Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-01-28
NJ | S C T. l. l. A N Y.
M a n

In a world full of beings that are called men,
how rare, after all, is true genuine manhood How
seldom do we meet with one, i'm our varied inter
course with society, who is every where and at all
times, worthy OF that highest of titles, man one
whose smile is a beam of the soul; whose words
are the overowings of generous heart; who re-
CARDS warm friend more than full purse who
not only processes friendship, but is ready if need
be, to show II in solid tokens; whose sympathy in
your sorrow is like the water of the mountain
spring, pure and abundant; whose high soul des-
pses meanness though circled by the princely tiara
and admres honor though leaning upon the spade,
and wrapped Ill the brown coat Of the cottageri
You will often enough meet with the courteous
smile, the outward tokens of high gentility the
free, polite, and gentlemanly carriage but they
are frequently the masks in which meanness hides
its deiormlty, the tinsel trapping of hollow heart
the livery Of honor upon the shoulders of infmy
itself! The best specimens of broadcloh often
cover the poorest specimens OF humanity, and the
father of all evil not unirequently hides his horns
in beaver, and looks graciously through the cir
cets of gold specacles. Fictitious distinctions are
nothing Offices titles public trusts, honors, in
estimating man. They do not make men, nei-
Their are they the warrants of manhood in those who
enjoy them. The heart may overflow with gall :;
may rankle with revenge; may wallow in its
own meanness may grow black with treachery or
fendiSh with malice, while an honorable trust pro-
cures an honorable title; while the wand of power
Is In the hand. and the symbols and tokens of hon
or are on the brow. He who is a man is one by
nature and one always. He does not act honora-
bly, when, and only when, it suits his convenience:
when he is dealing with men as keen as himself,
and detection would be probable but from princi-
pie, from the noble generous impulse of his own
soul, which he cannot restrain if he would and
would not if he could. He is as just in his dealings
with 4 stranger he is in his dealings with his
friend his transactions court the light and never
suffer by exposure. He never takes advantage of
ignorance, turns with cool, heartless contempt.
from high-minded fellow being. because poverty
may have embraced him in her lean, skeleton arms
and misery, with her cankered TOOTH fastened upon
his heart! And in 4 cold hearted world where so
many are thinking for themselves, planning for
themselves, struggling for Observation-Disclosures
to advance their ends and interests at whatev-
er expense Of principle, honesty and fair dealing
where the crafty are taking advantage Of the sim
pie, and the strong are preyino upon the weak it
is cheering TO the heart, and s0ftens somewhat our
disgust at human nature, to find occasionally one
who can come out of the charmed circle of scfin-
terest-whose heart and purse are both open to a
frlend-who looks at mankind as his BRETHREN and
not as his vicms-who had rather advance his neipf
boris interest, than 10 make him his dupe or fleece
him in what is usually called a keen bargain and
who never forsakes friend until the friend has for
saken virtue. God help him who hath no such
| friend, and the world that hath so few to rive