It has been well said that every Englishman is an average Englishman :
it’s an essential national characteristic.
What is more , no true Englishman would wish it to be otherwise. He
prefer his neighbour to be an average Englishman – he prefer to be one
himself. He likes what he knows.
To think is not part of the English character. Instead of thoughts ,
the English have traditions.
The tradition of “the Home” for instance.
Even the French have preferred not to translate this word , but to
recognize it as English in origin and spirit by referring to it as “ le
home”.
Yet how do the English treat “le home” – which is, theoretically and
traditionally regarded as the backbone of their country?
Their first care is to remove their children from it by second them to
a boarding-school almost as soon as they can walk , and keeping them there
until they are old enough to be sent still farther away.
They speak , write and sing of “ Home , Sweet Home”, and by this means
have built up the tradition that it is a thoroughly English institution.
Once tradition is firmly established , the thing is done.
Another tradition that is firmly established not only in Britain , but
in the minds of the rest of the world, is the devotion of the English to
animals. Certainly , they will speak with love to and of their dogs and
horses, which is more than they will do concerning their friends and
family. However , the fox, the deer, the pheasant and many others would
have but little to say in praise of the animal-loving English if they were
consulted.
But by never thinking about it , the English firmly believe themselves
to be the only nation in the world that is really kind to its animals.
Indeed, the power of believing the English have is almost phenomenal. A
very short list of such beliefs comes to one’s mind almost automatically.
Most Englishman are convinced that God is in Englishman- probably
educated at Eton.
that England is finest country in the world;
that all foreigners are slightly mad;
that anyone disagreeing on any of these points ought to be short;
that all men are just like children;
that children are blessing to their parents.
Enough has now perhaps been said to show that the English , whatever
else they may be , are agreeably inconsistent.
(After On British Character by E.M. Delafield )
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