The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-02
A Book and Its Critic.

Professor Henderson of the Univer-
sity Of Chicago has prepared for the
Chautauqua Scientific and Literary cir
Gle a book on THE Social Spirit of
America" which has been formally APP
proved and adopted as part of the re-
quired reading in that circle for next
year; but which for some reason fails
to command the approval of the New
York sun, which goes for" it as fol-
lows:
1t is doubtful whether in administer
ing to their students doses of knowledge
in sugar-coated pills. the Chautauqua
councillors are altogether wise in putting
before them such mental nourishmCnt as
this: 1.-The vices of the rich look so beau
tiful in satin robes and evening dress
that they charm like virtues. Vulgar va
riety theatres are often very objection
able and coarse, but then many costly
operas on which wealth is lavished suf-
iicient to build many model tenements are
frequently mere nasty crime set to fine
music, and the only redeeming feature of
the libretto is that it is in a foreign
tongue. 1t would be amusing, if the thing
We're not so eXasperating and dangerous,
to hear a fine gentleman declaim against
the extravaganza of the poor in periods
made eloquent by expensive champagne.
There is an immense amount of cant
about the wastcfulness of the lower
classes on the part of those who, If
they were paid according to the value of
their social service, would be clothed in
rags and fed on hominy Ike other pau
pers." The professor further tells us in
the preface, and In his own peculiar way,
that Enthusiasm for humanity, hope of
progress, confidence in man, may not
profess to be religious, but they really
assume and imply divine foundation of
happiness through morality" Now, it is
not easy to understand just how enthusi-
asm, hope, or confidence can profess any
thing, but we may reasonably doubt
whether any one of these admirable sem
timents is likely to be fostered by the
diffusion of literature that brings to the
consideration of great economic subjects
the methods of the sentimentalist and
the sensational preacher and that foists
upon the public the sorry fustian of the
tub thumper and the professional agi-
tator.
Not having read this book we cannot
say anything as to its quality; but the
Suns attack suggests that Professor
Henderson must have used words with
out gloves, in which event he is to be
commended. Speaking generally, it can
do no harm to inform the young
through the books which they read
that there is a nobler use for money
than to eXpend it in idle frivolity
which, if not directly evil in tone and
tendency. is indirectly so because it
deadens the sense of duty and promotes
selfishness. The theater and the opera,
for example, may be subjectively
beneficial when patronlzed discrim-
inatingly and in moderation: but
the social spirit which elevates
these places of entertainment to the
level of the chief objects for which
men and women should exist is as
much an error on the side of excess
as is the contrary spirit which views
in them places utterly devoid of good.
That which chiefly needs to be guard
ed against in this country is the de-
velopment of an aristocracy resting
upon inherited wealth, selhshly em-
ployed to pamper the vanity and starve
the soul of its recipients. If this is
the thought in Professor Henderson's
book, its inclusion among the approved
hooks Of the Chautauqua series is GER
tainly justified.