Year: 1875

From the Pttsburg Telegraph.


In Mr.. Field s recent lecture, in which he
endeavors to show that Americans are not a
cheerful people, he failed, if our memory serves
Alright to point out the reason of this fact
The national want of cheerfulness is, we be-
lieve, owing to the fact that here nearly every
one is trying to better his or her condition. 1t
is a feverish struggle for self-advancement.
In the Old World there are classes whose posi-
ton is fixed as to rank, place and wealth ; they
do not need to enter the general scramble for
money or social privileges. Then there are
classes which never expect to get any higher !;
they are content, and try to find all the amuse-
ment they can in life. 1t is not so here. Am
bition in America stimulates the whole mighty
mass to feverish energy, whilst ii casts the
shadow of care even over our recreations.
Americans are an amusement loving people,
they literally sustain shows, but th " do not
seem to enjoy them in hearty fashi III. Busi-
ness thoughts and perplexities are With this
people from morn until "the curfev tolls The
knell of parting day" At feasts at fu"er-
ais, at meals and on the streets, o. holidays
and on regular days, it is all the sam ); the 60
ahead American never ceases to mediate his
schemes and plans for gain or some sort of ad-
vancement 1t makes q powerful, but not
happy people. There is, too, another matter
which we think affects this phase of national
character. Our people do not know how to
practice economy. They are extravagant in
their personal and household expenditures,
and on this account they are kept unrelenting-
ly at work to "make both ends meet" They
never feel secure. No matter how rich they
get, their expenses continue to develop in like
ratio, and they are either threatened or think
they are threatened with some financial en-
barrassment. Too proud to tolerate the thought
of reverse, they bend every nerve and fibre
to maintain their establishments" and there
is little leisure or inclination left for whole
some pleasantries and simple serene enjoy
ments. Americans who have spent several
years abroad, find themselves, on their return
home, surprised at the eager, careworn and
impatient faces which they see everywhere
The national discomfort strikes the m in the
way of sudden revelation. They are consci-
Gus, too, of change in their own feelings
They have discovered in their travels that
there is such thing as not being afflicted with
a chronic fret, furry and greed, and by mod
Grating ones desires securing large gain OF
quiet enjoyment. These returned tourists are
a little apt to take too lazy a view of things,
but it is certainly refreshing to find some re-
pose amidst such surging torrents, of strife for
the worlds goods. After a while We may set
tie down into conservative ways, our waste
lands be taken up and our knowledge of fl
nancial principles be SO much extended that
something like permanence can be given to
values, and then with whatever of added sta
bility is gained, the people may become less
restless, social and domestic economies be bet
ter understood and large increase of individ-
ual cheerfulness result. We are still in the
transition state. We have left the old log cab
in away behind, but we have not yet reached
the mansions which grandchildren are deter
mined shall not go into the hands of strangers
There are still Black Hills beckoning in the
vista. half century hence we may prepare
to take life more easily, more philosophical
ly, and more oheerfully.