We speak much of love--not as an emotion, not as a sentiment, but as a cosmic force. You will see much more what we mean by this as you turn the pages. It is the most challenging thing in the world. It is the inner white-hot core of the Fatherland that is to be--the great white Democracy of the future.... _Democracy_--that's the point of inception of it all; that word is the seed. The more you dwell upon it--you know what the Seamless Robe of the Christ means--the more you realise that the Master Jesus was the first Big Democrat.... We have them speak the word softly and thoughtfully here each day--we like to hear the young ones say it. They are apt to know as much about it as you do--for the word doesn't mean exactly what they mean, who have used it most heretofore. It isn't the name of a political party--yet.... It is government of the people by the people, but only to those who see the sons of God in the eyes of passing men. We only ask its magic, not its presence upon these pages.... They're fighting for it gloriously--every hour. The boys here thrill with the boys there. We hold our hands high to them. Some of our boys are there. They are all our boys! Some are waiting the call to go--but there or here, we are pulling together for the real Fatherland, for the adequite fraternity, under the endless and thrilling magic of the word _Equality_. ... I can say no more splendid word to you than My Equal: I know of no greater adventure than to become one of the Many. It is true that you and I--the best of us, the Immortal within us each, are of one house--that this is but a far outpost of the journey, Egypt if you like, the husks if you like--but that we have arisen and are on our way home to the Father's House. Canyon, Santa Monica, California. CONTENTS PAGE NORTH AMERICANS 17 QUICKENINGS 24 CONQUEST OF FEARS 36 THE STUFF OF COMRADES 45 JOHN'S THINGS 56 VALUES OF LETTER WRITING 70 THE NEW DANCING 79 OLD PICTURES IN RED 91 STEVE 101 HEJIRA 111 THE SPECTATOR 118 TOM AND THE LITTLE GIRL 129 THE ABBOT 139 THE ARTIST UNLEASHED 155 WORK IN SHORT STORIES 164 VALLEY ROAD GIRL 172 BEAUTY 183 SHUK 192 IMAGINATION 205 BOYS AND DOGS 211 THE MAN WHO FOUND PEACE 219 THE MATING MYSTERY 241 CHAPTER OF LETTERS 252 ROMANCE 267 THE COSMIC PEASANT 277 RÉSUMÉ 315 THE HIVE 1 NORTH AMERICANS