The paper also deals with the influence of the poets on society and morals. This is a most delicate and difficult subject to reach, especially in our present stage* of historical ignorance. But we are not altogether wanting in materials. Once we are able to arrange and understand the historical strata of Gujaráti poetry, the next work would be to decipher the secrets of social condition imbedded therein. Cpnnect the result of this process by the light of the history of Gujaràt as also of the whole of which it forms but a fraction in different aspects and we arrive at information of no mean value. If we can add to this an acquaintance with the actual, social and domestic conditions of the people among whom the poets lived and sang, we may be able to realize the latest evolutions of the influence of the poets by comparing the present with the recent past, and that past with its predecessor and so on until we are able, by putting together link after link of the progress of ages, to form a conception of some whole.
The pursuit of a method of this kind must ever be a work of time and energy. The writer of the present paper is fully alive to the defects in application of this method as also the poorness of the result of to small labours. But, in matters like these one may plead an exception to the rule that he who professes to edify readers must first have fully edified himself. The exception may apply when one writes with the humble object of inviting co-operation and inspiring fellow-labourers. The attainment of such an aim can hardly be despaired of in these days of University education. G. M. TRIPATHI.
