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Even those branches of science which are concerned with things that interest me……which deal with plants and animals and the heaven of stars……even these I cannot contemplate without uneasiness； a spiritual disaffection； new discoveries； new theories； however they engage my intelligence； soon weary me； and in some way depress。 When it es to other kinds of science……the sciences blatant and ubiquitous……the science by which men bee millionaires……I am possessed with an angry hostility； a resentful apprehension。 This was born in me； no doubt； I cannot trace it to circumstances of my life； or to any particular moment of my mental growth。 My boyish delight in Carlyle doubtless nourished the temper； but did not Carlyle so delight me because of what was already in my mind？ I remember； as a lad； looking at plicated machinery with a shrinking uneasiness which； of course； I did not understand； I remember the sort of disturbed contemptuousness with which； in my time of 〃examinations；〃 I dismissed 〃science papers。〃 It is intelligible enough to me； now； that unformed fear： the ground of my antipathy has grown clear enough。 I hate and fear 〃science〃 because of my conviction that； for long to e if not for ever； it will be the remorseless enemy of mankind。 I see it destroying all simplicity and gentleness of life； all the beauty of the world； I see it restoring barbarism under a mask of civilization； I see it darkening men's minds and hardening their hearts； I see it bringing a time of vast conflicts； which will pale into insignificance 〃the thousand wars of old；〃 and； as likely as not； will whelm all the laborious advances of mankind in blood…drenched chaos。
Yet to rail against it is as idle as to quarrel with any other force of nature。 For myself； I can hold apart； and see as little as possible of the thing I deem accursed。 But I think of some who are dear to me； whose life will be lived in the hard and fierce new age。 The roaring 〃Jubilee〃 of last summer was for me an occasion of sadness； it meant that so much was over and gone……so much of good and noble； the like of which the world will not see again； and that a new time of which only the perils are clearly visible； is rushing upon us。 Oh； the generous hopes and aspirations of forty years ago！ Science； then； was seen as the deliverer； only a few could prophesy its tyranny； could foresee that it would revive old evils and trample on the promises of its beginning。 This is the course of things； we must accept it。 But it is some fort to me that I…… poor little mortal……have had no part in bringing the tyrant to his throne。
XIX
The Christmas bells drew me forth this morning。 With but half… formed purpose； I walked through soft； hazy sunshine towards the city； and came into the Cathedral Close； and； after lingering awhile； heard the first notes of the organ； and so entered。 I believe it is more than thirty years since I was in an English church on Christmas Day。 The old time and the old faces lived again for me； I saw myself on the far side of the abyss of years……that self which is not myself at all； though I mark points of kindred between the beings of then and now。 He who in that other world sat to hear the Christmas gospel； either heeded it not at all……rapt in his own visions……or listened only as one in whose blood was heresy。 He loved the notes of the organ； but； even in his childish mind； distinguished clearly between the music and its local motive。 More than that； he could separate the melody of word and of thought from their dogmatic significance； enjoying the one whilst wholly rejecting the other。 〃On earth peace； goodwill to men〃……already that line was among the treasures of his intellect； but only； no doubt； because of its rhythm； its sonority。 Life； to him； was a half…conscious striving for the harmonic in thought and speech……and through what a tumult of unmelodious circumstance was he beginning to fight his way！
To…day； I listen with no heretical promptings。 The music； whether of organ or of word； is more to me than ever； the literal meaning causes me no restiveness。 I felt only glad that I had yielded to the summons of the Christmas bells。 I sat among a congregation of shadows； not in the great cathedral； but in a little parish church far from here。 When I came forth； it astonished me to see the softly radiant sky； and to tread on the moist earth； my dream expected a wind…swept canopy of cold grey； and all beneath it the gleam of new…fallen snow。 It is a piety to turn awhile and live with the dead； and who can so well indulge it as he whose Christmas is passed in no unhappy solitude？ I would not now； if I might； be one of a joyous pany； it is better to hear the long…silent voices； and to smile at happy things which I alone can remember。 When I was scarce old enough to understand； I heard read by the fireside the Christmas stanzas of 〃In Memoriam。〃 To…night I have taken down the volume； and the voice of so long ago has read to me once again……read as no other ever did； that voice which taught me to know poetry； the voice which never spoke to me but of good and noble things。 Would I have those accents overborne by a living tongue； however wele its sound at another time？ Jealously I guard my Christmas solitude。
XX
Is it true that the English are deeply branded with the vice of hypocrisy？ The accusation； of course； dates from the time of the Round…heads； before that； nothing in the national character could have suggested it。 The England of Chaucer； the England of Shakespeare； assuredly was not hypocrite。 The change wrought by Puritanism introduced into the life of the people that new element which ever since； more or less notably； has suggested to the observer a habit of double…dealing in morality and religion。 The scorn of the Cavalier is easily understood； it created a traditional Cromwell； who； till Carlyle arose； figured before the world as our arch…dissembler。 With the decline of genuine Puritanism came that peculiarly English manifestation of piety and virtue which is represented by Mr。 Pecksniff……a being so utterly different from Tartufe； and perhaps impossible to be understood save by Englishmen themselves。 But it is in our own time that the familiar reproach has been persistently levelled at us。 It often sounds upon the lips of our emancipated youth； it is stereotyped for daily impression in the offices of Continental newspapers。 And for the reason one has not far to look。 When Napoleon called us a 〃nation of shop… keepers；〃 we were nothing of the kind； since his day we have bee so； in the strictest sense of the word； and consider the spectacle of a flourishing tradesman； anything but scrupulous in his methods of business； who loses no opportunity of bidding all mankind to regard him as a religious and moral exemplar。 This is the actual show of things with us； this is the England seen by our bitterest censors。 There is an excuse for those who charge us with 〃hypocrisy。〃
But the word is ill…chosen； and indicates a misconception。 The characteristic of your true hypocrite is the assumption of a virtue which not only he has not； but which he is incapable of possessing； and in which he does not believe。 The hypocrite may have； most likely has； （for he is a man of brains；） a conscious