he sufferer was of decent appearance； and； with ordinary self… mand； might have taken his meal in the restaurant like any one else； quite unnoticed。 But he belonged to a class which； among all classes in the world； is distinguished by native clownishness and by unpliability to novel circumstance。 The English lower ranks had need be marked by certain peculiar virtues to atone for their deficiencies in other respects。
XVIII
It is easy to understand that mon judgment of foreigners regarding the English people。 Go about in England as a stranger； travel by rail； live at hotels； see nothing but the broadly public aspect of things； and the impression left upon you will be one of hard egoism； of gruffness and sullenness； in a word； of everything that contrasts most strongly with the ideal of social and civic life。 And yet； as a matter of fact； no nation possesses in so high a degree the social and civic virtues。 The unsociable Englishman； quotha？ Why； what country in the world can show such multifarious； vigorous and cordial co…operation； in all ranks； but especially； of course； among the intelligent； for ends which concern the mon good？ Unsociable！ Why； go where you will in England you can hardly find a man……nowadays； indeed； scarce an educated woman……who does not belong to some alliance； for study or sport； for municipal or national benefit； and who will not be seen； in leisure time； doing his best as a social being。 Take the so…called sleepy market…town； it is bubbling with all manner of associated activities； and these of the quite voluntary kind； forms of zealously united effort such as are never dreamt of in the countries supposed to be eminently 〃social。〃 Sociability does not consist in a readiness to talk at large with the first er。 It is not dependent upon natural grace and suavity； it is patible； indeed； with thoroughly awkward and all but brutal manners。 The English have never （at all events； for some two centuries past） inclined to the purely ceremonial or mirthful forms of sociability； but as regards every prime interest of the munity……health and fort； well…being of body and of soul……their social instinct is supreme。
Yet it is so difficult to reconcile this indisputable fact with that other fact； no less obvious； that your mon Englishman seems to have no geniality。 From the one point of view； I admire and laud my fellow countryman； from the other； I heartily dislike him and wish to see as little of him as possible。 One is wont to think of the English as a genial folk。 Have they lost in this respect？ Has the century of science and money…making sensibly affected the national character？ I think always of my experience at the English inn； where it is impossible not to feel a brutal indifference to the humane features of life； where food is bolted without attention； liquor swallowed out of mere habit； where even good…natured accost is a thing so rare as to be remarkable。
Two things have to be borne in mind： the extraordinary difference of demeanour which exists between the refined and the vulgar English； and the natural difficulty of an Englishman in revealing his true self save under the most favourable circumstances。
So striking is the difference of manner between class and class that the hasty observer might well imagine a corresponding and radical difference of mind and character。 In Russia； I suppose； the social extremities are seen to be pretty far apart； but； with that possible exception； I should think no European country can show such a gap as yawns to the eye between the English gentleman and the English boor。 The boor； of course； is the multitude； the boor impresses himself upon the traveller。 When relieved from his presence； one can be just to him； one can remember that his virtues……though elementary； and strictly in need of direction……are the same； to a great extent； as those of the well…bred man。 He does not represent……though seeming to do so……a nation apart。 To understand this multitude； you must get below its insufferable manners； and learn that very fine civic qualities can consist with a personal bearing almost wholly repellent。
Then； as to the dogged reserve of the educated man； why； I have only to look into myself。 I； it is true； am not quite a representative Englishman； my self…consciousness； my meditative habit of mind； rather dim my national and social characteristics； but set me among a few specimens of the multitude； and am I not at once aware of that instinctive antipathy； that shrinking into myself； that something like unto scorn； of which the Englishman is accused by foreigners who casually meet him？ Peculiar to me is the effort to overe this first impulse……an effort which often enough succeeds。 If I know myself at all； I am not an ungenial man； and yet I am quite sure that many people who have known me casually would say that my fault is a lack of geniality。 To show my true self； I must be in the right mood and the right circumstances……which； after all； is merely as much as saying that I am decidedly English。
XIX
On my breakfast table there is a pot of honey。 Not the manufactured stuff sold under that name in shops； but honey of the hive； brought to me by a neighbouring cottager whose bees often hum in my garden。 It gives； I confess； more pleasure to my eye than to my palate； but I like to taste of it； because it is honey。
There is as much difference； said Johnson； between a lettered and an unlettered man as between the living and the dead； and； in a way； it was no extravagance。 Think merely how one's view of mon things is affected by literary association。 What were honey to me if I knew nothing of Hymettus and Hybla？……if my mind had no stores of poetry； no memories of romance？ Suppose me town…pent； the name might bring with it some pleasantness of rustic odour； but of what poor significance even that； if the country were to me mere grass and corn and vegetables； as to the man who has never read nor wished to read。 For the Poet is indeed a Maker： above the world of sense； trodden by hidebound humanity； he builds that world of his own whereto is summoned the unfettered spirit。 Why does it delight me to see the bat flitting at dusk before my window； or to hear the hoot of the owl when all the ways are dark？ I might regard the bat with disgust； and the owl either with vague superstition or not heed it at all。 But these have their place in the poet's world； and carry me above this idle present。
I once passed a night in a little market…town where I had arrived tired and went to bed early。 I slept forthwith； but was presently awakened by I knew not what； in the darkness there sounded a sort of music； and； as my brain cleared； I was aware of the soft chiming of church bells。 Why； what hour could it be？ I struck a light and looked at my watch。 Midnight。 Then a glow came over me。 〃We have heard the chimes at midnight； Master Shallow！〃 Never till then had I heard them。 And the town in which I slept was Evesham； but a few miles from Stratford…on…Avon。 What if those midnight bells had been to me but as any other； and I had reviled them for breaking my sleep？……Johnson did not much exaggerate。
XX
It is the second Jubilee。 Bonfires blaze upon the hills； making one think of the watchman on Agamemnon's citadel。 （It were more germane to the matter to think of Queen Elizabeth and the Armada。） Though wishing the uproar happily over； I can see the good in it as well as another man。 English monarchy； as we know it； is a triumph of English mon sense。 Grant that men cannot do without an overlord； how to make that over…lordship consist with the largest practical measure of national and individual liberty？ We； at all events； have for a time solved the question。 For a time only； of course； but consider the history of Europe； and our jubilation is perhaps justified。
For sixty years has the British Republic held on its way under one President。 It is wide of the mark to object that other Republics； which change their President more frequently； support the semblance of over…lordship at considerably less cost to the people。 Britons are minded for the present that the Head of their State shall be called King or Queen； the name is pleasant to them； it corresponds to a popular sentiment； vaguely understood； but still operative； which is called loyalty。 The majority thinking thus； and the system being found to work more than tolerably well； what purpose could be served by an attempt at novas res？ The nation is content to pay the price； it is the nation's affair。 Moreover； who can feel the least assurance that a change to one of the mon forms of Republicanism would be for the general advantage？ Do we find that countries which have made the experiment are so very much better off than our own in point of stable； quiet government and of national welfare？ The theorist scoffs at forms which have survived their meaning； at privilege which will bear no examination； at promises which sound ludicrous； at submissions which seem contemptible； but let him put forward his practical scheme for making all men rational； consistent； just。 Englishmen； I imagine； are not endowed with these qualities in any extraordinary degree。 Their strength； politically speaking； lies in a recognition of expediency； plemented by respect for the established fact。 One of the facts particularly clear to them is the suitability to their minds； their tempers； their habits； of a system of polity which has been established by the slow effort of generations within this sea…girt realm。 They have nothing to do with ideals： they never trouble themselves to think about the Rights of Man。 If you talk to them （long enough） about the rights of the shopman； or the ploughman； or the cat's… meat…man； they will lend ear； and； when the facts of any such case have been examined； they will find a way of dealing with them。 This characteristic of theirs they call mon Sense。 To them； all things considered； it has been of vast service； one may even say that the rest of the world has profited by it not a little。 That Unmon Sense might now and then have stood them even in better stead is nothing to the point。 The Englishman deals with things as they are； and first and foremost accepts his own being。
This Jubilee declares a legitimate triumph of the average man。 Look back for threescore years； and who shall affect to doubt that the time has been marked by many improvements in the material life of the English people？ Often have they been at loggerheads among themselves； but they have never flown at each other's throats； and from every grave dispute has resulted some substantial gain。 They are a cleaner people and a more sober； in every class there is a diminution of brutality； education……stand for what it may……has notably extended； certain forms of tyranny have been abolished； certain forms of suffering； due to heedlessness or ignorance； have been abated。 True； these are mere details； whether they indicate a solid advance in civilization cannot yet be determined。 But assuredly the average Briton has cause to jubilate； for the progressive features of the epoch are such as he can understand and approve； whereas the doubt which may be cast upon its ethical plexion is for him either non…existent or unintelligible。 So let cressets flare into the night from all the hills！ It is no purchased exultation； no ser