Why the English dog should so often be a complete idler, and his brother across the sea the useful ally of man, is an ethnological problem: the reason lying not with the animals but with the nations.

The Flemish and Dutch people are essentially humble and industrious, without ambitions beyond their station.

The English are a dissatisfied folk who seldom look upon their present position as permanent.

The English dog is idle because his master, always hoping for the miracle that shall make him idle too, does not really set his hand to the day's work and make others join him; the Netherlandish dog is busy because his master does not believe in sloth, and having no illusions as to his future, knows that only upon a strenuous youth and middle age can a comfortable old age be built.

Countries that have not two nations--the idle and rich and the poor and busy--as we have, are, I think, greatly to be envied.