Selected Writings of Gertrude Stein

by Gertrude Stein

  Suppose, suppose a tremble, a ham, a little mouth told to wheeze more and a religion a reign of a pea racket that makes a load register and passes best. Kindness necessarily swims in a bottom with a razor which needs powder powder that makes a top be in the middle and necessarily not indicate a kind of collection, a collection of more or more gilt and mostly blue pipes pipes which are bound bound with old oil and mustard exact mustard which means that yellow is obtained. Gravious oh my cold under fur, under no rescued reading.

  Able there to ball bawl able to call and seat a tin a tin whip with a collar. The least license is in the eyes which make strange the less sighed hole which is nodded and leaves the bent tender. All the class is sursful. It makes medium and egg light and not really so much.

  Catch white color white sober, call white sold sacks, crimp white colored harness crimp it with ferocious white saffron hides, hurry up cut clothes with calm calm bright capable engines of pink and choice and press. Peas nuts are shiny with recent stutter which makes cram and mast a mast hoe, luck.

  A winter sing, take thee to stay, say mountain to me and alabaster.

  Curious alright.

  Wheel is not on a donkey and never never.

  A little piece of fly that makes a ling a shoulder a relief to pages.

  Please putter sane show a pronounce, leave sold gats, less it measles. A little thin a little thin told told not which. Rest stead.

  Appeal, a peal, laugh, hurry merry, good in night, rest stole. Rest stole to bestow candle electricity in surface. The best header is nearly peek.

  Come in to sun with holy pin and have the petticoat to say the day, the last of high this that. No so.

  Little tree, bold up and shut with strings the piney and little weights little weights what.

  Cold a packet must soak sheer land, leave it a yield so that nuts nuts are below when when cap bags are nearly believe me it is nice and quiet I thank you.

  Pluck howard in the collided cheese put and not narrow.

  Little in the toilet tram.

  Seize noes when the behaved ties are narrowed to little finances and large garden chambers with soled more saddled heels and monkeys and tacts and little limber shading with real old powder and chest wides and left clothes and nearly all heights hats which are so whiled and reactive with moist most leaves it sell to apart.

  Sober eat it, a little way to seat. The two whiskers.

  All chime. So be eat hit. No case the lines are the twist of a lost last piece of flannel.

  This beam in which bought not a hill than store when stone in the point way black what slate piece by all stone dust chancely.

  This wee did shut, about. A land paul with a lea in and no bell no bell pose with counters and a strike a strike to poison. Does a prison make a window net does it show plates and little coats and a dear noise.

  This is a cape. A real tall is a bat, the rest is nice west, the rest in, be hine with a haul a haul not. Knot not knot. A vest a voice vest. Be able to shave, shave little pills in steady, steady three, coal pied This is hum with him, believe hit believe hit page it.

  Is it necessary that actuality is tempered and neglect is rolled. A little piece. The blame which makes a coping out of a cellar and into a curtain and behind behind a frontyard is that then. Please dust.

  It is so thick and thin and thin, it is thick. It is thick, thin.

  A spoon, thick ahead and matches, matches wear sacks.

  Stew, stew, than.

  FOUR SAINTS IN

  THREE ACTS

  First published in transition, June, 1929, this lyric drama was later included in OPERAS and PLAYS; Plain edition, Paris, 1932, and still later in a volume by itself published by Random House, in 1934. As an opera with Virgil Thomson’s music it was first performed at the Avery Memorial, Wadsworth Atheneum, in Hartford, Connecticut, February 8, 1934. On February 20th of the same year it began a four weeks’ run at the Forty-fourth Street Theatre in New York (since torn down to permit the enlargement of the N. Y. TIMES plant) and on April 9th, after a lapse of three weeks it resumed for a short run at the Empire Theatre. In Chicago, beginning November 7, 1934, five performances were given at the Auditorium Theatre. Miss Stein, Miss Toklas, and I flew to Chicago (the ladies making their virgin flight) for this event and sat in a box together for the opening night. I think the original Negro cast officiated practically intact at all these performances.

  “In FOUR SAINTS,” Miss Stein informs us in one of her LECTURES in AMERICA, “I made the saints the landscape. …

  “Magpies are in the landscape that is they are in the sky of a landscape, they are black and white and they are in the landscape in Bilignin and in Spain, especially in Avila. When they are in the sky they do something I have never seen any other bird do they hold themselves up and down and look flat against the sky.

  “A very famous French inventor of things that have to do with stabilisation in aviation told me that what I told him magpies did could not be done by any bird but anyway whether the magpies at Avila do do it or do not at least they look as if they do do it. They look exactly like the birds in the Annunciation

  pictures the bird which is the Holy Ghost and rests flat against the side sky very high.

  “There were magpies in my landscape and there were scarecrows.

  “The scarecrows on the ground are the same thing as the magpies in the sky, they are a part of the landscape.

  “They the magpies may tell their story if they and you like or even if I like but stories are only stories but that they stay in the air is not a story but a landscape. That scarecrows stay on the ground is the same thing it could be a story but it is a piece of the landscape.”

  To know to know to love her so.

  Four saints prepare for saints.

  It makes it well fish.

  Four saints it makes it well fish.

  Four saints prepare for saints it makes it well well fish it makes it well fish prepare for saints.

  In narrative prepare for saints.

  Prepare for saints.

  Two saints.

  Four saints.

  Two saints prepare for saints it two saints prepare for saints in prepare for saints.

  A narrative of prepare for saints in narrative prepare for saints.

  Remain to narrate to prepare two saints for saints.

  At least.

  In finally.

  Very well if not to have and miner.

  A saint is one to be for two when three and you make five and two and cover.

  A at most.

  Saint saint a saint.

  Forgotten saint.

  What happened to-day, a narrative.

  We had intended if it were a pleasant day to go to the country it was a very beautiful day and we carried out our intention. We went to places that we had been when we were equally pleased and we found very nearly what we could find and returning saw and heard that after all they were rewarded and likewise. This makes it necessary to go again.

  He came and said he was hurrying hurrying and hurrying to remain he said he said finally to be and claim it he said he said feeling very nearly everything as it had been as if he could be precious be precious to like like it as it had been that if he was used it would always do it good and now this time that it was as if it had been just the same as longer when as before it made it be left to be sure and soft softly then can be changed to theirs and speck a speck of it makes blue be often sooner which is shared when theirs is in polite and reply that in their be the same with diminish always in respect to not at all and farther farther might be known as counted with it gain to be in retain which it is not to be because of most. This is how they do not like it.

  Why while while in that way was it after this that to be seen made left it.

  He could be hurt at that.

  It is very easy to be land.

  Imagine four benches separately.

  One in the sun.

  Two in the sun.

  Three in the sun.

&nb
sp; One not in the sun.

  Not one not in the sun.

  Not one.

  Four benches used four benches used separately.

  Four benches used separately.

  That makes it be not be makes it not be at the time.

  The time that it is as well as it could be leave it when when it was to be that it was to be when it was went away.

  Four benches with leave it.

  Might have as would be as would be as within within nearly as out. It is very close close and closed. Closed closed to letting closed close close close chose in justice in join in joining. This is where to be at at water at snow snow show show one one sun and sun snow show and no water no water unless unless why unless. Why unless why unless they were loaning it here loaning intentionally. Believe two three. What could be sad beside beside very attentively intentionally and bright.

  Begin suddenly not with sisters.

  To mount it up.

  Up hill.

  Four saints are never three.

  Three saints are never four.

  Four saints are never left altogether.

  Three saints are never idle.

  Four saints are leave it to me.

  Three saints when this you see.

  Begin three saints.

  Begin four saints.

  Two and two saints.

  One and three saints.

  In place.

  One should it.

  Easily saints.

  Very well saints.

  Have saints.

  Said saints.

  As said saints.

  And not annoy.

  Anoint.

  Choice.

  Four saints two at a time have to have to have to have to.

  Have to have have to have to.

  Two saints four at a time a time.

  Have to have to at a time.

  Four saints have to have to have at a time.

  The difference between saints forget-me-nots and mountains have to have to have to at a time.

  It is very easy in winter to remember winter spring and summer it is very easy in winter to remember spring and winter and summer it is very easy in winter to remember summer spring and winter it is very easy in winter to remember spring and summer and winter.

  Does it show as if it could be that very successful that very successful that he was very successful that he was with them with them with them as it was not better than at worst that he could follow him to be taking it away away that way a way a way to go.

  Some say some say some say so.

  Why should every one be at home why should every one be at home why should every one be at home.

  Why should every one be at home.

  In idle acts.

  Why should everybody be at home.

  In idle acts.

  He made very much more than he did he did make very much of it he did not only add to his part of it but and with it he was at and in a plight.

  There is no parti-color in a house there is no parti parti parti color in a house. Reflections by the time that they were given the package that had been sent. Very much what they could would do as a decision.

  Supposing she said that he had chosen all the miseries that he had observed in fifty of his years what had that to do with hats. They had made hats for her. Not really.

  As she was.

  Imagine imagine it imagine it. When she returned there was considerable rain.

  In some on some evening would it be asked was there anything especial.

  By and by plain plainly in making acutely a corner not at right angle but in individual in individual is it.

  A narrative who do who does.

  A narrative to plan an opera.

  Four saints in three acts.

  A croquet scene and when they made their habits. Habits not hourly habits habits not hourly at the time that they made their habits not hourly they made their habits.

  When they made their habits.

  To know when they made their habits.

  Large pigeons in small trees.

  Large pigeons in small trees.

  Come panic come.

  Come close.

  Acts three acts.

  Come close to croquet.

  Four saints.

  Rejoice saints rejoin saints recommence some reinvite.

  Four saints have been sometime in that way that way all hall.

  Four saints were not born at one time although they knew each other. One of them had a birthday before the mother of the other one the father. Four saints later to be if to be if to be to be one to be. Might tingle.

  Tangle wood tanglewood.

  Four saints born in separate places.

  Saint saint saint saint.

  Four saints an opera in three acts.

  My country ’tis of thee sweet land of liberty of thee I sing.

  Saint Therese something like that.

  Saint Therese something like that.

  Saint Therese would and would and would.

  Saint Therese something like that.

  Saint Therese.

  Saint Therese half in doors and half out out of doors.

  Saint Therese not knowing of other saints.

  Saint Therese used to go not to to tell them so but to around so that Saint Therese did find that that that and there. If any came.

  This is to say that four saints may may never have seen the day, like. Any day like.

  Saint Ignatius.

  This is to say that four saints may never have. Any day like.

  Gradually wait.

  Any one can see that any saint to be.

  Saint Therese Saint Igenatius

  Saint Matyr Saint Paul

  Saint Settlement Saint William

  Saint Thomasine Saint Gilbert

  Saint Electra Saint Settle

  Saint Wilhelmina Saint Arthur

  Saint Evelyn Saint Selmer

  Saint Pilar Saint Paul Seize

  Saint Hillaire Saint Cardinal

  Saint Bernadine Saint Plan

  Saint Giuseppe

  Any one to tease a saint seriously.

  ACT ONE

  Saint Therese in a storm at Avila there can be rain and warm snow and warm that is the water is warm the river is not warm the sun is not warm and if to stay to cry. If to stay to if to stay if having to stay to if having to stay if to cry to stay if to cry stay to cry to stay.

  Saint Therese half in and half out of doors.

  Saint Ignatius not there. Saint Ignatius staying where. Never heard them speak speak of it.

  Saint Ignatius silent motive not hidden.

  Saint Therese silent. They were never beset.

  Come one come one.

  No saint to remember to remember. No saint to remember. Saint Therese knowing young and told.

  If it were possible to kill five thousand chinamen by pressing a button would it be done.

  Saint Therese not interested.

  REPEAT FIRST ACT

  A pleasure April fool’s day a pleasure.

  Saint Therese seated.

  Not April fool’s day a pleasure.

  Saint Therese seated.

  Not April fool’s day a pleasure.

  Saint Therese seated.

  April fool’s day April fool’s day as not as pleasure as April fool’s day not a pleasure.

  Saint Therese seated and not surrounded. There are a great many persons and places near together.

  There are a great many persons and places near together.

  Saint Therese not seated at once. There are a great many places and persons near together.

  Saint Therese once seated. There are a great many places and persons near together. Saint Therese seated and not surrounded. There are a great many places and persons near together.

  Saint Therese visited by very many as well as the others really visited before she was seated. There are a great many persons and places close together.

  Saint Therese not young and younger but visite
d like the others by some, who are frequently going there.

  Saint Therese very nearly half inside and half outside outside the house and not surrounded.

  How do you do. Very well I thank you. And when do you go. I am staying on quite continuously. When is it planned. Not more than as often.

  The garden inside and outside of the wall.

  Saint Therese about to be.

  The garden inside and outside outside and inside of the wall.

  Nobody visits more than they do visits them.

  Saint Therese. Nobody visits more than they do visits them Saint Therese.

  As loud as that as allowed as that.

  Saint Therese. Nobody visits more than they do visits them.

  Who settles a private life.

  Saint Therese. Who settles a private life.

  Saint Therese.

  Saint Therese. Who settles a private life.

  ENACT END OF AN ACT

  Saint Therese seated and if he could be standing and standing and saying and saying left to be.

  Introducing Saint Ignatius.

  Left to be.

  She can have no one no one can have any one any one can have not any one can have not any one can have can have to say so.

  Saint Therese seated and not standing half and half of it and not half and half of it seated and not standing surrounded and not seated and not seated and not standing and not surrounded not surrounded not not not seated not seated not seated not surrounded not seated and Saint Ignatius standing standing not seated Saint Therese not standing not standing and Saint Ignatius not standing standing surrounded as if in once yesterday. In place of situations.

  Did she want him dead if now.

  Saint Therese could be photographed having been dressed like a lady and then they taking out her head changed it to a nun and a nun a saint and a saint so. Saint Therese seated and not surrounded might be very well inclined to be settled.

  Made to be coming to be here.

  How many saints can sit around. A great many saints can sit around with one standing.

  A saint is easily resisted. Saint Therese. Let it as land Saint Therese. As land beside a house. Saint Therese. As land beside a house and at one time Saint Therese. As land beside a house to be to this this which theirs beneath Saint Therese.