the vision spendid(美景)-第6章
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〃I met a hundred men on the road to Delhi； and they were all my
brothers。〃Old Proverb。
THE REBEL FLUNKS IN A COURSE ON HOW TO GET ON IN
LIFE
PART 1
It would be easy to overemphasize Jeff's intellectual difficulties at the
expense of the deep delight he found in many phases of his student life。
The daily routine of the library； the tennis courts； and the jolly table talk
brought out the boy in him that had been submerged。
There developed in him a vagabond streak that took him into the
woods and the hills for days at a time。 About the middle of his Sophomore
year he discovered Whitman。 While camping alone at night under the stars
he used to shout out；
〃Strong and content； I travel the open road；〃 or
〃Allons！ The road is before us！
〃It is safeI have tried itmy own feet have tried it well。〃
Through Stevenson's essay on Whitman Jeff came to know the Scotch
writer； and from the first paragraph of him was a sealed follower of R。 L。
S。 In different ways both of these poets ministered to a certain love of
freedom； of beauty； of outdoor spaces that was ineradicably a part of his
nature。 The essence of vagabondage is the spirit of romance。 One may tour
every corner of the earth and still be a respectable Pharisee。 One may
never move a dozen miles from the village of his birth and yet be of the
happy company of romantics。 Jeff could find in a sunset； in a stretch of
windswept plain； in the sight of water through leafless trees； something
that filled his heart with emotion。
Perhaps the very freedom of these vacation excursions helped to feed
his growing discontent。 The yeast of rebellion was forever stirring in him。
He wanted to come to life with open mind。 He was possessed of an
insatiable curiosity about it。 This took him to the slums of Verden； to the
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redlight district； to Socialist meetings； to a striking coal camp near the city
where he narrowly escaped being killed as a scab。 He knew that something
was wrong with our social life。 Inextricably blended with success and
happiness he saw everywhere pain； defeat； and confusion。 Why must such
things be？ Why poverty at all？
But when he flung his questions at Pearson； who had charge of the
work in sociology； the explanations of the professor seemed to him
pitifully weak。
In the ethics class he met the same experience。 A chance reference to
Drummond's 〃Natural Law in the Spiritual world〃 introduced him to that
stimulating book。 All one night he sat up and read it drank it in with
every fiber of his thirsty being。
The fire in his stove went out。 He slipped into his overcoat。 Gray
morning found him still reading。 He walked out with dazed eyes into a
world that had been baptized anew during the night to a miraculous
rebirth。
But when he took his discovery to the lecture room Dawson was not
only cold but hostile。 Drummond was not sound。 There was about him a
specious charm very likely to attract young minds。 Better let such books
alone for the present。 In the meantime the class would take up with him
the discussion of predeterminism as outlined in Tuesday's work。
There were members of the faculty big enough to have understood the
boy and tolerant enough to have sympathized with his crude revolt； but
Jeff was diffident and never came in touch with them。
His connection with the college ended abruptly during the Spring term
of his Sophomore year。
A celebrated revivalist was imported to quicken the spiritual life of the
University。 Under his exhortations the institution underwent a religious
ferment。 An extraordinary excitement was astir on the campus。 Class
prayer meetings were held every afternoon； and at midday smaller groups
met for devotional exercises。 At these latter those who had made no
profession of religion were petitioned for by name。 James Farnum was
swept into the movement and distinguished himself by his zeal。 It was
understood that he desired the prayers of friends for that relative who had
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not yet cast away the burden of his sins。
It became a point of honor with his cousin's circle to win Jeff for the
cause。 There was no difficulty in getting him to attend the meetings of the
revivalist。 But he sat motionless through the emotional climax that brought
to an end each meeting。 To him it seemed that this was not in any vital
sense religion； but he was careful not to suggest his feeling by so much as
a word。
One or two of his companions invited him to come to Jesus。 He
disconcerted them by showing an unexpected familiarity with the
Scriptures as a weapon of offense against them。
James invited him to his rooms and labored with him。 Jeff resorted to
the Socratic method。 From what sins was he to be saved？ And when would
he know he had found salvation？
His cousin uneasily explained the formula。 〃You must believe in Christ
and Him crucified。 You must surrender your will to His。 Shall we pray
together？〃
〃I'd rather not； J。 K。 First； I want to get some points clear。 Do you
mean that I'm to believe in what Jesus said and to try to live as he
suggested？〃
〃Yes。〃
Jeff picked up his cousin's Bible and read a passage。 〃 'We know that
we have passed from death unto life； BECAUSE WE LOVE THE
BRETHREN。 He that loveth not his brother abideth in death。' That's the
test； isn't it？〃
〃Well； you have to be converted；〃 James said dubiously。
〃Isn't that conversionloving your brother？ And if a man is willing to
live in plenty while his brother is in poverty； if he exploits those weaker
than himself to help him get along； then he can't be really converted； can
he？〃
〃Now see here； Jeff； you've got the wrong idea。 Christ didn't come into
the world to reform it； but to save it from its sins。 He wasn't merely a man；
but the Divine Son of God。〃
〃I don't understand the dual nature of Jesus。 But when one reads His
life it is easy to believe in His divinity。〃 After a moment the young man
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added： 〃In one way we're all divine sons of God； aren't we？〃
James was shocked。 〃Where do you get such notions？ None of our
people were infidels。〃
〃Am I one？〃
〃You ought to take advantage of this chance。 It's not right to set your
opinion up against those that know better。〃
〃And that's what I'm doing； isn't it？〃 Jeff smiled。 〃Can't help it。 I
reckon I can't be saved by my emotions。 It's going to be a life job。〃
James gave him up； but he sent another Senior to make a last attempt。
The young man was Thurston Thomas and he had never exchanged six
sentences with Jeff in his life。 The unrepentant sinner sent him to the right
about sharply。
〃What the devil do you mean by running about officiously and
bothering about other people's souls？ Better look out for your own。〃
Thomas； a scion of one of the best families in Verden； looked as if he
had been slapped in the face。
〃Why Farnum； II spoke for your good。〃
〃No； you didn't；〃 contradicted Jeff flatly。 〃You don't care a hang about
me。 You've never noticed me before。 We're not friends。 You've always
disliked me。 But you want the credit of bringing me into the fold。 It's
damned impertinent of you。〃
The Senior retired with a white face。 He was furious； but he thought it
due himself to turn the other cheek by saying nothing。 He reported his
version to a circle of friends； and from them it spread like grass seed in the
wind。 Soon it was generally known that Jeff Farnum had grossly insulted
with blasphemy a man who had tried to save his soul。
Two days later Miller met Jeff at the door of Frome 15。
〃You're in bad！ Jeff。 What the deuce did you do to Sissy Thomas？〃
〃Gave him some good advice。〃
Miller grinned。 〃I'll bet you did。 The little cad has been poisoning the
wells against you。 Look there。〃
A young woman of their class had passed into the room。 Her glance
had fallen upon Farnum and been quickly averted。
〃That's the first time Bessie Vroom ever cut you；〃 Sam continued
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angrily。 〃Thomas is responsible。 I've heard the story a dozen times
already。〃
〃I only told him to mind his own business。〃
〃He can't。 He's a born meddler。 Now he's queered you with the whole
place。〃
〃Can't help it。 I wasn't going to let him get away with his impudence。
Why should I？〃 Miller shrugged。 〃Policy； my boy。 Better take the advice
of Cousin James and crawl into your shell till the storm has pelted past。〃
Half an hour later Jeff met his cousin near the chapel and was taken to
task。
〃What's this I hear about your insulting Thomas？〃
〃You have it wrong。 He insulted me；〃 Jeff corrected with a smile。
〃Tommyrot！ Why couldn't you treat him right？〃
〃Didn't like to throw him through the window on account of littering
up the lawn with broken glass。 〃
James K。's handsome square…cut face did not relax to a smile。 〃You
may think this a joke； but I don't。 I've heard the Chancellor is going to call
you on the carpet。〃
〃If he does he'll learn what I think。〃
The upper classman's anger boiled over。 〃You might think of me a
little。〃
〃Didn't know you were in this； J。 K。〃
〃They know I'm your cousin。 It's hurting my reputation。〃
A faint ironic smile touched Jeff's face。 〃No； James； I'm helping it。
Ever notice how blondes and brun
