Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-01-09
BETWEEN OURSELVES.

Charity has fallen in with modern newspaper
ways, and is largely matter of proclamation
in conspicuous print. Nearly every family is
willing to be given over to the average re-
porter upon suspicious occasions of show and
ceremony. The smallest detail OF these domes-
tic displays is revealed by the interested. The
cost is made known and all the 'genteel'' ad-
vantages are clearly and eloquently defined.
Then the publicity which is deprecated at
exceptional times is invited to the very last
minutiae.
Thereafter it's hard to draw the line.
We sit at evening in a brilliantly lighted and
handsomely appointed room with the blinds
open, the curtains undrawn, while every passer-
by in the street can look in cursorly or linger-
| ingly as he listeth. The tramp, the thief and
the innocent curious have equal facilities of
observation. IT'S usually our love of the spec
tacular, or weakly, amiabe de-
sire to exhibit our cosiness against
the gloom of night which impels
the show. Each observer of the inviting IN
terror uses his opportunity of inspection, ac
cording to his instincts-and what are you
going to do about it after YOU have given the
chance?
Once perhaps in the bright state career of
Mistress Katharine Chase Sprague, newspaper
mention of her charms, her toilettes, her tri-
umphal progress in society, was pleasant to
her. When Mary Clemmer wrote so ecstat-
ically Of iher loneliness, depicting her the
realization of Evelyn Hopes exquisite spell-a
creature of spirit, fire and dew-it must have
been grateful, and possibly twas true.
But Mary Clemmer now in her cool senses,
and cooler estimate, thinks differently Of the
spirit, fire, and dew, which could be so dam.
agingly mixed with that tawdry composition,
Mr.. Roscoe Conkling, whom the intrepid
Mary always Deutschland never hesitated re-
cording it. Now of a verify Mistress Katha-
rine must think differently of newspaper COM
ments whether they be those
Of the New York Tribune,
deprecating popular censure by reason of her
paternity, and invoking patriotic memory of
thel great Salmon P's services to defect blame
from his fair daughter-or the literal, unvar
nished editorial of Dom Piatt. One is about
as damaging as the other.
Dom reasons that the good was inferred
with the fathers bones-and that if his mem
| DRY wasn't strong enough in his own family
to keep it from dissertation, then the public
can't be expected to withhold its opinion of
scandal which has flourished for years-not-
| withstanding the sacredness of Salmon P.'s
memory, the claims of his fair daughter to its
| protection, 1.-THE while she has so lamentably ig
nored it.
| Maybe she doesn't read the sophistical plead
| ing of Whitelaw Reid-nor the tense periods
of Dom Patt. They are admirable reading-if
they have no reference to you-or yours.
Then you can afford to enjoy such specimens
of vitroilic English, and laugh
at the plausible plea which in making you
| look to a memory-or name as an incentive
to good behavior-overlooks to certain ex-
tent,individual responsibility, and when shame
comes, falls back upon the memory or name
as cover from the blame. 1t is q handy
thing to have in the family, for in the frailty
of our human nature, there is no knowing
how soon some of US might need our dividend
| in projecting name or memory OF the Illus
trious, patriotic sort-a paternal Salmon for
instance-full of palliating prestige for
sinners.
| IuSTC is one CO pcCldl CAUSE III SidlltAAOC W
George Eliot, and it is this: That being the
partner in a remarkable and reprehensible
alliance, her real personality is as unknown to
| the world as Casper Hauser's. From first to
last the bafied photographers, interviewers,
and bographers, curiosity of every name and
nature, was utterly distanced.
There can be no regular falling
back upon any prerogative or
palliation, or justification. Neither
family, nor genius, nor infatuation can come
| to the rescue, through the gossip or chronicles
| of the time.
| This supreme withdrawal from the worlds
| recognized methods and ways was not so mnch
| the result of eecentricity, or an avoidance of
| the irreversible verdict of society upon her
course with George H. Lewes, as it was the
calm, eternal consciousness of greatness,
| which could set aside as fribbles all the cheap
and current aids to fame.
What is it to Sirius that dogs bay, have
licenses, and wear collars?
Every imaginative reader of George Eliot
will endow her with any face, hair, eyes, and
expression his idealizing mind thinks meet for
her, while traits of Dorothea, and the noblest
creation of all, Romola, will fill out the
shadowy presentment of this great English
woman who has puzzled the world personally,
officially, and intellectually, and always will.
We set out by saying that charity is largely
matter of proclamation. If the newspaper
chronicles the wickedness of the world, it is
likewise instrumental in making known the
benefactons of the charitable. In regularly
published bulletins you can gauge the guam
| tity and quality of each. benevolent impulse,
and it is an edifying record of the worlds cold
shoulder to contemplate. Two chickens given
with military title ought to create soul
beneath the ribs of death-te the extent at the
lowest calculation, of eighty cents. A box of
Christmas cards is cheap pictorial joy, and
encourages in lowly souls love of the mex
pensive and high-colored, while it is sweetly
symptomatic of the Beautiful and the Good in
the giver. A bundle Of clothing is mysterious,
yet significant, and is duly credited to the wo-
man who is bound to have her name in the
shining list on any terms, even those of old
clo'. While the Jew is gradually working out
Of the odd clo' business, the Gentle is taking