contributions to-all the year round(一年到头)-第15节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Home's book one or two little illustrative flowers。 Sir David Brewster （a
pestilent unbeliever） 〃has come before the public in few matters which
have brought more shame upon him than his conduct and assertions on
this occasion； in which he manifested not only a disregard for truth； but
also a disloyalty to scientific observation； and to the use of his own
eyesight and natural faculties〃。 The same unhappy Sir David Brewster's
〃character may be the better known； not only for his untruthful dealing
with this subject； but also in his own domain of science in which the same
unfaithfulness to truth will be seen to be the characteristic of his mind〃。
Again； he 〃is really not a man over whom victory is any honour〃。 Again；
46
… Page 47…
Contributions to All The Year Round
〃not only he； but Professor Faraday have had time and ample leisure to
regret that they should have so foolishly pledged themselves〃； etc。 A
Faraday a fool in the sight of a Home！ That unjust judge and whited wall；
Lord Brougham； has his share of this Martyr Medium's uncombativeness。
〃In order that he might not be compelled to deny Sir David's statements；
he found it necessary that he should be silent； and I have some reason to
complain that his Lordship preferred sacrificing me to his desire not to
immolate his friend。〃 M。 Arago also came off with very doubtful honours
from a wrestle with the uncombative Martyr； who is perfectly clear （and
so are we； let us add） that scientific men are not the men for his purpose。
Of course； he is the butt of 〃utter and acknowledged ignorance〃； and of
〃the most gross and foolish statements〃； and of 〃the unjust and dishonest〃；
and of 〃the press…gang〃； and of crowds of other alien and combative
adjectives； participles； and substantives。
Nothing is without its use； and even this odious book may do some
service。 Not because it coolly claims for the writer and his disciples such
powers as were wielded by the Saviour and the Apostles； not because it
sees no difference between twelve table rappers in these days； and 〃twelve
fishermen〃 in those； not because it appeals for precedents to statements
extracted from the most ignorant and wretched of mankind； by cruel
torture； and constantly withdrawn when the torture was withdrawn； not
because it sets forth such a strange confusion of ideas as is presented by
one of the faithful when； writing of a certain sprig of geranium handed by
an invisible hand； he adds in ecstasies； 〃WHICH WE HAVE PLANTED
AND IT IS GROWING； SO THAT IT IS NO DELUSION； NO FAIRY
MONEY TURNED INTO DROSS OR LEAVES〃as if it followed that
the conjuror's half…crowns really did become invisible and in that state fly；
because he afterwards cuts them out of a real orange； or as if the conjuror's
pigeon； being after the discharge of his gun； a real live pigeon fluttering on
the target； must therefore conclusively be a pigeon； fired； whole； living
and unshattered； out of the gun！not because of the exposure of any of
these weaknesses； or a thousand such； are these moving incidents in the
life of the Martyr Medium； and similar productions； likely to prove useful；
but because of their uniform abuse of those who go to test the reality of
47
… Page 48…
Contributions to All The Year Round
these alleged phenomena； and who come away incredulous。 There is an
old homely proverb concerning pitch and its adhesive character； which we
hope this significant circumstance may impress on many minds。 The
writer of these lines has lately heard overmuch touching young men of
promise in the imaginative arts； 〃towards whom〃 Martyr Mediums
assisting at evening parties feel themselves 〃drawn〃。 It may be a hint to
such young men to stick to their own drawing； as being of a much better
kind； and to leave Martyr Mediums alone in their glory。
As there is a good deal in these books about 〃lying spirits〃； we will
conclude by putting a hypothetical case。 Supposing that a Medium
（Martyr or otherwise） were established for a time in the house of an
English gentleman abroad； say； somewhere in Italy。 Supposing that the
more marvellous the Medium became； the more suspicious of him the lady
of the house became。 Supposing that the lady； her distrust once aroused；
were particularly struck by the Medium's exhibiting a persistent desire to
commit her； somehow or other； to the disclosure of the manner of the
death； to him unknown； of a certain person。 Supposing that she at length
resolved to test the Medium on this head； and； therefore； on a certain
evening mentioned a wholly supposititious manner of death （which was
not the real manner of death； nor anything at all like it） within the range of
his listening ears。 And supposing that a spirit presently afterwards
rapped out its presence； claiming to be the spirit of that deceased person；
and claiming to have departed this life in that supposititious way。 Would
that be a lying spirit？ Or would it he a something else； tainting all that
Medium's statements and suppressions； even if they were not in
themselves of a manifestly outrageous character？
THE LATE MR。 STANFIELD
Every Artist； be he writer； painter； musician； or actor； must bear his
private sorrows as he best can； and must separate them from the exercise
of his public pursuit。 But it sometimes happens； in compensation； that
his private loss of a dear friend represents a loss on the part of the whole
48
… Page 49…
Contributions to All The Year Round
community。 Then he may； without obtrusion of his individuality； step
forth to lay his little wreath upon that dear friend's grave。
On Saturday； the eighteenth of this present month； Clarkson Stanfield
died。 On the afternoon of that day； England lost the great marine painter
of whom she will be boastful ages hence； the National Historian of her
speciality； the Sea； the man famous in all countries for his marvellous
rendering of the waves that break upon her shores； of her ships and
seamen； of her coasts and skies； of her storms and sunshine； of the many
marvels of the deep。 He who holds the oceans in the hollow of His hand
had given； associated with them； wonderful gifts into his keeping； he had
used them well through threescore and fourteen years； and； on the
afternoon of that spring day； relinquished them for ever。
It is superfluous to record that the painter of 〃The Battle of Trafalgar〃；
of the 〃Victory being towed into Gibraltar with the body of Nelson on
Board〃； of 〃The Morning after the Wreck〃； of 〃The Abandoned〃； of fifty
more such works； died in his seventy…fourth year； 〃Mr。〃 Stanfield。He was
an Englishman。
Those grand pictures will proclaim his powers while paint and canvas
last。 But the writer of these words had been his friend for thirty years；
and when； a short week or two before his death； he laid that once so skilful
hand upon the writer's breast and told him they would meet again； 〃but not
here〃； the thoughts of the latter turned； for the time； so little to his noble
genius； and so much to his noble nature！
He was the soul of frankness； generosity； and simplicity。 The most
genial； the most affectionate； the most loving； and the most lovable of men。
Success had never for an instant spoiled him。 His interest in the Theatre
as an Institutionthe best picturesqueness of which may be said to be
wholly due to himwas faithful to the last。 His belief in a Play； his
delight in one； the ease with which it moved him to tears or to laughter；
were most remarkable evidences of the heart he must have put into his old
theatrical work； and of the
