character-第38章
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their study。 They would soon discover that they were living in
the midst of a strong； earnest； and intelligent nation； entirely
destitute； it is true； of noble and delicate feelings； of all
fascinating charms； but endowed with every solid virtue； and alike
distinguished for untiring industry； order； and economy； as well
as for patriotism； a strong sense of duty； and that consciousness
of personal dignity which in their case is so happily blended with
respect for authority and obedience to the law。 They would see a
country with firm； sound； and moral institutions； whose upper
classes are worthy of their rank； and； by possessing the highest
degree of culture； devoting themselves to the service of the
State； setting an example of patriotism； and knowing how to
preserve the influence legitimately their own。 They would find a
State with an excellent administration where everything is in its
right place； and where the most admirable order prevails in every
branch of the social and political system。 Prussia may be well
compared to a massive structure of lofty proportions and
astounding solidity； which； though it has nothing to delight the
eye or speak to the heart； cannot but impress us with its grand
symmetry； equally observable in its broad foundations as in its
strong and sheltering roof。
〃And what is France？ What is French society in these latter days？
A hurly…burly of disorderly elements； all mixed and jumbled
together； a country in which everybody claims the right to occupy
the highest posts； yet few remember that a man to be employed in a
responsible position ought to have a well…balanced mind； ought to
be strictly moral； to know something of the world； and possess
certain intellectual powers； a country in which the highest
offices are frequently held by ignorant and uneducated persons；
who either boast some special talent； or whose only claim is
social position and some versatility and address。 What a baneful
and degrading state of things！ And how natural that； while it
lasts； France should be full of a people without a position；
without a calling； who do not know what to do with themselves； but
are none the less eager to envy and malign every one who does。。。。
〃The French do not possess in any very marked degree the qualities
required to render general conscription acceptable； or to turn it
to account。 Conceited and egotistic as they are； the people would
object to an innovation whose invigorating force they are unable
to comprehend； and which cannot be carried out without virtues
which they do not possessself…abnegation； conscientious
recognition of duty； and a willingness to sacrifice personal
interests to the loftier demands of the country。 As the character
of individuals is only improved by experience； most nations
require a chastisement before they set about reorganising their
political institutions。 So Prussia wanted a Jena to make her the
strong and healthy country she is。〃
（8） Yet even in De Tocqueville's benevolent nature； there was a
pervading element of impatience。 In the very letter in which the
above passage occurs； he says： 〃Some persons try to be of use to
men while they despise them； and others because they love them。
In the services rendered by the first； there is always something
incomplete； rough； and contemptuous； that inspires neither
confidence nor gratitude。 I should like to belong to the second
class； but often I cannot。 I love mankind in general； but I
constantly meet with individuals whose baseness revolts me。 I
struggle daily against a universal contempt for my fellow；
creatures。〃MEMOIRS AND REMAINS OF DE TOCQUEVILLE； vol。 i。 p。
813。 （Letter to Kergorlay； Nov。 13th； 1833）。
（9） Gleig's 'Life of Wellington；' pp。 314； 315。
（10） 'Life of Arnold；' i。 94。
（11） See the 'Memoir of George Wilson； M。D。； F。R。S。E。' By his sister
（Edinburgh； 1860）。
（12） Such cases are not unusual。 We personally knew a young lady； a
countrywoman of Professor Wilson； afflicted by cancer in the
breast； who concealed the disease from her parents lest it should
occasion them distress。 An operation became necessary； and when
the surgeons called for the purpose of performing it； she herself
answered the door； received them with a cheerful countenance； led
them upstairs to her room； and submitted to the knife； and her
parents knew nothing of the operation until it was all over。
But the disease had become too deeply seated for recovery；
and the noble self…denying girl died； cheerful and uncomplaining
to the end。
（13） 〃One night； about eleven o'clock； Keats returned home in a state
of strange physical excitementit might have appeared； to those
who did not know him； one of fierce intoxication。 He told his
friend he had been outside the stage…coach； had received a severe
chill； was a little fevered； but added； 'I don't feel it now。' He
was easily persuaded to go to bed； and as he leapt into the cold
sheets； before his head was on the pillow； he slightly coughed and
said； 'That is blood from my mouth； bring me the candle； let me
see this blood' He gazed steadfastly for some moments at the ruddy
stain； and then； looking in his friend's face with an expression
of sudden calmness never to be forgotten； said； 'I know the colour
of that bloodit is arterial blood。 I cannot be deceived in
that colour； that drop is my death…warrant。 I must die！'〃
Houghton's LIFE OF KEATS； Ed。 1867； p。 289。
In the case of George Wilson； the bleeding was in the first
instance from the stomach； though he afterwards suffered from lung
haemorrhage like Keats。 Wilson afterwards； speaking of the Lives
of Lamb and Keats； which had just appeared； said he had been
reading them with great sadness。 〃There is；〃 said he； 〃something
in the noble brotherly love of Charles to brighten； and hallow；
and relieve that sadness； but Keats's deathbed is the blackness of
midnight； unmitigated by one ray of light！〃
（14） On the doctors； who attended him in his first attack； mistaking
the haemorrhage from the stomach for haemorrhage from the lungs；
he wrote： 〃It would have been but poor consolation to have had
as an epitaph：…
〃Here lies George Wilson；
Overtaken by Nemesis；
He died not of Haemoptysis；
But of Haematemesis。〃
（15） 'Memoir；' p。 427。
CHAPTER VIII。TEMPER。
〃Temper is nine…tenths of Christianity。〃BISHOP WILSON。
〃Heaven is a temper； not a place。〃DR。 CHALMERS。
〃And should my youth； as youth is apt I know；
Some harshness show；
All vain asperities I day by day
Would wear away；
Till the smooth temper of my age should be
Like the high leaves upon the Holly Tree〃SOUTHEY。
Even Power itself hath not one…half the might of Gentleness〃
LEIGH HUNT。
It has been said that men succeed in life quite as much by their
temper as by their talents。 However this may be； it is certain
that their happiness in life depends mainly upon their equanimity
of disposition； their patience and forbearance； and their kindness
and thoughtfulness for those about them。 It is really true what
Plato says； that in seeking the good of others we find our own。
There are some natures so happily constituted that they can find
good in everything。 There is no calamity so great but they can
educe comfort or consolation from itno sky so black but they
can discover a gleam of sunshine issuing through it from some
quarter or another； and if the sun be not visible to their eyes；
they at least comfort themselves with the thought that it IS
there； though veiled from them for some good and wise purpose。
Such happy natures are to be envied。 They have a beam in the eye
a beam of pleasure； gladness； religious cheerfulness；
philosophy； call it what you will。 Sunshine is about their
hearts； and their mind gilds with its own hues all that it looks
upon。 When they have burdens to bear； they bear them cheerfully
not repining； nor fretting； nor wasting their energies in useless
lamentation； but struggling onward manfully； gathering up such
flowers as lie along their path。
Let it not for a moment be supposed that men such as those we
speak of are weak and unreflective。 The largest and most
comprehensive natures are generally also the most cheerful； the
most loving； the most hopeful； the most trustful。 It is the wise
man； of large vision； who is the quickest to discern the moral
sunshine gleaming through the darkest cloud。 In present evil he
sees prospective good； in pain； he recognises the effort of nature
to restore health； in trials； he finds correction and discipline；
and in sorrow and suffering； he gathers courage； knowledge； and
the best practical wisdom。
When Jeremy Taylor had lost allwhen his house had been
plundered； and his family driven out…of…doors； and all his worldly
estate had been sequestratedhe could still write thus： 〃I am
fallen into the hands of publicans and sequestrators； and they
have taken all from me； what now？ Let me look about me。 They
have left me the sun and moon； a loving wife； and many friends to
pity me； and some to relieve me； and I can still discourse； and；
unless I list； they have not taken away my merry countenance and
my cheerful spirit； and a good conscience； they have still left me
the providence of God； and all the promises of the Gospel； and my
religion； and my hopes of heaven； and my charity to them； too； and
still I sleep and digest； I eat and drink； I read and meditate。。。。
And he that hath so many causes of joy； and so great； is very much
in love with sorrow and peevishness； who loves all these
pleasures； and chooses to sit down upon his little handful
of thorns。〃 （1）
Although cheerfulness of disposition is very much a matter of
inborn temperament； it is also capable of being trained and
cultivated like any other habit。 We may make the best of life； or
we may make the worst of it； and it depends very much upon
ourselves whether we extract joy or misery from it。 There are
always two sides of life on which we can look； according as we
choosethe bright side or the gloomy。 We can bring the power of
the will to bear in making the choice； and thus cultivate the
habit of being happy or the reverse。 We can encourage the
disposition of looking at the brightest side of things； instead of
the darkest。 And while we see the cloud； let us not shut our eyes
to the silver lining。
The beam in the eye sheds brightness； beauty； and joy upon life in
all its phases。 It shines upon coldness； and warms it； upon
suffering； and comforts it； upon ignorance； and enlightens it；
upon sorrow； and cheers it。 The beam in the eye gives lustre to
intellect； and brightens beauty itself。 Without it the sunshine
of li
