The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-07-13
AFTER DINNER.

1t is frequently stated that poor men can no
longer afford to enter Congress, and it is true
that the amount of wealth represented in that |
body is rapidly increasing If this indicates
positive tendency to make Congress body of
millianaires to the exclusion of the man of |
moderate means it is subject worthy serious
attention and thought, and it is doubtful if an
increase of salary, as has been proposed, would
materially change the conditions. Back Of the
whole matter lies the question of the effect
upon the integrity of personal character and
the manner of life, of the mad rush for leader
ship in the financial and the social world, which
is so marked feature of American life
X X K
There is a growing disposition in Washing
ton to make display of wealth; houses furni-
ture, euuipages, dinners, and costumes are more
elaborate and costly each year. 1t is this lavish
use of money too often unaccompanied by culture
or refined breeding that makes one blush for
American society Money should be used for
comfort and pleasure for the good it may
bring its possessor and Others but when used os-
tentatiousy and for the apparent purpose of ex-
citing comment as to the value of personal be-
longngs it becomes vulgar, offensive to all
good taste and refinement There to be
found in Washington many people living in
quiet, refined style, which is felt as restful,
delightful influence prevailing the household,
and surrounding the guest as a delicate atmos-
| phere. Such homes offer the truest hospitality
and they stand as types of true American So
! ciety IT Washington social life were kept
within this plane of American simplicity and
refinement there would be less talk OF the poor
man being unable to enter Congress.
4 ff \
Said bright little woman the other day:
"Why do women kiss each other on the street,
in the stores, and in other public places? Some
women kiss at meeting and parting from others,
although they know they will in all probability
see the same persons again within the next
twenty-four hours. If the kissing woman
would but stop long enough to reflect she
might discover that she makes other women
dread to meet her in public places kiss is,
or ought to be- too sacred thing to be given
without regard to the sentiment or the place.
And the little woman's vigorous protest will
find an echo in many other woman's heart.
X X 4
c. d. Warner has a timely article in the June
atlantic on the novel in the public school. When
teachers and parents more fully understand the
vital importance of taste for the best in litera-
ture, and its effect on the whole vigor and trend
of the mindand the morals of the individual
they will see that better work is done in devel-
oping this taste in the young people, and, as Mr.
, Warner suggests, the teachers themselves will
be required to show higher standard. That
the public taste is at very low point is evi
denced by the character of the novels piling the
, counters of the book stores and the tables il
the homes. Think of preferring the duchess
!. to Scott or Dickens; but how many do.
, X X X
e Newspapers by well-written book reviews cal
n do much toward creating taste for fine litera
. ture Books should not be reviewed ''to sell,
Il but to keep those interested informed of ney
publications and their general character. Man
! city newspapers give page weekly to such mat
y ter, and no more scholarly criticism can be foun
:, anywhere than is found frequently in these sam
- papers However mistaken at times the crti
|. may be in his judgment of the power and valu
1t of book, he cannot fail to teach the public t
n exercise a discriminating taste, and to rejec
'e that which has neither sincerity of purpose nc
purity of English to recommend it.
o. X X
- Regarding the question Of opening museums
to art galleries. and public libraries on Sunda,
n. why should small class be allowed to decd
r. should the Christian people decide that thi
of which is morally and intellectually elevatin
Oh and refining is irreligous? The 'Be ye pc
feet" certainly includes the physical, intelle
tual, moral and aesthetic elements as much
the religious. May it not be the Withholding
the cup of cold water to deny to the workI
ne people on the one day of leisure they have IL
opportunity to visit the above-named place
~, for with the new thoughts engendered in sue
- places fresh vlgor of mind and heart will
~, carried into the labor of the new week. 7
I'd open these institutions at night is not sufficen
lt Few aboring men and women have the physic
he strength to visit such places after days hal
or work. Do not let us endow our libraries al
Gu I galleries and call them ''pubic" and ''free
then by narrow regulations close them to
but the leisure class.
~, In a discussion of social questions recently
VOC was suggested that the United States Cover
-. ment in its treatment OF employees can al
ha should furnish an example for all large corp
~. rations, In most of the Departments the hou
i'm for labor are not unreasonable, and the ayera
de- salary paid is at least fair. Thus in the tl
rs most important respects the Government dc
vas set an example that might well be initiate
ris But there are yet some minor things that col
ion be improved. There should be, for instance,
be hours intermission at noon instead of one-h
hour as at present. This would allow the Gle
to get lunch without danger of produci