Original: '' sentimental '' is a pejorative term that has been casually applied to works of art and literature that exceed the viewer or reader 's sense of decorum -- the extent of permissible emotion -- and standards of taste : '' excessiveness '' is the criterion ; Wilkie 1967 , took the example of Henry Clay Work 's maudlin lyric of Temperance propaganda , '' Come Home , Father '' .
Simplified: Before that it had simply menat '' feeling '' , but it began be criticized for its '' excessiveness '' ( too much ) , Wilkie 1967 , took the example of Henry Clay Works maudlin lyric of Temperance propaganda , '' Come Home , Father '' .