Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-05-22
ONE GENT


An0 Ah@NGn&EONA NkShAput
A metaphor is always what its nama
implies--a transfer OF attention from
one thing TO another. Thercfcrc, 1t Il
always an interruption to the thought,
and in that fact lies the danger of tho
use of it or course. the sanp remark
IS still more applicable TO tho simile.
These are worse than superiluities when
not productive of one OF the following
results; They may serve for resting
places. So old Homer used them, his
similes being few in the portions of
varied narrative. and man times moro
numerous where combat follows combat
with but slight diversity As Lowell
says. a metaphor Is no argument,
though it is sometimes tho gGnpowder
10 drive one home and imbed II in tho
man. and gives illustration elsewhere
Ivy comparing Wordsworth In Certain
moods to man diligently intent ON
producing fire by the primitive method
of rubbing the dry sticks of his blank
verse one against tile other, whiio we
stand in shivering expectation of tho
fane that never comes. Metaphors
may teach may exp ess the thfught
more delicaiely and accurately tlan an
unornamented sentence possibly could;
as when Emerson said, @If thought IL
form, sentiment Ii COLOR" or, as In
Haweis's famous deliverancc. "dumor
is the electric atmosphere; wit Is tho
flash. AT whatever cost Of mental
anguish. thon, let us heroically expunge
ell metaphors and SMILES which do not
add to or illustrate the thought, and
which are not needed to enliyen tho
composition. We shall soon leQrn from
sad experience, 10 sympathize with
George Eiiots lamentation that "we can
20 seldom declare what thing Is except
by saying IL Is something else |" And we
who before had held with Dogberry, that
comparison are odorous" with Helicon
fragrance, shall begin to hold them, save
on rare occasions. odious indeed. Reti-
cence in the use of these literary orna-
mentswlll save us from the Queen Anne
cottage style of writing, the author of
which Is evidently less concerned with
the domicile than with It's bedizening.
1t will also save us from the ludi-
crous meshes of double metaphor, or
from such chimera like fantasies as O
SNAKE in rancor There are few writers
who would not be immonse~ gamers by
the careful reading Of the works Of a
single author such as Lowell, making
critfoal study Of the metaphors and
similes. their purpose In each place, and
the secret OF tlielr felicity. We should
find that though no portion OF the
authors labor requires and exhibits 30
wide and varied o knowledge as this,
yet the most effective metaphors and
sfmiles are the simplest Broad seeing
Is needed for the choice Of them, but
for their presentation a vision clear and
direct The excursions must be deftly
managed II they are not to blur our Inn
pressions Of the main Journey. For the
author, as well rs for the preacher,
Bushnell once laid down the~true met
aphor- gospel when he said: IF the
preacher has really something strong
enough to say to call in angels OF imagery
that excel In strength to help him say 1t,
there Is no kind Of sy nbol observed by
him, la heaven above or in earth beneath,
that will not be at hand TO lend him
wings and lift him into the necessary
heights of expression. But the moment
these aerial creatures begin 30 see that
they are wanted for garnish and not for
truths sake, they will hide like par
tridges in the bush. To sum up In
Baconian phrase In this matter Of
metaphors. reading and observation
makes full man, habits 81 thoughtful
comparison q ready man, energy and
singleness Of aiab an exact and effective
man. Il Amos r Wells, In The Writer
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