Evening star., 1937-05-30
BY JACK BEALL,


which London has passed in
the last fortnight, with the
- might and majesty Of the
British Empire on display, occasion
some thoughts on whether England
Is an aristocratic state or a demo-
cratic one. It Is q habit Of thought
to group her with the democracies,
but little observation should con-
vince that this is more convenient
than accurate.
There is no time more suitable for
that observation than during cor
onation week. Then one sees the
aristocracy in its full power, hasten
ing about the multiform official and
social duties In full martial or court
panoply. Quite apart from the
gorgeous coronation itself, with no
effort or expense spared to aggran-
die and almost to defy the mon
arch in the public mind. the aris-
tocracy, which Is to say the govern
ing class, Is almost as good a show
The Poor Like the Rich.
The thing which is bound to i'm
press any American observer is that
at time when the gorgeousness OF
the aristocracy forms an almost un-
bearable contrast to the poverty OF
the people, these self-same people
exhibit an enthusiasm and lack OF
envy for the well-born and highly
stationed and wealthy which is truly
remarkable.
They flock about the entrances to
the palace or to embassies where
receptions are being held They ex-
claim with delight at the birds OF
paradise who pass In or step out OF
their equipages. Not once was heard
any discontented grumble or dis
paraging remarks from the mostly
shabby crowd. Their faces we're lit
with actual admiration.
One can dismiss it, perhaps, by
saying that they have circus as a
substitute for bread. But it cuts
deeper than that. The people are
now so well ingrained in the habit
of being governed by the ougarchy
Of arstocrats that they like it. They
identify themselves with the mon
archy. Its glory is their glory. They
even seem to have the vicarlous ex-
perience Of being lord when one
passes by with a chest full Of decora
tions and orders.
Comfort for the Few.
That the arrangements at the cor
onation procession were made largely
for the comfort of the inflnitesimal
few and with a disregard of the con-
venience OF the many did not In
feet their minds with any dHcon-
tent. An area 10 miles square was
cut of. virtually denuded Of all
forms of transportation, in an effort
to keep it clear for the passage OF
the guests to and from the abbey
At the end of the ceremony too
elaborate system of calling the cars
of the great completely broke down
and many were kept waiting for
| hours There was an instant com.
plant to the police. and Sir Philip
Game. head Of the system. got down
on his shanks in the following morn.
ing's papers and made due apology
No apology was made to. or expected
by, the million or so persons who
could get no form Of transportation
out Of the area, and had to wall
upward Of FIVE miles in the rain ot
that afternoon. But the people die
not seem to think anything about it
Certainly the papers printed no let
tiers about 1t.
Belloc Studies the English.
One Of the most acute observers
of English institutions is Hlaire
Belloc. A fortnight ago he published
an essay "On the Nature of Con.
temporary England" in which tht
theory of England as the last aristo'
cratic state in the white civilizatio
is propounded.
He defines an aristocratic state a!
one organized under class govern
ment, and not only organized under
| class government, but having made
Of class government something in.
stinctive and part Of the nation!
very soul" There is no parallel il
Europe, and certainly not in the
United States. The aristocratic state
has its historical roots back tx
the times when King John signec
Magma Charta, when King Charlie.
lost his head and to the revolution
Of 1888, when James II was forcec
of the throne by the rich merchant!
and mobiles, who replaced him with
a more amenable prince. BY thi!
time, says Belloc, the crown had be.
come a puppet, and an oligarchy o,
wealthy men, mostly Of noble o.
squirearchical families. was running
the affairs Of England.
Wealth Is the Key.
| Looking at his class. certain at.
| tributes are dScoverable.
1T Is a class" says Belloc. "intt
which men were accepted through
the prolonged action of wealth. ane
| out of which they would fall through
the prolonged (but only through th'
prolonged) effect of poverty. II
rise into that class required couple
| Of generations. for the struggle t
remain q gentleman was (and Is,
desperate; as desperate as the struggle
for life. Just before losing such {
quality the last descendants of {
line of gentry would (and will now
attempt to recover their status b!
any means at their disposal"
One of the most peculiar things
in a class society is the growth o
the aristocratic accent. There as .
special kind of language which thu
gentry speak by which they car
know each other instantly. On th,
other hand. the lower classes have
peculiarly their own accent. They
can never shake OF their untouch'
ability so long as they have tina
accent. as clearly demarked as colol
line.
About the Accent.
A salient characteristic OF thl
aristocratic accent Is the transposi'
ton of certain vowel sounds. Fol
instance, when an "a" is not sounded
broadly the inevitable tendency L
for it to be sounded as "e." Lister
the next time you hear an English
| sneaker of the upper class. Yol