The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1883-02-08
EnglIsh Reserve.

y 3 {.
johnson gave as q reason for the re-
serve habitual among Enlishmen that
"we do not as yet understand the COM
mon rights OF humanity" inferring
thereby that a time would come when.
oy the better understanding of those
rights, this characteristic would be ee.
laced. This was spoken ninety-nine
years ago, but it can not be conceded
that the wished-for consummation has
| peen attained. In fact, it may be said
that with our more frequent and inti-
mate acquaintance with foreigners, our
suspicion OF them has intensified; but
| our insular reserve Is quite as remarka-
ple among ourselves as in our inter
course with strangers, As O French
writer remarked, we surround ourselves
with seemingly impenetrable wall of
Ice, but, the walls being once penetrated,
absolute capitulation follows; and even
Goldsmith's "Citizen of the World" in
summing up the national character, de-
clared that he would have men of any
other nation as aoquaintanoes, but En-
glishmen as friends.
We carry this love of privacy into
every walk Of life, and under all circum-
ces. An Englishman entering train
| at terminus may be observed inYaria-
bly, to choose an unoccupied compart-
ment, and by his looks almost resents as
Intrusion the entrance of any one else.
TWO Englishmen may be the sole guests
at q foreign table d'hote, may be seated
within few inches of one another. vet
the meal will progress from soup to des-
sert without the exchange OF a word be-
tween them. 1t has, in fact, become
almost standard rule of propriety
among us that strangers should not adj.
dress one another without having under.
gone the formal process of introduction.
ana we are all familiar with the story Of
frenchman whom an Englishman had
saved from drowning, and who cm-
Draced his benefactor with al the effu-
sion OF his race, but was met with the
em ark, almost as chilly as had been
MS bath: ''Sir, I have not the honor of
your acquaintance"
aenee the almost unbroken slenoo
WhlCn prevails whenever party of
Gngilshmen strange to each other are
gathered together. In the crowded
trains which 60 in and out of our capital
every morning and evening it is quite
unusual to hear remark made, not SO
much because the occupants are en-.
gaSeu with their newspapers as because
there 10 nothing in common between
them; and if by chance q word should
be spoken, it Is almost ludicrous to
notice the absorbing interest it creates
In the hearts OF the other passengers
That the characteristic of reserve il
deeply implanted in tho English nature
IS suii!ciently proved by the familiar
lact that, however thoroughly at home
ana tree and easy people may become
IN the course of on evening, repentance
comes next morning, and the meeting
IN the streets during the day is marked
by all the old stand .oflishness and for
mality. Every Englishman's house is
his castle, and in nothing is tho English
love of privacy better exemplified than
in the change which comes over q man
when once he has crossed his own
threshold. He breathes freely, and the
outer man by which he is known to the
world is cast off as an actor doffs his
stage costume.
And yet not even the privacy of home
Is always able to Danish the English
mans reserve. The habit begot of
constant assumption in the outer world
too often becomes second nature, and is
carried into the family circle; hence tho
awe with which Paterfamilias is often
regarded by the olive branches. No
man Is hero to his own valet, but the
English father is very often being of
another world in the eyes Of hia Off
spring, and although we may ridiculo
tho way in which hirsuto foreign
gentlemen of mature age embrace and
ouddle one another after an absence of
few hours, it is, perhaps, regretable
that we do not see little more of the |
English father leaning on his sons arm,
while as to such childish freak as an |
exchange of kisses, Young Hopeful, |
after his first term at public school, |
Ieels himself very much above ulat.
Much OF our character abroad for |
absurdly pompous pride is traceable to
our habitual reserve, and the FOREIGNER
can not be taught to believe that in nine
cases out OF ten this is simply the result
of Shyness. Many an Englishman will,
rather than ask stranger for O LIGHT
for his cigar, deprive himself of a
smoke. He may be longing to scan the
contents of newspaper lying idle on q
railway carriage seat, but because il is
the property of n stranger he will con
tlnue his journey unsatisfed. Even
Scotchmen are more socinble and COM
municative than EngliShman; Scotch
men are brothers all the world over, us
any resident in the East, or Australia,
or Canada. can testify. But English.
men are strangers to one another. At
pinch they will put their shoulders as
firmly and sOlidly togethar rs any mon;
but the pinch over and the crisis past,
they are once again strangers, and
cease to have the smallest interest in
on" ""Hther'S afinirS.--Icn.'o f.'r'.,