MDMD (6)--Ch. 17 Outline

[RICHARD ROMEO]

Ch 17--Mason:  Neither Here nor There

Mason, fleeing Maskelyne  and the maddening windward side of St Helena, 
finds himself, outside of Jamestown, where he discovers the Jenkin's Ear 
Museum.  Mason (Grinch-like) crawls thru the  entrance and proceeds to 
get stuck owning to a "corporate surplus" gained back at the Cape.   He 
pushes on and finds himself in a dim foyer, where he meets Nick 
Mournival, prop. and curator of the 'museum'.  Acc. to Mason, It is 
apparent during their discussions that Nick is quite mad, but in a 
dandy--foppy kinda a way, who's fortunes continue to plummet "upon this 
unhappy Mountain-top in the Sea." Mournival, readers will recall, as does 
Mason, is the 'friend" of Florinda,.  Mason learns she has left the 
island.
Before Mason can see the ear he is obligated to listen to Mournival's 
one-man theater production of The War of Jenkin's Ear, Nick (ala Sideshow 
Bob doing Gilbert & Sullivan) providing sound-effects and playing all 
parts, and strumming his mandolin.
Mason is perturbed by Mournival's apparent derangement but is distracted 
by Mournival's Chronoscope depicting Jenkin's ship before it is attack by 
the Spanish fleet.  Mason is struck by the "dark parallels" b/w this 
event and His and Dixon's "metaphysical" escapades on the Seahorse.
Mournival thankfully ends his show and now Mason is allowed to approach 
the ear and ask it for a wish, though he is shaken by its movement and 
apparent independent-life.  Mason wishes for Dixon's immediate return 
from the Cape.
Only after making his wish, is Mason shown the exit where he finds 
himself after reaching the surface in a neglected garden where he thinks 
for a bit of topics dear to his soul.
The next paragraph (p. 180.19) we are with Mason & Dixon aboard ship 
heading for home to England, Mason explaining to Dixon about the ear and 
his wish.  Dixon jokes that he heard Mason's wish, whereby the 
conversation turns to fishing, Maskelyne and his affairs on St Helena, 
including the possibility of a future job in America. 


Richard Romeo
Coordinator of Cooperating Collections
The Foundation Center-NYC
212-807-2417
rromeo at fdncenter.org