*206 SEA-SIDE STUDIES. 



pause in their sport to look at the stranger. Their 

 manners are gentle and dignified ; civil, not servile. 

 Not an approach to rudeness or coarseness have I seen 

 anywhere. 



In the highest sense of the word civilisation, there- 

 fore, the notion of the place being " half-civilised " is 

 altogether wrong. It is only on making inquiries in 

 the direction of commerce that the mind gets familiar- 

 ised with the consequences of the remoteness of these 

 islands. Then it is seen that, as far as civilisation is 

 represented by shopkeeping, Scilly is at present in an 

 embryonic condition. To speak physiologically, there 

 is but slight differentiation of function in the Scillian 

 commercial tissue. Just as in the simpler organisms 

 we see one part of the body undertaking several func- 

 tions which in more complex organisms devolve upon 

 separate parts, so here we perceive the same smiling 

 individual weighing out butter and measuring yards of 

 muslin, proposing the new cut of a cheese to your dis- 

 criminating taste, or the new style of bonnet to your 

 instincts of fashion ; sarsenet ribbons are flanked by 

 mixed pickles, and the pickles thrown into relief by 

 loaves. If you are troubled with a raging tooth," you 

 must apply to the postmaster for his gentle services ; 

 whether he punches it out with the letter-stamp, or 

 employs more elaborate instruments, I know not. This 

 want of differentiation is, however, but a slight obstacle, 

 especially to me, who am not likely to array myself in 

 sarsenet, and don't buy bonnets. Far otherwise is the 

 imperfection there where it could least have been ex- 



