passages from an old volume of life-第2节
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she not lose her doll； which was left behind； when she was carried out of Boston； about that time growing uncomfortable by reason of cannon…balls dropping in from the neighboring heights at all hours；in token of which see the tower of Brattle Street Church at this very day？ War in her memory means '76。 As for the brush of 1812； 〃we did not think much about that〃； and everybody knows that the Mexican business did not concern us much； except in its political relations。 No！ war is a new thing to all of us who are not in the last quarter of their century。 We are learning many strange matters from our fresh experience。 And besides； there are new conditions of existence which make war as it is with us very different from war as it has been。
The first and obvious difference consists in the fact that the whole nation is now penetrated by the ramifications of a network of iron nerves which flash sensation and volition backward and forward to and from towns and provinces as if they were organs and limbs of a single living body。 The second is the vast system of iron muscles which； as it were； move the limbs of the mighty organism one upon another。 What was the railroad…force which put the Sixth Regiment in Baltimore on the 19th of April but a contraction and extension of the arm of Massachusetts with a clenched fist full of bayonets at the end of it？
This perpetual intercommunication； joined to the power of instantaneous action； keeps us always alive with excitement。 It is not a breathless courier who comes back with the report from an army we have lost sight of for a month； nor a single bulletin which tells us all we are to know for a week of some great engagement； but almost hourly paragraphs； laden with truth or falsehood as the case may be； making us restless always for the last fact or rumor they are telling。 And so of the movements of our armies。 To…night the stout lumbermen of Maine are encamped under their own fragrant pines。 In a score or two of hours they are among the tobacco…fields and the slave…pens of Virginia。 The war passion burned like scattered coals of fire in the households of Revolutionary times； now it rushes all through the land like a flame over the prairie。 And this instant diffusion of every fact and feeling produces another singular effect in the equalizing and steadying of public opinion。 We may not be able to see a month ahead of us； but as to what has passed a week afterwards it is as thoroughly talked out and judged as it would have been in a whole season before our national nervous system was organized。
〃As the wild tempest wakes the slumbering sea； Thou only teachest all that man can be！〃
We indulged in the above apostrophe to War in a Phi Beta Kappa poem of long ago； which we liked better before we read Mr。 Cutler's beautiful prolonged lyric delivered at the recent anniversary of that Society。
Oftentimes； in paroxysms of peace and good…will towards all mankind； we have felt twinges of conscience about the passage；especially when one of our orators showed us that a ship of war costs as much to build and keep as a college； and that every port…hole we could stop would give us a new professor。 Now we begin to think that there was some meaning in our poor couplet。 War has taught us； as nothing else could； what we can be and are。 It has exalted our manhood and our womanhood； and driven us all back upon our substantial human qualities； for a long time more or less kept out of sight by the spirit of commerce； the love of art； science； or literature； or other qualities not belonging to all of us as men and women。
It is at this very moment doing more to melt away the petty social distinctions which keep generous souls apart from each other； than the preaching of the Beloved Disciple himself would do。 We are finding out that not only 〃patriotism is eloquence；〃 but that heroism is gentility。 All ranks are wonderfully equalized under the fire of a masked battery。 The plain artisan or the rough fireman； who faces the lead and iron like a man； is the truest representative we can show of the heroes of Crecy and Agincourt。 And if one of our fine gentlemen puts off his straw…colored kids and stands by the other； shoulder to shoulder； or leads him on to the attack； he is as honorable in our eyes and in theirs as if he were ill…dressed and his hands were soiled with labor。
Even our poor 〃Brahmins；〃whom a critic in ground…glass spectacles （the same who grasps his statistics by the blade and strikes at his supposed antagonist with the handle） oddly confounds with the； 〃bloated aristocracy；〃 whereas they are very commonly pallid； undervitalized； shy； sensitive creatures； whose only birthright is an aptitude for learning；even these poor New England Brahmins of ours； subvirates of an organizable base as they often are； count as full men； if their courage is big enough for the uniform which hangs so loosely about their slender figures。
A young man was drowned not very long ago in the river running under our windows。 A few days afterwards a field piece was dragged to the water's edge； and fired many times over the river。 We asked a bystander； who looked like a fisherman； what that was for。 It was to 〃break the gall；〃 he said； and so bring the drowned person to the surface。 A strange physiological fancy and a very odd non sequitur； but that is not our present point。 A good many extraordinary objects do really come to the surface when the great guns of war shake the waters； as when they roared over Charleston harbor。
Treason came up； hideous； fit only to be huddled into its dishonorable grave。 But the wrecks of precious virtues； which had been covered with the waves of prosperity； came up also。 And all sorts of unexpected and unheard…of things； which had lain unseen during our national life of fourscore years； came up and are coming up daily； shaken from their bed by the concussions of the artillery bellowing around us。
It is a shame to own it； but there were persons otherwise respectable not unwilling to say that they believed the old valor of Revolutionary times had died out from among us。 They talked about our own Northern people as the English in the last centuries used to talk about the French；Goldsmith's old soldier； it may be remembered； called one Englishman good for five of them。 As Napoleon spoke of the English； again； as a nation of shopkeepers； so these persons affected to consider the multitude of their countrymen as unwarlike artisans；forgetting that Paul Revere taught himself the value of liberty in working upon gold； and Nathaniel Greene fitted himself to shape armies in the labor of forging iron。 These persons have learned better now。 The bravery of our free working…people was overlaid； but not smothered； sunken； but not drowned。 The hands which had been busy conquering the elements had only to change their weapons and their adversaries； and they were as ready to conquer the masses of living force opposed to them as they had been to build towns； to dam rivers； to hunt whales； to harvest ice； to hammer brute matter into every shape civilization can ask for。
Another great fact came to the surface； and is coming up every day in new shapes；that we are one people。 It is easy to say that a man is a man in Maine or Minnesota； but not so easy to feel it； all through our bones and marrow。 The camp is deprovincializing us very fast。 Brave Winthrop； marching with the city elegants； seems to have been a little startled to find how wonderfully human were the hard…handed men of the Eighth Massachusetts。 It takes all the nonsense out of everybody； or ought to do it； to see how fairly the real manhood of a country is distributed over its surface。 And then； just as we are beginning to think our own soil has a monopoly of heroes as well as of cotton； up turns a regiment of gallant Irishmen； like the Sixty… ninth； to show us that continental provincialism is as bad as that of Coos County； New Hampshire； or of Broadway； New York。
Here； too； side by side in the same great camp； are half a dozen chaplains； representing half a dozen modes of religious belief。 When the masked battery opens； does the 〃Baptist〃 Lieutenant believe in his heart that God takes better care of him than of his 〃Congregationalist〃 Colonel？ Does any man really suppose； that； of a score of noble young fellows who have just laid down their lives for their country； the Homoousians are received to the mansions of bliss； and the Homoousians translated from the battle…field to the abodes of everlasting woe？ War not only teaches what man can be； but it teaches also what he must not be。 He must not be a bigot and a fool in the presence of that day of judgment proclaimed by the trumpet which calls to battle； and where a man should have but two thoughts： to do his duty； and trust his Maker。 Let our brave dead come back from the fields where they have fallen for law and liberty； and if you will follow them to their graves； you will find out what the Broad Church means； the narrow church is sparing of its exclusive formulae over the coffins wrapped in the flag which the fallen heroes had defended！ Very little comparatively do we hear at such times of the dogmas on which men differ； very much of the fait
