madam how and lady why(豪夫人和怀女士)-第30章
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Beyond that the cave goes on； with subterranean streams； cascades； and
halls； no man yet knows how far。 A friend of mine last year went in
farther； I believe； than any one yet has gone； but； instead of taking Indian
torches made of bark and resin； or even torches made of Spanish wax；
such as a brave bishop of those parts used once when he went in farther
than any one before him； he took with him some of that beautiful
magnesium light which you have seen often here at home。 And in one
place； when he lighted up the magnesium； he found himself in a hall full
300 feet highhigher far； that is； than the dome of St。 Paul'sand a very
solemn thought it was to him； he said； that he had seen what no other
human being ever had seen； and that no ray of light had ever struck on that
stupendous roof in all the ages since the making of the world。 But if he
found out something which he did not expect； he was disappointed in
something which he did expect。 For the Indians warned him of a hole in
the floor which （they told him） was an unfathomable abyss。 And lo and
behold； when he turned the magnesium light upon it； the said abyss was
just about eight feet deep。 But it is no wonder that the poor Indians with
their little smoky torches should make such mistakes； no wonder； too； that
they should be afraid to enter far into those gloomy vaults； that they
should believe that the souls of their ancestors live in that dark cave； and
that they should say that when they die they will go to the Guacharos； as
they call the birds that fly with doleful screams out of the cave to feed at
night； and in again at daylight； to roost and sleep。
Now； it is these very Guacharo birds which are to me the most
wonderful part of the story。 The Indians kill and eat them for their fat；
although they believe they have to do with evil spirits。 But scientific
men who have studied these birds will tell you that they are more
wonderful than if all the Indians' fancies about them were true。 They are
great birds； more than three feet across the wings； somewhat like owls；
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somewhat like cuckoos； somewhat like goatsuckers； but； on the whole；
unlike anything in the world but themselves； and instead of feeding on
moths or mice； they feed upon hard dry fruits； which they pick off the
trees after the set of sun。 And wise men will tell you； that in making such
a bird as that； and giving it that peculiar way of life； and settling it in that
cavern； and a few more caverns in that part of the world； and therefore in
making the caverns ready for them to live in； Madam How must have
taken ages and ages； more than you can imagine or count。
But that is among the harder lessons which come in the latter part of
Madam How's book。 Children need not learn them yet； and they can
never learn them； unless they master her alphabet； and her short and easy
lessons for beginners； some of which I am trying to teach you now。
But I have just recollected that we are a couple of very stupid fellows。
We have been talking all this time about chalk and limestone； and have
forgotten to settle what they are； and how they were made。 We must
think of that next time。 It will not do for us （at least if we mean to be
scientific men） to use terms without defining them； in plain English； to
talk aboutwe don't know what。
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CHAPTER VIII
…MADAM HOW'S TWO GRANDSONS
You want to know； then； what chalk is？ I suppose you mean what
chalk is made of？
Yes。 That is it。
That we can only help by calling in the help of a very great giant
whose name is Analysis。
A giant？
Yes。 And before we call for him I will tell you a very curious story
about him and his younger brother； which is every word of it true。
Once upon a time； certainly as long ago as the first man； or perhaps the
first rational being of any kind； was created； Madam How had two
grandsons。 The elder is called Analysis； and the younger Synthesis。 As
for who their father and mother were； there have been so many disputes on
that question that I think children may leave it alone for the present。 For
my part； I believe that they are both； like St。 Patrick； 〃gentlemen； and
come of decent people；〃 and I have a great respect and affection for them
both； as long as each keeps in his own place and minds his own business。
Now you must understand that； as soon as these two baby giants were
born； Lady Why； who sets everything to do that work for which it is
exactly fitted； set both of them their work。 Analysis was to take to pieces
everything he found； and find out how it was made。 Synthesis was to put
the pieces together again； and make something fresh out of them。 In a
word； Analysis was to teach men Science； and Synthesis to teach them Art。
But because Analysis was the elder； Madam How commanded
Synthesis never to put the pieces together till Analysis had taken them
completely apart。 And； my child； if Synthesis had obeyed that rule of his
good old grandmother's； the world would have been far happier； wealthier；
wiser； and better than it is now。
But Synthesis would not。 He grew up a very noble boy。 He could
carve； he could paint； he could build； he could make music； and write
poems： but he was full of conceit and haste。 Whenever his elder
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brother tried to do a little patient work in taking things to pieces； Synthesis
snatched the work out of his hands before it was a quarter done； and began
putting it together again to suit his own fancy； and； of course； put it
together wrong。 Then he went on to bully his elder brother； and locked
him up in prison； and starved him； till for many hundred years poor
Analysis never grew at all； but remained dwarfed； and stupid； and all but
blind for want of light； while Synthesis； and all the hasty conceited people
who followed him； grew stout and strong and tyrannous； and overspread
the whole world； and ruled it at their will。 But the fault of all the work of
Synthesis was just this： that it would not work。 His watches would not
keep time； his soldiers would not fight； his ships would not sail； his houses
would not keep the rain out。 So every time he failed in his work he had
to go to poor Analysis in his dungeon； and bully him into taking a thing or
two to pieces； and giving him a few sound facts out of them； just to go on
with till he came to grief again； boasting in the meantime that he and not
Analysis had found out the facts。 And at last
