首页 >出版文学> Autobiography of Andrew Dickson White>第60章
  for,afterdinner,hecametomeagainandrenewedtheconversationwithespecialcordiality。IalsohadalongtalkwiththerealRiaz,andfoundhimintelligentandbroad—minded。
  Onethinghesaidamusedme。ItwasthatheespeciallylikedtowelcomeAmericans,becausetheywerenotseekingtoexploitthecountry。
  InCairoandAlexandriaIenjoyedmeetingtheAmericanandEnglishmissionaries,——amongthemmyoldYalefriendDr。HenryJessup,whohasforsomanyyearsrenderedadmirableservicesatBeyrout;butthemostnoteworthythingwasalecturewhichI
  heardfromDr。Grant,aneminentPresbyterianphysicianconnectedwiththemission。ItwasonthesubjectoftheEgyptianTrinities。Thedoctorexplainedthem,aswellastheTrimurtisofIndia,byexpressinghisbeliefthatwhentheAlmightycamedowninthecoolofthedaytorefreshhimselfbywalkingandtalkingwithAdaminthegardenofEden,herevealedtothemanhehadmadesomeofthegreatmysteriesofthedivineexistence,andthatthesehad"leakedout"tomenwhotookthemintoothercountries,andtheretaughtthem!
  IalsofoundatCairoanotherespeciallyinterestingmanofaverydifferentsort,anArmenian,Mr。Nimr;and,onvisitinghim,wasamazedtofindinhislibraryalargecollectionofEnglishandFrenchbooks,scientificandliterary——amongthemthe"NewYorkScientificMonthly"containingmyownarticles,whichhehaddonemethehonortoread。Ifoundthathehadbeen,atanearlierperiod,aprofessoratthecollegeestablishedbytheAmericanProtestantmissionariesatBeyrout;butthatheandseveralotherswhohadcometoadopttheDarwinianhypothesiswereonthataccountturnedoutoftheirsituations,andthathehadtakenrefugeinCairowherehewaspublishing,inArabic,adailynewspaperaweeklyliterarymagazine,andamonthlyscientificjournal。Iwasmuchstruckbyoneremarkofhis——whichwas,thathewasdoinghisbesttopromotetheinterestsofFreemasonryintheEast,astheonlymeansofbringingChristiansandMohammedanstogetherunderthesameroofformutualhelp,withthefeelingthattheywerechildrenofthesameGod。HetoldmethattheworstoppositionhehadmetcamefromaveryexcellentProtestantmissionary,whohadpubliclyinsistedthattheGodworshipedbytheMohammedanswasnottheGodworshipedbyChristians。ThisremindedmeofasermonwhichoneofmyfriendsheardinStrasburgCathedralinwhichapriest,reprovinghisCatholichearersforenteringintoanyrelationswithProtestants,especiallyopposedtheideathattheyworshipedthesameGod,andinsistedthattheGodoftheCatholicsandtheGodoftheProtestantsaretwodifferentbeings。
  Amongthethingswhichgavemearealenjoymentatthisperiod,andaidedtorevivemyinterestintheworldaboutme,wastheSaracenicarchitectureofCairoanditsneighborhood。Nothingcouldbe,initsway,morebeautiful。IhadneverbeforerealizedhowmuchbeautyisobtainableunderthelimitationsofMohammedanism;theexquisitetraceryandfretworkoftheSaracenicperiodwereaconstantjoytome,andhappily,astherehadbeenno"restorers,"everythingremainedasithadleftthehandsofthemenofgeniuswhocreatedit。
  Inthisolderarchitectureathousandthingsinterestedme;butthegreatesteffectwasproducedbythetombsatBeniHassan,asshowingthehistoricallinkingtogetherofhumanideasbothinartandscience——thedevelopmentofoneperiodoutofanother。UptothetimeofmyseeingthemIhadsupposedthattheDoricarchitectureofGreece,andespeciallytheDoriccolumn,wasofGreekcreation;nowIsawtheproofthatitwasevolvedoutofanearlierformuponthelowerNile,whichhaditself,doubtless,beendevelopedoutofformsyetearlier。
  AtonethingIwasespeciallysurprised。Ifoundthat,excellentasareourmissionariesinthoseregions,theirworkhasnotatallbeenwhatthosewhosendthemhavesupposed。NoMohammedanconvertsaremade。Indeed,shouldthegoodmissionariesatCairowakeupsomefinemorninginthespaciousquartersforwhichtheyaresolargelyindebtedtothelateKhediveIsmail,andfindthattheyhadconvertedaMohammedan,theywouldbefilledwithconsternation。Theywouldpossiblybedrivenfromthecountry。
  TherealMohammedancannotbeconverted。Therewere,indeed,afewpersons,hereandthere,claimingtobeconvertedJewsorMohammedans;butwewerealwayswarnedagainstthem,evenbyChristians,asfarlesstrustworthythanthosewhoweretruetotheiroriginalfaith。Whatevergoodisdonebythemissionariesisdonethroughtheirschools,towhichcomemanychildrenoftheCopts,withperhapsacertainnumberofMohammedansdesirousoflearningEnglish;andthegreatestofAmericanmissionarysuccessesisdoubtlessRobertCollegeatConstantinople,whichhascertainlydoneaverynobleworkamongthemoregiftedyoungmenoftheChristianpopulationsintheTurkishEmpire。
  SeveraltimesIattendedserviceintheUnitedPresbyterianchurchatCairo,andfoundithard,unattractive,andlittlelikelytoinfluenceanyconsiderablenumberofpersons,whetherMohammedanorChristian。Itwasevidentthatthepreachers,asarule,wereentirelyoutofthecurrentofmoderntheologicalandreligiousthought,andthateventhebestandnoblestofthemrepresentedideasnolongerheldbytheirleadingcoreligionistsinthecountriesfromwhichtheycame。
  AfterastayofthreemonthsinEgypt,weleftAlexandriaforAthens,whereIenjoyed,duringaconsiderablestay,theadvantagesofthelibraryattheAmericanSchoolofArchaeology,andthecompanionshipofmyfriendProfessorWaldstein,nowofCambridgeUniversity。VerydelightfulalsowereexcursionswithmyoldYalecompanion,WalkerFearne,ourministerinGreece,andhischarmingfamily,totheAcropolis,theTheaterofDionysus,theBayofSalamis,Megara,andotherplacesofinterest。AnespecialadvantagewehadinthecompanionshipofProfessorMahaffyofTrinityCollege,Dublin,whosecommentsonalltheseplacesweremostsuggestive。
  VeryinterestingtomewasaninterviewwithTricoupis,theprimeministerofthekingdom。HistalkontheconditionofthingsinGreecewasthatofabroad—mindedstatesman。SpeakingoftherelationsoftheGreekChurchtothestate,hesaidthatthechurchhadkeptthelanguageandthenationalityofthepeoplealiveduringtheTurkishoccupation,butthat,inspiteofitsservices,ithadneverbeenallowedtodomineeroverthecountrypolitically;hedweltontheimportanceofpushingrailwaycommunicationsintoEurope,andlamentedtheobstaclesthrownintheirwaybyTurkey。HisreminiscencesofMr。BuchananandMr。
  Dallas,whomhehadformerlyknownattheCourtofSt。JamesduringhisstayasministerinLondon,wereespeciallyinteresting。
  Themostimportant"function"Isawwasthesolemn"TeDeum"atthecathedralontheanniversaryofGreekindependence,theKing,Queen,andcourtbeingpresent,butIwaslessimpressedbytheirdevotionthanbytheirreverenceofaconsiderablepartoftheaudience,who,atthecloseoftheservice,walkedaboutinthechurchwiththeirhatsontheirheads。AstothepriestswhoswarmedaboutusintheirByzantinecostumesandlonghair,IwasremindedofasententiousMoslemremarkregardingthem:"Muchhair,littlebrains。"
  OnGoodFridayIvisitedMarsHillandmusedforanhouroverwhathascomefromthesermononcepreachedthere。
  TowardtheendofAprilweleftthePiraeus,and,afterpassingthroughtheaegeanonamostbeautifulday,arrivedinConstantinople,whereImadetheacquaintanceofMr。Straus,ourministeratthatcapital。ThusbeganafriendshipwhichIhaveeversincegreatlyprized。Mr。StrausintroducedmetotwoofthemostinterestingmenIhaveevermet;thefirstofthesebeingHamdiBey,directoroftheImperialMuseumatConstantinople。
  MeetinghimatMr。Straus’stableandinhisownhouse,Iheardhimdiscusssundryquestionsrelatingtomodernart——better,insomerespects,thananyotherpersonIhaveeverknown。NeverhaveIheardmoreadmirablydiscriminatingjudgmentsuponvariousmodernschoolsofpaintingthanthosewhichhethengaveme。
  TheotherpersontowhomMr。StrausintroducedmewastheBritishambassador,SirWilliamWhite,whowasveryhospitable,andrevealedtomemuchinlifeandliterature。Onethingespeciallysurprisedme——namely,thatthoughaRomanCatholic,hehadagreatadmirationforRenan’swritings,ofwhichhewasaconstantreader。Here,too,IrenewedmyacquaintancewithvariousmembersofthediplomaticcorpswhomIhadmetelsewhere。CuriouswasaneveningvisittotheRussianEmbassy,Mrs。Strausbeingcarriedinasedan—chair,herhusbandwalkingbesideherineveningdressatonedoor,Iattheother,andakavass,withdrawnsword,marchingattheheadoftheprocession。
  WhiletheMohammedanhistoryrevealedinConstantinoplegavemefrequentsubjectsofthought,IwasmoreconstantlycarriedbacktotheByzantineperiod。FortherewastheChurchofSt。Sophia!
  Noedificehaseverimpressedmemore;indeed,inmanyrespects,nonehaseverimpressedmesomuch。Bearinginminditsorigin,itshistory,anditsarchitecture,itisdoubtlessthemostinterestingchurchintheworld。ThoughsmallerthanSt。Peter’satRome,itisvastlymoreimpressive。Takingintoaccounttheviewasoneenters,embracingtheloftyvaultsretreatingonallsides,thearchesspringingaboveourheads,and,crowningall,thedome,whichopensfullyuponthesightimmediatelyuponpassingthedoorway,itiscertainlythemostoverpoweringofChristianchurches。Gibbon’spicturesthrongeduponme,andveryvividly,asIvisitedthegroundwhereformerlystoodtheGreatCircus,andnotedtheremainsofmonumentswherethe"Blues"and"Greens"convulsedthecitywiththeirbloodyfactionfights,andwheresquabblingChristiansectspreparedthewayforthatTurkishdominionwhichhasnowburdenedthiswearyearthformorethanfivehundredyears。
  FromConstantinople,byBuda—Pesth,Vienna,Munich,Ulm,andFrankfort—on—the—Main,toParis,stoppingineachofthesecities,mainlyforbook—hunting。AtMunichIspentconsiderabletimeintheRoyalLibrary,wherevariousrareworksrelatingtothebearingoftheologyoncivilizationwereplacedatmydisposal;andatFrankfortaddedlargelytomylibrary——especiallymonographsonEgyptandilluminatedmanuscriptsofthemiddleages。
  AtParistheExpositionof1889wasinfullblast。AstotheAmericanexhibit,thereweresomethingstobelamented。Our"commissionofexperts"wasinpartremarkablywellchosen;amongthembeinganumberofthebestmenintheirdepartmentsthatAmericahasproduced;but,ontheotherhand,thereweresomewhohadevidentlybeenfoisteduponthePresidentbypoliticiansinremoteStates——so—called"experts,"yetasunfitasitispossibletoconceiveanyhumanbeingstobe。Oneofthese,whowasresponsibleforoneofthemostimportantAmericandepartments,wasutterlyhelpless。Dayinanddayout,hesatinakindofdazeattheAmericanheadquarters,doingnothing——indeed,evidentlyincapableofdoinganything。Oneortwoofhisassociates,aswellassundryFrenchmen,askedmetoaidingettinghisdepartmentintosomeorder;andthis,thoughgreatlypressedfortime,Idid,——devotingtothetaskseveraldayswhichIcouldillafford。
  VeryhappywasIoveroneimprovementwhichtheUnitedStateshadmadesincetheformerexposition,atwhichIhadmyselfbeenacommissioner。ThenalllamentedandapologizedfortheconditionoftheAmericanArtGallery;nowtherewasnoneedeitheroflamentationorapology,forthere,inalltheirbeauty,wereportraitsbySargent,andGariMelchers’spictureof"ACommunionDayinHolland"——thelattertouchingthedeepplacesofthehumanheart。AsIwassittingbeforeitoneday,anEnglishgentlemancamewithhiswifeandsatbesideme。PresentlyIheardhimsay:
  "Ofallthepicturesintheentireexposition,thistakesthestrongestholduponme。"ManyotherAmericanpictureswerealsoobjectsofpridetous。Ifoundourminister,Mr。WhitelawReid,veryhospitable,andathishousebecameacquaintedwithvariousinterestingAmericans。AtPresidentCarnot’sreceptionatthepalaceoftheElyseeIalsometseveralpersonagesworthknowing,andamongthem,tomygreatsatisfaction,SenatorJohnSherman。
  DuringthisstayinParisItookpartintwocommemorations。
  FirstcametheFourthofJuly,when,inobediencetotheoldcustomwhichIhadknownsowellinmystudentdays,theAmericancolonyvisitedthecemeteryoftheRuePicpusandlaidwreathsuponthetombofLafayette,——theAmericanbandperformingadirge,andourmarinesondutyfiringafarewellvolley。Itwasineverywayawarmandheartytribute。AweeklaterwastheunveilingofthestatueofCamilleDesmoulinsinthegardenofthePalaisRoyal,——thisbeingtheone—hundredthanniversaryofthedayonwhich,inthatgarden,——and,indeed,onthatspot,beforetheCafeFoy,——hehadrousedthemobwhichdestroyedtheBastilleandbegunthewhirlwindwhichfinallysweptawaysomuchandsomany,includinghimselfandhisbelovedLucille。PoorCamille,orating,gesticulating,andlookingforanewheavenandanewearth,wasoneofthelittlegreatmensoimportantatthebeginningofrevolutionsandsoinsignificantafterward。Itwasevidentthat,inspiteoftheoldlegendsregardinghim,theFrenchhadceasedtocareforhim;Iwassurprisedatthesmallnumberpresent,andatthelanguidinterestevenofthese。
  AmongmymostdelightfulreminiscencesofthisperiodaremywalksandtalkswithmyoldYaleandParisstudentfriendofnearlyfortyyearsbefore,RandallGibson,who,havingbeenageneralintheConfederateservice,wasnowaUnitedStatessenatorfromLouisiana。Revisitingouroldhaunts,especiallytheSorbonne,thePantheon,St。Sulpice,andothermonumentsoftheLatinQuarter,wespokemuchofdaysgoneby,hegivingmemostinterestingreminiscencesofourCivilWarperiodasseenfromtheSouthernside。Oneortwoofthethingshetoldmeareespeciallyfastenedinmymind。Thefirstwasthatashesatwithotherofficersoverthecamp—firenightafternight,discussingthewarandtheirhopesregardingthefuture,allagreedthatwhentheConfederacyobtaineditsindependencethereshouldbeno"rightofsecession"init。Butwhatinterestedmemostwasthefactthathe,aDemocraticsenatoroftheUnited,States,absolutelydetestedThomasJefferson,and,aboveallthings,forthereasonthatheconsideredJeffersontherealsourceoftheextremedoctrineofStatesovereignty。GibsonwasatypicalKentuckyWhigwho,intheCivilWar,wentwiththeSouthfromtheforceoffamilyconnections,friendships,socialrelations,andthelike,butwhoremained,inhisheartofhearts,fromfirsttolast,deeplyattachedtotheUnion。
  LeavingParis,wewenttogethertoHomburg,andtheremetMr。
  HenryS。Sanford,ourministeratBelgiumduringtheCivilWar,oneofSecretarySeward’sforemostagentsontheEuropeancontinentatthatperiod。Hisaccountsofmattersatthattime,especiallyofthedoingsofsundryemissariesoftheUnitedStates,werealloftheminteresting,andsomeofthemexceedinglyamusing。AtHomburg,too,IfoundmysuccessorinthelegationatBerlin,Mr。Pendleton,who,thoughhismindremainedclear,wasslowlydyingofparalysis。
  ThencewithGibsonandSanforddowntheRhinetoMr。Sanford’scountry—seatinBelgium。Itwasamostbeautifulplace,alordlychateau,superblybuilt,fitted,andfurnished,amplefortheaccommodationofascoreofguests,andyettherenthepaidforitwasbutsixhundreddollarsayear。Ithadbeenbuiltbyaprinceatsuchcostthathehimselfcouldnotaffordtoliveinit,andwasobligedtorentitforwhathecouldget。ThencewemadeourwaytoLondonandNewYork。
  CHAPTERLV
  MEXICO,CALIFORNIA,SCANDINAVIA,RUSSIA,ITALY,LONDON,AND
  BERLIN——1892—1897
  ArrivingatNewYorkintheautumnof1889,Iwassoonsettledatmyaccustomedworkintheuniversity,——devotingmyselftonewchaptersofmybookandtosundrycoursesoflectures。EarlyinthefollowingyearIbeganacoursebeforetheUniversityofPennsylvania;andmystayinPhiladelphiawasrenderedveryagreeablebyvariousnewacquaintances。InterestingtomewastheRomanCatholicarchbishop,Dr。Ryan。Dininginhiscompany,I
  referredadmiringlytohiscathedral,whichIhadrecentlyvisited,butspokeofwhatseemedtomethedefectivemodeofplacingthedomeuponthebuilding;whereuponhemadeoneofthemosttolerableLatinpunsIhaveeverheard,sayingthatduringtheconstructionofboththenaveandthedomehispredecessorswerehamperedbylackofmoney,——that,infact,theyweregreatlytroubledbytheresangustaedomi。InterestingalsowasattendanceupontheconferenceatLakeMohonk,whichbroughttogetheralargebodyofleadingmenfromallpartsofthecountrytodiscussthebestmethodsofdealingwithquestionsrelatingtothefreedmenandIndians。Thepresidentoftheconference,Mr。Hayes,formerlyPresidentoftheUnitedStates,I
  hadknownwellinformerdays,whenIservedunderhimasministertoGermany,andthehighopinionIhadthenformedofhimwasincreasedasIheardhimdiscussthemainquestionsbeforetheconference。Itwasthefashionatonetimeamongblackguardsandcynicsofbothpartiestosneerathim,andthis,doubtless,producedsomeeffectonthepopularmind;butnothingcouldbemoreunjust:rarelyhaveImetamaninourownoranyothercountrywhohasimpressedmemorebythequalitieswhichatrueAmericanshouldmostdesireinaPresidentoftheUnitedStates;hehadwhatourcountryneedsmostinourpublicmen——sobrietyofjudgmentunitedtothepowerofcalm,strongstatement。
  Thetwofollowingyears,1890—1891,werepassedmainlyatCornell,thoughwithexcursionstovariousotherinstitutionswhereIhadbeenaskedtogiveaddressesorlectures;butinFebruaryof1892,havingbeeninvitedtolectureatStanfordUniversityinCalifornia,IacceptedaninvitationfromMr。
  AndrewCarnegietobecomeoneoftheguestsgoinginhiscartothePacificcoastbywayofMexico。Ourpartyofeight,providedwithcook,servants,andeverycomfort,traveledaltogethermorethantwelvethousandmiles——firstthroughtheCentralandSouthernStatesoftheUnion,thencetothecityofMexicoandbeyond,thenbyaseriesofzigzagexcursionsfromlowerCaliforniatothenorthernlimitsofOregonandWashington,andfinallythroughtheRockyMountainsandthecanonsofColoradotoSaltLakeCityandDenver。ThencemycompanionswentEastandI
  returnedalonetoStanfordtogivemylectures。DuringthislongexcursionImetmanymenwhogreatlyinterestedme,andespeciallyoldstudentsofminewhomIfoundeverywheredoingmanfullytheworkforwhichCornellhadaidedtofitthem。NeverhaveIfeltmorefullyrepaidforanylaborandcareIhaveevergiventothefoundinganddevelopmentoftheuniversity。ArrivinginthecityofMexico,Isaidtomyself,"HerecertainlyIshallnotmeetanymoreofmyoldCornellians";buthardlywasI
  settledinmyroomwhenacardcameupfromoneofthem,andI
  soonlearnedthathewasdoinghonortotheSibleyCollegeoftheuniversitybysuperintendingtheerectionofthelargestprinting—presswhichhadeverbeenbroughtintoMexico。TheMexicancapitalinterestedmegreatly。Thecathedral,which,uptothattime,Ihadsupposedtobeinadebasedrococostyle,I
  foundtobeofasimple,nobleRenaissancecharacter,andofrealdignity。BeingpresentedtothePresident,PorfirioDiaz,Iwasgreatlyimpressedbyhisquietstrengthandself—possession,andthenunderstoodforthefirsttimewhathadwroughtsobeneficentachangeinhiscountry。Hisministersalsoimpressedmefavorably,thoughtheywereevidentlyovershadowedbysogreatapersonality。Onedetailstruckmeascurious:theroominwhichthePresidentreceivedusatthepalacewashungroundwithsatindraperiesstampedwiththecrownandcipherofhispredecessor——theill—fatedEmperorMaximilian。
  Californiawasagreatrevelationtome。Wearrivedjustatthefulloutburstofspring,andseemedtohavealighteduponanewplanet。StrongandgoodmenIfoundthere,buildingupeverysortofworthyenterprise,andespeciallytheirtwonobleuniversities,oneofwhichwasalmostentirelyofficeredbyCornellgraduates。TothisinstitutionIwasattachedbyaspecialtie。Atvarioustimesthefounders,GovernorandMrs。
  Stanford,hadconsultedmeonproblemsarisinginitsdevelopment;theyhadtwicevisitedmeatCornellforthepurposeofmorefulldiscussion,andatthelatterofthetwovisitshadurgedmetoacceptitspresidency。ThisIhadfeltobligedtodecline。Isaidtothemthatthebestyearsofmylifehadbeendevotedtobuildinguptwouniversities,——MichiganandCornell,——andthatnotallthetreasuresofthePacificcoastwouldtemptmetobeginwithanother;thatthisfeelingwasnotduetoawishtoevadeanyduty,buttoaconvictionthatmyworkofthatsortwasdone,andthattherewereotherswhocouldcontinueitfarbetterthanI。Itwasafterthisconversationthat,ontheiraskingwhethertherewasanyonesuitablewithinmyacquaintance,Ianswered,"GototheUniversityofIndiana;
  thereyouwillfindthepresident,anoldstudentofmine,DavidStarrJordan,oneoftheleadingscientificmenofthecountry,possessedofamostcharmingpowerofliteraryexpression,witharemarkableabilityinorganization,andblessedwithgood,soundsense。Callhim。"Theytookmyadvice,calledDr。Jordan,andI
  foundhimattheuniversity。Mythreeweeks’stayinterestedmemoreandmore。EveningaftereveningIwalkedthroughthecloistersofthegreatquadrangle,admiringthesolidity,beauty,andadmirablearrangementofthebuildings,andenjoyingtheirlovelysurroundingsandthewholecharmofthatCaliforniaatmosphere。
  Thebuildings,insimplicity,beauty,andfitness,farsurpassedanyotherswhichhadatthattimebeenerectedforuniversitypurposesintheUnitedStates;andIfeelsurethatwhentheentireplaniscarriedout,notevenOxfordorCambridgewillhaveanythingmorebeautiful。PresidentJordanhadmorethanfulfilledmyprophecies,anditwasaninspirationtoseeattheirdailyworkthefacultyhehadcalledtogether。Thestudentsalsogreatlyinterestedme。WhenitwasfirstnoisedabroadthatSenatorStanfordwastofoundanewuniversityinCalifornia,sundryEasternmentookasneeringtoneandsaid,"Whatwillitfindtodo?TheyoungmenonthePacificcoastwhoareasyetfittoreceivetheadvantagesofauniversityareveryfew;theStateUniversityofCaliforniaatBerkeleyisalreadylanguishingforwantofstudents。"Theweaknessoftheseviewsisseeninthefactthat,atthishour,eachoftheseuniversitieshasnearlythreethousandundergraduates。TheerectionofStanfordhasgivenanimpetustotheStateUniversity,andbotharedoingnoblework,notonlyforthePacificcoast,butforthewholecountry。
  OneofthemostnoteworthythingsinthehistoryofAmericanuniversityeducationthusfaristhefactthattheuniversitybuildingserectedbyboardsoftrusteesinallpartsofthecountryhave,almostwithoutexception,provedtobemerejumblesofmeanmaterialsinincongruousstyles;buttothisruletherehavebeen,mainly,twonobleexceptions:oneinthebuildingsoftheUniversityofVirginia,plannedandexecutedundertheeyeofThomasJefferson,andtheotherinthesebuildingsatPaloAlto,plannedandexecutedunderthedirectionofGovernorandMrs。
  Stanford。Thesetwogroups,oneinVirginiaandoneinCalifornia,with,perhaps,thenewuniversitybuildingsatPhiladelphiaandChicago,arealmosttheonlyhomesoflearningintheUnitedStateswhicharereallysatisfactoryfromanarchitecturalpointofview。
  The"CityoftheSaints,"whichIsawonmyway,hadmuchinterestforme。IcollectedwhilethereeverythingpossibleinthewayofpublicationsbearingonMormonism,beginningwithacopyoftheoriginaleditionofthe"BookofMormon";butnothingthatIcouldfindinanyofthesepublicationsindicatedanyconsiderableintellectualdevelopment,asyet。
  Moreencouragingwasarapidvisit,onmywayhome,totheChicagoExpositionbuildings,which,thoughnotyetfullycompleted,wereverybeautiful;andstillmorepleasurecamefromavisittothenewUniversityofChicago,whichwasevidentlybeginningamostimportantworkforAmericancivilization。Itswholeplanisremarkablywellconceived,andwiththemeansthatitisrapidlyaccumulating,duetothepublicspiritofitsmainbenefactorandamultitudeofothershardlysecondtohimintheimportanceoftheirgifts,itcannotfailtoexerciseagreatinfluence,especiallythroughouttheNorthwesternStates。Firstofall,itwilldomuchtoliftthecityinwhichitstandsoutofitscrudematerialismintosomethinghigherandbetter。Itisapleasuretonotethatitsbuildingsareworthyofit:theyseemlikelytoformafourthintheseriesoffithomesforgreatcentersofadvancededucationintheUnitedStates,——Virginia,Stanford,andtheUniversityofPennsylvaniabeingtheothers。
  HavingreturnedtoCornell,Iwentonquietlywithmyworkuntilautumn,when,tomysurprise,IreceivednoticethatthePresidenthadappointedmeministertoSt。Petersburg;andonthe4thofNovemberIarrivedatmypostinthatcapital。OfmyexperienceasministerIhavespokenelsewhere,buthavegivennoaccountoftwojourneyswhichinterestedmeatthatperiod。ThefirstofthesewasintheScandinaviancountries。ThevoyageofadayandnightacrosstheBalticthroughtheAlandIslandswaslikeadream,thenortherntwilightmakingnightmorebeautifulthanday,andtheapproachtotheSwedishcapitalbeing,nexttotheapproachestoConstantinopleandtoNewYork,themostbeautifulIknow。
  VeryinstructivetomewasavisittoUpsala——especiallytotheuniversityandcathedral。Astotheformer,the"CodexofUlfilas,"inthelibrary,whichIhadlongdesiredtosee,especiallyinterestedme;andvisitstothehousesofthevarious"nations"showedmethatoutofthesocialneedsofSwedishstudentsinthemiddleageshadbeendevelopedsomethingcloselyakintothefraternityhouseswhichsimilarneedshavedevelopedinourtimeatAmericanuniversities。Thecathedral,containingtheremainsofGustavusVasaandLinnaeus,wasfruitfulinsuggestions。ByacuriouscoincidenceIwasatthattimefinishingmychapterentitled"FromCreationtoEvolution,"andhadbeenpayingspecialattentiontotheancientandmediaevalconceptionsofthecreationoftheworldasaworkdonebyanindividualinhumanform,laboringwithhishandsduringsixdays,andtakingneededrestontheseventh;andhereIfound,atthesideentranceofthecathedral,adelightfullynaivemediaevalrepresentationofthewholeprocess,——aseriesofmedallionsrepresentingtheAlmightytoilinglikeanartisanoneachofthesixdaysandreposing,evidentlyveryweary,ontheseventh。
  ThejourneyacrossSweden,throughthecanalsandlakes,wasveryrestful。AtChristianiaMr。Gade,theAmericanconsul,whohadservedourcountrysolongandsohonorablyinthatcity,tookmeunderhisguidanceduringvariousinterestingexcursionsaboutthefiords。AtGothenburgItookpainstoobtaininformationregardingtheirsystemofdealingwiththesaleofintoxicatingliquors,andbecamesatisfiedthatitis,onthewhole,thebestsolutionoftheproblemeverobtained。Thewholeoldsystemofsaloons,gin—shops,andthelike,withtheirallurementstothedrinkingofadulteratedalcohol,hadbeensweptaway,andinitsplacethegovernmenthadgiventoacorporationtheprivilegeofsellingpureliquorsinarestrictednumberofdecentshops,undercarefullydevisedlimitations。First,theliquorsmustbefullytestedforpurity;secondly,nonecouldbesoldtopersonsalreadyundertheinfluenceofdrink;thirdly,nointoxicantcouldbesoldwithoutsomethingtoeatwithit,theeffectsofalcoholuponthesystembeingthusmitigated。Theseandotherrestrictionshadreducedthedrinkevil,asIwasassured,toaminimum。Butthemostfar—reachingprovisioninthewholesystemwasthatthecompanywhichenjoyedthemonopolyofthistradewasnotallowedtodeclareadividendgreaterthan,Ibelieve,sixpercent。;everythingrealizedabovethisgoingintothepublictreasury,mainlyforcharitablepurposes。Theresultofthisrestrictionofprofitswasthatnopersonemployedinsellingardentspiritswasundertheslightesttemptationtoattractcustomers。Eachofthesesellerswasasalariedofficialandknewthathisplacedependedonhisadheringtothelawwhichforbadehimtoselltoanypersonalreadyundertheinfluenceofliquor,ortodoanythingtoincreasehissales;andthewholemotiveformakingmendrunkardswasthustakenaway。
  IwasassuredbyboththeAmericanandBritishconsuls,aswellasbymostreputablecitizens,thatthissystemhadgreatlydiminishedintemperance。Unfortunately,sincethattime,fanaticshaveobtainedcontrol,andhavepassedanentirely"prohibitory"
  law,withtheresult,asIunderstand,thatthecommunityisnowdiscoveringthatprohibitiondoesnotprohibit,andthattheworstkindsofliquorsareagainsoldbymenwhosemainmotiveistosellasmuchaspossible。
  ThemostattractivefeatureinmyvisittoNorwaywasThrondheim。
  WithmypassionforGothicarchitecture,thebeautifullittlecathedral,whichtheauthoritieswererestoringJudiciously,wasadelight,anditwasallthemoreinterestingascontainingoneofthosecuriositiesofhumancivilizationwhichhavenowbecomerare。Inonecorneroftheedificeisa"holywell,"thepilgrimagestowhichinthemiddleageswere,nodoubt,amainsourceofthewealthoftheestablishment。Theattendantshows,inthestoneworkclosetothewell,theendofatubecomingfromtheupperpartofthecathedral;andthroughthistubepiousmonksinthemiddleagesnodoubtspokeoracularwordscalculatedtoenhancetheauthorityofthesaintpresidingovertheplace。
  ItwasthesamesortofthingwhichoneseesintheTempleofIsisatPompeii,andthezealwhichcreateditwasnodoubtthesamethatto—dayoriginatesthesacredfirewhichalwayscomesdownfromheavenonEasterdayintotheGreekchurchatJerusalem,theliquefactionofthebloodofSt。JanuariusinthecathedralatNaples,andsundrycamp—meetingutterancesandactionsintheUnitedStates。
  SwedenandNorwaystruckmeaspossessing,insomerespects,themostsatisfactorycivilizationofmoderntimes。Withamonarchicalfigurehead,theyarereallyarepublic。Hereisnooverbearingplutocracy,nosqualidpoverty,anexcellentsystemofeducation,liberalandpractical,fromthelocalschooltotheuniversity,apopulation,toallappearance,healthy,thrifty,andcomfortable。
  Andyethere,asinotherpartsoftheworld,theresourcesofhumanfollyareillimitable。AlargepartyinNorwayurgessecessionfromSweden,andbothremaindividedfromDenmark,thoughthethreeare,toallintentsandpurposes,ofthesamerace,religion,language,andearlyhistoricaltraditions。Andclosebesidethemloomsup,moreandmoreportentous,theRussiancolossus,which,havingtrampledSwedishFinlandunderitsfeet,islookingacrosstheScandinavianpeninsulatowardthegoodharborsofNorway,justoppositeGreatBritain。Russiahasdeclaredtherightofheronehundredandtwentymillionsofpeopletoanice—freeportonthePacific;whyshallshenotassert,withequalcogency,therightofthesemillionstoanice—freeportontheAtlantic?WhyshouldnotthesemillionsownarailwayacrossScandinavia,andasuitableterritoryalongtheline;andthen,logically,alltheterritorynorth,andasmuchassheneedsoftheterritorysouthoftheline?Thenorthernand,tosomeextent,themiddleregionsofNorwayandSwedenwouldthuscomeundertheswayofaczarinSt。Petersburg,representedbysomegovernor—generallikethosewhohavebeentryingtoshowtotheScandinaviansofFinlandthatnewspapersareuseless,petitionsinadmissible,constitutionsafetish,banishmentablessing,andtheuseoftheirnativelanguageasuperfluity。TheonlysadthinginthisfairprospectisthatitisnottheobjurgatoryBjornson,thephilosophicIbsen,andtheimpulsiveNansen,withtheircompatriots,nowgroaningunderwhattheyarepleasedtocall"Swedishtyranny,"whowouldenjoythisRussianliberty,buttheirchildren,andtheirchildren’schildren。
  AtCopenhagenIwasespeciallyattractedbytheEthnographicMuseum,which,byitsdisplayofthegradualupliftingofScandinavianhumanityfromprehistorictimes,hassostronglyaidedinenforcingontheworldthescientificdoctrineofthe"riseofman,"andinbringingtonaughtthetheologicaldoctrineofthe"fallofman。"
  AshortstayatMoscowaddedtomyRussianpointsofview,itbeingmysecondvisitafteranintervalofnearlyfortyyears。
  Althoughthecityhadspreadlargely,therewasverylittleevidenceofrealprogress:everywherewerefilth,fetishism,beggary,andreaction。ThemonumenttoAlexanderII,thegreatemancipator,stoodintheKremlin,halffinished;ithassince,I
  amgladtolearn,beencompleted;butthishasonlybeenafterlongandslothfuldelays,andthestatueinSt。Petersburghasnotevenbeenbegun。Itiswellunderstoodthatonecauseofthisdelayhasbeenthereluctanceofthereactionaryleadersintheempiretoglorifysoradicalamovementastheemancipationoftheserfs。
  IhadonecuriousexperienceofMuscoviteideasoftrade。MoscowisoneofthemaincentersforthemanufactureofthechurchbellsinwhichtheRussianpeasanttakessuchdelight;and,beingmuchinterestedincampanology,Ivisitedseveraloftheprincipalfoundries,andwasdelightedwiththesizeandworkmanshipofmanyspecimens。WalkingonemorningtotheKremlin,Isawattheagencyofoneoftheseestablishmentsabellweighingabouttwohundredandfiftypounds,mostexquisitelywrought,andsuchabeautifulexampleofthebestthatRussianscandointhisrespectthatIwentinandaskedthepriceofit。Thepricebeingnamed,IsaidthatIwouldtakeit。
  Thereuponconsternationwasevidentintheestablishment,andpresentlytheheadoftheconcernsaidtomethattheywerenotsurethattheywishedtosellit。ButIsaid,"YouHAVEsoldit;
  Iaskedyouwhatyourpricewas,youtoldme,andIhaveboughtit。"Tothishedemurred,andfinallyrefusedaltogethertosellit。Ongoingout,myguideinformedmethatIhadmadeamistake;
  thatIwasmyselfthecauseofthewholetrouble;thatifIhadofferedhalfthepricenamedforthebellIshouldhavesecureditfortwothirds;butthat,asIhadofferedtheentireprice,thepeopleintheshophadjumpedtotheconclusionthatitmustbeworthmorethantheyhadsupposed,thatIhaddetectedvaluesinitwhichtheyhadnotrealized,andthatitwastheirdutytomakemepaymoreforitthanthepricetheyhadasked。Theresultwasthat,afewweeksafterward,acompromisehavingbeenmade,I
  boughtitandsentittothelibraryofCornellUniversity,whereitisnowbothusefulandornamental。