The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-06-26
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
THE ATTIC PHILOSOPHERS.

which any press has ever issued 10 'f'e "''''
Its title. translated, is THE Attic Phiioso'
pher." This book is made up from rag
ments OF the diary of an eighth wonder OF the
world-a contented man! With small sal
arv. from which he manages to extract toie-
rahlv comfortable support, our philosopher
masses his solitary life in the garnet OF
ana Of the tall houses of Paris. From this
lofty elevation, he has an excellent view OF
both Heaven and earth, and with both ne
holds profitable communion. The stupen'
dous arch above him throws into lhsishi'i.
canoe the highest of earth's pigmies' anu
when he looks below him. he sees the
industrious children of poverty quite as
secure against real misfortune as the opaiei1
and luxurious. and much more buoyant ana
careless. For this philosopher, though ano-
Their wonder of the world in the eye OF an
American. is but one of large number IN
Paris, where poverty has learned to accept
its lot with resignation, and even cheerful
ness Though there is nothing III this DOCK
which is brilliant in genius or striking IN mel
dent ii teaches in a most serene and health
full way, q lesson which our own busting
and striving race have never learned-ln
how small an apartment happiness may dweih
and how eheaply that apartment may be fur
nished -
The North British Review, in capital ar
ticle on British and Continental Character
isties,' suggested by the volume to which we
have referred, remarks that sit is impossible
TO become acquainted with those instances
of rational and well founded satisfaction with
a most moderate and limited present, OF
which continental life offers us so many ex-
amples, without feeling, or at least suspect
ing that, as compared with our hurried ana
turmoiing existence, our neighbors have
chosen the better part" In almost every
country of the world says the reviewer, there
is more enjoyment of social existence than
in England or America. While conceding
that activity is better than stagnation, and
that to the restless, dissatisfied and energetic
spirit of the Ang Saxon race may be traced
much of the material and intellectual pro-
gress of the world, the reviewer cannot per-
NIT himself to regard 'the struggle to be
rich as worthy of admiration for itself, nor
is it by any means sure chat the man who,
having a competence spends years, and
strength, and .spirits, and temper, in striving
for a fortune, has made wiser or better
choice than the man who, having compe-
tence, sits down thankfully and contentedly
to enjoy it with his family and friends
In the instances of rational and well foun-
ded satisfaction, of which, it is alleged, CONT
mental life offers so many examples, the re-
viewer refers to Norway, where the inhabi-
tants may be said to form one vast middle
class, and where, if no one possesses extreme
wealth, no one suffers from extreme poverty;
to Auvergne, where there is the same smooth
and unambitious existence free from corrod
ing anxieties and cares to Switzerland, es-
pecially i'll the Cantons of Berne and Zurich,
where much of the same primitive content
ment prevails; to Germany, especially cen
trail aud southern Germany, where, by the
complicated and vigilant arrangements of
the government Ia system concerning the
ACCESSIBILITY of which the reviewer does not
give an opinion,l care is taken that no pro-
lesion shall be Overstocked,-tha as fllnc-
tionary, surgeon lawyer, or master trades
man, there shall be no more aspirants than
there are posts to fill. In France too, are
many of the same class OF men, who, on
pittance which an Englishman or American
would regard as insupportable poverty, con-
trive not only to sustain life but to adorn and
eDjoyit. The reviewer shows that poverty
in Erapoa 70 oh
in England, and that the tastes of the French
peasant are a far surer guarantee against
sinking in the social scale than those of the
Engiishman. In this connection, the follow
ing characteristic incidents are given from
Bulwer's England and the English:
"Riding through Normandy one beautiful Sunday
evening overheard French peasant decline the
cornwall invitation OF his companion sWhy-no
thank you, said he, i must go the gaiaguefte for
souls = "1"'
The next Sunday was in Sussex, and "A nv
hotse smoiea by a cottage, heard a sturdy boor
VINO mad apparently just left it grumble forth TO
Dig boy swinging on gate; You sees to the sow
Jim, there's good un / be's lust q ooina ~ ~
rot emf" '1e u hts
1.-The extremes Of character in civilized
man." remarks the reviewer, are 70 he
found in the Asiatic and the Ameriean-.ba
silent, dignified, placid and stagnant Mussul-
man-and the stirring, pushing, restless and
progressive Yankee Between these ex-
tremes, he places the Celt, then the German
of the South, then the Norwegian, then the
Swiss, and finally the British, who, he SAYS
are ''only few degrees less ambitious, insa
table, unresting and discontinued than tbei
western offspring.
As q specimen of an extreme state of con
tentment, where content ought not to be, til.
following letter is given from Turkish Ca
di, extracted from the appendix to the secont
part of Layards Nineveh. 1t will be read b,
our go-ahead race with equal amusement ane
establishment. Layard had asked his Mussul
man friend, for some statistical information
regarding the city and province over which
he had SO long presided. The Oriental re-
Dukes him in the following extraordinary eff
fusion