IN FRAISE OF THE AVERAGE

And, contemplating mortal death, which is but the similitude in the material world of the manif old deaths to the outer self whereby the inner self is fiberated, he sings,

Methinks that when the world fades my little heart

shall grow.

And grow and grow into another World, And be my Paradise where I shall find My lovers, and they me, for evermore.^

In strict accordance with this standpoint, Carpenter praises the common, the average, as opposed to the exceptional (which usually gets the world's praise). The average is tinged with the universal. He praises it because it is at the roots of things, hke " the undistinguished old earth ! the dusty clods ! *' •

Far around and beyond whatever is exceptional and illustrions in human life stretches tfaat which is average and nnperceived ;

Ail distinctions, ail attainments, ail signal beanty, skill, wit, and whatever a man can exhibit in himself, swim and are lost in that great océan.

The subtle leaming of the leamed, the beauty of the ezceptionally beautiful, the wit of the witfy, the fine maaners and customs of the conrtly — ail thèse things proceed immediately ont of the common and undistinguished people and those who stand in direct contact with Nature, and retum into them again.*

But, beyond this, it is obvious that the exceptional man stand& somewhat at a disadvantage,

* T. D., p. 5c«, ? Ihid.» p. 4/^, » /M., p. 41-