Отруєний пояс
Chapter VI. The Great Awakening
But,likealloft-repeatedtruths,ithasintimelostsomethingofitsactualityandcogency.Alesson,anactualexperience,wasneededtobringithome.Itisfromthatsalutorybutterribleordealthatwehavejustemerged,withmindswhicharestillstunnedbythesuddennessoftheblowandwithspiritswhicharechastenedbytherealizationofourownlimitationsandimpotence.Theworldhaspaidafearfulpriceforitsschooling.Hardlyyethavewelearnedthefulltaleofdisaster,butthedestructionbyfireofNewYork,ofOrleans,andofBrightonconstitutesinitselfoneofthegreatesttragediesinthehistoryofourrace.Whentheaccountoftherailwayandshippingaccidentshasbeencompleted,itwillfurnishgrimreading,althoughthereisevidencetoshowthatinthevastmajorityofcasesthedriversoftrainsandengineersofsteamerssucceededinshuttingofftheirmotivepowerbeforesuccumbingtothepoison.Butthematerialdamage,enormousasitisbothinlifeandinproperty,isnottheconsiderationwhichwillbeuppermostinourmindsto-day.Allthismayintimebeforgotten.Butwhatwillnotbeforgotten,andwhatwillandshouldcontinuetoobsessourimaginations,isthisrevelationofthepossibilitiesoftheuniverse,thisdestructionofourignorantself-complacency,andthisdemonstrationofhownarrowisthepathofourmaterialexistenceandwhatabyssesmaylieuponeithersideofit.Solemnityandhumilityareatthebaseofallouremotionsto-day.Maytheybethefoundationsuponwhichamoreearnestandreverentracemaybuildamoreworthytemple."
