essays on life, art and science-第1章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Essays on Life； Art and Science
by Samuel Butler
Contents：
Introduction
Quis Desiderio？
Ramblings in Cheapside
The Aunt； The Nieces； and the Dog
How to make the best of life
The Sanctuary of Montrigone
A Medieval Girl School
Art in the Valley of Saas
Thought and Language
The Deadlock in Darwinism
INTRODUCTION
It is hardly necessary to apologise for the miscellaneous character
of the following collection of essays。 Samuel Butler was a man of
such unusual versatility； and his interests were so many and so
various that his literary remains were bound to cover a wide field。
Nevertheless it will be found that several of the subjects to which
he devoted much time and labour are not represented in these pages。
I have not thought it necessary to reprint any of the numerous
pamphlets and articles which he wrote upon the Iliad and Odyssey；
since these were all merged in 〃The Authoress of the Odyssey；〃 which
gives his matured views upon everything relating to the Homeric
poems。 For a similar reason I have not included an essay on the
evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ； which he printed in
1865 for private circulation； since he subsequently made extensive
use of it in 〃The Fair Haven。〃
Two of the essays in this collection were originally delivered as
lectures； the remainder were published in The Universal Review
during 1888； 1889； and 1890。
I should perhaps explain why two other essays of his； which also
appeared in The Universal Review； have been omitted。
The first of these； entitled 〃L'Affaire Holbein…Rippel；〃 relates to
a drawing of Holbein's 〃Danse des Paysans；〃 in the Basle Museum；
which is usually described as a copy； but which Butler believed to
be the work of Holbein himself。 This essay requires to be
illustrated in so elaborate a manner that it was impossible to
include it in a book of this size。
The second essay； which is a sketch of the career of the sculptor
Tabachetti； was published as the first section of an article
entitled 〃A Sculptor and a Shrine；〃 of which the second section is
here given under the title； 〃The Sanctuary of Montrigone。〃 The
section devoted to the sculptor represents all that Butler then knew
about Tabachetti； but since it was written various documents have
come to light； principally owing to the investigations of Cavaliere
Francesco Negri； of Casale Monferrato； which negative some of
Butler's most cherished conclusions。 Had Butler lived he would
either have rewritten his essay in accordance with Cavaliere Negri's
discoveries； of which he fully recognised the value； or incorporated
them into the revised edition of 〃Ex Voto；〃 which he intended to
publish。 As it stands； the essay requires so much revision that I
have decided to omit it altogether； and to postpone giving English
readers a full account of Tabachetti's career until a second edition
of 〃Ex Voto〃 is required。 Meanwhile I have given a brief summary of
the main facts of Tabachetti's life in a note （page 154） to the
essay on 〃Art in the Valley of Saas。〃 Any one who wishes for
further details of the sculptor and his work will find them in
Cavaliere Negri's pamphlet； 〃Il Santuario di Crea〃 （Alessandria；
1902）。
The three essays grouped together under the title of 〃The Deadlock
in Darwinism〃 may be regarded as a postscript to Butler's four books
on evolution； viz。； 〃Life and Habit；〃 〃Evolution； Old and New；〃
〃Unconscious Memory〃 and 〃Luck or Cunning。〃 An occasion for the
publication of these essays seemed to be afforded by the appearance
in 1889 of Mr。 Alfred Russel Wallace's 〃Darwinism〃； and although
nearly fourteen years have elapsed since they were published in the
Universal Review； I have no fear that they will be found to be out
of date。 How far； indeed； the problem embodied in the deadlock of
which Butler speaks is from solution was conclusively shown by the
correspondence which appeared in the Times in May 1903； occasioned
by some remarks made at University College by Lord Kelvin in moving
a vote of thanks to Professor Henslow after his lecture on 〃Present
Day Rationalism。〃 Lord Kelvin's claim for a recognition of the fact
that in organic nature scientific thought is compelled to accept the
idea of some kind of directive power； and his statement that
biologists are coming once more to a firm acceptance of a vital
principle； drew from several distinguished men of science retorts
heated enough to prove beyond a doubt that the gulf between the two
main divisions of evolutionists is as wide to…day as it was when
Butler wrote。 It will be well； perhaps； for the benefit of readers
who have not followed the history of the theory of evolution during
its later developments； to state in a few words what these two main
divisions are。 All evolutionists agree that the differences between
species are caused by the accumulation and transmission of
variations； but they do not agree as to the causes to which the
variations are due。 The view held by the older evolutionists；
Buffon； Erasmus Darwin and Lamarck； who have been followed by many
modern thinkers； including Herbert Spencer and Butler； is that the
variations occur mainly as the result of effort and design； the
opposite view； which is that advocated by Mr。 Wallace in
〃Darwinism；〃 is that the variations occur merely as the result of
chance。 The former is sometimes called the theological view；
because it recognises the presence in organic nature of design；
whether it be called creative power； directive force； directivity；
or vital principle； the latter view； in which the existence of
design is absolutely negatived； is now usually described as
Weismannism； from the name of the writer who has been its principal
advocate in recent years。
In conclusion； I must thank my friend Mr。 Henry Festing Jones most
warmly for the invaluable assistance which he has given me in
preparing these essays for publication； in correcting the proofs；
and in compiling the introduction and notes。
R。 A。 STREATFEILD。
QUIS DESIDERIO 。 。 。 ？ ｛1｝
Like Mr。 Wilkie Collins； I； too； have been asked to lay some of my
literary experiences before the readers of the Universal Review。 It
occurred to me that the Review must be indeed universal before it
could open its pages to one so obscure as myself； but； nothing
daunted by the distinguished company among which I was for the first
time asked to move； I resolved to do as I was told； and went to the
British Museum to see what books I had written。 Having refreshed my
memory by a glance at the catalogue； I was about to try and diminish
the large and ever…increasing circle of my non…readers when I became
aware of a calamity that brought me to a standstill； and indeed bids
fair； so far as I can see at present； to put an end to my literary
existence altogether。
I should explain that I cannot write unless I have a sloping desk；
and the reading…room of the British Museum； where alone I can
compose freely； is unprovided with sloping desks。 Like every other
organism； if I cannot get exactly what I want I make shift with the
next thing to it； true； there are no desks in the reading…room； but；
as I once heard a visitor from the country say； 〃it contains a large
number of very interesting works。〃 I know it was not right； and
hope the Museum authorities will not be severe upon me if any of
them reads this confession； but I wanted a desk； and set myself to
consider which of the many very interesting works which a grateful
nation places at the disposal of its would…be authors was best
suited for my purpose。
For mere reading I suppose one book is pretty much as good as
another； but the choice of a desk…book is a more serious matter。 It
must be neither too thick nor too thin； it must be large enough to
make a substantial support； it must be strongly bound so as not to
yield or give； it must not be too troublesome to carry backwards and
forwards； and it must live on shelf C； D； or E； so that there need
be no stooping or reaching too high。 These are the conditions which
a really good book must fulfil； simple； however； as they are； it is
surprising how few volumes comply with them satisfa
