autobiography of a pocket-handkerchief-第2章

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to　astronomers；　produced　a　deep　and　unexpected　impression　on　me。
〃Our　instruments；〃　he　said；　〃are　now　so　perfect　and　powerful；　as　to
enable　us　to　ascertain　many　facts　of　the　deepest　interest；　with　near
approaches　to　positive　accuracy。　The　moon　being　the　heavenly　body
much　the　nearest　to　us；　of　course　we　see　farther　into　its　secrets　than　into
those　of　any　other　planet。　We　have　calculated　its　distance　from　us　at
237；000　miles。　Of　course　by　doubling　this　distance；　and　adding　to　it　the
diameter　of　the　earth；　we　get　the　diameter　of　the　circle；　or　orbit；　in
which　the　moon　moves　around　the　earth。　In　other　words　the　diameter　of
this　orbit　is　about　480；000　miles。　Now　could　the　sun　be　brought　in
contact　with　this　orbit；　and　had　the　latter　solidity　to　mark　its
circumference；　it　would　be　found　that　this　circumference　would　include
but　a　little　more　than　half　the　surface　of　one　side　of　the　sun；　the　diameter
of　which　orb　is　calculated　to　be　882；000　miles！　The　sun　is　one　million
three　hundred　and　eighty…four　thousand　four　hundred　and　seventy…two
times　larger　than　the　earth。　Of　the　substance　of　the　sun　it　is　not　so　easy
to　speak。　Still　it　is　thought；　though　it　is　not　certain；　that　we　occasionally
see　the　actual　surface　of　this　orb；　an　advantage　we　do　not　possess　as
respects　any　other　of　the　heavenly　bodies；　with　the　exception　of　the
moon　and　Mars。　The　light　and　warmth　of　the　sun　probably　exist　in　its
atmosphere；　and　the　spots　which　are　so　often　seen　on　this　bright　orb；
are　supposed　to　be　glimpses　of　the　solid　mass　of　the　sun　itself；　that　are
occasionally　obtained　through　openings　in　this　atmosphere。　At　all
events；　this　is　the　more　consistent　way　of　accounting　for　the　appearance
of　these　spots。　You　will　get　a　better　idea　of　the　magnitude　of　the
sidereal　system；　however；　by　remembering　that；　in　comparison　with　it；
the　distances　of　our　entire　solar　system　are　as　mere　specks。　Thus；　while
our　own　change　of　positions　is　known　to　embrace　an　orbit　of　about
200；000；000　of　miles；　it　is　nevertheless　so　trifling　as　to　produce　no
apparent　change　of　position　in　thousands　of　the　fixed　stars　that　are
believed　to　be　the　suns　of　other　systems。　Some　conjecture　even　that　all
these　suns；　with　their　several　systems；　our　own　included；　revolve　around
a　common　centre　that　is　invisible　to　us；　but　which　is　the　actual　throne　of
God；　the　comets　that　we　note　and　measure　being　heavenly　messengers；
as　it　might　be；　constantly　passing　from　one　of　these　families　of　worlds　to
another。〃

I　remember　that　one　of　the　astronomer's　pupils　asked　certain
explanations　here；　touching　the　planets　that　it　was　thought；　or　rather
known；　that　we　could　actually　see；　and　those　of　which　the　true　surfaces
were　believed　to　be　concealed　from　us。　〃I　have　told　you；〃　answered　the
man　of　science；　〃that　they　are　the　Moon；　Mars　and　the　Sun。　Both
Venus　and　Mercury　are　nearer　to　us　than　Mars；　but　their　relative
proximities　to　the　sun　have　some　such　effect　on　their　surfaces；　as　placing
an　object　near　a　strong　light　is　known　to　have　on　its　appearance。　We
are　dazzled；　to　speak　popularly；　and　cannot　distinguish　minutely。　With
Mars　it　is　different。　If　this　planet　has　any　atmosphere　at　all；　it　is　one　of
no　great　density；　and　its　orbit　being　without　our　own；　we　can　easily
trace　on　its　surface　the　outlines　of　seas　and　continents。　It　is　even
supposed　that　the　tinge　of　the　latter　is　that　of　reddish　sand…stone；　like
much　of　that　known　in　our　own　world；　but　more　decided　in　tint；　while
two　brilliant　white　spots；　at　its　poles；　are　thought　to　be　light　reflected
from　the　snows　of　those　regions；　rendered　more　conspicuous；　or
disappearing；　as　they　first　emerge　from　a　twelvemonths'　winter；　or　melt
in　a　summer　of　equal　duration。〃

I　could　have　listened　forever　to　this　astronomer；　whose　lectures　so
profoundly　taught　lessons　of　humility　to　the　created；　and　which　were　so
replete　with　silent　eulogies　on　the　power　of　the　Creator！　What　was　it　to
me　whether　I　were　a　modest　plant；　of　half　a　cubit　in　stature；　or　the
proudest　oak　of　the　forestman　or　vegetable？　My　duty　was　clearly　to
glorify　the　dread　Being　who　had　produced　all　these　marvels；　and　to　fulfil
my　time　in　worship；　praise　and　contentment。　It　mattered　not　whether　my
impressions　were　derived　through　organs　called　ears；　and　were
communicated　by　others　called　those　of　speech；　or　whether　each
function　was　performed　by　means　of　sensations　and　agencies　too　subtle
to　be　detected　by　ordinary　means。　It　was　enough　for　me　that　I　heard
and　understood；　and　felt　the　goodness　and　glory　of　God。　I　may　say　that
my　first　great　lessons　in　true　philosophy　were　obtained　in　these　lectures；
where　I　learned　to　distinguish　between　the　finite　and　infinite；　ceasing　to
envy　any；　while　I　inclined　to　worship　one。　The　benevolence　of
Providence　is　extended　to　all　its　creatures；　each　receiving　it　in　a　mode
adapted　to　its　own　powers　of　improvement。　My　destiny　being　toward　a
communion　with　manor　rather　with　womanI　have　ever　looked　upon
these　silent　communications　with　the　astronomer　as　so　much
preparatory　schooling；　in　order　that　my　mind　might　be　prepared　for　its
own　avenir；　and　not　be　blinded　by　an　undue　appreciation　of　the
importance　of　its　future　associates。　I　know　there　are　those　who　will
sneer　at　the　supposition　of　a　pocket…handkerchief　possessing　any　mind；
or　esprit；　at　all；　but　let　such　have　patience　and　read　on；　when　I　hope　it
will　be　in　my　power　to　demonstrate　their　error。

｛avenir　=　future；　esprit　=　soul　or　vital　spirit　｝



CHAPTER　II。

It　is　scarcely　necessary　to　dwell　on　the　scenes　which　occurred　between
the　time　I　first　sprang　from　the　earth　and　that　in　which　I　was　〃pulled。〃
The　latter　was　a　melancholy　day　for　me；　however；　arriving　prematurely
as　regarded　my　vegetable　state；　since　it　was　early　determined　that　I　was
to　be　spun　into　threads　of　unusual　fineness。　I　will　only　say；　here；　that　my
youth　was　a　period　of　innocent　pleasures；　during　which　my　chief　delight
was　to　exhibit　my　simple　but　beautiful　flowers；　in　honor　of　the　hand　that
gave　them　birth。

At　the　proper　season；　the　whole　field　was　laid　low；　when　a　scene　of
hurry　and　confusion　succeeded；　to　which　I　find　it　exceedingly　painful　to
turn　in　memory。　The　〃rotting〃　was　the　most　humiliating　part　of　the
process　which　followed；　though；　in　our　case；　this　was　done　in　clear
running　water；　and　the　〃crackling〃　the　most　uncomfortable。　Happily；　we
were　spared　the　anguish　which　ordinarily　accompanies　breaking　on　the
wheel；　though　we　could　not　be　said　to　have　entirely　escaped　from　all　its
parade。　Innocence　was　our　shield；　and　while　we　endured　some　of　the
disgrace　that　attaches　to　mere　forms；　we　had　that　consolation　of　which
no　cruelty　or　device　can　deprive　the　unoffending。　Our　sorrows　were　not
heightened　by　the　consciousness　of　undeserving。

｛〃rotting〃　was。。。　=　to　prepare　flax　for　weaving　as　linen　it　is　softened
（technically；　〃retted〃）　by　soaking　in　water；　separated　from　its　woody
fibers　by　beating　（〃scutched〃this　seems　to　be　what　Cooper　means　by
〃crackling〃）；　and　finally　combed　（〃hatcheled〃）｝

There　is　a　period；　which　occurred　between　the　time　of　being　〃hatcheled〃
and　that　of　being　〃woven；〃　that　it　exceeds　my　powers　to　delineate。　All
around　me　seemed　to　be　in　a　state　of　inextricable　confusion；　out　of
which　order　finally　appeared　in　the　shape　of　a　piece　of　cambric；　of　a
quality　that　brought　the　workmen　far　and　near　to　visit　it。　We　were　a
single　family　of　only　twelve；　in　this　rare　fabric；　among　which　I　remember
that　I　occupied　the　seventh　place　in　the　order　of　arrangement；　and　of
course　in　the　order　of　seniority　also。　When　properly　folded；　and
bestowed　in　a　comfortable　covering；　our　time　passed　pleasantly　enough；
being　removed　from　all　disagreeable　sights　and　smells；　and　lodged　in　a
place　of　great　security；　and　indeed　of　honor；　men　seldom　failing　to
bestow　this　attention　on　their　valuables。

｛cambric　=　a　fine　white　linen；　originally　from　Cambray　in　Flanders｝

It　is　out　of　my　power　to　say　precisely　how　long　we　remained　in　this
passive　state　in　the　hands　of　the　manufacturer。　It　was　some　weeks；
however；　if　not　months；　during　which　our　chief　communications　were　on
the　chances　of　our　future　fortunes。　Some　of　our　number　were　ambitious；
and　would　hear　to　nothing　but　the　probability；　nay；　the　certainty；　of　our
being　purchased；　as　soon　as　our　arrival　in　Paris　should　be　made　known；
by　the　king；　in　person；　and　presented　to　the　dauphine；　then　the　first　lady
in　France。　The　virtues　of　the　Duchesse　d'Angouleme　were　properly
appreciated　by　some　of　us；　while　I　discovered　that　others　entertained
for　her　any　feelings　but　those　of　veneration　and　respect。　This　diversity　of
opinion；　on　a　subject　of　which　one　would　think　none　of　us　very　well
qualified　to　be　judges；　was　owing　to　a　circumstance　of　such　every…day
occurrence　as　almost　to　supersede　the　necessity　of　telling　it；　though　the
narrative　would　be　rendered　more　complete　by　an　explanation。

｛Dauphine　=　Crown　Princess；　Duchesse　d'Angouleme　=　Marie　Therese
Charlotte　（1778…1851）；　the　Dauphine；　daughter　of　King　Louis　XVI　and
wife　of　Louis　Antoine　of　Artois；　Duke　of　Angouleme；　eldest　son　of　King
Charles　Xshe　lost　her　chance　to　become　queen　when　her　father…in…
law　abdicated　the　French　throne　in　1830Napoleon　said　of　her　that
she　was　〃the　only　man　in　her　family〃｝

It　happened；　while　we　lay　in　the　bleaching　grounds；　that　one　half　of　the
piece　extended　into　a　part　of　the　field　that　came　under　the　management
of　a　legitimist；　while　the　other　invaded　the　dominions　of　a　liberal。　Neither
of　these　persons　had　any　concern　with　us；　we　being　under　the　special
superintendence　of　the　head　workman；　but　it　was　impossible；　altogether
impossible；　to　escape　the　consequences　of　our　locales。　While　the
legitimist　read　nothing　but　the　Moniteur；　the　liberal　read　nothing　but　Le
Temps；　a　journal　then　recently　established；　in　the　supposed　interests　of
human　freedom。　Each　of　these　individuals　got　a　paper　at　a　certain　hour；
which　he　read　with　as　much　manner　as　he　could　command；　and　with
singular　perseverance　as　related　to　the　difficulties　to　be　overcome；　to　a
clientele　of　bleachers；　who　reasoned　as　he　reasoned；　swore　by　his
oaths；　and　finally　arrived　at　all　his　conclusions。　The　liberals　had　the　best
of　it　as　to　numbers；　and　possibly　as　to　wit；　the　Moniteur　possessing　all
the　dullness　of　official　dignity　under　all　the　dynasties　and　ministries　that
have　governed　France　since　its　establishment。　My　business；　however；　is
with　the　effect　produced　on　the　pocket…handkerchiefs；　and　not　with　that
produced　on　the　laborers。　The　two　extremes　were　regular　cotes
gauches　and　cotes　droits。　In　other　words；　all　at　the　right　end　of　the
piece　became　devoted　Bourbonists；　devoutly　believing　that　princes；
who　were　daily　mentioned　with　so　much　reverence　and　respect；　could
be　nothing　else　but　perfect；　while　the　opposite　extreme　were　disposed
to　think　that　nothing　good　could　come　of　Nazareth。　In　this　way；　four　of
our　number　became　decided　politicians；　not　only　entertaining　a
sovereign　contempt　for　the　sides　they　respectively　opposed；　but
beginning　to　feel　sensations　approaching　to　hatred　for　each　other。

｛bleaching　grounds　=　open　spaces　where　newly　woven　linen　is　spread
to　whiten　in　the　sun；　legitimist。。。。　=　this　paragraph　refers　to