lay morals-第10章

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You　belong；　sir；　to　a　sect　…　I　believe　my　sect；　and　that　in　　which　my　ancestors　laboured　…　which　has　enjoyed；　and　partly　　failed　to　utilise；　an　exceptional　advantage　in　the　islands　of　　Hawaii。　　The　first　missionaries　came；　they　found　the　land　　already　self…purged　of　its　old　and　bloody　faith；　they　were　　embraced；　almost　on　their　arrival；　with　enthusiasm；　what　　troubles　they　supported　came　far　more　from　whites　than　from　　Hawaiians；　and　to　these　last　they　stood　（in　a　rough　figure）　　in　the　shoes　of　God。　　This　is　not　the　place　to　enter　into　the　　degree　or　causes　of　their　failure；　such　as　it　is。　　One　　element　alone　is　pertinent；　and　must　here　be　plainly　dealt　　with。　　In　the　course　of　their　evangelical　calling；　they　…　or　　too　many　of　them　…　grew　rich。　　It　may　be　news　to　you　that　the　　houses　of　missionaries　are　a　cause　of　mocking　on　the　streets　　of　Honolulu。　　It　will　at　least　be　news　to　you；　that　when　I　　returned　your　civil　visit；　the　driver　of　my　cab　commented　on　　the　size；　the　taste；　and　the　comfort　of　your　home。　　It　would　　have　been　news　certainly　to　myself；　had　any　one　told　me　that　　afternoon　that　I　should　live　to　drag　such　matter　into　print。　　　But　you　see；　sir；　how　you　degrade　better　men　to　your　own　　level；　and　it　is　needful　that　those　who　are　to　judge　betwixt　　you　and　me；　betwixt　Damien　and　the　devil's　advocate；　should　　understand　your　letter　to　have　been　penned　in　a　house　which　　could　raise；　and　that　very　justly；　the　envy　and　the　comments　　of　the　passers…by。　　I　think　（to　employ　a　phrase　of　yours　　which　I　admire）　it　'should　be　attributed'　to　you　that　you　　have　never　visited　the　scene　of　Damien's　life　and　death。　　If　　you　had；　and　had　recalled　it；　and　looked　about　your　pleasant　　rooms；　even　your　pen　perhaps　would　have　been　stayed。

Your　sect　（and　remember；　as　far　as　any　sect　avows　me；　it　is　　mine）　has　not　done　ill　in　a　worldly　sense　in　the　Hawaiian　　Kingdom。　　When　calamity　befell　their　innocent　parishioners；　　when　leprosy　descended　and　took　root　in　the　Eight　Islands；　a　　QUID　PRO　QUO　was　to　be　looked　for。　　To　that　prosperous　　mission；　and　to　you；　as　one　of　its　adornments；　God　had　sent　　at　last　an　opportunity。　　I　know　I　am　touching　here　upon　a　　nerve　acutely　sensitive。　　I　know　that　others　of　your　　colleagues　look　back　on　the　inertia　of　your　Church；　and　the　　intrusive　and　decisive　heroism　of　Damien；　with　something　　almost　to　be　called　remorse。　　I　am　sure　it　is　so　with　　yourself；　I　am　persuaded　your　letter　was　inspired　by　a　　certain　envy；　not　essentially　ignoble；　and　the　one　human　　trait　to　be　espied　in　that　performance。　　You　were　thinking　of　　the　lost　chance；　the　past　day；　of　that　which　should　have　been　　conceived　and　was　not；　of　the　service　due　and　not　rendered。　　　Time　was；　said　the　voice　in　your　ear；　in　your　pleasant　room；　　as　you　sat　raging　and　writing；　and　if　the　words　written　were　　base　beyond　parallel；　the　rage；　I　am　happy　to　repeat　…　it　is　　the　only　compliment　I　shall　pay　you　…　the　rage　was　almost　　virtuous。　　But；　sir；　when　we　have　failed；　and　another　has　　succeeded；　when　we　have　stood　by；　and　another　has　stepped　in；　　when　we　sit　and　grow　bulky　in　our　charming　mansions；　and　a　　plain；　uncouth　peasant　steps　into　the　battle；　under　the　eyes　　of　God；　and　succours　the　afflicted；　and　consoles　the　dying；　　and　is　himself　afflicted　in　his　turn；　and　dies　upon　the　field　　of　honour　…　the　battle　cannot　be　retrieved　as　your　unhappy　　irritation　has　suggested。　　It　is　a　lost　battle；　and　lost　for　　ever。　　One　thing　remained　to　you　in　your　defeat　…　some　rags　　of　common　honour；　and　these　you　have　made　haste　to　cast　away。

Common　honour；　not　the　honour　of　having　done　anything　right；　　but　the　honour　of　not　having　done　aught　conspicuously　foul；　　the　honour　of　the　inert：　that　was　what　remained　to　you。　　We　　are　not　all　expected　to　be　Damiens；　a　man　may　conceive　his　　duty　more　narrowly；　he　may　love　his　comforts　better；　and　none　　will　cast　a　stone　at　him　for　that。　　But　will　a　gentleman　of　　your　reverend　profession　allow　me　an　example　from　the　fields　　of　gallantry？　　When　two　gentlemen　compete　for　the　favour　of　a　　lady；　and　the　one　succeeds　and　the　other　is　rejected；　and　（as　　will　sometimes　happen）　matter　damaging　to　the　successful　　rival's　credit　reaches　the　ear　of　the　defeated；　it　is　held　by　　plain　men　of　no　pretensions　that　his　mouth　is；　in　the　　circumstance；　almost　necessarily　closed。　　Your　Church　and　　Damien's　were　in　Hawaii　upon　a　rivalry　to　do　well：　to　help；　　to　edify；　to　set　divine　examples。　　You　having　（in　one　huge　　instance）　failed；　and　Damien　succeeded；　I　marvel　it　should　　not　have　occurred　to　you　that　you　were　doomed　to　silence；　　that　when　you　had　been　outstripped　in　that　high　rivalry；　and　　sat　inglorious　in　the　midst　of　your　wellbeing；　in　your　　pleasant　room　…　and　Damien；　crowned　with　glories　and　horrors；　　toiled　and　rotted　in　that　pigsty　of　his　under　the　cliffs　of　　Kalawao　…　you；　the　elect　who　would　not；　were　the　last　man　on　　earth　to　collect　and　propagate　gossip　on　the　volunteer　who　　would　and　did。

I　think　I　see　you　…　for　I　try　to　see　you　in　the　flesh　as　I　　write　these　sentences　…　I　think　I　see　you　leap　at　the　word　　pigsty；　a　hyperbolical　expression　at　the　best。　　'He　had　no　　hand　in　the　reforms；'　he　was　'a　coarse；　dirty　man'；　these　　were　your　own　words；　and　you　may　think　it　possible　that　I　am　　come　to　support　you　with　fresh　evidence。　　In　a　sense；　it　is　　even　so。　　Damien　has　been　too　much　depicted　with　a　　conventional　halo　and　conventional　features；　so　drawn　by　men　　who　perhaps　had　not　the　eye　to　remark　or　the　pen　to　express　　the　individual；　or　who　perhaps　were　only　blinded　and　silenced　　by　generous　admiration；　such　as　I　partly　envy　for　myself　…　　such　as　you；　if　your　soul　were　enlightened；　would　envy　on　　your　bended　knees。　　It　is　the　least　defect　of　such　a　method　　of　portraiture　that　it　makes　the　path　easy　for　the　devil's　　advocate；　and　leaves　for　the　misuse　of　the　slanderer　a　　considerable　field　of　truth。　　For　the　truth　that　is　　suppressed　by　friends　is　the　readiest　weapon　of　the　enemy。　　　The　world；　in　your　despite；　may　perhaps　owe　you　something；　if　　your　letter　be　the　means　of　substituting　once　for　all　a　　credible　likeness　for　a　wax　abstraction。　　For；　if　that　world　　at　all　remember　you；　on　the　day　when　Damien　of　Molokai　shall　　be　named　Saint；　it　will　be　in　virtue　of　one　work：　your　letter　　to　the　Reverend　H。　B。　Gage。

You　may　ask　on　what　authority　I　speak。　　It　was　my　inclement　　destiny　to　become　acquainted；　not　with　Damien；　but　with　Dr。　　Hyde。　　When　I　visited　the　lazaretto；　Damien　was　already　in　　his　resting　grave。　　But　such　information　as　I　have；　I　　gathered　on　the　spot　in　conversation　with　those　who　knew　him　　well　and　long：　some　indeed　who　revered　his　memory；　but　others　　who　had　sparred　and　wrangled　with　him；　who　beheld　him　with　no　　halo；　who　perhaps　regarded　him　with　small　respect；　and　　through　whose　unprepared　and　scarcely　partial　communications　　the　plain；　human　features　of　the　man　shone　on　me　　convincingly。　　These　gave　me　what　knowledge　I　possess；　and　I　　learnt　it　in　that　scene　where　it　could　be　most　completely　and　　sensitively　understood　…　Kalawao；　which　you　have　never　　visited；　about　which　you　have　never　so　much　as　endeavoured　to　　inform　yourself；　for；　brief　as　your　letter　is；　you　have　found　　the　means　to　stumble　into　that　confession。　　'LESS　THAN　ONE…　HALF　of　the　island；'　you　say；　'is　devoted　to　the　lepers。'　　Molokai　…　'MOLOKAI　AHINA；'　the　'grey；'　lofty；　and　most　　desolate　island　…　along　all　its　northern　side　plunges　a　front　　of　precipice　into　a　sea　of　unusual　profundity。　　This　range　of　　cliff　is；　from　east　to　west；　the　true　end　and　frontier　of　the　　island。　　Only　in　one　spot　there　projects　into　the　ocean　a　　certain　triangular　and　rugged　down；　grassy；　stony；　windy；　and　　rising　in　the　midst　into　a　hill　with　a　dead　crater：　the　whole　　bearing　to　the　cliff　that　overhangs　it　somewhat　the　same　　relation　as　a　bracket　to　a　wall。　　With　this　hint　you　will　now　　be　able　to　pick　out　the　leper　station　on　a　map；　you　will　be　　able　to　judge　how　much　of　Molokai　is　thus　cut　off　between　the　　surf　and　precipice；　whether　less　than　a　half；　or　less　than　a　　quarter；　or　a　fifth；　or　a　tenth　…　or；　say；　a　twentieth；　and　　the　next　time　you　burst　into　print　you　will　be　in　a　position　　to　share　with　us　the　issue　of　your　calculations。

I　imagine　you　to　be　one　of　those　persons　who　talk　with　　cheerfulness　of　that　place　which　oxen　and　wain…ropes　could　　not　drag　you　to　behold。　　You；　who　do　not　even　know　its　　situation　on　the　map；　probably　denounce　sensational　　descriptions；　stretching　your　limbs　the　while　in　your　　pleasant　parlour　on　Beretania　Street。　　When　I　was　pulled　　ashore　there　one　early　morning；　there　sat　with　me　in　the　boat　　two　sisters；　bidding　farewell　（in　humble　imitation　of　Damien）　　to　the　lights　and　joys　of　human　life。　　One　of　these　wept　　silently；　I　could　not　withhold　myself　from　joining　her。　　Had　　you　been　there；　it　is　my　belief　that　nature　would　have　　triumphed　even　in　you；　and　as　the　boat　drew　but　a　little　　nearer；　and　you　beheld　the　stairs　crowded　with　abominable　　deformations　of　our　common　manhood；　and　saw　yourself　landing　　in　the　midst　of　such　a　population　as　only　now　and　then　　surrounds　us　in　the　horror　of　a　nightmare　…　what　a　haggard　　eye　you　would　have　rolled　over　your　reluctant　shoulder　　towards　the　house　on　Beretania　Street！　　Had　you　gone　on；　had　　you　found　every　fourth　face　a　blot　upon　the　landscape；　had　　you　visited　the　hospital　and　seen　the　butt…ends　of　human　　beings　lying　there　almost　unrecognisable；　but　still　　breathing；　still　thinking；　still　remembering；　you　would　have　　understood　that　life　in　the　lazaretto　is　an　ordeal　from　which　　the　nerves　of　a　man's　spirit　shrink；　even　as　his　eye　quails　　under　the　brightness　of　the　sun；　you　would　have　felt　it　was　　（even　to…day）　a　pitiful　place　to　visit　and　a　hell　to　dwell　　in。　　It　is　not　the　fear　of　possible　infection。　　That　seems　a　　little　thing　when　compared　with　the　pain；　the　pity；　and　the　　disgust　of　the　visitor's　surroundings；　and　the　atmosphere　of　　affliction；　disease；　and　physical　disgrace　in　which　he　　breathes。　　I　do　not　think　I　am　a　man　more　than　usually　timid；　　but　I　never　recall　the　days　and　nights　I　spent　upon　that　　island　promontory　（eight　days　and　seven　nights）；　without　　heartfelt　thankfulness　that　I　am　somewhere　else。　　I　find　in　　my　diary　that　I　speak　of　my　stay　as　a　'grinding　experience'：　　I　have　once　jotted　in　the　margin；　'HARROWING　is　the　word'；　　and　when　the　MOKOLII　bore　me　at　last　towards　the　outer　world；　　I　kept　repeating　to　myself；　with　a　new　conception　of　their　　pregnancy；　those　simple　words　of　the　song　…


''Tis　the　most　distressful　country　that　ever　yet　was　seen。'


And　observe：　that　which　I　saw　and　suffered　from　was　a　　settlement　purged；　bettered；　beautified；　the　new　village　　built；　the　hospital　and　the　Bishop…Home　excellently　arranged；　　the　sisters；　the　doctor；　and　the　missionaries；　all　　indefatigable　in　their　noble　tasks。　　It　was　a　different　place　　when　Damien　came　there　and　made　his　great　renunciation；　and　　slept　that　first　night　under　a　tree　amidst　his　rotting　　brethren：　alone　with　pestilence；　and　looking　forward　（with　　what　courage；　with　what　pitiful　sinkings　of　dread；　God　only　　knows）　to　a　lifetime　of　dressing　sores　and　stumps。

You　will　say；　perhaps；　I　am　too　sensitive；　that　sights　as　　painful　abound　in　cancer　hospitals　and　are　confronted　daily　　by　doctors　and　nurses。　　I