American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-01-11
From late number OF the n. Y. American !
AND THIS IS LIFE!

AND THIS IS LIFE!
He who would analyze the seemingly con-
Trajectory elements in which man moves and
has his being need not wonder at the discon-
tent, the happiness, The apathy, the restessness,
The vanity, the pride, the show Of wealth, the
desire to conceal it, the arrogant claims of
learning, the attractions of beauty the workings
of retired talent, the multiplicity OF noisy moth
ings, all of which have their day and sway
There is the retired man of business, OVERLAND
with all the seeming requisites of happiness
breakfasts when he chooses, dimes sumptuously,
lounges in his unread library, and takes his air
ing in almost regal style
+ By the fellowship which he has established
in society, he is constantly reminded of his de-
fciences in those accomplishments that invest
life with charms the most engaging and digni-
, ty the most enduring. Thrice every week he
goes to his bed, wofully sensible that Horace
and Virgil have lived for him in vain, and Gre
clan bards tuned their Tyres for more fortunate
and happier sensiblities; he awakes on his ff
tieth anniversary, determined to enter TIE la
byrinth Of classic lore, and is lost.
And this is life
There is the ploddlng merchant, who goes to
Mis- counting room, and until his letters are read
is hardly conscious of any existence. His brow
contracts or expands according to the nature of
their CONTENTS he reads and is filed; determines
to sell his coffee and cotton to the first bidder
and at the least sacrifice; goes home with sink
er at his heart, finds fault with his dinner and
II he has wife, is almost tempted TO sell her.
And this is life
There is the stock broker-gregarou from
his brth-he comes to his six by eight lodg-
ment in Wall street with quick step and eve
ry muscle and eye alert he goes out to feed in
the highway, as hens do, along with their brood
until 10 l-2 o'clock, when he mounts to q high
er region to SET, rumnate and realize; phloso-
phZes on the insecurity of securities; hates the
likeness of the market to the tides, so regular
in their ups and downs; is vexed that he did not
90 into smiling Canton, instead of dropping
Stonington; goes home to dinner, looks grave
a. his wife, snubs his children, and protests hav-
ing any more.
And this is life!
There is the Clerk, whose warnings for no.
tlce and gentility have induced him to quit his
hard though safe bench in the counting house
for basement in one of the city thoroughfares,
where he sets up champagne, cigar, and bacon
vender. Possessing some light accomplish
ments, he receives invitations to parties, and
having no real ownership in himself, he always
accepts them; to decline them he dares not
BY little and little he goes into love, but is
obliged to come out of it much more suddenly.
, He goes home at midnight to his estate of one
room and the furniture, sullen, dissatisfied, and
vexed that people cannot be uncorked 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 both 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 immortal
He serves as perpetual sign-board to the ris.
ing and risen generation. His trophies are de-
tunct dealers, non-descript merchants and vi
sonary shop-keepers.
lie rises with the sun, breakfasts and dimes
with despatch not surpassed by the express
mail, and makes his bank deposte so uniformly
that its omission would throw an ordinary cash
Ter into fit of sickness. He early calculated
the price of wife and children, but was fright.
ened by the footing up. He was welded to
economy and the shop, and his gray hairs at
test his fidelity. Blow high, or blow low, he
stands alone and erect.
And this is counter life!
There is the mechanic, emphatically the ar
thcer of his own fortune. His mind so runs
on timber, iron, bricks, and leather, that it is
not strange he should think his wife and child
rem composed in part of the same materials
hence the joints that connect his paternal ark
are subjected to no small wear and tear; but the
panacea Of many ills, money, is coming i'll
while temper is going out, and if they miss Of
an average share of happiness, it is because the
Boss asPres to and secures seat in the assem-.
bly,, where he diligently assists in pla,,e-ine
down opinions that have essentially contributed
to his elevation.
And this is life!
There is the rich sleeping partner. His
sleepiness goes abroad to air his other faculties
and get awake; travels every where but in
contingencies he knows Glasgow, Manches
ter, Liverpool, and Lyons, as matters of histo
ry; and London, Paris, and Naples, as matter,
OF fact; perhaps he carries a winning card in
the shape of wife, who, by a sweet presence
and voluble discourse, secures for them ambas
sadorial letters, presentations at court, apC
whatever else their ingenuity may devise
Having contracted heavy load Of European
"reminiscences, they come home and tip up; but
the monotonous hum-drum of American life
soon becomes lnsi pid, and off they go to be
again mere spectators of stars and garters ir
the elder world Whilst repeating this deli
clous experiment, letter marked "private'
comes from the American firm, premonitory
OF coming i'll, arrests the enjoyment of the
carnival Ere long they find themselves upor
the pillows, both real aud imaginary, not know
ing what may befall him.
And this is life!
There is the very close, shrewd man. who il
viewed by his townsmen as a sort of walking
} razor-edge never dull-rarey offers his arm
unless to stranger, and can scent an applicant
10, [ loan The length or Wall street. In hi