1032
PARTISAN REVIEW
prehensive political organizations- from the detached scrutiny of
the abstract intelligence. Often one encounters an almost inextricable
confusion of conservative and conservationist intentions, although
there can be no question that in both instances the museological
activity itself is one and the same thing.
For this reason it is perhaps best to ignore all questions of inten–
tion and to look upon the matter as the consequence of the workings
of nature, or of some obscure instinct; and above all we should never
rely on the explanations contemporary man makes of his own endeav–
ors. Seen thus, the intimate relation between our museological empire
and the great religions of death and the grave becomes apparent, and
would be even more apparent if parts of our collections were trans–
ferred to subterranean vaults. In the museological passion the necro–
philic aspect of our science stands revealed-a disposition to force
life into static and inviolate forms, and also perhaps to draw up a
gigantic and meticulous catalogue that would furnish future genera–
tions with a true picture of even the obscurest stirrings of our existence.
When science joins hands with the museum, the former is
diverted from its customary purpose and loses, in the technological
sphere, that suspiciousness which it otherwise manifests; in the world
of the museum neither patents nor a fear of espionage exist. Whatever
the difficulties increasingly put in the way of people traveling about,
in the museological sphere there is an unimpeded circulation of
objects and information; everywhere a perfect harmony as to prin–
ciples and procedures prevails, such as once distinguished those re–
ligious orders whose establishments were to be found in every country
and kingdom. In a world where we are only too prompt to cut each
other's throat in our bickerings about the social contract, there are
places as untouched by the turmoil of society as the oasis of Jupiter
Ammon.
Museums and cemeteries are alike, moreover, in their general
exemption from criticism, as one can readily gather from the attitudes
and facial expressions of their visitors. In the desire to endure a great
force is contained; one can even feel it if one takes in one's hands
an object that human solicitude has cherished for a thousand years,
particularly if it is some great and culminating masterpiece. Our
great collections are citadels of persuasiveness-and in so far as the
human condition is crystallized and made visible in them, extremely
