第4部分(第2/7 頁)

ges；　I　perceive　countless　vibrations。　I　derive　much　knowledge　of

everyday　matter　from　the　jars　and　jolts　which　are　to　be　felt　everywhere

in　the　house。

Footsteps；　I　discover；　vary　tactually　according　to　the　age；　the　sex；　and

the　manners　of　the　walker。　It　is　impossible　to　mistake　a　child's　patter

for　the　tread　of　a　grown　person。　The　step　of　the　young　man；　strong　and

free；　differs　from　the　heavy；　sedate　tread　of　the　middle…aged；　and　from

the　step　of　the　old　man；　whose　feet　drag　along　the　floor；　or　beat　it

with　slow；　faltering　accents。　On　a　bare　floor　a　girl　walks　with　a　rapid；

elastic　rhythm the　graver　step　of　the

elderly　woman。　I　have　laughed　over　the　creak　of　new　shoes　and　the

clatter　of　a　stout　maid　performing　a　jig　in　the　kitchen。　One　day；　in　the

dining…room　of　an　hotel；　a　tactual　dissonance　arrested　my　attention。　I

sat　still　and　listened　with　my　feet。　I　found　that　two　waiters　were

walking　back　and　forth；　but　not　with　the　same　gait。　A　band　was　playing；

and　I　could　feel　the　music…waves　along　the　floor。　One　of　the　waiters

walked　in　time　to　the　band；　graceful　and　light；　while　the　other

disregarded　the　music　and　rushed　from　table　to　table　to　the　beat　of　some

discord　in　his　own　mind。　Their　steps　reminded　me　of　a　spirited　war…steed

harnessed　with　a　cart…horse。

Often　footsteps　reveal　in　some　measure　the　character　and　the　mood　of　the

walker。　I　feel　in　them　firmness　and　indecision；　hurry　and　deliberation；

activity　and　laziness；　fatigue；　carelessness；　timidity；　anger；　and

sorrow。　I　am　most　conscious　of　these　moods　and　traits　in　persons　with

whom　I　am　familiar。

Footsteps　are　frequently　interrupted　by　certai