ButaBerkshiresquirehasnopowerovercosmopolitanfinance，forinstance。ABromptonbuilderhasnotmoneyenoughtorunaNewspaperTrust。AWestEnddoctorcouldnotmakeacornerinquinineandfreezeeverybodyout。Themerelyricharenotrichenoughtorulethemodernmarket。Thethingsthatchangemodernhistory，thebignationalandinternationalloans，thebigeducationalandphilanthropicfoundations，thepurchaseofnumberlessnewspapers，thebigpricespaidforpeerages，thebigexpensesoftenincurredinelections——thesearegettingtoobigforeverybodyexceptthemisers；themenwiththelargestofearthlyfortunesandthesmallestofearthlyaims。
Therearetwootheroddandratherimportantthingstobesaidaboutthem。
Thefirstisthis:thatwiththisaristocracywedonothavethechanceofaluckyvarietyintypeswhichbelongstolargerandlooseraristocracies。Themoderatelyrichincludeallkindsofpeopleevengoodpeople。Evenpriestsaresometimessaints；andevensoldiersaresometimesheroes。Somedoctorshavereallygrownwealthybycuringtheirpatientsandnotbyflatteringthem；somebrewershavebeenknowntosellbeer。ButamongtheVeryRichyouwillneverfindareallygenerousman，evenbyaccident。Theymaygivetheirmoneyaway，buttheywillnevergivethemselvesaway；theyareegoistic，secretive，dryasoldbones。Tobesmartenoughtogetallthatmoneyyoumustbedullenoughtowantit。
Lastly，themostseriouspointaboutthemisthis:thatthenewmiserisflatteredforhismeannessandtheoldoneneverwas。Itwasnevercalledself-denialintheoldmiserthathelivedonbones。Itiscalledself-denialinthenewmillionaireifhelivesonbeans。AmanlikeDancerwasneverpraisedasaChristiansaintforgoinginrags。AmanlikeRockefellerispraisedasasortofpaganstoicforhisearlyrisingorhisunassumingdress。His\"simple\"meals，his\"simple\"clothes，his\"simple\"funeral，areallextolledasiftheywerecreditabletohim。
Theyaredisgracefultohim:exactlyasdisgracefulasthetattersandverminoftheoldmiserweredisgracefultohim。Tobeinragsforcharitywouldbetheconditionofasaint；tobeinragsformoneywasthatofafilthyoldfool。Preciselyinthesameway，tobe\"simple\"forcharityisthestateofasaint；tobe\"simple\"formoneyisthatofafilthyoldfool。OfthetwoIhavemorerespectfortheoldmiser，gnawingbonesinanattic:ifhewasnotnearertoGod，hewasatleastalittlenearertomen。Hissimplelifewasalittlemorelikethelifeoftherealpoor。
THEMYSTAGOGUE
Wheneveryouhearmuchofthingsbeingunutterableandindefinableandimpalpableandunnamableandsubtlyindescribable，thenelevateyouraristocraticnosetowardsheavenandsnuffupthesmellofdecay。Itisperfectlytruethatthereissomethinginallgoodthingsthatisbeyondallspeechorfigureofspeech。Butitisalsotruethatthereisinallgoodthingsaperpetualdesireforexpressionandconcreteembodiment；
andthoughtheattempttoembodyitisalwaysinadequate，theattemptisalwaysmade。Iftheideadoesnotseektobetheword，thechancesarethatitisanevilidea。Ifthewordisnotmadefleshitisabadword。
ThusGiottoorFraAngelieowouldhaveatonceadmittedtheologicallythatGodwastoogoodtobepainted；buttheywouldalwaystrytopaintHim。AndtheyfeltveryrightlythatrepresentingHimasaratherquaintoldmanwithagoldcrownandawhitebeard，likeakingoftheelves，waslessprofanethanresistingthesacredimpulsetoexpressHiminsomeway。ThatiswhytheChristianworldisfullofgaudypicturesandtwistedstatueswhichseem，tomanyrefinedpersons，moreblasphemousthanthesecretvolumesofanatheist。ThetrendofgoodisalwaystowardsIncarnation。But，ontheotherhand，thoserefinedthinkerswhoworshiptheDevil，whetherintheswampsofJamaicaorthesalonsofParis，alwaysinsistupontheshapelessness，thewordlessness，theunutterablecharacteroftheabomination。Theycallhim\"horrorofemptiness，\"asdidtheblackwitchinStevenson\'sDynamiter；theyworshiphimastheunspeakablename；astheunbearablesilence。Theythinkofhimasthevoidintheheartofthewhirlwind；thecloudonthebrainofthemaniac；thetopplingturretsofvertigoortheendlesscorridorsofnightmare。ItwastheChristianswhogavetheDevilagrotesqueandenergeticoutline，withsharphornsandspikedtail。ItwasthesaintswhodrewSatanascomicandevenlively。TheSatanistsneverdrewhimatall。
Andasitiswithmoralgoodandevil，soitisalsowithmentalclarityandmentalconfusion。Thereisoneveryvalidtestbywhichwemayseparategenuine，ifperverseandunbalanced，originalityandrevoltfrommereimpudentinnovationandbluff。Themanwhoreallythinkshehasanideawillalwaystrytoexplainthatidea。Thecharlatanwhohasnoideawillalwaysconfinehimselftoexplainingthatitismuchtoosubtletobeexplained。Thefirstideamayreallybeveryoutreeorspecialist；itmayreallybeverydifficulttoexpresstoordinarypeople。Butbecausethemanistryingtoexpressit，itismostprobablethatthereissomethinginit，afterall。Thehonestmanishewhoisalwaystryingtouttertheunutterable，todescribetheindescribable；butthequacklivesnotbyplungingintomystery，butbyrefusingtocomeoutofit。
PerhapsthisdistinctionismostcomicallyplaininthecaseofthethingcalledArt，andthepeoplecalledArtCritics。Itisobviousthatanattractivelandscapeoralivingfacecanonlyhalfexpresstheholycunningthathasmadethemwhattheyare。Itisequallyobviousthatalandscapepainterexpressesonlyhalfofthelandscape；aportraitpainteronlyhalfoftheperson；theyareluckyiftheyexpresssomuch。
Andagainitisyetmoreobviousthatanyliterarydescriptionofthepicturescanonlyexpresshalfofthem，andthatthelessimportanthalf。
Still，itdoesexpresssomething；thethreadisnotbrokenthatconnectsGodWithNature，orNaturewithmen，ormenwithcritics。The\"MonaLisa\"wasinsomerespectsnotall，IfancywhatGodmeanthertobe。
Leonardo\'spicturewas，insomerespects，likethelady。AndWalterPater\'srichdescriptionwas，insomerespects，likethepicture。Thuswecometotheconsolingreflectionthatevenliterature，inthelastresort，canexpresssomethingotherthanitsownunhappyself。
Nowthemoderncriticisahumbug，becauseheprofessestobeentirelyinarticulate。Speechishiswholebusiness；andheboastsofbeingspeechless。BeforeBotticelliheismute。ButifthereisanygoodinBotticellithereismuchgood，andmucheviltooitisemphaticallythecritic\'sbusinesstoexplainit:totranslateitfromtermsofpaintingintotermsofdiction。Ofcourse，therenderingwillbeinadequate——butsoisBotticelli。Itisafacthewouldbethefirsttoadmit。Butanythingwhichhasbeenintelligentlyreceivedcanatleastbeintelligentlysuggested。PaterdoessuggestanintelligentcauseforthecadaverouscolourofBotticelli\'s\"VenusRisingfromtheSea。”RuskindoessuggestanintelligentmotiveforTurnerdestroyingforestsandfalsifyinglandscapes。Thesetwogreatcriticswerefartoofastidiousformytaste；theyurgedtoexcesstheideathatasenseofartwasasortofsecret；tobepatientlytaughtandslowlylearnt。Still，theythoughtitcouldbetaught:theythoughtitcouldbelearnt。Theyconstrainedthemselves，withconsiderablecreativefatigue，tofindtheexactadjectiveswhichmightparallelinEnglishprosewhathasbeencloneinItalianpainting。ThesameistrueofWhistlerandR。A。M。
StevensonandmanyothersintheexpositionofVelasquez。Theyhadsomethingtosayaboutthepictures；theyknewitwasunworthyofthepictures，buttheysaidit。
NowtheeulogistsofthelatestartisticinsanitiesCubismandPost-
ImpressionismandMr。Picassoareeulogistsandnothingelse。Theyarenotcritics；leastofallcreativecritics。Theydonotattempttotranslatebeautyintolanguage；theymerelytellyouthatitisuntranslatable——thatis，unutterable，indefinable，indescribable，impalpable，ineffable，andalltherestofit。Thecloudistheirbanner；
theycrytochaosandoldnight。TheycirculateapieceofpaperonwhichMr。Picassohashadthemisfortunetoupsettheinkandtriedtodryitwithhisboots，andtheyseektoterrifydemocracybythegoodoldanti-democraticmuddlements:that\"thepublic\"doesnotunderstandthesethings；that\"thelikesofus\"cannotdaretoquestionthedarkdecisionsofourlords。
Iventuretosuggestthatweresistallthisrubbishbytheverysimpletestmentionedabove。
Iftherewereanythingintelligentinsuchart，somethingofitatleastcouldbemadeintelligibleinliterature。Manismadewithonehead，notwithtwoorthree。NocriticismofRembrandtisasgoodasRembrandt；butitcanbesowrittenastomakeamangobackandlookathispictures。Ifthereisacuriousandfantasticart，itisthebusinessoftheartcriticstocreateacuriousandfantasticliteraryexpressionforit；inferiortoit，doubtless，butstillakintoit。Iftheycannotdothis，astheycannot；ifthereisnothingintheireulogies，asthereisnothingexcepteulogy——thentheyarequacksorthehigh-priestsoftheunutterable。Iftheartcriticscansaynothingabouttheartistsexceptthattheyaregooditisbecausetheartistsarebad。Theycanexplainnothingbecausetheyhavefoundnothing；andtheyhavefoundnothingbecausethereisnothingtobefound。
THEREDREACTIONARY
TheonecaseforRevolutionisthatitistheonlyquitecleanandcompleteroadtoanything——eventorestoration。Revolutionalonecanbenotmerelyarevoltoftheliving，butalsoaresurrectionofthedead。
Afriendofmineone，infact，whowritesprominentlyonthispaperwasoncewalkingdownthestreetinatownofWesternFrance，situatedinthatareathatusedtobecalledLaVendee；whichinthatgreatcreativecrisisabout1790formedaseparateandmysticalsoulofitsown，andmadearevolutionagainstarevolution。AsmyfriendwentdownthisstreethewhistledanoldFrenchairwhichhehadfound，likeMr。
Gandish，\"inhisresearchesinto\'istry，\"andwhichhadsomehowtakenhisfancy；thesongtowhichthoselastsincereloyalistswentintobattle。
Ithinkthewordsran:-
MonsieurdeCharette。
Ditaugensd\'ici。
Leroivaremettre。
Lefleurdelys。
MyfriendwasandisaRadical，buthewasandisanEnglishman，anditneveroccurredtohimthattherecouldbeanyharminsingingarchaiclyricsoutofremotecenturies；thatonehadtobeaCatholictoenjoythe\"DiesIrae，\"oraProtestanttoremember\"Lillibullero。”Yethewasstoppedandgravelywarnedthatthingssopoliticallyprovocativemightgethimatleastintotemporarytrouble。
AlittletimeafterIwashelpingKingGeorgeVtogetcrowned，bywalkingroundalocalbonfireandlisteningtoalocalband。Justasabonfirecannotbetoobig，sobymytheoryofmusicabandcannotbetooloud，andthisbandwassoloud，emphatic，andobvious，thatI
actuallyrecognisedoneortwoofthetunes。AndInoticedthatquiteaformidableproportionofthemwereJacobitetunes；thatis，tunesthathadbeenprimarilymeanttokeepGeorgeVoutofhisthroneforever。
SomeoftherealairsoftheoldScottishrebellionwereplayed，suchas\"CharlieisMyDarling，\"or\"What\'sa\'thesteer，kimmer？\"songsthatmenhadsungwhilemarchingtodestroyanddriveoutthemonarchyunderwhichwelive。TheyweresongsinwhichtheverykinsmenofthepresentKingweresweptasideasusurpers。Theyweresongsinwhichtheactualwords\"KingGeorge\"occurredasacurseandaderision。YettheywereplayedtocelebratehisveryCoronation；playedaspromptlyandinnocentlyasiftheyhadbeen\"Grandfather\'sClock\"or\"RuleBritannia\"
or\"TheHoneysuckleandtheBee。”
Thatcontrastisthemeasure，notonlybetweentwonations，butbetweentwomodesofhistoricalconstructionanddevelopment。Forthereisnotreallyverymuchdifference，asEuropeanhistorygoes，inthetimethathaselapsedbetweenusandtheJacobiteandbetweenusandtheJacobin。
WhenGeorgeIIIwascrownedthegauntletoftheKing\'sChampionwaspickedupbyapartisanoftheStuarts。WhenGeorgeIIIwasstillonthethronetheBourbonsweredrivenoutofFranceastheStuartshadbeendrivenoutofEngland。YettheFrencharejustsufficientlyawarethattheBourbonsmightpossiblyreturnthattheywilltakealittletroubletodiscourageit；whereaswearesocertainthattheStuartswillneverreturnthatweactuallyplaytheirmostpassionatetunesasacomplimenttotheirrivals。Andwedonotevendoittauntingly。Iexaminedthefacesofallthebandsmen；andIamsuretheyweredevoidofirony:
indeed，itisdifficulttoblowawindinstrumentironically。Wedoitquiteunconsciously；becausewehaveahugefundamentaldogma，whichtheFrenchhavenot。Wereallybelievethatthepastispast。Itisaverydoubtfulpoint。
NowthegreatgiftofarevolutionasinFranceisthatitmakesmenfreeinthepastaswellasfreeinthefuture。Thosewhohaveclearedawayeverythingcould，iftheyliked，putbackeverything。Butwewhohavepreservedeverything——wecannotrestoreanything。Take，forthesakeofargument，thecomplexandmanycolouredritualoftheCoronationrecentlycompleted。Thatriteisstratifiedwiththeseparatecenturies；
fromthefirstrudeneedofdisciplinetothelastfineshadeofcultureorcorruption，thereisnothingthatcannotbedetectedorevendated。
Thefierceandchildishvowofthelordstoservetheirlord\"againstallmanneroffolk\"obviouslycomesfromtherealDarkAges；nolongerconfused，evenbytheignorant，withtheMiddleAges。ItcomesfromsomechaosofEurope，whentherewasoneoldRomanroadacrossfourofourcounties；andwhenhostile\"folk\"mightliveinthenextvillage。ThesacramentalseparationofonemantobethefriendofthefatherlessandthenamelessbelongstothetrueMiddleAges；withtheirgreatattempttomakeamoralandinvisibleRomanEmpire；orastheCoronationServicesaystosetthecrossforeverabovetheball。Elaboratelocaltomfooleries，suchasthatbywhichtheLordoftheManorofWork-sopisaloneallowedtodosomethingorother，theseprobablybelongtothedecayoftheMiddleAges，whenthatgreatcivilisationdiedoutingrotesqueliteralismandentangledheraldry。ThingslikethepresentationoftheBiblebearwitnesstotheintellectualoutburstattheReformation；thingsliketheDeclarationagainsttheMassbearwitnesstothegreatwarsofthePuritans；andthingsliketheallegianceoftheBishopsbearwitnesstothewordyandparentheticalpoliticalcompromiseswhichtomydeepregretendedthewarsofreligion。
Butmypurposehereisonlytopointoutoneparticularthing。Inallthatlonglistofvariationstheremustbe，andthereare，thingswhichenergeticmodernmindswouldreallywish，withthereasonablemodification，torestore。Dr。CliffordwouldprobablybegladtoseeagainthegreatPuritanidealismthatforcedtheBibleintoanantiqueandalmostfrozenformality。Dr。HortonprobablyreallyregretstheoldpassionthatexcommunicatedRome。InthesamewayMr。BellocwouldreallyprefertheMiddleAges；asLordRoseberywouldprefertheErastianoligarchyoftheeighteenthcentury。TheDarkAgeswouldprobablybedisputedfromwidelydifferentmotivesbyMr。RudyardKiplingandMr。
CunninghameGraham。ButMr。CunninghameGrahamwouldwin。
ButtheblackcaseagainstConservativeorEvolutionarypoliticsisthatnoneofthesesinceremencanwin。Dr。CliffordcannotgetbacktothePuritans；Mr。Belloccannotgetbacktothemediaevals；becausealastherehasbeennoRevolutiontoleavethemaclearspaceforbuildingorrebuilding。Frenchmenhavealltheagesbehindthem，andcanwanderbackandpickandchoose。ButEnglishmenhavealltheagesontopofthem，andcanonlyliegroaningunderthatimposingtower，withoutbeingabletotakesomuchasabrickoutofit。IftheFrenchdecidethattheirRepublicisbadtheycangetridofit；butifwedecidethataRepublicwasgood，weshouldhavemuchmoredifficulty。IftheFrenchdemocracyactuallydesiredeverydetailofthemediaevalmonarchy，theycouldhaveit。Idonotthinktheywillorshould，buttheycould。IfanotherDauphinwereactuallycrownedatRheims；ifanotherJoanofArcactuallyboreamiraculousbannerbeforehim；ifmediaevalswordsshookand。blazedineverygauntlet；ifthegoldenliliesglowedfromeverytapestry；ifthiswerereallyprovedtobethewillofFranceandthepurposeofProvidence——suchascenewouldstillbethelastingandfinaljustificationoftheFrenchRevolution。
FornosuchscenecouldconceivablyhavehappenedunderLouisXVI。
THESEPARATISTANDSACREDTHINGS
IntheverylaudableandfascinatingextensionsofourinterestinAsiaticartsorfaiths，therearetwoincidentalinjusticeswhichwetendnowadaystodotoourownrecordsandourownreligion。ThefirstisatendencytotalkasifcertainthingswerenotonlypresentinthehigherOrientals，butwerepeculiartothem。ThusourmagazineswillfallintoahabitofwonderingpraiseofBushido，theJapanesechivalry，asifnoWesternknightshadevervowednoblevows，orasifnoEasternknightshadeverbrokenthem。Oragain，ourdrawing-roomswillbefullofthepraisesofIndianrenunciationandIndianunworldliness，asifnoChristianshadbeensaints，orasifallBuddhistshadbeen。ButifthefirstinjusticeistothinkofhumanvirtuesaspeculiarlyEastern，theotherinjusticeisafailuretoappreciatewhatreallyispeculiarlyEastern。ItistoomuchtakenforgrantedthattheEasternsortofidealismiscertainlysuperiorandconvincing；whereasintruthitisonlyseparateandpeculiar。Allthatisrichest，deepest，andsubtlestintheEastisrootedinPantheism；butallthatisrichest，deepest，andsubtlestinusisconcernedwithdenyingpassionatelythatPantheismiseitherthehighestorthepurestreligion。
Thus，inturningoversomeexcellentbooksrecentlywrittenonthespiritofIndianorChineseartanddecoration，IfounditquietlyandcuriouslyassumedthattheartistmustbeathisbestifheflowswiththefullstreamofNature；andidentifieshimselfwithallthings；sothatthestarsarehissleeplesseyesandtheforestshisfar-flungarms。Nowinthiswayoftalkingboththetwoinjusticeswillbefound。Insofaraswhatisclaimedisastrongsenseofthedivineinallthings，theEasternartistshavenomoremonopolyofitthantheyhaveofhungerandthirst。
IhavenodoubtthatthepaintersandpoetsoftheFarEastdoexhibitthis；butIrebelatbeingaskedtoadmitthatwemustgototheFarEasttofindit。Tracesofsuchsentimentscanbefound，Ifancy，eveninotherpaintersandpoets。IdonotquestionthatthepoetWoWothatornamentoftheeighthdynastymayhavewrittenthewords:\"Eventhemostundignifiedvegetableisforthispersoncapableofproducingmeditationsnottobeexhibitedbymuchweeping。”But，IdonotthereforeadmitthataWesterngentlemannamedWordsworthwhomadeasomewhatsimilarremarkhadplagiarisedfromWoWo，orwasamereOccidentalfableandtravestyofthatcelebratedfigure。IdonotdenythatTinishonawrotethatexquisiteexampleoftheshortJapanesepoementitled\"HonourableChrysanthemuminHonourableHoleinWall。”ButIdonotthereforeadmitthatTennyson\'slittleverseabouttheflowerinthecrannywasnotoriginalandevensincere。
ItisrecordedforallIknowofthephilanthropicEmperorBo，thatwhenengagedincuttinghisgardenlawnwithamowermadeofalabasterandchrysoberyl，hechancedtocutdownasmallflower；whereupon，beingmuchaffected，hecommandedhiswisemenimmediatelytotakedownupontabletsofivorythelinesbeginning:\"Smallandunobtrusiveblossomwithrubyextremities。”Butthisincident，touchingasitis，doesnotshakemybeliefintheincidentofRobertBurnsandthedaisy；andIamleftwithanimpressionthatpoetsareprettymuchthesameeverywhereintheirpoetry——andintheirprose。
IhavetriedtoconveymysympathyandadmirationforEasternartanditsadmirers，andifIhavenotconveyedthemImustgiveitupandgoontomoregeneralconsiderations。Ithereforeproceedtosay——withtheutmostrespect，thatitisCheek，ararefiedandetherealisedformofCheek，forthisschooltospeakinthiswayaboutthemotherthatborethem，thegreatcivilisationoftheWest。TheWestalsohasitsmagiclandscapes，onlythroughourincurablematerialismtheylooklikelandscapesaswellaslikemagic。TheWestalsohasitssymbolicfigures，onlytheylooklikemenaswellassymbols。ItwillbeansweredandmostjustlythatOrientalartoughttobefreetofollowitsowninstinctandtradition；
thatitsartistsareconcernedtosuggestonethingandourartistsanother；thatbothshouldbeadmiredintheirdifference。Profoundlytrue；butwhatisthedifference？ItiscertainlynotastheOrientalisersassert，thatwemustgototheFarEastforasympatheticandtranscendentalinterpretationofNature。Wehavepaidalongenoughtollofmysticsandevenofmadmentobequitofthatdisability。
Yetthereisadifference，anditisjustwhatIsuggested。TheEasternmysticismisanecstasyofunity；theChristianmysticismisanecstasyofcreation，thatisofseparationandmutualsurprise。Thelattersays，likeSt。Francis，\"Mybrotherfireandmysisterwater\"；theformersays，\"Myselffireandmyselfwater。”WhetheryoucalltheEasternattitudeanextensionofoneselfintoeverythingoracontractionofoneselfintonothingisamatterofmetaphysicaldefinition。Theeffectisthesame，aneffectwhichlivesandthrobsthroughoutalltheexquisiteartsoftheEast。ThiseffectistheSingcalledrhythm，apulsationofpattern，orofritual，orofcolours，orofcosmictheory，butalwayssuggestingtheunificationoftheindividualwiththeworld。
Butthereisquiteanotherkindofsympathythesympathywithathingbecauseitisdifferent。NoonewillsaythatRembrandtdidnotsympathisewithanoldwoman；butnoonewillsaythatRembrandtpaintedlikeanoldwoman。NoonewillsaythatReynoldsdidnotappreciatechildren；butnoonewillsayhediditchildishly。Thesupremeinstanceofthisdivinedivisionissex，andthatexplainswhatIcouldneverunderstandinmyyouthwhyChristendomcalledthesoulthebrideofGod。
Forrealloveisanintenserealisationofthe\"separateness\"ofalloursouls。Themostheroicandhumanlove-poetryoftheworldisnevermerepassion；preciselybecausemerepassionreallyisameltingbackintoNature，ameetingofthewaters。Andwaterisplungingandpowerful；butitisonlypowerfuldownhill。Thehighandhumanlove-poetryisallaboutdivisionratherthanidentity；andinthegreatlove-poemseventhemanasheembracesthewomanseesher，inthesameinstant，afaroff；avirginandastranger。
Forthefirstinjustice，ofwhichwehavespoken，stillrecurs；andifwegrantthattheEasthasarighttoitsdifference，itisnotrealisedinwhatwediffer。ThatnurserytalefromnowhereaboutSt。GeorgeandtheDragonreallyexpressesbesttherelationbetweentheWestandtheEast。
Thereweremanyotherdifferences，calculatedtoarresteventhesuperficialeye，betweenasaintandadragon。Buttheessentialdifferencewassimplythis:thattheDragondidwanttoeatSt。George；
whereasSt。GeorgewouldhavefeltastrongdistasteforeatingtheDragon。InmostofthestorieshekilledtheDragon。Inmanyofthestorieshenotonlyspared，butbaptisedit。ButinneithercasedidtheChristianhaveanyappetiteforcolddragon。TheDragon，however，reallyhasanappetiteforcoldChristian——andespeciallyforcoldChristianity。
Thisblindintentiontoabsorb，tochangetheshapeofeverythinganddigestitinthedarknessofadragon\'sstomach；thisiswhatisreallymeantbythePantheismandCosmicUnityoftheEast。TheCosmosassuchiscannibal；asoldTimeatehischildren。TheEasternsaintsweresaintsbecausetheywantedtobeswallowedup。TheWesternsaint，likeSt。
George，wassaintedbytheWesternChurchpreciselybecauseherefusedtobeswallowed。ThesameprocessofthoughtthathaspreventednationalitiesdisappearinginChristendomhaspreventedthecompleteappearanceofPantheism。AllChristianmeninstinctivelyresisttheideaofbeingabsorbedintoanEmpire；anAustrian，aSpanish，aBritish，oraTurkishEmpire。Butthereisoneempire，muchlargerandmuchmoretyrannical，whichfreemenwillresistwithevenstrongerpassion。ThefreemanviolentlyresistsbeingabsorbedintotheempirewhichiscalledtheUniverse。HedemandsHomeRuleforhisnationality，butstillmoreHomeRuleforhishome。MostofallhedemandsHomeRuleforhimself。Heclaimstherighttobesaved，inspiteofMoslemfatalism。Heclaimstherighttobedamnedinspiteoftheosophicaloptimism。HerefusestobetheCosmos；becauseherefusestoforgetit。
THEMUMMER
ThenightbeforeChristmasEveIheardaburstofmusicalvoicessoclosethattheymightaswellhavebeeninsidethehouseinsteadofjustoutside；soIaskedtheminside，hopingthattheymightthenseemfartheraway。ThenIrealisedthattheyweretheChristmasMummers，whocomeeveryyearincountrypartstoenacttheratherrigidfragmentsoftheoldChristmasplayofSt。George，theTurkishKnight，andtheVeryVenalDoctor。Iwillnotdescribeit；itisindescribable；butIwilldescribemyparallelsentimentsasitpassed。
Onecouldseesomethingofthathalf-failurethathauntsourartisticrevivalsofmediaevaldances，carols，orBethlehemPlays。ThereareelementsinallthathascometousfromthemoremorallysimplesocietyoftheMiddleAges:elementswhichmoderns，evenwhentheyaremediaevalists，findithardtounderstandandhardertoimitate。ThefirstistheprimaryideaofMummeryitself。Ifyouwillobserveachildjustabletowalk，youwillseethathisfirstideaisnottodressupasanybody——buttodressup。Afterwards，ofcourse，theideaofbeingtheKingorUncleWilliamwillleaptohislips。Butitisgenerallysuggestedbythehathehasalreadyletfalloverhisnose，fromfardeepermotives。TommydoesnotassumethehatprimarilybecauseitisUncleWilliam\'shat，butbecauseitisnotTommy\'shat。Itisaritualinvestiture；andisakintothoseGorgonmasksthatstiffenedthedancesofGreeceorthosetoweringmitresthatcamefromthemysteriesofPersia。
Fortheessenceofsuchritualisaprofoundparadox:theconcealmentofthepersonalitycombinedwiththeexaggerationoftheperson。Themanperformingariteseekstobeatonceinvisibleandconspicuous。ItispartofthatdivinemadnesswhichallothercreatureswonderatinMan，thathealoneparadesthispompofobliterationandanonymity。Manisnot，perhaps，theonlycreaturewhodresseshimself，butheistheonlycreaturewhodisguiseshimself。Beastsandbirdsdoindeedtakethecoloursoftheirenvironment；butthatisnotinordertobewatched，butinordernottobewatched；itisnottheformalismofrejoicing，buttheformlessnessoffear。Itisnotsowithmen，whosenatureistheunnatural。AncientBritonsdidnotstainthemselvesbluebecausetheylivedinblueforests；nordidGeorgianbeauxandbellespowdertheirhairtomatchanArcticlandscape；theBritonswerenotdressingupaskingfishersnorthebeauxpretendingtobepolarbears。Nay，evenwhenmodernladiespainttheirfacesabrightmauve，itisdoubtedbysomenaturalistswhethertheydoitwiththeideaofescapingnotice。Somerry-makersorMummersadopttheircostumetoheightenandexaggeratetheirownbodilypresenceandidentity；nottosinkit，primarilyspeaking，inanotheridentity。ItisnotActing——thatcomparativelylowprofession-comparativelyImean。ItisMummery；and，asMr。Kensitwouldtrulysay，allelaboratereligiousritualisMummery。Thatis，itisthenobleconceptionofmakingMansomethingotherandmorethanhimselfwhenhestandsatthelimitofhumanthings。ItisonlycarefulfaddistsandfeebleGermanphilosopherswhowanttowearnoclothes；andbe\"natural\"intheirDionysianrevels。Naturalmen，reallyvigorousandexultantmen，wanttowearmoreandmoreclotheswhentheyarerevelling。