From The Spectator.

THE LITERARY SIN OF SINGULARITY.
WHY is it that most people are affected

evidence, however, was conclusive, and a real disease, from which he died in a the jury convicted him. The court, in few days. view of his speedily being called to a higher tribunal, instead of sentencing him to the state prison, simply imposed a small fine, which his brother, who manifested the utmost fraternal solicitude, promptly paid. The next day the prosecuting attorney met the fellow apparently in good health on the street. The latter in a curiously unpleasant way, - unpleaslaughingly told him that he had recovered, ant and irritating, but without either the and dropping his arm, and contracting anguish or the solacement of great and his leg, hopped off, leaving the learned dignified pain, by what is new-fangled? › counsel to his own reflections. This adjective we take to indicate innovaIt is, however, a rare thing nowadays tion which is unnecessary, capricious, and for a clinical artist to attain his end and accompanied by no demonstrable imenjoy the full fruition of his labours. In provement upon what went before. Is most cases he has no other reward than the unpleasantness of arbitrary innovation the pleasure received from the exercise due to a lurking conservatism in every of his art. This æsthetic satisfaction breast, which instinctively throws the would need to be great to enable him to onus probandi upon him who substitutes bear even the prosaic hardships and dis- the new for the old? Or is it that mere comforts of his lot. But in addition to habit, and the profound, though unreathese, he is sometimes overtaken by a soned wisdom of keeping the inevitable species of poetical justice in the shape of friction of life at a minimum, lend a a penalty paid in kind. The feigned dis- charm to the old as compared with the ease, in fact, occasionally becomes a real new? Even if it were allowed that habone. Montaigne mentions some curious it makes fools of us, yet habit's fools are instances of this occurring within his too numerous to be despised; and the own experience. It is chiefly in simulat- fools of habit have as much right to their ing the class of nervous diseases that the prejudices as the coxcombs of the schools danger lies of this avenging Nemesis. to their affectations. What is quite cerThe continued repetition of the manifes-tain is, that sudden change from what we tations of the affection seems eventually are accustomed to, unless pointedly for to make an ineradicable impression on the better, is fidgetting; and no man can the nervous centres. Two French sailors be pronounced without qualification a taken prisoners by the English in the public benefactor, who adds to the fidgets wars of the First Napoleon, successfully of existence. An amount of deference to feigned insanity for six months, and at the feelings of the majority, rigorously the end of that period got the reward of limited, no doubt, by the requirements of their clever deception by recovering their duty and self-respect, but still consideraliberty; but it was at the expense of their ble, falls within the claims of social reason, which was really gone. The courtesy. A lawyer's wig may be an exmeans adopted to simulate one disease tremely foolish thing, and anyone setting have sometimes produced another of a forth that it has neither utility nor beauty more serious kind. Soldiers have so would, if he spoke well, deserve a hearpersistently kept up a state of irritation ing; but were a sucking barrister to start in a factitious sore as to bring on a dis-up suddenly in court and commence ease which required amputation of the pleading a case without a wig, no degree limb. Others have lost their sight by of rationality in the proceeding itself, no the methods taken to induce a temporary engaging audacity of countenance inflammation in the eye. The historian splendour of hair, would preclude his beRobertson mentions a case which, ing voted a prig. whether true or not, is, at all events, physiologically possible. He says that Pope Julius III. feigned sickness to avoid holding a consistory, and in order to give the greater colour of probability to his illness, he not only confined himself to his apartment, but changed his diet and usual mode of life. By persisting in this plan, however, he contracted

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It must be admitted that authors of great genius have not always been sufficiently regardful of what we stoutly maintain to be one of the rights of inan, the right not to be fidgetted. Mr. Carlyle, for example, has in all his books paraded certain German mannerisms, with merciless unconcern for the habitudes of common English readers. All substantives, for

Morley remarks, for example, that "in the old ages of holy men there were not a few whom love for the god whom they had not seen, constrained to active love of their brethren whom they had seen," an antithesis borrowed from the New Testament. The term is constantly occurring in Mr. Morley's pages, and whenever it occurs, a minute prick of surprise and irritation will certainly be experienced by a large proportion of English readers.

one thing, or almost all, were initialed | ble volumes on Rousseau, we have been with capital letters, a usage peculiarly un- conscious of a perpetual small irritation fortunate for Mr. Carlyle, whose meta- from his elaborate scorn for some of those phors are those of a poet, and who was modes or usages which, to the best of our under no temptation to personify the knowledge, have been uniformly observed beautiful with the assistance of a big B. by English authors. Mr. Morley denies Mr. Carlyle, however is not only a man of the capital letter to a number of words genius, but a man whose genius is recog- which have always been so honoured. nized as a special, personal quality, and Not only does he write " "trinity " and there is some fairness therefore in look-"christian," but "god." We have "being upon him as a privileged person. lief in god," "love of god," "the idea of Younger men who have not proved them- god," "the word of god," the "supreme selves to possess transcendent genius, being." The word "god" is thus printed have no right to give themselves airs. It in phrases taken from the Bible. Mr. may in all candour be doubted whether the meaning of some of these would not generally be clear enough, without our being informed that the realities of which they treat are "objective," or the ideas they define "subjective." Philosophical precision may be promoted by the use of the terms "egoistic" and "altruistic," but a good many of the budding sages who perpetually introduce them might make shift with our old-fashioned friends, "selfish and "unselfish." Occasionally the ped- On the mere ground that it is new-fanantry takes the form of fastidious ex-gled, this innovation is objectionable, but clusiveness put in force against a particu- we venture to affirm that it lies open to lar word. The adjective "reliable," for graver exceptions than can be based on instance, has of late been fiercely ostra- its uncalled-for newness. Is Mr. Morley cised by our literary coxcombs, and it re- sure that the usage he adopts is in a quires some boldness in a writer to de- grammatical sense correct? Does the cline to substitute for it in every connec- word "god convey the meaning which, tion the word "trustworthy." Both are in some cases at least, he must intend it excellent words, but in meaning they are to bear? He is doubtless of opinion that not absolutely identical. There is a faint belief in a living God is so completely shade of difference between the signifi- obliterated from the minds of men that cance of the one and the significance of the word is a mere cipher for certain abthe other. You speak of an official trust-stract notions, as the word "freedom worthy in all situations, and of a soldier the word "patience" is a cipher for cerreliable in every emergency. The one tain abstract notions. He infers, thereword leans on permanence and the quali- fore, that the word "God" is not a propties which create deliberate confidence, er name. His premiss we need hardly the other is suggestive of qualities re- say, appears to us a wild as well as false quired in startling difficulty and sudden assumption; but even if it were correct, danger. Of the two, however, "reliable" there remains a sense in which the word strikes us as the more comprehensive. is a proper name. There is none other You speak of a trustworthy merchant, but by which to designate the object of worof a reliable man. Even if it is insisted ship reverenced by Christians, as disthat the two words mean the same thing, tinguished from Mahometans, Jews, or we refuse to admit that one of them ought Chinese. Mr. Morley may say that there to be on that account drummed out of the are no Christians; but even he will adlanguage. English, as compared, for ex-mit that there once were; and he has left ample, with German, is not particularly himself no term by which to specify the rich in terms, and a variation of sound is Divinity worshipped by St. Paul and St. sometimes only a less advantage than an Bernard. He must have recourse to some additional touch of meaning. such ugly circumlocution as "the chris

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Mr. John Morley is no literary coxcomb tian god." The Being referred to in the or dainty academical pedant, and has Biblical phrases which Mr. Morley quotes something much better than crotchetty-the Being worshipped in Europe in the egotism by which to command the atten- medieval time—is, on any showing, as tion of readers; but in perusing his forci- real as the mythological personages of the

ing the parson, beadle and clerk; of be-behaved to dear Harry (dear Harry is stowing a gratuity on the wet-nurse, and your godson's brother), for whom a nomof paying for all the vehicles which have ination has been obtained at the Bluetransported an enthusiastic tribe of female friars' school regardless of expense. At relatives to the church. However, every this don't frown, or wish anybody off to year has its wet days, and if you have been Beersheba; for, after all, why should your admired for your generosity, praised for poor little wretch of a godchild be comyour good-nature, and have surmounted pelled to hang his head among his breththe kissing of the baby, you may go to ren at possessing a curmudgeon godbed with the idea that this sort of thing father? Set off at once for Redfriars does not occur every day. No; but eleven School, which is a more luxurious place months after, or near abouts, it cannot than Bluefriars; pay up the entrance fees but gratify you to be invited to the cele- as though you liked it; and if the grateful bration of your godson's birthday, and to father, whilst thanking you for your kindbe assured that the dear child is growing ness, express a doubt as to whether he so lovable and intelligent in every way. can afford to keep dear Tommy at so This suggests a second present, and what crack an academy as this, assure him can you give? The dilemma begins to loom without pulling a face that you had all ahead clear and unavoidable. If you offer along contemplated taking the expenses something valuable this year you must of dear Tommy's education on your own continue to do so every year under pain shoulders. That is the way to do busiof being thought to evince a diminishing ness; and depend upon it your godson interest in an innocent child who has will show his gratitude. He will never done nothing to deserve neglect; if, on omit to call upon you for a tip before gothe other hand, you pay your respects with ing back to school; he will let you know a fluff ball or a few sticks of barley sugar, when he thinks the time come for buying how escape the humiliating conviction him a watch; and if you visit him during that your best friend will regret not hav- his school half, regale him with a dinner, ing confided the office of godfather to a and offer him a couple of sovereigns; you person more regardful of the decencies of may be persuaded he will welcome you life and of the obligations incurred at the with affability and describe you to his font? Be a man under such circum- comrades as a brick which, as things stances; remember that you can do very go, is a fair return for the money. Possiwell without that new double-barrelled bly, however, when later you are dragged breech-loader you had set your heart on; into a disbursement of capital to afford and go to the jeweller, who will help you Tommy a fair start in life, it may occur to select something chaste and appropri- to you that, at this price, you might just ate, highly suitable for a wedding or birth- as well have married and begotten a son day present. Of course, if you are sus- of your own. But pray dismiss this notion. pected to be very well off, this will not In the first place, it is too late to recall always be deemed enough. Certain spon- what is past; and in the next place, think sors, imbued with the responsibilities of how delighted you would have been to their mission, invest a fixed sum in the have a godfather do for you what you are funds every year in their godchildren's doing for Tommy. names; and you may generally venture It is well to remark here that the man upon a similar course without any fear who discharges his first duties as a godthat cold water will be thrown on so happy father with spirit and liberality will proban idea. At this time, though, you may count ably find himself obliged to stand sponupon a period of comparative immunity. sor on many subsequent occasions. Good You pay your yearly tribute, send a gift of godfathers are, indeed, quoted in the sograpes and a note of congratulation when cial share list quite as highly as good your little protégé recovers from the mea- dinner givers and smart croquet-players. sles; but no extra taxation will be laid Well-stuffed seats are provided for them upon you till towards the tenth birthday. in places of festive resort, mothers of The godson is then growing apace; he is families are pleased to see them looking blessed with an appetite which may cause so healthy, great care is taken to enuyou to meditate upon those sinful lusts of merate to them all the moral imperfections the flesh which he was to be free from; of any lady they may have thought of and his parents display an affectionate marrying, and they are generally saddled anxiety for consigning him to a school- with a pretty goddaughter or two in admaster, hinting, as they announce this, dition to their godsons. Now, goddaughhow generously another godfather has ters open to spheres of activity and dis

bursement which remain unexplored in greeable, and it takes a good many pairs the case of boys. Boys cannot appeal to of worsted slippers to make one forget the softer side of one's nature with wors- the purchase and furnishing of a semi-deted slippers which they have worked with tached villa at Richmond. But then, be their own hands. If they want to go to it recollected, sponsorship was never inAscot or Wimbledon they can well go intended to be a vain amusement; and if alone, without asking you to convey them a godfather cannot debar his charges in a barouche in the company of their from the pomps and vanities which he mother and sisters, and with a hamper of solemnly promised they should forego, refreshments hanging from behind. Then the least he can do is to initiate them to if they fall in love you are not exposed to these pomps with as little cost and decepseeing them break into your chambers tion to themselves as may be. For this with their veils down, and implore you, reason we would advise godfathers to be on their knees, to intercede with their self-denying, and to save up as much of parents that they may be allowed to marry their substance as they can for their a sub-lieutenant without sixpence. Girls friends' children. It is on record that a do these things, and when beauty and few godfathers have had handsome tombprofuse weeping combine to render them stones erected to them by those they had persuasive, where is the godfather who benefited; but without asking any one to would not espouse the cause of the sub- speculate on such gratitude as this, we lieutenant, sixpenceless or with sixpence? would submit that it is a sweet thing at There are painful anecdotes current of the evening of life to receive from one of godfathers who have been beguiled in the young ladies one has married to a subthis way into acts of magnanimity which lieutenant a letter beginning —“My dear, they had not foreseen. For instance, the dear godfather,-As you were always so young lady's father has yielded to their kind to me, I cannot better prove my eloquence, but he has introduced this thankfulness than by asking you to stand proviso, that the sponsor shall himself sponsor to my darling baby just born." pay for the housekeeping establishment This would be a case for saying, Finis of the young people whom he has ren-coronat opus. dered so happy. This is, no doubt, disa-!

FOR the Early English Text Society's pro- | with, "And no more: for the further ye go | posed volume of early travels to the Holy the more ye shall se and knowe."

Land, some curious directions to intending travellers are being copied from the Cotton Appendix VIII., leaf 108, back, which are not all out of place now. The first bit of advice is to be "softe and of faire speche atte alle tymes; for meny ben rude, and somme right malyciouse and full of debate." Another, as to the Italian spring, is, "In ytaile and alle his parties is grete hete in the said moneth of Marche | And sone after suche aboundance of ffrute as were not good for none englissh man sodenly comyng ther atte that tyme of the yere but yef he were well aged, and coude kepe him the better." A third warns the virtuoso: "Be warre atte Venyse and atte alle such other places as ye fynden eny preciouse stones, Jewelles, or Relikes ynne | for meny that ben right slye will be right besy to desseyve you and youres." After advice for the return journey "thorough the streites of Marroke," to "Lisbone," or to "Burdeux," and "fro thens into Ingeland," the old counsellor winds up