sm, when
it is placed within their reach. As a proof of this, among our own
peasantry and mechanics, I would point to their universal enjoyment of
the "Pilgrim's Progress."

In the symbolism of art, the thoughts which are individual to the
artist can only be expressed by known forms and colours, even as the
poet must employ the words and the metres already accepted by the
literature of his language.

Hurry is fatal to art. But another and very serious cause of its
deterioration is its costliness.

In the dark and mediaeval ages, time was of no account. Skilled labour,
such as was needed for carving, illuminations, and embroideries, was
freely given as the duty of a life, for one particular object, the
good of a man's soul. The cloistered men and women worked for no
wages; neither to benefit themselves nor their descendants; hardly for
fame,--that was given to the convent which had the credit of
patronizing and producing art,[547] while the very name of the artist
was forgotten.

It was from pure love of the art as a craft, and the belief that it
was a good work in which they were engaged, and from their abundant
leisure, that they were enabled to evolve the lovely creations which
delight and astonish us when shown in the sacristies and treasuries of
foreign religious houses and churches, where they have been cherished
for centuries. Like the silkworm they spent themselves; and by their
industrious lives were surrounded in their living graves by the
elaborated essence of their own natures, a joy and consolation to
themselves, and a legacy to all time. To them, also, art appeared as
the consoler.

But to return to the grievances of to-day--cheapness and hurry,
economy of pence and hours--these often are the bane of the work which
we give to the Church, sometimes as a memorial, sometimes as a
thank-offering. The colours are bad, because cheap dyes fade, and none
others can be had without much trouble, and we have only time to
select among those that are for sale. The work is poor because it must
be done quickly, and we cannot afford to delay and pay for the extra
hours necessary to make the stitches worthy and capable of lasting.
Possibly we cannot give the time ourselves, nor can find any one
effectually to organize and overlook the work.

Though the design, the motive, the colours and materials, as well as
the stitches, need to be each carefully studied, yet we perhaps accept
an ancient drawing intended for a di