The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-03-31
A Chsp.er o. OaA People

A Chspssr o. OdA People.
Yes, sir, said DIR. Johnson once in re-
ply to 8 remark Of Boswell; every man
who has brains is eccentric, because be sees
and thinks for himself; and If he did not,
minds would be all cnt with compasses. and
no rational man could endure society,"
Doubtless the leviathan of literature, as
both friends and enemies called him in bis
day. had learned, by means Of his proven
bal love Of "a good talk, how much social
life is eDlivened by occasional obliquities Of
taste. and even Of judgment.
Defend me from pattern ladies and men
Of ruleP was the petition Of rather an I'M
ruly poet, in which many who are not poets
will be found to concur, for there seems
natural association between dulness and
uniformity. Yet the widest devialions from
received ideas, as regards external matters,
are not always made by the ablest thinkers.
All the world has heard, and probably by
this time got tired, Of the eccentricities Of
genius. They have been largely reported,
and still more largely initiated, particularly
those of the discreditable kind, since il was
found out that great wit was allied to mad
ness. Numbers who could never reach
the former have adopted the latter as its
nearest relation, forgetlul that they were al.
fscting only what had disgraced their bet
tiers, and too frequently that which would
have disgraced any grade Of mind.
But the age for such sfectations, even OF
the harmless order, is past; eccentricity is
now known to be one Of the Liabilities,
not the consequence, of genius, and has
been most prominently displayed in those
who had no genius at all.
These are smoothing-down days, and pc.
cularities appear above the surface more
rarely than they did in less polishing times;
but uncelebraled oddities may still be en-
eountered in every by-way and corner of
life. The upland hamlet. the rural village,
or the small country town, can generally
boast Miss or MIR. Whimsy OF its own,
whose out-ofthe-wsy sayings and doings
will return among the pleasures OF memory
to some Of its scattered denizens i'm far-off
scenes and years. Even in great cities,
where the perpetual though changeful cur
rents Of business and society are calculated
10 wear away the angularities OF minds and
manners, it is wonderful in what perfection
they still exist.
The first Charles Mathews used to de-
scribe three meagre brothers. all men OF
business in New York, who always had
their garments made double the fitting size.
IN order 10 save time and trouble in case
their respective corporations should increase,
an occurrence which appeared probable to
them alone. The residents Of another busy
street in that same western city, about
twenty years ago, may recollect an old man
whose whim was still more remarkable
He was a bachelor with decent income;
and, strange to say, no miser, though he
Lived utterly alone, acted as his own attend
ant in every department Of housekeeping.
and never admitted a single feminine assist
ant, as his special smbiti was to be what
he called independent Of women. There
were those who said the old boy had been
slighted or aggrieved by some Of the ser in
ms younger days. perhaps the story origina.
ted only in conjecture, but the advocates Of
womsn's rights and mission would have
been sstonished at the legion Of wrongs he
COLD muster up when denouncing female
tyranny, under which he affirmed the whole
creation groaned. No misfortune. great or
small, ever happened 20 any man within
his knowledge. which be could not trace,
by most elaborate process Of reasoning,
TO some female hand. And one Of his chief
doctrines was, that no man could admit one
of the fair. (by courtesy within the walls |
Of his domicile, and escape absolute slsve-
ny. To preserve his own liberty, therefore,
this original philosopher. superseded the Ia |
dies in actual service, from stitching shirts
70 making tea. He is said to have acquired
extraordinary proficiency, particularly in
the former arr. and always boosted 70 his
friends that he was one independent man.
Lingeres ia the state Of celibacy are
popularity believed to be more addicted to
eccenuicity, than the welded Of mankind;
on which belief infinitely ingenious phi. |
losopher once suggested the inquiry, Which. |
er being single was the cause Of their sin. |
gulsrity, or rice persa., Certain Il is, that
the special Characteristics Of the New York
bachelor could exist in no other condition;
yet it may be hoped that all the single are
not singular, especially as some odd actors
are occasionally found among the dosbly-
blessed.
l knew a married lady, whose peculiar
taste 10 dress formed The standing topic of
conversation TO the fairer portion OF a
country parish. She had been an heiress
In a small way. and could, therefore, com
mand some Of the sinews Of fashion; bu,
she said no milliner should ever dictate n
her, for she had an original fancy. and
would not be put in uniform. This resoIu.
ton she kept with the zeal Of patriot
never was the Recommendation OF costume
more deIhed than in the cut OF her garments, ,
while the boosted originality was displayed I
In an arangslrent of eolors, aid an adania.