Titbottom's Spectacles by George William Curtis
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Titbottom's spectacles

by George William Curtis (1824-1892)

[ from Putnam's Monthly_, December, 1854 .Republished in_the volume, _Prue and I (1856), by George William Curtis ( harper & Brothers) .]

in my mind's eye, Horatio .

Prue and I_do_not entertain much; our means forbid it . in truth, other people entertain for_us . we enjoy that hospitality of_which no account is made . we see the show, and hear the music, and smell the flowers of great festivities, tasting as it were the drippings from rich dishes . our own dinner service is remarkably plain, our dinners, even on state occasions, are strictly in keeping, and almost our only guest is Titbottom .I buy a handful of roses as I come up from_the office, perhaps, and Prue arranges them so prettily in a glass dish for_the centre of_the table that even when I_have hurried out to_see Aurelia step into her carriage to_go out to dine, I_have thought that_the bouquet she carried was not more beautiful because it_was more costly .I grant that_it_was more harmonious with her superb beauty and her rich attire . and I_have no_doubt that if Aurelia knew the old man, whom she must_have seen so often watching her, and_his wife, who ornaments her sex with as_much sweetness, although with less splendor, than Aurelia herself, she_would also acknowledge that_the nosegay of roses was as fine and fit upon their table as her own sumptuous bouquet is for herself . I_have that faith in_the perception of_that lovely lady . it_is at_least my habit-- I_hope I_may say, my nature, to_believe the best of people, rather than_the worst . if i_thought that all this sparkling setting of beauty-- this fine fashion-- these blazing jewels and lustrous silks and airy gauzes, embellished with gold- threaded embroidery and wrought in a thousand exquisite elaborations, so_that I cannot_see one of_those lovely girls pass me by without thanking god for_the vision-- if i_thought that_this was all, and_that underneath her lace flounces and diamond bracelets Aurelia was a sullen, selfish woman, then i_should turn sadly homewards, for I should_see that her jewels were flashing scorn upon_the object they adorned, and_that her laces were of a more exquisite loveliness than_the woman whom they merely touched with a superficial grace . it would_be like a gaily decorated mausoleum-- bright to_see, but silent and dark within .

" great excellences, my dear Prue," I sometimes allow myself to_say, " lie concealed in_the depths of character, like pearls at_the bottom of_the sea . under the laughing, glancing surface, how little they_are suspected ! perhaps love is nothing else than_the sight of_them by one person . hence every man's mistress is apt to_be an enigma to everybody else . I_have no_doubt that when Aurelia is engaged, people will say that she_is a most admirable girl, certainly; but they_cannot understand why any man should_be in love with her . as_if it were at all necessary that_they should ! and her lover, like a boy who finds a pearl in_the public street, and wonders as_much that others did_not see it as_that he_did, will tremble until he_knows his passion is returned; feeling, of_course, that_the whole world must_be in love with_this paragon who_cannot possibly smile upon anything so unworthy as he ."

" I_hope, therefore, my dear_Mrs Prue," I continue to_say to my wife, who looks up from her work regarding me with pleased pride, as_if I were such an irresistible humorist, " you_will allow me to_believe that_the depth may_be calm although the surface is dancing . if_you tell me that Aurelia is but a giddy girl, I_shall believe that you_think so . but I_shall know, all the while, what profound dignity, and sweetness, and peace lie at_the foundation of her character ."

I_say such things to Titbottom during the dull season at_the office . and I_have known him sometimes to reply with a kind of dry, sad humor, not as_if he enjoyed the joke, but as if_the joke must_be made, that he_saw no reason why i_should_be dull because the season was so .

" and what do I_know of Aurelia or any_other girl ? " he_says to_me with_that abstracted air ."I, whose Aurelias were of another century and another zone ."

then he falls into a silence which it seems quite profane to interrupt . but as_we sit upon our high stools at_the desk opposite each_other, I leaning upon my elbows and looking at him; he, with sidelong face, glancing out_of_the window, as_if it commanded a boundless landscape, instead of a dim, dingy office court, I_cannot refrain from saying:

" well ! "

he turns slowly, and I go chatting on--a little too loquacious, perhaps, about_those young girls . but I_know that Titbottom regards such an excess as venial, for_his sadness is so sweet that you_could believe it the reflection of a smile from long, long years_ago .

one day, after I had_been talking for_a_long_time, and we had put up our books, and were preparing to leave, he stood for some_time by_the window, gazing with adrooping intentness, as_if he really saw something more than_the dark court, and said slowly:

" perhaps you_would_have different impressions of things if_you saw them through my spectacles ."

there_was no change in_his expression . he still looked from_the window, and I_said:

"Titbottom, I_did_not know that you used glasses . I_have never seen you wearing spectacles ."

" no, I don't often wear them . I_am not very fond of looking through them . but sometimes an irresistible necessity compels me to_put them on, and I_cannot help seeing ." Titbottom sighed .

" is_it so grievous a fate, to_see ? " inquired I .

" yes; through my spectacles," he_said, turning slowly and looking at me with wan solemnity .

it grew dark as_we stood in_the office talking, and taking our hats we went out together . the narrow street of business was deserted . the heavy iron shutters were gloomily closed over the windows . from one_or_two offices struggled the dim gleam of an early candle, by whose light some perplexed accountant sat belated, and hunting for_his error .a careless clerk passed, whistling . but the great tide of life had ebbed . we heard its roar far away, and_the sound stole into that silent street like the murmur of_the ocean into an inland dell .

" you_will come and dine with_us, Titbottom ? "

he assented by continuing to walk with me, and i_think we were both glad when we reached the house, and Prue came to meet us, saying:

" do_you_know I hoped you_would bring Mr Titbottom to dine ? "

Titbottom smiled gently, and answered:

" he_might_have brought his spectacles with_him, and I_have_been a happier man for_it ."

Prue looked a little puzzled .

" my dear," I_said, " you_must know that_our friend, Mr Titbottom, is_the happy possessor of a pair of wonderful spectacles . I_have never seen them, indeed; and, from what he_says, i_should_be rather afraid of being seen by_them . most short- sighted persons are very glad_to_have the help of glasses; but Mr Titbottom seems to_find very little pleasure in_his ."

" it_is because they make him too far- sighted, perhaps," interrupted Prue quietly, as she took the silver soup- ladle from_the sideboard .

we sipped our wine after dinner, and Prue took her work . can a man be too far- sighted ? I_did_not ask_the question aloud . the very tone in_which Prue had spoken convinced me that he might .

" at_least," I_said, " Mr Titbottom will not refuse to_tell us the history of_his mysterious spectacles . I_have known plenty of magic in eyes"-- and I glanced at_the tender blue eyes of Prue--" but I_have_not heard of any enchanted glasses ."

" yet you_must_have seen the glass in_which your wife looks every morning, and I take it that glass must_be daily enchanted ." said Titbottom, with a bow of quaint respect to my wife .

I_do_not_think I_have_seen such a blush upon Prue's cheek since-- well, since a great_many years_ago .

" i_will gladly tell you the history of_my spectacles," began Titbottom ." it_is very simple; and I_am not at all sure that a great many_other people have_not a pair of_the same kind . I_have never, indeed, heard of_them by_the gross, like those of_our young friend, Moses, the son of_the vicar of Wakefield . in_fact, i_think a gross would_be quite enough to supply the world . it_is a kind of article for_which the demand does_not increase with use . if we_should all wear spectacles like mine, we_should never smile any more .Oh-- I_am not quite_sure-- we_should all be very happy ."

"A very_important difference," said Prue, counting her stitches .

" you_know my grandfather Titbottom was a west Indian .a large proprietor, and an easy man, he basked in_the tropical sun, leading his quiet, luxurious life . he lived much alone, and was what people call eccentric, by_which I understand that he_was very_much himself, and, refusing the influence of other people, they had their little revenges, and called him names . it_is a habit not exclusively tropical . i_think I_have_seen the same thing even in_this city . but he_was greatly beloved-- my bland and bountiful grandfather . he_was so large-hearted and open- handed . he_was so friendly, and thoughtful, and genial, that even his jokes had the air of graceful benedictions . he_did_not seem to grow old, and he_was one of_those who never appear to_have_been very young . he flourished in a perennial maturity, an immortal middle- age .

" my grandfather lived upon one_of_the small islands, St .Kit's, perhaps, and_his domain extended to_the sea . his house, arambling west Indian mansion, was surrounded with deep, spacious piazzas, covered with luxurious lounges, among which one capacious chair was his peculiar seat . they tell me he used sometimes to sit there for_the whole day, his great, soft, brown eyes fastened upon_the sea, watching the specks of sails that flashed upon_the horizon, while the evanescent expressions chased each_other over his placid face, as_if it reflected the calm and changing sea before him . his morning costume was an ample dressing- gown of gorgeously flowered silk, and_his morning was very apt to last all day .

" he rarely read, but he_would pace the great piazza for hours, with_his hands sunken in_the pockets of_his dressing- gown, and an air of sweet reverie, which any author might_be very happy to_produce .

" society, of_course, he_saw little . there_was some slight apprehension that if he were bidden to social entertainments he might forget his coat, or arrive without some other essential part of_his dress; and there_is a sly tradition in_the Titbottom family that, having been invited to a ball in honor of_the new governor of_the island, my grandfather Titbottom sauntered into_the hall towards midnight, wrapped in_the gorgeous flowers of_his dressing- gown, and with_his hands buried in_the pockets, as usual . there_was great excitement, and immense deprecation of gubernatorial ire . but it happened that_the governor and my grandfather were old friends, and there_was no offense . but as_they were conversing together, one_of_the distressed managers cast indignant glances at_the brilliant costume of_my grandfather, who summoned him, and asked courteously:

"' did you invite me or my coat ? '

"' you, in a proper coat,' replied the manager .

" the governor smiled approvingly, and looked at my grandfather .

"' my friend," said he to_the manager, 'I beg your pardon, I forgot .'

" the next_day my grandfather was seen promenading in full ball dress along the streets of_the little town .

"' they ought to_know,' said he, ' that I_have a proper coat, and_that not contempt nor poverty, but forgetfulness, sent me to a ball in my dressing- gown .'

" he_did_not much frequent social festivals after_this failure, but he always told the story with satisfaction and a quiet smile .

" to a stranger, life upon those little islands is uniform even to weariness . but the old native dons like my grandfather ripen in_the prolonged sunshine, like the turtle upon_the Bahama banks, nor know of existence more desirable . life in_the tropics I take to_be a placid torpidity . during the long, warm mornings of nearly half a century, my grandfather Titbottom had sat in_his dressing- gown and gazed at_the sea . but one calm June day, as he slowly paced the piazza after breakfast, his dreamy glance was arrested by a little vessel, evidently nearing the shore . he_called for_his spyglass, and surveying the craft, saw that she came from_the neighboring island . she glided smoothly, slowly, over the summer sea . the warm morning air was sweet with perfumes, and silent with heat . the sea sparkled languidly, and_the brilliant blue hung cloudlessly over .Scores of little island vessels had my grandfather seen come over the horizon, and cast anchor in_the port .Hundreds of summer mornings had the white sails flashed and faded, like vague faces through forgotten dreams . but this_time he laid down the spyglass, and leaned against a column of_the piazza, and watched the vessel with an intentness that he_could_not explain . she came nearer and nearer, a graceful spectre in_the dazzling morning .

"' decidedly I_must step down and_see about_that vessel,' said my grandfather Titbottom .

" he gathered his ample dressing- gown about him, and stepped from_the piazza with no other protection from_the sun than_the little smoking cap upon his head . his face wore a calm, beaming smile, as_if he approved of all the world . he_was not an old man, but there_was almost a patriarchal pathos in_his expression as he sauntered along in_the sunshine towards the shore .a group of idle gazers was collected to watch the arrival . the little vessel furled her sails and drifted slowly landward, and as she was

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