which the world has lost, and with it its happiness. . . . [Young America] must learn once more to speak and to think in the terms of ideal values. . . . We can acquire a new vocabulary only by acquiring a new life."
These are the words of a precursor and Mr Spingarn leaves us not long in doubt as to the source of the new inspiration, which is the outburst of Modern Idealism in Italy. Whether the healing waters will come thence to cure what he calls the "morbus gallicus" of les jeunes we shall not now predict. The critical and aesthetic portions of the address are our present concern, and one is inclined to congratulate Mr Spingarn on being aware, so early, of the process of change to which he is giving direction. Odd that he had disciples before he began his preaching; it is the younger generation itself which has repudiated the chatter of the middle-aged concerning youth. It is they who have been seeking and, when it was appropriate to them, finding an "ancient wisdom and austere control." It may be unfortunate that they had to go Beyond Good and Evil to learn "dass alles, was es von Freiheit, Feinheit, Kühnheit und meisterlicher Sicherheit auf Erden giebt oder gegeben hat . . . in den Künsten ebenso wie in den Sittlichkeiten, sich erst vermöge der 'Tyrannie solcher Willkür-Gesetze' entwickelt hat . . ." But if it is well for them to know this the name of the teacher does not matter.
