0.0 – Christian Science Publication Contents

24	             COMPARISON TO ENGLISH BARMAIDS 

  	    Since my residence in Concord, N. H., I have read
  	the daily paper, and had become an admirer of Edgar
27	L. Wakeman's terse, graphic, and poetic style in his
  	"Wanderings," richly flavored with the true ideas of
  	humanity and equality. In an issue of January 17, how-
 
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 page 295

 1	ever, were certain references to American women which
  	deserve and elicit brief comment. 
 3	    Mr. Wakeman writes from London, that a noted Eng-
  	lish leader, whom he quotes without naming, avers that
  	the "cursed barmaid system" in England is evolved by
 6	the same power which in America leads women "along
  	a gamut of isms and ists, from female suffrage, past a
  	score of reforms, to Christian Science." This anony-
 9	mous talker further declares, that the central cause of
  	this "same original evil" is "a female passion for some
  	manner of notoriety." 
12	    Is Mr. Wakeman awake, and caught napping? While
  	praising the Scotchman's national pride and affection,
  	has our American correspondent lost these sentiments
15	from his own breast? Has he forgotten how to honor
  	his native land and defend the dignity of her daughters
  	with his ready pen and pathos? 
18	    The flaunting and floundering statements of the great
  	unknown for whose ability and popularity Mr. Wakeman
  	strongly vouches, should not only be queried, but flatly
21	contradicted, as... both untrue and uncivil. English senti-
  	ment is not wholly represented by one man. Nor is the
  	world ignorant of the fact that high and pure ethical
24	tones do resound from Albion's shores. The most ad-
  	vanced ideas are inscribed on tablets of such an organi-
  	zation as the Victoria Institute, or Philosophical Society
27	of Great Britain, an institution which names itself after
  	her who is unquestionably the best queen on earth; who
  	for a half century has with such dignity, clemency, and
30	virtue worn the English crown and borne the English
  	sceptre. 
  	    Now, I am a Christian Scientist, — the Founder of
 
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  1	this system of religion, — widely known; and, by special
  	invitation, have allowed myself to be elected an associate
 3	life-member of the Victoria Institute, which numbers
  	among its constituents and managers — not barmaids,
  	but bishops — profound philosophers, brilliant scholars. 
 6	    Was it ignorance of American society and history,
  	together with unfamiliarity with the work and career
  	of American women, which led the unknown author
 9	cited by Mr. Wakeman to overflow in shallow sarcasm,
  	and place the barmaids of English alehouses and rail-
  	ways in the same category with noble women who min-
12	ister in the sick-room, give their time and strength to
  	binding up the wounds of the broken-hearted, and live
  	on the plan of heaven? 
15	    This writer classes Christian Science with theosophy
  	and spiritualism; whereas, they are by no means iden-
  	tical — nor even similar. Christian Science, antagonis-
18	tic to intemperance, as to all immorality, is by no means
  	associated therewith. Do manly Britons patronize tap-
  	rooms and lazar-houses, and thus note or foster a fem-
21	inine ambition which, in this unknown gentleman's
  	language, "poises and poses, higgles and wriggles" it-
  	self into publicity? Why fall into such patronage, unless
24	from their affinity for the worst forms of vice? 
  	    And the barmaids! Do they enter this line of occu-
  	pation from a desire for notoriety and a wish to promote
27	female suffrage? or are they incited thereto by their
  	own poverty and the bad appetites of men? What man-
  	ner of man is this unknown individual who utters bar-
30	maid and Christian Scientist in the same breath? If he
  	but knew whereof he speaks, his shame would not lose
  	its blush! 
 
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  1	    Taking into account the short time that has elapsed
  	since the discovery of Christian Science, one readily sees
 3	that this Science has distanced all other religious and
  	pathological systems for physical and moral reforma-
  	tion. In the direction of temperance it has achieved far
 6	more than has been accomplished by legally coercive
  	measures, — and because this Science bases its work on
  	ethical conditions and mentally destroys the appetite for
 9	alcoholic drinks. 
  	    Smart journalism is allowable, nay, it is commend-
  	able; but the public cannot swallow reports of American
12	affairs from a surly censor ventilating his lofty scorn of
  	the sects, or societies, of a nation that perhaps he has
  	never visited. 
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