Allegory of the Erring Aspects

by Virginia

"Ah, my children," said the Administrator of ALL THINGS, "Where have you been lately, I have missed you all. The other ASPECTS of LIFE have been living and playing in harmony but you have not been present. Pray account for your time." "You first, FEAR, what have you to say?"

"Well, honored Sir, I have been hiding myself away from all lest they should find out the truth," replied that ASPECT of LIFE known as FEAR.

"And what truth is that, pray tell, and why should the others not find it out?" the Administrator of ALL THINGS asked.

"In accordance with the Great Book of the Order of Things, " said FEAR, everyone expects me to be strong, aggressive, firm, handsome and decisive in my dealings with others. They expect to see such a person garbed in a uniform or at least in trim, tailored, dark-colored, severe clothing without frills, decorat- ions or such frivolous manifestations. The truth is that while I can act this way and wear this type of "uniform" part of the time, I have a secret yearning not to do so. Sometimes I am overcome with a desire NOT to be strong, aggressive and decisive, I want to let someone else carry the load, make the decisions and in- stead of pushing I want to sit back and relax. Furthermore, I am not handsome, but I long to be "pretty", to conform to my own ideal of attractiveness. When I get these spells I do not feel right in my usual "uniform" of dark, heavy, wooly clothing, of heavy shoes, and saggy socks. I feel that I can express myself more completely in soft, flowing, colorful and beautiful fabrics; I like to decorate myself with other manifestations of beauty such as jewels, perfume and cosmetics even as the peacock and the prim- itive chiefs and warriers did. So you see, I do not, at these times

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