Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-07-22

- =. - &C r. otber varieties of the disorder
~ .,unr,on oct symntoms are dull cold stare
On the countenancc; thick cultural unnatu-
raj mode of speaking: pretending go oealnes'
and shortness of sight, and an extdo'u i:
nv loss of memory. A patient Will oI:eh nes.-
tate. and rouse his recollection Tor e".nu'e -,
two. before he can recall the names o' ''ie "o''
busv streets in the city; he will hx MS eye Oh
his old friend without symptom OF recng"''iol'
and his schoolfellows and playmateS' MS sou
fathers and godmothers. his uncles' a"'i's a"u
cousins. have so entirely faded from ,e"e"-
brance. that thew are to him as It they h'u never
been. His brothers, and sisters anu ms i'",o
always live so far from him, that lie mas oIoa'o"
ally some difficulty even in recollectins ',s"
He is constantly on the lookout LOT "''at Nv ."'
.tgrand acquaintance" and wmle ne au"as
profligate lordling to his table anu 'll' ''
he is nervously alive to the dangers VI SUM-
next vulgar person at puo,ic ut,'"e'' a"u
shr;rts ,s e be feared assassination from every
ne;ghbor whose rank is doubtful. How ANXIOUS
is he 10 have every thing about him IN style; now
fearful of being caught in di-habllle; how VeXed
tbat he cannot quite cure himself OF eating with
his knife, He tries to express himself as well
as possible; and if his grammar is not perfectly
correct, vet his words are very long ne ooes
his best to Get knighted; and if the wife OF his
youth who shared his poverty and heiped 70 save
his riches, should fortunately die, what Is the
possible degree of uglness, stupidity ana Ill ten-
per, from which he would shrink, II their owner
happened to be second cousin once removed
TO Visoonnt. re
The second kind of purse pride is OF avery dit
ferent nature; its most striking attributes are saa-
yity and condescension. Persons OF TINS class,
far from npulectinp former friends and seeking
fine ACQUAINTANCE, delight in what IS termed Kings
or Queens of their company, in displaying to the
asonished ewes of their old associates their newly
acquired consequences for, like those OF the pre-
ceding description. they are generally parrenus,
men Who. have Unexpectedly obtained fortune,
or ladies who have made "a wonderful match"
They are always the most protecting PATRONS
inc creatures imaginable; and while they take care
YOU shall not overlook one evidence OF their pro-
dirious wealth, they seem determined to remind
YOU every moment that they are far too amiabe
70 give themselves airs. They apologize, in the
most exaggerated terms. for the slightest appa-
rent NEGLECT: are miserable if they did not return
your bow, or answer your note; while in the midst
of their sorrow. it is evident that they are anxious
to remind you how magnanimous II Is IN person
Of SIS, 900 a-year not to cut him who has only
half as many hundreds. For myself, | am IN
clined to prefer, as far as my own suferings are
concerned, the naughty pride of purse which cuts
YOU dead at once, and puts you out of your mise
erv, to this cat-ike PLAYING at familiarity, which
lust allows YOU to live little longer upon suffe'
rance. and reminds you every now and then, by
a gentle scratch. that your prolonged existence
i merely an indulgence Of your tormentnr, which
nav termir-rp whenever he pleases. do not
like to be invited to dinner in as compassionate
tone as If | could not command decent meal at
nv own house, nor to have deicacies pressed up
on me with an urgency which implies convic-
ton that have seldom an opportunity OF eating
them. In fact, am not ashamed OF being poor,
any more than should be of having cast in my
eve; but that society and conversation cannot be
very agreeable which is constantly reminding me
either Of my poverty or my squint. The most
vexatous Of all kind, u purse pride, however. is.
in my opinion, that species which unites the su-
perciliousness of the first description with the pa
rade of the second, which worries you incessantly
by bringing into strong contrast the advantages of
riches and the Inconvenience OF poverty, and
does not even sweeten the mournful truth by
few grains Of good humor and aHabillty. To per-
sons of this class. all nature speaks but one lan
ounge; in every object they behold, their ready
fancy can find something to suggest the remem-
brance of their wealth; and it would be utterly
impossible to alude to music without hearing how
much they pay for their opera-box-to politics.
without receiving some information about their
funded property-or to divinity. without an ini-
nation that they have purchased some valuable
advowsons.
They are above using hints or illusions. but
tell YOU in SO many words that they are rich and
You are poor: and if they do not add that they
think poverty thoroughly contemplate, it is from
no hypocri.icai wish 70 conceal fact, which
speaks in every glance of their eye and tone of
their voice Sometimes, they will ask a man
who keeps humble oabrio'et whether he drives
four .orscs: and will advise another 10 purchase
a beautiful manson or fine picture, in order to
have their ears RECALLED By the confession that he
can;.ot afford it, and to exhibit good deal of
surprise that SUCH things are not in every bOdy's
power. Poor creatures. how vexed thew would BE-
if they acre! This species of purse pride is not
confined to the vulgar born. it belongs to the
vulgar minded, who exist in e cry class of socie-
tv. 1t attacks the weakest minds and the worst
tempers, and is more usual among the female than
the male sex. When carried to its height, it Isl