The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-12-27
SOME ENGLISH HABITS.

Most Englishmen of the lower middle
class and the lower class in cities have y
way of walking which is 4 distinguishing
habit of common life. had observed it
in Englishmen of this sort in the streets
of New York, where | could tell them by
it as far as could see them. They lay
themselves out in their walking, as if they
were doing days work. They walk not
only with their feet and legs, bat with
their hips and their shoulders and their
arms, not swinging the latter, but arch
ing them out more or less from their sides
and putting them forward stisfly as they
step. Withal they look conscious of their
walking, and seem well pleased that they
are doing the correct thing. This gait
and carriage of body is most remarkable
in the soldiers that one sees about the
streets of London and of garrison towns
like Canterbury, and in the vulgar Great
ure who has come to be known by the ge-
neric name AIRY. You will meet two
soldiers frightened up to the extreme of
endurance in their scarlet she'll jackets,
with little fiat caps so far down the sides
of their heads that you cannot see why
they hesitate at coming down all the way
and these two fellows, one of whom is
pretty sure to carry rattan with Jaun-
ty air, will take up the room of three men
by the set-out of their four arms from
their four sides. and will walk as if their
locomotien, instead of being by human
muscles, were by clock-work and steam.
The number of their imitators cannot be
told; but an English gentleman has none
of this toilsomc swagger. He walks quite
easily and unconsciously, and generally
with a good, manly stride, just as man
of corresponding condition of life in Bos-
ton. New York, or Philadelphia will
walk. But in those places you will not
see in persons of inferior condition that
strange mode of locomotion which have
endeavored to DIES scribe.
Gentlemen in England have very
general fashion of wearing rings i'll what
seemed to me very lady-likc way. a
signet ring, engraved with u cipher, a
crest. or beautiful design, seems fit and
becoming upon the hand Of man who
can afford to keep it clean and out OF
danger of knocks and blows. Nor are
we unaccustomed to see examples of an
nular gorgeouSness-notab vast anne
thysts-upon hands which are not 50
cared for. But this is not this ring
ing of gentlemen i'll England. There
| small rings set with stones are in favor.
Diamonds set in heavy hoops rubies as
eyes in the heads Of golden snakes which
coil three OF four times around the finger
diamonds and rubies, diamonds and sap
phires, in alienation, are seen upon the
fingers of most of the men who are
| above the lower middle class, -nnblemen
clergymen, army officers, university dons.
| hard-headed men of affairs, merchants.
Not one ring only; indeed, a single ring
upon mans hand is rather exceptional.
You shall see big fellow with big brown
hands, or an elderly man of staid bus
mess habits, with three OF four jewel
ed rings upon mis- fingers; not unfrequent-
ly there will be two upon one finger. The
turquoise is in great favor most
unmanly and woman-propcr of all pre-
cious stones, in my Judgment; most suit
able to the fairest and soltest of the sex
1t is frequently alternated with the dia-
mond on a heavy hoop, a wide space being
left between the stones. The fashion I'M
pressed me as quite incongruous with
manly dignity and simplicity. But per-
haps this was merely because was unac
customed to it. know that | saw mar
with a diamond ring and plain hoop or
one finger, a turquoise on another, and 9
ruby-eyed snake whose coils covered one
joint of third, whom | knew to be :
gentleman, and had good reason to be-
lieve thoroughly man. If these mer
had not been Of my own blood and speech
| should not have thought this habit re
markable; but thus it strikes a stranger
who is yet not a foreigner.
.JuuuavU ATLANTIC