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Sogou Inc. provides search and search-related services in the People's Republic of China. The company provides Sogou Search, a search engine; and Sogou Input Method, a Chinese language input software for PC and mobile users. It also offers other products that include Sogou Browser; Sogou Web Directory, a content aggregation and distribution platform that offers news aggregation, video content aggregation, and shopping assistance; Sogou Maps, which provides Internet-based map and navigation services related to traffic options, routing optimization, and positioning calculation for PCs, mobile devices, and smart wearables; Sogou Mobile Assistant that helps users find mobile applications and games related to their interests; Sogou Game Center, a gaming platform, which offers web and mobile games developed by third parties; and Sogou Translation, a multi-language translation solution. The company also provides Sogou AI, a voice-enabled hardware product; and Teemo, a smart hardware product for children, as well as offers Internet value-added, and search and search-related advertising services. Sogou Inc. was incorporated in 2005 and is based in Beijing, the People's Republic of China.

Sogou

sogou

Newly formed Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) company Baichuan has raised $300m in funding, reported Reuters. The financing round was joined by technology giants Tencent and Alibaba. Baichuan was set up in April 2023 by Wang Xiaochuan, who founded Sogou, an internet search engine.

Chinese AI startup Baichuan raises $300m in funding

Today, most eCommerce businesses have expanded their reach across the world. You might be doing the same or probably planning for the same. But, expansion does not instantly lead to getting conversions. And, when you expand across multiple countries, the challenge you face is to fight the competition on the search engines. That’s because those countries already have their popular eCommerce websites which their local people rely on. How would they come to know about you and your eCommerce store? Obviously, you can run some . But, don’t forget: social media marketing campaigns As of 2019, around 50% of online product search takes place over search engines, as per a report by Statista. Hence, your most important concern is to work on the SEO strategies for websites across various countries. Sometimes, delivering the expected results become challenging because you lack understanding of different cultures, languages, and search engine dominance across those regions. In this article, I will help you with the end-to-end SEO process to ensure your eCommerce website wins over the region-specific eCommerce leaders: SEO practices followed by the region The search engines that dominates that region A fail-proof SEO strategy to implement straightaway So, let’s get started. Product optimization for eCommerce SEO practices across the world Before you start following the SEO practices around the world, optimize your product pages to ensure you see instant results. Recently, I published an with some Dos and Don’ts so that you can directly focus on what’s important and what’s not while optimizing your product pages. eCommerce SEO guide 11 Dos of eCommerce SEO for Product Pages Design the exceptional UX Work on technical SEO Select the right keywords Create relevant product page URLs Create unique & descriptive product page titles Write effective meta description for each product page Write searchable image ALT attributes Create unique and interactive product descriptions Utilize rich snippets Add FAQs Highlight customer reviews 6 Don’ts of eCommerce Product Pages SEO Don’t stuff keywords Avoid copying the product description from the manufacturers’ websites Don’t create too long URLs Never ignore negative feedback Never stop optimizing your product pages Never hesitate in taking help of SEO experts (not necessarily from your team) Once you’re ready with effective and unbeatable product pages with the above eCommerce SEO Dos and Don’ts, you’re all set to focus on SEO practices for the countries around the world. SEO practices in Europe Okay, so before I move on to talk about the SEO practices to be followed for Europe, I would like to share a few things which every search marketer should know about Europe: Europe has 50 countries There are 23 official languages of the European countries that are part of the European Union only There are many other languages of the European countries except for the European Union More than 100 dialect languages are only spoken in Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg) Apart from language differences, there are cultural differences that affect the users’ behavior offline as well as online These things about Europe make it extremely challenging for you to consider all of these countries in one group and target them entirely. Also, an on SearchEngineLand explains how languages, dialects, and countries become a huge issue when optimizing websites for Europe. article Search Engines in Europe When planning for SEO practices for Europe, it becomes mandatory to know which search engines are dominating in Europe. According to an by Matthew Capala, Yandex leads the market share in Russia making Google the 2nd best search engine with 45% market share. article But, as per , here is Google’s search engine dominance: Statista This clearly means that while working on SEO strategy for Europe, Google and Yandex both should be considered. SEO strategy for Europe Here, the following things need to be considered when creating SEO strategy and optimizing sites for Europe: Hreflang remains the most important part while working with multilingual websites. Everything from complexities of multilingual websites to content needs to be carefully worked upon You can check out the guidelines from for handling localized versions Google Here is in-depth by Aleyda Solis on Moz on implementing the Hreflang appropriately and without any errors guidance When working with Wordpress websites, you can also have a look at the hreflang guidance by . Yoast SEO practices in Australia What is the difference between creating an SEO strategy for the U.S, U.K, and Australia? Technically speaking, there is no difference because all of these three regions are English speaking ones. The most important concern is- Australians do not have a particular preference for either British English or American English. Though Australian English emerged from British English, there are certain words or phrases that Australian prefers to be used in their day-to-day lives. So, you need to be utterly careful while picking up the right keywords to optimize a website for the Australian audience. Search Engines in Australia Let’s have a look at the search engine market share in Australia from : StatCounter According to this chart, Google has 94.4% of market share followed by Bing (3.58%), MSN (0.72%), DuckDuckGo (0.54%), Yahoo! (0.52%), and Baidu (0.08%) making Google the most dominant search engine in Australia. SEO strategy for Australia Consider the following things while creating an SEO strategy for the Australian websites or audiences: Make sure you use Hreflang because many businesses have multiple iterations of an Australian website. So, whether the website has ccTLD, ensure you implement Hreflangs. Work on writing effective content and here is a that explains how to write Australian English content. small article For keyword research, use the keyword research tools from SEMrush, Ahrefs, Moz, and Wordstream. Use meta content-language tags and XDefault tags SEO practices in China Creating an SEO strategy for Chinese websites is the most difficult thing to do for the search marketers across the world. The challenges you face while doing SEO for a Chinese website are- Language Search Engine When dealing with the language, you need to use language translators such as Google Translate in order to understand what the website is all about. Coming to another challenge which is the search engine. China’s internet population has grown to more than 800 million, reports . Statista With such a huge Internet population, China has literally blocked Google as a search engine since the year 2010. So, let’s check out which search engines are trending in China. Search Engines in China China’s most popular search engine is Baidu and here is the market share of all the search engines in China by : StatCounter The search engine market share of Baidu is 70.3%, Shenma 15.62%, Sogou 4.74%, Haosou 4.54%, Google 2.57%, and Bing 2.01%. Google is also planning to enter China. But, until then, you need to create an SEO strategy that is effective for Chinese search engines. SEO strategy for China Before I discuss the SEO strategy for China, let’s discuss how optimizing a website for Baidu is different than optimizing for Google. Baidu does not include a new website until a deep examination on the website content while Google is faster. Baidu works on strict censorship rules and only indexes the websites that adhere to those rules while Google shows anything and everything on the world wide web except for the ads that are illegal. Baidu gives high preference for external links that have relevance as well as a huge number of external links while Google checks the relevance between the external links and content. Baidu gives ranking preferences to the top level page in the hierarchy on websites which is why Chinese website homepages have too much content. Google prefers the first level page to rank higher. There is nothing like Hreflang for Baidu and the website should avoid having flash and javascript. Baidu considers meta descriptions and meta keywords as the ranking factors Baidu gives different ranking weight to canonicals, page titles, metadata, and H1s. Here is an SEO strategy for China: Avoid Flash and JavaScript in your website Have a Chinese domain Add keywords naturally in Title, meta description, image ALT attributes Make sure your H1 tag matches with your title tag Keep posting new content on your website and strictly avoid duplicate content Use appropriate keywords while doing internal linking Optimize your website for page loading speed Ensure your website uses guidelines offered by the Baidu Webmaster Tools For detailed technical and on-page SEO guide for Baidu, check out by Simon Lesser. this guide SEO practices in Russia Russia is considered to be the world’s largest nation according to and its official language is Russian. You would be surprised to know that Russian is the eight-most spoken language in the world by a number of native speakers also by . Wikipedia Wikipedia So, just like China, there are no language differences which needs to be taken care of. But, there is definitely a change of how you optimize a website for Russian businesses. What is that change? Let’s figure out now. Search Engines in Russia The change is in the search engine. Yes, just like China, Russia has less of Google. It’s Yandex search engine ruling in the Russian Federation. To learn why Yandex is beating Google in Russia, here is a shared by CNBC. video Also, Yandex filed against Google for giving the search engine pre-installed in the Android phones. Due to this, Google started giving a ‘choice of window’ where the user is given a choice to select their own search engine as default. In short, Yandex is dominating the search engine market in Russia. SEO strategy for Russia When it comes to preparing the SEO strategy for Russian websites, the technical SEO remains similar to Baidu. The only difference is that Yandex gives a huge importance to the good quality content. Yandex also has strict algorithms that ban a website for the over usage of the keywords. Let’s compare Yandex with Google for optimizing websites for SEO: Yandex uses algorithms that are not similar to Google’s standard algorithms This is the reason why it becomes much easier to rank a website for Yandex compared to Google A website can have longer page titles to rank on Yandex Yandex uses meta keywords tag in which you can have around 4 to 5 highly relevant keywords You can put keywords in the URL as Yandex prefers it Yandex takes more time to index a website but once it indexes an appropriately optimized website has huge benefits So, when optimizing a Russian website, make sure you take care of everything from technical SEO to on-page SEO. It is easier to rank on Yandex compared to Google. Here are a few guides that would be helpful for you to optimize a website for Yandex: by Search Engine Journal Yandex SEO Guide by Link Assistant Yandex SEO Tips SEO practices in Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia where Japanese is their national language. So, when considering the language while optimizing the website for SEO, you need to consider the four writing styles- Latin, Kanjo, Hirangana, and Katakana. So, writing a content, meta tags, title tags, heading tags, etc. is not as easy as just translating it to the Japanese language. You need to get it done with the help of a Japanese writer because of the language differences it has compared to English. Now, let’s check out which search engines leads in Japan. Search Engines in Japan The search engine market share in Japan by is as below: StatCounter 74.4% of the search engine market share is with Google followed by Yahoo! with 22.36% which gives Google a good competition. Well, though Google has huge market share, Yahoo! Japan still remains popular among the Japanese. That means you cannot avoid optimizing a website for even Yahoo! Japan. SEO Strategy for Japan So, now while creating an SEO strategy for Japan, you need to make sure you consider the guidelines of Yahoo! Japan as well. Here is an SEO strategy for optimizing a website for both- Google & Yahoo! Japan: Technical SEO remains the same for both the search engines as Yahoo! uses Google’s backend algorithm For on-page SEO you need to consider looking at both- Google search console and Yahoo webmaster tools For on-page SEO you need to consider using more of Latin words while optimizing a website for Japan Here are a few resources that provide good knowledge of doing SEO for Japan: SEO guide for Japan Yahoo SEO optimization SEO around the world Every person looking for information come to the search engines. But, how a particular search engine brings the right information to the user differs across the world is what you need to know. So, before you begin to create an eCommerce SEO strategy for any particular country, you need to know the following three things- The language being spoken The search engine dominance The search behaviors and user expectation So, make sure you keep all these SEO practices in mind while crafting SEO strategies for the respective countries mentioned above and outplay the dominance of the existing eCommerce market leaders.

Ecommerce SEO Practices for Europe, Australia, China, Russia and Japan

On real world data, Deep Learning performance can be shallow I often get pitched with a superior solution for Natural Language Understanding ( ). The plan appears prudent. After all, . A better NLU AI entices many useful advancements, ranging from and to , with an ultimate promise of better language comprehension. deep learning NLU deep learning is the disruptive new force in AI smarter chat bots virtual assistants news categorization State of the Practice Lets assume this superior deep learning (DL) "product” is called . Their pitch deck will invariably have a bar chart that looks something like this — the claim being that the new DL topic classifier/tagger of is better than state of the art methods. "(dot)AI” (Dot)AI In many industries, it is expected that production grade ML classifiers have more than 90% accuracy for quality assurance and a decent user experience. This is expected tolerance level for news categorization or conversational bots The chart presents an interesting proposition, even though performance is only slightly superior than state of the art. In any product, specific to that industry. For example, a model’s best accuracy score might be reasonable for video recommenders or image transcription, but is outside the tolerance limits for news categorization. what constitutes “good enough” depends on tolerance for error In the realm of natural language text classification, do DL techniques significantly outperform shallow methods, e.g or bag of words (BoW) based approaches? You don’t have to be a sceptic to ask the question: TF-IDF The assumption often is a confident Yes — that DL obliterates shallow methods in NLU. Three recent trends underpin this illusion: But does it? In industry AI conferences, , with almost zero talks on production level natural language tasks. Why? deep learning talks overwhelming relate to image/audio/video data The media and others continuously hype deep learning as , . This can lead to confusion for practitioners trying to evaluate DL’s utility in their domain. a silver bullet without perusing the actual results in papers A lot of results just on some artificial benchmark, whereas robustness and applicability matter more. squeeze a few percent of performance While DL has taken the computing world by storm, its impact on certain fundamental NLU tasks remains uncertain and performance is not always superior. To understand why, let me first describe and then the trying to solve it and the NLU task state of the art models how DL underperforms. A Fundamental NLU Task A critical task in natural language understanding is to comprehend the topic of a sentence. The topic could be a tag (such as , , , or ), but usually it merely such as a person’s name or extracting location. politics music gaming immigration adventure-sports isn’t a named entity based task A topic tagger will attempt to tag the first WFTV article to “ ”, while the second WFTV article to “ ” although both mentions `Tiger`. This can get complicated quickly due to things like , as is shown in the . sports animals word sense disambiguation example on the right This type of software is called topic taggers. Their utility cannot be overstated. Topics are key in and Consider — the most common problem bot companies face is the lack of any automated way to capture what their users are messaging about. The only way to estimate user intent from bot messages is either via human eye-balling or whatever matches pre-built regex scripts. Both methods are suboptimal and cannot cover larger topics space. extracting intent formulating automated responses. chat bots In fact, topic tagging at various semantic resolutions is a to NLU for two reasons: (1) Text classification into topics is a precursor to most higher level NLU tasks such as sentiment detection, discourse analysis, episodic memory, and even question answering ( ) (2) Also, NLP pipelines are considerably prone to error propagation, i.e. an error in topic classification can jeopardize future analysis, such as or discourse or even sentiment analysis. Thus, finding the right topic is crucial for NLU. gateway solution approach the quintessential NLU task episodic memory modeling What good is sentiment of a piece of news unless we know what exactly this sentiment is about? Incorrect topic tagging can adversely affect sentiment utility. In reality, topic classification is a hard problem , which has been at times underestimated and overlooked by the AI community. Comprehending the topic is a first step in taking meaningful action. State of the Art Over the years, several technologies have tried to tackle the topic classification problem. There was , and others like , etc. Half of these are either or . The other half has or needs of whatever it outputs. LSA LDA PLSI Explicit Semantic Analysis not production grade don’t scale well with messy real-world data poor interpretability considerable post-processing Today, two main solutions appear overwhelmingly in topic classification performance comparisons. (1) First is the very deep C [ ] model from 2016, which proposes the use of very deep neural network architecture - a “ . (2) Second is the approach (also 2016). Its performance is almost as good as but is orders of magnitude faster in training and evaluation than . Some call FastText the — whatever that means. New world models: onvolutional Neural Net DCNN state of the art in computer vision” [FastText](https://arxiv.org/abs/1607.01759) DCNN DCNN Tesla of NLP Both methods are elegant in their own way. The big difference is that whereas does not fall in the “stereotype” of fancy deep neural nets. Instead it uses word embeddings to solve the tag prediction task. FastText is a shallow network DCNN is 29 layers deep neural net. FastText FastText extends the basic idea to predict a topic label, instead of predicting the middle/missing word (which recall is the original task). This visualizes Word2Vec word embeddings [ ] word embedding Word2Vec link Holding the ground for older/naive models are n-gram/bag of word based models and TFIDF, which still find value in large-scale implementations. Old world models: A final component in examination of state of the art is datasets on which these models are tested. Benchmark datasets are key for reproducibility and comparative analysis. In topic classification tasks, three popular datasets are: , and . They differ in corpus size and number of topics (classes) present in the data. Benchmark Data : [AG news](http://www.di.unipi.it/~gulli/AG_corpus_of_news_articles.html) Sogou news Yahoo! answers The three datasets marked in red rectangles are specifically used for topic classification. Shown with arrow is one instance in the dataset. Task is to predict the label by analyzing the sample. Deep (Learning) Impact? First, lets look at the results from the DL paper and compare it with naive models. The numbers below indicate error rates when running a particular configuration of a model on the topic classification datasets. DCNN This is Table 4 from . Topic classification datasets (mentioned above) are marked with rectangles. The corresponding comparable error values are marked with red ellipses. [DCNN] paper main observations here: Four In 2 /3 topic classification datasets ( + ), the . AG Sogou naive/shallow methods perform better than deep learning In the 3rd dataset ( ), . Yah. Ans DL reduces the error by just **~1.63** The , which is non-trivial and significantly lower than the tolerance level for most quality production systems. accuracy of the best model on ( **Yah. Ans** ) dataset is still at **~73** An important thing to note: all 3 datasets have a topic space less than , which is still somewhat synthetic. In real world natural language data (news streams or conversational messaging), topic spaces could easily exceed 20 or 25 different topics (or intents). This is key, because the next point hints can have huge impact on accuracy. 11 topic space cardinality 4. Notice when the topic space grows from 4 to 10 ( vs. ), While its possible this is caused by spurious factors, such as imbalanced datasets, there is a good chance that a Accuracy Degradation: AG Yah.Ans the error skyrockets to _28.26_ from _7.64_ with the same model. four-fold increase in error is due to complexities involved in generalizing larger topic spaces. Finally, lets look at performance on these datasets and compare it to DL and the naive approaches: FastText DCNN This is Table 1 from showing accuracy values on the three topic classification datasets, comparing FastText with naive methods. FastText paper observations with comparative results : Three further FastText’s 5. Once again, in 2/3 datasets model. In dataset, is only inferior by . FastText performs better than deep learning Yah. Ans FastText ~1.1 6. The in the first two datasets ( and ). DCNN deep learning method actually performs worse than naive models AG Sogou 7. And again, in 2/3 datasets, the naive model’s performance is comparable or better than FastText In addition to these (stunning) results, recall that non-DL models are usually orders of magnitude and faster to train much much more interpretable. Why is this U_nreasonable_? Well, looks like when it comes to topic classifiers — the old world models (naive / shallower) aren’t ready to give up their throne just yet! This It is counterintuitive, given the new world DL models were produced at a company with tons of data, performance should be significantly better. ineffectiveness of deep learning is somewhat unexpected. However, we observe little difference in accuracy. Naive/older models are better or comparable to DL models when classifying text into topics. From “ ”, performance beats older algorithms with sufficient data. What Data Scientists should know about Deep Learning Deep learning might have deep problems in classifying language, but the objective here isn’t to disparage it or have anything to do with a . I think its impact is clear and promising. In computer vision and and , DNN’s have taken us where we have never been before. deep learning conspiracy speech recognition playing games But the reality is your mileage may vary when using deep learning for a basic Natural Language task like text classification. Why this gap in performance between image/video/audio vs. language data? Perhaps it has to do with the patterns of biological signal processing required to “perceive” the former while the patterns of cultural context required to “comprehend” the latter? In any case, there is still much we have to learn about the intricacies of learning itself, especially with different forms of multimedia.

The Unreasonable Ineffectiveness of Deep Learning in NLU

HackerNoon Reporter: Please tell us briefly about your background. I always wanted to start my own business, which was inspired by my grandparents, who were entrepreneurs themselves. Running a business in the technology space would mean impacting millions around the world. That said, I knew that I needed to get some practical experience in a company first before starting my own thing. When I graduated from university, one of the pillars powering some of the most exciting tech companies was advertising. That’s why I started my career in the ad-tech industry when I was 23 years old, and two years later, was given the opportunity to expand and lead that company into Southeast Asia. In 2016, I co-founded AnyMind Group. What's your startup called? And in a sentence or two, what does it do? At AnyMind Group, our mission is to make every business borderless. This means that we create software that forms the next-generation business infrastructure for the digital economy. What is the origin story? When I was in the university more than a decade ago, I traveled to various regions in Asia including India and some parts of Southeast Asia, and saw there was huge potential in the region stemming from two factors: highly enterprising and talented populations in various countries and a region primed for technological disruption. When we started, we were called AdAsia Holdings and took the marketing industry in Asia by storm - providing various software for digital marketing, influencer marketing, and publisher monetization. Today, we’re powering over a thousand publishers and serve over 16 billion impressions a month through the AnyManager platform, and our influencer marketing platform has a daily data update cycle from more than 200,000 influencers, and so much more. However, we realized that we could help our customer base of marketers and businesses, influencers and online publishers, in so many other ways. That’s why we expanded into AnyMind Group in January 2018. Over the years, we have added new software and verticals to our business, including cloud manufacturing, e-commerce enablement, and logistics. We’re also working on more exciting projects. Since the start, we have been constantly innovating, and we are always looking to bring new value to our customers. Today, the business is operating across 13 markets: from Tokyo and Singapore to Dubai and India, and everywhere in between. We have a diverse team of engineers from more than 15 nationalities, with engineering hubs in Tokyo, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, and Mumbai. What do you love about your team, and why are you the ones to solve this problem? I really love that the team is very open-minded and collaborative. This is important because we have a wide variety of products, and we always have very open discussions about new innovations and ideas. There are products in the market now that started as ideas over lunch with the team. This also means that the team has the flexibility to work on products for a specific vertical or across a wider range of verticals and learn new things about specific customer segments and industries. True to our mission to make every business borderless, we are constantly developing new software to add new value to our customers and help them in so many ways, and that means being open-minded and collaborative to work on new products and/or further develop existing products. If you weren’t building your startup, what would you be doing? To be very honest, I never really thought about it, as I wanted to build my own startup from a young age. It is literally in my blood, haha. But hypothetically speaking, I would try my hand at being a professional basketball player. At the moment, how do you measure success? What are your core metrics? I would say that one of our core metrics is the number of businesses, creators, and publishers that we have made an impact on around the world. True to our mission, we’re looking to make every business borderless. It’s an ambitious one, but something that we intend to do. Some of the other core metrics are product ones but would be too vast and detailed to explain quickly. In short, we have achieved considerable scale since we started the business, and we’re looking to drive even more scale-like increasing the number of publishers and monthly impressions, increasing the number of influencers signed up to our platform, increasing the number of e-commerce stores connected to our platforms - so that ultimately, our software can provide more accurate recommendations and actions. What’s most exciting about your traction to date? There are two things of equal excitement, I would say. How we’ve continuously grown our product suite, and the number of businesses, creators, and publishers that we’ve made an impact on so far. At present, our software is used by the most exciting brands, most dynamic creators and influencers, and most forward-thinking publishers, and we are constantly delivering new products that can add value to our customers. What technologies are you currently most excited about, and most worried about? And why? The explosion of people using digital means to access the world, and on top of that, how 5G will further connect the world. We’re seeing people operate an entire business through their mobile phones, purchase digital products with just a unit of data signifying their ownership, digital transformations of supply chains, and so much more. I get excited about essentially new technologies, and that’s why we’re constantly developing new products to add greater value to our customers. What drew you to get published on HackerNoon? What do you like most about our platform? I would have to say, and I’m sure you agree, it’s all about the community. The brightest minds in tech publish on this platform, and just-as-bright minds consume content on here. What advice would you give to the 21-year-old version of yourself? The path you’ll take is the right one, but also don’t ever be satisfied with what you currently have. You’ll make an impact on many people and businesses in the future. What is something surprising you've learned this year that your contemporaries would benefit from knowing? As a founder, the tasks that we get running a company can be overwhelming and it’s easy to just focus solely on work and ignore everything else. However, I’ve also learned that it is super important to allocate some time each week to exercise and stay healthy, as it gives me, even more, focus and energy for my work. Vote for AnyMind Group as . the startup of the year, Singapore

Startup Interview with Kosuke Sogo, CEO of AnyMind Group 

This paper is under CC 4.0 license. available on arxiv Authors: (1) Joel Jang, CarperAI,University of Washington & Allen Institute for AI; (2) Seungone Kim, KAIST AI; (3) Yizhong Wang, University of Washington; (4) Jack Hessel, University of Washington; (5) Luke Zettlemoyer, Aleph Alpha; (6) Hannaneh Hajishirzi, University of Washington & Allen Institute for AI; (7) Yejin Choi, UC San Diego. 5 CONCLUSION Previous work has shown that adapting LLMs with RLHF helps them generate outputs that are preferred by humans over the supervised fine-tuned counterpart. However, recent work has also pointed out that simply training LLMs to abide by the preference of the general may result in ignoring individual preferences and values. In this work, we provide the first steps to tackle this issue by proposing Reinforcement Learning from Personalized Human Feedback as a multi-objective problem so that LLMs can be aligned to follow conflicting preferences. We propose a promising method called P-SOUPS that is able to composite models trained on single objectives on the fly during inference. We also highlight the scalability of P-SOUPS by showing that it scales linearly, instead of exponentially like the MORL baseline, with regards to the number of new preferences, which is required to provide true personalization to individual users. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Thanks to Minyoung Hwang, Sungdong Kim, Tim Dettmers, Yoonjoo Lee, and Margaret Li for helpful feedback and discussion. REFERENCES Xiang Ao, Xiting Wang, Ling Luo, Ying Qiao, Qing He, and Xing Xie. PENS: A dataset and generic framework for personalized news headline generation. In Proceedings of the 59th Annual Meeting of the Association for Computational Linguistics and the 11th International Joint Conference on Natural Language Processing (Volume 1: Long Papers), pp. 82–92, Online, August 2021. Association for Computational Linguistics. doi: 10.18653/v1/2021.acl-long.7. URL https: //aclanthology.org/2021.acl-long.7. Yuntao Bai, Andy Jones, Kamal Ndousse, Amanda Askell, Anna Chen, Nova DasSarma, Dawn Drain, Stanislav Fort, Deep Ganguli, T. J. Henighan, Nicholas Joseph, Saurav Kadavath, John Kernion, Tom Conerly, Sheer El-Showk, Nelson Elhage, Zac Hatfield-Dodds, Danny Hernandez, Tristan Hume, Scott Johnston, Shauna Kravec, Liane Lovitt, Neel Nanda, Catherine Olsson, Dario Amodei, Tom B. Brown, Jack Clark, Sam McCandlish, Christopher Olah, Benjamin Mann, and Jared Kaplan. Training a helpful and harmless assistant with reinforcement learning from human feedback. ArXiv, abs/2204.05862, 2022a. URL https://api.semanticscholar.org/ CorpusID:248118878. Yuntao Bai, Saurav Kadavath, Sandipan Kundu, Amanda Askell, Jackson Kernion, Andy Jones, Anna Chen, Anna Goldie, Azalia Mirhoseini, Cameron McKinnon, et al. Constitutional ai: Harmlessness from ai feedback. arXiv preprint arXiv:2212.08073, 2022b. Stephen Casper, Xander Davies, Claudia Shi, Thomas Krendl Gilbert, Jer´ emy Scheurer, Javier ´ Rando, Rachel Freedman, Tomasz Korbak, David Lindner, Pedro Freire, et al. Open problems and fundamental limitations of reinforcement learning from human feedback. arXiv preprint arXiv:2307.15217, 2023. Deborah Cohen, Moonkyung Ryu, Yinlam Chow, Orgad Keller, Ido Greenberg, Avinatan Hassidim, Michael Fink, Yossi Matias, Idan Szpektor, Craig Boutilier, et al. Dynamic planning in openended dialogue using reinforcement learning. arXiv preprint arXiv:2208.02294, 2022. Shachar Don-Yehiya, Elad Venezian, Colin Raffel, Noam Slonim, Yoav Katz, and Leshem Choshen. Cold fusion: Collaborative descent for distributed multitask finetuning. arXiv preprint arXiv:2212.01378, 2022. Yann Dubois, Xuechen Li, Rohan Taori, Tianyi Zhang, Ishaan Gulrajani, Jimmy Ba, Carlos Guestrin, Percy Liang, and Tatsunori B Hashimoto. Alpacafarm: A simulation framework for methods that learn from human feedback. arXiv preprint arXiv:2305.14387, 2023. Shangbin Feng, Chan Young Park, Yuhan Liu, and Yulia Tsvetkov. From pretraining data to language models to downstream tasks: Tracking the trails of political biases leading to unfair nlp models. arXiv preprint arXiv:2305.08283, 2023. Xinyang Geng, Arnav Gudibande, Hao Liu, Eric Wallace, Pieter Abbeel, Sergey Levine, and Dawn Song. Koala: A dialogue model for academic research. Blog post, April, 1, 2023. Conor F Hayes, Roxana Radulescu, Eugenio Bargiacchi, Johan K ˘ allstr ¨ om, Matthew Macfarlane, ¨ Mathieu Reymond, Timothy Verstraeten, Luisa M Zintgraf, Richard Dazeley, Fredrik Heintz, et al. A practical guide to multi-objective reinforcement learning and planning. Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems, 36(1):26, 2022. Edward J Hu, yelong shen, Phillip Wallis, Zeyuan Allen-Zhu, Yuanzhi Li, Shean Wang, Lu Wang, and Weizhu Chen. LoRA: Low-rank adaptation of large language models. In International Conference on Learning Representations, 2022. URL https://openreview.net/forum? id=nZeVKeeFYf9. Chengsong Huang, Qian Liu, Bill Yuchen Lin, Tianyu Pang, Chao Du, and Min Lin. Lorahub: Efficient cross-task generalization via dynamic lora composition. ArXiv, abs/2307.13269, 2023. URL https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:260155012. Gabriel Ilharco, Marco Tulio Ribeiro, Mitchell Wortsman, Suchin Gururangan, Ludwig Schmidt, Hannaneh Hajishirzi, and Ali Farhadi. Editing models with task arithmetic. ICLR, 2022. Joel Jang, Seungone Kim, Seonghyeon Ye, Doyoung Kim, Lajanugen Logeswaran, Moontae Lee, Kyungjae Lee, and Minjoon Seo. Exploring the benefits of training expert language models over instruction tuning. In Andreas Krause, Emma Brunskill, Kyunghyun Cho, Barbara Engelhardt, Sivan Sabato, and Jonathan Scarlett (eds.), Proceedings of the 40th International Conference on Machine Learning, volume 202 of Proceedings of Machine Learning Research, pp. 14702–14729. PMLR, 23–29 Jul 2023. URL https://proceedings.mlr.press/v202/jang23a. html. Sungdong Kim, Sanghwan Bae, Jamin Shin, Soyoung Kang, Donghyun Kwak, Kang Min Yoo, and Minjoon Seo. Aligning large language models through synthetic feedback. arXiv preprint arXiv:2305.13735, 2023. Hannah Rose Kirk, Bertie Vidgen, Paul Rottger, and Scott A Hale. Personalisation within bounds: A ¨ risk taxonomy and policy framework for the alignment of large language models with personalised feedback. arXiv preprint arXiv:2303.05453, 2023. Noriyuki Kojima, Alane Suhr, and Yoav Artzi. Continual learning for grounded instruction generation by observing human following behavior. Transactions of the Association for Computational Linguistics, 9:1303–1319, 2021. 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Reiichiro Nakano, Jacob Hilton, S. Arun Balaji, Jeff Wu, Ouyang Long, Christina Kim, Christopher Hesse, Shantanu Jain, Vineet Kosaraju, William Saunders, Xu Jiang, Karl Cobbe, Tyna Eloundou, Gretchen Krueger, Kevin Button, Matthew Knight, Benjamin Chess, and John Schulman. Webgpt: Browser-assisted question-answering with human feedback. ArXiv, abs/2112.09332, 2021a. URL https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:245329531. Reiichiro Nakano, Jacob Hilton, Suchir Balaji, Jeff Wu, Long Ouyang, Christina Kim, Christopher Hesse, Shantanu Jain, Vineet Kosaraju, William Saunders, et al. Webgpt: Browser-assisted question-answering with human feedback. arXiv preprint arXiv:2112.09332, 2021b. Long Ouyang, Jeff Wu, Xu Jiang, Diogo Almeida, Carroll L. Wainwright, Pamela Mishkin, Chong Zhang, Sandhini Agarwal, Katarina Slama, Alex Ray, John Schulman, Jacob Hilton, Fraser Kelton, Luke E. Miller, Maddie Simens, Amanda Askell, Peter Welinder, Paul Francis Christiano, Jan Leike, and Ryan J. Lowe. Training language models to follow instructions with human feedback. ArXiv, abs/2203.02155, 2022a. URL https://api.semanticscholar.org/ CorpusID:246426909. Long Ouyang, Jeffrey Wu, Xu Jiang, Diogo Almeida, Carroll Wainwright, Pamela Mishkin, Chong Zhang, Sandhini Agarwal, Katarina Slama, Alex Ray, et al. Training language models to follow instructions with human feedback. Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems, 35: 27730–27744, 2022b. Baolin Peng, Chunyuan Li, Pengcheng He, Michel Galley, and Jianfeng Gao. Instruction tuning with gpt-4. arXiv preprint arXiv:2304.03277, 2023. Jonas Pfeiffer, Naman Goyal, Xi Victoria Lin, Xian Li, James Cross, Sebastian Riedel, and Mikel Artetxe. Lifting the curse of multilinguality by pre-training modular transformers. arXiv preprint arXiv:2205.06266, 2022. Alexandre Rame, Guillaume Couairon, Mustafa Shukor, Corentin Dancette, Jean-Baptiste Gaya, Laure Soulier, and Matthieu Cord. Rewarded soups: towards pareto-optimal alignment by interpolating weights fine-tuned on diverse rewards. arXiv preprint arXiv:2306.04488, 2023. Alireza Salemi, Sheshera Mysore, Michael Bendersky, and Hamed Zamani. Lamp: When large language models meet personalization. arXiv preprint arXiv:2304.11406, 2023. Shibani Santurkar, Esin Durmus, Faisal Ladhak, Cinoo Lee, Percy Liang, and Tatsunori Hashimoto. Whose opinions do language models reflect? arXiv preprint arXiv:2303.17548, 2023. John Schulman, Filip Wolski, Prafulla Dhariwal, Alec Radford, and Oleg Klimov. Proximal policy optimization algorithms. arXiv preprint arXiv:1707.06347, 2017. Umer Siddique, Paul Weng, and Matthieu Zimmer. Learning fair policies in multi-objective (deep) reinforcement learning with average and discounted rewards. In International Conference on Machine Learning, pp. 8905–8915. PMLR, 2020. David Silver, Satinder Singh, Doina Precup, and Richard S Sutton. Reward is enough. 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Romal Thoppilan, Daniel De Freitas, Jamie Hall, Noam Shazeer, Apoorv Kulshreshtha, Heng-Tze Cheng, Alicia Jin, Taylor Bos, Leslie Baker, Yu Du, et al. Lamda: Language models for dialog applications. arXiv preprint arXiv:2201.08239, 2022. Hugo Touvron, Thibaut Lavril, Gautier Izacard, Xavier Martinet, Marie-Anne Lachaux, Timothee´ Lacroix, Baptiste Roziere, Naman Goyal, Eric Hambro, Faisal Azhar, et al. Llama: Open and ` efficient foundation language models. arXiv preprint arXiv:2302.13971, 2023. Peter Vamplew, Richard Dazeley, Cameron Foale, Sally Firmin, and Jane Mummery. Humanaligned artificial intelligence is a multiobjective problem. Ethics and Information Technology, 20:27–40, 2018. Kristof Van Moffaert and Ann Nowe. Multi-objective reinforcement learning using sets of pareto ´ dominating policies. The Journal of Machine Learning Research, 15(1):3483–3512, 2014. Kristof Van Moffaert, Madalina M Drugan, and Ann Nowe. Scalarized multi-objective reinforce- ´ ment learning: Novel design techniques. In 2013 IEEE symposium on adaptive dynamic programming and reinforcement learning (ADPRL), pp. 191–199. IEEE, 2013. Yizhong Wang, Hamish Ivison, Pradeep Dasigi, Jack Hessel, Tushar Khot, Khyathi Raghavi Chandu, David Wadden, Kelsey MacMillan, Noah A Smith, Iz Beltagy, et al. How far can camels go? exploring the state of instruction tuning on open resources. arXiv preprint arXiv:2306.04751, 2023. Mitchell Wortsman, Suchin Gururangan, Shen Li, Ali Farhadi, Ludwig Schmidt, Michael Rabbat, and Ari S Morcos. lo-fi: distributed fine-tuning without communication. arXiv preprint arXiv:2210.11948, 2022a. Mitchell Wortsman, Gabriel Ilharco, Samir Ya Gadre, Rebecca Roelofs, Raphael Gontijo-Lopes, Ari S Morcos, Hongseok Namkoong, Ali Farhadi, Yair Carmon, Simon Kornblith, et al. Model soups: averaging weights of multiple fine-tuned models improves accuracy without increasing inference time. In International Conference on Machine Learning, pp. 23965–23998. PMLR, 2022b. Jeff Wu, Long Ouyang, Daniel M Ziegler, Nisan Stiennon, Ryan Lowe, Jan Leike, and Paul Christiano. Recursively summarizing books with human feedback. arXiv preprint arXiv:2109.10862, 2021a. Yuwei Wu, Xuezhe Ma, and Diyi Yang. Personalized response generation via generative split memory network. In Proceedings of the 2021 Conference of the North American Chapter of the Association for Computational Linguistics: Human Language Technologies, pp. 1956–1970, 2021b. Zeqiu Wu, Yushi Hu, Weijia Shi, Nouha Dziri, Alane Suhr, Prithviraj Ammanabrolu, Noah A Smith, Mari Ostendorf, and Hannaneh Hajishirzi. Fine-grained human feedback gives better rewards for language model training. arXiv preprint arXiv:2306.01693, 2023. Jie Xu, Yunsheng Tian, Pingchuan Ma, Daniela Rus, Shinjiro Sueda, and Wojciech Matusik. Prediction-guided multi-objective reinforcement learning for continuous robot control. In International conference on machine learning, pp. 10607–10616. PMLR, 2020. Jing Xu, Arthur Szlam, and Jason Weston. Beyond goldfish memory: Long-term open-domain conversation. In Proceedings of the 60th Annual Meeting of the Association for Computational Linguistics (Volume 1: Long Papers), pp. 5180–5197, Dublin, Ireland, May 2022. Association for Computational Linguistics. doi: 10.18653/v1/2022.acl-long.356. URL https: //aclanthology.org/2022.acl-long.356. Runzhe Yang, Xingyuan Sun, and Karthik Narasimhan. A generalized algorithm for multi-objective reinforcement learning and policy adaptation. Advances in neural information processing systems, 32, 2019. Saizheng Zhang, Emily Dinan, Jack Urbanek, Arthur Szlam, Douwe Kiela, and Jason Weston. Personalizing dialogue agents: I have a dog, do you have pets too? arXiv preprint arXiv:1801.07243, 2018. Lianmin Zheng, Wei-Lin Chiang, Ying Sheng, Siyuan Zhuang, Zhanghao Wu, Yonghao Zhuang, Zi Lin, Zhuohan Li, Dacheng Li, Eric Xing, et al. Judging llm-as-a-judge with mt-bench and chatbot arena. arXiv preprint arXiv:2306.05685, 2023. Yinhe Zheng, Guanyi Chen, Minlie Huang, Song Liu, and Xuan Zhu. Personalized dialogue generation with diversified traits. arXiv preprint arXiv:1901.09672, 2019. Daniel M Ziegler, Nisan Stiennon, Jeffrey Wu, Tom B Brown, Alec Radford, Dario Amodei, Paul Christiano, and Geoffrey Irving. Fine-tuning language models from human preferences. arXiv preprint arXiv:1909.08593, 2019. A DETAILS OF EVALUATION SETUP We use a modified version of the GPT4 annotation prompt used by Dubois et al. (2023). We modify the criteria to perform the pairwise evaluation from general to a single preference dimension. We also provide 3 demonstrations: one scenario where there is a tie because both responses do not contain any notion of the preference (e.g. both responses do not show any signs of friendliness), one scenario where there is a clear winner, and one scenario where they are both good, but one is better than the other. Simulated pairwise evaluation We recruited 24 crowd workers for our human evaluation. Figure 5 shows the interface used for human evaluation. We consider both the ‘Tie’ and ‘Both are bad’ options to be Ties. B CRITERIA-WISE EVALUATION The criteria-wise win rate (%) across all the methods are shown in Figure 6. The criteria-wise win rate was calculated by getting the average win-rate of the preference combinations that contained the specific preference dimension. For example, when calculating the criteria-wise win rate of ‘Elementary’, we got the average win-rate of the preference combinations that contained the ‘Elementary’ preference, which includes AAA, AAB, ABA, and ABB. C THE FULL LIST OF EVALUATION PROMPTS The full list of evaluation prompts used in our experiments are provided in Table 5 D DETAILED RESULTS FOR HUMAN EVALUATION AND GPT-4 EVALUATION We provide detailed results (win / loss / tie for each of the preference combinations for our main experimental results. Table 6 shows the GPT4 evaluation and Table 7 shows the human evaluation results. E EXAMPLES OF P-SOUPS TEXT GENERATIONS Table 8 shows empirical examples of the text generated from each preference combination of the 16 preference combination experiments for the same prompt.

Personalized Soups: LLM Alignment Via Parameter Merging - Conclusion & References

Dust on Crust Part Deux

ভূত্বক অংশ দুই উপর ধুলো

Staub auf der Kruste Teil Zwei

Polvo sobre la corteza, segunda parte

पपड़ी पर धूल भाग दो

クラスト上のダスト パート 2

지각 위의 먼지 2부

Poeira na Crosta Parte Dois

Пыль на корке, часть вторая

Kabuktaki Toz İkinci Bölüm

Bụi trên lớp vỏ Phần thứ hai

地壳上的灰尘第二部分

Gemini - A Family of Highly Capable Multimodal Models: Discussion and Conclusion, References

240 Stories To Learn About Startups Of The Year

Scientific American Supplement, No. 711, August 17, 1889, by Various, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . GIBRALTAR. here GIBRALTAR. The point or rock known as Gibraltar is a promontory two and one-half miles long and from a quarter to three-quarters of a mile wide. It rises abruptly from the sandy shore to a height at its highest point of 1,408 ft. It is composed of gray limestone, honeycombed with caves and subterranean passages, some of which contain most beautiful stalactites in the form of massive pillars. Gibraltar is emphatically a fortress, and in some respects its fortifications are unique. On the eastern side the rock needs no defense beyond its own precipitous cliffs, and in all other directions it has been rendered practically impregnable. Besides a sea wall extending at intervals round the western base of the rock, and strengthened by curtains and bastions and three formidable forts, there are batteries in all available positions from the sea wall up to the summit, 1,350 feet above the sea, and a remarkable series of galleries has been hewn out of the solid face of the rock toward the north and northwest. These galleries have an aggregate length of between two and three miles, and their breadth is sufficient to let a carriage pass. Portholes are cut at intervals of twelve yards, so contrived that the gunners are safe from the shot of any possible assailants. At the end of one of the galleries hollowed out in a prominent part of the cliff is St. George's Hall, 50 feet long by 85 feet wide, in which the governor was accustomed to give fetes. Alterations, extensions, and improvements are continually taking place in the defensive system, and new guns of the most formidable sort are gradually displacing or supplementing the old fashioned ordnance. The whole population of Gibraltar, whether civil or military, is subjected to certain stringent rules. For even a day's sojourn the alien must obtain a pass from the town major, and if he wish to remain longer, a consul or householder must become security for his good behavior. Licenses of residence are granted only for short periods—ten, fifteen, or twenty days—but they can be renewed if occasion require. Military officers may introduce a stranger for thirty days. A special permit is necessary if the visitor wishes to sketch. Though the town of Gibraltar may be said to date from the fourteenth century, it has preserved very little architectural evidence of its antiquity. Rebuilt on an enlarged and improved plan after its almost complete destruction during the great siege, it is still, on the whole, a mean-looking town, with narrow streets and lanes and an incongruous mixture of houses after the English and the Spanish types. As a proprietor may at any moment be called upon to give up his house and ground at the demand of the military authorities, he is naturally deterred from spending his money on substantial or sumptuous erections. The area of the town is about one hundred acres. Gibraltar was known to the Greek and Roman geographers as Calpe or Alybe, the two names being probably corruptions of the same local (perhaps Phenician) word. The eminence on the African coast near Ceuta, which bears the modern English name of Apes' Hill, was then designated Abyla; and Calpe and Abyla, at least according to an ancient and widely current interpretation, formed the renowned pillars of Hercules (Herculis columnæ), which for centuries were the limits of enterprise to the seafaring peoples of the Mediterranean world. The strategic importance of the rock appears to have been first discovered by the Moors, who, when they crossed over from Africa in the eighth century, selected it as the site of a fortress. From their leader, Tarik Ibn Zeyad, it was called Gebel Tarik or Tarik's Hill; and, though the name had a competitor in Gebel af Futah, or Hill of the Entrance, it gradually gained acceptance, and still remains sufficiently recognizable in the corrupted form of the present day. The first siege of the rock was in 1309, when it was taken by Alonzo Perez de Guzman for Ferdinand IV. of Spain, who, in order to attract inhabitants to the spot, offered an asylum to swindlers, thieves, and murderers, and promised to levy no taxes on the import or export of goods. The attack of Ismail Ben Ferez, in 1315 (second siege), was frustrated; but in 1333 Vasco Paez de Meira, having allowed the fortifications and garrison to decay, was obliged to capitulate to Mahomet IV. (third siege). Alphonso's attempts to recover possession (fourth siege) were futile, though pertinacious and heroic, and he was obliged to content himself with a tribute for the rock from Abdul Melek of Granada; but after his successful attack on Algeciras in 1344 he was encouraged to try his fortune again at Gibraltar. In 1349 he invested the rock, but the siege (fifth siege) was brought to an untimely close by his death from the plague in February, 1350. The next or sixth siege resulted simply in the transference of the coveted position from the hands of the King of Morocco to those of Yussef III. of Granada; and the seventh, undertaken by the Spanish Count of Niebla, Enrico de Guzman, proved fatal to the besieger and his forces. In 1462, however, success attended the efforts of Alphonso de Arcos (eighth siege), and in August the rock passed once more under Christian sway. The Duke of Medina Sidonia, a powerful grandee who had assisted in its capture, was anxious to get possession of the fortress, and though Henry IV. at first managed to maintain the claims of the crown, the duke ultimately made good his ambition by force of arms (ninth siege), and in 1469 the king was constrained to declare his son and his heirs perpetual governors of Gibraltar. In 1479 Ferdinand and Isabella made the second duke Marquis of Gibraltar, and in 1492 the third duke, Don Juan, was reluctantly allowed to retain the fortress. At length, in 1501, Garcilaso de la Vega was ordered to take possession of the place in the king's name, and it was formally incorporated with the domains of the crown. After Ferdinand and Isabella were both dead the duke, Don Juan, tried in 1506 to recover possession, and added a tenth to the list of sieges. Thirty-four years afterward the garrison had to defend itself against a much more formidable attack (eleventh siege)—the pirates of Algiers having determined to recover the rock for Mahomet and themselves. The conflict was severe, but resulted in the repulse of the besiegers. After this the Spaniards made great efforts to strengthen the place, and they succeeded so well that throughout Europe Gibraltar was regarded as impregnable. In the course of the war of the Spanish succession, however, it was taken by a combined English and Dutch fleet under Sir George Rooke, assisted by a body of troops under Prince George of Hesse-Darmstadt. The captors had ostensibly fought in the interests of Charles Archduke of Austria (afterward Charles III.), but, though his sovereignty over the rock was proclaimed on July 24, 1704, Sir George Rooke on his own responsibility caused the English flag to be hoisted, and took possession in name of Queen Anne. It is hardly to the honor of England that it was both unprincipled enough to sanction and ratify the occupation and ungrateful enough to leave unrewarded the general to whose unscrupulous patriotism the acquisition was due. The Spaniards keenly felt the injustice done to them, and the inhabitants of the town of Gibraltar in great numbers abandoned their homes rather than recognize the authority of the invaders. In October, 1704, the rock was invested by sea and land; but the Spanish ships were dispersed by Sir John Leake, and the Marquis of Villadarias fared so ill with his forces that he was replaced by Marshal Tesse, who was at length compelled to raise the siege in April, 1705. During the next twenty years there were endless negotiations for the peaceful surrender of the fortress, and in 1726 the Spaniards again appealed to arms. But the Conde de la Torres, who had the chief command, succeeded no better than his predecessors, and the defense of the garrison under General Clayton and the Earl of Portmore was so effectual that the armistice of June 23 practically put a close to the siege, though two years elapsed before the general pacification ensued. The most memorable siege of Gibraltar, indeed one of the most memorable of all sieges, was that which it sustained from the combined land and sea forces of France and Spain during the years 1779-1783. The grand attack on the place was made on the 13th September, 1782, and all the resources of power and science were exhausted by the assailants in the fruitless attempt. On the side of the sea they brought to bear against the fortress forty-six sail of the line and a countless fleet of gun and mortar boats. But their chief hope lay in the floating batteries planned by D'Arcon, an eminent French engineer, and built at the cost of half a million sterling. They were so constructed as to be impenetrable by the red hot shot which it was foreseen the garrison would employ; and such hopes were entertained of their efficiency that they were styled invincible. The Count D'Artois (afterward Charles X.) hastened from Paris to witness the capture of the place. He arrived in time to see the total destruction of the floating batteries and a considerable portion of the combined fleet by the English fire. Despite this disaster, however, the siege continued till brought to a close by the general pacification, February 2, 1783. The history of the four eventful years' siege is fully detailed in the work of Drinkwater, who himself took part in the defense, and in the life of its gallant defender Sir George Augustus Eliott, afterward Lord Heathfield, whose military skill and moral courage place him among the best soldiers and noblest men whom Europe produced during the 18th century. Since 1783 the history of Gibraltar has been comparatively uneventful. In the beginning of 1801 there were rumors of a Spanish and French attack, but the Spanish ships were defeated off Algeciras in June by Admiral Saumarez. Improvements in the fortifications, maintenance of military discipline, and legislation in regard to trade and smuggling are the principal matters of recent interest. About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Various (2004). Scientific American Supplement, No. 711, August 17, 1889. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/16972/pg16972-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

The point or rock known as Gibraltar is a promontory two and one-half miles long

MOLLY GIBSON FINDS A CHAMPION.

"I WILL NOT GO TO LOUGHLINTER."

Can You Forgive Her? by Anthony Trollope is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . Showing How George Vavasor Paid a Visit here Showing How George Vavasor Paid a Visit. It was nearly seven o'clock in the evening,—a hot, July evening,—when the woman went from Vavasor's room, and left him there alone. It was necessary that he should immediately do something. In the first place he must dine, unless he meant to carry out his threat, and shoot himself at once. But he had no such intention as that, although he stood for some minutes with the pistol in his hand. He was thinking then of shooting some one else. But he resolved that, if he did so at all, he would not do it on that evening, and he locked up the pistol again in the standing desk. After that, he took up some papers, referring to steam packets, which were lying on his table. They contained the programmes of different companies, and showed how one vessel went on one day to New York, and another on another day would take out a load of emigrants for New Zealand and Australia. "That's a good line," said he, as he read a certain prospectus. "They generally go to the bottom, and save a man from any further trouble on his own account." Then he dressed himself, putting on his boots and coat, and went out to his club for his dinner. London was still fairly full,—that is to say, the West End was not deserted, although Parliament had been broken up two months earlier than usual, in preparation for the new elections. Many men who had gone down into the country were now back again in town, and the dining-room at the club was crowded. Men came up to him condoling with him, telling him that he was well rid of a great nuisance, that the present Members for the Chelsea Districts would not sit long, or that there would be another general election in a year or two. To all these little speeches he made cheerful replies, and was declared by his acquaintance to bear his disappointment well. Calder Jones came to him and talked hunting talk, and Vavasor expressed his intention of being at Roebury in November. "You had better join our club," said Calder Jones. In answer to which Vavasor said that he thought he would join the club. He remained in the smoking-room till nearly eleven; then he took himself home, and remained up half the night destroying papers. Every written document on which he could lay his hands he destroyed. All the pigeon-holes of his desk were emptied out, and their contents thrown into the flames. At first he looked at the papers before he burned them; but the trouble of doing so soon tired him, and he condemned them all, as he came to them, without examination. Then he selected a considerable amount of his clothes, and packed up two portmanteaus, folding his coats with care, and inspecting his boots narrowly, so that he might see which, out of the large number before him, it might be best worth his while to take with him. When that was done, he took from his desk a bag of sovereigns, and, pouring them out upon the table, he counted them out into parcels of twenty-five each, and made them up carefully into rouleaus with paper. These, when complete, he divided among the two portmanteaus and a dressing-bag which he also packed and a travelling desk, which he filled with papers, pens, and the like. But he put into it no written document. He carefully looked through his linen, and anything that had been marked with more than his initials he rejected. Then he took out a bundle of printed cards, and furnished a card-case with them. On these cards was inscribed the name of Gregory Vance. When all was finished, he stood for awhile with his back to the fireplace contemplating his work. "After all," he said to himself, "I know that I shall never start; and, if I do, nobody can hinder me, and my own name would be as good as any other. As for a man with such a face as mine not being known, that is out of the question." But still he liked the arrangements which he had made, and when he had looked at them for awhile he went to bed. He was up early the next morning, and had some coffee brought to him by the servant of the house, and as he drank it he had an interview with his landlady. "He was going," he said;—"going that very day." It might be possible that he would change his mind; but as he would desire to start without delay, if he did go, he would pay her then what he owed her, and what would be due for her lodgings under a week's notice. The woman stared, and curtseyed, and took her money. Vavasor, though he had lately been much pressed for money, had never been so foolish as to owe debts where he lived. "There will be some things left about, Mrs. Bunsby," he said, "and I will get you to keep them till I call or send." Mrs. Bunsby said that she would, and then looked her last at him. After that interview she never saw him again. When he was left alone he put on a rough morning coat, and taking up the pistol, placed it carefully in his pocket, and sallied forth. It was manifest enough that he had some decided scheme in his head, for he turned quickly towards the West when he reached the Strand, went across Trafalgar Square to Pall Mall East, and then turned up Suffolk Street. Just as he reached the club-house at the corner he paused and looked back, facing first one way and then the other. "The chances are that I shall never see anything of it again," he said to himself. Then he laughed in his own silent way, shook his head slightly, and turning again quickly on his heel, walked up the street till he reached the house of Mr. Jones, the pugilistic tailor. The reader, no doubt, has forgotten all he ever knew of Mr. Jones, the pugilistic tailor. It can soon be told again. At Mr. Jones's house John Grey lodged when he was in London, and he was in London at this moment. Vavasor rang the bell, and as soon as the servant came he went quickly into the house, and passed her in the passage. "Mr. Grey is at home," he said. "I will go up to him." The girl said that Mr. Grey was at home, but suggested that she had better announce the gentleman. But Vavasor was already halfway up the stairs, and before the girl had reached the first landing place, he had entered Mr. Grey's room and closed the door behind him. Grey was sitting near the open window, in a dressing-gown, and was reading. The breakfast things were on the table, but he had not as yet breakfasted. As soon as he saw George Vavasor, he rose from his chair quickly, and put down his book. "Mr. Vavasor," he said, "I hardly expected to see you in my lodgings again!" "I dare say not," said Vavasor; "but, nevertheless, here I am." He kept his right hand in the pocket which held the pistol, and held his left hand under his waistcoat. "May I ask why you have come?" said Grey. "I intend to tell you, at any rate, whether you ask me or not. I have come to declare in your own hearing,—as I am in the habit of doing occasionally behind your back,—that you are a blackguard,—to spit in your face, and defy you." As he said this he suited his action to his words, but without any serious result. "I have come here to see if you are man enough to resent any insult that I can offer you; but I doubt whether you are." "Nothing that you can say to me, Mr. Vavasor, will have any effect upon me;—except that you can, of course, annoy me." "And I mean to annoy you, too, before I have done with you. Will you fight me?" "Fight a duel with you,—with pistols? Certainly not." "Then you are a coward, as I supposed." "I should be a fool if I were to do such a thing as that." "Look here, Mr. Grey. You managed to worm yourself into an intimacy with my cousin, Miss Vavasor, and to become engaged to her. When she found out what you were, how paltry, and mean, and vile, she changed her mind, and bade you leave her." "Are you here at her request?" "I am here as her representative." "Self-appointed, I think." "Then, sir, you think wrong. I am at this moment her affianced husband; and I find that, in spite of all that she has said to you,—which was enough, I should have thought, to keep any man of spirit out of her presence,—you still persecute her by going to her house, and forcing yourself upon her presence. Now, I give you two alternatives. You shall either give me your written promise never to go near her again, or you shall fight me." "I shall do neither one nor the other,—as you know very well yourself." "Stop till I have done, sir. If you have courage enough to fight me, I will meet you in any country. I will fight you here in London, or, if you are afraid of that, I will go over to France, or to America, if that will suit you better." "Nothing of the kind will suit me at all. I don't want to have anything to do with you." "Then you are a coward." "Perhaps I am;—but your saying so will not make me one." "You are a coward, and a liar, and a blackguard. I have given you the option of behaving like a gentleman, and you have refused it. Now, look here. I have come here with arms, and I do not intend to leave this room without using them, unless you will promise to give me the meeting that I have proposed." And he took the pistol out of his pocket. "Do you mean that you are going to murder me?" Grey asked. There were two windows in the room, and he had been sitting near to that which was furthest removed from the fireplace, and consequently furthest removed from the bell, and his visitor was now standing immediately between him and the door. He had to think what steps he might best take, and to act upon his decision instantly. He was by no means a timid man, and was one, moreover, very little prone to believe in extravagant action. He did not think, even now, that this disappointed, ruined man had come there with any intention of killing him. But he knew that a pistol in the hands of an angry man is dangerous, and that it behoved him to do his best to rid himself of the nuisance which now encumbered him. "Do you mean that you are going to murder me?" he had said. "I mean that you shall not leave this room alive unless you promise to meet me, and fight it out." Upon hearing this, Grey turned himself towards the bell. "If you move a step, I will fire at you," said Vavasor. Grey paused a moment, and looked him full in the face. "I will," said Vavasor again. "That would be murder," said Grey. "Don't think that you will frighten me by ugly words," said Vavasor. "I am beyond that." Grey had stopped for a moment to fix his eyes on the other man's face; but it was only for a moment, and then he went on to the bell. He had seen that the pistol was pointed at himself, and had once thought of rushing across the room at his adversary, calculating that a shot fired at him as he did so might miss him, and that he would then have a fair chance of disarming the madman. But his chief object was to avoid any personal conflict, to escape the indignity of a scramble for the pistol,—and especially to escape the necessity of a consequent appearance at some police-office, where he would have to justify himself, and answer the questions of a lawyer hired to cross-question him. He made, therefore, towards the bell, trusting that Vavasor would not fire at him, but having some little thought also as to the danger of the moment. It might be that everything was over for him now,—that the fatal hour had come, and that eternity was close upon him. Something of the spirit of a prayer flashed across his mind as he moved. Then he heard the click of the pistol's hammer as it fell, and was aware that his eyes were dazzled, though he was unconscious of seeing any flame. He felt something in the air, and knew that the pistol had been fired;—but he did not know whether the shot had struck him or had missed him. His hand was out for the bell-handle, and he had pulled it, before he was sure that he was unhurt. "D––––ation!" exclaimed the murderer. But he did not pull the trigger again. Though the weapon had of late been so often in his hands, he forgot, in the agitation of the moment, that his missing once was but of small matter if he chose to go on with his purpose. Were there not five other barrels for him, each making itself ready by the discharge of the other? But he had paused, forgetting, in his excitement, the use of his weapon, and before he had bethought himself that the man was still in his power, he heard the sound of the bell. "D––––ation!" he exclaimed. Then he turned round, left the room, hurried down the stairs, and made his way out into the street, having again passed the girl on his way. Grey, when he perceived that his enemy was gone, turned round to look for the bullet or its mark. He soon found the little hole in the window-shutter, and probing it with the point of his pencil, came upon the morsel of lead which might now just as readily have been within his own brain. There he left it for the time, and then made some not inaccurate calculation as to the narrowness of his own escape. He had been standing directly between Vavasor and the shutter, and he found, from the height of the hole, that the shot must have passed close beneath his ear. He remembered to have heard the click of the hammer, but he could not remember the sound of the report, and when the girl entered the room, he perceived at once from her manner that she was unaware that firearms had been used. "Has that gentleman left the house?" Grey asked. The girl said that he had left the house. "Don't admit him again," said he;—"that is, if you can avoid it. I believe he is not in his right senses." Then he asked for Mr. Jones, his landlord, and in a few minutes the pugilistic tailor was with him. During those few minutes he had been called upon to resolve what he would do now. Would he put the police at once upon the track of the murderer, who was, as he remembered too well, the first cousin of the woman whom he still desired to make his wife? That cross-examination which he would have to undergo at the police-office, and again probably in an assize court, in which all his relations with the Vavasor family would be made public, was very vivid to his imagination. That he was called upon by duty to do something he felt almost assured. The man who had been allowed to make such an attempt once with impunity, might probably make it again. But he resolved that he need not now say anything about the pistol to the pugilistic tailor, unless the tailor said something to him. "Mr. Jones," he said, "that man whom I had to put out of the room once before, has been here again." "Has there been another tussle, sir?" "No;—nothing of that kind. But we must take some steps to prevent his getting in again, if we can help it." Jones promised his aid, and offered to go at once to the police. To this, however, Mr. Grey demurred, saying that he should himself seek assistance from some magistrate. Jones promised to be very vigilant as to watching the door; and then John Grey sat down to his breakfast. Of course he thought much of what had occurred. It was impossible that he should not think much of so narrow an escape. He had probably been as near death as a man may well be without receiving any injury; and the more he thought of it, the more strongly he was convinced that he could not allow the thing to pass by without some notice, or some precaution as to the future. At eleven o'clock he went to Scotland Yard, and saw some officer great in power over policemen, and told him all the circumstances,—confidentially. The powerful officer recommended an equally confidential reference to a magistrate; and towards evening a very confidential policeman in plain clothes paid a visit to Vavasor's lodgings in Cecil Street. But Vavasor lodged there no longer. Mrs. Bunsby, who was also very confidential,—and at her wits' end because she could not learn the special business of the stranger who called,—stated that Mr. George Vavasor left her house in a cab at ten o'clock that morning, having taken with him such luggage as he had packed, and having gone, "she was afraid, for good," as Mrs. Bunsby expressed it. He had gone for good, and at the moment in which the policeman was making the inquiry in Cecil Street, was leaning over the side of an American steamer which had just got up her steam and weighed her anchor in the Mersey. He was on board at six o'clock, and it was not till the next day that the cabman was traced who had carried him to Euston Square Station. Of course, it was soon known that he had gone to America, but it was not thought worth while to take any further steps towards arresting him. Mr. Grey himself was decidedly opposed to any such attempt, declaring his opinion that his own evidence would be insufficient to obtain a conviction. The big men in Scotland Yard were loth to let the matter drop. Their mouths watered after the job, and they had very numerous and very confidential interviews with John Grey. But it was decided that nothing should be done. "Pity!" said one enterprising superintendent, in answer to the condolings of a brother superintendent. "Pity's no name for it. It's the greatest shame as ever I knew since I joined the force. A man as was a Member of Parliament only last Session,—as belongs to no end of swell clubs, a gent as well known in London as any gent about the town! And I'd have had him back in three months, as sure as my name's Walker." And that superintendent felt that his profession and his country were alike disgraced. And now George Vavasor vanishes from our pages, and will be heard of no more. Roebury knew him no longer, nor Pall Mall, nor the Chelsea Districts. His disappearance was a nine days' wonder, but the world at large knew nothing of the circumstances of that attempt in Suffolk Street. Mr. Grey himself told the story to no one, till he told it to Mr. Palliser at Lucerne. Mr. Scruby complained bitterly of the way in which Vavasor had robbed him; but I doubt whether Scruby, in truth, lost much by the transaction. To Kate, down in Westmoreland, no tidings came of her brother, and her sojourn in London with her aunt had nearly come to an end before she knew that he was gone. Even then the rumour reached her through Captain Bellfield, and she learned what few facts she knew from Mrs. Bunsby in Cecil Street. "He was always mysterious," said Mrs. Greenow, "and now he has vanished. I hate mysteries, and, as for myself, I think it will be much better that he should not come back again." Perhaps Kate was of the same opinion, but, if so, she kept it to herself. About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Anthony Trollope (2006). Can You Forgive Her?. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved October 2022 https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/19500/pg19500-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

Showing How George Vavasor Paid a Visit

At Lucerne

COMING EVENTS.

Phineas Redux by Anthony Trollope, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . PHINEAS IN PRISON. here PHINEAS IN PRISON. Phineas Finn himself, during the fortnight in which he was carried backwards and forwards between his prison and the Bow Street Police-office, was able to maintain some outward show of manly dignity,—as though he felt that the terrible accusation and great material inconvenience to which he was subjected were only, and could only be, temporary in their nature, and that the truth would soon prevail. During this period he had friends constantly with him,—either Mr. Low, or Lord Chiltern, or Barrington Erle, or his landlord, Mr. Bunce, who, in these days, was very true to him. And he was very frequently visited by the attorney, Mr. Wickerby, who had been expressly recommended to him for this occasion. If anybody could be counted upon to see him through his difficulty it was Wickerby. But the company of Mr. Wickerby was not pleasant to him, because, as far as he could judge, Mr. Wickerby did not believe in his innocence. Mr. Wickerby was willing to do his best for him; was, so to speak, moving heaven and earth on his behalf; was fully conscious that this case was a great affair, and in no respect similar to those which were constantly placed in his hands; but there never fell from him a sympathetic expression of assurance of his client's absolute freedom from all taint of guilt in the matter. From day to day, and ten times a day, Phineas would express his indignant surprise that any one should think it possible that he had done this deed, but to all these expressions Mr. Wickerby would make no answer whatever. At last Phineas asked him the direct question. "I never suspect anybody of anything," said Mr. Wickerby. "Do you believe in my innocence?" demanded Phineas. "Everybody is entitled to be believed innocent till he has been proved to be guilty," said Mr. Wickerby. Then Phineas appealed to his friend Mr. Low, asking whether he might not be allowed to employ some lawyer whose feelings would be more in unison with his own. But Mr. Low adjured him to make no change. Mr. Wickerby understood the work and was a most zealous man. His client was entitled to his services, but to nothing more than his services. And so Mr. Wickerby carried on the work, fully believing that Phineas Finn had in truth murdered Mr. Bonteen. But the prisoner was not without sympathy and confidence. Mr. Low, Lord Chiltern, and Lady Chiltern, who, on one occasion, came to visit him with her husband, entertained no doubts prejudicial to his honour. They told him perhaps almost more than was quite true of the feelings of the world in his favour. He heard of the friendship and faith of the Duchess of Omnium, of Madame Goesler, and of Lady Laura Kennedy,—hearing also that Lady Laura was now a widow. And then at length his two sisters came over to him from Ireland, and wept and sobbed, and fell into hysterics in his presence. They were sure that he was innocent, as was every one, they said, throughout the length and breadth of Ireland. And Mrs. Bunce, who came to see Phineas in his prison, swore that she would tear the judge from his bench if he did not at once pronounce a verdict in favour of her darling without waiting for any nonsense of a jury. And Bunce, her husband, having convinced himself that his lodger had not committed the murder, was zealous in another way, taking delight in the case, and proving that no jury could find a verdict of guilty. During that week Phineas, buoyed up by the sympathy of his friends, and in some measure supported by the excitement of the occasion, carried himself well, and bore bravely the terrible misfortune to which he had been subjected by untoward circumstances. But when the magistrate fully committed him, giving the first public decision on the matter from the bench, declaring to the world at large that on the evidence as given, prima facie, he, Phineas Finn, must be regarded as the murderer of Mr. Bonteen, our hero's courage almost gave way. If such was now the judicial opinion of the magistrate, how could he expect a different verdict from a jury in two months' time, when he would be tried before a final court? As far as he could understand, nothing more could be learned on the matter. All the facts were known that could be known,—as far as he, or rather his friends on his behalf, were able to search for facts. It seemed to him that there was no tittle whatever of evidence against him. He had walked straight home from his club with the life-preserver in his pocket, and had never turned to the right or to the left. Till he found himself committed, he would not believe that any serious and prolonged impediment could be thrown in the way of his liberty. He would not believe that a man altogether innocent could be in danger of the gallows on a false accusation. It had seemed to him that the police had kept their hold on him with a rabid ferocity, straining every point with the view of showing that it was possible that he should have been the murderer. Every policeman who had been near him, carrying him backward and forward from his prison, or giving evidence as to the circumstances of the locality and of his walk home on that fatal night, had seemed to him to be an enemy. But he had looked for impartiality from the magistrate,—and now the magistrate had failed him. He had seen in court the faces of men well known to him,—men known in the world,—with whom he had been on pleasant terms in Parliament, who had sat upon the bench while he was standing as a culprit between two constables; and they who had been his familiar friends had appeared at once to have been removed from him by some unmeasurable distance. But all that he had, as it were, discounted, believing that a few hours,—at the very longest a few days,—would remove the distance; but now he was sent back to his prison, there to await his trial for the murder. And it seemed to him that his committal startled no one but himself. Could it be that even his dearest friends thought it possible that he had been guilty? When that day came, and he was taken back to Newgate on his last journey there from Bow Street, Lord Chiltern had returned for a while to Harrington Hall, having promised that he would be back in London as soon as his business would permit; but Mr. Low came to him almost immediately to his prison room. "This is a pleasant state of things," said Phineas, with a forced laugh. But as he laughed he also sobbed, with a low, irrepressible, convulsive movement in his throat. "A man! Oh, yes, I can be a man. A murderer you mean. I shall have to be—hung, I suppose." "May God, in His mercy, forbid." "No;—not in His mercy; in His justice. There can be no need for mercy here,—not even from Heaven. When they take my life may He forgive my sins through the merits of my Saviour. But for this there can be no mercy. Why do you not speak? Do you mean to say that I am guilty?" "I am sure that you are innocent." "And yet, look here. What more can be done to prove it than has been done? That blundering fool will swear my life away." Then he threw himself on his bed, and gave way to his sobs. That evening he was alone,—as, indeed, most of his evenings had been spent, and the minutes were minutes of agony to him. The external circumstances of his position were as comfortable as circumstances would allow. He had a room to himself looking out through heavy iron bars into one of the courts of the prison. The chamber was carpeted, and was furnished with bed and chairs and two tables. Books were allowed him as he pleased, and pen and ink. It was May, and no fire was necessary. At certain periods of the day he could walk alone in the court below,—the restriction on such liberty being that at other certain hours the place was wanted for other prisoners. As far as he knew no friend who called was denied to him, though he was by no means certain that his privilege in that respect would not be curtailed now that he had been committed for trial. His food had been plentiful and well cooked, and even luxuries, such as fish and wine and fruit, had been supplied to him. That the fruit had come from the hot-houses of the Duchess of Omnium, and the wine from Mr. Low's cellar, and the fish and lamb and spring vegetables, the cream and coffee and fresh butter from the unrestricted orders of another friend, that Lord Chiltern had sent him champagne and cigars, and that Lady Chiltern had given directions about the books and stationery, he did not know. But as far as he could be consoled by such comforts, there had been the consolation. If lamb and salad could make him happy he might have enjoyed his sojourn in Newgate. Now, this evening, he was past all enjoyment. It was impossible that he should read. How could a man fix his attention on any book, with a charge of murder against himself affirmed by the deliberate decision of a judge? And he knew himself to be as innocent as the magistrate himself. Every now and then he would rise from his bed, and almost rush across the room as though he would dash his head against the wall. Murder! They really believed that he had deliberately murdered the man;—he, Phineas Finn, who had served his country with repute, who had sat in Parliament, who had prided himself on living with the best of his fellow-creatures, who had been the friend of Mr. Monk and of Lord Cantrip, the trusted intimate of such women as Lady Laura and Lady Chiltern, who had never put his hand to a mean action, or allowed his tongue to speak a mean word! He laughed in his wrath, and then almost howled in his agony. He thought of the young loving wife who had lived with him little more than for one fleeting year, and wondered whether she was looking down upon him from Heaven, and how her spirit would bear this accusation against the man upon whose bosom she had slept, and in whose arms she had gone to her long rest. "They can't believe it," he said aloud. "It is impossible. Why should I have murdered him?" And then he remembered an example in Latin from some rule of grammar, and repeated it to himself over and over again.—"No one at an instant,—of a sudden,—becomes most base." It seemed to him that there was such a want of knowledge of human nature in the supposition that it was possible that he should have committed such a crime. And yet—there he was, committed to take his trial for the murder of Mr. Bonteen. The days were long, and it was daylight till nearly nine. Indeed the twilight lingered, even through those iron bars, till after nine. He had once asked for candles, but had been told that they could not be allowed him without an attendant in the room,—and he had dispensed with them. He had been treated doubtless with great respect, but nevertheless he had been treated as a prisoner. They hardly denied him anything that he asked, but when he asked for that which they did not choose to grant they would annex conditions which induced him to withdraw his request. He understood their ways now, and did not rebel against them. On a sudden he heard the key in the door, and the man who attended him entered the room with a candle in his hand. A lady had come to call, and the governor had given permission for her entrance. He would return for the light,—and for the lady, in half an hour. He had said all this before Phineas could see who the lady was. And when he did see the form of her who followed the gaoler, and who stood with hesitating steps behind him in the doorway, he knew her by her sombre solemn raiment, and not by her countenance. She was dressed from head to foot in the deepest weeds of widowhood, and a heavy veil fell from her bonnet over her face. "Lady Laura, is it you?" said Phineas, putting out his hand. Of course it was Lady Laura. While the Duchess of Omnium and Madame Goesler were talking about such a visit, allowing themselves to be deterred by the wisdom of Mr. Low, she had made her way through bolts and bars, and was now with him in his prison. "Oh, Phineas!" She slowly raised her veil, and stood gazing at him. "Of all my troubles this,—to see you here,—is the heaviest." "And of all my consolations to see you here is the greatest." He should not have so spoken. Could he have thought of things as they were, and have restrained himself, he should not have uttered words to her which were pleasant but not true. There came a gleam of sunshine across her face as she listened to him, and then she threw herself into his arms, and wept upon his shoulder. "I did not expect that you would have found me," he said. She took the chair opposite to that on which he usually sat, and then began her tale. Her cousin, Barrington Erle, had brought her there, and was below, waiting for her in the Governor's house. He had procured an order for her admission that evening, direct from Sir Harry Coldfoot, the Home Secretary,—which, however, as she admitted, had been given under the idea that she and Erle were to see him together. "But I would not let him come with me," she said. "I could not have spoken to you, had he been here;—could I?" "It would not have been the same, Lady Laura." He had thought much of his mode of addressing her on occasions before this, at Dresden and at Portman Square, and had determined that he would always give her her title. Once or twice he had lacked the courage to be so hard to her. Now as she heard the name the gleam of sunshine passed from her altogether. "We hardly expected that we should ever meet in such a place as this?" he said. "I cannot understand it. They cannot really think you killed him." He smiled, and shook his head. Then she spoke of her own condition. "You have heard what has happened? You know that I am—a widow?" "Yes;—I had heard." And then he smiled again. "You will have understood why I could not come to you,—as I should have done but for this little accident." "He died on the day that they arrested you. Was it not strange that such a double blow should fall together? Oswald, no doubt, told you all." "He told me of your husband's death." "But not of his will? Perhaps he has not seen you since he heard it." Lord Chiltern had heard of the will before his last visit to Phineas in Newgate, but had not chosen then to speak of his sister's wealth. "I have heard nothing of Mr. Kennedy's will." "It was made immediately after our marriage,—and he never changed it, though he had so much cause of anger against me." "He has not injured you, then,—as regards money." "Injured me! No, indeed. I am a rich woman,—very rich. All Loughlinter is my own,—for life. But of what use can it be to me?" He in his present state could tell her of no uses for such a property. "I suppose, Phineas, it cannot be that you are really in danger?" "In the greatest danger, I fancy." "Do you mean that they will say—you are guilty?" "The magistrates have said so already." "But surely that is nothing. If I thought so, I should die. If I believed it, they should never take me out of the prison while you are here. Barrington says that it cannot be. Oswald and Violet are sure that such a thing can never happen. It was that Jew who did it." "I cannot say who did it. I did not." "You! Oh, Phineas! The world must be mad when any can believe it!" "But they do believe it?" This, he said, meaning to ask a question as to that outside world. "We do not. Barrington says—" "What does Barrington say?" "That there are some who do;—just a few, who were Mr. Bonteen's special friends." "The police believe it. That is what I cannot understand;—men who ought to be keen-eyed and quick-witted. That magistrate believes it. I saw men in the Court who used to know me well, and I could see that they believed it. Mr. Monk was here yesterday." "Does he believe it?" "I asked him, and he told me—no. But I did not quite trust him as he told me. There are two or three who believe me innocent." "Who are they?" "Low, and Chiltern, and his wife;—and that man Bunce, and his wife. If I escape from this,—if they do not hang me,—I will remember them. And there are two other women who know me well enough not to think me a murderer." "Who are they, Phineas?" "Madame Goesler, and the Duchess of Omnium." "Have they been here?" she asked, with jealous eagerness. "Oh, no. But I hear that it is so,—and I know it. One learns to feel even from hearsay what is in the minds of people." "And what do I believe, Phineas? Can you read my thoughts?" "I know them of old, without reading them now." Then he put forth his hand and took hers. "Had I murdered him in real truth, you would not have believed it." "Because I love you, Phineas." Then the key was again heard in the door, and Barrington Erle appeared with the gaolers. The time was up, he said, and he had come to redeem his promise. He spoke cordially to his old friend, and grasped the prisoner's hand cordially,—but not the less did he believe that there was blood on it, and Phineas knew that such was his belief. It appeared on his arrival that Lady Laura had not at all accomplished the chief object of her visit. She had brought with her various cheques, all drawn by Barrington Erle on his banker,—amounting altogether to many hundreds of pounds,—which it was intended that Phineas should use from time to time for the necessities of his trial. Barrington Erle explained that the money was in fact to be a loan from Lady Laura's father, and was simply passed through his banker's account. But Phineas knew that the loan must come from Lady Laura, and he positively refused to touch it. His friend, Mr. Low, was managing all that for him, and he would not embarrass the matter by a fresh account. He was very obstinate, and at last the cheques were taken away in Barrington Erle's pocket. "Good-night, old fellow," said Erle, affectionately. "I'll see you again before long. May God send you through it all." "Good-night, Barrington. It was kind of you to come to me." Then Lady Laura, watching to see whether her cousin would leave her alone for a moment with the object of her idolatry, paused before she gave him her hand. "Good-night, Lady Laura," he said. "Good-night!" Barrington Erle was now just outside the door. "I shall not forget your coming here to me." "How should we, either of us, forget it?" "Come, Laura," said Barrington Erle, "we had better make an end of it." "But if I should never see him again!" "Of course you will see him again." "When! and where! Oh, God,—if they should murder him!" Then she threw herself into his arms, and covered him with kisses, though her cousin had returned into the room and stood over her as she embraced him. "Laura," said he, "you are doing him an injury. How should he support himself if you behave like this! Come away." "Oh, my God, if they should kill him!" she exclaimed. But she allowed her cousin to take her in his arms, and Phineas Finn was left alone without having spoken another word to either of them. About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Anthony Trollope (2006). Phineas Redux. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/18640/pg18640-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

PHINEAS IN PRISON.

Mark Twain's Speeches by Mark Twain, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . LOTOS CLUB DINNER IN HONOR OF MARK TWAIN here LOTOS CLUB DINNER IN HONOR OF MARK TWAIN ADDRESS AT THE FIRST FORMAL DINNER IN THE NEW CLUB-HOUSE,
          NOVEMBER 11, 1893

          In introducing the guest of the evening, Mr. Lawrence said:

          “To-night the old faces appear once more amid new surroundings.
          The place where last we met about the table has vanished, and
          to-night we have our first Lotos dinner in a home that is all
          our own.  It is peculiarly fitting that the board should now be
          spread in honor of one who has been a member of the club for
          full a score of years, and it is a happy augury for the future
          that our fellow-member whom we assemble to greet should be the
          bearer of a most distinguished name in the world of letters;
          for the Lotos Club is ever at its best when paying homage to
          genius in literature or in art.  Is there a civilized being who
          has not heard the name of Mark Twain?  We knew him long years
          ago, before he came out of the boundless West, brimful of wit
          and eloquence, with no reverence for anything, and went abroad
          to educate the untutored European in the subtleties of the
          American joke.  The world has looked on and applauded while he
          has broken many images.  He has led us in imagination all over
          the globe.  With him as our guide we have traversed alike the
          Mississippi and the Sea of Galilee.  At his bidding we have
          laughed at a thousand absurdities.  By a laborious process of
          reasoning he has convinced us that the Egyptian mummies are
          actually dead.  He has held us spellbound upon the plain at the
          foot of the great Sphinx, and we have joined him in weeping
          bitter tears at the tomb of Adam.  To-night we greet him in the
          flesh.  What name is there in literature that can be likened to
          his?  Perhaps some of the distinguished gentlemen about this
          table can tell us, but I know of none.  Himself his only
          parallel!” MR. PRESIDENT, GENTLEMEN, AND FELLOW-MEMBERS OF THE LOTOS CLUB,—I have seldom in my lifetime listened to compliments so felicitously phrased or so well deserved. I return thanks for them from a full heart and an appreciative spirit, and I will say this in self-defence: While I am charged with having no reverence for anything, I wish to say that I have reverence for the man who can utter such truths, and I also have a deep reverence and a sincere one for a club that can do such justice to me. To be the chief guest of such a club is something to be envied, and if I read your countenances rightly I am envied. I am glad to see this club in such palatial quarters. I remember it twenty years ago when it was housed in a stable. Now when I was studying for the ministry there were two or three things that struck my attention particularly. At the first banquet mentioned in history that other prodigal son who came back from his travels was invited to stand up and have his say. They were all there, his brethren, David and Goliath, and—er, and if he had had such experience as I have had he would have waited until those other people got through talking. He got up and testified to all his failings. Now if he had waited before telling all about his riotous living until the others had spoken he might not have given himself away as he did, and I think that I would give myself away if I should go on. I think I’d better wait until the others hand in their testimony; then if it is necessary for me to make an explanation, I will get up and explain, and if I cannot do that, I’ll deny it happened. Later in the evening Mr. Clemens made another speech, replying
          to a fire of short speeches by Charles Dudley Warner, Charles
          A. Dana, Seth Low, General Porter, and many others, each
          welcoming the guest of honor. I don’t see that I have a great deal to explain. I got off very well, considering the opportunities that these other fellows had. I don’t see that Mr. Low said anything against me, and neither did Mr. Dana. However, I will say that I never heard so many lies told in one evening as were told by Mr. McKelway—and I consider myself very capable; but even in his case, when he got through, I was gratified by finding how much he hadn’t found out. By accident he missed the very things that I didn’t want to have said, and now, gentlemen, about Americanism. I have been on the continent of Europe for two and a half years. I have met many Americans there, some sojourning for a short time only, others making protracted stays, and it has been very gratifying to me to find that nearly all preserved their Americanism. I have found they all like to see the Flag fly, and that their hearts rise when they see the Stars and Stripes. I met only one lady who had forgotten the land of her birth and glorified monarchical institutions. I think it is a great thing to say that in two and a half years I met only one person who had fallen a victim to the shams—I think we may call them shams—of nobilities and of heredities. She was entirely lost in them. After I had listened to her for a long time, I said to her: “At least you must admit that we have one merit. We are not like the Chinese, who refuse to allow their citizens who are tired of the country to leave it. Thank God, we don’t!” About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Mark Twain (2004). Mark Twain's Speeches. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved October 2022 https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/3188/pg3188-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

LOTOS CLUB DINNER IN HONOR OF MARK TWAIN

The Periphery 

পেরিফেরি

Die Peripherie

La periferia

La périphérie

परिधि

周辺部

주변부

A periferia

Периферия

Çevre

ngoại vi

周边地区

Common Sense Applied to Religion; Or, The Bible and the People by Catharine Esther Beecher, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . WRONG ACTION OF MIND, AND ITS RESULTS IN A FUTURE STATE. here CHAPTER XXVII. WRONG ACTION OF MIND, AND ITS RESULTS IN A FUTURE STATE. We are now to inquire as to the results of the wrong action of mind in a future state, so far as reason and experience can furnish data for any anticipations. The following are the principles of mind from which we reason on this subject. It appears that its constitution is such that the repetition of one particular mode of securing happiness induces a habit; and that the longer a habit continues, the more powerful is its force. An early habit of selfishness is always formed in the human mind, and the penalties following from self-indulgence and selfishness are not sufficient to prevent the continued increase of this habit. Though men, from the very beginning of existence, feel that they are happier in obeying the dictates of conscience, and that increase of guilt is increase of sorrow, yet this does not save them, in numberless cases, from increasing evil habits. It is also established by experience that, when a strong habit is formed, the mere decisions of the will are not sufficient for an immediate remedy. In this life, it requires a period of long and painful efforts of the will to rectify an established habit. Every human being is conscious how difficult it is to force the mental and bodily faculties to obey its decisions when contrary to the stream of a long-indulged habit. There are few who have not either experienced or witnessed the anguish of spirit that has followed the violations of solemn resolutions, those firmest decisions of the will, in the contest between habit and conscience. Another principle of mind is this, that when selfishness and crime have been long indulged, the natural constitution of mind seems changed, so that inflicting evil on others is sought as an enjoyment. In illustration of this, it is related of Antiochus Epiphanes that, in his wars with the Jews, after all opposition had ceased, and all danger and cause of fear was removed, he destroyed thousands for the mere pleasure of seeing them butchered. An anecdote is related of him, too horrible to record in all its particulars, where he sat and feasted his eyes on the sufferings of a mother and her seven sons, when the parent was doomed to witness the infliction of the most excruciating and protracted tortures on each of her seven children, and then was tortured to death herself. It is recorded of Mustapha, one of the Turkish sultans, that by honorable capitulations he gained the person of a brave Venetian commander called Bragadino, who was defending his country from the cruelty of invaders. After having promised him honorable protection, he ordered him, bound hand and foot, to behold the massacre of his soldiers, then caused his person to be cut and mutilated in the most horrible manner, and then taunted him as a worshiper of Christ, who could not save his servants. When recovered of his wounds, he obliged him to carry loaded buckets of earth before the army, and kiss the ground whenever he passed his barbarous tormentor. He then had him hung in a cage, to be tormented by his own soldiers, who were chained as galley-slaves, that they might be agonized by the indignities and sufferings of their venerated commander. After the most protracted sufferings and indignities in the public place, at the sound of music he was flayed alive. The history of some of the Roman emperors, even of some who, in early childhood and youth, were gentle, amiable, and kind, presents the same horrible picture. Nero set fire to Rome, and dressed the Christians in garments of flaming pitch, to run about his garden for his amusement. Tiberius tormented his subjects, and murdered them in cruel pangs, to gratify his love of suffering, while Caligula butchered his people for amusement with his own hand. The mind turns with horror from such revolting scenes, and asks if it is possible human nature can be so perverted and debased. But this is the humiliating record of some of the , even of our own countrymen, that have occurred in some parts of this refined and Christian nation. "Many of the interludes are filled up with a , which becomes memorable by feats of . When two boxers are wearied with fighting and bruising each other, they come to close quarters, each endeavoring to twist his forefinger into the earlocks of his antagonist. When they are thus fast clenched, the thumbs are extended, and are turned out of their sockets. The victor is hailed with shouts of applause from the sporting throng, while his poor antagonist, thus blinded for life, for his misfortune." now amusements boxing match gouging both the eyes is laughed at One very striking fact bearing on this subject has been established by experience, and that is, that , either mental or bodily, tends to awaken the desire to inflict evil upon other minds. This is probably one mode of accounting for the increased cruelty of the Roman emperors. As the powers of enjoyment diminished by abuse, and the horrors of guilt harassed their spirits, this dreadful desire to torment others was awakened. extreme suffering There are many undisputed facts to establish the principle that extreme suffering is the cause of terrible malignity. The following is from a statement of Mr. Byron, who was shipwrecked on the coast of South America: "So terrible was the scene of foaming breakers, that one of the bravest men could not help expressing his dismay, saying it was too shocking to bear. In this dreadful situation malignant passions began to appear. The crew grew extremely riotous, and fell to beating every thing in their way, and broke open chests and cabins for plunder that could be of no use. So earnest were they in this wantonness of theft, that in the morning a strangled corpse was found of one who had contested the spoil." A still more terrible picture is given in an account of the loss of the Medusa frigate on the coast of Africa. In the midst of dreadful suffering from cold, danger, and famine, it is recorded that "a spirit of sedition arose and manifested itself by furious shouts. The soldiers and sailors began to cut the ropes, and declared their intention of murdering the officers. About midnight, they rushed on the officers like desperate men, each having a knife or sabre, and such was their fury that they tore their clothes and their flesh . The next morning the raft was strewed with dead bodies. The succeeding night was passed in similar horrors, and the morning sun saw twelve more lifeless bodies. The next night of suffering was attended with a horrid massacre, and thus it continued till only fifteen remained of the whole one hundred and fifty!" with their teeth Another principle of mind having a bearing on this subject is the fact that those qualities of mind which are the causes of enjoyment in others around may be viewed with only pain and dislike by a selfish person. Thus intellectual superiority, in itself considered, is a delightful object of contemplation; but if it becomes the means of degradation or of contemptuous comparison to a selfish mind, it is viewed with unmingled pain. Benevolence and truth are objects of delightful contemplation to all minds when disconnected with obligations or painful comparisons, but if they are viewed as causes of evil to a selfish mind, it will view them with unmingled dislike and hatred. Now we find that there are two classes of minds in this world: those who are more or less benevolent, and find their happiness in living to promote the general interests of their fellow-beings, and those who are selfish, and are living to promote their own enjoyment irrespective of the general happiness. If, then, we reason from the known laws of mind and from past experience, we must suppose that the habits of mind which are existing in this life will continue to increase, and if the mind is immortal, a time must come when one class will become perfectly benevolent and the other perfectly selfish. A community of perfectly benevolent beings, it has been shown, would, from the very nature and constitution of mind, be a perfectly happy community. Every source of enjoyment of which mind is capable would be secured by every individual. It can be seen, also, that there must, in the nature of the case, be an entire separation between two such opposite classes; for it is as painful for minds suffering from conscious guilt, shame, and malignity, to look upon purity, benevolence, and happiness, as it is for the virtuous to associate with the selfish, the debased, and the abandoned. This separation, therefore, would be a voluntary one on both sides, even did we suppose no interference of Deity. But if the Creator continues his present constitution of things, we may infer that his power would be exerted to prevent the intrusion of malignity into a perfect and well-ordered community; for he has so constituted things , that those who are incorrigible pests to society are confined from interfering with its interests. here From the laws of mind, then, and from past experience as to the tendencies of things, we can establish the position that, at some future period, if the mind of man is immortal, the human race will be permanently divided into two classes, the perfectly selfish and the perfectly benevolent. Should it be objected to this conclusion that when the mind passes into another world more effectual motives may be brought to operate, it may be replied that it is not the office of reason to meet of , but to show what the are by deductions from principles already known. A thousand possibilities may be asserted, such as the annihilation of mind or the alteration of its powers, but these are mere suppositions, and have nothing to do with the conclusions of reason. suppositions possibilities probabilities If mind is immortal and continues its present nature, habits will continue to strengthen; and in regard to motives, we know already that the will not save from continuance in crime. How often has a man who has yielded to habits of guilt been seen writhing in the agonies of remorse, longing to free himself from the terrible evils he has drawn around him, acknowledging the misery of his course and his ability to return to virtue, and yet, with bitter anguish, yielding to the force of inveterate habits and despairing of any remedy. fear of evil consequences We know, also, that it is a principle established by long experience, that punishment does not tend to soften and reform. Where is the hardened culprit that was ever brought to repentance and reformation by lashes or the infliction of degradation? Such means serve only to harden and brutify. Experience forbids the hope that punishment will ever restore a selfish and guilty mind to virtue and peace. Reason and experience, then, both lead to the conclusion that the two classes of minds into which mankind are here divided will, on leaving this world, eventually become two permanently distinct communities—one perfectly selfish, and the other perfectly benevolent. What, then, would reason and experience teach us as to the probable situation of a community of minds constituted like those of the human race, who, in the progress of future ages, shall establish habits of ? perfect selfishness and crime In regard to the Creator, what may we suppose will be the feelings of such minds? If he is a benevolent, pure, and perfectly happy being, and his power is exerted to confine them from inflicting evil on the good, he will be the object of unmingled and tormenting envy, hatred, and spite; for when a selfish mind beholds a being with characteristics which exhibit its own vileness in painful contrast, and using his power to oppose its desires, what might in other circumstances give pleasure will only be cause of pain. If they behold, also, the purity and happiness of that community of benevolent beings from which they will be withdrawn, the same baleful passions will be awakened in view of their excellence and enjoyment. There is no suffering of the mind more dreaded and avoided than that of . It is probable a guilty creature never writhes under keener burnings of spirit than when all his course of meanness, baseness, ingratitude, and guilt is unveiled in the presence of dignified virtue, honor, and purity, and the withering glance of pity, contempt, and abhorrence is encountered. This feeling must be experienced, to its full extent, by every member of such a wretched community. Each must feel himself an object of loathing and contempt to every pure and benevolent mind, as well as to all those who are equally debased. shame Another cause of suffering is ungratified desire. In this world, perfect misery and full happiness is seldom contrasted. But in such circumstances, if we suppose that the happiness of blessed minds will be known, the keenest pangs of ungratified desire must torment. Every mind will know what is the pure delight of yielded and reciprocated affection, of sympathy in the happiness of others, of the sweet peace of conscious rectitude, and of the delightful consciousness of conferring bliss on others, while the ceaseless cravings of hopeless desire will agonize the spirit. Another cause of suffering is found in the . In such a degraded and selfish community, all ties of country, kindred, friendship, and love must cease. Yet all will know what the endearments of home, the mild soothings of maternal love, the ties of fraternal sympathy, and all the trust and tenderness of friendship and love. What vanished blessing of earth would not rise up, with all the sweetness and freshness that agonizing memory can bring, to aggravate the ! loss of enjoyment were loss of all But the mind is so made that, however wicked itself, guilt and selfishness in others is hated and despised. Such a company, then, might be described as those who were "hateful and hating one another." It has been shown that both suffering and selfishness awaken the desire to torment others. This, then, will be the detested purpose of every malignant mind. Every action that could irritate, mortify, and enrage, would be deliberately practiced, while disappointed hopes, and blasted desires, and agonizing misery would alone awaken the smile of horrible delight. And if we suppose such minds in a future state reclothed in a body, with all the present susceptibilities of suffering, and surrounded by material elements that may be ministers of hate, what mind can conceive the terror and chaos of a world where every one is actuated by a desire to torment? Suppose these beings had arrived at only such a degree of selfishness as has been witnessed in this world; such, for example, as Genghis Khan, who caused unoffending prisoners to be pounded to death with bricks in a mortar; or Nero, who dressed the harmless Christians in flaming pitch for his amusement; or Antiochus Epiphanes and Mustapha, who spent their time in devising and executing the most excruciating tortures on those who could do them no injury. What malignity and baleful passions would actuate such minds, when themselves tormented by others around, bereft of all hope, and with nothing to interest them but plans of torment and revenge! What refined systems of cruelty would be devised in such a world! what terrific combinations of the elements to terrify and distress! If such objects as "the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, and the worm that never dies," could be found, no Almighty hand would need to interfere, while the "smoke of their torment" would arise from flames of their own kindling. To fearful sufferings thus inflicted would be added the pangs of agitating ; for where all around were plotting misery, what relief, by day or by night, from its withering terrors? Then surely "fear would come upon them like desolation, and destruction as a whirlwind." fear Another cause of suffering is inactivity of body and mind. It has been seen that the desire of good is what gives activity to the intellectual and moral powers. In such a world, no good could be hoped or sought, but the gratification of inflicting ill. And even a malignant mind must often weary in this pursuit, and sink under all the weight and misery of that awful , when, in torpid inactivity, it has nothing to love, nothing to hope, nothing to desire! death of the soul Another cause of misery is the consciousness of guilt; and such, even in this life, have been the agonies of remorse, that tearing the hair, bruising the body, and even gnawing the flesh have been resorted to as a temporary relief from its pangs. What, then, would be its agonizing throes in bosoms that live but to torment and to destroy all good to themselves and to other minds? In this life, where we can allow the mind to be engrossed by other pursuits, and where we can thus form a habit of suppressing and avoiding emotions of guilt, the conscience may be seared. But it could not be thus when all engaging and cheerful pursuits were ended forever. Then the mind would view its folly, and shame, and guilt in all their length and breadth, and find no escape from the soul-harrowing gaze. To these miseries must be added despair—the loss of all hope. Here hope comes to all; but, in such a community, that fearful susceptibility of the soul—that terrific power of —would bind in chains which would be felt to be stronger than brass and heavier than iron. If the spirit is conscious that its powers are immortal, with this consciousness would come the despairing certainty of increasing and never-ending woe! habit This terrifying and heart-rending picture, it must be remembered, is the , and who can point out its fallacy? Is not habit appalling in its power, and ofttimes, even in this life, inveterate in its hold? Are not habits increased by perpetual repetition? Is not the mind of man immortal? Do not the tendencies of this life indicate a period when a total separation of selfish and benevolent minds will be their own voluntary choice? If all the comforts, gentle endearments, and the enlivening hopes of this life; if all the restraints of self-interest, family, country, and laws; if in Christian lands the offers of heaven, and the fearful predictions of eternal woe; if the mercy and pardon, and all the love and pity of our Creator and Redeemer, neither by fear, nor by gratitude, nor by love, can turn a selfish mind, what hope of its recovery when it goes a into a world of spirits, to sojourn in that society which, according to its moral habits, it must voluntarily seek? And if there exists a community of such selfish beings, can language portray, with any adequacy, the appalling results that must necessarily ensue? deduction of reason stranger About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Catharine Esther Beecher (2017). Common Sense Applied to Religion; Or, The Bible and the People. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/55531/pg55531-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

WRONG ACTION OF MIND, AND ITS RESULTS IN A FUTURE STATE.

Philochristus: Memoirs of a Disciple of the Lord by Edwin Abbott Abbott is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . How John the Prophet doubted concerning Jesus; and concerning them that are “born of women;” and of the beheading of John the Prophet. here How John the Prophet doubted concerning Jesus; and concerning them that are “born of women;” and of the beheading of John the Prophet. On the third or fourth day after that we had seen Barabbas, we came to Bethsaida. And behold, as Jesus was exhorting the people, there came into the synagogue two disciples of John the Prophet. And the principal Scribe of the place brought the men in, saying that they had a message from the Prophet to Jesus of Nazareth. Then all men held their peace and expected what the message should be; and I remembered the words of Barabbas concerning John, and my mind presaged that the prophet had sent to bid Jesus release him. But the Scribe (for he knew what the message was, and desired to discredit Jesus) said aloud that the message was a strange one, not fit for the ear of the common multitude; therefore it should be reserved for the ear of Jesus alone. But all the people listened the more intently; and Jesus gave command that the messengers should deliver their message aloud, and they did so. Now the words of the message were these, “John the Prophet hath sent us to thee from the prison of Herod, saying, ‘Art thou he that should come, or must we look for another?’ ” When we heard these words we all looked that Jesus should either rebuke the Prophet for his want of faith, or else make some comfortable answer, saying that he would come with speed and deliver the Prophet from his bonds. Howbeit Jesus made no answer, but continued his exhortation; and he drove out certain unclean spirits, and forgave sins. But when he had ended these things, he called to the disciples of John, and he repeated to them those passages of the prophets which describe the signs of Redemption, and in particular the prophecy of Isaiah: how the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped to hear the tidings of Redemption, and the eyes of the blind shall be opened to discern the truth of the Lord; and the lame man shall leap as a hart in the paths of salvation; and the tongue of the dumb shall sing the praises of the Lord. And he said unto the two messengers, “Go and show John the things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” Then he added these words, “Blessed is he who shall not be offended in me.” When the messengers were departed, Jesus spake to the people concerning John, saying that John (howbeit he might have changed and fallen from his first estate, seeming to be, for the time, unstable as a reed or pliant as a courtier) was, none the less, truly a prophet, yea, and the greatest of prophets, inasmuch as he was sent by God as the herald of the Redeemer. Then he added thereto a certain saying which filled us all with amazement: yea, and even now after forty years, though I be enlightened with the Holy Spirit, yet can I not choose but be amazed thereat. For the words were these: “Verily I say unto you, among them that are born of women, there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.” When the congregation brake up, many of the people said among themselves that this was an hard saying. Others asked what Jesus meant by dividing them that were “born of women” from them that are in the Kingdom of Heaven; and whether the former meant the living and the latter meant the dead. Now I understood (for Nathanael had instructed me) that Jesus put a difference between them which are born of flesh and blood, and them which are born of the Spirit; wherefore I partly perceived the meaning of his saying, namely, that the kingdom of the Law and of the Prophets now had an end, and that the kingdom of the Spirit of God was at hand; and that the greatest in the former kingdom was less than the least in the latter. Likewise I understood Jesus to say that the sending of this message and the moving of Jesus to take up the arms of the flesh argued in John a certain nature of flesh; as if he thereby shewed himself to be born not of the New Kingdom, but of the Old Kingdom of flesh and blood, albeit the greatest therein. Yet for all this, that such an one as Jesus of Nazareth, whose gentleness and meekness (albeit mixed at all times with a certain royal carriage and demeanour) for the most part exceeded the meekness of a little child, should notwithstanding seem to rate so low the greatest of all the prophets of Israel, and exalt so high the meanest of all the citizens in the Kingdom that was to come (which also seemed perforce to include a certain magnifying of himself as being chief in that Kingdom); this, I say, for all my poising and pondering, still perplexed and distracted my mind, as a thing new and strange, and (I had almost said) monstrous to human reason. I desired to question Nathanael the son of Zebedee concerning these things; but I could not. For having noted the face of one of my mother’s household in the congregation, and fearing lest he might have some message touching my mother’s health, I hasted to seek the man out: and it proved even as I feared, for my mother was indeed sick, and had sent, desiring that I would come to see her. Therefore I went to Jesus at once, and besought him that he would suffer me to go to my mother. As I went to Jesus, I met Eliezer the son of Arak, and would have passed him. But he, noting that I was somewhat moved, stayed me, and having questioned me, he said, “If thou art wise, thou wilt not go to Jesus: for but now, he forbade one of his disciples to bid farewell to his parents, and another he would not so much as suffer to bury the dead body of his father. For he rageth like a young lion taken in the net of the hunter; and whoso leaveth his side, though it be for an hour, seemeth to him a traitor. Be persuaded, therefore, and quit this Jesus of Nazareth, and his rabble of sinners, and come unto the side of the learned, and thou shalt have eminence among us.” Now I could not indeed deny that Jesus had forbidden certain of his disciples to leave him; but he had done it for their advantage, and because he knew that it would have been ill for them to leave him. Therefore I answered Eliezer with the same proverb which the ruler of the synagogue had said to Jesus, that it was better to be the tail of the lion than the head of the fox; and so I left him. For he spake out of a malignant heart, and not because he loved me. Moreover, I knew that if Jesus should say, Go not, it would be well said; for I trusted him in all things. I found Jesus surrounded by many disciples, who had been asking him questions concerning John the Prophet, and concerning the manner of his deliverance. For all we at that time were assured in our minds that John would be delivered: for men counted John the son of Zachariah and Jesus of Nazareth as yoke-fellows in Israel, and the safety of one seemed to depend on the safety of the other, and the salvation of Israel on both. And indeed I myself have often marvelled that Jesus was not moved to adventure to deliver John. But, as I judge, he rejected all such motions as temptations of Satan, because he knew that he had not been sent to smite with the sword but only with the breath of his mouth. Wherefore, if he were tempted at all, it was rather, as I suppose, that he should die with John than that he should fight that John might live. And at this time, methinks, it came into his mind that if indeed it was ordained that John the Prophet should be slain, and perchance he himself also, then was it high time that new labourers should be sent into the harvest of the Lord, to take the places of them that were to pass away. Howbeit, concerning these things I can but conjecture; but, as I remember, when I came to Jesus, he was looking at the young corn in the fields around very intently, and as if he espied in the sight more than others could see. Presently he said to them which sat next to him, “Say ye not, There are yet four months and then cometh the harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages and gathereth fruit unto life eternal; that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.” Then Judas said to them which sat nigh unto him, that these words signified that John should be delivered at once, and that a levy was to be made throughout all Galilee: and he added aloud, looking to Jesus, that, “The reapers were ready,” or words to that effect. But Jesus answered and said, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” Then I spake to Jesus and told him that I desired to go and see my mother. But I thought perchance that he would have restrained me, if it were so indeed that a levy was to be made throughout all Galilee. But he restrained me not, but bade me go in peace and blessed me, and spake comfortable words to me; and wished me to comfort my mother. On the next day I came to Sepphoris, and behold my mother was grievously sick and nigh unto death. But when I took her by the hand and delivered to her the message of Jesus, saying that he bade her be of good cheer, even in that instant her strength came back to her, and her disease abated; and on the fourth day it departed, so that she rose from her bed. But when the day came that I should depart, so it was that my mother desired me to go first to Tiberias, there to collect certain debts which were owing to her now many days. To this I agreed, nothing loth, for it seemed to me that by passing through Tiberias to Capernaum I might bring unto Jesus the newest tidings touching the doings of Herod, and perchance also touching the state of John the Prophet. For there were certain of mine acquaintance in the house of Chuza, the king’s steward, who lived in Tiberias nigh unto the royal palace. So I set out for Tiberias first. But when I reached the city, it being now about the tenth hour of the day, I found the people gathered together in the Greek quarter by twos and by threes in the streets; and in our part of the city, instead of rejoicings (which I had expected, because the Feast of Purim was at this time), there were everywhere signs of lamentation and mourning. So I saluted one of them that passed by, and asked him what these things might mean. But he glanced at my mule (which I had borrowed, for more speed, of a Greek in Sepphoris; for not many in Galilee, except Gentiles, use to ride on mules), and he said, “I perceive that thou art but a sojourner here, else wouldst thou surely have known these tidings which are in the mouths of all the people, since the eighth hour of the day, touching John the Prophet.” Then I said, “What tidings?” He answered “That he is dead, slain with the sword; and they say that his head hath been given to Herodias on a charger. But why speak I of things that concern me not?” So saying he looked at me, as I had been a spy (for the spies of Herod were everywhere in Galilee at this time, and most of all in Tiberias); and so he passed on. Straightway I hasted on to come to the Greek quarter, seeking the house of Chuza. But on my way thither I passed the royal palace; and at the gate thereof were certain of the Thracian guard keeping watch. Now as I passed them, one of the soldiers called to his companion and said, “But wherefore dost thou keep guard to-day?” And the other said, “I keep guard in the place of Thrasymachus who is gone with three centuries to Capernaum.” “And wherefore to Capernaum?” said the first. “There is like to be a tumult in the town,” replied the sentinel, “because of the beheading of this John in Machærus; and they say that the rabble will set some leader at their head, who is to be arrested.” “Nay,” said the other, “and sayest thou arrested? I would have no arresting, but make quick despatch with these leaders of the rabble. But hath Herod heard of this leader?” “Not so,” said the other, “for he is busy in the south with the army; but our general meaneth to take order that Herod shall never hear of him.” With that he laughed, and made a sign to signify beheading, drawing his hand across his throat; then he bade his fellow go carry some message for him, for he should be busy that day; “For,” said he, “the cohort hath not been gone one full hour yet, and will not be here again these six hours or more, for they mean not to take him by force publicly, but will arrest the man quietly at nightfall.” When I heard these things, my spirit fainted, and there was no strength in me; but when I came to myself, it seemed best to journey forwards at once to Capernaum if perchance I might prevent the coming of the Thracian guard and give the alarm to Jesus. So I turned the mule’s head straightway toward the city gate, and rode on the way that leadeth to Capernaum. But she was sore wearied by reason of the length of the journey, and could scarce carry me. Howbeit after the space of an hour’s riding I came up with the rear of the Thracians: but I perceived that I could not pass them. For a certain merchant riding on a fresh mule had passed out from the city gate before me, and behold, they had stayed him, and suffered him not to pass; but he rode behind with the rear. Now when I saw this, I smote my hands together, for I saw that I could be of no avail to my Master. And by this time the houses of Capernaum, that is to say the quay and the houses near the quay, were in sight, and not far off. For one headland only remained between us and the headland whereon the town standeth; and when the Thracians should have passed round that first headland, there were but six furlongs between them and the market-place of Capernaum. But the sun was now nigh setting and the barbarians began to quicken their pace. Therefore I cried unto the Lord in sore distress and left my mule and climbed up to a rock whence I could watch what befel, and there I offered up prayers to the All-Powerful, who alone is able to save. Now behold, by this time the Thracians had passed round the first headland, and the last of them were out of my sight, so that I could see nothing but the quay of Capernaum and two or three fishing-boats riding at anchor just off the quay: and there seemed no signs of tumult; for there was no man stirring there. And presently began the helmets of the Thracians to shine again before mine eyes as their front guard drew near unto the town, and still no man perceived them; for the cliff lay between them and the town, and there were still none save two or three sailors on the quay. Then I took off the covering from my head and waved it in the air that the sailors perchance might take note of it: but they took no note. Now by this time there was but about a space of two furlongs between the front of the column of the Thracians and the quay of Capernaum, and I could hear the captain give the word of command (albeit not in a loud voice) to hasten their march that they might enter the town the more quickly (for darkness was now falling upon the lake); and as the word of command sounded across the water even to my ears in the stillness of the evening, behold, the Thracians hastened their march so that they began to run. Now I held my breath, for I could not so much as pray for very trouble; when lo, a great noise of shouting from the other side of the headland, even from Capernaum; and at the same time a great concourse of people upon the quay, and immediately a long galley appeared, which rowed forth very swiftly toward the eastward side of the lake. Then the barbarians halted, even without the word of command; for they knew that the bird was escaped from the snare of the fowlers: and the noise of their cursing and clamour came up even unto mine ears as I sat upon my place of watching. But I glorified the God of Israel; and gave thanks to Him whose mercy endureth for ever. About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Edwin Abbott Abbott (2015). Philochristus: Memoirs of a Disciple of the Lord. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/48843/pg48843-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

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