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[FE Z!; iAl;Y 1, 1862.


THE EFFECTS OF TAKING CHILDREN TO SEE BLONDIN.


 OUR PRIZE ESSAYS.
 No. 6.-BT Ma. J-N R-SK-N.
 THE absolute right of anything to exist in this world is subject to
the test of a simple question: Can it be a thoroughly honest thing of
its kind ? There are some things which of their nature are not, and
cannot be, honest. Not to cite so evident an instance as larceny,
there is illusion in art, or, more properly speaking, deception, which
is one of the things that-cannot be honest; so that when we hear the
words "honest transcripts" or faithful copy," we hear a discord of
jangled meanings. There can be no faithful or honest simulation.
And I would emphatically point out here the utter falseness and folly
of that current axiom, Honosty is the best policy." Honesty is not
policy, as beauty is not truth; it being quite clear that though there
is truth in the statements of the inspector of markets, as to the manu-
facture of sausages from drowned sheep, there is no beauty; while the
beautiful stories in the Arabian Nights" are not true. Still, truth
may for its own sake be considered beautiful, and the best policy is
beyond question honest. We may say exactly the same of the best
of any useful kind of thing; not that it is best because it is most
honest, but that it cannot choose but be honest, being good. I dwell
upon this qualification, "not that it is best because it is most honest."
The honestest work is' not necessarily the best; for it may have
errors and flaws proceeding from the workman's imperfection of
knowledge or skill; but there is no real value in the most skilful and
scientific work unless it be honest. In pursuing any design, the work-
man or artist will do well, though he may keep the end constantly in
mind, to give a much greater share of present attention to what he is
about, leaving ultimate results or effects, in a great degree, to the
action of natural laws. The exquisite loveliness of moonlight on a
field of cauliflowers, for instance, could never have been anticipated
by the market-gardener who directed the setting of the plants in
rows ; but it follows as a consequence of his having been very par-
ticular about the regularity of these lines of delicate young caulibuds,
that their full-developed blossoms, bathed in a flood of tender, liquid


light, should thus affect our hearts like a divine strain of BONANCINI'S
music. And observe, we have this beautiful result precisely because
the market-gardener's ideas were not running on moonshine, but on
cauliflowers; because he was not meditating of BoNANCIN, but minding
his business; because, in short, he was doing honest, solid work,
and thinking of no remote operations of astronomy, aerial perspective,
or thorough-bass. Note also these cardinal facts: 1, Assimilation;
2, Spontaneity.
 1. 'Ass[nairiroO.-The outer leaves of a cauliflower are green, and
green is the colour most visibly influenced by the lunar rays. Had
the market-gardener, in probable ignorance of this law, attempted
nevertheless to provide for some striking chromatic effect, he would
have planted pickling-cabbages in preference to cauliblossoms, because
pickling-cabbages are purple, and purple is a much rarer and much
more attractive colour than green. But purple does not assimilate
the pale reflected-light of the moon, as green does in a pre-eminent
degree.
 2. SPONTANEITY.-This fact of spontaneity is involved in the pre-
ceding statement, but may be separately considered. We have seen
that the market-gardener's operations tended to a beautiful result,
mainly because he wasted no time or trouble in thinking how lie
should please the eye of the night-wanderer. If, instead of being a
grower of vegetables, he had been a maker of jokes, the same sponta-
neous course of action would have conduced to the same admirable
end. It is by planting their natural shoots and seedlings of wit, care-
less of any after light in which they may be regarded by millions of
genial and appreciative minds, that the writers in FUN succeed in
making their little field of humour the wonder and delight of the
whole civilized world.


 THE THREE GREAT EVENTS OF THIS CENTURY.
 1815. The Battle of Waterloo.
 1837. The Accession of the QUEEN.
 1861. Fus.


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