The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-04-14

and argue that such thing is right and such
a thing is wrong, and therefore they'll do sc
and 30. Why, my stars! half the time they'd
be on the unpopular side of the question, i
they did this and then, what would become
of them ? Why, the people wouldn't support
'em bit longer, and they might as well give
up first, as last, oil hopes of Citing any more
Offices And what's politician without Office
Why, he can't live without it. The fact is, il
a mans a-going into public life, he must look
around, and see what other folks think about
matters and things.
IF he's a-going to be doctor, be must give
way little TO other peoples notions If biz
patient thinks he's sick, and isn't, he mustn't
tell him he's well Ho must put on long
face, and say he's very sick; and he mus
give him little something, and say thatl
euro him. And then, when he gets well-nC
matter if it is long while-so much the bet
ter for the doctor when he gets well, every
body'H say, what a smart doctor! So he mus
humor the whims Of everybody, the old ladies
in particular; because if he sets himself VI
against them, they'll think he's a-trying h
make out they don't know much about sucl
| things. So, Of course they'll try TO kee]
themselves up, and they'll tell everybody h
don't know anything about his business. Anc
when it comes to this, be may as well leave
for it won't be hardly safe for him to 60 int,
| anybody's house to see a.sick man. But jest
let him keep in with everybody that pretend
to know anything about medicines, and he'l
20 along smoothly enough. No matter if b,
doesn't cure many people; if they only cure
themselves he'll git the credit of it, and that'l
bring him his bread and butter, and the goot
will Of his neighbors; and q man without
either Of these is in rather bad fix, according
to my ideas.
$50, if he's minister he must be very
careful what he says, and how he acts 1t
won't do for him to run down everything that
| amt jest right according to his notions He
must first consider carefully what people will
| bear, if no wants to have influence among
them. If he gifts into place where temper.
ance is popular, let him be strong temper
ance man, and he'll be popular too. Let him
preach long sermons about temperance, and
| denounce the rum-sellers, and call them all
sorts of hard names, and everybody'll shake
their heads, and say he isn't afraid to speak the
truth when it onght to be spoke. But if he gifts
where people like the creetur leete, and he
finds two or three rich rumsellers in his church,
he must be very particular to show these gen.
tlemen that he thinks them Jest as good as
anybody. When he is asked what he thinks
of drinking and selling liquors, he must talk
in roundabout way, about the sin of intern
perance, and of being temperate in eating and
drinking, but be very sure to say nothing that
anybody'll take to themselves. Whenever he
meets drunken loafer in the street, he may
show as much disgust as he likes, and in this
way he'll prove how he hates the sin of drunk
l,,t ha otv1t vraaoh
ance sermons; no can preach about some other
sin Jest as bad and nobody'n trouble him
so he'll be doing others jest as much good, and
bring no harm to himself neither Perhaps
the people are almost all abolitionists; then
he can preach against slavery, and make him
| self amazingly popular, and do wonderful
sight of good. But if he goes to crying out
| against what a good many of his people think,
water. Let him DO quiet about these things
/ and preach against what everybody knows il
wrong, and nobody has any interest in keeping
up, aud people will believe him.
"Of course, the great object is to preach 81
that folks II believe you; if they don't, the,
won't hire you, and then you can't do no gco'
preach what they like, and they'll drink
IiBhe uoWn, uuu ehoy Wob uhahc ho orookc
faces, neither and if You git into any trouble
they'll stick to YOU and no mistake. The
won't finch hair.
$50, you see, Peter, if you want to git alonI
smooth in the world, and have folks thinI
you're wise man, the way is, when any new
thing comes up, always to keep your eye out
and see which way the cats a-going to jump
and, when you see anything isn't a-soing t.
take well, even sposin' it does look fair on the
face of it, you jest keep shady fits right j,
III come up by and by. You jest let somebody
else, that's fool enough, fight for it now; bu,
you keep clear till you see it's a-going to be
popular, and then, when other people are jest
ready to believe it, you come out for it strong
and everybody III say you're great man
There's nothing like studying human natur
Peter. You jest understand what people j,
made of and you can do what you're a.mind tc
with 'em. It's my opinion you'd better study
it, my son, and, when you git ready for il, enter
politics; and then, if you follow my advice, you
can be one of tho biggest men in the country
You've got talents enough oil you want is q
little more human natur and that | can give
Nos,