Page:The Yellow Book - 02.djvu/38

30 music being wrought into another language for mankind, as it nears the height of its spiritual growth?"

"I say it is a pretty fancy, and quite within reasonable speculation."

"But yet not of the profoundest consequence," added Vernet, coming from the piano and resuming his seat by the window. "No; but what is of consequence is the cruel tedium of these evolutionary processes. A thousand years, and how much movement?"

"Remember the sudden starts towards perfection, and that the farther we advance the more we may be able to help."

"Well, but that is the very thing I meant to say. Help is not only desirable, it is imperatively called for. For an unfortunate offensive movement against this better one, which will be checked, or perhaps thrown back altogether, unless the stupid reformers who confront the new spirit of kindness with the highwayman's demand are brought to reason. What I most willingly yield to friend and brother I do not choose to yield to an insulting thief; rather will I break his head in the cause of divine Civility. Robbery is no way of righteousness, and your gallant reformers who think it a fine heroic means of bringing on a better time for humanity should be taught that some devil has put the wrong plan into their heads. It is his way of continuing under new conditions the old conflict of evil and good."

"But taught! How should these so-earnest ones be taught?"

"Ah, how! Then leave the reformers; and while they inculcate their mistaken Gospel of Rancour, let every wise man preach the Gospel of Content."

"Content—with things as they are?"

"Why, no, my friend; for that would be preaching content with universal uncontent, which of course cannot last into a reign of wisdom and peace. But if you ask me whether I mean content with a very very little of this world's goods, or even con Rh