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white…pine Yankees。 We don't talk about the inherited differences of
men quite as freely； perhaps； as they do in the Old World； but
republicanism doesn't alter the laws of physiology。 We have a native
aristocracy； a superior race； just as plainly marked by nature as of
a higher and finer grade than the common run of people as the white
pine is marked in its form； its stature； its bark； its delicate
foliage； as belonging to the nobility of the forest； and the pitch
pine； stubbed； rough； coarse…haired； as of the plebeian order。 Only
the strange thing is to see in what a capricious way our natural
nobility is distributed。 The last born nobleman I have seen； I saw
this morning； he was pulling a rope that was fastened to a Maine
schooner loaded with lumber。 I should say he was about twenty years
old； as fine a figure of a young man as you would ask to see； and
with a regular Greek outline of countenance； waving hair； that fell
as if a sculptor had massed it to copy； and a complexion as rich as a
red sunset。 I have a notion that the State of Maine breeds the
natural nobility in a larger proportion than some other States； but
they spring up in all sorts of out…of…the…way places。 The young
fellow I saw this morning had on an old flannel shirt； a pair of
trowsers that meant hard work； and a cheap cloth cap pushed back on
his head so as to let the large waves of hair straggle out over his
forehead； he was tugging at his rope with the other sailors； but upon
my word I don't think I have seen a young English nobleman of all
those whom I have looked upon that answered to the notion of 〃blood 〃
so well as this young fellow did。 I suppose if I made such a
levelling confession as this in public； people would think I was
looking towards being the labor…reform candidate for President。 But
I should go on and spoil my prospects by saying that I don't think
the white…pine Yankee is the more generally prevailing growth； but
rather the pitch…pine Yankee。
The Member of the Haouse seemed to have been getting a dim idea
that all this was not exactly flattering to the huckleberry
districts。 His features betrayed the growth of this suspicion so
clearly that the Master replied to his look as if it had been a
remark。 ＇I need hardly say that this particular member of the
General Court was a pitch…pine Yankee of the most thoroughly
characterized aspect and flavor。＇
Yes； Sir；the Master continued；Sir being anybody that listened；
there is neither flattery nor offence in the views which a
physiological observer takes of the forms of life around him。 It
won't do to draw individual portraits； but the differences of natural
groups of human beings are as proper subjects of remark as those of
different breeds of horses； and if horses were Houyhnhnms I don't
think they would quarrel with us because we made a distinction
between a 〃Morgan〃 and a 〃Messenger。〃 The truth is； Sir； the lean
sandy soil and the droughts and the long winters and the east…winds
and the cold storms； and all sorts of unknown local influences that
we can't make out quite so plainly as these； have a tendency to
roughen the human organization and make it coarse； something as it is
with the tree I mentioned。 Some spots and some strains of blood
fight against these influences； but if I should say right out what I
think； it would be that the finest human fruit； on the whole； and
especially the finest women that we get in New England are raised
under glass。
Good gracious！exclaimed the Landlady； under glass！
Give me cowcumbers raised in the open air； said the Capitalist； who
was a little hard of hearing。
Perhaps；I remarked；it might be as well if you would explain
this last expression of yours。 Raising human beings under glass I
take to be a metaphorical rather than a literal statement of your
meaning。
No； Sir！replied the Master； with energy；I mean just what I say；
Sir。 Under glass； and with a south exposure。 During the hard
season； of course；for in the heats of summer the tenderest hot…
house plants are not afraid of the open air。 Protection is what the
transplanted Aryan requires in this New England climate。 Keep him；
and especially keep her； in a wide street of a well…built city eight
months of the year； good solid brick walls behind her； good sheets of
plate…glass； with the sun shining warm through them； in front of her；
and you have put her in the condition of the pine…apple； from the
land of which； and not from that of the other kind of pine； her race
started on its travels。 People don't know what a gain there is to
health by living in cities； the best parts of them of course； for we
know too well what the worst parts are。 In the first place you get
rid of the noxious emanations which poison so many country localities
with typhoid fever and dysentery； not wholly rid of them； of course；
but to a surprising degree。 Let me tell you a doctor's story。 I was
visiting a Western city a good many years ago； it was in the autumn；
the time when all sorts of malarious diseases are about。 The doctor
I was speaking of took me to see the cemetery just outside the town；
I don't know how much he had done to fill it； for he didn't tell me；
but I'll tell you what he did say。
〃Look round；〃 said the doctor。 〃There isn't a house in all the ten…
mile circuit of country you can see over； where there isn't one
person； at least； shaking with fever and ague。 And yet you need n't
be afraid of carrying it away with you； for as long as your home is
on a paved street you are safe。〃
I think it likelythe Master went on to saythat my friend the
doctor put it pretty strongly； but there is no doubt at all that
while all the country round was suffering from intermittent fever；
the paved part of the city was comparatively exempted。 What do you
do when you build a house on a damp soil； and there are damp soils
pretty much everywhere？ Why you floor the cellar with cement； don't
you？ Well； the soil of a city is cemented all over； one may say；
with certain qualifications of course。 A first…rate city house is a
regular sanatorium。 The only trouble is； that the little good…for…
nothings that come of utterly used…up and worn…out stock； and ought
to die； can't die； to save their lives。 So they grow up to dilute
the vigor of the race with skim…milk vitality。 They would have died；
like good children； in most average country places； but eight months
of shelter in a regulated temperature； in a well…sunned house； in a
duly moistened air； with good sidewalks to go about on in all
weather； and four months of the cream of summer and the fresh milk of
Jersey cows； make the little sham organizationsthe worm…eaten wind…
falls； for that 's what they look likehang on to the boughs of life
like 〃froze…n…thaws〃； regular struldbrugs they come to be； a good
many of 'em。
The Scarabee's ear was caught by that queer word of Swift's； and he
asked very innocently what kind of bugs he was speaking of； whereupon
That Boy shouted out； Straddlebugs！ to his own immense amusement and
the great bewilderment of the Scarabee； who only saw that there was
one of those unintelligible breaks in the conversation which made