who's a barbarian?

[from El Argos de Buenos Aires, February 9, 1822]

[during Carnaval]

the most distinguished people stoop to behavior that must be called barbarous . . . showing every sign of having lost their reason; and sometimes we see them associating with the grossest sort of plebians. . . .  We therefore hope that the refined people in Buenos Aires will show by their example how such diversions, which must be considered holdovers of barbarism, can be replaced by other kinds of pleasure marked by the good taste, order and sensitivity which must characterize a people now embarked on the great work of civilization

[after Carnaval]

despite all we say, our hopes have been shattered, and we must painfully conclude that there are yet among us many profane people unable to enter the temple of good taste