快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

decrees　reality　out　of　chaos。

Without　imagination　what　a　poor　thing　my　world　would　be！　My　garden　would
be　a　silent　patch　of　earth　strewn　with　sticks　of　a　variety　of　shapes　and
smells。　But　when　the　eye　of　my　mind　is　opened　to　its　beauty；　the　bare
ground　brightens　beneath　my　feet；　and　the　hedge…row　bursts　into　leaf；
and　the　rose…tree　shakes　its　fragrance　everywhere。　I　know　how　budding
trees　look；　and　I　enter　into　the　amorous　joy　of　the　mating　birds；　and
this　is　the　miracle　of　imagination。

Twofold　is　the　miracle　when；　through　my　fingers；　my　imagination　reaches
forth　and　meets　the　imagination　of　an　artist　which　he　has　embodied　in　a
sculptured　form。　Although；　pared　with　the　life…warm；　mobile　face　of　a
friend；　the　marble　is　cold　and　pulseless　and　unresponsive；　yet　it　is
beautiful　to　my　hand。　Its　flowing　curves　and　bendings　are　a　real
pleasure；　only　breath　is　wanting；　but　under　the　spell　of　the　imagination
the　marble　thrills　and　bees　the　divine　reality　of　the　ideal。
Imagination　puts　a　sentiment　into　every　line　and　curve；　and　the　statue
in　my　touch　is　indeed　the　goddess　herself　who　breathes　and　moves　and
enchants。

It　is　true；　however；　that　some　sculptures；　even　recognized　masterpieces；
do　not　please　my　hand。　When　I　touch　what　there　is　of　the　Winged　Victory；
it　reminds　me　at　first　of　a　headless；　limbless　dream　that　flies　towards
me　in　an　unrestful　sleep。　The　garments　of　the　Victory　thrust　stiffly　out
behind；　and　do　not　resemble　garments　that　I　have　felt　flying；
fluttering；　folding；　spreading　in　the　wind。　But　imagination　fulfils
these　imperfections；　and　straightway　the　Victory　bees　a　powerful　and
spirited　figure　with　the　sweep　of　sea…winds　in　her　robes　and　the
splendour　of　conquest　in　her　wings。

I　find　in　a　beautiful　statue　perfection　of　bodily　form；　the　qualities　of
balance　and　pleteness。　The　Minerva；　hung　with　a　web　of　poetical
allusion；　gives　me　a　sense　of　exhilaration　that　is　almost　physical；　and
I　like　the　luxuriant；　wavy　hair　of　Bacchus　and　Apollo；　and　the　wreath　of
ivy；　so　suggestive　of　pagan　holidays。

So　imagination　crowns　the　experience　of　my　hands。　And　they　learned　their
cunning　from　the　wise　hand　of　another；　which；　itself　guided　by
imagination；　led　me　safely　in　paths　that　I　knew　not；　made　darkness　light
before　me；　and　made　crooked　ways　straight。




THE　HANDS　OF　OTHERS




II

THE　HANDS　OF　OTHERS


THE　warmth　and　protectiveness　of　the　hand　are　most　homefelt　to　me　who
have　always　looked　to　it　for　aid　and　joy。　I　understand　perfectly　how　the
Psalmist　can　lift　up　his　voice　with　strength　and　gladness；　singing；　〃I
put　my　trust　in　the　Lord　at　all　times；　and　his　hand　shall　uphold　me；　and
I　shall　dwell　in　safety。〃　In　the　strength　of　the　human　hand；　too；　there
is　something　divine。　I　am　told　that　the　glance　of　a　beloved　eye　thrills
one　from　a　distance；　but　there　is　no　distance　in　the　touch　of　a　beloved
hand。　Even　the　letters　I　receive　are……

　　　　　　　　　　Kind　letters　that　betray　the　heart's　deep　history；
　　　　　　　　　　In　which　we　feel　the　presence　of　a　hand。

It　is　interesting　to　observe　the　differences　in　the　hands　of　people。
They　show　all　kinds　of　vitality；　energy；　stillness；　and　cordiality。　I
never　realized　how　living　the　hand　is　until　I　saw　those　chill　plaster
images　in　Mr。　Hutton's　collection　of　casts。　The　hand　I　know　in　life　has
the　fullness　of　blood　in　its　veins；　and　is　elastic　with　spirit。　How
different　dear　Mr。　Hutton's　hand　was　from　its　dull；　insensate　image！　To
me　the　cast　lacks　the　very　form　of　the　hand。　Of　the　many　casts　in　Mr。
Hutton's　collection　I　did　not　recognize　any；　not　even　my　own。　But　a
loving　hand　I　never　forget。　I　remember　in　my　fingers　the　large　hands　of
Bishop　Brooks；　brimful　of　tenderness　and　a　strong　man's　joy。　If　you　were
deaf　and　blind；　and　could　have　held　Mr。　Jefferson's　hand；　you　would　have
seen　in　it　a　face　and　heard　a　kind　voice　unlike　any　other　you　have
known。　Mark　Twain's　hand　is　full　of　whimsies　and　the　drollest　humours；
and　while　you　hold　it　the　drollery　changes　to　sympathy　and　championship。

＇Illustration：　Copyright；　1907；　by　the　Whitman　Studio

The　Medallion

The　bas…relief　on　the　wall　is　a　portrait　of　the　Queen　Dowager　of　Spain；
which　Her　Majesty　had　made　for　Miss　Keller

To　face　page　22＇

I　am　told　that　the　words　I　have　just　written　do　not　〃describe〃　the　hands
of　my　friends；　but　merely　endow　them　with　the　kindly　human　qualities
which　I　know　they　possess；　and　which　language　conveys　in　abstract　words。
The　criticism　implies　that　I　am　not　giving　the　primary　truth　of　what　I
feel；　but　how　otherwise　do　descriptions　in　books　I　read；　written　by　men
who　can　see；　render　the　visible　look　of　a　face？　I　read　that　a　face　is
strong；　gentle；　that　it　is　full　of　patience；　of　intellect；　that　it　is
fine；　sweet；　noble；　beautiful。　Have　I　not　the　same　right　to　use　these
words　in　describing　what　I　feel　as　you　have　in　describing　what　you　see？
They　express　truly　what　I　feel　in　the　hand。　I　am　seldom　conscious　of
physical　qualities；　and　I　do　not　remember　whether　the　fingers　of　a　hand
are　short　or　long；　or　the　skin　is　moist　or　dry。　No　more　can　you；　without
conscious　effort；　recall　the　details　of　a　face；　even　when　you　have　seen
it　many　times。　If　you　do　recall　the　features；　and　say　that　an　eye　is
blue；　a　chin　sharp；　a　nose　short；　or　a　cheek　sunken；　I　fancy　that　you　do
not　succeed　well　in　giving　the　impression　of　the　person；……not　so　well
as　when　you　interpret　at　once　to　the　heart　the　essential　moral　qualities
of　the　face……its　humour；　gravity；　sadness；　spirituality。　If　I　should
tell　you　in　physical　terms　how　a　hand　feels；　you　would　be　no　wiser　for
my　account　than　a　blind　man　to　whom　you　describe　a　face　in　detail。
Remember　that　when　a　blind　man　recovers　his　sight；　he　does　not　recognize
the　monest　thing　that　has　been　familiar　to　his　touch；　the　dearest
face　intimate　to　his　fingers；　and　it　does　not　help　him　at　all　that
things　and　people　have　been　described　to　him　again　and　again。　So　you；
who　are　untrained　of　touch；　do　not　recognize　a　hand　by　the　grasp；　and
so；　too；　any　description　I　might　give　would　fail　to　make　you　acquainted
with　a　friendly　hand　which　my　fingers　have　often　folded　about；　and
which　my　affection　translates　to　my　memory。

I　cannot　describe　hands　under　any　class　or　type；　there　is　no　democracy
of　hands。　Some　hands　tell　me　that　they　do　everything　with　the　maximum　of
bustle　and　noise。　Other　hands　are　fidgety　and　unadvised；　with　nervous；
fussy　fingers　which　indicate　a　nature　sensitive　to　the　little　pricks　of
daily　life。　Sometimes　I　recognize　with　foreboding　the　kindly　but　stupid
hand　of　one　who　tells　with　many　words　news　that　is　no　news。　I　have　met　a
bishop　with　a　jocose　hand；　a　humourist　with　a　hand　of　leaden　gravity；　a
man　of　pretentious　valour　with　a　timorous　hand；　and　a　quiet；　apologetic
man　with　a　fist　of　iron。　When　I　was　a　little　girl　I　was　taken　to　see＇A＇
a　woman　who　was　blind　and　paralysed。　I　shall　never　forget　how　she　held
out　her　small；　trembling　hand　and　pressed　sympathy　into　mine。　My　eyes
fill　with　tears　as　I　think　of　her。　The　weariness；　pain；　darkness；　and
sweet　patience　were　all　to　be　felt　in　her　thin；　wasted；　groping；　loving
hand。

Few　people　who　do　not　know　me　will　understand；　I　think；　how　much　I　get
of　the　mood　of　a　friend　who　is　engaged　in　oral　conversation　with
somebody　else。　My　hand　follows　his　motions；　I　touch　his　hand；　his　arm；
his　face。　I　can　tell　when　he　is　full　of　glee　over　a　good　joke　which　has
not　been　repeated　to　me；　or　when　he　is　telling　a　lively　story。　One　of
my　friends　is　rather　aggressive；　and　his　hand　always　announces　the
ing　of　a　dispute。　By　his　impatient　jerk　I　know　he　has　argument　ready
for　some　one。　I　have　felt　him　start　as　a　sudden　recollection　or　a　new
idea　shot　through　his　mind。　I　have　felt　grief　in　his　hand。　I　have　felt
his　soul　wrap　itself　in　darkness　majestically　as　in　a　garment。　Another
friend　has　positive；　emphatic　hands　which　show　great　pertinacity　of
opinion。　She　is　the　only　person　I　know　who　emphasizes　her　spelled　words
and　accents　them　as　she　emphasizes　and　accents　her　spoken　words　when　I
read　her　lips。　I　like　this　varied　emphasis　better　than　the　monotonous
pound　of　unmodulated　people　who　hammer　their　meaning　into　my　palm。

Some　hands；　when　they　clasp　yours；　beam　and　bubble　over　with　gladness。
They　throb　and　expand　with　life。　Strangers　have　clasped　my　hand　like
that　of　a　long…lost　sister。　Other　people　shake　hands　with　me　as　if　with
the　fear　that　I　may　do　them　mischief。　Such　persons　hold　out　civil
finger…tips　which　they　permit　you　to　touch；　and　in　the　moment　of
contract　they　retreat；　and　inwardly　you　hope　that　you　will　not　be　called
upon　again　to　take　that　hand　of　〃dormouse　valour。〃　It　betokens　a　prudish
mind；　ungracious　pride；　and　not　seldom　mistrust。　It　is　the　antipode　to
the　hand　of　those　who　have　large；　lovable　natures。

The　handshake　of　some　people　makes　you　think　of　accident　and　sudden
death。　Contrast　this　ill…boding　hand　with　the　quick；　skilful；　quiet　hand
of　a　nurse　whom　I　remember　with　affection　because　she　took　the　best
care　of　my　teacher。　I　have　clasped　the　hands　of　some　rich　people　that
spin　not　and　toil　not；　and　yet　are　not　beautiful。　Beneath　their　soft；
smooth　roundness　what　a　chaos　of　undeveloped　character！

I　am　sure　there　is　no　hand　parable　to　the　physician's　in　patient
skill；　merciful　gentleness　and　splendid　certainty。　No　wonder　that　Ruskin
finds　in　the　sure　strokes　of　the　surgeon　the　perfection　of　control　and
delicate　precision　for　the　artist　to　emulate。　If　the　physician　is　a　man
of　great　nature；　there　will　be　healing　for　the　spirit　in　his　touch。　This
magic　touch　of　well…being　was　in　the　hand　of　a　dear　friend　of　mine　who
was　our　doctor　in　sickness　and　health。　His　happy　cordial　spirit　did　his
patients　good　whether　they　needed　medicine　or　not。

As　there　are　many　beauties　of　the　face；　so　the　beauties　of　the　hand　are
many。　Touch　has　its　ecstasies。　The　hands　of　people　of　strong
individuality　and　sensitiveness　are　wonderfully　mobile。　In　a　glance　of
their　finger…tips　they　express　many　shades　of　thought。　Now　and　again　I
touch　a　fine；　graceful；　supple…wristed　hand　which　spells　with　the　same
beauty　and　distinction　that　you　must　see　in　the　handwriting　of　some
highly　cultivated　people。　I　wish　you　could　see　how　prettily　little
children　spell　in　my　hand。　They　are　wild　flowers　of　humanity；　and　their
finger　motions　wild　flowers　of　speech。

All　this　is　my　private　science　of　palmistry；　and　when　I　tell　your
fortune　it　is　by　no　mysterious　intuition　or　gipsy　witchcraft；　but　by
natural；　explicable　recognition　of　the　embossed　character　in　your　hand。
Not　only　is　the　hand　as　easy　to　recognize　as　the　face；　but　it　reveals
its　secrets　more　openly　and　unconsciously。　People　control　their
countenances；　but　the　hand　is　under　no　such　restraint。　It　relaxes　and
bees　listless　when　the　spirit　is　low　and　dejected；　the　muscles
tighten　when　the　mind　is　excited　or　the　heart　glad；　and　permanent
qualities　stand　written　on　it　all　the　time。

FOOTNOTE：

＇A＇　The　excellent　proof…reader　has　put　a　query　to　my　use　of　the　word
〃see。〃　If　I　had　said　〃visit；〃　he　would　have　asked　no　questions；　yet　what
does　〃visit〃　mean　but　〃see〃　（_visitare_）？　Later　I　will　try　to　defend
myself　for　using　as　much　of　the　English　language　as　I　have　succeeded　in
learning。




THE　HAND　OF　THE　RACE




III

THE　HAND　OF　THE　RACE


LOOK　in　your　〃Century　Dictionary；〃　or　if　you　are　blind；　ask　your　teacher
to　do　it　for　you；　and　learn　how　many　idioms　are　made　on　the　idea　of
hand；　and　how　many　words　are　formed　from　the　Latin　root　_manus_……enough
words　to　name　all　the　essential　affairs　of　life。　〃Hand；〃　with　quotations
and　pounds；　occupies　twenty…four　columns；　eight　pages　of　this
dictionary。　The　hand　is　defined　as　〃the　organ　of　apprehension。〃　How
perfectly　the　definition　fits　my　case　in　both　senses　of　the　word
〃apprehend〃！　With　my　hand　I　seize　and　hold　all　that　I　find　in　the　three
worlds……physical；　intellectual；　and　spiritual。

Think　how　man　has　regarded　the　world　in　terms　of　the　hand。　All　life　is
divided　between　what　lies　_on　one　hand_　and　on　the　other。　The　products
of　skill　are　_manu_factures。　The　conduct　of　affairs　is　_man_agement。
History　seems　to　be　the　record……alas　for　our　chronicles　of　war！……of　the
_man_oeuvres　of　armies。　But　the　history