192 THE LAND'S END 



their true natures. They are not quite so simple and 

 easy to read as the lower animals ; nevertheless the 

 difference between the uncivilised and civilised man 

 is so immense that we can say of the first that it is as 

 easy to understand him as it is to understand a dog or 

 a donkey or a child. 



It may also be observed that there is a vast differ- 

 ence in this respect between the members of separate 

 classes in the same community, in spite of their racial 

 relationship between peasant and gentleman ; and it 

 may perhaps be taken as a truth that complex con- 

 ditions of life make complex characters. The Cornish 

 peasant appeared to me easier to understand than the 

 English, and, as I imagined, because he was nearer, 

 mentally, to the child. It may even be that the 

 greater sympathy with children of the Cornish people, 

 men and women, is due to this fact that man and 

 child are nearer in mind than is the case with the 

 English people. They are moved emotionally in the 

 same way as children and are liable to gusts of passion, 

 and, like children, are apt to be cruel in their anger. 

 They are candid, pliant and delighted to serve you 

 when pleased, but are subject to petulant and stubborn 

 fits, and will brood in sullen resentment for days, 

 meditating revenge, for some trivial imaginary slight. 

 And they are intensely fond of things which please 

 children gifts, shows, gay colours, noise and excite- 

 ment. Here is a little characteristic incident in which 

 we see the bad stubborn boy surviving in the adult. 

 The late Royal Academician, Hook, was on the sands 

 at Whitesand Bay working at a sea-piece when two 



