The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-04-23

HABITS, MANNERS, AND APPEARANCE.-I
is strange that the men of the South, wht
Justly pride themselves upon the respectful
Difference and courtesy of their manner
towards women, should, from want O
thought OF from sclfshneSs, sometimes act
in such way as to cause Southern ladies
both embarrassment and shame In so.
cicty, or during the charming tcte-a-tetcs oI
early morning, no lady need fear from a
Southcrncr any word or act that will cause
her lip to pale, or the blush to rcddcn her
check; but the instructive dclicacy of feel.
ing which guides our gentlemen within
doors and at home seems too often to de-
scrt them on the street.
Four years of war, the hardships and
temptations Of an army life, and, last and
greatest, the feeling that make the heart
quiver and throb when the last hope is fled,
have caused too many of our people to be-
come careless and improvidept of name
and reputation. There is work for all
but we are lastdious, and hundreds of those
who might become worthy and honorable
citizens if they would but use their
strength, fritter away their time in useless
repining, and attain the height Of their am
bition if they can lounge about the streets
from morning until night.
The genus LoAFER is unhappily already
well known in this community, and those
who do not persistcntly close their eyes,
cannot be entirely ignorant of the habits
and customs of this class of Southern BIZ
peds. A LOAFER is usually found at the
bar-room, in front of the hotels or post
office, near a convenient druggists, or,
tIn, al Ia, p
church-the different places being fre-
quented by different species of the genus.
The "bar-room l0afcr" is perhaps the
worst Of all. Who has not seen him, with
coat, once black, but now with whitencd
seams and rayellcd borders, the torn and
thread-barc pantal0onS, the soilcd collar,
and the battered hat with its band of
mourning crapc-tor even the "bar-room
loafer" may once have had tender mo-
ther or sister to love and carcss. There is
the flushed and swollen face, the ill-trim-
med beard and hair, the crimsoncd nostril,
the blcared and watcry eye, the knotty,
trembling hand-all the marks and signs of
that intcmpcrance which has made smoother
the already easy road to ruin but even
he, though lost to honor and Sclf-respect,
though he lies in wait for a drink, is not
utterly undeniablc rhiie he has not injured
or outraged ,roman. There is, however,
class OF "strcet-corncr lOafersn who still
must have our SympathieS At the corner
of the street, near the lamp-poSt, where he
takes his light rcpast, is the thin-faced boy
who wears the tattcrcd grey Jacket, its
buttons drapcd in mourning, its cloth
stained with the marks of many hard
dcarcr, nearer still to us
shan all the glitter and pomp of brass, and
old, and steel. The tale of blghted for
nc, of wounds and suffering, is told too
U in each rugged feature-thcre is no
s'k yet for him, no consolation in the
i"re, and the Southern people are pow
CTS to aid those who suffered for them.
ildes these there is the "hotcl loafer,"
"'n' one of the most mischcvous and
I',. e OF the entire unhappy genus. 1t
ls MS stom to take his post early in the
nv, Ia IN the entrance hall of the hotels
anu a;', chewing or smoking, and adj
JUL, Jou, occasionally to the convenient bar
roJl,'I ;"h. l., nv Nsses his weary day. With keen
@ slsnt he Nches his opportunities of amuse-
inon', a"a'hen the weather is boistcrous
anu 'lie Wis eddy and whirl round the
sa .Van.i, nm ppiness is at its height. He
tnoio ioisc.uthe traditions of the South. |
od:ss. mrSs "Gn@ ,,;,.i fair game to him, and the
.awn Is h gu compelled to walk down
,."n,, oU"m amo"s a,,9.o = her every movement and
J onJi s;nars nu.sea sir flowing robe is watched
though her beas,rs f,oa hn anst, i;.n Ha.
confusion and ar,at;ona 'u chn y WIN
sport, and that NO w;nd rb;ah IaJ - aSn,s,l ia,i
iGSasI aaSds.ssssd Ee scrutinizing glance
NJ. eonsideredd a fips