the extinction of the old squirarchy, or rather their being supplanted by the nouveaux riches. I am sure that the old landed gentry, living on their estates, did their utmost for the good of the people who were their tenants, whereas those who take their places care nothing for them, and are resident only for a week-end when they fill their mansions, once the centres of parish life, with card-playing; motoring friends from town; whose interests are not in the country nor with the country people. The old squirarchical mansion was a centre of culture whence it radiated throughout the parish; I very much doubt whether under the new régime it will be that any more, at all events for a generation or two. It must be borne in mind that the culture of the English landed gentlemen has been progressive for many generations. The song:
"Oh! the fine old English gentleman who had a good estate, |
is as old as the reign of James I, if not of Queen Elizabeth, and the product is by no means of to-day. The care for the tenants, the obligation of setting an example of justice, integrity, kindliness, religious observance, has been bred in him, and enforced by parental warning through three centuries at the least, on his infant mind. What is born in the bone comes out in the flesh, whether it be grossness or refinement.
The American and the self-made man, with all their admirable qualities, have not had this experience. Whence the latter sprung, not even the Heralds' College can discover, with all its ingenuity. As to the former, he is perhaps a descendant of a Pilgrim Father, or else of the body of the restless youth of Europe that has settled in the States. Anyhow, neither has been subjected to the refining process that has been going on through so many generations with our squirarchy. To them it is a novel and unheard of thing to be told that they must set an example to tenants and servants alike. Neither they nor their fathers, nor their fathers' fathers had ever entertained any other idea than that of caring only for themselves, and of elbowing out of their way every one who interfered with their progress to wealth and posi-
