There is probably neither in Europe nor anywhere else a scholar whose face is more universally known than that of Dr. Schwaryencrona, of Stockholm. His portrait appears on the millions of bottles with green seals, which are sent to the confines of the globe.
Truth compels us to state that these bottles only contain cod1 liver oil, a good and useful medicine; which is sold to the inhabitants of Norway for a "couronnes," which is worth one franc and thirty-nine centimes.
Formerly2 this oil was made by the fishermen, but now the process is a more scientific one, and the prince of this special industry is the celebrated3 Dr. Schwaryencrona.
There is no one who has not seen his pointed4 beard, his spectacles, his hooked nose, and his cap of otter5 skin. The engraving6, perhaps, is not very fine, but it is certainly a striking likeness7. A proof of this is what happened one day in a primary school in Noroe, on the western coast of Norway, a few leagues from Bergen.
Two o'clock had struck. The pupils were in their classes in the large, sanded hall--the girls on the left and the boys on the right--occupied in following the demonstration8 which their teacher, Mr. Malarius, was making on the black-board. Suddenly the door opened, and a fur coat, fur boots, fur gloves, and a cap of otter, made their appearance on the threshold.
The pupils immediately rose respectfully, as is usual when a stranger visits the class-room. None of them had ever seen the new arrival before, but they all whispered when they saw him, "Doctor Schwaryencrona," so much did the picture engraved9 on the bottles resemble the doctor.
We must say that the pupils of Mr. Malarius had the bottles continually before their eyes, for one of the principal manufactories of the doctor was at Noroe. But for many years the learned man had not visited that place, and none of the children consequently could have beheld10 him in the flesh. In imagination it was another matter, for they often spoke11 of him in Noroe, and his ears must have often tingled12, if the popular belief has any foundation. Be this as it may, his recognition was unanimous, and a triumph for the unknown artist who had drawn13 his portrait--a triumph of which this modest artist might justly be proud, and of which more than one photographer in the world might well be jealous.
But what astonished and disappointed the pupils a little was to discover that the doctor was a man below the ordinary height, and not the giant which they had imagined him to be. How could such an illustrious man be satisfied with a height of only five feet three inches? His gray head hardly reached the shoulder of Mr. Malarius, and he was already stooping with age. He was also much thinner than the doctor, which made him appear twice as tall. His large brown overcoat, to which long use had given a greenish tint14, hung loosely around him; he wore short breeches and shoes with buckles15, and from beneath his black silk cap a few gray locks had made their escape. His rosy16 cheeks and smiling countenance17 gave an expression of great sweetness to his face. He also wore spectacles, through which he did not cast piercing glances like the doctor, but through them his blue eyes shone with inexhaustible benevolence18.
In the memory of his pupils Mr. Malarius had never punished a scholar. But, nevertheless, they all respected him, and loved him. He had a brave soul, and all the world knew it very well. They were not ignorant of the fact that in his youth he had passed brilliant examinations, and that he had been offered a professorship in a great university, where he might have attained19 to honor and wealth. But he had a sister, poor Kristina, who was always ill and suffering. She would not have left her native village for the world, for she felt sure that she would die if they removed to the city. So Mr. Malarius had submitted gently to her wishes, and sacrificed his own prospects20. He had accepted the humble21 duty of the village school-master, and when twenty years afterward22 Kristina had died, blessing23 him, he had become accustomed to his obscure and retired24 life, and did not care to change it. He was absorbed in his work, and forgot the world. He found a supreme25 pleasure in becoming a model instructor26, and in having the best-conducted school in his country. Above all, he liked to instruct his best pupils in the higher branches, to initiate27 them into scientific studies, and in ancient and modern literature, and give them the information which is usually the portion of the higher classes, and not bestowed28 upon the children of fishermen and peasants.
"What is good for one class, is good for the other," he argued. "If the poor have not as many comforts, that is no reason why they should be denied an acquaintance with Homer and Shakespeare; the names of the stars which guide them across the ocean, or of the plants which grow on the earth. They will soon see them laid low by their ploughs, but in their infancy29 at least they will have drunk from pure sources, and participated in the common patrimony30 of mankind." In more than one country this system would have been thought imprudent, and calculated to disgust the lowly with their humble lot in life, and lead them to wander away in search of adventures. But in Norway nobody thinks of these things. The patriarchal sweetness of their dispositions31, the distance between the villages, and the laborious32 habits of the people, seem to remove all danger of this kind. This higher instruction is more frequent than a stranger would believe to be possible. Nowhere is education more generally diffused33, and nowhere is it carried so high; as well in the poorest rural schools, as in the colleges.
Therefore the Scandinavian Peninsula may flatter herself, that she has produced more learned and distinguished34 men in proportion to her population, than any other region of Europe. The traveler is constantly astonished by the contrast between the wild and savage35 aspect of nature, and the manufactures, and works of art, which represent the most refined civilization.
But perhaps it is time for us to return to Noroe, and Dr. Schwaryencrona, whom we have left on the threshold of the school. If the pupils had been quick to recognize him, although they had never seen him before, it had been different with the instructor, whose acquaintance with him dated further back.
"Ah! good-day, my dear Malarius!" said the visitor cordially, advancing with outstretched hands toward the school-master.
"Sir! you are very welcome," answered the latter, a little surprised, and somewhat timidly, as is customary with all men who have lived secluded36 lives; and are interrupted in the midst of their duties. "But excuse me if I ask whom I have the honor of--"
"What! Have I changed so much since we ran together over the snow, and smoked our long pipes at Christiania; have you forgotten our Krauss boarding-house, and must I name your comrade and friend?"
"Schwaryencrona!" cried Mr. Malarius. "Is it possible.--Is it really you.--Is it the doctor?"
"Oh! I beg of you, omit all ceremony. I am your old friend Roff, and you are my brave Olaf, the best, the dearest friend of my youth. Yes, I know you well. We have both changed a little in thirty years; but our hearts are still young, and we have always kept a little corner in them for those whom we learned to love, when we were students, and eat our dry bread side by side."
The doctor laughed, and squeezed the hands of Mr. Malarius, whose eyes were moist.
"My dear friend, my good excellent doctor, you must not stay here," said he; "I will give all these youngsters a holiday, for which they will not be sorry, I assure you, and then you must go home with me."
"Not at all!" declared the doctor, turning toward the pupils who were watching this scene with lively interest. "I must neither interfere37 with your work, nor the studies of these youths. If you wish to give me great pleasure, you will permit me to sit here near you, while you resume your teaching."
"I would willingly do so," answered Mr. Malarius, "but to tell you the truth, I have no longer any heart for geometry; besides, having mentioned a holiday, I do not like to disappoint the children. There is one way of arranging the matter however. If Doctor Schwaryencrona would deign38 to do my pupils the honor of questioning them about their studies, and then I will dismiss them for the rest of the day."
"An excellent idea. I shall be only too happy to do so. I will become their examiner."
Then taking the master's seat, he addressed the school:
"Tell me," asked the doctor, "who is the best pupil?"
"Erik Hersebom!" answered fifty youthful voices unhesitatingly.
"Ah! Erik Hersebom. Well, Erik, will you come here?"
A young boy, about twelve years of age, who was seated on the front row of benches, approached his chair. He was a grave, serious-looking child, whose pensive39 cast of countenance, and large deep set eyes, would have attracted attention anywhere, and he was the more remarkable40, because of the blonde heads by which he was surrounded. While all his companions of both sexes had hair the color of flax, rosy complexions41, and blue eyes, his hair was of deep chestnut42 color, like his eyes, and his skin was brown. He had not the prominent cheek bones, the short nose, and the stout43 frame of these Scandinavian children. In a word, by his physical characteristics so plainly marked, it was evident that he did not belong to the race by whom he was surrounded.
He was clothed like them in the coarse cloth of the country, made in the style common among the peasantry of Bergen; but the delicacy44 of his limbs, the smallness of his head, the easy elegance45 of his poise46, and the natural gracefulness47 of his movements and attitudes, all seemed to denote a foreign origin.
No physiologist48 could have helped being struck at once by these peculiarities49, and such was the case with Dr. Schwaryencrona.
However, he had no motive50 for calling attention to these facts, and he simply proceeded to fulfill51 the duty which he had undertaken.
"Where shall we begin--with grammar?" he asked the young lad.
"I am at the command of the doctor," answered Erik, modestly.
The doctor then gave him two or three simple questions, but was astonished to hear him answer them, not only in the Swedish language, but also in French and English. It was the usual custom of Mr. Malarius, who contended that it was as easy to learn three languages at once as it was to learn only one.
"You teach them French and English then?" said the doctor, turning toward his friend.
"Why not? also the elements of Greek and Latin. I do not see what harm it can do them."
"Nor I," said the doctor, laughing, and Erik Hersebom translated several sentences very correctly.
In one of the sentences, reference was made to the hemlock52 drunk by Socrates, and Mr. Malarius asked the doctor to question him as to the family which this plant belonged to.
Erik answered without hesitation53 "that it was one of the family of umbelliferous plants," and described them in detail.
From botany they passed to geometry, and Erik demonstrated clearly a theorem relative to the sum of the angles of a triangle.
The doctor became every moment more and more surprised.
"Let us have a little talk about geography," he said. "What sea is it which bounds Scandinavia, Russia and Siberia on the north?"
"It is the Arctic Ocean."
"And what waters does this ocean communicate with?"
"The Atlantic on the west, and the Pacific on the east."
"Can you name two or three of the most important seaports54 on the Pacific?"
"I can mention Yokohama, in Japan; Melbourne, in Australia; San Francisco, in the State of California."
"Well, since the Arctic Ocean communicates on one side with the Atlantic, and on the other with the Pacific, do you not think that the shortest route to Yokohama or San Francisco would be through this Arctic Ocean?"
"Assuredly," answered Erik, "it would be the shortest way, if it were practicable, but all navigators who have attempted to follow it have been prevented by ice, and been compelled to renounce55 the enterprise, when they have escaped death."
"Have they often attempted to discover the north-east passage?"
"At least fifty times during the last three centuries, but without success."
"Could you mention a few of the expeditions?"
"The first was organized in 1523, under the direction of Franois Sebastian Cabot. It consisted of three vessels56 under the command of the unfortunate Sir Hugh Willoughby, who perished in Lapland, with all his crew. One of his lieutenants57, Chancellor58, was at first successful, and opened a direct route through the Polar Sea. But he also, while making a second attempt, was shipwrecked, and perished. A captain, Stephen Borough59, who was sent in search of him, succeeded in making his way through the strait which separates Nova Zembla from the Island of Waigate and in penetrating60 into the Sea of Kara. But the fog and ice prevented him from going any further.
"Two expeditions which were sent out in 1580 were equally unsuccessful. The project was nevertheless revived by the Hollanders about fifteen years later, and they fitted out, successively, three expeditions, under the command of Barentz.
"In 1596, Barentz also perished, in the ice of Nova Zembla.
"Ten years later Henry Hudson was sent out, but also failed.
"The Danes were not more successful in 1653.
"In 1676, Captain John Wood was also shipwrecked. Since that period the north-east passage has been considered impracticable, and abandoned by the maritime61 powers."
"Has it never been attempted since that epoch62?"
"It has been by Russia, to whom it would be of immense advantage, as well as to all the northern nations, to find a direct route between her shores and Siberia. She has sent out during a century no less than eighteen expeditions to explore the coasts of Nova Zembla, the Sea of Kara, and the eastern and western coasts of Siberia. But, although these expeditions have made these places better known, they have also demonstrated the impossibility of forcing a passage through the Arctic Ocean. The academician Van Baer, who made the last attempt in 1837, after Admiral Lutke and Pachtusow, declared emphatically that this ocean is simply a glacier63, as impracticable for vessels as it would be if it were a continent."
"Must we, then, renounce all hopes of discovering a north-east passage?"
"That seems to be the conclusion which we must arrive at, from the failure of these numerous attempts. It is said, however, that a great navigator, named Nordenskiold, wishes to make another attempt, after he has prepared himself by first exploring portions of this polar sea. If he then considers it practicable, he may get up another expedition."
Dr. Schwaryencrona was a warm admirer of Nordenskiold, and this is why he had asked these questions about the north-east passage. He was charmed with the clearness of these answers.
He fixed64 his eyes on Erik Hersebom, with an expression of the deepest interest.
"Where did you learn all this, my dear child?" he demanded, after a short silence.
"Here, sir," answered Erik, surprised at the question.
"You have never studied in any other school?"
"Certainly not."
"Mr. Malarius may be proud of you, then," said the doctor, turning toward the master.
"I am very well satisfied with Erik," said the latter.
"He has been my pupil for eight years. When I first took him he was very young, and he has always been at the head of his section."
The doctor became silent. His piercing eyes were fixed upon Erik, with a singular intensity65. He seemed to be considering some problem, which it would not be wise to mention.
"He could not have answered my question better and I think it useless to continue the examination," he said at last. "I will no longer delay your holiday, my children, and since Mr. Malarius desires it, we will stop for to-day."
At these words, the master clapped his hands. All the pupils rose at once, collected their books, and arranged themselves in four lines, in the empty spaces between the benches.
Mr. Malarias clapped his hands a second time. The column started, and marched out, keeping step with military precision.
At a third signal they broke their ranks, and took to flight with joyous66 cries.
In a few seconds they were scattered67 around the blue waters of the fiord, where might be seen also the turf roofs of the village of Noroe.
收听单词发音 |
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cod
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| n.鳕鱼；v.愚弄；哄骗 | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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otter
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| n.水獭 | |
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engraving
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| n.版画；雕刻（作品）；雕刻艺术；镌版术v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的现在分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
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likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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engraved
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| v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
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beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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tingled
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| v.有刺痛感( tingle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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tint
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| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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buckles
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| 搭扣，扣环( buckle的名词复数 ) | |
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rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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benevolence
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| n.慈悲，捐助 | |
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attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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instructor
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| n.指导者，教员，教练 | |
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initiate
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| vt.开始，创始，发动；启蒙，使入门；引入 | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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patrimony
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| n.世袭财产，继承物 | |
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dispositions
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| 安排( disposition的名词复数 )； 倾向； （财产、金钱的）处置； 气质 | |
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laborious
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| adj.吃力的，努力的，不流畅 | |
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diffused
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| 散布的，普及的，扩散的 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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secluded
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| adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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deign
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| v. 屈尊, 惠允 ( 做某事) | |
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pensive
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| a.沉思的,哀思的,忧沉的 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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complexions
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| 肤色( complexion的名词复数 )； 面色； 局面； 性质 | |
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chestnut
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| n.栗树，栗子 | |
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delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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elegance
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| n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙 | |
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poise
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| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
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gracefulness
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physiologist
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| n.生理学家 | |
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peculiarities
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| n. 特质, 特性, 怪癖, 古怪 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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fulfill
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| vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意 | |
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hemlock
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| n.毒胡萝卜，铁杉 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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seaports
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| n.海港( seaport的名词复数 ) | |
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renounce
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| v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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lieutenants
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| n.陆军中尉( lieutenant的名词复数 )；副职官员；空军；仅低于…官阶的官员 | |
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chancellor
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| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
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borough
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| n.享有自治权的市镇；(英)自治市镇 | |
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penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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maritime
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| adj.海的，海事的，航海的，近海的，沿海的 | |
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epoch
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| n.(新)时代；历元 | |
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glacier
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| n.冰川，冰河 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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