The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1875-03-12

teenth century. lam not IdeteSt the
present and live altogether in the past, ="
II struck me that 1 also .'dotested the
present" and would have been glad to
get ON into the future. l cannot tell
what II was that possessed me to accom-
pany this gentleman to the cloisters,
savo that curious and indeAnable fascin-
alton to which l have already alluded.
The Sirens were tabled to attract poor
mariners by sweet voices 10 inevitable
shipwreck, but this man had not asweet
voice. There is, too, an allusion in
in some natural histories to the "evil
eye" of the snake; though Mr.. Watorton
says this is all nonsense, and that the eye
of the snake cannot move. Yet this
man had not an "evil eye" There
must then, be charms of the diabolio
kind which admit not of featured ex-
preston. You are conscious in such
charms of neither pleasure nor harm;
you are conscious of nothing but the
charm. Ovid calls certain kind of
witchment, which are not Of the virtuous
kind, ''iucundum nahum" but then,
though the ''jucundum" be present, and
the ''malum" come later, you are con-
scious of both from the beginning. Yet
this man had neither 'jucundum" nor
"malum, Mt least in his sensible attract
iveness. l give it up. Certain it is
that, in our journey through life, more
influences for evil nre without clear ex-
preston than such as bear their mean
ing on the front.
"NIight venture to inquire, asked
my friend at this moment, when we
were just going out of the Abbey, eff it
is not taking too great liberty, which
university you were at"
conceived the inquiry superiuous;
the more so as nothing had been said
which brought the subject into parley.
Cambridge, Ireplied, rather shortly.
"I thought so, he answered. "Some
remarks which fell from you in respect
to the monuments implied the mathe-
matical mind. I was at Oxford myself,
though previously at Dublin. 1 think
Oxford promotes a theological turn,
Cambridge rather rational"
I did not sec the drift Of this particu-
lar comment, which my friend delivered
but 1 was pleased to think
that he was theological and that was so
mathematical.
We had now got out into the open.
The air was keen and frosty, the wind
was blowing from the east, and we both
put our handkerchiefs up to our faces as
we issued from the great west door.
Then, entering the archway which leads
to Dean's-yard, we took the turn to the
left and in the course of a few moments
we stood on the threshold of the really
beautiful cloistsrs. The porter might
possibly be sanctuarized in his own little
house hard by; but we saw no sign of
life save the milk-boy and very old
woman.
1t was just the interim between the
close of day and the lighting of thelamps
fer the night. The lamplghter would
be around in few minutes. He had
not come yet. 1 should have hailed his
approach with pleasure. My friend was
exhuberantly talky, aud ran over with
profound cogitation, He was so glad to
have me for a companion. An intelli-
gent acquaintance was such an infinite
treat in the world where one met so few.
"You have mind, he said warmly.
"a mind is the luxury of life, to others
as well as yourself, I should prefer
your companionship to that of tho can
ons who iuhabit this comfortable close
They read Greek and drink port; bu
mind, sir, mind is the thing"
Gould 1 doubt him to DO a man of oh
servationl"
"How domestic this seems, continued
my friend, MS we stood at the entranct
to the cloisters. "We can hardly imag,
inc that the home-loving clergy who hv'
in these nests of repose are the success
ors of men who prayed half the nigh
for the souls of the living and dead
Times change, like cities. Since th'
night when, as the legend assures us the
fishermen, fishing in the Thames, caugh
sight of st. Peter and his companions
and ferried them across the river to con
secrate the abbey-which then was par
tally built-London is notmore changed
in character and area than her people il
faith and habit.
This was really too much for COLI
afternoon. But before 1 had time t.
suggest a return my friend proceeded t,
rave:
''Do you know, Che had a constan
habit Of saying "Do you know" a
though he would convey real sympath.
and an intuitive apprehension OF me)
"whonever come here l regret that
did not live and die monk. Ny fathe
was a clergyman of the Church of Eng
land, He was rector of Broadstone. II