(19) A little
common education in cleanliness, where it is wanting, would
probably be much more improving, as well as wholesome, than any
amount of education in fine art. Ruffles are all very well, but
it is folly to cultivate them to the neglect of the shirt.
Whilst, therefore, grace of manner, politeness of behaviour,
elegance of demeanour, and all the arts that contribute to make
life pleasant and beautiful, are worthy of cultivation, it must
not be at the expense of the more solid and enduring qualities of
honesty, sincerity, and truthfulness. The fountain of beauty must
be in the heart; more than in the eye, and if art do not tend to
produce beautiful life and noble practice, it will be of
comparatively little avail. Politeness of manner is not worth
much, unless accompanied by polite action. Grace may be but skin-
deep--very pleasant and attractive, and yet very heartless. Art
is a source of innocent enjoyment, and an important aid to higher
culture; but unless it leads to higher culture, it will probably
be merely sensuous. And when art is merely sensuous, it is
enfeebling and demoralizing rather than strengthening or
elevating. Honest courage is of greater worth than any amount of
grace; purity is better than elegance; and cleanliness of body,
mind, and heart, than any amount of fine art.
In fine, while the cultivation of the graces is not to be
neglected, it should ever be held in mind that there is something
far higher and nobler to be aimed at--greater than pleasure,
greater than art, greater than wealth, greater than power, greater
than intellect, greater than genius--and that is, purity and
excellence of character.
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