BOOKII
TherewereremarkablethingsaboutthestrangercalledtheMan——Mystery-
thingssoveryextraordinarythattheymonopolizedattentionandmadeallofhimseemextraordinary；butthiswasnotso，themostofhisqualitiesbeingofthecommon，every-daysizeandlikeanybodyelse's。Itwascurious。Hewasoftheordinarystature，andhadtheordinaryaspects；
yetinhimwerehiddensuchstrangecontradictionsanddisproportions！
Hewasmajesticallyfearlessandheroic；hehadthestrengthofthirtymenandthedaringofthirtythousand；handlingarmies，organizingstates，administeringgovernments——thesewerepastimestohim；hepubliclyandostentatiouslyacceptedthehumanraceatitsownvaluation——
asdemigods——andprivatelyandsuccessfullydealtwithitatquiteanotherandjustervaluation——aschildrenandslaves；hisambitionswerestupendous，andhisdreamshadnocommercewiththehumbleplain，butmovedwiththecloud-rackamongthesnow-summits。Thesefeaturesofhimwere，indeed，extraordinary，buttherestofhimwasordinaryandusual。
Hewassomean-minded，inthematterofjealousy，thatitwasthoughthewasdescendedfromagod；hewasvaininlittleways，andhadaprideintrivialities；hedotedonballadsaboutmoonshineandbruisedhearts；ineducationhewasdeficient，hewasindifferenttoliterature，andknewnothingofart；hewasdumbuponallsubjectsbutone，indifferenttoallexceptthatone——theNebularTheory。Uponthatonehisflowofwordswasfullandfree，hewasageyser。Theofficialastronomersdisputedhisfactsanddeededhisviews，andsaidthathehadinventedboth，theynotbeingfindableinanyofthebooks。Butmanyofthelaity，whowantedtheirnebulositiesfresh，admiredhisdoctrineandadoptedit，anditattainedtogreatprosperityinspiteofthehostilityoftheexperts。"——
TheLegendoftheMan-Mystery，ch。i。
CHAPTERI
JANUARY，1903。Whenwedonotknowapublicmanpersonally，weguesshimoutbythefactsofhiscareer。WhenitisWashington，weallarriveataboutoneandthesameresult。Weagreethathiswordsandhisactsclearlyinterprethischaractertous，andthattheyneverleaveusindoubtastothemotiveswhencethewordsandactsproceeded。ItisthesamewithJoanofArc，itisthesamewithtwoorthreeorfiveorsixothersamongtheimmortals。ButinthematterofmotivesandofafewdetailsofcharacterweagreetodisagreeuponNapoleon，Cromwell，andalltherest；andtothislistwemustaddMrs。Eddy。Ithinkwecanpeacefullyagreeastotwoorthreeextraordinaryfeaturesofhermake-
up，butnotupontheotherfeaturesofit。Wecannotpeacefullyagreeastohermotives，thereforehercharactermustremaincrookedtosomeofusandstraighttotheothers。
Nomatter，sheisinterestingenoughwithoutanamicableagreement。Inseveralwayssheisthemostinterestingwomanthateverlived，andthemostextraordinary。Thesamemaybesaidofhercareer，andthesamemaybesaidofitschiefresult。Shestartedfromnothing。HerenemieschargethatshesurreptitiouslytookfromQuimbyapeculiarsystemofhealingwhichwasmind-curewithaBiblicalbasis。Sheandherfriendsdenythatshetookanythingfromhim。Thisisamatterwhichwecandiscussby-and-by。Whethershetookitorinventedit，itwas——
materially——asawdustminewhenshegotit，andshehasturneditintoaKlondike；itsspiritualdockhadnexttonocustom，ifanyatall：fromitshehaslaunchedaworld-religionwhichhasnowsixhundredandsixty-
threechurches，andshechartersanewoneeveryfourdays。Whenwedonotknowaperson——andalsowhenwedo——wehavetojudgehissizebythesizeandnatureofhisachievements，ascomparedwiththeachievementsofothersinhisspeciallineofbusiness——thereisnootherway。Measuredbythisstandard，itisthirteenhundredyearssincetheworldhasproducedanyonewhocouldreachuptoMrs。Eddy'swaistbelt。
Figurativelyspeaking，Mrs。EddyisalreadyastallastheEiffeltower。
Sheisaddingsurprisinglytoherstatureeveryday。Itisquitewithintheprobabilitiesthatacenturyhenceshewillbethemostimposingfigurethathascastitsshadowacrosstheglobesincetheinaugurationofourera。Igrantthataftersayingthesestrongthings，itisnecessarythatIoffersomedetailscalculatedtosatisfactorilydemonstratetheproportionswhichIhaveclaimedforher。Iwilldothatpresently；butbeforeexhibitingthematuredsequoiagigantea，Ibelieveitwillbebesttoexhibitthesproutfromwhichitsprang。Itmaysavethereaderfrommakingmiscalculations。ThepersonwhoimaginesthataBigTreesproutisbiggerthanotherkindsofsproutsisquitemistaken。
Itistheordinarything；itmakesnoshow，itcompelsnonotice，ithasn'tadetectiblequalityinitthatentitlesittoattention，orsuggeststhefuturegiantitssapissuckling。ThatisthekindofsproutMrs。Eddywas。
Fromherchildhooddaysuptowhereshewasrunningahalf-centuryacloseraceandgainingonit，shewasmosthumanlycommonplace。
SheisthewitnessIamdrawingthisfrom。Shehasrevealeditinherautobiographynotintentionally，ofcourse——Iamnotclaimingthat。Anautobiographyisthemosttreacherousthingthereis。Itletsouteverysecretitsauthoristryingtokeep；itletsthetruthshineunobstructedthrougheveryharmlesslittledeceptionhetriestoplay；itpitilesslyexposeshimasatinheroworshippinghimselfasBigMetaleverytimehetriestodothemodest-unconsciousnessactbeforethereader。Thisisnotguessing；Iamspeakingfromautobiographicalpersonalexperience；I
wasneverabletorefrainfrommentioning，withastudiedcasualnessthatcoulddeceivenonebutthemostincautiousreader，thatanancestorofminewassentambassadortoSpainbyCharlesI。，northatinaremotebranchofmyfamilythereexistsaclaimanttoanearldom，northatanuncleofmineusedtoownadogthatwasdescendedfromthedogthatwasintheArk；andatthesametimeIwasneverabletopersuademyselftocallagibbetbyitsrightnamewhenaccountingforotherancestorsofmine，butalwaysspokeofitasthe"platform"——puerilelyintimatingthattheywereoutlecturingwhenithappened。
ItisMrs。Eddyoveragain。Asregardsherminorhalf，sheisascommonplaceastherestofus。Vainoftrivialthingsallthefirsthalfofherlife，andstillvainofthematseventyandrecordingthemwithnaivesatisfaction——evenrescuingsomeearlyrhymesofhersofthesortthatweallscribbleintheinnocentdaysofouryouth——rescuingthemandprintingthemwithoutpityorapology，justastheweakestandcommonestofusdoinourgrayage。More——shestillfranklyadmiresthem；andinherintroductionofthemprofanelyconfersuponthemtheholynameof"poetry。"Sample：
"AndlaudthelandwhosetalentsrockThecradleofherpower，AndwreathsaretwinedroundPlymouthRockFromerudition'sbower。"
"Minerva'ssilversandalsstillAreloosedandnoteffete。"
Younoteitisnotashadeabovethethingwhichallhumanbeingschurnoutintheiryouth。
Youwouldnotthinkthatinalittleweeprimer——forthatiswhattheAutobiographyis——apersonwithatumultuouscareerofseventyyearsbehindhercouldfindroomfortwoorthreepagesofpaddingofthiskind，butsuchisthecase。Sheevidentlyputsnarrativetogetherwithdifficultyandisnotathomeinit，andisgladtohavesomethingready-
madetofillinwith。Anothersample：
"Herefame-honoredHickoryrearshisboldform，Andbearsabravebreasttothelightningandstorm，WhilePalm，Bay，andLaurelinclassicalglee，ChaseTulip，Magnolia，andfragrantFringe-tree。"
Vivid？Youcanfairlyseethosetreesgallopingaround。Thatshecouldstilltreasureup，andprint，andmanifestlyadmirethosePoems，indicatesthatthemostdaringandmasculineandmasterfulwomanthathasappearedintheearthincenturieshasthesamesoft，girly-girlyplacesinherthattherestofushave。
Whenitcomestoselectingherancestorssheisstillhuman，natural，vain，commonplace——ascommonplaceasIammyselfwhenIamsortingancestorsformyautobiography。ShecombsoutsomecreditableScots，andlabelsthemandsetsthemasideforuse，notoverlookingtheonetowhomSirWilliamWallacegave"aheavyswordencasedinabrassscabbard，"andnaivelyexplainingwhichSirWilliamWallaceitwas，lestwegetthewrongonebythehassock；thisistheone"fromwhosepatriotismandbraverycomesthatheart-stirringair，'Scotswhahaewi'Wallacebled。'"
HannahMorewasrelatedtoherancestors。SheexplainswhoHannahMorewas。
WheneverapersoninformsuswhoSirWilliamWallacewas，orwhowrote"Hamlet，"orwheretheDeclarationofIndependencewasfought，itfillsuswithasuspicionwellnighamountingtoconviction，thatthatpersonwouldnotsuspectusofbeingsoemptyofknowledgeifhewasn'tsufferingfromthesame"claim"himself。Thenweturntopage20oftheAutobiographyandhappenuponthispassage，andthathastysuspicionstandsrebuked：
"Igainedbook-knowledgewithfarlesslaborthanisusuallyrequisite。
AttenyearsofageIwasasfamiliarwithLindleyMurray'sGrammaraswiththeWestminsterCatechism；andthelatterIhadtorepeateverySunday。MyfavoritestudieswereNaturalPhilosophy，Logic，andMoralScience。FrommybrotherA1bertIreceivedlessonsintheancienttongues，Hebrew，Greek，andLatin。"
Youcatchyourbreathinastonishment，andfeelagainandstillagainthepangofthatrebuke。Butthenyoureyefallsuponthenextsentencebutone，andthepainpassesawayandyousetupthesuspicionagainwithevilsatisfaction：
"AftermydiscoveryofChristianScience，mostoftheknowledgeIhadgleanedfromschool-booksvanishedlikeadream。"
Thatdisappearanceaccountsformuchinhermiscellaneouswritings。AsI
wassaying，shehandlesher"ancestralshadows，"asshecallsthem，justasIdomine。Itisremarkable。Whensherunsacross"arelativeofmyGrandfatherBaker，GeneralHenryKnox，ofRevolutionaryfame，"shesetshimdown；whenshefindsanothergoodone，"thelateSirJohnMacneill，inthelineofmyGrandfatherBaker'sfamily，"shesetshimdown，andremembersthathe"wasprominentinBritishpolitics，andatonetimeheldthepositionofambassadortoPersia"；whenshediscoversthathergrandparents"werelikewiseconnectedwithCaptainJohnLovewell，whosegallantleadershipanddeathintheIndiantroublesof1722-25causedthatprolongedcontesttobeknownhistoricallyasLovewell'sWar，"shesetstheCaptaindown；whenitturnsoutthatacousinofhergrandmother"wasJohnMacneill，theNewHampshiregeneral，whofoughtatLundy'sLaneandwondistinctionin1814atthebattleofChippewa，"shecataloguestheGeneral。（AndtellswhereChippewawas。）Andthensheskipsallherplatformpeople；nevermentionsoneofthem。Itshowsthatsheisjustashumanasanyofus。
Yet，afterall，thereissomethingverytouchinginherprideintheseworthysmall-fry，andsomethinglargeandfineinhermodestyinnotcaringtorememberthattheirkinshiptohercanconfernodistinctionuponher，whereashermerementionoftheirnameshasconferreduponthemafacelessearthlyimmortality。
CHAPTERII
Whenshewrotethislittlebiographyhergreatlife-workhadalreadybeenachieved，shewasbecomerenowned；tomultitudesofreverentdisciplesshewasasacredpersonage，afamiliarofGod，andHisinspiredchannelofcommunicationwiththehumanrace。Also，tothemthesefollowingthingswerefacts，andnotdoubted：
ShehadwrittenaBibleinmiddleage，andhadpublishedit；shehadrecastit，enlargedit，andpublisheditagain；shehadnotstoppedthere，buthadenlargeditfurther，polisheditsphrasing，improveditsform，andpublishedityetagain。Itwasatlastbecomeacompact，grammatical，dignified，andworkman-likebodyofliterature。Thiswasgoodtraining，persistenttraining；andinallartsitistrainingthatbringsthearttoperfection。WearenowconfrontedwithoneofthemostteasingandbafflingriddlesofMrs。Eddy'shistory——ariddlewhichmaybeformulatedthus：
Howisitthataprimitiveliterarygunwhichbeganasahundred-yardflint-locksmooth-boremuzzle-loader，andinthecourseoffortyyearshasacquiredonenotableimprovementafteranother——percussioncap；fixedcartridge；rifledbarrel；efficiencyathalfamilehowisitthatsuchagun，sufficientlygoodonanelephanthunt（ChristianScience）fromthebeginning，andgrowingbetterandbetterallthetimeduringfortyyears，hasalwayscollapsedbacktoitsoriginalflint-lockestatethemomentthehuntresstraineditonanyothercreaturethananelephant？
SomethingmorethanagenerationagoMrs。Eddywentoutwithherflint-
lockontherabbitrange；andthiswasapartoftheresult：
"Afterhisdecease，andaseverecasualtydeemedfatalbyskilfulphysicians，wediscoveredthatthePrincipleofallhealingandthelawthatgovernsitisGod，adivinePrinciple，andaspiritualnotmateriallaw，andregainedhealth。"——PrefacetoScienceandHealth，firstrevision，1883。
N。B。Notfromthebookitself；fromthePreface。
YouwillnoticetheawkwardnessofthatEnglish。IfyoushouldcarrythatparagraphuptotheSupremeCourtoftheUnitedStatesinordertofindoutforgoodandallwhetherthefatalcasualtyhappenedtothedeadman——astheparagraphalmostasserts——ortosomepersonorpersonsnotevenhintedatintheparagraph，theSupremeCourtwouldbeobligedtosaythattheevidenceestablishednothingwithcertaintyexceptthattherehadbeenacasualty——victimnotknown。
Thecontextthinksitexplainswhothevictimwas，butitdoesnothingofthekind。Itfurnishessomeguessing-materialofasortwhichenablesyoutoinferthatitwas"we"thatsufferedthementionedinjury，butifyoushouldcarrythelanguagetoacourtyouwouldnotbeabletoprovethatitnecessarilymeantthat。"We"areMrs。Eddy；afunnylittleaffectation。Shereplaceditlaterwiththemoredignifiedthirdperson。
ThequotedparagraphisfromMrs。Eddy'sprefacetothefirstrevisionofScienceandHealth（1883）。Sixty-fourpagesfurtheralong——inthebodyofthebook（theelephant-range），shewentoutwiththatsameflint-lockandgotthisfollowingresult。ItsEnglishisverynearlyasstraightandcleanandcompetentasistheEnglishofthelatestrevisionofScienceandHealthafterthegunhasbeenimprovedfromsmooth-boremusketuptoglobe-sighted，longdistancerifle：
"MancontrolledbyhisMakerhasnophysicalsuffering。Hisbodyisharmonious，hisdaysaremultiplyinginsteadofdiminishing，heisjourneyingtowardsLifeinsteadofdeath，andbringingoutthenewmanandcrucifyingtheoldaffections，cuttingthemoffineverymaterialdirectionuntilhelearnstheuttersupremacyofSpiritandyieldsobediencethereto。"
InthelatestrevisionofScienceandHealth（1902），theperfectedgunfurnishesthefollowing。TheEnglishisclean，compact，dignified，almostperfect。Butitisobservablethatitisnotprominentlybetterthanitisintheaboveparagraph，whichwasaproductoftheprimitiveflint-lock：
"Howunreasonableisthebeliefthatwearewearingoutlifeandhasteningtodeath，andatthesametimewearecommuningwithimmortality？Ifthedepartedareinrapportwithmortality，ormatter，theyarenotspiritual，butmuststillbemortal，sinful，suffering，anddying。Thenwhereforelooktothem——evenwerecommunicationpossible——
forproofsofimmortalityandacceptthemasoracles？"——Editionof1902，page78。
Withtheaboveparagraphscomparethesethatfollow。ItisMrs。Eddywriting——afteragoodlongtwentyyearsofpen-practice。ComparealsowiththeallegedPoemsalreadyquoted。TheprominentcharacteristicofthePoemsisaffectation，artificiality；theirmakeupisacomplacentandpretentiousoutpouroffalsefiguresandfinewriting，inthesophomoricstyle。Thesamequalitiesandthesamestylewillbefound，unchanged，unbettered，inthesefollowingparagraphs——afteralapseofmorethanfiftyyears，andafter——asaforesaid——longliterarytraining。Theitalicsaremine：
1。"Whatplaguespotorbacilliwere[sic]gnawing[sic]attheheartofthismetropolis……andbringingit[theheart]onbendedknee？
Why，itwasaninstitutethathadentereditsvitals——that，amongotherthings，taughtgames，"etcetera。——C。S。Journal，p。670，articleentitled"ANarrative——byMaryBakerG。Eddy。"
2。"Parkssprangup[sic]……electric-carsrun[sic]merrilythroughseveralstreets，concretesidewalksandmacadamizedroadsdotted[sic]theplace，"etcetera。——Ibid。
3。"Shorn[sic]ofitssuburbsithadindeedlittlelefttoadmire，saveto[sic]suchasfancyaskeletonabovegroundbreathing[sic]slowlythroughabarren[sic]breast。"——Ibid。
ThisisnotEnglish——Imean，grown-upEnglish。Butitisfifteen-year——
oldEnglish，andhasnotgrownamonthsincethesamemindproducedthePoems。ThestandardofthePoemsandoftheplague-spot-and-bacillieffortisexactlythesame。Itismoststrangethatthesameintellectthatwordedthesimpleandself-containedandclean-cutparagraphbeginningwith"Howunreasonableisthebelief，"shouldintheverysamelustrumdischargeupontheworldsuchaverbalchaosastheutteranceconcerningthatplague-spotorbacilliwhichweregnawingattheinsidesofthemetropolisandbringingitsheartonbendedknee，thusexposingtotheeyetherestoftheskeletonbreathingslowlythroughabarrenbreast。
TheimmensecontrastbetweenthelegitimateEnglishofScienceandHealthandthebastardEnglishofMrs。Eddy'smiscellaneouswork，andbetweenthematurityoftheonedictionandthejuvenilityoftheother，suggests——compels——thequestion，Aretheretwoguns？Itwouldseemso。
Isthereapoor，foolish，old，scatteringflint-lockforrabbit，andalong-range，centre-driving，up-to-dateMauser-magazineforelephant？Itlookslikeit。ForitisobservablethatinScienceandHealth（theelephant-ground）thepracticewasgoodatthestartandhasremainedso，andthatthepracticeinthemiscellaneous，outside，small-gamefieldwasverybadatthestartandwasneverlessbadatanylatertime。
IwishtosaythatofMrs。EddyIamnotrequiringperfectEnglish，butonlygoodEnglish。NoonecanwriteperfectEnglishandkeepitupthroughastretchoftenchapters。Ithasneverbeendone。Itwasapproachedinthe"wellofEnglishundefiled"；ithasbeenapproachedinMrs。Eddy'sAnnextothatBook；ithasbeenapproachedinseveralEnglishgrammars；Ihaveevenapproacheditmyself；butnoneofushasmadeport。
Now，theEnglishofScienceandHealthisgood。InpassagestobefoundinMrs。Eddy'sAutobiography（onpages53，57，101，and113），andonpage6ofhersqualidprefacetoScienceandHealth，firstrevision，sheseemstometoclaimthewholeandsoleauthorshipofthebook。ThatshewrotetheAutobiography，andthatpreface，andthePoems，andthePlague-spot-
Bacilli，wearenotpermittedtodoubt。Indeed，weknowshewrotethem。
ButtheverycertaintythatshewrotethesethingscompelsadoubtthatshewroteScienceandHealth。SheisguiltyoflittleawkwardnessesofexpressionintheAutobiographywhichapracticedpenwouldhardlyallowtogouncorrectedinevenahastyprivateletter，andcouldnotdreamofpassingbyuncorrectedinpassagesintendedforprint。Butshepassesthemplacidlyby；asplacidlyasifshedidnotsuspectthattheywereoffensesagainstthird-classEnglish。Ithinkthatthatplaciditywasbornofthatveryunawareness，sotospeak。IwillciteafewinstancesfromtheAutobiography。Theitalicsaremine：
"IrememberreadinginmychildhoodcertainmanuscriptscontainingScripturalSonnets，besidesotherversesandenigmas，"etc。Page7。
[Onpage27。]"ManypalecrippleswentintotheChurchleaningoncrutcheswhocameoutcarryingthemontheirshoulders。"
Itisawkward，becauseatthefirstglanceitseemstosaythatthecrippleswentinleaningoncrutcheswhichwentoutcarryingthecripplesontheirshoulders。Itwouldhavecosthernotroubletoputher"who"
afterher"cripples。"Iblameheralittle；Ithinkherproof-readershouldhavebeenshot。WemaylethercapitalCpass，butitisanotherawkwardness，forsheistalkingaboutabuilding，notaboutareligioussociety。
"MarriageandParentage"[Chapter-heading。Page30]。Youimaginethatsheisgoingtobeginatalkabouthermarriageandfinishwithsomeaccountofherfatherandmother。Andsoyouwillbedeceived。
"Marriage"wasright，but"Parentage"wasnotthebestwordfortherestoftherecord。Itreferstothebirthofherownchild。Afteracertainperiodoftime"mybabewasborn。"MarriageandMotherhood-MarriageandMaternity-MarriageandProduct-MarriageandDividend——eitherofthesewouldhavefittedthefactsandmadethematterclear。
"Withoutmyknowledgehewasappointedaguardian。"Page32。
Sheisspeakingofherchild。Shemeansthataguardianforherchildwasappointed，butthatisn'twhatshesays。
"Ifspiritualconclusionsareseparatedfromtheirpremises，thenexusislost，andtheargumentwithitsrightfulconclusions，becomescorrespondinglyobscure。"Page34。
Weshallneverknowwhysheputtheword"correspondingly"inthere。Anyfine，largewordwouldhaveansweredjustaswell：psychosuperintangibly——electroincandescently——oligarcheologically——sanchrosynchro-
stereoptically——anyofthesewouldhaveanswered，anyofthesewouldhavefilledthevoid。
"Hisspiritualnoumenonandphenomenonsilencedportraiture。"Page34。
Yetshesayssheforgoteverythingsheknew，whenshediscoveredChristianScience。Irealizethatnoumenonisadaisy；andIwillnotdenythatIshalluseitwheneverIaminacompanywhichIthinkIcanembarrasswithit；but，atthesametime，Ithinkitisoutofplaceamongfriendsinanautobiography。There，Ithinkapersonoughtnottohaveanythinguphissleeve。Itunderminesconfidence。Butmydissatisfactionwiththequotedpassageisnotonaccountofnoumenon；itisonaccountofthemisuseoftheword"silenced。"Youcannotsilenceportraiturewithanoumenon；ifportraitureshouldmakeanoise，awaycouldbefoundtosilenceit，buteventhenitcouldnotbedonewithanoumenon。Notevenwithabrick，someauthoritiesthink。
"Itmaybethatthemortallife-battlestillwages，"etc。Page35。
Thatisclumsy。Battlesdonotwage，battlesarewaged。Mrs。Eddyhasoneverycuriousandinterestingpeculiarity：whenevershenoticesthatsheischortlingalongwithoutsayinganything，shepullsupwithasudden"Godisoverusall，"orsomeothersoundingirrelevancy，andforthemomentitseemstolightupthewholedistrict；then，beforeyoucanrecoverfromtheshock，shegoesflittingpleasantlyandmeaninglesslyalongagain，andyouhurryhopefullyafterher，thinkingyouaregoingtogetsomethingthistime；butassoonasshehasledyoufarenoughawayfromherturkeylotshetakestoatree。Whenevershediscoversthatsheisgettingprettydisconnected，shecouples-upwithanostentatious"But"
whichhasnothingtodowithanythingthatwentbeforeoristocomeafter，thenshehitchessomeemptiestothetrain-unrelatedversesfromtheBible，usually——andsteamsoutofsightandleavesyouwonderinghowshedidthatcleverthing。Forstrikinginstances，seebottomparagraphonpage34andtheparagraphonpage35ofherAutobiography。Shehasapurpose——adeepanddarkandartfulpurpose——inwhatsheissayinginthefirstparagraph，andyouguesswhatitis，butthatisduetoyourowntalent，nothers；shehasmadeitasobscureaslanguagecoulddoit。
Theotherparagraphhasnomeaningandnodiscoverableintention。ItismerelyoneofherGod-over-alls。Icannotspareroomforitinthisplace。
"IbeheldwithineffableaweourgreatMaster'smarvelousskillindemandingneitherobediencetohygieniclawsnor，"etc。Page4I。
Thewordislooselychosen-skill。Sheprobablymeantjudgment，intuition，penetration，orwisdom。
"Naturally，myfirstjottingswerebuteffortstoexpressinfeebledictionTruth'sultimate。"Page42。
Oneunderstandswhatshemeans，butsheshouldhavebeenabletosaywhatshemeant——atanytimebeforeshediscoveredChristianScienceandforgoteverythingsheknew——andafterit，too。Ifshehadput"feeble"infrontof"efforts"andthenleftout"in"and"diction，"shewouldhavescored。
"……itswrittenexpressionincreasesinperfectionundertheguidanceofthegreatMaster。"Page43。
Itisanerror。Noteveninthoseadvantageouscircumstancescanincreasebeaddedtoperfection。
"Evilisnotmasteredbyevil；itcanonlybeovercomewithGood。Thisbringsoutthenothingnessofevil，andtheeternalSomethingnessvindicatestheDivinePrincipleandimprovestheraceofAdam。"Page76。
Thisistooextraneousforme。ThatisthetroublewithMrs。Eddywhenshesetsouttoexplainanover-largeexhibit：theminuteyouthinkthelightisburstinguponyouthecandlegoesoutandyourmindbeginstowander。
"NooneelsecandrainthecupwhichIhavedrunktothedregs，asthediscovererandteacherofChristianScience"Page47。
Thatissayingwecannotemptyanemptycup。Weknewitbefore；andweknowshemeanttotellusthatthatparticularcupisgoingtoremainempty。Thatis，wethinkthatthatwastheidea，butwecannotbesure。
Shehasaperfectlyastonishingtalentforputtingwordstogetherinsuchawayastomakesuccessfulinquiryintotheirintentionimpossible。
Shegenerallymakesusuneasywhenshebeginstotuneuponherfine-
writingtimbrel。ItcarriesmebacktoherPlague-SpotandPoetrydays，andIjustdreadthose：
"Intomortalmind'smaterialobliquityIgazedandstoodabashed。
Blanchedwasthecheekofpride。MyheartbentlowbeforetheomnipotenceofSpirit，andatintofhumilitysoftastheheartofamoonbeammantledtheearth。BethlehemandBethany，GethsemaneandCalvary，spoketomychastenedsenseasbythetearfullipsofababe。"
Page48。
TheheartofamoonbeamisaprettyenoughFriendship's-Albumexpression——letitpass，thoughIdothinkthefigurealittlestrained；buthumilityhasnotint，humilityhasnocomplexion，andifithaditcouldnotmantletheearth。Amoonbeammight——Idonotknow——butshedidnotsayitwasthemoonbeam。Butletitgo，Icannotdecideit，shemixesmeupso。Ababehasn't"tearfullips，"it'sitseyes。YoufindnoneofMrs。Eddy'skindofEnglishinScienceandHealth——notalineofit。
CHAPTERIII
Settingasidetitle-page，index，etc。，thelittleAutobiographybeginsonpage7andendsonpage130。Myquotationsarefromthefirstfortypages。Theyseemtometoprovethepresenceofthe'prenticehand。Thestyleofthefortypagesislooseandfeebleand'prentice-like。Themovementofthenarrativeisnotorderlyandsequential，butramblesaround，andskipsforwardandbackandhereandthereandyonder，'prentice-fashion。Manyajourneymanhasbrokenuphisnarrativeandskippedaboutandrambledaround，buthediditforapurpose，foranadvantage；therewasartinit，andpointstobescoredbyit；theobservantreaderperceivedthegame，andenjoyeditandrespectedit，ifitwaswellplayed。ButMrs。Eddy'sperformancewaswithoutintention，anddestituteofart。Shecouldscorenopointsbyitonthoseterms，andalmostanyreadercanseethatherworkwastheuncalculatedputteringofanovice。
IntheaboveparagraphIhavedescribedthefirstthirdofthebooklet。
Thatthirdbeingcompleted，Mrs。Eddyleavestherabbit-range，crossesthefrontier，andstepsoutuponherfar-spreadingbig-gameterritory——
ChristianScienceandthereisaninstantchange！Thestylesmartlyimproves；andtheclumsylittletechnicaloffensesdisappear。Inthesetwo-thirdsofthebookletIfindonlyonesuchoffence，andithasthelookofbeingaprinter'serror。
Ileavetheriddlewiththereader。Perhapshecanexplainhowitisthataperson-trainedoruntrained——whoontheonedaycanwritenothingbetterthanPlague-Spot-Bacilliandfeebleandstumblingandwanderingpersonalhistorylitteredwithfalsefiguresandobscuritiesandtechnicalblunders，canonthenextdaysitdownandwritefluently，smoothly，compactly，capably，andconfidentlyonagreatbigthunderingsubject，anddoitaseasilyandcomfortablyasawhalepaddlesaroundtheglobe。
Asforme，IhavescribbledsomuchinfiftyyearsthatIhavebecomesaturatedwithconvictionsofonesortandanotherconcerningascribbler'slimitations；andthesearesostrongthatwhenIamfamiliarwithaliteraryperson'sworkIfeelperfectlysurethatIknowenoughabouthislimitationstoknowwhathecannotdo。IfMr。HowellsshouldpretendtomethathewrotethePlague-SpotBacillirhapsody，Ishouldreceivethestatementcourteously；butIshouldknowitfora——well，foraperversion。IfthelateJoshBillingsshouldriseupandtellmethathewroteHerbertSpencer'sphilosophies；Ishouldanswerandsaythatthespellingcastsadoubtuponhisclaim。IfthelateJonathanEdwardsshouldriseupandtellmehewroteMr。Dooley'sbooks，IshouldanswerandsaythatthemarkeddifferencebetweenhisstyleandDooley'sisargumentagainstthesoundnessofhisstatement。YouseehowmuchI
thinkofcircumstantialevidence。Inliterarymatters——inmybelief——itisoftenbetterthananyperson'sword，betterthananyshadycharacter'soath。ItisdifficultformetobelievethatthesamehandthatwrotethePlague-Spot-BacilliandthefirstthirdofthelittleEddybiographywrotealsoScienceandHealth。Indeed，itismorethandifficult，itisimpossible。
Largelyspeaking，IhavereadacresofwhatpurportedtobeMrs。Eddy'swritings，inthepasttwomonths。Icannotknow，butIamconvinced，thatthecircumstantialevidenceshowsthatheractualshareintheworkofcomposingandphrasingthesethingswassoslightastobeinconsequential。Wheresheputsherliteraryfootdown，hertrailacrossherpaidpolisher'spageisasplainastheelephant'sinaSunday-schoolprocession。Herverbaloutput，whenleftundoctoredbyherclerks，isquiteunmistakableItalwaysexhibitsthestronglydistinctivefeaturesobservableinthevirginpassagesfromherpenalreadyquotedbyme：
Desertvacancy，asregardsthought。
Self-complacency。
Puerility。
Sentimentality。
Affectationsofscholarlylearning。
Lustaftereloquentandfloweryexpression。
Repetitionofpetpoeticpicturesquenesses。
Confusedandwanderingstatement。
Metaphorgoneinsane。
Meaninglesswords，usedbecausetheyarepretty，orshowy，orunusual。
Sorrowfulattemptsattheepigrammatic。
Destitutionoforiginality。
ThefatvolumecalledMiscellaneousWritingsofMrs。Eddycontainsseveralhundredpages。Ofthefivehundredandfifty-fourpagesofproseinitIfindtenlines，onpage319，tobeMrs。Eddy's；alsoaboutapageoftheprefaceor"Prospectus"；alsoaboutfifteenpagesscatteredalongthroughthebook。Ifshewroteanyoftherestoftheprose，itwasrewrittenafterherbyanotherhand。HereIwillinserttwo-thirdsofherpageoftheprospectus。Itisevidentthatwhenever，undertheinspirationoftheDeity，sheturnsoutabook，sheisalwaysallowedtodosomeofthepreface。Iwonderwhythatis？Italwaysmarsthework。
IthinkitisdoneinhumorousmaliceIthinktheclerksliketoseehergiveherselfaway。Theyknowshewill，herstockofusablematerialsbeinglimitedandherprocedureinemployingthemalwaysthesame，substantially。Theyknowthatwhentheinitiatedcomeuponherfirsteruditeallusion，oruponanyoneofherotherstage-properties，theycanshuttheireyesandtellwhatwillfollow。SheusuallythrowsoffaneasyremarkallsoddenwithGreekorHebreworLatinlearning；sheusuallyhasapersonwatchingforastar——shecanseldomgetawayfromthatpoeticidea——sometimesitisaChaldee，sometimesaWalkingDelegate，sometimesanentirestranger，butbehewhathemay，heisgenerallytherewhenthetrainisreadytomove，andhashispassinhishat-band；shegenerallyhasaBeingwithaDomeonhim，orsomeothercoverthatisunusualandoutofthefashion；shelikestofireoffaScripture-versewhereitwillmakethehandsomestnoiseandcomenearesttobreakingtheconnection；sheoftenthrowsoutaForefelt，oraForesplendor，oraForeslanderwhereitwillhaveafinenauticalforeto'gallantsoundandmakethesentencesing；afterwhichsheisnearlysuretothrowdiscretionawayandtaketoherdeadlypassion，IntoxicatedMetaphor。AtsuchatimetheMrs。Eddythatdoesnothesitateislost：
"TheancientGreeklookedlonginglyfortheOlympiad。TheChaldeewatchedtheappearingofastar；tohimnohigherdestinydawnedonthedomeofbeingthanthatforeshadowedbysignsintheheavens。ThemeekNazarene，thescoffedofallscoffers，said，'Yecandiscernthefaceofthesky；butcanyenotdiscernthesignsofthetimes？'——forHeforefeltandforesawtheordealofaperfectChristianity，hatedbysinners。
"Tokindleallmindswithagleamofgratitude，thenewideathatcomeswellingupfrominfiniteTruthneedstobeunderstood。Theseerofthisageshouldbeasage。
"Humilityisthestepping-stonetoahigherrecognitionofDeity。Themountingsensegathersfreshformsandstrangefirefromtheashesofdissolvingself，anddropstheworld。Meeknessheightensimmortalattributes，onlybyremovingthedustthatdimsthem。Goodnessrevealsanothersceneandanotherselfseeminglyrolledupinshades，butbroughttolightbytheevolutionsofadvancingthought，wherebywediscernthepowerofTruthandLovetohealthesick。
"Prideisignorance；thoseassumemostwhohavetheleastwisdomorexperience；andtheystealfromtheirneighbor，becausetheyhavesolittleoftheirown。"——MiscellaneousWritings，page1，andsixlinesattopofpage2。
ItisnotbelievablethatthehandthatwrotethoseclumsyandaffectedsentenceswrotethesmoothEnglishofScienceandHealth。
CHAPTERIV
ItisoftensaidinprintthatMrs。EddyclaimsthatGodwastheAuthorofScienceandHealth。Mr。Peabodystatesinhispamphletthat"shesaysnotshebutGodwastheAuthor。"Icannotfindthatinherautobiographyshemakesthistransferenceoftheauthorship，butIthinkthatinitshedefinitelyclaimsthatshedidherworkunderHisinspiration——definitelyforher；forasarulesheisnotaverydefiniteperson，evenwhensheseemstobetryingherbesttobeclearandpositive。SpeakingoftheearlydayswhenherSciencewasbeginningtounfolditselfandgatherforminhermind，shesays（Autobiography，page43）：
"ThedivinehandledmeintoanewworldoflightandLife，afreshuniverse——oldtoGod，butnewtoHis'littleone。'"
ShebeingHislittleone，asIunderstandit。
Thedivinehandledher。Itseemstomean"Godinspiredme"；butwhenapersonusesmetaphorsinsteadofstatistics——andthatisMrs。Eddy'scommonfashion——onecannotalwaysfeelsureabouttheintention。
[Page56。]"EventheScripturegavenodirectinterpretationoftheScientificbasisfordemonstratingthespiritualPrincipleofhealing，untilourHeavenlyFathersawfit，throughtheKeytotheScriptures，inScienceandHealth，tounlockthis'mysteryofgodliness。'"
Anotherbafflingmetaphor。IfshehadusedplainforecastleEnglish，andsaid"GodwrotetheKeyandIputitinmybook"；orifshehadsaid"GodfurnishedmethesolutionofthemysteryandIputitonpaper"；orifshehadsaid"Goddiditall，"thenweshouldunderstand；butherphraseisopentoanyandallofthosetranslations，andisaKeywhichunlocksnothing——forus。However，itseemstoatleastmean"Godinspiredme，"
ifnothingmore。
Therewaspersonalandintimatecommunion，atanyratewegetthatmuchoutoftheriddles。Theconnectionextendedtobusiness，aftertheestablishmentoftheteachingandhealingindustry。
[Page71。]"WhenGodimpelledmetosetapriceonmyinstruction，"etc。
Furtherdown："Godhassinceshownme，inmultitudinousways，thewisdomofthisdecision。"
Shewasnotabletothinkofa"financialequivalent"——meaningapecuniaryequivalent——forher"instructioninChristianScienceMind-
healing。"Inthisemergencyshewas"led"tochargethreehundreddollarsforatermof"twelvehalf-days。"Shedoesnotsaywholedher，sheonlysaysthattheamountgreatlytroubledher。Ithinkitmeansthatthepricewassuggestedfromabove，"led"beingatheologicaltermidenticalwithourcommercialphrase"personallyconducted。"She"shrankfromaskingit，butwasfinallyled，byastrangeprovidence，toacceptthisfee。""Providence"isanothertheologicalterm。Twoledsandaprovidence，takentogether，makeaprettystrongargumentforinspiration。Ithinkthatthesestatisticsmakeitclearthatthepricewasarrangedabove。Thisviewisconstructivelysupportedbythefact，alreadyquoted，thatGodafterwardsapproved，"inmultitudinousways，"
herwisdominacceptingthementionedfee。"Multitudinousways"——
multitudinousencoring——suggestsenthusiasm。Businessenthusiasm。Anditsuggestsnearness。God'snearnesstohis"littleone。"Nearness，andawatchfulpersonalinterest。Awarm，palpitating，Standard-Oilinterest，sotospeak。Allthisindicatesinspiration。Wemayassume，then，twoinspirations：oneforthebook，theotherforthebusiness。
TheevidenceforinspirationisfurtheraugmentedbythetestimonyofRev。GeorgeTomkins，D。D。，alreadyquoted，thatMrs。EddyandherbookwereforetoldinRevelation，andthatMrs。Eddy"isGod'sbrightestthoughttothisage，givingusthespiritualinterpretationoftheBibleinthe'littlebook'"oftheAngel。
IamawarethatitisnotMr。Tomkinsthatisspeaking，butMrs。Eddy。
ThecommissionedlecturersoftheChristianScienceChurchhavetobemembersoftheBoardofLectureship。（By-lawsSec。2，p。70。）TheBoardofLectureshipisselectedbytheBoardofDirectorsoftheChurch。
（By-laws，Sec。3，p。70。）TheBoardofDirectorsoftheChurchisthepropertyofMrs。Eddy。（By-laws，p。22。）Mr。Tomkinsdidnotmakethatstatementwithoutauthorizationfromheadquarters。HenecessarilygotitfromtheBoardofDirectors，theBoardofDirectorsfromMrs。Eddy，Mrs。
EddyfromtheDeity。Mr。Tomkinswouldhavebeenturneddownbythatprocessionifhisremarkshadbeenunsatisfactorytoit。
Itmaybethatthereisevidencesomewhere——ashasbeenclaimed——thatMrs。EddyhaschargedupontheDeitytheverbalauthorshipofScienceandHealth。Butifsheevermadethecharge，shehaswithdrawnit（asitseemstome），andinthemostformalandunqualified；ofallways。SeeAutobiography，page57：
"Whenthedemandforthisbookincreased……thecopyrightwasinfringed。IenteredasuitatLaw，andmycopyrightwasprotected。"
ThusitisplainthatshedidnotpleadthattheDeitywasthe（verbal）
Author；forifshehaddonethat，shewouldhavelosthercase——andwithrudepromptness。ItwasintheolddaysbeforetheBerneConventionandbeforethepassageofouramendedlawof1891，andthecourtwouldhavequotedthefollowingsternclausefromtheexistingstatuteandfrownedheroutoftheplace：
"NoForeignercanacquirecopyrightintheUnitedStates。"
Tosumup。Theevidencebeforemeindicatesthreethings：
1。ThatMrs。Eddyclaimstheverbalauthorshipforherself。
2。ThatshedeniesittotheDeity。
3。That——inherbelief——shewrotethebookundertheinspirationoftheDeity，butfurnishedthelanguageherself。
InoneplaceintheAutobiographysheclaimsboththelanguageandtheideas；butwhenthiswitnessistestifying，onemustdrawthelinesomewhere，orshewillprovebothsidesofhercase-ninesides，ifdesired。
Itistootrue。Muchtootrue。Many，manytimestootrue。Sheisamosttryingwitness——themosttryingwitnessthateverkissedtheBook，I
amsure。Thereisnokeepingupwithhererratictestimony。Assoonasyouhavegothershareoftheauthorshipnailedwhereyouhalfhopeandhalfbelieveitwillstayandcannotbejoggledlooseanymore，shejogglesitlooseagain——orseemsto；youcannotbesure，forherhabitofdealinginmeaninglessmetaphorsinsteadofinplain，straightforwardstatistics，makesitnearlyalwaysimpossibletotelljustwhatitissheistryingtosay。Shewasdefinitewhensheclaimedboththelanguageandtheideasofthebook。Thatseemedtosettlethematter。Itseemedtodistributethepercentagesofcreditwithprecisionbetweenthecollaborators：ninety-twopercent。toMrs。Eddy，whodidallthework，andeightpercent。totheDeity，whofurnishedtheinspirationnotenoughofittodamagethecopyrightinacountryclosedagainstForeigners，andyetplentytoadvertisethebookandmarketitatfaminerates。ThenMrs。Eddydoesnotkeepstill，butfetchesaroundandcomesforwardandtestifiesagain。Itismostinjudicious。Forsheresortstometaphorthistime，anditmakestrouble，forsheseemstoreversethepercentagesandclaimonlytheeightpercent。forherself。IquotefromMr。Peabody'sbook（Eddyism，orChristianScience。Boston：15CourtSquare，pricetwenty-fivecents）：
"Speakingofthisbook，Mrs。Eddy，inJanuarylast（I901）said：'IshouldblushtowriteofScienceandHealth，withKeytotheScriptures，asI
have，wereitofhumanorigin，andI，apartfromGod，itsauthor；butasIwasonlyascribeechoingtheharmoniesofHeavenindivinemetaphysics，IcannotbesupermodestoftheChristianSciencetext-
book。"'
Mr。Peabody'scomment：
"Nothingcouldbeplainerthanthat。HereisadistinctavowalthatthebookentitledScienceandHealthwastheworkofAlmightyGod。"
Itdoesseemtoamounttothat。Shewasonlya"scribe。"Confoundtheword，itisjustaconfusion，ithasnodeterminablemeaningthere，itleavesusintheair。Ascribeismerelyapersonwhowrites。Hemaybeacopyist，hemaybeanamanuensis，hemaybeawriteroforiginals，andfurnishboththelanguageandtheideas。AsusualwithMrs。Eddy，theconnectionaffordsnohelp——"echoing"throwsnolightupon"scribe。"A
rockcanreflectanecho，awallcandoit，amountaincandoit，manythingscandoit，butascribecan't。Ascribethatcouldreflectanechocouldgetoverthirtydollarsaweekinaside-show。Manyimpresarioswouldratherhavehimthanacowwithfourtails。Ifweallowthatthispresentscribewassettingdownthe"harmoniesofHeaven"——andcertainlythatseemstohavebeenthecasethentherewasonlyonewaytodoitthatIcanthinkof：listentothemusicandputdownthenotesoneafteranotherastheyfell。InthatcaseMrs。Eddydidnotinventthetune，sheonlyentereditonpaper。Thereforedroppingthemetaphor——shewasmerelyanamanuensis，andfurnishedneitherthelanguageofScienceandHealthnortheideas。Itreduceshertoeightpercent。（andthedividendsonthatandtherest）。
Isthatit？Weshallneverknow。ForMrs。Eddyisliabletotestifyagainatanytime。Butuntilshedoesit，IthinkwemustconcludethattheDeitywasAuthorofthewholebook，andMrs。EddymerelyHistelephoneandstenographer。Grantingthis，herclaimastheVoiceofGodstands-forthepresent——justifiedandestablished。
POSTSCRIPT
Ioverlookedsomething。ItappearsthattherewasmoreofthatutterancethanMr。Peabodyhasquotedintheaboveparagraph。ItwillbefoundinMrs。Eddy'sorgan，theChristianScienceJournal（January，I901）andreadsasfollows：
"Itwasnotmyself……whichdictatedScienceandHealth，withKeytotheScriptures。"
Thatiscertainlyclearenough。ThewordswhichIhaveremovedfromthatimportantsentenceexplainWhoitwasthatdidthedictating。Itwasdoneby"thedivinepowerofTruthandLove，infinitelyaboveme。"
Certainlythatisdefinite。Atlast，throughherpersonaltestimony，wehaveasuregripuponthefollowingvitalfacts，andtheysettletheauthorshipofScienceandHealthbeyondperadventure：
1。Mrs。Eddyfurnished"theideasandthelanguage。"
2。Godfurnishedtheideasandthelanguage。
Itisagreatcomforttohavethematterauthoritativelysettled。
CHAPTERV
Itishardtolocateher，sheshiftsaboutsomuch。Sheisashiningdropofquicksilverwhichyouputyourfingeronanditisn'tthere。
ThereisaparagraphintheAutobiography（page96）whichplacesinseeminglydarklysignificantprocessionthreePersonages：
1。TheVirginMary2。JesusofNazareth。
3。Mrs。Eddy。
Thisistheparagraphreferredto：
"NopersoncantaketheindividualplaceoftheVirginMary。NopersoncancompassorfulfiltheindividualmissionofJesusofNazareth。NopersoncantaketheplaceoftheauthorofScienceandHealth，thediscovererandfounderofChristianScience。Eachindividualmustfillhisownnicheintimeandeternity。"
Ihavereaditmanytimes，butIstillcannotbesurethatIrightlyunderstandit。IftheSaviour'snamehadbeenplacedfirstandtheVirginMary'ssecondandMrs。Eddy'sthird，IshoulddrawtheinferencethatadescendingscalefromFirstImportancetoSecondImportanceandthentoSmallImportancewasindicated；buttoplacetheVirginfirst，theSavioursecond，andMrs。Eddythird，seemstoturnthescaletheotherwayandmakeitanascendingscaleofImportances，withMrs。Eddyrankingtheothertwoandholdingfirstplace。
Ithinkthatthatwasperhapstheintention，butnonebutaseasonedChristianScientistcanexaminealiteraryanimalofMrs。Eddy'screationandtellwhichendofitthetailison。Sheiseasilythemostbafflingandbewilderingwriterintheliterarytrade。