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original work as something due already to the nation； and none of
them has ever taken out a patent。 It is another cause of the
comparative obscurity of the name： for a patent not only brings in
money； it infallibly spreads reputation； and my father's
instruments enter anonymously into a hundred light…rooms； and are
passed anonymously over in a hundred reports； where the least
considerable patent would stand out and tell its author's story。
But the life…work of Thomas Stevenson remains； what we have lost；
what we now rather try to recall； is the friend and companion。 He
was a man of a somewhat antique strain： with a blended sternness
and softness that was wholly Scottish and at first somewhat
bewildering； with a profound essential melancholy of disposition
and （what often accompanies it） the most humorous geniality in
company； shrewd and childish； passionately attached； passionately
prejudiced； a man of many extremes； many faults of temper； and no
very stable foothold for himself among life's troubles。 Yet he was
a wise adviser； many men； and these not inconsiderable； took
counsel with him habitually。 〃I sat at his feet；〃 writes one of
these； 〃when I asked his advice； and when the broad brow was set in
thought and the firm mouth said his say； I always knew that no man
could add to the worth of the conclusion。〃 He had excellent taste；
though whimsical and partial； collected old furniture and delighted
specially in sunflowers long before the days of Mr。 Wilde； took a
lasting pleasure in prints and pictures； was a devout admirer of
Thomson of Duddingston at a time when few shared the taste； and
though he read little； was constant to his favourite books。 He had
never any Greek； Latin he happily re…taught himself after he had
left school； where he was a mere consistent idler： happily； I say；
for Lactantius； Vossius； and Cardinal Bona were his chief authors。
The first he must have read for twenty years uninterruptedly；
keeping it near him in his study； and carrying it in his bag on
journeys。 Another old theologian； Brown of Wamphray； was often in
his hands。 When he was indisposed； he had two books； GUY MANNERING
and THE PARENT'S ASSISTANT； of which he never wearied。 He was a
strong Conservative； or； as he preferred to call himself； a Tory；
except in so far as his views were modified by a hot…headed
chivalrous sentiment for women。 He was actually in favour of a
marriage law under which any woman might have a divorce for the
asking； and no man on any ground whatever； and the same sentiment
found another expression in a Magdalen Mission in Edinburgh；
founded and largely supported by himself。 This was but one of the
many channels of his public generosity； his private was equally
unstrained。 The Church of Scotland； of which he held the doctrines
（though in a sense of his own） and to which he bore a clansman's
loyalty； profited often by his time and money； and though； from a
morbid sense of his own unworthiness； he would never consent to be
an office…bearer； his advice was often sought； and he served the
Church on many committees。 What he perhaps valued highest in his
work were his contributions to the defence of Christianity； one of
which； in particular； was praised by Hutchinson Stirling and
reprinted at the request of Professor Crawford。
His sense of his own unworthiness I have called morbid； morbid；
too； were his sense of the fleetingness of life and his concern for
death。 He had never accepted the conditions of man's life or his
own character； and his inmost thoughts were ever tinged with the
Celtic melancholy。 Cases of conscience were sometimes grievous to
him； and that delicate employment of a scientific witness cost him
many qualms。 But he found respite from these troublesome humours
in his work； in his lifelong study of natural science； in the
society of those he loved； and in his daily walks； which now would
carry him far into the country with some congenial friend； and now
keep him dangling about the town from one old book…shop to another；
and scraping romantic acquaintance with every dog that passed。 His
talk； compounded of so much sterling sense and so much freakish
humour； and clothed in language so apt； droll； and emphatic； was a
perpetual delight to all who knew him before the clouds began to
settle on his mind。 His use of language was both just and
picturesque； and when at the beginning of his illness he began to
feel the ebbing of this power； it was strange and painful to hear
him reject one word after another as inadequate； and at length
desist from the search and leave his phrase unfinished rather than
finish it without propriety。 It was perhaps another Celtic trait
that his affections and emotions； passionate as these were； and
liable to passionate ups and downs； found the most eloquent
expression both in words and gestures。 Love； anger； and
indignation shone through him and broke forth in imagery； like what
we read of Southern races。 For all these emotional extremes； and
in spite of the melancholy ground of his character； he had upon the
whole a happy life； nor was he less fortunate in his death； which
at the last came to him unaware。
CHAPTER X。 TALK AND TALKERS
Sir； we had a good talk。 … JOHNSON。
As we must account for every idle word； so we must for every idle
silence。 … FRANKLIN。
THERE can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk； to be
affable； gay； ready； clear and welcome； to have a fact； a thought；
or an illustration； pat to every subject； and not only to cheer the
flight of time among our intimates； but bear our part in that great
international congress； always sitting； where public wrongs are
first declared； public errors first corrected； and the course of
public opinion shaped； day by day； a little nearer to the right。
No measure comes before Parliament but it has been long ago
prepared by the grand jury of the talkers； no book is written that
has not been largely composed by their assistance。 Literature in
many of its branches is no other than the shadow of good talk； but
the imitation falls far short of the original in life； freedom and
effect。 There are always two to a talk； giving and taking；
comparing experience and according conclusions。 Talk is fluid；
tentative； continually 〃in further search and progress〃； while
written words remain fixed； become idols even to the writer； found
wooden dogmatisms； and preserve flies of obvious error in the amber
of the truth。 Last and chief； while literature； gagged with
linsey…woolsey； can only deal with a fraction of the life of man；
talk goes fancy free and may call a spade a spade。 Talk has none
of the freezing immunities of the pulpit。 It cannot； even if it
would； become merely aesthetic or merely classical like literature。
A jest intervenes； the solemn humbug is dissolved in lau