From the beginning of my manhood； it is true； I longed for bookish leisure； that； assuredly； is seldom even one of the desires in a young man's heart； but perhaps it is one of those which may most reasonably look for gratification later on。 What； however； of the multitudes who aim only at wealth； for the power and the pride and the material pleasures which it represents？ We know very well that few indeed are successful in that aim； and； missing it； do they not miss everything？ For them； are not Goethe's words mere mockery？
Apply them to mankind at large； and perhaps； after all； they are true。 The fact of national prosperity and contentment implies； necessarily； the prosperity and contentment of the greater number of the individuals of which the nation consists。 In other words； the average man who is past middle life has obtained what he strove for… …success in his calling。 As a young man； he would not； perhaps； have set forth his aspirations so moderately； but do they not； as a fact； amount to this？ In defence of the optimistic view； one may urge how rare it is to meet with an elderly man who harbours a repining spirit。 True； but I have always regarded as a fact of infinite pathos the ability men have to subdue themselves to the conditions of life。 Contentment so often means resignation； abandonment of the hope seen to be forbidden。
I cannot resolve this doubt。
VIII
I have been reading Sainte…Beuve's Port Royal； a book I have often thought of reading； but its length； and my slight interest in that period； always held me aloof。 Happily； chance and mood came together； and I am richer by a bit of knowledge well worth acquiring。 It is the kind of book which； one may reasonably say； tends to edification。 One is better for having lived a while with 〃Messieurs de Port…Royal〃； the best of them were； surely； not far from the Kingdom of Heaven。
Theirs is not； indeed； the Christianity of the first age； we are among theologians； and the shadow of dogma has dimmed those divine hues of the early morning； yet ever and anon there es a cool； sweet air； which seems not to have blown across man's mon world； which bears no taint of mortality。
A gallery of impressive and touching portraits。 The great…souled M。 de Saint…Cyran； with his vision of Christ restored； M。 Le Maitre； who； at the summit of a brilliant career； turned from the world to meditation and penitence； Pascal； with his genius and his triumphs； his conflicts of soul and fleshly martyrdom； Lancelot； the good Lancelot； ideal schoolmaster； who wrote grammar and edited classical books； the vigorous Arnauld； doctoral rather than saintly； but long… suffering for the faith that was in him； and all the smaller names…… Walon de Beaupuis； Nicole； Hamon……spirits of exquisite humility and sweetness……a perfume rises from the page as one reads about them。 But best of all I like M。 de Tillemont； I could have wished for myself even such a life as his； wrapped in silence and calm； a life of gentle devotion and zealous study。 From the age of fourteen； he said； his intellect had occupied itself with but one subject； that of ecclesiastical history。 Rising at four o'clock； he read and wrote until half…past nine in the evening； interrupting his work only to say the Offices of the Church； and for a couple of hours' breathing at mid…day。 Few were his absences。 When he had to make a journey； he set forth on foot； staff in hand； and lightened the way by singing to himself a psalm or canticle。 This man of profound erudition had as pure and simple a heart as ever dwelt in mortal。 He loved to stop by the road and talk with children； and knew how to hold their attention whilst teaching them a lesson。 Seeing boy or girl in charge of a cow； he would ask： 〃How is it that you； a little child； are able to control that animal； so much bigger and stronger？〃 And he would show the reason； speaking of the human soul。 All this about Tillemont is new to me； well as I knew his name （from the pages of Gibbon）； I thought of him merely as the laborious and accurate piler of historical materials。 Admirable as was his work； the spirit in which he performed it is the thing to dwell upon； he studied for study's sake； and with no aim but truth； to him it was a matter of indifference whether his learning ever became known among men； and at any moment he would have given the fruits of his labour to any one capable of making use of them。
Think of the world in which the Jansenists were living； the world of the Fronde； of Richelieu and Mazarin； of his refulgent Majesty Louis XIV。 Contrast Port…Royal with Versailles； and……whatever one's judgment of their religious and ecclesiastical aims……one must needs say that these men lived with dignity。 The Great Monarch is； in parison； a poor； sordid creature。 One thinks of Moliere refused burial……the king's contemptuous indifference for one who could do no more to amuse him being a true measure of the royal greatness。 Face to face with even the least of these grave and pious men； how paltry and unclean are all those courtly figures； not THERE was dignity； in the palace chambers and the stately gardens； but in the poor rooms where the solitaries of Port…Royal prayed and studied and taught。 Whether or not the ideal for mankind； their life was worthy of man。 And what is rarer than a life to which that praise can be given？
IX
It is amusing to note the superficial forms of reaction against scientific positivism。 The triumph of Darwin was signalized by the invention of that happy word Agnostic； which had great vogue。 But agnosticism； as a fashion； was far too reasonable to endure。 There came a rumour of Oriental magic； （how the world repeats itself！） and presently every one who had nothing better to do gossipped about 〃esoteric Buddhism〃……the saving adjective sounded well in a drawing… room。 It did not hold very long； even with the novelists； for the English taste this esotericism was too exotic。 Somebody suggested that the old table…turning and spirit…rapping； which had homely associations； might be re…considered in a scientific light； and the idea was seized upon。 Superstition pranked in the professor's spectacles； it set up a laboratory； and printed grave reports。 Day by day its sphere widened。 Hypnotism brought matter for the marvel… mongers； and there followed a long procession of words in limping Greek……a little difficult till practice had made perfect。 Another fortunate terminologist hit upon the word 〃psychical〃……the P might be sounded or not； according to the taste and fancy of the pronouncer……and the fashionable children of a scientific age were thoroughly at ease。 〃There MUST be something； you know； one always felt that there MUST be something。〃 And now； if one may judge from what one reads； psychical 〃science〃 is fortably joining hands with the sorcery of the Middle Ages。 It is said to be a lucrative moment for wizards that peep and that mutter。 If the law against fortune…telling were as strictly enforced in the polite world as it occasionally is in slums and hamlets； we should have a merry time。 But it is difficult to prosecute a Professor of Telepathy……and how he would wele the advertisement！
Of course I know very well that all that make use of these words are not in one and the same category。 There is a study of the human mind； in health and in disease； which calls for as much respect as any other study conscientiously and capably pursued； that it lends occasion to fribbles and knaves is no argument against any honest tendency of thought。 Men whom one cannot but esteem are deeply engaged in psychical investigations； and have convinced themselves that they are brought into touch with phenomena inexplicable by the monly accepted laws of life。 Be it so。 They may be on the point of making discoveries in the world beyond sense。 For my own part； everything of this kind not only does not interest me； I turn from it with the strongest distaste。 If every wonder…story examined by the Psychical Society were set before me with irresistible evidence of its truth； my feeling （call it my prejudice） would undergo no change whatever。 No whit the less should I yawn over the next batch； and lay the narratives aside with……yes； with a sort of disgust。 〃An ounce of civet； good apothecary！〃 Why it should be so w