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self at ease。 Should you wish to write a letter； only the worst pen and the vilest ink is forthing； this； even in the 〃mercial room〃 of many an inn which seems to depend upon the custom of travelling tradesmen。 Indeed； this whole business of innkeeping is incredibly mismanaged。 Most of all does the mon ineptitude or brutality enrage one when it has possession of an old and picturesque house； such as reminds you of the best tradition； a house which might be made as fortable as house can be； a place of rest and mirth。
At a public…house you expect public…house manners； and nothing better will meet you at most of the so…called inns or hotels。 It surprises me to think in how few instances I have found even the pretence of civility。 As a rule； the landlord and landlady are either contemptuously superior or boorishly familiar； the waiters and chambermaids do their work with an indifference which only softens to a condescending interest at the moment of your departure； when； if the tip be thought insufficient； a sneer or a muttered insult speeds you on your way。 One inn I remember； where； having to go in and out two or three times in a morning； I always found the front door blocked by the portly forms of two women； the landlady and the barmaid； who stood there chatting and surveying the street。 ing from within the house； I had to call out a request for passage； it was granted with all deliberation； and with not a syllable of apology。 This was the best 〃hotel〃 in a Sussex market town。
And the food。 Here； beyond doubt； there is grave degeneracy。 It is impossible to suppose that the old travellers by coach were contented with entertainment such as one gets nowadays at the table of a country hotel。 The cooking is wont to be eat and vegetables worse than mediocre。 What！ Shall one ask in vain at an English inn for an honest chop or steak？ Again and again has my appetite been frustrated with an offer of mere sinew and scrag。 At a hotel where the charge for lunch was five shillings； I have been sickened with pulpy potatoes and stringy cabbage。 The very joint……ribs or sirloin； leg or shoulder……is monly a poor； underfed； sapless thing； scorched in an oven； and as for the round of beef； it has as good as disappeared……probably because it asks too much skill in the salting。 Then again one's breakfast bacon； what intolerable stuff； smelling of saltpetre； has been set before me when I paid the price of the best smoked Wiltshire！ It would be mere indulgence of the spirit of grumbling to talk about poisonous tea and washy coffee； every one knows that these drinks cannot be had at public tables； but what if there be real reason for discontent with one's pint of ale？ Often； still； that draught from the local brewery is sound and invigorating； but there are grievous exceptions； and no doubt the tendency is here； as in other things……a falling off； a carelessness； if not a calculating dishonesty。 I foresee the day when Englishmen will have forgotten how to brew beer； when one's only safety will lie in the draught imported from Munich。
XVII
I was taking a meal once at a London restaurant……not one of the great eating…places to which men most resort； but a small establishment on the same model in a quiet neighbourhood……when there entered； and sat down at the next table； a young man of the working class； whose dress betokened holiday。 A glance told me that he felt anything but at ease； his mind misgave him as he looked about the long room and at the table before him； and when a waiter came to offer him the card； he stared blankly in sheepish confusion。 Some strange windfall； no doubt； had emboldened him to enter for the first time such a place as this； and now that he was here； he heartily wished himself out in the street again。 However； aided by the waiter's suggestions； he gave an order for a beef…steak and vegetables。 When the dish was served； the poor fellow simply could not make a start upon it； he was embarrassed by the display of knives and forks； by the arrangement of the dishes； by the sauce bottles and the cruet…stand； above all； no doubt； by the assembly of people not of his class； and the unwonted experience of being waited upon by a man with a long shirt…front。 He grew red； he made the clumsiest and most futile efforts to transport the meat to his plate； food was there before him； but； like a very Tantalus； he was forbidden to enjoy it。 Observing with all discretion； I at length saw him pull out his pocket handkerchief； spread it on the table； and； with a sudden effort； fork the meat off the dish into this receptacle。 The waiter； aware by this time of the customer's difficulty； came up and spoke a word to him。 Abashed into anger； the young man roughly asked what he had to pay。 It ended in the waiter's bringing a newspaper； wherein he helped to wrap up meat and vegetables。 Money was flung down； and the victim of a mistaken ambition hurriedly departed； to satisfy his hunger amid less unfamiliar surroundings。
It was a striking and unpleasant illustration of social differences。 Could such a thing happen in any country but England？ I doubt it。 The 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 wh