The Australian Star - Saturday, April 20, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
"THE CHAMELEON."
Jerome's Condemnation.
Daring of Diseased Minds.
A Journal Too Bad—-For Ordinary
Condemnation—-Literary Garbage.
In his paper, TODAY, Mr. Jerome K. Jerome was prompt to condemn "The Chameleon" mentioned by the counsel for the defence in the recent sensational prosecution for alleged criminal libel. This paper was largely under Wilde's influence, and his writings figured largely in its columns. So far back as December last Mr. Jerome wrote:—
In his paper, "To-Day," Mr Jerome K. Jerome was prompt to condemn "The Chameleon" mentioned by the counsel for the defence in the recent sensation prosecution for alleged criminal libel. This paper was largely under Wilde's influence, and his writings figured largely in its columns. So far back as December last Mr Jerome wrote:-
In his paper, "To-Day," Mr Jerome K. Jerome was prompt to condemn "The Chameleon" mentioned by the counsel for the defence in the recent sensation prosecution for alleged criminal libel. The paper was largely under Wilde's influence, and his writings figured largely in its columns. So far back as December last Mr Jerome wrote: -
I do not think I shall be mistaken for a prude on the prowl, but I am anxious for further information concerning a publication that has just come under my notice, called "The Chameleon." It is issued from Oxford, and published by a West End firm. As far as I can judge, it can be purchased by anyone who likes to pay the subscription. If I am wrong-—if it is a private publication, intended only to circulate among a limited and known clientele-—there is an end of the matter. A hundred gentlemen or so have as much right to circulate indecency among themselves by means of the printing press as they have to tell each other dirty stories in the club smoking-room. Each to his taste. But if "The Chameleon" is issued broadcast, and any immature youth or foolish New Young Woman, can obtain it, then it is certainly a case for the police.
I do not think I shall be mistaken for a prude on the prowl, but I am anxious for further information concerning a publication that has just come under my notice, called "The Chameleon." It is issued from Oxford, and published by a West End firm. As far as I can judge, it can be purchased by anyone who likes to pay the subscription. If I am wrong — if it is a private publication, intended only to circulate among a limited and known clientele — there is an end of the matter. A hundred gentlemen or so have as much right to circulate indecency among themselves by means of the printing press, as they have to tell each other dirty stories in the club smoking-room. Each to his taste. But if "The Chameleon" is issued broadcast, and any immature youth or foolish New Young Woman, can obtain it, then it is certainly a case for the police. The publication appears to be nothing more nor less than an advocacy for indulgence in the cravings of an unnatural disease.
I do not think I shall be mistaken for a prude on the prowl, but I am anxious for further information concerning a publication that has just come under my notice, called "The Chameleon." It is issued from Oxford, and published by a West End firm. As far as I can judge, it can be purchased by anyone who likes to pay the subscription. If I am wrong — if it is a private publication, intended only to circulate among a limited and known clientele — there is an end of the matter. A hundred gentlemen or so have as much right to circulate indecency among themselves by means of the printing press, as they have to tell each other dirty stories in the club smoking-room. Each to his taste. But if "The Chameleon" is issued broadcast, and any immature youth or foolish New Young Woman, can obtain it, then it is certainly a case for the police. The publication appears to be nothing more nor less than an advocacy for indulgence in the cravings of an unnatural disease.
About vice I never care to argue; it is a much-abused word, and means different things to different people. Indulgence or control of the passions, placed within us by the Creator, is a matter for each man's individual conscience, but the passions stirred, and intended to be stirred up by the literature of this precious periodical are not the passions of man, woman or beast. The practice of them is an insult to the race. Humanity has a right to say to the creature allowing himself to become a slave to them, "You are not of our flesh and blood. You do not belong to our world. If you do not cleanse yourself you shall not live among us. You shall not contaminate our souls with your foul disease. You have less right to come near us than the leper. Take yourself to your self and your kind, and, as you value your carcass, do not poison the minds of our young with your vile thoughts."
About vice I never care to argue: it is a much-abused word, and means different things to different people. Indulgence or control of the passions, placed within us by the Creator, is a matter for each man's individual conscience; but the passions stirred, and intended to be stirred up by the literature of this precious periodical are not the passions of man, woman, or beast. The practice of them is an insult to the race. Humanity has a right to say to the creature allowing himself to become a slave to them, "You are not of our flesh and blood. You do not belong to our world. If you do not cleanse yourself, you shall not live among us. You shall not contaminate our souls with your foul disease. You have less right to come near us than has the leper. Take yourself to yourself and your kind, and, as you value your carcass, do not poison the minds of our young with your vile thoughts."
About vice I never care to argue; it is a much-abused word, and means different things to different people. Indulgence or control of the passions, placed within us by the Creator, is a matter for each man's individual conscience; but the passions stirred, and intended to be stirred up by the literature of this precious periodical - are not the passions of man, woman, or beast. The practice of them is an insult to the race. Humanity has a right to say to the creature allowing himself to become a slave to them, "You are not of our flesh and blood. You do not belong to our world. If you do not cleanse yourself, you shall not live among us. You shall not contaminate our souls with your foul disease. You have less right to come near us than has the leper. Take yourself to yourself and your kind, and, as you value your carcase, do not poison the minds of our young with your vile thoughts."
This magazine, which is to be issued three times a year, is an outruge on literature. How any body of men, having the fear of God before their eyes, could dare to issue it passes my comprehension. It can serve no purpose but that of evil. It can please no man or woman with a single grain of self-respect left in their souls. Let us have liberty; but this is unbridled license. Let all things grow in literature which spring from the seeds of human nature. This is garbage and offal.
In TO-DAY of January 5 this year, Mr. Jerome returns to the subject thus:-
In "To-day" of January 5, this year, Mr Jerome returns to the subject thus:—
In "To-day" of January 6, this year, Mr Jerome returns to the subject thus: -
I am informed that "The Chameleon" has been withdrawn from publication, and that no further issue will appear, or that at all events it will be circulated in strict privacy, and will not be allowed to fall into the hands of any people outside the precious coterie that is likely to enjoy its peculiar class of literature. The attention I called to the matter is therefore justified by results. According to first intentions it was to be sold, for by a no means extravagant price, to any young Oxford undergraduate or others who might care to purchase it. To talk, as some correspondents have done, about the inadvisability of drawing attention to the matter at all is extremely foolish. It is this walking about with our eyes shut, and pretending not to see evil which we know exists all around us, that makes us the nation of hypocrites that we are, and gives the devil an opportunity for doing his work unmolested. It is necessary sometimes to tell the unthinking in plain language, not what the prudes think on those matters, but what is the opinion concerning them of those whom John Burns would call tolerably healthy decent animals, one of which I also claim to be.
I am informed that "The Chameleon" has been withdrawn from publication, and that no further issue will appear, or that at all events it will be circulated in a strict privacy, and will not be allowed to fall into the hands of any people outside the precious coterie that is likely to enjoy its peculiar class of literature. The attention I called to the matter is therefore justified by results. According to first intentions it was to be sold, for by a no means extravagant price, to any young Oxford undergraduate or others who might care to purchase it. To talk, as some correspondents have done, about the inadvisability of drawing attention to the matter at all, is extremely foolish. It is this walking about with our eyes shut, and pretending not to see evil, which we know exists all around us, that makes us the nation of hypocrites that we are, and gives the Devil an opportunity for doing his work unmolested. It is necessary sometimes to tell the unthinking in plain language, not what the prudes think on those matters, but what is the opinion concerning them of those, whom John Burns would call, tolerably healthy decent animals, one of which I also claim to be.
I am informed that "The Chameleon" has been withdrawn from publication, and that no further issue will appear, or that at all events it will be circulated in strict privacy, and will not be allowed to fall into the hands of any people outside the precious coterie that is likely to enjoy its peculiar class of literature. The attention I called to the matter is therefore justified by results. According to first intentions it was to be sold, for by a no means extravagant price, to any young Oxford undergraduate or others who might care to purchase it. To talk, as some correspondents have done, about the inadvisability of drawing attention to the matter at all, is extremely foolish. It is this walking about with our eyes shut, and pretending not to see evil, which we know exists all around us, that makes us the nation of hypocrites that we are, and gives the Devil an opportunity for doing his work unmolested. lt is necessary sometimes to tell the unthinking in plain language, not what the prudes think on these matters, but what is the opinion concerning them of those, whom John Burns would call, tolerably healthy decent animals, one of which I also claim to be.
Many a young man into whose hands this publication may have fallen would have gone upon his way with the impression merely that he was reading broad-minded literature, free from the narrowing trammels of conventional prudery. It is the duty of those who know to see that poison is labelled poison, so that those alone may touch it who are determined on moral suicide. Silence is only useful where a thing of this sort is likely to die if unnoticed. Here was a filthy, soul-destroying publication being offered for sale throughout England, thrust under the nose of every young man studying at Oxford and Cambridge, advertised as an organ of the intellectual and the advanced, and bearing world-wide names in its contents list. The only way to stop it was to make these people ashamed of their connection with such a thing.
Many a young man into whose hands this publication may have fallen would have gone upon his way with the impression merely that he was reading broad-minded literature, free from the narrowing trammels of conventional prudery. It is the duty of those who know to see that poison is labelled poison, so that those alone may touch it who are determined on moral suicide. Silence is only useful where a thing of this sort is likely to die if unnoticed. Here was a filthy, soul-destroying publication being offered for sale throughout England, thrust under the nose of every young man studying at Oxford and Cambridge, advertised as an organ of the intellectual and the advanced, and bearing world-wide names in its list. The only way to stop it was to make these people ashamed of their connection with a such a thing.
Many a young man into whose hands this publication may have fallen would have gone upon his way with the impression merely that he was reading broad-minded literature, free from the narrowing trammels of conventional prudery. It is the duty of those who know to see that poison is labelled poison so that those alone may touch it who are determined on moral suicide. Silence is only useful where a thing of this sort is likely to die if unnoticed. Here was a filthy, soul-destroying publication being offered for sale throughout England, thrust under the nose of every young man studying at Oxford and Cambridge, advertised as an organ of the intellectual and the advanced, and bearing world-wide names in its contents list. The only way to stop it was to make these people ashamed of their [?] with a such a thing.