ThecareerofthelateDr。MarshallHallwasalifelongillustrationoftheinfluenceofcharacterinformingcharacter。
Manyeminentmenstilllivingtracetheirsuccessinlifetohissuggestionsandassistance,withoutwhichseveralvaluablelinesofstudyandinvestigationmightnothavebeenenteredon,atleastatsoearlyaperiod。Hewouldsaytoyoungmenabouthim,”Takeupasubjectandpursueitwell,andyoucannotfailtosucceed。”Andoftenhewouldthrowoutanewideatoayoungfriend,saying,”Imakeyouapresentofit;thereisfortuneinit,ifyoupursueitwithenergy。”
Energyofcharacterhasalwaysapowertoevokeenergyinothers。
Itactsthroughsympathy,oneofthemostinfluentialofhumanagencies。Thezealousenergeticmanunconsciouslycarriesothersalongwithhim。Hisexampleiscontagious,andcompelsimitation。
Heexercisesasortofelectricpower,whichsendsathrillthrougheveryfibre——flowsintothenatureofthoseabouthim,andmakesthemgiveoutsparksoffire。
Dr。Arnold’sbiographer,speakingofthepowerofthiskindexercisedbyhimoveryoungmen,says:”Itwasnotsomuchanenthusiasticadmirationfortruegenius,orlearning,oreloquence,whichstirredwithinthem;itwasasympatheticthrill,caughtfromaspiritthatwasearnestlyatworkintheworld——
whoseworkwashealthy,sustained,andconstantlycarriedforwardinthefearofGod——aworkthatwasfoundedonadeepsenseofitsdutyanditsvalue。”7
Suchapower,exercisedbymenofgenius,evokescourage,enthusiasm,anddevotion。Itisthisintenseadmirationforindividuals——suchasonecannotconceiveentertainedforamultitude——whichhasinalltimesproducedheroesandmartyrs。
Itisthusthatthemasteryofcharactermakesitselffelt。Itactsbyinspiration,quickeningandvivifyingthenaturessubjecttoitsinfluence。
Greatmindsarerichinradiatingforce,notonlyexertingpower,butcommunicatingandevencreatingit。ThusDanteraisedanddrewafterhimahostofgreatspirits——Petrarch,Boccacio,Tasso,andmanymore。FromhimMiltonlearnttobearthestingsofeviltonguesandthecontumelyofevildays;andlongyearsafter,Byron,thinkingofDanteunderthepine-treesofRavenna,wasincitedtoattunehisharptoloftierstrainsthanhehadeverattemptedbefore。DanteinspiredthegreatestpaintersofItaly——
Giotto,Orcagna,MichaelAngelo,andRaphael。SoAriostoandTitianmutuallyinspiredoneanother,andlightedupeachother’sglory。
Greatandgoodmendrawothersafterthem,excitingthespontaneousadmirationofmankind。Thisadmirationofnoblecharacterelevatesthemind,andtendstoredeemitfromthebondageofself,oneofthegreateststumblingblockstomoralimprovement。Therecollectionofmenwhohavesignalisedthemselvesbygreatthoughtsorgreatdeeds,seemsasiftocreateforthetimeapureratmospherearoundus:andwefeelasifouraimsandpurposeswereunconsciouslyelevated。”Tellmewhomyouadmire,”saidSainte-Beuve,”andIwilltellyouwhatyouare,atleastasregardsyourtalents,tastes,andcharacter。”Doyouadmiremeanmen?——yourownnatureismean。
Doyouadmirerichmen?——youareoftheearth,earthy。Doyouadmiremenoftitle?——youareatoad-eater,oratuft-hunter。8
Doyouadmirehonest,brave,andmanlymen?——youareyourselfofanhonest,brave,andmanlyspirit。
Itisintheseasonofyouth,whilethecharacterisforming,thattheimpulsetoadmireisthegreatest。Asweadvanceinlife,wecrystallizeintohabit;and”NILADMIRARI”toooftenbecomesourmotto。Itiswelltoencouragetheadmirationofgreatcharacterswhilethenatureisplasticandopentoimpressions;forifthegoodarenotadmired——asyoungmenwillhavetheirheroesofsomesort——mostprobablythegreatbadmaybetakenbythemformodels。HenceitalwaysrejoicedDr。Arnoldtohearhispupilsexpressingadmirationofgreatdeeds,orfullofenthusiasmforpersonsorevenscenery。”Ibelieve,”saidhe,”that”NIL
ADMIRARI”isthedevil’sfavouritetext;andhecouldnotchooseabettertointroducehispupilsintothemoreesotericpartsofhisdoctrine。And,therefore,Ihavealwayslookeduponamaninfectedwiththedisorderofanti-romanceasonewhohaslostthefinestpartofhisnature,andhisbestprotectionagainsteverythinglowandfoolish。”9
ItwasafinetraitinthecharacterofPrinceAlbertthathewasalwayssoreadytoexpressgenerousadmirationofthegooddeedsofothers。”Hehadthegreatestdelight,”saystheablestdelineatorofhischaracter,”inanybodyelsesayingafinesaying,ordoingagreatdeed。Hewouldrejoiceoverit,andtalkaboutitfordays;andwhetheritwasathingnoblysaidordonebyalittlechild,orbyaveteranstatesman,itgavehimequalpleasure。Hedelightedinhumanitydoingwellonanyoccasionandinanymanner。”10”Noquality,”saidDr。Johnson,”willgetamanmorefriendsthanasincereadmirationofthequalitiesofothers。Itindicatesgenerosityofnature,frankness,cordiality,andcheerfulrecognitionofmerit。”Itwastothesincere——itmightalmostbesaidthereverential——admirationofJohnsonbyBoswell,thatweoweoneofthebestbiographieseverwritten。OneisdisposedtothinkthattheremusthavebeensomegenuinegoodqualitiesinBoswelltohavebeenattractedbysuchamanasJohnson,andtohavekeptfaithfultohisworshipinspiteofrebuffsandsnubbingsinnumerable。MacaulayspeaksofBoswellasanaltogethercontemptibleperson——asacoxcombandabore——weak,vain,pushing,curious,garrulous;andwithoutwit,humour,oreloquence。ButCarlyleisdoubtlessmorejustinhischaracterisationofthebiographer,inwhom——vainandfoolishthoughhewasinmanyrespects——heseesamanpenetratedbytheoldreverentfeelingofdiscipleship,fullofloveandadmirationfortruewisdomandexcellence。Withoutsuchqualities,Carlyleinsists,the’LifeofJohnson’nevercouldhavebeenwritten。”Boswellwroteagoodbook,”hesays,”becausehehadaheartandaneyetodiscernwisdom,andanutterancetorenderitforth;
becauseofhisfreeinsight,hislivelytalent,and,aboveall,ofhisloveandchildlikeopenmindedness。”
Mostyoungmenofgenerousmindhavetheirheroes,especiallyiftheybebook-readers。ThusAllanCunningham,whenamason’sapprenticeinNithsdale,walkedallthewaytoEdinburghforthesolepurposeofseeingSirWalterScottashepassedalongthestreet。Weunconsciouslyadmiretheenthusiasmofthelad,andrespecttheimpulsewhichimpelledhimtomakethejourney。ItisrelatedofSirJoshuaReynolds,thatwhenaboyoften,hethrusthishandthroughinterveningrowsofpeopletotouchPope,asiftherewereasortofvirtueinthecontact。Atamuchlaterperiod,thepainterHaydonwasproudtoseeandtotouchReynoldswhenonavisittohisnativeplace。Rogersthepoetusedtotellofhisardentdesire,whenaboy,toseeDr。Johnson;butwhenhishandwasontheknockerofthehouseinBoltCourt,hiscouragefailedhim,andheturnedaway。SothelateIsaacDisraeli,whenayouth,calledatBoltCourtforthesamepurpose;andthoughbeHADthecouragetoknock,tohisdismayhewasinformedbytheservantthatthegreatlexicographerhadbreathedhislastonlyafewhoursbefore。
Onthecontrary,smallandungenerousmindscannotadmireheartily。Totheirowngreatmisfortune,theycannotrecognise,muchlessreverence,greatmenandgreatthings。Themeannatureadmiresmeanly。Thetoad’shighestideaofbeautyishistoadess。
Thesmallsnob’shighestideaofmanhoodisthegreatsnob。Theslave-dealervaluesamanaccordingtohismuscles。WhenaGuineatraderwastoldbySirGodfreyKneller,inthepresenceofPope,thathesawbeforehimtwoofthegreatestmenintheworld,hereplied:”Idon’tknowhowgreatyoumaybe,butIdon’tlikeyourlooks。Ihaveoftenboughtamanmuchbetterthanbothofyoutogether,allbonesandmuscles,fortenguineas!”
AlthoughRochefoucauld,inoneofhismaxims,saysthatthereissomethingthatisnotaltogetherdisagreeabletousinthemisfortunesofevenourbestfriends,itisonlythesmallandessentiallymeannaturethatfindspleasureinthedisappointment,andannoyanceatthesuccessofothers。Thereare,unhappily,forthemselves,personssoconstitutedthattheyhavenotthehearttobegenerous。Themostdisagreeableofallpeoplearethosewho”sitintheseatofthescorner。”Personsofthissortoftencometoregardthesuccessofothers,eveninagoodwork,asakindofpersonaloffence。Theycannotbeartohearanotherpraised,especiallyifhebelongtotheirownart,orcalling,orprofession。Theywillpardonaman’sfailures,butcannotforgivehisdoingathingbetterthantheycando。Andwheretheyhavethemselvesfailed,theyarefoundtobethemostmercilessofdetractors。Thesourcriticthinksofhisrival:”WhenHeavenwithsuchpartshasblesthim,HaveInotreasontodetesthim?”
Themeanmindoccupiesitselfwithsneering,carping,andfault-
finding;andisreadytoscoffateverythingbutimpudenteffronteryorsuccessfulvice。Thegreatestconsolationofsuchpersonsarethedefectsofmenofcharacter。”Ifthewiseerrednot,”saysGeorgeHerbert,”itwouldgohardwithfools。”Yet,thoughwisemenmaylearnoffoolsbyavoidingtheirerrors,foolsrarelyprofitbytheexamplewhich,wisemensetthem。AGermanwriterhassaidthatitisamiserabletemperthatcaresonlytodiscovertheblemishesinthecharacterofgreatmenorgreatperiods。LetusratherjudgethemwiththecharityofBolingbroke,who,whenremindedofoneoftheallegedweaknessesofMarlborough,observed,——”HewassogreatamanthatIforgothehadthatdefect。”
Admirationofgreatmen,livingordead,naturallyevokesimitationoftheminagreaterorlessdegree。Whileamereyouth,themindofThemistocleswasfiredbythegreatdeedsofhiscontemporaries,andhelongedtodistinguishhimselfintheserviceofhiscountry。WhentheBattleofMarathonhadbeenfought,hefellintoastateofmelancholy;andwhenaskedbyhisfriendsastothecause,hereplied”thatthetrophiesofMiltiadeswouldnotsufferhimtosleep。”Afewyearslater,wefindhimattheheadoftheAthenianarmy,defeatingthePersianfleetofXerxesinthebattlesofArtemisiumandSalamis,——hiscountrygratefullyacknowledgingthatithadbeensavedthroughhiswisdomandvalour。
ItisrelatedofThucydidesthat,whenaboy,heburstintotearsonhearingHerodotusreadhisHistory,andtheimpressionmadeuponhismindwassuchastodeterminethebentofhisowngenius。
AndDemostheneswassofiredononeoccasionbytheeloquenceofCallistratus,thattheambitionwasrousedwithinhimofbecominganoratorhimself。YetDemostheneswasphysicallyweak,hadafeeblevoice,indistinctarticulation,andshortnessofbreath——
defectswhichhewasonlyenabledtoovercomebydiligentstudyandinvincibledetermination。But,withallhispractice,heneverbecameareadyspeaker;allhisorations,especiallythemostfamousofthem,exhibitingindicationsofcarefulelaboration,——theartandindustryoftheoratorbeingvisibleinalmosteverysentence。
Similarillustrationsofcharacterimitatingcharacter,andmouldingitselfbythestyleandmannerandgeniusofgreatmen,aretobefoundpervadingallhistory。Warriors,statesmen,orators,patriots,poets,andartists——allhavebeen,moreorlessunconsciously,nurturedbythelivesandactionsofotherslivingbeforethemorpresentedfortheirimitation。
Greatmenhaveevokedtheadmirationofkings,popes,andemperors。FrancisdeMedicisneverspoketoMichaelAngelowithoutuncovering,andJuliusIII。madehimsitbyhissidewhileadozencardinalswerestanding。CharlesV。madewayforTitian;
andoneday,whenthebrushdroppedfromthepainter’shand,Charlesstoopedandpickeditup,saying,”Youdeservetobeservedbyanemperor。”LeoX。threatenedwithexcommunicationwhoevershouldprintandsellthepoemsofAriostowithouttheauthor’sconsent。ThesamepopeattendedthedeathbedofRaphael,asFrancisI。didthatofLeonardodaVinci。
ThoughHaydnoncearchlyobservedthathewaslovedandesteemedbyeverybodyexceptprofessorsofmusic,yetallthegreatestmusicianswereunusuallyreadytorecogniseeachother’sgreatness。Haydnhimselfseemstohavebeenentirelyfreefrompettyjealousy。HisadmirationofthefamousPorporawassuch,thatheresolvedtogainadmissiontohishouse,andservehimasavalet。HavingmadetheacquaintanceofthefamilywithwhomPorporalived,hewasallowedtoofficiateinthatcapacity。
Earlyeachmorninghetookcaretobrushtheveteran’scoat,polishhisshoes,andputhisrustywiginorder。AtfirstPorporagrowledattheintruder,buthisasperitysoonsoftened,andeventuallymeltedintoaffection。Hequicklydiscoveredhisvalet’sgenius,and,byhisinstructions,directeditintothelineinwhichHaydneventuallyacquiredsomuchdistinction。
HaydnhimselfwasenthusiasticinhisadmirationofHandel。”Heisthefatherofusall,”hesaidononeoccasion。ScarlattifollowedHandelinadmirationalloverItaly,and,whenhisnamewasmentioned,becrossedhimselfintokenofveneration。
Mozart’srecognitionofthegreatcomposerwasnotlesshearty。”Whenhechooses,”saidhe,”Handelstrikeslikethethunderbolt。”
Beethovenhailedhimas”Themonarchofthemusicalkingdom。”
WhenBeethovenwasdying,oneofhisfriendssenthimapresentofHandel’sworks,infortyvolumes。Theywerebroughtintohischamber,and,gazingonthemwithreanimatedeye,beexclaimed,pointingatthemwithhisfinger,”There——thereisthetruth!”
Haydnnotonlyrecognisedthegeniusofthegreatmenwhohadpassedaway,butofhisyoungcontemporaries,MozartandBeethoven。Smallmenmaybeenviousoftheirfellows,butreallygreatmenseekoutandloveeachother。OfMozart,Haydnwrote”I
onlywishIcouldimpressoneveryfriendofmusic,andongreatmeninparticular,thesamedepthofmusicalsympathy,andprofoundappreciationofMozart’sinimitablemusic,thatImyselffeelandenjoy;thennationswouldviewitheachothertopossesssuchajewelwithintheirfrontiers。Pragueoughtnotonlytostrivetoretainthispreciousman,butalsotoremuneratehim;
forwithoutthisthehistoryofagreatgeniusissadindeed……
ItenragesmetothinkthattheunparalleledMozartisnotyetengagedbysomeimperialorroyalcourt。Forgivemyexcitement;
butIlovethemansodearly!”
MozartwasequallygenerousinhisrecognitionofthemeritsofHaydn。”Sir,”saidhetoacritic,speakingofthelatter,”ifyouandIwerebothmelteddowntogether,weshouldnotfurnishmaterialsforoneHaydn。”AndwhenMozartfirstheardBeethoven,heobserved:”Listentothatyoungman;beassuredthathewillyetmakeagreatnameintheworld。”
BuffonsetNewtonaboveallotherphilosophers,andadmiredhimsohighlythathehadalwayshisportraitbeforehimwhilehesatatwork。SoSchillerlookeduptoShakspeare,whomhestudiedreverentlyandzealouslyforyears,untilhebecamecapableofcomprehendingnatureatfirst-hand,andthenhisadmirationbecameevenmoreardentthanbefore。
PittwasCanning’smasterandhero,whomhefollowedandadmiredwithattachmentanddevotion。”Tooneman,whilehelived,”saidCanning,”Iwasdevotedwithallmyheartandallmysoul。SincethedeathofMr。PittIacknowledgenoleader;mypoliticalallegianceliesburiedinhisgrave。”11
AFrenchphysiologist,M。Roux,wasoccupiedonedayinlecturingtohispupils,whenSirCharlesBell,whosediscoverieswereevenbetterknownandmorehighlyappreciatedabroadthanathome,strolledintohisclass-room。Theprofessor,recognisinghisvisitor,atoncestoppedhisexposition,saying:”MESSIEURS,C’EST
ASSEZPOURAUJOURD’HUI,VOUSAVEZVUSIRCHARLESBELL!”
Thefirstacquaintancewithagreatworkofarthasusuallyprovedanimportanteventineveryyoungartist’slife。WhenCorreggiofirstgazedonRaphael’s’SaintCecilia,’hefeltwithinhimselfanawakenedpower,andexclaimed,”AndItooamapainter”SoConstableusedtolookbackonhisfirstsightofClaude’spictureof’Hagar,’asforminganepochinhiscareer。SirGeorgeBeaumont’sadmirationofthesamepicturewassuchthathealwaystookitwithhiminhiscarriagewhenhetravelledfromhome。
Theexamplessetbythegreatandgooddonotdie;theycontinuetoliveandspeaktoallthegenerationsthatsucceedthem。ItwasveryimpressivelyobservedbyMr。Disraeli,intheHouseofCommons,shortlyafterthedeathofMr。Cobden:——”Thereisthisconsolationremainingtous,whenwerememberourunequalledandirreparablelosses,thatthosegreatmenarenotaltogetherlosttous——thattheirwordswilloftenbequotedinthisHouse——thattheirexampleswilloftenbereferredtoandappealedto,andthateventheirexpressionswillformpartofourdiscussionsanddebates。Therearenow,Imaysay,somemembersofParliamentwho,thoughtheymaynotbepresent,arestillmembersofthisHouse——whoareindependentofdissolutions,ofthecapricesofconstituencies,andevenofthecourseoftime。IthinkthatMr。
Cobdenwasoneofthosemen。”
Itisthegreatlessonofbiographytoteachwhatmancanbeandcandoathisbest。Itmaythusgiveeachmanrenewedstrengthandconfidence。Thehumblest,insightofeventhegreatest,mayadmire,andhope,andtakecourage。Thesegreatbrothersofoursinbloodandlineage,wholiveauniversallife,stillspeaktousfromtheirgraves,andbeckonusoninthepathswhichtheyhavetrod。Theirexampleisstillwithus,toguide,toinfluence,andtodirectus。Fornobilityofcharacterisaperpetualbequest;livingfromagetoage,andconstantlytendingtoreproduceitslike。”Thesage,”saytheChinese,”istheinstructorofahundredages。
WhenthemannersofLooareheardof,thestupidbecomeintelligent,andthewaveringdetermined。”Thustheactedlifeofagoodmancontinuestobeagospeloffreedomandemancipationtoallwhosucceedhim:”Toliveinheartsweleavebehind,isnottodie。”
Thegoldenwordsthatgoodmenhaveuttered,theexamplestheyhaveset,livethroughalltime:theypassintothethoughtsandheartsoftheirsuccessors,helpthemontheroadoflife,andoftenconsoletheminthehourofdeath。”Andthemostmiserableormostpainfulofdeaths,”saidHenryMarten,theCommonwealthman,whodiedinprison,”isasnothingcomparedwiththememoryofawell-spentlife;andgreataloneishewhohasearnedthegloriousprivilegeofbequeathingsuchalessonandexampletohissuccessors!
NOTES。
1’LettersofSirCharlesBell,’p。10。
2’AutobiographyofMaryAnneSchimmelpenninck,’p。179。
3DeanStanley’s’LifeofDr。Arnold,’i。151Ed。1858。
4LordCockburn’s’Memorials,’pp。25-6。
5FromaletterofCanonMoseley,readataMemorialMeetingheldshortlyafterthedeathofthelateLordHerbertofLea。
6IzaakWalton’s’LifeofGeorgeHerbert。’
7Stanley’s’LifeandLettersofDr。Arnold,’i。33。
8PhilipdeCominesgivesacuriousillustrationofthesubservient,thoughenforced,imitationofPhilip,DukeofBurgundy,byhiscourtiers。Whenthatprincefellill,andhadhisheadshaved,heorderedthatallhisnobles,fivehundredinnumber,shouldinlikemannershavetheirheads;andoneofthem,PierredeHagenbach,toprovehisdevotion,nosoonercaughtsightofanunshavennobleman,thanheforthwithhadhimseizedandcarriedofftothebarber!——PhilipdeCominesBohn’sEd。,p。243。
9’Life,’i。344。
10Introductionto’ThePrincipalSpeechesandAddressesofH。R。H。
thePrinceConsort,’p。33。
11SpeechatLiverpool,1812。
CHAPTERIV——WORK。”Arisetherefore,andbedoing,andtheLordbewiththee。”——
lCHRONICLESxxii。16。”Workasifthouhadsttoliveforaye;
Worshipasifthouwerttodieto-day。”——TUSCANPROVERB。”C’estparletravailqu’onregne。”——LOUISXIV”Blestwork!ifeverthouwertcurseofGod,WhatmustHisblessingbe!”——J。B。SELKIRK。”LeteverymanbeOCCUPIED,andoccupiedinthehighestemploymentofwhichhisnatureiscapable,anddiewiththeconsciousnessthathehasdonehisbest”——SydneySmith。
WORKisoneofthebesteducatorsofpracticalcharacter。Itevokesanddisciplinesobedience,self-control,attention,application,andperseverance;givingamandeftnessandskillinhisspecialcalling,andaptitudeanddexterityindealingwiththeaffairsofordinarylife。
Workisthelawofourbeing——thelivingprinciplethatcarriesmenandnationsonward。Thegreaternumberofmenhavetoworkwiththeirhands,asamatterofnecessity,inordertolive;butallmustworkinonewayoranother,iftheywouldenjoylifeasitoughttobeenjoyed。
Labourmaybeaburdenandachastisement,butitisalsoanhonourandaglory。Withoutit,nothingcanbeaccomplished。Allthatisgreatinmancomesthroughwork;andcivilisationisitsproduct。Werelabourabolished,theraceofAdamwereatoncestrickenbymoraldeath。
Itisidlenessthatisthecurseofman——notlabour。Idlenesseatstheheartoutofmenasofnations,andconsumesthemasrustdoesiron。WhenAlexanderconqueredthePersians,andhadanopportunityofobservingtheirmanners,heremarkedthattheydidnotseemconsciousthattherecouldbeanythingmoreservilethanalifeofpleasure,ormoreprincelythanalifeoftoil。
WhentheEmperorSeveruslayonhisdeathbedatYork,whitherhehadbeenborneonalitterfromthefootoftheGrampians,hisfinalwatchwordtohissoldierswas,”LABOREMUS”wemustwork;
andnothingbutconstanttoilmaintainedthepowerandextendedtheauthorityoftheRomangenerals。
IndescribingtheearliersocialconditionofItaly,whentheordinaryoccupationsofrurallifewereconsideredcompatiblewiththehighestcivicdignity,Plinyspeaksofthetriumphantgeneralsandtheirmen,returningcontentedlytotheplough。Inthosedaysthelandsweretilledbythehandsevenofgenerals,thesoilexultingbeneathaploughsharecrownedwithlaurels,andguidedbyahusbandmangracedwithtriumphs:”IPSORUMTUNCMANIBUS
IMPERATORUMCOLEBANTURAGRI:UTFASESTCREDERE,GAUDENTETERRA
VOMERELAUREATOETTRIUMPHALIARATORE。”1Itwasonlyafterslavesbecameextensivelyemployedinalldepartmentsofindustrythatlabourcametoberegardedasdishonourableandservile。AndsosoonasindolenceandluxurybecamethecharacteristicsoftherulingclassesofRome,thedownfalloftheempire,soonerorlater,wasinevitable。
Thereis,perhaps,notendencyofournaturethathastobemorecarefullyguardedagainstthanindolence。WhenMr。Gurneyaskedanintelligentforeignerwhohadtravelledoverthegreaterpartoftheworld,whetherhehadobservedanyonequalitywhich,morethananother,couldberegardedasauniversalcharacteristicofourspecies,hisanswerwas,inbrokenEnglish,”MetinkdatallmenLOVELAZY。”Itischaracteristicofthesavageasofthedespot。Itisnaturaltomentoendeavourtoenjoytheproductsoflabourwithoutitstoils。Indeed,souniversalisthisdesire,thatJamesMillhasarguedthatitwastopreventitsindulgenceattheexpenseofsocietyatlarge,thattheexpedientofGovernmentwasoriginallyinvented。2
Indolenceisequallydegradingtoindividualsastonations。
Slothnevermadeitsmarkintheworld,andneverwill。Slothneverclimbedahill,norovercameadifficultythatitcouldavoid。Indolencealwaysfailedinlife,andalwayswill。Itisinthenatureofthingsthatitshouldnotsucceedinanything。
Itisaburden,anincumbrance,andanuisance——alwaysuseless,complaining,melancholy,andmiserable。
Burton,inhisquaintandcurious,book——theonlyone,Johnsonsays,thatevertookhimoutofbedtwohourssoonerthanhewishedtorise——describesthecausesofMelancholyashingeingmainlyonIdleness。”Idleness,”hesays,”isthebaneofbodyandmind,thenurseofnaughtiness,thechiefmotherofallmischief,oneofthesevendeadlysins,thedevil’scushion,hispillowandchiefreposal……Anidledogwillbemangy;andhowshallanidlepersonescape?Idlenessofthemindismuchworsethanthatofthebody:wit,withoutemployment,isadisease——therustofthesoul,aplague,ahellitself。Asinastandingpool,wormsandfilthycreepersincrease,sodoevilandcorruptthoughtsinanidleperson;thesouliscontaminated……ThusmuchIdareboldlysay:heorshethatisidle,betheyofwhatconditiontheywill,neversorich,sowellallied,fortunate,happy——letthemhaveallthingsinabundanceandfelicitythatheartcanwishanddesire,allcontentment——solongashe,orshe,orthey,areidle,theyshallneverbepleased,neverwellinbodyormind,butwearystill,sicklystill,vexedstill,loathingstill,weeping,sighing,grieving,suspecting,offendedwiththeworld,witheveryobject,wishingthemselvesgoneordead,orelsecarriedawaywithsomefoolishphantasieorother。”3
Burtonsaysagreatdealmoretothesameeffect;theburdenandlessonofhisbookbeingembodiedinthepregnantsentencewithwhichitwindsup:-”Onlytakethisforacorollaryandconclusion,asthoutenderestthineownwelfareinthis,andallothermelancholy,thygoodhealthofbodyandmind,observethisshortprecept,Givenotwaytosolitarinessandidleness。BENOT
SOLITARY——BENOTIDLE。”4
Theindolent,however,arenotwhollyindolent。Thoughthebodymayshirklabour,thebrainisnotidle。Ifitdonotgrowcorn,itwillgrowthistles,whichwillbefoundspringingupallalongtheidleman’scourseinlife。Theghostsofindolenceriseupinthedark,everstaringtherecreantintheface,andtormentinghim:”Thegodsarejust,andofourpleasantvices,Makeinstrumenttoscourgeus。”
Truehappinessisneverfoundintorporofthefaculties,5butintheiractionandusefulemployment。Itisindolencethatexhausts,notaction,inwhichthereislife,health,andpleasure。Thespiritsmaybeexhaustedandweariedbyemployment,buttheyareutterlywastedbyidleness。Henseawisephysicianwasaccustomedtoregardoccupationasoneofhismostvaluableremedialmeasures。”Nothingissoinjurious,”saidDr。MarshallHall,”asunoccupiedtime。”AnarchbishopofMayenceusedtosaythat”thehumanheartislikeamillstone:ifyouputwheatunderit,itgrindsthewheatintoflour;ifyouputnowheat,itgrindson,butthen’tisitselfitwearsaway。”
Indolenceisusuallyfullofexcuses;andthesluggard,thoughunwillingtowork,isoftenanactivesophist。”Thereisalioninthepath;”or”Thehillishardtoclimb;”or”Thereisnousetrying——Ihavetried,andfailed,andcannotdoit。”Tothesophistriesofsuchanexcuser,SirSamuelRomillyoncewrotetoayoungman:-”Myattackuponyourindolence,lossoftime,&c。,wasmostserious,andIreallythinkthatitcanbetonothingbutyourhabitualwantofexertionthatcanbeascribedyourusingsuchcuriousargumentsasyoudoinyourdefence。Yourtheoryisthis:Everymandoesallthegoodthathecan。Ifaparticularindividualdoesnogood,itisaproofthatheisincapableofdoingit。Thatyoudon’twriteprovesthatyoucan’t;andyourwantofinclinationdemonstratesyourwantoftalents。Whatanadmirablesystem!——andwhatbeneficialeffectswoulditbeattendedwith,ifitwerebutuniversallyreceived!”
Ithasbeentrulysaid,thattodesiretopossess,withoutbeingburdenedwiththetroubleofacquiring,isasmuchasignofweakness,astorecognisethateverythingworthhavingisonlytobegotbypayingitsprice,istheprimesecretofpracticalstrength。Evenleisurecannotbeenjoyedunlessitiswonbyeffort。Ifithavenotbeenearnedbywork,thepricehasnotbeenpaidforit。6
Theremustbeworkbeforeandworkbehind,withleisuretofallbackupon;buttheleisure,withoutthework,cannomorebeenjoyedthanasurfeit。Lifemustneedsbedisgustingaliketotheidlerichmanastotheidlepoorman,whohasnoworktodo,or,havingwork,willnotdoit。Thewordsfoundtattooedontherightarmofasentimentalbeggarofforty,undergoinghiseighthimprisonmentinthegaolofBourgesinFrance,mightbeadoptedasthemottoofallidlers:”LEPASSEM’ATROMPE;LEPRESENTME
TOURMENTE;L’AVENIRM’EPOUVANTE;”——Thepasthasdeceivedme;thepresenttormentsme;thefutureterrifiesme
Thedutyofindustryappliestoallclassesandconditionsofsociety。Allhavetheirworktodointheirrespectiveconditionsoflife——therichaswellasthepoor。7Thegentlemanbybirthandeducation,howeverrichlyhemaybeendowedwithworldlypossessions,cannotbutfeelthatheisindutyboundtocontributehisquotaofendeavourtowardsthegeneralwellbeinginwhichheshares。Hecannotbesatisfiedwithbeingfed,clad,andmaintainedbythelabourofothers,withoutmakingsomesuitablereturntothesocietythatupholdshim。Anhonesthighmindedmanwouldrevoltattheideaofsittingdowntoandenjoyingafeast,andthengoingawaywithoutpayinghisshareofthereckoning。Tobeidleanduselessisneitheranhonournoraprivilege;andthoughpersonsofsmallnaturesmaybecontentmerelytoconsume——
FRUGESCONSUMERENATI——menofaverageendowment,ofmanlyaspirations,andofhonestpurpose,willfeelsuchaconditiontobeincompatiblewithrealhonourandtruedignity。”Idon’tbelieve,”saidLordStanleynowEarlofDerbyatGlasgow,”thatanunemployedman,howeveramiableandotherwiserespectable,everwas,orevercanbe,reallyhappy。Asworkisourlife,showmewhatyoucando,andIwillshowyouwhatyouare。Ihavespokenofloveofone’sworkasthebestpreventiveofmerelylowandvicioustastes。Iwillgofurther,andsaythatitisthebestpreservativeagainstpettyanxieties,andtheannoyancesthatariseoutofindulgedself-love。Menhavethoughtbeforenowthattheycouldtakerefugefromtroubleandvexationbyshelteringthemselvesasitwereinaworldoftheirown。Theexperimenthas,oftenbeentried,andalwayswithoneresult。Youcannotescapefromanxietyandlabour——itisthedestinyofhumanity……Thosewhoshirkfromfacingtrouble,findthattroublecomestothem。Theindolentmaycontrivethatheshallhavelessthanhisshareoftheworld’sworktodo,butNatureproportioningtheinstincttothework,contrivesthatthelittleshallbemuchandhardtohim。Themanwhohasonlyhimselftopleasefinds,soonerorlater,andprobablysoonerthanlater,thathehasgotaveryhardmaster;andtheexcessiveweaknesswhichshrinksfromresponsibilityhasitsownpunishmenttoo,forwheregreatinterestsareexcludedlittlemattersbecomegreat,andthesamewearandtearofmindthatmighthavebeenatleastusefullyandhealthfullyexpendedontherealbusinessoflifeisoftenwastedinpettyandimaginaryvexations,suchasbreedandmultiplyintheunoccupiedbrain。”8
Evenonthelowestground——thatofpersonalenjoyment——constantusefuloccupationisnecessary。Hewholaboursnot,cannotenjoytherewardoflabour。”Wesleepsound,”saidSirWalterScott,”andourwakinghoursarehappy,whentheyareemployed;
andalittlesenseoftoilisnecessarytotheenjoymentofleisure,evenwhenearnedbystudyandsanctionedbythedischargeofduty。”
Itistrue,therearemenwhodieofoverwork;butmanymoredieofselfishness,indulgence,andidleness。Wheremenbreakdownbyoverwork,itismostcommonlyfromwantofdulyorderingtheirlives,andneglectoftheordinaryconditionsofphysicalhealth。
LordStanleywasprobablyrightwhenhesaid,inhisaddresstotheGlasgowstudentsabovementioned,thathedoubtedwhether”hardwork,steadilyandregularlycarriedon,everyethurtanybody。”
Then,again,lengthofYEARSisnopropertestoflengthofLIFE。
Aman’slifeistobemeasuredbywhathedoesinit,andwhathefeelsinit。Themoreusefulworkthemandoes,andthemorehethinksandfeels,themorehereallylives。Theidleuselessman,nomattertowhatextenthislifemaybeprolonged,merelyvegetates。
TheearlyteachersofChristianityennobledthelotoftoilbytheirexample。”Hethatwillnotwork,”saidSaintPaul,”neithershallheeat;”andheglorifiedhimselfinthathehadlabouredwithhishands,andhadnotbeenchargeabletoanyman。WhenSt。
BonifacelandedinBritain,hecamewithagospelinonehandandacarpenter’sruleintheother;andfromEnglandheafterwardspassedoverintoGermany,carryingthithertheartofbuilding。
Lutheralso,inthemidstofamultitudeofotheremployments,workeddiligentlyforaliving,earninghisbreadbygardening,building,turning,andevenclockmaking。9
ItwascharacteristicofNapoleon,whenvisitingaworkofmechanicalexcellence,topaygreatrespecttotheinventor,andontakinghisleave,tosalutehimwithalowbow。OnceatSt。
Helena,whenwalkingwithMrs。Balcombe,someservantscamealongcarryingaload。Thelady,inanangrytone,orderedthemoutoftheway,onwhichNapoleoninterposed,saying,”Respecttheburden,madam。”Eventhedrudgeryofthehumblestlabourercontributestowardsthegeneralwellbeingofsociety;anditwasawisesayingofaChineseEmperor,that”iftherewasamanwhodidnotwork,orawomanthatwasidle,somebodymustsuffercoldorhungerintheempire。”
Thehabitofconstantusefuloccupationisasessentialforthehappinessandwellbeingofwomanasofman。Withoutit,womenareapttosinkintoastateoflistlessENNUIanduselessness,accompaniedbysickheadacheandattacksof”nerves。”CarolinePerthescarefullywarnedhermarrieddaughterLouisatobewareofgivingwaytosuchlistlessness。”Imyself,”shesaid,”whenthechildrenaregoneoutforahalf-holiday,sometimesfeelasstupidanddullasanowlbydaylight;butonemustnotyieldtothis,whichhappensmoreorlesstoallyoungwives。ThebestreliefisWORK,engagedinwithinterestanddiligence。Work,then,constantlyanddiligently,atsomethingorother;foridlenessisthedevil’ssnareforsmallandgreat,asyourgrandfathersays,andhesaystrue。”10
Constantusefuloccupationisthuswholesome,notonlyforthebody,butforthemind。Whiletheslothfulmandragshimselfindolentlythroughlife,andthebetterpartofhisnaturesleepsadeepsleep,ifnotmorallyandspirituallydead,theenergeticmanisasourceofactivityandenjoymenttoallwhocomewithinreachofhisinfluence。Evenanyordinarydrudgeryisbetterthanidleness。FullersaysofSirFrancisDrake,whowasearlysenttosea,andkeptclosetohisworkbyhismaster,thatsuch”painsandpatienceinhisyouthknitthejointsofhissoul,andmadethemmoresolidandcompact。”Schillerusedtosaythatheconsidereditagreatadvantagetobeemployedinthedischargeofsomedailymechanicalduty——someregularroutineofwork,thatrenderedsteadyapplicationnecessary。
ThousandscanbeartestimonytothetruthofthesayingofGreuze,theFrenchpainter,thatwork——employment,usefuloccupation——isoneofthegreatsecretsofhappiness。Casaubonwasonceinducedbytheentreatiesofhisfriendstotakeafewdaysentirerest,buthereturnedtohisworkwiththeremark,thatitwaseasiertobearillnessdoingsomething,thandoingnothing。
WhenCharlesLambwasreleasedforlifefromhisdailydrudgeryofdesk-workattheIndiaOffice,hefelthimselfthehappiestofmen。”Iwouldnotgobacktomyprison,”hesaidtoafriend,”tenyearslonger,fortenthousandpounds。”HealsowroteinthesameecstaticmoodtoBernardBarton:”Ihavescarcesteadinessofheadtocomposealetter,”hesaid;”Iamfree!freeasair!I
willliveanotherfiftyyears……WouldIcouldsellyousomeofmyleisure!Positivelythebestthingamancandois——Nothing;
andnexttothat,perhaps,GoodWorks。”Twoyears——twolongandtediousyearspassed;andCharlesLamb’sfeelingshadundergoneanentirechange。Henowdiscoveredthatofficial,evenhumdrumwork——”theappointedround,thedailytask”——hadbeengoodforhim,thoughheknewitnot。Timehadformerlybeenhisfriend;ithadnowbecomehisenemy。ToBernardBartonheagainwrote:”Iassureyou,NOworkisworsethanoverwork;themindpreysonitself——
themostunwholesomeoffood。Ihaveceasedtocareforalmostanything……Neverdidthewatersofheavenpourdownuponaforlornerhead。WhatIcando,andoverdo,istowalk。Iamasanguinarymurdereroftime。Buttheoracleissilent。”
NomancouldbemoresensibleofthepracticalimportanceofindustrythanSirWalterScott,whowashimselfoneofthemostlaboriousandindefatigableofmen。Indeed,Lockhartsaysofhimthat,takingallagesandcountriestogether,therareexampleofindefatigableenergy,inunionwithsereneself-possessionofmindandmanner,suchasScott’s,mustbesoughtforintherollofgreatsovereignsorgreatcaptains,ratherthaninthatofliterarygenius。Scotthimselfwasmostanxioustoimpressuponthemindsofhisownchildrentheimportanceofindustryasameansofusefulnessandhappinessintheworld。TohissonCharles,whenatschool,hewrote:-”IcannottoomuchimpressuponyourmindthatLABOURistheconditionwhichGodhasimposedonusineverystationoflife;thereisnothingworthhavingthatcanbehadwithoutit,fromthebreadwhichthepeasantwinswiththesweatofhisbrow,tothesportsbywhichtherichmanmustgetridofhisENNUI……Asforknowledge,itcannomorebeplantedinthehumanmindwithoutlabourthanafieldofwheatcanbeproducedwithouttheprevioususeoftheplough。Thereis,indeed,thisgreatdifference,thatchanceorcircumstancesmaysocauseitthatanothershallreapwhatthefarmersows;butnomancanbedeprived,whetherbyaccidentormisfortune,ofthefruitsofhisownstudies;andtheliberalandextendedacquisitionsofknowledgewhichhemakesareallforhisownuse。Labour,therefore,mydearboy,andimprovethetime。Inyouthourstepsarelight,andourmindsareductile,andknowledgeiseasilylaidup;butifweneglectourspring,oursummerswillbeuselessandcontemptible,ourharvestwillbechaff,andthewinterofouroldageunrespectedanddesolate。”11
SoutheywasaslaboriousaworkerasScott。Indeed,workmightalmostbesaidtoformpartofhisreligion。Hewasonlynineteenwhenhewrotethesewords:-”Nineteenyears!certainlyafourthpartofmylife;perhapshowgreatapart!andyetIhavebeenofnoservicetosociety。Theclownwhoscarescrowsfortwopenceadayisamoreusefulman;hepreservesthebreadwhichIeatinidleness。”AndyetSoutheyhadnotbeenidleasaboy——onthecontrary,hehadbeenamostdiligentstudent。HehadnotonlyreadlargelyinEnglishliterature,butwaswellacquainted,throughtranslations,withTasso,Ariosto,Homer,andOvid。Hefelt,however,asifhislifehadbeenpurposeless,andhedeterminedtodosomething。Hebegan,andfromthattimeforwardhepursuedanunremittingcareerofliterarylabourdowntothecloseofhislife——”dailyprogressinginlearning,”tousehisownwords——”notsolearnedasheispoor,notsopoorasproud,notsoproudashappy。”
Themaximsofmenoftenrevealtheircharacter。12ThatofSirWalterScottwas,”Nevertobedoingnothing。”Robertsonthehistorian,asearlyashisfifteenthyear,adoptedthemaximof”VITASINELITERISMORSEST”Lifewithoutlearningisdeath。
Voltaire’smottowas,”TOUJOURSAUTRAVAIL”Alwaysatwork。ThefavouritemaximofLacepede,thenaturalist,was,”VIVREC’EST
VEILLER”Toliveistoobserve:itwasalsothemaximofPliny。
WhenBossuetwasatcollege,hewassodistinguishedbyhisardourinstudy,thathisfellowstudents,playinguponhisname,designatedhimas”BOS-SUETUSARATRO”Theoxusedtotheplough。
ThenameofVITA-LISLifeastruggle,whichtheSwedishpoetSjobergassumed,asFrederikvonHardenbergassumedthatofNOVA-
LIS,describedtheaspirationsandthelaboursofboththesemenofgenius。
Wehavespokenofworkasadiscipline:itisalsoaneducatorofcharacter。Evenworkthatproducesnoresults,becauseitIS
work,isbetterthantorpor,——inasmuchasiteducatesfaculty,andisthuspreparatorytosuccessfulwork。Thehabitofworkingteachesmethod。Itcompelseconomyoftime,andthedispositionofitwithjudiciousforethought。Andwhentheartofpackinglifewithusefuloccupationsisonceacquiredbypractice,everyminutewillbeturnedtoaccount;andleisure,whenitcomes,willbeenjoyedwithallthegreaterzest。
Coleridgehastrulyobserved,that”iftheidlearedescribedaskillingtime,themethodicalmanmaybejustlysaidtocallitintolifeandmoralbeing,whilehemakesitthedistinctobjectnotonlyoftheconsciousness,butoftheconscience。Heorganizesthehoursandgivesthemasoul;andbythat,theveryessenceofwhichistofleetandtohavebeen,hecommunicatesanimperishableandspiritualnature。Ofthegoodandfaithfulservant,whoseenergiesthusdirectedarethusmethodized,itislesstrulyaffirmedthathelivesintimethanthattimelivesinhim。Hisdaysandmonthsandyears,asthestopsandpunctualmarksintherecordofdutiesperformed,willsurvivethewreckofworlds,andremainextantwhentimeitselfshallbenomore。”13
Itisbecauseapplicationtobusinessteachesmethodmosteffectually,thatitissousefulasaneducatorofcharacter。
Thehighestworkingqualitiesarebesttrainedbyactiveandsympatheticcontactwithothersintheaffairsofdailylife。Itdoesnotmatterwhetherthebusinessrelatetothemanagementofahouseholdorofanation。Indeed,aswehaveendeavouredtoshowinaprecedingchapter,theablehousewifemustnecessarilybeanefficientwomanofbusiness。Shemustregulateandcontrolthedetailsofherhome,keepherexpenditurewithinhermeans,arrangeeverythingaccordingtoplanandsystem,andwiselymanageandgovernthosesubjecttoherrule。Efficientdomesticmanagementimpliesindustry,application,method,moraldiscipline,forethought,prudence,practicalability,insightintocharacter,andpoweroforganization——allofwhicharerequiredintheefficientmanagementofbusinessofwhateversort。
Businessqualitieshave,indeed,averylargefieldofaction。
Theymeanaptitudeforaffairs,competencytodealsuccessfullywiththepracticalworkoflife——whetherthespurofactionlieindomesticmanagement,intheconductofaprofession,intradeorcommerce,insocialorganization,orinpoliticalgovernment。
Andthetrainingwhichgivesefficiencyindealingwiththesevariousaffairsisofallothersthemostusefulinpracticallife。14Moreover,itisthebestdisciplineofcharacter;foritinvolvestheexerciseofdiligence,attention,self-denial,judgment,tact,knowledgeofandsympathywithothers。
Suchadisciplineisfarmoreproductiveofhappiness5aswellasusefulefficiencyinlife,thananyamountofliterarycultureormeditativeseclusion;forinthelongrunitwillusuallybefoundthatpracticalabilitycarriesitoverintellect,andtemperandhabitsovertalent。Itmust,however,headdedthatthisisakindofculturethatcanonlybeacquiredbydiligentobservationandcarefullyimprovedexperience。”Tobeagoodblacksmith,”
saidGeneralTrochuinarecentpublication,”onemusthaveforgedallhislife:tobeagoodadministratoroneshouldhavepassedhiswholelifeinthestudyandpracticeofbusiness。”
ItwascharacteristicofSirWalterScotttoentertainthehighestrespectforablemenofbusiness;andheprofessedthathedidnotconsideranyamountofliterarydistinctionasentitledtobespokenofinthesamebreathwithamasteryinthehigherdepartmentsofpracticallife——leastofallwithafirst-ratecaptain。
Thegreatcommanderleavesnothingtochance,butprovidesforeverycontingency。Hecondescendstoapparentlytrivialdetails。
Thus,whenWellingtonwasattheheadofhisarmyinSpain,hedirectedtheprecisemannerinwhichthesoldiersweretocooktheirprovisions。WheninIndia,hespecifiedtheexactspeedatwhichthebullocksweretobedriven;everydetailinequipmentwascarefullyarrangedbeforehand。Andthusnotonlywasefficiencysecured,butthedevotionofhismen,andtheirboundlessconfidenceinhiscommand。15
Likeothergreatcaptains,Wellingtonhadanalmostboundlesscapacityforwork。HedrewuptheheadsofaDublinPoliceBillbeingstilltheSecretaryforIreland,whentossingoffthemouthoftheMondego,withJunotandtheFrencharmywaitingforhimontheshore。SoCaesar,anotherofthegreatestcommanders,issaidtohavewrittenanessayonLatinRhetoricwhilecrossingtheAlpsattheheadofhisarmy。AndWallensteinwhenattheheadof60,000men,andinthemidstofacampaignwiththeenemybeforehim,dictatedfromheadquartersthemedicaltreatmentofhispoultry-yard。
Washington,also,wasanindefatigablemanofbusiness。Fromhisboyhoodhediligentlytrainedhimselfinhabitsofapplication,ofstudy,andofmethodicalwork。Hismanuscriptschool-books,whicharestillpreserved,showthat,asearlyastheageofthirteen,heoccupiedhimselfvoluntarilyincopyingoutsuchthingsasformsofreceipts,notesofhand,billsofexchange,bonds,indentures,leases,land-warrants,andotherdrydocuments,allwrittenoutwithgreatcare。Andthehabitswhichhethusearlyacquiredwere,inagreatmeasure,thefoundationofthoseadmirablebusinessqualitieswhichheafterwardssosuccessfullybroughttobearintheaffairsofgovernment。
Themanorwomanwhoachievessuccessinthemanagementofanygreataffairofbusinessisentitledtohonour,——itmaybe,toasmuchastheartistwhopaintsapicture,ortheauthorwhowritesabook,orthesoldierwhowinsabattle。Theirsuccessmayhavebeengainedinthefaceofasgreatdifficulties,andafterasgreatstruggles;andwheretheyhavewontheirbattle,itisatleastapeacefulone,andthereisnobloodontheirhands。
Theideahasbeenentertainedbysome,thatbusinesshabitsareincompatiblewithgenius。IntheLifeofRichardLovellEdgeworth,16itisobservedofaMr。Bicknell——arespectablebutordinaryman,ofwhomlittleisknownbutthathemarriedSabrinaSidney,theELEVEofThomasDay,authorof’SandfordandMerton’——that”hehadsomeofthetoousualfaultsofamanofgenius:hedetestedthedrudgeryofbusiness。”Buttherecannotbeagreatermistake。Thegreatestgeniuseshave,withoutexception,beenthegreatestworkers,eventotheextentofdrudgery。Theyhavenotonlyworkedharderthanordinarymen,butbroughttotheirworkhigherfacultiesandamoreardentspirit。
Nothinggreatanddurablewaseverimprovised。Itisonlybynoblepatienceandnoblelabourthatthemasterpiecesofgeniushavebeenachieved。
Powerbelongsonlytotheworkers;theidlersarealwayspowerless。Itisthelaboriousandpainstakingmenwhoaretherulersoftheworld。Therehasnotbeenastatesmanofeminencebutwasamanofindustry。”Itisbytoil,”saidevenLouisXIV。,”thatkingsgovern。”WhenClarendondescribedHampden,hespokeofhimas”ofanindustryandvigilancenottobetiredoutorweariedbythemostlaborious,andofpartsnottobeimposedonbythemostsubtleandsharp,andofapersonalcourageequaltohisbestparts。”Whileinthemidstofhislaboriousthoughself-
imposedduties,Hampden,ononeoccasion,wrotetohismother:”Mylyfeisnothingbuttoyle,andhathbeenformanyyeares,nowetotheCommonwealth,nowetotheKinge……Notsomuchtymeleftastodoemydutyetomydeareparents,nortosendetothem。”
Indeed,allthestatesmenoftheCommonwealthweregreattoilers;
andClarendonhimself,whetherinofficeoroutofit,wasamanofindefatigableapplicationandindustry。
Thesameenergeticvitality,asdisplayedinthepowerofworking,hasdistinguishedalltheeminentmeninourownaswellasinpasttimes。DuringtheAnti-CornLawmovement,Cobden,writingtoafriend,describedhimselfas”workinglikeahorse,withnotamomenttospare。”LordBroughamwasaremarkableinstanceoftheindefatigablyactiveandlaboriousman;anditmightbesaidofLordPalmerston,thatheworkedharderforsuccessinhisextremeoldagethanhehadeverdoneintheprimeofhismanhood——
preservinghisworkingfaculty,hisgood-humourandBONHOMMIE,unimpairedtotheend。17Hehimselfwasaccustomedtosay,thatbeinginoffice,andconsequentlyfullofwork,wasgoodforhishealth。ItrescuedhimfromENNUI。Helvetiusevenheld,thatitisman’ssenseofENNUIthatisthechiefcauseofhissuperiorityoverthebrute,——thatitisthenecessitywhichhefeelsforescapingfromitsintolerablesufferingthatforceshimtoemployhimselfactively,andishencethegreatstimulustohumanprogress。
Indeed,thislivingprincipleofconstantwork,ofabundantoccupation,ofpracticalcontactwithmenintheaffairsoflife,hasinalltimesbeenthebestripeneroftheenergeticvitalityofstrongnatures。Businesshabits,cultivatedanddisciplined,arefoundalikeusefulineverypursuit——whetherinpolitics,literature,science,orart。Thus,agreatdealofthebestliteraryworkhasbeendonebymensystematicallytrainedinbusinesspursuits。Thesameindustry,application,economyoftimeandlabour,whichhaverenderedthemusefulintheonesphereofemployment,havebeenfoundequallyavailableintheother。
MostoftheearlyEnglishwritersweremenofaffairs,trainedtobusiness;fornoliteraryclassasyetexisted,exceptingitmightbethepriesthood。Chaucer,thefatherofEnglishpoetry,wasfirstasoldier,andafterwardsacomptrollerofpettycustoms。
Theofficewasnosinecureeither,forhehadtowriteupalltherecordswithhisownhand;andwhenhehaddonehis”reckonings”
atthecustom-house,hereturnedwithdelighttohisfavouritestudiesathome——poringoverhisbooksuntilhiseyeswere”dazed”anddull。
ThegreatwritersinthereignofElizabeth,duringwhichtherewassuchadevelopmentofrobustlifeinEngland,werenotliterarymenaccordingtothemodernacceptationoftheword,butmenofactiontrainedinbusiness。SpenseractedassecretarytotheLordDeputyofIreland;Raleighwas,byturns,acourtier,soldier,sailor,anddiscoverer;Sydneywasapolitician,diplomatist,andsoldier;BaconwasalaboriouslawyerbeforehebecameLordKeeperandLordChancellor;SirThomasBrownewasaphysicianincountrypracticeatNorwich;Hookerwasthehardworkingpastorofacountryparish;Shakspearewasthemanagerofatheatre,inwhichhewashimselfbutanindifferentactor,andheseemstohavebeenevenmorecarefulofhismoneyinvestmentsthanhewasofhisintellectualoffspring。Yetthese,allmenofactivebusinesshabits,areamongthegreatestwritersofanyage:theperiodofElizabethandJamesI。standingoutinthehistoryofEnglandastheeraofitsgreatestliteraryactivityandsplendour。
InthereignofCharlesI。,Cowleyheldvariousofficesoftrustandconfidence。Heactedasprivatesecretarytoseveraloftheroyalistleaders,andwasafterwardsengagedasprivatesecretarytotheQueen,incipheringanddecipheringthecorrespondencewhichpassedbetweenherandCharlesI。;theworkoccupyingallhisdays,andoftenhisnights,duringseveralyears。AndwhileCowleywasthusemployedintheroyalcause,MiltonwasemployedbytheCommonwealth,ofwhichhewastheLatinsecretary,andafterwardssecretarytotheLordProtector。Yet,intheearlierpartofhislife,Miltonwasoccupiedinthehumblevocationofateacher。Dr。Johnsonsays,”thatinhisschool,asineverythingelsewhichheundertook,helabouredwithgreatdiligence,thereisnoreasonfordoubting”ItwasaftertheRestoration,whenhisofficialemploymentceased,thatMiltonenteredupontheprincipalliteraryworkofhislife;butbeforeheundertookthewritingofhisgreatepic,hedeemeditindispensablethatto”industriousandselectreading”heshouldadd”steadyobservation”and”insightintoallseemlyandgenerousartsandaffairs。”18
Lockeheldofficeindifferentreigns:firstunderCharlesII。asSecretarytotheBoardofTradeandafterwardsunderWilliamIII。
asCommissionerofAppealsandofTradeandPlantations。ManyliterarymenofeminenceheldofficeinQueenAnne’sreign。ThusAddisonwasSecretaryofState;Steele,CommissionerofStamps;
Prior,Under-SecretaryofState,andafterwardsAmbassadortoFrance;Tickell,Under-SecretaryofState,andSecretarytotheLordsJusticesofIreland;Congreve,SecretaryofJamaica;,andGay,SecretaryofLegationatHanover。
Indeed,habitsofbusiness,insteadofunfittingacultivatedmindforscientificorliterarypursuits,areoftenthebesttrainingforthem。Voltaireinsistedwithtruththattherealspiritofbusinessandliteraturearethesame;theperfectionofeachbeingtheunionofenergyandthoughtfulness,ofcultivatedintelligenceandpracticalwisdom,oftheactiveandcontemplativeessence——aunioncommendedbyLordBaconastheconcentratedexcellenceofman’snature。Ithasbeensaidthateventhemanofgeniuscanwritenothingworthreadinginrelationtohumanaffairs,unlesshehasbeeninsomewayorotherconnectedwiththeseriouseverydaybusinessoflife。
Henceithashappenedthatmanyofthebestbooks,extanthavebeenwrittenbymenofbusiness,withwhomliteraturewasapastimeratherthanaprofession。Gifford,theeditorofthe’Quarterly,’whoknewthedrudgeryofwritingforaliving,onceobservedthat”asinglehourofcomposition,wonfromthebusinessoftheday,isworthmorethanthewholeday’stoilofhimwhoworksatthetradeofliterature:intheonecase,thespiritcomesjoyfullytorefreshitself,likeaharttothewaterbrooks;
intheother,itpursuesitsmiserableway,pantingandjaded,withthedogsandhungerofnecessitybehind。”19
ThefirstgreatmenoflettersinItalywerenotmeremenofletters;theyweremenofbusiness——merchants,statesmen,diplomatists,judges,andsoldiers。Villani,theauthorofthebestHistoryofFlorence,wasamerchant;Dante,Petrarch,andBoccacio,wereallengagedinmoreorlessimportantembassies;
andDante,beforebecomingadiplomatist,wasforsometimeoccupiedasachemistanddruggist。Galileo,Galvani,andFariniwerephysicians,andGoldonialawyer。Ariosto’stalentforaffairswasasgreatashisgeniusforpoetry。Atthedeathofhisfather,hewascalledupontomanagethefamilyestateforthebenefitofhisyoungerbrothersandsisters,whichhedidwithabilityandintegrity。Hisgeniusforbusinesshavingbeenrecognised,hewasemployedbytheDukeofFerraraonimportantmissionstoRomeandelsewhere。Havingafterwardsbeenappointedgovernorofaturbulentmountaindistrict,hesucceeded,byfirmandjustgovernmentsinreducingittoaconditionofcomparativegoodorderandsecurity。Eventhebanditsofthecountryrespectedhim。Beingarrestedonedayinthemountainsbyabodyofoutlaws,hementionedhisname,whentheyatonceofferedtoescorthiminsafetywhereverhechose。
Ithasbeenthesameinothercountries。Vattel,theauthorofthe’RightsofNations,’wasapracticaldiplomatist,andafirst-
ratemanofbusiness。Rabelaiswasaphysician,andasuccessfulpractitioner;Schillerwasasurgeon;Cervantes,LopedeVega,Calderon,Camoens,Descartes,Maupertius,LaRochefoucauld,Lacepede,Lamark,weresoldiersintheearlypartoftheirrespectivelives。
Inourowncountry,manymennowknownbytheirwritings,earnedtheirlivingbytheirtrade。LillospentthegreaterpartofhislifeasaworkingjewellerinthePoultry;occupyingtheintervalsofhisleisureintheproductionofdramaticworks,someofthemofacknowledgedpowerandmerit。IzaakWaltonwasalinendraperinFleetStreet,readingmuchinhisleisurehours,andstoringhismindwithfactsforfutureuseinhiscapacityofbiographer。
DeFoewasbyturnshorse-factor,brickandtilemaker,shopkeeper,author,andpoliticalagent。
SamuelRichardsonsuccessfullycombinedliterature,withbusiness;
writinghisnovelsinhisback-shopinSalisburyCourt,FleetStreet,andsellingthemoverthecounterinhisfront-shop。
WilliamHutton,ofBirmingham,alsosuccessfullycombinedtheoccupationsofbooksellingandauthorship。Hesays,inhisAutobiography,thatamanmaylivehalfacenturyandnotbeacquaintedwithhisowncharacter。Hedidnotknowthathewasanantiquaryuntiltheworldinformedhimofit,fromhavingreadhis’HistoryofBirmingham,’andthen,hesaid,hecouldseeithimself。BenjaminFranklinwasalikeeminentasaprinterandbookseller——anauthor,aphilosopherandastatesman。
Comingdowntoourowntime,wefindEbenezerElliottsuccessfullycarryingonthebusinessofabar-ironmerchantinSheffield,duringwhichtimehewroteandpublishedthegreaternumberofhispoems;andhissuccessinbusinesswassuchastoenablehimtoretireintothecountryandbuildahouseofhisown,inwhichhespenttheremainderofhisdays。IsaacTaylor,theauthorofthe’NaturalHistoryofEnthusiasm,’wasanengraverofpatternsforManchestercalico-printers;andothermembersofthisgiftedfamilywerefollowersofthesamebranchofart。
TheprincipalearlyworksofJohnStuartMillwerewrittenintheintervalsofofficialwork,whileheheldtheofficeofprincipalexaminerintheEastIndiaHouse,——inwhichCharlesLamb,Peacocktheauthorof’HeadlongHall,’andEdwinNorristhephilologist,werealsoclerks。Macaulaywrotehis’LaysofAncientRome’intheWarOffice,whileholdingthepostofSecretaryofWar。ItiswellknownthatthethoughtfulwritingsofMr。Helpsareliterally”EssayswrittenintheIntervalsofBusiness。”Manyofourbestlivingauthorsaremenholdingimportantpublicoffices——suchasSirHenryTaylor,SirJohnKaye,AnthonyTrollope,TomTaylor,MatthewArnold,andSamuelWarren。
Mr。Proctorthepoet,betterknownas”BarryCornwall,”wasabarristerandcommissionerinlunacy。MostprobablyheassumedthepseudonymforthesamereasonthatDr。Parispublishedhis’PhilosophyinSportmadeScienceinEarnest’anonymously——
becauseheapprehendedthat,ifknown,itmightcompromisehisprofessionalposition。Foritisbynomeansanuncommonprejudice,stillprevalentamongstCitymen,thatapersonwhohaswrittenabook,andstillmoreonewhohaswrittenapoem,isgoodfornothinginthewayofbusiness。YetSharonTurner,thoughanexcellenthistorian,wasnoworseasolicitoronthataccount;
whilethebrothersHoraceandJamesSmith,authorsof’TheRejectedAddresses,’weremenofsucheminenceintheirprofession,thattheywereselectedtofilltheimportantandlucrativepostofsolicitorstotheAdmiralty,andtheyfilleditadmirably。
ItwaswhilethelateMr。Broderip,thebarrister,wasactingasaLondonpolicemagistrate,thathewasattractedtothestudyofnaturalhistory,inwhichheoccupiedthegreaterpartofhisleisure。Hewrotetheprincipalarticlesonthesubjectforthe’PennyCyclopaedia,’besidesseveralseparateworksofgreatmerit,moreparticularlythe’ZoologicalRecreations,’and’LeavesfromtheNotebookofaNaturalist。’Itisrecordedofhimthat,thoughhedevotedsomuchofhistimetotheproductionofhisworks,aswellastotheZoologicalSocietyandtheiradmirableestablishmentinRegent’sPark,ofwhichhewasoneofthefounders,hisstudiesneverinterferedwiththerealbusinessofhislife,norisitknownthatasinglequestionwaseverraiseduponhisconductorhisdecisions。AndwhileMr。Broderipdevotedhimselftonaturalhistory,thelateLordChiefBaronPollockdevotedhisleisuretonaturalscience,recreatinghimselfinthepracticeofphotographyandthestudyofmathematics,inbothofwhichhewasthoroughlyproficient。
AmongliterarybankerswefindthenamesofRogers,thepoet;
Roscoe,ofLiverpool,thebiographerofLorenzodeMedici;
Ricardo,theauthorof’PoliticalEconomyandTaxation;20
Grote,theauthorofthe’HistoryofGreece;’SirJohnLubbock,thescientificantiquarian;21andSamuelBailey,ofSheffield,theauthorof’EssaysontheFormationandPublicationofOpinions,’besidesvariousimportantworksonethics,politicaleconomy,andphilosophy。
Nor,ontheotherhand,havethoroughly-trainedmenofscienceandlearningprovedthemselvesinefficientasfirst-ratemenofbusiness。Cultureofthebestsorttrainsthehabitofapplicationandindustry,disciplinesthemind,suppliesitwithresources,andgivesitfreedomandvigourofaction——allofwhichareequallyrequisiteinthesuccessfulconductofbusiness。
Thus,inyoungmen,educationandscholarshipusuallyindicatesteadinessofcharacter,fortheyimplycontinuousattention,diligence,andtheabilityandenergynecessarytomasterknowledge;andsuchpersonswillalsousuallybefoundpossessedofmorethanaveragepromptitude,address,resource,anddexterity。
Montaignehassaidoftruephilosophers,that”iftheyweregreatinscience,theywereyetmuchgreaterinaction;……andwhenevertheyhavebeenputupontheproof,theyhavebeenseentoflytosohighapitch,asmadeitverywellappeartheirsoulswerestrangelyelevatedandenrichedwiththeknowledgeofthings。”22
Atthesametime,itmustbeacknowledgedthattooexclusiveadevotiontoimaginativeandphilosophicalliterature,especiallyifprolongedinlifeuntilthehabitsbecomeformed,doestoagreatextentincapacitateamanforthebusinessofpracticallife。Speculativeabilityisonething,andpracticalabilityanother;andthemanwho,inhisstudy,orwithhispeninhand,showshimselfcapableofforminglargeviewsoflifeandpolicy,may,intheouterworld,befoundaltogetherunfittedforcarryingthemintopracticaleffect。
Speculativeabilitydependsonvigorousthinking——practicalabilityonvigorousacting;andthetwoqualitiesareusuallyfoundcombinedinveryunequalproportions。Thespeculativemanispronetoindecision:heseesallthesidesofaquestion,andhisactionbecomessuspendedinnicelyweighingtheprosandcons,whichareoftenfoundprettynearlytobalanceeachother;whereasthepracticalmanoverleapslogicalpreliminaries,arrivesatcertaindefiniteconvictions,andproceedsforthwithtocarryhispolicyintoaction。23
Yettherehavebeenmanygreatmenofsciencewhohaveprovedefficientmenofbusiness。WedonotlearnthatSirIsaacNewtonmadeaworseMasteroftheMintbecausehewasthegreatestofphilosophers。NorwerethereanycomplaintsastotheefficiencyofSirJohnHerschel,whoheldthesameoffice。ThebrothersHumboldtwerealikecapablemeninallthattheyundertook——
whetheritwasliterature,philosophy,mining,philology,diplomacy,orstatesmanship。
Niebuhr,thehistorian,wasdistinguishedforhisenergyandsuccessasamanofbusiness。HeprovedsoefficientassecretaryandaccountanttotheAfricanconsulate,towhichhehadbeenappointedbytheDanishGovernment,thathewasafterwardsselectedasoneofthecommissionerstomanagethenationalfinances;andhequittedthatofficetoundertakethejointdirectorshipofabankatBerlin。ItwasinthemidstofhisbusinessoccupationsthathefoundtimetostudyRomanhistory,tomastertheArabic,Russian,andotherSclavoniclanguages,andtobuildupthegreatreputationasanauthorbywhichheisnowchieflyremembered。
HavingregardtotheviewsprofessedbytheFirstNapoleonastomenofscience,itwastohavebeenexpectedthathewouldendeavourtostrengthenhisadministrationbycallingthemtohisaid。Someofhisappointmentsprovedfailures,whileotherswerecompletelysuccessful。ThusLaplacewasmadeMinisteroftheInterior;buthehadnosoonerbeenappointedthanitwasseenthatamistakehadbeenmade。Napoleonafterwardssaidofhim,that”Laplacelookedatnoquestioninitstruepointofview。Hewasalwayssearchingaftersubtleties;allhisideaswereproblems,andhecarriedthespiritoftheinfinitesimalcalculusintothemanagementofbusiness。”ButLaplace’shabitshadbeenformedinthestudy,andhewastoooldtoadaptthemtothepurposesofpracticallife。
WithDarnitwasdifferent。ButDarnhadtheadvantageofsomepracticaltraininginbusiness,havingservedasanintendantofthearmyinSwitzerlandunderMassena,duringwhichhealsodistinguishedhimselfasanauthor。WhenNapoleonproposedtoappointhimacouncillorofstateandintendantoftheImperialHousehold,Darnhesitatedtoaccepttheoffice。”Ihavepassedthegreaterpartofmylife,”hesaid,”amongbooks,andhavenothadtimetolearnthefunctionsofacourtier。””Ofcourtiers,”
repliedNapoleon,”Ihaveplentyaboutme;theywillneverfail。
ButIwantaminister,atonceenlightened,firm,andvigilant;
anditisforthesequalitiesthatIhaveselectedyou。”DarncompliedwiththeEmperor’swishes,andeventuallybecamehisPrimeMinister,provingthoroughlyefficientinthatcapacity,andremainingthesamemodest,honourable,anddisinterestedmanthathehadeverbeenthroughlife。
Menoftrainedworkingfacultysocontractthehabitoflabourthatidlenessbecomesintolerabletothem;andwhendrivenbycircumstancesfromtheirownspeciallineofoccupation,theyfindrefugeinotherpursuits。Thediligentmanisquicktofindemploymentforhisleisure;andheisabletomakeleisurewhentheidlemanfindsnone。”Hehathnoleisure,”saysGeorgeHerbert,”whousethitnot。””Themostactiveorbusymanthathathbeenorcanbe,”saysBacon,”hath,noquestion,manyvacanttimesofleisure,whileheexpecteththetidesandreturnsofbusiness,excepthebeeithertediousandofnodespatch,orlightlyandunworthilyambitioustomeddlewiththingsthatmaybebetterdonebyothers。”Thusmanygreatthingshavebeendoneduringsuch”vacanttimesofleisure,”bymentowhomindustryhadbecomeasecondnature,andwhofounditeasiertoworkthantobeidle。
Evenhobbiesareusefulaseducatorsoftheworkingfaculty。
Hobbiesevokeindustryofacertainkind,andatleastprovideagreeableoccupation。NotsuchhobbiesasthatofDomitian,whooccupiedhimselfincatchingflies。ThehobbiesoftheKingofMacedonwhomadelanthorns,andoftheKingofFrancewhomadelocks,wereofamorerespectableorder。Evenaroutinemechanicalemploymentisfelttobeareliefbymindsactingunderhigh-pressure:itisanintermissionoflabour——arest——arelaxation,thepleasureconsistingintheworkitselfratherthanintheresult。
Butthebestofhobbiesareintellectualones。Thusmenofactivemindretirefromtheirdailybusinesstofindrecreationinotherpursuits——someinscience,someinart,andthegreaternumberinliterature。Suchrecreationsareamongthebestpreservativesagainstselfishnessandvulgarworldliness。WebelieveitwasLordBroughamwhosaid,”Blessedisthemanthathathahobby!”
andintheabundantversatilityofhisnature,hehimselfhadmany,rangingfromliteraturetooptics,fromhistoryandbiographytosocialscience。LordBroughamisevensaidtohavewrittenanovel;andtheremarkablestoryofthe’ManintheBell,’whichappearedmanyyearsagoin’Blackwood,’isreputedtohavebeenfromhispen。Intellectualhobbies,however,mustnotberiddentoohard——else,insteadofrecreating,refreshing,andinvigoratingaman’snature,theymayonlyhavetheeffectofsendinghimbacktohisbusinessexhausted,enervated,anddepressed。
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