New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-07-11
UyWHJTEW1SUED SEPULCHERS

There has never been an age OF the world,
with any means of literary expression, which
has not uttered two widely differing Judg-
ments of itself. The official, what we may
call the Fourth of July style, invariably
ascribes all the virtues to the present, and the
prospect of indefinite advancement In the
right direction; while the satirist and moralist
find little cause for anything but ridicule or
denunciation, and little hope of the future.
When Mr. Tennyson tunes his harp, we see
in the Victorian, return Of tho old Satur-
man reign. Prince Albert was on the whole
better man than King Arthur, and his faith
full wife is the model of all soyereigns to
come, and easily superior to all who have
gone before But Mr. Bradlaugh and Mr.
Dixie have somewhat different views about
the present state of the realm, and so has
Lord Salisbury, from the other side. In the
matter of public morals the same discrepancy
NAV be seen. Mr.. Podsnap holds 1T the
proudest boast of the true BrtOn that he IL
distinguished from all other subjects by his
shining lack of all those qualities which are
calculated to bring q blush to the cheek OF
Young person. But Mr.. Henry Watterson,
who is now in London, says that in glarlng
whit behind Paris in its worst and gayest
estate. The picture he draws Of the outward
aspects of the social cancer in the heart of
the highest civilization is certainly not
cheerful one, but it may be doubted whether
any capital of Europe has any reproach to
cast upon others in this respect.
1t is undeniable that of late years most
unusual license of speech, of print, and of ac-
ton has been visible everywhere. In Latin
Europe it is not surprising that the decline IN
power of the priesthood has set free the rlbald
and the skeptical spirits which were formerly
restrained by fear of ecclesiastical or civil
punishments. The blasphemOus caricatures
everywhere visible in Spain and in Italy testify
to the monstrous growth of impiety under re-
hgious repression. But in France, where there
has been very little ecclesiastical tyranny since
the revolution, there are the same manifesto
tons of morbid and over-refned licentious-
ness in literature and on the stage. A new
school of novels and dramas has arisen, which
while avoiding the frank coarseness of Rabe-
lais, goes far beyond him in license. Men
with established regulations do not hesitate
70 mt their names to books and to plays
which cannot be discussed, much less read in
mixed company. II is scarcely better
in Germany. The Yt6nfese Z illustrated
papers arc filed with the most risky
tests, and the fun of the Berlinese, if tritte
heavier is no moro decent. Can we boast
that the contagion has not touched usf We
can certainly point with pride to our litera-
ture, what there is Of it, so far as this espe-
ciaI fault Is concerned No American of any
standing among men Of letters has ever yet
written a novel or poem which could not
be read aloud without expurgation... But in
the lower forms of publications, any one who
chooses to spend five minutes at news
stand can see the progress downward which
Yea have made of late years. The police and
fash papers now sold publicly are of the same
kind which we're hidden from sight in dark
alleys some yeafs ago. The illustrations in
them are always prurient. =. The Tdrapery is
always arranged in some impossible fashion,
with the purpose of indiscreet revelations.
Our local stage has certainly felt the same
infection. What was once mere yulgarity has
become improperly. Our columns have borne
sufficient testimony against the corrupt and
corrupting spectacles which of late have de-
yastated our theater. When men now mid
dle-aged were boys, there was not concert
hall that would have dared admit double
entendre in o song. Now it is the surest way
to win laugh from the groundlings.
This is not mere jeremiad. 1t is by no
means clear that these eruptiOns of ribaldry
upon the surface of society indicate that at
bottom things are very much worse than they
used to be. 1t seems like temporary and
widespread bad fashion which has flowed in q
short time over the world, and which may be
expected to subsde and give way to some
thing else in due time. 1t is very disagreeable
while ii lasts, but We are not yet compelled TO
fear that it is fatal. The vast majority of men are
still honorable the vast majority of women still
honest and true. There il as much religion
aud virtue as there was in days which seemed