THE USEFUL TRA:N^SF0EMED INTO THE OENAMENTAL. 419 



Thus, also, is it with extinct creeds. Stonehenge, which 

 in the hands of the Druids had a governmental influence 

 over men, is in our day a place for antiquarian excursions ; 

 and its attendant priests are worked u]) into an opera. 

 Greek sculi^tures, preserved for their beauty in our galleries 

 of art, and copied for the decoration of pleasure grounds 

 and entrance halls, once Hved in men's minds as gods de- 

 manding obedience ; as did also the grotesque idols that 

 now amuse the visitors to our museums. 



Equally marked is this change of function in the case of 

 minor superstitions. The fairy lore, which in past times 

 was matter of grave belief, and held sway over people's 

 conduct, has since been transformed into ornament for 

 A Midsummer NighPs Dream^ The Tempest^ The Fairy 

 Queen^ and endless small tales and poems ; and still affords 

 subjects for children's story-books, themes for ballets, and 

 plots for Planche's burlesques. Gnomes, and genii, and 

 afrits, losing all their terrors, give piquancy to the wood- 

 cuts in our illustrated edition of the Arabian Nights. 

 While ghost-stories, and tales of magic and witchcraft, af- 

 ter serving to amuse boys and girls in their leisure hours, 

 become matter for jocose allusions that enliven tea-table 

 conversation. 



Even our serious literature and our speeches are very 

 generally relieved by ornaments drawn from such sources. 

 A Greek myth is often used as a parallel by which to vary 

 the monotony of some grave argument. The lecturer 

 breaks the dead level of his practical discourse by illustra- 

 tions drawn from bygone customs, events, or beliefs. And 

 metaphors, similarly derived, give brilliancy to political 

 orations, and to Times leading articles. 



Indeed, on careful inquiry, I think it will be found that 

 we turn to purposes of beauty most bygone phenomena 

 that are at all conspiucous. The busts of great men in our 

 libraries, and their tombs in our churches j the once useful 



