The National tribune., 1892-05-05
respondent.


property must be kept intact for The next IN
succession. Property is parted with on lease
for a term ranging from % to 999 years. mus
the sites of many cities are owned almost en-
tirely by one or two persons, and all must pay
a ground rent upon their property.
Ia its formation society was essentially pa
ternal The noble had his allotted portion,
over which he ruled lie thought, acted, made
law and furnished the religion for the commu-
nifty. The position of the country lord is still
one of great influence. For few months IN
tho year he dWelis on his country estate and
infuses new life into the entire district. lie is
patron OF all societies, pays tthes to the church,
and does score Of other things necessarily
connected with his position. In these COM
munities his lordship entertans in great spien-
dor, and has small army Of household do
mestics.
Whatever the Englishman may be abroad,
at home he is generally an easy-going, self
complacent fellow, whom it is pleasure to
moct He is courteous and defereutial, with
reserve stock of good opinion of himself and
his country.
We all no doubt have our eccentricites and
defects which are more or less disagreeable to
the onlooker. / do not think, as some writers
affirm, and as many have told me- that there is
systematic poisoning of the American mind
against England. On the contrary, next to
their own country. Americans love England,
and no Nation would more eagerly forward the
n ach- talked of confederation of English speak
ing races. Yet it is an uudoubted fact that the
Westerner cannot relish everything found IN
the land of his more aristOcratic neighbor.
1t would undoubtedly be great injustice to
say that the Englishman is proverbially lazy.
We will call him lover Of leisure He loves
short hours weekly lf-holidays and long an
nual vacations. The custom is beneficial one
in country where laborers are more plentiful
than the labor, for it requires more to accom-
pli5h given result. 1t has even been limited
on this side that the American laborer pro-
duces enough more than his English neghbor
to command higher wages. Business here does
not begin until the middle of the morning
and closes early in tho evening. Then these
extremely long hours are lightened by the
weekly half holiday in all trades.
Let well enough alone is the characteristic
of our friend John. Not that improvements
are not adopted, but they gain Roadway very
slowly. 1t seems strange to learn how much
hostility there was to the introduction of rail-
roads. When Parliament had passed the bill
for the first railroad the country and towns
people rose up almost Ell masse in opposition.
They declared that the smoke would ruin agri
culture, and the towns refused to permit the
tracks within the corporation. The effects Of
this are still seen in many places where the
station is almost entirely without the city
IIHlllS He bcHSJCId9 TDSullS III lHIS IliSIdHCe
have not changed the nature much. Electrical
Improvements in light and propclling are but
rare occurrences On this side
Conservatism is the great element In the
English character. When one considers that
free public schools are but the product of the
past year why need surprise be felt at minor
things? Yet / have been told that education
obtained so cheap is only appreciated at its
cost. What has been the experience in our own
wbpre iha child hoe tisa
portunity for good, thorough education? That
principle is gaining a good foothold here
Slowly but surely the reflex action OF the West
upon the East gains ground.
i must confess to very small liking for the
English laborer. He has not that personal
pride and feeling Of individual importance Of
the American. He is not voter and his i'm
portance is seldom brought to light Hence
there does not seem to be the same desire for
improvement or the same understanding in Ma
tional matters The newspaper is not SO much
read, and tho ignorant EDgiishman is an ig-
norant creature indeed. Another thing lie is
too fond Of, the public house or the saloon. In
fact, the English Nation, as whole is not q
model of temperance and sobricty The worst
feature is the drinking among women, which
is greatly on tho increase. When wages are
small but little can well be spared for drink.
Where saving is effected is at the table The
menu is, as a rule, very limited one.
1t is not difficult matter to draw out " the
average Englshman matters pertaining to
| the royalty and nobility. lie will laugh and
| joke at their expense, and declare that he con-
| siders them no more than any other man. Let
| that same titled individual make his appear-
| ance. How 0bsequious the former becomes. He
| bows, courtesies reverentiaily doffs his CAP.
and "my lords" enough to satisfy the most
/ vain of mortals.
Society boundaries are very close and it ia
an heroic effort that will raise one from the
| society in which be is born. Birth and not
worth is the magic word which secures admis-
| sion. Everything is more firmly settled, SO
that the interchange of position is not SO fire.
| quent. Fortunes are neither made so quickly
nor lost SO quickly. Position here however
| carries with it power. Nowhere does the word
| influence have greater scope. From royalty
| down there is system of centers each radat-
| ing its influence over greater or smaller
| area.
Many reports are abroad of the spread OF
republican ideas in England. After quite an
| extended experience in various parts of the
| country, / think that the day of republic is
| far in the future. So long as the royal family
/ are harmless figureheads there is no danger OF
| its overthrow. They may complain of the ex-
| travagance, but they like tho glitter and pomp
of court. Republics like the United States
arc too plain.
There is AN intuitive love about the English
| for ceremonial and red tape" From the
highest parsonage down to the gentleman with
one servant formality has its important place
The household is limited only by the purse.
| One gentleman may have a dozen servants
his neighbor will have as many as he can af-
| ford. For this reason money is loved not so
| much for itself as for the glitter and display
| which it affords.-N. o. WINTER
|
| Johns Song logged Her Memory.
| N. T. Press.
| "John," said loving wife, az wish you