Bladesoveris，Iamconvinced，thecluetoalmostallthatisdistinctivelyBritishandperplexingtotheforeigninquirerinEnglandandtheEnglish-speakingpeoples。GraspfirmlythatEnglandwasallBladesovertwohundredyearsago；thatithashadReformActsindeed，andsuch——likechangesofformula，butnoessentialrevolutionsincethen；thatallthatismodernanddifferenthascomeinasathingintrudedorasaglossuponthispredominantformula，eitherimpertinentlyorapologetically；
andyouwillperceiveatoncethereasonableness，thenecessity，ofthatsnobbishnesswhichisthedistinctivequalityofEnglishthought。EverybodywhoisnotactuallyintheshadowofaBladesoverisasitwereperpetuallyseekingafterlostorientations。Wehaveneverbrokenwithourtradition，neverevensymbolicallyhewedittopieces，astheFrenchdidinquiveringfactintheTerror。Butalltheorganizingideashaveslackened，theoldhabitualbondshaverelaxedoraltogethercomeundone。AndAmericatoo，is，asitwere，adetached，outlyingpartofthatestatewhichhasexpandedinqueerways。
GeorgeWashington，Esquire，wasofthegentlefolk，andhecamenearbeingaKing。ItwasPlutarch，youknow，andnothingintrinsicallyAmericanthatpreventedGeorgeWashingtonbeingaKing。
IV
Ihatedteatimeinthehousekeeper’sroommorethananythingelseatBladesover。AndmoreparticularlyIhateditwhenMrs。