Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-05-17

From Bentley's Mscellanu.1
EVERY. MAN HIS OWN MONUMENT.
SIN truth, your Worship said Sancho Panza,
sacould think ofdying with more patience, were it
not for being buried.''
WELL, we confess that honest Sancho is right
There is something provoking in the idea of being
crammed into an ugly, damp corner anywhere.
and all because one just happens to be dead. It
is so like getting rid of us. We seem to suffer
another loss-a loss after death too, as though
by dying we forget the world, but when we are
buried, the world returns the compliment and
forgets us.
Now, while we admit that there may be tolera.
BILE good reasons for burying us after we are dead
yet there are equally good reasons to be given
why we should not be forgotten. Indeed, it is
our distinct opinion that but few men ought to
submit to oblivion tamey; and we propose, with
out noticing any of the sterling and enduring ba.
SEES OF renown, to say fewIwords on the compar-
alive value OF those small investments in which ma
ny Of us may trust the precarious fortunes of our
after-lives and dignities
We might 60 off into any amount of enthusi-
asm about that mighty passion of high and low
that love of notoriety-that thirst for fame,
which works its way with a diamond point upon
tavern window, and loads the earth with pyra-
mids-founds new creeds like MaAouet, and in
vents internal machines like GamHotin and
Fieschi-converts wilderness into lourishing
state. like Penn; or manufactures Bowie knife.
Paa1han gun, C0nereve rocket, or a Coils
| revolver-we might, we repeat, go off into any
amount OF rhetoric on subject so subtle in it's
workings, but We will restrain ourselves within
the narrow bounds of our project, which we will
elucidate in few sentences.
The part of the scheme we most pride our
selves upon is, that it is not necessary to have a
monument made expressly for ones self with an
immediate reference in all its parts and intentions
to our persons and merits. For, by the consent
and courtesy of society, it often happens that
some of the ready-made monuments of ssstill
life" are appended to Or rather, by the trans
ference OF our names, we may adopt and identi-
fly ourselves with a popular idea, a navigable ri
yer, tasty DISH tight little island, new creed,
a queer hammock or q bluff headland, and
so go halves with them in the notice of the world
At the same time it must be admitted that mon
| uments of this class are not so personal as a
'.Statue,' or even as an "Epitaph," but then
they can be strongly recommended for cheapness
| and durability. But to those who have not suffi
Gent interest to get such honors conferred upon
them, We would recommend more perishable
objects to their consideration, taking care that
they compensate for their greater fralty BY their
increased liveliness, and their more constant and
intimate communion with the eyes, tongues, and
thoughts of our felow-men.
For this reason we would prefer being a
'tstreet," or ''town," rather than nope out our
Immortality as an ''island," or even as an active
''volcano" in some desolate and unfreauented
sea, where our grandest eruptions would be ex-
hibited to empty benches. We should have our
difficulties to contend with as "street" no
doubt. We may be burned out" or sexpung-
ed" by an improvement committee; but then
while we did live, we should have more homage
done to our name in month, than would be be-
slowed upon us as an 'sisland," in a century.
four in1y IF Nd
sometimes sound investment of our after fame:
for, independent of more durability, city is as
ISOLATED with sentiment, and becomes dear to
our feelings on thai account. But in the old
world it is now very difficult affair to start in
this way. Ones only chance consists in com.
menclng in the locality of some of the new lines
of railway, or in America, where people go ahead
in this particular walk of fame in most remark.
able manner. That seems to be the land where a
man of limited attainmentS can raise respecta-
BILE fame with bricks and mortar. Indeed, it is
nearly impossible to predict any limits to the du-
ration of Washington's renown, if our transat-
lantic brethren 60 on naming city after city after
their great founder, as they have done. The
same may be said of Franklin, Penn, Jefferson,
Adams, and scores of others. But we enter our
distinct and solemn protest against all such doings
such puZZling anomalies such vicarious repre-
sentation of ourselves. 1t is unfair to allow
man, even Washngton-and we admit his to
be hallowed name-to stand proxy for himself
in so many places. His fame is secure on anoth.
er pedestal. and it is butjustice to others to make
a little standing room.
A ship is good official, particularly man.of-
war, and any man might be proud to confide his
name to British one. How long will the care
thusa" be remembered doubly immortalized as
she is by Dibdins song, and one of the most
dashing frigate fights on record! Like the
Shannon" and brave Sir Philip Broke, she is
mixed up with the great events of history, and
booked, as we say of parcel, to the end of time
at least.
The days of coaches are already numbered, and
we do not remember one that is likely to have a
durable fame. 1t is true that visions ofthe Berke-
ley Hunt" and the Shrewsbury Tally Ho,'' oc-
casionally fit across ones memory, but their adj
mirers are in the main restricted to narrow cir
Gle of 'cut-a-way" coats, top boots, and brass
buttons and will be quite forgotten when the pre-
sent generation has passed away. Nevertheless,
while coach Blasted, it a jolly, rafting sort
of proxy, and was as capable of making man
notorious over some hundred miles or so of coun-
try as ''stabe mind" could desire. But in the
nature of things it could not be lasting; not to
ton the wear and tear of Wheels there could be no
comfortable reliance in the fidelity of coach pro-
prietors, who were ever prone to be trucking to
every flashy novelty of the passing hour. Par
adoXical as it may seem, man must not trust
himself upon wheels if he wishes to roll down to
posterity in safety.
At first portrait, or bust, seems a ready
mode of adding few years to the natural term of
life, and within the reach of common men. Be-
sides, it gratiies ones vanity in leaving our fame
in the hands of representative so exclusively
personal. We leave our very simileibehind US,
as well as the cut of our coat and the tie of our
neckcloth. But really this is most deceitful
case, and one which is more likely to swindle us