picture–something which (mad though it seems) would have looked like me. I wanted something that would depict my face as Heaven gave it to me, humble though the gift may have been. I wanted something that my friends might keep after my death, to reconcile them to my loss. It seems that I was mistaken.
What I wanted is no longer done. Go on, then, with your brutal work. Take your negative, or whatever it is you call it–dip it in sulphide, bromide, oxide, cowhide–anything you like–remove the eyes, correct the mouth, adjust the face, restore the lips, reanimate the necktie and reconstruct the waistcoat. Coat it with an inch of gloss, shade it, emboss it, gild it, till even you acknowledge that it is finished.
Then when you have done all that–keep it for yourself and your friends. They may value it. To me it is but a worthless bauble.” I broke into tears and left. Idle Rich, Economic Prosperity in the British Empire, The Dawn of Canadian History, Moonbeams From the Larger Lunacy, The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice, My Discovery of England, Wet, Wit and Dry Humour are some of his brilliant writings.
Glossary: drooping – bending unwarrantable – illegal, wrongful pursuits – quest frantic – mad, desperate grave – serious boundless – limitless ceased – stopped trifle – bit staggering – shaking or vibrating animation – excitement beckoned – called superficies – surface / outer face withering scorn – disapproving hatred depict – show, give a picture of reconcile – to comfort and heal emboss – cause to bulge out bauble – a thing of no value . Based on your understanding of the story, answer the following questions in two or three sentences each a. Why did the author go to the photo studio? b.
Describe the photographer. c. Bring out the significance of what Leacock was reading at the photographer’s. About the Author Stephen P.
H. Butler Leacock – FRSC ( – ) was a Canadian teacher, Political Scientist, Writer and Humourist. He was educated at Upper Canada College in Toronto and the University of Toronto from which he graduated in . He received a Fellowship in Political Economy and took his Ph.D.
in . Between the years and , he was the best known English speaking humorist in the world. He is known for his light humour along with criticism of people’s follies. Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town, Arcadian Adventures, With the -C-SR-With the - - :