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！
er； till these last months； did the above very plain considerations； on our total want of a Philosophy of Clothes； occur to him； and then； by quite foreign suggestion。 By the arrival； namely； of a new Book from Professor Teufelsdrockh of Weissnichtwo； treating expressly of this subject； and in a style which； whether understood or not； could not even by the blindest be overlooked。 In the present Editor's way of thought； this remarkable Treatise； with its Doctrines； whether as judicially acceded to； or judicially denied； has not remained without effect。
〃_Die Kleider； ihr Werden und Wirken_ （Clothes； their Origin and Influence）： _von Diog。 Teufelsdrockh； J。 U。 D。 etc。 Stillschweigen und Cognie。 Weissnichtwo_； 1831。
〃Here；〃 says the _Weissnichtwo'sche Anzeiger_； 〃comes a Volume of that extensive； close…printed； close…meditated sort； which； be it spoken with pride； is seen only in Germany； perhaps only in Weissnichtwo。 Issuing from the hitherto irreproachable Firm of Stillschweigen and Company； with every external furtherance； it is of such internal quality as to set Neglect at defiance。。。。 A work；〃 concludes the well…nigh enthusiastic Reviewer； 〃interesting alike to the antiquary； the historian； and the philosophic thinker； a masterpiece of boldness； lynx…eyed acuteness； and rugged independent Germanism and Philanthropy （_derber Kerndeutschheit und Menschenliebe_）； which will not； assuredly； pass current without opposition in high places； but must and will exalt the almost new name of Teufelsdrockh to the first ranks of Philosophy； in our German Temple of Honor。〃
Mindful of old friendship； the distinguished Professor； in this the first blaze of his fame； which however does not dazzle him； sends hither a Presentation…copy of his Book； with compliments and encomiums which modesty forbids the present Editor to rehearse； yet without indicated wish or hope of any kind； except what may be implied in the concluding phrase： _Mochte es_ （this remarkable Treatise） _auch im Brittischen Boden gedeihen_！
CHAPTER II。 EDITORIAL DIFFICULTIES。
If for a speculative man； 〃whose seedfield；〃 in the sublime words of the Poet； 〃is Time；〃 no conquest is important but that of new ideas； then might the arrival of Professor Teufelsdrockh's Book be marked with chalk in the Editor's calendar。 It is indeed an 〃extensive Volume；〃 of boundless； almost formless contents； a very Sea of Thought； neither calm nor clear； if you will； yet wherein the toughest pearl…diver may dive to his utmost depth； and return not only with sea…wreck but with true orients。
Directly on the first perusal； almost on the first deliberate inspection； it became apparent that here a quite new Branch of Philosophy； leading to as yet undescried ulterior results； was disclosed； farther； what seemed scarcely less interesting； a quite new human Individuality； an almost unexampled personal character； that； namely； of Professor Teufelsdrockh the Discloser。 Of both which novelties； as far as might be possible； we resolved to master the significance。 But as man is emphatically a proselytizing creature； no sooner was such mastery even fairly attempted； than the new question arose： How might this acquired good be imparted to others； perhaps in equal need thereof； how could the Philosophy of Clothes； and the Author of such Philosophy； be brought home； in any measure； to the business and bosoms of our own English Nation？ For if new…got gold is said to burn the pockets till it be cast forth into circulation； much more may new truth。
Here； however； difficulties occurred。 The first thought naturally was to publish Article after Article on this remarkable Volume； in such widely circulating Critical Journals as the Editor might stand connected with； or by money or love procure access to。 But； on the other hand； was it not clear that such matter as must here be revealed； and treated of； might endanger the circulation of any Journal extant？ If； indeed； all party…divisions in the State could have been abolished； Whig； Tory； and Radical； embracing in discrepant union； and all the Journals of the Nation could have been jumbled into one Journal； and the Philosophy of Clothes poured forth in incessant torrents therefrom； the attempt had seemed possible。 But； alas； what vehicle of that sort have we； except _Fraser's Magazine_？ A vehicle all strewed （figuratively speaking） with the maddest Waterloo…Crackers； exploding distractively and destructively； wheresoever the mystified passenger stands or sits； nay； in any case； understood to be； of late years； a vehicle full to overflowing； and inexorably shut！ Besides； to state the Philosophy of Clothes without the Philosopher； the ideas of Teufelsdrockh without something of his personality； was it not to insure both of entire misapprehension？ Now for Biography； had it been otherwise admissible； there were no adequate documents； no hope of obtaining such； but rather； owing to circumstances； a special despair。 Thus did the Editor see himself； for the while； shut out from all public utterance of these extraordinary Doctrines； and constrained to revolve them； not without disquietude； in the dark depths of his own mind。
So had it lasted for some months； and now the Volume on Clothes； read and again read； was in several points becoming lucid and lucent； the personality of its Author more and more surprising； but； in spite of all that memory and conjecture could do； more and more enigmatic； whereby the old disquietude seemed fast settling into fixed discontent；when altogether unexpectedly arrives a Letter from Herr Hofrath Heuschrecke； our Professor's chief friend and associate in Weissnichtwo； with whom we had not previously corresponded。 The Hofrath； after much quite extraneous matter； began dilating largely on the 〃agitation and attention〃 which the Philosophy of Clothes was exciting in its own German Republic of Letters； on the deep significance and tendency of his Friend's Volume； and then； at length； with great circumlocution； hinted at the practicability of conveying 〃some knowledge of it； and of him； to England； and through England to the distant West：〃 a work on Professor Teufelsdrockh 〃were undoubtedly welcome to the _Family_； the _National_； or any other of those patriotic _Libraries_； at present the glory of British Literature；〃 might work revolutions in Thought； and so forth；in conclusion； intimating not obscurely； that should the present Editor feel disposed to undertake a Biography of Teufelsdrockh； he； Hofrath Heuschrecke； had it in his power to furnish the requisite Documents。
As in some chemical mixture； that has stood long evaporating； but would not crystallize； instantly when the wire or other fixed substance is introduced； crystallization commences； and rapidly proceeds till the whole is finished； so was it with the Editor's mind and this offer of Heuschrecke's。 Form rose out of void solution and discontinuity； like united itself with like in definite arrangement： and soon either in actual vision and possession； or in fixed reasonable hope； the image of the whole Enterprise had shaped itself； so to speak； into a solid mass。 Cautiously yet courageously； through the twopenny post； application to the famed redoubt