The mirror., 1923-11-15
CIRCLE LETTER
By Mr.. J. l..

would have were writing to group of
indifferent people. am pragmatic
enough to believe that you are not going
to accept me as the final inconographer of
either science or philosophy; but if this
letter serves the purpose of which con-
tend it should, then 1 will be satisfied and
ask no more.
The purpose: epistolary form of writing
enables one to put forth ones ideas and
opinions in an easier and more concise
manner than other modes of writing; for
one has the liberty of contending with
a variety of ideas rather than confning
oneself to an abstract theme such as is
expected in an essay or lecture. Therefor
I hazard the opinion that this form of
writing will help to increase that intel
lectual curiosity amongst US which leads
to the advancement and diffusion of know
ledge.
One of the most distinguished privileges
of man is the power of communicating
writing become the foremost instruments
by which man becomes beneficial to man.
Can we of this Circle find better way
to improve our taste with respect to writ
ing and discourse, and acquire principles
to Judge for ourselves the beauties in the
more polite and refined Arts? Especially
do I have in mind the Art of literature
and that part of it called Bellies Letters).
A cultivated taste increases sensibility to
all the tender and human passions, and
by giving it frequent exercise we tend to
weaken the more violent and fierce emo
tions.
By taste mean that "power or sense
of receiving beauties from Nature and
from Art" I mean that internal sense
which spontaneously discriminates be-
tween the real, and the artificial without
relying on the power of reason. Do you
think it is directly connected with the
latter? don't believe it is: for when
we refer to reason as that faculty which
in speculative matters discovers truth, or
in practical matters advises US to the prac-
tibility of means to an end, then it is OBJ
vious that reason does not enter into the
realms of taste, though it may in some cases
assist it. And so I say let US cultivate
our critical faculties, that we may be i'm
mune from blind and implicit veneration;
that we may admire and blame with
judgment and not follow the crowd
blindly.
Now in this mechanical age in which
we are living, one is apt to be censored
and blasphemed and accused of HIBRow-
ISM when one ventures to discuss matter
other than industrialism. Amongst this
mass of utilitarians if one endeavors to
express an opinion in regard to the sew
eral fine Arts rather than discuss the con-
ventional questions of modern times such
as the high cost of living, or the auto
mobile,why he is at once labled high-broav
and set upon that particular shelf reserved
for such species. OF course it may be al
right to censor that one who spouts off
lot of high-Aown language and explodes
in false ornament just for the sake of show,
but let us not confuse him with the one
who has serious outlook upon life and
wishes to exchange ideas for the sake of
mutual benefit. Let the undisciplined cox
combs rave! e.. g., those who are forever
morally indignant and never intelligently
indignant. In his exquisite poem The
Wasteland, T. S. Eliot has described with
great psychological and physiological ac-
curacy the fops which are produced by
generation of utilitarians. I take the lib
erty of quoting herewith a couple of ex-
tracts from it:
80. "He. the young man carbuncular,
arrives,
A small house-agent clerk with one bold
stare,
One of the low on whom assurance sits