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136 G$e 9Le&tf0t. [Saturday,
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• Not properly a quadruped, nor a biped ...
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BOOKS ON OUR TABLE. Household Words. Con...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Science In Fable. The Poor Artist; Or . ...
the eye of man has never yet seen—and that will gam you a name . ' , _ . . . . ,. " So saying , the uncle slipped a sealed packet into His hand and rode away . Enclosed were twenty guineas , enveloped in a hasty scrawl , to the effect that ^ « y were in pajment for his nine greenhouse pictures . And now the beauty of the book commence . The artist has wandered into a wood , and there taking out the beloved volume given him by Aurelia—it is Lafontaine ' s " Fables" —he reads of talking animals and insect wisdom , till sleep weighs down his eyes : — shrubs bowed
" The green foliage of the trees and softly and gracefully around the sleeping artist , as though to do him honour , and in tender recognition of his services to nature and to themselves . Xhe Ijght was subdued by the passage of some dark blue and grey clouds overhead ; but the air was warm , and the singing of the gnats , mingled with the distant sheep-bellB , and the occasional voice of a stock-dove , made a pleasant woodland sound . . * . ,.. «? Whether the sleeper , heard any of this is uncertain j or , if he heard it at all , it was only in the half-conscious way which gives such a charm to a nap in a green wood . At these times the inventive faculties seem perfectly quiescent , but able to enjoy with delicious indolence the great inventive dream of nature which surrounds them .
" In this half-wakeful condition the artist became aware of a sound more distinct than the rest , which from time to time mingled with the hum of the gnats , and then rose above it . Presently it seemed to become articulate . He could ajmo » t fancy it uttered words . Yes—it surely must be so . What was that ? It was certainly a sort of humming voice that said something . " The artist listened more attentively , and almost holding his breath , but still without opening his eyes . And the voice said , in a low sonorous murmur : — Busy—busy—buzzing brain , Use your hands , or nothing gain . *
" The artist lay quiet a few seconds , listening intently , with his eyes still closed . All was silent . He then softly raised himself , and looked round on all sides . Presently he saw a leaf tremble— -then anotherthen the cup of a flower shake very much—and , notwithstanding a great bustling and buzzing inside , he was yet able to distinguish words amidst the low humming monotony of the undersong . The words were the same as before : — Busy—busy—buzzing brain , Use your bands , or nothing gain . '
" It came from the inside of that flower-cup that was shaking so ! Yes—there could be no doubt of it . The flower now shook and nodded more than ever , and , with a bustling and fussing noise of voice and of wings , up came the head and shoulders of a bee ! She held fast upon the upper rim of the cup , with her strong arms bent over , and 6 tared wisely at the artist with her two dark horny eyes . " The bee and the artist have a pleasant chat together , which results in the artist undertaking to paint something which the bee has seen , and to paint it precisely as she describes it . The following snatch of their dialogue reminds one of Voltaire ' s exquisite tales : — " ' I suppose , ' said the bee , * you see all things as upright and roundabout ? '
" By no means , ' replied the artist ; ' we see things of the shape they really are . ' " ' How many eyes have you got ? ' demanded the bee . I see only two in your face . You have no doubt others on the top of your head , as I have , or others elsewhere . ' " « No , ' replied the artist , beginning to hesitate . ' No , I have only two Rimple eyes . ' t b
" Then , ' said the bee , ' you muse a very arrogant , or a very ignorant , creature . For how should you 'here she raised one of her antennas , and moved it slowly up and down , as if laying down the law— ' how should you see everything as it is , unless you had the eyes of all other creatures , who see it according to every variety suitable to its nature with relation to their own natures ; or unless your two eyes , instead of being of a simple kind , as you say they are , should be compounded of the powerR of all other eyes ?' all the
•• ' So I consider them to be , ' said the artist ; ' wonders of others being thus reduced to a simple action . Moreover , we do not regard external objects as dependent on how we see them , or what shape and colour we ace them . They are something of themselves , whatever they may appear to different visions . ' 14 ' And you believe , then , that you see what that Komethiiv * ronlly is ; all other visions being naturally deceived ; all other creatures dwelling therefore in systematic illusion ? ' " The artist considered for some time , and at last said : — " Yes ; the prerogative of actuality is given to the eyesight of man . ' 44 Who told you so ? ' demanded the bee . " Mv own leaaon , * answered the artist .
" Self-love's gravest flatterer , ' replied the bee . ' We , of the bee species , say the same thing , —and truly . '" No sooner has the artist sketched the object according to the bee ' s directions than an ant ( Captain Mandible ) approaches , and , joining in the friendly talk , also proposes that what he lias scon shall be paflMfl ^ raifiMllnKfT . /^ RtapLfl ff l ^ J ^\^\ er end o { a fine an < J almost / W > B ^ nMbjG ^^^ W \«« Y > y the upper end to the twig / t ^ sTjl ^ U whl ^^^ ani fW over his head , the artist now (^[^^ KS-T ^ Kfi &} ¦¦ ' k ^> 'i- ^ J y ^ ' ^^ iiffii ^ ' ; < ' * vy rV
observed a spider dangling and swinging gracefully close to his cheek , and staring at him with eyes as sharp as pins . " ? I have listened to all the conversation down here , said ? he , ' and I have observed everything with my usual attention . ' " Here she ran rapidly up her line a few inches , and then stopped . " ' I have seen a more surprising object in the woods this morning than either of you have described . ' " She ran up a little higher , and again stopped . " ' I should like to have a picture of it . ' " And with these words she ran , leg over leg , up her line , and ensconced herself beneath a withered leaf on a twig above , from which she peeped over at the artist below . , , . _ " * Come down and tell us what you have seen , said the ant ; ' don't sit all of a shrug up there , peering over with your squinny eyes ; but come down and tell us about it . ' . . " « I can do that just as well up here , ' said the spider , ' and if you are hard of hearing , which is most likely , you may come and sit upon the corner of my web while I describe the object . ' " Thank you , ' said the ant . ' Who killed her seventh husband yesterday morning ?' " « Don ' t be spiteful ! ' interposed the bee . ' Perhaps there was a reason for it . ' " ' So there is for everything , ' said the ant ; but that does not alter a black fact . '" It is needless to point out the delicate observation and quiet humour , with its dramatic propriety , in these passages j every reader will appreciate them , especially when met with in the text itself , where they look better than this wrested into fragments . The appearance of the cat is described with singular felicity : — " While our artist was reflecting on the wonderfulthe miraculous varieties that exist in nature , he sawa cat sauntering down a narrow pathway , or rabbit-run , in the wood , and leisurely coming towards them . ?* * Would you like to have your portrait taken , Pussy ? ' cried the ant merrily . " The artist looked hopefully at the cat : * Ah , ' said he , ' if you , now , have seen anything novel « this morning , which would make a picture , I might indeed expect something truly splendid from the peculiar vision of those lustrous and ever-changing eyes . ' " The cat stopped—and stared at the party with large round eyes , setting her ears erect . ' ' This is no cat ! ' cried the ant : ' this must be the horned owl !' ' What say you , madam ? ' said the artist , extending one hand with a courteous smile towards the cat , inviting her approach . " But the cat only continued her staring . " ' What does she take us for ? ' asked the bee , turning to the artist . " * You might at least open your mouth , Mrs . Mary Howe ! ' said the ant . " ' Pray come nearer , ' continued the artist ; ' I beg—I entreat you will . Nay , I must insiBt upon it . ' " The cat stared at him as at first : then , turning her head on one side , fell to licking her shoulder , as though it required an immediate and particular attention . " The company present having borne this insolent indifference a sufficient length of time , our artist requested her ladyship to inform him if he could be of any service to her , and if so , perhaps she would favour him with her commands . ?• The cat now raised her head , and , turning her gaze upward , stared all round at the tops of the trees with her large shining eyes , and then , settling herself in an attitude of picturesque ease and comfort , quietly said : — " ' I have been watching you all , this last half hour , in hopes you would go away , as I want this place to myself for a little while . ' « Why ? ' inquired the ant . " The artist looked round about to see if there were any mouse or rat holes , which might render this spot valuable in her eyes ; but , observing none , he said : — " ' I was in hopes , madam , that you n . ight have added to my stock of original sketches this morning by a description of some novel thing or other you had encountered in the wood . ' " But the cat was now sitting with her back towards the group , apparently occupied with looking into the wood beyond , and with her own thoughts , —of which thoughts the company present formed no part whatever . " ' You might at least give a civil answer ! ' murmured the bee . • I see many new things , ' said the cat , * which are not worth speaking about . ' " Have you seen any new thing this morning that would make a picture ? ' inquired the artist , who was now resolved to avail himself to the utmost of his present opportunity in finding originality . ' ? ' Yes , ' replied the cat , scratching one ear ; ' but it is not worth the trouble of telling . ' " This snatch of philosophy will also be read with interest : — " * A cat , " said the ant , with a brisk and confident air of youthful philosophy , —' a cat observes nothing that does not immediately concern her own eating or catching interests . In fact , all creatures who have only four legs are very deficient in observation . ' •" That is not a correct statement , ' said the bee ; ' you are thinking exclusively of your own powers of minute and excursive examination . Four-legged creatures often have good sight . Dogs , for instance , are great observers ; nothing escapes the eye of a monkey ;*
and you never meet a horse in a lane or road , without his giving a quiet look at you as he passes . ' «'' Really , ' exclaimed the artist , ' this is all very true ; and , as regards the cat , it is very surprising , j pair of eyes so wonderful and beautiful , not to say alarming , one would have expected to be the most observant of visual organs . ' " Not so ; ' interrupted the spider . ' But what can . be expected of one pair of eyes ?' " ' Ah ! ' said the bee , there is more than the question of numbers in this . It is the thing behind the eye that makes the great difference in all our visions . It is the mind , Mrs . Spinster , —yes , it is the mind that makes the sort of sight we see . ' "' Nof' cried the robin , abruptly , ' no ; it is the object that makes all the difference with me . '
" ' Look ! * said the spider , extending and raising one claw , as if to demonstrate a problem ; ' look ! the object is the first thing , call it A ; the mind is the third thing , call it C ; and the middle thing , call it X , is the sort of eyes we have , and these mediate or interpret all from without , to all that ' s within . And hence the eyes , — what they are , and how they see , —make the fact , an £ difference of visible nature throughout all living creatures . A + X = C , —the object added to the peculiar eyesight , — gives the mind concerning that object . ' '" I work it differently , ' said the bee . 'I work it A + C = X ; the object added to the mind is equal to the eyesight . ' A robin succeeds the cat ; but we must pause .
Enough if we say that the one object described by the seven creatures ( including the artist , who sees it as a sovereign ) presents pictures as different to each as each creature is to the other . No sooner does the author quit the world of animals for the world of man than our interest suddenl y ceases . His fable is less fantastic than his real life . His spider , bee , cat , and fish are truer than his human beings . The reason is simple : in one case the poet ' s imagination , guided by observation , concerns itself with the actual truth ; in the other case , there is a misadjustment of vision caused by the wish to point a satirical " moral , " and that a false one . But we conclude with a hearty and emphatic recommendation of the book as a curious and delightful contribution to poetry , natural history , and sper culation .
136 G$E 9le&Tf0t. [Saturday,
136 G $ e 9 Le & tf 0 t . [ Saturday ,
• Not Properly A Quadruped, Nor A Biped ...
• Not properly a quadruped , nor a biped ; but a quadrumane , or , as the Germans call it , vier-handig .
Books On Our Table. Household Words. Con...
BOOKS ON OUR TABLE . Household Words . Conducted by Charles Dickens . Monthly Part . This very agreeable miscellany is even better in its monthly part than in weekly numbers , for the tales are all finished in it , and can bp read as wholes . The general ability displayed in it would be no mystery were the names appended to the various articles , for we trace in them the " fine Roman band " of more than one eminent author besides its editor . Nevertheless we believe the preservation of the anonymous is more effective on the whole . Nothing can be better than the spirit of this work in its treatment of all social questions ; and the popular mode of bringing such subjects as prison discipline , university education , & c , home to the " business and bosoms " of the mass of readers is both effective and useful .
More Prose and Verse . By the Corn Law Rhymer . 2 Vols Charles Fox . We have been greatly disappointed with these volumes . They are interesting indeed as the productions of so remarkable a writer , and still more interesting from the light they throw upon his personal character ; but as poems they are unworthy of his reputation : bitter , personal , and—worst fault of all in poems—commonplace . In the " Year of Seeds " and one or two ballads we hear the chords of the old harp sounding as of yore , but the bulk of the volumes has little intrinsic value .
Eight Letters to the Young Men of the Working Classes . By Thomas Cooper , Author of " The Purgatory of Suicides . " J . Watson . When a man sets down to deliberately record the experiences of his own life , the steps by wh'ch his ascent was gained , the energies it needed and called forth , he fulfils the real office of literature ; when a remarkable man does so , he " does the state some service . " This Thomas Cooper—a remarkable man on many accounts—has done in his unpretending , but extremely useful , little work . It is addressed to young men of the working classes , to whom , of course , Thomas Cooper speaks with that authority which their sympathy invests him with ; but young men of all classes will be profited by studying its precepts , delivered in strong , homely language , and uttered not for effect , " but for tuition .
Egcria ; or , the Spirit of Nature and Other Poems . By Charles Mackay , Author of " Voices from the Crowd . " D . Bogue . Mr . Mackay is secure of an audience ; his political poems have been thoroughly popular . In the present volume he comes forward with a longer and more ambitious poem than usual , to which we shall return for the purpose of comprehensive criticism , on some occasion when our table is less covered with books demanding notice : poems are not things of a day . Meanwhile we must content ourselves with announcing the appearance of the volume , and giving a hearty recommendation of it to our readers . The Education of the Feelings . By Charles Bray . 2 nd Edition . Longman and Co ,
We are not surprised to see a second edition of this very admirable work . The importance of the topic , and the calm , philosophic , elevated spirit in which it is treated , render it a valued friend to every family . Let any man reflect upon the education of one kind or another which his
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), May 4, 1850, page 16, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_04051850/page/16/
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