Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-05-26

Mr.. EDITOR. When l had the
pleasure of seeing you here a short
time ago you requested me to furnish
an occasional article for your paper,
descriptive Of the habits, sayings, and
doings of the elite or upper-tendom of
Hoop Pole.
l presume, my dear sir, that our
people are types or later editions and
reproductions of thousands that have
gone before. The Goldfish or parvenw
aristocracy here I'VE very similar to the
same class IN. ssocSville or any other
village, for al ;osnS are infested, or
blessed, las you please, with this
class of people. They consist of the
children Of parents who by hard
knocks have made little money, Civ
en- them title education, and quar-
tered them upon mankind with their
heads chock full of the idea that it is
disgrace to work, and virtue 10
despise all who do.
But that you may Judge of us and
compare us with others of our class, /
must give you history Of our man
ners, customs, thoughts, and habits,
religious, social, and political Hoop
Pole. you must be aware from your
own observation, is a growing and
prosperous town. which, from present
appearances. il will take two genera
tons to finish. We have. you know,
several fine churches already finished,
and a large College building under
way, which will be completed during
the coming summer.
Besides these things. we have great
promise Of Railroad through our
valley shortly. All these things are
having decided influence upon the
manners Of our people.
Since the large church was finished,
upon which you saw Us engaged, q
very decided change has taken place
in the religious habits Of some of ouI
fashionable ladies, from which we
hope for much good. II is true few
old fogy Christians harden their hearts
and stillen their necks, and adhere
with puritanic pertinacity to their old
habit of going TO church solely with a
view to worship God without show OF
ostentation. but we hope TO be able 70
put them down by our ownward and
progressive march. II is shame that
these people should hold on with such
tenacity to evangelical religion, and
worship the Redeemer in heart and in
truth, because they feel il duty, and
a blessing to have this privilege. Thi:
class is fortunately small, and il VIC
progress as rapidly hereafter as We
have within the last two years, l hope
TO be able to report TO you in shorI
time that we have crushed and blottec
them out forever.
But let us turn to the more pleasant
side Of the picture. Ii would do your
heart good 10 see the "ladies of tn,
first families" come to church. Thes,
have been for many years leading
members, and as their husbands hav,
increased in wealth they have increas
ed their efforts TO persuade outsider
to join the Church. They belong I,
that class of persons against whom n,
toible or sin can be brought in tn,
great day. They feel their position
Is safe and certain. and can well aifort
as they advance in years, to lay b,
their armor and rest from the fatigue
and drudge,y of attending TO all thos,
minor religious duties which are 5,
fatiguing but so necessary TO th,
catechumen.
These ladies have mostly good teetl
(which never ache. given them eithe
| by nature or made by our accomplish
ed dentist, DIR. Keller, with whom
believe you are not acquainted. The,
dress in the very tip-top Of the fashion
following with great accuracy ever,
delineation of the newest mode--thei
dresses always Of the richest stuif1s.-
]. And here is the great distinction be
tween them and the old fogies: the,
always come to church after the ser
vices have begun, and at that partic
ular juncture when they can be seel
TO the best advantage by the who'll
congregation; thus showing by thei
example TO the greatest possible mum
Der, that they patronize the church
and that TO 60 TO church is thin
proper 10 be done. This conduct
very annoying TO the old fogios--bu
who caresY IL Is plenty good enougl
for them; let them come out and joil
the progressiyos.
Well, the ultras. who arc really th
shadows of the "tirst ladies'" folio,
close in the footsteps, and come afte
the frat prayer. In fact nearly all tn
first class Christians follow these yer,
excellent examples. All these ladie
after reaching Ais degree Of perfcc
ton in religious point Of view, tur
their attention 10 tho peccadilloes c
their neighbors, and by some mean
or other get TO understand their affair
better than they do themselves--an,
are particularly sharp upon that pre-
dominant subject IN every woman
mind, the prospective additions 10 ia
haman race, They ransack all Hoo
Pole for cases Of this kind, and com
municate ID TO all their neighbors. an,
scatter them Cog aad Magog,in letter
TO all their distant friends You mus
admit that In having reached this stat
Of religious abandon, we are WORTHY
sub ects OF envy to the good citizen
OF the village OF Brookvillc. Give !
lupg