The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-04

ga Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever
IT is anticipated by those who are judges of
art and by the modern Ruskins who can de-
tect the beautiful, that the New York Tribune
will double its circulation within the next
month Mr.. Horace Greeley, finding his bail
ing of JEFF. Davis, and his attacks on those
who do not let him do their thinking for them,
were naturally affecting the size of the editions
ofthe Tribune cast about him for an expedient
whereby the visible decrease might be arrested.
He was tired of the stale "dodge" of giving
away books, and to promise a gold pen with
out guarantee was no inducement. The phi
losopher, in gazing around his sanctum for an
appropriate object to give away, esped his
form in mirror, and the Tribune was saved.
The cackling of geese saved Rome, and a few
drops of rain decided the battle of Waterloo.
So was it with the Tribune. The moment was
critical. 1t trusted in inspiration to rescue
the organ of radicalism from the fate of de-
sertion by its old worshippers. The concep
ton was sublime, and the irresistible induce
ment was held out, that whoever will subscribe
to the Tribune shall have a portrait of the
redoubtable Horace. We can imagine the Joy
that such prospect of possession will give
the masses. The fascination of being in daily
sight of that bald head is species of intoxica-
ton eminently calculated to please the public.
And by this device the theatened citadel on
Printing House Square was saved.
Now, on principle we object to this original
conception. In the first place, we are not all
beautiful, and it is wrong to barter for spoils,
or even subscriptions, the comeliness which
God has given us. 1t is taking the other
editors at an unfair advantage, and will COM
pei resort to fraud and subterfuge in order
to keep up rivalry. 1t will require
every editor to have double, beautiful as
Adonis, who can stand for him and be des-
patched to the admiring readers, as picture
of him whose utterances they daily peruse
This will also entail an additional expense.
Beauty and brains are not always combined
We are not all Greeleys. Now this supernu-
merary will seriously drain the exhausted
treasury. Besides, the show editor cannot
be put to any kind of useful work. Fitted as
he would be for no task above counting pennies
or beating newsboys, itwould degrade the ruling
| spirit were he seen by an observant subscriber
in the act OF kicking an urchin, or rolling up
nickles in bundles. So that, besides the ex-
pense, depressing weight would be on the
bona tide ugly EDITORS head lest his second
self should be degrading himself. Yet all these
evils are entailed should Mr. Greeley's plan
come into vogue Every Office must have its
Adonis, and the bitters of editorial life would
be drank to the dregs. Although, therefore,
we grant to Mr.. Greeley the palm Of a neat
expedient, yet he has forsworn his craft, and
rashly endangered those whose peace should
be precious to him, even if they be those whom
God, for some inscrutable reason, allows to
exist.
Yet Mr.. Greeley acted to his own and his
readers advantage. He gives them a valu.
able present, neat, elegant, and most perma-
nent for if there be any truth In the old adage
the pictures Of 'H. g." should be eternal, for
| is not ga thing of baautv a iov forauar 9ii