MUSICAL COMPOSITION

164 MUSICAL COMPOSITIONBet himself a more exacting problem. All such experiments,however, are worth trying, provided that areference to past history does not show (as it oftendoes) that they have been made before and foundwanting. These side-paths of the art are attractive asa relief from the high roads, but they are apt to endin an impasse and II. retracing of the footsteps. Theroad may be sometimes dusty and sometimes heavy,but it was made by the experience of our forefathers,who found out the best direction for ensuring ourprogress. It is the road which enables us to reach theBide-paths; and to that road, unless we wish deliberatelyto be lost in the wilderness, we must return.The track itself may seem monotonous, but it is evergiving us new views of the scenery, and varied outlooksupon the country tnrough which we pass as wetread it.