There’sanamber—coloredpaneofglassinhisstudioskylight，andhehastositandwaitandwaitandwaituntilthemoonlightfallsthroughthatpaneontohispaper，andthenitonlystayslongenoughsohecanwriteafewlines，andhecan’tgoonwiththepoemuntilhecomesagain。
Hebroughtmeonelastnight——hewroteittomeyes，really!——andhewaitedandwaitedforenoughmoonlighttodoit，andcaughtaterriblecoldinhishead，poordearFothy。
Itgoeslikethis：
Poppies，poppies，silverpoppiesinthemoonlight，poppies!
Silverpoppies，Silverpoppiesinthemoonlight，Youth!
Poppiespoppies，crimsonpoppiesinthesunset，Love!
Poppies，poppies，poppies!
Blackpoppiesinthemidnight，Death!
Threecolorsofpoppies!
Onecolorissilver，Thesecondcoloriscrimson，Thethirdcolorisblack，Andiftherewereafourthcoloritwouldbegreen!
Alas!Whyisthereneverafourthcolor？
Poppies，poppies，poppies，butnoGreenPoppy!
IaskedthelittlecrippledgirlwhosellspoppiestoBuybreadforthedrunkenfatherwhobeatsher，Andshesaid，\"I，too，seekthefourthcolor!\"
Iaskedtheboywhodrivesthegrocer’sdeliverywagon，theoldapplewomanwithoutteeth，themorguekeeper，theplumber，thejanitor，thered—armedwafflebakerinthewindowofarestaurantfullofmarble—toppedtablesandpallid—lookinggirls，thesubwayguardandthemillionaire，Andtheyallsaid，\"Poppies，poppies，poppies，Wehaveneverknownbutthreecolors!\"
IamaGreatVirileSpirit；
I，withmyEgo，IwillgivetheworlditsDesire!
I，thestrong!
I，thedaring!
IwillcreateaGreenPoppy!
ThataboutbeingVirileisjustlikeFothy!HeprideshimselfonbeingVirile，youknow——PoordearFothy!
Hesaiduntilhesawmehehadalwaysbeensatisfiedwithsilverandredandblackpoppies，butassoonasheknewmehefeltthereMUSTbeaGreenPoppysomewhere。
Itislikelyamoodofmysoul，youknow——theGreenPoppyis!
Isn’titsimplywonderful!
CONCENTRATION
Isn’titjustsimplyterriblethewaytheBalkansarebombardingVenice……allthosebeautifulDogesandthings，youknow。
Isupposetherewillbenothingleft，justsimplynothing，ofthecitythatByronwroteaboutinin——whatwasit？Oh，yes，in\"ChildeHaroldtotheDarkTowerCame。\"
That’sonecomfortingthingtothinkofifthiscountryevergetsintoawar，isn’tit？Imeanthatwehaven’tanyofthoselovelyoldthingsthatcanbebombarded，youknow。
IsupposeifweeverdidgetintowarsomeonelikeEdisonwouldinventsomethingquick，youknow，anditwouldbealloverinafewhours。
Isn’tinventivesciencewonderful!Justsimplywonderful!
It’sso——so——well，soDYNAMIC，ifyougetwhatI
mean。Isn’tit？
Don’tyoujustDOTEondynamicthings？
Dynamicpersonalities，especially。
I’veoftenthoughtifIhadittodooveragainI’dgoinlessforpsychicsandmorefordynamics。
Butthentherearesomanythingsthatamodernthinkermustkeepupwith，aren’tthere？
Andit’seasyenoughtoconcentrateone’smindononeortwothings，butIoftenfinditterriblydifficulttoconcentrateontenortwelvedifferentthingsallatthesametime。
AndonemustifoneistokeepupwiththeverylatestinThoughtandLife。
Concentration!Concentration!Thatisthekeytoitall!NearlyeverynightwhenIamalonewithmyownEgoIgointotheSilencesforalittleperiodofSpiritualSelf—ExaminationandIalwaysaskmyself：\"HaveIConcentratedtoday？ReallyConcentrated？OrhaveIfailed？\"
IcalltheselittletimesmyPsychicInquisitions。
Inthehurryofthiscrowdedageonemustfindtimetogetalongwithone’sself，mustonenot？
FothyFinchhaswrittenabeautifulthingaboutthehurryofthiscrowdedagewhichIwisheveryonecouldhangoverhisdesk。
Well，Imustbegoingonnow。Ihaveacommitteemeetingforthisafternoon。Ican’tforthelifeofmerememberwhetherit’saboutsuffrage——
Oh，yes，Imarched!——oraboutsomerelieffund。
SOULMATES
I’mtakingupBergsonthisweek。
NextweekI’mgoingtotakeupEtruscanvasesandtheMontessorisystem。
Oh，no，Ihaven’tlostmyinterestinsociology。
Onlytheothernightwewentdownintheautoandwatchthebreadline。
Ofcourse，onecantakeupTOOMANYthings。
It’sthespiritinwhichyoutakeupathingthatcounts。
SometimesIthinkthespiritinwhichyoutakeathingupcountsmorethanthethingitself——countsinitseffectonyou，youknow。
Ofcourse，thewaytogettherealmeaningoutofanythingistoputyourselfinareceptiveattitude。
Inseriousthingstheattitudecountsforeverything。
Onemustn’tscoff。
Ifyoulookseriouslyandscientificallyyou’ll’
seethere’sagreatdealmorethanyoususpectedinallthisaffinityandsoulmatecraze，forinstance。
NotthatIcaremuchforthewords\"soulmate\"
and\"affinity\"particularly；theyhavebeensoVULGARIZED，somehow。
TheBestPeopledon’tusethosetermsanymore。
Psychicharmonyisthenewterm。
Theloveliestmanexplainedallaboutittoustheotherday。IbelongtoaLittleGroupofThinkers，whotakeaseriousinterestinthesethings，youknow。
Wearetryingtofindouthowtomakeourpsychicpowerscountforthebettermentoftheworld。Iamverypsychic。Somearenow。
Thismanhadthemostinterestingeyesandthesilkiestbeard，andhesaidhisaurawaspink。
Ifheshouldmeetagirl，youknow，withanaurajusttheshadeofpinkthathisaurais，whythentheywouldknowtheywereinpsychicharmony。
Simple，isn’tit？ButthenalltrulygreatideasAREsimple，aren’tthey？
Butifhisaurawasblue，andheraurawasyellow，then，ofcourse，theywouldquarrel。That’swhatmakessomuchdomesticunhappiness。
Buthesaidsomethingthatgavemethemostfrightfullyinsecurefeeling。
HesaidtheauraCHANGESitscolorasthesoulprogresses。
Twopeoplemaybeinharmonytoday，andbothhavepinkauras，andinayearhersmaybegreenandhisgolden。
Whatdesperatechancesawomantakeswhenshemarries，doesn’tshe？
Isometimesthinklifemusthavebeenamuchmorecomfortablethingbeforetheworldgottobesoterriblyadvanced。
But，ofcourse，itisourdutytosacrificepersonalcomfortforthefutureoftheraceandthebettermentoftheworld。
AsIwaslookingatthebreadlinethethoughtcametomethatthechiefdifferencebetweenthisadvancedageandotherageswasinthefactthatpeopletodayarewillingtotakeaseriousinterestinsuchthings。
Peoplearewillingtosacrificethemselvestoday，youknow。
Itisfoodforoptimism，don’tyouthink？
NotthatIwasreallysouncomfortableintheauto，youknow。Ihadonmynewminkcoat。
HERMIONETAKESUPLITERATURE
We’vebeengoinginforAstrologicalResearchlately——ourLittleGroupofModernThinkers，youknow——andwe’vepickedourownpersonalstars。
Onlyitseemssuchashame，doesn’tit，thatoneisn’tallowedtoCHANGEstars？Keepingthesamestarallyourlifeisrathermonotonous，don’tyouthink？
Though，ofcourse，ifonechangedandgotsome—
oneelse’sstarthingsmightbefrightfullycomplicated，mightn’tthey？
Butitwouldmakeacharminglittlestory，wouldn’tit，foragirltochangestars，youknow，andfindthathernewstarbelongedtosomequiteniceyoungman，and，ofcourse，afterthat，theirdestinieswouldbeone。
IgetsomeofthemostORIGINALplotsforstories!
FothergilFinchhasoftensaidtomethatthatisonedifferencebetweengeniusandtalent。Whenyouhavegenius，youknow，thingslikethatjustcometoyou；butifyouonlyhavetalentyoumustworkandWORKforthem。
\"IfIonlyhdyourspontaneity，Hermione!\"
Fothergiloftensays。
Andreally，it’sneverbeenanytroubleformeatalltodashoffanidea，thoughofcoursetheywouldhavetobetouchedupbytheeditorsalittlebeforetheycouldbeprinted。
FothergilsaidtheothernightIshouldtrypoetry。
\"Why，Fothy，\"Isaid，\"ifIlivedahundredyearsInevercouldmaketwolinesrhymewitheachother!\"
ButhesaidRhymewasoutoffashionanyhow，and——wouldyoubelieveit？——whileweweretalkingIgotanideaforapoemandjustdasheditoffthenandthere——averslibrepoemyouknow，anditgoes：
WhatbecomesofPeoplewhentheydie？
IusedtoaskwhenIwasalittlechild，AndnowevensinceIamgrownupIamnotsurethatIknow!
\"Fothy，\"Isaid，\"Itwassoeasy——thatmakesmeafraiditisn’treallygood!\"
\"Ah，\"hesaid，\"thatmodestyPROVESyouareagenius!Heavens，whatwouldInotgivetohaveyouspontaneity，yourmodesty，yourspontaneity——\"
ButIinterruptedhim。Anotherideahadcometome——justlikethat，and——wouldyoubelieveit？
Idashedoffanotherone，rightthenandthere!Itwent：
Iseetherainfall。
Itisnoeffortfortheraintofall。
Whyisitnoeffort？
Becauseitfallsspontaneously!
OSpontaneity!Spontaneity!
Rainisgenius，Geniusisrain!
Fall，fall，rain!
Fothyisgoingtogetthemprinted——heknowsalotofverslibrepublishers——ifPapawillonlyputupthemoney。AndonenicethingaboutpoordearPapaisthathealwayswillputitup。
SothatnightIwrotetwentyorthirtymoreofthem，andtheywereALLgood——ALLworksofgenius——theyALLcametomejustlikethefirstones!
ThelastonecametomejustasIwasgoingtobed。Ilookedoutofthewindowandsawthemoonandranandgotapencilandwrote：
Iseethemoonoutofthewindow。
Iwonderwhatitthinksofme？
Wouldn’tthemoonandIbothbesurprisedIfwefoundthatneitherofusThoughanythingatallabouttheother？
Thebook’sgoingtobevellum，youknow，andthatsortofthing。I’mgoingtohaveagownjustlikethecoverandgiveafetewhenitcomesout。
Theworstthingaboutbeingliterary，though，isthatitmakesonefeelsoRESPONSIBLEforthegift，ifyouknowwhatImean，doesn’tit？
THEWORLDISGETTINGBETTER
DR。JAGADESCHUNDERBOSEsaysthatplantsarealmostassensitiveashumanbeings——
theyhavefeelingsandsusceptibilities，youknow，andallthatsortofthing。
Isn’titwonderfulhowtheHindusfindthesethingsout？
Soulspeakingtosoul，Isuppose。
ButIhavescarcelybeenabletoeatcomfortablysinceIreadit。
EverytimeIsitdowntoasaladitmakesmefeelquitelikeacannibal!
Andtothink，Iwasjustonthepointofbecomingavegetarian，too!
Isupposetobeonthesafesideoneshouldeatnothingbutminerals。
But，ofcourse，advancedthinkerswillhavetotakethematterupseriouslyanddiscoverawayout——somedaywewillliveonaromasandelectricity，nodoubt。
Don’tyouthinktheworldisgettingkinder？
Ahundredyearsago，forinstance，noonewouldhavecaredwhetherplantssufferpainornot——peoplewouldn’thavegivenitasecondthough，youknow。
Andnow，though，theywillhavetokeeponeatingthemuntilsomethingelseisinvented，theywilldoitwithashudderandwon’tenjoythemnearsomuch。Theworldislosingmuchofitscrueltyandthoughtlessness。Upward!Onward!Istheslogan。
Doyoulikemynewcoat？Unbornlambskin，youknow。Isn’titlovely？
WARANDART
THISwarisgoingtohaveatremendousin—
fluenceonArt——vitalizeit，youknow，andmakeitREAL，andallthatsortofthing。
Infact，it’sdoingitalready。Wetookupthewarlastnight——ourLittleGroupofSeriousThinkers，youknow——inquiteaseriouswayandconsidereditthoroughlyinallitsaspectsandwedecidedthatitwouldputmoreSOULintoArt。
Andintolife，too，youknow。
Alreadyyoucanseeitoneveryhandhowmuchseriouspurposeitisputtingintolivesthatweremerelytrivialbefore。Evenpoor，dearMamma——
andreally，itwouldbehardtoimagineamoretrivialpersonthanMamma!——isknittingsocks。
SheisgoingtosendthemtothePoles。ShewantedtosendthemtotheBelgians。
ButIsaidtoher，\"Positively，Mamma，youareALWAYSbehindthetimes。Don’tyouknowtheBelgiansaregoingoutandthePolesarecomingin？\"
And，youknow，it’sbeenmonthssincereallySmartPeoplehaveknitfortheBelgians。ThePolesareQUITEthethingnow。
It’sstrangehowgreatmovementskeepgoingonandonfrommountainpeaktomountainpeakofusefulnesslikethat，isn’tit？——changingtheirdirectionnowandthenasevolutionitselfdoes，butalwaysprogressing，progressing!
Thatisonewonderfulthingaboutevolution——itALWAYSprogresses。
Whenonethinksitover，onegrowsmoreandmoreconsciousthatthehumanraceowesagreatdealtoEvolution，doesn’tone？
WHATcouldwehavedonewithoutit？
It’sassomebodysaidaboutsomethingelseonetime——ifwehadn’thadit，youknow，itwouldhavebeennecessarytoinventit，thoughforthelifeofme，Ican’trememberwhoitwasorwhathesaidaboutit。AlthoughlikelyitwasMadamedeStael。
Wetookheruponceanditdevelopedthatshehadsaidamostsurprisingnumberofthingslikethatthings，youknow，thatwouldbequitequotableifyoucouldonlyrememberthem。
Isn’tmemoryawonderfulfacility，though？
I’vealwaysintendedtogoinfordevelopingminesystematicallyandscientifically。
ButI’veneverdoneitbecauseIalwaysforgetwhetherIshouldorderthebook—shoppeopletosendhomeaworkonnumismaticsoraworkonmnemonics。Oneofthemisaboutmoney，youknow，andtheotherisaboutmemory。AndoncewhenIwasshoppingandthoughtIhaditrightitturnedout——thebookdid，whenIgotithome——tobeallaboutairandthings。Pneumatics，youknow!
Wasn’titperfectlyridiculous？
But，ofcourse，onelearnsbyone’smistakes。
HaveyouseendearNijinsky？
Wewerediscussinghimlastevening——ourlittlegroup，youknow——anddecidedthatwhilehehasmorePersonalitythanMordkinhehaslessTemperament，ifyougetwhatImean。
Oneofthegirlssaidlastevening，\"Mordkinismoreexotic，butNijinskyismoreesoteric。\"
Andanothersaid，\"Oneofthemshowsintellectobviouslymingledwithspirit，buttheothershowsspiritoccultlymingledwithintellect。\"
FothergilFinchsaid，\"Theyarealikeintheirdifferences，butsubtlydifferentiatedintheirlikenesses，n’est—cdpas？\"
Fothyhasasimplydelightfulfacultyofsummingathingupinasentencelikethat，butitmakeshimveryvainifyoushowyouthinkso；soIputhiminhisplaceandclosedthediscussionwithoneremark：
\"Itisall，\"Isaid，\"itisALLaquestionofInterpretation。\"
And，quiteseriously，whenyoucometothinkaboutit，itusuallyis，isn’tit？
ASPIRITUALDIALOGUE
LastnightImetHermione，Andeagerlyshesaidtome：
\"ThoughtsfromtheambienteverywhereElectrifyourworldlyair。\"
\"Mysoul，\"Isaid，\"grabsoffsuchhintsAsbutter，whetherpatsorprints，ReceivesandholdsallunawareSmallstrandsofdrifting，goldenhair。
ButhaveYOUthought，OMaidenfair，O，haveyouthoughtprofoundlyofThepsychicconsciousnessincrows？
OrwhytheMalaywheninloveWearsrubberearringsonhistoes？\"
Theladyshookherlovelyhead——
’Twascoiffeddivinely——andshesaid：
\"HaveyoureflectedonthepartPrimevalinstinctplaysinArt？
It’ssimplywonderfulthewayOldthingsgrownewfromdaytoday!\"
\"That’strue，\"Isaid，\"IoftenapeTheApetogetmyArtinshape——
AndwiththeSimiangoingstrong，Behold，anotherRennysawng!\"
\"Perhaps，\"shesaid，\"acrossthevergeOfdarkness，fromtheCosmicUrge，TheLightisspeedinginbrightwaves，E’ennowtoshowthewaytoslaves!\"
\"Thethought，\"Isaid，\"ischeerful——butTheseSwamisWILLchewbetel—nut!\"
\"Alas!\"shesaid，\"alas!tootrue!
Butoh!it’swonderfulofyouTosympathizeandunderstand——\"
（Shegesturedwithajeweledhand）——
\"Thejoyofbeingunderstood!\"
\"Ourtalk，\"Isaid，\"hasdonemegood。\"
WILLTHEBESTPEOPLE
RECEIVETHESUPERMANSOCIALLY？
WE’VEbeentakingupMetabolismlately——
ourLittleGroupofSeriousThinkers，youknow——andit’swonderful；justsimplyWONDERFUL!
Ireallydon’tknowhowIgotalongforsomanyyearswithoutit——itopensupsuchnewvistas，doesn’tit？
IcanneverthinkinthesamewayagainabouteventhemosttrivialthingssinceIhavelearnedallaboutProtoplasmand——and——well，allthesemarvelousscientificthings，youknow。
Isn’tScienceDELIGHTFUL!
There’stheCosmos，forinstance。Ithadalwaysbeenthere，youknow。ButnobodyknewmuchaboutituntilScientiststookitupinaseriousway。
AndnowI，forone，feelthatIcouldn’tdowithoutit!
Although，ofcourse，onefeelsone’sresponsibilitiestowardittoo，andthatisapttoberathertryingattimesunlessonehasatrulyearnestnatureandispreparedtomakesacrifices。
IftheCosmosistobeimproved，whatistherethatcanimproveitexceptEvolution？
AndunlesswewhoareseriousthinkersgiveEvolutionamarktoreach，howcanwebesurethatEvolutionwillEvolveintherightdirection？
IhaveworriedmyselfhalftodeathattimesovertheSuperman!
YouknowIfeelpersonallyresponsible，toacertainextent，aboutwhathewillbelikewhenhegetshere。Ifheisn’twhatheshouldbe，youknow，itwillbethefaultofthoseofuswhoaretheleadersinthoughttoday——itwillbebecausewehaven’tstartedhimright，youknow。
Mamma——poordearMammaisSOunadvanced，youknow!——hasanideathatwhentheSupermandoesgetherehewon’tbeatallthesortofpersonthatonewouldcaretoreceivesocially。
\"Hermione，\"shesaidtomeonlytheotherday，\"noSupermanshallEVERcomeintoMYhouse!\"
Sheheardsomeofmyfriends，youknow，talkingabouttheSupermanandEugenics，andshehasanideathathewillbehorriblyimproper。
\"IconsiderthattheSupermanwouldbeaDANGEROUS
influenceinthelifeofayoungwoman，\"saidMamma。
\"Mamma，\"Itoldher，youareFRIGHTFULLYbehindthetimes!Thereisn’tadoubtintheworldthatwhentheSupermandoescomehewillbetakenupbytheBestPeople。AnarchistsandSocialistsgoeverywherenow，anddressjustlikeotherpeople，and；youcanhardlytellthem，anditwillbethesamewaywiththeSuperman。\"
WhatMammalacksiscontact。Contactwith——
with——well，shelacksContact，ifyougetwhatI
mean。
SomanyoftheeldergenerationDOlackContact，don’tyouthink？
Although，ofcourse，itwouldbeveryhardtohaveContactandBackgroundatthesametime。
AndifonemustchoosebetweenContactandBackground，thechoiceisapttobepuzzlingattimes。
Although，ofcourse，itisuselesstoreasontoomuchonthingslikethat。Intuitionoftensucceedswherereasonfails，especiallyifoneisatallPsychic。
Well，Imustgo。Imusthurrytomycostumer’s。
I’mhaveaspecialcostumemade，youknow。
We’vebeentakingupSpiritualismagain——ourlittlegroup，youknow。AndI’mgoingtogiveaSpiritFete，andofcourseitwilltakeagreatdealofdressingandarranginganddecoration。
PapasaysitwillbeaGhostDance，butheissoterriblyfrivolousandirreverentattimes。
Don’tyoujustsimplyLOATHEfrivolity？
THEPARASITEWOMANMUSTGO!
THEParasiteWomanmustgo!
OurLittleGroupofSeriousThinkerstookuptheParasiteWomanlastnightinquiteathoroughway。OneofthemostinterestingwomenyoueverlistenedtogaveusalittletalkabouttheParasiteWoman，youknow。
AndwedecidedthattheParasiteWomanhasNOTHINGtoContributetotheNextGeneration。
Oh，theseParasiteWomen!Itjustsimplymakesmybloodboiltoheraboutthem!Idon’tknowwhenIhavebeensoindignant!
WiththeworldsofullofworktobedonefortheCause——forALLtheCauses，youknow——theyjustsitaroundselfishlyathomeallwrappedupintheirownfamilies，orchildren，ifthey’remarried，anddonothingatallfortheEvolutionoftheEgoandtheDevelopmentoftheRace，andtheConsciousGuidanceoftheNextGeneration，oranythinglikethat。
ThankgoodnessIcouldneverbeaParasiteWoman!
And，yet，IPITYthem，too。
I’mthinkingquiteseriouslyofstartingalittleMissionofmyownforthepurposeofappealingtoandreformingtheParasiteWomenamongmyacquaintances。
Ofcourseitwilltakeorganization，andthatmeansIwillhavemoneytostartitandkeepitgoing。
ButPapawillgivemethemoneyallright。Thatisonethingaboutpoor，dearPapa——hedoesn’tunderstandthenewmovementsatall，butheWILL
givememoney。AndheneveraskswhatIdowithit。
Nowandthen，ofcourse，hescoldsmealittle——hetoldmetheotherdaythatIcosthimnearlyasmuchasawar。ButIcanalwaysjollyhim，youknow，whenhegetsthatway。Menaresoeasilymanagedandflattered。
IsupposemyMissionwilltakequiteaLOTofmoney，too。ButitismyDUTY，andIamwillingtomakeANYsacrifice——wemodernthinkersareusedtomakingsacrificesforourCause!
AnditisworthalotofsacrificetomaketheParasiteWomanoverintoanAwakenedandEnlightenedMemberofSociety，independentoftheMan—MadeSystemthathasshackledherforsolong。
WhatisnoblerthanEmancipation？
Ofcourse，I’llhavetohaveaSecretary，AndtogetoneespeciallytraininginorganizingtheMissionwillcostquiteabit，probably。
ButPapawillnevermissit。
AndIthinkI’llhaveaMANforaSecretary。
Onethatisquitepresentablesocially，youknow。FortheSecretarywillhavetoattendtoalotofthedetails。Iwillgivesometeasandentertainmentsandthings，justtogettheParasiteWomenIknowinterested。
Andthere’snothingliketherightsortofamantogetwomentocooperateinsomeCausethataimsforWoman’sLiberty。
AndIsuppose，really，TWOSecretarieswouldbebetter。Andtheywillhavetobemenwhocandancethenewdanceswell，too。Thatcountsalotnowadaysingettinggirlstocometoplaces。
IfeelthatIhaveFoundmyWork!One’sworkliesatone’shand，ifonecouldbutseeit，always。
AndmineistoSavetheParasiteWomenIknowfromThemselvesandtheirFrivolity。
IwillcoaxthefirstchequeoutofPapathisveryevening!Itmaytakesomemanagementandjollying，but——well，PapaisEASY!
THEHOUSEBEAUTIFUL
WE’REtakinguptheHouseBeautiful——ourLittleGroupofSeriousThinkers，youknow——forwe’vedecidedthatEnvironmenthasmoreeffectonpersonalitythanHeredity。
Interiordecorationisthegreatestofthearts——
don’tyouthink？——becauseitfurnishesthepropersettingforthespirit。
Theloveliestwomangaveusatalkoninteriordecorationtheothernight——shewearstheseslinky，Greekthings，youknow，withstrawsandals，whentheweatherpermits——andIengagedhertodothehouseover。
Butrightawayaproblempresenteditself——
whethertohavethehousedonetofitmypersonalityorwhethertohavethehousedonetofitthethingIwantmypersonalitytoevolveinto，andtrusttheenvironmenttohelpintheevolution。
ModernthoughtcomplicatesLIFEimmensely，doesn’tit？
ButIalwaysfeelthatitismydutytogivethebestinmyselftotheseproblems。
SomeonemusthelpEvolutionevolve。Someonemustbeunselfishenoughtogivethecosmosnewmarkstocomeupto。
Andwhobuttheseriousthinkersarewillingtosacrificethemselves？
Well，wefinallydecidedtodoeveryroominthehousedifferently——eachonetofitamood，youknow。
There’soneroomnowIcall\"Aspiration，\"whereIgoformylittlespiritualexaminations。
Andthenextroombeyondthatis\"Resolve。\"
Andthenthere’saroomIcall\"BrotherlyLove，\"
whereIgotothinkouthowtohelpthemasses。
ForofcourseIhaven’tlostmyinterestinsociologicalproblems。
InfactI’mhavingsomenewdressesmade——
simple，quietlookingthings，youknow——fortheexpresspurposeofvisitingtheverypoorinandaskingthemquestionsaboutthemselves。
ThoughImustadmitthatsincehelpingthewarsuffererscameintofashionfriendlyvisitinghasrathergoneout。
MAMAISSOMID—VICTORIAN
WE’VEbeentaking；upHedonismlately——
ourLittleGroupofModernThinkers，youknow——andit’swonderful，justsimplyWONDERFUL!
ThoughMamma——poordearMammaissohopelesslyoldfashioned；——hasentirelythewrongideaaboutit。
\"Hermione，\"shesaidtometheotherevening，afterthelittletalk，\"WHATdidthelecturercallhimself？\"
\"He’saHedonist，\"Isaid。
\"Indeed!\"shesaid，\"andwhatsortofmodernimproprietyisHedonism？IsitsomethingaboutSex，orisitsomethingaboutPsychics？\"
Isimplycouldn’tspeak。
Ijustgaveheralookandwalkedoutoftheroom。ItisabsolutelyuselesstoattempttoexplainanythingtoMamma。
SheissoMid—Victorian!
AndMid—Victorianismhasquitegoneout，youknow。Really。TheloveliestmangaveusatalkontheMid—Victorianrecently，andwhenhewasdonetherewasn’taoneofusthatdidn’tgoandhideourTennysonsandRuskins。
AlthoughIalwaysWILLlike\"ComeintotheGarden，Maud。\"
ButhediditwithsuchHUMOR，youknow。Isn’tasenseofhumoraperfectlyWONDERFULthing？
Asenseofhumorisasenseofproportion，youknow——hebroughtthatoutsocleverly，theanti—Mid—Victorianmandid。
Thoughsomanypeoplewhohaveasenseofhumorareso——so，wellsoQUEERaboutit，ifyougetwhatImean。Thatis，ifyouknowtheyhaveone，ofcourseyou’renaturallywatchingforthemtosayhumorousthings；andthey’reforeversayingthesortofthingsthatpuzzleyou，becauseyouhaveneverheardthosethingsbeforeinjustthatway，andifyouDOlaughthey’resoapttoactasifyouwerelaughingintheWRONGplace!
Andonedoesn’tdareNOTtolaugh，doesone？
It’sreallyquiteunfairandunkindsometimes!
Don’tyouthinkso？
WetookupavolumeonTheAnalysisofHumoronewinter——ourLittleGroupofSeriousThinkers，youknow——andreaditcompletelythrough，andbeforethewinterwasoveritgotsotherewasn’taoneofusthatdaredNOTtolaughatanythinganyotheronesaidand——well，itgotratherghastlybeforespring。Becauseevenifsomeonewantedtoknowifapersonneededanumbrellasomeoneelsewouldlaugh。
Well，Imustbegoingnow。Ihaveacommitteemeetingatthreethisafternoon。We’regoinginforthisone—dayWomen’sStrike，youknow——ourlittlegroupis。
VOKEEASELEYANDHISNEWART
FORmyacquaintancewithVokeEaseley————
（Hermione’sreporter，andnotHermioneherself，isspeakingnow。）————
FormyacquaintancewithVokeEaseleyandhisnewart，IamindebtedtoFothergilFinch。
Fothergilisakindofgeniushound。Hescurriessleuthingaroundthetowneveronthescentofsomethingqueerandcaviar。Heiswelltrainedandneverkillswhathecatcheshimself；hetakesittoHermione；andafterHermionehastiredofitI
amatlibertytodowhatIpleasewithit。
ThemostremarkablethingaboutVokeEaseleyatacasualglanceishisAdam’sapple。ItisnotonlythelargestAdam’sappleIhaveeverseen，andthehardestlookingone，andthemostactiveone，butitisalsothemostintelligentlookingone。VokeEaseley’sfaceexpressesverylittle。Hiseyesaresmallandfullandgreen。Hismouth，whilelarge，missessignificance。Hisnose，indeed，isbig；butitismild；itisatamenose；onefeelsnomorecharacterinitthaninafalsenose。Hischinandforeheadretreatingloriouslyfromthebattleoflife。
Butallthepersonalitywhichhiseyesshouldshow，alltheforcewhichshoulddwellinhisnose，allthetemperamentalqualitiesthatshouldrevealthemselvesinhismouthandchin，allthegeniuswhichshouldilluminehisbrow——thesedwellwithinhisAdam’sapple。Themanhasrunentirelytothatfeature；hismoods，hisemotions，histhoughts，hispassions，hisappetites，hisbeliefs，hisdoubts，hishopes，hisfears，hisresolves，hisdespairs，hisdefeats，hisexaltations——all，allmakethemselvesknownsubtlyintheeccentricmotionsofthatunusualAdam’sapple。
WhenIsawhimfirstinactionIdidnotatoncegetit。HestoodstifflyerectinthecenterofHermione’sdrawing—room，surroundedbytheseriousthinkers，withhisheadthrownbackandhisAdam’sapplethrustforward，andgaveventtoaseriesofstrangenoises。Besidehimstoodaveryslenderlady，alldressedinapplegreen，withalonggreenwandinherhand，andontheendofthewandwasanartificialappleblossom。ThisshewavedjerkilyinfrontofVokeEaseley’seyes，andhisAdam’sapplemovedasthewandmoved，andfromhismouthcamethewildsoundsinresponsetoit。
SoonIrealizedthatshewasconductinghimasifhewereanorchestra。
ButstillIdidnotgetit。Foritwasnotwords，itwasnothingsoarticulateasspeech，thatVokeEaseleyuttered。Norwasit，tomyear，song。Andyet，asIlistened，Ibegantoseethatawildrhythmpervadedtheutterance；theAdam；’sappleleapt，danced，swunground，twinkled，bounded，slidandleaptagainintimewithacertainroughbarbaricmeasure；thesoundsthemselveswerealldiscords，butdiscordswithapurpose；discordsthattookeachotherbythehandandkickedandstampedtheirbrutalwaytogethertowardsomeobjectivepoint。
IledFothergilintoacorner。
\"Whatisit？\"Iwhispered。Itisalwayswell，atoneofHermione’ssoulfights，togetyourcuebeforetheconversationofficiallystarts。Ifyoudon’tknowwhatisgoingtobetalkedaboutbeforethetalkstartsthechancesarethatyouneverwillknowfromthetalkitself。
\"ANewArt!\"saidFothergil。Andthenheledmeintothehallandexplained。
WhatGertrudeSteinhasdoneforprose，whatthewilderverslibrebardsaredoingforpoetry，whatcubistsandfuturistsaredoingforpaintingandsculpture，thatVokeEaseleyisdoingforvocalmusic。
\"Heispaintingsoundportraitswithhislarynxnow，\"saidFothergil。\"Andthebeautifulpartofitisthatheisabsolutelytonedeaf!Hedoesn’tknowathingaboutmusic。Hetriedforyearstolearnandcouldn’t。Theonlywayheknowswhenyoustrikeachordonthepianoisbecausehedoesn’tlikechordsnearaswellashedoesdiscords。Hehasgonerightbacktothedog，thewolf，thecaveman，thetiger，thebear，thewind，therockslide，thethunderandtheearthquakeforhislanguage。
Heinterpretslifeinthetermsofnaturalsounds，whicharediscordsnearlyalways；buthehasaddedbrainstothemandmadethemallthemoodsofthehumansoul!\"
\"Andtheladyingreen？\"
\"Thatishiswife——hecandonothingwithouther。Thereisthemostcompletepsychicaccordbetweenthem。Itisbeautiful!Beautiful!\"
Whenwereturnedtheladyingreenwasannouncing：
\"ThenextselectionisaVokeEaseleyimpressionoftheSoulofWagnergazingatthesunrisefromthepeakoftheJungfrau。\"
Thewandwaved；theAdam’sAppleleapt，andtheywereoff。Whatfollowedcannotbeindicatedtypographically。Butifacatwereasawmill，andadogwereagiganticcartfulloftincansbouncingthroughastone—pavedstreet，andthatdogandthatcathatedeachotherandweretellingeachotherso，itwouldsoundmuchlikeit。
Itwaswellreceived。ExceptbyRavenswoodWimble。
Healwayshastohavehislittlecriticalfling。
\"ThepeakoftheJungfrau!\"hegrumbled。
\"Jungfrauindeed!ItwasMontBlanc!ItwasverywonderfullyandsubtlyMontBlanc!ButtheJungfrau——never!\"
\"Hermione，\"Isaid，\"whatdoyouthinkoftheNewArt？\"
\"It’swonderful!\"shebreathed，\"justsimplywonderful!Soesoteric，andyetsosimple!ButthereisonethingIamgoingtospeaktoMrs。VokeEaselyabout——oneimprovementIamgoingtosuggest。Hisears，youknow——don’tyouthinktheyaretoolarge？Ortoored，atleast，fortheirsize？
Theycatchtheeyetoomuch——theytakeawayfromtheeffect。BeforehesingshereagainIwillhaveMrs。Easeleybobthemoffalittle。\"
HERMIONEONSUPERFICIALITY
AREN’TyoujustcrazyabouttheMoralUplift？
It’scomingintoeverydepartmentoflifenowandonejustsimplyHAStokeepupwithitinordertotalkintelligentlythesedays。
Notthatonecantalktoofreelyaboutitinmixedcompany，youknow。
Therearegettingtobetheawfullestlotofmoralsubjectsthatonecan’ttalkaboutgenerally，aren’tthere？
Eugenicsandsexhygieneandalltheseplaysandbookswithamoralpurpose，youknow。
OfcourselotsofpeopleDOtalkaboutthemgenerally。Ididmyselfforquiteawhile。AndthenanothergirlandIgotsomebooksandstudiedupwhatthethingswehadbeentalkingofreallywereanditshockedushorribly!
Mammahasbeentryingtogetmetogiveupthemoralupliftentirely，butyou’vejustsimplyGOTtotalkitorbeoutofdate。
Ofcoursethewholethingdependsuponwhetheryouareaseriousthinker——ifyou’resincere，REALLY
sincere，youcantakeupanythingandgetgoodoutofit。
Theloveliestmantalkedtouslastnight——toourLittleGroupofAdvancedThinkers，youknow。
Hesaidthecurseoftheageandthecountrywassuperficiality。Peoplearen’tthorough，youknow。
I’venoticedthatmyselfandIagreewithhim。
Ifoneisgoingtotakethingsupandshowaseriousinterestinthemonemustnotlimitone’sselftoafewphases。
Onemustbebroad。Onemustbethorough。
Onemustcoverthewholefieldofthought。
Ourlittlegroupthiswinterhasbeentryingtodothat。Sofarwe’vetakeupBergson，socialism，psychology，RabindranathTagore，themeaningofwelfarework，culinaryscience，thenewmovementsinart——andeversomanymorethingsIcan’tre—
membernow。
FortherestofLentwe’regoingtotakeuptheCosmicConsciousness。
OneofthegirlsthoughtitwouldbeanicesortofthingtotakeupduringLent——aquietkindofthing，youknow；notlikefeminismorchemistry。
Haveyouseenanyofthenewparti—coloredbootsyet？
Isn’titanabsurdidea？
Andyet，youknow——ifitmadeforBeauty!
Thatiswhatonemustalwayssaytoone’sselfmustonenot？Imean：DoesitmakeforBeauty？
That’sthereasonIlefttheSuffrageParty，youknow。Theywantedmetowearoneofthosehor—
ridyellowsashes。Andmycomplexioncan’tstandyellow。SoIquittheSuffragePartyrightthere。
ISIS，THEASTROLOGIST
WE’REtakingupastrologyquietseriously——
ourLittleGroupofSeriousThinkers，youknow——andwe’vehiredtheloveliestladyastrologertocastourhoroscopesandgiveusatalkandgetusstartedright。
Shewrotealettertome——themostperfectlyfascinatingletter——andItoldhertocall，andwelookedherover。Sheworeabeautifulsky—bluegownwithgoldstarsonit——oneofthoseGreekones，youknow，likepoor，dearIsadoraDuncanwore——andagoldstarinthemiddleofherforehead。
Itmakesherlooklikeaunicorn，thatstar，\"
RavenswoodWimblesaid。ButthennobodyeverpleasesRavenswoodWimblecompletely。Heisso——ifyougetme。
\"Ifaunicorn，thenacelestialunicorn，\"FothyFinchsaid。Fothyistoodearforanything；heisalwayshuntingforthegoodinpeople，likeApollo，orEuripides——whichwasit？——whentheygavehimthebasketfullofwheatandchaff，andheseparatedthem。OrmaybeitwasDiogenes。
Shehassixsisters，andtheyareallastrologers，andtheycallthemthePleiades。
AlthoughVokeEaseley，inhishorridslangyway，said：\"Pleiades？She’saBear!\"
Don’tyoujustutterlyloatheslang？
BitIwasgoingtotellyouaboutthelovelylettershewrote——that’swhatattractedmetoheratthefirst。
\"Haveyouneveraskedyourself，\"itbegan\"’WhywasIborn？’\"
Fancyknowingthataboutone!IfthereisonequestionIhaveaskedmyselfthousandsandthousandsoftimesitis，\"WhywasIborn？\"
AndthentheletterwentontotalkabouthoroscopesandtheInevitable。
\"Wemaynotovercometheinevitable，\"itsaid，\"butitisourstoseethattheInevitabledoesnotovercomeus。\"
Oh，theInevitable!TheInevitable!
HowoftenIhavethoughtoftheInevitablewithdespair!
Andithasneveroccurredtomebeforethatonecouldtakeitanduseitasonepleased。Butitseemsonecanifoneknowsaboutitbeforehand。ItislikeDestinythatway。Ifoneisignorantofone’sDestiny，itcomesupononewithasurprise。Butifoneknowsbeforehandwhatone’sDestinyistobe，onecanmakeonselfthemasterofit。Thatiswherethehoroscopecomesinhandy，youknow。
AfterdippingintoAstrologyIwillneveragainbeafraidoftheInevitable。
AstheLettersays：\"Everywomanwithherhoroscopebeforeher，andherSoulbackofher，shouldbeabletosolveanyproblemandmeetanysituationthatmayoccurinherlife。\"
RavenswoodWimblewantedtoknow，whenhemetthelady——didItellyouthatherprofessionalnameisIsis？——whatwouldhappenifherSoulwasbeforeherandherhoroscopebackofher。ButIsisjustsimplyfrozehimwithalook。
Don’tyouthinkthatlevityishorridinthemidstofvitalaffairslikethat？
ButIsupposeeverylittlegrouphassomeoneinitthatthinksheorshehastobequippyandfacetiousattimes。
NotbutwhatIhaveasenseofhumormyself。
Ithinkasenseofhumoristhesavinggrace，ifyougetwhatImean。
Butnooneshouldtrytouseitunlessheisperfectlysurethateveryoneunderstandsheisbeinghumorous。
Wearegoingtotakeupthesenseofhumor——
ourLittleGroupofThinkers，youknow——inaseriouswaysoon。
ButtheSwamidoesn’tlikeIsis。Poor，dearSwami!Sheisacharlatan，hesays。Andshedoesn’tlikehim。\"Mydear，\"shesaidtome，\"areyouSUREhereallygoesintotheSilences？OrdoeshejustPRETENDto？\"
Isn’titawfulaboutgeniusesthatway——howjealoustheyAREofeachother？Especiallypsychics!
Wehadtwomediumsthesameeveningayearortwoagowhoactuallyquarreledoverwhichoneofthemacertainspiritcontrolbelongedto。
THESIMPLEHOMEFESTIVALS
DON’Tyoujustlovethesimpleoldfestivals，likeThanksgivingDayandChristmas？
That’sisonethingthatPapaandMammaandIagreeabout。AndthisyearwehadaverysimplesortofThanksgivingDay。
Ofcourse，it’sratheraboreifyouhavetoinvitealotofrelations。
Butonemustalwayssacrificesomethingtogaintheworth—whilethings，mustn’tone？
Andwhatismoreworthwhilethansimplicity？
Simplicity!Simplicity!Isn’tittrulyWONDERFUL!
NearlyeverynightbeforeIgotobedIaskmyself：
\"haveIbeensimpleandgenuinetoday？OrhaveIFAILED？
PapaalwayshastwomaidenauntstoThanks—
givingdinner。Dearoldsouls，Isuppose，butfrumps，youknow。
AndFothergilFinchwasthere，too。IaskedpoordearFothy，becauseotherwisehewouldhavehadtoeatinsomerestaurant。
ItriedtobeagreeabletoPapa’saunts——ofcourse。Isupposetheyaremygreat—aunts，butI
neverfeltREALLYrelatedtothem——buthowcouldheknowhowterriblyunadvancedtheyare？
Fothy’sonlyrealinterestscenteraboutArt，youknow。AndifhehadtalkedofArtitwouldhavebeenbetter。
But，ashetoldmelater，hethoughtheshouldtrytomeetmypeopleontheirowngroundandtalkofsomethingpractical。
Somethingwithadirectbearingonlife，youknow。
SoheaskedAuntEvelynwhatshethoughtofTrialMarriages。
Shedidn’tknowexactlywhathemeantatfirst，butAuntFannywhisperedsomethingtoherandsheturnedwhiteandsaid，\"Mercy!\"
PoordearFothysawhemustbeonthewrongtrack，sohechangedthesubjectandbegantotellAuntFannytheplotofanewproblemplay。Oneofthesexones，youknow。
\"Heavens，\"saidAuntFanny，andbegantotremble。
Andtheydrewtheirchairsnearertogetherandeachonetookabottleofsmellingsaltsoutofalittleblackbag，andtheysatandtrembledandsmelledtheirsaltsandstaredathimperfectlyfascinated。
ThisembarrassedFothy，buthethoughhismistakehadbeenintalkingaboutanythingartistic，likeaplay，sohechangedthesubjectagain。HetoldmeafterwardthathefeltifhecouldgetontoareallyPRACTICALsubjectallwouldgowell。
SoheaskedAuntEvelynwhatshethoughtaboutGenetics。
\"Whatarethey？\"askedAuntEvelyn，herteethchattering。
\"Why，Eugenics，\"saidFothy。AndthenhehadtoexplainallaboutEugenics。
Theysatperfectlystillandstaredathim，andhefeltsurehehadtheminterestedatlast，andhetalkedonandonaboutEugenicsandtheFutureRace，youknow，andthatledhimbacktoTrialMarriages，andthenhegoontotheTwilightSleep。
And，ashesaidhimselfafterward，whatcouldbemorepractical？
But，youknow，commonplacepeopleneverappreciatetheeffortsthatseriousthinkersmakeforthem，andAuntEvelynrefusedtocometothetableatallwhendinnerwasannounced。Shesaidshehadlostherappetiteandfeltfaint。
ButAuntEmmycame。Sheaskedtheblessing。
PapaalwayshasherdothatonThanksgivingDayandChristmasandNewYear’s。Andshemadearegularprayeroutofit——prayedforFothy，youknow，rightbeforehim；andprayedformetoo。Itwasawful。
AndafterwardpoordearFothysaidhewishedhehadtalkedaboutArt。
\"It’ssafe，\"Isaid；\"thenpeoplecan’tgetoffended，fornobodyknowswhatyoumeanatall。\"
\"Oh，\"saidFothy，\"nobodydoes？\"Andhewentawayquitemelancholyandinjured。
CITRONELLAANDSTEGOMYIA
WEweretalkingaboutfamousloveaffairstheotherevening，andFothergilFinchsaidhewasthinkingofwritingaballadaboutCitronellaandStegomyia。
And，ofcourse，everybodypretendedtheyknewwhoCitronellaandStegomyiawere。Mrs。VokeEaseley——You’veheardaboutVokeEaseleyandhisNewArt，Haven’tyou？——Mrs。VokeEaseleysaid：
\"Butdon’tyouthinkthoseoldItalianloveaffairshavebeendonetodeath？\"
\"Italian？\"saidFothy，raisinghiseyebrowsatMrs。VokeEaseley。
Youknow，really，therewasn’taoneofthemknewwhoCitronellaandStegomyiawere；buttheywereallpretending，andtheysawMrs。VokeEaseleywasinbad。Andshesawit，too，andtriedtosaveherself。
\"Ofcourse，\"shesaid，\"CitronellaandStegomyiaweren’tItalianloversTHEMSELVES。ButsomanyoftheoldItalianpoetshavewrittenaboutthemthatIalwaysthinkofthemasglowingstarsinthatwonderful，wonderfulgalaxyofItalianromance!\"
Fothycanbeverymeanwhenhewantsto。Sohesaid：
\"Idon’treadItalian，Mrs。Easeley。IhavebeenforcedtogetallmyinformationaboutCitronellaandStegomyiafromEnglishwriters。MaybeyouwouldbegoodenoughtotellmewhatItalianpoetitiswhohasturnedoutthemostrecentversionofCitronellaandStegomyia？\"
Mrs。VokeEaseleyansweredwithoutamoment’shesitation：\"Why，D’Annunzio，ofcourse。\"
Thatmadeeverybodywaveragain。AndAureliaDartsaid——she’sthatgirlwiththebeautifularms，youknow，whoplaystheharpandalwayshasamanortwotocarryitaboutwherevershegoes——
somebodyelse’shusband，ifshecanmanageit——
Aureliasaid：
\"D’Annunzio，ofcourse!Passagesofithavebeensettomusic。\"
\"Won’tyouplaysomeofit？\"askedFothy，verypolitely。
\"Ithasneverbeenarrangedfortheharp，\"saidAurelia。\"ButifMrs。Easelycanremembersomeofthelines，andwillbegoodenoughtorepeatthem，Iwillimproviseforit。\"
ThatputituptoMrs。Easeleyagain，youknow。
ShehatesAurelia，andAureliaknowsit。VokeEaseleycarriedAurelia’sharparoundalmostalllastwinter。AndtheonlywayMrs。EaseleycouldbreakVokeofitwastobringtheirlittlegirlalongtheonethathasconvulsionssoeasily，youknow。
AndthenwhenVokewasgettingAurelia’sharpreadyforherthelittlegirlwouldhaveaconvulsion，andMrs。EaseleywouldturnherovertoVoke，andVokewouldhavetotakethelittlegirlhome，andMrs。EaseleywouldstayandsaywhatafamilymanandwhatadevotedhusbandVokewas，foranartist。
Well，Mrs。Easeleywasn’tstumpedatall。Shegotupandrepeatedsomething。ItookupItalianpoetryonewinter，andwemadeaspecialstudyofD’Annunzio；butIdidn’trememberwhatMrs。
Easeleyrecited。ButAureliaharpedtoit。
Improvisingisoneofthebestthingsshedoes。
Andeverybodysaidhowlovelyitwasandhowmuchsoultherewasinit，and，\"PoorStegomyia!
PoorCitronella!\"
TheSwamisaiditremindedhimofsomepassagesinTagorethathadn’tbeentranslatedintoEnglishyet。
VokeEaseleysaid：\"TheplaintofCitronellaisfullofapassionofdreamthatonlytheItalianpoetshavefoundthelanguagefor。\"
FothywinkedatmeandImadeanexcuseandslippedintothelibraryandlookedthemup——and，well，wouldyoubelieveit!——theyweren’tloversatall!AndImighthaveknownitfromthefirst，forIalwaysusecitronellaformosquitoesinthecountry。
TheywerestillpretendingwhenIgotback，allofthem，andAureliawassaying：\"CitronelladifferspsychologicallyfromJuliet——sheismorelikepoor，dearFrancescainherfeelingofthecosmicinevitabilityoftragedy。ButstegomyiahadastrainofHamletinhim。\"
\"Yes，astrainofHamlet，\"saidVokeEaseley。
\"AstrainofHamletinhisnature，Aurelia——andmorethanastrainofTristram!\"
\"ItisathingthatMaeterlinckshouldhavewritten，inhisearliermanner，\"saidMrs。VokeEaseley。
\"ThestoryhasitsIrishcounterpart，too，\"saidLeilaBrown，whoratherspecializes，youknow，onallthoselovelyLadyGregorythings。\"IhavealwayswonderedwhyYeatsorSyngehasn’tusedit。\"
\"TheessentialstoryisolderthanIreland，\"saidtheSwami。\"ItisolderthanBuddha。TherearethreeversionsofitinSanskrit，andtheyoungmensingittothisdayinBenares。\"
Affectation!Affectation!Oh，howIabhoraffectation!
ItwasperfectlyHORRIDofFothyjustthesame。
ANYONEmighthavebeenfooled。
Imighthavebeenmyself，ifIwerenottoointellectuallyhonest，andFothyhadn’ttippedmethewink。
HERMIONE’SSALONOPENS
I
Perchancelastnightyoufelttheworldcareen，LeapinitsorbitlikeapunishedpupWhichhathahornetonhisburningbean？
Lastnight，lastnight——historicyestere’en!——
Hermione’sSalonwasopenedup!
II
Without，thenightwascold。ButThought，within，RoaredthroughtheroomsasredandhotasSin。
Without，thenightwascalm；within，thesurgeAndsnapofThoughtkeptupacracklingdinAsifinsportthewell—knownCosmicUrgewithPsychicSlapstickswhackedthedomeandShinOfSwami，SeriousThinker，GhostandGoat。
Fromsouptonuts，fromNuttoSuperFreak，Fromclamstocoffee，alltheClanswerethere。
ThegroggySoulMategropingforitsTwin，TheburglingfreeverseBlear，theHoboPote，Clairvoyant，CubistbugandBurlappedGreek，SouseSocialistsandqueenswithbrightgreenhair，GinksleadingbarberedArtDogstrimmedandSleek，TheGreenwichStableDwellers，MuleandMare，PalAnarchs，tamedandwrappedineveningduds，PhilosopherswhogowhereversudsFlowfree，musicianshuntingaftereats，AndsandaleddameswhohangfromeitherearStrangelumps——\"artjools\"——thesizeofpickledbeets，Writersthatwritenot，huntingAtmosphere，Paintersandsculptorsthatne’erpaintnorsculp，ReformerstakingnotesonBrainstormSlum，CaveMeninWindsorTies，allgaucheandglum，WithstrongironjawsthatcrushtheirfoodtoPulp，AndbrightBoyCynicsplayingparadox，Andth’inevitableShethatknittethBelgiansocks——
Ascoreoflittlegroups!——allbeesthathumAboutthefutilebloomsofPiffledom。
III
AwanEroticRottertoldmethatTheWorldcouldnotbeSavedexceptthroughSin；
Asheeugenist，sexless，flabby，fat，Withburstveinswindingthroughunhealthyskin，Withloose，uncertainlipspreachedPurity；
APreacherblasphemedjusttoshowhedared；
AdamepraisedUnconventionalityInwordshersecretaryhadprepared；
Abare—legg’dpaintergarbedinLeopardhideQuarreledwithaChineselyreandscaredthedogs；
AslitheringDancerslunkfromsidetosideInweird，ungodly，Orientaltogs；
Apale，anemic，frailDivinityConfidedthatshethoughtthegreatBlondBeastHimselfwasArt’sowntrueAffinity；
AnAnarchgloomed；\"TheMummyattheFeastGetsallthepleasurefromthefestiveboard!\"
Iknownotwhattheymeant；IonlywunkWithinmyself，andpraisedthegreatgodBunk。
AYogisoughttheSilencesandsnored。
IV
But’twasHermionethatGottheHand!
Ah，yes，shetalked!OfPurpose，andofSoul，AndhowLife’spartsareequaltoitsWhole。
AndThought——anddotheMassesUnderstand？
ShelightlytouchedonLifeandLoveandDeath，AndCosmicConsciousness，andonUnrest，SubstanceandShadow，SolidThingsandBreath，TheNewArtmovementshersweetvoicecaressed，Philanthropy，Genetics，SocialDuty，TheMother—Teacherclaimedapassingsmile，AndshemadeclearweallmustworshipBeautyAndConcentrateonThingsthatareWorthWhile。
\"Eachnight，\"shesaid，\"eachnightereIretireIntotheDepthsIpeer，andIinquire，\"HaveItodaysomeWorth—whileSummitscaled？
OrhaveIfailedtoclimb？Oh，haveIfailed？
TheselittletalksbetweentheSelfandSoul——
Oh，don’tyouthink？——stillhelpustowardtheGoal；
TheyhelpusshapetheUniversalLawsInsweetaccordancewithourgloriousCause!\"
\"Hermione，\"saidI，\"theydo!Theydo!\"
\"Thankyou，\"saidshe，\"IKNEWyou’dunderstand!\"
Isaidtoher，thewhileIpressedherhand，\"All，all，myinterestIowetoyou!\"
AndthenIleft，andfollowingmyfeetSoonfoundthattheyhadledmetothestreet。
V
AndthereIfoundaburlyGarbageManWhothroughbleakwinternightsfromcantocanGoesonhisashyway，sansrestorpause，Goesonhisway，stillfaithfultohisCause。
\"Tellme，\"saidI，\"ifnowacrossthevergeOfnightshouldcomethekindlyCosmicUrge，Strong—armedandvirile，fullofvimandhelp，Andofferyouwiththeeherecanstohelp，WouldyouaccepttheCosmicUrge’said，OrwouldyouriseupfreeandunafraidAndsay，’MyrestlessPersonalityBidsmereturnanegativetothee!’\"
\"Oldscout，\"sayshe，\"I’veneverreallybroughtMyintellectstobearonthattherethough!
Igetsnohelp，Iasksnohelpfromnone——
ButIhavenoticed，bo，thatonebyone，Andsoonorlate，andgradual，daybyday，Mostthingsinlifeeventualcomesmyway!
IntotheAshesCanthewholeworldgoes，Oldhats，oldpapers，toysandstylesandclo’es，Eventualtheydump\"emdownthebay!\"
VI
SymbolicGarbageMan!Sansrestorpause，InsteadfastfaithworkforthySacredCause!
Sometime，perhaps，allpilesoftwistedbunk，Allhalf—bakedfaddists，heapsofmentaljunk，UntothewaitingScowwe’llcartawayEventualtodump’emdownthebay!
THEPERFUMECONCERT
THELoveliestmangaveusatalktheotherevening——ourLittleGroupofSeriousThinkers，youknow——ontheArtoftheFuture。
Andwhatdoyouthinkitistobe？You’dneverguess!Never!
TheentertainmentofthefuturewillbeaPerfumeconcert!
Everyscent，ifyougetwhatImean，correspondstosomecolor，andevercolorcorrespondstosomesound，andeverysoundcorrespondstosomeemotion。
Andthetrulyestheticperson——theonewhoisSensitized，ifyougetwhatImean——willhearatoneontheviolin，andseeacolor，andthinkpassionatelyoftheOneheLoves，allatthesametime，justthroughsmellingaRose。
Only，ofcourse，itmustbetheRIGHTKINDofarose。
Papa——poorderPapaissocoarseandcrudesometimesinhisattemptstobewitty——Papasaysitwouldbeafineideatoleadthemanwhotalkedtousintoaboiledcabbagefoundryandthenwatchhimdieofthenoise。PapaisnotSensitized；hedoesn’tunderstandthattheesthetereallyWOULDdie——
PaparesiststhevibrationsoftheestheticenvironmentwithwhichIhavestriventosurroundhim，ifyougetwhatImean。
Oh，tobeSensitized!TobeSensitized!Tovibratelikeareedinthewind!Tothrilllikeapetalinthesun!
I’mhavingastudyofmyauramade。Youknow，one’ssoulgivesoffcertaincolors，andifone’sindividualityistobeintunewiththeCosmicAll，onemusttakecarethatthecolorsaboutoutdonotjarwithone’sownPsychicHue。
Andafteronehasfoundone’ssoulcolor，onecanfindthescenttomatchthatcolor，ifyougetwhatI
mean。
Iamgoingtohavethehousere—decorated，withasweetsubtleblendingofperfumesineveryroom!
Ihavealwaysbeengoodatmatchingthings，anyhow——Iperceiveaffinitiesataglance。Psychicpeopledo。
WhenIwasquiteasmallchildMammaalwaysusedtotakemewithhertotheshopsiftherewereribbonsoranythinglikethattobematched。
Ijustlovedit，evenasababy!AndIthinkitisthegreatestfunyet。
OftenIgothroughhalfadozenshops，notbecauseIwanttobuyanything，butjusttomatchcolors，youknow。Itgivesmeathrillthatnothingelsedoes。
Someofusarelikethat——someofustrulySensitizedSouls——wefunction，Imean，quitewithoutbeingabletostopit——Ihopeyoufollowme。Isn’titwonderfultobeintouchwiththeUniverseinthatway!Not，ofcourse，thattheshopgirlswhoshowyouthefabricsandthingsarealwaysunderstanding。
Theworkingclassesaresooftenungratefultousadvancedthinkers。SometimesIamalmostprovokedtothepointofgivingupmySocialBettermentworkwhenIthinkHOWungratefultheyare。
Butsomeofus，ineveryage，mustsufferatthehandsofthemassesforthesakeofthemasses，ifyouknowwhatImean。
ONBEINGOTHER—WORLDLY
ITisnotenoughtobemerelyunworldly。
OnemustbeOTHER—WORLDLYaswell，ifyougetwhatImean。
ForwhatdoesallModernThoughtamounttoifitdoesnotministertotheBeautifulandtheSpiritual？
Isn’tMaterialismsimplyFRIGHTFUL？
Fortheundisciplinedmind，Imean。Ofcourse，therightsortofmindwillgetgoodevenoutofMaterialism，andthewrongsortwillgetharmoutofit。
EverytimebeforeItakeupanythingnewIaskmyself，\"IsitOTHER—worldly？OrisitnotOTHER—Worldly？’’
WeweregoingtotakeupMalthusianismandMendelism——ourLittleGroupofSeriousThinkers，youknow——andgiveawholeeveningtothem，butoneofthegirlssaid，\"Ohlet’sNOTtakethemup。
Theysoundfrightfullychemical，somehow!\"
Isaid，\"Thequestion，mydear，isnotwhethertheyarechemicalorun—chemical。Thequestionis，Aretheyworldly？OraretheyOTHER—Worldly？\"
ThatistheTouchstone。Onecanapplyittoeverything，simplyEVERYTHING!\"
Shouldteachersbemothers，forinstance——thatquestioncameupfordiscussiontheotherevening。
AndIsettledthewholematteratonce，withonequestion：\"Isitworldly？OrisitOTHER—worldlyforTeacherstobeMothers？OrisitmerelyUn—Worldly？\"
Haveyouseenthelatestmodels？Someofthemarewonderful，simplyWONDERFUL!YouknowI
alwaysdresstomytemperament——andI’mhavingtheloveliestgownmade——theskirtisecrulace，youknow；adoubletieredeffect，fallingfromastraightbodice，andthecolorschemeissilverandblue。
PARENTSANDTHEIRINFLUENCE
MAMAisunadvancedenough，goodnessknows。
Butpoor，dearPapa!
\"Papa，\"Isaidtohimtheotherday，\"allconservativesworthlisteningtowereradicalsintheiryouth。\"Theloveliestmantoldusthattheothernight——ourLittleGroupofSeriousThinkers，youknow——anditstruckmeasbeingprofound。
Andisn’tprofundityfascinating？
ButPapaonlygloweredandsaid，\"Umph!\"
Papa，youknow，isanobstructionist。
\"Papa，\"Isaidtohim，\"whatisstubbornnessinyouhasbecomewillpowerinme。Youwillneverdominateme——NEVER!Youshouldstudyheredity；
it’swonderful，simplyWONDERFUL!
Papascowledandsaid，\"Umph!\"
Butyouknow，ParentsareDoomed。
OurlittlegrouplistenedtoatalktheothereveningaboutParents。Mothers，particularly。
\"ThemenaceoftheMother，\"itwascalled。I
alwaysmakenoteoftitles。
Thismansaid——hewasaregularsavant——Iwishyoucouldhaveheardhim——my，ifIweren’tsuchanadvancedthinker，Iwouldbeasavant————
Anyhow，hesaid，thissavant，thatMothersheldbackCivilizationthroughSelfishness——theyteachtheChild，youknow，thatis——er，well，youknow，theylosesightofUlteriorEthicsandRaceMoralitywhileinculcatingIndividualSelf—Improvement。
It’sfrightfultothinkabout，isn’tit？SimplyFRIGHTFUL!
ThenandthereIresolvedthatifIwereeveraMotherIwouldturnovertheup—bringingofmychildrentoexpertsandsavantsandspecialistslikethat。
\"Papa，\"Isaid，\"youallowedpoor，dearMammatomakemeselfish——youknowyoudid!Whathaveyoutosayforyourself？WhatrighthadyoutomakemeaSelf—IndulgentIndividualist？
And，youknow，Ihavestruggledandstruggledtogetridoftheselfishnessmyparentstrainedintome。HowIstriveforHarmonyandHumility!
NearlyeverynightbeforeIgotobedIsaytomy—
self：\"HaveIbeenHUMBLEtoday？Trulyhumble？
OrhaveIFAILED？\"
ChildrenarenotnearlySIMPLEenoughthesedays。
Oh，formoreSimplicity!Thatiswhatweallneed。
ThoughIwillsaythisforMamma——thatitwouldhavebeenhardtotrainSimplicityintomeevenifshehadknownhow。
Ihadsuchahigh—strung，sensitive，nervousorganismasachild，youknow。
Ataveryearlyagemytemperamentbegantoshow。
AndoneCANNOThideone’stemperament。
Especiallyifoneisatallpsychic，andIam，VERY。
ButifIeverhaveChildren——well，Iwilltakenochanceswiththem。
Tobeginwith，IwillSelecttheirFather。
Mammasaid，whenItoldherthat：\"Hermione，youareHORRID!\"
PoordearMamma!She’sSOstupid!\"Mamma，\"
Isaidtoher，ofcourseIDON’Tmeanfreelove。
I’mnotthatadvanced，Ihope!ThoughsomeVERY
NicePeoplehavewrittenofit——it’squiterespectable，asatheory。Butyou’rehopelesslyold—fashioned。
IWILLselecttheparentofmyOff—spring；
YOUwereselected。\"
Mammaonlygroanedandsaid：\"AnythingbutaCave—man，Hermione。\"
ButIamnotsure。ItcomesbacktomeagainandagainhowPrimitiveIaminsomeways。
Andtowanderbarefootinthedew!
Notreallyquitebarefoot，ofcourse——butwithsomeofthenewsandalson。
FOTHERGILFINCHTELLSOFHISREVOLT
AGAINSTORGANIZEDSOCIETY
BERTIEGRIGGS——youknowEthelbertGriggs，don’tyou？HedoesthetextfortheParisfashionsforawoman’smagazine，andonthesidehewritesthemostimpassionedverse。AllaboutSerpentsandWoman，andLillithandPhryne，youknow。
Bertiesaidtomeonlytheotherday，\"Fothy，youaretooRadical。Itwillkeepyoudownintheworld。\"
\"Bertie，\"Isaid，\"IknowIam，butcanIhelpit？Ispurntheworld!Atrulyvirilepoetmust。\"
\"Someday，Fothy，\"hesaid，\"youwillcomeintocontactwiththelaw。\"
Ionlylaughed。Bitterly，Isuppose，forBertielookedatmequiteshocked。
\"Bertie，\"Isaid，\"Iexpectpersecution。Iwelcomeit。Allgreatsoulsdo。Ilookforit。Ononepretextoranother，Iwillbeflungintoprisonwhenmynextvolume，\"Clamor，CriesandCurses’
comesout。\"
AndIwill，too，ifIeverfindapublisherwhodarestobringitout。Buttheyarealltoocowardly!
\"Fothy，\"hesaid，\"youRevolutionistsarealwaystalking——butwhatdoyoueverdo？
Iarosewithdignity。\"Bertie，\"Isaid，\"IamreadytosufferfortheCause。\"Iturnedandlefthim。Imusthavebeenpalewithresolve，forheranaftermeandcaughtmebythewrist。ButI
shookhimoff。
Iwasinadesperatemood。
\"CursesuponalltheirConventions!\"Isaid，asI
turnedupthestreettowardCentralPark。\"Cursesuponallorganizedsociety!\"
IstoppedinfrontofColumbus’sstatue，atColumbusCircle。
\"Fool，\"Imutteredbitterly，\"todiscoveranewworld\"
Ishookmyfistatthestatueandwenton。
Iwanderedovertotheplacewheretheykeeptheanimals，andstoppedinfrontofoneofthemonkeycages。
Dear，unconventionallittlebeasts!Theyalwayscharmmyblackermoodsawayfromme!Sofree，sountrammeled，soprimitive!
Ismiledatamonkey。Hesmiledatme。Iheldupapeanut。Hereachedouthishandforit。
IwasabouttoflingittohimwhenIsawasignthatread：
\"Visitorsarewarnednottofeedtheanimalsunderthepenaltyofthelaw。\"
Alwaystheirlaws!Alwaystheirrestrictions!
Alwaystheirdamnableshackles!Alwaysthisdenialoftherightsoftheindividual!
ForamomentIstoodtherewiththepeanutinmyhandjustsimplytooangryforanything!
AndthenIcriedout，quiteloudly：\"Cursesuponorganizedsociety!Iwillbreakitslaws!Iwillfeedtheanimals!\"
AlwaysintimesofgreatcrisisIseemyselfquiteplainlyasifIweresomeotherperson；poetsoftendo，youknow；andIcouldnothelpthinkingoftheposeofAjaxdefyingthelightning。
\"IWILLbreakthelaw!\"Icried。\"Sothere!\"
AndwiththatIflungthepeanutrightintothecagewithallmymight，andranaway，laughingmockinglyasIran。
IfeltthatIhadcrossedtheRubicon，andthatnightIsatdownandwrotemyrevolutionarypoem，\"TheDefiance。\"
WhattheCauseneedsismenwithVisiontoseeandCouragetoperform!ThisistheageofVirility!
THEEXOTICANDTHEUNEMPLOYED
WE’VEbeentakinguptheExoticthisweekinpoetryandpainting，youknow，andallthatsortofthing——anditsinfluenceonourcivilization。
Really，it’swonderful——simplyWONDERFUL!QuitedifferentfromtheErotic，youknow，andfromtheEsoteric，too——thoughthey’llallmixedupwithitsometimes。
Odd，isn’tit，howallthesenewmovementsseemtobeconnectedwithoneanother？
OneofthechiefdifferencesbetweentheExoticinartandotherthings——suchastheEsoteric，forinstance——isthatnearlyeverythingExoticseemstohavecreptintoourartfromabroad。
Don’tyouthinksomeofthoseforeignideasareapttobe——well，dangerous？Thatis，totheuntrainedmind？
Youcancarrythemtoofar，youknow——andifyoudotheyworkintoyoursubconsciousness。
Oneofthegirls——shebelongstothesameLittleGroupofAdvancedThinkersthatIdo——hasbeensotakenwiththeExoticthatshewearsorchidsallthetimeandjustsimplyCRAVESChinesefood。\"Mylove，\"shesaidtomeonlyyesterday，\"IfeelthatI
musthavechopsueyorI’llDIE!TheExotichasworkedintohersubliminalbeing，youknow。
Shehasanintenseandpassionatenature，andI’msureIdon’tknowwhatwouldbecomeofherifitwerenotforthespiritualdisciplineshegetsoutofmodernthought。
Nextweekwe’retakingupSyndicalism——it’sfrightfullyinteresting，theysay，andawfullyadvanced。
Isupposeit’sanewkindofphilosophyorsocialism，ormaybeanarchy——orsomethinglikethat。
[MostofthesenewthingsthatcomealongnowadaysAREsomethinglikethat，aren’tthey。
I’msuretheworldowesadebttoitsadvancedthinkingwhichitcanneverrepayforalwayskeepingabreastoftopicslikethat。
NotthatI’velostmyinterestinanyoftheolderformsofsociology，youknow，justbecauseIamkeepingupwiththenewerphasesofit。
OnlyyesterdayIrodeabouttowninthecarandhadthechauffeurstopawhileeveryplacewheretheywereshovelingsnow。
Thenicestmanwaswithme——heisconnectedwithasettlement，andhasgivenhislifetosociologyandallthatsortofthing。
\"Justthink，\"Isaidtohim，\"howmuchrealpracticalsociologywehaverightherebeforeus——allthesemenshovelingsnow——andhowlittletheyrealize，mostofthem，thattheirworkistakingthemintosociologyatall。\"
Hedidn’tsayanything，butheseemedimpressed。
AndI’mnotsuretheunemployedshouldbegratefultotheseriousthinkersforthecarefulstudywegivethem。Don’tyouthinkso？
SOULSANDTOES
IwenttoaSoulFightatHermione’sAndnothingnormalcandescribeit……
Itwasbeyondrhyme，reason，rum，rhubarborrhythm……
Therefore，VersLibreMuse，helpme!
Imagistoutcastwiththeblearyeyes，MypsychicPup，mypolyrhythmichound，liftupYourvoiceandhelpmehowl!
TenthMuse，doggerelmuse，slinkhither，brute，Andlickyourmaster’shand……I’veneedofThee……
ComecatercorneredonthreelegswithdoubtfultailAndeagereyes……
TomorrowImaybashyouintheribaldribsagainAndpubliclydisownyou；
Butoh!TodayI’veneedofthee……
Wingedmongrel，muttdivine，comehereandhelpMebaythepiebaldmoon!
ItwasaSoulFightatHermione’s……
AfatTerpsichorewithpolishedtoes……abarefootsheSoulWithtenAchaiantoes……andeachtoehadaseparatesoul，shesaid……
Wasthere……notonlythere，butIT。
Shesatuponacouchandlectured……notwithwords，Butwithhertoes，hereloquent，hertemperamentaltoes……
Hertopesthathadtrod（soshesaid）thepathsofbeautySinceHectorwasapupatTroy……
Shesatuponacouch……bards，swamisandHermione，Giltsoulsandpurple，melomaniacs，yellowsoulsAndblue，Sousesocialistsandothercognac—scentedcognoscenti，Post—cubistchiclesthatwouldne’erjellintogum……
All，allthelittlegroupsfromallthebrainstormSlums……
Whyspecify？……weknowourlittlegroups!……wherethere……
Weretheretoworshipatthosefeet……tovibrateandchangecolorwiththemoodsofthoseunusualfeet……
\"Thistoe，\"shesaid，\"isBeauty……thisisArt……
ThistoeisItaly，andthisisGreece。\"……
Apoet，quitebesidehimselfwithinspiration，Suddenlyaroseandcried：
\"Thislittlepigwenttomarket，ThislittlepigstayedhomeThislittlepigwasGreece，ThislittlepigwasRome!\"
Buttheychilledhim……hewentIntotheSilences……
AndTerpischoreresumed：
\"Mytentoesare：Beauty，Art，Italy，Greece，Life，Music，Psyche，Color，Motion，Liberty!
Putyourselfintoareceptiveattitudenow，andBeautywillspeaktoyou!\"
Andwhileasatelliteranrosyfingersdownalute，shemovedthetoenamedBeautytoandfro……
Ahushfellontheassemblednuts，asBeautymoved……
AsBeautyspoketothem……
\"Isee，\"murmuredHermionetoFothergilFinch，\"Isee，Asthattoemoves……theIslesofGreece……
AndAphroditerisingFromtheAcropolis。\"……\"Youmean，\"saidFothergil，\"fromtheAegean!\"
\"Itisallone，\"saidHermione，\"thepointisthatIseeherrising!\"
ThenColorspoketothem……
\"Asthattoemoves，\"saidRavenswoodWimble，\"I
seetheheavensTurnedintoonevastKaleidoscope……allthestarsandmoonsDancethroughmysoullikeflakesofcoloredglass!\"
ThenwavedthetoecalledLife，andaswithoneaccordeachofthecompanyLeaptgaspingtohisorherfeet，asthecasemightbe，Andcried：\"Ifeel!Ifeel!Ifeel!IfeeltheCosmicUrge!\"
ThenmovedthetoecalledItaly，AndFothergilFinchremarked：\"Roses……
roses……roses……
Onionsandroses……rosesareonions，andonionspigs……
Andpigsarebeautiful\"……
Andthentheseriousthinkerscriedasone：
\"Ah!PigsareBeautiful!\"
\"Ah，Italy；oh，Italy!\"criedFothyFinch，\"Oh，neverceasetomove……Italy……
garlic……Venice……
Oh，bindmybrowswithgarlic，lovelyland，andturnmeloose!\"
AndasthetoecalledItalystillmovedThelittlegroupsmadeitintoachant，andsang：
\"Oh，bindmybrowswithgarlic，love，andturnmeloose!\"
***
\"Hermione，\"Iaskedherafterward，\"Didyoureallyseeandfeelanythingwhenthoseeducatedtoeswiggled？\"
\"Howcanyouask？\"shesaid，veryup—stagey。
\"Hermione，\"Isaid，\"weareoldenoughfriendsbythistime，sowecandealfranklywithoneanother。Tellmeonthesquare……didyougetit？\"
\"YouareblasphemingattheshrinkofArt!\"shesaid。
\"Hermione!Youaredodging!\"
\"Didyounotice，\"shesaidirrelevantly，\"thenailpolishshewasusing？
\"It’sQUITEthelatestthing!Forfingernails，too，youknow。Thatdelicaterosepink，withjustthetouchofcreaminessinit!It’sthecreamytintthat’snew，youknow。Isn’titsimplywonderful？\"
KULTUR，ANDTHINGS
Doyouknow，Kulturisn’tthesamethingatallasculture……FANCY!
Whenwetookitup——Kultur，Imeanyes，——
wetookitupinquiteaseriouswaytheotherevening——ourLittleGroupofSeriousThinkers，youknow——andthresheditoutthoroughly——wehadn’ttheslightestideathatitwouldleadusstraighttoNietzscheand——and，well，allthosepeoplelikethat，ifyougetwhatImean。Though，ofcourse，asthemanwhospoketous——hewastheLOVELIESTperson!
——spokeinGerman，wemayhavemissedsomeofthefinershades。
Oh，yes，IhadGermaninhighschool……really，Iwasquiteproficient……although，ofcourse，it’ssuchaGUTTURALkindoflanguage——don’tyouthink？——thatonewondershowtheyEVERsingit。
Andthen，theverbs!……butIhadLatinverbsaboutthesametime，youknow……andreally，isn’titsurprisinghowsomeofthoseforeignlanguagesseemtoRUNtoverbs，ifyougetwhatImean？
ItseemsitwastheGermanswhoinventedtheSuperman……andIsupposewemustbegratefultothemforthat，nomatterwhattheymayhavedonewithhimaftertheyinventedhim……
IusedtobequitetakenwiththeSuperman，youknow……Really，Ididn’trecognizehowdangeroushemightbecome……
Ididn’tknowhewasGermanatallwhenwetookhimup……
HaveyoureadanythingabouttheBlondBeast？
Ifeltratherattractedtowardhimforalongtimemyself……untillately……Buttheattractionpassed……I’mnotbrunette，youknow，atall……Likelythat’swhyIlostinterestinhim……
Aren’taffinitiesbetweenpeopleofdifferentcomplexionsimplyWONDERFUL!
ItmakesmewonderiftheEugenistscanberightafterall!
FothergilFinchsaysthat’swheretheEugenistsfalldown……Hesaystheydon’ttakeaccountofAffinitiesatall。
Sometimesonefindsitverypuzzling——doesn’tone？——thewaythesemoderncausesandmovementsseemtocontradictoneanother!
ButifoneisintunewiththeCosmicAlltheselittleinconsistenciesdon’tmatter。
TheCosmicAll!……WHATwouldwedowithoutit？
HowdoyousupposepeopleevergotalongagenerationortwoagobeforetheCosmosandallthatsortofthingwasdiscovered？
I’veoftenthoughtaboutit……andofwhatlifemusthavebeenlikeinthosedays!AsEmerson……orWASitEmerson？……saysinoneofhispoems：\"BetterayearofEuropethanacycleofCathay!\"
That’swhatFothyFinchsayshealwaysfeelsaboutBrooklyn……thoughIWILLsaythisforBrooklyn——thefirstgirlIsawwithcourageenoughtowearoneofthoseanklewatchesonthestreetlivedinBrooklyn。
Butdon’tyouthinkBrooklynpeopleareratherLIKEthat……gotothelatestthingsindress，youknow，inanEXTREMEsortofway，sothatpeoplewon’tsuspecttheyliveinBrooklyn？
THESPIRITOFCHRISTMAS
ISN’TtheChristmasfestivaljustsimplyWONDERFUL？
FordaysbeforehandIfeelsouplifted——sowell，OTHER—WORLDLY——ifyouknowwhatImean。
Isn’titjustdreadfulthatanyMATERIAL
considerationshavetospoilsuchasacredtime？
ItdoesseemtomethatsomehowwemightfreeourselvesofWORLDLINESSandGREEDINESSandjustrisetothespiritualsignificanceoftheday。Ifonlywecould!
Andwhatablessingitwouldbetothepoor，tiredshopgirlsifwecould!
Though，ofcourse，they，theshopgirls，Imean，mustbeupheldevenintheirweariestmomentsbythethoughtthattheyarehelpingonthebeautifulimpulseofgiving!
Whentheyreflectthateveryarticletheysellistobeagiftfromonethoughtfulandlovinghearttoanothertheymustforgetthemerefatigueofthefleshandjustfeelthestimulus，theinspiration，thevibration!
Therearegifts，Iadmit，thathaven’tthedivinesparkoflovetohallowthem，butafteralltherearen’tsomanyofthatsort。LoveoneanotheristhespiritofChristmas——anditprevails，whatevertheskepticssaytothecontrary。Andthoughit’sapitytherehastobeaMATERIALsidetoChristmasatall，it’ssocomforting，soennoblingtorealizethatbackofthematerialgiftsisBrotherlyLove。
Itquitereassuresoneaboutthestateoftheworld；
itcertainlyisn’tgettingworsewithBrotherlyLoveandtheSpiritofGivinganimatingeverybody。
Ofcourse，ChristmasgivingISaproblemsometimes。
ItisSOembarrassingwhensomebodyyou’dforgottenentirelysendsyouapresent。
Ialwaysbuyseveralextrathingsjustforthatemergency。Then，whenanunexpectedgiftarrives，Icanrushoffareturngiftsopromptlythatnobody’deverDREAMIhadn’tmeanttosenditallalong。
AndIalwaysbuythingsI’dliketohavemyself，sothatiftheyaren’tneededforunexpectedpeoplethey’restillnotwasted。
Withallmyspirituality，Ihaveapracticalside，yousee。
AllwellBALANCEDnatureshaveboththespiritualandthepracticalside。It’ssoessential，nowadays，tobewellbalanced，andit’sagreatrelieftometofindICANbepractical。Itsavesmealotoftrouble，too，especiallyaboutthisproblemofChristmasgiving。
Iknowthevalueofmaterialthings，forinstance。
AndIneverwastemoneygivingmoreexpensivepresentstomyfriendsthanIreceivefromthem。