GHAP. XI.J CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE. 353 



" But, since, alas ! frail beauty must decay, 



" CurlM, or uncurl'd, since locks will turn to grey ; 



" Since painted, or not painted, all shall fade, 



" And she who scorns a man must die a maid ; 



" What, then, remains, but well our pow'r to use, 



" And keep good humour still, whate'er we lose ? 



" And, trust me, Dear, good-humour can prevail, 



" When flights and fits, and screams and scolding fail." 



355. This beautiful passage, from the most 

 beautiful of poets, which ought to be fastened 

 in large print upon every lady's dressing table, 

 the American women, of all ranks, seem to 

 have by heart. Even amongst the very lowest 

 of the people, you seldom hear of that torment, 

 which the old proverb makes the twin of a 

 smoky house. 



356. There are very few really ignorant men* 

 in America of native growth. Every farmer is 

 more or less of a reader. There is no brogue, 

 no provincial dialect. No class like that which 

 the French call peasantry, and which degrading 

 appellation the miscreant spawn of the Funds 

 have, of late years, applied to the whole mass 

 of the most useful of the people in England, those 

 who do the work and fight the battles. And, 

 as to the men, who would naturally form your 

 acquaintances, they, I know from experience, 

 are aS kind, frank, and sensible men as are, on 

 the general run, to be found in England, even 

 with the power of selection. They are all well- 



