the days of my life-第87章
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ools and chronicle small beer；” are in the vast majority。 They have the votes and give power to their chosen。 The rest are but voices crying in the wilderness。 Well； there it is； and doubtless God Almighty knows the way out。 At any rate； it must be a part of His plan； so why should we grumble？
Another small instance of imagination being justified in my own case is to be found in my tale； “Stella Fregelius；” where； for the purposes of that mystical story； I invented an instrument which I called the “aerophone；” whereby people could speak with each other across a space of empty air。 When I wrote this story； about the year 1898； neither I nor anyone else had heard of such a machine。 Now I learn that it is working and patented under the same title； namely； “aerophone；” and doubtless ere long it will be in general use。 It is right； however； that； per contra； I should chronicle a prophetic failure。 In “Doctor Therne” I ventured to suggest that our general neglect of vaccination would bring about some outburst of smallpox such as in past days swept away our forefathers by the thousand； and still sweeps away uninstructed peoples。 As yet this has not happened； but who can be bold enough to assert that it will never happen？
Perhaps the most curious example of a literary coincidence with which I have been personally concerned is to be found in the case of my story； “Fair Margaret。” As it is fully and concisely set out in the issue of the Spectator of October 19； 1907； I y letter published in that journal； leaving the reader to form his own opinion on the matter。
Sir； — The following instance of imagination being verified by fact may interest students of such matters。 Two years or so ago I wrote an historical romance which has recently appeared under the title of “Fair Margaret。” In that romance the name of the hero is Peter Brome。 The father of this Peter Brome is represented in the tale as having been killed at Bosworth Field。 After the appearance of the book I received a letter from Colonel Peter Brome Giles； the High Sheriff of Bucks； asking me where I obtained the particulars concerning the said Peter Brome。 I answered — out of my own head。 Indeed； I distinctly remember inventing the name as being one that I had never heard； and the fact of the father’s death on Bosworth Field I introduced to suit the exigences of the story。 In reply to my request for further particulars； Colonel Brome Giles kindly sent me a letter； from which； in view of the curious interest of the matter； I am sure he will forgive me for publishing the following extracts：
“Your hero’s father was the son of Sir Thomas Brome； the Secretary of Henry VI。 He was； as you relate； killed at Bosworth； but I never heard they had property in Essex； but had in Suffolk25 and Norfolk。 。 。 。 One branch of the family took the bird” ＇that is； as a coat…of…arms＇ “as you describe。 。 。 。 The father of your hero was the first Peter； and was born 1437； and was 50 when killed。 。 。 。 Since the Peter of 1437 there have always been Peter Bromes： my father was； I am； and so is my boy。 We assumed Giles in 1761。”
To this I sent the following answer：
“All I can say is that the coincidence is extremely curious
（for I knew nothing of all this）； so much so indeed that；
taken in conjunction with some similar instances which have
occurred to me； almost do I begin to believe in retrospective
second sight。”
If I may judge from my own experience； such coincidences （and； as anyone who has read the tale in question will admit； this is a very remarkable coincidence） are by no means unmon。 Although the particulars are too long to set out； four times at the very least have they happened to myself in the case of my own works of imagination。 I do not know if any of your readers can suggest an explanation。 The odds against such exact similitudes seem so tremendous that I confess I am unable to do so。 I am； Sir； etc。；
H。 Rider Haggard。
（It almost looks as if Mr。 Rider Haggard when he thought he was inventing was unconsciously receiving random and accidental brain…waves； a la Marconi； from Colonel Brome Giles。 Was Colonel Brome Giles； we wonder； e when Mr。 Rider Haggard was planning his novel？ — Ed。； Spectator。）
24 My hero’s property was at Dedham； in Essex； a few miles over the Suffolk border。 — H。 R。 H。
Another very curious imaginative parallel occurs in my novel； “The Way of the Spirit。” In this tale； the scene of which is laid in Egypt of today； I introduced five weird native musicians； whom I named the Wandering Players； three of whom performed on pipes and two upon drums。 Thrice did the hero； Rupert Ullershaw； meet this band in the deserts of the Sudan； but never could he speak with them； since they would answer no questions and accept no baksheesh。 They simply appeared and disappeared mysteriously； and the sound of their sad music always proved the herald of misfortune to poor Rupert — the suggestion being that they were not quite canny in their origin。 These musicians were a pure effort of invention so far as I am concerned。 I had never read or heard that any such folk were supposed to haunt this very desert of which I was writing。
Imagine； therefore； my astonishment when； in a copy of his “Notes de Voyage” for 1909 which Sir Gaston Maspero kindly sent me — “The Way of the Spirit” was written in 1905 — I found the following passage：
Ces quatre…la sont…ils allies aux quatre afrites musiciens； deux joueurs de flute et deux joueurs de tambourin ou de darabouka； qui hantent le desert dans les memes parages？ Ils jouent sur le passage des voyageurs et c’est toujours un mauvais presage que de les rencontrer： si on s’eloigne vite sans leur adresser la parole et； autant que possible； sans les regarder； on a quelque chance d’echapper au mauvais sort； sinon l’on est perdu。
It will be observed that here everything is the same； mise en scene； misfortune； all。 There is but one difference。 Of Sir Gaston’s afrites； or musical ghosts； there were four； of my wandering players； five。 I have added a third flutist by way of interest on the capital of the true legend。
Perhaps these examples of literary coincidence in my own books may suffice； though I think there are more。 Indeed I recall two in connection with “Heart of the World” and “Ayesha” respectively； which are curious enough in their way。 Also as I write it es back to me that there are yet two others which； as I am on the subject； I may as well state quite briefly。
The first of these is to be found in “Montezuma’s Daughter。” Here the hero； a certain Thomas Wingfield； is stated to have lived near Bungay in the reign of Elizabeth； and to have been a doctor by trade； having learned his business from another leech in this immediate neighbourhood。 After many adventures he dies here a rich man and leaves charities to the poor。 Certainly I did think it strange when； subsequent to the writing of the book； I discovered from Mr。 Herbert Hartcup； the lawyer； who is a trustee of the Bungay Charities； that a man called Thomas Wingfield did live and die at that exact time； that he was a doctor who served his apprenticeship with another local leech； that in some way or other he did accumulate wealth of which he bequeathed a portion to the poor that they enjoy to this day； and that his will； which I have since seen； was just such a one as might have been written by the imaginary Thomas。 Almost am I tempted to believe that the true Wingfield must have visited Mexico in the days of Cortes； and that； if one were to dig up his bones； among them would be found the necklace of great emeralds which was given to him by Guatemoc in the hiding…place of Montezuma’s treasure。
The last specimen is very simple。 While visiting an old church in Suffolk I conceived the idea of my novel； “Joan Haste；” of which it is unnecessary to set out the plot。 After reading it a connection of mine remarked that he had been much interested by the book； though he did not think that the A。…Z。‘s； whom he knew well； would altogether appreciate such an accurate report of a passage in their family history whereof they did not often speak。 Also he was nervous lest it should be supposed by them that he had told me a story which was municated to him in confide
