Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           Cedarquist’sdrawing-roomsdressedinawhitevelvetcassock;nowawidowofsomeMohammedanofBengalorRajputana,whohadabluespotinthemiddleofherforeheadandwhosolicitedcontributionsforhersistersinaffliction;nowacertainbeardedpoet,recentlybackfromtheKlondike;nowadecayedmusicianwhohadbeenejectedfromayoungladies’musicalconservatoryofEuropebecauseofcertainsurprisingpamphletsonfreelove,andwhohadcometoSanFranciscotointroducethecommunitytothemusicofBrahms;nowaJapaneseyouthwhoworespectaclesandagreyflannelshirtandwho,atintervals,deliveredhimselfofthemostastonishingpoems,vague,unrhymed,unmetricallucubrations,incoherent,bizarre;nowaChristianScientist,alean,greywoman,whosecreedwasneitherChristiannorscientific;nowauniversityprofessor,withthebristlingbeardofananarchistchief-of-section,andaroaring,gutturalvoice,whoseintensenesslefthimgaspingandapoplectic;nowacivilisedCherokeewithamission;nowafemaleelocutionist,whosefortewasByron’sSongsofGreece;nowahighcasteChinaman;nowaminiaturepainter;nowatenor,apianiste,amandolinplayer,amissionary,adrawingmaster,avirtuoso,acollector,anArmenian,abotanistwithanewflower,acriticwithanewtheory,adoctorwithanewtreatment.

           Andallthesepeoplehadaveritablemaniafordeclamationandfancydress.