20 MY DEVON YEAR 



you are wrong ; hasten to range yourself with the 

 white Hght, for the belief it has shattered, the cherished 

 opinion that it has rendered vain, must have met this 

 fearless ray sooner or later. Moreover, you may be 

 privileged to win a new and a true revelation that 

 none yet have won before. If only the set of a leaf 

 on a stem, the modelling of a seed-case, the trick of a 

 squirrel — it is something. 



There seems a danger in art that we grow a little 

 too contented with our skill, and offer our work, 

 knowing that few will be at the pains to verify or 

 possess the knowledge to correct. It is a great peril 

 to become satisfied with our own seeing, to call atten- 

 tion to our cleverness, to insist overmuch on our per- 

 sonal trick of expression in the terms of art. The 

 book is open to all, and Nature still rules as the 

 mistress of this little dame's school of a world. Take 

 your exercises to her to correct. Let her decide how 

 far your observation echoes her truth, how far your 

 pen or your brush have won inspiration from her 

 originals. Live in her white light sometimes, and 

 then you will better appreciate the worth of her rain- 

 bows and sunsets, her unlimited glories, and high 

 moments of pomp and praise. 



You will also learn the value of human criticism, 

 and how to separate the chaff of it from the wheat. 



The white light shows each man his many-sided 

 ignorance ; and let him face it, and confess it, and 

 mend it if he can ; for dread to confess ignorance 

 is of ig^norance the most starin^ sign. 



