The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-27

condition Of the social standard Of morality, and the
dangerous elasticity Of the public conscience. The
gay. nippant doll IN the outcome OF the demand Of .
section of society, who. with . profound respect for
clothes and external superncialities, prefer a walk.
ing costumier's and hAberdashers show model Of
questionable capability and shady reputation to the
most skilful and honorable woman the profession
could furnish. Light as air. her character IA equally
weak. with that genial good nature which. while IL
wins the good will of all by It's undisRuised efforts to
be agreeable. fails, by reason OF is vRcillatlon and
indecision, to awaken enthusiasm for anything
or to exert those impulses which arc capable
OF attracting. %divortinE, or repulsing in virtue of the
strength OF UNIV avertng spontaneous resolutions and
opinions. tho peculiar distinctive characteristics OF
clearly defined personality; that ono redeeming feR
turc, by its oxaggoration and perversion, becomes her
temptation to the neglect OF duty. Exhausted OF all
that constitutes her true strength, she Is thin and
empty as the ether; fluent in the expression of pretty
batteries as insipid as they are devoid OF sincerity.
with that supernciality OF manner and motive which.
like varnish and veneer, will not bear too close
scrutiny, sho Ia as thoughtloss and reckless a.
her brains are vacuous and her hands unskilled. As
the May belle OF a fashionable drawing room, plum
ing her feathers, cutting pretty figures. beam
ing inainuatlng smiles. seeking only to amuse
and no amused. she Is the attraction OF a
hundred youths whose assets may be literally
estimated commercially at the net value of their outer
garments minus a considerable account for cigars and
paste Jewels. and intellectually a. an intimate &C.
quaintance with tho latest sentimental or sexual
novel. popular play. or society scandali but in the
sick room her presence is q hideous mockery and I'M.
qualified hypocrisy"
What is this all about1 Possibly about
some Of GAINES heroines, although we
should never suspect them Of being trained
nurses of anything except paresis and the
Surrey melodrama. We have read Mr.. WILL
SONS article backward and forward with
equal happiness, but, after all, it is as an un-
trained nurse of literature that he Is at his
highest pressure. Observe and preserve:
"out OF tho scores who enter the ministry. few at
tain tho nrst rank and become q DR.. PARKER. q Dean
FARRAR, or Il Bishop BoYp-CARPESrER. OF the hun
dreds who become electricians, we have but one Ed.
son. snAEEsrEARE. DANTE, ~BnowxISo. TEssrsoS. and
LEWIS MORRIS stand in poetry far ahead Of tho thou.
sands who dabble in verse;
The illustrious DR.. PARKER, Tabernacle
JOE, is we'll known oall admirers of genius
in London and Brooklyn, as we'll as to
Major POM, who likewise knows Mr..
FARRAR, whose modesty Of terms as a leo.
turer In the United States Is only equalled
by the severity of his literary style and the
accuracy of his scholarship. DIR. CARPEN.
TER, who doesn't seem to be entitled to a
hyphen, is the Bishop Of Ripon and the
author of "Truth in Tale and other works
which he will not willingly let die. But it
is when Mr.. WILSON exhibits Sir LEWIS
NORRIS, the Welsh manufacturer OF club
feet, as a member Of a poetical syndicate
with SHAKESPEARE, DANTE, BROWNING,
and TENSYsoN, that the heart yearns most
for the unframed nurse of style. You see
the great singers in Elysium or Limbo.
SHAKESPEARE is too much interested in the
works of the Hon. IGNATIUs DoNNELLY to
be excited by Mr.. WILSON'S article. Ten
SYsoN is decialming his W verses.
BROWNING, a flagon Of port by his side, is
chuckling over the recently published pro.
ceedings and thoughts of the Boston Brown
ing Society. Only DANTE has any time to
spare. He never reads the innumerable miles
OF stuff about him wherewith posterity
honors him and bores itself. He fnds him.
self catalogued by the deft hand Of Mr..
WILSON as an equal Of the Welsh manufac-
turer of club feet, and he smiles for pride
in fame" moro g~enially than he smiled
when the Florentine women said that his
dark complexion had been gained In hell.