The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-18


washes awayt the barriers Of ourinherent taciturn-
lty, and alone makes the American convers-
bic anlmal-then upon topics and men, of trade
and barter, and other things practicable thence
to socialities, ethical problems, casuistic para
doxes metaphysical nonentities, and other
matters altogether impracticable, and therefore
ever to be talked Of as children cast their un-
balted pin-hooks into the pond, not in hopes of
a bite" but because 1T looks like fishing.r
All, how many baby-houses and card palaces
do we grown men build, and give dignity to, by
reason OF the dignified names we bestow upon
them EXcursns, Dissertation, or Exegess, or,
mayhap, Phantasy, AirCastle, Rece, Chdtea,t-
en- Espdgne! 80 your petty tradesman miagni-
hes his wee one-eyed house in the suburb. call
ing it a 'Waverley Terrace, or Bellevue Pa
vilon. 'Aa fh"rslH 2 'aa s+. "fl "b 7
te- Qsis pinxit teonem. "a. 81 /
In comparison with thought SO heavily drag
gng, it was but a short step to Metropolis,
through city or two, with night in the cars,
so that at convenient hour the next morning
our travellers we're set down in the busy streets
of the great city. ~
They parted, one to seek his hotel, the other
with whom is our sole concern, in quite an op-
posite direction, to the wharves, in fact. Many
ships are there, in tiers three deep against the
slips" for Metropolis is place Of commerce
many sailors, dance-houses, "land-sharks, +" Gem
igrant-runners," emigrants themselves, in pic
turesque costume of fatherand, "junk shops,
oyster booths, 4" old clos, J" ready made !" com
merce and beggary living from the same sugar
hogshead; filth, bad smells, elation, grief, un
concern, all blended together in one ola
pod'ida, very wonderful to the landsman, very
wonderful to us ALL had we eyes to observe it
To- 10 L n l
mainly in this chaos of tarry oakum. T.
Our traveller paused before huge clipper
about which was crowded much business or
whose foresail, tapping in the breeze vas tackec
great canvass sign: So .3s
FOR CALF RNIAt
WILL SAIL FRIDAY, 25th,
For Freight or Passage, apply, dc, dc.
d Our traveller wanted neither freight nor pas
sage. He wished to quiet the heart by harden
ing the palm. This would suit him, however
for Tomorrow was the day, and this the route
he desired to steer. He went ON board, anC
accosted the mate, whe was experimenting the
stowage of freight.
"a hand?' said he, in answer to the
strangers inquiry. ave don't want any lands
men greenhorns in their long-togs. What are
you good for? Why, the weight of marlin
spike would break your back
The traveller said nothing, but STOPPING down
lifted a barrel of beef to his shoulder. and pu
it ON the third tier of, those that were piled b,
the bulwarks.
@ wear cloth, but am not weak
The mate eyed the performance apprecia
lively. " That is better" said he with some
thing of respect " but you're not fit to 60 be
fore the mast. You're a gentleman. We ar
short of hands, though, that's fact Thi,
cursed ship -
duty" |...
"Are you afraid of bad luck?''
The traveller started, as if he had been struck
:" have seen too much of it to dread it,
Because, if you are, warn you this shiI
has a precious bad name, my hearty, and we'v,
had a time making upa crew.
>" So much the better
game enough, Or desperate enoagh, in ali con
science We don't much like to be taking
strangers and you must confess your looks ar
rayther suspicious However, there's no hell
for it; beggars mustn't be choosers-no OF
fence; so come over here to the office, and wei
talk to the Captain about it
In fine, after some parley, our traveller wa,
accepted, and signed the articles
"What is your name? ?" asked the captain.
And the traveller said Jasper"
Jasper what or what Jasper?"
"Call me Jasper"
Hey It's Jasper Blunt, fancy" said the
Captain, with Jolly laugh "A case ofsacri
feed identity. Well, if you wish it. I'm SURF
Eve no objection. Have you an outfit ?"
Not yet
=" Money!"
Jasper drew out his watch from his pocket
All and do you know what YOU will need
Matey, Just draw him up short list, YOU know
kit -westers, frOcks, and all he will need, fol
| amt going to have my men freezing to deatl
off the Horn. There now, get those things, bid
everybody good bye, and come aboard tonight
or you will stand chance of being left behind
We 60 out as soon as the morning tide makes.
Yes, it was Jasper, fleeing from his woe, and
carrying out his resolution. In a singular
fashion he does it, to be sure. See how he
draws those fine gloves over his shapey hands
puts on a jaunty air, and steps into the omni
bus which answers his hail. Ogling the wo
men, and elbowing he men, he rides up town
to the most fashionable hotel, where he alights
For he has money in his pocket that he must
get rid of in a gentlemanly way before he
turns sailor. He saunters loungingly around
gives languid hand to an old college acquaint
the most costly and recherche drinks When
the gong sounds, he insists upon his friend
dining with him, eats through the courses with
delicate fastidiousness, has his wines, his cost
hest Burgundy, his delicatest Rhenish his most
sparkling champagne, his most golden wine OF
Here's, tasting of all, to spend his money
Then, having slipped his coffee, and paid his
BILL there remain to him few shillings only
with half of which he purchases cigars, with the
other half lavshly fees a waiter for brushing
him. And thus he parts with another remeln-
brance of home. 't
Desperate men have their whims, and our
hero is not perfect ., |t
Jasper went out from the hotel, and, making
his way through the throng, sought back
street. Here, after several crossings and turns,
he found a shop over the door of which, dinghy
shining in the light of the lamp In the window,
hung the arms of the Kingdom of Lombardy,
three golden balls.
-. ITO what base uses" &c #.
Did Charlemagne, when he placed that iron
crown above his high forehead, think which
Kingdom he made himself ruler of? Or did
Napoleon remember that his own hand made
him sovereign in that Empire of which the
Rothchilds are Princes by conquest-the En-
pire of Usury? Oh, money, almighty dollar,
tnOu mast more WOrSnlpperS IMAM even Wneh tue
people bowed down before thy symbol, priestly
Aaron's fgment, the golden calf in the early
times! Yet doth no prophet break the tables of
the law in wrath Far otherwise, for perhaps
himself is grievously inflicted with love for the
+" Hesh-pots," and, without undue persuasion,
might be made to bow down also; for the gifts
of Mammon, dreary and sordid though his cave
beg have the magical potency of Aladdin's
lamp Most of us scon money as we scorn
it disgusts us We want it not--a
cottage and crust, (sour grapes; J but bring
us up in Fegee, and there is no choicer delicacy
than roast missionary .-i ~84-tf
1t was curious shop this into which Jasper
went Full of shelves and drawers, and these
a oain full of all sorts Of things Much raiment