Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1853-12-02
hEWlSDURA GliRDMlElH
Correspondence of the Lcwisburg Chroniele.J
'YORK STATE. Nov. 1853

and its blessings. The affairs of every
man and of every family are either known
or "guessed att by all others. Every
new conner or visitor must run the gaunt-
let of eyes and tongues 'Look not every
man on his own things simply, bat keep
also sharp lookout for the things of
Others is an injunction of lSaim Rpul,r
which is scrupulously honorcd. There are
local as well as political parties, to watch
for the Post Office prize every four years;
aud two or three churches, to half-starve
such wcll-disposed preachers as are induced
to settle with them by reason of "rapid
growth of the place. and its "central
position Rehearsing political assertions,
and narrow sectarian chickering's, are given
out as rare exhibitions of craftsmanship
and theology, in various shops and stores,
when farm-work is not driving. OF course
there is an "aristocracy' dozen of
both sexes, more conceited than others of
their age, who feel somewhat above them,
and are secretly envied, while openly de-
nounced as "big bugs" and "high flyers"
by their quoudam associates. And there
are one or two erich old hunks Shat is,
men worth few thousands more than
those neighbors who love money equally
as well but have not been quite SO fortu-
tunate IN Its pursuit. 1t is an unpardon-
able wrong i'll these rich men to cxpend
their own money as they deem best instead
of opening their purses and dividing their
money among the store-loungers who arc
planning for them schemes of bencvolence
which they themselves never indulge in.
While to their faces they are very blandly
saluted as "he Judge" or "Me Squire,
or "Mc General" or "hc Deacon" and
their opinions acceded to with the utmost
Difference, behind their backs they are
abused as everything wrong. If they do
not lay out their money, they arc "mis6r!y
niggards," the "cause Of all these bard
times" and of the 'want Of prosperity" Of
--~~- a---:~hi"- town" And if IL. )
make investments, they are "taking the
adyantate Of the poor" and ''buying up
the whole country" However, with all
the enormous sins of these rich men, there
are always scores Of denunciators ready to
take their places, reputation inclusive
On the other hand, you have the pure
brcezes of heaven always around you-you
can see the waving forests, the cultivated
fields, and all the details of rural lifc-and
you can live in comparative independence
of landlords, market caprices, thieves, and
fires. You can always find some Of the
choice spirits of earth in such localities
those who are doing good to all, and diitu-
sing qnict JOY in many households. In
"social intercourse and converse sweet" on
topics higher than horses or dollars, many
precious hours are passed. Here you often
find the genuine pastor and tie true ply
sician-;he salt Of the earth indeed, prescr
wing soul and body from putre!action, and
daily Strengthening the cords Of affection
which bind man to man. And when
sickness and suffering or any real sorrow
comes, the petty division walls between
neighbors arc soon broken down, and how
easily all become us one family.
Probably the greatest difference between
York and a Pennsylvania village, is in
their business habits The quictness OF a
small town in Pcnn'a, is proverbia, while
its Yankee prototype in size is always in
motion. Every man, woman and child Is
tinkering and contriving for some improve
ment-to gain some adyantage-to get
ahead some way. 1t is on record that
right cute Yankee baby is planning some
'improved machinery" before it leaves its
cradle; but "the fact wants confirmation
Certain it is, however, that he soon devel-
ops that propensity, and Swapping" and
buying and selling occupy most Of his spare
time. l am inclined to think too many
hours are spent in mere "head work" for
much of it adds nothing to the sumtotal
of property; while the plcddcr who keeps
his hands busy without troubling his head
enough to endanger its sanity, is adding to
the stock of tangible wealth. The two
brothers who spent all day in "swapping
jackets" were no richer at night; but the
third, who made a jacket during the same
time, was benefactor Superior activity
is productive Of great Neutrality-suspicious.
eries-and adaptation Of natural resources
to mans uses by these means jonathan
gets ahead of, and 'gorhS Icss than Hans.
Another trait of the Yankee is to keep
his money always in use. While Hans
salts down his half-dollars until his barrel
is pretty well filed, Jonathan puts every
one he can get out at interest, or invests it
in real estate, somewhere. Many in this
region send their money for loaniug to the
Western States, for the sake of the higher
rates of interest there lcgalizcd, jonathan