Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-01-10
For Loudon Freq Press.


A happy new year to you and your readers
May the sunshine of happiness, and the horn
of plenty poor out upon all blessings and pros
perty. 1t produces decidedly a suddening i'm
preston when we, even amid the glee and frolic
of Christmas and New Year Think of years
gone by, and the changes they have wrought.
1t seems but a few days since l. little boy, on
Christmas times, rambled over hill and val
ley, with my assOciates-my JOY saddened me
only by the reflection that all the year was not
Christmas. Not playmate of those days is
within my circle of neighborhoodship. Many
of the boys with whom l played have been
swallowed up in the grave; others are scattered
broadcast over the world and |, after having
been tossed for time on the sea of life. have
landed my bark among those who one year ago,
were strangers. Such is life, and not year is
spread out on the cycle of ages gone, but works
tremendous changes in the aspect of the affairs
of earth. The history of one man embodys an
outline of the history of millions. There are
differences in some Of the the details, but the
grand elements are the same. By this do not
mean that the history of all men are the same.
There are many classes Of mankind morally, in
tellectually and physicallyand the life, actions,
and impulses OF one, are the life actions and
impulses of millions of his class. The tree is
known by its fruits. Tie actions of men are the
best, the surest criterion by which the heart can
be judged, but there are other induces by which
tolerably correct conclusions as to the character
feelings, and sympathies of men may be deriN
we'd. The relation between mind and matter is
so intimate, so exquisitely sympathetic, if you
please, that the operations of one are unmista-
kably written on the other. Now do not
wish to be understood advocating, or even be N
feving the doctrine of phrenology; for | think
that such silly system deserves not even the
name of a scit ntifc humbug. But heaven
never designed that the knave should impose on
the honest man, hence ever since the DAYS of
Cain, scoundrels have been marked. 1t is re-
markable what an effect habit has on the dis
tinctive features of the flce-the person. The
face of a man most enerringly indicates his
disposition, his habits and his soul. The South
ron does not look like the Yankee The Scots.
the German, the Irishman the Englshman and
the Frenchman is as readily distinguished by
his features as by his language. These diferen-
ces are not attributable to physical causes in the
main, but to the difference in mental education
and operations. Who needs to behold the knife
reeking with blood in the hand of the assassin to
determine his character? Why you often meet
men with whom you would not trust your life if
a hundred dollars were the booty which should
induce your death. Murder is written in blazing
letters in the face of the murderer Theft
speaks out from the eye of him who would steal;
and he who is honest is recommended by his face
the tone of his voice-the glance of his eye
1t is important that we study the character of
men from their features. "The proper study of
mankind is man. 1t is truth, however that
villains are better skilled in the study-the sci
ence rather, than honest men arc The one
inquiries, the other trusts. That one NAV often
be mistaken, and men may sometimes cloak their
villanies under the garb of honesty is not to be
denied, but the general rule of (which we have
spoken is correct. But truce to this. Christ
mas passed off quite quietly for Chattanooga
Quite number of our citizens got drunk, and a
few heads were badly bruised, but Zone we're
broken and that amounts to something. Our
sporting gentry have been amusing themselves
by rafting for watches. | see quite number of
them fitting along Market Street with gold watch
es they have won, but hard by is some unfortu-
nate fellow whose purse has been emptied, but the
quid pro quo has not been realized. But this is
but an exemplifcation in miniature of most
worldly success. That which elevates one man
drags another down. The riches of the million
aire feeds hundreds on hunger and clothes them
in rags. The conqueror ascends the throne of
empire over mangled careasses, and ruinedi
nations. The tears of the widow battle his
throne, and the cries of orphaus ring through
all his wide dominion. Millions endure agony
that one may be gratifed. Our world seems
one vast arena in which all are joined in fierce
contest, the one struggling to devour the other.
one cheats under Observation-Disclosures garb Of piety-
Another steals another murders. The Polit-
clan lies and ISLANDERS that he may ride into Of
fee. The clergyman denounces the damnable'
heresies of his sister church rather than the
crimes his bible condemns. Warwar,t to the knife
seems to be-is the theory of every one. The
stad matron dimes with her friend (?) to have
opportunity to unmask the faults of her neigh
Dor, and each mouth in the great theatre of hn-
mainly is fountain from which flows stream
of falshood, SANDER, and hypocrisy, and when
these streams all meet thev form mighty food
which rushes over the world, enveloping every
neighborhood and community in a storm whose
angry howlings and tempestuous wrath stirs, to
It's profoundest depths, the sea of social feelings
and sympathies, and transforms every neighbor
into hyena-ready to tear IN piece-meal his
neighbor Nation against nation; church
against church; neighborhood against neighbor-
hood; man against man is the order of this
| fight. But | see have an inclination to NOR
alize TO-DAY, and not in the most charitable style,
to play the part OF DiogeneS rather shan
| Democrtus. N