His chief defect, he thought, was a disdain of a
knowledge of general principles, justifiable enough in the times of
unsound teleological theorizings, but not nowadays, when we have at last
set foot upon earth.
"And what do you say," I asked, "to our so-called national hypocrisy?"
"Well, we others are apt to stand aside and marvel whether you have
succeeded by reason of it, or in spite of it. Of course it annoys us
beyond words! But there is a form of it which is highly laudable: the
Anglo-Saxon, it seems to me, often acts in apparently hypocritical fashion
out of consideration for what he conceives to be the opinions of the
majority. Profoundly self-respecting, he is equally careful not to impinge
upon the feelings of others, however wrong-headed he may think them. In
such cases, his hypocrisy is only a proof of civilization and genuine
politeness. Hence also that shyness and reserve which I have often noticed
in your countrymen--they are not signs of awkwardness or indecision, but
of strength systematically controlled."
"That is very gratifying. And what of our snobbishness?"
"The English snobbishness," he replied, "may not be beautiful, but its
origins are sufficiently venerable to inspire respect.
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