idle ideas in 1905-第24节

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anything　more　natural。　　When　you　are　singing　at　the　top　of　your
voice；　you　don't　want　a　heavy　woman　hanging　round　your　neck。　　When
you　are　killing　a　man　and　warbling　about　it　at　the　same　time；　you
don't　want　him　fooling　around　you　defending　himself。　　You　want　him　to
have　a　little　reasonable　patience；　and　to　wait　in　his　proper　place
till　you　have　finished；　telling　him；　or　rather　telling　the　crowd；　how
much　you　hate　and　despise　him。

When　the　proper　time　comes；　and　if　he　is　where　you　expect　to　find　him
while　thinking　of　your　upper　C；　you　will　hit　him　lightly　on　the
shoulder　with　your　sword；　and　then　he　can　die　to　his　own　particular
tune。　　If　you　have　been　severely　wounded　in　battle；　or　in　any　other
sort　of　row；　and　have　got　to　sing　a　long　ballad　before　you　finally
expire；　you　don't　want　to　have　to　think　how　a　man　would　really　behave
who　knew　he　had　only　got　a　few　minutes　to　live　and　was　feeling　bad
about　it。　　The　chances　are　that　he　would　not　want　to　sing　at　all。
The　woman　who　really　loved　him　would　not　encourage　him　to　sing。　　She
would　want　him　to　keep　quiet　while　she　moved　herself　about　a　bit；　in
case　there　was　anything　that　could　be　done　for　him。

If　a　mob　is　climbing　the　stairs　thirsting　for　your　blood；　you　do　not
want　to　stand　upright　with　your　arms　stretched　out；　a　good　eighteen
inches　from　the　door；　while　you　go　over　at　some　length　the　varied
incidents　leading　up　to　the　annoyance。　　If　your　desire　were　to　act
naturally　you　would　push　against　that　door　for　all　you　were　worth；
and　yell　for　somebody　to　bring　you　a　chest　of　drawers　and　a　bedstead；
and　things　like　that；　to　pile　up　against　it。　　If　you　were　a　king；　and
were　giving　a　party；　you　would　not　want　your　guests　to　fix　you　up　at
the　other　end　of　the　room　and　leave　you　there；　with　nobody　to　talk　to
but　your　own　wife；　while　they　turned　their　backs　upon　you；　and　had　a
long　and　complicated　dance　all　to　themselves。　　You　would　want　to　be
in　it；　you　would　want　to　let　them　know　that　you　were　king。

In　acting；　all　these　little　points　have　to　be　considered。　　In　opera；
everything　is　rightly　sacrificed　to　musical　necessity。　　I　have　seen
the　young；　enthusiastic　opera…singer　who　thought　that　he　or　she　could
act　and　sing　at　the　same　time。　　The　experienced　artist　takes　the
centre　of　the　stage　and　husbands　his　resources。　　Whether　he　is
supposed　to　be　indignant　because　somebody　has　killed　his　mother；　or
cheerful　because　he　is　going　out　to　fight　his　country's　foes；　who　are
only　waiting　until　he　has　finished　singing　to　attack　the　town；　he
leaves　it　to　the　composer　to　make　clear。

Also　it　was　Herr　Wagner's　idea　that　the　back　cloth　would　leave　the
opera…goer　indifferent　to　the　picture　gallery。　　The　castle　on　the
rock；　accessible　only　by　balloon；　in　which　every　window　lights　up
simultaneously　and　instantaneously；　one　minute　after　sunset；　while
the　full　moon　is　rushing　up　the　sky　at　the　pace　of　a　champion　comet
that　wonderful　sea　that　suddenly　opens　and　swallows　up　the　ship
those　snow…clad　mountains；　over　which　the　shadow　of　the　hero　passes
like　a　threatening　cloudthe　grand　old　chateau；　trembling　in　the
windwhat　need；　will　ask　the　opera…goer　of　the　future；　of　your
Turners　and　your　Corots；　when；　for　prices　ranging　from　a　shilling
upwards；　we　can　have　a　dozen　pictures　such　as　these　rolled　up　and
down　before　us　every　evening？

But　perhaps　the　most　daring　hope　of　all　was　the　dream　that　came　to
Herr　Wagner　that　his　opera　singers；　his　grouped　choruses；　would
eventually　satisfy　the　craving　of　the　public　for　high　class　statuary。
I　am　not　quite　sure　the　general　public　does　care　for　statuary。　　I　do
not　know　whether　the　idea　has　ever　occurred　to　the　Anarchist；　but；
were　I　myself　organising　secret　committee　meetings　for　unholy
purposes；　I　should　invite　my　comrades　to　meet　in　that　section　of　the
local　museum　devoted　to　statuary。　　I　can　conceive　of　no　place　where
we　should　be　freer　from　prying　eyes　and　listening　ears。　　A　select
few；　however；　do　appreciate　statuary；　and　such；　I　am　inclined　to
think；　will　not　be　weaned　from　their　passion　by　the　contemplation　of
the　opera　singer　in　his　or　her　various　quaint　costumes。

And　even　if　the　tenor　always　satisfied　our　ideal　of　Apollo；　and　the
soprano　were　always　as　sylph…like　as　she　is　described　in　the
libretto；　even　then　I　should　doubt　the　average　operatic　chorus　being
regarded　by　the　connoisseur　as　a　cheap　and　pleasant　substitute　for　a
bas　relief　from　the　Elgin　marbles。　　The　great　thing　required　of　that
operatic　chorus　is　experience。　　The　young　and　giddy…pated　the　chorus
master　has　no　use　for。　　The　sober；　honest；　industrious　lady　or
gentleman；　with　a　knowledge　of　music　is　very　properly　his　ideal。

What　I　admire　about　the　chorus　chiefly　is　its　unity。　　The　whole
village　dresses　exactly　alike。　　In　wicked；　worldly　villages　there　is
rivalry；　leading　to　heartburn　and　jealously。　　One　lady　comes　out
suddenly；　on；　say；　a　Bank　Holiday；　in　a　fetching　blue　that　conquers
every　male　heart。　　Next　holiday　her　rival　cuts　her　out　with　a　green
hat。　　In　the　operatic　village　it　must　be　that　the　girls　gather
together　beforehand　to　arrange　this　thing。　　There　is　probably　a
meeting　called。

〃The　dear　Count's　wedding；〃　announces　the　chairwoman；　〃you　will　all
be　pleased　to　hear；　has　been　fixed　for　the　fourteenth；　at　eleven
o'clock　in　the　morning。　　The　entire　village　will　be　assembled　at　ten…
thirty　to　await　the　return　of　the　bridal　cortege　from　the　church；　and
offer　its　felicitations。　　Married　ladies；　will；　of　course；　come
accompanied　by　their　husbands。　　Unmarried　ladies　must　each　bring　a
male　partner　as　near　their　own　height　as　possible。　　Fortunately；　in
this　village　the　number　of　males　is　exactly　equal　to　that　of　females；
so　that　the　picture　need　not　be　spoiled。　　The　children　will　organise
themselves　into　an　independent　body　and　will　group　themselves
picturesquely。　　It　has　been　thought　advisable；〃　continues　the
chairwoman；　〃that　the　village　should　meet　the　dear　Count　and　his
bride　at　some　spot　not　too　far　removed　from　the　local　alehouse。　　The
costume　to　be　worn　by　the　ladies　will　consist　of　a　short　pink　skirt
terminating　at　the　knees　and　ornamented　with　festoons　of　flowers；
above　will　be　worn　a　bolero　in　mauve　silk　without　sleeves　and　cut
decollete。　　The　shoes　should　be　of　yellow　satin　over　flesh…coloured
stockings。　　Ladies　who　are　'out'　will　wear　pearl　necklaces；　and　a
simple　device　in　emeralds　to　decorate　the　hair。　　Thank　God；　we　can
all　of　us　afford　it；　and　provided　the　weather　holds　up　and　nothing
unexpected　happenshe　is　not　what　I　call　a　lucky　man；　our　Count；　and
it　is　always　as　well　to　be　prepared　for　possibilitieswell；　I　think
we　may　look　forward　to　a　really　pleasant　day。〃

It　cannot　be　done；　Herr　Wagner；　believe　me。　　You　cannot　substitute
the　music　drama　for　all　the　arts　combined。　　The　object　to　be　aimed　at
by　the　wise　composer　should　be　to　make　us；　while　listening　to　his
music；　forgetful　of　all　remaining　artistic　considerations。



THE　WHITE　MAN'S　BURDEN！　　NEED　IT　BE　SO　HEAVY？



It　is　a　delightful　stroll　on　a　sunny　summer　morning　from　the　Hague　to
the　Huis　ten　Bosch；　the　little　〃house　in　the　wood；〃　built　for
Princess　Amalia；　widow　of　Stadtholter　Frederick　Henry；　under　whom
Holland　escaped　finally　from　the　bondage　of　her　foes　and　entered　into
the　promised　land　of　Liberty。　　Leaving　the　quiet　streets；　the　tree…
bordered　canals；　with　their　creeping　barges；　you　pass　through　a
pleasant　park；　where　the　soft…eyed　deer　press　round　you；　hurt　and
indignant　if　you　have　brought　nothing　in　your　pocketnot　even　a
piece　of　sugarto　offer　them。　　It　is　not　that　they　are　graspingit
is　the　want　of　attention　that　wounds　them。

〃I　thought　he　was　a　gentleman；〃　they　seem　to　be　saying　to　one
another；　if　you　glance　back；　〃he　looked　like　a　gentleman。〃

Their　mild　eyes　haunt　you；　on　the　next　occasion　you　do　not　forget。
The　Park　merges　into　the　forest；　you　go　by　winding　ways　till　you
reach　the　trim　Dutch　garden；　moat…encircled；　in　the　centre　of　which
stands　the　prim　old…fashioned　villa；　which；　to　the　simple　Dutchman；
appears　a　palace。　　The　concierge；　an　old　soldier；　bows　low　to　you　and
introduces　you　to　his　wifea　stately；　white…haired　dame；　who　talks
most　languages　a　little；　so　far　as　relates　to　all　things　within　and
appertaining　to　this　tiny　palace　of　the　wood。　　To　things　without；
beyond　the　wood；　her　powers　of　conversation　do　not　extend：
apparently　such　matters　do　not　interest　her。

She　conducts　you　to　the　Chinese　Room；　the　sun　streams　through　the
windows；　illuminating　the　wondrous　golden　dragons　standing　out　in
bold　relief　from　the　burnished　lacquer　work；　decorating　still　further
with　light　and　shade　the　delicate　silk　embroideries　thin　taper　hands
have　woven　with　infinite　pains。　　The　walls　are　hung　with　rice　paper；
depicting　the　conventional　scenes　of　the　conventional　Chinese　life。

You　find　your　thoughts　wandering。　　These　grotesque　figures；　these
caricatures　of　humanity！　　A　comical　creature；　surely；　this　Chinaman；
the　pantaloon　of　civilization。　　How　useful　he　has　been　to　us　for　our
farces；　our　comic　operas！　　This　yellow　baby；　in　his　ample　pinafore；
who　lived　thousands　of　years　ago；　who　has　now　passed　into　this
strange　second　childhood。

But　is　he　dyingor　does　the