Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1892-04-01
Cultivation Of Literary Taste.
No
from Tho Waoerley Progress, by ]. L.
LODGE, DID, Editor.


Definition is necessary. What do we
mean by "literary?" Conceptions vary in
finitely and monstrously. Lttera, a letter. A
d-bill is made up of printed letters, and
is, hence, literature. Useful, toe, in its way,
as 1t informs US there is to be vendue, and
that we may buy somewhat, if so disposed.
1t is, however, hardly capable of influencing
taste. About twenty years ago it began to
be thought necessary to warn the ministry
that in order to meet the exigence OF the
period, the increasing requirements of the
time, they must extend the scope of their re-
search and double their diligence in pursuit
of learning. The people were reading, 50 it
was said; the pew wa' rapidly coming
abreast OF the pulpit, and the advance must
be recognized and exceeded, or the predicted
diminution OF influence would be verified.
The teacher should always be far in ad-
vance of his pupils, the preacher know vastly
more than his audience. Admitted and en-
phasized. But that the increase in substan-
tial knowledge, in lines ofinformation essen
TALLY scholarly, among the masses has been
a goad to augment acquisition by public in
structors, is fatty denied. A worthy am
bltion on their part will leave unlsarned
nothing possible OF attainment without refer.
ence to the culture of few individuals or
the lack Of the ordinary assembly. The
peculiar smartness Of the era, which adopts
slang as its vehicle, corrupting a beautiful
language as gutter-iifth pollutes the snow,
is the fit characteristic OF the gamin; the
detestation of cultured people. To gain this
idiem requires no reading; on the contrary,
one can guard himself from the low habit
only by ceaseless watchiulness, and constant
converse with the highest standards. What
is it the people read ? Generally, newspapers
and trash. The price.currenI, the political
column, commercial intelligence, the daily
or weekly record of crime. Newspapers are
plentiful and cheap, the population increases
in an amazing ratio, and the public schools
teach reading to all. Youth, with the avidity
natural to their years, find pleasursble ex-
element in the cheap stuff that passes by
the name of novels. This is the mental pabu.
lum of the multitude. And these read
ing" people delude themselves with the
conceit that they are literary Romances OF
the schools of Scuderi, and OF French author
ship; the vapid, the broad, by their popu.
larity indicate u taste like that prevalent at
the Restoration, which welcomed and ap
plauded the light fiction and buffoonery
Of Dryden, but had little appreciation for
that glorious which immortalzed the reigns
| of Elizabeth and James
those shining stars, that run
golden sun."
The pacard is not literary. The rictus
| is not education al. Taste is relative; il must
have noble birth and pure associations, if it
to be refined and refining. Clearly per-
ceiving this, John Scrimgeour was led to
the extreme of wishing that most part OF
books were burnt except the Bible
That cultivation which accrues from we'll
directed literary pursuits appears in man
| ners which reflect the mind IL the object
be to purify and ornament society, 1t is at
taiuable In ne other way The ease distin'
gushing retiRed persons designates supe'
rlor class. The root oil this cumplacency is
self confidence. Sharply differentiated from
vanity. Arrogance is the offensive product
OF the one, sell possessed modesty the ad
mirable effect OF the other Humility with
out AFFECTION, repression OF egotlsm by con
scious power, dissolution from fear through
knowledge of strength, nurtare of charity
through purified greatness The compass
| sion Of the profound is in some degree the
corrective OF basbling superhciality. Elimi
nate personal pleasure, suspend arguments
which penetrate inhnity, and there still re-
mains the powerful plea Of present Influence.
The deepest Influence is on the side OF God.
| Genuine accomplishments lead back the
race some stages toward Eden. To purify
| by contact, to elevate by example, as the
sun enivens by shining, is worthy to be
coveted by the noblest OF earth. Barbarsm
is original Rescue is progressive Religion
and education are the agents. Enlighten
meat sides with morals For this, among
many other reasons, association with re
fined and cultured people is a benson. The
cause is secondary but efficient. Genuine
ton of like forces increases amalgamated
/ o
tain head of knowledge.
| The man who knows only one subject Is
as great an affection as the one who knows
every subject. The old saying, Beware Of
the man Of single book" may mean that in
controversy upon a solitary subject he Is an
antagonist to be dreaded or, that from the
narrowness OF his information and the per
sistency of its display, he is an unmitigated
| bore. This latter view must have originated
the saying. Pestilence and epidemic may
be fled from, but not this man. Famine Is
only occasional; this tormentor is eternal.
He cannot escape from the importantly OF
4 u single idea. Its antics with vaculty are
startling. No sea can drown il; no cyclone
sweep away. 1t floats, eddies, circles, re
ours, abides. Men may come and men may
go, but this direful msnologue goes on for
ever To the poor victim, II flight be denied
INSANITY 10 t tS.eu IN ,, enhpy pae' Fua
poses upon niuls t,ni a -, enS sn;a Tho
Plrc are no. illh'teu W messiah sce si,'H in s
charlaean nnes spneio ~ poi .t' an \,
Ineo,gy. Wele u NOV s ~ unu.uoiaoy saI ~
Wsulu oe slnusihs, en1 easo, hess WIN WHICH
of one idea quacks. Cagliostro, Able Du-
oois, anu tne poncy PfeaGner " D,uas ale
nyalas, ohiveis s ,, u,nus'on u. n ~, 1870
tne cuItlvallon vi Iiela.ule ~ u.s nIsnea,
and purest SENSE WI, ass's. W unae'S'a"u
ana rehuer .ne,. p'ac.'ces lnnoosou ua, =,
inere - snS.nel 1Ausn'e 40 p1I, y. a.
qua. no',ceI Hone Hn a, w NUN 20 nn ",a
antth'nk onlse,aa' sa'"'a"ns senss sM
Iihty' Ing fesu'. 10 ~ iauuao'1 auio'
uoh nilslea oy ah ~. oalancea JuuSa n.
may lhnlct Tue evll oi 'ue o"'''s re- SosG",o-
Ia'erslhg 'he wno,e uo iTu " G Auo"Iouse'
yet @''on"y ho.nins' rug o'een 'eBena
represents Dsnaus as uigglng wen W re
iieve the summer droaght OIL Argos wnlle
ms n'ty uaughters, WAFER IN orosen Vases'
represent .ne numerous spr'nSs Oh .ne aus >,