Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-05-02
Caste in England,

There is no country in the world
where titled name commands so much
respect as in England. 1t is easy to
explain that the aristocracy of this
country is not cheap aristocracy-that
it represents an illustrious descent or
an intellectual worth which is deserv-
ing of public esteem. But this was not
always the case. Even in our own day
men have been raised from the ranks
with no such claim. Yet we know the
mere prefix of "Sir" before name
goes far to this day at committee
meeting or in o ballroom. Whether
it be fault or virtue this is nation
al popularity. The lines of social de-
marcation are nowhere more emphati-
cally indicated than in our own coun-
try. They do not indeed preclude
inter marriages, nor are they attended
by the absurdities of etiquette which
the Hindoo of Brahmin faith might
impose, but they separate by stern
law of artificial life, class from class
which is unknown elsewhere in modern
Europe. They are drawn through all
grades of society, from the most ele-
waited cotsrie down to the humble office
of domestic life. Al French bonnie is
much more a servant in her dress, and
far more humble in her notions than an
English nursemaid. Yet an English
nurse maid would not presume to ad
dress her mistress in the familiar Ian
guage which the French bonnie would
use towards madame. She could not
be trusted with the license; not, heaven
knows, because the English character
has less diffidence in its composition
than the Trench, but because she would
at once forget her station. A German
gentleman sees nothing iafra dig. in
shaking hands with HIS tailor, but an
Englishman knows that If he were to
admit his tradesmen to the same privi-
lege he would probably first undervalue
it, and then presume upon it,, 1t is q
painful fact that il you wish to COM
mand civility and attention in an ordin-
airy London shop where you are not in
the habit of dealing it is necessary to
assume an air of calm superiority to the
gentleman across the counter. If Yen
approach him with a humble manner,
he will regard you with an eye of sus-
picion. But, if you are polite to him,
he will often treat You with absolute
contempt. These are only some famil-
lar illustrations out of many which
might be selected to show. that this su-
periority or precedence of class over
class is not only assumed downward,
but looked for upward in England. It
is to be feared that the romantic notions
OF British freedom formed by Roman
peasants and Venetian gondolieri might
find realization in a sort of bondage
from which they would gladly escape.
What are commonly known as the
slower orders" here have much more
political but far less social liberty than
they enjoy under the rule of some for
eign states. The origin of this state of
things with us, may, In great measure,
be attributed to the gross ignorance
which has SO long characterized the
English poor. The mental condition
of a London laborer or small tradesman
was not many years ago, perhaps in
some instances still is, far inferior to
the average capacity of similar classes
on the Continent. In Germany, where
education has long been. compulsory
and undertaken by the State. the hum
blest errand boy is better informed on
most subjects than those who would be
in the position of his employers here.
1t would, therefore, be most undesir-
able to allow familiarity from those who
have never learned the dangers of its
abuse.