lay morals-第11章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
doctors and nurses。 I have long learned to admire and envy the doctors and the nurses。 But there is no cancer hospital so large and populous as Kalawao and Kalaupapa； and in such a matter every fresh case； like every inch of length in the pipe of an organ； deepens the note of the impression； for what daunts the onlooker is that monstrous sum of human suffering by which he stands surrounded。 Lastly； no doctor or nurse is called upon to enter once for all the doors of that gehenna； they do not say farewell； they need not abandon hope； on its sad threshold； they but go for a time to their high calling； and can look forward as they go to relief； to recreation； and to rest。 But Damien shut…to with his own hand the doors of his own sepulchre。
I shall now extract three passages from my diary at Kalawao。
A。 'Damien is dead and already somewhat ungratefully remembered in the field of his labours and sufferings。 〃He was a good man； but very officious；〃 says one。 Another tells me he had fallen （as other priests so easily do） into something of the ways and habits of thought of a Kanaka； but he had the wit to recognise the fact； and the good sense to laugh at' ＇over＇ 'it。 A plain man it seems he was； I cannot find he was a popular。'
B。 'After Ragsdale's death' ＇Ragsdale was a famous Luna； or overseer； of the unruly settlement＇ 'there followed a brief term of office by Father Damien which served only to publish the weakness of that noble man。 He was rough in his ways； and he had no control。 Authority was relaxed； Damien's life was threatened； and he was soon eager to resign。'
C。 'Of Damien I begin to have an idea。 He seems to have been a man of the peasant class； certainly of the peasant type： shrewd； ignorant and bigoted； yet with an open mind； and capable of receiving and digesting a reproof if it were bluntly administered； superbly generous in the least thing as well as in the greatest； and as ready to give his last shirt （although not without human grumbling） as he had been to sacrifice his life； essentially indiscreet and officious； which made him a troublesome colleague； domineering in all his ways； which made him incurably unpopular with the Kanakas； but yet destitute of real authority； so that his boys laughed at him and he must carry out his wishes by the means of bribes。 He learned to have a mania for doctoring； and set up the Kanakas against the remedies of his regular rivals： perhaps （if anything matter at all in the treatment of such a disease） the worst thing that he did； and certainly the easiest。 The best and worst of the man appear very plainly in his dealings with Mr。 Chapman's money； he had originally laid it out' ＇intended to lay it out＇ 'entirely for the benefit of Catholics； and even so not wisely； but after a long； plain talk； he admitted his error fully and revised the list。 The sad state of the boys' home is in part the result of his lack of control； in part； of his own slovenly ways and false ideas of hygiene。 Brother officials used to call it 〃Damien's Chinatown。〃 〃Well；〃 they would say； 〃your China…town keeps growing。〃 And he would laugh with perfect good…nature； and adhere to his errors with perfect obstinacy。 So much I have gathered of truth about this plain； noble human brother and father of ours； his imperfections are the traits of his face； by which we know him for our fellow； his martyrdom and his example nothing can lessen or annul； and only a person here on the spot can properly appreciate their greatness。'
I have set down these private passages； as you perceive； without correction； thanks to you； the public has them in their bluntness。 They are almost a list of the man's faults； for it is rather these that I was seeking： with his virtues； with the heroic profile of his life； I and the world were already sufficiently acquainted。 I was besides a little suspicious of Catholic testimony； in no ill sense； but merely because Damien's admirers and disciples were the least likely to be critical。 I know you will be more suspicious still； and the facts set down above were one and all collected from the lips of Protestants who had opposed the father in his life。 Yet I am strangely deceived； or they build up the image of a man； with all his weaknesses； essentially heroic； and alive with rugged honesty； generosity； and mirth。
Take it for what it is； rough private jottings of the worst sides of Damien's character； collected from the lips of those who had laboured with and （in your own phrase） 'knew the man'； … though I question whether Damien would have said that he knew you。 Take it； and observe with wonder how well you were served by your gossips； how ill by your intelligence and sympathy； in how many points of fact we are at one； and how widely our appreciations vary。 There is something wrong here； either with you or me。 It is possible； for instance； that you； who seem to have so many ears in Kalawao； had heard of the affair of Mr。 Chapman's money； and were singly struck by Damien's intended wrong…doing。 I was struck with that also； and set it fairly down； but I was struck much more by the fact that he had the honesty of mind to be convinced。 I may here tell you that it was a long business； that one of his colleagues sat with him late into the night； multiplying arguments and accusations； that the father listened as usual with 'perfect good…nature and perfect obstinacy'； but at the last； when he was persuaded … 'Yes；' said he； 'I am very much obliged to you； you have done me a service； it would have been a theft。' There are many （not Catholics merely） who require their heroes and saints to be infallible； to these the story will be painful； not to the true lovers； patrons； and servants of mankind。
And I take it； this is a type of our division； that you are one of those who have an eye for faults and failures； that you take a pleasure to find and publish them； and that； having found them； you make haste to forget the overvailing virtues and the real success which had alone introduced them to your knowledge。 It is a dangerous frame of mind。 That you may understand how dangerous； and into what a situation it has already brought you； we will （if you please） go hand… in…hand through the different phrases of your letter； and candidly examine each from the point of view of its truth； its appositeness； and its charity。
Damien was COARSE。
It is very possible。 You make us sorry for the lepers； who had only a coarse old peasant for their friend and father。 But you； who were so refined； why were you not there； to cheer them with the lights of culture？ Or may I remind you that we have some reason to doubt if John the Baptist were genteel； and in the case of Peter； on whose career you doubtless dwell approvingly in the pulpit； no doubt at all he was a 'coarse； headstrong' fisherman！ Yet even in our Protestant Bibles Peter is called Saint。
Damien was DIRTY。
He was。 Think of the poor lepers annoyed with this dirty comrade！ But the clean Dr。 Hyde was at his food in a fine house。
Damien was HEADSTRONG。
I believe you are right again； and I thank God for his strong head and heart。
Damien was BIGOTED。
I am not fond of bigots myself； because they are not fond of me。 But what is meant by bigotry； that we should regard it as a blemish in a priest？ Damien believed his own religion with the simplicity of a peasant or a child； as I would I could suppose that you do。 For this； I wonder at him some way off； and had that been his only character； should have avoided him in life。 But the point of interest in Damien； which has caused him to be so much talked about and made him at last the subject of your pen and mine； was that； in him； his bigotry； his intense and narrow faith； wrought potently for good； and strengthened him to be one of the world's heroes and exemplars。
Damien WAS NOT SENT TO MOLOKAI； BUT WENT THERE WITHOUT ORDERS。
Is this a misreading？ or do you really mean the words for blame？ I have heard Christ； in the pulpits of our Church； held up for imitation on the ground that His sacrifice was voluntary。 Does Dr。 Hyde think otherwise？
Damien DID NOT STAY AT THE SETTLEMENT； ETC。
It is true he was allowed many indulgences。 Am I to understand that you blame the father for profiting by these； or the officers for granting them？ In either case； it is a mighty Spartan standard to issue from the house on Beretania Street； and I am convinced you will find yourself with few supporters。
Damien HAD NO HAND IN THE REFORMS； ETC。
I think even you will admit that I have already been frank in my description of the man I am defending； but before I take you up upon this head； I will be franker still； and tell you that perhaps nowhere in the world can a man taste a more pleasurable sense of contrast than when he passes from Damien's 'Chinatown' at Kalawao to the beautiful Bishop…Home at Kalaupapa。 At this point； in my desire to make all fair for you； I will break my rule and adduce Catholic testimony。 Here is a passage from my diary about my visit to the Chinatown； from which you will see how it is （even now） regarded by its own officials： 'We went round all the dormitories； refectories； etc。 … dark and dingy enough； with a superficial cleanliness； which he' ＇Mr。 Dutton； the lay… brother＇ 'did not seek to defend。 〃It is almost decent；〃 said he； 〃the sisters will make that all right when we get them here。〃' And yet I gathered it was already better since Damien was dead； and far better than when he was there alone and had his own （not always excellent） way。 I have now come far enough to meet you on a common ground of fact； and I tell you that； to a mind not prejudiced by jealousy； all the reforms of the lazaretto； and even those which he most vigorously opposed； are properly the work of Damien。 They are the evidence of his success； they are what his heroism provoked from the reluctant and the careless。 Many were before him in the field； Mr。 Meyer； for instance； of whose faithful work we hear too little： there have been many since； and some had more worldly wisdom； though none had more devotion； than our saint。 Before his day； even you will confess； they had effected little。 It was his part； by one striking act of martyrdom； to direct all men's eyes on that distressful country。 At a blow； and with the price of his life； he made the place illustrious and public。 And that； if you will consider largely； was the one reform needful； pregnant of all that should succeed。 It brought money； it brought （best individual addition of them all） the sisters； it brought supervision； for public opinion and public interest landed with the man at Kalawao。 If ever any man brought reforms； and died to bring them； it was he。 There is not a clean cup or towel in the Bishop…Home； but dirty Damien washed it。
Damien WAS NOT A PURE MAN IN HIS RELATIONS WITH WOMEN； ETC。
How do you know that？ Is this the nature of the conversation in that house on Beretania Street which the cabman envied； driving past？ … racy details of the misconduct of the poor peasant priest； toiling under the cliffs of Molokai？
Many have
