WRITERS of books of criticism during the neo-classical
period were fond of refining on the idea of decorum; at
times they developed this idea on what one may term a
continental scale and contrasted the decorous or typical
European with the decorous or typical Asiatic. Specula-
tions of this kind are not as fantastic as they at first
sight appear. One may not only become aware of some
underlying divergence in the temper of the Asiatic as
compared with that of the European, but, to some ex-
tent, formulate it. In speaking, however, of Asia it is
even more important than in speaking of Europe to
make clear that one has in mind primarily civilized Asia,
and civilized Asia at the top of its achievement. The
hordes of barbaric or semi-barbaric Asia have not only
menaced or actually overrun Europe in the past (as they
may very well do again in the future), but have also been
from remote times the scourge of civilized Asia. In an-
cient Judæa the memory of these wild northern riders
lingered in the legends of Gog and Magog. The great
Wall of China is a sort of visible symbol of the separa-
tion between the two Asias. On the one hand is the Asia
of Attila and Tamerlane and Genghis Khan; on the
other, the Asia of Christ and Buddha and Confucius.

The mention of Christ and Buddha (of Confucius as a
typical Asiatic I shall have more to say presently) is

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