Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1856-10-11
Gle polpuesian.
Emerson ON English Character.


wonder, as it does that of every American traveller
was the material perfection which is visible on the
face of the country and the condition of the peo-
pie. England is paradise of comfort and plenty
The fields present the appearance of highly cul-
tlvated garden. One would think that they had
been finished with pencil instead of a plow The
towns show solidity of structure that speaks the
industry of ages. Every thing gives the impress
sion of magnifcence and boundless wealth. The
climate constantly brings agricultural production
up to the highest point. There is plenty of water
of stone, of potters clay, of COAL of salt, and of
iron. The land naturally abounds with game.
Immense heaths and downs are paved with quails,
grouse, and wOodcock, and the shores are anima-
ted by water birds. The rivers and the surround
ing sea spawn with fish. The people have great
vigor of body and endurance. They are bigger
men than the Americans A hundred Englishmen
taken at random out of the street would weigh
fourth more than so many Americans. But the
skeleton is not larger They are round, ruddv
and handsome; the whole bust is well formed /;
and there Is tendency to stout and powerful
frames. The beauty of English women is not i'm
proved by this circumstance Their forms are apt
to grow stJcky and instead Of TALL slender figures
OF HOWlng shape, we find sunted and thickset per-
sons, and, as the French say, with two left hands
But, in all ages, they are a handsome race. The
fair complexion, blue eye and open and hOrid as
pect of the English face indicate love of truth
wood out of which cannibal, or inquiSitor, or as
sassin is made. He is moulded for law, civility,
marriage, the nurture of children, for colleges,
churches, charities and colonies. The English
have vigorous health, and last well into middle and
old age. The old men as red as roses, and still
handsome. clear skin, peach-blOUm complex
ion, and good teeth are found all over the island
They live we'll. Their diet is plentiful and nutri
tiOus. They do not work on water-cresses. Beef,
mutton, wheatbread, and malt liquors are univer-
sal among the frst-class laborers. They have moro
constitutional energy than any other people They
love all sorts of manly exercises. They box run,
shoot, ride, row and sail from pole to pole. They
eat and drink and live jolly in the open air. putting
a bar of solid sleep between day and day. They
walk and ride as fast they can, their head bent
forward, like so many mad dogs. Both men and
women walk with infatuation. Hunting is the
fine art of every well-bred Englishmau. They are
the most voracious people of prey that ever existed
The muscles of the men are almost as tough and
supple those of the dogs and horses in which
they so much delight. Ii in every efficient man
there is first fine animal, in the English rice it
is of the best breed, healthy, juicy broad chest
ed creature, stepped in ale and good cheer, and
! little overloaded by his flesh.
| Connected with the high material development
of the English nation, is their passion for utility.
They love all the mechanical powers, the Flanders
draught-hOrse, the waterfall, and the and the
wind to bear their freight ships. Their toys are
steam and galvanism. They are heavy at the fine
arts, but adroit at the coarse-not good in ewelry
and mOsaics-but the best iron masters, colers,
wOol-combers, and tanners in Europe. Their sue
cess in agriculture, in resisting the elements, in
the manufacture of the Indispensable staples. is
miraculous. You dine with gentleman on pleas
ant, quail, pigeons, poultry. mushrooms, and pine
apples, all the growth Of his estate They study
utility in their building, in the order of their
dwellings, and in their dress. The Frenchman in
vented the rufle, the Englishman added the shirt.
He wears a sensible coat buttoned to the chin, Of
rough but solid and lasting texture. They have
dfused the taste for plain substantial hats, shoes
and coats throughout 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 de-
tails the not driving things too finely, constitute
that dispatch of business which makes the mer-
camille power of England In war, they rely on
the simplest means. They do not like ponderOus
and difficult tactics They adopt every improve
ment In rig, In motor, in weapons, but after all be-
lieve that the best stratagem in naval war, is to
lay your ship alongside of the enemy's ship, and
bring all your guns to bear upon him until you or
he go to the bottom. They do not usually shed
their blood for point Of honor, religious SEN
timent, and never for a whm-they have no In
dian taste for tomahawk dance, no French taste
for badge proclamation. But if you offer to
lay hand on his days wages, on his COW, or his
right in common, or his shop, the Engishman will
fight to the crack of doom. He concentrates all
political ghts in the right to his own dinner.
The questions of freedom of taxation, of privilege
are money questions. If capable of larger views,
the indulgence is expensive, costs great crises, or
accumulatiOns of mental power. STEPPED in beer
and flesh pots. they are hard of hearing and dim
of sight. Their drowsy minds need to be laggel
lated by war and trade and politics and persecution
They cannot well read principle except by the
light of fagots and of burning towns.
The English character is founded on a practical,
utiItarian basis. Their intellect is essentially
logical. They are jealous Of minds that have much
facility of association. They impatient of ge
MUS and of minds addicted to contemplation. They
cannot conceal their contempt for saes of thought
whose steps they cannot count by their wonted
rule. They are impiOus in their skepticism OF
theory; in high departments they cramped and
STERILE but this practical logic has given them the
leadership of the world Their universal power
rests on the national sincerity Their veraclty 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 shutting and equvocation, and the cause Is
damaged in public opinion, which any palterfng
can be fixed. An Englishman habitually under
states, avoids the superlative, checks himself IN
compliments, and alleges that in the French Ian
guage one cannot speak without lying. Ihey loNe
reality in wealth, power, hospitality, and 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 hnlsh
throughout their house and belongings, mark the |
English truth. They cOnfde in each other-Eng |
lish believes in English. In the power of saying |
rude truth, men surpass them. Their ruling |
passion in these days is terror of humbug. In
the same proportion they value honesty, stoutness
and adherence to your own.