Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-02-06
gSsliSteCC1tteouS.
From the Ner York American.
AND THIS is LIFE,

He who would anslyZe the seemingly
contradictory elements, IN which man
moves and has his being, need not won
der at the discomfort, the happiness, the
apathy, the restlessness, the vanity, the
pride, the show Of wealth, the desire to
conceal IT, the arrogant claims of learn.
ing, the attractions of beauty, the work.
ings OF retired ;alrnt the multiplicity of
nosy no.hings; all of which have their
day and sway.
There is the retired man Of business
overlaid with all the seeming REQUISITES
Of happiness !; breakfasts when he choos
es, dimes sumptuousiy, lounges in his un-
read library, and takes his airing in al
most regal style.
BY the fellowship VIII oh he has estab-
lished 10 society, he is constantly remind.
ed Of his d ficienries in those ACCOMPLISH
tnents that invest lie with charms the
most engaging. and dignity the most en-
during. hr;ce every week he goes 10
his bed wotuly sens Bile Rat Horace and
Fdgil have lived for him IN van, aNd
Or can baris tuned their Tyres for more
lortunatr and hopper svB,ibilties. He
swakes on his 50h anniversary, deter
mined to enter tue labyrinth Of classic
! To- e, and is lost.
| And this is Kfel
| There is the podding merchant, who
goes 10 his counting room, and until his
tiers are read, IS hardly conscious Of
aoythng but existence. His brow con-
tracts IT expanCs accor6ing to the nature
# Their Contents ; he reads and is filled :;
det' rminra 20 sell his coffee and cotton To
III first bidder and at the leas, sacrifice :;
an-s home with snker at his heart !;
finds fault With his dinner, and if he Las
wltt, is almost 'mpttd to sell her.
And hi. il life!
There is the stock broker-gregarious
Irom his brlh-he comes to his By s
20 igmrni 10 Wall street, with quick step
aHd every muscle and eye alert-he goes
out 20 feed 10 The highway, as hens 10,
along with Their brood until 10 ~ -
cl, ok, when h. mounts 10 a higher region
10 SCI, rumlnale aud realize-pnlosoph yes
"n the insecurity Of securities - hates The
! ak n SIS Of The market to the tides so re-
gular IN Their ups and downs--ls vexed
that he did not g. INTO smiling Canton, in
ST. ad Of dropping Stonington COS home
10 dinner, Looks grave at his wife, snubs
his children, and protests against having
any more.
And this is life!
There is the Clerk, whose yeasnings
for no,lce aud gentili!y have induced HIM
n ma hn I'd IN nah s konab -, ~.
Counting House, for basement in one
Of the City lhoroughfares. where he sets
up champagne, cigar, and bacon vender.
Possessing some light accomplishments,
he receives invitations to parties, and hav.
ing no real ownership in himself, always
acct pts; 10 decline he dares not--by lit.
lie aud Iilllo h. goes into love but is obhg-
I'd to come ont OF It much more suddenly;
he goes home at midnight to his estate of
one room and the iurnlture, sullen, dissat.
lshed ana veXed that people cannot be
uncorkrd as EASILY as his champagne,
and swearing that he will devote the next
Twelve months IN mastering the art that
enables so many to butter their bread on
Doth sides, and pay their rent.
And this is life
There is Peter Snug, who has lived so
long on one spot, as to make his oneness
INN 'ftal ; he serves as p rp-tuaI sign
board TO the rising gen ration; his trophies
are deiunct dealers, non descipt mer-
chants, aud visionary shop keepers.
He rises with the sun, breakfast and
dimes with despatch not surpassed by
the express mail, and makes MS bank de- |
post So uniformly, that lis omission
would throw an ordinary cashier INTO a
fit OF sickness. He early calculated the
price OF wife and children, but was fright
ened by the footing up; he was weddrd |
to economy and the shop, and his grey
hairs attest his fidelity. Blow high, or
blow low, he stands alone and erect.
And this is a counter life!
There is the mechanic, emphatcally !
the artiicer Of his own fortune. Ills |
mind so runs on timber, iron, bricks aud !
leather, that it is not strange he should
think his wife and children composed IN
part OF the same materials. hence the |
joints that connect his paternal ark, are
subjected to no small wear and tear; bu, !