76 A GREAT PUBLIC CHARACTER. 



of those might have something to do with the quality of 

 the fire whether it shall be culinary or electric. We have 

 never known the varied stimulus, the inexorable criticism, 

 the many-sided opportunity of a great metropolis, the 

 inspiring reinforcement of an undivided national conscious 

 ness. In everything but trade we have missed the invigora- 

 tion of foreign rivalry. We may prove that we are this 

 and that and the other our Fourth of July orators have 

 proved it time and again the census has proved it ; but 

 the Muses are women, and have no great fancy for statistics, 

 though easily silenced by them. We are great, we are rich, 

 we are all kinds of good things ; but did it never occur to 

 you. that somehow we are not interesting, except as a 

 phenomenon ? It may safely be affirmed that for one 

 cultivated man in this country who studies American, 

 there are fifty who study European history, ancient or 

 modern. 



Till within a year or two we have been as distant and 

 obscure to the eyes of Europe as Ecuador to our own. 

 Every day brings us nearer, enables us to see the Old 

 World more clearly, and by inevitable comparison to judge 

 ourselves with some closer approach to our real value. This 

 has its advantage so long as our culture is, as for a long 

 time it must be, European; for we shall be little better 

 than apes and parrots till we are forced to measure our 

 muscle with the trained and practised champions of that 

 elder civilisation. We have at length established our claim 

 to the noblesse of the sword, the first step still of every 

 nation that would make its entry into the best society of 

 history. To maintain ourselves there, we must achieve an 

 equality in the more exclusive circle of culture, and to that 

 end must submit ourselves to the European standard of 

 intellectual weights and measures. That we have made the 

 hitherto biggest gun might excite apprehension (were there 

 a dearth of iron), but can never exact respect. That our 

 pianos and patent reapers have won medals does but con 

 firm us in our mechanic and material measure of merit. We 

 must contribute something more than mere contrivances 



