Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-02-19
g NUDE STATuARY.N

cately calls Nude Statuary;' and we here un-
hesratingly subscribe to the opinions therein ad-
vanced. 1t is the proper sphere of religious jour.
nails 10 warn the public mind, against tie evil OF
insidious rs we'll as of palpably vicious customs
against those excesses which Fashion sanctions
as we'll rs those which common morality disdains.
We admire the Independence, which risks the
lrackneyed taunt Of puriianism and discharges,
honestly and faithfully, high duty to society, by
seeking - expose the false. irrelgions and demor-
alizing foreign taste which is rapidly taking pos.
session Of the American mind. And although we
occupy the position Of a political, rather than 4
religious sentry, yet upon this subject, in the Ian
guagc Of OLIVER GoLDsMITns Harlequin,
"We'd say word or two TO case our conscience" "
The American Union 1--WE begin with dccla-
ration apparently wide Of The mark) owes much
of its greatness 20 the Atlantic ocean and 10 the
absence of Steam power. We are not affecting
CARLrLE's enigmaiical and incomprehensiblc
style. when we make this assertion; bu we mean
precisely what we say. And we think il easily
demonstrable.
First then, had the Atlantic been less wide and
boiscrous, or had FULTON lived in ITO, the fleets
If GEORGE REX might (anl probably would) have
prevented entirely the establishment of this vast
Republic Of the Western Hemisphere. For it was
great wonder that the thing ever came abon, at
all, considering the comparative strength Of the
belligcrents.
Secondly, had not the Atlantic wave, with all
its delays and difficulties, nterposed between
young, vigorous, vrtuous America and old, en-
feebcd, vicious Europe, there are many chances
that Republican Independence would long since
have become but another name for Lawless An
archy.
In both cases, our distance and comparative
isolation were among the principal elements of our
success. -
But now, the introduction of Steam.power, with
its appcndages, is drawing the two continents
closer and closer together, each succeeding year.
Tie consequence is that America is becoming,
day by day, more corrupt and degenerate. And
among the immediate causes which are affecting
the purity of our character, the sensualization of
the fine arts occupies prominent place-which
remark brings us back to our subject.
"Nude Statuary'' differs from nude painting,
only in name. If the one be culpable, so must he
the other. And yet there are some who can look
upon Il sculp,urcd "Grcck Slave" with admirin.
eyc but would shrink, in horror from n painted
Venus, although the names might he exchanged
without interfering with the ptopriety Of the rep
rescnlalion. What is II that causes this differ
t., ,1,o c;, 20 IL,
(Inwever destitute of sccmly covering) grace the
parlors and studios of the wealthy and iashiona-
BILE, while the same ideas, in paint or print, are
more frequently found in bar.rooms or barber
shops
OF the evil influence Of all such representations
we are fully satisfied. Let him who douns,
watch the eye Of that maiden as she first looks
upon anything of the Sort 1--WE have seen thcm)
and let him observe that quickly avcrtcd and
sometimes blushing countenancc, and then let
him tell me what that means Is it not that her
native delicacy is shocked 1t can be nothing
else. But let him regard that same face, under
similar circumstances, after it has become habit.
uated TO gazing upon such cxhibilions-and let
him tell me, what means that confident STARE
those snon-chalant' criticisms upon the rounded
bust &c. DO they not mean that instructive mo-
desty has partially disappeared at the mandate OF
conventional taste! And will any one tell me
that the maiden is as perfect jewel as when first
her glance fell before That garsh representation OF
the human form?
Upon the coarser sex the influence Of these e1.
hibitions is still more marked and reprehensbe.
For, by their nstrumentaliy, licentousncss is ire.
qucntly begotten where all was pure before, and
many can date the beginning Of a vicious career
from first gazing upon the unveiled beauties oi
woman as represented in painting or in statuary.
We are we'll aware that it may be said that stalu'
ary is the more chastc of the two; and perhaps ii
is, from the fact that it is more difficult to make
the "marble speak," than the picture. Still, Is
not q fondness for nude statuary but the first
movements towards encouraging model artists
and every thing of the sort' Such has been the
history of Continental Europe on this point-and
such will be the history of America, if this rage
for foreign nudilies shall fully seize upon both
sexes among U.s. as it now threatens 10 do