July 12.
Bunyan, if we recollect rightly calls it the desire of the eyes, which is a politer phrase than that of the original writer. But there can be no doubt that both of them mean to imply something thoroughly uncomplimentary. It is permissible to think, however, that there might well be another side to this particular deadly sin, not only an innocent one, but that goes down to the springs of life, expressive of feelings that, cannot safely be ignored and, as such, of great social significance. For some weeks past the present' writer has had to look out daily and hourly on a wall of singular ugliness. No, he is not ''doing time."' It is only that the pre-' mises immediately in front of his window are being rebuilt. Ruskin, in "Seven Lamps of Archifecture," enlarges upon a piece of blank wall as an architectural feature and no doubt he was right. At the same time, Ruskin did not live in the days of reinforced concrete and imitation granite. Some day, no doubt, this particular wall will become inoffensive; at least the scars of its' manufacture will be covered up with stucco or whatever the ultimate plastering is to be. At present.it is hideous in itself and aggravated in offensiveness by irregular scaffolding. From a window opposite small Chinese boys, who have undoubtedly the most raucous voices in nature, yell. to their companions above and be-Jow, and sometimes when they think they are unnoticed fling bits of plaster at the writer. For which he blames them not at all. It is to be remembered that they have to pass their days behind that wall, which must be even worse than looking at it.
So far as we can recollect there
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.