e chairs were as goblins, and the broom a tall young woman,
and the looking-glass a kind of other self-life--all of this as I
recall it appears to me as a picture of the absence of human beings as
described by TENNYSON, _plus_ a strange personality in every object--
which the poet does not attempt to convey. This is, however, a very
small or inferior illustration; there are far more remarkable and
deeply spiritual or aesthetically-suggestive subjects than this, and
that in abundance, which Art has indeed so reproduced as to amaze the
many who have only had snatches of such observation themselves.

But the magicians, SHELLEY, or KEATS, or WORDSWORTH, only convey
_partial_ echoes of certain subjects, or of their specialties. It is
indeed beautiful to feel what Art can do, but the original is worth
far more. And if the reader would be such a magician, let him give his
heart and will to taking an interest in all that is beautiful, good
and true--or honest. For that it really can be done in all fullness is
true beyond a dream of doubt. By the ordinary methods of learning one
may indeed acquire an exact, mechanically drawn picture, which we
modify with what beauty chance bestows. But he who will learn by the
process which I have endeavored to describe, or by studying with the
_will_, cannot fail to experience a strange enchantment in so doing,
as I have read in an Italian tale of a youth who was sadly weary of
his lessons, but who, being taken daily by certain kind fairies into
their school on a hill, found all difficulties disappear and the
pursuit of knowledge as joyful as that of pleasure.

I have heard hypnotism, with regard to fascination, spoken of with
great apprehension. "It is dreadful," said one to me, "to think of
anybody's being able to exercise such an influence on anyone." And
yet, widely known as it is, instances of its abuse are very rare.
Thus, when Cremation was first discussed, it was warmly opposed,
because somebody _might_ be poisoned, and then, the body being burned,
there could be no autopsy! Nature has decreed some drawback to the
best things; nothing is perfect. But to balance the immense benefits
latent in suggestion against the problematic abuses is like condemning
the ship because a bucket of tar has been spilt on the deck.

Sincere kindness and respect, which are allied unto identity, are
the best or surest key to love, and they in turn are allied to
fascination. Here I might observe that the ac