第3章

Therearestrangediversitiesinthewayinwhichdifferentoldpersonslookupontheirprospects。AmillionairewhomIwellrememberconfessedthatbeshouldliketolivelongenoughtolearnhowmuchacertainfellow—citizen,amultimillionaire,wasworth。

Oneofthe,threenonagenariansbeforereferredtoexpressedhimselfashavingagreatcuriosityaboutthenewsphereofexistencetowhichhewaslookingforward。

Thefeelingmustofnecessitycometomanyagedpersonsthattheyhaveoutlivedtheirusefulness;thattheyarenolongerwanted,butratherintheway,dragsonthewheelsratherthanhelpingthemforward。Butletthemremembertheoften—quotedlineofMilton,"Theyalsoservewhoonlystandandwait。"

Thisispeculiarlytrueofthem。Theyarehelpingotherswithoutalwaysbeingawareofit。Theyaretheshields,thebreakwaters,ofthosewhocomeafterthem。Everydecadeisadefenceoftheonenextbehindit。Atthirtytheyouthhassoberedintomanhood,butthestrongmenoffortyriseinalmostunbrokenrankbetweenhimandtheapproachesofoldageastheyshowinthemenoffifty。Atfortyhelookswithasenseofsecurityatthestrongmenoffifty,andseesbehindthemtherowofsturdysexagenarians。Whenfiftyisreached,somehowsixtydoesnotlooksooldasitonceusedto,andseventyisstillafaroff。Aftersixtythesternsentenceoftheburialserviceseemstohaveameaningthatonedidnotnoticeinformeryears。

Therebeginstobesomethingpersonalaboutit。Butifonelivestoseventyhesoongetsusedtothetextwiththethreescoreyearsandteninit,andbeginstocounthimselfamongthosewhobyreasonofstrengtharedestinedtoreachfourscore,ofwhomhecanseeanumberstillinreasonablygoodcondition。Theoctogenarianlovestoreadaboutpeopleofninetyandover。HepeersamongtheasterisksofthetriennialcatalogueoftheUniversityforthenamesofgraduateswhohavebeenseventyyearsoutofcollegeandremainstillunstarred。

Heiscuriousaboutthebiographiesofcentenarians。Suchescapadesasthoseofthatterribleoldsinnerandancestorofgreatmen,theReverendStephenBachelder,interesthimastheyneverdidbefore。

Buthecannotdeceivehimselfmuchlonger。Seehimwalkingonalevelsurface,andhestepsoffalmostaswellasever;butwatchhimcomingdownaflightofstairs,andthefamilyrecordcouldnottellhisyearsmorefaithfully。Hecutyoudead,yousay？DiditoccurtoyouthathecouldnotseeyouclearlyenoughtoknowyoufromanyothersonordaughterofAdam？Hesaidhewasverygladtohearit,didhe,whenyoutoldhimthatyourbelovedgrandmotherhadjustdeceased？Didyouhappentorememberthatthoughhedoesnotallowthatheisdeaf,hewillnotdenythathedoesnothearquitesowellasheusedto？Nomatterabouthisfailings;thelongerheholdsontolife,thelongerhemakeslifeseemtoallthelivingwhofollowhim,andthusheistheirconstantbenefactor。

Everystageofexistencehasitsspecialtrialsanditsspecialconsolations。Habitsarethecrutchesofoldage;bytheaidofthesewemanagetohobblealongafterthementaljointsarestiffandthemusclesrheumatic,tospeakmetaphorically,——thatistosay,wheneveryactofself—determinationcostsaneffortandapang。Webecomemoreandmoreautomaticaswegrowolder,andifwelivedlongenoughweshouldcometobepiecesofcreakingmachinerylikeMaelzel"schessplayer,——orwhatthatseemedtobe。

Emersonwassixty—threeyearsold,theyearIhavereferredtoasthatofthegrandclimacteric,whenhereadtohissonthepoemhecalled"Terminus,"beginning:

"Itistimetobeold,Totakeinsail。

TheGodofbounds,Whosetstoseasashore,CametomeinhisfatalroundsAndsaid,"Nomore！""

Itwasearlyinlifetofeelthattheproductivestagewasover,buthehadreceivedwarningfromwithin,anddidnotwishtowaitforoutsideadvices。Thereisallthedifferenceintheworldinthementalasinthebodilyconstitutionofdifferentindividuals。Somemust"takeinsail"sooner,somelater。WecangetausefullessonfromtheAmericanandtheEnglishelmsonourCommon。TheAmericanelmsarequitebare,andhavebeensoforweeks。Theyknowverywellthattheyaregoingtohavestormstowrestlewith;theyhavenotforgottenthegalesofSeptemberandthetempestsofthelateautumnandearlywinter。Itisahardfighttheyaregoingtohave,andtheystriptheircoatsoffandrolluptheirshirt—sleeves,andshowthemselvesbare—armedandreadyforthecontest。TheEnglishelmsareofamorerobustbuild,andstanddefiant,withalltheirsummerclothingabouttheirsturdyframes。TheymayyethavetolearnalessonoftheirAmericancousins,fornotwithstandingtheircompactandsolidstructuretheygotopiecesinthegreatwindsjustasoursdo。Wemustdropmuchofourfoliagebeforewinterisuponus。Wemusttakeinsailandthrowovercargo,ifthatisnecessary,tokeepusafloat。Wehavetodecidebetweenourdutiesandourinstinctivedemandofrest。Icanbelievethatsomehavewelcomedthedecayoftheiractivepowersbecauseitfurnishedthemwithperemptoryreasonsforsparingthemselvesduringthefewyearsthatwereleftthem。

Agebringsotherobviouschangesbesidesthelossofactivepower。

Thesensibilitiesarelesskeen,theintelligenceislesslively,aswemightexpectundertheinfluenceofthatnarcoticwhichNatureadministers。Butthereisanothereffectofher"blackdrop"whichisnotsocommonlyrecognized。Oldageislikeanopium—dream。

Nothingseemsrealexceptwhatisunreal。Iamsurethatthepicturespaintedbytheimagination,——thefadedfrescosonthewallsofmemory,——comeoutinclearerandbrightercolorsthanbelongedtothemmanyyearsearlier。Naturehasherspecialfavorsforherchildrenofeveryage,andthisisonewhichshereservesforoursecondchildhood。

Nomancanreachanadvancedagewithoutthinkingofthatgreatchangetowhich,inthecourseofnature,hemustbesonear。Ithasbeenremarkedthatthesternerbeliefsofrigidtheologiansareapttosoftenintheirlateryears。Allreflectingpersons,eventhosewhosemindshavebeenhalfpalsiedbythedeadlydogmaswhichhavedonealltheycouldtodisorganizetheirthinkingpowers,——allreflectingpersons,Isay,mustrecognize,inlookingbackoveralonglife,howlargelytheircreeds,theircourseoflife,theirwisdomandunwisdom,theirwholecharacters,wereshapedbytheconditionswhichsurroundedthem。LittlechildrentheycamefromthehandsoftheFatherofall;littlechildrenintheirhelplessness,theirignorance,theyaregoingbacktoHim。Theycannothelpfeelingthattheyaretobetransferredfromtherudeembraceoftheboisterouselementstoarmsthatwillreceivethemtenderly。Poorplanetaryfoundlings,theyhaveknownhardtreatmentatthehandsofthebruteforcesofnature,fromthecontrolofwhichtheyaresoontobesetfree。Therearesomeoldpessimists,itistrue,whobelievethattheyandafewothersareonaraft,andthattheshipwhichtheyhavequitted,holdingtherestofmankind,isgoingdownwithallonboard。Itisnowonderthatthereshouldbesuchwhenwerememberwhathavebeentheteachingsofthepriesthoodthroughlongseriesofignorantcenturies。EveryagehastoshapetheDivineimageitworshipsoveragain,——thepresentageandourowncountryarebusilyengagedinthetaskatthistime。WeunmakePresidentsandmakenewones。Thisisanapprenticeshipforahighertask。OurdoctrinalteachersareunmakingtheDeityoftheWestminsterCatechismandtryingtomodelanewone,withmoreofmodernhumanityandlessofancientbarbarisminhiscomposition。IfJonathanEdwardshadlivedlongenough,Ihavenodoubthiscreedwouldhavesoftenedintoakindly,humanizedbelief。

Sometwentyorthirtyyearsago,IsaidtoLongfellowthatcertainstatisticaltablesIhadseenwenttoshowthatpoetswerenotalong—livedrace。Hedoubtedwhethertherewasanythingtoprovetheywereparticularlyshort—lived。Soonafterthis,hehandedmealisthehaddrawnup。Icannotlaymyhanduponitatthismoment,butI

rememberthatMetastasiowastheoldestofthemall。Hediedattheageofeighty—four。Ihavehadsometablesmadeout,whichIhaveeveryreasontobelievearecorrectsofarastheygo。Fromthese,itappearsthattwentyEnglishpoetslivedtotheaverageageoffifty—sixyearsandalittleover。TheeightAmericanpoetsonthelistaveragedseventy—threeandahalf,nearly,andtheyarenotalldeadyet。ThelistincludingGreek,Latin,Italian,andGermanpoets,withAmericanandEnglish,gaveanaverageofalittleoversixty—twoyears。Ouryoungpoetsneednotbealarmed。TheycanrememberthatBryantlivedtobeeighty—threeyearsold,thatLongfellowreachedseventy—fiveandHalleckseventy—seven,whileWhittierislivingattheageofnearlyeighty—two。Tennysonisstillwritingateighty,andBrowningreachedtheageofseventy—

seven。

Shallamanwhoinhisyoungerdayshaswrittenpoetry,orwhatpassedforit,continuetoattemptitinhislateryears？Certainly,ifitamusesorinterestshim,noonewouldobjecttohiswritinginverseasmuchashelikes。Whetherheshouldcontinuetowriteforthepublicisanotherquestion。Poetryisagooddealamatterofheart—beats,andthecirculationismorelanguidinthelaterperiodoflife。Thejointsarelesssupple;thearteriesaremoreorless"ossified。"Somethinglikethesechangeshastakenplaceinthemind。Ithaslosttheflexibility,theplasticdocility,whichithadinyouthandearlymanhood,whenthegristlehadbutjustbecomehardenedintobone。Itisthenatureofpoetrytowritheitselfalongthroughthetangledgrowthsofthevocabulary,asasnakewindsthroughthegrass,insinuous,complex,andunexpectedcurves,whichcrackeveryjointthatisnotsuppleasindia—rubber。

IhadapoemthatIwantedtoprintjusthere。ButafterwhatIhavethismomentsaid,Ihesitated,thinkingthatImightprovoketheobviousremarkthatIexemplifiedtheunfitnessofwhichIhadbeenspeaking。IrememberedtheadviceIhadgiventoapoeticalaspirantnotlongsince,whichIthinkdeservesaparagraphtoitself。

Myfriend,Isaid,Ihopeyouwillnotwriteinverse。Whenyouwriteinproseyousaywhatyoumean。Whenyouwriteinrhymeyousaywhatyoumust。

ShouldIsendthispoemtothepublishers,ornot？

"Somesaid,"John,printit;"otherssaid,"Notso。""

Ididnotask"some"or"others。"PerhapsIshouldhavethoughtitbesttokeepmypoemtomyselfandthefewfriendsforwhomitwaswritten。Allatonce,mydaimon——thatotherMeoverwhomIbuttonmywaistcoatwhenIbuttonitovermyownperson——putitintomyheadtolookupthestoryofMadameSaqui。Shewasafamousdanseuse,whodancedNapoleoninandout,andseveralotherdynastiesbesides。Herlastappearancewasattheageofseventy—six,whichisratherlateinlifeforthetightrope,oneofherspecialties。JulesJaninmummifiedherwhenshediedin1866,attheageofeighty。HespicedherupinhiseulogyasifshehadbeenthequeenofamodernPharaoh。Hisfoamyandfloweryrhetoricputmeintosuchastateofgood—naturethatIsaid,Iwillprintmypoem,andletthecriticalGilBlashandleitashedidthearchbishop"ssermon,orwouldhavedone,ifhehadbeenawriterforthe"SalamancaWeekly。"

Itmustbepremisedthataverybeautifullovingcupwaspresentedtomeonmyrecentbirthday,byelevenladiesofmyacquaintance。ThiswasthemostcostlyandnotableofallthemanytributesIreceived,andforwhichindifferentformsIexpressedmygratitude。

TOTHEELEVENLADIES

WHOPRESENTEDMEWITHASILVERLOVINGCUPONTHE

TWENTY—NINTHOFAUGUST,MDCCCLXXXIX。

"Whogavethiscup？"ThesecretthouwouldststealItsbrimmingfloodforbidsittoreveal:

Nomortal"seyeshallreadittillhefirstCooltheredthroatofthirst。

Ifonthegoldenflooronedraughtremain,Trustme,thycarefulsearchwillbeinvain;

NottillthebowlisemptiedshaltthouknowThenamesenrolledbelow。

DeeperthanTruthliesburiedinherwellThosemodestnamesthegravenlettersspellHidefromthesight;but,wait,andthoushaltseeWhothegoodangelsbeWhosebountyglistensinthebeauteousgiftThatfriendlyhandstolovinglipsshalllift:

Turnthefairgobletwhenitsfloorisdry,Theirnamesshallmeetthineeye。

CountthoutheirnumberonthebeadsofHeaven,Alas！theclusteredPleiadsarebutseven;

Nay,theninesisterMusesaretoofew,——

TheGracesmustaddtwo。

"Forwhomthisgift？"ForonewhoalltoolongClingstohisboughamongthegrovesofsong;

Autumn"slastleaf,thatspreadsitsfadedwingTogreetasecondspring。

Dearfriends,kindfriends,whate"erthecupmayhold,Bathingitsburnisheddepths,willchangetogoldItslastbrightdropletthirstyMaenadsdrain,Itsfragrancewillremain。

Betterlove"sperfumeintheemptybowlThanwine"snepenthefortheachingsoulSweeterthansongthateverpoetsung,Itmakesanoldheartyoung！

III

Afterthereadingofthepaperwhichwasreportedintheprecedingnumberofthisrecord,thecompanyfellintotalkuponthesubjectwithwhichitdealt。

TheMistress。"Icouldhavewishedyouhadsaidmoreaboutthereligiousattitudeofoldageassuch。Surelythethoughtsofagedpersonsmustbeverymuchtakenupwiththequestionofwhatistobecomeofthem。IshouldliketohaveTheDictatorexplainhimselfalittlemorefullyonthispoint。"

Mydearmadam,Isaid,itisadelicatemattertotalkabout。YourememberMr。Calhoun"sresponsetotheadvancesofanover—zealousyoungclergymanwhowishedtoexaminehimastohisoutfitforthelongjourney。IthinktherelationsbetweenmanandhisMakergrowmoreintimate,moreconfidential,ifImaysayso,withadvancingyears。Theoldmanislessdisposedtoargueaboutspecialmattersofbelief,andmorereadytosympathizewithspirituallymindedpersonswithoutanxiousquestioningastothefoldtowhichtheybelong。Thatkindlyjudgmentwhichheexerciseswithregardtoothershewill,naturallyenough,applytohimself。ThecaressingtoneinwhichtheEmperorHadrianaddresseshissoulisverymuchlikethatofanoldpersontalkingwithagrandchildorsomeotherpet:

"Animula,vagula,blandula,Hospescomesquecorporis。"

"Dearlittle,flitting,pleasingsprite,Thebody"scomradeanditsguest。"

HowlikethelanguageofCatullustoLesbia"ssparrow！

Moreandmoretheoldmanfindshispleasuresinmemory,asthepresentbecomesunrealanddreamlike,andthevistaofhisearthlyfuturenarrowsandclosesinuponhim。Atlast,ifhelivelongenough,lifecomestobelittlemorethanagentleandpeacefuldeliriumofpleasingrecollections。Tosay,asDantesays,thatthereisnogreatergriefthantorememberpasthappinessinthehourofmiseryisnotgivingthewholetruth。Inthemidstofthemisery,asmanywouldcallit,ofextremeoldage,thereisoftenadivineconsolationinrecallingthehappymomentsanddaysandyearsoftimeslongpast。Sobeautifularethevisionsofbygonedelightthatonecouldhardlywishthemtobecomereal,lesttheyshouldlosetheirineffablecharm。Icanalmostconceiveofadozinganddreamycentenariansayingtooneheloves,"Go,darling,go！Spreadyourwingsandleaveme。Soshallyouenterthatworldofmemorywhereallislovely。Ishallnothearthesoundofyourfootstepsanymore,butyouwillfloatbeforeme,anaerialpresence。Ishallnothearanywordfromyourlips,butIshallhaveadeepersenseofyournearnesstomethanspeechcangive。Ishallfeel,inmystillsolitude,astheAncientMarinerfeltwhentheseraphbandgatheredbeforehim:

""NovoicedidtheyimpartNovoice;butoh！thesilencesankLikemusiconmyheart。""

Isaidthatthelenientwayinwhichtheoldlookatthefailingsofothersnaturallyleadsthemtojudgethemselvesmorecharitably。

Theyfindanapologyfortheirshort—comingsandwrong—doingsinanotherconsideration。Theyknowverywellthattheyarenotthesamepersonsasthemiddle—agedindividuals,theyoungmen,theboys,thechildren,thatboretheirnames,andwhoseliveswerecontinuouswiththeirs。Hereisanoldmanwhocanrememberthefirsttimehewasallowedtogoshooting。Whataremorselessyoungdestroyerhewas,tobesure！Whereverhesawafeather,whereverapoorlittlesquirrelshowedhisbushytail,bang！wenttheold"king"sarm,"andthefeathersorthefurweresetflyinglikesomuchchaff。Nowthatsameoldman,——themortalthatwascalledbyhisnameandhaspassedforthesamepersonforsomescoresofyears,——isconsideredabsurdlysentimentalbykind—heartedwomen,becauseheopensthefly—trapandsetsallitscaptivesfree,——out—of—doors,ofcourse,butthedearsoulsallinsisting,meanwhile,thattheflieswill,everyoneofthem,bebackagaininthehousebeforethedayisover。Doyousupposethatvenerablesinnerexpectstoberigorouslycalledtoaccountforthewantoffeelingheshowedinthoseearlyyears,whentheinstinctofdestruction,derivedfromhisforest—roamingancestors,ledhimtoactswhichhenowlooksuponwithpainandaversion？

"Senex"hasseenthreegenerationsgrowup,thesonrepeatingthevirtuesandthefailingsofthefather,thegrandsonshowingthesamecharacteristicsasthefatherandgrandfather。Heknowsthatifsuchorsuchayoungfellowhadlivedtothenextstageoflifehewouldveryprobablyhavecaughtupwithhismother"svirtues,which,likeagraftofalatefruitonanearlyappleorpeartree,donotripeninherchildrenuntillateintheseason。Hehasseenthesuccessiveripeningofonequalityafteranotherontheboughsofhisownlife,andhefindsithardtocondemnhimselfforfaultswhichonlyneededtimetofalloffandbesucceededbybetterfruitage。Icannothelpthinkingthattherecordingangelnotonlydropsatearuponmanyahumanfailing,whichblotsitoutforever,butthathehandsmanyanoldrecord—booktotheimpthatdoeshisbidding,andordershimtothrowthatintothefireinsteadofthesinnerforwhomthelittlewretchhadkindledit。

"Andpitchedhiminafterit,Ihope,"saidNumberSeven,whoisinsomepointsasmuchofanoptimistasanyoneamongus,inspiteofthesquintinhisbrain,——orinvirtueofit,ifyouchoosetohaveitso。

"IlikeWordsworth"s"Matthew,""saidNumberFive,"aswellasanypictureofoldageIremember。"

"Canyourepeatittous？"askedoneofTheTeacups。

"Icanrecalltwoversesofit,"saidNumberFive,andsherecitedthetwofollowingones。NumberFivehasaverysweetvoice。Themomentshespeaksallthefacesturntowardher。Idon"tknowwhatitssecretis,butitisavoicethatmakesfriendsofeverybody。

""ThesighswhichMatthewheavedweresighsOfonetiredoutwithfunandmadness;

ThetearswhichcametoMatthew"seyesWeretearsoflight,thedewofgladness。

""Yet,sometimes,whenthesecretcupOfstillandseriousthoughtwentround,Itseemedasifhedrankitup,Hefeltwithspiritsoprofound:"

"ThiswasthewayinwhichWordsworthpaidhistributetoa""SoulofGod"sbestearthlymould。""

Thesweetvoiceleftatrance—likesilenceafterit,whichmayhavelastedtwentyheart—beats。ThenIsaid,Weallthankyouforyourcharmingquotation。Howmuchmorewholesomeapictureofhumanitythansuchstuffastheauthorofthe"NightThoughts"hasleftus:

"Heaven"sSovereignsavesallbeingsbutHimselfThathideoussight,anakedhumanheart。"

Ortheauthorof"DonJuan,"tellingustolookinto"Man"sheart,andviewthehellthat"sthere！"

IhopeIamquotingcorrectly,butIammoreofascholarinWordsworththaninByron。WasParsonYoung"sownheartsuchahideousspectacletohimself？

Ifitwas,hehadbetterhavestrippedoffhissurplice。No,——itwasnothingbutthecantofhiscalling。InByronitwasamood,andhemighthavesaidjusttheoppositethingthenextday,ashedidinhistwodescriptionsoftheVenusde"Medici。ThatpictureofoldMatthewabidesinthememory,andmakesonethinkbetterofhiskind。

Whatnoblertaskshasthepoetthantoexalttheideaofmanhood,andtomaketheworldweliveinmorebeautiful？

Wehavetwoorthreeyoungpeoplewithuswhostandafairchanceoffurnishingustheelementwithoutwhichlifeandtea—tablesalikearewantingininterest。Weareall,ofcourse,watchingthem,andcurioustoknowwhetherwearetohavearomanceornot。Hereisoneofthem;otherswillshowthemselvespresently。

IcannotsayjusthowoldtheTutoris,butIdonotdetectagrayhairinhishead。Mysightisnotsogoodasitwas,however,andhemayhaveturnedthesharpcornerofthirty,andevenhaveleftitayearortwobehindhim。Moreprobablyheisstillinthetwenties,——saytwenty—eightortwenty—nine。Heseemsyoung,atanyrate,excitable,enthusiastic,imaginative,butatthesametimereserved。

Iamafraidthatheisapoet。WhenIsay"Iamafraid,"youwonderwhatImeanbytheexpression。Imaytakeanotheropportunitytoexplainandjustifyit;IwillonlysaynowthatIconsidertheMusethemostdangerousofsirenstoayoungmanwhohashiswaytomakeintheworld。Nowthisyoungman,theTutor,has,Ibelieve,afuturebeforehim。Hewasbornforaphilosopher,——soIreadhishoroscope,——buthehasagreatlikingforpoetryandcanwritewellinverse。Wehavehadanumberofpoemsofferedforourentertainment,whichIhavecommonlybeenrequestedtoread。Therehasbeensomelittlemysteryabouttheirauthorship,butitisevidentthattheyarenotallfromthesamehand。Poetryisascontagiousasmeasles,andifasinglecaseofitbreakoutinanysocialcircle,orinaschool,therearecertaintobeanumberofsimilarcases,someslight,someserious,andnowandthenonesomalignantthatthesubjectofitshouldbeputonasparedietofstationery,sayfromtwotothreepenfulsofinkandahalfsheetofnotepaperperdiem。Ifanyofourpoeticalcontributionsarepresentable,thereadershallhaveachancetoseethem。

Itmustbeunderstoodthatourcompanyisnotinvariablymadeupofthesamepersons。TheMistress,aswecallher,isexpectedtobealwaysinherplace。Imakeitaruletobepresent。TheProfessorisalmostassuretobeatthetableasIam。WeshouldhardlyknowwhattodowithoutNumberFive。Ittakesagooddealoftacttohandlesuchalittleassemblyasours,whichisarepubliconasmallscale,forallthattheygivemethetitleofDictator,andNumberFiveisagreathelpineverysocialemergency。Sheseeswhenadiscussiontendstobecomepersonal,andheadsoffthethreateningantagonists。Sheknowswhenasubjecthasbeenknockingaboutlongenoughanddexterouslyshiftsthetalktoanothertrack。ItistruethatIamtheonemostfrequentlyappealedtoasthehighesttribunalindoubtfulcases,butIoftencaremoreforNumberFive"sopinionthanIdoformyown。WhoisthisNumberFive,sofascinating,sowise,sofullofknowledge,andsoreadytolearn？Sheissuspectedofbeingtheanonymousauthorofabookwhichproducedasensationwhenpublished,notverylongago,andwhichthosewhoreadareveryapttoreadasecondtime,andtoleaveontheirtablesforfrequentreference。Butwehaveneveraskedher。Idonotthinkshewantstobefamous。Howshecomestobeunmarriedisamysterytome;itmustbethatshehasfoundnobodyworthcaringenoughfor。Iwishshewouldfurnishuswiththeromancewhich,asIsaid,ourtea—tableneedstomakeitinteresting。Perhapsthenew—comerwillmakelovetoher,——Ishouldthinkitpossibleshemightfancyhim。

Andwhoisthenew—comer？HeisaCounsellorandaPolitician。Hasagoodwarrecord。Isaboutforty—fiveyearsold,Iconjecture。Isengagedinagreatlawcasejustnow。Saidtobeveryeloquent。Hasanintellectualhead,andthebearingofonewhohascommandedaregimentorperhapsabrigade。Altogetheranattractiveperson,scholarly,refinedhassomeaccomplishmentsnotsocommonastheymightbeintheclasswecallgentlemen,withanaccentontheword。

ThereisalsoayoungDoctor,waitingforhisbaldspottocome,sothathemaygetintopractice。

Wehavetwoyoungladiesatthetable,——theEnglishgirlreferredtoinaformernumber,andanAmericangirlofaboutherownage。Bothofthemarestudentsinoneofthoseinstitutions——Iamnotsurewhethertheycallitan"annex"ornot;butatanyrateoneofthoseschoolswheretheyteachtheincomprehensiblesortofmathematicsandotherbewilderingbranchesofknowledgeabovethecommonlevelofhigh—schooleducation。Theyseemtobegoodfriends,andformaverypleasingpairwhentheywalkinarminarm;nearlyenoughaliketoseemtobelongtogether,differentenoughtoformanagreeablecontrast。

OfcoursewewereboundtohaveaMusicianatourtable,andwehaveonewhosingsadmirably,andaccompanieshimself,oroneormoreofourladies,veryfrequently。

Suchisourcompanywhenthetableisfull。Butsometimesonlyhalfadozen,oritmaybeonlythreeorfour,arepresent。Atothertimeswehaveavisitorortwo,eitherintheplaceofoneofourhabitualnumber,orinadditiontoit。Wehavetheelements,wethink,ofapleasantsocialgathering,——differentsexes,ages,pursuits,andtastes,——allthatisrequiredfora"symphonyconcert"

ofconversation。Oneofthecuriousquestionswhichmightwellbeaskedbythosewhohadbeenwithusondifferentoccasionswouldbe,"Howmanypoetsarethereamongyou？"Nobodycananswerthisquestion。Itisapointofetiquettewithusnottopressourinquiriesabouttheseanonymouspoemstoosharply,especiallyifanyofthembetraysentimentswhichwouldnotbearroughhandling。

Idon"tdoubtthatthedifferentpersonalitiesatourtablewillgetmixedupinthereader"smindifbeisnotparticularlyclear—headed。

Thathappensveryoften,muchoftenerthanallwouldbewillingtoconfess,inreadingnovelsandplays。IamafraidweshouldgetagooddealconfusedeveninreadingourShakespeareifwedidnotlookbacknowandthenatthedramatispersonae。IamsurethatIamveryapttoconfoundthecharactersinamoderatelyinterestingnovel;

indeed,Isuspectthatthewriterisoftennobetteroffthanthereaderinthedrearymiddleofthestory,whenhischaractershaveallmadetheirappearance,andbeforetheyhavereachednearenoughtothedenoumenttohavefixedtheirindividualitybythepositiontheyhavearrivedatinthechainofthenarrative。

MyreadermightbealittlepuzzledwhenhereadthatNumberFivedidorsaidsuchorsuchathing,andask,"Whomdoyoumeanbythattitle？IamnotquitesurethatIremember。"JustassociateherwiththatlineofEmerson,"Whynaturelovesthenumberfive,"

andthatwillremindyouthatsheisthefavoriteofourtable。