A Winter wonderland

Newspaper cutting from the Canterlot Chronicle, Sunday special 1st of March (Earth reckoning) my first year in Equestria

Many of our readers will recall the excitement of the appearance of a Mr Mark Robertson under mysterious circumstances only recently. After much speculation and debate, it was decided that he could – indeed must stay – as there was no way to return him to where he came from.

It is now reported that he has opened a studio, on the outskirts of Canterlot in which he may produce and sell his calligraphy, that being a hobby of his before arriving to our world. We were fortunate to secure an exclusive interview.

Greetings to my regular readers, Scratchy Quill, your Mare on the minute here with another hot scoop! Today I am at the business of Canterlot's most interesting citizen, the Human, Mark Robertson. I was fortunate enough to get the assignment to interview the man himself, and I have to say I am glad I did. It is a modest two storey shop with a small area in front in which he displays his work for sale, and directly behind the counter is a larger work area, stocked with paper, cardboard and a dizzying array of inks, pens and brushes as well as other tools of the trade. The shop is pleasantly furnished and the hardwood floor is polished to a mirror sheen. We make small talk over over tea and biscuits and it is with some reluctance that I begin my questioning.

Q. First question; and one I'm sure is most pressing. How are you settling in to life here in Equestria?
A. Well, naturally it is a big shock at first. I mean, how do you cope with suddenly finding yourself in a totally different world? But thanks to the Princesses, and the kindness of the average Pony, it is becoming easier.

Q. So it's fair to say you still miss your world? Can you tell us a bit about it?
A. Very much so. I can try and explain a bit. Hmm, let's see... Ah, yes. The first thing that struck me was the technology and the architecture. My world seems much more advanced, we have a huge array of electronic devices, oil burning engines in all sorts of vehicles. And our buildings – we still build them out of wood and brick and stone, but we also make tall buildings out of steel and glass. There are hardly any here, but on Earth they're everywhere. And weapons? You have stuff we stopped using hundreds of years ago. Our weapons can kill on a massive scale, and if we feel the need, we'd probably poison huge areas of our planet.

Q. Hmm, so what are the people who would make such things like?
A. It all depends, some are nice and some aren't. The average person is more or less good, but there are many who don't care very much about others and care only for power and profit. And they have both, and there is very little the rest of us can do.

Q. So are you saying that your world isn't a very nice place?
A. Oh no, far from it! Yes it's largely controlled by greedy hypocrites who want to squeeze every penny from people and govern their very thoughts to create a huge open prison that seems like freedom. But, in spite of all that there is goodness and beauty too. We have some absolutely beautiful natural places – clear blue lakes under snow-capped mountains, verdant forests, full of life. And we have many people working or volunteering in causes to improve peoples lives, as well as many unreported acts of Human kindness.

Q. Ah, now that word “Human”. What exactly is a Human?
A. How long is a piece of string?

Q. I'm sorry, I don't quite get your meaning.
A. The question “What is a Human?” is one we argued over for millennia. We argued over what it meant to be Human, and how to be Human – sometimes to the point of bloodshed. Biologically we are distantly related to apes, making us omnivorous mammals. Some think that's it, that we're just animals that happen to be intelligent enough to create complex societies and technology. Others believe in a spiritual side to things, beyond what can be verified by science. I guess I'm one of the latter.

Q. I see, thank you for those insights. Now, looking around I see many pieces of calligraphy. Are these all your own work?
A. Yes, these are a few poems and inspirational quotes that I can remember from my school days and what I read as an adult. My long term aim is to do commissioned works, but for now I'm just doing these to show what I can do.

Q. And to make a profit?
A. Yes, to make a profit too. Can't live off charity forever I suppose.

Q. Do you anticipate much difficulty establishing yourself in a profession that is almost entirely held by Unicorns? Some have said you have no chance of competing against them. How do you think your work will stand against theirs?
A. Those are good questions, and a fair point. I suppose there will initially be some problems, yes. But I hope that in time my artistic flair and the individuality of each piece wins some fans. As you know, a Unicorn who has mastered their magical control can produce flawless lettering every time, whereas I must rely on the steadiness of my hand, and the keenness of my eye in addition to the quality of the material. It is true there are a lot of factors that can affect the quality of my work. However, in addition to the things in my favour I mentioned, I can reproduce poetry, song lyrics and sayings totally new to the public.

Q. Well I certainly admire your enthusiasm, and wish you the best of luck! Do you have any words for our readers?
A. Thank you, Miss Quill it's much appreciated! To your readers I say that if they want a unique piece of art with a lifetime of skill and devotion put into it, come see me at 227 east street, Pine view. I'm open 9-5 weekdays and 9-3 Saturdays.