“Seventh day.—With third hammer and seventh chisel will surely charm the porphyry.
“But, no! my latest asterisk is jagged in outline instead of sharp. I wonder what attempts others have made. Any one living in or near a blacksmith’s shop would have an advantage, for the chisels are always wanting hardening, or rectifying in some way; and my blue papers soon disappeared. If obedience for the sake of obedience is angelic, I must be an exalted creature. One Amorite’s suggestion was, ‘You would do a deal better with a softer material.’ This was the voice of the tempter.
“What is gained?—(besides a lifelong affection for porphyry)—a knowledge of one more thing that I cannot do; an admiration (to a certain extent) of those who could do it; and a wonder as to what the Master will require next of (amongst others) his faithful and obedient disciple.” [[310]]
VII. Portion of valuable letter from Mr. Sillar:—
“Kingswood Lodge, Lee Green, S.E.
“August 7th, 1876.
“My dear Mr. Ruskin,—It may interest your correspondent, ‘A Reader of Fors,’ and possibly yourself also, to know that interested persons have altered old John Wesley’s rules to suit modern ideas.
“Rules of the Methodist Societies (Tyerman’s Life and Times of Wesley, p. 431).
“Rule.—Leader to receive once a week what members are willing to give towards relief of the poor.
“Altered to ‘support of the Gospel.’
“Going to law forbidden, is altered to ‘brother going to law with brother.’
“Original Rule.—The giving or taking things on usury, the words have been added, ‘that is, unlawful interest.’
“Mr. Tyerman remarks, ‘the curious reader will forgive these trifles.’
“I for one do not at all feel disposed to do so.”
(Nor does St. George; nor has he either leave, or hope, to say, “God forgive them.”)
[[311]]
[1] What can be done, ultimately, it is not yet in human imagination to conceive. What has been done, by one sensible man, for the land he had under control, may be read in the fourth article of our correspondence. [↑]
[2] Most London theatre-goers will recollect the Butterman’s pity for his son, in “Our Boys,” as he examines the remains of the breakfast in their lodgings. [↑]
[3] The law of symmetry, however, rests on deeper foundations than that of mere order. It is here, in Greek terms, too subtle to be translated except bit by bit, as we want them.