"But to take," as the newspapers say, 66 a more enlarged and comprehensive view of the subject." These abominations are spreading themselves with awful rapidity over every section of the country. In cities they abound, and are of every degree, from bad to execrable. But worse than this: even in the most (apparently) calm and sequestered villages -sanctuaries for retirement and contemplation and solemn thoughts-the demon of debate has established a president's chair; and the propounding and discussion of questions are carried on by the rustics with a vigor and pertinacity that argue any thing but well for the peace and quiet of the neighborhood. Really, unless some remedial measures be adopted, habitual disputation may become general, and no man be safe. But what chiefly alarms me, who partly believe in the transmission of peculiar qualities of mind, as well as body, from generation to generation, is, that this disease-this moral blotch of wrangling and debating, becomes rooted in the system; that what in our children is only an acquired habit, may, in their children, and their children's children, be a natural propensity! I will be gathered to my fathers long ere that, and therefore, cannot be supposed to be influenced by any personal feeling in speaking thus; but, good heavens! should it become hereditary! Then, in deed, may the peaceable and well-disposed of afteryears those who have escaped the taint-be emphatically said to have "fallen on evil days," and then will they exclaim, in the agony of their outraged quiet, 66 'Oh, for a lodge in some vast wilderness! But, perhaps, I am mournfully anticipative. Providence grant it may be so. But no means should be left untried to check the evil. I will apostrophize; perchance it may act as a dissuasive. Oh, tender, callow youth, of sixteen and upwards, listen! A voice from the olden time, even that of the wisest among men, calleth unto thee-" my son, get wisdom, and with all thy getting get understanding;" and that thou may'st do so, discountenance those talking, turbulent, truculent associations for the effusion of the froth and scum of oratory; eschew hot and bitter disputation-seek not for truth amid wrangles, and quibbles, and disingenuous paradoxes-consort not with such as deal in them; but hie thee to thy silent chamber and choose thy companions from the immortals, from the demigods of thy "land's language." Look now, in this small room, what a goodly company hast thou assembled around thee. What a congre RESPECTABILITY. RESPECTABILITY! Mysterious word! indefinite term! phantom! Who will presume to say authoritatively what thou art? What metaphysician or mental chemist will analyze thee, and expound to the world the curious substance or essence of which thou art composed? Where is the lexicographer gifted with powers, subtle and fine as the spider's thread, to define thee accurately, satisfactorily, so that the general voice shall cry aloud, "that is the meaning of the word ;" and every individual whisper to his neighbor, "that was my meaning." As for the explanations of the existing race of dictionaries, they are mere evasions of the question. About the boldest and most decided opinion concerning this particle of the English language that I am acquainted with, was that given by a witness in a swindling transaction, who, on being asked by the judge his reason for affirming that the defendant was a respectable man, replied, "that he kept a gig." There is something in the unhesitating and undoubting confidence of this answer, that carries weight with it. The witness was well acquainted with the defendant's moral obliquities; he knew that he had long been worthy the attention of the laws of his country; he knew, moreover, that he was only enabled to maintain this two-wheeled vehicle by a constant infringement of the right of meum and tuum; he knew, in short, that he was rich by good management and unhanged by good luck; but still, there was no getting over the simple fact he kept his gig; and so long as he did keep it, nothing could impugn his respectability in the mind of the witness. Yet, before we unthinkingly laugh at this man's tenacious adherence to his beau ideal of respectability, let us cautiously examine our own thoughts on the subject. A gig is respectable. A curricle may be dashing-a phaeton stylish-a carriage genteel, lofty, magnificent-but a gig is respectable par excellence. Yet, of itself, and independent of other circumstances, it does not wholly and safely constitute respectability, and here lies the difficulty. It is not all in all" there's the rub," or the question might be settled. Besides, its condition must be looked to. It may be badly lined, and worse painted; the shafts and wheels may be in ill-condition; it may, in fact, have a disreputable appearance rather than otherwise; it may be than a fiery altercation between Master Cicero Timkins and Master Demosthenes Simkins? Answer. "But are these things so?" exclaims some unsuspecting, kind-hearted father, or some amiable mother, aroused, for the first time, to a sense of the danger of her darling child, who has recently joined one of those associations, and in whom she has latterly remarked, with sorrow of heart, unequivocal symptoms of obtrusiveness in company, and a rapid development of the organs of obstinacy and self-will. Trust me, dear madam, they are, and must of necessity be so. I am not trifling with you. I am no giddy boy, writing for a thimble-full of local notoriety, but am myself a parent (of some six weeks standing); and though of the more obtuse (where feeling is concerned) or masculine gender, know how to enter into a fond mother's fears on such an occasion. Trust me, where one boy is benefited by such societies, hundreds are injured in their intellects, their morals, or their tempers. Where one over-bashful youth is inoculated with a little becoming self-possession, hundreds acquire a degree of audacity, repulsive even in those who have arrived at whiskers, but perfectly shocking in persons of tender years; who, by the yet unstiffened down upon their cheeks and chins, are reasonably expected to be patterns of meekness and acquies cence. |