THE CREATION OF MAN.
[TO THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—Your contributor who, to the pleasure of all your readers, under the title of "The Mystic Rose," in the Spectator of March 1st, quoted from "The Digit of the Moon" that fascinating passage describing the creation of woman, has in all probability not come across the following extract from an Oriental poem of later date relating to the
making of man.—I am, Sir, &c., M. CRAWSHAY.
THE CREATION OP MAN.
(With apologies to the Author of "The Digit of the Moon.") Soon after the beginning, when that Washitnb for the recrea- tion of Woman had come to reconsider the creation of Man, he found that there were none but the stolid elements left. He turned to the Woman to help him, but she pouted and said, "Must I then even prepare my own surprise ?" Drooping, puzzled, seated betwixt the horns of this dilemma, he pondered painfully as to where again with credit could he go borrowing to fit out a likely man. Light dawned at last upon Washitub, and he bravely took the pride of the morning, the coolness of the evening, the height of the ridiculous, and the breadth of the plain. To this be added the backing of the favourite, the putting of a good face upon it, and the lap of the tide. Proud of this beginning, he chose the weeping of the willows, the laughter of gas, the curse of heredity, and the resignation of a Prime Minister. He took the silence of Dean Maitland and the patience of Miss Milligan. He then borrowed boldly the wisdom of teeth, the swearing of colours, the strength of a conviction, the refine- ment of sugar, the reserve of cavalry, and the honour of making your acquaintance. These deemed he sufficient, and he blended and put them forth in tweed, which when Woman lifted up her eyes and beheld she sang joyfully aloud : "Great art thou, 0 Washitnb ; behold thou hast fashioned here a perfect Man."
Previous page
