The Empire County argus., 1855-08-04
Life In America.

Life In America.
The following candid and sensible observations
on Things as they are in America, are by VIM.
Chambers, of the Edinburgh Journal:
Limited have been my excursion and oppor-
tuntes of observation, the broad fact was sufficient
ly impressed on my mind that the people of Eng
land know but little of America, while that little is
disfgured by certain prejudices and misapprehen-
sions. Travellers have, for the most part dealt
unkindly by the Americans that was unprepared
for much that came in my way of nature that
can be spoken Of only with respect. Their ener-
getic industry, perseverance and enterprise the
tastefulness of their dwellings, and with one un-
fortunate exeeption) the cleanliness and good gov
ernment of their Cities their patriotism and inde-
pendence of sentiment; their temperance; their
respect for women their systems of popular educa-
ton their free and unraxed press; their spotane-
Gus yet ample support of the ordinance of religion
as well as of every variety of beneficiary nstitu-
tions-all seemed to me to merit commendation,
and to overbaance greatly such imperfections as
have been fastened upon and exaggerated in the
descriptions presented by tourists.
Undeniably the personal manners of the Ameri-
cans do not, in general, come up to the standard
established in England. In ordinary circumstances
we miss some of the more polite observations of
Europe but the blank does not represent an
mtigated loss We are not encumbered with the
formaties of nexorabe etiquette; do we
see that stiffness of manner in the general inter-
course between class and class, which is stamped
on English society. The hauteur of rank is totally
unknown would it be tolerated. In the alb
sence of hereditary honors, opulence and refine
ment create distinctions; but these are simply re-
spected, not worshpped We all know of courses
that ordinary politeness, or gracousness of man.
ner, is different thing from servity and there
can be little doubt that, as America grows older,
and competition becomes more intense, proper
perception OF this not unimportant truth will be
more widely spread and acted on.
If the less cultivated Americans be as yet faulty
in this respect their shortcomings are obviously
traceablc to the great breadth of field over which
they exercise command. Happy in not being
cribbed and confined within town, or even spa
cious district, they choose their locality over
more than thirty States and if one place does not
come up to expectations, they resort to another
Neither do they feel themselves indssoluby tied to
any particular profession. | was frequently as
sured that man in the States is damaged by q
change from one line of industry to another Ev-
cry trade is open to every body; and as, from the
general diffusion of education, every one is pre-
pared to do his duty creditably, he is presumed to
be able to turn his hand to almost any thing
Hence the restlessness of the American character
Attachment to locality is scarcely known and
shifting from place to place, thousand miles at a
stretch, with a view to bettering the condition,
seems to be an ordinary occurrence. There is, in
fact, an immense internal migration. New Eng
land is continually throwing off swarms towards
the newly opened territories and States in the far
West the latest manifestation of this kind being
the movement of colony of settlers from Massa-
chusets to the newly organized State of Nebraska.
! The abundance of all material comforts may
perhaps be mentioned cause of the occasional
ly rude, Independent bearing which falls under no
tice. Straitened in circumstances, and burdened
with taxationed, but with conventional necessity
for keeping up appearances, a large proportion of
our n,61la class tO bn excnpdinUlv frural
in the consumption of articles of domestic use.
person accustomed to shifts of this nature, is
tonshed at the profuson at table in all quarters of
America There is at least, no stintng as to food.
1t was often pressed on my notice, that the hired
aborers in the fields are provided with better fare
than falls to the lot of thousands of the 'genteel
classes in England
In no part of America did I see any beggars or
ragged vagrants; and except in New York, the
condition of which is exceedingly anomalous, did
not observe any drunkenness there having been.
as | understood, great reform in this particular
| should say that, independently of the Maine Law,
public opinion on the bject of drinking is consid-
crably in advance of that of England My belief
however is that owing to peculiarities of climate,
there is less desire to parake OF stimulants, and
less immunity from the consequences of an exces-
sive use of them, than in the humid atmosphere of
Northern Europe Other things struck me favora"
bly,. observed that all classes were well dressed
My attention called to the fact, that when op-
orators had finished the labors of the day, they
generally changed their garments, and were as
neatly attired as those in higher stations. 1t was
also observable that mechanics in good employment
occupy better houses, pay higher rents, and dress
their wives and families BETTER than is usual iii
England or Scotland that they, in short, aim at
living in greater respectability; ahd in doing so.
necessarily avoid such indulgences as would inn
properly absorb their means. 1t was agreeable to
note, that the English language is every where
spoken well | heard no patois, no local dialect
The tone of speech uniform, though more ma
sal in some parts of New England than in other
places.
A RICH JOKE. gentleman played off rich
Joke on his better half the other day. Being some
thing of an epicure, he took into his head tnat he
should like to have first rate dinner. So he ad-
dressed her note, politely informing her that a
gentleman of her acquaintance-an old and true
friend would dine with her that day" As soon as
she received it all hands went to work to get every
thing in order. Precisely at II o'clock she was
mod to bor ba hOusn a