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！
introduced； and make a short address。 After some little difficulty
I obtained admission； and heard two or three speeches； which were
prefatory to the introduction of Mr。 Habakkuk。 One of these struck
me as perhaps the most presumptuous that I had ever heard。 The
speaker said that the races of whom Mr。 Habakkuk was a specimen；
were in all probability the lost ten tribes of Israel。 I dared not
contradict him then； but I felt angry and injured at hearing the
speaker jump to so preposterous a conclusion upon such insufficient
grounds。 The discovery of the ten tribes was mine； and mine only。
I was still in the very height of indignation； when there was a
murmur of expectation in the hall； and Mr。 Habakkuk was brought
forward。 The reader may judge of my surprise at finding that he
was none other than my old friend Chowbok！
My jaw dropped； and my eyes almost started out of my head with
astonishment。 The poor fellow was dreadfully frightened； and the
storm of applause which greeted his introduction seemed only to add
to his confusion。 I dare not trust myself to report his speech
indeed I could hardly listen to it； for I was nearly choked with
trying to suppress my feelings。 I am sure that I caught the words
〃Adelaide； the Queen Dowager；〃 and I thought that I heard 〃Mary
Magdalene〃 shortly afterwards； but I had then to leave the hall for
fear of being turned out。 While on the staircase； I heard another
burst of prolonged and rapturous applause； so I suppose the
audience were satisfied。
The feelings that came uppermost in my mind were hardly of a very
solemn character； but I thought of my first acquaintance with
Chowbok； of the scene in the woodshed； of the innumerable lies he
had told me； of his repeated attempts upon the brandy； and of many
an incident which I have not thought it worth while to dwell upon；
and I could not but derive some satisfaction from the hope that my
own efforts might have contributed to the change which had been
doubtless wrought upon him； and that the rite which I had
performed； however unprofessionally； on that wild upland river…bed；
had not been wholly without effect。 I trust that what I have
written about him in the earlier part of my book may not be
libellous； and that it may do him no harm with his employers。 He
was then unregenerate。 I must certainly find him out and have a
talk with him； but before I shall have time to do so these pages
will be in the hands of the public。
At the last moment I see a probability of a complication which
causes me much uneasiness。 Please subscribe quickly。 Address to
the Mansion…House； care of the Lord Mayor； whom I will instruct to
receive names and subscriptions for me until I can organise a
committee。
Footnotes：
｛1｝ The last part of Chapter XXIII in this Gutenberg eText。DP。
｛2｝ See Handel's compositions for the harpsichord； published by
Litolf； p。 78。
｛3｝ The myth above alluded to exists in Erewhon with changed
names； and considerable modifications。 I have taken the liberty of
referring to the story as familiar to ourselves。
｛4｝ What a SAFE word 〃relation〃 is； how little it predicates！ yet
it has overgrown 〃kinsman。〃
｛5｝ The root alluded to is not the potato of our own gardens； but
a plant so near akin to it that I have ventured to translate it
thus。 Apropos of its intelligence； had the writer known Butler he
would probably have said …
〃He knows what's what； and that's as high；
As metaphysic wit can fly。〃
｛6｝ Since my return to England； I have been told that those who
are conversant about machines use many terms concerning them which
show that their vitality is here recognised； and that a collection
of expressions in use among those who attend on steam engines would
be no less startling than instructive。 I am also informed； that
almost all machines have their own tricks and idiosyncrasies； that
they know their drivers and keepers； and that they will play pranks
upon a stranger。 It is my intention； on a future occasion； to
bring together examples both of the expressions in common use among
mechanicians； and of any extraordinary exhibitions of mechanical
sagacity and eccentricity that I can meet withnot as believing in
the Erewhonian Professor's theory； but from the interest of the
subject。
End