CONTENTS
ITALIAN TALES
[MAN AND THE SIMPLON]
[AN UNWRITTEN SONATA]
[SUN AND SEA]
[LOVE OF LOVERS]
[HEARTS AND CREEDS]
[THE TRAITOR'S MOTHER]
[THE FREAK]
[THE MIGHT OF MOTHERHOOD]
[A MESSAGE FROM THE SEA]
[THE HONOUR OF THE VILLAGE]
[THE SOCIALIST]
[THE HUNCHBACK]
[ON THE STEAMER]
RUSSIAN TALES
[THE PROFESSOR]
[THE POET]
[THE WRITER]
[THE MAN WITH A NATIONAL FACE]
[THE LIBERAL]
[THE JEWS AND THEIR FRIENDS]
[HARD TO PLEASE]
[PASSIVE RESISTANCE]
[MAKING A SUPERMAN]
ITALIAN TALES
[MAN AND THE SIMPLON]
A blue lake is deeply set in mountains capped with eternal snow. A dark network of gardens descends in gorgeous folds to the water. White houses that look like lumps of sugar peer down from the bank into the lake; and everything around is as quiet and peaceful as the sleep of a child.
It is morning. A perfume of flowers is wafted gently from the mountains. The sun is new risen and the dew still glistens on the leaves of trees and the petals of flowers. A road like a grey ribbon thrusts into the quiet mountain gorge—a stone-paved road which yet looks as soft as velvet, so that one almost has a desire to stroke it.
Near a pile of stones sits a workman, like some dark coloured beetle; on his breast is a medal; his face is serious, bold, but kindly.
Placing his sunburnt hands on his knees and looking up into the face of a passer-by who has stopped in the shade of a chestnut-tree, he says:
"This is the Simplon, signor, and this is a medal for working in the Simplon tunnel,"