LIMITS TO TRUTH ATTAINABLE IN ART. 609 ation that he aims at is undeniable. It is no slight matter to take out the sting from pleasure, and to avoid corrupting our notions of reality while gratifying our artistic sensibilities. sober modern romancist does not outrage the probabilities of human life, nor excite delusive and extravagant hopes, in the manner of the middle-age romances. The improvement is a most beneficial one. Nevertheless, there is, and always will be, a distinction between the degree of truth attainable by an artist, and the degree of truth attained by a man of science or a man of business. The poet, let him desire it never so much, cannot study realities with an undivided attention. His readers in general do not desire truth simply for its own sake; nor will they accept it in the severe forms of an accurate terminology. The scientific man has not wantonly created the diagrams of Euclid, the symbols of Algebra, or the jargon of technical Anatomy; he was forced into these repulsive elements because in no other way could he seize the realities of nature with precision. It cannot be supposed that the utmost plenitude of poetic genius shall ever be able to represent the world faithfully by discarding all these devices in favour of flowery ornament and melodious metre. We ought not to look to an artist to guide us to truth; it is enough for him that he do not mis-guide us. RR INDEX. association, 362 Alimentary canal, description and sen- Analysis, the operation of, repulsive to Architectural associations, 360 functions of intellect in, 537 Artist, qualities of, 440 Association, obstructive, 564 constructive, law of, 571 Astonishment, expression of, 283 Attention, concentration of, necessary Cerebrum, functions of, 53 retentiveness for, 414 Compound Association, law of, 545 Conjunctions occurring in the world, Consciousness, the first attribute of Consonants, formation and classification Constructions, practical, 595 Contiguity, statement of the law of, 318 Contiguous adhesion, property of, 324 Languages, acquisition of, 433 Laughter, causes of, 285 movements in, 286 Light, modes of reflection of, 213 Localization of bodily feelings, 385 Lustre, sensation of, 238 MANKIND, our knowledge of, how ac- Material world, perception and belief Mathematics, creations of, 595 Matter, properties of, perceived through question as to the independent Mechanical acquisitions, 425 constructiveness, 572 Medulla oblongata, description of, 18 Memory, assistance rendered to by simi- historical, 543 Mind, definition of, I - classifications of the phenomena of, 6 Movement, feelings of a distinct class, 67 116 constructiveness in, 582 association of feelings of, 329, Heat, feelings of, 133 340 History, recollection of, 443 construction of feelings of, 577 Hunger, appetite of, 251 slow, feelings of, 101 |