Those which are coloured, picturesque, human, and rooted in
morality, and those, on the other hand, which are clear,
indisputable, and a part of science, are alone vital in importance,
seizing by their interest, or useful to communicate. So far as the
writer merely narrates, he should principally tell of these. He
should tell of the kind and wholesome and beautiful elements of our
life; he should tell unsparingly of the evil and sorrow of the
present, to move us with instances: he should tell of wise and
good people in the past, to excite us by example; and of these he
should tell soberly and truthfully, not glossing faults, that we
may neither grow discouraged with ourselves nor exacting to our
neighbours. So the body of contemporary literature, ephemeral and
feeble in itself, touches in the minds of men the springs of
thought and kindness, and supports them (for those who will go at
all are easily supported) on their way to what is true and right.
And if, in any degree, it does so now, how much more might it do so
if the writers chose! There is not a life in all the records of
the past but, properly studied, might lend a hint and a help to
some contemporary. There is not a juncture in to-day's affairs but
some useful word may yet be said of it.
Pages:
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48