§ 120. TASTE MUST BE GENERAL. 359 



other hand seem to think that taste is beneath the considera- 

 tion of men of rank, and only fit to be studied by those who 

 gain their livelihood by it. That this should be the notion 

 of a barbarian may be intelligible ; and we are amused at 

 the pride of an ignorant Turk, who treats all Europeans as 

 artisans, designates them as " tradesmen," and requests some 

 traveller to stop and examine his watch, or some piece of 

 disordered mechanism, supposing he must necessarily be 

 instructed in such matters. But when persons of wealth and 

 station pronounce the Crystal Palace, or any collection of art, 

 to be interesting only to artists and artisans, and beneath 

 the consideration of the aristocratic mind, we smile at the 

 absurdity, and are only surprised that a civilised community 

 can produce such fitting pendants to the Turks. 



Fortunately, these are the exceptions, not the rule; it is 

 no longer disgraceful to a " man of fashion " to be able to 

 write legibly ; and so far from good taste being confined to 

 the possessors of art, it is thought a want of refinement to 

 be quite destitute of it. An amateur may now excel in any 

 art without being condemned for "doing it too well;" and 

 he may understand the practical part of mechanics without 

 disgrace. 



120. I have stated that the chief impediments to the 

 general progress and extension of taste are more often attri- 

 butable to the purchaser than to the makers of ornamental 

 works ; and this opinion, on farther and fuller inquiry, I find 

 to be confirmed. It is the universal remark that those things 

 which are bad in style find a more ready sale than the good ; 

 and that not from the price being lower, but solely from the 

 choice of the public. If the bad happens to be attractive it 

 meets with admirers ; and high finish, minuteness of detail, 

 and whimsical shape, are greater recommendations than good 

 form and purity of design. 



We cannot then be surprised that the makers should cease 



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