ABSTRACT
There are various ways of getting at a knowledge of character – by looks, words, and actions. Some minds have a greater facility of throwing off impressions, are, as it were, more transparent or porous than others. Thus the French present a marked contrast to the English in this respect. The greatest misfortune that can happen among relations is a different way of bringing up, so as to set one another's opinions and characters in an entirely new point of view. This often lets in an unwelcome day-light on the subject, and breeds schisms, coldness, and incurable heart-burnings in families. Persons in a higher or middle rank of life know little or nothing of the characters of those below them, as servants, country people, &c. Women, according to Mrs Peachum, are 'bitter bad judges' of the characters of men; and men are not much better of theirs, if we can form any guess from their choice in marriage.
