Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1907-02-07
OUR SOCIETY CENSOR
ORIGIN OF The lNcoRPoRGAL BUT
ALERT ms. GRUMPY.
This Paul Pryish and Cosby MytA
IL an Invisibie Character In Thsms.
Morton's Famous old English Com-
edy. "Speed the Piow."

Who does not know Mrs Grundyf
Who does not AT some time make con
crssions To her. And yet who has ever
recorded seeing her: prim. grim aud
uucumpromi,ing, the incorporeal dame
sits as censor 81 the manners aud the
morals at the time. What will Mrs
Grundy say Is phrase that suggests
tremendous power and authority. but
no one has eyer reported just what
she dii say. Referred to on all social
questions. the Inspiration Of the cOn.
vcLtioual, sung hy poet and considered
10y writer. no one has yet been found
] bold enough 10 attempt her concrete
description Even the man who. con
sriuuS Of her existence. first brought
! her 10 public attention did not intro
du,r her rs tangible figure. lie
wits ContDlt with theoretical per
soull.ty. "a presence. And Il Is as well
/ II Mrs. Grunly could speak. she would
die n, an influence. Her strength 10
/ that Of silent ccnSure.
Mrs Gruudy. the name, was the In
ventio,i nr Thomas Morton. an English
PLAYWRIGHT born nearly a century and
A halr ago. II appears In his pastoral
comedy. Speed the rlow," which ran
through many successful London sea
sons and was later presented In this
country. The play concerns the ad'
ventures Of II handsome youth OF IN
known uarputage Henry, the hero, has
been adopted by Farmer and Dame
AshfcId. two characters whose rustic
conversations supply much OF the hu'
NOR of the piece Mrs. Grundy Is pres
Cut ia spirit only She Is supposedly
the wife Of a nelshboring farmer. ana
of her opinion in all matters Dame
AShfrId stands in mortal awe, greatly
Ia the annoyance OF her husband
. In the nrs, few lines Of the COMEDY
Dame Ashiicld has occasion TO mentlon
her formidable friend with this result
Ash-Be qu.et. wool ye! Always oine
dlnging Dame Grundy in my ears
What will Mrs. Grundy gay! Whs'
will Mrs. Grundy think; Canst thee u
quiet. let her alOane aud behave tn'Ae'
. pratty?
Dame Certainly I can. Ill tell thee,
Tummas. what she said at church u"
. Sunday.
Ash -Canst thee tell what pars's
zaIl? 49,, ,.,,somc- oauso
ter Susan, whose love story forms .
plrt OF the plot. At one stage OF u'
? DEVELOPMENT the following dlaIos~
? takes place:
4 ASH tell We, zeeid I'm 81 susaa
; letter. and / don't like IL biz.
i. Dame-Nor I. IL shame should CONS
2 20 the poor child say. Tummas' "H''
4 would Mrs. Grundy say, Them =.
,. Ash-Dom Mrs. Grundy! What "''"
o my poor woald heart Zay:
!. At another place Henryis haru Pr
Ell for money. and his adopted paren"
plan TO sell their goods to obtain u w
him. The farmer asks his dame ""
b many silk gowns she can dispose VI.
a Dame-Three, Tummas. and
b them all; and I'll go TO church
q stun one and let Mrs. Grumpy Vu'' "
!. her nose as much as she likes
= In the final act. when everytnins :.
, comfortably settled. the simple
q fall 10 preparing for the fest'l.e =,
: Dsme-ind then. Tummas. think u
d the wedding. n
!. Ash TefiectIng,-I declare ! SI' "s.u
!, inst the zane as ever. Maybe ! -
Il buy n smartish bride or a Lllvef 49,
q stopper or the likes o that On,
3 Dame ,apartJ-And then, Wne.
= come out OF church. Mrs. Grunu'
d he standing about there - ...ds
!. Ash mparu-l shall shake
n with all my friends sria
y Dame ,apartD-Then | iooA ~
this manner. . ps,erf
Ash npart-IIow dost DO. - :.
A. NIT Glad 20 zee thee WI al p
= zoul blows toward center OF ID, "a a
: Dame ,auart,-Then. with .c,s
/. half courtesy. | shall tshe ao -,
: ~ the center also. and their
n meet cha. hes
: dame. come along and behave
: do'ee. -,sW -
= From this small begihniHs -. re
= tradition OF Mrs. GrundN IL nss al
;, seized upon by succeeding Wr ~, 81
:, = sacceeiing generations, who u ,,,,Ie %
. the cxistence Of the austere . .,assesA
T. keenly. as did ever Dame a A sos .
al
Thsnks are due the or'el q ~
70 term that has come TO eAp.s,, ssks
o social force more satisfactory "a Or
resms Of eIplanstiop.-NsH Az