114 Concluding Observations. 



to universal increase of what is called democratic 

 power. Little more than forty years ago, about 

 which time De Toqueville visited Ireland, with whicli 

 he was closely connected, he closes his celebrated 

 work on Democracy in America, expressing nervous 

 fears and anxious hopes on this subject of absorbing- 

 interest. Even in England we have ourselves seen, 

 within the last few years, our great political cham- 

 pions come down to Parliament fresh from study of 

 Homer and Homeric heroes, and, seemingly impelled 

 by exigencies of party warfare, head their followers 

 in what are called leaps in the dark. Happily, 

 throughout all, a Hand unseen but not unperceived 

 guides advancing civilization ; and already the world 

 reaps no little fruit from the efforts made since re- 

 mote ages to raise the masses from crassest igno- 

 rance, slavery, and degradation, and to elevate the 

 more thinking portions to a sense of self-respect and 

 of their proper position in the community. 



In this state of society it is all-important to culti- 

 vate and encourage whatever tends to refine, elevate, 

 calm, and content ; and such recreations as we speak 

 of seem particularly conducive to this end, and suited 

 to the temper and genius of our times. Gladiatorial 

 shows and fights of wild beasts, which fascinated mil- 

 lions and attracted crowds of even high-bred ladies 

 and vestal virgins of Imperial Home, still unsoftened 

 by Christianity, and with a policy of accustoming 

 her people to scenes of blood, would not now suit the 

 taste of our people or the policy of the leaders of 



