New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-09
KNIGHT OF THE OBVIOUS
From The Sketch.

tronhe al a music hall had brought the SUBJECT
forward There was nothing novel in the ques-
lion or pcrhaps i'm our handling Of 1t. but sub
scuucnt happenings made the conversation hlei',
orabc. What strikes me- said !. about an
these affairs is that the loss or HE IS que W "
omission Of some act that seems alter"dru
simnle and natural one People will do the
widest things to secure their own escape sonc-
times even TO compass that OF others put inc
nccdful and apparently obvious COuioc -
c@cIUoked."
Not so strange. perhaps" said Cambridge
who is 10y way Of being small poet; lin all de-
Jartments OF life the secret OF distinction - the
cultivation Of the obvious"
"What a pity il is that no one has thought OF
cutivating you' growled Chandos. VINO IS the
Kind Of man 10 whom commonplace becomes
none the less undressing for being stood upon
its head. IL s a fact that Cambridge, Tor all
his paradox is the most ''predictable' talker IN
the club. Given the subject, his remarks could
be reported in advance. Cambridge does not
SUSPECT this as he possesses a blind mans pain
full knack Of feeling his way along high roads
worn dusty by the thousand pedestrians that
have preceded him.
Take literature for instance" he continued
"A relish for the obvious is the qualification for
Immortality. Shakespeare uttCrs more plati-
tudes than an aviary OF modern songbrds. Iup-
per would have ranked beside him, but. for
mctrical originality. His matter was all right
There nothing fresh there"
THE trouble with modern Shakespeares." said
the president. lis not that they lack Obviors-
ness but that they are not visible"
We talking about pancs' said the
journalist. "AIl that is original in a man seems
to come to tie surface in moments of peril
Dickens knew that. and made Mr.. Tupman Uhe
most braness of all his characters) hit out
quite clever line for himself when Mr.. Pick
wick went through the ice. Mr. Tupman we
are told, ran across the country at his utmost
speed screaming Fire" with all his might"
No made remark. and the journalist,
after interval. continued.
Crowds have been known 10 stand by and let
a fcllow-creature drown before their eyes when
the means OF rescue were easy and To hand.
&c not eli hN cal
or even by cowardicc. The sudden crisis has
raused vast accession Of originality. The
minds Of the standcrs-ty are occupied with the
details Of a thousand fantastic rescuns. Such a
commonplace as The stretching out Of hand or
the throwing Of rope occurs to 10 one"
You should found an order OF kniehthood'
said the poet. your knghs-crIant TO be
pledged to relieve distressed humanity by not
going out Of their way"
II would take the vows, for one, sad
Chandos. II am sure that the order would be- "A
very good thing"
made "A chatting comment hut found To my
surprise that Chandos was quite serious he
was rather "A character. this man and a word
about him NAV not bc anISS particularly as h''
happens to Toe the hero of this ta.c. He was an
international watcr-poloist and a fair ail-rouhd
athlete. All his accomplishments were ply seal,
but his interests were mainly literary and spec
ulativc. He read little. Tut loved to hear books
and notions discussed. sporting talk bored hiil
Invariably lie should 10y rights have heen aieft
and hard beaded: instead. he waa absent minded
and dreamy to degree. This. combined win
:.
che had. for example. the lo al tnc-tabIe 10y
hcarD. made some think that in him success
ful literary man had been spoiled. walked
home that night with Chand"s ana got nearer
to knowing him than ! had done before VI
one subject. that Of his own piysical coui"s''
| found him mOrbidly Sclf-lntroslecllN'. IL
was more afraid of fear than any man ,itd
ever met. His sclf-rcsrect which was '"nslu 20
able seemed entirely tentative. II T'S''n Oh.
the assumption that ne was brave. point
which he admitted had never been brought 10
the test He asked for my opinion an
twci,d truthfu!ly that believed him I" possess
Uuitc a crcditable share Of pluck. o..
SO think" ne replied simply, or ! d"h |
know that should care 10 walk about when !
read Of men proving Themselves worthless III
time % ST. ess OF their leaving women ana ever.
email children TO fend for themselves, cannon
Aclp however, putting myself in Their shoes !
riciuro their feelings the day attcrward Think
what il must be 10 discover not only thal N".
arc q coward. but mat YOU have been one an
Nour life What arrears Of sclf-conternpt would
have TO ho made up, There wac nothing llke
mat vcu know in me old times. If man was
a coward be knew II. had learned The truth 10y
degrees and had become used to a. Nowadays
Tho information comes in one hdcoUs flash. and
finds YOU with the mental habits Of brave
man. Your attitude toward yourself then Is tha'
OF a hero regarding a pOltrcon.
a. but a very inconsiderahlo minority are
ever PIT 20 these fearful tests" said l. why
trouble about the natter
every few" said Ch&ndos "los' ihcir lives by
falling from great heights. yet thousands are
haunted by the dread Of il all their DAYS.
"Wha, was said tonight, he continued
gives nope that The modern man ~ not such
n funk as he seems, only more stupid ne B''s
Nurrcd and cannot think Of simple things.
swear if ever | get into Il mess. | VIII rack my
brain until | can think Of something utterly
commonplace.
"A knight Of the Obvious" replied, little
thinking how soon my companion would be
A.