The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-02-05
THE MISTAKEN MOTHER,
OR SAILS WELL THAT ENDS VEL
"Honor and shame from no condition rise
Act well your part, there all the honor lies. )

Actwell your part, there all the honor lies. y
10 a2a ~
O. "Say what you will, Mrs. Lincoln, my
daughter shall never marry a mechanic
that point is settled beyond question:
What right has mechanic TO seek her
hand? She moves now in the first society,
and intend she shall never unite herself
in marriage with any one who is not her
equal. at least in rank"
r. "Well, they do say" replied Mrs. Lin
coin, "that George IIamblen has actually
offered himself TO her. or is on the point oi
doing so; and if such be the iacl and my
advice were asked in the matter, | should
say, let Mary accept him by all means;
she can never do better, and may do much
worse. As TO YOUR remark about rank, il
you intend to intimate that his rank is not
equal 10 that of your daughter, ! must be
allowed frankly to differ will, you. True,
George is mechanic, but | have yet to
learn that well educated and accomplish
cd young man like him, is any the less a
gentleman, or the less entitled to be con.
sidered Of the first society, for being u
mechanic"
"Oh, now, you needn't talk so to me-"
said Mrs. Otis, you'll never make me be-
lieye that amechanic is a gentleman in the
true acceptation Of the word. There may
be some who are tolerably well educated, i,
and know how to appear quite respectable,
when thrown into good company; but there
il something in my mind SO vulgar in the
idea OF mechanic, that | could never
consent to any arrangement which would
lead to introduce them into the first society.
Least Of all, shall any one, with my per-
mission, ever salute me as mother.in-law.
Pshaw, Mrs. Lincoln, the thing is prepos'
terous." ,f aata
s"It doubtless appears so to you, Mrs.
Otis, but your views on the subject are all
wrong. You cannot have examined it in
its true light, aud reflected upon it. Pray
whom do you consider as the only per-
sons who should compose the ''frst so.
cietyl"
"Why, professional men, Of course;
such as lawyers, doctors, ministers. &c,
q well as men Of pleasure, retired mer.
chants, and others who are living upon
their money without particular employ.
ment. | do not wish 10 be understood as
saying that mechanics, farmers, and the
like are not respectable in their places,
Mrs. Lincoln; all | ask is that they move
in their proper sphere, and not intrude
themselves where they do not belong
"Yes, understand you; you prefer as
an associate for yourself and daughter,
tho "poIished gentleman ofleisure," 10 the
honest, intelligent and Industrious mechan-
10. And who are many Of those gentle
men who are admitted into and caressed
by your "first society,"" Bankrupts in
property, moral principles, and everything
else except brass and bristles; creatures
who would pass currently lor puppies eve-
rywhere. (exeept in the ''frst society,")
though but for their loquncity, some might
be taken for goats in breeches, or ourang
outangs from the Asiatic Islands! As to
your lawyers, doctors, and divines. re-
spect them all in their places. But as dis
tinct classes in. society neither is whit
better, or more respectable, than the han
dy mechanics and yeomanry Of our coun-
tfy generally. Ifthere be any distinction,
the producing classes are certainly enti.
lied to the highest consideration oi'e
swell, Mrs. Lincoln, if you don'tbeat
all. Why your doctrine, carried out would
destroy all distinctions in society. Only
think Of fashionable assembly, compos-
cd of gentlemen Of different learned pro-
iessions, farmers, mechanics, traders, speo-
ulators, gamblers, and what not, each and
oil with their female associates. congrega.
ted on terms Of perfect equality! Wouldn't
it present beautiful picture7" g ~ ~
bsBut you area little too FAST" replied
Mrs. Lincoln; III am not the advocate Of