Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-03-31
])opular Gales.
From the Philadelphia Saturday Evening Post.
THE SCARLET SHAWL,
OR, THE TWO SCHOOLMATES



Edwin Barry andjsrtb Manning, were
school fellows at Chester Academy. -
The father Of Edwin was lawyer Of
good standing and some property; the
father of Seth was house carpenter
Youth cannot too soon learn, that
whatever distinction occupation, money
or birth may assume, no such thing as
respeciabiGty as it is termed, can exist
aside from an honest and useful life -
that no branch Of industry is degrading
that no employment that contributes
to the general good and comfort OF So
ciety is dsrcpuiable. Youth should
reflect that the Fathers Of the Rcvolu-
ton pcrillcd their lives and honors to
break the chains of seryitude that bound
our free land to British master, sew
cred the chains and gave liberty to all
coming generations of their sons. llay-
ing thrown Off the yoke of political SER
vitude, let US no longer continue to
wear the chains Of moral bondage TO
her customs and her usagcs. Americans
should have no other arstocracy than
that Of merit In chcri4hing any other,
through fooIishly and wickedly adopting
ideas of "rcspectabIily," in eIevating
one Occupation at the expense ofanothcr
and measuring the merit OF men by
their pursuits and not by their useful
ness, they are only reiorging for them
selves the chains their patriot fathers
shivered in pieces. Like the lsraeltes,
they cry for the gods of Egypt they
once worshippcd, and making golden
calf out of the offerings of pride, vanity
and ambition, fall down and adore it,
\ The false system which excludes
tradcsmen from good society" IS The
"golden calf" of Americans, and un-
less they break it up themselves, they
will one day be forced TO drink Of the
bitter waters with which it is mingled.
Like most youths whose fathers be-
long to one of the professions, Edward
Barry was early taught lhat he was
"respectabIc" by virtue Of his fathers
pursuits. His mother inculcated this
idea with his daily meals, and his IA
thcr enforced it by his bearing towards
mechanics. Edwin as he grew up,
became naughty, aristocratlc, and prl-
dcd himself much upon his "rcspccta-
bility." 1t was his delight to make
boys less fortunate feel his position
above them, and boast of the great
men he saw at his fathers house. One
day he was talking with Seth Manning,
for he condcsccndcd to speak to me-
chanics sons when he could make them
listeners to his own vain and silly boasts.
Seth, moreover, lived in the same street 4,
and they often fell in together on the
way TO school, when Edwin, who loved
idlencss, was willing to avail himself
of Scth's moro studious habits TO get
help in his lessons. They were each
about sixteen years of age. Edwin,
seeing Seth approaching from his hum
bic dwelling, waited for him to come
up.
~ say" observed he with an eIeva-
ted look, as Seth came near with his
school books and an ancient looking
slate under his nrm, "who doyou think
is going to be at our house to-day, to
dinner -
81 don't know, Edwin" answered
Seth, as he quietly walked on.
. "Wcll, its Judge Barnes answered
Edwin, as if he had given uttcrancc to
piece Of overN helmlng Intelligence.
Seth dld mol, however, lcCOINc " us
anything very remarkable, and Edwin
looked diSplcascd.
"lou dou't think anything ola Judge =
beng at our house, hey ? Well, !
guess it would be a long day before n
Judge or any respectable man would so
into your house, answered Barry.
II know what yoU call respectable
and what is respectable, said Seth, in
a manly tone. Judge Barnes, have
heard, is 7cry cruel man, and drinks. y
"But lie is respectable, and belongs
to the first society. Father says a man
mus MT be Judged by hs private lIIe,
but by his respectable standing. I'm
SIRE I'd rather be a wicked Judge than a
clever uadcsman.
I'm sorry you think SO, Edwin, as
such sentiments will bring you much
unhappincss know yoa think my
father ls not respectable aud that ! aH