an autobiography-第77节
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During the time that the alterations and enlargements were in progress we rented a house for six months at Sydenham； close to the beautiful grounds of the Crystal Palace。 This was a most happy episode in our lives； for； besides the great attractions of the place； both inside and out； there were the admirable orchestral daily concerts； at which we were constant attendants。 We had the pleasure of listening to the noble compositions of the great masters of music； the perfectly trained band being led by Herr Manns； who throws so much of his fine natural taste and enthusiastic spirit into the productions as to give them every possible charm。
From a very early period of my life I have derived the highest enjoyment from listening to music； especially to melody； which is to me the most pleasing form of composition。 When I have the opportunity of listening to such kind of music； it yields me enjoyment that transcends all others。 It suggests ideas； and brings vividly before the mind's eye scenes that move the imagination。 This is； to me； the highest order of excellence in musical composition。 I used long ago； and still continue； to whistle a bit； especially when engaged in some pleasant occupation。 I can draw from my mental repository a vast number of airs and certain bits of compositions that I had once heard。 I possess that important qualification for a musician〃a good ear；〃 and I always worked most successfully at a mechanical drawing when I was engaged in whistling some favourite air。 The dual occupation of the brain had always the best results in the quick development of the constructive faculty。 And even in circumstances where whistling is not allowed I can think airs； and enjoy them almost as much as when they are distinctly audible。 This power of the brain； I am fain to believe； indicates the natural existence of the true musical faculty。 But I had been so busy during the course of my life that I had never any opportunity of learning the practical use of any musical instrument。 And here I must leave this interesting subject。
So soon as I was in due possession of my house； I had speedily transported thither all my art treasuresmy telescopes； my home stock of tools； the instruments of my own construction； made from the very beginning of my career as a mechanic； and associated with the most interesting and active parts of my life。 I lovingly treasured them； and gave them an honoured place in the workshop which I added to my residence。 There they are now； and I often spend a busy and delightful hour in handling my tools。 It is curious how the mere sight of such objects brings back to the memory bygone incidents and recollections。 Friends long dead seem to start up while looking at them。 You almost feel as if you could converse with the departed。 I do not know of anything so touchingly powerful in vividly bringing back the treasured incidents and memories of one's life as the sight of such humble objects。 Every one has； no doubt； a treasured store of such material records of a well…remembered portion of his past life。 These strike； as it were； the keynote to thoughts that bring back in vivid form the most cherished remembrances of our lives。 On many occasions I have seen at sale rooms long treasured hoards of such objects thrown together in a heap as mere rubbish。 And yet these had been to some the sources of many pleasant thoughts and recollections； But the last final break…up has come； and the personal belongings of some departed kind heart are scattered far and wide。 These touching relics of a long life； which had almost become part of himself； are 〃knocked down〃 to the lowest class of bidders。 It is a sad sight to witness the uncared for dispersion of such objectsobjects that had been lovingly stored up as the most valued of personal treasures。 I could have wished that； as was the practice in remote antiquity； such touching relics were buried with the dead； as their most fitting repository。 Then they might have left some record； instead of being desecrated by the harpies who wait at sales for such 〃job lots。〃
Behold us； then； settled down at Hammerfield for life。 We had plenty to do。 My workshop was fully equipped。 My hobbies were there； and I could work them to my heart's content。 The walls of our various rooms were soon hung with pictures； and other works of art； suggestive of many pleasant associations of former days。 Our library book…case was crowded with old friends； in the shape of books that had been read and re…read many times； until they had become almost part of ourselves。 Old Lancashire friends made their way to us when 〃up in town；〃 and expressed themselves delighted with our pleasant house and its beautiful surroundings。
The continuous planting of the shrubs and trees gave us great pleasure。 Those already planted had grown luxuriantly； fed by the fertile soil and the pure air。 Indeed； in course of time they required the judicious use of the axe in order to allow the fittest to survive and grow at their own free will。 Trees contrive to manage their own affairs without the necessity of much labour or interference。 The 〃survival of the fittest〃 prevails here as elsewhere。 It is always a pleasure to watch them。 There are many ordinary old…fashioned roadside flowering plants which I esteem for their vigorous beauty； and I enjoy seeing them assume the careless grace of Nature。
The greenhouse is also a source of pleasure； especially to my dear wife。 It is full of flowers of all kinds； of which she is devotedly fond。 They supply her with subjects for her brush or her needle。 She both paints them and works them by her needle in beautiful forms and groups。 This is one of her many favourite hobbies。 All this is suitable to our fireside employments； and makes the days and the evenings pass pleasantly away。
CHAPTER 21。 Active leisure。
When James Watt retired from business towards the close of his useful and admirable life； he spoke to his friends of occupying himself with 〃ingenious trifles；〃 and of turning 〃some of his idle thoughts〃 upon the invention of an arithmetical machine and a machine for copying sculpture。 These and other useful works occupied his attention for many years。
It was the same with myself。 I had good health （which Watt had not） and abundant energy。 When I retired from business I was only forty…eight years old； which may be considered the prime of life。 But I had plenty of hobbies； perhaps the chief of which was Astronomy。 No sooner had I settled at Hammerfield than I had my telescopes brought out and mounted。 The fine clear skies with which we were favoured； furnished me with abundant opportunities for the use of my instruments。 I began again my investigations on the Sun and the Moon； and made some original discoveries； of which more anon。
Early in the year 1858 I received a pressing invitation from the Council of the Edinburgh Philosophical Society to give a lecture before their members on the Structure of the Lunar Surface。 As the subject was a favourite one with me； and as I had continued my investigations and increased my store of drawings since I had last appeared before an Edinburgh audience； I cheerfully complied with their request。 I accordingly gave my lecture before a crowded meeting in the Queen Street Lecture Hall。
The audience appeared to be so earnestly interested by the subject that I offered to appear before them on two successive evenings and give any viva voce explanations about the drawings which those present might desire。 This deviation from the formality of a regular lecture was attended with the happiest results。 Edinburgh always supplies a highly…intelligent audience； and the cleverest and brightest were ready with their questions。 I was thus enabled to elucidate the lecture and to expand many of the most interesting points connected with the moon's surface； such as might formerly have appeared obscure。 These questioning lectures gave the highest satisfaction。 They satisfied myself as well as the audience； who went away filled with the most graphic information I could give them on the subject。
But not the least interesting part of my visit to Edinburgh on this occasion was the renewed intercourse which I enjoyed with many of my old friends。 Among these were my venerable friend Professor Pillans； Charles Maclaren （editor of the Scotsman）； and Robert Chambers。 We had a long dander together through the Old Town； our talk being in broad Scotch。 Pillans was one of the fine old Edinburgh Liberals； who stuck to his principles through good report and through evil。 In his position as Rector of the High School； he had given rare evidence of his excellence as a classical scholar。 He was afterwards promoted to be a Professor in the University。 He had as his pupils some of the most excellent men of my time。 Amongst his intimate friends were Sydney Smith； Brougham； Jeffrey； Cockburnmen who gave so special a character to the Edinburgh society of that time。
We had a delightful stroll through some of the most remarkable parts of the Old Town； with Robert Chambers as our guide。 We next mounted Arthur's Seat to observe some of the manifestations of volcanic action； which had given such a remarkable structure to the mountai
