That’soneoftheadvantagesofhavingawellbalancednature，aPRACTICALside。
And，anyway，thevalueofagiftisnotintheCOSTofit。Quitecheapthings，whentheyrepresenttruethoughtandaffection，areaboverubies。
MammaandPapaaregoingtogetmeapearlnecklace，justtocirclethethroat，butbeautifullymatchedpearl。Iwouldn’tcareforanostentatiouslylongstringofpearlsanyway。
Poor，dearPapasayshereallycan’taffordit——
withtimessohard，andthosedear，patheticEuropeansoneverybody’shands，youknow——butMammamadehimunderstandhownecessaryBEAUTYistome，andhefinallygavein。
Isn’titjustWONDERFULhowloverulesusallatChristmastime？
POORDEARMAMAANDFOTHERGILFINCH
（Hermione’sBoswellLoquitur）
HERMIONE’Smother，whohasfiguredsooftenas"PoordearMama"inthesepages，hascomeoutdefinitelyforSuffrage。
Someonetoldherthattherewasanalliancebetweentheliquorinterestsandtheanti—Suffagistsandshebelievedit，anditshockedher。
SincetheactivitiesofherdaughterhavebroughtherintocontactwithModernThoughherlifehasbeenchieflypassedinoneoranotherofthreephases：Shehasbeenshocked，sheisbeingshocked，orshefearsthatsheisabouttobeshocked。
Sheisnearingfiftyandratherstout，thoughherfigureisstillnotbad。Shehasanabundanceofchestnuthair，allherown，andnaturallywave；herhandsarepretty，herfeetarepretty，herfaceispretty。
Hermouthisverysmall，almostdisproportionatelyso，andhereyesareverylargeandblueandverywideopen。Shewasintendedforaplacedwoman，butHermioneandModernThoughthavemadecompleteplacidityimpossible。Shehasafondnessforrichbrocadesandprettyfansarechocolatecandyandbigbowlsofrosesandcomfortablechairs。WhenshewasHermione’sagesheusedtodowatercolorsketches；theoutlineswerepenciledinbyherdrawingteacher，andshewashedonthecolorverysmoothlyandneatly；butsheheardagreatmanystoriesconcerningthedissolutelivesthatartistsleadandshegaveitup。
Nevertheless，shesometimessays："HermionecomesbyherinterestinArtquitenaturally。"
FothergilFinchandIcalledrecently。Hermionewasnotin，andhermothersuggestedthatwewaitforher。Hermione’smotherlooksuponallofHermione’sfriendswithmoreorlesssuspicion，andshewouldnotpermitFothergilinparticulartobeabouttheplaceforamomentifshewerenotobligedto；butshedoesnothavetherequisitestern—
nessofcharactertoresistherdaughter。Fothergil，knowingthatheisnotapprovedof，scarcelydoeshimselfjusticewhenHermione’smotherispresent；
althoughheendeavorstoavoidoffendingher。
"Haveyouseentheplay，’YoungAmerica’？"
askedFothergil，searchingforasafetopicofconversation。
Alittlerippleofalarmimmediatelyruffledthelakeblueinnocenceofhereyes。
"IfitisaProblemPlay，Ihavenot，"shesaid，"Iconsidersuchthingsdangerous。"
"Butitisn’t，youknow，"saidFothergileagerly。
It’sa——a——it’saperfectlyNICEplay。
It’saboutadog!"
"Aboutadog!"Hereyebrowswentup，andhermouthroundeditselfwiththeconvictionthatnoperfectlyniceplaycouldpossiblybeaboutadog。
"IthinkthatisdreadfullyCoarse!"shesaid。
"Butitisn’t，"protestedFothergil。"It’sjusttheSORTofthingyou’dlike。"
"Indeed!"Shefeltslightlyinsultedathisassumptionofwhatshewouldlike，anddismissedthesubjectwithawaveofherprettyhand。Fothergiltriedagain。
"Ihope，"hesaidingratiatingly，"thatyouhaven’tbeenbotheredbymosquitoes。"Shelookedabitfrightened，butsaidnothing，andhedashedondeterminedly。"Youknow，thisisanewvarietyofmosquitoeswe’vebeenhavingthisyear。Mostofthemhavestripesontheirlegs，youknow，butthesehaveblacklegsthisyear。Butmaybeyouhaven’tnoticed————"
Hestoppedinmidcareer。ThepreposterousideathatshecouldbeinterestedinexaminingthelegsofmosquitoeshadtooevidentlyoutragedHermione’smother。Fothergil，flushedandembarrassed，triedtomakeitbetterandmadeitworse。
"Maybeyouhaven’tnoticedtheir——er——limbs，"
saidFothergil。
"Ihavenot，"shemurmured。
Fothergildesperatelypersevered。
"Wedon’tseesomuchasweusedtoof——
of————"（Iamsurehedidn’tknowhewasgoingtofinishthesentencewhenhebeganit，butheplungedahead）——"oftheQueenAnnestyleofarchitecture。"
Withvisiblerelief，andyetwithalurkingsuspicion，sheassented。AndFothergil，feelinghimselfonsafegroundatlast，wenton：
"Don’tyouthinkshewasoneofthemostinterestingqueensinEnglishhistory——QueenAnne？
Doyouremembertheanecdote————？
Butshecheckedhim，frightenedagain：
"Idonotwishtohearit，Mr。Finch，"shesaid。
"But，"saidFothergil，"ShewasamostunexceptionalQueen——notlike，er——notlike——well，Cleopatra，youknow，oranyofthosebadones。"
Hermione’smotherwassilent，butitwasapparentthatshefearedthetalkwasabouttoveertowardCleopatra。
"WhenIwasagirl，"shesaid，"thelivesofqueenswereconsideredratherdangerousreadingforyoungwomen。Youneednotgointodetails，please。"
Icouldn’tstanditanymoremyself。"Ifyou’lljusttellHermioneIcalled，"Isaid，edgingtowardthedoor。Fothergil，however，stuckitout。Inthefrenzyofembarrassmenthemusthavelosthisheadcompletely。ForasIleftIheardhimbe—
ginning：
"Didyoureadthestoryinthepaperstodayofthemanwhokilledhiswife？Crimesofpassionarebecomingmoreandmorefrequent……"
PRISONREFORMANDPOISE
AREN’Tyoujustcrazyaboutprisonreform？
Themostwonderfulmantalkedtous——toourLittleGroupofAdvancedThinkers，youknow——aboutittheotherevening。
ItmademefeelthatI’dbewillingtodoanything，simplyANYTHING!——tohelpthosepoor，unfortunateconvicts。Collectmoney，youknow，orgivetalks，orreadbooksaboutthem，ormakeanyothersacrifice。
Evengetthemjobs。Oneoughttohelpthemtostartoveragain，youknow。
Thoughasforhiringoneofthemmyself，orrathergettingPapato——well，really，youknow，onemustdrawthelinesomewhere!
Butit’saperfectlyfascinatingsubjecttotakeup，prisonreformis。
Itgivesonesuchasenseofbrotherhood——andofservice——it’ssobroadening，don’tyouthink？——
takingupthingslikethat？
Andonemustbebroad。IaskmyselfeverynightbeforeIgotobed："HaveIbeenBROADtoday？
OrhaveIfailed？"
Though，ofcourse，onecanbeTOObroad，don’tyouthink？
WhatImeanis，onemustnotbesobroadthatonelosesone’spoiseinthemidstofthings。
Poise!Thatiswhatthisageneeds!
Isupposeyou’veheardwide—brimmedhatsarecominginagain？
ANEXAMPLEOFPSYCHICPOWER
HAVEyouthoughtdeeplyconcerningthePersistenceofPersonalIdentity？
Wetookituptheotherevening——ourlittlegroup，youknow——inquiteathoroughway——
devotedanentireeveningtoit。
Yousee，there’satheorythatafterEvolutionhasevolvedjustasfarasitpossiblycan，everythingwillgotosmash，butthenEvolutionwillstartalloveragain。Andeverythingthathashappenedbe—
forewillhappenagain。
Onlythequestioniswhetherthepeopletowhomitishappeningagainwillknowwhethertheyarethesamepeopletowhomithashappenedbefore。
That’swherethequestionofPersistenceofPersonalIdentitycomesin。FRIGHTFULLY
fascinating，isn’tit？
FormypartI’djustassoonnotbereincarnatedastobereincarnatedandnotknowanythingaboutit，wouldn’tyou？
Ofcourse，one’sSubliminalConsciousnessmightknowaboutit，andgiveoneintimations。
I’vehadintimationslikethatmyself——really!
I’mdreadfullypsychic，youknow。
SometimesIquitestartlepeoplewithmypsychicpower。
FothergilFinchwasheretheotherevening——
youknowfothergilFinch，thepoet，don’tyou？——
andIastoundedhimutterlybyreadinghisinmostthoughts。
Hehadjustfinishedreadingoneofhispoems——
averslibrepoem，youknow；allaboutStrengthandVirility，andthatsortofthing。FothergilisjustsimplyfascinatedbyStrengthandVirility，thoughyouneverwouldthinkittolookathim——heisso——
so——well，ifyougetwhatImeanyou’dthinktolookathimthathe’dbewritingaboutvioletsinsteadofcavemen。
"Fothy，"Isaid，whenhehadfinishedreadingthepoem，"Iknowwhatyouarethinking——whatyouarefeeling!"
"What？"hesaid。
"You’rethinking，"Isaid，’howWONDERFULathingistheCosmicUrge!"
Thoughtscometomejustlikethat——leaptome——
rightoutofnowhere，sotospeak。
Fothywasstaggered；heactuallyturnedpale；
foraminuteortwohecouldscarcelyspeak。TherehadbeenscarcelyaWORDaboutCosmicUrgeinthepoem，youknow；he’dhardlymentionedit。
"Itiswonderful，"hesaid，whenwegotovertheshock；"wonderfultobeunderstood!"Andyouknow，really——poordear!——somanypeopledon’tunderstandFothyatall。Norwhathewrites，either。
Butthestrangestthingwas——IwishIcouldmakeyouunderstandhowpositivelyEERIEitmakesmefeel——thatjusttheinstantbeforehesaid，"Itiswonderfultobeunderstood!"Iknewhewasgoingtosayit。Igotthatpsychically，too!
"Fothy，"Isaid，"ItisabsolutelyWEIRD——I
eavesdroppedonyourbrainthesecondtime!"
"Wonderful!"hesaid，"butthestillmorewonderfulthingwouldbe————"
AndbeforehecouldfinishthesentenceithappenedtheTHIRDtime!Iinterruptedandfinisheditforhim。
"Thestillmorewonderfulthingwouldbe，"Isaid，"ifitwereNOTso。"
"Heavens!"hecried，"thisisgettingpositivelyghostly。"
Andyouknow，italmostwas。NotthatI’msuperstitiousatall，youknow，inthevulgarway。Butinthedimroom——Ialwayshavejustcandlelightinthedrawing—room——itfitsinwithmymorereflectivemoods，somehow——Ibelieveonemustsuitone’senvironmenttoone’smood，don’tyou？——inthedimroom，allthosethoughtsflyingbackandfortybetweenmybrainandhisgavemeapositivelycreepyfeeling。AndFothywassoshakenIhadtogivehimadrinkofPapa’sScotchbeforehewentoutintothenight。
SOMEBEAUTIFULTHOUGHTS
（FothergilFinch，theVersLibreBard）
OH，theBeautifulMud!Ialwaysleaveitonmyboots。Itissacredtome。Becauseinitarethesoulsoflilies!
TheHogshouldbeasacredbeast。HogsareBeautiful!TheyareclosetotheMire!Oh，tobeaSwine!
WhatismoreeloquentthanaSneeze？TheSneezeistheprotestoftheFreeSpiritagainsttheSmugCitizenwhoneverexposeshimselftoacold。
Oh，BeautifulSneezes!Oh，tomakemylifeoneloudexplosiveSneezeinthefaceofConventionality!
Whatissofree，sountrammeled，soungyved，sounconventional，asanInfluenzaGerm？Fromthroattothroatitfloats，fullofthespiritoftruedemocraticbrotherhood，makingthemassesequalwiththeclasses，careless，wingedungyved!Oh，theBeautifulGerm!Oh，tobeanInfluenzaGerm!
WhatissonaiveasaHiccough!Oh，tobeingenuous，unspoiled，beautiful，barbaric!Oh，thehiccoughs，thebeautifulhiccoughs，thehiccoughsofArtutteredagainstthehurricaneoftime。
BugsareBeautiful!Oh，thebeautiful，sleekslitherybugs。Oh，tobeawater—bugofpoesyskippingacrossthefloodofoblivion!Oh，tobeaBug!
IwentdowntothewaterfrontwheretheysellfishandthereIsawafishermanwhohadcaughtaDogfish，andhecursed，butIsaidtohim，"DonotcursetheDogfish!TheDogfishisSymbolical!TheDogfishisbeautiful!Beautiful!"
Oh，thelovelyGarbageScows!Iwentdownthebay，andthereIsawthemdumptheGarbageScows!
Isaidtothemanwhosailedmyboat："WhatdoestheGarbageScowMEANtoyou？"HewasaPhilistine；hewasBourgeois；hewasSmug；hewasConventional，andhesaid："AGarbageScowmeansaGarbageScowtome!"ButIsaidtohim："YouareAcademic；youareConservative!GarbageScowsarelovelySymbols!Oh，myArgosiesofDream!Oh，mybeautifulGarbageScows!SomedayeventhePhilistinesofBenightedAmericawillseetheSpiritualSignificanceoftheLovelyGarbageScow!"
IfoundaGlueFactory，aFreeUntrammeledGlueFactory!Iwasexpressingitself。Itwasassertingitsindividuality。ItwassayingtotheBlindComplacentPillarsofPoliteSociety："Myaromaisnotyouraroma，butmyaromaismyown!"Oh，theCourageousGlueFactory，theFree，UnfetteredGlueFactory!AthousandGlueFactories，fromMaintoOregon，arethusrebukingClassPrejudiceandBourgeoisSmugness。LikePoets，likeProphetsoftheNewArt，theystand，GlueFactoryafterGlueFactory，expressingtheirEgos，BeingThemselves，undaunted，unshackled，strong，independent，virile!Oh，tobethePoetoftheSuperGlueFactory!
WithvioletsinmyhandsIwanderedtothewilds，andthereImetaBuzzard。HewasBeingHimself!IwoveawreathofthevioletsandI
crownedtheBuzzard，andtheBuzzardsaid，"Whydoyoucrownme？"AndIsaid，"Oh，LovelyBuzzard，areyounotBeingYourself？AreyounotrebukingtheTrivialConventionalitiesofourOrganizedSociety？IknowyourDream，OBuzzard!
AcceptthisCrownofVioletsfromourlittlegroup!"
Comewithmetothezoo，andIwillbareourSoulstotheHyena，andtheHyenawillcommunewithus，andwewillknowthemeaningofLife!
Oh，thelovelyHyena。
THEBOURGEOISELEMENTANDBACKGROUND
ISN’TitsimplywonderfulaboutD’AnnunzioenlistingasacommonsoldieranddiggingtrenchesalongwiththeDueD’AbruzziandthoseotherItalianpoets？OrwasitD’Abruzzi？
Anyhow，itwasoneofthosepoetsthatwerealwaystalkingabouttheSuperman。
Although，Imustsay，onedoesn’thearsomuchabouttheSupermanthesedays，doesone？TheSupermanisgoingout，youknow。
Oneofmyfriends——she’squiteanadvancedthinker，too，andbelongstoourlittlegroup——toldmeayearorsoago，"Hermione，IwillNEVERmarryuntilIfindaSuperman!"
"Ofcourse，thatisallright，mydear，"Isaidtoher，"buthowaboutGenetics？"
Because，youknow，thesloganofourlittlegroup——thatis，oneoftheslogans——is"GeneticsorSpinsterhood!"
Itmadeherquiteangryforsomereason。Shepursedherlipsupandactedshocked。
"Itisallverywell，Hermione，"shesaid，"todiscussGeneticsintheABSTRACT。ButtoconnectthediscussionwiththemarriageofaFRIENDisnot，tomymind，theproperthingatall!"
Didyoueverhearofanythingmoreutterlyin—
consistent？
Oh，Consistency!Consistency!Isn’tConsist—
encyperfectlywonderful!
ButthatisalwaysthewaywhenitcomestoadiscussionofSex。TheBourgeoisElementareNEVERFundamentalandThoroughintheirtreatmentofSex，ifyouknowwhatImean。
And，asFothergilFinchsays，inthiscountryweareNEARLYallBourgeois。
WehavenothadenoughBackgroundforonething。
IfallthelittlegroupsthecountryoverwouldtakeupthematterofBackgroundinaseriousway，somethingmightbedoneaboutit，don’tyouthink？
Wemustorganize——wewhoaretheintellectualleaders，youknow——andstartaneffectivepropagandaforthepurposeofobtainingmoreBackground。
TAKINGUPTHELIQUORPROBLEM
WE’REthinkingoftakinguptheLiquorproblem——ourlittlegroup，youknow，——
inquiteaseriousway。
TheWorkingClasseswouldbesomuchbetteroffwithoutliquor。Andwewhoaretheleadersinthoughtshouldsetthemanexample。
Soanumberofushavedecidedtosetourfacesverysternlyagainstdrinkinginpublic。
Ofcourse，acocktailortwoandanoccasionalstinger，issomethingnoonecanwellavoidtaking，ifoneisdiningoutorhavingsupperafterthetheaterwithone’sownparticularcrowd。
Butallthemembersofmyownparticularlittlegrouphaveenteredintoasolemnagreementnottotakeevensomuchasacocktailoraglassofwineifanyoftheworkingclasseshappentobeaboutwheretheycanseeusandbecomecorruptedbyourexample。
TheBestPeopleowethosesacrificestotheMasses，don’tyouthink？
Ofcourse，thewaiters，andpeoplelikethat，reallybelongtotheworkingclassestoo，Isuppose。
But，asFothergilFinchsays，veryoftenonewouldn’tknowit。Andwhocouldexpectawaitertobeinfluencedonewayoranotherbyanything？
Andit’sthehomelifeoftheworkingclassesthatcounts，anyhow。
WhenwetookupSociology——wegaveseveraleveningstoSociologicalDiscussion，youknow，besidesdoingalotofpracticalWelfareWork——itwasimpresseduponmeverystronglythatifoneistodoanythingatallfortheMassesonemustfirstSWEETENtheirHomeLife。
ThoughPapamademestoppokingaroundintothehorridplaceswheretheyliveforfearImightcatchsomedreadfuldisease。
Andthepeoplewevisitedweren’tallthatgrateful。
SoVERYOFTENtheMassesarenot。
Onedreadfulwoman，youknow，claimedthatshecouldn’tkeepherrooms——shehadtworooms，andshecookedandwashedandsleptandsewedinthemandtherewerefiveinthefamily——claimedthatshecouldn’tkeepherroomsinanybettershapebecausetheyweresooutofrepairandtheplumbingwasbadandthewindowsleakedandallthatsortofthing，youknow，andoneoftheroomswasENTIRELYdark。
Ipreachedthedoctrineoffreshairandsunshineandcleanlinesstoher，youknow，andtheimprudentthingtoldmePapaownedthebuildinganditwasn’ttrueatall——Papaonlybelongedtothecompanythatownedthebuilding。Onecan’tdomuchforpeoplewhowillnotbetruthfulwithone，canone？
Besides，itistheSilentInfluencethatcountsmorethanargumentsandvisiting。
Ifonemakesone’slifewhatitshouldbeGoodwillRadiate。
Vibrationsfromone’sEgowillpermeateallclassesofsociety。
AndthatisthewayweintendtomakeourselvesfeltwithregardtotheLiquorProblem。Wewillinculcateabstemiousnessbyexample。
Abstemiousness，FothyFinchsays，shouldbeourmotto，ratherthanAbstinence。WeshallbeQUITE
carefulnottoidentifyourselveswiththeMORE
VULGARaspectsofthepropaganda。
Andofcourseatsocialfunctionsinourprivatehomestotalabstinenceisquiteoutofthequestion。
Theworkingclasseswouldn’tgetanyexamplefromourhomes，anyone；forofcoursewenevercomeintocontactwiththemthere。
Buttheworkingclassesmustbesavedfromthemselves，evenifalltheemployersoflaborhavetowriteoutalistofjustwhattheyeatanddrinkandmakethembuyonlythosethings。TheysimplyMUSTbesaved。
Notthatthey’llappreciateit。Theyneverdo。IfIwerenotanincorrigibleidealistIwouldbeinclinedtogivethemup。
Butsomeonemustgiveuphislifetoleadingthemonwardandupward。AndwhoistheretodoitifnotweleadersofModernThought？
THEJAPANESEAREWONDERFUL，IFYOUGETWHATIMEAN
DON’TyoujustdoteontheJapanese？
They’resoesoteric——andsubtleandallthatsortofthing，aren’tthey？
JustlookatBuddhismandShintoism，forinstance。Couldanythingbemoresubtleandesoteric？
We’vebeentakingthemup——ourLittleGroupofSeriousThinkers，youknow——andthey’vewonderful，simplyWONDERFUL!
Not，ofcourse，thatonewouldBEaBuddhistoraShintoist——butit’sbroadeningtothemind，don’tyouthink，tocomeincontactwiththegreatthoughtof——of——well，reallyofpeoplelikeShinto，youknow，andthoseothersages？
Andhowwonderfullyartistictheyare——theJapanese!
ThenewparasolsarequiteJapanese，youknow。
Haven’tyouseenthem？
Ihavethree，fordifferentcostumes。OneiscoveredwithembroideredJapanesecrepe，andan—
otherwithmartinesilk。
Buttheone，IthinkthatexpressMEthemostaccurately——theonethatrepresentsmyindividuality，REALLY——ismadewithgoldspokescoveredwithblackChantillylace。Japaneseshape，youknow，andFrenchworkmanship。
Andonemuststrivetorepresentone’sselfifoneistobehonest。
Onemustputone’ssoulintoone’senvironment。
AlthoughEnvironmentisn’twhatitusedtobe。
Youdon’thearEnvironmentspokenofnearlyasoftenasyoudid。
Environmentisgoingout。
Butbesidesbeingsoesotericandexoticandartistic，andallthatsortofthings，theJapanesearewonderfullyuptodate，too。
Doyouknow，theyactuallyhaveabattleshipnamedTheTango!
HaveyouthoughtdeeplyofInterstellarCommunication？
Itpromisestobeoneofthegreatnewproblems。
Theloveliestmantalkedtousaboutittheotherevening。"InterstellarCommunicationinItsRelationtoRecentPsychicHypotheses"——that’sthetitle；
Iwroteitdown。Ialwaystakenotesofatitlelikethat。
Ithelpsonetogettotheheartofthematter。
InterstellarCommunicationiswonderful——simplyWONDERFUL!
We’regoingtotakeupMarssoon。
Mammasaidtomeonlyyesterday："Hermione，youSIMPLYMUSTdropsomeofyourserioussubjectsduringthehotweather。"
"Mamma，"Itoldher，"thatwasallverywellinyourday——totakethingsupanddropthematwill。
Butpeopledidn’thaveaSocialConscienceinthosetimes。Weadvancedthinkersoweadutytotherace。Wemustgrapplewiththings。Wearenotcontenttofrivol，IWILLtakeupMars!"
And，youknow，Idon’thavethetemperamenttoremainidle。MymindMUSTbeactive。SometimeswhenIthinkhowactivemymindis，Iwondermyforeheadisn’twrinkled。
Andofcoursethatwouldbealoss——anythingisalossthatdestroysBeauty。
For，afterall，Beautyiswhattheworldneedsmorethananythingelse。It’saseriousthought——
howfarUseshouldbesacrificedtoBeauty，andBeautytoUse，isn’tit？
Youknowthat’swhyIcan’tjointhesuffragists。
Iamone，ofcourse，butthesuffragistyellowissuchaHORRIDcolorIsimplyCANNOTwearit。
SHEREFUSESTOGIVEUPTHECOSMOS
WE’VEtakenupGertrudeStein——ourLittleGroupofSeriousThinkers，youknow——
andshe’swonderful；simplyWONDERFUL。
SheSuggeststheInexpressible，youknow。
Ofcourse，sheisaPioneer。AndwithallPioneers——don’tyouthink——theReachisgreaterthantheGrasp。
Notthatyoucantellwhatshemeans。
ButintheNewArt，onedoesn’thavetomeanthings，doesone？Onestrikesthechords，andthechordsvibrate。
Aren’tVibrationsjusttooperfectlylovelyforanything？
TheloveliestmantalkedtoustheothernightaboutWorldMovementsandCosmicVibrations。
Yousee，everytimetheCosmosvibratesitmeansanewWorldMovement。
AndtheSoulsthatareinTunewiththeCosmosarebenefittedbytheseWorldMovements。Theothersoulswillgetharmoutofthem。
Frightfullyinteresting，isn’tit？——theCosmos，Imean。
Ihavegivensomuchthoughttoit!Ithasbe—
comealmostanobsessiontome。
OnlytheothereveningIwasthinkingaboutit。
AndwithoutrealizingthatIspokealoudIsaid，"IsimplycouldNOTDOWITHOUTtheCosmos!"
Mamma——poorMamma!——sheissoterriblyunadvancedyouknow!——Mamasaid："Hermione，IdonotknowwhattheCosmosis。ButthisI
doknow——notanotherSexDiscussionorEastIndianSwamiwillevercomeintoTHIShouse!"
"Mamma，"Isaidtoher，"IwillNOTgiveuptheCosmos。Itmeanseverythingtome；simplyEVERYTHING!"
IamalwaysfirmwithMamma；itiskinder，inthelongrun，tobequitepositive。ButwhatI
sufferathomefromobjectionstotheadvancedmovementsnobodyknows!
NobodybuttheLeadersofThoughtcandreamwhatMartyrdomis!
Sacrifice!Sacrifice!ThatisthekeynoteoftheLiberalLife!
NearlyeverynightbeforeIgotobedIaskmyself：
"HaveIshowntheSacrificialSpirittoday？
OrhaveIFAILED？"
THECAVEMAN
DON’Tyouthinktheprimitiveisjustsimplytoofascinatingforanything？We’veallgotitinus，youknow，anditseemslikenowadaysthemoreculturedandadvancedoneisthemorelikelytheprimitivesistobreakoutonone。
Ihaveastrongstrainoftheprimitiveinme，youknow。
Iwouldn’ttakeanythingforit——it’ssimplywonderful——wonderful!
Itcomesovermesostrongattimes，theyearningfortheprimitivedoes，thatIjustsitwithadreamylookonmyfaceandmurmurtomyself："ALONE，ALONE——UNDERTHESTARS!ALONE!"
MammaoverheardmesayingthattheotherdayandthoughtIhadgonecrazy，andshesaid："forHeaven’ssake，Hermione，whatareyouthinkingabout，andwhatdoyouwant？"
"Thestars，"Imurmured，scarcelyknowingthatIspokealoud，"thestarsandmyCaveMan!"
Mammawasshocked——shesaysforanunmarriedwomantothinkofCaveMenissimplyindelicate。
Mammaisnotatalladvanced，youknow。
She’sdearandsweet，butshedoesn’tbelieveinTrialMarriagesatall。
AndImustadmittheyshockedmewhenIfirstheardaboutthem。ButthatwasbeforeIhadtakenupthesethingsseriously。
"Mamma，"Isaidtoher，"itisnouseforyoutopretendtobeshocked。Ihavearighttohappiness。
Andhappinesstomemeansbeingalone，underthestars，andwalkingbarefootandbareheadedinthedew。"
"AlonewithaCaveMan!"shesaid。Andthenshecried。
Tears!——thatissoliketheold—fashionedwoman!
"Mamma，"Isaid，kindly，butfirmly，"IfitismydestinytobekidnapedbyaCaveManandtakenintothewasteplaces，underthestars，canIavoidit？"
ShesaidIcouldatleastberespectable，andthatIwasactinglikeIWANTEDtobekidnaped。
And，youknow，attimesIdofeelasifthatmightbemyfate，"really。Iamsopsychic，youknow，andpsychicsfeeltheirfatecomingonquickerthanmostpeople。
ItoldMammathatIfelteverywomanhadarighttochoosethefatherofherownchildren，andshewasshockedagain。AndthenshewantedtoknowwhatbeingkidnapedbyaCaveManhadtodowithchoosingthefatherofone’sownchildren，andhowdidIknowbuttheseCaveMenkidnapedadifferentwomaneveryyear？
ButIsettledher。
"Mamma，"Isaid，"youareNOTadvanced，andsoIcannotarguewithyou。Youwouldn’tunderstand。
ButifIAMprimitive——andIfeelthatIam——whosefaultisit？WhodidIinherititfrom？"
Shecouldn’tsayanythingtothat。Shedidn’tliketoownthatIinheriteditfromher。AndsheknewifsheblameditontoPapaIwouldaskherhowsheDAREDtodenymeaprimitivemanwhenshehadmarriedoneherself。
Finallyshequitcryingandsaid，pressingherlipstogether："Hermione，doyouKNOWanyofthoseCaveMen？"
ButIrefusedtoanswer。Iwenttomyroom。
Dissensiondisturb’sthesoul’sharmony。
One’ssubliminalconsciousnessmustevervibrateinharmonywiththeCosmicAll。
Ineverfusswhenapersondisturbsme。IjustgointotheSilencesandvibratethere。
ButIkeptthinking："DOIknowanyCaveMen？"
IThinkIdo——one。Hetriestoconcealit。Butit’shissecret。I’msure。
Hehasthemostluminouseyes!
Likeawolf’s，youknow，whenitgallopsacrossthewasteplaces——underthestars，alone!
Andthewayheeats!Idon’tmeanthathe’snoisy，youknow。ButthewayhecrunchedachickenbonethelasttimehedinedwithmewasperfectlyWONDERFUL——sononchalant，youknow，andloudlyand——and——well，primitive!I’mSUREhe’sone!
Iwouldn’tgoautoingwithhimforanything——
unless，ofcourse，hegavemeoneofthosecompellingglances，likeCaveMendointhemagazines，youknow。
ThenI’dknowitwasdestinyanduselesstoresist。
THELITTLEGROUPGIVESAPAGANMASQUE
TheLittleGroupgaveapartyAndallofthegodswerethere，FromThortoMissSusanAstarteWithdoo—daddlesgemmingherhair，BillBaldurandJaneAphrodite，DickVishnuandBennyO’Baal，AndBacchuscameoninanightieWithlittlepinksnakesinthetail；
Latin，PhoenicianandHinduNorseandEgyptianandChink……
CastorwaswatchinghisTwindoStunts，withabrotherlywink……
PersephoneswearingbyHades……
ANornandSibyllineSimp……
AMomus，whoshoweduptotheladiesThelatestOlympianlimp。
WasHermionepresent？ByCrikey!
（ThisCrikey’saWhitechapeljoss）
OurHermyattendedasPsyche——
ShesikedandshegotitacrossAndFothergilFinch，rathergaumyWithCosmiccosmetics，wasthere，ButtheSwamiwentjustastheSwami，Afteroilingthekinksinhishair。
IsaidtoHermione："Goddess!
You’regraceful，you’reGreek，you’rearose，FromthepinionsthatrisefromyourbodiceTotheraddleInoteonyourtoes，"AndFothergil，here，withhiscenser，Andhislittlecheekscrimsonasbeets，Youracolyte，perfume—dispenser，IssweetasapageoutofKeats，"Buttellme，myDea——myPsyche!——
（WithyourwingsoutspreadastoraceWiththatswiftandacephalousNikeWholostherbeansomewhereinThrace）——
"MyThea——myclassicalpigeon!——
IsnotyourSincerityshockedBythisgiddyrevueofreligion？……
Arenoneofthesegodsbeingmocked？……
"Intheregionsunknowable——Thea!——
WherethenoumenonchumbswiththeNous，WheretheIdolgetsheptoIdea，AndpythagorasoglesaGoose，"IntheheavensofBrahmandOsiris，Aretheypeevedwiththisrevel，Iask？……
DoesPlutolikethis，wherehisfireis？……
Whatinhelldotheythinkofthismasque？……
"Wherethedeities，avidofIs—ness，ResurgefromtheFlivversthatWere，WhilethewildChaoticalWhiznessGivesplacetoaCosmicWhir，"Dotheyrelishthisjoshofthejosses？
Dotheylampnotthesamewithagrouch？
AreyoustingingthesegloomyBigBossesToakeener，immortalerouch？"
Hermionemurmured："Howeerie!
YouarevoicingmyownInnerMood!
Ahme!buttheworldislessdrearyIfoneisbutunderstood!
"AndIthankyou，Ithankyou，forrisingTomypersonalpointofview……
ITHANKyouforSYMPATHIZING!……
Dearman，howyoualwaysdo!"
SYMPATHY
OFcoursewe’reoutoftownforthesummer——
EVERYBODY’Soutoftown，now——butImotorinonceortwiceaweektokeepintouchwithsomeofmycommittees。
Sociologicalwork，forinstance，keepsrightuptheyeararound。
Ofcourse，it’snotsointerestinginthewinter。
Youseemorestrikingcontrastsinthewinter，don’tyouthink？
AcoupleofgirlcousinsofminefromCincinnatihavebeenhere。They’reinterestedinwelfareworkofallsorts。
"Hermione，"theysaid，"wewanttoseethebreadline。"
"Mydears，"Isaid，"Idon’tmindshowingittoyou，butit’snothingmuchtoseeinsummer。It’sinthewinterthatitarousesone’sdeepestsympathies。"
Andonemustkeepone’ssympathiesaroused。
OftenIsaytomyselfatnight："HaveIbeensympathetictoday，orhaveIFAILED？"
Mammaoftenlackssympathy。SheobjectstohavingmereopenmySalonthiswinter。
"Hermione，"shesaid，"Idon’tmindthesubjectsyoutakeup——orthepeopleyoutakeupwith——ifyouonlytakethemuponeatatime。AndIamgladwhenyourownlittlegroupmeetshere，be—
causeitkeepsyouathome。ButIwillNOThaveallthedifferentkindsoffreakshereattheSAME
TIME，sittingarounddiscussingfreeloveandsexeducation。"
Iwasindignant。"Mamma，"Isaid，"whatrighthaveyoutosaytheywoulddiscussthatallthetime？"
"Because，"shesaid，"Ihavenoticedthatnomatterwhethertheystartwithsociologyorpsychology，theyalwaysgetaroundtoSexintheend。"
Isn’titfunnyaboutpure—mindedpeople？——inthegenerationbeforethisanythingthatshockedapure—
mindedpersonlikeMammawassuretobebad。
Butnowitsonlytheevil—mindedpeoplewhoevergetshockedatall，itseems。
ThereallyPURESTofthepure—mindedpeopledon’tgetshockedbyanythingatallthesedays。
IthinkMammaiseithergettingpurer—mindedallthetimeorislosingsomeofit——Ican’ttellwhich——
forsheisn’tshockedaseasilyasshewasafewmonthsago。
ButIgotashockmyselfrecently。
IfoundoutthatplantshaveSex，youknow。
Justthinkofit——carrots，onion，turnips，potatoes，andeverything!
Isn’titfrightfultothinkthatthisagitationhasspreadtothevegetablekingdom？
IvowedIwouldnevereatanotherpotatoaslongasIlived!
And，afterall，whatGOODdoesitdo——lettingthevegetablekingdomhaveSex，Imean？
Evenagoodthing，youknow，canbecarriedtoofar。
"Mamma，"Itoldher，"youarehopelesslybehindthetimes。SexisaGreatFact。Someonemustdiscussit。AndwhobuttheLeadersofThoughtareworthyto？"
Iintendtosaynothingmoreaboutitnow——butwhenthetimecomesIWILLreopenmySalon。
AndasfarastalkingaboutSexisconcerned——
therightsortofmindwillgetGOODoutofit，andthewrongsortwillgetHARM。
Idon’treallyLIKEdiscussionsofSexanymorethanMammadoes。Noreallynicegirldoes。
Butweadvancedthinkersoweadutytotherace。
Notthattheraceisgrateful。Especiallythelowerclasses。
ItwasonlylastweekthatIwasendeavoringtointroducethecooktosomeadvancedideas——forherowngood，youknow，andbecauseoneowesaspiritualdutytoone’sservants——andshegotangryandgavenotice。
Theservantproblemisfrightful。Itwillhavetobetakenseriously。
BLOUSES，BURGARSANDBUTTERMILK
SOMEofus——OurLittleGroupofAdvancedThinkers，youknow——aregoinginforBulgarianbuttermilk。
ItcameinaboutthetimetheBulgarianblousesdid——therewasawarovertheresomewhere，youknow，beforethisbigwar，thatmadeitfashionable。
Buttheblouseswentout，andthebuttermilkstayedin。
Itseemsthere’saBulgarianbythenameofMetchnikoffinPariswhositsdownanddesignsthesethings——thebuttermilk，youknow，nottheblouses。
Isn’tsciencewonderful——simplyWONDERFUL!
We’regoingtotakeupMetchnikoffinaseriousway。
Youknowwhatheaimstodoistolengthenlife。
Thequestionis："Shouldlifebelengthened？
Orshoulditnot？
TheLeadersofThoughtwillhavetothreshthatoutsoon。
Thequestionofoldageisasubtleone，isn’tit？
Andit’sverytypicalofourtimes，don’tyouthink，thatweshoulddiscusstheproblemsofoldage？
Otherepochshavedoneit，ofcourse，butnotoptimistically。
Thequestionentersintoeverything——evenmillinery。
I’mhavingtheloveliesthatadaptedfromaFrenchmodel——towearwithmylingeriecostumes，youknow——awide—brimmedblacklacewithablackvelvetcrown。
It’sonlyrecentlythatyoungwomencouldaffordtowearblack，evenwhenitwasbecoming。WhenMammawasyoungitwasasignthatyouthwaspast。
Andnowadays，agedoesn’tmattersomuchonewayoranother。ApersonistheageoneFEELS，youknow。
HaveyouthoughtdeeplyonHypnagogicIllusions？We’replanningtotakethemup。
TWILIGHTSLEEP
HAVEyoureadanythingabouttheTwilightSleepyet？It’swonderful；simplyWONDERFUL!
Theloveliestmantoldourlittlegroupallaboutit——justtheotherevening。
"Hermione，"saidMamma，"IwillNOThaveyoutakingupanymoresubjectsofthatEasyIndiancharacter。NoSwamishalleverenterthishouseagain!"
"Mamma，"Isaidtoher，"youarehopelesslyunadvanced。，IthasnothingwhatevertodowithGoingintotheSilencesorSwamis。It’sentirelyscientificandnotpsychicatall。Andifitwerepsychic，whatthen？"
"NoSwami，"saidMamma，evenmorestubborn—
ly，"shalleverdarkenmydooragain!"
Poor，dear，stupidMamma!Shegetsthingssomixed!
"AsfarasSwamisareconcerned，"Itoldher，"thedebtweowetotheminincalculable。Where，forinstance，wouldwehaveeverheardofKarmaifithadnotbeenfortheSwamis？"
Shecouldn’tanswer；shejustlookedstubborn；
unadvancedpeoplealwayslookstubbornandglare。
"Where，"Isaid，"didwegettheVedantasandVegetarianismandAlternateBreathingfrom？"
Shecouldn’tsayaword。Shejustpouted。
"Whotaughtus，"Isaid，"TransmigrationofSoulsandVibrations？"
Shebrokedownandcried。
"Hermione，"shesaid，"IsimplyHATEhowdahsandcobrasandswastikasandallthoseOrientalthings!"
Mammahasnoideawhateveroflogic。Sheisatypicalold—fashionedwoman。
"Mamma，"Isaid，"cryasmuchasyoulike。YoushallnotdisturbMYinnerHarmony!Iwillnotpermityouto。Andmymindismadeup。IwilltakeuptheTwilightSleepinaseriousway!"
Thatsettledit，too。
Haveyounoticed，there’sbeenjustahintofautumnintheairtheselastfewdays？
Haveyouseenthenewstylesforautumn？Theyarewonderful；simplyWONDERFUL!
INTUITION
INspiteofallwe’vedoneforthem——byweI
meantheseriousthinkersoftheworld——somepeoplearesofrightfullyuncultured!
Agirlaskedmetheotherday——andthesurprisingthingaboutit，too，isthatshebelongedtoourownLittleGroupofAdvancedThinkers——sheaskedme："Hermione，don’tyoujustdoneonRubaiyat’spoetry？"
ForamomentIcouldn’tthinkwhoshemeantatall。
"He’snotanAmerican，ishe？"Isaid。
"Oh，no，"shesaid，"he’ssomesortofanOriental。"
"Itisn’tRubaiyatyou’rethinkingof，mydear，"
Itoldher。It’sRabindranath。RabindranathSomething—or—other，thatnewman——he’swonderful，mydear，simplywonderful。"
Andthenshequotedsomeofitand——theideaistooabsurdforanything，butwhatdoyousup—
poseitwas？
OmarKhayyam——imagine!
Andreally，youknow，it’sbeenyearssinceanybodyquotedOmarKhayyam；he’sQUITEgoneout，youknow!
Eventhequestionwhetherhewasmoraldoesn’tattractanyattentionanymore。Althoughasfarasthatisconcerned，thepuremindwillgetpurityoutofhimandtheimpuremindwillgetimpurity。
Honisitqui——whatistherestofit？Oh，youknow——it’sLatin——whattheRomansusedtosayaboutCaesar’swifeandhercontinualsuspicions。
My，howasuspiciouswifecanhandicapaman!
But，ofcourse，aswomengetmoreandmoreadvanced，andknowaboutthelivesmenlead，theyarefindingoutthatthesuspicionswerejustified。
Theirintuitionstoldthemsoallthetime。
Ihavealotofintuitionmyself——themomentamancomesIjudgehiminspiteofmyself。
Firstimpressionsalwayslastwithme，too。
Youknow，I’mverypsychic。
SometimesIamalmostfrightenedwhenIthinkofthethingsmyintuitionwouldtellmeifIal—
lowedittoroamatwill，sotospeak，amongmyfriendsandacquaintances。
ButIrestrainit。Onemust，youknow。Theloveliestmangaveussuchaninterestingtalkonself—restrainttheotherevening。
AndnowIalwaysaskmyselfthelastthingbe—
foreIgotobedatnight："HaveIrestrainedmy—
selftoday？OrhaveIfailed？"
Thereisnorealculturewithoutrestraint，youknow。
That’swheretheEnglisharesosuperior，don’tyouthink？
ImettheloveliestEnglishmantheotherevening。
ThemomentIsawhimIsaidtomyselfhewasoneofthearistocracy。Otherpeoplehavenosesliketheirs，ofcourse，butitisonlytheEnglisharistocracywhocanCARRYthatkindofanose。
Andmyintuitionwascorrect——thereareonlyfivelivesbetweenhimandatitle，andoneofthoseisapoloplayerandanotherisatthefront。
Someonetoldmehisfamilywerepayinghimnottogohome，butwhattheythinkthepoormanwoulddoifhewereinEnglandIdon’tknow，becausetheydon’tduelthere，youknow。Iftheydueledthere，ofcourse，hemightdisposeofallfivelives。
Don’tyouthinkthoseoldEuropeanfamiliesareso，so——well，soROMANTICsomehow？
STIMULATINGINFLUENCES
SCIENCEandphilanthropyshouldgohandinhand——twoheartsthatbeatasone，ifyouknowwhatImean，andallthatsortofthing。
Andtheydo，too。Wewerediscussingittheotherevening——ourLittleGroupofSeriousThinkers，youknow——andwedecidedthatwhatphilanthropyowestoscienceismadeupbywhatscienceowestophilanthropy。
Isn’titwonderfulhowthingsbalancelikethat？
There’stheTwilightSleepandtheMother—
TeacherIdea，forinstance。
OurlittlegrouparethinkingofstartingapropagandatourgeALLTeacherstobeMothers。
And，ofcourse，alotofthemmightobject——butalongcomestheTwilightSleepandtakesawayallPOSSIBLEobjections。
AndalongcomesPhilanthropytoputtheTwilightSleepwithinthereachofall——atleast，wehopeitwill——andwe’regoingtotakethematterupwithsomeofthePhilanthropistsrightaway。
Isn’titjustsimplyWONDERFULhowModernThoughtbringssubjectslikethattogether？
Ofcourse，evenModernThoughtcouldn’tdoit，unlessthesubjectsbelongedtogether，anyhow，couldit？Unlesstheywere——er——er————
Well，youknow，Affinities。ThoughIdon’tcaremuchfortheword。
Affinitieshavequitegoneout，youknow。Youdon’thearmuchaboutAffinitiesthisautumn。
NorSoulMates，either，forthatmatter。
ThoughIalwayswillsaythere’sanIDEAbehindallthetalkaboutthem。
Isn’titoddaboutthingsthatway——howIdeascomeandgo，youknow，andbecomequiteold—
fashioned，andyetallthetimehaveaQUITE
profoundIdeabackofthem？
There’sCubistandFuturistArt，forinstance——
onedoesn’thearnearlysomuchaboutthemnow，thougheveryoneadmittedtherewasanIdeabehindthem。
Ofcourse，nooneknewwhattheIdeaMEANT。
Butitwasstimulating。
AndwhyshouldanIdeahavetoMEANanythingifitisSTIMULATING？
Stimulation!Stimulation!ThatisthesecretofModernLife!
OneshouldbereceptivetoStimulation——oneshouldstrivetoStimulate!
OneowesittotheMassestoStimulate!ItistheDUTYoftheleadersofAdvancedThought!
NearlyeverynightbeforeIgotobedIaskmyself，"HaveIbeenaStimulatingInfluencetoday？
OrhaveIfailed？"
FothergilFinchsaysIStimulateHIM!
Poor，dearman!——he’sbecomingquite——quite——
well，er——er——TOOencouraged，ifyouknowwhatImean。
Yes，thatisthewaywithpoets。
IdoubtifANYpoeteverunderstoodapurelyPlatonicFriendship。
Igavehimalong，longlooklasteveningandsaid，"Fothergil，CANyoukeeponthePlatonicPlane？"
Heonlysaid，"Alas!ThePlatonicPlane!"
Ihopehecan。IneedhimformySalon。
I’mhavingtheentiregroundfloorofthehousedoneoverforthat，youknow，andImayreopenitanytimenow!
POLITICS
I’Mthinkingoftakinguppoliticsinapracticalway。
I’veneverbeenanactivesuffragist，youknow，onaccountofthathorridyellowcoloronthebannersandthings。
ButonemustsacrificeIdealsofBeautytoIdealsofUsefulness，mustn’tone？
Andpoliticsisfascinating；simplyFASCINATING!
Goingaboutandorganizingworkinggirls，youknow，andseeingCorruptBossesandenlistingthemforMoralCauses，andmakingone’sselffeltasaForce——couldonemakeone’sselfmoreUtile？
MorespirituallyUtile？
Utility!ThatiswhatourLeadersofThoughtneedtodevelop!
NearlyeverynightbeforeIgotobedIsaytomyself："HaveIbeenUtiletoday？OrhaveI
FAILED？"
Politics，practicalpolitics，willbesuchanoutletformypersonality，too。
AndwhenIreopenmySalonIcanmakeitcountfortheCause，too。
Wearegoingtogiveaneveningsoon——ourGroupofAdvancedThinkers，youknow——toaseriousandthoroughstudyofpoliticaleconomy。Theysayit’ssimplywonderful。
Theloveliestwomantalkedtoustheotherevening。
She’sapoet。Whenwomenhavechargeofaffairs，shesaid，Humanitarianism，IdealismandthePoeticSpiritwillruleinpubliclife。
Won’tthatbelovely？
Butwemustbepractical，andgettheBossesonourside。Theyaresimplyhorridpeoplesociallyandethically，youknow。Butthere’ssomethingfrightfullyfascinatingabouttheideaofbeardingthemintheirdenswithpetitionsandthings。
ThoughhowtheideaofabolishingmenaltogetherwillworkoutIdon’tknow。
SomeoftheleadersoftheCauseseemtowantit。
Ihavenodoubtthatitcouldbedone。Someplantsandinsectshaveonlythefemalesex，youknow。Andmaybethehumanracewillbethatwayoneday。
Although，formypart，iftheycouldonlybereformedI’dfavorretainingmen。
There’ssomethingaboutthemso——so——well，soMASCULINEsomehow，ifyouknowwhatImean。
ButImusthurry——Ihavetodosomeshopping。
Clothesareabore，aren’tthey？
HERMIONEONPSYCHICALRESEARCH
SPIRITUALISMisbecomingquitethething，isn’tit？
DearSirOliverLodgehasbeenprovingsomemorethingsquiterecently，youknow。HowanyonecoulddoubtamanwithsuchalovelyheadandfaceIcan’timagine。
SpiritualismandSpiritismarequitedifferent，youknow。Ithasbeenalongtime，really，sinceSpiritualismwastakenseriously。
Exceptbysuperstitiouspeople，ofcourse。
ButSpiritismhascometostay。Ithasnothingtodowithsuperstitionatall。It’spartofAdvancedThought——quitescientific，youknow，whileSpiritualismwasjustafad。
AndSpiritualismissomehowmore——well，er——
VULGARifyougetwhatImean。ThesortofpeopleonecarestoknowwellhavedroppedSpiritualismforSpiritism。
Though，ofcourse，aghostisaghost，whetheritismaterializedbyspiritualismorSpiritism。
IhavebeenoftentoldthatIamnaturallyveryclairvoyant——ifIweredevelopedIwouldmakeasplendidmedium。Mediumshaveseenshapeshoveringaroundmyhead，andoncewhenIwasatschoolIdidsomeautomaticwriting。
Itwasthestrangest，easiestthing!IhadapencilinmyhandandwithoutthinkingofanythinginparticularatallIjustscribbledaway，andwhatI
wrotewas，"Wheninthecourseofhumaneventsitbecomesnecessary；Wheninthecourseofhumaneventsitbecomesnecessary，"overandoveragain。
Iwasquitestartled，forthelastthingIhadbeenthinkingofwasanalgebraexamination，andnothistoryatall。Wehadhadourhistoryexaminationdaysbefore。
IfeltasifanunseenhandhadreachedoutoftheSilencesandgraspedmine!
Wasn’titweird？
AndIknowwhoitwas，too。AdistantrelativeofMamma’sonherfather’sside，bymarriage，wasoneofthemenwhosignedtheConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesinFaneuilHall，inPhiladelphia，in1776，anditwasHISspiritthatwastryingtode—
liverhismessagethroughme!
AndonlylastyearIcameacrossaverysimilarcase。Onlythiswasstrangerthanmine，ifany—
thing。Forithappenedonatypewriter——whichprovesthattheveilbetweenthetwoworldsmustbeverythin，doesn’tit，ifthespiritsaretakingupmoderninventions？
IthappenedtooneofPapa’sstenographers。I
hadheruptothehousetotakenotesforareportIwasmakingtooneofthesociologicalcommitteesIwasonthen。
Andshetookthenotesandputthemintoshapeforme，butwhenshesentthereporttomethebackofoneofthesheetswasjustfullofonesentencewrittenoverandoveragain。Shedidn’tknowshe’dincludedthatsheet，ofcourse。
ItwassocuriousIaskedheraboutit。
Shelookedalittlequeerandsaidthatwhenshewasn’tthinkingofanythinginparticular，butjustsittingbeforehertypewriterandnotworking，shealwayswrotethatsentence。
"Itjustcomesintomyhead，"shesaid，"andI
writeit。"
"Anoccultforceguidesyourfingers？"Iasked。
"Yes，ma’am，that’sit，"shesaid。
Overandoverandoveragainshehadwritten，"Nowisthetimeforallgoodmentocometotheaidoftheparty。"
Andhereistheeeriepartofit——italmostfrightenedmewhenIgotitoutofher!——herfatherhadbeensomesortofpolitician；adistrictleader，orsomethinglikethat。Andhewasdead，andshehadhadtogotowork。
Buthewastryingtodeliveramessagethroughher!
Isn’tPsychicalResearchsimplywonderful!
NotthatI’dcaretogoinforanyvulgarthingsuchastintrumpets，youknow，but————
Well，there’stheAstralBody。Thathasn’tbeenvulgarizedatall，ifyougetwhatImean。Really，theBestPeoplehavethem。
ENVOY
HERMIONE，THEDEATHLESS
Shewillnotdie!——inBrainstormSlumFake，NutandFreakPsychologistEternallyshallbuzzandhum，AndSpookandSwamikeeptheirtrystwithThinkersinaMentalMist。
YouthreatenherwithNightandSorrow？
OutoftheSilences，Iwist，MoreLittleGroupswillrisetomorrow!
ThelipsofPatterne’eraredumb，TheFutileMillsshallgrindtheirgristOfsandfromnowtillKingdomCome；
TheWindsofBunkareneverwhist。
Youscowlandshakeanhonestfist——
YouthreatenherwithNightandSorrow？
GoslayonePseudo—Scientist，MoreLittleGroupswillrisetomorrow!
WithFudgetofeedtheHungryBumSheplaystheGirlPhilanthropist——
Eachpinchbeck，boyMilleniumSheswings，aBangle，atherwrist——
BlitheParrotandPertEgoist，YouthreatenherwithNightandSorrow？
Hermioneswillayepersist!
MoreLittleGroupswillrisetomorrow!
She，whomPrincePlatitudehaskissed，YouthreatenherwithNightandSorrow？
Slayherbythousands，friend——butlist：
MoreLittleGroupswillrisetomorrow!
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