The Guardian FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1928. NOTES AND COMMENTS THE BRITISH PEERAGE.

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 3258, 28 September 1928, Page 4

The Guardian Printed at Leeston, Canterbury, New Zealand, on Tuesday and Friday afternoons. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1928. NOTES AND COMMENTS

THE BRITISH PEERAGE.

The position of the British aristocracy was discussed in an address on "Foundations of England,".by Mr H. A. L. Fisher, warden of New College, London. He said that although Englishmen had been radical in their politics, far outstripping their cousins in the United States, in the matter of social deference, they were as conservative as any nation in the world. The rich were rifled by Parliament, but in society were treated with infinite consideration. English social gradations were so numerous and delicate that, while most people aped the manners of the class just above them, there were few so poor as to be deprived of the luxury of looking down on a fellow human being. The respect paid to a peer was in striking contrast to the slender measure of political authority which he was permitted to exercise. With the abolition of the rotten boroughs, the repeal of the game laws, and the passing of the Parliament Act, the principal obstacles to the popularity of the peerage were removed. The British aristocracy dethroned as tyrants were preserved as pets. In spite of the advances made by democracy, the social deference paid to rank was surprising in its strength and persistence. The true foundations of England were, first, a good climate and a central geographical position, and, secondly, a national character, active rather than contemplative, moderate in its passions, genial, fond of amusement, singularly free from envy and rancour and the sentiment of revenge, respectful of social differences, adventurous, sensitive to the cali of public duty and to that underlying seriousness without which no great .achieve-

ment was possible