both exaggerate the failures of established institutions, and belittle their good; both fall short of that healthful philosophy of life which realizes that all things work together for good; that the social institutions of any time are, on the whole, the best for the needs. of the time. Exaggerating our own importance in the eternal economy, we fancy that with imperfect men we can construct an ideal or perfect social structure, and so engage in schemes which, like those of Mr. Ruskin, though laudable in their promptings, are yet the outcome of a limited knowledge of life. In the provincialism of our wealth or culture, we overestimate the value of these as factors in the problem of life's happiness. Forgetting that the best things in life-virtue, content, etc.are possible to the least of fortune's favorites, we cry out, “Is not culture more than virtue, and wealth more than content?" But mark the difference:

"Sir, I am a true laborer. I earn that I eat, get that I wear; owe no man hate, envy no man's happiness; glad of other men's good, content with my harm; and the greatest of my

pride is to see my ewes graze and my lambs suck." So saith Corin in "As You Like It."

Again, he who was familiar with court and courtesans, the most wise fool, Touchstone, saith of his Audrey: "A poor humor of mine, sir, to take that that no man will." Not that he blinds himself to the value of culture; for, "Truly I would the gods had made thee poetic." Still, "A poor humor of mine, sir; an ill-favored thing, but mine own." Is not the healthfulness of this in keeping with the fact that Shakespeare, having gained a competence, and returning to his native town, indulges in no Utopian scheme for the benefit of its poor, gives rise to no excrescence upon the body politic, but, instead, he appears on record as member of a committee to secure from Parliament a subsidy for the town of Stratford, then fallen in decay?

Again he who had written in the assurance of his genius,—

"So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this gives life to thee;"

he who had been flattered by, and had charmed,

a circle in which the genius of a Jonson stood not alone, returns to his native town, and takes upon himself the least regarded public duties as road overseer. Aye, he who had been one with the simple folk of this world in their struggle for existence, knew too well their needs and possibilities to indulge in any maudlin sentiment in their behalf, offering them instead a profound respect.

On the other hand, Byron and Shelley, and to a less degree Ruskin, all born to an inheritance, all bemoan the ills of this worka-day world or all lack somewhat of perfect healthfulness. Truly has it been written how hardly shall a rich man enter into that kingdom in which the unregarded of this world are looked upon, not as objects of pity, but of respect. For this thing cometh not but by the fasting and prayer of the struggle for exis

tence.

Marvelous as was Shakespeare's insight into the motives of action, wondrous as was his poetic genius, yet was he greater than all these in this universality of his sympathy. Having proved all things, he had regard to all things,

and would neither add to nor subtract one jot or tittle from the greatest or least respected things of life.

But to bring this to a conclusion, while the Poet may avail himself of this healthfulness, as he does of the beauty, pathos, sublimity, etc., of the scene or conception represented, or as an additional source of pleasure, still may his lines be never so unhealthy and yet evidence great poetic genius.

Holding this in regard may we not write: Healthfulness in Poetry, as in all literature and all art, is the representing of life without distortion.

THA

Humor.

HAT Poetry and Humor have much in common, may not at first sight appear,

so different are they in their effect upon us. And yet when we find critics of undoubted ability declaring of the same lines: one, that they are poetic; and the other, that they are humorous, we begin to doubt whether the difference is as clearly marked as we had fancied. And yet that there is an essential and abiding difference, and hence, that any definition either of Poetry or of Humor, to be complete must take cognizance of this difference, cannot be gainsaid, while the question, Does the definition of Poetry developed in a previous article satisfy this condition? becomes a most pertinent one.