Page:Life's little ironies (1894).pdf/91

contrast between juxtaposed scenes. The spectacle was that of the eighth chasm of the Inferno as to color and flame, and, as to mirth, a development of the Homeris heaven. A smoky glare, of the complexion of brass filings, ascended from the fiery tongues of innamerable naphtha lamps affixed to booths, stalls, and other temporary erections which crowded the spacious marketsquare, In front of this irradiation scores of human figures, more or Jess in profile, were darting athwart and across, up, down, and around, like gnats against a sunset.

Their motions were so rhythmical that they seemed to be moved by machinery. And it présently appeared that they were moved by machinery indeed, the figures being those of the patrons of swings, seesaws, flying-leaps, above all of the three steam roundabouts which occupied the centre of the position. It was from the latter that the din of steam-organe came.

Throbbing humanity in full light was, on second thoughts, better than ecclesiology in the dark. The young man, lighting a short pipe, and putting his hat on one side and one hand in his pocket, to throw himself into harmony with hia new environment, drew near to the largest and moat patronized of the steam circuses, as the roundabouts were called by their owners, This was one of brilliant finish, and it was now in full revolution. The musical instrument around which and to whose tones the riders revolved, directed its trampet-mouths of brass upon the young man, and the long plate-glasa mirrors set at angles, which revolved with the machine, flashed the gyrating personages and hobby-horses kaleidoscopically into his eyes.

It could now bea seen that he was unlike the majority of the crowd. A gentlemanly young fellow, one of the species found in large towns only, and London particularly, built on delicate lines, well, though not