Visits and Sketches at Home and Abroad with Tales and Miscellanies Now First Collected Volume I Part 1

Visits and Sketches at Home and Abroad with Tales and Miscellanies Now First Collected.

by Anna Jameson.

VOL 1.

THE AUTHOR TO THE READER.

It seems a foolish thing to send into the world a book requiring a preface of apologies; and yet more absurd, to presume that any deprecation on the part of the author could possibly win indulgence for what should be in itself worthless.

For this reason, and with a very deep feeling of the kindness I have already experienced from the public, I should now abandon these little volumes to their destiny without one word of preface or remark, but that a certain portion of their contents seems to require a little explanation.

It was the wish and request of my friends, many months ago, that I should collect various literary trifles which were scattered about in print or in ma.n.u.script, and allow them to be published together. My departure for the continent set aside this intention for the time. I had other and particular objects in view, which still keep full possession of my mind, and which have been suspended not without reluctance, in order to prepare these volumes for the press;--neither had I, while travelling in Germany, the slightest idea of writing any thing of that country: so far from it, that except during the last few weeks at Munich, I kept no regular notes: but finding on my return to England, that many particulars which had strongly excited my interest, with regard to the relative state of art and social existence in the two countries, appeared new to those with whom I conversed,--after some hesitation, I was induced to throw into form the few memoranda I had made on the spot. They are now given to the public in the first and second volumes of this little collection, with a very sincere feeling of their many imperfections, and much anxiety with regard to the reception they are likely to meet with; yet in the earnest hope that what has been written in perfect simplicity of heart, may be perused both by my English and German friends, particularly the artists, with indulgence; that those who read and doubt may be awakened to inquiry, and those who read and believe may be led to reflection; and that those who differ from, and those who agree with the writer, may both find some interest and amus.e.m.e.nt in the literal truth of the facts and impressions she has ventured to record.

It was difficult to give sketches of art, literature, and character, without making now and then some _personal_ allusions; but though I have often sketched from the life, I have adhered throughout to this principle--never to give publicity to any name not already before the public, and in a manner public property.

Two of the tales of the third volume, "The False One," and "The Indian Mother," were written at different times, to prove that I could write in a style which should not be recognised as mine even by my most intimate friends, and the _ruse_ so far succeeded, that both, as I am informed, have been attributed to other writers.

A. J.

May 1834.

SKETCHES OF ART, LITERATURE, AND CHARACTER.

PART I.

IN THREE DIALOGUES.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

I.

MEDON--ALDA.

MEDON.

And so we are to have no "_Sentimental Travels in Germany_" on hot-pressed paper, ill.u.s.trated with views taken on the spot?

ALDA.

No.

MEDON.

You have unloaded Time of his wallet only to deal out his "sc.r.a.ps of things past," his shreds of remembrance, in beggarly, indolent fas.h.i.+on, over your own fire-side? You are afraid of being termed an egotist; you, who within these ten minutes have a.s.sured me that not any opinion of any human being should prevent you from doing, saying, writing--any thing--

ALDA.

Finish the sentence--any thing, _for truth's sake_. But how is the cause of truth to be advanced by the insolent publication of a ma.s.s of crude thoughts and hasty observations picked up here and there, "as pigeons pick up peas," and which now lie safe within the clasps of those little green books? You need not look at them; they do not contain another Diary of an Ennuyee, thank Heaven! nor do I feel much inclined to play the _Ennuyeuse_ in public.

MEDON.

"Take any form but _that_, and my firm nerves shall never tremble;"

but with eyes to see, a heart to feel, a mind to observe, and a pen to record those observations, I do not perceive why you should not contribute one drop to that great ocean of thought which is weltering round the world!

ALDA.

If I could.

MEDON.

There are people, who when they travel open their eyes and their ears, (aye, and their mouths to some purpose,) and shut up their hearts and souls. I have heard such persons make it their boast, that they have returned to old England with all their old prejudices thick upon them; they have come back, to use their own phrase, "with no foreign ideas--just the same as they went:" they are much to be congratulated!

I hope you are not one of these?

ALDA.

I hope not; it is this cold impervious pride which is the perdition of us English, and of England. I remember that in one of my several excursions on the Rhine, we had, on board the steamboat, an English family of high rank. There was the lordly papa, plain and shy, who never spoke to any one except his own family, and then only in the lowest whisper. There was the lady mamma, so truly lady-like, with fine-cut patrician features, and in her countenance a kind of pa.s.sive _hauteur_, softened by an appearance of suffering, and ill-health. There were two daughters, proud, pale, fine-looking girls, dressed _a ravir_, with that indescribable air of high pretension, so elegantly impa.s.sive--so self-possessed--which some people call _l'air distingue_, but which, as extremes meet, I would rather call the refinement of vulgarity--the polish we see bestowed on debased material--the plating over the steel--the stucco over the brick-work!

MEDON.

Good; you _can_ be severe then!

ALDA.

I spoke generally: bear witness to the general truth of the picture, for it will fit others as well as the personages I have brought before you, who are, indeed, but specimens of a species. This group, then, had designedly or instinctively entrenched themselves in a corner to the right of the steersman, within a fortification of tables and benches, so arranged as to forbid all approach within two or three yards; the young ladies had each their sketch-book, and wielded pencil and Indian rubber, I know not with what effect,--but I know that I never saw either countenance once relax or brighten, in the midst of the divine scenery through which we glided. Two female attendants, seated on the outer fortifications, formed a kind of piquet guard; and two footmen at the other end kept watch over the well-appointed carriages, and came and went as their attendance was required. No one else ventured to approach this aristocratic Olympus; the celestials within its precincts, though not exactly seated "on golden stools at golden tables," like the divinities in the song of the Parcae,[1] showed as supreme, as G.o.dlike an indifference to the throng of mortals in the nether sphere: no word was exchanged during the whole day with any of the fifty or sixty human beings who were round them; nay, when the rain drove us down to the pavilion, even there, amid twelve or fourteen others, they contrived to keep themselves aloof from contact and conversation. In this fas.h.i.+on they probably pursued their tour, exchanging the interior of their travelling carriage for the interior of an hotel; and every where a.s.sociating only with those of their own caste. What do they see of all that is to be seen? What can they know of what is to be known? What do they endure of what is to be endured? I can speak from experience--I have travelled in that same style. As they went, so they return; happily, or rather pitifully, unconscious of the narrow circle in which move their fact.i.tious enjoyments, their confined experience, their half-awakened sympathies! And I should tell you, that in the same steam-boat were two German girls, under the care of an elderly relative, I think an aunt, and a brother, who was a celebrated _jurisconsulte_ and judge: their rank was equal to that of my countrywomen; their blood, perhaps, more purely n.o.ble, that is, older by some centuries; and their family more ill.u.s.trious, by G.o.d knows how many quarterings; moreover, their father was a minister of state. Both these girls were beautiful;--fair, and fair-haired, with complexions on which "the rose stood ready with a blush;" and one, the youngest sister, was exquisitely lovely--in truth, she might have sat for one of Guido's angels.

They walked up and down the deck, neither seeking nor avoiding the proximity of others. They accepted the telescopes which the gentlemen, particularly some young Englishmen, pressed on them when any distant or remarkable object came in view, and repaid the courtesy with a bright kindly smile; they were natural and easy, and did not deem it necessary to mount guard over their own dignity. Do you think I did not observe and feel the contrast?

MEDON.

If nations begin at last to understand each other's true interests--morally and politically, it will be through the agency of gifted men; but if ever they learn to love and sympathize with each other, it will be through the medium of you women. You smile, and shake your head; but in spite of a late example, which might seem to controvert this idea, I still think so;--our prejudices are stronger and bitterer than yours, because they are those which perverted reason builds up on a foundation of pride; but yours, which are generally those of fancy and a.s.sociation, soon melt away before your own kindly affections. More mobile, more impressible, more easily yielding to external circ.u.mstances, more easily lending yourselves to different manners and habits, more quick to perceive, more gentle to judge;--yes, it is to you we must look, to break down the outworks of prejudice--you, the advanced guard of humanity and civilization!

"The gentle race and dear, By whom alone the world is glorified!"

Every feeling, well educated, generous, and truly refined woman, who travels, is as a dove sent out on a mission of peace; and should bring back at least an olive-leaf in her hand, if she bring nothing else.

It is her part to soften the intercourse between rougher and stronger natures; to aid in the interfusion of the gentler sympathies; to speed the interchange of art and literature from pole to pole: not to pervert wit, and talent, and eloquence, and abuse the privileges of her s.e.x, to sow the seeds of hatred where she might plant those of love--to embitter national discord and aversion, and disseminate individual prejudice and error.

ALDA.

Thank you! I need not say how entirely I agree with you.