"SAVE US FROM OUR FRIENDS."
;To 1HE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:1
, Bra,—I thought you might care to have enclosed, which I have translated from the Conversations-Lezikon of Meyer, the great German eneyelo-
THE IRISH CHARACTER AS DEPICTED BY THEIR FRIENDS THE
GERMANS.
"The character of the genuine Irish is a singular mixture of opposite traits ; many of them no doubt developed by their unfortunate history. The main feature of the Irish character is inconstancy and thought- lessness, though they possess such characters as are compatible with these vices. The Irishman lacks reasoning power, perseverance, and self-control. He possesses a poetical faculty and a taste for art, music, and rhetoric. He is keen for knowledge, cunning, clever, and witty, although for the sake of deception he often pretends to be stupid and naive. But with all his intellectual powers he lacks profundity. Superficial in his actions and thoughts, untrustworthy as a worker, lacking perseverance and fickle, he is not equal to the performance of any great task in life, and is incapable of attaining results commensurate with his spasmodic activity. Those who are not his relations or friends dare not trust him. The proverb seems true that when an Irishman is stabbed, another Irishman is always found to drive the dagger in. Treason has always keen a prominent feature in all Irish risings. Conscientiousness, a virtue whirls distinguishes the English before all other nations, is con- spicuously lacking in the Irishman, and he is not distinguished for his love of truth. Irritable as he is and inclined to quarrels and violence, he is fond, too, of amusement. Hospitable and extravagant, he forgets to provide for the future. Though often a victim of intemperance, he can put up with dearth when necessary, and is quite contented if he only has enough potatoes to eke out his life."
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