Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-05-04

cGDOOs, which wesley ana W hltneld
along with the railways and telegraph
were never able to "lay," draw these
sturdy Cornish villagers closer together
around the flashing village smithy forge,
the COrnishmnn's chief place Of evening
resort, or within the home glow Of their
blazing ingle.nooks, during the long
winter nights when the cruel fogs pound
in over the moors from the seething
Channel, or the tempests howl across
the dreary, shuddering moors.
Practically all English village folk
are laborers, whether operatives, shep-
herds, wagoners, thatchers, drainers or
common field laborers, just as they have
been for hundreds of years. There may
be q publican or innkccper, shop
keeper who is postmaster or postmis-
tress, carpenter, who is often
painter, undertaken, verger and
grayedigger in one, baker, tailor,
blacksmith and q poacher, for the
latter is in every hamlet in Britain, all
great oracles in their way. But three
families Of quality, and frequently not
that many, are known--those Of the
lord Of the manor or the squire, the rec
ton or the curate and the schoolmaster;
for the doctor is always summoned from
near city or town.
English village life is therefore found
to lie within wonderfully close hori-
ION. have been much with these folk
in their labor, their diversions and
their homes. After looking at them
long and earnestly with my own eyes,
have tried to get, as nearly as possible,
into their personal environment and
then look out of the windows Of their
minds and their habitations upon the
everyday world about them. In this
way a good deal that is not hopeless
and much that is gratifying can be dis.
cerned. 1t is certainly true that an in
iinitely higher standard Of life and liv.
ing is enjoyed than in the good old
days whose departure the wise writers
50 bitterly deplore.
Universal education has certainly
caused universal discomfort. But ia
not think 1t carries from youth to old
age, BY the time these folks are 20 or
20 years OF age the fermentation period
Is passed, some 60 away 10 the cities,
as with us, or to America or Australia.
but those who remain are better Iaoorers.
villagers aud citizens The English peas.
ant clod has thus almost entirely dtsap.
peatGd. You will not see VERY much
knee.crooking, head.ducking and tuft.
pulling to superars, while there is no
less genuine kind.heartedness and re.
spect. >lnock frOcks and cordurOys are
less frequent 50 are tho feasts and
gurginEs and guzzlings. But these vii.
layers are less gross They are OF better
stun lheV have more wholesome food
to eat, and a greater variety. They know
something about hygeinc They insist
on good drainage, In humble fashion
they beautity their habitations withou,
and within. What has been lost in the
rough and often brutal amusement.
of the olden time has been more
than gained in and for the home
There are books and newspapers and
| prints in it. The tireside is even d
| grander place than the parsons lawn Of
| the Drawing street. In word, without
having lost a jOt Of their value a!
laborerS and servants they have emerge
from the condition Of sodden male anC
female binds to that OF self.respecting
men and women.
With this has come an individual ",
for the village home and the home vii
lage. The thrilling history of many
place, its antiquarian marvels, its an
Gent legends, folklore and even super
sttlons, are no longer the eXclusiy,
possession Of London savants. 4 deer
and steadtast interest Of this sort i
flaming up among them. 1t bodies i'll t,
the ale.house. Along with ii surely
comes an ethical development. Thei
are beginning 10 share with the his
torian, the artist, the novelist, the va
grant wauderer like you and |, per
ception Of the matches beauty Of thei
environment. That alone is proving
mighty factor in preserving all that i
tender, sweet and sacred about them fo
the exquisite delight Of alien eyes.
EDGAR l.. WAKEMAS.