HOW MEN HAVE DEFENDED THEMSELVES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1934, 19 March 1891, Page 31

HOW MEN HAVE DEFENDED THEMSELVES.

One of the oleverest defensive ruses on record was the happy thought of an official of the Havas News Agency. It was found that several journals which did not subscribe to the regular service of Uthographia sheets, managed nevertheless to . pirate their contents. In some obscure way early copies were obtained, and the dishonest newspapers clipped out whatever was likely to interest their readers. It became quite a common trick to re-dress the intelligence procured at this cheap rate, and publish it at the first practicable moment as the latest from "our special correspondent." But one day the agenoy issued a startling and circumstantial despatch. A terrible eruption of Vesuvius was described with many harrowing details. The waiting copyists seized all that was material in the alleged telegram, and gave it to their public They had fallen into a trap. It was a bogus " wire " specially concocted to prove the charge of plagiarism to the hilt. The piratical paper had, as usual, amended the report by adding items to increase its effect and further the sale. But the disguise was of no avail, and the current comment and ridicule were calculated to teach a sharp lesson. Comedy entered into the defensive dodge of some stalwart men of Young America. Sangamon County required a capital. Two sites were submitted for consideration. One of these was -Springfield, but the natives of that rising town dreaded the success of their rivals. Commissioners were appointed to examine the merits of the sites on the spot. The Springfield guides tried stratagem. They led the official visitors to the competing place by -a ) devious and harassing route. Over brake and briar, and through mud swamps they traced the path. Was this the inevitable way ? Yes, certainly; why not ? It was a soft road at times, and a bit rough as well— not like the track to Springfield ; but it might be improved. The faces of the commissioners exhibited disgust. Why go on ? they asked ; and so the smart little plan succeeded, and Springfield became the county town. Individual genius and aptitude for affairs has beenjoften indicated by the alert power of self-protection. Louis Adolphe Thiers, when a law student, competed for one of two prizes by writing an "Eloge de Vauvenargues." But there were masters in the college who, inflamed by political prejudice, determined that Thiers at least should not win. The youth heard of it, and angrily withdrew his MS. But when the list of awards came out it appeared chat the obnoxious student had circumvented his foes. He had contrived to get his, " Eloge " recopied in an unfamiliar hand, and Bent in anonymously. It was announced as first in the competition, before the veil of anonymity was removed. And Thiers, meanwhile, threw hia jndges entirely off the scent by submitting his original paper a second time, labelled with his own proper name. The celebrated painter Peter de Wint, who was for 40 years one of the chief exhibitors at the galleries of the Old Bociety of Painters in Water Colours, defended himself cleverly once against the meanness of an acquaintance. The story is told by Mr Armstrong. De Wint had a show at his house in Upper Gower.street before sending in his pictures. It was his custom to mark those sold with a small white label. A wealthy connoisseur was in the habit of coming year after year. He was always careful to|j lament that he could not buy this or that " gem " through the presence of the ticket. The painter tired at last of hearing the flimsy excuse, and determined to be even with his visitor. The day of the private view once more came round. The acquaintance duly arrived, and professed ecstatic admiration for a pair of ticketed canvases. They were simply perfect; just the things he would like to possess- what a pity they were already disposed of J "My dear fellow," said the painter, urbanely; "I knew you would like them, bo I put. the ticket on to keep them for you." The friend's face fell, But he had to take the pictures or become an object of derision in art oircles. .De Wint must have chuckled as he received his cheque. The distinguished Norwegian violinist Ole Bull was quick to recover hie grip of an audience when from any cause interest seemed to decline. He once explained to a friend that ins difficulty was to keep atten- , tion during intricate passages which gave himself the purest pleasure but were found slow by indifferently-cultivated listeners. He had a device for defending his supremaoy over a crowd. It was to make a stroke with his bow in such a way as to produce the effect of having broken every string in his instrument. This stratagem was always successful. When it was seen that no real disaster had happened, and that he could co gaily on, the spectators usually applauded what they took to be a wonderful but perfectly legitimate "phrase" or "scream." Alexandra Dumas was apparently doomed to defeat. His play "Christine-" was withdrawn indefinitely from the Theatre Francais after a brief ran. The oonditiono were not favourable for the ' production of " Henry IIT." But the piece was announced, and Dumas hit on away to make it'the talk of Paris, and effeotually turn the tide of his fortunes. He sought the presence chamber of the Duke of Orleans, and begged that his Royal Highness would honour the performance by witnessing it. The Puke was surprised at the applicant's boldness. He said it was impossible to grant the request. He had a dinner party of highest rank the same evening. Dumas did not retreat. So much hinged upon victory that he urged a bolder suggestion yet, Why not bring all his Royal Highness' guests to the theatre ? But the dinner was at 6 and the hour of the play was 7. The dramatist thereupon proposed to pat the dinner an hour earlier and the play an hour later, assuring the Duke that he would overcome any obstaole at the theatre. The patron yielded, and. Dumaa.

had brought the odds over to his side in the struggle for success. The piece was a tremendous triumph. In the world of politics defensive strategy naturally plays a great part. Our politicians and statesmen of to-day might perhaps remember, sometimes with advantage, the favourite ruse of Sir Robert Peel. It was to sit still. Sir Henry Taylor draws attention to the fact of bis autobiography. The Premier who repealed the Corn Laws would allow debate to wear itself out. He looked on with calm patience. And when all parties became " tired of themselves and of each other and of the whole concern," he would find his opportunity and carry his point. . Sitting still was on one occasion, an heroic ruse of John Lawrence, the great Commissioner of the Punjab. He was awkwardly fixed by the defiance of a lawless chief who declined to pay land tax. It might be an ugly precedent if Lawrence yielded. Instead, he went to the chief's village. With him was only a single orderly. It was the hottest period of the Indian summer. He bad neither food nor shelter, and the nearest troops were 30 miles away. But there, under a babul tree outside the principal gate, the dauntless commissioner fixed his station. He demanded surrender, though he had no guns to enforce it. The long day through he waited, and towards evening the chief of a neighbouring village approached the resolute Englishman and offered to help him reduce the objector and his subjects to submission. It was the beginning of the end. The calm assurance of power presented so conspicuously to the eyes of the natives had produced its effect. The rebel made bis peace with the force of one, and Lawrence went back a victor.