Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1855-07-03
Ml8rellaueOuss
,Ehe English and The French.
ny wAsu1ScroY IRVING


The French intellect is quick and actire.-
1t flashes its way into a subject-Mith the RAJ
pidity Of lightning sezes upon remote CON
clusions tsiltlSlens beIlllll aud iis l.eIue
tUns are almost iIitn1tiFe. Tie English INTEL
leetsis-fess perseperin iy,ss
suddenzs6yt more slire insits deductions The
GuickhesS and mobitity Of the French, enable
them to find e';Ioyi6eht IN the multiplicity of
SENSATIONS. They speak and act more from
inp!edato impressions than from reelection
ard meditation. They are therefore more So
and of places of public resort and amuse-
merit in Emglishman is more reflective in
his habits. He lives in the world of his own
thoughts, and seems more selfexistent and
sef-dependent. He loves the quiet of his
own apartment; even when abroad he in a
manner makes 4 little solitude around him, by
his silence and reserve; he moves about shy
and solitary, and, as it were, buttoned up body
and soul.
The French are great optimists; they seize
upon every good as it flies, and revc in the
passing pleasure. The Englishnan is zoo apt
to neglect. the present good, in preparing
against th9 possible evil. However adyersi-
ties may lower, let the sun shine but for a
moment, and forth saIies tho llercarial
FreGchman, in holiday. dress and holiday
J
shine were perpetual but let the sim beam
never SO brightly, SO there be q cloud in
the horizon, the wary Englishman ventures
forth distrustfully, with his umbrella in his
hand.
The Frenchman has 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 king of gliding in his style of
living, and hammers out every Itsiaea into
goldIeaf The Engli>hman, on the contrary,
is expensive in his babits, and expensive in?his
enjoyments. IIo values. everything, whether
useful ornamental, by what it costs. lie
has no satisfaction in show, unless it be solid
and complete. Everything goes with him
by the square foot. Whatever display he
makes, the depth is sure to be equal to She
surface.
The Frenchman's. habitation, like himself,
is open, cheerful, bbstling and noisy. He
lives in a part Of great -hotel with wide
portal, pared court, spacious dirty stone stair
case, and a family or eseFy floor. All is clat-
ter and chatter. lie is good humored and
| taikatiye with his neighbors, and complaisant
10 all the world. Anybody has access to.
himself and his eSaptments; his very bedroom
Is open to visitors, whatever may be its state
of confusion and all this not. from any pc
! AtOSpItt'AS DuI
mrnicatiye habit which predominates over
his character.
The Englishmar, Ron the contrary, esconces
himself in snng brick mansion, which he
has all to himself. locks the front door; puts
broken bottles along his wall, and spring guns
AID ntan-traps in his gardens, shrouds him
self with trees aud window ctrtains exults
in his quiet and privacy, and seems disposed
to Keep out noise; daylight and cornpany-
His house, Ike hi64self; has reserved inhoS-
pitable exterior; yet whoever gains admit
tance, is apt TO find warm heart and warm
freside 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 ex-
element is not durable the English are more
phlegmatic not so readily effected; but ca
pabIe of being aroused to great enthusiasm.
The faults of these opposite temperaments are,
that the viyacity of the French is apt to spar
kle up and be frothy, the gravity of the Eng
lish to settle down and grow moody! When
the two characters can be fixed IN a medium,
the French kepts from efferescence and the
English from staea alton, both will be found
! excellent.
ticed in the seol Germs of the two nations
1 The arslant 10 ID IN is all foF military re-
glory that is & ''st. ~