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Little Rays of Sunshine
Falstaff, by Eduard von Grützner (1846–1925).
Falstaff, by Eduard von Grützner (1846–1925). “Falstaff was neither brave nor honest,” wrote GK Chesterton, “nor chaste, nor temperate, nor clean, but he had the eighth cardinal virtue for which no name has ever been found.” If Gardiner is right and smiles reveal character, what do we make of the character of von Grützner’s Falstaff, as revealed by his smile?
Back to text
Falstaff, by Eduard von Grützner (1846–1925). “Falstaff was neither brave nor honest,” wrote GK Chesterton, “nor chaste, nor temperate, nor clean, but he had the eighth cardinal virtue for which no name has ever been found.” If Gardiner is right and smiles reveal character, what do we make of the character of von Grützner’s Falstaff, as revealed by his smile?
Introduction
For many years, newspaper editor AG Gardiner wrote short essays for the Star under the pseudonym ‘Alpha of the Plough’. The following passage is taken from a reflection on the value of the smile, a reflection that ended with a warning. “Smiles,” he wrote, “like poets, are born, not made.”
IF I were to be born into this world again and had the choice of my endowments I should arrange very carefully about my smile.
There is nothing so irresistible as the right sort of smile. It is better than the silver spoon in the mouth. It will carry you anywhere and win you anything, including the silver spoon. It disarms your enemies and makes them forget that they have a grudge against you. “I have a great many reasons for disliking you” said a well-known public man to a friend of mine the other day, “but when I am with you I can never remember what they are.”
It was the flash of sunshine that did for him. He could not preserve his hostility in the presence of the other’s disarming smile and gay good-humour. He just yielded up his sword and sunned himself in the pleasant weather that the other carried with him like an atmosphere.
Columnist A. G. Gardiner expressed some regret that he had not been born with one of those smiles that seem to work magic. He recalled how one friend of his had a smile so disarming that others invariably forget whatever bone they may have had to pick with him, and simply basked in its warmth. (55 / 60 words)
Columnist A. G. Gardiner expressed some regret that he had not been born with one of those smiles that seem to work magic. He recalled how one friend of his had a smile so disarming that others invariably forget whatever bone they may have had to pick with him, and simply basked in its warmth.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: because, besides, despite, just, must, or, otherwise, since.
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