St. Mary's beacon., 1858-09-02

not aiI Know tue story of StT Peter Lucy1 And
have we not read Of Aristophanes putting his
acquaintances upon the stage, caricaturing Soc
efates for the amusement of the malicious
Athenians till they rnared again, just as Mr.
Brougham served mp the quack doctor with
his cooked hat and large spectaclcs who used
TO walk Broadway? Bruugham was sued, and
the old fsgies in Greece thought Aretophanes
sad fellow; he really tos,k great licence: the
stage was getting vefS cOrrdpt: the drama was
in a decline
Nevertheless, authors have perfect right to
take their themes from nature. Because I
know glutton must never write about glut-
tony? Because all my fair friends fiirt, must
never bewail the faults Of American bellies
Because 60 to parties myself, shall not some
fine Sunday morning discuss American beaux?
Did net Raphael put the F"Enarina into \
whole gallery? Have we not heard Of Dante
too, aud the Duncad? Of the English Bar1's
revenge on the Scotch reviewers? Shall not
Juveual write Of Messaliua as well as Horace
nf MarceYas? The world is tie field, and
character fair game. IiesidrS we all talk ten
times more freely than write. Your charm
Ing friends will utter the most abominablc
scandal about YOU, sometimes in Your very
hOuse-at any rate IN their own. just after they
have dispensed their most graceful hOspitalities
You know what was said 10 Sir Peter I'cazle
in the play, when he trcmLled for his charac-
ter: You'd better take it with you, Sir Pc
ter Now If this gossip and back biting is so
delightful and SO natural, as its uniycrsaIity
implies, where's the harm of putting it in
print? OF course, don't intend To disclose
all the naughty things I've heard about my
acIuaintances only il seems to me that 50
many good and great writers have done for
50 long, what So many honorable gentleman
iand la,lieS) have indulScd III, is not deScrv-
ing of all the ccnsure that some rigid folks
pass on it, Writers may 90 to the great ar
mory If life and the world for their weapons,
only they must BE- careful that they don't
cut themselves instead Of their foes They
may attempt to portray what they see around
them if they fail and make themselves ridi-
cuIUus, whose is the fault? There were plcn-
" of old game-kecping baroncts. and youths
who p"ached on their preserves in the time
II Elizabeth; how many Of those youths,
think you, could create Shallow or see the
immortal Justice in their prosecutor? The
gentlemen who aim at tIauStiXing their neigh
bors. must DO it at their peril
do not, however, fight for daGurTcotypcs of
this sort. A writer, if hc is wise, will initiate
the artist, who copies one trait from every diff
fcrcnt model in Rome; true. h" may not
miuglc the pcculiaritieS Of H"i'' 81 ''''-
r,Ir ~ ,,o+,,ro onI NAV bUtch, or make a
L,.yLo,.to;,, rue all but ShakSprarcs and
S,.,e III creators, have been content to COPY
,,~.Irc absolutely. Charlotte Bronte put her
old professor III the novel just AS he walked
and lived and taught in Brussels; AMI Rousseau
mrrored every thought Of his own heart. But
y man has a right to do what he will with his
OWE he may disclose his own fuibes if he sees
4 I Il Il, nl1ck
or satiriSt, or any one but a Nagabond, if
attempted to put npon paper what sec in life,
| should think some boundaries ought to be
set to my fidelity. \ character. perhaps, may
be exactly put down; but incidents | should
shrink from making known. vt any rate thus
much Of discretion and delicacy. it seems to
me. would suggest themselves 10 a gentleman.
If incidents were used. they should Ike so usel
as to give no pain and character SO copied that
publicity need not hc attracted to private indi-
vi,lIalS when that publicity would prove
unpleasant to its subjects.
Very many people like notorety. Some Ia
dies are MT unwilling To see their names in
print as having attended such a bail at the
Springs or worn such dress at the Presidents
lcvee Others dislike extremely anything
| like VULGAR notoricty. Whoever attracts
public attention to these, sins against good
breeding. Public people, Of cause, cannot es-
cape mention; neither, indeed, are private ones
likely t. do 50 in these days. Not oaly is the
scandal Of the Bl0untS and the Curcorans
known by every one as a matter of course, but
even caudle party or private concert Is
dctailcl in the public prints, with the names
Of the guests AMI the particulars Of the table
You and very likely will read these accounts
but | must confess | prefer not tn write them
Such reports seem to me To differ material Y
/ from sketches Of society. where not more than
one or two can identify the individual who may
have suggested remark or n character; and
also to bc widely dissimlar 10 criticisms OF
some novelty. in manners or amuScmcnts
which at rare intervals may be permitted
'Tis all delicate ground however, and lie who
treads it must expect sometimes y err.
The taste for personalities is not a refined
one; though the best people abroad puJlisl
their parties in the Morning Post, | doE't seG
any any reason for doing it here. Tie best
society in England is sometimes vulgar, accord.
ing to Pendeuni$, its acknowledged Chronicler
and this seems To- me one of its vulgaritieS
But one voice will never stop the torrent
Everything nowadays is put into print in
the most Claring manner. Not only tie pub
lie doinG> of plblic people, but the details o.
family history are announced IN the daily pa
perS the most sacred and private affairs d
business or life are themes for the journalist
and he who rcfrains from discussing them i.
behind the times. \ letter from the watering
places that does not chronicle the naneS Of the
visitors is dull; an article in a newspaper that
is not pointed with personality lacks effect
What is to be done? Swim with the tide, ol
be left high aIlt.: dry on the shore? In me'ti'
f,atisSin,us idis, said Horace. While awaiting
himself Of all the material fairly aff'Tlcd by
society ard private life, the journalist owes il
~ his calling which is dignifietl aud r-dncd
because an intellectual one, tn scrupulously
abstain FROM any breach of confidence or sac
=, rifice nf dclicacy When 50 many violate the
sanctities of life or trample on its decorums
II is no time for those to follow the example
who often assume 70 teach or to celSurt
others. Il Is theirs rather Go carry into active
. life the principles and the sentiments which
are tie distinction Of gentlemen elsewhere
than in society-Su110y Times.