t what
then? Why, then, the years being all run, it also dies, and the world
is rid of it. Oh, were there not a spirit in the word of man, as in
man himself, that survived the audible bodied word, and tended either
Godward, or else Devilward for evermore, why should he trouble himself
much with the truth of it, or the falsehood of it, except for commercial
purposes? His immortality indeed, and whether it shall last half a
lifetime, or a lifetime and half; is not that a very considerable thing?
As mortality, was to the runaway, whom Great Fritz bullied back into the
battle with a: "R--, wollt ihr ewig leben, Unprintable Off-scouring of
Scoundrels, would ye live for ever!"

This is the Communication of Thought: how happy when there is any
Thought to communicate! Neither let the simpler old methods be
neglected, in their sphere. The Palais-Royal Tent, a tyrannous
Patrollotism has removed; but can it remove the lungs of man? Anaxagoras
Chaumette we saw mounted on bourne-stones, while Tallien worked
sedentary at the subeditorial desk. In any corner of the civilised
world, a tub can be inverted, and an articulate-speaking biped mount
thereon. Nay, with contrivance, a portable trestle, or folding-stool,
can be procured, for love or money; this the peripatetic Orator can take
in his hand, and, driven out here, set it up again there; saying mildly,
with a Sage Bias, Omnia mea mecum porto.

Such is Journalism, hawked, pasted, spoken. How changed since One
old Metra walked this same Tuileries Garden, in gilt cocked hat, with
Journal at his nose, or held loose-folded behind his back; and was a
notability of Paris, 'Metra the Newsman;' (Dulaure, Histoire de Paris,
viii. 483; Mercier, Nouveau Paris, &c.) and Louis himself was wont to
say: Qu'en dit Metra? Since the first Venetian News-sheet was sold for a
gazza, or farthing, and named Gazette! We live in a fertile world.

Chapter 2.1.V.

Clubbism.

Where the heart is full, it seeks, for a thousand reasons, in a thousand
ways, to impart itself. How sweet, indispensable, in such cases, is
fellowship; soul mystically strengthening soul! The meditative Germans,
some think, have been of opinion that Enthusiasm in the general means
simply excessive Congregating--Schwarmerey, or Swarming. At any rate,
do we not see glimmering half-red embers, if laid together, get into the
brightest white glow?

In such a France, gregarious Reunions will needs multiply, intensify;
French Life wi