'And why should you ?' said he.

'You're English.'" "A very rude remark," said Johnson.

"As if we English were incapable of seeing a joke!" "Exactly," put in Carlyle.

"It strikes me as the absurdest notion that the Englishman can't see a joke.

To the mind that is accustomed to snap judgments I have no doubt the Englishman appears to be dull of apprehension, but the philosophy of the whole matter is apparent to the mind that takes the trouble to investigate.