The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-05-16
(From the New York SUM

(From the New York SUM
A German satlrist has said that there Is
no eighth commandment in art, and that
the poet and man of letters may help him
self wherever he finds material suited to
him; that he may even appropriate eu-
tire columns with their carved capitals,
if the temple he thus supports be beauti-
full and artistic. This seems to be the
ethics of plagiarism enunciated by Sheri-
dan, who, In his s'Critic," makes one of
his characters say:
Steal 10 be sure they may, and, egad
serve your best thoughts as gypsiGs dc
stolen children-disfgure them to make
em pass for their own.
There have been some notable instances
of wholesale plagiarism which have far
exceeded the limits of even Sheridan's
ethics. tragic poet, addicted to pla
giarism, read work to Alexis Piron, in
which he had introduced several bor-
rowed verses. While the poet was read
ing Piron frequently took off his hat
and made low bow.
"What is the reason,' said the pilfer-
liz DOOpy VI JOOL 5AIe5idA OOutfAO4 Al
lifting and bowling SO frequently?"
"My conduct" replied Piron, sis not
singular, for it is always my custom to
make bow whenever I meet any Of my
old acquaintanoes.
Alexander Pope published the first
edition of his Essay on Man" anony-
mously, and the authorship was imne-
diately claimed by certain scribe of
Grub street. The audacious claimant
met Pope one day and asked:
Chow did you like that last poem of
mine in my Essay onBManp Don't you
think it pretty, considering that it was
written one afternoon while I was skulk-
ing from the bailiffW
90 Pom my honor" replied Pope, II
think it 1rst-rate performance, and
intend to claim it as my own at some
fitting opportunity
A similar story is related regarding the
first production of George Eliot. The
possessor of this pseIdonym was not rec
ognized at first. In the meantime d
Clergyman in the neighborhood Of Lean
iugton allowed himself to be credited
with the authorship
DR.. Richard Roit, who, after losing
mis- place in the excise by joining the
rebel army in 1745. lived or some time in
Ireland and eventually became a great
writer, once got an early copy of AIKEN
sides pleasures of the Imagination"
ana published it as his own. The Rev.
Mr.. Innes did similar thing with DR..
Campbell's Authenticity of Gospel His
tory" but in this instance the reverend
thief was rewarded with fat living as
token Of gratitude from patron who
read the book before the robbery was dis.
covered.
There have been some curious instances
of clerical plagiarism. Dean Swift in
the course of 3le of those journeys to
Holy head which 1t ia we'll known be per-
formed several times on foot, was travel
ing through the little town Of Church
Stretton, in Shropshire, and put up at
the Crown Inn. Finding the landlord
genial and communicative. he inquired If
there was any agreeable person in the
town whom he might invite to partake
of dinner. The innkepeer replied that
the curate of the parish, the Rev. Mr..
Jones, was very agreeable, companion
able man, and could not, he supposed,
have any Objection to spend few hours
with gentleman Of the Deans appear
ance. Dean Swift directed him to wait
on Mr.. Jones with his com pliments, and
say that Traveller would be glad to be
favored with his company at the Crown,
if it were agreeable. When Mr.. Jones
and the Dean had dined the former made
an apology for leaving, saying that at
O'Clock he nad to read prayers and
prsach at the church,. The Dean replied
that he would also attend prayers. The
service being ended, and the two gentle
men having resumed their social inter-
course at the Crown, the Dean began to
compliment Mr.. Jones ON his delivery
of very appropriate sermon. and re-
marked that it must have cost him MI.
Jones) some time and labor to compose
such good sermon. The curate observed
that his duties were rather laborious, as
he served another parish church at a dis
tance, and that he had not much time at
his disposal for the composition OF SER