Itrustthatweshallneitheracceptit,northetemperwhichinspiresit。Itmaybeconvenientforthosewhoflattertheirnation,andespeciallythemilitarypartofit,intoaruinousself-conceit,toframesomesuchsyllogismasthis:\"Courageisheroism:everyFrenchmanisnaturallycourageous:thereforeeveryFrenchmanisahero。\"Butwe,whohavebeentrainedatonceinasounderschoolofmorals,andinagreaterrespectforfacts,andforlanguageastheexpressionoffacts,shallbecareful,I
hope,nottotriflethuswiththatpotentandawfulengine——humanspeech。Weshalleschewlikewise,Ihope,alikeabuseoftheword\"moral,\"whichhascreptfromtheFrenchpressnowandthen,notonlyintoourownpress,butintothewritingsofsomeofourmilitarymen,who,asEnglishmen,shouldhaveknownbetter。Weweretoldagainandagain,duringthelatewar,thatthemoraleffectofsuchasuccesshadbeengreat;thattheMORALEofthetroopswasexcellent;oragain,thattheMORALEofthetroopshadsuffered,oreventhattheyweresomewhatdemoralised。Butwhenonecametotestwhatwasreallymeantbythesefinewords,onediscoveredthatmoralshadnothingtodowiththefactswhichtheyexpressed;thatthetroopswereintheonecaseactuatedsimplybytheanimalpassionofhope,intheothersimplybytheanimalpassionoffear。Thisabuseoftheword\"moral\"hascrossed,Iamsorrytosay,theAtlantic;andawittyAmerican,whomwemustexcuse,thoughwemustnotimitate,whensomeonehadbeenblazingawayathimwitharevolver,hebeingunarmed,issaidtohavedescribedhisverynaturalemotionsontheoccasion,bysayingthathefeltdreadfullydemoralised。We,Ihope,shallconfinetheword\"demoralisation,\"asourgeneralsofthelastcenturywouldhavedone,whenappliedtosoldiers,tocrime,including,ofcourse,theneglectofdutyorofdiscipline;andweshallmeanbytheword\"heroism,\"inlikemanner,whetherappliedtoasoldierortoanyhumanbeing,notmerecourage,notthemeredoingofduty,butthedoingofsomethingbeyondduty;somethingwhichisnotinthebond;somespontaneousandunexpectedactofself-
devotion。
Iamglad,butnotsurprised,toseethatMissYongehasheldtothissounddistinctioninhergoldenlittlebookof\"GoldenDeeds,\"andsaid,\"Obedience,atallcostsandrisks,istheveryessenceofasoldier’slife。Ithasthesolidmaterial,butithashardlytheexceptionalbrightness,ofagoldendeed。\"
Iknowthatitisverydifficulttodrawthelinebetweenmereobediencetodutyandexpressheroism。Iknowalsothatitwouldbebothinvidiousandimpertinentinanutterlyunheroicpersonagelikeme,totrytodrawthatline;andtositathomeatease,analysingandcriticisingdeedswhichIcouldnotdomyself;but——
togiveaninstanceortwoofwhatImean:
Todefendapostaslongasitistenableisnotheroic。Itissimpleduty。Todefenditafterithasbecomeuntenable,andeventodieinsodoing,isnotheroic,butanoblemadness,unlessanadvantageistobegainedtherebyforone’sownside。Then,indeed,itrisestowards,ifnotinto,theheroismofself-
sacrifice。
Who,forexample,willnotendorsetheverdictofallagesontheconductofthoseSpartansatThermopylae,whentheysat\"combingtheiryellowhairfordeath\"onthesea-shore?Theydevotedthemselvestohopelessdestruction;butwhy?Theyfelt——Imustbelievethat,fortheybehavedasiftheyfelt——thatonthemthedestiniesoftheWesternWorldmighthang;thattheywereintheforefrontofthebattlebetweencivilisationandbarbarism,betweenfreedomanddespotism;andthattheymustteachthatvastmobofPersianslaves,whomtheofficersoftheGreatKingweredrivingwithwhipsuptotheirlance-points,thatthespiritoftheoldheroeswasnotdead;andthattheGreek,evenindefeatanddeath,wasamightierandanoblermanthanthey。Andtheydidtheirwork。Theyproduced,ifyouwill,a\"moral\"effect,whichhaslastedeventothisveryday。Theystruckterrorintotheheart,notonlyofthePersianhost,butofthewholePersianempire。Theymadetheeventofthatwarcertain,andthevictoriesofSalamisandPlataeacomparativelyeasy。TheymadeAlexander’sconquestoftheEast,onehundredandfiftyyearsafterwards,notonlypossibleatall,butpermanentwhenitcame;
andthushelpedtodeterminethefuturecivilisationofthewholeworld。
Theydidnot,ofcourse,foreseeallthis。Nogreatorinspiredmancanforeseealltheconsequencesofhisdeeds;butthesemenwere,asIholdinspiredtoseesomewhatatleastofthemightystakeforwhichtheyplayed;andtocounttheirlivesworthless,ifSpartahadsentthemthithertohelpinthatgreatgame。
OrshallwerefusethenameofheroictothosethreeGermancavalryregimentswho,inthebattleofMars-la-Tour,werebiddentohurlthemselvesuponthechassepotsandmitrailleusesoftheunbrokenFrenchinfantry,andwenttoalmostcertaindeath,overthecorpsesoftheircomrades,onandinandthrough,reelingmanoverhorse,horseoverman,andclunglikebull-dogstotheirwork,andwouldhardlyleave,evenatthebugle-call,tillinoneregimentthirteenofficersoutofnineteenwerekilledorwounded?
Andwhy?
BecausetheFrencharmymustbestopped,ifitwerebutforaquarterofanhour。ArespitemustbegainedfortheexhaustedThirdCorps。Andhowmuchmightbedone,eveninaquarterofanhour,bymenwhoknewwhen,andwhere,andwhytodie!Whowillrefusethenameofheroestothesemen?Andyetthey,probably,wouldhaveutterlydeclinedthehonour。Theyhadbutdonethatwhichwasinthebond。Theywerebutobeyingordersafterall。
AsMissYongewellsaysofallheroicpersons:\"’Ihavebutdonethatwhichitwasmydutytodo,’isthenaturalanswerofthosecapableofsuchactions。Theyhavebeenconstrainedtothembydutyorpity;haveneverdeemeditpossibletoactotherwise;anddidnotoncethinkofthemselvesinthematteratall。\"
Theselasttruewordsbringustoanotherelementinheroism:itssimplicity。Whatsoeverisnotsimple;whatsoeverisaffected,boastful,wilful,covetous,tarnishes,evendestroys,theheroiccharacterofadeed;becauseallthesefaultsspringoutofself。
Ontheotherhand,whereveryoufindaperfectlysimple,frank,unconsciouscharacter,thereyouhavethepossibility,atleast,ofheroicaction。Foritisnoblerfartodothemostcommonplacedutyinthehousehold,orbehindthecounter,withasingleeyetoduty,simplybecauseitmustbedone——noblerfar,Isay,thantogooutofyourwaytoattemptabrilliantdeed,withadoublemind,andsayingtoyourselfnotonly——\"Thiswillbeabrilliantdeed,\"butalso——\"anditwillpayme,orraiseme,orsetmeoff,intothebargain。\"Heroismknowsno\"intothebargain。\"Andtherefore,again,Imustprotestagainstapplyingtheword\"heroic\"toanydeeds,howevercharitable,howevertoilsome,howeverdangerous,performedforthesakeofwhatcertainFrenchladies,Iamtold,call\"fairesonsalut\"——savingone’ssoulintheworldtocome。Idonotmeantojudge。Otherandquiteunselfishmotivesmaybe,anddoubtlessoftenare,mixedupwiththatselfishone:womanlypityandtenderness;lovefor,anddesiretoimitate,acertainIncarnateidealofself-sacrifice,whoisatoncehumananddivine。Butthatmotiveofsavingthesoul,whichistoooftenopenlyproposedandproffered,isutterlyunheroic。Thedesiretoescapepainsandpenaltieshereafterbypainsandpenaltieshere;thebalanceofpresentlossagainstfuturegain——whatisthisbutselfishnessextendedoutofthisworldintoeternity?\"Notworldliness,\"indeed,asasatiristoncesaidwithbittertruth,\"butother-worldliness。\"
Moreover——andtheyoungandtheenthusiasticshouldalsobearthisinmind——thoughheroismmeansthegoingbeyondthelimitsofstrictduty,itnevermeansthegoingoutofthepathofstrictduty。IfitisyourdutytogotoLondon,gothither:youmaygoasmuchfartherasyouchooseafterthat。ButyoumustgotoLondonfirst。Doyourdutyfirst;itwillbetimeafterthattotalkofbeingheroic。
Andthereforeonemustseriouslywarntheyoung,lesttheymistakeforheroismandself-sacrificewhatismerelyprideandself-will,discontentwiththerelationsbywhichGodhasboundthem,andthecircumstanceswhichGodhasappointedforthem。Ihaveknowngirlsthinktheyweredoingafinethingbyleavinguncongenialparentsordisagreeablesisters,andcuttingoutforthemselves,astheyfancied,amoreusefulandelevatedlineoflifethanthatofmerehomeduties;while,afterall,poorthings,theywereonlysaying,withthePhariseesofold,\"Corban,itisagift,bywhatsoeverthoumightestbeprofitedbyme;\"andinthenameofGod,neglectingthecommandofGodtohonourtheirfatherandmother。
Therearemen,too,whowillneglecttheirhouseholdsandleavetheirchildrenunprovidedfor,andevenuneducated,whiletheyarespendingtheirmoneyonphilanthropicorreligioushobbiesoftheirown。Itisilltotakethechildren’sbreadandcastittothedogs;oreventotheangels。Itisill,Isay,tryingtomakepresentstoGod,beforewehavetriedtopayourdebtstoGod。
Thefirstdutyofeverymanistothewifewhomhehasmarried,andtothechildrenwhomshehasbroughtintotheworld;andtoneglectthemisnotheroism,butself-conceit;theconceitthatamanissonecessarytoAlmightyGod,thatGodwillactuallyallowhimtodowrong,ifHecanonlytherebysecuretheman’sinvaluableservices。Besurethateverymotivewhichcomesnotfromthesingleeye,everymotivewhichspringsfromself,isbyitsveryessenceunheroic,letitlookasgaudyorasbeneficentasitmay。
ButIcannotgosofarastosaythesameoftheloveofapprobation——thedesirefortheloveandrespectofourfellow-
men。Thatmustnotbeexcludedfromthelistofheroicmotives。
Iknowthatitis,ormaybeprovedtobe,byvictoriousanalysis,anemotioncommontousandtheloweranimals。Andyetnomanexcludesitlessthanthattruehero,St。Paul。
IfthosebraveSpartans,ifthosebraveGermans,ofwhomIspokejustnow,knewthattheirmemorieswouldbeweptoverandworshippedbybravemenandfairwomen,andthattheirnameswouldbecomewatchwordstochildrenintheirfatherland,whatisthattous,savethatitshouldmakeusrejoice,ifwebetrulyhuman,thattheyhadthatthoughtwiththemintheirlastmomentstomakeself-devotionmoreeasy,anddeathmoresweet?
Andyet——andyet——isnotthehighestheroismthatwhichisfreeevenfromtheapprobationofourfellowmen,evenfromtheapprobationofthebestandwisest?TheheroismwhichisknownonlytoourFatherwhoseethinsecret?TheGodlikedeedsaloneinthelonelychamber?TheGodlikeliveslivedinobscurity?——aheroismrareamongusmen,wholiveperforceintheglareandnoiseoftheouterworld:morecommonamongwomen;womenofwhomtheworldneverhears;who,iftheworlddiscoveredthem,wouldonlydrawtheveilmorecloselyovertheirfacesandtheirhearts,andentreattobeleftalonewithGod。True,theycannotalwayshide。Theymustnotalwayshide;ortheirfellow-creatureswouldlosethegoldenlesson。But,nevertheless,itisoftheessenceoftheperfectandwomanlyheroism,inwhich,asinallspiritualforcesthewomantranscendstheman,thatitwouldhideifitcould。
Anditwasapleasantthoughttome,whenIglancedlatelyatthegoldendeedsofwomeninMissYonge’sbook——itwasapleasantthoughttome,thatIcouldsaytomyself——Ah!yes。Theseheroinesareknown,andtheirfamefliesthroughthemouthsofmen。Butifso,howmanythousandsofheroinestheremusthavebeen,howmanythousandstheremaybenow,ofwhomweshallneverknow。Butstilltheyarethere。Theysowinsecrettheseedofwhichweplucktheflowerandeatthefruit,andknownotthatwepassthesowerdailyinthestreet;perhapssomehumble,ill-
dressedwoman,earningpainfullyherownsmallsustenance。Shewhonursesabedriddenmother,insteadofsendinghertotheworkhouse。Shewhospendsherheartandhermoneyonadrunkenfather,arecklessbrother,ontheorphansofakinsmanorafriend。Shewho——Butwhygoonwiththelonglistofgreatlittleheroisms,withwhichaclergymanatleastcomesincontactdaily——
anditisoneofthemostennoblingprivilegesofaclergyman’shighcallingthathedoescomeincontactwiththem——whygoon,I
say,savetocommemorateonemoreformofgreatlittleheroism——
thecommonest,andyettheleastrememberedofall——namely,theheroismofanaveragemother?Ah,whenIthinkofthatlastbroadfact,Igatherhopeagainforpoorhumanity;andthisdarkworldlooksbright,thisdiseasedworldlookswholesometomeoncemore——
because,whateverelseitisorisnotfullof,itisatleastfullofmothers。
Whilethesatiristonlysneers,asatastockbuttforhisridicule,atthemanagingmothertryingtogetherdaughtersmarriedoffherhandsbychicaneriesandmeannesses,whicheverynovelistknowstoowellhowtodraw——wouldtoheavenhe,orrather,alas!shewouldfindsomemorechivalrousemploymentforhisorherpen——forweretheynot,too,bornofwoman?——Ionlysaytomyself——havinghadalwaysasecretfondnessforpoorRebecca,thoughIloveEsaumorethanJacob——Letthepoorthingalone。
Withpainshebroughtthesegirlsintotheworld。Withpainsheeducatedthemaccordingtoherlight。Withpainsheistryingtoobtainforthemthehighestearthlyblessingofwhichshecanconceive,namely,tobewellmarried;andifindoingthatlast,shemanoeuvresalittle,commitsafewbasenesses,eventellsafewuntruths,whatdoesallthatcometo,savethis——thatintheconfusedintensityofhermotherlyself-sacrifice,shewillsacrificeforherdaughtersevenherownconscienceandherowncredit?Wemaysneer,ifwewill,atsuchapoorhard-drivensoulwhenwemeetherinsociety;ourduty,bothasChristiansandladiesandgentlemen,seemstometobe——todoforhersomethingverydifferentindeed。
Buttoreturn。Lookingattheamountofgreatlittleheroisms,whicharebeing,asIassert,enactedarounduseveryday,noonehasarighttosay,whatwearealltemptedtosayattimes:\"HowcanIbeheroic?Thisisnoheroicage,settingmeheroicexamples。Wearegrowingmoreandmorecomfortable,frivolous,pleasure-seeking,money-making;moreandmoreutilitarian;moreandmoremercenaryinourpolitics,inourmorals,inourreligion;thinkinglessandlessofhonourandduty,andmoreandmoreoflossandgain。Iambornintoanunheroictime。Youmustnotaskmetobecomeheroicinit。\"
Idonotdenythatitismoredifficulttobeheroic,whilecircumstancesareunheroicroundus。Wearealltooapttobethepuppetsofcircumstances;alltooapttofollowthefashion;alltooapt,likesomanyminnows,totakeourcolourfromthegroundonwhichwelie,inhopes,likethem,ofcomfortableconcealment,lestthenewtyrantdeity,calledPublicOpinion,shouldspyusout,and,likeNebuchadnezzarofold,castusintoaburningfieryfurnace——whichpublicopinioncanmakeveryhot——fordaringtoworshipanygodormansavethewillofthetemporarymajority。
Yes,itisdifficulttobeanythingbutpoor,mean,insufficient,imperfectpeople,aslikeeachotherassomanysheep;and,likesomanysheep,havingnowillorcharacterofourown,butrushingaltogetherblindlyoverthesamegap,infoolishfearofthesamedog,who,afterall,darenotbiteus;andsoitalwayswasandalwayswillbe。
ForthethirdtimeIsay,UnlessabovehimselfhecanExalthimself,howpoorathingisman。
But,nevertheless,anymanorwomanwhoWILL,inanyageandunderanycircumstances,canlivetheheroiclifeandexerciseheroicinfluences。
Ifanyaskproofofthis,Ishallaskthem,inreturn,toreadtwonovels;novels,indeed,but,intheirmethodandtheirmoral,partakingofthatheroicandidealelement,whichwillmakethemlive,Itrust,longafterthousandsofmerenovelshavereturnedtotheirnativedust。ImeanMissMuloch’s\"JohnHalifax,Gentleman,\"andMr。Thackeray’s\"Esmond,\"twobookswhichnomanorwomanoughttoreadwithoutbeingthenoblerforthem。
\"JohnHalifax,Gentleman,\"issimplythehistoryofapooryoungclerk,whorisestobeawealthymill-ownerinthemanufacturingdistricts,intheearlypartofthiscentury。Buthecontrivestobeanheroicandidealclerk,andanheroicandidealmill-owner;
andthatwithoutdoinganythingwhichtheworldwouldcallheroicorideal,orinanywisesteppingoutofhissphere,mindingsimplyhisownbusiness,anddoingthedutywhichliesnearesthim。Andhow?Bygettingintohisheadfromyouththestrangestnotion,thatinwhateverstationorbusinesshemaybe,hecanalwaysbewhatheconsidersagentleman;andthatifheonlybehaveslikeagentleman,allmustgorightatlast。Abeautifulbook。AsI
saidbefore,somewhatofanheroicandidealbook。AbookwhichdidmegoodwhenfirstIreadit;whichoughttodoanyyoungmangoodwhowillreadit,andthentrytobe,likeJohnHalifax,agentleman,whetherintheshop,thecounting-house,thebank,orthemanufactory。
Theother——anevenmorestrikinginstanceofthepossibility,atleast,ofheroismanywhereandeverywhere——isMr。Thackeray’s\"Esmond。\"OnthemeaningofthatbookIcanspeakwithauthority。
Formydearandregrettedfriendtoldmehimselfthatmyinterpretationofitwasthetrueone;thatthiswasthelessonwhichhemeantmentolearntherefrom。
Esmondisamanofthefirsthalfoftheeighteenthcentury;
livinginacoarse,drunken,ignorant,profligate,andaltogetherunheroicage。Heis——andherethehighartandthehighmoralityofMr。Thackeray’sgeniusisshown——altogetheramanofhisownage。Heisnotasixteenth-centuryoranineteenth-centurymanbornoutoftime。Hisinformation,hispolitics,hisreligion,arenohigherthanofthoseroundhim。Hismanners,hisviewsofhumanlife,hisveryprejudicesandfaults,arethoseofhisage。
Thetemptationswhichheconquersarejustthoseunderwhichthemenaroundhimfall。Buthowdoesheconquerthem?Byholdingfastthroughouttohonour,duty,virtue。Thus,andthusalone,hebecomesanidealeighteenth-centurygentleman,aneighteenth-
centuryhero。ThiswaswhatMr。Thackeraymeant——forhetoldmesohimself,Isay——thatitwaspossible,eveninEngland’slowestandfoulesttimes,tobeagentlemanandahero,ifamanwouldbutbetruetothelightwithinhim。
ButIwillgofarther。Iwillgofromidealfictiontoactual,andyetideal,fact;andsaythat,asIreadhistory,themostunheroicagewhichthecivilisedworldeversawwasalsothemostheroic;thatthespiritofmantriumphedmostutterlyoverhiscircumstancesattheverymomentwhenthosecircumstancesweremostagainsthim。
Howandwhyhedidsoisaquestionforphilosophyinthehighestsenseofthatword。Thefactofhishavingdonesoismatterofhistory。ShallIsolvemyownriddle?
Then,havewenotheardoftheearlyChristianmartyrs?Isthereadoubtthatthey,unletteredmen,slaves,weakwomen,evenchildren,didexhibit,underaninfinitesenseofduty,issuingininfiniteself-sacrifice,aheroismsuchastheworldhadneverseenbefore;didraisetheidealofhumannoblenessawholestage——
rathersay,awholeheaven——higherthanbefore;andthatwhereverthetaleoftheirgreatdeedsspread,menaccepted,eveniftheydidnotcopy,thosemartyrsasidealspecimensofthehumanrace,tilltheywereactuallyworshippedbysucceedinggenerations,wrongly,itmaybe,butpardonably,asachoiroflesserdeities?
Butisthere,ontheotherhand,adoubtthattheageinwhichtheywereheroicwasthemostunheroicofallages;thattheywerebred,lived,anddied,underthemostdebasingofmaterialisttyrannies,withart,literature,philosophy,familyandnationallifedying,ordeadaroundthem,andincitiesthecorruptionofwhichcannotbetoldforveryshame——cities,comparedwithwhichParisistheabodeofArcadiansimplicityandinnocence?WhenI
readPetroniusandJuvenal,andrecollectthattheywerethecontemporariesoftheApostles;when——togiveaninstancewhichscholars,andperhaps,happily,onlyscholars,canappreciate——I
glanceoncemoreatTrimalchio’sfeast,andrememberthatwithinamileofthatfeastSt。PaulmayhavebeenpreachingtoaChristiancongregation,someofwhom——forSt。Paulmakesnosecretofthatstrangefact——mayhavebeen,eretheirconversion,partakersinjustsuchvulgarandbestialorgiesasthosewhichweregoingonintherichfreedman’shalls;afterthat,Isay,Icanputnolimittothepossibilityofman’sbecomingheroic,eventhoughhebesurroundedbyahellonearth;nolimittothecapacitiesofanyhumanbeingtoformforhimselforherselfahighandpureidealofhumancharacter;and,without\"playingfantastictricksbeforehighheaven,\"tocarryoutthatidealinevery-daylife;
andinthemostcommonplacecircumstances,andthemostmenialoccupations,toliveworthyof——asIconceive——ourheavenlybirthright,andtoimitatetheheroes,whowerethekinsmenofthegods。
THEMASSACREOFTHEINNOCENTS{11}
Letmebeginbyaskingtheladieswhoareinterestingthemselvesinthisgoodwork,whethertheyhavereallyconsideredwhattheyareabouttodoincarryingouttheirownplans?AretheyawarethatiftheirSocietyreallysucceeds,theywillproduceaveryserious,somewouldthinkaverydangerous,changeinthestateofthisnation?Aretheyawarethattheywouldprobablysavethelivesofsomethirtyorfortypercent。ofthechildrenwhoareborninEngland,andthatthereforetheywouldcausethesubjectsofQueenVictoriatoincreaseataveryfarmorerapidratethantheydonow?AndaretheyawarethatsomeverywisemeninformusthatEnglandisalreadyover-peopled,andthatitisanexceedinglypuzzlingquestionwhereweshallsoonbeabletofindworkorfoodforourmasses,sorapidlydotheyincreasealready,inspiteofthethirtyorfortypercent。whichkindNaturecarriesoffyearlybeforetheyarefiveyearsold?Havetheyconsideredwhattheyaretodowithallthosechildrenwhomtheyaregoingtosavealive?Thathastobethoughtof;andiftheyreallydobelieve,withsomepoliticaleconomists,thatover-
populationisapossibilitytoacountrywhichhasthegreatestcolonialempirethattheworldhaseverseen;thenIthinktheyhadbetterstopintheircourse,andletthechildrendie,astheyhavebeeninthehabitofdying。
Butif,ontheotherhand,itseemstothem,asIconfessitdoestome,thatthemostpreciousthingintheworldisahumanbeing;
thatthelowest,andpoorest,andthemostdegradedofhumanbeingsisbetterthanallthedumbanimalsintheworld;thatthereisaninfinite,pricelesscapabilityinthatcreature,fallenasitmaybe;acapabilityofvirtue,andofsocialandindustrialuse,which,ifitistakenintime,maybedevelopeduptoapitch,ofwhichatfirstsightthechildgivesnohintwhatsoever;iftheybelieveagain,thatofallracesuponearthnow,theEnglishraceisprobablythefinest,andthatitgivesnottheslightestsignwhateverofexhaustion;thatitseemstobeonthewholeayoungrace,andtohaveverygreatcapabilitiesinitwhichhavenotyetbeendeveloped,andaboveall,themostmarvellouscapabilityofadaptingitselftoeverysortofclimateandeveryformoflife,whichanyrace,excepttheoldRoman,everhashadintheworld;iftheyconsiderwithmethatitisworththewhileofpoliticaleconomistsandsocialphilosopherstolookatthemap,andseethataboutfour-fifthsoftheglobecannotbesaidasyettobeinanywiseinhabitedorcultivated,orinthestateintowhichmencouldputitbyafairsupplyofpopulation,andindustry,andhumanintellect:then,perhaps,theymaythinkwithmethatitisaduty,oneofthenoblestofduties,tohelptheincreaseoftheEnglishraceasmuchaspossible,andtoseethateverychildthatisbornintothisgreatnationofEnglandbedevelopedtothehighestpitchtowhichwecandevelophiminphysicalstrengthandinbeauty,aswellasinintellectandinvirtue。Andthen,inthatlight,itdoesseemtome,thatthisInstitution——smallnow,butIdohopesomedaytobecomegreatandtobecomethemotherinstitutionofmanyandvaluablechildren——isoneofthenoblest,mostright-minded,straightforward,andpracticalconceptionsthatIhavecomeacrossforsomeyears。
Weallknowthedifficultiesofsanitarylegislation。Onelooksatthemattimesalmostwithdespair。Ihavemyownreasons,withwhichIwillnottroublethismeeting,forlookingonthemwithmoredespairthanever:notonaccountofthegovernmentofthetime,oranypossiblegovernmentthatcouldcometoEngland,butonaccountofthepeculiarclassofpersonsinwhomtheownershipofthesmallhouseshasbecomemoreandmorevested,andwhoarebecomingmoreandmore,Ihadalmostsaid,thearbitersofthepopularopinion,andofeveryelectionofparliament。However,thatisnobusinessofourshere;thatmustbesettledsomewhereelse;andafearfullylongtime,itseemstome,itwillbebeforeitissettled。But,inthemeantime,whatlegislationcannotdo,Ibelieveprivatehelp,and,aboveall,woman’shelp,candoevenbetter。Itcandothis;itcanimprovetheconditionoftheworkingman:andnotonlyofhim;Imustspeakalsoofthemiddleclasses,ofthemenwhoownthehouseinwhichtheworkingmanlives。Imustspeak,too,ofthewealthytradesman;Imustspeak——
itisasadthingtohavetosayit——ofourownclassaswellasofothers。Sanitaryreform,asitiscalled,or,inplainEnglish,theartofhealth,issoveryrecentadiscovery,asalltruephysicalscienceis,thatweourselvesandourownclassknowverylittleaboutit,andpractiseitverylittle。Andthissociety,Idohope,willbearinmindthatitisnotsimplytoseektheworkingman,notonlytogointothefoulalley:butitistogotothedoorofthefarmer,tothedooroftheshopkeeper,aye,tothedoorofladiesandgentlemenofthesamerankasourselves。Womencandointhatworkwhatmencannotdo。Theprivatecorrespondence,privateconversation,privateexample,ofladies,aboveallofmarriedwomen,ofmothersoffamilies,maydowhatnolegislationcando。IamstruckmoreandmorewiththeamountofdiseaseanddeathIseearoundmeinallclasses,whichnosanitarylegislationwhatsoevercouldtouch,unlessyouhadacompletehouse-to-housevisitationbysomegovernmentofficer,withpowerstoentereverydwelling,todrainit,andventilateit;andnotonlythat,buttoregulatetheclothesandthedietofeveryinhabitant,andthatamongallranks。Icanconceiveofnothingshortofthat,whichwouldbeabsurdandimpossible,andwouldalsobemostharmfulmorally,whichwouldstopthepresentamountofdiseaseanddeathwhichIseearoundme,withoutsomesuchprivateexertiononthepartofwomen,aboveallofmothers,asIdohopewillspringfromthisinstitutionmoreandmore。
Iseethis,thatthreepersonsoutofeveryfourareutterlyunawareofthegeneralcausesoftheirownill-health,andoftheill-healthoftheirchildren。Theytalkoftheir\"afflictions,\"
andtheir\"misfortunes;\"and,iftheybepiouspeople,theytalkof\"thewillofGod,\"andof\"thevisitationofGod。\"Idonotliketotrenchuponthosemattershere;butwhenIreadinmybookandinyourbook,\"thatitisnotthewillofourFatherinHeaventhatoneoftheselittleonesshouldperish,\"ithascometomymindsometimeswithverygreatstrengththatthatmayhaveaphysicalapplicationaswellasaspiritualone;andthattheFatherinHeavenwhodoesnotwishthechild’ssoultodie,maypossiblyhavecreatedthatchild’sbodyforthepurposeofitsnotdyingexceptinagoodoldage。Fornotonlyinthelowerclass,butinthemiddleandupperclasses,whenoneseesanunhealthyfamily,theninthreecasesoutoffour,ifonewilltaketime,trouble,andcareenough,onecan,withthehelpofthedoctor,whohasbeenattendingthem,runtheevilhometoaverydifferentcausethanthewillofGod;andthatis,tostupidneglect,stupidignorance,orwhatisjustasbad,stupidindulgence。
Now,Idobelievethatifthosetractswhichyouarepublishing,whichIhavereadandofwhichIcannotspeaktoohighly,arespreadoverthelengthandbreadthoftheland,andifwomen——
clergymen’swives,thewivesofmanufacturersandofgreatemployers,districtvisitorsandschoolmistresses,havethesebooksputintotheirhands,andarepersuadedtospreadthem,andtoenforcethem,bytheirownexampleandbytheirowncounsel——
thatthen,inthecourseofafewyears,thissystembeingthoroughlycarriedout,youwouldseeasensibleandlargeincreaseintherateofpopulation。Whenyouhavesavedyourchildrenalive,thenyoumustsettlewhattodowiththem。Butalivingdogisbetterthanadeadlion;Iwouldratherhavethelivingchild,andletittakeitschance,thanletitreturntoGod——wasted。O!itisadistressingthingtoseechildrendie。
Godgivesthemostbeautifulandpreciousthingthatearthcanhave,andwejusttakeitandcastitaway;wetossourpearlsuponthedunghillandleavethem。Adyingchildistomeoneofthemostdreadfulsightsintheworld。Adyingman,amandyingonthefieldofbattle——thatisasmallsight;hehastakenhischance;heisdoinghisduty;hehashadhisexcitement;hehashadhisglory,ifthatwillbeanyconsolationtohim;ifheisawiseman,hehasthefeelingthatheisdyingforhiscountryandhisqueen:andthatis,andoughttobe,enoughforhim。Iamnothorrifiedorshockedatthesightofthemanwhodiesonthefieldofbattle;lethimdieso。Itdoesnothorrifyorshockme,again,toseeamandyinginagoodoldage,eventhoughthelaststrugglebepainful,asittoooftenis。Butitdoesshockme,itdoesmakemefeelthattheworldisindeedoutofjoint,toseeachilddie。Ibelieveittobeapricelessboontothechildtohavelivedforaweek,oraday:butoh,whathasGodgiventothisthanklessearth,andwhathastheearththrownaway;andinninecasesoutoften,fromitsownneglectandcarelessness!
Whatthatboymighthavebeen,whathemighthavedoneasanEnglishman,ifhecouldhavelivedandgrownuphealthyandstrong!AndIentreatyoutobearthisinmind,thatitisnotasifourlowerorourmiddleclasseswerenotworthsaving:bearinmindthatthephysicalbeauty,strength,intellectualpowerofthemiddleclasses——theshopkeepingclass,thefarmingclass,downtothelowestworkingclass——wheneveryougivethemafairchance,wheneveryougivethemfairfoodandair,andphysicaleducationofanykind,provethemtobethefinestraceinEurope。Notmerelythearistocracy,splendidraceastheyare,butdownanddownanddowntothelowestlabouringman,tothenavigator——why,thereisnotsuchabodyofmeninEuropeasournavigators;andnobodyofmenperhapshavehadaworsechanceofgrowingtobewhattheyare;andyetseewhattheyhavedone!Seethemagnificentmentheybecome,inspiteofallthatisagainstthem,draggingthemdown,tendingtogivethemricketsandconsumption,andallthemiserablediseaseswhichchildrencontract;seewhatmentheyare,andthenconceivewhattheymightbe!Ithasbeensaid,againandagain,thattherearenomorebeautifulraceofwomeninEuropethanthewivesanddaughtersofourLondonshopkeepers;andyettherearefewracesofpeoplewholeadalifemoreinoppositiontoallrulesofhygiene。But,inspiteofallthat,sowonderfulisthevitalityoftheEnglishrace,theyarewhattheyare;andthereforewehavethefinestmaterialtoworkuponthatpeopleeverhad。And,therefore,again,wehavethelessexcuseifwedoallowEnglishpeopletogrowuppuny,stunted,anddiseased。
LetmereferagaintothatwordthatIused;death——theamountofdeath。Ireallybelievetherearehundredsofgoodandkindpeoplewhowouldtakeupthissubjectwiththeirwholeheartandsouliftheywereawareofthemagnitudeoftheevil。LordShaftesburytoldyoujustnowthattherewereonehundredthousandpreventabledeathsinEnglandeveryyear。Soitis。Wetalkofthelossofhumanlifeinwar。Wearethefoolsofsmokeandnoise;becausetherearecannon-balls,forsooth,andswordsandredcoats;andbecauseitcostsagreatdealofmoney,andmakesagreatdealoftalkinthepapers,wethink:Whatsoterribleaswar?Iwilltellyouwhatistentimes,andtenthousandtimes,moreterriblethanwar,andthatisoutragedNature。War,wearediscoveringnow,istheclumsiestandmostexpensiveofallgames;
wearefindingthatifyouwishtocommitanactofcrueltyandfolly,themostcostlyonethatyoucancommitistocontrivetoshootyourfellow-meninwar。Soitis;andthankGodthatsoitis;butNature,insidious,inexpensive,silent,sendsnoroarofcannon,noglitterofarmstodoherwork;shegivesnowarningnoteofpreparation;shehasnoprotocols,noranydiplomaticadvances,wherebyshewarnsherenemythatwariscoming。
Silently,Isay,andinsidiouslyshegoesforth;no!shedoesnotevengoforth;shedoesnotstepoutofherpath;butquietly,bytheverysamemeansbywhichshemakesalive,sheputstodeath;
andsoavengesherselfofthosewhohaverebelledagainsther。Bytheverysamelawsbywhicheverybladeofgrassgrows,andeveryinsectspringstolifeinthesunbeam,shekills,andkills,andkills,andisnevertiredofkilling;tillshehastaughtmantheterriblelessonheissoslowtolearn,that,Natureisonlyconqueredbyobeyingher。
Andbearinmindonethingmore。Manhashiscourtesiesofwar,andhischivalriesofwar;hedoesnotstriketheunarmedman;hesparesthewomanandthechild。ButNatureisasfiercewhensheisoffended,assheisbounteousandkindwhensheisobeyed。Shesparesneitherwomannorchild。Shehasnopity;forsomeawful,butmostgoodreason,sheisnotallowedtohaveanypity。
Silentlyshestrikesthesleepingbabe,withaslittleremorseasshewouldstrikethestrongman,withthespadeorthemusketinhishand。Ah!wouldtoGodthatsomemanhadthepictorialeloquencetoputbeforethemothersofEnglandthemassofpreventablesuffering,themassofpreventableagonyofmindandbody,whichexistsinEnglandyearafteryear;andwouldthatsomemanhadthelogicaleloquencetomakethemunderstandthatitisintheirpower,inthepowerofthemothersandwivesofthehigherclass,Iwillnotsaytostopitall——Godonlyknowsthat——
buttostop,asIbelieve,three-fourthsofit。
Itisinthepower,Ibelieve,ofanywomaninthisroomtosavethreeorfourlives——humanlives——duringthenextsixmonths。Itisinyourpower,ladies;anditissoeasy。Youmightsaveseverallivesapiece,ifyouchoose,without,Ibelieve,interferingwithyourdailybusiness,orwithyourdailypleasure;
or,ifyouchoose,withyourdailyfrivolities,inanywaywhatsoever。Letmeask,then,thosewhoarehere,andwhohavenotyetlaidthesethingstoheart:Willyouletthismeetingto-
daybeamerepassingmatteroftwoorthreehours’interest,whichyoumaygoawayandforgetforthenextbookorthenextamusement?Orwillyoubeinearnest?Willyoulearn——Isayitopenly——fromthenoblechairman,howeasyitistobeinearnestinlife;howeveryoneofyou,amidalltheartificialcomplicationsofEnglishsocietyinthenineteenthcentury,canfindaworktodo,anobleworktodo,achivalrousworktodo——
justaschivalrousasifyoulivedinanyoldmagicland,suchasSpensertalkedofinhis\"FaerieQueene;\"howyoucanbeastrueaknight-errantorlady-errantinthepresentcentury,asifyouhadlivedfarawayinthedarkagesofviolenceandrapine?Willyou,Iask,learnthis?Willyoulearntobeinearnest;andtousetheposition,andthestation,andthetalentthatGodhasgivenyoutosavealivethosewhoshouldlive?AndwillyourememberthatitisnotthewillofyourFatherthatisinHeaventhatonelittleonethatplaysinthekenneloutsideshouldperish,eitherinbodyorinsoul?
\"AMADWORLD,MYMASTERS。\"{12}
Thecholera,aswastobeexpected,hasreappearedinEnglandagain;andEngland,aswastobeexpected,hastakennosufficientstepstowardsmeetingit;sothatif,asseemsbuttooprobable,theplagueshouldspreadnextsummer,wemaycountwithtolerablecertaintyuponalossofsometenthousandlives。
Thattenthousand,oronethousand,innocentpeopleshoulddie,ofwhommost,ifnotall,mightbesavedalive,wouldseematfirstsightamatterseriousenoughfortheattentionof\"philanthropists。\"Thosewhoabhorthepracticeofhangingonemanwould,onefancies,abhorequallythatofpoisoningmany;andwouldprotestasearnestlyagainstthepainfulcapitalpunishmentofdiarrhoeaasagainstthepainlessoneofhempenrope。ThosewhodemandmercyfortheSepoy,andimmunityfortheCooliewomenofDelhi,unsexedbytheirownbrutalandshamelesscruelty,would,onefancies,demandmercyalsofortheBritishworkman,andimmunityforhiswifeandfamily。OneisthereforesomewhatstartledatfindingthattheBritishnationreservestoitself,thoughitforbidstoitsarmies,therightofputtingtodeathunarmedandunoffendingmen,women,andchildren。
Afterfurtherconsideration,however,onefindsthatthereare,asusual,twosidestothequestion。Oneisbound,indeed,tobelieve,evenbeforeproof,thattherearetwosides。ItcannotbewithoutgoodandsufficientreasonthattheBritishpublicremainsallbutindifferenttosanitaryreform;thatthoughthescienceofepidemics,asascience,hasbeenbeforetheworldformorethantwentyyears,nobodybelievesinitenoughtoactuponit,savesomefewdozenoffanatics,someofwhomhave(itcannotbedenied)adirectpecuniaryinterestindisturbingwhattheychoosetotermthepoison-manufactoriesoffreeandindependentBritons。
Yes;weshouldsurelyrespecttheexpressedwillandconvictionofthemostpracticalofnations,arrivedataftertheexperienceofthreecholeras,stretchingoverawholegeneration。Publicopinionhasdeclaredagainstthenecessityofsanitaryreform:
andisnotpublicopinionknowntobe,intheselastdays,theIthuriel’sspearwhichistounmaskanddestroyallthefollies,superstitions,andcrueltiesoftheuniverse?TheimmensemajorityoftheBritishnationwillneithercleansethemselvesnorletotherscleansethem:andarewenotgovernedbymajorities?
Arenotmajorities,confessedly,alwaysintheright,evenwhensmallest,andashowofhandsasurertestoftruththananyamountofwisdom,learning,orvirtue?Howmuchmore,then,whenawholefreepeopleisarrayed,inthecalmmagnificenceofself-
confidentconservatism,againstafewinnovatingandperhapsscepticalphilosophasters?Thensurely,ifever,voxpopuliisvoxcoeli。
And,infact,whenwecometoexaminethefirstandcommonestobjectionagainstsanitaryreformers,wefinditperfectlycorrect。Theyaresaidtobetheorists,dreamersofthestudy,whoareignorantofhumannature;andwhointheirmaterialistoptimism,haveforgottentheexistenceofmoraleviltilltheyalmostfancyattimesthattheycansettheworldrightsimplybyrightingitslowestmaterialarrangements。Thecomplaintisperfectlytrue。Theyhavebeenignorantofhumannature;theyhaveforgottentheexistenceofmoralevil;andifanyreligiousperiodicalshouldcomplainoftheirdenyingoriginalsin,theycanonlyanswerthattheydidinpastyearsfallintothatfolly,butthatsubsequentexperiencehasutterlyconvincedthemofthetruthofthedoctrine。
For,misledbythisignoranceofhumannature,theyexpectedhelp,fromtimetotime,fromvariousclassesofthecommunity,fromwhomnohelp(astheyoughttohaveknownatfirst)istobegotten。Some,asafact,expectedtheassistanceoftheclergy,andespeciallyofthepreachersofthosedenominationswhobelievethateveryhumanbeing,bythemerefactofhisbirthintothisworld,isdestinedtoendlesstortureafterdeath,unlessthepreachercanfindanopportunitytodeliverhimtherefrombeforehedies。Theysupposedthattosuchpreachersthemortallivesofmenwouldbeinexpressiblyprecious;thatanysciencewhichheldoutaprospectofretardingdeathinthecaseof\"lostmillions\"
wouldbehailedasaheavenlyboon,andwouldbecarriedoutwiththefervourofmenwhofeltthatforthesoul’ssakenoexertionwastoogreatinbehalfofthebody。
Alittlemorereflectionwouldhavequashedtheirvainhope。Theywouldhaverecollectedthateachofthesepreacherswasalreadyconnectedwithacongregation;thathehadalreadyaholdonthem,andtheyonhim;thathewasboundtoprovidefortheirspiritualwantsbeforegoingforthtoseekforfreshobjectsofhisministry。Theywouldhaverecollectedthatontheoldprinciple(andaverysoundone)ofabirdinthehandbeingworthtwointhebush,theministerofacongregationwouldfeelithisduty,aswellashisinterest,nottodefraudhisflockofhislaboursbyspendingvaluabletimeonasecularsubjectlikesanitaryreform,inthehopeofpossiblypreservingafewhumanbeings,whosesoulshemighthereafter(andthatagainwouldbemerelyapossibility)benefit。
Theywouldhaverecollected,again,thatthesecongregationsarealmostexclusivelycomposedofthoseclasseswhohavelittleornothingtofearfromepidemics,and(whatisevenmoreimportant)
whowouldhavetobeartheexpensesofsanitaryimprovements。Butsosanguine,sorecklessofhumanconditionshadtheirtheoriesmadethem,thattheyactuallyexpectedthatparishrectors,alreadyburdenedwithover-workandvestryquarrels——nay,eventhatpreacherswhogottheirbreadbypew-rents,andwhoselife-
longstrugglewas,therefore,tokeepthosepewsfilled,andthoserentersingoodhumour——shouldastoundtherespectablehouse-
ownersandratepayerswhosatbeneaththembytheappallingwords:
\"You,andnotthe’VisitationofGod,’arethecauseofepidemics;
andofyou,nowthatyouareoncefairlywarnedofyourresponsibility,willyourbrothers’bloodberequired。\"ConceiveSanitaryReformersexpectingthisof\"ministers,\"lettheirdenominationbewhatitmight——manyofthepoormen,too,withawifeandsevenchildren!Trulyhasitbeensaid,thatnothingissocruelastheunreasonablenessofafanatic。
Theyforgot,too,thatsanitaryscience,likegeology,mustbeatfirstsight\"suspect\"intheeyesofthepriestsofalldenominations,atleasttilltheyshallhavearrivedatamuchhigherdegreeofculturethantheynowpossess。