Preface

[Illustration: THE GAY GNANI OF GINGALEE] THE GAY GNANI OF GINGALEE OR DISCORDS OF DEVOLUTION A TRAGICAL ENTANGLEMENT OF MODERN MYSTICISM AND MODERN SCIENCE BY FLORENCE HUNTLEY, Author of “Harmonics of Evolution” and “The Dream Child” HARMONIC FICTION SERIES VOL. II CHICAGO INDO-AMERICAN BOOK CO. 1908 Copyright 1908 By FLORENCE HUNTLEY Published 1908 DEDICATED to Those who are wise enough to be foolish--at intervals PRELUDE. Mother Nature contributes the elements and qualities and “temperament” of the individual; and no matter what the education, occupation, position or experience, those native tendencies persist. One who is born with the disposition for mental frivoling and a keen sense of nonsense discovers that these tendencies persist with far greater tenacity than any impulses of anger or fear or other destructive elements. The writer of this little book has found them subordinate only to the thirst for knowledge and the love of truth. When the author of this “romance” finally renounced the small gods of her personal ambitions, and surrendered the diverting occupation of newspaper work for serious instruction in the School of Natural Science, she merely restrained but never eliminated that Sense of Nonsense. The native tendency toward intellectual badinage and literary travesty persisted--and even to the present time it furnishes relaxation from the absorbing duties in connection with The Great Work. Science, if it be Science, must take into account all of the facts of Human Nature; and Philosophy, if it be Philosophy, must include and assign to place every intellectual, native and normal tendency of the Soul. Science and Philosophy that have no room for the incongruities of life and the frivolings of the intelligence are only partial mentors and masters. The workshop occupies so much of life, thought and energy, that no one should refuse an occasional hour in the play room. Confidence in the good sense of the readers of the Harmonic Series forbids the thought that this little satire should be mistaken for a reflection upon the Verities of the School of Natural Science, or that it could be so misinterpreted as to discredit the Harmonic Philosophy. In so far as it is a travesty it deals, not with the facts of Science and the Truths of Philosophy, but with the people and the things which discredit both. “The Dream Child” and the first sketch of “Discords of Devolution” were written at the same time and place, but at different desks. This was done in Washington City, at the time of my separation from newspaper life. The one stands for that earliest concept and ideal of the Great Law, while the other represents the undertone of nonsense which instruction, experience and self-denials have subdued but never eliminated. The manuscript of this little volume has been read, from time to time, by friends who have urged its publication. This, however, was never seriously intended until the “Interlude” (Chapter XII.), was contributed by the TK, which interlude gives to the whole a definite meaning and purpose but vaguely suggested by my own work. Except for this masterly arraignment of The Gay Gnani of Gingalee the author of this tale would have lacked the courage to publish it. With this addition, however, the writer reconsidered, reread and retouched the Ms., and consented to an Experiment. With this explanation, excuse and apology for the writing of the romance in the first place, and now for its publication, the author commits it to criticism--with a certain conviction that it has a mission of its own to perform. FLORENCE HUNTLEY. INGREDIENTS. Chapter Page PRELUDE 5 I PROPHET AND PROFIT 13 II MISS SHEETS IS SHE 21 III IN PRIMORDIAL BIOGEN 30 IV THE MANSARD ROOF 49 V IN THE HIGHEST DEGREE 65 VI THE GAY GNANI OF GINGALEE 75 VII THE BOOK AND THE BAGDAD 87 VIII THE MAN IN THE CELLAR 110 IX DRAWING A CORK 130 X A PRIVATE EXHIBIT 140 XI UP AGAINST IT 158 INTERLUDE 176 XII “THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH” 177 (By a Member of the Ancient Order of the Brotherhood of India.) XIII PHLOGISTON IS RESTORED 189 POSTLUDE 204 “For what shall it profit a man if he gain a whole Drug Store and jar his Higher Self?” --_Aphorism of the One Hi_----.