Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-11-08

truth of the following opening line of an
alleged poem written by rhymster of
some local note
''There is no veneration in this generation"
OF course this is putting a trife strong
ly; but making all allowance for poetic
license, and the exigencies of metre the
fact remains that this sweeping statement
is not without some grains of truth. l
know it is considered the proper thing for
elderly people to deplore this tendency of
the age, and to assert that if something
ism t done to check it nothing can possibly
save this country from going to the bow
vows. Isshave never been persuaded
however that the world was going back
ward. Progress has been the watch
word of the ages. Evolution in customs as
we'll rs in types is sure to work from
the lower to the higher The world is
sharing more and more in the Divine in
telligence. The fight for life is sure to
end in the span of the ages, in the survi
val of the fittest. Perhaps my life Las
been, almost unconsciously it may be,
influenced by AN intuitive recognition of
this truth. Certainly / have never felt
disposed to do duty as Il nourner at the
burial of defunct custom, or prophesy
evil at the birth.
Why should a custom or person be
venerated simply because it is old? If it
or he have no other claim upon the con-
sideration OF mankind. surely age has
been vain and proftless. Why should
we spare the aged fig tree that has borne
the world no fruit? | am inclined to look
upon the so-called lack of veneration in
our age as in itself, sign of advance
ment. BY all means let usages and per
sons stand upon their own intrinsic
merits. Let tho world have no medals for
shams. Those who simulate virtues they
do not possess, deserve all the contempt
the spirit of the age is likely to- bestow
upon them. This Is an inventive era.
The eyes, and the ears Of the world are
wide open to truth. Investigation dares
all heights, and all depths with no one
to point the finger Of ridicule. Its most
astonishing discoveries no longer startle
the world. They are merely looked upon
as steps nearer the great heart of Nature
"a new liberation Of truths that have
been buried in her bosom through the
ages. 1t is tolerant world, even if its
| bump of veneration is gradually being re
placed with a hollow.
But there have been turning philoso-
pher / really DOM intend to indulge In
distractions although it is often great
termination to do so. This train OF
| thought was induced by play / attended
not long ago. 1t was written by one OF
the brightest of our modern playwrights
lin lines of comedy, perhaps the bright
est 1t fairly dubbed over with original
wit. and with situations as ludicrous as
they were unexpected The audience,
which was one of the best our city has
ever turned out, was convulsed with
laughter from beginning to end and th1
applause was as hearty as 1t was frequent
II seemed to me, however, that the whole
tendency of the play was pernicious. Ii
made merry at the virtues that form the
very basis of Christian society Its allu
sions were broad, its tone coarse Its In
fluence demoralizing. 1t seems TO me
that there is almost altogether too much OF
a tendency on the part of the modern
stage to guild vice and show 1t in its
most alluring aspects The evil effects o.
this tendency upon the public morals !,
would be difficult to estimate. When q
NAV combines this tendency to make
merry at the expense of what is truest
and nest in civilized life, with marked
originality literary merit of high order
and flashes of genuine wit that are sure
| IN apneal to the American sense of humor,
it's unwholesome influence makes posi-
tive menace to the highest welfare OF
| society.
have hesitated to speak OF this from
the t,ar that some of my friends might