Volume 3 - Electric Scotland

ST. KlLn.A. 193
sophers. There is a similar race too, of which Roger
Bacon complained a few centuries ago ; who must find a
cause for every thing, lest they should appear ignorant
of any thing: as if philosophy was matter for show, not
for use. " Apparentia quideni" says he " sola tenet eos
et not curant quid sciant, sed quid videantur scire coram
multitudine insensata." We must conclude at least that
he was too gallant a Friar to have applied this satire to the
bluestockings of the year 1214; the " quid videantur
scire" " precieuses" who, long since laid in the Red Sea,
considered knowledge, in those days, as the dress of the
mind ; flounces, and ribbons, and rags, the sole use of
which was display ; wisely judging that the " celata
virtus," was of as little use as a lace gown in a bandbox,
and that the " scire tuum" was of no value without the
" sciat alter." These are the people who can point out
the optical nerve in Miss Mac Evoy's fingers, and ac-
count for the catarrhal phenomenon of St. Kilda, heed-
less of King Charles and his salmon. It is all owing to
the east wind: *' causa pro non causa;" because this is
precisely the wind which prevents any boat from landing
on the island.
I believe, however, that this piece of philosophy is of
another colour, and that we must search for the solution
in other books than Dr. Buchan, and in other noses than
those of the Minister's wife and hi£!r subject kingdom. If
yon wish to amuse yourself about its origin, further than
I have time to do here, I recommend you to consult the
learned treatises of Strada and Scoockius; or that of
Mons. Morin, if you prefer it. If I recollect right, Martin
thinks it was a bad prognostic, ominous of the tacksman's
arrival to collect his rents. If he has not given that so-
lution, it is one >vell adapted to his philosophy. It has
also the merit of antiquity. The vocal nose was a kind
of familiar spirit in Old Egypt, a ready oracle always at
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