Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           Willthewhitecupswiththegoldrimandthebeautifulgoldflowerinside(speciesunknown),thatourSarahJanesnowbreakinsheerlight-heartednessofspirit,becarefullymended,andstooduponabracket,anddustedonlybytheladyofthehouse? 

           Thatchinadogthatornamentsthebedroomofmyfurnishedlodgings. Itisawhitedog. Itseyesblue. Itsnoseisadelicatered,withspots. Itsheadispainfullyerect,itsexpressionisamiabilitycarriedtovergeofimbecility. Idonotadmireitmyself. Consideredasaworkofart,Imaysayitirritatesme. Thoughtlessfriendsjeeratit,andevenmylandladyherselfhasnoadmirationforit,andexcusesitspresencebythecircumstancethatherauntgaveittoher. 

           Butin200years’timeitismorethanprobablethatthatdogwillbedugupfromsomewhereorother,minusitslegs,andwithitstailbroken,andwillbesoldforoldchina,andputinaglasscabinet. Andpeoplewillpassitround,andadmireit. Theywillbestruckbythewonderfuldepthofthecolouronthenose,andspeculateastohowbeautifulthebitofthetailthatislostnodoubtwas. 

           We,inthisage,donotseethebeautyofthatdog. Wearetoofamiliarwithit. Itislikethesunsetandthestars: wearenotawedbytheirlovelinessbecausetheyarecommontooureyes. Soitiswiththatchinadog. In2288peoplewillgushoverit. Themakingofsuchdogswillhavebecomealostart. Ourdescendantswillwonderhowwedidit,andsayhowcleverwewere. Weshallbereferredtolovinglyas"thosegrandoldartiststhatflourishedinthenineteenthcentury,andproducedthosechinadogs." 

           The"sampler"thattheeldestdaughterdidatschoolwillbespokenofas"tapestryoftheVictorianera,"andbealmostpriceless.