II. The New Course Causes Disappointment

           

           Yeobrightlovedhiskind.Hehadaconvictionthatthewantofmostmenwasknowledgeofasortwhichbringswisdomratherthanaffluence.Hewishedtoraisetheclassattheexpenseofindividualsratherthanindividualsattheexpenseoftheclass.Whatwasmore,hewasreadyatoncetobethefirstunitsacrificed.

           Inpassingfromthebucolictotheintellectuallifetheintermediatestagesareusuallytwoatleast,frequentlymanymore;andoneofthosestagesisalmostsuretobeworldlyadvanced.Wecanhardlyimaginebucolicplacidityquickeningtointellectualaimswithoutimaginingsocialaimsasthetransitionalphase.Yeobright’slocalpeculiaritywasthatinstrivingathighthinkinghestillcleavedtoplainliving—nay,wildandmeagrelivinginmanyrespects,andbrotherlinesswithclowns.

           HewasaJohntheBaptistwhotookennoblementratherthanrepentanceforhistext.Mentallyhewasinaprovincialfuture,thatis,hewasinmanypointsabreastwiththecentraltownthinkersofhisdate.MuchofthisdevelopmenthemayhaveowedtohisstudiouslifeinParis,wherehehadbecomeacquaintedwithethicalsystemspopularatthetime.

           Inconsequenceofthisrelativelyadvancedposition,Yeobrightmighthavebeencalledunfortunate.Theruralworldwasnotripeforhim.Amanshouldbeonlypartiallybeforehistime—tobecompletelytothevanwardinaspirationsisfataltofame.HadPhilip’swarlikesonbeenintellectuallysofaraheadastohaveattemptedcivilizationwithoutbloodshed,hewouldhavebeentwicethegodlikeherothatheseemed,butnobodywouldhaveheardofanAlexander.

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