leavingfreshdepressionbehindit,andrequiringfreshdosesofstimulant,tillitbecomesahabit,aslavery,amadness。Again,thereisanintellectualsidetothequestion。Thedepressednervousenergy,theimpaireddigestion,depressthespirits。Themanfeelslowinmindaswellasinbody。Whenceshallheseekexhilaration?Notinthatstiflinghomewhichhascausedthedepressionitself。Heknowsnoneotherthanthetavern,andthecompanywhichthetavernbrings;Godhelphim!
Yes,ladiesandgentlemen,itiseasytosay,Godhelphim;butitisnotdifficultformantohelphimalso。Drunkennessisaverycurablemalady。Thelastfiftyyearshasseenitallbutdieoutamongtheupperclassesofthiscountry。Andwhathascausedtheimprovement?
Certainly,inthefirstplace,thespreadofeducation。Everymanhasnowahundredmeansofrationaloccupationandamusementwhichwereclosedtohisgrandfather;andamongthedeadliestenemiesofdrunkenness,wemayclasstheprinting-press,therailroad,andtheimportationofforeignartandforeignscience,whichweowetothelatefortyyears’peace。Wecanfindplentyofamusementnow,besidetheoldoneofsittingroundthetableandtalkingoverwine。Whyshouldnotthepoormanshareinourgain?Butoverandabove,therearecausessimplyphysical。Ourhousesarebetterventilated。Thestiflingoldfour-postbedhasgivenplacetotheairycurtainlessone;andwhatismorethanall——wewash。
ThatmorningcoldbathwhichforeignersconsiderasYoungEngland’sstrangestsuperstition,hasdoneasmuch,believeme,toabolishdrunkenness,asanyothercausewhatsoever。Withacleanskininhealthyaction,andnervesandmusclesbracedbyasuddenshock,mendonotcraveforartificialstimulants。Ihavefoundthat,coeterisparibus,aman’ssobrietyisindirectproportiontohiscleanliness。Ibelieveitwouldbesoinallclasseshadtheythemeans。
Andtheyoughttohavethemeans。Whateverotherrightsamanhas,oroughttohave,thisatleasthehas,ifsocietydemandsofhimthatheshouldearnhisownlivelihood,andnotbeatormentandaburdentohisneighbours。Hehasarighttowater,toair,tolight。Indemandingthat,hedemandsnomorethannaturehasgiventothewildbeastoftheforest。Heisbetterthanthey。
Treathim,then,aswellasGodhastreatedthem。Ifwerequireofhimtobeaman,wemustatleastputhimonalevelwiththebrutes。
Wehavethen,firstofall,tofacetheexistenceofadangerousclassofthiskind,intowhichtheweakeraswellastheworstmembersofsocietyhaveacontinualtendencytosink。Aclasswhich,notrespectingitself,doesnotrespectothers;whichhasnothingtoloseandalltogainbyanarchy;inwhichthelowestpassions,seldomgratified,arereadytoburstoutandavengethemselvesbyfrightfulmethods。
Forthereformationofthatclass,thousandsofgoodmenarenowworking;hundredsofbenevolentplansarebeingsetonfoot。
Honourtothemall;whethertheysucceedorfail,eachofthemdoessomegood;eachofthemrescuesatleastafewfellow-men,deartoGodasyouandIare,outofthenetherpit。Honourtothemall,Isay;butIshouldnotbehonestwithyouthisnight,ifIdidnotassertmostsolemnlymyconviction,thatreformatories,raggedschools,evenhospitalsandasylums,treatonlythesymptoms,nottheactualcauses,ofthedisease;andthatthecausesareonlytobetouchedbyimprovingthesimplephysicalconditionsoftheclass;byabolishingfoulair,foulwater,foullodging,overcrowdeddwellings,inwhichmoralityisdifficultandcommondecencyimpossible。Youmaybreedapiginasty,ladiesandgentlemen,andmakealearnedpigofhimafterall;butyoucannotbreedamaninasty,andmakealearnedmanofhim;orindeed,inthetruesenseofthatgreatword,amanatall。
Andremember,thatthesephysicalinfluencesofgreatcities,physicallydepressingandmorallydegrading,influence,thoughtoalessextent,theclassesabovetheloweststratum。
Thehonestandskilledworkmanfeelstheireffects。Compelledtoooftentolivewherehecan,inordertobenearhiswork,hefindshimselfperpetuallyincontactwithaclassutterlyinferiortohimself,andhischildrenexposedtocontaminatinginfluencesfromwhichhewouldgladlyremovethem;buthowcanhe?Nextdoortohim,eveninthesamehousewithhim,maybeenactedscenesofbrutalityorvillainywhichIwillnotspeakofhere。Hemayshuthisowneyesandearstothem;buthecannotshuthischildren’s。
Hemayvexhisrighteoussouldaily,likeLotofold,withthefoulconversationofthewicked;but,likeLotofold,hecannotkeephischildrenfrommixingwiththeinhabitantsofthewickedcity,learningtheirworks,andatlastbeinginvolvedintheirdoom。Oh,ladiesandgentlemen,iftherebeoneclassforwhomaboveallothersIwillplead,inseasonandoutofseason;iftherebeonesocialevilwhichIwilldinintotheearsofmycountrymenwheneverGodgivesmeachance,itisthis:Thehonestandthevirtuousworkman,andhisunnaturalcontactwiththedishonestandthefoul。Iknowwellthenoblenesswhichexistsintheaverageofthatclass,inmenandinwives——theirsternuncomplaining,valorousself-denial;andnothingmorestirsmypitythantoseethemstrugglingtobringupafamilyinamoralandphysicalatmospherewhererighteducationisimpossible。Welavishsympathyenoughuponthecriminal;forGod’ssakeletuskeepalittleofitforthehonestman。Wespendthousandsincarryingouttheseparationofclassesinprison;forGod’ssakeletustrytoseparatethemalittlebeforetheygotoprison。Weareafraidofthedangerousclasses;forGod’ssakeletusbestirourselvestostopthatrecklessconfusionandneglectwhichreigninthealleysandcourtsofourgreattowns,andwhichrecruitthoseverydangerousclassesfromtheclasswhichoughttobe,andisstill,inspiteofourfolly,England’sstrengthandEngland’sglory。Letusnolongerstandbyidle,andseemoralpurity,instreetafterstreet,pentinthesamenoisomedenwithmoralcorruption,tobeinvolvedinonecommondoom,astheLatintyrantofoldusedtobindtogetherthedeadcorpseandthelivingvictim。Butletthemanwhowoulddeservewellofhiscity,wellofhiscountry,sethisheartandbraintothegreatpurposeofgivingtheworkmendwellingsfitforavirtuousandacivilisedbeing,andlikethepriestofold,standbetweenthelivingandthedead,thattheplaguemaybestayed。
Hardlylessisthepresentphysicalstateofourgreatcitiesfeltbythatnumerousclasswhichis,nexttotheemployer,themostimportantinacity。Imeantheshopmen,clerks,andallthemen,principallyyoungones,whoareemployedexclusivelyintheworkofdistribution。Ihaveagreatrespect,Imaysayaffection,forthisclass。InBristolIknownothingofthem;savethat,fromwhatIhear,theclerksoughtingeneraltohaveabetterstatusherethaninmostcities。Iamtoldthatitisthepracticehereformerchantstotakeintotheirhousesveryyoungboys,andtrainthemtotheirbusiness;thatthisconnectionbetweenemployerandemployedishereditary,andthatclerkshipspassfromfathertosoninthesamefamily。Irejoicetohearit。Itispleasanttofindanywherearelicoftheoldpatriarchalbond,thepermanentnexusbetweenmasterandman,whichformedsoimportantandsohealthfulanelementoftheancientmercantilesystem。Onewouldgladlyoverlookalittlefavouritismandnepotism,alittlestickingsquaremenintoroundholes,andofroundmenintosquareholes,forthesakeofhavingaclassofyoungclerksandemployeswhofeltthattheirmaster’sbusinesswastheirbusiness,hishonourtheirs,hisprosperitytheirs。
Butoverandabovethis,wheneverIhavecomeincontactwiththisclerkandshopmanclass,theyhaveimpressedmewithconsiderablerespect,notmerelyastowhattheymaybehereafter,butwhattheyarenow。
Theyaretheclassfromwhichtheranksofourcommercialmen,ouremigrants,arecontinuallyrecruited;thereforetheirrighteducationisamatterofnationalimportance。
TheladwhostandsbehindaBristolcountermaybe,five-and-
twentyyearshence,alargeemployer——anownerofhousesandlandinfarcountriesacrosstheseas——amemberofsomecolonialparliament——thefounderofawealthyfamily。HownecessaryforthehonourofBritain,forthewelfareofgenerationsyetunborn,thatthatyoungmanshouldhave,inbody,soul,andspirit,theloftiest,andyetthemostpracticalofeducations。
Hiseducation,too,suchasitis,isonewhichmakesmerespecthimasoneofaclass。Ofcourse,heissometimesoneofthose\"gents\"whomPunchsoruthlesslyholdsuptojustridicule。Heissometimesavulgarfop,sometimesfondoflowprofligacy——ofbetting-housesandcasinos。Well——Iknownoclassinanyageorcountryamongwhichafoolmaynotbefoundhereandthere。Butthatthe\"gent\"istheaveragetypeofthisclass,IshouldutterlydenyfromsuchexperienceasIhavehad。Thepeculiarnoteandmarkoftheaverageclerkandshopman,is,Ithink,inthesedays,intellectualactivity,akeendesireforself-
improvementandforindependence,honourable,becauseself-
acquired。Butasheisdistinctlyacreatureofthecity;asallcityinfluencesbearatonceonhimmorethanonanyotherclass,soweseeinhim,Ithink,morethaninanyclass,thebestandtheworsteffectsofmoderncitylife。Theworst,ofcourse,islowprofligacy;butofthatIdonotspeakhere。Imeanthatinthesamemanthegoodandevilofacitylifemeet。Andinthisway。
Inacountrymanlikeme,comingupoutofwildandsilentmoorlandsintoagreatcity,thefirsteffectofthechangeisincreasedintellectualactivity。Theperpetualstreamofhumanfaces,theinnumerableobjectsofinterestineveryshop-window,areenoughtoexcitethemindtoaction,whichisincreasedbythesimplefactofspeakingtofiftydifferenthumanbeingsinthedayinsteadoffive。Nowinthecity-bredyouththisexcitedstateofmindischronic,permanent。Itisdenotedplainlyenoughbythedifferencebetweenthecountryman’sfaceandthatofthetownsman。
Theformerinitsbesttype(anditisoftenverynoble)composed,silent,self-contained,oftenstately,oftenlistless;thelattermobile,eager,observant,oftenbrilliant,oftenself-conscious。
Nowifyoukeepthisrapidandtensemindinapowerfulandhealthybody,itwoulddorightgoodwork。Rightgoodworkitdoes,indeed,asitis;butstillitmightdobetter。
Forwhatarethefaultsofthisclass?Whatdotheobscurantists(now,thankGod,fewereveryday)allegeastheobjectiontoallowingyoungmentoeducatethemselvesoutofworkinghours?
Theybecome,itissaid,discontented,conceited,dogmatical。
Theytakeuphastynotions,theycondemnfiercelywhattheyhavenomeansofunderstanding;theyaretoofondoffinewords,oftheexcitementofspoutingthemselves,andhearingothersspout。
Well。Isupposetheremustbealittletruthintheaccusation,oritwouldnothavebeeninvented。Thereisnosmokewithoutfire;andthesecertainlyarethefaultsofwhichthecleverestmiddle-classyoungmenwhomIknowaremostindanger。
But——onefairlookatthesemen’sfacesoughttotellcommonsensethatthecauseisratherphysicalthanmoral。Confinedtosedentaryoccupations,stoopingoverdesksandcountersincloserooms,unabletoobtainthatfairshareofbodilyexercisewhichnaturedemands,andincontinualmentaleffort,theirnervesandbrainhavebeenexcitedattheexpenseoftheirlungs,theirdigestion,andtheirwholenutritivesystem。Theircomplexionsshowageneralill-health。Theirmouths,toooften,hintatlatentdisease。Whatwonderiftherebeanirritabilityofbrainandnerve?IblamethemnomoreforitthanIblameamanforbeingsomewhattouchywhileheiswrithinginthegout。Indeedless;forgoutisveryoftenaman’sownfault;butthesemen’sill-healthisnot。And,therefore,everythingwhichcanrestoretothemhealthofbody,willpreserveinthemhealthofmind。
EverythingwhichministerstotheCORPUSSANUM,willministeralsototheMENTEMSANAM;andawalkonDurhamDowns,agameofcricket,asteamerexcursiontoChepstow,shallsendthemhomeagainhappierandwisermenthanporingovermanywisevolumesorhearingmanywiselectures。Howoftenisaworthyfellowspendinghisleisurehonourablyinhardreading,whenhehadmuchbetterhavebeenscramblingoverhedgeandditch,withoutathoughtinhisheadsavewhatwasputtherebythegrassandthebutterflies,andthegreentreesandthebluesky?AndthereforeIdopressearnestly,bothonemployersandemployed,theincalculablevalueofathleticsportsandcountrywalksforthosewhosebusinesscompelsthemtopassthedayintheheartofthecity;Ipressonyou,withmywholesoul,theexcellencyoftheearly-closingmovement;notsomuchbecauseitenablesyoungmentoattendmechanics’institutes,asbecauseitenablesthem,iftheychoose,togetagoodgameofleap-frog。Youmaysmile;buttrytheexperiment,andseehow,asthechestexpands,themusclesharden,andthecheekgrowsruddyandthelipsfirm,andsoundsleeprefreshestheladforhisnextday’swork,thetemperwillbecomemorepatient,thespiritsmoregenial;therewillbelesstendencytobroodangrilyovertheinequalitiesoffortune,andtoaccusesocietyforevilswhichasyetsheknowsnothowtocure。
Thereisaclass,again,aboveallthese,whichisdoubtlessthemostimportantofall;andyetofwhichIcansaylittlehere——thecapitalist,smallandgreat,fromtheshopkeepertothemerchantprince。
HeavenforbidthatIshouldspeakofthemwithaughtbutrespect。
Therearefewfigures,indeed,intheworldonwhichIlookwithhighersatisfactionthanontheBritishmerchant;themanwhoseshipsareonahundredseas;whosendscomfortandprosperitytotribeswhomheneversaw,andhonourablyenricheshimselfbyenrichingothers。Thereissomethingtomechivalrous,evenkingly,inthemerchantlife;andthereweremeninBristolofold——asIdoubtnottherearenow——whonoblyfulfilledthatideal。
IcannotforgetthatBristolwasthenurseofAmerica;thatmorethantwohundredyearsago,thedaringandgeniusofBristolconvertedyondernarrowstreamintoamightyartery,downwhichflowedtheyounglife-bloodofthatgreatTransatlanticnationdestinedtobehereafter,Ibelieve,thegreatestwhichtheworldeversaw。Yes——wereIaskedtosumupinonesentencethegoodofgreatcities,IwouldpointfirsttoBristol,andthentotheUnitedStates,andsay,Thatiswhatgreatcitiescando。Byconcentratinginoneplace,andupononeobject,men,genius,information,andwealth,theycanconquernew-foundlandsbyartsinsteadofarms;theycanbegetnewnations;andreplenishandsubduetheearthfrompoletopole。
Meanwhile,thereisonefactaboutemployers,inallcitieswhichIknow,whichmayseemcommonplacetoyou,butwhichtomeisverysignificant。Whatsoeverbusinesstheymaydointhecity,theytakegoodcare,ifpossible,nottoliveinit。Assoonasamangetswealthynowadays,hisfirstactistotaketohimselfavillainthecountry。DoIblamehim?Certainlynot。Itisanactofcommonsense。Hefindsthattheharderheworks,themoreheneedsoffreshair,freecountrylife,innocentrecreation;andhetakesit,anddoeshiscitybusinessallthebetterforit,livesallthelongerforit,isthecheerfuller,moregenialmanforit。
Onegreatsocialblessing,Ithink,whichrailroadshavebrought,isthethrowingopencountrylifetomenofbusiness。Isayblessing;bothtothementhemselvesandtothecountrywheretheysettle。Thecitizentakesanhonestprideinrivallingtheoldcountrygentleman,inbeatinghiminhisownsphere,asgardener,agriculturist,sportsman,headofthevillage;andbyhissuperiorbusinesshabitsandhiscommandofreadymoney,heveryoftendoesso。ForfiftymilesroundLondon,whereverIseeprogress——
improvedfarms,modelcottages,newchurches,newschools——Ifind,inthreecasesoutoffour,thattheauthorissomecitizenwhofiftyyearsagowouldhaveknownnothingbutthenarrowcitylife,andhavehadprobablynohigherpleasuresthanthoseofthetable;
whosedreamswouldhavebeen,notasnow,ofmodelfarmsandschools,butofturtleandport-wine。
MyonlyregretwhenIseesopleasantasightis:Ohthatthegoodmancouldhavetakenhisworkmenwithhim!
Takenhisworkmenwithhim?
Iassureyouthat,afteryearsofthought,Iseenootherremedyfortheworstevilsofcitylife。\"If,\"saystheoldproverb,\"themountainwillnotcometoMuhammed,thenMuhammedmustgotothemountain。\"Andifyoucannotbringthecountryintothecity,thecitymustgointothecountry。
Donotfancymeadreamerdealingwithimpossibleideals。Iknowwellwhatcannotbedone;fairandgrandasitwouldbe,ifitweredone,amodelcityisimpossibleinEngland。WehaveherenoEasterndespotism(anditiswellwehavenot)todestroyanoldBabylon,asthatmightygeniusNabuchonosordid,andbuildafewmilesoffanewBabylon,one-halftheareaofwhichwasparkandgarden,fountainandwater-course——adivinerworkofart,tomymind,thanthefinestpictureorstatuewhichtheworldeversaw。
Wehavenoteither(anditiswellforusthatwehavenot)amodelrepublicoccupyinganewunclearedland。Wecannot,astheydoinAmerica,planoutavastcityonsomedeliciousandhealthysiteamidthevirginforest,withstreetsonehundredfeetinbreadth,squaresandboulevardsalreadyplantedbyGod’shandwithmajestictrees;andthenleavethegreatdesigntobehewnoutofthewilderness,streetafterstreet,squareaftersquare,bygenerationsyetunborn。Thattooisamagnificentideal;butitcannotbeours。Anditiswellforus,Ibelieve,thatitcannot。
Thegreatvalueofland,theenormousamountofvestedinterests,thenecessityofkeepingtoancientsitesaroundwhichlabour,asinManchester,orcommerce,asinBristol,hasclustereditselfonaccountofnaturaladvantages,allthesethingsmakeanyattemptstorebuildincitiesimpossible。Buttheywillcauseusatlast,Ibelieve,tobuildbetterthingsthancities。Theywillissueinacompleteinterpenetrationofcityandofcountry,acompletefusionoftheirdifferentmodesoflife,andacombinationoftheadvantagesofboth,suchasnocountryintheworldhaseverseen。
Weshallhave,Ibelieveandtrust,ereanothergenerationhaspast,modellodging-housesspringingup,notintheheartofthetown,butonthehillsaroundit;andthosewillbe——economy,aswellasscienceandgoodgovernment,willcompelthemtobe——notill-builtrowsofundrainedcottages,eachrentedforawhile,andthenlefttorunintosqualidityanddisrepair,buthugeblocksofbuilding,eachwithitscommoneating-house,bar,baths,washhouses,reading-room,commonconveniencesofeverykind,where,infreeandpurecountryair,theworkmanwillenjoycomfortswhichourowngrandfatherscouldnotcommand,andatalowerpricethanthatwhichhenowpaysforsuchaccommodationasIshouldbeashamedtogivetomyownhorses;whilefromthesegreatblocksofbuilding,branchlineswillconveythementoorfromtheirworkbyrailroad,withoutlossoftime,labour,orhealth。
Thenthecitywillbecomewhatitoughttobe;theworkshop,andnotthedwelling-house,ofamightyandhealthypeople。Theoldfoulalleys,astheybecomegraduallydepopulated,willbereplacedbyfreshwarehouses,freshpublicbuildings;andthecity,inspiteofallitssmokeanddirt,willbecomeaplaceonwhichtheworkmanwilllookdownwithprideandjoy,becauseitwillbetohimnolongeraprisonandapoison-trap,butmerelyaplaceforhonestlabour。
This,gentlemenandladies,ismyideal;andIcannotbuthopeandbelievethatIshalllivetoseeitrealisedhereandthere,graduallyandcautiously(asisourgoodandsafeEnglishhabit),butstillearnestlyandwell。DidIseebutthemovementcommencedinearnest,Ishouldbeinclinedtocrya\"NuncDominedimittis\"——Ihavelivedlongenoughtoseeanobleworkbegun,whichcannotbutgoonandprosper,sobeneficialwoulditbefound。Itellyou,thatbutthisafternoon,astheBathtraindashedthroughthelastcutting,andyournoblevaleandnoblecityopenedbeforeme,Ilookedroundupontheoverhangingcrags,thewoodedglens,andsaidtomyself:There,upontherockinthefreeairandsunlight,andnothere,beneathyonpallofsmokebythelazypoolsandfesteringtidalmuds,oughttheBristolworkmantolive。OhthatImayseethetimewhenontheblessedSabbathevethesehillsshallswarmasthickwithlivingmenasbean-
fieldswiththesummerbees;whentheglensshallringwiththelaughteroftenthousandchildren,withlimbsassteady,andcheeksasruddy,asthoseofmyownladsandlassesathome;andtheartisanshallfindhisSabbathadayofrestindeed,inwhichnotonlysoulbutbodymaygatherhealthandnervefortheweek’swork,underthesoothingandpurifyinginfluencesofthosecommonnaturalsightsandsoundswhichGodhasgivenasaheritageeventothegipsyonthemoor;andofwhichnomancanbedeprivedwithoutmakinghislifeaburdentohimself,perhapsaburdentothosearoundhim。
Butitwillbeasked:Willsuchimprovementspay?Irespectthatquestion。Idonotsneeratit,andregardit,assomearetooapttodo,asasignofthemercenaryandmoney-lovingspiritofthepresentage。IlookonitasahealthysignoftheEnglishmind;asignthatwebelieve,astheoldJewsdid,thatpoliticalandsocialrighteousnessisinseparablyconnectedwithwealthandprosperity。TheoldPsalmsandprophetshavetaughtusthatlesson;andGodforbidthatweshouldforgetit。Theworldisrightwellmade;andthelawsoftradeandofsocialeconomy,justasmuchasthelawsofnature,aredivinefacts,andonlybyobeyingthemcanwethrive。AndIhadfarsoonerhearapeopleaskingofeveryschemeofgood,Willitpay?thanthrowingthemselvesheadlongintothatmerelysentimentalcharitytowhichsuperstitiousnationshavealwaysbeenprone——charitywhicheffectsnopermanentgood,which,whetherinHindostanorinItaly,debases,insteadofraising,thesufferingclasses,becauseitbreaksthelawsofsocialeconomy。
No,letusstillbelievethatifathingisright,itwillsoonerorlaterpay;andinsocialquestions,maketheprofitablenessofanyschemeatestofitsrightness。Itisaroughtest;notaninfallibleoneatall,butitisafaironeenoughtoworkby。
AndasfortheimprovementsatwhichIhavehinted,Iwillboldlyanswerthattheywillpay。
Theywillpaydirectlyandatonce,inthesavingofpoor-rates。
Theywillpaybyexterminatingepidemics,andnumberlesschronicformsofdiseasewhichnowrenderthousandsburdensonthepublicpurse;consumers,insteadofproducersofwealth。Theywillpaybygraduallyabsorbingthedangerousclasses;andremovingfromtemptationanddegradationagenerationyetunborn。Theywillpayintheincreasedcontent,cheerfulness,whichcomeswithhealthinincreasedgoodwillofemployedtowardsemployers。Theywillpaybyputtingthemassesintoastatefitforeducation。Theywillpay,too,insuchfearfultimesasthese,bytheincreasedphysicalstrengthandhardihoodofthetownpopulations。Foritisfromthecity,ratherthanfromthecountry,thatourarmiesmustmainlyberecruited。Notonlyisthetownsmanmorereadytoenlistthanthecountryman,becauseinthetownthelabourmarketismostlikelytobeoverstocked;butthetownsmanactuallymakesabettersoldierthanthecountryman。Heisashrewder,moreactive,moreself-helpingman;givehimbutthechancesofmaintainingthesamephysicalstrengthandhealthasthecountryman,andhewillsupportthehonouroftheBritisharmsasgallantlyastheHighlanderortheConnaughtman,andrestorethedayswhentheinvincibleprentice-boysofLondoncarriedterrorintotheheartofforeignlands。Inallages,inalltimes,whetherforwarorforpeace,itwillpay。Thetruewealthofanationisthehealthofhermasses。
ItmayseemtosomeherethatIhavedealttoomuchthroughoutthislecturewithmerelymaterialquestions;thatIoughttohavespokenmoreofintellectualprogress;perhaps,asaclergyman,morealsoofspiritualandmoralregeneration。
Icanonlyanswer,thatifthisbeafaultonmypart,itisadeliberateone。Ihavespoken,whetherrightlyorwrongly,concerningwhatIknow——concerningmatterswhicharetomearticlesoffaithaltogetherindubitable,irreversible,Divine。
Beitthatthesearemerelyquestionsofphysicalimprovement。I
seenoreasoninthatwhytheyshouldbelefttolaymen,orurgedonlyonworldlygroundsandself-interest。Idonotfindthatwhenurgedonthosegrounds,theadviceislistenedto。Ibelievethatitwillnotbelistenedtountiltheconsciencesofmen,aswellastheirbrains,areengagedinthesequestions;untiltheyareputonmoralgrounds,showntohaveconnectionwithmorallaws;andsomadequestionsnotmerelyofinterest,butofduty,honour,chivalry。
Icannotbutsee,moreover,howmanyphenomena,whicharesupposedtobespiritual,aresimplyphysical;howmanycaseswhicharereferredtomyprofession,areproperlytheobjectofthemedicalman。Icannotbutsee,thatunlesstherebehealthybodies,itisimpossibleinthelongruntohaveagenerationofhealthysouls;
IcannotbutseethatmankindareaspronenowasevertodenythesacrednessandperfectionofGod’sphysicaluniverse,asanexcusefortheirownignoranceandneglectthereof;tosearchthehighestheavenforcauseswhichliepatentattheirfeet,andliketheheathenofoldtime,toimputetosomecapriciousangerofthegodscalamitieswhichspringfromtheirowngreed,haste,andignorance。
And,therefore,becauseIamapriest,andgloryinthenameofapriest,Ihavetriedtofulfilsomewhatofthatwhichseemstomethetrueofficeofapriest——namely,toproclaimtomantheDivineelementwhichexistsinall,eventhesmallestthing,becauseeachthingisathoughtofGodhimself;tomakemenunderstandthatGodisindeedabouttheirpathandabouttheirbed,spyingoutalltheirways;thattheyareindeedfearfullyandwonderfullymade,andthatGod’shandliesforeveronthem,intheformofphysicallaws,sacred,irreversible,universal,reachingfromoneendoftheuniversetotheother;thatwhosoeverpersistsinbreakingthoselaws,reapshissurepunishmentofweaknessandsickness,sadnessandself-reproach;thatwhosoevercausesthemtobebrokenbyothers,reapshissurepunishmentinfindingthathehastransformedhisfellow-menintoburdensandcurses,insteadofhelpmatesandblessings。Tosaythis,isapriest’sduty;andthentopreachthegoodnewsthattheremedyispatent,easy,closeathand;thatmanyoftheworstevilswhichafflicthumanitymaybeexterminatedbysimplecommonsense,andthejusticeandmercywhichdoestoothersasitwouldbedoneby;toawakenmentotheimportanceofthevisibleworld,thattheymayjudgefromthencethehigherimportanceofthatinvisibleworldwhereofthisisbutthegarmentandthetype;andinalltimesandplaces,insteadofkeepingthekeyofknowledgetopamperone’sownpowerorpride,tolaythatkeyfranklyandtrustfullyinthehandofeveryhumanbeingwhohungersaftertruth,andtosay:ChildofGod,thiskeyisthineaswellasmine。EnterboldlyintothyFather’shouse,andbeholdthewonder,thewisdom,thebeautyofitslawsanditsorganisms,fromthemightiestplanetoverthyhead,tothetiniestinsectbeneaththyfeet。Lookatit,trustfully,joyfully,earnestly;foritisthyheritage。Beholditsperfectfitnessforthylifehere;andjudgefromthenceitsfitnessforthynoblerlifehereafter。
HEROISM
Itisanopenquestionwhetherthepolicemanisnotdemoralisingus;andthatinproportionashedoeshisdutywell;whethertheperfectionofjusticeandsafety,thecomplete\"preservationofbodyandgoods,\"maynotreducetheeducatedandcomfortableclassesintothatlap-dogconditioninwhichnotconscience,butcomfort,dothmakecowardsofusall。Ourforefathershad,onthewhole,totakecareofthemselves;wefinditmoreconvenienttohirepeopletotakecareofus。Somuchthebetterforus,insomerespects;but,itmaybe,somuchtheworseinothers。Somuchthebetter;because,asusuallyresultsfromthedivisionoflabour,thesepeople,havinglittleornothingtodosavetotakecareofus,dosofarbetterthanwecould;andsopreventavastamountofviolenceandwrong,andthereforeofmisery,especiallytotheweak;forwhichlastreasonwewillacquiesceintheexistenceofpolicemenandlawyers,aswedointheresultsofarbitration,asthelesseroftwoevils。Theoddsinwarareinfavourofthebiggerbully,inarbitrationinfavourofthebiggerrogue;anditisaquestionwhetherthelionorthefoxbethesaferguardianofhumaninterests。Butarbitrationpreventswar;
andthat,inthreecasesoutoffour,isfullreasonforemployingit。
Ontheotherhand,thelap-dogcondition,whetherindogsorinmen,iscertainlyunfavourabletothegrowthofthehighervirtues。Safetyandcomfortaregood,indeed,forthegood;forthebrave,theself-originating,theearnest。Theygivetosuchaclearstageandnofavour,whereintoworkunhinderedfortheirfellow-men。Butforthemajority,whoareneitherbrave,self-
originating,norearnest,butthemerepuppetsofcircumstance,safetyandcomfortmay,andactuallydo,merelymaketheirlivesmeanandpetty,effeminateanddull。Thereforetheirheartsmustbeawakened,asoftenaspossible,totakeexerciseenoughforhealth;andtheymustbereminded,perpetuallyandimportunately,ofwhatacertaingreatphilosophercalled,\"whatsoeverthingsaretrue,honourable,just,pure,lovely,andofgoodreport;\"\"iftherebeanymanhood,andanyjustpraise,tothinkofsuchthings。\"
Thispettinessanddulnessofourmodernlifeisjustwhatkeepsaliveourstage,towhichpeoplegotoseesomethingalittlelesspetty,alittlelessdull,thanwhattheyseeathome。Itis,too,thecauseof——Ihadalmostsaidtheexcusefor——themodernrageforsensationalnovels。Thosewhoreadthemsogreedilyareconscious,poorsouls,ofcapacitiesinthemselvesofpassionandactionforgoodandevil,forwhichtheirfrivoloushumdrumdailylifegivesnoroom,novent。Theyknowtoowellthathumannaturecanbemorefertile,whetherinweedsandpoisons,orinflowersandfruits,thanitisusuallyinthestreetsandhousesofawell-orderedandtolerablysobercity。Andbecausethestudyofhumannatureis,afterall,thatwhichisnearesttoeveryoneandmostinterestingtoeveryone,thereforetheygotofiction,sincetheycannotgotofact,toseewhattheythemselvesmightbehadtheythechance;toseewhatfantastictricksbeforehighheavenmenandwomenlikethemselvescanplay,andhowtheyplaythem。
Well,itisnotformetojudge,formetoblame。Iwillonlysaythattherearethosewhocannotreadsensationalnovels,or,indeed,anynovelsatall,justbecausetheyseesomanysensationalnovelsbeingenactedroundtheminpainfulfactsofsinfulfleshandblood。Therearethose,too,whohavelookedinthemirrortoooftentowishtoseetheirowndisfiguredvisageinitanymore;whoaretootiredofthemselvesandashamedofthemselvestowanttohearofpeoplelikethemselves;whowanttohearofpeopleutterlyunlikethemselves,morenoble,andable,andjust,andsweet,andpure;wholongtohearofheroismandtoconversewithheroes;andwho,ifbychancetheymeetwithanheroicact,bathetheirspiritsinthat,asinMay-dew,andfeelthemselvesthereby,ifbutforanhour,morefair。
Ifanysuchshallchancetoseethesewords,letmeaskthemtoconsiderwithmethatonewordHero,andwhatitmeans。
Hero;Heroic;Heroism。Thesewordspointtoaphaseofhumannature,thecapacityforwhichweallhaveinourselves,whichisasstartlingandasinterestinginitsmanifestationsasany,andwhichisalwaysbeautiful,alwaysennobling,andthereforealwaysattractivetothosewhoseheartsarenotyetsearedbytheworldorbrutalisedbyself-indulgence。
Butletusfirstbesurewhatthewordsmean。Thereisnousetalkingaboutawordtillwehavegotatitsmeaning。Wemayuseitasacantphrase,asapartycryonplatforms;wemayevenhateandpersecuteourfellow-menforthesakeofit:buttillwehaveclearlysettledinourownmindswhatawordmeans,itwilldoforfightingwith,butnotforworkingwith。SocratesofoldusedtotelltheyoungAtheniansthatthegroundofallsoundknowledgewas——tounderstandthetruemeaningofthewordswhichwereintheirmouthsalldaylong;andSocrateswasawisermanthanweshalleversee。So,insteadofbeginninganorationinpraiseofheroism,Ishallaskmyreaderstothinkwithmewhatheroismis。
Now,weshallalwaysgetmostsurelyatthemeaningofawordbygettingatitsetymology——thatis,atwhatitmeantatfirst。Andifheroismmeansbehavinglikeahero,wemustfindout,itseemstome,notmerelywhataheromayhappentomeanjustnow,butwhatitmeantintheearliesthumanspeechinwhichwefindit。
Aherooraheroine,then,amongtheoldHomericGreeks,meantamanorwomanwhowaslikethegods;andwho,fromthatlikeness,stoodsuperiortohisorherfellow-creatures。Gods,heroes,andmen,isathreefolddivisionofrationalbeings,withwhichwemeetmorethanonceortwice。ThosegrandoldGreeksfeltdeeplythetruthofthepoet’ssaying-
UnlessabovehimselfhecanExalthimself,howpoorathingisman。
Butmore:theGreekssupposedtheseheroestobe,insomewayorother,partakersofadivinenature;akintothegods;usually,eitherthey,orsomeancestoroftheirs,descendedfromagodorgoddess。ThosewhohavereadMr。Gladstone’s\"JuventusMundi\"
willrememberthesection(cap。ix。6)onthemodesoftheapproximationbetweenthedivineandthehumannatures;andwhetherornottheyagreewiththeauthoraltogether,allwillagree,Ithink,thatthefirstideaofaherooraheroinewasagodlikemanorgodlikewoman。
Agodlikeman。Whatvaried,whatinfiniteformsofnoblenessthatwordmightinclude,everincreasing,asmen’snotionsofthegodsbecamepurerandloftier,or,alas!decreasing,astheirnotionsbecamedegraded。TheoldGreeks,withthatintenseadmirationofbeautywhichmadethem,inafterages,themaster-sculptorsanddraughtsmenoftheirown,and,indeed,ofanyage,would,ofcourse,requireintheirhero,theirgod-likeman,beautyandstrength,mannerstoo,andeloquence,andalloutwardperfectionsofhumanity,andneglecthismoralqualities。Neglect,Isay,butnotignore。Thehero,byvirtueofhiskindredwiththegods,wasalwaysexpectedtobeabettermanthancommonmen,asvirtuewasthenunderstood。Andhowbetter?Letussee。
Theherowasatleastexpectedtobemorereverentthanothermentothosedivinebeingsofwhosenaturehepartook,whosesocietyhemightenjoyevenhereonearth。Hemightbeunfaithfultohisownhighlineage;hemightmisusehisgiftsbyselfishnessandself-will;hemight,likeAjax,ragewithmerejealousyandwoundedpridetillhisrageendedinshamefulmadnessandsuicide。
Hemightrebelagainsttheverygods,andalllawsofrightandwrong,tillheperishedhis[Greektext]-
Smittendown,blindinhispride,forasignandaterrortomortals。
Butheoughttohave,hemusthave,tobetruetohisnameofHero,justice,self-restraint,and[Greektext]——thathighestformofmodesty,forwhichwehave,alas!nonameintheEnglishtongue;thatperfectrespectforthefeelingsofotherswhichspringsoutofperfectself-respect。Andhemusthavetoo——ifheweretobeaheroofthehighesttype——theinstinctofhelpfulness;theinstinctthat,ifhewereakinsmanofthegods,hemustfightontheirside,throughtoilanddanger,againstallthatwasunlikethem,andthereforehatefultothem。Wholovesnottheoldlegends,unsurpassedforbeautyintheliteratureofanyrace,inwhichtheherostandsoutasthedeliverer,thedestroyerofevil?Theseusriddingthelandofrobbers,anddeliveringitfromtheyearlytributeofboysandmaidenstobedevouredbytheMinotaur;PerseusslayingtheGorgon,andrescuingAndromedafromthesea-beast;Heracleswithhistwelvefamouslaboursagainstgiantsandmonsters;andalltherest-
Whodared,inthegod-givenmightoftheirmanhood,Greatlytodoandtosuffer,andfarinthefensandtheforestsSmitethedevourersofmen,heaven-hatedbroodofthegiants;
Transformed,strange,withoutlike,whoobeynotthegolden-hairedrulers。
Thesearefigureswhosedivinemoralbeautyhassunkintothehearts,notmerelyofpoetsorofartists,butofmenandwomenwhosufferedandwhofeared;thememoryofthem,fablesthoughtheymayhavebeen,ennobledtheoldGreekheart;theyennobledtheheartofEuropeinthefifteenthcentury,atthere-discoveryofGreekliterature。SofarfromcontradictingtheChristianideal,theyharmonisedwith——Ihadalmostsaidtheysupplemented——
thatmoretenderandsaintlyidealofheroismwhichhadsprungupduringtheearlierMiddleAges。Theyjustified,andactuallygaveanewlifeto,theoldnoblenessesofchivalry,whichhadgrownupinthelaterMiddleAgesasanecessarysupplementofactiveandmanlyvirtuetothepassiveandfemininevirtueofthecloister。
Theyinspired,minglingwiththesetwootherelements,aliteraturebothinEngland,France,andItaly,inwhichthethreeelements,thesaintly,thechivalrous,andtheGreekheroic,havebecomeoneandundistinguishable,becauseallthreearehuman,andallthreedivine;aliteraturewhichdevelopeditselfinAriosto,inTasso,intheHypnerotomachia,theArcadia,theEuphues,andotherforms,sometimesfantastic,sometimesquestionable,butwhichreacheditsperfectioninourownSpenser’s\"FairyQueen\"——
perhapsthemostadmirablepoemwhichhaseverbeenpennedbymortalman。
Andwhy?WhathasmadetheseoldGreekmythslive,mythsthoughtheybe,andfables,andfairdreams?What——thoughtheyhavenobody,and,perhaps,neverhad——hasgiventhemanimmortalsoul,whichcanspeaktotheimmortalsoulsofallgenerationstocome?
Whatbutthis,thatinthem——dimitmaybeandundeveloped,butstillthere——liesthedivineideaofself-sacrificeastheperfectionofheroism,ofself-sacrifice,asthehighestdutyandthehighestjoyofhimwhoclaimsakindredwiththegods?
Letussay,then,thattrueheroismmustinvolveself-sacrifice。
Thosestoriescertainlyinvolveit,whetherancientormodern,whichthehearts,notofphilosophersmerely,orpoets,butofthepoorestandthemostignorant,haveacceptedinstinctivelyasthehighestformofmoralbeauty——thehighestform,andyetonepossibletoall。
GraceDarlingrowingoutintothestormtowardsthewreck。The\"drunkenprivateoftheBuffs,\"who,prisoneramongtheChinese,andcommandedtoprostratehimselfandkotoo,refusedinthenameofhiscountry’shonour:\"HewouldnotbowtoanyChina-manonearth:\"andsowasknockedonthehead,anddiedsurelyahero’sdeath。ThosesoldiersoftheBirkenhead,keepingtheirrankstoletthewomenandchildrenescape,whiletheywatchedthesharkswhoinafewminuteswouldbetearingthemlimbfromlimb。Or,togoacrosstheAtlantic——forthereareheroesintheFarWest——Mr。
BretHarte’s\"FlynnofVirginia,\"ontheCentralPacificRailway——
theplaceisshowntotravellers——whosacrificedhislifeforhismarriedcomrade:
There,inthedrift,Backtothewall,HeheldthetimbersReadytofall。
TheninthedarknessIheardhimcall:
\"Runforyourlife,Jake!
Runforyourwife’ssake!
Don’twaitforme。\"
AndthatwasallHeardinthedin-
HeardofTomFlynn-
FlynnofVirginia。
Ortheengineer,again,ontheMississippi,who,whenthesteamercaughtfire,held,ashehadswornhewould,herbowagainstthebank,tilleverysoulsavehegotsafeonshore:
ThroughthehotblackbreathoftheburningboatJimBludso’svoicewasheard;
Andtheyallhadtrustinhiscussedness,Andknewhewouldkeephisword。
Andsure’syou’reborn,theyallgotoffAforethesmokestacksfell;
AndBludso’sghostwentupaloneInthesmokeofthePrairieBelle。
Heweren’tnosaint——butatthejudgmentI’drunmychancewithJim’LongsideofsomepiousgentlemenThatwouldn’tshakehandswithhim。
He’dseenhisduty——adeadsurething-
Andwentforitthereandthen;
AndChristisnotgoingtobetoohardOnamanthatdiedformen。
TowhichgallantpoemofColonelJohnHay’s——andhehaswrittenmanygallantandbeautifulpoems——Ihavebutonedemurrer:JimBludsodidnotmerelydohisdutybutmorethanhisduty。Hedidavoluntarydeed,towhichhewasboundbynocodeorcontract,civilormoral;justashewhointroducedmetothatpoemwonhisVictoriaCross——asmanyacross,Victoriaandother,hasbeenwon——
byvolunteeringforadeedtowhichhe,too,wasboundbynocodeorcontract,militaryormoral。Anditisoftheessenceofself-
sacrifice,andthereforeofheroism,thatitshouldbevoluntary;
aworkofsupererogation,atleasttowardssocietyandman;anacttowhichtheheroorheroineisnotboundbyduty,butwhichisabovethoughnotagainstduty。
Nay,onthestrengthofthatsameelementofself-sacrifice,I
willnotgrudgetheepithet\"heroic,\"whichmyreveredfriendMr。
Darwinjustlyappliestothepoorlittlemonkey,whoonceinhislifedidthatwhichwasabovehisduty;wholivedincontinualterrorofthegreatbaboon,andyet,whenthebrutehadsprunguponhisfriendthekeeper,andwastearingouthisthroat,conqueredhisfearbylove,and,attheriskofinstantdeath,spranginturnuponhisdreadedenemy,andbitandshriekedtillhelparrived。
Somewouldnowadaysusethatstorymerelytoprovethatthemonkey’snatureandtheman’snatureare,afterall,oneandthesame。Well:I,atleast,haveneverdeniedthatthereisamonkey-natureinman,asthereisapeacock-nature,andaswine-
nature,andawolf-nature——ofallwhichfourIseeeverydaytoomuch。Thesharpandsterndistinctionbetweenmenandanimals,asfarastheirnaturesareconcerned,isofamoremodernoriginthanpeoplefancy。OfoldtheAssyriantooktheeagle,theox,andthelion——andnotunwisely——asthethreehighesttypesofhumancapacity。ThehorsesofHomermightbeimmortal,andweepfortheirmaster’sdeath。TheanimalsandmonstersofGreekmyth——
liketheAnanzispiderofNegrofable——glideinsensiblyintospeechandreason。Birds——themostwonderfulofallanimalsintheeyesofamanofscienceorapoet——aresometimeslookedonaswiser,andnearertothegods,thanman。TheNorseman——thenoblestandablesthumanbeing,savetheGreek,ofwhomhistorycantellus——wasnotashamedtosayofthebearofhisnativeforeststhathehad\"tenmen’sstrengthandelevenmen’swisdom。\"
HowcouldReineckeFuchshavegainedimmortality,intheMiddleAgesandsince,savebythetruthofitstoosolidandhumiliatingtheorem——thattheactionsoftheworldofmenwere,onthewhole,guidedbypassionsbuttooexactlylikethoseoftheloweranimals?Ihavesaid,andsayagain,withgoodoldVaughan:
UnlessabovehimselfhecanExalthimself,howmeanathingisman。
ButIcannotforgetthatmanyanoldGreekpoetorsage,andmanyasixteenthandseventeenthcenturyone,wouldhaveinterpretedthemonkey’sheroismfromquiteadifferentpointofview;andwouldhavesaidthatthepoorlittlecreaturehadbeenvisitedsuddenlybysome\"divineafflatus\"——anexpressionquiteasphilosophicalandquiteasintelligibleasmostphilosophicformulaswhichIreadnowadays——andhadbeenthusraisedforthemomentabovehisabjectselfishmonkey-nature,justasmanrequirestoberaisedabovehis。Butthattheorybelongstoaphilosophywhichisoutofdateandoutoffashion,andwhichwillhavetowaitacenturyortwobeforeitcomesintofashionagain。
Andnow,ifself-sacrificeandheroismbe,asIbelieve,identical,Imustprotestagainsttheuseoftheword\"sacrifice\"
whichisgrowingtoocommoninnewspaper-columns,inwhichwearetoldofan\"enormoussacrificeoflife;\"anexpressionwhichmeansmerelythatagreatmanypoorwretcheshavebeenkilled,quiteagainsttheirownwill,andfornopurposewhatsoever;nosacrificeatall,unlessitbeonetothedemonsofignorance,cupidity,ormismanagement。
ThestoutWhigundergraduateunderstoodbetterthemeaningofsuchwords,who,whenasked,\"InwhatsensemightCharlestheFirstbesaidtobeamartyr?\"answered,\"Inthesamesensethatamanmightbesaidtobeamartyrtothegout。\"
AndImustprotest,inlikewise,againstamisuseofthewords\"hero。\"\"heroism,\"\"heroic,\"whichisbecomingtoocommon,namely,applyingthemtomerecourage。Wehaveborrowedthemisuse,I
believe,aswehavemorethanonebeside,fromtheFrenchpress。