登陆注册
5169600000007

第7章

THE INFLUENCE OF THE ARISTOCRACY ON SNOBS

Last Sunday week, being at church in this city, and the service just ended, I heard two Snobs conversing about the Parson.One was asking the other who the clergyman was? 'He is Mr.So-and-so,' the second Snob answered, 'domestic chaplain to the Earl of What-d'ye-call'im.'

'Oh, is he' said the first Snob, with a tone of indescribable satisfaction.--The Parson's orthodoxy and identity were at once settled in this Snob's mind.He knew no more about the Earl than about the Chaplain, but he took the latter's character upon the authority of the former; and went home quite contented with his Reverence, like a little truckling Snob.

This incident gave me more matter for reflection even than the sermon: and wonderment at the extent and prevalence of Lordolatory in this country.What could it matter to Snob whether his Reverence were chaplain to his Lordship or not? What Peerageworship there is all through this free country! How we are all implicated in it, and more or less down on our knees.--And with regard to the great subject on hand, I think that the influence of the Peerage upon Snobbishness has been more remarkabie than that of any other institution.The increase, encouragement, and maintenance of Snobs are among the 'priceless services,' as Lord John Russell says, which we owe to the nobility.

It can't be otherwise.A man becomes enormously rich, or he jobs successfully in the aid of a Minister, or he wins a great battle, or executes a treaty, or is a clever lawyer who makes a multitude of fees and ascends the bench; and the country rewards him for ever with a gold coronot (with more or less balls or leaves) and a title, and a rank as legislator.'Your merits are so great,'

says the nation, 'that your children shall be allowed to reign over us, in a manner.It does not in the least matter that your eldest son be a fool: we think your services so remarkable, that he shall have the reversion of your honours when death vacates your noble shoes.If you are poor, we will give you such a sum of money as shall enable you and the eldest-born of your race for ever to live in fat and splendour.It is our wish that there should be a race set apart in this happy country, who shall hold the first rank, have the first prizes and chances in all government jobs and patronages.We cannot make all your dear children Peers--that would make Peerage common and crowd the House of Lords uncomfortably--but the young ones shall have everything a Government can give: they shall get the pick of all the places: they shall be Captains and Lieutenant-Colonels at nineteen, when hoary-headed old lieutenants are spending thirty years at drill: they shall command ships at one-and-twenty, and veterans who fought before they were born.And as we are eminently a free people, and in order to encourage all men to do their duty, we say to any man of any rank--get enormously rich, make immense fees as a lawyer, or great speeches, or distinguish yourself and win battles--and you, even you, shall come into the privileged class, and your children shall reign naturally over ours.'

同类推荐
  • 谈薮

    谈薮

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 眼科奇书

    眼科奇书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 从政录

    从政录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 治世余闻

    治世余闻

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说银色女经

    佛说银色女经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 重生之二次元女神

    重生之二次元女神

    被忽如其来的陨石砸死,灵魂穿越到了另一个星球。天冥星,这里的科技发达,就连传说中的异能者也多如繁星,这里有神秘的遗迹,大的可以联通一个世界!也有让人望而生畏的恐兽和可以让【神】也有来无回的险地!作为广大偷渡者的一员,他就没那么幸运了,阴差阳错之下重生成了美女,罗修鸣从此告别了男身T^T,以新身份周雅生活。当然罗,不,是周雅。她也是众多星球幸运者的一员,虽然他的能力不强但是她发现自己穿越后自己的灵之中居然有系统!不只能变身强大的二次元美女战斗,还可以在个个世界中穿梭!甚至她还有机会回到她的家乡,地球……
  • 一胜九败:优衣库思考术

    一胜九败:优衣库思考术

    被誉为继松下幸之助、盛田昭夫、稻盛和夫之后的日本新经营之神的柳井正成为社会热点人物。在《一胜九败(2优衣库思考术)》中,作者以更精准的视角,关注当下,锁定焦点,解读优衣库的成功商业,剖析优衣库近年的重大商业策略,沿着企业的思考脉络,提炼出优衣库的企业文化及谋略,阅读本书,相信读者会更多了解优衣库多年来强势成长中的故事,感受到柳井正睿智而朴素的”一胜九败”商业哲学。《一胜九败(2优衣库思考术)》是经营者和创业者不可多得的案头指导书。
  • 总有宥王想害朕

    总有宥王想害朕

    主人格(被害妄想症):说起来你可能不信,总有刁民想害朕,尤其是宥王这个大胆有权势的刁王。次人格(粗鲁暴力狂):说起来你可能不信,总有人欠揍想害我,所以,我成全他了。第三人格(冷漠厌世症):说起来你可能不信,即使我拥有了天下,依旧觉得无聊。这是一个讲述拥有三重人格的人穿越在古代成为皇帝,成天觉得有人害自己的爆笑故事。宥王:我没有想害你啊!(委屈)
  • 球灵王子

    球灵王子

    超级侦探重生成为用有超级天赋的篮球运动员,从此开始了他的另类传奇人生,不断的魔鬼训练,不断的超越自我,创造一个又一个的篮球神话,奔跑的快意、扣篮的兴奋、美人的呐喊、男人的惊慕、星探的渴求,正当巅峰之时,命运却惊天逆转,神秘的谋杀、兄弟的背叛、爱人的消失,种种离奇不断上演,是谁设计了这一切,阴谋背后的诡秘,他能否揭开。
  • 万界之拒绝悲剧

    万界之拒绝悲剧

    带着仙剑四游戏系统穿越万界改变悲剧,在倩女幽魂成就地仙重铸干将莫邪,诛仙中以琼华剑网硬刚诛仙剑阵,仙剑世界更改女主宿命,古剑中成全了两对爱侣
  • 蛮妃别嚣张

    蛮妃别嚣张

    佛曰:彼岸花开一千年,落一千年,花叶永不相见,情不为因果,缘注定生死。
  • Prizzi's Honor

    Prizzi's Honor

    Charley Partanna works as a hitman for the Prizzis, New York's most dangerous crime family. Irene Walker does, too--an LA-based tax consultant, she moonlights as a hitwoman. And now she's stolen a large sum of money for the mob--and it's Charley's job to find her. The catch? Charley is married to Irene. Faced with divided loyalties, he must make a choice--between the only family he's ever known and the woman he loves.Prizzi's Honor was made into an award-winning film in 1985 starring Jack Nicholson, Robert Loggia, Kathleen Turner, and Anjelica Huston, who won an Academy Award for her performance. A compelling page-turner fueled by rich characterization and fast-paced prose, this book is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.
  • 天运问道

    天运问道

    一晃眼,千年时间过去了,他在冰雪中迎来新生。只是这一次,他又会做出怎样的选择…
  • 海贼之厌世之歌

    海贼之厌世之歌

    一颗恶魔果实,一身用血与汗换来的体术,一身用牵挂与疯狂换来的霸气。王,乃是最贪婪、最高傲、最易怒之人;王的身后,留下的不是美好,而是尸骨成山。心中所想,心中所念,在所不惜;一生的执念,愿抛弃一切,不折手段!其实,这只是一个可怜人为了执念,而变成神经病的故事。世人皆可抛,唯亲人不离不弃!---------PS:已完结《妖尾之金金果实》《海贼之爆炸艺术》《海贼之银狐大将》请大家多多关照。新书:从海贼开始猎杀主角
  • 你是我爱情的模样

    你是我爱情的模样

    大凡爱情皆是如此,千帆过尽,最终还是独自一个人,以爱之名,为爱祭奠。而心中,那个最初的模样,才是爱情的模样——五年前,苏堇陌飞蛾扑火,只为得到薄凉漠然的顾景西的爱。“我不介意在爱情里卑微,我只怕即使低到尘埃也得不到你的爱。”经历了一场患难与共,他们终究牵手。然而命运的不厚爱,因着一些莫名的误会两人芥蒂丛生。他出国,他们分开,她黯然神伤。五年后,不期而遇的重逢,蒙上了时光尘埃的爱情又该如何继续?情节虚构,切勿模仿