Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1850-10-24


no one, with well-balanced mind, can
for moment question. To what all
this is attributable, we are not prepared
to say. That it is the result Of high
degree of civilization and refinement, is
! not true, because more Of evil than Of
! good results from what is termed the
progressive spirit of the age.
| The public mind is entirely devoid of
a calm, dignifed tone everything is in
confusion, and we are constantly in
wild excitement of some kind, although
ever varying. First it is gold fever, and
men and women in all conditions ofliie,
are wild with the frenzy to be suddenly
rich, which accounts from California
have created The public mind is COM
pletely absorbed with this novelty, for
season nothing is thought OF, talked
OF, or written OF, but California and gold.
People go positively mad OH the subject,
and they cannot be reasoned with. He
who is rash enough to talk calmly on
the subject, and TO suggest the propre-
ty of reflection and sober action, is de-
nounced as being very far behind the
age, and as being guilty ofasceticism to
antiquated notions.
Ere this fever has hardly reached its
| height, there comes a fashionable and
nimble dancer from Europe, whose fame
is heralded by the papers,-and the
crowd rush to see her kick up her heels
and display those parts of her person
which nature has designed to be mod
esty robed, ever since Eve fell il, Para
! disc. She makes an exhibition Of her
body, which, if it was done by an un-
! known female in the street, she would
instantly be arrested for indecent con-
duct, and locked up in the house Of cor
recton, a Jail or a poor-house. But
some lascivious Mad'moiselle from
France or Italy is permitted TO make
these exhibitions inpublic, because she
is an accomplished artist. Her perform
ances are nightly visited by thousands,
because it is fashionable. Men go with
their wives and daughters to witness
these indecencies, when, if the half was
exhibited before their windows, they
would be raving with indigniiy. Grave
Senators and dignifed Statesmen re-
leve the tedium of important legislation,
by witnessing these disgusting spccta-
cles-and even reverend clergymen oc-
casionally assume a blue coat with brass
buttons, and are seen at the place Of ex-
hibilon. Nothing is talked of among
the refined circles of fashion. in the cit
les, but the star ofthe day, of this Elsler
school.
I In the midst Of all this there is fear
ful riot, growing out Of the rivalry oftwo
play-actors and this is made a natioE
al affair. An Opera house is attacked,
foreign performer is driven from the
stage, and the audience is scattered, at
the risk of the lives of those who COM
pose it. The Military are called out,
and the mob is not dispersed until many
are killed. This excitcs the public
mind, and the furor spreads throughout
the land.
Il While this violent excitement is still
on, a fearful murder is committed in the
heart of one of our principal cities the
parties are of the highest responsibility,
and both have hitherto occupied prom-
nent positions in society. This produces
the widest excitement, and absorbs the
attention of all classes, and conditions
Nothing is thought of or talked of but
this murder. Yet, ere this scene" is
over, Jenny Lind arrives on our shores,
and the people ofour country, from one
extreme TO another, become more mad
and frantic than ever and, TO this mom-
ent continue TO make fools OF themselves,
in every conceivable manner.
Such is the eiIervescent character of
our people, and such is the peculiarly
of the age in which we live. History
tells us of the Iron. the Rrazen and the
Golden age and we think that few
years hence, History will speak of the
present as the Frothy age,-and if so it
will be with a very considerable degree
of truth.