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July 28, I860.] The Saturday Analyst and...
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NAUGHTINESS IN HIGH PLACES. E VIL commun...
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THE BANKRUPTCY BILL. HPHE Bankruptcy Bil...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
French Expedition To Syria. In One Of Hi...
It is large enough to give offence to the Sultan , but not large enough to conquer the Druses—a race of robust , active mountaineers , dwelling-in- a rugged and difficult country , trained from their youth up in every stratagem of mountain warfare , and numbering 30 , 000 warriors . But if it cannot conquer them , it cannot occupy their country ; so that there is both the certain cost , the risk of defeat and disaster , and the impossibility of any compensating advantage : and We are , therefore , somewhat surprised , not that the French Emperor should despatch an army into Syria , without the consent and approbation of the Sultan , for he has repeatedly shown that he is perfectly unscrupulous where he has his own interests to advance—but that he should stake his
reputation for political sagacity , the glory of the French arms , and the peace of Europe and of the East , upon so very uncertain and perilous a venture .
July 28, I860.] The Saturday Analyst And...
July 28 , I 860 . ] The Saturday Analyst and Leader . 680
Naughtiness In High Places. E Vil Commun...
NAUGHTINESS IN HIGH PLACES . E VIL communications are corrupting the good manners of our old nobility . We have it on the authority of the Moruintj Post , or we should not dare to hint at such a thing . When the special organ of high life feels it incumbent upon him to lecture his aristocratic pets and patrons , we may be sure that the case is very bad indeed . Flatterers do not speak their minds until things come to the last pass , and flattery becomes a mockery . The encouraging doctor leaves off prating of hope , and bids the family prepare for the worst , when the death-rattle is in the patient ' s throat . The courtiers of King Canute no doubt begged their royal master to sit a little back when they saw the rebellious waves disrespectfully washing up upon his royal feet . So the moralist of the Post is inspired with courage by the alarming symptoms which have attacked our old nobility , to " speak out , plump and plain , and tellhis master and patron that he is'in a . bad way . We have been induced to believe that , since our gracious and exemplary Quf . ex came to the thi * one the whole tone of upper class society has been renovated and improved , We have flattered ourselves that hard drinking went out with Mr . Pitt and Mr . Fox , and that the reign of the demi-monde passed away with that of his gracious Majesty KingWilliamIV . Our Queen , we ' - know ,-ha ^ been . a .. pattern ; to all classes , and we have fondly believed that her bright example has been reflected down to the lowest station of society through i : he aristocracy . We may- have charged-the Upper Ten Thousand with being " bloated aristocrats" in political matters , but ,-in point of morals-and social propriety ; we have been eager to bear testimony to their distinguished worth . So heartfelt has been our admiration of their irreproachable social and moral ;'¦ qualities as men and brothers , that- we have been enabled to join in chorus with that
eminent poet , Lord John Maxxeus , singing '' God preserve our old nobilitv , " even if laws and learning , arts and commerce , and everything else besides , should go by the board . But we have been mistaken all this time , cruelly mistaken , and all the admiration , reverence , respect , esteem , and high regard which has been obtained from iis , has been obtained— -alas ! that we should have to write the words—on false pretences . Yes : the tine young English gentleman , and the fine young English lady , are both up oil a very serious charge , i Let the detective of the Post state his case . " We accuse , '' he says , " the fine young English gentleman of permitting ^ piactising \ ami J fostering a , lax system of demeanour in public which is capable of ! producing very serious results on society . He is becoming much j mak the and the
more emulous of . ing , acquaintance frequenting society , even in public , of ladies . of a notorious character . ' There is Aspasia , for example , a person of noted ill-repute . He has seen the fine young English gentleman riding with her in the Park , and scarcely avoiding the recognition' of his more respectable friends . He has seen the tine young English gentleman descend from his mother ' s box at the opera to exchange - pciwi / ltu / r with Aspasia in the pit . He has seen him rise from a seat beside Lais , in l ? otten Row , to chat with Lady Ajkk or Aliss Fanxv over the vails , avoiding no apportunity of admitting , even in the presence of those ntwest anu dearest to him , a close intimacy with those naughty persons , and that being the sty le which ho prefers , the tone which hn » the surest attractions for'him . This , however , is not the whole of the offence . The distinguished culprit is further charged with
corrupting the mind of Lad y Alice and Miss Fanny . ' who arc clearly proven , through his ovil influence , to" have become , to some extent , the associates of improper and guilty charaictevs , The active and intelligent officer aforesaid deponeth that Lady Amok andMiss Fann y are perfectly conversant with the persons , names , nicknames , and even the personal habits and pursuits of Lus and Aspasia , They know that these ladies are naughty persons : they know tlmt their brother , Lord To . m , and their lover , the iTon < mrabhvAi « irsTrs , frequont their society : and they are accustomed to talk about them , to regard them as rivals , and even to imitate their fast graces . " I continually hear the remark . " says the fearless witncB . - * , " that none hutthe _ iiUat girls . lget . on .. ;" . .. n . u < JL . i ) u ?_; jJUst _ . a ; irk . "_» lJUCAU ' __ ta .-L ) those , who can as neavrly us possible imitate- the' fhumtini'' manners of the ladies of the euruelui .
This is ti very dreadful state of things , indeed . Who would have thought it V iVa middle class people , whoso wives and daughters do not oven allow themselves to dre'ani of such people aw Lais and Ahi'ahia , can scarcely conceive , the wise . We cannot calmly contemplate the idea of u respectable young woman , or even a respectnblo old one , being brought into contact , even in the most remote degree , with such sOeietv . The bare thought of a daughter or
sister being * familiar with the names and persons of these outcasts , is perfectly revolting . The conduct of a man who dares to insult the modesty of his mother , or respectable female acquaintances , by introducing persons of this character to their notice , is nothing less than brutal . The existence of such a state of things among the aristocracy can only be regarded as a phenomenon , a sudden and viruient form of . * moral disease , introduced by contact , and not likely to become epidemic . We are happy to hear that the malady has . only manifested itself within the last halfdozen years . Until that period < ice '"¦ confined itself to its own quarter , seldom appeared save when it was-called out of its holt * , and never obtruded itself in places in which it would be sure to meet with scorn and reprobation . In certain streets , theatres .
casinos , and other haunts of the kind , the ladies of the camelia , were alone to be found . Vice seldom comes forth into the outer world without paving to virtue the . homage of trying to hide its head . What then has changed all this , and brought vice and virtue into such close companionship ? Let us see . It is almost six years ago that improper operas came into fashion . The ladies of the upper classes , both old and young , rushed to Her Majesty ' s Theatre to weep tears of sympathy over the woes " of a consumptive courtezan . Could it have been that spectacle which reconciled them to association with Lais and Aspasia in Kotten-row ! Or did loose morals come in with ornamental petticoats and Balmoral
boots r It will not be forgotten by the male community that about four or five years ago the ladies suddenly began to show a great deal of their " ankles , not to say their legs . Until that period , their feet , as Sir Johx Suckling ' has it . " Peeped in and out , like little mice , as if they feared the light . " But that charming delicacy , all of a sudden , gave way . Ladies' boots and petticoats were made to be shown , and legs and ankles were shown with them . It was Lais and Aspasia , we believe , who introduced this fashion , and Lady Alice and Miss Fanny were not ashamed to follow it . It became them , and it still continues to be exceedingly difficult to distinguish between Aspasia and Lady Alice . They both walk the streets in the dirtiest summer day , as if the town were one
uninterrupted puddle—Lady Alice as proudly conscious as Aspasta that my Lord Tom jnWdy is behind her , admiring her legs . This is a problem that may well occupy the attention of the statistical Society , and we heartily commend it to the notice of that learned body . ' ¦"' ¦"¦ " ¦¦' ' , ¦ ¦ ¦ ' ¦ " - . ' ¦ Meantime , we are not ^ greatly astonished that loose behaviour should manifest itself among- a class whose lot it is to lead an idle purposeless existence . What is the daily course of life of a young lady of fashion ? She dresses , drives , dines , flirts , and figures at the ' opera . Her thoughts are entirely occupied with-the last new the last andthe last
fashion in dress , the last new novel , new opera , . new acquaintance . Her whole mission in society is to shine as a belle , to be courted , admired , and in the end married to some man who is rich enough to minister to her selfish-wants . There is really vcrv little difference after all between Lady Axin ? and Aspasia : they both prostitute their faculties to base uses ; they both devote themselves to a life of thoughtless gaiety , and if there be anv excuse for such conduct it is due rather to Aspasia than to Lady Alice . Profligacy i * business with Aspasia ; with Lady Altci : it is pleasure . We are glad to see that the writer in the Post has made an appeal to themothers of England on this matter , and we sincerely "trust that his admonitions may not be in vain .
The Bankruptcy Bill. Hphe Bankruptcy Bil...
THE BANKRUPTCY BILL . HPHE Bankruptcy Bill-has been compelled to taike its turn ia X walking the " plank , and appearing aiinongst its brethren . ••' ' . Yantea in . qurqite riia ' tu" to be fished up again , and rescued at some future opportunity , though the Thttrsthought it was to be carried safe into harbour , in spite of the general cutting away and easting overboard , which generally takes place « t . the end of u session However generally useful the measure might be there were reasons for the sacrifice . In the first plaw . the mercantile bodvthough strongis by no means the strongest in the House
, , of Commons ; in the second , the uuniercuniile part ol the ¦ Ilous . * belotv to a class who are fond of long credits . Again , it was ai ineasiu-e giving small promise of . jobbery ; omur mare , it could not be screwed or twisted into a party matter ; and lastly , except t (» u lawver ' s eves , a bill of five hundred clauses would appear to admit of simplification ; quite a sulncient number of objections to interfere seriously with the passing of n bill , no mutter , how -rent its promise of utility . ' ' .. * i 1 We ccrtmrily shall not enter info u . discussion ol tin ; clauses , i » : . ^ .-. ''¦ . ^ . ¦ . l , 11 mi nii «\ ii ifu . iiiiiiifmr >( l ni'lioii ih rcirards strictly for various nor u its supposed aid ion as regards strictly
reasons , pon mercantile failures , but in that portion and aspect ot it to w ueh most objection has been made-its ^ verity towards debtors not m trade , or what the Tint fit might ( rail " the impossible , part ot the bill , " but which we , though doubtless in ai minority , should like to see modified , rnther than altogether given up , iind with huHi ;< eient lapse ot time to allow of our putting our houses ui "rik-r , before it came into operation . The Times wishes to aillach to ilseU the " " ¦ ciitw'V * part of our population , mid it it sees their steps . -. ^ . ^ . ^ j .-- ^^ - ^ -- _^ . __^ . _ .- _ : Jhr . ^ jp _ trveatV . rtrun not to be in the fashion , and afleet to leml tin .-.. a v «|> . There are some cases in which it is most desimble to see what
tinnation will do , and where united action js necessary ; hiuli in inuttcrs of wur and peace , where disunited courses lea < j t fieation in the eyes of foreign j . owers ; but ™*™^ Tto hunolw morality is in question there ought o be no tn f 'I 1 ^ t , ''" , » and hul > itrt . There is no point in which tho upper » «* * « J ; ^ *\ , societv have more need to wise the cry of Nivo us from oiiim l \ is ,
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), July 28, 1860, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_28071860/page/5/
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