Read Ebook: The Mirror of Taste and Dramatic Censor Vol. I No. 4 April 1810 by Carpenter S C Stephen Cullen Editor

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KOLME MIEST? MATKALLA

Kertomus Juhanin, Tuomaan ja Simeonin pikaretkest? pyramiideille

Kirj.

OSMO IISALO

Helsingiss?, Kustannusosakeyhti? Kirja, 1921.

Matkatovereilleni Juhanille ja Tuomaalle omistan t?m?n kirjan.

Simeoni.

SIS?LLYS:

L?ht? Helsingist?. -- Pikku huomioita ravintolavaunussa. -- Kotimaalle hyv?sti ja kiitos.

Leikattiin maaliskuun 12 p. 1921.

T?n? p?iv?n?, kello 5,15 i.p., oli kolmen matkatoveruksen m??r? aloittaa kauan suunniteltu pikaretki etel?n maille, kev?tt? ja korkeaa aurinkoa vastaan, seuduille, jotka lapsuudesta saakka ovat olleet verhoutuneina mielikuvituksen ihannoivaan, satuhohtoiseen autereeseen. Ja kun l?ht? sitten todellakin tapahtuu ja ero omaisista sek? kotikaupungista j?tt?? syd?meen kaipuun kipeytt?, tuntee yht?kki?, kuinka paljon ihmiselle on kallista: kaikki se, mik? j??, ja kaikki se, mik? on edess?. --

Haikein mielin vaelsi Simeoni n?in? minuutteina Helsingin asemalle, sill? vaikka suuren maailman n?keminen houkutteleekin, on kuitenkin kaikki kotiin j??v? niin kallista, ett? siit? t?ytyy suorastaan riist?yty? irti. Vanhanaikaisesti suuteli ja syleili h?n vaimoansa ja pikku tyt?rt?ns?, jotka ik?viss??n ja itkuaan pid?tellen seisoivat siin? hiukan noloina ja h?mill??n, kuin ?llistynein?, ett? nytk? se pel?tty matka sitten alkoi. T?llaiset tunteet eiv?t kuitenkaan ehtineet saada mit??n suurempaa sijaa, sill? vierelt? kuuluva, toisen matkatoverin, Juhanin, karski ??ni ilmoitti, ett? nyt on ment?v? vaunuun, koskapa rautatiehallituksen ilmoittama laillinen l?ht?hetki rupeaa olemaan k?siss?. Ja niinp? vaihdettiin viimeinen silm?ys, j?tettiin asemasillalle er?it? pareja sievi? suomalaisia naissilmi?, annettiin veturin hihkaista ja nyk?ist? vaunut liikkeelle, ja niin alettiin vakaasti ja j?rk?ht?m?tt?m?sti menn? jyskytt?? Turun kuuluisaa kaupunkia kohti. Kolmas matkatoveri, jykev? Tuomas, oli matkustanut sinne jo edelt?p?in, yhty?kseen "retkueeseen" vanhassa Auran satamassa.

T?llaisen eron hetken j?lkeen oli Simeoni jonkun aikaa vaiteliaana, tuimasti imeskellen savukettansa ja katsellen mieleens? j??nytt? Helsingin kuvaa. Se muuttui v?hitellen kauniiksi, lempe?ksi naiseksi, joka kaipaavasti seurasi katseellaan kaikkia pois kiit?vi? lapsiaan, jo edelt?p?in toivottaen niille tervetuloa takaisin. Simeoni ymm?rsi siin? istuessaan, kuinka tavattoman kallisarvoinen on "ero sovinnossa", kuinka v?limatka yh? suurentuessaan samassa suhteessa pienent?? kaikkia niit? piikkej? ja sarvia, joita itsekukin on jokap?iv?isess? el?m?ss? n?kevin??n l?himm?isens? otsassa ja kyljess?, ja joita vastaan h?n alituisesti puskee ja m?yry??, ollen muka itse aina oikeassa ja ihmetellen, miten muut ihmiset voivat olla niin per?ti v??r?ss?.

T?llaiset mietteet keskeytyiv?t kuitenkin pian, sill? osastossa olevat vakaat suomalaiset rupesivat pian lausahtelemaan aatteita, huomioita ja sukkeluuksia, joista useat omaper?isyydess??n v?kisinkin vetiv?t sarjan karheita huulia kontiomaiseen naurun vireeseen. Ja kun sitten siirryttiin ravintolavaunuun, oli siell? Juhanin ja Simeonin kahdelle silm?lle ja korvalle paljon sek? n?ht?v?? ett? kuultavaa.

Siell? oli sangen kansainv?linen yleis?, josta melkoisen osan muodosti juutalainen kansanaines, suureksi osaksi kotoisin Helsingist?. Simeoni, jolla kyll? oli ollut aikaisemminkin tilaisuutta tutustua valitun kansan ulkon?k??n, huomasi silti vaipuvansa tutkimaan sit? tarkoin uudelleen. Joukossa oli monta naista, jotka h?nen Venla-ihanteestaan huolimatta eiv?t vaikuttaneet vastenmielisilt?, mutta milloin nen? oli s?ilytt?nyt tyypillisen ulkonevaisuutensa, milloin huulet olivat paksut, tukka musta ja ?ljyinen, hartiat kuin atleettiklubin puheenjohtajalla ja silm?t kuin kivihiilen sirpaleet, siin? loppui Simeonilta sulattamiskyky. "Tunnustan heid?t", ajatteli h?n, "mielell?ni v?hint??n vertaisikseni luojan edess?, mutta siit? huolimatta pyyt?isin n?yrimm?sti saada suorittaa t?m?n lyhyen ajallisen vaellukseni eri osastossa kuin he." Ja kuunnellessaan juutalaisten keskustelua huomasi Simeoni, ett? ihminen aina puhuu mieliaineestaan. "Jos minulla nyt olisi miljoona kruunua", kuului er?s Ruben-tyyppi lausuvan, ja h?nen mustat silm?ns? paloivat kapitalistisesta voitonhimosta ja sormet tekiv?t er??nlaisia k?yristyvi?, haravamaisia liikkeit?. "Taivas varjelkoon kruunu parkoja sinun kouriisi joutumasta", ajatteli siihen Simeoni, tarkastellessaan miehen ihka uusia vaatteita, kotkannen??, tummaa, aaltoilevaa ja kiilt?v?? tukkaa, voimakasta leukaa ja kameelimaisia hartioita -- mies oli oikeastaan eritt?in komea -- ja miettiess??n, ett? rohkea pit?? sen henkil?n olla, joka tuon kanssa uskaltautuu kahden pime??n huoneeseen.

Keskustelu t?llaisessa ravintolavaunussa, jossa sattuma vie yhteen toisilleen aivan tuiki tuntemattomia henkil?it?, on tavallisesti sangen vaisua. Sy?d??n haluttomasti eteen ilmestyvi? annoksia, heitell??n hajamielisi? silm?yksi? ikkunasta, vilkaistaan naapureihin tahi pidet??n salaa silm?ll? jotakin huvittavaa sy?m?tapaa ja sy?j??, kiitell??n konemaisesti ja annetaan p??n veltosti t?r?hdell? vaunun kiit?ess? kiskolta toiselle. Mutta aina on seurueessa sent??n joku, joka ik??nkuin riemuiten valitsee juuri t?m?n sy?m?hetken purkaakseen syd?mens? niin, ett? sen kyll? naapuritkin kuulevat. Sanomattakin on selv??, ett? t??ll? pohjoismaissa se henkil? on ven?l?inen, joka on saanut kielens? kantaan kuulalaakerin ja ylim??r?isen annoksen parasta, koskaan kuivamatonta kone?ljy?, niin ett? se maailman synkeimm?nkin mullistuksen, hetkell? lerkkuu ja l?p?tt?? aivan k?sitt?m?tt?m?n helposti ja liukkaasti. Niinp? t?ss?kin vaunussa, tuossa Simeonin viereisess? p?yd?ss?, istuu ven?l?inen, jonka kasvonpiirteet kertovat Abrahamin j?lkel?isen olleen joskus h?nen sukuvuoteensa ??ress? ainakin kastemaljan pit?j?n? tahi kummina, ja jonka ajelematon parta sek? kuluneet vaatteet kertovat h?nen yhdeks?nnell?toista hetkell? p??sseen lipsahtamaan pois siit? sudenkuopasta, jota bolsheviikit leikillisesti nimitt?v?t maalliseksi paratiisiksi. H?n puhuu taukoamatta, tasaisesti ja katkeamatta, poristen kuin hyv?ll? tulella kiehuva pata, ja t?t? Simeoni kuuntelee hartaasti. H?n rupeaa miettim??n, mahtaako tuon puheen takana olla riitt?v?sti ajatusvaluuttaa, ja vastaa kysymykseen kielt?v?sti. Jos asia nimitt?in olisi niin, ei maailmaan mahtuisi mit??n muuta kuin ven?l?isten ajatuksia, koskapa heit? on niin paljon ja koska he puhuvat eniten.

Kun Simeoni ja Juhani olivat lopettaneet ateriansa, ilmestyi viereiseen p?yt??n er?s muista v?litt?m?t?n, jyrk?n itsen?isesti esiintyv? herrasmies, jonka kehto luultavasti oli keinunut jossakin ?iti Svean kamarin, lattialla. Kylm?sti ja kiinte?sti, kuin edelt?p?in tehden tyhj?ksi kaikki vastav?itteet, h?n tilasi teet?, ja saatuaan sen veti paperik??r?st? esille paistetun linnun, arvattavasti kanan, jolla siis nyt oli edess??n toinen surkea loppu. Simeoni ihan kyyristyi tuolillaan katsellessaan, kuinka mies k??nteli kanaparkaa k?siss??n kuin k?yh? mies kannikkaa Juhani Ahon lastussa, lopulta iskien pitk?t, valkoiset, haarallaan sojottavat raateluv?lineens? sen lihavimpaan paikkaan. Mainio ruokahalu tuolla miehell?! Kun Simeoni ummisti silm?ns? ja kuunteli luitten rusahtelua h?nen hampaittensa v?liss?, tuntui h?nest? kuin olisi h?n n?hnyt jalopeuran jauhavan poloisen kristityn s??riluita Colosseumin areenalla. Sy?ty??n kanastansa puolet k??ri mies loput paperiin ja poistui uhmailevan ja ynse?n n?k?isen?. H?n oli Simeonin mielest? taloudellinen ja turhia menoja v?ltt?v? henkil?.

N?in olivat matkan ensimm?iset tunnit kuluneet, ja kun Simeoni rupesi tarkastamaan ohi kiit?v?? maisemaa, huomasi h?n, ett? maaliskuun ilta vaipui surumielisen ruskoisena kev?isen, nietoksistaan hiljalleen riisuutuvan maan ylle. Puista on lumi jo kadonnut, koivujen urvut ovat paisuneet ja antavat maisemalle ruskeahkoa, eloisaa v?ri?. Koko luonto on kuin hiljaisen odotuksen vallassa, aavistaen kev??n tulevan ja el?m?n her??v?n. Poisl?hd?n tunnelman valossa Simeoni katseli kaikkea herk?ll? mielell?, kuin j?tt?en hyv?sti, ja tuntien kaiken tuossa edess??n omakseen, joka t?llin, puun ja pensaan, siell? esiintyv?n el?m?n kaikissa muodoissaan.

Ja niinp? tulla hurahtikin juna Turkuun ja ajoi suoraa tiet? satamaan. Auran vanha kaupunki, sivistyksen ensimm?inen kynnen j?lki karussa kamarassamme, oli siin? takana, ja Simeoni tunsi aivan selv?sti tuomiokirkon vakavan katseen sielussaan. H?n oli, omituista kyll?, ensimm?ist? kertaa Turussa, ja senkin pime?ll?. Mutta pime? ei h?nt? h?irinnyt, vaan saattoi h?n sen suojassa sit? paremmin kansoittaa koko tienoon historiallisilla mielikuvillaan, n?hden selv?sti, kuinka tuolta tuomiokirkon tornista valons?teet tunkeutuivat kuin hengen majakasta yh? kauemmaksi pimeyteen, yli salojen ja loputtomien er?maiden, kuinka ne sytyttiv?t yh? uusia tulia, poistaen pimeytt? edest??n, kunnes vihdoin valkeus saapui kaukaisten korpienkin sopukoihin.

Mieluinen h?mm?stys. -- Huolestunut ruotsalainen ja huoleton englantilainen. -- Harun al Rashid, Giafar ja Mesrur.

Arvokkaasti ja tyynesti astelivat Juhani ja Simeoni ruotsinmaalaiseen Ragna-laivaan, jalosti kestetty??n passi- ja tullitarkastuksen. Esteett? se n?ytti sujuneen muillekin, lukuunottamatta ven?l?ist?, joka siit? huolimatta, ett? h?nen passinsa luultavasti oli t?ydess? kunnossa, kansallisominaisuuksiensa vuoksi joutui virkamiesten kanssa laajaan keskusteluun. Se p??ttyi kuitenkin suopeasti, koskapa h?nkin hetken kuluttua kiipesi laivaan, halliten oikealla k?dell??n painavaa ja monta myrsky? sek? kolhausta kokenutta matkalaukkua. Toverukset meniv?t tarkastamaan hyttej?ns?, huomasivat ne hyviksi, sijoittivat tavaransa j?rkevien periaatteiden mukaan, totesivat, ett? kolmas toveri, jykev? Tuomas, oli laivalla, joskin vaipuneena hyv?? tekev?n ja raskaan unen helmoihin, ja kiipesiv?t vihdoin j?lleen laivan yl?kertaan. Siell? oli ruokailupaikka valaistu kirkkaasti kuin h??sali, p?yd?t notkuen laseista ja maljoista, t?ynn? kovin viettelev?n n?k?isi? keitti?kemian vanhoja ja taattuja keksint?j?. Kehoittamatta istuivat toverukset p?yt??n eik? Simeonikaan muistanut t?ll? hetkell? vanhaa s??st?v?isyysperiaatettaan, ett? kun panee vain v?h?n sianmurennusta leiv?n p??lle, niin se s?rvitt?? niin. Mutta toveruksilla oli edess??n mieluinen h?mm?stys.

Kun oli saatu v?h?n voileip?-aineksia, sattuivat Juhanin ja Simeonin silm?t yhtaikaa er??seen pieneen, mutta korkeajalkaiseen lasiin, jonka vanhemmat helsinkil?iset kyll? hyvin muistavat, muka joka on nuoremmalle polvelle jokseenkin yht? tuntematon kuin harvinainen museo-esine. Juhanin ja Simeonin katseet sattuivat yhteen ja niist? v?l?hti ymm?rryksen valo. Seurasi hiljainen ja j?nnitt?v? odotus, jonka kuluessa veljeksist? kumpainenkin vaivihkaa siirteli sillipalasta lautasellaan syrjemm?ksi, ik??nkuin tulevaista p??tarkoitusta varten. Ja eih?n vain! Hetken kuluttua ilmestyi heid?n eteens? Ruotsin riikin neitonen, k?dess??n ase, jota totuudenmukaisesti t?ytyy nimitt?? pulloksi. H?n teki aseellaan vaativan liikkeen noita pieni? laseja kohti, samalla katsoen toveruksiin kysyv?sti. Lukija voi arvata, ett? t?ss? tarvittiin nopeata ratkaisua ja erinomaisen harvinaiset aatteet menn? t?rm?iliv?t l?pi toverusten aivorustingin. "Mit?h?n tuo tekisi?" arveli Simeoni miettiv?isen n?k?isen?, johon Juhani arvokkaasti lis?si: "Me lienemme nyt kieltolain vaikutuspiirin ulkopuolella." -- "Jokohan aluevedet on l?p?isty?" j?rkeili t?h?n lainkuuliaisesti taas Simeoni, jolloin Juhani odottamattoman p??tt?v?isesti vastasi: "Varmasti!" Ja niinh?n se sitten k?vi, ett? huolimatta tieteen sitovista todistuksista alkoholin ep?terveellisest? ja turvottavasta vaikutuksesta nimenomaan maksaan, toverukset vanhojen muistojen viettelemin? lankesivat ottamaan sen, jota sanotaan ruokaryypyksi, viel?p? hiljaa sen p??lle ?hk?istenkin, kuten asia vaatii, ja vihdoinkin antaen sillipalalle sen teht?v?n, joka sille alkujaan on oikeastaan m??r?tty. Ja ett? se antaa ruoalle ylim??r?ist? vauhtia, sit? ei kiell? kukaan suomalainen, mik?li ainakin Simeoni oli t?ss? suhteessa el?m?ns? varrella pystynyt saamaan yleisest? mielipiteest? ja kokemuksesta selkoa.

Sy?dess??n lankesi Simeoni vanhaan helmasyntiins?, nimitt?in tarkastelemaan ihmisi? ymp?rill??n ja mit? he tekiv?t. Kanansy?j?? ei n?kynyt, mutta Ruben liikkui vatien vaiheilla varmana ja tyynen?, muljautellen h?r?nsilmi??n, maiskautellen hyv?st? mielest? suutansa ja v?liin hipaisten rasvaista tukkaansa. Uusi ja mielenkiintoinen kansalainen oli er?s ruotsinmaalainen liikemies, joka her?tti Simeonin huomiota rotevuudellaan ja pituudellaan, johon oli samalla yhtynyt annos velttoutta. H?nen sile?ksi ajellun naamansa keskelt? loisti s?hk?valossa suuri kultahammas kirkkaana kuin t?hti, pystym?tt? kuitenkaan v?himm?ll?k??n tavalla h?lvent?m??n miehen per?ti huolestunutta ilmett?, jollaista, nimitt?in aiheetta, luontaisesti sellaista, Simeoni ei muistanut n?hneens?. H?nen suupielens? olivat ankarassa itkun mutkassa alasp?in -- h?n oli todellakin kuin kahden huolestuneen ihmisen bastardi. H?n haukkasi voileip?? sen n?k?isen? kuin olisivat puolet koko maailman synneist? olleet h?nen hartioillaan. N?ht?v?sti suruaan h?lvent??kseen h?n illallisen j?lkeen tilasi puoli pulloa munkkilik??ri?, vieden aina kuitenkin lasin huulilleen kovalla k?rsimyksen ilmeell?. H?nen p?yt?toverinsa, kylm? ja j?ykk? englantilainen, ei sen sijaan p??st?nyt vaskikasvoilleen mit??n tunteen tahi mielialan lainetta, vaan istui totisena ja nauramattomana sek? sy?dess??n ett? sen j?lkeen. H?nen selk?ns? oli niin suora ja j?ykk?, ett? Simeoni suuresti ep?ili, saattoiko se yleens? ollenkaan sujahtaa, ja h?nen suunsa oli niin tiukasti kiinni, ett? tuntui kuin olisi piipun varsi ollut kiilaamalla h?nen huuliensa v?liin saatava. Ruotsalaisen hiukan lepertelev?n kohteliaisuuden otti h?n vastaan kuin asiaan kuuluvana sek? nakkeli h?nen tarjoamansa lik??rin menem??n kuin olisi se ollut marjavett?. Simeoni ja Juhani katselivat t?t? syrj?st? vaatimattomin muodoin, mutta edellinen mietiskeli mieless??n, kuinka onnellista on, etteiv?t ihmiset yleens? itse tied?, milloin heid?n ymp?rilleen ilmestyy tuollainen pieni koomillisuuden s?dekeh?. Mutta j??k??t n?m? veljet lik??rins? ??reen, sill? toveruksille tuntui lepo ja rauha viekoittelevalta nyt, kun l?ht?j?nnitys oli lauennut tasaiseksi matkan teoksi. Maaliskuun 12 p?iv? olikin jo loppunut ja 13 alkanut.

Simeoni painui lakanainsa v?liin ja koetti saada unen p??st? kiinni, mutta sep? ei tahtonut onnistuakaan. J??telit piirteliv?t laivan kylkeen, keulasta per??n, rusahtelevia piirujansa, jyristen ja kolisten lakkaamatta ja est?en unen tulon. H?n tuijotti pimeyteen ja mietiskeli alkanutta matkaa, joka tulisi ulottumaan koko Europan ymp?ri. Sokean eno-vainajan kertomuksista alkaen oli h?nell? ollut kova halu n?hd? maailmaa ja nyt h?n saisi ainakin osaksi tuota haluansa tyydytt??. H?n n?ki edess??n koko maapallon ja siin? er??ll? kulmalla Europan, jonka pohjoisessa k?rjess? oli pieni, m?ntyj? kasvava maa, Suomi. Europa oli ennen ollut h?nest? ihana neito, jolle itse Zeus oli osoittanut korkeinta mahdollista suosiotaan, mutta maailmansodan aikana se oli muuttunut vanhaksi ja vihaiseksi k?m?leuka-akaksi, jolta ehk? olisi pit?nyt ly?d? kiireimm?n kaupalla niskanikamat poikki. Ja maapallo, joka h?nest? ennen oli ollut tuhansien suloisten ja salamyhk?isten paratiisien piilopaikka, oli h?nest? nyt mieluumminkin vanha ja saumoistaan ratkeileva potkupallo, joka paholaisen kiid?tt?m?n? menn? porhalsi kohti tuntematonta tulevaisuutta yhdess? koko katoamaan tuomitun aurinkokuntansa kanssa. Muistellessaan kaikkea sit? sopimatonta ja pahennusta aikaansaavaa menoa, johon rouva Europa viime vuosina on tehnyt itsens? syyp??ksi, tunsi Simeoni tarvetta olla joku Harun al Rashid, joka tuntemattomana, seurassaan ainoastaan uskollinen suurvisiirins? Giafar sek? viel? uskollisempi ja tarpeellisempi ylimestaajansa Mesrur, l?htisi retkeilem??n valtakuntaansa ottamaan selkoa, mit? h?nen alammaisensa tekiv?t...

Laiva seisahtuu eik? Simeonin j?nnittyneest? odotuksesta huolimatta l?hde liikkeelle. Kaikki on tyynt? ja pime?t?, meren j??sohjuinen ulappa, taivas ja saariston lukemattomat luodot.

Ruusu ja kukkanen. -- Skandinaavista ruokakulttuuria. -- Silm?ys j?iselle ulapalle. -- Ahvenanmaan asia ratkaistu.

Koko matkaseurueen huomiota oli her?tt?nyt er?s neito, jonka kansallisuus j?i Simeonille ep?selv?ksi, mutta joka sek? ij?lt??n ett? n??lt??n oli kuin ruusu ja kukkanen. Matkustajain miehinen v?est? aivan peittelem?tt? virkisti h?nen n??lt??n silmi?ns? ja syd?nt?ns?, l?mmitellen t?ten keskell? It?meren j?ist? aavikkoa ja yksitoikkoisuutta, ja neito salli sen tapahtua, leijaillen salongista toiseen ja istahtaen milloin minnekin kuin perhonen oikullisessa lennossaan kukasta kukkaan. Tulepa sitten aamiaisen aika. Tahtomatta turmella sunnuntai-aamun viile?t?, ylh?ist? rauhaa, ty?nsiv?t veljekset halveksien syrj??n tuon ennen mainitun korkeajalkaisen lasin. Mutta eip? ollut v?h?inen heid?n ?llistyksens?, kun he n?kiv?t, kuinka tuo ruusu ja kukkanen kursailematta kallisti menem??n ryypyn aamutuimaansa, edes huuhaankaan rypist?m?tt? tahi tekem?tt? muuta perint?pyh?? naukunotto-ilmett?. "Ettei se v?h?n h?pe?!", ajatteli Simeoni, sill? vanhoillisena miehen? h?n ei yleens? hyv?ksynyt ryyppy? aamup?iv?ll?, puhumattakaan siit?, ett? sen ottaisi nuori neito sunnuntai-aamuna julkisessa paikassa. Muu matkaseurue ei siit? kuitenkaan n?ytt?nyt v?litt?v?n, vaan nakkeli neidon antaman esimerkin innoittamana kaiken maailman tiet? erin?isi? parillisia ja parittomia lasim??ri? niin vilkkaasti, ett? sit? kelpasi katsella. Kyll? maailma sent??n k?ytt?? viinaa paljon; sen johtop??t?ksen saattoi t?ll?kin hetkell? suuremmatta neroudetta tehd? ja todeksi v?itt??.

T?ll? laivalla, kuten pohjoismaalaisilla laivoilla yleens?, sy?tiin muuten tuiki herkullisesti ja paljon. Kun Simeoni, lopetettuaan kielt?m?tt? sangendelicate conduct of persons of great pride and importance. No man that ever lived required less entreaty to oblige his convivial friends with his charming singing. Of the families where he was treated with friendship and free hospitality he delighted to promote the happiness, and to them his song flowed cheerfully: but he clearly distinguished from those, and has more than once, in the confidence of friendship, spoken with feeling and considerable asperity, of the indelicate conduct of some who, aspiring higher, ought to have known better. "It is indeed," said he to the writer of this, "a trial which few tempers could stand, but which I have often been obliged to undergo. A person whom I have met, perhaps at the table of a real friend, asks me to dine with him: I find a large company assembled upon the occasion, and hardly is the cloth taken away, when mine host, with all the freedom of an established acquaintance, without the least delicacy, or even common feeling, often without the softening circumstance of asking some other person to begin, or even of beginning himself, calls upon Mr. Hodgkinson for a song."--"Then why do you comply? why dont you refuse the invitation? or, if you cannot, why dont you pretend to be hoarse?" "I will tell you why: because, in a place of such limited population as this, the hostility of a few would spread through the whole; and not only mine host, but all those whom he had invited to Hodgkinson's SONG, would fret at their disappointment, and their fret would turn to an enmity which I should feel severely in empty benches at my benefit." "It is not that, Hodge," said this writer; "but, as Yorick said to corporal Trim, because thou art the very best natured fellow in the world." It was upon an occasion of this kind Hodgkinson related to the writer the incident with his Bristol landlord, observing upon it, that there were many who washed down turtle dinners with champaigne and burgundy that might derive profit and honour from imitating the natural politeness and delicacy of that man whom, if they had seen, they would have called a low fellow or a boor.

To please the honest wagoner, and one or two fellow-travellers, however, H. did sing several songs in the evening, and as at that time he had not learned to drink, they thought themselves the more indebted to him, and the landlord and his wife put him to sleep with their son, who kept him awake the greater part of the night, asking him the most ridiculous questions respecting his parentage, where he came from, whither he was going, &c. and concluded with expressing his firm belief, because Sally, the housemaid, had told him so, that he, Hodgkinson, was some great man's son, who had run away from school, for fear of a flogging: "for you know," said he, "that none but the great volks can afford to be great singers and musicianers."

Resolved to take leave of his kind friend the wagoner, who was to set off on his return early in the morning, our young adventurer was up betimes, and went to the stable to look for him. As he stood at the door, a tall young stripling, dressed in what they call a smock frock, with a pitchfork in his hand, came up and, taking his station a little on one side, began to view him from head to foot, scratching his head and grinning. Our youth was startled and blushed, but said nothing, and affected firmness; yet he imagined he had seen the man's face before. The arrival of the wagoner afforded him a seasonable relief, and he returned with him into the inn kitchen, where breakfast was got ready and John was invited to sit down and eat. He had hardly swallowed two mouthfuls when he of the pitchfork, having left his hat and his instrument aside, entered, and, taking his station at the dresser, continued to gaze upon him, still scratching his pate and looking significantly. Our adventurer was sadly disconcerted, but concealed his emotions so that they were not observed, till breakfast was over, when the rustic took an opportunity to beckon to him with an intimation to follow him. They proceeded to the stable, where after carefully looking out of the back door to see that nobody was near them, the rustic without any preface said, "I'll tell thee what--thee art Jacky Meadowcroft!--I know thee as well as I do that horse that stonds there before my eyes; so don't you go vor to tell loies about it, or to deny it." Hodgkinson who, though he might be startled, was not to be intimidated, asked the fellow sturdily, and with a dash of stage loftiness, what it was to him who he was, or what his name; upon which the other rather abashed said, "No harm I assure thee Jack, nor hurt would I do thee for ever so much: but I fear thee be'est upon no good: now don't think hard of me, but do thee tell me, what prank art thee upon here?--where dids't thee get those foin clothes?"--To this our adventurer gave no answer but a look of haughty resentment, putting his arms akimbo, elevating his head and neck, and finishing with a contemptuous sneer of the right barn-buskin kind. "Nay, now," said the other, "I am sure of it. Yes, Jack Meadowcroft thee hast left thy honest parents, and mixed with the strolling fellers--the play actors,--a pize upon them, with their tricks, making honest folks laugh to pick their pockets."

How often are the intentions of the best heart frustrated by the blunders of an uninformed head. Who can, without respect and admiration, contemplate the sturdy integrity, and simple zeal with which this rustic moralist enforced his laudable though mistaken notions? who can help reflecting with some surprise upon the fact, that before he ceased to apothegmatise and advise his young friend against having anything to do with the actors he was actually the first who put him seriously in the notion of going directly upon the stage as a public actor? It was a curious process, and we will endeavour to relate it as nearly as possible in the way Hodgkinson related it to us:

"A plague upon going to sea," said the honest fellow, "I can't abide it, thoff it be a hard, honest way of getting one's bread, and for that reason ought to wear well--but some how or other I never seed a sailor having anything to the fore; but always poor and dirty, except now and then for a spurt. There's my two brothers went to sea, and it makes my hair stand on end to hear what they go through; I would not lead such a life--no, not for fifty pound a year; evermore some danger or some trouble. One time a storm, expecting to be drowned--another a battle with cannon, expecting to be murdered--one time pressed--another time chased like a hare, that I wonder how they live. No, Jack, doan't thee go to sea; but stay at home and die on dry land. Why see how happy I am! and I'll be hong'd if measter within would'nt take thee with all love, to tend customers and draw the beer: ay, and 'twould be worth his while too, for thy song would bring custom, let me tell thee. As to being a play-actor, confound it, I hate the very word; you need not think anything about your size. Thou'rt very tall and hast a better face to look at than any on 'un I see; and though thou be'est knock-kneed a bit, its the way with all growing boys. Lord love thee, Jack, if wert to see some of them fellows, for all they look so on the stage with paint and tinsel and silk, when they stop to take a pint of beer, I think they be the ugliest, conceitedest, foolishest talken fellows I ever ze'ed. Why there's one feller was here for three days all time quite drunk--went yesterday to Bath to get place there among them. He's a player, and as ugly as an old mangy carthorse. But he's an Irishman to be sure, and they say he won't do at Bath because he wants an eye."

"You have players here at times then," said H. interrogatively.

"Yes! sometimes they comes for their baggage, that is, their trunks and boxes and women and children. Sometimes the poor souls on 'un come in the wagon themselves. Sometimes when it's a holliday we 'un, they walk out to Stapleton and other parts to kill time, being very idle people; then they stop to take beer here, and they talk such nonsense that I can't abide the tuoads. Lauk! thee why Jack, thee know'st I would not flatter thee now--thee art a king to some on 'un that talks ten times as big as king George could for the life o' him."

This intelligence given by the honest simpleton, in all likelihood for the purpose of disgusting our adventurer with the stage, communicated to him the first proud presentiment he felt of what afterwards occurred. The thought instantly struck him, "If performers, so very despicable as this man describes, are endured upon a public stage, thought he, why may not I?--cannot I be as useful as them? besides I can--but these men sing, I suppose--do not they sing John, much better than me?" "Noa, I tell thee they doan't: sing better than thee! they can't sing at all. A tinker's jackass is as good at it as any of them I see here. When they are on the stage od rot 'un--they make a noise by way of a song, and the musicianers sing for them on their fiddles." The man to whom honest John alluded, arrived from Bath that very day, execrating the injustice of the Bath and Bristol managers, who though they could not but be convinced of his talents, refused to give him even a trial. Our adventurer surveyed him from head to foot, and from the information of the man's face, voice, deportment, language, and person, concluded with himself that he had little to fear; "If, said he, this man has ever been received as an actor by any audience in this world, I'll offer myself to the first company I meet." He was precisely such as the ostler had described him--he wanted an eye, and was frightfully seamed by the small-pox, which not only had deprived him of that organ, but given him a snuffling stoppage of the nose. Such as this, was the whole man in every point, who actually boasted that he was allowed by all judges to play Jaffier better than any man that ever lived, but Barry, and who, disgusted with the British managers for their want of taste, took shipping that very evening for Cork.

Without imparting a hint of his intention to the ostler who vowed, "as he hoped to be saved" that he would never betray him Hodgkinson resolved to introduce himself in some shape or other, to the company of the theatre as soon as they should return from Bath to Bristol; an event which was to take place according to the course of their custom, in two days. Meantime he walked frequently to the theatre, in order to indulge himself with looking at the outside of it; and he made the fine square before it, his promenade, where he gave a loose to his imagination, and anticipating his future success, built castles in the air from morning till night.

"I believe it was on the fourth day of my standing sentinel," continued H. "that the old gentleman passing by me, I made him a bow of more than ordinary reverence. The Irishwoman's character of him had great weight with me, and my opinions and feelings were transferred to my salute. He walked on a few steps, halted, looked back, muttered something to himself and went on. I thought he was going to speak, and was so dashed, I wished myself away; yet when he did not speak, I was more than ever unhappy. He returned again with two or three people about him in conversation; his eye glanced upon me, but he went on without speaking to me, and I left the place--for, said I to myself, if this man does not notice me, none of them will. Discouraged and chop fallen I returned to Broad-mead, and on my way began, for the first time, to reflect with uneasiness upon my situation.

Thus far the words of Hodgkinson himself are given. The name of the old gentleman had entirely escaped the writer of this, who, when he heard the relation from Hodgkinson, little thought that it would ever devolve upon him to pay this posthumous tribute to his memory. Upon the facts being since related, and the description of the person being given to some gentlemen long and well acquainted with the affairs of the Bath and Bristol theatres, they have cleared up the point to the writer, whose recollection, though faint, perfectly coincides with their assurance that it must have been Mr. Keasberry, who was at that time manager, and with whose character this account is said to agree accurately.

Never before had our adventurer experienced such transporting sensations. To use his own words, his head whirled and sung again with delight. Instead of going straight back to Broad-mead, he walked about the square plunged in a delicious reverie--perfectly insensible of hunger or fatigue he continued on the stride, up the river side and down, then about the square again--then here, then there, in short he knew not whither nor why, wholly forgetful of home, dinner, and every thing till some time after the playhouse opened, when going to the stage-door he was admitted, and when he got behind the scenes, was kindly accosted by some, questioned very impertinently, and curiously by others, and stared at by all. The after-piece for the night was "the Contrivances," which he had never seen or heard of before. He was vastly taken with the song of "Make haste and away my only dear;" and as he passed down from the stage, hummed it to himself; on which one of the gentlemen of the band who was near him accosted him, "Hah, master Henry, is it you?--you have practised every piece on the stage, one would think--and the Contrivances has not escaped you." "My name is not Henry, sir--my name is John." "Well, Master John then, I beg your pardon, but you have been at Rover I see." "No, sir, I never saw or heard of the Contrivances till this night's performance." "You can't say so," said the other, "you have learned that song before, assuredly!" "Upon my word it is a truth, sir; I never heard it before tonight." "Do me the favour to hum it over again for me," said the musician. Hodgkinson complied. "Why you have the words of the song as well as the air." "Of one verse only, sir: but the next time, I shall catch the whole of it." The musician expressed his astonishment, and asked the boy where he lodged; to which John replied, "Off this way, sir," and ran away as fast as he could to Broad-mead, where he was resolved it should not be known, for sometime, at least, that he had any connexion with the theatre.

When he reached his hospitable landlord and family, he found that they had all been in great consternation at his absence. He had that morning spoken to his friend John the ostler, about selling his silver buckles, in order to pay his bill, and the generous souls were all afraid that he was in distress. "Hast thee eat nothing since breakfast," said the good man; "Lauk! why thee must be famished--what bewitched thee to stay away from thy meals, child," cried the wife, "tis very bad for a young thing like thee to fast," said another: and numberless other kind and tender expostulations were uttered by the good people one and all, while ostler John who was more frightened about him than any of them, and could not get the naughty players out of his head, coming in said with affectionate surliness, "Soh! thee'st come back, be thee?--Ecod thee deservst to ha thee jacket trimmed, so thee dost--a young tuoad like thee to stay out, God knows where, to this time o' night?" "Dont be angry John," replied our adventurer, "dont be angry--and as to trimming, John, it is not in thy jacket, to trim my jacket John--so go to your hayloft and dont make a fool of thyself!" In saying this he mimicked John's clownish lingo so nearly that the family burst out laughing, and John went off, growling out that he believed the devil or his imps the player fellers had got possession of the boy.

FOOTNOTES:

Upon comparing notes with Hodgkinson, and considering his description, I was convinced that this was no exaggerated picture. Precisely such a man I remember to have seen, but not playing. He was in a strolling company in Ireland, and was admired for his miraculous power of making people merry with tragedy. He was a well-meaning, honest, simple poor man, but even his performance of Jaffier was hardly as comical as the compliments he himself lavished upon it.

The name is entirely forgotten by the biographer.

BARRY, THE PLAYER.

"So, when a well-grac'd actor leaves the stage, All eyes are idly bent on him who follows next."

To this figure he added a voice so peculiarly musical as very early in life obtained him the character of "the silver-toned Barry," which, in all his love scenes, lighted up by the smiles of such a countenance, was persuasion itself. Indeed, so strongly did he communicate his feelings on these occasions, that whoever observed the expressive countenances of most of the female part of his audience, each seemed to say, in the language of Desdemona,

"Would that Heaven had made me such a man."

Yet, with all this softness, it was capable of the fullest extent of rage, which he often most powerfully exemplified, in several passages of Alexander, Orestes, Othello, &c.

We are aware of Churchill's criticism in the Rosciad standing against us, where he says, "his voice comes forth like Echo from her cell." But however party might have cried up this writer as a poet and a satirist of the first order, Goldsmith had the sense and manliness to tell them what they called satires were but tawdry lampoons, whose turbulence aped the quality of force, whose frenzy that or fire. Beside, Churchill had a stronger motive than prejudice or whim: the great hero of his poem was Garrick; and as Barry was his most formidable rival, he had little scruple to sacrifice him on this occasion.

But to leave the criticisms of this literary drawcansir to that oblivion to which they seem to be rapidly hastening, let us examine the merits of Barry in some of those characters in which he was universally allowed to excel; and on this scale we must give the preference to Othello. This was the first character he ever appeared in, the first his inclination prompted him to attempt--and the first without question, that exhibited his genius in the full force and variety of its powers.

His speech to the senate was a piece of oratory worthy the attention of the critic and the senator. In the recital of his "feats of broils and battles," the courage of the soldier was seen in all the charms of gallantry and heroism; but when he came to those tender ejaculations of Desdemona,

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