Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-29

HE most remarkable and pungent
piece OF writing that has APP
peared in the new century is
Mr. Henry WattersOn's scath-
ing review OF men and women. methods
and morals OF the present era II has
masters imprint on every line OF IT. II
Is evidently the overflow OF a full heart.
There Is nothing uncertain in a single
sentence. for IL bears along with every
sentence a profound conviction that the
writer is in dead earnest. and knows what
he IS writing about exactly.
II Is not vail like disappointed man
might utter, but II is warning that
reads like Il was inspired and prophetic
from an elevation.
II is also a terrible indictment OF the
manuers OF the very rich and the very
dissoluts. and although a reply has been
promised from out OF the ranks OF the
-four hundred" I should not like TO I'M
dertake a reply 20 this marvel0usly strong
PAPER. because C. has the stamp OF truth
upon the whole OF Il.
But ft IS well 10 understand that the ar
ticle applies TO a great many more people
than four hundred OF our fashionables
in New York city, Perhaps that Is a
sample lot or a specimen case, so 10
speak. but there Is more or less OF the
same sort OF goods In every prominent
city or town IN the United States.
They are doing their best as inlitators.
copyIsts. and according 10 their Opp0rtu-
nifty they are treading in the steps OF the
great leaders in fashion and frivOlity and
aping manners and customs as nearly as
possible and compliment themselves on
their agility in so doing
- Rome went 20 pieces just in the
same way. A woman born 70 the purple
commanded her carriage driver 10 roll
the wheels in the open street over her
own fathers dead body and the crisis
vas near az hand when Romes glory
was changed into luxurious RIGHTEOUSNESS
ard ofFictal venality. and these crimes
were permitted 10 pass unrehuked by its
rulers
Doubtless there had been many Jeze-
bels in the land before the unrighteOus
woman. known 10 Hebrew Bible history.
was flung from the palace window and
trodden under foot by the maddened pop
uIace one swallow does not make a sum-
mer. but x 50 happened that this Jezebel
was the object lesson OF that particular
era and paid the penalty.
Mary. Queen OF Scots, was no worse,
perhaps no better. than many women in
royal palaces during her time. but John
Knox made the weIkin ring with the
hangers that lurked in licentiOus luxury
and Mary became the object lesson OF her
Inc. and the way was easily paved.
Marie Antoinette was a vain butterfly
in the years preceding the French revOlu-
ton. BATTERED. pampered. admired and
copied after by thousands OF women OF
high and low degree in France and Aus
trfa but a time came when an object
lesson was needed and the poor wOman's
head fell into the guillotine's basket. She
was no worse and perhaps TO better than
scores OF women OF the mobiles" In az
nuence and pampered frivolity. but the
rage OF an entire class was concentrated
upon her as the hatred representative Of
a hated class.
A nation never goes 10 smash so long as
its women are clean and upright in NOR
ais anu manners. The prOudeSt boast OF
the ate southern Confederacy in defeat
IS the noble characters and virtuOus lives
OF its women There may have been spies
and traitors among them. but bless God!
We have never heard Of them after forty
years OF struggle and trial Today there
IS no higher strain known 10 civilization
than the ante-bellum wife and mother Of
the old south for refinement. virtue and
clean living.
aIr. WattersOn predicts direful events
when women join with men In spendthrift
wastefulness and slack attention TO mari
tai ties He is alarmed at the mad ca
rousal. where ambition TO shine in gaudy
display absorbs the whole existence OF the
four hundred VITA small regard TO private
character. Jut these object lessons are
not the cause OF decay, but simply the
outcome. the outgrOwth, OF conditions
which make the object lesson possible
BY lehasing morals. Gigantic wealth
does not eat out the heart of
a nation until wealth Is used 10
disregard character and permits wantons
20 shine in what Is called fine society. II
Is notorious that great wealth Gilds the
owner. and great wealth. like charity.
covers a multitude Of sins. in both men
and women.
II IS the unhappy trend OF the times.
Grown UP men among the four hundred
give dinner parties TO monkeys and fancy
balls are frequented by giddy. silly peO-
pie. who personate animals to create a
sensation DIR. Watterson mas trumpeted
a note Of warning. but the evil seeds were
sown many seasons ago.