the love affairs of a bibliomaniac(藏书癖者的爱情)-第4章
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a society for the dissemination of fairy literature； and at the first meeting
of this society we resolved to demand of the board of education to drop
mathematics from the curriculum in the public schools and to substitute
therefor a four years' course in fairy literature； to be followed； if the pupil
desired； by a post…graduate course in demonology and folk…lore。 We
hired and fitted up large rooms； and the cause seemed to be flourishing
until the second month's rent fell due。 It was then discovered that the
treasury was empty； and with this discovery the society ended its existence；
without having accomplished any tangible result other than the purchase
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of a number of sofas and chairs； for which Judge Methuen and I had to
pay。
Still； I am of the opinion （and Judge Methuen indorses it） that we need
in this country of ours just that influence which the fairy tale exerts。
We are becoming too practical； the lust for material gain is throttling every
other consideration。 Our babes and sucklings are no longer regaled with
the soothing tales of giants； ogres； witches； and fairies； their hungry；
receptive minds are filled with stories about the pursuit and slaughter of
unoffending animals； of war and of murder； and of those questionable
practices whereby a hero is enriched and others are impoverished。
Before he is out of his swaddling… cloth the modern youngster is
convinced that the one noble purpose in life is to get； get； get； and keep on
getting of worldly material。 The fairy tale is tabooed because； as the
sordid parent alleges； it makes youth unpractical。
One consequence of this deplorable condition is； as I have noticed
（and as Judge Methuen has； too）； that the human eye is diminishing in size
and fulness； and is losing its lustre。 By as much as you take the God…
given grace of fancy from man； by so much do you impoverish his eyes。
The eye is so beautiful and serves so very many noble purposes； and is；
too； so ready in the expression of tenderness； of pity； of love； of
solicitude； of compassion； of dignity； of every gentle mood and noble
inspiration； that in that metaphor which contemplates the eternal vigilance
of the Almighty we recognize the best poetic expression of the highest
human wisdom。
My nephew Timothy has three children； two boys and a girl。 The
elder boy and the girl have small black eyes； they are as devoid of fancy as
a napkin is of red corpuscles； they put their pennies into a tin bank； and
they have won all the marbles and jack… stones in the neighborhood。
They do not believe in Santa Claus or in fairies or in witches； they know
that two nickels make a dime； and their golden rule is to do others as
others would do them。 The other boy （he has been christened Matthew；
after me） has a pair of large； round； deep…blue eyes； expressive of all those
emotions which a keen； active fancy begets。
Matthew can never get his fill of fairy tales； and how the dear little
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fellow loves Santa Claus！ He sees things at night； he will not go to bed
in the dark； he hears and understands what the birds and crickets say； and
what the night wind sings； and what the rustling leaves tell。 Wherever
Matthew goes he sees beautiful pictures and hears sweet music； to his
impressionable soul all nature speaks its wisdom and its poetry。 God！
how I love that boy！ And he shall never starve！ A goodly share of what
I have shall go to him！ But this clause in my will； which the Judge
recently drew for me； will； I warrant me； give the dear child the greatest
happiness：
‘‘Item。 To my beloved grandnephew and namesake； Matthew； I do
bequeath and give （in addition to the lands devised and the stocks； bonds
and moneys willed to him； as hereinabove specified） the two mahogany
bookcases numbered 11 and 13； and the contents thereof； being volumes
of fairy and folk tales of all nations； and dictionaries and other treatises
upon demonology； witchcraft； mythology； magic and kindred subjects； to
be his； his heirs； and his assigns； forever。''
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III
THE LUXURY OF READING IN BED
Last night； having written what you have just read about the benefits
of fairy literature； I bethought me to renew my acquaintance with some of
those tales which so often have delighted and solaced me。 So I piled at
least twenty chosen volumes on the table at the head of my bed； and I
daresay it was nigh daylight when I fell asleep。 I began my
entertainment with several pages from Keightley's ‘‘Fairy Mythology；''
and followed it up with random bits from Crofton Croker's ‘‘Traditions of
the South of Ireland；'' Mrs。 Carey's ‘‘Legends of the French Provinces；''
Andrew Lang's Green； Blue and Red fairy books； Laboulaye's ‘‘Last Fairy
Tales；'' Hauff's ‘‘The Inn in the Spessart；'' Julia Goddard's ‘‘Golden
Weathercock；'' Frere's ‘‘Eastern Fairy Legends；'' Asbjornsen's ‘‘Folk
Tales；'' Susan Pindar's ‘‘Midsummer Fays；'' Nisbit Bain's ‘‘Cossack Fairy
Tales；'' etc。； etc。
I fell asleep with a copy of Villamaria's fairy stories in my hands； and I
had a delightful dream wherein； under the protection and guidance of my
fairy godmother； I undertook the rescue of a beautiful princess who had
been enchanted by a cruel witch and was kept in prison by the witch's son；
a hideous ogre with seven heads； whose companions were four equally
hideous dragons。
This undertaking in which I was engaged involved a period of five
years； but time is of precious little consideration to one when he is
dreaming of exploits achieved in behalf of a beautiful princess。 My fairy
godmother （she wore a mob…cap and was hunchbacked） took good care of
me； and conducted me safely through all my encounters with demons；
giants； dragons； witches； serpents； hippogriffins； ogres； etc。； and I had just
rescued the princess and broken the spell which bound her； and we were
about to ‘‘live in peace to the end of our lives；'' when I awoke to find it
was all a dream； and that the gas… light over my bed had been blazing
away during the entire period of my five…year war for the delectable
maiden。
This incident gives me an opportunity to say that observation has
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convinced me that all good and true book…lovers practise the pleasing and
improving avocation of reading in bed。 Indeed； I fully believe with
Judge Methuen that no book can be appreciated until it has been slept with
and dreamed over。 You recall； perhaps； that eloquent passage in his noble
defence of the poet Archias； wherein Cicero （not Kikero） refers to his own
pursuit of literary studies： ‘‘Haec studia adolescentiam alunt； senectutem
oblectant； secundas res ornant； adversis perfugium ac solatium praebent；
delectant domi； non impediunt foris； PERNOCTANT nobiscum；
peregrinantur； rusticantur！''
By the gods！ you spoke tally； friend Cicero； for it is indeed so； that
these pursuits nourish our earlier and delight our later years； dignifying the
minor details of life and affording a perennial refuge and solace； at home
they please us and in no vocation elsewhere do they embarrass us； they are
with us by night； they go with us upon our travels； and even upon our
retirement into the country do they accompany us！
I have italicized pernoctant because it is that word which demonstrates
beyond all possibility of doubt that Cicero made a practice of reading in
bed。 Why； I can almost see him now； propped up in his couch； unrolling
scroll after scroll of his favorite literature； and enjoying it mightily； too；
which enjoyment is interrupted now and then by the occasion which the
noble reader takes to mutter maledictions upon the slave who has let the
lamp run low of oil or has neglected to trim the wick。
‘‘Peregrinantur？'' Indeed； they do share our peregrinations； these
literary pursuits do。 If Thomas Hearne （of blessed memory！） were alive
to…day he would tell us that he used always to take a book along with him
whenever he went walking； and was wont to read it as he strolled along。
On several occasions （as he tells us in his diary） he became so absorbed in
his reading that he missed his way and darkness came upon him before he
knew it。
I have always wondered why book…lovers have not had more to say of
Hearne； for assuredly he was as glorious a collector as ever felt the divine
fire glow within him。 His character is exemplified in this prayer； which
is preserved among other papers of his in the Bodleian Library：
‘‘O most gracious and merciful Lord God； wonderful is Thy
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providence。 I return all possible thanks to Thee for the care Thou hast
always taken of me。 I continually meet with most signal instances of this
Thy providence； and one act yesterday； when I unexpectedly met with
three old MSS。； for which； in a particular manner； I return my thanks；
beseeching Thee to continue the same protection to me； a poor； helpless
sinner；'' etc。
Another prayer of Hear
