The Argosy . lways invidious. All people and things cannot be ahke—Heavenforbid; each should be judged alone. This building was intended for an exchange: and I suppose fulfilledits destiny for many an age. But one asks involuntarily what sort ofmen they were who transacted business amidst these columns, underthis vaulted roof, and what effect it had upon their lives and theirwork. Surely they must have been of finer mould, nobler in mind,more upright in dealing than those who went through sale and barterwithin prosier walls ? A thing of beauty is a joy for ever, and in con-stant presence of th
The Argosy . lways invidious. All people and things cannot be ahke—Heavenforbid; each should be judged alone. This building was intended for an exchange: and I suppose fulfilledits destiny for many an age. But one asks involuntarily what sort ofmen they were who transacted business amidst these columns, underthis vaulted roof, and what effect it had upon their lives and theirwork. Surely they must have been of finer mould, nobler in mind,more upright in dealing than those who went through sale and barterwithin prosier walls ? A thing of beauty is a joy for ever, and in con-stant presence of the beautiful, we impressionable beings may soarsuperior to the dead level of everyday life. For the tendency of timeand existence, experience and contemplation, mixing with ones fellow 2l6 Letters from Majorca, men and weighing them in the balance, is I fear, seldom in favourof making us rise on stepping stones of our dead selves to higherthings. These Palma merchants in their beautiful Lonja, were very much. The Lonja. to be envied in those past days. They have left behind them atradition and an atmosphere. One peoples the great square hall withtheir dead-and-gone ^ shades, but it is impossible to make of themanything prosy or austere, or invest them with the hard, unromanticfront and bearing of ordinary business mortals. We mount one of the towers of the Lonja, and reach the battle- Letters from Majorca, 217 merited roof. The view is more remarkable, more striking than fromthe hotel. We are nearer the everchanging, sapphire sea, and hear itsceaseless plash upon the shore : a sleepy sound suggestive of theMallorcan temperament. The harbour is at our feet, all its craft
Size: 1354px × 1844px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthorwoodhenr, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1860, bookyear1865
