EECENT PHASES OF LITERARY CRITICISM 113 



Aristotelian criticism, whicli found its authority in a 

 body of rules deduced from the masters. The new 

 theology looks for a scientific basis for its morals, or 

 seeks for the sanction of nature herself ; and demo- 

 cratic criticism aims to stand upon the same basis, 

 and cleaves to principles and not to standards, not 

 by yielding to the caprices of uninformed taste, but 

 by seeking the law and test of every work within 

 itself. We no longer judge of the worth of a man by 

 his creed, but by what he is in and of himself ; by his 

 natural virtues and aptitudes ; and we no longer con- 

 demn a work of art because it breaks with the old 

 traditions. 



Arnold was of similar temper with Brunetiere. 

 His elements of style are " dignity and distinction," 

 a part of the classic tradition, a survival from the 

 feudal and aristocratic world, from a literature of 

 courts and courtiers, as distinguished from a litera- 

 ture of the people, a democratic literature. Distinc- 

 tion of utterance, distinction of manners, distinction 

 of dress and equipage — they are all of a piece, and 

 adhere in the aristocratic and monarchical ideal. 

 The special antipathy of this ideal is the common ; 

 all commonness is vulgar. When Arnold came to 

 this country and became interested in the lives of 

 Grant and Lincoln, he found them both wanting in 

 distinction, — there was no savor of the aristocratic 

 in their words or manners. And the criticism is 

 true. From all accounts. Grant presented a far less 

 distinguished appearance at Appomattox than did 

 Lee ; and Lincoln was easily outshone in aristocratic 



