Epilogue to the Drama of Art Magic
Some readers there be whose chief aim is - unconsciously to themselves, perhaps - but greatly to the detriment of their higher natures - to search into what they read rather for the discovery of errors in orthography, and innovations upon conservative methods of typography, than for the elimination of ideas, or the enjoyment of soul intercourse with their author. To this class of readers our pages will doubtless present a fruitful soil for their special methods of criticism, and to such, we have no other apology to offer, than that contained in the few choice and pointed words of the Editor's Preface.
There is still another class whose methods of study have received the peculiarly significant soubriquet of, skimming. The chief delight of such persons is in an elaborately prepared Index, over the columns of which they rejoice to pore, industriously picking out just the particular words they have sympathy with, glancing at these - for Index worshipers only glance, do not read - and abandoning the rest of the volume to more patient and capable students than themselves.
The author's life-long experience with a variety of readers, has induced him to look upon Index worshipers, as the most superficial of all book owners, and finally determined him not to spend time in writing for them at all. In the compilation of Historical, Legal, Statistical or Biographical works, an Index is not only useful, but absolutely essential. In a book of these ideas only, such an appendix offers a premium to the unworthy habit of "skimming," and therefore, rejecting the courteous offer of our patient and untiring Editor, to satisfy the hypercritical, by the addition of an Index, we submit the foregoing pages for study - study which cannot master the ideas presented in one superficial reading, much less in Index skimming.
We ask a careful perusal and reperusal of these pages, not for their literary merit, nor the exactitude of their methods, but for the sakes of the high themes discussed, and the weighty subjects which fill up each column. When our readers have bestowed this much study upon the volume, they will not need an Index; until they have done so, we have written it for them in vain. Neither have we followed the well-beaten track of custom, in giving a list of authorities cited in this volume. Whenever possible we have given the names of such authors as have supplied us with felicitous quotations; but we feel no impulse to burden our work with the abomination of such signs as "vols., vers., chaps.," etc., etc., any more than we recognize the propriety of harassing our readers by foot-notes, or references to literature, perhaps unattainable to all but special seekers into occult lore. And now that our work - not of apology, but of sturdy resistance to conventional habits in book-making - is done, what remains, save to tender everlasting thanks to our gentle, faithful and long-suffering Editor; most kindly greetings to the brave "Banner of Light," the "Spiritual Scientist," "London Medium," and "Spiritualist," who have so generously and courteously sustained her, and a potential psychologic, heartfelt God-speed to the noble five hundred who, in the face of scorn, contumely, ridicule and blatant ignorance, have dared to registered their honored names as subscribers to Art Magic, four hundred, at least, of them paying their subscriptions before they were due, trusting gallantly to the good faith and honesty of Emma Hardinge Britten that they should not be robbed of their due, and the rest signifying their insight and recognition of the divine in humanity, with an absence of all sordid motive or fear of public opinion, which forever protests against the doctrines of "human depravity, original sin," or aught but the sublime truth that the world is made flesh, and dwells amongst men now and evermore!
Comments
Considering part of the nature of this project, I find this epilogue a little humourous. We are, in fact, partly searching for errors and picking out pieces of this work that relate to things we are interested in--Wicca, new spiritual movements, etc. I wonder what Ms. Britten would think about this project.
Posted by: Silverlotus | June 29, 2004 10:43 PM
Agreed. I found this humorous as well. The author's idea seems to be that if we just suspend our normal, human reactions and read this book, we will agree with the author (unless, of course, we are superficial "Index Skimmers."
Sorry, Louis, but it's not quite that simple. We don't all fit into such compact little pigeon holes as you seem to want us to. The words you present as your own personal gnosis must be analyzed and scrutinized by each person in their own way, before they make any decisions whether or not to grant credence to your ideas.
Posted by: Mikki | September 5, 2004 03:28 PM