«Жизнь и письма Льюиса Кэрролла (преподобного Ч. Л. Доджсона)»

18 августа в «The Standard» появилось следующее письмо о «Движении за восьмичасовой рабочий день»:—

Sir,—Supposing it were the custom, in a certain town, to sell eggs in paper bags at so much per bag, and that a fierce dispute had arisen between the egg vendors and the public as to how many eggs each bag should be understood to contain, the vendors wishing to be allowed to make up smaller bags; and supposing the public were to say, "In future we will pay you so much per egg, and you can make up bags as you please," would any ground remain for further dispute?

Supposing that employers of labour, when threatened with a "strike" in case they should decline to reduce the number of hours in a working day, were to reply, "In future we will pay you so much per hour, and you can make up days as you please," it does appear to me—being, as I confess, an ignorant outsider—that the dispute would die out for want of a raison d'être, and that these disastrous strikes, inflicting such heavy loss on employers and employed alike, would become things of the past.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

Lewis Carroll.

Остаток года прошел без происшествий; несколько заметок из его дневника должны представить его здесь:—

Oct. 4th.—Called on Mr. Coventry Patmore (at Hastings), and was very kindly received by him, and stayed for afternoon tea and dinner. He showed me some interesting pictures, including a charming little drawing, by Holman Hunt, of one of his daughters when three years old. He gave me an interesting account of his going, by Tennyson's request, to his lodging to look for the MS. of "In Memoriam," which he had left behind, and only finding it by insisting on going upstairs, in spite of the landlady's opposition, to search for it. Also he told me the story (I think I have heard it before) of what Wordsworth told his friends as the "one joke" of his life, in answer to a passing carter who asked if he had seen his wife. "My good friend, I didn't even know you had a wife!" He seems a very hale and vigorous old man for nearly seventy, which I think he gave as his age in writing to me.

Oct. 31st.—This morning, thinking over the problem of finding two squares whose sum is a square, I chanced on a theorem (which seems true, though I cannot prove it), that if x² + y² be even, its half is the sum of two squares. A kindred theorem, that 2(x² + y²) is always the sum of two squares, also seems true and unprovable.

Nov. 5th.—I have now proved the above two theorems. Another pretty deduction from the theory of square numbers is, that any number whose square is the sum of two squares, is itself the sum of two squares.

Я уже упоминал о привычке мистера Доджсона обдумывать задачи по ночам. Часто новые идеи приходили к нему в часы бессонницы, и он давно хотел узнать или изобрести какой-нибудь простой метод ведения записей в темноте. Сначала он пробовал писать внутри прямоугольников, вырезанных из картона, но результат часто оказывался неразборчивым. В 1891 году он придумал устройство: вырезать в картоне ряд квадратов и изобрести алфавит, каждая буква которого состояла из линий, которые можно было проводить вдоль краев квадратов, и точек, которые можно было ставить по углам. Устройство работало хорошо, и он назвал его «Тифлограф», но по предложению одного из его коллег-студентов это название впоследствии было изменено на «Никтограф».

Летние каникулы он провел в Истборне, посещая службу каждое воскресенье в Крайст-Черч, согласно своему обычному правилу.

Sept. 6, 1891.—At the evening service at Christ Church a curious thing happened, suggestive of telepathy. Before giving out the second hymn the curate read out some notices. Meanwhile I took my hymn-book, and said to myself (I have no idea why), "It will be hymn 416," and I turned to it. It was not one I recognised as having ever heard; and, on looking at it, I said, "It is very prosaic; it is a very unlikely one"—and it was really startling, the next minute, to hear the curate announce "Hymn 416."

DR. LIDDELL.

From a photograph

by Hill & Saunders..

В октябре стало широко известно, что декан Лидделл собирается уйти в отставку на Рождество. Это был большой удар для мистера Доджсона, лишь немного смягченный тем фактом, что на вакантное место был назначен именно тот человек, которого выбрал бы он сам, — доктор Пэджет. Старый декан был очень популярен в колледже; даже студенты, с которыми он редко общался, чувствовали магию его властной личности и обаяние его любезных, старомодных манер. Он был человеком, которого, увидев однажды, было почти невозможно забыть.

Незадолго до отставки доктора Лидделла герцогиня Олбани провела несколько дней в деканате. Мистера Доджсона попросили встретиться с ее Королевским Высочеством за ланчем, но он не смог прийти. Принцесса Алиса и маленький герцог Олбани, однако, нанесли ему визит и были посвящены в искусство изготовления бумажных пистолетов. Он обещал прислать принцессе экземпляр книги под названием «Феи», и дети, проведя счастливые полчаса в его комнатах, вернулись в деканат. Это был один из тех дней, которые он «отметил белым камнем». Он послал экземпляр «Детской Алисы» маленькой принцессе Алисе и получил от нее записку с благодарностью, а также письмо от ее матери, в котором она говорила, что книга научила принцессу любить чтение и заниматься им вне уроков. Герцогу он подарил экземпляр книги под названием «Веселые эльфы». В своей маленькой записке с благодарностью за этот подарок мальчик написал: «Алиса и я хотим, чтобы вы любили нас обоих». Мистер Доджсон послал принцессе Алисе головоломку, пообещав, что если она ее разгадает, он подарит ей «золотой стул из Страны чудес».

THE DEAN OF CHRIST CHURCH.

From a photograph

by Hill & Saunders..

В конце года он написал мне длинное письмо, которое, я думаю, стоит воспроизвести здесь, ибо он потратил на него много времени, и оно содержит отличные примеры его ясного способа изложения вещей.

To S.D. Collingwood.

Ch. Ch., Oxford, Dec. 29, 1891.

My Dear Stuart,—(Rather a large note—sheet, isn't it? But they do differ in size, you know.) I fancy this book of science (which I have had a good while, without making any use of it), may prove of some use to you, with your boys. [I was a schoolmaster at that time.] Also this cycling-book (or whatever it is to be called) may be useful in putting down engagements, &c., besides telling you a lot about cycles. There was no use in sending it to me; my cycling days are over.

You ask me if your last piece of "Meritt" printing is dark enough. I think not. I should say the rollers want fresh inking. As to the matter of your specimen—[it was a poor little essay on killing animals for the purpose of scientific recreations, e.g., collecting butterflies]—I think you cannot spend your time better than in trying to set down clearly, in that essay-form, your ideas on any subject that chances to interest you; and specially any theological subject that strikes you in the course of your reading for Holy Orders.

It will be most excellent practice for you, against the time when you try to compose sermons, to try thus to realise exactly what it is you mean, and to express it clearly, and (a much harder matter) to get into proper shape the reasons of your opinions, and to see whether they do, or do not, tend to prove the conclusions you come to. You have never studied technical Logic, at all, I fancy. [I had, but I freely admit that the essay in question proved that I had not then learnt to apply my principles to practice.] It would have been a great help: but still it is not indispensable: after all, it is only the putting into rules of the way in which every mind proceeds, when it draws valid conclusions; and, by practice in careful thinking, you may get to know "fallacies" when you meet with them, without knowing the formal rules.

At present, when you try to give reasons, you are in considerable danger of propounding fallacies. Instances occur in this little essay of yours; and I hope it won't offend your amour propre very much, if an old uncle, who has studied Logic for forty years, makes a few remarks on it.

I am not going to enter at all on the subject-matter itself, or to say whether I agree, or not, with your conclusions : but merely to examine, from a logic-lecturer's point of view, your premisses as relating to them.

(1) "As the lower animals do not appear to have personality or individual existence, I cannot see that any particular one's life can be very important," &c. The word "personality" is very vague: I don't know what you mean by it. If you were to ask yourself, "What test should I use in distinguishing what has, from what has not, personality?" you might perhaps be able to express your meaning more clearly. The phrase "individual existence" is clear enough, and is in direct logical contradiction to the phrase "particular one." To say, of anything, that it has not "individual existence," and yet that it is a "particular one," involves the logical fallacy called a "contradiction in terms."

(2) "In both cases" (animal and plant) "death is only the conversion of matter from one form to another." The word "form" is very vague—I fancy you use it in a sort of chemical sense (like saying "sugar is starch in another form," where the change in nature is generally believed to be a rearrangement of the very same atoms). If you mean to assert that the difference between a live animal and a dead animal, i.e., between animate and sensitive matter, and the same matter when it becomes inanimate and insensitive, is a mere rearrangement of the same atoms, your premiss is intelligible. (It is a bolder one than any biologists have yet advanced. The most sceptical of them admits, I believe, that "vitality" is a thing per se. However, that is beside my present scope.) But this premiss is advanced to prove that it is of no "consequence" to kill an animal. But, granting that the conversion of sensitive into insensitive matter (and of course vice versa) is a mere change of "form," and therefore of no "consequence"; granting this, we cannot escape the including under this rule all similar cases. If the power of feeling pain, and the absence of that power, are only a difference of "form," the conclusion is inevitable that the feeling pain, and the not feeling it, are also only a difference in form, i.e., to convert matter, which is not feeling pain, into matter feeling pain, is only to change its "form," and, if the process of "changing form" is of no "consequence" in the case of sensitive and insensitive matter, we must admit that it is also of no "consequence" in the case of pain-feeling and not pain-feeling matter. This conclusion, I imagine, you neither intended nor foresaw. The premiss, which you use, involves the fallacy called "proving too much."

The best advice that could be given to you, when you begin to compose sermons, would be what an old friend once gave to a young man who was going out to be an Indian judge (in India, it seems, the judge decides things, without a jury, like our County Court judges). "Give your decisions boldly and clearly; they will probably be right. But do not give your reasons: they will probably be wrong" If your lot in life is to be in a country parish, it will perhaps not matter much whether the reasons given in your sermons do or do not prove your conclusions. But even there you might meet, and in a town congregation you would be sure to meet, clever sceptics, who know well how to argue, who will detect your fallacies and point them out to those who are not yet troubled with doubts, and thus undermine all their confidence in your teaching.

At Eastbourne, last summer, I heard a preacher advance the astounding argument, "We believe that the Bible is true, because our holy Mother, the Church, tells us it is." I pity that unfortunate clergyman if ever he is bold enough to enter any Young Men's Debating Club where there is some clear-headed sceptic who has heard, or heard of, that sermon. I can fancy how the young man would rub his hands, in delight, and would say to himself, "Just see me get him into a corner, and convict him of arguing in a circle!"

The bad logic that occurs in many and many a well-meant sermon, is a real danger to modern Christianity. When detected, it may seriously injure many believers, and fill them with miserable doubts. So my advice to you, as a young theological student, is "Sift your reasons well , and, before you offer them to others, make sure that they prove your conclusions."

I hope you won't give this letter of mine (which it has cost me some time and thought to write) just a single reading and then burn it; but that you will lay it aside. Perhaps, even years hence, it may be of some use to you to read it again.

Believe me always

Your affectionate Uncle,

C. L. Dodgson.

ГЛАВА VIII

(1892—1896)

Mr. Dodgson resigns the Curatorship—Bazaars—He lectures to children—A mechanical "Humpty Dumpty"—A logical controversy—Albert Chevalier—"Sylvie and Bruno Concluded"—"Pillow Problems"—Mr. Dodgson's generosity—College services—Religious difficulties—A village sermon—Plans for the future—Reverence—"Symbolic Logic."

В Крайст-Черч, как и в других колледжах, общая комната является важной особенностью. Открытая с восьми утра до десяти вечера, она заменяет клуб, где преподаватели могут посмотреть газеты, поговорить, написать письма или выпить чашку чая. После обеда члены Высокого стола вместе со своими гостями, если таковые присутствуют, обычно переходят в общую комнату для вина и десерта, в то время как поблизости есть курительная комната для тех, кто не презирает безобидную, но ненужную травку, а внизу находятся погреба с хорошим запасом отборных старых вин.

Обязанности куратора были поэтому достаточно обременительными. Они были вдвойне таковыми в случае мистера Доджсона, ибо его любовь к минутной точности значительно увеличивала объем работы, которую он должен был выполнять. В его обязанности входило выбирать и покупать вина, вести счета, корректировать продажную цену в соответствии с себестоимостью, следить за тем, чтобы двое слуг общей комнаты выполняли свои обязанности, и в целом заботиться о комфорте и удобстве членов колледжа.

«Услышав, — писал он ближе к концу 1892 года, — что Стронг готов быть избранным (в качестве куратора), а общая комната готова избрать его, я с величайшей радостью подал в отставку. Чувство облегчения от освобождения от обременительной должности, которая стоила мне огромного количества времени и хлопот, очень приятно. Я был назначен куратором 8 декабря 1882 года, так что я занимал эту должность более девяти лет».

Литературными результатами его кураторства стали три очень интересные маленькие брошюры: «Двенадцать месяцев в кураторстве, от того, кто попробовал»; «Три года в кураторстве, от того, кого оно испытало»; и «Curiosissima Curatoria, от 'Rude Donatus'», все напечатанные для частного распространения и написанные в одном и том же серио-комическом ключе. Как логик, он, естественно, любил видеть свои мысли в печати, ибо, подобно тому как математический ум жаждет классной доски и куска мела, так и логический ум должен иметь бумагу и печатный станок, чтобы эффективно излагать свои выводы.

Нескольких выдержек будет достаточно, чтобы показать стиль этих брошюр и возможность, предоставленную для проявления юмора.

В установлении цен, по которым вина должны были продаваться членам общей комнаты, он нашел прекрасный простор для применения своих математических талантов и чувства пропорции. В одной из брошюр он берет старый портвейн и шабли в качестве иллюстраций.

The original cost of each is about 3s. a bottle; but the present value of the old Port is about 11s. a bottle. Let us suppose, then, that we have to sell to Common Room one bottle of old Port and three of Chablis, the original cost of the whole being 12s., and the present value 20s. These are our data. We have now two questions to answer. First, what sum shall we ask for the whole? Secondly, how shall we apportion that sum between the two kinds of wine?

Сумма, которую следует запросить за все, решает он, следуя прецеденту, должна быть текущей рыночной стоимостью вина; что касается второго вопроса, он продолжает:

We have, as so often happens in the lives of distinguished premiers, three courses before us: (1) to charge the present value for each kind of wine; (2) to put on a certain percentage to the original value of each kind; (3) to make a compromise between these two courses.

Course 1 seems to me perfectly reasonable; but a very plausible objection has been made to it—that it puts a prohibitory price on the valuable wines, and that they would remain unconsumed. This would not, however, involve any loss to our finances; we could obviously realise the enhanced values of the old wines by selling them to outsiders, if the members of Common Room would not buy them. But I do not advocate this course.

Course 2 would lead to charging 5s. a bottle for Port and Chablis alike. The Port-drinker would be "in clover," while the Chablis-drinker would probably begin getting his wine direct from the merchant instead of from the Common Room cellar, which would be a reductio ad absurdum of the tariff. Yet I have heard this course advocated, repeatedly, as an abstract principle. "You ought to consider the original value only," I have been told. "You ought to regard the Port-drinker as a private individual, who has laid the wine in for himself, and who ought to have all the advantages of its enhanced value. You cannot fairly ask him for more than what you need to refill the bins with Port, plus the percentage thereon needed to meet the contingent expenses." I have listened to such arguments, but have never been convinced that the course is just. It seems to me that the 8s. additional value which the bottle of Port has acquired, is the property of Common Room, and that Common Room has the power to give it to whom it chooses; and it does not seem to me fair to give it all to the Port-drinker. What merit is there in preferring Port to Chablis, that could justify our selling the Port-drinker his wine at less than half what he would have to give outside, and charging the Chablis-drinker five-thirds of what he would have to give outside? At all events, I, as a Port-drinker, do not wish to absorb the whole advantage, and would gladly share it with the Chablis-drinker. The course I recommend is

Course 3, which is a compromise between 1 and 2, its essential principle being to sell the new wines above their value, in order to be able to sell the old below their value. And it is clearly desirable, as far as possible, to make the reductions where they will be felt, and the additions where they will not be felt. Moreover it seems to me that reduction is most felt where it goes down to the next round sum, and an addition in the reverse case, i.e., when it starts from a round sum. Thus, if we were to take 2d. off a 5s. 8d. wine, and add it to a 4s. 4d.—thus selling them at 5s. 6d. and 4s. 6d. the reduction would be welcomed, and the addition unnoticed; and the change would be a popular one.

Следующий отрывок показывает, с какой легкомысленной фривольностью он мог подходить к этой огромной теме вина:—

The consumption of Madeira (B) has been during the past year, zero. After careful calculation I estimate that, if this rate of consumption be steadily maintained, our present stock will last us an infinite number of years. And although there may be something monotonous and dreary in the prospect of such vast cycles spent in drinking second-class Madeira, we may yet cheer ourselves with the thought of how economically it can be done.

Для помощи куратору в выполнении его обязанностей существовал Винный комитет, и для его руководства был составлен ряд правил. Первое гласит: «Должен быть Винный комитет, состоящий из пяти человек, включая куратора, в чьи обязанности входит помощь куратору в управлении погребом». «Следовательно, — писал мистер Доджсон, — логически, прямой обязанностью куратора является «помогать самому себе». Я отказываюсь говорить, скрашивал ли когда-нибудь этот пункт мое существование — или не видели ли меня когда-нибудь в вечерних сумерках покидающим погреба общей комнаты с маленьким, но подозрительно выглядящим свертком и бормочущим: «Помогай себе, помогай себе!»»

Каждое Рождество в Крайст-Черч дети слуг колледжа устраивают вечеринку в зале. В этом году его попросили развлечь их, и он с радостью согласился. Он нанял волшебный фонарь и большое количество слайдов и с их помощью рассказал детям три следующие истории: (1) «Богоявление»; (2) «Дети, потерявшиеся в буше»; (3) «Пикник Бруно».

Я уже упоминал о службах, проводимых в Крайст-Черч для слуг колледжа, на которых мистер Доджсон часто проповедовал. То, как он относился к этой работе, очень характерно для этого человека. «Еще раз, — пишет он, — я должен поблагодарить моего Небесного Отца за великое благословение и привилегию быть допущенным говорить за Него! Пусть Он благословит мои слова, чтобы помочь какой-нибудь душе на ее небесном пути». После одной из этих проповедей он получил записку от члена общины с благодарностью за то, что он сказал. «Очень приятно, — сказал он, — получать такие слова время от времени; но в них есть опасность, если их будет больше, я должен буду просить о молчании».

В течение года мистер Доджсон написал следующее письмо преподобному К. А. Гудхарту, ректору Ламборна, Эссекс:—

Dear Sir,—Your kind, sympathising and most encouraging letter about "Sylvie and Bruno" has deserved a better treatment from me than to have been thus kept waiting more than two years for an answer. But life is short; and one has many other things to do; and I have been for years almost hopelessly in arrears in correspondence. I keep a register, so that letters which I intend to answer do somehow come to the front at last.

In "Sylvie and Bruno" I took courage to introduce what I had entirely avoided in the two "Alice" books—some reference to subjects which are, after all, the only subjects of real interest in life, subjects which are so intimately bound up with every topic of human interest that it needs more effort to avoid them than to touch on them; and I felt that such a book was more suitable to a clerical writer than one of mere fun.

I hope I have not offended many (evidently I have not offended you) by putting scenes of mere fun, and talk about God, into the same book.

Only one of all my correspondents ever guessed there was more to come of the book. She was a child, personally unknown to me, who wrote to "Lewis Carroll" a sweet letter about the book, in which she said, "I'm so glad it hasn't got a regular wind-up, as it shows there is more to come!"

There is indeed "more to come." When I came to piece together the mass of accumulated material I found it was quite double what could be put into one volume. So I divided it in the middle; and I hope to bring out "Sylvie and Bruno Concluded" next Christmas—if, that is, my Heavenly Master gives me the time and the strength for the task; but I am nearly 60, and have no right to count on years to come.

In signing my real name, let me beg you not to let the information go further—I have an intense dislike to personal publicity; and, the more people there are who know nothing of "Lewis Carroll" save his books, the happier I am.

Believe me, sincerely yours,

Charles L. Dodgson.

Я не пытался перечислить все игры и головоломки, которые изобрел Льюис Кэрролл. Список тех, что были опубликованы, можно найти в библиографической главе. Он намеревался выпустить книгу «Оригинальные игры и головоломки» с иллюстрациями мисс Э. Гертруды Томсон. Рукопись, полагаю, была почти закончена до его смерти, и один из рисунков, по крайней мере, был сделан. 30 июня он записал в своем дневнике: «Изобрел то, что считаю новым видом загадки. У русского было три сына. Первый, по имени Раб, стал юристом; второй, Имра, стал солдатом; третий стал моряком. Как его звали?»

Следующее письмо, написанное подруге-ребенку, мисс Э. Друри, иллюстрирует ненависть Льюиса Кэрролла к базарам:—

Ch. Ch., Oxford, Nov. 10, 1892.

My dear Emmie,—I object to all bazaars on the general principle that they are very undesirable schools for young ladies, in which they learn to be "too fast" and forward, and are more exposed to undesirable acquaintances than in ordinary society. And I have, besides that, special objections to bazaars connected with charitable or religious purposes. It seems to me that they desecrate the religious object by their undesirable features, and that they take the reality out of all charity by getting people to think that they are doing a good action, when their true motive is amusement for themselves. Ruskin has put all this far better than I can possibly do, and, if I can find the passage, and find the time to copy it, I will send it you. But time is a very scarce luxury for me!

Always yours affectionately,

C.L. Dodgson.

В последние годы он часто читал лекции на различные темы детям. Он провел серию лекций по «Логике» в Оксфордской средней школе для девочек, но иногда заходил и дальше, как в следующем случае:—

Went, as arranged with Miss A. Ottley, to the High School at Worcester, on a visit. At half-past three I had an audience of about a hundred little girls, aged, I should think, from about six to fourteen. I showed them two arithmetic puzzles on the black-board, and told them "Bruno's Picnic." At half-past seven I addressed some serious words to a second audience of about a hundred elder girls, probably from fifteen to twenty—an experience of the deepest interest to me.

Иллюстрация на следующей странице будет лучше всего объяснена следующим письмом, которое я получил от мистера Уолтера Линдси из Филадельфии, США:—

Phila., September 12, 1898.

Dear Sir,—I shall be very glad to furnish what information I can with respect to the "Mechanical Humpty Dumpty" which I constructed a few years ago, but I must begin by acknowledging that, in one sense at least, I did not "invent" the figure. The idea was first put into my head by an article in the Cosmopolitan, somewhere about 1891, I suppose, describing a similar contrivance. As a devoted admirer of the "Alice" books, I determined to build a Humpty Dumpty of my own; but I left the model set by the author of the article mentioned, and constructed the figure on entirely different lines. In the first place, the figure as described in the magazine had very few movements, and not very satisfactory ones at that; and in the second place, no attempt whatever was made to reproduce, even in a general way, the well-known appearance of Tenniel's drawing. Humpty, when completed, was about two feet and a half high. His face, of course, was white; the lower half of the egg was dressed in brilliant blue. His stockings were grey, and the famous cravat orange, with a zigzag pattern in blue. I am sorry to say that the photograph hardly does him justice; but he had travelled to so many different places during his career, that he began to be decidedly out of shape before he sat for his portrait.

THE MECHANICAL "HUMPTY DUMPTY."

From a photograph.

When Humpty was about to perform, a short "talk" was usually given before the curtain rose, explaining the way in which the Sheep put the egg on the shelf at the back of the little shop, and how Alice went groping along to it. And then, just as the explanation had reached the opening of the chapter on Humpty Dumpty, the curtain rose, and Humpty was discovered, sitting on the wall, and gazing into vacancy. As soon as the audience had had time to recover, Alice entered, and the conversation was carried on just as it is in the book. Humpty Dumpty gesticulated with his arms, rolled his eyes, raised his eyebrows, frowned, turned up his nose in scorn at Alice's ignorance, and smiled from ear to ear when he shook hands with her. Besides this, his mouth kept time with his words all through the dialogue, which added very greatly to his life-like appearance.

The effect of his huge face, as it changed from one expression to another, was ludicrous in the extreme, and we were often obliged to repeat sentences in the conversation (to "go back to the last remark but one") because the audience laughed so loudly over Humpty Dumpty's expression of face that they drowned what he was trying to say. The funniest effect was the change from the look of self-satisfied complacency with which he accompanied the words: "The king has promised me—" to that of towering rage when Alice innocently betrays her knowledge of the secret. At the close of the scene, when Alice has vainly endeavoured to draw him into further conversation, and at last walks away in disgust, Humpty loses his balance on the wall, recovers himself, totters again, and then falls off backwards; at the same time a box full of broken glass is dropped on the floor behind the scenes, to represent the "heavy crash," which "shook the forest from end to end";—and the curtain falls.

Now, as to how it was all done. Humpty was made of barrel hoops, and covered with stiff paper and muslin. His eyes were round balls of rags, covered with muslin, drawn smoothly, and with the pupil and iris marked on the front. These eyes were pivoted to a board, fastened just behind the eye-openings in the face. To the eyeballs were sewed strong pieces of tape, which passed through screw-eyes on the edges of the board, and so down to a row of levers which were hinged in the lower part of the figure. One lever raised both eyes upward, another moved them both to the left, and so on. The eyebrows were of worsted and indiarubber knitted together. They were fastened at the ends, and raised and lowered by fine white threads passing through small holes in the face, and also operated by levers. The arms projected into the interior of the machine, and the gestures were made by moving the short ends inside. The right hand contained a spring clothe-pin, by which he was enabled to hold the note— book in which Alice set down the celebrated problem— 365 1 ___ 364

The movement of the mouth, in talking, was produced by a long tape, running down to a pedal, which was controlled by the foot of the performer. And the smile consisted of long strips of red tape, which were drawn out through slits at the corners of the mouth by means of threads which passed through holes in the sides of the head. The performer—who was always your humble servant—stood on a box behind the wall, his head just reaching the top of the egg, which was open all the way up the back. At the lower end of the figure, convenient to the hands of the performer, was the row of levers, like a little keyboard; and by striking different chords on the keys, any desired expression could be produced on the face.

Of course, a performance of this kind without a good Alice would be unutterably flat; but the little girl who played opposite to Humpty, Miss Nellie K—, was so exactly the counterpart of Alice, both in appearance and disposition, that most children thought she was the original, right out of the book.

Humpty still exists, but he has not seen active life for some years. His own popularity was the cause of his retirement; for having given a number of performances (for Charity, of course), and delighted many thousands of children of all ages, the demands upon his time, from Sunday-schools and other institutions, became so numerous that the performers were obliged to withdraw him in self-defence. He was a great deal of trouble to build, but the success he met with and the pleasure he gave more than repaid me for the bother; and I am sure that any one else who tries it will reach the same conclusion.

Yours sincerely,

Walter Lindsay.

В начале 1893 года между Льюисом Кэрроллом и мистером Куком Уилсоном, профессором логики в Оксфорде, велась ожесточенная логическая битва. Профессор, несмотря на бесчисленные аргументы, которые мистер Доджсон обрушивал на его голову, не хотел признавать, что совершил ошибку.

5 февраля профессор, по-видимому, уступил в одном пункте, ибо мистер Доджсон пишет: «Получил известие от Кука Уилсона, который долго отказывался читать статью, которую я отправил 12 января и которая, как мне кажется, доказывает ошибочность его взгляда на гипотетические суждения. Теперь он предлагает прочитать ее, если я изучу доказательство, которое он прислал, о том, что другая моя задача имела противоречивые данные. Я принял его предложение, изучил и ответил на его статью. Так что теперь я с надеждой жду результата его прочтения моей».

Надежды, которые он питал, были обречены на разочарование; споры не принесли плодов, кроме нескольких брошюр и огромного количества переписки, и в конечном итоге двум антагонистам пришлось согласиться на том, что они остаются при своих мнениях.

Как правило, мистер Доджсон был суровым противником мюзик-холлов и певцов мюзик-холлов; но он сделал одно или два исключения в отношении последних. Шевалье он не мог не хвалить; он слышал его на одном из его сольных концертов, ибо никогда в жизни не входил в «театр варьете». Я привожу отрывок из его дневника:—

Went to hear Mr. Albert Chevalier's Recital. I only knew of him as being now recognised as facile princeps among music-hall singers, and did not remember that I had seen him twice or oftener on the stage—first as "Mr. Hobbs" in "Little Lord Fauntleroy," and afterwards as a "horsy" young man in a matinée in which Violet Vanbrugh appeared. He was decidedly good as an actor; but as a comic singer (with considerable powers of pathos as well) he is quite first-rate. His chief merit seems to be the earnestness with which he throws himself into the work. The songs (mostly his own writing) were quite inoffensive, and very funny. I am very glad to be able to think that his influence on public taste is towards refinement and purity. I liked best "The Future Mrs. 'Awkins," with its taking tune, and "My Old Dutch," which revealed powers that, I should think, would come out grandly in Robsonian parts, such as "The Porter's Knot." "The Little Nipper" was also well worth hearing.

Взгляды мистера Доджсона на соблюдение воскресного дня были старомодными, но он жил в соответствии с ними и не пытался навязывать их людям, к действиям которых не имел отношения. Для него это были чисто вопросы «частного мнения». 2 октября он написал мисс Э. Г. Томсон, которая иллюстрировала его «Три заката»:—

Would you kindly do no sketches, or photos, for me, on a Sunday? It is, in my view (of course I don't condemn any one who differs from me) inconsistent with keeping the day holy. I do not hold it to be the Jewish "Sabbath," but I do hold it to be "the Lord's Day," and so to be made very distinct from the other days.

В декабре, когда логическая полемика на время утихла, мистер Доджсон придумал новую задачу, чтобы озадачить своих друзей-математиков, которую назвали «Задача об обезьяне и грузе». Предполагается, что веревка перекинута через блок, закрепленный на крыше здания; на одном конце веревки закреплен груз, который в точности уравновешивает обезьяну, висящую на другом конце. Предположим, что обезьяна начинает карабкаться вверх по веревке; каков будет результат? Следующий отрывок из дневника иллюстрирует несколько возможных ответов, которые могут быть даны:

Got Professor Clifton's answer to the "Monkey and Weight Problem." It is very curious, the different views taken by good mathematicians. Price says the weight goes up, with increasing velocity; Clifton (and Harcourt) that it goes up, at the same rate as the monkey; while Sampson says that it goes down.

24 декабря мистер Доджсон получил первые двенадцать экземпляров «Сильви и Бруно. Заключение», спустя почти четыре года после выхода первой части истории. В этом втором томе двое детей-фей по-прежнему восхитительны; в нем также содержится то, что, как я полагаю, большинство людей сочтет самым прекрасным стихотворением, когда-либо написанным Льюисом Кэрроллом: «Скажи, в чем чары, когда птенцы щебечут?» (стр. 305). В предисловии он делает вполне заслуженный комплимент мистеру Гарри Фёрниссу за его удивительно искусные иллюстрации; он также объясняет, как была написана книга, показывая, что многие забавные замечания Бруно были произнесены реальными детьми. Он упоминает две книги, которые только смерть помешала ему закончить: «Оригинальные игры и головоломки» и статью о «Спорте» с точки зрения гуманиста. С литературной точки зрения второму тому «Сильви и Бруно» не хватает единства; сказка — это хорошо, и роман — тоже хорошо, но их сочетание, безусловно, является ошибкой. Однако читатель, который больше заботится о духе, чем о букве, не заметит этого изъяна; для него «Сильви и Бруно. Заключение» будет интересной и полезной книгой как откровение очень прекрасной личности.

You have made everything turn out just as I should have chosen [writes a friend to whom he had sent a copy], and made right all that disappointed me in the first part. I have not only to thank you for writing an interesting book, but for writing a helpful one too. I am sure that "Sylvie and Bruno" has given me many thoughts that will help me all life through. One cannot know "Sylvie" without being the better for it. You may say that "Mister Sir" is not consciously meant to be yourself, but I cannot help feeling that he is. As "Mister Sir" talks, I hear your voice in every word. I think, perhaps, that is why I like the book so much.

Я получил интересное письмо от мистера Фёрнисса, касающееся темы «Сильви и Бруно» и методов работы Льюиса Кэрролла. Письмо гласит:

I have illustrated stories of most of our leading authors, and I can safely say that Lewis Carroll was the only one who cared to understand the illustrations to his own book. He was the W. S. Gilbert for children, and, like Gilbert producing one of his operas, Lewis Carroll took infinite pains to study every detail in producing his extraordinary and delightful books. Mr. Gilbert, as every one knows, has a model of the stage; he puts up the scenery, draws every figure, moves them about just as he wishes the real actors to move about. Lewis Carroll was precisely the same. This, of course, led to a great deal of work and trouble, and made the illustrating of his books more a matter of artistic interest than of professional profit. I was seven years illustrating his last work, and during that time I had the pleasure of many an interesting meeting with the fascinating author, and I was quite repaid for the trouble I took, not only by his generous appreciation of my efforts, but by the liberal remuneration he gave for the work, and also by the charm of having intercourse with the interesting, if somewhat erratic genius.

Примерно в то же время вышла книга, сильно отличающаяся по характеру от «Сильви и Бруно», но под тем же известным псевдонимом. Я имею в виду «Задачи на подушке», вторую часть серии под названием «Curiosa Mathematica».

«Задачи на подушке, обдуманные в часы бессонницы» — это сборник математических задач, которые мистер Доджсон решал, лежа без сна по ночам. Есть несколько задач, к которым название применимо не в строгом смысле, но все они были проработаны в уме до того, как какая-либо диаграмма или слово решения были перенесены на бумагу.

Автор говорит, что его обычная практика состояла в том, чтобы сначала записать ответ, а затем вопрос и его решение. Его мотивом для публикации этих задач, по его словам, было вовсе не желание продемонстрировать свои способности к ментальному счету. Те, кто знал его, легко в это поверят, хотя вряд ли будут склонны принять его собственную скромную оценку этих способностей.

Тем не менее книга предназначалась не для избранных, способных покорить горные вершины высшей математики, а для гораздо более широкого круга обычных математиков, и они, по крайней мере, смогут оценить одаренного автора и удивиться тому, как он мог так ясно прослеживать в уме ментальные диаграммы и сложные вычисления, задействованные в некоторых из этих «Задач на подушке».

Его главным мотивом при публикации книги было показать, как с помощью небольшой решимости разум «можно заставить сосредоточиться на каком-либо интеллектуальном предмете (не обязательно математическом) и тем самым изгнать те мелкие неприятности и досады, которые испытывает большинство людей и которые — если разум не занят чем-то иным — будут настойчиво вторгаться в ночные часы». И это средство, как он показывает, служит еще более высокой цели. В абзаце, который заслуживает того, чтобы процитировать его полностью, поскольку он дает нам мимолетный взгляд на его утонченный и прекрасный характер, он говорит:

Perhaps I may venture for a moment to use a more serious tone, and to point out that there are mental troubles, much worse than mere worry, for which an absorbing object of thought may serve as a remedy. There are sceptical thoughts, which seem for the moment to uproot the firmest faith: there are blasphemous thoughts, which dart unbidden into the most reverent souls: there are unholy thoughts, which torture with their hateful presence the fancy that would fain be pure. Against all these some real mental work is a most helpful ally. That "unclean spirit" of the parable, who brought back with him seven others more wicked than himself, only did so because he found the chamber "swept and garnished," and its owner sitting with folded hands. Had he found it all alive with the "busy hum" of active work, there would have been scant welcome for him and his seven!

Книга лишилась бы своего истинного характера, если бы Льюис Кэрролл попытался улучшить работу, проделанную в уме, и, следовательно, мы имеем решения в том виде, в каком он их разработал, прежде чем записать на бумагу. О самих задачах здесь нечего много говорить; они оригинальны, а некоторые из них (например, № 52) выражены в стиле, присущем исключительно автору. Предметы, охваченные ими, включают арифметику, алгебру, чистую геометрию (планиметрию), тригонометрию, алгебраическую геометрию и дифференциальное исчисление; и есть одна задача, на которую, по словам мистера Доджсона, он «может с гордостью указать» в разделе «Трансцендентные вероятности», которая приводится здесь: «В сумке находятся два жетона, о которых ничего не известно, кроме того, что каждый из них либо черный, либо белый. Определите их цвет, не вынимая их из сумки». Ответ: «Один черный, другой белый». За решением читатель отсылается к самой книге, изучение которой будет для него весьма полезным, не считая шанса, который у него может появиться, обнаружить какую-либо ошибку и испытать от этого радость!

Ниже приведено несколько выдержек из дневника, написанных в начале 1894 года:

Feb. 1st.—Dies notandus. As Ragg was reading Prayers, and Bayne and I were the only M.A.'s in the stalls, I tried the experiment of going to the lectern and reading the lesson. I did not hesitate much, but feel it too great a strain on the nerves to be tried often. Then I went to the Latin Chapel for Holy Communion. Only Paget (Dean) and Dr. Huntley came: so, for the first time in my recollection, it had to be given up. Then I returned to my rooms, and found in The Standard the very important communication from Gladstone denying the rumour that he has decided upon resigning the Premiership, but admitting that, owing to failing powers, it may come at any moment. It will make a complete change in the position of politics! Then I got, from Cook Wilson, what I have been so long trying for—an accepted transcript of the fallacious argument over which we have had an (apparently) endless fight. I think the end is near, now.

Feb. 4th.—The idea occurred to me that it might be a pleasant variation in Backgammon to throw three dice, and choose any two of the three numbers. The average quality of the throws would be much raised. I reckon that the chance of "6, 6" would be about two and a half what it now is. It would also furnish a means, similar to giving points in billiards, for equalising players: the weaker might use three dice, the other using two. I think of calling it "Thirdie Backgammon."

March 31st.—Have just got printed, as a leaflet, "A Disputed Point in Logic"—the point Professor Wilson and I have been arguing so long. This paper is wholly in his own words, and puts the point very clearly. I think of submitting it to all my logical friends.

«Спорный вопрос в логике» также появился, полагаю, в журнале Mind за июль 1894 года.

Это кажется подходящим местом, чтобы рассказать о той стороне характера мистера Доджсона, о которой он сам был, естественно, очень сдержан — о его удивительной щедрости. Мой собственный опыт общения с ним был опытом человека, который всегда был готов сделать добро, даже если это стоило ему больших расходов и неудобств; но, конечно, при его жизни я не знал, что мой опыт общения с ним был таким же, как и у всех остальных его друзей. Доход от своих книг и других источников, который мог бы быть потрачен на жизнь в роскоши и эгоизме, он щедро раздавал там, где видел, что это необходимо, и ради этого он всегда жил самым простым образом. Делать других счастливыми было золотым правилом его жизни. 31 августа он написал в письме к своей подруге, мисс Мэри Браун: «А теперь что мне рассказать вам о себе? Сказать, что я совершенно здоров, — это само собой разумеется. На самом деле моя жизнь настолько странно свободна от всех испытаний и невзгод, что я не могу не сомневаться в том, что мое собственное счастье — это один из талантов, вверенных мне, чтобы "употреблять" его до возвращения Господина, делая что-то для того, чтобы сделать другие жизни счастливыми».

В нескольких случаях, когда друзья, оказавшиеся в нужде, писали ему с просьбой о денежном займе, он отвечал им: «Я не дам в долг, но я подарю вам те 100 фунтов, о которых вы просите». Чтобы помочь детям-друзьям, которые хотели выступать на сцене или заняться музыкой профессионально, он знакомил их с ведущими актерами и актрисами, оплачивал им уроки пения у лучших мастеров, рассылал циркуляры своим многочисленным знакомым с просьбой поддержать их первый концерт или сольное выступление.

При написании своих книг он никогда не пытался завоевать популярность, потакая предрассудкам и слабостям века — его единственной целью было сделать свои книги полезными, помогающими и облагораживающими. Подобно великому Учителю, по стопам которого он так искренне стремился следовать, он «ходил, творя добро». И приятно думать, что даже память о нем служит той же цели. Детские кроватки «Алиса» — достойное продолжение его щедрой жизни.

Даже мистер Доджсон, при всем его хваленом здоровье, не был абсолютно застрахован от болезней, ибо 12 февраля 1895 года он пишет:

Tenth day of a rather bad attack of influenza of the ague type. Last night the fever rose to a great height, partly caused by a succession of five visitors. One, however, was of my own seeking—Dean Paget, to whom I was thankful to be able to tell all I have had in my mind for a year or more, as to our Chapel services not being as helpful as they could be made. The chief fault is extreme rapidity. I long ago gave up the attempt to say the Confession at that pace; and now I say it, and the Lord's Prayer, close together, and never hear a word of the Absolution. Also many of the Lessons are quite unedifying.

11 июля он написал моему брату по поводу статьи о вечном наказании, которая должна была стать первой из серии эссе о религиозных трудностях:

I am sending you the article on "Eternal Punishment" as it is. There is plenty of matter for consideration, as to which I shall be glad to know your views.

Also if there are other points, connected with religion, where you feel that perplexing difficulties exist, I should be glad to know of them in order to see whether I can see my way to saying anything helpful.

But I had better add that I do not want to deal with any such difficulties, unless they tend to affect life. Speculative difficulties which do not affect conduct, and which come into collision with any of the principles which I intend to state as axioms, lie outside the scope of my book. These axioms are:—

(1) Human conduct is capable of being right, and of being wrong.

(2) I possess Free-Will, and am able to choose between right and wrong.

(3) I have in some cases chosen wrong.

(4) I am responsible for choosing wrong.

(5) I am responsible to a person.

(6) This person is perfectly good.

I call them axioms, because I have no proofs to offer for them. There will probably be others, but these are all I can think of just now.

Преподобный Г. Хопли, викарий Вестхэма, прислал мне следующий интересный рассказ о проповеди, которую мистер Доджсон произнес в его церкви:

In the autumn of 1895 the Vicar of Eastbourne was to have preached my Harvest Sermon at Westham, a village five miles away; but something or other intervened, and in the middle of the week I learned he could not come. A mutual friend suggested my asking Mr. Dodgson, who was then in Eastbourne, to help me, and I went with him to his rooms. I was quite a stranger to Mr. Dodgson; but knowing from hearsay how reluctant he usually was to preach, I apologised and explained my position—with Sunday so near at hand. After a moment's hesitation he consented, and in a most genial manner made me feel quite at ease as to the abruptness of my petition. On the morrow he came over to my vicarage, and made friends with my daughters, teaching them some new manner of playing croquet [probably Castle Croquet], and writing out for them puzzles and anagrams that he had composed.

The following letter was forwarded on the Saturday:—

"7, Lushington Road, Eastbourne,

September 26, 1895.

Dear Mr. Hopley,—I think you will excuse the liberty I am taking in asking you to give me some food after the service on Sunday, so that I may have no need to catch the train, but can walk back at leisure. This will save me from the worry of trying to conclude at an exact minute, and you, perhaps, from the trouble of finding short hymns, to save time. It will not, I hope, cause your cook any trouble, as my regular rule here is cold dinner on Sundays. This not from any "Sabbatarian" theory, but from the wish to let our employés have the day wholly at their own disposal.

I beg Miss Hopley's acceptance of the enclosed papers— (puzzles and diagrams.)

Believe me, very truly yours,

C.L. Dodgson."

On Sunday our grand old church was crowded, and, although our villagers are mostly agricultural labourers, yet they breathlessly listened to a sermon forty minutes long, and apparently took in every word of it. It was quite extempore, in very simple words, and illustrated by some delightful and most touching stories of children. I only wish there had been a shorthand-writer there.

In the vestry after service, while he was signing his name in the Preachers' Book, a church officer handed him a bit of paper. "Mr. Dodgson, would you very kindly write your name on that?" "Sir!" drawing himself up sternly—"Sir, I never do that for any one"—and then, more kindly, "You see, if I did it for one, I must do it for all."

Забавный случай из жизни мистера Доджсона связан с известной драмой «Два маленьких бродяги». Я привожу эту историю так, как он записал ее в своем дневнике:

Nov. 28th.—Matinée at the Princess's of "Two Little Vagabonds," a very sensational melodrama, capitally acted. "Dick" and "Wally" were played by Kate Tyndall and Sydney Fairbrother, whom I guess to be about fifteen and twelve. Both were excellent, and the latter remarkable for the perfect realism of her acting. There was some beautiful religious dialogue between "Wally" and a hospital nurse— most reverently spoken, and reverently received by the audience.

Dec. 17th.—I have given books to Kate Tyndall and Sydney Fairbrother, and have heard from them, and find I was entirely mistaken in taking them for children. Both are married women!

Ниже приводится отрывок из письма, написанного в 1896 году одной из его сестер, в связи со смертью, которая недавно произошла в семье:

It is getting increasingly difficult now to remember which of one's friends remain alive, and which have gone "into the land of the great departed, into the silent land." Also, such news comes less and less as a shock, and more and more one realises that it is an experience each of us has to face before long. That fact is getting less dreamlike to me now, and I sometimes think what a grand thing it will be to be able to say to oneself, "Death is over now; there is not that experience to be faced again."

I am beginning to think that, if the books I am still hoping to write are to be done at all, they must be done now, and that I am meant thus to utilise the splendid health I have had, unbroken, for the last year and a half, and the working powers that are fully as great as, if not greater, than I have ever had. I brought with me here (this letter was written from Eastbourne) the MS., such as it is (very fragmentary and unarranged) for the book about religious difficulties, and I meant, when I came here, to devote myself to that, but I have changed my plan. It seems to me that that subject is one that hundreds of living men could do, if they would only try, much better than I could, whereas there is no living man who could (or at any rate who would take the trouble to) arrange and finish and publish the second part of the "Logic." Also, I have the Logic book in my head; it will only need three or four months to write out, and I have not got the other book in my head, and it might take years to think out. So I have decided to get Part ii. finished first, and I am working at it day and night. I have taken to early rising, and sometimes sit down to my work before seven, and have one and a half hours at it before breakfast. The book will be a great novelty, and will help, I fully believe, to make the study of Logic far easier than it now is. And it will, I also believe, be a help to religious thought by giving clearness of conception and of expression, which may enable many people to face, and conquer, many religious difficulties for themselves. So I do really regard it as work for God.

Другое письмо, написанное несколько месяцев спустя мисс Доре Абди, касается темы «Благоговения», которое мистер Доджсон считал добродетелью, не пользующейся достаточным уважением в наши дни:

My Dear Dora,—In correcting the proofs of "Through the Looking-Glass" (which is to have "An Easter Greeting" inserted at the end), I am reminded that in that letter (I enclose a copy), I had tried to express my thoughts on the very subject we talked about last night—the relation of laughter to religious thought. One of the hardest things in the world is to convey a meaning accurately from one mind to another, but the sort of meaning I want to convey to other minds is that while the laughter of joy is in full harmony with our deeper life, the laughter of amusement should be kept apart from it. The danger is too great of thus learning to look at solemn things in a spirit of mockery, and to seek in them opportunities for exercising wit. That is the spirit which has spoiled, for me, the beauty of some of the Bible. Surely there is a deep meaning in our prayer, "Give us an heart to love and dread Thee." We do not mean terror: but a dread that will harmonise with love; "respect" we should call it as towards a human being, "reverence" as towards God and all religious things.