MR. WENTWORTH
_Dead?_ A great masterpiece _dead_?
JOE
Of course. No man lives forever. Nobody that was ever born was useful
enough to live forever. The bigger a man is the longer his influence is
creative, in art and everything else, but the time always comes when his
value is spent. When the world needs a new influence.
SILVIA
It's really wonderful, Mr. Wentworth, how knowing the truth about art
shows one the truth about other things. When I remember what I used to
believe!
MR. WENTWORTH
But see here, young man, you wouldn't do away with the _Louvre_, would
you? Why, what would happen if these ideas were carried out....
JOE
No, I wouldn't do away with it. Why should I? If to burn it down would
wake people up to _life_, I'd do it in a minute. But it wouldn't. They
would only sanctify the superstition and make it immortal. No, leave the
Louvre as it is. It's really quite useful.
MR. WENTWORTH
But good gracious! _Useful?_
JOE
Yes. Like history. To do away with the Louvre would be to destroy a part
of history. There's no good doing that.
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