Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - VII. Sunlight
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140 DAYS IN THE SUN
sumed a special form by reason of a partial warfare on
the body, nor does it demand any separate existence by
the side of the body or transcending the body. This
soul is only the mirror of the body’s equilibrium and
flows out to meet us as a pean of praise for a life rest-
ing rhythmically on its own foundations.
Perhaps you will not encounter so many beautiful
faces and seductive eyes in Andalusia as you may ex-
pect from the tales you have heard, but you will en-
counter much rhythm. Rhythm hovers over this peo-
ple as their soul. It lies latent in the structure of their
bodies and finds a faint reflection in the aristocracy and
dignity of their bearing, qualities displayed even by the
beggars and the decrepit old men. An indescribable
charm is a natural birthright of the poorest girl of the
lower class. This pleasing rhythm is not interrupted
even in the most careless posture or in the most vio-
lent mental commotion. It cannot be superseded, for
it is a law in the body, obeyed inviolably by every one
of its parts. I once saw a bull-fighter depending im-
paled from the horn of a bull liberate himself, jump to
the floor of the arena with the neatest little bound,
holding his hand over his pierced breast, take a few
steps and then fall down—all as beautifully rhythmical
as if the whole incident were an episode in a ballet and
not a bloody reality.
It is a joy to behold infants not more than ten
months old suckling at their mothers’ breasts and as-
suming postures that make an impression of a mature
and carefully calculated coquettishness. Or, you will
observe children at play who give evidence of the same
irresistible impulse to dance that may be found in our
country only among lovesick adolescents. In the midst
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