The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1889-03-30
Shakespeare and the Clergy.
lChicaeo Inter ocean.l

Shakespeare and the Clergy.
- IChicagO Inter ocean,
Rather late In the day, one would
kbiuk. for clergymcn To begin assaults
l,pon the poems Of Shakespeare. Inc
tone OF II Methodist pro-
fher Yesterday who decla,ed the writ
inps Of tue Immortal bard to be "nasty"
was somewhat startling even to NJ etho- |
.tisiiO ears, and II is not surprising
brother Clergyman was moved TO
protest. There are things in shake
sosare. to he sure, that are not suited
10 reneral reading, and ar6 wisely
from many household edi-
tions Of the poet; bat the n!ad thai
cannot rise above these signs Of a Tins
iess refined than our own tn the beau'
ties Of thought and nobility Of senst-
snspt that are the glory Of ell time
might be suspected OF CROPPING in the
bible itself tor pecnitartties OF language
aud conduct mol swaeily refined nor
purely moral.
Shakespeare Is something other than
mere poetry. /, Is universally OF
reason, cop:ous wisdom, the very
philosophy Of man and nature. Who
can not fad in ii other than s'nastt-
nes.'' would brush from the world OF
literature, not Shakespeare only, but
much the highest evidences Of the
Ventus add inteliec. OF man. Happily
few men, however religionsly disposed,
would favor the destruction of shake
speare, or very earnestly commend its
serious mu,tilulion. 1t il curious,
though. to note occasional revlvals III
AN intoieraui spirit in futile effort TO
batter down the monuments III deepen
Ing intelligence. 10 the white light Of
this closing century Of marvellous
development old stern notions appear
at once amusing aud pathetic Ms they
hobble ,nomently from the shadow
that is slowly swallowing them into
the limbo Ut things 0uIlived. Nor
need one look at them impaiiently
Surviving prrjudices sometimes are
the opening keys 10 new truths. They
keep alive controversy that is the
parent of inquiry; and il is the specu
iutiye mind seeking defense that
uDcovers truth to understanding.
Ministers eager 10 coudemn that
which ia unchaste and impure il,
Shak espeare should not be Indifferent
TO tho sort of literature that is anew
heing put forth TO inftsme passion and
feed mosbidily. Some Of the novel:
recently come from press, aud .iveT
sudden popularity because Of tina
which IL sensational and salacious IL
them, do vastly more hurt to moral.
than Will ever the seldOIn-read play
and poems Of Shakespeare. THE putii
knows Shakespeare mainly through
stage representations, and there tn
careful pen Of the adSpter leaves moth
ing that Is reprehensib!e, nothing tina
.s offensive, little indeed to which
honest objection may be made from tn
stand Of morals aud virt,se, modest y
or wholesome senslbliity. hut SOM.
of the novels Of the day that have rut
through many editions aud given uni,
verssl notoriety to their authors nigh
we'll be taken into religious sccoun,
and brought under moral Judgment
tor In them there Is indeed much iha>
Ia "nasty" with nothing that Is noble
or even wholesome. To what IL due
the taste for such vicious literature q.
panders to the gross, the craving
appetite OF readers that dream evil
kucy uukS wv ptuSuSS. ~ VIM
due the popularity Of such writings,
Who Ia TO be blamed, who censured
that publishers hasten to contract fol
writings that ran dangerously close I,
lubrici,y, not with lofty purpose, nol
TO fearlessIy hold up the mirror Il
nature, but merely to prove how ia,
suggestion dare? Worst consideration
OF all, women and young girls ale tn.
writers of these books. a field her,
for the mornlIst wonlh he but look into
It. Shakespeare Is The voice of tht
ages, and may not be hushed; not &C
these piping, sensnoas notes from tht
muck heaps; they at least may b,
stifled. We're It not something for The
clergy To leave alone the impossible
apd desl frankly with the practicable
II you are having trouble with your eve.
call and see me, can correct the difficulty
I am supplied with the latest improved
optical Instruments, and all of my spect a
e!es and eye glasses are sold under u guar
sntes at very reasonable prices.