Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-03-30
EVENING STAR,
The EHGLIsH AND THE FRENCH.
BY WASHINGTON rRv,xa


tive. 1t flashes it's way into . snb;ao,
with the rapidity of lightning. sc;ss'
upon remote conclusions with a sudden
bound, and its deductions are almost in.
tultlye: The English intellect is less
rapid but more persevering; less sudden,
out more sure in its deductions. The
qulckness and nobility of the French en-.
able them to find enjoyment in the mul.
upilcity Of sensations. They speak AND
act more from immediate impressions
than from reflection and meditation.
They are, therefore, more social and com.
municatlye; more fond of society, and
OF places of public resort and amusement.
An Englishnan 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 MS own apartment; even when abroad
ne IN manner makes a little solitude
around him by his silence and reserve:
ne moves about shy and solitary, and. As
1t were, buttoned up, body and soul.
Ihe French are great optimists: they
Seize upon every good as it flies, and re-.
vel IN the passing pleasure. The English.
man is too apt to neglect the present
good, in preparing against the possible
evil. However adversities may lower,
let the sun shine for but q moment, and
forth sallles the mercurial Frenchman,,;n
holiday spirits, gay as butterfly, as
though bis sunshine were perpetual; but
let the sun beam ever so brightly. so
there be bat cloud in the horizon. the
wary Englishman ventures forth distrust.
fully, with his umbrella in his hand.
The Frenchman has a wonderful facil.
ity at turning small things to advantage.
No one can be gay and luxurious on
smaller means; no one requires less ex
pense to be happy. He practices a kind
OF gliding in his style of living, and ham.
@ers out every guinea into golden leaf.
The Enslishman, on the contrary, is ex-
pensive in his habits, and expensive in
his enjoyments. He values everything,
whether useful or ornamental, by what
1t costs. He has no satisfaction In show.
unless it be solid and complete. Every
thing gees with him by the square foot.
Whatever display he makes, the depth is
sure to equal the surface.
The Frenchman's habitation. like him.
self, is open, cheerful, bustling, and
noisy. He lives in part of a great no
tel, with wide portal, paved court, sna.
eious dirty stone staircase, and a family
on every floor. All is clatter and chat
ter. He is good-humored and talkative
with his servants, sociable with 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 confusion; and all this not from
any peculiarly hospitable feeling, but
from that communicative habit which
ipredominates over his character.
T, The Englishman, on the contrary, en-.
F: sconces himself in snug brick mansion.
which he has all to himself; locks the
front door; puts broken bottles along
{, the walls, and spring guns and man
traps in his garden; sarouds himself
with trees and window curtains exults
in his quiet and privacy, and seems dis
posed to keep out noise, daylight, and
company. His house, like himself, has
a reserved, inhospitable exterior vet,
whoever gains admittance is apt TO find
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 their excitement is not
durable the English are more phlegma-
tic, not so readily affected, but capable
of being aroused to great enthusiasm.
The faults of these opposite tempera.
ments are, that the vivacity of the
French is apt to sparkle up and bt
frothy, the English to settle down anc
grow muddy. When the two character
can be fixed in o medium, the French
kept from effervescence and the English
from stagnation, both will be found ex.
cellent.
This contrast of character may also
be noticed in the great concerns of the
two nations. The ardent Frenchman is
all for military renown; he fights fol
glory-that is to say, for success in arms.
For, provided the national flag be victo.
rious, he cares little about the expense,
the injustice, or the inutility of the war,
1t is wonderful how the poorest French.
man will revel on the triumphant bul.
letin; great victory is meat and drink
to him; and at the sight of a military
sovereign bringing home captured stand
ards, he throws up his greasy cap in ths
air, and is ready to jump out of hi.
wooden shoes for joy.
! John Bull, on the contrary, is q rsa
soning. considerate person. If he doe,
wrong, it is in the most reasonable way
imaginable. He fights because the goot
| of the world requires it. He is a mora
) person, and makes war upon his neigh
Dor for the maintenance of peace ant
good order, and sound principles. He i
. money-making parsonage, and fight
for the prosperity of commerce and man
uiactures. Thus the TIVE nations hav
been fighting, time out of mind, 70
glory and good. The French, in pursui
of glory, have had their capital twic
) taken and John, in pursuit of good, ha
l. u ~.