Far Off Things by Arthur Machen History Biography & Autobiography Literary

<p><strong>Well as I say I found myself on a certain night a partaker of all this cheerfulness.</strong> I was one guest among many; there were explorers and ambassadors and great scientific personages and judges and the author who has given the world the best laughter that it has enjoyed since Dickens died: in a word I was in much more distinguished company than that to which I am accustomed. And after dinner the Persians (as I will call them) have a kindly and courteous custom of praising their guests; and to my astonishment and delight the speaker brought me into his oration and said the kindest and most glowing things imaginable about a translation I once made of the Heptameron of Margaret of Navarre. I was heartily pleased; I hold with Foker in Pendennis that every fellow likes a hand. Praise is grateful especially when there has not been too much of it.</p>