Why not say that we, too, all of us, are, or ought to he, artists, and
have something to do with shaping rough material into ideal perfec-
tion? Why surrender the honors of this fellowship to any exclusive
set of men ? Why not rather maintain that it is the work of every
true life to work out a nohle ideal according to the wisdom that is
from God, by the love that seeks Him as its end, and in the kingdom
that gathers all that is lovely to Him in blessed communion ? Only as
we take this stand do we honor the arts duly, and save our gifts from
conceit, and make genius a bond of unity, instead of a crazing hero-
worship. All the arts are greater than our artists, and poetry is
greater than the greatest poet. Every man is a debtor to his calling,
and the higher the calling the greater is the debt. We are the poet's
friends and admirers, not his adorers, and his gentle bearing and
speech help us to honor high Art and its Divine Ai'chetype in
honoring this gifted and faithful servant. The true check upon
adulation is responsibility ; and he who takes his talents from the
hand of the Perfect Master is in no danger of being spoiled by
flattery, but rather measures dignity by service, and is hum})ler as
he soars, because nearer to the Eternal Mind.
