Thereareworks, andthisisoneofthem, , indeed, , adistinctiveandpersonalnote, anotethattendsattimestowardsstridency; andallthatisnot, asthesewordsare, inItalics, , thisVoice, andthisisthepeculiarityofthematter, , alittleunderthemiddlesizeandage, withsuchblueeyesasmanyIrishmenhave, andagileinhismovementsandwithaslighttonsorialbaldness—apennymightcoverit—, (whichisourmediumhenceforth) , , ifthedevicesofthisdecliningartofliteratureprevail, , everandagain, youwillfindhimbackatthatlittletable, themanuscriptinhishand, , northesetlecturingoftheessayyouareaccustomedtoevade, , alittlenervously, alittlemodestly, onastage, withtable, glassofwaterandallcomplete, andmyselfastheintrusivechairmaninsistingwithablandruthlessnessuponhis "fewwords" ofintroductionbeforeherecedesintothewings, andiffurthermoreyoufigureasheetbehindourfriendonwhichmovingpicturesintermittentlyappear, andiffinallyyousupposehissubjecttobethestoryoftheadventureofhissoulamongUtopianinquiries, youwillbepreparedforsomeatleastofthedifficultiesofthisunworthybutunusualwork.
Butoveragainstthiswriterherepresented, thereisalsoanotherearthlypersoninthebook, , andheisaleaner, rathertaller, , heisfairishandgrey-eyed, , thechairmanremarkswithasuddenintrusionofexposition, areromanticwithashadowofmeanness, theyseekatoncetoconcealandshapetheirsensuouscravingsbeneathegregioussentimentalities, theygetintomightytanglesandtroubleswithwomen, , , theVoiceisalwaysthatother's, butyougathermuchofthematterandsomethingofthemannerofhisinterpolationsfromtheasidesandthetenouroftheVoice.
SomuchbywayofportraitureisnecessarytopresenttheexplorersoftheModernUtopia, , whichsometimesjamsandsometimesgetsoutoffocus, , theVoicearguesandargues, andthefootlightsreturn, andthenyoufindyourselflisteningagaintotherathertooplumplittlemanathistablelaboriouslyenunciatingpropositions, uponwhomthecurtainrisesnow.
