New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-19
TILE 1tErpnpnLLr1N INDIANS

There is 4 class Of citizens in New-York each one
Of whose members may DO regarded as being noth-
ing if not vigorous protest asaiLSt the spirit OF
the age We refer to the metropolitan Indians
Standing In trout of their ayOute cigar stores from
early morning to late night, mOtonless ana nute'
they have neither part loo in the eternal roar aud
rush which Characterize this great city. Men may
come and men may go past them on douOlequlck
in their frantic haste to reach Que of lito's
many goals but the metropoh'an Indians remain
serene TRANQUIL unaffected. They rasOlutely decline
to be robbed of their individuality. They pay
not the slightest attention to their eager, Scram-
bling fellow-citiLens who jOsle another IN the
fierce race for wealth. position or fame. All they
do IS. ike tho sphinx Of whom Alexander smith
writes to stare right on with calm, eternal eyes"
In one Particular thoy resemble IennysOns ehgaB-
ing damsel the superb Eleanor. The laureate tells
us that IN her there was nothing sudden" 80
too, there is nothing sudden about the metropolitan
Indians The vlcissitudes of Tammany, the rise
and fall of stocks tho changes of the weather OF OF
fashions Conev Island. religion, politics, the
authorship of William Shakespeare's plays or OF
Steve French's Saratoga tele9ran-none OF these
things move tho metropolitan Indians. They greet
all the chances and changes OF this mortal life with
The same fixed good-na,ured, cOpDer-cOlOred coun-
tenance. II they haze feelings any subject. no
matter how deeply stirred those, feelings may be,
they always manage completely to hide them. IL
was said of u famous man of another century that
if he were stabbed in the back his face would make
no sign Just as skful are tho metropolitan In
dians in preventing any evidence of the emotions
that may be convusiug them from appearing in
their faces. Who ever saw their eyes hlndle or
their lips quiyer9 General Grant is usually re-
garded rs the most unexcitable of men, But lie is Il
frenziad gentleman in comparison with the metro
politan indians.
It's difficult to determine precisely what place to
asian TO the metropolitan Indians in the scale of
being II they are not the most valuable citizens
in the community, certainly they are by no means
the worst. And, in any event. they must be
credited with possessing one comnendable trait
Having nothing to say they say nothing. Their
conduct in this respect is in marked and4rereshing
contrast with that of sundry other wooden gem
tiemen of New-York who having nothing to say
always insist upon saying it at great length. In
deed the rule is that the woodener the man aud
the more thorough his lack OF anything to say the
longer the speech. The worst fault to be at
tribntel to the metropolitan Indians is that they
are eyaNve and unmanly in their position upon the
tobacco question Steadily standing at the door OF
cigar-stJres and generally VITA their right Danis
pointing significantly over their shoulders, they
would seem 10 be in favor Of the use OF the WeeI.
And vet 10 Is notorious INtJ no Ouc u tHtH was
ever known either 70 smoke chow or snuf. The
cons.au.nce is that their convictions touching
tobacco cannot be determined. one might as well
try 10 find out what tho current political platforms
mean TO commit the parties to on free canals. Bnt
i'm spite of this serious fault tho metropolitan In
dianS are entitled to the favorable regard OF their
White brethren OF Manhattan. They are IN 0thor
RESPECTS entirely tru3tworthy--oue always knows
where To find them. And in this age. when 50 many
entcrpriSng entiemen having first had the presence
Of mind To pocket all the cash appertainins to the
hunks with which they are connected, suddenly
h,sten 70 parts unknown without leaving thelr
noSt-offce address with any of the directors or
stockbodefs this is shining virtue. Again, con-
slider what slaves to duty the metropolitan Indians
are Who so punctual. who so regular who so
tireless as they7 They never complain. they
ueyer strike they scOrn to take vacation. Can
them NEGATIVE characters if You please. but let IL be
added that no one of them ever accused even
by his bittrrest aud most interruptions enemy OF
furnishing interpretive poetry or tIlDscendentdl
prose to the magazines.
Bnt it is because of the potent Influence of their
lives against the fever heat and high pressure that
characterize the course OF the rest of that the
METROPOLITAN Indians entitled to the highest NEED
of praise Day by day silently but eloquenty they
preach to the crowds that ill our streets that
there is no joy but calm No Influence is moro
needed, and therefore We move vote of thanks to
the metropolitan Indians. Who shall say that they
are not to be 1eckoned public benefactors
pEPCONIT