Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-04-04
0ESERET EVENING NEWS
The TreaeIlerons Metaphor.

y metaphor is always what lis
name implies-a transfer Of atten-
ton from one thing 10 another.
Therefore, it is always an Interrupt
ton TO the thought. and in that fact
lies the danger of the use OF il. OF
course, the same remark is still
more applicable to the smile These
are worse than supeTfiuities when
not productive Of one Of the follow
ing results: They may serve for
resting places. So old Homer used
them, his SMILES being few in the
portions CT varied narrative, and
many times more numerous where
combat follows combat with hut
slight diversity. AS Lowell says,
"a metaphor is no argument,
comparing Wordsworth in GER
tain moods TO n man diligently
intent on producer g fire by the
primitive method Of rubbing the dry
Sticks of his blank verse one against
the other, while we stand in SILVER
ing expectation Of the flame that
never comes.'' Metaphors may
teach; may express the thought
more delicately and accurately than
an unornamented sentence possibly
could: rs when Emerson said: elf
thought is form sentiment Is color;;''
or, a. in Haweis' famous deliver
ance, s.Humor is the electric atmos-
phere: wit Is the fiash.' At what
over cost of mental anguish, then,
LET us herOically eXpunge all meta
phors and SMILES which do not add
to or illustrate the thought, and
which are not needed TO enliven
the composition. We shall soon
learn, from sad experience, TO
sympathize with George EliOt's
lanentation that "we can 50 sell
dom declare what thing
Is except ty saying il is
something else. And We who
before had held with Dogberry, that
sscomparisons are odorOus" with
Helicon fragrance, shall begin to
| hold them, save on rare occasions,
I otiiou- indeed. RaficenCe in the
use Of these literary ornaments will
save us from the Queen-Ane-cDttage
style of writing, the author Of which
is evidently less concerned with the
donicile than with it bedizening. 1t
! will also save us from tine ludicrous
meshes of the double metaphor, or
4 from such chimera-like fantasies as
ssHe was a lion in bravery, a bull
dog in determination, a fox IN craft,
and a snake in rancor." There are
few writers who would not lie i'm
mense gamers by the careful read
ing Of the works Of a single
author such as Lowell max
ing a critical study Of the
metaphors and SMILES, their pur-
nose in each place, and the secret Of
their felicity. We should find that
though no portion Of the authors
labor REQUIRES and exhibits 50 wide
ana varied knowledge rs this, yet
the most effective metaphors acd
smiles are the simplest. Broad
s,-ing is needed for the choice OF
them, but for their presentation a
vision clear and direct. The excur-
sions must be deity managed If they
r.. not to blur our impressions OF
fbe maip Journey. For the author,
as well as for the preacher, Bushnell
once laid down the true meiaphoi-
gospel when he said: "lf tiie
Preacher has really something
Strong enough to say to call in an
gels OF imagery that excel in strength
10 helm him to say it, there Is no
Kind of symbol observed by him,
in heaven above or in earth beneath,
that will not be at hand to lend him
wings and lift him into the neces-
sary heights Of expression. But the
moment these aerial creatures begin
TO see that they are wanted for gar
nish and not for truths sake, they
will hide cartridges in the BUSH" 10
sum UP in Baconian phrase In
this matter Of metaphors, reading
and observation make a full man,
habits Of thoughtful comparison
ready man, energy and singieness oil
aim an exact and effective man.,
Amos II. Wells, sB The Wrier.