New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-20
TONE AND COLOR.

claims that he has not painted vice III at
tractiye cOlors, however accurately he may
have dclincated it. Mrs. Jameson, in alluding
TO Shakespeare's occasional freedom OF Ian
guage, puts the whole question with epigram-
matte point when she says: "Our fathers
"thought moro Of things than words; We
"more of words than things" The great ac-
cusation of the clergy against the stage, since
the Charch abandoned the drama which had
long been its ally and servant, has been thai
of familiar illusions to matters not ordinarily
discussed in mixed society. Respectable peo-
pie have changed in this particular. When an
old lady had borrowed Afra Behn's novels OF
Sir Walter Scott, she returned the volumes,
saying: take back your bonnie Mrs. Behn!
"And yet when was lassie remember hear
cling these plays read aloud in the best com
"pany.r Nothing can be more certain than that
constant repetition and discussion take the In
delicate flavor out of phrases as well as out OF
facts; and it is found that the unmention-
ability was in our shame-facedness, our squeam-
ishness, and our own ingrained cOarseness. IL
is curious to notice how great moral interest
digniGe9 doubtful details, and thrusts the dubi-
Gus and tcklah part of the narrative into the
BACKGROUND as q matter of minor consequence,
or of no consequence at all. The dignity OF
human nature asserts itself; we are sObered
by the spectacle of bighted love, of dark
ened household, of blackeDed reputation, OF
a ruined character; and men and women OF
spotess nature speak to each other with dig
nifed gravity of matters which would not be
mentioned save in the presence Of such
tragedy.
Nothing can b. easier for those whose taste
leads them to such noisome diversion than to
extract coarse merrment from the most Sc
rious subject. 1t is this propensity-a very old
one-which has deiiled many sacred theme;
which has made sport Of many cherished
tradition; which has vcntured to lampoon the
most precious faith Of mankind; and rising
with Il foolish though blasphemous audacity,
has passed the flaming bounds of time and
space, and playing the harlequin IN the high
chancery of Heaven. has made jest of the
ineilable Godhcad, parodicd His revelations,
and handled even the Day of Judgment as
if it were to bring with it the tinklmg levity
Of a masquerade. In something OF the same
disposition, though with an indecency less
dcpravcd and repulsivc the comic writer's of all
ages have sc0ffed at wholesome retcence,
have denied honor to man and virtue to wO-
man, and have found in the marriage relation
and in all the domestic virtues which keep the
world sweet, only an insufferable restraint,
and the evidence of spiritless and cowardly
character. Books have been printed which an
indignant world at once made it business to
burn, and so put altogether out of existence.
The gross and sItyT-like antics of Wilkes
and Sandwich, and Of their companions,
at Mendenham Abbey, were followed by the
freaks Of Byron and his friends at New
stead; yet curions as the world is, it seems to
have had no great curiosity to investigate
the history Of these wild orgies. The worst
Of literature passes very soon into sort OF
limbo it is known to 4 few students and col
lectors of odd books but with singular de-
cOrum the world persists in ignoring it, and
those who might otherwise relish it, rarely
read at all and know little of the foul BAN
quctS which their ignorance misses Upon the
whole, in spite OF procivity to gossip and q
never-ending appetite for nine days wonders,
we are inclined to consider mankind a good
deal better than it would probably as
sert itself to be. The truth is that common
sense is the most rigid of rulers, and in this
and performance, in this life too short for the
fulGllment of the 1.-THE of our best aspirations,
it is necessary for us speedily to go to the
heart of any matter important enough to ar
rest our attention, leaving to the few who
have leisure for them, the mere accidents and
debris of social earthquake. So, while pub
lie morals are endangered, the true dignity of
the priesthood threatened, the usefulness
of the Church put in peril, the sanctity of the
law apparently defed, aud regulations which
are part Of our social wealth impeached. the
tremendous nature of the crisis rcconciies
even the squeamish to the telling of whatever
must be told, and to the hearing of Whatever
must be heard Society with as good a grace
as possible recOnciles itself to the temporary
suspension 0f the canons of good taste, and
the usual limitations of conversation are con-
siderably extended There is, unfortunately,
no help for this, even if the interests of vir-
tue alone are considered for vice could de-
sire nothing more grateful to it than that we
should seem not to see its fantastic tricks,
and should decline to take any notice of its
experiments upon our patience and liberation.
IL the judicial investigation Of wrong-doing
be necessary, it cannot be carried on in
corner. The world has wholesome distrust
of secret tribunals, having already suffered
too much from them In times which wo trust
will never return. The whole value of a YER
dict by jury is in its confirmation by public
opinion and without plenary consideration
Of evidence in any case, there eau be nothing
concerning it better than notion-certainly
there can be nothing worthy the name of
oninnn The fastidlnns therefore must make