Telegram-herald., 1890-12-16
rYgxs OF caARAcTKR


EAe s.tis4.l shsssss.
Spssfsl Csrrsssosax1e< - Es.EsxAx ksAtsa
HanazH character sssa-s. A y ~etss
- 10 alssys lsbeled, eota naIenAl1f
asa Individually. sne ne iz1sl always
sticks. TIE fsog-ezLi8g 3na esns-nS
frenchnzn, tie volatile it2i.sa, ne
subtle Greek, TIE pAlegmaue German
ths wsrilke Mkxyars ne Pataens LAP
landsF, ths cautious ScSteauaan. ana
the w1a and namozsus lrlsam2n, are
70 thss day believed n as fairy Aeea-
rate genera characteristics of Tie fe-
speeGse races. These traits sEe only
true Ia part.
kgogs are not mAItef
Of universal diet IA France,
nor are the inhabitants al~ays dancing
There are some grave Italians, and
some Germans are dIscreetlY fTlsEy.
whea scotehman IS generous, he ex-
ceeeis beyond measure, while some
Irishmen are eOnspicuously duh. Eng
hshmen are noted for stolidity and re-
serve; habisuAl hsussnr and general
"standotflshness" Is their prevailing
characteristic. They never speak with
out an introduction, and even then
they are not particularly gushing. Yet
there is soolzbility about them, alter
all for despite AL their reserve anu
conscious insulsrity, as ma
ton, from the Prince OF
Wales downwards, their hospitality
is CONSPICUOUS and unstlnting. They
entertain on q colossal though some
what heavy scale, not themselves only.
bat foreign pOtentates, travellers, war
riOrs and distinguished visitors gener-
ally. Magnificent dinners. unlimited
turtle OF unlimited protuslon, China
cries from her famine stricken fields,
volcanoes rearrange geography IN far
OF seas, calamity comes IN sweeps OF
IRE and Hood, and the hat goes round
at once.
Notwithstanding this. what though
the national heart is hospltable, chaTi-
table, and far seekingy-among
themselves they are noted
for reserve. "An Englishman's honor
is his castle" has passed into language.
1t means one thing 10 them, but quite
another 10 the foreigner. ON the
whole, perhaps il expresses certain
home qualities OF, say, the average
middle class Englishman as we'll as
may be. Though his house may be his
castle, it does not mean that its portal
is always shut and bolted against
strangers. AS fact the social draw
bridge Is generally down, and the port
culis always up. At the same time :he
owner respects his nelghbor's privacy,
which, after all, is fine sort of free
dom, and obtains an equal respect IN
return.
They may put up trespass boards
here and there, but they are obsolete
old posts. and the utmost ugour Of
the law" II is board thunder only.
An Englishman, after certain age,
wants, for his leisure, real friends
those who know him and whom he
knows. He wishes, as Herder says, for
friendship that increases, like the
evening shadows, until the sun of life
sets". He may find his new neighbour,
whom lie has s.udiously avoided by
always walking up and down on the
other side of his back garden. n charm
ing fellow on further acquaintance,
and then, perhaps, the chief danger is
that the intimacy may ripen too sud
denly, especially if the lady of the
house borrows too much milk, repay
ing quarts with plnts, or too frequently
falls short of coal. This sets Up test
of friendship at once.
On the whole English reserve is moth
ing like what it was, say, fifty years
ago. Globe-trotting opens up q
world of sOciability. They are get
ting TO know other languages
than their own. The freedom of the
boulevards is scarcely for them.
There climate knocks the outdoor
marble top table on the head, and the
casual passing the time Of day. is en-
geIdered thereby. But it Will all come
IN time. They eat as much, and If
| they do not soon have a channel tun-
mel they will probably have y bridge
perhaps both. They cannot be too free
and easy all at once. Their skys are
not blue enough, and fogs are too fre-
| quent. Meanwhile, what reserve they
have il IS a virtue 10 retain. They can
not suddenly cut of their insular shy
ness, and il is no more desirable than
| for the maiden of fifteen toforego blush
ing. 4 too copious coyness s not de-
sirable, but certain damask mOdesty
is still pleasing to witness.