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you are quite sure you like the effect of her latest acquisition …
some eighteenth…century statuette or screen （flotsam； probably；
from the great shipwreck of Versailles）； and listen earnestly to
your verdict。 The good soul who has just furnished her house by
contract； with the latest 〃Louis Fourteenth Street〃 productions；
conducts you complacently through her chambers of horrors； wreathed
in tranquil smiles； born of ignorance and that smug assurance
granted only to the … small。
When a small intellect goes in for cultivating itself and improving
its mind； you realize what the poet meant in asserting that a
little learning was a dangerous thing。 For Mediocrity is apt； when
it dines out； to get up a subject beforehand； and announce to an
astonished circle； as quite new and personal discoveries； that the
Renaissance was introduced into France from Italy； or that Columbus
in his day made important 〃finds。〃
When the incompetent advance another step and write or paint …
which； alas！ is only too frequent … the world of art and literature
is flooded with their productions。 When White Waistcoat； for
example； takes to painting； late in life； and comes to you； canvas
in hand； for criticism （read praise）； he is apt to remark modestly：
〃Corot never painted until he was fifty； and I am only forty…eight。
So I feel I should not let myself be discouraged。〃
The problem of life is said to be the finding of a happiness that
is not enjoyed at the expense of others； and surely this class have
solved that Sphinx's riddle； for they float through their days in a
dream of complacency disturbed neither by corroding doubt nor
harassed by jealousies。
Whole families of feeble…minded people； on the strength of an
ancestor who achieved distinction a hundred years ago； live in
constant thanksgiving that they 〃are not as other men。〃 None of
the great man's descendants have done anything to be particularly
proud of since their remote progenitor signed the Declaration of
Independence or governed a colony。 They have vegetated in small
provincial cities and inter…married into other equally fortunate
families； but the sense of superiority is ever present to sustain
them； under straitened circumstances and diminishing prestige。 The
world may move on around them； but they never advance。 Why should
they？ They have reached perfection。 The brains and enterprise
that have revolutionized our age knock in vain at their doors。
They belong to that vast 〃majority that is always in the wrong；〃
being so pleased with themselves； their ways； and their feeble
little lines of thought； that any change or advancement gives their
system a shock。
A painter I know was once importuned for a sketch by a lady of this
class。 After many delays and renewed demands he presented her one
day； when she and some friends were visiting his studio； with a
delightful open…air study simply framed。 She seemed confused at
the offering； to his astonishment； as she had not lacked APLOMB in
asking for the sketch。 After much blushing and fumbling she
succeeded in getting the painting loose； and handing back the
frame； remarked：
〃I will take the painting； but you must keep the frame。 My husband
would never allow me to accept anything of value from you！〃 … and
smiled on the speechless painter； doubtless charmed with her own
tact。
Complacent people are the same drag on a society that a brake would
be to a coach going up hill。 They are the 〃eternal negative〃 and
would extinguish； if they could； any light stronger than that to
which their weak eyes have been accustomed。 They look with
astonishment and distrust at any one trying to break away from
their tiresome old ways and habits； and wonder why all the world is
not as pleased with their personalities as they are themselves；
suggesting； if you are willing to waste your time listening to
their twaddle； that there is something radically wrong in any
innovation； that both 〃Church and State〃 will be imperilled if
things are altered。 No blight； no mildew is more fatal to a plant
than the 〃complacent〃 are to the world。 They resent any progress
and are offended if you mention before them any new standards or
points of view。 〃What has been good enough for us and our parents
should certainly be satisfactory to the younger generations。〃 It
seems to the contented like pure presumption on the part of their
acquaintances to wander after strange gods； in the shape of new
ideals； higher standards of culture； or a perfected refinement of
surroundings。
We are perhaps wrong to pity complacent people。 It is for another
class our sympathy should be kept； for those who cannot refrain
from doubting of themselves and the value of their work … those
unfortunate gifted and artistic spirits who descend too often the
VIA DOLOROSA of discontent and despair； who have a higher ideal
than their neighbors； and； in struggling after an unattainable
perfection； fall by the wayside。
CHAPTER 7 … The Discontent of Talent
THE complacency that buoys up self…sufficient souls； soothing them
with the illusion that they themselves； their towns； country；
language； and habits are above improvement； causing them to
shudder； as at a sacrilege； if any changes are suggested； is
fortunately limited to a class of stay…at…home nonentities。 In
proportion as it is common among them； is it rare or delightfully
absent in any society of gifted or imaginative people。
Among our globe…trotting compatriots this defect is much less
general than in the older nations of the world； for the excellent
reason； that the moment a man travels or takes the trouble to know
people of different nationalities； his armor of complacency
receives so severe a blow； that it is shattered forever； the
wanderer returning home wiser and much more modest。 There seems to
be something fatal to conceit in the air of great centres；
professionally or in general society a man so soon finds his level。
The 〃great world〃 may foster other faults； human nature is sure to
develop some in every walk of life。 Smug contentment； however；
disappears in its rarefied atmosphere； giving place to a craving
for improvement； a nervous alertness that keeps the mind from
stagnating and urges it on to do its best。
It is never the beautiful woman who sits down in smiling serenity
before her mirror。 She is tireless in her efforts to enhance her
beauty and set it off to the best advantage。 Her figure is never
slender enough； nor her carriage sufficiently erect to satisfy。
But the 〃frump〃 will let herself and all her surroundings go to
seed； not from humbleness of mind or an overwhelming sense of her
own unworthiness； but in pure complacent conceit。
A criticism to which the highly gifted lay themselves open from
those who do not understand them； is their love