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visionary； in comparison with a classification founded on truth；
that all talk about the matter is immediately a common place。
Yet the longer I reflect the less am I satisfied with the idea of
forming a separate class of mankind on the basis of high
intellectual power。 At best it is but a higher development of
innate gifts common to all。 Perhaps； moreover； he whose genius
appears deepest and truest excels his fellows in nothing save the
knack of expression； he throws out occasionally a lucky hint at
truths of which every human soul is profoundly； though
unutterably； conscious。 Therefore； though we suffer the
brotherhood of intellect to march onward together； it may be
doubted whether their peculiar relation will not begin to vanish
as soon as the procession shall have passed beyond the circle of
this present world。 But we do not classify for eternity。
And next； let the trumpet pour forth a funereal wail； and the
herald's voice give breath in one vast cry to all the groans and
grievous utterances that are audible throughout the earth。 We
appeal now to the sacred bond of sorrow； and summon the great
multitude who labor under similar afflictions to take their
places in the march。
How many a heart that would have been insensible to any other
call has responded to the doleful accents of that voice！ It has
gone far and wide； and high and low； and left scarcely a mortal
roof unvisited。 Indeed； the principle is only too universal for
our purpose； and； unless we limit it； will quite break up our
classification of mankind； and convert the whole procession into
a funeral train。 We will therefore be at some pains to
discriminate。 Here comes a lonely rich man： he has built a noble
fabric for his dwelling…house； with a front of stately
architecture and marble floors and doors of precious woods； the
whole structure is as beautiful as a dream and as substantial as
the native rock。 But the visionary shapes of a long posterity；
for whose home this mansion was intended； have faded into
nothingness since the death of the founder's only son。 The rich
man gives a glance at his sable garb in one of the splendid
mirrors of his drawing…room； and descending a flight of lofty
steps instinctively offers his arm to yonder poverty stricken
widow in the rusty black bonnet； and with a check apron over her
patched gown。 The sailor boy； who was her sole earthly stay； was
washed overboard in a late tempest。 This couple from the palace
and the almshouse are but the types of thousands more who
represent the dark tragedy of life and seldom quarrel for the
upper parts。 Grief is such a leveller； with its own dignity and
its own humility； that the noble and the peasant； the beggar and
the monarch； will waive their pretensions to external rank
without the officiousness of interference on our part。 If
pridethe influence of the world's false distinctionsremain in
the heart； then sorrow lacks the earnestness which makes it holy
and reverend。 It loses its reality and becomes a miserable
shadow。 On this ground we have an opportunity to assign over
multitudes who would willingly claim places here to other parts
of the procession。 If the mourner have anything dearer than his
grief he must seek his true position elsewhere。 There are so many
unsubstantial sorrows which the necessity of our mortal state
begets on idleness； that an observer； casting aside sentiment； is
sometimes led to question whether there be any real woe； except
absolute physical suffering and the loss of closest friends。 A
crowd who exhibit what they deem to be broken heartsand among
them many lovelorn maids and bachelors； and men of disappointed
ambition in arts or politics； and the poor who were once rich； or
who have sought to be rich in vainthe great majority of these
may ask admittance into some other fraternity。 There is no room
here。 Perhaps we may institute a separate class where such
unfortunates will naturally fall into the procession。 Meanwhile
let them stand aside and patiently await their time。
If our trumpeter can borrow a note from the doomsday trumpet
blast； let him sound it now。 The dread alarum should make the
earth quake to its centre； for the herald is about to address
mankind with a summons to which even the purest mortal may be
sensible of some faint responding echo in his breast。 In many
bosoms it will awaken a still small voice more terrible than its
own reverberating uproar。
The hideous appeal has swept around the globe。 Come； all ye
guilty ones； and rank yourselves in accordance with the
brotherhood of crime。 This； indeed； is an awful summons。 I almost
tremble to look at the strange partnerships that begin to be
formed； reluctantly； but by the in vincible necessity of like to
like in this part of the procession。 A forger from the state
prison seizes the arm of a distinguished financier。 How
indignantly does the latter plead his fair reputation upon
'Change； and insist that his operations； by their magnificence of
scope； were removed into quite another sphere of morality than
those of his pitiful companion！ But let him cut the connection if
he can。 Here comes a murderer with his clanking chains； and pairs
himselfhorrible to tellwith as pure and upright a man； in all
observable respects； as ever partook of the consecrated bread and
wine。 He is one of those； perchance the most hopeless of all
sinners； who practise such an exemplary system of outward duties；
that even a deadly crime may be hidden from their own sight and
remembrance； under this unreal frostwork。 Yet he now finds his
place。 Why do that pair of flaunting girls； with the pert；
affected laugh and the sly leer at the by…standers； intrude
themselves into the same rank with yonder decorous matron； and
that somewhat prudish maiden？ Surely these poor creatures； born
to vice as their sole and natural inheritance； can be no fit
associates for women who have been guarded round about by all the
proprieties of domestic life； and who could not err unless they
first created the opportunity。 Oh no； it must be merely the
impertinence of those unblushing hussies； and we can only wonder
how such respectable ladies should have responded to a summons
that was not meant for them。
We shall make short work of this miserable class； each member of
which is entitled to grasp any other member's hand； by that vile
degradation wherein guilty error has buried all alike。 The foul
fiend to whom it properly belongs must relieve us of our
loathsome task。 Let the bond servants of sin pass on。 But neither
man nor woman； in whom good predominates； will smile or sneer；
nor bid the Rogues' March be played； in derision of their array。
Feeling within their breasts a shuddering sympathy； which at
least gives token of the sin that might have been； they will
thank God for any place in the grand procession of human
existence； save among those most wretched ones。 Many； however；
will be astonished at the fatal impulse that drags them
thitherward。 Nothing is more remarkable than the various
deceptions by which guilt conceals itself from the perpetrator's
conscience； and oftenest； perhaps； by the splendor of its
garments。 Statesmen； rulers； generals； and all men who act over
an extensive sphere； are most liable to be deluded in this way；
they commit wrong； devastation； and murder； on so grand a scale；
that it impresses them as speculative rather than actual； but in
our procession we find them linked in detestable conjunction with
the meanest criminals whose deeds have the vulgarity of petty
details。 Here the effect of circumstance and accident is done
away； and a man finds his rank according to the spirit of his
crime； in whatever shape it may have been developed。
We have called the Evil； now let us call the Good。 The trumpet's
brazen throat should pour heavenly music over the earth； and the
herald's voice go forth with the sweetness of an angel's accents；
as if to summon each upright man to his reward。 But how is this？
Does none answer to the call？ Not one： for the just； the pure；
the true； and an who might most worthily obey it； shrink sadly
back； as most conscious of error and imperfection。 Then let the
summons be to those whose pervading principle is Love。 This
classification will embrace all the truly good； and none in whose
souls there exists not something that may expand itself into a
heaven； both of well…doing and felicity。
The first that presents himself is a man of wealth； who has
bequeathed the bulk of his property to a hospital； his ghost；
methinks； would have a better right here than his living body。
But here they come； the genuine benefactors of their race。 Some
have wandered about the earth with pictures of bliss in their
imagination； and with hearts that shrank sensitively from the
idea of pain and woe； yet have studied all varieties of misery
that human nature can endure。 The prison； the insane asylum； the
s