第8章

类别:其他 作者:G。 K。 Chesterton字数:10292更新时间:18/12/13 16:43:17
Theywantworldsofwaistcoatsandforestsoftrousersandpagodasoftallhatstopplinguptothestars。 ThusitiswiththelingeringMummersatChristmasinthecountry。IfourmorerefinedreviversofMiraclePlaysorMorriceDancestriedtoreconstructtheoldMummers\'PlayofSt。GeorgeandtheTurkishKnight(Idonotknowwhytheydonot)theywouldthinkatonceofpicturesqueandappropriatedresses。St。George\'spanoplywouldbepicturedfromthebestbooksofarmourandblazonry:theTurkishKnight\'sarmsandornamentswouldbetracedfromthefinestSaracenicarabesques。WhenmygardendooropenedonChristmasEveandSt。GeorgeofEnglandentered,theappearanceofthatchampionwasslightlydifferent。Hisfacewasenergeticallyblackedalloverwithsoot,abovewhichheworeanagedandverytalltophat;heworehisshirtoutsidehiscoatlikeasurplice,andheflourishedathickumbrella。Nowdonot,Ibegyou,talkabout\"ignorance\";orsupposethattheMummerinquestion(heisaverypleasantRatcatcher,withatenorvoice)didthisbecauseheknewnobetter。TrytorealisethatevenaRatcatcherknowsSt。GeorgeofEnglandwasnotblack,anddidnotkilltheDragonwithanumbrella。TheRat-catcherisnotunderthisdelusion;anymorethanPaulVeronesethoughtthatverygoodmenhaveluminousringsroundtheirheads;anymorethanthePopethinksthatChristwashedthefeetofthetwelveinaCathedral;anymorethantheDukeofNorfolkthinksthelionsonatabardarelikethelionsattheZoo。Thesethingsaredenaturalisedbecausetheyaresymbols;becausetheextraordinaryoccasionmusthideorevendisfiguretheordinarypeople。BlackfacesweretomediaevalmummerieswhatcarvedmasksweretoGreekplays:itwascalledbeing\"vizarded。” MyRat-catcherisnotsufficientlyarroganttosupposeforamomentthathelookslikeSt。George。Butheissufficientlyhumbletobeconvincedthatifhelooksaslittlelikehimselfashecan,hewillbeontherightroad。 ThisisthesoulofMumming;theostentatioussecrecyofmenindisguise。 Thereare,ofcourse,othermediaevalelementsinitwhicharealsodifficulttoexplaintothefastidiousmediaevalistsofto-day。Thereis,forinstance,acertainoutputofviolenceintothevoid。Itcanbestbedefinedasaragingthirsttoknockmendownwithoutthefaintestdesiretohurtthem。Alltherhymeswiththeoldringhavethetrickofturningoneverythinginwhichtherhymstersmostsincerelybelieved,merelyforthepleasureofblowingoffsteaminstartlingyetcarelessphrases。WhenTennysonsaysthatKingArthur\"drewallthepettyprincedomsunderhim,\"and\"madearealmandruled,\"hisgraveRoyalismisquitemodern。Manymediaevals,outsidethemediaevalrepublics,believedinmonarchyassolemnlyasTennyson。Butthatolderverse- WhengoodKingArthurruledthislandHewasagoodlyKing—— Hestolethreepecksofbarley-mealTomakeabag-pudding。 isfarmoreArthurianthananythinginTheIdyllsoftheKing。Thereareotherelements;especiallythatsacredthingthatcanperhapsbecalledAnachronism。AllthattousisAnachronismwastomediaevalsmerelyEternity。ButthemainexcellenceoftheMummingPlayliesstill,I think,initsuproarioussecrecy。Ifwecannothideourheartsinhealthydarkness,atleastwecanhideourfacesinhealthyblacking。Ifyoucannotescapelikeaphilosopherintoaforest,atleastyoucancarrytheforestwithyou,likeaJack-in-the-Green。Itiswelltowalkunderuniversalensigns;andthereisanoldtaleofatyranttowhomawalkingforestwasthewitnessofdoom。That,indeed,istheveryintensityofthenotion:amaskedmanisominous;butwhoshallfaceamobofmasks? THEARISTOCRATIC\'ARRY TheCheapTripper,pursuedbythecursesoftheaesthetesandtheantiquaries,reallyis,Isuppose,asymptomofthestrangeandalmostunearthlyuglinessofourdiseasedsociety。Thecostumesandcustomsofahundredpeasantriesaretheretoprovethatsuchuglinessdoesnotnecessarilyfollowfrommerepoverty,ormeredemocracy,ormereunletteredsimplicityofmind。 Butthoughthetripper,artisticallyconsidered,isasignofourdecadence,heisnotoneofitsworstsigns,butrelativelyoneofitsbest;oneofitsmostinnocentandmostsincere。Comparedwithmanyofthephilosophersandartistswhodenouncehim;helookslikeaGodfearingfisheroranoblemountaineer。Hisan-ticswithdonkeysandconcertinas,crowdedchar-abancs,andexchangedhats,thoughclumsy,arenotsoviciousorevensofundamentallyvulgarasmanyoftheamusementsoftheovereducated。Peoplearenotmorecrowdedonachar-a-bancthantheyareatapolitical\"AtHome,\"orevenanartisticsoiree;andifthefemaletrippersareoverdressed,atleasttheyarenotoverdressedandunderdressedatthesametime。Itisbettertorideadonkeythantobeadonkey。ItisbettertodealwiththeCockneyfestivalwhichasksmenandwomentochangehats,ratherthanwiththemodernUtopiathatwantsthemtochangeheads。 Butthetruthisthatsuchsmall,butreal,elementofvulgarityasthereisindeedinthetripper,ispartofacertainfollyandfalsitywhichischaracteristicofmuchmodernity,andespeciallyoftheverypeoplewhopersecutethepoortrippermost。Thereissomethinginthewholesociety,andevenespeciallyintheculturedpartofit,thatdoesthingsinaclumsyandunbeautifulway。 AcaseoccurstomeinthematterofStonehenge,whichIhappenedtovisityesterday。NowtoapersonreallycapableoffeelingthepoetryofStonehengeitisalmostasecondarymatterwhetherheseesStonehengeatall。ThevastvoidrolloftheemptylandtowardsSalisbury,thegraytablelandslikeprimevalaltars,thetrailingrain-clouds,thevapourofprimevalsacrifices,wouldalltellhimofaveryancientandverylonelyBritain。ItwouldnotspoilhisDruidicmoodifhemissedStonehenge。 ButitdoesspoilhismoodtofindStonehenge——surroundedbyabrand-newfenceofbarbedwire,withapolicemanandalittleshopsellingpicturepost-cards。 Nowifyouprotestagainstthis,educatedpeoplewillinstantlyansweryou,\"Oh,itwasdonetopreventthevulgartripperswhochipstonesandcarvenamesandspoilthelookofStonehenge。”ItdoesnotseemtooccurtothemthatbarbedwireandapolicemanratherspoilthelookofStonehenge。Thescratchingofaname,particularlywhenperformedwithbluntpenknifeorpencilbyapersonofimperfectSchoolBoardeducation,canbetrustedinalittlewhiletobeindistinguishablefromthegrayesthieroglyphicbythegrandestDruidofold。ButnobodycouldgetamodernpolicemanintothesamepicturewithaDruid。Thisreallyvitalpieceofvandalismwasdonebytheeducated,nottheuneducated;itwasdonebytheinfluenceoftheartistsorantiquarieswhowantedtopreservetheantiquebeautyofStonehenge。Itseemstomecurioustopreserveyourlady\'sbeautyfromfrecklesbyblackingherfaceallover;ortoprotectthepurewhitenessofyourweddinggarmentbydyeingitgreen。 Andifyouask,\"Butwhatelsecouldanyonehavedone,whatcouldthemostartisticagehavedonetosavethemonument?\"Ireply,\"TherearehundredsofthingsthatGreeksorMediaevalsmighthavedone;andIhavenonotionwhattheywouldhavechosen;butIsaythatbyaninstinctintheirwholesocietytheywouldhavedonesomethingthatwasdecentandseriousandsuitabletotheplace。Perhapssomefamilyofknightsorwarriorswouldhavethehereditarydutyofguardingsuchaplace。Ifsotheirarmourwouldbeappropriate;theirtentswouldbeappropriate;notdeliberately——theywouldgrowlikethat。Perhapssomereligiousordersuchasnormallyemploynocturnalwatchesandtherelievingofguardwouldprotectsuchaplace。Perhapsitwouldbeprotectedbyallsortsofrituals,consecrations,orcurses,whichwouldseemtoyoumereravingsuperstitionandsilliness。Buttheydonotseemtomeonetwentiethpartsosilly,fromapurelyrationalistpointofview,ascalmlymakingaspothideousinordertokeepitbeautiful。” Thethingthatisreallyvulgar,thethingthatisreallyvile,istoliveinagoodplaceWithoutlivingbyitslife。Anyonewhosettlesdowninaplacewithoutbecomingpartofitis(barringpeculiarpersonalcases,ofcourse)atripperorwanderingcad。Forinstance,theJewisagenuinepeculiarcase。TheWanderingJewisnotawanderingcad。Heisahighlycivilisedmaninahighlydifficultposition;theworldbeingdivided,andhisownnationbeingdivided,aboutwhetherhecandoanythingelseexceptwander。 Thebestexampleofthecultured,butcommon,tripperistheeducatedEnglishmanontheContinent。WecannolongerexplainthequarrelbycallingEnglishmenrudeandforeignerspolite。HundredsofEnglishmenareextremelypolite,andthousandsofforeignersareextremelyrude。ThetruthofthematteristhatforeignersdonotresenttherudeEnglishman。 Whattheydoresent,whattheydomostjustlyresent,isthepoliteEnglishman。HevisitsItalyforBotticellisorFlandersforRembrandts,andhetreatsthegreatnationsthatmadethesethingscourteously——ashewouldtreatthecustodiansofanymuseum。ItdoesnotseemtostrikehimthattheItalianisnotthecustodianofthepictures,butthecreatorofthem。Hecanaffordtolookdownonsuchnations——whenhecanpaintsuchpictures。 Thatis,inmattersofartandtravel,thepsychologyofthecad。If,livinginItaly,youadmireItalianartwhiledistrustingItaliancharacter,youareatourist,orcad。If,livinginItaly,youadmireItalianartwhiledespisingItalianreligion,youareatourist,orcad。 Itdoesnotmatterhowmanyyearsyouhavelivedthere。Touristswilloftenlivealongtimeinhotelswithoutdiscoveringthenationalityofthewaiters。EnglishmenwilloftenlivealongtimeinItalywithoutdiscoveringthenationalityoftheItalians。Butthetestissimple。IfyouadmirewhatItaliansdidwithoutadmiringItalians——youareacheaptripper。 Thesame,ofcourse,appliesmuchnearerhome。IhaveremarkedelsewherethatcountryshopkeepersarejustlyoffendedbyLondonpeople,who,comingamongthem,continuetoorderalltheirgoodsfromLondon。Itiscaddishtowinkandsquintatthecolourofaman\'swine,likeawinetaster;andthenrefusetodrinkit。Itisequallycaddishtowinkandsquintatthecolourofaman\'sorchard,likealandscapepainter; andthenrefusetobuytheapples。Itisalwaysaninsulttoadmireathingandnotuseit。ButthemainpointisthatonehasnorighttoseeStonehengewithoutSalisburyPlainandSalisbury:OnehasnorighttorespectthedeadItalianswithoutrespectingtheliveones。OnehasnorighttovisitaChristiansocietylikeadivervisitingthedeep-seafishes——fedalongalengthytubebyanotheratmosphere,andseeingthesightswithoutbreathingtheair。Itisveryrealbadmanners。 THENEWTHEOLOGIAN Itisanoldstorythatnamesdonotfitthings;itisanoldstorythattheoldestforestiscalledtheNewForest,andthatIrishstewisalmostpeculiartoEngland。Butthesearetraditionaltitlesthattend,oftheirnature,tostiffen;itisthetragedyofto-daythatevenphrasesinventedforto-daydonotfitit。Theforesthasremainednewwhileitisnearlyathousandyearsold;butourfashionshavegrownoldwhiletheywerestillnew。 Theextremeexampleofthisisthatwhenmodernwrongsareattacked,theyarealmostalwaysattackedwrongly。Peopleseemtohaveapositiveinspirationforfindingtheinappropriatephrasetoapplytoanoffender; theyarealwaysaccusingamanoftheftwhenhehasbeenconvictedofmurder。TheymustaccuseSirEdwardCarsonofoutrageousrebellion,whenhisoffencehasreallybeenasleeksubmissiontothepowersthatbe。 TheymustdescribeMr。LloydGeorgeasusinghiseloquencetorousethemob,whereashehasreallyshownconsiderableclevernessindampingitdown。ItwasprobablyunderthesameimpulsetowardsamysteriousmisfitofnamesthatpeopledenouncedDr。Ingeas\"theGloomyDean。” NowthereisnothingwhateverwrongaboutbeingaDean;noristhereanythingwrongaboutbeinggloomy。Theonlyquestioniswhatdarkbutsinceremotiveshavemadeyougloomy。WhatdarkbutsinceremotiveshavemadeyouaDean。NowtheaddressofDr。Ingewhichgainedhimthiserroneoustitlewasmostlyconcernedwithadefenceofthemoderncapitalistsagainstthemodernstrikers,fromwhoseprotestheappearedtoanticipateappallingresults。Nowifwelookatthefactsaboutthatgentleman\'sdepressionandalsoabouthisDeanery,weshallfindaverycuriousstateofthings。 WhenDr。Ingewascalled\"theGloomyDean\"agreatinjusticewasdonehim。Hehadappearedasthechampionofourcapitalistcommunityagainsttheforcesofrevolt;andanyonewhodoesthatexceedsinoptimismratherthanpessimism。Amanwhoreallythinksthatstrikershavesufferednowrong,orthatemployershavedonenowrong——suchamanisnotaGloomyDean,butaquitewildlyanddangerouslyhappyDean。Amanwhocanfeelsatisfiedwithmodernindustrialismmustbeamanwithamysteriousfountainofhighspirits。Andtheactualoccasionisnotlesscurious;because,asfarasIcanmakeout,histitletogloomreposesonhishavingsaidthatourworker\'sdemandhighwages,whiletheplacidpeopleoftheFarEastwillquitecheerfullyworkforless。 Thisistrueenough,ofcourse,andtheredoesnotseemtobemuchdifficultyaboutthematter。MenoftheFarEastwillsubmittoverylowwagesforthesamereasonthattheywillsubmitto\"thepunishmentknownasLi,orSlicing\";forthesamereasonthattheywillpraisepolygamyandsuicide;forthesamereasonthattheysubjectthewifeutterlytothehusbandorhisparents;forthesamereasonthattheyservetheirtempleswithprostitutesforpriests;forthesamereasonthattheysometimesseemtomakenodistinctionbetweensexualpassionandsexualperversion。Theydoit,thatis,becausetheyareHeathens;menwithtraditionsdifferentfromoursaboutthelimitsofenduranceandthegesturesofself-respect。Theymaybeverymuchbetterthanweareinhundredsofotherways;andIcanquiteunderstandaman(thoughhardlyaDean)reallypreferringtheirhistoricvirtuestothoseofChristendom。 AmanmayperhapsfeelmorecomfortableamonghisAsiaticcooliesthanamonghisEuropeancomrades:andaswearetoallowtheBroadestThoughtintheChurch,Dr。Ingehasasmuchrighttohisheresyasanybodyelse。 Itistruethat,asDr。Ingesays,therearenumberlessOrientalswhowilldoagreatdealofworkforverylittlemoney;anditismostundoubtedlytruethatthereareseveralhigh-placedandprosperousEuropeanswholiketogetworkdoneandpayaslittleaspossibleforit。 ButIcannotmakeoutwhy,withhisenthusiasmforheathenhabitsandtraditions,theDeanshouldwishtospreadintheEasttheideaswhichhehasfoundsodreadfullyunsettlingintheWest。IfsomethousandsofyearsofpaganismhaveproducedthepatienceandindustrythatDeanIngeadmires,andifsomethousandyearsofChristianityhaveproducedthesentimentalityandsensationalismwhichheregrets,theobviousdeductionisthatDeanIngewouldbemuchhappierifhewereaheathenChinese。 InsteadofsupportingChristianmissionstoKoreaorJapan,heoughttobeattheheadofagreatmissioninLondonforconvertingtheEnglishtoTaoismorBuddhism。Therehispassionforthemoralbeautiesofpaganismwouldhavefreeandnaturalplay;hisstylewouldimprove;hismindwouldbeginslowlytoclear;andhewouldbefreefromallsortsoflittleirritatingscrupulositieswhichmusthampereventhemostConservativeChristianinhisfullpraiseofsweatingandthesack。 InChristendomhewillneverfindrest。Theperpetualpubliccriticismandpublicchangewhichisthenoteofallourhistoryspringsfromacertainspiritfartoodeeptobedefined。Itisdeeperthandemocracy; nay,itmayoftenappeartobenon-democratic;foritmayoftenbethespecialdefenceofaminorityoranindividual。Itwilloftenleavetheninety-and-nineinthewildernessandgoafterthatwhichislost。ItwilloftenrisktheStateitselftorightasinglewrong;anddojusticethoughtheheavensfall。ItshighestexpressionisnotevenintheformulaofthegreatgentlemenoftheFrenchRevolutionwhosaidthatallmenwerefreeandequal。Itshighestexpressionisratherintheformulaofthepeasantwhosaidthataman\'samanfora\'that。IftherewerebutoneslaveinEngland,andhedidalltheworkwhiletherestofusmademerry,thisspiritthatisinuswouldstillcryaloudtoGodnightandday。Whetherornothisspiritwasproducedby,itclearlyworkswith,acreedwhichpostulatesahumanisedGodandavividlypersonalimmortality。Menmustnotbebusymerelylikeaswarm,orevenhappymerelylikeaherd;foritisnotaquestionofmen,butofaman。A man\'smealsmaybepoor,buttheymustnotbebestial;theremustalwaysbethataboutthemealwhichpermitsofitscomparisontothesacrament。 Aman\'sbedmaybehard,butitmustnotbeabjectorunclean:theremustalwaysbeaboutthebedsomethingofthedecencyofthedeath-bed。 ThisisthespiritwhichmakestheChristianpoorbegintheirterriblemurmurwheneverthereisaturnofpricesoradeadlockoftoilthatthreatensthemwithvagabondageorpauperisation;andwecannotencouragetheDeanwithanyhopethatthisspiritcanbecastout。ChristendomwillcontinuetosufferallthedisadvantagesofbeingChristian:itistheDeanwhomustbegentlybutfirmlyaltered。Hehadabsent-mindedlystrayedintothewrongcontinentandthewrongcreed。Iadvisehimtochuckit。 Butthecaseismorecuriousstill。ToconnecttheDeanwithConfuciantemplesortraditionsmayhaveappearedfantastic;butitisnot。Dr。 IngeisnotastupidoldToryRector,strictbothonChurchandState。 SuchamanmighttalknonsenseabouttheChristianSocialistsbeing\"courtchaplainsofKingDemos\"orabouthisownsuperbvalourindefyingthedemocracythatragesinthefrontpewsofAnglicanchurches。Weshouldnotexpectamereold-fashionedcountryclergymantoknowthatDemoshasneverbeenkinginEnglandandpreciousseldomanywhereelse; weshouldnotexpecthimtorealisethatifKingDemoshadanychaplainstheywouldbeuncommonlypoorlypaid。ButDr。Ingeisnotold-fashioned; heconsidershimselfhighlyprogressiveandadvanced。HeisaNewTheologian;thatis,heisliberalintheology——andnothingelse。Heisapparentlyinsoberfact,andnotasinanyfantasy,insympathywiththosewhowouldsoftenthesuperiorclaimofourcreedbyurgingtherivalcreedsoftheEast;withthosewhowouldabsorbthevirtuesofBuddhismorofIslam。HeholdsahighseatinthatmodernParliamentofReligionswhereallbelieversrespecteachother\'sunbelief。 Nowthishasaverysharpmoralformodernreligiousreformers。Whennextyouhearthe\"liberal\"ChristiansaythatweshouldtakewhatisbestinOrientalfaiths,makequitesurewhatarethethingsthatpeoplelikeDr。Ingecallbest;whatarethethingsthatpeoplelikeDr。Ingeproposetotake。YouwillnotfindthemimitatingthemilitaryvalouroftheMoslem。YouwillnotfindthemimitatingthemiraculousecstasyoftheHindoo。Themoreyoustudythe\"broad\"movementoftoday,themoreyouwillfindthatthesepeoplewantsomethingmuchlesslikeChinesemetaphysics,andsomethingmuchmorelikeChineseLabour。Youwillfindthelevellingofcreedsquiteunexpectedlyclosetotheloweringofwages。 Dr。Ingeisthetypicallatitudinarianofto-day;andwasnevermoresothanwhenheappearednotastheapostleoftheblacks,butastheapostleoftheblacklegs。Preached,asitis,almostentirelyamongtheprosperousandpolite,ourbrotherhoodwithBuddhismorMohammedanismpracticallymeansthis——thatthepoormustbeasmeekasBuddhists,whiletherichmaybeasruthlessasMohammedans。Thatiswhattheycallthereunionofallreligions。 THEROMANTICINTHERAIN ThemiddleclassesofmodernEnglandarequitefanaticallyfondofwashing;andareoftenenthusiasticforteetotalism。Icannotthereforecomprehendwhyitisthattheyexhibitamysteriousdislikeofrain。 Rain,thatinspiringanddelightfulthing,surelycombinesthequalitiesofthesetwoidealswithquiteacuriousperfection。Ourphilanthropistsareeagertoestablishpublicbathseverywhere。Rainsurelyisapublicbath;itmightalmostbecalledmixedbathing。Theappearanceofpersonscomingfreshfromthisgreatnaturallustrationisnotperhapspolishedordignified;butforthematterofthat,fewpeoplearedignifiedwhencomingoutofabath。Buttheschemeofraininitselfisoneofanenormouspurification。Itrealisesthedreamofsomeinsanehygienist: itscrubsthesky。ItsgiantbroomsandmopsseemtoreachthestarryraftersandStarlesscornersofthecosmos;itisacosmicspring- cleaning。 IftheEnglishmanisreallyfondofcoldbaths,heoughtnottogrumbleattheEnglishclimateforbeingacoldbath。Inthesedaysweareconstantlytoldthatweshouldleaveourlittlespecialpossessionsandjoinintheenjoymentofcommonsocialinstitutionsandacommonsocialmachinery。IoffertherainasathoroughlySocialisticinstitution。Itdisregardsthatdegradeddelicacywhichhashithertoledeachgentlemantotakehisshower-bathinprivate。Itisabettershower-bath,becauseitispublicandcommunal;and,bestofall,becausesomebodyelsepullsthestring。 Asforthefascinationofrainforthewaterdrinker,itisafacttheneglectofwhichIsimplycannotcomprehend。Theenthusiasticwaterdrinkermustregardarainstormasasortofuniversalbanquetanddebauchofhisownfavouritebeverage。Thinkoftheimaginativeintoxicationofthewinedrinkerifthecrimsoncloudssentdownclaretorthegoldencloudshock。Paintuponprimitivedarknesssomesuchscenesofapocalypse,toweringandgorgeousskyscapesinwhichchampagnefallslikefirefromheavenorthedarkskiesgrowpurpleandtawnywiththeterriblecoloursofport。Allthismustthewildabstainerfeel,asherollsinthelongsoakinggrass,kickshisecstaticheelstoheaven,andlistenstotheroaringrain。Itishe,thewaterdrinker,whooughttobethetruebacchanaloftheforests;foralltheforestsaredrinkingwater。Moreover,theforestsareapparentlyenjoyingit:thetreesraveandreeltoandfrolikedrunkengiants;theyclashboughsasrevellersclashcups;theyroarundyingthirstandhowlthehealthoftheworld。 AllaroundmeasIwriteisanoiseofNaturedrinking:andNaturemakesanoisewhensheisdrinking,beingbynomeansrefined。IfIcountitChristianmercytogiveacupofcoldwatertoasufferer,shallI complainofthesemultitudinouscupsofcoldwaterhandedroundtoalllivingthings;acupofwaterforeveryshrub;acupofwaterforeveryweed?Iwouldbeashamedtogrumbleatit。AsSirPhilipSidneysaid,theirneedisgreaterthanmine——especiallyforwater。 ThereisawildgarmentthatstillcarriesnoblythenameofawildHighlandclan:aelancomefromthosehillswhererainisnotsomuchanincidentasanatmosphere。SurelyeverymanofimaginationmustfeelatempestuousflameofCelticromancespringupwithinhimwheneverheputsonamackintosh。Icouldneverreconcilemyselftocarryingallumbrella; itisapompousEasternbusiness,carriedovertheheadsofdespotsinthedry,hotlands。Shutup,anumbrellaisanunmanageablewalking- stick;open,itisaninadequatetent。Formypart,Ihavenotasteforpretendingtobeawalkingpavilion;Ithinknothingofmyhat,andpreciouslittleofmyhead。IfIamtobeprotectedagainstwet,itmustbebysomecloserandmorecarelessprotection,somethingthatIcanforgetaltogether。ItmightbeaHighlandplaid。ItmightbethatyetmoreHighlandthing,amackintosh。 AndthereisreallysomethinginthemackintoshofthemilitaryqualitiesoftheHighlander。Thepropercheapmackintoshhasablueandwhitesheenasofsteeloriron;itgleamslikearmour。Iliketothinkofitastheuniformofthatancientclaninsomeofitsoldandmistyraids。