This Æstheticism, as it has gradually come to be known, is the reaction from Kingsley's muscular Christianity. Exaggerated muscular Christianity, in its crusade against canting and whining religion, in its bold attempt to show that the practice of true religion was for men, as well as for women, trampled on the Christian Lily, emblem of perfect purity; and what Athleticism trod under foot, Æstheticism picked up, cherished, and then, taking the sign for the reality, paid to it the extravagant honours of a Pagan devotion; and the worship of the Lily was substituted for the veneration paid to the sacred character, in whose hand Christian Art had originally placed it. To this was added the worship of the Peacock's Feather. It is this false Æstheticism which we have persistently attacked, and will persistently attack to the bitter end, and henceforward those who misunderstand us do so wilfully, and it may be maliciously. [Illustration: ACUTE CHINAMANIA MAY: "Mamma! Mamma! _Don't go_ on like this, _pray_!!" MAMMA (_who has smashed a favourite pot_): "What have I got left to live for?" MAY: "Haven't you got _me_, Mamma?" MAMMA: "_You_, child! _You're not_ unique!! There are six of you--a complete set!!"] [Sidenote: _Whistler and Ruskin_] _Punch_ was justified in deploring the opportunism of Millais in painting "pot-boilers" and "pretty-pretty" pictures, such as "Bubbles." He had powerful and well-equipped allies in his view that Whistler in his later manner left off painting or etching where the difficulties began, a view expressed in the lines in 1883 on "Whistler in Venice":-- Whistler is "Niminy-Piminy," Funny, fantastic, and quaint. Yet he's so clever that Jimmy nigh Makes men believe he can paint. What of his works? Why, each etching is Only at present half done, And on the copper the sketching is Simply a wild piece of fun. Vainly the Critics will sit on him, Why such a butterfly slay? No one can e'er put the bit on him-- Whistler's the wag of the day. Yet _Punch_ thought Ruskin had gone too far in the famous onslaught which led to the historic lawsuit and verdict in 1878:-- To John Ruskin (On a recent Verdict) If "_Fors Clavigera_," dear Slade Professor, Means "Force that bears a club," Be warned, since of a big stick you're possessor, And more discreetly drub. Strength unrestrained's not greater strength but lesser, And scorn provoketh snub.