The Kanzas news., 1859-03-26
How to Tall q storv..

How to Tail q Story.
Don't you know, my reader not enserss6
IN the ways of life. that it depends entirely
on how the story is told. how the thing Is
represented or misrepressnted. whether your
conduct On any given occasion shaA appsag
heroic or ridiculous, reasonable or absurd.
natural or affected. modest or impudents--
And don't you know. too. what vast num-
Der of in-set people are always ready to
give the story the unfsvorabls turn. TO put
the matter in the bad light; and how many
more, not really ill-set. not really with any
malicious intention. are prompted by thsir
love of fun, In relating any act of any &C.
quaintsnce. to try to set it in ridiculous
light? Your domestic establishment u
shabby or unpretendfng. elegant or tzWdry.
just IS the fancy of the moment may lead
your neighbor 70 put the thing. Your
equipage is 9 neat little turnout, or q shab-
by attempt, your house is quiet or dull.
yourself genius or blockhead, just - it
may strike your friend on the instant to put
the thing. And don't We ali know some
people-not bad people in the Enain-who
never BY any chance put the thing except
in the uufayorable way2 Some people have
a happy knack for putting in pleasant way
everything that concerns themselves. Mf.
AS son gets poor plscs az bank clerk:
his father goes about saying that the lGd
young man is ordained, and gets curacy
on Salisbury plain; his father rejoices thst
there. never seeing human face. he has
abundant leisure for study, and for irnProv-
ing his mind. Or, the curacy is in the
most crowded part of Manchester or Beth
nelgreen; the father now rejoices thst his
son has opportunities of acquiring clerical
experience. and of visiting the homes of
the poor. Such q mans house is in well.
wooded country; the situation is delightful
ly sheltered. He removes to bare dis
trict without a tree-ahl there be has beau-
tifui pure air and extensive views. Il is
well for human beings when they have the
pleasant art of thus putting things; for
many, we all know, have the art of putting
things in just the opposite way. They look
at all things through jaundiced eyes; and
as things look to themselves, so they put
them to others. You remember, reader.
how once upon time David Hume, the
historian. kindly sent Rousseau present of
a dish of beefsteaks. Rousseau fred at
this; he discerned in it deep-laid insult;
he put it that Hume. by sending the steaks.
meant TO insinuate that be, Rousseau, could
not afford to buy proper food for himself
All, / have known various Rousseaust-
They had not the genius, indeed, but they
hal all the ngheadedness. It seems
to me that in the case Of many of those
fne things which stir the heart and bring
moisture to the eye, it depends entirely on
the way in which they are put, whether they
shall strike us as pathetic or silly, as sub
lime or ridiculous. The venerable aspect
of the dethroned monarch, led in the tri-
umphal procession of tie Roman Empire,
and looking indiferently on the scene, as
he repeated often the words of Solomon,
Vanity. vanity. all is vanity" depends
much for the effect it always produces on
the reader upon the stately yet touching
fashion in which Gibbon tells the story
So with Hazlett's often recurring accouut
of Poussin's celebrated picture, the '.Et in
Arcadia Ego" AS for Burke hinging his
dagger upon the floor of the House Of Com
mons, and Brougham falling on his knees
in the House of Peers. what ridiculous
representation Puncb could give of such
things. What shall be said of Addison. Oft
en- Gpsy in life. yet passing away with the
words addressed to his regardless step-son
See in what peace Christian can die!''
We need not think of things which were
essentially ridiculous. though their perpe-
traitors intended them to be sublime; ss
Lord Ellenborough's proclamation about
the Gates of Somnauth, Sir William Cod
rington's despatch as to the blowing up of
Sebastopol, and all the grand passages in
the writings of Sir A. Alison. A striking
instance of the effect of putting things may
be found in the diary of Warren Hastings.
The great governor general always insisted
that his conduct of Indian affairs had been
just and benefcent, and that the charges
brought by Burke and Sheridan we're with
out foundation in truth. He declared that
he had that conviction in the center of his
being; that he was as sure OF it as Of HE
own existence. But as he listened TO the
opening speech Of Burke. he tells us he
saw things in new light. He felt the
spell IN ahich the great orator put things.
Could this really be the right way? ssFor
half an hour" says Hastings. 81 looked up
at Burke, in a reveTie of wonder. and du-
ring that time ] actually felt myself ths
most guilty being upon eaFthl" But Has.
tings added that he did what the boy who
has played truant does-he took refuge in
his own way Of putting things. 81 recur.
red to my own heart, and there found what
sustained me under all this aecusasion."@-
Erazer's Nagazins.: .eTAs Art Of PstAtiag
1Aings."