Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1843-09-21
ARIsIocRAcY.

conversation Of wishing a defined arts.
tocracy, and other intangible distinction
between the different classes OF society
In the picture they draw however, they
themselves figure as the aristocrats-
and we must take the liberty, for the
moment, of putting them below The salt,
and setting forth few Of their annoyan-
ces. Take the best received American
in Loncon-yourseif for example, Mr.
Reader! You have no fixed rank, ana
therefore have nothing to keep you down
and can rise to any position ir the gift oil
your noble entertainer. As foreigner
you circulate freely (as many well intro
duced Americans do) though all the pro.
celain penetralia OF the Yves, End. You
are invited 10 dine, we will say, with his
Grace the Duke Of Deyonshire. There
are ten or twelve guests, all noble except
yourself-and when you look round upon
the five other gentlemen, il is possible
that, without vanity, you may come to
the conclusion. that in dress, address,
spirit and natural gifts you arc at leas,
the equal Of those around you. Dinner
is late in being announced, and mean.
time, as you know all the ladies', and are
particularly acquainted with the youngest
and prettiest, you sit down by the latter,
and promise yourself the pleasure Of Civ
ing her an arm when the doors are
thrown open. and sitting by her at dinner.
The butler makes his appe arance at last
and the lady willingly takes your arm
when in steps my Lord Flummery, who
is terrible spoon, but undoubtedly my
Lord, takes the lady from you, and
makes his way TO the dinner table.
Your first thought is to follow and secure
place on the other side of her, but still
another couple or two are to take prece-
dence, and you are left at last TO walk in
alone, and take the seat that is lelt-per.
haps between two men who have a lady
on the other side. Pleasant-isn't III
Again. You are strolling in Regent
street or the park with an Englishman,
whose acquaintance you made in your
travels. He is man Of fortune, and as
independent 10 his character as any man
in England. On the Continent he struck
you as particularly high. minded and free
from prejudice. You are chatting with
him very intimately when vonng noble.
man, not remarkable for any thing but his
nobility, slips his ann in your friends
and joins the promenade. From that
moment your friend gives you about as
much of his attention as he does to his
walking stick, lets your questions 60 un-
answered, let them be never so clever,
and enjoys with the highest zest the most
remote spoonyoslties of my lord. You
perhaps, as stranger, visit in my lords
circle oil society, and your friend does
not-but he would as soon think Of pick
ing my lords pocket as of introducing
you to him, and, if you begin TO think
you are Monsieur de Irop and say good
morning., your friend who never parted
from you before without making an en-
gagement TO see you again, gives you a
nod without tuning his head from his
lordship, and very dirty echoes your
good morning And this we repeat the
most independent man in England Will
do, for he is brought up to tear God and
honour lord, and it is bred in his bone
and brain.
We could give thousand similar in.
stances. but the reader can easily ina.
CINE them. The life Of commoner in
England is one Of inevitable and daily
eclipse and Notwithstanding but the
force of early habits and education ma.
king il tolerable to the Euglishman him.
self, and nothing at ali making i, in any
way endurable to republican of any
pride or spirit You naturally say, why
not associate with the middle classes, and
let the aristocracy 60 to the devil' but
individually sending people TO the devil
is of no use, and the middle classes value
yourself and each other only as your in-
PRODUCTION TO them is aristocratic, or as
their friends are approvable by an aris-
tocratc eye. There is no class free from
the humiia.ing weakness. The notice
of q lord will at any time take the wind
out Of your sails when q lady is in the
case; your tailor will leave you hsli.mea.
sured to run to my lorn's cab in the street
your doctor will neglect your fever for
my lords cold-your friend will break
fast with my lord though engaged part.
cularly TO you--and the out gongs and
in-comings, the sayings and doings, the
stupidilies, impudencies, manners, greet.
ings and condescenson of lords and la.
dies, usurp the conversation in all places,
and 10 the interruption or exclusion oil
the most grave or personal topics.
Understand us, we grudge no respect
to dignities or authorities. Even to We alth,
as power, we are willing 10 yield the wall.
But we say again, that republican spirit
must rebel against homage to anything
human with which it never can compete,
and in this lies tho only distinction 1--WE
fervently hope which will ever hedge
in an American aristocracy. Let who
will 90 TO windward OF us by superior
sailing--lhe richer, the handsomer, the
cleverer, the stronger, the more beloved
and gi(ted-there was fair play at the
start, and we will pay Difference and duty
with the promptest. But no lords anc
ladies', Mr.. President, If you love us.-N
p. WiihS
The ScoTcHMAN' PRAYER. my