It was one of Dr. Caliban’s chief characteristics--and perhaps the
main source of his power over others--that he could crystallize,
or--to use the modern term--“wankle,” the thought of his generation
into sharp unexpected phrases. Among others, this was constantly
upon his lips:--
“_We live in stirring times._”
If I may presume to add a word to the pronouncements of my revered
master, I would re-write the sentence thus:--
“_We live in stirring_--AND CHANGEFUL--_times._”
It is not only an element of adventure, it is also an element of
rapid and unexpected development which marks our period, and which
incidentally lends so considerable an influence to genius.
In the older and more settled order, political forces were so well
known that no description or analysis of them was necessary: to
this day members of our more ancient political families do not read
the newspapers. Soon, perhaps, the national life will have entered
a new groove, and once more literary gentlemen will but indirectly
control the life of the nation.
For the moment, however, their effect is direct and immediate.
A vivid prophecy, a strong attack upon this statesman or that
foreign Government may determine public opinion for a space of over
ten days, and matter of this sort is remunerated at the rate of
from 15_s._ to 18_s._ 6_d._ per thousand words. When we contrast
this with the 9_s._ paid for the translation of foreign classics,
the 5_s._ of occasional verse, or even the 10_s._ of police-court
reporting, it is sufficiently evident that this kind of composition
is the Premier Prose of our time.
There must, indeed, be in London and Manchester, alive at the
present moment, at least fifty men who can command the prices I
have mentioned, and who, with reasonable industry, can earn as
much as £500 a year by their decisions upon political matters. But
I should be giving the student very indifferent counsel were I to
recommend him for the delivery of his judgment to the beaten track
of Leading Articles or to that of specially written and signed
communications: the sums paid for such writing never rise beyond a
modest level; the position itself is precarious. In London alone,
and within a radius of 87 yards from the “Green Dragon,” no less
than 53 Authors lost their livelihood upon the more respectable
papers from an inability to prophecy with any kind of accuracy
upon the late war, and this at a time when the majority of regular
politicians were able to retain their seats in Parliament and many
ministers their rank in the Cabinet.
By far the most durable, the most exalted, and the most effective
kind of appeal, is that which is made in a poetic form, especially
if that form be vague and symbolic in its character. Nothing
is risked and everything is gained by this method, upon which
have been founded so many reputations and so many considerable
fortunes. The student cannot be too strongly urged to abandon the
regular and daily task of set columns--signed or unsigned--for the
occasional Flash of Verse if he desire to provoke great wars and to
increase his income. It may not always succeed, but the proportion
of failures is very small, and at the worst it is but a moment’s
energy wasted.
“_We are sick_” says one of the most famous among those who have
adopted this method, “_We are sick_”--he is speaking not only of
himself but of others--“_We are sick for a stave of the song that
our fathers sang._” Turn, therefore, to the dead--who are no longer
alive, and with whom no quarrel is to be feared. Make them reappear
and lend weight to your contention. Their fame is achieved, and may
very possibly support your own. This kind of writing introduces
all the elements that most profoundly affect the public: it is
mysterious, it is vague, it is authoritative; it is also eminently
literary, and I can recall no first-class political appeal of the
last fifteen years which has not been cast more or less upon these
lines.
The subjects you may choose from are numerous and are daily
increasing, but for the amateur the best, without any question, is
that of Imperialism. It is a common ground upon which all meet,
and upon which every race resident in the wealthier part of London
is agreed. Bring forward the great ghosts of the past, let them
swell what is now an all but universal chorus. Avoid the more
complicated metres, hendecasyllables, and the rest; choose those
which neither scan nor rhyme; or, if their subtlety baffles you,
fall back upon blank verse, and you should, with the most moderate
talent, lay the foundation of a permanent success.
I will append, as is my custom, a model upon which the student
may shape his first efforts, though I would not have him copy too
faithfully, lest certain idiosyncrasies of manner should betray the
plagiarism.