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beetle— Geotvupcs stcrcorarius—iu our Transactions for 1873. But, as a rule, I 

 will say of writers upon this, as most other branches of natural history, they 

 generally leave oflt just where one would wish them to begin. It is most 

 necessary, and in a degree interesting, to know as to such a beetle as this, the 

 number of joints in its limbs, and the kind of hairs that clothe or protect its 

 under surface, and these are given pretty fully in the ordinary books. But this 

 is but work for clerks. What one wants to have is trustworthy details as to its 

 habits of life, so as to arrive at some better understanding of that mysterious 

 force which impels it, blindly and motiveless, as it seems, to actions which 

 conduce to its preservation or to the continuance of its race. One wants to know 

 more about the degree in which our own actions are prompted by similar impulses, 

 and how far reason is limited to ourselves. We are not, I think, at this day, 

 exactly in the position which the great philosopher described — that of children 

 gathering stones on the seashore, while the ocean of truth is unexplored, nor are 

 we like one who stands on his threshold peering out into the dark, helped only by 

 such light as he may hold out and aloft. We look out into brilliant day some 

 with keener perceptions, better instruments, greater enthusiasm, more patience, 

 than the rest ; but each one, as he sees farther and clearer into the distance, 

 helping and encouraging his fellows to still farther and clearer views. 



Thinking of reason reminds me of our delinquent guide. Rather late in 

 the (lay he was, as we knew from distant peeps, in anxious search of us. We 

 heard from other guides that if he failed to find us, or if we complained of him, 

 he would be severely punished, probably dismissed. I shall never be a Justice of 

 the Peace, but it is a fine thing to train oneself for an unattainable position, as a 

 preparation for any lower one that may be within reach. Here was a fine 

 ojjportunity for practice. I felt very stern towards him, but must not forget to 

 be merciful, remembering that the culprit had probably his own ball of domestic 

 responsibility to roll like the rest of us. When we allowed him to find us he was 

 prepared to make forgiveness easy, in a way that may be worth the attention of 

 any criminous person who may read this pajjer. 



Having provided himself with one of the rich ripe oranges of the country, 

 fresh plucked, the green leaf still upon the stalk, he presented it to my wife to 

 distract her attention. Then, begging many pardons, he asked me if we came 

 from Inghilterra, and seemed delighted to find that that was so. " For," said he, 

 " now I will confess to the Signor I was drunk this morning. The wine was bad, 

 but I had had too much of it. Your excellency will not mention it against me 

 down yonder? As an Englishman, the Signor will understand my weakness and 

 overlook it !" I do not know what you would have done, but a touch of nature — 

 an appeal to a fellow-feeling is with me irresistible— the man was pardoned. 

 La Signura, who, under the influence of the fragrant orange, had been seeking 

 excuses for him, was a little shocked at first to find the nature of that which 

 had prevailed with me. But time, the great consoler, has wiped out all that : 

 we now only remember the incident as a sort of frame that encloses the recollection 

 of the grander scenes, the older associations, the deeper and perhaps unfathomable 

 mysteries that rendered this day at Pompeii so bright and memorable. 



