Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-02-18
A WORD ON BURLEsQEs.-
ga light word is the DEVILS kecnest sword.


roads, but over fair flowers. In the
excessive and fearful fondness for bur-
lesqucs which SO largely prevails, we
recognize one of the most unfortunate
tendencies of the times. There is moth
ing so exalted in sentiment, or SO noble
in feelins-nothing SO inspiring in po-
ctry or SO sublime in philosophy
ing so pure in morals or SO sacred in
religion, as to be secure from this de-
mon Of dissertation.
We rear our little soul-templc, and
build into its structure every precious
gem CT thought and feeling that We have
gathered by the way. We frame inches
within, to enshrinc our dearest idols,
and we erect our little affairs where no
ly thoughts may come with trcading
feet to offer worship. But bur-
lesque enters, and like rude mono
clast, mutllates our idols, and breaks
sdown our affairs. He caricatures our
highest representations and embodiment
Of beauty, goodness and truth, and ex-
ults over his sacri.ege with fendlsh
glee.
We wish to offer our protest againut
this unholy excess. There arc some
things which ought to be ridiculcd, and
all such are sure to receive all they &C.
serve but there arc some things which
ought not to be ridiculed, and in prac-
tice no distinction is made. They have
sprung up and multiplied in society
evils as numerous as weeds, and we re-
joice when rldlcule can uprooJ them,
but it is sad when our most fragrant
flowers are torn up with them.
We can. regard with moderate COM
placency the operations Of burlesque
when circumscribed by becoming
bounds /; but our complacency is trans.
formed into disgust and contempt,
when those bounds are totally disre'
garded. There is some propricty in
browning with FOOLS cap and bells
the simple circus-clown, performing
eyolutions and standing on his head fol
pay, utterly degrading the divine sig
net stamped upon his brow; for he is
not a man, but only has human shape
There is, we say scmblancc Of pro
priety here; but it is like the spiri
which put crown Of thorns upon the
Savior's brow, and clad in mockins
purple robes the very Son of God =
Our thoughts turn from these sa'
scenes, almost discouraged, for if ever
He was treated thus, how can we ex.
pect that which is far less perfect t.
escape the burlesque robe?
We are prone to look upon the actors
in this terrible tragedy as the mos
abandoned Of mankind ; but what othe
spirit than theirs is it which manifest:
itself in our enlightened age, when, ia
vored with the visit Of angelic forms o
thought, and feelings almost divine, WI
dare to array them in the attire Of bur
lesque?
The fault, however, is not alone witt
those who originate they must expect
condemnation who encourage. Th'
weaver will not weave unless the purch
aser purchase, and the wearer wear
The public who patronize deserve con
tempt as we'll as the actors who per-
form. 1t shows Il sad perversion o
some Of our noblest endowments, tina
the negro minstrel and the writer Ct
parodies finds crowds Of appreciativ'
admirers, while the cultivated musician
and the true poet starve for want o.
the very bread.
We h We friend who wrote parody
on Poe's "Ravcn.'' Nothing coull
have been more complete in its CORES.
pondence and analogy to the poem it.
self, in rhyme and rhythm, in fancy
and metre. 1t was scarcely written be
fore the author burned it to astes-]
mean the paper-unforunately the yer
ses we're not so easily COZ sumed.
Written more indcllbly, traced in i'm
perishatle characters upon the leaves
Of memory, the parody fingered in the
authors mind, associating with rldicul<
ons of the most intense and powerful
poems ever penned.
Let, then, burlesque be ever confined
to its proper sphere. Whenever anc
wherever it oversteps its approx riatt
limits, let it meet on every side OILY
the repro achful finger Of scorn and the
frown Of public contempt. Then the
pure, the noble, the elevating, the Sd
cred, may be uamolcsted and enjoyed
in perfect peace. Our cherished treas
ures of thought and feeling may be en-
shrined in the Westminster Of memory
secure from sacrilegious hands. Oul
fragrant flowers shall still breathe soul
full perfume, in the garden Of the soul
and the angelic forms Of beauty shall
receive the homage Of our hear is, un-
mingled with regret at encouraged pro-
family.
ANAGRAMs.-Our youthful readers
will find amusement in writing out these
anagrams and cutting the letters a art;
and then transposing them, the sentence
with each will be formed. Charles
James Stewa1t-Claime Arthur's scat;
Christianity-In its charity Embargo
20 grab me; Festival-Evil fast ;
Gallantries--All great sins Lawyers
sly ware. Neutrality-suspicious. him
not; Monarch-March on Old Eng
land-Golden land Parishoners-I
hire parsons Patience-A nice pet ;
Penitentiary-nay | repent it; Pres
byterian-Best il prayer; Revolution
TO love ruin; Sub treasurer-,A sure
burster Wealth The law.
MEANING OF "THE FISH" 1.-The
elevation on country church steeples of