The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-07-30
The English and French.
BY WASHINGTON IRVING.

The French intellect is quiet and active.
1t flashes its wav into a subject with the
rapidity of lightning; seizes upon remote
conclusion with sudden bound, and its de-
auctions are almost intuitive. The English
intellect is less rapid, but more persever-
ingj less sudden, but more sure in its deduc-
tons. The quickness and obility of the
French enable them to find enjoyment id the
multiplicity of sensations. They speak and
act more from immediate impression, than
from reflection and mediation. They are
therefore more social and communicative !;
more fond of society and of places of public
resort and amusement. An Englishman is
more reflective in his habits. He lives in
the world of his own thoughts and seems
more self existent and self dependent. He
loves the quiet Of his own apartment; even
when abroad, he in manner makes little
solitude around him, by his silence and re-
serve; he moves about shy and solitary, and
as it were, bu'toned up, body and soul.
The French are great optimisls; they
seize upon every good as it flies, and reye in
the pass hg. pleasure. The Englishman is
too apt to neglect the Present good in pre-
pairing against the possible evil. However
adversites may lower; let the sunshine bat
for a moment and forth salies the mercural
| Frenchman, in holiday dress and holiday
spirits, gay as butterfly, as though his sun
shine were perpetual; but let the sun beam
never so brightly, SO there be but cloud in
the horizon, the wary Englisman salIies forth
distrustfully, with his umbrella in his hand.
The Frenchman has a wonderful facility
in turning small things to advantage. No
one can be gay and luxurious on smaller
means; no one requires less expense to be
happy. He practices kind of guiding in
his style of living, and hammers out every
guinea into gold leaf. The Englishman, on
the contrary, is expensive in his enjoyments.
He values everything whether useful or orna-
mental, by what it costs. He has no salts
faction in show unless it be solid and COM
plete. Everything goes with him by the
square foot. Whatever display he makes,
the depth is sure to equal the surface.
The Frenchman's habitation, like himself
is, open cheerful. busting and noisy. He
lives in part of great hotel, with wide
portals, paved court, spacious, dirty stone
staircase and family on every floor. All
is clatter and chatter. He is good humored
and talkalive with his servants, socia Bile
wi h his neighbors, and complaisant to all
the world. Anybody has access to himself
and his apartments; his very bedroom is open
TO visitors, whatever may be its state of COR
fusion; and all this not from any peculiarly
hospitable feeling, but from that communica-
tive habit which predominates over his char
acter.
The Englishman, on the contrary, en-
sconces himself in snug brick mansion
which he has all to himself, locks the front
door, puts broken bottles along its walls and
spring-guns and man-traps in his gardens;
shrouds himself with trees and window cur.
tains, exults in his quiet privacy, and seems
disposed to keep cut noise, daylight and COM
pany. His house like himself has reserved
inhospitabe exterior; yet whoever gains ad-
mittance is apt to find a warm heart and
warm fireside within.
The French excel in wit, the English in
humor; the French have gayer fancy, the
English richer imaginations. The former
are full of sensibility, easily moved, and prone
to sudden and great excitement, but not dur
able; the English are more phegmatic, not
so easily affected, but capable of being
reused to great enthusiasm. The>fauts OF
these opposite temperaments are, that the
vivacity of the French is apt to sparkle up
and be frothy; the gravity of the English 10
settle down and grow muddy. When the
two characters can be fixed in a medium
the French from efervescence ard the Eng
lish from stagnation-both will be found ex-
celIent.
This contrast of character may also be
noticed in the great concerns of the two ma
lions. The ardent Frenehmanis all for mill
tary renown; he fights for glory, that is to
say for succe SIS in arms. For, provided the
national flag be victorious, he cares little
about the expense, the injustice, or the in
utility of the war. II is wonderful how the
poorest Frenchman will reVel on triumphant
bulletin; great victory is meet and drink to
him.; and at the sight of military sovereign,
! bringing home standards, he throws IN his