BOOKII

TherewereremarkablethingsaboutthestrangercalledtheMan——Mystery-

thingssoveryextraordinarythattheymonopolizedattentionandmadeallofhimseemextraordinary；butthiswasnotso，themostofhisqualitiesbeingofthecommon，every-daysizeandlikeanybodyelse's。Itwascurious。Hewasoftheordinarystature，andhadtheordinaryaspects；

yetinhimwerehiddensuchstrangecontradictionsanddisproportions！

Hewasmajesticallyfearlessandheroic；hehadthestrengthofthirtymenandthedaringofthirtythousand；handlingarmies，organizingstates，administeringgovernments——thesewerepastimestohim；hepubliclyandostentatiouslyacceptedthehumanraceatitsownvaluation——

asdemigods——andprivatelyandsuccessfullydealtwithitatquiteanotherandjustervaluation——aschildrenandslaves；hisambitionswerestupendous，andhisdreamshadnocommercewiththehumbleplain，butmovedwiththecloud-rackamongthesnow-summits。Thesefeaturesofhimwere，indeed，extraordinary，buttherestofhimwasordinaryandusual。

Hewassomean-minded，inthematterofjealousy，thatitwasthoughthewasdescendedfromagod；hewasvaininlittleways，andhadaprideintrivialities；hedotedonballadsaboutmoonshineandbruisedhearts；ineducationhewasdeficient，hewasindifferenttoliterature，andknewnothingofart；hewasdumbuponallsubjectsbutone，indifferenttoallexceptthatone——theNebularTheory。Uponthatonehisflowofwordswasfullandfree，hewasageyser。Theofficialastronomersdisputedhisfactsanddeededhisviews，andsaidthathehadinventedboth，theynotbeingfindableinanyofthebooks。Butmanyofthelaity，whowantedtheirnebulositiesfresh，admiredhisdoctrineandadoptedit，anditattainedtogreatprosperityinspiteofthehostilityoftheexperts。"——

TheLegendoftheMan-Mystery，ch。i。

CHAPTERI

JANUARY，1903。Whenwedonotknowapublicmanpersonally，weguesshimoutbythefactsofhiscareer。WhenitisWashington，weallarriveataboutoneandthesameresult。Weagreethathiswordsandhisactsclearlyinterprethischaractertous，andthattheyneverleaveusindoubtastothemotiveswhencethewordsandactsproceeded。ItisthesamewithJoanofArc，itisthesamewithtwoorthreeorfiveorsixothersamongtheimmortals。ButinthematterofmotivesandofafewdetailsofcharacterweagreetodisagreeuponNapoleon，Cromwell，andalltherest；andtothislistwemustaddMrs。Eddy。Ithinkwecanpeacefullyagreeastotwoorthreeextraordinaryfeaturesofhermake-

up，butnotupontheotherfeaturesofit。Wecannotpeacefullyagreeastohermotives，thereforehercharactermustremaincrookedtosomeofusandstraighttotheothers。

Nomatter，sheisinterestingenoughwithoutanamicableagreement。Inseveralwayssheisthemostinterestingwomanthateverlived，andthemostextraordinary。Thesamemaybesaidofhercareer，andthesamemaybesaidofitschiefresult。Shestartedfromnothing。HerenemieschargethatshesurreptitiouslytookfromQuimbyapeculiarsystemofhealingwhichwasmind-curewithaBiblicalbasis。Sheandherfriendsdenythatshetookanythingfromhim。Thisisamatterwhichwecandiscussby-and-by。Whethershetookitorinventedit，itwas——

materially——asawdustminewhenshegotit，andshehasturneditintoaKlondike；itsspiritualdockhadnexttonocustom，ifanyatall：fromitshehaslaunchedaworld-religionwhichhasnowsixhundredandsixty-

threechurches，andshechartersanewoneeveryfourdays。Whenwedonotknowaperson——andalsowhenwedo——wehavetojudgehissizebythesizeandnatureofhisachievements，ascomparedwiththeachievementsofothersinhisspeciallineofbusiness——thereisnootherway。Measuredbythisstandard，itisthirteenhundredyearssincetheworldhasproducedanyonewhocouldreachuptoMrs。Eddy'swaistbelt。

Figurativelyspeaking，Mrs。EddyisalreadyastallastheEiffeltower。

Sheisaddingsurprisinglytoherstatureeveryday。Itisquitewithintheprobabilitiesthatacenturyhenceshewillbethemostimposingfigurethathascastitsshadowacrosstheglobesincetheinaugurationofourera。Igrantthataftersayingthesestrongthings，itisnecessarythatIoffersomedetailscalculatedtosatisfactorilydemonstratetheproportionswhichIhaveclaimedforher。Iwilldothatpresently；butbeforeexhibitingthematuredsequoiagigantea，Ibelieveitwillbebesttoexhibitthesproutfromwhichitsprang。Itmaysavethereaderfrommakingmiscalculations。ThepersonwhoimaginesthataBigTreesproutisbiggerthanotherkindsofsproutsisquitemistaken。

Itistheordinarything；itmakesnoshow，itcompelsnonotice，ithasn'tadetectiblequalityinitthatentitlesittoattention，orsuggeststhefuturegiantitssapissuckling。ThatisthekindofsproutMrs。Eddywas。

Fromherchildhooddaysuptowhereshewasrunningahalf-centuryacloseraceandgainingonit，shewasmosthumanlycommonplace。

SheisthewitnessIamdrawingthisfrom。Shehasrevealeditinherautobiographynotintentionally，ofcourse——Iamnotclaimingthat。Anautobiographyisthemosttreacherousthingthereis。Itletsouteverysecretitsauthoristryingtokeep；itletsthetruthshineunobstructedthrougheveryharmlesslittledeceptionhetriestoplay；itpitilesslyexposeshimasatinheroworshippinghimselfasBigMetaleverytimehetriestodothemodest-unconsciousnessactbeforethereader。Thisisnotguessing；Iamspeakingfromautobiographicalpersonalexperience；I

wasneverabletorefrainfrommentioning，withastudiedcasualnessthatcoulddeceivenonebutthemostincautiousreader，thatanancestorofminewassentambassadortoSpainbyCharlesI。，northatinaremotebranchofmyfamilythereexistsaclaimanttoanearldom，northatanuncleofmineusedtoownadogthatwasdescendedfromthedogthatwasintheArk；andatthesametimeIwasneverabletopersuademyselftocallagibbetbyitsrightnamewhenaccountingforotherancestorsofmine，butalwaysspokeofitasthe"platform"——puerilelyintimatingthattheywereoutlecturingwhenithappened。

ItisMrs。Eddyoveragain。Asregardsherminorhalf，sheisascommonplaceastherestofus。Vainoftrivialthingsallthefirsthalfofherlife，andstillvainofthematseventyandrecordingthemwithnaivesatisfaction——evenrescuingsomeearlyrhymesofhersofthesortthatweallscribbleintheinnocentdaysofouryouth——rescuingthemandprintingthemwithoutpityorapology，justastheweakestandcommonestofusdoinourgrayage。More——shestillfranklyadmiresthem；andinherintroductionofthemprofanelyconfersuponthemtheholynameof"poetry。"Sample：

"AndlaudthelandwhosetalentsrockThecradleofherpower，AndwreathsaretwinedroundPlymouthRockFromerudition'sbower。"

"Minerva'ssilversandalsstillAreloosedandnoteffete。"

Younoteitisnotashadeabovethethingwhichallhumanbeingschurnoutintheiryouth。

Youwouldnotthinkthatinalittleweeprimer——forthatiswhattheAutobiographyis——apersonwithatumultuouscareerofseventyyearsbehindhercouldfindroomfortwoorthreepagesofpaddingofthiskind，butsuchisthecase。Sheevidentlyputsnarrativetogetherwithdifficultyandisnotathomeinit，andisgladtohavesomethingready-

madetofillinwith。Anothersample：

"Herefame-honoredHickoryrearshisboldform，Andbearsabravebreasttothelightningandstorm，WhilePalm，Bay，andLaurelinclassicalglee，ChaseTulip，Magnolia，andfragrantFringe-tree。"

Vivid？Youcanfairlyseethosetreesgallopingaround。Thatshecouldstilltreasureup，andprint，andmanifestlyadmirethosePoems，indicatesthatthemostdaringandmasculineandmasterfulwomanthathasappearedintheearthincenturieshasthesamesoft，girly-girlyplacesinherthattherestofushave。

Whenitcomestoselectingherancestorssheisstillhuman，natural，vain，commonplace——ascommonplaceasIammyselfwhenIamsortingancestorsformyautobiography。ShecombsoutsomecreditableScots，andlabelsthemandsetsthemasideforuse，notoverlookingtheonetowhomSirWilliamWallacegave"aheavyswordencasedinabrassscabbard，"andnaivelyexplainingwhichSirWilliamWallaceitwas，lestwegetthewrongonebythehassock；thisistheone"fromwhosepatriotismandbraverycomesthatheart-stirringair，'Scotswhahaewi'Wallacebled。'"

HannahMorewasrelatedtoherancestors。SheexplainswhoHannahMorewas。

WheneverapersoninformsuswhoSirWilliamWallacewas，orwhowrote"Hamlet，"orwheretheDeclarationofIndependencewasfought，itfillsuswithasuspicionwellnighamountingtoconviction，thatthatpersonwouldnotsuspectusofbeingsoemptyofknowledgeifhewasn'tsufferingfromthesame"claim"himself。Thenweturntopage20oftheAutobiographyandhappenuponthispassage，andthathastysuspicionstandsrebuked：

"Igainedbook-knowledgewithfarlesslaborthanisusuallyrequisite。

AttenyearsofageIwasasfamiliarwithLindleyMurray'sGrammaraswiththeWestminsterCatechism；andthelatterIhadtorepeateverySunday。MyfavoritestudieswereNaturalPhilosophy，Logic，andMoralScience。FrommybrotherA1bertIreceivedlessonsintheancienttongues，Hebrew，Greek，andLatin。"

Youcatchyourbreathinastonishment，andfeelagainandstillagainthepangofthatrebuke。Butthenyoureyefallsuponthenextsentencebutone，andthepainpassesawayandyousetupthesuspicionagainwithevilsatisfaction：

"AftermydiscoveryofChristianScience，mostoftheknowledgeIhadgleanedfromschool-booksvanishedlikeadream。"

Thatdisappearanceaccountsformuchinhermiscellaneouswritings。AsI

wassaying，shehandlesher"ancestralshadows，"asshecallsthem，justasIdomine。Itisremarkable。Whensherunsacross"arelativeofmyGrandfatherBaker，GeneralHenryKnox，ofRevolutionaryfame，"shesetshimdown；whenshefindsanothergoodone，"thelateSirJohnMacneill，inthelineofmyGrandfatherBaker'sfamily，"shesetshimdown，andremembersthathe"wasprominentinBritishpolitics，andatonetimeheldthepositionofambassadortoPersia"；whenshediscoversthathergrandparents"werelikewiseconnectedwithCaptainJohnLovewell，whosegallantleadershipanddeathintheIndiantroublesof1722-25causedthatprolongedcontesttobeknownhistoricallyasLovewell'sWar，"shesetstheCaptaindown；whenitturnsoutthatacousinofhergrandmother"wasJohnMacneill，theNewHampshiregeneral，whofoughtatLundy'sLaneandwondistinctionin1814atthebattleofChippewa，"shecataloguestheGeneral。（AndtellswhereChippewawas。）Andthensheskipsallherplatformpeople；nevermentionsoneofthem。Itshowsthatsheisjustashumanasanyofus。

Yet，afterall，thereissomethingverytouchinginherprideintheseworthysmall-fry，andsomethinglargeandfineinhermodestyinnotcaringtorememberthattheirkinshiptohercanconfernodistinctionuponher，whereashermerementionoftheirnameshasconferreduponthemafacelessearthlyimmortality。

CHAPTERII

Whenshewrotethislittlebiographyhergreatlife-workhadalreadybeenachieved，shewasbecomerenowned；tomultitudesofreverentdisciplesshewasasacredpersonage，afamiliarofGod，andHisinspiredchannelofcommunicationwiththehumanrace。Also，tothemthesefollowingthingswerefacts，andnotdoubted：

ShehadwrittenaBibleinmiddleage，andhadpublishedit；shehadrecastit，enlargedit，andpublisheditagain；shehadnotstoppedthere，buthadenlargeditfurther，polisheditsphrasing，improveditsform，andpublishedityetagain。Itwasatlastbecomeacompact，grammatical，dignified，andworkman-likebodyofliterature。Thiswasgoodtraining，persistenttraining；andinallartsitistrainingthatbringsthearttoperfection。WearenowconfrontedwithoneofthemostteasingandbafflingriddlesofMrs。Eddy'shistory——ariddlewhichmaybeformulatedthus：

Howisitthataprimitiveliterarygunwhichbeganasahundred-yardflint-locksmooth-boremuzzle-loader，andinthecourseoffortyyearshasacquiredonenotableimprovementafteranother——percussioncap；fixedcartridge；rifledbarrel；efficiencyathalfamilehowisitthatsuchagun，sufficientlygoodonanelephanthunt（ChristianScience）fromthebeginning，andgrowingbetterandbetterallthetimeduringfortyyears，hasalwayscollapsedbacktoitsoriginalflint-lockestatethemomentthehuntresstraineditonanyothercreaturethananelephant？

SomethingmorethanagenerationagoMrs。Eddywentoutwithherflint-

lockontherabbitrange；andthiswasapartoftheresult：

"Afterhisdecease，andaseverecasualtydeemedfatalbyskilfulphysicians，wediscoveredthatthePrincipleofallhealingandthelawthatgovernsitisGod，adivinePrinciple，andaspiritualnotmateriallaw，andregainedhealth。"——PrefacetoScienceandHealth，firstrevision，1883。

N。B。Notfromthebookitself；fromthePreface。

YouwillnoticetheawkwardnessofthatEnglish。IfyoushouldcarrythatparagraphuptotheSupremeCourtoftheUnitedStatesinordertofindoutforgoodandallwhetherthefatalcasualtyhappenedtothedeadman——astheparagraphalmostasserts——ortosomepersonorpersonsnotevenhintedatintheparagraph，theSupremeCourtwouldbeobligedtosaythattheevidenceestablishednothingwithcertaintyexceptthattherehadbeenacasualty——victimnotknown。

Thecontextthinksitexplainswhothevictimwas，butitdoesnothingofthekind。Itfurnishessomeguessing-materialofasortwhichenablesyoutoinferthatitwas"we"thatsufferedthementionedinjury，butifyoushouldcarrythelanguagetoacourtyouwouldnotbeabletoprovethatitnecessarilymeantthat。"We"areMrs。Eddy；afunnylittleaffectation。Shereplaceditlaterwiththemoredignifiedthirdperson。

ThequotedparagraphisfromMrs。Eddy'sprefacetothefirstrevisionofScienceandHealth（1883）。Sixty-fourpagesfurtheralong——inthebodyofthebook（theelephant-range），shewentoutwiththatsameflint-lockandgotthisfollowingresult。ItsEnglishisverynearlyasstraightandcleanandcompetentasistheEnglishofthelatestrevisionofScienceandHealthafterthegunhasbeenimprovedfromsmooth-boremusketuptoglobe-sighted，longdistancerifle：

"MancontrolledbyhisMakerhasnophysicalsuffering。Hisbodyisharmonious，hisdaysaremultiplyinginsteadofdiminishing，heisjourneyingtowardsLifeinsteadofdeath，andbringingoutthenewmanandcrucifyingtheoldaffections，cuttingthemoffineverymaterialdirectionuntilhelearnstheuttersupremacyofSpiritandyieldsobediencethereto。"

InthelatestrevisionofScienceandHealth（1902），theperfectedgunfurnishesthefollowing。TheEnglishisclean，compact，dignified，almostperfect。Butitisobservablethatitisnotprominentlybetterthanitisintheaboveparagraph，whichwasaproductoftheprimitiveflint-lock：

"Howunreasonableisthebeliefthatwearewearingoutlifeandhasteningtodeath，andatthesametimewearecommuningwithimmortality？Ifthedepartedareinrapportwithmortality，ormatter，theyarenotspiritual，butmuststillbemortal，sinful，suffering，anddying。Thenwhereforelooktothem——evenwerecommunicationpossible——

forproofsofimmortalityandacceptthemasoracles？"——Editionof1902，page78。

Withtheaboveparagraphscomparethesethatfollow。ItisMrs。Eddywriting——afteragoodlongtwentyyearsofpen-practice。ComparealsowiththeallegedPoemsalreadyquoted。TheprominentcharacteristicofthePoemsisaffectation，artificiality；theirmakeupisacomplacentandpretentiousoutpouroffalsefiguresandfinewriting，inthesophomoricstyle。Thesamequalitiesandthesamestylewillbefound，unchanged，unbettered，inthesefollowingparagraphs——afteralapseofmorethanfiftyyears，andafter——asaforesaid——longliterarytraining。Theitalicsaremine：

1。"Whatplaguespotorbacilliwere[sic]gnawing[sic]attheheartofthismetropolis……andbringingit[theheart]onbendedknee？

Why，itwasaninstitutethathadentereditsvitals——that，amongotherthings，taughtgames，"etcetera。——C。S。Journal，p。670，articleentitled"ANarrative——byMaryBakerG。Eddy。"

2。"Parkssprangup[sic]……electric-carsrun[sic]merrilythroughseveralstreets，concretesidewalksandmacadamizedroadsdotted[sic]theplace，"etcetera。——Ibid。

3。"Shorn[sic]ofitssuburbsithadindeedlittlelefttoadmire，saveto[sic]suchasfancyaskeletonabovegroundbreathing[sic]slowlythroughabarren[sic]breast。"——Ibid。

ThisisnotEnglish——Imean，grown-upEnglish。Butitisfifteen-year——

oldEnglish，andhasnotgrownamonthsincethesamemindproducedthePoems。ThestandardofthePoemsandoftheplague-spot-and-bacillieffortisexactlythesame。Itismoststrangethatthesameintellectthatwordedthesimpleandself-containedandclean-cutparagraphbeginningwith"Howunreasonableisthebelief，"shouldintheverysamelustrumdischargeupontheworldsuchaverbalchaosastheutteranceconcerningthatplague-spotorbacilliwhichweregnawingattheinsidesofthemetropolisandbringingitsheartonbendedknee，thusexposingtotheeyetherestoftheskeletonbreathingslowlythroughabarrenbreast。

TheimmensecontrastbetweenthelegitimateEnglishofScienceandHealthandthebastardEnglishofMrs。Eddy'smiscellaneouswork，andbetweenthematurityoftheonedictionandthejuvenilityoftheother，suggests——compels——thequestion，Aretheretwoguns？Itwouldseemso。

Isthereapoor，foolish，old，scatteringflint-lockforrabbit，andalong-range，centre-driving，up-to-dateMauser-magazineforelephant？Itlookslikeit。ForitisobservablethatinScienceandHealth（theelephant-ground）thepracticewasgoodatthestartandhasremainedso，andthatthepracticeinthemiscellaneous，outside，small-gamefieldwasverybadatthestartandwasneverlessbadatanylatertime。

IwishtosaythatofMrs。EddyIamnotrequiringperfectEnglish，butonlygoodEnglish。NoonecanwriteperfectEnglishandkeepitupthroughastretchoftenchapters。Ithasneverbeendone。Itwasapproachedinthe"wellofEnglishundefiled"；ithasbeenapproachedinMrs。Eddy'sAnnextothatBook；ithasbeenapproachedinseveralEnglishgrammars；Ihaveevenapproacheditmyself；butnoneofushasmadeport。

Now，theEnglishofScienceandHealthisgood。InpassagestobefoundinMrs。Eddy'sAutobiography（onpages53，57，101，and113），andonpage6ofhersqualidprefacetoScienceandHealth，firstrevision，sheseemstometoclaimthewholeandsoleauthorshipofthebook。ThatshewrotetheAutobiography，andthatpreface，andthePoems，andthePlague-spot-

Bacilli，wearenotpermittedtodoubt。Indeed，weknowshewrotethem。

ButtheverycertaintythatshewrotethesethingscompelsadoubtthatshewroteScienceandHealth。SheisguiltyoflittleawkwardnessesofexpressionintheAutobiographywhichapracticedpenwouldhardlyallowtogouncorrectedinevenahastyprivateletter，andcouldnotdreamofpassingbyuncorrectedinpassagesintendedforprint。Butshepassesthemplacidlyby；asplacidlyasifshedidnotsuspectthattheywereoffensesagainstthird-classEnglish。Ithinkthatthatplaciditywasbornofthatveryunawareness，sotospeak。IwillciteafewinstancesfromtheAutobiography。Theitalicsaremine：

"IrememberreadinginmychildhoodcertainmanuscriptscontainingScripturalSonnets，besidesotherversesandenigmas，"etc。Page7。

[Onpage27。]"ManypalecrippleswentintotheChurchleaningoncrutcheswhocameoutcarryingthemontheirshoulders。"

Itisawkward，becauseatthefirstglanceitseemstosaythatthecrippleswentinleaningoncrutcheswhichwentoutcarryingthecripplesontheirshoulders。Itwouldhavecosthernotroubletoputher"who"

afterher"cripples。"Iblameheralittle；Ithinkherproof-readershouldhavebeenshot。WemaylethercapitalCpass，butitisanotherawkwardness，forsheistalkingaboutabuilding，notaboutareligioussociety。

"MarriageandParentage"[Chapter-heading。Page30]。Youimaginethatsheisgoingtobeginatalkabouthermarriageandfinishwithsomeaccountofherfatherandmother。Andsoyouwillbedeceived。

"Marriage"wasright，but"Parentage"wasnotthebestwordfortherestoftherecord。Itreferstothebirthofherownchild。Afteracertainperiodoftime"mybabewasborn。"MarriageandMotherhood-MarriageandMaternity-MarriageandProduct-MarriageandDividend——eitherofthesewouldhavefittedthefactsandmadethematterclear。

"Withoutmyknowledgehewasappointedaguardian。"Page32。

Sheisspeakingofherchild。Shemeansthataguardianforherchildwasappointed，butthatisn'twhatshesays。

"Ifspiritualconclusionsareseparatedfromtheirpremises，thenexusislost，andtheargumentwithitsrightfulconclusions，becomescorrespondinglyobscure。"Page34。

Weshallneverknowwhysheputtheword"correspondingly"inthere。Anyfine，largewordwouldhaveansweredjustaswell：psychosuperintangibly——electroincandescently——oligarcheologically——sanchrosynchro-

stereoptically——anyofthesewouldhaveanswered，anyofthesewouldhavefilledthevoid。

"Hisspiritualnoumenonandphenomenonsilencedportraiture。"Page34。

Yetshesayssheforgoteverythingsheknew，whenshediscoveredChristianScience。Irealizethatnoumenonisadaisy；andIwillnotdenythatIshalluseitwheneverIaminacompanywhichIthinkIcanembarrasswithit；but，atthesametime，Ithinkitisoutofplaceamongfriendsinanautobiography。There，Ithinkapersonoughtnottohaveanythinguphissleeve。Itunderminesconfidence。Butmydissatisfactionwiththequotedpassageisnotonaccountofnoumenon；itisonaccountofthemisuseoftheword"silenced。"Youcannotsilenceportraiturewithanoumenon；ifportraitureshouldmakeanoise，awaycouldbefoundtosilenceit，buteventhenitcouldnotbedonewithanoumenon。Notevenwithabrick，someauthoritiesthink。

"Itmaybethatthemortallife-battlestillwages，"etc。Page35。

Thatisclumsy。Battlesdonotwage，battlesarewaged。Mrs。Eddyhasoneverycuriousandinterestingpeculiarity：whenevershenoticesthatsheischortlingalongwithoutsayinganything，shepullsupwithasudden"Godisoverusall，"orsomeothersoundingirrelevancy，andforthemomentitseemstolightupthewholedistrict；then，beforeyoucanrecoverfromtheshock，shegoesflittingpleasantlyandmeaninglesslyalongagain，andyouhurryhopefullyafterher，thinkingyouaregoingtogetsomethingthistime；butassoonasshehasledyoufarenoughawayfromherturkeylotshetakestoatree。Whenevershediscoversthatsheisgettingprettydisconnected，shecouples-upwithanostentatious"But"

whichhasnothingtodowithanythingthatwentbeforeoristocomeafter，thenshehitchessomeemptiestothetrain-unrelatedversesfromtheBible，usually——andsteamsoutofsightandleavesyouwonderinghowshedidthatcleverthing。Forstrikinginstances，seebottomparagraphonpage34andtheparagraphonpage35ofherAutobiography。Shehasapurpose——adeepanddarkandartfulpurpose——inwhatsheissayinginthefirstparagraph，andyouguesswhatitis，butthatisduetoyourowntalent，nothers；shehasmadeitasobscureaslanguagecoulddoit。

Theotherparagraphhasnomeaningandnodiscoverableintention。ItismerelyoneofherGod-over-alls。Icannotspareroomforitinthisplace。

"IbeheldwithineffableaweourgreatMaster'smarvelousskillindemandingneitherobediencetohygieniclawsnor，"etc。Page4I。

Thewordislooselychosen-skill。Sheprobablymeantjudgment，intuition，penetration，orwisdom。

"Naturally，myfirstjottingswerebuteffortstoexpressinfeebledictionTruth'sultimate。"Page42。

Oneunderstandswhatshemeans，butsheshouldhavebeenabletosaywhatshemeant——atanytimebeforeshediscoveredChristianScienceandforgoteverythingsheknew——andafterit，too。Ifshehadput"feeble"infrontof"efforts"andthenleftout"in"and"diction，"shewouldhavescored。

"……itswrittenexpressionincreasesinperfectionundertheguidanceofthegreatMaster。"Page43。

Itisanerror。Noteveninthoseadvantageouscircumstancescanincreasebeaddedtoperfection。

"Evilisnotmasteredbyevil；itcanonlybeovercomewithGood。Thisbringsoutthenothingnessofevil，andtheeternalSomethingnessvindicatestheDivinePrincipleandimprovestheraceofAdam。"Page76。

Thisistooextraneousforme。ThatisthetroublewithMrs。Eddywhenshesetsouttoexplainanover-largeexhibit：theminuteyouthinkthelightisburstinguponyouthecandlegoesoutandyourmindbeginstowander。

"NooneelsecandrainthecupwhichIhavedrunktothedregs，asthediscovererandteacherofChristianScience"Page47。

Thatissayingwecannotemptyanemptycup。Weknewitbefore；andweknowshemeanttotellusthatthatparticularcupisgoingtoremainempty。Thatis，wethinkthatthatwastheidea，butwecannotbesure。

Shehasaperfectlyastonishingtalentforputtingwordstogetherinsuchawayastomakesuccessfulinquiryintotheirintentionimpossible。

Shegenerallymakesusuneasywhenshebeginstotuneuponherfine-

writingtimbrel。ItcarriesmebacktoherPlague-SpotandPoetrydays，andIjustdreadthose：

"Intomortalmind'smaterialobliquityIgazedandstoodabashed。

Blanchedwasthecheekofpride。MyheartbentlowbeforetheomnipotenceofSpirit，andatintofhumilitysoftastheheartofamoonbeammantledtheearth。BethlehemandBethany，GethsemaneandCalvary，spoketomychastenedsenseasbythetearfullipsofababe。"

Page48。

TheheartofamoonbeamisaprettyenoughFriendship's-Albumexpression——letitpass，thoughIdothinkthefigurealittlestrained；buthumilityhasnotint，humilityhasnocomplexion，andifithaditcouldnotmantletheearth。Amoonbeammight——Idonotknow——butshedidnotsayitwasthemoonbeam。Butletitgo，Icannotdecideit，shemixesmeupso。Ababehasn't"tearfullips，"it'sitseyes。YoufindnoneofMrs。Eddy'skindofEnglishinScienceandHealth——notalineofit。

CHAPTERIII

Settingasidetitle-page，index，etc。，thelittleAutobiographybeginsonpage7andendsonpage130。Myquotationsarefromthefirstfortypages。Theyseemtometoprovethepresenceofthe'prenticehand。Thestyleofthefortypagesislooseandfeebleand'prentice-like。Themovementofthenarrativeisnotorderlyandsequential，butramblesaround，andskipsforwardandbackandhereandthereandyonder，'prentice-fashion。Manyajourneymanhasbrokenuphisnarrativeandskippedaboutandrambledaround，buthediditforapurpose，foranadvantage；therewasartinit，andpointstobescoredbyit；theobservantreaderperceivedthegame，andenjoyeditandrespectedit，ifitwaswellplayed。ButMrs。Eddy'sperformancewaswithoutintention，anddestituteofart。Shecouldscorenopointsbyitonthoseterms，andalmostanyreadercanseethatherworkwastheuncalculatedputteringofanovice。

IntheaboveparagraphIhavedescribedthefirstthirdofthebooklet。

Thatthirdbeingcompleted，Mrs。Eddyleavestherabbit-range，crossesthefrontier，andstepsoutuponherfar-spreadingbig-gameterritory——

ChristianScienceandthereisaninstantchange！Thestylesmartlyimproves；andtheclumsylittletechnicaloffensesdisappear。Inthesetwo-thirdsofthebookletIfindonlyonesuchoffence，andithasthelookofbeingaprinter'serror。

Ileavetheriddlewiththereader。Perhapshecanexplainhowitisthataperson-trainedoruntrained——whoontheonedaycanwritenothingbetterthanPlague-Spot-Bacilliandfeebleandstumblingandwanderingpersonalhistorylitteredwithfalsefiguresandobscuritiesandtechnicalblunders，canonthenextdaysitdownandwritefluently，smoothly，compactly，capably，andconfidentlyonagreatbigthunderingsubject，anddoitaseasilyandcomfortablyasawhalepaddlesaroundtheglobe。

Asforme，IhavescribbledsomuchinfiftyyearsthatIhavebecomesaturatedwithconvictionsofonesortandanotherconcerningascribbler'slimitations；andthesearesostrongthatwhenIamfamiliarwithaliteraryperson'sworkIfeelperfectlysurethatIknowenoughabouthislimitationstoknowwhathecannotdo。IfMr。HowellsshouldpretendtomethathewrotethePlague-SpotBacillirhapsody，Ishouldreceivethestatementcourteously；butIshouldknowitfora——well，foraperversion。IfthelateJoshBillingsshouldriseupandtellmethathewroteHerbertSpencer'sphilosophies；Ishouldanswerandsaythatthespellingcastsadoubtuponhisclaim。IfthelateJonathanEdwardsshouldriseupandtellmehewroteMr。Dooley'sbooks，IshouldanswerandsaythatthemarkeddifferencebetweenhisstyleandDooley'sisargumentagainstthesoundnessofhisstatement。YouseehowmuchI

thinkofcircumstantialevidence。Inliterarymatters——inmybelief——itisoftenbetterthananyperson'sword，betterthananyshadycharacter'soath。ItisdifficultformetobelievethatthesamehandthatwrotethePlague-Spot-BacilliandthefirstthirdofthelittleEddybiographywrotealsoScienceandHealth。Indeed，itismorethandifficult，itisimpossible。

Largelyspeaking，IhavereadacresofwhatpurportedtobeMrs。Eddy'swritings，inthepasttwomonths。Icannotknow，butIamconvinced，thatthecircumstantialevidenceshowsthatheractualshareintheworkofcomposingandphrasingthesethingswassoslightastobeinconsequential。Wheresheputsherliteraryfootdown，hertrailacrossherpaidpolisher'spageisasplainastheelephant'sinaSunday-schoolprocession。Herverbaloutput，whenleftundoctoredbyherclerks，isquiteunmistakableItalwaysexhibitsthestronglydistinctivefeaturesobservableinthevirginpassagesfromherpenalreadyquotedbyme：

Desertvacancy，asregardsthought。

Self-complacency。

Puerility。

Sentimentality。

Affectationsofscholarlylearning。

Lustaftereloquentandfloweryexpression。

Repetitionofpetpoeticpicturesquenesses。

Confusedandwanderingstatement。

Metaphorgoneinsane。

Meaninglesswords，usedbecausetheyarepretty，orshowy，orunusual。

Sorrowfulattemptsattheepigrammatic。

Destitutionoforiginality。

ThefatvolumecalledMiscellaneousWritingsofMrs。Eddycontainsseveralhundredpages。Ofthefivehundredandfifty-fourpagesofproseinitIfindtenlines，onpage319，tobeMrs。Eddy's；alsoaboutapageoftheprefaceor"Prospectus"；alsoaboutfifteenpagesscatteredalongthroughthebook。Ifshewroteanyoftherestoftheprose，itwasrewrittenafterherbyanotherhand。HereIwillinserttwo-thirdsofherpageoftheprospectus。Itisevidentthatwhenever，undertheinspirationoftheDeity，sheturnsoutabook，sheisalwaysallowedtodosomeofthepreface。Iwonderwhythatis？Italwaysmarsthework。

IthinkitisdoneinhumorousmaliceIthinktheclerksliketoseehergiveherselfaway。Theyknowshewill，herstockofusablematerialsbeinglimitedandherprocedureinemployingthemalwaysthesame，substantially。Theyknowthatwhentheinitiatedcomeuponherfirsteruditeallusion，oruponanyoneofherotherstage-properties，theycanshuttheireyesandtellwhatwillfollow。SheusuallythrowsoffaneasyremarkallsoddenwithGreekorHebreworLatinlearning；sheusuallyhasapersonwatchingforastar——shecanseldomgetawayfromthatpoeticidea——sometimesitisaChaldee，sometimesaWalkingDelegate，sometimesanentirestranger，butbehewhathemay，heisgenerallytherewhenthetrainisreadytomove，andhashispassinhishat-band；shegenerallyhasaBeingwithaDomeonhim，orsomeothercoverthatisunusualandoutofthefashion；shelikestofireoffaScripture-versewhereitwillmakethehandsomestnoiseandcomenearesttobreakingtheconnection；sheoftenthrowsoutaForefelt，oraForesplendor，oraForeslanderwhereitwillhaveafinenauticalforeto'gallantsoundandmakethesentencesing；afterwhichsheisnearlysuretothrowdiscretionawayandtaketoherdeadlypassion，IntoxicatedMetaphor。AtsuchatimetheMrs。Eddythatdoesnothesitateislost：

"TheancientGreeklookedlonginglyfortheOlympiad。TheChaldeewatchedtheappearingofastar；tohimnohigherdestinydawnedonthedomeofbeingthanthatforeshadowedbysignsintheheavens。ThemeekNazarene，thescoffedofallscoffers，said，'Yecandiscernthefaceofthesky；butcanyenotdiscernthesignsofthetimes？'——forHeforefeltandforesawtheordealofaperfectChristianity，hatedbysinners。

"Tokindleallmindswithagleamofgratitude，thenewideathatcomeswellingupfrominfiniteTruthneedstobeunderstood。Theseerofthisageshouldbeasage。

"Humilityisthestepping-stonetoahigherrecognitionofDeity。Themountingsensegathersfreshformsandstrangefirefromtheashesofdissolvingself，anddropstheworld。Meeknessheightensimmortalattributes，onlybyremovingthedustthatdimsthem。Goodnessrevealsanothersceneandanotherselfseeminglyrolledupinshades，butbroughttolightbytheevolutionsofadvancingthought，wherebywediscernthepowerofTruthandLovetohealthesick。

"Prideisignorance；thoseassumemostwhohavetheleastwisdomorexperience；andtheystealfromtheirneighbor，becausetheyhavesolittleoftheirown。"——MiscellaneousWritings，page1，andsixlinesattopofpage2。

ItisnotbelievablethatthehandthatwrotethoseclumsyandaffectedsentenceswrotethesmoothEnglishofScienceandHealth。

CHAPTERIV

ItisoftensaidinprintthatMrs。EddyclaimsthatGodwastheAuthorofScienceandHealth。Mr。Peabodystatesinhispamphletthat"shesaysnotshebutGodwastheAuthor。"Icannotfindthatinherautobiographyshemakesthistransferenceoftheauthorship，butIthinkthatinitshedefinitelyclaimsthatshedidherworkunderHisinspiration——definitelyforher；forasarulesheisnotaverydefiniteperson，evenwhensheseemstobetryingherbesttobeclearandpositive。SpeakingoftheearlydayswhenherSciencewasbeginningtounfolditselfandgatherforminhermind，shesays（Autobiography，page43）：

"ThedivinehandledmeintoanewworldoflightandLife，afreshuniverse——oldtoGod，butnewtoHis'littleone。'"

ShebeingHislittleone，asIunderstandit。

Thedivinehandledher。Itseemstomean"Godinspiredme"；butwhenapersonusesmetaphorsinsteadofstatistics——andthatisMrs。Eddy'scommonfashion——onecannotalwaysfeelsureabouttheintention。

[Page56。]"EventheScripturegavenodirectinterpretationoftheScientificbasisfordemonstratingthespiritualPrincipleofhealing，untilourHeavenlyFathersawfit，throughtheKeytotheScriptures，inScienceandHealth，tounlockthis'mysteryofgodliness。'"

Anotherbafflingmetaphor。IfshehadusedplainforecastleEnglish，andsaid"GodwrotetheKeyandIputitinmybook"；orifshehadsaid"GodfurnishedmethesolutionofthemysteryandIputitonpaper"；orifshehadsaid"Goddiditall，"thenweshouldunderstand；butherphraseisopentoanyandallofthosetranslations，andisaKeywhichunlocksnothing——forus。However，itseemstoatleastmean"Godinspiredme，"

ifnothingmore。

Therewaspersonalandintimatecommunion，atanyratewegetthatmuchoutoftheriddles。Theconnectionextendedtobusiness，aftertheestablishmentoftheteachingandhealingindustry。

[Page71。]"WhenGodimpelledmetosetapriceonmyinstruction，"etc。

Furtherdown："Godhassinceshownme，inmultitudinousways，thewisdomofthisdecision。"

Shewasnotabletothinkofa"financialequivalent"——meaningapecuniaryequivalent——forher"instructioninChristianScienceMind-

healing。"Inthisemergencyshewas"led"tochargethreehundreddollarsforatermof"twelvehalf-days。"Shedoesnotsaywholedher，sheonlysaysthattheamountgreatlytroubledher。Ithinkitmeansthatthepricewassuggestedfromabove，"led"beingatheologicaltermidenticalwithourcommercialphrase"personallyconducted。"She"shrankfromaskingit，butwasfinallyled，byastrangeprovidence，toacceptthisfee。""Providence"isanothertheologicalterm。Twoledsandaprovidence，takentogether，makeaprettystrongargumentforinspiration。Ithinkthatthesestatisticsmakeitclearthatthepricewasarrangedabove。Thisviewisconstructivelysupportedbythefact，alreadyquoted，thatGodafterwardsapproved，"inmultitudinousways，"

herwisdominacceptingthementionedfee。"Multitudinousways"——

multitudinousencoring——suggestsenthusiasm。Businessenthusiasm。Anditsuggestsnearness。God'snearnesstohis"littleone。"Nearness，andawatchfulpersonalinterest。Awarm，palpitating，Standard-Oilinterest，sotospeak。Allthisindicatesinspiration。Wemayassume，then，twoinspirations：oneforthebook，theotherforthebusiness。

TheevidenceforinspirationisfurtheraugmentedbythetestimonyofRev。GeorgeTomkins，D。D。，alreadyquoted，thatMrs。EddyandherbookwereforetoldinRevelation，andthatMrs。Eddy"isGod'sbrightestthoughttothisage，givingusthespiritualinterpretationoftheBibleinthe'littlebook'"oftheAngel。

IamawarethatitisnotMr。Tomkinsthatisspeaking，butMrs。Eddy。

ThecommissionedlecturersoftheChristianScienceChurchhavetobemembersoftheBoardofLectureship。（By-lawsSec。2，p。70。）TheBoardofLectureshipisselectedbytheBoardofDirectorsoftheChurch。

（By-laws，Sec。3，p。70。）TheBoardofDirectorsoftheChurchisthepropertyofMrs。Eddy。（By-laws，p。22。）Mr。Tomkinsdidnotmakethatstatementwithoutauthorizationfromheadquarters。HenecessarilygotitfromtheBoardofDirectors，theBoardofDirectorsfromMrs。Eddy，Mrs。

EddyfromtheDeity。Mr。Tomkinswouldhavebeenturneddownbythatprocessionifhisremarkshadbeenunsatisfactorytoit。

Itmaybethatthereisevidencesomewhere——ashasbeenclaimed——thatMrs。EddyhaschargedupontheDeitytheverbalauthorshipofScienceandHealth。Butifsheevermadethecharge，shehaswithdrawnit（asitseemstome），andinthemostformalandunqualified；ofallways。SeeAutobiography，page57：

"Whenthedemandforthisbookincreased……thecopyrightwasinfringed。IenteredasuitatLaw，andmycopyrightwasprotected。"

ThusitisplainthatshedidnotpleadthattheDeitywasthe（verbal）

Author；forifshehaddonethat，shewouldhavelosthercase——andwithrudepromptness。ItwasintheolddaysbeforetheBerneConventionandbeforethepassageofouramendedlawof1891，andthecourtwouldhavequotedthefollowingsternclausefromtheexistingstatuteandfrownedheroutoftheplace：

"NoForeignercanacquirecopyrightintheUnitedStates。"

Tosumup。Theevidencebeforemeindicatesthreethings：

1。ThatMrs。Eddyclaimstheverbalauthorshipforherself。

2。ThatshedeniesittotheDeity。

3。That——inherbelief——shewrotethebookundertheinspirationoftheDeity，butfurnishedthelanguageherself。

InoneplaceintheAutobiographysheclaimsboththelanguageandtheideas；butwhenthiswitnessistestifying，onemustdrawthelinesomewhere，orshewillprovebothsidesofhercase-ninesides，ifdesired。

Itistootrue。Muchtootrue。Many，manytimestootrue。Sheisamosttryingwitness——themosttryingwitnessthateverkissedtheBook，I

amsure。Thereisnokeepingupwithhererratictestimony。Assoonasyouhavegothershareoftheauthorshipnailedwhereyouhalfhopeandhalfbelieveitwillstayandcannotbejoggledlooseanymore，shejogglesitlooseagain——orseemsto；youcannotbesure，forherhabitofdealinginmeaninglessmetaphorsinsteadofinplain，straightforwardstatistics，makesitnearlyalwaysimpossibletotelljustwhatitissheistryingtosay。Shewasdefinitewhensheclaimedboththelanguageandtheideasofthebook。Thatseemedtosettlethematter。Itseemedtodistributethepercentagesofcreditwithprecisionbetweenthecollaborators：ninety-twopercent。toMrs。Eddy，whodidallthework，andeightpercent。totheDeity，whofurnishedtheinspirationnotenoughofittodamagethecopyrightinacountryclosedagainstForeigners，andyetplentytoadvertisethebookandmarketitatfaminerates。ThenMrs。Eddydoesnotkeepstill，butfetchesaroundandcomesforwardandtestifiesagain。Itismostinjudicious。Forsheresortstometaphorthistime，anditmakestrouble，forsheseemstoreversethepercentagesandclaimonlytheeightpercent。forherself。IquotefromMr。Peabody'sbook（Eddyism，orChristianScience。Boston：15CourtSquare，pricetwenty-fivecents）：

"Speakingofthisbook，Mrs。Eddy，inJanuarylast（I901）said：'IshouldblushtowriteofScienceandHealth，withKeytotheScriptures，asI

have，wereitofhumanorigin，andI，apartfromGod，itsauthor；butasIwasonlyascribeechoingtheharmoniesofHeavenindivinemetaphysics，IcannotbesupermodestoftheChristianSciencetext-

book。"'

Mr。Peabody'scomment：

"Nothingcouldbeplainerthanthat。HereisadistinctavowalthatthebookentitledScienceandHealthwastheworkofAlmightyGod。"

Itdoesseemtoamounttothat。Shewasonlya"scribe。"Confoundtheword，itisjustaconfusion，ithasnodeterminablemeaningthere，itleavesusintheair。Ascribeismerelyapersonwhowrites。Hemaybeacopyist，hemaybeanamanuensis，hemaybeawriteroforiginals，andfurnishboththelanguageandtheideas。AsusualwithMrs。Eddy，theconnectionaffordsnohelp——"echoing"throwsnolightupon"scribe。"A

rockcanreflectanecho，awallcandoit，amountaincandoit，manythingscandoit，butascribecan't。Ascribethatcouldreflectanechocouldgetoverthirtydollarsaweekinaside-show。Manyimpresarioswouldratherhavehimthanacowwithfourtails。Ifweallowthatthispresentscribewassettingdownthe"harmoniesofHeaven"——andcertainlythatseemstohavebeenthecasethentherewasonlyonewaytodoitthatIcanthinkof：listentothemusicandputdownthenotesoneafteranotherastheyfell。InthatcaseMrs。Eddydidnotinventthetune，sheonlyentereditonpaper。Thereforedroppingthemetaphor——shewasmerelyanamanuensis，andfurnishedneitherthelanguageofScienceandHealthnortheideas。Itreduceshertoeightpercent。（andthedividendsonthatandtherest）。

Isthatit？Weshallneverknow。ForMrs。Eddyisliabletotestifyagainatanytime。Butuntilshedoesit，IthinkwemustconcludethattheDeitywasAuthorofthewholebook，andMrs。EddymerelyHistelephoneandstenographer。Grantingthis，herclaimastheVoiceofGodstands-forthepresent——justifiedandestablished。

POSTSCRIPT

Ioverlookedsomething。ItappearsthattherewasmoreofthatutterancethanMr。Peabodyhasquotedintheaboveparagraph。ItwillbefoundinMrs。Eddy'sorgan，theChristianScienceJournal（January，I901）andreadsasfollows：

"Itwasnotmyself……whichdictatedScienceandHealth，withKeytotheScriptures。"

Thatiscertainlyclearenough。ThewordswhichIhaveremovedfromthatimportantsentenceexplainWhoitwasthatdidthedictating。Itwasdoneby"thedivinepowerofTruthandLove，infinitelyaboveme。"

Certainlythatisdefinite。Atlast，throughherpersonaltestimony，wehaveasuregripuponthefollowingvitalfacts，andtheysettletheauthorshipofScienceandHealthbeyondperadventure：

1。Mrs。Eddyfurnished"theideasandthelanguage。"

2。Godfurnishedtheideasandthelanguage。

Itisagreatcomforttohavethematterauthoritativelysettled。

CHAPTERV

Itishardtolocateher，sheshiftsaboutsomuch。Sheisashiningdropofquicksilverwhichyouputyourfingeronanditisn'tthere。

ThereisaparagraphintheAutobiography（page96）whichplacesinseeminglydarklysignificantprocessionthreePersonages：

1。TheVirginMary2。JesusofNazareth。

3。Mrs。Eddy。

Thisistheparagraphreferredto：

"NopersoncantaketheindividualplaceoftheVirginMary。NopersoncancompassorfulfiltheindividualmissionofJesusofNazareth。NopersoncantaketheplaceoftheauthorofScienceandHealth，thediscovererandfounderofChristianScience。Eachindividualmustfillhisownnicheintimeandeternity。"

Ihavereaditmanytimes，butIstillcannotbesurethatIrightlyunderstandit。IftheSaviour'snamehadbeenplacedfirstandtheVirginMary'ssecondandMrs。Eddy'sthird，IshoulddrawtheinferencethatadescendingscalefromFirstImportancetoSecondImportanceandthentoSmallImportancewasindicated；buttoplacetheVirginfirst，theSavioursecond，andMrs。Eddythird，seemstoturnthescaletheotherwayandmakeitanascendingscaleofImportances，withMrs。Eddyrankingtheothertwoandholdingfirstplace。

Ithinkthatthatwasperhapstheintention，butnonebutaseasonedChristianScientistcanexaminealiteraryanimalofMrs。Eddy'screationandtellwhichendofitthetailison。Sheiseasilythemostbafflingandbewilderingwriterintheliterarytrade。

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫，醒来一梦似千年，重生于下堂妃身躯中的她，将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读