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the same country； in the pews of the churches； little placards plead
with the worshipper against the fury of expectoration。 Charles
Dickens self…sacrificingly undertook the reformation of our American
manners in unspeakable particulars。 I think the lesson was not quite
lost； that it held bad manners up； so that the churls could see the
deformity。 Unhappily； the book had its own deformities。 It ought
not to need to print in a reading…room a caution to strangers not to
speak loud； nor to persons who look over fine engravings； that they
should be handled like cobwebs and butterflies' wings； nor to persons
who look at marble statues； that they shall not smite them with
canes。 But； even in the perfect civilization of this city； such
cautions are not quite needless in the Athenaeum and City Library。
Manners are factitious； and grow out of circumstance as well as
out of character。 If you look at the pictures of patricians and of
peasants； of different periods and countries； you will see how well
they match the same classes in our towns。 The modern aristocrat not
only is well drawn in Titian's Venetian doges； and in Roman coins and
statues； but also in the pictures which Commodore Perry brought home
of dignitaries in Japan。 Broad lands and great interests not only
arrive to such heads as can manage them； but form manners of power。
A keen eye； too； will see nice gradations of rank； or see in the
manners the degree of homage the party is wont to receive。 A prince
who is accustomed every day to be courted and deferred to by the
highest grandees； acquires a corresponding expectation； and a
becoming mode of receiving and replying to this homage。
There are always exceptional people and modes。 English
grandees affect to be farmers。 Claverhouse is a fop； and； under the
finish of dress； and levity of behavior； hides the terror of his war。
But Nature and Destiny are honest； and never fail to leave their
mark； to hang out a sign for each and for every quality。 It is much
to conquer one's face； and perhaps the ambitious youth thinks he has
got the whole secret when he has learned； that disengaged manners are
commanding。 Don't be deceived by a facile exterior。 Tender men
sometimes have strong wills。 We had； in Massachusetts； an old
statesman； who had sat all his life in courts and in chairs of state；
without overcoming an extreme irritability of face； voice； and
bearing： when he spoke； his voice would not serve him； it cracked； it
broke； it wheezed； it piped； little cared he； he knew that it had
got to pipe； or wheeze； or screech his argument and his indignation。
When he sat down； after speaking； he seemed in a sort of fit； and
held on to his chair with both hands： but underneath all this
irritability； was a puissant will； firm； and advancing； and a memory
in which lay in order and method like geologic strata every fact of
his history； and under the control of his will。
Manners are partly factitious； but； mainly； there must be
capacity for culture in the blood。 Else all culture is vain。 The
obstinate prejudice in favor of blood； which lies at the base of the
feudal and monarchical fabrics of the old world； has some reason in
common experience。 Every man； mathematician； artist； soldier； or
merchant； looks with confidence for some traits and talents in his
own child； which he would not dare to presume in the child of a
stranger。 The Orientalists are very orthodox on this point。 〃Take a
thorn…bush；〃 said the emir Abdel…Kader； 〃and sprinkle it for a whole
year with water； it will yield nothing but thorns。 Take a
date…tree； leave it without culture； and it will always produce
dates。 Nobility is the date…tree； and the Arab populace is a bush of
thorns。〃
A main fact in the history of manners is the wonderful
expressiveness of the human body。 If it were made of glass； or of
air； and the thoughts were written on steel tablets within； it could
not publish more truly its meaning than now。 Wise men read very
sharply all your private history in your look and gait and behavior。
The whole economy of nature is bent on expression。 The tell…tale
body is all tongues。 Men are like Geneva watches with crystal faces
which expose the whole movement。 They carry the liquor of life
flowing up and down in these beautiful bottles； and announcing to the
curious how it is with them。 The face and eyes reveal what the
spirit is doing； how old it is； what aims it has。 The eyes indicate
the antiquity of the soul； or； through how many forms it has already
ascended。 It almost violates the proprieties； if we say above the
breath here； what the confessing eyes do not hesitate to utter to
every street passenger。
Man cannot fix his eye on the sun； and so far seems imperfect。
In Siberia； a late traveller found men who could see the satellites
of Jupiter with their unarmed eye。 In some respects the animals
excel us。 The birds have a longer sight； beside the advantage by
their wings of a higher observatory。 A cow can bid her calf； by
secret signal； probably of the eye； to run away； or to lie down and
hide itself。 The jockeys say of certain horses； that 〃they look over
the whole ground。〃 The out…door life； and hunting； and labor； give
equal vigor to the human eye。 A farmer looks out at you as strong as
the horse； his eye…beam is like the stroke of a staff。 An eye can
threaten like a loaded and levelled gun； or can insult like hissing
or kicking； or； in its altered mood； by beams of kindness； it can
make the heart dance with joy。
The eye obeys exactly the action of the mind。 When a thought
strikes us； the eyes fix； and remain gazing at a distance； in
enumerating the names of persons or of countries； as France； Germany；
Spain； Turkey； the eyes wink at each new name。 There is no nicety of
learning sought by the mind； which the eyes do not vie in acquiring。
〃An artist；〃 said Michel Angelo； 〃must have his measuring tools not
in the hand； but in the eye；〃 and there is no end to the catalogue of
its performances； whether in indolent vision； （that of health and
beauty；） or in strained vision； （that of art and labor。）
Eyes are bold as lions； roving； running； leaping； here and
there； far and near。 They speak all languages。 They wait for no
introduction； they are no Englishmen； ask no leave of age； or rank；
they respect neither poverty nor riches； neither learning nor power；
nor virtue； nor sex； but intrude； and come again； and go through and
through you； in a moment of time。 What inundation of life and
thought is discharged from one soul into another； through them！ The
glance is natural magic。 The mysterious communication established
across a house between two entire strangers； moves all the springs of
wonder。 The communication by the glance is in the greatest part not
subject to the control of the will。 It is the bodily symbol of
identity of nature。 We look int