minister is coming down every generation nearer and nearer to the
common level of the useful citizen；no oracle at all； but a man of
more than average moral instincts； who； if he knows anything； knows
how little he knows。 The ministers are good talkers； only the
struggle between nature and grace makes some of 'em a little awkward
occasionally。 The women do their best to spoil 'em； as they do the
poets； you find it very pleasant to be spoiled； no doubt； so do they。
Now and then one of 'em goes over the dam； no wonder； they're always
in the rapids。
By this time our three ladies had their faces all turned toward the
speaker； like the weathercocks in a northeaster； and I thought it
best to switch off the talk on to another rail。
How about the doctors？I said。
Theirs is the least learned of the professions； in this country at
least。 They have not half the general culture of the lawyers； nor a
quarter of that of the ministers。 I rather think； though； they are
more agreeable to the common run of people than the men with black
coats or the men with green bags。 People can swear before 'em if
they want to； and they can't very well before ministers。 I don't
care whether they want to swear or not； they don't want to be on
their good behavior。 Besides； the minister has a little smack of the
sexton about him； he comes when people are in extremis； but they
don't send for him every time they make a slight moral slip； tell a
lie for instance； or smuggle a silk dress through the customhouse；
but they call in the doctor when a child is cutting a tooth or gets a
splinter in its finger。 So it does n't mean much to send for him；
only a pleasant chat about the news of the day； for putting the baby
to rights does n't take long。 Besides； everybody does n't like to
talk about the next world； people are modest in their desires； and
find this world as good as they deserve； but everybody loves to talk
physic。 Everybody loves to hear of strange cases； people are eager
to tell the doctor of the wonderful cures they have heard of； they
want to know what is the matter with somebody or other who is said to
be suffering from 〃a complication of diseases；〃 and above all to get
a hard name； Greek or Latin； for some complaint which sounds
altogether too commonplace in plain English。 If you will only call a
headache a Cephalgia； it acquires dignity at once； and a patient
becomes rather proud of it。 So I think doctors are generally welcome
in most companies。
In old times； when people were more afraid of the Devil and of
witches than they are now； they liked to have a priest or a minister
somewhere near to scare 'em off； but nowadays； if you could find an
old woman that would ride round the room on a broomstick； Barnum
would build an amphitheatre to exhibit her in； and if he could come
across a young imp； with hoofs； tail； and budding horns； a lineal
descendant of one of those 〃daemons〃 which the good people of
Gloucester fired at； and were fired at by 〃for the best part of a
month together〃 in the year 1692； the； great showman would have him
at any cost for his museum or menagerie。 Men are cowards； sir； and
are driven by fear as the sovereign motive。 Men are idolaters； and
want something to look at and kiss and hug； or throw themselves down
before； they always did； they always will； and if you don't make it
of wood； you must make it of words； which are just as much used for
idols as promissory notes are used for values。 The ministers have a
hard time of it without bell and book and holy water； they are
dismounted men in armor since Luther cut their saddle…girths； and you
can see they are quietly taking off one piece of iron after another
until some of the best of 'em are fighting the devil （not the
zoological Devil with the big D） with the sword of the Spirit； and
precious little else in the way of weapons of offence or defence。
But we couldn't get on without the spiritual brotherhood； whatever
became of our special creeds。 There is a genius for religion； just
as there is for painting or sculpture。 It is half…sister to the
genius for music； and has some of the features which remind us of
earthly love。 But it lifts us all by its mere presence。 To see a
good man and hear his voice once a week would be reason enough for
building churches and pulpits。 The Master stopped all at once； and
after about half a minute laughed his pleasant laugh。
What is it？I asked him。
I was thinking of the great coach and team that is carrying us fast
enough； I don't know but too fast； somewhere or other。 The D。 D。's
used to be the leaders； but now they are the wheel…horses。 It's
pretty hard to tell how much they pull； but we know they can hold
back like the
When we're going down hill；I said； as neatly as if I had been a
High…Church curate trained to snap at the last word of the response；
so that you couldn't wedge in the tail of a comma between the end of
the congregation's closing syllable and the beginning of the next
petition。 They do it well； but it always spoils my devotion。 To
save my life； I can't help watching them； as I watch to see a duck
dive at the flash of a gun； and that is not what I go to church for。
It is a juggler's trick； and there is no more religion in it than in
catching a ball on the fly。
I was looking at our Scheherezade the other day； and thinking what a
pity it was that she had never had fair play in the world。 I wish I
knew more of her history。 There is one way of learning it；making
love to her。 I wonder whether she would let me and like it。 It is
an absurd thing； and I ought not to confess； but I tell you and you
only； Beloved； my heart gave a perceptible jump when it heard the
whisper of that possibility overhead！ Every day has its ebb and
flow； but such a thought as that is like one of those tidal waves
they talk about； that rolls in like a great wall and overtops and
drowns out all your landmarks； and you； too； if you don't mind what
you are about and stand ready to run or climb or swim。 Not quite so
bad as that； though； this time。 I take an interest in our
Scheherezade。 I am glad she did n't smile on the pipe and the
Bohemian…looking fellow that finds the best part of his life in
sucking at it。 A fine thing； isn't it； for a young woman to marry a
man who will hold her
〃Something better than his dog； a little dearer than his horse；〃
but not quite so good as his meerschaum？ It is n't for me to throw
stones； though； who have been a Nicotian a good deal more than half
my days。 Cigar…stump out now； and consequently have become very
bitter on more persevering sinners。 I say I take an interest in our
Scheherezade； but I rather think it is more paternal than anything
else； though my heart did give that jump。 It has jumped a good many
times without anything very remarkable coming of it。
This visit to the Observatory is going to bring us all； or most of
us； together in a new way； and it wouldn't be very odd if some of us
should become better acquainted than we ever have been。 There is a
chance for the elective affinities。 What tremendous forces they are；
if two subjects of them come within range！ There lies a bit of iron。
All the dynamic agencies of the universe are pledged to hold it just
in that position； and there it will lie until it becomes a heap of
red…brown rust。 But see； I hold a magnet to it；it looks to you
like just such a bit of iron as the other；and lo！ it leaves them
all；the tugging of the mighty earth； of the ghostly moon that walks
in white； trailing the snaky waves of the ocean after her； of the
awful sun； twice as large as a sphere that the whole orbit of the
moon would but just girdle；it leaves the wrestling of all their
forces； which are at a dead lock with each other； all fighting for
it； and springs straight to the magnet。 What a lucky thing it is for
well…conducted persons that the maddening elective affinities don't
come into play in full force very often！
I suppose I am making a good deal more of our prospective visit than
it deserves。 It must be because I have got it into my head that we
are bound to have some kind of sentimental outbreak amongst us； and
that this will give a chance for advances on the part of anybody
disposed in that direction。 A little change of circumstance often
hastens on a movement that has been long in preparation。 A chemist
will show you a flask containing a clear liquid； he will give it a
shake or two； and the whole contents of the flask will become solid
in an instant。 Or you may lay a little heap of iron…filings on a
sheet of paper with a magnet beneath it； and they will be quiet
enough as they are； but give the paper a slight jar and the specks of
metal will suddenly find their way to the north or the south pole of
the magnet and take a definite shape not unpleasing to contemplate；
and curiously illustrating the laws of attraction； antagonism； and
average； by which the worlds； conscious and unconscious； are alike
governed。 So with our little party； with any little party of persons
who have got used to each other； leave them undisturbed and they
might remain in a state of equilibrium forever； but let anything give
them a shake or a jar； and the long…striving but hindered affinities
come all at once into play and finish the work of a year in five
minutes。
We were all a good deal excited by the anticipation of this visit。
The Capitalist； who for the most part keeps entirely to himself；
seemed to take an interest in it and joined the group in the parlor
who were making arrangements as to the details of the eventful
expedition； which was very soon to take place。 The Young Girl was
full of enthusiasm； she is one of those young persons； I think； who
are impressible； and of necessity depressible when their nervous
systems are overtasked； but elastic； recovering easily from mental
worries and fatigues； and only wanting a little change of their
conditions to get back their bloom and cheerfulness。 I could not
help being pleased to see how much of the child was left in her；
after all the drudgery she had been through。 What is there that
youth will not endure and triumph over？ Here she was； her story for
the week