第2章

Inmyreferencetotheoldhouseinaformerpaper，publishedyearsago，Isaid，"ByandbythestonyfootofthegreatUniversitywillplantitselfonthiswholeterritory，andtheprivaterecollectionswhichclungsotenaciouslytotheplaceanditshabitationswillhavediedwiththosewhocherishedthem。”

WhatstridesthegreatUniversityhastakensincethosewordswerewritten!DuringallmyearlyyearsouroldHarvardAlmaMatersatstillandlifelessasthecolossiintheEgyptiandesert。Thenallatonce，likethestatueinDonGiovanni，shemovedfromherpedestal。Thefallofthat"stonyfoot"haseffectedamiracleliketheharpthatOrpheusplayed，liketheteethwhichCadmussowed。TheplainwherethemooseandthebearwerewanderingwhileShakespearewaswritingHamlet，whereafewplaindormitoriesandotherneededbuildingswerescatteredaboutinmyschool-boydays，groansundertheweightofthemassiveedificeswhichhavesprungupallaroundthem，crownedbythetowerofthatnoblestructurewhichstandsinfullviewbeforemeasIliftmyeyesfromtheportfolioonthebackofwhichIamnowwriting。

ForImustbepermittedtoremindyouthatIhavenotyetopenedit。

IhavetoldyouthatIhavejustfinishedalongmemoir，andthatithascostmenolittlelabortoovercomesomeofitsdifficulties，——ifIhaveovercomethem，whichothersmustdecide。AndIfeelexactlyashonestDobbinfeelswhenhisharnessisslippedoffafteralongjourneywithagooddealofup-hillwork。Hewantstorestalittle，thentofeedalittle；then，ifyouwillturnhimlooseinthepasture，hewantstoroll。Ihaveleftmystarryandetherealcompanionship，——notforalongtime，Ihope，forithasliftedmeabovemycommonself，butforawhile。AndnowIwant，sotospeak，torollinthegrassandamongthedandelionswiththeotherpachyderms。SoIhavekepttotheoutsideoftheportfolioasyet，andamdisportingmyselfinreminiscences，andfancies，andvagaries，andparentheses。

HowwellIunderstandthefeelingwhichledthePisanstoloadtheirvesselswithearthfromtheHolyLand，andfilltheareaoftheCampoSantowiththatsacredsoil!Theoldhousestooduponaboutasperversealittlepatchoftheplanetaseverharboredahalf-starvedearth-worm。ItwasassandyasSaharaandasthirstyasTantalus。

Therusticaid-de-campsofthehouseholdusedtoaverthatallfertilizingmatters"leached"throughit。Itriedtodisprovetheirassertionbygorgingitwiththebestofterrestrialnourishment，untilIbecameconvincedthatIwasfeedingthetea-plantsofChina，andthenIgaveovertheattempt。AndyetIdidlove，anddolove，thataridpatchofground。IwonderifasingleflowercouldnotbemadetogrowinapotofearthfromthatCampoSantoofmychildhood!

Onenobleproductofnaturedidnotrefusetoflourishthere，——thetall，stately，beautiful，soft-haired，many-jointed，generousmaizeorIndiancorn，whichthrivesonsandanddefiestheblazeofourshrivellingsummer。Whatchildbutlovestowanderinitsforest-

likedepths，amidsttherustlingleavesandwiththeloftytasselstossingtheirheadshighabovehim!Therearetwoaspectsofthecornfieldwhichalwaysimpressmyimagination:thefirstwhenithasreacheditsfullgrowth，anditsorderedrankslooklikeanarmyonthemarchwithitsplumedandbanneredbattalions；thesecondwhen，afterthebattleoftheharvest，thegirdledstacksstandonthefieldofslaughterlikesomanyraggedNiobes，——sayratherlikethecrazywidowsanddaughtersofthedeadsoldiery。

Oncemoreletuscomebacktotheoldhouse。Itwasfaralonginitssecondcenturywhentheedictwentforththatitmuststandnolonger。

Thenaturaldeathofahouseisverymuchlikethatofoneofitshumantenants。Theroofisthefirstparttoshowthedistinctsignsofage。Slatesandtilesloosenandatlastslideoff，andleavebaldtheboardsthatsupportedthem；shinglesdarkenanddecay，andsoonthegarretortheatticletsintherainandthesnow；byandbythebeamssag，thefloorswarp，thewallscrack，thepaperpeelsaway，theceilingsscaleoffandfall，thewindowsarecrustedwithclingingdust，thedoorsdropfromtheirrustedhinges，thewindscomeinwithoutknockingandhowltheircrueldeath-songsthroughtheemptyroomsandpassages，andatlasttherecomesacrash，agreatcloudofdustrises，andthehomethathadbeentheshelterofgenerationaftergenerationfindsitsgraveinitsowncellar。Onlythechimneyremainsasitsmonument。Slowly，littlebylittle，thepatientsolventsthatfindnothingtoohardfortheirchemistrypickoutthemortarfrombetweenthebricks；atlastamightywindroarsarounditandrushesagainstit，andthemonumentalreliccrashesdownamongthewrecksithaslongsurvived。Sodiesahumanhabitationlefttonaturaldecay，allthatwasseenabovethesurfaceofthesoilsinkinggraduallybelowit，TillnaughtremainsthesaddeningtaletotellSavehome"slastwrecks，thecellarandthewell。

Butifthissightissaddening，whatisittoseeahumandwellingfallbythehandofviolence!Therippingoffoftheshelterthathaskeptoutathousandstorms，thetearingoffoftheonceornamentalwoodwork，thewrenchoftheinexorablecrowbar，themurderousblowsoftheaxe，theprogressiveruin，whichendsbyrendingallthejointsasunderandflingingthetenonedandmortisedtimbersintoheapsthatwillbesawedandsplittowarmsomenewhabitationasfirewood，——whatabrutalactofdestructionitseems!

WhyshouldIgoovertheoldhouseagain，havingalreadydescribeditmorethantenyearsago？Alas!howmanyrememberanythingtheyreadbutonce，andsolongagoasthat？Howmanywouldfinditoutifoneshouldsayoverinthesamewordsthatwhichhesaidinthelastdecade？Butthereisreallynoneedoftellingthestoryasecondtime，foritcanbefoundbythosewhoarecuriousenoughtolookitupinavolumeofwhichitoccupiestheopeningchapter。

Inorder，however，tosaveanyinquisitivereaderthattrouble，letmeremindhimthattheoldhousewasGeneralWard"sheadquartersatthebreakingoutoftheRevolution；thattheplanforfortifyingBunker"sHillwaslaid，ascommonlybelieved，inthesoutheastlowerroom，thefloorofwhichwascoveredwithdents，made，itwasalleged，bythebuttsofthesoldiers"muskets。Inthathouse，too，GeneralWarrenprobablypassedthenightbeforetheBunkerHillbattle，andoveritsthresholdmustthestatelyfigureofWashingtonhaveoftencastitsshadow。

Butthehouseinwhichonedrewhisfirstbreath，andwhereheonedaycameintotheconsciousnessthathewasapersonality，anego，alittleuniversewithaskyoverhimallhisown，withapersistentidentity，withtheterribleresponsibilityofaseparate，independent，inalienableexistence，——thathousedoesnotaskforanyhistoricalassociationstomakeitthecentreoftheearthforhim。

Ifthereisanypersonintheworldtobeenvied，itistheonewhoisborntoanancientestate，withalonglineoffamilytraditionsandthemeansinhishandsofshapinghismansionandhisdomaintohisowntaste，withoutlosingsightofallthecharacteristicfeatureswhichsurroundedhisearliestyears。TheAmericanis，forthemostpart，anomad，whopullsdownhishouseastheTartarpullsuphistent-poles。IfIhadanideallifetoplanforhimitwouldbesomethinglikethis:

Hisgrandfathershouldbeawise，scholarly，large-brained，large-

heartedcountryminister，fromwhomheshouldinheritthetemperamentthatpredisposestocheerfulnessandenjoyment，withthefinerinstinctswhichdirectlifetonobleaimsandmakeitrichwiththegratificationofpureandelevatedtastesandthecarryingoutofplansforthegoodofhisneighborsandhisfellow-creatures。Heshould，ifpossible，havebeenborn，atanyratehavepassedsomeofhisearlyyears，oralargepartofthem，undertheroofofthegoodoldminister。Hisfathershouldbe，wewillsay，abusinessmaninoneofourgreatcities，——agenerousmanipulatorofmillions，someofwhichhaveadheredtohisprivatefortunes，inspiteofhisliberaluseofhismeans。Hisheir，ourideallyplacedAmerican，shalltakepossessionoftheoldhouse，thehomeofhisearliestmemories，andpreserveitsacredly，notexactlyliketheSantaCasa，but，asnearlyasmaybe，justasheremembersit。Hecanaddasmanyacresashewilltothenarrowhouse-lot。Hecanbuildagrandmansionforhimself，ifhechooses，inthenotdistantneighborhood。Buttheoldhouse，andallimmediatelyroundit，shallbeasherecollectsitwhenbehadtostretchhislittlearmuptoreachthedoor-handles。

Then，havingwellprovidedforhisownhousehold，himselfincluded，lethimbecometheprovidenceofthevillageorthetownwherebefindshimselfduringatleastaportionofeveryyear。Itsschools，itslibrary，itspoor，——andperhapsthenewclergymanwhohassucceededhisgrandfather"ssuccessormaybeoneofthem，——allitsinterests，heshallmakehisown。Andfromthiscentrehisbeneficenceshallradiatesofarthatallwhohearofhiswealthshallalsohearofhimasafriendtohisrace。

Isnotthisapleasingprogramme？Wealthisasteephill，whichthefatherclimbsslowlyandthesonoftentumblesdownprecipitately；

butthereisatable-landonalevelwithit，whichmaybefoundbythosewhodonotlosetheirheadinlookingdownfromitssharplyclovensummit——Ourdangerouslyrichmencanmakethemselveshated，heldasenemiesoftherace，orbelovedandrecognizedasitsbenefactors。Thecloudsofdiscontentarethreatening，butifthegold-pointedlightning-rodsarerightlydistributedthedestructiveelementmaybedrawnoffsilentlyandharmlessly。ForitcannotberepeatedtoooftenthatthesafetyofgreatwealthwithusliesinobediencetothenewversionoftheOldWorldaxiom，RICHESSoblige。

THENEWPORTFOLIO:FIRSTOPENING。

AMORTALANTIPATHY。

I

GETTINGREADY。

Itisimpossibletobeginastorywhichmustofnecessitytaxthepowersofbeliefofreadersunacquaintedwiththeclassoffactstowhichitscentralpointofinterestbelongswithoutsomewordsinthenatureofpreparation。ReadersofCharlesLambrememberthatSarahBattleinsistedonaclean-swepthearthbeforesittingdowntoherfavoritegameofwhist。

Thenarratorwishestosweepthehearth，asitwere，intheseopeningpages，beforesittingdowntotellhisstory。Hedoesnotintendtofrightenthereaderawaybyprolixexplanation，buthedoesmeantowarnhimagainsthastyjudgmentswhenfactsarerelatedwhicharenotwithintherangeofevery-dayexperience。DidheeverseetheSiamesetwins，oranypairlikethem？Probablynot，yethefeelssurethatChangandEngreallyexisted；andifhehastakenthetroubletoinquire，hehassatisfiedhimselfthatsimilarcaseshavebeenrecordedbycrediblewitnesses，thoughatlongintervalsandincountriesfarapartfromeachother。

Thisisthefirstsweepofthebrush，toclearthehearthoftheskepticismandincredulitywhichmustbegotoutofthewaybeforewecanbegintotellandtolisteninpeacewithourselvesandeachother。

Onemorestrokeofthebrushisneededbeforethestagewillbereadyforthechiefcharactersandtheleadingcircumstancestowhichthereader"sattentionisinvited。Iftheprincipalpersonagesmadetheirentranceatonce，thereaderwouldhavetocreateforhimselfthewholesceneryoftheirsurroundingconditions。Inpointoffact，nomatterhowastoryisbegun，manyofitsreadershavealreadyshapeditschiefactorsoutofanyhinttheauthormayhavedropped，andprovidedfromtheirownresourcesalocalityandasetofoutwardconditionstoenvirontheseimaginedpersonalities。Thesearealltobebrushedaway，andtheactualsurroundingsofthesubjectofthenarrativerepresentedastheywere，attheriskofdetainingthereaderalittlewhilefromtheeventsmostlikelytointeresthim。

Thechoicesteggthateverwaslaidwasnotsobigasthenestthatheldit。Ifastoryweresointerestingthatamaidenwouldratherhearitthanlistentothepraiseofherownbeauty，orapoetwouldratherreaditthanrecitehisownverses，stillitwouldhavetobewrappedinsometissueofcircumstance，oritwouldlosehalfitseffectiveness。

Itmaynotbeeasytofindtheexactlocalityreferredtointhisnarrativebylookingintothefirstgazetteerthatisathand。

Recentexperienceshaveshownthatitisunsafetobetooexactindesignatingplacesandthepeoplewholiveinthem。Thereare，itmaybeadded，somanyadvertisementsdisguisedundertheformofstoriesandotherliteraryproductionsthatonenaturallydesirestoavoidthesuspicionofbeingemployedbytheenterprisingproprietorsofthisorthatcelebratedresorttousehisgiftsfortheirespecialbenefit。Therearenodoubtmanypersonswhoremembertheoldsignandtheoldtavernanditsfourchiefpersonagespresentlytobementioned。Itistobehopedthattheywillnotfurnishthepublicwithakeytothisnarrative，andperhapsbringtroubletothewriterofit，ashashappenedtootherauthors。Iftherealnamesarealittlealtered，itneednotinterferewiththeimportantfactsrelatingtothosewhobearthem。ItmightnotbesafetotelladamagingstoryaboutJohnorJamesSmythe；butiftheslightchangeismadeofspellingthenameSmith，theSmytheswouldneverthinkofbringinganaction，asiftheallusionrelatedtoanyofthem。ThesamegulfoffamilydistinctionseparatestheThompsonswithapfromtheThomsonswithoutthatletter。

TherearefewpleasanterplacesintheNorthernStatesforasummerresidencethanthatknownfromthefirstperiodofitssettlementbythenameofArrowheadVillage。TheIndianshadfounditout，astherelicstheyleftbehindthemabundantlytestified。Thecommonestofthesewerethosechippedstoneswhicharethemedalsofbarbarism，andfromWhichtheplacetookitsname，——theheadsofarrows，ofvarioussizes，material，andpatterns:somesmallenoughforkillingfishandlittlebirds，somelargeenoughforsuchgameasthemooseandthebear，tosaynothingofthehostileIndianandthewhitesettler；someofflint，nowandthenoneofwhitequartz，andothersofvariouslycoloredjasper。TheIndiansmusthavelivedhereformanygenerations，anditmusthavebeenakindoffactoryvillageofthestoneage，——whichlasteduptonearthepresenttime，ifwemayjudgefromthefactthatmanyoftheserelicsaremetwithclosetothesurfaceoftheground。

Nowondertheyfoundthisapleasantresidence，foritisto-dayoneofthemostattractiveofallsummerresorts；soinviting，indeed，thatthosewhoknowitdonotliketosaytoomuchaboutit，lesttheswarmsoftouristsshouldmakeitunendurabletothosewholoveitforitself，andnotasacentreoffashionabledisplayandextramuralcockneyism。

Thereisthelake，inthefirstplace，——CedarLake，——aboutfivemileslong，andfromhalfamiletoamileandahalfwide，stretchingfromnorthtosouth。NearthenorthernextremityarethebuildingsofStoughtonUniversity，aflourishingyoungcollegewithanambitiousname，butwellequippedandpromising，thegroundsofwhichreachthewater。AtthesouthernendofthelakearetheedificesoftheCorinnaInstitute，afavoriteschoolforyoungladies，wherelargenumbersofthedaughtersofAmericaarefitted，sofaraseducationcandoit，forallstationsinlife，fromcampingoutwithahusbandattheminesinNevadatoactingthepartofchiefladyofthelandintheWhiteHouseatWashington。

Midwaybetweenthetwoextremities，ontheeasternshoreofthelake，isavalleybetweentwohills，whichcomedowntotheveryedgeofthelake，leavingonlyroomenoughforaroadbetweentheirbaseandthewater。Thisvalley，halfamileinwidth，hasbeenlongsettled，andhereforacenturyormorehasstoodtheoldAnchorTavern。A

famousplaceitwassolongasitssignswungatthesideoftheroad:famousforitslandlord，portly，paternal，whosewelcometoaguestthatlookedworthyoftheattentionwaslikethatofaparenttoareturningprodigal，andwhosepartingwordswerealmostasgoodasamarriagebenediction；famousforitslandlady，ampleinperson，motherly，seeingtothewholehouseholdwithherowneyes，mistressofallculinarysecretsthatNorthernkitchensaremostproudof；

famousalsoforitsancientservant，ascitypeoplewouldcallher，——help，asshewascalledinthetavernandwouldhavecalledherself，——theunchanging，seeminglyimmortalMiranda，whocaredfortheguestsasifsheweretheirnursingmother，andpressedthespeciallyfavoritedelicaciesontheirattentionasaconnoisseurcallsthewanderingeyesofanamateurtothebeautiesofapicture。

WhothathaseverbeenattheoldAnchorTavernforgetsMiranda"s"Alittleofthisfricassee？-itisver-ynice；"

or"Someofthesecakes？Youwillfindthemver-ygood。”

Norwoulditbejusttomemorytoforgetthatothernotableandnotedmemberofthehousehold，——theunsleeping，unresting，omnipresentPushee，readyforeverybodyandeverything，everywherewithinthelimitsoftheestablishmentatallhoursofthedayandnight。Hefed，nobodycouldsayaccuratelywhenorwhere。Therewererumorsofa"bunk，"inwhichhelaydownwithhisclotheson，butheseemedtobealwayswideawake，andattheserviceofasmanyguest，atonceasiftherehadbeenhalfadozenofhim。

Somuchforoldreminiscences。

ThelandlordoftheAnchorTavernhadtakendownhissign。Hehadhadthehousethoroughlyrenovatedandfurnisheditanew，andkeptitopeninsummerforafewboarders。Ithappenedmorethanoncethatthesummerboardersweresomuchpleasedwiththeplacethattheystayedonthroughtheautumn，andsomeofthemthroughthewinter。

Theattractionsofthevillagewerereallyremarkable。Boatinginsummer，andskatinginwinter；ice-boats，too，whichthewildduckscouldhardlykeepupwith；fishing，forwhichthelakewasrenowned；

variedandbeautifulwalksthroughthevalleyandupthehillsides；

housesshelteredfromthenorthandnortheasterlywinds，andrefreshedinthehotsummerdaysbythebreezewhichcameoverthewater，——allthismadetheframeforapleasingpictureofrestandhappiness。Buttherewasagreatdealmorethanthis。Therewasafinelibraryinthelittlevillage，presentedandrichlyendowedbyawealthynativeoftheplace。Therewasasmallpermanentpopulationofasuperiorcharactertothatofaneverydaycountrytown；therewasaprettylittleEpiscopalchurch，withagood-heartedrector，broadenoughfortheBishopofthediocesetobealittleafraidof，andhospitabletoalloutsiders，ofwhom，inthesummerseason，therewerealwayssomewhowantedaplaceofworshiptokeeptheirreligionfromdyingoutduringtheheathenmonths，whiletheshepherdsoftheflockstowhichtheybelongedwereawayfromtheiremptyfolds。

Whatmosthelpedtokeeptheplacealiveallthroughtheyearwasthefrequentcomingtogetherofthemembersofacertainliteraryassociation。Sometimebeforethetaverntookdownitssignthelandlordhadbuiltahall，wheremanyaballhadbeenheld，towhichtheyoungfolksofallthecountryroundhadresorted。Itwasstillsometimesusedforsimilaroccasions，butitwasespeciallynotableasbeingtheplaceofmeetingofthefamousPANSOPHIANSOCIETY。

Thisassociation，thenameofwhichmightbeinvidiouslyinterpretedassignifyingthatitsmemberskneweverything，hadnosuchpretensions，but，asitsConstitutionsaidveryplainlyandmodestly，helditselfopentoacceptknowledgeonanyandallsubjectsfromsuchashadknowledgetoimpart。ItsPresidentwastherectorofthelittlechapel，amanwho，inspiteoftheThirty-NineArticles，couldstandfirefromthewidest-mouthedhereticalblunderbusswithoutflinchingorlosinghistemper。ThehalloftheoldAnchorTavernwasaconvenientplaceofmeetingforthestudentsandinstructorsoftheUniversityandtheInstitute。Sometimesinboat-loads，sometimesincarriage-loads，sometimesinprocessionsofskaters，theycametothemeetingsinPansophianHall，asitwasnowcommonlycalled。

Thesemeetingshadgrowntobeoccasionsofgreatinterest。ItwascustomarytohavepaperswrittenbymembersoftheSociety，forthemostpart，butnowandthenbyfriendsofthemembers，sometimesbythestudentsoftheCollegeortheInstitute，andinrarerinstancesbyanonymouspersonages，whosepapers，havingbeenlookedoveranddiscussedbytheCommitteeappointedforthatpurpose，werethoughtworthlisteningto。Thevarietyoftopicsconsideredwasverygreat。

TheyoungladiesofthevillageandtheInstitutehadtheirfavoritesubjects，theyounggentlemenadifferentsetoftopics，andtheoccasionaloutsidecontributorstheirown；sothatonewhohappenedtobeadmittedtoameetingneverknewwhetherhewasgoingtohearanaccountofrecentarcticdiscoveries，oranessayonthefreedomofthewill，orapsychologicalexperience，orastory，orevenapoem。

Oflatetherehadbeenatendencytodiscussthequestionsrelatingtothetruestatusandthelegitimatesocialfunctionsofwoman。Themostconflictingviewswereheldonthesubject。ManyoftheyoungladiesandsomeoftheUniversitystudentswerestrongindefenceofallthe"woman"srights"doctrines。Someoftheseyoungpeoplewereextremeintheirviews。TheyhadreadaboutSemiramisandBoadiceaandQueenElizabeth，untiltheywereready，iftheycouldgetthechance，tovoteforawomanasPresidentoftheUnitedStatesorasGeneraloftheUnitedStatesArmy。Theywereevendisposedtoassertthephysicalequalityofwomantoman，onthestrengthoftheratherquestionablehistoryoftheAmazons，andespeciallyofthestory，believedtobeauthentic，ofthefemalebody-guardoftheKingofDahomey，——femalesfrightfulenoughtoneednootherweaponthantheirlookstoscareoffanarmyofCossacks。

MissLuridaVincent，goldmedallistofheryearattheCorinnaInstitute，wastheleaderoftheseadvocatesofvirilewomanhood。Itwasrathersingularthatsheshouldhaveelectedtobetheapostleofthisextremedoctrine，forshewasherselffarbetterequippedwithbrainthanmuscles。Infact，shewasalarge-headed，large-eyed，long-eyelashed，slender-necked，slightlydevelopedyoungwoman；

lookingalmostlikeachildatanagewhenmanyofthegirlshadreachedtheirfullstatureandproportions。Inherstudiesshewassofarinadvanceofherdifferentclassesthattherewasalwaysawidegapbetweenherandthesecondscholar。SofataltoallrivalryhadsheprovedherselfthatshepassedundertheschoolnameofTheTerror。Shelearnedsoeasilythatsheundervaluedherownextraordinarygifts，andfeltthedeepestadmirationforthoseofherfriendsendowedwithfacultiesofanentirelydifferentandalmostoppositenature。Aftersittingatherdeskuntilherheadwashotandherfeetwerelikeice，shewouldgoandlookatthebloomingyounggirlsexercisinginthegymnasiumoftheschool，andfeelasifshewouldgiveallherknowledge，allhermathematicsandstrangetonguesandhistory，allthoseaccomplishmentsthatmadehertheencyclopaediaofeveryclassshebelongedto，ifshecouldgothroughtheseriesofdifficultandgracefulexercisesinwhichshesawherschoolmatesdelighting。

Oneamongthem，especially，wastheobjectofheradmiration，asshewasofallwhoknewherexceptionalpowersinthelineforwhichnaturehadspeciallyorganizedher。AllthephysicalperfectionswhichMissLuridahadmissedhadbeenunitedinMissEuthymiaTower，whoseschoolnamewasTheWonder。Thoughoffullwomanlystature，therewereseveraltallergirlsofherage。Whileallhercontoursandallhermovementsbetrayedafinemusculardevelopment，therewasnolackofproportion，andherfinelyshapedhandsandfeetshowedthatherorganizationwasoneofthosecarefullyfinishedmasterpiecesofnaturewhichsculptorsarealwaysinsearchof，andfindithardtodetectamongtheimperfectproductsofthelivinglaboratory。

Thisgirlofeighteenwasmorefamousthanshecaredtobeforherperformancesinthegymnasium。Shecommonlycontentedherselfwiththesameexercisesthathercompanionswereaccustomedto。Onlyherdumb-bells，withwhichsheexercisedeasilyandgracefully，weretooheavyformostofthegirlstodomorewiththanliftthemfromthefloor。

Shewasfondofdaringfeatsonthetrapeze，andhadtobecheckedinherindulgenceinthem。TheProfessorofgymnasticsattheUniversitycameovertotheInstitutenowandthen，anditwasasourceofgreatexcitementtowatchsomeoftheathleticexercisesinwhichtheyoungladyshowedherremarkablemuscularstrengthandskillinmanagingherselfintheaccomplishmentoffeatswhichlookedimpossibleatfirstsight。HowoftenTheTerrorhadthoughttoherselfthatshewouldgladlygiveupallherknowledgeofGreekandthedifferentialandintegralcalculusifshecouldonlyperformtheleastofthosefeatswhichweremereplaytoTheWonder!MissEuthymiawasnotbehindtherestinherattainmentsinclassicalormathematicalknowledge，andshewasoneoftheverybeststudentsintheout-doorbranches，——botany，mineralogy，sketchingfromnature，——

tobefoundamongthescholarsoftheInstitute。

Therewasaneight-oaredboatrowedbyacrewoftheyoungladies，ofwhichMissEuthymiawasthecaptainandpulledthebowoar。PoorlittleLuridacouldnotpullanoar，butongreatoccasions，whenthereweremanyboatsout，shewaswantedascoxswain，beingamerefeather-weight，andquick-wittedenoughtoservewellintheimportantofficewherebrainsaremoreneededthanmuscle。

Therewasalsoaneight-oaredboatbelongingtotheUniversity，androwedbyapickedcrewofstalwartyoungfellows。ThebowoarandcaptainoftheUniversitycrewwasapowerfulyoungman，who，likethecaptainofthegirls"boat，wasanotedgymnast。HehadhadoneortwoquiettrialswithMissEuthymia，inwhich，accordingtotheultrasofthewoman"srightsparty，hehadnotvindicatedthesuperiorityofhissexinthewaywhichmighthavebeenexpected。

Indeed，itwasclaimedthatheletacannon-balldropwhenheoughttohavecaughtit，anditwasnotdisputedthathehadbeeningloriouslyknockedoverbyasand-bagprojectedbythestrongarmsoftheyoungmaiden。Thiswasofcourseastorythatwaswidelytoldandlaughinglylistenedto，andthecaptainoftheUniversitycrewhadbecomealittlesensitiveonthesubject。Whentherewasatalk，therefore，aboutaracebetweenthechampionboatsofthetwoinstitutionstherewasimmenseexcitementinbothofthem，aswellasamongthemembersofthePansophianSocietyandallthegoodpeopleofthevillage。

Thereweremanyobjectionstobeovercome。Somethoughtitunladylikefortheyoungmaidenstotakepartinacompetitionwhichmustattractmanylookers-on，andwhichitseemedtothemveryhoidenishtoventureupon。Somesaiditwasashametoletacrewofgirlstrytheirstrengthagainstanequalnumberofpowerfulyoungmen。Theseobjectionswereoffsetbytheadvocatesoftheracebythefollowingarguments。Theymaintainedthatitwasnomorehoidenishtorowaboatthanitwastotakeapartinthecalisthenicexercises，andthatthegirlshadnothingtodowiththeyoungmen"sboat，excepttokeepasmuchaheadofitaspossible。Astostrength，thewoman"srightersbelievedthat，weightforweight，theircrewwasasstrongastheother，andofcoursedueallowancewouldbemadeforthedifferenceofweightandallotheraccidentalhindrances。Itwastimetotesttheboastedsuperiorityofmasculinemuscle。Herewasachance。Ifthegirlsbeat，thewholecountrywouldknowit，andafterthatfemalesuffragewouldbeonlyaquestionoftime。Suchwastheconclusion，fromratherinsufficientpremises，itmustbeconfessed；butifnaturedoesnothingpersaltum，——byjumps，——astheoldadagehasit，youthisveryapttotakelongleapsfromafacttoapossiblesequelorconsequence。Soithadcomeaboutthatacontestbetweenthetwoboat-crewswaslookedforwardtowithaninterestalmostequaltothatwithwhichthecombatbetweentheHoratiiandCuriatiiwasregarded。

Thetermshadbeenatlastarrangedbetweenthetwocrews，aftercautiousprotocolsandmanydiplomaticdiscussions。Itwassonovelinitscharacterthatitnaturallytookagooddealoftimetoadjustitinsuchawayastobefairtobothparties。Thecoursemustnotbetoolongforthelighterandweakercrew，forthestayingpoweroftheyoungpersonswhomadeitupcouldnotbesafelyreckonedupon。

Acertainadvantagemustbeallowedthematthestart，andthiswasadelicatemattertosettle。Theweatherwasanotherimportantconsideration。Junewouldbeearlyenough，inallprobability，andifthelakeshouldbetolerablysmooththegrandaffairmightcomeoffsometimeinthatmonth。Anyroughnessofthewaterwouldbeunfavorabletotheweakercrew。Therowing-coursewasontheeasternsideofthelake，thestarting-pointbeingoppositetheAnchorTavern；fromthatthreequartersofamiletothesouth，wheretheturning-stakewasfixed，sothatthewholecourseofonemileandahalfwouldbringtheboatsbacktotheirstarting-point。

TheracewastobebetweentheAlgonquin，eight-oaredboatwithoutriggers，rowedbyyoungmen，studentsofStoughtonUniversity，andtheAtalanta，alsoeight-oaredandoutriggerboat，byyoungladiesfromtheCorinnaInstitute。Theirboatwasthreeincheswiderthantheother，forvarioussufficientreasons，oneofwhichwastomakeitalittlelesslikelytogooverandthrowitscrewintothewater，whichwasasoundprecaution，thoughallthegirlscouldswim，andoneatleast，thebowoar，wasafamousswimmer，whohadpulledadrowningmanoutofthewaterafterahardstruggletokeephimfromcarryingherdownwithhim。

Thoughthecomingtrialhadnotbeenadvertisedinthepapers，soastodrawtogetherarabbleofbettingmenandill-conditionedlookers-

on，therewasaconsiderablegathering，madeupchieflyofthevillagersandthestudentsofthetwoinstitutions。Amongthemwereafewwhoweredisposedtoaddtotheirinterestinthetrialbysmallwagers。Thebetswereratherinfavorofthe"Quins，"astheUniversityboatwascommonlycalled，exceptwherethenaturalsympathyoftheyoungladiesorthegallantryofsomeoftheyoungmenledthemtorisktheirglovesorcigars，orwhateveritmightbe，ontheAtalantas。Theelementsofjudgmentwerethese:averageweightoftheAlgonquinsonehundredandsixty-fivepounds；averageweightoftheAtalantas，onehundredandforty-eightpounds；skillinpracticeaboutequal；advantageofthenarrowboatequaltothreelengths；wholedistanceallowedtheAtalantaseightlengths，——alongstretchtobemadeupinamileandahalf。

Andsobothcrewsbeganpractisingforthegrandtrial。

II

THEBOAT-RACE。

The10thofJunewasadelicioussummerday，ratherwarm，butstillandbright。Thewaterwassmooth，andthecrewswereinthebestpossiblecondition。Allwasexpectation，andforsometimenothingbutexpectation。Noboat-raceorregattaeverbeganatthetimeappointedforthestart。Somebodybreaksanoar，orsomebodyfailstoappearinseason，orsomethingisthematterwithaseatoranoutrigger；orifthereisnosuchexcuse，thecrewofoneorbothoralltheboatstotakepartintheracemustpaddleabouttogetthemselvesreadyforwork，totheinfinitewearinessofallthespectators，whonaturallyaskwhyallthisgettingreadyisnotattendedtobeforehand。TheAlgonquinsworeplaingrayflannelsuitsandwhitecaps。Theyoungladieswereallindarkbluedresses，touchedupwitharedribbonhereandthere，andworelightstrawhats。ThelittlecoxswainoftheAtalantawasthelasttosteponboard。Asshetookherplaceshecarefullydepositedatherfeetawhitehandkerchiefwrappedaboutsomethingorother，perhapsasponge，incasetheboatshouldtakeinwater。

AtlasttheAlgonquinshotoutfromthelittlenookwhereshelay，——

long，narrow，shining，swiftasapickerelwhenhedartsfromthereedyshore。Itwasabeautifulsighttoseetheeightyoungfellowsintheirclose-fittingsuits，theirbrownmusculararmsbare，bendingtheirbacksforthestrokeandrecovering，asiftheywerepartsofasinglemachine。

"Thegalscan"tstan"itaginthemfellers，"saidtheoldblacksmithfromthevillage。

"Youwaittillthegalsgeta-goin"，"saidthecarpenter，whohadoftenworkedinthegymnasiumoftheCorinnaInstitute，andknewsomethingoftheirmuscularaccomplishments。"Y"oughttosee"emclimbropes，andswingdumb-bells，andpullinthemrowin"-machines。

AskJaketherewhethertheycan"trowamildindouble-quicktime，——

heknowsallabaoutit。”

Jakewasbyprofessionafisherman，andafreshwaterfishermaninacountryvillageisinspector-generalofallthatgoesonout-of-

doors，beingalazy，wanderingsortoffellow，whosestudyofthehabitsandhabitatsoffishesgiveshimakindofshrewdnessofobservation，justasdealinginhorsesisaneducationofcertainfaculties，andbreedsaraceofmenpeculiarlycunning，suspicious，wary，andwideawake，witharhetoricofappreciationanddepreciationallitsown。

Jakemadehisusualpreliminarysignal，anddeliveredhimselftothefollowingeffect:

"Wahl，Idon"knowjestwhattosay。I"veseed"embothoftenenoughwhentheywaspractisin"，an"Itellyethe"wa"n"tnoslouchabaoutneitheron"em。Butthembatsisall-firedlong，"n"eighton"emstretchedinastraightlineeendwaysmakesaconsid"ablepieceaout"famile"n"ahaaf。I"dbateonthemgalsifitwa"n"tthatthemfellersisnaterallylongerwinded，asthegals"llfindaoutbythetimetheygitraoundthestake"n"overaginthebigellum。I"llgoyeaquarteronthepahntsaginthepetticoats。”

Thefresh-waterfishermanhadexpressedtheprevailingbeliefthattheyoungladieswereovermatched。Stilltherewerenotwantingthosewhothoughttheadvantageallowedthe"Lantas，"astheycalledtheCorinnaboatcrew，wastoogreat，andthatitwouldbeimpossibleforthe"Quins"tomakeitupandgobythem。

TheAlgonquinsrowedupanddownafewtimesbeforethespectators。

Theyappearedinperfecttraining，neithertoofatnortoofine，mettlesomeascolts，steadyasdraught-horses，deep-breathedasoxen，disciplinedtoworktogetherassymmetricallyasasinglescullerpullshispairofoars。Thefishermanofferedtomakehisquarterfiftycents。Notakers。

Fiveminutespassed，andalleyeswerestrainedtothesouth，lookingfortheAtalanta。AclumpoftreeshidtheedgeofthelakealongwhichtheCorinna"sboatwasstealingtowardsthestarting-point。

Presentlythelongshellsweptintoview，withitsbloomingrowers，who，withtheirampledresses，seemedtofillitalmostasfullasRaphaelfillshisskiffontheedgeoftheLakeofGalilee。ButhowsteadilytheAtalantacameon!——norocking，nosplashing，noapparentstrain；thebowoarturningtolookaheadeverynowandthen，andwatchinghercourse，whichseemedtobestraightasanarrow，thebeatofthestrokesastrueandregularasthepulseofthehealthiestroweramongthemall。Andifthesightoftheotherboatanditscrewwasbeautiful，howlovelywasthelookofthis!

Eightyounggirls，——youngladies，forthosewhopreferthatmoredignifiedandlessattractiveexpression，——allintheflushofyouth，allinvigoroushealth；everymuscletaughtitsduty；eachroweralert，nottobeatenthofasecondoutoftime，orletheroardallywiththewatersoastoloseanounceofitspropellingvirtue；

everyeyekindlingwiththehopeofvictory。Eachoftheboatswascheeredasitcameinsight，butthecheersfortheAtalantawerenaturallytheloudest，asthegallantryofonesexandtheclear，highvoicesoftheothergaveitlifeandvigor。

"Takeyourplaces!"shoutedtheumpire，fiveminutesbeforethehalfhour。Thetwoboatsfelttheirwayslowlyandcautiouslytotheirpositions，whichhadbeendeterminedbycarefulmeasurement。Afteralittlebackingandfillingtheygotintoline，attheproperdistancefromeachother，andsatmotionless，theirbodiesbentforward，theirarmsoutstretched，theiroarsinthewater，waitingfortheword。

"Go!"shoutedtheumpire。

AwaysprangtheAtalanta，andfarbehindherleapedtheAlgonquin，heroarsbendinglikesomanylongIndianbowsastheirbladesflashedthroughthewater。

"Asternchaseisalongchase，"especiallywhenonecraftisagreatdistancebehindtheother。Itlookedasifitwouldbeimpossiblefortherearboattoovercometheoddsagainstit。OfcoursetheAlgonquinkeptgaining，butcoulditpossiblygainenough？Thatwasthequestion。Astheboatsgotfartherandfartheraway，itbecamemoreandmoredifficulttodeterminewhatchangetherewasintheintervalbetweenthem。Butwhentheycametoroundingthestakeitwaseasiertoguessattheamountofspacewhichhadbeengained。Itwasclearthatsomethinglikehalfthedistance，fourlengths，asnearlyascouldbeestimated，hadbeenmadeupinrowingthefirstthreequartersofamile。CouldtheAlgonquinsdoalittlebetterthanthisinthesecondhalfoftherace-course，theywouldbesureofwinning。

Theboatshadturnedthestake，andwerecominginrapidly。EveryminutetheUniversityboatwasgettingnearertheother。

"Goit，Quins!"shoutedthestudents。

"Pullaway，Lantas!"screamedthegirls，whowerecrowdingdowntotheedgeofthewater。

Nearer，——nearer，——therearboatispressingtheothermoreandmoreclosely，——afewmorestrokes，andtheywillbeeven，forthereisbutonelengthbetweenthem，andthirtyrodswillcarrythemtotheline。

ItlooksdesperatefortheAtalantas。ThebowoaroftheAlgonquinturnshishead。Heseesthelittlecoxswainleaningforwardateverystroke，asifhertrivialweightwereofsuchmightyconsequence，——

butafewouncesmightturnthescaleofvictory。AsheturnedhegotaglimpseofthestrokeoaroftheAtalanta。Whataflashoflovelinessitwas!HerfacewaslikethereddestofJuneroses，withtheheatandthestrainandthepassionofexpectedtriumph。Theupperbuttonofherclose-fittingflannelsuithadstrangledherasherbosomheavedwithexertion，andithadgivenwaybeforethefierceclutchshemadeatit。Thebowoarwasastaunchandsteadyrower，buthewashuman。Thebladeofhisoarlingeredinthewater；

alittlemoreandhewouldhavecaughtacrab，andperhapslosttheracebyhismomentarybewilderment。

Theboat，whichseemedasifithadallthelifeandnervousnessofaDerbythree-year-old，felttheslightcheck，andallhermenbentmorevigorouslytotheiroars。TheAtalantassawthemovement，andmadeaspurttokeeptheirleadandgainuponitiftheycould。Itwasofnouse。Thestrongarmsoftheyoungmenweretoomuchfortheyoungmaidens；onlyafewlengthsremainedtoberowed，andtheywouldcertainlypasstheAtalantabeforeshecouldreachtheline。

Thelittlecoxswainsawthatitwasallupwiththegirls"crewifshecouldnotsavethembysomestrategicdevice。

"Dolusanvirtusquisinhosterequirat？"

shewhisperedtoherself，——forTheTerrorrememberedherVirgilasshedideverythingelsesheeverstudied。Asshestooped，sheliftedthehandkerchiefatherfeet，andtookfromitaflamingbouquet。

"Look!"shecried，andflungitjustforwardofthetrackoftheAlgonquin。ThecaptainoftheUniversityboatturnedhishead，andtherewasthelovelyvisionwhichhadamomentbeforebewitchedhim。

Theownerofallthatlovelinessmust，hethought，haveflungthebouquet。Itwasachallenge:howcouldhebesuchacowardastodeclineacceptingitHewassurehecouldwintheracenow，andhewouldsweeppastthelineintriumphwiththegreatbunchofflowersatthestemofhisboat，proudasVanTrompintheBritishchannelwiththebroomathismast-head。

Heturnedtheboat"sheadalittlebybackingwater。Hecameupwiththefloatingflowers，andnearenoughtoreachthem。Hestoopedandsnatchedthemup，withthelossperhapsofasecondinall，——nomore。

Hefeltsureofhisvictory。

Howcanonetellthestoryofthefinishincold-bloodedpreterites？

Arewenotthereourselves？Arenotourmusclesstrainingwiththoseofthesesixteenyoungcreatures，fullofhot，freshblood，theirnervesalltinglinglikesomanytight-strainedharp-strings，alltheirlifeconcentratingitselfinthispassionatemomentofsupremeeffort？No!Weareseeing，nottellingaboutwhatsomebodyelseoncesaw!——

ThebowoftheAlgonquinpassesthesternoftheAtalanta!——

ThebowoftheAlgonquinisonalevelwiththemiddleoftheAtalanta!——

Threemorelengths"rowingandthecollegecrewwillpassthegirls!——

"HurrahfortheQuins!"TheAlgonquinrangesupalongsideoftheAtalanta!

"Throughwithher!"shoutsthecaptainoftheAlgonquin。

"Now，girls!"shrieksthecaptainoftheAtalanta。

Theyneartheline，everyrowerstrainingdesperately，almostmadly——

CrackgoestheoaroftheAtalanta"scaptain，andupflashitssplinteredfragments，asthestemofherboatspringspasttheline，eighteeninchesatleastaheadoftheAlgonquin。

HoorawfortheLantas!HoorawfortheGirls!HoorawfortheInstitoot!shoutahundredvoices。

"Hurrahforwoman"srightsandfemalesuffrage!"pipesthesmallvoiceofTheTerror，andthereisloudlaughingandcheeringallround。

Shehadnotstudiedherclassicaldictionaryandhermythologyfornothing。"Ihavepaidoffoneoldscore，"shesaid。"SetdownmydamaskrosesagainstthegoldenapplesofHippomenes!"

ItwasthatonesecondlostinsnatchingupthebouquetwhichgavetheracetotheAtalantas。

III

THEWHITECANOE。

Whilethetwoboatswereracing，otherboatswithlookers-oninthemwererowingorsailingintheneighborhoodoftherace-course。Thesceneonthewaterwasagayone，fortheyoungpeopleintheboatswere，manyofthem，acquaintedwitheachother。Therewasagooddealoflivelytalkuntiltheracebecametooexciting。Thenmanyfellsilent，until，astheboatsnearedtheline，andstillmoreastheycrossedit，theshoutsburstforthwhichshowedhowacrampofattentionfindsitsnaturalreliefinafitofconvulsiveexclamation。

Butfaraway，ontheothersideofthelake，abirchbarkcanoewastobeseen，inwhichsatayoungman，whopaddleditskillfullyandswiftly。Itwasevidentenoughthathewaswatchingtheraceintently，butthespectatorscouldseelittlemorethanthat。Oneofthem，however，whosatuponthestand，hadapowerfulspy-glass，andcoulddistinguishhismotionsveryminutelyandexactly。Itwasseenbythiscuriousobserverthattheyoungmanhadanopera-glasswithhim，whichheusedagooddealatintervals。Thespectatorthoughthekeptitdirectedtothegirls"boat，chiefly，ifnotexclusively。

Hethoughtalsothattheopera-glasswasmoreparticularlypointedtowardsthebowoftheboat，andcametothenaturalconclusionthatthebowoar，MissEuthymiaTower，captainoftheAtalantas，"TheWonder"oftheCorinnaInstitute，wastheattractionwhichdeterminedthedirectionoftheinstrument。

"Whoisthatinthecanoeoverthere？"askedtheownerofthespy-

glass。

"That"sjustwhatweshouldliketoknow，"answeredtheoldlandlord"swife。"Heandhismanboardedwithuswhentheyfirstcame，butwecouldneverfindoutanythingabouthimonlyjusthisnameandhiswaysofliving。HisnameisKirkwood，MauriceKirkwood，Esq。，itusedtocomeonhisletters。Asforhiswaysofliving，hewasthesolitariesthumanbeingthatIevercameacross。Hismancarriedhismealsuptohim。Heusedtostayinhisroomprettymuchallday，butatnighthewouldbeoff，walking，orridingonhorseback，orpaddlingaboutinthelake，sometimestillnighmorning。There"ssomethingverystrangeaboutthatMr。Kirkwood。

Buttheredon"tseemtobeanyharminhim。Onlynobodycanguesswhathisbusinessis。Theygotupastoryabouthimatonetime。

Whatdoyouthink？Theysaidhewasacounterfeiter!Andsotheywentonenighttohisroom，whenhewasout，andthatmanofhiswasawaytoo，andtheycarriedkeys，andopenedprettymucheverything；

andtheyfound——well，theyfoundjustnothingatallexceptwritingsandletters，——lettersfromplacesinAmericaandinEngland，andsomewithItalianpostmarks:thatwasall。Sincethattimethesheriffandhisfolkshavelethimaloneandmindedtheirownbusiness。Hewasagentleman，——anybodyoughttohaveknownthat；andanybodythatknewabouthisnicewaysoflivingandbehaving，andknewthekindofwearhehadforhisunderclothing，mighthaveknownit。Icouldhavetoldthoseofficersthattheyhadbetternotbotherhim。Iknowthewaysofrealgentlemenandrealladies，andIknowthosefellowsinstoreclothesthatlookalittletoofine，——outside。Waittillwashing-daycomes!"

Thegoodladyhadherownstandardsfortestinghumanity，andtheywerenotwhollyunworthyofconsideration；theywerequiteasmuchtobereliedonasthejudgmentsofthetravellingphrenologist，whosenthisaccompliceonbeforehimtostudyouttheprincipalpersonagesinthevillage，andinthelightoftheserevelationsinterpretedthebumps，withverylittleregardtoGallandSpurzheim，oranyotherauthorities。