Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-03-20
BETWEEN OURSELVES.

Do you suppose that Steele in his essays for
the ''Iattler''-wherein by the way he intro
duced the style of writing familiar, graceful,
and charming which is described and COM
prised in the French .feniHetom of the most
accomplished Frenchman of letters-do you
imagine that he was pestered by suspicious as
to the positive personality of his sitters in the
domain of fiction, and that his peace was in
vaded now and then by persons recognizing
their friends in the breezy sketches or worse
themselves?
Possibly he was called to account for his
realistic touches, and may be Goldsmith was
likewise badgered for papers of his "Citizen of
the World" while who knows but his "Vicar
of Wakefield" contained whole gallery of
offensive likenesses. Montaigne said "When
say /, ! mean you, you" Everyone knows
how this is themselves 1t isn't necessary to
expatate on the anaogies in human nature
and experience. Any sketch from real life
Will hit some one-pleasantly or Hnpleas-
antly. To have any value in truth it ought to
contain the pith of fidelity to some existing
model. There are books furnished with key
to make sure of the application of portraiture,
as in the case of Uncle Toms Cabin and the
Endymion of that Anticipated artist, my Lord
| Beaconsfeld.
Above and beyond any explanatory key is
| the undeniable Identification of q character
with peculiarities of some well-known person,
such as Harold skimpole with Leigh Hunt,
when Notwithstanding the exaggeration and
extravaganza with which Dickens tried to dis
guise it, still had the brutal justice of a pho
| tograph to the discerning.
So instances might be multiplied of this de-
scriptive adaptation to the individual Or the
locality, proving that whatever is sui generis
and no mistake-is always legihle and ap-
| plicable where 1t belongs.
| Except!
AS to the identity of that vague,
sagacious, caustic, and candid
oracle, Mrs. Harris, who says the pungent
things in this Sunday reception of the GLOBE.
There are more people clothed with this i'm
personal fame than there were birthplaces for
Homer after his renown was established.
Didn't Betsey Prig pugnaclously and incredu-
lousy assert that there was "no SIGH per-
son!" Instead of allowing Sairey Camp to
have her comforting imaginary conversations
with her invisible friend, which, alas, are
oftener quoted than those of Walter Savage
Landor, this gross materialist Of Betsey just
tramples on the incoporeal ally whose sayings
were aggravating to her as giving Mrs. Camp
too much consequence.
| Alas too, our Mrs. Harris is set upon not
as on-existent-not as making too little Of
her-but really making too much and too many
| of her. The dear soothsayer isn't any particu-
lar woman, but is multitudinous suggestion
of all womanhood in independent speech,
incisiveness Of tongue and trenchant wit.
| So, then, certain flavor Of mystery gives
some people constant piquancy of interest,
whether they are of the imaginary order, or
belong to actual life. In the one instance the
scrutiny is mainly for amusement, III the
other for salutary analysis.
Many individuals are incomplete intel
lectualy and financially In the requirements of
a certain set-yet there they are in the charmed
circle hobnobbing with the msgnates,
and admitted to such degree of familiarity as
presnpposes their outfit complete in every par
ticular. The mystery as to the managing
power is alone enough to maintain their in
terest.
| Every day we read and hear Of extraordinary
preferences of the great for the lowly. The
empress of Austria has an extravagant fond
ness for o beautiful circus girl named Eliza
beth, whose superb equestrianism won her
heart, and Matt Carpenter, dear, naughty,
great hearted Matt, was deeply attached TO
| Milwaukee barber.
These bizarre preferences are quite justifi-
able on the score of novelty, inasmuch as the
| ioh in fafi Il Gpd in
them compromising originality, and SINGER
ity The attempt is scarcely as happy when
the commonners force recognition from the
upper ranks, without any Of the inherent and
acquired aids to distinction in the sphere they
fain would compass.
IT'S very well to be taken up, but hazardous
to push unless the pushing is very adroit and
gentle.
Now there is u pertinacity which always
holds certain grounds, and is sure to win,
whether by an apparent gentle reciprocity
the unfailing allegiance of timid assent on all
| occasions, or by an active, and unignorabe
activity in social movements, amusements and
| the like.
The determination ia there in either guise--
| to carry more than the outposts. The Skin
mishing is with ambitious intent by passivity,
or activity.
Choir singing is a good entering WEDGE
and pronounced aptitude for assistance in
church charitable work is often as efficacious
as 1aucing. A man has just passed by, who
is underbred, disgustingly familiar, and down.
right illitera!e; yet by a vocal talent exerted
in fashionable church he has got into some
respectable society, and be has the privilege
ofiifting his hat to women who sometimes
wonder how they happen to know him.
| Introductions are often careessly given
which imply disagreeabe, and even serious
consequences. 1t would be the basis of a
good novel or a play to make the introductions
to the heroine the scheme of the plot, and the
climax of the drama. Either could be used
to develop an interesting characterization ac-
cordingly."
Well, as we were saying, the mystery invest
ing many persons is challenging in divers
| ways.
| In one case you speculate about an excessive
| toilette-n another about an income and again
you wonder how q few always get in
| VII yhara In doc b1o