The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-08-16
LEAVES FROM A STUDENTS NOTE BOOK
TIE GREEK SLAVE.

TIE GREEK SLAVE.
Some newspaper critics have labored to detract
from the just influence of this first class work of
Art as we'll as from the deserved reputc of its ac-
complshed author, by various shallow and l-natur-
ed objections. These critics are doubtless of that
captous class who, having no appreciation at all of
those things which appeal more to the heart and
feelings than to the mere dry light of the intellect,
derive sufficient motive for faultfnding from the
admiration of others. Coming from such directors
only criticism is not worthy of reply.
And least of all are they deserving of respectful
answer who espousng the defence of virtue, charge
upon this noble work q demorazing influence
The virtue is already sick that can use the aid of
such defenders. Vile indeed beyond all peril of
greater deflement must be the hottest places in has
soul WHO can find any food for lewdness in that
symbol of outraged innocence; or who is willing to
indulge the thought of sin so heavenly presence
And must even suspect, if there be any one in
whose mind the suggestion of such danger can be
excited by contemplating that impersonation of
purity that his virtue too has already ceased to be
"worthy of sentinel" Who told thee that thou
vast naked?"
90 further. 1t is not enough for my feelings to
deny that the nobest works Of the Genial Soul are
of demoralizng tendency. One is ashamed to offer
such defence How pitful, for instance, that the
words of Shakespeare must be put upon their trial
before decent (and immoral) generation; and, in
their condemnation, recommended to mercy on &C
count of the circumstances of the age! Non ejus
culpa, sed temRQrum.
In opposition to the shallow sciolism and unmas-
culine decency of this sort of CRITICISM assert bold
Iy that the truest works of Genius can be trusted
for purifying, and eevating and. cutivatng infu-
ence upon the whole man. All the essential hui
nanity of man is goods composing together the
varied features of the " Godkeness.' That error
is most perncious that would divorce the moral ma
ture from all the stand by dstoring its importance,
would make all the rest ofno account. God on the
contrary has made Beauty one of the means by
which man shall be led and held to purity and has
taught US by manifold instructions how much re-
lance he places upon it the source and avenue OF
good influence upon our morality and even Religion.
In accordance with this view look upon the author
of the Greek Slave" as idler-but as one of the
"practical" benefactors of his race. No man can
compute the benefit which may result from the
general exhibition of this statue in a land of dol
lars and expediency. Not only by its refining
power will it shed indirect influence upon the prac-
teal being of man. it appeals directly to the moral
nature, with preaching more resisess than that Of
Eloquence ITSELF Not even the Yankee nation can
fail to Sind sermons" in atss however deaf it may
have been to the preaching of its own less cultivat-
ed marble. y II This is ONLY Slavery. Is
lust meaner than avarice2 Or is slavery smaller
. wrong when its untold and unantidoted ingredients
of wretchedness are poured upon coarser skin, or
q less tenderly nurtured victim2
"Not for this
Was common clay ta'en from the common earth,
Moulded by God, and tempered with the tears
Of Angels, to the perfect form of man., =,