Chapter 4
A Difficult Conversation
A conversation with the Mainsforth Colliery manager
“So you fancy yourself as a bit of an artist, well, I’ve never heard of you” - Colliery manager
“Well then, could you name me two British artists or sculptors of world -wide renown, who are still living and working in this country” - NC
Heavy silence broken by “No I can’t I’m afraid, but it’s not in my interest”
“It had been in your interest enough to say that you hadn’t heard of me, but you hadn’t heard of any artists or sculptors. You ought to have got at least one sculptor” - NC
“Oh and who might that be?” he asked.
“Henry Moore was the son of a colliery manager or senior official” - NC
Lost for words he finally shrugged his shoulders and said “Ah well, the moving finger writes”
“Can you finish the quotation?“ - NC
“No”, he replied. “Can you?”
NC finished the quotation and added several other verses from The Rubaiyat of Omarkhayyann. Verse 51
They eventually became more respectful and friendly towards each other.
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