The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-08-12

In England 10 raise funds by a pol u
lar subscription for monument to the
memory of CAPTAIN WEBB, who wen few |
days ago the unenviable notoriety Of hav-
Ing lost his lite in an effort to swim through |
the whirlpool, or rapids, at Niagara Falls, |
II was foo!hardy attempt of brute muscle
to overcome stronger force, merely that
and nothing more, and yet the man making
the attempt has become, for time, hero.
few months ago Il popular subscription
was started In this country for funds for
the defense Of SERGEANT MASON, who
came into notice as crank by
his attempt to kill another crank.
In Boston some time since testimonial
benefit to john Il. SULLIVAN, the prize
lighter, realized $25 COO, and just the other
night smuggling match between SULLIVAN
anc SLADE realized SIG 600 as gate money.
In England 1t is reported when the Jockey
ARCHER or the slugger Tue WILSON appear
upon the streets of London the crowds
manifest more curiosity to get glimpse of
them than they do when GLADSTONE shows
himself in public. 1t has been but "a few
days since the appearance OF MARROW, the
English hangman, in the corridors of the
house OF commons created u profound sen.
sltion and came near stopping the proceed
ings Of the house by reason of the desire
OF members and spectators to get look at
this bloody executioner. Roscoe CoNKLING,
or U. s. GRANT, or GoyEREoR CLEVELAND
do not attract the attention nor create the
sensation IN the streets of New York that
wait upon the presence of SLADE, the
Maori or the famous gamblers and roughs,
that have won n0toriety in the metropolis
When these characters, who have won dis.
tinction in the brute world, die or achieve
any special prominence over Others,
public subscriptions are started for their
benefit or for the erection OF costly mouu-
ments to their memory, as II they had been
beneiactors of their country or race. In
short, there seems to be prevalent and pow
eriul everywhere now gross material wor.
ship Of the physical as opposed to the in.
| bNiNhtuhis ifNNl III Illt lhlllOun NOlltHbh OF
the land, such Us Harvard Yale aud Prince.
ton, the annual boat race or the college
base ball nine receive more enthusiastic ut,
tentlon by far than the course OF study, and
those students are heroes just az outside the
university walls those men are the heroes
who win the honors in contests OF muscle.
1t used to be widely different; even the
youngest OF us who have grown TO man
hoods estate can well remember day
when honors were paid to men only who
had won recognition in the intellectual
walks OF life when service to tho state or
society alone justified extravaganza praise
or the raising of conspicuous memorials;
when SUMNER or SEWARD, or LEE, JENNY
LIND, or CHARLOTTE CusHMAE, or II famous
sculptor or painter would have drawn to-
wards them all eyes, though the MARLows
and SULLIyANs OF the day were conspicu-
ously by their side. Hero.worship is a
miserable weakness at best, for the noblest
specimens OF the human race are but poor,
vain, frail earthen vessels after all. But IL
men are to be worshiped, II youth is to be at
tracted to their example and II monument
al marble Is to embalm their memory, let
the objects OF such popularity and venera-
ton be those whose careers speak of the
high development of the batter and indie.
slructible parts of man. mind honor, pa
trlotism, service to the causes Of progress,
and social aud political growth. To grow
enthusiastic over the baser elements OF the
age, to applaud physical and brute devel.
opment and sneer at or indillerently regard
their contrasts is to debase the age, to dis.
courage mental and refined efforts and
erect golden and clay calves for universal
worship. II Is question whether this
present wide expression and popularity OF
these low tendencies is an indication of the
ialling-oll or change in the culture Of the
times or the lreer voice than formerly of
the lower and rougher elements of society
PROFESSIONALLY the greater liberty,
both Of action and in thought, of the pres
ent day has emboldened and permitted the
criminal or rougher classes to talk and act
more freely than they dared do decade or
two since, but tits equally true that the
public standards of culture and honor
and social recognition have dcgen.
Grated within the pa quarter of century
II Is likely, therefore, that both these
causes have operated and are still operating
In Undertaking. and debasing public mod.
els and giving expression TO the physical
instincts and gross tastes Of society. Ger.
tain It is that the present day betrays a
greater admiration for and morbid Gu.
rosity about tho sports and sports
men, and the more splendid specimens
OF the development of mans
brute propensities, than ever manifested
towards or about the better example ofthe
ages culture and distinguished achieve
ments, When people grow more enlhu.
slastie over the history or presence Of
FRANK JANIS than the inventor of tho
electric light, or the telephone, or the man
who led vast armies to success in defense OF
great cause and great country, that peo-
Vlt arc tlNHNl NuAAuNtu lulOlltCluNllNt OF
have fallen back to or never left a semi
civilized state, The teachers OF the country
and age have tremendous work before
them In the checking and con.
trolling Of these lew tendencies.
1t can be done only by those who
have In their hands the work of forming
the social and intellectual tastes of the
young. II can be done only in the homes
and schools Of the land. In the meantime,
n view Of such facts and reflections as we
have been mentioning, 1t strikes us that there
are no hours to be wasted In beginning the
work Of taste and mental reform, In sub
shutting the old modes and better tastes
for those about which the masses seem to
DO running wild. The press has vast re-
sponsibility In the premises, but Il will be
ppwerless without the active assistance OF
the home and the school, and Il will be-
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