Money, Power, and Purpose, with Manners

May 24, 1910
In and about the financial district this afternoon, I was imbued with some of its iron tonic and marveled at the battle of the exchanges, the members of which resembled in effect if not in character the howling dervishes. Minds that can carry on for any length of time in this manner and atmosphere have a certain repugnance or hardness and narrowness. They may be stimulated in some directions, but are dwarfed in all the saner and nobler aspects of existences. I had a stock transaction with the American Trustee Company in the Wall street Exchange building, and then sauntered down Broad street amidst the noisy curb brokers and found a haven of rest in Fraunces’s Tavern. How quietly and picturesquely it sits at the corner contemplating its grim surroundings and recalling its interesting and appealing memories!

March -- May 1910, Wilson lives and Twain dies

March 21, 1910
Yesterday, Palm Sunday, the Rev. Mr. Mortimer took tea with us. My sisters had arranged a pretty table. We had a pleasant talk intime.
Bought at Tiffany’s a wedding gift for Miss Katharine W. Hardenbergh, whose marriage takes place next week. Miss H. is an attractive brunette. The man in the case is Mr. Philip W. von Saltza, tall, fair, athletic, and said to be a Swedish baron.

March 24, 1910
To-night at the Carteret Club I attended the first annual banquet of the local Princeton Alumni Association. President Woodrow Wilson was the principal guest and speaker. Before the dinner I had a brief talk with him. He had recently been to Bermuda and I inquired after Mark Twain who is there invalided. He recounted one of Twain’s stories. He made an incisive, strong address at the dinner, much of it convincing and of studious insight, and yet in any exposition of education, as of life, there are so many differentiating individual problems and varying factors, that something is necessarily wanting to a full and comprehensive treatment. It is wise to be sympathetic rather than dogmatic, and permit some undetermined things to work out their own distinctive way. With all his apparent breadth Dr. Wilson’s educational viewpoint is too limited. It ignores or does not sufficiently account for culture and criticism – invaluable devotions. Service to the state, to be sure, but not confined to politicians or the more patent offices and professions only in a very comprehensive sense is service as a university object acceptable. The appropriate aim and higher reach should be the production of great and ripe scholars, and these are none less democratic, because they require some protection or seclusion for the maturing of their thoughts in “the quiet and still act of delightful studies”. But of necessity there must be some natural nobility in this separateness and devotion. It is the principal way to bring forth great and profound scholars and he serves the state best who serves it where it is most deficient. Chancellor Pitney talked at some length about the Procter controversy. Mr. ((Imbrie)) commented on the university’s business concerns. Mr. Roper’s remarks on athletics were of that rugged character that seems to befit an athletic trainer. Mr. Joseph A. Dear presided. There were college songs and cheers galore.

March 28, 1910
Sunday was a bright Easter, and I accompanied my sisters to St. Mark’s. The church was in gala array and the service fitting and edifying. We made our offerings, and came away thankful for the renewals of another year.

April 5, 1910
At the concert of the Schubert Glee Club to-night; I went alone. How often I am alone or amongst comparative strangers, yet not so often in relation as in spiritual attitude and perception. I find in music a friendly atmosphere of mystical correspondences and soul echoes and on its related sounds can more readily scale the heights and widely explore.

April 7, 1910
The masses seem to be moving up, whilst the classes, their monitors and inspiration, are in a measure being sacrificed. Yet there is a wide perceptible gain, and there will always be light-bearers, certain choice spirits of culture to carry on the nobler traditions and best thoughts. Perhaps they are commonly not prized, but they have their secret recompense. They are the very salt of society and do indeed savor and retrieve the mass. Alas when one looks afield! Such a general level and aspect, such a rush for the necessary and obvious; so little appreciation of pause, envisagement and personal distinction! Yet these things are but phases and relative; the whole is divinely moved and needs but the sounding mood, the penetrating eye, to divine its high and sufficient purposes. The life is justified of its being.

April 14, 1910
Marie and I were at the Christ Hospital concert tonight. It was given in the auditorium of Grand View Park under the auspices of the Arion Society of Jersey City. The orchestra recruited from the Metropolitan Opera House was excellent and some of the singing good. We enjoyed the evening. It made a festival occasion of brightness, spirit stirrings and tonal memories.

April 21, 1910
Mark Twain (Samuel L. Clemens) died today in the early evening – or rather Samuel died and Mark lives. Mark was a serious man, and it is too bad that the cap and bells once assumed should go with a man throughout his life and tag him to his grave. M. T. had an original native force, albeit its indices are somewhat vulgar. Finn and Sawyer place him well up amongst the robust creators of literature. The work most popularly and intimately associated with his name is “The Innocents Abroad”, and I fancy it has elements that will give it the freshest and longest life.

April 27, 1910
At Montclair this afternoon on business, and looked around a town of spacious comfort and high reliefs – an inviting place with a quiet dignity of its own.

May 3, 1910
Attended a concert in Elks Hall to-night; accompanied Miss Stewart, who is on a visit, and my sisters Marie and Blanche.

May 4, 1910
At the theatre; a bright little comedy.

May 7, 1910
King Edward VII died last night, and to-day the Prince of Wales took the oath as George V. Thackeray should return and write another Roundabout Paper on the Fifth George. This is a critical period for monarchies and other fine things. They have their attraction and upward shaping influence, if small real potentiality. Victoria probably reigned somewhat too long: we could have stood more of Edward, a soul of natural royalty and wide beneficience.

May 12, 1910
This evening I was present at an entertainment in Hasbrouck Hall, in behalf of the Alumni Benefit Fund. A pleasant skit or playlet came first, enacted by three recent graduates of the Institute, then a young Russian, Mirzah ((Cheslia)), gave some Indo-Persian dances, interpretive and poetic. The social dancing that followed struck me as somewhat gauche. Different styles, if artistically controlled, add interest. I like character and individuality, if shown with grace and harmony; but here were awkward gyrations and crudity of effect. It was a sort of hopping and romping in whatever degree, - not the lope and the glide scarcely entered. Such violence may serve its purpose, if the harness stays on, but it is not art. How complacently some people exhibit themselves in kinds of which they know so little!

May 14, 1910
Friday afternoon Marie, Blanche and I saw the exhibited work of the New York School of Fine and Applied Arts, at Broadway and Eightieth street. We went on invitation of Miss Helen McGee, one of the students – and some of whose sketches appeared. Her Titian head looked out of several portraits.
In the “life” rooms I felt no sense of furtive dalliance and loveliness disclosed, but rather a realizing sense that I was amid the primitive cave-dwellers and anthropoid apes. Such, alas, was the odd success of nudity in the hands of amateurs!
An attractive girl-student with unstudied simplicity conducted us through the crafts and applied arts department. I remarked on the significance of art and the satisfactions, more rewarding than gold, of its pursuit, of the fashioning of artistic things, of beautiful things. She mentioned, with a smile of assent, the toil of art, the skill and patience bestowed, and wondered whether it met with full appreciation, the appreciation that comes with practice and experience. I preferred to accept the result achieved without questioning the means or picturing the pale artist with his uncertain struggles, - that was to enjoy the occasion.
The work varied in merit, some of it being indifferent and naturally immature, some of it making a graceful or refreshing appeal.

The Marriage Institution....previewed....100 years ago today

January 6, 1910
It was a harsh wintry day; the pavements were glib with ice and snow; it blew and sleeted and rained. I got a carriage, and in the evening -Twelfth Night by the way -went with Marie and Blanche to the wedding of Miss Julia Fitz-Randolph McGee and Mr. Frances V. Dobbins. It was a church wedding and a pretty affair. Afterward we went to the house on Crescent avenue for the reception of the bridal party and a few intimate friends. All seemed becomingly happy, and if any doubt or cynicism appeared, it appeared veiled in the men's cloak room. And yet at the church, at the nuptials, I felt myself assisting at some solemn fate or looking on in a dream. The figures came and departed -there was a hushed crucial moment, a subdued word or two. I wondered if they sincerely believed, realized and accepted. Was there not something limited, illusory and archaic in this beautiful custom so religiously kept up? For my part I perceived some artifice, craft and inadequacy in the marriage institution that made it look like an anachronism, or a superstitious ceremony projected into the present by reason of its peculiar grace and venerable usage and because no constructive substitute has been found: it lingered on because no finer, subtler, more comprehensive and sufficing form had been discovered to fit the passion and purpose of man and the concept of the universal mind.

Egypt and Christmas-To Be or not to Be President with Manners

December 21, 1909
Feeling a trifle stale for want of exercise I put over to the Princeton Club tonight. The clubhouse on Gramercy Park is oddly attractive. After strolling through the rooms and hesitating a moment in the library, I settled to an illustrated lecture by Mr. Dwight Elmendorf on Egypt. He has a pleasant, clear voice, and made interesting comment on some excellent pictures. Two or three of these were caviare to the general and relished with the gusto of the arcane. I missed something of poetic interpretation, but even a stiff realism and moving pictures and British progress can not kill the fascinating illusion and romance of old Egypt.

December 25, 1909
Christmas passed off pleasantly with good things to eat and plenty of cheer, with family presents, mostly books, given and received. A few friends chipped in from the periphery and outer circles. Three of my Italian tenants sent wines, fruit, cheese, perfumes, and marvelous cakes, colorful, artistic, architectural. The donors came in person an((d)) gave with expressive greetings and that expansive good nature and courtesy for which the Italians have a talent. In one case I might suspect the motive, yet ungraciously, for they all acted so spontaneously and evinced some covert admiration or gratitude. In several ways I have aided them to get along.
In this connection I recall that one of them a short time ago -he is a political leader in a minor degree, with his district association, and affiliated with the machine -wanted me to put myself forward as a mayoralty candidate. Others have asked me to do the same and in respect to other offices in the past. While I expressed my appreciation and pleasure, I thought to myself, and without any depreciation of the conventional places and houses, for which indeed I formerly had a hankering. -I thought how little I am now in intimate harmony with them, how little I am finely touched by the usual, ordinary service and reward. As matters stand men must serve, nor may they stand too curiously inactive. There may be no warmth of approval or just understanding. They may receive only coldly measured stipends and modicum of praise, grudgingly or perfunctorily given, and at much compromise of their individual and innate selves. Still they should serve. Yet there are degrees of sacrifice. And while so many clamor to serve and do it with an exaggerated sense of importance, do it expediently, if not finely: yet there are others who might not refuse, if need were, to be fired out of the cannon's mouth for their country's sake, who nevertheless serve too, and perhaps more supremely because more rarely and unwontedly, by the cultivation of themselves, by the culture of criticism and creation, by adding somewhat of distinctive character and beauty to the general mass. Yes they have and fulfil their great office in the state. And it often redounds to the greater glory of the nation they represent. Individual standards light the way and diffuse their radiance widely.
Jocosely I fancied the Mayoralty of Jersey City -bah! -that fails to tempt me. The presidency of the United States would scarcely suffice. Perhaps I might consider the direction of the Confederation of Europe and all the Americas with their several limitations. But I should not stop at that: I feel for the supreme. Make me the Ruler of the Universe with stars and planets to play with!

Social Revaluation


Revaluation

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Revaluation means a rise of a price of goods or products. This term is specially used as revaluation of a currency, where it means a rise of currency to the relation with a foreign currency in a fixed exchange rate. In floating exchange rate correct term would be appreciation. The antonym of revaluation is devaluation."

I

Social Revaluation is a Revelation
In culture and society
Look around the world
Look inside ourselves
Who and what is valued?
Social Revaluation means a rise
Of each Person's worth
Of the Good in All
A rise of currency
To the relation
With a foreign currency
In a fixed exchange rate
Who or what fixes the rate?
In a floating exchange rate
Who floats the rate?
Where is the appreciation?
And what is currency?
Originally currency
Was a form
A unit of account
Representing food
In the form of grain
Stored in temple granaries
A store of value
Four thousand years ago
Currency was a creation
A circulating medium of exchange

II

Now the global accounting mediums
Ask us again to trust them
With new units, markers, and derivatives
Representing we know not what
In forms few can explain or understand
Of dubious or even toxic value
Stored in forts and banks
Often traded or exchanged on line
Lines pushed by many global bankers and lawyers
By some accountants and most politicians
Snorted up their noses
Fat cats sitting in mansions
Made of promises they have not kept
Guarded by uniformed military police
Lifted up as heroes without earning the name
The weak and the poor too often seen without rights
Counted as collateral damage
When they are in the way
Devaluation spread like cancer
The earth and its resources
Viewed by huge corporations as pawns for the taking
Leaving the ground, the water, and the air
Damaged and polluted
For others to clean up
Debating climate change in blindness and arrogance
Giant conglomerates without a conscience
Poisoning paradise in a consuming wake.
The signs are everywhere
Their party is almost over
Environmental devaluation is being exposed
Shocks of economic crisis felt 'round the world
And endless war continues supported by both parties .........however

III

In the Cradles of Civilization
On Every Continent
The Places of Nature
Nurture quietly Rising Plant Nations
Sheltered in Earlier Stages
New ImagiNations Without Borders
Changing Under and On the Surface
A Myriad of Chrysalis-like Cradles Rocking in the Wind
In Grand Transformational Style
Marked by an Emerging Revaluation of Food, Goods, and Services
Showing True Appreciation for Work and Workers
Individuals and Communities
Making their Own Declarations of Independence
Moving Back to Basics
Sharing Food and Resources
Taking the Time to Love and Care for Others
With our Hands and From our Hearts
We the People Are Rising Up
To Protect the Earth
And Life Everywhere
Spreading our Wings with Wisdom and Words
Growing Food and Medicine Organically
Building Sound Sustainable and Ecofriendly Habitats
Raising Children with Respect and Nonviolence
Creating Art and Music and Dance and Theater
Surrounding Our Children
The Poor and the Oppressed
With Arms of Support and Healing
Giving Health Care and Freedom to All
We Can Do This
We Are Doing This
This Revaluation
This Revelation
This Revolution
This Time
2009.


1

February 8, 1909
The current push of nature that overbears our fine calculations for its own ends, though perfectly natural, is looked askance at and little studied or understood. A frank and honest discussion of the whole matter, with its varied, implications, would give it direction and control, largely insure against frightful dangers and make potently for the health, perpetuity and advancing strength of the race. What pretenses and subterfuges we scuttle under where things the most vital are concerned! Why not let in the light of truth, come out in the open and ride full-panoplied on the plain?


2


May 24, 1910
In and about the financial district this afternoon, I was imbued with some of its iron tonic and marveled at the battle of the exchanges, the members of which resembled in effect if not in character the howling dervishes. Minds that can carry on for any length of time in this manner and atmosphere have a certain repugnance or hardness and narrowness. They may be stimulated in some directions, but are dwarfed in all the saner and nobler aspects of existences. I had a stock transaction with the American Trustee Company in the Wall street Exchange building, and then sauntered down Broad street amidst the noisy curb brokers and found a haven of rest in Fraunces’s Tavern. How quietly and picturesquely it sits at the corner contemplating its grim surroundings and recalling its interesting and appealing memories!


3

April 7, 1910
The masses seem to be moving up, whilst the classes, their monitors and inspiration, are in a measure being sacrificed. Yet there is a wide perceptible gain, and there will always be light-bearers, certain choice spirits of culture to carry on the nobler traditions and best thoughts. Perhaps they are commonly not prized, but they have their secret recompense. They are the very salt of society and do indeed savor and retrieve the mass. Alas when one looks afield! Such a general level and aspect, such a rush for the necessary and obvious; so little appreciation of pause, envisagement and personal distinction! Yet these things are but phases and relative; the whole is divinely moved and needs but the sounding mood, the penetrating eye, to divine its high and sufficient purposes. The life is justified of its being.

Cords of Corti

December 1, 1909
"Schubert concert to-night: Marie and I submitted our cords of corti and sensoria to the beats and agitation of the voices and instruments; we accorded them a sensitive response of varying approval."......Edwin Manners

"Ordinary musical tones, the notes of the
voice, the violin, and the piano, for example,
simple as they sound, are, like ordinary white
light, rather complex compounds of many sim-
ple elements. There are in them seven or eight
constituent or " partial " tones, quite distinctly
audible to the trained ear or to the untrained
ear armed with suitable instruments ; and these
partial tones, produced by vibrations in the
sound-emitting body whose rates are regularly
related, bear a certain fixed relation to each
other, like the spectrum-colors that compose
white light.Not only this, but each partial tone arouses its own sensation in the ear by stimulating there one of the minute filaments called the cords of Corti, each of which vibrates sympathetically to a tone of given pitch and to no other. Now we are to imagine that
when an ordinary musical tone is sounded, seven
or eight of these little cords immediately
start a-tremble, and send to the brain their mes-
sages, which combine there into the composite
impression we name " a tone." If now another
tone is sounded, one which starts into motion
another set of filaments, and if furthermore
there is one filament now set in motion that was
also excited by the first compound tone if, in
other words, the two tones happen to have a
partial tone in common, which in both instances
excites the same filament in the ear, then we
shall have a sense of close relationship between
them ; they will make together a harmonic
group or form."

FROM GRIEG TO
BRAHMS
STUDIES OF SOME MODERN
COMPOSERS AND THEIR ART
BY
DANIEL GREGORY MASON
1902

Organ of Corti

From Wikipedia

The organ of Corti (or spiral organ) is the organ in the inner ear of mammals that contains auditory sensory cells, or "hair cells."

The organ of Corti has highly specialized structures that respond to fluid-borne vibrations in the cochlea with a shearing vector in the hairs of some cochlear hair cells. It contains between 15,000-20,000 auditory nerve receptors. Each receptor has its own hair cell. The shear on the hairs opens ion channels, leading to neural, electrical signaling to the auditory cortex. The pinna and middle ear act as mechanical transformers, so that by the time sound waves reach the Organ of Corti, their pressure amplitude is 20 times that of the air impinging on the pinna. The Organ of Corti can be damaged by excessive sound levels, leading to noise induced health effects. The organ of corti is the structure that transduces pressure waves to action potential.

The discoverer: Alfonso Corti

The organ was named after the Italian anatomist Marquis Alfonso Giacomo Gaspare Corti (1822-1876), who conducted microscopic research of the mammalian auditory system.

Hearing impairment

The most common kind of hearing impairment, sensorineural hearing loss, includes as one major cause the reduction of function in the organ of Corti. Specifically, the active amplification function of the outer hair cells is very sensitive to damage from exposure to trauma from overly-loud sounds or to certain "ototoxic" drugs. Once outer hair cells are damaged, they do not regenerate, and the result is a loss of sensitivity and an abnormally large growth of loudness (known as recruitment) in the part of the spectrum that the damaged cells serve.

Authority......and writing

November 23, 1909
The only authority for great writing is the man who writes greatly.