Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-06-26
AN AMERICAN HABIT.

gushing some and offending more-ihOn.h
will hope not. An Eiglishman, | believe,
rarely chews, and compared with the Ameii.
eau, rarely smokes but whether he does no,
secretly practice bo,h these abou,in ii ms
am not prepared TO say. Bu, with both
these provocalives il i, be so, one thing he
never does, is, TO spit. That fact dlaws a
line of demarralion between the Englishman
and the American, broader and deeper
! thousand fold than any other, in politics, 60
vernmen', laws, lan-uage, religion. The
Enelishmdn ncrsr spis. Or if he does, he
first goes home, shuts himself up in his room,
| cks his door, argues the necessity of the
case if necessary, performs the disagree.
able duty, and returns 10 so 'ieiy with a clear
conscience. The American spils always,
cessary always, when it is not. II is his
occupation, his pasine: his business. Many
do nothing else all their lives; and always
indulge in that singular recreation when they
have nothing else 10 do. Sometimes in II
state of momentary forge,lulness ne inter-
mils; but then, as if he had neglected a
sworn duty, returns TO it again with con-
science.smiilen vigor He sps a, home and
abroad, by night aud by day, awake and
aseep, IN company and in solitude, for his
own amusement aud the editica,ion of Il spit
ting community. On The freshly painted or
secured floor, on the clean deck Of ship or
| H.. 4 l.. IL.
with insrained, Brussels, Wilton, or Turkey,
even here he voi.ls his rheum; upon The ur-
absorbent, canvass, so that one may see where
numbers congre9a,e, the rail road cars 10 run
In more ways than one.
The puIpls and pews of churches are no,
safe. The foot pavement of the streets, the
floors Of all public places of exchanges, ho-
tells, or Congress halls, are foul with il; and
for lady 10 shorten her garments as if
about to walk in the deep mud of the street,
or the snow aud water Of the spring, il she
would escape defilement TO either dress or
human missilcs is by no means urerring,
Notwithstanding so much practice, ones own
person, and all parts Of his person, are expo
sad to the random shots of this universal foe
o! American civilized life ; and often he finds
on dferen, parts Of his dress proofs abul d.
aui of the company he has kept The only
single spot secure is a mans face; and ,ha,
would mol be, were il not for the fear of a
duel.
That there is not The shadow of exaggera
,ion in this description, coarse as il is, and
coarse as il has been my intention to make
it, all Americans, aud all travellers who have
been within an American hotel, steamboat or
railroad car all will testify And The re-
suit of al! is, suppose, that we are the fre.
est and most enlightened people on the face
of the earth But for one, republican as !
am in principle, think, Oh the whole, |
would prefer the despo.ism Of Austria, Rus.
sia, or Rome, to the freedom, if mus, take
with it the spit of America. 1t is vice
enough 10 tempt one 10 iorswear home, coun-
Try, kindred, hirnd+, religion. |, is ample
cause for breaking acquaintance, friendship,
for divorce. In word il is our grand ma
lional distinction, # we did but know it,
There are certainly paris of The country COM
paraiively, bn, only comparatively, free from
this vice. Here al The north there is much
less than ai the west and south, lhough here
enough Of i, 10 disgust one with his race. In
proportion as general refinement prevails, the
custom abaies. Al the sonih, no carpets, no
rooms, 10 presence affords protection. Here,
in the best rooms, the bes, society, there is
partial exemption; though roi often enough
from lhe presence Of that ingenious, fearful
patent, the brazcn, china, or carrhen bor.
Hare on European Capitals.