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them。 This explains the curious contemporaneousness of inventions
and discoveries。 The truth is in the air； and the most
impressionable brain will announce it first； but all will announce it
a few minutes later。 So women； as most susceptible； are the best
index of the coming hour。 So the great man； that is； the man most
imbued with the spirit of the time； is the impressionable man； of
a fibre irritable and delicate； like iodine to light。 He feels the
infinitesimal attractions。 His mind is righter than others； because
he yields to a current so feeble as can be felt only by a needle
delicately poised。
The correlation is shown in defects。 Moller； in his Essay on
Architecture； taught that the building which was fitted accurately to
answer its end； would turn out to be beautiful； though beauty had not
been intended。 I find the like unity in human structures rather
virulent and pervasive； that a crudity in the blood will appear in
the argument； a hump in the shoulder will appear in the speech and
handiwork。 If his mind could be seen； the hump would be seen。 If a
man has a seesaw in his voice； it will run into his sentences； into
his poem； into the structure of his fable； into his speculation； into
his charity。 And； as every man is hunted by his own daemon； vexed by
his own disease； this checks all his activity。
So each man； like each plant； has his parasites。 A strong；
astringent； bilious nature has more truculent enemies than the slugs
and moths that fret my leaves。 Such an one has curculios； borers；
knife…worms： a swindler ate him first； then a client； then a quack；
then smooth； plausible gentlemen； bitter and selfish as Moloch。
This correlation really existing can be divined。 If the
threads are there； thought can follow and show them。 Especially when
a soul is quick and docile； as Chaucer sings；
〃Or if the soul of proper kind
Be so perfect as men find；
That it wot what is to come；
And that he warneth all and some
Of every of their aventures；
By previsions or figures；
But that our flesh hath not might
It to understand aright
For it is warned too darkly。〃
Some people are made up of rhyme； coincidence； omen；
periodicity； and presage： they meet the person they seek； what their
companion prepares to say to them； they first say to him； and a
hundred signs apprise them of what is about to befall。
Wonderful intricacy in the web； wonderful constancy in the
design this vagabond life admits。 We wonder how the fly finds its
mate； and yet year after year we find two men； two women； without
legal or carnal tie； spend a great part of their best time within a
few feet of each other。 And the moral is； that what we seek we shall
find； what we flee from flees from us； as Goethe said； 〃what we wish
for in youth； comes in heaps on us in old age；〃 too often cursed with
the granting of our prayer： and hence the high caution； that； since
we are sure of having what we wish； we beware to ask only for high
things。
One key； one solution to the mysteries of human condition； one
solution to the old knots of fate； freedom； and foreknowledge；
exists； the propounding； namely； of the double consciousness。 A man
must ride alternately on the horses of his private and his public
nature； as the equestrians in the circus throw themselves nimbly from
horse to horse； or plant one foot on the back of one； and the other
foot on the back of the other。 So when a man is the victim of his
fate； has sciatica in his loins； and cramp in his mind； a club…foot
and a club in his wit； a sour face； and a selfish temper； a strut in
his gait； and a conceit in his affection； or is ground to powder by
the vice of his race； he is to rally on his relation to the Universe；
which his ruin benefits。 Leaving the daemon who suffers； he is to
take sides with the Deity who secures universal benefit by his pain。
To offset the drag of temperament and race； which pulls down；
learn this lesson； namely； that by the cunning copresence of two
elements； which is throughout nature； whatever lames or paralyzes
you； draws in with it the divinity； in some form； to repay。 A good
intention clothes itself with sudden power。 When a god wishes to
ride； any chip or pebble will bud and shoot out winged feet； and
serve him for a horse。
Let us build altars to the Blessed Unity which holds nature and
souls in perfect solution； and compels every atom to serve an
universal end。 I do not wonder at a snow…flake； a shell； a summer
landscape； or the glory of the stars； but at the necessity of beauty
under which the universe lies； that all is and must be pictorial；
that the rainbow； and the curve of the horizon； and the arch of the
blue vault are only results from the organism of the eye。 There is
no need for foolish amateurs to fetch me to admire a garden of
flowers； or a sun…gilt cloud； or a waterfall； when I cannot look
without seeing splendor and grace。 How idle to choose a random
sparkle here or there； when the indwelling necessity plants the rose
of beauty on the brow of chaos； and discloses the central intention
of Nature to be harmony and joy。
Let us build altars to the Beautiful Necessity。 If we thought
men were free in the sense； that； in a single exception one
fantastical will could prevail over the law of things； it were all
one as if a child's hand could pull down the sun。 If； in the least
particular； one could derange the order of nature； who would
accept the gift of life？
Let us build altars to the Beautiful Necessity； which secures
that all is made of one piece； that plaintiff and defendant； friend
and enemy； animal and planet； food and eater； are of one kind。 In
astronomy； is vast space； but no foreign system； in geology； vast
time； but the same laws as to…day。 Why should we be afraid of
Nature； which is no other than 〃philosophy and theology embodied〃？
Why should we fear to be crushed by savage elements； we who are made
up of the same elements？ Let us build to the Beautiful Necessity；
which makes man brave in believing that he cannot shun a danger that
is appointed； nor incur one that is not； to the Necessity which
rudely or softly educates him to the perception that there are no
contingencies； that Law rules throughout existence； a Law which is
not intelligent but intelligence； not personal nor impersonal；
it disdains words and passes understanding； it dissolves persons； it
vivifies nature； yet solicits the pure in heart to draw on all its
omnipotence。