Weekly Arizona journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1903-1908, 1905-06-07
TOPEKA BRAND OF MoDEsTY.


duced Carrie Nation and the soekless
statesman cannot help Distinguishing
itself in some way or other.
Just what this popularity comes
from, whether it springs with the corn
from the fertile fields or rides on the
atmosphere with the cyclone, it would
be difficult to determine. Whatever
it is. it has made Kansas the home of
Populism and other things pleasant or
unpleasant, according to the point of
view, and has gained for it a large
share of unenviable notoriety.
The latest outbreak occurred in To-
peka, where, it would seem, the forces
of virtue and vice are perpetually
aligned against each other, painting for
the fray. 1t is not so long since To-
peka contributed a great character to
current history and furnished the hui
morists with brand new subject of
+ badinage (not to mention the services
to melodrama) by exalting Mrs. Ma
ton into publicity. And now, before
the frightened saloon-keepers have
caught their breath, before the cause
of temperance has had time to recov
er from her unwelcOme ministrations,
a new band of reformers has taken the
center of the stage.
It is not total abstinence this time
but modesty, which has been hero
ieally indicated. It appears that the
Library Hall in Topeka has been de-
corated. through the gift of Mr.. Ed
ward Wilder, secretary and treasurer
of the Atehison railway, with col
lection of works of art, copies of the
world s most celebrated masterpieces
in sculpture. Among these are n
number of nudes. All was we'll until
some Of Topeka virtuous women
went to the han to arrange a meeting.
Their decent eyes were shocked when
thy confronted the array ST marble
nakedness. their modest cheeks blush
ed with shame at the exposure.
The ladies' of Topeka are nothing if
not swift in Judgment and in action,
and these virtuous matrons. who con
sidered that they were all ashamed. as
the fool in clear" would say, pro-
ceeded at once to drape the nude
marbles with aprons and shawIs. The
saint who divided his cloak with a
heggar was not more generous than
they. Aphrodite, Artemis, Apollo
and other pagan deities were comfort
ably swathed in wraps and boas and
cloaks. Then when their hasty labors
in the cause of innocence were complet-
ed, they went away. breathing signs
of relief. The modesty of Topeka was
saved!
such an occurrence as this would rot
be allowed to pass in amy state but
Kansas without vigorous protest. Not
only does It indicate a lack of artistic
appreciation which is humiliating. but
it reveals a prurience of minda willing
ness to see evil where evil is not, that
is absolutely immoral.
Not everyone can appreciate the full
measure Of beauty in a Greek statue.
That is largely a matter of education.
but everyone, at least everyone who.
like each of these Topeka ladies. laws
claim to q respectable share of culture
and refinement, can look on a marble
Venus or a plaster Antinous with
ewes which see something besides bod
lily exposure. To call these women
Philistines or iconOclasts would be
flinging at their heads cant terms
which have come, by much use to mean
very little In plain English, they
are vulgarians.
Such conduct as theirs has brought
considerable reproach on this country.
When Dickens visited the United
States his keen eye was quick to note
the rampant virtue and the bridling
modesty that were so willing to find
improperly where none was meant.
He satirized this characteristic when
he drew in Martin Chuzzlewit. the
portrait of the woman whose delicate
sensibilities were outraged when some
one mentioned the naked eve.
Probably the fault is not so cou-
mon now as it was then. Education
has done much to broaden us in these
matters. There has come realizing
sense that virtue need not always be I.
on the defensive. The danger of pro /
testing too much is better understood.
1t remains for Topeka and certain .
other communities (for there are other .
where similar bad taste .
is displayed) to digest the meaning Of .
the old garter maxim. This country .
viii command more respect when such 1