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feel assured that many of my schoolfellows were in the same mind of subdued revolt。 Even of those who； boylike； enjoyed their drill； scarce one or two； I trust； would have weled in their prime of life the imposition of military servitude upon them and their countrymen。 From a certain point of view； it would be better far that England should bleed under conquest than that she should be saved by eager； or careless； acceptance of Conscription。 That view will not be held by the English people； but it would be a sorry thing for England if the day came when no one of those who love her harboured such a thought。
XX
It has occurred to me that one might define Art as： an expression； satisfying and abiding； of the zest of life。 This is applicable to every form of Art devised by man； for； in his creative moment； whether he produce a great drama or carve a piece of foliage in wood； the artist is moved and inspired by supreme enjoyment of some aspect of the world about him； an enjoyment in itself keener than that experienced by another man； and intensified； prolonged； by the power……which es to him we know not how……of recording in visible or audible form that emotion of rare vitality。 Art； in some degree； is within the scope of every human being； were he but the ploughman who utters a few would…be melodious notes； the mere oute of health and strength； in the field at sunrise； he sings； or tries to； prompted by an unusual gusto in being； and the rude stave is all his own。 Another was he； who also at the plough； sang of the daisy； of the field…mouse； or shaped the rhythmic tale of Tam o' Shanter。 Not only had life a zest for him incalculably stronger and subtler than that which stirs the soul of Hodge； but he uttered it in word and music such as go to the heart of mankind； and hold a magic power for ages。
For some years there has been a great deal of talk about Art in our country。 It began； I suspect； when the veritable artistic impulse of the Victorian time had flagged； when the energy of a great time was all but exhausted。 Principles always bee a matter of vehement discussion when practice is at ebb。 Not by taking thought does one bee an artist； or grow even an inch in that direction…… which is not at all the same as saying that he who IS an artist cannot profit by conscious effort。 Goethe （the example so often urged by imitators unlike him in every feature of humanity） took thought enough about his Faust； but what of those youthtime lyrics； not the least precious of his achievements； which were scribbled as fast as pen could go； thwartwise on the paper； because he could not stop to set it straight？ Dare I pen； even for my own eyes； the venerable truth that an artist is born and not made？ It seems not superfluous； in times which have heard disdainful criticism of Scott； on the ground that he had no artistic conscience； that he scribbled without a thought of style； that he never elaborated his scheme before beginning……as Flaubert； of course you know； invariably did。 Why； after all； has one not heard that a certain William Shakespeare turned out his so…called works of art with something like criminal carelessness？ Is it not a fact that a bungler named Cervantes was so little in earnest about his Art that； having in one chapter described the stealing of Sancho's donkey； he presently； in mere forgetfulness； shows us Sancho riding on Dapple； as if nothing had happened？ Does not one Thackeray shamelessly avow on the last page of a grossly 〃subjective〃 novel that he had killed Lord Farintosh's mother at one page and brought her to life again at another？ These sinners against Art are none the less among the world's supreme artists； for they LIVED； in a sense； in a degree； unintelligible to these critics of theirs； and their work is an expression； satisfying and abiding； of the zest of life。
Some one； no doubt； hit upon this definition of mine long ago。 It doesn't matter； is it the less original with me？ Not long since I should have fretted over the possibility； for my living depended on an avoidance of even seeming plagiarism。 Now I am at one with Lord Foppington； and much disposed to take pleasure in the natural sprouts of my own wit……without troubling whether the same idea has occurred to others。 Suppose me； in total ignorance of Euclid； to have discovered even the simplest of his geometrical demonstrations； shall I be crestfallen when some one draws attention to the book？ These natural sprouts are； after all； the best products of our life； it is a mere accident that they may have no value in the world's market。 One of my conscious efforts； in these days of freedom； is to live intellectually for myself。 Formerly； when in reading I came upon anything that impressed or delighted me； down it went in my note…book； for 〃use。〃 I could not read a striking verse； or sentence of prose； without thinking of it as an apt quotation in something I might write……one of the evil results of a literary life。 Now that I strive to repel this habit of thought； I find myself asking： To what end； then； do I read and remember？ Surely as foolish a question as ever man put to himself。 You read for your own pleasure； for your solace and strengthening。 Pleasure； then； purely selfish？ Solace which endures for an hour； and strengthening for no bat？ Ay； but I know； I know。 With what heart should I live here in my cottage； waiting for life's end； were it not for those hours of seeming idle reading？
I think sometimes； how good it were had I some one by me to listen when I am tempted to read a passage aloud。 Yes； but is there any mortal in the whole world upon whom I could invariably depend for sympathetic understanding？……nay； who would even generally be at one with me in my appreciation。 Such harmony of intelligences is the rarest thing。 All through life we long for it： the desire drives us； like a demon； into waste places； too often ends by plunging us into mud and morass。 And； after all； we learn that the vision was illusory。 To every man is it decreed： thou shalt live alone。 Happy they who imagine that they have escaped the mon lot； happy； whilst they imagine it。 Those to whom no such happiness has ever been granted at least avoid the bitterest of disillusions。 And is it not always good to face a truth； however disfortable？ The mind which renounces； once and for ever； a futile hope； has its pensation in ever…growing calm。
XXI
All about my garden to…day the birds are loud。 To say that the air is filled with their song gives no idea of the ceaseless piping； whistling； trilling； which at moments rings to heaven in a triumphant unison； a wild accord。 Now and then I notice one of the smaller songsters who seems to strain his throat in a madly joyous endeavour to out…carol all the rest。 It is a chorus of praise such as none other of earth's children have the voice or the heart to utter。 As I listen； I am carried away by its glorious rapture； my being melts in the tenderness of an impassioned joy； my eyes are dim with I know not what profound humility。
XXII
Were one to look at the literary journals only； and thereafter judge of the time； it would be easy to persuade oneself that civilization had indeed made great and solid progress； and that the world stood at a very hopeful stage of enlightenment。 Week after week； I glance over these pages of crowded advertisement； I see a great many publishing…houses zealously active in putting forth every kind of book； new and old； I see names innumerable of workers in every branch of literature。 Much that is announced declares itself at once of merely ephemeral import； or even of no import at all； but what masses of print which invite the attention of thoughtful or studious folk！ To the multitude is offered a long succession of classic authors； in beautiful form； at a minimum cost； never were such treasures so cheaply and so gracefully set before all who can prize them。 For the wealthy； there are volumes magnificent； lordly editions； works of art whereon have been lavished care and skill and expense incalculable。 Here is exhibited the learning of the whole world and of all the ages； be a man's study what it will； in these columns； at one time or another he shall find that which appeals to him。 Here are labours of the erudite； exercised on every