Mannerisoneoftheprincipalexternalgracesofcharacter。Itistheornamentofaction，andoftenmakesthecommonestofficesbeautifulbythewayinwhichitperformsthem。Itisahappywayofdoingthings，adorningeventhesmallestdetailsoflife，andcontributingtorenderit，asawhole，agreeableandpleasant。
Mannerisnotsofrivolousorunimportantassomemaythinkittobe；forittendsgreatlytofacilitatethebusinessoflife，aswellastosweetenandsoftensocialintercourse。”Virtueitself，”saysBishopMiddleton，”offends，whencoupledwithaforbiddingmanner。”
Mannerhasagooddealtodowiththeestimationinwhichmenareheldbytheworld；andithasoftenmoreinfluenceinthegovernmentofothersthanqualitiesofmuchgreaterdepthandsubstance。Amanneratoncegraciousandcordialisamongthegreatestaidstosuccess，andmanytherearewhofailforwantofit。(1)Foragreatdealdependsuponfirstimpressions；andtheseareusuallyfavourableorotherwiseaccordingtoaman’scourteousnessandcivility。
Whilerudenessandgruffnessbardoorsandshuthearts，kindnessandproprietyofbehaviour，inwhichgoodmannersconsist，actasan”opensesame”everywhere。Doorsunbarbeforethem，andtheyareapassporttotheheartsofeverybody，youngandold。
Thereisacommonsayingthat”Mannersmaketheman；”butthisisnotsotrueasthat”Manmakesthemanners。”Amanmaybegruff，andevenrude，andyetbegoodatheartandofsterlingcharacter；
yethewoulddoubtlessbeamuchmoreagreeable，andprobablyamuchmoreusefulman，werehetoexhibitthatsuavityofdispositionandcourtesyofmannerwhichalwaysgivesafinishtothetruegentleman。
Mrs。Hutchinson，inthenobleportraitureofherhusband，towhichwehavealreadyhadoccasiontorefer，thusdescribeshismanlycourteousnessandaffabilityofdisposition:-”Icannotsaywhetherheweremoretrulymagnanimousorlessproud；heneverdisdainedthemeanestperson，norflatteredthegreatest；hehadalovingandsweetcourtesytothepoorest，andwouldoftenemploymanysparehourswiththecommonestsoldiersandpoorestlabourers；butstillsoorderinghisfamiliarity，thatitneverraisedthemtoacontempt，butentertainedstillatthesametimeareverenceandloveofhim。”(2)
Aman’smanner，toacertainextent，indicateshischaracter。Itistheexternalexponentofhisinnernature。Itindicateshistaste，hisfeelings，andhistemper，aswellasthesocietytowhichhehasbeenaccustomed。Thereisaconventionalmanner，whichisofcomparativelylittleimportance；butthenaturalmanner，theoutcomeofnaturalgifts，improvedbycarefulself-
culture，signifiesagreatdeal。
Graceofmannerisinspiredbysentiment，whichisasourceofnoslightenjoymenttoacultivatedmind。Viewedinthislight，sentimentisofalmostasmuchimportanceastalentsandacquirements，whileitisevenmoreinfluentialingivingthedirectiontoamanstastesandcharacter。Sympathyisthegoldenkeythatunlockstheheartsofothers。Itnotonlyteachespolitenessandcourtesy，butgivesinsightandunfoldswisdom，andmayalmostberegardedasthecrowninggraceofhumanity。
Artificialrulesofpolitenessareofverylittleuse。Whatpassesbythenameof”Etiquette”isoftenoftheessenceofunpolitenessanduntruthfulness。Itconsistsinagreatmeasureofposture-making，andiseasilyseenthrough。Evenatbest，etiquetteisbutasubstituteforgoodmanners，thoughitisoftenbuttheirmerecounterfeit。
Goodmannersconsist，forthemostpart，incourteousnessandkindness。Politenesshasbeendescribedastheartofshowing，byexternalsigns，theinternalregardwehaveforothers。
Butonemaybeperfectlypolitetoanotherwithoutnecessarilyhavingaspecialregardforhim。Goodmannersareneithermorenorlessthanbeautifulbehaviour。Ithasbeenwellsaid，that”abeautifulformisbetterthanabeautifulface，andabeautifulbehaviourisbetterthanabeautifulform；itgivesahigherpleasurethanstatuesorpictures——itisthefinestofthefinearts。”
Thetruestpolitenesscomesofsincerity。Itmustbetheoutcomeoftheheart，oritwillmakenolastingimpression；fornoamountofpolishcandispensewithtruthfulness。Thenaturalcharactermustbeallowedtoappear，freedofitsangularitiesandasperities。Thoughpoliteness，initsbestform，should(asSt。
FrancisdeSalessays)resemblewater——”bestwhenclearest，mostsimple，andwithouttaste，”——yetgeniusinamanwillalwayscovermanydefectsofmanner，andmuchwillbeexcusedtothestrongandtheoriginal。Withoutgenuinenessandindividuality，humanlifewouldlosemuchofitsinterestandvariety，aswellasitsmanlinessandrobustnessofcharacter。
Truecourtesyiskind。Itexhibitsitselfinthedispositiontocontributetothehappinessofothers，andinrefrainingfromallthatmayannoythem。Itisgratefulaswellaskind，andreadilyacknowledgeskindactions。Curiouslyenough，CaptainSpekefoundthisqualityofcharacterrecognisedevenbythenativesofUgandaontheshoresofLakeNyanza，intheheartofAfrica，where，hesays。”Ingratitude，orneglectingtothankapersonforabenefitconferred，ispunishable。”
Truepolitenessespeciallyexhibitsitselfinregardforthepersonalityofothers。Amanwillrespecttheindividualityofanotherifhewishestoberespectedhimself。Hewillhavedueregardforhisviewsandopinions，eventhoughtheydifferfromhisown。Thewell-manneredmanpaysacomplimenttoanother，andsometimesevensecureshisrespect，bypatientlylisteningtohim。
Heissimplytolerantandforbearant，andrefrainsfromjudgingharshly；andharshjudgmentsofotherswillalmostinvariablyprovokeharshjudgmentsofourselves。
Theunpoliteimpulsivemanwill，however，sometimesratherlosehisfriendthanhisjoke。Hemaysurelybepronouncedaveryfoolishpersonwhosecuresanother’shatredatthepriceofamoment’sgratification。ItwasasayingofBruneltheengineer——
himselfoneofthekindest-naturedofmen——that”spiteandill-
natureareamongthemostexpensiveluxuriesinlife。”Dr。
Johnsononcesaid:”Sir，amanhasnomorerighttoSAYanuncivilthingthantoACTone——nomorerighttosayarudethingtoanotherthantoknockhimdown。”
Asensiblepolitepersondoesnotassumetobebetterorwiserorricherthanhisneighbour。Hedoesnotboastofhisrank，orhisbirth，orhiscountry；orlookdownuponothersbecausetheyhavenotbeenborntolikeprivilegeswithhimself。Hedoesnotbragofhisachievementsorofhiscalling，or”talkshop”wheneverheopenshismouth。Onthecontrary，inallthathesaysordoes，hewillbemodest，unpretentious，unassuming；exhibitinghistruecharacterinperformingratherthaninboasting，indoingratherthanintalking。
Wantofrespectforthefeelingsofothersusuallyoriginatesinselfishness，andissuesinhardnessandrepulsivenessofmanner。
Itmaynotproceedfrommalignitysomuchasfromwantofsympathyandwantofdelicacy——awantofthatperceptionof，andattentionto，thoselittleandapparentlytriflingthingsbywhichpleasureisgivenorpainoccasionedtoothers。Indeed，itmaybesaidthatinself-sacrificingness，sotospeak，intheordinaryintercourseoflife，mainlyconsiststhedifferencebetweenbeingwellandillbred。
Withoutsomedegreeofself-restraintinsociety，amanmaybefoundalmostinsufferable。Noonehaspleasureinholdingintercoursewithsuchaperson，andheisaconstantsourceofannoyancetothoseabouthim。Forwantofself-restraint，manymenareengagedalltheirlivesinfightingwithdifficultiesoftheirownmaking，andrenderingsuccessimpossiblebytheirowncrossgrainedungentleness；whilstothers，itmaybemuchlessgifted，maketheirwayandachievesuccessbysimplepatience，equanimity，andself-control。
Ithasbeensaidthatmensucceedinlifequiteasmuchbytheirtemperasbytheirtalents。Howeverthismaybe，itiscertainthattheirhappinessdependsmainlyontheirtemperament，especiallyupontheirdispositiontobecheerful；upontheircomplaisance，kindlinessofmanner，andwillingnesstoobligeothers——detailsofconductwhicharelikethesmall-changeintheintercourseoflife，andarealwaysinrequest。
Menmayshowtheirdisregardofothersinvariousunpoliteways——
as，forinstance，byneglectofproprietyindress，bytheabsenceofcleanliness，orbyindulginginrepulsivehabits。Theslovenlydirtyperson，byrenderinghimselfphysicallydisagreeable，setsthetastesandfeelingsofothersatdefiance，andisrudeanduncivilonlyunderanotherform。
DavidAncillon，aHuguenotpreacherofsingularattractiveness，whostudiedandcomposedhissermonswiththegreatestcare，wasaccustomedtosay”thatitwasshowingtoolittleesteemforthepublictotakenopainsinpreparation，andthatamanwhoshouldappearonaceremonial-dayinhisnightcapanddressing-gown，couldnotcommitagreaterbreachofcivility。”
Theperfectionofmannerisease——thatitattractsnoman’snoticeassuch，butisnaturalandunaffected。Artificeisincompatiblewithcourteousfranknessofmanner。Rochefoucauldhassaidthat”nothingsomuchpreventsourbeingnaturalasthedesireofappearingso。”Thuswecomeroundagaintosincerityandtruthfulness，whichfindtheiroutwardexpressioningraciousness，urbanity，kindliness，andconsiderationforthefeelingsofothers。Thefrankandcordialmansetsthoseabouthimattheirease。Hewarmsandelevatesthembyhispresence，andwinsallhearts。Thusmanner，initshighestform，likecharacter，becomesagenuinemotivepower。”Theloveandadmiration，”saysCanonKingsley，”whichthattrulybraveandlovingman，SirSydneySmith，wonfromeveryone，richandpoor，withwhomhecameincontactseemstohavearisenfromtheonefact，thatwithout，perhaps，havinganysuchconsciousintention，hetreatedrichandpoor，hisownservantsandthenoblemenhisguests，alike，andalikecourteously，considerately，cheerfully，affectionately——soleavingablessing，andreapingablessing，whereverhewent。”
Goodmannersareusuallysupposedtobethepeculiarcharacteristicofpersonsgentlybornandbred，andofpersonsmovinginthehigherratherthaninthelowerspheresofsociety。
Andthisisnodoubttoagreatextenttrue，becauseofthemorefavourablesurroundingsoftheformerinearlylife。Butthereisnoreasonwhythepoorestclassesshouldnotpractisegoodmannerstowardseachotheraswellastherichest。
Menwhotoilwiththeirhands，equallywiththosewhodonot，mayrespectthemselvesandrespectoneanother；anditisbytheirdemeanourtoeachother——inotherwords，bytheirmanners——thatself-respectaswellasmutualrespectareindicated。Thereisscarcelyamomentintheirlives，theenjoymentofwhichmightnotbeenhancedbykindlinessofthissort——intheworkshop，inthestreet，orathome。Thecivilworkmanwillexerciseincreasedpoweramongsthisclass，andgraduallyinducethemtoimitatehimbyhispersistentsteadiness，civility，andkindness。ThusBenjaminFranklin，whenaworking-man，issaidtohavereformedthehabitsofanentireworkshop。
Onemaybepoliteandgentlewithverylittlemoneyinhispurse。
Politenessgoesfar，yetcostsnothing。Itisthecheapestofallcommodities。Itisthehumblestofthefinearts，yetitissousefulandsopleasure-giving，thatitmightalmostberankedamongstthehumanities。
Everynationmaylearnsomethingofothers；andiftherebeonethingmorethananotherthattheEnglishworking-classmightaffordtocopywithadvantagefromtheirContinentalneighbours，itistheirpoliteness。TheFrenchandGermans，ofeventhehumblestclasses，aregraciousinmanner，complaisant，cordial，andwell-bred。Theforeignworkmanliftshiscapandrespectfullysaluteshisfellow-workmaninpassing。Thereisnosacrificeofmanlinessinthis，butgraceanddignity。Eventhelowestpovertyoftheforeignworkpeopleisnotmisery，simplybecauseitischeerful。Thoughnotreceivingone-halftheincomewhichourworking-classesdo，theydonotsinkintowretchednessanddrowntheirtroublesindrink；butcontrivetomakethebestoflife，andtoenjoyitevenamidstpoverty。
Goodtasteisatrueeconomist。Itmaybepractisedonsmallmeans，andsweetenthelotoflabouraswellasofease。Itisallthemoreenjoyed，indeed，whenassociatedwithindustryandtheperformanceofduty。Eventhelotofpovertyiselevatedbytaste。Itexhibitsitselfintheeconomiesofthehousehold。
Itgivesbrightnessandgracetothehumblestdwelling。Itproducesrefinement，itengendersgoodwill，andcreatesanatmosphereofcheerfulness。Thusgoodtaste，associatedwithkindliness，sympathy，andintelligence，mayelevateandadorneventhelowliestlot。
Thefirstandbestschoolofmanners，asofcharacter，isalwaystheHome，wherewomanistheteacher。Themannersofsocietyatlargearebutthereflexofthemannersofourcollectivehomes，neitherbetternorworse。Yet，withallthedisadvantagesofungenialhomes，menmaypractiseself-cultureofmannerasofintellect，andlearnbygoodexamplestocultivateagracefulandagreeablebehaviourtowardsothers。Mostmenarelikesomanygemsintherough，whichneedpolishingbycontactwithotherandbetternatures，tobringouttheirfullbeautyandlustre。Somehavebutonesidepolished，sufficientonlytoshowthedelicategrainingoftheinterior；buttobringoutthefullqualitiesofthegemneedsthedisciplineofexperience，andcontactwiththebestexamplesofcharacterintheintercourseofdailylife。
Agooddealofthesuccessofmannerconsistsintact，anditisbecausewomen，onthewhole，havegreatertactthanmen，thattheyproveitsmostinfluentialteachers。Theyhavemoreself-
restraintthanmen，andarenaturallymoregraciousandpolite。
Theypossessanintuitivequicknessandreadinessofaction，haveakeenerinsightintocharacter，andexhibitgreaterdiscriminationandaddress。Inmattersofsocialdetail，aptnessanddexteritycometothemlikenature；andhencewell-manneredmenusuallyreceivetheirbestculturebymixinginthesocietyofgentleandadroitwomen。
Tactisanintuitiveartofmanner，whichcarriesonethroughadifficultybetterthaneithertalentorknowledge。”Talent，”saysapublicwriter，”ispower:tactisskill。Talentisweight:tactismomentum。Talentknowswhattodo:tactknowshowtodoit。
Talentmakesamanrespectable:tactmakeshimrespected。Talentiswealth:tactisready-money。”
ThedifferencebetweenamanofquicktactandofnotactwhateverwasexemplifiedinaninterviewwhichoncetookplacebetweenLordPalmerstonandMr。Behnes，thesculptor。AtthelastsittingwhichLordPalmerstongavehim，Behnesopenedtheconversationwith——”Anynews，myLord，fromFrance？HowdowestandwithLouisNapoleon？”TheForeignSecretaryraisedhiseyebrowsforaninstant，andquietlyreplied，”Really，Mr。Behnes，Idon’tknow:I
havenotseenthenewspapers！”PoorBehnes，withmanyexcellentqualitiesandmuchrealtalent，wasoneofthemanymenwhoentirelymissedtheirwayinlifethroughwantoftact。
Suchisthepowerofmanner，combinedwithtact，thatWilkes，oneoftheugliestofmen，usedtosay，thatinwinningthegracesofalady，therewasnotmorethanthreedays’differencebetweenhimandthehandsomestmaninEngland。
ButthisreferencetoWilkesremindsusthattoomuchimportancemustnotbeattachedtomanner，foritdoesnotaffordanygenuinetestofcharacter。Thewell-manneredmanmay，likeWilkes，bemerelyactingapart，andthatforanimmoralpurpose。Manner，likeotherfinearts，givespleasure，andisexceedinglyagreeabletolookupon；butitmaybeassumedasadisguise，asmen”assumeavirtuethoughtheyhaveitnot。”Itisbuttheexteriorsignofgoodconduct，butmaybenomorethanskin-deep。Themosthighly-
polishedpersonmaybethoroughlydepravedinheart；andhissuperfinemannersmay，afterall，onlyconsistinpleasinggesturesandinfinephrases。
Ontheotherhand，itmustbeacknowledgedthatsomeoftherichestandmostgenerousnatureshavebeenwantinginthegracesofcourtesyandpoliteness。Asaroughrindsometimescoversthesweetestfruit，soaroughexterioroftenconcealsakindlyandheartynature。Thebluntmanmayseemevenrudeinmanner，andyet，atheart，behonest，kind，andgentle。
JohnKnoxandMartinLutherwerebynomeansdistinguishedfortheirurbanity。Theyhadworktodowhichneededstronganddeterminedratherthanwell-manneredmen。Indeed，theywereboththoughttobeunnecessarilyharshandviolentintheirmanner。”Andwhoartthou，”saidMaryQueenofScotstoKnox，”thatpresumesttoschoolthenoblesandsovereignofthisrealm？”——”Madam，”repliedKnox，”asubjectbornwithinthesame。”Itissaidthathisboldness，orroughness，morethanoncemadeQueenMaryweep。WhenRegentMortonheardofthis，hesaid，”Well，’tisbetterthatwomenshouldweepthanbeardedmen。”
AsKnoxwasretiringfromtheQueen’spresenceononeoccasion，heoverheardoneoftheroyalattendantssaytoanother，”Heisnotafraid！”Turningrounduponthem，hesaid:”Andwhyshouldthepleasingfaceofagentlemanfrightenme？Ihavelookedonthefacesofangrymen，andyethavenotbeenafraidbeyondmeasure。”
WhentheReformer，worn-outbyexcessoflabourandanxiety，wasatlengthlaidtohisrest，theRegent，lookingdownintotheopengrave，exclaimed，inwordswhichmadeastrongimpressionfromtheiraptnessandtruth——”Therelieshewhoneverfearedthefaceofman！”
Lutheralsowasthoughtbysometobeamerecompoundofviolenceandruggedness。But，asinthecaseofKnox，thetimesinwhichhelivedwererudeandviolent；andtheworkhehadtodocouldscarcelyhavebeenaccomplishedwithgentlenessandsuavity。TorouseEuropefromitslethargy，hehadtospeakandtowritewithforce，andevenvehemence。YetLuther’svehemencewasonlyinwords。Hisapparentlyrudeexteriorcoveredawarmheart。Inprivatelifehewasgentle，loving，andaffectionate。Hewassimpleandhomely，eventocommonness。Fondofallcommonpleasuresandenjoyments，hewasanythingbutanaustereman，orabigot；forhewashearty，genial，andeven”jolly。”Lutherwasthecommonpeople’sheroinhislifetime，andheremainssoinGermanytothisday。
SamuelJohnsonwasrudeandoftengruffinmanner。Buthehadbeenbroughtupinaroughschool。Povertyinearlylifehadmadehimacquaintedwithstrangecompanions。HehadwanderedinthestreetswithSavagefornightstogether，unablebetweenthemtoraisemoneyenoughtopayforabed。Whenhisindomitablecourageandindustryatlengthsecuredforhimafootinginsociety，hestillboreuponhimthescarsofhisearlysorrowsandstruggles。
Hewasbynaturestrongandrobust，andhisexperiencemadehimunaccommodatingandself-asserting。WhenhewasonceaskedwhyhewasnotinvitedtodineoutasGarrickwas，heanswered，”Becausegreatlordsandladiesdidnotliketohavetheirmouthsstopped；”
andJohnsonwasanotoriousmouth-stopper，thoughwhathesaidwasalwaysworthlisteningto。
Johnson’scompanionsspokeofhimas”UrsaMajor；”but，asGoldsmithgenerouslysaidofhim，”Nomanalivehasamoretenderheart；hehasnothingofthebearabouthimbuthisskin。”ThekindlinessofJohnson’snaturewasshownononeoccasionbythemannerinwhichheassistedasupposedladyincrossingFleetStreet。Hegaveherhisarm，andledheracross，notobservingthatshewasinliquoratthetime。Butthespiritoftheactwasnotthelesskindonthataccount。Ontheotherhand，theconductofthebookselleronwhomJohnsononcecalledtosolicitemployment，andwho，regardinghisathleticbutuncouthperson，toldhimhehadbetter”gobuyaporter’sknotandcarrytrunks，”
inhowsoeverblandtonestheadvicemighthavebeencommunicated，wassimplybrutal。
Whilecaptiousnessofmanner，andthehabitofdisputingandcontradictingeverythingsaid，ischillingandrepulsive，theoppositehabitofassentingto，andsympathisingwith，everystatementmade，oremotionexpressed，isalmostequallydisagreeable。Itisunmanly，andisfelttobedishonest。”Itmayseemdifficult，”saysRichardSharp，”tosteeralwaysbetweenbluntnessandplain-dealing，betweengivingmeritedpraiseandlavishingindiscriminateflattery；butitisveryeasy——good-
humour，kindheartedness，andperfectsimplicity，beingallthatarerequisitetodowhatisrightintherightway。”(3)
Atthesametime，manyareunpolite——notbecausetheymeantobeso，butbecausetheyareawkward，andperhapsknownobetter。
Thus，whenGibbonhadpublishedthesecondandthirdvolumesofhis’DeclineandFall，’theDukeofCumberlandmethimoneday，andaccostedhimwith，”Howdoyoudo，Mr。Gibbon？IseeyouarealwaysATITintheoldway——SCRIBBLE，SCRIBBLE，SCRIBBLE！”
TheDukeprobablyintendedtopaytheauthoracompliment，butdidnotknowhowbettertodoit，thaninthisbluntandapparentlyrudeway。
Again，manypersonsarethoughttobestiff，reserved，andproud，whentheyareonlyshy。ShynessischaracteristicofmostpeopleofTeutonicrace。Ithasbeenstyled”theEnglishmania，”butitpervades，toagreaterorlessdegree，alltheNorthernnations。
TheordinaryEnglishman，whenhetravelsabroad，carrieshisshynesswithhim。Heisstiff，awkward，ungraceful，undemonstrative，andapparentlyunsympathetic；andthoughhemayassumeabrusquenessofmanner，theshynessisthere，andcannotbewhollyconcealed。ThenaturallygracefulandintenselysocialFrenchcannotunderstandsuchacharacter；andtheEnglishmanistheirstandingjoke——thesubjectoftheirmostludicrouscaricatures。GeorgeSandattributestherigidityofthenativesofAlbiontoastockofFLUIDEBRITANNIQUEwhichtheycarryaboutwiththem，thatrendersthemimpassiveunderallcircumstances，and”asimpervioustotheatmosphereoftheregionstheytraverseasamouseinthecentreofanexhaustedreceiver。”(4)
TheaverageFrenchmanorIrishmanexcelstheaverageEnglishman，German，orAmericanincourtesyandeaseofmanner，simplybecauseitishisnature。Theyaremoresocialandlessself-dependentthanmenofTeutonicorigin，moredemonstrativeandlessreticent；
theyaremorecommunicative，conversational，andfreerintheirintercoursewitheachotherinallrespects；whilstmenofGermanracearecomparativelystiff，reserved，shy，andawkward。Atthesametime，apeoplemayexhibitease，gaiety，andsprightlinessofcharacter，andyetpossessnodeeperqualitiescalculatedtoinspirerespect。Theymayhaveeverygraceofmanner，andyetbeheartless，frivolous，selfish。Thecharactermaybeonthesurfaceonly，andwithoutanysolidqualitiesforafoundation。
Therecanbenodoubtastowhichofthetwosortsofpeople——theeasyandgraceful，orthestiffandawkward——itismostagreeabletomeet，eitherinbusiness，insociety，orinthecasualintercourseoflife。Whichmakethefastestfriends，thetruestmenoftheirword，themostconscientiousperformersoftheirduty，isanentirelydifferentmatter。
ThedryGAUCHEEnglishman——tousetheFrenchphrase，L’ANGLAIS
EMPETRE——iscertainlyasomewhatdisagreeablepersontomeetatfirst。Helooksasifhehadswallowedapoker。Heisshyhimself，andthecauseofshynessinothers。Heisstiff，notbecauseheisproud，butbecauseheisshy；andhecannotshakeitoff，evenifhewould。Indeed，weshouldnotbesurprisedtofindthateventhecleverwriterwhodescribestheEnglishPhilistineinallhisenormityofawkwardmannerandabsenceofgrace，werehimselfasshyasabat。
Whentwoshymenmeet，theyseemlikeacoupleoficicles。Theysidleawayandturntheirbacksoneachotherinaroom，orwhentravellingcreepintotheoppositecornersofarailway-carriage。
WhenshyEnglishmenareabouttostartonajourneybyrailway，theywalkalongthetrain，todiscoveranemptycompartmentinwhichtobestowthemselves；andwhenonceensconced，theyinwardlyhatethenextmanwhocomesin。So；onenteringthedining-roomoftheirclub，eachshymanlooksoutforanunoccupiedtable，untilsometimes——allthetablesintheroomareoccupiedbysinglediners。Allthisapparentunsociablenessismerelyshyness——thenationalcharacteristicoftheEnglishman。”ThedisciplesofConfucius，”observesMr。ArthurHelps，”saythatwheninthepresenceoftheprince，hismannerdisplayedRESPECTFULUNEASINESS。TherecouldhardlybegivenanytwowordswhichmorefitlydescribethemannerofmostEnglishmenwheninsociety。”PerhapsitisduetothisfeelingthatSirHenryTaylor，inhis’Statesman，’recommendsthat，inthemanagementofinterviews，theministershouldbeas”neartothedoor”aspossible；and，insteadofbowinghisvisitorout，thatheshouldtakerefuge，attheendofaninterview，intheadjoiningroom。”Timidandembarrassedmen，”hesays，”willsitasiftheywererootedtothespot，whentheyareconsciousthattheyhavetotraversethelengthofaroomintheirretreat。Ineverycase，aninterviewwillfindamoreeasyandpleasingterminationWHENTHE
DOORISATHANDasthelastwordsarespoken。”(5)
ThelatePrinceAlbert，oneofthegentlestandmostamiable，wasalsooneofthemostretiringofmen。Hestruggledmuchagainsthissenseofshyness，butwasneverableeithertoconquerorconcealit。Hisbiographer，inexplainingitscauses，says:”Itwastheshynessofaverydelicatenature，thatisnotsureitwillplease，andiswithouttheconfidenceandthevanitywhichoftengotoformcharactersthatareoutwardlymoregenial。”(6)
ButthePrincesharedthisdefectwithsomeofthegreatestofEnglishmen。SirIsaacNewtonwasprobablytheshyestmanofhisage。Hekeptsecretforatimesomeofhisgreatestdiscoveries，forfearofthenotorietytheymightbringhim。HisdiscoveryoftheBinomialTheoremanditsmostimportantapplications，aswellashisstillgreaterdiscoveryoftheLawofGravitation，werenotpublishedforyearsaftertheyweremade；andwhenhecommunicatedtoCollinshissolutionofthetheoryofthemoon’srotationroundtheearth，heforbadehimtoinserthisnameinconnectionwithitinthe’PhilosophicalTransactions，’saying:”Itwould，perhaps，increasemyacquaintance——thethingwhichIchieflystudytodecline。”
FromallthatcanbelearntofShakspeare，itistobeinferredthathewasanexceedinglyshyman。Themannerinwhichhisplaysweresentintotheworld——foritisnotknownthatheeditedorauthorizedthepublicationofasingleoneofthem——andthedatesatwhichtheyrespectivelyappeared，aremeremattersofconjecture。Hisappearanceinhisownplaysinsecondandeventhird-rateparts——hisindifferencetoreputation，andevenhisapparentaversiontobeheldinreputebyhiscontemporaries——hisdisappearancefromLondon(theseatandcentreofEnglishhistrionicart)sosoonashehadrealisedamoderatecompetency——
andhisretirementabouttheageofforty，fortheremainderofhisdays，toalifeofobscurityinasmalltowninthemidlandcounties——allseemtouniteinprovingtheshrinkingnatureoftheman，andhisunconquerableshyness。
Itisalsoprobablethat，besidesbeingshy——andhisshynessmay，likethatofByron，havebeenincreasedbyhislimp——Shakspearedidnotpossessinanyhighdegreethegiftofhope。Itisaremarkablecircumstance，thatwhilstthegreatdramatisthas，inthecourseofhiswritings，copiouslyillustratedallothergifts，affections，andvirtues，thepassagesareveryrareinwhichHopeismentioned，andthenitisusuallyinadespondinganddespairingtone，aswhenhesays:”Themiserablehathnoothermedicine，ButonlyHope。”
Manyofhissonnetsbreathethespiritofdespairandhopelessness。(7)Helamentshislameness；(8)apologizesforhisprofessionasanactor；(9)expresseshis”fearoftrust”inhimself，andhishopeless，perhapsmisplaced，affection；(10)
anticipatesa”coffin’ddoom；”anduttershisprofoundlypatheticcry”forrestfuldeath。”
ItmightnaturallybesupposedthatShakspeare’sprofessionofanactor，andhisrepeatedappearancesinpublic，wouldspeedilyovercomehisshyness，didsuchexist。Butinbornshyness，whenstrong，isnotsoeasilyconquered。(11)WhocouldhavebelievedthatthelateCharlesMathews，whoentertainedcrowdedhousesnightafternight，wasnaturallyoneoftheshyestofmen？Hewouldevenmakelongcircuits(lamethoughhewas)alongthebyelanesofLondontoavoidrecognition。Hiswifesaysofhim，thathelooked”sheepish”andconfusedifrecognised；andthathiseyeswouldfall，andhiscolourwouldmount，ifheheardhisnameevenwhisperedinpassingalongthestreets。(12)
NorwoulditatfirstsighthavebeensupposedthatLordByronwasaffectedwithshyness，andyethewasavictimtoit；hisbiographerrelatingthat，whileonavisittoMrs。Pigot，atSouthwell，whenhesawstrangersapproaching，hewouldinstantlyjumpoutofthewindow，andescapeontothelawntoavoidthem。
ButastillmorerecentandstrikinginstanceisthatofthelateArchbishopWhately，who，intheearlypartofhislife，waspainfullyoppressedbythesenseofshyness。WhenatOxford，hiswhiteroughcoatandwhitehatobtainedforhimthesoubriquetof”TheWhiteBear；”andhismanners，accordingtohisownaccountofhimself，correspondedwiththeappellation。Hewasdirected，bywayofremedy，tocopytheexampleofthebest-manneredmenhemetinsociety；buttheattempttodothisonlyincreasedhisshyness，andhefailed。Hefoundthathewasallthewhilethinkingofhimself，ratherthanofothers；whereasthinkingofothers，ratherthanofone’sself，isofthetrueessenceofpoliteness。
Findingthathewasmakingnoprogress，Whatelywasdriventoutterdespair；andthenhesaidtohimself:”WhyshouldIendurethistortureallmylifetonopurpose？Iwouldbearitstilliftherewasanysuccesstobehopedfor；butsincethereisnot，I
willdiequietly，withouttakinganymoredoses。Ihavetriedmyveryutmost，andfindthatImustbeasawkwardasabearallmylife，inspiteofit。Iwillendeavourtothinkaslittleaboutitasabear，andmakeupmymindtoendurewhatcan’tbecured。”
Fromthistimeforthhestruggledtoshakeoffallconsciousnessastomanner，andtodisregardcensureasmuchaspossible。Inadoptingthiscourse，hesays:”Isucceededbeyondmyexpectations；forInotonlygotridofthepersonalsufferingofshyness，butalsoofmostofthosefaultsofmannerwhichconsciousnessproduces；andacquiredatonceaneasyandnaturalmanner——careless，indeed，intheextreme，fromitsoriginatinginasterndefianceofopinion，whichIhadconvincedmyselfmustbeeveragainstme；roughandawkward，forsmoothnessandgracearequiteoutofmyway，and，ofcourse，tutoriallypedantic；butunconscious，andthereforegivingexpressiontothatgoodwilltowardsmenwhichIreallyfeel；andthese，Ibelieve，arethemainpoints。”(13)
Washington，whowasanEnglishmaninhislineage，wasalsooneinhisshyness。HeisdescribedincidentallybyMr。JosiahQuincy，as”alittlestiffinhisperson，notalittleformalinhismanner，andnotparticularlyateaseinthepresenceofstrangers。
Hehadtheairofacountrygentlemannotaccustomedtomixmuchinsociety，perfectlypolite，butnoteasyinhisaddressandconversation，andnotgracefulinhismovements。”
AlthoughwearenotaccustomedtothinkofmodernAmericansasshy，themostdistinguishedAmericanauthorofourtimewasprobablytheshyestofmen。NathanielHawthornewasshytotheextentofmorbidity。Wehaveobservedhim，whenastrangerenteredtheroomwherehewas，turnhisbackforthepurposeofavoidingrecognition。Andyet，whenthecrustofhisshynesswasbroken，nomancouldbemorecordialandgenialthanHawthorne。
WeobservearemarkinoneofHawthorne’slately-published’Notebooks，’(14)thatononeoccasionhemetMr。Helpsinsociety，andfoundhim”cold。”AnddoubtlessMr。Helpsthoughtthesameofhim。Itwasonlythecaseoftwoshymenmeeting，eachthinkingtheotherstiffandreserved，andpartingbeforetheirmutualfilmofshynesshadbeenremovedbyalittlefriendlyintercourse。
Beforepronouncingahastyjudgmentinsuchcases，itwouldbewelltobearinmindthemottoofHelvetius，whichBenthamsaysprovedsucharealtreasuretohim:”POURAIMERLESHOMMES，IL
FAUTATTENDREPEU。”
Wehavethusfarspokenofshynessasadefect。Butthereisanotherwayoflookingatit；forevenshynesshasitsbrightside，andcontainsanelementofgood。Shymenandshyracesareungracefulandundemonstrative，because，asregardssocietyatlarge，theyarecomparativelyunsociable。Theydonotpossessthoseelegancesofmanner，acquiredbyfreeintercourse，whichdistinguishthesocialraces，becausetheirtendencyistoshunsocietyratherthantoseekit。Theyareshyinthepresenceofstrangers，andshyevenintheirownfamilies。Theyhidetheiraffectionsunderarobeofreserve，andwhentheydogivewaytotheirfeelings，itisonlyinsomeveryhiddeninner-chamber。AndyetthefeelingsAREthere，andnotthelesshealthyandgenuinethattheyarenotmadethesubjectofexhibitiontoothers。
ItwasnotalittlecharacteristicoftheancientGermans，thatthemoresocialanddemonstrativepeoplesbywhomtheyweresurroundedshouldhavecharacterisedthemastheNIEMEC，orDumbmen。AndthesamedesignationmightequallyapplytothemodernEnglish，ascompared，forexample，withtheirnimbler，morecommunicativeandvocal，andinallrespectsmoresocialneighbours，themodernFrenchandIrish。
ButthereisonecharacteristicwhichmarkstheEnglishpeople，asitdidtheracesfromwhichtheyhavemainlysprung，andthatistheirintenseloveofHome。GivetheEnglishmanahome，andheiscomparativelyindifferenttosociety。Forthesakeofaholdingwhichhecancallhisown，hewillcrosstheseas，planthimselfontheprairieoramidsttheprimevalforest，andmakeforhimselfahome。Thesolitudeofthewildernesshasnofearsforhim；thesocietyofhiswifeandfamilyissufficient，andhecaresfornoother。HenceitisthatthepeopleofGermanicorigin，fromwhomtheEnglishandAmericanshavealikesprung，makethebestofcolonizers，andarenowrapidlyextendingthemselvesasemigrantsandsettlersinallpartsofthehabitableglobe。
TheFrenchhavenevermadeanyprogressascolonizers，mainlybecauseoftheirintensesocialinstincts——thesecretoftheirgracesofmanner，——andbecausetheycanneverforgetthattheyareFrenchmen。(15)ItseemedatonetimewithinthelimitsofprobabilitythattheFrenchwouldoccupythegreaterpartoftheNorthAmericancontinent。FromLowerCanadatheirlineoffortsextendeduptheSt。Lawrence，andfromFondduLaconLakeSuperior，alongtheRiverSt。Croix，alldowntheMississippi，toitsmouthatNewOrleans。Butthegreat，self-reliant，industrious”Niemec，”fromafringeofsettlementsalongtheseacoast，silentlyextendedwestward，settlingandplantingthemselveseverywheresolidlyuponthesoil；andnearlyallthatnowremainsoftheoriginalFrenchoccupationofAmerica，istheFrenchcolonyofAcadia，inLowerCanada。
AndeventherewefindoneofthemoststrikingillustrationsofthatintensesociabilityoftheFrenchwhichkeepsthemtogether，andpreventstheirspreadingoverandplantingthemselvesfirmlyinanewcountry，asitistheinstinctofthemenofTeutonicracetodo。While，inUpperCanada，thecolonistsofEnglishandScotchdescentpenetratetheforestandthewilderness，eachsettlerliving，itmaybe，milesapartfromhisnearestneighbour，theLowerCanadiansofFrenchdescentcontinueclusteredtogetherinvillages，usuallyconsistingofalineofhousesoneithersideoftheroad，behindwhichextendtheirlongstripsoffarm-land，dividedandsubdividedtoanextremetenuity。Theywillinglysubmittoalltheinconveniencesofthismethodoffarmingforthesakeofeachother’ssociety，ratherthanbetakethemselvestothesolitarybackwoods，asEnglish，Germans，andAmericanssoreadilydo。Indeed，notonlydoestheAmericanbackwoodsmanbecomeaccustomedtosolitude，butheprefersit。AndintheWesternStates，whensettlerscometoonearhim，andthecountryseemstobecome”overcrowded，”heretreatsbeforetheadvanceofsociety，and，packinguphis”things”inawaggon，hesetsoutcheerfully，withhiswifeandfamily，tofoundforhimselfanewhomeintheFarWest。
ThustheTeuton，becauseofhisveryshyness，isthetruecolonizer。English，Scotch，Germans，andAmericansarealikereadytoacceptsolitude，providedtheycanbutestablishahomeandmaintainafamily。Thustheircomparativeindifferencetosocietyhastendedtospreadthisraceovertheearth，totillandtosubdueit；whiletheintensesocialinstinctsoftheFrench，thoughissuinginmuchgreatergracefulnessofmanner，hasstoodintheirwayascolonizers；sothat，inthecountriesinwhichtheyhaveplantedthemselves——asinAlgiersandelsewhere——theyhaveremainedlittlemorethangarrisons。(16)
Thereareotherqualitiesbesidesthese，whichgrowoutofthecomparativeunsociablenessoftheEnglishman。Hisshynessthrowshimbackuponhimself，andrendershimself-reliantandself-
dependent。Societynotbeingessentialtohishappiness，hetakesrefugeinreading，instudy，ininvention；orhefindspleasureinindustrialwork，andbecomesthebestofmechanics。Hedoesnotfeartoentrusthimselftothesolitudeoftheocean，andhebecomesafisherman，asailor，adiscoverer。SincetheearlyNorthmenscouredthenorthernseas，discoveredAmerica，andsenttheirfleetsalongtheshoresofEuropeanduptheMediterranean，theseamanshipofthemenofTeutonicracehasalwaysbeenintheascendant。
TheEnglishareinartisticforthesamereasonthattheyareunsociable。Theymaymakegoodcolonists，sailors，andmechanics；
buttheydonotmakegoodsingers，dancers，actors，artistes，ormodistes。Theyneitherdresswell，actwell，speakwell，norwritewell。Theywantstyle——theywantelegance。Whattheyhavetodotheydoinastraightforwardmanner，butwithoutgrace。
ThiswasstrikinglyexhibitedatanInternationalCattleExhibitionheldatParisafewyearsago。AtthecloseoftheExhibition，thecompetitorscameupwiththeprizeanimalstoreceivetheprizes。FirstcameagayandgallantSpaniard，amagnificentman，beautifullydressed，whoreceivedaprizeofthelowestclasswithanairandattitudethatwouldhavebecomeagrandeeofthehighestorder。ThencameFrenchmenandItalians，fullofgrace，politeness，andCHIC——themselveselegantlydressed，andtheiranimalsdecoratedtothehornswithflowersandcolouredribbonsharmoniouslyblended。Andlastofallcametheexhibitorwhowastoreceivethefirstprize——aslouchingman，plainlydressed，withapairoffarmer’sgaiterson，andwithoutevenaflowerinhisbuttonhole。”Whoishe？”askedthespectators。”Why，heistheEnglishman，”wasthereply。”TheEnglishman！——thattherepresentativeofagreatcountry！”wasthegeneralexclamation。ButitwastheEnglishmanallover。Hewassentthere，nottoexhibithimself，buttoshow”thebestbeast，”
andhedidit，carryingawaythefirstprize。Yethewouldhavebeennothingtheworsefortheflowerinhisbuttonhole。
ToremedythisadmitteddefectofgraceandwantofartistictasteintheEnglishpeople，aschoolhassprungupamongstusforthemoregeneraldiffusionoffineart。TheBeautifulhasnowitsteachersandpreachers，andbysomeitisalmostregardedinthelightofareligion。”TheBeautifulistheGood”——”TheBeautifulistheTrue”——”TheBeautifulisthepriestoftheBenevolent，”
areamongtheirtexts。Itisbelievedthatbythestudyofartthetastesofthepeoplemaybeimproved；thatbycontemplatingobjectsofbeautytheirnaturewillbecomepurified；andthatbybeingtherebywithdrawnfromsensualenjoyments，theircharacterwillberefinedandelevated。
Butthoughsuchcultureiscalculatedtobeelevatingandpurifyinginacertaindegree，wemustnotexpecttoomuchfromit。Graceisasweetenerandembellisheroflife，andassuchisworthyofcultivation。Music，painting，dancing，andthefinearts，areallsourcesofpleasure；andthoughtheymaynotbesensual，yettheyaresensuous，andoftennothingmore。Thecultivationofatasteforbeautyofformorcolour，ofsoundorattitude，hasnonecessaryeffectuponthecultivationofthemindorthedevelopmentofthecharacter。Thecontemplationoffineworksofartwilldoubtlessimprovethetaste，andexciteadmiration；butasinglenobleactiondoneinthesightofmenwillmoreinfluencethemind，andstimulatethecharactertoimitation，thanthesightofmilesofstatuaryoracresofpictures。Foritismind，soul，andheart——nottasteorart——
thatmakemengreat。
Itisindeeddoubtfulwhetherthecultivationofart——whichusuallyministerstoluxury——hasdonesomuchforhumanprogressasisgenerallysupposed。Itisevenpossiblethatitstooexclusiveculturemayeffeminateratherthanstrengthenthecharacter，bylayingitmoreopentothetemptationsofthesenses。”Itisthenatureoftheimaginativetemperamentcultivatedbythearts，”saysSirHenryTaylor，”tounderminethecourage，and，byabatingstrengthofcharacter，torendermenmoreeasilysubservient——SEQUACES，CEREOS，ETADMANDATADUCTILES。”
(17)Thegiftoftheartistgreatlydiffersfromthatofthethinker；hishighestideaistomouldhissubject——whetheritbeofpainting，ormusic，orliterature——intothatperfectgraceofforminwhichthought(itmaynotbeofthedeepest)findsitsapotheosisandimmortality。
Arthasusuallyflourishedmostduringthedecadenceofnations，whenithasbeenhiredbywealthastheministerofluxury。
ExquisiteartanddegradingcorruptionwerecontemporaryinGreeceaswellasinRome。PhidiasandIktinoshadscarcelycompletedtheParthenon，whenthegloryofAthenshaddeparted；Phidiasdiedinprison；andtheSpartanssetupinthecitythememorialsoftheirowntriumphandofAtheniandefeat。ItwasthesameinancientRome，whereartwasatitsgreatestheightwhenthepeoplewereintheirmostdegradedcondition。Nerowasanartist，aswellasDomitian，twoofthegreatestmonstersoftheEmpire。
Ifthe”Beautiful”hadbeenthe”Good，”Commodusmusthavebeenoneofthebestofmen。Butaccordingtohistoryhewasoneoftheworst。
Again，thegreatestperiodofmodernRomanartwasthatinwhichPopeLeoX。flourished，ofwhosereignithasbeensaid，that”profligacyandlicentiousnessprevailedamongstthepeopleandclergy，astheyhaddonealmostuncontrolledeversincethepontificateofAlexanderVI。”Inlikemanner，theperiodatwhichartreacheditshighestpointintheLowCountrieswasthatwhichimmediatelysucceededthedestructionofcivilandreligiousliberty，andtheprostrationofthenationallifeunderthedespotismofSpain。Ifartcouldelevateanation，andthecontemplationofTheBeautifulwerecalculatedtomakemenTheGood——thenParisoughttocontainapopulationofthewisestandbestofhumanbeings。Romealsoisagreatcityofart；andyetthere，theVIRTUSorvalouroftheancientRomanshascharacteristicallydegeneratedintoVERTU，oratasteforknicknacks；whilst，accordingtorecentaccounts，thecityitselfisinexpressiblyfoul。(18)
Artwouldsometimesevenappeartohaveacloseconnectionwithdirt；anditissaidofMr。Ruskin，thatwhensearchingforworksofartinVenice，hisattendantinhisexplorationswouldsniffanill-odour，andwhenitwasstrongwouldsay，”Nowwearecomingtosomethingveryoldandfine！”——meaninginart。(19)Alittlecommoneducationincleanliness，whereitiswanting，wouldprobablybemuchmoreimproving，aswellaswholesome，thananyamountofeducationinfineart。Rufflesareallverywell，butitisfollytocultivatethemtotheneglectoftheshirt。
Whilst，therefore，graceofmanner，politenessofbehaviour，eleganceofdemeanour，andalltheartsthatcontributetomakelifepleasantandbeautiful，areworthyofcultivation，itmustnotbeattheexpenseofthemoresolidandenduringqualitiesofhonesty，sincerity，andtruthfulness。Thefountainofbeautymustbeintheheart；morethanintheeye，andifartdonottendtoproducebeautifullifeandnoblepractice，itwillbeofcomparativelylittleavail。Politenessofmannerisnotworthmuch，unlessaccompaniedbypoliteaction。Gracemaybebutskin-
deep——verypleasantandattractive，andyetveryheartless。Artisasourceofinnocentenjoyment，andanimportantaidtohigherculture；butunlessitleadstohigherculture，itwillprobablybemerelysensuous。Andwhenartismerelysensuous，itisenfeeblinganddemoralizingratherthanstrengtheningorelevating。Honestcourageisofgreaterworththananyamountofgrace；purityisbetterthanelegance；andcleanlinessofbody，mind，andheart，thananyamountoffineart。
Infine，whilethecultivationofthegracesisnottobeneglected，itshouldeverbeheldinmindthatthereissomethingfarhigherandnoblertobeaimedat——greaterthanpleasure，greaterthanart，greaterthanwealth，greaterthanpower，greaterthanintellect，greaterthangenius——andthatis，purityandexcellenceofcharacter。Withoutasolidsterlingbasisofindividualgoodness，allthegrace，elegance，andartintheworldwouldfailtosaveortoelevateapeople。
NOTES
(1)Lockethoughtitofgreaterimportancethataneducatorofyouthshouldbewell-bredandwell-tempered，thanthatheshouldbeeitherathoroughclassicistormanofscience。WritingtoLordPeterboroughonhisson’seducation，Lockesaid:”YourLordshipwouldhaveyourson’stutorathoroughscholar，andIthinkitnotmuchmatterwhetherhebeanyscholarorno:ifhebutunderstandLatinwell，andhaveageneralschemeofthesciences，Ithinkthatenough。ButIwouldhavehimWELL-BREDandWELL-TEMPERED。”
(2)Mrs。Hutchinson’s’MemoiroftheLifeofLieut-ColonelHutchinson，’p。32。
(3)’LettersandEssays，’p。59。
(4)’Lettresd’unVoyageur。’
(5)SirHenryTaylor’s’Statesman，’p。59。
(6)Introductiontothe’PrincipalSpeechesandAddressesofHisRoyalHighnessthePrinceConsort，’1862。
(7)”Whenindisgracewithfortuneandmen’seyes，Iallalonebeweenmyoutcaststate，Andtroubleddeafheavenwithmybootlesscries，Andlookuponmyselfandcursemyfate；
WISHINGMELIKETOONEMORERICHINHOPE，Featuredlikehim，likehimwithfriendspossessed，Desiringthisman’sart，andthatman’sscope，WithwhatImostenjoy，contentedleast；
Yetinthesethoughts，MYSELFALMOSTDESPISING，HaplyIthinkonthee，”&c——SONNETXXIX。”SoI，MADELAMEbysorrow’sdearestspite，”&c——SONNETXXXVI
(8)”Andstrength，byLIMPINGswaydisabled，”&c——SONNETLXVI。”SpeakofMYLAMENESS，andIstraightwillhalt。”——SONNETLXXXIX。
(9)”Alas！’tistrue，Ihavegonehereandthere，AndMADEMYSELFAMOTLEYTOTHEVIEW，Goredmineownthoughts，soldcheapwhatismostdear，Madeoldoffencesofaffectionsnew，”&c——SONNETCX。”Oh，formysakedoyouwithfortunechide！
Theguiltygoddessofmyharmfuldeeds，Thatdidnotbetterformylifeprovide，THANPUBLICMEANS，WHICHPUBLICMANNERSBREED；
Thencecomesitthatmynamereceivesabrand，Andalmostthencemynatureissubdued，Towhatitworksinlikethedyer’shand，”&c——SONNETCXI。
(10)”Inourtwolovesthereisbutonerespect，Thoughinourlovesaseparablespite，Whichthoughitalternotlovessoleeffect；
Yetdothitstealsweethoursfromlove’sdelight，Imaynotevermoreacknowledgethee，LestMYBEWAILEDGUILTSHOULDDOTHEESHAME。”——SONNETXXXVI。
(11)ItisrelatedofGarrick，thatwhensubpoenaedonBaretti’strial，andrequiredtogivehisevidencebeforethecourt——thoughhehadbeenaccustomedforthirtyyearstoactwiththegreatestself-
possessioninthepresenceofthousands——hebecamesoperplexedandconfused，thathewasactuallysentfromthewitness-boxbythejudge，asamanfromwhomnoevidencecouldbeobtained。
(12)Mrs。Mathews’’LifeandCorrespondenceofCharlesMathews，’(Ed。
1860)p。232。
(13)ArchbishopWhately’s’CommonplaceBook。’
(14)EmersonissaidtohavehadNathanielHawthorneinhismindwhenwritingthefollowingpassageinhis’SocietyandSolitude:’——”Themostagreeablecomplimentyoucouldpayhimwas，toimplythatyouhadnotobservedhiminahouseorastreetwhereyouhadmethim。Whilsthesufferedatbeingseenwherehewas，heconsoledhimselfwiththedeliciousthoughtoftheinconceivablenumberofplaceswherehewasnot。Allhewishedofhistailorwastoprovidethatsobermeanofcolourandcutwhichwouldneverdetaintheeyeforamoment……Hehadaremorse，runningtodespair，ofhissocialGAUCHERIES，andwalkedmilesandmilestogetthetwitchingsoutofhisface，andthestartsandshrugsoutofhisarmsandshoulders。’Godmayforgivesins，’hesaid，’butawkwardnesshasnoforgivenessinheavenorearth。’”
(15)InaseriesofcleverarticlesintheREVUEDESDEUXMONDES，entitled，’SixmilleLieuesatouteVapeur，’givingadescriptionofhistravelsinNorthAmerica，MauriceSandkeenlyobservedthecomparativelyanti-socialproclivitiesoftheAmericancomparedwiththeFrenchman。Theone，hesays，isinspiredbythespiritofindividuality，theotherbythespiritofsociety。InAmericaheseestheindividualabsorbingsociety；asinFranceheseessocietyabsorbingtheindividual。”CepeupleAnglo-Saxon，”hesays，”quitrouvaitdevantluilaterre，l’instrumentdetravail，sinoninepuisable，dumonsinepuise，s’estmisal’exploitersousl’inspirationdel’egoisme；etnousautresFrancais，nousn’avonsriensuenfaire，parcequeNOUSNEPOUVONSRIENDANS
L’ISOLEMENT……L’Americainsupportelasolitudeavecunstoicismeadmirable，maiseffrayant；ilnel’aimepas，ilnesongequ’aladetruire……LeFrancaisesttoutautre。Ilaimesonparent，sonami，soncompagnon，etjusqu’asonvoisind’omnibusoudetheatre，sisafigureluiestsympathetique。Pourquoi？Parcequ’illeregardeetcherchesoname，parcequ’ilvitdanssonsemblableautantqu’enlui-meme。Quandilestlongtempsseul，ildeperit，etquandilesttoujoursseul，itmeurt。”
Allthisisperfectlytrue，anditexplainswhythecomparativelyunsociableGermans，English，andAmericans，arespreadingovertheearth，whiletheintenselysociableFrenchmen，unabletoenjoylifewithouteachother’ssociety，prefertostayathome，andFrancefailstoextenditselfbeyondFrance。
(16)TheIrishhave，inmanyrespects，thesamestrongsocialinstinctsastheFrench。IntheUnitedStatestheyclusternaturallyinthetowns，wheretheyhavetheir”IrishQuarters，”asinEngland。
TheyareevenmoreIrishtherethanathome，andcannomoreforgetthattheyareIrishmenthantheFrenchcanthattheyareFrenchmen。”Ideliberatelyassert，”saysMr。Maguire，inhisrecentworkon’TheIrishinAmerica，’”thatitisnotwithinthepoweroflanguagetodescribeadequately，muchlesstoexaggerate，theevilsconsequentontheunhappytendencyoftheIrishtocongregateinthelargetownsofAmerica。”ItisthisintensesocialismoftheIrishthatkeepstheminacomparativelyhand-to-
mouthconditioninalltheStatesoftheUnion。
(17)’TheStatesman，’p。35。
(18)NathanielHawthorne，inhis’FirstImpressionsofFranceandItaly，’sayshisopinionoftheuncleanlycharacterofthemodernRomansissounfavourablethathehardlyknowshowtoexpressit”ButthefactisthatthroughtheForum，andeverywhereoutofthecommonestfoot-trackandroadway，youmustlookwelltoyoursteps……Perhapsthereissomethinginthemindsofthepeopleofthesecountriesthatenablesthemtodisseversmalluglinessfromgreatsublimityandbeauty。TheyspituponthegloriouspavementofSt。Peter’s，andwhereverelsetheylike；theyplacepaltry-lookingwoodenconfessionalsbeneathitssublimearches，andornamentthemwithcheaplittlecolouredprintsoftheCrucifixion；theyhangtinhearts，andothertinselandtrumpery，atthegorgeousshrinesofthesaints，inchapelsthatareencrustedwithgems，ormarblesalmostasprecious；theyputpasteboardstatuesofsaintsbeneaththedomeofthePantheon；——
inshort，theyletthesublimeandtheridiculouscomeclosetogether，andarenotintheleasttroubledbytheproximity。”
(19)EdwinChadwick’s’AddresstotheEconomicScienceandStatisticSection，’BritishAssociation(Meeting，1862)。
CHAPTERX——COMPANIONSHIPOFBOOKS。”Books，weknow，Areasubstantialworld，bothpureandgood，Roundwhich，withtendrilsstrongasfleshandblood，Ourpastimeandourhappinesscangrow。”——WORDSWORTH。”Notonlyinthecommonspeechofmen，butinallarttoo——whichisorshouldbetheconcentratedandconservedessenceofwhatmencanspeakandshow——Biographyisalmosttheonethingneedful”——
CARLYLE。”Ireadallbiographieswithintenseinterest。Evenamanwithoutaheart，likeCavendish，Ithinkabout，andreadabout，anddreamabout，andpicturetomyselfinallpossibleways，tillhegrowsintoalivingbeingbesideme，andIputmyfeetintohisshoes，andbecomeforthetimeCavendish，andthinkashethought，anddoashedid。”——GEORGEWILSON。”Mythoughtsarewiththedead；withthemIliveinlong-pastyears；
Theirvirtueslove，theirfaultscondemn；
Partaketheirhopesandfears；
AndfromtheirlessonsseekandfindInstructionwithahumblemind。”——SOUTHEY。
Amanmayusuallybeknownbythebookshereads，aswellasbythecompanyhekeeps；forthereisacompanionshipofbooksaswellasofmen；andoneshouldalwaysliveinthebestcompany，whetheritbeofbooksorofmen。
Agoodbookmaybeamongthebestoffriends。Itisthesameto-
daythatitalwayswas，anditwillneverchange。Itisthemostpatientandcheerfulofcompanions。Itdoesnotturnitsbackuponusintimesofadversityordistress。Italwaysreceivesuswiththesamekindness；amusingandinstructingusinyouth，andcomfortingandconsolingusinage。
Menoftendiscovertheiraffinitytoeachotherbythemutuallovetheyhaveforabook——justastwopersonssometimesdiscoverafriendbytheadmirationwhichbothentertainforathird。Thereisanoldproverb，”Loveme，lovemydog。”Butthereismorewisdominthis:”Loveme，lovemybook。”Thebookisatruerandhigherbondofunion。Mencanthink，feel，andsympathisewitheachotherthroughtheirfavouriteauthor。Theyliveinhimtogether，andheinthem。”Books，”saidHazlitt，”windintotheheart；thepoet’sverseslidesintothecurrentofourblood。Wereadthemwhenyoung，werememberthemwhenold。Wereadthereofwhathashappenedtoothers；wefeelthatithashappenedtoourselves。Theyaretobehadeverywherecheapandgood。Webreathebuttheairofbooks。
Weoweeverythingtotheirauthors，onthissidebarbarism。”
Agoodbookisoftenthebesturnofalife，enshriningthebestthoughtsofwhichthatlifewascapable；fortheworldofaman’slifeis，forthemostpart，buttheworldofhisthoughts。Thusthebestbooksaretreasuriesofgoodwordsandgoldenthoughts，which，rememberedandcherished，becomeourabidingcompanionsandcomforters。”Theyareneveralone，”saidSirPhilipSidney，”thatareaccompaniedbynoblethoughts。”Thegoodandtruethoughtmayintimeoftemptationbeasanangelofmercypurifyingandguardingthesoul。Italsoenshrinesthegermsofaction，forgoodwordsalmostinvariablyinspiretogoodworks。
ThusSirHenryLawrenceprizedaboveallothercompositionsWordsworth’s’CharacteroftheHappyWarrior，’whichheendeavouredtoembodyinhisownlife。Itwaseverbeforehimasanexemplar。Hethoughtofitcontinually，andoftenquotedittoothers。Hisbiographersays:”Hetriedtoconformhisownlifeandtoassimilatehisowncharactertoit；andhesucceeded，asallmensucceedwhoaretrulyinearnest。”(1)
Bookspossessanessenceofimmortality。Theyarebyfarthemostlastingproductsofhumaneffort。Templescrumbleintoruin；
picturesandstatuesdecay；butbookssurvive。Timeisofnoaccountwithgreatthoughts，whichareasfreshto-dayaswhentheyfirstpassedthroughtheirauthors’mindsagesago。Whatwasthensaidandthoughtstillspeakstousasvividlyaseverfromtheprintedpage。Theonlyeffectoftimehasbeentosiftandwinnowoutthebadproducts；fornothinginliteraturecanlongsurvivebutwhatisreallygood。(2)
Booksintroduceusintothebestsociety；theybringusintothepresenceofthegreatestmindsthathaveeverlived。Wehearwhattheysaidanddid；weseethemasiftheywerereallyalive；weareparticipatorsintheirthoughts；wesympathisewiththem，enjoywiththem，grievewiththem；theirexperiencebecomesours，andwefeelasifwewereinameasureactorswiththeminthesceneswhichtheydescribe。
Thegreatandgooddonotdie，eveninthisworld。Embalmedinbookstheirspiritswalkabroad。Thebookisalivingvoice。Itisanintellecttowhichonestilllistens。Henceweeverremainundertheinfluenceofthegreatmenofold:”Thedeadbutsceptredsovrans，whostillruleOurspiritsfromtheirurns。”
Theimperialintellectsoftheworldareasmuchalivenowastheywereagesago。Homerstilllives；andthoughhispersonalhistoryishiddeninthemistsofantiquity，hispoemsareasfreshto-dayasiftheyhadbeennewlywritten。Platostillteacheshistranscendentphilosophy；Horace，Virgil，andDantestillsingaswhentheylived；Shakspeareisnotdead:hisbodywasburiedin1616，buthismindisasmuchaliveinEnglandnow，andhisthoughtasfar-reaching，asinthetimeoftheTudors。
Thehumblestandpoorestmayenterthesocietyofthesegreatspiritswithoutbeingthoughtintrusive。AllwhocanreadhavegottheENTREE。Wouldyoulaugh？——CervantesorRabelaiswilllaughwithyou。Doyougrieve？——thereisThomasaKempisorJeremyTaylortogrievewithandconsoleyou。Alwaysitistobooks，andthespiritsofgreatmenembalmedinthem，thatweturn，forentertainment，forinstructionandsolace——injoyandinsorrow，asinprosperityandinadversity。
Manhimselfis，ofallthingsintheworld，themostinterestingtoman。Whateverrelatestohumanlife——itsexperiences，itsjoys，itssufferings，anditsachievements——hasusuallyattractionsforhimbeyondallelse。Eachmanismoreorlessinterestedinallothermenashisfellow-creatures——asmembersofthegreatfamilyofhumankind；andthelargeraman’sculture，thewideristherangeofhissympathiesinallthataffectsthewelfareofhisrace。
Men’sinterestineachotherasindividualsmanifestsitselfinathousandways——intheportraitswhichtheypaint，inthebustswhichtheycarve，inthenarrativeswhichtheyrelateofeachother。”Man，”saysEmerson，”canpaint，ormake，orthink，nothingbutMan。”Mostofallisthisinterestshowninthefascinationwhichpersonalhistorypossessesforhim。”Manssocialityofnature，”saysCarlyle，”evincesitself，inspiteofallthatcanbesaid，withabundanceofevidence，bythisonefact，weretherenoother:theunspeakabledelighthetakesinBiography。”
Great，indeed，isthehumaninterestfeltinbiography！Whatareallthenovelsthatfindsuchmultitudesofreaders，butsomanyfictitiousbiographies？Whatarethedramasthatpeoplecrowdtosee，butsomuchactedbiography？Strangethatthehighestgeniusshouldbeemployedonthefictitiousbiography，andsomuchcommonplaceabilityonthereal！
Yettheauthenticpictureofanyhumanbeing’slifeandexperienceoughttopossessaninterestgreatlybeyondthatwhichisfictitious，inasmuchasithasthecharmofreality。Everypersonmaylearnsomethingfromtherecordedlifeofanother；andevencomparativelytrivialdeedsandsayingsmaybeinvestedwithinterest，asbeingtheoutcomeofthelivesofsuchbeingsasweourselvesare。
Therecordsofthelivesofgoodmenareespeciallyuseful。Theyinfluenceourhearts，inspireuswithhope，andsetbeforeusgreatexamples。Andwhenmenhavedonetheirdutythroughlifeinagreatspirit，theirinfluencewillneverwhollypassaway。”Thegoodlife，”saysGeorgeHerbert，”isneveroutofseason。”
Goethehassaidthatthereisnomansocommonplacethatawisemanmaynotlearnsomethingfromhim。SirWalterScottcouldnottravelinacoachwithoutgleaningsomeinformationordiscoveringsomenewtraitofcharacterinhiscompanions。(3)Dr。Johnsononceobservedthattherewasnotapersoninthestreetsbutheshouldliketoknowhisbiography——hisexperiencesoflife，histrials，hisdifficulties，hissuccesses，andhisfailures。Howmuchmoretrulymightthisbesaidofthemenwhohavemadetheirmarkintheworld’shistory，andhavecreatedforusthatgreatinheritanceofcivilizationofwhichwearethepossessors！
Whateverrelatestosuchmen——totheirhabits，theirmanners，theirmodesofliving，theirpersonalhistory，theirconversation，theirmaxims，theirvirtues，ortheirgreatness——isalwaysfullofinterest，ofinstruction，ofencouragement，andofexample。
ThegreatlessonofBiographyistoshowwhatmancanbeanddoathisbest。Anoblelifeputfairlyonrecordactslikeaninspirationtoothers。Itexhibitswhatlifeiscapableofbeingmade。Itrefreshesourspirit，encouragesourhopes，givesusnewstrengthandcourageandfaith——faithinothersaswellasinourselves。Itstimulatesouraspirations，rousesustoaction，andincitesustobecomeco-partnerswiththemintheirwork。
Tolivewithsuchmenintheirbiographies，andtobeinspiredbytheirexample，istolivewiththebestofmen，andtomixinthebestofcompany。
AttheheadofallbiographiesstandstheGreatBiography，theBookofBooks。AndwhatistheBible，themostsacredandimpressiveofallbooks——theeducatorofyouth，theguideofmanhood，andtheconsolerofage——butaseriesofbiographiesofgreatheroesandpatriarchs，prophets，kings，andjudges，culminatinginthegreatestbiographyofall，theLifeembodiedintheNewTestament？Howmuchhavethegreatexamplestheresetforthdoneformankind！Howmanyhavedrawnfromthemtheirtrueststrength，theirhighestwisdom，theirbestnurtureandadmonition！TrulydoesagreatRomanCatholicwriterdescribetheBibleasabookwhosewords”liveintheearlikeamusicthatcanneverbeforgotten——likethesoundofchurchbellswhichtheconverthardlyknowshowhecanforego。Itsfelicitiesoftenseemtobealmostthingsratherthanmerewords。Itispartofthenationalmind，andtheanchorofnationalseriousness。Thememoryofthedeadpassesintoit，Thepotenttraditionsofchildhoodarestereotypedinitsverses。Thepowerofallthegriefsandtrialsofmanishiddenbeneathitswords。Itistherepresentativeofhisbestmoments，andallthathasbeenabouthimofsoft，andgentle，andpure，andpenitent，andgood，speakstohimforeveroutofhisEnglishBible。Itishissacredthing，whichdoubthasneverdimmedandcontroversyneversoiled。InthelengthandbreadthofthelandthereisnotaProtestantwithonesparkofreligiousnessabouthimwhosespiritualbiographyisnotinhisSaxonBible。”(4)
Itwould，indeed，bedifficulttooverestimatetheinfluencewhichthelivesofthegreatandgoodhaveexercisedupontheelevationofhumancharacter。”Thebestbiography，”saysIsaacDisraeli，”isareunionwithhumanexistenceinitsmostexcellentstate。”
Indeed，itisimpossibleforonetoreadthelivesofgoodmen，muchlessinspiredmen，withoutbeingunconsciouslylightedandliftedupinthem，andgrowinginsensiblynearertowhattheythoughtanddid。Andeventhelivesofhumblerpersons，ofmenoffaithfulandhonestspirit，whohavedonetheirdutyinlifewell，arenotwithoutanelevatinginfluenceuponthecharacterofthosewhocomeafterthem。
Historyitselfisbeststudiedinbiography。Indeed，historyisbiography——collectivehumanityasinfluencedandgovernedbyindividualmen。”Whatisallhistory，”saysEmerson，”buttheworkofideas，arecordoftheincomparableenergywhichhisinfiniteaspirationsinfuseintoman？”Initspagesitisalwayspersonsweseemorethanprinciples。Historicaleventsareinterestingtousmainlyinconnectionwiththefeelings，thesufferings，andinterestsofthosebywhomtheyareaccomplished。
Inhistorywearesurroundedbymenlongdead，butwhosespeechandwhosedeedssurvive。Wealmostcatchthesoundoftheirvoices；andwhattheydidconstitutestheinterestofhistory。Weneverfeelpersonallyinterestedinmassesofmen；butwefeelandsympathisewiththeindividualactors，whosebiographiesaffordthefinestandmostrealtouchesinallgreathistoricaldramas。
Amongthegreatwritersofthepast，probablythetwothathavebeenmostinfluentialinformingthecharactersofgreatmenofactionandgreatmenofthought，havebeenPlutarchandMontaigne——theonebypresentingheroicmodelsforimitation，theotherbyprobingquestionsofconstantrecurrenceinwhichthehumanmindinallageshastakenthedeepestinterest。Andtheworksofbothareforthemostpartcastinabiographicform，theirmoststrikingillustrationsconsistingintheexhibitionsofcharacterandexperiencewhichtheycontain。
Plutarch’s’Lives，’thoughwrittennearlyeighteenhundredyearsago，likeHomer’s’Iliad，’stillholdsitsgroundasthegreatestworkofitskind。ItwasthefavouritebookofMontaigne；andtoEnglishmenitpossessesthespecialinterestofhavingbeenShakspeare’sprincipalauthorityinhisgreatclassicaldramas。
MontaignepronouncedPlutarchtobe”thegreatestmasterinthatkindofwriting”——thebiographic；andhedeclaredthathe”couldnosoonercastaneyeuponhimbuthepurloinedeitheralegorawing。”
AlfieriwasfirstdrawnwithpassiontoliteraturebyreadingPlutarch。”Iread，”saidhe，”thelivesofTimoleon，Caesar，Brutus，Pelopidas，morethansixtimes，withcries，withtears，andwithsuchtransports，thatIwasalmostfurious……EverytimethatImetwithoneofthegrandtraitsofthesegreatmen，Iwasseizedwithsuchvehementagitationastobeunabletositstill。”
PlutarchwasalsoafavouritewithpersonsofsuchvariousmindsasSchillerandBenjaminFranklin，NapoleonandMadameRoland。
Thelatterwassofascinatedbythebookthatshecarriedittochurchwithherintheguiseofamissal，andreaditsurreptitiouslyduringtheservice。
IthasalsobeenthenurtureofheroicsoulssuchasHenryIV。ofFrance，Turenne，andtheNapiers。ItwasoneofSirWilliamNapier’sfavouritebookswhenaboy。Hismindwasearlyimbuedbyitwithapassionateadmirationforthegreatheroesofantiquity；
anditsinfluencehad，doubtless，muchtodowiththeformationofhischaracter，aswellasthedirectionofhiscareerinlife。Itisrelatedofhim，thatinhislastillness，whenfeebleandexhausted，hismindwanderedbacktoPlutarch’sheroes；andhedescantedforhourstohisson-in-lawonthemightydeedsofAlexander，Hannibal，andCaesar。Indeed，ifitwerepossibletopollthegreatbodyofreadersinallageswhosemindshavebeeninfluencedanddirectedbybooks，itisprobablethat——exceptingalwaystheBible——theimmensemajorityofvoteswouldbecastinfavourofPlutarch。
AndhowisitthatPlutarchhassucceededinexcitinganinterestwhichcontinuestoattractandrivettheattentionofreadersofallagesandclassestothisday？Inthefirstplace，becausethesubjectofhisworkisgreatmen，whooccupiedaprominentplaceintheworld’shistory，andbecausehehadaneyetoseeandapentodescribethemoreprominenteventsandcircumstancesintheirlives。Andnotonlyso，buthepossessedthepowerofportrayingtheindividualcharacterofhisheroes；foritistheprincipleofindividualitywhichgivesthecharmandinteresttoallbiography。
Themostengagingsideofgreatmenisnotsomuchwhattheydoaswhattheyare，anddoesnotdependupontheirpowerofintellectbutontheirpersonalattractiveness。Thus，therearemenwhoselivesarefarmoreeloquentthantheirspeeches，andwhosepersonalcharacterisfargreaterthantheirdeeds。
Itisalsotobeobserved，thatwhilethebestandmostcarefully-
drawnofPlutarch’sportraitsareoflife-size，manyofthemarelittlemorethanbusts。Theyarewell-proportionedbutcompact，andwithinsuchreasonablecompassthatthebestofthem——suchasthelivesofCaesarandAlexander——maybereadinhalfanhour。
Reducedtothismeasure，theyare，however，greatlymoreimposingthanalifelessColossus，oranexaggeratedgiant。Theyarenotoverlaidbydisquisitionanddescription，butthecharactersnaturallyunfoldthemselves。Montaigne，indeed，complainedofPlutarch’sbrevity。”Nodoubt，”headded，”buthisreputationisthebetterforit，thoughinthemeantimewearetheworse。
Plutarchwouldratherweshouldapplaudhisjudgmentthancommendhisknowledge，andhadratherleaveuswithanappetitetoreadmorethangluttedwithwhatwehavealreadyread。Heknewverywellthatamanmaysaytoomuchevenonthebestsubjects……
Suchashaveleanandsparebodiesstuffthemselvesoutwithclothes；sotheywhoaredefectiveinmatter，endeavourtomakeamendswithwords。(5)
Plutarchpossessedtheartofdelineatingthemoredelicatefeaturesofmindandminutepeculiaritiesofconduct，aswellasthefoiblesanddefectsofhisheroes，allofwhichisnecessarytofaithfulandaccurateportraiture。”Toseehim，”saysMontaigne，”pickoutalightactioninaman’slife，oraword，thatdoesnotseemtobeofanyimportance，isitselfawholediscourse。”HeevencondescendstoinformusofsuchhomelyparticularsasthatAlexandercarriedhisheadaffectedlyononeside；thatAlcibiadeswasadandy，andhadalisp，whichbecamehim，givingagraceandpersuasiveturntohisdiscourse；thatCatohadredhairandgrayeyes，andwasausurerandascrew，sellingoffhisoldslaveswhentheybecameunfitforhardwork；
thatCaesarwasbaldandfondofgaydress；andthatCicero(likeLordBrougham)hadinvoluntarytwitchingsofhisnose。
Suchminuteparticularsmaybysomebethoughtbeneaththedignityofbiography，butPlutarchthoughtthemrequisitefortheduefinishofthecompleteportraitwhichhesethimselftodraw；anditisbysmalldetailsofcharacter——personaltraits，features，habits，andcharacteristics——thatweareenabledtoseebeforeusthemenastheyreallylived。Plutarch’sgreatmeritconsistsinhisattentiontotheselittlethings，withoutgivingthemunduepreponderance，orneglectingthosewhichareofgreatermoment。
Sometimeshehitsoffanindividualtraitbyananecdote，whichthrowsmorelightuponthecharacterdescribedthanpagesofrhetoricaldescriptionwoulddo。Insomecases，hegivesusthefavouritemaximofhishero；andthemaximsofmenoftenrevealtheirhearts。
Then，astofoibles，thegreatestofmenarenotvisuallysymmetrical。Eachhashisdefect，histwist，hiscraze；anditisbyhisfaultsthatthegreatmanrevealshiscommonhumanity。Wemay，atadistance，admirehimasademigod；butaswecomenearertohim，wefindthatheisbutafallibleman，andourbrother。(6)
Noraretheillustrationsofthedefectsofgreatmenwithouttheiruses；for，asDr。Johnsonobserved，”Ifnothingbutthebrightsideofcharacterswereshown，weshouldsitdownindespondency，andthinkitutterlyimpossibletoimitatetheminanything。”
Plutarch，himselfjustifieshismethodofportraiturebyaverringthathisdesignwasnottowritehistories，butlives。”Themostgloriousexploits，”hesays，”donotalwaysfurnishuswiththeclearestdiscoveriesofvirtueorofviceinmen。Sometimesamatterofmuchlessmoment，anexpressionorajest，betterinformsusoftheircharactersandinclinationsthanbattleswiththeslaughteroftensofthousands，andthegreatestarraysofarmiesorsiegesofcities。Therefore，asportrait-paintersaremoreexactintheirlinesandfeaturesofthefaceandtheexpressionoftheeyes，inwhichthecharacterisseen，withouttroublingthemselvesabouttheotherpartsofthebody，soImustbeallowedtogivemymoreparticularattentiontothesignsandindicationsofthesoulsofmen；andwhileIendeavourbythesemeanstoportraytheirlives，Ileaveimportanteventsandgreatbattlestobedescribedbyothers。”
Thingsapparentlytriflingmaystandformuchinbiographyaswellashistory，andslightcircumstancesmayinfluencegreatresults。
Pascalhasremarked，thatifCleopatra’snosehadbeenshorter，thewholefaceoftheworldwouldprobablyhavebeenchanged。ButfortheamoursofPepintheFat，theSaracensmighthaveoverrunEurope；asitwashisillegitimateson，CharlesMartel，whooverthrewthematTours，andeventuallydrovethemoutofFrance。
ThatSirWalterScottshouldhavesprainedhisfootinrunningroundtheroomwhenachild，mayseemunworthyofnoticeinhisbiography；yet’Ivanhoe，’’OldMortality，’andalltheWaverleynovelsdependeduponit。Whenhissonintimatedadesiretoenterthearmy，ScottwrotetoSouthey，”Ihavenotitletocombatachoicewhichwouldhavebeenmyown，hadnotmylamenessprevented。”Sothat，hadnotScottbeenlame，hemighthavefoughtallthroughthePeninsularWar，andhadhisbreastcoveredwithmedals；butweshouldprobablyhavehadnoneofthoseworksofhiswhichhavemadehisnameimmortal，andshedsomuchgloryuponhiscountry。Talleyrandalsowaskeptoutofthearmy，forwhichhehadbeendestined，byhislameness；butdirectinghisattentiontothestudyofbooks，andeventuallyofmen，heatlengthtookrankamongstthegreatestdiplomatistsofhistime。
Byron’sclubfoothadprobablynotalittletodowithdetermininghisdestinyasapoet。Hadnothismindbeenembitteredandmademorbidbyhisdeformity，hemightneverhavewrittenaline——hemighthavebeenthenoblestfopofhisday。Buthismisshapenfootstimulatedhismind，rousedhisardour，threwhimuponhisownresources——andweknowwithwhatresult。
So，too，ofScarron，towhosehunchbackweprobablyowehiscynicalverse；andofPope，whosesatirewasinameasuretheoutcomeofhisdeformity——forhewas，asJohnsondescribedhim，”protuberantbehindandbefore。”WhatLordBaconsaidofdeformityisdoubtless，toagreatextent，true。”Whoever，”
saidhe，”hathanythingfixedinhispersonthatdothinducecontempt，hathalsoaperpetualspurinhimselftorescueanddeliverhimselffromscorn；therefore，alldeformedpersonsareextremelybold。”
Asinportraiture，soinbiography，theremustbelightandshade。
Theportrait-painterdoesnotposehissittersoastobringouthisdeformities；nordoesthebiographergiveundueprominencetothedefectsofthecharacterheportrays。NotmanymenaresooutspokenasCromwellwaswhenhesattoCooperforhisminiature:”PaintmeasIam，”saidhe，”wartsandall。”Yet，ifwewouldhaveafaithfullikenessoffacesandcharacters，theymustbepaintedastheyare。”Biography，”saidSirWalterScott，”themostinterestingofeveryspeciesofcomposition，losesallitsinterestwithmewhentheshadesandlightsoftheprincipalcharactersarenotaccuratelyandfaithfullydetailed。Icannomoresympathisewithamereeulogist，thanIcanwitharantingheroonthestage。”(7)
Addisonlikedtoknowasmuchaspossibleaboutthepersonandcharacterofhisauthors，inasmuchasitincreasedthepleasureandsatisfactionwhichhederivedfromtheperusaloftheirbooks。
Whatwastheirhistory，theirexperience，theirtemperanddisposition？Didtheirlivesresembletheirbooks？Theythoughtnobly——didtheyactnobly？”Shouldwenotdelight，”saysSirEgertonBrydges，”tohavethefrankstoryofthelivesandfeelingsofWordsworth，Southey，Coleridge，Campbell，Rogers，Moore，andWilson，relatedbythemselves？——withwhomtheylivedearly；howtheirbenttookadecidedcourse；theirlikesanddislikes；theirdifficultiesandobstacles；theirtastes，theirpassions；therockstheywereconsciousofhavingsplitupon；
theirregrets，theircomplacencies，andtheirself-
justifications？”(8)
WhenMasonwasreproachedforpublishingtheprivatelettersofGray，heanswered，”Wouldyoualwayshavemyfriendsappearinfull-dress？”Johnsonwasofopinionthattowriteaman’slifetruly，itisnecessarythatthebiographershouldhavepersonallyknownhim。Butthisconditionhasbeenwantinginsomeofthebestwritersofbiographiesextant。(9)InthecaseofLordCampbell，hispersonalintimacywithLordsLyndhurstandBroughamseemstohavebeenapositivedisadvantage，leadinghimtodwarftheexcellencesandtomagnifytheblotsintheircharacters。
Again，Johnsonsays:”Ifamanprofesstowritealife，hemustwriteitreallyasitwas。Aman’speculiarities，andevenhisvices，shouldbementioned，becausetheymarkhischaracter。”Butthereisalwaysthisdifficulty，——thatwhileminutedetailsofconduct，favourableorotherwise，canbestbegivenfrompersonalknowledge，theycannotalwaysbepublished，outofregardfortheliving；andwhenthetimearriveswhentheymayatlengthbetold，theyarethennolongerremembered。Johnsonhimselfexpressedthisreluctancetotellallheknewofthosepoetswhohadbeenhiscontemporaries，sayingthathefeltasif”walkinguponashesunderwhichthefirewasnotextinguished。”
Forthisreason，amongstothers，werarelyobtainanunvarnishedpictureofcharacterfromthenearrelativesofdistinguishedmen；
and，interestingthoughallautobiographyis，stilllesscanweexpectitfromthementhemselves。Inwritinghisownmemoirs，amanwillnottellallthatheknowsabouthimself。Augustinewasarareexception，butfewtherearewhowill，ashedidinhis’Confessions，’laybaretheirinnateviciousness，deceitfulness，andselfishness。ThereisaHighlandproverbwhichsays，thatifthebestman’sfaultswerewrittenonhisforeheadhewouldpullhisbonnetoverhisbrow。”Thereisnoman，”saidVoltaire，”whohasnotsomethinghatefulinhim——nomanwhohasnotsomeofthewildbeastinhim。Buttherearefewwhowillhonestlytellushowtheymanagetheirwildbeast。”Rousseaupretendedtounbosomhimselfinhis’Confessions；’butitismanifestthatheheldbackfarmorethanherevealed。EvenChamfort，oneofthelastmentofearwhathiscontemporariesmightthinkorsayofhim，onceobserved:-”Itseemstomeimpossible，intheactualstateofsociety，foranymantoexhibithissecretheart，thedetailsofhischaracterasknowntohimself，and，aboveall，hisweaknessesandhisvices，toevenhisbestfriend。”
