Part 132 (1/2)

”Blind Brute!” said the Artist. ”How terrible it is to be unappreciated! This Fool Incarnate can never realize what it is ignoring! And it will give me no reward! When I am dead it will see my Beauty!”

Now the World had its feelings, and did not enjoy the att.i.tude of the Artist; so verily it gave him no reward. And he died. Nevertheless what he foretold was by no means fulfilled, for his work was for himself alone, and perished with him.

Then arose the second Artist, and he was not only an Artist, but a Merchant.

And he said, ”I perceive that this my brother has died because he did not please the World, and it would give him no reward. I shall be wiser.”

Then he studied the tastes of the World; Dull, Hungry, Tired and Ugly; a Neglected Child.

And he carefully catered to its ignorance, its prejudices and its childish tastes; he tickled with cheap pleasures, he gave it what its lower nature liked, and the Dull World found his Amus.e.m.e.nt amusing, and paid for it; and the Hungry World found his food palatable, and paid for it; and the Tired World received his Inspiration as if it were genuine, and paid for it; and the Ugly World eagerly grasped his poor prettiness as if it were Beauty, and paid for it; so the second Artist did not die--until he died; and then he was dead; and his work with him.

But the third Artist, who was also a Citizen, thought long of his task.

”I am an Artist,” he said, ”and this is my World. Of what avail is my Beauty if the World does not see it? How do I know that Worlds to Come will see it?--even if it lives? _This_ World needs Beauty, _now!_ If I work to express myself alone, I die, lean and angry; and my work dies with me. If I basely cater to this Neglected Child, I die, though fatter; and my work dies with me. How shall I feed the World?”

But he was an Artist, and very powerful, so he essayed his task.

He earnestly studied the needs of the World. ”Shall I feed a lamb on beef?” said he, ”or a cat on pie?”

By the exercise of his intelligence he learned the needs of the World, which were many and conspicuous; by the exercise of his Art he met them.

He gave it Amus.e.m.e.nt which was within reach of the tastes of that Neglected Child, yet which was in truth Amusing; and the World was Amused, and loved him.

He gave it food both palatable and nouris.h.i.+ng; and the World was fed, and loved him.

He gave it Inspiration which struck to the heart, yet was drawn from Eternal Truth; and the World was Inspired, and loved him.

And he poured forth his very soul in Beauty; Beauty as simple as the common flowers the whole world loves, and as true as the stars in heaven, Beauty that ravished the soul of the Neglected Child, opened its eyes to Radiant Joy, and lifted it along the ages. And the World bathed in Beauty, and loved him. Also its taste improved continually under the influence of his Art. And the Artist was happy, for he fulfilled his mighty task.

”My glorious World!” he said; ”What happiness! To be allowed to serve the World!”

And he watched it grow; well-nourished now, full of sweet merriment, strong in steady inspiration, rich in unfolding beauty.

For the World lived, and the Artist lived, and his work lived forever,--in the world.

IN HOW LITTLE TIME

In how little time, were we so minded, We could be wise and free--not held and blinded!

We could be hale and strong--not weak and sickly!

Could do away with wrong--and do it quickly!

Riches of earth, enough for all our keeping; Love in the heart, awake, no longer sleeping; Power in the hand and brain for what needs making; Joy in the gift of power, joy in the taking!

In how little time could grow around us A people clean and fair as life first found us!

One with the under-earth, in peaceful growing, One with the over-soul, in doing, knowing.

Labor a joy and pride, in ease and beauty; Art that should fill at last its human duty; This we could make and have, were we not blinded!