But no, not a word, not a grunt, not a bellow nor a sigh; not a hiccough, not wail, not a curse, nor a cry. Not a hint, in fact, that the killer weed had been smelled uptown that day. If art is, in fact, anything you can get away with, then the Diggers have indeed added a whole freaky new dimension to the concept of Revolution.

The Smoke-Ins were sponsored by a mysterious group called the Committee For Sensible Marijuana Legislation. One member called it "just a bunch of people who got together and wanted to pull something off like this." They handed out leaflets in the Square two weeks ago advertising the session: "Free Grass. We Want Pot." It may have started as a civil disobedience in protest against the marijuana. But as more and more people arrived, a festive mood developed. Everyone was having great fun. There was no defiance since there was no one to be defiant toward. It became a kind of Be-In with grass.

But it was an important demonstration, especially so in contrast with the marijuana test case that was going on at the same time. It was almost a reaction against this formalized, institutionalized method of attacking the drug laws. It just ignored the law, and it got away with it.

There was some ugliness at the first affair. Some motorcycle clubbers hopped on their machines and began doing wheelies up Beacon St. The hordes followed. They loved it. Everyone chugged up the Hill to the State House, and about 100 people stood on the steps yelling, "We want pot."

Tired of that, they set upon a police station wagon, banging on the top and nearly rocking it over. An airport limousine got the same treatment and so did one of the motorized carriages that runs around the Common. Then, finally, the cops showed up. They conspicuously stayed away from the grass where people were still clustered around smoking. All they did was clear Beacon St. and the little road inside the Common fence. Last Sunday there was none of this kind of trouble, although one group of about 100 marched on the Western Ave. Jail near Central Sq., where the 18 who had been busted earlier that day were reportedly residing.

This whole thing may continue for weeks. There seems to be no reason for it not to. As soon as the police crack down (and it will be more than keep off the grass), there will be a reaction. Then, no doubt, there will be some defiance.

But until then, we must remember that none of this has happened. No one was smoking pot on the Boston Common. Our guardians (the cops) and our mentors (the mass media) have told us that. And by the way, who is escaping reality here? Who is refusing to face the hard rough facts, baby? Who is on the trip?

Of course, many of us love it this way. To go on smoking unmolested is magnificent. And to have forced this absurdity upon the law and the city is beautiful.