Anthony the Absolute

"Anthony the Absolute" by Samuel Merwin is a story set in the early 1900s about a man named Anthony Ives Eckhart, a smart man and skilled in music, travels eastward to Yokohama, Japan. On the ship, Eckhart finds himself surrounded by interesting characters, including the arrogant Sir Robert and another traveler, Archibald Crocker. Eckhart tries to show how important musical intervals are, especially regarding differences between Eastern and Western music. However, his trip turns into something much bigger, and he begins exploring culture, relationships between people, and the emotions that go with those relationships. At first, Eckhart is unsure and even annoyed by some of his fellow travelers. One day, the boasting of Sir Robert pushes Eckhart into a debate about the worth of Eastern music. This event gives the reader a quick view of Eckhart's passion and foreshadows his exploration of humanity and culture in a quickly changing world.