Asheville daily citizen., 1894-05-31
ENGLISH SOCIETY.
1t Is Severely Criticised by Bold
British Writer.
Su'Sarity and Anlmalism Craven on Pa.
trician Faces-Thc Great Evil That
Is Being Nurtured by
All Classes.

A recent issue of the Free Review, q
London publication, contains n vigor.
GUS article from the pen of Geotfrcy
Mortimer, who takes issue with the
average }riton's boast that he lives IN
highly civilized country. In the
course of the article Mr.. Mortimer
says:
"As a matter of fact only very
small number of the inhabitants of
these isles can be justly labeled civ
ilized. Slowly and painfully are we
working out the beast. Meanwhile,
much the larger part of civilized pco.
pie continue to lead barbaric lives.
In the higher, as in the so-callcd lower
classes, we find the lines of apathy,
vulgarity and animalism craven on
patrician faces and proclaimed in the
talk of the dinner table and the smol-
ing-room. Obviously. all aristocrats
are not -barbarians, nor are all
bargccs and coal hewers savages. Yet,
the dominant tone is just as often low
and inanc in the mansion as in the
tenement, and with infinitely less to
offer in its cxtenuation. How few per-
sons in 4 town are interested in hear
ing that Herbert Spencer is there on q
visit; but most people are anxious to
shake hands with prize fighter or the
Jubilee plungcr, or to take tea with a
millionare's wife. 1t is this perni-
cious alteration of tinsel that keeps
country in barbarism, that starves its
spirit. The ideal of the laborer who
rcsents the lordling's contumely and
indicts him for living lazy life may
rise no higher than perpetual beer and
ninepins, while the esquire Graves no
higher satisfaction in life than hunt.
ing six days in the week, with cham.
pagnr, billiards and the sporting pa
pers on Sunday,
1.-The evil is in the setting up Of
barbaric aim of life in all classes. Our
greatest ideals are the commercial and
the voluptuous. We are rich and luz
urious; we are, therefore, far above
the savage. Yet how far? Our
learned and aillucnt have, for the
greater number, returned to the en-
ployment of the prcpastoral epoch.
Look at the lives of thousands of Eng.
lish gentlemen. Truer barbarians
never existed than many of these,
whose whole thought, energy and
wealth are given up to sport. In
large measure we are civilized by the
shop. 1t is only when the shop ab-
serbs the best of us. .mental and phys |
ical, that commercial activity tends to |
retard progress. Provided that mans |
moral sense and intellect are not
warped in the making of money there
is nothing degrading in his desire to
succeed commercially. But, in the
hercencss of competition in an over
populated country, barbarity, mean
ness and cruelty arise. Not only these,
but the curse of intellectual and
esthetic atrophy lights upon the host
Yet, need money-getting always bar
Darize the people? viii the prosper
ous business career of the future be
Alone compatible with a low standard
'f thought and n corrupt canon of
morals? If so, material
success must bring about national ruin.
'or no community can subsist upon
bread alone. At present two formida-
Die hindranccs stand in the way of dc.
'eloping culture c-overpopulation and
passion for ostentation. What are
he remedies? Regulate the reproduc-
i've faculty and save the potential
lave of industrialism from struggle
hat wakes yearly heavier. Allied with
his teaching there should be wide
nculcation of refined simplicity OF
ife and the substitution of high think.
ng for mere barbarous display in liv.
ng."