We do not wish to attach too much importance to this movement, but rather to suggest to a continent yearning for culture in letters and in speech whether it may not be carried too far.  The reader will remember that there came a time in Athens when culture could mock at itself, and the rest of the country may be warned in time of a possible departure from good form in devotion to language and literature by the present attitude of modern Athens.  Probably there is no esoteric depth in literature or religion, no refinement in intellectual luxury, that this favored city has not sounded.  It is certainly significant, therefore, when the priestesses and devotees of mental superiority there turn upon it and rend it, when they are heartily tired of the whole literary business.  There is always this danger when anything is passionately pursued as a fashion, that it will one day cease to be the fashion.  Plato and Buddha and even Emerson become in time like a last season’s fashion plate.  Even a “friend of the spirit” will have to go.  Culture is certain to mock itself in time.

The clubs for the improvement of the mind—­the female mind—­and of speech, which no doubt had their origin in modern Athens, should know, then, that it is the highest mark of female culture now in that beautiful town to despise culture, to affect the gayest and most joyous ignorance —­ignorance of books, of all forms of so-called intellectual development, and all literary men, women, and productions whatsoever!  This genuine movement of freedom may be a real emancipation.  If it should reach the metropolis, what a relief it might bring to thousands who are, under a high sense of duty, struggling to advance the intellectual life.  There is this to be said, however, that it is only the very brightest people, those who have no need of culture, who have in fact passed beyond all culture, who can take this position in regard to it, and actually revel in the delights of ignorance.  One must pass into a calm place when he is beyond the desire to know anything or to do anything.

It is a chilling thought, unless one can rise to the highest philosophy of life, that even the broad ‘a’, when it is attained, may not be a permanence.  Let it be common, and what distinction will there be in it?  When devotion to study, to the reading of books, to conversation on improving topics, becomes a universal fashion, is it not evident that one can only keep a leadership in fashion by throwing the whole thing overboard, and going forward into the natural gayety of life, which cares for none of these things?  We suppose the Constitution of the United States will stand if the day comes—­nay, now is—­when the women of Chicago call the women of Boston frivolous, and the women of Boston know their immense superiority and advancement in being so, but it would be a blank surprise to the country generally to know that it was on the wrong track.  The fact is that culture in this country is full of surprises, and so doubles and feints and comes back upon itself that the most diligent recorder can scarcely note its changes.  The Drawer can only warn; it cannot advise.