Professional teachers ignore this almost completely, and that
is one reason why they so often fail; and it is also a reason why persons
who do not go to them for training so often succeed: the latter class
finds that knowledge of the human heart makes up for many deficiencies.
The first important consideration is _good nature_. It is not often
that we can use words to compel; we must win; and it is an old proverb
that "more flies are caught with molasses than with vinegar." The novice
in writing is always too serious, even to morbidness, too "fierce," too
arrogant and domineering in his whole thought and feeling. Sometimes
such a person compels attention, but not often. The universal way Is
to attract, win over, please. Most of the arts of formal rhetoric are
arts of making language pleasing; but what is the value of knowing the
theory in regard to these devices when the spirit of pleasing is absent?
We must go at our work gently and good-naturedly, and then there will
be no straining or morbidness or repulsiveness of manner.
But all this finds its consummation in what is called _humor_.
Humor is a thing that can be cultivated, even learned; and it is one of
the most important things in the whole art of writing.
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