The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-15
NEW BEDFORD's NARCIssUs.

THAT IMMORAL IMAGE STILL RUFYLrSa THE
PUBLIC SURFACE IN vAIS-xFTonTs OF THR
OWNER TO GET POSSESSION or HIS STAT
UETTE
NEW BEDFORD. Mass, April IL, 1874
That 'terribe outrage upon the public morals OF
New Bedford, which was enacted here some three
years ago by the public exhibition In store window
OF the nude statuette OF Narcssus continues to be
fruitful theme OF ridiculous comment throughout the
community. Periodically and continuously ever since
the seizure OF the harmless but offending work Of art
by the chaste and righteous City Marshal, the matter
has been before the courts Legislature and public and
even now the momentous question Of whether the
satuctte shall be restored it's not Is being
considered by the grave and dgnided justices OF the
Superior Court OF Bristol county.
THE OFFENDER OFFENCE
Tho individual who SO seriously shocked the morals
OF tho Sperm City Is Charles Hazletine, dealer In
music and works OF art honorary local Secretary
and an agent OF the Art Union, OF London,
and informally agent OF another London Art
Association. In october, 1873, Mr.. Halle
tine placed small siatuctto OF the
Pompeiian Narcssus in his show window in connec-
ton with some other works OF art and tho special
statuettc mentoped seizcd by tho City Marshal
the ground that II was an immoral exhibition. Tho
has had four separate trl Is the uItimaum being
that Mr. Hazletne acquitted, but Ia his acquitta
there nothing said about what should be done with
the offending work Of art, and Il has ever since been
held the possession OF the authorities Both at the
last and present session OF tho Legislature Mr. Halle
tine pctitloncd that tho image might be restored TO
him. and the chairman OF the Judiciary Committee OF
the body instructed him TO apply for the same
the Court which is now IN session IN Taunton, and
the decision IS daily expected
A Serbs or BLUxDERS
Mr. Hazletinc, In HIS petition 10 the Court INDUCES
IN ha n IL
ton respectfully submit that the affair throughout
series Of plumbers First your petitioner mis-
much oil this community as 10 place the image
In his window; the Marshal mistook in sezing
it, especially without warrant; the Judge
whole natter tue District Attorney erred II he advised
tho Grand Jury to find a bill; Judge Bacon gravey
erred I'm charging that "a man intends what he does
of twelve mistook in voting your petitioner guilty.
and finally call the attention OF your honors to tho
seeming absurdity Of the authorities for holding from
me my property Tor nearly three years.
THE FABLE OF NARCssUS.
proper estimate OF tho design OF the author OF this
little work of art can only be formed by those who are
familiar with fable which illustrates and hs tho
person nstigatng thus prosecution must be
presumed TO DO ignorant OF It, the following account.
abridged from Ovd's Metamorphosos may DO Of SER
vice.
Nacssu abcautl boy ofsixteen the poet
by Echo They all only fail 20 capt., HIM hut do not
At length The rejected nynphs addresses Nemesis
The Of y hs % Snss De
his affection The goddess gives her this prayer
when length the youth atigued with the labor OF
hunting and by the burning heat Of the seeks
by the brink shaded fountain he behods his
beautiful form reflected In mirrr from the surface Of
the He strives embrace IL, and failing, becomes
Is his image and that his efforts
will Ruthless As this consciousness does not diminish
his be 81 % S s ssas
absent brother seek his body aud lind only
yellow flower encompassed by white leaves
This is the fable in prose- Invested OF all the poetic
imagery In which Ovid has clothed It. Those who lind
In the mythoogies moral purpose, affirm that
this fable Is intended moral lesson, disclosing tho
fatal effects OF sell love, and add that he pursuit by
Narcissus OF his image, ever retreating from his
embrace strongly resembles the little reality that OK
lists many OF those pleasures which mankind SO
eagerly pursue.n
II this DO the meaning OF the fnbe what is to be said
Of the work of which Il Is cmbodeds The ann
OF to bring the mind through the medium Of APP
propriate material forms, into communion with that
which forms symbolic By the thought symbol
ized therefore, and by the ruthfulncss Of lis cmbodi
mcnt, work OF art must be judged. II this view be
correct, statuette like that in question serves 10
strengthen the sense Of poetic beauty; and only the
unculiurcd the wuly vicious can see in it any
thing to stimulate immoral tendencies.