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changes in order to establish subjective laws. The new text book on Psychology begins with description of the nervous mechanism, inad of a dissertation on the human soul. The human mind is a complex of specific activities. Psychology is closely allied to biology. The belief that the human physi- organizism is the result of a process of ion has led to the conception that the organism is likewise the result of ism adopts metaphysical con- The new Psychology de- physics. The mystic consciousness of
Emerson, Browning and Tennyson have given expression to mysticism, but with them this attitude was only momentary. In the magazine psychology we often find the mystical view of life. Modern psychology finds a pathological explanation for mysticism.
The source of mysticism is in the Platonic doctrine of Ideas. If Plato derived his doctrine from oriental Philosophy, the East is the mother of mysticism.
FRIDAY MORNING.
"The Ethical Element in Art" was discussed by Mr. Bishop, of Oswego.
Matthew Arnold calls poetry a criticism of life. As a definition this is inexact and worthless, but it suggests the relation between the arts. The ethical element is an essential vital force in art.
Art furnishes an ideal of life. By ideal we mean anything that is true, beautiful and good. Truth appeals to the intellect, goodness to the moral sense, beauty to the aesthetic sense. Art involves insight into the realities of nature and life. It must be pervaded by a purpose and shaped by the imagination. There is a unity of principle throughout the arts. Some deny these ethical relations between the arts.
One extreme school declares that art is a law unto itself. Another school of extreme naturalists maintains that art is an essential evil.
Are ethical judgments valid with regard to art works? Does the domain of ethics extend over the realm of art.?
Some maintain that the end of art is beauty. If this end is attained the art is perfect. But artistic pleasure is not the highest aim. It is
absurd to declare that because an artist's end is to paint beautiful pictures, he may forget the differences between good and evil. If a moral law exists, it must be supreme.
Some approve only of what is for the good of the community. This end should be made controlling in every part of life. The artist is the last one who should claim exemption from this law, because of his wide influence. If his art teaches bad lessons he is to be condemned, because his art is not for the good of the community.
There are moralists who condemn art altogether on the ground that art is fiction. Yet the end of fiction is the conveyance of truth. They object that it excites the feeling without leading to action. The right exercise of the emotions is a discipline of the soul: it makes men strong, temperate, just.
The true end of art is not pleasure alone, but pleasure that is noble and healthy. De Quincy says: "The object of the fine Arts is the exaltation of human nature." If this is not the end, there is no defense for art.
Miss Adelia Humphrey of Junction City discussed the short story, its history, importance and possibilities.
The short story is the oldest form of literary production. Christ's parables were types of the short story. The signal successes in the short story field have been attained by American writers. Thomas Nelson Page, Bret Harte, Joel Chandler Harris, Octave Thanet, Constance Fenimore Woolsen, Harriet Prescott Spofford, Mary E. Wilkins, are some of our successful writers of the short story.
The story writer must be conversant with life, must have a knowledge of physchology, and must have a definite philosophy of life. After a careful study of the rules of composition, the rules must be relegated to sub-consciousness.
This is the day for the short story, for confdensation is in accordance with the spirit ofthe times. It has already taken precedence over the serial story, and who knows but that someday it will supercede the novel.?
An original short story entitled "Buttermilk" was read by Mrs. Foster of Wichita, followed byNat's Wife,"by Mrs.Gray of Topeka,and The Doctors Ghost Story "by Mr.Crandall of Topeka.