Though I do not quite sympathise with those who consider Cincinnati as one of the wonders of the earth, I certainly think it a city of extraordinary size and importance, when it is remembered that thirty years ago the aboriginal1 forest occupied the ground where it stands; and every month appears to extend its limits and its wealth.
Some of the native political economists2 assert that this rapid conversion3 of a bear-brake into a prosperous city, is the result of free political institutions; not being very deep in such matters, a more obvious cause suggested itself to me, in the unceasing goad4 which necessity applies to industry in this country, and in the absence of all resource for the idle. During nearly two years that I resided in Cincinnati, or its neighbourhood, I neither saw a beggar, nor a man of sufficient fortune to permit his ceasing his efforts to increase it; thus every bee in the hive is actively5 employed in search of that honey of Hybla, vulgarly called money; neither art, science, learning, nor pleasure can seduce6 them from its pursuit. This unity7 of purpose, backed by the spirit of enterprise, and joined with an acuteness and total absence of probity8, where interest is concerned, which might set canny9 Yorkshire at defiance10, may well go far towards obtaining its purpose.
The low rate of taxation11, too, unquestionably permits a more rapid accumulation of individual wealth than with us; but till I had travelled through America, I had no idea how much of the money collected in taxes returns among the people, not only in the purchase of what their industry furnishes, but in the actual enjoyment12 of what is furnished. Were I an English legislator, instead of sending sedition13 to the Tower, I would send her to make a tour of the United States. I had a little leaning towards sedition myself when I set out, but before I had half completed my tour I was quite cured.
I have read much of the “few and simple wants of rational man,” and I used to give a sort of dreamy acquiescence14 to the reasoning that went to prove each added want an added woe15. Those who reason in a comfortable London drawing-room know little about the matter. Were the aliments which sustain life all that we wanted, the faculties16 of the hog17 might suffice us; but if we analyze18 an hour of enjoyment, we shall find that it is made up of agreeable sensations occasioned by a thousand delicate impressions on almost as many nerves; where these nerves are sluggish19 from never having been awakened20, external objects are less important, for they are less perceived; but where the whole machine of the human frame is in full activity, where every sense brings home to consciousness its touch of pleasure or of pain, then every object that meets the senses is important as a vehicle of happiness or misery21. But let no frames so tempered visit the United States, or if they do, let it be with no longer pausing than will store the memory with images, which, by the force of contrast, shall sweeten the future.
“Guarda e passa (e poi) ragiam di lor.”
The “simple” manner of living in Western America was more distasteful to me from its levelling effects on the manners of the people, than from the personal privations that it rendered necessary; and yet, till I was without them, I was in no degree aware of the many pleasurable sensations derived22 from the little elegancies and refinements24 enjoyed by the middle classes in Europe. There were many circumstances, too trifling25 even for my gossiping pages, which pressed themselves daily and hourly upon us, and which forced us to remember painfully that we were not at home. It requires an abler pen than mine to trace the connection which I am persuaded exists between these deficiencies and the minds and manners of the people. All animal wants are supplied profusely26 at Cincinnati, and at a very easy rate; but, alas27! these go but a little way in the history of a day’s enjoyment. The total and universal want of manners, both in males and females, is so remarkable28, that I was constantly endeavouring to account for it. It certainly does not proceed from want of intellect. I have listened to much dull and heavy conversation in America, but rarely to any that I could strictly29 call silly, (if I except the every where privileged class of very young ladies). They appear to me to have clear heads and active intellects; are more ignorant on subjects that are only of conventional value, than on such as are of intrinsic importance; but there is no charm, no grace in their conversation. I very seldom during my whole stay in the country heard a sentence elegantly turned, and correctly pronounced from the lips of an American. There is always something either in the expression or the accent that jars the feelings and shocks the taste.
I will not pretend to decide whether man is better or worse off for requiring refinement23 in the manners and customs of the society that surrounds him, and for being incapable30 of enjoyment without them; but in America that polish which removes the coarser and rougher parts of our nature is unknown and undreamed of. There is much substantial comfort, and some display in the larger cities; in many of the more obvious features they are as Paris or as London, being all large assemblies of active and intelligent human beings — but yet they are wonderfully unlike in nearly all their moral features. Now God forbid that any reasonable American, (of whom there are so many millions), should ever come to ask me what I mean; I should find it very difficult, nay31, perhaps, utterly32 impossible, to explain myself; but, on the other hand, no European who has visited the Union, will find the least difficulty in understanding me. I am in no way competent to judge of the political institutions of America; and if I should occasionally make an observation on their effects, as they meet my superficial glance, they will be made in the spirit, and with the feeling of a woman, who is apt to tell what her first impressions may be, but unapt to reason back from effects to their causes. Such observations, if they be unworthy of much attention, are also obnoxious33 to little reproof34: but there are points of national peculiarity35 of which women may judge as ably as men, — all that constitutes the external of society may be fairly trusted to us.
Captain Hall, when asked what appeared to him to constitute the greatest difference between England and America, replied, like a gallant36 sailor, “the want of loyalty37.” Were the same question put to me, I should answer, “the want of refinement.”
Were Americans, indeed, disposed to assume the plain unpretending deportment of the Switzer in the days of his picturesque38 simplicity39, (when, however, he never chewed tobacco), it would be in bad taste to censure40 him; but this is not the case. Jonathan will be a fine gentleman, but it must be in his own way. Is he not a free-born American? Jonathan, however, must remember, that if he will challenge competition with the old world, the old world will now and then look out to see how he supports his pretensions41.
With their hours of business, whether judicial42 or mercantile, civil or military, I have nothing to do; I doubt not they are all spent wisely and profitably; but what are their hours of recreation? Those hours that with us are passed in the enjoyment of all that art can win from nature; when, if the elaborate repast be more deeply relished44 than sages45 might approve, it is redeemed46 from sensuality by the presence of elegance47 and beauty. What is the American pendant to this? I will not draw any comparisons between a good dinner party in the two countries; I have heard American gentlemen say, that they could perceive no difference between them; but in speaking of general manners, I may observe, that it is rarely they dine in society, except in taverns48 and boarding houses. Then they eat with the greatest possible rapidity, and in total silence; I have heard it said by American ladies, that the hours of greatest enjoyment to the gentlemen were those in which a glass of gin cocktail49, or egging, receives its highest relish43 from the absence of all restraint whatever; and when there were no ladies to trouble them.
Notwithstanding all this, the country is a very fine country, well worth visiting for a thousand reasons; nine hundred and ninety-nine of these are reasons founded on admiration50 and respect; the thousandth is, that we shall feel the more contented51 with our own. The more unlike a country through which we travel is to all we have left, the more we are likely to be amused; every thing in Cincinnati had this newness, and I should have thought it a place delightful52 to visit, but to tarry there was not to feel at home.
My home, however, for a time it was to be. We heard on every side, that of all the known places on “the globe called earth,” Cincinnati was the most favourable53 for a young man to settle in; and I only awaited the arrival of Mr. T. to fix our son there, intending to continue with him till he should feel himself sufficiently54 established. We accordingly determined55 upon making ourselves as comfortable as possible. I took a larger house, which, however, I did not obtain without considerable difficulty, as, notwithstanding fourteen hundred new dwellings56 had been erected57 the preceding year, the demand for houses greatly exceeded the supply. We became acquainted with several amiable58 people, and we beguiled59 the anxious interval60 that preceded Mr. T.‘s joining us by frequent excursions in the neighbourhood, which not only afforded us amusement, but gave us an opportunity of observing the mode of life of the country people.
We visited one farm, which interested us particularly from its wild and lonely situation, and from the entire dependence61 of the inhabitants upon their own resources. It was a partial clearing in the very heart of the forest. The house was built on the side of a hill, so steep that a high ladder was necessary to enter the front door, while the back one opened against the hill side; at the foot of this sudden eminence62 ran a clear stream, whose bed had been deepened into a little reservoir, just opposite the house. A noble field of Indian-corn stretched away into the forest on one side, and a few half-cleared acres, with a shed or two upon them, occupied the other, giving accommodation to cows, horses, pigs, and chickens innumerable. Immediately before the house was a small potatoe garden, with a few peach and apple trees. The house was built of logs, and consisted of two rooms, besides a little shanty63 or lean-to, that was used as a kitchen. Both rooms were comfortably furnished with good beds, drawers, &c. The farmer’s wife, and a young woman who looked like her sister, were spinning, and three little children were playing about. The woman told me that they spun64 and wove all the cotton and woolen65 garments of the family, and knit all the stockings; her husband, though not a shoe-maker by trade, made all the shoes. She manufactured all the soap and candles they used, and prepared her sugar from the sugar-trees on their farm. All she wanted with money, she said, was to buy coffee, tea, and whiskey, and she could “get enough any day by sending a batch66 of butter and chicken to market.” They used no wheat, nor sold any of their corn, which, though it appeared a very large quantity, was not more than they required to make their bread and cakes of various kinds, and to feed all their live stock during the winter. She did not look in health, and said they had all had ague in “the fall;” but she seemed contented, and proud of her independence; though it was in somewhat a mournful accent that she said, “Tis strange to us to see company: I expect the sun may rise and set a hundred times before I shall see another human that does not belong to the family.”
I have been minute in the description of this forest farm, as I think it the best specimen67 I saw of the back-wood’s independence, of which so much is said in America. These people were indeed independent, Robinson Crusoe was hardly more so, and they eat and drink abundantly; but yet it seemed to me that there was something awful and almost unnatural68 in their loneliness. No village bell ever summoned them to prayer, where they might meet the friendly greeting of their fellow-men. When they die, no spot sacred by ancient reverence69 will receive their bones — Religion will not breathe her sweet and solemn farewell upon their grave; the husband or the father will dig the pit that is to hold them, beneath the nearest tree; he will himself deposit them within it, and the wind that whispers through the boughs70 will be their only requiem71. But then they pay neither taxes nor tythes, are never expected to pull off a hat or to make a curtsy, and will live and die without hearing or uttering the dreadful words, “God save the king.”
About two miles below Cincinnati, on the Kentucky side of the river, Mr. Bullock, the well known proprietor72 of the Egyptian Hall, has bought a large estate, with a noble house upon it. He and his amiable wife were devoting themselves to the embellishment of the house and grounds; and certainly there is more taste and art lavished73 on one of their beautiful saloons, than all Western America can show elsewhere. It is impossible to help feeling that Mr. Bullock is rather out of his element in this remote spot, and the gems74 of art he has brought with him, shew as strangely there, as would a bower75 of roses in Siberia, or a Cincinnati fashionable at Almack’s. The exquisite76 beauty of the spot, commanding one of the finest reaches of the Ohio, the extensive gardens, and the large and handsome mansion77, have tempted78 Mr. Bullock to spend a large sum in the purchase of this place, and if any one who has passed his life in London could endure such a change, the active mind and sanguine79 spirit of Mr. Bullock might enable him to do it; but his frank, and truly English hospitality, and his enlightened and enquiring80 mind, seemed sadly wasted there. I have since heard with pleasure that Mr. Bullock has parted with this beautiful, but secluded81 mansion.
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aboriginal
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| adj.（指动植物）土生的，原产地的，土著的 | |
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economists
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| n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 ) | |
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conversion
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| n.转化，转换，转变 | |
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goad
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| n.刺棒，刺痛物；激励；vt.激励，刺激 | |
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actively
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| adv.积极地，勤奋地 | |
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seduce
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| vt.勾引，诱奸，诱惑，引诱 | |
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unity
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| n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调 | |
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probity
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| n.刚直；廉洁，正直 | |
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canny
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| adj.谨慎的，节俭的 | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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taxation
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| n.征税，税收，税金 | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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sedition
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| n.煽动叛乱 | |
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acquiescence
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| n.默许；顺从 | |
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woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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hog
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| n.猪；馋嘴贪吃的人；vt.把…占为己有，独占 | |
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analyze
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| vt.分析，解析 (=analyse) | |
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sluggish
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| adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的 | |
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awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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refinement
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| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
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refinements
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| n.（生活）风雅；精炼( refinement的名词复数 )；改良品；细微的改良；优雅或高贵的动作 | |
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trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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profusely
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| ad.abundantly | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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obnoxious
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| adj.极恼人的，讨人厌的，可憎的 | |
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reproof
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| n.斥责，责备 | |
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peculiarity
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| n.独特性，特色；特殊的东西；怪癖 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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censure
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| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
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pretensions
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| 自称( pretension的名词复数 )； 自命不凡； 要求； 权力 | |
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judicial
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| adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的 | |
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relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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relished
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| v.欣赏( relish的过去式和过去分词 )；从…获得乐趣；渴望 | |
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sages
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| n.圣人( sage的名词复数 )；智者；哲人；鼠尾草（可用作调料） | |
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redeemed
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| adj. 可赎回的，可救赎的 动词redeem的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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elegance
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| n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙 | |
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taverns
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| n.小旅馆，客栈，酒馆( tavern的名词复数 ) | |
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cocktail
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| n.鸡尾酒；餐前开胃小吃；混合物 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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dwellings
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| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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beguiled
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| v.欺骗( beguile的过去式和过去分词 )；使陶醉；使高兴；消磨（时间等） | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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dependence
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| n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属 | |
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eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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shanty
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| n.小屋，棚屋；船工号子 | |
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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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woolen
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| adj.羊毛(制)的；毛纺的 | |
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batch
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| n.一批(组，群)；一批生产量 | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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requiem
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| n.安魂曲，安灵曲 | |
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proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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lavished
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| v.过分给予，滥施( lavish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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bower
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| n.凉亭，树荫下凉快之处；闺房；v.荫蔽 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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sanguine
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| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
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enquiring
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| a.爱打听的，显得好奇的 | |
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secluded
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| adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
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