That is, they would not do as artistic markets, and they would not serve the higher purpose of catering to the artistic taste of man, as well as to his bodily needs." "Perhaps a picture like that is just as well and better than it would be painted and hung on a wall," Ellen admitted, reflectively.
"Just so--why is it not ?" Robert said, in a pleased voice.
"Yes, I think it is," said Ellen.

"I do think it is better, because everybody can see it there.

Ever so many people will see it there who would not go to picture-galleries to see it, and then--" "And then it may go far to dignify their daily needs," said Robert.
"For instance, a poor man about to buy his to-morrow's dinner may feel his soul take a little fly above the prices of turnips and cabbages." "Maybe," said Ellen, but doubtfully.
"Don't you think so ?" "The prices of turnips and cabbages may crowd other things out," Ellen replied, and her tone was sad, almost tragic.

"You see I am right in it, Mr.Lloyd," she said, earnestly.
"You mean right in the midst of the kind of people whom necessity forces to neglect the aesthetic for the purely useful ?" "Yes," said Ellen.

Then she added, in an indescribably pathetic voice, "People have to live first before they can see, and they can't think until they are fed, and one needs always to have had enough turnips and cabbages to eat without troubling about the getting them, in order to see in them anything except food." Lloyd looked at her curiously.