New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-12-03
Communicated
Practical Progression.

Progression, in whatever form, is an evil
dence of intellectual, physical. or moral
growth, and is looked upon by the world at
large with commentator. 1t is the out
ward manifestation of that steady advance
ment of the ages which all but the cynic
and misanthrope admit, and which is SO
emphatically the spirit of the present age.
1t is by comparing the present with the
past that We are able to appreciate the
advantages which wise discoveries and in
defatigable industry have wrought. Let it..
however, be understood, that We are re-
gsrding progression from practical stand
point simply, not generally, which would
include the ethical, intellectual and artistic.
These are fields too vast, subjects too
weighty, to be considered in q brief sketch;
therefore, We will leave them to be worked
out by ADLER minds.
In considering this theme we come in con-
tact with certain element in society, not
narrowed down by geographical bounda-
ries or limited to occasional examples,
which individually and collectively rebels
at the introduction OF new theories, even
where those theories have been practically
adapted and found to be of incalculable
benefit to mankind. This class, which forms
. large fraction Of society, shrinks from de-
par ting from the old landmarks. The lines
of demarkation have been so long and SO
closely drawn, that it seems almost desc
Grafton to intrude upon them with new
tangled modernisms. To sensitive nature
this more particularly appeals. For IN.
stance, that beautiful Bible poem in prose,
the Book Of Ruth, would be utterly ruined
in effect supposing it possible to intro
duce combined mower and reaper into the
harvest fields of Boaz. Poor chance would
the fair Moabites have had for cleaning, in
such an adventure, and the rich Boaz
would have been compelled to resort to
some other generous artitice in order to
have displayed his gallantry and sympa
thy,
1t may be paradoxical to assert that there
is poetry in labor, and yet some of the
choicest gems have had Oldfashioned
manual labor prominently introduced. We
have just referred to one of the most strik-
ing-the story Of Ruth and Boaz. Whit
tiers we'll known and universally admired
"Maud Muller" is another. Sulky rakes
with comfortable awnings have taken the
place of bare-footed maidens, with torn
hats and eyes which look unutterable things
at equestrian judges who meander in their
way.
This may be horribly realistic, bat a fact
nevertheless, and, while we enjoy the po-
etry, yet were that sentiment reduced to
practice we would not be long in deciding
that We preferred the practical to the ideal.
The father of German poetry, immortal
Goethe, has one of his loveliest characters -
fair ALPHABETICALLY employed at her
spinning wheel.
To our modern heroines q quotation from
o very ancient volume might be fittingly
applied, namely: "They toll not, neither do
they spin, yet cay unto you that Solomon
in all his glory was not arrayed like one OF
these" They are clothed with the pro-
ducts of machinery from the silk tie to the
French boot.
Inasmuch as there is nothing so hopelessly
uupoetical as machinery, and inasmuch "a
this power has become so general, we fear
that the poet will be obliged to direct bis
inspired pen to less mesgre fit Ids. 1t is need
less to extend illustrations; We ourselves
can perhaps remember the incredulity with