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And because the editors of the present volumes found added to 〃The
Mystery〃 not only a 〃Solution〃 but an 〃Application〃 of worldly
wisdom； and a 〃Contrast〃 in Sterne's best vein of quiet happiness
they have felt emboldened to ascribe the passage 〃A Mystery with a
Moral。〃
As regards the 〃Application〃： Sterne knew whereof he wrote。 He
sought the South of France for health in 1762； and was run after
and feted by the most brilliant circles of Parisian litterateurs。
This foreign sojourn failed to cure his lung complaint； but
suggested the idea to him of the rambling and charming 〃Sentimental
Journey。〃 Only three weeks after its publication； on March 18；
1768； Sterne died alone in his London lodgings。
Spite of all that marred his genius； his work has lived and wil1
live； if only for the exquisite literary art which ever made great
things out of little。The EDITOR。
Laurence Sterne
A Mystery with a Moral
Parisian Experience of Parson Yorick； on his 〃Sentimental Journey〃
A RIDDLE
I remained at the gate of the hotel for some time； looking at
everyone who passed by； and forming conjectures upon them； till my
attention got fixed upon a single object； which confounded all kind
of reasoning upon him。
It was a tall figure of a philosophic； serious adult look； which
passed and repassed sedately along the street； making a turn of
about sixty paces on each side of the gate of the hotel。 The man
was about fifty…two； had a small cane under his arm； was dressed in
a dark drab…colored coat； waistcoat； and breeches； which seemed to
have seen some years' service。 They were still clean； and there
was a little air of frugal propriete throughout him。 By his
pulling off his hat； and his attitude of accosting a good many in
his way； I saw he was asking charity； so I got a sous or two out of
my pocket； ready to give him as he took me in his turn。 He passed
by me without asking anything； and yet he did not go five steps
farther before he asked charity of a little woman。 I was much more
likely to have given of the two。 He had scarce done with the
woman； when he pulled his hat off to another who was coming the
same way。 An ancient gentleman came slowly； and after him a young
smart one。 He let them both pass and asked nothing。 I stood
observing him half an hour； in which time he had made a dozen turns
backward and forward； and found that he invariably pursued the same
plan。
There were two things very singular in this which set my brain to
work； and to no purpose； the first was； why the man should only
tell his story to the sex； and secondly； what kind of a story it
was and what species of eloquence it could be which softened the
hearts of the women which he knew it was to no purpose to practice
upon the men。
There were two other circumstances which entangled this mystery。
The one was； he told every woman what he had to say in her ear； and
in a way which had much more the air of a secret than a petition；
the other was； it was always successfulhe never stopped a woman
but she pulled out her purse and immediately gave him something。
I could form no system to explain the phenomenon。
I had got a riddle to amuse me for the rest of the evening； so I
walked upstairs to my chamber。
OVERHEARD
The man who either disdains or fears to walk up a dark entry may be
an excellent； good man； and fit for a hundred things； but he will
not do to make a sentimental traveler。 I count little of the many
things I see pass at broad noonday； in large and open streets；
Nature is shy； and hates to act before spectators； but in such an
unobservable corner you sometimes see a single short scene of hers
worth all the sentiments of a dozen French plays compounded
together； and yet they are ABSOLUTELY fine； and whenever I have a
more brilliant affair upon my hands than common； as they suit a
preacher just as well as a hero； I generally make my sermon out of
them； and for the text； 〃Cappadocia； Pontus and Asia； Phrygia and
Pamphilia；〃 is as good as anyone in the Bible。
There is a long； dark passage issuing out from the Opera Comique
into a narrow street。 It is trod by a few who humbly wait for a
fiacre* or wish to get off quietly o' foot when the opera is done。
At the end of it； toward the theater； 'tis lighted by a small
candle； the light of which is almost lost before you get halfway
down； but near the doorit is more for ornament than useyou see
it as a fixed star of the least magnitude； it burns； but does
little good to the world that we know of。
*Hackney coach。
In returning ＇from the opera＇ along this passage； I discerned； as I
approached within five or six paces of the door； two ladies
standing arm in arm with their backs against the wall； waiting； as
I imagined； for a fiacre。 As they were next the door； I thought
they had a prior right； so I edged myself up within a yard or
little more of them； and quietly took my stand。 I was in black and
scarce seen。
The lady next me was a tall； lean figure of a woman of about
thirty…six； the other； of the same size and make of about forty。
There was no mark of wife or widow in any one part of either of
them。 They seemed to be two upright vestal sisters； unsapped by
caresses； unbroke in upon by tender salutations。 I could have
wished to have made them happy。 Their happiness was destined； that
night； to come from another quarter。
A low voice with a good turn of expression and sweet cadence at the
end of it； begged for a twelve…sous piece between them for the love
of heaven。 I thought it singular that a beggar should fix the
quota of an alms； and that the sum should be twelve times as much
as what is usually given in the dark。 They both seemed astonished
at it as much as myself。 〃Twelve sous；〃 said one。 〃A twelve…sous
piece；〃 said the other； and made no reply。
The poor man said he knew not how to ask less of ladies of their
rank； and bowed down his head to the ground。
〃Pooh！〃 said they； 〃we have no money。〃
The beggar remained silent for a moment or two； and renewed his
supplication。
〃Do not； my fair young ladies；〃 said he； 〃stop your good ears
against me。〃
〃Upon my word； honest man；〃 said the younger； 〃we have no change。〃
〃Then God bless you；〃 said the poor man； 〃and multiply those joys
which you can give to others without change。〃
I observed the older sister put her hand into her pocket。 〃I will
see；〃 said she； 〃if I have a sous。〃
〃A sous！ Give twelve；〃 said the suppliant。 〃Nature has been
bountiful to you； be bountiful to a poor man。〃
〃I would； friend； with all my heart；〃 said the younger； 〃if I had
it。〃
〃My fair charitable；〃 said he； addressing himself to the elder；
〃what is it but your goodness and humanity which make your bright
eyes so sweet that they outshine the morning even in this dark
passage？ And what was it which made the Marquis de Santerre and
his brother say so much of you both； as they just passed by？〃
The two ladies seemed much affected； and impulsively at the same
time they put their hands into their pockets and each took out a
twelve…sous piece。
The contest between them and the poor suppliant was no more。 It
was continued between themselves which of the two should give the
twelve…sous piece in charity； and； to end the dispute； they both
gave it together； and the man went away。
SOLUTION
I stepped hastily after him； it was the very man whose success in
asking charity of the woman before the door of the hotel had so
puzzled me； and I found at once his secret； or at least the basis
of it： it was flattery。
Delicious essence！ how refreshing art thou to Nature！ How strongly
are all its powers and all its weaknesses on thy side！ How sweetly
dost thou mix with the blood； and help it through the most
difficult and tortuous passages to the heart！
The poor man； as he was not straitened for time； had given it here
in a larger dose。 It is certain he had a way of bringing it into
less form for the many sudden causes he had to do with in the
streets； but how he contrived to correct； sweeten； concenter； and
qualify itI vex not my spirit with the inquiry。 It is enough；
the beggar gained two twelve…sous pieces； and they can best tell
the rest who have gained much greater matters by it。
APPLICATION
We get forward in the world not so much by doing services as
receiving them。 You take a withering twig and put it in the
ground； and then you water it because you have planted it。
Monsieur le Comte de B； merely because he had done me one
kindness in the affair of my passport； would go on and do me
another the few days he was at Paris； in making me known to a few
people of rank； and they were to present me to others； and so on。
I had got master of my SECRET just in time to turn these honors