Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-03-06
FOR THE SPECTATOR.
ARROGANCE.

tied countries, Is the arrogance OF up
starts. Men who in their native state
were below the level OF mediociity, no
sooner arrive here than they become
pulled up with imaginary importance.
The hali-penny lawyer rivals Demosthe-
mes IN the quantity and magnitude OF his
sounds. The unlicensed, half-educated,
hali-witted physician mounts over Gull
len and Rush in the proiundity OF theo-
retical research. The young raw mis-
donating theologian suspasses Flavel in
spirlluailzing, Scott IN explaining, or
Chalmers in philosophical reasoning.
True, there are honorable ercehtiona,
but they are rare. know one lawyer
who "wases his sweetness on the desart
air" know some physicians who are
not pedantic ignoramusts or thick
skulled murderers. know some reve-
rend gentlemen who do not consider
themselves infinitely purer than their bro
Their mortals.
But o descend still lower. A petty
shopkecper or clerk is Of all others the
most contemplate kind Of being, whe
ther as respects honesty, intelligence, or
mental responsibility in any shape. In
our larger cities it Is necessary tor mer-
chants to have an animal capable OF
measuring yards OF gallons--ot running
about with piece OF goods under his
arm tor customer, and well fitted ior
| lying commentator. THIS creature is
called clerk, and being totally lncapa-
CT ated Tor literary enjoyment, To I'LL up
the intervals of business, he, monkey
like, apes The dandies oil the town III his
| dress, IN his fashionable manners, and
his vices. He plays cards--tends the
| pit OF the lheatre--arinks Drandy--vlsits
the glrls--dnd STRIDES about The streets
on sundays in full dress. This with an
occasional ride in a gig, constitutes the
height oil his felicity, and consumes the
whole Oh his earnings. After few
years have completed the polish of his
education, old daddy and mamma are
leased with opportunities to bestow the
portion intended Tor him, or 10 become
security for sufficient amount to cna-
bic aim TO set up for himself. AT length
| a SMALL shop is sometimes rugged up IN
| a town or village, where, by strlc, econ
omy, the shop keeper may keep HIM
| self above want, provided ne is not above
his business. TINS, however, is not &C.
morally the case. His relish for dissipa-
| ton and dress increases with the means
| Afforded for gratifying his taste. HIS
| lltlle establishment consequently breaks,
and he flUes with what money and goods
he Can procure to a western state. Now
VINO but he. The free indiscrimlnatc
familiarity walch the scarcity OF society
renders necessary during It's FIRST periods,
leads the noW-Called merchant TO fancy
himself exalted TO an elevated station.
Like the soldier on the preciplce OF the
| highlands, whese head became SO turned
| by his elevation, as to command, Atten-
ton the Universe. Kingdoms to the
right about? March! And like the me-
gro who becomes impairment or AFRO
giant, when treated with condescending
familiarity by his master. Ii lii re-
mote settlement, his dress being much
superior to the mass of his buckskiD
neighbors, his vanity considers Ito relen-
ton as the necessary mark OF distinction.
His bows and compliments too are fire.
Quently displayed for the confusion and
establishment of his rough unpublished
customers. He loves to heighten their
anazement by tales Of" the city, whence
he came; what fashionable dresses he
wore; what fashionable gardens he irc-
quenled; what fashionable diseases he
caught and, then, turning round with
smile of sclf-complacency, he adjusts
his cravat while he huns What this dull
town to me- with one of the most Sig
nifcant looks imaginable. To create
the belief that he has really been accus-
toned to good society, his constant, ia
tiguing, disgusting cant, is its scarcity
here; and this is always sure TO become
his principal topic of conversation when
admitted to communion with the truly
respectable. BY and by he begins to
feel the morbid effects of imaginary dig
nifty. If distinguished characters pass
ing through that portion Of the country,
stop at his house for the sake OF accom-
mediation merely, he instantly considers
it tribute to his merit--boasts oil it to
every person whom he happens to see,
and insults every person who will not
bow to his consequent importance.
He now becomes literary character.
His disputations on theology are very
hrofouud, for the nature of the Trinity
at his magical touch is rendered as clear
-as his intellects. In ia1v he can cite
the cases which he has seen or been en-
gagged in, Gin the city, as conclusive
evidence against all the authority and all