The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-21
THE DECADINOE OF BOSTON.

1t is with feelings OF humiliation bordering
on shame that we note that Boston culture is
falling from that high estate it has SO long
and SO proudly maintained For fourteen
centuries, or ever since baked beans were dis
covered, Boston has been recognized as the
literary light of the Western hemisphere.
Long before the white man set foot upon this
continent Boston was way up on the scroll Of
literary excellence. Indians from as far
west as Oshkosh, and as far south as
Okmulgee drew their mental pabulum from
Boston. In fact no warrior was regarded as
fit to murder the Kings English unless he
could show that he had been to Boston. Bos-
ton was the cradle of letters when sugar
troughs were used for cradles and letters were
written on sycamore bark. This proud dis
tinction has been worthily enjoyed unto the
present hour. The Joe Cooks that attempted
to break the record did not succeed It re-
manned for the scholarly John Lycurgus Sui
Ivan to descend to levels that must fill Boston
with horror, and send thrill Of profoundest
sympathy through all the world. 1t is not
that Professor Sullivan is not a gentleman,
and we do not wish to convey the impression
that we challenge his responsibility. No; it is
of the most striking kind, and has left its i'm
preston upon all who have had the honor of
even briefly standing in his presence. While
his methods are not those of Emerson, his
logic is irresistible, his bearing manly, and
his address-however, that is inmate
rial just now, as probably few care
to open correspondence with him. 1t is
painful to think of this gentleman, reared in
the very temple Of learning and under the
shadow Of the walls of Harvard, SO tar for
getting himself as to employ language that
would find its equal nowhere outside of
Chicago and Louisville. In an open letter,
given to the Boston Globe, and addressed to
Professor Paddy (probably Padinates) Ryan.
Mr. Sullivan says: 81 regret exceedingly that
was not at home when Paddy Ryan's brag-
gadocio letter came, for should have
promptly telegraphed him to go and get some
stuff, and was his man." The regret he
feels is credit to his cultured soul, but, we
submit he takes remarkable manner to ex-
press it, and what is the sstuff7 that Ryan is
to get and, getting it, what then? And why,
pray, isSullivan his "man," and not his "gen-
tlemanG" Again, Mr.. Sullivan declares that
he himself is champion Of the world, which
he probably is, being from Boston, and that
when he is defeated they can take off his
laurels. This is chaste and appropriate. But
what Of the followingi 81 am not desirous
of again entering the ring, but, so long as I
live, and am in as good condition as am
now. will hold the cake" We congratulate
him on his good health, and hope that his last
days may be crowned with honor. But
what does he mean by 'fentering the rings'
And "cake'-what has he to do with that;
and why can't some other gentleman hold it
for himf If the cake has ring in it, we can
understand this, but otherwise the language
is obscure and the beautiful metaphor mixed.
In conclusion, Professor Sullivan admonishes
his co-educator to put pp or shut up" This,
we very much fear, though we do not wish to
speak with too great positiveness is not what
might be expected of an exponent of Boston
culture. If We are correctly informed, this
phrase is slang It certainly is not elegant
language nor is it's perspicuity what it might
be. In short, it savOrs somewhat Of rudeness,