The Beautiful has now its teachers and preachers, and by some it is almost regarded in the light of a religion.
"The Beautiful is the Good"-- "The Beautiful is the True"-- "The Beautiful is the priest of the Benevolent," are among their texts.

It is believed that by the study of art the tastes of the people may be improved; that by contemplating objects of beauty their nature will become purified; and that by being thereby withdrawn from sensual enjoyments, their character will be refined and elevated.
But though such culture is calculated to be elevating and purifying in a certain degree, we must not expect too much from it.

Grace is a sweetener and embellisher of life, and as such is worthy of cultivation.
Music, painting, dancing, and the fine arts, are all sources of pleasure; and though they may not be sensual, yet they are sensuous, and often nothing more.

The cultivation of a taste for beauty of form or colour, of sound or attitude, has no necessary effect upon the cultivation of the mind or the development of the character.

The contemplation of fine works of art will doubtless improve the taste, and excite admiration; but a single noble action done in the sight of men will more influence the mind, and stimulate the character to imitation, than the sight of miles of statuary or acres of pictures.