A Good Man Gone Wrong

H.L. Mencken used to be one of my favorite writers. It’s not that I don’t like him anymore; it’s just been several years since I’ve read any of his writings. But I’ve been thinking of one of writings for American Mercury lately that always made me think about who I was in relation to the subject, Henry Judd Gray.

“A Good Man Gone Wrong” appeared in American Mercury in February in 1929. Gray was convicted, along with his mistress, of the murder of her husband in 1927 and both were executed in Sing Sing in January of 1928.

Mencken described Gray:

From end to end of it he protests pathetically that he was, at heart, a good man. I believe him. The fact, indeed, is spread over his singularly naïve and touching record. He emerges form it as the perfect model of the Y.M.C.A. alumnus, the conscientious husband and father, the Christian business man, the virtuous and God-fearing Americano. It was his very virtue, festering within him that brought him to his appalling doom.

The gist of the story is that Mencken feels the guy was too pure to be mess around with sin and temptation. Essentially he couldn’t handle it. He allowed himself the one failing of adultery, and rather than moving out on he cannot handle his flaws. One misstep and he declares himself a hopeless sinner that has fallen down the slippery slope. Once he declared himself to be an unsalvageable murder was not only easy but expected. The lesson, according to Mencken: leave sin to the sinners, they're the only ones smart enough to play with it and not be overwhelmed by it.

Part of what I always liked about the story was Mencken’s deconstruction of the goody-two shoes Protestant world. He’s imminently suspicious of their high mindedness. If he were alive today I would love to read his take on Bush administration and the Christian Right. Not that he would take the gloves off for the liberals, either.

So, could I be a “good man gone wrong”? I’m not sure. I’ve always thought I’ve handled vices pretty well. I drink in moderation; I smoke when I want too, and go weeks without a cigarette. But maybe I just don’t want those things. What will happen if I play with fire and give in to the temptation that I really want? Can I look over the edge into the chasm and not hurl myself over?

While I'm not really the Y.M.C.A. type my ego sometimes gets the better of me and I believe myself to be of a higher moral and ethical fiber than others.

Yes, that’s what I’m talking about.