IRature IRotes : 
£be Selbonte Society’s fll>aga3ine. 
No. ioi. MAY, 1898. Vol. IX. 
THE ALTAR OF FASHION. 
A Picture by G. F. Watts, R.A.* 
With wine and oil, while clouds of incense rolled 
From unoffending altar-stones, of yore 
Men sought the Eternal Father, gave their store. 
Fruit of the field, or gem, or gleaming gold ; 
Now to grim Fashion’s folly manifold 
— Fashion the changeful goddess — do they pour 
The pain and pity of bright wings that bore 
Hearts to the light in darker days of old. 
Thou sorrowing angel, longer with us stay ! 
These sin but know not ; — thoughtless, deaf and blind. 
They have not heard this murder cry to heaven ; 
To clothe pride’s utter nakedness they slay 
The innocent life, rob earth of glory given, 
And mar the revelation of God’s mind. 
H. D. Rawnsley. 
See p. 74. 
