The New York herald., 1871-03-30
The Methodist Tartufles and Brother
Bottoms Interludc.

BOitonl's Interludc.
Again have the Tartuffes of Methodism re-
turned to the charge This time however,
there are perceptible signs of their having
weakened in vigor. Like BobadiI, their plan
of campaign was perfect, and, like Bob Acres,
they find their valor oozing out through the
ends Of their fingers. On Monday last they
met with the condemnation OF theatre going,
coterie-caper-cuttin and novel reading as
the things to be mathematical out Of
Christian society, If not out of existence
The comical point of body professedty
free from popes and popery out
anathematizing the Papacy is something
80 much in the semblance of ''bull" that we
are doubtful whether the animals parentage
Is Irish, Roman or Wesleyan. The general
backing down in Mondays performance is,
perhaps, recognition of this inconsistency.
If the holy brothers in Wesley denounce the
drama they can sometimes furnish first rate
comedy themselves Shakspearian at that In
last Mondays performance the principal
character was Brother Bottom, sanity but
temporizing Methodist, not much after the
heart of the illustrious John w. Brother Nick
Bottom was the principal character. He COM
mences by wishing to play the lion, not liking
a part requiring love and tears. ''Brethren,"
he cries, 81 will roar that will do any man
good to hear me- He then goes on to quote from
Montesquieu, hoping all the time that the pub
lie will not discover the cheat, but believe him
to be genuine king Of the forest He is not
very hard on dancing, but insists that it should
all be done for the glory Of God. 1t is wonder
fal that be did not think Of the pious David
and his Israelitish breakdown on public occa-
sion as precedent for this, so far as the light
fantastic is concerned. He proceeds to say,
D''We are singular people-ah enigma to the
FOld World and ourselves" This is so true
that it can be left to Speak for itseii: Now
comes the Weakening. He complains that
ministers are too technical and too fond
of severe definitions. They cannot legis-
late amusements out of existence. Since
they cannot we had better hear the original
Bottom for the rest of the paragraph :-''Fair
ladies, If you think come hither as lion 1t
were pity of my life. No; am no such thing
am man as other men ore. will roar,
an twere q nightingale" The cure pre-
scribed by Brother Bottom is to the effect that
the fire of amusement should be met by the
fire of Methodism. The arch enemy should be
made to hop instead Of allowing humanity
to dance to his tune. In other words,
high pressure Christianity is advocated
al tn iul,
1t does not surprise us to think that Brother
Ferris differed with this gentleman, but
we can pity his lamentable avowal
of ignorance of ''ways that are dark and
tricks that are vain" when he tells us that
''until last Monday he was not aware Metho-
dist minister had danced during his term of
Office" The facts and logic of this great Tar
tuffe are something worthy Of more than pass
ing notice. He says, speaking of France
"The result Of all this dancing and theatre
going is that every third child born in France
is illegitimate. Verify, here is the Flute of
the comedy, man who runs the nose of his
religious bellows into everything, whether he
knows knows , amy .il,ag aoois as SIT tie subject or not.
We think he should in future apply
it to the holy fire on which Brother
Bottom wishes to blow SO eloquenly. He
propounds very curious question-namely,
why is it that men do not dance with men
Now, the Doctor weighs probably two hundred
and fifty pounds. If we picture Brother Gorse,
who weighs two hundred and sixty as his
partner for mazurka, we may furnish him
with reason. Brother Ferris thinks exercise
the great desideratum, but gracefulness is
another. Five hundred and ten pounds of
Methodism in highland fling might mean ex-
ercise, but where the second feature of
grace would lie is more than we can tell A
South American missionary gave his expert
cnce as man who by the force of silent ex-
ample eradicated dancing in Rosario. This is
the man who plays 'The WALL" fer, like the
original. everybody can sea thrOuph him