ButaBerkshiresquirehasnopowerovercosmopolitanfinance，forinstance。ABromptonbuilderhasnotmoneyenoughtorunaNewspaperTrust。AWestEnddoctorcouldnotmakeacornerinquinineandfreezeeverybodyout。Themerelyricharenotrichenoughtorulethemodernmarket。Thethingsthatchangemodernhistory，thebignationalandinternationalloans，thebigeducationalandphilanthropicfoundations，thepurchaseofnumberlessnewspapers，thebigpricespaidforpeerages，thebigexpensesoftenincurredinelections——thesearegettingtoobigforeverybodyexceptthemisers；themenwiththelargestofearthlyfortunesandthesmallestofearthlyaims。
　　Therearetwootheroddandratherimportantthingstobesaidaboutthem。
　　Thefirstisthis:thatwiththisaristocracywedonothavethechanceofaluckyvarietyintypeswhichbelongstolargerandlooseraristocracies。Themoderatelyrichincludeallkindsofpeopleevengoodpeople。Evenpriestsaresometimessaints；andevensoldiersaresometimesheroes。Somedoctorshavereallygrownwealthybycuringtheirpatientsandnotbyflatteringthem；somebrewershavebeenknowntosellbeer。ButamongtheVeryRichyouwillneverfindareallygenerousman，evenbyaccident。Theymaygivetheirmoneyaway，buttheywillnevergivethemselvesaway；theyareegoistic，secretive，dryasoldbones。Tobesmartenoughtogetallthatmoneyyoumustbedullenoughtowantit。
　　Lastly，themostseriouspointaboutthemisthis:thatthenewmiserisflatteredforhismeannessandtheoldoneneverwas。Itwasnevercalledself-denialintheoldmiserthathelivedonbones。Itiscalledself-denialinthenewmillionaireifhelivesonbeans。AmanlikeDancerwasneverpraisedasaChristiansaintforgoinginrags。AmanlikeRockefellerispraisedasasortofpaganstoicforhisearlyrisingorhisunassumingdress。His"simple"meals，his"simple"clothes，his"simple"funeral，areallextolledasiftheywerecreditabletohim。
　　Theyaredisgracefultohim:exactlyasdisgracefulasthetattersandverminoftheoldmiserweredisgracefultohim。Tobeinragsforcharitywouldbetheconditionofasaint；tobeinragsformoneywasthatofafilthyoldfool。Preciselyinthesameway，tobe"simple"forcharityisthestateofasaint；tobe"simple"formoneyisthatofafilthyoldfool。OfthetwoIhavemorerespectfortheoldmiser，gnawingbonesinanattic:ifhewasnotnearertoGod，hewasatleastalittlenearertomen。Hissimplelifewasalittlemorelikethelifeoftherealpoor。
　　THEMYSTAGOGUE
　　Wheneveryouhearmuchofthingsbeingunutterableandindefinableandimpalpableandunnamableandsubtlyindescribable，thenelevateyouraristocraticnosetowardsheavenandsnuffupthesmellofdecay。Itisperfectlytruethatthereissomethinginallgoodthingsthatisbeyondallspeechorfigureofspeech。Butitisalsotruethatthereisinallgoodthingsaperpetualdesireforexpressionandconcreteembodiment；
　　andthoughtheattempttoembodyitisalwaysinadequate，theattemptisalwaysmade。Iftheideadoesnotseektobetheword，thechancesarethatitisanevilidea。Ifthewordisnotmadefleshitisabadword。
　　ThusGiottoorFraAngelieowouldhaveatonceadmittedtheologicallythatGodwastoogoodtobepainted；buttheywouldalwaystrytopaintHim。AndtheyfeltveryrightlythatrepresentingHimasaratherquaintoldmanwithagoldcrownandawhitebeard，likeakingoftheelves，waslessprofanethanresistingthesacredimpulsetoexpressHiminsomeway。ThatiswhytheChristianworldisfullofgaudypicturesandtwistedstatueswhichseem，tomanyrefinedpersons，moreblasphemousthanthesecretvolumesofanatheist。ThetrendofgoodisalwaystowardsIncarnation。But，ontheotherhand，thoserefinedthinkerswhoworshiptheDevil，whetherintheswampsofJamaicaorthesalonsofParis，alwaysinsistupontheshapelessness，thewordlessness，theunutterablecharacteroftheabomination。Theycallhim"horrorofemptiness，"asdidtheblackwitchinStevenson'sDynamiter；theyworshiphimastheunspeakablename；astheunbearablesilence。Theythinkofhimasthevoidintheheartofthewhirlwind；thecloudonthebrainofthemaniac；thetopplingturretsofvertigoortheendlesscorridorsofnightmare。ItwastheChristianswhogavetheDevilagrotesqueandenergeticoutline，withsharphornsandspikedtail。ItwasthesaintswhodrewSatanascomicandevenlively。TheSatanistsneverdrewhimatall。
　　Andasitiswithmoralgoodandevil，soitisalsowithmentalclarityandmentalconfusion。Thereisoneveryvalidtestbywhichwemayseparategenuine，ifperverseandunbalanced，originalityandrevoltfrommereimpudentinnovationandbluff。Themanwhoreallythinkshehasanideawillalwaystrytoexplainthatidea。Thecharlatanwhohasnoideawillalwaysconfinehimselftoexplainingthatitismuchtoosubtletobeexplained。Thefirstideamayreallybeveryoutreeorspecialist；itmayreallybeverydifficulttoexpresstoordinarypeople。Butbecausethemanistryingtoexpressit，itismostprobablethatthereissomethinginit，afterall。Thehonestmanishewhoisalwaystryingtouttertheunutterable，todescribetheindescribable；butthequacklivesnotbyplungingintomystery，butbyrefusingtocomeoutofit。
　　PerhapsthisdistinctionismostcomicallyplaininthecaseofthethingcalledArt，andthepeoplecalledArtCritics。Itisobviousthatanattractivelandscapeoralivingfacecanonlyhalfexpresstheholycunningthathasmadethemwhattheyare。Itisequallyobviousthatalandscapepainterexpressesonlyhalfofthelandscape；aportraitpainteronlyhalfoftheperson；theyareluckyiftheyexpresssomuch。
　　Andagainitisyetmoreobviousthatanyliterarydescriptionofthepicturescanonlyexpresshalfofthem，andthatthelessimportanthalf。
　　Still，itdoesexpresssomething；thethreadisnotbrokenthatconnectsGodWithNature，orNaturewithmen，ormenwithcritics。The"MonaLisa"wasinsomerespectsnotall，IfancywhatGodmeanthertobe。
　　Leonardo'spicturewas，insomerespects，likethelady。AndWalterPater'srichdescriptionwas，insomerespects，likethepicture。Thuswecometotheconsolingreflectionthatevenliterature，inthelastresort，canexpresssomethingotherthanitsownunhappyself。
　　Nowthemoderncriticisahumbug，becauseheprofessestobeentirelyinarticulate。Speechishiswholebusiness；andheboastsofbeingspeechless。BeforeBotticelliheismute。ButifthereisanygoodinBotticellithereismuchgood，andmucheviltooitisemphaticallythecritic'sbusinesstoexplainit:totranslateitfromtermsofpaintingintotermsofdiction。Ofcourse，therenderingwillbeinadequate——butsoisBotticelli。Itisafacthewouldbethefirsttoadmit。Butanythingwhichhasbeenintelligentlyreceivedcanatleastbeintelligentlysuggested。PaterdoessuggestanintelligentcauseforthecadaverouscolourofBotticelli's"VenusRisingfromtheSea。”RuskindoessuggestanintelligentmotiveforTurnerdestroyingforestsandfalsifyinglandscapes。Thesetwogreatcriticswerefartoofastidiousformytaste；theyurgedtoexcesstheideathatasenseofartwasasortofsecret；tobepatientlytaughtandslowlylearnt。Still，theythoughtitcouldbetaught:theythoughtitcouldbelearnt。Theyconstrainedthemselves，withconsiderablecreativefatigue，tofindtheexactadjectiveswhichmightparallelinEnglishprosewhathasbeencloneinItalianpainting。ThesameistrueofWhistlerandR。A。M。
　　StevensonandmanyothersintheexpositionofVelasquez。Theyhadsomethingtosayaboutthepictures；theyknewitwasunworthyofthepictures，buttheysaidit。
　　NowtheeulogistsofthelatestartisticinsanitiesCubismandPost-
　　ImpressionismandMr。Picassoareeulogistsandnothingelse。Theyarenotcritics；leastofallcreativecritics。Theydonotattempttotranslatebeautyintolanguage；theymerelytellyouthatitisuntranslatable——thatis，unutterable，indefinable，indescribable，impalpable，ineffable，andalltherestofit。Thecloudistheirbanner；
　　theycrytochaosandoldnight。TheycirculateapieceofpaperonwhichMr。Picassohashadthemisfortunetoupsettheinkandtriedtodryitwithhisboots，andtheyseektoterrifydemocracybythegoodoldanti-democraticmuddlements:that"thepublic"doesnotunderstandthesethings；that"thelikesofus"cannotdaretoquestionthedarkdecisionsofourlords。
　　Iventuretosuggestthatweresistallthisrubbishbytheverysimpletestmentionedabove。
　　Iftherewereanythingintelligentinsuchart，somethingofitatleastcouldbemadeintelligibleinliterature。Manismadewithonehead，notwithtwoorthree。NocriticismofRembrandtisasgoodasRembrandt；butitcanbesowrittenastomakeamangobackandlookathispictures。Ifthereisacuriousandfantasticart，itisthebusinessoftheartcriticstocreateacuriousandfantasticliteraryexpressionforit；inferiortoit，doubtless，butstillakintoit。Iftheycannotdothis，astheycannot；ifthereisnothingintheireulogies，asthereisnothingexcepteulogy——thentheyarequacksorthehigh-priestsoftheunutterable。Iftheartcriticscansaynothingabouttheartistsexceptthattheyaregooditisbecausetheartistsarebad。Theycanexplainnothingbecausetheyhavefoundnothing；andtheyhavefoundnothingbecausethereisnothingtobefound。
　　THEREDREACTIONARY
　　TheonecaseforRevolutionisthatitistheonlyquitecleanandcompleteroadtoanything——eventorestoration。Revolutionalonecanbenotmerelyarevoltoftheliving，butalsoaresurrectionofthedead。
　　Afriendofmineone，infact，whowritesprominentlyonthispaperwasoncewalkingdownthestreetinatownofWesternFrance，situatedinthatareathatusedtobecalledLaVendee；whichinthatgreatcreativecrisisabout1790formedaseparateandmysticalsoulofitsown，andmadearevolutionagainstarevolution。AsmyfriendwentdownthisstreethewhistledanoldFrenchairwhichhehadfound，likeMr。
　　Gandish，"inhisresearchesinto'istry，"andwhichhadsomehowtakenhisfancy；thesongtowhichthoselastsincereloyalistswentintobattle。
　　Ithinkthewordsran:-
　　MonsieurdeCharette。
　　Ditaugensd'ici。
　　Leroivaremettre。
　　Lefleurdelys。
　　MyfriendwasandisaRadical，buthewasandisanEnglishman，anditneveroccurredtohimthattherecouldbeanyharminsingingarchaiclyricsoutofremotecenturies；thatonehadtobeaCatholictoenjoythe"DiesIrae，"oraProtestanttoremember"Lillibullero。”Yethewasstoppedandgravelywarnedthatthingssopoliticallyprovocativemightgethimatleastintotemporarytrouble。
　　AlittletimeafterIwashelpingKingGeorgeVtogetcrowned，bywalkingroundalocalbonfireandlisteningtoalocalband。Justasabonfirecannotbetoobig，sobymytheoryofmusicabandcannotbetooloud，andthisbandwassoloud，emphatic，andobvious，thatI
　　actuallyrecognisedoneortwoofthetunes。AndInoticedthatquiteaformidableproportionofthemwereJacobitetunes；thatis，tunesthathadbeenprimarilymeanttokeepGeorgeVoutofhisthroneforever。
　　SomeoftherealairsoftheoldScottishrebellionwereplayed，suchas"CharlieisMyDarling，"or"What'sa'thesteer，kimmer？"songsthatmenhadsungwhilemarchingtodestroyanddriveoutthemonarchyunderwhichwelive。TheyweresongsinwhichtheverykinsmenofthepresentKingweresweptasideasusurpers。Theyweresongsinwhichtheactualwords"KingGeorge"occurredasacurseandaderision。YettheywereplayedtocelebratehisveryCoronation；playedaspromptlyandinnocentlyasiftheyhadbeen"Grandfather'sClock"or"RuleBritannia"
　　or"TheHoneysuckleandtheBee。”
　　Thatcontrastisthemeasure，notonlybetweentwonations，butbetweentwomodesofhistoricalconstructionanddevelopment。Forthereisnotreallyverymuchdifference，asEuropeanhistorygoes，inthetimethathaselapsedbetweenusandtheJacobiteandbetweenusandtheJacobin。
　　WhenGeorgeIIIwascrownedthegauntletoftheKing'sChampionwaspickedupbyapartisanoftheStuarts。WhenGeorgeIIIwasstillonthethronetheBourbonsweredrivenoutofFranceastheStuartshadbeendrivenoutofEngland。YettheFrencharejustsufficientlyawarethattheBourbonsmightpossiblyreturnthattheywilltakealittletroubletodiscourageit；whereaswearesocertainthattheStuartswillneverreturnthatweactuallyplaytheirmostpassionatetunesasacomplimenttotheirrivals。Andwedonotevendoittauntingly。Iexaminedthefacesofallthebandsmen；andIamsuretheyweredevoidofirony:
　　indeed，itisdifficulttoblowawindinstrumentironically。Wedoitquiteunconsciously；becausewehaveahugefundamentaldogma，whichtheFrenchhavenot。Wereallybelievethatthepastispast。Itisaverydoubtfulpoint。
　　NowthegreatgiftofarevolutionasinFranceisthatitmakesmenfreeinthepastaswellasfreeinthefuture。Thosewhohaveclearedawayeverythingcould，iftheyliked，putbackeverything。Butwewhohavepreservedeverything——wecannotrestoreanything。Take，forthesakeofargument，thecomplexandmanycolouredritualoftheCoronationrecentlycompleted。Thatriteisstratifiedwiththeseparatecenturies；
　　fromthefirstrudeneedofdisciplinetothelastfineshadeofcultureorcorruption，thereisnothingthatcannotbedetectedorevendated。
　　Thefierceandchildishvowofthelordstoservetheirlord"againstallmanneroffolk"obviouslycomesfromtherealDarkAges；nolongerconfused，evenbytheignorant，withtheMiddleAges。ItcomesfromsomechaosofEurope，whentherewasoneoldRomanroadacrossfourofourcounties；andwhenhostile"folk"mightliveinthenextvillage。ThesacramentalseparationofonemantobethefriendofthefatherlessandthenamelessbelongstothetrueMiddleAges；withtheirgreatattempttomakeamoralandinvisibleRomanEmpire；orastheCoronationServicesaystosetthecrossforeverabovetheball。Elaboratelocaltomfooleries，suchasthatbywhichtheLordoftheManorofWork-sopisaloneallowedtodosomethingorother，theseprobablybelongtothedecayoftheMiddleAges，whenthatgreatcivilisationdiedoutingrotesqueliteralismandentangledheraldry。ThingslikethepresentationoftheBiblebearwitnesstotheintellectualoutburstattheReformation；thingsliketheDeclarationagainsttheMassbearwitnesstothegreatwarsofthePuritans；andthingsliketheallegianceoftheBishopsbearwitnesstothewordyandparentheticalpoliticalcompromiseswhichtomydeepregretendedthewarsofreligion。
　　Butmypurposehereisonlytopointoutoneparticularthing。Inallthatlonglistofvariationstheremustbe，andthereare，thingswhichenergeticmodernmindswouldreallywish，withthereasonablemodification，torestore。Dr。CliffordwouldprobablybegladtoseeagainthegreatPuritanidealismthatforcedtheBibleintoanantiqueandalmostfrozenformality。Dr。HortonprobablyreallyregretstheoldpassionthatexcommunicatedRome。InthesamewayMr。BellocwouldreallyprefertheMiddleAges；asLordRoseberywouldprefertheErastianoligarchyoftheeighteenthcentury。TheDarkAgeswouldprobablybedisputedfromwidelydifferentmotivesbyMr。RudyardKiplingandMr。
　　CunninghameGraham。ButMr。CunninghameGrahamwouldwin。
　　ButtheblackcaseagainstConservativeorEvolutionarypoliticsisthatnoneofthesesinceremencanwin。Dr。CliffordcannotgetbacktothePuritans；Mr。Belloccannotgetbacktothemediaevals；becausealastherehasbeennoRevolutiontoleavethemaclearspaceforbuildingorrebuilding。Frenchmenhavealltheagesbehindthem，andcanwanderbackandpickandchoose。ButEnglishmenhavealltheagesontopofthem，andcanonlyliegroaningunderthatimposingtower，withoutbeingabletotakesomuchasabrickoutofit。IftheFrenchdecidethattheirRepublicisbadtheycangetridofit；butifwedecidethataRepublicwasgood，weshouldhavemuchmoredifficulty。IftheFrenchdemocracyactuallydesiredeverydetailofthemediaevalmonarchy，theycouldhaveit。Idonotthinktheywillorshould，buttheycould。IfanotherDauphinwereactuallycrownedatRheims；ifanotherJoanofArcactuallyboreamiraculousbannerbeforehim；ifmediaevalswordsshookand。blazedineverygauntlet；ifthegoldenliliesglowedfromeverytapestry；ifthiswerereallyprovedtobethewillofFranceandthepurposeofProvidence——suchascenewouldstillbethelastingandfinaljustificationoftheFrenchRevolution。
　　FornosuchscenecouldconceivablyhavehappenedunderLouisXVI。
　　THESEPARATISTANDSACREDTHINGS
　　IntheverylaudableandfascinatingextensionsofourinterestinAsiaticartsorfaiths，therearetwoincidentalinjusticeswhichwetendnowadaystodotoourownrecordsandourownreligion。ThefirstisatendencytotalkasifcertainthingswerenotonlypresentinthehigherOrientals，butwerepeculiartothem。ThusourmagazineswillfallintoahabitofwonderingpraiseofBushido，theJapanesechivalry，asifnoWesternknightshadevervowednoblevows，orasifnoEasternknightshadeverbrokenthem。Oragain，ourdrawing-roomswillbefullofthepraisesofIndianrenunciationandIndianunworldliness，asifnoChristianshadbeensaints，orasifallBuddhistshadbeen。ButifthefirstinjusticeistothinkofhumanvirtuesaspeculiarlyEastern，theotherinjusticeisafailuretoappreciatewhatreallyispeculiarlyEastern。ItistoomuchtakenforgrantedthattheEasternsortofidealismiscertainlysuperiorandconvincing；whereasintruthitisonlyseparateandpeculiar。Allthatisrichest，deepest，andsubtlestintheEastisrootedinPantheism；butallthatisrichest，deepest，andsubtlestinusisconcernedwithdenyingpassionatelythatPantheismiseitherthehighestorthepurestreligion。
　　Thus，inturningoversomeexcellentbooksrecentlywrittenonthespiritofIndianorChineseartanddecoration，IfounditquietlyandcuriouslyassumedthattheartistmustbeathisbestifheflowswiththefullstreamofNature；andidentifieshimselfwithallthings；sothatthestarsarehissleeplesseyesandtheforestshisfar-flungarms。Nowinthiswayoftalkingboththetwoinjusticeswillbefound。Insofaraswhatisclaimedisastrongsenseofthedivineinallthings，theEasternartistshavenomoremonopolyofitthantheyhaveofhungerandthirst。
　　IhavenodoubtthatthepaintersandpoetsoftheFarEastdoexhibitthis；butIrebelatbeingaskedtoadmitthatwemustgototheFarEasttofindit。Tracesofsuchsentimentscanbefound，Ifancy，eveninotherpaintersandpoets。IdonotquestionthatthepoetWoWothatornamentoftheeighthdynastymayhavewrittenthewords:"Eventhemostundignifiedvegetableisforthispersoncapableofproducingmeditationsnottobeexhibitedbymuchweeping。”But，IdonotthereforeadmitthataWesterngentlemannamedWordsworthwhomadeasomewhatsimilarremarkhadplagiarisedfromWoWo，orwasamereOccidentalfableandtravestyofthatcelebratedfigure。IdonotdenythatTinishonawrotethatexquisiteexampleoftheshortJapanesepoementitled"HonourableChrysanthemuminHonourableHoleinWall。”ButIdonotthereforeadmitthatTennyson'slittleverseabouttheflowerinthecrannywasnotoriginalandevensincere。
　　ItisrecordedforallIknowofthephilanthropicEmperorBo，thatwhenengagedincuttinghisgardenlawnwithamowermadeofalabasterandchrysoberyl，hechancedtocutdownasmallflower；whereupon，beingmuchaffected，hecommandedhiswisemenimmediatelytotakedownupontabletsofivorythelinesbeginning:"Smallandunobtrusiveblossomwithrubyextremities。”Butthisincident，touchingasitis，doesnotshakemybeliefintheincidentofRobertBurnsandthedaisy；andIamleftwithanimpressionthatpoetsareprettymuchthesameeverywhereintheirpoetry——andintheirprose。
　　IhavetriedtoconveymysympathyandadmirationforEasternartanditsadmirers，andifIhavenotconveyedthemImustgiveitupandgoontomoregeneralconsiderations。Ithereforeproceedtosay——withtheutmostrespect，thatitisCheek，ararefiedandetherealisedformofCheek，forthisschooltospeakinthiswayaboutthemotherthatborethem，thegreatcivilisationoftheWest。TheWestalsohasitsmagiclandscapes，onlythroughourincurablematerialismtheylooklikelandscapesaswellaslikemagic。TheWestalsohasitssymbolicfigures，onlytheylooklikemenaswellassymbols。ItwillbeansweredandmostjustlythatOrientalartoughttobefreetofollowitsowninstinctandtradition；
　　thatitsartistsareconcernedtosuggestonethingandourartistsanother；thatbothshouldbeadmiredintheirdifference。Profoundlytrue；butwhatisthedifference？ItiscertainlynotastheOrientalisersassert，thatwemustgototheFarEastforasympatheticandtranscendentalinterpretationofNature。Wehavepaidalongenoughtollofmysticsandevenofmadmentobequitofthatdisability。
　　Yetthereisadifference，anditisjustwhatIsuggested。TheEasternmysticismisanecstasyofunity；theChristianmysticismisanecstasyofcreation，thatisofseparationandmutualsurprise。Thelattersays，likeSt。Francis，"Mybrotherfireandmysisterwater"；theformersays，"Myselffireandmyselfwater。”WhetheryoucalltheEasternattitudeanextensionofoneselfintoeverythingoracontractionofoneselfintonothingisamatterofmetaphysicaldefinition。Theeffectisthesame，aneffectwhichlivesandthrobsthroughoutalltheexquisiteartsoftheEast。ThiseffectistheSingcalledrhythm，apulsationofpattern，orofritual，orofcolours，orofcosmictheory，butalwayssuggestingtheunificationoftheindividualwiththeworld。
　　Butthereisquiteanotherkindofsympathythesympathywithathingbecauseitisdifferent。NoonewillsaythatRembrandtdidnotsympathisewithanoldwoman；butnoonewillsaythatRembrandtpaintedlikeanoldwoman。NoonewillsaythatReynoldsdidnotappreciatechildren；butnoonewillsayhediditchildishly。Thesupremeinstanceofthisdivinedivisionissex，andthatexplainswhatIcouldneverunderstandinmyyouthwhyChristendomcalledthesoulthebrideofGod。
　　Forrealloveisanintenserealisationofthe"separateness"ofalloursouls。Themostheroicandhumanlove-poetryoftheworldisnevermerepassion；preciselybecausemerepassionreallyisameltingbackintoNature，ameetingofthewaters。Andwaterisplungingandpowerful；butitisonlypowerfuldownhill。Thehighandhumanlove-poetryisallaboutdivisionratherthanidentity；andinthegreatlove-poemseventhemanasheembracesthewomanseesher，inthesameinstant，afaroff；avirginandastranger。
　　Forthefirstinjustice，ofwhichwehavespoken，stillrecurs；andifwegrantthattheEasthasarighttoitsdifference，itisnotrealisedinwhatwediffer。ThatnurserytalefromnowhereaboutSt。GeorgeandtheDragonreallyexpressesbesttherelationbetweentheWestandtheEast。
　　Thereweremanyotherdifferences，calculatedtoarresteventhesuperficialeye，betweenasaintandadragon。Buttheessentialdifferencewassimplythis:thattheDragondidwanttoeatSt。George；
　　whereasSt。GeorgewouldhavefeltastrongdistasteforeatingtheDragon。InmostofthestorieshekilledtheDragon。Inmanyofthestorieshenotonlyspared，butbaptisedit。ButinneithercasedidtheChristianhaveanyappetiteforcolddragon。TheDragon，however，reallyhasanappetiteforcoldChristian——andespeciallyforcoldChristianity。
　　Thisblindintentiontoabsorb，tochangetheshapeofeverythinganddigestitinthedarknessofadragon'sstomach；thisiswhatisreallymeantbythePantheismandCosmicUnityoftheEast。TheCosmosassuchiscannibal；asoldTimeatehischildren。TheEasternsaintsweresaintsbecausetheywantedtobeswallowedup。TheWesternsaint，likeSt。
　　George，wassaintedbytheWesternChurchpreciselybecauseherefusedtobeswallowed。ThesameprocessofthoughtthathaspreventednationalitiesdisappearinginChristendomhaspreventedthecompleteappearanceofPantheism。AllChristianmeninstinctivelyresisttheideaofbeingabsorbedintoanEmpire；anAustrian，aSpanish，aBritish，oraTurkishEmpire。Butthereisoneempire，muchlargerandmuchmoretyrannical，whichfreemenwillresistwithevenstrongerpassion。ThefreemanviolentlyresistsbeingabsorbedintotheempirewhichiscalledtheUniverse。HedemandsHomeRuleforhisnationality，butstillmoreHomeRuleforhishome。MostofallhedemandsHomeRuleforhimself。Heclaimstherighttobesaved，inspiteofMoslemfatalism。Heclaimstherighttobedamnedinspiteoftheosophicaloptimism。HerefusestobetheCosmos；becauseherefusestoforgetit。
　　THEMUMMER
　　ThenightbeforeChristmasEveIheardaburstofmusicalvoicessoclosethattheymightaswellhavebeeninsidethehouseinsteadofjustoutside；soIaskedtheminside，hopingthattheymightthenseemfartheraway。ThenIrealisedthattheyweretheChristmasMummers，whocomeeveryyearincountrypartstoenacttheratherrigidfragmentsoftheoldChristmasplayofSt。George，theTurkishKnight，andtheVeryVenalDoctor。Iwillnotdescribeit；itisindescribable；butIwilldescribemyparallelsentimentsasitpassed。
　　Onecouldseesomethingofthathalf-failurethathauntsourartisticrevivalsofmediaevaldances，carols，orBethlehemPlays。ThereareelementsinallthathascometousfromthemoremorallysimplesocietyoftheMiddleAges:elementswhichmoderns，evenwhentheyaremediaevalists，findithardtounderstandandhardertoimitate。ThefirstistheprimaryideaofMummeryitself。Ifyouwillobserveachildjustabletowalk，youwillseethathisfirstideaisnottodressupasanybody——buttodressup。Afterwards，ofcourse，theideaofbeingtheKingorUncleWilliamwillleaptohislips。Butitisgenerallysuggestedbythehathehasalreadyletfalloverhisnose，fromfardeepermotives。TommydoesnotassumethehatprimarilybecauseitisUncleWilliam'shat，butbecauseitisnotTommy'shat。Itisaritualinvestiture；andisakintothoseGorgonmasksthatstiffenedthedancesofGreeceorthosetoweringmitresthatcamefromthemysteriesofPersia。
　　Fortheessenceofsuchritualisaprofoundparadox:theconcealmentofthepersonalitycombinedwiththeexaggerationoftheperson。Themanperformingariteseekstobeatonceinvisibleandconspicuous。ItispartofthatdivinemadnesswhichallothercreatureswonderatinMan，thathealoneparadesthispompofobliterationandanonymity。Manisnot，perhaps，theonlycreaturewhodresseshimself，butheistheonlycreaturewhodisguiseshimself。Beastsandbirdsdoindeedtakethecoloursoftheirenvironment；butthatisnotinordertobewatched，butinordernottobewatched；itisnottheformalismofrejoicing，buttheformlessnessoffear。Itisnotsowithmen，whosenatureistheunnatural。AncientBritonsdidnotstainthemselvesbluebecausetheylivedinblueforests；nordidGeorgianbeauxandbellespowdertheirhairtomatchanArcticlandscape；theBritonswerenotdressingupaskingfishersnorthebeauxpretendingtobepolarbears。Nay，evenwhenmodernladiespainttheirfacesabrightmauve，itisdoubtedbysomenaturalistswhethertheydoitwiththeideaofescapingnotice。Somerry-makersorMummersadopttheircostumetoheightenandexaggeratetheirownbodilypresenceandidentity；nottosinkit，primarilyspeaking，inanotheridentity。ItisnotActing——thatcomparativelylowprofession-comparativelyImean。ItisMummery；and，asMr。Kensitwouldtrulysay，allelaboratereligiousritualisMummery。Thatis，itisthenobleconceptionofmakingMansomethingotherandmorethanhimselfwhenhestandsatthelimitofhumanthings。ItisonlycarefulfaddistsandfeebleGermanphilosopherswhowanttowearnoclothes；andbe"natural"intheirDionysianrevels。Naturalmen，reallyvigorousandexultantmen，wanttowearmoreandmoreclotheswhentheyarerevelling。