The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1857-06-10
M 1 d d L Il b u II Y
German Peddlers,


Nothing is mO,e JehntNe y settled than
that the stages Vt mans life, trum the
cradle to tho gravA, Include certain pro.
cesses of development aud decay. In
this voyage it is wise to carefully mark
our progress, especially after passing the
meridian, if we can determine that point.
Men do not always welcome the evidence
that they are declining toward that pc.
Rod whvu the grass-hopper is burden.
History shows TOO, that nations, like in.
dividuals, If not necessarily, almost as
certainly experience similar process OF
rise and fall. in these parallel stages
we can mark similar characters tics-the
buoyancS and often the recklessness of
youth,-the energy aud wisdom of ma.
turity,-the blindness aud egotism which
too often attend declining years.
1t may be thought superfuous, in this
carly period Of our history, to look for
evidences of decay but we think there
is even now danger of selfdeception
We are not moved to this inquiry by the
agitation among cur brethren Of the
press, of the subject of diminution of
numbers in our common schools, which
to some clearly argues the folly or other
1e nh
for population.
Decrease OF population is certainly an
ominous symptom, but to us not so sig
ni6cant as the evil of which we propose
to speak, viz the prevalence aud pros.
perity among us of German Peddlers.
To an unrefective mind this may not at
first suggest any serious occasion of
alarm, but when viewed in connection
with all its bearings it cannot fail to
lead those who interest themselves in the
present and future welfare of society, to
thoughtful inquiry. The operations of
these foreign, swindling, interlopers in
the community, with their deceptive
wares, fraudulently drawing money from
the simple and credulous, and taking it
to distant parts, derauging our mercan-
tile interests, to the prejudice Of our hon.
orable tradesmen, is a matter of some
financial consequence. But it is not in
this view of the natter that we are most
interested. We appreheud the facts we
have just alluded to, and which are pal
pable to everybody, are indicative of pre-
mature decline in the character of the
Yankee Nation The time has BEEN
when we we're able to raise our own ped.
dlers,--enough to do all the swindling
at home, and a large surplus for any in
vIJrug neIu eisewuere. In those times
too, the wives and daughters of the yeo
marry were tolerably competent to deal
with their sharp cousins 1t was diff
cult to deceive them intir, earthen, or
wooden. ware, and they knew when the
calico was all cotton. The husband aud
father could 60 to his work, feeling GER
tain that the paper rags would not be
weighed out without a fair equivalent.
But how do then and now compared
Shades of our grandmothers For your
repose we trust you are all unconscious
of the financial transactions that are now
made by your degenerate children. De,
generate is the word for by no other sup.
position can the success of these stupid,
repulsive foreigners, whose only financial
skill consists in telling incredible lies
be accounted for. We would suggest to
the above mentioned seekers after female
weaknesses, that this is an interesting
field for them.
We do not offer these thoughts to call
for any practical remedy for the evil
but merely as evidence of decline in ma.
tional character. One historical fact
concerning the Teutonic race might in
this connection be mentioned as having
great significance. Since the great
Northern Hive first made its existence
known to the civilized world, it has
shown inexhaustable resources for omi.
grafton. TO whatever country they turn
their attention, so pertinacious are they,
they never fail to appropriate it to them.
selves. Are these poddlers the pioneers
Of a, eonquering race
These thoughts may suggest profitable
meditation when German peddlers are
about.