The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-28

| plying to and from New York. and residing with
~ few miles Of ssch other, bscAnas iufsctsd with
the evil spirit Of rivalry. They had hitherto gn4
along very well, and each managed by bis share
Of country custom 10 make both ends meet. and
lay up something besiJes. But one day the devil,
in the shape Of long headed Idle 8 who
kepts himself from starving by Matching projects
ofpubc improvements. tempted one ofihess hon
est men with the idea OF running his neighbor, BY
cutting of his trade aud diverting II all to his own
profit. His sloop once in great while got aground
at the wharf, and thereby lost tide, and the devil
assured him If he would only extend his wharf
about twenty or twenty-five feet into the river, he
would escape all such accidents, and bring all The
country farmers to his side, because his neighbor
and rivals sloop was also occasionally grounded
Well, the honest man, who occupied what was
called the upper landing, took the bait, and ex-
tended his wharf as the devil advised him. But
he forgor that two could play at this game. He
OF the lower landing soon perceived the result of
this improvement in The diminution of his Gus
toners, and forthwith set about extending his
wharf, as far out as his neighbor. They were
thus placed In siafu quo, Just where they be-
tore, after having each expended portion oftheir
savings. He Of the upper landing hereupon COM
planned to the devil that he had gained nothing by
his long wharf But his worship is always ready
with an answer, and assured him that il he would
only paint his sloop, get a new fiddle head, and
suit OF sails, he would be sure to attract all the
country people, who were great admirers Of fine
sloops with fiddle heads. Beaides, having new
suit Of sails, she would make her trips in half the
time Of the other, and of course everybody would
give his sloop the preference.
Il may be taken as general rule, that AFTER
yielding to the first temptation, every subsequent
one becomes more difficult to resist. II il like
sliding down hill-the nearer the bottom the faster
we go. There is nothing strengthens us like re-
sistence At the fret start. In few words he of
mn Ian al ut<
fiddle head, and hoisted a new suit of sails. He
OF the lower landing soon did the like, for the
same reason he extended his wharf, and thus they
were again brought back to the status ante beiium,
except that both their pockets were evidently
| ghened.
Then they continued for some time knocking
their heads against each other, painting their
shops, getting new mahogany counters, new signs,
ana extending their assortments Of goods, until
hnaily all their ready money was gone, and they
began to borrow Of rascally little bank, that in
ten years had ruined half the farmers in twenty
miles round. He of the upper landing, being most
especially subjected to the temptations Of the dew
ii. always led the way in improvements, and he
or the lower, having once entered the lists Of gen
erotA emulation, as it il called, never failed to
follow his example, Still with oil their struggles,
they found that after a temporary firing, they
again came back to the old status ante beiiunl.
ne Of the upper landing, seeing this to be the
his dander began to rise, and gradually he came
TO cherish a bitter hatred Of his neghbor Of the
lower landing, who returned the compliment with
interest. Now was the time for the devil to play
his master stroke. He inspired his victim with
project of a turnpike road into the interior ofthe
country, which was to have its terminus at the
upper landing, provided the proprietor would
subscribe for good portion of the stock. by re-
sorting to various occult mysteries iof raising the
wind, this doomed man, at length accomplished
his object, and commenced building stupendous
shIngle palace, the strength Of the great rise in
the value Of his property and increase of his trade
But ere he could realize his unticipations, he Of
the lower landing had managed to accomplish
lateral turnpike, leading from the great road to
HIS wharf, and which he proved by actual mea-
surement, WINS one rod three feet four inches and
a half shorter than the other This was decisive,
and the upper landing fairly foorcd for
short time. However, he soon rallied under the
encouragement of his old adviser, and counteract-
ed this advantage. by levelling hill which stood
IN the way OF the approach to his landing. Thus
again they came back to the old status anie betium
What next they would have resorted TO under
the temptations OF the devil, it is impossible to
say, for just about this time the spirit of public
Improvement began to operate on great scale
railroad was carried along the shores Of the
river, which soon swept away all the customers,
both Of the upper and lower landing, who, if they
wanted rit bon paper OF pins, or roll Of to-
bacco, jumped into the cars, and, as they were
assured, saved both their time and their money
by going to New York. Travelling was so fast
and so cheap, the temptation was inevitable. The
catastrophe Of my tale il melancholy, and shall
be III brief as possible. The bank, as is always
the case, wanted its money precisely when it was
most Inconven;eDt to pay 1t. Wharves, stores,
goods. and every thing, went the way Of all flesh.
The turnpike stock proved what is technically
called ga failure" the road became an obsolete
idea, and the two rivals in public improvement
are now keeping each little shop for retailing
Mundungus segars in county capital. greatly
fear the devil is again practising my friend OF
the upper landing for the last time visited that
emporium, observed he had decorated his door
red eyes and gilt ear-rngs in his ears, doubtless
with view to secure the custom Of the Abolition
lists and Free-soilers.
States as well as individuals may take lesson
from my story. The same passions and the same
rivalry in both will produce similar consequences,
for we may be assured that nothing really bene-
fetal 10 the happiness Of one and The prosperity
OF the other, can result from mn overweening sell
lishDess, which, not content with its just share,
seeks TO monopolize all, by robbing its neighbors
according to law. These ore mighty old fash
ioned notions, that would make poor figure at
the board Of brokers; but hope they will be par
doned on the score Of my having been in the dark
ages.
A NORTHERN Man, AND
A FRIEND TO THE UsIoN.
T II IRT Y-FIRsT CONG ESS.
\ SECOND SESSION