AN .ESTHETIC PHILOSOPHER 173 



will go a little way into the water, though I shall 

 not enjoy it." 



" Why, what is the use of wetting yourself, now 

 you have lost the fish ? " 



"True, true — I did not sufficiently consider 

 that ; so now I will go back, and see if I can 

 improve my cow." 



This was abundantly philosophical ; but in- 

 telligible enough to me, who being very much 

 addicted to painting myself, know how absorbing a 

 passion it is. 



The cow was a good cow, drawn in a clean and 

 decisive manner, with a correct knowledge of the 

 anatomy of the animal. I praised accordingly, 

 and we began naturally enough to talk upon the 

 principles of landscape painting ; and as we both 

 agreed pretty well as to those principles, so we 

 both laid down the law with as much confidence 

 as if we were the lineal descendants of Zeuxis or 

 Apelles — a fashion, I must observe, most par- 

 ticularly prevalent at the present day. I fear it is 

 not worth while to notice our remarks. I will 

 write them down, however, at a venture ; and here 

 they follow. 



" View-taking," said the cow limner, " I consider 

 as of a distinct character from landscape painting. 

 The interest of the first, as a work of art, in all 

 highly cultivated countries, must in a great measure 

 depend upon accidental causes. Trees in hedge- 

 rows, and most other positions, have been planted 

 or removed by the hand of man for profit or con- 

 venience, so that they are rarely found in the most 

 natural or effective situations ; other objects share 



