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Wednesday 18 December 2019

Startling mummery

Sunday, December 18th., Rue de Grenelle, Paris.

Full day yesterday. Perpending on "Hilda Lessways" all morning whilst walking about.  Sketch in Luxembourg Gardens after lunch. New Age article after tea. Odeon Theatre later to see "Les Trois Sultanes" and "Les Fourberies de Scapin". Nothing remarkable. To be honest there is too much theatre in Paris now and as the quantity has increased so the quality has gone down, in my opinion.

Les anciennes rues de Paris | place Saint-Sulpice | 6ème ...I went into St. Sulpice again this morning whilst walking to look at Delacroix, and came across a great ordination service. Dozens of young priests in parti-coloured capes etc. drinking the sacred wine with elaborate ceremonies, music etc. They were all, or nearly all tomnsured. A startling mummery right in the middle of Paris. Crowds of women. Is it the spectacle which appeals, or the thought of all these 'beautiful' young men who are lost to them? Of course all the mothers and friends will be there. Remarkable really that the R.C. church is still such a power in the land. Will religion die out as materialism grows? Wells thinks so, but I'm not so sure. He gives people too much credit for reason; in my experience people are much more likely to respond with emotion, especially, but not exclusively, women.

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