THROUGH A GLASS LIGHTLY
rooms and cheap hotels. For he is a colour to himself, and should only be savoured from pure white glass of wafer thinness, light as the fancy he inspires, large as befits the greatness of his soul, transparent so that his “purple tide” may ebb and flow in full vision. Now these points are for the most part recognised, so that you find him more aptly presented than any of his race. As for Port, so great is his predominancy that he would hardly be gainsaid, though you should take him out of pewter. You may buy his glasses by the pound-weight an’ you will; but even Port responds to warmth and thinness; and for the shape it matters little. Also his affable genius still lends itself to cut-glass and diamond points, wherein you may behold him sparkling and dancing at you in the full strength of his unutterable imperiousness.
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