The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-01
The Clergyman, the Loafer, and the
Anise-seed Bag.

In O sermon preached by the Rev. HEBER
NEWTON in this city last Sunday, he made
the following pessimistic remarks in regard
to the fitness OF New York as an abode for
good people:
Tho middlng classes in New York are being driven
OF the city Brooklyn the City OF Churches
tho city Of public spirit out into the suburbs in all di
rsctions Our young who not poor to feel
themselves Of account and not 80 rich as to become
loafer spending their time in hunting the anise seed
bag. thus becoming civic eSiles With them drifts
away from us the very material TO which We should
naturally look for civic reform Our city Is rapidly be-
coming city OF the .Ich and Of tho poor-tho two
cities which PLATO in the great centres OF Greece
and over which he mournSd"
We have often pointed out that there Is no
such thing as 4 middle class, or. as the Rev.
HEBER NEWTON calls it, "middling" class
In this country. 1t is not to criticise his use
OF this phrase, however, that we desire to
call attention to the paragraph which we
have quoted; but we wish to consider the
propriety Of applying the term loafer, as he
does, to the young men who are rich and
choose to spend part OF their time in hunt
ing the anise-seed bag. In WEBSTERs Die
tionary loaier Is said to be IAN idle man,
O vagrant; he who seeks his living by
sponging or expedients." The lato JOHN
r, BARTLETT, In the fourth edition Of
his well-known Dictionary OF Americanisms.
defined loafer as "a vagabond or an idle
lounger," and the extracts which are given
In that work illustrating the various uses OF
the word show that 1t is never applied to
those engaged In any sort OF active pursuit,
whether for pleasure or profit. The term is
said originally to have been applied to the
Migrants OF large American towns, in a
sense equivalent to the lazzarone Of Naples
or the lepero OF Mexico. A Philadelphia
authority says: Loving the excite
ment OF busy scenes, yet too lazy TO
be an actor In them where men are
busiest, there too is to be found the pure,
unadulterated loafer, sprawling about asthe
hound sprawls before the fire. in every
body's way and tripping up everybody's
heels" Another description of the lOafer Is
that given by JOSH BILLINGS, who says:
He has no pride that Is worthy, and no
delicacy that anybody can hurt. During
his boyhood he kills cats and robs birds
nests. During middle life he begs all the
tobacco he uses, and drinks all the cheap
whiskey he can at somebody else's expense"
Other illustrations of the true meaning Of
the word may be found in the Dictionary of
Americanisms and similar works, an exami-
nation OF which ought to convince the Rev.
HEBER NEWTON that he is greatly In error
when he denominates those persons loafers
who hunt the anise-seed bag.
Riding about the country after a pack OF
hounds that are following what thoy prob
ably suppose to be the trail OF fox. but
what is really the track of fragrant bag OF
seed, may not be the most useful or elevat-
ing pursuit In the world, but there is
no element Of loaferishness in It, The
young men who indulge in this pastlme to
any great extent must be healthy vigorous,
clear-headed, manly fellows who have learn
ed to ride well and boldly, and to exercise good