gsinproportion.OurlifeislikeaGermanConfederacy,madeupofpettystates,withitsboundaryforeverfluctuating,sothatevenaGermancannottellyouhowitisboundedatanymoment.Thenationitself,withallitssocalledinternalimprovements,which,bythewayareallexternalandsuperficial,isjustsuchanunwieldyandovergrownestablishment,clutteredwithfurnitureandtrippedupbyitsowntraps,ruinedbyluxuryandheedlessexpense,bywantofcalculationandaworthyaim,asthemillionhouseholdsinthelandandtheonlycureforitasforthemisinarigideconomy,asternandmorethanSpartansimplicityoflifeandelevationofpurpose.Itlivestoofast.MenthinkthatitisessentialthattheNationhavecommerce,andexportice,andtalkthroughatelegraph,andridethirtymilesanhour,withoutadoubt,whethertheydoornotbutwhetherweshouldlivelikebaboonsorlikemen,isalittleuncertain.Ifwedonotgetoutsleepers,andforgerails,anddevotedaysandnightstothework,butgototinkeringuponourlivestoimprovethem,whowillbuildrailroads?Andifrailroadsarenotbuilt,howshallwegettoheaveninseason?Butifwestayathomeandmindourbusiness,whowillwantrailroads?Wedonotrideontherailroaditridesuponus.Didyoueverthinkwhatthosesleepersarethatunderlietherailroad?Eachoneisaman,anIrish-man,oraYankeeman.Therailsarelaidonthem,andtheyarecoveredwithsand,andthecarsrunsmoothlyoverthem.Theyaresoundsleepers,Iassureyou.Andeveryfewyearsanewlotislaiddownandrunoversothat,ifsomehavethepleasureofridingonarail,othershavethemisfortunetoberiddenupon.Andwhentheyrunoveramanthatiswalkinginhissleep,asupernumerarysleeperinthewrongposition,andwakehimup,theysuddenlystopthecars,andmakeahueandcryaboutit,asifthiswereanexception.Iamgladtoknowthatittakesagangofmenforeveryfivemilestokeepthesleepersdownandlevelintheirbedsasitis,forthisisasignthattheymaysometimegetupagain.
Whyshouldwelivewithsuchhurryandwasteoflife?Wearedeterminedtobestarvedbeforewearehungry.Mensaythatastitchintimesavesnine,andsotheytakeathousandstitchesto-daytosavenineto-morrow.Asforwork,wehaven’tanyofanyconsequence.WehavetheSaintVitus’dance,andcannotpossiblykeepourheadsstill.IfIshouldonlygiveafewpullsattheparishbell-rope,asforafire,thatis,withoutsettingthebell,thereishardlyamanonhisfarmintheoutskirtsofConcord,notwithstandingthatpressofengagementswhichwashisexcusesomanytimesthismorning,noraboy,norawoman,Imightalmostsay,butwouldforsakeallandfollowthatsound,notmainlytosavepropertyfromtheflames,but,ifwewillconfessthetruth,muchmoretoseeitburn,sinceburnitmust,andwe,beitknown,didnotsetitonfire,—ortoseeitputout,andhaveahandinit,ifthatisdoneashandsomelyyes,evenifitweretheparishchurchitself.Hardlyamantakesahalfhour’snapafterdinner,butwhenhewakesheholdsuphisheadandasks,“What’sthenews?”asiftherestofmankindhadstoodhis