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to handle numbers and quantities through their symbols to an
indefinite extent； and yet； I am puzzled by what seems to a clever
boy with a turn for calculation as plain as counting his fingers。 I
don't think any man feels well grounded in knowledge unless he has a
good basis of mathematical certainties； and knows how to deal with
them and apply them to every branch of knowledge where they can come
in to advantage。
Our Young Astronomer is known for his mathematical ability； and I
asked him what he thought was the difficulty in the minds that are
weak in that particular direction； while they may be of remarkable
force in other provinces of thought； as is notoriously the case with
some men of great distinction in science。
The young man smiled and wrote a few letters and symbols on a piece
of paper。…Can you see through that at once？he said。
I puzzled over it for some minutes and gave it up。
He said； as I returned it to him； You have heard military men say
that such a person had an eye for country； have n't you？ One man
will note all the landmarks； keep the points of compass in his head；
observe how the streams run； in short； carry a map in his brain of
any region that he has marched or galloped through。 Another man
takes no note of any of these things； always follows somebody else's
lead when he can； and gets lost if he is left to himself； a mere owl
in daylight。 Just so some men have an eye for an equation； and would
read at sight the one that you puzzled over。 It is told of Sir Isaac
Newton that he required no demonstration of the propositions in
Euclid's Geometry； but as soon as he had read the enuciation the
solution or answer was plain at once。 The power may be cultivated；
but I think it is to a great degree a natural gift； as is the eye for
color； as is the ear for music。
I think I could read equations readily enough；I said；if I could
only keep my attention fixed on them； and I think I could keep my
attention on them if I were imprisoned in a thinking…cell； such as
the Creative Intelligence shapes for its studio when at its divinest
work。
The young man's lustrous eyes opened very widely as he asked me to
explain what I meant。
What is the Creator's divinest work？I asked。
Is there anything more divine than the sun； than a sun with its
planets revolving about it； warming them； lighting them； and giving
conscious life to the beings that move on them？
You agree； then； that conscious life is the grand aim and end of
all this vast mechanism。 Without life that could feel and enjoy； the
splendors and creative energy would all be thrown away。 You know
Harvey's saying； omnia animalia ex ovo；all animals come from an
egg。 You ought to know it； for the great controversy going on about
spontaneous generation has brought it into special prominence lately。
Well； then； the ovum； the egg； is； to speak in human phrase； the
Creator's more private and sacred studio； for his magnum opus。 Now；
look at a hen's egg； which is a convenient one to study； because it
is large enough and built solidly enough to look at and handle
easily。 That would be the form I would choose for my thinking…cell。
Build me an oval with smooth； translucent walls； and put me in the
centre of it with Newton's 〃Principia〃 or Kant's 〃Kritik；〃 and I
think I shall develop 〃an eye for an equation；〃 as you call it； and a
capacity for an abstraction。
But do tell me；said the Astronomer； a little incredulously；what
there is in that particular form which is going to help you to be a
mathematician or a metaphysician？
It is n't help I want； it is removing hindrances。 I don't want to
see anything to draw off my attention。 I don't want a cornice； or an
angle； or anything but a containing curve。 I want diffused light and
no single luminous centre to fix my eye； and so distract my mind from
its one object of contemplation。 The metaphysics of attention have
hardly been sounded to their depths。 The mere fixing the look on any
single object for a long time may produce very strange effects。
Gibbon's well…known story of the monks of Mount Athos and their
contemplative practice is often laughed over； but it has a meaning。
They were to shut the door of the cell； recline the beard and chin on
the breast； and contemplate the abdominal centre。
〃At first all will be dark and comfortless； but if you persevere day
and night； you will feel an ineffable joy； and no sooner has the soul
discovered the place of the heart； than it is involved in a mystic
and ethereal light。〃 And Mr。 Braid produces absolute anaesthesia；
so that surgical operations can be performed without suffering to the
patient； only by making him fix his eyes and his mind on a single
object； and Newton is said to have said； as you remember； 〃I keep the
subject constantly before me； and wait till the first dawnings open
slowly by little and little into a full and clear light。〃 These are
different； but certainly very wonderful； instances of what can be
done by attention。 But now suppose that your mind is in its nature
discursive； erratic； subject to electric attractions and repulsions；
volage； it may be impossible for you to compel your attention except
by taking away all external disturbances。 I think the poets have an
advantage and a disadvantage as compared with the steadier…going
people。 Life is so vivid to the poet； that he is too eager to seize
and exhaust its multitudinous impressions。 Like Sindbad in the
valley of precious stones； he wants to fill his pockets with
diamonds； but； lo！ there is a great ruby like a setting sun in its
glory； and a sapphire that； like Bryant's blue gentian； seems to have
dropped from the cerulean walls of heaven； and a nest of pearls that
look as if they might be unhatched angel's eggs； and so he hardly
knows what to seize； and tries for too many； and comes out of the
enchanted valley with more gems than he can carry； and those that he
lets fall by the wayside we call his poems。 You may change the image
a thousand ways to show you how hard it is to make a mathematician or
a logician out of a poet。 He carries the tropics with him wherever
he goes； he is in the true sense felius naturae； and Nature tempts
him； as she tempts a child walking through a garden where all the
finest fruits are hanging over him and dropping round him； where
The luscious clusters of the vine
Upon （his） mouth do crush their wine；
The nectarine and curious peach；
Into （his） hands themselves do reach；
and he takes a bite out of the sunny side of this and the other； and；
ever stimulated and never satisfied； is hurried through the garden；
and； before he knows it； finds himself at an iron gate which opens
outward； and leaves the place he knows and loves
For one he will perhaps soon learn to love and know better；said
the Master。…But I can help you out with another comparison； not
quite so poetical as yours。 Why did not you think of a railway…
station； where the cars stop five minutes for refreshments？ Is n't
that a picture of the poet's hungry and hurried feast at the banquet
of life？ The traveller flings himself on the bewildering miscellany
of delicacies sp