The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1907-03-15
OUR SOCIETY CENSOR
ORIGIN OF THE ,NcoRpoReAL GUT
ALERT MRS. aRuNov.


ALERT MRS. GRuNDY.
This Paul Prytsh and Cosby Myth
II an Invisible Character In Thomas
Morton's Famous Old English Conn
edy, "speed the Plow."
Who does not know Mrs. Grundy :?
Who does not at some time make con-
cessions to her? And yet who has ever
recorded seeing her? Prim. grim and
uncompromising, the incorporeal dame
sits as censor OH the manners and the
morals of the time "What will Mrs.
Grundy say?" is phrase that suggests
tremendous power and authority. but
no one has ever reported just what
she did say. Referred to on all social
questions, the inspiration of the con-
ventional. sung by poet and considered
by writer, no one has yet been found
bold enough to attempt her concrete
description. Even the man who, con.
scious of her existence. first brought
her to public attention did not intro
duce her as tangible figure. He
was content with q theoretical per-
sonality, presence. And 1t is as well.
If Mrs. Crundy could speak, she would
die as an influence. Her strength is
that of silent censure.
Mrs. Grundy. the name, was the ill.,
vention of Thomas Morton. an English
playwright born nearly century and
half ago. 1t appears in his pastoral
comedy, "Specd the Plow." which ran
through many successful London sea-
sons and was later presented in this
country. The play concerns the adj
ventures of i, handsome youth of un-
known parentage. Henry. the hero. has
been adopted by Farmer and Dame
Ashfield, two characters whose rustic
conversations supply much of the hui
NOR of the piece. Mrs. Grundy istpres-
ent in spirit only. She is supposedly
the wife Of a neighboring farmer, and
of her opinion in all matters Dame
Ashfield stands in mortal awe. greatly
to the annoyance of her husband
In the first few lines of the comedy
Dame Ashfield has occasion to mention
her formidable friend with this result:
Ash-Be quiet, wool ye? Always ding,
dinging Dame Grundy in my ears
What will Mrs. Grundy gay? What
will Mrs. Grundy think? Canst thee be
quiet, let her aloane and behave thyZel
pratty?
Dame-Certainly l CAN. Ill tell thee.
Tummas, what she said at church last
Sunday
Ash-Canst thee tell what parson
zaid?
The couple have handsome daugh-
ter, Susan, whose love story forms a
part of the plot. At one stage of the
development the following Dialogue
takes place:
ASH tell We, zee'd un gi' Susan
letter, and don't like it bit
Dame-Nor l. If shame should come
to the poor child say. Tummas, what
would Mrs. Grundy say, then?
Ash-Dom Mrs. Grundy! What would
my poor woald heart gay?
At another place Henry is hard press
ed for money. and his adopted parents
plan to sell their goods to obtain it for
him. The farmer asks his dame how
many silk gowns she can dispose OF.
Dame-Three. Tummas, and sell
them all; and I'll go to church in
stuff one and let Mrs. Grundy turn up
her nose as much as she likes.
In the final act, when everything is
comfortably settled, the simple pair
fall to preparing for the festivities
Dame-And then, TummaS think of
the wedding
Ash Getlecting)-I declare l shall be
buy smartish bride or zilver backy
stopper or the likes O that.
Dame (apart)-And then, when we
come out Of church, Mrs. Grundy will
be standing about there
Ash (apart)-I shall shake hands
with all my friends.
Dame (apart,-Tlen l look at her in
this manner.
Ash (apart>-How dost do, Peter?
All. Dick. glad to zee thee VII all me
zoul (bows toward center of the STAGE.
Dame (apart)-Then. with kind of
half courtesy, l shall (She advances
to the center also. and their heads
meet.)
Ash-What an oald fool thee bees,
dame! Come along and behave pratty.
do'ee.
From this small beginning grew the
tradition of Mrs. Grundy. 1t has been
seized upon by succeeding writer's and
succeeding generations. who have felt
the existence of the austere critic as
keenly as did ever Dame Ashfeld.
Thanks are due the originator for a
term that has come to express a vital
social force more satisfactorily than
reams of explanation.-New York Her