Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-26
A Violent IIIiberaI.

Among Mr.. Ruskin's writings are some beau
tiful passages, some noble sentiments, an occa-
sional bit of excellent sense and more arrant
nonsense than any man, not a confirmed luna
tic, ever before contrived to put on paper. He
is now publishing a series of Letters to the
Workmen and Laborers of England" which, if
we may judge of it by some extracts in Lon
don paper, is, as was said of Mark Twain's map
of Paris, Gin some respects truly remarkable
work" Some of his wild language should
probably be attributed to panic which has
temporarily deranged his intellect, for he admits
that he is terribly frightened; "afraid of the
Russians, afraid of the Prussians, afraid of the
Americans, afraid of the Hindoos, afraid of the
Chinese, afraid of the Japanese, afraid of the
New Zealanders, and afraid of the Kaff1rs. No
wonder he talks nonsense. If there is any other
nation or race Of men who are at all capable of
exciting uneasiness in anybody's mind, Mr..
Ruskin is undoubtedly ready to be afraid of
them too on the shortest notice.
From a man in such panic one could not eX-
pect wise counsel. He describes himself not in
apty as a violent illiberal, defining illiberal as
one who dislikes liberty. But, though an lib
6Tdlt ut ID uOl dCOuSCINullNts lutf6 art d great
many things he would like to destroy, among
them, "most of the railroads of England and
all the railroads of Wales" the new town of
Edinburgh and the city Of New York. Some
parts of London be would destroy and rebuild,
but the railroads and cities first named should
never be rebuilt if he could have his way. En-
.glishmen generally, as well as New Workers,
will congratulate themselves that Mr.. Ruskin's
power is not equal to his inclination. He does
not make as clear as might be wished, what eff
feet the destruction of English railways and
the town of Edinburgh would have in foiling
the dangerous designs of the Prussians and the
Kafirs.
But having told so frankly what he would
like to destroy, Mr.. Ruskin does not leave the
workmen and laborers of England altogether
in the dark as to what he would preserve, that
is, if they read his letters, which we are afraid
very few of them will do. Girls" he saws,
SHOULD still be taught to curtsey, and boys to
take off their hats when professor, or other
wise dignifed person passes by, and kings
should keep their crowns on their heads, and
bishops their croziers in their hands," This is
all very well for Mr. Ruskin, who is a professor
we believe, and counts on receiving his share of
the bows and curtseys, and finds that kings and
bishops do not practically interfere much with
him; but it is little hard on the laborers,
who have no inferior class to fatter them with
obsequious seryility, and 10 whom kings and
bishops and other privileged dienitaries are a
very serious burden, under whose REFRESHING in
huence they struggle heartily, but Intellectually,
all their lives.
Mr.. Ruskin has written eloquently and admir-
ably on art and aesthetics. 1t seems pity that
he should wander from subject that he under
stands so well, TO make himself ridiculous by
his foolish rhapsodies about political and social
economy. His nonsense is not dangerous, how
ever, for it is too absurd to influence any one,
and since it doubtless pleases him and cannot
fail to amuse his readers, perhaps there is no
great harm done by il.