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"I was hardly ever in church, when, during | side of the mind. The monomania is painted Bermon-time, it [this notion of tails wagging] throughout as rooted in the weakest point of did not present itself to my mind. If a pet a weak or weakened mind, the dreariest side parson entered the pulpit, I immediately saw of a dreary existence (the only exceptfon beall the feminine tails wagging. If he spoke

of the duties of children to their parents, all ing, perhaps, in the case where monomaniathe senile male tails wagged; if of the duties if such it can be called-is absolutely nothing of servants to their superiors, all the matronly but a physical result of intemperance, a mild tails were in agitation. And after a long dull case of delirium tremens). In every other sermon, when all bent forward to offer up case, it will be found that the author pictures their last prayer, there appeared a simulta- the monomania as an attempt of weakened neous wagging of all the tails of the congre- faculties to work upon an overstrained nergation. The return of this feeling I alone vous string, so that all mental power disapfear." pears just when the wish to apply it is But though all the stories of monomania deepest. The imaginative interest popularly are necessarily based on a certain leading idea attached to this dreariest of all mental states, or impression, which furnishes the root of the is very like the imaginative charm of the monomania, the author's power is not exclu- autumnal tree, whose gorgeous spots of colorsively, perhaps not chiefly, shown in the de- ing are but marks of local decay. When the lineation of this absorbing idea or impression, colors of the mind are already flying, there is --but rather in the powerful use of common- a partial decomposition of its structure which place incident in piecing together the story may show how many brilliant prismatic shades which serves as the scene and background for really entered into the dull light of every-day the monomania. Some of the stories-as for common sense and common feeling,-and so example, " A Doctor's Wooing,"-are con- the monomaniac's sorrow or the monomaniac's nected very slenderly indeed with any aber- cunning may strike perceptions of other men ration of mind; and the morbid anatomy, more keenly than the homely love and skill which is never overdone, is often quite thrust of every-day life. Still these more conspicainto the background. In the last, and, in ous shades of thought and feeling are more some respects, most striking tale," Memory conspicuous only because they lay bare, as it in Madness," though the madman is very were, the decaying membrane of the intellect powerfully described, he is certainly but sec- or heart; and if painted as they are, and not ondary in the story, which interests even more merely as adding to the picturesque effects of by its excessive realism, by the minute seam-a situation, they should give a sense of ining of the incidents, than by the striking pic- finite dreariness such as this author most truly ture of the religious monomaniac. paints. His power of delineating the leaden Indeed, it is one of the characteristic ex-weariness and exhaustion of ordinary wretchcellences of these pictures of monomania that, edness and toil-that vacancy of mind which instead of connecting it, as people are too apt comes of overtasked effort in common life, to do, with highly wrought genius and too enables him to paint the still greater, though great a wealth of nature and sentiment, the more striking, dreariness of monomania with author realizes, and makes his readers realize remarkable truthfulness of effect. Take, for intensely, its utter dreariness. The stories instance, the powerful and partly humorous all assume that monomania arises in a failure description of the escape of the two monoof the faculties round a given centre of maniacs from the asylum, their railway jourthought, in a paralysis of power along a given ney to London, and its results. The one who line of mental direction unaccompanied by relates the whole is a monomaniac only on any parallel paralysis of interest, so that the the subject of mechanical force. After an enpatient busies himself involuntarily on a sub-eebling attack of typhus fever, into which, ject on which he has lost the power of bring-after a favorable crisis, he had relapsed, he ing his faculties to bear. And further, they observes, as he fancies, during his recovery, make us feel that these morbid centres of partial imbecility are, cætris paribus, more likely to spring up in minds below the average in general power than in those above them, though the centre of the discas itself will often be on the noblest or most sensitive

that the force with which a bullet is discharged from an air-gun is far greater than the force employed to condense the air in the barrel of the gun, and thereupon there rises before his mind a dream of an infinite multiplication of force which would enable him,

it now became intolerably worse. A certain sort of rude gallantry had restrained them only to laughing at Mme. Reumont's behavior; but in my case it was different; every coarse jest they could think of was immediately played off on me, some asking Mine. Reumont whether that strange-looking cove in the corner was her young man; others, whether we had had a quarrel; if so they were sure she was right, and they would stand up for her. Some advised her to leave such an ill-looking humbug as I was, and join their party; while another had the abominable insolence to advise us to kiss and make it up.

if he chose, to destroy the earth. This sub-as the conduct of the men had been before, ject is kept in abeyance in his mind while he is secluded from all the means and appliances for mechanical experiment, and kept in a tranquil corner of the world; but he has no sooner escaped, and is in the railway train, than these visions dilate before his relaxed understanding in tenfold grandeur. His companion, Madame Ruemont, is a governess, who has taught Greek history to young pupils at a tension of effort to herself that has resulted in the belief that she is Xerxes, and the first glimpse of a soldier or volunteer throws her into inextinguishable grief in the prospect of her mighty army's destruction, while occasionally it prompts her to put herself at its head and direct its movements. Both monomaniacs are perfectly sane on all other subjects, and keenly alive to each other's weakness. The following passages from the description of the journey of escape will show the admirable workmanship of the writer:

"The train moved off. I threw myself back in the carriage and spoke not a word to my companion, for her observation about my expression of countenance had annoyed me extremely. Presently I became drowsy, and shortly afterwards I fell asleep. I know not how long I continued so, or how many stations we passed; but at last I was awoke, not only by the train stopping, but also by the loud sobbing of Mme. Reumont. I roused myself and looked around me, and the cause of her grief was in a moment apparent. A company of Highland soldiers were awaiting on the platform of the station the arrival of the train, and no sooner had Mme. Reumont cast her eyes on them than the spirit of Xerxes immediately took possession of her body, and she forthwith gave way to her sorrow on the old subject-that in how short a time they would be no more. As the train had to wait some minutes at the station, the soldiers, attracted by her singular appearance, gathered round the carriage at first in astonishment; but when they perceived the burlesque sorrow of the poor lady, that feeling turned to merriment, and they broke into a loud laugh each time any particularly absurd gesture caught their attention.

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I had now ample time and opportunity to indulge in my own thoughts, and they turned naturally on the inventions I had carried on to such a dangerous degree. The contributed, in no slight manner, to that currapidity at which the train was rolling on rent of thought. The more I reflected on the subject the more attractive it became; and at last the idea came over me whether it would not be possible to carry on my invention, solely as far as related to the motive power for propelling railway carriages, and resolutely to abstain from the temptation of pursuing the study further. The more I thought over the matter the more possible it appeared. Why, after all,' I argued, should I keep from mankind an invention which would immensely benefit them, merely from the possibility that I might carry it to a point so terribly destructive as to endanger the universe?' If such an idea were to actuate others, no physician would prescribe a narcotic for a patient in pain, for fear of being tempted to carry on the prescription till it had caused the death of the individual prescribed for. No; I was resolved. I would go on with my invention for the improvement of locomotives, and that I would manfully resist all temptations to carry it further."

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There are other passages showing a more striking resemblance to the minute and plodding imagination of De Foe in the book-as, for example, the description by the clergyman of the feelings which induced him to resort to brandy before the funeral of his only son. But these will be sufficient to show the dreary power, not unsprinkled with humor, with which the subject of the book is treated, though they will not show the skill with

"I cannot describe how terribly annoyed I was at the whole scene; I bent forward, and begged Mane. Reumont to lean back from the window. She paid me little attention, and then only replied to my entreaty by an impa- which the attention of the reader is often tient gesture, which did not pass without riveted on details studiously commonplace notice by the soldiers, one of whom caught and leaden-colored, which read like exact sight of me in my corner, and immediately images of the every-day miseries of every-day communicated the fact to his comrades. Bad poverty.

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SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 1760.

the whole; the termination of any period of life reminds us that life itself has likewise its termination; when we have done anything for the last time, we involuntarily reflect that a part of the days allotted us is past, and that as more are past there are less remaining

It is very happily and kindly provided, that in every life there are certain pauses and inthe careless, and seriousness upon the light; terruptions, which force consideration upon points of time where one course of action ends, and another begins; and by vicissitudes of fortune, or alteration of employment, by change of place or loss of friendship, we are forced to say of something, this is the last.' An even and unvaried tenor of life al

“Respicere ad longæ jussit spatia ultima vita."ways hides from our apprehension the ap

-JUV.

Much of the pain and pleasure of mankind arises from the conjectures which every one makes of the thoughts of others; we all enjoy praise which we do not hear, and resent contempt which we do not see. The Idler may therefore be forgiven, if he suffers his imagination to represent to him what his readers will say or think when they are informed that they have now his last paper in their hands.

Value is more frequently raised by scarcity than by use. That which lay neglected when it was common, rises in estimation as its quantity becomes less. We seldom learn the true want of what we have, till it is discovered that we can have no more.

proach of its end. Succession is not perceived but by variation; he that lives to-day as he lived yesterday, and expects that as the present day is, such will be the inorrow, easily conceives time as running in a circle and returning to itself. The uncertainty of our duration is impressed commonly by dissimilitude of condition; it is only by finding life changeable that we are reminded of its shortness.

This conviction, however forcible at every new impression, is every moment fading from the mind; and partly by the inevitable incursion of new images, and partly by voluntary exclusion of unwelcome thoughts, we are again exposed to the universal fallacy; and we must do another thing for the last time, before we consider that the time is nigh when we shall do no more.

This essay will, perhaps, be read with care even by those who have not yet attended As the last Idler is published in that solto any other; and he that finds this late at-emn week which the Christian world has altention recompensed, will not forbear to wish that he had bestowed it sooner.

6

Though the Idler and his readers have contracted no close friendship, they are perhaps both unwilling to part. There are few things not purely evil, of which we can say, without some emotion of uneasiness, this is the last.' Those who never could agree together, shed tears when mutual discontent has determined them to final separation; of a place which has been frequently visited, though without pleasure, the last look is taken with heaviness of heart; and the Idler, with all his chillness of tranquillity, is not wholly unaffected by the thought that his last essay is now before him.

This secret horror of the last is inseparable from a thinking being, whose life is limited, and to whom death is dreadful. We always make a secret comparison between a part and

ways set apart for the examination of the conscience, the review of life, the extinction of earthly desires, and the renovation of holy purposes, I hope that my readers are already disposed to view every incident with seriousness, and improve it by meditation: and that when they see this series of trifles brought to a conclusion, they will consider that, by outliving the Idier they have passed weeks, months, and years, which are now no longer in their power; that an end must in time be put to everything great, as to everything little; and that to life must come its last hour, and to this system of being its last day, the hour at which probation ceases and repentance will be vain; the day in which every work of the hand, and imagination of the heart, shall be brought to judgment, and an everlasting futurity shall be determined by the past.

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