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power than the authour of evil； God was pleased of his goodness to
keep me from being out of measure frighted。〃
I shall always bless the memory of this poor； timid creature for
saving that dear remembrance of 〃Matchless Mitchel。〃 How many； like
him； have thought they were preaching a new gospel； when they were
only reaffirming the principles which underlie the Magna Charta of
humanity； and are common to the noblest utterances of all the nobler
creeds！ But spoken by those solemn lips to those stern； simpleminded
hearers； the words I have cited seem to me to have a fragrance like
the precious ointment of spikenard with which Mary anointed her
Master's feet。 I can see the little bare meeting…house； with the
godly deacons； and the grave matrons； and the comely maidens； and the
sober manhood of the village； with the small group of college
students sitting by themselves under the shadow of the awful
Presidential Presence； all listening to that preaching； which was； as
Cotton Mather says； 〃as a very lovely song of one that hath a
pleasant voice〃； and as the holy pastor utters those blessed words；
which are not of any one church or age； but of all time； the humble
place of worship is filled with their perfume； as the house where
Mary knelt was filled with the odor of the precious ointment。
The Master rose； as he finished reading this sentence； and； walking
to the window； adjusted a curtain which he seemed to find a good deal
of trouble in getting to hang just as he wanted it。
He came back to his arm…chair； and began reading again
If men would only open their eyes to the fact which stares them in
the face from history； and is made clear enough by the slightest
glance at the condition of mankind； that humanity is of immeasurably
greater importance than their own or any other particular belief；
they would no more attempt to make private property of the grace of
God than to fence in the sunshine for their own special use and
enjoyment。
We are all tattoed in our cradles with the beliefs of our tribe； the
record may seem superficial； but it is indelible。 You cannot educate
a man wholly out of the superstitious fears which were early
implanted in his imagination； no matter how utterly his reason may
reject them； he will still feel as the famous woman did about ghosts；
Je n'y crois pas； mais je les crains；〃I don't believe in them； but
I am afraid of them； nevertheless。〃
As people grow older they come at length to live so much in memory
that they often think with a kind of pleasure of losing their dearest
blessings。 Nothing can be so perfect while we possess it as it will
seem when remembered。 The friend we love best may sometimes weary us
by his presence or vex us by his infirmities。 How sweet to think of
him as he will be to us after we have outlived him ten or a dozen
years！ Then we can recall him in his best moments； bid him stay with
us as long as we want his company； and send him away when we wish to
be alone again。 One might alter Shenstone's well…known epitaph to
suit such a case：
Hen！ quanto minus est cum to vivo versari
Quam erit （vel esset） tui mortui reminisse！
〃Alas！ how much less the delight of thy living presence
Than will （or would） be that of remembering thee when thou hast
left us！〃
I want to stop hereI the Poetand put in a few reflections of my
own； suggested by what I have been giving the reader from the
Master's Book； and in a similar vein。
How few things there are that do not change their whole aspect in
the course of a single generation！ The landscape around us is wholly
different。 Even the outlines of the hills that surround us are
changed by the creeping of the villages with their spires and school…
houses up their sides。 The sky remains the same； and the ocean。 A
few old churchyards look very much as they used to； except； of
course； in Boston； where the gravestones have been rooted up and
planted in rows with walks between them； to the utter disgrace and
ruin of our most venerated cemeteries。 The Registry df Deeds and the
Probate Office show us the same old folios； where we can read our
grandfather's title to his estate （if we had a grandfather and he
happened to own anything） and see how many pots and kettles there
were in his kitchen by the inventory of his personal property。
Among living people none remain so long unchanged as the actors。 I
can see the same Othello to…day； if I choose； that when I was a boy I
saw smothering Mrs。 Duff…Desdemona with the pillow； under the
instigations of Mr。 Cooper…Iago。 A few stone heavier than he was
then； no doubt； but the same truculent blackamoor that took by the
thr…r…r…oat the circumcised dog in Aleppo； and told us about it in
the old Boston Theatre。 In the course of a fortnight； if I care to
cross the water； I can see Mademoiselle Dejazet in the same parts I
saw her in under Louis Philippe； and be charmed by the same grace and
vivacity which delighted my grandmother （if she was in Paris； and
went to see her in the part of Fanchon toute seule at the Theatre des
Capucines） in the days when the great Napoleon was still only First
Consul。
The graveyard and the stage are pretty much the only places where you
can expect to find your friendsas you left them； five and twenty or
fifty years ago。 I have noticed； I may add； that old theatre…goers
bring back the past with their stories more vividly than men with any
other experiences。 There were two old New…Yorkers that I used to
love to sit talking with about the stage。 One was a scholar and a
writer of note； a pleasant old gentleman； with the fresh cheek of an
octogenarian Cupid。 The other not less noted in his way； deep in
local lore； large…brained； full…blooded； of somewhat perturbing and
tumultuous presence。 It was good to hear them talk of George
Frederic Cooke； of Kean； and the lesser stars of those earlier
constellations。 Better still to breakfast with old Samuel Rogers； as
some of my readers have done more than once； and hear him answer to
the question who was the best actor he remembered； 〃I think； on the
whole； Garrick。〃
If we did but know how to question these charming old people before
it is too late！ About ten years； more or less； after the generation
in advance of our own has all died off； it occurs to us all at once；
〃There！ I can ask my old friend what he knows of that picture； which
must be a Copley； of that house and its legends about which there is
such a mystery。 He （or she） must know all about that。〃 Too late！
Too late！
Still； now and then one saves a reminiscence that means a good deal
by means of a casual question。 I asked the first of those two old
New…Yorkers the following question： 〃Who； on the whole； seemed to you
the most considerable person you ever met？〃
Now it must be remembered that this was a man who had lived in a city
that calls itself the metropolis； one who had been a member of the
State and the National Legislature； who had come in contact with men。
of letters and men of business； with politicians and members of all
the professions； during a long and distinguished public career。 I
paused for his answer with