Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-04-30
american 5iunlDr.

American humor, we are inclined to be-
Ijeve, is the most genuine IN the world.
Its chief characteristic Is, undoubtedly,
tremendous power in exaggeration. accom-
panied bv sort Of innocent air of truth.
As an instance of this exaggeration moth
Inr can be better than the war story, which
tells how Snowman, from his constant
travelling about, had MS name enrolled IN
thousands of places, and was actually
drafted in 50 mluy hundred spots that he
formed himself into 4 brigade, held bri-
ga1e meeting, and elected himself briga-
der general by acclamation. Take too,
the story OF the steamer on the Mississippi,
that slleI from Baton Rouge for New
Orleans, ong way down the river, and
went 50 slog that after two days steam
ing She found herself ten miles higher up
the stream than when she started TINS
species Of humor is not confined to the
West. 1t was IN New England that the
fog was so thick that u man engaged IN
shlugins roof shingied a hundred yards
right out on the tog before he found his
mistake. On the other hand, underlying
the love for general ideas, and for that
ex iggeratlon OF speech that naturally fol
lows It, there is in Americans deep stra-
tum of shrcwl common sense, that con
tiuualy breaks out as a check upon bun
combe in its shapes, and has itself created
the udicrous ideas conveyed by the words
| buucombe, spread eagle aud hitalutIn.
| America, it must be remembered, changes
s. fast, that general statements as to
American literature and thought, that
might have been true few years since,
are not true now NJ. Lincoln was the
most thoroughly American man that
America has shown to the world. He was
the only American statesman that America
has pro iuced Even Webster was English
by his side. Everything about him
from his dress to the attributes OF his
mind, from his appearance to his jokes
and stories-was essentially American, aud
of the latest type. Mr.. Lincoln would have
been Impossible thirty years ago. But
Mr. Bret Harte's miners seem to belong to
new race, which knows not even Lincoln
/ Tney are far western,-Ljncoln was a GEN.
traI valley American. The men of th e
Mississippi valley seem all alike. Lincoln
and Parson BrownloW are two representa-
tive heads. The hollow cheek, sunken eye
large nose, high forehead, square chin, jet
hair, are alike IN all the men of southern
Illinois, Indiana and Ohio,a and Of Missouri
Kentucky and Tennessee. These men
have not square jaws for nothing. When
Parson Brownow was asked if he was
coming out as a Democrat, his answer was
= When | join democracy, the pope of
Rome will JON the Methodist Church
That there was tinge of melancholy III
L,nco!n's disposition is well known that
1t is general among Americans is les!
accepted theory, but not the less true. Ii
ruus through all their humor, aud seems tC
extend to California, for there is patho;
even in Mr. Bret Hartes jests. Down
rightue5s, melancholy, and odd expression
all color American humor, and distinguish
1t from that Of other countries. As tol
the odd expression, it must be borne il
mind that many so-called Americanisms o
the newest type are but old Engllshlsm
come home 10 roost again, and no longe
/ recognized by US. Platform may b
found IN Harrington !; . Let him slide
has Shakespeare's seal upon it; the New
l England drawl and twang itself may b
e heard in central Essex, whence it was tIa
r the Pilgrim fathers bore it across the sea
n to become in time the habit of more tina
t half the English race, and laughing-stoc
t to It's own parent in Old England. Their
i is still too much, however, of that vulgar
e ity which changes " madhouse into a
= " insane receptacle" and calls swindlin
q by the taking name Of D." financial irregular
0 ity."
# As for American downrightness, alon
q. with it there goes too much of one-slde
t ferceness into the American character
= No American, for instance. out OF Ne
n York and Boston, ever seems to read tn
o papers on both sides. He says "he can
It sit still to see his friends ab used," althoug
j. he reads with pleasure the personal attacs
b upon opponents in his own gazette. Ju'
1t as elsewhere there is too much, SO in Ame
> lea there is not enough of sympathy wit
II the physical weakness of any cause tia
r. is also wanting in moral strength. N
o American was able to conceive that theI
e were men in England, during the late #
n beliou, who could sympathize with th
e confederates merely because they were few
II apart from the question of whether the
IL were right. A western boy, talking
y such man, demolished him at one bio