[lit-ideas] Re: Philosophy of the Weather (Was: Meteorologica)
- From: David Ritchie <profdritchie@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2015 09:55:42 -0700
On Apr 12, 2015, at 11:01 PM, Omar Kusturica wrote:
The philosophy of weather is at least as developed in the Bay of Kotor as in
England.
The definitive study of P.G.Wodehouse on the subject of spring has yet to be
completed, but early indications in the journals and so forth indicate that
it'll be a corker. Omar here is onto one of the early themes, viz, that
spring's character has in it both something of nature and hints of nurture.
Here, for example, is spring in London, "It was a cheerless prospect that met
his eye. Like all English springs, the one which has just come to London
seemed totally unable to make up its fatheaded mind whether it was supposed to
be that ethereal mildness of which the poet sings, or something suitable for
skiers left over from the winter. A few moments before, the sun had been
shining with extraordinary brilliance, but now a sort of young blizzard was
raging, and the spectacle has the effect of plunging Pongo into despondency."
Uncle Fred In the Springtime, chapter one.
In the countryside, however, we see a spring that has been raised to different
standards.
"This morning Baxter was forgotten, and [Lord Emsworth] was experiencing that
perfect happiness which comes from a clear conscience, absence of loved ones,
congenial society and fine weather. For once in a way there was nothing which
he was trying to conceal from his sister Constance, no disrupting influence had
come to mar his communion with the Empress [his fat pig], and the weather, as
almost always in this favored spot, was wonderful. We have seen spring being
whimsical and capricious in London, but it knew enough not to try anything of
that sort on Blandings Castle."
U.F. in the S., chapter two.
BTW, I can't make sense of "For once in a way..." I've checked the accuracy of
my typing and--'strawdinry-- I seem to have avoided introducing an error, so
that's what Plum, or the typesetter, intended. Thoughts?
And so, to work!
David Ritchie,
where spring has sprung.
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