Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-06-06
The Bull Deposition Of Sense.
IEcy. Perry Brogne at the Alpha Dslta Phi Goa
vCntiOn.

lEoy, Perry Browns, at the Alpha Dolta Phi Goa
vCnti0n.l
The marked characteristics OF orr age are n
pervadiuE worship of physical nature as the
ultimate power over man, and growing
coutentment with practical energy as the
highest type of life. The first tendency re-
CARDS the human spirit as product of ply
steal nature So that nature is the master of
the spirit This Is the curious attitude of
our generation towards nature the will rules
it as n slave, the spirit submits to it rs n
master. This tendency speaking through
.Le New Philosophy aims to cut oil intel
l,ctual life from the inspiration that comes
from faith in the higher reaches OF our own
nature, and would condemn us to think and
work on the level of physical discoveries, So
Geological laws, utilitarian ethics and urim-
niurtalized experiences. The influence Of
this tendency makes our intellectual life
cowcd and sell. conscious eXerting itself I'M
dfrR nervous sense of being watched by
science, ready TO jeer at 1t ii it attempt II
generous ideal flight in any direction. All
through our modern literature of any pre-
tension, one sees II strained effort to resist
all higher intellectual enthusiasm rs fever,
especially in journalism of the higher class,
in the drama and in -,,nou Srhich seems
wholly given over TO an uninsplring agnost
dAtAlbNN Nh
scale is the ann OF much OF our modern ed
ucatIon. Everywhere there is reduction in
the temperature OF the human mind. The
target is near and definite, but the bow has
lost its elasticity and fine vibration it once
had when it was not ashamed to aim at
heavenly things. 1t is an unimpassioned
age, rejoicing that the world has outgrown
idenlism and can now really 20 to work.
The practical spirit OF our age, not only
resents this supremacy OF intellect consld-
cred as an end in itself, but it also aims to
bind to ITS own limited Interpretation and
use, the expression OF intellect in poetry
and eloquence. As the monster Caliban
wanted TO marry beautiful Miranda in order
to escape her service, SO our drudging spirit
of sO-ca!el practical life allies Itself TO poetry
and eloquence, i'll order TO make them Ser
wants In England, especially, this tendency
has turned all her poets INTO solvers ''oi
problems and helpers Of causes, rather
than inspiring singers. So Iennyson writes
Queen Mar. in the interest OF national
Professionalism Matthew Arnold whistles to
keep up his Cnuntrymens courage while
waiting for new religion Swnbnlne del
iies the passions AS "A practical substitute for
the Christian religion, which he thinks dead
William Morris affects to he IAN idle singer
of an idle day. but really feels 1t his mis-
sion to revive the pagan spirit in England
you see poetry in England.
either as u hearse carrying off some dead
creed. hope or inspiration, or else as dray
bringing III the luggage of some new creed
or inspiration not Vt arrived. But immOr-
tai poetry is above all this has no anxiety
il universal The highest intellectual life
will do the best work for the world, by
simply maintaining lis faith in lifes higher
and Invisible verities. Not deiying our prac
Iicnl age. but hike Prospcro, using it as the
Jbedient Anel OF the soul.