第3部分(第2/7 頁)

ctly　the　definition　fits　my　case　in　both　senses　of　the　word

〃apprehend〃！　With　my　hand　I　seize　and　hold　all　that　I　find　in　the　three

worlds……physical；　intellectual；　and　spiritual。

Think　how　man　has　regarded　the　world　in　terms　of　the　hand。　All　life　is

divided　between　what　lies　_on　one　hand_　and　on　the　other。　The　products

of　skill　are　_manu_factures。　The　conduct　of　affairs　is　_man_agement。

History　seems　to　be　the　record……alas　for　our　chronicles　of　war！……of　the

_man_oeuvres　of　armies。　But　the　history　of　peace；　too；　the　narrative　of

labour　in　the　field；　the　forest；　and　the　vineyard；　is　written　in　the

victorious　sign　_manual_……the　sign　of　the　hand　that　has　conquered　the

wilderness。　The　labourer　himself　is　called　a　_hand_。　In　_man_acle　and

_manu_mission　we　read　the　story　of　human　slavery　and　freedom。

The　minor　idioms　are　myriad；　but　I　will　not　recall　too　many；　lest　you

cry；　〃Hands　off！〃　I　cannot　desist；　however；　from　this　word…game　until　I

have　set　down　a　few。　Whatever　is　not　one's　own　by　first　possession　is

_second…hand_。　That　is　what　I　am　told　my　knowledge　is。　But　my

well…meaning　friends　e　to　my　defence；　and；　not　content　with　endowing

me　with　natural　_first…hand_　knowledge　which　is　rightfully　mine；　ascribe

to　me　a　preternatural　sixth　sense　and　credit　to　miracles　and　heaven…sent

pensations　all　that　I　have　won　and　discovered　with　my　good　right

hand。　And　with　my　left　hand　too；　for　with　that　I　read；　and　it　is　as　true

and　honourable　as　the　other。　By　what　half…development　of　human　power　has

the　left　hand　been　neglected？　When　we　arrive　at　the　acme　of　civilization

shall　we　not　all　be　ambidextrous；　and　in　our　_hand…to…hand_　c