the ways of men(人们的手段)-第27节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
handling。 The habit of taking liberties with young relations is a common
form of a relaxed social code and the besetting sin of elderly people； who；
having little to interest them in their own lives； imagine that their mission
is to reform the ways and manners of their family。 Ensconced behind the
respect which the young are supposed to pay them； they give free vent to
inclination； and carp； cavil； and correct。 The victims may have reached
maturity or even middle age； but remain always children to these social
policemen； to be reproved and instructed in and out of season。 〃I am doing
this for your own good；〃 is an excuse that apparently frees the veterans
from the necessity of respecting the prejudices and feelings of their pupils；
and lends a gloss of unselfishness to actions which are simply impertinent。
Oddly enough； amateur 〃schoolmarms〃 who fall into this unpleasant habit
are generally oversensitive； and resent as a personal affront any
restlessness under criticism on the part of their victims。 It is easy； once the
habit is acquired； to carry the suavity and consideration of general society
into the home circle； yet how often is it done？ I should like to see the
principle that ordered presentation of arms to the infant princess applied to
our intimate relations； and the rights of the young and dependent
scrupulously respected。
In the third act of CASTE； when old Eccles steals the 〃coral〃 from his
94
… Page 95…
THE WAYS OF MEN
grandson's neck； he excuses the theft by a grandiloquent soliloquy； and
persuades himself that he is protecting 〃the weak and the humble〃
（pointing to himself） 〃against the powerful and the strong〃 （pointing to the
baby）。 Alas； too many of us take liberties with those whom we do not fear；
and excuse our little acts of cowardice with arguments as fallacious as
those of drunken old Eccles。
95
… Page 96…
THE WAYS OF MEN
CHAPTER 18 … What is 〃Art〃？
IN former years； we inquiring youngsters in foreign studios were
much bewildered by the repetition of a certain phrase。 Discussion of
almost any picture or statue was （after other forms of criticism had been
exhausted） pretty sure to conclude with； 〃It's all very well in its way； but
it's not Art。〃 Not only foolish youths but the 〃masters〃 themselves
constantly advanced this opinion to crush a rival or belittle a friend。 To
ardent minds seeking for the light and catching at every thread that might
serve as a guide out of perplexity； this vague assertion was confusing。
According to one master； the eighteenth…century 〃school〃 did not exist。
What had been produced at that time was pleasing enough to the eye； but
〃was not Art！〃 In the opinion of another； Italian music might amuse or
cheer the ignorant； but could not be recognized by serious musicians。
As most of us were living far from home and friends for the purpose of
acquiring the rudiments of art； this continual sweeping away of our
foundations was discouraging。 What was the use； we sometimes asked
ourselves； of toiling； if our work was to be cast contemptuously aside by
the next 〃school〃 as a pleasing trifle； not for a moment to be taken
seriously？ How was one to find out the truth？ Who was to decide when
doctors disagreed？ Where was the rock on which an earnest student might
lay his cornerstone without the misgiving that the next wave in public
opinion would sap its base and cast him and his ideals out again at sea？
The eighteenth…century artists and the Italian composers had been
sincere and convinced that they were producing works of art。 In our own
day the idol of one moment becomes the jest of the next。 Was there； then；
no fixed law？
The short period； for instance； between 1875 and the present time has
been long enough for the talent of one painter （Bastien…Lepage） to be
discovered； discussed； lauded； acclaimed； then gradually forgotten and
decried。 During the years when we were studying in Paris； that young
painter's works were pronounced by the critics and their following to be
the last development of Art。 Museums and amateurs vied with each other
in acquiring his canvases。 Yet； only this spring； while dining with two or
96
… Page 97…
THE WAYS OF MEN
three art critics in the French capital； I heard Lepage's name mentioned
and his works recalled with the smile that is accorded to those who have
hoodwinked the public and passed off spurious material as the real thing。
If any one doubts the fleeting nature of a reputation； let him go to a
sale of modern pictures and note the prices brought by the favorites of
twenty years ago。 The paintings of that arch…priest； Meissonier； no longer
command the sums that eager collectors paid for them a score of years
back。 When a great European critic dares assert； as one has recently； of the
master's 〃1815；〃 that 〃everything in the picture appears metallic； except
the cannon and the men's helmets；〃 the mighty are indeed fallen！ It is
much the same thing with the old masters。 There have been fashions in
them as in other forms of art。 Fifty years ago Rembrandt's work brought
but small prices； and until Henri Rochefort （during his exile） began to
write up the English school； Romneys； Lawrences； and Gainsboroughs had
little market value。
The result is that most of us are as far away from the solution of that
vexed question 〃What is Art？〃 at forty as we were when boys。 The
majority have arranged a compromise with their consciences。 We have
found out what we like （in itself no mean achievement）； and beyond such
personal preference； are shy of asserting （as we were fond of doing
formerly） that such and such works are 〃Art；〃 and such others； while
pleasing and popular； lack the requisite qualities。
To enquiring minds； sure that an answer to this question exists； but
uncertain where to look for it； the fact that one of the thinkers of the
century has； in a recent 〃Evangel；〃 given to the world a definition of 〃Art；〃
the result of many years' meditation； will be received with joy。 〃Art；〃 says
Tolstoi； 〃is simply a condition of life。 It is any form of expression that a
human being employs to communicate an emotion he has experienced to a
fellow…mortal。〃
An author who； in telling his hopes and sorrows； amuses or saddens a
reader； has in just so much produced a work of art。 A lover who； by the
sincerity of his accent； communicates the flame that is consuming him to
the object of his adoration； the shopkeeper who inspires a purchaser with
his own admiration for an object on sale； the baby that makes its joy
97
… Page 98…
THE WAYS OF MEN
known to a parent … artists！ artists！ Brown； Jones； or Robinson； the
moment he has consciously produced on a neighbor's ear or eye the
sensation that a sound or a combination of colors has effected on his own
organs； is an artist！
Of course much of this has been recognized through all time。 The
formula in which Tolstoi has presented his meditations to the world is；
however； so fresh that it comes like a revelation； with the additional merit
of being understood； with little or no mental effort； by either the casual
reader； who； with half…attention attracted by a headline； says to himself；
〃‘What is art？' That looks interesting！〃 and skims lightly down the lines；
or the thinker who； after perusing Tolstoi's lucid words； lays down the
volume with a sigh； and murmurs in his humiliation； 〃Why have I been all
these years seeking in the clouds for what w
