Studies in conduct . t all the faults whichare vulgarly charged against the professional critic,but in a very exaggerated form, because they arewithout his sense of responsibility. We very oftennear people talk decisively about books which theyhave barely read. Or, instead of forming an in-dependent opinion, they echo the opinion ofsomebody else. Or they put forward their viewswith too little qualification and explanation, usingbigger phrases than they are altogether well ableto manage. Still it is so important that peopleshould learn not to bolt the books they read, thateven a crudish censure
Studies in conduct . t all the faults whichare vulgarly charged against the professional critic,but in a very exaggerated form, because they arewithout his sense of responsibility. We very oftennear people talk decisively about books which theyhave barely read. Or, instead of forming an in-dependent opinion, they echo the opinion ofsomebody else. Or they put forward their viewswith too little qualification and explanation, usingbigger phrases than they are altogether well ableto manage. Still it is so important that peopleshould learn not to bolt the books they read, thateven a crudish censure or eulogy of a novel isbetter than a stolid and lethargic apathy or igno-rance as to the very existence of a difference betweengood and bad. Whether this reflection is any con-solation to a novelist, or any inducement to compe-tent persons to turn novelists, is more than doubtful. o 2 2 ^rC ^^lS&v ^^^ S^/T^ ^4- J^SS^^S^^^^^ £i~\^ ^ W C^Ta^t r /^^^ *J/ ^^A^Mrn^ i flli^J^^JS^tl ViiTA/J^^ XX. SYMPATHY WITH EOPLE who are fond of giving verysublime reasons for very simple ac-tions, and of gilding over honest mo-tives with superfine pretences, some-times urge as a plea for their summer holiday thatit refreshes their sympathy with nature. Thisphrase has a deep sound about it, which makes itexcellently calculated to take one in, in a tho-roughly satisfactory manner. Sympathy with na-ture is one of those sentiments which, since thepoetic revival at the beginning of the century,have been considered essential to every well-fur-nished mind. It is a piece of the stock equipmentof modern character. The man who lacks it islooked upon, and justly so, as an incomplete it is far from certain that every one whocries out about Nature does in truth enter into her Sympathy tvith Nature. 197 kingdom. In this, as in other religions, there isto be heard enough, and too much, of cant andinsincere conventionality. The passion for thewonders and beauties and horrors of the externalwo
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