До Адама
Chapter XIV
Someoneseizedastickandbeganpoundingalog.Inamomenthehadstruckarhythm.Unconsciously,ouryellsandexclamationsyieldedtothisrhythm.Ithadasoothingeffectuponus;andbeforeweknewit,ourrageforgotten,wewereinthefullswingofahee-heecouncil.
Thesehee-heecouncilssplendidlyillustratetheinconsecutivenessandinconsequentialityoftheFolk.Herewerewe,drawntogetherbymutualrageandtheimpulsetowardcooperation,ledoffintoforgetfulnessbytheestablishmentofaruderhythm.Weweresociableandgregarious,andthesesingingandlaughingcouncilssatisfiedus.Inwaysthehee-heecouncilwasanadumbrationofthecouncilsofprimitiveman,andofthegreatnationalassembliesandinternationalconventionsoflatter-dayman.ButweFolkoftheYoungerWorldlackedspeech,andwheneverweweresodrawntogetherweprecipitatedbabel,outofwhicharoseaunanimityofrhythmthatcontainedwithinitselftheessentialsofartyettocome.Itwasartnascent.
Therewasnothinglong-continuedabouttheserhythmsthatwestruck.Arhythmwassoonlost,andpandemoniumreigneduntilwecouldfindtherhythmagainorstartanewone.Sometimeshalfadozenrhythmswouldbeswingingsimultaneously,eachrhythmbackedbyagroupthatstroveardentlytodrownouttheotherrhythms.
