text:  We see in the almost adoration of his few admirers that if it be difficult and not always dependent on merit to attain to eminence in the world's estimation it is nearly as difficult altogether to fall from it; and that nothing the artist can do though they be the veriest "aegri somnia " will separate from him habitual followers who with a zeal in proportion to the extravagances he may perpetrate will lose their relish for and depreciate the great masters whose very principles he seems capriciously in his age to set aside and they will from followers become his worshippers and in pertinacity exact entire compliance and assent to every the silliest dictation of their monomania