The Washington times., 1902-10-19

nevertheless. Just like the circus, 1t is
all great syndicate. a great manufac-
tory. everything big, but ultimately de-
/ structive Of all personal character, real
manhood. The Americans love order.
precision, organization; they rise at the
whistles call, they dine-no, they bolt
their pie by the factory whistle again;
they live or rather exist by the grace
and upon the orders Of the organization
and they seem to enjoy the self-imposed
serfdom.
"The circus, to return to that interest,"
ing American exhibit, also contains q
museum of freaks, hideous bodies COW
cred with hair, grotesque semblances
of men and women, shrivelled pigmies
and outlandish giants, monsters Of
obesity and living cadayers. All fan
tastic but self-complacent. They do not
seem to mind their deformities; they
live by them, to them they owe the ad-
miration they receive from the crowds.
They are conscious of their value to
Barnum; they finally get to believing
themselves superior to the normal folk,
distinguished, an aristocracy that looks
down condescendingly upon the mere
ordinary people who cape at them.
Strange when / look upon these mis-
shapen things I always think OF the
American millicnaires; II is bizarre
comparison grant you. but these finan-
cial giants seem to me to be but alb
normal developments. overgrowths at
the expense of the other faculties and
members of the family, grotesque fdu-
ciary obesities, men out Of touch with
the normal world, the world as it should
be and ultimately will be, mere inhar-
monious beings. temporary warts. mt
subjects for our commiseration.
''Yet the average American worships
those monstrosities, the outgrowth OF
the system, the condition he is respon-
sible for and has nursed into vigorous
life. life that is gradually crushing
him out of existence. He respectfully
salutes the passing millionaire. He
prates of democracy. He calls his order
of things the only democracy, but he
raises his hat to the dollar mark with as
much reverence as does a German bow
down TO the almighty Kaiser.
"Barnums spectacular show. his lights.
his twenty bands, his hundreds OF horses.
his perfect organization, seemed TO me to
lack delicacy. refinement, the touch OF
something vitalizing that raises our ex-
hibitions of that nature into something
artistic. His clearly costs vast sum
to operate: that is the true American
standard of exeellence-the cost. He
dazzles. overpowers. stuns US but with
mere brute strength. Is it too much to
say that our cousins across the water,
for whom we have such a sincere liking.
affect us somewhat in the same manner?
They cost much. their value is represent
ed by the aforementioned dollar mark.
and they carry the tag in a conspicuous
place.
"As they grow in years, however. re-
fnement. true esthetics, and delicacy
will characterize their lives, their gov
ernment. even. perhaps, their circus.
They will absorb those qualities. Re-
fnement added to their great strength.
their vigor. their indomitable courage
if alas! it docs not enervate them-will
make them great indeed. power for
good, an uncomfortable force tending
upward and onward. May the day OF
their regeneration not be far distant;
may another Lincoln arise who will
break the chains of their thraldom TO
Mammon as he of that glorious name
struck off the fetters of the black man."
And so spoke our critic: What think
you of his mild castigation? Will you
still insist upon remaining millionatres3