New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-09-27


eccentrictles in word, as lions. Never again
will there be witnessed in London Society, so long
as 1t is constructed upon anything like its present
lines, such phenomenon as the late Lord Hough-
ton. He was essentially the product OF an age In
which people played alternately and with equal sue
folly ana at w tS dc They Pbay
asmartness" which IS the creature of an era of
boundless opuencc. and which, 1t is to lie feared.
bears dangerously close resemblance TO what.
under different order of things, might have been
called vnlgaIit y. ,
But it may be said. is not yespectability also the
Embellishments idol To that question circunl-
stantlal answer shall now be given. Charles Fox,
of immortal gambling and statesmanlike memory.
uscI TO say that il was impossible for any one VINO
had not lived in il to imagine the delight OF English
Society in the days before the French Revolution.
What did he mean by that remark Partly, no
doubt, that the apprehension and alarm, the co;i-
slant anticipation OF some dire calamity as ABOUT 10
happen. which were the legacy OF the most
mo,nen.ous event in modern history, wcro mn,
known, and that men aud women IN associated a
and reserve which had ceased to be possible during
the early days of this century; bnt parity, TOO. 100.
and as | take it specially-ho meant that
previous to the tremendous movement Mlich
reached its appalling climax in 1888, English
Society rested upon basis of pure paGan, M IL
was in fact from the time of the RESTORATION
heather and goddess. Among the upper classes.
religion, as may he seen from the memoirs OF the
period. was practically unknown; Nhenri however,
England might at any moment experience col
lapse when it was thought that a deadly tempest
brewing. and That sllpwlccK WAS llhN1ulel''
Society caught at religion as men swimming on me
high seas Il storm catch at a plank. IL was tho
only guarantee or hope Of stability which was PER
ceived amid the desOlating war OF elements. Re
lgiOn cnioinea u certain auscTty OF lie, and III
this and in the regard for appearances which it ell
tailed. Fox and others recognized the doom Oh
social delight
This regard for appearances still continues and
is Synonymous with rcspectahilty, But let us at
tempt to analy2e the sentiment q little more
closely Responsibility, so far as IT expresses Inc
creed of English Society, means, not u love OF
virtue not any innate admiration OF the Oeansy OF
virtues. but prudential regard 1or consequences
1t follows, therefore, that quality to which no
other name than hypocrisy can be given. is q
PRINCIPAL III grcdient in il. aud, unless ] am much
mistaken, this hypocrisy itself arises from two or
three distinct causes, each vi which deserves lew
In tie FIRST place species of sacerlotalsm
tberc is really no other substantive which can he
emploved--has inrraincd itself INTO the Fuglisli
character generally. and the character OF English
Society in particular. The Church and religion
give men and women a counsel OF perfection u? TO
which they cndcavor. or rather make q show OF en-
dcavoring, to live. Tie conventional standard OF
morality and propTety Of cOndnct is thus Ear higher
than the actual standard. The English nave got
into n way of protesting sort of monopoly OF the
attributes of Christianity. 1t IS not that they arc
really better than their foreign nciehnors. but That
if they have not moro yirtUo, they talk cr a deal
more about virtue. The FTeucIman. IN the other
hand NAV not he the ethical inferior OF The English
man. But there is little of the Pharisee IN MS COM
position, and WHITTIER he violates or observes The
seventh commandment or any other ordinance OF
the decaOgue, lie takes alike his cNcciienc's ana
II 5 faings rs matter of cours'. lie may SIN NOR,
or as much or less: what is certain IL that Ec
protests less. A second cause may lie found. be-
lieve in q haunting consciousness OF Tie brutality
of orr national character. by brutality mean not
pos We ferocity or savarcry Int certain ooaiEn-
ness of fibre against whirh Englishmen have 10 lie
on their guard, and against which they arc warned
either BY statute or by the nnwritcn law OF puhlic
tiously refined people. But have nm uneasy
msgiving that these qualities of refinement and
civilization are only the veneer which cOneeals
something that is essentially harbarlc.
Bnt the chief cause remains yet to he examined.
Society lives in perpetual dread OF being found out
not by itself. but by those whom 1t affects to- con
slider beneath il. Soc ETY., to make my meaning q
little more clear is OF the existence outside
its limits of a vast multitude which for the sake OF
convenience may be callel the democracy, and
which has no sympathy with Society's failinGS or
srlf-indulgrnces innnccnt rccreaions or less m
nocent pastimcS u hears, in reality, or IN magma
ton, the angry ccnsures OF this proletariat-ccn-
snrcs that find vigorous expression ia tho news
papers winch circulate among the working classes
whenever any OF its more highly placed membrrs 60
grirvousy astrav, and when tae TACT of their de
Elections from the straight path of virtue ~ brntcd
aboard. These men may not he more guilty than
is not the question What society," deems itself
concerned TO Teprnbate is not ih" offence but the
folly or iudiscrcti II or shorts glitrdneSs 81 tic
offender. Whoa, therefore. any lady or Scntieman
errs after an aggressi vely visible fashion, and not
only errs but crr' in such way NJ tn challenge
1emocratic crit ciem Society proceeds to make an
the wilderness. The consideration which weighs
with il Is not that there has Teen gross viola
of the moral law but That the viblat on has taken
place urder circumstances which terinusiv threaten
its own welfare corporation. If. II SAYS. ms
sort OF thing is allowed TO go on unpnnisho1.
Society itself cannot he carried on. To this motive
and to other. one must atillhntc inc lcroHc
ebulliioEs of Indignatinn and shricks OF outraged
virtue that are called forth by "A certain class OF
transgrcssors and tTansgrcssionS. The trhc. fhoug
it may bc the uurcc0rded. Indictment aenin.t the
former. is that they Lave Occasi"ncd scandal ana
therefore expoScl Society 10 distinct peril. They
have not only done what is wrong in itself but
they have done 1t that 1t can ot be hnshcd MP
We live in age OF ptilcss publicity. Everything
finds its way into print. II therefore hcIooyrs all o
whom Society consists To order their doncs and
10 regulate their feelings circrmspcctlv with a
scrupulouseyc to neXcrahlc cond itOns Of thcn"rin
IL may lie said roughly, though with prohabe nc
curacV that the aggregate OF vice ana virtue - NJ
all epochs pretty much fixed quantity what
changes is not really our morality. bnt SIC circun-
stances under which morality or imioTaltty is
pTactsed A huDdrel or even fifty years ago.
English Society was exempt FROM the fear OF
criticism and the invectiyes Of the democracy.
That immunity is inpOs lille today. and he
knowledge that suGh is the case - responsible Tor
the nypOcTiscs which Society feels Iiscii con-
dcmncd TO practise. Whether this IS p r'nanent
or a transient condition. il would be IDLE to sprcn-
late. In England the democratic era is only Just
heaiuning. The Establishments of democracy are
feared il has yct to he seen whether they will pro-
dnce the remedies Of the vices they chastise, and
whether in proportion England grows more
democratic. the escapades sanctioned bv Fnv,isi
Society will diminish and dwindlc Till ut Last tlIov
have disappeared altogether. He must ind"cl he
doctrine that all is for the best IN this best Of posSi
lie worlds, who can lay th't iattering JUNCTION to
his soul i. III. :. l. SCOT.
ENTH USI1STIC OVER SALNON-FiSHiNG.