Mexico Missouri message., 1905-02-09

more evenly balanced One finds pre-
clslOn, the word exactly fitted to the
thing. But farther on-effect Of the
sun, the air, the wine perhaps-hot
blood courses I'm the veins, tempers are
excitable. language is extravagant, and
the simplest things are said in the
strongest terms.
If the type Of speech varies with eli.
! mate, it differs also with epochs. Com
pare the language, written or spoken,
Of our own times with that OF certain
other periods Of our history. Under
the old regime people spoke differently
than ut the lime of the Revolution, and
we have not the same language as the
men Of 1880, 1913 or the second empire.
In general, language Is now charac-
terized by greater simplicity. We no
longer wear perukes, we no longer
write in lace frills, but there is one
significant difference between us and
almost all of our ancestors, and it is
the source Of our eXaggeratiOns-our
nervousness. Upon Overexcited merry.
Gus systcms-and heaven knows that
to have nerves Is no longer an arlsto-
cratic privllege-wOrds do not produce
the same impression as under normal
conditions; and quite as truly simple
language does not suffice the man of
overwrOught sensiblities when he tries
to express what he feels. In private
life. in public. In books, ON the stage,
calm and temperate speech has given
place to excess. The means that novel
too. 10 sffr1af n
nize the public mind and compel its at
tention are to be found again in their
rudiments. in our most commonplace
conversations. I'm our letter writing
and. above all, in public speaking. Our
performances in language compared to
those of Il man well balanced and Sc
rene are what our handwriting is COM
pared to that Of our fathers. The fault
Is laid to steel pens. If only the truth
were acknowledged! Geese, then, could
save us. But the evil goes deeper; It
is In ourselves. We write like men
/ possessed. The pen of our ancestors
was more restful, more sure. Here we
face one of the results of our modern
life, so complicated and so terribly eX-
haustye Of energy. 1t leaves us impa-
tient, GREATNESS, in perpetual trepida-
ton. Our handwriting, like our speech,
suffers thereby and betrays us. Let us
go back from the effect to the cause
and understand well the warning it
brings us.
What good can come from this habit
Of exaggerated speech? False inter
prefers OF our own impressions, we
cannot but warp the mipis of our fell
low men as well as our own. Between
people who eXaggerate, good under
standing ceases. RULED tempers, vio-
lent and useless disputes, hasty judg-
| mCntS devoid OK ull moderation, the
utmost extravaganza in education and
! social life-these things are the result
: Of intemperancc of speech.
! May | he permitted in this appeal for
! simplicity Of speech TO frame wish
| whose fuhillment would have the hap
J piest rCsults2 l ask for simplicity in
literature not only as one Of the best
/ remedies for the detection Of our souls
| -blasos, iadcd, weary of cccentricltics
but also as Il pledge and source of
| social union. l ask also for simplicity
! in art. Our art and our literature are
| reserved for the privileged few of ed.
! ucqtiOn and fortune. But do not mis-.
| understand me. [ do not ask poets
! nOvelisls and painters to descend from
| the heights and wall, along thC noun.
! tain sides, finding tEcir satisfaction in
mediocrity, but, on the contrary, 10
1,f 10 NJ
| that which appeals to Il certain class Of
society ordinarily called the common
| people; the truly popular is what is
common to ali classes and unites them.
The sources Of inspiration from when
! perfect art springs are i'm the depths of
the human heart, in the eternal rcali.
ties of life before which all men arc
equal And the sources of Il popular
language must be found in the small
number of simple and vigorous forms
which express elementary sensations
and draw the master lines Of human
destiny. In them are truth, power
grandeur, immortality. Is there not
enough in such an ideal to kindle the
enthusiasm Of youth, which, sensible
| that the sacred flame of the beautiful
is burning within, feels pity. and to the
disdainful adage, "Odl profanum vul
gus" prefers this more humane saying
"AIisereor super urban" AS for me,
have no artistic authority, but from
out the multitude where live l have
the right to raise my cry to those who
have been given talents, and say tC
them: Labor for men whom the world
forgcts, mako yourselves Ineligible tC
the humble, so shall you accomplish
a work OF emancipation ana peace; SC
shall you open again the springs
whence those masters drew, whose
works have defied the ages because
! they knew how to clothe genius in sim
plicity.