{"id":"01KG8AM3B8RMRTDYJJ8T2KWM1N","cid":"bafkreiegvvjcmoiv7h6y7fu3fm6exuhagwxlujvlzx4zzs47kuej2oj5q4","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":670,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:25.200Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 5","source_file":"01KG89J1JYRSHWXR7JM0HYS9D4","start_line":628,"text":"There is no question that Mr. Melville’s absorption in philosophical\r\nstudies was quite as responsible as the failure of his later books for\r\nhis cessation from literary productiveness. That he sometimes realised\r\nthe situation will be seen by a passage in ‘Moby Dick’:--\r\n\r\n‘Didn’t I tell you so?’ said Flask. ‘Yes, you’ll soon see this right\r\nwhale’s head hoisted up opposite that parmacetti’s.’\r\n\r\n‘In good time Flask’s saying proved true. As before, the Pequod steeply\r\nleaned over towards the sperm whale’s head, now, by the counterpoise of\r\nboth heads, she regained her own keel, though sorely strained, you may\r\nwell believe. So, when on one side you hoist in Locke’s head, you go\r\nover that way; but now, on the other side, hoist in Kant’s and you\r\ncome back again; but in very poor plight. Thus, some minds forever keep\r\ntrimming boat. Oh, ye foolish! throw all these thunderheads overboard,\r\nand then you will float right and light.’\r\n\r\nMr. Melville would have been more than mortal if he had been indifferent\r\nto his loss of popularity. Yet he seemed contented to preserve an\r\nentirely independent attitude, and to trust to the verdict of the\r\nfuture. The smallest amount of activity would have kept him before the\r\npublic; but his reserve would not permit this. That reinstatement of his\r\nreputation cannot be doubted.\r\n\r\nIn the editing of this reissue of ‘Melville’s Works,’ I have been\r\nmuch indebted to the scholarly aid of Dr. Titus Munson Coan, whose\r\nfamiliarity with the languages of the Pacific has enabled me to\r\nharmonise the spelling of foreign words in ‘Typee’ and ‘Omoo,’ though\r\nwithout changing the phonetic method of printing adopted by Mr.\r\nMelville. Dr. Coan has also been most helpful with suggestions in other\r\ndirections. Finally, the delicate fancy of La Fargehas supplemented the\r\nimmortal pen-portrait of the Typee maiden with a speaking impersonation\r\nof her beauty.\r\n\r\nNew York, June, 1892.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTYPEE\r\n\r\n\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 5"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJPEC473FXAMQWHHC31BK","peer_type":"frontmatter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1JYRSHWXR7JM0HYS9D4","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AM3BHZY0KP4SXZX4CBSNE","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:25.960Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:32.602Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}