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and　even　different　hours　of　the　day。　The　odorous；　fresh　sea…breezes　are
distinct　from　the　fitful　breezes　along　river　banks；　which　are　humid　and
freighted　with　inland　smells。　The　bracing；　light；　dry　air　of　the
mountains　can　never　be　mistaken　for　the　pungent　salt　air　of　the　ocean。
The　air　of　winter　is　dense；　hard；　pressed。　In　the　spring　it　has　new
vitality。　It　is　light；　mobile；　and　laden　with　a　thousand　palpitating
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　life's　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
service。　It　is　most　difficult　to　keep　the　true　significance　of　words
when　one　discusses　the　prejudices　of　mankind；　and　I　find　it　hard　to　give
an　account　of　odour…perceptions　which　shall　be　at　once　dignified　and
truthful。

In　my　experience　smell　is　most　important；　and　I　find　that　there　is　high
authority　for　the　nobility　of　the　sense　which　we　have　neglected　and
disparaged。　It　is　recorded　that　the　Lord　manded　that　incense　be　burnt
before　him　continually　with　a　sweet　savour。　I　doubt　if　there　is　any
sensation　arising　from　sight　more　delightful　than　the　odours　which
filter　through　sun…warmed；　wind…tossed　branches；　or　the　tide　of　scents
which　swells；　subsides；　rises　again　wave　on　wave；　filling　the　wide　world
with　invisible　sweetness。　A　whiff　of　the　universe　makes　us　dream　of
worlds　we　have　never　seen；　recalls　in　a　flash　entire　epochs　of　our
dearest　experience。　I　never　smell　daisies　without　living　over　again　the
ecstatic　mornings　that　my　teacher　and　I　spent　wandering　in　the　fields；
while　I　learned　new　words　and　the　names　of　things。　Smell　is　a　potent
wizard　that　transports　us　across　a　thousand　miles　and　all　the　years　we
have　lived。　The　odour　of　fruits　wafts　me　to　my　Southern　home；　to　my
childish　frolics　in　the　peach　orchard。　Other　odours；　instantaneous　and
fleeting；　cause　my　heart　to　dilate　joyously　or　contract　with　remembered
grief。　Even　as　I　think　of　smells；　my　nose　is　full　of　scents　that　start
awake　sweet　memories　of　summers　gone　and　ripening　grain　fields　far　away。

The　faintest　whiff　from　a　meadow　where　the　new…mown　hay　lies　in　the　hot
sun　displaces　the　here　and　the　now。　I　am　back　again　in　the　old　red　barn。
My　little　friends　and　I　are　playing　in　the　haymow。　A　huge　mow　it　is；
packed　with　crisp；　sweet　hay；　from　the　top　of　which　the　smallest　child
can　reach　the　straining　rafters。　In　their　stalls　beneath　are　the　farm
animals。　Here　is　Jerry；　unresponsive；　unbeautiful　Jerry；　crunching　his
oats　like　a　true　pessimist；　resolved　to　find　his　feed　not　good……at　least
not　so　good　as　it　ought　to　be。　Again　I　touch　Brownie；　eager；　grateful
little　Brownie；　ready　to　leave　the　juiciest　fodder　for　a　pat；　straining
his　beautiful；　slender　neck　for　a　caress。　Near　by　stands　Lady　Belle；
with　sweet；　moist　mouth；　lazily　extracting　the　sealed…up　cordial　from
timothy　and　clover；　and　dreaming　of　deep　June　pastures　and　murmurous
streams。

The　sense　of　smell　has　told　me　of　a　ing　storm　hours　before　there　was
any　sign　of　it　visible。　I　notice　first　a　throb　of　expectancy；　a　slight
quiver；　a　concentration　in　my　nostrils。　As　the　storm　draws　nearer；　my
nostrils　dilate　the　better　to　receive　the　flood　of　earth…odours　which
seem　to　multiply　and　extend；　until　I　feel　the　splash　of　rain　against　my
cheek。　As　the　tempest　departs；　receding　farther　and　farther；　the　odours
fade；　bee　fainter　and　fainter；　and　die　away　beyond　the　bar　of　space。

I　know　by　smell　the　kind　of　house　we　enter。　I　have　recognized　an
old…fashioned　country　house　because　it　has　several　layers　of　odours；
left　by　a　succession　of　families；　of　plants；　perfumes；　and　draperies。

In　the　evening　quiet　there　are　fewer　vibrations　than　in　the　daytime；　and
then　I　rely　more　largely　upon　smell。　The　sulphuric　scent　of　a　match
tells　me　that　the　lamps　are　being　lighted。　Later　I　note　the　wavering
trail　of　odour　that　flits　about　and　disappears。　It　is　the　curfew　signal；
the　lights　are　out　for　the　night。

Out　of　doors　I　am　aware　by　smell　and　touch　of　the　ground　we　tread　and
the　places　we　pass。　Sometimes；　when　there　is　no　wind；　the　odours　are　so
grouped　that　I　know　the　character　of　the　country；　and　can　place　a
hayfield；　a　country　store；　a　garden；　a　barn；　a　grove　of　pines；　a
farmhouse　with　the　windows　open。

The　other　day　I　went　to　walk　toward　a　familiar　wood。　Suddenly　a
disturbing　odour　made　me　pause　in　dismay。　Then　followed　a　peculiar；
measured　jar；　followed　by　dull；　heavy　thunder。　I　understood　the　odour
and　the　jar　only　too　well。　The　trees　were　being　cut　down。　We　climbed　the
stone　wall　to　the　left。　It　borders　the　wood　which　I　have　loved　so　long
that　it　seems　to　be　my　peculiar　possession。　But　to…day　an　unfamiliar
rush　of　air　and　an　unwonted　outburst　of　sun　told　me　that　my　tree　friends
were　gone。　The　place　was　empty；　like　a　deserted　dwelling。　I　stretched
out　my　hand。　Where　once　stood　the　steadfast　pines；　great；　beautiful；
sweet；　my　hand　touched　raw；　moist　stumps。　All　about　lay　broken　branches；
like　the　antlers　of　stricken　deer。　The　fragrant；　piled…up　sawdust
swirled　and　tumbled　about　me。　An　unreasoning　resentment　flashed　through
me　at　this　ruthless　destruction　of　the　beauty　that　I　love。　But　there　is
no　anger；　no　resentment　in　nature。　The　air　is　equally　charged　with　the
odours　of　life　and　of　destruction；　for　death　equally　with　growth　forever
ministers　to　all…conquering　life。　The　sun　shines　as　ever；　and　the　winds
riot　through　the　newly　opened　spaces。　I　know　that　a　new　forest　will
spring　where　the　old　one　stood；　as　beautiful；　as　beneficent。

Touch　sensations　are　permanent　and　definite。　Odours　deviate　and　are
fugitive；　changing　in　their　shades；　degrees；　and　location。　There　is
something　else　in　odour　which　gives　me　a　sense　of　distance。　I　should
call　it　horizon……the　line　where　odour　and　fancy　meet　at　the　farthest
limit　of　scent。

Smell　gives　me　more　idea　than　touch　or　taste　of　the　manner　in　which
sight　and　hearing　probably　discharge　their　functions。　Touch　seems　to
reside　in　the　object　touched；　because　there　is　a　contact　of　surfaces。　In
smell　there　is　no　notion　of　relievo；　and　odour　seems　to　reside　not　in
the　object　smelt；　but　in　the　organ。　Since　I　smell　a　tree　at　a　distance；
it　is　prehensible　to　me　that　a　person　sees　it　without　touching　it。　I
am　not　puzzled　over　the　fact　that　he　receives　it　as　an　image　on　his
retina　without　relievo；　since　my　smell　perceives　the　tree　as　a　thin
sphere　with　no　fullness　or　content。　By　themselves；　odours　suggest
nothing。　I　must　learn　by　association　to　judge　from　them　of　distance；　of
place；　and　of　the　actions　or　the　surroundings　which　are　the　usual
occasions　for　them；　just　as　I　am　told　people　judge　from　colour；　light；
and　sound。

From　exhalations　I　learn　much　about　people。　I　often　know　the　work　they
are　engaged　in。　The　odours　of　wood；　iron；　paint；　and　drugs　cling　to　the
garments　of　those　that　work　in　them。　Thus　I　can　distinguish　the
carpenter　from　the　ironworker；　the　artist　from　the　mason　or　the　chemist。
　one　place　to　another　I　get　a　scent
impression　of　where　he　has　been……the　kitchen；　the　garden；　or　the
sick…room。　I　gain　pleasurable　ideas　of　freshness　and　good　taste　from　the
odours　of　soap；　toilet　water；　clean　garments；　woollen　and　silk　stuffs；
and　gloves。

I　have　not；　indeed；　the　all…knowing　scent　of　the　hound　or　the　wild
animal。　None　but　the　halt　and　the　blind　need　fear　my　skill　in　pursuit；
for　there　are　other　things　besides　water；　stale　trails；　confusing　cross
tracks　to　put　me　at　fault。　Nevertheless；　human　odours　are　as　varied　and
capable　of　recognition　as　hands　and　faces。　The　dear　odours　of　those　I
love　are　so　definite；　so　unmistakable；　that　nothing　can　quite　obliterate
them。　If　many　years　should　elapse　before　I　saw　an　intimate　friend　again；
I　think　I　should　recognize　his　odour　instantly　in　the　heart　of　Africa；
as　promptly　as　would　my　brother　that　barks。

Once；　long　ago；　in　a　crowded　railway　station；　a　lady　kissed　me　as　she
hurried　by。　I　had　not　touched　even　her　dress。　But　she　left　a　scent　with
her　kiss　which　gave　me　a　glimpse　of　her。　The　years　are　many　since　she
kissed　me。　Yet　her　odour　is　fresh　in　my　memory。

It　is　difficult　to　put　into　words　the　thing　itself；　the　elusive
person…odour。　There　seems　to　be　no　adequate　vocabulary　of　smells；　and　I
must　fall　back　on　approximate　phrase　and　metaphor。

Some　people　have　a　vague；　unsubstantial　odour　that　floats　about；　mocking
every　effort　to　identify　it。　It　is　the　will…o'…the…wisp　of　my　olfactive
experience。　Sometimes　I　meet　one　who　lacks　a　distinctive　person…scent；
and　I　seldom　find　such　a　one　lively　or　entertaining。　On　the　other　hand；
one　who　has　a　pungent　odour　often　possesses　great　vitality；　energy；　and
vigour　of　mind。

Masculine　exhalations　are　as　a　rule　stronger；　more　vivid；　more　widely
differentiated　than　those　of　women。　In　the　odour　of　young　men　there　is
something　elemental；　as　of　fire；　storm；　and　salt　sea。　It　pulsates　with
buoyancy　and　desire。　It　suggests　all　things　strong　and　beautiful　and
joyous；　and　gives　me　a　sense　of　physical　happiness。　I　wonder　if　others
observe　that　all　infants　have　the　same　scent……pure；　simple；
undecipherable　as　their　dormant　personality。　It　is　not　until　the　age　of
six　or　seven　that　they　begin　to　have　perceptible　individual　odours。
These　develop　and　mature　along　with　their　mental　and　bodily　powers。

What　I　have　written　about　smell；　especially　person…smell；　will　perhaps
be　regarded　as　the　abnormal　sentiment　of　one　who　can　have　no　idea　of　the
〃world　of　reality　and　beauty　which　the　eye　perceives。〃　There　are　people
who　are　colour…blind；　people　who　are　tone…deaf。　Most　people　are
smell…blind…and…deaf。　We　should　not　condemn　a　musical　position　on　the
testimony　of　an　ear　which　cannot　distinguish　one　chord　from　another；　or
judge　a　picture　by　the　verdict　of　a　colour…blind　critic。　The　sensations
of　smell　which　cheer；　inform；　and　broaden　my　life　are　not　less　pleasant
merely　because　some　critic　who　treads　the　wide；　bright　pathway　of　the
eye　has　not　cultivated　his　olfactive　sense。　Without　the　shy；　fugitive；
often　unobserved　sensations　and　the　certainties　which　taste；　smell；　and
touch　give　me；　I　should　be　obliged　to　take　my　conception　of　the　universe
wholly　from　others。　I　should　lack　the　alchemy