MDMD(1): Euphroe: Time's Harmonika

[jporter]

Well, the thing is, I am impressed by this nautical term "euphroe," which
seems to mean a perforated batten through which the lines of a crowfoot are
reeved to suspend an awning- deriving from the Dutch *juffrow,* or young
woman; maiden.

Tom uses the word literally to describe the awning overhanging Hepsie:

        "...an old piece of awning held by a gnaw'd split, ancient Euphroe
         between her and the sky with its varied menace..."

The juxtaposition of ancient and Euphroe is interesting: an *ancient-young
maiden,* and mirrors Hepsie and her disguise perfectly, but what of the
lines reeved through the euphroe? What signify they?

My best guess is that the image taken as a whole represents a shared moment
or experience through which the strands of time are reeved, only to
separate with passage, but to which all of them, through shared history,
remain forever linked by "their" past.

In this case, the euphroe is on the verge of disintegration, split and
gnawed by time itself, perhaps indicating the eclipse of the ancient
prophetic art Hepsie is practicing, and its recent replacement by
science..."with its varied menace."

But inspite of her accuracy, Hepsie is noted to be an *Impostress,* Why?
well, to the rational, oracles and such might always be imposters. To the
scientifically inclined, it would seem right to reduce the phenomenon to a
young woman in disguise accepting payment for what has come to be an
entertainment, as Dixon does.

Yet, it may be that in our own times rationalism itself is sitting under a
canopy grown a trifle threadbare, and the euphroe which keeps its logic in
trim  beginning to crack under the strain. For certain, Mason is feeling
less than content with what science has to offer him, thus far.

jody