Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-09-25

There are some things common to every
communiiy-among these are the practices
Of the croaker. It's said that whatever is
indigenous in society is intended for come
useful purpose, but we have never been able
to discover for what good purpose the pro-
fessional croaker was designed. We can
stand the senseless monotone Of the amphib-
ious animal, Who,perched upon log, whites
away the tagging hours Of departing day or
Of the stupid raven, whose plaintive notes,
though meaningless, come oft in harmony
with the sad musings Of bruised spirit; but
the man-croaker, the dull, timid, spiritless
individual, who drags his slow length along
from corner 20 corner, day in and day out,
always trembling before the approaching
shadows, and drawing out his monotonous
song ofcoming evil, which falls like the dull
note Of the New York oysterman or char
coal vender upon the ear of the anxious
sleeper at early morn, is nuisance, and at
times positive evil, ONO small magnitude,
and which burdened community finds it
difficult to get rid Of
The man-croaker is particularly busy and
particularly obnoxious just now. Like frogs
in the hazy twilight of rainy summers
day, they are all perched for a grand refrain
Of ominous sounds. Day by day their dis
consulate visages grow longer, and their
sepulokral tones more dolorous The man
croaker Is not content to eroak 70 himself
Il is an instinct Of his nature to haunt the
street corners, and other places of public re-
sort, that he may have listeners to the evil
forebodings which burden his own oppressed
spirit. The mental and moral organization
Of the croaker is peculiar. Their imagina-
tons dwell in the regions Of shadows and of
darkness. They are insensible to hope, and
never see the bright side Of any prospect.
The sun is TO them always like the blood-red
moon to others. When others anticipate a
gale, they are certain of storm. When
rational people begin to descry the rising
sun, they can see nothing but the dog-star.
Poor gloomy souls; if they have any con-
ception Of pleasurable emotion, it is in
making others miserable.
The last four years have been peculiarly
favorable for the development Of these prog
nosticating individuals. They were busy
during the rebellion. They kept IN adUanoe
Of the army, foreboding evil. Whatever
disaster was to follow, the man-croaker told
it in advance. Whatever good was to ensue,
he was strangely obiivious to. They not
only lowered around the army, but infested
Richmond. Like the caty-dids, their notes
are always the same.
Almost everything that was good diminish
ed during the war; but the genus croaker
have not diminished.
They nave been croalking upon the crops.
In some portions Of the country, certain
famine is the inevitable doom. They are
croaking about the Radicals. BRowNLow,
like nightmare, sits upon their backs.
They already foresee him, as with torch in
one hand and chain and compass in the
other, he lays waste the country and then
parcels it out among his dusky followers.
They croak about the cholera. They are
not content that people should die at the
rate of forty or fifty a day. They must kill
them off at a rate that in few weeks would
almost depopulate our city.
Poor croaker, we commiserate his condi-
ton. His jaundiced nature is an infrmity
not a crime. And yet for the happiness
of society it would be we'll, il, like other
lepers they could have a pest-house to
themselves where they could feed upon the
gorgcns Of their own Imagination, without
aflrighting other timid people out of their
propriety. five had our way, we are not
sure that We should be just to the croaker.
We have frequently felt of late that he de-
served to be banished to the Dry Tortugas.
This might be tosevere, but he should at
least have some mark placed upon him by
which every unsuspecting wight might read,
This Is A CROAKFRn