The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-25

guage. should open their eyes to tho fact
that II Quebec was an independent State in
tho American Union. they would have alb
solute and unquestioned control OF their
own local affairs.
English and American Taciturnity.
When DICKENS and Mrs. TRoLIoPE pub
lished their notes Of travel in the United
States. the inquisltiveness exhibited by
Americans toward strangers was held up as
the most characteristic and obnoxious Of our
national traits. A traveller. it was said. was
not permitted to go quietly about his busi-
ness, but was necessarily pumped with pry-
ing personal questions by people he had
never seen before. and did not want to see
again: while tho infllction was not
at all allayed by the readiness Of
his inquisitors to make an equally
clean breast OF their own private
affairs. On the other hand. the French and
other Continental peoples used to reproach
Englishmen with their exclusiveness and
taclturnity. and to declare that OF all
Britannia traits the English morgue was the
most offensive and ridiculous. There Is no
doubt. however. that with the lapse OF time
the characters Of nations change like those
OF individuals. and it Is certain that on our
Atlantic seaboard. at all events. the blatant
garrulity and ill-bred curiosity with which
we once were taxed have passed away.
while, curiously enough. these very in
Engagements Of good manners have become
of late years 80 rife In England as to be
made the subject Of serious lamentation.
The London Spectator gave vent the other
day to a jeremiad touching the decay Of re-
serve in England and the growing difficulty
Of shielding oneself In public places against
futile and impertinent Inquiries. The arti-
Gle had for its text case that was tried not
long ago before London magistrate,
which illustrates the dangers now incurred
by the unfortunate Englishman who clings
to the old exclusiveness. There were. it
seems. two passengers In street car. one
OF whom was not only bore OF formidable
calibre. but also. as 1t turned out. OF a ma
lignant disposition. This individual insist
ed upon opening a conversation concerning
a recent School Board election with his
fellow traveller and piled him with ques-
tions to that end until the latter. maddened
by the others loquacity. abruptly turned
on his assailant and requested him to shut
his mouth. Thereupon the bore. declaring
that he would punch the head OF the ex-
elusive one. proceeded to put his threat into
execution. and tho street-car episode ended
In the police court. According to the Spec
tdt0r. this incident Is typical Of the change
which has come over the ways OF English
men since the accession of the masses to
political power. The members Of the So
called upper classes have lost their former
privilege Of buttoning themselves up and
remaining obstinately taciturn In the face
OF the stranger. To-day such an at
titude is accounted to them for inso-
lence. and they are made to under
stand that they must either talk or
take the consequences. For those old-fash-
Toned people who like to keep to themselves.
but are forced to travel by street cars.
omnibuses. or railways, tho outlook Is at
present distinctly unpleasant one. for not
only will they find the common carriage
filed with loud voices and heated argu-
ments upon home rule. socialism. and the
latest religion. but they are liable to be
forced to take part In such discussions
Moreover. 1t seems from the outcome of the
prosecution referred to that the magistrate
will not support him II he takes the law
into his own hands. and repels interroga-
ton regarding his political. opinions or do
nestle affairs by snubbing aud rebuklng
the offender. The Spectators doleful con-
clusion Is that the individual has withered
with vengeance In Great Britain. since he
has now lost even the right OF remaining
silent when he chooses.
A precisely opposite change has taken
place on this sido Of tho Atlantic. and es-
pecially In the more thickly settled sections
Of the American community. There were
good reasons for the talkativeness and
curiosity evinced by Americans In the first
three or four decades OF this century
American energy, concentrated on a strug-
glo with nature under Ynexampled condi-
lions. had achieved q stupendous victory.
We were proud Of II; We sexulted In the
magnitude and splendor of our conquests
over natural obstacles. We could talk Of
nothing else: wo could not say enough
about It: and We naturally wished stran-
gers to appreciate successes which were
credit to mankind. On the other
hand. except from books we knew ut
that time very little of any other
country except our own, Travellers were
few and far between. and 1t is not surpris-
ing that they were regarded as mines of
curious and interesting information to be
carefully inspected and diligently explored.
There was no conscious boastfulness. there
was no conscious impertinence. In the gar
rulity and inquisltycness OF which Mrs.
TRoLLoPs and DICKENS complained. The
Americans OF that day did but tell the truth
about themselves, and they were not un-
reasonably anxious to learn the truth about
other people. Such desire did not offend
good-natured travellers. aud. perhaps. II
DIoxENs had read Sir THOMAS BROWNE. he.
too. might have been persuaded that the
nohlest Kind Of charity u the willing.