New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-29
SOCIETY IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY
rco,n Thc PnN MaR Ga.cne.

From Tie PaH Mar Go-cnc.
The rapid advance OF physical science and It's ap-
pica ion TO arts and manufactures IN the present
age is dazzling, that most people are disposed 10
assume that general social progress is correspond
iurlV real and uuQucstiouabc. An important cX-
ccp'ion would, doubt, be reclaimed IN favor of The
fine arts, which the last authority declares to have
stopped short in the cultivated Court OF The En-
press joycphiuc.' But Only small portion of the
word is aesthetic and still smaller are aesthetics
On the b0k OF mankind science and It's applications
have uauitc,ly conferred great bOOns. Most articles
Of consumption are che per than tcy were gene FRA
ton ago, with he exception OF houscs-that Is,
brick, and mo. tar and the labor required for put
ting them together. But bread. groceries, clothes
and even meat cost less; and everything points 10
decline rather than T,c IN prices as 7. CARDS these
articles OF prime necessity 80 tar the admirers OF
tLc march Of intellect and science may be admitted
10 have the best of the argument, when they con-
trast the pas, Uu-ayolaOIy with INC present. But
The question has another side which Is orth con-
sidc, iup AID that Is how has social intercourse
Jared IN the tu.aGltuouS rush OF modern lfc in its
forward speed recalling rather the express train
tbau the old stage coach? On this side there seems
ia io Grounds Tor Su>pcCtlng a considerable seton
against the uudoubtcd gains on other sides.
70 the majority OF sensible and kindly 1O!k OF
both sexes the pleasures of social intercourse with
clr o,tyntatiOn, and merely for the purpose of OK
changing ideas IN sympathetic converse, must al
ways rank rs among the highest ana most delicate
10 which they can attain. Now, III reference to
such nquy-sIdcd society Is ours, general pr0uoS-
tons can rarely he Tiskcd with safety. Leisure
with many other old, pictures we and charming
things is Disappearing from the world; and leisure
Is condition Of pleasant social Intercourse. The
improved facilities of communicatIOn and the
Transmission OF news and knowledge have had
contrary effect to that which might have
been expected As so much less time IS now
lost IN travelling and conveying intelligence
IL might have been supposed that there would have
been balance left for other things As all know the
els the case The pace OF life has been increased
all round As men can now travel farther IN IN
hour than they formerly could IN day; 50 they I'M
dertdke in day business winch formerly occupied
a month. That which cannot be enlarged, but
which need II more han anything, i the length Of
the Astronomical day. Our tWcniy-iOUT hours
allotted 10 work, refreshments and Tcposc
remain a hEed quantity. while every
thing else around Is growing with tropical
speed. Tho Iesull is that leisure is gradually
being eliminated from among ana perhaps idle
ness is increased for the same reason The dIstinc
ton between them Is very OnYipns. Leisure Is the
sl,Tlus time left to workers after they have done
their work. IdencSs is the whole time Of people
who have nothing TO do. IL Is easy TO see how the
Latter class WOud tend 10 increase under the pres
emf condition Of things. The competition is now
grtIc. the soundcst III wind and limb. can take ANY
s.r,oiIs mart IN The race Vast numbers fall Cut OF
it, from ere want OF iasi ana stamina cohSlliutln
a great body OF disappointed and Giscontentcd
Il w. oUcn any book Of memoirs or n collection Of
lcIicTs OF the last previous century, we see how
much better oil our ancestor were III TINS respect as
rnnITarcd TO ourselves. In France, England, and
GERMANY among many minor groups, three stand
out with marked lustrc by reason OF the emlnence
of :be men who formed their CeHtrcs-DidcrOt,
Johnson and Goethe. They all contained mch who
may be ranked among the most active and success
ful workers whom the world mas known, men who
have left enduring monuments OF theT iaDors 1ct
these men never seemed TO want leisure Tor frequent
stantIy and almost regularly without loss, we may
be sure 10 their work, and with much increase OF
Iannines, 10 themselves. The French have saying
that the hours spent at the dlnner-table do "ni