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with each other. The former influences the latter, and so
vice versa. I have never mistaken this reciprocal influ-
euce; but under certain circumstances it is good and per-
haps even necessary that the body should suffer, in order
that the soul may take a higher flight. Childhood and
youth ought to be carefully tended and corporeally devel-
oped; but the adult, the man, who is too careful of his
body, his sleep, his meals, in a word of his health, will
never become a great man. In order to become such a
one, waking, working exertions of all kinds are required.
Theory and experience prove this. And if I must suc-
cumb, I will much rather do it for the sake of my soul than
for the sake of my body. In most cases, however, this
alternative is not required; and if only the foremost word
in life is soul, then the second may, gladly for me, be body,
namely, in mature age. fy disease has had, as it were, its
seat between body and soul; but the real life of the latter
it has not touched. Even when I felt its influence most;
when I felt that I was a bore to myself and to others;
when I was obliged to shun those dearest and nearest to
me, even then I could, like Gregoire (in Victor Hugo’s
novel, “ Notre Dame de Paris”), to whom somebody said,
“Vous étes donc bien misérable et malheureux,” answer,
“ Misérable,- oui; malheureux, non.” In truth, I know
only one thing which could now make me perfectly un-
happy, always supposing that I do not lose my reason. Do
you know what would turn my spring into winter; make all
happiness a misery; change all interest in life to dust and
ashes; make my body mouldy and dried up, and make life
a burden tome? IfI were to lose my belief in all-loving
God and Ruler of the Universe, and in his perfect revela-
tion in Jesus Christ. Then would I go forth amongst the
miserable and destitute in this world, and say to them,
“ Brethren, let us die; life’s greatest treasure is mere van-
ity, and beyond that every thing is only corruption!” and
I would lie down and starve myself to death. But I have
’
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