Souvenir of the George Borrow Celebration: Norwich, July 5th, 1913 — John Shaqi
Souvenir of the George Borrow Celebration: Norwich, July 5th, 1913Hooper, James
History
Souvenir of the George Borrow Celebration: Norwich, July 5th, 1913
Hooper, James
Authors, English -- 19th century -- Biography; Borrow, George, 1803-1881
His grave and gay pictures of persons and places, are etched in with
instinctive faithfulness, and clarity of atmosphere; always excepting
such characters as were under the ban of his capricious hatred: "Mr.
Flamson," "the Old Radical," Scott and his "gentility nonsense," and so
forth. It is doubtful if any but lovers of the open road, can thoroughly
enter into the Borrow fellowship, but only such as Mr. E. V. Lucas, Mr.
Hilaire Belloc, of the comity of wayfaring men--initiates in the
charities of the roads--men who love the dewy perfume of the meadows when
the day is young, the blazing splendours of noon on the highway, and the
magic of moonlight in many a dale, on many a hill. Men, moreover, who
find nothing "low" in listening to the tapestried talk of wayside
taverns, where, indeed, even to-day many a scrap of folk-lore and remnant
of age-old superstitions may be learned. The spirit of Borrow has
inspired and evolved the noble army of caravanners, with Lady Grosvenor
and Mr. J. Harris Stone at their head. The people who cannot appreciate
Borrow are those who will not lift their eyes from the pavement to be
rapt in admiration of a glorious sunset, to whom, indeed, Borrow would
appear a silly enigma, or a boor. For, when "the Heavens declare the
glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handy work," comes that rare
time when the spirit--unconsciously worshipping--is uplifted in an
ecstasy of wonder and joy, who then can but pity the dull eye ever abased
to the grime of the trodden path?
"In matters of taste you never are sure--
Your curry's a poison, your tastelessness pure!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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