284 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



on the then familiar theory that all art arose from observation and 

 imitation of nature — a theory which often appears in the literature of 

 the time and which will be at once recognized by readers of Dryden 

 and Pope.* 



A large chest and a couple of boxes, hitherto neglected, are now 

 ransacked by our inquiring young friend. Much of their contents 

 merely puzzles him; but he is highly pleased to discover books, white 

 paper, some lead-pencils, pens, an inkstand, a magnifying glass, a case 

 of mathematical instruments, a fan, a small looking-glass, a gold watch 

 and a snuff-box. These form his playthings for some time and, little 

 by little, he gets to understand the properties of glass and of the 

 magnifier, the peculiar properties of which he finds to be due 'to 

 convexity/ But, above all, he is enraptured by the fan, on which is 

 painted a landscape, with several figures in his 'own shape.' Two in 

 particular rivet his attention — 'a comely Pair,' who seem 'wholly taken 

 up with the Contemplation of each other.' They are 'seated under the 

 Umbrage of a spreading Beech,' and he notes that 'their whole Bodies, 

 save their Faces and Hands,' are 'hid from Sight under much the same 

 sort of Coverings' as he had found 'in the Chest and Boxes.' One of 

 these figures he concludes to be the male, the other the female; and 

 upon the latter he gazes 'with more than common delight,' very gal- 

 lantly, as well as very properly, concluding 'that the sex to which she 

 belongs must be a masterpiece of nature's workmanship.' But the 

 growth of tender sentiment does not here interfere (as it is occasionally 

 known to do) with severer studies. Autonous — though he confesses 

 that, this may be judged 'quite above my capacity' — becomes 'in some 

 Degree' acquainted with the pencils and paper, the books and instru- 

 ments; and by dint of pothering over a volume of mathematics he 

 gleans 'the Principles of that Science,' becoming quite familiar with 

 the use and form of figures. All this happens about his fifteenth or 

 sixteenth year, about which time he begins to make various improve- 

 ments in and about the cottage, laying out the garden in imitation of 

 the landscape on the fan, repairing the fences, clearing bushes and 

 shrubs, and generally substituting order for confusion. 



All this while Autonous is busy with the 'Contemplation of himself 

 and ripens apace into a metaphysician. He soon distinguishes between 

 mind and matter, the former of which he recognizes as the 'only and 

 proper self,' and by watching closely the procedure of the mind, actually 

 reaches some notion of the doctrine of the association of ideas. Sleep, 

 with its phenomenon of unconsciousness and dreams, also engages his 

 attention, and while he is occupied with these mysterious matters, it 

 happens that his dog is killed by a beaver. This was Autonous's first 



* See 'Annus Mirabilis,' Sec. 155; 'Essay on Man,' Epistle III. 



