NOTEBOOK

The Law of the Distribution of Comfort and Pain
shows an entire absence of sentimental justice. The pro-
portion of punishments to the size of the infractions has
been ignored; this again shows the absence of anything
representing sentimental justice. I knew an unspeakable
villain who was born rich, remained rich, was never ill a
day, never had a bone broken, led a joyous life till 80,
then died a painless death by apoplexy. I knew a man
who when in his second year in college jumped into an
ice-cold stream when he was overheated and rescued a
priest of God from drowning; suffered partial paralysis,
lay in his bed 38 years, unable to speak, unable to feed
himself, unable to write; not even the small charity of
quenching his mind was doled out to him—he lay and
thought and brooded and mourned and begged for death
38 years. There are no laws founded upon sentimental
justice; the laws are all hard and fast. If it so happen
that you are just in the right condition to bring on 38
years of paralysis by a sudden cold bath, that is what
the bath will produce—no allowance will be made even
if you take the bath to save the Virgin Mary.

June n, '98. Clara's birthday three days ago. Not a
reference to it has been made by any member of the
family in my hearing; no presents, no congratulations,
no celebrations. Up to a year and ten months ago all our
birthdays from the beginning of the family life were an-
nually celebrated with loving preparations followed by
a joyous and jovial outpouring of thanksgivings. The
birthdays were milestones on the march of happiness.
Then Susy died. All anniversaries of whatever sort per-
ished with her. As we pass them now they are only grave-
stones. We cannot keep from seeing them as we go by
but we can keep silent about them and look the other way
and put them out of memory as they sink out of sight
behind us.

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