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A Mortal Antipathy
by Oliver Wendell Holmes； Sr。
PREFACE。
〃A MORTAL ANTIPATHY〃 was a truly hazardous experiment。 A very wise
and very distinguished physician who is as much at home in literature
as he is in science and the practice of medicine； wrote to me in
referring to this story： 〃I should have been afraid of my subject。〃
He did not explain himself； but I can easily understand that he felt
the improbability of the； physiological or pathological occurrence on
which the story is founded to be so great that the narrative could
hardly be rendered plausible。 I felt the difficulty for myself as
well as for my readers； and it was only by recalling for our
consideration a series of extraordinary but well…authenticated facts
of somewhat similar character that I could hope to gain any serious
attention to so strange a narrative。
I need not recur to these wonderful stories。 There is； however； one；
not to be found on record elsewhere； to which I would especially call
the reader's attention。 It is that of the middle…aged man； who
assured me that he could never pass a tall hall clock without an
indefinable terror。 While an infant in arms the heavy weight of one
of these tall clocks had fallen with aloud crash and produced an
impression on his nervous system which he had never got over。
The lasting effect of a shock received by the sense of sight or that
of hearing is conceivable enough。
But there is another sense； the nerves of which are in close relation
with the higher organs of consciousness。 The strength of the
associations connected with the function of the first pair of nerves；
the olfactory； is familiar to most persons in their own experience
and as related by others。 Now we know that every human being； as
well as every other living organism； carries its own distinguishing
atmosphere。 If a man's friend does not know it； his dog does； and
can track him anywhere by it。 This personal peculiarity varies with
the age and conditions of the individual。 It may be agreeable or
otherwise； a source of attraction or repulsion； but its influence is
not less real； though far less obvious and less dominant； than in the
lower animals。 It was an atmospheric impression of this nature which
associated itself with a terrible shock experienced by the infant
which became the subject of this story。 The impression could not be
outgrown； but it might possibly be broken up by some sudden change in
the nervous system effected by a cause as potent as the one which had
produced the disordered condition。
This is the best key that I can furnish to a story which must have
puzzled some； repelled others； and failed to interest many who did
not suspect the true cause of the mysterious antipathy。
BEVERLY FARMS； MASS。； August； 1891。
O。 W。 H。
A MORTAL ANTIPATHY。
FIRST OPENING OF THE NEW PORTFOLIO。
INTRODUCTION。
〃And why the New Portfolio； I would ask？〃
Pray； do you remember； when there was an accession to the nursery in
which you have a special interest； whether the new…comer was commonly
spoken of as a baby？ Was it not； on the contrary； invariably； under
all conditions； in all companies； by the whole household； spoken of
as the baby？ And was the small receptacle provided for it commonly
spoken of as a cradle； or was it not always called the cradle； as if
there were no other in existence？
Now this New Portfolio is the cradle in which I am to rock my
new…born thoughts； and from which I am to lift them carefully and
show them to callers； namely； to the whole family of readers
belonging to my list of intimates； and such other friends as may drop
in by accident。 And so it shall have the definite article； and not
be lost in the mob of its fellows as a portfolio。
There are a few personal and incidental matters of which I wish to
say something before reaching the contents of the Portfolio； whatever
these may be。 I have had other portfolios before this；two； more
especially； and the first thing I beg leave to introduce relates to
these。
Do not throw this volume down； or turn to another page； when I tell
you that the earliest of them； that of which I now am about to speak；
was opened more than fifty years ago。 This is a very dangerous
confession； for fifty years make everything hopelessly old…fashioned；
without giving it the charm of real antiquity。 If I could say a
hundred years； now； my readers would accept all I had to tell them
with a curious interest； but fifty years ago；there are too many
talkative old people who know all about that time； and at best half a
century is a half…baked bit of ware。 A coin…fancier would say that
your fifty…year…old facts have just enough of antiquity to spot them
with rust； and not enough to give themthe delicate and durable
patina which is time's exquisite enamel。
When the first Portfolio was opened the coin of the realm bore for
its legend；or might have borne if the more devout hero…worshippers
could have had their way；Andreas Jackson； Populi Gratia； Imp。
Caesrzr。 Aug。 Div。； Max。； etc。； etc。 I never happened to see any
gold or silver with that legend； but the truth is I was not very
familiarly acquainted with the precious metals at that period of my
career； and； there might have been a good deal of such coin in
circulation without my handling it； or knowing much about it。
Permit me to indulge in a few reminiscences of that far…off time。
In those days the Athenaeum Picture Gallery was a principal centre of
attraction to young Boston people and their visitors。 Many of us got
our first ideas of art； to say nothing of our first lessons in the
comparatively innocent flirtations of our city's primitive period； in
that agreeable resort of amateurs and artists。
How the pictures on those walls in Pearl Street do keep their places
in the mind's gallery！ Trumbull's Sortie of Gibraltar； with red
enough in it for one of our sunset after…glows； and Neagle's full…
length portrait of the blacksmith in his shirt…sleeves； and Copley's
long…waistcoated gentlemen and satin…clad ladies；they looked like
gentlemen and ladies； too； and Stuart's florid merchants and high…
waisted matrons； and Allston's lovely Italian scenery and dreamy；
unimpassioned women； not forgetting Florimel in full flight on her
interminable rocking…horse；you may still see her at the Art Museum；
and the rival landscapes of Doughty and Fisher； much talked of and
largely praised in those days； and the Murillo；not from Marshal
Soup's collection； and the portrait of Annibale Caracci by himself；
which cost the Athenaeum a hundred dollars； and Cole's allegorical
pictures； and his immense and dreary canvas； in which the prostrate
shepherds and the angel in Joseph's coat of many colors look as if
they must have been thrown in for nothing； and West's brawny Lear
tearing his clothes to pieces。 But why go on with the catalogue；
when most of these pictures can be seen either at the Athenaeum
building in Beacon Street or at the Art Gallery； and admired or
criticised perhaps more justly； certainly not more generously； than
in those earlier years when we looked at them through the japanned
fish…horns？
If one happened to pass through Atkinson Street on his way to the
Athenaeum； he would notice a large； square； painted； brick house； in
which lived a leading representative of old…fashioned coleopterous
Calvinism； and from which emerged one of the liveliest of literary
butterflies。 The father was editor of the 〃Boston Recorder；〃 a very
respectable； but very far from amusing paper； most largely patronized
by that class of the community which spoke habitually of the first
day of the week as 〃the Sahbuth。〃 The son was the editor of several
different periodicals in succession； none of them over severe or
serious； and of many pleasant books； filled with lively descriptions
of society； which be studied on the outside with a quick eye for form
and color； and with a certain amount of sentiment； not very deep； but
real； though somewhat frothed over by his worldly experiences。
Nathaniel Parker Willis was in full bloom when I opened my first
Portfolio。 He had made himself known by his religious poetry；
published in his father's paper； I think； and signed 〃Roy。〃 He had
started the 〃 American Magazine；〃 afterwards merged in the New York
Mirror。〃 He had then left off writing scripture pieces； and taken to
lighter forms of verse。 He had just written
〃I'm twenty…two； I'm twenty…two；
They idly give me joy；
As if I should be glad to know
That I was less a boy。〃
He was young； therefore； and already famous。 He came very near being
very handsome。 He was tall； his hair； of light brown color； waved in
luxuriant abundance； his cheek was as rosy as if it had been painted
to show behind the footlights； he dressed