200 FIELD AND HEDGEROI!Y, 
the individual heart. The world at large continues un- 
touched and indifferent—first because its common sense 
is not convinced, and secondly because its secret aspira- 
tions are in no degree satisfied. So that it is not alto- 
gether the world’s fault if it is stolid. Everything has 
been tried and found wanting. Men rushed in crowds to 
the gold-diggings of California, to the Australian ‘finds; 
and in like manner, if any real spiritual or ideal good 
were proffered, crowds would rush to participate ‘in it. 
Nothing yet has been given but empty words, and these 
so-called ‘goods’ have proved as tasteless, and as much 
Dead Sea apples, as the apples of vice; perhaps even 
more bitter than the regrets of vice. Though I cannot 
name the ideal good, it seems to me that it will be in 
some way closely associated with the ideal beauty of 
nature, 
