You call such changes fashions, I call them the
footprints of progress. Each phase of thought is an advance upon
the former, bringing the footsteps of the many nearer to the
landmarks left by the mighty climbers of the past upon the mountain
paths of truth. The crowd that was satisfied with The Derby Day
now appreciates Millet. The public that were content to wag their
heads to The Bohemian Girl have made Wagner popular."
"And the play lovers, who stood for hours to listen to
Shakespeare," interrupted the Philosopher, "now crowd to music-
halls."
"The track sometimes descends for a little way, but it will wind
upwards again," returned the Poet. "The music-hall itself is
improving; I consider it the duty of every intellectual man to
visit such places. The mere influence of his presence helps to
elevate the tone of the performance. I often go myself!"
"I was looking," said the Woman of the World, "at some old
illustrated papers of thirty years ago, showing the men dressed in
those very absurd trousers, so extremely roomy about the waist, and
so extremely tight about the ankles. I recollect poor papa in
them; I always used to long to fill them out by pouring in sawdust
at the top.
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