Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1845-08-30
AMERICAN CHARACTER.

Il Neal, in the ch!t-chat of his Saturday
!, Gazette" speaks as follows Of the ener.
gy and originality of lie American:
i The American of AIlegana or Yankee.
doodledom-that restless, why man, bal
ancIng himself upon two.legs Of his chair
his straw hat turned up behind, and with
his pedal ex,remlties two far through his
PaniaIoons, as he hacks the table with IA
Keen edged knife-has traii---the re,
suit doubtless Of his parentage con.
huence OF the energetic and enterprisng
Ioi all nations, nourlshed into luxuriance
"a trait which distinguishes hun from
|other people. Observe now, as he lodges
his heels higher than his head Would you
cramp him by precedent, or shackle his
action BY The control OF rule? Not mo-
ment will elapse before his limbs may be
wreathed into a new attitude more optre
than any which ingenuity has yet devil
sed. His legs are dangling as human
legs, perhaps never dangled before, he
sits upon the rail, or lies exten led on
bench, in an endless variety of expert
ment in regard 10 facilities for repose.
| II he smokes, what power Of suction
llf ne chews, what an energy in the per
Torrance; and when he eats, how podi,
lglous the saving OF time! 1t was impos,
slble, you see, to cast him in a mould -he
is not to be fenced in by fixed IDEAS, and
cannot be induced 10 follow in a beaten
path. Ask hm--he can do whatever
man has tone-easily there is no merit
IN that. II is what man has never done
that he proposes 10 himself His com
mencement affords no clue 10 that which
may be The end of his efforts. Teach
him TO retail needles, he possibly will
found an empire tomorrow. Place the
implements of printer in his hands, vet
The next time you hear Of him may be in
the leading Of armies to battle. Editing
a little newspaper, very likely; when no.
thing else is doing the time will soon ar
rive that he will be sweeping EDWARDS to
Oregon, or TO participate in "reyel in
the halls of the Monlezumas"
There IS nothing SO small, rhat ne can
not narrow himself to it. Nothing so
large that he does not feel competent to
grasp it-'l don't know how" finds no
place in his vocabulary, and he feels him
self ready to be pedIar or a president,
as the opportunity affords itself. He is
like the cat--lhrow him as you will, and
The universal Jonathan alights always up,
on his feet. Beware, too, how you are
harsh towards that friendless youngster;
venture not to treat an impoverished
neighbor with contempt. Who can tell
but that the one who excites your scorn--
ny, the very u!chin no, deemed fit to play
with more nicely nurtured hildren-the
youth TO whom your daughters blush to
speak when in the street, and from whom
also your eyes are averted when in that
wha! you deemed more choice companion
'hip,-is not destined soon TO tower like
IN eagle far above your utmost height,
and TO cause his once lowly name to re
sound throughout the world? There is
nOthing impractlcable TO The universal
Jonathan of these United States; nd if his
earlier years be unstained by vice or
rhine, be sure to treat him with hat res
'ect which is due TO humanity, or both he
Ind you may remember the sleight when
t is your turn to look up TO him. dragged ,
enough and not over clean," said she with
smile, as she glanced at the towheaded ,
.oncourse of check aprons that strove to
ret ride for nothing-but perhaps our
hildren's president is there, with the
Of his cabinet, and the heroes +,
# his armies. And why not2 1t is the t,
trugge which makes the man and there q
nay be--here are--faculties in training
IL around u.s. perhaps in this very prin- !
er's devil, who. with ink smirked brow,
5 waiting at oar elbow which will trans
end "all Greek, oil Roman fame" Here's .
opy for thee, boy-straighl 10 the Office,
nd play not by the way--thou dipIo-
mist or warrior, poet or philosopher,
whatever the future has in store for thee.
Thy face, no doubt, would be the fairer
Or little soap, and thy. cheuslHre needs i
Omb and brush; but yet the laurel may q
. time sit even here. er r