The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 181, 28 February 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1868.

It seems a characteristic of some towns to be always in a state of dullness, and if anything should chance to awake them from their inertness, they quietly and quickly relapse into their usual state of supineness. Should you chance to meet with an inhabitant of one of these towns, and ask him what state the markets are in ? or what business is doing, his answer invariably is "dull," and lie then collapses into his usual phlegmatic condition. When Washington Irving wrote his inimitable legend of " Sleepy Hollow," he must have had one of these towns in view, for we fully believe that it is almost an impossibility to arouse the inhabitants of some towns to a persistent course of action, and if an earthquake or some other calamity was to btfall it the inhabitants might endeavour to get out of the way of the falling ruins, but that would be all. They would meet one another as usual and congratulate each other on the dullness of the times, and should anybody seriously propose to them to bestir themselves, and clear away the ruins, he would be regarded as an innovator, and be invariably voted a bore. It is just possible he might succeed in stirring them up to promise to take some steps to improve their condition, but that would be all. What more could be expected from any of these inhabitants of Sleepy Hollow. By a great and almost herculean effort, they would promise to see into the matter, and having made the promise why better let thematterrestthere. Should theriver be washing away its banks and threatening to make a clean sweep over the town, it is just possible that one or two of these energetic inhabitants might go and have a look at it, and after a consultation on the usual topic of " dulness," resolve to have a meeting. The meeting perchance is called, and some few may be found to leave the billiard or card table for half-an-hour to attend it. Sleepy Hollow waxes eloquent and talks "big things," and is determined to go in " great guns " on the subject; but the inhabitants are sometimes troubled with flatulency, and it does them good to get rid of a little wind occasionally, and so they resolve to do unheard of things. A committee may be appointed who are determined to do certain things or know the reason why, but it is too mtach for Sleepy Hollow. They have decided that something is required, but as this would involve a corresponding amount of exortion, the committee come to the implied conclusion to let things be as thoy are. Sleepy

Hollow may happen to be a port, and in the midst of their dull conversation the inhabitants expatiate on its manifold advantages. Steamers from different parts of the world pass within hail, but there is no direct communication with Sleepy Hollow, for as the big steamer cannot get into the port, aud as the inhabitants will not make arrangements to send a little one to meet it, the big steamer passes on while our inhabitant stands upon the jutting neck of land and shakes his head and wonders why a tug boat is not stationed in the port. A meeting is proposed to consider the subject, and Sleepy Hollow talks about it, but as usual they do not attend it ; there can be no doubt about its being needed, but let somebody else stir themselves in the matter. It is enough for them to allude to the matter privately, and say it should be done —it ought to be done, it is urgently needed, and therefore it is not done. Tracks are needed. The country requires exploration. Roads want making, but is there not the great burgomaster to look after that ; why should Sleepy Hollow trouble itself ? The wharves are washed away and the jetties have vanished, but is not the burgomaster paid to look after them, and he will see them replaced or know the reason why! Let things be as they are is the predomiuant opinion of Sleepy Hollow, for why should they exert themselves in the matter to remedy them P They have their representatives in the great Council of the Nation, and if they don't see to everything they will know the reason why, and that is quite sufficient. Should anything go wrong, should any abuse require looking after there is the great burgomaster to see to it, and if he don't he will know the reason why? and that is quite sufficient. There are riches untold surrounding Sleepy Hollow—there are all the constituents to make it a great commercial centre if the inhabitants would only act, but they know the reason why they don't. Action requires exertion, and this would destroy the pleasant subject of dullness, and that is the reason why Sleepy Hollow does not, exert itself.