Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-09-26
pUKcTUALITy.

AL EUglisn traveller, VINO had JuSt
| published All account OF Journey in
Holland, makes the follow ing remark -
I" The Dutch are as punctual as they are
industrious aud parsimonions. The dir
geDces aud treckschnyts start at The time
appointed, during The striking Of the
clock. If you are told that The hour is
seven, you may be sure to be away be-
lore the fourth Of the seven strokes has
lsonbdcd. The precision at which The
hour OF arrival is fixed, is such, that you
may depend upon il Within few minutes /;
and the same reliance may be placed on
the period Of finishing the journey, wheth-
er it be made by water or by land " This
is most valuable trait oif character in
that people, and is well worthy ofuuiver-
sal imitation. There are considerable
proportion Of mankind who are Always
lbehind-hand. Let them make ever so
many or SO important engagements. as ii
respects punctuaiisy 10 time, they iueyita-
IDLY fail. Many such have fallen within
our observation and the same want of
|exactness ID poin, Of time attends all their
concerns. If they 90 TO church upon The
sabbath, they viii not get there until after
the services have commenced aud this
happens 10 good, sober, pions christians,
as we'll as others sand it happens all their
lives. Such is the inveteracy of this
habit Of negligence, that people, who
would be shocked at the irreverence Of
any person who should SO far forget him
self as to disturb the devotions of reli-
gioas congregation, by speaking, or in any
other thoughtless manner, seem to have
no idea that their entrance into the church
in the midst Of The most solemn exercises,
has any thing init improper or censurable.
The same thing occurs in The attend.
ance Of such persons upon public business,
where they are associated with others.
At meetings. appointed for the transac-
ton Of such business, IL any considerable
number are necessary to its accomplish.
|ment, there is often, and indeed usually,
as much time spent in waiting for quo
rum, as is consumed in attending to the
object of the meeting. This is great
hardship upon those who make itsa point
of being strictly punctual, for it costs them
a double quantity OF time. And these be-.
hindhand persons, if they would only
suffer themselves TO reflect, could not fail
Ito remember, that punctualiiy would Cost
themselves no more time than the want Of
|it. Judging from considerable experience
and observation, we are very well con-
WINGED, that about as much tiDe is spent
in waiting for dilatory people, as is neces-
sary for transacting the business imme-
diately in view when appointments for the
purpose are made.
EsprielIa, if we do not mistake the wri
ter. mentions his having taken passage 10
stage coach at York, 10 England, which
was to start at a certain hour. A few
minutes before the time, every thing was
prepared, the passengers took their seats,
the coschman mounted his box, took the
reins and his whip, but did not move
Upon being inquired of, why he did not
start, as every thing was ready, he replied
he mas mating for the .Minster-which
t'meaDt the cathedral church of that name,
10 minute or two the secret was explain
ed--the Minister clock began to strike.
and before it had flushed, the carriage
was on its way.-We have no doubt that
this habit in the driver made every body
who intended TO make use of his vehicle
strictly punc,ual. II however, instead Of
starting at the moment, he had practised
waiting five minutes, occasionally, there
would have beeu much delay and vexa-
ton, by the dilatoriousness ofthese behind
hand persons OF whom we are speaking.
We scarcely ever recollect to have been
on the wharf when m-boat was cast
ing off, without finding some person left
or running with breathless speed 10 gel
aboard, being few minutes too late.
Such persons, when they find themselves
safe on the deck, will almost always look
at their watches, aud find it a fem minutes
later than they imagined, or their watches
a little too slow. or something else is made
chargeable with the eviI--when the honest
truth is. they are naturally or habituails
behind hand.
/ 1t is not easy to imagine, unless oul
attention has been turned particularly Ia
the subject, how much time is lost, and
how much mans affairs suffer, from this
dilatory disposition. II will more or less
run through aud affect all his concerns
A dilatory man is perpetualIy 10 hurry
His business always drives him-and bu.
siness contracted in hurry, is rarely
well done. We once knew respectable
mechanic, whose habit Of punctuality was
such, that 10 carrying on his trade quite
Extensively for more than forty years, he
never disappointed single customer by
not having his work done at the time ap,
poiu,ed-he never failed of sitting down a,
his meals within Eve minutes Of the time