DOI Heft:
July 29, 1865
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16876#0045
July 29, 1865.1 PUNCH OR THE LONDON OH ART VAR T 33
THE GUIDE TO BRADSHAW.
PREFACE.
eldom, if ever, has the gigantic
intellect of man been employed
upon a work of greater utility,
or upon one of such special
application and general com-
prehensiveness, as in the pro-
jection, completion, publica-
tion, and sustention of the
now familiar Bradshaw. Few
literary efforts, however high
their aim either in the ethereal
regions of Art, or the sublime
paths of Philosophy, have ever
achieved so much for the
cause of Progress as has the
Book of Bradshaw.
And yet, such is the original
imperfection inherent in even
the most carefully elaborated
human scheme, the writings
of Bbadshaw, it is objected,
contain so many difficulties,
real or apparent, so many con-
tradictions, so much error, j
mingled, it is allowed, with a
certain amount of truth, as to
partially destroy its character
for credibility, and so far to
injure its usefulness for guid-
ance, as to render it unworthy, of that implicit reliance which most
minds would be willing to place in the dicta of an acknowledged supe-
rior and accredited teacher. In answer, we contend that the so-called
difficulties are far less real than apparent, and that the honest student,
who applies himself heart and soul to the work, will encounter no
greater obstacles than such as were surmounted by Champollion,
during his laborious researches into the mysteries of the Egyptian
hieroglyphics.
The plain title of the Book carries with it the overwhelming grandeur
of simplicity. Who is there but can without effort pronounce it ? What
being so dull as not to respond interiorly to its utterance F Bradshaw !
Let us repeat it mildly, softly, soothingly—Bradshaw ! Let us be
hard and fierce in our tone, as announcing an authority from whose
decision there lies no appeal—Bradshaw ! Let us pronounce his name
in the broken accents of despair—the despair of one who has no time to
lose, and to whom every minute is of the last importance-let us, half
weeping, say Brad-ad-shaw. Let us lispingly allude to him among
the false smiles, false teeth, false hair, and false hearts of the gilded
saloon, as Bwadthaw ! Mentioned where you will, and how you will,
there is a strange charm in the name that rivets the attention, even
though it fail to reach the understandings, of all hearers.
Of the genuineness of Bradshaw there may, and indeed must, always
exist most reasonable doubts. The question of its authenticity has been
raised by its supposed difficulties, and these it shall be alike our duty
and our pleasure to explain.
Once let a doubt of Bradshaw be confirmed and established, and
in whom, in what, shall we put our confidence ?
Once let the discovery be made that in the statements contained in
Bradshaw no trust can be reposed, and what abiding happiness will
remain to us in life ? To and fro shall we be drifting, from one Station
to another, from one informant to another, now clinging to this opinion
now holding on by that, at one time late for an early train, at another
early for a late, dependent upon ignorant officials, at the mercy of
grasping porters, equally uncertain as to the moment for entering or
leaving a compartment, we, with mental powers weakened, equanimity
utterly overthrown, and physical capacities prematurely decayed, shall
ultimately find ourselves harmlessly playing at Steam-Engines on the
green sward of Colney Hatch, or composing an Oratorio out of old
Great Western time-tables while wandering in the cloisters of the
secluded Hanwell.
Quo Tendmus ? To this, an admission of the existence ol difficulties,
( a staunch denial of their insuperability, and an acknowledgment of the
| great need of a competent expositor. In this character we come forward
as the champion of Bradshaw, and Guide to the Guide.
CHAPTER I.
Of the Genuineness of Bradshaw— Objections answered—His wit, humour,
satire—Our Line.
Concerning the authorship of Bradshaw, it seems to us no reasonable
doubt can be entertained. It is as evidently to our minds the compila-
tion of several hands, as are the Iliad and Odyssey of Homer.
We attribute no weight whatever to this objection as regards the
trustworthy character of the information contained in the book. For,
to say that a certain book was written by one Bradshaw, is no more
than to say St. Paul’s was built by Sir Christopher Wren, who, it
may be fairly supposed, never touched so much as a stock or stone in a
practical way during the rearing of the ecclesiastical edifice ;—
“ Sir Christopher Wren
Directed Ms men,”
and no more nor less than this fell to the lot of Bradshaw.
That the hand which had guided the work to its completion, should
have given the few finishing touches required, is far from improbable,
and some of the index fingers, shunting lines, and amusing, though per-
plexing. arrangements and notices, are, without doubt, from the facile
Vol. 49.
2
THE GUIDE TO BRADSHAW.
PREFACE.
eldom, if ever, has the gigantic
intellect of man been employed
upon a work of greater utility,
or upon one of such special
application and general com-
prehensiveness, as in the pro-
jection, completion, publica-
tion, and sustention of the
now familiar Bradshaw. Few
literary efforts, however high
their aim either in the ethereal
regions of Art, or the sublime
paths of Philosophy, have ever
achieved so much for the
cause of Progress as has the
Book of Bradshaw.
And yet, such is the original
imperfection inherent in even
the most carefully elaborated
human scheme, the writings
of Bbadshaw, it is objected,
contain so many difficulties,
real or apparent, so many con-
tradictions, so much error, j
mingled, it is allowed, with a
certain amount of truth, as to
partially destroy its character
for credibility, and so far to
injure its usefulness for guid-
ance, as to render it unworthy, of that implicit reliance which most
minds would be willing to place in the dicta of an acknowledged supe-
rior and accredited teacher. In answer, we contend that the so-called
difficulties are far less real than apparent, and that the honest student,
who applies himself heart and soul to the work, will encounter no
greater obstacles than such as were surmounted by Champollion,
during his laborious researches into the mysteries of the Egyptian
hieroglyphics.
The plain title of the Book carries with it the overwhelming grandeur
of simplicity. Who is there but can without effort pronounce it ? What
being so dull as not to respond interiorly to its utterance F Bradshaw !
Let us repeat it mildly, softly, soothingly—Bradshaw ! Let us be
hard and fierce in our tone, as announcing an authority from whose
decision there lies no appeal—Bradshaw ! Let us pronounce his name
in the broken accents of despair—the despair of one who has no time to
lose, and to whom every minute is of the last importance-let us, half
weeping, say Brad-ad-shaw. Let us lispingly allude to him among
the false smiles, false teeth, false hair, and false hearts of the gilded
saloon, as Bwadthaw ! Mentioned where you will, and how you will,
there is a strange charm in the name that rivets the attention, even
though it fail to reach the understandings, of all hearers.
Of the genuineness of Bradshaw there may, and indeed must, always
exist most reasonable doubts. The question of its authenticity has been
raised by its supposed difficulties, and these it shall be alike our duty
and our pleasure to explain.
Once let a doubt of Bradshaw be confirmed and established, and
in whom, in what, shall we put our confidence ?
Once let the discovery be made that in the statements contained in
Bradshaw no trust can be reposed, and what abiding happiness will
remain to us in life ? To and fro shall we be drifting, from one Station
to another, from one informant to another, now clinging to this opinion
now holding on by that, at one time late for an early train, at another
early for a late, dependent upon ignorant officials, at the mercy of
grasping porters, equally uncertain as to the moment for entering or
leaving a compartment, we, with mental powers weakened, equanimity
utterly overthrown, and physical capacities prematurely decayed, shall
ultimately find ourselves harmlessly playing at Steam-Engines on the
green sward of Colney Hatch, or composing an Oratorio out of old
Great Western time-tables while wandering in the cloisters of the
secluded Hanwell.
Quo Tendmus ? To this, an admission of the existence ol difficulties,
( a staunch denial of their insuperability, and an acknowledgment of the
| great need of a competent expositor. In this character we come forward
as the champion of Bradshaw, and Guide to the Guide.
CHAPTER I.
Of the Genuineness of Bradshaw— Objections answered—His wit, humour,
satire—Our Line.
Concerning the authorship of Bradshaw, it seems to us no reasonable
doubt can be entertained. It is as evidently to our minds the compila-
tion of several hands, as are the Iliad and Odyssey of Homer.
We attribute no weight whatever to this objection as regards the
trustworthy character of the information contained in the book. For,
to say that a certain book was written by one Bradshaw, is no more
than to say St. Paul’s was built by Sir Christopher Wren, who, it
may be fairly supposed, never touched so much as a stock or stone in a
practical way during the rearing of the ecclesiastical edifice ;—
“ Sir Christopher Wren
Directed Ms men,”
and no more nor less than this fell to the lot of Bradshaw.
That the hand which had guided the work to its completion, should
have given the few finishing touches required, is far from improbable,
and some of the index fingers, shunting lines, and amusing, though per-
plexing. arrangements and notices, are, without doubt, from the facile
Vol. 49.
2