÷š÷š÷š÷š÷š÷š÷š÷š÷š÷š÷š÷š÷š÷š Topic N7 ("The Book I've Just Read")
William Somerset Maugham's short stories÷š are÷š most÷š fascinating.
Not long ago I read one of his short stories,÷š it÷š is÷š the÷š story
about a man who is very rich, very÷š powerful,÷š very÷š intellegent,
very successful in his career and yet he÷š is÷š most÷š unhappy.÷š His
name is Lord Mountdrago (the story÷š says:÷š he÷š was÷š an÷š able÷š and
distinguished man who was appointed Secretary of Foreign÷š Affairs
when he was still under÷š forty.÷š He÷š was÷š considered÷š the÷š ablest
politican in the Conservative Party and for a long time÷š directed
the foreign policy of his country).÷š One÷š day÷š he÷š comes÷š to÷š Dr.
Audlin who÷š is÷š a÷š psychotherapist÷š and÷š whose÷š reputation÷š as÷š a
psychotherapist is very good. Dr. Audlin seems to be able to help
almost everybody (the story says: he could relif certain pains by
the touch of his cool, soft hands and by talking to his÷š patients
often÷š induce÷š sleep÷š in÷š those÷š who÷š÷š÷š were÷š÷š÷š suffering÷š÷š÷š from
sleeplessness. He spoke÷š slowly.÷š His÷š voice÷š had÷š no÷š particular
color, but it was musical, soft and÷š lulling.÷š Dr.÷š Audlin÷š found
that by speaking to people in that low monotonous voice÷š of÷š his,
by looking at them with his pale, quiet eyes, by÷š stroking÷š their
foreheads with his long firm hands he could sometimes÷š do÷š things
that seemed miraculous). Lord Mountdrago has÷š a÷š strange÷š dreams.
They get on his nerves. And he is afraid that he will go÷š mad÷š or
commit suicide if it goes on like that every night. He says÷š that
his÷š decision÷š can÷š affect the welfare of the÷š country.÷š When Dr.
Audlin askes to describe one of his dreams, he begins: "the first
i had was about a month ago. I dreamt that i was at÷š a÷š party÷š at
Connemara House. It was an official party. The King and the Queen
were to be there and many prominent people too. Suddenly i saw÷š a
little man there called÷š Owen÷š Griffiths,÷š who÷š is÷š a÷š member÷š of
parlament from the Labour Party and to tell you the truth, I÷š was
surprised to see him there. The Connemaras were at the top÷š of÷š a
marble staircase receiving their÷š gusets...÷š Suddenly÷š I÷š noticed
that the King and the Queen had÷š come,÷š turned÷š my÷š back÷š on÷š the
Connemaras i understood that i had got my trouses on.÷š You÷š can't
understand what i felt at that monent, an agony of shame. I awoke
in a cold sweat and understood what it was only a dream".
÷š÷š÷š÷š Dr. Audlin can't diagnose÷š the case÷š and soon he learns that
Lord Mountrago has ruined his opponent in the House÷š of÷š Commons.
Whose name is Owen Griffiths. He did cruely and mercilessly.÷š His
conscience has protested that injury he caused to Griffiths.÷š The
story has a tragic end. Lord Mountdrago is unable to get÷š rid÷š of
his terrible dreams. He commits suicide. His antagonist÷š suddenly
dies too. The newspaper wrote that his death was supposed÷š to÷š be
due÷š to÷š natural÷š reason÷š but÷š we÷š know÷š that÷š his÷š÷š death÷š÷š÷š was
supernaturally conditioned by Lord Mountdrago's÷š tragic÷š end.÷š In
conclusion we come to after having read that supernational forces
effect our lives. No matter how sensitive or insensitive we might
be to them. Thus the moral of the story is that doing good is the
only certainly happy action of a man's life.
K0A*.FRM*.MAC