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the leg…muscles。
I thought that sounded mighty pretty； and paused a moment to pat
myself on the back； as is my wont when I say something that I think
of superior quality。 So I lost my innings； for the Master is apt to
strike in at the end of a bar； instead of waiting for a rest； if I
may borrow a musical phrase。 No matter； just at this moment； what he
said； but he talked the Member of the Haouse asleep again。
They have a new term nowadays （I am speaking to you； the Reader） for
people that do a good deal of talking； they call them
〃conversationists；〃 or 〃conversationalists 〃； talkists； I suppose；
would do just as well。 It is rather dangerous to get the name of
being one of these phenomenal manifestations； as one is expected to
say something remarkable every time one opens one's mouth in company。
It seems hard not to be able to ask for a piece of bread or a tumbler
of water； without a sensation running round the table； as if one were
an electric eel or a torpedo； and couldn't be touched without giving
a shock。 A fellow is n't all battery； is he？ The idea that a
Gymnotus can't swallow his worm without a coruscation of animal
lightning is hard on that brilliant but sensational being。 Good talk
is not a matter of will at all； it dependsyou know we are all half…
materialists nowadayson a certain amount of active congestion of
the brain； and that comes when it is ready； and not before。 I saw a
man get up the other day in a pleasant company； and talk away for
about five minutes； evidently by a pure effort of will。 His person
was good； his voice was pleasant； but anybody could see that it was
all mechanical labor； he was sparring for wind； as the Hon。 John
Morrissey； M。 C。； would express himself。 Presently；
Do you；Beloved； I am afraid you are not old enough；but do you
remember the days of the tin tinder…box； the flint； and steel？
Click！ click！ click！Al…h…h！ knuckles that time！ click！ click！
CLICK！ a spark has taken； and is eating into the black tinder； as a
six…year…old eats into a sheet of gingerbread。
Presently； after hammering away for his five minutes with mere words；
the spark of a happy expression took somewhere among the mental
combustibles； and then for ten minutes we had a pretty； wandering；
scintillating play of eloquent thought； that enlivened； if it did not
kindle； all around it。 If you want the real philosophy of it； I will
give it to you。 The chance thought or expression struck the nervous
centre of consciousness； as the rowel of a spur stings the flank of a
racer。 Away through all the telegraphic radiations of the nervous
cords flashed the intelligence that the brain was kindling； and must
be fed with something or other； or it would burn itself to ashes。
And all the great hydraulic engines poured in their scarlet blood；
and the fire kindled； and the flame rose； for the blood is a stream
that； like burning rock…oil； at once kindles； and is itself the fuel。
You can't order these organic processes； any more than a milliner can
make a rose。 She can make something that looks like a rose； more or
less； but it takes all the forces of the universe to finish and
sweeten that blossom in your button…hole； and you may be sure that
when the orator's brain is in a flame； when the poet's heart is in a
tumult； it is something mightier than he and his will that is dealing
with him！ As I have looked from one of the northern windows of the
street which commands our noble estuary；the view through which is a
picture on an illimitable canvas and a poem in innumerable cantos；I
have sometimes seen a pleasure…boat drifting along； her sail
flapping； and she seeming as if she had neither will nor aim。 At her
stern a man was laboring to bring her head round with an oar； to
little purpose； as it seemed to those who watched him pulling and
tugging。 But all at once the wind of heaven； which had wandered all
the way from Florida or from Labrador； it may be； struck full upon
the sail； and it swelled and rounded itself； like a white bosom that
had burst its bodice； and
You are right； it is too true！ but how I love these pretty
phrases！ I am afraid I am becoming an epicure in words； which is a
bad thing to be； unless it is dominated by something infinitely
better than itself。 But there is a fascination in the mere sound of
articulated breath； of consonants that resist with the firmness of a
maid of honor； or half or wholly yield to the wooing lips； of vowels
that flow and murmur； each after its kind； the peremptory b and p；
the brittle k； the vibrating r； the insinuating s； the feathery f；
the velvety v； the bell…voiced m； the tranquil broad a； the
penetrating e； the cooing u； the emotional o； and the beautiful
combinations of alternate rock and stream； as it were； that they give
to the rippling flow of speech；there is a fascination in the
skilful handling of these； which the great poets and even prose…
writers have not disdained to acknowledge and use to recommend their
thought。 What do you say to this line of Homer as a piece of
poetical full…band music？ I know you read the Greek characters with
perfect ease； but permit me； just for my own satisfaction； to put it
into English letters：
Aigle pamphanoosa di' aitheros ouranon ike！
as if he should have spoken in our poorer phrase of
Splendor far shining through ether to heaven ascending。
That Greek line； which I do not remember having heard mention of as
remarkable； has nearly every consonantal and vowel sound in the
language。 Try it by the Greek and by the English alphabet； it is a
curiosity。 Tell me that old Homer did not roll his sightless
eyeballs about with delight； as he thundered out these ringing
syllables！ It seems hard to think of his going round like a hand…
organ man； with such music and such thought as his to earn his bread
with。 One can't help wishing that Mr。 Pugh could have got at him for
a single lecture； at least； of the 〃Star Course；〃 or that he could
have appeared in the Music Hall； 〃for this night only。〃
I know I have rambled； but I hope you see that this is a delicate
way of letting you into the nature of the individual who is；
officially； the principal personage at our table。 It would hardly do
to describe him directly； you know。 But you must not think； because
the lightning zigzags； it does not know where to strike。
I shall try to go through the rest of my description of our boarders
with as little of digression as is consistent with my nature。 I
think we have a somewhat exceptional company。 Since our Landlady has
got up in the world； her board has been decidedly a favorite with
persons a little above the average in point of intelligence and
education。 In fact； ever since a boarder of hers； not wholly unknown
to the reading public； brought her establishment into notice； it has
attracted a considerable number of literary and scientific people；
and now and then a politician； like the Member of the House of
Representatives； otherwise called the Great and General Court of the
State of Massachusetts。 The consequence is； that there is more
individuality of character than in a good many similar
boarding