PRE FA CE

I T h ad been my h ab i t , I a m n ow awar e to speak

,

som e what lightly o f the labors o f anthologi s ts : t o

i n s inuat e th at th e y l e d lives o f bland sed e ntary e as e .

I shall not do s o again When t h e publish e r suggeste d

.

a coll e ction o f r e pr e s e ntative conte m porary essays I ,

thought it woul d be t h e most l e ni e nt o f ta s ks But .

exp e ri e n c e i s a fi n e ap e ritiv e t o t h e m ind .

Ind e e d t h e pangs o f t h e anthologist i f h e has con

,

sci e nc e are burd e nsom e Th e r e a r e s o many c on s i d

, .

e ra t i on s t o b e t e nd e rly w e igh e d ; personal ta s t e m u s t

sometim e s b e set a s id e in vi e w o f the g e n e ral plan ;

for e very item chos e n hal f a dozen will ha v e b e e n
a ffectionat ely co n n e d and si ft e d ; a n d p e rhap s s om e
favorit e pi e c e s w ill b e d e ni e d b e caus e t h e authors hav e
r e a s ons for withholding p e rmi s sion It woul d be e m
.

j y
o a b l e ( for m,e at any rat e ) to writ e an e s say on t h e

things I hav e ling e r e d o v e r with intent to includ e th em

i n this littl e book but hav e finally sacri fic e d for on e
,

rea on or anoth e r H ow many tim e s twenty at l e a s t

s .
—

—I ha v e tak e n dow n from my sh el f M r Ch e s t e rt on s

.
’

Th e Vi c t or i a n A g e i n L i t er a tu re to reconsider wh e ther
g
1 11
q,
iv P r efa c e

his ten pa g es on D icken s or his glorious summing up

,
-

o f Decadents and ZE s t h e t e s w e re not absolutel y e ss e n

,

t ial . How many times I have palpitated upon c e rtain

passag e s in Th e E d uca ti on of H en ry A da ms and i n
M r W e lls s Ou tli ne of H i s t ory which I as sur e d my
.
’

, ,

s el f would l e gitimat ely stand as essays i i shr e wdl y

,

e xc e rpt e d .

But I usually conclud e d t hat would n ot be quite

fair I hav e not b e e n o v e r s crupulou s in this matt e r
.
,

for t h e e s say i s a moo d rath e r tha n a form ; the fron

t i e r betw e en t h e e ssay and t h e short sto ry i s as imper

c e p t i ble as i s at pr e s e nt t h e onc e famous Ma s on and

D ixo n line Indee d i n that pl e asant l owland country

.
,

be twe e n the two e mpires l i e ( to my w ay o f thi n k

ing ) som e o f t h e mos t fe rtil e fi elds o f pros e — fict i on
that e xpr e ss e s f ee ling and character and settin g rath e r
than action and plot ; fiction b e auti fully rip e n e d by t h e
li n g e ri n g m ild su n s hi n e o f th e e s s ayist s mood Thi s
’
.

i s fictio n I might add e xtr e m ely u nlik e ly to g e t into

, ,

t h e m ovies I think o f short stori e s such as G e orge

.

C is s ing s i n that t oo littl e k n ow n v olum e Th e H ous e

’
,

'

of Cobw e bs which I r e ad a g a in a n d agai n at m id n ight

,

with un faili n g d e light ; fall a s l e e p o v e r ; forg e t ; a n d

agai n r e r e ad wi t h u ndi m i n i s h e d sati s faction Th e y
-
.

ha v e no brilli a nc e o f phr a s e n o s mart s urpri s e s n o

, ,

w ork e d up s ituatio n s which ha v e to b e tak e n at hig h

-
‘ ’

sp e e d t o p a s s w ithout br e ak d own o v e r th e i r brittl e

 P r e fa c e V

bridge work o f cr e dibility Th ey hav e o nly t h e m od

.

e s t a n d fai n tly m e la n choly savor o f li f e it s e l f .

Y e t i t i s a m e r e quibbl e t o pr e t e nd that t h e e s say

d oe s not hav e e asil y r e cognizabl e manners It m ay .

be s e v e rel y pla nn ed or it may rambl e i n ungirdl e d

,

mood but i t has its own poi n t o f vi ew that marks it

,

from the short story prop e r or t h e m e re l y p e r s onal

,

memoi r That di s tinction easily f elt by t h e s e nsi

.
,

ti v e read e r i s n ot readily e xpr e s sibl e P e rhaps t h e

, .

h —
tru m aning o f t e w ord es s ay a a tte mpt giv e s
e e n —

a clu e . No m att e r h ow personal o r tri fl ing t he topi c

may be th e r e i s always a t e nd e n cy to g e neral iz e to
, ,

walk round the subj e ct or t h e e xperi e nc e and vi e w ,

it from several vantages ; in s t e ad o f ( as i n t h e short

story ) cutti n g a care fully land s cap e d pat h through a
cho s en tract o f hu m an complication S o an e s say can
.

ne v e r be more than an att e mpt for it i s an e xcur s ion

,

i n to t h e endless Any stud e nt o f fiction will ad m it that

.

in the compo s ition o f a short story many ent e rtainin g

and valuabl e elaborations may ri s e i n the mind o f the
author which mu s t b e s trictly r e j e ct e d be caus e they
do not forw ard t h e es s ential moti v e But in t h e essay
.

( o f an in form a l s ort ) w e as k not r e levance to plot ,

but r e levance to m ood That i s why there ar e s o

.

m any e ssays that are m ere marking time The f amiliar .

essay is easier t o w rite than the short story but it im ,

p oses equal restraints o n a scrupulous auth or F or

. i n
VI P r efa c e

ficti on t h e write r i s controll e d and l imit e d and swept

al on g by h i s m at e rial ; but i n t h e e s s ay t h e writer rid e s
,

h is pen . A good story onc e cl e arly co n c e i v ed almo s t

, ,

w rit e s it s e l f ; but e s s ays a r e writt e n .

Th e re also w e find a pit fall o f t h e p e r s onal essay

t h e t e mptati on to b e come too ost e n tatiou s ly quaint ,

t oo d e lib e rat e l y whimsical ( the w ord which b y

‘ ’
,

l oath s om e r ep e titi on has b e com e e m e tic ) The fi ne

,
.

fl av or a n d genius o f t h e e ssay a s i n B acon and

—

M ontaig n e Lamb H azlitt Thackeray Thoreau ; per

, , ,

haps e ven i n St e v e n s on— i s t h e rich bou qu e t o f per

s on ali t y . But solilo q uy must not fall into monologue .

On e might put i t thus : that th e p e r fection o f the

familiar e s s ay i s a consciou s revelation o f s e l f do n e
i n ad v e rt e ntly .

Th e art o f the anthol ogi st i s t h e art o f the host : his

tact i s e x e rt e d i n choosi n g a congenial group ; making
th e m f e e l com fortabl e and at ease ; k e epin g th e win e
and tobacco i n ci rculation ; whil e hi s e y e i s t e nd e rly
al e rt down t h e bright vi s ta o f tabl e cloth for any lapse ,

i n t h e g e n e ral c he e r . It i s w ell al s o for him to hol d

, ,

h ims e l f di scr ee tly i n t h e b a ckgrou n d gi v ing his g u e sts

,

t h e pl e asur e o f clinching th e jape and seeking o nl y by

, ,

i nnoc e nt wiles to d raw e ach one into som e charac

,

t e r i s t i c and felicitous v e in . I think I can offe r you in ,

t his parliament o f philomaths entertainm e n t o f t h e

,
 P r efa c e vi i

m ost g e nuine sort ; and having said so much , I might

well r e tir e and b e heard no more .

But I think it i s w e ll to stat e as e ven t h e most bash fu l

,

host may d o j ust why thi s particular co m pany has be e n

,

call e d togeth e r M y intention i s not m e r e ly to please

.

the amiabl e dil e ttante though I hop e to do that too

,
.

I made my choic e s first and f or em ost with a vi e w t o

, ,

stimulati n g t hos e who a r e th em s elv e s i nt e r e st e d i n

the arts o f writing I hav e to b e frank a s e cr e t am
.
, ,

bitio u that a book o f thi s sort may e v e n b e u s e d a s a

small but us e ful w e apon i n t h e clas s roo m I wa n t e d to .

bring it home to t h e stud e nt that a s brilliant a nd sin

c e re work i s b e i n g do n e to day in t h e e ssay a s i n any
-

period o f our literature Accordingly t h e pi e c e s re

.

printed h e re are v e ry di v e r s e Th e r e i s t h e grand

.

manner ; th e r e i s fool e ry ; ther e i s s traight forw ar d

lit e rary criticism ; th e re i s pathos politics and th e pic
, ,

t u r es qu e
. But e v e ry s el e ction is i n i t s own w ay
, ,

a work o f art And I would call t he read e r s att e n

.
’

tion to this : that t h e gr e at e r number o f thes e e ssays

w e r e writt e n not by retir e d aesth e t e s but by practisi n g
,

j ournalists i n the harn e ss o f t h e daily or we e kly pr e s s .

Th e na m e s o f s om e o f t h e most wid ely bruit e d e s say

i s t s o f our day a r e abs e nt from this ro s t e r not b y ,

malice but b e caus e I d e sir e d to include materi al le s s

,

gen e rally known .

vi i i P r efa c e

I shoul d apologize I suppo s e for the very i nform al

, ,

tone o f the introductory notes on ea ch autho r But I .

c onceived the read e r i n the r o l e o f a f riend spending

t h e evenin g i n happ y gossip alon g the shelv es .Pulling
’
out one s f avo r i t e s and talkin g ab ou t t hem n ow a n d
,

t he n readin g a chosen e x tract aloud and endin g ( som e

,

t ime a f ter midni g ht ) b y choosin g s ome sp e cial volum e

—
f or the g u e st to tak e to bed with him i n t h e sam e
spirit I ha v e compil e d this coll ection Perhaps t he edi
.

t or i a l comm e nts ha v e too mu ch the manner o f dres s

i ng gown and s lipp e r s ; but what a pleasant book thi s

w ill be to read i n bed !
And perhaps thi s coll e ction m av be regarded as a
small contribution to Anglo American friendlines s
- .

O f cours e wh e n I s ay Anglo I mean B rito but that

i s such a hideous pre fix Journalists on this side are
.

much bett e r ac q uaint e d w ith wha t thei r pro f essional

coll e agues are doing i n B ritai n than they wi t h our
,

co n c e rns But sur e ly th e re sho ul d be a congenial f ra

.

t e r n i t y o f spirit among all who u s e the E n gl ish ton g u e

i n pri nt Ther e a re some o f us w h o e v e n imagine a

.

d ay wh e n there may b e r e gular i n t e rnational exchange s

o f j ournal ists as th e r e h av e been o f scholars and s t u
,

d e nts T h e contributions t o thi s book are rath e r e v enl y

.

d i v id e d b e tw e e n Briti s h and A m e rican hands ; a n d p e r

haps it i s not i n sig n ificant that t w o o f t h e mo s t plea s
 P r efa c ix

ing it e ms c ome fr om Ca n ad a wh e r e th e y o fte n com ,

bine t he virtue s o f both sid e s .

It is a pl e asant task to thank the authors and p ub

li s h e rs w h o h av e ass e nt e d to t h e r e printi n g o f th e s e
pi e c e s To the authors th e ms e l v e s and to t h e follow
.
,

ing publi s h e rs I admit my since r e gratitud e fo r t h e u se

,

o f mat e rial copyright e d by th m e — Doubl e day Page

an d Company for t h e extracts fro m books b y John

Macy Ste wart Edward Whit e and P e arsall Smith ;

,

Charles Scribne r s S ons for R up e rt B rook e s Ni ag a ra

’ ’

Fa lls ; the Ne w York S u n for D on M arquis s A lm os t

’

P e r fe c t S t a t e ; t h e G e orge H Doran Compa n y for the

.

essays by Joyce Kilm e r and R obe rt C orte s Holliday ;

M r Jam e s B Pink e r for p e r m i s sion to r e pri n t M r
. . .

C onrad s Pr e fac e to A P er s on a l R e c or d ; Al fr e d A
’
.

Knop f Inc for t h e e ssays by H M To m lin s on A P

,
.
, . .
, . .

H e rb e rt and Phili p Gu e dalla ; Lady O s l e r for t h e e ss ay

by t h e lat e Si r William O s l e r ; H e nry H ol t and Com
’
pany f or Thomas B urk e s Th e R us s i a n Q uar ter ; E P . .

Dutton and Company for A Wor d for A u t u mn by ,

A A M iln e ; the Ne w York E v e ni ng P os t for the

. .

e s s ays by Stuart P Sh e rman and Harry E s ty D ou n c e

.
;
Harp e r and B roth e rs for Marian S torm s A W ood ’

la n d Va le n t i n e ; Dodd M e ad a n d C ompany for Si m e on

,

Strun s ky s N oc t ur n e from h i s v olum e P os t I m pr es

’
-
,

s i ons ; the M acmillan C ompan for B a n d Ci d er

y e er ,
! P r e fa c e

fr om P ro f e ssor Saintsbury s N ot es on a Cellar B ook;

’

L ong m a n s Gr e en an d Com pany for B e rtrand R uss ell s

’

A Fr e e M a n s Wors hi p from M y s ti ci s m and L og i c ;

’

R ob e rt M M c Br id e and Comp any for t h e s e l e ction

.

f rom Jam e s B ran ch C abe ll ; Harcourt Brace and ,

C ompany for t h e e s s ay by H e ywood B roun ; Th e

{We e kly R e vi ew for t h e e ssays by O W F irkins H arry
. .
,

M organ Ayr e s and R ob e rt Pal frey Utter The pr e s .

e n t own e rship o f t h e copyright o f t h e e ss a by Louis e

y
Imoge n Guin e y I hav e be e n unabl e to disco v er It .

was publ ish e d in P a tri ns ( C opel and and D a y ,

whi ch has long been out o f print K n owing t h e purit y

.

o f my motive s I hav e used this es s ay hoping that i t

,

mi g ht introduce M iss Gui ney s ex quisite work to th e

’

oun e r en ration th at knows h r hardly at all

y g g e e .

C H RI S T OP H E R M ORL E Y
OCTOBER, 1 92 1 .
 CON T E N T S

PRE FACE
A M ER I CA N LI TE RAT U RE J oh n M a cy
M ARY W H I TE Wi lli a m A lle n Whi t e
N I AGARA FA LL S R up e r t B r ooke
THE A L M OS T PERF ECT S TATE D on M ar qui s
“
TH E M A N 0
’
W AR S
’ ’
ER
’
Us
AND D a v i d W B on e
”
B .

T H E M AR K ET Wi lli a m M cF e e
HOL Y IRELAND J oy c e Ki lmer
A FA M I L I AR PRE F A CE Jos ep h Con a d r

O N D RA W I NG A P H e r be r t . .

M O HE NR Y
.
0 W Fi r ki ns . .

T H E M OW I NG OF A FI ELD H i la i r e B e ll oc
.

T H E S T U DENT LIF E Wi l li a m Os l e r
T H E D ECL I NE OF T H E D RA M A S t ep h e n L e a c oc k
A M ER I CA AND THE E NGL IS H
T RAD I T I ON H a r ry M org a n A y r es
T H E R U S SI AN Q U ARTE R Th omas B u r ke
A W ORD FOR A U T U M N A A M i ln e . .

A CLERG Y M AN M ax B e e b oh m
“ ”
r

S A M U EL B U TLER S t u a t P S h e r ma n r .

BE D BOOK S AND NI GHT LI GHT S

- H M Tom li ns on
-
. .

T H E PRECE PT OF PE A CE L ou is e I m og e n G u i n ey
O N L YI NG A W A K E AT NI G H T S t e w a t E d w a d Wh i t e r r

A W OODLAND V ALENT I NE M aria n S to m r

T H E E LE M ENT S OF P OET RY G e o g e S a n tay a na r

NOCT U RNE S i m e on S t r u ns ky
BEER AND CI DER G e or g e S a i n ts bu y r

A FREE M AN S W OR S H IP
’
B e r t r a nd Ru s s e ll
S OM E HIS T OR I AN S P h i li p Gu e d a lla
W I NTER M IS T R obe r t P a lf e y Ut t e r r

T R IV I A L og a n P e a s a ll S m i th r ~

BE Y OND LIF E Ja m es B r a n c h Ca be ll
T H E F IS H RE PORTER R ob e t Co t e s H oll i d ay r r

S O M E NON S EN S E A BOU T A D OG H a ry E s t y D ou n c e r

T H E F IFT Y FI R S T D RAG ON
- H ey w ood B r ou n
M O D E R N E S SAYS
4 J oh n M a cy

the w e st e rn world w e r e fr e e ly int e rchange d amo ng

the natio n s an d b e ca m e acc e s s ibl e to an incr e a s i n g n um ~

be r o f r e ad e r s .In lit e ratur e n ati on al ity i s d e te r m in e d

by languag e rath e r tha n by bl ood or g e ography M . .

Ma et e rlinck bor n a s ubj e ct O f King L e opold be lo n g s

, ,

to Fr en ch lit e ratur e M r Jo s e ph Co n rad born in

. .
,

Poland i s alr e ady an E n gli s h cla s s ic

,
G e ography
.
,

much l e s s import a n t in t h e ni n e t e e nth c e ntury th an

b e f or e was n e v e r amo n g mod e r n Europ e an natio n s
, , ,

s o important as w e s om e tim e s a r e ask e d to be l i e v e .

“ ”
O f the anc e stor s o f En g li s h lit e ratur e B e owul f is
scarcely more signific ant and rath e r l e s s grac e ful than
, ,

our tr e e inhabitin g f or e be ars with pr eh e n s il e to e s ; t h e

-

tru e prog e nitors o f Engli s h lite r a tur e a re Gr e e k Lati n , ,

H ebr e w Italian and Fr e nch

, , .

Am e rican lit e rature and English lit e rature o f t h e

nin e t e e nth c e ntury a r e parall e l d e ri v a tiv e s fr om p re
c e di n g c e n turi e s O f E n glish lite ratur e Lit e ratur e i s a
.

succ e s s ion o f book s from books Artisti c e xpr e s s i on

.

spri ng s from l i f e ultimat ely but not im m e diat e ly It .

may be lik e n e d to a riv e r which i s swoll e n throughout

its cours e by n ew tributari e s a n d by t h e s e e pag e s o f
its banks ; it r e flect s t h e li f e through which it flow s ,

taki n g color from t h e shor e s ; t h e s hore s m od i fy it ,

but its pow e r an d volu m e d e sc e n d from distant h ead

wat e r s and afilue nt s far up str e am O r it may be .

lik e ne d to t h e race li f e which our f o od no urishes or

-
 A m e r i ca n L i t e ra t u r e 5
imp ov e ri s h e s which our indi v idual circumstanc e s
,

f os t e r o r da m age but which flow s on through us

, ,

strang e ly imp e r s o n al and b e yo n d our pow e r to kill or

cr e ate.

It i s w e ll for a writ e r to s ay : Away with books !

”
I will dra w m y i n s piration fro m li f e ! For w e have
too ma n y b ook s that a r e si m ply b e tt e r books d ilut e d
by John S m ith . At t h e sam e tim e lit e ratur e is not ,

born s ponta n e ou s ly out o f li f e Ev e ry book has its .

lit e rary par e n tag e and stud e nt s find it s o e asy to trac e

,

ge n e alogi e s that muc h critici s m r e ad s like an Old

“ ”
T e s ta m e n t chapt e r o f be gats Ev e ry nov e l was
.

suckl e d at t h e br e a st s o f old e r n ove l s and g reat ,

moth e r s a r e O ft e n prolific O f an aem ic O ffs pri n g Th e .

stock fall s off an d r e viv e s goe s a wa n d e rin g and re

,
-
,

turn s lik e a pr od igal T h e fa m ily r e cords g e t blurr e d

. .

But o f t h e mai n fact o f d e sc e nt th e re is no doubt .

A m e rican l it e rature i s Engli s h lit e ratur e mad e in

t hi s cou n try . I t s nin e t e e n th c e ntury charact e ri s tics
-

a r e e vid e nt and can be analyz e d a n d discus s e d with

“ ”
som e d egre e O f c e rtaint y I t s Am e rican charact e r
.

i s t i c s— no criti c that I know h a s e v e r gi v e n a good

accou n t o f th em You c a n d e fin e c e rtain p e culiariti e s
.

o f Am e rican politic s Am e rican agricultur e Am e ri

, ,

can publi c s cho ol s e v e n Am e rican r e ligion But what

,
.

i s uniqu e ly Am e rican in Am rican it ratur e

e l e ? Poe i s
j ust as Am e rican a s M ark Twain ; Lani e r i s j u s t as
6 J oh n Ma cy

Am e rican as Whittier Th e A m e ric an spirit in litera

.

tur e i s a myth lik e A m e rican val or in war which is

, ,

pr e cis ely lik e t h e valor o f Italia n s an d Japa n e s e T he .

Am e rica n d e lud e d by a fal s e ly id e aliz e d i m a g e which

,

h e calls Am e rica ca n s ay that t h e pu r ity o f Longf e llow

,

r e pr e s e n ts t h e purity o f Am e rican ho m e l i f e An Iri s h .

E n gli s hma n M r B e rnard Shaw with a n oth e r fal s e ly

, .
,

id e aliz e d i m ag e o f Am e rica surpris e d that a fac e d o e s

,

“
not fit h i s i m ag e ca n ask : ,
What i s Poe doing in
that ga ll e y Th e r e i s no answ e r You n e v e r can .

t e ll Poe could not h elp it H e was b or n in Boston

. .
,

a n d liv e d i n R ichmo n d Ne w York Balti m or e Phil a

, , ,

d e lphia Pro f e s s or van Dyk e say s that Poe w a s a

.

mak e r o f d e cid e dly u m Am e rican ca m e o s but I do

-
,

not und e r s tand what that m e a n s Fact s a r e u n c om .

for t a ble co n s orts o f pr e j udic e s and e motio n al ge n e r

ali t i e s th e y s poil do m e s ti c p e ac e and wh e n th e r e i s a
,

s e paratio n th e y s i t s olid at ho m e whil e t h e oth e r party

go e s Irvi n g a s h y s e n s itiv e g e n tl e m a n who wr ot e

.
, , ,

“
with fa s tidi ous ca r e said : It has b e e n a matt e r o f
,

mar v el to Europ e an r e ad e rs that a man fro m t h e

, ,

wild s o f A m e rica s hould e xp r e s s hi m s e l f in tol e rabl e

E n gli sh . It i s a matt e r O f m a r v e l j u s t a s it i s a ,

m ar v e l that Blak e a n d K e at s flow e r e d in t h e brutal

ci ty o f Lo n d on a hu n d r e d y e ars a g o .

T h e lit e rary mi n d i s s tr e n gth e n e d and nurtur e d is ,

i n flu e n c e d a n d mast e r e d by t h e accumulat e d rich e s o f

,
 A m e r i ca n L i t e ra t u r e 7
lit e ratur e .In t h e la s t c e n tury t h e strongest thinkers
in our languag e w e r e Engli s h m e n and not only the ,

traditio n al but t h e cont e mporary i n flu e nc e s on our

thinkers a n d a rtists w e r e B riti s h This may account
.

f or on e n e gative characte ri stic o f Am e rican lit e rature

— its lack o f Am e rican qua lity True our r e cords
.
,

must r e flect our li fe Our po e ts e namor e d O f night

.
,

i ng ale s an d P e r s ian gard e n s have not altog e th e r for

,

g ott e n t h e mocking bird and-

t h e woods O f M ai ne .

F iction writt e n by inhabitants o f New York Ohio

, , ,

and Ma s sachus e tts do e s tell us S om e thing o f t h e ways

,

o f li f e in those might y commo n w e alths j ust a s Eng ,

lish fiction writt e n by Lancashi r e m e n about Lanca

shir e pe opl e i s saturate d with t h e dial e ct t h e local ,

habits an d sc e nery o f that cou n ty But wh e rever an .

En glish s p e aking man O f imagi n ati on may dw e ll in

-
,

Dors e t or Calcutta or Indianapoli s h e is subj e ct to ,

t h e s trong arm O f the empir e o f Engli s h lit e rature ; he

c annot e scap e it ; it t e ars him out o f his Obscur e be d

and mak e s a happy slav e o f him He i s assi g n e d to .

t h e d e partm e nt o f t h e service for w hich his gi ft s

q uali fy him and hi s sp e cial e ducation i s und e rtak e n by

,

d rill ma s t e rs and captains who hail from provinc e s far

-

from h i s bi rthplace .

D ick e ns wh o w rit e s o f London i n flu e nc e s Bret

, ,

Hart e who writ e s o f C ali for n ia and B r e t H a rte in

, ,
c

fl ue n ce s Kipling who writ e s o f India

,
Each i s i n .
«
8 J oh n Ma cy
t en s e ly local i n subj e ct matt e r T h e a ffi n ity b e tw ee n
.

th e m is a matt e r o f t e m pe ra m e nt ma n i f e s t e d for ex
, ,

ampl e i n t h e s wagg e r and e xagg e ration charact e ri s tic

,

“ ”
o f all thr e e Cal i forn ia di d n ot produc e Br e t H arte ;
.

the pow e r o f Dick e n s w as g r e at e r than that o f the

Si e rra s and t h e Gol d e n Gate B r e t Hart e cre at e d a
.

Cali fornia that n e v e r e xi s t e d a n d I n dian g e ntl e m e n

, ,

C auca s ia n a n d H indoo t e ll u s that Kipling inv e n t e d an

,

arm y a n d an e mpire unknow n to ge ograph e rs and war

Offic e s .

T h e id e as at work amo n g th e se E n gl i s h m e n o f le t
t e rs a r e world e ncircling and fl y b e tw e e n book and
-

brain T h e d o m inant power i s on t h e British I s la n ds

.
,

and t h e pr e vailing s tr e am o f in fl u e nc e flows w e st

across t h e Atlanti c Som e tim e s it t urn s a n d run s the
.

oth e r way Poe influ e nc e d R o s s e tti ; Whit m an i nfl u

.

e nc e d H e n l e y For a c e ntury C oop e r h a s be e n i n com

.

mand O f t h e British lit e rary marine Lit e ratur e i s .

repr e h e nsibl y unpatriotic even though its votari e s are

, ,

a s individual citiz e ns a ffl icted with local prides and

,

hostilities It takes onl y a dramati c i n t e r e st i n t h e

.

gu ns o f Y orkt own Its ph ilosophy wa s nobl y utt e red

.

by Ga s ton Paris i n the C oll ege d e France in 1 8 70 ,

wh en t h e cit y was b el e agu e red by t h e G e rman armi e s :

“
Common studi e s pu rsu e d in the sam e spirit i n al l
, ,

civiliz e d countri e s f orm b eyo n d t h e re st riction s o f

, ,

d i verse and o f ten h ostil e nationalities a g reat country ,

 A m e r i ca n L i t e ra t u r e 9
which no war pro fan e s no conqu e ror m e nac e s wh e re
, ,

soul s fi n d that r e fug e and u n ity which i n form e r times

”
w a s Offe r e d th e m by t h e city o f God T h e catholicit y
.

o f E n glish la n guage an d lit e ratur e transc e n ds t h e t em

poral bou n dari e s o f stat e s .

“
What th e n o f t h e pro v i n cial ism o f t h e Am e rican
, ,

pr ov i n c e O f t h e em pir e o f B riti s h lit e rature ? Is it an

obs e r v abl e ge n e ral charact e ri s tic and i s it a virtue or
,

a vic e ? Th e r e i s a s e n s e in which Am e rican lit e rature

i s not provi n cial e nough Th e most provincial o f all
.

l it e ratur e i s th e Gr ee k Th e Greeks kn e w nothing out

.

sid e o f Gr ee c e a n d n e e ded to know nothing Th e Old .

T e s tam e n t i s tribal i n its provinciality ; i t s god i s a

local god and its village polic e and sa n itary r e gulation s
,

a r e e r e ct e d into e ternal law s I f thi s racial localism i s

.

n ot e s s e n tial to the greatness of early lit e ratur e s it i s ,

i n s e parable f rom them ; w e fi nd i t there It i s not .

p o s sibl e in ou r c osmopolita n a g e a n d there a r e fe w

traces o f it i n American books No Ameri can p oet .

has sun g o f h is n eigh borh ood with n ai ve passion a s i f ,

i t were all the world to him W hitman i s pugnaciously

.

Am e ri can b ut h i s s ym path i es are u niversal hi s v ision

, ,

i s cosmi c ; wh en h e seems to be standin g in a c i ty stree t

looking at li fe he i s in a trance and hi s S pirit i s racing
, ,

W ith t h e wi nds .

T h e wel com e th at w e g a ve Whitman betrays t h e lack

of an admirable kind o f p rovinci alism ; it sh ows us
10 J oh n Ma cy

d e f e ctive i n local sec urity O f j ud g ment S ome o f u s

.

have been s o anxiousl y abashed by high standard s o f

Europ e an cultur e that w e could not s e e a po e t i n our
own back yard until Europe an po e ts and critics told
us h e was th e r e Thi s i s q u ee rly contradictory t o a
.

disposition fou n d i n som e A m e ricans to di s r e gard

worl d standard s and proclaim a third rate po e t as the
-

Milton o f Oshkosh or t h e Sh e ll ey o f San Francisco .

’“ ”
The pa s sage in Low e ll s Fabl e for Critics ab out
“ ”
T h e Am e rican Bulw e r s D i s ra e li s and S cotts
,
is a
spo on ful o f salt i n t h e mouth O f that sort o f gapi n g
villag e r e v e r e nc e
.

O f d ignifi e d and sel f r e sp e ctin g provinciali s m such

-
,

as Pro f e s so r R oyc e s o eloqu e ntl y advocat e s th e r e ,

might w ell b e mor e i n Am e rican book s Our poe ts .

d e se rt t h e dom e sti c landscap e to write p s e udo Eliza -

b ethan dramas a n d sonn e ts about Mo n t Bla n c Th ey .

s e t up an artificial T e n ny s on park on t h e ba n k s o f t h e

Hud s o n B e s id e t h e shor e s o f Lak e M i chiga n th e y

.

croon t h e lov e a ffair s o f an Arab in th e d e s e rt and his

nobl e st e e d Thi s i s n ot a v e ry gra v e o ff e n c e for po et s
.
,

li v e among t h e stars and i t m ak e s no di ff e r e n c e fr om

,

what point o f t h e e arth s sur fac e th e y s e t forth on

’

th e i r a e rial ad v e ntur e s A Wisco n sin po e t m a y w r ite

.

v e ry b e auti fully about nighti n g a l e s ,

and a Ne w Eng
land Un itaria n m a y writ e be auti fully ab out cath e d rals ;
i f it i s be auti ful it i s poe try and all i s w e ll
, , .
12 J oh n Ma c y

a hack r e v i e w e r s w ork in local j ournal s i s c oll e ct e d

’

into a v olum e b e cau s e h e tur n s out to b e a ge n iu s Th e .

list o f Po e s victi m s i s not m or e r e m arkabl e for t h e

’

“
numb e r o f n on e n titi e s it i n clud e s than Th e Li v e s o f
t h e Po e t s by t h e gr e at Doctor John s on w h o w a s ,

“ ”
hack for a book s e ll e r a n d introduc e d all t h e p oe t s
,

that t h e t a s t e o f t h e ti m e e n cour a g e d t h e bo ok s e ll e r
to pri n t Poe w a s co s m opolita n i n s pi r it ; hi s pr e j udic e s
.

wer e p e r s o n al a n d highly origi n al u s ually again s t t h e

,

pr e j u d ic e s O f h i s m ome n t and mi li e u H a wthor n e i s l e s s

.

pro v i n c ial in t h e d e r og a t ory s e n s e than h i s charmi n g

, ,

biograph e r M r Jam e s as will b e com e e v id e nt i f on e

, .
,

compar e s Hawthorn e s A m e rican n ot e s on E n gland

’
,

writt e n i n lo n g a g o d ays O f national rancor with M r , .

“
Ja m e s s B ri t i s h not e s on Am e ric a ( Th e A m e rican
’

writt e n i n our happy days o f spaci ou s vi s io n .

Em e r s o n s e n s ph e ring uni v e r s ality o v e rspr e a d s

’

Carlyl e lik e t h e s ky abov e a volca n ic i s l a n d I n d e e d .

Ca r lyl e ( w h o k n e w mor e about A m e ri c a n li f e and

about what oth e r p e opl e ought to do tha n a n y oth e r
Briti s h writ e r e arli e r than M r Ch e st e rton ) j u s tly c om
.

plai n s th at Em e r s on i s not su ffici e ntly local and con

“ ’
cr et e ; Carlyl e l o n gs to s ee som e Ev e nt Ma n s Li f e , ,

Am e ri c an For e st o r piece o f cre ation which this

,

”
Em e r s o n lov e s and wond e rs at w ell E m e rs oni ze d
, .

Lo n g f e llo w would not stay at hom e a n d writ e more

a bout t h e e xc ellent villag e blacks m ith ; h e m ad e poetical
 A m e r i c a n L i t e ra t u r e 1 3
t ours o f Europ e a n d tra n s lat e d so n gs and l e ge nds from
s e ve ral la n guag e s for t h e d elight o f t h e village rs who
rem ai n e d b e hind Low e ll w a s s o h e artily co s mopolita n
.

that A m e rican n e w s pap e rs accu s e d h i m o f A n gloma n ia

— which pr o v e s th e i r pro v in c iali s m but acquits him .

M r H ow e lls h a s writt e n a be tt e r book about V e nic e

.

tha n a bout Ohi o Mark Twai n liv e d in e v e ry part O f

.

Am e rica fro m Co n n e cticut to Cali for n ia h e wrot e

, ,

about e v e ry c ountry u n d e r t h e s un ( and about som e

cou n tri e s b e yond t h e s un ) h e is r e ad by all sorts and
,

co n ditio n s o f m e n i n t h e Engli s h sp e aki n g world an d

-
,

h e i s a n a d opt e d h e ro in Vi e n n a It i s di ffi cult to
.

co m e to any co n c lu s ion ab out provi nci alism as a char

ac t e r i s t i c o f A m e ri c a n lit e ratur e.

A m e rica n li t e ratur e i s on t h e whol e id e alisti c s w e e t

, ,

d e lic a t e n ic e ly fi n i s h e d Th e r e i s lit t l e o f it which

, .

might n ot ha v e app e ar e d i n t h e Y ou t h s Compa ni on’

.

Th e notabl e e xc e pti on s a r e our mo s t s talwart me n o f.

ge n iu s Th or e au Whitman and M ark Twain Any
, , , .

child c a n r e ad A m e rica n lit e ratur e a n d i f it do e s not

,

mak e a m an o f him it at lea s t will not l e ad him into

,

forbidd e n r e alms I n d e e d Am e rican books t oo s e l d om

.
,

com e to grips with t h e probl e ms o f li f e e s p e cially the

,

books ca s t i n arti s ti c forms Th e e s sayi s t s e xpound e rs

.
, ,

a n d pr e ach e r s att a ck li f e vigorously and wr e s tl e with

t h e m e ani n g o f it . The p o ets a r e thin m oon s hiny

, ,

meticulou s in t e chniqu e Nov e lists a r e fe w an d f e e bl e

. .
I4 . J oh n M a cy

and d ramati s t s a re non e xiste nt Th e s e g e neralities

-
.
,

subj e ct to e xc e pti ons a re confir m e d by a r e a d ing o f

,

the fir s t fi ft e e n volu m e s o f t h e A tla n ti c M on th ly which ,

a re a tr e a s ur e hou s e o f t h e rich e s t p e ri od o f Am e rican

-

lit e rary expr e s s ion In tho s e volum e s on e finds a s ur

.

pri s ing numb e r o f vigorous di s ti n gui s h e d pap e rs on

,

politic s phil o s ophy sci e nc e , e v e n on lit e ratur e and art

, , .

Many tal e nt e d m e n a n d wo m e n whos e nam e s a re not,

w e ll r em emb e r e d a re clust e r e d th e r e ab out t h e hal f

,

doz e n sali e n t m e n o f ge niu s ; and t h e coll e ctio n giv e s

on e a s e ns e that t h e Ne w England mi n d ( aid e d by t h e

outlying co n tributors ) w a s i n i t s one A g e o f Thought

, ,

an abu n d a n t and div e rsifi e d pow e r But t h e po etry i s .

not m e m orabl e e xc e pt for s o m e v e r s e s by t h e fe w

,

sta n d a r d po e t s And t h e fiction i s nai v e Edward

. .

”
E v e r e tt Hal e s Th e Man Without a Country is al
’

m ost t h e only s tory th e r e that on e co m e s on with a

thrill e ith e r o f r e cognition or O f d isco v e ry .

It i s har d to e xpl a i n why t h e A m e rica n e xc e pt i n h i s ,

e xhortatory and passio n at e ly argu m e n tati v e mood s h a s ,

not struck d e e p i n to Am e rican li f e why h i s s t ori e s a n d

,

v e r s e s a re for t h e mo s t part o n ly pr e tty thi n gs n i c e ly

, , ,

unimp ort a n t Antho n y Trollop e h a d a th e or y th a t t h e

.

ab s e n c e o f int e r n ational Copyright thr e w ou r m a rk e t

Op e n t OO u n r e s trict e dly to t h e Briti s h p r oduct th a t t h e ,

Am e ric a n n o v e l was a n u n prot e ct e d i n fa n t i n d u s t r y ;

w e pri n t e d D ick e ns and t h e r e s t wi t hout p a yi n g roy a lty
 A m e r i c a n L i t e ra t u r e 1 5
and starv e d the dom e s tic manu factur e r Thi s th e or y .

do e s not e xplai n For th e r e w e re many Am e rican

.

no v e li s ts publish e d r e ad a n d probably paid for th ei r

, , ,
.

work Th e troubl e i s that th e y lacke d g en ius ; they

.

d e alt with trivial S l ight a s p e cts o f li f e ; th e y did n ot

,

take t h e nov e l s e riously in t h e right s e nse o f t h e word ,

though no doubt th e y w e r e i n anoth e r s e n s e s e rious

e nough about th e i r poor productions U n c l e Tom s ’
.

” “ ”
C abin and Huckl e b e rry Fin n a re colo s sal e xc e pti ons
to t h e pr e v ailing w e akn e s s and s up e rfi c i ali t y o f Am e ri
c a n no v e ls .

Why do A m e rican w rit e rs turn thei r backs on li f e ,

mi s s i t s i n t e n s iti e s its S ignificanc e ? Th e A m e rican

,

Ci v il W a r was t h e mo s t tr e m e ndou s uph e aval in the

world a ft e r t h e Napol e onic p e riod T h e imagi n ative
.

r e acti on on it consi s ts O f so m e fi ne e ssays Linc oln s ,

’

“
addr e s s e s Whitman s war po e try
,
’
Uncl e Tom s
,
’

”
Cabi n ( which cam e b e for e t h e war but i s part O f it ) ,

on e or t w o pa s s io n at e hymns by Whitti e r th e sec ond ,

“ ” “
s e ri e s o f t h e Bigl ow Pap e rs Hal e s Th e Man VVit h
’ ’
,

” —
out a Cou try n a d what e l s e
n ? T h e nov e ls laid in
w a r tim e a re e ith e r s a n gui n e m e lodrama or absurd
-

i d yl s o f maid e n s whos e l ov e rs a r e at t h e front— a

tragic th e m e i f tragically and not s e nti m e n tally con
c eiv e d P e rhap s t h e bullet that kill e d Th e od or e Win
.

t h r op d e prive d u S o f our gr e at nov e li s t o f t h e Civil

War for h e was on t h e right road In a g e n e ral

, .
1 6 J oh n Ma c y

s p e culation s uch a might ha v e be e n i s n ot altog e th e r

- -

futil e ; i f M ilt on had di e d o f who opi n g cough th e r e

“ ”
would n ot hav e b e e n a n y P a ra d i s e L os t ; t h e r e v e r s e
o f thi s i s th a t so m e g e n ius e s wh os e work s ought i n
e v i t a b ly to hav e be e n produ ce d by thi s or that n ational

d e v e lopm e n t m ay hav e di e d too s oon Thi s s ugge s tio n

.
,

how e v e r n e e d not be gra v e ly argu e d Th e fact i s

, .

that t h e Am e rican lit e rary i m agi n atio n a ft e r t h e Civil

War w a s almo s t s t e ril e I f n o b ook s h a d be e n writt e n
.
,

t h e failur e O f that co n flict to g e t it s e l f e m bo d i e d i n

som e ma s t e rpi e c e s woul d be l e s s disco n c e rti n g But .

thou s an d s o f book s w e r e writt e n by p e opl e who kn e w

t h e war at fir s t hand a n d who had lit e rary a m bition a n d

som e s kill and from all th e s e books no n e ri s e s to d i s

,

tinction .

An e xampl e o f what s e e ms to b e t h e A m e rican habit

O f writi n g ab out e v e rythin g e xc e pt A m e rican li f e is ,

th e work o f G e n e ral L e w Wallac e Wallac e was one

.

o f the i m portant s e condary g e n e ral s in t h e Civil War ,

disti n guish e d at Fort Don e lson and at Shiloh A ft e r .

“ ”
t h e war h e wrot e B e n Hur -
a doubly ab omi n abl e
,

book becau s e it i s not badly writt e n an d it s hows a

,

liv e ly imagination Th e r e i s n o t hing i n it s o v aluabl e

.
,

s o dramatically si gnifica n t a s a w e e k i n Wall a c e s war

’

“ ”
exp e ri e nces Ben H ur fit work for a cou n try cl e rgy
.
-
,

man with a pr e tty lit e rary gi ft i s a ridiculou s i n anit y

,

t o come f ro m a m a n who h a s se e n t h e thi n gs that

 A m e r i c a n L i t e ra t u r e 1 7
Wallac e s aw ! It i s u n d e rstandabl e that t h e man Of
e xp e ri e n c e ma y n ot writ e at all a n d on t h e oth e r hand
, , ,

that t h e man o f se cl ud e d li f e may hav e t h e imagi nation

to make a military e pic B ut for a man cra m e d with
. m
e xp e ri e n c e o f t h e most dramatic sort and di s cov e ri n g

t h e ability and t h e ambiti on t o writ e— for him to mak e

S puriou s ori e ntal romanc e s which achi e ve an e normous
popularity ! The cas e i s too grot e sque to be typical ,

y e t it i s e xc e ptional in d e gre e rath e r than i n kind .

T h e Am e rican lit e rary artist has writt e n about e very

thing under t he ski e s exc e pt what matte rs m ost in his
’
own li f e . G e n e ral Grant s plain autobiography not art ,

and o f cours e not att e mptin g to be i s b e tt e r lit e ratur e ,

than m ost o f our books i n artistic forms b e caus e O f ,

its int e ll e ctual int e grity and the pro found impo rtanc e
o f the subj e ct matte r-
.

Our dr e am e rs hav e dr e am e d about many wonder f ul

things but th e ir fac e s hav e been av e rt e d from t h e
,

mighti e r issu e s o f li f e They have b e e n high mi n d e d

.
-
,

fi ne grain e d e lo q u e nt i n mann e r in Od d contrast to

-
, ,

t h e r e al or r e put e d vigor and crud e n e ss o f t h e nation .

In t h e hundr e d ye ar s from Irving s first romanc e to ’

Mr How ells s lat e s t unromantic nov e l mo s t o f our

.
’

books a r e e min e nt for j u s t thos e virtu e s which Am e r

ica i s suppos e d to lack Th e ir physiqu e is f e minine ;
.

th e y a re fa n ci ful dainty r e s e rv e d ; th e y a re lit e ro s e

, , ,

sophi s ticat e d in cra ft s ma n ship but i n n oc e ntl y unaware

,
1 8 J oh n M a cy

O f th e pro found agi tation s o f Am e rican li fe o f li fe ,

everywh e r e Thos e who strike t h e d e e p e r not e s o f

.

r e ality Whitman Thor e au Mark Twain M rs S towe

, , , , .

i n h e r on e gr e at book Whitti e r Low e ll a n d Em e r s on

, ,

at th e i r b e st a r e a pow e r f ul minority Th e rest b e au

,
.
,

ti ful and fi ne in spi ri t too s e ldom s how that th e y are

,

c onscious o f co n t e mporan e ous r e aliti e s too s eldom vi ,

brat e with a tr e m e ndou s s e ns e o f li f e .

T h e Jason o f w e s t e rn e xploration writ e s as i f h e

had pa s s e d his li f e in a library T h e Ulys s e s O f great .

riv e r s and p e rilous s e as i s a con n oi s seur o f Japan e s e

print s Th e warrior O f Sixty on e ri v als M i s s Mari e
.
’
-

Cor e lli Th e minin g e ngi n e e r c a rves ch e rry ston e s

. .

He who i s figur e d a s gau n t hardy and aggr e s si v e , ,

co n qu e ring t h e d e s e rt with t h e ste a m locomotiv e ,

si n gs o f a pr etty littl e ros e i n a pr e tty lit t l e ga rd en .

T h e j udg e haggard with e xp e ri e n c e who pr e s id e s ov e r

, ,

t h e most tragi comic di v orc e court e v e r d e v is e d by

-

man writ e s love stori e s that would hav e mad e Jan e

,

Aust e n s m il e .

M r Arn ol d B e nn e tt i s r e port e d to ha v e s ai d that i f

.

Balzac had s e e n Pittsburgh h e would have cri e d ,

“ ”
Gi v e m e a p en ! T h e truth i s t h e whol e count r y is ,

crying out for thos e wh o will r e cord i t satiriz e it , ,

chant it A S lit e rary mat e rial it i s virgin land a n ci en t

.
, ,

as li f e and fr e s h a s a wild e rn e ss A m e rican lit e rature .

is one occupation which is not ove r crowd e d i n which -

, ,
20 J oh n M a c y

g en ui n e impr e s sion O f havin g p ortr a y e d a city an d its

p e opl e ; and St e ph e n Cra n e w h o d e a d at thirty had , , ,

“ “
gi v e n i n Th e R e d B a dg e o f Cour a g e a n d Maggi e
t h e pro m is e o f b e tt e r work O f good s hort s to r i e s .

A m e rica has b ee n prolific M r s Wilki n s Fr e e man . .

-
,

M r s An n ie Tru m bull S loss on Sarah Orn e J e wett

.
, ,

R owla n d R obin s on H C Bu nn e r E d ward E v e r e tt

,
. .
,

“
Hal e Fra n k Stockto n Jo e l Cha n dl e r H a rris and O
, , , .

”
H e n ry a r e s om e o f tho s e who s e s hort s t ori e s a re p e r
f e e t in th e i r s e v e ral kind s But t h e Am e r ica n nov e l .
,

which multipli e s past counti n g r e m ai n s an in f e ri or ,

productio n .

On a pri v at e sh e l f O f cont e mpo ra ry ficti on and

dra m a in t h e E n glish la n guag e a r e th e works o f t e n
Briti s h au t hors M r Gal s worthy M r H G W ells
,
.
‘

, . . .
,

M r Ar n old B e nn ett M r Ed en Phillpotts M r G e org e

.
, .
,
.

Moor e M r L e o n ard M e rrick M r J C Sn ai th Miss

, .
, . . .
,

May Sinclai r M r William De M organ M r M auric e

, .
, .

H e wl ett M r Jos e p h Conrad M r B e r n ard Shaw yes

,
.
, .
, ,

an d M r R udyard Kipling B e sid e th e m I find but

. .

two Am e ricans M rs Edith Whart on and M r Th e o

, . .

dor e Dr e i s e r Th e r e may be oth e rs for on e cannot

.
,

pr e te n d to know all t h e living nov e li st s and d ramatists .

Y e t for e v e ry Am e ric an that should b e add e d I w ould ,

agr e e to add four to th e B riti sh li s t H ow e v e r a con .

,

t e mporary literatur e that includ e s M r s Wharton s .

’

“ ” ” ’
Ethan From e a n d M r D r e i s e r s J e n n i e G e rhardt .
 A m e r i c a n L i t e ra t u r e 2 I

both publi s h e d la s t y e ar i s not to be d e s paired o f

, .

In t h e cour s e o f a c e ntury a fe w Am e ricans have

said i n m e m orabl e word s what li f e m e a n t to th e m .

Th e i r p e r for m a n c e put toge th e r i s con s id e rabl e i f

, , ,

not i m posi n g A n y s e n s e o f di s s ati s factio n that one

.

fe e ls in cont e mpl ati n g it is d u e to t h e d i s proportion b e

tw e e n a li m it e d e xp re s sion an d t h e m ulti farious i m
me n s i t y o f t h e cou n try O ur lit e ratur e j udge d by t h e
.
,

gr e at lit e ratur e s co n t em poran e ous with it i s i n s uffi

,

ci e nt to th e opportu n ity and th e n e e d T h e Am e rican

.

Spirit may be fi gu r e d as p e titioning t h e Mus e s for

tw e lv e nov e li s ts t en poet s and e ight dramatists to be
, , ,

d eliv e re d at th e earliest possibl e moment .

 MA RY WH ITE

By W ILLIA M A LLEN W H ITE

M a ry W hi t e — o n s s ee ms t o k n ow
her a ft e ead n t hi s s k e t c h
r r i g
ri
w tt e n by h e r f a t e on t h e d ay s h e w a s
h r ur lye d— o d s buri
e w ul
h a ve l ugh u b li vi gly
a ed n e e n l i f t o d s h e w o d b e i n a oo o f
b k ul
thi s so tr g h r wi h J
t o et e
, t h ose p
r wh b k
C on a d on e o f os e
, oo s l ay
on h e r t a bl e B ut t h e p e n , i n t h e h on e s t
. h lw y an d h a s a a s be en ,

m igh i r h
t e gr v
t an t h e a e .

T s i s n ot t h e s o t o f t h n on e w s e s t o m a r wi t c m s
hi r i g i h h lu y
c omm e n t wri
I t wa s
. p ri whi h
t t e n for t h e E m o a G a ze t t e c Wi l ,

liam A en W
ll hi i i
t e h a s e d t e d s n ce 1 8 9 5 b
He i s on e o f t h e e s t
.

k w
no n , publi piri
m os t c s -
ruly l v
t e d a n d m os t t ri o e d o f A m e can
j ur li
o na s t s He an d hi s f e ow Ka n s a n E W How e o f A t c s on
. ll -
hi , . .
,

are t w o c a ac t e s t c fi
h r ri i gur es w p p r w rl b
i n ou r n e s a e o d ot h ,

r h v i
m a s t e s of t at e n y r igh rw r hu
of c a n n , s t a t fo a d ma n e a n d ,

m o o s s m i c t t at s e e m s t o b e a Ka n s a s
hu r u i pl i y h bir hrig t ht .

M r W t e w a s o n i n E m o a i n 1 8 68
. hi b r p ri .

TH E As s ociat e d Pr e ss r eport s carryi n g t h e n e ws o f

Mary Whit e s d e ath d e clar e d that it cam e a s t h e
’

r e s ult O f a fall from a hors e How s h e woul d hav e .

hoot e d at that ! S h e n ev e r f e ll fro m a hor s e in h e r

“
I m
’
li f e Hors e s ha v e fall e n on h e r a n d with h e r
.
—

always trying to hold e m in my lap s h e u s e d t o s ay

’
, .

But s h e w a s proud O f fe w thi n g s a n d one w a s that ,

S h e could rid e anythi n g that had four l e g s and hair .

He r d e ath r e sult e d n ot fro m a fall but from a blow ,

on t h e h e ad which fractur e d h e r s kull a n d t h e blow ,

ca m e from t h e limb o f an ov e rha ngin g tr ee on t h e

parking .
 l
l l
f a ry ! Wh i t e 2 3
The last h our o f h e r li f e was typical o f its hap p i
’
n e s s S h e ca m e hom e from a day s work at school
.
,

topp e d Off by a hard grin d with the copy on t h e High

School Annual and f e l t that a rid e would r e fr e sh h e r
, .

S h e climb e d i n to her khakis chatt e ri n g to her moth e r

,

about t h e work s h e was doi n g and hurri e d to g e t h e r

,

hor s e an d b e out on t h e dirt roads for t h e country air

and t h e radiant gr e e n fi e lds o f t h e spring A S s h e r od e .

throu g h t h e tow n on an e asy gallop s h e k ept waving at

pa s s e r s b y S h e k n e w e v e ryon e in town For a de c
-
. .

a d e t h e l ittl e figur e with the long pig tail and t h e r e d

-

hai r ribb on h a s b e e n familiar on t h e str ee ts o f Em

poria a n d s h e got in t h e way o f S p e aking to those who
,

nodd e d at h e r S h e pass e d t h e K e rr s walking t h e

.
,

hor s e i n front o f t h e Normal Library and wav e d at

, ,

th e m ; pa s s e d a n oth e r fri e nd a fe w hundr e d f e e t furth e r

on a n d wa v e d at h e r T h e horse was walking and
, .
,

as S h e tur n e d i n to North M e rchant Str e e t s h e took Off

h e r cowb oy hat and t h e hors e swung into a l op e
, S he .

pas s e d t h e Tripl e tt s an d wav e d h e r cowb oy hat at th e m ,

still movi n g gaily north on M e rchant Str e e t A .

G aze t t e carri e r pa s s e d a H igh School boy fri e nd

-

a n d S h e wa v e d at him but with h e r bri d l e ha n d ; t h e

,

hors e v e e r e d quickly plung e d into t h e parking wh e r e

,

t h e l ow hanging limb fac e d h e r and whil e s h e still

-
, ,

looke d back wavi ng t h e blow cam e But S h e did not

, .

f all from t h e hor s e ; s h e s lipp e d Off daz e d a bit , ,

 W i ll i a m A ll e n Wh i t e
'

2 4
s tagg e r e d a n d f e ll i n a faint S h e n e v e r quit e re .

co v e r e d co n s c iou s n e s s .

But s h e d i d n ot fall from t h e hors e n e i th e r w a s s h e ,

ridi n g fa s t A y e ar or s o ag o s h e u s e d t o g o lik e t h e
.

win d But that h a bit w a s brok e n a n d s h e u s e d t h e

.
,

ho r s e to g e t i n to t h e Op e n to g e t fr e s h hard e x e rci s e , ,

a n d t o wo r k Of f a c e rtain s u r plus e n e rgy that w e ll e d

up i n h e r a n d n e e d e d a physical outl e t That n e e d h a s .

b e e n i n h e r h e art for ye ars I t w a s ba c k O f t h e i m pul s e

.

that k e pt t h e dau n tl e s s littl e brown cl a d figur e on t h e

,
-

str e e t s a n d c ountry roads o f this co m m u n ity a n d built

i n to a stro n g muscular body what h a d b e e n a f r ail
,

a n d s ickly fra m e duri n g t h e fir s t y e ar s o f h e r li f e .

But t h e riding ga v e h e r mor e tha n a bo d y It r e l e a s e d .

a gay and har d y s oul S h e w a s t h e h a ppi e s t thi n g in

.

t h e world A n d s h e w a s happy b e cau s e S h e w a s e n

.

larg i n g h e r horizon S h e cam e to k n ow all s orts a n d

.

con d itio n s o f m e n ; Charl e y O Br ie n t h e tra ffic cop ’

, ,

was on e o f h e r b e s t fri e nd s W L H oltz t h e Latin . . .

,

t each e r w a s a n oth e r Tom O Con n or far m e r pol i

, .
’
,
-

t i c i a n and Re v J H J R ice p r e ach e r a n d pol ic e

, . . . .
,

j udge a n d Fra n k B each mu s i c ma s t e r w e r e h e r s p e

, , ,

c i a l fri e n d s a n d all t h e girls

, black a n d whit e above, ,

t h e track and b e l ow t h e tra ck i n Pe p v i lle a n d Stri n g ,

town w e r e amon g h e r acquai n tanc e s An d s h e brought

, .

hom e riotous s tori e s o f h e r ad v entur e s S h e lov e d to .

rollick ; p e r s ifl ag e w as h e r natural expr e s s ion at hom e

 Ma ry W h i t e 2 5
H e r hu m or wa s a c onti n ual bubbl e o f j oy s e em ed . S he
to thi n k i n hyp e rbol e and m e taphor S h e was mis .

c h i e v ou s w t i h ou t malic e as full o f faults a s a n old

,

sho e NO a n g e l w a s Mary Whit e but an e a s y girl to

.
,

li v e with for s h e n ev e r nurs e d a grouch fi ve mi n ut e s

,

in h e r li f e .

With all h e r e age rn e ss for t h e out O f doors s h e - -

,

l ov e d bo oks On h e r tabl e wh e n s h e l e ft h e r room

.

“
w e r e a book by C on rad on e by Galsworthy Cr e ative
, ,

”
Ch e m i s try by E E S los s on and a Kipling bo ok S h e
. .
, .

r e ad Mark Twain Dick e ns and Kipli n g b e for e s h e was

,

t en — all o f th e ir writi n gs W e ll s and Arnold Be n

.

n e tt p a rticularly amus e d and di v e rt e d h e r S h e was .

e nt e r e d a s a s tud e nt in W e ll e s l e y in 1 9 2 2 ; w a s a s s i s

tant e ditor o f t h e H igh School An n ual thi s ye ar an d ,

i n lin e for e l e cti on t o t h e e ditor s hip o f t h e A n n ual

n e xt ye ar S h e was a m e m b e r o f t h e e x e cutiv e com
.

m i t t e e O f t h e H igh S ch ool Y W C A . . . .

Withi n t h e la s t two y e ar s S h e had b e gun to be mov e d

b y an a m biti on t o draw S h e b e gan as mo s t childr e n
.

do by scribbling i n h e r school books fun n y pictur e s , .

S h e bought cartoon magazines a n d took a cours e — 7

rath e r casuall y n aturally for s h e was a ft e r all a

, , , ,

n e —
child with o strong purpos s and this y e ar s h e tast e d
t h e first fruits o f succ e ss by having h e r pictur e s a c

c e p t e d by t h e H igh School Annual But t h e thrill O f .

d e light s h e got wh e n M r Ecord o f t h e Normal A n

.
,
2 6 W i ll i a m A ll e n W h i t e
nual a s ke d her to do th e cartooning for that book t hi
,

S prin g was too be auti ful for words S h e f e ll to h e r

,
.

work with all h e r e n thu s i a s tic h e art H e r drawings .

—
w e re acc e pted a n d h e r pri d e always r e pr e s s e d by a
,

liv e ly s e ns e o f the ridiculou s n e s s o f t h e figur e s h e w a s

cutting— wa s a r e al ly gorge ous thi n g to s e e N O s u c .

c e s s fu l arti s t e v e r drank a d e e p e r d raught o f sa t i s fa c

tio n than s h e took fr om t h e littl e fam e h e r w ork was

g etti n g amo n g h er school f e llows I n h e r glory s h e .
,

almo s t forgot h e r hors e but n e v e r her car

— .

F or s h e us ed t h e car as a j itn e y bus It w a s h e r .

“ ”
social li f e She n e v e r had a party i n all h e r n e arl y
.

s e ve n t e e n y e ars— would n t hav e on e ; but s h e n e ve r

’

drove a block in t h e car i n h e r li fe that S h e didn t be gin ’

to fill t h e car with pick ups ! Ev e ryb ody rod e with

-

Mary Whit e white and black old and young rich

—
, ,

and poo r m en a n d wom e n S h e lik e d n othi n g b ett e r

, .

than to fill t he car full o f long l e gg e d High School -

boys an d an occa s ional girl an d para d e t h e town S h e

, .

“ ”
n e v e r had a date nor w e nt to a da n c e e xc e pt o n c e
, ,

“ ”
with h e r broth e r Bill and t h e boy propo s i t i on d id n t
, ,
’

int e r e s t h e r— ye t But you n g p e opl e— gr e at s pri n g

.

br e aki n g var n i s h cracki n g f en d e r b e n ding d oor

,
-
,
-
,

“
s aggi n g carload s O f kid s ga v e h e r gr e at pl e a s ur e .

He r z e s ts w e r e k e e n But t h e m o s t fu n s h e e v e r h a d
.

in h e r li f e was acti n g as chai r m an O f t h e comm itt e e

that got up t h e big turk e y d i n n e r for t h e p oor f olk s
2 8 W i ll i a m A ll e n hV/zi t e
want e d to h e lp S h e n e v e r w a nt e d h e lp for h e rs el f
. .

Cloth e s m e a n t littl e t o h e r It w a s a fight to g e t a

.

n e w rig on h e r ; but e v e n tually a hard e r fight t o g e t it

O ff . S h e n e v e r wor e a j e w e l a n d h a d n o ri n g but h e r
High S chool class ri n g an d n e v e r a s k e d for a n ythi n g
,

but a wri st watch S h e r e fu s e d to ha v e h e r h a ir up ;

.

“ ”
though s h e w a s n e arly s e v e n t e e n M oth e r S h e pro .
,
~

“
t e s t e d you d o n t know how m uch I g e t by with i n m y
,
’

braid e d pigtail s that I could n ot with m y hair up

, .

Abov e e v e ry oth e r pa s s ion o f h e r li f e w as h e r p a s s ion

n ot to grow up to b e a child T h e t om boy i n h e r
, .
-
.

which w a s big s e em e d to loath e to b e put away for

,
!

e v e r in s kirts S h e was a P e t e r Pa n who r e fu s e d to

.
,

grow up .

He r fu n e ral ye st e rday at t h e Co n gre gational Church

w a s a s s h e w ould ha v e wi s h e d it ; no S i n gi n g n o flow e r s ,

sa v e t h e big bu n ch O f r e d ros e s from h e r B roth e r Bill s ’

H ar v ard c la s s m en H e av e n s h ow proud that would

—
,

h av e m ad e h e r ! a n d the r e d ros e s from t h e G aze t t e

for c e i n v a s e s at h e r h e ad and f e et A short pray e r
—
.
,

“
Paul s b e auti ful e s s a y on Love from t h e Thirte e nth
’

Chapt e r o f Fir s t Cori n thian s s om e r e m ark s about h e r

,

d em ocrati c spirit by h e r fri e n d John H J R ic e past o , . .

,
r

and pol ic e j udge which s h e would hav e d e pr e cat e d i f

,

s h e could a p rayer s e n t down for h e r by h e r fri e nd

, ,

Carl Nau and op e n i n g t h e s e r v ic e t h e slow poign an t

, ,

movem e nt fr om B e e thoven s Moonlight S on ata whi ch

’

,
 M a ry W h i t e 2 9
sh e lov e d and clo s i n g t h e se r v ic e a c utti n g fr om t h e
,

j oyously m e lan choly fir s t m ov e m e n t O f T s chaikow s ki s ’

Path e ti c Symphony which s h e lik e d to h e ar in c e rtain

,

moods on t h e pho n ograph ; th e n t h e Lord s Pra ye r by ’

h e r fri e n d s i n t h e H igh S chool .

Th a t was all .

F or h e r p a ll b e ar e r s on ly h e r fri e nds w e re cho s e n

- :

h e r Lati n t e ach e r W L Holtz ; h e r H igh S ch ool prin

— . .

c i p al R ic e B rown ; h e r d octor Fra n k F on ca n n on ; h e r

, ,

fri e n d W W Fin n e y ; h e r p al at the G aze t te Offic e

, . .
,

Walt e r Hugh e s ; and h e r broth e r B ill It would have.

m a d e h e r s m il e to know that h e r fri e n d Charl ey ,

O Br i e n t h e tra ffic c op had be en tran s f e rr e d from

’

, ,

Sixth a n d C om m e rcial to t h e c orn e r n e ar t h e church

to dir e ct h e r fri e n ds who ca m e to bid h e r good by -
.

A ri ft i n t h e clou d s in a gray day t h r e w a s h a ft o f

sunlight u p o n h e r co ffi n as h e r n e rvous e n e rge tic littl e
,

b ody s ank to its last sl e ep B ut t h e soul O f h e r the

.
,

glowing gorg e ous f e rv e nt soul o f h e r sure ly w a s

, , ,

fl a mi ng in eag e r j oy up on some oth e r d awn .

 N IAGA R A F ALLS

By R U PE R T BR OOK E

Th e p oet u s u a lly i s t h e b e s t r e p or t e r for h e 8 a n Ob s e rve r not

, 1

me r e ly a c c ur a t e b ut i m a gi n a t iv e s e l f t r a i n e d t o s e e s ub t l e s u g
ge s t i on s r e l at i on s a n d s i m il a ri t i e s T hi s m ag n i fi ce n t b t o f d e
,

, . i

s c rip t i on w a s wri t t e n by R up e r t B r ook e a s on e O f t h e l e tt e r s

s e n t t o t h e W e s t m i ns t e r G a e t t e d e s c ribi n g h i s t ri p i n t h e U n i t e d
I t i s i n c lu d e d n t h e volu m e L e t t e s
.

S t a t e s an d Ca n a d a n 1 9 I 3
i . i r

f om A me ri ca t o whi c h He n ry J am e s c on t ribu t e d s o a ffe c t i on at e

r

a n d d e s p e r a t e ly u n i n t e lligibl e a p r e f a c e— on e o f t h e l a s t t hi n g s
a m e s wr ot e B r ook e s n ot e s on A m e r i ca a e w e ll w or t h r e a d
’

J . r

i ng : t h ey a re f ul l o f d e ligh t f ul a n d li e ly c om m e nt s t h ough
v ,

s om e t i m e s m u c h ( Oh v e ry m u c h ! ) t oo c on d e s ce n d i n g
, Th e l a s t .

p r a gr a ph n t hi s e s s ay i s i nt e r e s t i n g n vi e w o f s u b s e q u e n t
a i i

h i s t o ry .

B r ook e w a s b or n i n 1 88 7 s on o f a m a s t e r a t Rugby S c h ool ;

,

w a s a t Ki n g s C oll e g e Ca m bri d g e ; d i e d o f bl ood p oi s on i n g i n

’
-
,

t h e E g ea n A p ril 2 3 1 9 1 5
, , .

S A M U EL B U TLE R has a lot to an s w e r for But for .

him a mo d e rn tra v e l e r could sp e n d hi s ti m e p e ac e fully

,

ad m iri n g t h e s c e ne ry in s t e ad o f f ee li n g hi m s e l f bound
to d og t h e simpl e and grot e squ e O f t h e worl d for the
sak e o f th e ir too human co mm e n ts It i s h i s fault i f
-
.

a p e as a n t s n ai v e t e has co m e t o out J e ig h t h e b e auty

’ ’

o f riv e rs a n d t h e r e m ark s O f cl e rgy m e n a r e mor e

,

tha n m ou nt a i n s It i s v e ry r e s t ful to gi v e up all e ffort

.

at Ob s e r v i n g hu m an n atur e an d drawi n g social an d

pol itical d e du c ti on s from t r ifl e s a n d to le t o n e s e l f ,

r elap s e int o w i d e m outh e d wor s hip o f t h e wo n d e r s o f

-

natur e And thi s is v e ry e a s y at Niagara Niagar a

. .

30
 N i a g a ra F a lls 3 1

means nothing It is not l e ading an ywhere It does

. .

n ot result from an y thing It throws no light on t h e .

e ffe cts o f Prot e ction nor on t h e Facility for Divorc e ,

in Am e rica nor on Corruption in Public Li f e nor on

, ,

Canadian charact e r nor e ven on the Navy B ill It i s , .

mer e ly a gr e at d e al o f wat e r falling ov e r s ome cli ffs .

But it i s v e ry r e markably that T h e human rac e apt .

,

as a child to d e stroy what it admires has don e i t s b e st ,

to surround t h e Falls with e v e ry di s traction i n con ,

g r u i t y and , vulgarity H ot e ls pow e rhous e s bridg e s .

, , ,

trams picture post cards sham l e g e nd s stalls booths

,
-
, , , ,

r i fl e g all e ri e s and sid e shows fram e th e m about

-
,
And -
.

th e re a re Touts Niagara i s t h e c e ntral hom e and.

br ee ding plac e for all the touts o f e arth Th e r e are

-
.

touts i n sinuating and touts raucou s gr e a s y touts , , ,

braz e n touts and upp e r class r e fine d g en tl e manly

,
-
, , ,

tak e you by t h e arm tout s ; touts who intimidat e and

- - - -

touts who wh e e dl e pro f e s s ionals amat e urs and d i le t , ,

t an ti mal e and f e mal e ; touts who woul d photograp h

,

you wi t h your arm round a young lady against a

f ak e d background o f t h e sublim e s t cataract touts who ,

would bully you i n to cars char a banc s e l e vators or ,

- -
, ,

tunn e ls or d e c e iv e you into a carriag e and pair touts

, ,

who would s e ll you picture post cards mocca s i n s sham -

, ,

Indian b e adwork blanke ts t e e p e e s and crock e ry and, ,

-
, ,

tout s finally who have no appar e n t Obj e ct i n the

, ,

world but j ust pur e l y simply m e rely inc e s sa n tly i n

, , , , ,
3 2 R up e r t B r o ok e
and i n e ffu g i b ly to t out A n d in t h e mid s t
d e fa t i g ably , .

O f all thi s ov e rwh e lmi n g it all a r e t h e Fall s He

, , .

who s ee s th e m in s ta n tly forg e t s huma n ity Th e y a r e .

not v e ry high but th e y a re o v e rpow e r i n g Th e y a r e

,
.

di v id e d by an isla n d i n to two parts t h e Ca n adian and ,

th e A m e rica n .

H al f a mil e or s o ab ov e t h e Fall s on e ith e r sid e t h e , ,

wat e r O f t h e gr e at s tr e am b e gi n s to run m or e s wi ftly

and in con fu s ion It d e sc e n d s w ith e v e r gr owi n g
.
-

sp e e d It b e gi n s chatt e ri n g a n d l e api n g br e aki n g i n to

.
,

a thou s and rippl e s throwing u p j oy ful fi n g e rs o f s pray

, .

So m eti m e s it i s di v id e d by i s l a n ds a n d rocks s om e ,

tim e s t h e eye can s e e n othi n g but a wa s t e o f laughi n g ,

spri ngi n g foamy wav e s turni n g cros s i n g e v e n s e e m

, , , ,

i n g to stan d f or an in s tant e r e ct but alway s b orn e i m

,

p e t u ou s ly forward lik e a crowd o f triu m pha n t f e a s t e rs .

S it clo s e dow n by it and you s e e a fragm e nt o f t h e

,

torr e n t agai n s t t h e s ky mottl e d st e ely and foaming

, , , ,

l e api n g o n ward in far fl ung c riss cross s tra n d s O f

- -

wat e r P e rp e tually t h e eye i s on t h e point O f d e sc ry

.

i n g a patt e rn i n thi s weaving and p e rpetually it i s

,

ch e at e d by cha n ge In one place part o f t h e fl ood

.

plunge s ov e r a l e dge a fe w f e e t high an d a q uart e r O f a

mile or so lo n g i n a uni form and stable curv e It gi v e s
, .

an impr e ssion o f almost military conc e rt e d mov em e nt ,

grown s udd e nly out O f con fusi on But it i s s wi ftly .

l ost agai n i n t h e multitudinous to s si n g m e rriment .

 N i a g a r a F a lls 33
H e re and th e re a rock cl os e to t h e sur fac e is mark e d
by a white wav e that fac e s backward s an d s e em s to b e
ru s hing m a d ly up str e am but i s r e ally stationary i n
-
,

t h e h e adl on g charg e But for th e s e signs O f r eluct

.

ance t h e wat e rs s e e m to fl i n g th e ms e l v e s on with som e

,

for e kn owl e dge O f th e ir fat e i n an e v e r wild e r fr e nzy

, .

But it i s no Ma e t e rli n ckian pr e s ci e n ce Th e y prove .

,

rath e r that Gr ee k b e li e f that t h e gr e at crash e s a r e

,

pr e c e d e d by a l oud e r m e rrim e nt and a wilder gai e ty .

L e api n g in th e su n light car e l e s s e ntwining clam

, , ,

or ou s ly j oy ful t h e wav e s riot on t owards the

,

v e rg e .

But th e r e th e y change As th e y turn to t h e sh ee r

.

d e s c e nt t h e whit e and blu e an d slat e color i n t h e h e art

, ,

o f t h e Ca n adian Falls at l e a s t bl e n d and d e e p e n to a

,

r i ch wond e r ful l umi n ous gr e e n On t h e e dge o f dis

, , .

ast e r t h e riv e r s e e ms to gath e r h e rsel f to pau s e to , ,

li f t a h e ad nobl e i n ruin a n d th e n w ith a S low , ,

grande u r t o plu n ge into t h e e t e rnal thund e r and whit e

,

chaos bel o w W h e r e t h e str e a m runs shallow e r it i s

.

a kin d o f vi ol e t co l or but b oth viol e t and gr e e n fray

,

a n d frill to whit e a s t hey f a ll T h e mas s o f water .

,

striking some e v e r hidd e n ba se o f rock leaps up the

-
,

whole t w o hundr e d f e e t again i n pinnacles and dom e s

O f s pray Th e spray falls back into the low e r riv e r
.

onc e more ; all but a littl e that fin e s to f o am and white

mist which dri fts in laye rs along the ai r g raining i t
, , ,
34 . R up e r t B r ook e
and wand e rs out on the w ind ov e r t h e trees and gar
d e ns an d hous e s and s o vanish e s
,
.

T h e manag e r o f on e O f th e great power stati ons -

on t h e banks o f t h e riv e r abov e t h e Fall s told m e that

the c e nt e r o f the riv e rb e d at t h e Canadian Falls i s
d e e p and o f a sauc e r s hape 5 0 it may b e possible to
.

fill thi s up to a uni form d e pth and di v e rt a lot o f water

,

for t h e power hous e s And this h e said would suppl y

-
.
, ,

t h e n e e d for mor e pow e r which will certai n ly soon

,

aris e without taking away from t h e b e auty o f Niagara

, .

This i s a handsom e conc e s sio n o f t h e utilitarians to

ordinary sight s e e rs Y e t I doubt i f w e shall b e satis
-
.
,

fi ed . T h e r e al s e cret o f t h e be auty a n d t e rror o f the

Falls i s not thei r h e ight or width but t h e f ee ling o f ,

colos s al pow e r and o f unint e lligible disast e r caus e d by

t h e plung e O f that vast body o f wat e r I f that were .

tak e n aw a y th e re woul d be littl e visibl e change but

, ,

t h e h e a rt would b e gon e .

Th e Am e rican Falls do n ot inspir e thi s f ee ling in

t h e sam e way as t h e Ca n adian It i s b e caus e th e y are
.

l e ss in v olu m e a n d b e cau s e t h e wat e r does not fall S O

,

much into one plac e By comparison th e i r b e auty i s

.

almost d e licat e and fragil e Th e y a re e xtraordinarily

.

l e v e l one long curtai n O f lac e work and wo v e n foam

, .

S e en fro m oppo s it e wh e n t h e s un i s on th e m th ey
, ,

a r e bli n d i ngly whit e and t h e clouds o f spray S how

,

d ark against th e m . With both Falls the color O f the

3 6 R up e r t B r ook e
clo s e b e hi n d t h e e n d l e s s cla m or t h e s ight ca nn ot r e cog
,

n iz e liqui d i n t h e m a s s e s that hurl pa s t You a r e d i m ly

.

an d pi t i fully awar e that s h e e ts O f light a n d darkn e s s

a r e fall i n g in gr e at curv e s i n fro n t O f y ou Dull .

om n ipr e s e nt f oam wa s h e s t h e fac e F a r t h e r away i n

.
,

t h e ro a r an d hi s s i n g cl oud s O f s pray s e e m lit e rally t o

,

sli d e d own s o m e i n v i s ibl e pla n e o f ai r .

B e y ond t h e foot O f t h e Fall s t h e ri v e r i s lik e a

s lippi n g fl oor o f m a rbl e g r e e n with v e i n s O f d irty
,

whit e m ad e by t h e scum that w a s foa m It s lid e s v e ry

, .

qui e tly and s lowly down for a mil e or two sull e n ly ,

e xhau s t e d . Th e n it turn s to a dull s age gr e e n a n d ,

hurri e s mor e s wi ftly s m ooth a n d om n i ou s A s t h e

, .

wall s o f t h e ravin e clos e in troubl e s tirs a n d t h e

, ,

wat e r s boil a n d e ddy Th e s e a r e t h e low e r rapid s a

.
,

sight mor e t e rri fying tha n t h e Fall s b e cau s e l e s s i n

,

t e lli g i bl e
. Clo s e in i t s ba n d s o f r ock t h e ri v e r surg e s
tu m ultuou s ly forward w ri t hi n g a n d l e api n g a s i f i n
,

s pir e d by a d e mo n . It i s pr e s s e d by t h e s traits into a

v i s ibly co n v e x for m . Gr e at pla n e s o f wat e r s lid e
pa s t Som e ti m e s it i s throw n u p i nto a pi n n acl e o f
.

f oam high e r than a hou s e or l eap s with i n cr e d ibl e

,

sp e e d fro m t h e cr e s t o f on e va s t wa v e to a n oth e r alo n g ,

t h e shi n ing cu r v e b e tw e e n lik e t h e s pri n g o f a wild

,

b e a s t Its m oti on co n tinually sugg e s t s m u s cul a r ac

.

tion T h e pow e r ma n i f e s t in th e s e rapid s m o v e s one

.

with a di ffe r ent s e n s e o f aw e and t e rror fr om that o f

 N i ag a r a F a lls 37
the Fall s H e r e t h e i n huma n l i f e a n d s tr e n gth a re
.

spo n ta n e ous acti v e al m o s t r e s olut e ; masculi n e vigo r

, ,

co m par e d with t h e pa s si v e giga n tic pow e r f e mal e h e lp , ,

l e s s a n d o v e rwh e l m i n g o f t h e F a ll s A plac e O f f e ar
, . .

On e i s drawn back stra n g e ly to a co n t e m plation o f

, ,

t h e F a ll s at e v e ry hour a n d e s p e ci a lly by n ight wh e n

, , ,

t h e cloud o f s pray b e com e s a n i m m e ns e v isibl e gho s t ,

strai n i n g and wa v e ri n g high abo v e t h e riv e r whit e an d ,

path e tic and tra n s luc en t T h e Vi ctorian li e s v e ry close

.

b e low t h e s ur fac e in e v e ry m a n Th e r e one can s i t .

a n d le t gr e at cloudy thoughts o f d e s tiny a n d t h e s

p a

sage o f e m pir e s dri ft through t h e mi n d ; for such

dr e am s a r e a t h om e by Niag a ra I could not g e t out .

o f my mi n d t h e thought O f a fri e nd who said that t h e ,

rainbows o v e r t h e Falls w e r e lik e t h e arts an d b eauty

and goodn e s s with r e ga rd to t e s tr am o f li f
h e e — a
,

caus e d by it thrown upon its spray but u n abl e to sta y

, ,

or dir e ct or a ffe ct it an d c e asing wh e n it c e as e d I n

,
.

all compari s o n s that ri s e in t h e h e art t h e ri v e r wit h , ,

i t s multitudi n ous wav e s and its singl e curr e n t lik e n s ,

it s e l f to a l i f e wh e th e r o f an indi v idu a l o r o f a com

,

mu n ity A m an s li f e i s o f ma n y flashing m om e n ts
.
’
,

and y e t on e str e am ; a nation s flows through all i t s

’

citiz e ns and y e t is more th an th e y In such plac e s one

, .
,

i s awar e with an almost insupp ortabl e and y e t com

,

forting c e rtitud e that both m e n and nations a r e hur

,

ri e d onwards to th e i r rui n or e nding a s in e vitably a s

3 8 R up e r t B r ook e
this dark flood S om e go d own to it unr e l u ctant and
.
,

m e et it lik e t h e ri v e r not without nobility And a

, ,
.
s

inc e ssant as in e v i t abl e an d a s u n availi n g as t h e spra y

, ,

that hangs ov e r t h e Falls is t h e whit e cloud o f human

,

cryin g . With some such thoughts do e s the plati

t ud i n ou s h e art w i n f rom the con fusi on and thund e r

o f a Niagara p e ace that the q uietest plains or mos t

stabl e hill s can n e ver give .
 T H E ALM O ST PE R F E C T STAT E

By D ON M ARQ U I S

D on M a r q u i s i s a r e a l n a m e n ot a p s e u d on y m ; i t i s p r on ou n c e d
,

M a r kw i s s n ot M a r ke e
,
I “r e pri n t h e r e t w o o f M r M a r q ui s s
. .
’

a m i a bl e m e d i t at i on s on t h e A l m os t P e r f e c t S t a t e whi c h h ave ’
,

a pp e a r e d i n t h e c olu mn ( Th e S u n D i a l ) c on d u ct e d by h i m for
t e n y e a r s i n t h e Ne w Y o rk S u n A c c or d i n g t o t h e t r a d i t i on a l
.

mott o of s u n d i a l s , M r M a r q ui s s h or ol og e u s u a lly n u m b e r s
’
-
.

On l y t h e s e r e n e h o ur s ; b u t s om e t i me s , wh e n t h e c l ea r m oon ligh t
of h i s M u s e i s s h i n i n g , i t c a s t s d a rk e r an d e v e n m or e pr e c i ou s
s h a d ow s o f s a t ir e a n d m y s t i c i s m Hi s m a n y r e a d e r s k n ow by
.

t h i s t i me t h e d e p t h an d r eac h of h i s fu n a n d f a n c y M a r q ui s .

i s a t ru e phil os op h e r a n d w i t h i s hu m o r a d or n s a ri c h a n d
,

me ll ow gr avi t y W h e n s t r on gly move d h e s om e t i m e s u t t e r s a n

.

e p igr a m t h a t r i n g s lik e s t e e l l e avi n g t h e s c a bb a r d .

T h e r e a r e m a n y t hi n g s t o b e s a i d a g a i n s t A m e r i c an n e w s
p a p e r s , b ut m u c h of t h e i n d i ct me n t i s q ua s h e d wh e n on e c on
s i d e r s t h a t eve ry n ow a n d t h e n t h e y d ev e l o p a w ri t e r l ike D on
M a r q u i s T h e vi ol e n t h a s t e pr e s s ur e a n d i n s t a n c y of n e w s p a p e r
.
,

r ou t i n e , p urg a t ori a l t o s om e t e m p e ra m e n t s i s a g e n ui n e s t i m ul u s
,

t o ot h e r s — p a r t i c ul a rly i f t h e y a r e a bl e a s i n t h e c a s e of t h e
,

c olu m n i s t , t o f a ll b a c k up on o u t s i d e c on t ribu t or s i n t h e i r i nt e r
val s of p e s s i m i s m or s l ot h .

M r M a r q ui s s Th e Old S oak a p os t -p r ohibi t i on p or t r a i t of a

’

.
,

ge n i a l Ol d t ippl e r i s p e rh ap s t h e mos t v it a l b i t O f A me ri ca n
,

hu mo r s i n c e M r D ooley — s ome s ay s i n c e M a r k T w a i n Hi s
. .

P r e fa c e s a n d h i s p oe m s w il l a l s o b e c on s i d e r e d by t h e j u d i c i ou s .

He w a s b o r n i n I lli n oi s i n 1 8 78 a n d d i d n e w s p a pe r w ork i n
,

Ph i l a d e l p hi a a n d A t l a n t a b e f or e c om i n g t o t h e S un I n 1 9 1 2 .

I
NO matt e r h ow n e arly p e r f e ct an Al P e r fect most
Stat e may b e it i s not n e arly e nough p e r f e ct unl e ss t h e
,

indi v iduals who compose it can som e wh e r e b etw ee n ,

d e ath a n d birth h ave a p e r f e ctl y corki n g tim e for a

,

fe w y e ar s T h e mo s t wond e r ful g ov e r n m e ntal syst e m

.

39
40 D on Ma r qu
i n th e world do e s not attract us as a sy s t e m ; w e are
,

a ft e r a syst e m that s carc e ly knows it i s a s y s t e m ; t h e

gr e at thi n g is to ha v e t h e larg e st nu m be r O f i n d ivi d ual s
a s h a ppy as m a y b e ,
for a littl e whil e at l e a s t s ome ,

ti m e b e for e th e y d i e
.

In fa n cy i s not what it is crack e d up to b e T h e .

child s eem s happy all t h e tim e to t h e adult b e cau s e ,

t he a d ult k n ow s that t h e child i s untouch e d by t h e r e al

p robl em s o f li f e ; i f t h e adult w e r e s imilarly u n touch e d

he i s s ur e that h e would b e happy B ut chil d r e n not
.
,

knowing that th e y a re ha v i n g an e a s y ti m e h a v e a ,

good ma n y hard ti m e s Growi n g an d l e ar n i n g a n d

.

ob e yi n g t h e rul e s o f th e i r e ld e r s or fighting again s t

,

th em ar e not e asy thi n gs to do Adol e s c e n c e i s ce r

, .

t a i nly far from a u n i formly pl e a s a n t p e riod Early .

ma nhood m ight b e t h e m os t gl orious ti m e o f all w e r e

it not that t h e s h e e r e xc e s s O f li f e and vigor g e ts a
f e llow i n to continual scrap e s O f middl e ag e t h e b e st
.

that can b e sai d i s that a middle age d p e r s o n h as lik e ly

l earn ed h ow to have a little fun in spit e O f hi s troubl e s .

It i s to old age that w e l ook for r e imburs e m e nt t h e ,

most o f us And most o f us look in vai n For t h e

. .

mo s t o f us hav e b e e n wr e nch e d a n d rack ed i n on e way

,

or anoth e r until old age i s the most tryi n g tim e o f all

, .

In the Almost Per f e ct Stat e e v e ry p e rson s hall ha v e

a t l e ast t e n years be f or e h e di e s o f e a s y car e fr e e
, ,

happy l i v in g thin g s will be s o arranged e cono mi ‘

 Th e A l m os t P e r f e c t S ta t e 4 1

cally that thi s will be pos s ibl e for e ach i n di v idual .

P e r s on ally w e lo ok forward t o an Old a g e o f di s s i

t i on and i n d ol e n c e and u n r e v e r e n d di s r e put e In
p a .

fi fty y e ars w e shall be nin e ty two y e ar s Old W e i n -

.

t e n d to work rath e r hard during th os e fi fty y e ars an d

accu m ulat e e nough to li v e on without worki n g any
mor e for t h e n e xt t e n y e ars for w e hav e d e te rmin e d
,

to d i e at t h e ag e o f on e hundr e d an d t w o .

Duri n g t h e la s t t e n y e ars w e shall indulge our s e l f

i n ma n y thi n g s that w e hav e b e e n forc e d by circu m
stanc e s to f or e go W e hav e always b e e n comp e ll e d
‘

.
,

and w e s hall b e comp e ll e d for many y e ar s to com e to ,

be prud e nt cautiou s s taid sob e r co n s e rvativ e indus

, , , , ,

t r i ou s r e s p e ct ful o f e s tablish e d i n stitutio n s a mo d e l

, ,

citiz e n We hav e not lik e d it but w e hav e b e e n unable

.
,

to e scap e it Our mi n d our l ogical faculti e s our Oh

.
, ,

s e rvation in form us that t h e con s e r v ativ e s hav e the

,

right sid e o f t h e argum e nt in all hu m an a ffairs But .

t h e p e ople whom we really pre f e r a s a s sociat e s though ,

w e do not approve their id e as a re t h e r e b e l s t h e radi , ,

cal s t h e wastr el s the vicious the poets t h e Bol s h e vists

, , , ,

t h e I dealists t h e nuts the Luci fers t h e agr e e abl e good

, , ,

for nothings th e s en timentalists t h e prophets t h e

-
, , ,

f re aks We have n e v e r dar e d to know any O f them

.
,

f ar l e s s be come intimate with th e m .

B etween the years o f ninety t w o and a hundr e d and -

t wo however w e shall be the ribald u s e l e ss dru n k e n

, , , ,
4 2 D on M a r qu i s
outcast p e rson w e have always wish e d to be We s hall .

hav e a long whit e b eard and long white hair ; w e shall

not walk at all but r e cli n e in a wh e e l ch a i r an d b e llow
,

f or alcoholic b e v e rag e s ; in t h e wi n t e r w e shall s it be

for e t h e fi r e with Ou r f e e t in a buck e t o f hot wat e r ,

with a d e cant e r O f corn whi s k e y n e ar at ha n d and writ e

,

ribald so n gs agai n st orga n iz e d soci e ty ; strapp e d to

on e arm o f our chai r will be a forty fi v e calib e r r e
-

volv e r and w e shall s hoot out t h e lights wh e n we

,

wa n t to go to s l e e p in s t e ad o f turning th e m Off wh e n
,

we want ai r w e S hall throw a silver candl e stick through

t h e front wi n dow and b e damn e d to it ; w e S hal l a d

dr e s s public m ee tings to which we hav e b ee n invited

b e caus e o f our wisdom in a v e in o f j ocund malice .

W e shall ’
but w e don t wi sh to mak e any one
e n v i ous o f t h e good time that is coming to u s we
look forward to a di s r e putabl e vigorou s unhonored
, ,

and di s ord e rly Old ag e .

( In t h e m e a n tim e ,
o f course you, und e r s tand ,
you
’
c an t ha v e u s pi n ch e d a n d d e port e d for our y e arn

ings ) .

W e s h all k n ow that the Almost P e r f e ct Stat e i s h e r e

wh e n t h e ki n d o f Old a g e e ach p e rson wants is pos s ibl e
to him O f cours e all O f you may not want t h e kind
.
,

w e want s om e o f you m a pr f e r pru n e s and

y e

morality to t h e bitt e r e nd So m e o f you may be d i s

.

solut e n ow and may look forward to be co m i n g lik e

44 D on M a r qu i s

y ou yours e l f ar e ge tting bigge r all t h e tim e A n d .

when you ov e rstrain yours e l f you a r e a s s isti n g in t h e

—
cre ation o f a n e w s e l f i f you get what w e m e an An d .

i f you should a s k us sudd e nly j u s t what thi s has to do

with the picture o f the ol d guy in t h e wh ee l chai r w e
should an s w e r : H ang e d i f we know but we s e e m e d
,

’
to sort 0 run into i t som e how , .

II
I n t e rpla n e t ary communication i s one o f the persist
e n t dr e am s O f t h e inhabitants O f this oblat e s ph e roid

on which w e m ov e br e athe and s u ffe r for lack o f b e e r

, .

Th e r e s e e m s to be a fe e ling i n m a n y quart e rs that i f

w e could g e t sp e e ch with t h e Martians le t u s s ay w e
, ,

might l e arn from th e m som e thi n g to our ad v a n tag e .

Th e r e i s a di s po s ition to co n c e d e t h e sup e riority o f t h e

f e llows Out Th e r e j u s t as so m e Am e ricans
capitulat e with out a s truggl e to po e ts from E n gla n d ,

rugs fro m Con s ta n ti n opl e so n g a n d sau s ag e fro m G e r

,

m a n y r e ligiou s e n thu s ia s ts from H i n dus t a n a n d ch e e s e

,

fro m Switz e rla n d al t hough th e y hav e not t e s t e d t h e

,

g oo d s Off e re d a n d r e ally lack t h e d i s cri m i n atio n t o d e

t e rmi n e th e i r quality Alm os t t h e o n ly fo r e ig n i m
.
~

o r t a t i on s that w e r e e v e r s n e e z e d at in thi s cou n try

p
we r e Sw e di s h match e s a n d Spani s h i nflu e n z a .

But a r e th e Marti ans i f Marti a n s th e re be

any mor e capabl e tha n t h e p e r s on s dw e lli n g b e
 Th e A l m os t P e r f e c t S ta t e 45
tw e en t h e Woolworth Building and t h e Gold e n Horn ,

be tw e e n Shw e Dago n and t h e Fir s t Church S ci e n tist , ,

in Bo s ton Mass ? P e rhaps t h e Martian s y e arn to

,
.

ward e arth ro m antically po e tically t h e R o m e os sw ea r

, , ,

i ng by its light to t h e Juli e ts ; t h e id e ali s ts and p h ilos o

p h e rs fabl ing that alr e ady th e r e e xi s t s upon it a n

ALM OST PE R F E C T S TATE— and now and th e n a wan

pr oph e t li fti n g h i s h e art to its gl e a m s a s a cup to b e ,

fill e d from H e av e n with fr e s h wat e r s o f ho p e and

courage For this e arth it i s al s o a s ta r
.
, .

W e know th e y a r e wro n g about u s t h e lov e rs i n ,

t h e far stars t h e philosoph e r s po e t s t h e proph e ts

, , ,

or ar e th e y wrong ?

Th e y a r e both right an d wro n g a s w e a re proba bly

,

both right a n d wro n g about th e m I f w e tu m bl e d into

.

Mar s or Arcturu s or S iriu s this e v e ni n g w e s hould fi n d

t h e p e opl e th e r e di s cu s sing t h e S himmy t h e j a zz t h e , ,

inco n s ta n cy o f cooks a n d t h e i n iquity o f r e t a il butch e rs ,

n o doubt a n d th e y would b e e qually di s appo int e d

by t h e way w e fl i t t e r f r i v ol flutt e r and fl i v v e r

, , .

And y et that oth e r thin g would be th e r e too

,

that thi n g that mad e th e m look at our star a s a s ym

bol o f grace and b e auty .

M e n could not think o f T H E ALM OS T PE R F E C T S TAT E

i f th e y did not h ave it in them ultimat e ly to cre at e T H E
ALM OS T PE R FE C T S TATE .

W e us e d som e tim e s t o walk ov e r t h e B r ooklyn

46 D on M a r qu i s
Bri dg e that so n g in ston e and st ee l o f an e ngine e r who
,

w a s also a gr e at artist at d usk when the tid e s o f

, ,

shadow flood in from t h e low e r bay to br e ak in a

surf o f glory and myst e ry an d ill u sion against the tall
tow e rs o f Ma n hattan S ee n from t h e mid d l e arch o f
.

t h e b ridg e at twilight Ne w York with its girdl e O f

,

shi fting wat e rs a n d its dri ft o f purpl e cloud and i t s

quick pul sation s o f unstable light i s a miracle o f
S pl e ndor and b e auty that lights up th e heart lik e the
l aught e r O f a god .

But d e sc e nd Go down into th e city Mingl e with

, . .

“ ”
the d e tails T h e dirty Old sh e d from which t h e L
.

train s and troll e ys put out with th e ir j amm e d an d

ma ngl e d thousands for flatt e s t Flatbush and t h e u n
k n own bourn e o f ult e rior Brooklyn i s still t h e same
dirty Old s h e d ; on a hot damp night t h e pasty str e e ts
,

’
sti n k like a pape rhang e r s ov e ralls ; you are trodd e n
and ov e r ridd en by gr e a s y littl e p r ofit e e r s an d th e ir
-

hoppin g victi m s ; you are e ncompass e d rou n d a bout by

t h e ugly and t h e sordid and the Obj e ction abl e i s ex
,

u d e d upon you from a myriad ca n d id por e s ; your

e lation and your illusio n vani s h lik e i n g e n uou s snow

flak e s that hav e ki s s e d a hot dog sa n dwich on its fi e ry

“
bro w a d you s ay :
n —
B e auty ? A w h l ! What s ‘ ’
, ,

”
t h e u se ?

And yet you hav e se e n b e auty And be auty that w a s

.

cr e at e d by th e se p e opl e and p e opl e lik e th e s e You .

 Th e A l m os t P e r f e c t S ta t e 47
have s e e n th e tall towers o f Manhattan wonderful ,

u n d e r t h e s tar s How did it com e about that such

.

gr owths c am e from s uch soil that a bre e d l awl e ss

—

and s ordid an d prosaic h as writt e n s uch a mighty hi e ro

glyphic again s t t h e S ky This glam or out O f a p igsty
?

h ow co m e ? H ow i s it that thi s hid e ous hal f ,

brute city is al s o b eauti ful and a fit habitation f or

d e mi god s ? HOW com e ?
-

It com e s a bout b e caus e the wise and subtl e d e ities

p e rmit nothin g worthy to be l ost It was with no
.

thought o f beauty th a t t h e build e rs labo r e d ; no con

scious thought ; th e y w e re m a s t e rs or slav e s i n t h e bitt e r
wars o f comm e rc e an d th e y n e v e r s a w as a whole
,

what th e y w e r e making ; no on e O f th e m did B ut e ach .

on e had h a d his dr e am . A n d t h e ba ffle d dr e ams and

t h e brok e n vi s ions and the rui n e d hop e s a n d t h e secr e t

de s ir e s o f e ach on e labor e d w ith him as h e labor e d ;

th e things th a t w e r e lost and be at e n and tra m pl e d

down w e nt into th e s ton e and st ee l and gav e it soul

the a s piration d e ni e d and t h e h ope a bandon e d and the
vi sion d e f e ate d w e r e t h e thing s th a t liv e d a n d not the
,

appar e n t purpos e for which e ach on e o f all t h e millions

sw e at and toil e d or ch e at e d ; the hidd e n thi n gs the ,

sil e nt thing s t h e wing e d things S O w e ak th e y a re

, ,

e asily kill e d, t h e unack n owl e dge d thi n gs t h e r e j e ct e d

,

be auty t h e s trangl e d a p pr e ciati on t h e inchoat e art t h e

, , ,

submer ged s pirit— these grop e d and found e ach other

4 8 D on Ma r qu i s
and gath e r e d th e m s e l v e s tog e th e r an d work e d th e m
s e l v e s i n to t h e til e s an d mortar o f t h e e dific e an d m ad e
a town that i s a worthy f e llow o f t h e s unri s e a n d t h e
s e a wi n d s .

Huma n ity triu m ph s o v e r i t s d e tails .

T h e i n di v idu al a s pirati on i s al w ay s d e f e at e d O f its

p e r f e ct fruition a n d e xpr e s s ion but it i s n e v e r lo s t ;
,

it pa s s e s i n to t h e co n glom e rat e be i n g O f t h e rac e .

T h e way to e nc ourag e y ours e l f about t h e hu m an

rac e is to lo ok at it fir s t from a di s ta n c e ; look at t h e
lights on t h e high s pots . Com i n g clos e r you will
,

be pro fou n d ly d i s coura ge d at t h e num b e r o f low s pots ,

not to s ay two s p ot s Comi n g still cl os e r you will

-
.
,

b e com e di s courage d onc e mor e by t h e r e fl e ction that

t h e s a m e s tu ff that i s in the high sp ots i s al so in the

two spots
-
.
 T H E M AN O WA R S -
’
-
’ ’
ER
’
U S BA ND ”

By D AV I D W B ONE .

T h os e w h o u nd e r s t an d s om e t hi n g of a s a il or s f e e li n g for h is ’

s hip will a ppr e c i a t e t h e r e s t r a i n t wi t h whi c h Ca p t ai n B on e d e

s c rib e t h e l o s o f t h e Ca m e r on i a h i s c omm a n d t o rp e d oe d i n
s s , ,

t h e M e d i t e rr a n e a n d ur i n g t h e W r Y ou will n ot i c e ( f o rgive
a .

u s for p oi n t i n g ou t t h e s e t hi n g s ) h ow q ui e t ly t h e q u ot e d t i t l e
p ay s t ribu t e t o t h e g a ll a n t ry of t h e d e s t r oy e r s t h a t s t ood by t h e
s i n k i n g s h ip ; a n d t h e h e r o i s m o f t h e c hi e f offi c e r s d e a t h i s n ot
’

l e s s m ovi n g b e c a u s e t ol d i n t w o s n t e n c e s T hi s s up e rb pi ct ure
e .

O f a s e a t r a g e d y i s t a k e n f r om M e c h a n t m e n t—
A r m s a hi s t o ry
r -
a ,

O f t h e B ri t i s h M e r c h a n t s S e rvi c e d uri n g t h e W a r ; a b ook o f

’

e n t hr a lli n g p ow e r a n d t ru t h illu s t rat e d by t h e a ut h or s br ot h e r ’

, ,

M uirh e a d Bon e on e of t h e gr e a t e s t of livi n g e t c h e r s

, .

D avi d W i lli a m B on e w a s b o r n i n P a r t i c k ( n e a r G l a s gow )

i n 1 8 7 3 ; h i s f a t h e r w a s a w e ll k n ow n G l a s g ow j o ur n a l i s t ; h i s
-

g r ea t g ra n d f a t h e r w a s a b oyh ood c om p a n i on o f R ob e r t B u rn s
-
.

B on e w ent t o s e a a s a n a ppr e n t i c e i n t h e Ci ty of F lor e n c e an ,

o l d t i m e s q u a r e rigg e r
-
a t t h e a g e of fi f t e e n ; h e h a s b e e n at
-
,

s ea e e r s i nc e
v H e i s n ow m a s t e r o f S S C ol m bi a o f t h e
. . u
A n c h o r L i n e a w e ll k n ow n s hip i n Ne w Y ork H a rb or a s s h e
,
-
,

h a s c a rri e d p a s s e n g e r s b e t w e e n t h e C ly d e a n d t h e H u d s on for
m or e t h a n t we n t y y e a r s Ca p t a i n B on e s fi n e s e a t a l e Th e B a s s
’
.
, r
b o n d r publi s h e d i n 1 9 1 0 h a s b e c om e a c l a i c o f t h e s q u a r e
u e , ,
ss
s a il e a ; h i s B oke n S t ow ag e ( 1 9 1 5 ) i s a c oll
r r t i on o f s h or t e r ec
s ea sk e t c h e s I n t h e l on g r oll o f gr e a t w ri t e r s w h o h ave r e
.

fl e c t e d t h e s i m pli c i t y a n d s eve ri t y o f s e a li f e Ca p t a i n Bone ,

will t a k e a p e r m a n e n t a n d h on o r abl e pl a c e .

A S EN S E o f security i s di ffi cult o f d e fi n ition Largely .

,

i t i s found e d upon habit and ass ociation It i s induced .

an d mai n tain e d by familiar surrou n di n gs On board .

shi p in a small worl d o f our own w e s e em to be

, ,

c ontained by t h e bounda r i e s O f t h e bulwarks to be ,

s ailin g b e yond t h e in fl uenc e s of th e land and o f other

s hips The s ea i s the same we have known f or s o

.

49
5 0 D a v i d W B one .

lon g Ev e ry it e m o f our ship fi t men t— the trim ar

.

rang e m ent o f t h e decks the s e t and rake o f ma s t and

,

funn e l e v e n t h e furnishing s O f our cabin s— h a s the

,

pow e r o f impres s ing a stable f ee li n g o f custom nor ,

mal ship li f e s a f e ty It r e quir e s an e ffort o f thought

, .

to r e call that in th e i r hom ely pr e s e nc e w e a re e ndan

g e red R elati .n g hi s exp e ri e nc e s a ft e r ha v i n g b ee n

mi ne d and h i s ship su n k a ma s t e r confid e d that the

,

point that impr e s s e d him most d e e ply was wh e n h e

w e nt to h i s room for th e confid e ntial pap e rs and saw
—
th e cabin e xactly i n ev e ryday a s p e ct his long s hore
cloth e s susp e n d e d from the hook s his umbrella s tand ,

i ng i n a corn er as h e had placed it on coming aboard .

Soldi e rs on s e rvic e a r e d e ni e d this aid to assur

ance Un like us th e y can n ot carry th e ir hom e with
.
,

th e m to t h e battl e fi e lds All th e i r sc e nes and s u r

.

rounding s a r e nov e l ; th e y may only draw a r e lianc e

and com fort from th e familiar pr e s e nc e o f th e i r com
rad e s At s e a in a s hip th e r e i s a ye t gr e at e r incit e
.

m e nt to th e i r d isqui et Th e mov e m e nt t h e limitl e s s

.
,

s ea , t h e d istanc e f r om t h e land cannot b e ig n or e d

, .

T h e atmo s ph e r e that i s s o fa m iliar a n d com forting

to us i s to many o f th e m an e nvi ronm e nt O f dr e ad
,

possibiliti e s .

It i s with s om e s mall m e asur e o f this s e ns e o f s e cu

rity t e m p e r e d by ou r k n owl e dg e O f e n e m y activity
—

i n th e s e wat e r s — w e pac e t h e bri d g e An x i e ty i s not

.
5 2 D a v i d JV B on e
.

The upthrow co m e s s wi ftly on t h e mom e nt o f i m

pact H atch e s coal a hug e c olu m n o f s olid wat e r go
.
, ,

S kywar d in a hurtli n g mas s to fall i n torr e n t on t h e

bridg e Part O f a huma n body s trik e s t h e aw n i n g
.

spar and ha g
s n s — watch k ee p e rs a r e bor n e t o t h e d e ck
-

by t h e w e ight o f wat e r — t h e s t e e r s m an fall s li m ply

o v e r t h e wh e e l wi t h bl ood pouri n g fr om a ga sh on his

for e h e ad . Th e n sil e n c e for a s tu nn e d hal f m inut e -
,

wi t h o nly t h e thru s t o f t h e engin e s marki n g t h e h e art

b eats O f the strick e n ship .

Uproar ! Mo s t o f our m en ar e youn g recruits

th e y hav e b e e n but two days on t h e s e a T h e tor .

p e do has gon e hard ho m e at th e v e ry w e ak e s t hou r

o f our cal culat e d drill T h e troops a re at th e i r e v e n
.

ing m e al wh e n t h e blow co m e s t h e e xplo s ion killing

,

man y outright W e had count e d on a prop ortio n o f

.

t h e troops b e i n g on t h e d e ck a st e adying n umb e r to

,

balanc e t h e s u d d e n ru s h fro m b elow that we for e s aw

in e m e rg e n cy Hurrying from t h e m e ss d e cks as e n
.
-

n e d t h e quick m o v e m e n t gath e rs way and intensity

j oi ,

the d e cks b eco m e j a mm e d by t h e pr e s s ur e t h e gang ,

way s and pas s ag e s a r e block e d i n t h e struggl e Th e re .

“
is t h e m aki g o f a pa ic tu e d by th e i r outcry G od
n n — n !
,

”
0 G o d ! 0 Ch r i s t ! T h e s w e lli n g murmur i s n e i th e r
excit e d nor agoniz e d rath e r th e dull hop e l e ss e xpr e s
—
,

sio n o f d e s pai r .

The o ffi c e r commandin g troop s has come on the

 “ '”
Th e M
’ ’
Us ba n a
’ ’
an o
- -
Wa r s Er 53
bridge at th e first alarm H is j uniors hav e op p or
.

t un it y to tak e th e ir statio n s b e fore the stru g gling mass

re aches to t h e boats Th e impossibility Of g e tti n g

.

amon g t h e m e n on t h e low e r d e cks makes the mili

tary Offi c e r s e ffort s t o r e stor e confid e nc e di ffi cult
’
.

Th e y a r e aid e d f rom an un e xpe ct e d quart e r Th e .

bri d g e boy mak e s unofficial u s e o f our m e gaphon e

-
.

H e y ! St e ady up you m e n doon t h e r r h e shouts ,

.

Y e ll no d a e ony guid fur ye r s el s c r ood i n t h le d

’ ’ ’ ’

”
d e rs !
W e could not have don e it as w ell The lad is .

plainly i n sight to t h e crowd on t h e d e cks A small .

“ ”
boy und e rsiz e d
, St e ady up doon t h e r r ! The e ffect
.

is i n stant Nois e ther e still i s but t h e mov e m e nt is

.
,

arr e s te d .

Th e e ngines are st opp e d w e a re now b e yond ran g e

-

o f a second torp e do and ste am thu n d e rs in e xhaust

—
,

maki n g our e ffort s to control mov e m e nts by voice i m

p os sibl e At t h e moment O f the impact t h e d e s troy e rs
.

have swung round and are casting h e re and there

like ho unds on the scent : the dull e xplosion o f a
d pth charg
e -
e — th e n anoth e r rous e s a fi e rc e hop e that
,

w e are n ot unav e nge d Th e force O f t h e e xplo s ion h as

.

brok e n conn e ctions to t h e wir e l e ss room but t h e a e rial ,

still holds and when a m e asur e of ord e r on the boat

,
-

d e ck allows w e s e nd a m e ssage o f our p e ril broadcast

, .

Th e r e i s no doubt in our minds O f t h e outcom e Our .

54 Dav i d W . B on e

bows droopin g visibly t e ll that w e s hall not float lon g

, ,
.

W e hav e n e arly thr e e thousa n d on board Th e re are .

—
boats for sixt e e n hundr e d th e n ra fts Boats ra fts — .

—and the gla s s i s falli n g at a rat e that shows bad

w e ath e r ov e r t h e w e st e rn horizon !
Our drill that provid e d for low e ring the boats with
,

o n ly hal f compl e m e nts i n th e m will not s e rv e We

-
,
.

pa s s ord e r s to low e r awa y in any conditi on how e v e r ,

ov e rcrowd e d The way is Off t h e ship and it i s with

.
,

som e appr e h e nsion we watch t h e pack e d boats that

d rop away from t h e davi t h e ads T h e shrill ri n g o f
.

t h e block sh e aves indicat e s a t e n s ion that i s n ot far

-

from br e aki n g point Many o f t h e li f e boat s r e ach

-
.
-

t h e wat e r s a f e ly with th e i r h e avy burd e n s but t h e ,

h —
strain on t e tackl e s far b e yond th e i r working load
— i s too gr e at for all to stand to it T w o boat s go.

down by t h e run Th e m e n in them are throw n vio

.

le n t ly to t h e wat e r wh e r e they float in t h e wa s h a n d

,

s hatt e r e d planking A third dangl e s from t h e a ft e r

.

fall having S hot h e r ma nn i n g out at parti n g o f t h e

,

forward tac kl e Low e r e d by t h e st e rn s h e rights

.
, ,

di s e ngag e s and dri ft s a ft with t h e m e n cli ngi n g to

,

t h e l i f e lines
-
We can m ak e n o att e mpt to r e ach t h e
.

me n in t h e wat e r Th e ir li f e b e lt s a r e su ffi c i e n t to
.
-

k ee p th e m a ffoat : t h e s hip i s goi n g down rapidly by

t h e h e ad a n d th e r e r e mai n s t h e s e co n d li n e o f b oat s
,

to b e hoi st e d and s w u n g o v e r Th e chi e f o ffi c e r paus

.
,
 “ ”
Th e M a n Us ba n d
’ ’ ’
Er
’
-
o -
Wa i s
55
i ng in hi s q uick work looks to the bridg e in quirin g l y
, ,

“ ”
as though t o ask How lon g ,
? The fi ngers Of t wo
hands su ffi c e to mark our estimate .

The d e cks are n ow an g led to th e deep e ning pitch

o f t h e bows Pump s are utterl y inade quat e to mak e
.

impression on the swi ft inflow The chi e f e nginee r .

comes to the bridge with a hopeless report It is onl y .

a qu e s tion o f tim e How lon g ? Alr e ady the water

.

i s lapping at a lev e l o f the fored e ck Troops mass e d .

ther e and on t h e f orecastle head are appr e h e nsive : it -

is ind e e d a wond e r that th e ir o ffi cers have h e ld them for

so long T h e commanding Offi cer s e ts e xampl e by a
.

cool nonchalanc e that we envy Post e d with us on the .

bridg e hi s q uick e yes note the fl ood surgin g in th e

,

pent tw ee n d e cks b elow f rom which his m e n hav e

’
-
,

r e mov e d t h e fe w wounded The d e ad are l e ft to the .

sea .

H el p com e s as we had expected it would Le aving .

N e mes i s to st e am fast circles round the sinking

s hip R i fle m an swings i n and brings up alongsid e
,

at t h e forward end Ev e n i n our fear and anxiety

.

and distr e s s w e cannot but admire t he pr e cision O f

,

h — ’
t e d e stroy e r captai n s man oeuv e r the skil ful avoid
anc e o f our crowded li f e boats and t he m e n in t h e -

wa t er t h e sudd e n stoppage o f h e r way and t h e cant

—

that bri n g s h e r to a standstill at t h e lip o f our brim

ming d e cks T h e troops who hav e stood s o W ell t o
.
5 6 D a v i d W B on e .

ord e rs hav e thei r r e ward in a n ea s y l e ap to sa f e ty .

Qu ickly t h e for e d e ck i s cl e ar e d Ri fle man spurts .

ah e ad in a rush that s e ts t h e surroundi n g li f e boats to -

eddy in h e r wash S he tak e s up t h e circling high

.

sp e e d patrol an d allows h e r sist e r ship to swing in

and em bark a numb e r o f our me n
- .

It i s wh e n t he most o f t h e li f e b oats are g one we -

re aliz e fully the gallant s e rvic e o f t h e d e s troy e rs Th e re .

r emai n t h e ra fts but many o f thes e hav e b e e n launch e d

,

ov e r to aid t h e strugglin g m e n in t h e wat e r H al f .

an hour has pas s ed since w e w e r e s truck thirty min

—

u t e s o f fra n ti c e nd e avor to d e bark our m e n — e t

y
still t h e d e cks are thronge d by a pack e d ma s s that
s e e ms but littl e r e duc e d The coming o f th e d e stroyers
.

alt e rs the outlook R i fle ma n s action has tak e n ov e r

’
.

six hundr e d A se n sibl e cl e arance ! Ne mes i s swings

.
'

in with t h e precision o f an expr e ss and t h e thud and ,

clatt e r o f t h e troops j umping to h e r d e ck s e ts up a

continuous drumming not e o f del iveranc e Al e rt an d .

co nfid e nt the naval men accept t h e gr e at risks o f their

,

’
po s ition The shi p s bow s are e nte r e d to the wat e r
.

at a ste e p inclin e Every minut e the balanc e i s w e igh

.

i ng casting h e r stern high in t h e ai r T h e bulkheads

, .

a re by n ow taking plac e o f k e el and b e aring t h e huge

weight o f her on the water At an y mom e nt sh e may

.

g o with out a warnin g t o crash into

, t h e light hull o f
t h e d e s troy e r and he a r h e r down Fo r all the ci rcling
.
 “ ”
Th e M
’
Us b a n d
’ ’ ’
an o - -
Wa r s Er 57
watch O f h e r S ist e r ship t h e submarin ,
i i still he e —

l iv e s— may g et i n a shot at t h e standing targ e t It is .

with a d e e p r eli e f w e signal t h e captain to b e ar Off .

He r d e cks a r e j ammed to t h e l imit S h e can carry .

n o m or e N e mes i s list s h e a v ily und e r her burden e d

.

d e cks a s s h e go e s ah e ad and cl e ars .

F orty minut e s ! T h e zigzag clock in the whe e l

hou s e go e s on ri n ging t h e angl e s o f tim e and course
as though w e w e re ye t und e r h e lm and s p e e d F or .

a short t e rm w e hav e n ote d that t h e ship appears to

hav e r e ach e d a point o f arrest i n h e r foun de ring
droop S h e r e mains u p right as s h e has b e e n s inc e
.

righti n g h e rs e l f a ft e r t h e first inru s h o f wat e r Lik e .

t h e lady s h e al ways was she has add e d no f e arsome

,

list to t h e s um o f our distr e ss The fa m iliar bridge .

,

on wh ich s o many o f our sa f e s e a days hav e b e e n -

sp e nt i s cant e d at an angl e that mak e s foothold un

,

ea s y She cannot remain f or lon g afloat The end

. .

will come swi ftl y without warning— a sudd e n rup

,

ture o f the bulkh ead that i s sustainin g h e r w e ight .

W e are not n ow m an y l e ft on board Striving and .

w re nching to man h andl e the only r e maini ng boat

-

r end e r e d idl e f or want o f the tackl e s that hav e parted

—
on servic e o f its twin w e succeed in pointin g her
outboard and await a f urther d e ep e ning o f the bows
,

e re launching h e r .O f t h e military the Officer com ~

,

manding som e fe w o f hi s j uniors a group o f oth er

, ,
5 8 D a v i d W B on e .

ranks stand by The s e nior Offic e rs o f t h e ship a

, .
,

muster o f s e am e n a fe w st e wards are band e d with

, ,

us at t h e last We exp e ct no further s e rvice o f the

.

d e stroyer s Th e p osition o f the ship is ov e r m e nac

.
-

ing to any approach They ha v e all they can carry

. .

Steami n g at a S hort dista nce they ha v e the app e ar

ance o f b e i n g heavily overloaded ; each has a s tagge r
i ng li s t and li e s low i n the wate r und e r th e i r d e ck
encumbra n c e W e have onl y the hazard o f a qui ck
.

out throw o f t h e r e mainin g boat and t h e chanc e s o f a

-

grip on floating wr e ckage to cou n t upo n .

On a sudd e n swi ft S h e er Ri fle m an tak e s the risk

, .

Unh e e ding our warning hail s h e st e a m s across the ,

bows and backs at a high sp ee d : h e r rou n d e d s t e rn

j ars on ou r hull plat e s a whal e r and t h e da v its catch
,

on a proj e ction and giv e with t h e rin g o f buckling

st e e l S h e turns on t h e throw O f t h e prop e ll e rs a n d
—

clos e s aboard with a r e sounding impact that s e ts h e r

livi n g d e ck load to s tagg e r
-
.

W e lo s e n o tim e Scra m bli n g down t h e li fe rop e s

.
-
,

our small co m pany e n d e avor s to g et foothold on h e r

d e cks . T h e d e stroy e r wid e n s Off at t h e r e bou n d but ,

by clutch o f fri e n dly ha n d s t h e m e n a r e d r agge d

aboard On e fails to r e ach s a f e ty A s ol d i e r lo s e s
. .

grip a n d goe s to t h e wat e r The chi e f o ffic e r f ollows

.

him Tir e d a nd u n stru n g as he mu s t b e by t h e d e

.

vot e d labors O f t h e last hal f hour h e is i n n o con -

.
 TH E MA R KET

By W ILLIAM M C F EE

W ill i am M c Fe e s ’
nam e i a t e d w i t h t h e s e a b ut i n h i s
i s a s s oc ,

w ri t i n g h e t r e a t s t h e li f e hip a n d s il o r s m o r e s a b a c k
of s s a a

g r ou d t h a n a s t h e e s s e n t i a l s ub s t n e o f h i s t a l e
n a I h v e c h os e n
c . a

t h i s bri e f a n d c ol o r f ul li t t l e s k e t c h t o r e pr e e n t h i s t a l e n t b e s

ca u s e i t i d i ffe r e n t f r om t h e w ork wi t h whi c h m ost o f h i r e a d e r s

s s

a e f a m ili a r a n d b e c a u s e i t r e pr e s e n t s a m ood v e ry c h a r a c t e ri s t i c
r ,

O f h i m— a n i m a gi n a t ive a n d ob s e rva n t t re a t m e n t o f t h e w o rki n g s

of c o m m e r ce H i i n t e r e s t i n f rui t i s i nt i ma t e a s h e h a b e n
. s , s e

for s om e y e r s a n e n gi n e e r i n t h e s e a s e r v i c e o f t h e U n i t e d
a

F rui t Com p n y wi t h a M e d i t e rr a n e n i nt e r i m— e fl e c t e d i n m u ch
a , a r
O f hi s r e c n t w eri t i n g — d uri n g t h e W a r .

T h e publi a t i on o f M c Fe e s Cas a ls of t h e S e a i n 1 9 1 6 w a s
’
c u
s om e t hi n g o f a n e v e n t i n t h e w o rl d o f b ook s a n d i t r od u c e d t o ,
n

t h e r e a d i n g w o rl d a n e w wri t e r o f u n q u s t i on a bl e s t r e n g t h a n d e
s ub t l e t y . Hi s e a rli e r b ook s A n Oc e n T m p a n d A l i n s ( b ot h
, a ra e
r e publi s h e d s i n c e ) h a d g on e l m os t u n not i c e d— whi c h i t i s s a f e
, a ,

t o s a y will n ot h a pp e n
, g a i n t o an y t hi n g h e c a r e s t o publi s h
a .

Hi l at e r b ook s a r e C p t a i n M a c e d oi n e s D g h t r H a b ou s of
’
s a au e ,
r r

M e m o y a n d A n E ng i e e s N ot e b ook He w a s b o r n a t s e a i n
’
r ,
n r .

1 88 1 , t h e s on o f a s e a c a p t a i n ; gr e w u p i n a n or t h e r n s uburb
o f L on d on s e rve d h i s a ppr e n t i c e s hip i n a big e n gi n e e ri n g s h op
, ,

a n d h a s b e e n i n s hip s m os t o f t h e t i m e s i n c e 1 9 0 5 .

T H E R E i s a sharp imp e rativ e rap on my out e r d oor ;

,

a rap h a v i n g within its i n sist e nt urge n cy a s had ow o f

d elicat e d i ffi d e n ce as though t h e p e r s on r e sp on s ibl e
,

w e r e a trifl e s car e d o f t h e p e r form a n c e an d on tiptoe

t o run away I roll ov e r and r e gar d th e clock Four
. .

forty On e o f t h e dubious b y product s o f co n tinuous

.
-

s e r v ic e as a s e nior a s si stant at s ea i s t h e habit o f

waking automatically about 4 A M Thi s giv e s one s ev . .

’
eral hours wh e n ashor e to m e ditat e upon one s sins
, , .

60
 Th e Ma r k e t 61

frailti e s and ( mor e rar ely ) triumphs and virtues

, .

For a man who g e ts up at say four thirty i s r e gard e d

-

with av e rsion a s hore H is fa m ily e xpr e s s th e m s e lves

.

w ith supe rfluous vigor He must lie still a n d med

.

i t a t e or su ffe r t h e ignominy o f b e ing ask e d when he

,

i s g oi n g away again .

B ut thi s morning i n th es e Old Cha m b e rs in an

,

anci e nt Inn buri e d in t h e h e art o f London City I ,

ha v e agr e e d to g et up and go out T h e r e ason for .

thi s mo m e n tou s d e partur e from a li f e O f t e mpo rary

“
but d e l ib e rat e indol e n c e is a la d y Ch e rch e z la
.

”
f e mm e a s t h e Fr e nch s ay with t h e dry animosity o f
,

a logical rac e W e ll s h e i s not far to s e e k b e ing

.
, ,

on the out s id e o f my h e avy oak door tappi n g as al , ,

ready hinted with a s harp insi s t e nt d e licacy T O

, .

this ro m antic s um m ons I r e ply with an articulate growl

o f acqui e s c e nc e and proc e e d to g e t r e ady
,
To r e liev e
.

t h e anxi e ty o f an y r e ader who imagi n e s an im pe nd

ing e lop e m e n t it may be stat e d in succinct truth fuln e ss

that w e a r e bound on no such d e sp e r a t e v e ntur e W e .

a r e going round t h e corn e r a fe w blocks up t h e Strand ,

to Cov en t Gard e n Mark e t to s ee th e arrival o f the

,

m e tropolitan supply o f p roduc e .

Havi n g acco m pl i s h e d a ha s ty toilet almost as prim

,

i t i ve as th a t favor e d by g e ntl e m e n arous e d to go on

w atch and pl a cating an occasional r e petition o f the
,

t apping by bri e f protests and reports o f pro g ress I ,

62 W i ll i a m M c F e e
take hat and c a n e a n d drawi n g t h e hug e antiqu e bolts
,

O f m y d oor d i s cov e r a you n g wo m a n s t a n d i n g by the

,

win d o w looki n g ou t upo n t h e qua d ra n gl e O f t h e Old

I nn . S h e i s a v e ry d e ci d e d you n g w om a n who i s ,

“ ”
conti nually t hi nki n g out what s h e calls stu n t s for
articl e s in t h e pr e s s That i s h e r pro f e s sio n or on e
.
,

o f h e r pro f e s s i on s— wri t i n g ar t icl e s for t h e p r e s s .

Th e oth e r pr o f e s s io n i s s e lli n g ma n u s c r ip t s wh ich c on

,

s t i t u t e s t h e t e nd e r bo n d b e tw e e n u s For t h e u s ual
.

age n t s c om m i s s io n s h e i s s e lli n g on e O f my ma n u
’

scripts B e i n g a n u n attach e d a n d as it w e r e u np r o
.
, ,

t e c t e d m al e s h e pla n s littl e e xcursi on s about Lo n don

,

to k e e p m e i n s truct e d an d e n t e rt ain e d H e r e S h e i s
.

a t ti r e d i n t h e fl a m boyant fi n e ry O f a Lo n do n fl ow e r
girl S h e i s about to g e t t h e n e c e s s a r y copy for a
.

sp e c ial a r t i cl e i n a m or n i n g pap e r Wi t h t h e e x ce p
.

tion o f a c e r tai n e xp e cta n t fla s h o f h e r b r ight bl a ck

I r i s h e y e s s h e i s e n ti r e ly bu s i n e s s lik e C om m e n ti n g
, .

on t h e b e a uty o f an e a r ly su m m e r m or n i n g i n tow n ,

w e d e s c e n d a n d pa s s ing ou t u n d e r t h e p on d e rou s a n
,

c i e n t ar c hway w e m ak e our l e i s ur e ly p r ogr e s s w e s t

,

war d d ow n t h e St r an d .

Lo nd on i s alw ay s b e auti ful t o th os e who lo v e a n d

u n d e r s ta n d t ha t e xtra or d i n a ry m ic r oc os m ; but at fi ve
o f a s u m m e r m o r n i n g t h e r e i s ab out h e r a n e xqui s ite
quality o f y ou t h ful fragr a n c e a n d ( le bon a i r fr e s h n e s s
which go e s to t h e h e a rt Th e n e wly h os e d s tr e e t s a r e
.
-
 Th e M a r k e t 63
shining in the sunlight as though paved wit h patines
”
O f bright gold Early buses rumble by from neigh
.
’

boring barns wh e re the y have S p e nt the night And .

,

a s we n e ar t h e n e w Gaiet y Th e atre thrusting forward ,

i nto t h e great rive rs o f traffi c soon to pour round its

bas e like som e b old Byzantin e promontory we s ee ,

Waterloo Bridge throng e d with wagons piled high , .

F rom all q uart e r s th e y are coming past Charing Cross ,

t h e gr e at w ains a r e arriving from Paddi n gton T e r

mi n al from t h e mark e t g ard e n s e ction o f M iddlesex

,
-

and Surr e y D ow n Wellin g ton S tr e e t com e carts

.

lad e n with v e ge tabl e s from B r e ntwood and Cog g e

shall and n e at vans pack e d w ith crate s o f wat e rcress
,

which grows in t h e lush lowlands o f S uffolk and Cam

b r i dg e s h i r e and b e hi n d us are thu n d e ring hug e four
,

hors e v e h icl e s from t h e dock s v ehicl e s w ith p e aches

,

from S outh A frica potato e s from t h e Ca n ary Islands

, ,

Onions from Fra n c e appl e s from Cali for n ia oran g es

, ,

f rom t h e W e s t Indi e s pin e appl e s fr om C e ntral

,

Am e rica grap e s fro m Spain and bananas from

,

C olombia .

W e turn i n und e r an archway b e hi n d a th e atre

and adj ac e nt to t h e s tag e door of the Op e ra House
-
.

Th e booth s a r e rapi d ly filling w ith produc e G e n tle .

m e n in lo n g alpaca coats and carryi n g formidable

mar bl e d n ot e books walk about with an important
-

ai r A mountai n rang e o f pu m pkins ris e s b e hind a

.
64 W i ll i a m M cF e e
hill o f cabbag e s F e stoons O f o n ions a r e being s us
.

p e n d e d from rails T h e h e ads o f barr e l s a re be i n g

.

k n ock e d in d isclo s ing purpl e grap e s buri e d i n c ork

,

dust P e ars and figs grown un d e r gla s s for w e althy

.
,

patrons r epos e i n so ft tissu e lin e d box e s A brok e n

,
-
.

crat e o f tang e rin e orang e s h a s s pill e d i t s co n t e n t s in

a s pla s h o f ruddy gold on t h e pl ank runway A .

wag on i s d riv e n in a h e a v y load O f b e et s an d the

, ,

bro a d wh e e ls cru s h through t h e s o ft fruit s o that t h e

ai r i s h e a v y with t h e acrid s w e e t n e ss .

W e pick our way a m o n g t h e bo oth s a n d s talls until

w e find t h e flow e r s H e r e i s a crow d O f la d i e s you n g
.
, ,

5 0 5 0 a n d s om e quit e m atro n ly
- a n d all dr e s s e d in
,

this sam e fla m boyant fi n e ry o f which I hav e s pok e n .

Th e y a r e group e d about an almo s t o v e rpow e ri n g ma s s

o f blooms R o se s j u st n ow pr e domi n at e Th e r e i s
. .

a satis fyin g solidity a bout t h e bunch e s a glorious ,

abundance which i n a commodity s o e asily e nj oye d

,

without ow n e r s hip i s scarc e ly cr e dibl e

,
I f e e l no .

d e sir e to own th e s e huge aggr e gations o f Odorous

be auty It would be like owning a har e m one i mag
.
,

in e s Viol ets solid patches o f vivid bl u e in round

.
,

bask e ts e glantin e i n dainty box e s provid e a foil to

, ,

t h e maj e stic b lazonry o f t h e roses a n d t h e d e w

S pangl e d for e st o f maid e n hai r f e rn n e ar by-

.

“ ”
And what a e thos e thi n g s at all
r ? d e mands my
companion d i v e rt e d f or a mom e nt from t h e fl ow e rs
, .
 Th e Ma r k e t 65

S he nods towards a ma ss o f dull gre en a ffairs pil ed

-

on mats or b e in g li ft e d from big vans She i s a

.

C ockney and displ ays surprise when s h e i s told those

things a re bananas S h e shrugs and turns again to
.

t h e mu s k ros e s and forge ts

-
, . But to m e as t h e harsh
, ,

p e n e trating odor o f t h e gr e en fruit cuts acro s s t h e

h e a v y p e r fu m e o f t h e flow e rs com e s a pictur e o f the
,

farms i n distant Colombia or p e rhaps Cost a R ica .

Th e r e i s nothi n g lik e an odor to stir m e mori e s I s ee .

t h e timb e r pi e r and t h e long l in e o f rack e ty open

slatte d cars j a n gling into t h e dark s h e d push e d by a ,

noi sy squ e aling loco m oti v e

, .I s e e the boys lying
asl ee p b e tw e e n shi ft s th e i r e n ormou s s traw hats c ov
,

ering thei r fac e s a s th e y sprawl In t h e di s ta n ce rise

.

the blue mountains ; b e hind is the motio n l e s s blu e s ea .

I hear the whin e o f t h e e l e vators the monotonous ,

click o f t h e counte rs t h e harsh cri e s o f irr e s ponsible

,

and argum e ntati v e nativ e s . I f e e l t h e h e at O f the

t rOp i c day and s e e the gl e am o f the white waves
,

br e aking on ye llow sands b el ow tall palms I r e call .

t h e myst e rious i mp e n e trabl e solitud e o f the j ungle a ,

solitud e ali v e i f one is e quipped w ith knowl e dge

, ,

with a ceas e l e ss war far e o f wing e d and crawlin g hosts .

An d while my companion is busily engage d in g ettin g

c op y f or a sp e cial article about th e Mark e t I step ,

n imbly out o f t h e way o f a swarthy g e ntl e ma n f rom

Calabria who with his t wo wheeled barrow is t h e la s

,
- t
66 Wi ll i a m M cF e e
'

link in t h e imm e ns e chain o f tra n sportation conn e cting

t h e farm e r i n t h e dista n t tropic s a n d t h e cockn e y p e d e s

trian who halt s on t h e S id e walk and purchas e s a ban

a n a for a couple O f pennies .
68 J oy c e K i l m e r

five ,
a b oythr e e Th e y star e d with round fright
Of .

e n e d e y e s at l e s soldats Am e ricans t h e fir s t th e y had ,

eve r s e en W e w e r e too tir e d t o s ta r e back W e at

. .

o n c e cli m b e d to t h e chill attic our bill e t our lodgi n g

, ,

for t h e n ight Fi rst w e li ft e d t h e packs from one a n

.

oth e r s achi n g should e r s : th e n without s pr e adi n g our

’

bla nk et s w e lay down on t h e bar e boards

, .

For t e n m inut e s th e r e w a s sil e n c e br ok e n by an ,

occasio n al groa n an oath t h e striki n g o f a match

, ,
.

Cigar e tt e s glow e d lik e fir e fli e s i n a for e st Th e n a .

voic e cam e from t h e corn e r

“
e i
Wh r e s S rg ant R illy
e e e ? ”
it said W e lazily .

searched Th e r e was n o S e rg e a n t R e illy to b e

.

found .

“
I ll be t t h e Old bum has gon e out a ft e r a pint
’
,

said t h e voic e And with t h e curio s ity o f t h e A m e r

.

ican and t h e e nthu s i asm O f t h e I ri s h w e lu m b e r e d

downstairs in qu e s t o f S e rg e ant R e illy .

He w a s s itting on a low b e nch by t h e fi re His .

sho e s w e r e off a n d hi s brui s e d f e e t w e r e in a pail o f

cold wat e r He was too good a soldi e r to e xpos e t h em
.

to t h e h e at at onc e Th e l ittl e gi rl was on h is lap

.

and t he littl e boys stood by and e n v i e d him An d in .

a v oic e t h at twenty y ears O f sol di e ri n g and oc e ans o f

whi s ky had fail e d to rob o f i t s C e ltic s w e et ne s s he ,

“ ”
’
wa s so ftly s i ngin g : Ir eland Isn t Ireland Any More .

W e listen e d resp ect f ully .

 H oly I l
re an d 69

Th e y ch e e r t h e King and th e n salute him said ,

S e rg e a n t R e illy .

“
A r e gular Irishman would shoot him and we ,

“
all j oi n e d i n t h e chorus Ir eland Isn t Ir eland A ny,
’

”
Mor e .

“ ”
Ooh la l a ! e xclai m e d Madam e and s h e and all
, , ,

t h e childr e n be gan to talk at t h e top o f th e ir voic e s .

What th e y s aid H e a v e n knows but the ton e s w e re ,

fri e ndly e v e n ad m i ri n g
, .

“ ”
G e ntl e m e n said S e rg e ant R e illy from his post o f
,

h ono r the lady who runs thi s bill e t i s a v e ry nice

,

lady ind ee d S h e says ye z can all tak e off your s ho e s

.

and dry your socks by t h e fi r e But tak e turns and .

’ ’ ”
do n t crowd or I ll turn y e z all up s tairs .

Now Madame a woman o f s om e forty ye ars was

, ,

a true bourgeois e with all t h e thri ft o f h e r class And

, .

by the t e rm s o f h er agr ee m e nt with the authoriti e s S h e

was r e quir e d to le t the soldi e rs hav e for one night the
atti c o f her house to s le e p i n nothing mor e ; no light
—

no h e at Also wood i s very e xp e n s iv e in Franc e

.
,

f or reasons that are e n grav e n i n l etters o f blood on

th e page s o f h istory Nev e rtheless .

“ ”
Asseye z vous s il vous p lait said M adame And
-
,
’
,
.

s h e brough t n earer to t h e fi re all t h e ch airs t h e estab

l i sh m ent possessed an d some ch ests and box e s to be

us e d as s e ats And she an d the little girl whos e name
. ,

was Solange went out into the snow an d cam e ba c k

,
7 0 J oy c e K i l m e r

with h e aping a rm f ul s o f sm all logs The fire blazed .

—
m e rrily more m e rrily than it had blaze d sinc e Aug
ust 1 9 1 4 p e rhap s We surround e d it and soon the
, ,
.
,

ai r was thick with st e am from our drying socks .

M e anwhil e Madam e an d t h e S e rg e ant had ge n e r

ous ly admitt e d all e l e v e n o f u s into th e ir conv e rsation .

A spirit e d conv e rsati on it was too in spit e o f t h e , ,

fact that s h e kn e w no Engli s h and t h e e xt e nt o f his

“ ” “ ” N
Fr e nch wa s d u pam d u vin
,
cognac and bon
,

”
j our . Tho s e o f us wh o kn e w a littl e more o f the
language O f t h e country act e d as int e rpr e t e r s for the
oth e r s W e learn e d the na m e s o f t h e childr e n and
.

th e ir age s W e l e ar n ed that our host e ss was a wido w

. .

He r hu s band had fall e n in battl e j u s t on e month be

for e Ou r arrival in h e r hom e S h e s how e d us with.

s i m pl e prid e a n d a ffe ctio n and r e s train e d gri e f h i s

pictur e Th e n s h e show e d u s th os e o f h e r t w o br oth e r s
.

— O n e n ow fighti n g at Sal oni c a t h e oth e r a p ri s on e r

,

o f war— o f h e r mo t h e r a n d fa t h e r o f h e r s el f dr e ss e d
,

for Fir s t C o mm uni on .

This l a s t pictur e s h e s h ow e d s o m e wh at shyly as i f ,

doubting that w e woul d u n d e r s t a n d it But wh e n on e .

O f us ask e d in hal t i n g Fr e n c h i f S ola n g e h e r littl e ,

daught e r h a d y e t m a d e h e r Fi r s t C om m u n io n th e n
, ,

’
Madam e s fac e cl e ar e d .

“ ”
Mai s oui ! s h e e x c lai m e d E t vous m a foi vous
, , ,

é t e s Ca t h oli ques n e s t ce D a s
’
-
,
 H oly I re an l d 7 !

At once rosary b e ads were fl o urishe d to p rove our

right to answ e r thi s qu e stion a ffi rmatively Tattered .

praye r bo oks an d somewh at di n gy scapulars were

-

brought to light M adam e and t h e children chattered

.

thei r surpris e and delight to e ach oth e r and e v e ry e x ,

b ibit call e d for a n e w outburst .

“
Ah le bon S B e noit ! Ah voil a le Conc eptio n
,
.
, ,

”
I mm acule ! O oh la la le Sacré C oeur l ( which last
,

e xclamation s o und e d in no wise as irrever e nt as it

looks in print ) .

Now other treasures too wer e shown tr e asures

, ,
—

chie fly photo g raphi c There w ere f amil y group s there

. ,
,

were C oney Island snapshots And M adame and the .

children were a g rati fyin g l y a ppreciative audien ce .

Th e y admir e d and sympathized ; they exclaim e d ap

r O r i a t el
p p y at the b e aut y o f ever yg irl s f ace th e tender ’

n e s s o f ever y pictur e d moth e r We had become the .

intimates o f M adam e S h e had admitted u s int o her

.

family and w e h e r into ours .

—
Soldi e rs American soldiers o f Irish desc e n t — h ave
souls and h e arts Th e s e organs ( i f t h e soul m ay be
.

so term e d ) had bee n satisfi e d But our stomachs re .

—
main e d and that th e y y e ar n e d w a s evid e nt to us :
We had mad e our h ik e on a m e al o f hardtack and
“ ”
corn e d w ill y
. M e s s c all would sound soon Should .

w e f orce our wet sho e s on again and plod through

the snowy s tr ee t s to t h e t e mporary m e s s shack ? W e -
7 2 J oy c e K i l m e r

kn e w our suppl y wagons had n ot succeed e d i n clim b

i ng t h e last hill into town a n d that th e r e for e bread
,

and unsw ee t e n e d co ffe e would be our portion A .

g reat d e pr e ssion s e ttl e d upo n us .

But S e rg e ant R e illy rose to t h e occa s ion .

“ ” “
Boy s h e said thi s h e r e lady has got a good fire
, ,

oing n d I ll be t s h e can cook What do you

’
s
g ,a ay .

? ”
we get h e r to fix us up a m al e

The proposal was r e c e iv e d j oyously at fi rst Th en .

some on e said :
“ ’
But I hav e n t got a n y mon e y N e ith e r hav e I .

— not a damn s ou P said anoth e r ,

And a g ain th e .

spiritual t e mp e ratur e O f t h e room f e ll .

Again S e rgeant R e illy spok e :

“
I hav e n t got any mon e y to speak o f me s elf he
’

, ,

“ ’ ’
said . But l e t s ha v e a show down I g u e ss w e ve -
.

”
got e nough to buy s om e t h i n to e at ’
.

It was lo n g a fte r pay d ay and w e w e re not h ope ful

-
,

o f t h e r e s ult s o f t h e search But t h e w e althy ( that i s

.
,

tho s e who had t w o francs ) mad e u p for t h e poor

( that i s thos e who had tw o sou s ) And a m o n g t h e
, .

coins on the tabl e I noti ced an A m e rican dim e an ,

English hal f c rown and a Chin e s e pi e ce with a squa re

-

hole in the center In n e gotiabl e t e nd e r t h e mone y

.

c ame i n all to ei ght fra n cs .

It takes more mon e y than that to f ee d twelve hungr y

soldiers th e s e days in Franc e But th e r e w a s no ha rm .
 H oly I r e la n d 73
in t ryin g S o an ex
. sem inarian ,
an ex bookkeepe r
- -

and an ex s tr e e t car co n ductor aided S e rg e ant R eill y

- -

in e xplaining in French that had both a brogue and a

Yank e e twan g that we were hungry that this was all ,

t h e mon e y w e had in t h e world and tha t w e want e d ,

h e r to cook us something to ea t .

N ow Madam e was what th e y call in Ne w Englan d

“ ”
a capabl e wo m an In a j i ffy sh e had the money i n
.

S olang e s hand and had that admirabl e child cloaked

’

and wood e n s hod for t h e str e et and f ull y in form e d

-
,

a s to what s h e w a s to b uy What Madame and the .

children had int e nd e d to have for supper I do not

know fo r th e r e was nothi n g in t h e kitch e n but the
,

fi re the stove t h e table s om e shelves o f di s h e s and

, , ,

an e normous b e d Nothin g in t h e w ay o f a food cup

.

board could b e s e en And the on l y other room O f t h e

.

hous e was t h e bar e attic .

Wh e n Solange cam e back S h e carried i n a basket

bigger than hersel f thes e articles : ( 1 ) t w o loaves o f
wa r bre ad ; ( 2 ) fi ve bottles o f red wine ; ( 3 ) three
-

ch e eses ; ( 4 ) numerous p ot atoes ; ( 5 ) a lump o f fat ;

6
( ) a b a g o f co ffe e The wh ole represent
. e d as w a s ,

a f terward demonstrat e d exactl y the sum o f ten f rancs

, ,

fi f t y centimes .

Well w e all set to work pe elin g p otatoes Th e n

, .

with a v e ritabl e F r e nch tr e nch kni fe Madam e cut the -

potatoe s into lon g strips M e anwhile Solange had p ut .

74 J oy c e Ki l m e r

th e lump o f f at into the big black pot that hung b y a

ch ain over the fi r e In the boiling gr e as e the potatoe s
.

were placed Madame stan ding by w ith a big l a dl e

,

punched full o f holes ( I r e gre t that I do not know th e

tec hnical nam e for thi s instrum e nt ) and ke e pin g the
p o tato strips
-
s wimmi n g z e al ousl y frustrating any a t
,

tempt ou thei r part to l ie lazily at the bottom o f the

pot .

W e forgot all ab out t h e hike as we s at at su p p e r

that ev e ning The only abs en t e e s w e r e t h e t w o littl e
.

boys Micha e l and Paul And th e y wer e r e ally abse n t

,
.

o nly fr om our board— th e y w e r e in th e room i n t h e ,

gr e at built i n b e d th a t w a s lat e r to hold also M adame

-

and Sola n g e Th e ir littl e bodies w e r e cov e red by

.

the three foo t thick m attr e s s like r e d S ilk quilt but

- -
,

th e ir tou s l e d h e ad s protrud e d and th e y watch e d us

unblinki n gly all the e v en i n g .

But j ust a s w e s a t down b e for e S e rge ant R e illy

,

be gan h i s task o f di s hing out t h e potato e s a n d starting

t h e bottl e s on th e ir way Ma d am e stopp e d h e r chat
,

te ri n g and look e d at Sola n ge A n d Solange sto p pe d .

h e r chatt e ri n g and l ook e d at M ada m e A n d th e y both .

l ook e d rath e r s e archi n gly at u s W e d id n t know .

’

what w a s t h e matt e r but w e f elt rath e r e mbarra s s e d

, .

Th e n Mada m e b e gan to talk s l owly and l ou d ly a s , ,

on e talk s to m ak e for e ign e r s u n d e rsta n d A nd t he .

gi st o f h e r r e m arks was that s h e w a s s urpri s e d to s e e

7 6 J oy c e K i l m e r

said w e sa t b e for e t h e fi re most o f u s on the fl oor

, , .

W e w e r e warm a n d happy and full o f good foo d and

good wi n e I s pi e d a Sl i p O f pape r on t h e fl oor by
.

S olang e s foot and un a s ha m e dly r e ad it It was an

’
.

accou n ti n g for t h e e ve n i n g s e xp e n diture s— t otali n g

’

e xactly t e n fra n c s and fi fty c e n ti m e s .

Now wh e n s oldi e r s a r e u n h a ppy— duri n g a lon g ,

hard hik e for in s ta n c e— th e y si n g to k e e p up th e i r

,

spirits An d wh e n th e y a r e happy a s on t h e e v e n
.
,

i n g n ow un d e r con s id e ration th e y sing t o e xpr e s s

,

th e ir s ati s factio n with li f e W e sang Sw e e t R o s i e

.
“

O Grady
’ ”
W e s hook t h e kitch e n b e dro om with t h e
.
-

”
echo e s o f Take M e Back to Ne w Y ork Town We .

in form e d Madam e S ol an ge Paul Micha e l in fact

, , , , ,

t h e whol e villag e that w e had n e v e r b e e n a w and e r e r

,

an d that w e longe d for our Indiana hom e W e gr e w .

“
s en tim e ntal ov e r Mother Machr e e A n d S e rge ant .

R e illy oblige d with a r e e l i n his s ock s to an a cc om

— —

p li s h m e n t o f whi s tli n g and handclappi ng .

Now it w a s our host e ss s turn to e n t e rtai n

,
’
We .

i n ti m at e d a s m uch S h e r e spond e d first by much t al k

.
, ,

much co n sultation with Solange and fi n ally by g oing ,

to on e o f t h e sh e lve s that h eld t h e pans a n d taking

down some pap e r cov e r e d books -
.

Th e r e w a s more consultatio n whi s p e re d thi s tim e , ,

and much turning O f pag e s Th e n a ft e r so m e pre .

,

limina ry coughin g and humming t h e mu s i c be gan ,

 H oly I r e la n d 77
—t h e ’
woman s ric h alto bl e nding w ith t h e child s ’

shrill but s w ee t n ot e s And wh a t th e y san g was

.

“
Ta n tu m e rgo S acram e n tum .

Why s h e sh oul d h a v e th ought that an approp ri a te

so n g to o ffe r thi s co mp any o f rough sol d i e rs from a
di s ta n t lan d I do n ot know And w h y we fo und it
.

appropri a te it i s h a rd e r still to s ay But i t did s ee m

.

—
ap propriat to all o f u s to S e rge ant R e illy to Jim
e ,

( w h o u s e d to driv e a t r u c k ) to L a,
rry ( who sold
cigar s ) to Fran k ( w h o t e nd e d a bar on Fourte e nth
,

Str ee t ) . It s e e m e d f or s ome r e a s on e min e ntly fi t

, ,

tin g Not on e o f u s th e n or lat er e xpre s s e d any s u r

.
’

pri se that thi s hymn familiar to most o f u s sinc e

,

our moth e rs fir s t le d us to t h e Pari s h Church dow n

t h e pav e m e nts o f Ne w Yor k or acros s t h e Iri s h hills ,

should be sun g t o us in this strang e land and in th e s e

strange ci rcum s tanc e s .

S i n ce the graciou s L a tin o f the Church was i n

ord e r and s ince th e s e a s on was appropriate one Of ,

“ ”
us sugge st e d Ad e ste F id e les f or t h e n e xt item on
t h e e v e n ing s program
’
M adame and Solange and our
.

e x seminarian kn e w all the words and t h e r e st o f us

-

“ ”
came in strong w ith Venit e ad or e m us Dominum ,
.

Then as i f to S how that pi e ty and mi rth may live

,

“ ”
together the ladi e s oblige d with Au C lai r de l a Lun e
,

a n d oth er s i mple ballads o f old F rance And a ft e r

.

ta p s h ad so unded i n the street o utside our doo r and ,

7 8 J oy c e Ki l m e r

th e r e w as yawnin g and wrist watch es w ere being ,

-

’
scann e d t h e e v e ning s e nt e rtainm e nt e nd e d by g e n e ral
, ,

c onsent with patriotic s ele ctio n s W e san g— as b e st

,
.

“ ”
we could the Star Spangl e d Ba nne r Solange and
— -
,

h e r m oth e r hummi n g t h e air and applau d ing at the

“ ”
co n clu s ion Th e n w e att em pt e d La Mar s e illai s e
. .

O f cour s e w e d i d n ot know t h e word s Sola n g e cam e

,
.

to our r e s cu e with t wo littl e pamphl et s contai n i n g t h e

’
so n g s o w e look e d o v e r e ach oth e r s shoul d e r s a n d got
,

to work in e arn e s t Madam e s ang with u s and S O .

,

la ng e But duri n g t h e final stanza Madam e did not

.

si n g S he l e a n e d against t h e gr e at family b e dstead

.

and look e d at u s S h e had tak e n one o f t h e babi e s

.

from u n d e r th e r e d com fort e r and h e ld him to h e r

br e a s t On e o f h e r re d and toil scarr e d ha n ds hal f
.
-

co v e r e d h i s fat littl e back Th e re was a g e ntl e dignity .

’
about that plai n hard working woman that soldi e r s
,
-
,

—
wid ow w e all f e lt it And som e o f us s a w t h e t e ars .

in h e r ey e s .

Th e r e a r e mists faint and b e auti ful a n d u n chang

,

ing that hang o v e r t h e gr e e n sl op e s o f som e moun

,

tai n s I know I ha v e s e e n th e m on t h e Irish hills and

.

I ha v e s ee n th e m on t h e hills o f Fra n c e I think that .

th ey a r e mad e of t h e t e ars o f good brav e wome n .

B e fore I w e n t to sl ee p that night I e xcha n g e d a fe w

words with S e rg e a n t R e illy W e lay sid e by s id e .

on t h e floor n ow pil e d with straw Bla n ke t s sh e lt e r

, .
,
 H oly I r e la n d 79
halves sli ckers and ov e rc oats in s ur e d warm sle e p
,
.

S erg e ant R eilly s hard Old fac e was wrappe d round

’

with his m uffl er The fi nal cigar e tte o f the day burned
.

lazily i n a co rner o f hi s mouth .

“
That wa s a pr e tty goo d ev e ning Sarge I said , , .

W e sure w e re in luck wh e n w e s truck thi s bill e t ”

.

He g runt e d a ffi rmatively th e n pu ff e d in S il e nce for

,

a fe w minute s Th e n h e d e ftly sp a t t h e cigar e tt e into

.

a s trawl e s s portion o f t h e fl oor wh e r e it gl owed for a ,

fe w s e conds b e for e it w e nt out .

“ ”
You s a id it h e r e m a rked W e w e re i n luck is
,
.

”
right What do you know about that lady anyway ?
.
,

“ ” “
Why I answ e r e d I thought s h e tr e ate d u s pr e tty
, ,

”
whit e .

“
J oe s aid
,
S e rgeant R e illy do you r e alize how ,

much troubl e that wom an took to make this bu n ch

o f roughn e cks co m fortabl e ? She didn t mak e a dam n ’

c e n t on that f ee d you know Th e kid sp e nt al l t h e

, .

mon e y w e giv e h e r A n d s h e s out about s i x franc s

.
’

for fir e wood t oo— I w ish to God I had t h e mo n e y

,

’
to p ay her I be t sh e ll g o cold fo r a w ee k n ow and
.
,

hu n gry t oo , .

“ ’
And that ain t all h e con t i n u e d a ft e r a p a use
, ,

broke n only by an occasional snor e from our bli s sful

“
n e ighbors Look at t h e way s h e cooke d th e m pomme
.

d e t e rr e s and fix e d thi n gs up for us and le t us sit

down there with h e r lik e w e w a s h e r fa m ily And .
80 J oy c e K i l m e r

look at th e way s h e and t h e littl e S allie th e r e sung

for us .

“
I t e ll you Joe it mak e s me think o f Old tim e s to
, ,

h e ar a woman si n g th e m church hymns to me that

way It s f orty y e ars sinc e I h e ard a hymn su n g in
.
’

a kitch en and it w a s my moth e r God r e st h e r that

, ,
‘

sang th e m I sort O f r e aliz e what w e re fi g hting for

.
’

a n d I n e v e r di d b e fore It s for women like ’

n ow , .

that and th e i r kid s .

“
It gav e m e a turn to s e e h er a sittin g th e re s ingin g
-

th e m hym n s I r e m e mbe red wh e n I was a boy in

.

S h an g old e n
’
I wond e r i f th e r e s many wom e n lik e
.

that in Franc e n ow t e lling th e i r b e ads an d s inging

—

t h e old hy m ns and tr e ati n g poor trav e li n g m e n t h e

way s h e s j u s t a ft e r tr e ating us Ther e u s e d to be

’
.

lots o f wo m e n lik e that in the Old C ountry And I .

think that s wh y it was called H ol y Ir e land

’ ‘
.
 A F AM ILIA R P R E F A C E

By J OS EP H C ON R AD

Th i s g l or iou s e x pre s s i on of t h e c re do of all a r t i s t s i n “fl at ,

e ve r f orm o f c r e at i on l a s t i n gly e n ri c h e s t h e E n gli s h t on gu e

, It .

i s f r om t h e p r e f ace t o A P e rs on a l R e c o d t h a t f a s c i n a t i n g a u t o
r ,

b i ogr a ph i c a l volu m e i n w hi c h Con ra d t e ll s t h e c uri ou s s t ory of

a P o li s h b oy w h o ra n a w a y t o s e a a n d b e g a n t o w ri t e i n E n g
l i s h A s a c om p an i on pi e c e t h os e w h o h ave t h e h on o r o f t h e
.
,

w r i t e r s c r a f t at h e a r t s h ou l d r ea d C on r a d s p r e f a c e t o Th e
’ ’

Nig g e r f
o t h e Nar ci s s us .

“
bi i
A ll a m t on s a re l w ul x p h
f e ce t t os e”a c c m w hi h li b up w a r d
i ri
on t h e m s e e s or c e d r uli i
t e s of m an n d ki
I s it e m ss . p r i ibl e t o
w r wh
on d e a t s om e n e s a e w p p r w r
o n e s — s ay M r H e a s t — . r w oul d
r py
e l h
t o t at ?
M r Con a d s ca e e i s t oo e l n o n t o b e a nn ot a t e d
r .
’
r r w l k w h e re .

I by
f h
a ny c an c e t h e e ad e r
i s n ot a c a n t e d rt qu i
it, it wi h w i ll b e
ul
t o his so v
’
s a d an t a e t o g o t o a g c a y a n d oo pu bli libr r
it l k up .

AS a gen e ral rul e w e do not want much e ncoura g e

m e nt to talk about ours e lv e s ; y e t this littl e book is the
r e sult o f a f riendl y sugg e stion and e v e n o f a little ,

fri e ndly pressure I d e f e nd e d mys e l f with s om e spirit ;

.

but with ch aracteristic t e nacity the fri e ndly voice

, ,

insist e d Y ou know you r e ally must

, ,
.

It w as n ot an arg ument but I submitte d at once ,

.

I f one must !
Y ou perceive th e f orce o f a word H e wh o wants .

to p ersuade should put hi s trust not i n the right argu

ment but in the ri g ht word
,
The power o f s oun d .

A Pe r s ona l Re cor d .
82 J os e p h C on r a d

h as always bee n greate r than t h e power O f sense I .

don t s ay this by way o f disparag e m e nt It i s b e tter

’
.

for ma n kind to be impr e ssionabl e than r e fl e ctive .

Nothing hum an el y gr e at gr e at I m e an as a ffe cting

—
, ,

a whol e ma s s o f liv s has com e from r e fl e ction On

e — .

t h e oth e r hand y ou cannot fail to s ee t h e pow e r o f

,

m e r e words ; such words as Glory for i nstanc e or , ,

Pity I won t m e ntion any mor e Th e y a re not far

.
’
.

to s e e k Shout e d with p e r s e v e ranc e with ar d or

.
, ,

with co n viction th e s e t w o by th e ir sound alon e hav e

, ,

s e t whol e na t io n s in motion and uph e a v e d t h e d ry ,

har d grou n d on which r e s ts our whol e social fabric

“ ”
Th e r e s v irtu e for you i f you lik e !
’
O f cou r s e ,

t h e acc e nt must be att e nded to T h e right acc e nt . .

That s v e ry important Th e capaciou s lu n g t h e thun

’
.
,

d e ring or t h e t e nd e r vocal chords Don t talk to m e ’

.

o f your Archim e d e s l e v e r He was an ab s e n t mind e d

’
.
-

p e rson with a math e matical imagination M a th em a t .

ics commands all my r e s p e ct but I hav e no u s e for ,

engin e s Giv e m e t h e right word and t h e right ac

.

c e nt and I will mo v e t h e world .

What a dr e am for a writ e r ! B e cau s e writte n words

have th e i r acc e n t too Y e s ! L e t m e only find t h e
, .

right word ! Sur e ly i t must be lyin g som e wh e r e am on g

the wreckag e o f all t h e plai nts and all t h e e xultati ons
pour e d out al oud s inc e t h e first day wh e n h op e the ,

undying cam e down on e arth It may be th er e cl ose

, .
,
84 J os e p h C on ra d

fit for a morali s t than for an arti s t Truth O f a .

mod e st sort I can promi s e you and also s i n c e rity , .

That co m pl e t e prai s eworthy s inc e rity which whil e

, ,

it d e li v e r s on e i n to t h e hand s o f on e s e n e m ies i s as ’
,

i ’
lik ely as not to e mbro l on e with on e s fri e nds .

“ ”
Embroil i s p e rhaps too strong an expr e ssion I .

can t i m agi n e amon g e ith e r my e n e mi e s or my fri e n ds

’

a b e ing s o hard up for s om e thing to d o as to qu a rr e l

“ ”
w ith m e . To disappoint o n e s fri e nds woul d be ’

n e ar e r t h e mark Most almo s t all friend s hip s o f t h e

.
, ,

writin g p e riod o f my li f e hav e come to m e through

m y books ; an d I know that a nov elist liv e s in his
work He stands th e r e t h e only r eality i n a n i n
.
,

v e n te d world among imaginary things happ e n i n gs

, , ,

and p e opl e Writi n g about th e m h e i s only writi ng

.
,

about hims e l f But the di s closur e i s not compl et e

. .

He r e mai n s to a c e rtain e xt e nt a figur e b e hi n d t h e

, ,

v e il ; a susp ct d rath e r than a s e n pr s nc

e e e e e e — a mo v e

m e n t a n d a voic e be hi n d t h e drap e ri e s o f fiction In .

th es e p e r s onal not e s th e r e i s no s uch v e il A n d I .

“
cannot help thinking o f a passage in t h e Imitation o f
”
Chri st wh e r e t h e asc e tic author wh o kn e w li f e s o ,

“
pro foundly says that there ar e persons e s t e e m e d on
,

th e ir r e putation who by showing th e ms e lves d e stroy

.

”
t h e opinion one had o f th e m This i s t h e danger
.

incurr e d by an author o f fi ction wh o sets out to t alk

about himsel f without di sguise .
 A F a m i l i a r P r efa c e 85
Whil e th e se re mi n iscent pages w e r e app e ari n g s e ri
ally I w a s r e mon s trat e d with for bad e conomy ; as i f
such writi n g w e r e a form of s e l f i n d ulg e nc e wasting -

t h e substa n c e o f future volu m e s It s e e ms that I am

.

not su ffi c i e n tly lit e rary Ind e e d a m an who n e v e r

.
,

wr ot e a li n e for pri nt till h e w a s thirty six cannot -

bri n g him s el f to look u po n his e xist e nc e and h i s ex

r i e n c e upon t h e s u m o f h i s thought s s e n s ations and
p e , , ,

e m otio n s ,
upo n h i s m e m ori e s and h i s r e gr e t s and th e ,

whol e po s s e s s i on o f h i s past a s o n ly s o much m at e ri al

,

for h i s ha n d s Onc e b e for e s om e thr e e y e ars ago

.
, ,

“
wh e n I publi s h e d Th e M irr or o f t h e S e a a volume ,

o f i m pr e s s ion s an d m e m ori e s t h e s am e r e m arks wer e

,

mad e to m e Practical r e marks But truth to say I

. .
, ,

hav e n e v e r u n d e r s tood t h e ki n d o f thri ft th e y re com

m e nd I wante d to p ay my tribut e to t h e s e a its
.
,

ships and its m e n to wh om I remain ind ebt e d for so

,

mu ch which h as gon e to mak e m e what I am That .

s e em e d to me t h e o n ly shap e in which I could Offe r

it to th e i r s had e s Th e r e could not be a qu e s tion in
.

my mi n d o f a n ything e ls e It i s quit e possibl e that I

.

am a bad e conomist ; but it i s c e rtain that I am i n

corrigibl e .

Ha v i n g matur e d i n t h e s urroundings and und e r the

special co n dition s o f s ea li f e I hav e a sp e cial pi ety
,

toward that form o f my past ; for i t s impre s s ions w e re

v ivid, its app e al dir e ct its demands such as could be
,
86 J os e p h C on r a d

responded to with the natural e lation o f youth and

stre n g th e qual to t h e call Th e re w as nothin g in th e m
.

to p e rplex a young con s cienc e Having broke n away

.

f rom my origins und e r a storm o f blame from every

q uarte r which had the mer e st shado w o f right to
voic e an opinion remov e d by gr e at d istances from
,

such natural a ffe ctions as w e r e still l e ft to m e and ,

eve n e strang e d in a m e asure f rom th e m by t h e totally

, ,

unint e lligible charact e r o f t h e li fe which had seduced

me s o myste riously fro m my all e gianc e I may sa f e ly,

say that through the blind force O f circum s tanc e s the

s e a w a s to be all my world and t h e m e rchant s e rvice

my only hom e for a long succ e s s i on o f y e ars . NO

won d er th e n that i n my two e xclu s i v e ly s e a books
, ,

— Th e Nigg e r O f t h e Narci s su s
“ ”
,
“
and Th e M irror
”
o f the Sea ( a n d in the fe w short s e a stori e s lik e

“ “ ”
—
Youth a d Typhoon ) I ha v e tri e d wi t h an
n

almost filial r e gard to r e nd e r t h e vibration o f l i f e i n the

gr e at wo rld O f wat e r s i n t h e h e arts o f t h e simpl e m e n
,

who hav e for ag e s tra v e rs e d i t s solitu d e s and al s o

,

that s om e thi n g s e n ti e n t which s e e m s to dw e ll in s hip s

— t h e cr e a t ur e s o f th e i r ha n d s a n d t h e Obj e cts o f th e ir

car e .

’
On e s lit e rary li f e must turn fr e qu e n tly for s u s
t en a n c e to m e m ori e s a n d s e e k d i s c ou r s e wi t h the

s had e s ,
u n l e s s on e h a s m a d e up on e s m i nd t o w rite
’

o nly i n or d e r to r e pr ov e m a n kin d fo r what it i s or ,

88 J os e p h C on ra d

be d e ni e d s inc e t h e cr e ator can only e xpr e s s him s e l f

,

in h i s cr e ati on— th e n th e r e a re so m e o f us to whom

an Op e n di s play o f s e n ti m e n t i s r e pugnant I would .

not u n duly prais e t h e virtu e o f r e straint It i s O ft e n .

m e re ly t e mp e ra m e ntal B ut it i s not alway s a S ign o f

.

coldn e s s It m ay b e prid e Th e r e can b e nothing

. .

mor e humiliati n g tha n to s e e t h e s h a ft o f o n e s e m o ’

tion mi s s t h e mark O f e ith e r laught e r or t e ar s Noth .

i n g more humiliating ! And thi s for t h e r e a s on that

sh ould the mark b e mi s s e d s hould t h e op e n di s play
,

O f e motion fail to move th e n it mu s t p e ri s h u n av oi d

,

ably in di s gu s t or cont e mpt NO arti s t ca n be r e

.

r oa ch e d for S hri n king from a risk which only fools

p
run to m ee t a n d only g e niu s dar e con front with i m
’

p u n i t
.
y In a ta s k which mai n ly co n s i s t s i n layi n g on e s

s oul mor e or l e s s bar e to t h e world a r e ga rd for

,

d e c e n cy e v e n at t h e cost o f s ucc e ss i s but t h e re g ard

, ,

’
for on e s own dignity which is i ns e parabl y united
with t h e dig n ity o f on e s work ’
.

And th e n — i t is v e ry di ffi c ul t to b e wholly j oyous o r

wholly s a d on this e arth T h e c omic wh e n it i s human

.
, ,

soon tak e s upon its e l f a fac e O f p a i n ; a n d s o m e O f ou r

gri e fs ( s om e onl y not all for it i s t h e c apacity for
, ,

suffe ri n g which mak e s m an august in t h e e y e s O f m e n )

ha v e th e i r sourc e in w e akn e s s e s which m u s t b e r e cog
n i ze d with smili n g compassion a s t h e c omm o n i n

h e ritan ce o f us all Joy an d sorrow i n this world

.
 A F a m i l i a r P r efa c e 89
pass into each oth e r mi n gling th e i r forms and their
,

mu rmur s i n t h e twilight o f li f e as m y s t e riou s as an

ov e rshadow e d oc e an whil e t h e d azzling bright n e ss o f
,

supr e m e hop e s l i e s far Off fa s cinatin g and still on

, ,

t h e di s ta n t e dg e o f t h e horizon .

Y e s ! I too would lik e to hold t h e magi c wand

, ,

givi n g that comma n d ov e r laught e r an d tears which

i s d e clar e d to b e t h e high e st achi e v e m e n t o f imagina
tiv e lit e ra t ur e O n ly to b e a gr e at magician on e mus t
.
,

surr e n d e r on e s e l f to occult an d irr es p onsibl e powers ,

’
e ithe r out s id e or w ithi n one s br e ast . We hav e a ll
h e ard o f si mp l e m e n s ellin g th e i r souls for love or
pow e r to som e grotes q u e d evil Th e most ordinary
.

int el lige nce can p e rc e ive without much r e flecti on that

anythin g o f th e sort i s bound to be a fool s bargain ’
.

I don t lay claim to parti cular wisdom b e cause o f my

’

di slike and distru s t o f such tr an s actions It may be

.

my sea trainin g actin g upon a natural disposition t o

k e e p good hold on t h e on e thing r e ally mine b ut t h e ,

f act i s that I hav e a positiv e horror o f losing even

for on e mo v ing mom e nt that full po ss e ssion o f mys el f
which i s t h e first condition o f good servi ce And I .

ha v e carri e d my notion o f good s e r v ice f rom my ear

li e r into my lat e r exi s t e nce I wh o ha v e ne v e r sought
.
,

i n the written word anything e lse but a form o f the

—
B e auti ful I have carried ov e r that articl e o f cr e e d
from the d e cks o f ship s to the mor e ci rcumscri bed
90 J os e p h C on r a d

space o f my d e s k and by that act I s uppo se I h ave

, , ,

be come perman e ntly i m p e r f e ct in t h e eye s o f t h e i n

e ffabl e company O f pur e e s th et e s .

As in p olitical s o in lite rary action a m an wins

fri e n d s for hims e l f mostl y by t h e pa s s ion o f his
pr e j u d ic e s and by th e consist e nt narrown e ss o f h i s
outlook But I hav e n e ver be e n abl e to lov e what was
.

not lovabl e or hat e what was not hat e ful out o f d e f e r

e nce for som e g e n e ral principl e . Wh eth e r th e r e be
any courage in making this a dmission I kno w not .

A ft e r t h e middl e turn O f li f e s way w e con s id e r dan

’

g e r s a n d j oys with a tranquil mind S O I pr oc e e d .

i n p e ac e to d e clar e that I h av e al w ays susp e ct e d in

the e f fort to bri n g into play t h e e xtr e miti e s o f e motions
t h e d e ba s i n g touch o f insinc e rity In ord e r to mov e
.

oth e r s d e eply w e must d e lib e rat e ly allow ours e lv e s to

b e carri e d away beyond the bound s O f our n ormal s e n
i i
s ib l ty — innocently e nough p e rhaps a n d o f n e c e s sity
, , ,

lik e an actor w h o rai s e s h i s voic e on t h e s t a g e ab ov e

t h e pitch o f n atural conv e r s ation but s till w e ha v e
—

to d o that And s ure ly thi s i s n o gr e at s i n But t h e

. .

da n g e r li e s i n t h e w rit e r be c omi n g t h e v icti m o f h i s

own e x a gge ratio n l osi n g t h e e xact notio n O f sin
,

ce r i t y
, a n d i n t h e e n d co m i n g to d e s pi s e truth it s e l f

a s s o m e t hi n g t oo c old ,
t oo blu n t for h i s pu rp os e— a s ,

in fact n ot good e n ough for h i s i n s i s t e n t e m oti on

, .
9 2 J os e p h C on r a d

A historian o f h e art s i s not a hi s torian O f e motion s ,

e t h e p e n e trat e s furth e r r e s train e d a s h e may be

y , ,

sinc e his aim i s to r e ach t h e v e r y fou n t o f laught e r

and t e ar s Th e sight o f hu m an a ffair s d e s e rv e s a d
.

m i ra t i on a n d pity Th e y a re worthy o f r e s p e ct too

.
, .

And h e i s not i n s e nsibl e who pays th e m t h e u n d e m on

s t r a t i v e tribut e o f a s igh which i s n ot a s ob an d ,

O f a s m il e which is n ot a gri n R e s ign ation n ot mys

.
,

tic n ot d etach e d but r e s i gn a tio n op e n e y e d co n s cious

, ,
-
, ,

a n d in for m e d by lov e i s t h e only on e o f our f e e l

,

ings for whi ch it is im p o s sibl e to b e co m e a s ham .

Not that I t hink r e s ign ation t h e la s t word O f w i s

dom I am too m uch t h e cr e atur e O f my ti m e for
.

that But I thi n k that t h e pr ope r w i s do m i s to w ill

.

wh a t t h e gods will without p e rhap s b e i n g c e rtain , ,

i
what th e ir w ill s or e v e n i f th e y ha v e a will o f th e ir
—

ow n .And i n thi s matt e r o f li fe a n d a r t i t i s not t h e

Why that matt e r s S O m uch to our happi n e s s a s t h e
“
How A s t h e Fr e nchman s aid
. l l y a t ouj ou rs la
,

ma n i er e V e ry tru e Y e s Th e r e i s t h e m ann e r
. . . .

Th e m a n n e r in laught e r i n t e ar s i n i r on y i n i n d i g
, , ,

nati s and
o n e n thusiasm s i n j u d gm e n t s a n d e v e n in
,
—

lo v e T h e ma n n e r i n which a s i n t h e f e atu r e s a n d
.
,

charact e r O f a hum a n fac e t h e i n n e r truth i s f ore

,

s had ow e d f or tho s e wh o k n ow h ow to look at th e ir

ki n d .

Tho s e who r e a d m e k n ow my co n v ictio n that the

 A F a m i l i a r P r e fa c e 93
w orld t h e,
te m p oral world r e s ts on a fe w v e ry s imple
,

id e as ; s o s i m pl e that th e y must b e as old as t h e hill s

.

It rests notably a m ong oth e r s on t h e id e a o f Fid e lity

, , .

At a tim e wh e n nothing whi ch i s not r e v ol u tionary in

s o m e way or oth e r c an e xp e ct to attract much att e n

tion I have not be e n r e voluti onary in my writings .

Th e r e volutionary spirit i s mighty co n v e ni e nt i n this ,

that it fr e e s one from all scrupl e s a s r e gards ideas .

Its hard absolute Optimi s m is r epulsi v e to my mind

,

by t h e m e nace o f fanatici s m and intol e ranc e it con

tai n s . N o doubt one sho uld smil e at th e s e things ;
but i m p e rf e ct Esth e te I am n o b e tt e r Philosoph e r
, , .

All claim to s p e cial righteousn e ss awak e ns i n m e that

scorn and ange r fro m which a philosophical mi nd
s hould be fre e .
 O N D RAWIN G

By A P H E RBE RT
. .

A P He r b e r t i s on e o f t h e m os t brill i an t o f t h e y ou n g e r E n g
. .

l i s h w r i t e r s , a n d h a s d on e r e m a rk abl e w ork i n fi e l d s a pp a r
e n t ly i n c om p at ibl e : lig h t v e r s e hu m or o u s d r oll e ri e s
, a n d a b ea u .

t i fu lly w ri t t e n t r a gi c n ov e l Th e S e c r e t B a t t le
, T hi s l a s t w a s.

u n q u e s t i on ably on e o f t h e m os t p ow e r f ul b ook s b or n o f t h e W a r ,

b u t i t s s a l e w a s t r a g i c a lly s ma ll Th e H ou s e by t h e Riv e r a
.
,

l at e r b ook w a s a l s o an a m azi n gly c om p e t e nt a n d orig i“na l t a l e,

,

a pp a r e n t ly c a s t a l on g t h e li n e s o f t h e c onv e n t i on a l my s t e ry
s t o ry b ut r e a lly a s t u dy o f s e l fi s h n e s s a nd c ow a r d i c e d on e
”
,

w i t h s t a rt l i n g ir on y a n d i nt e n s i t y .

M r He rb e r t w e n t t o W i n c h e s t e r S ch ool a n d Ne w C oll e g e ,
.

Ox f o r d wh e r e h e t ook h i s d e gr e e i n 1 0 1 4 He s a w m ili t a ry
F
.
,

s e rvi c e a t t h e D a r d a n e ll e s a n d i n ra n c e a n d i s n ow on t h e
,

s t a ff o f P u n c h . T h e r e i s n o y ou n g w ri t e r i n E n gl a n d f r om
wh om on e ma y m or e c on fi d e nt ly e xp e ct a c ont i n u a nc e o f fi n e
w ork Th i s a i ry an d d e li c i ou s l i t t l e a b s ur d i t y i s a p e r f e ct e x
.

a m pl e o f w h a t a g e n ui n e hu m o ri s t c a n d o .

I f t h e r e i s s t il l a ny one i n d oub t a s t o t h e va l u e of t h e old

f a s hi one d c l a s s i c a l t r a i n i n g i n f or m i n g a lu s t y pr os e s t yl e let ,

h i m e x a m i n e M r H e rb e r t s T h e S e cr e t B a t t le T hi s b ook o f t e n
’
. .

s ou n d s odd ly lik e a t r an s l at i on f rom vig or ou s G r e e k— c g ,

He r od ot u s I t i s l u c i d c om p ac t , l ogi ca l , ri c h i n t e lli n g e p i t h e t,
.
,

i n f or m a l a n d s w i f t I f t h e s e a re n ot t h e c a r d i nal p ros e vi rt u es ,
.

wh at a re ?

IT is co m mo n ly said that e v e rybody can s i n g in the

bathroom ; a n d this i s tru e Si n gi ng i s v e ry easy . .

D rawi n g though i s much mor e di ffi cul t

, , I have .

d e vot e d a good d e al o f tim e to Drawi n g one w ay ,

a n d anoth e r ; I ha v e to att e nd a gr e a t m any com m itt e e s

an d public m e e ti n g s an d at s uch fu n cti on s I fi n d

,

th a t Drawi n g i s al m o s t t h e o nly A r t one can s a t i s

9 6 A . P . He r b e r t

sp e e ches are w ell away th e Drawi n g be ,

g ins . M uch t h e b est thin g to draw i s a man .

Not t he chair m an or Lord Pom m e ry Quint

, ,

or any m e mb e r o f th e committ e e but j u s t A ,

Man Many novic e s mak e t h e mi s tak e o f s e Fm 1

.
.

le c t i n g a subj e ct for th e i r A r t be for e th e y

b egin ; usually th e y s el e ct t he chair m an And whe n .

th e y find it i s more lik e M r Gla d stone th e y a r e d i s

.

c ou r ag e d I f th ey had waited a littl e i t could ha v e b een

.

M r Gladstone o fficially
. .

As a rule I begin with t h e forehead and

w ork down to t h e chin ( Fig .

Wh e n I have done the outlin e I put in the

eye .Thi s i s on e o f t h e most di ffi cul t parts
o f Drawi n g ; one i s n ever quit e sure where
FI G 2
t h e e y e go e s I f however it is not a g ood
'

.
, ,

e ye , a us e ful tip i s to g 1 v e the man sp e ctacl e s ; this

g e n e rally make s him a clerg yman but it h elp s the ,

e y e ( Fig .

Now you hav e to outlin e t h e r e st o f t h e h e ad and ,

thi s i s rath e r a gambl e P e rsonally I go i n

.
,

for s t r ong h e ad s ( Fig .

I am a fraid it i s not a stron g n e ck ; I

expect he i s an author and is not w e ll fe d
, .

But that i s th e worst o f strong heads ; th e y

mak e it s o di ffic ult to j oin up the chin and
t h e back o f t h e neck .
 On D r a w i ng 97
Th e n e xt thing to do i s to put in the e ar ; and once
y ou have d on e this the r e st i s eas y Ears a r e much
.

more di fficult than e y e s ( Fig .

I hope that i s right It seems to me to b e a little

.

t oo f ar to t h e southw ar d But it is do n e n ow And

. .

’
once you have put in the car you can t go back ; not
u nl e s s you are on a v e ry g ood committ ee which pro

vid e s india rubb e r as we ll as p e ncils

-
.

Now I do t he hai r H ai r may e ith e r b e v e ry fuzzy

.

or black o r lighti sh and thin It d e

, .

p e nds chiefly on what sort o f p e ncil s are

provid e d F or mys e l f I pr e f e r black hai r
.
,

b e cause then the parting s hows up be t

t e r ( Fig .

U n t i l one draw s h air on e n e v e r r e al

Frc 4
.

iz e s what lar g e heads peopl e hav e Do ing .

t h e hai r tak e s t h e Whol e o f a S p ee ch usually ev e n one

, ,

o f the chairman s speeches

’
.

Thi s i s not one o f my best m en ; I am sur e t h e ear

i s in the wron g place And I am incli n e d to think
.

he ought t o have spectacles Only t h en h e would

.

b e a cl e rgyman and I hav e decid e d that

,

h e i s M r Philip Gibb s at the ag e o f

.

tw e nty S o he must carry on with hi s eye

.

as i t i s .

I find that all m y b e s t me n fac e to th e

west ; it is a curious thing S om e tim e s I
.
9 8 A . P . He r b e rt

draw two me n facing e ach oth e r but the one facin g ,

e ast i s alway s a dud .

Ther e y ou s e e ( Fig
,
. Th e on e on t h e right

i s a Bol s h ev ik ; h e has a low for e h e ad and be e t ling

brows a most unpl e a s ant man Y e t h e has a pow e r
— .

ful fac e Th e on e on the l e ft was m e a n t to be an

.

oth e r Bol s h evik arguing with him But h e has turned

, .

FI G 6
.

out to be a lady s o I h av e had to give her a bun

, .

S h e is a lady solicitor ; but I don t know h ow s h e came

’

to be talki n g to t h e Bolsh e vik .

Wh e n you hav e l e arn e d h ow to do men the o n l y ,

oth e r thi ngs i n Drawing are P e rspectiv e and Land .

scap e.

PE R S PECTIVE i s gr e at fun : t h e b e st thing to do

i s a lo n g Fr e n ch road with t e l e graph pol e s ( Fig .

I hav e put in a f e n c e a s w ell .

LAN DS CAPE i s chi e fly compos e d o f hills and tree s .

Tr ee s a r e t h e mo s t amusing e s oe c i ally flu ffy tr e e s

, .

H e r e is a La n d s cap e ( Fig .

S om e how or oth e r a man has got i n to this land

 O H EN RY
.

By O W FI RK I N S
. .

S eve r a l yea rsI t ur n e d t o Wh o s Wh o i n A m e i ca i n h op e

ag o
’
r

b f fi n d i ng s om e i n f or m a t i on a b o u t O W F irki s wh o br i lli a n t . . n , se

r e i e w s — c h i c fl y of p oe t ry — w e r e a pp e a ri n g i Th e N a t i o I
v n n .

f ou n d n o e nt ry b u t e e ry f w m on t h s I w o ul d a g a i n ru m m age
,
v e

t h a t s t ou t r e d v ol u m e wi t h t h e m e i n t e n t i on f o rg e t t i n g t h a tsa ,

I h a d d one s o b e f o re w i t h ou t s u c c e s I t e m e d h a r d l y c r e d ibl e s . s e

t h a t a c ri t i c s o b r i lli a n t h a d b e e n ove rl ook e d by t h e i n d u s t ri o u s

c o m p i l e r s o f t h a t w o rk whi c h i n c lu d s hu n d r e d o f h ack s a n d
, e s

f our fl u h e r s W h e n g at h e ri n g t h e c on t e n t s o f t hi s b ook I t ri e d
s .

W h o s W h o a g a i n s t ill wi t h ou t r e s ul t I wr ot e t o M r F i rki n s
’
. .
,

pl e a d i n g for bi ogra phi c a l d e t a il s ; m od e s t ly b u t fi m ly b e d e ,

s ,

ni d me
e .

S o a l l I a n t e ll y ou i s t h i s t h a t M r Fi rki n i s t o m y m i n d
c , . s

on e o f t h h a l f d oz e n m o t s p a rkli g c ri t i c s i n t hi s c ou n t ry
e -
s n .

O n e om e t i m e s f e e l s t h a t h e i s c a rri e d a li t t l p a t h i s d e s t i n a
s e s

t i on by t h e s h e e r gu s t o a n d hil a ri t y o f h i a t i t h e e s a n d p a ra s n s

d o x s T h t i s n ot s o h ow ev e r i n t hi s e s a y a b ou t O H n ry
e . a , , s . e ,

an a u t h o r w h o h a s o f te n b e e n gr ot e s q u ly m i p rai s e d ( I d i d n ot e s

s y ov e rpr a i e d )
a b y p e op l e i n c o m p e t e n t t o a p p r e c i at e h i s t ru e
s

gr e at n e s s M r Rob e r t Cort e s H
. .

”
o lli d a y i n a n e s s a y c a ll e d Th e ,
“

A m zi n g Fa ilur e o f O H e n ry
a s a i d t h at 0
. He n ry c r e a t e d n o
, .

m e m o r a bl e c h a r a c t e r s M r Fi rki n s s ugg e t s t h e ob i ou s b ut
. . s v

s t
a is f yi n g a n w e r — Ne w Y ork i t s e l f i s h i s t riu m ph
s T h e Ne w .

Y ork o f O H e n ry a l r e a d y a l m os t e r a s e d phy s i c a lly r e m a i n s a

.
, ,

p e r s on li t y a n d a n i d e n t i t y
a .

M r F irki s i s pr o f e s o r o f E n gli s h a t t h e U n ive r s i t y o f

. n s

M i n n e o t a a n d a c on t ribu t i n g e d i t or o f T h e W e e kl y Rev i w
'

s . e ,

i n whi c h t hi e s s ay fi r t sa pp e a r e d i n S e p t e mb e r 1 9 1 9
s The , .

f oot n ot e s a e o f c our s e h i s ow n
r , , .

T H E R E a r e two opinion s conc e r n i n g O H e n ry The . .

middl e cl a ss vi e ws h i m a s t h e imp e r s o natio n o f v igor

and brilliancy ; part o f t h e high e r critici s m s e e s in him
little but s e nsation a n d p e r s i fi a g e B e tw e e n t h e s e v i e ws .

there i s a natural r elatio n ; th e gods o f t h e h e ath e n s

xoo
 0 . H e n ry 10 1

ar e i ps o fac t o t h e d e mons o f Chri s tia n ity U n m ixe d .

a s s e r tio n s h ow e v e r a r e co m m o n ly mixtur e s o f truth

, ,

and fal s e hood ; th e r e is roo m to day for an e stimate

—

w hich s hall r e s p e ct both opinion s a n d a d opt n e ith e r .

Th e r e i s one l ite rary trait i n which I am u n able

to na m e any w r it e r o f tal e s i n any lit e rature who
surpas s e s O . It i s not primary o r e v e n
s e co n dary among lit e rary m e rit s ; it i s l e s s a value
e r s e tha n t h e c on dition or fou n dati on o f valu e s
p .

But i t s utility i s mani f e s t a n d it i s rar e among m en : ,

Chauc e r a n d Shak e s p e ar e prov e t h e po s s ibility o f i t s

ab s e n c e i n mast e rs o f that v e ry branch o f art in
whi c h its pr e s e n c e would s e e m to be i m p e rativ e I .

r e f e r to t h e d e s ig n i n g o f s tori e s not t o t h e primary

—

intuitio n or to s kill i n d e v e l op m e nt in b oth o f which ,

finer phas e s o f in v e n tion O H e n ry h a s b ee n large ly .

and fr e qu en tly surpa s s e d but to th e disp osition o f ,

* W i l l i a m S i d n e y P or t e r ,
1 8 62 s on of A lg e r n on S i dn ey
r r phy i i
Po t e , s c an b r br
w as o n,
,
ed an d g rly u
m ea e e d ca t e d i n
,

G e e n s b o o No t Ca o n a
r r , r h r li r b r
I n G e ens o o h e w as d
. rug l r c e k ;
x
i n T e as h e w a s am a t e ur r h l
an c m an l rk i r
a n d - of
fi ce c e ed to , and , ,

b a nk t e l e
l r Con ct e d o f m s s e o f a n k f n d s on n s ffi c e n t
. vi i u b u i u i
evi d e nce ( wh c i h uppl
he s e me nt e d b
y t h e in s an t
iy of fl
igh t ) he ,

p as s e d t h e e
r y r hr
e a s an d t h hi
e e m on t s i n t h e O o S t at e P e n t en
i
t i a ry a t C o m l u bu s l Re e a s e w a s t h e p e l d e t o
. r u li f e i n Ne w
Yo rk , t o st ory wri i gt n t o a i d an d w de s
r p i , pr ead f am e L at t e ,
rly .

his sto es ri publi h s e d in New Y o rk j ur l o b k r

na s an d i n oo fo m ,

w e e c on s m e d
,

r u by publi wi h
the c t vi i y whi h
an a d t cpr his ema
tur h
e d e at ,
r ly h k
in 1 9 1 0 s c a c e c ec ed
, ry
Th e p e n n a m e 0 He n , .
-
, .

l r i ly b rr w
i s a m os t c e t a n o o e d f om a F e n c
r r h h i c em st i E t e n ne .

i
O s s an He n ry wh , bri g
os e a d e d nam e h e f e
ll up ph r
on i n h i s a
l r rh i r i g ry Bi o a
gr phy
“ ”
mac a e s ea c e s S ee t h e nt e e st n
. O He n by .

C A ph on s o S m t
. l ih .
102 O W F i r k i ns
. .

mass e s to ,
blocki g out o f plot s That a hal f
t he n -
.

e d ucat e d A m e rica n provi n cial s hould hav e b e e n orig

inal i n a fi e ld in which origi n al m e n ha v e b e e n copy

i s t s i s e nough o f it s e l f to mak e hi s p e r s onality oh
s e rvabl e .

Illustrati on e v e n o f co n c e ded truth s i s rar ely s uper

, ,

fl uou s .I supply two i n s tanc e s Two la d s parting in .

,

“
Ne w Y or k ag r e e to m e e t A ft e r Tw e n ty Y e ars at
,

a sp e ci fi e d h our dat e an d cor n e r Both a r e faith ful ;

, ,
.

but t h e y e ar s i n which th e i r r e lation h a s s l e pt i n m utual

s il e nc e and ig n ora n c e ha v e turn e d t h e on e i n to a
dashing crimi n al t h e oth e r i n to a sob e r o ffic e r o f t h e
,

la w . B e hind t h e pictu re squ e a n d capti v ati n g r e n d e z

vou s lurk s a p ow e r ful d ramatic situati on a n d a m oral
probl e m o f arr e s ting gra v ity This i s d e a lt with i n .

“ “
s i x pag e s o f t h e Four M illio n Th e Fur n i s h e d
.

R oom two stori e s furth e r on occupi e s tw el v e page s

, ,
.

Through t h e wild e r n e s s o f apart m e nt s on t h e low e r

W e s t Si d e a m an trail s a wo m a n Cha n c e l e ad s him .

to the v e ry ro om in which t h e wo m a n e n d e d h e r li f e
t h e w e e k b e for e B e tw e e n h im a n d t h e truth t h e
.

avaric e o f a sordid la n dl a dy int e rpo s e s t h e curtain o f

a lie I n t h e b e d in which t h e girl s l e pt a n d di e d t h e
.
,

man sl ee p s and di e s a n d t h e e n tra n c e o f t h e d e adly

,

fum e s into h i s n ostril s shut s th e s i n i s t e r a n d m ourn

ful coinci d e nc e for e v e r from t h e k n owl e d g e o f man
kind O H e n ry gave th e s e tal e s n e ith e r e xt e n s i on n ot
. .
10 4 O W F i r k i ns
. .

Critici s m o f O Henry fall s into thos e sup e rlativ e s

.

and antith e s e s in which h i s own f aculty d e light e d .

In mechanical in v e ntion he i s almost t h e l e ad e r o f h i s

.
—
race I n a r e lat e d quality a d e f e ct h i s l e a d e r s hip
—

is even mor e co n spicuous I doubt i f t h e s e ns e o f t h e

.

probable or mor e pr e ci s e l y o f the availabl e in the

, , ,

i m probabl e ev e r b e ca m e equall y weak e n e d or d e ad

,

e n e d i n a m a n who m ad e h is livin by i t s e xercise

g .

T h e i m pr obabl e e v e n t h e impo s s ibl e h a s its plac e

, ,

i n art though that place i s r e lati v e ly low ; a n d i t i s

,

“ ”
curious that works such as t h e Arabia n Nights and
Grimm s fairy tal e s who s e st ock i n trad e i s t h e i n
’

,
- -

cr e dible are th e works which giv e almo s t no troubl e

,

on t h e score o f v e ri s imil itud e Th e truth i s that w e .

r e j e ct n ot what it I S i mpo s sible t o pr ov e o r even what ,

it i s pos s ibl e t o disprov e but wh at i t i s impossibl e to

,

imagin e O H e nry a s ks us to ima g in e t h e un i mag

. .

inabl e t hat i s h i s crim e

—
.

Th e right and wrong i m probabiliti e s may b e illus

“ ”
t rat e d fro m two burglar stori e s Six e s and S e ve n s .

c ontai n s an e xc e ll e n t tal e o f a burglar and a citiz e n

who frat e r n iz e i n a comic mid n ight int e rvi e w on the

, ,

scor e o f thei r common su ffe rings f rom rh e umatism .

Thi s f e e ling in practice would not triumph over f e ar

and gr e e d ; but the f e eling i s natural and everybody ,

with a grain o f n ature in him can imagi n e its triumph .

Nature te nds toward s that impossibility an d art li ft , ,

 0 . H e n ry 10 5
ing ,
soto sp e ak t h e l id which fact drops upon nature
, ,

r e v e als nature i n b elying fact In another story in.

,

“ ”
Whirligigs a nocturnal int e rvi e w tak e s plac e in
,

which a burglar and a small boy discuss t h e e tiqu ette

o f th e ir mutual r elation by formulas d e riv e d from
short stori e s with which both a r e amazingly conv e r s ant .

Thi s i s t h e wrong use o f the improbabl e Ev e n an .

imagination inur e d to t h e virtu e s o f burglars and t h e

maturity o f small boys will have naught to do with thi s
in s anity .

B ut 0 H e nry can g o furth e r ye t Th e r e are i nv e n

. .

tio n s i n h i s tal e s t h e v e ry utt e ranc e o f which — not the

e h
m e r su b stanc e but t e utt ranc e e — on t h e part o f a

man not writin g from B edlam o r for B e dlam impress e s

“ ”
the read e r as incr e dibl e In a Comedy in R ubb e r
.
,

t w o p e rs ons b e come so us e d to spectatorship at trans

actio n s i n t h e stree t that th e y dri ft into the part o f

sp e ctators when th e transaction i s th e ir own wedding .

C an human darin g or human folly go furth e r ? O .

H e nry i s on th e spot to prove that th e y can In .

“
th e R omance o f a Bu s y B roker a busy and forge t ,
‘

f ul man in a fr e ak o f abs e nt mind e dn e ss o ffe rs his

,
-
,

hand to the stenograph e r w h om h e h ad mar ri e d the

nig h t be f or e .

The other day in the j ournal o f t h e G oncou rt s I

, ,

“
came upon t h e following s e nt e nce : N e v e r will the
i magination approach t h e impr obabiliti e s a n d t h e an
 106 O W F i r k i ns
. .

t i t he s es o f truth ( II This i s dated F ebrua ry 2 1

, ,

1 8 62 Truth had still the advant age 0 H enry w a

. . .
s

not born ti ll S epte mb e r o f t he sam e y e ar .

Passing on to styl e w e a r e s till in the land o f anti ,

. s —
th e s i s The style is gro s and fi n e O f the pl e n itu d e .

“
o f its sti m ulus ther e can be no qu e s tion I n S ixe s
,
.

”
an d S ev e ns a y ou n g man s inki n g u n d e r accid e ntal
,

morphia i s k e pt awak e and aliv e by sh outs kicks an d

, , ,

blows O Henry s publi c s e e ms i m ag e d in that young

. .
’

man But I draw a s harp distinctio n b e tw e e n t h e t one

.

o f the style and its pa tt er n T h e ton e i s braz e n or .

, ,

b ette r p e rhaps bras s y ; its s el f adv e rtis e m e nt i s i n cor

,
-

ri g i b le ; it r e e ks with that air o f p e rf or m a n ce whi ch i s ,

oppos e d to r e al effi ci en cy But t h e patte rn i s anoth e r .

matt e r T h e South r ou n d s i t s p e riod s lik e it s vow e ls ;

.

O H e n ry has r e ad not wid e ly but wi s e ly in h i s boy

.
, , ,

hood H s s e t e n c e s a re bu i lt a rar e thi n g i n t h e be st

. i n —

writers o f to day I n conci s e n e s s that Spart an virtu e

-
.
, ,

he was strong though it mu s t be con f e s s e d that t h e

,

tal e t ell e r was n ow and th e n hustl e d from t h e ro s trum

-

by hi s ri v al and e n e my t h e talk e r H e can intro d uc e , .

a f e licity wit h a noi s e l e s s n e s s that n u m b e r s him for

a flyi n g s e c on d a m o n g t h e s o v e r e ig n s o f E n gli s h In .

on e o f t h e s e co n d fl oor fro n t wi n d ow s M r s M c Ca s ke
y
-
.

await e d h e r hu s ba n d Supp e r w a s co oli n g on t h e

.

”
tabl e Its h e at w e nt i n to M r s M c Ca s ke y
. . .

I r e gr e t t h e t om fo ol e ry ; I wi n c e a t t h e s lan g Yet .
10 8 O W F i r k i ns
. .

I f O H e nry s styl e w as crud e it was al s o rare ; but

.
’

it i s part o f t h e gri m n e s s o f t h e bargain that d e s tiny

dri v e s with us that t h e m ixtur e o f t h e crud e an d the
rar e should b e a crud e m ixtur e as t h e s ons o f whit e s ,

an d n e gro e s a r e numb e r e d with t h e bl a cks In t h e .

ki n gd om o f s tyl e O H en ry s e s tat e s w e r e princ e ly

.
’
,

but to p ay hi s d e bt s h e m ust hav e s old th e m all

, ,
.

Thu s far i n our i n quiry e xtra ordi n ary m e rit s hav e

b e e n o ffs e t by e xtra ordi n ary d e f e cts To li ft our .

author out o f t h e cla s s o f brillia n t and skil f ul e n t e r

t a i n e r s mor e i s n e e d e d
,
Is mo re forthco m in g .
? I
should answ e r y e s In O H e n ry abo v e t h e k n owl
, . .
,

e d g e o f s e ttin g which is cl e ar and fi rs t hand but

,
-
,

subsidia ry abov e the ord e r o f e v e n ts whi c h i s g e n

, , ,

e r ally s p e aking fantastic above t h e e motio n s which

, , ,

are sou n d and warm but almost pur e ly d e rivativ e

, ,

th e r e is a rath e r s m all but impr e s sive body o f fi r s t

,

ha n d p e r s picaciti e s and r e actions On th e s e h i s e n .

dura n c e m ay hi n ge .

I nam e first o f all O H e n ry s f e eli n g for Ne w York

, , .
’
.

With th e e xc e ption o f h i s Ne w Orl e an s I car e l ittle ,

for hi s South an d W e s t which ar e a boyish S outh ,

and W e st and a s littl e o r e v e n l e s s for h i s Spani s h

, ,

Am e rican communiti e s M y obj e ct i on to hi s ope ra .

bou ffe r e publics is not that th e y a re inad e quat e a s r e

,

publics ( for that we wer e e nti re ly pr e par e d ) but that ,

t he y ar e inad e quat e as opera H e l e ts u s se e his sho w .

 0 . H e n ry 0 9
f r om the couliss e s Th e pr e t e n se lacks standing ev e n
.

among prete ns e s an d a faith must be induc e d be fore

,

i t s r e moval can e nliv e n us B ut his Ne w York h as .

’
quality It is o f the family o f Dickens s London and
.

Hugo s Paris though it is plainly a cad e t in the fam

’
,

ily M r How e ll s in his pro found an d valuable stud y

. .
,

“ ”
o f t h e m e tropoli s in a Hazard o f Ne w Fortunes i s ,

p e n e trati n g ; O H e nr y on the oth e r ha n d is pe ne

.
, ,

tr a t e d . H i s Ne w York i s intimate a n d clingin g ; it i s

caught in t h e m e s h o f t h e imagi n ation .

O H e n ry had rar e but pr e ciou s i n s ights into human

.

d e s tiny and hu m an natur e In thes e pictur e s h e is not

.

formally accurate ; h e could n e v e r or s e ldom s et his

truth b e for e us in that mod e rati on and proportio n
which truths ac q uire in the string e nci e s o f actuality .

H e was apt to pres e nt hi s insight in a sort o f parable

or all e gory to uprai s e it be fore t h e e yes o f mankind
,

on t h e mast or fla g pol e o f some v e hem e nt e x ag g e ra

tion Epigram s hows us truth i n th e e mbrace o f a li e
.
,

and tal e s w hi ch are dr amatiz e d epigrams are subj e ct

to a like constraint The f orce how e ver i s real I
.
, ,
.

could scarce ly name anywher e a mor e power ful expo

sitio u o f fatal ity than R oads o f D e stiny the init ia l
“ ”
,

story in t h e volume whi c h appropriates its title I t .

wanted only the skill e d romanti c touch o f a Gautier

.

or St e ve nson to enroll this tal e amon g th e master

p ieces o f its kind in contemporary l e tters .
 1 10 O W F i r k i ns
. .

Now and th e n t h e i n gr e di e n t o f parabl e i s har d ly

p e rc eptibl e ; w e d raw clo s e to t h e bar e fact O H e n r y . .
,

f ortunat e in plot s i s p e culiarly fortunat e i n h i s r e

,

nunc i at i on o f plot I f co n triva n c e i s lucra t iv e it i s

.
,

also costly Th e r e i s an a d m irabl e littl e s tory call e d

.

“
t h e P e n d ulu m ( in t h e Trim m ed t h e s i m
li i t o f wh os e fabl e would ha v e s ati s fi e d Cop p é e
p c y
or Hawthor n e A m an i n a Ha t by fo r c e o f c u s t om
.
, ,

h a s c om e to r e gard his wi f e a s a pi e c e o f fu r n itu r e .

S h e d e part s for a fe w hours and by t h e br e a k i n , ,

u s ag e i s r e stor e d i n h i s c on s ciousn e s s to wo m a n ho od
, , ,
.

She com e s back an d r e l a p s e s i n to fur n itur e That

,
.

is all O H ry coul d not hav e gi v e n

. e n. u s l e s s — or

mor e Farcical clowni s h i f you will t h e st ory r e

.
, , ,

s e mbl e s tho s e clow n s who carry dagg e r s u n d e r th e ir

motl e y Wh e n John P e rkins tak e s up that i n au s picious

.

hat t h e r e ad e r smil e s and quails I will m e ntion a

, , .

fe w oth e r e xa m pl e s o f i n s ight s with t h e pro v i s o that

th e y a re not s p e cially comm e nd e d to t h e m a n whos e
qu e st in t h e s hort s t ory i s t h e e l e ctri fyi n g or t h e cal
“ “
or i fi c Th ey i n clud e t h e Social Tria n gl e t h e Mak
.
,

” “
i ng o f a Ne w Y ork e r and t h e For e ig n Policy o f
,

” “
Compa n y all in t h e Tri m m e d La m p t h e B ri e f ,

” “ ”
Début o f Tildy in t h e Four Million a n d t h e Com ,

” “
p l e t e Li f e o f J oh n H opki n s i n t h e Voi c e o f t h e
Ci t y . I ca n not clo s e this su m mary o f good poi n ts
with o u t a p a s s in g r e f e r e nc e to t h e n ot u n s ugg e s tive
1 12 0 . W F i r k i ns
.

second point i s hi s f ee ling for und e r p ai d working girls -

.

H i s pas s ion at e conc e rn for thi s wron g d e ri v e s a

peculiar e mphasis from t h e g en e ral r e fusal o f h i s b ooks
to bestow count e nanc e or notic e on philanthropy in i t s
coll e ctiv e forms Wh en i n his d r e am o f H e a v e n h e
.
, ,

”
is ask e d : A e y ou o e o f t e bu n ch
r n h ?
( m e a n ing one

o f t h e bunch o f gra s ping and grindi n g e mploy e r s ) ,

t h e r e spo n s e through all i t s s lang i s soul s tirring

, ,
-
.

I m only t h e
‘ ’
Not on your immortality said I , .
‘ ’

f e llo w that s e t fi re to an orphan asylum and murd e r e d

a blind man for hi s p enni e s Th e author o f that
.
’

r e tort may hav e som e di ffi culty with t h e s e n tri e s that

watch t h e e ntranc e o f Parna s sus ; h e will have none
with the gat e ke eper o f the New J er usalem .
 T HE M OW I N G O F A FIELD

By H ILAI R E BE L L oc

We ha ve n ot h a d i n ou r t i m e a m o e n at a l b o n e s s a i s t of r ur -
r y ,

t h e s ca m e i n s o t , t a n H a i e Be oc
p r g r ll h He i s a n n f e c t ou s
i il r
i .

f e l ow : i f y ou ea d h i m mu c h y ou
l r will find o s e f t
y ur l ryi g n to
i m i t at e h i m ; t e e i s no a m i n d o n s o : h e m s e f ca t
h r h r i g hi l ugh
t h e t c k f om R a e a s
ri r b l i I d o n ot p op ose t o e a s e e t h e
r .r h h h r
es s a y I w ot e ab o t h i m i n a oo c a e d S h a ndyg afi Y ou c an
r u b k ll .

r re fe t o i t t e e, w c h w l b e
h r hi il g bu
ood s i ne s s all
r u o nd k I n ow .

i t i s a wo t r hy y
e s s a , for m c u h o f i t w a s c ibb e d f om a n a t c e
r r ri l
b M r T om a s S ec com e w c a n A m e c an a e f t e d f om
y .h b hi h ri p p r li , r
t he E n gli h j ur
s o n a l wh c p e s ma
i h r u bly i p a d M r S e c c om e for
, b , .

it
. I wr ot e i t for t h e B os t on Tr a ns c r ip t wh r e e I kne w t h e ,

t e ft w o d b e
h ul u h v li g g h r
n d e t e ct e d ; a n d i n s o e n to et e s om e s t ff
u
b k h
for a oo ( t a t w a s i n 1 9 1 7 , t h e c os t o f livi g n ri i g
was s n at an
an gle of f o t ry gr
fi ve d e e e s a s s o m a n
-
y gr ph h v h w
a s a e s o
,
n ) I p ut

i t in f o ett n
,
rg i g u il ( n t t oo l a t e ) t a t s om e o f i t w a s a s o t e
h b lu
p n de
lu r .

I t i s a mi s t a e
“
h r i
M r C e s t e t on on c e s a d s om e t n
. hi g lik hi e t s : k
t o t inh k h hi v
t a t t e e s d o n ot r p pr p r y h y ly i
e s e ct o e t T e on w sh .

it t o be c om e t h e i r p op e t , s o t a t t e
r ry h h y m ay m o e e f e ct
r p r ly re

s p ect
”
t 1 .

A n d by t h e w a y M a x B e e r b oh m s p a rod y of B e l l oc i n A
’

, ,

Ch i s t m as G a la n d i s s om e t hi n g n ot t o b e m i s s e d
r r ,
I t i s on e .

o f t h e b e s t p r oo f s t h at Be ll oc i s a r e a lly gr e a t a r t i s t B e e rb oh m .

d oe s n ot w a s t e h i s t i m e m i m i c ki n g t h e s m a ll f ry .

H i l a i r e B e ll oc— s on of a F r e n c h f a t h e r a n d an E n g l i s h mot h e r ;
h i s h a ppy j u n c t i on o f b ot h E n gli s h a n d F r e n c h g e n iu s i n pr os e
i s h e r e d i t a ry— w a s b or n i n F r a n ce i n 1 8 70 H e live d i n S u s s e x
a s a c h il d ; s e rve d i n t h e F r e n c h fi e l d a r t i ll e ry ; w a s at Ba lli ol
.

Co ll e g e O x f or d 1 8 93 9 5 a n d s a t f ou r y e a r s ( 1 9 0 6 1 0 ) i n t h e
, ,
-
,
-

H ou s e o f Common s Ce r t a i n ly y ou m u s t r ea d ( am on g h i s g at h
.

e r i n g s o f e s s ay s ) On N ot hi ng On E v er y t h i ng On S om e t h i ng , ,

H i lls a n d t h e S ea F i s t a n d L as t ; t h e n y ou c a n r e a d Th e P a t h
,

. r

t o R om e , Th e F ou r M e n a n d Ca li ba n s G u i d e t o L e t t e rs
an d ,
’

and Th e P y r e n e e s a n d M a r i e A n t oi n e t t e I f y ou d e s e t h e . ir
o 1 on ( or bu i on ) o f h i s c h a m t e e i s A P i c ke d C omp a ny,
b u ll ll r h r
.

a s e l e c t 1 on ( M r E V L u ca s ) of h i s m os t e e s e n t at e o k
by . . . r pr iv w r .

1 s p ubl1 s h ed b M et hu e n a n d C om p a n , 3 6 E s s e x S t e e t W C ,
y y r
iton d on .
. .

H a v n d on e s o c ome a ai n : w e wi ll g o off i n a co n e an d
i g , g r r
t al k a o t M r B e oc
b u . ll .
1 14 . H i la i r e B e ll oc

T H E R E i s a vall ey i n S out h E ngland remote from

ambition an d from f e ar wh e re t h e pas s age o f ,

strangers i s rar e an d unp e rc e iv e d a n d wh e r e t h e s c e n t ,

o f t h e grass i n s umm e r i s bre ath e d only by thos e who

a r e n a tiv e to that unvisit e d land The roa d s t o t h e .

Chann el do not trav e r s e it ; they choos e upo n e ith e r

side easi e r pass e s ov e r the range On e track al on e .

l e ads up through it to the hills and th is is chang e abl e ,

n ow gr ee n wh e re m e n hav e littl e occasion to go n ow ,

a g ood road wh e re i t n e ars t h e hom e st e ads a n d t h e

barns The woods grow st ee p abov e t h e slop e s ; th ey
.

reach som e tim e s t h e v e ry summit o f t h e h ei ght s or , ,

when th ey can not attai n t h e m fill in and cloth e t h e ,

coomb e s And in b e tw ee n along the floor o f t h e v a l

.
, ,

ley d ee p pa s tur e s and th e ir sil e n c e ar e bord e r e d b y

,

lawns o f chalky gra s s and t h e small y e w tr e e s o f t h e

D own s .

Th e cloud s that vi s it its sky re veal th e m s elv e s beyond

the one gre at ri s e and sail whit e and e n or m ou s to t h e
, , ,

oth e r and si n k b e yond that oth e r But t h e plains

, .

above which th e y hav e trav e l e d and t h e W e a ld to

which th e y go t h e p e opl e of t h e vall e y ca n not s e e a n d
,

hardly recal l T h e wind when it r e ach e s such fi el d s

.
, ,

i s no longer a gal e from t h e sal t but fruit ful a n d s o ft , ,

an inland bre e z e ; an d t ho s e whose blood was nouri s h e d

h e re f e e l in that w i n d t h e fruitfuln e ss o f our orchards
and all t h e li f e that all thi n g s draw from t h e air .
1 1 6 H i la i r e B e ll oc

littl e ( th ough it w a s alre a d y e v e n i n g ) an d I s a w that

,

t h e gra s s w a s s t a n d i n g a s it should s ta n d wh e n it is

r e ady for t h e s c yth e For i n thi s as i n e v e ry t hi n g

.
,

that a man c a n d o— o f t hos e thi n gs at l e ast which a r e

v e ry old th e r e i s a n e x a ct m o m e n t wh e n th e y a r e
—

do n e b e s t A n d it h a s b e e n r em a rk e d o f what e v e r rul e s
.

us that it work s blu n d e r ingly s e e i n g th a t t h e g oo d

,

thi n gs gi v e n t o a m an a r e n ot gi v e n at t h e pr e c i s e m o
me nt wh e n th e y w ould hav e fill e d him with d e light .

But wh e th e r thi s b e tru e or fal s e w e can choo s e t h e

, ,

j u s t tur n o f t h e s e a s o n s in e v e rything w e do o f our

ow n will a n d e s p e cially in t h e m aking o f hay
,
M any .

think that hay i s be s t m ad e wh e n t h e gra s s is thick e st ;

and s o th e y d e lay until it is r a nk and i n fl ow e r and ,

has alr e ady h e a v ily pull e d t h e gr ou n d And th e r e i s.

anoth e r fals e r e a s on for d elay which i s w e t w e ath e r

, .

F or v e ry fe w will u n d e rstand ( though it comes year

a ft e r y e ar ) that w e ha v e rain alwa ys in South Eng
land be tw e e n t h e s i ckl e an d t h e scythe or s ay j ust a ft e r
,

t h e w e e ks o f e a s t w i n d a r e o v e r . First w e hav e a
w ee k o f s udd e n warmth a s though t h e south had com e
,

to s e e u s all ; th e n w e ha v e t h e w e e k s o f e ast a n d south

e ast wind ; and th e n w e hav e mor e or l e s s o f that rain

o f whi c h I s pok e a n d which always asto n i s h e s the

,

world Now it i s j u s t b e for e or duri n g or at t h e

.
, ,

v e ry e n d o f th a t rain but not lat e r— that gra s s s hould

—

be cut for hay T r ue upland grass which i s always

.
, ,
 Th e M ow i ng o f a F i e ld 1 17

thin should be cut earli e r than the g rass in t h e bot

,

t oms and along the wate r meadows ; but not ev e n the

lat e st e v e n in the w e tte s t s e asons should be l e ft ( as
, ,

it is ) to fl ow e r and even to seed F or what w e g et .

w h e n we store our g ra s s i s not a harvest o f so m e thi n g

ripe but a thing j ust caught in its prime be fore ma
, .

t u r i t y : a s witn e s s that our corn and straw are b e st

y e llow ,
but our h a y is b e st g r e en S o also D
. e ath
should b e r e pr e sented with a scyth e and Tim e with a
s ickl e ; for Tim e can tak e onl y what is ripe but D e ath ,

com e s always too soon In a word th e n i t i s always

.
, ,

much easi e r t o cut grass too lat e than too early ; and
I u n d e r that e ve ning and com e back to th e s e pl easant
,

fi e lds l ooked at t h e gra s s and kn e w that it was ti me

, .

Jun e was i n full advanc e ; it was t h e b e ginning o f th at

s e ason when t h e night has alr e ady lost her foothold o f
t h e e arth and h ov e rs o v e r it n e v e r q uite d esc e ndin g
, ,

but mixin g suns e t with t h e dawn .

N e xt mornin g be for e it w a s ye t broad day I awok e

, , ,

a n d thought o f t h e mowin g . T h e birds w e re already

chatt e ri n g in the tr ee s beside my window all excep t ,

t h e nightingal e which had l e ft and fl own awa y to t h e

,

W e ald wh e re he si ngs all summer b y d ay as well as

,

by night i n the oaks and the haz el s p inney s and espe ,

c i ally along t h e little riv e r Adur one o f the rivers of

,

the W e ald The birds a n d the thought o f t h e mowing

.

had awakened me and I w ent d own th e stair s a nd

,
1 1 8 H i la i r e B e ll oc

along t h e ston e floors to wh e r e I could find a scythe ;

and when I took it from its nail I r e m e mbered h ow , ,

fourt ee n y e ar s ago I had last go n e out with my scythe

, ,

j ust s o into t h e fi e ld s at morning I n be tw ee n that

,
.

day and this w e r e ma n y thi ng s citi e s and ar m i e s a n d

, ,

a con fu s ion o f books mountains and t h e d e s e rt and

, ,

horribl e gr e at br e adths o f s ea .

Wh e n I got out into t h e long grass t h e sun was not

y e t ris e n but ther
, e w e r e al r e ady many colors in the

e ast e rn s ky and I mad e haste to sharp e n my s cyth e

, ,

so that I might g e t to t h e cutting b e fore t h e d e w s hould

dry So m e s ay that it i s b e s t to wait till all t h e d e w
.

has ri s e n so as to g et t h e gras s quite dry from the v e ry

,

fi rst But though it i s an advantage to g e t t h e gra s s

.
,

quite dry ye t i t is not w orth whil e to wait till th e d e w

,

h a s risen For in t h e first plac e you lo s e m a n y hours

.
, ,

o f work ( and thos e the cool e st ) a nd n e xt— whi c h i s ,

mor e importa n t— you los e that gr e at e a s e a n d thick n e ss

i n cutti n g which com e s o f t h e d e w So I at onc e b e gan .

to sharp en my scyth e .

Th e r e is an a r t also in t h e sharp e ni n g o f t h e s cyth e ,

a nd i t is worth d e scribing car e fully Your bla d e mu s t .

b e dry and that is why you will s e e m e n rubbi n g t h e

,

scyth e bla d e with gra s s b e for e th e y wh e t it Th e n

-
.

also your rubb e r must b e quit e dry a n d on thi s acc ount ,

it is a good thing to lay it on your coat a n d k e e p i t

th e r e during all your d ay s mowing T h e scyth e you
’
.
120 H i la i r e B e ll oc

He leave s gre at cr e sc ents o f gra s s uncut . He digs t h e

point o f t h e scyth e hard i nto t h e grou n d with a j e rk .

He loos e n s t h e ha n d l e s and e v e n t h e fast e n i n g o f t h e

blad e He twi s ts t h e blad e with his blund e rs h e blunts
.
,

t h e blad e h e chips it d ull s it or br e aks it cl e an off at

, , ,

t h e tip . I f any on e i s s tandi n g by h e cuts him in the

ankl e . He sw e e ps up into t h e air wildly with n othing ,

t o r e si s t his strok e He drags up e arth with t h e grass

.
,

which i s lik e making t h e m e adow bl e e d .B ut t h e

g ood mow e r who do e s thing s j ust a s th e y s hould b e

don e and hav e b e e n for a hundr e d thousa n d y e ar s fall s ,

i nto non e o f th e s e fool e ri e s He go e s forward v e ry

.

st e adily hi s scyth e blad e j ust bar e ly mi s s ing t h e

,
-

g round e
,
v e ry gra s s falling ; t h e swish and rhythm o f
h i s mowing a r e al w ays t h e s am e .

S o gr e at an art can o n ly b e l e arnt by conti n ual pra e

t ic e ; but this much i s worth writing down that as in , ,

all good work to know t h e thing with which you work

,

i s t h e cor e o f the a ffai r Good v e rs e i s b e s t w ritt e n on

.

g d pap e r with an e asy p e n not with a lu m p o f coal

o o ,

on a whit e wash e d wall T h e p en thi n k s for you ; and

.

s o do e s t h e scyth e m ow f or you i f you tr e at it honorabl y

and in a ma n n e r that mak e s it r e cogn iz e its s e rvice .

Th e mann e r i s this Y ou mu s t r e gard t h e scyth e a s a

.

pe ndulu m that s wings not as a kni f e that cuts A

, .

g ood mow e r puts no more str e ngth i n to his s troke than

i nto h i s l i fting Again stand up to y ou r work The
.
, .
 Th e M ow i ng f
o a F i e ld 12 1

bad mow e r e age r and full o f pain leans forward an d

, ,

tri e s to forc e the scythe through t h e grass Th e goo d .

m ow e r s e r e n e and abl e stands as n e arly straight as

, ,

t h e s hap e o f t h e scythe will le t him and follows u p ,

ev e ry strok e clos e ly movin g hi s le ft foot forward

, .

Th e n al s o let e very strok e g et well away M owing i s .

a th ing o f ampl e g e stur e s l ike drawing a cartoo n

, .

Th e n again g e t yours e l f into a mechanical and r ep e ti

, ,

ti v e mood : be thinking o f anythin g at all but your

mowi n g and b e anxious only wh e n ther e s e e ms some
,

int e rruption to t h e monotony o f t h e sound In this .

b — ’
mowing should e lik e on e s praye rs all o f a s ort and
always t h e sam e and s o mad e that you can e stabli s h
,

a monot on y and work th e m as it w e r e w ith hal f your

, ,

mi n d : that happier hal f t h e hal f that do e s not bother

, .

In this w ay wh e n I had r e cove r e d t h e art a ft e r so

,

many years I w e nt forward ov e r t h e fie ld cutting lane

, ,

a ft e r lane through t h e grass and bringing out its most

,

s e cr e t essenc e s with t h e sweep o f t h e scyt he until the

a i r was full o f odors At the end of ev e ry l an e I
.

sharp e n e d my scyth e and look e d back at t h e work done ,

and th e n carri e d my scyth e down a g ain upon my

s hould e r to b e gin anoth e r S o long be for e the b e ll
.
,

r ang in the chap e l abov e m e — that i s l ong b e for e s i x ,

—
o clock which i s t h e time f or t h e Ang e lus I had many
’
,

swath e s al r e ady lying i n ord e r parall e l like soldi e ry ;

and th e high grass ye t standin g making a g re at con ,
122 H i la i r e B e ll oc

t ras t with the s haven pa rt looked de n se and hi g h As

, .

i t s ay s in the Ballad o f Val é s D unes where

- -
,

The tall s on of the Seve n Winds

C am e ridin g out o f H ither-h yt h e ,

and his horse hoo f s ( you w i ll remembe r ) t ram p l e d

-

into t h e press an d made a g ap i n i t and h i s sword ( as

,

y ou know )
w as like a scyth e
In Arcu s wh e n the g rass i s high
And all the swath e s in ord e r lie ,

And there s the baili ff standing by

’

A g athering o f t h e tithe
-
.

S o I mowed all that morning till t he houses awoke

,

i n the vall ey and f rom some o f th e m ro s e a little

,

f ragrant smoke and men b e gan to be se e n

,
.

I stood still and rest e d on my scyth e to watch the

awakening o f the village wh e n I s aw coming up to
,

my fi e ld a man whom I had known in old e r time s ,

b e fore I had l e ft t h e Vall e y .

He was o f that dark sil e nt rac e upon which all the

learn e d quarrel but which by what e v e r m e aningl e ss
, ,

nam e it may be call e d Ibe rian or C e ltic or what you

—
, ,

—
will is the p e rma n e nt root o f all England and m ak e s ,

England w e althy and pr e s e rves it e v e rywh e r e e xc e pt ,

p e rhaps in t h e F e ns and i n a part o f Yorkshire Eve ry .

wh e r e e lse you will fi n d i t a c tiv e and strong Th e s e .

peopl e are int e n si v e ; th e ir thoughts and th e i r labo rs

12 4 H i la i r e B e ll oc

mon ey and what I wa nt e d was his labo r at th e l e as t

,

pay ye t w e both play e d t h e com e dy that w e w e r e fre e

,

m e n t h e on e gra n ti n g a grace an d the oth e r acc eptin g

,

it For t h e dry bo n e s o f co m m e rc e avaric e and m e thod

.
,

an d n e e d a r e o d iou s to t h e Vall e y ; and w e co v e r th e m

,

up with a pre tty body o f ficti on an d ob s e r vanc e s Thus .

,

wh e n it co m e s to buying pigs th e buye r doe s not b e gi n ,

to d e cry t h e p i g an d t h e v e ndor to prai s e it a s i s t h e ,

c u s tom with l e s s e r m e n ; but traditio n mak e s th e m do

bu s ine s s in this fashi on

Fir s t t h e buy e r will go up to t h e s e ll e r wh en h e s e e s
hi m in h i s own st e ading a n d looki n g at t h e pig with , ,

admiration t h e buy e r will s ay that rai n m ay o r m ay

,

not fall or that w e s hall hav e snow or thu n d e r accord

, ,

in g to t h e ti m e o f t h e y e ar Th e n t h e s e ll e r lo oki n g
.
,

critically at t h e pig will agre e that t h e weath e r i s as

,

h i s fri e n d mai n tai n s Th e re i s no hast e at all ; gr e at

.

le isur e marks t h e dign ity o f th e ir e xchange And t h e .

“
n ext s t e p i s that the buy e r says :
, That s a fi ne p i g ’

y o u ha v e th e r e M r ,( gi.v ing t h e s e ll e r s n a m e )
’
.

“
Ar pow e r ful fi n e pig
, Th e n t h e s e ll e r s aying also
.
,

Mr ( for twi n broth e rs rock e d in on e cradl e give

.

each oth e r c e r e monious obs e rvanc e her e ) t h e s ell e r I , ,

s ay , ad m its a s though with r el u ctanc e t h e str e n g th

, ,

and b e auty o f t h e p ig and f all s i n to d e e p thought

, .

Th en t h e buyer sa y s as th ough mo v e d by a g reat

,

d e si r e that h e i s r e ady to give so mu ch for the p i g

, ,
 Th e M ow i ng o f a Fi e ld 1 2 5
n ami n g h al f t h e prop e r pric e or a littl e l e ss Th e n t h e
,
.

s e ll e r r e m ains in s il en c e for s om e mom e nts ; and at

“
l a s t be gin s to shak e h i s h e ad slowly till h e says : , I
”
don t be thi n kin g o f s e lling t h e p i g anyways He
’
, .

w ill al s o add that a part y only Wednesday o ffe r e d him

so much for t h e pig— and h e names about d oubl e the
p rop e r pric e Thu
. s al l ritual is duly accom p li s h e d ;
a n d t h e s ol e m n act i s ent e r e d upon with r e v e r e n c e an d

i n a s pirit o f truth .F or wh e n the buye r u s e s this

“ ”
l d
’

p hra se : I ll t e ll you what I w i l o and o ff,

e rs
within hal f a crown o f t h e p ig s value t h e s e ll e r r e pli e s
’
,

that h e can r e fus e him nothing an d nam e s hal f a ,

crown abo v e i t s valu e ; t h e d i ffe r e nc e is split t h e p i g ,

i s sold and in t h e qui e t soul o f e ach ru n s t h e peace

,

o f s om e th i n g accompli s h e d .

Thus d o w e buy a pig or land or labor or malt or

l im e al ways with e laboration and s e t forms ; and
,

m any a Lo n don man has paid doubl e and more for

h i s viol e n ce and his gr e e dy ha s te and v e ry unchivalr ous
higgl i n g As happ e n e d with the land at U n d e rw al
.

tham which th e mort g agees had b e gg ed and implore d

,

t h e e state to take at twelv e hundr e d and had privat e ly

o ffe red to all the world at a th ousand but which a ,

sharp dire c t m an o f the kind that makes g reat for

,

t unes a man in a motor ca r a man i n a f ur coat a

,
-
, ,

m an o f fe w words bought for t w o tho usand three

,

hundr e d be for e m y ver y eyes prot e s ti n g t hat they

,
12 6 H i la i r e B e ll oc

might tak e hi s o ffe r or l e av e it ; and al l beca use he did

not b egin by praising t h e land .

We ll th e n thi s man I S pok e o f o ff e red to h e lp me

, ,

and h e w e nt to g e t his scyth e But I w e nt into this

.

hous e and brought out a gallon j ar o f small al e for

him and for me ; for t h e s un was n ow very warm and ,

small ale go e s w e ll with mowing Wh e n w e had drunk

.

s om e o f thi s ale i n mug s call e d I s e e you w e took ,

e ach a swathe ,
he a littl e be hind me b e caus e h e was
t h e b e tt e r mower ; and so for many hours we swu n g ,

on e be fore t h e oth e r mowing and mowing at th e tall

,

grass o f the fi e ld And th e sun rose to noon and we

.

w e r e still at our mowin g ; and w e ate f ood but onl y ,

for a littl e whil e and we took again to our mowing

,
.

And at la s t there was nothing l e f t but a small squar e o f

grass sta n ding lik e a square o f lin e sm e n wh o k ee p
,

th e i r formation tall and unbroken with all t h e d e ad

, ,

lying around th e m wh e n t h e battl e i s ov e r and do n e .

Th e n fo r som e littl e time I r e s t e d a ft e r all th o s e

hours ; and t h e man an d I talked tog e th e r and a lo ng ,

way off w e h e ard in anoth e r fi e ld t h e musical s harp en

ing o f a scyth e .

T h e sunlight slant e d powd e r e d and m e llow ov e r t h e

breadth o f th e vall e y ; f or d ay was nearing its end .

I w e n t to f e tch rakes from t h e s teading ; an d wh e n I

had com e back the l as t o f the grass h ad fall en and ,

a ll the fi e ld lay flat and smoo t h with t h e v ery gr e e n

,
 T H E STUDEN T LIFE

By W ILLIAM O S LE R

S i r W i ll i am Os l e r on e o f t h e b e s t l ove d a n d m os t i n flu e nt i al
,
-

t e ac h e r s o f h i s t i m e w a s b orn i n Ca
,
d a i n 1 8 49 H e b e gan
na .

h i s e d u c a t i on i n T or on t o a n d at M G i ll U n ive r s i t y M on t r e a l
c , ,

w h e r e h e s e rve d a s pro f e s s or of m e d i c i n e 1 8 74 8 4 W h e r eve r .

-
.

h e w ork e d h i s gi f t e d a n d u niq u e p e r s on a li t y w a s a c e n t e r o f
i n s pi r a t i on— at t h e U n ive r s i t y of P e n n s ylva n i a 1 88 4 8 9 ; at J oh n s ,
-

Hopki n s 1 88 9 1 90 4 I n 1 90 4 h e w e n t t o Ox f o r d a s Re gi u s Pr o
,
-
.

fe s s o r o f M e d i c i n e ; h e d i e d i n E n gl a n d i n 1 9 1 9 .

On ly ou r m e d i a l f ri e n d s h ave a righ t t o s p e a k o f t h e gr e at
c

d oct o r s pl a c e i n t h e ir ow n w orl d ; b ut on e w oul d lik e t o s e e h i s

’

h on orabl e pl a c e a s a m an of l e t t e r s mor e g e n e r a lly u n d e r s t ood .

H i s g e n e r ou s w i s d om an d i n f e c t i ou s e n t hu s i a s m a r e d e ligh t f ully
e xpr s s e d i n h i s c oll e c t e d w ri t i n g s
e N o l ov e r o f t h e e s s a y c a n
.

a ff o r d t o ove rl ook E qu n i m i t a s a n d Ot h e
a A d d e s e s A n A la r r s ,

ba m a S t u d e n t a n d Ot h e r Bi og r ap h i ca l E s s a y s S c i e n c e a n d I m ,

hi l
m or t a l i ty a n d C ou n s e ls a nd I d e a ls t s a s t a n a n t o oh l gy
, c ol
le c t e d f om h i s
r pr o f e s s on a
i l p p r by a e s on e o f h i s p p s
u il He .

s tan d s in t h e h r bl li
on o a e h gr
n e o f t os e e a t ma s t e s w h o h a e
r v
fo nd t e
u h i r high u ul est sef ki ly u l r
nes s as nd y u g
c o n s e o s of t h e o n .

Hi s lu i c d and e qx ui i s t e p os e
r w i t h i t s e x t a o d n a y e a t of
r r i r w lh
,

q ot a t on f om t h e t e a t e o f a ll a e s a n d h i s n f a n
u i r li r ur g u ili g hu r , mo
r
a n d t e n de n e s s p ut h i m i n t h e fi s t
, r r a n k o f d d ac t c e s s a
i i yi sts .

ul
On e c o d g e t a lib r l u i
e a e d c a t on i n li r ur t e at r ly by ll w
e me e fo o
i ng up a l l h i s q ot a t on s a n d
u i r r e f e en ce s r ply
He w as m o e d e e
.

v r l i h
e s e d i n t h e c a s s c s t an m a n y pr o f e s s o s o f G e e k a n d L at n ;
r r i
the wh l u i
o e m s c of E n gl i h p ry
s oe t urr
s eem ed t o be c ent in h is
b l ood Hi s e s s a on Ke a t s t a e n
. y k wi h ipli g w
, t K n r ul
s on d e f
’

st ory Vi a Wi r e les s t e l s t h e s t d e n t m o e a o t t a t oe t t a n
l , u r b u h p h
y v lu
m an a o m e o f o a bi gr phy W en w as o a
h bi gr phy r
. ligh
mo e de t
f ully w ri h
tt en t an i n h i s v lu o m e A n A la b a m a S t u d e n t ?
W a t W t m an s a d
l hi i wh en D r, l r . y r
Os e a t t e n d e d h i m e a s ag o ,

l r b li v
Os e e e e s in t h e g p l os e ur g
of e n c o pu i g
a e m e n t— o f tt n t he
b e s t c on s t ct on on t n s — t h e e”s t f oot f o a d He s a fi n e
ru i hi g b rw r .
’

f e o a n d a wi s e on e I
ll w gu ess ,
grThe . r g p l
e a t d oc t o s os e
’

o f e n cour g i
a e m e nt i s ndeed ah ppy a p i i igh
c om a n on for t h e m d n t
r r
e ad e i h
.Rc v ry g l u li y h
in e e e nt e q a t k li
t at m a e s rf e end ea e d ,

h i s ook s a r e t h e m os t s a a c o s a n d e f
b g i u h lp ul r wri i g
o f m od e n t n s
y u g u
for t h e o n s t d e n t A s on e w h o h a s f o n d t e m a n
. u h u il n fa
i ng d e ligh t I v e nt
,
ur e to h p h i l
o e t a t ou r m e d c a r r c on f e e s may

n ot b e t h e on ly r r y h ir v v i y
e a d e s t o e nj o t e i ac t a nd c a m
h r .

12
 Th e S t u d e n t L if e 12 9
E ! C EPT it b e a love r no one is more int e r e stin g as
,

an obj e ct o f study than a stud e nt Shak e sp e are might .

have m a d e him a fourth in his i mmortal group The .

lunati c w i th hi s fix e d idea t h e po e t with h i s fine ,

fr e nzy t h e love r with hi s franti c idolatry and t h e

, ,

s tud e nt a fl a m e with the d e sir e for knowl e dg e a r e o f

“ ”
imagi n ation all compact To an ab s orbing passion
.
,

a wh ol e soul e d d e votion must be j oin e d an e ndurin g

-
,

en e rgy i f t h e stud e n t is to be come a d e vote e o f t h e

,

gray e y e d godd e s s to whos e law hi s s e r v ic e s are bound

-
.

Lik e t h e qu e s t o f t h e Holy Grail t he qu e st o f Minerva ,

is not for all For t h e one t h e pure li f e ; for t h e oth e r

.
, ,

“ ”
what M ilton calls a s trong prop e nsity o f natur e .

H e r e again t he stud e nt o ft e n r e s e mbl e s t h e po e t h e is

—

born not mad e Whil e t h e re sultant o f t w o moldin g

, .

forc e s t h e accid e ntal e xt e rnal conditions and t h e

, , ,

hidd e n g e rmi n al e n e rgi e s which produc e in e ach one

,

o f u s national family and individual traits t h e true

, , ,

stud e nt po s s e ss e s in som e m e asure a divine spark which

s ets at naught th e ir laws Like t h e S nark h e d e fi e s .
,

definition but th e r e are thr e e unmistakabl e signs by

,

which you may re cogniz e the ge nuine arti cle from a

Booj um an absorbin g desire to know t h e truth an
—
,

unsw e rving ste ad fa s tness in its pur s uit and an open , ,

honest h e art fre e from sus p icion guile and j ealousy

, , , .

At t h e outs e t do not be worri e d about this big q ue s

tio n — Truth It is a very simple matter i f each one of
.
1 3 0 W i ll i a m Os l e r

y ou starts wi t h t h e d e sire to get as much as p ossible .

N 0 human be i n g i s constituted to know t h e truth the ,

whole truth a n d nothing but t h e t ruth ; and e v e n the

,

b e s t o f m e n mu s t be cont e nt with fragme nts with ,

partial glimp s e s n e v e r t h e full fruition In this un

,
.

s ati s fi e d qu e s t t h e attitud e o f min d t h e d e si re the

, ,

thirst a thi rst that from t h e soul must ri s e l the

— —

fervent longi n g are the b e all a n d t h e e n d all What

,
- -
.

i s the s tud e nt but a lov e r courting a fickl e mis t r e s s who

e v e r elud e s h i s grasp ? In thi s v e ry e lusiv e n e s s is
—
brought out h i s s e cond g r e at charact e ri s tic st e ad fast
ness o f purpose Unless from t h e s tart t h e limitations
.

incid e n t to our frail human faculti e s a r e fra n kly a c

c ep t e d no t hing but disappointm e nt awaits you The
, .

truth i s t he be s t you can get with your b e st e nd e avor ,

t h e b e st that t h e b e st m e n acc e pt — with this you must

l e arn to b e sati s fi e d r etainin g at the sam e tim e with
,

d ue humility an earn e s t d e sir e for an e v e r larger por

tion Only by k e epin g t h e mind pla s tic and r e c e ptive
.

do e s the stud e nt escape p e rdition It i s not as Ch arles .

,

Lamb r emarks that s om e p e opl e do n ot know what to

,

do with truth wh e n it i s o ffe r e d to th e m but t h e tra g ic ,

f at e i s to r e ach a ft e r ye ars o f pa t i e n t s e arch a condi ,

tion o f mi n d blrnd ne s s in which t h e truth is not r e co g

-

n i ze d though it star e s you in t h e fac e

, This can n e v e r
.

happe n to a man who has f ollow e d s t e p by s t e p t he

g rowth o f a truth and who knows t h e p ai n ful phas e s
,
1 3 2 W i ll i a m Os l e r
Y ou ha v e all be c o m e b r ot h e r s i n a gr e at s oci e ty n ot ,

app re n t i c e s si n c e t hat i m pli e s a m a s t e r a n d n o t hi ng

, ,

shoul d b e furth e r fro m t h e atti t u d e o f t h e t e ach e r than

much that i s m e a n t i n that w ord u s e d th ough it be ,

in anoth e r s e n s e particularly by our Fr e n ch br e thr e n

,

i n a m os t d e light ful way s i gn i fyi n g a bond o f i n t e l

,

l e ctual fi liat i on A frat e r n al attitud e is n ot e asy t o

.

cul i v at e t h e cha s m b e tw e e n t h e c h a ir a n d t h e b e n ch
t —

is di fficult t o bridg e T w o thi n gs ha v e h e lp e d t o put

.

up a ca n t il e v e r acr os s t h e gul f T h e s uc c e s s ful t e a c h e r

.

i s n o lo n g e r on a h e ight pu m ping k n owl e dge at high

,

pr e s s ur e i nto pa s s i v e r e c e ptacl e s T h e n e w m e thod s

.

hav e cha n ge d all this H e i s no lo n g e r Sir Oracle

.
,

p e rhap s u n con s ciously by h i s v e ry mann e r an t a g on i z

ing mi n d s to who s e l e v e l h e can n ot pos s ibly d e s c e nd ,

but h e i s a s e n ior stud e nt an xi ou s t o h e lp h i s j u n iors .

Wh e n a simpl e e arn e st s pirit animat e s a c oll e ge th e r e

, ,

i s no appr e ci a bl e i n t e rval b e tw e en t h e t e ach e r and t h e

—
taught b oth a r e i n t h e s am e clas s t h e on e a littl e ,

mor e ad v anc e d than t h e oth e r S o a n i m at ed t h e

.
,

s tud e n t f e e l s that h e has j oin e d a family who s e ho n or

i s h i s honor whos e w e l far e i s h i s ow n and whose

, ,

i nt e r e s ts should b e h i s fir s t con s id e rati on .

T h e hard e st co n v ictio n to g e t i n to t h e mi n d o f a
b e gin n e r i s that t h e e ducatio n upon whi ch h e i s en
gag e d i s n ot a coll e g e c our s e n ot a m e dic a l course
, ,

but a li f e cours e for which t h e work o f a fe w y e ars

,
 Th e S t u d e n t L i f e 1 33

u nder tea ch ers i s but a pr e paration Whether you will .

falt e r an d fail in th e race or wh eth e r you will be faith

f ul to t h e e n d d e p e nd s on t h e training b e for e the start ,

a n d on your s tayi n g pow e r s points upon whi ch I n e ed

,

n ot e nlarg e . Y ou can all be com e good stud e nts a few ,

may b e com e gr e at stud e nts and now and again on e o f

,

ou will b e fou n d who d oe s e asily and well what oth e rs

y
c annot do at all or v e ry badly which is John F e r r i a r s
’
, ,

e xc e ll e nt d e fi n ition o f a g e niu s .

In t h e hurry and bu s tle o f a busi n ess world which ,

i s t h e li f e o f thi s co n ti n en t it i s n ot e a s y to train fi r s t
,

c la s s student s . U n d e r pr e s e nt conditio n s it i s hard to

g e t t h e n e e d ful s e clu s ion on which account it is that
,

our e ducati on al mark e t i s s o full o f wayside fruit I .

h av e alway s b e e n much impr e s s ed by the advice o f

“
St C hryso s tom :
. D e part from t h e highway and
transplant thy s e l f i n som e enclos e d ground for i t i s ,

hard for a tr e e which stands by t h e waysid e to k e ep

”
h e r f ruit till it b e ripe . Th e dil e ttante i s abroad in
t h e land the man who i s always venturing on tasks for
,

w hich he is imp e r f e ctl y e q uipped a habit o f mind ,

f ost e red by the multipl icity o f subj ects i n the curricu

lum : and while many thin g s are st u died fe w are ,

s tudied thoroughly . M en will not take time to g et to

t h e h eart o f a matte r . A f ter all concentration is the
,

p rice t h e mod e rn student pays f or succ e s s Thorough .

n ess i s the most di ffic ult habit to acqui re but it is t h e ,

1 34 W i ll i a m Os l e r
pearl o f great price worth all t h e worr y and trouble
,

o f the search T h e dil e tta nt e liv e s an e a s y butt e rfl y

. ,

l i f e knowing nothing o f t h e toil and labor with which

,

the treasure s o f knowl e dge a re dug out o f the pa s t or ,

w rung by pati e nt r e search in t h e laboratori e s Take .

,

f or e xampl e t h e e arly hi s tor y o f this countr y h ow —

,

easy for t h e s tud e nt o f t h e one typ e to g e t a smatt e r

ing e v e n a fairly full acquaintanc e with t h e ev e nts o f
,

the Fr e nch and Span i s h s e ttl e m e nts Put an origin al .

docum e nt b e for e him and it m ight as w e ll be Arabic

,
.

What w e n e e d i s t h e oth e r typ e t h e man who knows,

t h e r e cord s who with a broad outlook a n d drill e d in

, ,

what may be call e d th e e mbryology o f hi s tor y has yet ,

a pow e r ful v i s ion for t h e mi n uti ae o f li f e It i s th e se .

kitch e n and backstair m e n who a r e to b e e ncourag e d ,

t h e m e n who k n ow t h e s ubj e c t i n hand i n al l pos s ibl e

r elatio n ships Conc e ntrati on h a s i t s d rawback s It i s

. .

possibl e to becom e s o absorb e d i n t h e probl e m o f t h e

enclitic or t h e structur e o f t h e fl ag e lla o f t h e
Tricho m onas or o f t h e to e s o f th e pr e hi s toric hors e
, ,

that t h e stud e nt lo s e s t h e s e n s e o f pr oportion in his

work a n d e v en wast e s a li f e ti m e i n r e s e arch e s which
,

are valu e l e ss b e caus e n ot i n touch wi t h curr e nt k n owl

“
edg e You r e m e m b e r po or Ca s aubo n in Middl e
.
,

”
march who s e pai n ful s ch olar s hip was lo s t on t hi s a c
,

count Th e b e s t pr e v e nti v e to thi s i s t o g e t d e nat i on al

‘

i ze d e arly T h e tru e stud e nt is a citiz e n o f t h e world

.
,
1 3 6 W i ll i a m Os l e r
the failings or succ e s s e s in h i s own lin e o f work per ,

haps to look with m or e charitabl e e y e s on t h e work o f

som e broth e r whos e limitation s an d opportuniti e s have
b e en mor e r e s trict e d tha n h i s own Or i n contact with
.
,

a ma s t e rmi n d h e may tak e fi r e and t h e glow o f t h e

, ,

e n thu s ia s m may b e t h e i n s piratio n o f his li f e . Con ee n

t ra t i on mu s t th e n b e a s s ociat e d with larg e v i e ws on t h e

r elatio n o f t h e probl em and a k n owl e dg e o f i t s status

,

e l s e wh e r e ; oth e rwi s e it may la n d him in t h e s lough o f

a sp e c iali s m s o n arrow that it h as d e pth a n d no bre adth ,

or h e may be le d to m ak e what h e b e li e v e s t o b e impor

tant di s co v e ri e s but which hav e l on g b e e n curr e n t c oi n
,

i n oth e r lan d s . It is s a d to thi n k that t h e day o f the

gr e at polym athi c s tud e n t i s at an e n d ; that w e may ,

p e rhaps n e v e r again s e e a Scalig e r a Hall e r or a

, , ,

Hu b oldt m e n wh o t ook t h e whol e fi e l d o f k n owl

m —

e d g e for th e ir d o m ain a n d vi e w e d it a s from a pi n n acl e .

A n d y e t a gr e at s p e cializi n g ge n e rali s t may ari s e w h o ,

can t ll e ? S om e tw e nti e th c e n tu ry Ari s t otl e m ay b e

-

n ow tuggi n g at his bottl e a s littl e dr e a m i n g as a r e h i s

,

par e nt s or h i s fri e n d s o f a co n qu e s t o f t h e m i n d b e s id e
,

which t h e wo n d e r ful v ictori e s o f t h e Stagi r i t e will lo ok

pal e Th e valu e o f a r e ally gr e at s tud e nt to t h e countr y
.

is e qual t o hal f a doz e n grain e l ev ator s or a n e w trans

conti n e ntal railway He i s a commodity s ingularly
.

fickl e an d v ariabl e and not t o be grown to ord e r So

, .

f ar as his adv e nt is conc e rn e d th e re i s no t e lling wh e n

 Th e S t u d e n t L i f e 1 37
o r wh e re he may ari s e T h e conditi ons s e e m to be
.

pr e s e nt e ve n und e r t h e mo s t unlik e ly e xte rnals Some .

o f the g r e at e st s tud e nt s thi s country has produc e d have

com e from smal l villag e s and country plac e s It i s .

i m po s sibl e to pr e dict from a s tudy o f t h e e nviron

“ ”
m e nt which a stron g prop e n s ity o f natur e
,
to ,

’
quot e Milton s phra s e again w ill e asily b e nd or
,

br e ak .

Th e student must b e allow e d full fr e e dom in hi s

work undisturb e d by t h e utilitarian s pirit o f the Philis
,

tin e who cri e s C ui bono and di s tru s t s pur e s ci e nc e

, ,
? .

Th e pr e s e nt r e markabl e po s iti on in appl i e d sci e n c e a n d

i n industrial trad e s o f all sorts h a s b e e n mad e po s s ibl e
by m en wh o did pioneer work in ch e mi s try i n physic s , ,

in biolo gy and in physiology without a thought in th e ir

, ,

r e s e arch e s o f any practical applicatio n Th e m e mber s .

o f thi s high e r group o f productiv e stud e nts a r e rar e ly

und e r s tood by t h e common spirits wh o appr e ciat e a s ,

littl e th e i r uns e lfish d e votion a s th e ir u n worldly n egl e ct

o f t he pra c tical s id e o f t h e pr obl e ms .

Ev e rywh e r e now t h e m e dical stud e nt i s welcom e d as

a n hon or e d m e mb e r o f t h e guild Th e r e w a s a tim e
.
,

I con fes s and it i s within t h e m e mory o f som e o f us

, ,

“
when like Falsta ff h e was gi v e n to tav e rns and sack
, ,

and win e and m etheglins and to dri n king s and sw e ar

,

”
ings and star i ngs pribbl e s an d prabbl e s but all that
,

h a s change d with t h e curriculum and t h e M e ds n ow

,
1 3 8 W i ll i a m Os l e r
roar you as g entl y as the Theolo g s O n account o f .

the p e culia r charact e r o f the subj e ct matt e r o f your -

studies what I hav e said upon t h e g e n e ral li fe and

,

mental attitude o f the stud e nt appli e s with ten fold

f orc e to you M an with all hi s m e ntal and bodily
. ,

—
anomali e s and diseas s th e machin e in ord e r t h e ma
e ,

chin e i n di s order and t h e busin e ss yours to put it to

,

rights Through all t h e phas e s o f its car ee r this most

.

c ompl icat e d mechanis m o f this wond e r ful world will

be the subj e ct o f our study and o f your care the —

nak e d n e w born in fant the artl e ss child t h e lad and

,
-
, ,

t h e lassi e j ust aware o f the tr ee o f knowl e dg e ov e r

h e ad t h e strong man i n t h e pride o f li fe t h e woman

, ,

with t h e ben e diction o f mat e rnity on h e r brow and the ,

ag e d p e ace f ul in the contemplation o f t h e past Almost

, .

ev e rythin g has b ee n r e n e w ed in t h e sci e nc e and in the

a rt o f m e dicin e but all th roug h the long c e nturi e s
,

there h a s b e e n no variabl e n e ss or shadow o f change

i n t h e e ss e ntial f e atures o f the l i fe which i s our con
t e mp la t i on and our car e The sick lov e child o f Isra e l s ’
-
.

sw e e t sing e r t h e plagu e strick e n hop e s o f the gr e at

,
-

Ath enian s tat e s ma n Elp e nor bere f t o f his b e lov e d

, ,

“
A r t e m i d ora a nd
’
, Tully s daught e r mourn e d so
”
t e nd e rly a re not o f a n y age or any rac e— th e y are
,

h e r e with u s to day with t h e Ha m l e ts t h e Oph e l ias

-
, , ,

and t h e L e ar s Amid an e t e rnal h e r it a ge o f sorro w

.

an d suff e rin g our work is laid and t his e t e r n al not e ,

1 40 W i ll i a m Os l e r

y e t it i s an unpar d o n abl e mi s tak e to go ab out amon g

pati e nt s with a lo n g fac e .

Di v id e your att e ntion s e qually b e tw e e n books and

m en . The str ength o f th e s tud e nt o f books is to s i t
still t w o or thr e e hours at a stretch e ati n g t h e h e art
— —

out o f a s ubj e ct with p e n cil and not e b ook in ha n d ,

d et e rmin e d to ma s t e r t h e d e tails and intricaci e s ,

focus s ing all your e n e rgi e s on its di fficulti e s G e t a c .

cu s tom e d to t e st all sorts o f book probl e m s and s tat e

m ents for y oursel f a n d tak e as littl e as po s s ibl e on
,

”
tru s t The Hunterian D o not thi n k but try atti
.
,

tud e o f mind i s the important on e to culti v at e The .

qu e s tion ca m e up on e day wh e n discus s ing th e gro ov e s

,

l e ft on t h e nails a ft e r f e v e r h ow long it took for the

,

nail to grow out from root to e dge A maj ority o f

, .

t h e class had no furth e r int e r e st ; a fe w l ook e d i t up

in books ; t wo men m ark e d th e ir nails at the root with

nitrate o f silv e r and a fe w months later had po s itive
,

k n owl e dge on t h e subj e ct Th e y s how e d t h e prop e r

.

spirit T h e littl e points that com e up in your r e adin g

.

try to t e st for yours el v e s With one fundam e ntal

.

diffi culty many o f you will have to co nt e n d from the

—
outset a l a ck o f prop e r pre paration for r e ally hard
study N o one can have watch e d successiv e groups
.

of youn g men pass through the sp e ci a l school s with

out pro f oundly r eg r e tti n g t h e haphazard fragm e ntar y ,

ch aracter o f th e i r p re liminary education It do e s s eem

.
 Th e S t u d e n t L i f e 1 4 1

t oo bad that w e cannot hav e a stud e nt in his eighte enth

ar suffici e ntly ground e d in t h e humaniti e s and in the
y e

—
sci e nc e s pr e liminary to m dicine but thi s i s an e d u
e

c a t i on al probl e m upon which only a M ilton or a Lock e

could discours e with profit With p e rtinacity you can

.

ov e rcom e t h e preli m inary d e fects and once thoroughl y

i nt e r e st e d the work in books be com e s a pastim e
,
A .

s e rious d rawba ck i n t h e stud e nt l i fe is the s e l f con -

s c i ou s n e s s
, bred o f t oo clos e d e votion to book s A .

“
man ge ts s h y d ysopi e a s old Timothy Bright calls
, ,

i t and shuns th e looks o f men and blush e s like a girl

, , .

—
Th e str e n gt h o f a stud e nt o f m e n is to trav e l t o
study me n th e i r habits charact e r mode o f li f e th e ir
, , , ,

be havior und e r varied conditions th e ir vic e s virtues , , ,

and p e culiarities Begin with a care ful obs e rvation

.

o f your f e llow students and o f your t e achers ; then ,

ev e ry pati e nt you s e e i s a l e sson in much more than the

malady from which h e su ffers M ix a s much as you .

possibly can with the outsid e world and learn its ways , .

Cultivat e d syst e maticall y the stud e nt societies the

, ,

stud e nt s un i on the gymnasium and the outsid e s ocial

’
, ,

c i rcl e will enabl e y ou to con q u e r the d i f fi de nc e s o apt

to go with booki s hness and which may prove a very
serious drawback in a fter li fe I cannot too strongl y
-
.

impr e ss upo n t h e e arnest and attenti v e m e n amon g

you t h e n e ces s ity o f ov e rcoming thi s un fortunat e fail
ing in your stud e nt days It is not eas y for e very one
.
1 42 W i ll i a m Os l e r
to reach a happy m e dium an d t h e distinction between
,

”
a proper sel f con fid e n ce and
-
ch e ek particularly in
,

j unior stud e nts is not al ways to be mad e T h e latt e r

,
.

is met with chi e fly am o n g t h e stud e n t pilgrims who in ,

traveling down t h e D e l e ctabl e Mountain s h a v e gon e ,

astray and ha v e passed to the l e ft hand wh e r e li e th the ,

country o f C onc e it the country i n which you r e m e mbe r

,

the brisk lad Ignorance m e t Chri s tian .

I wish we could e ncourag e on this contin e nt am on g

our b e s t stud e nts t h e habit o f wand e rin g I do not .

know that we are qui te pr e par e d for it as th e r e i s still ,

great d iv e rsity in t h e curricula e v e n among t h e l ea d

,

i ng schools but it i s undoubt e dly a gr e a t advantag e to

,

stud y und e r di ffe rent t e ach e rs as t h e m e ntal horizon i s

,

widen e d and the sympathi e s enlarge d Th e practice

woul d do much to l e ss e n that n a rrow I am o f Paul
”
and I am o f Apollos spirit which i s ho s til e t o t h e b e st
int e r e sts o f the pro f e ssion .

Th e r e i s much that I would like to say on t h e qu e s

ti on o f work but I can spar e o n ly a fe w mom en t s for
,

a word or two Who will v e nture to s e ttl e upo n s o

.

s impl e a matt r as t e be st time f o r work O n e will

e h ?

tel l us th e re i s no b e st ti m e ; all are e q ually good a n d

trul y all tim e s a re t h e s am e to a man who s e soul i s
,

absorb e d in so m e gr e at probl e m The oth e r d ay I

.

asked Edward Marti n t h e w e ll known story w ri t e r

,
- -
,

“
what time h e found be st for work Not in t h e e v e
.
1 44. W i ll i a m Os l e r
endurable to hi ms e l f and to oth e rs But s e e him r e ally
.

awake at 1 0 P M whil e our blithe lark i s in hop e l es s

. .

coma ov e r hi s books from which i t i s hard to rous e

,

h im suffi ciently to g et hi s boots off for be d our l e a n ,

owl fri end Satur n no longer in t h e asc e ndant with

-
, ,

bright e y e s and ch ee ry fac e i s r eady for four hours o f

,

—
anythin g you wish d ee p study or ,

H e art afflu e nc e in discour s iv e talk ,

and by 2 A M h e will und e rtak e to unsph e re t h e spirit

. .

o f Plato In n e ith e r a virtue i n n e ith e r a fault w e

.
,

must r e cognize th e s e t w o typ e s o f stud e nts diff e r e n tly

,

constitut e d ,owing pos s ibly— though I have but little

e vidence for the be lie f — to thermal pec uliarities .
 T H E D E C LIN E OF TH E D R AM A '

By S TEP H EN L EA C OC K

Ni n e t e e n
hu n d r e d an d t e n w a s a n i mp ort ant y e a r Halle y s .
’

c om e t c a m e a l on g a n d s om e p r e d i c t e d t h e E n d o f t h e W o rl d
, .

A n d S t e ph e n Le a c ock s fi r s t hu m or ou s b ook — L i t e a y L aps es

’
r r
w a s publi s h e d F ir s t h u m o ous b ook I s a i d for M r L e a c ock
. r , , .

w h o i s pr o f e s s o r o f p oli t i c a l e c on om y a t M c G ill U n ive r s i t y ,

M t r e a l— h a d p ubli s h e d h i s E le m e n ts of P oli t i ca l S c i e n ce i n
1 gg
g
It see ms t o m e h at I h ave h ea r d t h a t L i t e ar y L aps es w a s
t r

ob s c ur e ly o p riva t e ly p ubli s h e d i n Ca n a d a b e f or e 1 9 1 0 ; t h at
r
M r J oh n L a n e t h e f am ou s L on d on publi s h e r w a s give n a c op y
.
, ,

by s om e on e a s h e g ot on a s t e a m e r t o g o h om e t o E n gl an d ;
t h a t h e r ea d i t on t h e voy a g e a n d c a b l e d a n off e r for i t a s s oon
a s h e l an de d T hi s i s ve ry va gu e i n m y m i n d b ut i t s ou n d s
.
,

pr ob a bl e A t a n y ra t e s i n ce t h a t t i m e P r o f e s s or Le a c ock s h u
.
,
’

m o ou s volu m e s h ave a pp e a r e d wi t h gr a t i f yi n g r e gul a ri t y— N on

r

s e n s e N ov e ls B e hi n d t h e B e y ond e t c ; a n d s om e m o r e s e ri ou s
, , .

b ook s t oo u c h a E s s ay s a n d L i t e r a y S tu d i es an d Th e Un
, s s r

s olv e d Ri d d le of S oc i a l J u s t i c e On e o f t h e u n s olve d ri d d l e s
.

o f s oc i a l i n j u s t i ce i s w hy s h oul d P r o f e s s o r L e a c oc k b e s o m u c h
,

m o r e a m u s i n g t h a n m os t p e opl e ?
W e u s u a lly t hi n k of h i m a s a Ca nad i an b ut h e w a s b or n i n ,

E n gl a n d i n 1 869 .

C OM IN G up home t h e oth e r night in my car ( the

Guy Str e e t car ) I h e ard a man who w as hangi n g onto,

“
a strap s ay : Th e drama is j ust turni n g into a bunch
”
o f talk Thi s s et me thinking ; and I w a s glad that it
.

did b e cause I am being paid by this pap e r to think once

,

a w ee k and it i s wearin g Som e days I n e ver think

, .

f rom morning till night .

Thi s d e cline o f th e d rama i s a thing on which I

f eel dee ply and bitt e rly ; for I am or I have been , ,

I 4S
1 46 S t ep h e n L e a c oc k
som e thin g o f an actor mys e l f I hav e only be en in .

amat e ur work I a d mit but still I hav e pla ye d s ome

, ,

mighty int e r e sting part s I hav e act e d in Shak e s p e are

.

a s a ci t iz e n ,
I hav e b e e n a fairy in A M idsu m m e r
Night s Dr e am and I was onc e on e end ( choic e o f
’

ends ) o f a ca m e l in a pantomi m e I hav e had othe r .

“ ”
par t s too s uch a s A Voi c e Sp e aks From Within or
, ,

“
A Noi s e I s H e ard W ithout or a B ell R ings From,

”
B e hi n d a nd a lot o f things lik e that I play e d a s
, .

A Nois e for se v e n nights be for e crowd e d houses

,

wh e r e p e opl e w e r e b e ing turn e d awa y from t h e door ;

and I hav e b e e n a Groan and a Sigh and a Tu m ult and ,

“ ”
onc e I w a s a Vision Pa s s e s B e for e the Sl ee p e r .

So wh e n I talk o f acting and o f the spirit o f the

D rama I sp e ak o f what I kno w
, .

Naturally too I was brought into contact ver y

, , ,

o ft e n into quit e intimat e p e rsonal contact with som e o f ,

t h e gr e at e st actors o f t h e d ay I don t say it i n any ’

.

way o f boasting but m e r e l y b e caus e to th os e o f us who

,

lov e t h e stag e all d ra m atic souv e nirs are int e r e sting .

I r e m e mb e r for e xampl e that wh e n Wilson Barr e tt

, ,

“ ”
play e d T h e Bat and had to w e ar t h e qu ee r suit with
t h e scal e s it w a s I who put t h e glu e on him
, .

A n d I r e call a co n v e r s ation with S i r H e nry Irvin g

“
one n ight wh e n h e s aid to m e F e tch me a glass o f
,

” “
wat e r will you a n d I said Si r H e nry it i s not only
,
?
, ,

a p l e asur e to g e t i t but it i s to m e as a humbl e d e vot e e ,

1 4 8 S t e p h e n L e a c oc k
ap olog e e — I forg e t ) thi ngs w e r e v e ry d i ffe r e nt
— .

What w e wa nt e d w a s ac t i on s triki n g climati c ca t as

—
, ,

trophic action i n which t hi n gs n ot only happ e n e d but

, ,

happ e n e d su dd e n ly and all in a lump .

A n d w e alway s to ok car e that t h e action happ ened

in s om e plac e that was worth whil e n ot simply i n an ,

or d inary room wi t h ordinary fur n itur e t h e way it i s ,

in t h e n ew drama T h e sc en e w a s laid in a lighthou s e

.

( top s tory ),
or in a m a d hous e ( at m id n ight ) or in a ,

pow e r hou s e or a dog hous e or a bath hou s e i n short

, , , ,

i n som e plac e with a distinct local color and atmos

p h e re .

I r e m e mb e r in t h e cas e o f the first play I ever wrote

( I wri t e pla y s too
, ) t h e manag e r to whom I submitt e d
it ask e d m e at o n c e t he mom e nt h e gla n c e d at it
, ,

“ ” “ ”
Wh e r e is t h e action o f thi s laid ? It i s laid I a n ,

“ ”
s w e re d in t h e main s e w e r o f a great city Good
.
,

“ ”
good h e said ; k e e p it th e r e
, .

In t h e cas e o f anoth e r play t h e manag e r said to m e ,

” “
What a re you doi n g for atmo s ph e r e ? Th e op e n i ng
” ” ”
act I s aid i s in a st e am laundry
, , . V e ry good h e ,

answ e r e d as h e tur n e d o v e r t h e page s a n d hav e you

,

”
brought in a co n d e m n e d c e ll ? I t old him that I had
“ “
not That s rath e r un fortu n at e h e said be caus e
’
, ,

w e are e s p e cially a n xious to bri n g in a cond e mn e d c e ll .

Three o f t h e big t h e at e r s ha v e got th e m thi s s e a s o n ,

”
and I think w e ought to ha v e it in Can you do it .
?
 Th e D e c li n e f
o th e D ra m a 1 49
“ ’
Y es I said I c an i f it s want e d I ll lo ok through
, , ,
.
’

t h e ca s t and no doubt I can find on e at l e a s t o f th e m

,

” “ ”
that ought to be put to d e ath Y e s ye s sai d the
.
, ,

“ ”
manage r e nthusiastically I am sure you can ,
.

But I think o f all t h e s e ttin g s th at w e u s e d the light ,

h ou s e plays w e r e t h e b e st Th e re i s som e thi n g about a

.

lighthous e that you don t g et in a m od e rn drawing ’

’ ’
room What it i s I do n t know ; but th e r e s a di ff e r
.
,

e nc e .I always ha v e lik e d a lighthou s e pl a y and n ev e r ,

hav e e nj oye d acting so much h av e n e v e r thrown m y ,

s e l f i n to acting s o d e e ply as in a play o f that sort

, .

Th e r e i s so m e thi n g about a lighthou s e— t h e way you

s ee it i n t h e e a rli e r sc e n e s — with t h e lant e rn shi n i n g

out o v e r t he black wat e rs that sugge sts s e curity fid e lity , ,

f aith ful n e ss to a tru s t T h e stage us e d g e n e rally to

, .

be dim in t h e first part o f a lighthou s e play and y ou ,

could s e e the huddl e d figure s o f t h e fi s h e rm e n an d th e i r

wiv e s on the for e shor e pointing out to t h e s e a ( t he
back o f t h e stage ) .

“
S ee on e cri e d with hi s arm e xt e nd e d
, there is ,

”
li ghtning in yon sky ( I was
. t h e lightning and that
“
my cue for it ) : God h elp all t h e poor s ouls at s ea
”
t o night l
-
Th e n a woman cri e d Look ! Look ! a boat ,

”
u pon t h e r e e f ! And as sh e said it I had to rush round
and work the boat to make it go up and down prop e rly .

Then th e r e was more light n ing and so m e one screamed ,

“ ”
out , Look ! S e e ! there s a woman in th e boat !
’
1 5 0 S t ep h e n L e a c oc k
There wasn t r e ally ; it was m e ; but in t h e darkness
’

it w as all t h e same and o f cour s e t h e h e roin e h e rs e l f

,

couldn t be there ye t b e caus e s he had t o be downs t airs

’

g e tting dr e ss e d to be drown e d Th e n th e
y all cri e d.

“
out Poor soul ! sh e s doom e d and all t h e fish e rm e n
,
’
,

ran up and down making a nois e .

F ish e rm e n in thos e pl a ys u s ed to get f e arfully ex

c ited ; and what with the excit e m e nt and t h e darkn e ss

and the bright b e ams o f the lighthous e fall ing on t h e

w e t oil s kins and t h e thu n d e ring o f the s e a upon the
,

r e e f— ah ! me thos e w e re plays ! That w a s acting !

,

’
And to think that ther e isn t a singl e s tr e ak o f lightning
in a ny play on t h e boards this y e ar !
A n d th e n t h e ki n d o f climax that a pla y lik e this
us e d to hav e ! Th e sc e ne shi ft e d right at the mom e nt
o f t h e e xcit e m e nt and 10 ! w e a r e i n the t ow e r the top
, ,

story o f th e lighthous e int e rior s c e n e All i s still and

, .

q ui e t within w ith
, t h e bright light o f t h e r e fl e ctors
floodi n g the littl e room and the roar o f t h e storm h e ard
,

lik e mu ffl e d thund e r out s id e .

T h e l ighth ou s e k e e p e r tri m s his la m p s H ow firm .

a n d qui e t a n d rugg e d h e look s Th e s now s o f sixty

.

wi n te r s a r e on h i s h e ad but his e y e i s cl e ar an d hi s
,

grip s tr ong H e ar t h e howl o f t h e wi n d a s h e Op e n s

.

t h e d oor and s t e p s forth upon t h e iron balco n y e ighty ,

f e e t abo v e t h e wat e r a nd p e e rs out upon t h e s torm

, .

“ ”
God pity all t h e p oo r s ouls at s ea ! h e s ays ( Th e y .
1 5 2 S t ep h e n L e a c oc k
his lamps a g ain ,
t he boat i s dri fting at th at very mo
,

m e n t to ,
rockst he .

“ ”
How di d th e y save h e r ? M y d ear si r i f you can ,

a s k that qu e s ti on y ou littl e understand the dram a as

it w as S av e her No o f cours e th e y didn t save h e r

’
.
? .
,

What we want e d i n the O ld D rama w a s r e ality an d

f orce no matter h ow wild and tra g i c it might be
,
.

They did not save h e r Th e y f ound her th e ne xt d ay

. ,

h —
in t e concluding scene all that w as l e f t o f her wh en
s h e w as dashed upon the roc ks H e r ribs w e re brok e n .
.

He r bott om boards had b e en smash e d in h er gunwal e ,

—
was gone in short s h e w as a wr e ck , .

Th e girl ? Oh ye s c e rtai nly they saved th e g i rl

, ,
.

That kind o f thin g was al way s t ake n car e o f You .

“ ’
s ee j ust a s the lighthou s e man said God s w ill be
”
don e hi s eye f el l on a lon g coil o f rope han g ing
, ,

’
th e r e Provid e ntial w asn t it ? B ut th e n w e w e re n ot
.
,

asham e d to us e Provi d e nc e in th e Old D ram a S o h e .

mad e a noose in it and thr e w it over t h e balcony an d

haul e d t h e gi rl up on it I used to hook h e r on to it .

eve ry night .

A rott e n play ? Oh I am sure it must ha v e b een ,

.

But som eho w thos e o f us who w e r e b rought up on

, ,

that sort o f th in g still si g h f or it , .

 AM E R I C A AND T H E EN GLI S H T R A D ITIO N

By HA RR Y M OR GAN AY RE s

T hi s ad m i r abl e sA n o-A m e i c a n hi s t o
u m ma ry of gl fi s t ap r ry r
p e a r e d ( Fe a bru ry
1 92 0 ) as an e d t o a
, i n t h e W e e kly R ev i e w
i ri l .

I t s e e m e d t o m e t e n an d s t i d oe s a s a m od e l i n t a t f o m
h , ll ,
h r
of w t n ,
ri i g p re f e ct i n lu i i y
c d t , t e m e an c e an d p r
ood s e n s e Mr g . .

A e s i s a m e m e o f t h e f ac t o f Co m a U n e s t
yr b r ul y lu bi iv r i y (D e
p a rt m e n t o f E n s ) a n d a s o on e o f t h e e d t o s o f t h e We e kly
gli h l i r
Re v i ew .Be o f C a c e S a e s p e a e an d S e neca s e e m t o
wul h u r h k
, r ,

be hi s f a o t e o v ri h bbies .

To s u m up
the gi
s t of A n gl o-A m e i ca n
r r l e a t i on s i n h a l f a
d o e n p a e s , a s M r A e s d oe s h e e , i s s e
z g yr r . ur ly r rk bla ema a e
a c hi e e m e n t
v .

THE r e cently establish e d chair in t h e history litera ,

t ure and institution s o f t h e Unit e d Stat e s which is to

,

be sh a r e d among t h e s e ve ral univ e rsiti e s o f Great

Britain i s quit e di ffe r en t from th e e xchan g e p ro fes
,

s ors hi p s o f s om e times unhapp y memor y It is not at .

al l t h e id e a to c arry over one o f our pro f e ssors e ach

ye ar and ind octr i nate him w ith the tru e cultur e at its
so u rce T h e occupant o f t h e ch ai r will b e i f the an
. ,

n ou n c e d intention i s carried out q uite as o ft e n British ,

as Am e rican an d q uite as likel y a p ublic man as a

,

prof e ssor The chie f obj ect i s to brin g t o Englan d

.

a better knowledge O f the Unit e d Stat e s an d a p ur ,

pose more laudabl e can s carcely be ima g ined Peace .

an d prosperity w ill endure i n the w orld i n s om e v e ry

I S3
1 54 Ha rry M org a n Ay r es

pre cis e r e lation to th e e xte nt to which England suc

c e e d s in unders t andin g us .

It is not an i llusion to suppose that our under s tand

i ng o f t h e British i s on the whole be tt e r than th e irs o f
us T h e B ritish Empire is a large and comparativ e ly
.

sim p l e fact n ow conspicuously b e for e th e world for a

,

long tim e Th e Unit e d S tat e s was in Britis h eye s

.
, ,

until r e c e ntl y a c om parativ e ly insignificant fact yet

, ,

va s tly mor e complicat e d than th ey imagine d Each o f .

,

cours e per fe ctly kne w the f a ults o f the oth e r

, ,

as s e ssed with an un e rring c ousinly eye Th e .

Am e ri can bragg e d i n a na s al whin e t h e B riton ,

patroniz e d in a throaty burbl e Who e v e r amo n g

.

t h e struggl ing nations o f t h e world might win ,

England s a w to it that s h e n e v e r lost ; your Yan k e e

w a s cont e nt with t h e mor e ignobl e triumphs o f m e r
ch a n d i s i ng willing to cheap e n li f e i f h e could onl y
,

add to h i s dollars But t h e e xcell en c e o f Engli s h

.

political institution s and m e thods t h e charm o f E n g

,

li s h li f e the tr e m e n dous pow e r o f t h e Empir e for pro

,

m ot i n g fr e e d om and ci v ilization in t h e world t h e s e ,

a r e things which Am e ricans ha v e long r e cogn iz e d and

in a way und e rstood Anything like an e quival e nt

.

B riti s h appr e ciati on o f A m e rica in t h e large s ee ms

confin e d to a v e ry fe w ho n orabl e e xc e pti ons a m on g
th e m Admiration fo r Niagara which i s hal f B rit
.
,

“ ”
i s h a n ywa y or e nthusiasm for t h e
,
Wild West
1 5 6 H a r r y M org a n Ay r es

be . Am e rica n s n o l e s s th a n B riti s h r e cogn iz e th at

, ,

i n d e p e n d e n c e w as large ly an accid en tal r e s ul t o f a

war which s pran g out o f a fal s e th e ory o f e con omic s ,

but whos e co n clu s ion ca rri e d with it a l e s so n in th e

man ag e m e n t o f e m pir e which subs e qu e nt history s h ow s
t h e Briti s h to hav e l e arn e d thoroughly and for t h e

b e n e fit o f all conc e rn e d Am e rican i n d ep e nd e nc e

.
,

how e v e r onc e e s tabli shed po int e d a way to d e mo

, ,

cratic fr e e d om which England h ast e n e d to f ollo w .

Thi s w e know A n d y e t
.

An d y e t w e allow th es e obviou s an d fun dam e n tal

c o n s id e rati on s to be com e marv e lously obscur e d We .

allo w England s fai lure to solve an ins olubl e Iri s h

’

probl e m to arouse i n us an attitud e o f mi n d poss ibl y

excusable i n som e I ri shmen b ut wholly in e xcusabl e
,

in any Am e ri ca n W e allow a s e ntim e ntal re gard for

.

som e immigrant from Ea ste rn E urop e who co m e s to ,

u s with a philoso hy bo rn o f conditions that i n E n

p g
l ish sp e aking lands c eas e d to be centuri e s ago to make
-
,

us pr e t en d to s e e in h i m t h e t rue expr e s s ion o f Am e r

’
ica s traditional ideals We allow ours elv e s to be far
.

“
too e asy with t h e phr a s e H e i s n ot pro G e rm an h e
,
-
,

i s m e r e ly anti B ritish
-
”
W y
. h are they anti B r itish ?
-

Why s h ould th e y be pe rmitt e d to make i t fals e ly ap

pear that r e cogn ition O f t h e E n gl ish basi s o f Am e r
ica involves approv al o f ev e rything that Englan d in
 Am eri ca an d t h e E ng l is h T r a d i t i on 1 57
he r history m ay or may n ot hav e done ? Why should
th e y be allow e d t o pr e t e nd that di sapproval o f s ome
particul a r act o f E n gl an d j u s tifie s r e pudi ation o f most
o f t h e thi n gs by virtu e o f which w e are w hat w e a re ?
Am e rica fr om t h e fi rst has be e n part o f th e gr e at
Engli s h e xp e rim e nt— gr e a t b e cau s e i t is cap able o f
l e ar n ing from e xpe r i e nc e .

T he world h a s put a b i g inv e stment i n blo od and

t r e asur e an d all that th e y imply i n to t h e e ducation
, ,

’
n .
—
o f E gl a nd It is s at i s fi e d the world s r e s pons e to
G rma y s i n s ol e nt chall e nge i s the p roo f o f i t that
e n
’
—

i t s pai n s ha v e b e e n w e ll b e st ow e d .England is m o re
n e arly fi t than an y oth e r n at ion to wi e ld t h e pow e r
that i s h e r s That i s not t o d e ny t h e p e culiar virtu e s
.

o f oth e r n ati ons ; ind e e d t h e se virtu e s hav e larg e ly

,

contribut e d to t h e r e sult .Italy has e duc a t e d h e r ;

Fra n c e has e ducat e d h e r ; w e hav e d on e so m e thi ng
an d G e rmany .In r e sul t s h e is not p e r f e ct t h e Eng
,
—

lish woul d p e rhaps l east o f all a s s e rt that— but s h e

h a s l e a rn e d a g r e at d e a l an d h e ld h e rs e l f s t e ady whil e
she l ea rn e d it It i s a bigge r j ob than t h e world car e s
.

to un d e rtak e to t e ach any oth e r nation so much Nor .

w ould it b e at all lik e ly to succe e d so w e ll . For what

E ngl and has to o ffer t h e world in return is not si m ply
h e r institutions ; it is not m e r e ly a fo rmula for t h e
e ffe ctive di scharge o f olice d u ty throughout the w orld ;
p
1 5 8 Ha r ry M org a n A y r e s

it i s the English fre e man wheth e r he hail from Can,

ada Australia A frica or t h e uttermost i sl e s o f t h e

, , ,

s ea .

A most adaptabl e f ellow this fr e e man doi n g all , ,

sorts o f work e v e rywh e r e and with tr e m e n dous ,

pow e rs o f assimilation C on s id e r him i n h i s origins

. .

He b e gan by assimilating fully his own w e ight in

D an e s whil e r emainin g an E n glish fr e e m an He th e n
,
.

p e r forc e acc e pt e d a Norman king a s h e had acc e pt e d ,

a Dani s h on e hopi n g as always that t h e king w ould

, , ,

n ot troubl e him too much But wh e n Norman Wil

.

liam who was v e ry ill in form e d about t h e br ee d kill e d

,
-
,

of f m os t o f hi s natural l e ad e r s a n d harri e d t h e r e st
into v i lle i ny h ow did h e manag e i n a s m all matte r o f
,

two hundr e d y e ars or s o to mak e an E n gli s h g e ntle

man not only o f him s e l f but o f all t h e rag tag o f ad -

v e ntur e rs who had com e ov e r with William and s inc e ?

How did h e contrive out o f a band o f e xil e s fl e e ing

,

from an Egypt o f e ccl e s iasti cal tyra n ny brok e n ,

young e r sons arti s ans out o f a j ob sp e culators bond

, , ,

m e n Sw e d e s Dutch m e n and what not t o m ak e Am e r

, , , ,

ica ? I s h e on e lik e ly to l os e h i s b e arings wh e n in hi s

Am e rica t h e ag e old probl e m again h ea v e s i n vi e w ?
-

This is a j ob h e h a s b ee n w orki n g at pr e tty succ e ss

fully for mor e tha n a thousan d y e ars Grant him a .

mom e n t to r e aliz e hi m s el f a fr e s h in t h e fac e o f it .

’
Don t e xp e ct him to st op and giv e a coh e r e nt e xplana
 T HE R US SIAN QUA RTE R

By T H OMA S B U R K E

T h oma s Burk e a y ou n g n e w s p a pe r m an i n Lon d on came i nt o

, ,

q ui c k r e c og n i t i on wi t h h i fi r s t b ook Ni g h ts i n Tow n ( publi s h e d

s ,

i n A m e ri c a s Ni g h t s i n L on d on ) i n 1 9 1 5
a H i s fi r s t r e a lly p op u .

lar su c c e h ow eve r w a s L i m e h ou s e Nig h t s l e s s s a t i s f c t ory

ss, , ,
a

t o t h os e w h o h a d r e a d t h e fi r s t b ook a s i t w s l a rg e ly a r e p e t i , a
tio n o f t h e s a m e m a t e ri a l i n fi c t i on f o r m ( I n f a c t M r B urk e . , .

h ol d wh a t m u s t b e a l m os t a r ec or d a m on g a u t h or s by h avi n g
s
w ork e d o e r n e a rly t h e i d e n t i c a l s ub s t a n c e i n f our d i ff e r e n t
v
ve r s i on s — a s e s s ay s a n d s k e t ch e s i n Ni g h t i n Tow n a s , s ,

s h o r t s t o ri e s n L i me h ou s e N i g h ts
,
i a s a n ov e l i n Tw i n kl e t oes
, , ,

a s p oe t ry i n Th e S on g B ook of Q u ong L e e of L i me h ou s e )
. .

M r B urk e h a s s p e c i a liz e d on L on d on a n d wi t h gr e at a bil i t y

.
, .

I n t h e L i m e h ou s e s e ri e h i s c ol o ri n g s s e m j u s t a l i t t l e t oo c on
s e

s c iou s l vivi d h i r ogui s h n e s s a li t t l e t oo s t u d i e d t o b e q ui t e

y , s .

s a t i s f yi n g Th e Ou t e r Ci r l e a volu m e o f r a m bl e s i n t h e Lon
. c ,

d on s uburb s i s t o m e m o r e t ruly a w ork o f a r t

, .

I H AD known t h e quart e r for many y e ars b e for e it

int e r e s t e d m e It was n ot u n til I was pr owli n g arou n d
.

on a Fl ee t Stre e t assignm e nt that I l e arn e d to hat e it .

A murd e r had be e n co m mitt e d o v e r a ca fé i n Lupi n

Str e et ; a popular murd e r fruity cl ev e rl y do n e an d , , ,

with a s e x int e r e st O f cour s e e v e ry n e wspap e r and

.

ag e n cy d ev elop e d a virtuous a n xi e ty to track t h e cul

pri t an d all r e sourc e s w e r e dir e ct e d to t hat e n d
, .

Journalism i s p e rhap s t h e only pro f e s sion in which s o

fi n e a publi c spi rit may be found S o it was that the .

North Country pap e r o f which I was a hange r on -

fl ung e v e ry avail a bl e man into the fi ghting lin e and ,

1 60
 Th e R u s s i a n Q ua r t e r 1 61

the e ditor told m e that I m igh t in place o f t h e casual

,

paragraphs for t h e London L e tt e r do som e thing good ,

on t h e V a s s i loff murd e r .

It was a night o f cold rain and t h e pav e m e nts w e re

,

dash e d w ith sm e ars o f light from t h e s hop windows .

Through t h e s tr e aming str e ets my ha n som l e ap e d ; and

as I l ook e d fro m t h e window and n ot e d t h e d e spond
,

e n t biliou s n e s s o f B e thnal Gr e en I realized that the ,

gra s s with e r e th t h e flow e r fad e th

, .

I di s mi s s e d th e cab at B rick Lane and continuing , ,

t h e tra d itio n which had b e e n i n s till e d into m e by my

pr e d e c e s s or on t h e London L e tt e r I turn e d into one ,

o f t h e ho s t e lri e s and had a vodka to k e e p t h e col d out .

Littl e R ussia was shutting up T h e old shawl e d

.

wom en who s i t at e v e ry corn e r with hug e bask e ts o f

,

black br e ad a n d sw ee t cak e s w e r e d e parti n g b e n e a th

,

u mbr e lla s T h e stalls o f Osborn Stre e t u s ually dr e ss e d

.
,

with for e ign looki n g con f e ction e ry w e r e also re t i r

-
,

ing Ind e e d e verybody s e em e d to be slinki n g away

.
, ,

and a s I sipp e d my vodka and f elt it burn m e with

,

r aw fi r e , I cursed news e ditors and all publics which

d e s ir e d to read about murders I wa s p e r f e ctly sure
.

’
that I shouldn t do t h e least good ; so I had anoth e r ,

and gaz e d through the kaleidoscopi c windo w rushing ,

with rain at the cheer f ul world that held me

, .

Oh so sad it is thi s q uart e r ! B y day the streets

, ,

are a d e pr e ssion with th e i r frowzy d oss hou s es and

,
-
1 62 T h om a s B u r k e

thei r vapor bath s - Gra y and sickl y i s the l ight

. .

Gray and sickly too are the le e ring shops and gra y
, , ,

and sickl y a r e t h e p e opl e and t h e childr e n Ev e ry .

thing has follow e d the g rass and t h e flow e rs Child .

hood has no place ; s o above t h e roo fs you m ay s e e

t h e surly points o f a Council S chool Such gam e s .

as happ e n ar e played but listl e ssly and e ach littl e face ,

is smirch e d The gaunt war e hous e s hardly support

.

thei r Iopping h e ads and t h e low b ee tli n g gabl e d

, , ,

hous e s o f the all ey s se e m for e v e r to brood on nights

o f bitt e r adv e nture Fit obj ects for cont e mpt by day
.

th ey may be but wh e n night cr e eps upon London

, ,

t h e hi d e ous darkne s s th at can almost be touch e d th e n ,

th e ir fac e s b e come very pow e rs o f terror and the ,

cauti ous soul wander e d from t h e com f ort o f t h e m am

,

str e e ts walks a nd walks i n a fr e n zy s ee king outl e t

. ,

and finding none S ometim e s a hoars e laugh wil l

.

br e ak s harp on his ear Th e n he runs . .

W e ll I fini s h e d my s e cond and th e n saunt e re d out

, , .

As I was pas s ing a cru e l looking passage a girl st eppe d

-
,

forward S h e looked at me I look e d at h e r S h e

. . .

had t h e haunting m e lan choly o f R u s s ia in h e r fac e ,

but h e r voice w a s a s t h e voice o f Cockaign e For s h e .

sp oke a n d said :
“ ” ’
Funny looking littl e g uy ain t you ?
-
,

I suppo s e I w a s So I smil e d and said : We are

.

as God mad e us old girl , .

1 64 T h om as B u r k e

stand i n B e ll Yard a n d li s t e n t o a pi a n o l os t i n t h e
, ,

high glo om s waili n g t h e h e art o f Ch opi n or R ubin

, ,

st e in or G la zoun off through t h e fi n ge r s o f pal e m oi s t ,

girls whil e t h e ghost o f P e t e r t h e Pai n t e r parad e s t h e

,

n a h t h a d highways
’

p .

At t h e top o f t h e stai r I w a s push e d i nto a dark ,

fu s ty r oo m an d guid e d to a l ow fu s t y s o fa or b e d
, , .

Th e n so m e on e s truck a m a tch a n d a la m p w a s lit ,

a n d s e t on t h e ma n t e l s h e l f It flu n g a s o f t car e s s i n g
.
,

radi a n c e on i t s shabby hom e an d on i t s m i s tr e s s a n d

, ,

on t h e oth e r girl s a n d boys T h e b oy s w e r e tough .

you ng s t e r s o f t h e district e v id e n tly v e ry m uch at

,

hom e s m oki n g R us s ian cigar e tt e s a n d s e t tling th e m

,

s e lv e s ou t h e bed i n a man n e r that s e e m e d curi ou s ly

co n ti n e n tal i n Cock n e y tough s I doubt i f you would .

ha v e l o v e d t h e g i rls at that mo m e n t ; and ye t o

y u
k n ow th e ir black or bra s s y hai r th e i r u n tidi n e s s, ,

and t h e cotton blou s e s hal f dropp e d from th e ir tu m ul

-

tuo n s br e ast s
T h e gi r l who had collar e d m e di s app e ar e d for a mo
“
m e nt a n d th e n br ought a tray o f R u s s ian t e a
, H e lp .

’
sel v e s boy s P W e di d s o an d watching t h e oth e rs
,
,
, , ,

I d i s c ov e r e d that it was t h e corr e ct thi n g to l emon

t h e l a di e s t e a for th e m a n d s ti r it w ell a n d ligh t th e ir
’

cigar e tt e s I d i d s o for Katarina that w a s h e r name

.
—

-
whil e s h e watch e d m e with littl e trua n t lock s o f hair
ru nni ng e v e rywh e r e and a S low alluri n g smil e
, ,
 Th e R u s s i a n Q ua r t e r 1 65

that s ee m e d to hold all the agony an d my s t e ry o f the

t pp e s
s e .

The room on which the wallpap e r hung in dank

,

strip s contained a full siz e d b e d an d a chair b e d s t e ad

,
-
,

a wa s hstand a samovar a potpourri o f a carp e t a n d

, , ,

c e rtain my s t e ri e s o f f e minin e toil e t A rick e ty thr e e .

’
l e gge d tabl e stood by t h e window and Katarina s rob e s ,

hu n g i n a dainty riot o f frill and color b e hind t h e

door which only s hut wh e n you thrust a p e g o f wood
,

through a wir e d catch .

On e o f t h e boys sprawl e d hims e l f in clumsy luxury , ,

on t h e be d and hi s girl arrange d h e rs el f at his sid e

, ,

an d wh e n s h e was s e ttl e d her hair tumbl e d in a show e r

o f hairp i n s and e v e rybody laugh ed lik e childr e n Th e

, .

oth e r gi rl w e nt to t h e piano and h e r boy s quatt e d on ,

t h e floor at h e r f e e t .

S h e b e gan to play You woul d not understand

.
,

I suppos e t h e int e ll e ctual e motion o f th e S ituation I t

, .

i s mor e than curious to s i t in th e se rooms in the filth ,

i e s t s pot i n Lon d on an d list e n to M os zkow s ky Tchai

, ,

kow s ky and Sib e lius playe d by a factory girl

, ,
It i s .

som e thi n g i n d efi n able I had visit e d s imilar .

plac e s in St e pn e y b e for e but th e n I had not had a ,

coupl e o f vodkas and I had not b ee n tak e n i n t ow

,

by an unknown girl Th e y play and play whil e t ea

.
,

and cigarett e s and som e tim e s vodka or whi s ky go

, ,

ro und ; an d as t h e room g e ts warmer so doe s one s .

’
1 66 T h om a s B u r k e

s e n s e O f smell g e t s harp e r ; s o do t h e pale faces get

moi s t e r ; and s o do e s one long m or e and mor e for a
br e ath o f cold ai r fr om t h e Ural Mountains T h e .

be s t you can do i s to asc e nd to t h e flat roo f and take ,

a d e e p br e ath o f S p i t alfi eld s ozone Th e n back to t h e

.

room for mor e t ea and mor e mu s ic .

Sanya play e d . D e s pit e the unventilat e d room ,

the g re a s y appoin t m e n ts and other details that would

,

hav e turn e d t h e stom ach o f K e n s in g ton that girl at ,

t h e pi a n o h er dr e s s c unningly disarrange d playi n g as

, , ,

no on e would ha v e dr e amed s h e could pla y t h e fi n e r i n ,

tensiti e s o f W i e n iaw s ki and Mous s org s ky S ho ok all ,

se n s e o f responsibility fro m me The burdens o f li f e

.

vanish e d . News editor s and th e ir assignments be

da m n e d Enj oy yours e l f was what t h e cold i n s i d
.
, ,

iou s mu s i c s aid Take y our m om e nts when t h e fate s

.

s e n d th e m ; that w a s li f e s b e s t l e s son Snatch t h e

’
.

j oy o f t h e fl e eting mom e nt Why po n d e r on tim e and

.

t e ars ?

D e v ilish littl e fi n g e rs th e y w e r e S a nya s He r

’
.
,

techniqu e w a s not p e r hap s all that i t m ight hav e b ee n ;

s h e might not ha v e w on t h e G old M e dal o f our whit e

shirt e d acad e mi e s bu t s h e h a d e n ough t em p e ra m e nt

,

to make hal f a doz e n B e ch s t e i n Hall v irtuo s i From .

val s e to n octur n e from so n ata to pr e lud e h e r fancy

, ,

“
ra n . Wi th crashi n g chor d s s h e dr opp e d from L A u ’

”
t omn e Baccha n al e to t h e Nocturn e i n E flat ; scarc el y
1 68 T h om a s B u r k e

and buri e d m e in an a v ala n ch e o f fl ami n g sc e nt e d ,

tr e ss e s
.

S a n ya at t h e piano s hot a glanc e ov e r h e r s houl d e r ,

a v e ry s a d gay glan c e ; s h e laugh e d curiously I almost

-
, ,

s aid for e ign ly I f e lt som e how a s though I had b ee n

.

tak e n compl e t e po s s es s ion o f by th e s e pe opl e I har d ly .

b e lo n g e d to mys e l f Fl e e t Str eet w a s but a s tr eet o f

.

dr e am I s ee m e d n ow to be awak e and i n an adorable

.

capti v ity .

W ith a final v oll e y o f chords the pianist s lid fr om

,

t h e chai r and s a t by h e r boy on t h e carp e t smoothing

, ,

h i s fac e with tobacco s t ai n e d fing e rs a n d la n guish

-
,

i n g whil e h e r thick o v er ripe li p s took hi s ki s s e s a s a

, ,
-

baby bi rd tak e s fo od from its moth e r .

W e talk e d all O f u s in j erks and snatch e s Th e n

— — .

th e oil in t h e lamp b e gan to give out a n d t h e room ,

“ ”
gr e w dim S om e one s aid : Play s om e thing !
. And
“
s om e on e said : T OO tir e d T h e girl r e cli n i n g on
t h e b e d gr e w snappy S h e did not l e a n for c a r e s s e s
. .

S h e s e e m e d moro s e pr e occupi e d al m o s t impati e n t

, ,
.

Twi c e s h e s n app e d up h e r boy on a casu a l r e mark I .

b e li e v e I talk e d v od ka d n o n s e n s e
’
.

B ut sudd e n ly th e r e ca m e a whi s p e r o f s o ft f e e t on
t h e la n di n g and a s e c r e t t a p at t h e d oor
,
S o m e on e .

o pe n e d it and S lipp e d out On e h e ard t h e l azy hum

,
.

o f v oices i n bu s y co n v e r s ation Th e n sil e nc e ; and

.

some one e nte r e d th e ro om an d shut t h e door One .

 Th e R u s s i a n Q ua r t e r 1 69
”
H i s ques
’
o f t h e boys a s k e d casually What s up
, ,
?

ti on was not answ e r e d but t h e girl who had gon e to

,

th e door snapp e d som e thing in a sharp ton e which

might hav e be e n e ith e r R uss i an or Yid d i s h Katarina .

loos e n e d h e rs e l f from m e an d sat up T h e girl on

, .

t h e be d s a t up T h e thr e e o f th e m s pat angry phras e s

.

“ ’
about I call e d ov e r to one o f t h e boys : Wh at s
,

”
the j ok e ? Anythi n g wro n g ? and r e c e iv e d a
“
r ply O h d ik ? I ain t a ruddy R ussian am ’
e : w s n ow ,

”
I?
Katarina sudd e nly dr e w back h e r flaming f ace .

” “ ”
H e r e s h e said you bett e r go
, , .

“
Go
“
Y es fath e ad ! Go s what I said ’
— .

B ut I b e gan looking and f e eling like a flab

,

b e rg a s t e d cat .

“
Don t I sp eak plain ? G o !
’

I suppose a man n e ver f e els a fi n e r idiot than when

’
a woman t e lls him s h e doesn t want him I f he e ver .

do e s it is wh e n a woman tells him that s h e lov e s him

, .

Katari n a had giv e n m e t h e bull e t and o f cours e I f e lt , , ,

a fool ; but I d e riv e d some consolation from t h e fact

that t h e oth e r boys w e re b e ing told off C l e arly b i g .
,

thi n gs w e re in the air about to happ e n Som e thing

, .
,

e vid e ntly had alr e ady happened I wond e r e d

, . .

Th e n I s at d own on t h e so fa an d flatly told Katarina ,

that I w a s not goi n g unl e ss I had a r e a s on .

 T h om a s B u r k e
‘

1 7 0

Oh S h e said blith e l y ain t you ? This i s my

, , ,
’

room a in t it I brought you h e re and you stay h e re

,
? ’
,

’
j ust as long as I choos e and no longe r Who d yo n ,
.

’
think you ar e saying you won t go ? Thi s i s my room
,
.

I le t you come h e re for a d rink and you j ust got to ,

”
go wh e n I s ay S e e ? .

I w as about to mak e a second stand when again ,

th e re c am e a st e althy t ap at t h e door and the w h i s ,

pe ring o f slipp e r e d f e e t S anya glid e d to t h e door .

,

Op e n e d it and disappear e d I n a m om e nt she came

, .

” ’
back and call e d
,
R ina ! Katarina slip pe d from my
,

embrac e w e n t to t he door and di s app eare d too One

, , .

girl an d thr ee boys remaine d i n s il en c e

— .

N e xt mom e nt Katarina reapp e ar e d and said some ,

thin g to Sanya Sanya pull e d her boy by t h e arm

.
,

a n d went out Th e oth e r girl p us h e d h e r boy at the

.

n e ck and lit e rally thr e w him out Katarin a cam e ov e r .

to me an d said : Go littl e fo ol !
, ,

I said : Shan t unl e ss I k n ow what t h e gam e i s

’
.

S h e stood ov e r me ; glar e d ; s e arch e d for word s to

me e t t h e occasion ; fou n d non e S h e ge stur e d I s at . .

as rigid as an immobil e com e dian Finally s h e flun g .

,

h e r arms and sw e pt away , At t h e door s h e turn e d ; .

Bla s t e d littl e fool ! H e ll do us both in i f y a i n t ’ ’ ’

’
car e ful You d on t know him Both o f us he ll have
. .
’
.

”
S erv e yeh right .
1 7 2 T h om a s B u r h e

hou s e of t h e pe opl e o f t h e i n v iti n g lights o f t h e war e

, ,

hous e s a n d t h e thr e at e n i n g s h oals o f t h e al l e y s

.

I stoo d a mom e nt longe r Th e n I rac e d i n to B rick

.

Lane an d out into th e brilli ance o f Comm e rcial Str e et

, .
 A WO R D FO R A UTUM N

By A A M ILNE
. .

T hi s i s th e so r t of urb an e pl e a s an t ry m whi c h B r it i s h e s s ay i s t s
a r e pr o li fi c a n d gr a c e f ul . A l a n A l e x a n d e r M il n e w a s b or n i n
1 88 2 , w e n t t o T ri n i t y Coll e g e Ca m b ri d ge ; w a s e d i t or o f Th e
,

G r h t a ( t h e l e a d i n g u n d e rgr a d u a t e publi c a t i on a t Ca m bri d g e a t

a
t h a t t i m e ) ; a n d plu n g e d i n t o t h e gr ea t whirlp ool o f Lo n d on
j our n a li s m He w a s on t h e s t a ff o f P u n c h 1 9 0 6 1 4 H e h a s n ow
.
,
-
.

c oll e c t e d s e ve r a l volu m e s o f c h a r m i g e s s a y s
n a n d h a s h a d c on
,

s i d e a b l e s u c c e s s a s a p l a yw righ t : h i s c om e d y M
r , Pi m P as s e s
r .

B y r e c e nt ly pl a y e d a pr os p e r o u s ru n i n N e w Y o rk A W or d
“
.
,

for A u t u m n i s f r om h i s v olu me N o t Th a t I t M a t t e r s .

LA S T night the w a it e r put t h e c e l e ry on with t h e

ch e e s e and I kn e w that summ e r was ind e e d d ea d
,
.

Oth e r signs o f autumn th e re m ay b e t h e r e dd eni n g

—

l e a f t he chill in the e arly —morni n g a i r t h e mi s ty e v e n

, ,

ing s— but none o f th e s e com e s hom e to m e s o truly .

Th e r e may b e cool mornings i n July ; i n a y e ar o f

drought t h e l e av e s may change b e fo re th e ir tim e ; it i s
only with t h e first c e l e ry that summ e r i s ove r .

I kn e w all al ong that it would not last Even in .

A p ril I w a s sayin g that winte r would soon b e here .

Y e t so m e how it had b e gun to s e e m pos sibl e l at e ly that

a miracl e might happ e n that summ e r might dri ft on
,

and on through t h e mon t hs— a fi n al uph e aval t o crown

a wo n d e r ful ye ar The c el e ry s e ttl e d that L ast nigh t
. .

with t h e c e l e ry autumn cam e into its own .

I 73
1 74 A . A . Mi lne
Ther e is a crispness about c el e ry that i s o f the
e ssenc e o f Octobe r . It i s a s fr e sh and cl e an as a rainy
day a ft e r a sp ell o f heat It crackl e s pl e asan t ly i n the
.

mou t h M or e ov e r it i s e xc e ll e nt I am tol d for t h e

.
, ,

c ompl e xion . On e is always h e a r i n g o f thi ngs which

a re g ood for t h e compl e xion but th e r e i s no d oub t that ,

c elery stan d s high on t h e list A ft e r t h e bu r n s and .

f reckl e s o f summ e r on e i s in n e e d o f som e t hing How .

g ood that c e l e ry s hould b e th e r e at on e s e lbow

A w e e k ago little mor e ch e e s e waite r — a ,

W e e k a g o I gri e v e d for t h e dying s umm e r I won .

—
der e d h ow I cou ld po s s ibly b e ar t h e waiti n g t h e e ight
long months till May I n vain to co m fort my s e l f with
.

t h e thought that I could g e t thr ough m or e work in

t h e wint e r u n di s tract e d by thought s o f crick e t grou n d s

a n d country hou s e s .In vain e qually to t el l m y s e l f

, ,

that I could s tay in b e d lat e r in t h e m orni n gs E v e n

‘

t h e thought o f a ft e r br e ak fast pip e s i n fr on t o f t h e

-

fi re l e ft m e col d . But n ow su d d e n ly I am r e concil e d

, ,

to autumn I s e e qui t e c l e arly that all good thi ngs

.

must com e to an e n d T h e summ e r has b e e n s pl e n did

.
,

but it h a s la s t e d long e n ough Thi s morning I w el .

com e d t h e chill in t h e air ; this morning I v i e w e d t h e

falling l e av e s wi t h ch e e r fuln e s s ; and thi s m orning I
“
said t o my s e l f Why o f cour s e I ll ha v e c el e ry for
, , ,
’

” “
lu n ch.
( Mor e br e ad ,

“
S e a s on o f mist s and m e ll ow fruit ful ne ss ,
1 7 6 A . A . Mi lne
s ee that no oth e r trav e l e r wand e rs into the roo m ,

Tak e warni n g from one who h a s l e arnt a l e ss on On e .

day I lunch e d alo n e at an inn fi n ishi n g with ch e e s e and

,

c e l e ry Anoth e r trav el e r cam e in an d lu n ch e d too

. .

W e did not s p eak I was bus y with my c e l e ry From

— .

th e oth e r e n d o f t h e table h e r e ach e d acros s for the

ch e e s e That was all right ! it w a s t h e public ch ee s e

. .

But h e al o r e ach e d across f or t h e c e l e ry m y private

s —

. l —
c e l e ry for which I ow e d F ooli s h y you know h ow
one do e s — I had l e ft the swe e t e s t a n d cri s p e s t s hoots
till t h e last tantalizing mys e l f pl e asa n tl y w ith th e
,

thought o f th e m Horror ! to s e e th e m snatched fr om

.

m e by a strang e r He r e aliz e d lat e r what h e had done

.

and apologiz e d but o f what good i s an apolo g y in such

,

circum s tanc e s ? Y et at l e a s t t h e trag e dy was not with

out its valu e N ow on e r e m em b e r s to lock t h e door
. .

Y e s I can fac e t h e wi n t e r with calm

, I suppos e I .

had f orgott e n what it was r e ally lik e I had b e e n .

thi nking o f t h e wint e r as a horrid w e t dr e ary time ,

fit o nly for pro f e s s io n al football Now I can s e e other.

—
thing s cri s p and s parkling days long pl e a s ant e v e n ,

ings ch ee ry fir e s Good work s hall be do n e thi s win

, .

te r . Li f e s hall be liv e d well Th e e nd o f t h e summ e r

.

is not the end o f t h e w orl d H ere s to Octob e r— and

.
’
,

wait e r some more cel e ry

, .
 A C LE R GY M AN

By M A ! B EE R B OH M

M ax B ee r b oh m I d a r e , I b e l i eve 1 t h as b een s ai d
s ay ( an d
b e f or e ) i s t h e m ost s ub t ly
, gi f t e d E n gli s h e s s ayi s t s i n c e C h a rl es
L a m b I t i s n ot s urpr i s i n g t h a t h e h a s ( n”ow for ma ny y e a r s )
.

b e e n r e f e rre d t o a s t h e i n c om p a r abl e M a x for wh at ot h e r c on

“
,

t e m p or a ry h a s n e ve r on c e m i s s e d fi re n e ve r f a il e d t o a c hi e ve ,

p e r f e c t i on i n t h e fi e l d o f h i s c h oi ce ? W h e t h e r i n c a r i ca t ure ,

sh or t s t o ry f abl e p a r od y or e s s a y h e h as a l w a y s b e e n c on
, , , ,

s u mm a t e i n gr a c e t a ct i n s ou c i a n t a i ry pr e c i s i on
, , I h op e y ou .

w ill n ot m i s s No 2 Th e Pi ne s ( i n A n d E v e n Now f r om wh i c h
“
.
”
,

t hi s s e l e ct i on a l s o c om e s ) a r e m i n i s c e n c e of h i s fi r s t vi s i t t o
,

S w i n bur n e i n 1 8 99 T h a t b e a u t i f ul ( t h e r e i s n o ot h e r w or d )
.

e s s a y s h o w s a n e ve n a m pl e r r a n g e o f M r B e e r b oh m s p ow e r s :
’
.

a t e n d e r n e s s a n d l ove ly gr a ce t h a t r e m i n d on e a l m os t a ga i n s t ,

b e li e f t h a t t h e g ay y ou t h o f t h e 9o s n ow m e ll ow s d e li c i ou s ly
,
’ ’

w i t h t h e e n d o f t h e fif t h d e c a d e H e w a s s o e n o r m o u s ly old
.

i n 1 8 9 6 wh e n h e publ i s h e d h i s fi r s t b ook a n d c a ll e d i t h i s W or ks ;
,

h e s e e m s m u c h y ou n g e r n ow : h e i s h avi n g h i s fi r s t c hil d h ood .

T hi s p or t r a i t of t h e u n f o r t u n a t e c l e ri c a n n ihil a t e d by D r .

J oh n s on i s a t r i u m ph a n t e x a m pl e o f t h e s kill wi t h w hi c h a
p e r f e ct a r t i s t c an m a n oeuve r a t ri fl e c a r e d lik e a n ivo ry t ri n k et ;
, v

i n s u c h h an d s s u b t l e t y n eve r b e c om e s m e r e t e n ui t y
, .

M ax Be e rb oh m w a s b or n i n L on d on i n 1 8 72 s t u d i e d a t C h a r '

t e r h ou s e S c h ool an d M e rt on Coll e ge O x f o r d a n d w a s a b ril

!

li a n t fi gur e i n t h e S av oy a n d Ye ll ow B ook c i rc l e s by t h e t i me
,

h e w a s t w e n t y f our -
H i s g e n iu s i s t h at o f t h e e s s a y i n i t s
.

p ur e s t d i s t ill at i on : a c l e a r c r os s —s e ct i on o f li f e a s s e e n t hroug h
t h e l e n s o f s e l f ; t h e p ur e c ul t ur e ( i n t h e bi ol ogi ca l s e n s e ) of
ob s e rvi n g p e r s on a li t y .

I h ave o f t e n w on d e r e d h ow i t came a b ou t ( t h ough t h e mat t e r

i s w h olly n on p e r t i n e n t ) t h at M r B e e rb oh m m a rri e d a n A me r i
.

can l a dy— q ui t e a h abi t w i t h E n gli s h e s s ayi s t s by t h e w ay ,

Hil a i r e Be ll oc a n d B e r t r an d R u s s e ll d i d lik e wi s e W h o s W h o
’
.

s a y s s h e w a s f r om M e m p h i s w hi ch a d ds l u s t r e t o t h at ad mir a
,

b le c i t y .

He n ow l ive s i n I t a l y .

FR AGMENTA RY pal e mom e ntary ; almost nothing

, ,

gli m p s e d and gone ; as it w e r e a fai n t huma n ha n d ,

thrust up n e v e r to r e appe ar from b e neath t h e rollin g

, ,

1 77
1 7 8 M a x B e e r b oh m
waters O f Tim e h e for e v e r haunt s my memory and
,

solicits my w e ak imagination Nothing is told O f him .

but that onc e abruptly he asked a qu e stion and re

, , ,

ce i v e d an an s w e r .

This was on t h e a f ternoon o f April 7 t h 1 7 78 at , ,

Streatham in t h e w e ll appoint e d hou s e o f M r Thral e

,
-
. .

Johnson on t h e morni n g o f that day had e ntertain e d

, ,

Bosw e ll at br eak fast in Bolt C ourt and invi t e d him to ,

din e at Thral e Hall Th e two took coach a n d arri v ed .

e arly It s e ems that Si r John Pri ngl e had ask e d Bos

.

“
w e ll to as k John s on what w e r e t h e b e s t Engli sh
”
sermons for s tyl e In the int e rval b e for e dinn e r
.
,

accordingly Bosw e ll r ee l e d Off the nam e s o f s ev e ral

,

divin e s whos e prose might or migh t not win commen

“ “
dation Att e rbury he sugge s te d
. J O H N S ON : Y e s .
,

Si r one o f the b e st B OS WELL : Tillotson ? J OH N S ON

, .

Why not n ow I should not advi s e any on e to imi

, .

’ ’
tate Tillotso n s styl e ; though I don t know ; I should
be cautious o f c e nsuring anything that h a s b e e n a p
l u d d by o many u fl — South i s o f t h
p a e s s r a g e s on e e . .

best i f you e xc e pt hi s p e culiariti e s and hi s v iol e nc e

, , ,

—
and s om etim e s coars e n e ss O f language S e e d has a
v e ry fi ne styl e ; but h e is not v e ry th e ological Jor t in s .
’

’
sermons ar e v e ry e l egant Sh e rlock s style too 1 5 .
,

v e ry e l egant though h e h as not m ad e it hi s princ i pal

,

stud y And you may add S m al ri d g e B OSWELL : I

— .
1 80 M a x B e e r b oh m
j ust as on Bo s w e ll s pag e it s tartl e s u s In John
’
.

son s ma s s i v e an d m agn eti c pr e s e nc e o nly s om e v e ry

’

r emark a bl e m an s uch as M r Burk e w a s s harply d i s

, .
,

t i n g u i s h ab le fro m t h e r e s t Oth e r s m ight i f th e y

.
,

h a d s o m e thi n g i n th e m stand out s lightly

, Thi s um .

fortu n at e c l e rgy m a n m ay ha v e had s o m e thi n g in him ,

but I j udg e that h e l a ck e d t h e gi ft O f s ee mi n g a s i f h e

had That d e fici e n c y how e v e r d oe s not a c count for
.
, ,

On e o f Joh n son s
’
t h e horrid fat e that b e f e ll him .

stro n g e s t an d m os t i n v et e rat e f e eli n gs w a s h i s v e n

e r a t i on for t h e Cloth T O any on e i n Holy Ord e rs
.

h e habitually li s t e n e d with a grac e and charming d e f

er e n c e T O day m or e ov e r h e was i n e xc ell e n t good
.
-
, ,

humor H e was at t h e Thral e s wh e r e h e s o lo v e d

.
’
,

to b e ; t h e day w a s fi n e ; a fi n e dinn e r was in clos e

prosp e c t ; a n d h e had had what h e always d e clar e d
to be t h e s u m o f hu m an f e licity— a rid e in a coach .

Nor was th e r e in t h e qu e stion put by t h e cl e rgy m an

a nything lik e ly to e nrag e h im Dodd was on e whom
.

John s on had b e fri e nd e d i n ad v e rsity ; and it had a l

way s b e e n ag r e e d that D odd i n hi s pulpit w a s v e ry
emotio n al What dr e w the blasting fl a s h m u s t ha v e
.

b e e n n ot t h e qu e s tion its e l f but t h e ma n n e r i n which

,

it w a s ask e d A n d I think we can gu e ss what that

.

man n e r w as .

Say t h e word s al oud : W e r e not Dodd s s e rmon s ’

”
addr ss d to e passions
e e t h ? Th e y a re words which ,
 “ ”
A C l e rg y m a n 1 81
i f you hav e any dramati c and histrionic sense cann ot ,

be said e xc e pt i n a high thin voice ,

.

You may from s h e e r p e rv e r s ity utt e r th e m in a

, ,

rich and sonorous bariton e or ba s s But i f you do s o .

,

th e y sound utt e rly unnatural T O mak e th e m carry .

t h e conviction o f human utteranc e you ha v e no choice ,

you must pipe th e m .

R e m e mb e r n ow Johnson w a s v e ry d e a f Ev e n the
, , .

p e opl e who m h e kn e w w e ll t h e p e opl e to whose voices

,

h e was accu s to m e d had to addr e ss him v e ry loudly

,
.

It is probabl e that this unr e gard e d young shy cl e rgy , ,

man wh e n a t l e ngth h e suddenly mu s t e red courag e to

,

‘ ’
cut in le t his high thin voi c e soar t oo high i n so
, , ,

much that it wa s a kind o f scr eam On no oth e r .

hypoth e s i s can w e account for t h e f e rocity w ith which

’
Joh n son turn e d and r e nd e d him Johnson didn t w e .
,

may b e s ure m e an to be cru el Th e Old lion startl e d

, .
, ,

j ust s truck out blindly But t h e forc e O f p aw an d

.

claws was not t h e l e s s l ethal W e hav e e ndl e ss t e sti

.

mony to t h e s tr e n gth o f Johnson s voic e ; a nd the very

’

“
cad e nc e O f tho s e words Th e y w e re nothing Sir be
, , ,

”
th e y a ddr e s s e d to w h at th e y may convinc e s m e that ,

t h e old lion s j aws n e v e r gav e forth a loud e r roar

’
.

B osw e ll d oe s not r e cord that th e r e was any further

c onv e rsation b e fore th e announc e m e nt O f dinn e r Per .

haps t h e whol e company had b e e n temporaril y

d e a f e n e d But I am not both e ri n g a bou t t h em My
. .
1 82 M a x B e e r b oh m
h e art goes out to the poor d e ar cl e rg ym an exclu
s i v e ly .

I said a mom e nt ag o that h e w as youn g and shy ;

and I admit that I slipp e d tho s e e pith e ts i n without
ha v ing j u s tifi e d th e m to you by d ue p r oc e s s o f i n
duction Your quick mind will hav e alr e ady suppli e d
.

what I omitt e d A m an wit h a high thi n voic e and

.
, ,

without pow e r to impr e s s any one with a s e ns e o f hi s

importanc e a m an s o n ull in e ffect that e v e n t h e ret en
,
v

tiv e mi n d o f Bo s w e ll d i d n ot r e tai n h i s v e ry name ,

woul d as s ure dly not b e a s e l f c on fi d e n t man Ev e n -

.

i f he w e r e not natural ly s h y social courage would ,

soon hav e b e e n sapp e d in him and would in time ,

hav e b e e n d e s troye d by e xp e ri e nce That h e had not

,
.

t giv e n hims e l f up as a b a d j ob th at h e still had

y e ,

f aint wild ho pe s i s proved by t h e fact that h e did

,

snatch t h e opportunit y for a skin g that qu e s ti on H e .

must accor d ingly hav e be e n y oung W as h e t h e

, , .

h
curat e o f t e n e ighb ring church
o ? I thi n k s o It .

would accou n t for hi s ha v ing b e e n i n v it e d I se e .

’
him a s h e s its th e r e list e ni ng to t h e gre at Doct or s
pro n ou n c e m e n t on Atte rbury and tho s e oth e rs He .

sits on t h e e dg e o f a chair in t h e background H e ha s .

colorl e ss e y e s fix e d e a r n e stly and a fac e almo s t as

, ,

pal e as t h e cl e rical ban d s b e n e ath h i s somewhat r e c e d

ing chin H i s for e h e ad i s high a n d n arrow his hai r
.
,

mous e color e d
-
Hi s hand s a re claspe d tight be for e
.
1 84
. M a x B e e r b oh m
wig an d a billowing black g own with a big congr e ,

g a t i on b e n e ath him But w e a r e not

. a n xiou s to h e ar

what h e i s s ayi n g W e know i t i s all v e ry e l e ga n t

. .

W e know it wil l be pri nt e d and be bound i n fi n ely

tool e d full cal f and no pal a G e orgian g e n tl em a n s
,
-
’

library will b e compl e t e without it Lit e rat e p e opl e .

in tho s e day s w e re co m parati v e ly fe w ; but bati n g that , ,

on e may say that s e r m o n s w e r e as much i n r e qu e s t a s

nov e ls a re to day I wond e r will m anki n d contin u e

-
.
,

to b e caprici ous ? It i s a v e ry sol emn thought inde e d

that no mor e than a hundre d and fi fty ye ars h e nc e the - -

nov eli s t s o f our tim e with all th e i r moral and political

,

and sociological outlook an d i n flue nc e will perhap s ,

shin e as indistinctly as do thos e Old pr e a ch e rs with ,

“ ”
all th e i r e l e gance n ow ,
Y es S i r som e gr e at pundit
.
, ,

“
may be t e lling a disci p l e at this m om e nt W e lls i s ,

on e o f t h e b e st Gal swo rth y i s one o f th e be s t i f

.
,

you e xc e pt h i s co n c e rn f or d e licacy O f styl e M rs . .

Ward has a v e ry firm grasp O f probl e ms but i s not ,

v e ry cr e atio n al — Cai n e s books a r e v e r y e di fyi ng I

.
’
.

should lik e to r e ad all that Cai ne h a s writt e n Mi s s .

Core lli too i s v e ry e di fying — An d you may add

, , .

“
Upton S inclai r . What I wan t to know s ays t h e ,

“
di s cipl e i s what E n glish nov e l s m ay be s e l e cte d as
, ,

T h e pundit a n sw e rs : W e hav e
” “
sp e cially e n t hralli n g .

no n o v e ls addr e ssed to t h e passi on s that a r e goo d

f or anything i f you m e an that kind O f e nthralm e nt
,
.
 “ ”
A C l e rg y m a n 1 85

And h e r e s o m e p oor wr e tch ( whos e nam e t h e disci p l e

“
will not r e m e m b e r ) i n q ui r e s : A re n ot M r s Glyn s .
’

”
n ov e l s a d dr e s s e d to t h e passions ? and i s in d ue form
a nn ihil at e d Can it b e that a tim e will co m e w h e n
.

r e ad e rs O f thi s p as s ag e in our pu n dit s Li f e will tak e

’

mor e i n te r e s t in t h e poor nam e l e s s wr e tch than in all

t h e b e ar e r s O f thos e gr e at nam e s put toge th e r b e in g ,

no mor e abl e or an x i ous to di s cri m inat e b e tw e e n ( sa y )

M r s War d a n d M r S incl a i r than w e are to set
. .

Ogd e n abov e Sh e rlock or Sh e rlock a bov e Ogden ?

,

It s e e m s impos sibl e . But w e mu s t r e m e mb e r that

things a re n ot alway s what th e y s e e m .

Ev e ry m a n illu s tri ou s in hi s d a y howev e r much he

,

m ay b e gratifi e d by h i s f a m e loo ks with an e age r eye

,

to post e rity for a co n tinuance o f past favors and ,

would e ve n liv e t h e r e mai n d e r O f h i s li f e in obscurity

i f by s o doing h e could insur e that fut u re g en erations
would pr e s e rv e a corr e ct attitud e t oward s him for e ver .

Thi s i s v e ry natural and hum a n but like s o many ver y

, ,

natural and human thi n g s v e ry silly Tillotson and

, .

t h e r e s t n e e d not a f t e r all be p iti e d for our negl e ct

, ,

O f th e m . Th e y e ith e r know n othing about it or are ,

abov e such terr e n e t r i fl e s . L e t us ke e p our pity for

t h e s e e thing m a ss o f divin e s who w e r e not e l e gantly

v e rbos e and had no fun or glo ry whil e th ey last e d

, .

And let u s k e e p a sp e cially large port i on for on e whose

lot w a s s o much wors e than m e r e ly undi s tinguish e d .
1 86 M a x B e e r b oh m
'
I f that nam e l e s s c urat e had not b e e n at t h e Thrales
that day or be i n g th e re h a d k e pt t h e s il en c e that s o
, , ,

well b e cam e h im hi s li f e would ha v e b e e n drab enough

, ,

in all con s ci e n c e But at any rat e an unpromising

.

car e e r woul d n ot hav e b e e n nipp e d i n t h e bud And .

’
that i s what i n fact happe n e d I m s ur e o f it A robust
,
.

man m ight hav e ralli e d und e r the blow Not s o our .

fri e n d Tho s e who k n e w him in in fa n cy had n ot e x

.

p e c t e d that h e would be rear e d B e tt e r for

. h i m had
th e y b e e n right It is w e ll to grow up and b e or
.

dain e d but not i f you a r e d e licat e and v e ry s e n sitiv e

, ,

and s h a ll happ e n to ann oy th e gr e at e st t h e mo s t ,

st e n toria n and roug h e st o f cont e mporary p e r s o n ag e s .

“ ”
A Cl e rgyman nev e r h e ld up his h e ad or s m il e d
agai n a ft e r the bri e f encount e r r e cord e d for us by
Bosw e ll He sa n k into a rapid d e clin e B e for e th e
. .

n ext bloss omi n g o f Th ral e H all s almond tr e e s h e w as

’

no m or e I lik e to think th a t he died for g ivin g D r

. .

John s on .
1 88 S t u a r t P S h e r ma n
.

P r o f e s s o r S h e r ma n y ou w ill n ot e i s a l mos t a n e x ac t c on
, ,

t e m p or a ry of H L M e n c k e n w i t h w h om h e h a s c r os s e d s w o r d s
. .
,

i n m o re t h a n on e s pi ri t e d e n c ou n t e r a n d S h e r m a n i s l i k e ly t o
gi v e a s good a s h e t a k e s i n s u c h s c u e s or eve n ra t h e r b e t t e r
, .

I t i s high t i me t h a t hi s c ri t i ca l s a ga c i t y a n d p ow e r f ul r e a s on i n g
w e re b e tt e r kn ow n i n t h e m a rk e t pl a ce .

U NTIL I m e t the But le r ia n s I u s e d to think that the

r e ligious s piri t in our tim e s w a s v e ry pre cious th e r e ,

’
was so littl e o f i t I thought on e s hould hold on e s
.

br e ath b e fore it as be for e t h e flick e r o f on e s last ’

“
match on a cold night in the wo ods What i f it .

”
should go out ? I said ; but my ap p r e h e n s ion was
g roundl e s s It
. can n e v e r go o u t T h e r e l igiou s s pirit
.

is ind e s tructibl e and con s t ant in quantity lik e t h e s u m

o f uni v e rsal e n e r g y in which match e s a n d suns a r e alik e
but m om e nta r y sparkl e s and pha s e s This gr e at truth .

I l e ar n e d o f the Bu t le r i an s : Though t h e forms and

Obj e cts o f r e ligious b e li e f wax old as a garm e nt a n d

are cha n ge d faith which i s a ft e r all t h e pr e cious

, , , ,

’
thing e ndur e s fore v e r D e s troy a m an s faith in God
, .

a n d h e will wor s hip huma n ity ; d e s troy his faith in

hu m a n ity and he will wor s hip sci e nc e ; d e stroy hi s

f aith in s ci e n c e and h e will wor s hip hi m s e l f ; d e stroy
h i s faith in hi m s e l f and h e w ill wor s hip Samu e l Butl e r .

Wh at m a k e s t h e But le r ia n cult s o impr e s s iv e is o f ,

cour s e t hat Butl e r poor dear as the Engli s h s ay was

, , , ,

th e l e a s t wor s hi p ful O f me n He was not e v e n till .

—

—
hi s po s thumous discipl e s mad e him s o a p e rson o f
any particular im p o rtance One writing a private
.
 D i og e n es f th e V i c t or i a ns 89
’

o 1

me morandum o f h i s d e ath might hav e produc e d some

thing lik e this : Samu e l Butl e r was an unsociable ,

bu rry crotch e ty ob s ti nat e old bach e lor a dil e ttant e

, , ,

i n art and sci e nc e an unsucc e ss ful author a w itty

, ,

cynic o f inquisitiv e t e mper and compr e h e nsive ly sp e ak ,

ing t he unregarded Diog e n e s o f t h e Victorians S on

,
.

o f a cl e rgyman and grandson o f a bi s hop born in 1 8 3 5 , ,

educated at Cambridge h e b e gan to pr e p ar e for ordina

,

tion But as w e a re told b e c au s e o f scrupl e s r e gard

.
, ,

i ng in fant bapti sm h e abandon e d the pro s p e ct o f hol y

ord e rs and in 1 8 5 9 sail e d for Ne w Z e aland wh e r e with ,

ca pital suppli e d by his fath e r he engag e d in sh e ep

f arming for fi v e ye ars In 1 8 64 r e turning to England

.
,

’
with he establi s h e d hims e l f for li f e at Cli fford s
Inn London He d e vot e d som e y e ars to paintin g
,
.
,

ador e d Hand e l and dabbl e d in music made occa s ional ,

trips to S ic ily and Italy and wrot e a doz e n book s , ,

which g e ne rally f e ll de ad from t h e pres s on r e ligion , ,

“ ”
lit e ratur e art an d sci e ntific th e ory
,
Er e whon h ow .
,

ever a Utopian ro m ance publi s h e d in 1 8 7 2 had by

, ,

1 8 9 9 sold b e twe e n thre e and four thousand copi e s .

B utl e r mad e fe w fri e nd s and a p p arently n e ve r mar

“
ri e d He di e d in 1 9 0 2 H i s last words w e r e : H a v e
. .

”
y o u brought t h e ch e qu e book Al fr e d ? H i s body was
,

cr e mated and t h e ash e s w e r e buri e d in a gard e n by

hi s biograph e r an d his man s e rva n t with nothing t o -
,

m ark t h e s p ot .
1 9 0 S t ua r t P S h e r m a n
.

’
Butler s indiff e rence to the di s po s al o f his earthl y
part betokens no conte mpt for fa m e D e ni e d cont e m .

or a ry renown he had firmly s e t hi s h e art on i m mor

p ,

tality and quietly persistently can nily provided for

, , ,

it I f h e could not g o do wn to po s t e rity by t h e su f

.
a

frag e o f hi s countrym e n h e would g o down by the ,

s hr e wd u s e o f his ch e qu e book ; he would buy his w ay

in He bought the publication o f most o f t h e books

.

produc e d i n his li f etime He diligently pr epar e d man

.

u s c r i p t s for po s thumous publication and accumulated

and arrang e d gr e at mass e s o f mat e rials for a bi 0 g ~

r ap h e r H e insur e d an int e r e st in h i s lit e rary r e m ains

.

by b e qu e athing th e m a n d all his copyrights to his lit e r

ary e x e cutor R A S t re at fe i ld He purchas e d an i n
, . . .

t e r e s t in a biograph e r by p e rsuadi n g H e n ry F e sti n g

Jon e s a f e ckl e ss lawy e r o f But le r i a n procli v iti e s to

, ,

abandon t h e law and b e com e his musical and lit e rary

companion In r e turn for th e s e s e rvic e s Mr Jon e s
. .

r e c e iv e d b e tw ee n 1 8 8 7 and 1 9 0 0 an allowa n c e o f £ 2 0 0
a y e ar and at Butl e r s d e ath a b e qu e s t o f £ 5 0 0 t h e
,
’

musical copyrights an d t h e mani f e st r e s ponsibility and

pri v il e g e o f a s s i s ti n g S t r e at fe ild with t h e propagation
’
o f Bu t l e r s fam e to g e th e r with th e ir own in t h e n ex t
, ,

g e n e ration .

Th e s e good and faith ful s e rvan ts p e r f orm e d their

duti e s with e x emplary z e al a n d a s tut e n e s s In 1 9 0 3 . .

t h e y e ar followi n g t h e Ma s t e r s d eath S t r e a t fe i ld pub

’
!

,
1 9 2 S t ua r t P S h e r m a n
.

Gilbe rt Can n an and John F Harris In 1 9 1 9 at last . .

arriv e s H e nry F e s ti n g Jon e s with t h e authoritati v e

m e moir in two e normous volum e s with portraits docu ,

m e nts sum ptuous ind e x e laborate bibli ography a n d a

, ,

pious accountin g to t h e public for t h e origi n al manu

scripts which hav e b e e n d e po s it e d lik e s acr e d r e lics at
,

St John s Coll e g e t he Bodl e ian t h e British Mus e um

.
’

, , ,

t h e Library o f Congr e ss a n d at variou s shrin e s i n Ital y

and Sicily H e r e a r e materials for a fr e s h con s id e ra

.

tion o f t h e man in r e latio n t o his w o r k .

The unconv e rt e d w ill s ay that such a m on u m e nt to

such a man is absurdly d i s proporti onat e But Bu t l e r .

is n ow mor e than a man H e is a s piritual anc e stor

.
,

leader o f a m ov e m e nt mould e r o f youn g minds ,

f ound e r o f a faith H i s monument i s de s ign e d not

.

m e rely to preserv e hi s m e mory but to mark as w e ll the

pr e s ent importance o f t h e Bu t le r i an s e ct The m e moi r .

app e ars to hav e b e en w ritt e n pri m arily for th e m The .

faith ful will no doubt fi nd it delicious ; and I though ,

an outsid e r got through it without fatigu e and with a

,

kind o f p e rv e rs e pl e asur e in its p e rv e rsity .

It is v e ry in s tructi v e but it by no m eans simpli fi es

,

its puzzling and compl e x subj e ct M r Jo n e s i s not . .

o f t h e biograph e r s who look into t h e h e art o f a man ,

r e duce him to a formula and r e cr e at e him i n accord

ance with it H e works f rom t h e outsid e inward and
.
, ,

g rad u ally achiev e s l i f e and r e alit b

y y an imm e n se a c
 D i og e n e s f
o the V i c t or i a ns 1 93
c um ulation o f obj ective d e tail without e ver pluckin g ,

out or e v e n pluckin g at t h e heart o f t h e myst e ry

, , .

“ ’ ”
What was t h e man s master passion and hi s mast e r
faculty ? Butl e r hims e l f did not know ; cons e qu e ntly
he could not always distin g uish his w isdom from his
f olly He w a s an ironist e ntangl e d in his own net and
.

an egotist bitt e n wit h s e l f distrust conc e aling his

-
,

wounds in sel f assertion and his h e sitancies in an ex

-

ternal aggressiv e n e ss M r Jone s pi e rc e s the sh e ll here

. .

and th e re but never removes it C onsid e ring his op

, .

o r t un i t i e s he is sparin in composed stu dies o f his

p , g
subj ect based on hi s own direct observation ; and with ,

all hi s inge nuousness and his shockin g but illuminatin g

i ndiscretions he is fre q uently silent as a tomb where
,

h e must certainly poss e ss in formation for which every

read e r will inquire particularly those r e ad e rs who do
,

n ot like the But le r i a n s

,
acc e pt S amu e l Butl e r as the
,

happy r e incarnation o f mod e ration c ommon sense and ,

f earl e ss hon e st y .

The whole cas e o f the G eorgians against the V ic

t or i a n s might be fought out ov e r his li f e and works ;

a n d i n d e e d th e r e has alr e ady be e n many a skirmi s h in

that quarter For o f course neith e r S t reat fe ild nor

.
, ,

M r Jon e s i s ultimat e ly r e sponsible for h i s r evival

. .

’
U ltimate l y Butl e r s vogu e i s d u e to the f act that he is a
f ri e nd o f the Georgian r e volution again s t id e alism in
t h e v e ry citad e l o f t h e e n e my ; t h e e xtraordinary ac t
1 94 S t ua r t P S h e r ma n
.

cl aim with which h e i s n ow r e c e iv e d is his rew ard

f or ha v ing long ago pr e pa r e d to b e tray the Victo r ians
into t h e ha n d s o f a ru t hl e s s po s t e rity H e w a s a traito r
.

to his own tim e s and th e r e for e it follows that h e was

,

a man pro foun d ly disillusio n e d T h e qu e s tion whic h

.

we may all r e a s onably rai s e with r e gard t o a traitor

whom w e hav e re c e ived within our lin e s is wh e th e r he
will make us a good citiz e n We should like to kn ow
.

r e tty thoroughly h ow he f e ll out with h i s countrym e n

p
— wh e th e r through d e f e cts in hi s own t e mp e r an d

charact e r or through a cl e ar e y e d and right e ous i n di g

-

nation with t h e incorrigibl e viciou s n e ss o f th e ir man

n e rs a n d institutions W e should lik e t o k n ow what
.

vi s ion o f r e formation s ucc e e d e d h i s disillusion H i t h .

erto t h e G e orgians hav e b e e n mor e e loqu e n t i n th e i r

disillu s ions than in th e 1 r V i s i on s a n d ha v e i n cl in e d
,

to w elcom e Butl e r as a di s sol v ing ag e n t without much

insp e cting his s olution .

Th e Bu t le r i a n s admir e Butl e r for h i s wi t h e ring at

”
tack on family li f e notably in T h e Way o f All Fl e sh ;
,

an d m a n y a s tu d ious lit e rary m a n with a talka t iv e wi f e

and e ight rompi n g childr e n would o f cours e admit ,

an occa s io n al fla s h o f roma n tic e n v y for B utl e r 5 bach

e lor apartm e n t s . M r Jon e s t ell s u s that Th e obald and
.

Christina Pon t i f e x whos e nak e d n e s s Bu t l e r u n co v e rs

, ,

w e r e draw n without e xagg e r ati on fro m h i s ow n fath e r

and m oth e r H is work on th e m is a m a s t e rpi e c e o f
.
1 9 6 S t ua r t P S h e r ma n
.

d e sir e d i s not lik ely to propo s e a happy s ubstitut e

his mood i s not r e constructi v e fu n ny t hough it may be ,

in two old bo y s o f fi f ty l ik e Bu t l e r a n d J on e s li v ing

, ,

along lik e spoiled childr e n on allowa n c e s Butl e r from ,

his fath e r Jones f rom h i s moth e r

,
.

T h e But le r i an s admir e Butl e r for his brilliant at

“ ”
tack on ro m antic r e lations b e tw e e n t h e s e x e s Be .

fore t h e a d v e nt o f Shaw h e pour e d poison on t h e roots

o f that imaginativ e lov e in which all normal m e n and
maid e n s walk at l e a s t onc e in a l i f e ti m e a s in a ros y
clou d shot t hrough with gold e n light s .

H is portraits show a man o f vigorou s physiqu e cap ,

abl e o f pas s ion a fac e di s tinctly v iril e rath e r harshl y

, ,

b e ard e d with broad masculin e e y ebrows Was h e e v e r

, .

in lov e ? I f not why was he not ? El e m e ntary q ues

,

tions which his biograph e r a ft e r a thousand pages

l e a v e s unanswer e d M r Jo n e s ass e rts that both Ove r
. .

”
ton and Ern e st in The Way o f All Fl e sh a re in th e
main accurat e ly autobiographical and h e furnishes ,

much e v id e nc e for t he point He r e ma r ks a d iv e rg e nc e

.

in this f a ct that Butl e r unlik e his h e ro was n ev e r in

, , ,

pri s on Did Bu t l e r lik e his h e ro hav e childr e n and

.
, ,

farm th e outm ? T h e point i s o f som e int e r e st in the

ca s e o f a m an who i s h elping us to d e stroy t h e c on ve n
t i on al family .

Mr J on e s l e aves quit e in t h e dark hi s r e lations with

.

such wom e n as t h e lat e Qu e e n Victoria would not

 D i og e n e s o f th e V i c t or i a ns 1 97
hav e appro v e d r e lation s which J B Y e ats has h ow
, . .
,

e v e r publicly di s cu s s e d
, M r Jon e s i s ordi n arily c yn
. .

ical e nough can d id e nough as w e shall s e e He takes

, , .

pain s to te ll us that h i s own grand father was n e ver

marri e d H e do e s not h e s itate to acknowl e dg e abun
.

d anc e o f moral uglin e ss in hi s subj e ct Why this acc e ss .

o f Victorian r e tic e nc e at a point wh e re plain speaking -

is t h e ord e r o f t h e day and t h e sp e cial prid e o f con

temporary Er e whonians ? Why did a young man o f
B utl e r s tast e s l e av e t h e church and go i n to e xile in
’

Ne w e aland for fi v e y e ars

Z ? C ould a mor e r e solute
“ ”
biograph e r p e rhaps find a mor e r e alistic explana
tion t han di ffi culties ov e r in fant baptism ? M r Sha w .

”
told his publish e r that Butler was a shy old bird .

In s oin e r e sp e cts h e was also a sly old bi rd .

“
Among the future pi e rcing sugge stions extolled
-

“
by M r Shaw w e may be sur e that t h e author o f Man
.

” ’
and Sup e rman was pl e ased to acknowl e dge Butler s
pr e discov e ry that woman i s t h e pursu e r This idea .

w e may n ow trac e q uit e d e fi nitely to hi s r e lations with

M iss S avag e a witty s e n s ibl e p r e sumabl y virtuou s
, , ,

w oman o f about hi s own a g e living in a club in Lon ,

don who urge d hm to writ e fi ction r e ad all his manu

, ,
~

scripts knitt e d him s ocks reviewed hi s books in

, ,

’
wom e n s magazin e s and corr e spond e d with him for
years till s h e di e d without h i s knowl e dge in hospital
, ,

f r om canc e r He r l e tters a re M r J on e s mainsta y in

. .
’
1 98 S t ua r t P S h e r ma n .

his first volum e a n d s h e i s e xc e pt Butl e r hims e l f alto

, ,

g eth e r his mo s t int e r e s ti n g p e r s onality Mr Jones . .

says that b e ing u n abl e to fi n d any on e who could au ~

t h or i ze him to u s e h e r l e tt e rs h e publi s h e s th e m on
,

h i s own r e s ponsibility But h e a dd s I ca n n ot i m ag

.
,

i ne that a n y r e lation o f h e rs who may r e a d h e r le t

t e rs will e xp e ri e nc e any f e e li n gs other than prid e a n d
d e light . Thi s lady h e t e lls us w a s t h e origi n al o f
, ,

Al e th e a Ponti f e x But h e marks a di ffe r e nc e Al eth e a

. .

wa s han d som e . Mi ss Savage h e says w a s short fat

, , , ,

“
ha d hip d i s eas e and that kind o f dowdi n e ss whi ch I
,

us e d to a s sociate with ladi e s who had b e e n at s ch ool

”
with my moth e r .Butl e r b e cam e p e rsuad e d that Miss
Sa v ag e lo v e d him ; thi s bored him ; and t h e corr e spo n d
ence would laps e till he felt the n e ed o f h e r ch e e ry

fri e nd s hip again On on e occasion s h e wrot e to him

.
,

“ ”
I wi s h that you did not know wrong from right .

Mr Jon e s b e li e v e s that s h e was allu d i n g to hi s s c r up u

.

lou s ne s s i n matt e rs o f busin e s s Butl e r hi m s e l f con

.

s t r u e d t h e word s as an ov e rtur e to which he w a s i n

dispo s e d to r e spo n d The d e bat e on this poi nt an d

.

t h e pr e tty u n c e rtai n ty i n which it i s l e ft can s ur e ly

arou s e i n M iss Sa v ag e s r e lations no oth e r f e el ings

’

“ ”
than prid e and d e light .

Thi s bri ngs us to t h e But le r i a n sub s titute for the

chi v alry which us e d to be practis e d by tho s e who bor e
“
what t h e Victo r ians call e d t h e gra n d Old n a m e o f
200 S t ua rt P S h e r ma n
.

Th e d e sc e ndants o f e min e nt Victorians may w e ll be

thank ful that th e ir fa t h e rs had n o i n timat e r e latio n s
with Butl e r Th e r e i s a fa m iliar s tory o f Whi s tl e r
. ,

that when s ome on e prai s e d h i s lat e s t portrait as e qual

“
to V e lasqu e z h e snapp e d back Y e s but why lug i n
, , ,

”
V e lasqu e z ? Butl e r with similar av e r s ion for rivals
, ,

but without Whistl e r s e xt e mpor e wit s lowly e x cog i

’
,

t a t e d hi s killing salli e s and e nt e r e d th e m in h i s note

books or s e nt th e m in a l e tter to M iss Savage pr e s e rv ,

“
i ng a cop y for th e d e l e ctation o f t h e n e xt a g e : I do
n ot s ee h ow I can w e ll call M r Darwin t h e P e cksni f f .

o f Sci e nc e though thi s is e xactly what h e i s ; but I

,

think I may call Lord Bacon t h e P e cksni ff o f hi s ag e

and th e n a littl e later s ay that Mr D arwin is the
, , .

Bacon o f t h e Victorian Era To thi s h e add s another

.

“
note r e minding hims e l f to call T e nny s on th e Darwi n
”
o f Po e try and Darwin t h e T e nnys on o f Sci e nc e
, I .

can r e call but on e work o f a cont e mporary m e ntio ne d

fa v orably in t h e biography ; p e rhap s th e r e ar e two .

T h e stapl e o f hi s co m m e nt runs about a s foll ows

“ “
Middl e march i s a longwinded piece o f studi e d
” “ ” “
brag ; o f John I n g les an t I s eldo m was mor e dis
,

” ” “
pl e as e d with any book ; o f Aurora L e igh I dislik e ,

it v e ry much but I lik e d i t b e tt e r tha n M r s B rowni n g

, .
,

“
o r M r eith e r o f R os s e tti I d i s lik e hi s fac e and his
.
, ,

manner and his work and I hat e h i s po etry and hi s

,

”
f riends ; o f Georg e Mer e dith No wond e r i f hi s wofk ,
 D i og e n es f
o the V i c t or i a ns 20 1

” “
r e p e ls me that mi n e s hould r e p e l him ; all I remembe r
i s that I di s lik e d and distrusted Morl ey o f Glad s tone ,

“
Who w a s it s aid that h e was a good man in t h e v e ry
‘

w orst s e ns e o f t he word s ’
T h e homicidal spirit here
exhibit e d may b e fairly r e lat e d to his anxi e ty for t h e
d e ath o f hi s fath e r .

It was on t h e whol e charact e ri s tic o f Victorian fr ee

thi n ke r s to attack Chri s tianity with r e v e r e nce and di s
criminati on in an att e mpt to pr e s e rv e its substance
whil e r e mo v in g obstacl e s to the acc e ptanc e o f its s ub
sta n c e Butl e r was Voltair e an Wh e n he did not at
. .

tack mi s chi e vously like a ga m i n h e att ack e d v i n d i c

,

t i v e ly lik e an Italian labor e r whos e sw ee th e art has

b ee n fals e to him I hav e s e e n it stat e d that he was a

.

broad churchman and a co m municant ; a n d M r Jones .

produce s a letter from a cl e rgyman t e s ti fying to hi s

”
saintl iness . But this must b e som e o f M r Jones s .
’

f un From Gibbon read on the voyag e to Ne w Z ea

.
,

“
land Butler imbibed h e sa y s in a l e tt e r o f 1 8 6 1
, , , a ,

calm and philo s ophic spirit o f impartial and critical

” “
inv e stigation . In 1 8 62 h e writ e s : For the pr e sent
I r e nounce Christianity alto g eth e r You s ay people .

must have som e thin g to b elieve in I can only s ay .

that I hav e n ot found my dige stion imped e d since I

l e ft off b eli e ving in what does not appea r to be s up
”
port e d by su ffici e nt evidence When in 1 8 6 5 h e
.

“
p rinted his Evid e nce for the R e surr e c tion o f Jes us
202 S t ua r t P S h e r m a n
.

Chri s t ,
the
ma n n e r o f his attack wa s impish ; and so
w a s t h e gl e e ful e xcha n g e o f notes b e tw e e n him and
Miss Savag e o v e r t h e way t h e orthodox swallowed the
“
bait In hi s not ebook h e wrot e : M e ad i s the low e st
.

o f t h e intoxicants j ust as Church i s t h e low e st o f the

,

di s sipations and carraway s e ed t h e low e st o f t h e condi

,

”
m ent s He w e nt to church onc e in 1 8 8 3 to pl e as e a
.

fri e nd and was asked wh e th e r it had not bor e d h i m

“
a s i n c on s i s t e nt with his principl e s I s aid that having
.
,

gi v e n up Christianity I was not going to b e hamp e r e d

,

by its principl e s It was t h e s ubstanc e o f Christiani ty

.
,

and not its acc e ssori e s o f e xt e rnal worship that I had ,

obj e ct e d to s o I w e nt to church out o f pur e

” “
cus s e dness Fi n all y in a not e o f 1 8 8 9 : Ther e will
.
,

be n o com fortabl e and sa f e d e v e lopm e nt o f our social

arrange m e nts— I m e an w e shall not g e t i n fanticid e ,

and t h e p e rmission o f suicid e nor ch eap and e asy ,

’
divorc e till J e sus C hri st s gho s t has b e e n laid ; and
—

t h e b e st way to l ay it i s to be a mod e rat e church

”
m an .

R obe rt Burns w a s a fr e e thi nk e r but h e wrot e the

-
,

”
Cott e r s Saturday Night ; R e n an w a s a fr e e thi n k e r
’
-
,

but h e buri e d h i s G od in purpl e ; Matth e w Arnold w a s

a fr e e thi n k e r but h e ga v e n e w li f e to t h e r e ligious
-
,

po e try o f t h e B ibl e ; H e nry Adams b e li e v e d only i n

math e m atical phy s ic s but h e wr ot e o f Mo n t St M ich e l
, .

and Chartr e s with chivalrous a n d al m o s t Cath olic

20 4 St ua r t P S h e r m a n
.

a Franklin shorn o f t h e s pirit o f h i s gr e at ne ss nam e l y , ,

his imm e n s ely i n t e llig e nt social co n s ci ou s n e s s .

Having di s po s e d o f Chri s tia n ity orthodox and ,

“
oth e rwis e an d having r e d uc e d t h e m orality o f e u
,

”
light e n e d s e lfi s hn e s s to its low e s t t e rms Butl e r turn e d ,

in t h e sam e spirit to t h e d e s truction o f orthodox Vic

torian sci e nc e W e a re l e ss conc e rn e d for t h e mom e nt
.

w ith his sub s tanc e than with h i s charact e r and mann e r

“ ”
as sci e n tific co n trov e rsialist I f I can n ot he wrote
.
, ,

“
a n d I know I ca n n ot g e t t,
h e l it e rary and sci e ntific
bigwigs to gi v e m e a shilling I can and I know I can
, , ,

”
h e a v e brick s into t h e mi d dl e o f th e m Though such.

pro f e s s ional trai n ing as h e had w a s for t h e church and

for painti n g he s e e ms n e v e r to ha v e d oubt e d that hi s
,

moth e r wit was su ffici e nt e quip m e nt s uppl e m ent e d by ,

r e adi n g in t h e Briti s h M us e um for t h e ov e rthrow o f

,

me n lik e Darwin Wallac e and Huxl e y who from boy

, ,

hood had giv e n th e i r liv e s to coll e cting studying and ,

“
e xp e rim e n ti n g with scientific data I am quit e r e ady
.

” “
to ad m it h e r e cords that I am in a conspiracy o f
, ,

”
on e against m e n o f sci e nc e in g e n e ral Havi n g f e lt .

him s el f cov e rtly slighte d in a book for which Darwi n

w a s r e s ponsibl e h e vindictiv e ly assail e d not m e r el y
, ,

t h e work but also t h e charact e r o f D arwin and hi s

,

friends who naturally in f e rri n g that h e wa s an un

, ,

“
scrupulous bounder se e kin g notoriet y g enerall y ,

i gn or e d him .
 D i og e n e s f
o th e V i c t or i a n s 20 5
H i s fi rst contribution to e volutionary th e ory had
be e n a humorous skit written in Ne w Z e aland on the
, ,

“
evolution o f machin e s s uggest e d by The Origin o f
,

’ “ ”
Sp e ci e s and late r includ e d in Erewhon
, T O s up .

port this whimsy he found i t u s e ful to r e viv e t h e aban

“ ”
do u e d argum e nt from d e sign ; and moth e r wit sti ll ,

working whimsically leap e d to t h e conc e ption that the

,

organs o f our bodi e s a re machine s Th e r e upon he .

com m e nc e d s e rious sci e nti fic sp e culator and produc e d ,

“ ”
Li f e an d H abi t 1 8 7 8 ; Evolution Old and Ne w
, ,

“ ” “
1 8 79 ; Unconscious M e mory 1 8 8 0 ; and Luck or ,

”
C unning 1 8 8 6 T h e g e rm o f all his sp e culations
, .
,

“
c ontain e d in h i s first volum e i s t h e notion o f t h e one ,

n e ss o f personal ity e xi s ti n g be tw e e n par e nts and Off

sprin g up to th e time that t h e o ffs pri n g l e av e s the
’ ”
paren t s body ; thence d e v e lop s h is th e ory that the
“
ofl s p r i n g
$3
’
unconsciously r e m e mb e rs what happ e ne d .

to the parents ; and th e nce h i s th e ory that a vitalisti c

purpose f ul cunnin g as oppos e d t o t h e Darwinian
,

c hanc e,
i s th e signi fi cant f actor i n e volution H is .

th eory has som e thin g in common with curr e nt philo

sophical speculation and it is i n part as I und e r s tand , ,

a kind o f ad umb r at l on a shr e wd gu e ss at t h e pr e sent

, ,

attitude o f cyt ol ogists It has thus e ntitl e d Butl e r to

.

h al f a do zen f ootnotes in a cent e nary volum e on Dar

’
win ; but it hardly j ustifies his tr an s f e r e nc e o f D arwin s
laurels to Bu ffon Lam arck Era s mu s Darwin and h im
, ,
206 S t ua rt P Sh e r ma n
.

sel f ; nor does it j usti fy h i s r e it e rat e d contenti on that

Darwin w a s a plagiarist a fraud a Pe cks n i fl and a
'

, ,

liar. He sw e ll e d the e ph e m e ral body o f sci entifi c

sp e culation ; but hi s co n tribution to t h e v e rifi e d body o f
sci e nce was n e gligible and t h e i n j uri e s that h e i h
,

fl i c t e d upon t h e sci e ntific spirit wer e consid e rabl e .

For thei r symptomatic valu e w e mu s t glanc e at

,

Butl e r s salli e s into som e oth e r fi e lds He h e ld a s an

’
.

educational principl e that it is hardly worth whil e t o

study any subj ect till on e is r e ady to us e it Wh e n in .

his fi fti e s he wish e d to writ e music h e took up for t h e

,

first tim e t h e stud y o f cou n terpoint M r Gar n e tt

. .

h aving inquir e d what subj e ct B utl e r and Jon e s would

“
tak e up wh e n th e y had finish e d Narcis s us Butl e r said ,

“
that they might writ e an oratorio on som e sacr e d
”
subj ect ; and wh e n Garn e tt ask e d wh e th e r th e y had
anything in particular in min d h e r e pli e d that th e y
,

“ ”
wer e thinking o f Th e Woman Tak e n in Adulte ry .

In t h e sam e d e cad e h e ch ee r fully appli e d for t h e Slad e

pro f e s sorship o f art at Cambridge ; and h e took credit
f or t h e r e discov e ry o f a lost school o f sculptur e .

At the a g e o f fi ft y fi ve h e brush e d up h i s Gr e e k
-
,

“ ”
which h e had not wholly forgott e n a n d r e ad t h e ,

“ ”
Odyss e y for t h e purpos e s o f his oratorio Uly s s e s , .

When h e got to Circ e i t sudd e nly flash e d upon him

that h e was r e adi n g t h e work o f a you n g woman !
Ther e upon h e produc e d hi s book Th e Autho r e ss o f
,
20 8 S t ua r t P S h e r m a n
.

trait o f hi m s e l f and i n his own ca s e t h e f e atur e s stand

,

out rugge d ly e n ough Why s hould a n y on e s e e i n thi s

.

in fatuat e d pur s u e r o f para d ox a r e incarnatio n of t h e

pagan wisdo m In hi s s mall p e r s onal a ffair s h e s hows
?

a c e rt ai n Old maidi s h tidin e s s and t h e prud e nc e o f an

-

exp e ri e nc e d old bach e lor who ma n ag e s h i s littl e pl e as

,

ur e s without s ca n dal But in his i nt ell e ctual li f e what

.

v e s tig e do w e find o f t h e Gr e e k or e v en o f t h e R oman

sobri e ty poi s e a n d d e corum
,
? In one r e s p e ct Butl e r
was cons e rvati v e : he r e s p e ct e d the e s tablish e d political
and e conomi c ord e r But he resp e ct e d it only b e caus e
.

it e nabl e d him without be s tirrin g hims e l f about hi s

,

br ead and butte r to sit qui e tly in his roo m s at Cli fford s
,
’

Inn and i n v e nt attacks on ev e ry oth e r form o f ortho

doxy With a d e si r e to be con s picuou s only surpas s e d
.

by his d e sir e to be origi n al h e work e d ou t the c en tral

But le r i an principl e ; vid e lic e t : Th e fact that all the b e st
qualifi e d j udg e s agr ee that a thing i s tru e and valuabl e
establish e s an ov e rwh elmin g pr e sumption that it i s
valu e l e ss and fals e With his f e e t firmly plant e d on
.

this gran d radical maxim h e e mploy e d hi s liv e ly wit

with lawye r lik e ing e n uity to mak e out a cas e again s t
-

fa m ily li f e o f which h e was incapabl e ; again s t imagi

,

nati v e l ove o f which h e w a s ignorant ; against chival ry

, ,

oth e rwis e t h e conve n tions o f g e ntl e m e n which h e had

,

but imp e r f e ctly l e arn e d ; against Victorian m en o f le t

ters whom by hi s own account h e had n e v e r read ;
, , ,
 D i og e n e s f
o th e V i c t or i a n s 20 9
a gainst altruisti c morality and th e substance o f C hri s
t i a n i t y which were r e pugnant to his s e lfi s hn e ss and
,

oth e r vic e s ; against V ictorian me n o f sci e nc e whose ,

r e s e arch e s h e had ne v e r imitate d ; and against Eliza

bethan and classical scholar s hip which he took up in ,

an odd mom e n t as one plays a gam e o f solitair e b e fore

g oing to be d To his discipl e s h e could not b e queath
.

hi s cl e vern e ss ; but he l e ft th e m hi s r e cip e for ori g i

n a li t y his mann e rs and his assurance which has be e n
, ,

g ath e rin g compound inter e st ev e r since In the origi.

“
nal manuscript o f Alps and Sanctuari e s h e consi g ned
“
R affael e alon g with Socrat e s Virgil ! t h e last t w o
, ,

displac e d later by Plato and D ant e ! Marcus Aure lius ,

Antoninus G o e th e Beethoven and a n oth er to limbo

, , , ,

”
a s t h e Seven H umbu g s o f Ch r i s t i an d om Who w a s .

t h e unnamed seventh ?
 BE D -
BOOKS AN D N IGH T LI GHT S -

By H M T OMLIN S ON
. .

I s h all n ot f org et wi t h w h a t
hrill o f d e li g h t I c am e up on a t
H M T om li n s on s Old J u n k t h e volu m e o f e s s ay s f r om w hi c h
’
. .
,

t h i s i s b orr ow e d On e f e e l s i n s t u m bli n g up on s u c h a b ook m u c h

.
, ,

a s s om e h a ppy a n d a s t o u n d e d r e a d e r s m u t h av e f e l t i n 1 8 78 s

w h e n A n I n la nd Voy ag e cam e ou t I t ma k e s on e w on d e r s u b .
,

m i t t i n g on e s s e l f t o t h e m ovi n g m u s i c a n d m a gi c o f t h a t pr os e
’

s o s i m pl e a n d y e t s o s ub t l e i n i t s fl avo r wh e t h e r p oe t r y i s n ot , ,

a fte r ll a n i n f e ri o r a n d m or e m e c h n i c f or m T h e c ool
“
a ,
a .

e l e m e n t o f pr os e t h at p e r f e c t p h r a s e o f M il t on s c om e s b a c k
” ’

, ,

to mind H ow d i r e c t a n d s a t i s f yi n g a p a s s a ge t o t h e m i n d M r
. .

T om li n s on s p a r a gr a ph s h ave How t h e y buil d a n d c u m ul a t e

’
.
,

h ow t h e s e n t e n c s hi ft t ur n a n d m ove i n d e li c a t e l oop s a n d
e s ,

ri d ge s u n d e r t h e bl owi n g wi n d O f t h ough t lik e t h e s an d o f t h e ,

d u n e s t h a t h e d e s c rib e s i n on e e s s a y A n d t hr ough i t a l l as .
,

i n t a n gibl e b u t a s r e a l a n d b e a ut i f yi n g a s m oon ligh t t h e r e i s t h e ,

p e rv a d i n g brigh t n e s s of a p a r t i c ul a r w ay of l ooki n g at t h e w orl d ,

s om e t hi n g fo r whi c h w e h av e n o c a t c hw o r d t h e i l l u m i n a t i on ,

O f a s piri t a t on c e hu m or ou s me l a n c h oly s hr e w d l ove ly a n d , , ,

hu m an e S om e h ow wh e n on e i s c a ugh t i n t h e w e b of t h a t e x
.
,

q i s i t e c on s i d e r e d pr os e t h e a wkw a r d s y m b ol s of s p e e c h s e e m
u , ,

t r an s p a r e n t ; w e c om e c l os e t o a m a n s m i n d
’
.

In M T om li n s on s t hr e e b ook s — Th e S e a a n d t h e J ng l e
’
r. u
Old Ju n k ( 1 9 2 0 ) a n d L on d on R i v e r ( 1 9 2 1 ) i s r e v e a l e d
on e o f t h e m os t s i n c e r e a n d p e r f e c t w o rk m e n i n c on t e m p or a ry
p r os e .

H M T om li n s on w a s b or n m 1 8 7 3 ; a m on g h i s e a rly m e m o ri e s
. .

h e r e c or d s : I w a s a n offi c e b oy a n d a c l e rk a m on g L on d on s
“ ’

s hip s i n t h e l a s t d ay s o f t h e c li p p e r s A n d I a m f o r c e d t o r e c a l l
, .

s om e o f t h e t hi n g s — s u c h a s b ookk e e pi n g i n a j a m f a c t o ry a n d
s t oki g on a t r a m p s t e a m e r H e j o i n e d t h e s t ff o f t h e L on d on
’
n . a
M o n i ng L e a d e r i n 1 90 4 ; whi c h w a s l a t e r m e rg e d wi t h t h e D a i ly
r

Ne w s a n d t o t hi s j our n a l h e w a s a t t a h e d for s eve r a l y e a r s

, c .

D uri n g t h e W h e w a s a c o rr e s p on d e n t i n F r a n c e ; a t t h e
ar
d a n g e r o f i n c urri n g h i s a g e r ( s h oul d h e s e e t hi s ) I q u ot e M r n .

S K Ra t c fl e o n t hi s ph e o f h s w ork
“
On e w h o w a s t h e
'

. . l i i — as

f ri e n d o f a ll a s w e e t a n d fi n e s piri t m ovi n g u n t ou c h e d a m i d t h e
,

rui n a n d t e rr or e xpr e i n g i t s e l f e ve rywh e r e wi t h p e r f e c t s i m

, ss

p li c i t y a n d a t t i m e s wi t h a s h a t t e ri n g c a n d o r
, .

I n 1 9 1 7 h e b e c a m e a s s oc i a t e e d i t o r o f t h e L on d on Na t i on ,

wh e r e i f y ou a e i n t e r e s t e d y ou may fi n d h i s i n i t i a l s a l most
, r ,

w ee kly .

2 10
2 12 H . M T om l i n s on
.

foll ows s o i nti m at e ly an author s m o s t ghostly s ug ’

g e s tion W e s i t t h e can d l e a n d I i n t h e m id s t o f t h e
.
, ,

s had e s w e a r e con q u e rin g an d so m e ti m e s look up from

,

the luc e n t p ag e to cont e mplate t h e dark hosts o f t h e

en e my with a smil e be fore th e y ov e rwh e lm u s ; a s th e y
will o f course Lik e m e t h e ca n d l e i s m ortal ; it will
, .
,

burn out .

As t h e be d book its e l f s hould be a sort o f night light

- -
.

to a s si s t i t s illuminatio n co ar s e lam p s a r e u s e l e s s
,
.

Th e y would dous e t h e bo ok Th e light for s uch a .

book mu s t accord with it It mu s t b e lik e t h e b ook a .

, ,

limit e d p e r s o n al m ellow an d compa n i o n abl e gl ow ;

, , ,

t h e solitary tap e r b e s i d e t h e only wor s hip e r in a s a n c

t u ary . That i s why nothing can compare with t h e

intimacy o f candle light for a b e d book It i s a living
- -
.

h e a rt bright and warm in c e ntral night b urnin g for

, ,

us alon e holding t h e gau n t an d tow e ring shadows at

,

bay Th e re t h e monstrous s pe cters stand in our mid

.

night room t h e ad v anc e guard o f t h e darkn e ss o f

,

t h e world h eld off by our valiant little glim but ready

, ,

to flood i n s tantly and f ound e r u s in original gloom .

T h e wi n d moans with out ; anci e nt evil s a r e at larg e

and wand e ring in torm e nt T h e rain shri e ks across .

th e window For a mom e nt for j ust a mom e nt the

.
, ,

sentin el candl e i s shake n an d burns blu e with t e rror , .

T h e s had ow s l e a p out instantly Th e littl e flam e .

r e covers and m e r ely looks at its foe th e darkness and

, ,
 B e d B o ok s
-
an d N ig h t -
L i g h ts 2 1 3
back to i t s ow n pl a c e go e s t h e old e n e my o f light and
man Th e candl e for m e ti n y mortal warm and
.
, , , ,

bra v e a gol d e n lily on a s ilv e r st em !

,

“
Almo s t an y b ook d oe s for a bed book a woman -
,

o n c e said to m e I n e arly r epli e d i n a hurry that

.

alm os t any wo m an would do for a w i f e ; but that is

not t h e way to bring p e opl e to con v iction of s i n He r .

id e a w a s that t h e be d book i s S Op or i fi c an d for that

-
,

r e a s on s h e e v e n ad v ocat e d t h e r e adi n g o f p oliti cal

sp e e ch e s That w oul d b e a di s solut e act C e rtai nly
. .

you w ould go to sl e e p ; but i n what a fra m e o f mi n d !

You would e nt e r into sl e e p with your e y e s s hut It .

would b e lik e dyi n g n ot only u n shri v e n but in t h e

, ,

act o f guilt .

What book shall it shin e upon ? Think o f Pl ato or ,

D ant e or Tolstoy or a Blu e Book for s uch an oc ca

, ,

sion ! I can n ot Th e y will n ot d o— th e y a r e no good

.

to m e I am not writi n g about you I know those

. .

m e n I ha v e na m e d a r e transc e nd e nt t h e gr e at e r lights
, .

B ut I am bou n d to con f e ss at tim e s th e y bor e me .

Though th e i r f e et a re clay and on e arth j u s t as ours , ,

th e i r st ellar brows are som e tim e s dim in r e mot e cl ouds .

Fo r my part th e y a r e too big for b e d f e llows I

,
-
.

cannot s ee mys e l f carrying my f eebl e and r e strict e d

,

glim following ( i n paj ama s ) t h e statuesqu e figure o f

,

the Fl or e n tine wh e r e it s talks alo of i n its garb o f ,

a u st e re pit y t h e sonorous d e e s of Had e s H ades !

, p .
2 14 H M
. . T o m l i n s on

Not for me ; not a fter midni g ht ! Let those go who

like it .

As for t h e R ussian vast and disqui e ting I r e fus e to

, ,

l e av e all includi n g the bla n k e ts a n d t h e pillow to fol

, ,

low h i m into t h e g e lid tra n quillity o f t h e upp e r air ,

wh e re e v e n t h e colors a r e pri s m atic spicul e s o f i ce to ,

brood upo n t h e e rratic orbit o f t h e poor m u d ball b elow -

ca ll e d e arth I know it is my world al s o ; but I can

.

not h elp that It i s too lat e a ft e r a busy day and at

.
, ,

that hour to b egin ov e rtim e on fashioni n g a n e w an d

,

b ett e r planet out o f cosmi c dust By br e ak fast tim e .

-
,

nothing us e ful would hav e b e e n accompli s h e d W e .

should all b e wh e r e we w e re the night b e for e The .

j ob i s far too long onc e t h e pillow i s nic e ly s et

, .

For t h e truth i s th e r e a r e tim e s wh e n w e are too

,

w eary to r e main att entiv e an d thank ful u n d e r t h e i m

proving eye kindly but s ever e o f t h e s e e r s Th e re
, , .

a re times wh e n w e do not wi s h to b e any b e tt e r than

w e a re W e do not wish to be e l e vat e d and improv e d

. .

At midnight away with such book s ! A s for t h e

,

lit e rary pu n d it s t h e high pri e sts o f t h e T e m pl e o f L e t

,

ters i t is int e r e sti n g and h e lp ful occasionally for an

,

acolyte to swi ng e th e m a good hard on e with an i n

c e ns e bur n e r an d cut and run for a cha n ge to som e
-
, , ,

thing out s id e t h e rubric s M id n ight i s t h e tim e wh e n

.

on e can r e call with ribald d e light t h e n a m e s o f all the

, ,

Great Works which e v e ry g e ntl eman ought t o have

2 1 6 H M T o m l i ns on
. .

has a sharp focus small and starlik e a s a cl e ar a n d

, ,

lon ely flame l e ft burning by the altar o f a s hri n e from

which all hav e gon e but one A book which ap .

p r oa c h e s that light in t h e privacy o f that plac e must

com e as it w e re with hon e st and op e n pag e s

, ,
.

I lik e H e i n e th e n though His mock e ry o f t h e grav e

, .

and gr e at i n those sent ences which a r e as bra v e as

,

p e n na n ts i n a br e e ze is com fortabl e a n d s e dativ e

,
.

’
On e s ow n s e cr e t and awkward convictio n s n e v e r e x ,

press e d b e caus e not law ful and b e caus e it i s hard t o g et

words to b e ar th e m lightly s ee m th e n to b e h e ard aloud ,

in t h e mild e asy and confid e nt diction o f an im m ortal

, ,

whos e voic e has t h e blithen e ss o f one who has watch e d ,

amus e d and irr e v e r e nt the high gods i n e age r and ,

s e cr e t d ebat e on the best way to k e e p t h e gilt and

trappings on t h e body o f t h e evil they have cr e at e d .

That fi r s t rate explor e r Gulliv e r i s al so fi ne i n the

-
, ,

light o f t h e intimat e candle H ave you read lat ely .

again his Voyag e to the Houyhnhnms ? Try it alone

agai n in qui e t Swi ft knew all about our co nt e mporar y
.

troubl e s He has got i t all down Why was h e called

. .

a misanthrope ? R e ading that last voyage o f Gullive r

in t h e s el e ct i nt 1 macy o f midnight I am forced t o
wond e r not at Swi ft s hatr e d o f mankind n ot at his
’
, ,

satir e o f h is fellows not at th e s trange and t e rrible

,

n atur e o f this genius who thought that m uch o f us b ut ,

h ow it i s that a f ter such a wise and s orrow ful r e veal

 B e d B o ok s
-
an d N i g h t L i g h ts
-
2 1 7
i ng o f t h e thi n gs w e insist on doi n g and our r e asons ,

for doing th e m and what happ e ns a ft e r w e ha v e do n e

,

th e m m e n do n ot change It do e s s e e m impo s s ibl e

, .

t hat soci e ty coul d r e mai n unalt e r e d a ft e r t h e surpri s e ,

its app e ara n c e should hav e cau s e d it as it s a w i t s fac e

i n that ruthl e s s m i rror W e point inst e ad to t h e fact
.

that Swi ft lost his mind i n the e n d W ell that is not .

,

a matt e r for surpri s e .

“ ’
Such books and France s I s l e o f P e nguins a r e not
, ,

’
di s turbing a s be d books Th e y r e s olv e on e s agitat e d
-
.

a n d outraged soul r e li e v ing it with som e fr e e e xpr e s

,

sion for t h e accu s i n g and qu e sti oning thoughts e n

g e nd e r e d by th e d ay s a ffai rs But th e y do n ot r e st
’
.

im m e diat e ly to h a n d in t h e book s h e l f by t h e b e d -
.

Th e y d ep e nd on t h e ki n d o f day on e h as had St e r n e is .

clos e r On e w ould rath e r be tra n s port e d a s far as

.

pos s ibl e fro m all t h e di s turbanc e s o f e arth s e nv e lop e ’

“ ”
o f cloud s and Tri s tram Shandy i s s ur e to be found
,

in t h e sun .

But b e s t o f all books f or midnight a re tra v e l books .

Onc e I w a s lost e v e ry n ight for months with Doughty

”
i n t h e Arabia D e s e rta H e is a craggy author A long
. .

course o f t h e ordinary facile stu ff such as one g e ts i n ,

the Pr e ss ev e ry day thinkin g it i s Engli s h s e nd s one

, ,

thoughtl e s s and h e adlo n g amo n g t h e bitt e r h e rbs and

stark bould e rs o f D ou g h t y s burni n g and s paciou s e x
’

p ans e ; only to g e t b e wild e r e d and t h e shins brok e n, ,

2 1 8 H . M T om l i ns on
.

and a great fatigu e at first in a strange land o f fi er ce ,

s un hung e r glitt e ri n g spar ancient pluto n ic rock and

, , , ,

v e ry Adam hi m s e l f But onc e you a r e acclimatiz e d

.
,

— —
and know the languag e i t tak e s ti m e th e r e is no
mor e London a fter dark till a wander e r r e turn e d fr om
, ,

a f orgott e n land you e m e rge from t h e i n t e rior o f

,

Arabia on t h e R ed S e a c oast again f e eling as though ,

you had lost touch with the world you u s ed to know .

And i f that doesn t m e an g ood writing I know o f no

’

other t e s t .

B e cau s e onc e th e re was a fath e r whos e habit it was

to r e a d with h i s boys nightly some chap t e rs o f t h e
—
B ibl e and cordially th e y hat e d that h abit o f s I h i —

hav e that Book too ; though I f e ar I ha v e it for no

reason that h e t h e rigi d old faith ful would b e pl e as e d
, ,

to h e ar about He thought o f t h e futur e wh en h e

.

r e ad t h e B ibl e ; I r e ad it for t h e pa s t T h e familiar .

nam e s t h e familiar rhythm o f its words its wo n d e r

, ,

ful w e ll r e m embe r e d stori e s o f things lo n g past like

- —

that o f Esther one o f t h e b e st in English— t h e elo

,

qu e nt ang e r o f t h e proph e ts f or th e p e opl e th e n who

looke d as thou g h they w e re aliv e but w e r e r e ally d e ad ,

at h e art all i s solac e and home to m e And now I

, .

think o f it it i s our home and s ol ac e that w e want i n

,

a be d book
-
.
220 L ou i s e I m og e n G u i n ey
o f t h e Sphinx : to go so ftly among e v en t s yet dom i ,

n e er th e m Without f e ar : n ot be cau s e w e a r e bra v e

.
,

but be caus e w e a r e e x e mpt ; w e b e ar s o char m e d a l i f e

’
that not e v e n B aldur s mi s tl eto e c an touch u s to harm
us . Without solicitud e : for t h e e s s e nti a l thi n g i s
trained falco n lik e to light fro m ab ov e upo n our
,
-
,

wri s ts an d i t h a s b e co m e with u s an au t om atic m otion

,

to op e n t h e hand an d drop what app e rtai n s to u s n o

,

long e r Be it r e n own or a n ew hat t h e short e r stick

.
,

o f c el e ry or ,

Th efri e nds to whom we had no natural right

The hom e s that w e re not de s tin e d to b e our s ,

it i s all let it fall away ! since only so by d e p le

on e : ,

tions can we buy s e r e nity and a blith e mi e n It i s

, .

d iverti ng t o study at t h e f ee t o f Anti s th e n e s and o f

,

S ocra t e s h i s master h ow ma n y indi sp e n s abl e s m an can

,

l iv e without ; or how ma n y h e c an gath e r tog e th e r ,

mak e ov e r into luxuri e s a n d s o abrogat e th e m ,

.

Thor e au som e wh e r e e xpr e s s e s hi m s e l f a s full o f d i v ine

“ ”
pity for t h e m o v e r who on May Day clouds city
,
-

s tr e e t s with hi s m e lanchol y hous e hold cara v a n s : fatal

imp e d i m e n ta for an immortal No : fur n itur e i s cl e arly

.

“
a sup e rstition I ha v e li t tl e I wa n t n othi n g ; all m y
.

tr e asur e i s i n M i n e r v a s tow e r Not that t h e n o v ice

’

may n ot accumulat e R ath e r le t him coll e ct b e e tles

.
,
 Th e P r e c e p t o f P ea c e

a nd Ven e tian int e rrogation mark s ; i f so be that he may-

di s ti n guish what i s truly e xtrin s ic to him and b e s tow ,

th e s e toys e v e ntual ly on the childr e n o f Satan who

, ,

c lamor at t h e monastery gate O f all hi s store un con

.
,

sci ou s ly i n cr e ase d he can always part with sixt ee n

,

s e v e n t e en ths by w ay o f conc e ssion to hi s individuality

, ,

and thi n k the subtraction so much concealing marble

chipp e d from t h e h eroi c figur e o f hims e l f H e would .

b e a do n or from t h e b e ginning ; be f ore he ca n be

s ee n to ow n h e will disencumb e r and divide
,
Stran ge , .

and f e ar ful is his discovery amid the bric a bra c o f ,

- -

t h e world that thi s knowl e d g e or this material ben e fit

, , ,

i s for him al on e H e would fai n b e g off from the

.

acqui s iti on an d s hak e t h e touch o f t h e tangibl e from

,

h i s impe rious wings It i s not e nough to c e ase to

.

strive for p e rson al favor ; your tru e i n d i ffere nt i s

Early Fra n ci scan : caring not to hav e he f e ars to hold ,
.

Things u s e ful n e e d n e v e r becom e to him things d e s ir

abl e Toward s all commonly account e d si n e cur e s he
.
-
,

b e ars th e cold e st f ront i n Nature like a magician w alk ,

i ng a maz e and scorn ful o f its fl ow e r bord e red de

,
-

“ “
tentions . I e nj oy li f e s ays S e n e ca b e caus e I am
, ,

”
r ea dy to l e av e it M e anwhil e th e y who act with too
.
,

j e a lous r e s p e ct for th e ir morrow o f civilized com fort ,

’
r eap only i n dig e s tion and crow s foot trac e ri e s for
,
-

th ei r d e lud e d e y e corne rs -
.

N ow nothi n g i s farther fro m le saint indi ffér e nt tha n -

222 L ou i s e I m og e n G u i n ey
c heap indi r tism ffe e n call ed : t h e s ickn e ss o f S Oph o
, s o-

mores Hi s busin e ss i s to hid e not to disp lay his lack

.
, ,

o f i n t e r e st in fripp e ri e s It i s not h e who looks languid

.
,

and twid d l e s h i s thumbs for sick m i s plac e d ne s s like ,

Achill e s among girls On t h e c on trary h e i s a smili n g

.
,

industrious el f monstrou s att e n tiv e to t h e canons o f

,

polite soci ety In r elation to oth e rs h e s how s what

.
,

pass e s for animation and e nthusiasm ; for at all ti m e s

his characte r i s found e d on control o f th e s e qualiti e s ,

not on t h e abs e nc e o f th e m It fl a t t e r s h i s s e n s e o f
.

sup e riority that h e may thus pull wool about t h e e ar s

o f j oint and s e v e ral H e has s o s tro n g a will that it
.

can b e cros s e d and cou n t e r cros s e d as by him se l f s o

-
, ,

by a doz e n outsid e rs without a br e ak i n his appar e n t

,

phl e gm He has go n e through v olitio n a n d co m e out

.
,

at t h e oth e r sid e o f it ; e v e rythi n g with him i s a s p e cific

act : h e h a s n o habit s L e saint i n d iffer en t i s a dramati c
.

wight : h e lo v e s to r e fu s e your pro ffer e d s ix p e r c e nt ,

wh en by a littl e haggl i n g h e may obtain th r e e a n d a

, ,
- -

hal f For s o h e g e ts away with h i s own m e ntal proc

.

e s s e s v irgin : it i s i n co n c e i v abl e to you that b e i n g s an e , ,

h e shoul d s o co m p ort him s e l f A m iabl e p e rh a ps on ly

.
, ,

by pain ful propul s io n s an d s or e v igila n c e l e t him a p ,

p e ar t h e m e r e i nh e rito r o f e a sy good n atur e U n s elfi s h -

.

out o f s h ee r prid e and e v e r e age r to claim t h e s lipp e ry

,

sid e o f t h e pa v e m e n t or t h e e n d cut o f t h e roast ( on

,

t h e s e cr e t grou n d be i t u n d e rstood that h e is not a s

, ,
22 4 L ou i s e I m og e n G u i n ey
only from t h e m a n o f cultur e who f e e l s about him ,

va s t m e ntal s pac e s a n d d e pth s a n d to who m t h e fac e ,

o f cr e atio n i s but co m pa r ati v e an d s ymbolic Nor will .

h e br e ath e it i n t h e co mm o n ea r wh e r e it m a y woo ,

m i s appr e h e n s ion s and br e e d ig n ora n t r e b e llio n

,
Th e .

u n l e tt e r e d m ust e v e r lo v e or hat e what i s n e ar e s t h im ,

and for lack o f p e r s p e c ti v e thi n k h i s own fi s t t h e s iz e

, ,

o f the sun Th e social priz e s which with m ellow e d

.
, ,

obs e rvers rank as tw e l fth or thirt e e n th in ord e r o f

,

d e s irability such as w e alth and a footh old in a ffai rs

, ,

s ee m to him first and s ole ; and to th e m h e cling s lik e

a barnacl e But to ou r i n d i ffer e n t n othi n g i s so vulga r
.
,

as close suctio n He will n e v e r tight e n hi s finge rs on

.

loa n e d opportu n ity ; h e i s a g e ntl e man t h e hero o f t h e ,

habitually r elax e d grasp A light unpr e j udic e d h ol d .

on his profits s trik e s him as d e c e nt and com e ly t hough ,

“
his tru e arti s tic pl e asur e i s s till in falli n gs from us ,

”
vani s hi n g s . It cost s him littl e to loos e and to for e go ,

to unlac e his t e ntacl e s and from t h e many who pu s h

,

har d b e hin d to r e tir e as it w e r e on a n e v e r gu e ss e d a t

, , ,
- -

“ ”
comp e t e ncy rich e r than unt e m pt e d ki n g s
, H e would .

not b e a li fe prison e r i n ev e r s o charmi n g a bow e r

-
,

Whil e t h e tran q uil Sabin e Farm i s his d e light w e ll h e ,

knows that on th e dark trail ah e ad o f h i m e v en Sabine ,

Farms a r e not sequaciou s Thus h e l earn s b e tim e s to .

play t h e gu e s t under his own c e dar s an d with di s ci , ,

p l i nar
y intent g oes o ften
,
from th e m ; a n d h e arin g his ,
 Th e P r e c e p t o f Pea c e 2 2 5
h e art strings snap t h e third night h e i s away r e j oices
-
,

that h e i s again a fr ee dman Wh e r e his foot is plant e d

.

( th o ugh i t root n o t anywh e r e ) h e call s that S p

, o t hom e .

N o Unitarian in locality it follows that h e i s t h e b e s t

,

o f trave l e rs tang e ntial m e r e ly and pl e as e d with e ach

, ,

n e w vista o f t h e human Past He som e tim e s wish e s

.

h i s und e rstanding less that h e might itch d e liciou s ly

,

with a pr e j u d ic e With cosmic congruiti e s gr e at an d

.
,

g e n e ral forc e,s h e k e e ps al l along,

a tacit u n d e rstand ,

ing such as on e has with b e lo v e d r e latives at a d i s

,

tanc e ; and hi s fing e r ai rily ins e rt e d in his out e r pock e t

, ,

is r e ally upon t h e pulse o f e t e rnity H is vocation h ow .

,

ev e r is to bury hims e l f in t he minor and imm e diate

,

ta s k ; and from h i s intent mann e r he ge ts con found e d , ,

promptly and p ermanently with t h e victims o f com ,

m e r c i al ambition .

The true u se o f th e much p raised Lucius C ary V is -

,

count Falkland has hardl y b e en appr e h e nd e d : he is

,

simp l y the patr on saint o f indi ffér e nts From fir s t t o .

last almost alon e in that di scordant tim e he s e e m s t o

, ,

have heard far off r e solvin g harmoni e s an d to have

-
,

been rapt away with foreknowl e dge B attl e to which .

,

all knights were br e d was p e nitential to him It was

,
.

but a childish means : an d to what end ? He m e an

—
while an d no man carri e d his will in b e tt e r abeyance
—
to the sch me o f th e univers e w ant e d no dilig e nce i n
e

camp or council Care s s at ha n dsom e l y on him who

.
2 2 6 L ou i s e I m og e n G u i n e y
car e d not at all who won small com fort from t h e
,

cau s e which his consci e nc e finally e spous e d He .

labor e d to be a doer to stand w e ll with ob s e r v e rs ; and

,

non e sav e his intimate fri e nds r e ad h i s agitation and

“
pro found w e arin e ss I am s o much tak e n n otic e o f
.
,

“
h e writ e s ,
for an impati e nt d e sir e for p e ac e that i t ,

is n e c e ssary I should lik e wis e mak e it app e a r how it i s

”
not ou t o f f e ar for t h e utmost hazard o f w a r And .

s o driven from the ardor he had to t h e si m ulation o f

,

the ardor h e lack e d loyally daring a sacrific e to on e o f

, ,

two transi e nt opinions and inly i m partial as a star

, ,

Lord Falkland f e ll : t h e young n e v e r to b e forgotte n - - -

martyr o f N e wburg fi eld The i m mi n e nt d e e d he

.

mad e a work o f art ; and the station o f t h e mo

m e nt t h e only post o f honor Li f e a n d d e ath may b e .

all on e to such a man : but h e will at l e a s t tak e t h e

nobl e st pains to discriminat e b e tw e en Tw e e d l e dum a n d
Tw e e dl e d e e i f he has to writ e a book about t h e v aria
,

tions o f th e i r ant e nn ae And l ik e t h e Ca r ol i a n e x

.

e mp la r i s t h e di s cipl e T h e i n d i ffer e n t i s a g ood think e r

.
,

”
or a go od fight e r He i s no immartial m inion as
.
,

d e ar old Chapman su ffe rs H e ctor to call Tydid e s .

N e v e rth e l e ss h i s sign manual i s co n t e nt with humbl e

,
-

and stagnant co n ditions Talk o f s c ali n g t h e Hi m a .

~

“ ”
laya s o f li f e a ffe ct s h i m v e ry palpably a s tall talk
, ,
.

H e d e al s n ot with t hi n g s b u t with t h e i m pr e s s io n s and

, ,

a n alogi e s o f thi n g s T h e mat e rial c ou n t s for n ot hi ng

.
2 2 8 L ou i s e I m og e n G u i n ey
cou n s e l to ab s tai n and to be u n s olicitou s i s on e not
, ,

o n ly o f p e r f e ction but also o f polity A v e ry littl e

,
.

no n adh e s ion to co m mon affair s a littl e r e s e rv e o f um

,

co n c e rn a n d t h e gay spirit o f sacrific e pro v id e t h e

, ,

moral im m unity which i s the only r e al e s tat e Th e .

i n d i ffer e n t b e li e v e s in storms : s i n c e tal e s o f s hipwr e ck

e n co m pa s s him .But onc e amo n g h i s own kin d he ,

wo n d e rs that folk should be circu m v e nt e d by m e r e ly

e xtran e ou s pow e rs ! His favorit e catch wo v e n in ,

amo n g e s cap e d dang e rs rises through t h e r ough e st

,

weath e r and daunts it

,

N ow strik e your sail e s ye j olly mariners

, ,

”
For w e b e com e i n to a qui e t r od e .

No slav e to any vicissitude h i s imagination i s on the

, ,

contrary t h e ch e er ful ob s tinat e tyrant o f all that i s

, .

“
He li v e s as K e at s o n c e s aid o f him s el f i n a thousand
, ,

”
worlds withdrawing at w i ll from one to anoth e r
, ,

o ft e n curtaili n g h i s circum f e r e n c e t o e nlarge hi s

lib e rty Hi s uni v e r s e i s a u n iv e r s e o f balls lik e thos e
.
,

which t h e cun n i n g Ori e ntal carv e rs mak e out o f ivory ;

e ach e ntir e sur fac e p e r f orat e d with t h e s am e d e licat e

patt e rn e ach movi n g pr ettily and in extricably within

,

the oth e r and all but t h e out e r one impos s ible to

,

handl e In som e such in n e rmost a s ylum t h e right sort

.

o f dar e d e vil sits smiling whil e men ra g e or weep

-
, .
 O N LYIN G AWAKE AT N I G H T

By S TEWA R T E D WA RD W H ITE

T hi s i s f r om Th e F or es t— on e S t e w a rt E d w a r d W h i te s
of
’

m a n y d e ligh t f ul volu me s . A ve ry l a rg e p ubli c h a s e n j oy e d M r .

W hi t e s w r i t i n g s — ma n y of h i s r e a de r s p e rh a p s , w i t h out a cc u
’
,

r a t e ly r e a lizi n g h ow e x t r a or d i n a rily good t h e y a re .

M r W hi t e w a s b o r n i n G r an d Ra pi d s , M i c hig a n 1 8 73 ; s t u d i e d
.
,

a t t h e U n ive r s i t y o f M i c hig a n ; h a s hu n t e d big g a m e i n A f ri ca ;

s e r v e d as m a j o r o f fi e l d a r t i ll e ry 1 9 1 7 - 1 8 ; a nd i s a
, F
e l l ow o f
t h e R oy a l G e ogr a phi c a l S oc i e t y Hi s fi r s t b ook Th e We s t e r n e r s
.
, ,

w a s p ubli s h e d i n 1 90 1 , s i n c e wh e n t h e y h ave f ol l ow e d r e gul a rly .

Wh o h a t h lai n al on e t o h ea r t h e w i ld g oos e cry ?

A B OU T once in so o ft e n you ar e due to lie awake at

night Why thi s i s s o I hav e n e v e r be e n abl e to dis
.

co v e r It appar e ntly com e s from no pr e di s posing un

.

e a s iness o f indig e stion no ra s hn e s s in the matter o f

,

too much t ea or tobacco no e xcitation o f unusual inci

,

d e nt or stimulatin g conversation In fact you turn .

,

’
in with the exp e ctation o f rath e r a good night s rest .

Almost at once t h e l ittl e noises o f t h e for e st grow

large r blend in th e hollow bign e ss o f t h e first drows e ;
,

your thoughts dri ft idly back and forth b e tw e e n r e ality

an d dr e am ; wh e n — s ua p l — you ar e broad awak e !
P e rhaps the res e rvoir o f your vital forc e s i s full to
the over fl ow o f a littl e wa s t e ; or p e rhaps more subtly , ,

229
2 3 0 S t ew a r t E d w a rd Wh i t e
th e gr eat Moth e r i n si s ts thus that you e nt e r t h e t e mple
o f h e r larg e r m yst e ri e s .

For u n lik e m e r e in s omnia lyi n g awak e at n ight in

, ,

t h e wood s i s pl e a s ant T h e e age r n e r v ous s trai n i n g

.
,

for s l ee p gi v e s way to a d e liciou s indi ffe r e n c e You do .

not car e Y our m i n d i s cra d l e d i n a n e xqui s it e poppy

.

s u s p e n s io n o f j udg m e n t and o f thought Impr e s sions

.

s lip v agu e ly i n to your consciou s n e s s and a s vagu e ly

out agai n S om e tim e s th e y sta n d stark a n d nak e d for

.

our i n s p e ction ; s o m e ti m e s th e y lo s e th e m s e lv e s i n t h e
y
mist o f hal f s l e e p Always th e y lay so ft v e lv e t fi n g e rs
-
.

on t h e drow s y imagi n ation so that in th e ir car e s s i n g

,

you f e e l t h e v ast e r s pac e s from which th e y ha v e com e .

P e ac e ful brooding your faculties r e ce ive H e ari n g

-
.
,

sight sm e ll all a r e pr e te rnaturally k e e n to what e v e r

,
—

o f sound a n d s ight a n d wood s p e r fum e i s abroad

through t h e night ; a n d ye t at t h e s am e tim e activ e ap
pr e ciation doz e s s o th e s e thi n gs li e on it sw e e t and
,

cloying lik e fall e n ro s e l e av e s -

.

In such circumstanc e you will h e ar what t h e v oy

ag e u r s call t h e v oic e s o f t h e rapid s Many p e opl e n e v e r
.

h e ar th e m at all Th e y sp e ak v e ry so ft a n d low and

.

disti n ct b e n e ath t h e s t e ady roar and dashing b e n e a t h ,

e v e n t h e l e s s e r ti n kli n gs and gurglings whos e qual it

y
s up e ri m po s e s th e m o v e r t h e lou d e r sou n d s Th e y are
.

like t h e t e ar forms s wi mm ing acros s t h e fi e ld o f vi sion

-
,

which disapp e ar s o quickly wh e n you conc e ntrate your

2 3 2 S t e w a r t E d w a r d Wh i t e
t he gr e at M oth e r s comp e n s ation in a har s h mod e o f
’

li f e .

Nothi n g is mor e fanta s ticall y unr e al to t e ll about ,

nothing mor e concr et ely r e al to e xp e ri e n ce than this ,

und e rnot e o f t h e quick wat e r And wh e n you do lie .

awake at night it i s always maki n g i t s unobtrusiv e

,

app e al Gradually its hypnotic s p e ll works T h e dis

. .

ta n t chim e s ring loud e r and near e r as you cross th e

bord e rland o f sl e e p And th e n out s id e t h e t e nt some
.

little woods noi s e snaps the thread An ow l hoots a .

,

whippoorwill cri e s a twi g cracks be n e ath t he cautious

,

prowl o f s om e night creature— at onc e t h e y e llow s unlit

Fr e nch m e adow s pu ff awa y— you a r e staring at th e
blurred imag e o f t h e moon spraying through t h e t ex
tur e o f your t e nt .

Th e voic e s o f t h e rapi d s hav e dropp e d i n to t h e back

ground as hav e t h e dashing nois e s o f t h e s tr ea m
, .

Through t h e for e st i s a gr e at sil e nc e but n o s t ill ne ss ,

at all The whippoorwill swin g s down and up t h e short

.

curve o f hi s r e gular s o n g ; ov e r and over an owl says

h i s rapid w h oo w h oo w h oo Th e se with t h e c e a s e l e s s
, , .
,

da s h o f the rapids are th e w e b on which t h e night

,

trac e s her mor e d e licate embroideries o f the un ex

p e c t e d D i stant
. crash e s singl e and impressive
, ;
st e alth y f ootst e p s n e ar at hand ; the subdued scratch
”
ing o f cl aws ; a faint s niff! s nifi ! s nifi ! o f inquiry ; th e
sudd e n cl e ar tin h orn ko ko ko é h o f the little owl ; the
- - - -
 On L y i n g A w a k e at N ig h t 2 33
mourn ful l ong drawn out cry o f t h e loon instinct with
,
- -
,

t h e spirit o f lon e lin e s s ; th e e th e r e al call n ote o f the -

bird s o f pa s sage high in t h e air ; a pa t t er pa t t er pa t ter , , ,

amo n g the d e ad l e av e s immediat ely still e d ; and th e n

,

at t h e la s t from the thicket clos e at hand t h e b e auti ful

, ,

sil v e r purity o f t h e whit e throat e d sparrow— t h e

-

nighti n gale o f t h e North— trembling with t h e ec s tasy

o f be auty as though a s himm e ring moonb e am had
,

turn e d to sound ; and all t h e whil e t h e bl urr e d figure

o f the moon mounting to t h e ridge lin e o f your t e nt -

th e s e things combine subtly until at last t h e gr e at

,

S il e nc e o f which th e y ar e a part ov e rarch e s the night

and draw s you f orth to cont e mplation .

NO b e v e rage i s mor e gr at e ful than t h e cup o f spring

wat e r you drink at such a ti me ; no mom e nt mor e re
fr e s hing th an that i n which you look about you at the
darke n e d for e st You hav e cast from you with t h e
.

warm blanket t h e drowsiness o f dr e ams A coolness .

,

physical and spiritual bath e s you f rom h e ad to f oot

, .

A ll your s e ns e s are k e yed to the last vibrations Y ou .

h e ar the littl e r night prowl e rs ; you glimpse t h e g r e ate r .

A faint searchin g woods per fume o f dampness g ree ts

,

your nostrils And som eh ow mysteri ously in a man

.
, ,
s

ner not to b e und e rsto od t h e forces o f t h e w orl d seem

,

in su s pense as though a touch might crystalliz e in fi nite

,

possibilities into i n finite power and motion But the .

t ouch lacks The f orces h over on the ed g e o f action

.
,
2 34 S t e w a r t E d w a r d Wh i t e
unh ee d i n g the littl e nois e s In all humbl e ne s s and awe
.
,

you are a dw e ll e r o f the S il e nt Plac e s .

At s uch a tim e you will m ee t with adventur e s One .

night w e put fourt e e n inquisitiv e porcupines out o f

camp N e ar M c G r eg or s Bay I disc ov e red i n t h e large
.
’

grass park o f my c amp sit e ni n e d e e r croppi n g t h e

-
,

herbag e lik e s o many be auti ful gho s t s A fri e nd t e ll s .

m e o f a fawn that ev e ry night u s e d to s l e e p outsid e his

t e nt and within a foot o f hi s head pr obably by way o f
,

prot e ction again s t wolves Its moth e r had in al l lik e li

.

hood b e e n kill e d Th e instant my fri e nd mov e d to

.

w ar d t h e t e nt op e ni n g t h e littl e cr e atur e would d i s ap

p e ar and it w a s always g one by e arli e st daylight
,
.

Nocturnal b e ars in s e arch o f po k are not uncommon

r
.

But e v e n though your i n te r e s t m e e ts nothing but t h e

bat s and t h e woods s hadow s and t h e stars that fe w ,

mom ents o f t h e sl e e ping w orld forces is a psychical e x

p e r i e n c e to be gai n e d i n no oth e r way You can n ot
.

know t h e night by sitting up ; s h e will s i t up with you .

O n ly by comi n g i n to h e r pr e s e nc e from t h e bord e rs o f

sl ee p can you me e t h e r fac e to fac e i n h e r intim at e
mood .

The night wind from t h e riv e r or from t h e Op en ,

spac e s o f t h e wil d s chill s you a ft e r a tim e Y ou b e gin

, .

to think o f your bla n k ets In a fe w mom e nts you roll

.

y our s e l f in th e ir so ft wool Insta .n tly it is morni n g .

A n d s tran g e to s ay you hav e not to p a y by goi n g

, ,
 A WOODLAN D VALENTIN E

By M A R IAN S T OR M

M a r i an S t orm w a s bor n i n S t or mvill e N Y a n d e d ucat e d

, . .
,

a t P e nn Ha ll , Ch a m b e r s burg Pa a n d a t S m i t h Coll e g e
, .
,
S he .

d i d e d i t ori a l a n d f r e e l a n ce w o r k i n Ne w Y o rk a f t e r gr a d u at i on
-
,

a nd l a t e r w e n t t o W a s h i n gt on t o b e c om e p riva t e s e c r e ta ry t o t h e
A rge n t i n e A m b a s s a d o r . S i n ce 1 9 1 8 s h e h a s b e e n c onn e c t e d w i t h
t h e Ne w Y ork E v e n i ng P os t .

T h i s e s s a y c ome s f r om M i ns t r e l W e a t h e r a s e r i e s o f op e n a i r
,
-

v i g n e t t e s w h i c h c ir c l e t h e z od i a c w i t h t h e a t t e n t ive e y e o f a
nat u r a l i s t a n d t h e e n c h a n t e d a r d or o f a p oe t .

FOR C E S asti r in t h e de e p e st roots g row r e s tless be

n eath the l oc k o f frost Bulbs try t h e door Feb r u
. .

ary s stilln e ss i s charge d with a faint anxi e ty as i f

’
,

’
the pow e rs o f light pr e ssi n g up from t h e e arth s center
,

an d str e aming down from t h e stronge r s un had ,

troubl e d t h e buri e d s e e ds wh o striv e to answ e r th e i r

,

liberator so that the gu ardin g moth e r must whisp e r

,

“ ”
ov e r an d o v e r Not ye t not ye t ! Bett e r to stay b e
, ,

hind t h e froz e n gate than to come too e arly up i n to

r eal m s wh e re t h e w olves o f cold ar e still aprowl .

Wis ely t h e snow places a white hand over ea g e r li fe

’
uns ee n but p e rc e i v e d in F e bruary s woods as a swim
,

me r fe e ls the changin g mood s o f wat e r in a lake fed

by springs Only th e thick stars clos e r and more
.
,

compa n ionable than in month s o f fol iage burn al e rt ,

and s e rene In F ebruary the M ilky Way i s revealed

.

2 36
 A W ood la n d Va l e n t i n e 2 37
divin e ly luc e nt to lon e ly p e opl e s
h e rd s m e n moun —
,

t a i n e e r s fish e rm e n trapp e rs — who a r e abroad in the

, ,

starlight hours o f this grave and sil e nt tim e o f year .

It i s i n the lon g f roze n nights that t h e sky has most

,

re d flow e rs .

Februa ry knows t he beat o f tw ilight wings D ri f t .

ing north again com e birds who only pr e t e nd e d to

for s ake u s— adv e ntur e rs not so fond o f sa f e ty but that
,

th e y dar e risk finding h ow snow bunting and pi ne finch

ha v e p lunder e d t h e con e s o f t h e e v e rgr e e ns while ,

chickad e e s s parrows and crows a r e sup e rvi s ing from

, ,

establish e d station s all the mor e dom e stic supplies

availabl e a s parrow o ft e n making it po s s ibl e to anno y
,

eve n a duck out o f h e r s har e o f cracked corn R ange d .

alon g a brown drap e d oak branch in t h e waxing light

-
,

crows s how a lordly gliste ning o f f e ath e rs ( Sun on a .

s w e e pi n g wing in fl ight has the quality o f s un on a

rippl e ) Wh e r e h e mloc ks g ath e r d e ep in s omber

.
,

woo ds the g r e at horned owl has thus soon p e rhaps

, ,

working amid snows at h e r task built a n e st wh e r e in ,

March will find sturdy ball s o f flu ff T h e thu n d e rous .

love song o f h er mat e sounds through t h e timb e r By .

t h e time the wren has nest e d th e se wi n t e r babi e s will

b e sol e mn with t h e wisdom o f th e ir famous race .

Th e r e is no s e ason lik e t h e e n d o f F e bruary f or

cl e aning out brooks Hast e ning y e llow waters toss a
.

dreary w r e ckag e o f torn or ash e n h ave s twigs acorn , ,

2 38 Ma r i a n S t or m
c ups strand e d ra fts o f bark and buttonballs from the
, ,

sycamor e n ev e r to com e to s e e d Stan d i n g on on e

,
.

bank o r both accor d in g to the su n d e rin g flood s a m bi

,
’

tion t h e knight with sta ff and bold fo refi n g e r s e ts t h e

,

wat e r princ e s s fr e e S h e go e s th e n curtsying and

.

dimpli n g ov e r t h e s hining grav e l slidin g from b e n eath

,

t h e i c e that roo fs h e r on t h e uplands down to t h e

so fter val l e y s wh e r e h e r quick e n e d st e p will be h e ard

,

by t h e frogs in t h e ir m a n s i ons o f mud and the fi s h , ,

r e clus e s i n rayl e s s po ols will ris e to the light s h e

,

brings .

Down from the froz e n mountai n s in summ e r birds , ,

and winds must b e ar t h e s e e d of alpin e fl ow er s— l ili e s

that l e an again s t unm e lti n g s now s po ppi e s bright , ,

color e d h e rb s an d t h e pal ely gl e aming fri n g e d b e auti e s

, ,

that chang e nam e s with countri e s H ow j ust and r ea .

sonabl e i t would s e e m to b e th a t flow e rs which e dge

t h e i c e in July shoul d cons e nt to bloo m in lowla n ds

no cold e r i n F e bruary ! T h e pag e ant o f blu e mage nta , .

and scarl e t on t h e au s t e r e upp e r s lopes o f th e R ocki e s ,

wh e r e night s a r e bitt e r to t h e summ e r wand e r e r

why should it n ot flouri s h to l e e ward o f a vall e y barn
in months wh e n icicl e s ha n g from t h e eav e s i n this
tam r s tting
e e ? But no Mountain t e mp e s ts a r e e n
.

durabl e to t h e silk e n p etal e d Th e tr each e rous lowland

-
.

wint e r with its coaxi n g s u n s follow e d by r oari n g d e so

,
‘

lation i s for bloo m s br e d in a di ffe r e nt tradition

, .
2 40 Ma r i a n S t or m
i s non e t h e l e ss fey S o i s t h e mi n k though he moves
.
,

lik e a phantom .

Moss e s wh e r e on M arch in coming tr e ads first s how

, ,

on e hue bright e r i n the swamp s Pussy willows have

.

mad e a gray d awn in viny cav e rns wh e r e t h e day s ’

ow n dawn looks in but faintly and t h e flu s hi n g o f t h e

,

red willow b e trays r e v e ri e s o f a not impos s ibl e cow s lip

upon th e ba n k b e n e ath T h e blu e j ay h a s m e n tion e d it
.

i n t h e cours e o f hi s volubl e r e coll e ctions He i s u n

.

willing to proph e sy arbutu s but h e will j u s t hint that

,

wh e n t h e l e a v e s in th e wood lot show through s n ow

as e arly as this Onc e h e fou n d a h e patica bud t h e
last day o f F e bruary Sp e aking with h i s old fri e n d ,

the mu s krat la s t w e e k
,
And wh e n you can s e e
red p e bbl e s i n t h e cr e e k at fi v e o clock in t h e a ft e rno on
’

But it i s no u s e to e xp e ct y ellow orchids on the

west knoll this spring for som e p e opl e found th e m
,

th e r e last ye ar and a ft e r that you might as w e ll

,

O f cours e cowslip s b e s id e r e d willows a r e r em arkably

pr e tty j ust as blu e j ay s in a c e dar with blu e b e rri e s
, .

He i s i n t e r m i n abl e but th e n h e has s e e n a gr e at

,

d e al o f li f e A n d F e bruary n e e ds her blu e j ays un

.
’

weari e d an d con q u e ring faith .

 T H E ELEM ENTS OF PO ET RY

By G E OR GE S ANTA YANA

Ge org e S an t ay an a w a s b o r n i n M a d ri d i n 1 8 63 of S p an i s h ,

p a r e n t a g e He gra d u ate d f rom Ha rva r d i n 1 88 6 a n d t a ught

.
,

phil os ophy t h e r e 1 88 9 1 9 1 1 He live s n ow I t h i nk i n E n gl a nd

,
-
.
, , .

I m u s t b e f r a n k : e x c e p t h i s p oe m s I on ly k n ow hi s w ork i n ,

t h a t e n t h r a lli n g vol u m e L i t t le E s s ay s D a w n fr om t h e W r i t i ng s
, r

of G e or g e S a n t a y a n a e d i t e d by L P e a r s a ll S m i t h
, . M u c h of i t
i s t oo e s ot e ri c for m y gr a s p b u t M r S m i t h s r e d a c t 1 on bri n g s t h e
’
.
,

f a s c i na t i on of S an t ay a n a s p hi l os ophy wi t hi n t h e com p a s s of
’

w h at Te n n y s on c a l l e d a s e c on d r a t e s e n s i t i e m i n d ; a nd i f
“ -
v
”
,

m i n e i s a c ri t e r i on s u c h wi ll fi n d i t of t h e high e s t s t i mu l u s T h i s
, .

d i s c our se on p oe t ry s e e m s t o m e on e o f t h e m os t p r e g nan t
u t t e r a n c e s on t h e s ubj e c t I t i s n ot p e r f ec t ly a ppr e c i a t e d by
.

m e r e ly on e r e a d i n g ; b ut eve n if y ou h ave t o b e c ome a poe t t o

e n j oy i t f u ll y t h a t wi l l d o y ou r s e l f le as t h a r m
, .

IF poetry in its high e r reaches i s mor e philosophical

than hi s tory b e cau s e it pres e nts t h e m e morabl e types
,

o f men and things apart from unm e aning circum

stance s so in its primary substanc e a nd t e xtur e po e try
,

i s more philosophical than pros e be caus e it i s n e ar e r to

our imm e diat e exp e rie n ce Poetry br eaks up t he trite .

conc e ptions d e signat e d by current words into t h e sens u

ous qualiti e s out o f which thos e conc e ptions w e re origi
n ally put togeth e r W e nam e what w e conce ive and
.

b e li e v e in not what we s e e ; thing s not image s ; souls

, , ,

not voic e s and silhou ett e s This nami n g with t h e .

,

whol e e ducation o f t h e s e nses which it accompani e s ,

s ubserves the uses o f li f e ; in order to thre ad our way

2 41
2 4 2 G e org e S a n t a y a n a

throu g h the labyrinth o f obj e cts which assault us we ,

must make a great sel e ction in our s e nsuous e x p er i

e n ce ; hal f o f what w e s e e and hear we must pass ov e r

a s insignificant while w e piece out the other hal f w ith

,

such an id e al compleme n t as i s n ec es s arv to turn it

i n to a fix e d a n d w e ll order e d conc eption o f the world
-
.

Thi s labor o f p erc e ption and und e rstanding this spell

,

ing of t h e material m e a n ing o f exp e rience i s e nshrined

,

i n our workaday language and id e as ; i deas which are

“ ”
lite rally poetic i n the s e nse that they are made ( for
ev e ry conc eption i n an adul t mind i s a fi ction ) but ,

which are at the s ame time prosa i c because they are

mad e e conomically by abstraction and f or u s e
, , .

Wh e n t h e child o f po e tic g e niu s who has l e arned

,

thi s int e llectual and utilitarian langua g e i n the cradle ,

g o e s afi e ld and gathers for hims e l f the aspects o f na

ture he b egi n s to e ncumb e r hi s mind with the many
,

living impr e s s io n s which the i n t e ll e ct rej ected and

,

which t h e la nguage o f the intellect can hardly con v ey ;

h e labors with h i s n am e l e ss burden o f p e rception a n d ,

wast e s hi m s e l f in ai m l e s s i mpuls e s o f e motion and

r e v e ri e u n til finally t h e m ethod o f some art offers a
,

v e n t to h i s i n s piratio n or to such part o f it as can s ur

,

vi v e t h e test o f tim e and t h e di sciplin e o f exp re ssion .

The po e t retains by natur e t h e i n n oc e nc e o f t he ey e ,

or r e cov e r s it e asily ; h e disint e grat e s t h e fictions o f

co m mon perc eption into th e i r s e nsuous e lem ent s ,
2 44 G e org e S a n t a ya n a

drawn i n bare outlin e against a background o f chaos

and unrest Our logical thoughts dominat e e x p e r i
.

ence o nl y as t h e parall el s and m e ridians make a

check e rboard o f t h e s ea Th e y guid e our voyage with
.

out co ntrolling the waves whi ch toss forev e r in spit e

,

o f our ability to rid e ov e r th e m to our cho s e n e n d s .

Sa n it y i s a madn e ss put to good us e s ; waking li f e i s a

dr e am co n troll e d .

Out o f t h e n e gl e ct e d rich e s o f this dr e am t h e po e t

fetch e s his war e s He dips i n to t h e chaos that und e r
.

li e s t h e rational s h ell o f the world and brings up som e

s up e rfl uous image some emoti on dropped by the way
, ,

and reattaches it to t he pr e s e nt obj e ct ; h e reinstat e s

things unn e c e ssary h e e mphasi ze s things ign or e d h e
, ,

paints in again i n to the land s cape t h e tints which th e

int ell e ct has allowed to f ade from it I f he s e e ms .

som e times to obscur e a f act it i s only b e caus e h e i s

,

r e storing an exp e ri e nce The fi rst elem e nt whi ch t h e

.

int e ll e ct r e j ects in forming its id e as o f things i s t h e

e motion which accompani e s t h e p e rc e ption ; and thi s

e m otion i s t h e fir s t thing th e po e t r e stor e s H e stops .

at the imag e b e cause h e stops to enj oy He wanders

, .

into t h e bypath s o f associatio n b e cau se t h e bypaths are

d e light ful Th e lov e o f b e auty which mad e him giv e
.

m e asure and cad enc e to his word s t h e l ov e o f harmony

,

which mad e hi m rhym e th em r e appear in hi s imagina,

t i o n and make him s el e ct th e r e al s o t h e mat e rial that i s

 Th e E l e m e n ts of P oe t ry 2 45
it s el f b e auti ful or capabl e o f a s suming b e auti ful forms
, .

T h e link th at bi n d s tog e th e r t h e id e a s som e tim e s s o

,

w id e apart which hi s wit assimilat e s i s most o ft e n

, ,

t h e li n k o f e motion ; th e y h a ve i n common some el e ment

o f b eauty or o f h orror .
 N OCT U RNE

By S I ME ON S T R U N S K Y

S i m e on S t r u n s ky i s on e o f t h e m o s t brilli a n t a n d c e r t a i n l y t h e
mos t m od e s t o f A m e ri ca n j our n a li s t s I r e gr e t t h a t I cann ot
.

pra i s e h i m for a t pr e s e n t w e b ot h w ork i n t h e s a me offi c e a n d

, ,

ki n d s w or d s u t t e r e d i n publ i c w oul d c a u s e h i m t o avoi d m e fo r

e ve r. A l l t h a t i s n e c e s s a ry i s fo r m y r e a d e r s t o e x a m i n e h i s
b ook s a n d t h e y will s ay for t h e m s e lve s wh at I a m r e s t ra i n e d
f r om hi n t i n g T h e r e i s a s p on ta ne ou s pl a y o f c h a ff i n M r
. .

S t ru n s ky s ligh t e r ve i n whi c h i s u n s urp a s s e d by a n y A m e ri ca n

’

h u m ori s t ; h i s m o r e i n w a r d m u s i n g i s w e ll e x e m p li fi e d by t hi s
s e l e c t i on ( f r om P os t I mp r e s s i on s
-
I f y ou r e a d P os t
,

I mp r e s s i ons Th e P a ti e n t Obs e r v e r B e ls h a zza r C ou r t P r ofe s s or

, , ,

La t i m e r s P r og r es s a n d S i n ba d a n d H i s F r i e n ds y ou will h ave
’

mad e a f a ir s t a r t .

S t ru n s ky w a s b o r n i n R u s s i a i n 1 8 79 ; s t u d i e d a t t h e Ho r a c e
M an n H igh S h ool ( Ne w Y o rk ) a n d gr a d u a t e d f r om Colu m bi a
c

U n ive r s i t y i n 1 90 0 H e w ork e d on t h e s t a ff o f t h e Ne w I n t e r
.

n a t i on a l E n c y c lop wd i a i n 1 90 0 —
0 6 and i ce t h n h a b e n 0 t h e
, s n e s e 11

s t aff o f t h e Ne w Y o rk E v e n i ng P os t o f whi c h h e i s n ow e d i t o r
, .

O N C E e v e ry thr ee m o n th s with fair r e gularity s h e , ,

was brought i n t o t h e Night C ourt found guilty a n d , ,

fin e d S h e cam e in b e tw e e n e l e v e n o clo ck a n d mid

.
’

n ight wh e n t h e tra ffic o f t h e court i s at i t s h e a v i e s t

, ,

and it woul d be an hour p e rhap s b e f or e s h e w a s call e d

, ,

to t h e bar Wh e n h e r tur n ca m e s h e would ri s e fro m

.

h e r s e at at on e e n d o f t h e pris on e r s b e n ch a n d co n front
’

t h e magi s trat e .

He r e y e s d i d not r e ach t o t h e l e v e l o f t h e m agi s

’
trat e s d e s k A polic e ma n in citiz e n s c l oth e s woul d
.
’

mount t h e wit n e s s sta n d tak e oath with a s e riou s n e s s

,

2 46
2 4 8 S i m e on S t r u n s k y
n ot d isapp e ar e d Seriou s p e opl e anxious for an i m
.
,

m e diat e v i s i on of the pity o f l i f e co n tinu e to fill t h e ,

bench e s com fortabl y N 0 s e ssion o f t h e court i s w ith

.

out i t s littl e group o f social inv e s tigator s a m o n g who m ,

t h e wome n a r e in t h e maj ority Many o f th e m ar e

.

ou n g wo m e n e xc e dingly sympath e tic ha n d s om e l y

y , e ,

g own e d a,
n d v e ry w e ll tak e n car e o f .

As s h e s a t at on e e n d o f t h e pri s on e r s b e nch waiting ’

’
h e r turn b e fore t h e magistrat e s d e sk s h e would ca s t ,

a sid e lo n g glance ov e r the railing that s e parat e d h e r

f rom t h e handsom e ly gown e d ge ntly br e d sympath e tic

, ,

y oung wom e n in t h e audi e nc e S h e ob s e

. rv e d with
extraordi n ary admirati on and d e light thos e charmin g
f aces so ft e n e d in pity t h e grac e ful b e aring t h e ad mi r
, ,

ably construct e d ye t simpl e coi ffur e s t h e e l e ga n c e o f ,

dr e ss which s h e compar e d with t h e b e s t that t h e win

,

dows i n S ixth Av e nu e could show She was amaz e d to .

fi nd such gowns actually b e ing worn i n s t e ad o f r e main

ing as an unattainabl e id e al on smili n g lay figur e s i n
t h e s hop wi n dow s .

Occupa n t s o f t h e prison e rs b e nch ar e not suppo s e d

’

to star e at t h e s p e ctators S h e had to s t e al a glanc e

.

now an d th e n H e r vi s its to t he Night C ourt had b e

.

com e s o much a matter o f routine that s h e would v e n

tur e a p ee p ov e r t h e railin g while t h e cas e imm e diat e l y
pr e c e di ng h er own was be ing tried Onc e or twice s h e .

wa s surprised by the clerk who called h e r nam e S he .

 N oc t u r n e 2 49
s tood up m e cha n ically an d fac e d t h e magi s trate as
O ffi c e r Smith in civilian cloth e s mounted t h e witn e ss
, ,

stand .

S h e had no grudg e again s t O ffi cer Smith She did .

not vi s ualiz e hi m e ith e r as a p e rson or a s a part o f a

sy s t em H e was m e r e ly an incid e nt o f h e r trad e
. .

S h e had n e ith e r t h e traini n g nor t h e imagination to

look b e hind O ffic e r Smith and s ee a communal policy
which has not t h e pow e r to suppr e ss nor t h e courag e to,

ack n owl e dge nor the skill to r e gulat e and s o cont e nts
, ,

its e l f with s e nding out full fe d p olicem e n in civilian

-

clothes to work up t he e vid en ce that d e f e nds soci e ty

a gainst h er kind through t h e imposition o f a ten

dollar fi ne .

To som e o f t h e wom e n on t h e vi s itors b e nch e s the ’

cru elty o f the proc e ss cam e hom e : this busin e ss o f

’
s e ttin g a two hundr e d pound polic e man in citiz e n s
- -

cloth e s back e d up by magistrat e s cl e rks court criers

, , , ,

int e rpr e t e rs and court att e ndants to worrying a ten

, ,

dollar fi n e out o f a hal f grown woman under an

-

e normous imitation ostrich plume Th e pro f e ssional

.

sociologists were chi e fl y inter e sted i n the mon e y cost

o f thi s process to the t ax paye r and th e y took notes
-
,

on th e proportion o f first o ffenders Y et th e Nigh t .

C ourt i s a remarkable advance in civilization .

F ormerly in addition to h e r fi ne t h e prison e r wo uld

, ,

ay a commission to the pro f e ssional purve yor o f bai l

p .
2 50 S i m e on S t r u n s k y
Som e ti m e s i f t h e magi s trat e was young or n ew t o
,

the busin e s s s h e would be g iv en a cha n c e against

,

Officer Smith S h e would b e c all e d to t h e witn e s s

.

chair and under oath be allow e d to e laborate on the

obvious li es which constituted h er usual d e f e n s e This .

would giv e her the opp ortunity b e tw e e n t h e magis

,

tr at e s qu e stions o f s w ee ping t h e courtroom with a

’
,

f ull hu n gry look f or as much a s hal f a mi n ut e at a

,

t ime S h e s aw t h e wom e n i n t h e audi e n c e o n ly a n d

.
,

t h e ir cloth e s . T h e pity in th e i r e y e s did not m ov e h e r ,

becau s e s h e w as not in t h e l e a s t i n te r e s t e d in what

t h e y thought but in h ow th e y look e d and what th e y
,

wore Th e y w e r e part o f a wo r ld which s h e w ould

.

r e ad about s h e r e ad v e ry littl e i n t h e s oci e ty c ol

— —

um u s o f t h e Su n day n e w s pap e r Th e y w e r e t h e
.

w omen around whom h e adli n e s w e r e writt e n a n d whose

p ictures w e r e print e d fr e qu e n tly on t h e fi r s t pag e .

She could s tudy th e m with comparativ e l e isur e in

t h e Night Court Outsid e in t h e cour s e o f h e r d a ily
.

routi n e s h e might catch an occasio n al glimp s e o f th e s e

s am e wom e n through t h e wi n dows o f a pa s s i n g taxi
, ,

or in th e matiné e crowds or goi n g i n a n d out o f t h e

,

fashio n abl e shops But h e r work took h e r s e ldom i n to

.

t h e r e g ion o f taxicabs a n d fa s hion abl e sh op s . Th e

n atur e o f h e r occupation k e pt h e r to furtiv e cor n e r s

a n d t h e dark sid e o f s tr e e ts Nor was s h e at s uch

.

ti m e s i n t h e mood fo r j ust appr e ciation o f t h e b e a u

2 5 2 S i m e on S t r u n s k y
kn owl e dg e that b ooks and n e w s p ap e r s c a n fur n i s h
th e m ? Can t h e low e r cla s s e s e v e r h op e to obtain that
compl e t e vi e w o f t h e Fi ft h Av e n u e se t which t h e S u n
day colu m n s o ffe r th e m ? A n d ye t th e r e t h e ca s e
stand s : o n ly b y s e e ing and h e ari n g for our s e lv e s h ow
,

e v e r i m p e r f e ctly d o w e g e t t h e s e ns e o f r e alit y
, .

That i s why our criminal court s a re probably our

mo s t i n flu e ntia l school s o f d e m ocrac y M or e th a n our
.

s e ttl e m e n t hou s e s mor e tha n our s ub s idiz e d danci n g

,

school s for s h opgirl s th e y e ncourag e t h e g e t t og e th e r

,
-

proc e s s thr ough which on e hal f the world l e ar n s h ow

-

the oth e r hal f li v e s O n eith e r sid e o f t h e raili n g o f

.

t h e pri s o n e r s cag e i s an audi e nc e a n d a stag e

’
.

That i s why s h e would look forward t o h e r r e gular

vi s its at the Ni g ht C ourt S h e s aw li f e th e r e
. .
 B EE R AN D C IDE R

By G E OR GE S AINTS B U R Y

How p l e a s an t i t i s t o fi n d t h e f a m ou s Pr o f e s s o r S a i nt s bu ry
k n ow n t o s t u d e n t s s t h e a u t h o r o f hi s t o r i e s o f t he E ngli s h an d
a

F r e n c h li t e r a t ur e s t h e H i s t o y of Cr i t i is m a n d H i s t o y of E ng
,
r c r

l i s h P o r
s o d y
— s p n d i n g t h e e ve n i n g s o h os pi t a bly i n h i s c e ll a r
e I .

p ri nt t hi — f r om h i s d ow n righ t d e ligh t f ul N ot es on a Ce lla r B ook

s
— a s a ki n d o f t a n t a lizi n g p e n a n ce I t i s a c h a r m i ng e x a m pl e
.

o f h ow pl e a s a n t ly a gr a t s c h o l a r c n u n b e n d on oc c a s i on
e a .

G eo rg e S a i n t bury b or n i n 1 8 45 s t u d i e d a t M e r t on Col l e ge
s , , ,

Ox f or d t a ugh t s c h ool 1 868 76 w a s a j o ur n a li s t i n L on d on

,
-
,

1 8 76 9 5 a n d h e l d t h e c h a i r o f E n gli s h L i t e r a t ur e a t E d i nburgh
-
,

U n i v e r s i t y 1 8 9 5 1 9 1 5 I f y ou r e a d N ot e s on a Ce l la B ook a s
,
-
. r ,

y ou s h oul d y ou will a gr e e t h at i t i s a c h a r m i n gly ligh t h e a r t e d

-
,

c a s e i e for a g e n t l e m a n t o publi s h at t h e a g e of s e ve n t y fi v e
u r -
.

M or e t h an eve r on e f e e l s t h t s ou n d li q u or i n m od e r at i on i s a
a , ,

p r e s e rvat ive o f b ot h b od y a n d w i t .

T H E R E i s no b e v e rag e which I ha v e lik e d to li v e

”
with m or e than B e e r ; but I ha v e n e v e r had a c e llar
large e n ough to accomm odate much o f it or an e s tab ,

l i s h m e n t num e rou s e nough to j usti fy t h e accommoda

tion I n t h e good days wh e n servants e xp e cte d b e e r
.
,

but did not e xp e ct to be tr e at e d oth e rwis e than as

s e r v ants a ca s k or two was n e c e s s ary ; and p e r s ons
,

”
w h o w e r e quit e ge ne rally took car e that t h e small
b e e r th e y dra n k s h ould be t h e s a m e a s th a t which th e y
gav e to th e i r d om e s tic s though th e y m ight hav e oth e r
,

s ort s as w e ll For th e s e be tt e r s ort s at l e a s t t h e good

.

old rul e was when you b e g an on on e c a s k always to

,
2 54 G e org e S a i n t s b u ry

ha v e in a n oth e r E v e n C obb e tt wh os e be li e f i n b ee r
.
,

was t h e nobl e s t f e a tu r e i n hi s charact e r allow e d that ,

“ ”
it r e quir e d s om e k e epi n g T h e curious whit e ale .
,

or lob e r agol— which within t h e m e mory o f man us e d

, ,

to e xist i n D e vonshi r e and C ornwall but which e ve n , ,

hal f a c entury ago I hav e vai nly sought th e r e— w a s

, ,

I b eli e v e d runk quit e n e w ; but th e n it w a s not pur e

,

“
malt and n ot h Op p e d at all but had e gg s ( pull e t ,

”
sp e rm in the br e wag e ) and oth e r for e ign bodi e s in it .

I did once drink at S t Da v i d s ale s o n e w that it

, .
’

f roth e d from t h e cask as cr e amily as i f it had be e n

bottled : a n d I wond e r e d whether the fa m ous b e e r o f
Bala which Borrow found s o good at his first vi s i t
,

1
and s o bad at hi s s e cond had be e n lik e i t ,
.

On t h e oth e r hand t h e v e ry b e st Ba s s I e v e r drank

,

had had an e xactly contrary e xp e ri e nc e I n t h e y e ar .

1 8 7 5 wh e n I w a s r e s id e nt at Elgi n I a n d a fri e n d n ow
, ,

d e a d t h e Procurator Fi s cal o f t h e di strict d e v ot e d t h e

,
-
,

“
May S acra m en t holidays which w e r e th e n s till k e pt ,

in thos e r e mot e parts to a walki n g tour up t h e Fi n d

,

horn a n d across to Loch N e s s an d Gl e n Urquhart .

At t h e Fr ee burn Inn on t h e fi r s t nam e d riv e r w e -

1 hi s v i s i t ( i n t h e e a r l y e igh t i e s ) h a d a n ot h e r r e li s h Th e
T .

i n n c off e e r oom h a d a c opy o f M r F r e e m n s b ook on t h e d j oi n

’
-
. a a

i n g Ca t h e d r a l a n d t hi s w a s c opi ou s ly a n n ot a t e d i n a b e u t i f u l
,
a

an d s c h ol a rly h a n d b ut i n a m o t vi rul e t s piri t W hy can t “ ’

, s n .

l l hi g by h i r pl i ( i n re f e r e n c e t o t h e h i
”
y o u c a t n s t e a n n a m e s ? s

t o i n s M a a la y s qu e p e r i phr a s e s ) e t c I h ave o f t e n w on d e r e d
’
r a c u e .

wh o t h e a n n ot a t or w a s .
2 5 6 G e org e S a i n ts b u ry
f ri e nd a hous e at Abingdon for so m e tim e S o though .
,

I could not e v e n th e n dri n k q uit e a s m uch b ee r as I

could thirty y e ars e arli e r a littl e high e r up t h e Tham e s ,

it b e cam e n e c e s s ary to procure a ca s k It cam e on e— .

o f Bass s minor mildn e ss e s— a ffe ctionat e ly lab el e d

’

“
Mr G e org e Saintsbury Full to the bu n g
. . I de .

t ach e d t h e card and I beli e ve I ha v e it to thi s day as

,

my choicest ( because quit e unsolicit e d ) t e sti m onial .

V e ry strong b e e r p e rmits it s e l f o f cours e to be , ,

bottl e d and k ep t in bottl e s : but I rath e r d oubt wh e th e r

it also is not b e st from t h e wood ; though it i s e qually
o f cours e much e asi e r to c e llar it and k e e p it bottl e d
, .

Its kind s a r e various and curiou s Scotch ale is .

f amous and at its b e st ( I n e v e r drank b e tt e r than

,

’
Y ounger s ) exc e ll e nt : but its t e nd e n cy I thi n k is to , ,

m
’
be too sw t I onc e inv e s t e d in so
ee . e— not Younge r s
-
which I k e pt for n e arly sixte e n y e ar s an d which ,

was s till tr e acl e at the end Bass s No I r e quir e s n o.

’
.

prais e s O n c e when livin g i n t h e Cambridge shi r e v il

.

lage m e ntio n e d e arli e r I had some bottl e d in Cambridge ,

its el f o f gr e at a g e and e xc e llence Inde e d two gu e sts

, .
, ,

though both o f th e m wer e Cambridge m e n and should ,

“
hav e had what M r La n g once call e d t h e robust
.

habits o f that U niversity fell into one ditch a fter par

,

taking of it ( I own that the lan e s ther e abouts are

.

v e ry dark ) In form e r day s though p robably not at

.
,

p re s ent you c ould o ft e n find rath e r choice s pecim e ns

,
 Beer an d Ci d e r 2 57
o f strong b e e r produc e d at small br e w e ri e s in t h e
country I r e m e mb e r such e v en in t h e Chann e l I s land s
. .

And I susp e ct t h e Univ e rsiti e s th e ms e lv e s hav e b e e n

“ ”
subj e ct to d e cl e nsions and falling s off I know .

that in my und e rgraduate d ays at M e rton w e always

“ ”
had prop e r b e e r glasses like t h e old fl ute cham
-
,

pagnes s e rv e d r e gularly at che e s e tim e with a most

,
-

“ ”
nobl e be e r call e d Archd e acon which was th e n actu ,

ally br e wed i n t h e sacristy o f t h e Coll e ge chap e l I .

—
have since a slight sorrow to s e ason the j oy o f r e in
stat m e nt th e r e b e e n told that it i s n ow obtain e d from
e —

2
outsid e And All S ouls is the onl y oth e r colle ge in
.

which from actual r e cent exp e ri e nc e I can imagine

, ,

the possibility o f t h e e xorcism ,

S t r ong be e r um ! di s cede a lay fratr e Petro -

,

i f lay broth e r P e t e r w e r e so silly as to abuse or play

-
,

tricks with the good gi ft ,

.

2 W h e n I w e nt up t hi s M a r c h h e l p ma”n t h e l a s t d i t ch for
to
G r e e k I h a p p e n e d t o m e n t i on A r c h d e a c on : a n d m y i n t e r loc u
“
,

t or t ol d me t h a t h e b e li e ve d n o c oll e g e n ow br e w e d w i th i n i t s
w a ll s A f t e r t h e d e f e at I t h ough t of t h e s t a g e s o f t h e D e c li ne
.

a n d Fa ll o f T h i n g s : a n d h ow a s a d b u t n obl e od e m igh t b e wri t

,

t e n ( b y t h e righ t m a n ) on t h e Fa t e s o f G r e e k a n d Be e r a t
O x f or d H e w oul d pr ob a bly r e f e r i n t h e fi r s t s t r o ph e t o t h e
.

c l os e o f t h e E u m e n i d e s ; i n i t s a n t i s t r op h e t o M r S wi n bur n e s
’
.

gr e a t a d a p t a t i on t h e re o f i n r e ga rd t o Ca r l y l e a n d Ne w ma n ;
wh il e t h e e p od e a n d any r e d upli cat i on of t h e p a r t s w oul d b e
oc c up i e d by s h owi n g h ow t h e d e p a r t i n g e n t i t i e s w e r e o f n o
e q uivoc a l m a g n ifi c e n ce lik e t h e E u m e n i d e s t h e m s e lv e s ; o f n o
fl a w e d p e r f e c t i on ( a t l e a s t a s i t s e e m e d t o t h e i r p oe t ) lik e t h e
t w o gr e a t E n gli s h w ri t e r s b u t wh olly a d m i r a bl e a n d b e n e fi c e n t
,

t oo g ood fo r t h e g e n e r a t i on w h o w o ul d b a n i s h t h e m a n d w h om
t h ey b ani s h e d
,

.
2 5 8 G e or g e S a i n t s b u r y

I ha v e n e v e r h ad m a ny e xp e ri e n c e s o f r e al b ome t

”
br ew e d but t w o whi c h I had w e r e pl e a s ing Th e re
, .

wa s much ho m e br e wi n g in Ea s t Anglia at t h e time I

-

liv e d th er e an d I o n c e got t h e villag e carpent e r to

,

iv m s om e o f h i s own ma n u factur e It w a s as
g e e .

good light ale as I e v e r wish to d rink ( many tim e s

b e tt e r than t h e wretched stuff that Dora has foist e d
on u s ) and h e told m e that counting i n e v e ry exp e n s e
, ,

for m at e rial cost and w e ar o f plant e t c it ca m e to

, , .
,

about a p e nny a q uart The oth e r was ver y di ff e r e nt

3
. .

Th e lat e Lord d e Tabl e y— b e tt e r or at least long e r

known as M r L e ic e st e r Warr e n— once gav e a di n n e r
.

at t h e Ath en aeum at which I wa s pr e s e nt and had u p ,

from his Ch e shir e c e llars som e o f t h e old a le for

which that county is said to b e famou s to mak e flip ,

a ft e r di n n e r It w a s shun n e d by mo s t o f t h e pu s illa n i
.

mous gu e s t s but not by m e a n d i t w a s e xc e ll e n t But

, ,
.

4
I s hould lik e to ha v e tri e d i t u nfl ipp e d .

T3 h i s w a s on e o f t h e b e s t i llu s t ra t i ons of t h e old ph ras e a ,

good p e nnyw or t h t h a t I eve r k n e w for c e r t ai n I a d d t h e t w o

,
”
.

l a s t w or d s b e c a u s e o f a m y t e ri ou s i n c i d e n t o f my y ou t h I a n d
s .

on e o f m y s i s t e r s w e r e s i t t i n g a t a w i n d ow i n a c e r t a i n s e a s i d e
pl ac e w h e n w e h e a r d b ot h o f u s d i s t i n c t l y a n d r e p e a t e d ly t hi s
, ,

m y s t i c s t r e e t c ry : A bibl e a n d a p ill ow c a s e fo r a p e n n y ! I
“
-

ru s h e d d ow n s t a ir s t o s e c ur e t hi s b a rg a i n b u t t h e c ri e r w a s n ow
,

fa r o ff a n d i t w a s t oo l a t e
,
.

4 By t h e w ay a r e t h e y s t ill a s g ood for fl i p a t Ne w Col l e g e

, ,

O x f o r d a s t h e y w e r e i n t h e d ay s w h e n i t n u m b e r e d h a r d ly a n y
,

u n d e rgra d u at e s e x c e p t s c h ol a r s a n d on e s c h ol a r o f my a c q u i n t
,
a

a n c e h a d t o hi m s e l f a e t o f t h r e e r oom s a n d a g a r d e n ?
s A nd
i s T h e I s l a n d a t Ke n n i n g t on s t ill f a m ou s for t h e s a m e e x c e l l e n t
“ ”

c om p ou n d ?
2 60 G e org e S a i n ts b u ry

our top and b ottom f e r m e ntati on be e r in which t h e

- - -
,

ma n u factur e r s l e tt e r i n v e ry sound E n gli s h for t h e

’

m o s t part s pok e o f it ,
E n gli s h lag e r I must s ay I .

ha v e n ev e r like d ; p e rhap s I ha v e b e e n u nlucky in my

s p e cim e ns A n d good as Scotch s tr on g b ee r i s I can
.
,

not s ay that t h e light e r an d m e d iu m ki n d s a r e v e ry

g ood in Scotland In fact in E d i n burgh I u s e d to
.
,

import b e e r o f this kind from Li n colnshir e wh e re ,

5

th e r e is no mistak e ab out it M y ow n pri v at e opinion .

“
i s that J ohn Barl e ycorn north o f Tw e e d sa y s : I , ,

”
am for whi s ky and not for ale ,
.

C id e r and p e rry s ays Burton are windy drinks , ,

y e t h e ob s e rv e s that t h e inhabitant s o f c e rtai n S hi r e s

in Engla n d ( h e do e s not I am sorry to s ay m e ntion , ,

D e von ) o f Norman d y in France a n d o f Guipuzcoa i n ,

”
Spain are no whit o ffe nd e d by th e m
,
I have n ev e r .

5 It c a me f rom h e f l i e u i f i t c a n n ot b e c a ll e d t h e
A l f ord t h e , c -
.

c a pi t a l , o f t h e T e nny s o n c ou n t ry I h ave pl e a s a n t a s s oc i at i on s
.

wi t h t h e p l ac e q ui t e i n de p e n d e nt o f t h e b e e ry on e s A n d i t
, .

m a d e m e p a r t i a lly a t l e a s t a l t e r on e o f t h e i d e s o f m y e a rly
, ,
a

c ri t i c i s m— t h a t t i m e s p e n t on a p oe t s l oc a l h a bi t a t i on s w a s r a t h e r
’

w a s t e d I h ave a lw ay s t h ough t Th e D yi n g S w a n on e o f i t s
.
“ ”

a u t h o r s gr e a t e s t t hi n g s a n d on e o f t h e c h m pi on e x a m pl e s o f
’

,
a

pur e p oe t ry i n E n gli s h l i t e r a t ur e B ut I n eve r f ully h e a r d t h e

.

e d dy i n g s on g t h at fl ood e d
“ ” ” “

t h e c r e e pi n g mo s s e s a n d c l a mb e r i n g w e e d s ,

A n d t h e will ow b ra nc h e s h oa r a n d d a n k ,

A n d t h e w avy s w e ll o f t h e s oughi n g r e e d s .

A n d t h e w ave w o r n h o r n s o f t h e e c h oi n g b a nk
-
,

A n d t h e s ilve ry m a r i s h fl ow ers t h t t h r ong - a

T h e d e s ol a t e c r e e k s a n d p ool s a m on g
t i ll I s a w t h e m .
 Beer an d Cid e r 2 61

l ik e d p e rry on t h e few occa s ion s on which I have tast e d

it ; p e rhap s b e caus e its ta s t e h a s alway s r e mind e d me
o f t h e s m e ll o f s o m e stu ff that my n ur s e us e d to put
on m y hai r wh e n I was small But I c e rtainly have .

be e n no whit o ff e n d e d by cid e r eith e r i n di v e r s E n g ,

li s h S hir e s including v e r y sp e cially thos e which Burton

,

do e s not includ e Devon Dor s e t and S om e rs e t or i n

, , , ,

Normandy T h e Guipuzcoan vari e ty I hav e un fort u

.
,

n at e ly had no O pportunity o f tasting

,
B e side s p e rry .
,

s e e ms to me to b e an abuse o f that e xcellent creatur e

t h e p e ar wh e r e a s cid e r appl e s furnish on e o f t h e most
,
-

cog e nt argum e nts to prov e that Provi d e nc e had t h e pro

duction o f alcohol ic li q uors dir e ctly in its eye They .

a r e good for nothing e ls e what e v e r and th e y a r e e x ,

c e lle n t g ood for that I think I lik e t h e w e ak cid e rs

.
,

such as thos e o f t h e w e st and t h e Norma n dy be tt e r ,

than t h e stronge r on e s and draught cid e r much bett e r

,
6

than bottl e d That o f Nor folk which has be e n much

.
,

comm e nd e d o f late I have nev e r ta s t e d ; but I hav e had

,

both W e s t e rn and W e st M idland cid e r in my c e llar-

,

o ft e n in bottl e and o n c e or twic e in cask It i s a pity .

h
t hat t e liquor — e xtr e m e ly agr e e abl e to t h e tast e one ,

o f the most thirst quenching to be anywh e r e found

-

o f no overpowering alcoholic stre n gth as a rul e and ,

almost sov e r ign for gout i s not to be drunk with out

e — .

! H e r e f or d s hi r e and W orc e s t e r s hi r e c i d e r c an be ve ry r
s t ong
a nd the p e rry t h e y
, s ay , s t 1 ll s t on g e r r .
2 62 G e org e S a i n ts b u ry

cautio n and som e ti m e s h a s to b e gi ve n up altog eth e r

,

f ro m oth e r m ed ical a s p e cts Qualifi e d wi t h bran d y

.

a mixtur e which w a s fir s t i m pa r t e d to m e at a roa d

s id e i n n by a v e ry amiabl e Dors e t s hir e farm e r whom

I m e t whil e walking from Sh e rbor n e to Blan d for d in

“ ”
mv fir s t Ox ford long — i t is capital : and ci d e r cup -

who k ow e th not
n ? I f th e r e be an y s uch le t h i m not ,

wait lo n g e r than to m orrow be for e e s tabli s hi ng knowl

-

edg e A s for t h e pur e j uic e o f t h e appl e four gallon s

.
,

a day p er man u s ed t o b e t he har v e s t allowa n c e in

So m e r s e t wh e n I was a boy It i s r e fr e s hi n g only to
.

thi n k o f i t n ow .

O f m e ad or m e th e gli n t h e third i n dig e nou s liquor o f

,

S outh e rn Britain I k n ow l ittl e I n d e e d I S hould have

, .
,

k n ow n nothing at all o f it had it n ot b e e n that t h e

pari s h cl e rk a n d s e xton o f t h e Cambridg e s hir e village
-

wh e r e I li v e d an d the caretak e r o f a vin e ry which I

,

r e nt e d w a s a b ee k e e p e r and m e ad mak e r He ga v e m e
,
- -
.

som e o n c e I did not car e much for it It was lik e a

. .

sw e e t w e ak b e e r with o f cour s e t h e s p e cial hon ey

, , ,

fla v or But I S hould imagin e that it was susc e ptibl e

.

o f a gr e at many di ffe r e nt mod e s o f pr e paration and ,

it i s ob v iou s co n s id e ri n g what it is mad e o f that it

, ,

could b e br e w e d o f al m ost an y s tr e n g th Old lit e rary .

notic e s ge n e rally sp e ak o f i t as stro n g .

2 64 B e r t ra n d R u s s e ll
the bar e l y solid cru s t And n ow t h e first g e rm o f li f e
.

grew in th e d epths o f t h e oc e an and d e v e lop e d rapi d ly ,

i n the fructi fyin g warmth into vast fore st tr e e s huge ,

f e rns spri nging from the damp mould s ea mon s te rs ,

bre e ding fighting d e vouring and pas s ing away And

, , , .

from t h e monst e rs as t he play un fold e d its el f Man was

, ,

born with th e power o f thought t h e knowl e dge o f

, ,

good and e vil and t h e cru e l thirst for worship And

, .

Man s aw that all is passing in th is mad mo n strous ,

world that all i s struggling to s natch at any cost a

, , ,

fe w bri e f mom e nts o f li f e b e for e D e ath s in e xorable

’

d e cr e e And Man said : Th e r e is a h idd e n purpose

.
‘
,

could w e but fathom it and t h e purpos e i s goo d ; for

,

we must r e ver e nc e something an d in th e visible worl d ,

th e r e i s nothin g worthy o f rev e r e nc e And Man .

’

stood asid e from t h e struggl e r e sol v ing that God i n ,

tend e d harmony to com e out o f chaos by human e fforts .

And wh e n he follo w e d t h e instincts which God h ad

transmitted to him from hi s anc e stry o f bea s ts o f pr e y ,

h e call e d it S in and ask e d God to forgive him But

,
.

h e doubt e d wh e th e r h e could b e j ustly f orgiven until ,

he inv e nt e d a divine Plan by whi ch God s w rath was ’

to have b ee n app e as e d And s e e ing t h e pr e s e nt was

.

bad he made i t yet worse that th e r e by th e futur e might

, ,

be b e tt e r And h e g av e God thanks f or th e stre n gt h

.

that enabled h im to forgo e v e n t h e j oys that were p os

sibl e And God smil e d : and wh e n h e s aw th at M att
.
 A F r e e Ma n W or s hi p
’
s 2 65

had be com e p e r fe ct in r e nu n ciation and worship he ,

s e n t a n oth e r s un through t h e S ky which cra s hed into ,

Ma n s s un ; and al l r e turn e d agai n to n ebula

’
.

Y e s h e murmur e d it wa s a good play ; I will

‘ ’ ‘
, ,

’
hav e it p e r form e d again .

Such in outli n e but e v e n mor e purpos e l e s s more

, , ,

void o f m e aning i s t h e world which S ci e nc e pr e s e nts

,

for our b e li e f Amid such a w orld i f anywh e r e our

.
, ,

id e al s h e nc e forward must find a hom e That Man i s .

t h e product o f caus e s which had no pr e vi s ion o f the

e n d th e y w e r e achi e vi n g ; that h i s origin hi s growth , ,

hi s hop e s and f e ar s his loves and his be li e fs a re but t h e

, ,

outcom e o f accid e ntal collocatio n s o f atom s ; that no

fi r e no h e roi s m no int e nsity o f thought and fe e ling
, , ,

can pres e rve an in d ividual l i f e be yond t h e grav e ; that

all t h e labors o f t h e age s all th e devotion all t h e i n
, ,

spi ration all t h e noonday brightn e s s o f human ge nius

, ,

a r e de s tin e d to extinction in t h e va s t d e ath o f t h e s olar

sy s t e m and that t h e whol e templ e o f Man s achi e ve

,
’

m e nt must in evitably b e buri e d b e neath the d e bris o f

a univ e rse i n ruin s — all th e s e t hings i f not quit e b e yond ,

di s put e are y et s o n e arly c e rtain that no philosoph y

, ,

which r e j e cts th e m can hop e to stand Only within .

t h e sca ffolding o f th e s e truth s only on the firm foun d a ,

tion o f unyi e ldi n g d e s pai r can the soul s habitation

,
’

h e nc e forth b e s a fely built .

How in such an al i e n and inhuman world can s o

, ,
2 66 B e r t ra n d R u s s e ll

po w e rless a creatur e as Man pr e s e r v e h i s a s pirati ons

untarnish e d ? A stra n ge myst e ry it i s that Natur e ,

omnipot e nt but blind in t h e r e v olutions o f h er s e cula r

,

hurryings through th e abysses o f spac e has brought ,

forth at la s t a child subj e ct still to h e r pow e r but

, ,

gi ft e d with sight with knowl e dg e o f good and e vil

, ,

with t h e ca pacity o f j udging all t h e works o f his un

thi nking Moth e r In spit e o f Death t h e mark and s e al
.
,

o f t h e par e ntal control Man is yet free duri n g h i s brie f

, ,

years to e xamin e to criticiz e to kno w and in i m ag

, , , ,

inat i on to cr e ate To him alone i n the world with

.
,

which h e i s acquaint e d this fr e e dom b e longs ; and i n

,

this li e s his sup e riority to the r e sistl e ss forces that con

trol his outward li fe .

The savage lik e ours e lv e s f eels the Oppr e ssion o f

, ,

hi s impot e nc e b e for e t h e pow e rs o f Natur e ; but h avin g

in himsel f nothing that h e r es pects more than Pow e r ,

he is willing to prostrat e hims e l f b e for e h i s god s wit h ,

out in q uirin g wh e th e r th e y are worthy o f h i s wor s hip .

Path e tic and very t e rribl e i s t h e long history o f cru e lty

and torture o f d e gradati on a n d human sacrific e e n
, ,

dur e d in t h e hop e o f placati n g t h e j e alous gods : sur e ly ,

the tr e mbli n g b e li e v e r thinks wh e n what i s most p r e

,

ciou s has b e en f r e ely gi v e n th e i r lu s t for blood must be

,

appeased and mor e will n ot be r e qui r e d T h e r e ligion

, .

of Moloch— a s such cr e e ds may b e g e n e rically call e d

—i s i n e s s e nc e the cringing submi s sion o f t h e sla v e

,
2 68 B e r t ra n d R u s s e ll
slavi s hn e s s fro m which our thoughts mu s t b e purge d .

For in all things it i s w e ll to e x alt t h e d ignity o f M an ,

by fr ee ing him as far a s po s sibl e from t h e tyranny o f

non human Pow e r Wh e n w e ha v e r e aliz e d that Pow e r
-
.

i s larg e ly bad that man with his knowl e dge o f good

, ,

and e vil i s but a h elpl e s s atom in a world which has

,

n o such k n owl e d g e t h e choic e is again pr e s e n t e d to u s

,

Shall w e wor s hip Forc e or s h a ll w e wor s hip Go od

,

n e ss ? Shall our God e xi s t an d b e evil or s hall h e be ,

recogniz e d a s t h e cr e ation o f our own consci e n c e ?

T h e a n s w e r to thi s qu e s tion i s v e ry m om e n tou s a n d ,

aff e ct s pro f ou n dly our whol e m orality T h e w or s hip .

o f Forc e to which Carlyl e a n d Ni e tzsch e a n d t h e cr e e d

,

o f Militari s m ha v e accu s t om e d us i s t h e r e s ult o f

,

f ailur e to maintain our ow n id e al s agai n st a ho s til e

uni v e r s e : it is it s e l f a pro s trat e sub m i s sio n to e vil a ,

sacrific e o f our b e s t to Moloch I f str e n gth in d ee d i s

.

to b e r e sp e ct e d le t us r e s pe ct rath e r t h e strength o f
,

“
tho s e who r e fus e that fal s e r e cognition o f facts
which fails to r e cog n ize that fact s a r e o ft e n bad Let .

us admit that in the world we know th e r e are man y

,

thing s that woul d be b ett e r oth e rwise an d that the ,

id e als to which w e do and mu s t adh e re are not r e alized

i n t h e r e alm o f matter Le t us pr e s e rve our respect
.

f or truth for b e auty for t h e ideal o f p e r f e ction which

,
,

li f e do e s not permit u s to attain though none o f thes e

,

th ings m ee t with t h e approval o f the unconscious uni

 A F r e e Ma n W or s h i p 69
'
s 2

ve rse I f Pow e r i s bad a s it s ee m s to b e le t us r e j e ct

.
, ,

it fro m our h e arts In thi s li e s M an s tru e fr ee dom

.
’

i n d e t e rmi n ation to wor s hi p only t h e God cr e at e d by

ou r own lo v e o f t h e good to r e sp e ct only t h e h e av e n
,

which in s pir e s t he insight o f our b e st mom e nts In .

acti on in d e sir e we must submit p e rp e tually to the

, ,

tyranny o f outsid e forc e s ; but in thought in aspiration , ,

w e are fr e e fr e e fro m our f e llowm e n fr e e from t h e

, ,

p e tty plan et on which our bodi e s impote ntly crawl fr ee ,

e v e n whil e w e li v e
,
from t h e tyranny o f d e ath Let
, .

u s l e arn th e n that e n e rgy o f faith which e nabl e s us

, ,

to li v e con s tantly in t h e vi sion o f t h e good ; and le t u s

d e s c e nd in acti on into t h e world o f fact with that
, , ,

visio n always b e for e u s .

Wh e n fir s t t h e opposition o f fact and id e al grows

fully visibl e a spirit o f fi e ry r e volt o f fi e rc e hatr e d o f
, ,

t h e g ods s e e ms n e c e s s a ry to the ass e rtion o f fr e e dom

, .

To d e fy with Prom e th e an consta n cy a hostil e univ e r s e .

to kee p its evil always i n vi e w always activ e ly hat e d , ,

to r e fuse no pain that the malice o f Pow e r can inv e nt ,

appears to be t h e duty o f al l wh o will not b ow b e fore

t h e inevitable B ut indignation i s still a bondage for
.
,

it compels our thoughts to be occupied with an e vil

world ; and in the fi e rcene s s o f d e sire from which re
bellion sprin g s there is a kind o f s e l f ass e rti on which -

i t is n ecessary f or the wis e to overcome Indignation .

i s a submission o f our thou g hts but not o f our d e sire s ; .

2 70 B e r t ra n d R us s e ll
the Stoic fr e e dom in which wisdom consi sts i s f ound
in t h e submi s s io n o f our d e s ir e s but not o f our,

thoughts From t h e s ubm is s ion o f our d e sir e s springs

.

th e virtu e o f r e s ignation ; from the fr e e dom o f our

thoughts spring s t h e whole world o f ar t and philos
Op h y and t h e vi s ion o f b e auty by which at la s t we
, , ,

hal f reconqu e r t h e r e luctant world But t h e vi s ion o f

.

b eauty i s po s sibl e only to un f e tt e r e d conte mplation to ,

thoughts n ot w e ight e d by t h e load o f e a g e r wi s h e s ;

and thus Fr e e dom com e s only to those who no l o n g e r
ask o f li f e that it s hall yi e ld th e m any o f tho s e p er
sonal goods that a r e subj e ct to t h e m utations o f Ti m e .

Although t h e n e c e s sity o f r e nun ciati on i s e vid e n c e

o f t h e e xist e nc e o f e vil yet Chri s tianity i n pr e aching
, ,

it has s hown a wisdom e xc e e di n g that o f t h e Prom e

,

th e an philosophy o f r e b e llion It must b e admitt e d

.

that o f th e things w e d e sir e s om e though th e y prov e

, , ,

impos s ibl e are ye t r e al goods ; oth e rs how e v e r as ar

, , ,

d e n t ly lo n g e d for do not form part o f a fully purifi e d

,

id e al Th e b e li e f that what must b e r e nounc e d i s bad

.
,

though so m e ti m e s fal s e i s far l e ss o ft e n fal s e than

,

u n tam e d pa s s ion suppo s e s ; and t h e cr e e d o f r e ligion ,

by provi d i n g a r e a s on for pro v ing that it i s n e v e r fals e ,

has b e e n t h e m eans o f puri fying our hop e s by the

di sc o v e ry o f ma n y au s t e r e truths .

But th e r e i s in r e s ignation a furth e r good e l e m e nt

e v e n r e al goods wh e n th e y a r e unattai n abl e ought not
, ,
2 7 2 B e r t r a n d R u s s e ll
is not incapabl e o f s e rvin g as a ston e in t h e sacr e d
t e m pl e .

Exc e pt for tho s e rar e spirits that are born without

s i n th e r e i s a cav e rn o f darkn e s s to b e tra v e r s e d b e for e
,

that t empl e can be e nt e r e d T h e gate o f t h e ca v e rn

.

i s d e s pai r and i t s floor i s pav e d with t h e grav e s to n e s

,

o f aba n d on e d hop e s Th e r e S e l f mu s t d i e ; th e r e t h e
.

eag e rn e s s the gr ee d o f untam e d d e s ir e must b e slai n

, ,

for only s o can the s oul b e fr e e d from t h e e m pir e o f

Fat e But out o f t h e cavern t h e Gat e o f R e nu n ciation
.

l e ad s again to t h e daylight o f wisdom by who s e rad ,

i an ce a n e w i n s ight a n e w j oy a n e w t e nd e rn e ss shin e
, , ,

’
forth to gladd e n t h e pilgrim s h e art .

Wh e n without t h e bitt e rn e s s o f impot e nt r e b e llion

, ,

we hav e l e arnt both to r e sign ours e lv e s to t h e outw a rd

rul e o f Fat e and to r e cogniz e that t h e n on human -

world is unw orthy o f our wor s hip it b e com e s po s sibl e

,

at last s o to tra n s form and r e fashion t h e unconscious

univ e rs e s o to transmut e it in t h e crucibl e o f imagina
,

tion that a n e w image o f shining gold r e plac e s t h e old

,

idol o f clay In all t h e multi f orm fact s o f t h e world

.

— i n t h e visual s hap e s o f tr e e s and mountains and

clouds i n t h e e v e nt s o f t h e li f e o f man e v e n in t h e
, ,

—
v e ry omnipotence o f D ath t h e in s ight o f cr e ativ e
e

id ealis m can fi nd t h e r efl e ction o f a b e auty which its

own thoughts first mad e In this way mind ass e rts
.

its s ubtle ma s t e ry ov e r t h e thoughtl e ss f orce s o f Na

 A F r e e Ma n W or s h i p
’
s 2 73
t ur e . mor e e vil t h e m at e rial with which it deal s
Th e ,

t h e mor e t hwarting to untrained d e si r e t h e gr e at e r ,

i s its achi e v e m e nt in inducin g the reluctant rock to

yi e ld up its hidden treasur e s t he proud e r i t s victory ,

in comp e lli n g t h e opposing forc e s to sw e ll t h e page ant

o f its triumph O f all t h e arts Trag e dy i s t h e proud
.
,

e s t t h e mo s t triumphant ; for it build s i t s shining cit

,

ad e l i n t h e v e ry c e nt e r o f t h e e n e my s cou n try on the

—
’

v e ry summit o f his high e st mountai n ; fr om i t s i m

pr e gnable watch tow e rs hi s camp s a n d ar s e nals hi s
-
, ,

columns and forts a r e all r e v e al e d ; within its wall s

,

th e fr e e l i fe continues whil e th e l e gions o f D e ath a nd

,

Pain and D e spai r and all the s e rvil e captains o f tyrant

,

Fate a fford the bur g h e rs o f that dauntl e ss city n ew

,

sp e ctacl e s o f b e auty H app y thos e sacr e d ramparts

.
,

thric e happy t h e dw e llers on that all s e e i n g e min e nce -

.

Honor to thos e brave w arriors who through countl e ss ,

ag e s o f war fare hav e pr e s e r v e d for us t h e pric e less

,

h e ritage o f lib e rty and hav e k e pt u n de fi le d by s ac ri le

,

g i ou s invad e r s t h e home o f t h e unsub d u e d .

But t h e b e auty o f Trage dy do e s but make visibl e a

quality which in mor e or l e s s obvious shap e s i s pr e s
, ,

e n t always and e v e rywh e r e in l i f e In t h e s p e ct a cle

.

o f D e ath in t h e e nduranc e o f i n t ol e rabl e pai n and in

, ,

t h e irr e vocabl e n e ss o f a vani s h e d pa s t th e r e is a sacr e d ,

n e s s an o v e rpow e ring aw e a f e e li n g o f th e vastness

, , ,

t h e d e pth t h e in e xhau s tibl e my s t e ry o f e x ist e nce i n

, ,
2 74 B e r t r a n d R u s s e ll
which a s by som e s trang e m arri ag e o f pain t h e s u f
, ,

f e r e r is bou n d to t h e worl d by bond s o f s orrow In .

th e s e mom e nts o f in s ight w e lo s e all e ag e r n e s s o f t e m

,
~

o ra ry d e sir e all struggling a n d s tri v i n g for p e tty

p ,

e n ds ,
all care for t h e littl e tri v ial thi n gs that to a ,

s up e rficial v i e w make up t h e com m o n li f e o f d ay by

,

day ; w e s e e s urrou n d ing t h e narrow ra ft illu m i n e d

,

by t h e flick e ri n g light o f human co m r ad e s hip t h e d a rk ,

oc ean on who s e rolli n g wa v e s w e to s s for a bri e f

hour ; from t h e gr e at n ight without a chill blast br e aks ,

i n upo n our r e fug e ; all t h e lo n e li n e s s o f humanity ami d

ho s til e forc e s i s conc e ntr a t e d upon t h e individual s oul ,

which mu s t struggle alo n e with what o f courage it can

,

co m ma n d agai n st t h e wh ol e w e ight o f a uni v e rs e that

,

car e s n othing for i t s hop e s an d fears Victory i n .

,

t his struggl e with t h e pow e rs o f darkness i s t h e tru e ,

bapti s m i n to t h e glorious co m pa n y o f h e ro e s t h e tru e ,

i n itiation into t h e ov e rma s t e ri n g b e auty o f hu m an

e xi s t e nc e From that aw ful encou n t e r o f t h e soul
.

with t h e out e r world r e n unciati on wisdo m a n d ch a r

, , ,

ity a re bor n ; a n d with th e i r birth a n e w li f e b e gi n s .

To tak e i n to t h e i n mo s t s hrin e o f t h e s oul t h e i r r e s i s t

ibl forc who pupp e ts w e s m to b
e e s s e e e e — D e ath a n d
chang e th e irr e vocabl e n e ss o f t h e past a n d t h e pow e r
, ,

l e s s n e s s o f m a n b e for e t h e bli n d hurry o f the u n i v e r s e

m
fro v anity to va ity to f e e l th e se thi n gs and kno w
n —

th e m i s to co n qu e r t h e m .
2 7 6 B e r t r a n d R u s s e ll
t h e m in d which l e av e s n othi n g t o be purg e d by t h e
puri fyi n g fi r e o f Ti m e .

U n it e d with hi s f e llow m e n by t h e str on g e s t o f all

-

ti e s t h e t i e o f a co m m on d oom t h e fr e e m a n fi n d s t hat
, ,

a n e w vi s io n i s wi t h h i m alway s s h e d d i n g o v e r e v e ry ,

daily ta s k t h e light o f lov e T h e li f e o f M a n i s a l on g

.

march thr ough t h e n igh t s urrou n d e d by i n v i s ibl e f oe s

, ,

tortur e d by w e ari n e s s a n d pain towar d s a go a l that ,

fe w can hop e to r e a c h a n d wh e r e n o n e m a y tarry lo n g

,
.

On e by on e a s th e y march our comrad e s v a n i s h fr om

, ,

our S ight s e iz e d by t h e s il e n t ord e rs o f om n ipot e n t

,

D e ath V e ry bri e f i s t h e tim e i n which w e c a n h elp

.

them i n which th e i r happin e s s or mi s e ry i s d e ci d e d

, .

Be it ours to s h e d sun s hin e on th e i r path to light e n ,

th e i r sorrows by t h e balm o f S ympathy to gi v e th e m ,

t h e pur e j oy o f a n e v e r tiri n g a ff e ction to str en gth e n

-
,

faili n g courage t o instil faith in hours o f d e s pai r

,
.

Le t us n ot w e igh in grudging scal e s th e ir m e rit s a n d

d e m e rits but le t us think only o f th e ir n ee d— o f the
,

sor r ows t h e d i ffi culti e s p e rh a p s t h e bli n d n e s s e s that

, , ,

mak e t h e mis e ry o f th e i r liv e s ; le t u s r e m em b e r that

th e y a r e f e ll ow su ffe r e r s i n t h e s a m e dark n e s s actors
-
,

in th e sam e trag e dy with our s el v e s A n d s o wh e n th e ir .

,

day i s ov e r wh e n th e i r good a n d th e ir e vil hav e be com e

,

e t e rnal by t h e i m m o rtality o f t h e pa s t b e it ours to ,

f e el that wh e r e th e y s u ffe r ed wh e r e th e y fail e d no

, , ,

d ee d o f ours w as t h e caus e ; but wh e r e v e r a spark o f

 A F r e e Ma n W or s h i p
’
s 2 77
the di v i n e fi re ki n dl e d in th e ir h e art s w e w e r e r e ady
,

with e n c ourage m e n t with s y m pathy with brav e words

, ,

in which high c ourage glow e d .

B ri e f a n d p ow e rl e s s i s Man s li fe ; on him and all his

’

rac e t h e s low sur e doom fall s pitil e s s a n d dark Blind

, .

to good and e vil r e ckl e s s o f d e struction omnip ot e nt

, ,

matt e r roll s on i t s r e l en tl e ss way ; for M an cond em n e d ,

to day to los e his dear e s t to morrow hims e l f to pass

-
,
-

through t h e gat e o f dark n e s s it r e mains only to ch e r

,

i sh e r e y et t h e blow fall s t h e lo fty thoughts that e n

, ,

n obl e hi s littl e day ; di s dai n ing t h e coward t e rrors o f

t h e s la v e o f Fat e to wor s hip at t h e shrin e that his ow n

,

h and s ha v e built ; undi s maye d by t h e em pir e o f chanc e ,

to pr e s e r v e a mind fr e e from the wanton tyranny that

rul e s his outward li f e ; proudly d e fiant o f t h e i r r e s i s t
ibl e f orc e s that tol e rat e for a mom e nt his knowl e dge
, ,

and hi s cond e mnation to sustai n alone a w e ary but

, ,

unyi e lding Atlas t h e world that hi s ow n id e als have

,

m
fashion e d d e spite the tram in g march o f unconsciou s
p o we r.
 S OM E H ISTO R IAN S

By P H ILIP G U E DALLA

Phi l i p G u e da ll a b or n 1 88 9 , i s a Lon d on b a rr i s t e r a n d at t h e
,

p r e s e n t t i m e a n I n d e p e n d e n t L i b e r a l c a n d i d a t e fo r t h e Hou s e
o f Com m on s H e h a s w ri t t e n e x ce ll e n t ligh t v e r s e a n d p a r od i e s ,
.

a n d a t e x t b ook on E ur op e a n h i s t or y , 1 7 1 5 H i s m os t c on
s p i c u ou s a c hi eve m e n t s o fa r i s t h e br i lli a n t volu m e S up e r s a n d
S u p e r m e n f r om w hi c h m y s e l e c t i on i s t a k e n
,
.

S u p e r s a n d S u p e r m e n i s a c oll e ct i on o f hi s t ori ca l a n d p oli t i ca l

p or t r a i t s an d s ki t s I t i s m e r c il e s s ly a n d gl ori ou s ly hu m or ou s
. .

T h os e w h o c a n a l w a y s f oll ow t h e w i t a n d i r on y t h a t G u e d a ll a
k n ow s h ow t o c on c e a l i n a c u nn i n gly t ur n e d p hr a s e will fi n d ,

t h e b ook a pr od igi ou s d e ligh t . H e h a s a n u n e rri n g e y e for

t h e ab s ur d ; hi s p a r a d ox e s , wh e n p on d e r e d , h ave a w a y o f p r ov
i ng e x c e ll e n t t ru t h .
( T ru t h i s s om e t i m e s l ik e t h e f ur n i t ur e i n
T hr ough t h e Loo ki n g G l a s s , w hi c h c oul d on ly b e r e ac h e d by
r e s olu t e ly w a lki n g a w a y f rom i t )
T e n y e a r s a g o M r G u e d a ll a w a s c on s i d e r e d t h e m os t c ont i nu
.

o u s ly a n d i n s ol e n t ly brilli a n t u n d e rgr a d u a t e o f t h e O x f o r d o f
t h at d a y . T h e c h a r m a n d vig o r o f h i s i r on i c a l w i t h ave n ot
l e s s e n e d s i n ce h i s f e ll ow u n d e rgr a d u a t e s s t r“ove t o”c onvi n ce t h e m
s e l v e s t h a t n o m a n c o ul d b e a s c l e v e r a s P
. G .s e e me d t o b e .

W h e n M r G u e d a ll a h ol d s t h e m irr o r up t o Ni e t z s c h e or g ive s
.
“ ” “

t h a n k s t h at B ri t on s n eve r n eve r will b e S l av s ,

”
or d y n a s t i c i z e s
He n ry J a m e s i n t o t hr e e r e ig n s : J a m e s I , J a m e s II a n d t h e O ld
“
,

P r e t e n d e r ; or wh e n h e s p e a k s o f t h e c h e e r f ul c l a t t e r of S i r
” “

J a m e s Ba”rri e s c a n s a s h e w e n t rou n d wi t h t h e m ilk o f hu m an

’

ki n d n e s s t h e r e will b e s om e w h o will s igh ; b u t t h e r e will a l s o

,

( I h op e ) b e m a n y w h o will f o rgive t h e br ava d o for t h e q ui c k

s ilve r w i t .

IT was Qui ntillian or M r Max B ee rbohm who s a 1 d

.

Hi s tory r ep e at s it s e l f : hi s toria n s r e p e at e ach oth e r .

T h e sayi n g i s ful l o f the m ellow wi s do m o f e ith e r

writ e r an d s ta m p e d with t h e p e culiar v e racity o f t h e
,

Sil v e r A g e o f R o m a n or B riti s h e pigra m One m ight .

ha v e ad d e d i f t h e aphorist had s tay e d for a n answ e r

, ,

2 78
2 80 P h i l ip G u e d a lla

p le t ene s s which i s t h e sol e attraction o f his styl e .

Wild e complai n e d o f M r Hall Cai ne that h e wrot e

.

at t h e top o f hi s voic e ; but a mod e r n historian wh e n ,

h e i s r e ally d e tach e d writes lik e s o m e on e talki n g in

,

the n e xt room an d fe w write rs hav e e qual e d t h e l e gal

,

’ “
pr e ci s ion o f Cox e s obs e rvation that t h e Turks saw e d
t h e Archbi s hop and t h e C ommanda n t i n hal f an d ,

committ e d other g r av e violations o f international

”
law .

Havi n g purg e d his mind o f all unsteadying int e r e s t

in t he subj e ct the youn g hi storian s hould a d opt a
,

moral cod e o f mor e than M alt h u 5 1 an s e v e rity which ,

may be l e arn e d f rom an y American writer o f the last

century upon the Re nai s s ance or t h e d e cad e n ce o f
Spain Thi s mann e r which is e s p e cially n e c e s s ary i n
.
,

pa s s age s dealing with charact e r will l e n d to h i s work

,

t h e grav e dignity that i s r e qui s it e for tra n s lation i n to

Latin pros e that s upr e m e t e st o f an historian s styl e

,
’
.

It will be h i s mi s fortun e to m ee t upo n t h e byways

o f history t h e o dd e s t an d most ab n or m a l p e r s on s a n d ,

he s hould k e e p by him ( u n l e s s h e wi s h e s t o f or f e it his

F ellow s hip ) som e co n v e n i e n t f or m ula by which h e
may indicat e at on c e t h e e n or m ity o f th e s ubj e ct and
t h e d i s appro v al o f t h e writ e r T h e writings o f Lord
.

Macaulay will furni s h h i m at n e e d with t h e n e c e s s a ry

facility in l ightning charact e rizatio n It w a s t h e pra e
.

tic e o f Cic e ro to lab e l h i s cont e mporari e s without dis

 S o m e H i s t or i a ns 2 81
ti n ction a s h e avy men and t h e charact e rs o f hi s tor y
,

“ ”
a r e e asil y di v i s ibl e into far s e e ing s tat e s m e n and
-

“
r e ckle s s lib e rtin e s . It may be obj e ct e d that a l
though it i s s u fli c i e n t for the purpo s e s o f co n t em porary
caricature to r e pres e nt M r Gladston e as a collar or
.

M r Chambe rlai n as an e ye glass it is an inad e quate

.
-
,

r e cord for post e rity But i t i s impo s sibl e for a bus y

.

man to writ e hi story without formul ae and a fte r all ,

sh e e p a r e sh e e p and g oats are goats Lord Macaulay .

“
once wrot e o f som e one In privat e li f e he was st e rn ,

morose and in e xorabl e

, he w a s probably a D utch
man I t is a passage which has s e rv e d as a lastin g
.

’
mod e l for t h e hi storian s tr e atm e nt o f charact e r I .

had always i m agin e d that C liché was a suburb o f Paris ,

u n til I discov e r e d it to be a str e e t in Ox ford Thus .

,

“
i f t h e working hi storian i s faced with a p e riod o f de
”
p lo r a ble e xc e ss e s,
h e handl e s it l ik e a man and writes ,

a lways as i f h e was illu s trat e d with st e e l e ngravings

Th e i m be cil e king n ow rip e n e d rapidly towards

a crisi s S urrou n d e d by a Court in which t h e
.

ina n i t y o f t h e day w a s rival e d only by t h e de

b au ch e r y o f t h e night h e b e came incapabl e to
,

ward s t h e year 1 4 72 o f distinguishing good from

e v il, a fact which co n tribut e d consid e rabl y to the
effe cti v e n e s s o f h i s for e ign p olicy but was hardly
,

calculat e d to con form with the mona s tic tradi

2 82 P h i l ip G u e d a lla

tions o f h i s Hou s e Lo n g n igh t s o f d ri n k a n d

.

dicing w e ake n e d a co n s tituti on that w a s al r e a d y

und e r m in e d a n d t h e cou n cil tabl e wh e r e on c e
,
-
,

C ampo Santa had pr e s i d e d w as d i s figur e d with

,

t h e d e spicabl e apparatu s o f Bagat e ll e The

burgh e r s o f t h e capital w e re horrifi e d by the wild
laught e r o f h i s m adcap courtiers and wh e n it ,

w a s r e port e d in Lond on that Ladisla s h a d play e d

at H a l m a t h e Court o f St Ja m e s s r e c e i v e d his
.
’

e n v oy i n t h e d e e p e s t o f c e r e monial m our n i n g .

Tha t is p r e cis e ly h ow i t i s d o n e T h e pa s s a g e e x
.

h i b i t s t h e b e n ign a n d co n t e m p orary i n flu e n c e s o f Lord

Macaulay a n d M r Bowdl e r a n d it co n tai n s a ll t h e
.
,

“
n e c e s s ary i n gr e di e n t s ,
e xc e pt p e rh a p s a v e n a l Ch a n
” “ ”
c e llor and a gr e e dy mi s tr e ss .Vi c e i s a s ubj e ct o f
e s p e ci a l i n t e r e s t to hi s toria n s who a r e i n m o s t cas e s
,

r e s id e n ts in s mall cou n ty town s ; and th e r e i s u n

bou n d e d truth i n t h e rococo footnot e o f a writ e r on
“
t h e R e n ai s s a n c e who s aid it pr op os o f a Pop e :
,
The
di s gu s ti n g d etails o f his v ic e s s m ack s o m e what o f t h e
”
morbid historian s lamp ’
. T h e not e it s e l f i s a fi n e
e xa m pl e o f that concr e t e visualizatio n o f t h e s ubj e ct

which le d Macaulay to obs e r v e that i n co n s e qu e n c e o f

“
Fr e d e rick s inva s io n o f Sil e sia black m e n f ought on
’

t h e coa s t o f Coromand e l a n d r e d m e n s calp e d e ach

”
oth e r by t h e G r e at Lake s o f North A m e ri c a .
2 84 P h i l ip G u e d a lla

to co m e L et th e m r e m emb e r that gr e at s acri fic e s

.

w e r e n e c e s sary for t h e attainm e nt o f gr e at e n d s ,

le t th e m think o f th e i r ho m e s and famili e s a n d ,

i f th e y had a ny pity for an e xil e an outcast and ,

an orph an let th e m d ie fighti n g

, .

That i s t h e ki n d o f pa s s age that u s e d to s e n d the

blood o f D r Bradl e y coursi ng mor e quickly through
.

his v e ins The m arch o f its e lo q u e nc e the sol e m n ity

.
,

o f i t s sentiment and the rich balanc e o f its pro n ouns

,

unit e to mak e it a model for all historians : it can be

adapt e d for any p e riod .

It is n ot po s s ibl e i n a short revi e w to includ e t h e

sp e cial branch e s o f t h e subj e ct Such are tho s e effi
.

ci e n t mod e rn t e xt books in which e v e nts ar e r e f e rr e d

-
,

“ ”
to e ith e r as factors ( as i f th e y w e r e a s u m ) o r as
“ ”
pha s e s ( as i f th e y w e r e t h e moon ) Th e re is al s o
.

t h e s ol e m n bu s i n e s s o f writing e co n o m ic hi s tory in ,

which t h e hi s toria n may lap s e at will i n t o alg e bra ,

and a nythi n g n ot oth e r wi se d e s cribabl e may b e call e d

“ ”
s ocial ti s s u e
. A S p e cial subj e c t i s con s titut e d by t h e
e arly c o n qu e s t s o f South e rn a n d C e ntral A m e rica ; in

th e s e th e r e i s a u n i form op e n i n g for all p a s s ag e s run

n i ng

It w a s now t h e middl e o f Oct ob e r a n d the ,

sea s o n w a s drawi n g to an e n d S oon t h e m ou n

.

t ai n s would b e whit e n e d with t h e s n ow s o f wi nt e r

 S om e H i s t or i a ns 2 85

a nd v e ry ri v ul e t swoll e n to a roaring torr e nt

e .

Cort e z whos e d e t e rmination only i n cr e as e d with

,

mi s fortune d e cid e d to d e la y his march until the

,

incl e m e n cy o f t h e s e ason abat e d It w a s n ow .

t h e middl e o f Novemb e r and t h e s ea son was ,

drawing to an e nd .

Ther e i s finall y the m e thod o f military histor y

, , .

T h i s m ay be patriotic t e ch n ical or i n the manner

, ,

roph e tically indicat e d by Virgil as B e ll oc h or r i d a

p ,

B e ll oc . T h e fin e s t e xpo n ent o f the patriotic style i s

und oubt e dly t h e Re v W H F itchett a distinguish e d
. . .
,

c olonial cl e rgyman and historian o f t h e Nap ol e onic

wars H i s night attacks are more nocturnal and his

.
-
,

s caling partie s a r e more h e roicall y s c al i g e r ou s tha n

thos e o f any oth e r write r H is drum m e r boy s a r e t h e

.
-

m os t moving in my limit e d circl e o f drumm e r b oys -

.

On e gath e r s that t h e P e n insular War w as full o f p lea S o

ing incidents o f thi s type

TH E N IG H T A TTA C K
It was midnight wh n e Sta ff Surge on
Pe tti g rew
-

show e d t h e flar e from t h e su m mit o f S ombre ro .

At onc e t h e wh ol e pl a i n w a s aliv e with t h e hum

o f t h e gr e at a s s a ult T h e f our c olum n s sp eedily
.

got i n to po s ition with flar e s a n d bugl e s at the

h e ad o f e a c h On e mad e s traight for t h e Wate r
.
2 86 P h i l i p G u e d a lla

g ate,
a second for t h e Bailey guard a thi rd for
-
,

t h e Port e r hous e and t h e last ( le d by the saintly

-
,

S m eat h e ) for t h e Tu be station Let us follow .

t h e s e co n d column on its s e cr e t mission through

t h e night l i t by torch e s and ch e e re d on by the

,

huzzas o f a thou s and English throats the .

S cri e d Cocker i n a voice hoar s e w ith patri

,

ot i s m ; at that mom e nt a red hot sh ot hur t l e d over

-

the plain and ricoch e ting tr e ach e rously from the

,

froz e n ri v e r da s h e d t h e h e roic l e ad e r to the

,

g rou n d Captain Boffs ki n o f t h e Bu ffs l e apt up

.
, ,

with t h e d ry coughi n g howl o f t h e Briti sh i n

”
fa n t ry m a n .th e m h e roar e d ,
t hem ,

to and for t h e last fi fty yard s it w a s n e ck

and n e ck wi t h the ladd e rs Our gallant drumm e r
.

b oys lai d to agai n but s udd e nly a s hot ra n g out

,

from the sil e nt ra m parts Th e 9 4t h Lége r w e re

.

awak e We w ere d is c ov ere d !

.

Th e war o f 1 8 70 r e quir e s m or e s p e ci a l tr e a t m e nt .

Its hi s t ori e s S how n o part icular char a c t e r i s t ic bu t i t s ,

app e ara n c e i n ficti on d e s e r v e s s p e cial a t t e n tion Th e re .

i s a sta n da r d p a tt e r n .

H ow THE PR U S SIAN S C A ME T o G U IT R Y L E S E C - -

It w as a l a t e a ft e r n oon i n e a rly S e p t e m b e r or an ,

e arly a ft e r n oo n i n l a t e S e pt e m be r— I fo r g e t th e s e
2 88 P h i l i p G u e d a lla

In t h e first o f t h e thr e e ca fés I s aw a s e cond

“ ”
old m an Co m e in M o n s i e ur
. h e said
, I , .

waite d on t h e d oor s t e p It w a s on j u s t such an

.

a ft e rnoon I w e nt on A t t h e oth e r t w o
. .

ca fés two furth e r old m e n at t e m p t e d m e with

t h e story ; I told t h e la s t that h e w a s r e s cu e d by

Z oua v e s and walk e d happily t o t h e s tation to

, ,

read about Vichy Cél e s t in s until t h e t rai n came

in from t h e south .

Th eR usso Japan e s e War i s a mor e original s ubj ect

-

and d e riv e s i t s particular fla v or fr om t h e airy grac e

w ith which Si r Ian H amilton has d e s crib e d it Like .

this :

W Ao W AO -
3 ,
f
Ja n . w a s1 —
purrin
.
gT he r a a le

like a mis t ra l as I shaved this morning I wo n d e r .

wh e r e it i s ; must a s k i s a charming
f e ll ow with the face o f a Baluchi Ka s h g a i an d a
voic e like a circular s aw .

— I t was e l e v e n fort wh e n I look e d at -

’
y
my watch Th e shrapnel bursts look lik e a plan
.
-

t a t i on o f powd e r puffs suspended in t h e s ky

-
.

Victor says th e re i s a battl e going on : capital chap

V ictor .

2 P M
.
— Lu n ch e d with an A m e rican lady doc
.
-

t or. How f e minin e t h e Am e ric a n s can be .

 S o m e H i s t or i a ns 2 89

7 P . M —.gr e at d ay It was D onke ls d orp over

A .

a gain . Substitut e t h e T e nth Army for t he Tra f

’
for d s h i re s baggag e wagon sw e ll Ho n ks Spruit ,

into t h e roaring Wang h o e l e vat e Oom Kop into -

,

t h e frownin g scarp o f Pyj i ya m a and you hav e it ,

.

The Sta ff were obviously gratifi e d wh e n I told

th e m about D onke ls d orp .

The Roos ki s cam e over t h e cr e st line in a huddle -

o f massed battalions and G a zeka was a ft e r the m

,

like a rat a ft e r a terrier I kn e w that his horse .

guns had no hors e s ( a rul e o f the Japane s e service

to discoura g e unn e cessary changing o f ground ) ,

but hi s m e n bit the trails and dragge d th e m up by

their te e th Slowly the Muscovit e s p e el e d off the
.

steaming mountain and took the funicula r down

the oth e r sid e .

I wond e r what my fri e nd Smuts would make

“
o f t h e Y e n tai coal min e- ? W e ll w e ll S ome , .
-

”
t h i ng a cc o mpli s h e d ,
so me t h i ng d one .

The t e chnical manner i s more di ffi cult o f ac q uisition

for t h e b eginn e r s inc e i t i nvolv e s a knowl e dg e o f at
'

least two European lan g uage s It i s cardinal rule .

that all plac e s should be described as poi n ts d appui ’

t h e simpl e process o f scouting l ook s far b e tt e r as

“
Vers chle i er u ng and t h e adj ectiv e strategical m ay be
,

u sed without any m e anin g in front o f any noun .

2 9 0 P h i l ip G u e d a lla

B ut th e military mann e r wa s revolutionized by the

war M r B e lloc cr e at e d a n e w Land and a n e w
. .

Wat e r W e know n ow why the Per s ia n command e rs

.

“ ”
demand e d e arth and water on thei r e n tr anc e into a
Gr ee k town ; it w as the w e ekly d e mand o f t h e Gr e at
G e n e ral Sta ff as it call e d for its favorit e pap e r M r
, . .

B e lloc has wov e n Ba e d e k e r and ge om e try i n to a n e w

’
styl e : it i s the la s t cry o f hi s torians Engli s h b e caus e
,

on e was invented by a German and the oth e r by a

Gr e e k .
2 9 2 R o b e r t P a lf r e y U t t e r
wi n s It had n e v e r o c cu r r e d t o m e to a s k He look e d .

bor e d a n d I r e m e mb e r e d that t h e pictur e s in t h e m ag

,

azi n e s how e d t h e w e ar e r s o f t h e car e ful co s tum e s for

ri n k an d po n d s kating a s having rath e r bla n k e yes
that lo ok e d illi m itably bor e d I ha v e hop e s o f t h e
.

“ ” “ ”
rocke r an d t h e m ohawk ; I m ight acquir e a pr op e r
co s tu m e for s kati n g on a s m all ri v e r i f I could l e arn
what it i s ; but a bor e d look why e v e n hock e y d oe s
—
,

not bor e me u n l e s s I s top to watch it I don t wo n d e r

, .
’

that th os e who play it look bor e d E v e n Al e xand e r

.
,

wh o play e d a mor e i m aginati v e ga m e than ho c k e y ,

was bor e d poor f e llow h e s hould h av e tak e n up fan cy

—
,

skating in h i s youth ; I n e v e r h e ard o f a huma n b e ing

who pr e t en d e d to a compl e t e conqu e s t o f it .

I lik e pond skati n g b e s t by moo nl ight T h e h ollo w .

a m ong t h e hill s will always ha v e a bit o f mi s t about

it le t t h e S ky be cl e ar as it may Th e moonlight which

, .
,

s e e m s s o lucid an d brilliant wh e n you lo ok up i s all ,

pe a rl an d s mok e round t h e po n d and t h e hill s Th e .

s h or e that was lik e i ron u n d e r your h e e l a s you cam e

down t o t h e i ce i s vagu e wh e n you lo ok back at it from

,

t h e c e n t e r o f t h e pond a s t h e m e m ory o f a dr e am
, .

T h e m otio n i s lik e flyi n g i n a dr e am ; you flo at fr ee

and t h e world fl oat s u n d e r you ; your v e locity i s with
out e ffort an d without accompli s hm e n t for spe e d as , ,

y o u may you
, l e a v e n othing b e hind a n d approach noth
i ng Y ou l ook upward The mi s t i s ov e rhead now ;
. .
 Wi n t e r Mis t 2 93
you s ee t h e moon i n a hollow halo at t h e b ottom o f
“ ”
an i cy crystal cup and you your s e l f a r e in j u s t such
,

another Th e mist palely opal e s c e n t dri v e s pa s t h e r

. , ,

out o f nothin g into nowh e r e Lik e your s e l f s h e is t h e

.
,

c e nt e r o f a circl e o f vagu e l imit and v agu e r conte nt ,

w her e pas s e s a s wi ft c e a s e l e s s str e am o f i m pr e s

,

s ion through a faintly luminous halo o f consci ous

ness .

I f by moonlight t h e mist plays upon t h e e motions

lik e faint b e witchi n g mu s ic i n s u n light it is scarc e ly
, ,

l e s s Mor e o ft e n than n ot wh e n I go for my skatin g

.

to our cosy littl e riv e r a wi n ding mil e from t h e mill

,

dam to t h e railroad tr e s tl e t h e hill s are cloth e d in

,

silv e r mi s t which fram e s th e m in vign e tt e s with blurr e d

e dg e s T h e to n e i s that o f Japan e s e paintings on white
.

s ilk,
th e i r color s howi n g so ft a n d dull through the
fr os t powd e r with which t h e ai r i s fill e d At the mill
-
.

dam t h e hockey play e rs furi ously rag e togeth e r but ,

I h ee d th e m n ot and in a mom e nt a m beyond the firs t

,

b e nd wh e r e th e ir c lamor com e s so ft e n e d on t h e ai r
,

lik e that o f a distant conv e ntion o f p olitic crows The .

s ilv e r powd e r has fall e n on the i c e j ust e nough t o

,

cov e r earli e r tracings and l e ave me a fr e sh plate t o

etch with gra pe vin e s and arabesques Th e str e am
.

wind s ahead like an unbroken road striped acr oss ,

with so f t edged shadow s o f v i olet indigo and

-
, ,

l ave nde r On one side it i s b ordered with leani ng

.
2 94 R ob e r t P a lf r e y Ut t e r
birch oak mapl e hickory an d occasional gr oups o f
, , , ,

h e mlocks un d e r which t h e v e ry air s e e m s ting e d with

gr e e n On t h e other round e d ma s s e s o f scrub oak
.
,

and al d e r roll back from t h e e d g e o f t h e i ce like

clouds o f r e ddish smoke T h e ri v e r n arrows a n d turns
.
,

th e n s pr e ads into a swamp wh e r e I w e av e m y curv e s ,

rou n d t h e straw color e d tussocks H e r e n e w a s t h e

-
.
,

s n ow i s th e r e a re e arli e r tracks tha n mi n e A crow

,
.

has trac e d hi s parall e l hi e roglyph alt e rnat e footpri n ts ,

with lo ng d ash e s wh e r e he trail e d h i s mid d l e t oe as h e

li ft e d hi s foot and his spur as h e brought it d own .

U n d e r a low shrub that h a s ho s pitably scatt e r e d its

s ee d i s a dainty clos e wrought e mbroid e ry o f tiny bird
,
-

f ee t in irr e gular curv e s wov e n into a circular patt e rn .

A sil e nt glid e toward s t h e bank wh e r e amo n g bare ,

twigs littl e forms flit and s wi n g with low con v e r s a

t i on a l notes brings me in compa n y with a worki n g
,

cr e w o f pine si s kins m e thodic a lly r ifl i ng s e e d con e s

,

o f birch and ald e r chatt e ring sotto voc e t h e whil e

, .

Und e r a l eani n g h e mlock the writing on t h e sno w

t ells o f a squir r e l that dropp e d from t he low e st b ranch ,

hopp e d aiml e ssly about for a fe w yards th e n w e nt ,

up t h e bank Farth e r on wh e r e t h e ri v e r narrow s

.
,

again a flutt e r h ead e d rabbit cros s ing at top sp e e d

,
-

has mad e a li n e s ee mingly as fr e e from frivolou s i n

d ir e ction as i f it h a d b e e n d e fi n e d by all t h e po nd e r
os i t i e s o f math e matics Th e r e i s no pursui n g track
.
2 9 6 R o b e r t P a lf r e y Utt e r
High on i ts narrow tr e s tl e it l e a p s acro s s m y littl e
riv e r and disapp e ars b e tw e e n t h e s a n dbank s Far .

b ehind i t th e mi s t is again s pr e a d i n g i n to i t s e v e n
lay e rs Sil e n c e i s r e n e w e d a nd I can h e ar t h e mu s ical
. ,

cr e akin g o f four starl i n g s i n an appl e tr e e a s th e y

evisc e rate a fe w rott e n appl e s on t h e upp e r branch e s .

I turn and spi n down t h e cur v e s and r e ach e s o f t h e

river with out d elaying for e mbr oid e ri e s or arab e s qu e s .

At t h e mill dam t h e hock e y gam e s till rag e s ; t h e playe rs

-

take no h ee d o f t h e noon train .

Le t Z al
and R u s tum blust e r as th e y will ,

O r H atim call to supp e r

Thei r mind s and e ye s a re int e nt on a batt e r e d disk o f

hard rubb e r I b e gin to think I ha v e misj udge d th e m
.

wh e n I consid e r what e ffort o f imagination must b e

invol v e d in t h e conc e ntration o f the f aculti e s on such
an obj e ct tra n s c e n d ing t h e call o f hung e r and t h e lur e
,

“
o f b e auty I s it to th e m as i s to t h e mystic t h e gr e at
.

s yllabl e Om wh e r by h e attai n s Ni r v a n a
e ? I can n ot
a ttain it ; I can but wond e r what t h e hock e y pla e rs
y
w i n one hal f s o pr e cious a s t h e stu ff th e y miss
-
.
 T R IVIA

By L OGAN P EA R S ALL S M IT H

It w oul d b e e xt r avagan t t o c l a i m t h at Pe a r s a ll S mi t h s Tr ivi a ’

t h e r e m a rk a bl e li t t l e b ook f r o m whi c h t h e s e m i n i a t ur e e s a y s s
a r e e x t r c t e d i s w e ll k n ow n : i t i s t oo d a i n t i ly f r a gil e a n d a b s ur d
a , ,

a n d s ophi s t i c a t e d t o a p p e a l t o a v e ry l a rg e publi c But i t h a s .

a c oh o r t of i t s ow n d e ot e e s a n d f a n a t i c s
v a n d s i n ce i t s p ubli
,

c a t i o n i n 1 9 1 7 i t h a s b e c om e a s o rt o f p a s s w o r d i n a s e c r e t
brot h e rh ood o r i nt e l l e ct u a l S ui c i de C l u b I s ay s ui c i d e a dvi s e d ly
. ,

for M S m i t h s i r on y i s g li t t e r i ngl y e d g e d I t s i n c i s i on s s o
’
r. . i

k ee n t h a t t he r e ad e r 1 3 of t e n u na w a r e t h e r az or e d ge h a s t u rn e d
a g a i n s t hi m s e l f u n t i l h e p e r c e i ve s t h e w o u n d t o b e f a t a l .

P e a r s a l l S m i t h w a s i n a way on e o f t h e M e n of t h e Ni n e t i e s
, , .

B u t h e h a d Re pr e s s i on s — ( an e x c e ll e n t t hi n g t o h av e br ot h e r s , .

M os t o f t h e gr e a t l i t e r at ur e i s f ou n d e d on j u d i c i ou s r e p re s
s i on s )
. He c a m e o f a n e x c e ll e n t old i nt e ll e c t u a l Q u a k e r f a m ily
d ow n i n t h e P hil a d e lphi a r e gi on Hi s f a t h e r ( i f w e r e me mb e r
.

righ t l y ) was on e o f W a l t W h i t man s s t a u n c h e s t f r i e n d s i n t h e

’

Ca m d e n d a y s B u t wh e n t h e s t r on g w i ne o f t h e Ni n e t i e s w a s
.

f oa m i n g i n t h e va t s a n d n oggi n s M r S m i t h ( s o w e i m ag i n e
, .

i t a t l e a s t ) w a s s t ill t oo c l os e t o t h a t gu a r d e d e d u c a t i on i n
“
,

mo ra l s a n d m a n n e r s t h a t h e h a d h ad a t Have r f o r d Coll e g e
”
,

Pe n n s yl v a n i a ( a n d f ur t h e r t i n c t ur e d w i t h d oc i li t y a t Ha rva r d
a n d Ba lli ol ) t o give f ull r e i n t o h i s i n w a r d gu s h o f hil a ri ou s
s a t i r i cs
. L i k e a S t r ong S i l e nt M a n h e h e l d i n t h at w e ll s pri n g
o f c h a m p a g n e a n d m e r c u ry u n t i l m a n y m a n y y e a r s l a t e r W hen .

i t c a me ou t ( i n 1 9 0 2 h e fi r s t b e g a n t o p ri n t h i s Tr i v i a priva t e ly ; ,

t h e b ook w a s pub l i s h e d b y D oubl e d a y i n 1 0 1 7 ) i t s p a rkl e d a l l

t h e m or e t e n d e r l y for i t s l on g ce l l a r a g e .

B u t w e m u s t b e s t at i s t i c al L oga n P e a r s a ll S mi t h w a s b orn at
.

M e lvill e N J A s a b oy h e live d i n P hil a d e lphi a a n d

.

. n 1 8 65 i

G e r m a n t ow n (d o y ou k n ow G e r m a n t ow n ? i t i s a f oot h i ll o f
, . .

t h a t m o u n t a i n r a n g e w h e r e o f P a r n a s s u s a n d O live t a r e t wi n
p e ak s ) an d w a s t hr e e y e a r s at Have r f or d i n t h e c l a s s o f 8 5 ’
.

H e w e n t t o H a rv r d for a y e a r t h e n t o B alli ol Coll e ge Ox f o r d

a , ,

w h e r e h e t ook h i s d e gr e e i n 1 89 3 E ve r s i nce t h e n e h e u h e
.
, ,

h a s live d i n E n gl an d .

S T ONE H ENGE
T H E Y s it th e re for e v e r on t h e dim horizon o f my
mind that Ston eh e nge circl e o f eld e rly disapprovin g
,

2 07
2 9 8 L og a n P e a r s a l l S m i th
Faces — Faces o f t h e Un cl e s and S choolmasters and
Tutors who frowned on my youth .

In t h e bright c e nt e r a n d s unlight I l eap I caper , ,

I danc e my d anc e ; but when I look up I s ee th ey are ,

not d e ceiv e d For nothing ev e r pl acat e s th e m noth

.
,

ing ev e r mov e s to a look o f approval t hat rin g o f bl e ak ,

old cont e mptuou s Fac e s

,
.

TH E S TA R S

Battling my way ho m e ward on e dark night agai n st

t h e wind a n d rain a su d d e n gust str on g e r tha n the
, ,

oth e rs drov e m e back into t h e s h elte r o f a tr e e But

, .

soon t h e W e st e rn s ky broke op e n ; t h e illuminatio n of

the Stars pour e d down fr om b e hind the disp e rsi ng
clouds .

I wa s astonished at their brightness to s e e h ow th ey ,

fill e d t h e n ight with th e i r so f t lustre S o I w e nt m y

.

way accompani e d by th e m ; Arcturu s f ollowed m e and ,

b e comi n g e n ta n gl e d i n a l e a fy t r e e shon e by glimps e s

, ,

and th e n e m e rg e d triu m phant Lord o f t h e W e st e rn

,

Sky Movi n g alo n g t h e road in t h e s il e n c e o f m y own

.

f ootst ep s m y though t s w e r e a m o n g t h e Con s t e llatio n s

, .

I w a s on e o f t h e Pri n c e s o f t h e s tarry U n iv e rs e ; i n
me al s o th e r e w a s s o m e thi n g that was not insignificant
and m e a n a n d o f no account .
3 0 0 L og a n P e a r s a ll S m i t h
be li e v e itwhich m a i nt a in s t hat all m e n i n s pit e o f
—
,

app e aranc e s and pr e t e nsion s all li v e alike for Pl e as

,

u re . Thi s th e ory c e rt ai n ly bring s portly r e sp e ct e d ,

p e rsons very n e ar to m e Ind e e d with a sen s e o f low

.
,

c om plicity I have s om e ti m e s watch e d a Bi s hop Was

,
.

he too on t he hunt for Pleasure sol e m nly pursuing

, , ,

his Bird ?

I S E E T H E W OR LD
But you go nowh e r e s e e n othing o f the w orld
, ,

my cou s ins said .

Now though I do go som e tim e s to the parties to

which I am n ow and th e n i n vit e d I fi n d as a matt e r , ,

o f fact that I g e t re a lly much mor e pl e asure by look

,

i n g in at windows a n d hav e a way of my own o f

,

s ee ing t h e World And o f su m m e r evenin g s when

.
,

m otors hurry through t h e lat e twilight and t h e g reat ,

hou s es take on airs o f in s cru t abl e e xp e ctatio n I go ,

owli n g out through t h e du s k ; an d wa n d e r i n g toward

t h e W e s t lo s e m y w ay in unk n own str e e ts — an u n
,

known City o f r e v e ls A n d wh e n a door op e ns a n d a

.

b e d ia m ond e d Lady m o v e s to h e r motor ov e r carp e t s u n

r oll e d by powd e r e d footm e n I can e asily thi nk h e r,

s om e gr e at Court e zan or som e hal f be li e v ed D uch e s s

,
-
,

hurryi n g to card tabl e s and lit candl e s and strange

-

sc en e s o f j oy I lik e to s ee that th e r e are still spl e ndid

.

p eopl e on thi s fl at earth ; and at dances standing in ,

 Tr i v ia 3 0 1

t he str e e t with t h e crowd and stirr e d by t h e m usic

, ,

t h e lights t h e rushin g sound o f voic e s I thi n k the

, ,

Ladi e s as be auti ful as Stars who mo v e up thos e lanes

o f light past our rows o f vagabo n d fac e s ; t h e young
m e n look like Lord s i n nov e l s ; and i f ( it h a s onc e or
twic e happ e n e d ) p e opl e I know go by m e th e y strike ,

m e as cha n g e d and rapt beyond my s ph e r e And wh e n .

on h ot nights windows a re l e ft op e n and I can look ,

in at Dinn e r Parti e s as I p ee r through lac e curtains

,

a n d window fl ow e r s at t h e s il v e r t h e wo m e n s shoul
’
-
,

d e r s t he shimm e r o f th e ir j e w e ls and t h e divin e atti

, ,

tud e s o f th e i r h e ads as th e y l e an a n d li s t e n I imagine ,

e xtraordi n ary intrigu e s and unh e ard o f win e s and pas -

sio n s .

TH E CH URCH OF E NGLAN D
I have my Anglican mo m e nts ; a n d a s I s at ther e
that Sunday a ft e r n oon in t h e Palladian inte ri or o f the
,

London Church and list e n e d to t h e un e xpr e ssi v e voic e s

,

chan t in g the corr e ct s e rvic e I f e lt a co m fortabl e as

,

surance that w e w e re i n no dange r o f b e i n g b e tray e d

into any uns e e mly mani f e stations o f r e ligious f e rvor .

W e had n ot gath e r e d toge th e r at that p e r formanc e to

aba s e our s e l v e s with furious hosannas b e for e any dark
C r e ator o f an u ntam e d Univ e rse no D e ity of f reaks
,

a n d mi racl e s and sini s t e r hocus pocus but to pay our

-

d uty to a highly re s pect e d Anglican First C aus e — un

3 0 2 L og a n P e a rs a ll S m i t h
d em on s trativ e g e n tl e manly and consci e ntious — whom ,
, ,

without loss o f s e l f r e spect -

, we could d e corously prai s e .

C ON S OLATI ON
The other day d e pr e ss e d on t h e Und e rground I
,
,

tri e d to cheer mys el f by thinkin g ov e r the j oy s o f our

human lot But th e re wasn t one o f them for whic h
.
’

I s e emed to car e a button not Wine nor F ri e ndship — ,

,

nor Eating nor Maki n g Love nor t h e C on s ciou s n e ss

, ,

o f Virtue Was it worth while then goin g up i n a

.

?
l i f t into a w orld that had nothin g less trit e to o ff e r
Then I thought o f r e ading t h e nice and subtl e
—

happin e ss o f r e adin g This was enou g h this j oy not

. ,

dull e d by A g e thi s polit e and unpunished vic e thi s

, ,

sel fish s e ren e li f e long intoxication

, ,
-
.

TH E KALEI D OS C OPE
I fi nd i n my mind in its misc ellany o f ideas and
,

musings a curious coll e ction o f littl e landscapes and

,

pictures shi n ing and f ading f or n o rea s on Som e tim e s

, .

they ar e vi e ws in no way r emarkabl e— t h e corn e r o f

a road a h e ap o f s ton e s an old gate But th e r e a r e
, , .

many charming pictur e s too : as I r e ad b e twe e n my ,

eyes and book t h e M oon s h e ds down on harvest fi elds

,

h e r chill o f sil v e r ; I s e e autumnal a v e nues with t h e ,

leaves f alling or sw e pt in h e aps ; and storm s blo w

,

among my thou g hts with t h e rain beatin g f or ever on

,
 B EYOND LI F E

By J AMES BR AN C H CA B ELL

T o my t a s t e B e y on d L i fe a n a ll -n ig h t s olil oq u y p u t i nt o t h e
, ,

mou t h o f t h e a u t h o r s a l t e r e g o C h a r t e ri s i s t h e m os t s a t i s f yi n g
’

o f M r Ca b e ll s b ook s I t s p oi n t o f vi e w i s d e f t ly s h a rp e n e d i t s
’
. .
,

m a n n e r i s urb a n e a n d c h a r m i n g , wi t h ou t p os t ur e or a ll e g ori c a l
p s e u d o r om an t i c s F r om t hi s b ook I h ave t a k e n t h e t w o c l os i n g
-
.

s e c t i on s whi c h f or m a b ea u t i f ul a n d s ign i fi cant wh ol e

, .

J a me s Br a n c h Ca b e ll b or n i n Ri c h m on d V irgi n i a , i n 1 8 79
, , ,

gra d u at e d f r om W illi am a n d M a ry Coll e g e i n 1 8 9 8 He h a d .

s om e n e w s p a p e r e x p e r i e n c e i n R i c h m on d a n d on t h e Ne w Y o rk
H e r a ld a n d b e g a n publi s hi n g i n 1 90 4 Not u n t il 1 9 1 5 , u n t il M r
, . .

M c Bri d e , t h e Ne w Y o rk p ubl i s h e r, a n d h i s u n t i ri n g li t e r a ry
a s s i st ant M r G u y Hol t ( t o w h om m u c h o f Cab e ll s a p p re c i a
’

, .

t i on i s d u e ) b e g a n t h e i r w ork , d i d c ri t i c s b e gi n t o t a k e h i m at a l l
,

s e r i ou s ly S i n c e t h a t t i m e M r Ca b e ll s r e pu t a t i on h as b e e n e n o r
’
. .

m ou s ly e n h a n c e d by t h e i d i ot i c s u p pr e s s i on o f h i s n ove l J u r g e n .

Th e Cab e ll c ul t h a s b ee n a l m os t t oo a c t ive i n z e a l b ut t h e r e c a n ,

b e n o d oub t o f hi s ve ry r e a l a n d r e f r e s hi n g i ma gi na t i ve t a l e n t .

I A S K o f literatur e pr e ci s ely those things o f which I

fe el th e lack i n my own l i fe I app e al for charity and . ,

implor e that l iterature a fford me what I cannot come

by in mys e l f .

For I wa n t distinction f or that exist e nce which ought

to b e p e culiarly mi n e among my innum e rable f e llows ,

who swarm about e arth lik e ants Y e t wh ich on e o f .

us i s notic e ably or can b e appr e ciabl y diffe re nt in this

, ,

throng o f hu m an e ph em e r ae and all thei r milli ons and

in e stimabl e millions o f millions o f pr e d e c e ssors and
oncomi n g proge ny ? A n d e v e n though on e mote may
transi e ntl y ap p ear e xceptio n al the distinction o f thos e ,

304
 B ey a n a L if e’
3 0 5
who i n th e i r h e yday s a r e gr e at p e r s onag e s— much
as t h e Emp e ror o f Lilliput ov e rtoppe d hi s subj e cts by
t h e br e adth o f Ca p tai n Gulliv e r s nail must su ffer
’
—

lo s s with tim e and mu s t dwindl e continuou s ly until

, ,

at most t h e man s r e cord e d nam e r emains h e re and

’

’
th e r e in s u n dry p e dants librari e s Th e r e w e r e h ow
.

m any dyna s ti e s o f Pharaohs e ach one o f whom was ,

absolut e lord o f the known world and is to day for ,

-

gott e n ? Amon g t h e countl e s s pope s who one by one

w e r e ador e d a s t he r e ge nt of H e av e n upo n e arth h ow ,

many p e rsons can to day di s tingui s h a n d do e s not

- ?

tim e br e e d e mp e rors and czars and pr e sid e nts as p le nt i

f ul as blackbe rri e s and as littl e thought o f wh e n th e ir
,

s e a s o n i s out ? F o r th e re i s no p e rp e tuity in human

e nd e avor : w e strut upon a quicksa n d : a n d all that an y

ma n may do for good or ill i s pr e s e ntly forgott e n ,

b e caus e it do e s not matt e r I wail to a familiar tune

.
,

o f cours e i n thi s lam e nt for t h e e v an e s c e nc e o f human

,

grand e ur a n d t h e p e rishabl e renown o f kings And .

‘

i nd e e d to t h e s tat e m e n t that imp e rial C ae sar is turned

£0 clay and M izraim now cur e s wounds and that in ,

s h ort Qu ee n Ann e i s d e ad w e may agr e e lightly

,

e no u gh ; for it is ,
a ft e r all a matt e r o f no p e rso na l
,

conc e rn : but how hard it i s to co n c e d e that t h e ba n k e r

and t h e r e ctor and t he t r affi c offi ce r to whom we more
-
,

im m e d iat e ly d e f e r and w e our s elve s and t h e little gold

, ,

h e ads o f our children m a y b e o f no i m portanc e either !

, ,
3 0 6 Ja m e s B r a n c h Ca b e ll

In art it m ay s o happen that the thing which a

man makes endures to be mi s und e rstood and gabbl e d
over : yet it i s not the man himsel f We r etain the .

I li ad but oblivion has swallow e d Homer s o de e p that

,

many q ue s tion i f h e ever e xist e d at all So we .

pass as a cloud o f g nats wh e r e I want to live and be

,

thought o f i f only by my s e l f as a disti nguishable

, ,

entity And s uch distinction i s impossibl e i n the lo n g

.

progres s o f suns wh e r eby i n thought to s e parate th e

,

p e r s onal ity o f any on e man f rom all oth e rs that have

lived becomes a task to s tagge r Omni s ci e nce
, .

I want m y l i f e the only li f e o f which I am as s ur e d

, ,

to ha v e symm e try or i n d e fault o f that at l e ast t o

, ,

acquir e so m e clarity Sur ely it i s not asking v e r y

.

much to wi s h that my per s onal conduct be intelligibl e

to m e ! Y e t it i s forbidd e n to kno w f or what purpos e
thi s unive rs e was i n t e nd e d to what e nd i t was s et
,

a goin g o r why I a m h e r e o r e ven what I had pr e f e r

-
, ,

ably d o whil e h e r e I t vagu ely s e e ms t o m e that I

.

am e xp e ct e d to p e r form an allott e d task but a s to what ,

i t is I have n o notion And i n d e e d what hav e I

.
,

done hith e rto i n t h e y ears be hi n d m e ? Th e re a re some

,

books to S how a s i n cr e m e n t a s som e thing which w a s

,

not anywh e re b e for e I mad e it and which e v e n i n bulk ,

w ill r eplac e my bu r i e d bod y s o that my li f e will be t o

,

mankind n o l os s m at e ri ally But t h e cours e o f m y li f e

.
,

when I l ook back i s as ord e rl e s s a s a trickl e o f wat e r

,
3 0 8 J a m e s B r a n c h Ca b e ll

and color no lo n g e r th r ill m e A n d I want be auty in .

my li f e its el f ra t h e r t ha n i n s uch c ha n c e s as b e fall it

, .

It s ee ms t o m e that m a n y actio n s o f my li f e w e r e b e au
ti ful v e ry lo n g ago wh e n I w a s you n g i n an evanish e d
, ,

world o f fri e n dly girl s who wer e all more lovel y than ,

a n y girl i s n owa d ay s For wom e n n ow are m e r el y

.

mor e or l e s s goo d lo oking an d a s I know th e ir looks

-
, ,

wh e n at thei r b e st hav e b e e n painstaki n gly enhanc e d

and e dited But I would like this li f e which mo v e s
.

and y e arns in m e to b e abl e it s e l f to attain to come li

,

n e ss though but in t ran s i t ory p e r f ormance The li f e

, .

o f a butterfly for e xa m pl e i s j ust a grac e ful g e s tur e

, ,

a n d ye t in that its lo v e lin e s s is compl e te and p e r f e ctly

,

round e d i n its e l f I envy this brigh t fl icker through

,

exist ence And the n e ar e st I can come to my id e al i s

.

punctiliously to pay my b i lls b e polite to my wi fe a n d , .

,

contribute to d e s e rving charities : and the program do e s

n ot se e m som ehow quite ad e quate There are my
, , .

“
book s I k n ow ; and there i s beauty embalmed a nd
,

”
tr e asur e d up i n many pag e s o f my books and i n t h e ,

books o f oth e r p e rsons too which I m ay read at will , ,

but this d e s ir e i nb or n i n me is n ot to be satiat e d b y

making marks upon paper nor by d e ciph e ring th em , .

In short I am e n amored o f that fl awl e ss beaut y

,

o f w h i ch all poe ts ha v e p e rturb edly divined the exist ~

e n c e s omewh ere and which li f e as men kno w it simpl y

,

do e s not a fford nor anywh e re f oresee .

 B e y on d L i f e 3 0 9
—
And t e nd e rn e s s too but do e s that app e ar a
,

mawki h thi g
s n t o d id rate i n l i f e
e s e ? W e ll to my ,

fi ndi n g human b e i ngs do not lik e one anoth e r I n d e e d .

,

why s hould th e y b e ing rational cr e atur e s ? All babi e s

,

hav e a t e mp orary li e n on t e nd e r ne ss o f c ours e : a n d

,

th e r e from childr e n too r e c e i v e a dwindli ng incom e ,

although on looki n g back you will r e coll e ct that your

,

childhood was u pon t h e whol e a lon e som e and much

put upon p e riod B ut all grown p e r s ons in e ffably dis
-
.

t ru s t on e anoth e r . In court s hip I grant you th e re

, ,

i s a passing ab e rration which o ft e n mimics tend e rn e ss ,

som etim e s as the r e sult o f honest d e lusion but more ,

fr e q u e ntly as an ambuscad e i n the endl e ss struggle

b e tw e e n man an d woman Marri e d p e opl e a re not e v e r
.

t e nd e r with e ach oth e r you will notice : i f th e y are

,

mutually ci v il it is much : and phy s ical contact s apart ,

th e i r r e lation i s that o f a v e ry moderat e intimacy M y .

ow n wi fe at all ev e nts I find an un failing myst e r y

, , ,

a S ph inx wh os e s ecrets I assume to be not worth

know i n g : and as I am mildl y thank ful to narrate she

, ,

knows very little about me and evinc e s as to my a ffair s

,

n o morb id i nt e re s t That is n ot to ass e rt that i f I

.

w e re ill sh e wo uld not nurse me throu g h any ima g inable

cont ag i on n or that i f s h e wer e drowning I would not
,

plu ng e in a fter h e r what e ver my d e linquencies at

,

s wimmin g : wh at I m ean i s that p e nding such high

,

cri ses we tol e rate each oth e r amicabl y and ne ve r

, ,
3 10 Ja m e s B ra n c h C a b e ll

t hink o f doing mor e . And from our blood kin -

w e gro w apart in e vitably Thei r live s and th e ir i n

.

t e re s t s are no long e r t h e sam e as ours and when we ,

m e e t it is with co n s cious r e servations and much manu

fac t u re d talk . B e sid e s th e y know things about us
,

which w e r e s e nt . And with t h e r e st o f my f ellows ,

I find that conv e ntion ord e rs all our d e alings e v e n ,

with chil d re n and w e do and s ay what se e m s mor e or

,

l e ss exp e ct e d And I know that w e di s trust one an

.

oth e r all t h e whil e and instinctive ly conceal or m i s re p

,

res e nt ou r actual thoughts and e motions when th e r e i s

no v e ry appar e nt n e e d . P e rsonall y I do not lik e
,

huma n b e ing s b e cau s e I am not awar e up on t h e whol e

, ,

o f any g e ne rally distribut e d qualiti e s which e nti t le

th e m a s a rac e to admi ration and a ffe ction But to .

ward p e opl e i n book s— such as Mrs M i lla man t and . ,

H e l e n o f Troy and B ella Wil fer and Mélu s in e an d

, , ,

B e atrix E s m on d I may int ellige ntl y o v e rflow wit h

—

t e n d e r n e s s and car e s sin g word s i n part b e caus e th ey

,

d e s e r v e it a n d i n part b e caus e I k n o w th e y will not

,

”
su s p e ct m e o f be i n g qu e e r o r o f ha v ing ulte rior
mot i v e s
.

A n d I v e ry o ft e n w i s h that I could k n o w t h e trut h

about j u s t a ny on e ci rc u m s t a n c e co nn e ct e d wi t h my
li f e
. I s t h e ph a n ta s magoria o f sou n d a n d n oi s e
a n d c ol o r r e ally pa s s ing or i s it all an illu s i on h e r e i n

my brai n How d o you k n ow that you a re not d re am

?
3 1 2 J a m es B r a n c h Ca b e ll

this is t h e rar e s t quality in t h e world Ind ee d it prob .

,

ably do e s not e xist anywh e r e A r e ally urbane p e r .

so n — a mortal op e n mind e d and a ffabl e to conviction

-

o f his own shortcomi n g s and e rrors a n d ungui d e d i n ,

anythi n g by irrational bli n d pr e j udic e s — could not but

in a world o f men and wom e n be r e gard e d as a
monst e r W e a re all o f us a s i f by insti n ct i n t ole r
.
, ,

an t o f that which i s un familiar : w e r e s e nt i t s i m p u

dence and v e ry much t he sam e principl e which pro m pts

small boys to j e e r at a straw hat out o f s e a s on i n duc e s
-

th e i r e ld e rs to s e nd mi s s io n ari e s to t h e h e ath e n T h e .

hi s tory o f t h e progr e s s o f t h e hu m a n ra c e i s but th e

picar e squ e romanc e o f intol e rance a narrativ e o f h ow ,

“
— what is it M ilton says — truth n e v er came into t h e
world but lik e a ba s tard to t h e ignominy o f him that
, ,

brought h e r forth till tim e hath wash e d and s alt e d t h e

,

in fant d e clar e d h e r l e gitimate and church e d t h e fath e r

, ,

”
of hi s young Min e rva And I wh o prattl e to you ver y
.
, ,

c andidly con f e ss that I have n o ati e nc e with oth e r peo

p
’

pl e s i d e a s unl e ss th e y coincide with min e : f or i f the

f e ll ow be d e monstrably wrong I am fr e tt e d by hi s
stupidity an d i f h i s notion s e em mor e n e arly right than
,

min e I am i n furiat e d Y e t I wish I could acquir e u r

.

ban i t y v e ry much as I would lik e to hav e wings

, For .

in d e fault o f it I cannot e v e n manage to be civil to

,

that pit e ous thing call e d hum a n n atur e or to vi e w i t s ,

p arasit e s wh
, e th e r th e y b e polit i c ia n s or cl e rgymen or
 B e y on d L i f e 3 3
1

popular authors with on e hal f the commiseration

,
-

which t h e shi ft s th e y are put to quit e certainly would

, ,

rous e in th e urban e .

S o I in point o f fact d e sire o f lit e ratur e j u s t a s you ,

gu e s s e d precis e ly tho s e things o f whi ch I most p oig

,

n a n t ly a n d most constantly f ee l t h e lack in my ow n

li f e And it i s that which romanc e a ffords h e r postu

.

la n ts Th e philtr e s o f romanc e a r e br e w e d to fr e e
.

us from thi s u n s ati s fying l i f e that i s cal e ndared

by fi s cal y e ar s an d to contri v e a less di s astrous
,

e lu s ion o f our own p e rsonaliti e s than many s e e k

di s p e r s e dly in drink and drugs and lust and fana
t i c i s m and s om e tim e s in d e ath
,
.
For b e s e t by his
.
,

ow n rationality t h e normal man is goad e d to e v ade

,

t h e strictur e s o f his normal li f e upon t h e i n cont e stable

,

grou n d that i t i s a stupid and unlov e ly routi n e ; and to

e scap e lik e wis e from h is ow n p e rsonality which bor e s ,

him quit e as much a s i t do e s his associat e s S o he .

hurtl e s into th e s e v e ry various roads from r e ality p re ,

c i s ely as a g oad e d sh e e p fl e e s without notic e o f what

li e s ah e ad .

And romanc e trick s h i m but not to his harm For

, .
,

b e it r e m e mber e d that m a n al on e o f a n imal s play s the

a p e to his dream s R omanc e it i s undoubt e dly who
.

whi s p e rs to ever y man that li f e i s n ot a bli n d an d aim

l e s s bu s i n e s s not all a h ope l e s s waste and c on fu s ion
,

and that hi s e xi s t e n c e i s a pageant ( appr e ciati v e ly oh

3 4
1 Ja m e s B ra n c h Ca b e ll

s e rve d by divin e spec tators ) and that he i s stron g

,

and e xc e ll en t and wise : and to romanc e h e list e n s will ,

ing and thric e willing to be ch e at e d by t h e h on eye d

ficti on Th e things o f which romanc e as s ur e s him are
.

v e ry far from tru e : ye t it i s sol e ly by b e li e ving hims e l f

a creatur e but littl e low e r than the ch e rubim that m an
has by int e r m i n able small d e gr e e s be com e upon the ,

whol e d i s tinctly sup e rior to t h e chimpanz e e : s o that

, ,

how e v e r e xtra v agant may s e e m th e s e flatt e ring w h i s

p e r s to day th e y w e r e imm e asurably mor e r e mote
-
,

from v e racity wh e n m e n first be gan to li s t e n to th e ir

sugar e d su s urrus and s te adily t h e discr e pa n cy l e s s e n s
,
.

T o day th e s e thi n gs s e e m quit e as pr e post e rous to calm

-

co n s i d e ration as did flying yest e rday : and so to t h e ,

Gradgri n d ian s roma n c e app e ars to di s cours e fooli s hly

, ,

and incurs t h e common fat e o f p r Op h e t s : for it is about

to m orrow and about t h e day a ft e r to morrow that
- -
,

romanc e i s talking by means of parabl e s A n d al l

, .

the whil e m an plays t h e ap e to fair e r and y et fair e r

dr e ams and practic e str e ngth en s h im at m i m i ckry
, .

h
To what do e s t e whol e busin e s s t e nd — why h ow ,

i n h e av e n s na m e s hould I k n ow ? W e can but be con

’

t e nt to not e that all go e s forward toward som e thin g

,
.

It may be that w e a r e nocturnal cr e atur e s p e r

t u r be d by ru m or s o f a dawn which com e s in e v itably ,

as prologu e to a day wh e r e in w e and our childr e n have

n o part what e v e r It m ay b e that wh e n our arbor e al
.
 TH E FIS H R EPO R TE R

By R OB E R T C OR TES H OLLI D AY

Thi s i n f or m a l c om m e n t a ry on t h e pi ct ur e s q u e hu mor s of t r a de
j our n a li m i s t ypi c a l o f M Holli d y gr e t s kill i n c a p t uri n g
s r . a
’
s a
t h e a c t u l vibr a t i o n O f urb n l i f e
a H h s om e t hi n g o f G e o rg e a . e a s

G i i n g s t a s t e fo r t h e ac t u a li t y of c i t y c n e s a n d c h a r ac t e r s
’
ss s e ,

wi t h ra t h r m or e pu n g e n t i d i os y n c r a s y in h i s m a n n e r of s e l f
e
e xpr e i on C r e f ul ob s e rve r s o f t h e a t o f wri t i n g will s e e
ss . a r
h ow m u c h s hr w d s kill t h e e 5 i n t h e a pp a r e t ly u n s t u d i e d m a n
e r 1 n
On e o f M Holli d a y s f avo ri t e d i s c u s s i o a t of
’
ne r . r . on t h ns e r

w ri t i g i s a phra s e O f B oot h T rki n g t on — How t o g t t h e

n a
’
s
“
e
I n ot h e r w o r d s h ow t o s t rip a w y m r li t e r a ry
”
i nk o t of i t u .
, a e e
and c on s c i ou s a dorn m e n t an d t o g e t d ow n t o t r n s lu c e n t ,
a a

p or t r a i t ur e o f li f e i t s e l f i n i t s a c t u a l c on t our a n d pr ofi l e .

W a e t ol d t h a t M Holli d a y i n h i s n a t ive I n d i a n a p oli s

e r r .
,

( wh e r e h e w a s b or n i n w a s a c h a m pi o n bi c y c l e ri d e r
a t t h e a g e o f s ix t e e n T h a t t riu m ph h ow e ve r w s n ot p e r .
,
a
m e n t ly a t i s f yi g for h e c m e t o Ne w Y o rk i n 1 8 99 t o s t u d y
,

an s n , a

a t ; li e d for a whil e pr e c a ri ou s ly a s a n illu s t r a t o r ; w o rk e d for

r v , ,

s e e r l yea rs s a b ook s e ll e r i n C h a rl e s S c rib n e r r e t il t o r e ’

v a a s a s ,

a n d p a s s e d t h r o ugh a l l s o r t s of c uri o u s j ob s on G rub S t r e e t ,

a mo g ot h e r s b ook r e v i e w e r on t h e T i b
n a n d Ti m He w a s r un e es .

e d i t or o f Th e B ookm n a f t e r t h a t m a g a zi n e w a s t ak e n o e r by a v

t h e G e o rg e H D o r n Com p a n y a n d r e t ir e d t o t h e g e n t e e l d i g
a ,

mi t y o f c on t 1 b u t i n g e d i t or i n 1 9 2 0 t o ob t a i n l e i s ur e fo m or e
“ ”
r ,
r

w ri t i n g o f h i s ow n .

M r Holli d a y h a s t h e g e n ui n e gi f t o f t h e p e r s on a l e a y m e l
. ss ,

low fl u e t a n d pl e a a nt ly e c c e n t ri c
,
n , H i s W a lki g S t i k P p s
s . n -
c a er ,

B oom e S t e t S t a w s T n s
r re b o t T ow n a n d P e /9
r t P e op l e
,
ur a u e s a

h e t h a t h a r m i n g r a m bli n g hu m or t h a t de c e n d s t o h i m f rom
av c s

h i m a s t e r s i n t hi s a t H a zli t t a n d T h a c k e r y
s W h e n M H ol
r ,
a . r .

li d a y a s r a ki g h i s wi t s for a t i t l e fo M n d B ooks d
v c n r e an an

Ci t i e s 5t h a t od d B o rr ovi a n c hr on i c l e o f h i m i d b od y a n d s n .

d i g e t i on o n t ou r a c r o s s t h e c o t i n e n t ) I s ugg e s t d Th e Od y s s e y
s n e

of an Od d i t y H d e pr e c t e d t hi ; b t I s t ill t hi n k i t w oul d h ave

. e a s u
b e e n a g ood t i t l e b e c u s e s t ri c t ly t ru e ,
a .

ME N Of g e nius blown by t h e wi n d s o f cha n c e hav e

, ,

be e n n ow a n d th e n mari n e r s bar k e e p s schoo l m a s t e r s

-
, , , , ,

3 16
 Th e F is h R e p or t e r 3 7
1

sol d i e rs politician s cl e rgym e n and what not And

, , , .

from th e s e pur s uit s hav e th e y s uck e d the e ss en ce o f

yarn s a n d i n t h e s e tti n g o f th e s e acti v iti e s found a
flavor to s tir and to charm h e arts u n told Now it i s .
,

a th ou s and piti e s that no m an o f g e niu s has e v e r be e n

a fi s h r e porte r Thus has t h e world lo s t gr e at literary
.

tr e a s ur e as i t i s highly probabl e that th e r e i s not

,

u n d e r t h e s un any pro s p e ct so fill e d with t h e s c e nts and

c olors O f s tory as that pr e s e n t e d by t h e co m m e rc e in

fi sh .

Tak e whal e oil Tak e t h e fu n n y Old buildings on

.

Front Str e e t out O f p ai n ti n gs I d e clar e by H oward

, , ,

Pyl e wh e r e t h e large m e rchant s i n whal e Oil a r e

, .

Take s alt fi s h Do you k n ow t h e old e s t s alt fi s h hous e

.
-

m
i n A e rica down by C ,
o e n t i e s Slip Ah ! you s hould
? .

Th e gho s t o f Old Long John Sil v e r I su s p e ct smok e s , ,

an occasional pip e in that Old pl a c e A n d many a r e .

t h e ti m e s I v e s e e n t h e s lim shad e O f young Jim

’

H awki n s com e running out Tak e Labrador cod for .

e xport to t h e Medit e rran e an lands or to Porto R ico

vi a New York Tak e h e rring s brought t o thi s port

.

from Ic e la n d from Holland and from S cotla n d ;

, .

mack e r e l from Ir e land fro m t h e Magdal e n I s la n ds

, ,

and from Cape B r e ton ; crab m e at fr om Ja p an ; fi s h

bal l s from Scandina v ia ; s ardi n e s fro m Nor w ay an d
from Fran c e ; caviar from R u s s ia ; shrim p which com e s
fro m Florida Mi s sissi p pi and G e orgia or salmon
, , ,
3 8
1 R ob e r t C or t e s H oll i d a y
fr om Alaska a n d Pug e t Sou n d and t h e Columbi a
, ,

R iv e r .

Tak e t h e Obituari e s O f fi s h e rm e n In h i s pri m e i t

.
,

i s s ai d th e r e was not a b e tt e r s kipp e r in t h e Glouc e s t e r

,

”
fi s hing fl e e t Tak e d i s ast e r s t o s ch oo n e r s s mack s
.
, ,

“
a n d trawl e rs T h e cr e w w e r e la n d e d but lost all
.
,

“
th e ir b e longings Ne w v e ss e l s sal e s e t c
.
, Th e s e al
,
.

ing schoon e r Ti lli e B whos e car e e r in t h e South S eas

.
,

is w e ll k n own i s reported to have b e e n sold to a mov

,

”
ing pictur e firm
-
Spon g e s from t h e Caribb e an S e a
.

“
a n d t h e Gul f o f M e xi co TO mo s t peopl e familiar ,

only with t h e sponge s o f t h e shops t h e animal as it ,

”
c om e s from t h e s e a woul d be rath e r unr e cog n izable .

Why tak e a n ything you pl e ase ! It i s s uch stu ff as

,

st ori e s a r e A n d a s you e at your fi s h from t h e stor e

.

how littl e do you r e ck o f t h e glam or O f what you a r e

doi ng !
H ow e v e r as it s e e ms to m e u n lik ely that a man o f
,

g e n ius will b e a fish r e port e r s hortly I will mys e l f do

t h e b e s t I can to paint t h e tap e s try o f t h e s c e n e s o f his

calling T h e ad v e r t i s e m e nt in t h e n e w s pap e r r e ad
.

“ ”
Wa n t e d— R e port e r for w e e kly trad e pap e r Ma ny .

call e d but I w a s cho s e n Though doubtl e s s no man

, .
, ,

li v i n g kn e w l e s s about fi s h than I .

Th e n e w s s t a nds a r e e ach lik e a fai r so lad e n a r e ,

th e y with magazi ne s i n bright c olor s It would s e e m .

alm os t a s i f th e r e w e r e a d i ffe r e n t magazin e for e v e ry

3 2 0 R ob e r t C or t e s H oll i d a y
s on al s area vit a l f e atur e O f trad e p a p e r s Walt e r .

Conn e r who for so m e ti m e h as c on du ct e d a bak e ry

,

and fi s h m ark e t at Hu d so n N Y h a s r e mov e d to ,

. .
,

Fort E d ward l e aving his bro t h e r Ed i n charg e at t h e

,

Hudson plac e o f bu s i n e s s .

Th e F i s h I n d us tr i es G aze t t e a s I s a y was on e o f , ,

s e v e r a l i n i t s fi e l d i n fri e n dly ri v alry w i t h T h e Oy s t e r

,

Tr a d e a n d F i s he r m a n a n d Th e P a ci fic F i s h e r i es It .

c om p r i s e d tw o d e part m e nt s : t h e fr e s h fi s h a n d oy s t e r
d e pa r tm e nt an d mys e l f I w a s as an e ditorial an
,
.
,

n ou n ce m e n t said at the b e ginning O f my t e nur e o f

“
Offic e ,
a r e orga n ization o f our salt s mok e d and , ,

”
pickl e d fi s h d e partm e nt T h e d e l e ctabl e m ellow s pirit
.
,

o f t h e country pap e r s o remo v e d from t h e crash and

,

whirr O f m e tropolitan j ournali s m r e st e d in thi s too , , ,

that upon t h e Gaze t t e I did practically e v e rything on

the pap e r e xc ept t h e linotyping R e port e r e d itorial .
,

writ e r e xcha n g e e ditor make up man proo f r e ad e r

, ,
-
,
-
,

corr e s pond ent ad v e rtis e m e nt s olicitor w a s I

, , .

As e xcha n g e e ditor did I r e ad all t h e pap e r s i n t h e

,

Engli s h la n guag e in e age r s e arch o f fi s h n e ws And .

whil e you a r e about th e m a tt e r j u s t fi n d m e a fin e r bit ,

O f l it e rary styl e e v oking t h e roma n c e O f t h e va s t

wa s t e s o f t h e movi n g s ea in St e v e nson D e fo e a n y
, , ,

wher e you pl e a s e than s uch a n e w s it e m a s this

,

“
Capt Ezra P ou n d o f t h e bark E ln or a o f Sal e m
.
, , ,

M as s s pok e a l on e ly v e s s e l i n latitud e thi s a n d longi

,
 Th e F i s h R e p or t e r 3 2 1

tu d e that S e pte m be r 8 S h e prov e d to be t h e whal e r

,
.

Wan d e re r and h e r captain said that s h e h ad be e n nine

,

month s a t s e a that all on board w e r e w e ll and that

, ,

”
h e had s tock e d s o many barr e ls o f whal e oil .

A s e xchang e e ditor was it my busin e ss to p e ruse r e

port s from Eastport Mai n e to t h e e ffect that on e O f
, ,

t h e worst stor m s in r e c e nt y e ars had d e stroy e d larg e

numb e rs o f t h e sardin e w e ir s th e r e To s ee k fi s h .

“
r e cip e s O f such savory sound as those for broil e d
,

” “ “
re d s na shrimp s bordelais and bak d fish
pp e r ,
e e ,

”
croqu e tt e s . To follow fishing con d ition s in the Nort h
S e a occ a sion e d by t h e Gr ea t War To hunt down j ok e s .

“
o f pi s catory humor T h e man who drinks lik e a fish
.

do e s not take kindly to wat c h E xchang e — ”

T O find .

“ ”
oth e r fillers in the consular r e ports and els e where :
“ ” “ ”
Fish cultur e i n India 1 8 0 0 Mil e s i n a Dory
, ,

” “
Chin e s e Carp for t h e Philippin e s Am e ricans as ,

”
F ish Eat e r s And to us e a favorite t e rm o f trade
.
,

“ ” “ ”
pap e rs et c etc
,
. Th e n to past e up t h e winnowed
, .

fruits o f thi s beguilin g r e s e arch .

As e ditorial writ e r to discuss t he r ep ort o f t he

,

co m mi s s ion r ec e ntly s e nt by co n gr e s s to t h e Pribilo f

I s land s Alaska to r e port on the co n diti on o f our na
, ,

t i on a l h e rd o f fur s e al s ; to di s cuss t h e o fficial i nt e rp re

t a t i on h e r e o f the Go v e rn m e nt ruling on what consti

“ ”
t ut e s bo ne l e s s c od fi s h ; to co n s i d e r t h e cam p aign in
Canada to promote th e re a mor e popular consumption
3 2 2 R ob e r t C or t es H oll i d a y
o f fi s h and to brightly r e mark a pr op os o f this t hat
,

“ ”
a fi s h a d ay k e e p s t h e doctor away ; to r evi e w t h e
curr e n t issu e o f Th e J our na l of t h e Fis h er i es S oci e ty
“
of Japa n containing l e ading articl e s on
,
A re Fishi n g
”
Motor B oats Abl e to Encourag e i n Our Country and
“
Fish e rman t h e Lat e M r H Yamaguchi W e ll . .

”
Known ; to combat t h e pr ej udic e agai n st d og fi s h a s
food a pr e j udic e lik e that again s t e e l s i n so m e quart e rs
, ,

“
e y e d aska n c e as calling cousins with t h e gr e at s e a
s e rp e nt a s Juv e nal says ; to call att e nti o n t o t he doom
,

o f one o f t h e most picture s qu e mo n um e nt s in t h e story

O f fi sh t h e pa s si n g o f t h e pl e asant a n d c e l e brated old
,

Tra f algar H ot e l at Gre e nwich n e ar London sc e n e o f , ,

the famous M iniste rial whit e bait din n e rs O f t h e d ays -

o f Pitt ; to mak e a j e s t on an e xciti n g id e a sugge st e d

by some m e dical man that som e o f t h e f e atur e s o f a
R itz Carlton Hot e l that i s bath s b e i n troduc e d into
-
, , ,

’ ’
the fo c s l e s O f Grand Banks fi s hi n g v e s s e ls ; to k e e p
’

an e ye on t h e activiti e s o f our Bur e au o f Fi s h e ri e s ; to

hymn a prais e to t h e monum e ntal n e w Fi s h Pi e r at
Bo s ton ; to glanc e at conditions at t h e pr em i e r fi s h
mark e t O f t h e world Billingsgat e ; to h e rald t h e fi s h
,

display at t h e C a n adian Natio n al Exhibition at

Toronto and ind e e d e t c an d again e t c
, , , .
, .

As ge n e ral e ditorial rou s tabout to fi n d e ach w e e k a ,

”
lead e r a tran s lation s ay from I n A llg e mei n e F i s h
, , ,

“
ch er ei Z e i t u ng
-
or E c on omi c Ci rcu la r N 0 I O Mus
, .
,
3 2 4 . R ob e r t C or t e s H oll i d a y
c od fi s h ; Akur e yri bbl s,
s a lt e d h e rri n g s and .
,

“
m uch mor e B e a uti ful tabl e s O f e xpor t s from Ne w
.

” “ ”
Y ork .To A ustralia ( cl e ar e d S e p to Arg e n .

”
ti n a ;— Haiti J a m aica Guat em ala Scotla n d Sal v a
, , , ,

dor Sa nt o Do m i n go E n gla n d and t o plac e s m a n y

, , ,

“
mor e A n d m a n y oth e r gorg e ou s tabl e s too
. F i sh ,
.

” ”
i n g v e s s e l s at Ne w York for on e li s ti n g t h e trip s
, ,

br ought i n to thi s port by t h e S t r a ng e r t h e S ar a h ,

O N ea l t h e N ou r m a h a l a farrago o f charmi n g s ou n ds
’

, , ,

an d a v aluabl e tal e O f facts .

A s m a k e up m a n O f cour s e s o to dr e ss t h e pap e r
-
,

“
that t h e m ark e t s Oporto Trinida d Porto R ico
, , , ,

D e m e r a ra H a v a n a would be tog e th e r ; that Nova

, ,

” “
S cotia Not e s — W e ath e r co n d itio n s for curi n g hav e
”—
b e e n m or e f a v orabl e s i n c e Octob e r s et i n would fol
“ ” “
low Hali fax Fi s h Mark e t — Last w ee k s arri v als ’

”
w e r e : Oct 1 3 s ch r H a t ti e L or i ng 9 60 quintal s
.
, .
, ,

— ” “
etc that Pacific Coa s t Not e s Th e tug Ta t oos h
w ill p e r form t h e s e r v ic e for t h e S e attl e s almo n pack e rs
o f towing a v e s s e l from S e attl e to this port vi a t h e
” “ ”
n m
Pa a a Ca l n a — woul d f ollow Ca n n e d S almon
that s h e llfi s h m att e r would b e in one p lac e ; r e port s o f
s a lt fi s h wh e r e s uch should b e ; that t h e w e e kly t al e O f

t h e ca n n e d fi s h trad e pol itically e mbrac e d t h e cann e d

fi s h ad v e rti s i n g ; a n d s o on and s o on .

Fi n e s t O f all as r e port e r to g o wh e r e t h e fi s h r e
, ,

port e r go e s Th e r e t h e s ight s e e i n g cars n e v e r find

.
-
 Th e F i s h R ep or t e r 3 2 5
th e i r way ; t h e hurri e d c om mute r h a s n ot his path nor ,

k n ow s o f th e s e thi n gs at all ; an d th e r e th a t racy char

act e r who voicing a multitud e d e clar e s that h e would
, ,

rath e r be a lamp po s t on B roadway than Mayor o f St .

Loui s go e s n ot for to s e e Up lower Gr e e nwich Str ee t

, .

t h e fi s h r e p ort e r go e s along an e e ri e dark and nar

, , ,

r ow way be n e ath a strang e thund e ring roo f t h e

, , ,

“ ”
L ov e rh e ad H e thr e ads h i s way amid s e e mingl y
.

cha otic archit e ctural pil e s o f box e s o f barr e ls crates

, , , ,

casks k e g s a n d bulgi n g bags ; rou n dabout many great

, ,

f e tl ock e d draught hor s e s fr e qu e ntly standing or ,

plu nging upon t h e sid e walk a n d attach e d to man y ,

huge truck s an d wagons ; a n d much o f t h e time i n the

str e e t h e i s comp e ll e d to go fi n di n g t h e sid e walks too ,

co n ge s t e d with t h e traffic o f comm e rce to ad mit o f his

pa s s i n g th e re .

You pr obably e at butt e r and e ggs and ch e es e Th e n , , .

y o u would d e light in Gr ee nwich Str ee t You could .

f e a s t your highly cr e ditabl e app e tite for th e se excel

l e n t things for v e ry nearly a solid mile up on t h e si g ns
“ ”
o f whol e sal e d e al e rs an d commission merch ants i n
th e m T h e l e tt e r pr e s s as you might say o f t h e fi s h
.
, ,

’ ’
r e port e r s w alk is a nobl e p aean t o t h e e arth s glorious
yi eld for the j oyous sustenan ce o f man F or these .

’
princ ely m e rchants si gn s sin g o f opulent store s o f
olive oil o f sausage s be ans s oup s e xtracts and spices
, , , , ,

“ ”
sugar S pani s h B e rmud a an d H avana om ons fine
, , , ,
3 2 0 R o b e r t C or t e s H oll i d a y
appl e s t e a s coff e e ric e c h ocolat e s d ri e d fruits and
, , , , ,

“
rai s in s a nd O f loave s a n d o f fi s h e s a n d o f fi s h pro
, ,

”
du c ts . L O ! d ark a nd d ir t y a n d thu n d e ri n g Gr e e nwich
Str ee t i s to day s tra n s lation O f t h e Gard e n o f Ed e n
-
’
.

H e r e is a gr e at hou s e wh ose s ol e vocation i s t h e i m

p o rt a t i on o f caviar for bart e r h e r e Ca v iar fr om .

ov e r s e as now com e s wh e n it com e s at all mainly by

-
, ,

t h e way o f Archang e l r e c e ntly put on t h e map for , ,

mo s t o f us by t h e war T h e fi s h r e p ort e r is told h ow

,
.
,

ev e r i f it be sum m e r that th e re cannot b e much doi n g

, ,

“
in t h e way O f caviar until fall wh e n t he spoo n bill ,

”
start co m ing i n A n d on h e go e s to a gr e at s alt fi s h
.

hou s e wh e r e ma n y m e n in s alt s tai n e d garm e n ts a r e

,
-

runni n g about th e ir ar m s lad e n with large flat obj e cts

, ,

O f s harp a n d j agg e d e dg e which r e s e m bl e d ri e d a n d ,

crackli n g hi d e s o f so m e ani m al curiou s ly lik e a huge

“ ”
fi s h ; a n d n um e rous oth e rs O f t h e s a m e a r e tru n dli n g
rou n d wh ee lbarrow lik e trucks lik ewi s e s o la d e n -
.

Wh e r e stacks o f th e s e hid e s s ta n d on th e ir tail s ag a i n st

t h e wall s a n d goo d n e s s know s h ow m a n y big box e s
,

are co n tai n i n g a s tho s e Op e n s how b e auti fully so ft

, , , ,

thick cr e a m color e d s lab s which i s fi s h And wh e r e

,
-
, .

still oth e r m e n i n o v e rall s s tai n e d lik e a paint e r s

,
’

pal e tt e a r e kn ocki n g o ff t h e h eads o f c ask s an d dipping

,

out o f bri n e s till ot h e r ki n d s o f fi s h for i n sp e cti on .

H e r e it i s s aid by t h e h e ad o f t h e hous e by t h e ,

s to v e ( it i s c hill w e ath e r ) in h i s O ffic e lik e a ship

3 2 8 R ob e r t C or t e s H oll id ay
car e to w e ar it for having di s tingui s h e d hi m s e l f in
,

t h e d e v e lopm e n t o f co m m e rc e in t h e mari n e p r oduct s

O f Japa n back to Hudson Str e e t

,
An auth e n tic rail
.

r oad i s one O f t h e s p e ctacular f e atur e s o f Hud s on

Str e e t .

H e r e down the middl e O f t he way a r e e n dl e s s train s ,

stoppi n g s tartin g cra s hi n g lad e n to th e ir e ar s wi t h

, , ,

fr e ight doubtl e s s al l to e at Touri s ts s hould co m e

,
.

fro m v e ry far to vi e w H ud s on Str e e t H e r e i s a s p e c .

tacl e a s fa s ci n ati n g as a w e i n s piring as e xtraor d i n ary

,
-
,

as any in t h e world Fro m dawn until dark n e s s falls

.
,

hour a fte r hour along Hudson Str e e t slowly st e adily

, ,

mov e s a mighty proc e ssion o f gr e at t rucks On e .

would not suppose th e r e w e r e s o ma n y trucks on t h e

fac e o f t h e e arth It i s a glorious sight a n d any m an
.
,

who s e soul i s n ot d e ad should j ump with j oy to s ee it .

A n d t h e thu n d e r O f th e m altog e th e r as th e y bang ov e r

t h e ston e s i s lik e t h e music o f the sph e r e s .

Th e r e i s on Hudson Str e e t a tall ha n dsom e buildin g

wh e r e t h e fi s h r e port e r go e s which s hould b e e nj oy e d
,

i n thi s way : Up in t h e li ft you go to t h e top an d th e n ,

you walk down smacking your lip s For all t h e do ors

, .

i n that buildi n g a r e brimming with po e try A n d t h e .

“
tu n e o f it go e s l ik e thi s : Toa s t e d Cor n Flak e -

“ ” “ ” “
S e aboard R ice Chili Produ c ts
, Re d Bloom ,

” “
Grap e Juic e S al e s O ffic e P o rto R ico an d S i n gapor e
,

“ ” “
Pin e appl e Su nny la n d F o o d s tu ffs I m port e r s ,
 Th e F i s h R e p or t e r 3 2 9
” “
Of Fruit Pulp s Pim e nto s
,
S ol e Age nts U S A
, . . .

” “ ” “
Italian Salad Oil ,R ai s in Grow e rs Log Cabi n ,

” “ ” “
Syrups ,
Jobb e rs in B e ans P e as Ch ocolat e and
, ,

” “
Cocoa Pr e p aration s Ohio Evap orat e d Milk CO
, .

“
B e r n e s e Alps and Holland Cond en s e d M ilk CO
“
Brazilian Nut s B rok e rs Pacific Coa s t S almon ,

Cali for n i a Tuna Co and thu s on and on

.
, .

T h e fi s h r e port e r cro s s e s t h e str e e t to s e e t h e h e ad o f

t h e Sardin e Trust who h a s j ust thrown t h e market
,

into e xcit e m e nt by a heavy cut in p ric e s O f last ye ar s ’

pack Th e nc e pausing to r e fr e sh hims e l f by t h e way

.
,

“
at a s 1 g n Ag e ncy for R e ims Cha m pagn e and M os elle
”
Wine s Bord e aux Clar e ts an d Saut e r n e s
— ov e r to ,

B r oadway to inter vi e w the mo s t augu s t p e rson s o f all ,

“ ”
d e al e rs in f e rtiliz e r fi s h scrap
,
Th e s e mighty .

g e ntl e m e n liv e wh e n at bu s in e ss in palatial suit e s o f

, ,

ofli c es construct e d O f marbl e and fi n e w oods and lai d

with rich rugs T h e report e r is r elaye d i n to t h e inner

.

most sanctum by a succession O f richly cloth e d a t

t e nd an t s. A n d he learns it may b e that fishi n g in
, ,

“
Ch e sap e ak e Bay is s o poor that some o f t h e fi s h fac
”
tori e s may d e cid e to shut d own Acid phosphate it .
,

i s said i s ru li n g at $ 1 3 f o b Baltimor e
, . . . .

A n d so t h e fi s h r e port e r e nt e r s upon t h e last lap o f

h i s rounds . Through p e rhap s t h e narrow crook e d
, , ,

lan e o f Pin e Str e et h e pa s s e s to c om e out at l e ngth ,

upon a sc e ne s et for a s ea tal e H e r e would a lad heir .

,
3 3 0 R ob e r t C or t e s H oll i d ay
to vast e stat e s i n Virginia be kidnappe d and smuggled ,

aboard to be sold a slave in A frica This is Front .

Str ee t A white ship li e s at t h e foot o f it Crane s

. .

ri s e at h e r s ide Tugs b elchi n g smoke bob b e yond

.
, ,
.

All about a re anci e nt war e hous e s r e dol e nt o f the ,

Tham e s with s t e e p roo fs and som e times stairs outsid e

, ,

and with tall shutt e rs a cr e sc e nt s hap e d hol e in e ach

,
-
.

Th e r e i s a d e al e r in weath e r van e s Oth e r things d e al t -

.

“
in h e r e about a re th e s e : chronom e te rs nautical i n s t r u ,

”
m e nts wax gu m s cordag e and twin e marin e paints
, , , ,

cotton wool and wa s t e turp e ntine O il s gr e a s e s a n d

, , , ,

rosin Qu ee r Old tav e rns public hou s e s are h e r e too

.
, , ,
.

“ ”
Why do not th e ir window s rattl e with a Y O ho h o ? , ,

Th e r e i s an Old Old hou s e whose bu s iness h a s b e e n

,

fi s h oil withi n t h e memory O f m e n And h e r e is a n .

oth e r N e xt through Wat e r Street one c om e s i n

.
, ,

s e arch o f t h e last word on salt fi s h Now t h e air i s .

fill e d with g or g eous s m e ll o f roasti n g co ffee Te a .

,

co ffe e s ug ar rice spic e s bag s and b a ggi n g h e r e hav e

, , , ,

th e i r hom e And th e r e a r e haughty bo n d e d war e

.

hous e s fill e d w ith fi n e liquor s Fr om his whit e cabin .

at t h e top o f a v e n e rabl e s tructur e com e s t h e d e a n o f

“
t h e s a lt fi s h busi n e s s Export tra d e fair he says ;
.
,

“ ”
g ood d e m and from S outh A m e rica .
33 2 Ha r ry E s ty D ou n c e

wh e n I ca m e ho m e I f ou n d with h i s mi s tr e s s e l e ct a
,
-
,

sort o f p otb e lli e d bu n dl e O f tar r y oakum cak e d with ,

mu d pa n ti n g co n v ul s i v e ly s till fr om fright a n d sh ow
, ,

i n g t h e whit e s o f u n co m m only liquid b r own e y e s an d a

pi n k tongu e Th e r e w as t e nn i s that e v en i n g an d h e
.

w e n t al ong I carri e d h i m ove r t h e railroad tracks ;

—

h e ga v e u s no troubl e about t h e ball s but lay huddl e d ,

und e r t h e b e n ch wh e r e s h e s a t and shiv e r e d i f a man

,

cam e n e ar h i m .

That night h e got cho p bones and s h e got a s e n s ible

ho m ily on t h e unwi s dom o f f e e di n g s trays and h e wa s ,

l e ft outdoors H e s l e pt on t h e m at T h e s e co n d morn
. .

i n g w e thought h e had gon e : T h e thir d h e w a s back , ,

waggi n g approval o f us and i n t e n t to s t ay which ,

s e em e d to l e a v e no choi ce but to tak e him i n W e had .

“
fun o v e r n am e s J y gg
e ll.w a le s s ugg e s t e d ,fro m n e xt
“ ”
door w a s u n d e niably de s cripti v e
,
R ag s fitt e d or
.
,

” “ ” —
Toby or N ig but th e y had a color e d maid n e xt
“
door ; fi n ally w e call e d h i m Nibs and soon hi s tai l ,
3,

would a n s w e r to it .

e e u —
Cl a d p s crubb e d t h e insolubl e matt e d locks
n ,

clipp e d from his coat h i s tra m pi s h collar r e plac e d with

,

n e n e e n n s —
a w o b ari g a lic e e tag h e was far fro m b e i n g
unpr e s e ntabl e A v e t once Opined that for a mongr e l
. .

h e was a good dog that a black cock e r moth e r had

,

thrown h e r cap ov e r S cottish mill s so to sp e ak This , .

analysi s accounted for h i m p e r f e ctly Always d ep e nd .

,
 S om e N ons e ns e A b ou t a D og 333
ing on t h e m o m e nt s mood h e was e ith e r t e rri e r or
’

s p a n i e l t h e s n ap and scrap and perk o f t h e on e alt e rnat

,

ing with th e ge ntle snuggli n g indol e nc e O f t h e oth e r .

As t e rri e r h e would dig furi ously by t h e hour a ft e r

“ ”
a fi e l d mou s e ; as spa n i e l h e would r ead t h e br e e ze
wit h t h e b e s t nos e among t h e dog folk o f our n e igh
b orh ood or follow a trail quite w e ll I know th e r e w a s
, .

r e tri e ving blood A ye ar ago May h e caught and

.

brought m e not doing t h e l e a s t inj ury an oriole that

, ,

proba bly had flown agai n st a wir e and was strugglin g

di s abl e d i n t h e grass .

Nibbi e was s habby g e nt e e l black sunbur n t as to the

-
,

mustache grizzl e d as to t h e raggy fri n ge on hi s

,

haunch e s He had a whit e stock a n d shirt frill and a

.
-

whit e for e p aw Th e brown e y e s full o f h e art w e r e t h e

.

b e s t poi n t Hi s body coat was rough Scotti s h wor s t e d

.
,

t h e littl e black pat e w a s cotton s o ft lik e shoddy and

-
,

t h e big black e ars w e r e g e n uine s pani e l silk As a .

t e rri e r h e h e ld th e m up smartly and carri e d a plum y

fi s h h ook o f a tail ; as a spani e l t h e ears drooped and
t h e tail swung m e e kly a s i f in apology for nev e r havin g

b e e n clipp e d Th e other day wh e n we had to s ay

.

good by t o him e ach O f us cut on e silky tu ft from an

-

ear, v e ry m uch as w e had s o O ft e n wh e n h e d be e n ’

am on g t h e burdocks in t h e fi e ld wh e r e t h e gard e n i s .

B urrs w e r e by no m e ans Ni bbi e s only faili n g In ’

.

fl ea time it s e e m e d hard ly p os s ibl e that a dog o f his si ze

334 Ha r ry E s ty D ou n c e

could s ustain h i s populati on W e fi n ally found a true .

fl e a ba n e but d e s e rt e d on e day h e w a s populou s agai n

, , ,

t h e n e xt .Th e y d on t r e li s h e v e ry huma n ; m e th e y did ;

’

I u s e d to storm at him for it and h e u s e d b e tw e e n , ,

s pa s m s O f scratching to li s t e n admiri ngly and wag

, .

We thi n k h e s uppo s e d h i s torm e ntor s w e r e winge d i n

s e cts for h e s ought r e fu g e i n dark cloth e s clos e ts
,
-

wh e r e a flyi n g i mp wouldn t logically com e ’

.

H e w a s wil ful in s i s t e d on landi n g i n laps wh e n th e ir

,

mak e r s want e d to r e ad He w ould mak e ad v anc e s to

.

visitors who w e r e polit e about him He w ould g e t up .

on t h e livi n g room tabl e why and h ow h e av e n k n ows

-
, , ,

fi n di n g his opp ortu n ity wh e n w e w e r e out o f t h e h ous e ,

and taki n g car e to be upstair s on a be d— whit e grim e ,

abl cov e rl ts pr f rr d b y t h e time w e had t h e front

e e e e e —

door op e n ; I us e d to s lip up to the p orch and catch

through a wi n dow t h e d i v ing flourish O f his sin ful tail .

On e o f h i s faults mu s t hav e b e e n a n e urosi s r e ally .

He le d a hard li f e b e for e w e took h i m in a s witn e s s e d ,

t h e gam e hi n d le g that mad e h i m s i t up s id e s a ddl e -

fa s hio n a n d two such scar s on h i s back as boili n g hot

,

gr e a s e m ight ha v e mad e A n d som e thing e s p e cially

.

cru el had be e n d o n e to him wh e n a s l e e p for i f you ,

be nt o v e r h im n a p ping or in h i s b e d h e would hal f

rou s e and growl and som e ti m e s snap blindly
, We .

dr e a d e d e xub e ra n t v i s iti n g childr e n ) Two or thr e e .

e x p e rim e nt s I hat e to r e m e mb e r now convi n c e d me that

33 6 Ha r ry E s ty B ou n c e

he d ev e lop e d an alarm i n g trick o f st e aling i n th e re to

try it s o I fitt e d that door with a h ook insuring a crack
, ,

imp e rvious to d ogs And t h e oth e r night I had to

.

take the hook now u s e l e s s Off ; w e couldn t stand

, ,
’

h earing it j i n gl e H e adopt e d t h e j uni or m e m b e r on

.

first s ight and sniff o f him by the way ; would look on ,

be ami n g as proudly as i f h e d hatch e d him ’

.

Th e l ast O f hi s ini q uities aro s e from a valor that

lacke d its b e tt e r part an absurd mixtur e o f Fal s ta ff
,

and bantam roost e r At t h e critical point h e d back

.
’

out O f a fuss with a dog o f h i s own s iz e But le t a .

polic e d og an Airedale a S t B e rnard or a big ugly

, , .
,

cu r app e ar and Nibb le was all around him black ,

guarding him un e ndurably It was lucky that t h e big .

dogs 1 n our neighborhood w e r e pati e nt And h e n ev e r .

would l e arn about autom obil e s Usually tri e d to tackl e .

th e m h e ad on O ft e n stopp e d cars w ith m e rci ful driv e r s

, .

When t h e car wouldn t s top l uck would sav e him by a’

f raction o f an inch I couldn t spank that out o f him

.
’

e ith e r . W e had r eally be e n exp e cting what finall y

happ en e d fo r t w o y e ars .

’
That s about all Too much I am a fraid A d e cent
.
,
.

fate mad e it quick t h e oth e r night and cl e an and close ,

at hand in fact on the same str e et corner wh e re once

, ,

a car had le ft the small scape grac e for us W e t e ll .

ours e l v e s h ow glad w e a re it happ e n e d as it did i n ,

s t e ad o f an agonal ending s uch as man y o f his pe ople

 S om e N ons e ns e A b ou t a D og 337
com e to W e t ell our s elv e s w e couldn t have had h i m
.
’

for e v e r in any e v e nt ; that som e day for t h e j uni or

,

m e mb e r s s a k e w e shal l g et a n oth e r d og W e k e e p
’
,
.

t e lli n g our s e l v e s th e s e thing s and talki n g with anim a

,

tion on oth e r t opics Th e muzzl e t h e l e as h t h e drink

.
, ,

i n g di s h a re hidd e n t h e la s t m ud d y paw track sw e pt up

, ,

t h e n o s e s m u d g e s w a s h e d O ff t h e favorit e front win

d ow p a n e .

But t h e hou s e i s full o f a littl e s n oofi n g wagging , ,

lo v i n g ghost I kno w h ow t h e boy Thor e au f e lt ab out

.

a h e r e a f t e r with dogs barr e d I wa n t to think th a t

.

so m e wh e r e so m e ti m e I will be comi n g hom e a g ain

, , ,

and that wh e n the door opens Nibbie will be on han d

t o cap e r w e lc ome .
 T H E FI F TY F I R S T D RAGO N -

By H E Y W OOD BR OU N

Hey w ood r ou n w h o h as r i s e n r a p i d ly t hr ou g h t h e rank s of

B ,

ne w s p a p e r h on o r f r om s p or t i n g r e p o rt e r a n d w a r c o rr e s p on d e n t
t o on e o f t h e m os t highly r e g a r d e d d r m a t i c a d li t e r a ry c r i t i c s
a n

in t h e c ou n t ry i s a n ot h e r o f t h e s e H a rva r d m e n b t a s fa r
, ,
u ,

a s t hi s b ook i s c on c e r n e d t h e las t Of t hem

, B r o u n gr a d u a t e d
.

f r om Ha rva r d i n 1 9 1 0 ; w a s s e ve ra l y e a r s on t h e Ne w Y ork
Tr i b u n e a n d i s n ow on t h e W or ld
,
.

h r r ub
T e e i s no m o e s i lly gi
s t ant a f t e d n e s a e man i n h i s
w p p r
fie d ; his ea t f
l b u i ully s p on t a n e o s h m o
u u r r ll ry and d o e a re co n u
by
t e rb a la n c e d ia fine i v m a g n a t i e s e n s t e n e s s a n d a e ma a e
i iv r rk bl
p o e i n t h e f a e or a e o c a e s s a , s c h a s t h e on e e e
w r bl ll g ri l y u h r
r pri
e nt e d b k
.
, ly
Hi s oo S e e i ng Th i ng s a t N i g h t i s on t h e fi r s t ,

f t of t
rui ruly pl i p ibili i
s en d d os s t es I f I m a y b e a ow e d t o
ll .

p o e s t s a a d n a ll I
r ph y hu h z r i g
, wil h l s a y t at He w ood B o n
y
, r u
is lik ly
e , i n t h e n e t t e n or fif t e e n
x y r ea s t o d o a s fi ne w o
, ,
rk
b ot ma na t e a n d c i t ca a s a ny
h i gi iv r i l livi g ,r n A m e i ca n o f hi s e ra .

OF all t he pupils at the knight school G aw ai ne le

C oeur Hardy was amon g t he l e ast promising He was
-
.

tall and sturdy but hi s instructors soon discover e d that

,

h e lack e d spi rit He would hide i n the woods wh e n

.

the j ousting class was call e d although his companions ,

and m embe rs of th e faculty sought to app e al to hi s

bett e r natur e by s houting to him to come out and br e ak
his n e ck lik e a man Even wh e n th ey told him that the
.

lanc e s w e r e padd e d t h e hor s e s no more than ponies

,

and t h e fi eld unusually so ft for late autumn Gawa i ne ,

r e f us e d to grow e nthu s ia s tic Th e H e admast e r and .

t h e Assistant Pro f e ssor o f Pl e a s aunc e w e r e di s cu s sin g

t h e cas e on e spri n g a ft e r n oon a n d t h e A s s i s ta n t Pro

'

fes s or could s e e no rem e dy but e xpul sion .

338
340 H ey w o od B r ou n

That s a good id e a s aid t h e Pro f e ssor

’

, . S om e
”
tim e s th e y work wond e r s .

Fro m that day on G a w a i n e sp e cializ e d in dragons .

H i s cours e includ e d both th e ory and practic e In t h e .

mor n i n g th e r e w e r e long l e ctur e s on t h e history ,

a n ato m y m ann e r s and customs O f dragons G a w a i n e

, .

did not di s tingui s h hi m s e l f in th e s e s tudi e s H e had

.

a m ar v e lou s ly v e r s atil e gi ft for f org e tti n g thi n gs In .

t h e a ft e rnoo n h e s how e d to b e tt e r ad v antag e for th e n ,

h e w ould go d own to t h e S ou th M e adow a n d practi s e

with a battl e ax In thi s e xerci s e he was truly i m pr e s
— .

si v e for h e had e n ormou s s tr e ngth a s w e ll as sp e e d

,

a n d grac e H e e v e n d e v e l op e d a d e c e pti v e di s play o f

.

f e rocity Old alu m ni s ay that it was a thrilling sight

.

to s e e G aw a i n e charging across t h e fi eld t oward t h e

dummy pap e r dragon which had b e e n s e t up for his

practic e As h e ran h e would bran dish hi s ax and
.

“ ”
shout A murrain on th e e ! o r som e other vi v id bit
o f cam pus s lang It n e v er took him more than on e
.

strok e to b eh e ad t h e dummy d rag on .

G radually hi s ta s k was mad e mor e d i ffi cult Pap e r .

ga v e w ay to papi e r m ach é and fi n ally to wood but

-
,

e v e n t h e tough e s t o f th e s e du m my dragons had no

t e rror s f or G aw a i ne On e sw e e p o f t h e ax always did

.

t h e bu s in e ss Th e r e w e r e tho s e who said that wh e n

.

t h e practice was protract e d u n til du s k and t h e d ragons

thr e w long fantastic s hadow s acr os s the m e adow

,
 T h e F i f ty -
fi rs t D rag o 34 1

G aw ai n e d i d not charg e s o i m p e tuou sly nor shout s o

lou d ly It i s po s s ibl e th e r e was malic e in this charge
. .

At any rat e t h e H e ad m ast e r d e ci d e d by t h e e n d O f

,

Jun e that it w a s tim e for t h e t e s t O nly t h e night be .

for e a dragon had com e clo s e to t h e school grounds

and had e at e n so m e o f t h e l e ttuc e from t h e gar d e n .

T h e faculty d e cid e d that G aw a i n e w a s r e ady Th e y .

ga v e him a diplo m a and a n ew bat tl e ax and -

t h e H e admast e r summon e d him to a privat e con f e r

e nc e
.

“
Sit down said t h e H e adma s t e r
,
H av e a ci g a .

”
r e tt e
.

G a w a i n e h e sitat e d .

“
Oh I k n ow it s against the rul e s said t h e Head
,
’
,

“
ma s t e r . But a ft e r all you ha v e r e c e iv e d y our p re
,

li m i n ary d e gr e e You a r e no longer a boy You are a

. .

man To morrow y ou will go out into t he world the

.
-
,

gr e at world o f achi e v e m e nt .

G aw ai n e t ook a cigar e tte Th e H e adma s t e r Off e r e d

.

him a match but h e produc e d one o f his own and

,

be gan to pu ff away with a d e xt e ri ty which quit e

amaz e d t h e principal .

“
H e r e you ha v e l e arn e d the theories o f li fe con ,
‘

t i n u e d t h e H e admast e r r e suming t h e thr e ad o f h i s

,

di s cours e but a ft e r all li f e is not a m att e r o f th e ori e s

, ,
.

Li f e i s a mat t e r o f fact s It calls on t h e young and the

.

ol d alik e to fac e th e s e facts e ven though they are hard

,
34 2 H ey w ood B r ou n

an d som e tim e s unpl e a s a n t Your probl e m for e xam .

,

”
p le
,
i s t o s lay d ragon s .

“
Th e y s ay that those drago n s down in t h e sout h
wood a re fi ve hun d r e d f ee t l ong v e n tur e d G aw a i ne ,
’

ti m orously .

“ ”
Stu ff and non se nse ! said t h e H e adma s t e r The .

curat e s aw one last w e e k from t h e top o f Arthur s H ill ’

.

T h e dragon w a s s u nn ing hi m s e l f down in t h e vall e y .

’
Th e curat e didn t ha v e a n opportunity to look at him
v e ry long be cau s e he f elt it was h i s duty to hurry back
to mak e a r e port to m e H e s aid t h e m o n s t e r or s hall
.
,

I say t h e big lizard —wa s n t an i n ch ov e r t w o hun

,
’

dr e d f e e t But t h e s iz e h a s nothi n g at all to d o with it

. .

You ll find t h e big o n e s e v e n e a s i e r than t h e l ittle

’

o n e s Th e y r e far s low e r on th e i r f e e t a n d l e s s agg r e s

.
’

si v e I m told B e s i d e s be for e y ou g o I m goi n g to

,
’
.
,
’

equip you in such fashi on that you n e e d ha v e no f e ar

”
O f all t h e drago n s i n t h e world .

“ ”
I d lik e an e nchant e d cap s aid G a w a i n e
’
.
,

”
What s that ? a n s w e re d t h e H e a d m a s t e r t e s tily
’

,
.

”
A cap t o mak e m e di s app e ar e xplain e d G a w a i n e ,
.

“
T h e H e a d m a s t e r laugh e d i n d ulg e n tly You m u s t n t .
’

” “
be li e v e all th os e Old wi v e s stori e s h e s aid Th e r e
’
,
.

i s n t a ny s uch thing A cap to m ak e you di s app e ar

’
.
,

’
i e d ! What would y ou d o with it
n d e ? Y ou ha v e n t
e v e n app e a r e d y e t Why my boy y ou could walk
.
, ,

fro m h e r e t o Lo n d on a n d n ob od y w ould s o m uch a s

,
 H ey w ood B r ou n

Toward mornin g G a w ai n e s e e m e d res i gned t o hi s

car ee r At d aybr e ak th e H e admast e r saw him to t h e
.

edge o f t h e for e st and point e d him to th e direction in

which he should proceed About a mile away t o the
.

southwest a cloud o f ste am hov e r e d over an op e n

m e adow in the woods and t h e H eadmaster a ssur e d
G aw a i n e that und e r the steam h e woul d find a d ragon .

G a w a i n e went forward slowly He wondered whether

.

it would b e b e st to appr oach the dragon on the run

a s h e did in his practic e in t h e South M e adow or to

“ ”
walk slowly toward him shouting Rump le s n it z all
,

t h e way .

The probl e m w a s decid e d f o r him No sooner had

.

h e com e to t h e f ri n g e o f th e meadow than the drago n

spi e d him and b e gan t o ch arge It was a lar g e d ra g o n
.

and y e t it s ee med d e cid e dly a g gressive i n spite Of

t h e H e admaster s statem e nt to t h e contr a ry
’
A s the
.
'

d ragon charg e d it rel eased huge clouds o f his s in g stea m

t hrough its nostrils It w a s almost as i f a giganti c
.

t e apot had g one mad Th e dra g on came f orward s o

.

fa s t and Gaw a i ne was so f right e n e d that h e h ad tim e

”
to s ay Ru m ples n it z only once As h e said i t h e
.
,

swung h i s battl e ax and Off popped the head o f t h e

-

dragon G aw ai n e had to a dmit that it w as even e as ie r

.

t o kill a r e al d ragon than a wooden one i f only y ou

”
said Ru m ple s n it z .

G aw a i n e brought the ears hom e and a smal l sect i o n

 Th e F i f ty -fir s t D ra g on 3 45
Of th e tail Hi s sch ool mat e s a n d t h e faculty mad e
.

much o f h i m but the H e adma s t e r wi s e ly k e pt him from

,

b e i n g s p oil e d by insi s ting that h e go on with h i s work .

E v e r y cl e ar day G aw a in e ro s e at dawn and w e n t out

to kill dragons The H e adma s t e r k e pt him at home
.

wh e n it rai n e d b e caus e h e s aid t h e woods w e r e dam p

,

and unh e althy at such ti m e s and that h e didn t want ’

t h e boy to r un n ee dl e s s ri sks . Fe w go od days pa s s e d

in which G aw ai n e fail e d to g et a dragon On on e .

particularly f ortunat e day h e kill e d thr ee a husband ,

and wi f e and a vi s iting r el ative Gradually h e d e

.

v e lop e d a t e chniqu e Pupils who sometim e s watch e d

.

him fr om t h e hill tops a long way off said that he O f ten

-

a llow e d t h e dragon t o com e within a fe w f e e t b e fore

“ ”
h e said Ru m p l e s n i t z .He came to say i t with a
mocking sne e r Occa s ionally he did stunts Once
. .

wh e n an excursion party from London w as watching

him h e went i n to action with his right hand tied b ehind
his back Th e dragon s head came off just as e asily
.
’
.

A s Gaw ai ne s r e cord Of killings mounted higher t h e

’

H e admast e r found i t impossibl e to k e e p him com

p l e t e ly in hand He
. f e ll into t h e habit O f st e ali n g out

at night and e ngaging in long dri n ki n g bouts at t h e

v illage ta v e rn It was a ft e r s uch a d e bauch that h e
.

ros e a l ittl e b e fore dawn one fi n e August m or n i n g and

start e d out a ft e r hi s fi fti eth dragon Hi s h e ad was
.

h e avy and his mind sluggi sh H e was h e avy in other

.
 H ey w ood B r ou n

resp e cts as w e ll for h e had adopted the s om e what

,

vulgar practice o f w e aring his m e dals ribbon s and all , ,

wh e n h e w e nt out dragon hunting The d e coratio n s .

b e gan on hi s chest and ran all t h e way d own to hi s

a bdom e n Th ey must have weigh e d at l e ast eight
.

pound s
G aw a i n e found a dragon i n t h e sa m e m e adow wh e re
h e had kill e d t h e first on e It w a s a fair s iz e d dragon
.
-
,

but evidently an Old one Its fac e w a s wri nkl e d and

.

G aw ai ne thought he had nev e r s e e n s o hid e ous a coun

t e n a nc e .Much to the lad s disgust t h e monste r r e
’

fu s e d to charg e and G aw a i n e was oblige d t o walk to

ward him He whi s tl e d as h e w e nt Th e dragon
. .

r e gard e d him hop e l e ssly but cra ftily O f cours e it had

, .

h e ard o f G aw a i ne Even whe n the lad rais e d his

.

battl e ax the dragon mad e no mov e It kn e w that

-
.

th e r e was no salvation i n th e quick e st thrust o f t h e

h e ad for it had b e e n in form e d that thi s hu n t e r was
,

prot e ct e d by an e nchantm e nt It m e r e ly wait e d h op

.
,

i n g s o m e thing would turn up G a w a i n e rai s e d the

.

battl e ax a n d sudd e nly low e r e d i t agai n He had

-
.

grown v e ry pal e and h e tr e m bl e d v iol e n tly Th e .

“ ”
dragon su s p e ct e d a trick Wh at s the matt e r ? i t
.
’

ask e d w ith f alse solicitude

,
.

“
I v e forgott e n the magic word stamm e r e d
’
,

G aw a i ne .

“
What a pity ,
said the dragon SO that was the
 H e y w ood B r ou n
“
It d oe s to m e s aid t h e drago n with a s mil e
,
Id .
’

rath e r y ou d i d n t surr e n d e r You d ta s t e m uch b e tte r

’
.
’

”
i f you d idn t ’
.

T h e dragon wait e d for a long ti m e for G a w a i n e to

”
as k Why but t h e boy w as too fright e n e d to s p e ak
? .

At la s t t h e dragon had to gi v e t h e e xpla n ati on without

“ ” “
hi s c u e li n e You s e e h e s aid i f you d on t surr e n ’
, ,

d e r you ll tast e b e tt e r be cau s e you ll d i e ga m e

’ ’
.

’
Thi s w a s an old a n d anci e n t trick o f t h e drag on s .

By m e a n s O f s om e such quip h e w a s accu s to m e d to

paralyz e h i s v ictim s with laught e r and th e n to d e s troy
th e m G aw a i n e was s u fli c i e nt ly par alyz e d a s it w a s
.
,

but laught e r had n o part i n h i s h e lpl e s s n e s s With .

t h e la s t word o f t h e j ok e t h e drag on dr e w ba c k h i s h e a d

and s truck In that s e co n d th e r e fla s h e d i n to t h e m i n d

.

“ ”
o f G aw a i n e t h e magi c word Rum p l e s n i t z but th e r e ,

w a s n o ti m e to s ay it Th e r e w a s ti m e o n ly to s trik e
.

a n d without a word
, G a w a i n e m e t t h e o n ru s h o f t h e
,

drag on with a full swing He put all hi s back a n d .

shoul d e r s i n to it T h e impact was t e rri fic a n d t h e h e ad

.

O f t h e dragon fl e w away al m ost a hundr e d yard s and

la n d e d in a thick e t .

G a w a i n e did n ot r e main f right e n e d v e ry lo n g a ft e r

th e d e a th o f t h e dragon Hi s mood was on e of won
.

de r H e w a s e no rm ously puzzl e d He cut off t h e e ars

. .

Of t h e mon s t e r almost in a tranc e A g ai n an d a g ain h e

.

“
th ought to hi m s e l f I didn t s a y
,
’
He
 Th e F if ty -
fi rs t D r a g on 3 49
wa s ur e o f that a n d y e t th e r e w a s no qu e s tion that he
s

had kill e d t h e drago n In fact h e had n e v e r kill e d

.
,

one so utt e rly . N e v e r b e for e h a d h e driven a h e ad

for a n ything lik e t h e s am e d i s tanc e Tw e nty fi v e .
-

y ards was p e rhap s hi s b e s t pr e vious r e cord A l l the .

w ay back t o t h e k n ight scho ol he k e pt ru m bli n g about

i n h i s mind s e e ki n g a n e xpla n ation for wh at had oc

curr e d He w e nt to t h e H e adma s te r i m m e diat e ly and
.

“
a fte r clo s i n g t h e door told h i m what had happ e n e d I .

h e e xplai n e d with gr e at
’
didn t s ay
e ar n e s tn e s s
.

“ ’
T h e H e admast e r laughed I m glad you v e found
.
’

” “
out h e said
, . It mak e s you e v e r s o m uch m or e o f a
h e r o D on t you s e e that ? Now you know that it
.
’

w as you who kill e d all th e s e dragons and not that

foolish littl e word Rum p le s n i t z
‘
.
’

“ ’
G a w a i n e frown e d .Th e n it wasn t a magic word
”
a ft e r all ? h e a s k e d .

“ ”
O f cour s e n ot said t h e H e ad m ast e r you ought
,

’
t o b e too old for such foolishn e s s Th e r e isn t an y
.

”
su ch thi n g as a magi c word .

“
But you tol d m e it was magic pr ot e st e d G aw ai n e ,
.

” ’
You s aid it was magic and n ow you s ay it isn t .

“
It wa s n t mag ic in a lit e ral s e n s e answ e r e d t h e
’
,
’

“
H e adma s t e r but it was much m or e wond e rful than
,

that T he word g av e you confid e nc e It took away

. .

y our f e ars. I f I hadn t told you th a t you might have

35 0 H ey w ood B r ou n

be e n kill e d the v e ry first tim e . It was your battle -

ax
”
did the trick .

G a wa i n e surpris e d t h e Headmast e r by his attitude .

He w a s Obv iou s ly distr e s s e d by t h e e xplanatio n H e .

int e rrupt e d a long philo s o phic a n d e thical d iscours e by

“
t h e H e a d m ast e r with I f I hadn t o f hit e m all mighty
,
’ ’

hard and fa s t any on e o f em might hav e crushed me ’

lik e a lik e a
,
He fumbl e d for a word .

“
Egg sh e ll sugge sted t h e H e adma s t e r
, .

”
Lik e a e g g s h ell ass e n t e d G a w ai n e a n d h e said i t
, ,

man y tim e s All through t h e e v e n i n g m e al p e opl e who

.

s a t n e ar him h e ard him mutt e ring Lik e a e g g sh e ll , ,

”
like a eg g sh e ll .

T h e n e xt day was cl e ar but G aw a i n e d i d not g e t up

,

at dawn Ind e ed it w a s almost no on wh e n t h e H e ad

.
,

ma s ter fou n d him cow e ring i n b e d with t h e cl oth e s ,

pull e d o v e r his h ead Th e principal call e d t h e As s ist

.

a n t Pro f e s sor o f Pl e asau n c e a n d tog e th e r th e y dragge d

,

t h e boy toward t h e for e s t .

“
H e ll b e all right a s s oon as h e g e t s a coupl e m ore
’

”
drago n s und e r hi s b e lt e xplai n e d t h e H e adma s t e r
, .

“
T h e A s sistant Pro f e s s or o f Pl e asaunc e agr e e d It .

”
would be a sham e to stop such a fi ne ru n h e said , .

“
Why counting that one yesterday h e s kill e d fi fty
, ,
’

d ra g on s f
’

Th e y pushed th e boy into a thick e t ab ov e whic h

hung a m e ager cl oud o f steam It w a s Obv iously quit e .