the ways of men-第25章
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instructed in and out of season。 〃I am doing this for your own good；〃 is an excuse that apparently frees the veterans from the necessity of respecting the prejudices and feelings of their pupils； and lends a gloss of unselfishness to actions which are simply impertinent。 Oddly enough； amateur 〃schoolmarms〃 who fall into this unpleasant habit are generally oversensitive； and resent as a personal affront any restlessness under criticism on the part of their victims。 It is easy； once the habit is acquired； to carry the suavity and consideration of general society into the home circle； yet how often is it done？ I should like to see the principle that ordered presentation of arms to the infant princess applied to our intimate relations； and the rights of the young and dependent scrupulously respected。
In the third act of CASTE； when old Eccles steals the 〃coral〃 from his grandson's neck； he excuses the theft by a grandiloquent soliloquy； and persuades himself that he is protecting 〃the weak and the humble〃 （pointing to himself） 〃against the powerful and the strong〃 （pointing to the baby）。 Alas； too many of us take liberties with those whom we do not fear； and excuse our little acts of cowardice with arguments as fallacious as those of drunken old Eccles。
Chapter 18 … What is 〃Art〃？
IN former years； we inquiring youngsters in foreign studios were much bewildered by the repetition of a certain phrase。 Discussion of almost any picture or statue was （after other forms of criticism had been exhausted） pretty sure to conclude with； 〃It's all very well in its way； but it's not Art。〃 Not only foolish youths but the 〃masters〃 themselves constantly advanced this opinion to crush a rival or belittle a friend。 To ardent minds seeking for the light and catching at every thread that might serve as a guide out of perplexity； this vague assertion was confusing。 According to one master； the eighteenth…century 〃school〃 did not exist。 What had been produced at that time was pleasing enough to the eye； but 〃was not Art！〃 In the opinion of another； Italian music might amuse or cheer the ignorant； but could not be recognized by serious musicians。
As most of us were living far from home and friends for the purpose of acquiring the rudiments of art； this continual sweeping away of our foundations was discouraging。 What was the use； we sometimes asked ourselves； of toiling； if our work was to be cast contemptuously aside by the next 〃school〃 as a pleasing trifle； not for a moment to be taken seriously？ How was one to find out the truth？ Who was to decide when doctors disagreed？ Where was the rock on which an earnest student might lay his cornerstone without the misgiving that the next wave in public opinion would sap its base and cast him and his ideals out again at sea？
The eighteenth…century artists and the Italian composers had been sincere and convinced that they were producing works of art。 In our own day the idol of one moment becomes the jest of the next。 Was there； then； no fixed law？
The short period； for instance； between 1875 and the present time has been long enough for the talent of one painter （Bastien…Lepage） to be discovered； discussed； lauded； acclaimed； then gradually forgotten and decried。 During the years when we were studying in Paris； that young painter's works were pronounced by the critics and their following to be the last development of Art。 Museums and amateurs vied with each other in acquiring his canvases。 Yet； only this spring； while dining with two or three art critics in the French capital； I heard Lepage's name mentioned and his works recalled with the smile that is accorded to those who have hoodwinked the public and passed off spurious material as the real thing。
If any one doubts the fleeting nature of a reputation； let him go to a sale of modern pictures and note the prices brought by the favorites of twenty years ago。 The paintings of that arch…priest； Meissonier； no longer command the sums that eager collectors paid for them a score of years back。 When a great European critic dares assert； as one has recently； of the master's 〃1815；〃 that 〃everything in the picture appears metallic； except the cannon and the men's helmets；〃 the mighty are indeed fallen！ It is much the same thing with the old masters。 There have been fashions in them as in other forms of art。 Fifty years ago Rembrandt's work brought but small prices； and until Henri Rochefort （during his exile） began to write up the English school； Romneys； Lawrences； and Gainsboroughs had little market value。
The result is that most of us are as far away from the solution of that vexed question 〃What is Art？〃 at forty as we were when boys。 The majority have arranged a compromise with their consciences。 We have found out what we like （in itself no mean achievement）； and beyond such personal preference； are shy of asserting （as we were fond of doing formerly） that such and such works are 〃Art；〃 and such others； while pleasing and popular； lack the requisite qualities。
To enquiring minds； sure that an answer to this question exists； but uncertain where to look for it； the fact that one of the thinkers of the century has； in a recent 〃Evangel；〃 given to the world a definition of 〃Art；〃 the result of many years' meditation； will be received with joy。 〃Art；〃 says Tolstoi； 〃is simply a condition of life。 It is any form of expression that a human being employs to communicate an emotion he has experienced to a fellow…mortal。〃
An author who； in telling his hopes and sorrows； amuses or saddens a reader； has in just so much produced a work of art。 A lover who； by the sincerity of his accent； communicates the flame that is consuming him to the object of his adoration； the shopkeeper who inspires a purchaser with his own admiration for an object on sale； the baby that makes its joy known to a parent … artists！ artists！ Brown； Jones； or Robinson； the moment he has consciously produced on a neighbor's ear or eye the sensation that a sound or a combination of colors has effected on his own organs； is an artist！
Of course much of this has been recognized through all time。 The formula in which Tolstoi has presented his meditations to the world is； however； so fresh that it comes like a revelation； with the additional merit of being understood； with little or no mental effort； by either the casual reader； who； with half…attention attracted by a headline； says to himself； 〃‘What is art？' That looks interesting！〃 and skims lightly down the lines； or the thinker who； after perusing Tolstoi's lucid words； lays down the volume with a sigh； and murmurs in his humiliation； 〃Why have I been all these years seeking in the clouds for what was lying ready at my hand？〃
The wide…reaching definition of the Russian writer has the effect of a vigorous blow from a pickaxe at the foundations of a shaky and too elaborate edifice。 The wordy superstructure of aphorisms and paradox falls to the ground； disclosing fair 〃Truth；〃 so long a captive within the temple erected in her honor。 As； however； the newly freed goddess smiles on the ignorant and the pedants alike； the result is that with one accord the aesthetes raise a howl！ 〃And the ‘beautiful；'〃 they say； 〃the beautiful？ Can there be any ‘Art' without the ‘Beautiful'？ What！ the little greengrocer at the corner is an artist because； forsooth； he has arranged some lettuce and tomatoes into a tempting pile！ Anathema！ Art is a secret known only to the initiated few； the vulgar can neither understand nor appreciate it！ We are the elect！ Our mission is to explain what Art is and point out her beauty to a coarse and heedless world。 Only those with a sense of the ‘beautiful' should be allowed to enter into her sacred presence。〃
Here the expounders of 〃Art〃 plunge into a sea of words； offering a dozen definitions each more obscure than its predecessor； all of which have served in turn as watchwords of different 〃schools。〃 Tolstoi's sweeping truth is too far… reaching to please these gentry。 Like the priests of past religions； they would have preferred to k
