SIR OLIVER LODGE'S SIMILE.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—You refer justly with admiration to the simile which was "hit upon" by Sir Oliver Lodge in his Sheffield address, and which, to use your own words, "seemed to throw light upon every point that he touched" (Spectator, Sep- tember 10th). It may interest you, however, to know that practically the same simile was employed many years ago by one who was a great preacher and also a master in word- painting,—Dr. James Hamilton of Regent Square. In his "Mount of Olives " occurs the following passage :- " When a man of taste or science climbs a mountain in a bright, transparent day, he rejoices in its goodly prospect or curious spoils ; but his dog feels no interest in them. He sees the philosopher peering through his telescope, or exploring for the little plants that grow near the summit, or splintering the rocks and putting fragments in the bag ; but it never occurs to the spaniel so much as to marvel what his master is finding there. He sits yawning and panting on a sunny knoll, or snaps at the mountain-bee as it comes sailing past him, or chases the conies back to their holes, and scampers down, with noisy glee, as soon as the hungry sojourn is ended. The disparity between the philosopher and his irrational friend is hardly greater than it is between the believer and the worldling, when you bring them together into the domain of faith."
The coincidence is remarkable. Possibly the simile may be found in other writers. I leave it to your readers to judge whether the form in which it occurs in the sermon of James Hamilton is superior in force and beauty to that in the address of Sir Oliver Lodge.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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