THE POINT OF VIEW.
" IT all depends upon the point of view "—the common saying is a most philosophic evidence to the limited capacity of the human mind. If things are not simply as we see them, we cannot for the life of us help thinking that they are nothing more. The old English gentleman who allowed no nonsense," and de- nounced Vesuvius as " a humbug," could " see nothing in the mountain beyond a heap of earth and a puff of smoke." In this sense Lord Stanley may be all things to all men. Down at King's Lynn, his committee very naturally and creditably think that the universe depends upon his " return." In the City certain gentlemen regard him as the best counterpoise to Lord John Russell,—a good name in the bills of the election theatre. Hamlet would have thought of him no more than of Cresar, rating either as no better than a bung ; and the Marylebone Hamlet, Mr. Haigh, descending to still lower ideas, prised Lord Stanley as a stone to be flung at Mr. Edwin James and Sir Benjamin Hall. " IT all depends upon the point of view "—the common saying is a most philosophic evidence to the limited capacity of the human mind. If things are not simply as we see them, we cannot for the life of us help thinking that they are nothing more. The old English gentleman who allowed no nonsense," and de- nounced Vesuvius as " a humbug," could " see nothing in the mountain beyond a heap of earth and a puff of smoke." In this sense Lord Stanley may be all things to all men. Down at King's Lynn, his committee very naturally and creditably think that the universe depends upon his " return." In the City certain gentlemen regard him as the best counterpoise to Lord John Russell,—a good name in the bills of the election theatre. Hamlet would have thought of him no more than of Cresar, rating either as no better than a bung ; and the Marylebone Hamlet, Mr. Haigh, descending to still lower ideas, prised Lord Stanley as a stone to be flung at Mr. Edwin James and Sir Benjamin Hall. It would be an interesting question to know how Mr. Haigh is to be described from the Stanley point of view. Views alter with the locus standi. Mr. John Bright is a graphic man, and he speaks vividly ; his most striking experiences are fresh and recent ; and the " press" having had views of Mr. Bright, we have frequently been favoured with the Bright view of the press. Here is the last edition-
" Don't suppose that because I found myself opposed to a large amount of public opinion on the question of the Russian war—that because I was in- sulted and defamed—that because every wretched scribe who earned his bread by writing newspaper articles, and whose conscience was not the guide of his conduct—that because every man of that class thought I was a fit ob- ject of his jeers, and for his calumnies, and for his lies, for three years to- gether—that because I suffered the loss, whatever that may be estimated at, of the representation of one the first constituencies in the kingdom, I have ever regretted the position I then took." (Cheers.)
Mr. Bright's view of the British press is that it thinks most chiefly of him ; he was so moved by its criticism that he imagined people would expeot him to repent ; but he is impenitent--he thinks the press bent on persecuting him, but who's afraid.
Meanwhile he has views, some rather new, of his own mission. Be thinks it " an honour to serve the Crown." And as to the aristocracy, " I have been the saviour of the very order which I am charged with wishing to destroy." On his tomb, par excel- lence, will be inscribed- " Let law and learning, arts and commerce die,
But leave us still our old nobility !"
Photograph John Bright from his own point of view, and it is net Brigiat, but Manners. Declare war, and the military man sees the dawn of hope ; the Bull on the Stock Exchange is horrified at " the crimes of mili- tary leaders" ; the Bear is charmed at the masterly statesman- shi of gracious princes ; and the old woman dolefully tenders a h penny for her farthing rushlight at the chandler's because understands that the war has created a rise in tallow !
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