The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-28
ESTIMATES OF THE AMERICAN.
What Some People Think of the National Char
acter as They Have Come in Contact withlt.

What is the leading characteristic of the
American peoplei was q question that was
put by Journal reporter to several of the
courthouse officials recently. The replies
received were about as varied as they could
well have been. And strangely enoughit
was noticeable that each mans idea of his
countrymen was based upon his own meth
DDS of dealing with them. County Treas
urer Loftin was the first one asked to give
his opinion. and his reply very markedly
exemplitied this popularity. ut is money,
money, money!" he said. II find that all
the Americans have had to deal with have
been chasing after the almighty dollar at a
breakneck pace. If they were all honest
in their dealings this would be very
commendable quality, but unfortunately
they are not. l have been Hotimized so
often that 1 am beginning "a doubt hon.
esty until have proof to convince me that
man Is all right. In one way my late and
esteemed friend Sullivan was a typical
American. Yes. / believe everybody is q
miser from the word CO."
Prosecuting Attorney Mitchell took q
more hopeful view of things. There is no
national characteristic" he said, more
strongly evinced than love of country and
the cOuntry's institutions. Some follow
ambition as god, others seek money and
still others work solely for the pleasure
they can pay for, but when you sift the
thing right down to the bottom, you will
find all agreed that we live in the grandest
country God ever gave to man. We are
proud of our institutions our land and,
above all, our national freedom"
There is only one characteristic have
ever noticed to any great extent" said
Township Assessor Quill, land that is q
tendency to avoid paying taxes. find
that it leaves patriotism away behind the
times. Everybody wants to shirk debts to
their respective counties For such / do
not see any possibility of supreme happi-
ness unit, they reach the other world
About the only characteristic that
know Of" SAID chief janitOr Edward Luby,
lis to chew tobacco and use the tile floors
for cuspidors. This, of course. only applies
to the men. AS for the women, Pm no au-
thority."
Detective Ben Thornton was found loung-
ing in the corridors, and when the question
was put to him he seemed lost in thought
After q moments reflection he said: Il
should say the most prominent quality in
the makeup of the average American is to
end of the Nation to the other. believe.
you will find the people inquisitive, even
when ambition and love of glory, and all
that. is lacking. Curiosity will go pretty
far in a man. and the Americans are not
much behind the times in exercising it,
Joseph L. Tanning, clerk of the County
Commissioners, took a broader view. ut
is pluck and go-ahead," he replied. that
you will find everywhere in America. Ma
tional energy. is stamped on every mans
face. and business enterprise leads every
thing"
MY idea of the American people," said
Mayor Denny" is that they are completely
wrapped up in rushing through life, striv-
ing to accomplish more In short existence
than people of other nations achieve in a
long one. They, as a rule, get more than
their share of the prose and not enough of
the poetry of this world,n