Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

YES AND NO.

"We came into the world like brother and brother,

And now let's go hand in hand, not one before another."-SHAKSPEARE.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

OUR opinion is very much OUR opinion is not a jot weakstrengthened by the relief that ened by the probability that many many of our friends will assent to of our friends will dissent from it, it, when we assert that no art when we assert that no art rerequires in a greater degree the quires in a greater degree the attention of a young man on his attention of a young man, on his entrance into life than that of say-entrance into life, than that of ing "Yes." A man who deigns not saying "No." A man who is to use this little word is a bull-dog afraid to use this little word is a in society; he studies his own gra- spaniel in society; he studies to tification rather than that of his please others, rather than to befriends, and of course accom- nefit himself, and of course fails plishes neither in short, he de- in both objects: in short, he deserves not to be called a civilized serves not to be called a man, and being, and is totally unworthy of is totally unworthy of the place the place which he holds in the which he holds in the creation. creation.

Is not it right to believe the pos- Is he a rational being who has sible fallacy of one's own opinion? not an opinion of his own?-No. -Yes. Is not it proper to have Is he in the possession of his five a due consideration for the opinion senses who sees with the eyes, of others?—Yes! Is not it truly who hears with the ears of other praiseworthy to sacrifice our con- men?-No! Does he act upon viction, our argument, our obsti- principle who sacrifices truth, ho nacy, upon the shrine of polite-nour, and independence, on the ness?-Again and again we answer-Yes! yes! yes!

Nothing indeed is to us more gratifying, than to behold a man modestly diffident of the powers which nature has bestowed upon him, and assenting, with a proper sense of his own fallibility, to the opinions of those who kindly endeavour to remedy his faults, or to supply his deficiencies. Nothing is to us more gratifying than to hear from the lips of such a man that true test of a complying dis

shrine of servility?-Again and again we reply-No! no! no!

Nothing indeed is to us more gratifying, than to behold a man relying boldly on the powers which nature has bestowed upon him, and spurning, with a proper consciousness of independence, the suggestions of those who would reduce him from the rank he holds as a reasonable creature, to the level of a courtier and a timeserver. Nothing is to us more gratifying than to hear from the

position-that sure prevention of all animosity-that immediate stop to all quarrels-that sweet, civil, complacent, inoffensive monosyllable-Yes!

lips of such a man that decided test of a free spirit-that finisher to all dispute-that knock-down blow in all arguments-that strong, forcible, expressive, incontrovertible monosyllable-No!

Yet, alas! how many do we find who are either unable or unwilling to pronounce this most useful, most necessary response! How many do we see around us, who are in the daily habit of professing to know things of which they are altogether ignorant, of making promises which it is impossible for them to perform, of saying (to use for once a soft expression) the thing which is not,—

Yet, alas! how many do we find who, from an affectation of singularity, or a foolish love of argument, do as it were expunge this admirable expression from their vocabularies. How many do we see around us, who are in the daily habit of losing the most advantageous offers, of quarrelling with strangers, and of offending their best friends, solely because they obstinately refuse to call to their assistance the infallible re-solely because they will not call to medy for all these evils, which is to be found in the three letters upon which we are offering a brief

comment.

their assistance the infallible re medy for all these evils, which is to be found in the two letters upon which we are offering a brief comment.

It is

We are sure we are only chim- It is dreadful to reflect upon ing in with the opinion of other the evils which this neglect must people, when we lament the mani- infallibly produce. It is dreadful fold and appalling evils which are to look round upon the friends the sure consequences of this dis- and relatives whom we see sufferinclination to affirmatives. To using the most appalling calamities it is really melancholy to look from no other misconduct than a upon the disposition to contradic-blind aversion to negatives. tion by which some of our friends are characterized, to observe the manifest pride of some, the unreasonable pertinacity of others.-reader, but we cannot help soliloOf a surety, if we are doomed at any future season to put on the yoke of wedlock, Mrs. L., and all the Masters and Misses L. shall be early instructed in the art of saying "Yes."

Look into the pages of history! -You will find there innumerable examples in support of our opinion. When the Greeks begged Achilles to pocket his affronts and make an end of Hector, he refused. Very well, we have no doubt he did all for the best; but we are

disgusting to observe the flexible indecision of some, the cringing servility of others. Forgive us,

quizing-God save the King of Clubs, and may the Princes of the Blood Royal be early instructed in the art of saying "No."

[blocks in formation]

"

morally sure that Patroclus would | art of saying "No." Look at the not have been slain, if Achilles had conduct of his rival and conknown how to say "Yes." We queror, Cæsar! You remember the all know how he cried about it words of Casca," I saw Mark when it was too late. To draw Antony offer him a crown, and he another illustration from the same put it by once; but for all that, epoch, how disastrous was the ig- to my thinking, he would fain have norance which Priam displayed of had it!" Now this placid "putthis art, when a treaty was on foot ting by" was not the thing for the for the restoration of Helen. No- Romans: we are confident Julius thing was easier than to finish all Cæsar would never have died by disputes, to step out of all diffi- cold steel in the Senate, if he had culties, by one civil, obliging, given them a good decisive insupergentlemanly "Yes." But he re-able "No!" Whatever epoch fused-and Troy was burned. What glorious results would a contrary conduct have produced! It would have prevented a peck of troubles both to the Greeks and the Etonians. It would have saved the Ancients ten years, and the Moderns twelve books, of blood-Silius, who was unlucky enough to shed. It is almost unnecessary to be smiled upon by the Empress allude to the imprudent, the luck- Messalina. The poor boy knew less Hippolytus; he never would the danger he ran-he saw the death have been murdered by a marine which awaited him; but an Empress monster, if he could but have said sued, and he had not the heart to "Yes:" but the word stuck in say "No!" He lost his heart first, his throat, and he certainly paid and his head shortly afterwards. rather dear for his ignorance.

"Yes," cries a critic," I agree with all this, but it's all so old." We assent to your opinion, my good friend, and will endeavour to benefit by your suggestion. Come then-we will look for illustrations among the characters of our own age.

There's Lord Duretete the misanthrope. He has a tolerable fortune, tolerable talents, and tolerable person. He plays a tolerable accompaniment on the flute, and a tolerable hand at whist. Yet, with all these tolerable qualifications, he is considered a most intolerable man. What is the reason of this seemingly anomalous circumstance? The reason is obvious-His Lordship can't say "Yes." This abo

we examine, we find the same reluctance to say "No" to the allurements of Pleasure and the mandates of Ambition, and alas! we find it productive of the same consequences. Juvenal tells us of an unfortunate young man, one Caius

"Dam'me," says a blood, "all that happened a hundred years ago."-An Etonian has occasionally great difficulty in carrying his ideas a hundred years back.— Well then-we will go examplehunting nearer home.

There's Sir Philip Plausible, the Parliament man. He can make a speech of nine hours, and a calculation of nine pages: nobody is a better hand at getting up a majority, or palavering a refractory oppositionist; he proffers an argument and a bribe with equal dexterity, and converts by place and pension, when he is unable to convince by alliteration and antithesis. What a pity it is he can't say "No!”

[ocr errors]

minable ignorance of our favourite | "Sir Philip," says an envoy, art interferes in the most trivial" you'll remember my little busiincidents of life; it renders him ness at the Foreign Office!"— alike miserable and disagreeable." Depend upon my friendship," "Will your Lordship allow me says the Minister. "Sir Philip!" to prefix your name to a dedi- says a fat citizen, with two votes cation?" says Bill Attic the sa- and two dozen children, "you will tirist. "I must go mad first,' remember Billy's place in the Cussays his Lordship. "Duretete! toms!"-" Rely on my promise!" lend me a couple of hundreds! " says the Minister. "Sir Philip!" says Sir Harry. "Can't, 'pon ho- says a lady of rank, "Ensign Roenour!" says his Lordship. "You buck is an officer most deserving dear creature! you'll open my ball promotion!" "He shall be a this evening!" says Lady Germain. "I'll be damned if I do!" says his Lordship. See the catastrophe. Bill Attic lampoons him Sir Harry spits in his face, and Lady Germain votes him a bore. How unlucky that he cannot "Yes!"

colonel!-I swear by Venus!??
says the Minister.
"Exitus ergo

quis est?"-He has outraged his friendship--he has forgotten his promise-he has falsified his oath.Had he ever an idea of performsaying what he spoke ? Quite the reverse! How unlucky that he cannot say "No!"

-

Look at young Eustace, the man Look at Bob Lily! There lives of honour! He came up to town no finer poet! Epic, elegiac, salast year with a good dress, a good tiric, Pindaric, it is all one to address, and letters of introduc- him!" He is patronised by all the tion to half a dozen great men. first people in town. Every body He made his bow to each of them, compliments him, every body asks spent a week with each of them, him to dinner. Nay! there are a offended each of them, and is now few who read him. He excels starving in a garret upon inde- alike in tragedy and farce, pendence and cold mutton. What and is without a rival in amis the meaning of all this? Eustace phibious dramas, which may never learned how to say "Yes!"- be called either the one or the "Virtus post nummos! Eh! young other; but he is a sad bungler in says old Discount the negatives." Mr. Lily," says the "I can't say I think so," Duchess, his patroness, 66 you will says Eustace. "Here! Eustace, be sure to bring that dear epiboy, says Lord Fanny, " read thalamium to my conversazione over these scenes, and let me have this evening! "There is no deyour opinion! fit for the boards, Inying your Grace," says the poet. think! Eh?" "You'll excuse me 66 I say, Lily," says the Duke, his if I don't think they are, "" says patron, Eustace. "Well! my young seven? friend," cries Mr. Pliant, we must honour," have you in Parliament I suppose; says the young Marquis, 66 you make an orator of you! You're are for Brookes's to-night?" on the right side I hope?" "I" Dam'me! to be sure," says the should vote with my conscience, poet. Mark the result. He is gone

man?" usurer.

[ocr errors]

66

[ocr errors]

you will dine with us at Your Grace does me

says the poet. "Bob!"

Sir," says Eustace. See the finale, to eat tripe with his tyrannical bookseller-he has disappointed his patronesshe has offended his

Eustace is enlisted for life in the
Grub-Street Corps, where he

learns by sad experience how dan-patron-he has cut the Club!—

gerous it is to say "No" to the avarice of an usurer, the vanity of a rhymer, or the party-spirit of a politician. How unlucky that he cannot say "Yes."

Godfrey is a lover, and he has every qualification for the office except one. He cannot say "Yes." Nobody, without this talent, should presume to be in love, "Mr. Godfrey," says Chloe, "don't you think this feather pretty?" "Absurd!” says Godfrey. Mr. Godfrey!" says the lady," don't you think this necklace becoming?" "Never saw any thing less so!" says Godfrey. "Mr. Godfrey," says the coquette, "don't you think I'm divine to night?" "You never looked worse, by Jove!" says the gentleman. Godfrey is a man of fashion, a man of fortune, and a man of talent, but he will die a bachelor. What a pity! We can never look on such a man without a smile for his caprice, and a tear for its consequences. How unlucky that he cannot say ❝ Yes."

[ocr errors]

How unlucky that he cannot say "No."

Ned Shuttle was a dashing young fellow, who, to use his own expression, was "above denying a thing "-in plainer terms, he could not say "No." "Sir!" says an enraged Tory, "you are the author of this pamphlet!" Jack never saw the work, but he was "above denying a thing," and was horsewhipped for a libeller. "Sir!" says an unfortunate pigeon, " you hid the king in your sleeve last night!" Jack never saw the pigeon before, but he was "above denying a thing," and was cut for a blackleg. Sir!" says a hot Hibernian, you insulted my sister in the Park!" Jack never saw the lady or her champion before, but he was "above denying a thing," and was shot through the head the next morning. Poor fellow! How unlucky that he could not say "No."

66

In the position we are next go- In the position we are next ing to advance we know every going to advance we know every body will agree with us; and this body will differ from us; but this consideration very much strength- only strengthens our opinion. Noens our opinion, Nothing is so thing is so becoming to a female becoming to a female mouth as a mouth as the power,-ay, and the civil and flattering "Yes." It is im- inclination, to say "No!" So possible, indeed, but that our fel- firmly indeed are we attached to low-citizens should here agree with this doctrine, that we never will us, when they reflect that they ne- marry a woman who cannot say ver can be husbands until their in- "No." For the most part, indeed, amorata shall have learnt the art of the sex are pretty tolerably actusaying "Yes." For the most part, ated by what the world calls a indeed, civility and good-nature spirit of contradiction, but what are the characteristics of our Bri- we should rather designate as a tish fair; and this natural inclina-spirit of independence. This na

« AnteriorContinuar »