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been sickened by eating of the tree of kaowledge, and he would 
lead us to infer that all wonder has ceased, and that reverence is 
as extinct as the dodo. 
We have hope, however, for the future, and it rests upon the 
fact that the poetry of doubtful tendency is not very extensively 
perused. We ask with Wendell Holmes, 
Where go the poet’s lines ? 
Answer, ye evening tapers ! 
Ye auburn locks, ye golden curls, 
Speak from your folded papers ! 
Where the poet of despair has one reader the poet of confidence 
has a thousand. Who reads Thompson’s ‘City of Night?” 
Who does not read Longtellow’s ‘‘Psalm of Lite?’ When the 
poet of doubt reaches that higher knowledge of things which 
gives faith, he will sing to better purpose, and the world will 
gladly listen to him. The poet of the future will find the world 
aglow with blessedness and inspiration. Humanity will be 
heartened as never before, and they will say with Browning, 
‘‘God’s in his heaven, all’s right with the world.”” Then will 
be sung for us the songs of cheerfulness and confidence. Are 
there any signs of the coming in of the tide of a clearer and a 
fuller inspiration ? Yes, as the Quaker poet has said, 
Through the harsh noises of the day, 
A low, sweet prelude finds its way ; 
Through clouds of doubts and creeds of fear 
A light is breaking calm and clear.” 
SOCIALISM. 
By Rev, 8. PEARCE CAREY, M.A. October 15th, 1889. 
The Rey. 8. P. Carey asked, after brief introductory remarks, 
How should he define Socialism? It was difficult to define 
Socialism, for it had as many meanings as it had advocates. It 
was quite Protean in the various forms in which it was advocated 
in England, France, Germany, and Russia. Amongst the work- 
ing classes Socialism was far more a protest against the indus- 
trial system of to-day than any positive scheme of reconstruction 
of society and industry. A tract which was circulating throughout 
the country, issued by the Social Democratic Federation, entitled 
“Are you a Socialist ?’’ gave eleven reasons why every one 
should be a Socialist. The reasons dealt with the insecurities, 
the injustice, and the miseries of the present system, the long 
hours of labour amongst the poor, the high death-rate, the 
overcrowding in the low quarters, the accidents in mines and 
