National Republican., 1873-01-28
"GENIUs AND TRADE"
MISS vAUeHAN's LECTURE
What Il Needed for the Future OF Art and

What Il Needed for the Future OF Art and
tsraturc-nTaierialism vs.. IdealisIn.
Last night there was a large attendance at
Lincoln Hall, to listen to the lecture by Miss Nir-
ginia Vaughan, given as an extra cue Of the
grand star course.
THE LECTURE.
The fair lecturer starts on with the PROPOSE
ton that there Is deadly conflict between the
spirit Of genius and trade now going on IN so
clety; that she comes to the rescue Of the
weakest, the worsted Of the two-Eenius. one
Of the new conditions surrounding the present
time Ia the fact that the initiative Of all reform
must come from the people; and with the poo
pie IA found the genius that must commence
and carry out all new and progressive Thought.
.nsS WSS, tss Swer 10 Sye Is tnS PfSP 10 as
compsh anything. Genius resides with this
dull, heavy, average people, this slnmbering
giant, this dreaming sod.
InE NENT GREAT RATTLE
to he fought, whatever the aspect II assumes, 10
between materialism and ldealism; between the
Phistines and those who love ideas; when we
enter the realm Of literature and art, between
genius and trade. She spoke earnestly OF the
uade spirit that she claims Is eating out the
IDEAL Of true literature, and hlames our editors
and publishers for not striving TO elevate the
standard Of the publlc taste which they supply
with intellectual food. This spirit permeates
the entire realm Of art, and In consequence We
iucinR any thing great in literature. The
genius assists but II cannot crystallZe into FORM
Some link ts lost between power and production.
This trade spirit IN our day and traue pRaer hS US
and sale, has for the lrst time In the history nf
the world dared to plant It's foot In the pure
realms Of the Ideal. II Ia debating to US the
laws Of
and endeavoring TO control the various faculties
Of the mind. II, as class, our editors and pub
| fishers could have been animated by noble am-
| bitiOn plpVafR the uubllg standard. how QlO-
hous q work they might rave accomplished.
| This Is proved by what has been accomplished
ne only art in which snSh spTs sss pre-
| oua Thnmascs and Durands not to pander tn
crude and undeyeloped taste In this art there
has been created true tsPrf ds corps, an impas,
stoned love Of their art, and they have forced
| the people to study, love and appreciate II,
Instead Of this spirit In literature the nrst les
son taught the young American Of genius OF our
| FALSE TO MS own INTERESTS;
| that he must not write from love OF truth and
beauty, but to please the public, and he soon
| learns that success to him means disloyaliy TO
| all that Is highest within him. The same abuses
| exist In the lecture nelh, and under they In.
| nuences oratory Ia becoming one Of the lost
arts. Upon this point Miss Vaughan predicts
that when the few voices now amongus have
died away there will he none to take their places
unless new spirit Ia invoked that will foster In
| place Of killing genius.
most core OF our social and political life. Al
/ this point the lecturer depicted with peculiar
| force the loss OF that high sense OF honor which
she claimed to he the formation alike Of indiyld.
ual and national character.
II has long been the crying shame Of this ma.
ton that too many Of our eminent public and
professional men are not above
TIE TAfST or SUSPICION,
| and she asserted that II has become an open
question whether the widespread corruption
visible In all spheres Of our political and socia
life has not so completely undermined the very
foundations Of our Government that the fall ol
the Republic Is a mere question Of time. To
| the trade spirit Is also due the vulgar os.
tentation and display, the passion for nOto-
| riety, which Ia so characteristic Of this age
the apathetic Indifference Of individuals Ia
the most insulting opprohrium and Of the public
to the most open dlshonuT, so long as the person
succeeds In retaining ONCE and wealth. There
| IA no such thing nowadays, Miss Vaughan tells
Us, as reputation--its only meaning Il nne
clothes and q full purse. We applaud the mobile
lines In which Cassie laments his disgrace: "Oh
! have lost my reputation; have lost the i'm.
mortal part OF me, and what remains Of me /:
bestial. IAgo, my reputation! my reputation"
We applaud these lines, hut In fat we should
give our applause to lagos reply, for It Is more
In keeping with the spirit Of this age; "As an
an honest man, thought you had received som,
bodily hurt, There Is more offence In that thar
In reputation"
II il TO the trade spirit that Is due the levelinS
tendency through which democracy must pass
the temer,ty, the conventionality, which NOR
than any other influence has checked the deyel
opment OF the intellect Of this country.
GENIUS Is QUICK
daring, fertile In resources, the powers II draw
upon Is INFINITE, and this power Ia with tn
people. The lecturer closed with an appeal 4
all to seek the sacred paths that lead unto IN
mountain tops, where genius lives, aud gras
the bright inheritance OF a glorious fdtur,
which we hope for In vain unless we ourselve
make II reality. THIS can only he done h
freeing genius from It's fet,ers, and following IT
bold guidance through doubt and obscurlty Int
| its own horizon OF calm assurance and truth