the rhythm of life and other essays(生命的旋律)-第11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！
man of letters。 So it is。 But the triviality has wide allusions。 It is often a
question which of several significant trivialities a critic shall choose in his
communication with a reader who does not insist that all the grave things
shall be told him。 And； by the way； are we ever sufficiently grateful for
that reader； whom the last few years have given to us； or to whom we have
been given by the last few years？ A trivial connexion has remote and
negative issues。 To go to Dr。 Oliver Wendell Holmes's period is to get rid
of many things； to go to himself is especially to get rid of the New
Humour； yet to stand at its unprophetic source。 And we love such
authors as Dickens and this American for their own sake； refusing to be
aware of their corrupt following。 We would make haste to ignore their
posterity； and to assure them that we absolve them from any fault of theirs
in the bastardy。
Humour is the most conspicuous thing in the world； which must
explain why the little humour in Elsie Venner and the Breakfast Table
series is not only the first thing the critic touches but the thing whereby he
relates this author to his following and to the world。 The young man
34
… Page 35…
The Rhythm of Life and Other Essays
John； Colonel Sprowle with his 'social entertainment；' the Landlady and
her daughter； and the Poor Relation； almost make up the sum of the comic
personages； and fifty per cent。 of the things they sayno moreare good
enough to remain after the bloom of their vulgarity has worn off。 But
that half is excellent； keen； jolly； temperate； and because of that
temperance the most stimulating and fecundating of qualitiesthe
humour of it has set the literature of a hemisphere to the tune of mirth。
Like Mr。 Lowell's it was humour in dialectnot Irish dialect nor negro； but
American； and it made New England aware of her comedy。 Until then
she had felt within herself that there was nothing to laugh at。 'Nature is in
earnest when she makes a woman；' says Dr。 Oliver Wendell Holmes。
Rather； she takes herself seriously when she makes the average spiritual
woman： as seriously as that woman takes herself when she makes a
novel。 And in a like mood Nature made New England and endowed her
with purpose； with mortuary frivolities； with long views； with energetic
provincialism。
If we remember best The Wonderful One…Hoss Shay； we do so in spite
of the religious and pathetic motive of the greater part of Dr。 Holmes's
work； and of his fancy； which should be at least as conspicuous as his
humour。 It is fancy rather than imagination； but it is more perfect； more
definite； more fit； than the larger art of imagery； which is apt to be vague；
because it is intellectual and adult。 No grown man makes quite so
definite mental images as does a child； when the mind ages it thinks
stronger thoughts in vaguer pictures。 The young mind of Dr。 Holmes has
less intellectual imagination than intelligent fancy。 For example： 'If
you ever saw a crow with a king…bird after him； you will get an image of a
dull speaker and a lively listener。 The bird in sable plumage flaps heavily
along his straightforward course； while the other sails round him； over him；
under him； leaves him； comes back again； tweaks out a black feather；
shoots away once more； never losing sight of him； and finally reaches the
crow's perch at the same time the crow does；' but the comparison goes on
after this at needless length； with explanations。 Again： 'That blessed
clairvoyance which sees into things without opening them： that glorious
licence which； having shut the door and driven the reporter from the
35
… Page 36…
The Rhythm of Life and Other Essays
keyhole； calls upon Truth； majestic Virgin！ to get off from her pedestal and
drop her academic POSES。' And this； of the Landlady： 'She told me
her story once； it was as if a grain that had been ground and bolted had
tried to individualise itself by a special narrative。' 'The riotous tumult of
a laugh； which； I take it； is the mob…law of the features。' 'Think of the
Old Worldthat part of it which is the seat of ancient civilisation！ 。 。 。 A
man cannot help marching in step with his kind in the rear of such a
procession。' 'Young folk look on a face as a unit； children who go to
school with any given little John Smith see in his name a distinctive
appellation。' And that exquisitely sensitive passage on the nervous
outward movement and the inward tranquillity of the woods。 Such things
are the best this good author gives us； whether they go gay with metaphor；
or be bare thoughts shapely with their own truth。
Part of the charm of Dr。 Holmes's comment on life； and of the phrase
wherein he secures it； arises from his singular vigilance。 He has
unpreoccupied and alert eyes。 Strangely enough； by the way； this
watchfulness is for once as much at fault as would be the slovenly
observation of an ordinary man； in the description of a horse's gallop；
'skimming along within a yard of the ground。' Who shall trust a man's
nimble eyes after this； when habit and credulity have taught him？ Not an
inch nearer the ground goes the horse of fact at a gallop than at a walk。
But Dr。 Holmes's vigilance helps him to somewhat squalid purpose in his
studies of New England inland life。 Much careful literature besides has
been spent； after the example of Elsie Venner and the Autocrat； upon the
cottage worldliness； the routine of abundant and common comforts
achieved by a distressing household industry； the shrillness； the unrest； the
best…parlour emulation； the ungraceful vanity； of Americans of the
country…side and the country…town； upon their affections made vulgar by
undemonstrativeness； and their consciences made vulgar by
demonstrativenesstheir kindness by reticence； and their religion by
candour。
As for the question of heredity and of individual responsibility which
Dr。 Oliver Wendell Holmes proposes in Elsie Venner； it is strange that a
man whom it had sincerely disquieted should present itnot in its own
36
… Page 37…
The Rhythm of Life and Other Essays
insolubility butin caricature。 As though the secrets of the inherited
body and soul needed to be heightened by a bit of burlesque physiology！
It is in spite of our protest against the invention of Elsie's horrible plighta
conception and invention which Dr。 Oliver Wendell Holmes should feel to
be essentially frivolousthat the serpent…maiden moves us deeply by her
last 'Good night；' and by the gentle phrase th
