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235
The Private Papers of Henry Ryecroft
·
George Gissing
65
These
dainty
series
of
noble
and
delightful
works,
which
have
so
seemingly
wide
an
acceptance,
think
you
they
vouch
for
true
appreciation
in
all
who
buy
them?
Remember
those
who
purchase
to
follow
the
fashion,
to
impose
upon
their
neighbour,
or
even
to
flatter
themselves;
think
of
those
who
wish
to
make
cheap
presents,
and
those
who
are
merely
pleased
by
the
outer
aspect
of
the
volume.
Above
all,
bear
in
mind
that
busy
throng
whose
zeal
is
according
neither
to
knowledge
nor
to
conviction,
the
host
of
the
half-educated,
characteristic
and
peril
of
our
time.
They,
indeed,
purchase
and
purchase
largely.
Heaven
forbid
that
I
should
not
recognize
the
few
among
them
whose
bent
of
brain
and
of
conscience
justifies
their
fervour;
to
such--the
ten
in
ten
thousand--be
all
aid
and
brotherly
solace!
But
the
glib
many,
the
perky
mispronouncers
of
titles
and
of
authors'
names,
the
twanging
murderers
of
rhythm,
the
maulers
of
the
uncut
edge
at
sixpence
extra,
the
ready-reckoners
of
bibliopolic
discount--am
I
to
see
in
these
a
witness
of
my
hope
for
the
century
to
come?
I
am
told
that
their
semi-education
will
be
integrated.
We
are
in
a
transition
stage,
between
the
bad
old
time
when
only
a
few
had
academic
privileges,
and
that
happy
future
which
will
see
all
men
liberally
instructed.
Unfortunately
for
this
argument,
education
is
a
thing
of
which
only
the
few
are
capable;
teach
as
you
will,
only
a
small
percentage
will
profit
by
your
most
zealous
energy.
On
an
ungenerous
soil
it
is
vain
to
look
for
rich
crops.
Your
average
mortal
will
be
your
average
mortal
still:
and
if
he
grow
conscious
of
power,
if
he
becomes
vocal
and
self-assertive,
if
he
get
into
his
hands
all
the
material
resources
of
the
country,
why,
you
have
a
state
of
things
such
as
at
present
looms
menacingly
before
every
Englishman
blessed--or
cursed--with
an
unpopular
spirit.
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