The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-11-23
THE AMERICAN CHARACTER.

THE AMERICAN CHARACTER
The American Character is depicted with much more
fidelity than j. common with foreign writers, by Nj.
CheyaIier's Letters North America two transa-
tons Of which have just been published IN this country,
from the third Paris edition
.The manners and customs altogether those Of a
working, busy society. At the age OF fifteen years,
man is engaged in business; at twenty one he Is es-
tsblshedhe has his farm his workshop, bis counting
room, his oiice--in q word. his employment what
ever il may be. He also takes wife, and at TWEEN
tytwo is the father OF family and consequently has
powerful stimulus 70 excite him 10 industry. man
who has no profession, and which is nearly the same
thing who is not married, enjoys little consideration;
he, who is active and useful member OF society who
contributes his share augment the national wealth
and increase the numbers Of the population, he only Is
looked upon with respect and favor. The Amercan IS
educated with the idea that he will have some particu-
lar occupation that he is to be farmer, artisan manu-
iacinrer merchant, speculaor, lawyer physician, or
minister perhaps all in succession and that If he Is ac
tive and intelligent he will make his fortune. lie has
nosconcepoo Of living without profession, even when
his family rich, for he nobody about him not
gagged in business. The Of leisure is variety OF
the human species OF which the Yankee does not sus-
pect the existence and he knows that il rich day his
father may be ruined to morrow. Besides, the father
himself Is engaged in business, according TO custom,
and does not think Of dspossessng himself OF bis for
tune il the son wishes to have at present, let him
make il himself!
"The habits of life those OF an exclusive work.
ing people. From the moment he gets up the Ameri-
is at his work. and he is engaged in il till the hour
Of sleep. Pleasure is permitted to interrupt his
business public affairs only have the right to occupy
few moments. Even mesltme is not for him period
Of relaxation, in which his weared mind seeks repose
in the bosom Of his friends is only dssgreeabe in
ltenuption Of business, an interruption TO which he
yields because il cannot be avoided, but which he
abridges much possible In the evening, il no
political meeting requires his atendance-if he does
not 60 to discuss some question OF public interest, or
to religious meeting, he sits at home thoughtful and
absorbed in his meditatons, whether the transac-
tons Of the day or the projects Of tomorrow He
trains from business Sunday because his religion
commands it but it also requires him to abstain from
all amusement and recreation, music, cards, dice,
billiards under penalty Of sacrlege. On Sunday.
American would not venture to receive his friends; his
servants would not consent to IT, and he hardly
cure their service for himself at their hour that
day. A few days since, the Mayor Of New York was
accused by Of the newspapers OF having entertained
on Sunday some English noblemen, who came out in
their own yacht to give the American democracy
strange idea Of British taste The Mayor FASTENED to
declare publicly that he too well acquainted with
the duties Of Christian entertain his friends The
Sabbath Nothing is, therefore, melancholy than
the seventh day IN this country after such Sunday,
the labor Of Monday is delightful pasme
Approach an English merchant in his counting
room in the morning, and you will find him stiff and
dry, answering you only by monosyllsbles him
at the hour of closing the mails, he will be no pains
10 concea! his impotence he will dismiss you without
always taking care to do II politely. The same man,
in his drawing-room in the evening at his country
house in sumner, will be full of courtesy and aten
ton towards you. The Englishman divides his time,
and does but one thing at in the evening he plays
the man OF leisure, reposng and enjoying life he is
gentleman having before his eyes, in the English ars
tocracy perfect model to form his and grace
The modern Frenchmsn IS a confused mixture OF the
and he ulIshm pf Tho
morning. In the morning, little Of the ormer-in the
evening, little Of the latter The old French mode
was the former, rather, to do each Justice,
the original after which the English aristocracy has
formed itself The American Of the North and North
west, whose character now gives the in the United
States, Is permanently man Of busness-he is always
the Englishman of the morning You find many of the
Englishnen Of the evening on the plantations of the
South, and some are beginning to be met with in the
great cities Of the North .....
"Tall, slender, and light Of figure the American
seems built expressly for labor; he has equal for
despatch Of business, No body conform easily
to situations and circumstances he is always rea
dy to adopt processes and implements, change
his occupation. He is mechanic by nature among
us there is not school boy who has made rduds
nile ballad, or republican or monarchica constu-
ton; in Massachusetts, and Connecticut there is not
laborer who has not invented machine or tool There
is not man Of much consideration who has not his
scheme for railroad, project for a village or town.
drowned lands Of Red river the cotton lands Of va
ZOO or in the cornieds Of Illinois. Emnenty pio-
neer. the American who is not less European
isedthe pure Yankee, in a word, is not only work
ingman, but he is migratory He has root in
the soil he has feeling Of reverence and love for
the natal spot and the parental roof; he is always dis
posed to emigrate, always ready to start in the first
steamer that comes along, from the place where he
had but just landed. He is devoured with pas
sion for locomotion-he cannot stay in place he
must go and come, he stretch his limbs and keep
his muscles in play. When his feet not in notion
his hngers mus, be in action; he must be whiting
piece Of wood cutting the back Of his chair, notchng
the edge of the table, his jaws must be at work grind
ing tobacco. Whether it be that a continual compete
ton has given him the habit, that he has exsgge
rated estimate the value Of time, that the unsettled
state of every thing around him keeps his sys
TEN in state Of perpetual agitation, that he has
come thus from the hands of Nature, he always has
something to be DONE he is always in terrible hurry
He is fit for all sorts Of work, except those which
quire slow and minute processes. The idea Of these
fills him with horror"