UNDER THE APPLE-TREES 



III 



To some readers "Creative Evolution" has 

 opened a new world. To open a new world to a man 

 is only within the power of unique and original 

 genius. I think we may say that Bergson is a dis- 

 tinct species. He is sui generis. He has the quality 

 of mind which we call genius. One cannot read far in 

 his book without feeling that here at last is an in- 

 spired philosopher, and inspiration always carries 

 the mind through into the poetic and the romantic. 



The new world which Bergson opens to his reader 

 is the world of organic nature seen for the first time 

 through the creative imagination of a great liter- 

 ary artist and philosopher combined. Bergson re- 

 creates this world for his competent reader by show- 

 ing it like a living stream issuing from the primal 

 cosmic energy; and it is reflected in his pages with a 

 morning freshness and promise. The novelty of his 

 thought, the beauty and vitality of his style, and 

 the telling picturesqueness of his imagery make the 

 reading of his book a new experience to the student 

 of philosophical literature. 



It is as if one were to open a gate or a door, ex^ 

 pecting to be admitted to the closed-in air of aca- 

 demic halls, or the dim light of monastic aisles, and 

 were to see before him instead a wide prospect with 

 moving currents and growing things and changing 

 forms of earth and sky. It is doubtless this quality 



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