The San Francisco call., 1909-11-05
AUTHOR INSCRIBFS
WORK TO GARNfTT
Former San Franciscan Now in
New York Stirs Literary
World With Novelty
Continued from Page 1

the polo players OF Burlingame. At
any rate, the Lady Mechanic could
conceive of nothing more comical than
a man in a night shirt. So with her
hypnotic powers she induced a thou
sand of them thus attired to parade
before her. Then she escaped
The reader may puzzle his brain for
the reason of it all, the why and the
wherefore, and that's probably just
what the author intended he should do.
her TO Boston and then If his wonder
ing brain is still afeld he may give
chase into New York.
Just how seriously Burgess desires
himself to be taken one may gather
from the dedication to Garnett:
Porter Garnett, Esquire-Sir: If I
adopt the old world manner in formally
inscrbing to you this last fantastic
product of my mad witted endeavor,
and build a needless partico upon that
monstrous temple OF frivolity which
you have entered so often with me and
which 1 have been everlong erecting.
you viii. / am sure, count it as of
piece with my customary irnpertinence
and smile good naturedly enough at
my gambado. Were I to push this in
scription home to you. 1 could, no doubt,
justify the liberty now take by claim
ing you as an enthusiastic colaborer IN
many an act of desperate and ipconse
quent trifling. 1t is more than likely,
no"eye9 mo- H you %r' d py way OF acGuslng shas
the metropolis has dried a mind that
the wind from the Pacific urged to ac-
tion; that In short. New York has tanned
me. For this l have but to plead too
guilty.
MY Lady Mechanic has all but died
in inanition. This seven years she had
tainted at the window of my soul. look
ing in vain for rescuer. And yet, this
very effete coast first gave her birth
she is of the Atlantic, which should
cause you to revise your theories.
Il prefer, though, to rest upon your
indulgent approval of that same lady,
my heroine, and your appreciation of
my efforts to make her what she should
be be to satisfy "a a certain a ai. WI whim we . have I V
enough with her errantries to dub her
"Nonparella," and to give her your
guaranty of a precious. If faint and
wan Immortality. Alas, there shall be
ion. He must wear rare spectacles
nowadays who does not see categories
wherever he looks, and this essay is
too personal to be classed with any of
the schools (most humbly do l wear
my garlands of conceit).
STANDS FOR NONSENSE
There is, however, a third consider
alton which demands your name upon
this page. You are, happily for me,
of my caste. We possess the same ter
minology; we talk without speaking;
we use the same shrugs and smiles.
But this letter is to go forth to others;
the world. We have stood for nonsense
per Sc, you and L; we have named it
the fourth dimension of literature; we
have found 1t akin to music in its
subtle, esoteric reactions; we have. so
far. practiced 1t for itself--for a mere
sensuous delight In an occult style.
But of the higher nonsense, what? Is
is debased by the adulteration of satire
and parody? Faith, we have been
recusant you and /. who have been for
an unmixed art. Now, II l backslide, il
follow me? For / started with you.
blithly, without destination and
ended galloping into town. Perhaps
you, of all the world, are still alone.
me.
II shoot my arrow into the air. but I
shall find it at last in. the heart Of a
kin, you and L We know that there is
a reverse of beauty. not ugliness,. which
is the inverse. We have studied its
laws Wnlcn lew nave KNOWN -Slncc tEe
spirit of wonder died from men.
GAVE LIFE TO PEGASUS
so it was you who gave me a hoist
to the saddle and a flick at the flank of
my steed: 1t was you who, in your sober
fashion-ereature OF ferce extremes
You have watched me break my neck
before; hap'ly you'll be at the hurdles
to help me up. At least, technician,
purist academe though you be. you are
also as mad as I, my friend, as mad as
Jade and Ho-ku. and trust you to grin
at my raised airs and witch my high
menage until my Fall For you, then,
my curvet and capriole. my volt, demi-
volt. caracole and curvet. ride my.
smock-rampant with bride slack