the discovery of this continent made
an instant and striking impression
on the older world, but that older
world has not yet entirely adjusted
itself to the changes in the social
order which were to follow close
upon the rising of the new world
above the once mysterious line of
the western horizon.

Now, this process of discovery goes
on continuously in the experience of
every human soul which has capacity
for growth; and it is the peculiar joy
of the lover of books. Literature is
a continual revelation to every genu-
ine reader; a revelation of that qual-
ity which we call art, and a revelation
of that mysterious vital force which
we call life. In this double disclos-
ure literature shares with all art a
function which ranges it with the
greatest resources of the spirit; and

[[55]]

p054 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p055w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p056

v?