diffused. It is difficult to analyse
because it is the breath of life in the
book, and life always evades us, no
matter how keen and exhaustive our
search may be. Most of us are so
entirely out of touch with the spirit
of art in this busy new world that we
are not quite convinced of its reality.
We know that it is decorative, and
that a certain pleasure flows from it;
but we are sceptical of its significance
in the life of the race, of its deep
necessity in the development of that
life, and of its supreme educational
value. And our scepticism, it must
be frankly said, like most scepticism,
grows out of our ignorance. True
art has nothing in common with the
popular conception of its nature and
uses. Instead of being decorative,
it is organic; when men arrive at a
certain stage of ripeness and power

[[69]]

p068 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p069w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p070

v?