The History of Sandford and Merton by Thomas Day

Author:Thomas Day [Day, Thomas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Conduct of life -- Fiction
Published: 2009-10-16T16:00:00+00:00

"Frequently in their journeys these travellers are surprised by unexpected storms of wind and snow, which render it impracticable to proceed farther."P. 278.

Tommy.—I could not have conceived it possible that men should be able to struggle with so many hardships. But do not the poor people who inhabit these cold climates quit them, whenever they can find an opportunity, and come to settle in those that are warmer?

Mr Barlow.—Not in the least. When they hear that there are no seals to be caught in other countries, they say that they must be wretched indeed, and much inferior to their own. Besides, they have in general so great a contempt for all Europeans, that they have no inclination to visit the countries which they inhabit.

Tommy.—How can that be? How can a parcel of wretched ignorant savages despise men that are so much superior to themselves?

Mr Barlow.—This is not what they are quite so well convinced of. The Greenlanders, for instance, see that the Europeans who visit them are much inferior to themselves in the art of managing a boat or catching seals; in short, in everything which they find most useful to support life. For this reason, they consider them all with very great contempt, and look upon them as little better than barbarians.

Tommy.—That is very impertinent indeed; and I should like to convince them of their folly.

Mr Barlow.—Why, do not you look upon yourself as much superior to your black servants; and have I not often heard you express great contempt for them?

Tommy.—I do not despise them now, so much as I used to do. Besides, sir, I only think myself something better, because I have been brought up like a gentleman.

Mr Barlow.—A gentleman! I have never exactly understood what a gentleman is, according to your notions.

Tommy.—Why, sir, when a person is not brought up to work, and has several people to wait upon him, like my father and mother, then he is a gentleman.

Mr Barlow.—And then he has a right to despise others, has he?

Tommy.—I do not say that, sir, neither. But he is, however, superior to them.

Mr Barlow.—Superior, in what? In the art of cultivating the ground to raise food, and making clothes or houses?

Tommy.—No, sir, not that; for gentlemen never plough the ground or build houses.

Mr Barlow.—Is he then superior in knowledge? Were you, who have been brought up a gentleman, superior to all the rest of the world when you came here?

Tommy.—To be sure, sir; when I came here I did not know so much as I do now.

Mr Barlow.—If then you, when you knew nothing, and could do nothing, thought yourself superior to all the rest of the world, why should you wonder, that men who really excel others in those things which they see absolutely necessary, should have the same good opinion of themselves? Were you to be in Greenland, for instance, how would you prove your own superiority and importance?

Tommy.—I would tell them that I had always been well brought up at home.

Mr Barlow.

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