The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-21
SPIRIT or xzn PRESS.
Editorial Opinions OF the BeadInG Journals
Upon Current Topics Compiled Every
Day for the Evening Telegraph.
wANTED-sT. GEORGE.

WANlED-Dl. 6EOhOb.
From the N. Y Tribune.
In that most veritable of histories wherein
are chronicled the triumphs of the seven
champions of Chrisendom in their warfare
against all "Pagans, infdels, and enemies of
the God of Heaven" most notable mention
and mastership is given TO st. George, not
alone for his invincible prowess, for his en-
chanted steed Bayard, and sword Ascalon, but
for that he was ''clothed with all gentle
graces, that he was by day or night the
courteous knight, of rare and princely be-
havior."
Nowadays there are no burning dragons or
witch Kalybs for the champions of Christen-
dom to overthrow. The conspirators against
decency, civilization, and heaven muster yet
in legions; but st. George with his Barbary
armor and enchanted lance would cut but
ridiculous figure before them. Our cham
pions rout them manfully; one by one of the
dark host, slavery, bigotry, and unbelief
has gone down, or is togo, before the modern
weapons of the pen and tongue. st. George
and his compatriots needed physical strength
and skill to meet their CHASTITY foes; but our
knights must attack their spiritual enemies
with spiritual forces; faith in God and man,
shrewd mother-wit, and, above all, mouths
like Aaron's, that will speak well. 1t is, as
we all know, not only by their tongues they
set forth the civilization, the lofty truths
born into the world, since the days of dragons
and witches it is in their words, their gra-
cious lives and presence, dignifed by all no
bility of manhood that we find the old-time
st. George, with his poor courtesy and effort
at gentle grace set aside and utterly thrown
into the shade as the rude type of q rude era.
Conceive that most grave and courtly
knight, with his pure virgin lady Sabra,
making a pilgrimage through the United
States to witness the signs by which this
rare civilization and progress OF the nine
teenth century manifests and justifes its life.
Imagine the fnely-toned manners, the rare
courtesy, the gentle dignity of speech by
which they would be instructed and warned
of the new brotherhood among men.
Do they take up journal of the foremost
thought in the central city of civilization in
tended for the morning supply of mental
food for cultured men and delicate women?
Eight of the twelve columns are devoted to
''Beastly Murders" ga Thief's Games" I"
''Chopping Man to Death, or the details of
''Burns Pit" and accurate descriptions of
the chewing therein of trained rats by man.
But hold! here is history of a noble charity
wherein homeless babes are taken in and
cared for. Here the knight whose VOW was
to protect the weak and helpless, can surely
learn a novel lesson from these later times.
Our modern champion finds it and reads it to
hm:-"The lovely lady President was pre-
rent and wore gros-grain silk trimmed with
smiles on ALL The Secretary was ravishing
in blue velvet, ETC."
If st. George should fail in these dashes
here and there by that most Christian knight
Jenkins to detect any symptom of progress, or
of the rare and princely behavior worthy of a
country and an age which have spent their
best blood in the cause of freedom, and loos
ened the chains of four million slaves, let him
enter the halls of Congress and hear the daily
IF VIII
that country and that age. Here doubtless,
in the wise benignity of Words in the stately
gravity of bearing he will find the reflection
of this day of the world, day more noble
than any which Plato knew. He hears the lie
given and taken without grimace; he hears
this man accused of bribery, another of theft
in the same language which he heard in the
New York slums, and finally, at the myste
rious words, ''Shoo fly don't bodder me,
thinks it better to go down to the Slums a
once and learn from the shoe-black teachers
what Congressman only give him secondhand
But on the way, Sabra, let us suppose, de
sires to find a convention of her own sex
whereupon they journey to Newark. Women
no doubt, with the wider culture and loft,
glimpses into truth afforded by the many pass
ing centuries, have risen to the heights o.
strength and serenity to which the fair and gen
tie maiden of that past barbarous age cal
only look up in hopeless envy. Their desire
too, to assume the place and duties of mai
can only arise from the fact that they hav
conquered all those of their own: that i
purity, refinement, tender womanliness the
have no more to learn. Sabra seats hersel
in a chattering, turbulent crowd and hear
one of her sisters announce that "Ma
was the whale; Jonah in his stomach wa
woman; and man would find it plaguey har
to keep her swallowed" Another siste
varies the figure and defines ''man as a littl
Almighty in boots" Convinced that the la1
guage of these oracles is fgurative and caps
BILE of some divine Interpretation, Sabra give
it up and comes away. Where shall we direC
the sanguine knight to take her for tn
clearest glimpse of our modern civilization
Shall we invite them to peepin the back doc
of II. r. H. 8 bedchamber with us, to couI
over his collars and socks and finger his jev
elry or to the gallows to gloat over our ne1
treat of dangling wretch who dies game?
Or shall we honestly ask ourselves if the
is not some altogether noble and gracio,
thing owned by this knight of the grave al
gentle speech which we have almost let fall
our hurrying progress; a something which
fast becoming lost art In our schools, o.
legislation, our women, and we had almo
said our churches; the manner kindly, simpl
and true, the speech, gentle and courtly,
which the champions of Christ honored hii
their brother, and themselves. Shall we ia
lesson from St. George ?-and if we Q
willing, where can we find him or his lii
ness
PRINCE ALFRED IN INDIA.
From the London Spectator.