INHABITANTS. 45 



arenas, not to speak of the prestige conferred by a past of two thousand years ? 

 Still these young athletes of England do not yield to those of ancient Greece in 

 the courage, endurance, and earnestness with which they engage in their sports. 

 Their education, which unfortunately does not always tend to a proper balance 

 between mental and physical culture, undoubtedly braces the muscles, renders the 

 glance more calm, and develops energy. Thanks to this course of discipline, men 

 thus trained learn to depend upon themselves on every occasion. They brave 

 disease, fatigue, and danger ; dread neither high winds, cold, nor heat ; and though 

 left alone on the ocean or in the desert, are inflexible in the attainment of their 

 purpose, regretting neither parents, friends, nor the easy life of large towns, as 

 long as their work is unaccomplished. Conscious of their strength, they despise 

 cunning, that resource of the feeble ; they boldly speak the truth, even to their 

 own detriment. 



England, of all civilised countries, is the one where the number of truly 

 conscientious men, who guide their conduct by rules which they consider to be 

 just and honourable, is the largest. But in a country where personal dignity and 

 a love of truth are held in such high respect, it is only natural that hypocrites 

 should be numerous. The number of those who assume a virtue, though the}^ 

 have it not, is undoubtedly large, but by this very act they do homage to the self- 

 respect which is the true characteristic of an Englishman, and this self-respect has 

 been more conducive to the upbuilding of British power than all the advantages 

 derived from a flourishing industry and extensive commerce. 



