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You need not have gone back so far。 The noble savage of today flings
aside his clear spring water to snatch at the missionary's gin。 He will
even discard his feathers； which at least were picturesque； for a chimney…
pot hat innocent of nap。 Plaid trousers and cheap champagne follow in due
course。 Where is the advancement？ Civilisation provides us with more
luxuries for our bodies。 That I grant you。 Has it brought us any real
improvement that could not have been arrived at sooner by other roads？〃
〃It has given us Art；〃 said the Girton Girl。
〃When you say 'us；'〃 replied the Minor Poet； 〃I presume you are
referring to the one person in half a million to whom Art is anything more
than a name。 Dismissing the countless hordes who have absolutely never
heard the word； and confining attention to the few thousands scattered
about Europe and America who prate of it； how many of even these do
you think it really influences； entering into their lives； refining； broadening
them？ Watch the faces of the thin but conscientious crowd streaming
wearily through our miles of picture galleries and art museums； gaping；
with guide…book in hand； at ruined temple or cathedral tower； striving；
with the spirit of the martyr； to feel enthusiasm for Old Masters at which；
left to themselves； they would enjoy a good laughfor chipped statues
which； uninstructed； they would have mistaken for the damaged stock of a
suburban tea…garden。 Not more than one in twelve enjoys what he is
looking at； and he by no means is bound to be the best of the dozen。
Nero was a genuine lover of Art； and in modern times August the Strong；
of Saxony； 'the man of sin；' as Carlyle calls him； has left undeniable proof
behind him that he was a connoisseur of the first water。 One recalls
names even still more recent。 Are we so sure that Art does elevate？〃
〃You are talking for the sake of talking；〃 told him the Girton Girl。
〃One can talk for the sake of thinking also；〃 reminded her the Minor
Poet。 〃The argument is one that has to be faced。 But admitting that Art
has been of service to mankind on the whole； that it possesses one…tenth of
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the soul…forming properties claimed for it in the advertisementwhich I
take to be a generous estimateits effect upon the world at large still
remains infinitesimal。〃
〃It works down；〃 maintained the Girton Girl。 〃From the few it
spreads to the many。〃
〃The process appears to be somewhat slow；〃 answered the Minor Poet。
〃The result； for whatever it may be worth； we might have obtained sooner
by doing away with the middleman。〃
〃What middleman？〃 demanded the Girton Girl。
〃The artist；〃 explained the Minor Poet； 〃the man who has turned the
whole thing into a business； the shopman who sells emotions over the
counter。 A Corot； a Turner is； after all； but a poor apology compared with
a walk in spring through the Black Forest or the view from Hampstead
Heath on a November afternoon。 Had we been less occupied acquiring
'the advantages of civilisation；' working upward through the weary
centuries to the city slum； the corrugated…iron… roofed farm； we might have
found time to learn to love the beauty of the world。 As it is； we have
been so busy 'civilising' ourselves that we have forgotten to live。 We are
like an old lady I once shared a carriage with across the Simplon Pass。〃
〃By the way；〃 I remarked； 〃one is going to be saved all that bother in
the future。 They have nearly completed the new railway line。 One will be
able to go from Domo d'Orsola to Brieg in a little over the two hours。
They tell me the tunnelling is wonderful。〃
〃It will be very charming；〃 sighed the Minor Poet。 〃I am looking
forward to a future when； thanks to 'civilisation；' travel will be done away
with altogether。 We shall be sewn up in a sack and shot there。 At the
time I speak of we still had to be content with the road winding through
some of the most magnificent scenery in Switzerland。 I rather enjoyed
the drive myself； but my companion was quite unable to appreciate it。
Not because she did not care for scenery。 As she explained to me； she
was passionately fond of it。 But her luggage claimed all her attention。
There were seventeen pieces of it altogether； and every time the ancient
vehicle lurched or swayed； which on an average was once every thirty
seconds； she was in terror lest one or more of them should be jerked out。
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Half her day was taken up in counting them and re…arranging them； and
the only view in which she was interested was the cloud of dust behind us。
One bonnet…box did contrive during the course of the journey to make its
escape； after which she sat with her arms round as many of the remaining
sixteen articles as she could encompass； and sighed。〃
〃I knew an Italian countess；〃 said the Woman of the World； 〃she had
been at school with mamma。 She never would go half a mile out of her
way for scenery。 'Why should I？' she would say。 'What are the painters
for？ If there is anything good； let them bring it to me and I will look at it。
She said she preferred the picture to the real thing； it was so much more
artistic。 In the landscape itself； she complained； there was sure to be a
chimney in the distance； or a restaurant in the foreground； that spoilt the
whole effect。 The artist left it out。 If necessary； he could put in a cow
or a pretty girl to help the thing。 The actual cow； if it happened to be
there at all； would probably be standing the wrong way round； the girl； in
all likelihood； would be fat and plain； or be wearing the wrong hat。 The
artist knew precisely the sort of girl that ought to be there； and saw to it
that she was there； with just the right sort of hat。 She said she had found it
so all through lifethe poster was always an improvement on the play。〃
〃It is rapidly coming to that；〃 answered the Minor Poet。