The MOving Finger

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 66, 14 June 1912, Page 15

The MOving Finger

Tho French language had no charms for John Wesley. A glance at Voltaire set him running on in this strain: "I was more than over convinced that tho French is the poorest, meanest language in Europe; that it is no more comparable to the German or Spanish than a bagpipe is to an organ; and that with regard to poetry in particular, considering the incorrigible niloouthncsK of their measures, and their always writing in rhyme (to say noth".-,g Of their vile double rhymes, nay, and frequent fa No rhymes), it Is as impossible to write a fine poem in French as to jnakc fine music upon a Jew's harp." * * # * "Who would not like to write something which all can read, like 'RobinSon Crusoe?'" Emerson remarked in conversation ono timo with Thoreau. "Crusoe" delights everybody, realist and romanticist alike, because it is a story—with shipwreck, savages, and unusual adventures through which tho reader lives inside of Robinson's goatskin duds. * » * How little it profits one to lead the purely strenuous life is thus prettily sung by W. H. Davies in on* of his "Songs of Joy":— "What is this life if, full of care, fiVe have no time to stand and stare? "No time to stand beneath tho boughs And stare a3 long as sheep or cows. •'No time to sco, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass. "No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like skies at night. *'No time to turn at Beauty's glance And watch her feet, how they can dam "No time to wait till her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began. "A poor life this if, full of care, We have no lime to stand and stare." * *■ * Conninghame Graham, the wellknown Socialist and author, is said to write tbe worst "hand" of any living author. His "copy" is tho despair of printers. On one occasion Mr. Graham wrote a letter for publication in one of the newspapers. When printed tho letter exhibited some marked divergences from the original. Mr. Graham was moved to remonstrate. The editor published tlie remonstrance in a subsequent issue, and with it the following comment: "If in futuro Mr. Graham will sit in a chair when writing, and not on horseback, and uso a pen instead of the caudle-snuffers, we. think wo may be able to do him justice." "The American dramatist ends his play at (he altar; the French dramatist begins his situations at tho honeymoon." —Charles Frohman. * * * Our life is a book, and our actions arc the illustrations. * * The Yankees havo practically driven *rt and literature out of New England. If they havo any feeling they are unable to express it, and because of this frigid reticence humor is welcomed by all classes. It is the only thing that keeps them from freezing UP-—"Juvenal." * * * Blessing be with them, and eternal praise, Who gave, us nobler loves and nobler cares, The poets who on earth have made us heirs Of truth and pure delight of heavenly lays.—Wordsworth. * * # It is not what a man eats that does him good, but what he assimilates; not jvhat he reads, but what ho thinks. * • • The late Henry Labouchere, though he was an exponent of personal journalism (tlie "I" appearing everywhere in "Truth" instead of the editorial "we") was never punctilious about having his cony sub-edited by his subordinates. "It has always appeared to mc," he said, "that tho making of an article requires two persons —one to write it, the other to cut it 'down —and generally to cut out what tho first man most admires." „ - a BROWNING. Some, books of verse ate liko a garden fair. Where brilliant flowers from careful culture grow, Shining with rainbow hues, row after row, £acu a spoilt beau.v with her haughty air. Boasting, "Can you find aught like mo elsewhere ?'' Or, like a gentle stream doth swift!v flow. Singing its song, melodious and low, Guided throughout that garden with nice care. Not so, the songs which thou hast left the earth. In some great forest we havo walked with theo Sphere mighty trees, giant shrubs, and wild flowers spring; Broad rivers, ships of many nations bring To that huge town whero thou hast had thy birth, SVhoso verse sings all tho world's intensity. —W. H. Winter, 8.A., B.D. # * » Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other bountrios because you wero born in it. »— Bernard Shaw. • v • The man who maunders about his 'Ap&x old mother in a pub. probably lots Ker go out washing for • '•'• ; ng-— "Bulfetiir."-