A Garden of Peace: A Medley in QuietudeMoore, Frank Frankfort
General
A Garden of Peace: A Medley in Quietude
Moore, Frank Frankfort
Gardens -- Fiction
But how on earth Treillage and the Bible should become connected in any
man's mind would pass the wit of man to explain. But when the appearance
of my Temple compelled Friswell to think of Oxford Street, London, W.,
when his errant memory was carrying him on to the Princess's Theatre, on
whose stage a cardboard thing was built--about as like my Temple as
the late Temple of the Archdiocese of Canterbury was like the late Dr.
Parker of the City Temple.
“I don't recollect any direct or mystical reference to Treillage in
the Book,” said I, with a leaning toward sarcasm in my tone of voice.
“Perhaps you saw something of the kind on or near the premises of the
Bible Society.”
“It couldn't be something in a theatre again,” suggested Dorothy.
“I believe it was on a garden wall in Damascus, but I'm not quite sure,”
said he thoughtfully. “Damascus is a garden city in itself. Thank Heaven
it is safe for some centuries more. That ex-All Highest who had designs
on it would fain have made it Potsdamascus.”
“He would have done his devil best, pulling down the Treillage you saw
there, because it was too French. Don't you think, Friswell, that you
should try to achieve some sort of Treillage for your memory? You are
constantly sending out shoots that come to nothing for want of something
firm to cling to.”
“Not a bad notion, by any means,” said he. “But it has been tried by
scores of experts on the science of--I forget the name of the science: I
only know that its first two letters are mn.”
“Mnemonics,” said Dorothy kindly.
“What a memory you have!” cried Friswell. “A memory for the word that
means memory. I think most of the artificial memories or helps to memory
are ridiculous. They tell you that if you wish to remember one thing you
must be prepared to recollect half a dozen other things--you are to be
led to your destination by a range of sign-posts.”
“I shouldn't object to the sign-posts providing that the destination was
worth arriving at,” said I. “But if it's only the front row of the dress
circle at the Princess's Theatre, Oxford Street, London, West--”
“Or Damascus, Middle East,” he put in, when I paused to breathe. “Yes,
I agree with you; but after all, it wasn't Damascus, but only the
General's house at Gibraltar.”
“Have mercy on our frail systems, Friswell,” I cried. “'We are but
men, are we!' as Swinburne lilts. Think of our poor heads. Another such
abrupt memory-post and we are undone. How is it with you, my Dorothy?”
“I seek a guiding hand,” said she. “Come, Mr. Friswell; tell us how a
General at Gib, suggested the Bible to you.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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