Gazette Of The United States

[No. LXVII.]

THE TABLET. No. LXVII.

"Triflers not e'en in trifles can excell."

There is no better way to estimate the understanding of a man, than by hearing him converse on what he has discovered in his travels. Many men, who adventure abroad, never get rid of their prejudices; and whatever falls within their notice, is viewed under such an eye of prepossession, that it eludes a fair examination. A traveller of this cast may add to the number of his ideas, but he does not diminish his errors, nor really add to his stock of truth. It had been better for him, upon the whole, to have tarried at home; for he would then have spent less money, and acquired fewer habits of vexing his friends by his pertness, or deluding them by his mistakes. If he attempts to relate any incident, he generally forgets the most material circumstances, and always gives it a false coloring, or draws from it wrong inferences. We can, however, bear with the mere errors that are imposed on us by a traveller; because, as we have not the power of detecting the fallacy, we feel no disposition to complain of the deception. But there is a description of travellers whose conversation soon becomes irksome, if not intolerable. I allude to those frivolous characters, whose minds are only occupied upon trifles; and who, wherever they go, or whatever they see, can never acquire or communicate the least degree of useful information. The habitual levity of deportment, these triflers discover, soon renders their mirth insipid, and their observations uninteresting. There is no force of talents to invigorate their remarks. If they affect to show wit, no person perceives the edge of it; and if they relate anecdotes, it is impossible to find the pith of their story. In short, a man of this trifling turn must continue of that character, whether he travels or stays at home. He can never arrive at excellence even in those habits, which peculiarly belong to him. The truth is, the more expert any one is, in displaying frivolous accomplishments, the less excellent does he appear. We can never associate any ideas of merit with qualifications that produce no advantage, and indicate no capacity. However ostentatious a man may be, if he has not solid attainments, he is soon penetrated, and his companions determine at once, that he does not trifle for the sake of being pleasant, but because he does not know how to be serious, and can never be wise. Men of good sense and gravity sometimes relax their usual tone of demeanor, and can amuse themselves with trifles without being contemptible. It can be perceived that the part they have taken, is assumed only for the moment. But noted triflers so flagrantly deviate from dignity of manners, that no person will mistrust, they act from a character they have taken up, but from one, they cannot lay aside.

My young acquaintance GARRULUS has lately returned from his education and his travels. His friends imagine he has made great improvements; but he is much more indebted to their partiality than to his own acquirements, for the estimation in which he is viewed. It was easily supposed that so pert a boy must, if well-educated, make a smart man. He early discovered symptoms of vanity, and these were mistaken for indications of genius. Full of flattering hopes, his parents conceived the idea, that he must be sent to Europe for an education. He has completed it, and once more resides in his native country. I will not pretend to say, what he would have been had he continued at home; but he has, by no means, lost his pertness or his vanity, by going abroad. Garrulus well remembers the number of years he has consumed at schools and universities, and has not yet forgot the names of the authors he was compelled to read. It diverts children and servants to hear him recount the tricks and frolics of his academical life; and I believe this is the only amusement, his education is calculated to afford. The reader will expect to be entertained with an account of the travels of this aspiring youth. But here I find myself at a loss how to gratify such an expectation. Though I am frequently in company with him, I have yet to learn, whether he has gained one useful idea, from traveling two years through the most celebrated countries in Europe. He has often boasted to me, that he dined with six young noblemen, at an hotel in France; complained that he found bad inns in Italy; and declared that he eat salted cabbage in Germany. But he seems to dwell with peculiar delight in relating how rapidly the stages drive through England, and how complaisantly he was treated at houses of entertainment. He mentions such circumstances with an air of triumph, because he alleges that in these respects, the English are, beyond comparison, superior to his own countrymen. Nothing fills him with more rapture, than to be able to point out any particular, in which the Americans have not arrived at equal perfection with the Europeans. It happens fortunately for us, that GARRULUS has extended his observations to nothing, of so much importance in itself, as to render it a point worth contending, in which country it holds a pre-eminence. These trifling characters, however, find easy admission into the best circles of company, the world affords. This may seem the more extraordinary, as a person of this stamp so soon becomes tedious in private conversation, where only a social interview is intended: We can easily find a solution to this difficulty. A talkative, impertinent body may be called a bon companion by all men, though no man views him with any respect or friendship. There is a convenience in having such an associate. We feel free, and unembarrassed in his presence, can learn from him the news and fashions of the day, and send messages by him to any part of the town. But there is yet a greater advantage, one finds in such an acquaintance: It is well known, that in mixed companies, few people have a turn for general conversation; and unless some person is present, who has a good share of impudent prattle, there will be too much dullness and reserve. Every modest man of the party feels relieved, when any of his companions will take his share of the conversation. In this way, men of bold, assuming manners, however ignorant they may be, endear themselves, as companions, to all denominations of society. I have observed that in most clubs or parties, sensible men are fond of admitting some persons of levity, merely to make diversion for the rest of the company.

It is to be regretted that some worthy youth are beguiled into an opinion that impudence is desirable, because it meets with attention. They draw this conclusion from the notice that is taken of such characters as I have been describing. Could it be discerned, from what motives, men of a forward, ostentatious deportment are received into company; or could it be known in what light they are generally estimated, they would no longer be regarded as objects of envy, or as patterns for imitation. Every young man should conclude with respect to himself; that, if his talents and accomplishments are not so conspicuous as to attract esteem and admiration unsolicited, he can never acquire any real influence of character by pertness and self importance. It is true he may gain a numerous acquaintance, but he will find few friends: People will entertain him kindly; but they will place in him no confidence; they will trust him with no property. Upon the whole, his life will be neither honorable to himself, nor serviceable to society.