University Missourian

COMMERCIAL ENGLAND

The conservative nature of the British people is manifestly shown when we consider the people of a decade ago and those of today. There are changes—the result of civilization—but one does not find the complete change which is seen in some other nations, Japan or America, for instance.

As a commercial race the British have always been preeminent, and this vein of development has been forwarded, perhaps, more than any other. Transportation—per mare per terram—is responsible for this, for today in every nation in the world do we find the products of Britain, and there is not a harbor which has not seen the British flag. This business is managed in the home land by hives of busy workers which are found at every seaport along the extensive coast line of England; and those who do not work here are employed farther inland at busy factories which put out more textiles than any other mills.

Such prosperity is the forerunner of wealth. Wealth to the workers, wealth to the owners and, above all, wealth to the kingdom, for it is this last feature that regulates per capita wealth.

The great cities of Britain, London, Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow and Dublin, are proofs of this statement, for in these we may find the wealthy nobles, and descend down the gamut to the poverty-stricken street wanderers. For though wealth is found in abundance, the poor of the great cities touch the hearts of all who see them. Hawthorne graphically describes the abject poverty and filth in which thousands of the inhabitants of the great cities live.

Turning to a brighter side of English life, we find the social life one to be envied and desired. The old civilization of Britain enables one to travel anywhere and still be within touch with towns, or at least villages. Frank Presbery in Outing gives a clear insight into this phase of life, or in his story he tells of a motor trip from the south of England into Scotland, and the civility with which he was treated all along the way, especially in London, where the officials of the Motor association gave him instructions as to the best roads the route, and—the police traps. This same spirit was manifested all along the way, where he was treated with great kindness at the inns in which he sojourned.

The Englishman receives his moral and intellectual training in institutions of ancient standing, and to change these methods would be as difficult as rending England asunder. A compromise is arrived at, however, for Cambridge, the old historic seat of learning on the Cam is introducing technical departments. Changes at headquarters are soon imitated, and already England is broadening her educational faculties in order to keep up with the demand for practical men.

A writer in the Contemporary Review deplores the departure of the people from the weightier matters to those which avail nothing. He says papers contain sport gossip, social news and nothing else. Be it far from one of us to say this is so. The old fundamental ideas of religion are being moulded into practical use, and the citizen has his horizon expanded; these, with other humanitarian efforts, proclaim the onward course of Britain.

To draw a finishing touch one would say the British are a right tight class of people, busy for their own good primarily and then for others; staple in their ideas of government, we find their constitution looked up to, and over all they "fear God and honor the king."