The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-18
THE MEMPHIS APPEAL
SUNDAY, -. NOVEMBER 10, 1899
"DIRT, DISEASE AND DEGRADE.
TON"


mere, )" work that has excited rs much
discussion and called out more OF objurga-
ton from the pulpit than anything George
Eliot ever wrote, makes the condition OF
the London poor rs well as the life, habits
and surroundings Of the poor OF English
villages. tho striking though secondary
argument by which her characters are
moved. The picture she paints OF the
village Of Murowel and the degradation Of
its people consequent upon the state Of
bestial nastincss in which they lived and
by which they were surrounded, Is almost
us strongly drawn as Taino's blood and
brain-stirring descriptions Of the furIiye
looking aud prowling brutes Of London
who are product Of the aocrcting wicked
ness Of ages in great city and
Of an atmosphere poisoned by as many
years OF accrctcd filth. Mayhem, who
wrote 80 sympaihctically Of the London
poor many years ago, and Dickens, who
depicted poverty with as uncrring exact
ness as the photograph, have left nothing
more vivid or real than the story Mrs.
Ward gives us In a work that has won her
fame, and which is largely the excuse for
Robert Esmero's being. Full Of pro.
found sympathy for tho poor, whom
Christ companioncd and compasionatcd,
Elsmcro gladly found escape from the
drcary monotony OF village sermonizing
in tho moro rial and serious business Of
improving the surroundings aud bettcring
the condition Of those whom no felt, aud
finally was convinced, could not entertain
the thoughts or ways Of Christ until they
were better housed aud fed. The present,
with is pressing necessities. was to these
dwcllcn in roticnncss aud decay 30 vivid,
20 ever monopolizing OF thought, that they
had no undisturbod moments, no minutes
Of relaxation when they could indulge the
work OF determination that ia the first
essential In the Christians code. The
cravings oi misery and Of want, the do
spair arising ont Of the depths aud inter
pcnetmiions Of 9th and the degradation to
brutal lcycls that is H. SURF development
were powers aud forces that In the tcom-
ing brains Of these poor creatures pushed
every other consideration aside and made
even sacrcd things secondary, II They had
place ct all in their hearts With hunger
gnawing at their vitals, the diseases Of
yi,iaicd and poisoned atmosphere assailng
aud weakening the blood, the rccupcm.
tive power OF life, what else could bo cx.
pccted bu, tina, they would be beyond the
palo Of gospel whose cardinal creed
Is a conformity In life that they, trying
ever 10 hard never could reach TO- Dirt,
disease and degradation are ooncomitant
rcsnlts one Of the other, and they are un.
favorable 10 religious contemplation.
When the problem how TO got bread 10
keep life Is constant one, tho dread Of
life" IL not likely often 10 obirudo itself.
Physical pam always shuts ont every other
consideration. Tho relation OF the present
snd future Is one that a satisfied stomach
and clear, pure blood feeding brains that
are equitable and unimpaSsioned, Is essen.
tial 70. starving man Is no, likely 10 be
aUcvou, man. The Quakcp understood
this when, during the famine In ireland
in 1904, they secuted the forcing oI
tables into the hands Of the dying men
AMI women whose dreadful cxircncy WI,
d'cmcl 10y the Eyangclicals 20 bo thcil
opportunity ior tho attempted conversion
OF the starving Roman Caiholicsio Protest
Rntisn. The Quakors refused 10 dislrbut
Bibles, but gave bread instead An,
thcy reasoned correctly. 4 health
body bcgc,s healthy mind, and thor
can bc no health Of mind Nhcr
want aud WOO and fostering 9Th Rr
In foil sway. A man or woman thus bcse
cannot know anything Of morals In an
high or exciting sense. Personal clcanl
meas and clearly surroundings are csscnllt
10 continuously healthy. moral living an
life. Anyone. ovun the least obscryant, en-
realize this by contrasting the life, habit