Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-06-24


And when the full year had fitted away
All pale on her bier the young maid lay
And the glow-wom came
With its silvery fame,
And sparkled and shone,
Through the night of St. John, Iclay
And they closed the cold grave DER the maids cold
THE PORTLAND YANKEE. The eecentrick edi-
tor of this newspaper has been long known to the
American publck. He has gained notoriety by
his literary peculiarities which, however far remoy
ed may be from respect for his talents or regard to
his opinion is nevertheless of such character to
excite curiosity to observe in what manner he re-
marks upon passing events, and to read his weekly
animadversions of those whose course is in any de-
gree different from his own, or of those who oppose
him in his whimsical career. He is man of talent
but we doubt very much whether it has so much in
fuence upon the community as his self-complacency
leads him to suppose.
We have often been inclined to notice some of his
productions in the Yankee, but upon second
thought have passed them by, unwilling to occupy
space in our columns which might be more usefully
appropropriated upon articles, however, under
the head. of" LIVE YANKEES" which have appeared
in that paper, we cannot but ntrude upon our read
ers a few remarks.
MIR. Neal, at the commencement of his publication,
said in effect 1--WE do not recoect his wordsl that he
would raise the credit of the term Yankee so that it
should no longer be reproach to the one who bore
it. We do not believe that it ever needed such as
sistance or would profit by it if it did. In what
manner he has kept his promise may be ascertained
by perusal of the Yankee. To us it appears that,
SO far from fulfilling his PROMISE he has made it his
study to rdicule and cast all possible opprobrium
upon his native land. This we protest against, as
unworthy any real lover of his country. National
peculiarties are seldom objects of reproach-and
even the faults of our countrymen we are bound to
regard in charity Not that we to blind our eyes
to these pecuarties and faults nor to shrink from
such an exposition of them as calculated to elevate
our national character; but to exaggerate Them and
above all to misrepresent them-as we maintain that
Mr.. Neal does-evinces character and disposition
which is neither entitled to respect nor support In
proof of our remark we select the following, which
are fair specimens Of the dish which he regularly
serves up for his readers, under the contemptuous
head of " Lire Yankees
Here! said /, moment ago to a natice, who
had been at work for me very faithfully for part of
two days--and who wore very bad looking hat /;
here, my good fellow, do you want hat Offering
him one that l was tired Of as l spoke.
But he made no reply.
repeated the question; and at last looking at me
with one eye askew, and with one foot swinging
over the other, he began to examine the hat inside
and out, feeling of the fur and trying it on, with
quicker of the mouth, altogether unaccountable to
me, till happened to recollect that was LAWYER
and that had not paid him for his two days work
lie had no idea of being trapped in that ere way
Will you have it ? said l.
He took the hat ; but he has never committed
himself by speech nor has he ever thanked me for
not go near it again till he has made sure of his pay
There's no catching true yankee.
+. 5. Just as | supposed. After getting the
money for his work, he desired to know what was
going to charge for the hat had given him."
Now every one who is acquainted with the char
acter of the people of New-England, knows that
true Yankee to receive that which bestowed
as charity which it is in his power to pay for by his
labour. He will accept the gift of hberality with
gratitude, but it will not be tinctured with cringng
servility. Again, Mr.. Neal says =
"Not long ago, was accosted by man in the
street. who had known better days. but who by
long course of dleness and debauchery had been
brought to deplorable condition. bowed to him
nevertheless, and would have passed on but he
threw himselfi in my way and leaning his back AGAINST
newly white washed wall and crossing one leg over
the other, he prepared for half-hours chat with
tone Of voice and look which there is no describ-
ing but by which the long talker in the sunshine or
the haunter of taverns where checker boards roaring
fires, and hot flip are to be met WITH is always to be
distinguished. His mouth, eyes, every motion of
his hands or feet will betray him and the very first
word he lets fall woud'prepare stranger for long
sleepy good-tor-nothing story. Let fall joke, and
he is after you with why-that reminds me;' or
why, that's as bad as old mister Jeremy so-and-so
you know old Mr. Jeremy so-and-so THAT air un-
Gle O. his'n you know, &c. &c.~'
Having planted himself directly athwart nv
path what think you was the substance of the talk
that followed 1t was only request-a favour,
such as your town-idler is always willing to grant,
and therefore does not scruple to ask It was in
substance nothing nor less than that as he had
nothing to do just then las if such people ever had
any thing to do) he would call on me-some after
noon-he did not care much when and go with me
he should not care much where and should tell
him every thing that had happened to me, every
thing had seen or heard, and all nv scrapes and
quarreis, since he had seen last. That was all
We do not believe the character here delineated
is characteristick of Yankee; we are conscious
such persons may be found amongst u.s. but their &C.
is not more frequent than in other parts of
the world.
IL is true the people OF New-England have many
peculiar and characteristics expressions, but they
are not singular in this respect. 1t is not always
however those who make use of the most refined
modes of speech who the most worthy of respect
or who the most frequently receive it. Sound judg-
ment, and the generous and noble qualities of the
heart, are more often to be found among those who
are strangers to a refined education than among
those whsee minds have been cultivated in col
lege.