beauty?"

"I have strong evidence that Mr. Ruskin did come to that conclusion."

"Do you think it fair that Mr. Ruskin should come to that conclusion?"

"What might be fair to Mr. Ruskin I cannot answer."

"Then you mean, Mr. Whistler, that the initiated in technical matters
might have no difficulty in understanding your work. But do you think
now that you could make _me_ see the beauty of that picture?"

The witness then paused, and examining attentively the
Attorney-General's face and looking at the picture alternately, said,
after apparently giving the subject much thought, while the Court
waited in silence for his answer:

"No! Do you know I fear it would be as hopeless as for the musician to
pour his notes into the ear of a deaf man. (_Laughter._)

"I offer the picture, which I have conscientiously painted, as being
worth two hundred guineas. I have known unbiassed people express the
opinion that it represents fireworks in a night-scene. I would not
complain of any person who might simply take a different view."

The Court then adjourned.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, in resuming his address on behalf of the
defendant on Tuesday, said he hoped to convince the jury, before his
case closed, that Mr. Ruskin's criticism upon the plaintiff's pictures
was perfectly fair and _bona fide_;[1] and that, however severe it
might be, there was nothing that could reasonably be complained of....
Let them examine the nocturne in blue and silver, said to represent
Battersea Bridge. What was that structure in the middle? Was it a
telescope or a fire-escape? Was it like Battersea Bridge? What were
the figures at the top of the bridge? And if they were horses and
carts, how in the name of fortune were they to get off? Now, about
these pictures, if the plaintiff's argument was to avail, they must
not venture publicly to express an opinion, or they would have brought
against them an action for damages.

[Note 1: "Enter now the great room with the Veronese
at the end of it, for which the painter (_quite
rightly_) was summoned before the Inquisition of
State."--Prof. JOHN RUSKIN: _Guide to Principal
Pictures, Academy of Fine Arts, Venice_.]

After all, Critics had their uses.[2] He should like to know what
would become of Poetry, of Politics, of Painting, if Critics were to
be extinguished? Every Painter struggled to obtain fame.

[Note 2: "I have n