Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 104, April 29, 1893

Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 104, April 29, 1893

From the Common-place Book of The O'Wilde.The play? Oh, the play be zephyr'd! The play is not the thing. In other words, the play is nothing. Point is to prepare immense assortment of entirely irrelevant epigrams. "Epigram, my dear Duke, is the refuge of the dullard, who imagines that he obtains truth by inverting a truism." That sounds well; must lay it by for use. Take "Virtue," for instance. "Virtue" offers a fine field for paradox, brought strictly up to date. Must jot down stray thoughts. (Good idea in the expression "Stray Thoughts." Will think over it, and work it up either for impromptu or future play.) Here are a few examples: There you have the whole secret. Be fearfully cynical, dreadfully bold, delightfully wicked, and carefully unconventional; let paradox and epigram flow in copious streams from your pen. Throw in a few aristocrats with a plentiful flavouring of vices novelistically associated with wicked Baronets. Add an occasional smoking-room(Mem. "Everything ends in smoke, my dear boy, except the cigars of our host." Use this when host is a parvenu unacquainted with the mysteries of brands)shred into the mixture a wronged woman, a dull wife, and, if possible, one well tried and tested "situation," then set the whole to simmer for three hours at the Haymarket. The result will be But to predict a result is to prophesy, and to prophesy is to know. (N.B.Work up this rough material. It will come right, and sound well when polished up.) ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 24408
Author: Various
Release Date: Jan 23, 2008
Format: eBook
Language: English

Contributors

Editor: Burnand, F. C. (Francis Cowley), 1836-1917