New-York tribune., 1873-02-21
i DIvERSIoY or TIE WICKED.
ANSWER TO A PLEA FOR MASKED BALLS.

AN ANSWER TO A PLEA FOR MASKED BALLS
To the Edttor OF The Tribune.
SIR: Though "foolery does walk about the
orb like the SUM-" it Is at best only fooery ana VIVA.
does it prohl Can De fools and JUSTIFY ourselves
Can we codde our weaknesses and thrive Should the
instinct that prompts indulgences dangerous IN the
tendency be permitted the rolckng pleasures OF the
mask because forsooth the mask makes fancy her own
rotous mistressl There are many pleasuraDle iacts
which have only the induction OF DEATH Inc aporieu
vacuum which can DO filed by masked Dall VIII not
bear examination. II may be yery natural Dut IL
must be horribly diseased High moral culture, though
often slokly and impractical Is at least suggestive
OF something better. What does masked bail suggest
with those whose moral culture is not very hight Is the
deYiI nurer than Christ II Christianity Is simplicity,
what is masked bal II Is true the aborgines arc Io
lowing their inclinaons-but what Is following theul !
Natural, aboriginal incnatiOns, well fouoWeu' VIII
shortly reach TOphet There Is nothing TO checK us
there but feathers and vermion are abundant Don
confound gbberish with eloquence, grinning with
laughter, boister0usness with hlnrity, masks WIN
faces Pure fun never needs mask We
know that the .whitest lilies grow In the ranEest
mud yet who would look for flower garden IN
swamp II is true that vleness hath its beauty yet
who TO discover the beauty, would be subject to VILE
ness II you that good may result from evil
You may learn something under the mask, 1t cannot
DO denied yet would you have the show mado to teach
YOU an especial lesson The first masker was the
devil; and feathers and fix leaves were the conse-
quence. 1t is true that Eve learned something's
but was she prodted or justifedl II Is much
better for human nature to be ignorant OF many
things that happen in the world, and II the fountain
head OF masqueradng be your confession Pan
demonum would It not be safer to keep away from II
The Veaioni Of Italy is entertaining and distinguished
No denies it. Cora Pearl is immensely distinguished,
and very entertaining butyou can make your own in-
ference Italy is by means excmplar for nations,
yet she IS remarkably distinguished IN all that re-
lates 10 folly. and her record in all that should
be most avoided is unparalleled. Your contribu-
tor contends that the wee should be separated
from the folly OF masking. folly being innocuous;
but who shall find out the point OF separation since
they nicely Joined as Chang and Engf what
cape is there so and where is the hand 50 steady
that eau perform skilfu piece Of work as to sever
the exact connection Of good and evil Will one reform
the people the maskl While reforming the people
viii one abandon the mask, or look TO tie mask 70
work the reiormatl0n-is the oVl IN lhe htsA or IN %
ppope These are nice questions, and must be Welgned
well before determining our course. IL reasonable
% conclude that the IaIsian cerspOOI Can9t Uo IT,
formed while 10 Is under the mask no would one De-
Gin work under tine blare Of the grand OPERA for It
serious folly attempt the reformation OF the VICIOUS
amid scenes Of riot and dissipation Inc means 70 en-
ploy for the restoration OF virtue would De nrst 10
abandon the mask under Whch Tue far!slau cGospOol
flows 50 abOinnaby; for the cesspO0 Is only seen
under mask, it might be concluded that the mask
must be thrown away WhcheVfr morn OF tne ilie ina
we take would the abandonment OF tue other
and as good woman, the writer OF your article eOuu
Tho abhOrred vacuum Of human nature to which your
contributor referred Is dangerous empness, req fng
something more than innocent iOuy 10 MI lOr Ioiy,
feathers aud verm ion are not suelenuy seIp9lseu 70
satisfy the void Human nature viii enjoy Itself III spite
Of all the high moral associations IN the world Ihty
may preach and gr1aI IN dismal chorus all their DAY 5,
hlt they cannot gru1n away the Ndcuuul' 1cl dlc
they not right in grOanlng at something lt they could
only recognize Of the void and take the middle
course against human weakness, then iOJ mlght wear
always an innocent face Youth WIZ dahIe anu iaug' DaT
because OF that, need they put youthful llmDs ana
yOuhu faces Purtanical bonds I1aJ is tue error
the good and leads To crime 50, too M Oluet 70
dance and laugh n You commend tlem I'd lhc IlOJ Vl
bdnasqGe set them Oh the hgh road 20 danger
ana impurty Nature is not riOOuG, out orderly ana
all the tendencies of the balmasque are 70 disorder
mask that restraint may be done away. Ia me new
di5penatOn poor, aud cyZatGn 80 Oad tAat II VIII
not compensate woman for her existence Ihen aDdh
don the New Testament ana smut up an chufcues anu
east away the ideal evolved by Intelligence founded on
Immortality. Riding may doom one TO DrOken
neck" vet is therefore necessary for ordinary mOrtas
may lead to waterY grave yet, IN order 10 uike
BATH IL is not incumbent TO jump OF vessel IN
storm at sea. The mental bow must be unbent some
times yet need not twist It into corkscrew Amer
leans do know how 10 enjoy themseiycsi Dut there
needs no plea Tor the Olle OF the Ola world 70 tedc
them. The tree Oi liberty sguIutS alnphcltyt DuJ Ou
World fOies would be bad glaft. They who love the
bal InasGue have the Liberty 10 ENJOY II, Tor
our liberty almost means lcense yet Ola World
folly - poor suggestion lor cOrIecuus OtI SIArl2.
Reuublicanism brought that charm OF simple ways
which will induct rs To new me- III "hlch tue EiauOur
OF fun forms component part but leads 70 better
condition wherein faces unmasked and character
ia crystaliZed with the brightness ald purity VI the
diamond. Clergymcn DO longer give tone 10 e' lOfl
has its own mysterious pemissOns from "A benehCenJ
Providence. II the balmasIue Is tOuchslene treasure
il: but don't contend that u Is capable OF giving
thoughtful and OyerwOrked people The heiIth OF reaGa
happiness WI
'f.,'Jc, F.b "a ta7a