMUSTtreattheirservantsaspersons。Aladycangointoapoorcottage,laydownthelawtotheinhabitants,reprovethemforsinstowhichshehasneverbeentempted;tellthemhowtosetthingsright,which,ifshehadthedoingofthem,Ifearshewoulddoevenmoreconfusedlyandslovenlythanthey。
Shecangivethematract,asshemightapill;andthenashilling,assomethingsweetafterthemedicine;andshecangooutagainandseenomoreofthemtillherbenevolentmoodrecurs:
butwiththeservantsitisnotso。Sheknowstheircharacters;
and,whatismore,theyknowhers;theyknowherprivatehistory,herlittleweaknesses。Perhapssheisalittleintheirpower,andsheisshywiththem。Sheisafraidofbeginningagoodworkwiththem,because,ifshedoes,shewillbeforcedtocarryitout;anditcannotbecold,dry,perfunctory,official:itmustbehearty,living,loving,personal。Shemustmakethemherfriends;andperhapssheisafraidofdoingthat,forfeartheyshouldtakeliberties,asitiscalled——whichtheyveryprobablywilldo,unlessshekeepsupaveryhighstandardofself-
restraintandearnestnessinherownlife——andthatinvolvesagreatdealoftrouble,andsosheistempted,whenshewishestodogood,tofallbackonthepoorpeopleinthecottagesoutside,who,asshefancies,knownothingabouther,andwillneverfindoutwhetherornotsheactsuptotheruleswhichshelaysdownforthem。Benotdeceived,Isay,inthiscasealso。Fancynotthattheyknownothingaboutyou。Thereisnothingsecretwhichshallnotbemademanifest;andwhatyoudointheclosetissurelyproclaimed(andoftenwithexaggerationenoughandtospare)onthehouse-top。Thesepoorfolksatyourgateknowwellenough,throughservantsandtradesmen,whatyouare,howyoutreatyourservants,howyoupayyourbills,whatsortoftemperyouhave;andtheyformashrewd,hardestimateofyourcharacter,inthelightofwhichtheyviewallthatyoudoandsaytothem;
andbelieveme,thatifyouwishtodoanyrealgoodtothem,youmustbeginbydoinggoodtothosewholiestillnearertoyouthanthem。Andbelieveme,too,thatifyoushrinkfromaheartypatriarchalsympathywithyourownservants,becauseitwouldrequiretoomuchpersonalhumanintercoursewiththem,youarelikeamanwho,findingthathehadnotpowderenoughtofireoffapocket-pistol,shouldtrytobettermattersbyusingthesamequantityofammunitioninaneighty-fourpoundgun。Foritisthishumanfriendship,trust,affection,whichistheverythingyouhavetoemploytowardsthepoor,andtocallupinthem。
Clubs,societies,alms,lendinglibrariesarebutdeadmachinery,needful,perhaps,but,liketheirontubewithoutthepowder,unabletosendthebulletforthonesingleinch;deadanduselesslumber,withouthumanity;withoutthesmileofthelip,thelightoftheeye,thetendernessofthevoice,whichmakesthepoorwomanfeelthatasoulisspeakingtohersoul,aheartyearningafterherheart;thatsheisnotmerelyaTHINGtobeimproved,butasistertobemadeconsciousofthedivinebondofhersisterhood,andtaughtwhatshemeanswhensherepeatsinherCreed,\"Ibelieveinthecommunionofsaints。\"Thisismytext,andmykey-note——whateverelseImaysayto-dayisbutacarryingoutintodetailsoftheonequestion,Howmayyougotothesepoorcreaturesaswomantowoman?
Yournextdutiesaretoyourhusband’sorfather’sservantsandworkmen。Itissaidthataclergyman’swifeoughttoconsidertheparishasHERflockaswellasherhusband’s。Itmaybeso:I
believethedogmatobemuchoverstatedjustnow。Butofalandlord’s,oremployer’swife(Iaminclinedtosay,too,ofanofficer’swife),suchadoctrineisabsolutelytrue,andcannotbeoverstated。Alargeproportion,therefore,ofyourparishworkwillbetoinfluencethemenofyourfamilytodotheirdutybytheirdependants。Youwishtocuretheevilsunderwhichtheylabour。Thegreaterproportionoftheseareinthehandsofyourmenrelatives。Itisamockery,forinstance,inyoutovisitthefever-strickencottage,whileyourhusbandleavesitinastatewhichbreedsthatfever。Yourbusinessistogotohimandsay,\"HEREISAWRONG;RIGHTIT!\"This,asmanyabeautifulMiddleAgelegendtellsus,hasbeenwoman’sfunctioninalluncivilisedtimes;notmerelytomeltman’shearttopity,buttoawakenittoduty。Butthemanmustseethatthewomanisinearnest:thatifhewillnotrepairthewrongbyjustice,shewill,ifpossible(asinthoseoldlegends),byself-sacrifice。Besurethismethodwillconquer。Dobutsay:\"Ifyouwillnotnew-roofthatcottage,ifyouwillnotmakethatdrain,Iwill。Iwillnotbuyanewdresstillitisdone;Iwillsellthehorseyougaveme,pawnthebraceletyougaveme,butthethingshallbedone。\"Lethimsee,Isay,thatyouareinearnest,andhewillfeelthatyourmessageisadivineone,whichhemustobeyforveryshameandweariness,iffornothingelse。Thisisinmyeyesthesecondpartofawoman’sparishwork。Ientreatyoutobearitinmindwhenyouhear,asItrustyouwill,lecturesinthisplaceuponthatSANITARYREFORM,withoutwhichalleffortsforthebetteringofthemassesareinmyeyesnotonlyuseless,buthypocritical。
Iwillsuppose,then,thatyouarefulfillinghomedutiesinself-
restraint,andlove,andinthefearofGod。Iwillsupposethatyouareusingallyourwoman’sinfluenceonthemindofyourfamily,inbehalfoftenantsandworkmen;andItellyoufrankly,thatunlessthisbefirstdone,youarepayingatitheofmintandanise,andneglectingcommonrighteousnessandmercy。Butyouwishtodomore:youwishforpersonalcontactwiththepoorroundyou,forthepureenjoymentofdoinggoodtothemwithyourownhands。Howareyoutosetaboutit?First,thereareclubs——
clothing-clubs,shoe-clubs,maternal-clubs;allverygoodintheirway。Butdonotfancythattheyarethegreaterpartofyourparishwork。Ratherwatchandfearlesttheybecomesubstitutesforyourrealparishwork;lestthebustleandamusementofplayingatshopkeeper,orpenny-collector,onceaweek,shouldblindyoutoyourrealpower——yourrealtreasure,byspendingwhichyoubecomeallthericher。WhatyouhavetodoistoennobleandpurifytheWOMANHOODofthesepoorwomen;tomakethembetterdaughters,sisters,wives,mothers:andalltheclubsintheworldwillnotdothat;theyarebutpalliativesofagreatevil,whichtheydonottouch;cloaksforalmsgiving,clumsymeansofekingoutinsufficientwages;atbest,kindlycontrivancesfortrickingintotemporarythriftinessadegradedandrecklesspeasantry。Miserable,miserablestateofthings!outofwhichthelongerIliveIseelesshopeofescape,savingbyanemigration,whichshalldrainusofallthehealthy,strong,andbraveamongthelowerclasses,andleaveus,asajustpunishmentforoursins,onlythecripple,thedrunkard,andthebeggar。
YettheseclubsMUSTbecarriedon。Theymakelifealittlemorepossible;theylightenhearts,ifbutforamoment;theyinculcatehabitsoforderandself-restraint,whichmaybeusefulwhenthepoormanfindshimselfinCanadaorAustralia。Anditisacruelutilitarianismtorefusetopalliatethesymptomsbecauseyoucannotcurethediseaseitself。Youwillgiveopiatestothesuffering,whomustdienevertheless。Lethimslipintohisgraveatleastaspainlesslyasyoucan。Andsoyoumustusethesecharitablesocieties,rememberingallalongwhatafearfulandhumblingsignthenecessityforthemisofthediseasedstateofthisEngland,asthesportulaanduniversalalmsgivingwasofthedecadenceofRome。
However,theworkhastobedone;andsuchasitis,itisespeciallyfittedforyoungunmarriedladies。Itrequiresnodeepknowledgeofhumannature。Itmakesthemawareoftheamountofsufferingandstrugglingwhichliesaroundthem,withoutbringingtheminthatmostundesirablecontactwiththecoarserformsofevilwhichhouse-visitationmustdo;andthemerebusinesshabitsofaccuracyandpatiencetowhichitcompelsthem,areavaluablepracticalschoolingforthemthemselvesinafter-life。Itistiresomeandunsentimentaldrudgery,nodoubt;butperhapsallthebettertrainingonthataccount。And,afterall,themagicofsweetness,grace,andcourtesymayshedahallowingandhumanisinglightoverthemeanestwork,andthesmileofGodmayspreadfromliptolip,andthelightofGodfromeyetoeye,evenbetweenthegiverandreceiverofapenny,tillthepoorwomangoeshome,sayinginherheart,\"Ihavenotonlyfoundthelifeofmyhand——I
havefoundasisterfortimeandforeternity。\"
ButthereisanotherfieldofparishusefulnesswhichIcannotrecommendtooearnestly,andthatis,theschool。Thereyoumayworkashardasyouwill,andhowyouwill——providedyoudoitinaloving,hearty,cheerful,HUMANway,playfulandyetearnest;
twoqualitieswhich,whentheyexistintheirhighestpower,aresuretogotogether。Isay,howyouwill。Iamnopedantaboutschools;Icarelesswhatistaughtthanhowitistaught。ThemerestrudimentsofChristianity,themerestrudimentsofpopularinstruction,areenough,providedtheybegivenbylipswhichspeakasiftheybelievedwhattheysaid,andwithalookwhichshowsrealloveforthepupil。Manneriseverything——matterasecondaryconsideration;forinmatter,brainonlyspeakstobrain;inmanner,soulspeakstosoul。IfyouwantChrist’slost-
lambsreallytobelievethatHediedforthem,youwilldoitbetterbyonelittleactofinterestandaffection,thanbymakingthemlearnbyheartwholecommentaries——evenasMissNightingalehaspreachedChristcrucifiedtothosepoorsoldiersbyactsofplainoutwarddrudgery,morelivingly,andreally,andconvincinglythanshecouldhavedonebytenthousandsermons,andmademanyanoblelad,Idoubtnot,sayinhisheart,forthefirsttimeinhiswildlife,\"IcanbelievenowthatChristdiedforme,forhereisonewhomHehastaughttodieformeinlikewise。\"Andthisblessedeffectofschool-work,remember,isnotconfinedtothechildren。Itgoeshomewiththemtotheparents。
Thechildbecomesanobjectofinterestandrespectintheireyes,whentheyseeitanobjectofinterestandrespectinyours。Iftheyseethatyoulookonitasanawfulandgloriousbeing,thechildofGod,theco-heirofChrist,theylearngraduallytolookonitinthesamelight。Theybecomeafraidandashamed(anditisanoblefearandshame)todoandsaybeforeitwhattheyusedtodoandsay;afraidtoill-useit。Itbecomestothemamysteriousvisitor(sadthatitshouldbeso,buttrueassad)
fromahigherandpurersphere,whomustbetreatedwithsomethingofcourtesyandrespect,whomustevenbeaskedtoteachthemsomethingofitsnewknowledge;andtheschool,andtheladies’
interestintheschool,becometothedegradedparentsalivingsignthatthosechildren’sangelsdoindeedbeholdthefaceoftheirFatherwhichisinheaven。
Now,thereisonethinginschool-workwhichIwishtopressonyou;andthatis,thatyoushouldnotconfineyourworktothegirls;butbestowitasfreelyonthosewhoneeditmore,andwho(paradoxicalasitmayseem)willrespondtoitmoredeeplyandfreely——THEBOYS。IamnotgoingtoenterintothereasonsWHY。
Ionlyentreatyoutobelieveme,thatbyhelpingtoeducatetheboys,oreven(whenoldenough),bytakingaclass(asIhaveseendonewithadmirableeffect)ofgrown-uplads,youmayinfluenceforevernotonlythehappinessofyourpupils,butofthegirlswhomtheywillhereaftermarry。Itwillbeaboontoyourownsexaswellastoourstoteachthemcourtesy,self-restraint,reverenceforphysicalweakness,admirationoftendernessandgentleness;anditisonewhichonlyaladycanbestow。Onlybybeingaccustomedinyouthtoconversewithladies,willtheboylearntotreathereafterhissweetheartorhiswifelikeagentleman。Thereisalatentchivalry,doubtitnot,intheheartofeveryuntutoredclod;ifitdiesoutinhim(asittoooftendoes),itwerebetterforhim,Ioftenthink,ifhehadneverbeenborn:buttheonlytalismanwhichwillkeepitalive,muchmoredevelopitintoitsfulness,isfriendlyandreveringintercoursewithwomenofhigherrankthanhimself,betweenwhomandhimthereisagreatandyetablessedgulffixed。
Ihavelefttothelastthemostimportantsubjectofall;andthatis,whatiscalled\"visitingthepoor。\"Itisanendlesssubject;ifyougointodetails,youmightwritevolumesonit。
AllIcandothisafternoonistokeeptomyownkey-note,andsay,Visitwhom,when,andwhereyouwill;butletyourvisitsbethoseofwomantowoman。Considertowhomyougo——topoorsoulswhoselife,comparedwithyours,isonelongmalaiseofbody,andsoul,andspirit——anddoasyouwouldbedoneby;insteadofreprovingandfault-finding,encourage。InGod’sname,encourage。
Theyscramblethroughlife’srocks,bogs,andthornbrakes,clumsilyenough,andhavemanyafall,poorthings!Butwhy,inthenameofaGodofloveandjustice,isthelady,rollingalongthesmoothturnpike-roadinhercomfortablecarriage,tobecallingoutalldaylongtothepoorsoulwhodragsonbesideheroverhedgeandditch,mossandmoor,bare-footedandweary-
hearted,withhalf-a-dozenchildrenatherback:\"Yououghtnottohavefallenhere;anditwasverycowardlytoliedownthere;
anditwasyourduty,asamother,tohavehelpedthatchildthroughthepuddle;while,asforsleepingunderthatbush,itismostimprudentandinadmissible?\"Whynotencourageher,praiseher,cheerheronherwearywaybylovingwords,andkeepyourreproofsforyourself——evenyouradvice;forSHEdoesgetonherway,afterall,whereYOUcouldnottravelastepforward;andsheknowswhatsheisaboutperhapsbetterthanyoudo,andwhatshehastoendure,andwhatGodthinksofherlife-journey。Theheartknowethitsownbitterness,andastrangerintermeddlethnotwithitsjoy。Butdonotbeastrangertoher。Beasistertoher。I
donotaskyoutotakeherupinyourcarriage。Youcannot;
perhapsitisgoodforherthatyoucannot。ItisgoodsometimesforLazarusthatheisnotfittositatDives’sfeast——goodforhimthatheshouldreceivehisevilthingsinthislife,andbecomfortedinthelifetocome。AllIaskis,dotothepoorsoulasyouwouldhaveherdotoyouinherplace。Donotinterruptandvexher(forsheisbusyenoughalready)withremedieswhichshedoesnotunderstand,fortroubleswhichyoudonotunderstand。
Butspeakcomfortablytoher,andsay:\"IcannotfeelWITHyou,butIdofeelFORyou:Ishouldenjoyhelpingyou,butIdonotknowhow——tellme。Tellmewheretheyokegalls;tellmewhythatforeheadisgrownoldbeforeitstime:Imaybeabletoeasetheburden,toputfreshlightintotheeyes;andifnot,stilltellme,simplybecauseIamawoman,andknowthereliefofpouringoutmyownsoulintolovingears,eventhoughinthedepthsofdespair。\"Yes,paradoxicalasitmayseem,Iamconvincedthattheonlywaytohelpthesepoorwomenhumanlyandreally,istobeginbyconfessingtothemthatyoudonotknowhowtohelpthem;
tohumbleyourselftothem,andtoasktheircounselforthegoodofthemselvesandoftheirneighbours,insteadofcomingproudlytothem,withnostrumsreadycompounded,asifadoctorshouldbesoconfidentinhisownknowledgeofbooksandmedicineastogivephysicbeforeaskingthepatient’ssymptoms。
Therefore,Ientreatyoutobearinmind(forwithoutthisallvisitingofthepoorwillbeutterlyvoidanduseless),thatyoumustregulateyourconducttothem,andintheirhouses,eventothemostminuteparticulars,bytheverysameruleswhichapplytopersonsofyourownclass。Neverletanywomansayofyou(thoughtfataltoallconfidence,allinfluence!):\"Yes,itisallverykind:butshedoesnotbehavetomeasshewouldtooneofherownquality。\"Piety,earnestness,affectionateness,eloquence——allmaybenullifiedandstultifiedbysimplykeepingapoorwomanstandinginherowncottagewhileyousit,orenteringherhouse,evenatherownrequest,whilesheisatmeals。Shemaydeclinetosit;shemaybegyoutocomein,allthemorereasonforrefusingutterlytoobeyher,becauseitshowsthatthatveryinwardgulfbetweenyouandherstillexistsinhermind,whichitistheobjectofyourvisittobridgeover。Ifyouknowhertobeintrouble,touchonthattroubleasyouwouldwithalady。Woman’sheartisalikeinallranks,andthedeepestsorrowistheoneofwhichshespeaksthelastandleast。Weshouldnotlikeanyone——no,notanangelfromheaven,tocomeintoourhouseswithoutknockingatthedoor,andsay:\"Ihearyouareveryilloff——Iwilllendyouahundredpounds。Ithinkyouareverycarelessofmoney,Iwilltakeyouraccountsintomyownhands;\"andstilllessagain:\"Yoursonisaverybad,profligate,disgracefulfellow,whoisnotfittobementioned;I
intendtotakehimoutofyourhandsandreformhimmyself。\"
Neitherdothepoorlikesuchunceremoniousmercy,suchuntendertenderness,benevolenceathorse-play,mistakingkicksforcaresses。Theydonotlikeit,theywillnotrespondtoit,saveinparisheswhichhavebeendemoralisedbyofficiousandindiscriminatebenevolence,andwherethelastremainingvirtuesofthepoor,savageself-helpandindependence,havebeenexchanged(asIhavetoooftenseenthemexchanged)fororganisedbeggingandhypocrisy。
Iwouldthatyouwouldallread,ladies,andconsiderwellthetraitsofanoppositecharacterwhichhavejustcometolight(tome,Iamashamedtosay,forthefirsttime)intheBiographyofSidneySmith。Theloveandadmirationwhichthattrulybraveandlovingmanwonfromeveryone,richorpoor,withwhomhecameincontact,seemstometohavearisenfromtheonefact,thatwithoutperhapshavinganysuchconsciousintention,hetreatedrichandpoor,hisownservantsandthenoblemenhisguests,alike,andALIKEcourteously,considerately,cheerfully,affectionately——soleavingablessingandreapingablessingwheresoeverhewent。
Approach,then,thesepoorwomenassisters,andyouwillbeablegraduallytoreversethehardsayingofwhichImadeusejustnow:
\"Donotapplyremedieswhichtheydonotunderstand,todiseaseswhichyoudonotunderstand。\"Learnlovinglyandpatiently(aye,andreverently,forthereisthatineveryhumanbeingwhichdeservesreverence,andmustbereverencedifwewishtounderstandit)——learn,Isay,tounderstandtheirtroubles,andbythattimetheywillhavelearnttounderstandyourremedies,andtheywillappreciatethem。ForyouHAVEremedies。Idonotundervalueyourposition。Nomanonearthislessinclinedtoundervaluetherealpowerofwealth,rank,accomplishments,manners——evenphysicalbeauty。AllaretalentsfromGod,andI
giveGodthankswhenIseethempossessedbyanyhumanbeing;forIknowthatthey,too,canbeusedinHisservice,andbroughttobearonthetrueemancipationofwoman——heremancipation,notfromman(assomefoolishpersonsfancy),butfromthedevil,\"theslandereranddivider\"whodividesherfromman,andmakesherlivealife-longtragedy,whichgoesoninmorecottagesthaninpalaces——avieepart,avieincomprise——alifemadeuphalfofill-usage,halfofunnecessary,self-willed,self-conceitedmartyrdom,insteadofbeing(asGodintended)halfofthehumanuniverse,ahelpmeetforman,andtheonebrightspotwhichmakesthisworldendurable。Towardsmakingherthat,andsorealisingtheprimevalmissionbyeverycottagehearth,eachofyoucandosomething;foreachofyouhavesometalent,power,knowledge,attractionbetweensoulandsoul,whichthecottager’swifehasnot,andbywhichyoumaydrawhertoyouwith(astheprophetsays)humanbondsandthecordsoflove:butshemustbedrawnbythemalone,oryourworkisnothing,andthoughyougivethetreasuresofInd,theyarevaluelessequallytoherandtoChrist;
fortheyarenotgiveninHisname,whichisthatboundlesstenderness,consideration,patience,self-sacrifice,bywhicheventhecupofcoldwaterisapreciousoffering——asGodgrantyourlabourmaybe!
THESCIENCEOFHEALTH{2}
WhethertheBritishraceisimprovingordegenerating?What,ifitseemprobablydegenerating,arethecausesofsogreatanevil?
Howtheycanbe,ifnotdestroyed,atleastarrested?Thesearequestionsworthyattention,notofstatesmenonlyandmedicalmen,butofeveryfatherandmotherintheseisles。IshallsaysomewhatabouttheminthisEssay;andsayitinaformwhichoughttobeintelligibletofathersandmothersofeveryclass,fromthehighesttothelowest,inhopesofconvincingsomeofthematleastthatthescienceofhealth,nowsoutterlyneglectedinourcurriculumofso-callededucation,oughttobetaught——therudimentsofitatleast——ineveryschool,college,anduniversity。
Wetalkofourhardyforefathers;andrightly。Buttheywerehardy,justasthesavageisusuallyhardy,becausenonebutthehardylived。Theymayhavebeenabletosayofthemselves——astheydoinaStatepaperof1515,nowwellknownthroughthepagesofMr。Froude:\"WhatcomynfolkofalltheworldmaycomparewiththecomynsofEngland,inriches,freedom,liberty,welfare,andallprosperity?Whatcomynfolkissomighty,andsostronginthefelde,asthecomynsofEngland?\"Theymayhavebeenfedon\"greatshinsofbeef,\"tilltheybecame,asBenvenutoCellinicallsthem,\"theEnglishwildbeasts。\"Buttheyincreasedinnumbersslowly,ifatall,forcenturies。Thoseterriblelawsofnaturalselection,whichissuein\"thesurvivalofthefittest,\"
clearedoffthelessfit,ineverygeneration,principallybyinfantiledisease,oftenbywholesalefamineandpestilence;andleft,onthewhole,onlythoseofthestrongestconstitutionstoperpetuateahardy,valiant,andenterprisingrace。
Atlastcameasuddenandunprecedentedchange。Inthefirstyearsofthiscentury,steamandcommerceproducedanenormousincreaseinthepopulation。Millionsoffreshhumanbeingsfoundemployment,married,broughtupchildrenwhofoundemploymentintheirturn,andlearnttolivemoreorlesscivilisedlives。Anevent,doubtless,forwhichGodistobethanked。Aquitenewphaseofhumanity,bringingwithitnewvicesandnewdangers:
butbringing,also,notmerelynewcomforts,butnewnoblenesses,newgenerosities,newconceptionsofduty,andofhowthatdutyshouldbedone。Itischildishtoregrettheoldtimes,whenoursoot-grimedmanufacturingdistrictsweregreenwithlonelyfarms。
Tomurmuratthetransformationwouldbe,Ibelieve,tomurmuratthewillofHimwithoutwhomnotasparrowfallstotheground。
Theoldorderchangeth,yieldingplacetothenew,AndGodfulfilshimselfinmanyways,Lestonegoodcustomshouldcorrupttheworld。
Ourdutyis,insteadoflongingforthegoodoldcustom,totakecareofthegoodnewcustom,lestitshouldcorrupttheworldinlikewise。Anditmaydosothus:
TherapidincreaseofpopulationduringthefirsthalfofthiscenturybeganatamomentwhentheBritishstockwasspeciallyexhausted;namely,abouttheendofthelongFrenchwar。Theremayhavebeenperiodsofexhaustion,atleastinEngland,beforethat。Theremayhavebeenonehere,asthereseemstohavebeenontheContinent,aftertheCrusades;andanotheraftertheWarsoftheRoses。TherewascertainlyaperiodofsevereexhaustionattheendofElizabeth’sreign,duebothtothelongSpanishandIrishwarsandtotheterribleendemicsintroducedfromabroad;anexhaustionwhichmayhavecaused,inpart,thenationalweaknesswhichhunguponusduringthereignoftheStuarts。Butafternoneofthesedidthesurvivalofthelessfitsuddenlybecomemoreeasy;orthediscoveryofsteampower,andtheacquisitionofacolonialempire,createatonceafreshdemandforhumanbeingsandafreshsupplyoffoodforthem。Britain,atthebeginningofthenineteenthcentury,wasinanaltogethernewsocialsituation,AtthebeginningofthegreatFrenchwar;and,indeed,eversincethebeginningofthewarwithSpainin1739——oftensnubbedasthe\"waraboutJenkins’sear\"——butwhichwas,asIhold,oneofthemostjust,asitwasoneofthemostpopular,ofallourwars;
after,too,theoncefamous\"fortyfineharvests\"oftheeighteenthcentury,theBritishpeople,fromthegentlemanwholedtothesoldierorsailorwhofollowed,wereoneofthemightiestandmostcapableraceswhichtheworldhaseverseen,comparablebesttotheoldRoman,athismightiestandmostcapableperiod。
That,atleast,theirworkstestify。Theycreated——asfarasmancanbesaidtocreateanything——theBritishEmpire。Theywonforusourcolonies,ourcommerce,themasteryoftheseasofalltheworld。Butatwhatacost!
Theirbonesarescatteredfarandwide,Bymount,andstream,andsea。
Yearafteryear,tillthefinaltriumphofWaterloo,notbattleonly,butworsedestroyersthanshotandshell——fatigueanddisease——hadbeencarryingoffourstoutest,ablest,healthiestyoungmen,eachofwhomrepresented,alas!amaidenleftunmarriedathome,ormarried,indefault,toalessableman。Thestrongestwenttothewar;eachwhofellleftaweakliermantocontinuetherace;whileofthosewhodidnotfall,toomanyreturnedwithtaintedandweakenedconstitutions,toinjure,itmaybe,generationsyetunborn。Themiddleclasses,beingmostlyengagedinpeacefulpursuits,sufferedlessofthisdecimationoftheirfinestyoungmen;andtothatfactIattributemuchoftheirincreasingpreponderance,social,political,andintellectual,tothisveryday。Onecannotwalkthestreetsofanyofourgreatcommercialcitieswithoutseeingplentyofmen,youngandmiddle-
aged,whosewholebearingandstatureshowsthatthemanlyvigourofourmiddleclassisanythingbutexhausted。InLiverpool,especially,Ihavebeenmuchstrucknotonlywiththevigorouscountenance,butwiththebodilysizeofthemercantilemenon’Change。Butitmustberememberedalways,first,thatthesemenaretheveryeliteoftheirclass;thecleverestmen;themencapableofdoingmostwork;andnext,thattheyare,almostallofthem,fromthegreatmerchantwhohashisvillaoutoftown,andperhapshismoorintheHighlands,downtothesturdyyoungvolunteerwhoservesinthehaberdasher’sshop,country-bredmen;
andthatthequestionis,notwhattheyarelikenow,butwhattheirchildrenandgrandchildren,especiallythefineyoungvolunteer’s,willbelike?AveryseriousquestionIholdthattobe,andforthisreason。
Waris,withoutdoubt,themosthideousphysicalcursewhichfallenmaninflictsuponhimself;andforthissimplereason,thatitreversestheverylawsofnature,andismorecrueleventhanpestilence。Forinsteadofissuinginthesurvivalofthefittest,itissuesinthesurvivalofthelessfit:andtherefore,ifprotracted,mustdeteriorategenerationsyetunborn。
Andyetapeacesuchaswenowenjoy,prosperous,civilised,humane,isfraught,thoughtoalessdegree,withtheverysameilleffect。
Inthefirstplace,tensofthousands——whoknowsitnot?——leadsedentaryandunwholesomelives,stooping,asphyxiated,employingassmallafractionoftheirbodiesasoftheirminds。Andallthisindwellings,workshops,whatnot?——theinfluences,theveryatmosphereofwhichtendnottohealth,buttounhealth,andtodrunkennessasasolaceunderthefeelingofunhealthanddepression。Andthatsuchalifemusttellupontheiroffspring,andiftheiroffspringgrowupundersimilarcircumstances,upontheiroffspring’soffspring,tillawholepopulationmaybecomepermanentlydegraded,whodoesnotknow?Forwhothatwalksthroughtheby-streetsofanygreatcitydoesnotsee?Moreover,andthisisoneofthemostfearfulproblemswithwhichmoderncivilisationhastodeal——weinterferewithnaturalselectionbyourconscientiouscareoflife,assurelyasdoeswaritself。Ifwarkillsthemostfittolive,wesavealivethosewho——lookingatthemfromamerelyphysicalpointofview——aremostfittodie。
Everythingwhichmakesitmoreeasytolive;everysanitaryreform,preventionofpestilence,medicaldiscovery,ameliorationofclimate,drainageofsoil,improvementindwelling-houses,workhouses,gaols;everyreformatoryschool,everyhospital,everycureofdrunkenness,everyinfluence,inshort,whichhas——soIamtold——increasedtheaveragelengthoflifeintheseislands,bynearlyone-third,sincethefirstestablishmentoflifeinsurances,onehundredandfiftyyearsago;everyinfluenceofthiskind,Isay,savespersonsalivewhowouldotherwisehavedied;andthegreatmajorityofthesewillbe,eveninsurgicalandzymoticcases,thoseofleastresistingpower,whoarethuspreservedtoproduceintimeastilllesspowerfulprogeny。
DoIsaythatweoughtnottosavethesepeopleifwecan?Godforbid。Theweakly,thediseasedwhetherinfantoradult,ishereonearth;aBritishcitizen;nomoreresponsibleforhisownweaknessthanforhisownexistence。Society,thatis,inplainEnglish,weandourancestors,areresponsibleforboth;andwemustfulfiltheduty,andkeephiminlife;and,ifwecan,heal,strengthen,develophimtotheutmost;andmakethebestofthatwhich\"fateandourowndeservings\"havegivenustodealwith。I
donotspeakofhighermotivesstill;motiveswhich,toeveryministerofreligion,mustbeparamountandawful。Ispeakmerelyofphysicalandsocialmotives,suchasappealtotheconscienceofeveryman——theinstinctwhichbidseveryhuman-heartedmanorwomantosavelife,alleviatepain,likeHimwhocausesHissuntoshineontheevilandonthegood,andHisraintofallonthejustandontheunjust。
Butitispalpablethatindoingsowemust,yearbyyear,preservealargepercentageofweaklypersonswho,marryingfreelyintheirownclass,mustproduceweaklierchildren,andtheyweaklierchildrenstill。Must,didIsay?Therearethosewhoareofopinion——andI,afterwatchingandcomparingthehistoriesofmanyfamilies,indeedofeveryonewithwhomIhavecomeincontactfornowfive-and-thirtyyears,intownandcountry,canonlyfearthattheiropinionisbuttoowellfoundedonfact——thatinthegreatmajorityofcases,inallclasseswhatsoever,thechildrenarenotequaltotheirparents,northey,again,totheirgrand-parentsofthebeginningofthecentury;andthatthisdegradingprocessgoesonmostsurelyandmostrapidlyinourlargetowns,andinproportiontotheantiquityofthosetowns,andthereforeinproportiontothenumberofgenerationsduringwhichthedegradinginfluenceshavebeenatwork。
Thisandcognatedangershavebeenfeltmoreandmoredeeply,astheyearshaverolledon,bystudentsofhumansociety。Towardthemoff,theoryaftertheoryhasbeenputonpaper,especiallyinFrance,whichdeservehighpraisefortheiringenuity,lessfortheirmorality,and,Ifear,stilllessfortheircommonsense。
Forthetheoristinhisclosetiscertaintoignore,asinconvenienttotheconstructionofhisUtopia,certainofthosebroadfactsofhumannaturewhicheveryactiveparishpriest,medicalman,orpoor-lawguardianhastofaceeverydayofhislife。
SocietyandBritishhumannaturearewhattheyhavebecomebytheindirectinfluencesoflongages,andwecannomorereconstructtheonethanwecanchangetheother。Wecannomoremendmenbytheoriesthanwecanbycoercion——towhich,by-the-bye,almostallthesetheoristslooklonginglyastheirfinalhopeandmainstay。
Wemustteachmentomendtheirownmatters,oftheirownreason,andtheirownfree-will。Wemustteachthemthattheyarethearbitersoftheirowndestinies;and,toafearfullylargedegree,oftheirchildren’sdestiniesafterthem。Wemustteachthemnotmerelythattheyoughttobefree,butthattheyarefree,whethertheyknowitornot,forgoodandforevil。Andwemustdothatinthiscase,byteachingthemsoundpracticalscience;thescienceofphysiologyasappliedtohealth。So,andsoonly,canwecheek——Idonotsaystopentirely——thoughIbelieveeventhattobeideallypossible;butatleastcheektheprocessofdegradationwhichIbelievetobesurelygoingon,notmerelyintheseislands,butineverycivilisedcountryintheworld,inproportiontoitscivilisation。
Itisstillaquestionwhethersciencehasfullydiscoveredthoselawsofhereditaryhealth,thedisregardofwhichcausessomanymarriagesdisastroustogenerationsyetunborn。Butmuchvaluablelighthasbeenthrownonthismostmysteriousandmostimportantsubjectduringthelastfewyears。Thatlight——andIthankGodforit——iswideninganddeepeningrapidly。AndIdoubtnotthatinagenerationortwomore,enoughwillbeknowntobethrownintotheshapeofpracticalandprovablerules;andthat,ifnotapublicopinion,yetatleast,whatismoreusefulfar,awidespreadprivateopinionwillgrowup,especiallyamongeducatedwomen,whichwillpreventmanyatragedyandsavemanyalife。
But,astothelawsofpersonalhealth:enough,andmorethanenough,isknownalready,tobeappliedsafelyandeasilybyanyadults,howeverunlearned,tothepreservationnotonlyoftheirownhealth,butofthatoftheirchildren。
Thevalueofhealthyhabitations,ofpersonalcleanliness,ofpureairandpurewater,ofvariouskindsoffood,accordingaseachtendstomakebone,fat,ormuscle,providedonly——providedonly——
thatthefoodbeunadulterated;thevalueofvariouskindsofclothing,andphysicalexercise,ofafreeandequaldevelopmentofthebrainpower,withoutundueoverstraininanyonedirection;
inoneword,themethodofproducing,asfaraspossible,thementemsanamincorporesano,andthewonderfulandblessedeffectsofsuchobediencetothoselawsofnature,whicharenothingbutthegoodwillofGodexpressedinfacts——theirwonderfulandblessedtendency,Isay,toeliminatethegermsofhereditarydisease,andtoactuallyregeneratethehumansystem——
allthisisknown;knownasfullyandclearlyasanyhumanknowledgeneedbeknown;itiswrittenindozensofpopularbooksandpamphlets。Andwhyshouldthisdivinevoice,whichcriestoman,tendingtosinkintoeffeminatebarbarismthroughhisownhastyandpartialcivilisation:\"Itisnottoolate。Foryourbodies,asforyourspirits,thereisanupward,aswellasadownwardpath。You,orifnotyou,atleastthechildrenwhomyouhavebroughtintotheworld,forwhomyoutoil,forwhomyouhoard,forwhomyoupray,forwhomyouwouldgiveyourlives,——
theystillmaybehealthy,strong,itmaybebeautiful,andhavealltheintellectualandsocial,aswellasthephysicaladvantages,whichhealth,strength,andbeautygive。\"——Ah,whyisthisdivinevoicenow,asofold,Wisdomcryinginthestreets,andnomanregardingher?Iappealtowomen,whoareinitiated,aswemencanneverbe,intothesternmysteriesofpain,andsorrow,andself-sacrifice;——theywhobringforthchildren,weepoverchildren,slaveforchildren,and,iftheyhavenoneoftheirown,thenslave,withtheholyinstinctofthesexlessbee,forthechildrenofothers——Letthemsay,shallthisthingbe?
LetmyreaderspardonmeifIseemtowritetooearnestly。ThatI
speakneithermorenorlessthanthetruth,everymedicalmanknowsfullwell。Notonlyasaveryhumblestudentofphysiology,butasaparishpriestofthirtyyears’standing,Ihaveseensomuchunnecessarymisery;andIhaveinothercasesseensimilarmiserysosimplyavoided;thatthesenseofthevastnessoftheevilisintensifiedbymysenseoftheeasinessofthecure。
Why,then——tocometopracticalsuggestions——shouldtherenotbeopenedineverygreattownintheserealmsapublicschoolofhealth?Itmightconnectitselfwith——Iholdthatitshouldformanintegralpartof——someexistingeducationalinstitute。Butitshouldatleastgivepracticallectures,forfeessmallenoughtoputthemwithinthereachofanyrespectablemanorwoman,howeverpoor,Icannotbuthopethatsuchschoolsofhealth,ifopenedinthegreatmanufacturingtownsofEnglandandScotland,and,indeed,insuchanIrishtownasBelfast,wouldobtainpupilsinplenty,andpupilswhowouldthoroughlyprofitbywhattheyhear。
Thepeopleofthesetownsare,mostofthem,speciallyaccustomedbytheirowntradestotheapplicationofscientificlaws。Tothem,therefore,theapplicationofanyfreshphysicallawstoafreshsetoffacts,wouldhavenothingstrangeinit。Theyhavealreadysomethingofthatinductivehabitofmindwhichisthegroundworkofallrationalunderstandingoraction。Theywouldnotturnthedeafandcontemptuousearwithwhichthesavageandthesuperstitiousreceivetherevelationofnature’smysteries。
Whyshouldnot,withsohopefulanaudience,theexperimentbetriedfarandwide,ofgivinglecturesonhealth,assupplementarytothoselecturesonanimalphysiologywhichare,Iamhappytosay,becomingmoreandmorecommon?Whyshouldnotpeoplebetaught——theyarealreadybeingtaughtatBirmingham——somethingaboutthetissuesofthebody,theirstructureanduses,thecirculationoftheblood,respiration,chemicalchangesintheairrespired,amountbreathed,digestion,natureoffood,absorption,secretion,structureofthenervoussystem——infact,betaughtsomethingofhowtheirownbodiesaremadeandhowtheywork?
Teachingofthiskindoughtto,andwill,insomemorecivilisedageandcountry,beheldanecessaryelementintheschoolcourseofeverychild,justasnecessaryasreading,writing,andarithmetic;foritisafterallthemostnecessarybranchofthat\"technicaleducation\"ofwhichwehearsomuchjustnow,namely,thetechnic,orart,ofkeepingoneselfaliveandwell。
Butwecanhardlystopthere。Afterwehavetaughttheconditionofhealth,wemustteachalsotheconditionofdisease;ofthosediseasesspeciallywhichtendtolessenwholesalethehealthoftownsfolk,exposedtoanartificialmodeoflife。Surelyyoungmenandwomenshouldbetaughtsomethingofthecausesofzymoticdisease,andofscrofula,consumption,rickets,dipsomania,cerebralderangement,andsuchlike。Theyshouldbeshownthepracticalvalueofpureair,purewater,unadulteratedfood,sweetanddrydwellings。Isthereoneofthem,manorwoman,whowouldnotbethesaferandhappier,andthemoreusefultohisorherneighbours,iftheyhadacquiredsomesoundnotionsaboutthosequestionsofdrainageonwhichtheirownlivesandthelivesoftheirchildrenmayeverydaydepend?Isay——womenaswellasmen。
Ishouldhavesaidwomenratherthanmen。Foritisthewomenwhohavetheorderingofthehousehold,thebringingupofthechildren;thewomenwhobideathome,whilethemenareaway,itmaybeattheotherendoftheearth。
Andifanysay,astheyhavearighttosay——\"Butthesearesubjectswhichcanhardlybetaughttoyoungwomeninpubliclectures;\"Irejoin——ofcoursenot,unlesstheyaretaughtbywomen——bywomen,ofcourse,dulyeducatedandlegallyqualified。
Letsuchteachtowomen,whateverywomanoughttoknow,andwhatherparentswillveryproperlyobjecttoherhearingfromalmostanyman。ThisisoneofthemainreasonswhyIhave,fortwentyyearspast,advocatedthetrainingofwomenforthemedicalprofession;andonewhichcountervails,inmymind,allpossibleobjectionstosuchamovement。Andnow,thankGod,weareseeingthecommonsenseofGreatBritain,andindeedofeverycivilisednation,graduallycomingroundtothatwhichseemedtome,whenI
firstconceivedofit,adreamtoochimericaltobecherishedsaveinsecret——therestoringwomantohernaturalshareinthatsacredofficeofhealer,whichsheheldintheMiddleAges,andfromwhichshewasthrustoutduringthesixteenthcentury。
Iammosthappytosee,forinstance,thattheNationalHealthSociety,{3}whichIearnestlyrecommendtotheattentionofmyreaders,announcesa\"CourseofLecturesforLadiesonElementaryPhysiologyandHygiene,\"byalady,towhichIamalsomosthappytosee,governessesareadmittedathalf-fees。Alas!howmuchmisery,disease,andevendeathmighthavebeenprevented,hadgovernessesbeentaughtsuchmattersthirtyyearsago,I,forone,knowtoowell。Maythedaysooncomewhentherewillbeeducatedwomenenoughtogivesuchlecturesthroughouttheserealms,torichaswellaspoor——fortherich,strangetosay,needthemoftenasmuchasthepoordo——andthatwemaylivetosee,ineverygreattown,healthclassesforwomenaswellasformen,sendingforthyearbyyearmoreyoungwomenandyoungmentaught,notonlytotakecareofthemselvesandoftheirfamilies,buttoexercisemoralinfluenceovertheirfellow-citizens,aschampionsinthebattleagainstdirtanddrunkenness,diseaseanddeath。
Theremaybethosewhowouldanswer——orrather,therewouldcertainlyhavebeenthosewhowouldhavesoansweredthirtyyearsago,beforetheso-calledmaterialismofadvancedsciencehadtaughtussomepracticalwisdomabouteducation,andremindedpeoplethattheyhavebodiesaswellasmindsandsouls——\"Yousay,wearelikelytogrowweaklier,unhealthier。Andifitwereso,whatmatter?Mindmakestheman,notbody。Wedonotwantourchildrentobestupidgiantsandbravos;butclever,able,highlyeducated,howeverweaklyProvidenceorthelawsofnaturemayhavechosentomakethem。Letthemoverstraintheirbrainsalittle;
letthemcontracttheirchests,andinjuretheirdigestionandtheireyesight,bysittingatdesks,poringoverbooks。Intellectiswhatwewant。Intellectmakesmoney。Intellectmakestheworld。Wewouldratherseeoursonageniusthanamereathlete。\"
Well:andsowouldI。Butwhatifintellectalonedoesnotevenmakemoney,saveasMessrs。DodsonandFogg,SampsonBrass,andMontaguTiggwerewonttomakeit,unlessbackedbyanable,enduring,healthyphysique,suchasIhaveseen,almostwithoutexception,inthosesuccessfulmenofbusinesswhomIhavehadthehonourandthepleasureofknowing?Whatifintellect,orwhatisnowcalledintellect,didnotmaketheworld,orthesmallestwheelorcogofit?Whatif,forwantofobeyingthelawsofnature,parentsbredupneitherageniusnoranathlete,butonlyanincapableunhappypersonage,withahugeuprightforehead,likethatofaByzantineGreek,filledwithsomesortofpapinsteadofbrains,andtemptedalternatelytofanaticismandstrongdrink?
Wemust,inthegreatmajorityofcases,havetheCORPUSSANEMifwewanttheMENTEMSANEM;andhealthybodiesaretheonlytrustworthyorgansforhealthyminds。Whichiscauseandwhichiseffect,Ishallnotstaytodebatehere。Butwhereverwefindapopulationgenerallyweakly,stunted,scrofulous,wefindinthemacorrespondingtypeofbrain,whichcannotbetrustedtodogoodwork;whichiscapablemoreorlessofmadness,whethersolitaryorepidemic。Itmaybeveryactive;itmaybeveryquickatcatchingatnewandgrandideas——allthemorequick,perhaps,onaccountofitsownsecretmalaiseandself-discontent;butitwillbeirritable,spasmodic,hysterical。Itwillbeapttomistakecapacityoftalkforcapacityofaction,excitementforearnestness,virulenceforforce,and,toooften;crueltyforjustice。Itwilllosemanfulindependence,individuality,originality;andwhenmenact,theywillactfromtheconsciousnessofpersonalweakness,likesheeprushingoverahedge,leaningagainsteachother,exhortingeachothertobebrave,andswayingaboutinmobsandmasses。Theseweretheintellectualweaknesseswhich,asIreadhistory,followedonphysicaldegradationinImperialRome,inAlexandria,inByzantium。Havewenotseenthemreappear,underfearfulforms,inParisbuttheotherday?
Idonotblame;Idonotjudge。Mytheory,whichIhold,andshallhold,tobefairlyfoundedonawideinduction,forbidsmetoblameandtojudge;becauseittellsmethatthesedefectsaremainlyphysical;thatthosewhoexhibitthemaremainlytobepitied,asvictimsofthesinsorignoranceoftheirforefathers。
Butittellsmetoo,thatthosewho,professingtobeeducatedmen,andthereforeboundtoknowbetter,treatthesephysicalphenomenaasspiritual,healthy,andpraiseworthy;whoevenexasperatethem,thattheymaymakecapitaloutoftheweaknessesoffallenman,arethemostcontemptibleandyetthemostdangerousofpublicenemies,letthemcloaktheirquackeryunderwhatsoeverpatriotic,orscientific,orevensacredwords。
Therearethoseagainhonest,kindly,sensible,practicalmen,manyofthem;menwhomIhavenowishtooffend;whomIhadratherasktoteachmesomeoftheirownexperienceandcommonsense,whichhaslearnedtodiscern,likegoodstatesmen,notonlywhatoughttobedone,butwhatcanbedone——therearethose,Isay,whowouldsoonerseethiswholequestionletalone。Theirfeeling,asfarasIcananalyseit,seemstobethattheevilsofwhichIhavebeencomplaining,areonthewholeinevitable;or,ifnot,thatwecanmendsoverylittleofthem,thatitiswisesttoleavethemalonealtogether,lest,likecertainsewers,\"themoreyoustirthem,themoretheysmell。\"Theyfearlestweshouldunsettlethemindsofthemanyforwhomtheseevilswillneverbemended;lestwemakethemdiscontented;discontentedwiththeirhouses,theiroccupations,theirfood,theirwholesocialarrangements;andallinvain。
Ishouldanswer,inallcourtesyandhumility——forIsympathisedeeplywithsuchmenandwomen,andrespectthemdeeplylikewise——
butarenotpeoplediscontentedalready,fromthelowesttothehighest?Andoughtaman,insuchapiecemeal,foolish,greedy,sinfulworldasthisis,andalwayshasbeen,tobeanythingbutdiscontented?Ifhethinksthatthingsaregoingallright,musthenothaveamostbeggarlyconceptionofwhatgoingrightmeans?
Andifthingsarenotgoingright,canitbeanythingbutgoodforhimtoseethattheyarenotgoingright?Cantruthandfactharmanyhumanbeing?Ishallnotbelieveso,aslongasIhaveaBiblewhereintobelieve。Formypart,Ishouldliketomakeeveryman,woman,andchildwhomImeetdiscontentedwiththemselves,evenasIamdiscontentedwithmyself。Ishouldliketoawakeninthem,abouttheirphysical,theirintellectual,theirmoralcondition,thatdivinediscontentwhichistheparent,firstofupwardaspirationandthenofself-control,thought,efforttofulfilthataspirationeveninpart。Fortobediscontentedwiththedivinediscontent,andtobeashamedwiththenobleshame,istheverygermandfirstupgrowthofallvirtue。Menbeginatfirst,asboysbeginwhentheygrumbleattheirschoolandtheirschoolmasters,tolaytheblameonothers;tobediscontentedwiththeircircumstances——thethingswhichstandaroundthem;andtocry,\"OhthatIhadthis!\"\"OhthatIhadthat!\"Butbythatwaynodeliverancelies。Thatdiscontentonlyendsinrevoltandrebellion,socialorpolitical;andthat,again,stillinthesameworshipofcircumstances——butthistimedesperate——whichends,letitdisguiseitselfunderwhatfinenamesitwill,inwhattheoldGreekscalledatyranny;inwhich——asintheSpanishrepublicsofAmerica,andinFrancemorethanonce——allhavebecomethevoluntaryslavesofoneman,becauseeachmanfanciesthattheonemancanimprovehiscircumstancesforhim。
Butthewisemanwilllearn,likeEpictetustheheroicslave,theslaveofEpaphroditus,Nero’sminion——andinwhatbaserandugliercircumstancescouldhumanbeingfindhimself?——tofindoutthesecretofbeingtrulyfree;namely,tobediscontentedwithnomanandnothingsavehimself。Tosaynot——\"OhthatIhadthisandthat!\"but\"OhthatIwerethisandthat!\"Then,byGod’shelp——
andthatheroicslave,heathenthoughhewas,believedandtrustedinGod’shelp——\"IwillmakemyselfthatwhichGodhasshownmethatIoughttobeandcanbe。\"
Tenthousandayear,ortenmillionayear,asEpictetussawfullwell,cannotmendthatvulgardiscontentwithcircumstanceswhichhehadfelt——andwhowithmoreright?——andconquered,anddespised。Forthatisthediscontentofchildren,wantingalwaysmoreholidaysandmoresweets。ButIwishmyreaderstohave,andtocherish,thediscontentofmenandwomen。