Montgomery County sentinel., 1890-03-28
A Matter of Taste.
fFrom The WaDerly Progress, by j, l..
LODGE, ID. D., Editor.

LODGE, d. D., Editor
There is scarcely u word in our languag
more difficult accurately or even satlsiac
torily to define than this word taste" Al
ter wrestling with the long-drawn dsquisi
tions of intellectual philosophy, we turn, al
most in despair, to the lexicons, il perad
venture there may be found definition
for whose mastery life shall not prove toe
short. And Webster really does help Us
some. He tells US taste" is mice percep
tion, or the power OF perceivng and relish
ing excellence in human performances, the
faculty Of discerning beauty, order, con-
gruity, proportion, symmetry, or whatever
constitutes excellence, particularly in the
fine arts and belles-lcttres; critical judgment
discernment;" and adds some philosophical
distinctions. Ii this be correct ditinition
we reach one ot two conclusions; that either
taste is an attribute OF comparatively few
persons, and those of the nobest original
and cultivated powers; or that the substan-
tive will admit as modifier the adjective
good or bad. We are strongly impressed
that good taste is as rare as it is desirable
and that what is popularity designated as
"bad taste" has almost infinite maniiesta-
tons.
One OF the greatest intellects and most
learned scholars England has produced
within the past century tells how his youth
iul passion for histrionic fame was suddenly
smothered beyond resuscitation. He visited
the Royal theatre where Hamlet was being
played. The audience was moderately ap-
preciative; but when, at the conclusion, a
wretched mountebank exhibited some tricks
of juggery, the people went wild, rose
en- nsdsse, shouted, swung their sticks in the
air, clapped, stamped, and raared till the
place was Bedlam This taste Of popular
taste cured him, and led to lis subsequent
fame of scholarship. AS this editor has
never seen the inside of Il theatre or circus,
he relies upon oral aud printed testimony,
but chiefly upon observation of character,
Tor the conviction that there is more in
such scenic performances and display that
appeals TO the lower passions, and the baser
elements OF human nature, than to the purer
and better parts Of men. Drelincourt once
wrote powerful work upon DEATH IL lay
untouched upon the uniucky publishers
shelves. But the publisher got AN inspira
ton. lie employed wag to write terri
bic ghost story, he bound 1t up with Drelin-
courts great work, and the whole edition
went OFT like hot cakes. Here was taste"
ior you!
Here, in our Waverly Club, we have
some choice recitations, selected readings,
and original work some of which is really
Instructive, and the whole tendency 10 re-
tine and elevate taste" among other ex-
cellent results. But some attendants think
the exercises dry" a minstrel troupe,
with burnt cork, negroisms and antics,
comic svnBs iutcrspCrsed, and II genuine
old-iashioned "hoe-down" at the close,
would be wet enough TO meet the require
ment Oi Il certain sort OF Taste, but would
utterly disgust and rout every example OF
that taste which the Club wis organized 10
create, cultivate and extend.
NOthing tells on an individual more
quickly or trnly than tue caste exhibited in
the selection of reading matter, Miss Lydia
Languish lounges laziy from morn to night
with the latest novcl-the very latest, DC.
cause she has read every one OF the rest
iancying first the French kind, though these
should never defile q vlrtuous woman's
touch. The dignliieu and stately romances
oi purer and better age, with their fine
analysis ol character, exquisite word paint
ing and landscape painting, with vivid de-
scriptions OF remarkable places and events,
and historical narration needing only an
occasional correction by the standards, have
not much Interest Tor her, nor for her kind
OF either sex. Some who lind intellectual
exercises dry and uresome, realize sufii-
cient degree of moisture inihe yellow nickel
"taste." 1t is u taste which grows by the
thing it feeds upon. Quite young children
neglect regular studies, concoaling and fur
lively imblbng the deadly poison which
will eventually paralyze embryonic mental
faculties, debauch taste, and, saddest of all,
imperil the soul. In cases where there is
no parental authority to restrain, or no ef.
iective counsel to guide, it is enough to
make the angels weep! 1t is terrible TO con
template the future OF these unguided or
misguided youth.
Taste" ui IL nauseous kind sometimes
breaks out and exhibits Itself IN contempt
Bile department in village and country
meeting houses. Whether that girl over
there was born with the giggles, and the
disease has been getting worse ever since;
or she despairs Of ever attracting male at
tention while preserving womany de-
meanVr, is not known; but certainly she
affords sickening sight to wcll-bred peo-
pie. Whether the young fellow who wrig-
giles, twists, yawns, nudges his neighbor,
winks, and threatens To stand on his head
in the pew, thinks that Is the way gentle
men behave; or he does not care so he
catches the eye of her for whose sake he has
been showing his PAGES, is mystery; but
the universal verdict of all decent people
is, that he is nuisance.
men, tntTe is lnhJ kllu Ol iOikS VINO loVC
to c0ngregate within the country store,
crowd the stove, roost on the counters, re-
tail gossip, and stare out of all counteaance
customers wao reluctantly thread a passage
through their ranks. 1t is safe 10 predict
that such would not read a good book
though you should present that and II
lamp, and pay for the kerosene. "Taste"
once more. IL s due that we should notice
the lovely heiress who elopes with her
fathers coachman; and the depraved scion
Of proud lineage whose vulgar fancy leads
To Il misalliance The eagle never mates
with the crow but what brute nature in
stinctively revolts at is easily overcome by
some of the human kind
And so, along chapter which has 10
end. How to correct IA bad taste? Some
thing may he done but, alas; the difficulty
is vast De gustsbps nan dlspulandum est,
the I.atins wrote it, and It's az true as ever
that There's no disputing about tastes. "
We suppose it has always been that way
since that woman kissed the COW.