All this is preliminary to a study of the literature and art of ancient Greece; to help us clear our minds of cant, and persuade us to face the question: how much do we really admire Greek literature and Greek art, and how much do we just pretend to admire it? How much is the superiority of Greek civilization a reality, and how much is it a superstition maintained by gentlemen who have acquired honorific university degrees, which represent to them a meal ticket for the balance of their sojourns on earth?
CHAPTER XVI
MRS. OGI ORDERS ETIQUETTE
“Well,” says Mrs. Ogi, “I see you have got down to the scandal.”
Her husband looks pained. “Do you call that scandal?”
“You accept people’s hospitality, and then come away and ridicule them, and reveal secrets about how they got the family washing done—”
“Secrets!” cries Ogi. “But that was a reform movement, a crusade!” After reflection, he adds: “If I really wanted to tell scandals, I could do it. I might hint that John lost his faith in the radical movement as a result of auto-intoxication.”
“Well, all I can say is that if you tell that, I’ll never speak to you again.”
Ogi answers meekly, “Excuse me.” And then: “What do you think of my thesis?”
“Well,” says Mrs. Ogi, “I see, of course—you are trying to irritate and shock people as much as possible. Are you going to say that Greek art is propaganda?”
“I can’t possibly help saying it.”