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to…day。 Some register the changes of the wind； and die fully
convinced that the wind is changeable。
〃There are men yet more profound； who have heard that two colorless
liquors may produce a color by union； and that two cold bodies will
grow hot if they are mingled； they mingle them； and produce the
effect expected； say it is strange； and mingle them again。〃
I cannot transcribe this extract without an intense inward delight in
its wit and a full recognition of its thorough half…truthfulness。
Yet if while the great moralist is indulging in these vivacities； he
can be imagined as receiving a message from Mr。 Boswell or Mrs。
Thrale flashed through the depths of the ocean； we can suppose he
might be tempted to indulge in another oracular utterance； something
like this：
A wise man recognizes the convenience of a general statement； but
he bows to the authority of a particular fact。 He who would bound
the possibilities of human knowledge by the limitations of present
acquirements would take the dimensions of the infant in ordering the
habiliments of the adult。 It is the province of knowledge to speak
and it is the privilege of wisdom to listen。 Will the Professor have
the kindness to inform me by what steps of gradual development the
ring and the loadstone； which were but yesterday the toys of children
and idlers； have become the means of approximating the intelligences
of remote continents； and wafting emotions unchilled through the
abysses of the no longer unfathomable deep？
This； you understand； Beloved； is only a conventional imitation of
the Doctor's style of talking。 He wrote in grand balanced phrases；
but his conversation was good； lusty； off…hand familiar talk。 He
used very often to have it all his own way。 If he came back to us we
must remember that to treat him fairly we must suppose him on a level
with the knowledge of our own time。 But that knowledge is more
specialized； a great deal； than knowledge was in his day。 Men cannot
talk about things they have seen from the outside with the same
magisterial authority the talking dynasty pretended to。 The sturdy
old moralist felt grand enough； no doubt； when he said； 〃He that is
growing great and happy by electrifying a bottle wonders how the
world can be engaged by trifling prattle about war or peace。〃
Benjamin Franklin was one of these idlers who were electrifying
bottles； but he also found time to engage in the trifling prattle
about war and peace going on in those times。 The talking Doctor hits
him very hard in 〃Taxation no Tyranny〃： 〃Those who wrote the Address
（of the American Congress in 1775）； though they have shown no great
extent or profundity of mind； are yet probably wiser than to believe
it： but they have been taught by some master of mischief how to put
in motion the engine of political electricity； to attract by the
sounds of Liberty and Property； to repel by those of Popery and
Slavery； and to give the great stroke by the name of Boston。〃
The talking dynasty has always been hard upon us Americans。 King
Samuel II。 says： 〃It is； I believe； a fact verified beyond doubt；
that some years ago it was impossible to obtain a copy of the Newgate
Calendar； as they had all been bought up by the Americans； whether to
suppress the blazon of their forefathers or to assist in their
genealogical researches I could never learn satisfactorily。〃
As for King Thomas； the last of the monological succession； he made
such a piece of work with his prophecies and his sarcasms about our
little trouble with some of the Southern States； that we came rather
to pity him for his whims and crotchets than to get angry with him
for calling us bores and other unamiable names。
I do not think we believe things because considerable people say
them； on personal authority； that is； as intelligent listeners very
commonly did a century ago。 The newspapers have lied that belief out
of us。 Any man who has a pretty gift of talk may hold his company a
little while when there is nothing better stirring。 Every now and
then a man who may be dull enough prevailingly has a passion of talk
come over him which makes him eloquent and silences the rest。 I have
a great respect for these divine paroxysms； these half…inspired
moments of influx when they seize one whom we had not counted among
the luminaries of the social sphere。 But the man who cangive us a
fresh experience on anything that interests us overrides everybody
else。 A great peril escaped makes a great story…teller of a common
person enough。 I remember when a certain vessel was wrecked long
ago； that one of the survivors told the story as well as Defoe could
have told it。 Never a word from him before； never a word from him
since。 But when it comes to talking one's common thoughts；those
that come and go as the breath does； those that tread the mental
areas and corridors with steady； even foot…fall； an interminable
procession of every hue and garb；there are few； indeed； that can
dare to lift the curtain which hangs before the window in the breast
and throw open the window； and let us look and listen。 We are all
loyal enough to our sovereign when he shows himself； but sovereigns
are scarce。 I never saw the absolute homage of listeners but once；
that I remember； to a man's common talk； and that was to the
conversation of an old man； illustrious by his lineage and the
exalted honors he had won； whose experience had lessons for the
wisest； and whose eloquence had made the boldest tremble。
All this because I told you to look out for yourselves and not take
for absolute truth everything the old Master of our table； or anybody
else at it sees fit to utter。 At the same time I do not think that
he； or any of us whose conversation I think worth reporting； says
anything for the mere sake of saying it and without thinking that it
holds some truth； even if it is not unqualifiedly true。
I suppose a certain number of my readers wish very heartily that the
Young Astronomer whose poetical speculations I am recording would
stop trying by searching to find out the Almighty； and sign the
thirty…nine articles； or the Westminster Confession of Faith； at any
rate slip his neck into some collar or other； and pull quietly in the
harness； whether it galled him or not。 I say； rather； let him have
his talk out； if nobody else asks the questions he asks； some will be
glad to hear them； but if you； the reader； find the same questions in
your own mind； you need not be afraid to see how they shape
themselves in another's intelligence。 Do you recognize the fact that
we are living in a new time？ Knowledgeit excites prejudices to
call it scienceis advancing as irresistibly； as majestically； as
remorselessly as the ocean moves in upon the shore。 The courtiers of
King Canute （I am not afraid of the old comparison）； represented by
the adherents of the traditional beliefs of the period； move his
chair back an inch at a time； but not until his feet are pretty damp；
not to say wet。 The rock on which he sat securely awhile ago is
completely under water。 And now people are walking up and down the
beach and judging for themselves how far inland the chair of Kin