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Show CHAPTER V.THE ARTSO be great is to be misunderstood." Hence, the Engineers are underrated, the Normals are underground, the Medicos are undertakers, and the Arts are understood. Arts are of various kinds: Liberal arts, useful arts (not very), industrial arts and fine arts. But Webster is wrong. He says something to the effect that an art is the application of knowledge or power to practical purposes. Imagine an Art applying himself to a practical purpose! And, again, says Webster: "An art is the adaptation of things in the natural world to the uses of life." In the first place, an Art never descends into the natural world, and in the second place, the world would not have use for him. An Art, in the natural world, would be like a lost soul in heaven-out of place. He faints at the sight of a pick and shovel, and quotes Virgil angelically in his sleep. Indeed, if the truth be known, the very purpose of the Art is fallacious. He studies that he may broaden his mind, while all admit that his mind, like an ax, needs not broadening, but sharpening. He comes to College to pursue his studies,-which, if not too disgustingly slow, can easily escape him. But still Arts have their uses. After watching the high spirits of the Engineers, and the departed spirits of the Medicos, it is restful to gaze upon the calm and spiritless Art, who trudges his dusty way through books and books and knows naught of the world and its naughty ways. |