Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-04-02
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CIVILIZATION A FAILURE.
From London Fun.I

| From London tun.I
There is no concealing the fact that
we humans are not only prone to bear
the ills we have" but are inclined to
turn up our noses at the wells Of our
ancestors. 1t is the old story of the fox
| that lost his tail, one of the very few
| fables that has q grain of sense in their
bushels of morality. | can remember
the case of a Cornish miner who re-
ceived, in friendly rough-and-tumble
in a public house, kick from highly
civilized boot somewhere in the region
of the diaphragm. He doubled up like
clasp-knife-you almost thought you
heard the snap-and when afterward
undoHbled" by a process something
resembling the opening of an obstinate
oyster, he gasped out, Never mind
-I-rather like it.
Humanity is very like that miner. 1t
has received violent blow from civili-
cation in the very center of comfort, but
it gasps, or squeaks, or shrieks that 1t
thinks civilization is bliss.
But, my dear sir, or madam, you
know in your heart of hearts it is nuis-
ANGEL To take only the very modern IN
stances, what has civilization done Tor
the inhabitants of Polynesia? 1t has
introduced small pox, drunkenness, mis-
sionaries, and other mortal illnesses.
And our ancestors, the ancient Britons,
suffered in just the same way from the
civilization which was forced upon them
by our invaders. Civilization, by the
by, is an awful liarl 1t has taught us to
talk about the virgin soil of the isle, and
Britons who never have been and never
will be slaves, and soil which the foot of
no invader, etc.:-and all the while,
considering the advantages of position
as an island, we have been more in
vaded-and comprehension most peo-
pie. But could forgive those who con-
ouered us, if they had only abstained
from civilizing us tool
Oh, happy days, when each family
grew its own wood in its back yard, and
tailors and dress-makers' bills were
unknown. Slightly cold considering
our climatel" Yes, but you forget that
in those days civilization had not extir-
pated the wolf who was useful not only
because you could clothe yourself in his
skin in winter, but because he kept down
the surplus population by eating any OF
Jour young family who were in excess
Of the demand.
But the cruelest wrong that civiliza-
ton has inflicted on mankind is tooth
ache, painless extraetions, new sets, and
instant cures. Civilization is, to put it
shortly, neither more nor less than neu-
ralgia When wild in the woods the
noble savage ran, he never knew what
| 4 Al u
grinders to be seen in the exhumed
skull Of any aborigne who was happy
eno- Oh to die before civilization intro
dueed him to hot drinks like tea and
, coffee. Net sign. of decay in those
grinning devil mecaries bit Of ivory.
J And as for neuralgia, those happy peo-
} pie never had nerves-they we're blessed
with gang-lions, like that caterpillar,
which you may cut in half il you like,
whereupon the first half will 20 cheer
fully about its business, and the second
. half would follow it, only, having lost its
head, does not know which way to 20.
MOI toothache and neuralgia are the
elements OF civilization. Who ever
heard OF Chingacbgook using Bunter'
J nervinel Who could picture Pocahon
ias with a poultice of camOmile and
poppy.beadsl History-which is an
other product OF civilization, and III
take your opinion upon it when you
. have accurately given the succession
with date) of the Kings Of England
has no records of dental torture till ",
come to the very civilized reign OF John
You don't think John very civilized
{ monarch?' pardon me, he got monel
{ IRON the Jews in spite Of their teeth
) and that's more than many civilize,
E young noblemen of the present day car
= succeed in doing. By the way, has any
body observed how his victims have car
: Tied out the Hebres law Of tooth f0l
q tooihl . If not, a glapce AZ the list o