The times., 1898-05-08
ENGLISH OPINION OF AMERICA.
IhroaGh the Eyes of "a Prominent
British Critic.
From the London spcctatorD

(FFOm the london Spectator
no character is quite so interesting 10
thoughtful Englishmen as that Of the
Americans; it is so like our own yet so
unlike. so complex and yet so simple, 50
fntelligible and yet so fun Of unexpected
turns. They are as difficult to depict as
EngIishmen seem 10 foreigners, and IL
we try 70 do II il Is with a full conscious
ness that after our best efforts many
facets Of the stone viii still remain un-
described. But FOR two peculiarities
which are universal and deep enough pro-
foundiy TO modify character. we should
say thar the Americans, as q nation,
more closely resembled the English in
ireland than any other people in the
world
The long contest with enemies. with
Lature. with circumstances. has bred in
chem the inner hardness and incapacity
81 yielding 10 opposition which that pc
CGliar caste derives from its long habit Of
keeping down superior numbers and eX-
actug from them tribute. There is dour-
ness somewhere in every American, a
'hard PAN as they say themselves, TO
which II YOU get down there Is no further
progress 20 be made. You must crush it
a. powder OF retreat and nine times out
o. ten retreat is found to be the easier
course. The American character rests.
o. fact on a granite substratum, which
has been the origin OF their success, and
will give them the mastery Of the West
err Hemisphere. il is not merely the
English doggedness, though il doubtless
had its root in il; il is a quality which
enables its possessor 10 90 on whatever
happens, 10 charge. as IL were. instead Of
merely standing 10 receive the assault.
il is In fact, III we are 10 be minute. dog
gedness made fiery by an infusion Of hope,
Of "A sanguineness which you would never
expect from an Americans face-that,
owing 10 some climatic peciaiiarity. is
usually careworn. especially in the East
but which colCrs his very blood.
We never met an American in our lives
who did not believe that he should 'WOr-
~ through any trouble on hand, and
reach ~ last the point desired. however
distant "a might seem 10 be. Like the
Auglo-Irishman also. the American has
d quick sense Of Jne incongruous; he per
ceiVes the c0micallty alike Of things and
persons and he has a habit Of pointing
that out with reserved shreWdress
which has always the effect Of, and some
times really is mordant humor. Like the
strong sense of personal dignity: he can
not bear 70 be belittled, and is, II any
thing. Overseusitiye on the score Of his
individual claims 10 respect His pride is
not the glacial pride Of the Englishman,
who al heart holds the man who Offends
him 70 toe boor for doing it and would
as soon quarrel with q cabman as with
him. but Is d glowing pride. quick, per
haDs overquick 10 resent insult and 20
imagine wrong. Add TO these traits an
almost infinite depth Of inner kindliness /
80 long as there Is no provocati0n and no 4
resistance from interiors. and you have 4
the AnglO-lrish character on its strong /
sides. and that is also the American, /
about ar efficient a character as the 4
world presents 10 our view.
He can nght or he can bargain. he can 1
build or he can diplomatize: and when 4
doing any OF these things. he generally 4
cOntrives TO come out at top, with per
hsps just glance around 10 see that the 4
high place out OF which he energies with 4
unmOved couatenance has been noticed by /
the world around. We should add. for II 4
is characteristic. though perhaps il IL Of +.