KwV
98
THE NEBRASKAN
11
in him. As a psychology student would say, ncr. He prefers a little obsequiousness and
the result of observation is largely dependent some recognition of his importance in the
on subjective conditions. world. The influence of an old established
These various philosophic observations aristocracy is evident even in the announco
wcre intended to be introductory to a "few mont of an auction of old furniture,
remarks." The connection, however, has The connection of all this with Thoreau and
been lost in the shufllc. Let us, therefore, the paving stone, must be that in the very
without further preliminaries, come to the xzicast 0f its movements a people leaves its
point, which is "Advertisements." Oncci national footprint, and that if we will, we
the most striking differences bctwce;;En- may build upon that whatever we know of
glish and American periodicals fiisidc from thc whole mastodon structure,
the "beastly poor" illustrations of our cous
ins across the water), is in the way of adver-
Using. Your English tradesman of the con
servative stamp desires above all a good re- X)rd11lClttC ZtOlCS.
ference. The royal family, is, of course, his
highest ambition. That being impossible, he
contents himself with a foreign prince or a So much praise has been showered on Jef-native-born
earl or baronet. He attempts a fcrson that to say anything new of his acting
dignified, you-don't-have-to-buy-if-youdon't- would be an impossibility, and even to hint
want-to air toward the untitled public. His ilt criticism would be presumptuous,
extreme eagerness for business crops out Jefferson holds, as he has held the past
quite plainly nevertheless. twenty years, the distinction of being the best
The radical man goes to the other extreme actor in America. His chief charm lies in
and refuses to live in the reflected glory of b;s naturalness. Would that some of the
having once sold the Prince of Wales a shoe- barn-stormers, called by courtesy, actors,
string. He is certain that the goods he car- wouit take a few lessons of him.
rics arc the only ones in the world that will As Jefferson grows older, the question bc
fulfill your needs, and wants your patronage comes more pertinent every year: Who
for that reason only. This variety of adver- wni take his place? Sol Smith Russell has
tising is comparatively recent in England been mentioned as the man. He may be the
and has attained no great excellence. Some- leading comedian after the death cf Jefferson,
how or other the untruth of the statements but he can never take the part of a "Bob
made is glaringly evident. With us it is Acres' or of a "Rip Van Winkle" as Jeffer
quite different. It is the seller's intention to son (iot.s. Russon iacks the personal mag
persuade you that you want his merchandise, nelism Juui that You-knov-Schneider.-my-bc
it pianos or laundry soap. He bends (iog sort of a stvle that is characteristic of
every energy to this end. History, poetry, Jefferson.
humor and all the engraver's art are called Jefferson is the last one of the old set of
in to aid in the process of persuasion. The players, and none of the new crop can equal
copious pages of advertising departments of thc old. Where will we find a Booth, a Jef
our magazines are often more interesting ferson, or a Mrs. John Drew?
than those devoted to reading matter. True, we have quite a number of good
American "get up" is to be seen on every comedians, but we are woefully lacking in
page. The assumption of absolute equality good tragedians. Great things should be ex
is very plain. The merchant does not cringe pected of such men as Sol Sm.i Russell, E.
before the public, but seems to argue it in a S. Willow, Crane, Robson, John Drew and
brotherly sort of way. Southern, for America should lay claim to
John Bull does not like this off-hand man- Southern now.