I saw yet more distinctly the State in
which I lived. I saw to what extent the people among whom I lived
could be trusted as good neighbors and friends; that their
friendship was for summer weather only; that they did not greatly
propose to do right; that they were a distinct race from me by their
prejudices and superstitions, as the Chinamen and Malays are; that
in their sacrifices to humanity they ran no risks, not even to their
property; that after all they were not so noble but they treated the
thief as he had treated them, and hoped, by a certain outward
observance and a few prayers, and by walking in a particular
straight though useless path from time to time, to save their souls.
This may be to judge my neighbors harshly; for I believe that many
of them are not aware that they have such an institution as the jail
in their village.
It was formerly the custom in our village, when a poor debtor came
out of jail, for his acquaintances to salute him, looking through
their fingers, which were crossed to represent the grating of a jail
window, "How do ye do?" My neighbors did not thus salute me, but first
looked at me, and then at one another, as if I had returned from a
long journey.
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