George Orwell once asked himself whether he could imagine an ideal pub. He could, and he allowed readers to follow him on a tour of The Moon Under Water, his wonderful but imaginary place.
The essay is short — about 1,000 words, a 5-minute read. I recommend it. A day that includes a little Orwell can’t be entirely misspent.
Apparently, the essay has become an assignment for English classes. You can find lists of Orwell’s requirements for an ideal pub online.
The part that caught my attention was his insistence on different rooms within the pub so that readers and conversationalists don’t have to dodge the dart throwers.
I’ve spent more time in coffeehouses than in pubs, but I think he’s right. It’s interesting to watch how human beings share public spaces when they are engaged in different pursuits, some wanting a loud, cheerful game, some wanting a quiet conversation with a friend and others wanting an even quieter place to read.
In most cases, the customers sort things out naturally with courtesy and tolerance. It’s so common, so natural, that you don’t notice the necessity of the courtesy and tolerance unless they’re missing.
• Source: George Orwell, “The Moon Under Water,” Evening Standard, 9 February 1946. It’s available at The Orwell Foundation’s site:
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