Impressions 



those who read are not sufficiently exacting. 

 It is an open question whether originality is as 

 much desired as it should be. 



This is a grave charge against our intellect- 

 ual status; but it would seem as if the setting- 

 forth of matter in a manner even suggestive 

 of originality is banned by the majority of 

 critics. The greater the earnestness of an au- 

 thor, the greater his condemnation. The mod- 

 ern reader does not wish to be forced to think. 

 Familiar with certain conditions, his mind is 

 gently stirred to mild activity as the leaves of 

 the last new book are turned. It is exertion 

 enough to smile at the wit that lost its fresh- 

 ness a thousand years ago; but an outburst of 

 novelty would command close attention, a knit- 

 ting of the eyebrows, a sharp exclamation of 

 dissent, or applause more vigorous than an ap- 

 proving nod. No no ! That would never do ! 

 Ease of mind or of body is too delightful to 

 be disturbed. Cling, rather, to the inappli- 

 cable proverbs of Solomon than have the mem- 

 ory taxed with new ones better fitted to our 

 own day. 



Judging from the undoubted skill of many of 

 our most prominent writers, the power to pro- 



121 



