The critic., 1891-02-03
CURRENT PRESS OPINION.
Social Amenities.
E,o,a yIa Ns,n IorI IIot,I,y

Social Amenities.
From he NcD York World
The meeting and greeting of Governor
and Senator-elect Hill and ex-President
and Citizen Cleveland at a little dinner
ut the Manhattan Club on Saturday night
will no doubt be given undue significance
in some quarters and perhaps not enough
in others.
There is nothing to indicate that the
meeting had any other meaning than
that these two distinguished Democratic
leaders had arrived at a pointer perhaps
that one of them has--where IL Is well TO
put an end to the appearance of personal
antngonism which has been created by
their failure to meet since Mr. Cleveland
left the Governors chair. Each of them
must be aware that he is not likely to be
nominated for President IL there shall
exist between them n hostility which
would endanger this close and pivotal
State in the election. There may be
rivalry and opposition between leaders of
the same party, but there need not be per-
sonl enmity.
A Novelty for the Fair.
From The Chicago News.
The uprising in Chill suggests the idea
that 1t might be good thing to get n
South American revolution for the Worlds
Fair.
Though there might be some difficulty
in carrying out such plan, owing chiefly
to the expense IL would involve, there Is
no reason for thinking IL entirely i'm.
practicable Good specimens may be had
at nearly all times Of the year and in
nearly all Of the republics south Of the
equator. In most of the states down
there the people consider themselves in
ili-luck II their biennial or triennial re-
bellion does not occur at the regular time
and place. If they had none of these
diversions they would soon die of ennui.
Like bananas and other tropical fruits,
revolutions do not thrive In northern
climate and the only way to enjoy them
in this part Of the world would be to inn
port them while green and allow them TO
ripen here until lit for exhibition pur-
poses.
Some pressure might have to be brought
to bear before South American Republic
would part with promising young revo-
luton, but IL could doubtless be arranged
without much trouble through the head of
the State Department. All of our south
ern neighbors respect Mr. Blaine highly
and would no doubt act upon any sugges-
ton he might make in that direction. We
could in return send them few of our
own Anarchist plots or some Hungarian
riots from Pennsylvania. This would be
putting the principles of reciprocity into
practice, and hence, ought to be satisfac-
tory to all concerned. There is plenty of
space on the lake front OF in Jackson Park
for exhibiting full-sized revolution. 1t
could, in fact, be represented on stage of
moderate size, and an admission fee might
be charged to defray expenses for gun
powder and the board of the insurgents.
1t would be unnecessary to provide a
cemetery.
The scheme is not only practicable, but
IL is desirable for several reasons that an
effort should be made to carry it out. 1t
is only necessary to melton one of these
reasons, and that is that nothing could
possibly be more thoroughly representa-
tive of life and manners in South America
than revolution.
Hospitality Relic of savagery.
From he New Orleans Picdyune.
When we say that hospitality is essen
TALLY a savage virtue and not character
istic of high degree of civilization, we
shall expect to hear long and loud ex-
preston Of dissent, but nevertheless we
p propose to offer some strong facts in sup
port of its assertion.
Hospitality is one of the crowning glo-
ries Of the character of the Southern
people. 1t is one of their most admirable
traits, but they possess 1t in common with
| tHc hultTlCiil lnuluIlS anu WIFI tuc Wllltt
people of the Western frontier. We dc
not by any means propose to convey the
idea that hospitality is confined to any
part of our country. The American people
as a rule, are hospitable everywhere. Hos
pitality is an American characteristic, but
we have spoken particularly of the South
because its open-handed and free-hearted
generosity to strangers has become pro
verbal.
A high degree of civilization means 0
high degree of luxury and indulgence
for those who are able to attain it.
Luxury and self-indulgence dispose
people to be careful of their own pleasure
and indifferent to that of others.
In the South there are few men of grea
wealth. Our aristocracy is not one Of
money. Our society is not founded alon,
on the almighty dollar. Our working
classes are not ground down TO the ex
tremes of poverty. Our people are still
able to be generous and free-hearted. Blu
in the very nature of things the day will
come when American hospitality ant
Southern hospitality will be no longe
peculiarities Of the people. Civilization
will eradicate this noble trait, relic o
aboriginal savagery and barbaric ant
Christian ohivalry. Christian simplcit,
is the opposite of selishness. Civilization
unlightened by philosophy and science i
selfish in the extreme.
Which do you prefer, barbaric sim
plicity or refined and luxurious seliism?