The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-23
Sldycrs at Sentiment
BY DOROTHY LINDSEY


To say that We only believe In tho
existence Of what we SEQ and hear
may be merely another way OF re-
marking that this ago is an age OF
common scnsc, practical men aud
women; but II leaves US open to con-
pictton that In sonlc direction wo arc
wilfully closing our eyes and shut
ting our ears to thngs that are real
enough II VIC choose to acknowledge
them
1t is characteristic trait OF tliis
age to state that a thing is dead, and
then afterwards proceed to Kill it. ono
cannot suy that 1t hnstcns the end.
but II perhaps saves the unpleasnn.
task OF u moral inquest at which no.
body wants to assist
For this reason tho present gencr.
alton has decided that sentiment is
dead, aud is undertaking with the ut
most callousncas it can summon 10
make 1t So.
Tic first step has been to deny ALI
personal imputation of scntimontalts. I,
III has become part of the code OF self
respect to be regarded as non-sentl-
mental. Some may call 1t 8; pose, aud
II might be possible to agree with this
view II Il pose has ever behind i, anil
honcst desire TO escape detection.
And about the sincerity of the OBJ
lectors TO sentiment there is undoubt-
edly conscicntiousnoss They will tell
you with quite unmistakablc couvic.
! ton that they hate" 1T.
You cannot turn, for less violent
aud unsatisfactory dsmissa, o. tic
subject to the profosscd man of sen
timcnt," because you will find that he
has passed away-poss,bly fading
conveniently at the preinonition OF his
coming dispatch.
But the work of oXterminating sen
i a., int has not ended with killing II
rs In wider field that it's grave has
been dug. We no longer allow sen,i-
iiient as natural and inevitable ac-
compartment OF human feeling. we
llavc, or we think we have discovered
way of doing without 1t. and the
ucinanu has produced supply of nj
,ment.
But this is not sufficient for some
death dealing unscntimcntalists They
40 not simply require that everything
t .neM touch shall be guaranteed free
there Is nothing less than the savage
delight of participating In the work
of destroying. oil going into details,
enoppins and dissecting, until there is
result of their brutal efforts.
No sentiment, is the injunction
which Is enforced on those who cater
Tor the ever growing band of non-scn-
picture buyers and amusement seek
crs generally.
And not content with trying to CT
| feet wholesale effacemcnt OF a harm
t.aSs r,ft ~ rxfs. To-
turc and the theatre there is now an
opposition 10 sentiment where human
ity is concerned or love OF nature |
should inspire 1t in its highest and |
Durest form.
Charity must be free from sentiment !
before it can be placed on a sat;sfac
tory financial basis; sport cannot be |
carried on If sentiment is TO be allowed |
To enter the field; Improvement and de- |
velopnents cannot progress If senti-
mont is 10 be permitted to stay the \
hand of the spoiier, and science would /
come to a stop II its leaders were |
weak enough to listen to the voice OF
| sentiment.
| We are forced a, last to wonder If |
i there is any direction In which senti- |
| inent may be said to flourish in public.
i except in the Susc of the sentimental |
! song. 1T is strange fact that the |
drawing-room ballad, the musical COM |
! edy ditty and the concert chansonette |
seem to grow not less but more senti- ,
mental.
The most successful song writers of |
tho day arc men and women who carry
sentiment almost beyond the limits of
romantic conference and poetic aban-
don and would not hesitate. to make 1t
ardent, even at the pole
ting tile praise Of others as in Sc
curing the approval of ones inmostl
self
Any man who has evolved far en-
ough TO set up standard of thought
and conduct in his own mind is it'll
for the communal life, and none other