The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-04-05
For the Register.
A Word on Durlesques.
March II, 1879.

|
A Word on Durlesques.
"a light word is the devil. keenest sword."-
sEwELL.
| In onr day Punch rides his Pegasus
with reckless rein, not only over rough
roads, but over fair flowers. In the
excessive and fearful fondness for bur-
lesqne, which so largely prevails, we
recognize one of the most unfortunate
tendencies of the times. There is moth
ing so exalted in sentiment. or so noble
in feeling; nothing so inspiring in
poetry, or so sublime in philosophy; /;
nothing so pure in morals, or so sacred
In religion, as to be secure from this
demon of desccratioh.
We rear our little soul-temple, build
into its structure every precious gem
of thought and feeling that we have
gather ed by the way; we frame inches
within to enshrine our dearest idols,
and we erect our little altars where
holy thoughts may come with treading
feet TO offer willing worship; but bur-
lesque enters, and like rude icono-
clast mutilates and breaks down our
idols. There are some things which
ought TO be ridiculed, and all such are
sure to receive all they deserve; but
there are some things which onght not
to be ridiculed, and in practice no dis
tinction is made.
There have sprung mp and multiplied
in society evils as numerous as weeds,
and we rejoice when ridicule can up
root them, but it is sad when our most
fragrant flowers are torn up with them.
We can regard with moderate COM
placency the operations of burlesque
when circumscribed by becoming
bounds, but onr complacency is trans
formed into disgust and contempt when
those bounds are totally disregarded.
There Is some propriety in crowning
with fools cap and bells the simple cir
Gus clown, performing evolutions and
standing on his head for pay, utterly
degrading the divine stamp upon his
brow; for nc is not man, but only
has n human shape. There is, we say,
a seinblance of propriety here, but it
is like the spirit which put a crown
of thorns upon the Saviour's brow and
clad in mocking purple robes the very
Son of God. Our thoughts turn from
these sad scenes, almost discouraged,
for even He was treated thus; how can
we expect that that which is far less
perfect should escape the burlesque
robe. The fanlt, however, is not alone
with those who originate, but they who
encourage must expect condemnation.
| The weaver will not weave unless the
purchaser purchase and the wearer
wear. The public who patroniZe de-
serve contempt as we'll as the actors
who perform. Ii shows sad perver-
sion of some of our nob!est endOw-
ments that the negro minstrel and the
writer of parodies find crowds of ap-
preciative admirers, while the eultivat-
ell musician and+he true poet starve
for their daily bread. A certain per-
son wrote a parody on Poe's Craven"
Nothing could have been more absurdly
complete in its correspondence and
analogy to the poem itself, in rhyme
and ryihm, in fancy and metre. II was
scarcely completed before the author
burned il TO ashes-I mean the paper
unfortunately the verses themselves
were not so readily consumed. Writ
len more indelibly, traced in imperish
able character upon the leaves of mem
Ory, the parody fingered in the author
mind, associating with ridicule one o
the most intense and powerful poem
ever penned. Let, then, burlesque b,
ever confined to its proper sphere
/, Whenever and wherever it overstep
, its appropriate. limits, let il meet OF
p every side only the reprOachtul tinge
! of scorn and the frown of public con
y tempt. Then the pure, the noble, th
/ elevating, the sacred may be unmolesi
; ed and enjoyed IN perfect peace. On
n fragrant flowers shall still breathe
l A