Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-01-21
the AMERICAN TYPE,

The typical American Is always rich.
He may not be able to produce title
deeds and bank accounts, or other tan
gible evidences Of wealth. but he is born
heir to innumerxble quarter-sections in
: land Of promise not always accessible
70 the ordinary voyager, but through
which he roams continually in quest Of
the pirate-hidden gold. the bonanza
mine, the great invention, the lucky
speculation, which shall open up to
him rapid transit route to affluence.
Just at the present moment he may
ind himself little cramped, but there
ba better day coming. a day quite near
1t hand when he shall burst this pinching
shrysalid shard. and soar aloft upon
arriferous wing, the free and brilliant
butterfly destiny intends him to be-
some.
In the meantime, rs far as his purse
will slow. he forestalls fortune. Born
IN heir. 1t is incumbent upon him to
live on . scale commensurate with his
Expectations. To-day he has only the
1866 Of twelve hundred dollars to
spend. but as tomorrow he may have
that amount multiplied by an indefi-
mite factor, to save any of it would be
the height Of parsimonious folly.
No genuine American ever believes
he will die poor. or suffer irreparable
loss or misfortune of any kind. Nay.
even when such loss or misfortune has
overtaken him. he vii! refuse to give it
the countenance Of his recognition, and
will expend his last breath in unfolding
some scheme for the bettering of for
tunes already past all earthly mend
ing:
The American is fond of splendid
undertakings. He revels in schemes
for building gigantic roads and NAM
moth bridges, for digging impossible
ters must be taken in hand speedily,
and pushed with energy. or he is soon
Tired Of them. Affairs that move slow
", do not move at all for him.
He feels the impetus of the age upon
6im, and to say of any project. "It
will take time, it will take time" is to
releg te it to some unknown limbo,
quite beyond the sphere of his consid-
GRAFTON.
He loves to play the role of prince
andpatron of enterprise. Or he will
be the brains. if you will; the sinews-
never. His to glorify the work, to talk
it up. write it up, to drum for it at .
good salary, to persuade others with
large expenditure of eloquent breath,
10 invest hard dollars in it; but that he
should WELD a spade, or trundle a
wheelbarrow! why what a waste of
brsin-pc~er were that!
Brain-power!-that is the shibboleth
Of the American; the totem which he
blazons not upon the grave posts"
but upon his own forehead; the potent
charm with which he expects to conjure
fortune
And by brain-power. be it understood,
he does not mean the power eNerted by
. thoroughly informed, BROADLY cul,i-
vsted intelligence; for the typical Amer
ican is not close student.
The distasto for continued applica-
ti6p and routine, which marks his ef-
forts in fields of material labor, pursues
him into the intellectual fields.
He believes ly,though secretly,
h inspirational knowledge, sort Of
atmospheric influence, IS 1t were. which
accomplishes for him all the results
sttsined only BY hard study ON the part
# the routine-ridden European.
q Brain-power with him means nothing
more than . certain intellectual alert
ness.a readiness in grasping the salient
features Of the situation, . facility for
and utilizing the know
ledge Of others.
He has no time himself to 60. into q
subject exhaustively. What he wants
Is results, conclusions, canned. so to
speak. like his peaches and peas.
"A notable lack of local attachment
chAracterizes the typical American.
His country is 20 large. that he cannot
concs nitrate his ahection upon any par
ticuisr valley or mountain-side.
II Is IA Amerlca, ana II u All ms.
bidding iareweil 70 ms birthplace
apon the Atlantic slope, ne wih trans
lcr -nimseM ara MS belongings 70 the
snores OF the racine. with Al the ease
Ano gayety OF heart that would attend
!, holiday excursion among . more
ltaPS people. i
10 MIN nostoigias an unknown emo
non. or q most . passing sensation,
3uickly dispelied; ana the immigrant,
'ick with longing Tor fatheriand, no
classes IN ms mind under the nead OF
Unusual - ana nnaccountaofe Phenomena-
ne VIII follow the iine OF new rail-
roaa. Pitching atemporary tent &C every
RAMON. and setsie down q iast AZ some
pofnt haif . co.onent Instant from ms
'tartfng Plsee. lnnoenced IN hls cnoiee
nIocahty oy no mere Weighey consid-
,ratfon tnsn that OF an advantageous
opening Tor real estate investment. But
wen when settled, he Is hy no means
ixed ms nome being often little more
nan P:Se-d-seTs' where no keeps wlie
mo cniidfen. ana otner snon-portaDie
'roPerty' ana TO which ne returns. AZ
intervals, for brief snatches OF rest and
ecuperation. .....