The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-06 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 6, 1867.

AFTER. Covent-garden Theatre--EVAN S' to
SUP.
After Drury-lane Theatre EVANS' In SUP.
A frer Lyceum Theatre !''VANS' to SUP,
Atter Adelphi Thet,tre FYANS' to SUP.
After Olympic Theatre . EVANS' to Slit'.
Alter trattd 'I heatre EVAN.' to SUP.
Alter New Eoya'ty Theatre E VANS' to SUP.
Alter St. James's l'heatr • EVANS' to SUP.
Alttr Prince of %Yates' The ttre EVANS• to SUP.
London Singing and Supper Club, E VANS', Covent-garden,
Von,' Entertainment at Eight.

TUE JAPANESE TROUPE HAVE
ARRIVED.

TAPANESE TROUPE.—GAENSEE.--First
0 Appearance of this novel artiste in Europe, the
unrivalled Top Spinner to the Tycoon, whose extraordi-
nary and unparalleled performances have been pronounced
by all Eastern travellers to be truly marvellous. Full
programme on Thursday next. Gaensee—Gannsee—
Gaensee—Monday, February 11, 1867.—Great St. Martin's
Hall.

JAPANESE TROUPE.—First Appearance in
Europe of ASI-IiITCIII-SAN, the original per-
former of the great Japanese Butterfly 'Frick. Vide all tho
daily journals on this extraordinary Company, imported
entire and direct from Japan. MONDAY next, Feb. 11,
1867.—Great St. Martin's Ball.•

JAPANESE TROUPE.—First Appearance in
Europe of the only Japanese Actresses who ever
crossed the sea. The full programme will be ready on
Thursday next. The first representation will take place
MONDAY next, February 11, 1867.—Asi-Kitchi-San.—
Great St. Martin's Hall.

pm GREAT JAPANESE. TROUPE tre
31 here. Look out for this novelty.—This extraordi-
nary Company will make their FIRST APPEARANCE
in Europe. at the Great St. Martin's Hall, on MONDAY
EVENING next, Feb. 11, 1867, for a limited number of
representations prior to their appearance in Paris during
the Universal Exhibition. Full programme on Thursday
next. Sofa Stalls. ss. ; balcony (reserved seats), 35.; area,
25.; back seats, ls.—which may be obtained at Mr. Mit-
chell's Royal Library, 33, Old Bond street; and at the box
office of the ball. Business communications to be addressed
to their sole agent, Mr. A. Nimmo, 55, Wigruore-street,
London, W.

r H E U X F U ii D,
11 6, OXFORD-STREET, W.,
THE MUSICAL ESTABLISHMENT OF LONDON.
LES DRAGONS DE VIII.. IRS (Opera Comique), Music,
by A. Maillart, in which Miss RUSSELL w i:1 appear, as-
sisted by Misses Barrie and Fitz If enry ; Messrs. A. St. Albyn,
Hulls, Fox, Husk, Evans, and Bury, with Extra Band and
Chorus ; produced and conducted by air. F. Jonghmans.
" The strength of Mr. Morton lies in his operatic selections,
executed by a small but highly efficient band, and a well-
selected body of vonalsts, under the direction of Mr. F.
lonAmans."—Times, Jan. 9,1867.
COMEDY, by Messrs. HARRY SYDNEY, MILBURN,
G. W. ROSS, and the celebrated American Gymnasts the
BROTHERS HANLON, their third appearance in this
country.
Mr. ROBT. FRASER, Comedian and Vocalist, will make
his appearance Tit LS EVENING with his cron of comicalities
and his new song, "THE BOY AT MUGBY."

AIrADAME TUSSAUD'S EXHIBITION,
BAKER-STREET.
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS.
NEW ADDI rioNs. —Life-size Models of the KINGS and
QUEENS of ENGLAND, from WILLIAM of NORMANDY
to QUEEN VICTORIA.
Open from 11 a.m. till dusk, and frOm 7 t:11 10 p.m.
Admittance, 16. ; children, under ten, half-price ; extra
rooms, Bd.

ARGYLL ROOMS. GRAND CASINO,
Windmill-street.
These elegant and popular Rooms, having been entirely re-
decorated, are now OPEN EVERY EVENINU for Concert
and Dancing. Conductor, Signor Luca CURT'. Manager,
GItENET.

Admission to Promenade. One Shilling.
Reserved Seats, Two Shillings.

WESTO N' S GRAND MUSIC HALL,
n LBORN.

Sole Proprietors,.SwEAsEv and HOLLAND.
Grand Selection from Auber's Opera of " MASA-
NIELLO," by 40 vocalists dressed in costume as at the
opera. Everybody should see the Irish Minstrels, every
evening at 9 o'clock, with songs, dances,. and Irish anec-
dotes, under the direction of Pat Com. A new and origi-
nal overture composed and arranged expressly for the
above minstrels by Mr. 11. Baker. Immensa success of
Arthur Lloyd's new song " Chillinzowullabadorie," every
evening, at 11 o'clock—Jolly Nash, Georgina Smithson,
Paddy Fannin, Patrick Sellers, and Harry and Kattio
King ; and Pio Watkini, the Japanaze Juggler. Band of
30 first-class performers, and large Chorus chosen from her
Majesty's and Covent Garden Opera Houses. Musical
Director, Mr. P. CORRI.
Prices of admission—Stalls and Balcony, Is.; Area, 61 ' •
Private Boxes, 10s. 6d. Can bo secured at the Box Office,
between the hours of 10 and 5 o'clock. Hall open every
Evening at 7 o'clock.

DUNVILLE'S V.R. OLD IRISH WHISKY,
BELFAST,

Is regularly supplied to the House of Lords.

" V.R." IRISH WHISKY.

DUNVILLE and CO.'S " V.R." OLD IRISH
WHISKY, BELFAST.

London Offices 14 n d Stores,
4, BEAUFORT-BUILDINGS, STRAND, W.C.
Established 1808. Quotations on application.

TAMES DALY and CO., Distillers, John-street,
Cork.—" The purest spirit and safest drink in the
world."—London Offices, 7, Printing-house-square, E.C.,
next the " Times."

TAMES DALY and CO., Distillers, John-street,
Cork, beg to announce that they are able to supply the
trade with their celebrated Whiskies, in casks or cases, and
to take orders in bond and for exportation, at their offices, 7,
Printing-house-square, London, E C., the only house in the
square not occupied by th. " Times." J. D. and Co.'s whiskies
bring the highest prices in the Australian and ether Colonial
markets, as may be observed by reference to the "Journal of
Commerca of Victoria," by which it Trill be seen that their
whiskies fetch 6d. per gallon and is. per case over the next
best, and Is. 6d per gallon and ss. 6d. s case over the lowest
quotation. Always on hand a large supply of ve y old
mellow whisky in the finest condition, matured in sherry
casks, unsurpassable in quality and flavour, supplied on the
most reasonable terms.

EAU-DE-VIE.—This Pure PALE BRANDY,
18s. per gallon, is vi ry superior to recent importations
of Cognac, recummended by the medical protes don, and ex-
tensively used in hospitals. In bottles, 3.35. per dozen, or in
a case 39s , railway carriage psi t.—II EN itY BRETT and
CO., Old Furnival's Distillery, llolborn, E.O , and 30, Regent-
street, S.W. Established 1829.

"THE RUIN OF THE FEW IS THE GAIN OF THE MANY."
►jIHE Panic of '66 and its consequent depression
of the Colonial M:+raets enables the "EAST INDIA.
TEA COMPANY" to offer TEAS LOWER THAN EVER.
Fix Pounds of Good Tea for 6s. ticl. can't be dear.
The Company's KAISOWS by the Clipper Ships are really
delicious.
9, Great St. Helen's Churchyard, Bishopsgate-
street, Jan. 1, 1867.

Just published, 2d; sent by the author for 3 stamps.
UGLINESS and BEAUTY ; being a Pamphlet
descriptive of articles and means used for improving
the appearance. By ALEX. ROSS, 248, High Holborn,
London.

SPANISH FLY ie the acting ingredient in
ALEX. ROSS'S CANTHARIDES OIL, which speedily
prodnees whiskers and thickens hair, 8s 6d, 5s 6d, and tOs 6d;
sent by post for 54, 84, and 144 stmnps.— AL EX. ROSS, 248,
tiolborn. London, and all Chemists.

WONDERFUL DISCOVERY.—Corns cured
in one day by table. ALEX. ROSS'S CHI/LOP°.
This preparation gradually dissolves the Corn in a few hours,
removing. the veryroot. Price 4s ; sent by post for 60 stamps.
—248, High Holborn, London, and all Chemists.

HAIR-CURLING FLUID, 248, High Holborn,
London.—ALlCX. ROSS'S CURLING FLUID ourls
Ladies' or Gentlemen's hair immediately it is applied. Sold
at 3s Cd, 5s Gd, and 10s Gd ; sent free for 54, 84, and 144 stamps.
—Had of all Chemists.

CREY HAIR.-248, High Holborn, London.—
ALEX. ROSS'S HAIR DYE produces a perfect colour
Immediately it is used. It is permanent, and perfectly na-
tural in efFe t. Price 3s 6d, Bs 6d, and Ws 6d ; sent by post
for 54, 84, and 141 stamps ; and all Chemists.

HAIR DESTROYER.-248, High Holborn,
London.—ALEX. ROSS'S DEPILATORY removes
superfluous hair from the face, neck, and arms, without effect
to the skin. Price 35 6d, 6s 6d, and 105 6d; sent for 54, 84,
and 144 stamps.—Had of all Chemists.

PIMPLE REMOVER.—AII diseases of the
skin are improved by one dose of ALEX. ROSS'S
VEGETABLE SKIN PILLS. They remove redness, sal-
lowness, dm 2s 9d and 7s ed ; or post for 40 and 100 stamps.
—ALEX. ROSS, 248, High Holborn, London, and all Che-
mists.
HAIR COLOUR WASII.—By washing the
head with this beautifully -perfumed Wash, in seven
or ten days the hair assumes its original colour, and remains
so by an occasional 10s ed ; sent for stamps.—ALEX.
ROSS, 243, High Holborn, London, and all Chemists.
THE RESCUE SOCIETY wishes to add another
Lome to the 12 now in operation. Last year no fewer
'ban 455 poor, friendless, young, females were rejected from
want of FUNDS and room, making a total of 3,087, who have
been sent away in Live years.
The new home the Committee wish to form would be for
young girls, almost children, from the age of 8 to 18, who
have been led astray from the path of virtue.
Contributions will be received gratefully by the Secretary.
\fr. Daniel Cooper,Bs, Queen•st,reet.Cheapside; or by Messrs
Barclay and Co., Lombard-street.

DR . SCOTT'S LIVER AND BILIOUS
PILLS.—A NEVER FAILING REMEDY.—Pre-
pared without any mercurial Ingredient, from the recipe of Dr.
3oott, of Bromley, Kent, will be found invaluable to all who
+utter from bilious and liver complaints, inligesticn, wind,
'items, giddiness, dizziness of the eyes, &o. For habitual
vstiveness, as a family aperient medicine, and as a purifier
of the blood, they are truly excellent; mild in their opera-
tion and (grateful to the stomach, they create appetite, pro-
mote dip.estinn, and strengthen the whole nervous system.
Prepared only and aAd by W. Lambert, Chemist, PI, King
Wilitaru-street, Charing-cross. London, and by most drug-
gists, in boxes,lB, lid., and three times the quantity in one,
2s. 9d. Be sure to ark for Dr. Soott's Bilious and Liver Pills.
The genuine are a square mei . package. with " William
Jklaillbert." rayed int the stamp.

NOTICE.

C. F. HANCOCK, SON, &
JEWELLERS AND SILVERSMITHS TO THE QUEI ArD
PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES,

And by Special Appointment to tho principal Sovereigns
and Courts of Europe,
Beg respectfully to state that their only Address is
33 & 39, BRITFON STREET,
CORNER. OF BOND-STREET.

AWARDED TO O. F. HANCOCK :
Great Exhibition, 1831 Council Medal for Originality and
Taste. Paris Exhibition, 1835 —Gold Medaille d'Honneur.
International Exhibition, 1862—Prize Medal, for great
Excellence of Design and Manufacture.

QLARCH TEN GUINEA PRIZE ESSAY—
" Vox ab filia nxere rnatreque." FIVE GUINEA
PRIZE 7--" Suggests" Writers of the many other admir-
able essays received are requested to communicate speedily
for the sale or return of their MSS.

MANFIELD'S PATENT PICKLES are per-
fectly pure and uncoloured. To be had of all dealers
and wholesale of .101 IN ISUIWESS and SON, 107, Strand
(corner of Savoy-steps). London.

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS•

TIMES.—The opening of a Session of Parliament
is in these civilised times rarely an occasion of dis-
cord. War to the death may be in store, but the
combatants begin with a graceful exchange of cour-
tesies. Each side shows certain indisposition to
commence the attack, and appears somewhat dis-
posed to imitate the conduct, real or imaginary, of
the llighlanders of Fontenoy in inviting the gentle-
men of the tench Guard to fire frrst. Last niet
was no exception to the modern practice. The
Addresses in answer to the Royal Speech were agreed
to, both by Lords and Commons, without division,
and almost without discussion. Some criticism was,
of course, inevitable ; some hesitation to echo sen-
timents expressed in words obscure and, perhaps,
ambiguous; some doubt as to the possibility of a
divergence of opinion when the studied phrases of a
Royal Speech come to be explained in the precise
language of legislative proposals to Parliament; but,
subject to those necessary qualifications, nothing
could be.happier than the tone of the debate on the
Address in each house. If experience did not warn
us against being deceived by the fair promise of the
first day of a seesion, we could fancy we were en-
tering upon a perpetual peace : that the year 1867,
instead of being a time in preparation, for which
gladiators had tested every • joint of their armour
and made ready every weapon of destruction, was
to be signalised by a display of good will such as has
not been seen for many a year. It is too probable
siotnmeanwhile we
party feeling
and
dt
pianatyhecocnofluirsetesof
willth ebeensuise
revived;iig but
cannot but rejoice at its happy commencement. The
members of the late Ministry seem to have returned
from their holdiday sojourn beneath Italian skies
renewed in strength, yet free for the moment from
the distempered zeal which magnifies points of dif-
ference, and refuses to discern any good in an oppo-
nent. Mr. Gladstone was particularly happy. He
showed no disposition to stint his approval of the pro-
posals of Government with respect to Ireland, and
he approached the crucial question of Reform with
a breadth of spirit which we trust will be maintained
unstraitened. The earnestness with which he dwelt
on the necessity of attempting to remedy in some
degree the electoral corruption that dishonours our
representative system was confessedly due to the in-
fluence of foreign critics, and while he justly re-
marked on the enigmatical character of the para-
graph in the Royal Speech relating to Reform, lie
insisted strongly on the duty of accepting an ade-
quate measure, come from whatever party it might,
and gave the Government credit for the intention
tosubmit their proposals to Parliament on the earliest
possible day. The Chancellor of the Exchequer
was fortunately able to declare that he would lay
before the house the Ministerial plans as early as
next Mondly, unless unexpectedobstacles intervened,
and with this declaration the debate in the House of
Commons may be said to have collapsed. The
course of discussion in the House of Lords was, on
the whole, not quite so equable. Lord Russell's
temperament is, perhaps, not so amenable to soften-
ing influences as that of Mr. Gladstone, and, as au
old combatant, he is always eauer for a fray.
Neither the unstudied simplicity of6Lord Delamere's
eloquence, nor the more elaborate review of the mul-
tifarious topics of the Royal Speech attempted by
Lord Beauchamp, availed to mitigate his criticism.
In expressing his doubts as to the possibility of a
durable peace in Europe so long as the spirit of ag-
gression prevailed which prompted the attack upon
Denmark two years ago, "in opposition to every
treaty," and which had since been exhibited by " one
Power," he showed himself needlessly offensive to an
ally, forgetful of the fact that he had himself acqui-
esced in the attack, and incapable of understanding a
movement which was undoubtedly supported by the
mass of the Prussian nation. But it was on the sub-
ject of Reform that Lord Russell's idiosyncrasy be-
came most apparent. Reform is undoubtedly the
question of the hour, and, important as are the other
subjects referred to in the unusually extended
Speech from the Throne, the short paragraph refer-
ring to Reform is probably worth more than the rest.
Lord Russell, as a veteran Reformer and the leader
of the Opposition, was on every account justified in
drawing attention to Reform and demanding an ex-
planation of the obsure language in which the pro-
posed action of the Government is described. Lord
Russell is, however, such a veteran Reformer that
he cannot bear in mind the just relations between
the tasks of to-day and the conflicts of the past. He
cannot even forgive
the late Duke of Buckingham
for having marred the symmetry of the measure of
which he had the conduct, and apropos to nothing,
he ventured last night on the extraordinary asser-
tion that all past and present agitation for Reform
was due to the fact that the Chandos clause had
been inserted in the Reform Bill of 1832. We know
not whether to marvel more at the obstinacy of
Lord Russell's resentment or at the limited view of
the reasons for Reform implied in this assertion. It
is clear that, had the Chandos clause not been ac-
cepted, many more Englishmen would have been
' excluded froth the franchise. Reformers are accus-
tomed to say, and with truth, that the franchise is
not only a trust, but a means of education, and yet
Lord Russell would have us believe that the demand
for enfranchising the unenfranchised Would have
been less hadthe unenfranchised been more, that the
cry for the adtnission of working men to the polling-
booths would have been unheard had tenant farmers
not been admitted. If, however, Lord Russell is un-
able, after five-and-thirty years, to forget the defeat
which LOrd Chandos, assisted by Mr. Hume, once
should
olinflictedualsiti
be
session. upon
He cannot believe that the Reform incapable him,
of viewing aright the transactions
we cannot be surprised that he
measures of 1866 were rejected on their merits,
and complains of an unprincipled opposition which
never existed, except in his own imagination. • It is
time to forget the mistakes of the past—to some
extent doubtless shared by both parties—and brace
ourselves up to deal with the work of the •
present.
Next week the plans of the Administration will be
revealed, and, as Mr. Gladstone truly said last
night, the most important interest of the country at
this moment lies in the speedy settlement of the
Reform question ; it is above all things necessary
that the proposals of the Government should be ap-
and perfected by the joint wisdom of all
proached without prejudice, discussed without fac-
tiousness,
sections in the great council of the nations. Neither
nor the observations let fall by
the Chancellor of the Exchequer
ed the mode of action proposed to
lit
a,hosetr Royal
night,oDyearlb
eyxpalnadi Speech,n
be followed by the Government in dealing with Re-
form, and we may reasonably consent to wait till
next Monday for a full explanation of their inten-
tions.

THE WESTMINSTER GAZETTE ON NATIONAL CIIA-
RACTER.—There are some things which appear
difficult to express in exactly the same proportion
in which they are easy to conceive. A simple object
can be seized at once by the intelligence, but it is
quite another thing to express it accurately with
the pen. Multiplicity of words is somewhat antag-
onistic to simplicity of thought. A broken mirror
may reflect the object, but it will be in a multitu-
dinous and fragmentary manner. This difficulty
does not always arise from the nature of human
speech. We often imagine we possess very distinct
notions, till by some accident we are forced to try
our hand at putting them on paper. The very fact
of taking up the peu fieeras to act as a diz.zolyent

on our power of cOnception. The vivid thought
which we prided ourselves so much upon, moves,
and melts, and runs into a cloud, and disappears
the moment we attempt to throw it into words.
These notions possess a sort of affinity to ghosts
—they disport themselves with all the greater
boldness in proportion to the imbicility of the
mind which they inhabits. The more vivid they
are, so much the more difficult it is to grasp them.
But there are other causes of this difficulty besides
poverty of mind. Men may not only be possessed
by an idea, which, while it haunts them, escapes
their apprehension ; they may also conceive a
notion which bears about it all the notes of
genuine thought ; and yet, when they attempt to
seize hold of it and force it into words—like catch-
ing a pony in a field with a wisp of hay—it cleverly
gives them the slip, and leaves them looking fool-
ish, with the experiment to try again with proba-
bly about the same success. It is a much easier
thing to repeat words than to fix the mind steadily
on thought. A parrot, we presume, is not gifted
with any power of analysis, or even with capacity
to understand the force of words. But a parrot
can talk. To make use of words is one thing, to
understand them is another. Most animals can
be taught to imitate certain sounds. Men are pro-
verbially of the imitative class. Sheep do not walk
more contentedly in each others foot marks, than
men follow each other in the grove of thought.
To repeat what has been said before, without
the trouble of having thought it out, requires
very little intellectual wear and tear. Most men
are simply echoes of another voice. Few think ;
but all men talk, and theorise, and declaim. The
less the intellectual ballast, so much the more
freely can the tongue disport itself. Now there
are a variety of topics upon which men consider
they have a right to speak. Of course matters
of strict science, of theology, of jurisprudence,
and such like, are the property of a certain
class. But every man can talk of liberty, and pro-
gress, and free thought, and religion, and truth,
and morality, and national character. These be-
long indiscriminately to all. These, and kindred
questions, the multitude may toss about with as
they please ; and no one is thought presumptions
who ventures an off-hand opinion on them at a mo-
ment's notice. Men can speak fluently upon them
and with ease. They have their opinions at their
finger ends. They can go on arguing and beating
round the hush, till they have fairly. muddled them-
selves, and effectually puzzled everybody else.
Where the weight of thought is absent there
the consequent flow of words begins. Now there
is a certain class of subjects upon which the
public has so long made up its mind, that is,
upon which it has so long ceased actively to think
at all, that we have some hesitation in touching
on it. We know well the force and inveteracy-of
habit. And we know that there is no force and
inveteracy equal to a formula of words, which,
by process of time and continual bandying
about, has had all the thought knocked out of it.
One might just as well try to ward off the blows
of a bludgeon with an enthymeme as imagine it
possible to overcome the immoveable rigidity of
steriotyped phraseology with argument on common
sense. But, when to the inveteracy of habit,
and the torpor of a satiated mind, is added the
dictates of self-love, the case becomes ten times
more difficult. How best the old formulas can
be broken up, and the dried bones be decently
buried away, while a new life of genuine thought
can be implanted, is a problem which requires solu-
tion. We clearly see the delicacy of the task.
Our thorough appreciation of it at once accounts
for so long an introduction. Now there is no ima-
ginable question on which an Englishman thinks
he has a greater right to speak than on the na-
tional character. And yet, of all others, this is a
subject in which the difficulties we have just men-
tioned find a place. No matter ; the English-
man's views, like a Newfoundland cod, have long
ago been- cut and dried for him. He wants no
schooling on this point. It is simply preposterous
to imagine that he does not know the very people
amongst whom he has been bred and born, and
is incapable of understanding them. Ask him and
he will tell you at once that an Englishman is
honest, manly, straightforward, and truthful.
He is the magnanimous man. He possesses the
noblest national gifts of any man under the sun.
Ile is plodding and persevering, and indomitable.
He is the ancient Roman Anglicised. He is com-
paratively the most perfect type of human nature
that has been created. He has his faults, but so
have others. He has done injustice ; but who
has not ? He may be a sinner, but he is the
noblest of sinners. His worth is seen in the works
of his head and hands. In the fruit of his thought,
in the results of his skill, and the enterprise of his
commerce. His strong, hard, practical sense, his
stubborn energy have made him take the first place
in the race, and carry away the prize. Such are
the common places which are continually repeated
to the echo. They have been uttered a thousand
times, and it is pleasant, and requires no thought
to utter them again. To say we are the first
people in the world, and to carry so pleasant a
proposition by acclamation, and to raise it almost
to a national axiom, is quite in accordance with
the build of the public mind. Men do not object
to flatter the national vanity on so trifling an intel-
lectual cost. But this.miserable and weary repe-
tition, besides encouraging a sickly vanity, super-
induces a very unhealthy stagnation of mind—a
stagnation of mind upon a subject of the most
vital national importance. If men allow their
minds to crust over with unmeaning platitudes,
they will never know anything of what lies be-
neath the' surface. The traditional opinion of
our superior worth is most likely to engender
self-deception. It is so pleasing to indulge in these
dreams of our own virtue and perfection, that they
all the easier occupy the place of healthy thought.
Have we advanced in our knowledge of the na-
tional character within the last hundred years?
Have we not been content to take up the cry
which has been handed down by tradition, almost
from time immemorial ; has any one made a
serious study of the Englishman? Has any one
taken so much interest in the improvements of
his character, as many have in the breed of sheep
and oxen, in studying the habits and functions of
animal creation ? If the character which we give
ourselves is mainly true, are we to be content
with anything so vague and general, so unsatis-
factory for practical work? Can our sayings of
ourselves help us in the least ? The fact is, this is
one of those points in which we play the parrot.
Why not break through the crust and sink into the
depth of this important subject ? For instance, do
Englishmen Mk themselves such questions as
these ? And are they anxious for an answer? How
is the national character formed ? What are its
essentials? Who is the model man? On whom
Should we form ourselves? Is there more than
one type ? Which is the most perfe©t ? Should
we tend towards it ? Is the national character
pagan or Christian, or a mixture of both ? Have
we a clear idea of the character we should en-
deavour to develop in the child? What methods
do we Make use of to elicit it in youth ? What
are the principles on this point in our schools and
colleges and universities ? Is there any systematic
process for forming men on a perfect model?
What are our aims, what our success ? Is there
a model universally received ? or is the English
character formed imperceptibly by the various
influences which surround his education __.is he
fashioned into shape like a number of pebbles
shaken in a bag ? it is simply the result of fric-
tion ? Cr is h the spontaneous growth of the natu-
ral man ? or is any tireat herd held up to imita-
tion—Cromwell, or N ewton, or Nelson, or Well-
ington ? These and a thousand questions more
suggest trtiimi of thought as interesting and often
equally important with themseive. We sincerely
hope that such questions as these ha_ye
discussed.
seriously thought upon and carefully disfelltrsa"duli-
If men have blindly followed the picture o
tion they may possibly have fallen into serious
error. The traditions of a race, and the radi-
ancet of national glory, are not always the best
instruction of mankind. The type of national
perfection may be an imperfect model. He who
takes the accepted notion of an Englishman,
b
however the Englishman may; en advance of
hiss pattern that
which itself requirei a fairer form and a moreper-
fect finish. He who does not look above and
be-
yond a nationality, is little better than the plookaganed
Greek or Roman. Those sturdy pagans
higher than this; they looked with reverence on
their gods, and strove to reach them. There was
a Fatherhood above them which knit them into one,
and after which they strove. They moulded
themselves on the highest form they knew.
Plato and Cicero, the model Greek and the model
Roman, held lofty notions of the righteous man.
At times they almost appear to have been visited
by a vision of a higher and a purer morality than
their own ; though they fell continually to earth,
their tendency was heavenwards, and their
writing sparkle here and there, in a startling
manner, with a purer ray. The Greek especially
had a more polished and a loftier mind than
our own, and the Roman, though more mascu-