THE RELATIONS OF BELLES-LETTRES 537 



certain fundamental spiritual laws of "fine" creation in general, 

 from which it would appear that all good achievements of this kind 

 result from one and the same impulse, to manifest and evoke 

 beauty, and that the medium is the least significant thing in a 

 consideration of its permanent power. I might dwell upon the 

 influence on one another of men diversely trying to interpret beauty , 

 on the stimulus and restraining value of their intercourse, on the 

 enlightenment that comes to each by understanding his fellow's 

 struggles and triumphs. All this would be worthwhile but here 

 we must pass it by. 



The relations of literature to philosophy and religion would need 

 a man of much more learning in those fields than I possess to show 

 forth worthily, and he would require, not a few paragraphs in a 

 popular discourse, but a large volume of intricate reasoning, to make 

 the situation clear. Naturally it would not be necessary to determine 

 the service of books that systematize theory, or promulgate dogma; 

 for such works belong not to pure literature, but to that of science. 

 But to inquire into the value of imaginative suggestion and vivid 

 statement as an aid to religious and philosophic contemplation, 

 the power of words to create an atmosphere in which men become 

 sensitive to exalted impressions, that would be helpful to every 

 one who recognizes the tremendous influence of some great writing 

 on his own spiritual life. 



And how separate literature from education? More and more, 

 education is being encouraged as a factor of social progress. School 

 and college are now receiving in large measure the public patronage 

 that once was the honor of the church. University men are looked 

 to for light on most of the problems of national life. They set the tone 

 of public thought. Fortunately, there is no student but desires 

 acquaintance with great books. No one in the best collegiate circles 

 is more envied than he who can communicate to thought that pecul- 

 iar transfiguration of expression which is called the literary touch. 

 The general appreciation of his work is like the response of those 

 who. seeing a man act nobly, rise up with instinctive recognition of 

 his superiority, to applaud character so capable of doing good. 

 Virtue of speech is as incommunicable by command as nobility of 

 character, but it can be inculcated by intercourse with those who are 

 eminent for it, and the desire for its possession is common to all 

 who think. Thus men are led to read the best books as they are 

 led to associate with the best of their fellows, for they perceive 

 that virtue goes out of each superior being when he is touched, and 

 that sympathetic association awakens dormant ideals to life. 



On the relations of literature to history and nationality I should 

 like to dwell a little longer. In general, history is the record of a 

 nation's deeds, while literature is the outcome of its thoughts. If 



