Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-24
''PUBLICO- MANIA. 2
BY BISHOP WARREN A. GAMBLER.

~ HE word which stands above
this article is a coinage by DR..
Henry Van Dyke.
In the course of the first Of
those mastery lectures of his deliver
ed at Yale university In 1896. and subse-
quently published under the title of
The Gospel for an Age of Doubt, he
says of the present era: From the
material side, we might call II an age
of progress; from the intellectual side.
an age of science; from the medical
side, an age of hysteria; from the po-
litical side, an age of democracy; from
the commercial side. an age of adver-
tisement; from the social side. an age
of Dublico-mania."
The linguists have criticised his word
as a bad coinage, and their criticism is
perhaps just; but surely the term is not
wanting in accuracy nor deficient in
vividness of impression, although it's
composition be mongrel. And 1t points
to a most real, widespread and dan
gerous aflment. The age is suffering
from publico-mania in both the acute
and chronic form Of disease.
All departments of life are affected
by this mania--our efforts at material
progress, our endeavors in scientific
and professional lines. our political life.
our commercial enterprises. our social
customs and even much of what Is
called religion among us, are all more
or less tainted by it. The trail of this
serpent is over them all. There is on
all bands a morbid yearning for pub
licity. There is scarcely any privacy
left, and they who have any left seem
eager to get rid OF IL.
The town has spread over the coun-
try, and when any part OF the country
seems beyond the power of the town
to incorporate il, forthwith Ii packs
itself up and goes to town. All must
be seen and heard from-early and Of
ten.
The worst results of the malady are
seen, of course. when IL falls on the
most vital sDots-when it touches So
cial life, infects the young, and cor
rupts religion. If It did not attack
us at these vital centers its ravages in
the commercial. professional. scientific
and political worlds might be endured
more patiently. But alasl when It
breaks out on any of these extremi-
ties Of life it hastens rapidly to the
very centers of being, and there works
fatal results.
Our social life IS vulgariZed and de-
graded BY It. Twenty years ago that
wholesome essayist. the late J. O. Hol-
land, wrote in Scribner's Monthly:
THE greed for. personalities-the taste
for everything relating TO TIE life Of
northumberland the base desire to be
talked about, were never more preva-
lent than now. We have only to take
up a fashionable paper to learn who
has had parties, who attended the par
ties, who were the bellies of the par
ties. and how they were dressed: and
we know while we read that the ladies
who gave the parties gave also the
information concerning them. and
were glad to See the reports IN print.
Weddings which should be sacred to
kindred and closest friends. are turn
ed into public shows; and trOusseaus
are inventoried by the daily prints
and spread before the country. 1t is
not enough that ones marriage be
published when it takes place, but the
engagement must be bruited in Jen-
kins's Journal, jenkins having been
assured previously that the announce
meut would not be offensive, and
subsequently repaid by an order for
extra papers"
OF all this sort of thing Holland said:
This life may be high or low. fash
ionable or questionable, but II is iT-
redeemably vulgar, and can only dis
gust every self-respectful and dignified
man and woman" That was said
twenty years ago. but the evil was not
half SO bad then as now. What would
he say of present conditions when por-
traits and Pedigrees are spread daily
before the public2 Whatever he might
say in condemnation Of such unwhole-
some proceedings would scarcely be
unjust. however severe. This public
exposure of private life is nauseat-
ing fndecency. 1t can not fan to re-
suit in perversion of character and
corruption of morals.
The little children are not allowed to
escape. Before they are able to talk
pIainlv they are costumed and taught
for public exhibitions. Their baby faces
are pictured in the public prints, and
they become public persons before
they are out of kits.
The great preacher of Brighton,
Frederick Robertson, in discussing
sthe early development OF Jesus" ut
tered these wise words: The Son
of God lived till thirty in an obscure
village of GaIilee, unknown: then came
forth a niatured and perfect man-with
mind, heart and frame In perfect bal
ance of humanity. 1t is a Divine les
sen! 1 would could speak as strongly
as I feel deeply: Our stimulating, arti-
fetal culture destroys depth. Our COM
petition our nights turned into days
by pleasure, leave no time for earnest
ness. we are superficial men. Charac-