VI
ON THE SEINE

"......, there is something, or there seems to be

something, in the very air of France that com¬
municates the love of style. Precision, clarity, the
cleanly and crafty employment of material, a grace
in the handling, apart from any value in the
thought, seem to be acquired by the mere residen¬
ce ; or if not acquired, become at least the more
appreciated. The air of Paris is alive with this
technical inspiration."—this is what R. L. Steven¬
son says about the air of Paris. And it seems to
me that ** this technical inspiration " is most ma¬
nifest in its autumnal air. To appreciate fully the
air alive with this inspiration, however, one must
spend an afternoon on the Seine when the blue
water of the river reflects a clear autumnal sky.

The autumn in Paris is what I can never forget;