img Domestic Manners of the Americans  /  Chapter 5 Cincinnati - Forest Farm - Mr. Bullock | 14.71%
Download App
Reading History

Chapter 5 Cincinnati - Forest Farm - Mr. Bullock

Word Count: 2488    |    Released on: 18/11/2017

inly think it a city of extraordinary size and importance, when it is remembered that thirty years ago the abor

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 actively employed in search of that honey of Hybla, vulgarly called

cted in taxes returns among the people, not only in the purchase of what their industry furnishes, but in the actual enjoyment of what is furnished. Were I an English legislator, instead of sending

if we analyze 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 sluggish from never having been awakened, external objects are less important, for they are less perceived; but where the whole machine of the human frame is in full activity, whe

sa (e poi) ra

uires 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 profusely at Cincinnati, and at a very easy rate; but, alas! 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 remarkable, 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

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, nay, perhaps, utterly 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 occasio

ce between England and America, replied, like a gallant sailor, "the want of loya

cco), it would be in bad taste to censure 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?

redeemed from sensuality by the presence of elegance 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

ation and respect; the thousandth is, that we shall feel the more contented with our own. The more unlike a country through which we travel is to all we have left, the more

elf sufficiently established. We accordingly determined 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 dwellings had been erected the preceding year, the demand for houses gre

s 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 shanty 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 spun and wove all the cotton and woolen 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

natural 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 reverence 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 t

impossible to help feeling that Mr. Bullock is rather out of his element in this remote spot, and the gems of art he has brought with him, shew as strangely there, as would a bower of roses in Siberia, or a Cincinnati fashionable at Almack's. The exquisite beauty of the spot, commanding one of the finest reaches of the Ohio, the extensive gardens, and the large and handsome mansion, have tempted Mr. Bullock to sp

img

Contents

Chapter 1 Entrance of the Mississippi - Balize Chapter 2 New Orleans - Society - Creoles and Quadroons V Chapter 3 Company on board the Steam Boat - Scenery of the Chapter 4 Departure from Memphis - Ohio River Louisville - Chapter 5 Cincinnati - Forest Farm - Mr. Bullock Chapter 6 Servants - Society - Evening Parties Chapter 7 Market - Museum - Picture Gallery - Academy o Chapter 8 Absence of public and private Amusement - Churche Chapter 9 Schools - Climate - Water Melons - Fourth of Chapter 10 Removal to the country - Walk in the forest - Chapter 11 Religion
Chapter 12 Peasantry, compared to that of England - Early m
Chapter 13 Theatre - Fine Arts - Delicacy - Shaking Qua
Chapter 14 American Spring - Controversy between Messrs. Ow
Chapter 15 Camp-Meeting
Chapter 16 Danger of rural excursions - Sickness
Chapter 17 Departure from Cincinnati - Society on board the
Chapter 18 Departure for the mountains in the Stage - Scene
Chapter 19 Baltimore - Catholic Cathedral - St. Mary's -
Chapter 20 Voyage to Washington - Capitol - City of Washi
Chapter 21 Stonington - Great Falls of the Potomac
Chapter 22 Small Landed Proprietors - Slavery
Chapter 23 Fruits and Flowers of Maryland and Virginia - Co
Chapter 24 Journey to Philadelphia - Chesapeak and Delaware
Chapter 25 Washington Square - American Beauty - Gallery
Chapter 26 Quakers - Presbyterians - Itinerant Methodist
Chapter 27 Return to Stonington - Thunderstorm - Emigrant
Chapter 28 American Cooking - Evening Parties - Dress -
Chapter 29 Literature - Extracts - Fine Arts - Educatio
Chapter 30 Journey to New York
Chapter 31 Reception of Captain Basil Hall's Book in the Un
Chapter 32 Journey to Niagara - Hudson
Chapter 33 Niagara - Arrival at Forsythes
Chapter 34 Return to New York - Conclusion
img
  /  1
img
Download App
icon APP STORE
icon GOOGLE PLAY