Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1866-12-01
Unmitigated Meanness.

We were never inclined to judge mankind
harshly. We have struggled for years to
fortify our belief that men, although some
times led astray by their passions and preju-
dices, were prone to do good rather than evil,
and that human nature was not SO totally
depraved as 1t is supposed by many to be. In
Judging the motives by which men are actu-
ted, we have been very lenient-too much so.
we fear-and when faults and errors have
been committed, ,benevolently attributed them
to ignorance rather thar guilt. Our sublime
faith in the inherent goodness of the human
heart, has, however, received some severe
shocks recently, and an underlined conviction
will constantly force itself upon our mind
that there are men in this world who are
not strictly honest. 1t is with unfeigned
sorrow and regret that we reluctantly feel
compelled to renounce our belief in a theory
which we have so long upheld and it sad
dens US to think we have been so long de-
ceived. 1t is very probable that we do not
regard what the world is pleased to call
"crime," in the same light people generally
do. 1t is not an uncommon occurrence to
hear highway robbery spoken of as disrep-
utable method of gaining livelihood, and
the gentlemen who pratice that profession,
denounced in the severest terms. We look
at the matter differently. We admire their
nerve and pluck, and always feel like taking
hot off xrhi in, tba,-
then, in com parison with some other ways
of getting living, we consider highway rob-
berry highly respectable. Swindlers we nev-
er thought much of; as general thing they
are bunglers. We have not the slightest OBJ
lection to being swindled, provided it is done
in scientific and artistic manner; but we
hate to be gulled for 'ssucker." Robbing
henroosts is little out of character, and if
INDUCED in too frequently, is not calculated
to give a man very good reputation among
his neighbors, especially if they are church
members; but then if he steals chickens only
during the Fall of year, and has the discrim-
ination to select those that are in gooo con-
dition, he at least acquires the name of being
person of excellent taste in the choice of
his food. The degraded wretch who robs
graveyards and charnel houses, and the filthy
squalid vagabond who supports miserable
existence by gathering up the garbage from
the drains and sewers of our large cities, are
not generally considered fit to grace the best
society, and their company is seldom sought
by any one. As low as they have fallen,
however, they are immeasurably above. NOR
ally, socially and intellectually speaking,
what we denominate "mean men, as the
heavens are above the earth. In comparison
with those who have become so utterly de-
graded, SO unspeakably mean and despicable,
SO entirely lost to all sense of honor, Justice,
decency and mercy, as to cheat poor printer
who is in the last stages of consumption, and
undecided whether to commit suicide or per-
ish by the lingering death of starvation, they
are the embodiment of every virtue, models
of morality and pinks of propriety. Con-
tempnble Faugh! we wouldn't spit upon
such cattle. Mean. we would disdain to
disgrace pair of six bit brogans by kicking
such dirty scoundrels. if they held up their
coattails to give us chance. About seven
months ago, We received from Peaslee & Co.,
advertising agents. New York, an advertise
ment of the American Watch Company, with
the request that we should publish it, and
forward our bill to them and they would send
us check for the amount-nineteen dollars
payable in gold coin. Supposing that so
widely known firm as the American Watch
Company would not entrust their advertising
to any but responsible agents, we complied
with their request. We sent our bill to
Peaslee Co., and after waiting some months
have received check on the " Ninth Nation
al Bank" of New York, for thirteen dollars
and half. Had the check been eigned by
William B. Astor, and we could prove the
signature genuine. we might possibly get it
cashed, at heavy discount, by sending it
to San Francisco. But, unfortunately for
US. Astor did not sign it, neither did Peaslee
& Co. take the trouble to afix the name of
'AASAA SSASoAoeco III W Iuc DOLlOlu III IT,
Possibly it is New York style to pay debts
with unsigned checks on bank, but we OBJ
ject to doing business in that way. We may
be mistaken, but the unpleasant conviction
will force itself upon us that "Peaslee Co."
are big bilks. They should remove their
office to the " Five Points, where they nat
urally belong. They are out of their element
now their former occupation of "garrotng,'
is better adapted to their capabilities. The
advertisement in question has been extens-
lively published in this State. Has anyone
got their pay for iii We should really Ike
to know.
PERRY DAVIS PAIN K1LLER.-We have
often spoken of this great medicine in terms
of very high praise, and we have as often felt
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