The manner in which most artists form an idea, or project their minds to a plan or invention, be it a statue or picture; and the way they think it over and anticipate it—­very often actually seeing the picture in a finished state in imagination—­all amounts to foresight and hypnotic preparation in a crude, imperfect form.  If any artist who is gifted with resolution and perseverance will simply make trial of the method here recommended, he will assuredly find that it is a great aid to Invention.

It is probable that half the general average cleverness of men is due to their having learned, as boys, games, or the art of making something, or mending and repairing.  In any case, if they had learned to use their hands and their inventiveness or adaptability, they would have been the better for it.  That the innumerable multitude of people who can do nothing of the kind, and who take no real interest in anything except spending money and gossiping, are to be really pitied, is true.  Some of them once had minds—­and these are the most pitiful or pitiable of all.  It is to be regretted that novels are, with rare exceptions, written to amuse this class, and limit themselves strictly to “life,” never describing with real skill, so as to interest anything which would make life worth living for—­except love—­which is good to a certain extent, but not absolutely all in all, save to the eroto-maniac.  And as most novelists now pretend to instruct and convey ideas, beyond mere story-telling, or even being “interesting,” which means the love or detective business, I would suggest to some of these writers that the marvelous latent powers of the human mind, and also some art which does not consist of the names and guide-book praises of a few great painters and the Renaissance rechauffee would be a refreshing novelty.

The ancient Romans were thoroughly persuaded that Exercitatione et usu (by exercising the physical faculties in every way; by which they meant arts as well as gymnastics; and by making such practice habitual) they could develop intellect, in illustration of which Lycurgus once took two puppies of the same litter, and had the one brought up to hunt, while the other was nursed at home in all luxury; and when grown, and let loose, the one caught a hare, while the other yelped and ran away.  So the word handy, in old English hend, meaning quick, alert, or gifted with prompt perception, is derived from knowing how to use the hands.  BRUSONIUS ("Facetiae,” Lyons, 1562) has collected a great number of classic anecdotes to illustrate this saying.

Recapitulation.  Those who desire to become artists, can greatly facilitate their work, if beginning for example with very simple outline decorative designs, and having learned the principles on which they are constructed, they would repeat or revise them to themselves before sleep, resolving to remember them.  The same principle is applicable to all kinds of designs, with the proviso that they be at first very easy.  This is generally a very successful process.