Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-10-03
AMERICAN CHARACTER.

The American-of hlleghanian or Yam.
keedoodledom-that restless wiry man, bal.
ancng himself upon two legs of his chair, his
straw hat turned up behind, and with his
pedal exlremities too fa, through his panta-
looms, as he hacks the table with keen
edged knife--has a trait THE result doubt.
less Of his patronage-she confluence of the
energetic and enierprIs ng of all nations,
nourished into luxurian,c by the effect of in.
s,liu,ionsi-a uan 49, distinguishes mn,
from other people. Observe now, as he
lodges his heels higher than his head.
Would you cramp lin by precedent, or
shackle his action b, the control of rule /?
Not moment will sapse before his limbs
may be wreathed into a new attitude more
outer than any which ingenuity has yet de.
vsed. His legs are dangling as human legs,
perhaps, never danglcd before-he sits upon
the rail, or lies extendsa on bench, IN an
endless variety of experiments in regard to
facilities for repose. II he smokes, what a
power Of suclon-lf he chews, what an en-.
ergy in the performance and when he eats,
how prodgious the saving of time II is
impossible 10 cast him In mould-he is not
TO be fenced in by fixed ideas, and cannot,
be induced to follow q beaten path. Ask
him if he can do whnl,ver man has done
easily-there is no nett IN that. II is what
man has never s.>s<lLai he proposes 10
HIMSELF His commencement affords no clue
to that which may be the end of his efforts.
Teach him TO retail ,eedIes, he possibly will
found an empire -itlTow. Place the i'm.
plemcn,s ola printed in his hands, vet the
next you hear of hin9may be in the leading
armies to battle. Ed,ing little newspa-
per, very likely whri nothing else Is doing
the time will soon srive that he will be
sweeping EDWARDS toOregon, or to pariici-
pate in IA "revel in lie halls of the Monte
zumas.'
There is nothing o small that he canno,
narrow himself to il. Nothing so large tina,
he does not feel Competent TO grasp it'll
don't know how Grls no place in his vo-
cabulary, and he fees himself ready to be a
pedlar or presiden, as opportunity affords
ITSELF He IS like acat-thrOw him as you
will and the universal Jonathan alights al.
ways upon his feet Beware too, how you
are harsh towards nat friendless youngs,el
venture not to treat an Impoverished
neighbor with conlsuel. Who can tell bu
that the one who row excites your scorn-
ay, the very nrchin not deemed fit to play
with your more molly nurlured children
the youth to whom your delicate daughter,
blush to speak when in the street, and from
whom almost your eyes are averted when ia
that what yon deem more choice companions
: ship,-is not destined to soon tower like Al,
eagle far above your utmost height, and Il
cause his own lowlv name 10 sound through
out the world There is nothing impracti
cable TO the universal Jonathan of these Uni
ted States; and If his earlier years be un
stained by vice or crime, be sure TO treat hin
with the respect which is due to humanity
or both he and you may remember the sigh
when it is your turn to look ur to him.
Ragged enough remarked lady in
Fairmount omnibus, Ragged enough ant
not over Clean said she with a smile as sh,
glanced al the tow-headed concourse o
check aprons that sirove 10 get ride 70
nothing; but perhaps our ehildren's presiden
is there, with the statesmen of his cabinet
and the heroes ~ ~ armies. And why not
II is the struggle which makes the man F; ant
there may be-there are-facnllies 10 train
ing all around us--perhaps in this very prin
ter's devil who, with ink-smirked brow
waiting at our elbow-which will transcen
'all Greek, all Roman fame Here's cop
for thee, boy-slrait to the Office and pla
not by the way-lhou dplomst or warrior
poet or philosopher whatever the fn,ur
has in store for thee. Thy face, no doub
would be fairer for little soap, and thy che
vulxrs needs comb and brush but ye, III
I laurel may 10 time sii even there.-Nsal
|. Sat. Coz.