The Intellectual And Moral Culture Of Mankind.

TCYMCII the greatest difficulty would arise from , not -easily obviated without doing violence to the s & ost generally accepted views of our own day . The errors ( for such we take them ) which we detect in such passages as that above cited , appear

to be due to an anxiety to reason upon all subjects , and this course must produce fallacious or fruitless results when applied to such matters as transcend human argument and human understanding . Among the estimable opinions formed by Plato

we may include that which has reference to the evil effect of bad or corrupted taste in art . He says that not only poets but also all artists must foe restricted to the use of examples whether of living beings or inanimate subjects which shall

not inspire any but virtuous and moral ideas , nor be of a monstrous or illiberal type for fear of producing a degrading effect upon the minds of -others .

We will now pass on to another period , and descend from the Greeks to the Romans . Here WQ shall find in some degree a check upon the progress of one or two branches of science , but at the same time an increased impetus given in other

directions , which , when considered in an utilitarian 'dew , may perhaps be of the greatest importance . The intellectual tone of any race of people will -usually be indicated by the state of the fine arts among them , and among the Romans the fine arts did not receive at anv time as much attention and

care as during the period of their fullest development in Greece . The Greek monuments , in fact , seem at once to have been accepted as perfect types of classic purity , and to have retained to this day their unprecedented pre-eminence .

The architecture of different nations and periods is in itself a history of the progress of mental refinement ; splendour may be attained with wealth , even when developed in forms conceived in a' barbaric mind , incapable of those more

cultivated sentiments which inspired the Grecian architects and sculptors . Curiosity will cause us to study the hieroglyphics which cover the columns ¦ of Egypt and Assyria , we may be attracted by the luxurious ease and air of tranquillity of the

AThambra , admire the solid magnificence of the Homau viaducts and mansions , and find pleasure in surveying the lighter effect of the later Italian ¦ style , but for our models we ever incline towards ¦ Greece . iSo much of the public attention during the most brilliant epochs of the Roman Empire was

The Intellectual And Moral Culture Of Mankind.

by circumstances directed to warlike objects , that excepting the execution of national works of necessity , but little time was left to be devoted to the arts of peace , except by a few professionally engaged . The only encouragement that , under

the circumstances , the fine arts could receive would probably accrue from the lavish expenditure of the wealthy and luxurious , with whom , in too many instances , it has ever been the custom to esteem objects in proportion to their cost , instead of valuing them in accordance with the skill bestowed upon them .

Regarding the Romans as a nation , we may consider war ( if we may be allowed the expression ) as one of their staple commodities ; and , however glorious a military career may be , the result of being constantly involved in contests must be ,

to a great extent , demoralising to the mass of the people . So long as men are but fighting for liberty , or to protect their own country , there is in connection with it a heroic spirit which diverts the attention from the degrading details , but when

the object of a war is to obtain pecuniary benefits at the expense of our neighbours , then all that is worthy of admiration disappears , as far as the nation is concerned , although deeds of personal valour may command admiration and esteem .

In addition to the corrupting influences of war on the intellectual and moral condition of the Romans , were others arising from the spectacles of the arena—exhibitions which it is difficult to conceive as entertaining , even to the lowest class

of minds , when in the most morbid state of excitement . Many also of the celebrations and mystic games were most indecorous and revolting to civilised feelings , but yet the first noble matrons of Rome were not ashamed to assist openly at

them . It seems almost impossible to believe that they imagined that in those riotous scenes were the elements of devotion to the deities in whose honour they were instituted , and if they did , it but makes the effect more deleterious , for nothing

can be more degrading , and more utterly demoralising to the human soul , that a corrupt religion , which , if not directly , indirectly holds up for worship objects in themselves vicious . ( To bo continued ) .

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ME ? , ns well as women , are much oftener led by their hearts than by their understandings . The way to the heart is througa the senses ; please their eyes and their eats , and Hie work w half done .