RUSKIN'S ADVICE TO CHESTERFIELD [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sia,—Does the enclosed Ruskin letter find a place in any of the volumes of collected correspondence ? It was read at a distribution of prizes to the Art Classes at Chesterfield (Lord Edward Cavendish presiding) in answer to One asking Ruskin to deliver a lecture there ! !
It may, of course, be a well-known letter ; but as I met with it as a local newspaper-cutting, it occurs to me that it may have escaped more than local notice. It is certainly splenetic—amounting almost to uncourteousness—but winds up with some undoubtedly good advice.—! am, Sir, &e.,
Harlesden, London, Friday.
My dear Sir,—Your letter reaches me here. I have just returned from Venice, where I have ruminated in the pasturages of the home of ,art; the loveliest and holiest of lovely and holy cities, where the very stones cry Out, eloquent in the elegancies of iambics. I Could not if I would go to Chesterfield, and I much doubt whether I would go if I could. I do net hire myself out—after the fashion of a brainless, long-tongued puppet—for filthy ducats. You, and those who told you to write me, want me, I presume, to come that you may Make money for your art class ; and if I should get you much meney -you:will then tolerate some good advice from me. No, I
will not come. .
I have heard of Chesterfield. Hath it not a steeple-abomination, and is it not the home—if not the cradle—of that arch-abomination-- creator, Stephenson ? To him are we indebted for the screeching and howling and shrieking fiends fit only for a Pandemonium called locomotives that disfigure the loveliest spots of God's own land.
I will not come to Chesterfield. Tell your students that art is a holy luxury, and they must pay for it. Tell them to study, to ponder, and to work with a single thought for perfection, observing, loving and strict obedience to the monitions of their teacher. Let them learn to do things rightly and humbly, and then by the Con- viction that they can never do them as well as they have been done by others, they may be profited.
My good young people, this is pre-eminently the foolishest—yes, quite the foolishest—notion that you can get into your, einptY little Dgg-shells of heads ; that you can be a Titian, or a Raphael, or a Phiclias ; or that you can write like Seneca. But because you cannot-be great, that is no reason why you should not aspire to greatness. In joy, humility, and humbleness, work together. Only don't study art because-it will pay, and do not ask for payment because you study art. At will make. you all wiser and happier and is worth Paying fir; 'If you are in debt---as I suppose- you are, or 'why pester me ?—pay Off your debta yourselves.- If you write to me only that you may. get money you are on the foolishest of all errands.. Wisdom is more, precious than rubies, and is offered to you as a blessing in herself. She is the reward of industry, kindnese and modesty: She is the prize of prizes, the strength of your life now, and an earnest of the life that is -to come: This advice is better than money, and I give, it to you gratis. Ponder it, and profit
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