I am well aware how mischievous, as well as troublesome, would be the encouragement of mediocrity; and in stating these promising facts I have no such purpose in my mind.  On the contrary, there is an immense amount of mediocrity already in literature, which I think my proposition of training up ‘clever Jack’ to that calling would discourage.  I have no expectation of establishing a manufactory for genius—­and indeed, for reasons it is not necessary to specify, I would not do it if I could.  But whereas all kinds of ‘culture’ have been recommended to the youth of Great Britain (and certainly with no limit as to the expense of acquisition), the cultivation of such natural faculties as imagination and humour (for example) has never been suggested.  The possibility of such a thing will doubtless be denied.  I am quite certain, however, that they are capable of great development, and that they may be brought to attain, if not perfection, at all events a high degree of excellence.  The proof, to those who choose to look for it, is plain enough even as matters stand.  Use and opportunity are already producing scores of examples of it; if supplemented by early education they might surely produce still more.

There is so great and general a prejudice against special studies, that I must humbly conclude there is something in it.  On the other hand, I know a large number of highly—­that is broadly—­educated persons, who are desperately dull.  ‘But would they have been less dull,’ it may be asked, ‘if they were also ignorant?’ Yes, I believe they would.  They have swallowed too much for digestions naturally weak; they have become inert, conceited, oppressive to themselves and others—­Prigs.  And I think that even clever young people suffer in a less degree from the same cause.  Some one has written, ‘Information is always useful.’  This reminds me of the married lady, fond of bargains, who once bought a door-plate at a sale with ‘Mr. Wilkins’ on it.  Her own name was Jones, but the doorplate was very cheap, and her husband, she argued, might die, and then she might marry a man of the name of Wilkins.  ’Depend upon it, everything comes in useful,’ she said, ’if you only keep it long enough.’

This is what I venture to doubt.  I have myself purchased several door-plates (quite as burthensome, but not so cheap as that good lady’s), which have been of no sort of use to me, and are still on hand.

STORY-TELLING.

The most popular of English authors has given us an account of what within his experience (and it was a large one) was the impression among the public at large of the manner in which his work was done.  They pictured him, he says,