What name could seem more
descriptive of a certain illustrious Archbishop of Westminster than
`Manning'? It seems the very epitome of saintly astuteness. But for
`Cardinal' substitute `Mrs.' as its prefix, and, presto! it is equally
descriptive of that dreadful medio-Victorian murderess who in the dock
of the Old Bailey wore a black satin gown, and thereby created against
black satin a prejudice which has but lately died. In itself black
satin is a beautiful thing. Yet for many years, by force of
association, it was accounted loathsome. Conversely, one knows that
many quite hideous fashions in costume have been set by beautiful
women. Such instances of the subtle power of association will make
clear to you how very easily a name (being neither beautiful nor
hideous in itself) can be made hideous or beautiful by its bearer--how
inevitably it becomes for us a symbol of its bearer's most salient
qualities or defects, be they physical, moral, or intellectual.
Streets are not less characteristic than human beings. `Look!' cried a
friend of mine, whom lately I found studying a map of London, `isn't
it appalling? All these streets--thousands of them--in this tiny
compass! Think of the miles and miles of drab monotony this map
contains! I pointed out to him (it is a thinker's penalty to be always
pointing things out to people) that his words were nonsense.
Pages:
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185