suit such a case：
Hen！ quanto minus est cum to vivo versari
Quam erit （vel esset） tui mortui reminisse！
〃Alas！ how much less the delight of thy living presence
Than will （or would） be that of remembering thee when thou hast
left us！〃
I want to stop hereI the Poetand put in a few reflections of my
own； suggested by what I have been giving the reader from the
Master's Book； and in a similar vein。
How few things there are that do not change their whole aspect in
the course of a single generation！ The landscape around us is wholly
different。 Even the outlines of the hills that surround us are
changed by the creeping of the villages with their spires and school…
houses up their sides。 The sky remains the same； and the ocean。 A
few old churchyards look very much as they used to； except； of
course； in Boston； where the gravestones have been rooted up and
planted in rows with walks between them； to the utter disgrace and
ruin of our most venerated cemeteries。 The Registry df Deeds and the
Probate Office show us the same old folios； where we can read our
grandfather's title to his estate （if we had a grandfather and he
happened to own anything） and see how many pots and kettles there
were in his kitchen by the inventory of his personal property。
Among living people none remain so long unchanged as the actors。 I
can see the same Othello to…day； if I choose； that when I was a boy I
saw smothering Mrs。 Duff…Desdemona with the pillow； under the
instigations of Mr。 Cooper…Iago。 A few stone heavier than he was
then； no doubt； but the same truculent blackamoor that took by the
thr…r…r…oat the circumcised dog in Aleppo； and told us about it in
the old Boston Theatre。 In the course of a fortnight； if I care to
cross the water； I can see Mademoiselle Dejazet in the same parts I
saw her in under Louis Philippe； and be charmed by the same grace and
vivacity which delighted my grandmother （if she was in Paris； and
went to see her in the part of Fanchon toute seule at the Theatre des
Capucines） in the days when the great Napoleon was still only First
Consul。
The graveyard and the stage are pretty much the only places where you
can expect to find your friendsas you left them； five and twenty or
fifty years ago。 I have noticed； I may add； that old theatre…goers
bring back the past with their stories more vividly than men with any
other experiences。 There were two old New…Yorkers that I used to
love to sit talking with about the stage。 One was a scholar and a
writer of note； a pleasant old gentleman； with the fresh cheek of an
octogenarian Cupid。 The other not less noted in his way； deep in
local lore； large…brained； full…blooded； of somewhat perturbing and
tumultuous presence。 It was good to hear them talk of George
Frederic Cooke； of Kean； and the lesser stars of those earlier
constellations。 Better still to breakfast with old Samuel Rogers； as
some of my readers have done more than once； and hear him answer to
the question who was the best actor he remembered； 〃I think； on the
whole； Garrick。〃
If we did but know how to question these charming old people before
it is too late！ About ten years； more or less； after the generation
in advance of our own has all died off； it occurs to us all at once；
〃There！ I can ask my old friend what he knows of that picture； which
must be a Copley； of that house and its legends about which there is
such a mystery。 He （or she） must know all about that。〃 Too late！
Too late！
Still； now and then one saves a reminiscence that means a good deal
by means of a casual question。 I asked the first of those two old
New…Yorkers the following question： 〃Who； on the whole； seemed to you
the most considerable person you ever met？〃
Now it must be remembered that this was a man who had lived in a city
that calls itself the metropolis； one who had been a member of the
State and the National Legislature； who had come in contact with men。
of letters and men of business； with politicians and members of all
the professions； during a long and distinguished public career。 I
paused for his answer with no little curiosity。 Would it be one of
the great Ex…Presidents whose names were known to； all the world？
Would it be the silver…tongued orator of Kentucky or the 〃God…like〃
champion of the Constitution； our New…England Jupiter Capitolinus？
Who would it be？
〃Take it altogether；〃 he answered； very deliberately； 〃I should say
Colonel Elisha Williams was the most notable personage that I have
met with。〃
Colonel Elisha Williams！ And who might he be； forsooth？ A
gentleman of singular distinction； you may be well assured； even
though you are not familiar with his name； but as I am not writing a
biographical dictionary； I shall leave it to my reader to find out
who and what he was。
One would like to live long enough to witness certain things which
will no doubt come to pass by and by。 I remember that when one of
our good kindhearted old millionnaires was growing very infirm； his
limbs failing him； and his trunk getting packed with the infirmities
which mean that one is bound on a long journey； he said very simply
and sweetly； 〃I don't care about living a great deal longer； but I
should like to live long enough to find out how much old （a many…
millioned fellow…citizen） is worth。〃 And without committing myself
on the longevity…question； I confess I should like to live long
enough to see a few things happen that are like to come； sooner or
later。
I want to hold the skull of Abraham in my hand。 They will go through
the cave of Machpelah at Hebron； I feel sure； in the course of a few
generations at the furthest； and as Dr。 Robinson knows of nothing
which should lead us to question the correctness of the tradition
which regards this as the place of sepulture of Abraham and the other
patriarchs； there is no reason why we may not find his mummied body
in perfect preservation； if he was embalmed after the Egyptian
fashion。 I suppose the tomb of David will be explored by a
commission in due time； and I should like to see the phrenological
developments of that great king and divine singer and warm…blooded
man。 If； as seems probable； the anthropological section of society
manages to get round the curse that protects the bones of
Shakespeare； I should like to see the dome which rounded itself over
his imperial brain。 Not that I am what is called a phrenologist； but
I am curious as to the physical developments of these fellow…mortals
of mine； and a little in want of a sensation。
I should like to live long enough to see the course of the Tiber
turned； and the bottom of the river thoroughly dredged。 I wonder if
they would find the seven…branched golden candlestick brought from
Jerusalem by Titus； and said to have been dropped from the Milvian
bridge。 I have often thought of going fishing for it some year when
I wanted a vacation； as some of my friends used to go to Ireland to
fish for salmon。 There was an attempt of that kind； I think； a few
years ago。
We all know how it looks well enough； from the figure of it on the
Arch of Titus； but I should like to 〃heft 〃 it in my own hand； and
carry it home and shine it up （excuse my colloquialisms）； and sit
down and look at it； and think and think and think until the Temple
of Solomon built up its walls of hewn stone and its roofs of cedar
around me as noiselessly as when it rose； and 〃there was neither
hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house while it was
in building。〃
All this； you will remember； Beloved； is a digression on my own
account； and I return to the old Master whom I left smiling at his
own alteration of Shenstone's celebrated inscription。 He now begin
reading again：
I want it to be understood that I consider that a certain number of
persons are at liberty to dislike me peremptorily； without showing
cause； and that they give no offence whatever in so doing。
If I did not cheerfully acquiesce in this sentiment towards myself on
the part of others； I should not feel at liberty to indulge my own
aversions。 I try to cultivate a Christian feeling to all my fellow…
creatures； but inasmuch as I must also respect truth and honesty； I
confess to myself a certain number of inalienable dislikes and
prejudices； some of which may possibly be shared by others。 Some of
these are purely instinctive； for others I can assign a reason。 Our
likes and dislikes play so important a part in the Order of Things
that it is well to see on what they are founded。
There are persons I meet occasionally who are too intelligent by half
for my liking。 They know my thoughts beforehand； and tell me what I
was going to say。 Of course they are masters of all my knowledge；
and a good deal besides； have read all the books I have read； and in
later editions； have had all the experiences I have been through； and
more…too。 In my private opinion every mother's son of them will lie
at any time rather than confess ignorance。
I have a kind of dread； rather than hatred； of persons with a large
excess of vitality； great feeders； great laughers； great story…
tellers； who come sweeping over their company with a hug