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                               THE SCARLET LETTER

                             by Nathaniel Hawthorne



INTRODUCTORY

                        THE CUSTOM…HOUSE。

               INTRODUCTORY TO 〃THE SCARLET LETTER〃。



  IT is a little remarkable; that… though disinclined to talk overmuch

of myself and my affairs at the fireside; and to my personal

friends… an autobiographical impulse should twice in my life have

taken possession of me; in addressing the public。 The first time was

three or four years since; when I favoured the reader… inexcusably;

and for no earthly reason; that either the indulgent reader or the

intrusive author could imagine… with a description of my way of life

in the deep quietude of an Old Manse。 And now… because; beyond my

deserts; I was happy enough to find a listener or two on the former

occasion… I again seize the public by the button; and talk of my three

years' experience in a Custom…House。 The example of the famous 〃P。 P。;

Clerk of this Parish;〃 was never more faithfully followed。 The truth

seems to be; however; that; when he casts his leaves forth upon the

wind; the author addresses; not the many who will fling aside his

volume; or never take it up; but the few who will understand him;

better than most of his schoolmates or lifemates。 Some authors;

indeed; do far more than this; and indulge themselves in such

confidential depths of revelation as could fittingly be addressed;

only and exclusively; to the one heart and mind; of perfect

sympathy; as if the printed book; thrown at large on the wide world;

were certain to find out the divided segment of the writer's own

nature; and complete his circle of existence by bringing him into

communion with it。 It is scarcely decorous; however; to speak all;

even where we speak impersonally。 But; as thoughts are frozen and

utterance benumbed; unless the speaker stand in some true relation

with his audience; it may be pardonable to imagine that a friend; a

kind and apprehensive; though not the closest friend; is listening

to our talk; and then; a native reserve being thawed by this genial

consciousness; we may prate of the circumstances that lie around us;

and even of ourself; but still keep the inmost Me behind its veil。

To this extent; and within these limits; an author; methinks; may be

autobiographical; without violating either the reader's rights or

his own。

  It will be seen; likewise; that this Custom…House sketch has a

certain propriety; of a kind always recognised in literature; as

explaining how a large portion of the following pages came into my

possession; and as offering proofs of the authenticity of a

narrative therein contained。 This; in fact… a desire to put myself

in my true position as editor; or very little more; of the most prolix

among the tales that make up my volume… this; and no other; is my true

reason for assuming a personal relation with the public。 In

accomplishing the main purpose; it has appeared allowable; by a few

extra touches; to give a faint representation of a mode of life not

heretofore described; together with some of the characters that move

in it; among whom the author happened to make one。



  In my native town of Salem; at the head of what; half a century ago;

in the days of old King Derby; was a bustling wharf… but which is

now burdened with decayed wooden warehouses; and exhibits few or no

symptoms of commercial life; except; perhaps; a bark or brig; half…way

down its melancholy length; discharging hides; or; nearer at hand; a

Nova Scotia schooner; pitching out her cargo of firewood… at the

head; I say; of this dilapidated wharf; which the tide often

overflows; and along which; at the base and in the rear of the row

of buildings; the track of many languid years is seen in a border of

unthrifty grass… here; with a view from its front windows adown this

not very enlivening prospect; and thence across the harbour; stands

a spacious edifice of brick。 From the loftiest point of its roof;

during precisely three and a half hours of each forenoon; floats or

droops; in breeze or calm; the banner of the republic; but with the

thirteen stripes turned vertically; instead of horizontally; and

thus indicating that a civil; and not a military post of Uncle Sam's

government is here established。 Its front is ornamented with a portico

of half…a…dozen wooden pillars; supporting a balcony; beneath which

a flight of wide granite steps descends towards the street。 Over the

entrance hovers an enormous specimen of the American eagle; with

outspread wings; a shield before her breast; and; if I recollect

aright; a bunch of intermingled thunderbolts and barbed arrows in each

claw。 With the customary infirmity of temper that characterises this

unhappy fowl; she appears; by the fierceness of her beak and eye;

and the general truculency of her attitude; to threaten mischief to

the inoffensive community; and especially to warn all citizens;

careful of their safety; against intruding on the premises which she

overshadows with her wings。 Nevertheless; vixenly as she looks; many

people are seeking; at this very moment; to shelter themselves under

the wing of the federal eagle; imagining; I presume; that her bosom

has all the softness and snugness of an eider…down pillow。 But she has

no great tenderness; even in her best of moods; and; sooner or

later… oftener soon than late… is apt to fling off her nestlings; with

a scratch of her claw; a dab of her beak; or a rankling wound from her

barbed arrows。

  The pavement round about the above…described edifice… which we may

as well name at once as the Custom…House of the port… has grass enough

growing in its chinks to show that it has not; of late days; been worn

by any multitudinous resort of business。 In some months of the year;

however; there often chances a forenoon when affairs move onward

with a livelier tread。 Such occasions might remind the elderly citizen

of that period before the last war with England; when Salem was a port

by itself; not scorned; as she is now; by her own merchants and

ship…owners; who permit her wharves to crumble to ruin; while their

ventures go to swell; needlessly and imperceptibly; the mighty flood

of commerce at New York or Boston。 On some such morning; when three or

four vessels happen to have arrived at once… usually from Africa or

South America… or to be on the verge of their departure thitherward;

there is a sound of frequent feet; passing briskly up and down the

granite steps。 Here; before his own wife has greeted him; you may

greet the sea…flushed shipmaster; just in port; with his vessel's

papers under his arm; in a tarnished tin box。 Here; too; comes his

owner; cheerful or sombre; gracious or in the sulks; accordingly as

his scheme of the now accomplished voyage has been realised in

merchandise that will readily be turned to gold; or has buried him

under a bulk of incommodities; such as nobody will care to rid him of。

Here; likewise… the germ of the wrinkle…browed; grizzly…bearded;

care…worn merchant… we have the smart young clerk; who gets the

taste of traffic as a wolf…cub does of blood; and already sends

adventures in his master's ships; when he had better be sailing

mimic…boats upon a mill…pond。 Another figure in the scene is the

outward…bound sailor; in quest of a protection; or the recently

arrived one; pale and feeble; seeking a passport to the hospital。

Nor must we forget the captains of the rusty little schooners that

bring firewood from the British provinces; a rough…looking set of

tarpaulins; without the alertness of the Yankee aspect; but

contributing an item of no slight importance to our decaying trade。

  Cluster all these individuals together; as they sometimes were; with

other miscellaneous ones to diversify the group; and; for the time

being; it made the Custom…House a stirring scene。 More frequently;

however; on ascending the steps; you would discern… in the entry; if

it were summer time; or in their appropriate rooms; if wintry or

inclement weather… a row of venerable figures; sitting in

old…fashioned chairs; which were tipped on their hind legs back

against the wall。 Oftentimes they were asleep; but occasionally

might be heard talking together; in voices between speech and a snore;

and with that lack of energy that distinguishes the occupants of

alms…houses; and all other human beings who depend for subsistence on

charity; on monopolised labour; or anything else but their own

independent exertions。 These old gentlemen… seated; like Matthew; at

the receipt of customs; but not very liable to be summoned thence;

like him; for apostolic errands… were Custom…House officers。

  Furthermore; on the left hand as you enter the front door; is a

certain room or office; about fifteen feet square; and of a lofty

height; with two of its arched windows commanding a view of the

aforesaid dilapidated wharf; and the third looking across a narrow

lane; and along a portion of D

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