The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1857-11-28
G!lc Gssopist.


U-The following was read as an " Essay -
ut the Elkton Lyccum, few evenings since,
by Pinkney Ewing. 1t is qnitc good hit at
q prominent feature fthc times.
WHAT'S THE NEWS >
This is the characteristic interrogltory by
which you can distinguish an American in
any quarter of the globe. His desire to know
what is going on in the world is so Unsuitable,
that meet him where you WILL lie propounds
that query before the customary sAlutatiOns
have been gone through with; and can scarce
ly retain his Impotence until it is answered.
Call on friend or acquaintance and this
seemingly al-important topic is the first one
taken into consideration. Pass along any of
our streets or thorougliares, and in the faces
Of the many who jostle you as they hurry to
and fro, You will notice that peculiar express
sion, which tells you rs plain rs words could
utter it, that they are in quest Of something
hcw-solnething that may excite them, and
cause the blood to flow more rapidly through
their veins.
We are, one and all, eternaly complaining
of the dulln.ss and stupidity of things and
places, and are ever on the lookout for some
new excitement The daShng belle and the
domestic Young maiden are, alike, culious to
see and hear all that is going On in the world.
The bridegroom and the bride can desert each
other to learn the news. The stcadicst Of
business men can pause awhile to ascertain
the latest intelligence, and even the old cronc
doing in the chimney corner gives Il willing
ear TO any fresh gossip. We are nation Of
news mongers and to sigh over the dull
times, and long for liyeiicr ones is our nation
al Characteristic. Our business men complain
of dull times unless there is panic or Il crisis
politicians complain of dull times unless
they are agitating some new theory or project
our church gocrs complain Of a dulmcss in
ecclesiastical affairs unless they can be cleo
triiicd by the spasmodic efforts Of u Sturgeon.
and our worldIy-mindcd, pleasure seeking
folks complain ofbcing dull unless engaged in
4 continual round Of gayety and dissipation.
Excitement seems to be the chief end and
object of an Americans existence. 1t is
sucked in with lis mothers milk, and the
desire for it grows with his growth and in
creases with his years. 1t is the very pith
and marrow of his boncs-thc meat upon
which he fecdS-the fuel that propcs him in
his insane race-thc vital principle that sus
tains and animatcs him in his go-head career.
Rest is Il word he knows not the definition of.
Contentment has no place in his compositions
TO be satisfied with quiet, unoltruSive lie
is, in his estimation, unworthy Il rational be-
ing. In such mode Of existence he is una
bic to discover any enjoyment. His tastes
and inclinatOns have been cultivated in such
manner, that to crafty them lie must be
plotting and schcming day and night, and
using his utmost endcavors to get himself or
some Of his neighbors into a 90 muss,' so that
he may enjoy the fan. From the moment he
crawls from the cradle, till the hour in which
he is unwillingy compelled to yield his worn
out carcass to the undertaken and sexton, he
seeks to be in an incessant whirl Of excite
ment.
The blue-eycd German is content to move
round, and till and beautify the same patch
of ground his father, grand father. and great
grandfather before him held and tiled the
sturdy Englishman is satisfied with his ale and
beef, and willing to take things as he finds
them, and be logged along slowly, when he
can do so without any trouble to himself, or
any exertion to his corpulent systcm-the
volatile Frcnchman is ready for Il fee or a re-
vo!ution at an hours notice; but his eticr-
vescenee soon subsidies, and Il fricasced frog
will at any time restore his equanimity. But
not so the genuine Yankee. Nothing ever
progresses rapidly enough for him. The world
doesn't get along just as fast as he fancics it
should, and at it he goes with might and
main, determined to force it on faster toward
its proper and ultimate destiny. Or his pos
sessions don't accumulate as speedily as he
desires, and he pitches into business and
works early and late, day and night with the
determinations of securing fortune at a DASH
The consequence is he wears himself out
while he is yet in the prime and yigor of his
manhood, and does not advance the world or
the age in which he lives, or increase his gains
sufficiently to compensate him for the wear
and tear he has endured and the turmoil he
has undergone.
We are anything but old fog ish or conscr-
vative in our individual views and notions.-
In fact we endeavor to ride on the flood tide
Progress and keep pace with the fast age in
which we live. We like to see the world pro-
crossing, and strive as earnestly as VIC prl-
IDENTIFY can to advance it. But there is such
thing as being too fast, and we are Of the
opinion that the universal Yankee nation Gets
little too fast occasionally md is loser in
the long run. If we would, one and all-in-
dividually and collectively-takc deliberate
view of the good consequences that arise from
this driving ahead SO rapidly, and then com.
pare them with the evil results that follow.
we might perhaps learn to move forward some
what slower, and would find eventually. that
our objects were accomplished equally as
well, and equally as soon us if we had rushed
forward, stumbling into every bog and ouae-
mirc and jamminG our heads against every
obstacle; and would find, moreover, that we
were in much better condition and more cana
Bile of enjoying life both going along and after
reaching the goal.
The desire to know the news however, and
to get mixed up i'll some new excitement is so
thoroughly kncaded into. and anmlcamatcd
with, American Acsh and blood that it is AL
most useless to hope for a reformation uulcss