the world i live in-海伦·凯勒自传(英文版)-第2部分

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It　is　interesting　to　observe　the　differences　in　the　hands　of　people。
They　show　all　kinds　of　vitality；　energy；　stillness；　and　cordiality。　I
never　realized　how　living　the　hand　is　until　I　saw　those　chill　plaster
images　in　Mr。　Hutton's　collection　of　casts。　The　hand　I　know　in　life　has
the　fullness　of　blood　in　its　veins；　and　is　elastic　with　spirit。　How
different　dear　Mr。　Hutton's　hand　was　from　its　dull；　insensate　image！　To
me　the　cast　lacks　the　very　form　of　the　hand。　Of　the　many　casts　in　Mr。
Hutton's　collection　I　did　not　recognize　any；　not　even　my　own。　But　a
loving　hand　I　never　forget。　I　remember　in　my　fingers　the　large　hands　of
Bishop　Brooks；　brimful　of　tenderness　and　a　strong　man's　joy。　If　you　were
deaf　and　blind；　and　could　have　held　Mr。　Jefferson's　hand；　you　would　have
seen　in　it　a　face　and　heard　a　kind　voice　unlike　any　other　you　have
known。　Mark　Twain's　hand　is　full　of　whimsies　and　the　drollest　humours；
and　while　you　hold　it　the　drollery　changes　to　sympathy　and　championship。

＇Illustration：　Copyright；　1907；　by　the　Whitman　Studio

The　Medallion

The　bas…relief　on　the　wall　is　a　portrait　of　the　Queen　Dowager　of　Spain；
which　Her　Majesty　had　made　for　Miss　Keller

To　face　page　22＇

I　am　told　that　the　words　I　have　just　written　do　not　〃describe〃　the　hands
of　my　friends；　but　merely　endow　them　with　the　kindly　human　qualities
which　I　know　they　possess；　and　which　language　conveys　in　abstract　words。
The　criticism　implies　that　I　am　not　giving　the　primary　truth　of　what　I
feel；　but　how　otherwise　do　descriptions　in　books　I　read；　written　by　men
who　can　see；　render　the　visible　look　of　a　face？　I　read　that　a　face　is
strong；　gentle；　that　it　is　full　of　patience；　of　intellect；　that　it　is
fine；　sweet；　noble；　beautiful。　Have　I　not　the　same　right　to　use　these
words　in　describing　what　I　feel　as　you　have　in　describing　what　you　see？
They　express　truly　what　I　feel　in　the　hand。　I　am　seldom　conscious　of
physical　qualities；　and　I　do　not　remember　whether　the　fingers　of　a　hand
are　short　or　long；　or　the　skin　is　moist　or　dry。　No　more　can　you；　without
conscious　effort；　recall　the　details　of　a　face；　even　when　you　have　seen
it　many　times。　If　you　do　recall　the　features；　and　say　that　an　eye　is
blue；　a　chin　sharp；　a　nose　short；　or　a　cheek　sunken；　I　fancy　that　you　do
not　succeed　well　in　giving　the　impression　of　the　person；……not　so　well
as　when　you　interpret　at　once　to　the　heart　the　essential　moral　qualities
of　the　face……its　humour；　gravity；　sadness；　spirituality。　If　I　should
tell　you　in　physical　terms　how　a　hand　feels；　you　would　be　no　wiser　for
my　account　than　a　blind　man　to　whom　you　describe　a　face　in　detail。
Remember　that　when　a　blind　man　recovers　his　sight；　he　does　not　recognize
the　monest　thing　that　has　been　familiar　to　his　touch；　the　dearest
face　intimate　to　his　fingers；　and　it　does　not　help　him　at　all　that
things　and　people　have　been　described　to　him　again　and　again。　So　you；
who　are　untrained　of　touch；　do　not　recognize　a　hand　by　the　grasp；　and
so；　too；　any　description　I　might　give　would　fail　to　make　you　acquainted
with　a　friendly　hand　which　my　fingers　have　often　folded　about；　and
which　my　affection　translates　to　my　memory。

I　cannot　describe　hands　under　any　class　or　type；　there　is　no　democracy
of　hands。　Some　hands　tell　me　that　they　do　everything　with　the　maximum　of
bustle　and　noise。　Other　hands　are　fidgety　and　unadvised；　with　nervous；
fussy　fingers　which　indicate　a　nature　sensitive　to　the　little　pricks　of
daily　life。　Sometimes　I　recognize　with　foreboding　the　kindly　but　stupid
hand　of　one　who　tells　with　many　words　news　that　is　no　news。　I　have　met　a
bishop　with　a　jocose　hand；　a　humourist　with　a　hand　of　leaden　gravity；　a
man　of　pretentious　valour　with　a　timorous　hand；　and　a　quiet；　apologetic
man　with　a　fist　of　iron。　When　I　was　a　little　girl　I　was　taken　to　see＇A＇
a　woman　who　was　blind　and　paralysed。　I　shall　never　forget　how　she　held
out　her　small；　trembling　hand　and　pressed　sympathy　into　mine。　My　eyes
fill　with　tears　as　I　think　of　her。　The　weariness；　pain；　darkness；　and
sweet　patience　were　all　to　be　felt　in　her　thin；　wasted；　groping；　loving
hand。

Few　people　who　do　not　know　me　will　understand；　I　think；　how　much　I　get
of　the　mood　of　a　friend　who　is　engaged　in　oral　conversation　with
somebody　else。　My　hand　follows　his　motions；　I　touch　his　hand；　his　arm；
his　face。　I　can　tell　when　he　is　full　of　glee　over　a　good　joke　which　has
not　been　repeated　to　me；　or　when　he　is　telling　a　lively　story。　One　of
my　friends　is　rather　aggressive；　and　his　hand　always　announces　the
ing　of　a　dispute。　By　his　impatient　jerk　I　know　he　has　argument　ready
for　some　one。　I　have　felt　him　start　as　a　sudden　recollection　or　a　new
idea　shot　through　his　mind。　I　have　felt　grief　in　his　hand。　I　have　felt
his　soul　wrap　itself　in　darkness　majestically　as　in　a　garment。　Another
friend　has　positive；　emphatic　hands　which　show　great　pertinacity　of
opinion。　She　is　the　only　person　I　know　who　emphasizes　her　spelled　words
and　accents　them　as　she　emphasizes　and　accents　her　spoken　words　when　I
read　her　lips。　I　like　this　varied　emphasis　better　than　the　monotonous
pound　of　unmodulated　people　who　hammer　their　meaning　into　my　palm。

Some　hands；　when　they　clasp　yours；　beam　and　bubble　over　with　gladness。
They　throb　and　expand　with　life。　Strangers　have　clasped　my　hand　like
that　of　a　long…lost　sister。　Other　people　shake　hands　with　me　as　if　with
the　fear　that　I　may　do　them　mischief。　Such　persons　hold　out　civil
finger…tips　which　they　permit　you　to　touch；　and　in　the　moment　of
contract　they　retreat；　and　inwardly　you　hope　that　you　will　not　be　called
upon　again　to　take　that　hand　of　〃dormouse　valour。〃　It　betokens　a　prudish
mind；　ungracious　pride；　and　not　seldom　mistrust。　It　is　the　antipode　to
the　hand　of　those　who　have　large；　lovable　natures。

The　handshake　of　some　people　makes　you　think　of　accident　and　sudden
death。　Contrast　this　ill…boding　hand　with　the　quick；　skilful；　quiet　hand
of　a　nurse　whom　I　remember　with　affection　because　she　took　the　best
care　of　my　teacher。　I　have　clasped　the　hands　of　some　rich　people　that
spin　not　and　toil　not；　and　yet　are　not　beautiful。　Beneath　their　soft；
smooth　roundness　what　a　chaos　of　undeveloped　character！

I　am　sure　there　is　no　hand　parable　to　the　physician's　in　patient
skill；　merciful　gentleness　and　splendid　certainty。　No　wonder　that　Ruskin
finds　in　the　sure　strokes　of　the　surgeon　the　perfection　of　control　and
delicate　precision　for　the　artist　to　emulate。　If　the　physician　is　a　man
of　great　nature；　there　will　be　healing　for　the　spirit　in　his　touch。　This
magic　touch　of　well…being　was　in　the　hand　of　a　dear　friend　of　mine　who
was　our　doctor　in　sickness　and　health。　His　happy　cordial　spirit　did　his
patients　good　whether　they　needed　medicine　or　not。

As　there　are　many　beauties　of　the　face；　so　the　beauties　of　the　hand　are
many。　Touch　has　its　ecstasies。　The　hands　of　people　of　strong
individuality　and　sensitiveness　are　wonderfully　mobile。　In　a　glance　of
their　finger…tips　they　express　many　shades　of　thought。　Now　and　again　I
touch　a　fine；　graceful；　supple…wristed　hand　which　spells　with　the　same
beauty　and　distinction　that　you　must　see　in　the　handwriting　of　some
highly　cultivated　people。　I　wish　you　could　see　how　prettily　little
children　spell　in　my　hand。　They　are　wild　flowers　of　humanity；　and　their
finger　motions　wild　flowers　of　speech。

All　this　is　my　private　science　of　palmistry；　and　when　I　tell　your
fortune　it　is　by　no　mysterious　intuition　or　gipsy　witchcraft；　but　by
natural；　explicable　recognition　of　the　embossed　character　in　your　hand。
Not　only　is　the　hand　as　easy　to　recognize　as　the　face；　but　it　reveals
its　secrets　more　openly　and　unconsciously。　People　control　their
countenances；　but　the　hand　is　under　no　such　restraint。　It　relaxes　and
bees　listless　when　the　spirit　is　low　and　dejected；　the　muscles
tighten　when　the　mind　is　excited　or　the　heart　glad；　and　permanent
qualities　stand　written　on　it　all　the　time。

FOOTNOTE：

＇A＇　The　excellent　proof…reader　has　put　a　query　to　my　use　of　the　word
〃see。〃　If　I　had　said　〃visit；〃　he　would　have　asked　no　questions；　yet　what
does　〃visit〃　mean　but　〃see〃　（_visitare_）？　Later　I　will　try　to　defend
myself　for　using　as　much　of　the　English　language　as　I　have　succeeded　in
learning。




THE　HAND　OF　THE　RACE




III

THE　HAND　OF　THE　RACE


LOOK　in　your　〃Century　Dictionary；〃　or　if　you　are　blind；　ask　your　teacher
to　do　it　for　you；　and　learn　how　many　idioms　are　made　on　the　idea　of
hand；　and　how　many　words　are　formed　from　the　Latin　root　_manus_……enough
words　to　name　all　the　essential　affairs　of　life。　〃Hand；〃　with　quotations
and　pounds；　occupies　twenty…four　columns；　eight　pages　of　this
dictionary。　The　hand　is　defined　as　〃the　organ　of　apprehension。〃　How
perfectly　the　definition　fits　my　case　in　both　senses　of　the　word
〃apprehend〃！　With　my　hand　I　seize　and　hold　all　that　I　find　in　the　three
worlds……physical；　intellectual；　and　spiritual。

Think　how　man　has　regarded　the　world　in　terms　of　the　hand。　All　life　is
divided　between　what　lies　_on　one　hand_　and　on　the　other。　The　products
of　skill　are　_manu_factures。　The　conduct　of　affairs　is　_man_agement。
History　seems　to　be　the　record……alas　for　our　chronicles　of　war！……of　the
_man_oeuvres　of　armies。　But　the　history　of　peace；　too；　the　narrative　of
labour　in　the　field；　the　forest；　and　the　vineyard；　is　written　in　the
victorious　sign　_manual_……the　sign　of　the　hand　that　has　conquered　the
wilderness。　The　labourer　himself　is　called　a　_hand_。　In　_man_acle　and
_manu_mission　we　read　the　story　of　human　slavery　and　freedom。

The　minor　idioms　are　myriad；　but　I　will　not　recall　too　many；　lest　you
cry；　〃Hands　off！〃　I　cannot　desist；　however；　from　this　word…game　until　I
have　set　down　a　few。　Whatever　is　not　one's　own　by　first　possession　is
_second…hand_。　That　is　what　I　am　told　my　knowledge　is。　But　my
well…meaning　friends　e　to　my　defence；　and；　not　content　with　endowing
me　with　natural　_first…hand_　knowledge　which　is　rightfully　mine；　ascribe
to　me　a　preternatural　sixth　sense　and　credit　to　miracles　and　heaven…sent
pensations　all　that　I　have　won　and　discovered　with　my　good　right
hand。　And　with　my　left　hand　too；　for　with　that　I　read；　and　it　is　as　true
and　honourable　as　the　other。　By　what　half…development　of　human　power　has
the　left　hand　been　neglected？　When　we　arrive　at　the　acme　of　civilization
shall　we　not　all　be　ambidextrous；　and　in　our　_hand…to…hand_　contests
against　difficulties　shall　we　not　be　doubly　triumphant？　It　occurs　to　me；
by　the　way；　that　when　my　teacher　was　training　my　unreclaimed　spirit；　her
struggle　against　the　powers　of　darkness；　with　the　stout　arm　of
discipline　and　the　light　of　the　manual　alphabet；　was　in　two　senses　a
hand…to…hand　conflict。

No　essay　would　be　plete　　Shakspere。　In　the
field　which；　in　the　presumption　of　my　youth；　I　thought　was　my　own　he　has
reaped　before　me。　In　almost　every　play　there　are　passages　where　the　hand
plays　a　part。　Lady　Macbeth's　heart…broken　soliloquy　over　her　little
hand；　from　which　all　the　perfumes　of　Arabia　will　not　wash　the　stain；　is
the　most　pitiful　moment　in　the　tragedy。　Mark　Antony　rewards　Scarus；　the
bravest　of　his　soldiers；　by　asking　Cleopatra　to　give　him　her　hand：
〃mend　unto　his　lips　thy　favouring　hand。〃　In　a　different　mood　he　is
enraged　because　Thyreus；　whom　he　despises；　has　presumed　to　kiss　the　hand
of　the　queen；　〃my　playfellow；　the　kingly　seal　of　high　hearts。〃　When
Cleopatra　is　threatened　with　the　humiliation　of　gracing　Caesar's　triumph；
she　snatches　a　dagger；　exclaiming；　〃I　will　trust　my　resolution　and　my
good　hands。〃　With　the　same　swift　instinct；　Cassius　trusts　to　his　hands
when　he　stabs　Caesar：　〃Speak；　hands；　for　me！〃　〃Let　me　kiss　your　hand；〃
says　the　blind　Gloster　to　Lear。　〃Let　me　wipe　it　first；〃　replies　the
broken　old　king；　〃it　smells　of　mortality。〃　How　charged　is　this　single
touch　with　sad　meaning！　How　it　opens　our　eyes　to　the　fearful　purging
Lear　has　undergone；　to　learn　that　royalty　is　no　defence　against
ingratitude　and　cruelty！　Gloster's　exclamation　about　his　son；　〃Did　I　but
live　to　see　thee　in　my　touch；　I'd　say　I　had　eyes　again；〃　is　as　true　to　a
pulse　within　me　as　the　grief　he　feels。　The　ghost　in　〃Hamlet〃　recites　the
wrongs　from　which　springs　the　tragedy：

　　　　　　　　　　Thus　was　I；　sleeping；　by　a　brother's　hand。
　　　　　　　　　　At　once　of　life；　of　crown；　of　queen　dispatch'd。

How　that　passage　in　〃Othello〃　stops　your　breath……that　passage　full　of
bitter　double　intention　in　which　Othello's　suspicion　tips　with　evil　what
he　says　about　Desdemona's　hand；　and　she　in　innocence　answers　only　the
innocent　meaning　of　his　words：　〃For　'twas　that　hand　that　gave　away　my
heart。〃

Not　all　Shakspere's　great　passages　about　the　hand　are　tragic。　Remember
the　light　play　of　words　in　〃Romeo　and　Juliet〃　where　the　dialogue；　flying
nimbly　back　and　forth；　weaves　a　pretty　son　about　the　hand。　And　who
knows　the　hand；　if　not　the　lover？

The　touch　of　the　hand　is　in　every　chapter　of　the　Bible。　Why；　you　could
almost　rewrite　Exodus　as　the　story　of　the　hand。　Everything　is　done　by
the　hand　of　the　Lord　and　of　Moses。　The　oppression　of　the　Hebrews　is
translated　thus：　〃The　hand　of　Pharaoh　was　heavy　upon　the　Hebrews。〃　Their
departure　out　of　the　land　is　told　in　these　vivid　words：　〃The　Lord
brought　the　children　of　Israel　out　of　the　house　of　bondage　with　a　strong
hand　and　a　stretched…out　arm。〃　At　the　stretching　out　of　the　hand　of
Moses　the　waters　of　the　Red　Sea　part　and　stand　all　on　a　heap。　When　the
Lord　lifts　his　hand　in　anger；　thousands　perish　in　the　wilderness。　Every
act；　every　decree　in　the　history　of　Israel；　as　indeed　in　the　history　of
the　human　race；　is　sanctioned　by　the　hand。　Is　it　not　used　in　the　great
moments　of　swearing；　blessing；　cursing；　smiting；　agreeing；　marrying；
building；　destroying？　Its　sacredness　is　in　the　law　that　no　sacrifice　is
valid　unless　the　sacrificer　lay　his　hand　upon　the　head　of　the　victim。
The　congregation　lay　their　hands　on　the　heads　of　those　who　are　sentenced
to　death。　How　terrible　the　dumb　condemnation　of　their　hands　must　be　to
the　condemned！　When　Moses　builds　the　altar　on　Mount　Sinai；　he　is
manded　to　use　no　tool；　but　rear　it　with　his　own　hands。　Earth；　sea；
sky；　man；　and　all　lower　animals　are　holy　unto　the　Lord　because　he　has
formed　them　with　his　hand。　When　the　Psalmist　considers　the　heavens　and
the　earth；　he　exclaims：　〃What　is　man；　O　Lord；　that　thou　art　mindful　of
him？　For　thou　hast　made　him　to　have　dominion　over　the　works　of　thy
hands。〃　The　supplicating　gesture　of　the　hand　always　acpanies　the
spoken　prayer；　and　with　clean　hands　goes　the　pure　heart。

Christ　forted　and　blessed　and　healed　and　wrought　many　miracles　with
his　hands。　He　touched　the　eyes　of　the　blind；　and　they　were　opened。　When
Jairus　sought　him；　overwhelmed　with　grief；　Jesus　went　and　laid　his　hands
on　the　ruler's　daughter；　and　she　awoke　from　the　sleep　of　death　to　her
father's　love。　You　also　remember　how　he　healed　the　crooked　woman。　He
said　to　her；　〃Woman；　thou　art　loosed　from　thine　infirmity；〃　and　he　laid
his　hands　on　her；　and　immediately　she　was　made　straight；　and　she
glorified　God。

Look　where　we　will；　we　find　the　hand　in　time　and　history；　working；
building；　inventing；　bringing　civilization　out　of　barbarism。　The　hand
symbolizes　power　and　the　excellence　of　work。　The　mechanic's　hand；　that
minister　of　elemental　forces；　the　hand　that　hews；　saws；　cuts；　builds；　is