odours from earth; grass; and sprouting leaves。 The air of midsummer is
dense; saturated; or dry and burning; as if it came from a furnace。 When
a cool breeze brushes the sultry stillness; it brings fewer odours than
in May; and frequently the odour of a ing tempest。 The avalanche of
coolness which sweeps through the low…hanging air bears little
resemblance to the stinging coolness of winter。
The rain of winter is raw; without odour; and dismal。 The rain of spring
is brisk; fragrant; charged with life…giving warmth。 I wele it
delightedly as it visits the earth; enriches the streams; waters the
hills abundantly; makes the furrows soft with showers for the seed;
elicits a perfume which I cannot breathe deep enough。 Spring rain is
beautiful; impartial; lovable。 With pearly drops it washes every leaf on
tree and bush; ministers equally to salutary herbs and noxious growths;
searches out every living thing that needs its beneficence。
The senses assist and reinforce each other to such an extent that I am
not sure whether touch or smell tells me the most about the world。
Everywhere the river of touch is joined by the brooks of
odour…perception。 Each season has its distinctive odours。 The spring is
earthy and full of sap。 July is rich with the odour of ripening grain
and hay。 As the season advances; a crisp; dry; mature odour
predominates; and golden…rod; tansy; and everlastings mark the onward
march of the year。 In autumn; soft; alluring scents fill the air;
floating from thicket; grass; flower; and tree; and they tell me of time
and change; of death and lifes renewal; desire and its fulfilment。
FOOTNOTE:
'B' George Arnold。
SMELL; THE FALLEN ANGEL
VI
SMELL; THE FALLEN ANGEL
FOR some inexplicable reason the sense of smell does not hold the high
position it deserves among its sisters。 There is something of the fallen
angel about it。 When it woos us with woodland scents and beguiles us
with the fragrance of lovely gardens; it is admitted frankly to our
discourse。 But when it gives us warning of something noxious in our
vicinity; it is treated as if the demon had got the upper hand of the
angel; and is relegated to outer darkness; punished for its faithful