The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-03
EEAps UP--HEEIs UP.

4 with the head, foreigners have often noted,
but never explained. They have been con.
tent to remark that the typical American
never misses an opportunity, in either public
or private places, to put his feet on table,
or the back of a chair, or on some other sup
port which will enable him to equslize the
attitudes Of the two extremites. And some
of them, assuming the practice to be as pecu-
liar as it is common to the people of this
country, have sneeringly denounced it as
a Characteristic and national development of
inherent rudeness, coarseness and brutality.
This view of the subject, it is needless to
say, is both unphilosophical and unjust
There is nothing in podology or craniology to
authorize the conclusion that the elevation of
the feet to the same line with the head is in
itself an evidence of a rude, coarse and bru-
tai nature. Nor is it a thing peculiar to
Americans. People of all countries are
addicted to it in so far as they are addicted to
lying down to rest and to sleep. The mode
is only an American popularity; the mode,
we mean, of improyising a sort of recumb-
ency while in the act of sitting. Nor is it
thing common to all Americans. We venture
to say that Washington, the elder Adams,
Jefferson, Madison, Van Buren,, Buchanan,
and perhaps other Presidents, were
never seen, in public places at
least, sitting in such posture as to make the
bottoms of their feet little more conspicuous
than their faces. Turning to representative
Americans in the military profession, we
venture to say also that pedal exhibition of
this kind was never made by either Gen.
Scott or Gen. Lee; perhaps not by many
other regular officers in the federal and Con-
federate armies.
But it is not to be disputed that great
many Americans, probably a large nrrajority,
do with notable frequency stick up their feet
when sitting down. This fact like every
other fact. has its philosophy. The only
wonder is that, in an age so fruitful of phi
losophical travellers like De Tocqueville, and
of philosophical historians like Buckle, no
one has taken the trouble to trace the phe-
nomonon to the operation of its underlying
law. This, in the persistent default of other
writers, we now purpose to do, boldly and
confidently, but not aTogantly and boastfully.
For the explanation lies too near the surface
to allow any one the credit of remarkable 'yigor
on profundity of mind for having got at it.
The law to which we refer is no other than
the universal law of action and reaction. The
practice among Americans of sitting with
raised feet, as often as they can, is the result
Of the no less prevalent practice among them
Of standing and walking about, as much
as they can, to work, to transact business.
md even to enjoy pleasure To the
natural restessness and mobility of the
American organization is added the stimulus |
Of the notion that to be much upon the feet, |
standing or walking, denotes energy and in !
lustry, and that to be Intentionally still and at |
Ease in any position, especially in the position
If unqualified and premeditated redundancy,
rgues an indolent disregard of the CONNER
ial value of time and activity Hence Amer
cans sit less than any other people. They
,uy and sell, negotiate, discuss, gossip,
standing they drink standing, and in great
Measure they eat standing. Observe them
n their visitations to coffee houses. They do
lot take chairs at a table in some QUOT corner
nd call for such beverages as operate slowly
N the blood and brain but abhorring the
east waste of time, they gulp down some
quor which has the merit of producing in
tant effect Perhaps they hurry out. Per-
APPS they stay some minutes, talking while
landing, with incessant motion of feet and
egs. If they stay, they moisten their
ongues and nerve their energies for further
consistency in an erect position by renewing
heir drinks. If they go, they are apt to find
heir way soon into another coffee house
aving, it may be, smoked cigars, standing or
'alking, and concluded some business trans-
ction without resting their feet or legs.
Would it not have been, then, as good econo-
~ in point of time if they had taken chairs
table in some quiet corner and drank in
lore leisurely manner? Doubtless they could
ave made it better economy in point of
me, for in such hurry there is seldom real
.ed the advantage of real haste. Still more
hight he gained in other respects by the
pparently slower and more deliberate meth
d. Besides escape from many precipitate
argain, which might have proved extremely
lischievous in its results, there would be
luch fewer cases of varicose veins on the
gs, now so frequent complaint among
mericans
But the fast method has thus far prevailed,
lough we believe that there are some signs
its gradual decline. And this brings us
ack to the proneness of Americans to put
heir feet up in those rare moments when
hey can sit down and feel at leisure. At
UGH times only the fear Of looking lazy or
lgged out, prevents them from lying down.
ature demands redundancy, but they are
shamed to yield frank obedience to the de-
and, and will only consent to assume a
osture which is not exactly sitting or exactly
ing, but compromise between the two. 1t
in this form that they submit to the newt
Die reaction from their excess in standing up.
hey could not resist, however resolutely
ley should try. They can not save their
Ike and eat it, They cannot fish always
ithout rabaitino their hooks or ranairino