The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-05

or. rolegatsd altogether TO the nurseTy or kinder
Rarten. To cultivated men, Its only sphere OF
enjoyable usefulness will be that Of mimicry.
But mimicry is permanently pleasurable only
to those who possess, or believe that they can or
will possess the real things mimicked. What n
diabollcal spirit would be that of a miinicking
art for the poor and impotent, showing them
what they might enjoy, but must never
have. The rich can enjoy moro or less
the initiative suggestions Of art, because they
can, at any moment, replace them by tho
positive objects suggested. But. even for the
rich, what dignity Ia left for a mimicking art 7
Tho dignity of the mirror behind q splendid
showcase, feebly duplicating what is before It
for an Instant, q frivolously amusing illusion as
the passer by looks in. Here we are cautioned
to remembo that all idealizing In art is banned
by posltivism as sentimentality quito behind
the times. Art. then, reasonably can furnish
nothing but what already exists far moro salts.
factorily in sensible reality. Whenever she ex.
PLOTS tho v~aulting ambition Of the heart, sug.
gests the pursuit OF rainbow contacts, she Is an
immoral disturber OF the normal contentment
which tho practical man should cultivate above
all else. Summing up the case for art, II pos.
itivism is to triumph. Mr.. Guthrie says that tho
love OF things " as they are makes art wicked
for the poor, foolish and trifling for the rich.
But what Is wicked and foolish or trining suf.
fers extinction in due time. Only what is kindly.
beneioent. wise and useful will be, in tho long
run, sought and preserved by men.
Tho author proceeds to consider the future Of
art under ono or another of the great hypothe.
ses In respect to mind and matter that present
themselves to all men except to consistent posi-.
twists. These various philosophic systems may
DO compendiously described as dualism, as mon.
ism. as materialism. and as idealism or spirit
ism. We cannot follow tho author through his
somewhat prolonged discussion OF these systems,
but We can state In a few words his conclusion.
It 10 that art will thrive and hold a position Of
permanent dignity only with monism regnant.
1t must suher moro or less from the predomi-
nance OF either materialism or spiritism. I'm
der tho absolute consistent rule Of posi-.
tivism art must perish. With dualism su-
prone, art would run great risks OF losing
a fair balance. because the dualist Is almost
sure to emphasize one or the other Of his uncom-
binable. hostile twain. On the whole, Mr..
Guthrie Is inclined to think that the undis-
puted acceptance of monism itself might tend
to injuro tho artist through making his work
too conscious a practice OF a precise and rigid
aesthetic. Who knows. he asks. but that tho
predominance OF no philosophic theory In par
ticular. OF Intellectual anarchy. the mutual
checkmating OF various hypothesis, leaving the
artist h~eart-whole and fancy-free to follow his
creative Instincts. may constitute tho most IA
vorable condition for a robust and delightgiv-
ing arti But. in that case. what OF the per-
petuity Of art on the hypothesis Of a steady
growth Of civilization and Intellectual orderl
II. W.. II.