The Equinox (Volume I, Number V)

THE EQUINOX do they matter? Nothing. We get the truth about the Second Empire—~and if Zola’s facts were all false, it would not alter the truth he came to tell, poor, provincial, time-serving truth as it is.” “ Take Ibsen l It is no accusation to say that Norwegians never act as his characters do; no defence to prove that Norwegians always do act so. It has nothing to do with the question. Romeo and Juliet make love in English—nobody minds! Macbeth is not obliged to say, ‘Hoots! ma leddy!’ every time he addresses his wife. The fool who bothers with local colour misses the sunshine. The man with the burette misses the sea. Some pious Dutchman of yore, who wanted to paint Abraham and Isaac, gave the old man a blunderbuss. Why not? You can shoot your son with a blunderbuss! I tell you it’s all symbolism, all hieroglyphics. Take Wagner ! " “Take a cigarette," said Ida. He shrugged his shoulders, and surrendered to the event. “ Mr Rolles," she said, ”it is your advice on life that we are asking. Let us talk seriously. This dear boy (she took the negro’s lips in her slim fingers and pinched them) likes me." “ I love her! I would die for her!" broke in the black, crying with pleasure and pain, utterly unable to hold himself in. He caught the table to draw himself to it, so violently that two glasses fell. “ I love her! I love her! I want her.” “ Hush, joe! Well, you see, Mr Rolles, I love him too. . . .” Rolles flashed one glance at her. She would not see it.—"I love him passionately, indeed I do. Oh, I love him, I love him! ” She threw herself on the broad chest of the boxer and hid 140