Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-05-19

The American Register, (Paris,) f,r
April IL has q very sensible PM t.ul
editorial concerning Mr.. VeriD1a.' 90.
it is probable that wide circu, ti"u oi ihis
extract will do no harm. III
To this vast pleasure ground (Paris,)
where every taste is studied and every want
supplied, come the brain-weary workers
from our institutions oflearning or of trade,
in search of rest, the brainless squanderer
of gold in search of enjoyment the artist
seeking for perfection in his art, the student
longing for new intellectual worlds TO con-
quer The Gree, who possesses all charms
snd who knows all spells, lures 'lon 10 her
enchanted castle, and bids theui ~ magic
banquet, whercat each taste may d'rt The
dainty that it specially Graves. from the
loftiest aspirations of which the soul is
capable, down to the lowest needs of our
pershable frame, fair Paris finds means to
satisfy all Shall we carry the parallel
further? The fable tells us how he guests
at Circe's fcasts We're changed to niimals of
d .ferent kinds Well for those who. ut the
table of our modern Gree, suffer trAnsfor-
nation into nothing less noble than the
winged Pegasus, soaring upward into the
heaven of divinest art And woe to those
who, beneath the influence Of the magic
draught, only crouch and grove in true
bestiHl form amid the drained wine-cups
and the withered garunds.
For among our cOuntrymen abroad, the
saddest and most scandalous of spectacles
is the dissipated American. BY his side
even Shoddy becomes respectable and ig-
norance is pardonube. We can forgive
the nouUeaU richie who rushes abroad to
air his Just won dollars. We have sympa-
thy for him who knows but little and who
comes to Europe to make that little more,
Even folly and stupidity have this excuse
they are inevitable and incurable. The re-
sources of modern science have as yet dis
cerned no method by which the fool may
be made a wise man. But respectability
and decency are within the reach of every
body. No special gift is required to enable
any one to attend the laws of common pro-
priety. And if such laws are worth OBJ
serving at home they are ten times the bets
ter worth observing abroad At home "A
man fathers his own sins. Abroad, his evil
doing casts a stigma on the nation of which
he is AN unworthy member. At home, his
own good name only suffers, while here
the scandal casts a shadow on the honored
appellation of American citizen.
The brainless youth who staggers around
drin king shops and hotel bars is the mark
for sneering comment on the part of the in
telligent Partisan. When he shows him
self at the race-course or in the theatre side
by side with Mademoiselle de Mabille, hi:
actions are set down rs the usual style o.
conduct on the part OF young gentlemen Of
the nationality to which he unfortunately
belongs In his reckless expenditure anC
senseless dissipation, Mr.. Veriphast from
the States, has eclpsed that time-honoreC
type, Sir John Bull At least Sir John haC
due regard for appearances. But Mr.
Veriphast pays to virtue not even the poo
tribute of hypocrisy His misdeeus ar,
shouted from the housetops. His reveli
are matter of public comment His evi
associates link arms with him in publ,
places. And when he departs, leaving be
hind him only too often "A store of unpaiC
! bills, there is weeping at the Valentine anC
wailing at the American bar.
| " G wish that Mr.. Veriphast, like hi
| female compeer, Miss Rapid, would stay a
home. Not that we can make for him tn,
excuse that we can for Miss Rapid She
at least, while appearing evil, is guiltles
in the majority of cases of anything wors,
than folly. But the deeds of Mr.. Veriphas
are truly evil and his ways are unclean.
is owing to him and not to her if the wore
American has lost its place in the socia
| scale abroad. These adventuresses of GU
nation, creatures as distinguished for the
/ brass as for their beauty, are understood
| here to be exceptional specimens of Ameri
/ can humanity. But when Mr.. Veriphas
! drags the name of American citizen through
the mire of profigacy or the soil of socia
scandal, who shall pursuade the intelligen
| foreigner that he, too, is an exceptions
specimen The best salons Of the Ameri
can colony are open to Mr.. Veriphast anC
Miss Rapid. If we take them to our hear
or hearts, socially speaking, can we dis
claim all knowledge or conformation o
their otfenses? We wish that they would
| stay at home-a vain wish, and one no
likely to be realized.