ship of the means of production and exchange—which has decided the forms of social life.The expansion of capital and the power of thefinancier are essentially modern developments,and unrestricted commercial competition seemsto lead direct to monopoly—a hitherto unex-pected climax. Modern life becomes an unequalrace, or scramble for money, place, power, ormere employment. The social (or rather, un-social) pressure which results, really causes thosesordid aspects, pretences, and brutal contrastswe deplore. Private ownership is constantlyopposed to public interest, and the narrow pointof view of immediate individual profit as thedetermining factor in all transactions obscureslarger issues and stultifies collective action forthe public good.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, perhaps Ihave said enough to support the case of Beautyagainst modern, social, and economic conditions.I do not ask for damages—they are incalculable.She stands before you, a pathetic figure, ob-scured in shreds and patches, driven from pillarto post, disinherited, a casual, and obliged tobeg her bread, who should be a welcome andhonoured guest in every city, in every house,bearing the lamp of art, and bringing comfortand joy to all.

Of the In-fluence ofModernSocial andEconomicConditionson the Senseof Beauty