Whattookhimwasarichnessinthespeech；helovedtheexotic，theunexpectedword；themovingcadenceofaphrase；avaguesenseofemotionaboutnothingintheverylettersofthealphabet:
theromanceoflanguage。Hishonestheadwasverynearlyempty，hisintellectlikeachild's；andwhenhereadhisfavouriteauthors，hecanalmostneverhaveunderstoodwhathewasreading。
Yetthetastewasnotonlygenuine，itwasexclusive；Itriedinvaintoofferhimnovels；hewouldnoneofthem，hecaredfornothingbutromanticlanguagethathecouldnotunderstand。Thecasemaybecommonerthanwesuppose。IamremindedofaladwhowaslaidinthenextcottoafriendofmineinapublichospitalandwhowasnosoonerinstalledthanhesentoutperhapswithhislastpenceforacheapShakespeare。Myfriendprickeduphisears；fellatonceintalkwithhisnewneighbour，andwasready，whenthebookarrived，tomakeasingulardiscovery。Forthisloverofgreatliteratureunderstoodnotonesentenceoutoftwelve，andhisfavouritepartwasthatofwhichheunderstoodtheleast-theinimitable，mouth-fillingrodomontadeoftheghostinHAMLET。Itwasabrightdayinhospitalwhenmyfriendexpoundedthesenseofthisbelovedjargon:ataskforwhichIamwillingtobelievemyfriendwasveryfit，thoughIcanneverregarditasaneasyone。Iknowindeedapointortwo，onwhichIwouldgladlyquestionMr。Shakespeare，thatloverofbigwords，couldherevisittheglimpsesofthemoon，orcouldImyselfclimbbackwardtothespaciousdaysofElizabeth。Butinthesecondcase，Ishouldmostlikelypretermitthesequestionings，andtakemyplaceinsteadinthepitattheBlackfriars，toheartheactorinhisfavouritepart，playinguptoMr。Burbage，androllingout-asIseemtohearhim-withaponderousgusto-
"Unhousel'd，disappointed，unanel'd。"
Whatapleasantchance，ifwecouldgothereinapartyIandwhatasurpriseforMr。Burbage，whentheghostreceivedthehonoursoftheevening!
Asformyoldsoldier，likeMr。BurbageandMr。Shakespeare，heislongsincedead；andnowliesburied，Isuppose，andnamelessandquiteforgotten，insomepoorcitygraveyard-Butnotforme，youbraveheart，haveyoubeenburied!Forme，youarestillafoot，tastingthesunandair，andstridingsouthward。BythegrovesofComistonandbesidetheHermitageofBraid，bytheHunters'Tryst，andwherethecurlewsandploverscryaroundFairmilehead，Iseeandhearyou，stalwartlycarryingyourdeadlysickness，cheerfullydiscoursingofuncomprehendedpoets。
II
Thethoughtoftheoldsoldierrecallsthatofanothertramp，hiscounterpart。Thiswasalittle，lean，andfieryman，withtheeyesofadogandthefaceofagipsy；whomIfoundonemorningencampedwithhiswifeandchildrenandhisgrinder'swheel，besidetheburnofKinnaird。TothisbeloveddellIwent，atthattime，daily；anddailytheknife-grinderandIforaslongashistentcontinuedpleasantlytointerruptmylittlewildernesssatontwostones，andsmoked，andpluckedgrass，andtalkedtothetuneofthebrownwater。Hischildrenweremerewhelps，theyfoughtandbitamongthefernlikevermin。Hiswifewasameresquaw；Isawhergatherbrushandtendthekettle，butsheneverventuredtoaddressherlordwhileIwaspresent。Thetentwasameregipsyhovel，likeastyforpigs。Butthegrinderhimselfhadthefineself-
sufficiencyandgravepolitenessofthehunterandthesavage；hedidmethehonoursofthisdell，whichhadbeenminebutthedaybefore，tookmefarintothesecretsofhislife，andusedmeIamproudtorememberasafriend。
Likemyoldsoldier，hewasfargoneinthenationalcomplaint。
Unlikehim，hehadavulgartasteinletters；scarceflyinghigherthanthestorypapers；probablyfindingnodifference，certainlyseekingnone，betweenTannahillandBurns；hisnoblestthoughts，whetherofpoetryormusic，adequatelyembodiedinthatsomewhatobviousditty，"Willyegang，lassie，gangTothebraeso'Balquidder。"-
whichisindeedapttoechointheearsofScottishchildren，andtohim，inviewofhisexperience，musthavefoundaspecialdirectnessofaddress。Butifhehadnofinesenseofpoetryinletters，hefeltwithadeepjoythepoetryoflife。Youshouldhaveheardhimspeakofwhatheloved；ofthetentpitchedbesidethetalkingwater；ofthestarsoverheadatnight；oftheblestreturnofmorning，thepeepofdayoverthemoors，theawakingbirdsamongthebirches；howheabhorredthelongwintershutincities；andwithwhatdelight，atthereturnofthespring，heoncemorepitchedhiscampinthelivingout-of-doors。Butwewereapairoftramps；andtoyou，whoaredoubtlesssedentaryandaconsistentfirst-classpassengerinlife，hewouldscarcehavelaidhimselfsoopen；-toyou，hemighthavebeencontenttotellhisstoryofaghost-thatofabuccaneerwithhispistolsashelived-whomhehadonceencounteredinaseasidecavenearBuckie；andthatwouldhavebeenenough，forthatwouldhaveshownyouthemettleoftheman。Herewasapieceofexperiencesolidlyandlivinglybuiltupinwords，herewasastorycreated，TERESATQUE
ROTUNDUS。
Andtothinkoftheoldsoldier，thatloveroftheliterarybards!
Hehadvisitedstrangerspotsthananyseasidecave；encounteredmenmoreterriblethananyspirit；doneanddaredandsufferedinthatincredible，unsungepicoftheMutinyWar；playedhispartwiththefieldforceofDelhi，beleagueringandbeleaguered；sharedinthatenduring，savageangerandcontemptofdeathanddecencythat，forlongmonthstogether，bedevil'dandinspiredthearmy；
washurledtoandfrointhebattle-smokeoftheassault；wasthere，perhaps，whereNicholsonfell；wastherewhentheattackingcolumn，withhelluponeveryside，foundthesoldier'senemy-
strongdrink，andthelivesoftensofthousandstrembledinthescale，andthefateoftheflagofEnglandstaggered。Andofallthishehadnomoretosaythan"hotwork，sir，"or"thearmysufferedagreatdeal，sir，"or"IbelieveGeneralWilson，sir，wasnotveryhighlythoughtofinthepapers。"Hislifewasnaughttohim，thevividpagesofexperiencequiteblank:inwordshispleasurelay-melodious，agitatedwords-printedwords，aboutthatwhichhehadneverseenandwasconnatallyincapableofcomprehending。Wehaveheretwotemperamentsfacetoface；bothuntrained，unsophisticated，surprisedwemaysayintheegg；bothboldlycharactered:-thatoftheartist，theloverandartificerofwords；thatofthemaker，theseeer，theloverandforgerofexperience。Iftheonehadadaughterandtheotherhadason，andthesemarried，mightnotsomeillustriouswritercountdescentfromthebeggar-soldierandtheneedyknife-grinder？
III
Everyonelivesbysellingsomething，whateverbehisrighttoit。
TheburglarsellsatthesametimehisownskillandcourageandmysilverplatethewholeatthemostmoderatefiguretoaJewreceiver。Thebanditsellsthetravelleranarticleofprimenecessity:thattraveller'slife。Andasfortheoldsoldier，whostandsforcentralmarktomycapriciousfiguresofeight，hedealtinaspecially；forhewastheonlybeggarintheworldwhoevergavemepleasureformymoney。Hehadlearnedaschoolofmannersinthebarracksandhadthesensetoclingtoit，accostingstrangerswitharegimentalfreedom，thankingpatronswithamerelyregimentaldifference，sparingyouatoncethetragedyofhispositionandtheembarrassmentofyours。Therewasnotonehintabouthimofthebeggar'semphasis，theoutburstofrevoltinggratitude，therantandcant，the"Godblessyou，Kind，Kindgentleman，"whichinsultsthesmallnessofyouralmsbydisproportionatevehemence，whichissonotablyfalse，whichwouldbesounbearableifitweretrue。Iamsometimestemptedtosupposethisreadingofthebeggar'spart，asurvivaloftheolddayswhenShakespearewasintoneduponthestageandmournerskeenedbesidethedeath-bed；tothinkthatwecannotnowacceptthesestrongemotionsunlesstheybeutteredinthejustnoteoflife；norsaveinthepulpitendurethesegrossconventions。
Theywoundus，Iamtemptedtosay，likemockery；thehighvoiceofkeeningasityetlingersonstrikesinthefaceofsorrowlikeabuffet；andtherantandcantofthestaledbeggarstirsinusashudderofdisgust。Butthefactdisprovestheseamateuropinions。
Thebeggarlivesbyhisknowledgeoftheaverageman。Heknowswhatheisaboutwhenhebandageshishead，andhiresanddrugsababe，andpoisonslifewithPOORMARYANNorLONG，LONGAGO；heknowswhatheisaboutwhenheloadsthecriticalearandsickenstheniceconsciencewithintolerablethanks；theyknowwhattheyareabout，heandhiscrew，whentheypervadetheslumsofcities，ghastlyparodiesofsuffering，hatefulparodiesofgratitude。Thistradecanscarcebecalledanimposition；ithasbeensoblownuponwithexposures；itflauntsitsfraudulencesonakedly。Wepaythemaswepaythosewhoshowus，inhugeexaggeration，themonstersofourdrinking-water；orthosewhodailypredictthefallofBritain。
Wepaythemforthepaintheyinflict，paythem，andwince，andhurryon。Andtrulythereisnothingthatcanshaketheconsciencelikeabeggar'sthanks；andthatpolityinwhichsuchprotestationscanbepurchasedforashilling，seemsnosceneforanhonestman。
Arethere，then，wemaybeasked，nogenuinebeggars？Andtheansweris，Notone。Myoldsoldierwasahumbugliketherest；hisraggedbootswere，inthestagephrase，properties；wholebootsweregivenhimagainandagain，andalwaysgladlyaccepted；andthenextday，therehewasontheroadasusual，withtoesexposed。
Hisbootswerehismethod；theyweretheman'strade；withouthisbootshewouldhavestarved；hedidnotlivebycharity，butbyappealingtoagrosstasteinthepublic，whichlovesthelimelightontheactor'sface，andthetoesoutofthebeggar'sboots。Thereisatruepoverty，whichnoonesees:afalseandmerelymimeticpoverty，whichusurpsitsplaceanddress，andlivesandabovealldrinks，onthefruitsoftheusurpation。Thetruepovertydoesnotgointothestreets；thebankermayrestassured，hehasneverputapennyinitshand。Theself-respectingpoorbegfromeachother；
neverfromtherich。Toliveinthefrock-coatedranksoflife，tohearcantingscenesofgratituderehearsedfortwopence，amanmightsupposethatgivingwasathinggoneoutoffashion；yetitgoesforwardonascalesogreatastofillmewithsurprise。Inthehousesoftheworkingclass，alldaylongtherewillbeafootuponthestair；alldaylongtherewillbeaknockingatthedoors；
beggarscome，beggarsgo，withoutstint，hardlywithintermission，frommorningtillnight；andmeanwhile，inthesamecityandbutafewstreetsoff，thecastlesoftherichstandunsummoned。Getthetaleofanyhonesttramp，youwillfinditwasalwaysthepoorwhohelpedhim；getthetruthfromanyworkmanwhohasmetmisfortunes，itwasalwaysnextdoorthathewouldgoforhelp，oronlywithsuchexceptionsasaresaidtoprovearule；lookatthecourseofthemimeticbeggar，itisthroughthepoorquartersthathetrailshispassage，showinghisbandagestoeverywindow，piercingeventotheatticswithhisnasalsong。HereisaremarkablestateofthingsinourChristiancommonwealths，thatthepooronlyshouldbeaskedtogive。
IV
Thereisapleasanttaleofsomeworthless，phrasingFrenchman，whowastaxedwithingratitude:"ILFAUTSAVOIRGARDERL'INDEPENDANCE
DUCOEUR，"criedhe。IownIfeelwithhim。Gratitudewithoutfamilarity，gratitudeotherwisethanasanamelesselementinafriendship，isathingsoneartohatredthatIdonotcaretosplitthedifference。UntilIfindamanwhoispleasedtoreceiveobligations，Ishallcontinuetoquestionthetactofthosewhoareeagertoconferthem。Whatanartitis，togive，eventoournearestfriends!andwhatatestofmanners，toreceive!How，uponeitherside，wesmuggleawaytheobligation，blushingforeachother；howbluffanddullwemakethegiver；howhasty，howfalselycheerful，thereceiver!Andyetanactofsuchdifficultyanddistressbetweennearfriends，itissupposedwecanperformtoatotalstrangerandleavethemantransfixedwithgratefulemotions。
Thelastthingyoucandotoamanistoburthenhimwithanobligation，anditiswhatweproposetobeginwith!Butletusnotbedeceived:unlessheistotallydegradedtohistrade，angerjarsinhisinside，andhegrateshisteethatourgratuity。
Weshouldwipetwowordsfromourvocabulary:gratitudeandcharity。Inreallife，helpisgivenoutoffriendship，oritisnotvalued；itisreceivedfromthehandoffriendship，oritisresented。Wearealltooproudtotakeanakedgift:wemustseemtopayit，ifinnothingelse，thenwiththedelightsofoursociety。Here，then，isthepitifulfixoftherichman；hereisthatneedle'seyeinwhichhestuckalreadyinthedaysofChrist，andstillsticksto-day，firmer，ifpossible，thanever:thathehasthemoneyandlacksthelovewhichshouldmakehismoneyacceptable。Hereandnow，justasofoldinPalestine，hehastherichtodinner，itiswiththerichthathetakeshispleasure:
andwhenhisturncomestobecharitable，helooksinvainforarecipient。Hisfriendsarenotpoor，theydonotwant；thepoorarenothisfriends，theywillnottake。Towhomishetogive？
Wheretofind-notethisphase-theDeservingPoor？Charityiswhattheycallcentralised；officesarehired；societiesfounded，withsecretariespaidorunpaid:thehuntoftheDeservingPoorgoesmerrilyforward。Ithinkitwilltakemorethanamerelyhumansecretarytodisinterthatcharacter。What!aclassthatistobeinwantfromnofaultofitsown，andyetgreedilyeagertoreceivefromstrangers；andtobequiterespectable，andatthesametimequitedevoidofself-respect；andplaythemostdelicatepartoffriendship，andyetneverbeseen；andweartheformofman，andyetflyinthefaceofallthelawsofhumannature:-
andallthis，inthehopeofgettingabelly-godBurgessthroughaneedle'seye!O，lethimstick，byallmeans:andlethispolitytumbleinthedust；andlethisepitaphandallhisliteratureofwhichmyownworksbegintoformnoinconsiderablepartbeabolishedevenfromthehistoryofman!Forafoolofthismonstrosityofdulness，therecanbenosalvation:andthefoolwholookedfortheelixiroflifewasanangelofreasontothefoolwholooksfortheDeservingPoor!
V
Andyetthereisonecoursewhichtheunfortunategentlemanmaytake。Hemaysubscribetopaythetaxes。Therewerethetruecharity，impartialandimpersonal，cumberingnonewithobligation，helpingall。Therewereadestinationforlovelessgifts；therewerethewaytoreachthepocketofthedeservingpoor，andyetsavethetimeofsecretaries!But，alas!thereisnocolourofromanceinsuchacourse；andpeoplenowheredemandthepicturesquesomuchasintheirvirtues。
CHAPTERX-LETTERTOAYOUNGGENTLEMANWHOPROPOSESTOEMBRACETHE
CAREEROFART
WITHtheagreeablefranknessofyouth，youaddressmeonapointofsomepracticalimportancetoyourselfanditisevenconceivable
ofsomegravitytotheworld:Shouldyouorshouldyounotbecomeanartist？Itisonewhichyoumustdecideentirelyforyourself；
allthatIcandoistobringunderyournoticesomeofthematerialsofthatdecision；andIwillbegin，asIshallprobablyconcludealso，byassuringyouthatalldependsonthevocation。
Toknowwhatyoulikeisthebeginningofwisdomandofoldage。
Youthiswhollyexperimental。Theessenceandcharmofthatunquietanddelightfulepochisignoranceofselfaswellasignoranceoflife。Thesetwounknownstheyoungmanbringstogetheragainandagain，nowintheairiesttouch，nowwithabitterhug；nowwithexquisitepleasure，nowwithcuttingpain；butneverwithindifference，towhichheisatotalstranger，andneverwiththatnearkinsmanofindifference，contentment。Ifhebeayouthofdaintysensesorabraineasilyheated，theinterestofthisseriesofexperimentsgrowsuponhimoutofallproportiontothepleasurehereceives。Itisnotbeautythatheloves，norpleasurethatheseeks，thoughhemaythinkso；hisdesignandhissufficientrewardistoverifyhisownexistenceandtastethevarietyofhumanfate。Tohim，beforetherazor-edgeofcuriosityisdulled，allthatisnotactuallivingandthehotchaseofexperiencewearsafaceofadisgustingdrynessdifficulttorecallinlaterdays；oriftherebeanyexception-andheredestinystepsin-itisinthosemomentswhen，weariedorsurfeitedoftheprimaryactivityofthesenses，hecallsupbeforememorytheimageoftransactedpainsandpleasures。Thusitisthatsuchanoneshiesfromallcut-and-dryprofessions，andinclinesinsensiblytowardthatcareerofartwhichconsistsonlyinthetastingandrecordingofexperience。
This，whichisnotsomuchavocationforartasanimpatienceofallotherhonesttrades，frequentlyexistsalone；andsoexisting，itwillpassgentlyawayinthecourseofyears。Emphatically，itisnottoberegarded；itisnotavocation，butatemptation；andwhenyourfathertheotherdaysofiercelyandinmyviewsoproperlydiscouragedyourambition，hewasrecallingnotimprobablysomesimilarpassageinhisownexperience。Forthetemptationisperhapsnearlyascommonasthevocationisrare。Butagainwehavevocationswhichareimperfect；wehavemenwhosemindsareboundup，notsomuchinanyart，asinthegeneralARSARTIUMandcommonbaseofallcreativework；whowillnowdipintopainting，andnowstudycounterpoint，andanonwillbeinditingasonnet:
allthesewithequalinterest，alloftenwithgenuineknowledge。
Andofthistemper，whenitstandsalone，Ifinditdifficulttospeak；butIshouldcounselsuchanonetotaketoletters，forinliteraturewhichdragswithsowideanetallhisinformationmaybefoundsomedayuseful，andifheshouldgoonashehasbegun，andturnatlastintothecritic，hewillhavelearnedtousethenecessarytools。Lastlywecometothosevocationswhichareatoncedecisiveandprecise；tothemenwhoarebornwiththeloveofpigments，thepassionofdrawing，thegiftofmusic，ortheimpulsetocreatewithwords，justasotherandperhapsthesamemenarebornwiththeloveofhunting，orthesea，orhorses，ortheturning-lathe。Thesearepredestined；ifamanlovethelabourofanytrade，apartfromanyquestionofsuccessorfame，thegodshavecalledhim。Hemayhavethegeneralvocationtoo:hemayhaveatasteforallthearts，andIthinkheoftenhas；butthemarkofhiscallingisthislaboriouspartialityforone，thisinextinguishablezestinitstechnicalsuccesses，andperhapsaboveallacertaincandourofmindtotakehisverytriflingenterprisewithagravitythatwouldbefitthecaresofempire，andtothinkthesmallestimprovementworthaccomplishingatanyexpenseoftimeandindustry。Thebook，thestatue，thesonata，mustbegoneuponwiththeunreasoninggoodfaithandtheunflaggingspiritofchildrenattheirplay。ISITWORTHDOING？-
whenitshallhaveoccurredtoanyartisttoaskhimselfthatquestion，itisimplicitlyansweredinthenegative。Itdoesnotoccurtothechildasheplaysatbeingapirateonthedining-roomsofa，nortothehunterashepursueshisquarry；andthecandouroftheoneandtheardouroftheothershouldbeunitedinthebosomoftheartist。
Ifyourecogniseinyourselfsomesuchdecisivetaste，thereisnoroomforhesitation:followyourbent。AndobservelestIshouldtoomuchdiscourageyouthatthedispositiondoesnotusuallyburnsobrightlyatthefirst，orrathernotsoconstantly。Habitandpracticesharpengifts；thenecessityoftoilgrowslessdisgusting，growsevenwelcome，inthecourseofyears；asmalltasteifitbeonlygenuinewaxeswithindulgenceintoanexclusivepassion。Enough，justnow，ifyoucanlookbackoverafairinterval，andseethatyourchosenarthasalittlemorethanhelditsownamongthethronginginterestsofyouth。Timewilldotherest，ifdevotionhelpit；andsoonyoureverythoughtwillbeengrossedinthatbelovedoccupation。
Butevenwithdevotion，youmayremindme，evenwithunfalteringanddelightedindustry，manythousandartistsspendtheirlives，iftheresultberegarded，utterlyinvain:athousandartists，andneveroneworkofart。Butthevastmassofmankindareincapableofdoinganythingreasonablywell，artamongtherest。Theworthlessartistwouldnotimprobablyhavebeenaquiteincompetentbaker。Andtheartist，evenifhedoesnotamusethepublic，amuseshimself；sothattherewillalwaysbeonemanthehappierforhisvigils。Thisisthepracticalsideofart:itsinexpugnablefortressforthetruepractitioner。Thedirectreturns-thewagesofthetradearesmall，buttheindirect-thewagesofthelife-areincalculablygreat。Nootherbusinessoffersamanhisdailybreaduponsuchjoyfulterms。Thesoldierandtheexplorerhavemomentsofaworthierexcitement，buttheyarepurchasedbycruelhardshipsandperiodsoftediumthatbeggarlanguage。Inthelifeoftheartistthereneedbenohourwithoutitspleasure。Itaketheauthor，withwhosecareerIambestacquainted；anditistrueheworksinarebelliousmaterial，andthattheactofwritingiscrampedandtryingbothtotheeyesandthetemper；butremarkhiminhisstudy，whenmattercrowdsuponhimandwordsarenotwanting-inwhatacontinualseriesofsmallsuccessestimeflowsby；withwhatasenseofpowerasofonemovingmountains，hemarshalshispettycharacters；withwhatpleasures，bothoftheearandeye，heseeshisairystructuregrowingonthepage；andhowhelaboursinacrafttowhichthewholematerialofhislifeistributary，andwhichopensadoortoallhistastes，hisloves，hishatreds，andhisconvictions，sothatwhathewritesisonlywhathelongedtoutter。Hemayhaveenjoyedmanythingsinthisbig，tragicplaygroundoftheworld；