登陆注册
5394300000011

第11章

Sir, put it to the proof. There is the Bleater on the file--documentary evidence. Weeks, months, before the Exhibition of the Royal Academy, the Bleater's London Correspondent knows the subjects of all the leading pictures, knows what the painters first meant to do, knows what they afterwards substituted for what they first meant to do, knows what they ought to do and won't do, knows what they ought not to do and will do, knows to a letter from whom they have commissions, knows to a shilling how much they are to be paid. Now, no sooner is each studio clear of the remarkable man to whom each studio-occupant has revealed himself as he does not reveal himself to his nearest and dearest bosom friend, than conspiracy and fraud begin. Alfred the Great becomes the Fairy Queen; Moses viewing the Promised Land, turns out to be Moses going to the Fair; Portrait of His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, is transformed, as if by irreverent enchantment of the dissenting interest, into A Favourite Terrier, or Cattle Grazing; and the most extraordinary work of art in the list described by the Bleater, is coolly sponged out altogether, and asserted never to have had existence at all, even in the most shadow thoughts of its executant! This is vile enough, but this is not all. Picture-buyers then come forth from their secret positions, and creep into their places in the assassin-multitude of conspirators. Mr. Baring, after expressly telling the Bleater's London Correspondent that he had bought No. 39 for one thousand guineas, gives it up to somebody unknown for a couple of hundred pounds; the Marquis of Lansdowne pretends to have no knowledge whatever of the commissions to which the London Correspondent of the Bleater swore him, but allows a Railway Contractor to cut him out for half the money. Similar examples might be multiplied. Shame, shame, on these men! Is this England?

Sir, look again at Literature. The Bleater's London Correspondent is not merely acquainted with all the eminent writers, but is in possession of the secrets of their souls. He is versed in their hidden meanings and references, sees their manuscripts before publication, and knows the subjects and titles of their books when they are not begun. How dare those writers turn upon the eminent man and depart from every intention they have confided to him? How do they justify themselves in entirely altering their manuscripts, changing their titles, and abandoning their subjects? Will they deny, in the face of Tattlesnivel, that they do so? If they have such hardihood, let the file of the Bleater strike them dumb. By their fruits they shall be known. Let their works be compared with the anticipatory letters of the Bleater's London Correspondent, and their falsehood and deceit will become manifest as the sun; it will be seen that they do nothing which they stand pledged to the Bleater's London Correspondent to do; it will be seen that they are among the blackest parties in this black and base conspiracy. This will become apparent, sir, not only as to their public proceedings but as to their private affairs. The outraged Tattlesnivellian who now drags this infamous combination into the face of day, charges those literary persons with making away with their property, imposing on the Income Tax Commissioners, keeping false books, and entering into sham contracts. He accuses them on the unimpeachable faith of the London Correspondent of the Tattlesnivel Bleater. With whose evidence they will find it impossible to reconcile their own account of any transaction of their lives.

The national character is degenerating under the influence of the ramifications of this tremendous conspiracy. Forgery is committed, constantly. A person of note--any sort of person of note--dies.

The Bleater's London Correspondent knows what his circumstances are, what his savings are (if any), who his creditors are, all about his children and relations, and (in general, before his body is cold) describes his will. Is that will ever proved? Never! Some other will is substituted; the real instrument, destroyed. And this (as has been before observed), is England.

同类推荐
  • Where the Blue Begins

    Where the Blue Begins

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 观自在菩萨随心咒经

    观自在菩萨随心咒经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 辩正论

    辩正论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说初分说经

    佛说初分说经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 弟子规

    弟子规

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 商务英语公关900句典

    商务英语公关900句典

    本书分为办公室篇和商务公关篇两大部分。办公室篇主要介绍在办公室内的公关交际活动,包括电话业务、礼仪接待、求职面试、统筹安排等内容。商务公关篇主要围绕“做买卖”这主题,从联系业务、参观访问、会议商谈、签订合同等各方面详细地地介绍在公关方面的礼仪和技巧。
  • 婚姻是女人一辈子的修行

    婚姻是女人一辈子的修行

    这是一本帮助女性朋友学会经营婚姻的智慧读本。本书以自然朴实的语言告诉女人如何做个好妻子,在家庭中履行好自己的职责;如何经营好自己的婚姻,让婚姻时时保鲜;夫妻二人如何化解矛盾;在困境中夫妻该如何相互搀扶着共渡难关……让处于“围城”中的女人不再烦恼困惑,也让迟迟徘徊于“围城”之外的女人消除心灵恐惧,帮助所有渴望幸福的女人更好地提升经营婚姻的智慧和能力。
  • 影后逆袭:我要做影后

    影后逆袭:我要做影后

    她有惊天身份却二十年未知?!为何彼此在乎,却不见?开书《影后逆袭:我要做影后》,倾心揭开娱乐圈谜团。满足你所有的好奇。
  • 神仆

    神仆

    一颗小小的、蓝褐相间的行星,孤零零地绕着一颗暗淡的恒星旋转着;在这颗行星附近,一颗更小的、色调灰暗的卫星同样孤单而平静地绕着它旋转。在恒星暗弱的光芒照耀下,那颗行星看上去犹如一只长满蓝霉的干瘪梨子,而它的卫星则像一只卖相不好的烂土豆。一座老旧的太空站静悄悄地停在二者之间的拉格朗日点上,活像一只迟迟无法在两份食物间做出选择的苍蝇。
  • 张恨水经典作品系列:小西天

    张恨水经典作品系列:小西天

    本书以30年代西安大旅社“小西天”为背景,描写了形形色色的各阶层人士,为我们展示了一幅西北风情图。
  • 心灵卷(文摘小说精品)

    心灵卷(文摘小说精品)

    百篇美文,百种人生态度,蕴涵了大师们感悟自然,体验人生的情愫。阅读本书,流连于名家名作中,体味亲人的爱,朋友的关怀,使干涸的心灵得以滋润,枯萎的生命得以激越。共赏隽永不朽的作品,透过名家笔触,感受唯美。翻开本书的那一瞬间将成为你生命中的一部分,享受阅读之乐、感知之乐、人生之乐。所选文章篇篇脍炙人口,堪称人类语言文字之杰作。
  • 全面小康社会多元化全民健身服务体系的研究

    全面小康社会多元化全民健身服务体系的研究

    “全民健身体系”是一项宏伟的跨世纪国民健康促进工程。《全国小康社会多元化全民健身服务体系的研究》主要是从“全民健身体系”的视角,对“全民健身”这一社会文化现象进行了初步地探索。内容包括:从“全民健康体系”到“多元化全民健身服务体系”研究,“全面小康社会多元化全民健身服务体系”的构建环境分析,社会体育发展趋势简论等。本书内容丰富,讲解通俗易懂,具有很强的可读性。
  • 告诉你一个马克思的故事

    告诉你一个马克思的故事

    《告诉你一个马克思的故事》精选了马克思人生中富有代表性的事件和故事,以点带面,从而折射出他充满传奇的人生经历和各具特点的鲜明个性。通过阅读《告诉你一个马克思的故事》。我们不仅要了解他的生活经历,更要了解他的奋斗历程,以及学习他在面对困难、失败和挫折时所表现出来的杰出品质。
  • 腹黑竹马:捡个脑婆抱回家

    腹黑竹马:捡个脑婆抱回家

    陈墨三岁的时候,在路边捡到了个“落汤鸡”,从此,这个“落汤鸡”以救命之恩无以回报只能以身相许为由,一扑倒二壁咚三强吻,六岁那年,他忍不住发飙了:“顾悠瑭!别老偷亲我!”“不行!我不偷亲你我就不开心,我一不开心干妈妈就不开心,干妈妈一不开心干爸爸就不开心,连带着干爷爷奶奶还有叔叔婶婶也会不开心,干爷爷奶奶叔叔婶婶不开心,你就不开心,你不开心,我就不开心……”陈墨:“……”[甜√宠√爆笑√]
  • 父母,请这样开启孩子未来的财富之门

    父母,请这样开启孩子未来的财富之门

    时间过的真快,转眼间孩子从襁褓婴儿长成大孩子了,不在需要父母的监护,更减少了与父母之间的沟通与交流,无形中与父母之间有了隔阂,孩子将去开拓属于自己的心中所想和人际交际圈,在此,本店掌柜提示家长朋友,无论您是成功者或是创业中、无论您有多忙应酬多多,请您一定尽自己最大的努力多陪陪孩子,多了解孩子,多听听孩子的想法,伴孩子走向成功。