The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1855-12-01
CO "The Americans says the London
Leader, s'are better acquainted with our lit
erature than we are ourselves

LH ne ~AIncTlChnss says the LONDON
Leader, s'are better acquainted with our lit
erature than We are ourselves
Gin less than two months, Rachel is said
TO have realized about S45 900 for her per-
formances in New York and Boston, and her
brother not less than 100000. After this
the Yankees cannot be tainted with want
OF appreciation for high art /"
We might add to these items another con-
corning the recent purchase of copy of the
Mazarin Bible against the biddings of Euro
pean royalty and nobility, by private in
dividual Of THIS country; and any number Of
similar items which are continually appear
ing in the public prints. All these things
have their significance, and effectuallv ex-
plode sentiment often expressed but emin-
emily unjust, that we are almost wholly a
cold, material people.
We published short time since an article
very forcibly written, from that very able
and respectable periodical, the North .4mer-
scon Rerier, entitled "a Picture of our
Country" to the purport that though the
progress of the Republic in a material view
was astonishing, the rapidity of the subiuga-
ton OF the soil, the employment of the for
ces OF nature, and the extension of the IN
huenoes of civilization on this continent were
unparalleled and worthy Of high congratula-
ton, yet the curse Of Midas was upon u.
money making, cash payments, the lust of
flesh aud the pride of life governed public
taste, ruled morality, crushed the love of art
OF truth, of virtue and Of beauty that we
were material, not intellectual practical
not spiritual all this emnently so: so by
comparison SO TO On extreme extent, be-
yond other people. And it is common ex
preston We have heard it so often assert
ed, so often lamented, SO often preached
about and lectured over, that it is generally
assented to by the lips, though continually
occurring facts and national vanity rather
constrain Us to believe differently in our
hearts. And most assuredly it is unjust and
untrue, untrue beyond the shadow of de-
Fence. We are money making people. We
do delight in material achievements, and IN
the spread Of civilization We are nrae-
teal, matter-of fact nation, scornino nm.
suDstantial theories and useless whims. The
history OF the nation proves this ineontesta
bly,. But why is it Is it because the non.
alar mind is surprisingly cold and hard is
IT because we love money, for its own self
Win mlserly affection And is ii there
lore true that, as it is necessarily Inferred
intellectual culture, spiritual eniovments. q
rove 6. art, an apprehension and fondness
!" fath and beauty, are comparatiyply
A'.ed and lost sight Of +? By no means
Money, material power, practical capacity
are haole 70 he used here, ~ they are eyery-
whore, for merely material purposes. but il
is not more go, it is far less so. here. than ~
any other community Of any extent on the
lace Of the globe. II is true, We certainly
beiieve, that here money, influence. general
power, are priced and sought after as q
means OF gratifying "a higher standard Of
popular taste, greater average of intellec-
tuai cultivation, more spiritual mind. q
keener relish Of the results Of art. a liyelier
senslpiiiv TO the emotions of truth and
beauty, than the mass Of mind IN any otho,
nation displays, and that they are sought az.
Ter with more avidity because Of the higher
enloyments TO which they contribute. the de-
mani Tor something better and something no.
bier than that with which the world general.
~ is content. Else why is it true that every
artist III music, and sculpture, and painting.
IN the delineations of human passion and
emotions, every species Of literature and
learning, every enterprise that is high and
noble, and oredltablc to the human kind. ia
Aaiiea with an enthusiasm and commands a
more munihcent rccompense than any where
eise,-~a recognition and a recompense Who'll
~ voluntary, extended by no institutions be-
neyolently founded for such particular mr.
poses, nor by cultivated and privileged class
es, bat extended by the mass of our peonle
10 meet their own individual tastes and do.
sires, or perhaps we should say extended i,
such class greater in proportion TO the
amount q population thaA can elsewhere Il,
found lncontestsbly, it is true, that al
that appeals to higher cultivation and Q
more intellectual life, finds filter audience
before The American people than before any
other nation, and just as incontestablv is il
True that this Is because the average of intel
lectarai culture and spiritual sensibihty is
higher here than any where else, for the one
statement IS the complement Of the other.
And all this will soon be conceded in terms.
generally, as ii now is frequently, aud as the
unconscious but irrefragable testimony 81
art, and learning, and religion, seeking "a,
shores, AMI drawing their most liberal sun
port from the voluntary aid If our people