AtDTDA : 12 "A visitor from quite far away. . . ." 337

[robinlandseadel at comcast.net]

          In New York at last she stood out of the traffic, 
     watching shadows of birds move across sunlit 
     walls. Just around the corner, on the great 
     Avenue, two-horse carriages curvaceous and 
     sumptuary as the beds of courtesans in a romance 
     moved along, the horses stepping carefully in 
     mirror-symmetry. The sidewalks were crowded 
     with men in black suites and stark white high 
     collars, in the tangible glare of noontide that 
     came pushing uptown, striking tall highlights 
     from shiny top hats, projecting shadows that 
     looked almost solid . . . . The women by contrast were 
     rigged out in lighter colors, ruffles, contrasting lapels, 
     hats of velvet or straw full of artificial flowers and 
     feathers and ribbons, broad angled brims throwing 
     faces into girlish penumbras as becoming as paint 
     and powder. A visitor from quite far away might 
     almost have imangined two separate species having 
     to do, one with the other . . .

I marked this passage with a red tab on account of the beauty 
of the words chosen: "curvaceous", "sumptuary", "courtesans",
"girlish penumbras". There's a purple star as well, as this passage
echos in one of my favorite passages from Mason & Dixon:

        " 'Demagogue'!" mutters Dr. Franklin. "our excellent 
     Sprout Penn, the latest of his crypto-Jesuit ruling family, 
     and his Satanick arrangement with Mr. Allen, his shameless 
     Attentions to the Presbyterian Mobility---has the effrontery 
     to speak of 'crushing this Demagogue'---well, well, aye 
     Demagogue . . . Milton thought it a 'Goblin word,' that might 
     yet describe good Patriots,--- "

        "Good Patriots all!" cries the impulsive Mr. Dixon, raising 
     his Cup.

        Dr. Franklin observes them, one at a time, through the tinted 
     lenses of Spectacles of his own Invention, for moderating the 
     Glare of the Sun, whose Elevation upon his Nose varies, 
     according to the message it happens to ne inflecting, giving over 
     all the impression of a Visitor from very far away indeed.
     M & D, 266.

Of course, the line "A visitor from quite far away" applys to New York in
many ways, including time travel. Remember the earlier times we were 
in the great city, and alternate routes of egress in use earlier in the Novel.

Someone earlier in the reading noted how AtD is all about work, and seeing
Dally glide into interesting occupations in the Great City is but one example 
among many. Note as well how the theme of Women's Work is a reccurent
theme in the novel.