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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 55

The Essayist. — Altruism

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The Essayist.

Altruism.

"The man whose eye is ever on himself Doth look on one the least of Nature's world"

Wordsworth

I read lately a conjecture of the me of this word by an enterprising but unsuccessful gentleman, to the effect that it implies "all truth," or "truism," or a platitude. To expect from every one who cannot resist displaying his ardour to rush into print the discipline of a classical education were to exact over much, yet a very slender knowledge of modern French might have poured sufficient light to save the writer from an egregious blunder. It means "care for others," sympathy with their needs, and intuitive discernment of their mental workings, &c., in combination. It is the life of the artist, the dramatist, the orator; and a tinge of it gives brilliancy to the research of the historian, when controlled and guarded by a sound judgment. St. Paul had it to an eminent degree, whether by temperament, by circumstances, or by varied experiences. He could sympathise with an opponent, mentally change places with him, and follow him in imagination through his perverted logic and gradations of error. The imaginary duel at length overweighs the apostle's sensitive nervous system, until, starting, he upbraids the phantom of his own raising with the uncourteous expression, "Thou fool !"

Such is the intellectual phase of altruism. Morally, it is the antithesis of selfishness, egotism, exclusiveness, and class legislation, &c. Combined, it forms the crowning grace of a gentleman, and no statesman if a stranger to it is worthy of the name. "The true lawgiver," says Edmund Burke, "ought to possess a heart full of sensibility."

The growth of this word has elevated and spiritualised the older word "humanity." Formerly "humanity" meant "a condescending pity, awakened by the sight of wants or sufferings from which we ourselves are exempt. But a modern can, without offence, say to a stricken friend, "I too have felt sorrow, and am drawn to you by our common humanity." The Roman slave has secured a deathless name by one line.

"Human! nihil a me alienum puto."

—"Heautontimoroumenos."

But I find a second son of genius apparently ignorant not merely of the word but of the thing. "We have," writes a critic, "heard about enough of Sir Moses Montefiore. To reach the age of 100 is not of such merit or virtue as to [unclear: elicit] these fervid eulogies." I answer, a long life certainly supposes wise and virtuous habits, accompanied by a well-balanced mind. But we [unclear: venerate] the old man for being much more than a [unclear: centenarian]; for than the practice of grand virtues, far greater a wise and prudent husbanding of vital powers. The bounty of Sir Moses has been steady and impartial, diffused and distributed among the brethren of his own loved ancestral faith, and likewise among Christians. The line of Terence might be inscribed on the tomb of the venerated altruist.

I knew two legal practitioners of opposite temperaments. (1). The one was wont to say to his clerks and pupils while getting up an important case, "Bring me such and such cases, and every one you can find that makes for our side."

"Here, sir, is a very strong, well-argued case; it claims attention."

"Take it away. It is dead against us. I want strengthening cases, not disheartening ones. Of that one I shall no doubt hear enough tomorrow."

(2). The other would say, "Bring me 4 Maule and Selwyn, Wayford and Smithers. It is very strong. Fellows will be sure to quote it There are two other cases, one in meeson and Welsby. Look them up. But no cases for me. I pretty well know them. Let me study Wayford v. Smithers, and find out how F. will work it Get all that are for the other side, the stronger the better. Let me not be surprised."

"Never underrate an opponent" Lamented Annesley Billing—a lamp too early quenched ! He should have husbanded his strength. A classical scholar and linguist, a skilful teacher, a conscientious examiner, a careful, industrious, and masterful advocate, laborious for every client, whether straitened or oputent, an invaluable judge, and in private fife an accomplished musician, let me begin the year by throwing on thy bust this wreath, not of perishing flowers, but of enduring laurel. Thou wilt long be missed; grief hath given place to desiderium Hail! and Farewell!

Property has been rightly termed the seal of civilisation, and irresistible are its claims to being duly represented. But it seems to the eye of philosophy that wealth can take care of itself, whether in or out of the House of Assembly. The despotism of the Sabbatarians falls impotent from South Yarra and Toorak, as the javelin of old Priam from the brazen shield of Pyrrhus. Dives laughs at the fourth commandment. His horses and their charioteer broil in the sun while their owner is inside church praying that his heart may be "inclined to keep the law that prohibits any manner of work of horse or servant," &c. It is only on the homeless and straitened that the restraint falls. The poor man cannot have a glass of beer or an apple. Dives, in home or club, commands the costly vintage and surveys his works of art, but by all means let the library and gallery be shut against the less opulent Legislate for the poor, for the unthrifty, for the outcast They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. Would that I could see some salutary provision for rational Sunday recreation for all classes, and even refreshments under reasonable supervision, besides throwing open the library and museum. Poverty means helplessness, sometimes despair. Surely wants, no less than possessions, claim the attention of legislators. The poor must be taught, both directly and indirectly, must be raised, must be incited to pursue their happiness by rational and enduring recreative enjoyments. Every Sunday brings with it a mournful consciousness that so many of our fellow-men page break have none save ignoble means of relieving and beguiling the weariness of life. Yet still to Dives will Mawworm cringe, while to Lazarus he exhibits nought save gloom and monotony, and bids him to "thank heaven he has a hell to go to." In Germany, I am told, Sunday-worship ends before 2; then the gardens are thronged with happy faces, cheerful strains of instrumental music, and light, wholesome refreshments. Man has need of "these things." Goethe says somewhere, "Art and religion are cognate. They humanise all that come within their swarth: they interchange their own translucency. I would gladly help to give to the poor a cheerful Sunday, but not a day of licence. All broils, assaults, ribaldry, or drunkenness committed on Sunday should be punished more severely than on a weekday. I feel persuaded that the spirit of true religion would never be tarnished or vexed; still less would be compelled to accept the demoralising aid of buffoonery and pitiable cant, made conspicuous by idiotic nonsense.

Altruism demands the enforcement of sanitary laws. For no man can disregard them without injuring his neighbours. The stinks of Melbourne render tobacco a necessary of life. The Yarra, instead of being a source of health and pleasure, is simply a reservoir of malaria. The strong, the healthy, and the opulent, no doubt, can deride these suggested precautions, but the disciples of altruism cannot rest till they are generally practised.

Altruism is sometimes the hand-maiden of justice. The late Mr. Justice Talfourd, when first advanced to the bench, surprised the public and even the junior bar by the soundness and accuracy of his legal decisions. He was never wrong. His brilliant eloquence as an advocate caused many a shrewd observer to predict (mindful of former examples) that he would be unsuccessful as a judge. But they were disappointed. He, however, could never shake off (perhaps never tried) the habit of expressing every thought in the glowing hues of a vivid imagination, and his genial temperament fostered that spirit of altruism to which I have referred as conspicuous in the writings of St Paul.

In summing up to the jury, he commenced with a lucid statement of the plaintiffs case. Gradually warming, he commented on the evidence, placing every fact as advantageously as could the most zealous advocate. Having exhausted the plaintiff's case, he would say, "Gentlemen, on the other hand, the case for the defendant is as follows." Then he would commence with similar clearness of narra-tive, and, rising into eloquence, place in a light unexpectedly favourable the views and arguments of the defendant. No one could guess the bias (if any) of the judge. The jury retired to "consider of their verdict," and to balance at their leisure the two brilliant divisions of the eloquent and exhaustive speech of the judge.

In an omnibus, sitting opposite to the foreman of a jury, I led him to talk of court and to impart his opinions, and, among others, his estimate of Mr. Justice Talfourd. "Why, sir," was his reply, "an eloquent man, sir. But he never gives us no assistance; we never knows which way he really and in his heart inclines; he states one side of a case as strongly as t'other." "Is that a fault or a virtue?" asked I. "Well, sir, I don't know. Only it gives us some trouble."

The habit of self-forgetting, and of thinking of others, caused this impartial distribution of lucid eloquence.

Talfourd was a happy man, hospitable, unselfish, and free from envy, hatred, and malice. He proved in his own person, in his life and his death, that the truly generous are the truly wise, for he who loves not others lives unblest and dies unmourned.