62 



MY LIFE 



[Chap. IV] 



The Independent Review (April, 1904), it is pointed out that 

 the universal practice of " saving the face " of any kind of 

 opponent rests upon the fundamental idea of the right of 

 every individual to be treated with personal respect. With 

 them this principle is taught from childhood, and pervades 

 every class of society, while with us it is only recognized by 

 the higher classes, and by them is rarely extended to inferiors 

 or to children. The feeling that demands this recognition is 

 certainly strong in many children, and those who have 

 suffered under the failure of their elders to respect it, can 

 well appreciate the agony of shame endured by the more 

 civilized Eastern peoples, whose feelings are so often out- 

 raged by the total absence of all respect shown them by 

 their European masters or conquerors. In thus recognizing 

 the sanctity of this deepest of human feelings these people 

 manifest a truer phase of civilization than we have attained 

 to. Even savages often surpass us in this respect. They 

 will often refuse to enter an empty house during the absence 

 of the owner, even though something belonging to themselves 

 may have been left in it ; and when asked to call one of 

 their sleeping companions to start on a journey, they will be 

 careful not to touch him, and will positively refuse to shake 

 him rudely, as an Englishman would have no scruple in 

 doing. 



