Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-06-02
AN AGNOSTIC.

My name--No, purpose in this sketch
to assert nothing but what ! can bring
forward sound evidence to prove. The
antecedent improbability Of any mans
having been christened Diggory Nonsuch
is sufficiently obvious and the remote
ness of Penzance, my al legged birthplace,
has prevented veritcatiUn by personal
inspection Of parish registers. The point
itself is of minor consequence, since
Diggory Nonsuch Andrews Is unquestion-
ably the appeliatiOn 10 which | have
been taught 10 respond.
Already, when a fourth form Eton boy,
| was no less powerfully than mourntnly
impressed by the spectacle before me #
some sou young minds daily according
implicit belief to fresh facts, historical
and scientific, handed down to them Oh
testimony and trust alone; facts scarce
one Of which their teachers could have
defended on rational grounds, much less
have vigorously and scientifically demon
strated. The germs Of the principle that
has placed me apart from, and ! trust
above, the unreilective herd, and that
eliminated III my stern resolve, newer
however habitually might be compelled
to act as if believed-neyer, so help me
reason to allow my mind TO accept
positively what admitted OF q doubt, We're
nascent in me, even at this early period,
And as all persons, in advanced age es-
pecially, are liable to cOrruptions Of
memory, such as counterfeit recollectons,
waking circumstances or confusion OF
imagination with reality, sometimes even
to the extent of derangiug the sense OF
identity, before leaving school | desired
my cousin Frank, an adept at such arts,
to tattoo on my arm three distinct i'm
pressions of "Floreat Etona, with lilies,
the device of the college. SO to this day,
whenever the statement that | am All
Etonian is called for, have only to raist
my sleeve to eorroborate by the evidence
OF my senses the testimony of memory
in itself, and when applied to retnot,
past, often Elusive and inadequate.
At Oxford similar speculations ceased
not to beset me, and with teu-fold force
Of all my university associates, not on
could be said to live in the region 0
calm, accurate observation. NOTHING
could exceed the contempt with whicl
? | learned to regard the Overwhelming
majority OF my fellow -Iuen, ready an
eager at every moment Of their lives
embrace facts and statements, and dispens
probed the foundations OF any particula
belief Which could have logical
justified his faith in--say the existen.
of Alexander the Great, or the motion
the earth Enough for them was II
verdict of competent judges" As thong
this was final AS though 'competeI
Judges" had not also believed in ROmull
and Remus, and the motion Of the sur
4. Al
point is the negative one was not on
established, but its Importance as the o
certainty so possessed itself Of my ruil
that could no longer ignore its lesso
in my course Of action.
After taking my degree CHANGED, hefc
returning home, to pass some days und
the roof of a garrulous maiden aunt.
mention this, as it was her cOnver5ati
that drew my attention To some pecul
circumstances connected with my II
appearance i'll this world, which fore
Ine to ponder the possibilities Of err
to which WE are exposed in such matte
when reposing unhesitating faith in
statements of interested witnesses. 4
the particular application Of my theory
philosophic doubt, thus prompted, !
one that materially affected my future
| came home with lying colOrs, ii
class and other honors distinct
that seemed to surprise and delight
parents in about equal measure.
mother, indeed, could talk Of nothing e
at was always my prayer TO live IL
proud Of you, Nunsuch, she Gbser
one day, when We were alone, with p
full fondness "hut you have upset
our calculations, must tell you. Brou
up as you have been, that yonr eonG
should be all We could desire we
perhaps right to expect. But that
son should distinguish himself q
scholar
Is most singular chimed in
quite concur. It is a well-knowu
that nearly all intellectual men have
intellectual mothers. Marked abil
must have some origin, and can
usually traced to the maternal side.
in you, my dear mother, though |
ceive in you no actual deficiency, Il
qualities are, to say the least not -trol
developed.
''Nor yet in your father, She renir
me, nettled. | could not contradict
as unused unGomfortably.
"As TO that, She began, by and
1--WE might as we'll wonder how you Z
to he so good looking. 1t was not
beauty your father married me, my
nor
'Nor is that, nor ever was it, his st
point" My Intelligence supplied
last words she did not utter. My
prepossessing image met me in the
opposite, like challenge to the yeri
of my earliest and most cherished con
tions.
well" she resumed, caressI
with your handsome face and
talents, you may be wonder-a proc
What then The better for YOU,
prouder your mother =
sire you my mother p
half started as the phrase, EXPIRE
ola doubt could no longer conscientic
disregard, escaped me iuvolunta
aloud.
"Nonsuch.n Impossible TO describ
horror-stricken tone.
cam your son ~ repeated, sui
ing her countenance to a narrow SER
as spoke. But her shocked look I
have been caused equally we'll by 81
establishment, or sudden dismay 6
pretended exposure.
''Do not misunderstood me-" |
mildly 81 am far from denying ny
entage. confident assertion to
effect would be as unwaranted - {