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The Artist of the Beautiful
Thishorrorwaspartlyowingtothesizeandterribleenergyoftheironlaborer;forthecharacterofOwen’smindwasmicroscopic,andtendednaturallytotheminute,inaccordancewithhisdiminutiveframeandthemarvelloussmallnessanddelicatepowerofhisfingers.Notthathissenseofbeautywastherebydiminishedintoasenseofprettiness.Thebeautifulideahasnorelationtosize,andmaybeasperfectlydevelopedinaspacetoominuteforanybutmicroscopicinvestigationaswithintheamplevergethatismeasuredbythearcoftherainbow.But,atallevents,thischaracteristicminutenessinhisobjectsandaccomplishmentsmadetheworldevenmoreincapablethanitmightotherwisehavebeenofappreciatingOwenWarland’sgenius.Theboy’srelativessawnothingbettertobedone—asperhapstherewasnot—thantobindhimapprenticetoawatchmaker,hopingthathisstrangeingenuitymightthusberegulatedandputtoutilitarianpurposes.
PeterHovenden’sopinionofhisapprenticehasalreadybeenexpressed.Hecouldmakenothingofthelad.Owen’sapprehensionoftheprofessionalmysteries,itistrue,wasinconceivablyquick;buthealtogetherforgotordespisedthegrandobjectofawatchmaker’sbusiness,andcarednomoreforthemeasurementoftimethanifithadbeenmergedintoeternity.
