The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-08-05

".1S Al
wrong, for such was the opinion Of our board at the
time. Yours, truly, W. II. u. WARD.
For the South Western.
FASHION AND CoNsEQUENCE--"1 he Author OF rash
ion and Consequence seems to think that because
we condeseended to notice his work in imperfect
criticism published time since, we are therefore
committed to an utter abandonment OF all serespect
and will, of course honor him with notice of all the
unsavory articles with which he may be disposed to
aict the public in yindicaten OF his scrap book OF
vugarities and of filthy anecdotes. At the close of
our former article we notified the public that we did
not expect to have anything further to do with the
book or its author We found the book in market--ln
an auction store-and believing that we had right
to regard it as public property we took occasion to
say, IN mild way IN our opinion the clrculn-
stances warranted, what we thought OF it, We be-
lieved then, after careful perusa that the produc
ton basey immoral in its desi and still worse
in its execution; and further observation has confirm
ed this opinion We did not ct the time, legltmatey
know who the Minister of Many Travels was, and
we did not care who he was We tasted the fruit
and Judged the tree accordingly We then formed the
opinion that the book compiled by rake--by
man who evidently knows more of the ways of those
corrupt in morals than he does of the experimental love
of Christ; and regret to say that subsequent de-
velopments have strengthened this opinion rather
than weakened it, and for the special benefit of the
author will take the trouble to inform him that
this is the Judgment of at least nine tenths Of the peo
pie of Shreveport Wewill further inform the Min
lister of MANY Travels" that IL great majority of our
citizens believe that he is great actor and that
people do not attend his Sabbath exhibitions for the
purpose of being instructed in the truths Of christian
ty but for the reason that they would attend
circus, theatre bear-fg bt-simply to be amused
They go to hear the Reverend (God save the mark
minister of Many Travels rant and rave and bully
and illuminate his anathemas againstal who presume
to oppose "Fashion and Conseq they go to
how egregiously "a minister may belle his calling
with what barefaced effontery man may "steal the
livery of heaven to the devil into see how
grossly man may insult public morals and outrage
public decency with impunityn fine, they go to see
the shoD!
Since the publication of our criticism in the South
Western three several articles have appeared in the
Caddo Gazette from the pen OF the reverend gentle
man. who with pride SO little becoming teacher of
morals much less teacher of christianity claims the
paternity of this base nondescrpt of weakness and
wickedness, and is evidently striving to oist it into
notice. honorable or dshonorable, it matters not
which-by provoking our citizens to respond to his
i'll bred puerilites and disgusting billngsgate Glow
long O Catalina will you abuse patlence!'
In one of his articles Mr. Chapman courteously OBJ
serves zone ofthe wisest OF earth assures us that
fool ought to be answered according to his folly and
here we take pleasure IN complying with hls lnstruc-
tions' If We could reasonably promise ourselves or
readers as much this learned author seems to think
he accomplishes, not sure but that would
lay aside selfrespect for the time being and at
tempt reply to this distinguished Minister of Many
Travels" But this would be hoping against hope
We could not antic pate anything more than very par
tial success in such endeavor. Wevery well know
that could not do the subject half justice, if
we disposed to try We freely confess ourselves
unarmed for warfare with such an antagonist When
becomes gross and so utter discourteous as
to tell that fool why surely shall not verify
his assertion by attempting TIC prove to him that
not. Wehave no low slang or eplthets with which to
answer the scurrlity that Mr. Chapman makes Of
Nor bully that We should attempt to territy
when cannot convince. And we presume that 1t IS
scarcely necessary to say that not egotlstca
enough Though hold ourselves ready to confess to
a pretty fair showing of selfesteem at times) to i'm
agine that reach this great High-priest of all
Egotsts with any of fallbity, moral ntellec
ta enthroned, as he is his above mortal men, In the
imagined supremacy of his own transcendent perfec-
tons Such attempt would be worse than bottling
moonshne. We shall not stultify ourselves by at
tempting to seratn the positions taken by Mr.
Chapman his several articles for the that most
of them too palpably false to need answering be-
side, "Qu Nunc" has answered some ofthem most tri
umphanty And mark how like coward, ignomlni-
ousy driven to the wall the bullying saint attempts
to disarm his antagonist by the of soft words-by
playful attempt to come the big and little over
him while he himself gracefully abandons his position
instead of showing a defence. How pusillanimous
mortals can make themselvesN!
1t occurs to that tmust be weak cause when the
author driven to the necessity sustaining his book
by such testimony as the following
"Ladies who were present that there is |
nothing in Fashion and Consequence startling
than that which was seen and heard the last nj chit
of the theatre and crcus!!
Is it possible that Fashion and Consequence is no
more startllng-that is to say demoralsing-l
than the circus and theatre!l We have always made
it rule of etiquette to question ladys veraci
ty. And until the minister of Many Travels told
US from the pulpit that ladies have right to an opin
ion of their own-that it Is very absurd for wo
men to have opinion at ALL and especially on the
subject of MoraI Ethics" should have felt some
hesitancy in disregarding their judgment. But ac
cording to the gentemans own showing we are under
obligation to respect the opinion thus offered, and
we have no idea that he will be able to find another
person, whose opinion is entitled to respect, that will
say half as much for his book.
Mr. c., Regrets that the self constituted guardians
Of morals did not let the public know why Byron and
Shakespeare kept on the centre-table," while a
book wh5ch teaches the purity Of the Bible is oppos-
i'd" We have always been taught to regard every
man. to some extent at least, his brothers keeper
5he guardian of public moras--not ''self constituted"
but made so by the highest laws of social existence
Reason teaches us this doctrine, the bible reveals it
10 the will of God. Legislative enactments re-
eognise it truth and the common experience ofman
kind proves its wisdom and necessity. Yet this rev.
erend gentleman of many travels in the penitude
IF his wisdom, to think it is sheer oicousness
IN us to give note ofalarm when we see the wolfap
preaching. The language quoted plainly implies that
man, except those who care sent forth to teach"
men and what to believe and what to do" has
any right-much less is it his duty-to exercise any
degree of watchfulness public morals. We have
always entertained opinion different frorn this and
more especially SO since Mr. 9. has been member Of
our community. We ought however to expect moth
ing better from who is laboring to find purchas
ers for such book Fashion and Consequence. The
tricks of hucksers many and oftentimes disreput
able.
As to the inteogative part of this quotation, who,
except Mr. c. needs to be told that tolerate Shaks
peare and Byron because each is in itself world of
beauty These volumes are treasures of wit and elo
quence and power ofspeech to move mems souls. =
And though there deforities in these favor
tie authors we tolerate the hemshes for the sake of
the beauties. We are unwilling to throw away SO
much gold simply because there is little dross in it.
But when we have offered us collection that's all de-
formity-all dross-not single grain in it that will
stand the test of the crucbe, of throw it
aside. Does Mr.. G. understand?
But to continue the quotation: eff they sincere
their profession of regard for morals why did they
not condemn the circus and theatre they lately APP
peared here? VIII they be SO kind to let the
people of the country know why they oppose in book
what they willingly permit their families to in
ality? Their creed is, "our families may look at the
hing itself listen to vile sayings, but must not read
book which contemns the sin" What creedl How
base the inconsistency" Again: "Our moralists laugh
heartily Mt the req ty but bitterly danounca s for