NOVEMBER. 251 



not fairly infer that the eye and taste, once educated to beauty of 

 form and symmetry of outline in a flower, will not be found to 

 tolerate the opposite when seen elsewhere ? And this is by no 

 means carrying the argument beyond the bounds of probability ; for 

 are not many of the most beautiful designs, — the pride of olden Greece 

 and the glory of the modern world, — the results of studying the wavy 

 outlines of the floral gems ? To what do we owe the elegant, chaste, 

 and classic Corinthian capital, but to the graceful falling of the 

 Acanthus leaves ? Is it then improbable that a wide and general 

 diffusion of this taste may not result in something near akin to 

 this ? 



The next effect which we may hopefully look forward to see 

 realised is scarcely of less consideration than the first ; I refer to a 

 better tone of moral feeling than at present prevails. I think it some- 

 what more than likely that a man following up a pursuit such as we 

 are considering, for the love of it, as distinct from the purely mercan- 

 tile view, must imbibe some ideas and feelings far more in unison 

 with those which should be entertained by the creature to his Maker, 

 than if he were wholly unacquainted with those beauteous offsprings 

 of his Creator's hands. A religion must and will grow out of it, less 

 dogmatic than that of the schools perhaps, but not less true, less 

 holy, less worthy of the last long glorious home to which we hope it 

 leads. 



And growing out of this latter feeling, what a number of virtues, 

 if not blessings, are poured forth upon the sons of men ! Cleanliness, 

 akin to godliness, springing from the tow^n-garden, — may it not 

 enter the home, and plant neatness and order where carelessness and 

 negligence had reigned ? Nay, more ; may it not, spreading in ever- 

 extending circles, like the pebble thrown upon the bosom of a lake, 

 reach those black and dismal dirty dwellings of the poor, and bring- 

 ing in its track light and beauty, help at least to chase from their 

 strongholds the demons of misery, filth, and vice ? 



But in reply to all this it may be said, that it is too sanguine in 

 its character, and blind enthusiasm has superseded cool, deliberate 

 reason, — that amusement only will account for all in the way of im- 

 provement that has been done, and that without any portion of a 

 love of beauty entering into the pursuit. A correct reply to this 

 would be a flat denial on all the points ; but in detail it may be 

 urged, that to be sanguine on the continued success of a thing 

 which has already progressed, and is continually progressing, so fa- 

 vourably, can hardly be termed the result of blind enthusiasm ; and if 

 enthusiasm have a share in the hope that all this good may come, 

 surely that is a better ground on which to found that hope than cold 

 and calculating reason, which falters in doubt at every step, and allows 

 the good that might be done to fall to nought, while wondering if it 

 will " pay," or some such worthy argument. And as for amusement, 

 why, know you not, my icy friend, that within the soul of every man, 

 debased and hidden though it may be, there still is a nobler, better 

 feeling in existence. Is not the savage worshipping the sun a proof 

 thereof? Is not the exclamation, even from the untaught child, — 



