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！
weary； when he could find a tolerant listener； of dwelling on the
simplicity； the economy； the elegance both of means and effect；
which made their system so delightful。
But there is another side to the stage…manager's employment。 The
discipline of acting is detestable； the failures and triumphs of
that business appeal too directly to the vanity； and even in the
course of a careful amateur performance such as ours； much of the
smaller side of man will be displayed。 Fleeming； among conflicting
vanities and levities； played his part to my admiration。 He had
his own view； he might be wrong； but the performances （he would
remind us） were after all his； and he must decide。 He was； in this
as in all other things； an iron taskmaster； sparing not himself nor
others。 If you were going to do it at all； he would see that it
was done as well as you were able。 I have known him to keep two
culprits （and one of these his wife） repeating the same action and
the same two or three words for a whole weary afternoon。 And yet
he gained and retained warm feelings from far the most of those who
fell under his domination； and particularly （it is pleasant to
remember） from the girls。 After the slipshod training and the
incomplete accomplishments of a girls' school； there was something
at first annoying； at last exciting and bracing； in this high
standard of accomplishment and perseverance。
III。
It did not matter why he entered upon any study or employment；
whether for amusement like the Greek tailoring or the Highland
reels； whether from a desire to serve the public as with his
sanitary work； or in the view of benefiting poorer men as with his
labours for technical education； he 'pitched into it' （as he would
have said himself） with the same headlong zest。 I give in the
Appendix a letter from Colonel Fergusson； which tells fully the
nature of the sanitary work and of Fleeming's part and success in
it。 It will be enough to say here that it was a scheme of
protection against the blundering of builders and the dishonesty of
plumbers。 Started with an eye rather to the houses of the rich；
Fleeming hoped his Sanitary Associations would soon extend their
sphere of usefulness and improve the dwellings of the poor。 In
this hope he was disappointed； but in all other ways the scheme
exceedingly prospered； associations sprang up and continue to
spring up in many quarters； and wherever tried they have been found
of use。
Here； then； was a serious employment； it has proved highly useful
to mankind； and it was begun besides； in a mood of bitterness；
under the shock of what Fleeming would so sensitively feel … the
death of a whole family of children。 Yet it was gone upon like a
holiday jaunt。 I read in Colonel Fergusson's letter that his
schoolmates bantered him when he began to broach his scheme； so did
I at first； and he took the banter as he always did with enjoyment；
until he suddenly posed me with the question： 'And now do you see
any other jokes to make？ Well； then；' said he； 'that's all right。
I wanted you to have your fun out first； now we can be serious。'
And then with a glowing heat of pleasure； he laid his plans before
me； revelling in the details； revelling in hope。 It was as he
wrote about the joy of electrical experiment。 'What shall I
compare them to？ A new song？ … a Greek play？' Delight attended
the exercise of all his powers； delight painted the future。 Of
these ideal visions； some （as I have said） failed of their
fruition。 And the illusion was characteristic。 Fleeming believed
we had only to make a virtue cheap and easy； and then all would
practise it； that for an end unquestionably good； men would not
grudge a little trouble and a little money； though they might
stumble at laborious pains and generous sacrifices。 He could not
believe in any resolute badness。 'I cannot quite say；' he wrote in
his young manhood； 'that I think there is no sin or misery。 This I
can say： I do not remember one single malicious act done to
myself。 In fact it is rather awkward when I have to say the Lord's
Prayer。 I have nobody's trespasses to forgive。' And to the point；
I remember one of our discussions。 I said it was a dangerous error
not to admit there were bad people； he； that it was only a
confession of blindness on our part； and that we probably called
others bad only so far as we were wrapped in ourselves and lacking
in the transmigratory forces of imagination。 I undertook to
describe to him three persons irredeemably bad and whom he should
admit to be so。 In the first case； he denied my evidence： 'You
cannot judge a man upon such testimony；' said he。 For the second；
he owned it made him sick to hear the tale； but then there was no
spark of malice； it was mere weakness I had described； and he had
never denied nor thought to set a limit to man's weakness。 At my
third gentleman； he struck his colours。 'Yes；' said he； 'I'm
afraid that is a bad man。' And then looking at me shrewdly： 'I
wonder if it isn't a very unfortunate thing for you to have met
him。' I showed him radiantly how it was the world we must know；
the world as it was； not a world expurgated and prettified with
optimistic rainbows。 'Yes； yes；' said he； 'but this badness is
such an easy； lazy explanation。 Won't you be tempted to use it；
instead of trying to understand people？'
In the year 1878； he took a passionate fancy for the phonograph：
it was a toy after his heart； a toy that touched the skirts of
life； art； and science； a toy prolific of problems and theories。
Something fell to be done for a University Cricket Ground Bazaar。
'And the thought struck him；' Mr。 Ewing writes to me； 'to exhibit
Edison's phonograph； then the very newest scientific marvel。 The
instrument itself was not to be purchased … I think no specimen had
then crossed the Atlantic … but a copy of the TIMES with an account
of it was at hand； and by the help of this we made a phonograph
which to our great joy talked； and talked； too； with the purest
American accent。 It was so good that a second instrument was got
ready forthwith。 Both were shown at the Bazaar： one by Mrs。
Jenkin to people willing to pay half a crown for a private view and
the privilege of hearing their own voices； while Jenkin； perfervid
as usual； gave half…hourly lectures on the other in an adjoining
room … I； as his lieutenant； taking turns。 The thing was in its
way a little triumph。 A few of the visitors were deaf； and hugged
the belief that they were the victims of a new kind of fancy…fair
swindle。 Of the others； many who came to scoff remained to take
raffle tickets； and one of the phonographs was finally disposed of
in this way； falling； by a happy freak of the ballot…box； into the
hands of Sir William Thomson。' The other remained in Fleeming's
hands； and was a source of inf