The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-10-01

Emerson on English Character.
Connected with the high material de.
vclopment of the English nation, is their
passion for utility. They love all the
mechanical powcrs.tbo Flanders draught.
horse, tho waterfall, aud the sea and the
wind TO bear their freight ehips.
Their toys are steam and galyanism.
They are heavy a. the fine parts, but
aaroit at the coarse-nor good in Jewel.
~ and mosaic-but the best iron.mas-
tiers. golfers. wool cOmbers, and tanners
in Europe. Their success in agricul
turo, in resisting the clements, in tho
manufacture in the indispensable sta.
pies, is miraculous You dine With
gentleman on venison, pheasant, quail,
pigeons, poultry, mus ooms, and pine-
apples. al til, growth of his estate. They
study in their building in the order of
their dwellings, and in their dress. The
Freuchman invented the ruiflo, the Eng
lishman added the shirt, lie wears
sensible coat buttoncd to the chin, Of
rough but solid and lasting texture.
They have ditused the taste for plain
substantial hats shoes and coats through.
out Europe. They look to the essentials
in their diet, in their arts and manufac-
lures. In trade. the English believe
that nobody breaks who ought not to
break. The love of details, the not drv.
ing things too finely. constitute that dis.
patch Of business which makes the mer.
cautilc power cf England In war, they
rely upon the simplest means. They do
not like pondcrous and difficult tactics.
They adopt every improvements in rig,
In motor, in weapons, but after all be-
licvo that the best stratagem in naval
war is to lay your ship along side of the
enemy's ship and bring al your guns to
bear on him until you or he 90 to the
button. They do not usually she'd their
blood for point Of honor, or religious
sentiment, and never for whim-they
have DO Indian taste for q tomakawk
dance, no French taste for a badge or q
proclamation. But if you offer to lay
hand on his days wages, on his COW, or
his right in common, or his chop, the
Epglishman Will fight 70 the cracl; of
doom. He concentrates all political
rights in the right to his own dinner.
The questions of freedom, of taxation, of
privilege are money questions If capa.
bic of larger views, the indulgence is ex.
pensive, costs great crises or accumula.
tion of mental power Steeped in beer
and fesh.pots, they are hard of hearing
aid dim of sight. They cannot we'll
read principle except By the light of
fagots and of burning towns.
The English character is founded on
practical, utilitarian basis. Their in.
tellcct is essentially logical They arc
jealous of minds that have much facility
of association. They are inpatient of
genius and Of minds addicted to contem.
plation They cannot conceal their con.
tempt for salles of thought whose steps
they capnot count By their wonted rule.
They are impious in their skepticsm of
theory in high departments thoy ara
cramped and sterile but this practical
logic has given them the leadership of
the world, Their universal power rests
on the national sincerity. Their vsraci.
ty is innate in their animal structure.
They are blunt in saying what they think,
sparing of promises, and they require
plain dealing in others. They hate shuf-
fling and equivocation, and tho cause is
damaged iD public opinion, on which any
paltering can be fixed An Englishman
habitually understates, avoid the super.
lative, checks himself in compliments,
and alleges that in the French language
one capnot speak without lying. They
love reality in wealth, power, hospitali-
ty, aud DO not easily learn to make a
show and take the world as it goes.
They are not fond of ornaments, and if
they wear them they must be gems.
Plain, rich clothes, plain, rich equipage,
plain. rich finish throughout their house
aud belongings, mark The English truth.
They confido in each oiher-Euglsh be-
licve in English. In the power Of say
ing rude truth, no men surpass them.
Their ruling passion in these days is a
terror of humbug, In the same proper
tion they value honesty, stoutnees, ana
adherence to your own, y
But their love or truth ia combined
with singular want Of Imagination and