Flint's Letters from America, 1818-1820Flint, James, active 19th century
History
Flint's Letters from America, 1818-1820
Flint, James, active 19th century
Ohio River Valley -- Description and travel; United States -- Description and travel
and equality is injurious, inasmuch as it prevents the virtuous part
of society from separating from the vicious; and so far as it removes
from the unprincipled and untutored part, the salutary incitement
to rest character on good behaviour and intelligence, instead of
citizenship, or an allusion to the _land of liberty_, or the favourite
maxim that one man is as good as another. I have frequently been asked
such questions as, “Where are you come from? Where are you going? What
are you to do there? What have you got in these here boxes? Are you a
merchant? I guess, then, you are a mechanic.”--Dr. Franklin did well in
wearing labels on his person, announcing his name, his residence, the
place he was travelling for, and his business there.
The abolition of titles and hereditary distinctions in America has not
been productive of all the simplicity of address that might have been
expected, or was perhaps intended by the illustrious founders. Squire,
the appellation designating a Justice of the Peace, or Magistrate,
is commonly retained for life, although out of office, or even when
dismissed for misconduct. It is so also amongst officers in the
militia. Men who are appointed Captains, or Majors, and may have been
present at trainings for a short time, are called Captains or Majors
ever afterwards. Of _ex officio_ corporals or serjeants I have heard no
mention made. The persons who {144} take charge of keel-boats are also
Captains. Except in cases where such names as those just alluded to
are applied, Mr. is the epithet of every man, and is applied on every
occasion. All are gentlemen. The wife is, of course, Mrs.; the daughter
and maid servant are indiscriminately saluted Miss, or Madam. All are
ladies. Thus the Christian name has fallen into disuse. I do not wish
to be understood as approving of giving an appellation to one man and
withholding it from another, but would only observe, that where all are
Mr. Mrs. and Miss, these terms do not imply a distinctive mark, and
that the simple Christian names would be more discriminately useful in
the affairs of life, if not almost as respectable.
A passion for money has been said to be a great characteristic of
Americans. To admit this would perhaps be conceding too much. It is
certain that security of property and high profits on capital, tend to
promote this disposition, and it therefore cannot be wonderful that
America has a full proportion of enterprizing citizens, and such as are
essential to the progress of a new country.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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