Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда
Chapter 2
Atthisperiodtheerraticscholarshowedsignsofunusualabstraction,andspentasmuchtimeashepossiblycouldathisfarmonthePawtuxetRoad.Heseemed,aswasstated,inaconditionofsuppressedexcitementorsuspense;asifexpectingsomephenomenalthingoronthebrinkofsomestrangediscovery.Chemistryoralchemywouldappeartohaveplayedagreatpart,forhetookfromhishousetothefarmthegreaternumberofhisvolumesonthatsubject.
Hisaffectationofcivicinterestdidnotdiminish,andhelostnoopportunitiesforhelpingsuchleadersasStephenHopkins,JosephBrown,andBenjaminWestintheireffortstoraisetheculturaltoneofthetown,whichwasthenmuchbelowthelevelofNewportinitspatronageoftheliberalarts.HehadhelpedDanielJenckesfoundhisbookshopin1763,andwasthereafterhisbestcustomer;extendingaidlikewisetothestrugglingGazettethatappearedeachWednesdayattheSignofShakespeare’sHead.InpoliticsheardentlysupportedGovernorHopkinsagainsttheWardpartywhoseprimestrengthwasinNewport,andhisreallyeloquentspeechatHacher’sHallin1765againstthesettingoffofNorthProvidenceasaseparatetownwithapro-WardvoteintheGeneralAssemblydidmorethananyotherthingtoweardowntheprejudiceagainsthim.ButEzraWeeden,whowatchedhimclosely,sneeredcynicallyatallthisoutwardactivity;andfreelysworeitwasnomorethanamaskforsomenamelesstrafficwiththeblackestgulfsofTartarus
