the vain conceit of
the limited understanding, and thus holding themselves above all the
high enthusiasm and holy mysteries of art, always seem able to recognize
that which awakens in them noble thoughts or tender feelings; so that
when a poet sings to them of heroism, of liberty, of fraternity, of
justice, of love, of home, of God, if he can succeed in causing their
hearts to throb with generous emotions, they stop not to consult the
critics, they listen only to the voice of their own naive souls, and at
once and with one accord enthusiastically cry: 'Beautiful! beautiful!
how beautiful!' La Bruyere himself says: 'When a poem elevates your
mind, when it inspires you with noble and heroic feeling, it is
altogether useless to seek other rules by which to judge it; it is--it
must be good, and the work of a true artist.' Such is really the
criterion consulted by the people, and on this broad and just base rests
the general correctness of their judgments.

Uncultured as they may be, is it not, indeed, among the people that we
see the most vivid sympathies with the really great artists, the true
poets? It is among them we most frequently find that glowing enthusiasm
which excites and transports them until they lose all selfish thoughts;
contrasting strongly with the measured calm, the still and prudent
reserve of the elite, the connoisseurs, which an impassioned artist
(Liszt) truly says 'is like the glaces on their own tables.' Let the
artist but strike some of the simple but sublime chords which, the
Creator has tuned to the same harmony in human bosoms, and they will
respond from the heart of the people in an instantaneous thrill of noble
instincts and generous emotions. It is ever with the people that the
artist meets with that profound and _loving_ admiration which so greatly
increases his own powers, and which always leads them to noble acts of
devotion for those who have succeeded in touching the harmonizing chords
vibrating through the mighty bosom of humanity made in the image of God!

If we would learn something of the effect of art on the soul, and
understand the secrets of its power, we should go to a representation of
one of Shakspeare's tragedies, and mark the attentive crowd silently
contemplating the high scenes which the poet unrolls before them.
Immersed in poverty and suffering as they may themselves be, we will see
that at the words 'glory, honor, liberty, patriotism, love'; at the
sight of the courageo