The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-08-09
MAJOR MAYS .o.,.
lVl r NEW ARCADIA
He Makes Plans, but His Philosophy
Fails Before Certain Pleasant
A1lurements.

teliigence and refinement Will no more
think Of residing in the city unless they
are obliged to than they would now think
Of residing in Jail Unless they were sen.
fenced there.' remarked Major Max.
1But, Major said Mrs. Max. "one mus
go to town to shop"
Certainly. and occasionally to heal
good music. and II ever @ good play Ia pu,
on to see a good play. can even imagine
myself e1cusing a sensible a for going to
town to see a good picture that he was
interested In II the picture happened to
be there, although In the good times to
come the picture will more likely be in the
country with other good things.
in the chapter which I shall write on
urban life. past, present and to come. it
viii be shown that in the oity Of the future
the population will consist entirely Of fools
and ~unfortunates. The fools win be those
who live In town by preference; the I'M
fortunate who live In town because they
must.
sThe entertainment offered to man
which 10 necessarily exclusive to the city
10 vain trash. 1t appeals only - men and
women who have little OF no capacity for
self-entertainment stored away above their
ears.
Il shall not maintain that all capacity
for entertainment Of a kind which a man
soon will not speak Of without blushing Is
dependent upon any kind OF degree OF
brain cultivation. OF Curse this must
always be go largely. but, as I say, not 30
entirely.
1T takes more brains Of the right sort
to derive entertainment from looking at q
tree, a cloud or o lovely grass covered hill
than to be entertained by any work of man.
Indeed, there are few artificial entertain
ments which In their last analysis are not
devised for children or men and women
Of childish minds. I shall not make the
mistake Of failing to note some exceptions.
Some books, some music, some paint
ings may give casual entertainment to a
man Of sense and taste. although Of course
most booke. music, paintings are meant
for the entertainment Of fools, just as all
plays are. Hence the enormous popular
demand for such entertainments
@Well,' unused Mrs. Max, unrolling her
fancy work from its wrappings, "of course
when Mariorie's fall outfit is completed
and / have ordered a few frocks and things
for myself / don't see why we should 60
into town again at least until the Christ
mas shopping Calls US.
@Amiable convertl' exclaimed the Major.
"You encourage me in my philosophy.
"When I have made converts OF all the
other sensible folk in the world 1t may be
that there win be enough Of III to induce
some thrifty shopkeeper to supply us with
our shop needs from pedlers' packs in
the good old way. Then, and when Mr..
Damrosch has caught my idea and shall
have bought himself a tent and travel about
the country with his orchestra, / really
think we can rent our town house and apply
the proceeds to the circulation of my book.
Living in town will then come to be
recognized as a form of slavery. from which
the escape is by way Of thrift and the adop-
ton OF my religion Of life. In that happy
time how amused we will be to read the
chronicles Of these times. to tell each other
strange stories Of that insane rough house
period OF civilization when men who were
able to prove their sanity yet depended
Upon association with others no better
than themselves or the antics and noises
and contortions Of hired entertainers!
Few men possess either strength or In
dependence Of mind. Hence the boast Of
UGH possessions is the commonest boast.
As humanity progresses under my teach
ing and it's mentality grows strong and in
dependent the petty and futile bores which
now are called entertainments will persist
only for the distraction OF the mindless"
Il think 1t will read beautifully" Mrs.
Max admitted. critically matching some
colored threads. 'but don't you think it
would help the circulation OF your book
II you do not call the people you wish to
convert impolite names? Polly Slangeur
that you are only making a pretence
Of writing a book to have something to talk
about. But I shouldn't wonder IL Marjorie
should become a writer. because she uses
all my penholders as ~javelins to throw at
the bulldog. And besides. l always thought
you liked FOUR afternoon stroll on Fifth
avenue
my only urban delight admitted the
But / nave already arranged a
for that. We will call the lane
shall people 1t and line it with
and hotels and shops. and there you
are. or at least there ! will be.
Anyway. I should not then want to be
on the real avenue, because the town de-
by my disciples would be peopled
only by wholly Objectionable characters,
lnaV ib, tnOoe WHO 20 HOt dRT6S WIN me. In |
that future happy state. whose oonsumma-
lion already fills me with anticipatory pride, |
shall in u return to nature take to her |
al that Ia meritorious In civilization.
@At this moment / can think Of but three
to the credit of civilization. golf, |
and their allied sports. the shower |
path and soap. and thirdly. boot trees.
examination may determine me to |
some other aids to q natural life. |
Feeble minded people will ask why I do |
rot include such things as electric lighting, |
,eat and power. and 1t may be necessary
or me to explain to them that nature gave
,uch to man. not ma to nature
Il think I should like to see Ethel Barry
more II she has a really good new play
Mrs. Max said ~tentativ ely. 4
sSbs shall be summoned to Arcadia
he Major replied. 1T Is part Of the false
less and absurdity Of the whole present
scheme that in the main we are entertained
With folly and that we impose such hideous
conditions upon ourselves In order>to enjoy
Juch entertainment,
"The countless thousands Of my dis
fellow citizens In order to endure