The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-10

HAWTHoRNE HALLUC1N ATOMS.

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HAwTHoRNE HALLUClNA ATOMS.
Don't prophesy until you know is II
piece of library advice that would bear
a good deal of reiteration these days.
Men who are neither prophets o the
sons of prophets have carefully and OF
malice prepense been working up the
widest of wild-eyed frenzies, and scar
ing a respectable world with the visions
of things to DO. Edward Bellamy makes
n supper off Henry George and lobster
salad, aud the result is tho politlco-
economical nightmare he has entitled
"Looking Backward" lgnatlus Don
nelly, the one and only, the Bacon resur-
rectionist, tho Minnesota politician. the
would-b 20 head of the wild and woolly
alliance, he too has a prophetic hit, and
gloats over the crime and debauchery OF
our American civilization u hundred
years hence. He creates a fleet of air
ships, invents an improvement on the
original Chinese stink-pot, raves over an
American aristocracy, and closes the
next century of our national life IN "A
holocaust of blood and flame. Very
cheerful representations, indeed, these
enthusiasts of the future seem to be.
Modest withal, or at least as modest as
any one gifted with their enormous IN
sight into the future could we'll be eN
pected to be. And now Julian Haw-
thorne has fallen a victim to the preva-
lent mania. With all his prophetic
sails aloft, he has made another cast in
to the years, and has hauled in a strange
discovery indeed. VIZ are going to dis
pense with human speech. 1t is too
SLOW, too feeble for the expression Of
gigantic thoughts like those Of his faith
er's son. We are going to cultivate our
facial muscles and impress our thoughts
by means of winks and mods, grimaces
and artful looks. Thought-reading
powers are to be developed to such a de-
gree that even the countenance contor-
ZIONIST Will fall to the roar Of Julian's
enlightened march of thought and mods.
For his own sake, he ought to hes
itate. If he aboiishes human speech.
what will become of the literary art?
Whence will come the bread and butter
of literary giants like himself, who at
present can sit down and write off pro-
phetic articles for a syndicate and for a
consideration? 1t may be all very well
for future presidents Of the United
| States, like 1gnatius Donnelly, this
abolition of human speech. He
and his like will have their salaries paid
by a grateful nation, and can afr ord to
bite their thumbs at exploded notions
of Shakspere and his dramatic powers.
Edward Bellamy may take to practical
farming and keep beyond the verge Of
actual starvation, but men like Julian
Hawthorne, whose pen is their main
tenance, should be very careful how
they begin to abolish speech and litera-
ture. The engineer, under such circum-
stances, is very apt to be hoist with his
own petard, and, for his fathers sake,
the American public would spare Mr..
Hawthorne. We beseech him to be
careful and stand upon the order of his
going. II he will persist in his wild
scheme and incur the perpetual enmity
of womankind, the mischief will not
stop there. We know it. Speech is
slow enough in all conscience-at times
Any man who has lost his one collar
stud when he was dressing for an even
ing party knows that. All speech is not
open to everyday use. Society has
placed limits even upon it's limitations
All men can not use it freely. The
bishop of q certain diocese recognized
the boundaries of speech when he los
his cast and a three.pound trout Will
1t. "You are a layman,' he grumblet
to his companion, "why don't you say
something's" But even when we have
admitted the Deficiencies and limita-
tions of our present mode of inter-com
munication, we protest against Mr.
HaWtnorne's substitute. 1t is tot
vague, too indefinite. 1t is going t.
breed oceans of trouble. Cases of breach
Of promise will multiply indefinitely
! and winks and mods and looks will hay,
? to be classified into a British museum
catalogue of infinite varieties, and evel
then justice will be defeated more ofte.
than asserted. The university pro
, lessor will soon be as extinct as the dod
or the great aux. The language {
flowers will become the future alphabe
I, of the nations, and mistakes will b
= everywhere. The editorial column. W
L presume, will be a confused mass {
representations of blndgeons and taft
r in campaign times, and the reporter wi
@ have TO qualify as "A lirst-rate draugnts
l. man to secure employment. But t.
suggestions involved are too much fc
If ordinary human intellects. A coloss
h brain like that of Julian Hawthorn
a might live through the change Ut
# harmed, but the asylums for the insaI
would have to increase their accomm
d dations indefinitely. In the interests
mankind and w~omanhood, we beg
n Mr.. Hawthorne to give us pause.
: a story OF Billy Birch.