The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-13
~want of Deooncy is Want of Sense.,

which appeared in the New York Round
Table. In that wonderful epistle we have
exhibited how man of talent, education
and literary culture can so far lose his tenn
per as to descend into the lowest pit of sour
have done honor to a flshmonger of Bill
lingsgate. We have seldom read a letter
more calculated to depress us in our
estimation of literature and literary
men than the one before us. 1t can have but
one good effect-to show how supremely silly
a man looks when he commits his ebuIlitons of
passion to paper. A man who has lost his
temper is always at a disadvantage. His op-
ponent. If he keeps cool, can always defeat
him. But in personal rencontre there is a
possibility of passion preventing passion, or of
violence covering the adversary. When he
writes letter, these chances in his favor are
no longer good. He contronts a number of
cool critics, each of whom has no cause to be
indignant and on whom no influence of fear
can operate. His passion seethes and boils,
and almost turns his mind, while his audi .ors
are all cool and collected.
Under just such a disadvantage has Mr..
Reade unfortunately placed himself. We do not
pretend to consider here what are the merits
or demerits of Griffith Gaunt" We opine
that the criticism of the Round Table, al
though rather too severe, was in the main
Just; that the book is immoral, and con-
demnatlon of it is merited. But even were the
attack most just, would that excused
writer Of Mr.. Reade's fame in so far demean-
ng himself and his profession as to call the
editor of weekly magazine ga beast ?" Yet
his is what Mr.. Reade does in distinct
hrases. he demands, What can this beast
mean~ Now this is really too bad.
In addition to the disgusting language used
by Mr.. Reade, his whole letter is the most
silly exhibition of vanity that we have ever
been called upon to read. We make no ex-
cepuons. A school girl Just from diet of
slate pencils could not be more vain of her
curis and her poetry than is this man of forty
oil his reputation. To properly appreciate
ones own influence is all very well, and it is
only right that man should have due esti-
mate OF his own powers. But an exhibition
so thoroughly childish as that ma lie by Mr..
Reade makes us blush for our profession and
sex. He originates a name which, he SAYS,
VIII supply defect in our language" and
which, sin few weeks, will run around the
Union" He calls "Grifith Gaunt" his "mas-
terpiece," and states that "it has for months
hoated the ArgoSy," and "been eagerly read
by thousands in the AtIantic." Now, this
may all be true, but for the author to say so
is positively disgusting.
Mr.. Reade tells us that he intends to "col-
lar" the editor OF the Round Table and try
him before jury of his countrymen. That
the editor OF the Round Table richly de-
serves collaring, we have no doubt; but for
the article for which the punishment is to be
inflicted, he deserves anything but chastise-
ment. He only expressed the views of thou.
sands of moral people, and he only expressed
our views. Ii we remember correctly, we
stated several weeks before the Round Table
that "Griffith Gaunt" was not fit for house
hold reading. Possibly we may be collared
also.
Mr.. Reade will find by sad experience that
to fling dirt at an enemy is no way to excite
sympathy. Had he come in manly, modest
letter, and appealed to the right-thinking
supposed grievance, he would have received
attention, and, if injustice was done,
reparation. AS it is, he has only estranged
all the decent portion of the reading Ameri-
can world from him, and made them think
that he is personally man well fitted to
write "Grifith Gaunt." When the case is
brought for trial we will see some rich deye-
lOpments; but Mr. Reade will find that "want
of decency is want of sense" and that the
American people demand from all who ad-
dress them both sense and decency. The
Round Table concludes its reply this week as
folloWs:-
"And so, in the course of our labors, it has
become our duty, in honesty and sincerity, to
warn the reading public against a wicked, i'm
pure, and pernlcious novel. The author has
finally and fully witnessed the truth of our as
sertiOns by an inexpressibly disgusting letter.
Many feel now that which they may have been
in doubt about before, that, as a novelist, Mr..
Reade has richly deserved all that has been
spoken of him in these columns. Hereafter he
will be watched most closely, while those who
esteemed HIM for many things cannot but feel
the greatest regret that any Englishman of his
repute should prove himself q roWdy and a
bully. 1t is to be hoped that his suit at law
will bring to light some redeeming feature on
his behalf"
"A country correspondent of the PAT Mall