The times., 1901-04-18
Expression by Infection.

A traveller in Berlin records some
what whimsically a conversation which
he overheard in a beer garden between
young woman and young man, in
which the latter did most of the talk
ing. To all that he said his companion
responded only with the exclamation
.Ach. so,' in tones suited to the Occa-
sion. and it is averred that she said
"Ach, SOL twenty-seven times in the
course Of that conversation.
This incident illustrates one wide diff
ference which exists between the An
glo- Saxon and most Continental peo-
pies. He expresses his meaning by
words alone, while the Frenchman, the
Spaniard, and the Italian talk with
their Infections their facial expression.
their shoulders, and hands. This pecu-
liarity is not confined to the calm and
apathetic Englishman. The nervous,
alert. and emotional American shares it.
There is no expression current in this
country which takes the place of the
Germans "Ach. soi" unless it be the
rustic exclamation "well!" And it is
said that extensive conversations have
been carried on in which this monosyl-
liable formed the stock in trade Of one
of the takers.
To the person interested in compare
tive sociology. it looks as if the human
race were evolving beyond the need of
either gestures or infection. The
course and cause of this evolution
would be an interesting one 10 trace.
but it would take considerable time to
discover ali the influences which affect
the disappearance of tone-coloring and
gesture illustration from the speech of
the average American.
one Of these influences. undoubtedly,
is the common tradition Of the Anglo
Saxon which forbids one of that blood
to show emotion Partly from actual
stolidity and inability To express feel
ing by facial expression; partly from a
stubborn dignity which tends TO create
the feeling that the yielding to emotion
! is a weakness in itself, partly. it may
be, from an animalism which really
makes it impossible To feel strongly in
anything not directly affecting the ami
nal nature. the typical Englishman has
/ 4 face like wooden block so far as ex-
preston is concerned. The pride of the
Norman and the sluggishness of The
! Saxon have combined 70 create this i'm
/ passive expression. The obligation TO
/ conceal feeling was transmitted by ira
! dition to this country. It's effect has
! been counteracted by the mixture with
more mercurial and impulsive races.
/ but the admixture has not proved
strong enough in its influence to make
| this a people of actors, or remove the
! instinct OF repression.
Another thing which has had an in
! huence in this matter is the advance of
( civilization. which has made the gen
/ eral subjects of conversation such as do
/ not lend themselves to gesture and ia
| cial contortion. Among simpler peo-
/ pies. there is something dramatic in the
! conversati ton OF everyday life; but with
| the progress of civilization it becomes
more and more common to talk of
/ things which need words, not gestures,
accurate phrases not a lift Of the eye
brows or a frown, to make the meaning
clear Hence, while the savage cheers
his men 20 battle with wild gesticula-
tions ard eyrations, the civilized gem
eral gives his order in three words,
standing still.