The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-08-07

JULIAN HAWTHORNE
the end of the present century will sec
the end of number Of things which we
have been wont to consider everlasting
sAnd the book stands are full of new ro-
Pnances, the scenes of which are placed
a. hundred or 1rorc years ahead of the
present era, portraying social and eco
nomical conditions of a moro or less ex-
Extraordinary character
But, after all, the interesting thing in
the world is man. What changes are
going to take place in him? We will.
conclude that his circumstances are
fbouud to improve; but will he himsclf-cx-
tpand and improve correspondingly? Our
own present circumstances, for exam
tple, are certainly superior TO those of
tho Elizabcthun era, and yet none Of
our authors (save, perhaps, in the Sc
cret conviction of his or her own hcart)
hs equal or superior TO Shakespeare OF
course, we may become more moral,
with the lapse Of temptation to immor-
:ality; but that is negative virtue. Are
we 60 become, in any respect, different?
Are qualities or powers to be added TO
sls whereof we know nothing?
This aspect of the matter has been
ibnt little attended to. 1t is not easy to
hmogine variations in humanity as in
things; and yet the latter alone, would
sbe of comparatively small account. But
the author of II story now publishing
has entered this neglected field. and the
nc.ea be is developing promises well.
1.-THE Master of Silence" is the title of
his tale, and it seems to be engaged
with the question of the manner in
which the men of the future are to com
pnunic<ltc with one another. 1t is not
possible, of course, to forctell ut this
stage what solution the author has in
mind But the casual critic NAV for
that very reason the more freely indulge
his own conicctures.
And certainly when one comes TO
think OF it, audible speech seems a
somewhat clumsy device for making
known ones thoughts. 1t is laborious
redundant and artificial There is no
Vital correspondence between the cnun-
citations of speech and the thoughts of
,the mind. Vowel sounds may, indeed,
!be regarded in II measure as spontane-
GUS and NATURAL animals use them and
they express emotion. Properly gradu-
;ltcd. they are the Substance of vocal
Emusic and they are doubtless capable
OF indefinitely finer gradations than we
havc as yet found it worth while to
give them But the introduction of
consonants renders speech, as such, in
corrigibly superficial and mechanical.
1T Is violent and arbitrary cxpcdicnt
and opens the way 70 hypocrisy and
talsehood- For, words being definite
and invariable signs, which are retained
By the memory and are available at
VIII, any man can say anything he
chooses, without the least relation to
what pay be actually in his mind. His
hcnfer, on the other hand, being bv
tradition ana habit accustomed to asso-
ciAtc these word sounds witt. certain
1dens and figures, receives Impressions
which nrc not only rs likely as not to
bc alien to what is in the speakers
aaimi, but arc even certain to be an in
complete and inaccurate version there
OF; since it is actually impossible for
anybody with the best will in the
world), 70 convey by word or uttcra,:cc
an exact picture Of his mental conccp-
ton. Words, 10 whatever extent null
tipind and refined. inevitably lead
around the point rather than to il:
when all has been said that can bc
SAID, the vital essence has to be sur-
misctf-it has not been expressed And,
as matter of fact, if we examine
closely what happens in conversation,
we shall find that we form our impress
siorfs Of what people are, not from what
facy say, but rather from their manner
of saying itf-om their expression.
their intonation, their rate and rhythm,
OF utterance, their gestures, The aspect
of their countcnancc, and most of ali,
perhaps, from what they do not say.
The conventional forms and compli.
;nents OF greeting and talk which two
people 20 through with on first meet
n ing, In order 70 avoid the ;lvawar!aess
on silence, are for the nost part
uttered unconsciously and are no,
listened to-; nevertheless, something i.
going on between the intcrlocutors