=Bad Digestion.=--When one adds up several large numbers, one owes it to oneself to doubt the correctness of the calculation. In order to test it, one generally adds the figures up again, but from the bottom to the top. That is wholesome doubt. But there is an unwholesome kind of doubt, which consists in denying everything which one has not seen and heard oneself. To treat one's fellow-men as liars is not humane, and diminishes our knowledge to a considerable degree. There is a morbid kind of doubt, which resembles a weak stomach. Everything is swallowed, but nothing retained; everything is received, but nothing digested. The consequence is emaciation, exhaustion, consumption, and premature death. Johann Damascenus[1] had passed through several years of wholesome doubt, proving the truths of faith by systematic denial. But when, after minutely checking his calculation, he had become sure of their asserted values, he believed. Since then, neither fear of men, love of gain, contempt, or threats could cause him to abandon his dearly purchased faith. And in that he was right. =The Song of the Sawyers.=--As Damascenus wandered in Qualheim, he came to a saw-mill. Outside it, on the edge of a stream, sat two men, and sawed a steel rail with a double saw. They accompanied their sawing with a rhythmic chant in two voices, and somewhat resembled two drinkers quarrelling. "What are you singing about?" asked Damascenus. "About faith and knowledge," answered one. And then they recommenced. "What I know, that I believe; therefore knowledge is under faith, and faith stands above it." "What do you know then? What you have seen with your eye?" "My eye sees nothing of itself. If you were to take it out, and lay it down here, it would see nothing. Therefore, it is my inner eye which sees." "Can I then see your inner eye?" "It is not to be seen. But you see with that which is itself invisible. Therefore, you must believe on the invisible! Now you know." "Yes, yes, yes, but, but, but.... Have you seen God?" "Yes, with my inner eye. Therefore, I believe on Him. But it is not necessary for you to see Him, in order for me to believe on Him." "But knowledge is the highest." "Yes, but faith is the highest of all." "Do you know what you believe?" "Yes, although you don't know it." "Prove it." "By two concurring witnesses? Here in this district alone I can collect two million witnesses. That must be sufficient proof for you." "But, but, but, but" ... And so on. [Footnote 1: Strindberg gives himself this name, probably in allusion to his mystery-play, _To Damascus_ (1900).] =Al Mansur in the Gymnasium.=--Damascenus came into a large gymnasium, which at first he thought was empty. But presently he noticed that men stood along the walls with their backs turned towards him, so that he only saw their perukes and red ears. "Why do they stand and look at the wall, and why do they have such red ears?" he asked his teacher.