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children left them more literate than if they knew no literature at all； which
was the practical alternative。 And as our Authorized Version is a great
work of art as well； to know it was better than knowing no art； which also
was the practical alternative。 It is at least not a school book； and it is not
a bad story book； horrible as some of the stories are。 Therefore as
between the Bible and the blank represented by secular education； the
choice is with the Bible。
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A TREATISE ON PARENTS AND CHILDREN
The Bible
But the Bible is not sufficient。 The real Bible of modern Europe is
the whole body of great literature in which the inspiration and revelation
of Hebrew Scripture has been continued to the present day。 Nietzsche's
Thus Spake Zoroaster is less comforting to the ill and unhappy than the
Psalms； but it is much truer； subtler； and more edifying。 The pleasure we
get from the rhetoric of the book of Job and its tragic picture of a
bewildered soul cannot disguise the ignoble irrelevance of the retort of
God with which it closes； or supply the need of such modern revelations as
Shelley's Prometheus or The Niblung's Ring of Richard Wagner。 There is
nothing in the Bible greater in inspiration than Beethoven's ninth
symphony； and the power of modern music to convey that inspiration to a
modern man is far greater than that of Elizabethan English； which is；
except for people steeped in the Bible from childhood like Sir Walter Scott
and Ruskin； a dead language。
Besides； many who have no ear for literature or for music are
accessible to architecture； to pictures； to statues； to dresses； and to the arts
of the stage。 Every device of art should be brought to bear on the young；
so that they may discover some form of it that delights them naturally； for
there will come to all of them that period between dawning adolescence
and full maturity when the pleasures and emotions of art will have to
satisfy cravings which； if starved or insulted； may become morbid and
seek disgraceful satisfactions； and； if prematurely gratified otherwise than
poetically； may destroy the stamina of the race。 And it must be borne in
mind that the most dangerous art for this necessary purpose is the art that
presents itself as religious ecstasy。 Young people are ripe for love long
before they are ripe for religion。 Only a very foolish person would
substitute the Imitation of Christ for Treasure Island as a present for a boy
or girl； or for Byron's Don Juan as a present for a swain or lass。
Pickwick is the safest saint for us in our nonage。 Flaubert's Temptation of
St Anthony is an excellent book for a man of fifty； perhaps the best within
reach as a healthy study of visionary ecstasy； but for the purposes of a boy
of fifteen Ivanhoe and the Templar make a much better saint and devil。
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A TREATISE ON PARENTS AND CHILDREN
And the boy of fifteen will find this out for himself if he is allowed to
wander in a well…stocked literary garden； and hear bands and see pictures
and spend his pennies on cinematograph shows。 His choice may often be
rather disgusting to his elders when they want him to choose the best
before he is ready for it。 The greatest Protestant Manifesto ever written；
as far as I know； is Houston Chamberlain's Foundations of the Nineteenth
Century： everybody capable of it should read it。 Probably the History
of Maria Monk is at the opposite extreme of merit （this is a guess： I have
never read it）； but it is certain that a boy let loose in a library would go for
Maria Monk and have no use whatever for Mr Chamberlain。 I should
probably have read Maria Monk myself if I had not had the Arabian
Nights and their like to occupy me better。 In art； children； like adults； will
find their level if they are left free to find it； and not restricted to what
adults think good for them。 Just at present our young people are going
mad over ragtimes； apparently because syncopated rhythms are new to
them。 If they had learnt what can be done with syncopation from
Beethoven's third Leonora overture； they would enjoy the ragtimes all the
more； but they would put them in their proper place as amusing
vulgarities。
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A TREATISE ON PARENTS AND CHILDREN
Artist Idolatry
But there are more dangerous influences than ragtimes waiting for
people brought up in ignorance of fine art。 Nothing is more pitiably
ridiculous than the wild worship of artists by those who have never been
seasoned in youth to the enchantments of art。 Tenors and prima donnas；
pianists and violinists； actors and actresses enjoy powers of seduction
which in the middle ages would have exposed them to the risk of being
burnt for sorcery。 But as they exercise this power by singing； playing；
and acting； no great harm is done except perhaps to themselves。 Far
graver are the powers enjoyed by brilliant persons who are also
connoisseurs in art。 The influence they can exercise on young people
who have been brought up in the darkness and wretchedness of a home
without art； and in whom a natural bent towards art has always been
baffled and snubbed； is incredible to those who have not witnessed and
understood it。 He （or she） who reveals the world of art to them opens
heaven to them。 They become satellites； disciples； worshippers of the
apostle。 Now the apostle may be a voluptuary without much conscience。
Nature may have given him enough virtue to suffice in a reasonable
environment。 But this allowance may not be enough to defend him
against the temptation and demoralization of finding himself a li