The San Francisco call., 1895-11-17

mind is diverted from Indignation against
wrong to mere amusement at Iolly, ana
the "oiled and curled Assyrlan bulls" OF
Philistia continue to make themselves
comfortable in this world, as II II were
a stable for their housing. The satirists
show themselves not of the irritable race
of prophets, but of the irritating breed of
fieas, and vice, instead of being dragged OIL
the earth, is simply annoyed little DIT
and made to swear some.
There were once two satirlsts and only
two, and they determined to elevate the
age. Not being fully assured in their own
minds that they had divine authority
for this mission they set about to search
through the world for a model to initiate
in the conduct of the campaign, and in
their searching were soon attracted by the
noise of two pugilists engaged IN elevat-
ing the stage. These puglllsts STOOD afar
off and reviled each other IN what was
known in the country as hghtlng Ian
guage; and the satirists saw that the peo-
pie lent their ears to the pugilists; that
each of the revilers in turn landed on that
listening ear with both feet, as 1t were
and behold the stage arose and expanded
until there was no State in that land big
enough to hold it. "Come, now, SAID the
satirists, "let us initiate this example. !"
Then straightway they reviled one another
and corbetted and fitted with wit, sar-
casm, satire, ridicule and invective, and
the age lent both its ears. In short time
it came to pass that the age died. "Be-
hold, now" said the satirists, 1--WE have
killed the iniquity of the age our occupa-
tion is gone,' and Immediately they fell
into one another's arms and shed bitter
tears Of reconciliation.
A dealer in ready made philosophy,
warranted to match the market, who lec-
lures for living and therefore must pay
advertising rates if he wishes his name
mentioned, has recently cheered the Phil
istines of the East by telling them that all
talk of an impending social revolution is
folly, and that the existing order OF things
is not seriously threatened anywhere.
Had he stopped with that assertion there
would have been no contradiction to
make, for who can contradict man who
knows it all? The lecturer, however, had
the folly to venture upon an argument.
He said all revolutions have been preceded
by revolutionary poets, and that as we
have no revolutionary poets at this time
in the world, therefore we are not on the
eve of revolution. To this argument
there are two answers. First, all revolu-
tions have not been preceded by pro-
phetic poets-the great poets of the French
revolution did not precede the outbreak,
but were contemporary with its course.
Second, the only great poets now writing
in the English language are Algernon
Swinburne and William Morris, and both
of them are revolutionary. l call atten-
ton to this for the purpose OF giving a
lesson to those who need it. 1t always
weakens an assertion to give an argument
in support of it, for while there are many
assertions that are as steadfast as the
Sierras, there never was an argument
that was not as shaky as a reed.
Two literary revivals have been started
in Europe that are likely to affect US be-
fore long and therefore it is we'll TO take
notice of them at once so as not to be
surprised when they overwhelm us as a
fad. Paris is forming a cult for the wor-
ship of Rousseau and London is developing
an enormous admiration for Byron.
There is sufficient similarity of spirit
between the French romancer and the
English poet to make the simultaneous
revival of interest in them something
more than a coincidence. Both were mas
ters of style, which means the perfection
OF form in art. and both We're the apostles
of a discomfort which means an abhor.
renee OF all existing social forms. 1t twould
I'm int RI. Et,n hath how
it is to their style or to their discomfort
that the revival of interest in their works
is due. Certainly in an age when Mr..
Riley is considered a poet and General Lew
Wallace is regarded as master of prose,
it would be great gain to the world to
have even faddist study of the style Of
Byron and Rousseau. But suppose the
world is not interested in the style so much
as in the spirit of these discontented inn
mortals-what then? Are we to have a
cataclysm as the result of fad?
Other poets come and go but Shakes
peare stays with us always. Every test
brought about by the change of time and
circumstance serves but to yield him an
other triumph and add new laurel 10 his
brows. 1t has been often said of him that
there has been nothing and can be nothing
in the domain of human endeavor which
his genius has not touched and adorned,
and when, therefore, in these latter days
the bloomer came upon the earth, the
Knockers at his universal knowledge chal-
lenged the loyal lovers of the great bard to
show one single reference to this wonder
of the times. The challenge has been
promptly taken up and this quotation
from Antony and Cleopatra" has been
offered in evidence:
Leap thou attire and all
Through proof OF harness to my heart and there
Ride on the pants triumphant.
There may be some people inclined to
stick at trifes and question the exactness
OF this reference to the new costume, but
the common-sense of the world will not
heed their cavilings. "Pants triumphant"
fits boomers as well as ever bloomers fitted
woman, and once more Shakespeare has
called the turn.
When satirists take to satirizing one
another the ribald villains of this world
have free circus that amuses them much,
but the spectacle is ever mounful one to
all true lovers of tho pood and beautiful