Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-07-27

You've AMERIcA.-We undoubtedly
are a peculiar people. Our statesmen,
poets and politicians are peculiar-'the
bone and sinew of the land are peculiar
Our children are peculiar, but most
peculiar is very Young America. We
allude not to Young America, as seen
in legislative halls, or taking part in
political assemblages, but to still
younger boy, who, having doffed his
swaddiing clothes, has Just d6nned cas-
simere pants, dress coat, standing col
lar and high heeled boots. Look at the
mannikin! He is perhaps between four
teen and seventeen years of age. He
has no doubt of his manhood-not he.
He can swear like a trooper-play cards
like a gambler, and chew as much to-
baco and drink as much rum as most
children of superior growth.
Perhaps he aspires to craftsmanship.
How learned he talks of government
affairs, and how aeutely he criticises
the productions of our public men,
He gravely tells US that 'Aleck Hamil-
ton and Tom Jefferson were greatly
overrated,' and that Dan Webster,
Hen Clay and Jack Calhoon, were men
of some ability, but entirely too slow
for this progressive age Ned Ever
ett.' he grants, knows something of
Latin and Greek, but is without enlarg-
ed and liberal views, and should devote
himself to teaching school and preach
ing to the Unitarians.'
Bryant, Longfellow, and Hallack are
thought by Young America to be FRA
ther clever poets,' while Cooper, Irving,
and TX Marvel write tolerable well, all
things considered
At fifteen years Of age, Young Amer
lea falls in love, and, of course, 'sighs
like a furnace We have somewhere
met with something like the following;
1 say, Bob, Lucy Fairfield is a mons
trous fine girl; wonder she don't mar
ryP yes, she's rather handsome, but
failing very fast; you should have seen
her three years ago, when she was
about twelve years old; then she was a
beauty. Lucy loves me, but I'm en-
gagged; then her father hasn't the Con-
sumption, and may enjoy his wealth for
twenty years. Poor girl, pity herp
MY child said good Israel Muggins
to his interesting son, Il think of asso-
ciating you with me in business; what
shall be the style of the frm?' why,
what shonld it be but Israel Muggins,
Jr., d Father?' replied his promising
boy.
Another Illustration, and we close
Little Dick, aged fourteen, cigar in
mouth, asks his grandfather gentle
man who has seen eighty summers-ii
he will have "a weed "A what?' re-
plies the 'old fogy.' Aweed, grandpa,
that is, a cigar No, sir, l never
smoked a cigar in all my life.' We'll,
grandpa, at your age, l believe !
wouldn't advise you to begin
So much for Young America. He is
a boy of rare parts. At twelve he
knows more than his parents; at four
teen he is poet, politician, and critic, as
well as master of all the vices of the
day; and at sixteen he grows tired Of
youthful amusements, thinks of rich
wife, residence in the country, bloom
ing children, and other pleasures attend
ant on matrimony.
Verify, this is great country, and
we are a great people. We are either
infants at the breast, or by assumption
and manner, full grown bipeds, with al
the self confidence and importance char
acteristic of inflated and presuming
men.