INTERLUDE: THE TOWN OF AMERICAN VISIONS 133 ON BEING ENTERTAINED BY COLLEGE BOYS 135 INTERLUDE: THAT WHICH MEN HAIL AS KING 137 NEAR SHICKSHINNY. THE STORY OF THE HOSPITALITY OF A PROMISING FAMILY IN A COAL-MINING REGION 138 INTERLUDE: WHAT THE SEXTON SAID 159 DEATH, THE DEVIL, AND HUMAN KINDNESS. BEING THE SHRED OF AN ALLEGORY 160 INTERLUDES: “LIFE TRANSCENDENT” 179 IN THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH 180 THE OLD GENTLEMAN WITH THE LANTERN (AND THE PEOPLE OF HIS HOUSEHOLD) 182 THAT MEN MIGHT SEE AGAIN THE ANGEL-THRONG 205 FOLLOW THE THISTLEDOWN I asked her “Is Aladdin’s Lamp Hidden anywhere?” “Look into your heart,” she said, “Aladdin’s Lamp is there.” She took my heart with glowing hands. It burned to dust and air And smoke and rolling thistledown, Blowing everywhere. “Follow the thistledown,” she said, “Till doomsday if you dare, Over the hills and far away. Aladdin’s Lamp is there.” I VAGRANT ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH COLUMBUS WOULD that we had the fortunes of Columbus. Sailing his caravels a trackless way, He found a Universe--he sought Cathay. God give such dawns as when, his venture o’er, The Sailor looked upon San Salvador. God lead us past the setting of the sun To wizard islands, of august surprise; God make our blunders wise. THE MAN UNDER THE YOKE IT was Sunday morning in the middle of March. I was stranded in Jacksonville, Florida. After breakfast I had five cents left. Joyously I purchased a sack of peanuts, then started northwest on the railway ties straight toward that part of Georgia marked “Swamp” on the map. Sunset found me in a pine forest. I decided to ask for a meal and lodging at the white house looming half a mile ahead just by the track. I prepared a speech to this effect:-- “I am the peddler of dreams. I am the sole active member of the ancient brotherhood of the troubadours. It is against the rules of our order to receive money. We have the habit of asking a night’s lodging in exchange for repeating verses and fairy-tales.”