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night。
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The Rhythm of Life and Other Essays
THE FLOWER
There is a form of oppression that has not until now been confessed by
those who suffer from it or who are participants； as mere witnesses； in its
tyranny。 It is the obsession of man by the flower。 In the shape of the
flower his own paltriness revisits him… …his triviality； his sloth； his
cheapness； his wholesale habitualness； his slatternly ostentation。 These
return to him and wreak upon him their dull revenges。 What the tyranny
really had grown to can be gauged nowhere so well as in country lodgings；
where the most ordinary things of design and decoration have sifted down
and gathered together； so that foolish ornament gains a cumulative force
and achieves a conspicuous commonness。 Stem and petal and leafthe
fluent forms that a man has not by heart but certainly by roteare woven；
printed； cast； and stamped wherever restlessness and insimplicity have
feared to leave plain spaces。 The most ugly of all imaginable rooms；
which is probably the parlour of a farm… house arrayed for those whom
Americans call summer…boarders； is beset with flowers。 It blooms； a dry；
woollen； papery； cast…iron garden。 The floor flourishes with blossoms
adust； poorly conventionalised into a kind of order； the table…cover is
ablaze with a more realistic florescence； the wall…paper is set with bunches；
the rigid machine…lace curtain is all of roses and lilies in its very
construction； over the muslin blinds an impotent sprig is scattered。 In the
worsted rosettes of the bell…ropes； in the plaster picture…frames； in the
painted tea…tray and on the cups； in the pediment of the sideboard； in the
ornament that crowns the barometer； in the finials of sofa and arm…chair； in
the finger… plates of the 'grained' door； is to be seen the ineffectual portrait
or to be traced the stale inspiration of the flower。 And what is this
bossiness around the grate but some blunt； black…leaded garland？ The
recital is wearisome； but the retribution of the flower is precisely
weariness。 It is the persecution of man； the haunting of his trivial visions；
and the oppression of his inconsiderable brain。
The man so possessed suffers the lot of the weaklingsubjection to the
smallest of the things he has abused。 The designer of cheap patterns is
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The Rhythm of Life and Other Essays
no more inevitably ridden by the flower than is the vain and transitory
author by the phrase。 But I had rather learn my decoration of the
Japanese； and place against the blank wall one pot plain from the wheel；
holding one singular branch in blossom； in the attitude and accident of
growth。 And I could wish abstention to exist； and even to be evident； in
my words。 In literature as in all else man merits his subjection to
trivialities by a kind of economical greed。 A condition for using justly
and gaily any decoration would seem to be a certain reluctance。
Ornamentstrange as the doctrine sounds in a world decivilisedwas in
the beginning intended to be something jocund； and jocundity was never
to be achieved but by postponement； deference； and modesty。 Nor can
the prodigality of the meadows in May be quoted in dispute。 For Nature
has something even more severe than moderation： she has an
innumerable singleness。 Her butter…cup meadows are not prodigal； they
show multitude； but not multiplicity； and multiplicity is exactly the
disgrace of decoration。 Who has ever multiplied or repeated his delights？
or who has ever gained the granting of the most foolish of his wishesthe
prayer for reiteration？ It is a curious slight to generous Fate that man
should； like a child； ask for one thing many times。 Her answer every
time is a resembling but new and single gift； until the day when she shall
make the one tremendous difference among her giftsand make it perhaps
in secretby naming one of them the ultimate。 What； for novelty； what；
for singleness； what； for separateness； can equal the last？ Of many
thousand kisses the poor lastbut even the kisses of your mouth are all
numbered。
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The Rhythm of Life and Other Essays
UNSTABLE EQUILIBRIUM
It is principally for the sake of the leg that a change in the dress of man
is so much to be desired。 The leg； completing as it does the form of man；
should make a great part of that human scenery which is at least as
important as the scenery of geological structure； or the scenery of
architecture； or the scenery of vegetation； but which the lovers of
mountains and the preservers of ancient buildings have consented to
ignore。 The leg is the best part of the figure； inasmuch as it has the finest
lines and therewith those slender； diminishing forms which； coming at the
base of the human structure； show it to be a thing of life by its unstable
equilibrium。 A lifeless structure is in stable equilibrium； the body；
springing； poised； upon its fine ankles and narrow feet； never stands
without implying and expressing life。 It is the leg that first suggested the
phantasy of flight。 We imagine wings to the figure that is erect upon the
vital and tense legs of man； and the herald Mercury； because of his station；
looks new…lighted。 All this is true of the best leg； and the best leg is the
man's。 That of the young child； in which the Italian schools of painting
delighted； has neither movement nor supporting strength。 In the case of
the woman's figure it is the foot； with its extreme proportional smallness；
that gives the precious instability； the spring and balance that are so
organic。 But man should no longer disguise the