A SELF-POSSESSED ERRAND-BOY. 263 



means taken to promote it energetic and enlightened, 

 and the advances actually made very considerable. 



A discussion arose in some measure characteristic of 

 the tone and the progress of democratic sentiment in 

 the State. Hitherto, the ex-presidents have been mem 

 bers the Executive Council ex officio, and the motion 

 which gave rise to the discussion was to do away with 

 this privilege. The rule objected to removed a certain 

 number of the office-holders of the Society from the con 

 trol of the popular vote a thing inconsistent with the 

 general practice in the State, which is gradually abolish 

 ing all permanent offices and all corporations which enjoy 

 special and permanent privileges. 



I was struck, however, with the gravity and decorum 

 with which the discussion was carried on, and with the 

 apparent self-possession of all the speakers. It is partly 

 to the general acknowledgment of no higher rank than 

 his own that the absence of our insular nervousness in 

 the American speaker is to be ascribed ; but partly also 

 to the undisciplined and uncontrolled way in which chil- 

 dien are brought up. 



A key to some part, at least, of this running wild of 

 the children was afforded me by a little circumstance 

 which occurred to me in Albany. A friend of mine had 

 a boy of twelve or thirteen years employed in his office 

 to run messages, and do other small affairs. This boy 

 several times brought me notes from his master, and 

 while waiting for an answer, he would walk first to one 

 table and examine the books and papers, then to another 

 and do the same ; and, finally, to the mirror and arrange 

 his hair in the coolest manner imaginable. I was amused 

 with this for one or two visits. At last I said to him, 

 that, in my country, we did not approve of little errand- 

 boys taking such liberties, and showing so much conceit 

 when they came into a gentleman s rooms ; and I requested 

 that, when he came with messages to me in future, he 



