The Nevada journal., 1857-02-20


"D;sgraceful," from which we extract
the following
Among the many exhibitions in CAL
ifornia, good and bad, dramatic and 9TH
ers, one future is noticeable, that is, the
want of decency which SO often charac-
terizes them.
We are led to notice this subject by
the appearance of an article in a recent
number of the Nerada .Jou7naL This
article gives an account of a compliment
tary benefit to the ladies Of theatrical
company who were performing in that
place, by the members Of an order
known as the f Clampsus Vitus 1t is
filled with illusions, that those who have
ever obtained the secrets of that Society
cannot misunderstood. We do not de-
sire to provoke a "war of words" with
any person, but we would be false to the
cause we have espoused, false to those
who expect us to act fearlessl y and hon
estly in the discharge of our duties. and
false to our own principles, if we
did not denOunce in fit terms the gross
outrage on public decency, committed
by that journal by the publication of
such an article. We cannot let this
opportunity pass, without making some
remarks on the baneful effects of such
publications on the public mind, &c.
The success attending the benifcent
efforts of the different fraternities snch
as Masons, Odd Fellows, and the lem
perance Orders, has led to the organi
zation of several societies intended TO
burlesque these noble institutions, into
which young men are inveigIed under
pretence that they are designed for
charitable purposes, when, in fact, they
are places where the grossest indecen-
cies are practised. The young man who
desires to retain his self-respect should
shun them as he would the plague or
any other pestilence.
We have known other men than the
editor Of the Mirror whose incapacity to
"let an opportunity pass without making
some remarks" has led them into an
exhibition Of their characters and virtues
little anticipated by themselves. To an
outsider, the whole article, from which
we have quoted portion, would appear
10 be an outburst of indignant virtue at
some gross outrage upon morality. To
those however who are better acquainted
with the character of the society to
which he alludes. aud the class of our
citizens who are its members, the whole
thing presents slightly different aspect.
The author of this TRADE is undoubt
edly very proper man before the world.
lie is the editor of journal devoted to
temperance, literature and SCIENCE
all very worthy objects of DEVOTION
Perhaps his reputation, as far as outward
acts are concerned, stands irreproacha-
bic before all men. But he has shown
that he is filthy and corrupt at heart
His mind is the receptacle of the foulest
thoughts. Words and scenes that would
only excite the mirth of purer men, in
his depraved Imagination awaken ideas
of obsceDity and filth. There is a mine
OF rottenness in the depths of his heart,
that clouds his mental vision. so that
everything he looks at takes yellow
and ghastly hue. His thoughts are nasty
and detestable. His virtue is like
purifying sore - morbidly sensitive
lie is one of those canting hypocrites,
who are the bane of every creed, cover
ing inward vileness with a grave couu-
tenance and decorous exterior The
leprosy is in the system, and will exhibit
itself occasionally. AS one ofthose"young
men, who desires to retain his self re-
spect," we thank him kindly for his
advice ''to shun these societies as he
would the. plague or any other pesti-
lence," and in return would recommend
himself to retire to a cell and mortify
his flesh, and cleanse himself, till his
sickly virtue grows stronger, and he can
walk among men, without its cringing
and shrinking at every word his prurient
imagination can torture into an impurity.
The editor of the Mirror disclaims
any desire ''to provoke war of words
with any person." and we are not our
selves particularly fond of that species
of combat but we could not "let this
opportunity pass" without expressing
our utter loathing and contempt for that
system of moral restraint, of which the
editor of the Mir. and others like him
self, are the advocates. 1t is founded
upon a mistrust OF humanity, that can
only be the offspring of conscious base
ness. They scent impurity, as a Jack
all scents carrion and growl over it, and
feast upon it with as keen a relish. We
don't admire their taste.
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