The social description of Charlemont
exhibits, perhaps, a THIRD advance in our forest civilization, from
the original settlement.
It is not less the characteristic of these regions to exhibit
the passions and the talents of the people in equal and wonderful
saliency. We are accordingly struck with two classes of social
facts, which do not often arrest the attention in old communities.
We see, for example, the most singular combination of simplicity and
sagacity in the same person; simplicity in conventional respects,
and sagacity in all that affects the absolute and real in life,
nature and the human sensibilities. The rude man, easily imposed
upon, in his faith, fierce as an outlaw in his conflicts with men,
will be yet exquisitely alive to the nicest consciousness of woman;
will as delicately appreciate her instincts and sensibilities, as
if love and poetry had been his only tutors from the first, and
had mainly addressed their labors to this one object of the higher
heart, education; and in due degree with the tenderness with
which he will regard the sex, will be the vindictive ferocity with
which--even though no kinsman--he will pursue the offender who has
dared to outrage them in the case of any individual.
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