Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-01-18
WEDNESDAY EVENING. JAN. IS. 1905

THERE Is an ancient observation to
the effect that as time goes on men be-
come weaker and wiser, but that facts
show the contrary should be apparent to
ali intelligent people. Men-at least
the great majority ofmen--seem to profit
but little by the experience of genera
ii ,ns which have preceded them, and
people persist in making blunders SIM
liar 10 those of the ancients. They are
still engaged in attempting to build
towers, the remnants of which, like that
of Babel of old, will be monuments to
their folly. The futile endeavors, for in
stance, of small percentage Of we'll
meaning people to govern the great city
of New York on certain lines, the ardor
of reform associations together with
the acts ofinterrupters Of the amusements
of the many, will sooner or later, pro-
ducs a reaction, when men will be likely
TO 90 TO extremes in acts now partly re-
strained. The absurdity of attempting
to govern the second city of the world in
point of numbers and wealth, with an
enormous floating population, by laws
enacted at unofficial gatherings must be
apparent. Yet these impotent battering
rams are necessarily swinging against
the battlements of the patient millions,
and will continue to do so until reac-
tion-as inevitable as the coming and
going of the seasons--sets in, and, As has
heretofore been the case, the last state OF
the community will be worse than the first.
People acquainted with the history Of
our English ancestors will remember the
seesaw governments which waxed and
waned in England several centuries ago.
A colossal reform, under the inspiration
of weIl-meaniBg but misguided men,
completely upset the country. All
amusements or anything else calculated
to ease lfe's burdens we're regarded as
sinful. An extract from Macaulay will
be in season:
Sculpture as well as paintings we're
special objects of vengeance.
Sharp laws we're passed against betting.
Public amusements, from the masks
which were exhibited at the mansions
of the great down to the wrestling
matches and grinuing matches on viii
lage greens, we're vigorously attacked.
One ordinance directed that all the May
poles in England should forthwith be cut
down. Another prescribed all theatrical
diversions. The playhouses were to be
dismantled, the spectators fined and the
actors whipped at the CARTS tail. Rope
dancing, puppet shows and horse.racing
were regarded with an unfriendly eye.
1t was decreed that the 25th OF Deem
Der should be strictly observed as fast,
and that all men should pass it in hum
bly, bemoaning the great national sin
which they and their fathers had COM
m;tted on that day by rOmping under
the mistetoe, eating bOar's head and
drinking ale favored with roasted apples.
The reaction which finally set in was
the natural result. "The passions and
tastes which had been so sternly re-
pressed, and if gratifed at all had been
gratifed by STEALTH broke forth with un-
goyernable violence as soon as the check
was withdrawn Men flew to frivolous
amusements and to criminal pleasures
with the greediness that long enforced
abstinence naturally produces little re-
straint was imposed by public opinion
for the nation, nauseated with cant, sus-
pieious of all pretensions tosanctity, and
sill smartiug from the tyranny of certain
austere rulers, looked for a time with |
complacency on the softer and gayer
vices. Scarcely any rank or profession
escaped the infection of the prevailing
immortality" Mutterings of a social
volcano are often audible in this day,
and history may repeat ITSELF