an autobiography-第77部分

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During　the　time　that　the　alterations　and　enlargements　were　in　progress　we　rented　a　house　for　six　months　at　Sydenham；　close　to　the　beautiful　grounds　of　the　Crystal　Palace。　　This　was　a　most　happy　episode　in　our　lives；　for；　besides　the　great　attractions　of　the　place；　both　inside　and　out；　there　were　the　admirable　orchestral　daily　concerts；　at　which　we　were　constant　attendants。　　We　had　the　pleasure　of　listening　to　the　noble　compositions　of　the　great　masters　of　music；　the　perfectly　trained　band　being　led　by　Herr　Manns；　who　throws　so　much　of　his　fine　natural　taste　and　enthusiastic　spirit　into　the　productions　as　to　give　them　every　possible　charm。

From　a　very　early　period　of　my　life　I　have　derived　the　highest　enjoyment　from　listening　to　music；　especially　to　melody；　which　is　to　me　the　most　pleasing　form　of　composition。　　When　I　have　the　opportunity　of　listening　to　such　kind　of　music；　it　yields　me　enjoyment　that　transcends　all　others。　　It　suggests　ideas；　and　brings　vividly　before　the　mind's　eye　scenes　that　move　the　imagination。　　This　is；　to　me；　the　highest　order　of　excellence　in　musical　composition。　　I　used　long　ago；　and　still　continue；　to　whistle　a　bit；　especially　when　engaged　in　some　pleasant　occupation。　　I　can　draw　from　my　mental　repository　a　vast　number　of　airs　and　certain　bits　of　compositions　that　I　had　once　heard。　　I　possess　that　important　qualification　for　a　musician〃a　good　ear；〃　and　I　always　worked　most　successfully　at　a　mechanical　drawing　when　I　was　engaged　in　whistling　some　favourite　air。　　The　dual　occupation　of　the　brain　had　always　the　best　results　in　the　quick　development　of　the　constructive　faculty。　　And　even　in　circumstances　where　whistling　is　not　allowed　I　can　think　airs；　and　enjoy　them　almost　as　much　as　when　they　are　distinctly　audible。　　This　power　of　the　brain；　I　am　fain　to　believe；　indicates　the　natural　existence　of　the　true　musical　faculty。　　But　I　had　been　so　busy　during　the　course　of　my　life　that　I　had　never　any　opportunity　of　learning　the　practical　use　of　any　musical　instrument。　And　here　I　must　leave　this　interesting　subject。

So　soon　as　I　was　in　due　possession　of　my　house；　I　had　speedily　transported　thither　all　my　art　treasuresmy　telescopes；　my　home　stock　of　tools；　the　instruments　of　my　own　construction；　made　from　the　very　beginning　of　my　career　as　a　mechanic；　and　associated　with　the　most　interesting　and　active　parts　of　my　life。　　I　lovingly　treasured　them；　and　gave　them　an　honoured　place　in　the　workshop　which　I　added　to　my　residence。　　There　they　are　now；　and　I　often　spend　a　busy　and　delightful　hour　in　handling　my　tools。　　It　is　curious　how　the　mere　sight　of　such　objects　brings　back　to　the　memory　bygone　incidents　and　recollections。　Friends　long　dead　seem　to　start　up　while　looking　at　them。　　You　almost　feel　as　if　you　could　converse　with　the　departed。　　I　do　not　know　of　anything　so　touchingly　powerful　in　vividly　bringing　back　the　treasured　incidents　and　memories　of　one's　life　as　the　sight　of　such　humble　objects。　　Every　one　has；　no　doubt；　a　treasured　store　of　such　material　records　of　a　well…remembered　portion　of　his　past　life。　These　strike；　as　it　were；　the　keynote　to　thoughts　that　bring　back　in　vivid　form　the　most　cherished　remembrances　of　our　lives。　　On　many　occasions　I　have　seen　at　sale　rooms　long　treasured　hoards　of　such　objects　thrown　together　in　a　heap　as　mere　rubbish。　　And　yet　these　had　been　to　some　the　sources　of　many　pleasant　thoughts　and　recollections；　But　the　last　final　break…up　has　come；　and　the　personal　belongings　of　some　departed　kind　heart　are　scattered　far　and　wide。　　These　touching　relics　of　a　long　life；　which　had　almost　become　part　of　himself；　are　〃knocked　down〃　to　the　lowest　class　of　bidders。　　It　is　a　sad　sight　to　witness　the　uncared　for　dispersion　of　such　objectsobjects　that　had　been　lovingly　stored　up　as　the　most　valued　of　personal　treasures。　I　could　have　wished　that；　as　was　the　practice　in　remote　antiquity；　such　touching　relics　were　buried　with　the　dead；　as　their　most　fitting　repository。　　Then　they　might　have　left　some　record；　instead　of　being　desecrated　by　the　harpies　who　wait　at　sales　for　such　〃job　lots。〃

Behold　us；　then；　settled　down　at　Hammerfield　for　life。　　We　had　plenty　to　do。　　My　workshop　was　fully　equipped。　　My　hobbies　were　there；　and　I　could　work　them　to　my　heart's　content。　　The　walls　of　our　various　rooms　were　soon　hung　with　pictures；　and　other　works　of　art；　suggestive　of　many　pleasant　associations　of　former　days。　　Our　library　book…case　was　crowded　with　old　friends；　in　the　shape　of　books　that　had　been　read　and　re…read　many　times；　until　they　had　become　almost　part　of　ourselves。　Old　Lancashire　friends　made　their　way　to　us　when　〃up　in　town；〃　and　expressed　themselves　delighted　with　our　pleasant　house　and　its　beautiful　surroundings。

The　continuous　planting　of　the　shrubs　and　trees　gave　us　great　pleasure。　Those　already　planted　had　grown　luxuriantly；　fed　by　the　fertile　soil　and　the　pure　air。　　Indeed；　in　course　of　time　they　required　the　judicious　use　of　the　axe　in　order　to　allow　the　fittest　to　survive　and　grow　at　their　own　free　will。　　Trees　contrive　to　manage　their　own　affairs　without　the　necessity　of　much　labour　or　interference。　The　〃survival　of　the　fittest〃　prevails　here　as　elsewhere。　　It　is　always　a　pleasure　to　watch　them。　　There　are　many　ordinary　old…fashioned　roadside　flowering　plants　which　I　esteem　for　their　vigorous　beauty；　and　I　enjoy　seeing　them　assume　the　careless　grace　of　Nature。

The　greenhouse　is　also　a　source　of　pleasure；　especially　to　my　dear　wife。　　It　is　full　of　flowers　of　all　kinds；　of　which　she　is　devotedly　fond。　　They　supply　her　with　subjects　for　her　brush　or　her　needle。　She　both　paints　them　and　works　them　by　her　needle　in　beautiful　forms　and　groups。　　This　is　one　of　her　many　favourite　hobbies。　　All　this　is　suitable　to　our　fireside　employments；　and　makes　the　days　and　the　evenings　pass　pleasantly　away。


CHAPTER　21。　　Active　leisure。

When　James　Watt　retired　from　business　towards　the　close　of　his　useful　and　admirable　life；　he　spoke　to　his　friends　of　occupying　himself　with　〃ingenious　trifles；〃　and　of　turning　〃some　of　his　idle　thoughts〃　upon　the　invention　of　an　arithmetical　machine　and　a　machine　for　copying　sculpture。　　These　and　other　useful　works　occupied　his　attention　for　many　years。

It　was　the　same　with　myself。　　I　had　good　health　（which　Watt　had　not）　and　abundant　energy。　　When　I　retired　from　business　I　was　only　forty…eight　years　old；　which　may　be　considered　the　prime　of　life。　But　I　had　plenty　of　hobbies；　perhaps　the　chief　of　which　was　Astronomy。　No　sooner　had　I　settled　at　Hammerfield　than　I　had　my　telescopes　brought　out　and　mounted。　　The　fine　clear　skies　with　which　we　were　favoured；　furnished　me　with　abundant　opportunities　for　the　use　of　my　instruments。　I　began　again　my　investigations　on　the　Sun　and　the　Moon；　and　made　some　original　discoveries；　of　which　more　anon。

Early　in　the　year　1858　I　received　a　pressing　invitation　from　the　Council　of　the　Edinburgh　Philosophical　Society　to　give　a　lecture　before　their　members　on　the　Structure　of　the　Lunar　Surface。　　As　the　subject　was　a　favourite　one　with　me；　and　as　I　had　continued　my　investigations　and　increased　my　store　of　drawings　since　I　had　last　appeared　before　an　Edinburgh　audience；　I　cheerfully　complied　with　their　request。　I　accordingly　gave　my　lecture　before　a　crowded　meeting　in　the　Queen　Street　Lecture　Hall。

The　audience　appeared　to　be　so　earnestly　interested　by　the　subject　that　I　offered　to　appear　before　them　on　two　successive　evenings　and　give　any　viva　voce　explanations　about　the　drawings　which　those　present　might　desire。　　This　deviation　from　the　formality　of　a　regular　lecture　was　attended　with　the　happiest　results。　　Edinburgh　always　supplies　a　highly…intelligent　audience；　and　the　cleverest　and　brightest　were　ready　with　their　questions。　　I　was　thus　enabled　to　elucidate　the　lecture　and　to　expand　many　of　the　most　interesting　points　connected　with　the　moon's　surface；　such　as　might　formerly　have　appeared　obscure。　　These　questioning　lectures　gave　the　highest　satisfaction。　　They　satisfied　myself　as　well　as　the　audience；　who　went　away　filled　with　the　most　graphic　information　I　could　give　them　on　the　subject。

But　not　the　least　interesting　part　of　my　visit　to　Edinburgh　on　this　occasion　was　the　renewed　intercourse　which　I　enjoyed　with　many　of　my　old　friends。　　Among　these　were　my　venerable　friend　Professor　Pillans；　Charles　Maclaren　（editor　of　the　Scotsman）；　and　Robert　Chambers。　We　had　a　long　　dander　together　through　the　Old　Town；　our　talk　being　in　broad　Scotch。　　Pillans　was　one　of　the　fine　old　Edinburgh　Liberals；　who　stuck　to　his　principles　through　good　report　and　through　evil。　In　his　position　as　Rector　of　the　High　School；　he　had　given　rare　evidence　of　his　excellence　as　a　classical　scholar。　　He　was　afterwards　promoted　to　be　a　Professor　in　the　University。　　He　had　as　his　pupils　some　of　the　most　excellent　men　of　my　time。　　Amongst　his　intimate　friends　were　Sydney　Smith；　Brougham；　Jeffrey；　Cockburnmen　who　gave　so　special　a　character　to　the　Edinburgh　society　of　that　time。

We　had　a　delightful　stroll　through　some　of　the　most　remarkable　parts　of　the　Old　Town；　with　Robert　Chambers　as　our　guide。　　We　next　mounted　Arthur's　Seat　to　observe　some　of　the　manifestations　of　volcanic　action；　which　had　given　such　a　remarkable　structure　to　the　mountai