Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-12-28
CITY AND COUNTY
Lecture by II. w. IIigg,-son.

tocracy." The speaker began by referring in
a humorous manner to some of the pecuiarities
of American social life, and proceeded to dis
cuss the idea of an aristocracy of birth, which
is being superseded by the aristocracy of
wealth, while an aristocracy of intellectual
culture is destined to displace both in this
country. The aristocracy of birth was pass
ing away, and it mattered little to the
youths career, whether his family have been
eminent in the past or will be in the future.
The origin of the English aristocracy is in
primogeniture, and the European system of
landed proprietorship was tried in America on
the banks of the banks of the Hudson, to die
amid the bloodshed of the anti-rent war. If
we look at the trennial catalogue of Harvard
University, we shall see that formerly the
classes were arranged according to the rank
OF their families, not alphabetically. Now the
| president finds it hard enough to look after
the order of the students, without troubling
himself about the order of the family. The
speaker referred to the noble name of Lincoln
the only name that has furnished two governots
to Massachusetts.
The simple fact is, said he, that here in
America we are all plebeians together
| one vast middle class. According to the
European standard, we are all descended from
the lower ranks of European society. All our
grandmothers kept little shops III revolutionary
times, and sold herrings. At least said the
speaker, mine did and why, then, have a coat
| of arms, with castle, when none of our an
cestors ever lived in castle, even in ia re-
spectacle capacity of butlera DIR. Johnsons
| frank confession at the time of his courtship,
that he was without wealth and had an uncle
hanged, was met by the equally candid state
ment of his intended, that she was also penni-
less, and though she never had relative
hanged, she had fifty who oughtto be. Maria
Mitchell, that American woman who had al,
most literally written her name among the
stars, and glorifed the little sand bank where
she was born, was referred to as true type of
American aristocracy-a woman who would
adorn any society, however high. By recog-
MIXING the peculiar dignity of the different
employments, the more ennobling would those
employments appear, The line drawn be-
tween the mechanic and the merchant is a fan
cied one. He found not so much fault with
the conceit of the fashionables, as with the
want of sef,respect among the masses. What
makes a gentleman or lady? Good man
ners, good education, and good morals.
The lecturer considered that a sound basis
had been commenced in this country on which
American culture can stand. Art, culture,
and the graces will come in good time. The
destiny of the American race is 10 be high
caste race. Mr.. Higginson related the story
of the young American girl who at an English
banquet thought that among the great assem-
bly, of titled guests, stately and noble old
man 1.-THE poet Rogers) looked the noblest of
them all yet this acknowledged leader of the
literary circle of London and the young Amer.
lean girl were the only untitled guests present,
and were the closing couple in the long array
of titled flunkies, as they marched out to
dinner. But in this country, continued the
lecturer, aristocracy means little. Character
finds its level; so does culture. Intellect
finds its way to intellect; character to
character, and all the rest is worth nothing.
Elsewhere aristocracy has exclusive privi-
leges parks, libraries, sculpture galleries,
paintings, various modes of enjoyment
and intellectual elevation are monopolized
by aristocracy When privilege monop-
ozed travelling it was worth while to be
prince. The clumsy carriage and the rough
road were well enough but when the people
would ride, then were their harnessed steeds
swifter than the wind, and of tameless and
unfagging fire, and glittering steel lines were
drawn all across the land that those superb
courses might never miss their radiant way.
So it is with other privileges, they are not
abolished but superseded. What was exclu-
sve to few becomes, and will become, com.
mon to all. Every reasonable and noble de.
sire in the heart of boy or girl has av.
enues open to temptation on its attain.
ment. The poorest boy or girl, born
on the bleak hill side of the most un
genial spot in our land is richer for being born
there than in any other land in the world.
Every child may step from the cradle into a
career. In invention and practical application
we lead the world in science and art our day
is advancing; in literature the Pilgrim Shrines
are already becoming American we advance,
while France and England are falling into de-
cadence.
Through the shadow of the globe we sweep into
the younger day,
Better fifty years of Europe than cycle of Ca
thay."
And Thoreau has added
ethan fifty years of Europe better one New Eng
land ray"
The lecture abounded in incident, anecdote
in moral and mental superiority the sign of
true nobility.
SLEIGHlNG PARrY.-The first sleighng
party of the season came to this city, We'd
nesday, from the town of scarborough The
party comprised fifteen connles TO whom the