he sufferer was of decent appearance； and； with ordinary self… mand； might have taken his meal in the restaurant like any one else； quite unnoticed。 But he belonged to a class which； among all classes in the world； is distinguished by native clownishness and by unpliability to novel circumstance。 The English lower ranks had need be marked by certain peculiar virtues to atone for their deficiencies in other respects。
XVIII
It is easy to understand that mon judgment of foreigners regarding the English people。 Go about in England as a stranger； travel by rail； live at hotels； see nothing but the broadly public aspect of things； and the impression left upon you will be one of hard egoism； of gruffness and sullenness； in a word； of everything that contrasts most strongly with the ideal of social and civic life。 And yet； as a matter of fact； no nation possesses in so high a degree the social and civic virtues。 The unsociable Englishman； quotha？ Why； what country in the world can show such multifarious； vigorous and cordial co…operation； in all ranks； but especially； of course； among the intelligent； for ends which concern the mon good？ Unsociable！ Why； go where you will in England you can hardly find a man……nowadays； indeed； scarce an educated woman……who does not belong to some alliance； for study or sport； for municipal or national benefit； and who will not be seen； in leisure time； doing his best as a social being。 Take the so…called sleepy market…town； it is bubbling with all manner of associated activities； and these of the quite voluntary kind； forms of zealously united effort such as are never dreamt of in the countries supposed to be eminently 〃social。〃 Sociability does not consist in a readiness to talk at large with the first er。 It is not dependent