The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-05-14
An AMERICAN IN EUROPE.
Observations Upon the Life an Politics
of twenty-five Years Ago.
by THE LATE
JAMES SHEPHERD PIKE.
VII.
Epgush Characteristics.

EpgII.h characteristics.
Every nationality has its own peculiar traits
the characteristics and habits In which II
differs from all others. Special Influences
fashion man into special shapes. The islander,
above all men. is subject to them. lie is more
than an other. because his boun-
daries are absolute. No exterior influences
thrust their shoots up among his outlying
populations from surrounding differences.
He 10 tho same from centre to circumference
The lines are nowhcr shaded. They nre as
distinct at tho edges as ut tho heart OF the
circle.
II Is thus the Enclfshman Is = moro distinct
entity than aim ost any other man. Thon tho
English social system is 40 framed on a basis
Of supports from above and below thnt the
cultivation Of that personal independence
which creates personal differences is an un-
known practice In FnRland. Every man seeks
niche In the common edi6ce. No man strives
for individuality. No man strives to be him
sell He follows a pattern. The highest pat
tern Is the duke. But there are a thousand
others. all tho way down to the lowest LAYERS
Of mortal muck in the kingdom. Tho nobility
and gentry are the kings. and the highest
glory is to be attached to a lords train. Moth
ing IL measured by Its intrinsic goodness. but
b. It's adiuncts and supports.
No public meeting is regarded Rs OF tho
slightest consequence unless 1t Is pntronized
and differed by the people OF aristocratic
quality. The nobleman IL an essential in
, grsdient to mako any human compound In
England palatable. Tho members Of the most
powerful institution Of modern times. the
daily press. could not form n living associa-
zion OF their own members. and tried for years
in vain to do so in London until their enter
prise received the hospitality and was launched
under the auspices OF the nobility and gentry.
A bad cause 10 made reputable by names: a
rood cause 10 irretrievably dnmne by the
want Of them.
1t 10 thus everybody boasts OF his ncauaint-
ances. Happy he who can show a knight. a
gentleman. or n lord as his familiar.
These enable a man to hold his head high.
Without them he droops and is nobody. 1t is
wonderful how this sentiment prevails. os-
pecinlly among men rising or risen. No man
rises socially and scarcely politically In Eng
land who disregards it He must bow and
play the snob or he cannot get up. Society Ia
all In all. and is too strong for the individual.
A literary man OF very eminent reputation
pointed out n patch II OF q new kind Of wheat be-
longing to him. He said the seed was sent to
him from o Gov. Somebody in Australia. Tho
question was Put: WAS It spring or fall
sown ?" He did not know. 1t was not the
wheat that interested him. It was the fact that
Governor sent Il. This reverence for place
and station seems absurd. and 1t is oppres-
sivc. but the sentiment is one Of the mortars
that bind the English edifce. To condemn
Il as absurd 10 nothing. For absurdities and
prejudices and ignorances are the lrmest
sripos that hold British society together.
Tho development Of tho brutal elements is
reduced to . science in England. Papers are
published which are wholly devoted to fist
fighting. to the genealoRy Of puppies. the
AnhtnvA ~ ANITA ~ horen ;Nnin. xho hAak 18th
DDS OF gambling on horse races. the renown OF
oar pullers and cricketers. the biographies OF
horses. the standing place Of big dogs. the
accouchement OF mares and sluts. the record
OF jum rs. and such like elevating topics.
An uneophisticated man who takes up one
Of these sporting journals and looks over its
columns feels as II he were among the litera-
cure OF the beasts. He thinks IL horses and
asses were writers and editors they would
make Just such journals. Yet this kind OF liter
Azure Is 80 well patronized that the owner Of
Belts Life luxuriates In o country seat on the
Isle OF Wight. worth toward half a million dol
lars. and quite surprising the Queens place.
Osborne. which adjoins 1t.
Tho whole range OF pursuits indicated by
this enumeration are not casual and tenn
porary expressions Of the current civilization.
They are permanent professions. as stable as
those OF the law and divinity: and they have
their separate funds for the support OF the
aged and infrm members Of the several pro-
e~ssions. The cricketers' fund. for the support
Of aged cricketers past work. Is a sample. Be-
sides this. special arrangements are made for
the more renowned members Thus Tom
sayers. the puGilist. got a pension. and when
no died he got a monument erected to his
memory. And John %BrouGhton. the prince Of
prize lighters In his time. lies in Westminster
Abbey. Aspaoe on his gravestone was left to
be filed with the words. Champion OF Eng
land" but the dean OF his day hesitated about
allowing tho inscription. and the blank re-
mains. The people who do this kind of thing
q ethe countrymen OF Burns. Sheridan. Otway, |
Savage. and other gentlemen OF poetic tastes
who have died In jail or starved to death. For
the credit Of modern civilization 1t must be
said that this disgusting and brutalizing
feature Of It is not to DO found in Europe out
side Of England.
England Is an extraordinary place for defer
snce to what is established and for ignoring
what is not. The sunshine OF a new genius
blazes In vain upon the general mind. 1t pro-
duces no more effect upon tho public than
upon tho Assyrian bulls OF tho British Mu-
scum until O certain class Is reached. whose
opinions must first approve the prodigy. So
long as that class re~mains.unmoved. talent
and genius attempt In vain to make any i'm
preston.
On the othor hand. II a man acquires reputa-
tton and is recognized by royalty and nobility.
no may bray like o donkey. and his braying
shall be unanimously pronounced to BIO the
wisdom Of the gods.
1t is no answer to point to cases like those OF
Byron or Dickens. for example. Such are
wholly exceptional. 1t 10 the multitude OF
examples that make the rule.
England. though full Of insular peculiarities
and prejudices. with u large portion Of It's PEG.
Die ignorant and brutal. yet possesses a social |
system which develops every amenity and
every virtue. or. at loast. gives opportunity for
their development. and a political system
which operates to secure tho rights Of evefy
man. y
4, The English judiciary 10 a model OF inde- |
~sadent action. and the surest tuIwark Of
Dsrsonal liberty that 10 to be- found Ia Europe.
In fact. England Is the only great country in
Europe where a man can live securely under
Gka nrofAefinb NJ law and fraa fro,, a. a.,